them ¶ Also how worldely men yeldeÌ glory worshyp to god / whyder they wyll or not ¶ Also how the fendes do yelde worshyp to god agaynste theyr wylles ¶ Ca. iiij ALso how a parfyte soule that is passed out of this worlde / seâth fully the glory and laude of the name of god in euery creature / and how iÌ the soule is a peyne of desyre / no desyre ¶ Also how seynt Paule after tyme he was take to se the glory of them that be in blysse / he coueted to be vnbounde and vnlosed fro the body / and so do they the whiche be come to the thyrde fourthe state / for whiche causes a soule desyreth to be losed fro the body / and thoughe it be not as he coueteth / it contraryeth not the wyll of god / but moche rather it gyueth and yeldeth worshyppes and thankes to almyghty god in that peyne / and iÌ euery other peyne for the worshyp of god ¶ How they the whiche be come to the foresayde state of vnyon / be lyghtned in the eye of intelleccyon by grace with a lyghte aboue nature ¶ And how it is better to go to haue counseyle for the soules helthe to a meke man with an holy conscyence / than to a proude lettered man ¶ Also here is a profytable repetycyoÌ of many thyÌges / whiche of many thynges be sayde / and how that god induceth this deuoute soule to praye for euery creature / and in generall for all holy chyrche ¶ Ca. v. THe fyfte chapyter of this ête is moche of the state of holy teeres / and fyrste how that this holy soule desyred to knowe of the states and the fruytes of holy teeres ¶ And of the dyfference of the foresayde teeres / aod how that there be fyue maner of teeres ¶ Also a short repetycyon of the mater before / and how that the wycked spyryte fleeth awaye fro them / the whiche come to the fyfte teeres ¶ And how the angers of the fende by a trewe way to come to this state of teeres ¶ Also how that they that desyre to haue teeres of eyen / and maye not haue them / all suche haue teeres of fere ¶ And also for what cause god with draweth bodyly teeres ¶ And how the .iiij. states of the .v. states of teeres gyuen dyuersyte of teeres ¶ And how god wyll be serued with thyÌge that hathe none ende / and not onely with that thynge the whiche hathe an ende ¶ And lso of the fruytes of teeres of worldely men / and how that suche worldely wepers be smytte with foure wyndes ¶ Also how the fruyte of the secunde and the thyrde state of teeres / and of the fruyte of the fourthe the fyfte state of teeres ¶ Also how that this deuoute soule whan that she gaue thankynges to god for the foresayde states of teeres / made thre petycyons to god ¶ Also how the lyght of reason is necessary to a soule that wyll serue god iÌ sothfastenesse and truly with the lyghte of grace ¶ The chapytets of the fyfte parte Ca. i. ALso of theÌ that put theyr desyre more to suffer bodyly peyne / than in mortyfycacyoÌ or in dystryeÌge of theyr owne wylles / whiche is one parfyte lyghte / or a lyghte of parfeccyon / more than that generall lyghte / and it is the secunde lyghte of parfeccyon ¶ Also of the thyrde most parfyte lyghte of reason / and of the workes that a soule dothe whan it is come to that state ¶ Also there is shewed a fayre vysyon whiche this soule hadde / in the whiche vysyoÌ is shewed fully of the maner of comyÌge of parfyte purete of the soule ¶ Also by what maner they receyne the ernest of sykernesse of euer lastynge lyfe / in this lyfe suche as abyde in the thyrde lyghte / whiche is the moost êfyte and pure lyghte ¶ Also how oure neyghboure shall be vndernome / that he fall not in to no false domes nor Iudgementes ¶ Also yf a man praye for a parsone / god sheweth in the soule of hym that prayeth / that same soule is full of derkenesse for whom he prayeth / yet this soule shal not be demed nor Iudged amys ¶ Also how bodyly penauÌce shall not be take for a pryncypal fundament / nor for a pryncypall desyre / but desyre and loue of vertues shall be take for a pryncypal fundament ¶ And of a shorte repetycyon of wordes sayde before / with an addycyon of vndernymynge of oure neyghboure ¶ Ca. ij THe secunde chapyter is tokens to knowe whan vysytacyons or ghostly vysyons / come of god oure maker / or of the wycked fende oure enemy ¶ Also how that god is the fulfyller of deuoute and holy desyres of his seruauntes / and how that it pleaseth god moche whan that a man asketh with parseuctauÌce / and that he knocke at the gate or the porte of his sothefastnesse ¶ And how that this deuoute soule meketh her and yeldeth meke thankynges to almyghty god the fader of heueÌ / how she prayeth for al the worlde / specyally for holy chyrche / and for her ghostly dyscyples / for her two ghostli faders / afeer this she asketh to here the dedes of the mynysters of holy chyrche ¶ Also how god beholdeth that besynesse of this soule aboute prayer / answereth to some of her petycyoÌs ¶ Ca. iij. ALso here god speketh to this soule of the dygnyte of prestes of the sacrament of his holy body / of theÌ that receyue the sacrameÌt worthyly vnworthyly ¶ Also how all the bodyly wyttes or felyÌges be dysceyued in the foresayd sacrameÌt / but not the felynges of the soule / therfore with that felynges or wyttes of the soule / that holy sacrameÌt shall be seen / tasted / feled ¶ And here is of a vysyoÌ which this deuoute soule had of this same mater ¶ Also of the excellence in the whiche a soule stondeth / that receyueth this sacrament in grace ¶ How the wordes that be sayde of the excelleÌce of that sacrament / be sayde that the dygnyte of prcestes sholde be the better knowe / how god asketh more purete clennesse of body soule / thaÌ in other of his creatures ¶ Also how the sacrameÌtes sholde nother be boughte nor solde / they that receyue the sacrameÌtes sholde helpe the mynysters with theyr teÌporall goodes / whiche goodes the mynysters sholde dyspose ordeyne in to thre partes ¶ Ca. iiij THe iiij chapyter speketh in the begynnynge of the dygnyte of precstes / how that vertues of sacrameÌtes be not lessed throwe the synnes of them that mynyster / nor throwe the synÌes of the receyuer ¶ And how god wyll not that secusers correcke his mynysters ¶ Also how god arecteth the psecucyon that is done to holy chyrche or to that mynysters / as it were done to hymselfe ¶ And how the synne is more greuous / thaÌ ony other
the worlde / that were in perell of perysshynge / so that the Iugement of god myght be peased / and his wrothe aswaged that is to say with holy / contynuall / meke / and deuoute prayers ¶ Aster all this / the soule was compelled to ryse more feruent ly throwe an holy desyre / behelde her selfe in wardly iÌ the Dyuyne charyte / with the eye of intelleccyon ¶ In the whiche charyte / she sauoured tasted / how moche we beÌ bounde to loue / and seke / and to purchase the glory / and the preysynge of the name of god / for the helthe of all mennes soules ¶ And to the entent / she sawe thou seruauÌtes of god called and ordeyned and specyally to that the good lorde euer beynge sothefastnes / had chosen her a ghostly sader / whome she presented before the dyuyne goodnesse / prayenge god inwardly / the he shold veryly folowe the sothefastnes / and the he wolde shewe hym a lyghte of a specyall grace ¶ How a man maye not plese god / but he bere tryvulacyons / with the vertu of pasyence THan oure lorde god answerynge to the thyrde petycyon that is to saye to the perycyon / or desyre the whiche ryght mekely she asked of god for the helthe of soules / sayde to her thus ¶ My doughter I wyl that thy ghostly fader / the whiche thou hase nowe / parsue to my goodnesse / in ferueÌt desyre / and grete besynesse / for the helthe of all soules ¶ But he maye not haue that / nor thou / nor none other / but with pasyence in many parsecucyons ¶ Also but as I wyll grauÌt you / as I sayd to the before ¶ For ryght as ye des syre to se my worshyp iÌ holy chyrche so ye sholdeÌ desyre to loue ãâã suffre parsecucyons / with very greate pasyence ¶ By that I shall parceyue that âe ãâã and my otheâ ãâã ãâã and desyren my ãâã in sothefastnesse / than be shall be to me a dere beloued sone / and he and suthe other shall rest them full merely vpon the brest of my onely begoten sone / of the whiche sone I haue made a brydge / the whiche shall receyue hym and althose that haue ta ãâ¦ã loue / and they shal come ãâã to thââ graââ merry whiche they ãâ¦ã and the one neyghbour to ãâã we other ââ hymâââ be you sure and stedfaste in ãâã / and than drede you not / but ye shall ascende vpon this brydgs / euer after that to lyue in ioye / with all the holy company of heuen ¶ Here now moder and systreÌ eâdeth the fyrste parte of your ghosty orcharde / the whiche treteth ãâã of mekenesse / dysccecyon / lone / charyte / holt desyres and of palyeÌce ¶ These vertues feruently for them to la bour / for his moders loue he graunt vs all his dere blessynge Amen ¶ The seconde boke ¶ The fyrste chapytre of the seconde partye / maketh mencyon of a brydge how god made a brydge of his loue whan the waye of goynge to ãâã was broke by inobedyence of ãâã by the whiche brydge ãâ¦ã people maye suer / passe ¶ Also how god iduced and ãâã this soule to beholde the greatenes of this brydge / that is to say / how it recheth fro the erthe to heueÌ And here after shat folo we of the same mater / as it is shewed in the kalender before Ca. i. DOughter bycause I dyd saye to the that I had made a brydge of my sone I wyl that it be vn knowen to you / the the waye of my be loued sone is broken / by the inobedyence trespas of Adam / in somoche the no maÌ myght come to euerlastyÌge lyfe ¶ And to me they gaueÌ no thaÌkynges / as they sholden haue done / and had no parte of the greate goodnesse / for the whiche recoysynge of blysse / I made theÌ and formed theÌ to my ymage and lykenesse ¶ And for they hsd not the goodnes / whiche I ordeyned for them / my sothefastnes was not fulfylled / whiche sothefastesse is this / that I made that same man / for he sholde haue euer lastynge lyfe with me ¶ And for he sholde sauour thst my euer be yÌge goodnesse sweternesse / hethrowe his offence dyd trespas agaynst my coÌmauÌdymeÌt / and so that sothefastnesse was not fulfylled ¶ And this myschefe befel / bycause the foresayde synne had shutte vp heuen / and closed the gate of my mercy ¶ This same synne hathe gendren / and but gyned full pryckynge thornes / full many trybulacyons / with mfynyte grefes ¶ This creature founde anone a rebellyon agaynste hymselfe and was made contrary to me / his flesshe made a batayle agaynste the spyryte / and there he lost the noble state of innosency / and became as an vnreasonable best ¶ Eche other creature was to hym rebell / where before that / they sholden haue obeyed to hym / yshe had kepte that innosency in hym / in the whiche I had made hym ¶ But sythen he kepte hym not styll in that state / but trespased agaynste my obedyence / therfore he deserued euer lastynge dethe in soule and in body ¶ Also of trespasse and synne / same forthe an vny uetsall flode / the whiche smote hym alwaye with his waters / and multyplyed many greuaunces ¶ Also the peple bare many grete labours on themselfe of the worlde / of the deuyl in dyuers and many maners withouten noÌbre / for the whiche they wereÌ perysshed ¶ For no man myghte asceÌde to the euer beyÌgelyfe / though he had be the most ryghfullest lyuer at that tyme. ¶ Wherfore I desyred to ordeyne a remedy agaynste your suylles / and now I haue gyueÌ you a brydge of my owne sone / the whan you wyll passe ouer that ftode / ye sholden not perysthe / whiche flode is a meruaplous feruent see of this wretched lyfe ¶ Doughter sees thou not / how moche my creature is beholden to me / and how moche he is blynded with the vnstedfastnesse of hymselfe / in wyll to slee his soule / not in wyll to take the remedy that is ordeyned and gyueÌ to hym of me How god induced and styrred this deuoute soule / to beholde the grete nesse of this holy brydge that is to saye how it recheth fro erthe to heuen OPen noowe the eyes of thy ghostly intelleccyon / and thou shall se deedly men by dyuers maners made blyÌde with ygnorauÌce ¶ Thou shall se imparfyte men / and parfyte men / the whiche folowen me in sothefastnesse / that thou may sorowe for the dampnacyon of wretches / and for theyr ygneraunce / and that thou maye ioye for the parfeccyon of my well beloued chyldren ¶ And thou shall se moreouer the dyuers maners whiche some meÌ holdeÌ / what way they kepeÌ that gone in lyghte / the maners of them that gone in derkenes ¶ But fyrste I wyll that thou loke the
that they cut awaye the venym of theyr propre sensualyte / whiche bryngeth in the peyne dethe euer endurynge ¶ And sothely venym it is / for ryght as venym bryngeth peyne to the body / and at the laste dethe / but he caste it out that soner fro hym / or take some medycyne / ryght so it is of this cursed scorpyon and venyÌ of worldely loue ¶ I saye not that they sholde cast awaye temporall goodes fro themselfe / for temporall goodes in themselfe ben good / for of me they ben made and ordeyned that am moost souerayne good ¶ And therfore a man maye vse them as he wyll / with holy loue and very trewe drede ¶ But I say of the wycked wyll of a man / the whiche poysoneth the soule bryngynge in dethe / but it be cast out hastely with all maner desyres of the herte by deuoute confessyon / the whiche confessyon / is the most souerayne medycyne / that delyuereth a man fro suche venyÌ / thoughe it seme ryght bytter in the sensualyte ¶ Sees thou not how now all suche beÌ dysceyued that myghte and they wolde haue me / and also haue comforte ghostly gladnesse and put awaye fro theÌ heuynesse ¶ And yet rather they coueyten euyll vnder coloure of good thynge / euer with all maner besynesse and vnordynate loue to gader togyder gredyly golde ¶ Neuerthelesse bycause they ben blynded with moche mystrustynge of infydelyte / they knowen not this venyÌ Â¶ And they knoweÌ well that they beÌ poysoned and venymed / and yet they wyl not receyue no medicyne ¶ Suche people done bere the fendes crosse / and tasten without ony doubte the ernest of hell ¶ How worldely men with all theyr rychesse and goodes / can not holde them contented / and of the peyne that they deserue for theyr wycked wylles / aswell in this lyfe / as after theyr dethe I Sayde before to the / that wyll alone is cause why man is punysshed and peyned all with my seruauÌtes in asmoche as they lacke theyr owne wyll / and beÌ gouerned after my wyl / therfore they fele no peyne that greueth theÌ but they beÌ fulfylled in theyr soules felyÌge me iÌwardeli by grace ¶ And all suche that haue not me / maye in no wyse be fulfylled / yf they had all the worlde ¶ For all thynges that ben made / ben lesse of dygnyte than man / for they ben made for man / not man for them / and therfore he maye not be fulfylled with theÌ Â¶ I alone maye fulfyll hym / none but I. ¶ Therfore all suche worldely wretches / ben so clypped with that derke cloude of blyndenesse ¶ Euer they ben besy / and labour in vayne / alwaye desyrynge to haue suche as they shal neuer haue / so they may neuer be fylled ¶ For of me the maye fulfyll theÌ / they wyll no thynge aske ¶ I tell the how it stondeth with theÌ in peynes / thou knowes well that loue causeth peyne / whan that thynge the is lost / to the whiche al worldely meÌ ben holy conformed ¶ Worldely meÌ conformen them in al maner wyses by vnordynate loue to erthely thynges / and ther by they ben made all erthe ¶ For they haue a maner of ghostly impressyon of lykenes with ryches ¶ Who is that / what euer state he stondes in / that wolde for ony seruyce done to creatures / haue the losse of me ¶ Or who is that the whiche maketh of his owne body by vnclennesse of lyuynge / an vnreasonable beest ¶ All suche feden them of the erthe / by desyrynge of dyuers worldely states ¶ And they woldeÌ that they sholden euerlast / but it wyll not be / for they passen awaye as the wynde / other by meane of dethe / or els I by ryghtwyse ordynauÌce depryue them / fro suche thynges that they so loue vnordynately / and than is theyr peyne intollerable / for by asmoche as they had suche good in possessyoÌ by an vnordynate loue / by somoche they lese theÌ with sharper peyne ¶ Neuerthelesse yf they haddeÌ kepte them as goodes lente / and not as theyr propre goodes / doubtelesse they sholdeÌ haue forsake them wtout peyne ¶ And therfore theyr peyne is the more / bycause they haue not that they desyre ¶ For as I sayde the worlde maye not fulfyll theÌ / and than they haue a grete peyne / what ben the paynes of his conscyence / and what peynes he suffreth that wyll be venged for worldely good / I shall tell the. ¶ Contynually he freteth hymselfe / and fyrste he sleeth his owne soule / soner thaÌ his ghostly enemy ¶ He is fyrste deed / for he hath sleyne hymselfe / with the swerde of hate ¶ O what peyne suche a couetous worldely man the is enuyous suffreth in his conscyence / euer so fretynge hymselfe / and wyll not suffre hymselfe to haue no delyte of his neyghbours prosperyte ¶ By this thou maye knowe what peyne a worldly couetous maÌ suffreth of that thurste of his auaryce / the whiche wyll neuer fulfyll his owne nede / nor the necessyte of other ¶ Thus than of all suche thynges that a man loueth in the sensualyte of his flesshe / he draweth to hym by many vnordinate dredes / and moche peyne of coÌscyence ¶ They take vpon them wylfully for to bere the deuylles peynefull cros in tastynge here of the ernest of hell ¶ And the seke people lyuen in this worlde / in many maner dyuers wyses of ghostly peynes at the last but yf they amende them / for to receyue dethe euerlastynge ¶ All suche ben in the waye of sothefastnes / that in this worlde ben hurte by thornes of many trybulacyons / tourmentyÌge theÌselfe by theyr owne vnordynate mysruled wyll ¶ All suche haue tourmente of body and of soule / for with peynes and tourmentes the body and the soule ben torne in peces / in asmoche as they gate golde / and wanne ryches of the worlde / with an vnordynate myse ruled loue ¶ And so they beÌ depryued of the lyfe of grace and affeccyon of charyte / and they ben made trees of dethe / and therfore all theyr werkes ben deed / for they lyuen in grete peynes / walowynge in the floode that ledeth to the water of dethe / passynge forthe with hate by the fendes gate / and so they receyue endelesse daÌpnacyoÌ Â¶ Now thou knowes how they that maken them wylfully the deuyls martyrs dysceyueÌ themselfe / and with what peynes they dyscende gone downe to hell ¶ What is that trowes thou that blyndeth them ¶ Nothynge elles / but a cloude trewely of theyr owne mysruled dysordynate loue layde ouer the clere syghte of the holy feythe ¶ Thou knowes also how worldely trybulacyons / iÌ what maner they come ¶ They hurten onely bodyly my specyall seruauntes / bycause they beÌ cast out of the worlde but yet they ben not hurte spyrytually that is in
/ and that gladnesse the whiche dothe come of the fende / is but gladnesse alone wtout folowynge of ony vertu / for asmoche vertu he feleth whaÌ it is gone as he dyd at the begynnynge ¶ An suche gladnesse cometh of the loue that they haue in the ghostly comforte / as it is rehersed before ¶ I wyll also that thou knowe that al be not dyseeyued by suche gladnesse / but onely suche vnêfyte folke / that set all theyr ioye more in the gyfte of comforte and delyte of vysytacyon / than in me that am the gyuer ¶ And all suche that with ony beholdynge of other thynge than of me / beholdeÌ feruently rather to affeccyon of me that am the gyuer / thaÌ to the gyfte / and so they loue the gyfte for me / not for theyr owne coÌforte maye neuer be dysceyued of theyr gladnesse / in tyme of vysyoÌs or vysytacyons ¶ And therfore they knowe ryghte well whan the fende cometh in forme of lyghte / for to dysceyue by suche maner of gladnes / as soone as they aspy it is he / anone they knowe theÌselfe with theyr owne very knowlege / and dyspyse suche comforte / grypynge and clypped the doctryne of my charyte ¶ And for shame the fende gothe fro them / but all suche that loue theyr ghostly comforte do the coÌtrary ¶ For they may knowe yf they wyll his dysceytes as I haue sayde that is fyndyÌge in theyr owne soules ioye withoute vertu / not goynge oute of the same pathe of mekenesse / and very charyte / and hongre of my worshyp endeles god / and also of helthe of soules / lyke as my parfyte and trewe louers done ¶ Lo doughter my endelesse goodnesse hathe prouyded thus / for parfyte and vnparfyte / in what state that they stonde / for to knowe dysceytes of the fende / in tyme of vysyons and vysytacyons / that they be not dysceyued / yf they wyll kepe the lyghte of intelleccyon / the whiche I haue gyuen to you / with the clere syghte of ryghte holy feythe / the whiche lyghte letteth the fende for to shadowe vpon you his dysceytes / and therfore neuer auoyde this lyghte of grace awaye fro you / for yf ye neuer auoyde it awaye fro you / there is none that maye take it awaye fro you ¶ How that god is the fulfyller of holy desyres of his seruauntes / how it pleaseth god moche whan a man dothe aske with parseuerauÌce / and knocketh at the gate of his sothefastnesse NOw dere doughter I haue fully declared to the and yllumyned the eye of thy intelleccyon / agaynste the dysceytes that the fende maye do to the / and so I haue satysfyed thy desyre of that thynge thou dyd aske me / for I am not a dyspyser of the desyres of my seruauntes / but I gyue to the the asker / styrre the for to aske / he dyspleaseth me ryghte moche that knocketh not veryly at the gate of my sothefastnesse that is Ihesu suynge the doctryne of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryst / shewyÌge his doctryne / whiche is nothynge elles / but a maner knockynge and cryenge to me endelesse fader / by the voyce of holy desyre / with meke and contynuall prayers ¶ I am that fader that gyueth to you breed of grace / by medyacyon of the gate that is of my sone Ihesu / and other whyle sor to proue your desyres and êseuerauÌce / I feyne me as thoughe I vnderstode you not in youre askynge / and yet I vnderstonde you well ynoughe / and yet in the mene whyle / that that is spedefull for you I gyue you ¶ For I gyue you bothe hongre and wyll / by the whiche ye cryen to me ¶ And thaÌ I seynge your stydfastnes and parseuerauÌce / in that that they be ordynately dyrecte to me I fulfyll ¶ To this callynge my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu hathe styrred you / where he saythe thus / knocke and it shall be opened to you / aske and you shall haue / serche and you shall fynde ¶ So I wyl that thou do / that thy desyre neuer cease iÌ askynge of my helpe / nor bowe not awaye thy voyce fro me endelesse fader / that I maye shewe and do mercy to the worlde ¶ Nor cese not for to knocke at the gate of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / in suyÌge of his steppes ¶ Delyte therfore iÌ his passyon / erynge with hym vpon the table of the crosse the meet of helthe of soules / for ioy / presynge / and honour of my name / and wayle there hertefully the bethe of mankyÌde / whome thou sees fall in grete wretchednes ¶ For ther is no toÌgue in erthe suffycyent / to tell the wretchednesse that is vsed iÌ this worlde / therfore by suche waylynge / wepynge / and cryenge / I wyll shewe mercy to the worlde ¶ This thyÌge it is that I desyre and requyre of my seruauntes / and that is a tokeÌ that they loue me veryly and therfore as Isayd I shal neuer dyspyse nor sette lytell by theyr deuoute desyres ¶ Howe this deuoute soule dothe meke her and yeldeth thaÌkynges to god / and how that she prayeth for all the worlde / and specyal for holy chyrche / and also specyally for her ghostly dyscyples / and for her two ghostly faders / and after this she asketh to her of the dedes of mynystres to holy chyrche T'Han that deuoute soule was veryly drunke by vnyon of loue / by the whiche she was alyened and rapte fro herselfe / and her bodyly felynges / and araysed herselfe aboue herselfe / beholdynge with the eye of intelleccyon in the endeles truthe of god / and sayde thus ¶ O souerayne endeles goodnesse of god what wrecthe am I / that it shall please the my swete souerayne endeles fader to shewe to me thy sothefastnes / and also the pryue subtyltes of the fende / and dysceytes of my owne sensualyte / the whiche dysceytes bothe I and other myghte receyue in this wepynge worde / and knowe them not / but yf we hadde be enformed before ¶ Good lorde who styrred the here to ¶ Certayne thy owne loue / for thou dyd loue me / or than I loued the. ¶ O fyre of loue / thankynge be to that endelesse fader / I vnparlyte and full of derkenesse / and thou parfyte and full of lyghte hase shewed me parfeccyon / and a clere shynynge waye of doctryne / of thy onely sothefast sone Ihesu ¶ I was deed / and thou hase yraysed me / I was seke and thou hase gyueÌ me medycynes / and not onely the medycyne of the blode that thou gaue to maÌkynde by medyacyoÌ of thy sones passyoÌ / but thou hase gyueÌ me an other specyal medycyne agaynst my pryuy sekenesse / the whiche I neuer knewe before / by that doctryne that thou hase gyuen me / that in no wyse I shold Iudge ony maner reasonable creatures and specyally thy seruauntes / of whome
bothe coÌsyeÌce fre choyse togyder / knewe well ynoughe by lyght of iÌtelleccyoÌ / who was his frende who was his enemy ¶ To the freÌde that is to vertuous and holy thoughtes of the herte they gaue loue affeccyon of loue / excercysynge theÌ with greate ghostly besynesse ¶ And to the enemy that is to vyces shrewde thoughtes / they gaue hate dysplesaunce / and with the swerde of loue / hate / and with the lyght of reason / and the hoÌde of fre choyse / they smyte myghtely theyr enemyes / so that afterwarde in the poynt of of dethe / the conscyence freteth not hyÌselfe / for he hathe made good kepynge / and so stoÌdeth iÌ peas / neuertheles a soule of mekenesse vndernymeth hymselfe in the tyme of dethe / for that tyme he knoweth clerely the tresour of his tyme / and the precyous ghostly stones of vertu / consderyÌge than the he hathe excercysed that tyme ryghtely tell / yet that is no peyne that tourmenteth hym / but it is a peyne that impugneth hym / for it maketh the soule to gader all hole in to herselfe / puttynge before her the blode of the meke and vndefouled laÌbe my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / and he turneth hyÌ not to his vertues that he hathe vsed before / for he wyl not nor he may not hope in his vertues / but onely in that blode / iÌ the whiche he fyndeth my mercy / and as he hathe lyued in his lyfe / hauyÌge myÌde of my blode so in his dethe / he shall be fulfylled with the same / made drunke ther with / and he forsaketh than hyÌselfe in that blode ¶ Fendes maye not than vndernyme hym of synnes / for the malyce of them he ouercame in his lyfe with wysedome / yet they came for to se hym / yf they myght thaÌ ony thynge wynne / and of them cometh in a maÌnes dethe horryble syghtes to make hym afrayde with theyr foule lokynge / and with many dyuers fantases ¶ But bycause in the soule is no venyme of synÌe / theyr lokyÌge shall in no wyse make theÌ afrayde / as they shall make suche afrayde the haue lyued in the worlde wyckedly ¶ Whan the fendes do se that suche a soule is entred in to crystes blode with feruent charyte they maye not suffre that / but they stonde all a fer throwynge to the soule dattes / yet theyr batayle / theyr warre / theyr greate cryes maye not noye it / bycause the soule begynneth to taste endelesse lyfe in heuen / for with the eye of intellecyon / he hathe the clere lyght of holy feythe / that is me that am his infynyte good / whiche he hopeth to haue of grace not of dewte but in the vertu of my sones blode shed in his passyon / and therfore the same soule spredeth out his armes of hope / and with the hoÌdes of loue clyppeth that bolde to hyÌ / entrynge in to the possessyon therof / or than he be therin ¶ Howmoche galdnes trowes thou receyueth than a soule that seeth hymselfe parfytely come to this peas / for he tasteth of the good of angels kynde / and ryghte as he lyued in charytable fraternyte with his neyghboure / ryght so he than receyueth the good of all trewe tasters fo charyte / eche of theÌ with other / generally all suche as do passe oute of this worlde so swetely / receyuen this thynge ¶ But my mynysters of whome I tolde / the whiche dyd lyue as angels iÌ erthe / they receyue of it moche more / for iÌ this lyfe they dyd lyue with more knowlege and with more honger of my worshyp helthe of soules ¶ I saye not that they do receyue onely of the lyghte of vertu purely whiche generally al maye haue but these had the lyghte of of cunnynge added to the lyght of vertuous lyuynge / the whiche is a lyghte aboue kynde / by the whiche cunnynge they knowe more of my truthe / and he that moche knoweth moche loueth / he the moche loueth more receyueth Your mede is mesured to you after the mesure of loue / for one that hathe no cuÌnynge this is not comunely sayde of all but of certayne specyall folke / and yet they receyue more worthynesse by state of theyr preestheed / for properly to them it is gyuen for to hoÌger soules for my worshyp thoughe it longeth to all in generall for all sholde stoÌde in the dewe loue of charyte of neyghbourheed ¶ But these that be my mynysters / is gyuen mynystracyon of my sones precyous blode and geuernaunce of soules / all suche that be so besy with affeccyon of vertu / sholde receyue more thaÌ other ¶ O how blessyd be theyr soules whaÌ they come to the poynt of dethe / for they were shewers and defenders of the feythe for theyr neyghbours ¶ Also they haue incorporate the same feythe in the pythe of theyr soules / with the whiche feythe they se theyr places in me ¶ The hope also that they lyuen with / hopynge in my prouydence / losynge the hope of theyr owne truste / that is not hopynge in theyr owne proper conceyte / by the whiche losse of theyr owne truste / they sette no ordynate affeccyon in no maner creature / nor in no maner create thyÌge / for they do lyue ryght poore wylfully / wherfore that same blessyd hope they dyd extende to me with greate delyte ¶ The herte also of them whiche is a vessell of loue that bare my name aboute with ryght feruent and brennynge charyte / techynge and prechynge bothe with ensample of good and holy lyuynge and doctryne to his neyghboure / aryseth with meruaylous loue / and clyppeth me with affeccyon of loue that am his ende / bryngynge to me the Margaryte stone of ryghtewysenesse / for euer he bare that precyous ghostly stone before hym / doynge to euery creature ryghtwysenesse / and yeldynge his dewte dyscretely / and therfore he yeldeth to me with very mekenesse ryghtwysenesse / he yeldeth also ioy presyÌge to my name / to hymselfe he yeldeth indygnacyon / holdynge hymselfe vnworthy to receyue so greate grace ¶ His conscyence also yeldeth to me good wytnesse / I yelde to hym the corowne of ryghtewysenesse arayed and set with Margaryte stones of vertu / that is of the fruyte that his charyte drewe out of vertu ¶ O erthely angell all this is good to the / for thou was neuer vnkynde of the benefytes that thou receyued of me / nor thou was neuer ygnorauÌte nor neclygent / but besyly with very lyghte thou hadde the eye of thy intelleccyon open vpon thy subiectes / and as a trewe and a maÌly shepeherde thou folowes the doctryne of the very shepeherde Ihesu cryste my onely sothefaste sone and lambe / and therfore thou goes by hym all bathed in his blode with the flocke of thy beestes / whome by thy holy lyuynge and techyÌge many of them thou base
whiche floodes maye come oute frome the / that arte the parmanents peaseable see ¶ I thanke the fader / and endelesse thankynge be to the / that hase satysfyed to me of that I asked the / and of that I knewe not / whiche I asked not of the / and also bycause thou hase styrred me to wepe / and taught me mater of wepynge / for to offer in prayer / swete thyÌges / delectable thynges / and longe desyres / before the with meke contynual prayer ¶ Now therfore I aske of the / that thou shewe mercy to the worlde / and to holy chyrche I praye the that thou fulfyll that thynge / whiche thou wolde I prayed for ¶ Wo be to me most wretche that am cause of all euyl / and yet can not sorowe it within my soule ¶ Good lorde tary no longer / but haue ruthe and pyte on all the worlde / bowe the lorde and fulfyll the desyre of thy seruaunte ¶ O what am I / thou arte he that makes bothe me and thy seruauntes for to crye to the after mercy / and therfore gracyously here the voyces of theÌ Â¶ Thy sothefastnesse sayd thus / serche and ye shall fynde / knocke and it shall be opened to you / aske it shal be grauÌted to you ¶ O endelesse fader / thy seruauntes crye to the for mercy ¶ Good fader answere them after theyr desyres / for I knowe well properly it longeth to the for to haue mercy and for to gyue mercy / and therfore thou maye not deny it / but thou muste nedes gyue mercy to them that aske it ¶ They knocke at the gate of thy sothefastnesse / for in thy onely sothefaste sone Ihesu they knocke thy meruaylous loue whiche thou hase to man / and so they crye at the gate / wherfore the fyre of thy charyte sholde not nor maye not wtholde / but that it muste nedes open the same gate to theÌ that knocke with parseueraunce ¶ Therfore endelesse fader / open the breestes / breke the harde hertes of thy creatures not for theÌ that do not knocke but do it for thy infynyte goodnesse / and for the loue of thy seruauntes / whiche for them do knocke at the gate ¶ Graunte thou endelesse fader theyr askyÌge / whom thou sees stoÌde knockynge at the gate of thy goodnesse / and what do they aske good lorde ¶ Certayne the blode of this gate / that is the blode of thy onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / for in that blode / thou hase wasshed a waye the wyckednesse stynkyÌge fylthe of synne / whiche came by the synne of Adam that is oure blode good lorde for of that blode thou hase made to vs a bathe / I knowe wel therfore thou maye not nor wyl not deny theÌ that aske the in parseueraunce ¶ Gyue therfore good lorde the fruyte of that blode to thy creatures / putte good lorde the pryce of that blode vpon that balaunce of thy sone / lest the fendes of hell lede awaye thy shepe with hym ¶ Thou art a veri good shepeherde that hase gyuen to vs a very trewe shepeherde / that is thy sone Ihesu / the whiche for thy obedyence gaue his lyfe for his shepe / of his blode made a bathe ¶ This is the blode that thy seruauÌtes do aske of the as hongry soules at thy gate by the whiche blode they aske that thou shewe mercy to the worlde / make holy chyrche smell swetely in swete smellynge floures of vertu / and deuoute and holy curates / with whose swete smell / they put awaye the stynkyÌge smell of stynkynge floures ¶ Thou endelesse fader dyd saye / that for the loue whiche thou hase to thy reasonable creatures / for the prayers of thy seruauntes / that suffer moche labour for soules / thou wolde shewe mercy to the worlde / and araye holy chyrche worthyly / and so refresshe vs. ¶ Therfore delaye not / nor tary not endeles fader for to turne to synners thy eye of mercy but say to theÌ thus or that ye cryed to me for mercy / I herde you with my ere of mercy ¶ Open good lorde the gate of thy meruaylous charyte / the whiche thou hase graunted to vs by the grace of thy sone ¶ I knowe ryghte well good lorde that thou openes the gate or that we knocke ther at / for with the affecyon and loue that thou hase gyuen to thy seruauÌtes / they knotke to the crye / sekynge thy worshyp helthe of soules ¶ Therfore endelesse fader graunte theÌ breed of lyfe / that is the fruyte of thy blode of thy onely sone sothefaste Ihesu / whiche fruyte they aske of the / for ioye and worshyp of thy name and helthe of soules ¶ For it semeth and sothe it is that it is more ioye to the / worshyp for to saue soules of thy creatures / than for to suffer them obstynately in hardenesse of herte ¶ To the endeles fader al this is possyble / for thoughe thou made vs withoute vs / yet thou wyll not saue vs without vs. ¶ And therfore constrayne theyr wylles gracyously / dyspose theÌ for to desyre and wyll / that they wyll not ¶ This I aske the for thy infynyte mercy / thou hase made vs of noughth / therfore nowe to suche as we be / shewe mercy / refresshe the vessels that thou hase made and formed to the ymage and lykenesse of the / reforme them to grace / in the mercy in the blode of of thy ryght swete and well byloued sone Ihesu cryst â LAVS DETVR DEO ¶ Nowe moder and systren here I haue made an ende of this the fyfte boke / in the whiche you may fynde ghostly / good / holy doctryne for the helthe of soules / with greate consolacyon comforte to youreselfe / with swete herbes and plantes of swete odour and smell In the whiche boke is made meÌcyon of the blessyd sacrament and of his vertues / with the reformacyoÌ of preestes and theyr subiectes / with many and dyuers maters / and ensamples of good lyuyÌge / as is conteyned in the sayde boke Sexta ¶ The syxte boke ¶ The fyrst chapyter speketh of the syxte party / and it treateth moche of the prouydence of god / and fyrste of his prouydence generally / that is to say / how god prouyded man to be man / how he formed hym of noughte to his ymage and lykenesse ¶ And howe god prouyded man to sanacyon with incarnacyon of his sone / whan the gates of Paradyse were shyt for the synne of Adam ¶ And how he prouyded hymselfe / gyuynge hymselfe contynually to vs in the meet of the auter ¶ Also how god prouyded to gyue hope in his creatures / how he that moste parfytely hopeth / moste tasteth the prouydence of god ¶ And of other maters / suche as be rehersed to you before in the kalender Ca. i. benedictê° q
this lyfe ¶ How that god prouyded to gyue hope in his creatures / and how he that moste parfytely hopeth / moste tasteth the prouydeÌce of god ¶ Forthermore I haue gyuen to hym refresshynge of hope / yf he be holde with lyghte of very feythe that pryce of my sones blode / whiche was payed for to gyue hym stydfast hope and sykernesse of helthe / and that shame and reprefe that cryste Ihesu suffered in his passyon is his worshyp ¶ For yf he in all the lymmes of his body offended me / as anendes that for a remedy / my blessyd swete sone iÌ all his body suffered greuous tourmente ¶ And also with his obedyence he releued youre inobedyence / of whose obedyence ye haue all take grace / and for inobedyence / al ye haue take and receyued synne ¶ This is grauÌted and prouyded by my prouydence / was fro the begynnyÌge of that worlde vnto this daye / and shall be vnto that laste daye / euer for to ordeyne a remedy to youre necessytes / and to that helthe of mankynde / by dyuers and sundry wyses / as I that am a very ryghtewyse leche / se it be spedefull to your infyrmytes / that parfyte helthe maye that soner be restored / orelles for to kepe hym in helthe ¶ Therfore my prouydence shal neuer fayle theÌ / to suche as wyll receyue it and haue parfyte hope in me / for all that haue parfyte hope in me they knocke and crye in sothefastnesse not onely by worde but by affeccyon / and so with lyghte of very feythe they shall taste me iÌ my prouydeÌce ¶ But not suche that knocke crye in sothefastenesse with the voyce of wordes / sayenge thus to me lorde lorde all suche but yf they crye and aske me other wyse / I shall not knowe them by my mercy / but by my ryghtwysenes HOr in sothe my prouydence shall neuer fayle to hym that veryly hopeth in me / but he that hathe dyspeyre iÌ me and hopeth in hymselfe knowes thou not well that hope can not be sette in two contraryes / whiche my sothefaste sone taughte you in the gospel / where he sayd thus ¶ No maÌ may serue and please two lordes / for yf he serue that one / he hateth that other ¶ Seruyce is not wtout hope / for a seruaunte that serueth serueth for hope of his rewarde profyte that he seeth in his seruyce shall come to hym / or els for hope that he hathe to please his lorde ¶ In the same wyse thynke dere doughter that it happeth to a soule / for other it muste be that she serue and hope in me / or els that she serue and hope in the worlde and iÌ herselfe / for by somoche she serueth the worlde wtout me / in asmoche as she serueth and loueth her owne êpre sensuà lyte / of the whiche loue seruyce / she hopeth to haue delyte / plesaunce / sencyble felyÌge ¶ But bycause theyr hope is set in vanytes and transytory thynges suche as haue ende / therfore it muste nedes fayle here / and of that she loued she maye haue none effecte / as longe as she hopeth in herselfe and in the worlde / she maye not hope in me for the worlde that is worldely desysyres of man / be to me hate / they were to me somoche in hate and abhomynacyon that is for dystruccyoÌ of them I sende my onely sothefast sone Ihesu to the most repreuable dethe of the crosse ¶ The worlde I maye not acorde / but a soule that parfytely hopeth in me / and serueth me with all her herte / and all her affeccyon / anone by very nede it must mysse trust of herselfe of the worlde / and of suche hope namely that is set with her owne freylte ¶ This is very êfyte hope more or lesse parfyte after parfeccyoÌ of loue whiche the soule hathe in me / and so parfyte and vnparfyte do taste of my prouydence / but he that setueth and hopeth for to please me onely for my selfe / receyueth and tasteth me more êfytely / than they that serue me with hope of fruyte that they fynde in me ¶ These be the fyrste of whome I haue tolde to the the parfeccyon iÌ the laste state of the soule ¶ But these that I tell that now whiche go with hope loue of fruyte / be the vnparfyte soules / bothe the seconde and the thyrde / of whome I tolde the before / of the states of the soule ¶ But yet in no wâse nother to parfyte nother to vnparfyte my prouydence shall not fayle / so that a man presume not / nor hope not in hymselfe / whiche presumyÌge and hopynge in hymselfe / is cause of nothyÌge elles / but by goynge out fro my loue / and entrynge in to his owne loue / wherby the eye of intelleccyon is blyÌdfelde / he withdrawynge of the lyghte of very feythe / and therfore he walketh not with lyght of reason for to knowe my prouydence ¶ Neuerthelesse to a man be he neuer so synfull or ryghtewyse / I wyl prouyde / and gyue my prouydence and ordeyne for hym / for all thyÌges be made by crafte of my goodnesse / and I it am that am / and withoute me is nothynge / but synne the whiche is noughte ¶ Thus thou maye knowe that they recerue my prouydence / and yet they vnderstonde it not / and yf they knowe it not / they maye not loue it / and therfore they maye not receyue the fruyte of grace therof ¶ All that be ryghte and to suche it semed croked and as blyÌde men / they se in derkenesse / bycause they haue sette theyr hope in derkenesse / wherby they fall in to murmuracyon and in to inpasyence / how be they somoche fobles ¶ O dere doughter how maye they byleue the I moste souerayne endelesse goodnesse maye nothyÌge wyl but the good of them in small thynges / that euery day suffer to come to theÌ for your helthe / whan they proue by experyence / that I wyll nothynge haue but satysfaccyoÌ of them for theyr helthe in greate thyÌges ¶ Sythen it so is that not wtstoÌdynge all theyr blyÌdenesse they may nothynge do be it neuer so lytell / but yf they se my goodnesse with some maner lyght aboue kynde / and also the benefyce of my prouydence whiche they fynde / and that they maye not deny / what in the fyrste creacyon / and in the secoÌde creacyon that a man receyueth in that blode of my sone / wherin I haue reformed hyÌ by grace / as I haue sayd to the. ¶ This is so clere and so opeÌ that they can not saye the contrary / neuerthelesse they defayle beynge afrayde of theyr owne shadowe / for they haue not vsed nor excercysed this lyghte with vertu ¶ An vnwyse man seeth not that fro that tyme to tyme I haue prouyded generally to the worlde / and specyally to some after theyr astate
was the I sholde shewe mercy to the worde ¶ The thyrde was that thou prayed to me for my mystery al body of holy chyrche / the I wolde auoyde thens derkenesse and parsecucyons / desyrynge thyselfe the I sholde punysshe the wyckednesse of them vpon the / and there I declared to the that no peyne / whiche is gyuen in a tyme that hathe ende / maye satasfy the synne done agaynst me that am endelesse good namely the pure peyne alone but it satysfyeth thus / yf the peyne be oned with desyre of soule / coÌtrycyon of herte and the maner how / there I declared the / and also I answered the ther that I wolde she we mercy to the worlde / and there I tolde the / that mercy is enpropryed to me / for by mercy and by meruaylous loue that I haue to mankynde / I sende my onely sothefaste sone / whome I put to the in thou lykenes of a brydge that recheth fro heuen to erthe / by vnyon of my dyuyne nature oned to youre nature / this I shewe the for to yllumyne the the more in my truthe / and there also I tolde the how a man maye ascende vp by that brydge by thre grees / that is by thre myghtes of the soule / to these thre grees how thou sholde ascende vpon the brydge of my sone there I tolde the / that fyrst thou muste ascende vpon the grees of his feet / and than vpon the syde / and so at the laste vpon the grees of his mouthe / in the whiche grees I put thre states of the soule / that is vnêfyte state / parfyte state / moste parfyte state / in the whiche moost parfyte state / a soule is come to the excellence of vnytyue loue / in eche of them I shewed the clerely ther that thynge whiche dothe awaye fro that soule imparfeccyon / and maketh it to come to parfeccyon / and of the dysceytes of fendes / and of proper spyrytuall loue / and also there I tolde the in these states of thre vndernymynges that my myldenesse dothe to a soule / one I tolde the I do in this lyfe / another in the dethe in suche that with hope dye in deedly synne of whome I tolde the that all suche dyd go vnder the brydge by the fendes waye / of whose wretchednesse there I tolde the / and the thyrde of the laste generall dome / of the peynes of dampned soules / and of the ioye of blessed soules / whaÌ eche soule shal be arayed with the dowerys of his body / also there I behyghte the / yet I promyse the that with many passyons of my seruauÌtes I shall reforme my spouse holy chyrche styrryÌge you to suffer dysease for it and for to sorowe for the wyckednes of theÌ that do parfeccyoÌ to it / there also I shewed the the greate excellence of my mynysters / and also of the reuerence whiche I requyre of seculers / for to be gyue to theÌ iÌ my name / for the defaute of theÌ shall not mynesshe theyr reuerence whiche sholde be do to them iÌ my name / and howmoche the coÌtrary of this dyspleaseth me / and of the vertu of theÌ that mynyster to me as angels / where I touched to the of the greate worthy excellence of the blessed sacrament / also there I tolde the of the states of teeres whense they came / where I tolde the the all teeres come fro the well of the herte so by rowe ther I tolde the of .iiii. states of teeres / and of the fylthe whiche bryngeth in dethe ¶ I answered the also to the fourthe petycyon of that whiche thou prayed me the to partyculer fallynge I sholde prouyde / and so I prouyded as thou knowes moreouer I declared to the bothe in generall and in specyall my prouydence / fro the begynnynge of the worlde vnto the laste ende / how that all thynges that I haue do / I do with my dyuyne prouydence / bothe in trybulacyons comfortes bodyly and ghostly / all is done for youre beste after my dyuyne prouydence / that you maye be in me holy / and the in you my sothefaste truthe maye be fulfylled / for my sothefaste truthe was to make you of noughte / for to gyue you lyfe euerlastynge / whiche ryghtwysenes was shewed and is gyuen to you / with the precyous bloode of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu / forthermore at the laste I satysfyed thy desyre / in that that thou desyred to here of parfeccyon of obedyence / and of the imparfeccyon of inobedyence / and whense obedyeÌce cometh / and what thynge draweth it fro you / I put it to the as for agener all keye so it is I tolde the ther also of partyculer obedyeÌce / of theÌ that be parfyte and vnparfyte / bothe of suche that be iÌ order and of suche as be out of order / dnd of eche of theÌ by rowe / of peas also whiche very obedyence gyueth / and howmoche an inobedyencer is dysceyued / tellynge the ther that dethe entrede in to this worlde / by the inobedyeÌce of Adam / therfore now I endelesse fader moost souerayne and endelesse truthe conclude to the / that in the obedyence of my sone all ye receyued lyfe / for ryghte as in the inobedyeÌce of the fyrste olde man all ye receyued dethe / so all those that wyll bere the keye of obedyeÌce maye receyue lyfe of that newe maÌ Ihesu cryst / of whom to you I made a brydge / for the strete of heuen was broke / therfore yf ye wyll go by this ryght swete waye with the keye of obedyeÌce / ye maye lyghtly ouer passe all maner derkenesse of the worlde and not offende / and so at the laste with the same keye for to open heuen ¶ Now dere doughter I styrre the for to wayle and wepe / my other seruauntes / for by waylynge and wepynge and by meke coÌtynuall prayer / I wyll shewe mercy to the worlde / renne therfore now by this strete of truthe all mortyfyed / lest that thou be vndernome in thy slowe goynge / and therfore I wyll that thou renne / for I shall now requyre more of the than I dyd fyrst / bycause I haue shewed my selfe openly ynoughe to the in my sothfastnes / be ware nowe that thou neuer go out of thy Cell of knowlege / but there in that Cell kepe the / spende the tresoure whiche is gyueÌ to the / that is the doctryne of truthe grounded vpon a quycke stone cryste Ihesu arayed with lyghte / whiche forsaketh derkenesse iÌ this lyghte / dere and well beloued swete doughter / araye the theri ¶ How this deuoute soule yeldynge worshyp and thankynges to god / made a prayer for al holy chyrche and for all the worlde / here is commeÌded the vertu of feythe / so is the ende fulfylled in this booke THan that soule whan it had thus seen and beholde with
well / with the water of holsome doctryne Fede you here with the swete meet of ghostly counsayll that cometh fro heuen He that lacketh this ghostly syght / here maye receyue lyght He that is in sorowe or heuynesse / here maye haue comforte and consolacyoÌ He that is wery / here maye take reste He that is dull slowe / shall be quyckened made dylygent He that is weyke / here maye receyue strengthe He that is rude vnlerned / maye gette here lernyÌge holy maners And more ouer he that hath good syght in lernyÌge / a quyet myÌde / and is stroÌge / coÌstant / vertuous / yf he dryÌke of this wel / it shal not helpe onely to enorme hyÌ preserue hyÌ therin / but also it shal enlarge encrease hyÌ in all goodnesse I ony maÌ thynke that I saye or promyse other wyse than it is in dede / let hyÌ loke wel vpon this worke / and compare my sayenges vnto it / and yf he fynde not that I haue sayde moche lesse for the mater than I ought to do let hyÌ take me for a babbeler / and poynt me with his fynger / as a man of no fydelyte Let no man dysdayne it or set lesse by it / by reason of the rude style / or of the symple translacyon / for he that translated it / intended more the eloquence of maners thaÌ of wordes ¶ The eloquence of good lyfe oughte not to be contempned nor hated for lacke of eloquent speche This booke is not ordeyned for to delyte please the eeres the outwarde senses / but to instructe the soule / and to comforte the inwarde senses It conteyneth no preceptes of eloquence / but it is ful of heuenly speche and of vertuous doctryne Therfore let not the lytell bytternesse of the outwarde huske / kepe you fro the plesaunt tastynge of the swete kernell within that is let not the symplenesse of the style / nor laboure of redynge kepe you fro the swete doctryne ghostly comforte that ye maye haue in this booke / whiche promyseth truthe sheweth it clerely It she with heueÌly thynges bryngeth theÌ forthe habuÌdantly It grauÌteth eternall Ioye / to all theÌ that wyll worke after it parseuerantly whiche our lorde graunte vs to do In whome all ye reders / fare ye well ¶ Another prologue RElygyous moder and deuoute sustren / called chosen besâây to labour at the house of Syon / in the blessed vyneyerde of our holy sauyoure / his parfyte rule whiche hymselfe endyted / to kepe coÌtynually vnto oure lyues ende / vnder the gouernaunce of oure blessed lady / her seruyce onely to rede to synge / as her specyall seruauÌtes and doughtren ¶ And she youre moste souerayne lady chese Abbes of her holy couent / I synfull vnworthy to bere ony name to the worshyp of that holy saueoure / and at the reuerence of his gloryous moder / to youre ghostly recreacyon / with helpe of youre prayes compelled by charyte for ghostly affeceycyon / purpose to wryte to you after my symple selynge / the relelacyons of oure lorde to his chosen mayde Katheryne of Sene / this boke of reuelacyons as for youre ghostly comforte to you I call it a fructyferous orcharde ¶ This orcharde by goddes grace / my wyll is to deupde in to seueÌ partes / and eche parte in to fyue chapyters / as ye maye se and rede in the kalender folowynge ¶ In this orcharde whan ye wyll be conforted / ye maye walke and se bothe fruytes and herbes / and all be it that some fruytes or herbes seme to some sharpe / harde or bytter / yet to purgynge of yeâoule they be ful spedefull and profytable / whan they be dyscretely take and receyued by counseyle ¶ Therfore relygyous sustren / in this ghostly orcharde at reasonable tyme ordeyned / I wyll that you dysporte you and walke aboute where you wyll with youre mynde and reason / in what alaye you lyke / and namely there ye fauouren best / as ye be dysposed ¶ You may chose of .xxxv. aleys in whiche you wyll walke that is to saye of .xxxv. chapyters / one tyme iÌ one / another tyme in another / but fyrste my counsayle is / clerely to assaye and serche the hole orcharde / and taste of suche fruyte and herbes reasonable after your affeccyon and what you lyketh beest / afterwarde chewe it well and ete therof for helthe of youre soule ¶ And now sustren I ceaseÌ of this prologue / and in the maner of a kalender here I wyll shewe vnto you / the ordynauÌce of this orcharde / in tyme comynge by goddes grace / as it pleaseth hyÌ of his mercy to graunte me bodyly hele and tyme of lyfe / to plate it and set it with suche fruytes and herbes / as oure lorde shewed to the foresayde mayde in her contemplacyon / whan her body was rauyshed fro all bodyly felynge / as wytnesseth her clerkes and all her dyscyples ¶ And for as moche as I sayde before that this booke sholde be deâpded in to .vii. partes / and eche parte in to .v. chapyters ¶ Here therfore I begyÌnne the kalender / and commeÌde me to youre prayers ¶ The chapyters of the fyrste parte Capitulum primum THe fyrst chapyter of this fyrste parte / sheweth how the soule of this mayde is oneâ to god / how whan that soule was lytte vp in to coÌtemplacyon made foure petycyons to oure lorde ¶ Also how the desyre of this soule encreased / whyle the necessyte of the worlde was shewed to her of oure lorde ¶ Also how the workes of a man in the worlde suffyse not to punysshe his synne iÌ purgatory / nor to be rewarded in blysse / without contynuall affeccyon of charyte ¶ Also how desyre and contrycyon of a mannes herte maketh satysfaccyon for his synne and for the peyne of his synne / whan he trauayleth for his owne soule and for all other mennes soules / sometyme it maketh satysfaccyon for the synne / and not for the peyne Ca. ij THe secunde chapyter is how eche vertu and defaute is by some maner or meane of a mannes neyghbour ¶ Also how vertues be wroughte in man by some meane of his neyghboure ¶ Also why there is somoche dyffereÌce in vertues the whiche be put in creatures ¶ Also how vertues be proued streÌgthed of theyr contraryes ¶ Ca. iij. THe thyrde chapyter treateth of the vertu of dyscrecyon / fyrste how a soule shall not put his affeccyoÌ nor effectuall workynge in penaunce pryncypally / but in vertues / and how dyscrecyon cometh of mekenesse / and how dyscrecyon yeldeth to eche creature that loÌgeth to hym ¶ Also oure lorde god sheweth here a symplytude / how that charyte / mekenesse / and dyscrecyon be oned togyder / to the whiche lykenes a soule conformeth her asmoche as she maye ¶ Also how the bodyly penaunce and other bodyly excercysesholde be take for an
instrument to come to vertues / and not for pryncypall affeccyon ¶ Also of the lyghte of dyscrecyon that is to saye in dyuers maners and in dyuers workynges ¶ Also here he sheweth a repetycyon of some wordes sayde before / and how that god the fader promyseth to his seruauÌtes refresshyÌge and ghostly comforte / and to holy chyrche reformacyon / by the meane or medyacyon of fufferynge peynes and trybulacyons para Ca. iiij THe fourthe chapyter is how the workynge of the soule of this mayde by the answere of oure lorde / bothe encreased and fayled in the bytternesse of her soule / and how she made her prayer for his spouse holy chyrche / for his people ¶ Also how god made his moone of his crysten people / and specyally of his mynysters ¶ Also here he toucheth somwhat of the sacrament of his holy body / and of the benefyte of his incarnacyon Ca. v. ALso how synne is more greuously punyshed after cryites passyon than before / end how the god promyseth to do mercy to the worlde and to holy chyrche / with intersescyons of prayers sufferauÌce of penaunce dyseases ¶ Also this soule hauynge knowlege somoche of the goodnesse of god / prayed not all onely for crysten people and for holy chyrche / but she prayed also for all the worlde in generall ¶ And also how that god made his coÌplaynt of his reasonable creature / and specyally for theyr owne proper loue the whiche reygneth in them / where he conforteth this soule to prayers and to teeres ¶ Also how that no man maye ascape the handes of god / but that he muste abyde / other of his ryghtwysenes or of his greate mercy ¶ And also how this deuoute soule vpon a tyme whaÌ that she dyd swete water / for an holy ghostly breÌnynge hete / in tyme of prayer she desyred that her swetynge sholde haue be bloode rather than water / how that she repreued herselfe / that she had not swette bloode ¶ And iÌ this repreuyÌge she made a specyall prayer for her ghostly fader ¶ Also how a man maye not please god / but he bere trybulacyons and anguyshes with pacyence ¶ The chapyters of the secuÌde parte Ca. i. THe fyrste chapyter of the secunde parte maketh mencyon of a brydge / and how the fader of heuen made a brydge of his sone / whan the waye of goynge to heuen was broke by the mâhedyeÌce of the fyrste man Adam / by the whiche all trewe crysten men maye ouer passe ¶ How god induceth styrreth this soule to beholde the greatenesse of this brydge that is to saye how that it recheth fro the erthe to heueÌ Â¶ And also how that all we be laborers / and how that we be sende fro god to labour in the vyneyerde of oure moder holy chyrche / how that euery man woman haue a vyneyerde of them selfe / and how that we the whiche be the cyons or the braunches whiche be oned in the very vyne of the sone of god oure sauyoure Ihesu cryste / the very lambe of mekenesse ¶ And also by what maner cryste bereth the braunches with the soresayde vyne / and that is to saye his seruauntes ¶ Also how that the vyneyerde of euery man is oned with the vyneyerde of his neyghboure in somoche that no man maye sette or norysshe or tyll or dystrye his owne vyneyerde / but he set or tyl or dystrye his neyghbours vyneyerde ¶ Also how that this foresayde soule whan that she hadde gyuen praysynges to god / she prayed to hym that he wolde shewe to her them that were goyÌge by the brydge / and them that were not goynge by that brydge ¶ Ca. ij ALso how the blessed brydge goddes sone hathe thre grees / by the whiche be betokened thre states of a soule / how this brydge whaÌ it is araysed vp iÌ to the heyghte / yet is it not departed fro the erthe ¶ Also how these wordes shal be vnderstonde Si exaltatus fuero a terra omÌia traham ad me ¶ Also how this brydge is walled with stones / and how that they betoken ryall and very vertues / and vpon this brydge there is a house / or a place ordeyned where meet shal be gyuen to the wayegoers / who that goeth by that brydge gothe to eternall and euerlastynge lyfe / and who that goeth vnder the brydge by the floode / gothe to pardycyon and to the dethe of euerlastynge peyne ¶ How that men go with trauayle in these two wayes whyder he go that one or that other and of the delyte the whiche a soule hathe / that goeth to the brydge ¶ Ca. iij. THe thyrde chapyter maketh mencyon / yet of this same brydge goddes sone Ihesu cryste / it telleth whaÌ our lorde Ihesu cryst was ascended vp in to heuen in the daye of his ascencyon / he departed hym not fro the erthe ¶ Also how that this soule as she wondred on the mercy of god / she noumbred in her soule the multytude of the gyftes of god / and the greate graces whiche came to mankynde of that same dyuyne mercy ¶ Also of the vnworthynesse of them the whiche wente by the floode / vnder the foresayde brydge ¶ And how that god calleth that soule that gothe vnder the tree of dethe / whiche hathe his roote pryÌcypally in foure vyces ¶ Ca. iiij ALso how the fruyte of this tree is moche dyuers / as is the dyuersyte of synnes / and here he sheweth fyrste of the voluptuosyte of carnal delectacyoÌ or lechery ¶ Also how that the truyte of of some teeres is auaryce / and of the euyll that cometh of synne / and how vnryghtfulnesse is the fruyte of some mennes teeres / whiche haue the state of domynacyon ¶ Also throwe his vnryghtwysenesse and throwe other defautes / a man cometh in to false demynge ¶ And also of the vnworthynesse in to the whiche a man falleth throwe these defautes ¶ Here also god speketh vpon that worde whiche cryst sayde O go mittam paraclitum c. Cryste sayde / I shall sende the holy ghoste / whiche shall repreue the worlde of vnryghtwysenesse of false domes or Iudge meÌtes / and here he saythe that one of these repreues be contynuall and without ende ¶ Ca. v. THe fyfte chapyter is of the secunde vndernymynge or blamynge / wherin vnrygthwysenesse and false domes be repreued / bothe in generall and in êtyculer ¶ Also of foure pryÌcypall turmentes of theÌ that be dampned / whiche all other turmentes do folowe / and specyally and syngulerly of the foule syghte of of the fende ¶ Also of the thyrde reprefe and blamynge that shall be in the daye of Iudgement / how they that be dampned maye not desyre ony goodnesse / and of the Ioye of theym that be blessed ¶ Also that after the generall Iudgement / the peyne of them that shall be dampned shall be encreaced with peynes not able to be thoughte ¶ The
chapyters of the thyrde parte Ca. i. ALso of the profyte of temptacyons / and how eche soule in his laste ende of this lyfe seeth tasteth or feleth his place or he be departed fro the body that is to saye he shall knowe the peyne or ioye whiche he shall haue here after ¶ How the fende catcheth euer soules vnder colour of some goodnesse / and how they that be sette in the floode and they that go not by the brydge be dysceyued / for they thynke to ascape fro peynes and yet they fal therin ¶ Here is also made mencyon of a fayre vysyon whiche this soule hadde / whiche vysyon apered to her syghte as it had be a tree ¶ Also how the worlde for synne broughte forthe thornes and breres / yet some ther be that be not ynoyed with them / how be it no maÌ maye come to euer lastynge lyfe / wtout that he haue suffered and borne peynes and trybulacyons before that he come thyder ¶ Also the euyll that cometh of the ghostly eye or syghte ¶ Also how good dedes that be not in the state of grace / auayle not to euerlastynge lyfe ¶ Ca. ij THe secunde chapyter telleth how the preceptes may not be kepte / but that a man sholde of parfeccyon kepe the couÌseyles / and howe in euery state the whiche a maÌ choseth so that he haue an holy and a good wyll that state is pleasynge to god ¶ Also how worldely men with all theyr substaunce goodes may not be fulfylled / and of the peyne the whiche they deserue by theyr wycked wâlles as well in this lyfe as after how a drede whiche is bouÌde suffyseth not to optayne the euerlastynge lyfe in heuen / and how with excercyse of this drede / a man maye come to the loue of vertues ¶ Ca. iij. ALso how this soule fell in to a mornyge for that blyndenesse of them the whiche were drenched in the foresayde floode ¶ And also how thre grees be fygured in that foresayde brydge that is to saye in the sone of god Ihesu cryste / bytwene the thre myghtes of the soule / and how these thre myghtes of the soule yf that they be oned togyder / there maye no parseueraunce be hadde without the whiche parseueraunce no man maye come to the ende of parseccyon ¶ Also in this chapyter is an exposycyon of the worde of Ihesu cryst / whaÌ he sayd thus Siquis sitit c. That is to saye / who that thrusteth / come to me and drynke ¶ And also how that euery reasonable creature generally maye kepe a maner gouernauÌce / so that he maye passe out fro the see of this worlde / and go by the foresayde holy brydge ¶ And also here shall be rehersed a repetycyon of some wordes sayde before ¶ Ca. iiij THe fourthe chapyter telleth whaÌ oure lorde wolde shewe so this deuoute soule / that the thre grees of the brydge be fygured by the thre states of the soule / than he bad her lyfte vp her selfe aboue herselfe to beholde this sothefastnesse ¶ Also how that this deuoute soule beholdynge in the myrcoure of god / sawe dyuers creatures go iÌ dyuers wayes ¶ And how the drede of seruage wtout loue of vertues / is not suffycyent to euer lastynge lyfe / and how the lawe of drede and the lawe of loue be oned togyder ¶ And also how that a man that hathe the drede of seruage or thraldome drede / the whiche is the state of imparfeccyoÌ / by the whiche state is vnderstonde the fyrste gre of the foresayde holy brydge / he maye come soone to the secunde gre / whiche is the state of parfeccyon ¶ Also of the imparfeccyon of them that loueÌ and serue god for theyr owne profyte and loue / or for theyr owne comforte Ca. v. ALso how that god sheweth hyÌselfe sometyme to a soule that loueth hym ¶ Also why cryste sayde not O go manifestabo I shall shewe my fader / but he sayd I shall shewe my selfe what maner of gouernaunce a soule shall kepe / that he maye come vp to the secuÌde gre of the holy brydge ¶ How he that loueth god vnparfytely / loueth vnparfytely his neyghbour / and also of the very tokeÌs of this vnparfyte loue ¶ The chapyters of the fourth parte Ca. i. THe fyrste chapyter of the fourthe parte speketh of prayer / fyrste iÌ what maner a soule shall gouerne hym / that he maye come to pure loue and lyberall ¶ And moche of this thyrde parte speketh of prayer and of teeres / but fyrst god sheweth here a doctryne of the holy sacrament of crystes body on the auter that is to saye the holy sacrament of crystes body how that a soule shall come fro vocall prayer to mentall prayer ¶ And here is shewed a vysyoÌ whiche this deuoute soule hadde on a tyme. ¶ Also of a dysceyte that creatures haue somtyme / whiche louen god and serue hym for theyr owne conforte and theyr delectacyon ¶ Also of the dysceyte that they haue / whiche sette all they affeccyon in confortes and ghostly vysyons / and how that suche that delyte them in suche coÌfortes vysyoÌs may be dysceyued receyue a wycked spyryte vnder the coloure of a god spyryte / of tokeÌs how it may be knowe whaÌ it cometh of god / and whaÌ of the deuyll Ca. ij ALso of theÌ that wyll not helpe or coÌforte theyr neyghbours in theyr nede / bycause they wolde not be lette nor leue theyr owne conforte and peas and reste ¶ Also of the dysceyte whiche goddes seruauÌuauntes haue / and locien god with suche vnparfyte loue before sayde ¶ How a soule that knoweth her selfe wysely iÌ sothefastenesse / kepeth her frome all these dysceytes ¶ Also by what maner a soule cometh fro imparfyte loue cometh to êfyte loue ¶ Ca. iij. THe thyrde chapyter is of tokens wherby it is knowe that a soule is come to the parfyte loue ¶ Also how vnêfyte meÌ wyll onely folowe me that fader / but êfyte meÌ folowe the sone Also god sheweth a vycyon / whiche this deuoute mayde had / in the whiche vysyon is shewed of diuers baptyms / of other fayre thyÌges and profytable ¶ How that a soule whan that it is come to the thyrde gree of the brydge that is to saye after the tyme it is come to the mouthe / anone it taketh the doore of the mouthe / and whaÌ the proper wyll of a man is deed / it is a very token that it is come thyder ¶ Also of the workyÌges of the soule / after tyme that it is ascended to the thyrde holy gree ¶ Also of the states of them that be departed fro the thyrde / and of workynges of the soule whiche is come to this state / and how god goeth neuer awaye fro the soule by coÌtynuall felynge ¶ Also how god goeth not awaye fro the foresayde parfyte meÌ by felynge nor by grace / bycause of the vnyon bytwyxe
mystery of them that be not obedyent / and of the excellent grace of them that be obedyent ¶ Ca. ij THe secuÌde chapyter is of theÌ that set somoche loue to obedyence / that it suffyseth not to them to obeye to the generall obedyence / as to the commaundymeÌtes of god / but yf they take be bounde to some specyall obedyeÌce ¶ Also how a maÌ cometh and by what maner fro the generall obedyence to the specyall / and of the excellence of the relygyoÌ Â¶ Also of the excellence of them that be vnder obedyence and be obedyent / and of the mysery of them that be inobedyent / whiche be in the state of relygyon ¶ How they that be very obedyent receyue an hundreth for one / and euer lastynge lyfe ¶ And what is vnderstonde by that one / what by that hundreth ¶ Ca. iij. THe thyrde chapyter is of the paruersyte / mysere / and labours of hym that is not obedyent / and of the myserable fruytes that come of inobedyeÌce ¶ Of the Imparfeccyon of theÌ that be slowe or vnlusty in relygyon / all be it they kepe them fro deedly synne / and of the remedy how they maye come out of that vnlustynesse ¶ Of the excellence of obedyence / and of the goodes that obedyence gyueth to hyÌ that taketh it in sothefastnesse ¶ Ca. iiij THe fourthe chapyter is of dystynccyon of two maners of obedyence that is to saye of obedyence of relygyous folke / and of obedyence that is done to a certayne parsone out of relygyon for god ¶ How god rewardeth not after the trauayle of obedyence / nor after the lengthe of the ryme / but after the magnytude of charyte ¶ Also of the redynesse quyckenesse of them that be very obedyencers ¶ And of the myracles the whiche god sheweth of this vertu and of dyscrecyon in obedyence / and of the workes and rewarde of hym that is very obedyent ¶ Ca. v. THe fyfte chapyter of this last party is a repetycyoÌ of all the hole boke / how this deuoute soule yeldynge worshyppes and thankynges to god / made a prayer for all holy chyrche / for all the worlde ¶ And here is coÌmended the vertu of feythe / so is fulfylled yeâude of this boke ¶ Here foloweth a prologue TO sustren I haue shewed you what ympes trees I haue founde and gadered to plante and to set in your ghostly orcharde ¶ The aleys of youre ghostly orcharde be full longe and brodâ / wherin be many walkynge pathes / whiche shall lede you truly to what maner fruyte you lyste to fede you / in what party they be sette or plaÌted ¶ But sustren lyke it to you to knowe that in gaderynge delectable fruyte / I fouÌde full bytter wedes / bytter and soure they be to taste / but profytable to knowe ¶ Suche wedes I purpose to set ymonge good fruyte not for fedyÌge but to youre knowynge ¶ Taste you of them and knowe them / that ye maye beware yfony ghostly enemy profer you ony suche wedes ¶ Sauour you theÌ not for full fedynge / for than peryously they worke / and full ofte to dethe / but by grace the soner it maye be remedyed ¶ But sustren thoughe my fruyte be gadered / yet a tyme I muste haue of settynge and of plantynge / ymoÌge recreacyons to the parfeccyoÌ of my spyryte ¶ Greate laborer was I neuer bodyly nor ghostly / I had neuer greate strengthe myghtely to labour with spade nor with shouell ¶ Therfore nowe deuoute sustren helpe me with prayers / for I lacke cunnynge / agaynste my greate feblenesse / strengthe me with youre pyte ¶ Also haue me recommended in your ghostly excercyse to our blessyd lady / and salute her in my name with deuoute aues / hauyÌge myÌde somtyme on her fyue ioyes / and sometyme on her fyue sorowes / whiche she had in erthe ¶ With this labour I charge you not / but as youre charyte styrreth you / with that vertu helpe me forthe / for hastely I go to labour / in purpose to parforme this fruytefull ghostly orcharde / as it shall be plesyÌge to almyghty god to gyue lyghte to my soule / with trewe felyÌge clere syghte ¶ Whiche Ihesu cryste for his moderly loue / graunte onely to his worshyp and to our ghostly lernynge / and conforte all to creacyon AmeÌ Â¶ And here shal folowe the reuelayoÌs of the haÌdemayde of cryste obedience In obedience ¶ Here begynneth the boke of dyuyne doctryne That is to saye of goddes techynge Gyuen by the persone of god the fader / to the intelleccyon of the gloryous vyrgyn seynt Katheryn of Seene / of the ordre of seynt Domynycke whiche was wryteÌ as she endyted iÌ her moder tongue / whaÌ she was in coÌteÌplacyoÌ / rapt of spyryte / she herynge actualy And iÌ the same tyme / she tolde before many what our lorde god spake iÌ her ¶ And here foloweth the fyrst chapytre of this boke which is how the soule of this mayde was oned to god how that she made .iiii. petycyons to oure lorde in that tyme of contemplacyon / and of the answere of god / and of moche other doctryne / as it is specyfyed in the kalender before Capi. i. A Soule that is reysed vp with heuenly and ghostly desyres / affeccyoÌs to the worshyp of god / to the helthe of mantles soule / and with a greate desyre langoreth vertuously / inhabyted by the space of a longe tyme / full besyly laboreth in ghostly exercyse / and mekely abydeth in her inwarde beholdynge / to knowe herselfe / to that entent onely / that she myght better knowe in her selfe / the goodnes of god ¶ For as she well feleth by grace / after that knowynge the loue that loueth is knytte / ioyned with a loue / to that that is loued / and forceth and besyeth her to loue / and folowe that knowynge / and with contynual excercyse inhabyteth her / with the sothefastnes ¶ And for asmoche as a soule in no maner tasteth nor sauoureth somoche / it is iÌ no maner somoche lyghtned with knowynge of that sothefastnes / as it is by the meane of a meke coÌtynuall / of a deuoute prayer / founded and grounded in the knowynge of god / and or it selfe ¶ Therfore suche a prayer / oneth such a soule to god / sorowynge the sleppes of ââyite in his passyon / so by desyre / ãâã you / vnyon oââoue / the soule ãâ¦ã an other than she ãâ¦ã this semeth well of crystes wordes / whan he sayde Si âs diligit me sermoneÌ meaÌ seruauit That is to say Who that loueth me shal kepe my worde ¶ Also he sayth in another place Qui diligit me diligetÌ a patrimed / ego diligaÌ eu / manifestabo illi meipsum / erit vnum mecum / et ego cumillo That is to saye He that loueth me / shall
beloued of my fader / I shall loue hym / shall shewe myselfe to hym / and he shall be one with me / and I with hym ¶ And in manye places of scrypture / we fynde wordes lyke to the same purpose / by the whiche we openly knowe that a soule is alterate / and made hymselfe another than he was / in the sothefastnes of loue and desyre / and that we may se this more clerely / I remembre me that I haue red of an holy mayde / seruaunte of god Katheryne of Seene that whan she gaue her selfe ententyfly to prayer / with enhaunsynge vp her mynde to god / to beholde heuenly thynges in maner of contemplacyon ThaÌ the holy god hyd not his loue the whiche may not be mesured / whiche he had to his seruauÌtes with the gyfte of intelleccyon by the ghostly eye ¶ But specyally amonge other wordes / our lorde god spake to her / and sayde ¶ Open the eye of thy intelleccyon / or of ghostly vnderstondynge / and beholde in me / you shall se the dygnyte / the fayrenes of my reasonable creature / and the fayrenesse whiche I haue gyueÌ to thy soule / makynge it of nought / to my ymage lykenesse ¶ Beholde them that ben arayed with the precyous clothyÌge of ghostly weddyÌge That is to saye / vertuously arayed with charyte / with many dyuers vertues / contynually they ben ioyned to me by loue ¶ Therfore yf that shoulde aske me whiche ben they I shoulde answere the agayne They that be clene purged frome synne / they haue my lykenes ¶ For suche haue lost and mortyfyed theyr owne propre wyll / and ben conformed to my wyll / in all thynges with my wyll they ben clothed / and precyously arayed ¶ Therfore it is full sothe / that suche a soule oneth it selfe to god / with desyre and affeccyon of loue ¶ Also this soule / yet moreouer wyllynge to knowe the holy sothefastnes of knowyÌge / and to folowe it by excercyse Consydered fyrst as for her selfe with an hyghe desyre / that a soule maye by no waye of doctryne / nor of ensample / nor of prayer / profyte to his neyghbour / but it profyte fyrste to his selfe / that is to saye iÌ purchasynge hauynge in possessyon the perfeccyoÌ of vertues iÌ it selfe Therfore in that holy desyre of sothefast knowynge / mekely she asked .iiij. petycyons / of the euer beynge fader in heuen ¶ The fyrste petycyon was for her selfe ¶ The seconde for reformacyon of holy chyrche The thyrde in generall / for the helthe of all the worlde / and specyally for the helthe of crysteÌ people / whiche with grete presumpcyon greate persecucyon / is rebell to holy chyrche ¶ The .iiij. petycyon was / that the prouydence of god shoulde puruaye for eche derke case or doubte / or nede in generall / and iÌ specyall ¶ How the desyre of this soule encreased / whan she knewe the necessyte that was in the worlde This desyre was in her ful greate and abydynge contynually / whiche desyre encreased in her the more feruently / whan the greate wretchednes of this worlde was shewed to her of almyghty god the maker of all the worlde ¶ And whaÌ that she sawe so greate trouble in the worlde and somoche offeÌce done to god in the worlde ¶ Also in this tyme of this holy desyre / she had vnderstaÌdynge by a wrytyÌge whiche she had of her ghosty fader In the whiche wrytynge / he shewed her the grete payne and sharpnes of intollerable sorowe ordeyned for synÌe And for the offence done to god / of the cause of losynge of soules / and for the persecucyon that is done to holy chyrche / whiche wordes haue kyndled in her a fyre of a desyre / with a louynge / a bytternes / for the offence done to god ¶ And thaÌ she with a gladnes / and ioy of a trusty hope / mekely abode the mekenesse of god / the whiche mercyfully wolde puruaye for all the euylles and perelles ¶ And for asmoche / that in receyuynge of the holy sacrament / a soule more swetely / more ferueÌtly cleueth to god / and better knoweth his sothefastnes Bycause that thaÌ a soule is in god / and god in the soule Ryght as the fysshes abyden in the see / and the see in the fysshes Therfore vpon the nexte morowe folowynge / she had a full feruent a bruÌnynge desyre to here masse whiche daye was on a feest of oure lady goddes moder And whaÌ she had herde masse / at a certayne houre / with a ful grete desyre / to haue an inwarde knowyÌge of herselfe / of her owne iperfeccyoÌ / it semed to her a greate shamfastes / that she was pryncypall cause of all the euylles / or dyseases done iÌ the worlde / coÌceyued iÌ herself a synguler hate / dyspleasaunce of herselfe ¶ And than with a desyre of an holy ryghtwysnesse puryfy suche fylthes of synne the whiche she sawe in the worlde iÌ her owne soule she lyste vp her herte to the fader of heuen and sayde ¶ Euerlastynge fader in heuen / to the I make my coÌplaynt of myselfe / to that I playne accuse my selfe / to the entente that iÌ this lyfe you punesshe my synnes / And for asmoche as I the pryncypal cause of the paynes throwe my synnes whiche chrysteÌ people shoulde suffre Therfore mekely I beseche you to put those paynes vpon me ¶ How the werkes good or euyll in this worlde onely suffysen not to be punysshed iÌ purgatory / nor to be rewarded in blysse / without contynual desyre of charyte Than that sothefastnesse of the godheed toke this desyre / and ferueÌtly drewe it to hym / and dyd lyke as it was in the olde testament ¶ For than whan the sacryfyces were accepted to god / fyre came downe from heuen drewe suche a sacryfyce to hym ¶ In the same maner that holy sothefastnes dyd to that soule / for that sothefastnes / the fader of heuen sende the fyre of the holy ghost / and toke the sacry fyce of her greate desyre / whiche sacryfyce she made of herselfe to god ¶ And whaÌ our lorde had resygned this sacryfyce of her / he spake to her and sayde ¶ Doughter knowes thou not that all the paynes that meÌ suffren / or ony creature maye suffre in this worlde / ben not worthy at the full / nor euen worthy penauce / nor suffycyeÌt to punesshe the lest synne And the cause is / for the offence that is done to me / whiche am god / and goodnes that hathe none ende / asketh a blame wtout ende ¶ Therfore I wyll that you knowe / that all the paynes that ben gyuen / or sende of god in to this worlde ben not for penauÌce / but for correccyon / to amede and correcke the chylde whaÌ he trespaseth ¶ And yet forthermore it is sothe / that a man maketh
benefytes whiche benefytes she brygeth / gadereth them ofte in her mynde with thaÌkynges / tyll she haue sauour / and parfyte knowlege of the plentuous goodnes of god in herselfe ¶ Ryght as a best ofteÌtymes cheweth his meet to haue sauour therin So the soule gadereth to his mynde my benefytes / and the knowynge of hym selfe ¶ And whan this knowynge is fouÌde by a spyryte of mekenes / he yeldeth al to me / knowynge that with a synguler grace I haue lad hym out of derkenes / and called hyÌ agayne to the lyght of very knowlege ¶ And whan my goodnes is knowen / the soule loueth it / bothe with meane / without meane That is to saye wtout meane of it selfe / or of his propre profyte / and with meane of vertu / whiche he conceyued of my loue / for he seeth well But he haue synne in hate / vertu in loue / he shoulde not be accepted of me / in none otherwyse ¶ But yf he hate synne / loue vertu / he shoulde not be to me louynge and kynde ¶ After tyme he hathe conceyued this knowynge of my goodnes / by affeccyon of my loue / anone he sheweth it to his neyghbour / or elles that he hath coÌceyued / were no vertu But for asmoche as he loueth me iÌ sothefastnes / so he profyteth his neyghbour / or elles he shoulde not proryte his neyghbour For my loue / and the loue of thy neyghbour / ben all one ¶ And the more that a soule loueth me / somoche more he loueth his neyghbour For he hathe suche loue to his neyghbour / as cometh fro me And that is that I haue put to you a meane / that you haue experyence of vertues togyders / and preue vertues iÌ you For you shoulde do profyte to your neyghbour / whaÌ ye maye not do to me that êfyte And that sheweth well / that you haue me in your soule by grace / bryngynge fruyte in your neyghbour / your excercyse iÌ many holy prayers / and in holy and amyable desyres / onely sekynge my worshyp / and helthe of soules ¶ A soule that is enflammed with my sothefastnes whiche sothefastnes / sholde beloued of all creatures in generall And in specyall more or lesse / sholde neuer cease to profyte al creatures / after eche mannes dysposycyoÌ / as he that prayÌeth / asketh of me by a breÌnyÌge desyre / as it is expressed before / where it is declared that bodyly payne onely / it is not suffycyent to punesshe synne / without a greate desyre ¶ Than afterwarde that he hathe êfyted to eche creature / after eche mannes dysposycyon / for the vnyon of loue / whiche he hathe made in me / gyuynge helpe comforte to the helthe of all the worlde / with his affeccyon desyre / whiche he hathe spredde so brode Than he forseth hyÌ fyrst to beholde his owne necessytes ghostly / that is whaÌ he profyteth fyrst to hymselfe / by coÌceyuyÌge of vertues / by whiche vertues he hathe drawen to hym grace to se to put his eye partyculerly to the necessytes / or nedes of his neyghbours ¶ Therfore whaÌ he hathe done thus generally / to eche creature / by the desyre of charyte / than at the laste he helpeth theÌ that ben nyghe to hym / to encrease them in vertues / after the nombre of dyuers graces / whiche I haue gyuen to hym / ordeyned to hyÌ to departe ¶ For to some maÌ I grauÌte the vertu of doctryne / to gyue counsayle to his neyghboure / by reason of worde / wtout ony other mannes techynge ¶ To some man I grauÌte gyue example of good lyuynge Eche maÌ oweth to gyue edyfycacyoÌ of good honest lyuynge to his neyghbour ¶ These ben the vertues and many mo / whiche thou caÌ not nombre / whiche comen of mannes loue to his neyghboure / and I haue put them so dyuersly in man / for I haue not gyuen all vertues to one man alone / I gyue some man one vertu / to some an other / to an other partyculerly Not withstondynge that a man maye not haue one parfytely / but he haue all other vertues / for all vertues ben knyte togyder / but I gyue many vertues specyally / as for the chefe and heed of all other vertues / that is to saye Pryncypally I graunte the vertu of charyte to some maÌ Also to some the vertu of ryghtwysnesse / to some maÌ mekenes / to some maÌ ful saythe and to other dyuersly the vertu of prudence / teÌporaunce / pasyence / to some the gyfte of streynghe These vertues I shall gyue to many creatures / dyffcreÌtly in a maÌnes soule / all be it that these vertues ben put for a pryncypalyte of vertues in a soule / more dysposed or better to the pryncypall conuersacyon with the vertu / than with other vertues / of this / by desyre of that vertu / he draweth to hyÌ other vertues For as it is sayde before / throwe the desyre of charyte / al vertues beÌ knytte togyder ¶ And so many gyftes graces of vertues ben dyuersly departed / bothe bodyly and ghostly I saye bodyly / for necessary thynges bodyly / whiche a maÌ nedeth in this lyfe I haue gyueÌ all thynges so dyfferently / or so dyuersly / for I gaue not all vertues to one man / that by compulsyon ye sholde haue cause to vse charyte / eche to other I myght well haue endowed men after the body the soule / with all thyÌges that to theÌ beloÌge / but I wolde that one sholde haue nede of an other / and that they sholden be my dyspensers and seruauntes / to gyue to deale forthe the gyftes the graces whiche they haue receyued by my goodnes For a man wyll he or not / he maye not auoyde nor eschewe / but that he shal vse the dede of charyte with his neyghboure Neuerthelesse sothe it is / yf suche a dede that semeth in charyte be not done in me / nor for me / it profyteth not hym that dothe it / as to the encrease of grace ¶ Also doughter beholde and se / that I haue ordeyned meÌ my mynystres / to that entent that the vertues of charyte sholden be vsed togyders amonge them / I haue set theÌ in dyuers states degrees / the scrypture sheweth you well / where I sayd In domo mea maÌsiones multe sunt That is to saye In my house there beÌ many dwellyÌge places / I wyll no other thyÌge but loue For in the loue of me / the loue of thy neyghbour is fulfylled ended / whaÌ the loue of a mannes neyghbour is fulfylled / the lawe of god is ended Wherfore he that is ioyned / or knytte / or oned iÌ loue to god / he worketh / or dothe that he maye to that profyte of his neyghbour / after his degre state ¶ How vertues ben preued / streÌghed of
theyr coÌtrarytes Now doughter I haue sayde to the / how he that is set in charyte / dothe profyte to his neyghbour / in whiche êfyte / he sheweth the loue that he hathe to me Now forthermore I saye to the / that sometyme a maÌ iÌ his neyghbour by experyeÌce of wroÌges feleth the vertu of pasyence in hyÌselfe in that tyme of wronges / whiche wronges he receyueth ¶ Also a maÌ hath experyeÌce of mekenesse / throwe the pryde of a proude maÌ / so faythe in an vnfaythefull maÌ / trusty hope / iÌ hyÌ the mystrusteth / ryghtwysnesse in hyÌ that is vnryghtful / pyte also in a cruel maÌ / softnesse and benygnyte in an yrous man ¶ Ryght as wycked meÌ receyueÌ vyce by theyr neyghboure / so an other man receyueth vertu by his neyghbour ¶ As thus yf thou take good hede / thou maye well se / that mekenesse is pryued in pryde / for a meke man quencheth pryde / therfore a prowde maÌ maye not harme a meke man Also the vntruthe of wycked meÌ / whiche louen me not / may not make lesse that faythe of hym that is trewe to me Also the foly of a maÌ shall not make lesse the hope of hyÌ / that hathe trust of loue in me / but rather suche vntruthe and foly / streyngheth faythe and hope / and preueth it in hym by my loue / by charyte to his neyghboure For whaÌ he seeth his neyghbour vnfay the full / mystrusteth bothe me / hyÌ / bycause he that loueth not me / may not haue faythe nor hope iÌ me / but rather hathe set that faythe hope wher he loueth by his owne sensualyte My trewe seruauÌt ceaseth not for all that / but he loueth hym that is so vntrewe / with a trusty hope that he hathe iÌ me / he seketh the helpe of his neyghbour ¶ Thus thou may se / that in the vntruthe of hyÌ / in thode faute of hope / the vertu of faythe is asayed and had in other ¶ In these exaÌples and in other whan nede is a man preueth vertu in hymselfe / his neyghboure ¶ Also a mannes ryghtwysenesse decreaseth not by his neyghbours vnryghtwysenes / but rather he is shewed ryghtful by the vertu of pasyence Ryght so benygnyte / or mekenesse / or softnesse is preued by pasyence in tyme of wrothe ¶ Therfore I saye to the the vertues is not onely assayed in them / the besyen theÌ to yelde good for yll / but often he shall cast out coles kyndled with the fyre of charyte / that setteth at noughte the hatered / rancour of the herte / of the foule of an yrous maÌ Â¶ Also fro the hate of a maÌ / cometh agayne benyuolence / and that cometh fro the vertu of charyte / of parfyte pasyence that is in hyÌ the suffreth the wrothe of wycked men / berynge supportynge / the defautes of the same meÌ Â¶ Yf thou beholde / thou maye se the vertu of streynghe of parseuerauÌce / how moche that vertues beÌ preued with wronges / detraccyons of meÌ / whiche full ofte with dyspytes / sometyme with staterynges / wyll hyndre a maÌ drawe hyÌ backe warde / that in no wyse he sholde folowe the wayte of doctryne and of sothefastnes ¶ Therfore he is all stronge parseueraunt / yf the vertu / or gyfte of streynghe be parfytely grouÌded within hym / for thaÌ he seleth by experyeÌce the same vertu by medyacyon of his neyghbour yf it had no good experyence / and were not preued with suche many contrarytes / ther sholde no vertu haue beÌ fouÌded nor grouÌded in the waye of sothefastnesse ¶ The thyrde chapytre is of the vertu of dyscrecyon / fyrst how a soule shall not put his affeccyon nor effectuall workyngel bodyli penauÌce pryncypally / but in inwarde vertues / and forthe of the same mater / as it is specyfyed in the kalender before Ca. iii. THese ben deuoute holy workyÌges whiche I aske of my creatures that is to saye the inwarde vertues of the soule / whiche the soule hath in coÌtynuall expeoyeÌce / as it is sayd before that is to saye not onely the vertues whiche beÌ vsed with the instrumeÌtes of the body / as wtoutwarde workynge / with dyuers bodyly penauÌces / whiche beÌ the iÌstrumeÌtes of vertues but they beÌ no vertues in theÌselfe For yf it were so / that those instrumeÌtes were not so gettes to vertues rehersed before / it were lytle pleasyÌge to me But rather yf a soule dyd not dyscretely his penauÌce that is to say yf his affeccyoÌ be rather pryÌcypally set iÌ his bodyly penauÌce / thaÌ sholde his êfeccyon be let therby ¶ Therfore he shall set his herte pryÌcypally on affeccyoÌ desyre of loue / with an holy hatered of hyÌselfe by very mekenesse parfyte pasyence / all other in warde vertues of the soule / with a desyre of my worshyp / of the helthe of soules / whiche vertues shewen that a mannes owne wyll is deed / and that contynually the sensualyte is mortyfyed / throwe the desyre loue of vertues ¶ With suche dyscrecyoÌ he shall do his penaunce that is to saye put pryncypally his loue and desyre in vertues / rather thaÌ iÌ bodyly penauÌce / for penauÌce shall be as an instrumeÌt / to worke for encreas of vertues / as it semeth it nedefull ¶ And as a man maye worke after reasonable mesure of his myght / for yf it were done in ony other maner / as to set his grouÌde fundameÌt pryÌcypally vpoÌ the penauÌce / thaÌ sholde his êfercyon be let hyndred the cause is for the penauÌce was not done dyscretely / with the knowyÌge of my sothefastnesse / nor with the lyght of his owne knowynge / nor with the clere lyght of my goodnesse / but indyfferently it was done / not louyÌge that / whiche I loue more than that / not hatyÌge that / whiche I most hate ¶ For dyscrecyon is not but a sothefast knowyÌge whiche a soule sholde haue of herselfe / of me In the knowynge of this dyscrecyoÌ / he holdeth kepeth his roote Dyscrecyon is a sone / or a chylde / whiche is planted or oned / or set with charyte Neuerthelesse sothe it is / dyscrecyoÌ hathe many chyldren / or sones / as a tree that hathe many bowes or braunches / but he that gyueth lyfe to the tree / to the brauÌches / is the roote / so that it be planted in the erthe of mekenesse / whiche is moder norce of charyte / where this sone tree of dyscrecyon is set and plaÌted ¶ Orels it were no vertu of dyscrecyon / and also it sholde not bryÌge quycke scuyte / but it were plaÌted in vertu of mekenes For mekenes cometh of the knowyÌge whiche a soule hathe of hymselfe ¶ I sayde to the that the roote of dyscrecyon was a maÌnes very knowynge
of hyÌselfe and of my goodnesse Therefore an hyghe dyscrecyon is it / that eche man yeââe to eche state that longeth to hyÌ / pryncypally yeââyÌge me praysynge glory to my name To me also he yeldeth all goodes gyftes of graces / the whiche gyftes graces / he knoweth well seeth / that he hathe receyued theÌ of my goodnesse ¶ And yet he vnkyndely yeldeth theÌ to hyÌselfe Also sometyme he knoweth seeth that he hathe deserued no beynge of hymselfe / his beynge he knoweth well / he hathe had of me by a synguler grace that grace all other graces whiche he hathe aboue hymself / he sholde yeldetheÌ to me / not to hymselfe ¶ Wherfore he consydereth hyÌ vnkynde / that he yeldeth not thaÌkynges for my benefytes / and that so necly gohtly he hathe mysse spended his tyme / mysse vsed the graces whiche he hathe receyued / therfore he yeldeth hym worthy to haue endelesse paynes ¶ Than after this by dyscrecyoÌ / in his defautes he hathe an hatered / a dyspleasauÌce to hyÌself ¶ This vertu of dyscrecyoÌ whaÌ a man hathe knowynge of hymselfe / he worketh full besyly / yf it be grounded with very mekenesse / for yf his mekenesse were not in the soule as it is sayd before thaÌ were it dystroyed / whiche indyscrecyon is set in pryde / as dyscrecyoÌ is set in mekenesse ¶ Therfore he that is thus dystroyed feleth vndyscretely my worshyp as a these / and holdeth al to hyÌ selfe that cometh frome / and that is his / he gyueth to me sorowynge grutchynge pryuely in speche of my pryuy workynges / and pryuytes / is sclauÌdred iÌ me / in his neyghbour in all thynges that I worke in hym / and in all my creatures / but they that vse ben rooted coÌtynually in the vertu of dyscrecyon / worken the coÌtrary / for after tyme they haue gyuen me agayne that longeth to me / gyueÌ to themselfe / that longeth to theÌ ThaÌ at the last they gyue to theyr neyghbour / the pryncypall dette of charyte / and of meke affeccyon / and of contynuall prayer This det is dewe eche to other / not onely this pryÌcypall det of charyte / and of affeccyon of prayer / but also techynge and examplyfyenge of a ryght holy honeste lyfe / and gyuynge couÌsayle helpe to eche of youre neyghbours as ye maye as ye se it spedefull to eche mannes nede / as I sayde in other maters before ¶ For in eche state that a man is set / whether he be lorde / prelate / or soget / yf he vse this vertu / what he dothe in charyte parteth forthe to his neyghboure / he dothe than dyscretely with charyte in good entent / for dyscrecyoÌ and charyte ben knytte planted togyder in the grouÌde of mekenes / whiche mekenesse cometh of the knowynge that a man hathe of hymselfe ¶ Asymylytude how charyte / mekenes and dyscrecyon / ben oned togyder DOughter these thre vertues abydeÌ togyder / ben so ioyned with outen ony ende / as thou sees arounde cyrcle set aboute the erthe / as there came out a tree in the myddes of the cyrcle / with a yonge spryÌge comyÌge out besyde the tree ¶ Vnderstonde thaÌ fyrst by this example / the loue is norysshed in the erthe / whiche erthe conteyneth the largenesse of the cyrcle / for yf it were without the erthe / the tree sholde be deed / sholde bryÌge forthe no fruyte / tyll it were plaÌted Ryght so thynke that a soule is a maner tree / whiche cometh out of loue / therfore the soule that is the tree may not be norysshed / but of a loue of the soule / oned to the grete loue of god ¶ Sothe it is that yf the soule haue not dyuyne loue of parfyte charyte / it bryngeth not forthe lyfely fcuyte / but deedly Therfore it is spedefull that the roote of the tree that is to saye loue / or desyre of the soule abyde in the erthe / and so shewe hym oute / and come forthe fro the cyrcle / by the very knowynge of her selfe ¶ Whiche knowynge is vnderstoÌdeÌ in me whiche haue no begyÌnyÌge / nor ende as a cyrcle that is all roude ¶ The whyle a man gothe aboute in a cyrcle / he fyndeth no begynnynge / nor ende / yet he is iÌ the cyrcle ¶ This knowynge of hymselfe / of me / he fyndeth in hymselfe / abydeth vpâ the erthe of very mekenesse / whiche knowynge is no lesse / than the greatenesse of the cyrcle that is to saye that knowynge whiche he had of hyÌselfe knytte fastned iÌ me / is no lesse thaÌ the gretenesse of the cyrcle / as it is sayd before / or els it were no cyrcle without ende / without begynnynge / but abydynge / whiche knowynge he sholde haue / yf he had begone to to knowe hymselfe ¶ And than at the laste that knowynge sholde ende in confusyon / yf it were not oned in me ¶ Thus than of all this that is sayde before / thou maye se that the tree of charyte is norysshed in mekenesse / bryngynge out of hym besyde the tree an ympe of êfyte dyscrecyoÌ Â¶ The marum of the tree that is to saye of the louynge charyte / whan it waxeth groweth in the soule Than is that marum the pasyence / whiche is an open euydeÌt tokeÌ / an open shewynge / that I lyue waxe in the soule / and that the soule is conformed in me ¶ This tree whan it is meryly plaÌted / it burgyneth with swete smelles / or swete floures of vertues / with many dyuers sauours / bryÌgeth forthe fruyte of dyuers graces to the soule That same soule yeldynge to his neyghbour the fruyte of profyte after the nede of my seruauntes whiche haue wyl to receyue suche ghostly fruyt ¶ It yeldeth also to me thaÌ kynges / presynges to my name And this he dothe / for asmoche as I haue brought hym out of the erthe ¶ And fro that tyme for warde / be goeth tyll he come to the ende that is to saye to me whiche am a durable lyfe without ende / for I maye not be take awaye fro hym but he wyll hymselfe ¶ For all the fruytes whiche comeÌ out of suche a tree ben fast ned with dyscrecyon / oned togyder ¶ How bodyly penauÌce / other bodyly excersyses / sholden be takeÌ for an instrument to come to vertues / and not for the pryncypall affeccyoÌ âOrther more I shewe to the here / that these ben the fruytes and werkes / whiche I abyde to receyue of a soule that is to saye experyence of vertues in the tyme of oportunyte ¶ Therfore I saye to the / and loÌge tyme before this I sayde to the / yf thou wyll remeÌbre the / what tyme thou dyd couet to do grete penauÌce for me / sayde Lorde what
moche other thynges / than satysfaccyoÌ for theyr synnes .. ¶ And I saye to the / yet it shall be moche harder with theÌ / for asmoche as they sholden be worthy greter paynes ¶ And so now after the tyme / that they haue taken the redempcyoÌ / by the blode of my sone they sholden be punysshed the more sharply / than before redempcyon ¶ That is to saye / the before Adams ãâã shold be wasshed away / it was worthy and ryghtfull / that he that moche receyued / sholde yelde moche agayne / and more sholde be bouÌde to byÌ / of whom he receyued somoche ¶ A man was moche bounde to me of his beynge / that I gaue hyÌ suche a gyfte to make hym to my ymage and to my lykenesse / he was therefore bounde and beholden / to yelde agayne thaÌkynges to me ¶ But he taketh fro me the thankynges / and holdeth it to hymselfe / wherfore he trespaseth agaynste the obedyence whiche was takeÌ to hym in charge / and in that he is nowe made myne enemy ¶ And I by the vertu of mekenesse haue dystroyed his pryde For by mekenesse / I haue loued dyuyne nature / takynge youre humanyte And so I haue delyuered you / and drawen you frome the captynyte of the fende ¶ And not onely that fredome sholde be gyuen to you of me / but yf you beholde ryght well / man is made as god / god is maÌ throwe the couplynge of one heed of dyuyne nature / in the nature of youre humanyte ¶ O dette that they tokeÌ / and for whiche they owen to yelde thaÌkyÌges / is the tresure of my sones blode / wherby they beÌ reformed to grace ¶ Se also how moche they ben bounde to yelde me thankyÌges after theyr redempcyon / more than before ¶ Now for theyr redempcyon / they ben bounde to yelde to me laude and thankynges / folowynge the steppes of my sone / whiche was incarnate / than they gaue me my dette for themselfe / and for the loue of theyr neyghboure / with trewe pryte vertues / as it is sayde before ¶ So that they that done it not / for asmoche as they ben moche bounde to loue me / they fallen in to the more greuous offenses ¶ Therfore of the dyuyne ryghtwysenesse / they fallen in to more greuous paynes / and I yelde to them euerlastynge payne ¶ Wherfore a false crysten man shal be punysshed more greuously than a paynym / by the ryghtwysenesse of god ¶ The paynefull flame of fyre brenneth them withouten wastyÌge and so they fele afflyccyoÌ turmeÌt / throwe full cruell fretynges bytynges of theyr owne conscyence / yet the fyre wasteth them not ¶ For they that ben dampned / losen not theyr beynge / for ony turment that they haue ¶ So that synne is punysshed / moche more after redempcyon / than before / bycause man had receyued more of grace / it is not sene that they take ony hede thereof / nor besy them therfore to abstayne them / nor to withdrawe them fro theyr wyckednesse ¶ Therfore suche ben made myne enemyes / for as moche as I recounseyled theÌ with the blode of my sone / they rewardeÌ it not ¶ But yet one remedither is / whiche I haue ordeyned to pease swage my wrothe that is to say by the mene and helpe of my seruautes ¶ They knoweÌ well how I am constrayned with theyr charytable besynesse / and with theyr teeres / how they bynde me with theyr ferueÌt desyres ¶ And thou doughter knowes well / that thou hase bouÌde me with that chayne / whiche I gaue to the / whan thou dyd desyre me to gyue so grete a mercy to the worlde ¶ And therfore to my worshyp for helthe of soules / I gaue to my seruauntes a greate ghostly hongre / and a feruent desyre / that whan I am constrayned with theyr teeres / I maye aswage the freylnesse of my ryghtwysenes ¶ Bere therfore easly / and suffre thy teeres / thy swerynge labours / and drawe theÌ out / thou and my other seruauntes / and with the plentuous see of my dyuyne charyte / wasshe the and all theym therwith / before the face of my holy and amyable spouse / the whiche I call the chyrche For I say to the sothely / that theyr bewte shall be restored agayne to theÌ / onely by this mene / the whiche I haue shewed to the. ¶ But they sholden not haue that same bewte agayne / nother in the drede of swered / nor in greate warres / nor crueltes / but in a greate desyre of the goodnesse of pease / contynuall prayers / in meke deuoute excercyses / in shedyÌge of holy teeres and in the feruent desyre of my seruauntes ¶ And so with pasyence / and with the suffrynge of many dyuers trauayles / and coÌtrarytes / I shall fulfyll theyr greate desyre / yf it so be that youre pasyence shyne out bryght / as lyght in the derkenesse of wycked and deedly men ¶ Therfore drede you no thynge / thoughe the worlde parsu you al daye / for I shall alwaye be with you / in tyme of nede / my prudence shall not fayle you ¶ How this soule knoweth somoche of the goodnesse of god / prayed not onely for crysten people / and holy chyrche / but prayed also for all the worlde AFter this techynge / that soule arose with better knowlege than she had before / and with a full greate gladnesse ioye / stode for the before the diuine maieste / what for the hope whiche was gyueÌ to her of the mercy of god / what for loue the whiche she had / beholdyÌge and consyderynge / that throwe holy desyre and loue / the goodnesse of god hathe done merey / and ordeyned it to man / not with stondynge / the man was become enemy to hym ¶ And iÌ tokeÌ that he wolde do mercy / he shewed a maner waye to his seruauntes by the whiche waye / they myghten refrayne and make soft his wrothe whiche he had to man ¶ She was thanne toyfull in all worldly parsecucyoÌs / voydynge alwaye all drede myghtly toke to her the streynghes of holy desyre / to pray for al the world in somoche that she was not full rested with that she sholde haue mercy onely for all crysten people / and for all holy chyrche / but euer with a greate hope trust / mekely she asked mercy for all the worlde ¶ And not with stondynge / that her seconde petycyoÌ conteyned the profyte / bothe of vntrewe people out of the faythe / and of all crysten / in the reformacyoÌ of the chyrche Yet neuer the later she was so desyrous of the faluacyon of all / that her holy prayer and charyre thanne stretchyd abâode to all the worlde / as god hymselfe made her to aske the same petycyon / whiche petycyon myghtly she asked with a loude voyce / and sayde
¶ Holy god bowe downe thâ mercy / to thy ghostly flocke of shepe / as a good a very crewe shepeherde ¶ Lorde hye the fast to helpe all the worlde / tary not to gyue them mercy / for now they latken grace ¶ O gracyous lorde the sothefastnesse withouten ende / it semeth that man is pryued of thy charyte that is to saye of the loue the whiche sholde be grounded in the charytably louynge themselfe togyder / and the aboue all ¶ How that god made a compleynt on his reasonable creatures / and specyally for theyr owne êpre loue / whiche reygneth in them / where he styrreth the soule to prayers / and teeres THaÌ our lorde was fore styrred to mercy and for oure hèlthe / he ordeyned in this soule / how her loue and sorowe myght be encreased to helpe mannes soule / shewynge her with how greate loue he had mad the worlde as it is sayde before and sayde to her thus Thou sees howe the euery man offendeth me / I of my goodnesse made them of nought / with the flamme of greate loue / and how I haue endowed theÌ with the gyfte of plentuous graces / and gyftes with out noÌbre / onely of my specyal grace of no dewte ¶ Beholde doughter how that they gone agaynst me / with dyuerse / many / and vnnumerable synnes / and dayly done offende me / and namely with theyr owne wret chydnesse / synfull lyuynge of theÌselfe / of the whiche wycked loue / cometh out all synne and wyckednesse ¶ With this this wycked loue / all the worlde they haue venymed ¶ For ryght as my loue the is onede to theyr loue / with the loue of theyr neyghbour / holdeth and kepeth all sothefastnesse iÌ them as it is shewed before ryght so the sencyble loue holdeth in them / all euyl and vntruthe that loue cometh of pryde ¶ So in the contrary wyse / as my loue cometh of charyte / so that fals loue coÌteyneth in theÌ all euyll ¶ And this euyll they do by the mene of some creature / that is not in very charyte of his neyghbour / for they louen not me / and they loue not theyr neyghbour ¶ For those two loues muste be knytte togyder ¶ Thus I sayde to the before / the euery good thynge and euery euyll thynge / is done by some mene of his neyghbour ¶ In many other wyses I maye make my compleynt on man / for he receyued nothynge of me but good / and he yeldeth to me agayne hatered dothe all euyll ¶ Therfore I sayde to the / the I sholde aswage my wrothe / by the shedynge of my seruaun tes terres / and so I saye to the now agayne ¶ Therfore ye that ben my seruauÌtes / tourneÌ my dyuyne dome with youre deuoute prayers / greate desyres / and with sharpe with byt ter sorowes / for offenses done to me and to theyr harmes and so my wrothe shal asswage ¶ How no maÌ maye scape the handes of god / but he must abyde his ryghtwysnesse / or his mercy DOughter knowe it for a truthe / that no man may scape my handes / for I am he the am euerlastynge beynge / ye beÌ not nor haue no beyÌge of your selfe / but asmoche as ye haue beynge of me / the whiam maker former of all thynges the haueÌ beynge / out take synne that is nought ¶ Bycause it is not made of me / therfore in no maner it is byloued Therfore a creature that is blynded he offendeth / for he loueth that whiche he shold not that is to saye synne / and hathe me in hate / whome he is bounde to loue ¶ I am all good / and I gaue to man be ynge / with a feruent loue / he may not scape frome me / for of my ryght wysenesse / he shall abyde here in my handes and power for his synnes / or here by my mercy pyte ¶ Ther fore open thyne eyen of intelleccyon and beholde my power / and thou shall se / that it is trewe that I sayde to the ¶ Than she lyfte vp her gostly eye / to obeye to the fader in heuen / she sawe iÌ his honde all the worlde closed ¶ Than oure lorde spake to her and sayde Go doughter and se that no man maye be take fro me for as I sayde al those that abyden here / abydeÌ of my ryghtwysenesse / or els of my mercy ¶ For al they beÌ myne al of me they haue brought forthe and I loue them more than may be spoken ¶ Therfore not wtstondyÌge theyr wyckednesse / with the helpe good menes of my seruauntes / I shall gyue them mercy ¶ And for thy greate loue / also for thy greate sorowe / I shall fulfyll thy peryeyon ¶ How this soule whan she swette water for a brennynge desyre / in the tyme of prayer / desyred that she myght swete blode THis soule than for greate enerese of hely desyre / was made blyssed / and fulfylled with an holy sorowe ¶ Blyssed she was / for the oneheed she made iÌ gody tastyÌge and sauourynge his goodnesse / all fulfyled woith Ioye in his mercy ¶ She was also fulfylled with sorowe whan she knewe the hyghe maieste of god / so greately offended ¶ And than she gaue thaÌkynges to the good nesse of god / and knowynge the same goodnesse / and the manyfolde defautes of maÌkynde / she rose quyckly as it had ben fro dethe / throwe a greate desyre ¶ And after this whan she knewe in herselfe / the selynge of her soule / so woÌderfully renued in that euer beyngt godheed / that her holy loue / and delectable brennyÌge was somoche eÌcresed / the she swette water throwe the myght and vyolence / the whiche the soule dyd to the body ¶ For the oncheed whiche the soule made in god / was more parfyte than is the bonde of the oneheed / bytwyxe the soule and the body ¶ Therfore of the streynghe of loue / she had that swetynge hete / but she dyspysed the swerynge / for the affeccyoÌ that she had / was with greare desyre to haue swe tynge to come oute of her body all of blode ¶ And in that desyre she spaketo her selfe / and sayde Alas my soule that thou hase lost thus the tyme of this wretched lyfe / and for the losse of thy tyme / many harmes wyckednesses out of nombre haue sall in all the worlde / bothe partycu lâtly / and in comyn / and specyally iÌ all holy chyrche ¶ Wherfore I wyll and desyre / that thou remedy ouer all these harmes / with the sroetyÌge of blode ¶ Beholde systren and se / how swetely that soule hathe kepte in my ndâ / the noble doctryne / e whiche euer beynge sothefastnesse had raughte her / and betake her that is to saye in knowynge herselfe and the goodnesse of god in her / and spedefull remedyes for reparacyon of all
forthe fruyte of good workes / shal be cutte awaye frome the vyne / shall waxe drye ¶ For whaÌ he is departed fro that vyne / thaÌ he leseth the vyne of all graces / and is sende forthe in to the euer lastyÌ ge fyre / as a braunche that bryngeth forthe no fruyte is cutte of the vyne and caste in to the fyre / for it is not good for none other thyÌge ¶ Ther fore the ryghtwysenesse of god sendeth them that ben so cutte of / in to the fyre euer lastynge / for theyr owne defautes deynge in decdly synnes / for asmoche as they ben not good in theyrselfe ¶ They done not labour nor they tyllen not theyr vyneyerde but moche soner they done dystroye theyr vyneyerde / and other meÌnes also ¶ And not onely that / they plaÌten no good plantes in theyr vyneyerde / but rather they takeÌ frome the vyneyetde the sede of grace / the whische they vyden receyue in the lyght of holy baptym / and token the holy êtycypacyoÌ of my holy sones blode / whiche treuly was the wyne that this sothfast vyne my sone brought forthe to you / but they haue drawen vp this noble lede / and haue taken it to be eten of dyuerse beestes / that is to saye they haue cast it vnder the fete of an vnordynate affeccyon / by many and dyuerse by âdes of synnes / by the whiche they haue offended me / and put themselfe to damânacyon / and ther neyghbours also ¶ My seruauntes done not so / but folowe you the fayre / and swete pathes of my holy seruauÌtes that is to saye ye shall be oned and ioyned togyder / iÌ this sothefast and very vyne / and than ye shall be parte takers of moche fruyte ¶ For than ye shall take of the oncheed of the very vyne / and as longe as ye abyde in the oneheed of my sone / so longe ye dwellen with me / for I and he ben all one ¶ And as longe as ye stonden in hym / so longe ye done folowe his doctryne / and in that that ye done folowe his doctryne / ye shal haue parte of the greate substauÌce of my sone that is to saye ye shall be parte takers of the euer benge godheed / oned and oned in the man heed / and he shall haue a maner of dyuyne loue ¶ In the whiche / a soule is made fer frome herselfe / puttyÌge in oblyuyon all vayne delectacyons and for that cause I sayde ye sholden be parte takers of the substauÌce of the foresayde vyne ¶ In what maner god bereth the braunches / the whiche ben oned with the vyne / and how that the vyneyerde of eche mÌa is oned / or ioyned with the vyneyerde of his neyghboure B Nowe ye not what maner of workynge ye haue hadde / after the tyme that my seruauntes ben oned to my sone / that they may folowe his doctryne ¶ I purge them / and cutte them / that they may bryÌge forth moche fruyte that theyr fruyte maye abyde / and that it be not become bareyne ¶ As a good braunche ioyned to the vyne / whiche the tyller purgeth cleÌseth / bycause it sholde brynge forthe better fruyte / more in quantyte / but he cutteth of the braunche that bryÌgeth forthe no fruyte / and casteth it in to the fyre ¶ So do I / whiche am the euer beynge tyller / I purge clense my secuauntes whiche abydeÌ in me / with many and dyuers trybulacyÌos / that they may brynge forthe better more fruyte / that vertu maye be preued in them ¶ Other seruauÌtes whiche bryngeÌ forthe no fruyte / ben caste frome the vyne / putte to the fyre / as it is sayde before ¶ My seruauntes doubtelesse ben good tyllers / whiche tylleÌ well for theyr soules / puttynge away fro the soule all theyr owne soue / tournen al theyr affeccyons in to me / therby they norysshen / and encresen the sede of grace / the whiche they dyd receyue iÌ the holy baptym ¶ And so wel they done laboure in theyr owne vyneyerde / that they tylleÌ the vyneyerde of theyr neyghbour / for the one maye not be tylled / wtout the other ¶ And yf thou remembre the well I sayde to the before that all good or euyll that a man dothe / it is done by some mene of his neyghboure ¶ Also ye ben my tyllers comen fro me / whiche am the chefe / and euet beynge tyller / I haue sette you in the vyne by the oneheed whiche I made iÌ you ¶ Thynke wel and haue in mynde that all reasonable creatures haue theyr owne vyneyerde by themselfe the whiche is oned to theyr neyghbour / without ony other mene that it to saye one so ioyned with an other / that no man maye do good to hymselfe / nor harme / but that he muste yelde the same to his neyghboure ¶ Of you all that is to saye of all the hole crysten relygyon / a general vyneyerde is gadered togydet / the whiche all ye beÌ knytte togyder / in the dyneyerde of the ghostly body of youre moder the holy chyrche / of the whiche ye taken lyfe ¶ This sothefast vyne / is the precyous body / parsone of my sone / in whome ye ought to be knytte and fastned with parfyte loue of herte / and charyte in thy neyghboure ¶ For whan ye ben not set parfytely in hym / anone ye rebell greately agaynste the holy chyrche / and ye ben the membres cutte of as rotten membres fro the body of the chyrche ¶ Now whyle ye haue tyme / ye maye aryse frome the corrupcyoÌ of synnes with very dysplesaunce of them / and fle to my seruauntes for helpe as to the tyllers whiche kepen the keye of the vyneyerde that is to say of the blode whiche came out of the vyne / whiche is of so greate vertu and parfeccyon / that the fruyte of this very precyous blode / may not be takeÌ you / by the defaute of my mynysters ¶ The bonde of charyte is that / the whiche byndeth them with very mekenesse / in the sothefaste knowynge of themselfe and of me whiche wnowynge they haue soughte ¶ And yet thou maye parceyue / that I haue set you as tyllers ¶ And now I cal you agayne to labour / for now the worlde fayleth / the thornes ben somoche multy plyed / that they haue almost ouer growen the sayde in somoche that they wyll gyue no fruyte ¶ I wyll therfore that ye be trewe tyllers that is to helpe besyly soules to trauayle iÌ the ghosty body of your moder the holy chyrche ¶ To that I chose you / for I wyll gyue mercy to the worlde / for the whiche thou hase prayed me feruently / and full mekely ¶ How this soule whan she had gyuen thaÌkynges to our lorde / the prayed hym to shewe her / whiche wentn by the brydge / and whiche wenteÌ not by the brydge
of pardycyon / and they ben the chyldren of the fader of losse that it to saye the chyldren of the fende ¶ And for asmoche as they gone by the gate of pardycyoÌ / they ben punysshed with euer lastynge dampnacyon ¶ And now thou maye well parceyue / that I haue shewed the bothe of the way of sothefastnes and the waye of pardycyon that is to say I haue shewed the my way whiche is the hyghe sothefastnes / the waye of the fende / whiche is the very waye of pardycyon / or dampnacyoÌ Â¶ How meÌ gone with grete trauayle these two wayes / whyder they gone by the brydge / or by the stode and of the delyte that a soule hathe / the whiche gothe by the brydge O Hese ben the two wayes / whyther way a man gothe / he passeth with grete dyffyculte ¶ Beholde therfore and se what ignoraunce and blyÌdenesse is in man / that whan ther is made to hym a sure waye / and also shewed how he sholde go that waye / and yet he wyll holde hym by the bryÌke of the water ¶ The waye the is made and shewed / is so delectable to them that gone therby / that all theyr byrternesse is tourned into greate ioye and swetenes / and eurry heuy bur then / is made to them full lyghte ¶ And they that beÌ in bodyly derkenesse / fynden here a greate lyghte ¶ Also they that lyueÌ deedly in this worlde / they shall fynde a lyfe / the whiche shall be styll in payne and neuer dye ¶ And all those that sauouren the lyfe of the holy faythe by the desyre of loue I fynde here the sothefastnes euer beyÌge ¶ Whiche sothefastnesse / promyseth hym that trauayleth for me / coÌforte and refresshynge of me / whiche am lyberal and knowyÌge who dothe for me ¶ And also I am ryghtful / yeldynge to euery maÌ after his werkes ryghtfully ¶ Wherfore it is sayde / there is no euyll vnpunysshed / no good dede vnrewarded ¶ Thy tongue suffyseth not to tell the myrthe and gladnesse that he hathe whiche gothe by this waye / nor it maye not be herde nor sene ¶ For iÌ this lyfe partely he tasteth / and as he hathe parte of the taste / so he sauoureth partely that same gladnesse / whiche is ordeyned and made redy to hymselfe / in the lyfe that lasteth euer ¶ Than he maye well be called a foole / that voydeth suche a goodnesse / and taketh hym rather in his lyfe to taste the bytternes of hel / goynge by a lower waye with infynyte labour / and without ony comforte or refresshynge ¶ For by theyr owne defautes / they beÌ vtterly pryued of me / whiche am the hyghest and euer beynge goodnesse ¶ Therfore I wyll that thou / and my other seruauntes / abyde in contynuall bytternesse and sorowe / for wronges done to me ¶ Also that ye haue compassyon of the harme and ygnoraunce / with the whiche yâno rance / they offendeÌ me greuoufly ¶ And now thou maye compreheÌde in the / how it is of this brydge / that it maye be opened in the / after thy desyres / and bytter wepynges / as I haue sayde to the before ¶ The thyrde chapitre sheweth how oure lorde whan he ascended vp to heuen / he departed hym not fro the erthe ¶ Also hold this soule as she woÌdered on the mercy of god / she besyed her to thynke on the multytude of his gyftes and graces / whiche came of that mercy Ca. iii. AFter that my sone came agayne to me / the fourty day after his resurreccyon / thaÌ was this brydge lyfted fro the erthe that is to saye fro the conuersacyon of deedly meÌ / and by my dyuyne nature / he ascen ded iÌ to heueÌ / syttyÌge on the ryghte syde of me / that am his fader / as the angell sayde to his dyseyples / in the daye of his ascencyon / whan they stoden as deed men and amased / by cause theyr hertes wereÌ rauysshed vp in to heuen ¶ At the wordes of this angell / whan he sayde / throwe the wysdome of my sone / he wylleth not to abyde here longer / for he sytteth on the ryght hande of his fader ¶ And whan he was reysed vp on heyghte / and came agayne to me that am his fader / thaÌ I sende a mayster that is to saye the holy ghost / whiche came with my myght / and with the wysedome of my sone / and with the mercy of that same holy ghoste / for he is one with me that am the fader and with my sone ¶ Therfore that holy ghost hathe strenghed the waye of doctryne / whiche my sothefastnesse lefte in the worlde ¶ Wherfore all be it the doctryne wente away that is to saye his presence went awaye ¶ Neuerthelesse that doctryne whiche is the waye of parfeccyon / wente not fro you / the whiche way this gloryous and amyable brydge made to you ¶ For fyrste he made and wroughte the waye with his vertuous werkes / she wynge to you doctryne more by ensample than by worde ¶ For fyrst he began rather to do / than to teche ¶ The mercy of the holy gost certyfyed and made sure this true doctryne / streÌgthed the hertes and the soules of his dyscyples / to trust on this sothefastnes and to shewe this waye ¶ That is to saye / the doctryne of cryst my sone crucyfyed / repreuynge the worlde of vnryghtwysenesse / and of false iudgemeÌtes ¶ Of the whiche vnryghtwysenesse and false iudgemeÌtes / I shall tell the afterwarde more dyffusely ¶ This haue I sayde to the / that ther sholde be no derkenes in theyr soules that heren this / as thus ¶ Yf there be ony that wolde saye / we se wel that there is made a brydge / of this body of cry st / for the the oneheed of byuyne nature / with oure nature of maÌheed ¶ This we se well is true / but this brydge whaÌ he ascended in to heuen / he went fro oure presence ¶ He was to vs the waye of sothefastnesse / and taught vs with his vertuous werkes and examples ¶ What is lefte to vs nowe / and were shall we fynde the way I speke now to the / as thoughe I spake to them / whiche ben thus blynded ¶ Ye haue the way of this parfyte doctryne confyrmed of the apostles / and declared in the blode of matyrees / lyghtned with the clere lyght of doctours / and knowleged of the confessours ¶ And of that waye wereÌ made open instrumeÌtes / by the holy euangelystes / the whiche abyden as wytenessers / to make a sothefastnesse in the ghostly body of holy chyrche / they ben as a lanterne breÌnynge / and set vpon a caÌdlestycke / that they sholden deme the waye of sothefastnesse / whiche ledeth to the waye of lyfe / by the parfyte lyghte of clerenes ¶ Also these wytnessers hadden knowynge by experyence / for they hadden
theyr neyghbour / and agaynste themselfe ¶ Agaynst theÌselfe / for they lyuen not vertuously ¶ Also vnryghtwysely they bere theÌ agaynst me / for they yeldeÌ not worshyp to my name / nor they gyueÌ no thankynges nor presynges to me as they ben bounde / but as theues they taken awaye fro me that is myne gyuyÌge it to theyr owne propre sensualyte ¶ Also they done vnryghtwysenesse to me / agaynst theÌselfe / as blyÌde men and vncunnynge / not knowynge me in theÌ Â¶ And all this cometh by theyr owne loue / whiche desyre may not be fulfylled / nor they ben neuer contented / as the Iewes and the mynysters of the lawe dydeÌ to my sone ¶ For they maden them selfe blynde / throwe enuy / throwe theyr owne propre loue ¶ Therfore they knewe not the sothefastnesse of my sone ¶ And whaÌ they knewe not the cuerlastynge lyfe / whiche was withi theÌ / they dydeÌ not theyr dewte / and that veryâyed my sothefastnesse / and that is my sone / whaÌ he sayde thus / the kyngedome of god is within you / but that knewe they not ¶ And the cause was / for they hadden lost the lyght of reason / and in this maner they lefâeÌ theyr dewre vndone / whiche dewre sholde haue be to gyue thaÌkynge and worshyp to me and to my sone / whiche is all one with me ¶ And therfore as blynde men they dydeÌ suche vnryghtwysenesse to me / parsuynge my sone / to the dyspytefull dethe of the crosse / with repreues and wronges wouteÌ ende ¶ So they that ben lyke to them / done vnworthynesse to me / to theÌselfe / and to theyr neyghbour / sellyÌnge vnryghtfully theyr owne flesshe / and of theyr sogetes / of other ¶ Of the vnworthynesse in to whiche a maÌ falleth throwe these defautes Also it speketh of these wordes Paraclitus autem queÌ mittet pater c. ALso throwe this synne and for other defautes / they falleÌ somtyme in a false IudgemeÌt / as I shall shewethe after ¶ They ben euer sclanÌdred in my werkes / the whiche ben all ryghtfull / and all beÌ ordeyned in sothefastnesse / throwe mercy loue ¶ With this wicked fals Iudgement / the Iewes dydeÌ repreue wyckrdly the ryghtfull werkes of my sone / throwe wycked ve / nym of enuy / and pryde / demynge them with theyr falsenes and theyr lesynges and sayde this is he that casteth oute in the vertu of Bellabub ¶ So the wycked Iewes weren so fulfylled with theyr owne propre loue / and grounded so in vnclennesse / as in pryde / auaryce / lose of dyscrecy on / with impasence / many other defautes that ben vsed / that alway they ben sclaundred in me / and in my seruauÌtes / demyÌge falsly / those vertues ben fened / and not trewe ¶ And the cause is / for theyr herte is infecte / hathe no ryght nor trewe rast of the soule / nor ghostly sauour / wherfore all good werkes semen to them vnsauory and wycked ¶ O blyndnesse of mankynde / why wyll thou not beholde thy dygnyte / fro greate thou arte become full lytle / fro a lorde thou arte made a seruaunte and bounde / for thou arte made seruaunte and soget to synne ¶ And thou arte made suche as he is / whome thou serues ¶ Synne is noughte / therfore thou arte become to noughte ¶ Synne hathe taken thy lyfe fro the hathe betaken the to dethe ¶ This lyfe and dominacyon was taken to you / of the doctryne and the gloryous brydge / of my dere sone ¶ WhaÌ ye weren seruauntes of the fende / my sone toke you out of that seruage bycause the ye sholden not perysshe ¶ I ordeyned my sone a seruaunte and I put in hym obedyence / that the inobedyence of Adam sholde be put out ¶ And that pryde sholde be confounded / he meked hymselfe to the moost cruell dethe of the crosse ¶ He dyscryed all vyces by the vertu of his dethe / that no man myght saye that suche a vyce was vnpunysshed / for throwe his passyon bytter dethe / all vyces wereÌ punysshed in hym ¶ All remedyes weren gyuen / for he wolde delyuer them fro euerlastynge dethe ¶ They dyden dyspyse that holy blode / they dyden trede it vnder the fete of an vnordynate affeccyon ¶ This is that vnryghtwysenesse / and theyr false Iudgement / with the whiche the worlde is repreued ¶ And so it shal be repreued / in the greate daye of the Iudgement so wytnesed my sone that is my sothefastnesse / whan he sayde ¶ The comforter that is called the holy ghost / whome my fader shall sende in my name / he shall vndermyne the worlde of vnryghtwysenes / the worlde was repreued whaÌ I sende my holy spyryte in the apostles ¶ Here is how chryste speketh this reason O go mittam paraclituÌ qui muÌduÌ arguet c. And how the one of these repreues is contynuall THere beÌ thre vnder mynynges of the worlde ¶ One was whan the holy ghost dyscended on crystes dyscyples as I sayde before for whaÌ they wereÌ strengthed by my myght / and lyghtned with the wysdome of my sone / than they dyden receyue bothe grace and vertu / in the fulnesse of the holy ghoste ¶ Than the holy ghoste whiche is one with me / and with my sone / repreued the worlde / by the monycyons of his dyscyples / with the techynge of my holy sothefastnes / that is my sone ¶ They and suche other whiche came of them / folowynge that sothefastnesse / whiche they knewe by theyr techynge / dyden repreut the worlde ¶ This is a contynuall vndermynynge / whiche I dâ to the worlde as the techyÌge of holy scrypture saythe and by the prechyÌge of my seruauÌtes / whan the holy ghost put hymselfe in theyr tongues / and shewed theym my sothefastnesse ¶ And ryght so in the contrary / the fende receyueth hym on the toÌgues of his seruauntes that is to saye on the tongues of them / whiche gon by the wycked floode ¶ This holy vndermynynge / is put to the worlde coÌtynually in the maner as I sayd before throwe the greate loue that I haue to the helthe of soules ¶ And they maye not saye / we hadden no man to excuse vs / for the truthe therof is clerly shewed / whaÌ vertu and vyce was shewed to them ¶ And I made them to se the fruyte of vertues / and the harme of vyces / to the entent that I sholde graunte to theÌ bothe to loue and to drede me / with the hate of vyces / and loue of vertues ¶ And now that doctryne is not shewed by an angell / for they sholdeÌ not saye / an angel maye not offende for be is a blyssed spyryte ¶ He feleth no greuaunce of the flesshe / as we fele ¶ This they maye not saye / for that doctryne was gyuen to theÌ of my sone / the whiche was
receyue foure tourmeÌtes afterwarde pryncypally in hell / whiche ben these ¶ The fyrste is / that they se well how they ben pryued of my syghte / for the gyueth to theÌ so greate apeyne / the yf it were possyble / they wolden rather chose the fyre / and al other tourmentes se me / thaÌ to be out of tourmentes / and not to se me ¶ This peyne encreaseth the secoÌde peyne / that is of the worme of consyence / whiche freteth alwaye / beholdyÌge how I haue worthely pryued them of my syght / and of the coÌuersasyon of angels / seynge well themselfe / that for theyr synnes / they beÌ made worthy / to haue the conuersacyon of fendes / and to haue the horryble syghte of theÌ Â¶ Whiche syght of the fende / that is the thyrde peyne doubleth to theÌ al labour / al sorowe / and all peyne ¶ For ryght as in the syghte of me / all seyntes haue gladnesse / with Ioy of the fruyte of theyr labours / the whiche they broughteÌ for my name / with the plentuousnesse of my loue / and greate dysplesauÌce of themselfe ¶ Ryght so in the coÌtrarywyse / these synful wretches ben encreased in tourmentes / by that horryble syghte of fendes ¶ For in suche a syghte they knowen themselfe / more fully than they dydeÌ / for there they se that throwe theyr owne defautes / they ben worthy to haue those tourmeÌtes ¶ And in this maner theyr worme freteth them more myghtly / and the fyre of this conscyence ceseth neuer of breÌnynge ¶ Also it is to suche wretches as beÌ daÌpned more peyne / to se and to beholde the fende / as he is in his propre fygure / whiche beholdynge and syght is so horryble / that no maÌnes herte maye thynke it ¶ And thou boughter yf thou remembre the well / thou knowes iÌ what forme he was shew ed to that / as in that mynute of an houre ¶ And at the laste whan thy spyrytes weren comen agayne togyder / an thy owne choyse / thy wyll was rather to go in a waye brennynge as to hell thy lyfe durynge / vnto the daye of Iudgement / than to se that syghte ony more ¶ And yet not wtstondynge thou sawe it in suche a forme / yet thou knowes not how horryble it is ¶ For by the power of my dyuyne ryghtwysenesse / the fende sheweth hyÌ more horryble in a wycked soule / whiche hathe pryued herselfe of me / and more or lesse / after the greuaunce of her synnes ¶ The fourthe tourment is fyre / this fyre ceseth neuer of brennynge / and yet he wasteth not ¶ For the beynge of the soule maye not be wasted / nor that fuell of the fyre may not be wasted / for it is not bodyly ¶ Neuerthelesse I suffre theÌ to be brente of that fyre by my dyuyne ryghtwysenesse / as by waye of tourment / whiche fyre tourmenteth them / wasteth not / and tourmenteth and brenneth theÌ with grete penes / by many dyuers wayes / after the dyuersyte multytude of synÌes ¶ Besyde these foure pryncypall tourmentes be other / of these tourmentes comeÌ all other with colde / here / and gnastynge of tethe / after they gone wretchely to that euerlastynge fyre that is dethe after the tyme they ben Iudged / at the daye of IudgemeÌt / of theyr vnryghtfull lyuyÌge in theyr lyte / and they that done not amende them before dethe / in the fyrst vndermynyÌge ¶ Also yf they dye in the seconde vn dermynynge that is to saye yf at the poynt of dethe they wyll not haue hope nor trust in my mercy / nor sorowe for offenses done to me pryÌcypally / but rather sorowe for theyr owne penes whiche they sholdeÌ suffre / after they haue receyued the euer lastynge dethe ¶ Of the thyrde vndermynynge / whiche shall be at the daye of Iudgement NOwe thou shal here of that thyrde vndermynyÌge that is to saye of the laste daye of Iudgement / that thou maye se how moche a soule dysceyueth herselfe ¶ Fyrste I shall tell the of the generall IudgemeÌt / in the whiche Iudgement / the peyne of a wretched soule shal be encreased throwe that oneheed whiche the soule shall make with the body / with an intollerable vndermynge / the whiche shal brynge her in to confusyon and shame ¶ Thou shall knowe it forsothe / that in the laste daye of the Iudgement / whaÌ my sone shall come with his ryghtwysenesse / to Iudge the worlde with that dyuyne myghte ¶ For thaÌ he shall not come as a lytle poore chylde / as whan he was borne of a maydens wombe / in a stable with beestes / afterwarde he dyed with grete dyspyte / hangynge on the crosse bytwene .ij. theues ¶ And that tyme I hyd my myght in hym / and I suffred hym to haue peyne tourment vntolletable / as a very maÌ Â¶ Not in that wyse that the dyuyne nature / as for that was departed fro hym / but I suffred hym to bere that passyon as a man / that he sholde make satysfaccyon for youre synÌes ¶ But doughter he shall not come so downe in the laste ende of the worlde / for he shall come than with a full grete myghte with his owne propre êsone / to make correccyoÌ Â¶ And ther shall no creature be thaÌ / but that he shal haue grete drede / and he shall yelde to euery creature after his werkes ¶ To soules that shall be dampned / he shall gyue many tourmentes / and the beholdynge on hym shall be so dredful that a tongue suffyseth not to tell / he shall gyue to ryghtfull soules in his beholdynge / a drede of reuereÌce / with full greate ioye and gladnesse ¶ Not in that wyse that he shall be chauÌged in face / for he is vnchauÌgeable / for he is all one with me / with my dyuyne nature / after nature of man / so that his face is not chaungeable / after his gloryous resurreccyon ¶ He shall shewe hym dredfull to that eye of theÌ that shall be daÌpned / for they shall se hym with the dredefull and derke eyes whiche they haue in themselfe / as an eye that is hurts may not comprehende but derkenesse in a sayre shynynge sonne ¶ An hole eye beholdeth lyghte / that is not throwe the defaute of that lyghte / whiche shall gyue more rather alteracyon to a blynde maÌ / thaÌ to hym that hathe syghte / but it is throwe that defaute of that sore eye ¶ So shal they that shall be daÌpned / beholde my sone with a dredefull syght / and vntollerable in greate confusyon and hatered ¶ Not throwe defaute of my diuine maieste / in the whiche maieste / he shall come to Iudge all the worlde / but they sholden se hym so dredefully by theyr owne defautes ¶ Howe a soule dampned / may not desyre no goodnesse THe hatered of dampned soules / that they haue in them
theyr chyldren / or of theyr other frendes they charge them not / but rather they beholden they in as my enemyes ¶ And whan they se them tourmeÌted / they dyscorde iÌ not hyÌge fro my wyll / for theyr desyres be fullfylled / the desyre of soules in blysse is to se and beholde my worshyp fullfylled in you / that yet be walkers in the way / the whiche be strauÌgers pylgrymes / goynge fast to the ende of dethe ¶ All your soules helthe / they that be in blysse done couer / for the desyre that they haue to my worshyp ¶ Therfore they pray alway for you whose desyre is fulfylled of my party / so that ye wtstoÌde not my mercy / for tomoche ignoraunce blyndenesse ¶ Forthermore those soules that be in blys / desyre to take agayne theyr bodyes for encrese of blys / that they sholde haue / whaÌ that soule the body come togyder / but that desyre noyeth the not / though they haue not theyr desyre / iÌ acte or in dede ¶ But they ioye with a ghostly desyre of knowynge / they fele tast ioyenge of that sykernes / whiche they haue of theyr desyre / that shall be fulfylled ¶ Therfore thoughe they haue not theyr desyre in acte / it noyeth theym not / for thoughe they haue it not / theyr blys faylââ not / therfore the lacke of theyr ãâã / causeth theÌ no peyne ¶ And ââânke you not that the body gyueth ãâã blys to the soule after the resurââââon ¶ It is not so / for yf it were âo / ââdâs ãâã wolde folowe / that in to yeâyme they had agayne theyr bodyâââ they sholde haue in partyte blys ãâ¦ã may not be / for they lacke no ââyon ¶ Wherfore there is no ãâ¦ã man that bryngeth blys to his ãâã / but the soule shall gyue blys to ãâ¦ã y. ¶ ThaÌ shall the soule gyue ãâã yeweher habuÌdaunce of newe ãâã in the daye of IudgemeÌt so ãâã ââothynge of her owne flesshe ãâ¦ã iefte / whan the soule deâââââ ãâã âody by dethe ¶ Ryght ãâ¦ã is made vndeedly / and al ãâ¦ã in engthed in me / so shall ãâ¦ã be made in the same vnyon ãâã âoly ¶ And all the heuynesse âârosyte of the body shal awaye and shall be made sotell and lyghte ¶ Wherfore thou shall vnderstonde that euery body gloryfyed / maye passe throwe the stonen walles ¶ Nother fyre nor water maye noye them / that is not by the vertu of the body / but by that vertu of thou soule ¶ Whiche soule is properly myne / gyueÌ to the body by grace / by loue / throwe the whiche grace loue / I formed theÌ / made theÌ to my ymage lykenes ¶ The eye of thy intelleccyon suffyseth not to se / nor thy ere 's to here / nor toÌgue to tell / nor maÌnes herte to thyÌke / the grete goodnes other blys / whiche is inestimable ¶ O doughter what grete ioy haue they / whiche euer beholde me that am all good ¶ O how moche solace they shall haue / whan they shal be gloryfyed in theyr bodyes ¶ Whiche solace al be it they sholden not haue in to the daye of dome yet sholde the soules haue no peyne for that lacke of theyr bodyes / for that blyssed heed of the soule fayleth not / for she is euer full of blys in herselfe / to the whiche blys / she shall come with the body / as I haue sayde before ¶ I tolde the of the goodnes that maye not be thought / the whiche a body gloryfyed shal haue in the humanyte gloryfyed of my dere sone / whiche humanyte gyueth to you clerely a sykernes of your resurreccyoÌ Â¶ Ther they ioy make theÌ glad in his wouÌdes / whiche wouÌdes cese not to cry euery day mercy for you to me that am the fader ¶ All blyssed soules be coÌforted with hym in ioye and gladnes / eye with eye / and with honde / and with all that hole body of my onely sone ¶ All ye sholde be confyrmed in me a bydynge / so ye sholde dwell in hym / for he is all one with me ¶ The eye of your body as I sayde / shall haue gladnes iÌ the humanyte gloryfyed of my sone ¶ And this is the cause / for theyr lyues ended in the loue of my charyte ¶ And therfore with that charyte they ben parseuer auÌte / abydâ euerlastyÌgely ¶ Not so that they may do ony good / but they Ioye in that loue whiche they had that is to say for they maye not haue ony merytory dede in excersyce ¶ For here in this lyfe onely / meÌ synne do merytory dedes as theÌ lyke at theyr owne wyâ with theyr fre choyse ¶ They that abyde iÌ blys / abyde not the dyuyne dome with drede / but with ioye ¶ The face of my sone shall not be seen drede full to theÌ nor ful of hate / for asmoche as theyr lyfe ended in my loue / in the benyuoleÌce of theyr neyghbours ¶ Thou shall also vnderstonde / that there shall no chauÌgyÌge of face be iÌ hyÌ to theyr syght / wha he cometh to Iudge in my maieste / but in theÌ that shall be âudged of hyÌ / to theÌ ther shall be dredefull chauÌgynge of lokyÌge ¶ He shal appere to that soules that shall be dapned with ryghtwysenes hatered / to theÌ that shall be saued / with mercy loue ¶ ThaÌ after the generall IudgemeÌt the peyne of dampned soules shall encrese DOughter I haue tolde that of the dygnyte of ryghtfull men / by the whiche thou maye know that more lyghtly / the mysery of theÌ that be dampned ¶ This is an other peyne to theyr myseryes / for to beholde somoche blys of ryghtful meÌ / whiche beholdynge is to theÌ encrese of peynes / as it is to ryghtfull meÌ the daÌpnacyon of them that be dampned / an addycyon of gladnes of my goodnes / for lyghte is better knowe for derkenes / and derkenes for lyghte ¶ Therfore the syght of seyntes shall be to them peyne / and with peyne they adyde the laste daye of Iudgement / for they se well therby grete encrese of peyne to them / so it shal be ¶ For whaÌ it shall be sayde to theÌ with an hortyble voyce / Aryse ye that be deed come to the Iudgement / than shall the soule go agayne to the body ¶ And in ryghtfull meÌ the body shall be gloryfyed / of theÌ that shal be daÌpned the body shall be tourmented wtout ende ¶ And grete stryues shall be ymonge them / and repreues in beholdynge of my sothefastnes / and of blyssed seyntes ¶ And thaÌ the worme of conscyence freteth that marowz of that tree that is the soule / and the vtter rynde of the tree that is the body / the holy blode that was shed for theym they shold vndernyme ¶ Also theyr dedes of mercy teÌporal spyrytual / they sholde repreue
/ that they dyd to theyr neyghbour / other dedes that they dyd in theyr wycked lyuynge for they wolde not leue theyr synne al shal be put in reprefe to theÌ than ¶ Also they shold be repreued of the crueltes / that they dyd to theyr neyghbours / of that synÌe of pryde / with loue of vncleÌnes / theyr auarice ¶ And whan they so that grete mercy whiche they myght haue had of me / theyr vndernymyÌge shal be moche harder thaÌ the soule had in tyme of dethe ¶ For at that general dome that soule that body of suche shall be tourmented bothe togyder / for asmoche as the body was felowe with the souls / instrumeÌt to worke bothe good and yll / at theyr owne wyl ¶ Euery workyÌge good or yl / is wrought by some maner of a maÌnes neyghbour ¶ Therfore doughter goodnes glory wtout ende is gyueÌ ryghtfully to my choseÌ soules / with theyr bodyes gloryfyed / gracyously they be rewarded for theyr labours / the whiche they had togyder body soule in my name ¶ In that same maner euerlastynge peyne shall be gyue to wycked men with body soule ¶ Bycause that body was instrument of euyll / therfore that peyne shall be made newe encreased in that syght of my sone / whan the soule the body shal come togyder / thaÌ shall the wretched sensualyte be repreued with his vncleÌnes / beholdyÌge that humanyte of cryst / ioyned with that iyâe of cleÌnes of my godheed / and whaÌ they beholde your nature of Adaâ / enhauÌsed aboue that courte of angels ¶ Also they shal se theÌselfe put downe in to the depenes of hell / beholdynge that largenes that mercy gyuen to them that be blyssed ¶ And whaÌ the blyssed soules receyue the fruyte of my sones blode / whiche sone is called the laÌbe of god ¶ Also that blyssed soules do se all that peynes whiche they suffre in that worlde / ordeyned for that or nameÌtes of the bodyes / as a raye of golde is put vpoÌ a clothe / that is not by that vertu of that body / but onely by that pleÌtuous blys of that soule / whiche representeth to his body that fruyte of his trauayles / bycause that that body was assocyate to the soule to the excersyces of vertues ¶ Also that body shall be knowe outewardely / ryght as a myrrour representeth and sheweth the face of a man / ryghte so the fruyte of his labours shal be presented shewed in his hyghe body as it is sayde before ¶ And whaÌ al these other soules full of mysery derkenes beholde somoche dygnyte iÌ blyssed soules / of the whiche dygnite they be pryued and excluded / than theyr peyne coÌfusyon encreaseth / for the token of theyr wyckednesse synnes whiche they dyd / shall be shewed in theyr bodyes / with peynes tourmentours to theyr tourmeÌt ¶ Wherfore in that dredefull worde whiche they shal here / go ye to that fyre euerlastyÌge thaÌ shal theyr bodyes with the soules go downe euer to abyde with that fendes wtoute ony remedy of hope ¶ There they shall sorowe togyder in theyr peynes / to the encrese of theyr peynes / theyr wretchydnes with al theyr fylthes / euery maÌ by hymselfe in dyuers wyses / after that theyr euyll werkes were dyuers in erthe ¶ A couetous maÌ with that fylthe of his auaryce / breÌnynge ther in that fyre with worldely substauÌce / mhiche wyckedly falsely he purchased / loued in that worlde ¶ The cruell maÌ shall be tourmenteb with his cruelte / that vnclene maÌ with his vncleÌnes with his wretched coÌcupyssence ¶ An vnryghtful man with his vntruthe vnryghtfulnes ¶ The enuyous maÌ with his enuy ¶ An hatered maÌ with that hatered of his neyghbour ¶ And forthermore there shall be bâendeâ vnordynate loue oââmaÌnes loue / of the whiche âalâe ãâã cometh all euyll ¶ And the ãâ¦ã a passyâge peyne intollerable / for asmoche âs that synne was begynnyÌge of all euyll moder to pryde / whiche is moder of all synÌes ¶ Wherfore euery soule body togyder / shall be punysshed togyder ¶ And thê° myserably they go to theyr ende / which go by that lower way of the flode / wyl not tourne to knowlege theyr owne defautes / aske mercy as I sayd before ¶ But so they gone to the gates of hell / for they haue folowed the techynge of that fende ¶ And he is theyr gate / and theyr entrynge to hell / as it is sayde before ¶ And in that coÌtrary wyse my chosen chyldren whiche go vpon that brydge aboue / those go by that way of sothefastnes / that sothefastnes is to theÌ that gate of entryÌge ¶ Therfore my sone whiche is my sothefastnes fayde / ãâã mâmdy come to my sader but by me ¶ He is that gate that waye by the whiche they passe ouât that they may âântre to me / whiche am that peaseble see ¶ And so in that coÌtrary / they that went by that way of pardycyon / whiche waye gyueth to them a deed water / so be peryshed loste ¶ To that perel that fende calleth âtyrreth suche blynde soules fooles / by full peryllous teÌptacyoÌs / false suggestyons whiche for blyndenes and lacke of grace do not parceyue / nor they take no hede / how they haue lost that lyght of very feythe / folowe that wyll the wordes of the fende as thoughe he spake to them and sayde ¶ Who so hathe thrust and desyreth water of dethe / let hem come to me / I shall gyue it to hym ¶ And here now moder and systren endeth the seconde parte of this orcharde / in the whiche we be taughte the waye to he uen ¶ And how we be ordeyned to labour in this worlde / euery man in his owne vyneyerde ¶ And of thre ladders whiche helpe a soule to the loue of god ¶ In this party also oure lorde speketh ful comfortably of his grete mercy / and of dyuersyte of synnes ¶ And how soules shall be repreued at the day of Iudgement ¶ And of the pryncypall tourmentes in hell / and of the ioyes of heuen ¶ Our lorde than graunt ââ so feruently to labour / euery man in his owne vyneyerde / that bâ the prayer of his blyssed moder / and by his grete mercy / that we maye gracyously scape that drefull daye of Iudgement / ãâã with his chosen chyldren / to entre in to the gates of blysse / the gloryous syght of hym euer to reioyce Ameâ ¶ The .iii. boke Tertia ¶ The fyrste chapytre of the .iii. party / sheweth of that profyte of temptacyons / and how euery soule in that last ende of his lyfe shall tast and fele by knowynge ââ he fully pas / what peyne or ioye he shall haue after he is passed ¶ Also how the fende catcheth soules budet the coloure of
some goodnes / also this boke maketh mencyon of a vysyoÌ that this blyssed vyrgyn had with dyuers and many maters / as it is rehersed before iÌ the kalender Caâ i THe fende a mynystre ordeyned of my ryghtwysenesse to tourment soules / whiche greuously offende me ¶ And I ordeyned theym in this lyfe / that they sholde tempte and do greate greuaunce to my creatures ¶ Not for my creatures sholden be ouercome / but forthey sholden ouercome the fende / and that they sholde receyue of me the glory of vyctory / throwe the vertu that is pryued in them ¶ And therfore no maÌ shall drede the temptacyons of the fende / for ony batayle that shall befall hyÌ Â¶ For I haue ordeyned meÌ to be stronge / and I haue gyueÌ theÌ the strengthe of a wyll / the whiche is made myghty in the blode of my sone / whiche wyll no fende nor creature maye remoue / for youre wyl is toyned to you of me with a fre chose therfore ye maye kepe that wyll at your owne choyse as you lyke and releshe it yf ye wyll ¶ That wyll is an armure / whiche ye put in the hoÌde of youre aduersary ¶ And but that ye take hede / it is a swerde wherwith he smyteth you / and sometyme sleeth you ¶ Neuerthelesse yf a man take not this sharpe swerde of his wyll in to the hondes of the fende that is to saye that he assente not to his temptacyons and greuaunces / he shall neuer be hurte with deedly synne throwe ony temptacyoÌs / but rather those teÌptacyoÌs shall strengthe hyÌ so that he opeÌ his eye of intelleccyon to beholde my charyte / whiche charyte suffreth you to be tempted onely / that ye sholde come to the rewarde that is ordeyned for vertu ¶ No man may attayne to vertues / but throw the knowynge of me / and of hymselfe / whiche knowynge is most parfytely had in the tyme of temptacyons ¶ For than a man knoweth hymselfe / that he is nought of hym selfe whan he maye not remoue and put awaye the peynes and greuaunces the whiche he desyred to voyde ¶ And than he knoweth me also in his propre wyll / for his wyl is made stronge of my goodnes / for asmohce as he coÌsenteth not to suche wycked thoughtes ¶ More ouer the eye of his intelleccyon seeth that my charyte suffreth those thoughtes / for that fende is feble of hymselfe / he maye do nought / but iÌ asmoche as I suffre and withdrawe my honde ¶ I suffre hym not for hatered that I haue to you / but for grete loue / not for ye sholde be ouercome of hyÌ / but that ye sholde ouercome hym / that ye maye therby come to the parfyte knowlege of me / and of youreselfe ¶ Also that vertu maye haue experyence therby / for vertu hathe no experyence / but by his contraryte ¶ Therfore beholde well and se that the fendes be but my mynystres / other to tourment the that be dapned in hell / other to tourmente men in this worlde for excersyce in vertues / and experyence in the soule ¶ And yet theyr entent is for no excersyce in vertues / nor for experyence / for they haue not somoche charyte / but to that entent / that they wolde take awaye frome them vertues / and that maye they not / but ye wyll ¶ Sees thou not doughter how moche is the foly of deedly men whiche make them so feble / so that I haue fulfylled them with so grete strengthe / they put themselfe iÌ to the hondes power of fendes ¶ And therfore I wyl that thou knowe / that at the ende of theyr dethe / for asmoche as they made themselfe soget to the power of the fende / without constrenynge / for the fende maye not compel them / but wylfully they put theÌselfe in to the power of the fende / therfore at the last ende whaÌ they come to deth / they abyde not other iudgement / but with that wycked domynacyoÌ / they deme themselfe by wyckednesse of theyr conseyence ¶ And so without ony hope they pas forth to euerlastynge peynes of hell / and hell is streyned of theÌ with hatered and or euer that they come to hell / here they haue take it for theyr hyre and rewarde / this thou maye se by ensamble of a ryghtfull man ¶ As ryghtfull men whiche lyued in charyte / and dye in loue whan the ende or dethe cometh / yâ they haue lyued partyââly in this lyfe in vertu / and be made lyght and bryght with the lyght of feythe with crylte shewth the cye of parfyte hope / the good and that profyte of the blode of the holy lambe my sone whiche I haue ordeyned to them / than that goodnesse they coll and clyppe with armes of loue / and ââreyne me to them in the laste ende âtheyr lyues / with hausynges of loue / whiche am the most souerayne euerlastynge loue ¶ Than in this maner suche men taste the euerlastynge lyfe / or they leue the heuy but then of theyr body that is to saye or the soule be departed fro the body ¶ Other ther be the lyued in comune charyte / that were not in so grete parfeccyon / and whan they came to the tyme of dethe / they dyd trust to my mercy with the lyght of feyth hope / whiche lyght the parfyte soules had as I haue sayde before ¶ But yet they haue not the lyght of teythe nor hope so parfytely / as parfyte soules haue / but they haue lyght and hope vnparfyte ¶ And all be it they be vnparfyte / yet they haue my mercy whan they knowe and knowlege that my mercy is more and larger than theyr synnes ¶ But wycked men worke in the coÌtrary / they se and beholde theyr abydyÌge place of peyne without ony hope / that they take wtoute my charyte / as I sayde before ¶ Wherfore nother of these twayne abyde other Iudgement / but whaÌ they sholde pas / eueryone knoweth the place and abydynge whyder they sholde go / or they be departed fro the body that is to saye they the sholde be daÌpned knowe theyr place with peyne without charyte with hatered and dyspyracyon ¶ They also that ben partyte and shal go to blys knowe theyr abydyÌge in blys with the lyght of feythe / and with loue / and with truste of the vertu of the holy blode shedynge / of the holy meke lambe of my sone ¶ And other that be vnparfyte with truste on mercy and with the lyght of feythe / passe forthe to the place of purgatory / wher they shall be purged and made parfyte / and so to obtayne the blysse of heueÌ Â¶ How that the fende alwaye catcheth soules vnder the coloure of some goodnesse / and how they that gone by the grete floode and not by the brydge be dysceyued and go to losse TAke thou hede nowehowe I haue tolde the / howe the
fende calleth and styrreth men to the water of dethe that is to saye to the water that blyÌdeth them with worldly delyces and hyghe states / catcheth them with a false hoke of delectacyon vnder colour of good / for otherwyse he maye not haue them / for they wolden not suffre themselfe to be takeÌ nor dysceyued / yf they dydynot fele no goodnesse in theÌselfe ¶ For a soule of his owne nature / euer desyreth goodnes / but yet sothe it is that a soule sometyme is blynded throwe his owne loue / and thaÌ he knoweth not the venym / nor the dysceyte of the fende / and no dyscrecyon he hathe to knowe that very goodnesse / nor what is profytable to the soule nor to the body ¶ Therfore the fende whan he seeth a man so blynded throwe his owne propre loue / he putteth to hym dyuers states vnder dyuers colours of some profyte or of some vertu or goodnes ¶ And that he putteth to euery man after his state / and after the pryncypall vyces / in the whiche he knoweth euery man after his dysposycyon more redy to fall ¶ Some false suggesty on s he putteh to a relygyous maÌ / an other thyngehe putteth to prelates / an other to seculers / an other to lordes / and an other to seruauntes / to euery man after the degre of dyuers states ¶ This I haue rehersed and tolde the of them / the whiche drownen themselfe in the floode of the water of dethe / hauynge no rewarde but onely to themselfe that is to saye louyge themselfe / taken no hede of offences done to me / and of suche men I haue tolde the theyrende ¶ And now forthermore I wyl she we the / how they dysceyuen theÌselfe ¶ The cause in general is / for whan wylfully they wolden fle fro peynes / they fallen in to peynes ¶ For it semeth to theÌ / that it a full greate labour to folowe me that is to saye to go by the waye of the brydge of my sone / therfore they drawen abacke for drede of the thorne / that is for drede of sharpenesse / and that is for they ben vtterly blynded / by the whiche they seen not / nor knowen not the waye of my sothefastnesse / as thou dyd knowe / whan I shewed it the in the begynnyÌge of thy lyfe / whan thou dyd praye to me / that I sholde gyue mercy to all the worlde and to drawe them fro derkenesse of deedly synÌes ¶ Thou knowes wel that at that tyme / I shewed me to the in a fygure of a tree / of the whiche tree thou sauoured begynnyÌge nor endyÌge / but onely thou dyd parceyue that the roote of that tree was ioyned with the erthe / and that was the dyuyne nature was knyt with the nature of youre hamanyte ¶ In the fote of the tree yf thou haue good mynde / there was a thorne / fro the whiche thorne / all that dyden loue theyr owne sensualyte / dydeÌ drawe themselfe fer awaye fro the thorne / and stedden in hast to an hyll / ther was a pot / in the whiche hyll I shewed the by a fygure / all the delyces vanytes of the worlde ¶ In the pot it semed as ther had be where / but there was none / therfore thou sawe well that many soules dyden perysshe therin for hongre ¶ Some that knowen the perelles of the worlde / dyden retourne agayne to the tree / wenten myghtly by the thorne that is to saye some tokeÌ a purpose of good wyll / to take a waye of sharpenesse / whiche purpose of sharpenesse / or it be parformed / is suche a thorne whiche semeth to a man sholde be folowed / to go in to the waye of sothefastnesse ¶ And yet on the one party the conscyence grutcheth / on the other party that sensualyte grutcheth ¶ Neuerthelesse anone as a man with hatered and dysplesaunce of hymselfe / taketh a purpose myghtely / sayth thus in his herte / I wyl folowe my lorde crucyfyed / than sodeynly that purpose breketh the throwe that is to saye the good wyll dothe awaye the sharpenesse / and than shall he fyude a wonderfull swetenesse / as I haue declared to the before / some man more / and some man lesse / after the dysposycyon and besynes of dyuers men ¶ Thou knowes at that tyme howe I sayde to the / that youre lorde was vnmouable / sothe it is / for I am not chaunged ¶ I withdrawe me fro no creature that wyll come to me / I haue shewed the sothefastnesse to all / and I haue shewed me to them and made me vysyble / where I was and am inuysyble ¶ What is it to loue ony thynge wtoute me / they knowen not me / nor themselfe / bycause they were made blyde / throwe a cloude of vnordynate loue and of desyre ¶ Sees yu. not how moche they ben dysceyued / for they had moche rather to be perysched in the greate see / than to passe throwe a lytle sharpenesse ¶ And there maye none passe oute of this lyfe without the cros / saue they that gone by the hyghest waye / and yet they passen not wtout some peyne / but that peyne is to them a refresshynge ¶ And for asmoche as the worlde for synÌe bryngeth you forthe thornes breres / as I tolde the before / and renneth throwe a stoode the is a see wtout rest / therfore I haue ordeyned / and gyuen to you a sure brydge / wherby ye maye passe fro that worlde you wyll ¶ To this tyme I haue shewed the / how that suche men dysceyueÌ themselfe with an vnordynate drede / how I am poure lorde god / whiche am not chauÌged ¶ And that I take no hede to the parsones / but to the holy desyres of the parsones / and this I haue shewed the in a fygure of a tree ¶ How the world for synÌes brought forthe thornes and breres / yet some there ben that ben not noyed with them / all be it the no man maye come to blysse / wtoute some peyne here suffred or he passe NOw I am purposed to shewe the whiche they ben that be harmed of the thornes and breres / and whiche not ¶ And for asmoche as to this tyme I haue shewed to the dampnacyoÌ of suche men and my goodnesse and I tolde the how they ben dysceyued of theyr owne propre sensualyte ¶ Nowe therfore I wyll shewe to the / how they ben hurte of thornes onely ¶ Soth it is / no maÌ that is comen in to this lyfe lyueth forthe with bodyly labour or ghostly ¶ My seruauntes bere grete bodyly labours / theyr soules be ful fre fro that trauayle / for they fele no trauayle / that is for theyr wyll holy accordeth with my wyll ¶ And the wyl it is / that maketh meÌ haue peyne / they beren bothe bodyly peyne and ghostly as I sayde before whiche begynne to
to come to the well of lyfely water of grace ¶ Therfore it behoueth to you for to kepe vertu holde it with parseuerauÌce / that ye maye come to the same brydge before sayde / so the nother thornes / nor contrary wyndes / nor prosperyte / nor aduersyte / nor no other tollerable peyne / remoue you away frome youre holy purpose / but rather ye sholde parseuer dure tyll ye come to me that shall gyue you water of lyfely grace / the whiche I shall delyuer you by the medyacyoÌ of my swete and ryght dere byloued sone Ihesu ¶ But why saydehe / I am a wel of water of lyfe ¶ Bycause he was is a well whiche conteyneth me / that gyueth lyfely water of grace / by the knyttynge togyder of the dyuyne nature / with the pure nature of the maÌheed ¶ Why sayde he also / come to me and drynke / for ye may not passe without peyne / and in me myght neuer peyne fall / but iÌ hym ¶ And bycause I haue made of hym to you a brydge / therfore there maye none come to me / but by hym / as he sayeth hymselfe Nemo potest venire ad patreÌ c. ¶ There maye none come to the fader / but by me / and so my onely sone that is the very sothefastnesse / hathe spoke my truthe ¶ Now thou maye well parceyue what waye and what maner behoueth the to kepe and to holde that is with parseyueraunce ¶ For by no other waye ye drynke of my well of lyfe / for parseueraunce is a vertu that lyueth vyctoryously by lyfe euerlastynge in me / receyueth ioye and a crowne of a specyall rewarde ¶ How euery reasonable creature generally may kepe all maner of gouernaunce / so that he maye pas out fro the see of the worlde / and go by the forsayd holy brydge ANd therfore eftesones I take agayne those thre grees by whome ye muste nedes walke / lest the stoode aryse and ye peryshe therin ¶ And that ye maye also come parfytely to the water of lyfe / to whom ye be byden swetely for to come ¶ And yf you wyll that I be in the myddes of you that is to saye within youre hertes / with parfyte loue and charyte / thaÌ maye ye passe forthe moche the better vpoÌ the brydge that is my onely begoteÌ sone ¶ For whan I am in the myddes of you / there is greate habundaunce of vertues / with benefytes and greate gyftes vnnumerable / whan ye suffre me ther to haue a dwellyÌge place by êfyte pusyence of herte myÌde ¶ Therfore they that coueter for to walke / they must nedes haue thrust for onely all they that haue thruste / be byde to dryÌke of this wel of grace for he saythe hyÌselfe / he that thrusteth come to me and drynke ¶ He that thrusteth not / pseuereth not in his Iournaye / but without contynual passynge forthe / he abydeth and taryeth / other by delectacyon / other by werynesse of his labour ¶ And suche one careth not nor yet gyueth no force thoughe he bryÌge no vessell with hym / wherw t he myght drawe water and brynge it with hym / nor he is not sory in his mynde yf he go alone without company / nor to assocyate vertu / yet he gothe not alone for there as vertu fayleth / vyces do folowe ¶ And therfore he gothe abacke whan he seeth the pryckynge of parsecucyons come / the whiche ben full enemyes to his good purpose ¶ He dredeth also for to haue felyshyp / yet of a truthe yf he had vertuous fely shyppe / suche dredes sholde than passe awaye from hym ¶ And also yf he hadde ascended vp êfytely those thre grees beforesayde in truthe / he sholde be sure ynoughe ¶ Ye must haue therfore thruste / gader yourselfe togyder vertuously for my sothefast sone saythe / where two or thre be gadered togyder iÌ my name / in the myddes of them am I. ¶ And why sayeth he .ii. or .iii For ii be not wtoute .iii. nor .iii. wtoute .ii. nor .iii. nor .ii. wtout many .i. is fully excluded fro me / for in the myddes of hym maye I not be / and bycause he hathe no felyshyp / I maye not stonde in the myddes / he lacketh a felowe and is a lone / that abydeth and taryeth in his owne propre loue ¶ Suche one is departed from my grace / and also he is departed from the charyte of his neyghbour / and so depryued fro me bycause of his synnes / and so he is tourned veryly to nought ¶ Therfore suche one that goeth so by hymselfe alone / and one by his propre loue / is not in the nombre nor tolde of the very sothefastenesse of my onely begoten sone Ihesu ¶ My sone he sayde also / yf two or thre be gadered togyder in my name / with parfyte loue and presynge to my name / than I am in the mydes of them ¶ Also I sayde to the the two without thre myght not be / nor thre may not be nor stonde with oute two / and sothe it is ¶ Thou knowes ryght well that the comauÌdymentes of the lawe do stonde in two thynges onely / and withoute those two no coÌmaundyment maye be kepte / that is to louâme aboue all thynges / and thy neyghboure as thy selfe / this is the begyÌnynge of the lawe of the commaundymentes / and also it is the myddes and the ende ¶ These two without thre maye not be sette nor gadered togydre in my name / without gaderyÌge togydre of the thre myghtes of the soule / that is of mynde / Intelleccyon / and wyll ¶ So that by the mynde or memory of my greate benefytes or gyftes / a man hathe mynde of the before sayde goodnes in hyÌselfe ¶ And the intelleccyon or vnderstoÌdynge / beholdeth onely and veryly in my vnspectable and meruaylous loue / the whiche loue I shewed you by meane medyacyon of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryste / whome I put and set after the eye of youre vnderstondynge / that youre vnderstondynge maye se in hym the grete myghte of my most brennynge charyte ¶ And than shall the wyll be gadered to hym louynge me desyrynge me theyr ende ¶ With these thre myghtes vertues of the soule gadered togyder by grace / in the myddes of theÌ I am ¶ ThaÌ in asmoche as a maÌ fyndeth hym fulfylled and replete / bothe with the loue and charyte of me also of his neyghboure / anone he parceyueth in hymselfe the grete felyshyp and company of many ryall vertues / and than he dysposeth hym to haue the thrust and the appetyte of the soule / the whiche thrust is nothynge elles / but the thruste of vertu and of my worshyp / and also of helthe of soules ¶ ThaÌ he gothe surely without ony seruyle drede / that thus hathe ascended the fyrst gre of his affeccyon ¶ For affeccyon is dyspoyled fro his owne
êpre loue / therâore he ascendeth aboue hymselfe / aboue all transyry thynges / louyÌge and beholdynge all suche transytory thynges / yf he wyll kepe them holde them onely in my name / and in no wyse without me / that is with holy and very drede / and for loue of vertu ¶ Than suche a man fyndeth well that he ascendeth the secoÌde degre / whiche is the lyght of vnderstoÌdynge / that beholdeth and consydereth my excessyue passynge loue in my sone cryst crucified ¶ By whom as by a meane / I haue shewed the same loue to mankynde / thaÌ he fyndeth pease and rest / for his memory or myÌde is not fer fro my ferueÌt charite ¶ Thou knowes wel the a voyde vessell gyueth a sowne whaÌ it is touched / whan it is full it dothe not so ¶ In the same maner whaÌ mynde / or memory is full with the vnderstoÌdynge or intelleccyoÌ / and with affeccyon full of loue / yf it be touched thaÌ other with trybulacyoÌs of the worlde other delectacyons / it cryeth not by vnordynate ioye / nor also by impasyence weyleth not / for it is ful of me that am al good ¶ After tyme that a man is ascended thus / he fyndeth hym gadered togyder / for yf reason haue those thre degrees of .iij. myghtes of the soule as I haue sayde in my name eche of them be gadered togyder ¶ So than whan tweyne that is loue of me / and loue of thy neyghbour be gadered togyder / mynde or memory is brought therto ¶ As for the thyrde for to kepe holde retentyfely and vnderstonde for to se and beholde / also wyll for to loue ¶ Than a soule fyndeth her felyshyp with me / thaÌ I am her very sykernesse / and toure of strengthe ¶ She fyndeth than also the felyshyp of vertu / so she gothe ryghte surely / and dwelleth full parfytely / for I am in the myddes of her ¶ ThaÌ she moueth herselfe with a gredy desyre / for to folowe and shewe the very waye of truthe / by the whiche way it fyndeth the well of lyfely water of grace ¶ Of the thrust that it hathe for the worshyp of my name / and she desyreth also the waye of helthe bothe for her owne soule / and also for her neyghboure / for without suche wayes / suche maye not parfytely walke and go ¶ Than as she goeth / she bereth with her a vessell voyde fro all vnordynate affeccyon of the herte worldely loue / and anone bycause it is so voyde / it is fylled agayne / for it maye not be voyde / for other it must be fulfylled with some materyal thyÌge or els with the ayre ¶ So the herte is a vessell that maye in no wyse stonde voyde / for whan it is voyded fro all thynges of transytory vanyte / it is full of ayre / that is with my heuenly and most swetest dyuyne loue / by the whiche meane she cometh to the water of grace ¶ And than whaÌ she is come therto / she dothe passe go forthe by the gate of cryst crucyfyed so tasteth the water of lyfely grace rennyÌge as a ryuer quyckly in me / that am the peaseable see ¶ Here is a repetycyon of some wordes spokeÌ of before NOwe clerely I haue shewed to the the maner that euery reasonable creature iÌ general sholde holde and kepe / that he myght passe out of the grete see of this worlde / lest he perysshe go to euerlastynge daÌpnacyon ¶ Thre generall grees I haue also shewed to the / the whiche grees be the thre myghtes of the soule ¶ And also that there maye no maÌ assende vpon one degre / without he assende on bothe the other ¶ Ouer more I tolde the of that worde that my sothefaste sone spake / where he sayde thus ¶ Where to or thre be gadered togyder iÌ my name / in the myddes of them am I. ¶ And how those wordes be vnderstonde / the gaderyÌge togyder of those thre grees besayde / that is of the thre myghtes of the soule / the whiche thre myghtes accordynge to one / brynge with theÌ two pryncypall commaundymentes of the lawe / that is my loue and the loue of thy neyghbour ¶ Souereynly to loue me aboue all thynges / and thy neyghbour as thyselfe ¶ After this whan the he hathe thus ascended the ladders by gaderynge togyder iÌ my name as I haue sayd he receyueth the water of grace to slake his thruste ¶ And that receyued he setteth his fote for to go vpoÌ the brydge of my very sothefast sone suynge and folowynge his doctryne ¶ Also I haue sayde / ye renne after his voyce / the whiche calleth you / and sayeth thus openly in the teÌple ¶ Who that hath thrust / come to me and drynke / that am a well of lyfely water / where I declared to the / how these wordes sholde be vnderstonde that thou myght knowe the better the habundaunce of my plentuous charyte / and also the confusyon and shame of them that wylfully renne by the way of the fende / the whiche byddeth and calleth them to the water of dethe ¶ Now also thou hase seen and herde of that thynge the whiche thou does aske of me / that is of the maner of reteÌcyon and kepynge that they perysshe not and there he he sayde they that haue the maner of retencyon kepynge / must haue it by the ascendynge on the brydge / in the whiche ascendynge vp they be gadered togyder and knytte in one / dwellynge and abydynge in the loue of theyr neyghbours / offryÌge to me the affeccyon of youre hertes / as a vessell voyded fro all maner worldely transytory loues / to the whiche vessell I put or powre in lycoure of lyfely graces / to them that aske suche drynke / kepynge the same drynke with parseuerauÌce / passynge forthe in the waye of my onely sothefaste sone cryst crucyfyed / vnto the laste ende of theyr lyues ¶ This is that maner / the which al ye owe to to kepe in what state the euer ye stonde in / for there shal no state excuse hym what euer he be / but that he maye kepe this maner / and is bounde to kepe it ¶ And also he maye do it / therfore he sholde do it / therâo is bouÌde euery reasonable creature ¶ Ther may no reasonable creature excuse hyÌ fro it / thoughe he sayde I haue lettyÌge other by his state of lyuyÌge or by his chyldren / other by worldely impedymeÌtes / wherfore he saythe that he may not folowe suche a way of lyuynge ¶ Nor also they maye not excuse them / for dyffycultes and hardenes that they fynde in the same waye ¶ For I tolde that that euery state is to me plesaunte and acceptable / so it be kepte had with an holy good wyll ¶ For al thynges be good and parfyte made of me / that am most souerayne good ¶ They be not
stondeth in the well / it is neuer ydle nor voyde / but euer ful ¶ Ryght so loue of neyghbours / bothe spyrytuall temporall / wyll be drunke in me wtout beholdynge and rewarde of ony creatures ¶ I aske not that of you that ye loue me with the same loue that I loued you / for that maye ye not do / bycause I loued you / whan I was not loued of you ¶ All maner of loue that ye haue to me / ãâã it to me of dewte / not of grace / bycause ye sholde do it / but I loue you of grace / and not of dewte ¶ Therfore that loue whiche I aske of you ye maye not yelde it to me / and for that cause I haue put a meane bytwyxe you and me that is to saye youre neyghboure that ye do to hym / that ye maye not do to me / and that is that yÌe loue hym of grace / without ony beholdynge / and without ony abydynge ¶ For I holde it done to me that is done to hym for thy loue / this shewed well my sothefast sone to seynt Paule whan be parsued me sayenge thus ¶ Saule Saule why parsues thou me ¶ This he sayde holdyÌge me parsued / in that he parsued my trewe seruauntes ¶ And therfore suche loue wolde be pure / for lyke with the same loue that ye sholde loue me / ye sholde loue them ¶ Yf thou wyll knowe the tokeÌs of vnêfyte loue / I shall declare them to ye. ¶ Yf a man loue an other ghostly fele payne that tourmenteth hym / in asmoche as the creature that he loueth is not sene to hym for to satysfy to his loue / iÌ louyÌge hym agayne as he loueth hym / his louyÌge is vnparfyte ¶ Also yf he se his conuersacyon be withdrawe or pryued / or desolate fro ghostly comforte / or yf he se an other beloued more than he hymselfe ¶ All these be takens and many mo / that his loue bothe in me in his neyghbour is vnparfyte / and this is for to drynke of the vessell wtout the well ¶ All be it he toke the lycoure of loue of me / yet his loue was not abydnge parfytely in me / as in the well of loue ¶ Therfore it sheweth tokens of imparfeccyon in by / whom he loueth ghostly ¶ And all this maye be the cause / for the rote of his owne propre loue / was neuer yet pulled vp wel ¶ Therfore I suffre loue ofte tymes to be had / that he maye knowe his owne imparfeccyon / by my wtdrawynge of felynge fro hym / that he maye shutte hym vp and enclose hymselfe in the house of his owne knowlege ¶ In the whiche knowlege / he shall get al maner of parfeccyon ¶ And thaÌ shall I entre with a greate lyght / with very knowlege of my truthe insomoche that he shall holde it for a synguler grace / to mortyfy or sle for my loue his propre wyl ¶ And he shall cease neuer to cutte awaye the superfluytes of his vyne / to pull vp the thornes of his thoughtes / and buylde edyfy very myghty stones of vertu / grouÌded set in that blode of my sones passyon / the whiche be founde by goynge vpon the brydge of my onely sone crucyfyed before sayde / grounded vpon the doctryne of my truthe in the vertu of his blode ¶ For by vertues ye lyuen in the strengthe of his passyon â And here nowe mdder systren thus endeth the seconde parte of this orcharde / in the whiche all we be shewed the very way to heuen / and in that same boke we be shewed how to cut of the supfluytes of our vynes / and how we shall pull vp the pryckynge thornes of oure thoughtes / with dyuers maters / as it is rehersed in the kalender before ¶ The fourthe boke ¶ The fyrste chapytre of the .iiii. party / speketh of prayer / fyrste in what maner a soule shall gouerne her / that she maye come to pure loue and lyberall / and moche of this .iiii. partel speketh of prayers and of teres ¶ But fyrste god sheweth here a doctryne of the holy sacrameÌt of crystes body And how a soule shal come fro vocall prayer / to mentall prayer with other maters as it is rehersed to you in the kalender before Ca. i. AFter tyme a soule hath entred and gone by the doctryne of cristes passyon / crucyfyed with very loue of vertu / and hate of vyces / it stondeth with parfyte parseueraunce / namely suche a soule that is parfytely come to the house of his owne knowlege / abydynge myghtely and coÌtynually in holy watche prayer / drpted fully fro the coÌuersacyoÌ of the worlde ¶ Wherfore hath suche a soule closed her in the house of her owne knowlege ¶ In certayne for drede / knowynge her owne imparfeccyon / and also for desyre that it hathe / for to come to a pure and a lyberal loue / and also bycause it seeth well that it may come in no otherwyse therto ¶ Therfore with quycke feythe she abideth the comyÌge of me / by encrease of grace iÌ herselfe ¶ But wherby shall a man knowe quycke feythe ¶ Truly by parseueraunce of vertu / and not goynge abacke for nothynge that falleth / nor for to cease nor leue iÌ dewe tyme fro holy prayers / but yf it be for charyte / or for obedyence or els not for ofte tymes by vnordynate tyme of prayer / that fende cometh by many heuynesses and batayles / more than she were founde without prayer / that he dothe for to dysceyue her / for to make her to leue holy prayers ofte tymes sayenge to her after this maner ¶ This prayer profyteth that not / for thou sholde take hede to no thynge elles / nor thynke nothynge elles but to that and of that thou sees / thus he saythe to make thy prayer to be heuy to the / and for bycause thou sholde cease of the excercyse of holy prayers / the whiche is an armure by the whiche a soule is defended and kepte frome all her aduersytes with stretchynge forthe of the honde of loue / and with the arme of fre choyse / defendyÌge her selfe with the same armure / and with the lyghte of very feythe ¶ God sheweth here a doctryne / of the holy sacrament of the auter that is to saye of the holy sacrament of crystes body / and how a soule shall come fro vocall prayer / to mentall prayer / and here is shewed a vysyon / whiche this deuoute soule had on a tyme. THou knowes well dere doughter / that in meke contynuall prayer and feythfull with parseueraunce / a soule wynneth all vertu / and therfore she sholde parseuer and neuer leue it / nother for yllusyoÌ of the fende / nor for theyr owne freylte that is by thoughte or mouyÌge that cometh iÌ theyr owne flesshe / nother by spekynge of no creature / for ofte tymes
that peyne the whiche ye haue receyued of me / is infynyte / and that is in the vertu of my dyuyne nature that is ifynyte / and oned with the nature of man / the whiche was fynyte and hadde an ende / the whiche nature of man suffred peyne / arayed clothed in your manhode / therfore my workynge maye well be sayde and called infynyte / not for cause the peyne is infynyte / nother the actuall peyne that I suffred in my body / nor also the peyne of my desyre the whiche I had for to fulfyll complete youre raunsome / for that I fynyshed and ended in my cros / whan the soule went out of that body / but the fruyte the came out fro the peyne / and of the desyre the whiche I suffred for your helthe is infynyte / and therfore infynytely ye sholde receyue the fruyte therof ¶ For but yfthat fruyte were not infynyte / all man kynde sholde neuer be restored / nother they that be now present / nor they that be passed / nor they that be to come ¶ Nor also a man that hathe offended / he sholde neuer haue myghte nor power for to aryse / yf this moste blessyd blode were not gyuen to you infynytely ¶ This shewed I well to you mopenyge of my syde / where that I shewed to you the priuites of my herte makynge so to be knowen to you / that I loue you more than I can shewe you with this fynyte peyne ¶ Also I shewe to the infynyte loue / with what thynge trowes thourtruly with haptym of blode oned medled with the fere of my charyte / the whiche blode was goteÌ out by loue / in generall baptym also the whiche is gyuen to crysten men / and to whome that that wyll receyue it is water medled with blode fere where a soule tourneth her wyndeth her in my blode / and that was the cause why I wolde the blode water sholde reÌne out of my syde ¶ Now haue I answered to the that thynge / that thou dyd aske me before ¶ How a soule whan it is come vp to that thyrde gree of that brydge that is to saye after the tyme it is come to the mouthe / anone it taketh that dore of that mouthe / whan the propre wyll of a man is deed / it is a very tokeÌ that it come thyder ALso thou knowes well all that I haue tolde the now / my sothefast sone hathe colde the before / yet neuerthelesse I haue rehersed the same to the agayne / spekyÌgem his persone / that thou myght the better knowe the worthy excellence in the whiche a soule is set in / that hathe ascended this seconde gree / wher she knoweth seketh somoche fere of loue / by the whiche she cometh to the thyrde gre that is to the mouthe where is well shewed that she is come to the stare of parfeccyon / comynge thyder by the myddes of the herte / that is in hauyÌge mynde of the blode in the whiche she is baptysed / leuyÌge vnparfyte loue / by the knowlege that she drewe oute of the hertely loue seynge and tastynge and felynge by experyence the breÌnynge fyre of my charyte / all suche be come to the very mouthe / and therfore they excersyce and shewe openly the offyce of the mouthe ¶ For ryght as the mouthe speketh with the tongue that is in the mouthe / and the taste tasteth / the mouthe receyueth yeldeth that is receyued to that stomake / that tethe chewe breke that is receyued / for it may not elles be swalowed ¶ Ryght so a soule speketh with the tongue of his holy contynuall prayer / suche a toÌgue yeldeth to me bothe actually meÌtally / for belth of soules ryght swete ghostly desyres mery ¶ Actually it speketh in shewynge / admonyshynge / couÌseylyÌge / knowlegyÌge the doctryne of my very truthe / wtout ony fere of peyne / what peyne that euer the worlde gyueth / but boldely hardyly before euery creature she knowlegeth the truthe before all creatures / to euery creature after his estate iÌ dyuers wyses maners ¶ Suche a soule eteth the meet of the helthe of soules / takynge that same meet vpon the ryghte blessyd table of the cros / for otherwyse / nor vpon no other table she maye in no wyse parfytely ete it iÌ truthe / but it be vp on the table of the cros ¶ Also I saye that suche a soule eteth it breketh it with her tethe / for elles she maye neuer chewe that same ghostli meet / that is with holy hate and loue / the whiche two be two orders of tethe in that mouthe of holy desyre / the whiche receyueth ghostly meet / brekynge etynge it with hate of herselfe with loue of vertu / dystryenge brekynge bothe in herselfe in her neyghbour almaner of miuryes wronges / that is derysyons / repreues / refrenynges / with many other parsecucyoÌs / suffrynge hongre thruste / colde and hete / heuynesse and waylynges / defyres / wepynges and werynesse for helthe of soules ¶ All these she breketh and dystroyeth for the loue of me / supportynge and susteynynge her neyghbour charytably ¶ And after tyme the meet is thus broke and the taste hathe tasted it / that is that it haue sauoure in suche ghostly laboute and loue of suche meet of soules / tastynge it in the fere of my brennynge charyte / and in the loue of her neyghbour / so that this meet that cometh in to the stomake / the whiche stomake is dysposed for to receyue suche meet of desyre helthe that it hadde to soules / the whiche stomake is nothynge elles / but an hertely wyll for to receyue delectacy on loue of charyte with her neyghbour / desyrynge chewynge hym in herselfe by habundaunte charytable loue ¶ Suche a soule gyueth no force of the tendernesse of the bodyly lyfe / but rather set her with her myght for to ete that meet before sayde receyued and taken vpon the table of the cros of doctryne of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesucryst ¶ ThaÌ is suche a soule made fat in very ryall vertues / and somoche made fat of the abundaunce of that meet / that the araye and clothyÌge of her owne sensualyte that is of her body breketh of as the sencyble appetyte / and yf it breketh it / it dyeth / for what that euer it breketh dyeth / and thaÌ with that dyeth the sencyble wyl / that is bycause the ordynate and well ruled wyll of the soule leueth arayed and couered in me with a parfyte and a very blessyd endelesse wyll ¶ And therefore the sencyble wyll is deed / and al this dothe the parfyte soule that is come in truthe very sothefastenesse to the thyrde gree of the mÌouthe ¶ And the token that it is come is this that she fyndeth her owne sencyble wyl mortyfyed / whaÌ she tasteth the
affeccyoÌ of my charyte / and therefore she fyndeth in the mouthe of her soule peas / and suche peas that there maye none trouble her / bycause she hathe forsaken her owne seÌcyble wyl ¶ Al suche bryÌge forthe vertues withoute peyne vpon theyr neyghbours / not for the peyne that they suffre is no peyne to other / but to a wyll mortyfyed it is no peyne / for wylfully and frely in my name and for my name she suffreth peyne / suche people do renne without neclygence / by the techynge and doctryne of my onely sothefastesone Thesu cryste crucyfyed / and let not theyr sournaye for no wronges that be done to them / nor for no parsecucyon / nor for no delectacyon that the worlde myghte gyue them / but all these they shold lyghtly ouerpas by ghostly strengthe and very parseueraunce / bycause theyr affeccyon is veryly ââme out of the affeccyon of charyâe / taslyÌge that meet of helthe of soules / with very parfyte pasyence ¶ The whiche pasyence is a to ten that a soule loueth most parfytely and withoute lokynge of ony rewarde / for ys she loued me and her neyghboare for onye profyte or rewarde / she were vnpacyent / and she sholde ware slowe and dull in her iournaye / but that they loue me for me / bycause I am the moste souerayne good and worthy to beloued / and also they loue themselfe for me / and theyr neyghboure for me / that they sholden yelde laude and preÌsynge to my name / and therfore they be pacyent and stroÌge / and also parseueraunte for to suffre ¶ And now I shal declare to the of the workynge of the soule / after tyme it is asceÌded the thyrde gre of that holy brydge THese ben the gloryous vertues grouÌded iÌ very tharyte the whiche be abydyÌge in the heyghte of the tree of that same charyte before sayd / that is pacyence / streÌgthe / and parseueraunce / whiche be crowned with the lyghte of blessyd feythe / with the whiche lyght they renne without derkenesse by the waye of truthe / and also be enhaunsed by holy desyre ¶ And therfore there maye no man hurtâ that soule / nor the fende with allâis temptacyons / for he dredeth suche a soule that is brent in the furneys of charyte / nor also backebyters nor wronges and miuryes of men / and yet thoughe the worlde parsu her / he is aferde of suche a soule ¶ Thus by my endelesse goodnesse / suche a soule is made stronge and magnyfyed in the worlde before me / bycause of mekenesse in her owne syght / she is made lytle ¶ This is wel knowe in my seyntes whiche for my loue made them lytle by mekenesse iÌ this worlde / therfore I haue made theÌ grete iÌ my endeles lyf aboue ¶ And also iÌ my mysteryal body of that moder of holy chyrche / wher of theÌ is made coÌtynuall memory ¶ For iÌ me whiche am the boke of lyfe / theyr names be wryteÌ / also the worlde hathe theÌ in reuereÌce / bycause they dyspysen the worlde ¶ All that lyuen yet in erthe of such coÌdicioÌ hyde not vertu for dredt but for mekenesse / yf theyr neyghbours haue nede of theyr seruyse / they hyde not theyr mynystracyon for drede of peyne / nor for that drede of losse of theyr owne ghostly comfort ¶ For in what maner of wyse they excercyse theyr lyfe and theyr tyme for my worshyp / they be glad ioyful and fynde peas and rest of soule ¶ Whiche is that ¶ In sothe bycause they chosen not for to serue after theyr owne maner / but after my maner / and therfore they charge asmoche the tyme of ghostly comfort / as they do the tyme of trybulacyons and of prosperyte / as they do of aduersyte / asmoche greueth theÌ that one as that other / for euer in all thyÌges they fynde my wyll / they do besy them with all theyr desyre for to comforte them in all thynges / ouer all bothe in thoughte dede to seke worke after my wyl ¶ They se well aspy in the pryuyte of my dyuyne prouydence / that without me is made nought / that is to saye synne / and therfore they hate synne / wherfore they be so stedfaste stronge in ghostly strengthe iÌ theyr owne wyl / the they go myghtely by the waye in the way of truthe waxe not wery / but feythfully truly they seruen mynystreÌ to theyr neyghbours / takynge no hede to the ygnorauÌce vnkyndenes of theyr neyghbours / nor thoughe a vycyous man saye to theÌ other whyle wroÌge / repreue theyr good dedes / but moche rather they crye ghostly in my syghte / by holy prayer prayenge for them / hauyÌge more pyte ruthe for the offence that is done to me / for that harme of theyr soules / th aÌ for theyr owne imuryes and wronges / al suche do saye with my chosen seruaunte seynt Paule Daledicimus et benedicimus c. we be cursed of men and sayde euyl of / but we blesse agayne / we suffre psecucyoÌs / but we bere it pasyently / we be blasphemed / we beseche praye / for we be made as or fayle of all this worlde / the whiche is cast out therof ¶ Sees thou not dere doughter and consyders thou not these swete tokeÌs / specyally aboue al to kens / the synguler vertu of pacyence in the whiche a soule sheweth well in sothefastnes / that she is rysen tro vn parfyte loue come in to êfyte loue / folowynge suynge the swere vnde fouled laÌbe my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / the whiche haÌgynge vpoÌ the cros fast helde with nayles of loue come not done fro that cros for all the cryenge of the Iewes / that dyd crye to hyÌ thus Descendae nunc de cruce ¶ c. Come he downe now fro the cros we shal byleue in hyÌ Â¶ Nor also he wtdrewe hyÌ not nor came not downe fro the cros for no maner vnkyndenesse whiche was shewed of you / but abode vnder my ovedyeÌce with suche pasyence / that his crye was not herde / by no maner grutchyÌ ge ¶ In the same wyse these welbyloued chyldreÌ / my deuoute seruauÌteâ / se then folowen the doctryne ensample of my sothfast sone Ihesu And thoughe the worlde wold withdrawe theÌ for to loke backe warde / they wyl not / but onely loke forwarde in the myrroure of my very sothefastnes ¶ suche wyll not go out of the felde of batayle for the coote that is lefte at home / that is for theyr owne coote of plesaunce to creatures / and them dredynge rather than me / but with loue and delyte in me they dwel styl abydynge full ghostly drunke with the blode of my blessyd sone Ihesu in the felde of batayle / whiche blode my endeles charyte hathe reserued put it before you to be your shelde in batayle / whiche is
mynystred by the herdes of holy chyrche / for to be strenghe to them that wyll be maÌly knyghtes / and fyghte agaynste the fende and the worlde / and agaynste theyr owne sensualyte and freylte of flesshe / with the swerde of hate of theyr ghostly enemyes / and with loue of vertues / the whiche loue is armure by whom they be defended and kepte fro strokes ¶ For the enemyes maye not hurte none of my knyghtes / but whan they delyuer vnto theyr hondes theyr swerdes armure / tourne theyr backes frely with the haÌde of fre choyse ¶ My knyghtes wyll not do so / but rather they dure and parseuer myghtely to yÌ dethe / for they be ghosty druÌke with the precyous blode before sayd / by the whiche parseuerauÌce / al theyr ghostly enemyes be ouercome ¶ O gloryous vertu of pasyeÌce / how plesaunt and lykynge arte thou to me / for in the worlde thou puttes awaye ygnoraunce / gyues clere syghte to derke eyen / the whiche may not but algates they must take parte of the lyght of my seruauÌtes ¶ The meke nesse that my seruauntes haue / shy neth to the soules helthe of them / in hate of theyr synnes agaynste the enuy of them / the wydenesse and the brede of theyrgrere charyte shyneth agaynst theyr cruelte / for they ben cruell agaynste them / and my seruauÌtes do shewe pyte agayneward agaynste theyr wronges shyneth that quene of pasycÌce / the whiche hathe domynacyon and holdeth the pryncypall ladyshyp of all vertues / for it is the pythe and the marow of charyte / she it is that sheweth and kepeth vertues in the soule maketh to be knowe whether those vertues be grounded in me or not ¶ She it is that ouercometh / and is neuer ouercome / she it is as I haue fayde that is in felyshyppe with ghostly strengthe and parseueraunce / she it is that cometh home with vyctory / that is after tyme she is gone out of that felde of batayle / she cometh home to me the euerlastynge fader / there warder of all her laboure / of whome she shall receyue and take a crowne of endelesse loye ¶ Of the state that is departed from the thyrde / and of workynges of the soule whiche is come to this state / and how god goeth neuer awaye fro that soule by coÌ tynuall felynge Hyderto I haue tolde the how they shewe that they be come to parfyte frendely louely louynge loue ¶ Nowe wyll I tell the in howmoche loue my seruauÌtes that yet abyde iÌ the deedly body tast me / for after tyme they ben come to the thyrde state in the same state as I sayde they wynne the fourthe state ¶ Not for it is depted fro the thyrde / but they be togyder all one / for that one may not be without that other / lyke as my charyte and charyte of neyghbourheed maye not be departed / as I sayde to the before ¶ But there is a maner of fruyte that cometh out of this thyrde gre / of a cer tayne parfyte vnyoÌ / whiche the soule hathe in me / where she receyueth streÌgthe aboue streÌgthe / in somoche that not onely she bereth wronges with pasyence / but also she desyreth with a longynge desyre for to haue strengthe to suffre iniury and peyne for the laude and Ioye of my name / with that longynge pasyent desyre / she receyueth iÌ wardely ghostly loye in the repreues and wronges done to them for my sone Ihesu / as my gloryous precher seynt Paule sayd Libenter gloriabor c. That is to saye / gladly ioyfully I shall be mery in my infyrmytes / that the vertu of chryst maye dwell iÌ me / for I bere in my body the woundes of my lorde Ihesu cryste ¶ In this maner all suche be so ful of loue and fro themselfe for the worshyp and ho noure of my name / and so hongry vpon the meet of soules helth / that they renne to the meer table of my sones crosse / and there desyrynge to suffre moche greuous peyne therby for to wynne and purchase vertues to edyfycacyon and profyte of theyr neyghbours berynge contynually the blessyd pryuytes of the wouÌdes of my sone Ihesu cryste in theyr bodyes / that is the inwardely loue that they haue for helthe of theyr neyghbours soules crucyfyeÌge them so in theyr bodyes / and shewpnge by shy nynge to other / in somoche that they set ryght noughte by theyr owne bo dyes / but rather desyre with greate delyte for to suffre repreues / heuynes and peynes / reckynge neuer in what wyse they be gyuâ to theym / for helthe of theyr neyghbours soules ¶ To all suche dere chyldren / peyne is luste and delyte / all other lust and delyte or comforte that the worlde maye gyue to theÌ / is no ioye to theÌ / for thoughe the worlde wolde fauoure them that is thoughe seruauntes of the worlde be coarte by dyspensacyon and ordynauÌce of my endelesse goodnesse for to haue them in reuerence / and for to helpe them and releue them in theyr nedes / yet they haue no ioye therin / but onely in me ¶ Nor they set not theyr herte to receyue no maner of comforte nother bodyly nor ghostly / but me alone / whicheâam endeles comforte that neuer maye fayle ¶ This cometh of the vertu of very mekenes / purchased and goten of holy hate / the whiche mekenesse is norysher of charyte / purchased goten of the knowlege of herselfe of me ¶ Thus thou maye se vertu shyne iÌ the gryuytes of crystes woundes / bothe in the bodyes and in the soules / of suche chosen parfyte seruauntes ¶ To all suche it is profered by grace me neuer to be departed from them by selynge / as I was and am fro other / of the whiche I tolde the before / fro whome I went and came not / goynge fro theÌ withdrawpnge grace ghostly felyÌge ¶ I do not so to these that be my most parfyte chyldre t / the whiche be come to greate parfeccyon / mortyfyed in all thynges to theyr owne wylles / but coÌtynually bothe by grace felynge I rest iÌ theyr soules that is whaÌ that euer they wyl haue theÌselfe in me by affeccyon of loue they maye / thaÌ theyr desyre is come to suche an vnyon by affeccyon of loue / that in no wyse it maye be departed fro theÌ / but euery place is to theÌ a place / euery tyme is to theÌ a tyme of prayer / for theyr coÌuersacyon is lyfted vp aboue the erthe and araysed vp to heueÌ that is to saye bycause they haue wtdra we putte awaye fro theÌ all maner erthly affeccyon / also theyr owne propre sency ble delectacyoÌ / they be rysen aboue themselfe in to the heyght of heueÌ by the ladder of vertu / after tyme they haue ascended the grees / the whiche grees I lykened to the / by the body of my
onely lathefast sonâ Ihesu cryst ¶ In that fyrst gree they haue spoyled the fore of affeccyon fro delectacyon of vyces ¶ In the seconde gree they haue tasted the secrete affeccyon of herte / wherby they haue conceyued delyte in vertu ¶ In the thyrde gree / that is iâeas traÌquyllyte of soule / they haue experyence in theÌselfe of êfyte vertu / so they be arysen fro vnparfyte loue / be come to ryghte greate parfeccyoÌ / by the whiche they fynde rest in the doctryne of my sothefastnes / so that therby they fynde better thou meet table and the meet / and also a seruaunte for to serue them / whiche meet they tast with that mene and medyacyon of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed ¶ I am to them bothe place meet table / this swere delectable worde my owne sothefast sone is to them meet / for in that gloryous Ihesu / they taste meet whiche is helthe of soules / the whiche meet is grauÌted of me to you / bothe flesshe and blode all hole very god and very maÌ / the whiche in sothe ye receyue in the sacrament of the auter / graunted to you and gyuen by my endeles goodnes / as longe as ye be wayegoers / or pylgrymes in the worlde / leste ye do fayle and feynt in the waye for fe blenesse or wekenesse / leste ye forgete the benefytes of that precyous blode shed out for you with somoche feruent breÌnynge fyre of loue that alwaye ye maye be made stronge and myghty therby / and be comforted and haue Ioye in youre iournaye ¶ The holy ghost is seruytour to luche and serueth them at the meet of that blessyd body / that is the affeccyoÌ of my charyte serueth them / the whiche charyte mynystreth to them bothe gyftes and goodly graces ¶ This ryghte swete and well byloued seruytoure / bereth / bryngeth / and offreth to me bothe theyr peynefull / swete / also delectable desyres / than fro me he bryngeth to theÌ for theyr labour trauayle the fruyte of my dyuyne charyte / tastynge and noryshynge it in theyr soules by the very swetenesse of my loue ¶ Thus thou maye se and knowe that to them I am a meet table / my sone is to them meet / the holp ghost is to them a seruytoure / the whiche cometh bothe fro me the fader / and also my sone ¶ Thou knowes also that euer they taste me by felynge iÌ theyr soules / and the more that they dyspyse delectacyon and do coueyte peyne / the more they lose peyne and wynne delectacyoÌ Â¶ Why is that ¶ In sothe bycause they be breÌned and scorged in the here of my charyte / where is wasted vp coÌsumpte the propre wylles of them / and therfore the fende dredeth greately the state of theyr charyte / and that is the cause that he goeth ferfro them and dare not touche theÌ Â¶ The worlde onely smyteth them vpon the barke of the body / wenynge therby for to hurte them / he hymselfe is hurte / for the arowe yf that it fynde no place wher it may entre / than it tourneth agayne to the shoter ¶ Ryghte so the worlde shoteth arowes of iniuryes parsecucyons and grutchynges to my seruauÌtes / they fynde no place to them of entre / for the gardayne of theyr soule is close / and therfore the arowe tourneth agayne to the worlde that thre we it by shotynge enuenymed with the venym of sysse ¶ Sees thou not how in no wyse suche a seruauÌte maye haue harme ¶ Why is that ¶ Truly yf that he hurte the body / he maye in no wyse hurte the soule / for it stoÌdeth euer blessyd and dolefull / it stondeth dolefull for the offence of her neyghboure / it ston deth blessyd by affeccyon and vnyoÌ of charyte the whiche it hathe recey ued iÌ herselfe / these it be that do folowe the vndesouled lambe my onely soth faste sone Ihesu / the whiche beynge vpon the crosse bothe blessyd dolefull berynge the tourment of the body in suffrynge of peyne / and also in be tynge of the cros of desyre that he myght satysfy make a seet or place aboue for the trespas of mankynde He was also blessyd of dyuyne nature / the whiche so knytte with maÌkynde myghte in no wyse suffre peyne / therfore be was bothe blessyd dole full ¶ In the same wyse / these that be my dere and well byloued chyldred / after tyme that they be come to the thyrde and fourthe state before sayde they be dolefull berynge the crosse of crystes passyon bothe actually and mentally in suffrynge of peynes in theyr bodyes / after the suffraunce of me ¶ And also mentally tourmented by the cros of desyre / for the offence that is done to me harme to theyr neyohbours ¶ Also I saye that they be blessyd for the loue of charyte that maketh them blessyd / maye not be take fro them / by the whiche charite they take receyue bothe ghoostly gladnesse and blessydnes ¶ Therfore this sorowe and dolefulnesse is not called sorowe that tourmenteth the soule / the whiche sorowe shal somtyme passe and defayle / but suche sorowe fatteth the o soule in affeccyon of charyte / for suche peynes encreseÌ vertues maketh it stroÌge / by the whiche peyne vertu is preued / therfore peyne is the whiche maketh fat / and not tourmeÌteth / for nother peyne nor sorowe may drawe suche a soule out of the fyre of charyte / bycause they be all brenned in the furneyse of my charyte ¶ Wherefore there maye none take them our fro me / for they be made one with me / and I with them ¶ I neuer withdrawe me fro them by felynge / but that theyr soules sele me euery daye in themselfe by specyal sencyble gra ces / fro other before I wente and rame ¶ I went fro theÌ by felynge / and not by grace / and that was bycause I wolde they sholde attayne to êfeccyon ¶ And after tyme they be full come to parfeccyoÌ as it maye be hadde in this worlde / I withdrawe fro them the game of loue in goynge and comynge / the whiche maye well be called that game of loue / for by loue I go fro them / by lone I come agayne to them not proper ly I for I am youre lorde whiche is vumoueable / that am neuer moued fro place to place / but the felynge which my charyte gyueth to a soule whiche goeth and cometh ¶ Dow god goeth not away o fro the forelayd partyre meÌ by felynge / nor by grace âââause of vuyon bytwyxe theym ¶ Cell the that to suche parfyte folke it is grauÌted neuer for to lose me by ââlynge / but yet in some wyse I go fro them / for the soule whiche is clo led in the body / is not suffycyent for to receyue sne ¶ I withdrawe me not as fro
and wor shyp to god / whyther they wyll or wyll not ¶ ANd in somothe theyr syght is parfyte that not onely they se my worshyppe and ioye pmonge heunly creatures that dwell in blysse without ende but also ymoÌge deed ly creatures / for the worlde wyll he or not / he yeldeth praysynge and louynge to the name of god / and yet in sothe they yelde me no suche louynge and preysynge as a trewe louer dothe / that loueth me aboue all thynges / but I wyll put oute and drawe oute fro them ioye and pray syÌge to my name / and that is for asmoche as my ioy shyneth in them / and also the abundaunce of my charyte / by the whiche I grasite thern to haue tyme leÌgthe oflyfe / com maunde the erthe that he swalowe them not for theyr defautes / but I abyde them mercyfully / and bydde the erthe to gyue them of his fruyte and the sone to warme them gyue theÌ lyghte and here / and the fyrmament that he moue and styrre / and all other creatures whiche I made for theÌ / by my greate mercy and chary te I make theÌ vse theÌ / not hynge of them withdrawynge for theyr wyekednesse / but I graunte it them as well to theÌ as to theryghtwyse lyuers / and ofte tymes more to synners than to ryght wyse men ¶ Of ten tymes I withdrawe fro them abuÌdauÌce of goodes / the whiche can suffre / and be able to suffre that I myght gyue them more abundasitly the endeles goodnesse of heuen for theyr pasyence / thus my mercy charyte shyneth vpon worldely meÌ Â¶ Otherwhyle also in parsecueyoÌs that seruauntes of the worlde do to my seruauntes / for suche parsecucy ons they be preued in pasyence and in charyte / the whiche they offre to me with meke contynuall prayer in theyr parsecucyons / and so worshyp and praysynge is yelde to my name ¶ In this maner the worlde wyll he or not he yeldeth praysynge glory to my name / thoughe his entent be not therfore / but rather for to do to mereprefe and shame ¶ How that the fendes do yelde worshyp to god agaynst theyr wyl ALl those that dwell in the worlde to the encrese of vertues in my seruauntes by the ctuell parsecucyoÌs / in maner they lyue and stonde in hell as fendes do / for they be as the fendes tourmentoures / fulfyllynge the wyll of fendes whiche be theyr may sters vpon my seruauntes / and so they enerese the mede meryte of them / that be my seruauntes ledynge them agaynste theyr wyll to the ryghte waye of heuen ¶ They encrese exercyse theÌ in vertues / with many greuous temp tacyons heuynesses in many maners ¶ Somryme they make one to do an other wroÌge / and somtyme to styrre hym for to take awaye his goodes and not onely for the good but for to make them to lose charyte wenynge that my seruaunte wyl be out of charpte / for losse of worldely goodes ¶ And in that that they wene for to make them for to lose charyte / wenynge that my seruaunte wyl be out of charyte / for losse of worldely goodes / in the that they wene for to make them lose charyte / they be the more strengthed in charyte / and preued in vertu of pasyence / strengthe / and parseueraunce ¶ In this wyse they yelde worshyp and praysynge to my name / and so in theÌ is fulfylled my truthe that I made them / for that worshy p an praysynge of me / that they shold take ête of my fayrenesse ¶ But whan the fende rebelled to me by his pryde / he fell adowne was departed delyuered fro my syghte ¶ And therfore nowe bycause they maye not yelde to me praysynge by by loue of hery charyte in themselfe ¶ Cherfore I sende them as instru mentes of vertu to my seruauntes / for to excercyse them to vertu / also for to punesshe all suche endelesly / that for theyr dedly trespases be daÌpned I haue made them to them as Iuâ tyces / and also for to purge them that gone adowne to purgatory ¶ And thus thou maye knowe and se it is fothe that my truthe is fulfylled in them / that is that they yelde to me loye and wo / shyp / not as cytysyns of endelesse ioye / fro the whiche loye for theyr owne defautes / they be tul ly vtrerly departed / but as instrumentos for vertues to my speeyall seruauÌtes as my Iustyces bothe to dampnable soules / also to those soules that gone to paynes oâpurgato ry / to shew to theÌ my ryght wysnes ¶ How a êfyte soule that is passed fro this worlde / seeth fully the glory the laude of the name of god ieuery creature ¶ And how in the soule is ended the peyne of desyre / and not the delyre ¶ Also howe seynt Paule after tyme that he was take to se the glory of them that be in blysse / he coueted to be vnbouÌde and vn losed frome the body / and so done they whiche come to the thyrde the fourthe foresayd state / and of other maters as it is shewed before in the kalender Ca. iiii A what is he that seeth and tasteth veryly / bow that all creatures reasonable and vnreasonable also iÌ fendes is seen the presynge louyÌge of my name / truly a soule that is departed fro the body and is cme to me his endelesse ioye Suche a soule seeth purely and knoweth the truthe in her syghte / for by the syghte that she hathe in me euerlastynge fader / she soueth / by loue she is fulfylled / by fulfyllynge she knoweth the truthe / by knowynge of truthe she is made stydfast iÌ her wyll / stablyshed knytte to that mynde in suche awyse that she maâe in no wyse fussre peyne / for she hathe that the whiche she desyred to haue before onely for to seme and the ioy presynge of my name / the whiche ioye praysynge she seeth in my seyntes veryly fully in other holy spyrytes / in all other creatures in fendes / as I haue sayde to the before ¶ And thoughe it so be that suche a soule se offeÌce trespas done to me / wherof before she was doleful forowful / thaÌ whaÌ she is in ioye than maye she haue no sorowe therfore / but onely compassyon without peyne / louyÌge prayenge for them that do trespas to me that I sholde shewe them mercy by affeccyon of charyte ¶ For all be it that peyne is ended in suche a soule / charyte is encresed ¶ Ryght as my onely sothefaste sone I hesu ended peyne of his peynful desyre in his peynfull dethe vpoÌ the cros / whiche peynful desyre he vare fro the begyÌnyÌge that I sende hyÌ in the worlde for your helthe vnto the ende of his bodyly lyfe / yet was not ended the desyre of
and desyre for to be departed fro the body ¶ And here after it shall be shewed to you / for what causes that a soule desyreth to be losed fro the body / and thoughe it be not as he desyreth / it coÌtraryeth not the wyll of god / but rather it gyueth worshyp / and laudes / with presynges to god ALl suche do gyue no charge to be departed fro the body / for they desyren it ¶ And with parfyte hate they haue made warre with al theyr bodyes / iÌ asmoche as they haue forsake that tendernesse whiche naturally is bytwyxe the soule the body ¶ This kyndely loue is throwe awaye fro them / by holy hate of the bodyly lyfe / for my loue they desyredethe / and thus they saye with seynt Paule O upio dissolui c. the is to saye / I desyre to be departed fro the body and be with cryst / and also they be lyke to seynt Paule and saye as he sayde thus Dors in desiderio c. That is to saye / dethe is to me in desyre / and lyfe in pasyeÌce / for the soule lyfte vp in this parfyte vnyon desyreth to se me / and also to se ioye and praysynge to be yelden to me / that is after tyme it hathe ones belyft vp is come downe agayne to the cloude of the body in felynge of bodyly wyttes / the whiche sencybylyte was rapte by affeccyoÌ of loue to me / all the bodyly felynges were drawe out by strengthe of affeccyon of the soules vnyte / annexed parfytely to me / by suche vnycyoÌ as is bytwene a well dysposed body and soule / the whiche vnycyon bycause the body is not suffycyeÌt for to bere it / therfore I drawe it out of the body by affeccyoÌ of loue to me ¶ And therfore it is that oft tymes I with drawe me fro suche vnyoÌ that is in the body and soule / not by grace but by felynge / as I haue made mency on in the thyrde in the fourthe state or gree before ¶ But yet neuertheles I come agayne to the soules helthe with encrese of more greter graces more parfyte vnyon with more depenesse and knowlege of my very truthe shewynge myselfe more opeÌly to them ¶ And whan that I go as I sayde before / by the whiche goynge the soule is come to the bodyly felynge / she waxeth vnpacyente for to lyue iÌ erthe ¶ In asmoche as she consydereth that she is come fro the conuersacyon of vndeedly soules in blysse and comen downe to coÌuersacyon of deedly creatures / by whome she seeth I am ryght wretchedly offended ¶ This tourmenteth her desyre / for this cause she desyreth to be with me / and se me with our cesyÌge ¶ Neuertheles bycause her wyll whiche is not her wyl but onely my wyll made by loue one with me / maye nothynge wyl nor desyre / but that that I wyll / therfore thoughe they couer for to come / they holde theÌ apayde for to abyde yf I wyl that they abyde thoughe it be to theyur peyne / for more ioye presynge of my name / and also for more encrese of meryte and mede of theyr soules ¶ And therfore thoughe they haue not theyr desyres / yet they leue neuer rennynge with loÌgynge desyre / holdynge them faste by that brydge of my sones passyon / and so be gladde ioyful of repreues iniuryes done to them for my name ¶ The more peyne they suffre / the more they ioye / the mooste refresshynge that they haue / is theyr desyre to be departed fro the body ¶ For ryghte often tymes for desyre wyll to fuffre peynes / the payne is mynyshed made lesse that they haue / for to be delyurred fro the body ¶ These onely do not suffre with pasyence as it is reherse before in the thyrde state but they be gladde and ioyfull to suffre many trybulacyons for my name in theyr suffraunce they be gladde yf they suffre not they be fory full of peyne dredynge that I wyll rewarde theyr good dedes in this lyfe or that the sacryfyce of theyr desyre lyketh me not / and yf it so be that they suffre ony peyne they be ryght ioyfull glad / bycause they be arayed and clothed with the clothynge and araymeÌt of my onely sothfast sones passyon / without whiche passyon / or other maner of labours or veracyons yf it were possyble for them by grace for to wynne veriues / they wolde not haue them / but yf it come by labour / yf they myght chose with out dysplesaunce of me ¶ For they hadde leuer wynne heuen blysse by delectacyon in peynes of crystes passyon / or by other maner vexacyons gyuen to them by the suffraunce of me than other wyse ¶ Why is that ¶ Certayne for they be drenched in the blode of my sones passyon / wher in they synde my brennynge charyte / the whiche charyte is fyre comyÌge out fro me / that rauysheth bothe theyr myndes and theyr hertes / by the whiche charyte I accepte and take the holy sacryfyce of theyr desyres / by the whiche charyte also they lyften vp the eye of theyr vnderstondynge seynge and beholdynge in my good heed / where theyr affeccyon is nory shed / the whiche affeccyoÌ oneth hym selfe to the same charyte foloweth vnderstondynge ¶ This is one of the vysyoÌs and syghtes the whiche I make in suche a soule by infusyoÌ of grace / the whiche loueth me veryly and serueth me ¶ How they the whiche be come to that foresayde state of vnyoÌ be yllumyned and lyghtned in theyr eye of IntelleccyoÌ by grace with a lyght aboue nature / how it is better to go for to haue counseyle for the soules helthe to a meke man with an holy conscyence / than to a proude lettered maÌ By this same lyght whiche is put in the eye of intelleccyon of suche a soule / that euer slepynge and wakyÌge desyreth me / is purchased and get of very vnderstondynge of moche cuÌnynge ¶ Seynt Auslyn / seynt Ierom / other doctours and seyntes illumyned lyghtned of my very sothefastnes / tokeÌ hede knewe veryly my truthe that is of holy wrytte / the whiche semed derke / bycause it was not vnderstonde / that was not for defaute of scrypture / but of the vnderstoÌders the whiche vnderstoÌde it not ¶ And therfore I sende these lauÌternes before sayde / for to yllumyne theÌ that were blynde by vnderstondynge / for to open theyr eyes to knowe in derkenesse the truthe ¶ For I the receyuer of theyr sacryfyce / rauyshed them and gaue them lyght not of nature / but aboue all nature / and so in derkenesse they dyd receyue lyghte / in suche awyse knowynge the truthe ¶ Wherfore those thynges that dyd seme somtyme derke / it apperetd sheweth to rude and boystous folke of what condycyoÌ they be / eueryone for to receyue after the he dysposeth hym to knowe
of me / where thou maye fynde mekenesse / holy hate / dysplesaunce of thy selfe / and feruent fere of my endelesse charyte / by the whiche thou oughte to come to the loue of thy neyghbour / shewynge to hyÌ bothe profyte by bodyly mynystracyon / and also profyte of doctryne holy lyuynge ¶ I shewed the also a brydge as it stondeth / and also I shewed the the grees generall put for thre myghtes of the soule / how ther may none haue lyght of grace / but yf he ascende vpon all thre grees ¶ That is that they be gadered togyder in my name ¶ And also I declared to the the same thre grees partyculerly / for the states of the soule fygured in the body of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu chryst / which hathe made ladders for to ascende vpon / shewynge in his fete that were nay led a ladder to ascende vp by the openynge of his syde / the whiche is the seconde ladder for to ascende vp by to his mouthe / wher a soule tasteth peas rest in a maner beforesayde ¶ I shewed the also inparfeccyoÌ of seruyle drede / iÌparfeccyoÌ of suche louers that loue me vnparfytely / for swetenes that they fynde in that loue ¶ And also parfeccyon of the thyrde state of them the whiche become to peas and rest of the mouthe / by the rennynge vpon the brydge of my sones passyon with longynge desyre / fyrste ascendynge vp vpon the thre generall grees / that is to gader all the thre myghtes of the soule / wher they gader togyder all theyr vertues workynge in my name / and also of other thre grees partyculers the whiche they ascede after tyme they be passed out of the inparsyte state / and thus in sothe thou hase seen theÌ renne / and also I haue made the to taste parfeccyon of soule with araymeÌtes of vertu ¶ And also to know dysceytes / the whiche a soule fyrste tasteth or that it come to parfeccyon ¶ I haue also declared to the that wretchydnes of them that gone and drenchen them in the floode / not kepynge theÌ by the brydge of my sothefastnes / whiche I put bycause they sholde not peryshe ¶ Yet as fooles they had leuer be drenched in wretchydnes and fylthe of this worlde ¶ Also this I haue declared to the that the fyre of holy desyre myghte encrese in the / and compassyon and sorowe of daÌpnacyoÌ of soules / that bothe sorowe loue shold coÌstrayne the to come to me with welyÌge wepynge teres ¶ With teres namely of meke and contynuall prayer offred to me with the fere of most breÌnyÌge desyre / and not onely to wepe for the / but also for many other creatures / and my seruauntes that heten all this / be they that sholde be coÌstrayned by charyte for to wepe as thou does so that thou and they togyder sholde praye / and in maner constrayne me for to shewe mercy to all the worlde / and to the mystery all body of holy chyrche / for whome thou prayes to me somoche / yf thou haue mynde that I sholde fulfyll theyr desyre / and gyue theÌ refresshynge to theyr laboure ¶ Therfore for to satysty to your peynes full desyres / I grauÌt reformyÌge of holy chyrche by good and holy curates ¶ Not for to reform holy chyrche by warre or by cruelte / so for to dystroye the enemyes of holy chyrche / but by pease and reste / and by waylynge and wepynge of my seruauntes whom I haue sende as labourers for wynnynge of soules in the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / and for to labour to increse vertues ymonge neyghbours / offerynge to me contynuall mayer for them and for all my creatures for ymonge them is grete defaute of vertuous lyuynge ¶ And therfore I wyll that they and ye laboure and shewe profyte to neyghbours / and in suche wyse ye maye yelde to me the fruyte of your vyne ¶ Yet shold ye not cese to gyue to me encense of youre wyll / smellynges / tyghte swete prayers / for helthe of soules / for I wyll do mercy to that worlde / and to holy chyrche ¶ For now late I shewed the how her face is all foule as a leper / and that was the defaute of her mynystres / and all crysten relygyon / the whiche do noryshe theÌ at the brest of this spouse of whose defautes I shall tell the in another place ¶ The fyfte chapyter of this party sheweth of the state of holy teres ¶ And fyrst how this holy soule desyreth for to knowe of the states the fruytes of holy teres ¶ Also of the dyfference of the foresayde teres / and how ther be fyue maners of teres ¶ Also a shorte repetycyon of the menes before / and of other maters / as it is shewed in the kalender before Ca. v. THan that soule with a grete louyÌge desyre dyd ryse vp as a druÌken soule / as wel by the vnyon that she had in god / as by that she herde and tasted of his ryght swete sothefastnes ¶ And also she had grete heuynesse of the ygnorauÌce of creatures / the whiche knewe not theyr maker gracyous benefactour / the whiche tasted not affeccyoÌ of his dyuyne charyte ¶ And yet she had a maner of gladnesse hope / of the promyse whiche god shewed to her / techynge to her a maner of forme / that she all his seruauÌtes owe to kepe / for to styrre hyÌ to gyue mercy to the worlde ¶ And with that she lyfte vp the eye of intelleccyon to the ryght wel byloued sothefastnes wherin she was knytte / desyrynge somwhat for to knowe of the sayde states of the soule / of the whiche god tolde here / by the whiche she consydered that a soule cometh to that state with teres / wherfore she desyred to knowe of god the dyffereÌce of teres / and what they ben frome whense they came / and of the fruyte that foloweth after wepynge teres / how many kyndes ther be of teres ¶ Bycause the truthe of sothefastnes maye not be knowe / but by endelesse sothefastnes / therfore she asked the endelesse sothefastnesse ¶ And bycause also nothyÌge may be veryly knowe / but it be seen with the eye of intelleccyon / wherfore she desyreth of sothefastnes to haue clere syghte of very trewe feythe / in the clere syghte of her intelleccyon ¶ ThaÌ after tyme she knewe of god that he wolde gyue her clere lyghte / knowynge thereof she lyfte vp herselfe aboue herselfe / with a greate longynge desyre oute of the corse of the bodyly felynge / with the lyghte of lyfely feythe / she opened her eye of intelleccyon in the endelesse sothefastnesse / in whome she sawe and knewe the truthe / of the thynge that she asked ¶ For god shewed to her hymselfe / that is her endelesse benygnyte / and oned it with her brennynge desyre / so fulfylled
teres / be as a maner of swete oyÌntment / the whiche casteth out a ryght grete smell of swetenes ¶ O my ryght swete doughter how gloryous is suche a soule / that so ryally can passe out of this troublous see of the worlde / and come to me that am the greate peaseable see / and fyll the vessell of the herte in the see of my euerlastynge souerayne godheed ¶ What that euer the soule be that can do so / her eye the whiche is the cundyte of the herte / is aboute to sasatysfy the herte by shedynge out of teres This is that last state / in the whiche a soule stondeth bothe blessyd doleful / she stondeth blessyd by vnyoÌ / that she feleth in me hy tastyÌge of my dyuyne charyte ¶ She stondeth also dolefull of offence that is done to me / bothe of herselfe and of her neyghbours ¶ This state of vnyon is not therfore let / the whiche shedeth teres of loue / for the knowlege of herselfe of her neyghbour / of whome she fyndeth coÌpalsyoÌ / for to wepe with wepers / for to ioye with ioyers / but rather encreaseth glory ioye to my name ¶ Thus the fyrste wepynge the thyrde let not the last / but eche of theÌ medleth with other / for yf the last wepynge / iÌ the whiche a soule fyndeth so greate vnyon / toke nothynge of the fyrst of the seconde state of charite of neyghbourheed / it were no profyte ¶ Therfore it were full necessary that one were medled with an other / els it sholde tourne to presuÌpcyon / by the whiche sholde entre a sotyll wynde of elacyon / and of her owne reputacyon / and so it sholde fall frome heyghte / to the infyrmytâ of the fyrst vanyte ¶ For this cause it is ryght necessary for to kepe coÌtynually with very knowledge of theyr self charite of neyghbourheed ¶ In this wyse she sholde sende out to me the feruent fyre of very charyte / for the charyte of neyghbourheed is raken of my charyte / that is of the charyte by the whiche a soule knoweth herselfe my goodnes iÌ herselfe / wherby also she consydereth wel / that she is loued of me meruaylously / therfore with the same loue / she loueth al maner reasonable creatures / and this is the cause why she extendeth herfelf as soone as she knoweth me for to loue her neyghbour / by the whiche she knoweth wel that the most prolyte the whiche she maye do to me is for to yelde to me pure loue / by the whiche she feleth that she is loued of me / therfore she dysposeth her to yelde to me suche loue by mene and medyacyon of neyghboureheed / the whiche is that same mene to whom suche a soule sholde shewe charytable mynystracyoÌ as I haue sayde to the before the whiche sholde be loued with suche pure loue / as I loue you / for lyke as I haue loued you loue you without ony maner beholdyÌge of merytes / therto my owne increate loue without ony mene styrred me to make you of nought to my ymage symylytude / the which loue ye may not yelde to me wtout mene ¶ Therfore ye muste yelde the same loue to resonable creatures / louyÌge theÌ without ony rewarde of louyÌge agayne / and also without ony beholdynge of theyr owne profyte ghostly or bodyly / but onely for to loue theÌ for the glory of my name / bycause they be loued of me ¶ And so shold ye fulfyl the byddynge the precepte of the holy lawe / wher it is wryteÌ that ye sholde loue me as aboue all thynges / and your neyghbour as your selfe ¶ It semeth well thaÌ that a soule maye not come to the hyghe êfyte loue with teres wtout knyttyÌge togyder of the secoÌde and the thyrde state before ¶ And yet though she be come therto / she may not kepe it / yf she go fro the affeccyon therof / by the whiche affeccyon she cometh to the secoÌde kyÌde of teres before sayde ¶ So that without the same affeccyoÌ to neyghbourheed / the lawe of me that am endeles god may not be fulfylled ¶ For there be two fete of affeccyoÌ / by the whiche bothe the preceptes the couÌseyles be obserued kept as I haue tolde the before ¶ Ryghte so these two states of the whiche two states is made one by loue / norysheÌ the soule iÌ vertues / encresyÌge the same vertu in parfeccyoÌ by the state of vnyon / so that it encreseth ryches of grace by newe dyuers gyftes meruaylous lystynges vp of the soule / with a maner knowlege of veri sothfastnes as a deedly creature may haue in this lyfe / for the felynge of one sensualyte / and also his wyll is mortyfyed by suche vnyon that he hathe fouÌde in me ¶ O how swete is suche oneheed and vnyon to a tastynge soule / for that soule that tasteth seeth my secretes and pryuytes / by the whiche secretes / ryghte often tymes she receyueth a spyryte of prophecy for to knowe thynges that be yet to come ¶ All this is done by my endelesse goodnesse / and thoughe it so be that a meke soule sholde alway eschewe / not the gyfte of affeccyon of my dyuyne charyte / but the appetyte and desyre of theyr owne ghosty comfortes / yet she sholde deme herselfe vnworthy for to haue suche rest peas of soule / by the whiche meke Iudgement / she may noryshe inwarde vertues / and encrese therin / for there is none so parfyte a soule in this lyfe / but that it may encrese to more parfeccyon / that is to parfeccyoÌ of loue ¶ My ryghte swete and onely sone Ihesu cryst was and is youre heed / to whome maye encrese no parfeccyon / for he was and is one with me / and I with hym / his soule was and is blessyd by vnyon of dyuyne nature ¶ But ye that be pylgrymes his membres / be able euermore for to encrese in to greater parfeccyon ¶ I do not saye that ye maye encrese to an other state after tyme ye be come to the laste / but I saye that ye may encrese in the same last estate with suche parfeccyon as it is lykynge plesynge to me for to gyue to you / by meane medyacyoÌ of my grace ¶ A shorte repetycyon of the mater before / and how the wycked spyryte fleeth a waye fro them / the whiche become to the fyfthe teres / and how the angers of the fende be trewe wayes for to come to this holy state of teres NOw hase thou seen the states of teres and the dyfference of them / as it lyketh my goodnesse for to do satysfaccyon to thy desyre ¶ Fyrste I tolde the of the teres of them / that do lyue in deedly synÌe / wher I sayd that the teres of them come out of the herte / as al maner of teres done / for the greuauÌce of
of suche as lyue wretchydly in the worlde / makynge to theÌ theyr god of creatures / and of theyr owne propre sensualyte / of the whiche procedeth all maner harme / the cometh bothe to the body and to the soule ¶ I tolde the yf thou remembre the / that all maner of teres came oute of the herte and sothe it is for an herte of a louynge soule soroweth / in somoche as it loueth worldely men / al suche soules do wayle âepe / whaÌ they fele sorowe in herte / that is whaÌ they be depryued fro that thynge that they loued / yet neuerthelesse theyr wepynges waylynges be moche dyuers fro wepynges of worldely men ¶ Wyl thou know how moche ¶ Certayne somoche as the loue is dyuers / and bycause the roote of her owne seÌcyble loue is corrupte / what euer spryngeth therof muste nedes be corrupte / for that loue is as a maner of a tree bryÌgynge nothynge els fourthe / but fruyte of dethe / stynkynge floures / spotty leues / brauÌches al ybroke and bowed downe to the grouÌde by dyuers wyÌdes / ryght so fareth the tree of the soule yf soules be well dysposed / than they be trees of loue / for wtoute loue they can not lyue / in asmoche as they be made of me by loue / suche a soule the lyueth so vertuously setteth the roote of her tree in the valaye of mekenesse / but al those that do lyue wretchydly / set theyr tree in the mouthe of pryde / bycause it is euyll planted and set / it may not brynge forthe fruyte of lyfe / but deedly ¶ The fruytes be the werkes of them / the whiche be venymed poysoned with synnes / thoughe it so be that they do ony good dede / in asmoche as the roote is corrupte / therfore al the fruyte that sueth therof is corrupte that is for as suche a soule is in deedly synne / euery good dede that it dothe maye not protyte to lyfe euerlastyÌge / bycause it is not done in grace ¶ Neuerthelesse yet good dedes must be done at all tymes / for there is no euyll vnpunyshed / nor good dede vnrewarded ¶ Euery good dede done out of grace / is not suffyeyent / nor profyteth in no wyse to euerlastynge lyfe / as I haue sayd / but my dyuyne bouÌâle and ryghtwysenesse yeldeth therfore an vnparfyte rewarde / as the worke in it selfe is vnparfyte ¶ Otherwyse I rewarde suche one in teÌporall goodes for suche good dedes / otherwhyle I gyue hym tyme and space for to amede hyÌ of his lyuyÌge / and other whyle I do hyÌ this mercy / that is whaÌ I gyue hym lyfe of grace by some maner meane of my seruauntes / the whiche be to me acceptable and plesaunte / as I dyd to my gloryous doctour seynt Paule the whiche by the prayers of seynt Steuen rose fro his mysse byleue parsecucyons that he dyd shewed to trewe crysten folke ¶ So thaÌ by this thou maye well knowe that in what state a creature stoÌdeth in / he sholde not cese to do well ¶ I sayde also that suche a foule is lykened to a tree bryÌgeth forthe stynkynge floures / and sothe it is / the thoughtes of the herte of suche a soule be stynkyÌge floures that lyke me neuer adele / all the thoughtes of suche a soule be nothynge els but hate and dysplesaunce of her neyghbour / hauynge the condycyoÌ of a thefe that robbeth worshyppe and honour fro me that am his maker / and yeldeth and kepeth it to hymselfe ¶ This floure bryngeth forthe the fylthe of ryghte wretchyd and fals Iudgement / the whiche Iudgement is in two wyses / one Iudgement is aneÌdes me / demynge and foriudgynge my pryuy Iudgementes / all that I grauÌte to hym for lyfe / and by my mysteryall pryuytes he tourneth all in to hate mysse demynge me wyckedly / after his seke syght and vnderstondyÌge / bycause he hathe made blyÌde the eye of his intelleccyoÌ by his owne sencyble loue / and couered the clere seynge perle of his most holiest feyth the whiche suffreth not hym to se knowe the truth ¶ The other Iudgement the last is aneÌdes his neyghbour / of the whiche ofte tymes cometh moche euyll / for asmoche as a wretched maÌ knoweth not yet hymselfe / and take vpon hyÌ for to knowe the herte and the affeccyon of an other maÌ or womaÌ / by one dede that he seeth or by worde / or wordes that he hereth or saythe of them / and so demethe affeccyon of thyr hertes ¶ All my seruauntes deme the best / for they be grounded in me that am moste souerayne good / but all other euer deme euyll / bycause they ben grounded wretchydly in euyl ¶ Of the whiche Iudgementes ofte tymes aryseth and spryngeth euyll hate / manslaughter / dysplesaunce anendes neyghbourheed / and with drawynge fer fro the vertues of my parfyte seruauntes ¶ I sayde also that suche a soule is lykened to a tre that bryngeth forthe spotty leues / the whiche be wordes goynge oute of the mouthe / in the whiche vnworshypp of me / and of the blode of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / and harme of neyghbours / they fere neuer for to saye euyll of an other / and for to blaspheme and condempne my workes / and for to saye enyll of euery reasonable creature / as it falleth iÌ to theyr mysse Iudgementes / and they thynke not suche wretched folke / that the tongue is made for to yelde to me honour and worshyppe / for to knowlege theyr owne defautes / and for to worke by loue of vertues / for helthe of neyghbourheed ¶ Thus suche wretches wyll not occupy thyr tongues / but rather by myspekyÌge bryÌge fourth spotty leues of wretchyd synne / for the herte that they come fro is not clene and pure / but moche defouled with doublenesse and moche wretchydnesse ¶ Lo how moche perell falleth of suche myscheuoê° spekyÌge and bryngeth in harme wtout ghostly harme of pryuacyoÌ of grace whiche it dothe in the soule / for bycause of wordes / ye haue seen and herde many chaungynges of states / desolacyons of cytees / and moche manslaughter / ynd many other euylles for a wretchyd worde entreth in to the myndes of the herte of them that it is sayde to / where a swerde sholde not entre ¶ I saye also that this tre hathe seuen wretchyd braunches the be bowed to the grouÌde / of the whiche bothe floures and leues gone out / as it is rehersed before ¶ Thes seuen braunches be the seuen deedly synnes / the whiche be full of many dyuers synnes knytte in the roote fro the stocke of the loue of hymselfe and of his owne pryde / the whiche maketh fyrste wretched and myserable braunches / and floures of many wycked thoughtes ¶ After that cometh forthe spotty leues of wordes / and fruyte of euyll workes ¶ These brauÌches do stoÌde bowed to
in the ryght plesaunt fruyte of very mekenes with a maner pacyence / the whiche auoydeth al maner sclaundre / and depryueth the soules fro al peynes / for bycause the propre wyll is sleen with the swerde of holy hate / in the whiche wyll dwelled and is belefte all peynes / for onely sencyble wyll is sclaundred by Iniuryes / orelles by temporall or spyrytuall comfortes as I haue sayde to the before so a soule cometh to iÌpacyeÌce ¶ But bycause wyll is mortyfyed with ryghte swete wepyÌges desyres / therfore the soule begynneth to taste the fruyte of teres / as of ryghte swete pacyence ¶ O fruyte of ryghte greate swetenesse / o how swete presaunt arte thou to them that tasten the / and to me lykynge / for they that dwell in bytternesse tasten thy very swetenesse / and all those that tasten that fruyte in tyme of wronges / they receyue pacyence ¶ And in that tyme that the soule of a man is possed vp and downe in the greate stormes or tempestes of the see of this worlde / by greate wawes of pereylous wyndes / than is suche a soule ryght pacyent and peaseable without ony euyl couered and clypped with my ryght swete endeles dyuyne wyll / where she receyueth a clothe of very brennynge charyte / in the whiche vesture or clothe / maye neuer water entre ¶ O ryght well byloued doughter / this pacyence is a quenesette in the toure of streÌgthe / and suche a quene it is that euer ouercometh / and neuer is ouercome / and yet she is not alone / but she is felyshypped with parseuerauÌce ¶ Suche pacyeÌce is called the ryght pythe or marowz of charyte / the whiche sheweth the vesture and the clothe of charyte openly / so to be knowen whether it be a weddyÌge clothe or not ¶ Yf that vesture or clothe be strayte in parfeccyoÌ / thaÌ it is shewed by some maner of conrrary thynge of iÌparfeccyon ¶ Vertues maye otherwhyle be hyd / shewynge themselfe parfyte / whan they be vnparfyte outaken to the they may not be hyd ¶ For yf this ryght swete pacyeÌt be in thy soule / it sheweth all vertues vertuously / bothe quycke and parfyte / and yf it be not in thy soule / it sheweth all vertues vnparfyte / the whiche vertues ben not yet come to the meettable of the passyon of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryst crucyfyed vpon the cros / where that same pacyence is coÌceyued by very knowlege of thyselfe / by the swete knowlege of my endelesse goodnesse in thyselfe / spronge and broughte fourthe by an holy hate / anoynted by very mekenesse ¶ To this pacyence shall not be denyed / nother the meet of my worshyppe and honoure / nor desyre of helthe of soules / but she it is that receyueth and eteth contynually the very same meet / and that is sothe ¶ Beholde se therfore ryght dere doughter / how gloryous martyres by suffraunce of martyrdome / dyd ete this meet / that is desyre of helthe of soules / theyr deth gaue lyfe / theyr deth areysed soules fro deth to lyfe / and auoyded fro them derkenesse of deedly synnes ¶ The worlde with al his excellences and worthynesse / and tyrauntes / with all his powers / myght neuer defeÌde theÌ fro theÌ / for the myght and strengthe of this pacyent quene was myghtyly workynge in them ¶ This vertu of pacyeÌce stondeth stydfastly / as a lyght on hyghe vpon a candlestycke / this is that gloryous very lyghte fcuyte / the whiche teres hathe shewed after tyme it is come parfytely to charyte of neyghbourheed / etynge and receyuynge ghostly that blessyd charyte / with my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryst / that very vndefouled vnuenymed lambe in longynge desyre / with an vntollerable peyne / dredynge the offence of me that am his endeles maker / I saye not that suche pacyence is peyned with peyne / that tourmenteth in her langynge desyre after charyte of neyghboureheed / for loue with suche very pacyence sleeth al suche dredes propre loues that do shewe peyne / but I saye it is peyne with peyne coÌfortable / fouÌded onely in my charyte / dredynge the offence of me hurtynge of neyghbours / the whiche peyne maketh a soule set in grace / ioyful in herselfe / for that is a token that sheweth me to be in a soule by a synguler grace ¶ Of the fruyte of the fourth and the fyfth state of teres I Haue tolde the of the fruyte of the thyrde teres / therfore nowe shall I tell the of the fourth and the last state of teres of one heed or of vnyon / the whiche is not departed fro the thyrde state of teres as I haue sayde but they be oned and knytte togyder / as charyte of me charyte of neyghbours be coupled togyder / that one maketh the other sauory / but that profyte of it encreaseth so greately to the fourth state of teres / that a soule vsynge suche teres / suffreth not onely pacyently suche wroÌges as it dyd in the thyrde state of teres before / but desyreth trybulacyons gladly in so moche that it setteth ryght noughte by ony maner of recreacyons / what wyse that euer they come / so that onely it maye be confyrmed at all tymes to crystes passyon ¶ This thynge receyueth a fruyte of rest and quyetnesse one parfyte vnyoÌ by felynge / in my ryght swete dyuyne nature / where it tasteth mylke of a chylde that is peased resteth at his moders brest and takethe her mylke by the mene of the flesshe / in the same wyse a soule after tyme that it is come to this last state / it resteth at the brest of my dyuyne charyte / holdyÌge iÌ her mouthe of holy desyre / the flesshe of cryst crucyfyed that is to saye that she foloweth his steppes and doctryne / for she knewe well in the thyrde state / that by me the fader / she myghte not go so / for in me endeles fader myghte neuer peyne fal ¶ But she knewe wel that she myghte go so / by my ryght well by loued or amyable and ryght swete sone / the whiche suffred peyne ¶ Without peyne iÌ no wyse ye maye folowe hym / by the whiche peyntull folowynge / ye sholde come to vertues / that be well proued by pacyence ¶ And therfore she hathe well sette her at the breste of my onely sone Ihesu cryst crucyfyed / the whiche is my endelesse sothefastnes / by the whiche breste she draweth to her mylke of vertu / in the whiche vertu is conteyned lyfe of grace / that maketh her to taste my dyuyne nature / the whiche gyueth swetenesse to vertues / and sothe it is ¶ For vertues in themselfe be nothynge swete / but for bycause they be holy and oned in me that am that dyuyne charyte / therfore they be swete ¶ For a soule iÌ that plyght set vpon vertu / hathe no
/ and she myghte in no wyse se herselfe / for she herselfe that is nother sekyÌge in herselfe nother temporall comforte nor spyrytuall comforte / but she was as a pârsone that had in all thyÌges slayne her owne propre wyll / she eschewed no maner of laboure in what wyse that euer it was put to her / but rather she ete with greate compassyon and sorowe meet of me endelesse god and helthe of soules vpon the table of the crosse / suffrynge repreues / iniuryes / and heuynesse of the fende / and many gronynges grutchynges of meÌ Â¶ And she loked after no rewarde nother of me nor of other creatures / for she was spoyled fro the loue of ony mede / in asmoche as she dyd loue me withoute consyderacyon of ony rewarde ¶ Thus she was arayed with this parfyte and moste pure lyght / louynge me purely withoute ony rewarde / but onely to the glory and praysynge to my name / not seruynge me by her owne propre delectacyon / nor her neyghboure / for her owne profyte / but for the very pure loue of me ¶ Al suche haue loste themselfe / for they haue done awaye the olde conuersacyon of man / that is theyr owne propre sensualyte / and they be arayed with a newe conuersacyon / that is my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste my endelesse and sothefaste truthe / suynge hym myghtely ¶ These they be that sette them at the table of holy desyre and be more besy in dystroyenge mortyfyenge â theyr owne wylles / thaÌ in mortyfyenge of theyr flesshe ¶ And they haue mortyfyed well ynoughe theyr owne flesshe / not pryncypally for the chefe affeccyon / but as a very instrument that is for to helpe and slee the propre sencyble wyll as it is reherced before where that I declared to the in that worde where I sayde thus that my delyte it was in fewe wordes / and in many good werkes ¶ And this ye sholde do / for the pryncypall affeccyon sholde be for to slee the propre wyll / the whiche affeccyon none other seketh nor desireth other thyÌge than for to folowe my ownely sothefast sone Ihesu cryst crucyfyed / iÌ hyÌ sekynge and fyndyÌge the glory and worshyp of my name / and helthe of soules ¶ They that be in this gloryous lyght / so they do / and therfore they lyue euer in peas quyetnesse of conscyence / for there is nothynge maye hurte it nor sclaundre it / in asmoche as they haue withdrawen fro them that thynge that hurte it and sclauÌdred it / that is theyr owne propre wyll ¶ And all maner êsecucyoÌs that the worlde or the fende maye do to theÌ they put all vnder theyr fete ¶ And yet they stonde in the water of trybulacyons and temptacyons / whiche do to them no dysease / bycause they stonde bounde to the beame of ferueÌt desyre / suche do ioye in all thynges / and they be no Iudges / nother of my seruauntes / nor of my other reasonable creatures / but they be glad of euery state that they se / sayenge to me thus ¶ O endeles fader thaÌkynge be to the / for in thy house be many dwellynge places / yet they be more glad of dyuers states that they se / thaÌ yf they se thy dwellynge places / all they do kepe one waye of lyuyÌge / for iÌ many states of lyuyÌge / they se the magnyfysence of my goodnes spred abrode / of al therfore they be ioyful ¶ And they wyl iÌ no wyse gyue no Iudgementes / nor deme nother them that be good / nor them that by euyll done open synne / but rather with a maner of very holy coÌpassyon / prayenge to me for them / with parfyte mekenesse saye thus ¶ To daye thou / to morowe I / but yf the grace of god do kepe me ¶ O ryghte well byloued doughter be thou ioyfull therfore of this ryghte swete excellent state / beholde how they renne in this gloryous lyghte / and se theyr excellence and worthynes / for they haue theyr myndes full set to me / and ete at the table of holy desyre / with lyghte they come to noryshe theÌselfe of the meet of soules / for the honour and worshyp of me endelesse fader / arayed with the swete clothe of my onely sothefast sone that blessyd lambe / that is with his breÌnynge charyte ¶ All suche do neuer lose theyr tyme / in gyuynge of false Iudgementes / neuer agaynste my seruauntes / nor agaynst the seruauÌtes of the worlde / they neuer hurte nor sclaundre themselfe / for no maner grutchynge done agaynste theÌ or agaynst other / for yf it be done agaynst theÌselfe / they be well apayde to suffre it for my name / and yf it be agaynste other / they bere it easely with them that suffreth / neuer grutchynge agaynste hym that dothe it / nor agaynste hym that receyueth it ¶ For the loue of suche is ordynate in me endeles god / and also in theyr neyghbour and neuer vnordynately sette ¶ All suche dere doughter conceyue neuer sclaundre / agaynst theÌ whom they loue / nor agaynst none other reasonable creatures / for theyr syght iÌ suche thyÌges is deed not quycke / and therfore they wyl not haue to do with the Iudgementes of the wylles of men / but onely of the wyll of my myldenes ¶ All suche also kepe the doctryne that thou knowes well that was gyuen to the of my sothefastnesse / in the begynnynge of thy lyfe / whan thou asked with a greate desyre for to haue a wyll to come to parfyte purete / thynkynge thaÌ how thou myghte come therto ¶ I knowe well than was gyuen to the an answere / whyle thou dyd slepe vpon the holy desyre / not onely iÌ thy soule / but in the sowne of thy ere / a voyce fro god spake to the. ¶ For yf thou remeÌbre the well / thou was thaÌ tourned than to thy sencyble wyttes of the body / whaÌ my onely sothefast sone Ihesu spake to the / sayenge thus ¶ Yf thou wyll come to parfyte purete be depryued fro sclaunders / that is that thy soule for nothynge shall be sclauÌdred ¶ Do so that than thou maye alwaye lyue in affeccyon and desyre of loue / for I am moste souerayne endelesse purete / and also I am that fyre that puryfyeth the soule ¶ And therfore the more that a soule draweth cleueth to me / the more purer it is / and the forther that it gothe out fro me / the more vnclene it is ¶ And the cause why that deedly waÌtayne meÌ fall in to so many lyuynges of wyckednesse / is for they be departed fro me ¶ But the soule wtout that ony mene oneth her to me / she taketh parte of my purete ¶ Also thou muste do an other thynge that thou maye come to this vnyon of purete / that is that thou Iudge neuer in ony parsone / that thou
thou sees theÌ do or saye / whether it be agaynst the or agayÌst other / after the wyll of ony man / but after my wyll / bothe in them and in the. ¶ And thus yf thou se a synne or a defaute in theÌ / drawe out of the thornela roofe / that is that thou offre that defaute before me with holy compassyon / of the wroÌges whiche be done to the / Iudge that my wyll dothe fuffre them to be done in the / that vertu maye be proued in the and in other of my seruauntes / demynge that he that dothe this to the or to them / is as an instrument sende of me / seynge rather iÌ them a good entent thaÌ an yll entent ¶ For ther is none cau Iudge truly the pryuyte of mannes herte / and that thynge that thou sees not expresly euyl and openly deedly synne / thou shall not iudge it in thy soule / but onely iudge that my wyll suffreth many thynges in them ¶ And yf thou se ony open expresse synne in them / yet as I haue sayd / Iudge them not / but offre it before me with holy compassyon ¶ In this wyse thou maye come to parfyte purete / for yf thou do so / thy soule shall not be sclaundred / nother in me nor in thy neyghboure ¶ For all the indygnacyon that falleth ymonges neyghbours / is bycause of Iudgementes / the whiche indygnacyoÌ sclauÌder departeth a soule fro me letteth parfeccyon / in some thyÌges they wtdrawe grace more or lesse after the gretenes of indygnacyon / hathe conceyued it in the neyghbour of suche IudgemeÌtes ¶ The coÌtrari receyueth a soule that demeth euer after my wyll as I haue sayde before the whiche wyll wyll nothynge elles but youre good and profyte / and what that euer I suffre or gyue / I do it for the ende that ye sholde euer set youre entent to that ende that it is made to / for aslonge as it stondeth in the loue of neyghbourheed / solonge it stondeth in my loue / and so abydynge in that that abydeth in me and is oned to me ¶ And therfore it is full nedefull to the / that desyres for to come to that purete whiche thou does aske of me for to do these thre pryncypall thynges ¶ One is that thou gyue the to me by affeccyon of loue / for the meruaylous loue that I haue to the / to all creatures ¶ Another is that thou Iudge not in the wyll of another man / my wyll ¶ And the thyrde is that thou gyue no Iudgementes of thy owne wytte / that my wyll sholde be thy wyll / for I am the Iudge / not thou ¶ And yf thou kepe these pryncypall thynges / all parfeccyon shall fall to the. ¶ This was the same doctryne yf thou remembre that that was taughte to the of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryst ¶ Now therfore dere doughter I saye to the that all suche as it is rehersed before the whiche haue lerned this holsome doctryne excercysed it / they taste ernest of endelesse blysse in this lyfe ¶ And therfore yf thou kepe well this doctryne in thy soule / thou shal not fall in to temptacyon of the fende / though thou be tempted with hym ¶ Neuerthelesse yet for to satysfy more clerely thy desyre / I shall tell the declare to the more openly / that ther sholde no Iudgement of suche parfyte soules be vsed / wtout maner but holy coÌpassyon ¶ By what maner wyse they receyue the ernest of sykernesse of euerlastynge lyfe / suche as abyde iÌ the thyrde lyght / whiche is most parfyte lyghte ANd why sayde I to the / that al suche receyue the ernest or sykernes of euerlastyÌge lyfe / I shall saye to the. ¶ They receyue sykernesse / but no deêtyÌge fro the body / for they receyue it iÌ abydyÌge in the body of me that am lyfe euerlastynge / in suche a place where lyfe is wtout dethe / fulnesse wtout nede / hongre wtout peyne / for peyne there is fer fro hongre / bycause they haue that they desyre / ther also is nede fer fro fulnesse / for I am to them meet of lyfe wtout defaute ¶ Neuertheles yet iÌ this lyfe it is so that they receyue sykernesse the ernest of blysse / and they taste it in this wyse / that is the soule begyÌneth to hoÌgre / the worshyp of me endeles good / and also the meet of helthe of soules ¶ And lyke as the soule hongreth / so it is fedde / that is ryghte as a soule is noryshed by charyte of neyghbourheed / of whome it hathe desyre and hongre the whiche is to hyÌ a meet of the whiche it is noryshed / neuer fulfylled bycause it is vnsacyable / therfore his hoÌgre is coÌtynuall / ryghte as the ernest is a begyÌnynge of sykernes that is gyue to maÌ / of the whiche it desyreth to haue deêtyÌge fro the body / not that I say that / that ernest is êfyte iÌ it selfe / but it gyueth sykernes by feythe to come to the fulnesse therof / to receyue departyÌge of the body / but suche a soule so rapt in loue / and arayed with the doctryne of my sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / the whiche soule hathe receyued ernest in her lyfe of my charyte / and of charite of neyghbourheed is not yet parfyte in herselfe / for she abydeth parfeccyon of lyfe that is endelesse ¶ Therfore it is that I sayde / that this ernest or sykernesse is not yet parfyte / for the soule that tasteth it / hathe yet no parfeccyon / but alway it feleth peynes / bothe in herselfe iÌ other ¶ In herselfe she feleth peynes / of the trespaces that she dothe to me by the contrary lawe / that is within her bownde in her body / for it wyll euer impungne and fyghte agaynste the spyryte / in erthe she feleth peynes of trespaces done to me by her neyghbours ¶ Neuertheles yet they haue parfeccyon to grace / all be it they haue not yet parfeccyon of my seyntes / the whiche become to me that am endelesse lyfe ¶ For as it is sayd before / theyr desyres be with peynes ¶ And therfore these that ben my seruauÌtes the whiche do noryshe themselfe at the table of holy desyre / they be bothe holy / blessyd / sorowful / as my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryste stode vpon the crosse / for his flesshe was so sorowfull whiche suffred tourment / but his soule was blessyd and holy / by the vnyon of diuine nature ¶ In the same wyse all suche be blessyd / by vnyon of holy desyre of them in me / arayed with my ryghte holy wyll ¶ And they ben sorowfull by compassyon of neyghbourheed / and also they be sorowfull and peynful in tourmeÌtyÌge of theyr owne propre sensualyte / the whiche maye not be done wtout peyne / in with drawynge of delytes
ofteÌtymes as a blynde wretche / and lan gorynge in this sekenes / vnder colour of the honour worshyp of thy name and helthe of soules / I haue gyue Iudgementes ¶ Wherfore I thanke the endeles infynyte goodnesse / for thou hase made me knowe by manyfestacyoÌ or shewynge of thy sothefastnesse / bothe dysccyte of the fende / and also the infyrmyte of my owne passyoÌ / wherfore of synguler grace and mercy I beseche the / that fro this dare forewarde I go neuer oute fro thy doctryne / that thy endelesse goodnesse hathe taughte me / also for all those that wyll folowe the same doctryne ¶ For withoute the is nothynge done / to the therfore I fle the endelesse fader / and I maye not praye for me to the endelesse fader / but for all the worlde / and specyally for the mysteryall body our moder holy chyrche / that this truthe of doctryne shyne in the mynystres of holy chyrche / yet specyally I praye the for them all / that thou hase take for to loue in specyall loue / whome thou hase made one with me / for they sholde be my refresshyÌge coÌforte / whan I se them renne by this doctryne vndefouled / and mortyfyed to all theyr owne wylles ¶ And without ony demynge or / sclauÌdrynge / or grutchynge of theyr neyghbours to the worshyp honour of thy holy name ¶ I praye the therfore infynyte loue / that none of theÌ be withdrawe fro thy hondes by the fende of hell / but that they maye come to the / that arte the ende of all theyr laboure ¶ Also I praye that for two pyllers / the whiche be my two ghostly faders / whome thou hase leÌde to me for my kepynge and doctryne of me most wretched and seke fro the begynnyÌge of my lyuyÌge vnto this tyme / that thou make theÌ bothe one of two bodyes one soule / that none of theÌ take hede to none other thynge pryncypally / than for to fulfyll the mynystery of theyr offyces the whiche thou hase put in to theyr hondes for helthe of soules to the worshyp of thy holy name ¶ And I vnworthy moste wretched seruaunte and not a doughter may teÌderly kepe theyr doctryne with du reuerence and holy drede / and that also I maye drede them reuerently for thy loue / that it be to the worshyp / and to theÌ pease and quyetnesse and edyfycacyon of theyr neyghboure ¶ I am ryghte certayne endelesse truthe / that thou shall not dyspyse my desyre / nor my askynges that I haue asked of the / for I knowe well by the shewynge that thou hase shewed to me / and moche more by experyeÌce that thou art accepter taker of holy desyres ¶ Therfore I thy vnworthy seruauÌt shall besy me after the grace that thou hase gyuen me for to kepe thy doctryne byddyÌge ¶ O endeles fader I haue myÌde of thy worde that thou told me / whaÌ thou tolde me certayne thynges of thy ministers of our moder holi chyrche thou sayde that thou wolde tell me more playnly iÌ an other place of theyr wyckednesse that they vse these dayes / wherfore yf it be lykyÌge to thy goodnes / I desyre that thou tell me some what therof / that I maye haue mater therof for to encrese in sorowe compassyon and loÌgynge desyre for the helthe of theyr soules ¶ For as I remembre me nowe / thou sayde that to all those that haue compassyon / peyne / wepynges / sorowes / swetynges / and prayers for synners / thou wolde gracyously refresshe them by reformynge of holy chyrche / with good and holy pastoures or shepeherdes ¶ Therfore bycause al these sholde encrese in me / I aske the and praye the of this thyÌge ¶ How that god beholdeth the besynes of this soule aboute prayer / and answereth to some of her petycyons ¶ Than endelesse god tournynge to her the eye of his mercy / not dyspysynge her desyre / but rather receyuynge and alowynge her askynge / wyllyÌge for to satysfy to the laste petycon that she made of his behestes / sayde thus ¶ O ryghteswete and dere doughter iÌ that that thou hase asked of me / I shall satysfy thy desyre / so that thou be not vpon thy syde ygnoraunte neclygente / for it were more greuous to the and worthy more reprefe / suche ygnoraunce and neclygence now than fyrste / for thou knowes now more of my truthe / than thou knewe than ¶ Besy the therfore for to pray for al reasonable creatures / for the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / and for them whome I haue coÌmytted to the / that thou loue them specyally / that thou be not neclygent for to praye for theÌ / bothe by ensample of lyuynge spekynge by worde / repreuynge vycys / coÌmendynge vertu after thy power ¶ Of those pyllers whome I haue leÌde to the / of whome thou hase tolde me / and sothe it is that they be pyllers ¶ Do so that thou be a mene for to yelde to eche of theÌ after the ablenes of them / as I thy maker shall make open to the / for with out me / thou may nothyÌge do ThaÌ I shall fulfyll thy desyres / therfore loke thou fayle not / nor they neuer in my hope / for in you shal not lacke my prouydence / and eche of theÌ shal receyue that thynge / the whiche he is able for to receyue ¶ And in the same wyse euery mynystre shall receyue that thyÌge that I shall gyue hyÌ for to mynystre / after his maner as he receyueth taketh of my goodnes ¶ In this thyrde chapyter god sheweth to this soule of the dygnyte of preestes / of the sacrament of his holy body / of them that do receyue that sacrament worthyly ¶ Also how all the bodyly wyttes or felynges be dysceyued iÌ that foresayd sacrameÌt / but not the felyÌunges of the soule ¶ Therfore with that felynges or wyttes of the soule that holy sacrament shall be seen / rasted / feled / and of other maters / as it is rehersed before in the kalender Ca. iii. I Shall answere to the of that thou askes me of the mynysters of holy chyrche / that thou may veryly knowe the truthe / open the eye of thy intelleccyon / and beholde the excellence of them in how greate dygnyte I haue sette theym ¶ But bycause a contrary is lyghtly knowe by his contraryte / I wyll shewe the fyrste the dygnyte of them that haue vertuously onely excercysed the tresour that I haue betake to theyr hondes and so by that thou shall the better knowe theyr wretchydnes / that these dayes fede them at the brest of this spouse holy chyrche ¶ Than this deuoute soule for to obeye to his byddynge / dyd beholde coÌtemplatyfely in the sothefastnesse of hym / in the whiche sothefastnesse she sawe vertues shyne / in very tasters
before but rather ye sholde be lyke to a candell without wyke / that in no wyse maye brenne / nor receyue that lyghte within hym ¶ In the same wyse / yf you do not receyue in youre soule the wyke that receyueth this lyghte / the whiche is called the lyght of very fey the / and also be not come to that grace / the whiche ye dyd receyue in the holy baptym / with affeccyoÌ of youre soule / formed and abled by me for to loue / the whiche affeccyon is so apte for to loue / that wtout loue it maye not lyue / for loue is his meet ¶ But where catcheth suche a soule lyght so oned / as I haue sayde ¶ Certayne at the fyre of my dyuyne charyte / louynge me dredynge me / and suynge the doctryne of my onely sothefaste truthe ¶ Neuertheles as I sayd some do catche more lyghte / and some lesse / after the mater that he bereth / and gyueth to the fyre ¶ For thoughe all ye haue one mater / that is bycause ye be all made and create / and formed to the ymage of me ¶ And that also ye haue receyued the lyghte of holy baptym / and so be made crysten men / eche of you maye encrese in loue and vertu as it is plesauÌte and lykynge to my grace for to gyue you ¶ Not for to chaunge the shappe and forme that I haue gyueÌ you / but that ye make encrese / and that vertues maye growe in you by loue / vsynge in youre vertu fre choys / and vsynge also affeccyon of charyte / so in loue ye maye encrese as it is reherced with the whiche loue / ye sholde come for to receyue that swete and gloryous lyghte / the whiche I haue gyue to you for to be mynystred / by mene of my mynysters that I haue gyuen to you / in to youre ghostly meet / and ye receyue somoche of that ghostly lyghte / as you bere of loue and holy desyre / and thoughe it so be as I sayde the ye receyue all the lyghte by ensample as I shewed to you by them that bare tapers that after the quantyte of the weyghte / so they dyd receyue lyghte lesse or more / all be it thou se hole lyghte in eche of those tapers / not dyuyded / for that maye not be for no maner of imparfeccyoÌ of you / nother of the receyuer nor of the mynystre / but ye take asmoche of that lyghte in you that is of grace / whiche ye receyue in this sacramente / as ye dyspose you for to receyue by holy desyre ¶ And yf ony go to this blessyd sacrament with trespas of deedly synnes / he shall in nowyse receyue grace of it / all thoughe he receyue actually all god and all maÌ in the same sacrament / as it is before sayde ¶ Wyll thou knowe how suche a soule stondeth that receyueth this sacrament vnworthely ¶ It stondeth lyke a caÌdle / in the whiche water is fall / the whiche neuer ceseth to crye make noyse / as loÌge as the water toucheth the fyre in the wyke / as soone as the water is fully entred iÌ to the wyke / it is quenched is lost / than is no fyre iÌ it / but onely smoke ¶ In the same wyse the soule bereth iÌ herselfe a caÌdell of gracyous lyght / that it receyued in the sacrament of holy baptym / in to the whiche soule entreth water of synne / and quencheth the wyke of lyght of gracyous baptym / where it waxeth vndysposed / and so vnchaufed at the fyre of very contrycyon / she is confessed generally of al her synnes / and in that wyse she gothe to the auter for to receyue that blessyd sacrament actually / and not meÌtally ¶ Thus this very gracyous lyghte dwelleth not in a soule vndefouled by grace / that dysposeth her not as the sholde dyspose her to suche a worthy sacrameÌt but it gothe awaye / than in suche a soule dwelleth and abydeth ryght greate confusyon shaiue by greatenes of the synne / after tyme that lyght is so queÌched / for of that blessyd sacrament suche a sole feleth none other thynge / but onely cryenge noyse by remors of conscyence / not for defaute that is in the lyghte / for that maye in no wyse be hurte / but for defaute that is in the water whiche is founde in the soule / and letteth affeccyon of the soule / in suche maner that the soule maye not receyue this gracyous lyghte ¶ And thus thou knowes well / that in no wyse this lyghte maye be departed / fro the hete and coloure of the same lyghte / nother for the lytell desyre that the soule hathe in receyuynge of this sacrament / nother for defaute that is iÌ the soule the whiche receyueth it / nor also of hyÌ that mynystreth it / as I haue tolde the by ensample of the sonne / that thoughe it shyne vpoÌ a foule thyÌge / yet it is not therby defyled ¶ In the same wyse this ryght well byloued lyghte in this blessyd sacrament in no wyse maye be defouled / nor deuyded nor lessed ¶ I sayde also that that lyghte of the sofie maye not be deêted fro his spere / though al the worlde take bothe lyghte and hete of hym ¶ In that same wyse this blessyd body the sacrament of the auter / my blessyd onely sothefaste sone / that very sonne maye not be departed fro me the sonne that am endelesse fader / thoughe all it be mynystred by the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / to what reasonable creature that wyll receyue it / but rather it is all hole / it is all receyued bothe god and maÌ as I gaue the ensample by lyghte / wher I sayd / thoughe all the worlde toke lyghte of thy candell / yet is thy lyght neuer that lesse / but it is all hole / and neuerthelesse al receyue it hole ¶ How all the bodyly wyttes or felynges be dysceyued iÌ the foresayde sacrament / but not the felynges of the soule / therfore with felynges wyttes of the soule that holy sacrament shall be seen / tasted / and feled / and here of is a vysyon whiche this deuoute soule dyd se within this mater folowynge DEre doughter open the eye of thy intelleccyon for to se that depenes of my charyte / for ther is no reasonable creature but that he sholde melte dyssolue his herte by affeccyon of loue / yf ymonges al other benefytes the whiche he receyueth of me / he beholde worthely to the benefyte that he receyueth in this blessyd sacrament of the auter ¶ And with what eye dere doughter sholde thou other beholde / se / touche / parceyue this blessyd mystery Not onely with touchynge and syghte of the body / for all the bodyly felynges and wyttes fayle iÌ that sacrament / thy bodyly eye seeth nothynge / but whytenesse of breed / the same
worshyp / suche as is to them grete shame reprefe / and that that is to theÌ worshyp / they tourne to shame reprefe / as is for to meke them and lowe theÌ Â¶ Here god speketh agaynst them the do parsecucyoÌ to holy chyrche / of the mynysters of holy chyrche iÌ dyuers maners TAkes thou not hede that I sayde they smyte me sothe it is iÌ asmoche as they parsu my mynysters / they smyte me by theyr entent iÌ asmoche as they can or maye ¶ I saye not that I may in myselfe receyue ony maner hurte of theÌ / but I do as a stone the whiche whaÌ it is smytte / it receyueth no stroke nor hurte of theÌ / but it tourneth agayne agaynst the smyter / in the same wyse the smytynge of theyr offences whiche is throwen to me maye not noye me ¶ But the venemousnesse of synÌe tourneth agayne to theÌ / the whiche synÌe in this lyfe pryueth them fro grace / also they lose the fruyte of that precyous blode / and at the laste yf they ameÌde them not with holy confessyon and coÌtrycyon of herte / they sholde go to ende lesse dampnacyon out fro me / coupled with fendes without ende / and that copulacyon bytwene fendes theÌ is begonne iÌ this worlde ¶ For as soone as a soule is depryued fro graces / anone it is bouÌde in synne / thou whiche is the bonde of hate of vertu and loue of vyces / the whiche boÌde they haue putte in the fendes hondes with fre choyse / with the same bonde the fende byndeth them / for otherwyse maye they not be bouÌde with the same bonde / the parsuers of my blode be bounde togyder / for as meÌbres coupled to the fende / they take vpon theÌ the offyces of the fende ¶ Fendes be aboute in all that they maye for to vexe my creatures / and for to withdrawe them fro grace / brynge them to the offence of deedly synnes / that of the same euyll that they haue of themselfe / they entyse creatures in the same ¶ In the same wyse all suche that be lyke to sendes and be as deuylles membres / ouerturnen the chyldren of my spouse / that is the chyldren of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / dyssoluynge them fro the bonde of charyte / and byndynge theÌ with the wretched bonde of synne / so depryued fro the fruyte of my sones blode / and that bonde is knytte with the chayne of pryde / and with theyr owne propre reputacyoÌ with the boÌde of seruyle drede / the whiche for drede and losse of temporall goodes they lose grace and fall in to more coÌfusyon and shame than they myght fall in before / or they were depryued fro the dygnyte of my sones blode ¶ This boÌde is seyled with the seyle of derkenes / for they knowe not in to how many inconuenyences and wretchednesses they be fall / and so make other to fall in the same / and therfore they amende them not / nor correcke them not / bycause they do not knowe how for derkenes / for as blynde folke they ioye bothe of theyr daÌpnacyon of soule body ¶ Be sorowfull doughter therfore / for to se suche blyndenesse and wretchednes in suche as be wasshed in that precyous blode as thou arte and ben noryshed with the same blode at the brest of holy chyrche / and now as enuyous folke for seruyle drede / and vnder colour of correccyon of defautes of my mynystres / of the whiche I haue forbyd them that they shold not touche theÌ / they be withdrawe fro that holy breste ¶ Wherfore tremblynge drede sholde bothe occupy the my other seruauntes / whan thou here 's that wretched bonde named ¶ Thy toÌgue were not suffycyeÌt to tell how vyle it is to me / yet worst of al it is y they wyll couer theÌselfe with the maÌtell of correccyon of defautes of my mynysters / wenynge therby y they hyde theyr owne defautes / and they thynke not that there may no mantell hyde fro my syghte onythyÌge / they maye well hyde them fro that eye of a creature / but not fro me / for ther is nothynge hydde fro me ¶ I loued you and knewe you or than ye were / and this is one of the causes why deedly creatutures wyll not amende theyr lyuynge / for in suche they byleue not with the lyghte of very quycke feythe that I beholde theÌ / for yf they dyd byleue veryly that I behelde theyr defautes / that euery defaute shal be punyshed / lyke as euery good dede shall be rewarded / they sholde neuer do somoche euyll as they do / but of that that they had done they wolde amende them and mekely aske my mercy / and than I with the mene of my sones bloode shall graunte them mercy / but they be as obstynate folke and reprobate folke fro my endelesse goodnesse / they beÌ fal in to the vttermoste fall that they myghte fall in / depryued fro lyghte by theyr owne defautes / and they be made as blynde folke parsuers of my blode / the whiche sholde not be for no defaute that is done of my mynysters / whiche do mynystre the mysteri of my sones precyous blode ¶ A shorte repetycyoÌ of that that is sayde before / of holy chyrche and of that mynystres I Haue somwhat tolde the dere doughter of the reuerence whiche sholde be done to my mynystres not withstondyÌde theyr defautes for the reuereÌce is not done nor ought not to be done to them for them / but for the auctoryte that I haue gyueÌ to them ¶ And also I haue tolde the that the mystery of the sacramente may not be deuyded nor lessed for no defaute that they do / and therfore shall no reuerence be mynushed nother made lesse anendes them / for it is not done for theÌ / but for the tresour of the blode that I haue gyuen in to theyr kepynge ¶ The contrary of this haue I shewed the how greuous it is and how it dyspleseth me / what harme it is to them / the vnreuerence and parsecucyon of my sones blode ¶ I also haue tolde the of the bonde that they make agaynst me / and how so ybounde they serue the fende / that thou maye haue the more coÌpassyon ¶ Lo this is one defaute that I haue tolde the in specyall for the parsecucyon of holy chyrche / and the same wyse generally I saye the of crysteÌ relygyon the whiche do dwel in deedly synne / and dyspyse that blode of my sone Ihesu / depryuynge theÌselfe fro the lyfe of grace ¶ In this wyse it dyspleaseth me that greuous synne ¶ Of the excellence and vertues / and of the holy wetkes of vertues and holy mynystres / and howe they haue the condycyon of the sonne / and of the correccyons to theyr subiectes NOw shall I gyue the a lytell refresshynge to thy soule / I shal swage the
And the worste of all is / that they with the goodes of holy chyrche araye theyr concubynes / as an husbande wolde aray his wyfe / so these incarnate deuylles of holy chyrche goodes aray theyr deuylles / that is theyr coÌcubynes / with whome they lyue vnclenly wyckedly / and wtout shame they make them go stonde come iÌ to that chyrche / whyles they be at the auter ¶ They take no thought thoughe theyr wretched deuylles do come to theyr hondes with other chyldren of holy chyrche / for to offre as other folke done ¶ O ye fendes / and yet more than fendes / ye sholde at the ofâe hyde youre synnes in the syghte of youre subiectes / for yf ye hyde it / that offeÌce is to me alone / the harme to yourselfe ¶ But nowe ye do euyl to your neyghbours for to gyue theÌ suche ensamples of cursed lyuyÌge / throwe youre ensample / they fall in to the same synnes or greter ¶ This also is another wyckednesse that they vse / they aryse erly by the morowe / with a defouled soule and a corrupte body that hathe layen all nyghte in deedly synÌe / they go and saye masse ¶ O deuylles tabernacle / where is the watche of the nyghte that sholde be waked with deuocyon dyuyne seruyce / where is contynual prayer and deuoute in the whiche thou sholde dyspose the aneÌdes tyme / for the mystery that thou sholde do on the morowe / with knowlege of thyselfe to knowe thyselfe vnworthy to that offyce / also with knowlege of me / for of my goodnesse I haue made the a mynyster / not by thy deseruynge and merytes / but for my goodnesse I haue ordeyned the a mynyster for to mynystre to my creatures the sacrameÌtes of holy chyrche ¶ How the synÌe agaynst kynde reyneth in some of the foresayde mynysters / and of a fayre vysyon whiche the soule hadde vpon this mater DEre doughter I make the knowe that I requyre so greate purete of you and of them in this blessyd sacrament / as maye be hadde to man in this lyfe / and therfore asmoche as you maye on youre syde and on theyr syde / eche of you sholde contynually with all youre myghte wynne suche purete / and thynke yf it were possyble an anâels kynde to be puryfyed to that mystery it were ryghte necessary / but it is not possyble / they nede not to be puryfyed / for in them maye neuer fall the venym of synne ¶ This I saye the that thou maye knowe what cleÌnesse and purere I requyre bothe of you and of them in this worshypful sacrament / and namely of them that be my mynysters / but they do the contrary / for al they be vnclene / and no onely of vnclennes and freylte to the whiche ye be prone and redy of youre owne freyle nature ¶ But they wretches be so vnclene / that they do the wycked synÌe agaynst kynde / and as blynde fooles of theyr intelleccyon they knowe not the fylthe stynkynge wretchednesse that they be in ¶ And it dyspleaseth not onely me that am endelesse purete / the whiche synne is so abhomynable to me / that for the synne by my Iudgement fyue Cetees were ouer tourned / for I myghte not suffre the vyle stynke of that cursed synne nâ longer / it dysplesed me somoche not onely me as I sayde but it dyspleseth deuylles not bycause the euyll dothe dysplease theÌ / that god sholde please them but bycause theyr nature was somtyme angels nature / and therfore that nature escheweth to se that actuall cursed synne / thoughe it so were that the fende thre we fyrst an arowe to them enuenymed with the venym of concupyssence ¶ But whan they come to the dort of that cursed synne / than he gothe his way for the cause that I haue tolde the / for yf thou remembre the I towe the how that cursed synne somtyme before the incarnacyon myslyked me / for all the worlde was corrupte thaÌ therof ¶ And thaÌ thou lyfted vp thy selfe aboue thy selfe with holy desyre where I shewed the all the worlde / and iÌ that syghte thou sawe that almoste euery parsone was corrupte with that wretched synne / and thou knowes well that it was so greate a peyne to the for to se it / for to smell the stynke of that synne in thy soule / that the semed it shold be thy dethe / for thou dyd se no place wher thou other of my seruauÌtes myght stoÌde for corrupcyoÌ / that this lepre sholde not defoule you / nor to enfecte you ¶ Thou dyd se no place where thou myghte stoÌde nother ymonge small nor greate / yonge nor olde / clerkes nor relygyous / prelates nor subiectes / lordes nor seruauntes / but all these were defouled bothe body and soule of this cursed synne ¶ This I shewed the thaÌ in generall / I tell the not what they be in specyall / for whose vnryghtwysenesse / I withholde yet my ryghtwysenesse / for I coÌmauÌde not stones to oppresse theÌ / nor the erthe to deuoure them / nor beestes to dystroy them / nor fendes for to bere them awaye bothe body and soule ¶ But I fynde wayes for to shewe theÌ mercy yf they wyll amende theÌ and for intercessoures bytwene me and them / I sende my seruauÌtes suche as be vndefouled in that cursed synne / and in all other deedly synnes / for to praye for them to me / otherwhyle I shall shewe them suche wretched synnes for to make them more besy aboute theyr soule he le / with the more coÌpassyon for to offre theÌ to me by prayer / for it is a ryght cursed synÌe ¶ I shewed the but one sparcle of the styÌke of that synne / thou was broughte to suche a plyte / that thou myght no loÌger suffre to bere it / therfore thou sayde thus to me ¶ O endeles fader haue mercy vpon me on thy creatures / orelles take my soule out of my body / for I maye nomore / therfore refresshe me endeles fader / and shewe me in what place I thy seruauÌtes maye rest vs / that this lepre noye vs not / nor take away fro vs purete bothe of body of soule ¶ I answered the thus tourned to the the eye of my pyte and sayde and yet saye ¶ Doughter youre reste is in gyuynge to my holy name ioye and praysynge / and besy you in that ye can and maye for to throwe encens to me of contynuall prayer / for these wretches that haue put themselfe in somoche wretchednesse makynge theÌselfe vnworthy to be my mynysters / ãâã that cursed synne ¶ The place there ye sholde stonde / is cryste crucyfyed my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / there sholde ye dwell / hyde you in that holes of his wouÌdes / namely in the grete wouÌde of his syde / in the whiche wouÌde by affeccyon of loue ye sholde be
¶ Pryde begynneth and spryngeth and is noryshed of poore sencyble loue / of the whiche loue I tolde the that it was and is the grounde and fundament of al these thre pyllers / and also of all maner euylles that creatures do / for he that loueth hymselfe with vnordynate loue / is depryued fro the loue of me in asmoche as he loueth me not and in that he loueth not me / he offendeth me / bycause he kepeth not the commaundymentes of the lawe / the whiche is for to loue me aboue all thynges / and theyr neyghbours as theÌselfe ¶ This is the cause why that they loue not me nor theyr neyghboure / for they loue themselfe with sencyble loue / so they maye no ther well serue me nor loue me / but rather they serue and loue the worlde ¶ All suche sencyble loue the worlde maye not acorde with my loue nor with me / and they that haue none acorde with me they be fer fro me / for they that louen the worlde with sencyble loue and serueth hyÌ sencybly / must nedes hate me / and he that in sothe loueth me / muste nedes hate the worlde ¶ And therfore my onely sothefaste sone sayde / there maye none serue two contrary lordes / for yf he serue the one / he shall be hated of the other ¶ Thus thou maye se that propre loue pryueth a soule fro my charyte / and arayeth hym with the vyce of pryde / of the whiche all maner defautes do sprynge of euery reasonable creature that is in those defautes / it is for to sorowe wayle and namely of my mynysters whiche sholde be meke as wel so meke that they myght noryshe charyte ymonge theyr neyghbours / as for to be meke in mynystracyon of the body of my sone that vndefouled lambe ¶ And they be not ashamed of theyr pryde / for to se me comen mekely to mankynde / in to the flesshe of my onely sone ¶ Yet thoughe the same body renne to the dethe of the crosse lowly mekely by obedyence / he boweth there his heed to salute the grete ye. ¶ He spredeth his armes abrode there / the for to clyppe and brace to hym / he stretcheth forthe his feet for to stonde with the / agaynste thy ghostly enemy ¶ And thou wretched man that arte made his mynyster flees and shoues hym / and thou byclyppes and enbraces to the vnclene creatures ¶ Thou sholde dwell stable and stydfaste / shewynge the doctryne of my onely sothefast sone Iheso / and fastnynge thy herte and thy soule in hym / and thou arte vnstable and vnstydfaste as the wynde / for euery thyÌge reÌneth aboute vaynly ¶ Yf thou haue ony prosperyte / thou arte moued with all mysse ruled gladnesse / and yf thou haue aduersyte / thou arte moued with vnpasyence / and so thou drawes oute the mary and the pythe of pryde that is vnpasyence / for ryght as charyte hathe mekenesse / for his pythe and mary / so is vnpasyence the pythe mary of pryde for of al thyÌges most proude meÌ be troubled / sclauÌdred / yrous more thaÌ other ¶ Pryde asceÌdeth neuer to heuen / but plungeth downe into hel therfore my onely sothefast sone sayd he that exalteth hyÌ in pryde shall be broughte lowe / and he that meketh hym shal be exalted ¶ In euery kyÌde of folke pryde hyghly dyspleaseth me / and moche more in my mynysters / for them I haue sette in a meke state for to mynyster my meke lambe / and they do the coÌtrary ¶ And why is not suche a wycked and wretched preest ashamed / seynge meke so me lowly iÌ my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / for whom I haue ordeyned theÌ to be mynysters / and my sone meked hymselfe by obedyence vnto the dethe of the cros / he bowed his heed corowned with thornes / and this wretched mynyster arayseth his heed agaynste me agaynste his neyghboure ¶ And there as he sholde be a lambe mynystrynge to my very lambe he is a ramme with hornes of pryde / and he smyteth all those that cleueÌ to hyÌ Â¶ O wretched man thynkes thou not that thou arte in my seruyce / is thy offyce for to smyte me with thy hornes of pryde / doynge bothe me wronge thy neyghbours wronge / and so for to lyue ymoÌge thy neyghbours with wronge / is this thy mekenesse with whiche thou sholde saye masse / and mynyster the body and blode of my sone ¶ Thus thou arte made in sothe as a wood beest and a cruel without ony drede of me / thou deuoures thy neyghboure / and ledes thy lyfe with dyscencyoÌ and debate / and thou arte made accepter of parsones ¶ They that do scrue the and do the profyte thou acceptes / or suche as flater and please the / those that lyue as thou dors / them thou loues and acceptes and none other / whome thou sholde hate correcke theyr defautes ¶ But thou does the contrary / for thou gyues them ensample to do the same or worse / yf thou were good thyselfe / thou wolde correcke them / but bycause thou arte a wycked man / thou wyll not vndernyme them / nor be dyspleased with theyr defautes ¶ Thou dyspyses meke / pure / and vertuous people / thou goes awaye fro theÌ / neuerthelesse thou hase a cause to fle fro theÌ / thoughe thou sholde not fle fro theÌ Â¶ For thou flees theÌ / bycause the slynke of vyces may not suffer the swete smell of vertu ¶ Thou holdes a grete reprefe to the / for to se at thy dore poore men stoÌde / thou eschewes for to vyset them in nede / thou sees them peryshe for hoÌger and wyll not helpe them ¶ All this dothe the hornes of pryde / whiche wyl not bowe for to vse one lytel dede of mekenesse ¶ Why wyll they not bowe ¶ For theyr owne propre loue whiche norysheth pryde / they put not away fro them ¶ And therfore he that wyll not coÌdescende mynyster poore folke nother of teÌporall goodes nother spyrytual without a thanke therfore ¶ O cursed pryde grouÌded set in thy owne loue / how hase thou so blynded the eye of thy intelleccyon in suche a wyse that whaÌ they wene they loue theÌselfe and be teÌder of theÌselfe they be ryghte cruell / and whaÌ they wene they wynÌe they lose / whaÌ they wene they stoÌde in delyces / ryches / grete hyghnesse / they stonde in grete pouerte wretchednesse / for they be depryued fro the ryches of vertu / be come downe fro the heyghte of grace / to the sekenesse of deedly synnes / they thynke they se they be blynde / for nother they knowe theyr selfe nor me ¶ They knowen not theyr owne estate / nor theyr dygnyte that I haue set them in / nor they knowe not the freylte of the worlde / nor theyr owne lytell stablenesse / for yf they knewe
/ and of the temple of theyr soules / of holy chyrche / whiche sholde be my specyal orcharde / they make a place for to receyue beestes ¶ O my dere doughter how abhomynable is this to me / that theyr houses whiche sholde be a receyuyÌge place of poore meÌ of my seruauntes / and it sholde be a place for my spouse / therin to teche preche / and therin bokes to be kepte of holy maters and seyntes lyues / and they to delyte them therin / and for to gyue ensample of holy lyuyÌge to theyr neyghbours / they make them receyuynge places of vnclennesse / and of wycked parsones / and there they do not trete of chastyte / but of auoutry / therin they lodge theyr concubynes / with whome they lyue vnclenly ¶ Theyr bokes they be not for to study vpon / but the syght of theyr chyldren / with they theyr chyldren that they haue goten with suche wretchednesse withoute ony shame / they haue greate delyte therin ¶ On holy dayes / on solempne dayes whan they sholde yelde praysynge to my name iÌ dyuyne seruyce / and for to offer to me the presentes of meke deuoute prayer / than they go to playe with theyr incarnate deuylles / and with seculers hawkynge huÌtynge / as thoughe they were seculers or teÌporall lordes ¶ O wretched man wherto arte thou comen nowe / thou sholde hunte and hauke after soules / for the worshyp and reuerence of my name / and stonde in the orcharde of holi chyrche to preche / and thou goes aboute in wodes and feldes ¶ But bycause thou arte a beest / thou lodges beâstes of deedly synnes within thy soule / and therfore thou arte become an hunter and hauker of beestes / by the whiche the gardayne of thy soule is made wylde and full of thornes / therfore thou delytes the to walke in deserte places / for to serche after wylde beestes ¶ Se thou defouled maÌ and beholde thy defautes / for thou hase a ryghte greate cause to be a shamed / on what syde the euer thou turnes the on / but thou arte not a shamed / for thou hase loste the drede of me / as a comune woman thou arte not ashamed / thou makes greate bostes and crakes that thou hase greate states in the worlde / that thou hase a fayre meyne and a grete nomber of chyldren ¶ And yf thou haue them not / thou wyl haue them yf thou maye / that thou may haue heyres after the. ¶ But thou thefe thou knowes ryghte well that thou maye nothynge leue to them / for thy heyres be poore men of holy chyrche ¶ O thou wycked and incarnate deuyll / withoute the pure lyghte thou serches that thynge the whiche thou sholde not serche ¶ Thou makes greate bostes of thynges / of the whiche thou sholde be ashamed before me / that se the pryuyte of thy herte / and also before all creatures ¶ Thou arte all shent / and yet the hornes of thy pryde wyll not fuffer the to se thy owne confusyon ¶ O dere doughter I haue sette hym vpon the brydge of doctryne of my onely sothfast sone Ihesu for to mynyster to you pylgrymes the sacramentes of holy chyrche / and he stondeth in the wretched floode vnder the brydge / and in the floodes of delyces wretchednesse of the worlde / they mynystre the sacramentes to you ¶ And they coÌsyder not that the floode of dethe is come to hym / in the whiche floode he shall be drowned with his lordes that be fendes / whome he hathe serued ¶ To that endelesse dampnacyon shall he go / but he amende hym here / with greate reprefe shame / the whiche thy tongue is not suffycyent for to tell / and moche more he than ony other seculer / for the same synne that is in a seculer man shall be moore punyshed in hym / thaÌ in a seculer man / and with more reprefe of his enymyes / that do aryse agaynst hym in the ende of his dethe ¶ This fyfte chapyter speketh of the dyfference of the dethe of ryghtfull men ¶ Also of the dethe of greate synners and of theyr peynes in the ende or poynt of theyr dethe ¶ And a repetycyoÌ of moche more that is sayde after / and of dyuers many other maters / as it is specyfyed in the kalender before Ca. v. BIcause I tolde the how thou worlde / deuyls / and proper sensualyte shal accuse hym / therfore now I shal tell the of these wretches / how grete it is bytwene the dethe of a synner / and the dethe of a ryghtwyse man / for the dethe of a ryghtwyse man is in greate peas / more or lesse after the êfyte lyuynge of his soule ¶ Therfore I wyll that thou knowe that al the peynes that reasonable creatures haue is in wyl of theÌ / for yf theyr wyll were well ruled and ordynately set / and acorded with my wyll / it sholde suffer no peyne ¶ I saye not therfore theyr labour sholde be take awaye fro them / but to that wyll that suffreth wylfully for my loue shall no peyne be / for he bereth it gladly / seynge that it is my wyll / of that holy hate whiche they haue of them selfe / they haue warre with the worlde with the fende / and with theyr owne propre sensualyle ¶ And whaÌ they come to the poynt of dethe / theyr dyenge is in peas / for theyr enemyes iÌ theyr lyues were ouercome iÌ ghostly batayle ¶ The worlde maye not accuse hym / for he knewe his dysceytes / therfore he forsoke the worlde / and all his delyces / his freyle sensualyte and his flesshe accused hyÌ not / for he helde hym vnder the brydell of reason / as a seruauÌt chastysynge the flesshe with penaunce / with wakynge with meke coÌtynuall prayer / his sencyble wyll he dyd slee with hate and dysplesaunce of synne and loue of vertu / dystryenge in al wyse the tendernesse of the flesshe / whiche tendernesse and loue that naturally is bytwene the body and the soule / maketh dethe to appere the harder / therfore naturally a man dredeth dethe ¶ But bycause that vertu is in a parfyte ryghtwyse man / he passeth nature the is to say he that sleeth the drede whiche is naturall and kyndely / and ouerpasseth it with very holy hate / and with desyre to come to his ende / for the naturall teÌdernesse of the flesshe can not make warre / where the conscyence stoÌdeth in quyetnesse ¶ The cause of a quyet consyence / is in a mannes dyenge / bycause by his lyfe he hadde good kepynge / barkynge whan enemyes came by and wolde entre the Cytee of the soule / as an hounde stoÌdynge at the gate that seeth enemyes barketh / and so by his barkynge awaketh the kepers / in this same wyse this hounde of the conscyence waketh the keper of reasoÌ / therfore
¶ They that wantaynly wyckedly haue ledde theyr lyues / receyue ferefull drede by the syghte of fendes / yet is it not ferefull of dyspeyÌre / but yf they wyll themselfe ¶ But fere of peyne / of reprefe / and of the coÌscyence and of drede and tremblynge in the horryble syghte of fendes ¶ Sees thou not dere doughter how greate dyfference it is bytwene the peyne of dethe / and the batayle that they receyue in theyr dethe / and how fer that one is fro that other / and howe greate dyfference is of the endynge of euery of theÌ Â¶ I haue tolde the leest party shewed it to thy eye of intelleccyon / yet it is so lytell iÌ rewarde of the peyne the one receyueth / and of the good that another receyueth / that it is ryghte nought ¶ Sees thou not what blyndenesse is in maÌ / and specyally in these wretches / for the more they be yllumyned of holy wrytte / that more they be bounde / and the more vntollerable peynes of confusyon they shall receyue ¶ And the more by theyr lyfe they dyd knowe of holy wrytte / the more in theyr dethe they knowe theyr defautes to be greate / and therfore whan they dye / they be sayde in more greater peynes than other be / lyke as good folke be sette in greater excellence of blysse / it happeth to them as it happeth to false crysten men / whiche be in hel in greter peyne and turment thaÌ a Iewe or a paynym / bycause he hadde the lyghte of feythe and forsoke it ¶ In the same wyse these wretches shall haue more peyne for a lyke synne that other men do / than ony other crysten man / and that is for the mystery the whiche I haue gyuen to them / for to mynyster the sonne of the blessyd sacrameÌt / and also bycause they haue receyued the lyght of holy feythe more thaÌ ony other / wherfore ryght wysely for theyr mys ruled lyuyÌge / they shall haue more peyne than other ¶ But suche wretches knowe not that / for yf they hadde ony maner of knowlege of theyr state / they wolde not fall in to so many wyckednesses / but they wyll be suche as they sholde be / and bycause they be not / all the worlde is more corrupte by them / than by all the mysse rulynge of seculers / with theyr stynkynge synne they defyle the face of theyr soules / corrupte theyr owne subiectes / sekynge the blode of my spouse holy chyrche / for whose defautes that same spouse waxeth pale for loue and affeccyoÌ of charyte that they sholde haue to this spouse whiche they take to themselfe / and they take no hede to none other thynge / than for to take prelaces and greate benefytes / wher rather they sholde gyue attendaunce to cure of soules / by the whiche euyls / seculers do lytell reuerence and obedyence to holy chyrche / thoughe they sholde not do so / for theyr defautes be neuer the lesse / nor they shall not be excused for fautes of my mynisters ¶ And now here shall be shewed of a repetycyon of moche that is sayde before / how that god forbyddeth all seculer parsones to touche his mynysters in that waye of hurte to theÌ and how that god styrreth this soule to pray and to wepe by greate compassyon vpon suche mysse lyuynge preestes MAny defautes I haue for to tell the / but I wyll nomore make foule thy ere 's / all this haue I tolde the to satysfy and fully thy desyre / that thou maye be the more besy for to offer to me for them / swete / delectable / and bytter desyres ¶ And also I haue tolde the of the greate excellence wherin I haue sette them / and of the tresoure whiche I haue commytted to theyr hondes for to be mynystred / that is the blessyd sacrameÌt / in whom is all god and all man conteyned / shewynge to the an ensample there of the sonne / that thou myghte ther by êfytely knowe for no defaute the whiche they done / that the vertu of that sacrament maye in no wyse be mynyshed nor made lesse ¶ And therfore I wyll not that reuerence be withdrawe fro them ¶ And also I shewed the the exsellence of vertuous mynysters / in whom the Margaryte stone of vertu dothe shyne / of holy ryghtewysenesse ¶ I shewed the also howmoche the offence dyspleased me / that parsuers do to holy chyrche / the vnreuerence whiche they shewe to the precyous blode of my onely swete sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste / for all those that parsu my mynysters of holy chyrche / I arecte it done to my sones blode / and not to them / for I haue monyshed theym that they be not of wyl to touche my preestes my anoynted mynysters ¶ I haue also tolde the of theyr wretched lyuyÌge / and howmoche peyne they haue and confusyon in theyr dyenge / and how cruelly that they be turmented after theyr dethe / thus that I dyd promyse that I haue tolde the / and I haue so satysfyed to the of that thynge whiche thou dyd aske of me / for I must kepe my promyse ¶ Now notwithstondynge al these defautes thoughe they were mo I wyll not that no seculer medle with them / in punyshynge of theyr defautes for yf they do theyr trespas shal not be vnpunyshed / but yf they punyshe it whyle they lyue iÌ this lyfe / and so ameÌde theyr lyuynge ¶ But these and suche other be incarnate deuyls / and of my dyuyne ryghtwysenesse / one deuyl punysheth another / eche offendeth other ¶ A seculer is not excused by the synne of a prelate / nor a prelate by the synne of a seculer ¶ Now therfore dere doughter I styrre the and all my other seruauntes / to wepe and wayle vpon all these deed wretchesse / and for to stonde as chosen shepe in that orcharde of holy chyrche to be fedde by holy desyre / offerynge to me deuoute coÌtynual prayer / for my wretched mynysters / for I wyll do mercy to the worlde / and withdrawe you not fro this pasture / nother for wroÌges done nor for no maner prosperyte that is / I wyl not that you lyfte vp your hedes nother for vnpasyence nor yet mysse ruled ioye / but mekely to take hede to my worshyppe to helthe of soules / and to the reformacyon of holy chyrche / and this is a very token to me / that thou loues me ryghte êfytely and truly ¶ Thou knowes ryghte well that I haue shewed to the / that I wolde thou and other were trewe shepe / euer for to be fedde in the orcharde of holy chyrche / lyuynge with labour to the last ende yf ye dyd so than wolde I fulfyll youre desyres ¶ And here it shall be shewed howe that this deuoute soule yeldeth thaÌkes and praysynges to god / howe that she prayeth specyally for holy chyrche
THan that soule all breÌnynge in loue / and ghostly drunke / was wonderly wounded in herte of so greate bytternesse / and so feruent in loue and langorynge / vertuously turned her all hole to the souerayne endelesse goodnesse of good / sayde thus ¶ O endelesse god / one lyghte aboue all other lyghtes / of whom cometh all lyghtes / and fyre passyÌge all fyres / for thou arte that fyre that brennes and wastes not / but thou consumes all synne / and the propre loue that thou fyndes iÌ a soule / and yet thou does not waste it playnly / but thou fyghtes agaynste it with vnsacyable loue / for thoughe thou dyd fyll it / yet is it not full / but euer it desyreth more and more of thy louely fyre ¶ O souerayne endeles and good he styrred the or moued the infynyte god so for to illumyne me thy creature / that thou shall haue ende with the lyghte of thy truthe ¶ Thou thy selfe arte that same fyre / and cause of loue / for euer he is loue that moued the and moueth yet / to make vs of noughte to the ymage and lykenesse of the / and for to do vs mercy O goodnesse aboue all goodnesse / thou arte onely he that arte moste souerayne good / and yet neuerthelesse thou hase gyuen thy onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryste to vs / for to be coÌuersaunte ymonge vs that be ful of siynkynge and vyle synnes derkenesse ¶ Who was the causer of this ¶ Certayne loue / for thou loued vs or that we were ¶ O good god and euerlastyÌge in magnyfysence / thou made thyselfe lowe lytell to make vs mykell ¶ On what syde that euer I turne me I fynde none other than the depenesse and fyre of thy most swete charyte / whether I shal be that wretche that shall yelde thaÌkynges to thy feruent charyte and loue that thou hase shewed and yet shewes to vs / that is so greate brennyÌge loue in specyal / aboue comune loue and charyte that thou shewes to creatures ¶ Nay but thou alone swete and louely fader arte he that shall take thankynge of thy endeles goodnesse for me / that is that the affeccyon of thy charyte alone shall yelde thankynges to the / for I am she that am noughte / and yf I sayd I were oughte of myselfe I sholde ly on myselfe / and I sholde be called the lyenge doughter of the fende / the whiche is fader of lesynges ¶ For thou onely arte he that is / and therfore beynge / and all grace that thou hase sette ordeyned aboue beynge / I haue of the / for that that I haue / thou gyues me of thy propre loue / not of dewte ¶ O ryghte swete fader / whan that mankynde laye seke for the synne and trespas of Adam / thou sende it to thy leche / that is thy onely sothefaste / swete / and well beloued sone Ihesu cryste ¶ In the same wyse whaÌ I lay seke as now by the sekenesse of neclygence and of moche ygnoraunce / than thou moste swete and well byloued leche endelesse god gyues me ryght swete and bytter medycynes that I myghte therby be delyuered / and to ryse out of my sekenesse ¶ Swete thou arte to me / for with thy swetenesse and with thy charyte / thou shewed the to me / also thou arte to me aboue all the swetenesse that euer was / for thou hase yllumyned the eye of my intelleccyon with lyghte of holy feythe / in the whiche lyghte as it was lykynge to thy endelesse gooodnesse for to shewe me / I knewe the greate excellence and grace whiche thou hase gyuen to mankynde / mynystrynge to them by thy mynysters all god and all man / that is the blessyd sacrament in the mysteryall body of holy chyrche ¶ And also I haue knowe the dygnyte of thy mynysters / by whose hondes thou hase ordeyned thy body to be mynystred to vs / I desyred that thou wolde satysty my desyre whiche I asked of that / and thou hase fulfylled that and moche more / enformynge me of thyÌges that I couthe not aske / wherby I knowe veryly that the herte of a man can not aske somoche desyre / but that thou of thy greate mercy gyues hym more ¶ And so I knowe well that thou arte he that arte infynyte and endeles good / and we be they that be vyle corrupcyoÌ noughte of oure selfe / but thou arte infynyte and euerlastynge / and we be fynyte and mutable ¶ Thou gyues that thynge the whiche a reasonable creature maye not nor can not desyre in that wyse / as thou can and maye and wyll satysfy a soule / and fulfyll it of those thynges that it asketh not nor in that wyse so swetely and so ryghte plesauntely / as thou gyues it to hym ¶ And therfore I haue receyued lyghte in the magnyfysence of thy charyte / for to se that loue the whiche thou hase shewed to mankynde / and specyally to thy mynysters whiche be thy anointed people / and sholde be erthely angels in this lyfe ¶ Thou hase shewed the blessydnesse and vertu of thy anoynted specyall mynysters / that lyue as breÌnynge lanterns / with the ghostly precyous Margaryte stone of ryghtewysenesse in holy chyrche ¶ And by theym I haue the better knowlege of the defaute of suche that lyue wretchedly / by whome for the offence of the / and harme that is done to all the worlde / I haue conceyued a sorowe in my soule / bycause they do so moche harme to the worlde / and so to be myrrours of wretchednesse / there as they sholde be myrrours of vertu ¶ And also for asmoche as thou hase made the open to me most wretche / whiche am the cause and instrument of the defautes of many people / and thou hase complayned the to me of theyr wyckednesse / and I fynde in myselfe a meruaylous and greate and passynge sorowe of bytternesse ¶ Thou that arte a meruaylous parfyte louer / thou hase also shewed the to me bothe swete medycynable / and also bytter / wherby I myghte aryse hole fro the sekenesse of ygnoraunce and neclygence / and with ryghte parfyte besynesse / also with feruent desyre of loue / that I myghte renu me to the / bothe knowynge thy goodnesse and myselfe / and also the offences whiche be done to the of men / and specyally of thy mynysters / that I myght therfore casâ water of teeres on me wretche for my wretchednesse / wyâynge the fruyte of suche teeres / by knowlege of thy infynyte goodnesse / and also vpon these deed folke / that do lyue also wretchedly / for whom I wolde endelesse fader meruaylous fyre loue of charyte that my desyre be neuer wery for to desyre thy worshyp and helthe of soules / and that my eyes neuer cese to wepe ¶ But now swete fader I aske the of grace that I may haue two floodes of teeres the
/ for there is none in this lyfe that stoÌdeth stydfastly / but that he moueth hyÌ fro tyme to tyme tyll he come to stydstast state / alway therfore I prouyde to suche one of suche thynges / as is behouefull to hym in tyme of nede ¶ How god in the olde testament prouyded the lawe and the prophecyes / and afterwarde he sende his worde by apostels / mar tyrres / and by other holy meÌ / how no thynge falleth in creatures / but that all is the very prouydence of god O Enerally I haue proued / and with the lawe the whiche I dyd gyue vnto Moyses in the olde testameÌt / and with many other holy prophecyes ¶ Also I wyll that thou knowe that before that comynge of my onely sothefaste and swete sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed / the people of the Iewes dyd stonde moche without prophecyes / that the people myghte be enformed with suche prophecy es / hopynge therby that my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu cryste the prophet of all prophettes myghte the soner drawe them out of bondage / bothe them and theyr chyldren / and that also he myghte therby the soner opeÌ to them heuen / whiche so loÌge tyme was shyt fro theÌ Â¶ But after tyme my swete sone came / there roos no prophet ymonge theÌ / that they myght well knowe / that he of whome they dyd prophecy was come / wherfore it was not spedefull that mo prophe tes sholde prophecy of hym to them / all thoughe they knewe hyÌ not / nor wolde not knowe hyÌ for theyr blyÌde nesse ¶ After theÌ I prouyded as I haue sayde that my owne sone sholde come / whiche was youre medyator bytwene me endelesse god and you ¶ After hym came the apostels / martyrs / and doctours / confessoures / all this hathe my prouydence done ordeyned ¶ And as I sayde to the he shall ordeyne and prouyde to the laste daye / that is by generall prouydence gyuen to all reasonable creatures / whiche wyll of that prouydence receyue fruyte ¶ In specyal also al thynges I haue gyuen them bothe lyfe and dethe / in what whyse that euer it come to theÌ / hoÌger / thryst / losse of state iÌ this world / nakednes / colde hete / wroÌge / reprefe / scornes / derysyons ¶ All these I suffer for to fall to theÌ / or for to be sayd to theÌ / and of men / not that I shall make in them malyce of euyll wyll that done euyll and wronge ¶ But the beynge and the tyme that they haue they haue of me / whiche beynge I haue gyue to them / not for they sholde offende me nor theyr neyghbours / but bycause they sholde serue bothe me them with loue and charyte / wherfore I suffer them for to do suche dedes of wronge / or for to preue the vertu of pasyence in the soule whiche receyueth suche wroÌges / or els to make hym knowen that he must haue pasyence / other whyle I suffer that to a ryghte wyse man / all that worlde be coÌtrary / at the laste I make theÌ dye so wonderly / that many men of the worlde wondereth theron / for it semeth to theÌ vnryghtewysely done / so to se a ryghtwyse maÌ peryshe / otherwhyle in water / otherwhyle in fyre / otherwhyle to be deuoured of beestes / otherwhyle I suffer a house to fal vp on theÌ / wherby they lose theyr bodyly lyfe ¶ O how moche out of reason or maner this semeth to theyr eyes / in the whiche eye is no lyghte of very feythe / but all this is no wonder to feythfull folke / for they haue fouÌde tasted by affeccyon of loue in suche greate thynges my prouydeÌce / so he seeth holdeth stydfastly / that with my prouydence onely / all thynges I prouyded I do for that helthe of maÌ / wherfore all thynges he holdeth in reuereÌce / it is not sclauÌdred nother in hyÌselfe nor in his workes / nor also in his neyghbours / but all he ouerpasseth with very pasyence ¶ My prouydence is withdrawe fro no creature / for all thynges ben made for hym / other whyle it semeth to a maÌ that hayle or tempest or dartes that I caste vpon the body of creatures is cruelte / n I couthe not / nor wyll not prouyde to his helthe / and I haue done that for to make hym ascape fro endelesse dethe / but he holdeth the contrary ¶ And so men of the worlde in all thyÌges wyl defoule my workes / and vnderstonde theym after theyr vnderstoÌdyÌge ¶ And here it shall be shewed how that what that euer god suffereth be done to vs / it is onely for our good / and for our soules helthe / and how they be blynded and dysceyued that deme or Iudge the contrary I wyll that thou se dere doughter with how moche pasyence I muste supporte and suffer my creatures / the whiche creatures I haue made and formed to the ymage and lykenes of me / as I haue tolde the with ryght greate swetenesse of loue ¶ Open therfore the eye of thy intelleccyon and beholde on me / and I putte the a certayne specyall case that byfell by a certayne persone / for whom yf thou remembre the well thou dyd praye to me that I sholde prouyde / and I haue prouyded for hym / as thou knowes ryght well / that with oute ony peryl of dethe he hadde his state agayne ¶ And this is a specyall partyculer thynge / in the same wyse generally it is in all maner people ¶ ThaÌ that soule opened the eye of her intelleccyon / and behelde with that parfyte lyghte of holy feyth in his dyuyne mageste with greate loue and longynge desyre / for of his wordes she knewe veryly many thyÌges in his swete prouydence / that she sholde obeye to his byddynge / seynge herselfe in the depenes of his charyte / that he was is moste souerayne endelesse good / that onely of loue he made vs / and rauÌsomed vs with the precyous blode of his sone / that also by the same loue / he gaue to vs all thynges / suffered all thynges for to come to vs / that is bothe trybulacyons coÌfortes / prouydynge theÌ onely to the helthe of man / to none other ende ¶ The blode whiche was shed with so greate fyre of loue / made it knowe to her as she sawe all this / that it was veryly sothe ¶ ThaÌ sayde that hyghe souerayne and endeles fader / suche as can not consyder my prouydence / be blynde in theyr owne proper loue that they haue to theymselfe / swclauÌderyÌge theÌfelfe with moche vnpasyence / I shall nowe speke to the in specyall also in generall of that thyÌge whiche I tolde the / suche as I haue tolde that as deme euyll to theyr owne harme / of that thynge whiche I do of loue for theyr good to auoyde theÌ fro endelesse peynes / for theyr
lucre that they may the soner receyue euerlastyÌge lyfe ¶ And why thaÌ playne they on me ¶ Certayne for they in me haue no hope / but onely in theÌselfe / wherby they come to derkenes and so they knowe / yet they hate that thynge whiche they sholde haue for theyr beste ¶ And as proude folke they deme my pryue domes whiche be ryghte wyse / but they as a blyÌde man that with touchyÌge of his hoÌde or with tastynge of his mouthe / or with sowne of his voyce wyll deme good for yll / yll for good after his feble knowelege ¶ And they wyll not truste in me that am very lyghte / and I it am that bothe bodyly and ghostly noryshe them / for withoute me they maye nothynge haue / and yf it hap otherwhyle that they be serued of ony creature / I am he that haue gyuen to that creature wyll / ablenesse / myghte / and also cunnynge for to serue theÌ Â¶ But he as a blyÌde man the whiche goeth after felynge of his hondes / whiche is dysceyued in his touchyÌge / for he lacketh lyght to Iudge colours / and in the same wyse his taste is dysceyued / and for he maye not se what vnclene beest sytteth bpon his meet / his ere is also dysceyued in delyte of sowne / for he seeth hym not that syngeth / whiche with the same sowne yf he be not well ware by the same delectable sowne maye bytraye hyÌ to that dethe ¶ In this same wyse do they that be made as blynde / lackynge the very lyghte of reason / touchynge with the honde of sencyble felynge delactacyons and pleasures of the worlde semynge to them good but for bycause they do not se / they can not to eschewe perels / for he is a cloth medled with many thornes / with moche wretchednesse / many anguyshes / in somoche that the herte whiche feleth them is withoute me intollerable to hymselfe ¶ In the same wyse also to the mouthe of desyre / that thynge that he loueth inordynately semeth swete in receyuynge / yet vpon the delycacyes there syt vnclene beestes / and many deedly synnes / whiche make the soule vnclene / and so they bothe withdrawe theÌ fer fro my symylytude and lykenesse / and also fro the lyfe of grace ¶ And therfore yf he drawe not nyghe agayne / with the lyghte of very feythe / to that lykenesse and lyfe of grace / for to be clensed with my sones blode / he shal haue endelesse dethe ¶ Herynge is to hym his owne proper delectacyoÌ / of the whiche delectacyon / it semeth to hyÌ that it maketh a swete sowne ¶ Why semeth it so ¶ Certayne for the soule foloweth the loue of his owne proper sensualyte / and bycause he seeth it not / therfore he is dysceyued of the sowne / and also bycause he foloweth hym by vnordynate loue / wher he fyndeth hymselfe in the dytche / bounde with the bonde of synne / ledde in to the hondes of his enemyes ¶ For as a blynde soule by his owne loue / and with hope whiche he putteth iÌ hymselfe / and in his owne cunnynge / he trusteth not to me / that am bothe the leder and the waye of hym / whiche waye is made to hym of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu that sayde thus ¶ I am waye / truthe / lyfe ¶ And he is lyghte / that who that seeth therby shall not be dysceyued / nor walke in derkenesse / ther may none come to me but by hym / for he is one with me / and I with hym ¶ Of hym as I haue sayd to the I made to you a brydge / that ye myght all come to me that am your ende / and yet neuerthelesse for all this / they trust not iÌ me / whiche wyll nothyÌge els haue of theÌ / but theyr holynesse ¶ To this ende with greate loue I gyue them all thynges / and suffer all thynges to fall to them / bothe coÌfortes and trybulacyons / but they euer be sclauÌdred in me / I bere theÌ alwaye and suffer them with pasyence / for or they had ony loue to me / I loued them without theyr loue / they alwaye parsu me with moche inpasyence / hate / grutchynge / and with moche vnfeythefulnesse / wyllynge desyrynge after theyr owne blynde syghte / deme my pryue domes / whiche be all ryghtwyse / and done for loue / and the cause why they deme thus falsely / is for that they knowe not themselfe / for he that knoweth not hymselfe maye not knowe me / nor veryly my ryghtwysenesse ¶ The secoÌde chapyter sheweth how that god prouyded iÌ some specyall case to the soule that falleth ¶ Here god sheweth his prouydence agaynste his creatures in dyuers maners / maketh his coÌpleynte of the vntruth of his creatures / he expouneth a fygure of the olde testament / and sheweth there a profytable doctryne / with other maters / as is rehersed in the kalender Ca. ii DEre doughter yf thou wyl that I shewe the how moche the worlde is dysceyued of my mynysters ¶ Open the eye of thy intelleccyon / beholde iÌ me so shall thou se specyally of hym that I tolde the of / and ryght as I tell the of hym / so maye I tell the generally of other ¶ ThaÌ the soule for to obeye to the endelesse fader / behelde in herselfe with a loue longynge desyre / and than endelesse god shewed to her the dampnacyon of hyÌ by whome that fallynge dyd fortune / sayenge thus to her ¶ I wyll that thou knowe that for to make hym ascape fro this endelesse daÌpnacyon in the whiche thou sees well he was I suffered hym so for to fal / that with his blode he myghte haue lyfe / in the blode of my onely sone Ihesu / for I forgate not the reuerence and the loue whiche he hadde to the swete moder Mary / that moder of my oneli sone sothefast Ihesu / to whome worthely is grauÌted for that reuerence of my sone Ihesu / that who so euer ryght wyse or synner the hathe her in dewe reuerence / he shall not be pulled awaye deuoured of the fende of hell ¶ She is sette and putte as meet of my endelesse goodnes / for to be take to reasonable creatures / the whiche is is done of my greate mercy / not for to cause men therby to do euyll so for to hope in my mercy / for that were rather cruelte thaÌ mercy ¶ And all that causeth a man to do euyll / than to fall / that is nothynge but the loue of hyÌselfe / whiche withdraweth fro hym lyghte / wherfore he maye not knowe my truthe ¶ Yf they wolde / they sholde lyfte vp the cloulde that is before the eye of theyr intelleccyon / than sholde they veryly knowe loue my sothefastnes / and so sholde they haue all thynges in dewe reuerence / and receyue there
of the fruyte in dewe tyme. ¶ But dere doughter be not afrayde / for of hym whome thou does praye for to me / I shall bothe fulfyl thy desyres / and also the desyres of my seruauntes ¶ I am youre god rewarder of all youre labours and trayuayles / and fulfyller of youre holy desyres / so the I myght fynde veryly suche one that truly knocketh with the lyghte of feythe at the gate of my sothefastenesse / that they nother erre nor fayle in the hope of my endelesse prouydence ¶ Here god sheweth his prouydence agaynste his creatures in other dyuers maners / and how he maketh his coÌplaynte of the vntruthe of his creatures / and how he expowneth a fygure of the olde testamente / and he sheweth to vs a profytable doctryn I Haue tolde the of that specyall partyculer fallynge / but now shall I tell the in generall wyse / thou maye neuer se nor knowe howmoch a maÌnes ygnoraunce is / he is withoute ony felynge and knowlege / whaÌ he putteth fro hym the knowlege of me / hopyÌge and trustynge in hymselfe / in his owne knowledge cunnynge ¶ O thou foole and vnwyse man knowes thou not ryghte well / that thou hase not thy owne knowlege of thyselfe It is my goodnesse that hathe gyuen it to the / whiche do prouyde for thy nede necessyte ¶ Of whom hase thou that the whiche thou prouydes in thyselfe / for other whyle thou wolde do a thynge / and thou maye not nor caÌ not do it ¶ Other whyle it happeth that thou hase cunnyÌge / but thou hase no power / other whyle thou hase power and hase no sauour therin / other whyle thou hase no tyme and yf thou hadde tyme yet parauenture thou shold lacke wyll ¶ All this is gyue to the of me for thy helthe that thou shold knowe thyselfe nought / and haue the more mater of mekenes / and not of pryde / wherby thou fyndes in all thynge chaungynge / pryuacyon / for they dwel not in thy lyberte and fredome ¶ Neuerthelesse onely my grace is stable stydfast / whiche maye not be take away fro the nor chaunged / that is not for to be departed fro that grace and turne to synne / yf thou thy selfe take it not awaye fro yt. ¶ Therfore how maye thou lyfte up thy heed so lenynge on thyselfe to me endelesse goodnesse ¶ Certayne thou maye not yf thou wyll lyfte it vp to me / thou may nother hope iÌ thyselfe / nor trust in thy cunnynge / but bycause thou arte made a beest wtout reason / thou maye not knowe and se that all thynges chauÌgen outrake my grace onely why dyd thou not truste in me that am thy maker / but rather trust in thyselfe Am I not to the trewe and feytheful ¶ Yes certayne it is not vnknow en to the / for thou hase proued it contynually ¶ O dere doughter / AdaÌ the fyrste man was not trewe to me and feytheful / for he forfeted my obedyence / whiche I put to hym / by the whiche he dyed / but I was trewe to hym / conseruynge and kepynge hyÌ to that thyÌge / for the whiche I made hym / wyllynge for to gyue to hym endelesse good / for to fulfyll this / I oned my godheed that is my souerayne heyghte with the insyrmyte of his manheed / whaÌ he was rauÌsomed and restored by grace / by medyacyoÌ of the blode of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu ¶ This he prouyded wel / and hadde it in experyente / but it semeth that they byleuen not / that I am myghty for to helpe theÌ / stronge for to socour them / and for to defende them fro theyr enemyes / wyse for to yllumyne the intelleccyon of theyr ghostly eye / nor that I haue no mylde mekenesse for to gyue theÌ suche thyÌges as is nedetul to theyr helthe / nor that I am not ryche for to make them ryche / nor that I am not fayre for to gyue them fayrenes / nor that I haue not meet for to fede them / nor clothes for to araye them / theyr workes do showe that they by leue not this / for yf they byleued it veryly / they sholde be full of good workes holy prayers / yet neuerthelesse they haue it in experyence they proue it contynually that I am stronge / whiche kepe theÌ in beynge and defende theÌ fro theyr enemyes / and they se well there maye none wtstonde my myghte and strengthe / yet they se it not / for they wyll not se it / with my myghte and strengthe I of my goodnessehaue ordeyned gouerned and sette iÌ suche a kynde all that worlde / that nothynge lacketh ther in / and no man maye put more to / than I haue put ¶ I haue also prouyded for the soule and for that body / all thyÌge that is nedefull therto / not coacte and constrayned for to do it by youre wyll / for ye were not but onely coate of my myldenes mekenesse that is to saye I made all thyÌge by myfelfe / as it is erthe / see / and the fyrmameÌt / that is heueÌ for to moue and styrre aboue you / the erthe by the whiche ye maye respyre and brethe / fyre water that one contrary myghte be teÌporate with another contrary / the sonne that he dwell not in derkenesse / so that all thynges be made ordeyned for to helpe the necessyte of men / heueÌ whiche is called the ayre I haue arayed with byrdes / the erthe bryngeth forthe fruytes and beestes theron for mannes lyuynge / the see is arayed with fysshe / all these thynges I haue made in theyr kynde with greate prouydence ¶ After tyme I hadde made all these thynges good and parfyte / than made I reasonable creature to the ymage and lykenesse of me / and sende hym in to the orcharde / whiche orcharde by the synÌe of Adam hathe brought forthe thornes / where fyrste it broughte forthe floures of swete smellynge innosency ¶ All these than obeyed to man / but for synne inobedyence in whiche he fell in / he founde in hymself rebellyon with all creatures / so maÌ and the worlde were wylde / than I prouyded for hym in this wyse / I sende my onely sothefast sone Ihesu in to the worlde for to take incarnacyon / so to auoyde the infecundyte and baraynesse of maÌkynde / to take fro hym the thornes of orygynall synne / and made of the man a maner of orcharde / spryncled with the blode of cryste crucyfyed / settynge therin plantes of the seuen gyftes of that holy ghoste / takyÌge out of hym deedly synne ¶ And all this was done after the dethe of my sone / and not before / as it was fygured in the olde testament / whan Elyse was prayed for to reyse a yonge chylde fro dethe to lyfe / yet wolde he not go thyder / but he
sende Gyezy with his staffe / sayeÌge to hym thus / that he sholde laye the staffe aboue the chyldes backe ¶ Gyezy wente forthe and dyde as Elyse badde hyÌ / but the yonge chylde arose not ¶ Than Elyse sawe that the chylde rose not / he wente thyder hymselfe parsonally / and conformed hym in all thynges to the chylde / with all his lymmes / and he brethed vpon the chylde seuen tymes / in token that he sholde aryse ¶ This also was fygured by Moyses / whom with the staffe of the lawe I sende vpon the deed lyues of mankynde / by that lawe it myghte receyue no lyfe ¶ I sende than my sonr whiche is fygured by Elyse that conformed hym to that deed chylde by vnyon of dyuyne nature of manheed / so that with all maner of lymmes of maÌkyÌde this dyuyne nature oned hym and knytte hym / that is with the myghte of me / with the wysedome of my sone / and with the mylde mekenesse of the holy ghost / and so all the depenes of my godheed in trynyte was conformed and oned with youre nature of manheed ¶ After this vnyon / my onely sone Ihesu and well byloued sothefastenesse made another vnyon that is to saye he ranne as he hadde be rauyshed in loue to the moste reprouable dethe of the crosse / where he pressed hymselfe downe / by the whiche pressyon he grauÌted to this deed chylde that is mankynde by inspyracyon of holy brethynge / the seuen gyftes of the holy ghost / brennynge in the mouthe of holy desyre of the soule / takynge awaye fro hym dethe by holy baptym ¶ He bretheth in token that he hathe lyfe / throwynge out of mankynde the seuen deedly synnes / and thus is this orcharde made with swete fruyte ¶ Neuerthelesse the Gardyner of this orcharde whiche is fre chose may make this orcharde wylde yf he wyl / for yf he sowe therin venym of his owne proper loue / for the whiche all the seuen deedly synnes do sprynge and many other synnes whiche come out of these ¶ He putteth than awaye therby the gyftes of the holy ghoste / and so depryueth hyÌ fro al vertu / there is no streÌgthe for he is made all feble / there is also nother temporaunce nor prudence / for he hathe loste the lyghte wherw t he vsed reason / ther is nother feythe nor hope nor ryghtwysenesse / for he is made vnryghtwyse / he hopeth in hymselfe / and byleueth with deed frythe to hymselfe / he trusteth in creatures / trusteth not in me his maker / there is nother charyte nor pyte / for by hymselfe with the loue of his owne freylte is made to hym cruell / wherfore he maye nother be pyteous to his neyghbour nor to hymselfe / he is depryued fro all good / he is fall in to an euyll / howe maye suche one haue lyfe ¶ Certayne of this Elyse / that is of my onely incarnate sothefaste sone Ihesu ¶ How ¶ That the Gardyner of maÌkynde sholde dystrye the thornes of synne with his hate / for yf he had neuer synne in hate / he myghte neuer drawe theÌ out of his orcharde / and than with loue he muste renne / and with loue for to conforme hym with the doctryne of my truthe / medlyÌge the same doctryne with the blode / whiche is layde vpon his heed of my mynyster whaÌ he goeth to confessyon / with hertely contrycyon / dysplesaunce of synne / and with satysfaccyon and purpose neuer to offende / and in this wyse he maye renewe this orcharde of the soule whyle he lyueth / for after the tyme that he is passeth oute of this worlde / he maye gette no remedy / as I haue tolde the in many places before ¶ How god prouydeth for vs that we haue trybulacyons for the helthe of oure soules / and of the mysery of them that haue truste in theÌselfe / not in the prouydence of god THus thou knowes that with my prudence / the seconde worlde whiche is called man I haue made hym able to the endelesse worlde / fyrste he broughte forthe thornes of many trybulacyons / and so in all thynges he fonde rebellyon ¶ This was neuer done withoute my prouydence / but with my greate prouydence and for youre profyte / that the hope of the worlde sholde be take awaye fro hyÌ / and thaÌ for to renu and set his pace for to come to me / whiche am his ende ¶ And so at the laste by suche inportunyte of greuaunce for to remoue his herte and affeccyon fro it ¶ And neuerthelesse a maÌ is so vncunnynge / that he can not knowe this truthe / and so frayle for to sprede hyÌ abrode in the worlde / that not withstondynge suche labours thornes by the whiche he was prycked in the worlde / it semeth that he wyll not auoyde fro theym / nor he taketh no thoughte thoughe he come not to his owne cuÌtre the blysse of heuen ¶ What trowes thou doughter he wolde do thaÌ yf he fouÌde in the worlde euer delectacyoÌ rest wtoute peyne ¶ Lo all this I fuffer them for to do by my prouydence / and I graunte that the worlde burgyne to theÌ many trybulacyoÌs / that vertues may be proued ymonges them / and for the peyne and vyolence that they do to theÌselfe / I haue cause for to rewarde them ¶ Thus in all thynges / my greate prouydence with wysdome hathe prouyded ordeyned for theÌ / I haue gyueÌ them that they haue / for as I sayde I am ryche / and I maye gyue them ¶ My ryches be infynyte / for al thynges be made of me / withoute me maye nothynge be / for yf he wyll haue fayrenesse / I am fayrenesse / benygnyte / pyteous / ryghtewyse / and mercyable god / I am large and no nygarde / I am he that graunte to the asker his reasonable askynge / and open veryly to the knocker / and I answere to hym that calleth me ¶ I am not vnkynde / but full of kyndenesse / ¶ I rewarde hym that laboureth for me / that is for glory laude of my name ¶ I am he that is iorunde and mery / the whiche kepe a soule in ghostly gladnesse / that arayeth herselfe with my wyll ¶ I am that hyghe prouydence that neuer fayleth my seruauÌtes / the whiche hope in me / nother body nor soule ¶ Why wyl not a man byleue in me / the seeth how I fede that worme in the drye tree / brute beestes in the felde / fysshes in the see / and al other beestes bothe of the erthe and of the ayre vpon the plaÌtes of the worlde / I sende reyne sonne for to make that erth fatte / and he byleueth not that I noryshe it / whiche is my creature ¶ Sythen it is so that all this is done for the seruyce of man of my endelesse goodnesse / for on what syde he turneth hym be he spyrytual or temporall he fyndeth
none other thyÌge than fyre of my endelesse charyte / the greate depenesse of my very swete prouydence he seeth not this for fro hyÌselfe he hathe take awaye lyghte / so taketh no thought to be blynde / wherfore he sclaundereth hymselfe / refrenyÌge charyte aneÌdes his neyghbours / and so with Auaryce and nygardeshyp he thynketh how he shallyue on the morowe / whiche is forbydde hyÌ of my sothefaste sone Ihesu / where he saythe thus ¶ ThyÌke not on the morowe on nygardenesse and Auaryce / for the malyce and the besynesse of the daye / is suffycyent and ynoughe for hyÌselfe ¶ Of this here he repreueth you of youre infydelyte / shewynge to you my prouydence and shortenesse of tyme / sayenge thus ¶ Thynke not on that morowe as thoughe my sothefast sone sayde thus thynke not on that thynge wherof you be not syker / and he techeth you fyrst the kyngedome of heuen / that is good and holy lyuyÌge / for I knowe well of these small thyÌges ye haue nede / therfore I haue bydde and commaunded the erthe to gyue you of his fruyees ¶ This wretche whiche that of his mysse trust hathe restreyned his herte and his hoÌdes fro charite of his neyghbour / hathe not redde this doctryne that my sone hathe gyue hym / bycause he foloweth not his steppes / he is intollerable to hymselfe / oute of this truste in hymselfe / and mysse truste in me / cometh all maner euyll ¶ Also they make themselfe Iudges of other mennes wylles / they se not that I shal Iudge them not they / my wyll they vnderstonde not nor Iudge it goodly ¶ But whan ony prosperyte or delectacyoÌ or plesauÌce of the worlde falleth to them / what that fayleth to them in whiche al theyr affeccyon and hope was sette / than they can nother sauoure nor fele nor receyue my êuydeÌce nor none other maner goodes / but theÌ semeth they be depryâed fro all maner of good / bycause that they be blyÌded of theyr owne proper passyon / they knowe not the rychesse whiche is within my prouydence / nor the very fruyte of pasyeÌce / but rather therby they tast dethe / and the ernesse or sykernesse of hell in this lyfe / and yet not wtstondyÌge this I cees not / but that I prouyde for them / for I bydde the erthe that he gyue to a synÌer of his fruyte / as he gyueth to a ryghtwyse man / and so to his feeldes I sende sonne reyne / as I do to a ryghtewyse maÌnes feelde / and oftentymes a synâer hathe more than a ryghtwyse man ¶ This do the my goodnesse / for I wyll that the soule of a ryghtewyse man be fulfylled more with ghostly rychesse / than with temporall rychesse / in asmoche as for my loue he hathe spoyled hyÌselfe fro teÌporall goodes / forsakynge the worlde with all his delyces / also his owne wyll ¶ These be those that make theyr soules fat / in spredynge themselfe abrode in the depenesse of my charyte / and they forgote the charge of themselfe / for not onely of the delyces of the worlde they sholde no charge haue / but also no charge haue of themselfe ¶ ThaÌ to suche I am veryly made theyr gouernaunce / bothe bodyly and ghostly / and I vse in them one specyall prouydeÌce aboue other general prouydences / for my mylde mekenesse of the holy ghoste puruayeth for suche as serue hym ¶ This thou knowes well yf thou remeÌber the by redynge of lyues of holy faders as vitas patrum and suche other / for whan a certayne solytary man was seke / in asmoche as he veryly forsoke hymselfe hooly for ioye and praysynge of my name / my mylde mekenesse prouyded for hym / and I sende an angell for to gouerne hym / and for to putuaye for his necessyte / his body was so releued in his nede / and his soule was fulfylled with meruaylous ioye and swetenesse of the angels conuersacyon ¶ The holy ghost to suche one is a moder noryshynge hyÌ at the breste of my dyuyne charyte / he hathe made hym fre as a lorde / by puttynge fro hym the bondage thraldome of his owne propre loue ¶ For where the charyte of my fyre is / there maye be no water of that loue whiche quencheth this swete fyre in the soule ¶ This mynyster that is the holy ghoste / whome I haue gyuen to them by my prouydence / arayeth them / norysheth them / and maketh them ghostly drunke with my swetenesse / gyuyÌge to theÌ grete rychesse / for iÌ that he hathe lefte all / he fyndeth all ¶ And for bycause also he hathe all spoyled hymselfe of hymselfe / he fonde hymselfe all aray ed with me / he hathe made hymselfe a seruauÌte of mekenesse / and therfore he is made a lorde to the worlde and to his owne sensualyte / and for he hathe all blynded hyÌselfe iÌ his owne syghte / he dwelleth in parfyte lyght mystrustynge hymselfe / and with quycke feythe he is corowned / and with parfyte and ful hope he tasteth euerlastyÌge lyfe / de parted fro peyne and bytternesse that myghte turment hym ¶ All thyÌges he Iudgeth for the beste / for in all thynges he Iudgeth my wyll asmoche as he maye se by the lyghte of feythe / and I desyre nor wyll nothynge elles of hym but holynesse / therfore he is made pascyente ¶ O how blessyd is suche a soule / that yet dwellyÌge in that deedly body tasteth vndeedly good / all thynge suche a soule hathe in reuereÌce / his lyfte hoÌde weyeth asmoche and as truly as his ryghte honde / asmoche he chargeth trybulacyoÌ as he dothe comforte / asmoche honger as he dothe thyrst / asmoche meet as he dothe drynke / asmoche colde as he dothe hete / asmoche scarsyte of clothes as he dothe pleynte pf clothes / asmoche lyfe as he dothe deeth / asmoche worshyp as he dothe shame / and asmoche turmente as he dothe romforte and solace ¶ In all thynges he is stydfast and stable / for he is grouÌded vpon a quycke stone / he knoweth well and seeth with lyght of feythe and stydfast hope / that I gyue al thynges with one maner loue and one maner be holdynge that is for youre helthe / and in all thynges I prouyde / for in greate laboure I gyue greate strengthe / and I gyue a maÌ nomore for to bere thaÌ he may bere / so that he wyl bere it for my loue ¶ In the blode of my sone it is well knowen to you / that I wyll not the dethe of a synner / but I wyl that he he turne to hym and lyue / for his lyfe I gyue hym that is nedefull for hym ¶ Suche a soule so dysposed fro herselfe / ioyeth in all suche thynges that she feleth or seeth of me in her selfe or iÌ ony other / she doubteth not that smal thynges shal fayle to her / for with the
in delyces / rychesse / states of that worlde / but my owne loue coÌstrayneth me / for I loued you or that ye loued me / I loued you meruaylously / that it is whiche coÌstrayneth me / also the prayers of my seâuauÌtes / by the mylde mekenes of that holy ghost / that mynystreth to theÌ the worshyp of me loue of theyr neyghbours / by the whiche they serche helth of theyr soules with meruaylous charyte / besyenge theÌ to please me / and to bynde my hoÌdes of dyuyne ryghtewysenesse whiche a wycked maÌ deserued to haue / thus I am coÌstrayned with meke waylynge coÌtynuall prayer ¶ Who maketh theÌ so for to crye ¶ My prouydeÌce / for I prouyded to the nede of this deed creature / iÌ asmoche as it is sayde of me thus Nolo morteÌ c. I wyll not the the dethe of a synner / but I wyl that he be tourned lyue ¶ In thy soule also dere doughter thou sees my prouydeÌce / yf thou opeÌ the eye of thy soule / that wycked meÌ whiche ly iÌ so greate mysery / that be made stynkynge fylthe of dethe / derke by wantynge of lyght of grace / for they go syÌgyÌge laughynge speÌdynge theyÌr tyme with vanytes / in delyces / in greate vnhonestes / waÌtayne in all thynges / greate glotoÌs / eters dryÌkers so ferforth that of theyr wombes they make theyr god / with hate / raÌcoure / pryde / they go also with all wretchednesse as I haue tolde the in another place they do not knowe theyr owne astate / for they walke in suche awaye that wyll brynge theÌ to the dethe euerlastynge / but yf they ameÌde them in theyr lyuynge go more warely ¶ It were a greate foly for a maÌ that were coÌdeÌpned to the dethe to go syngynge dauÌsyng as he gothe by the way towarde his dethe / shold it not as thou thynkes yes certayne ¶ In suche foly ben suche wretches / in somoche the more wtout ony coÌparyson that they receyue more harme thaÌ they that is peyne of the dethe of soule whiche is more thaÌ the peyne of the body / suche lose that lyfe of grace / they but lyfe of body / such receyue endeles peyne / they but peyne that is fynyte / thus they dye in state of daÌpnacyoÌ / they go thyder syngynge / blynde / fooles / fooles aboue all other fooles / my seruauÌtes be in the state of waylynge wepiÌge / in afflyccyon tourmeÌt of body iÌ holy wakynges / in coÌtynuall prayer with syghynges sobbyÌges / makyÌge theyr bodyes lene for the helthe of theyr soules ¶ But suche syngers as be rehersed before / they scorne all suche and theyr owne scornes fal on theyr proper heeddes / whan they be in peyne / to them that labour for the loue of me / shall be gyueÌ fruyte of theyr labour in the blysse of heueÌ / whiche my owne endeles goodnes haue made hyÌ for to dyscerne / for I god the fader am ryghtwyse / that yelde to eche after his labour / but sothely my seruauÌtes cesse not / nother for êsecucyoÌs / scornes / nor vnkyndenes of theÌ / but rather they encrese in more desyre ghostly excercyse ¶ Who maketh this that they knocke with so greate hoÌger at the gate of my mercy ¶ My êuydeÌce that maketh me prouyde to that helthe of these wretches / to encrese vertu the fruyte of loue charyte in seruauntes ¶ These maners of my prouydences be infynyte whiche I vse in the soule of a synner / that I myghte therby drawe hym out fro that trespas of deedly synÌe ¶ Now shall I speke to the of suche that be rysen fro synne / what my prouydeÌce dothe in theÌ / yet be vnparfyte / I shall not declare that agayne by repetycyon the state of the soule / for therof I haue told the by order / but shortli somwhat shall I saye yt. ¶ Of the prouydeÌce whiche god vseth ordeyneth / for theÌ that be vnparfyte in loue Wyll thou knowe dere doughter what maner I vse for to arayse an vnêfyte soule fro her imêfeccyoÌ / other whyle I êuyde to her of many dyuers thoughtes / brynge hre somtyme in to baraynes of soule / oftetymes it semeth to suche that be forsake of me vtterly / for they fele nothyÌge ghostly / they thynke they be not in the worlde / outtake that they fele this / that his wyll wyll not offeÌde me / this gate of wyll whiche is fre / I wyll not suffer ghostly enemyes to vndo it / but yet I gyue theÌ leue bothe fendes other enemyes / that they maye smyte at al other gates / but not at this the whiche is the pryncypall gate / whiche kepeth the cytee of the soule / neuerthelesse the soule hathe a keper that is fre chose whiche dwelleth at that gate / for this cause I haue made fre chose keper of that gate / the after hyÌ the gate be opened / as he wyll so be it done or not done ¶ There be many gates loÌgynge to that cytee / but princypally there be .iij. of whome there is one whiche euer holdeth hyÌ closed shyt yf he wyl / is the keper of all the other gates / these iij. gates be these / myÌde / intelleccyon / wyl / but that specyal gate whiche I speke of is wyll / for yf wyll coÌsent thaÌ by that gate entreth the enemy of êpre loue / other enemyes that folowe hyÌ / thaÌ intelleccyoÌ receyueth dethenesse / whiche is the enemy of lyght / the myÌde receyueth hate kepeth it / thyÌkynge vpon that iniuryes wroÌges / whiche gate is the enemy of loue of charite of neyghbourheed ¶ It receyueth also kepeth delectacyoÌs of that worlde in dyuers maners / after dyuersyte of synnes / whiche be contrary to vertu ¶ After tyme that these gates be thus opened / the smal dores of the bodyly wyrtes be opened / whiche be instrumeÌtes answerynge to the soule / for thou knowes well the that mysruled affeccyoÌ of maÌ that hathe his gates open / answereth with these instrumeÌtes / whose workes be desyled / the eye of suche an vnordynate affeccyoÌ bryÌgeth none other thyÌge thaÌ dethe / for it seeth nothyÌge els but deed thyÌges vnordynately / where he sholde not ¶ Suche vanyte of herte lyghtenes with other vnhonestes / is cause of ghostly dethe / bothe to hyÌ to other ¶ O wretched man the eye whiche I I haue gyueÌ the for to beholde heueÌ other fayrenes of creatures for me so to se behold my mynysters / thou be holdes rather fylthe in wretchednes of lyuyÌge / so wynnes dethe / in the same wyse the ere delyteth in dyshonest thynges / other to here the dedes of thy neyghbours by false domes / where I wolde thou herde me / the necessite of thy neyghbour
other meane wherby they myghte she we very loue to me thaÌ by that but al other meanes by the whiche it maye be shewed that they loue me / is set vpon the pryncypall meane of a reasonable creature as I haue sayde to the before where I tolde the that euery good dede must be done vy medyacyon and meane of thy euen crysten / and euery good worke also / for there maye no good be do / but in the charyte of me and of thy neyghboure / but it be do in that charyte / it may be called no good / thoughe the dedes of them be vertuous / and iif the same wyse euery euyl dede is doone by this meane / that is by pryuacyon of charyte ¶ Thus thou sees well that in this meane whiche I haue put to you / êfeccyon is shewed and pure loue whiche they haue to me euer procurynge the helthe of theyr noyghbours with moche sufferauÌce pascyence / therfore I purge them that they maye brynge forthe more and sweter fruyte with moche trybulacyon ¶ Here pascyence casteth to me ryghte good and swete smell / o how swete is this fruyte bow profytable to the soule / for she suffereth without synne / whiche pascyence yf she veryly se it / ther is no creature but that she wolde serche with greate besynes and ioye for to suffer / wherfore I prouyded for to put to them the charges of greate labours / that I myghte gyue them this greate tresoure of paseyence / also that the vertu of the same pascyence waxe not rusty in suche wronges and labours / so that whaÌ tyme cometh that it be nede for to proue the same pascyence / and it shall be fouÌde rusty with the ruste of pryue vnpascyence whiche freteth the soule / somtyme I vse in suche a maner of a plesaunte desyre that they maye the better be kepte in the vertu of mekenesse / for in the tyme of aduersyte I shall make theyr felynges slepe / that it shall seme to them bothe in wyll and in felynge / that no maner trybulacy on nor aduersyte greueth theÌ not / for they fele it not / but as parsones that were aslepe I say not as deed parsones for the sensyble felynge slepeth in a parfyte soule / but it dyeth not / for assoone as they leue deuoute excercyse and the fyre of holy desyre / anone trybulacyons and aduersytes waken them as sore as it was wonte to do / therfore a man that trusteth in this maye be as parfyte as he wyll / but yet it is ryght spedefull for hyÌ that he dwell alwaye stydfastly in my holy drede / for many that trusteÌ in theÌ selfe do fall full wretchedly / whiche sholde not fall yf they put awaye that truste / and therfore I saye in suche that be so occupyed in ghostly excercyse the felynge of them slepeth / for thoughe they bere grete burthons / it semed to them that they fele it not and without grutchynge / of the whiche afterwarde whaÌ they haue lefte theyr ghostly excercyses / they sholde wonder that they dyd not fele none of theyr burthoÌs / this dothe my prouydence that suche a soule myghte encrese and go in the waye of mekenesse / for than suche a soule wysely ryseth vp aboue herselfe / not sparynge herselfe / but with holy hate rebukynge she chastyseth her owne felynge / whiche chastysynge is nothynge els / but for to make it slepe more parfytely ¶ Otherwhyle also I prouyded ordeyned to my grete and ryght specyal seruauÌtes in this wyse ¶ I leue to them a certayne pryckynge / as I dyd to my swete apostell Paule that chosen vessell of eleccyon / to whome whan he had receyued that doctryne of my sones sothefaste truthe in the depenesse of me endelesse fader / yet I lefte with hym a prycke dyuers impugnacyons and conflyctes of his flesshe / where that I myght not nor yet maye not / bothe to Paule and to other of my worthy seruauÌtes / in whom I haue leâte a prycke by dyuers maners / that they sholde not haue it / Ihesus certayne Why thaÌ dothe my êuydeÌce so ¶ Certayne for they shold the more deserue mede / and be kepte in theyr owne knowlege / by the whiche knowlege they wynne very mekenesse / also that they may therby be mylde and meke to theyr neyghbours and not cruell for to haue compassyon of theyr laboure / for they haue moche more compassyon of theÌ that be troubled and dyseased / yf they suffer dysease themselfe / than yf they hadde none / and also they encrese in more loue / bycause they be so anoynted with very mekenesse brenned in the seruyce of my dyuyne charyte ¶ Thus with these maners and other mo infynyte wyses / they come to parfyte vnyon as I haue tolde the before in somoche vnyon and knowlege of my goodnesse / that not wtstoÌdynge they stonde in theyr deedly body / yet they fele and tast the endelesse good of vndeedlynesse / for thoughe they be in the pryson of the body / yet they thynke that they be out of the body ¶ And bycause they knowe moche of me / they loue me moche / and he that loueth moche soroweth moche / for to whome loue encreaseth / sorowe also encreaseth / in the whiche peynes and sorowes / they dwell not in wronges that be done to them / nor iÌ sorowes for bodyly peynes / nor for heuynesse done to them by sendes / nor for none other peynâ that maye come to them / but onely they sorowe for the offence whiche is done to me / seynge and knowynge the I am worthy to be loued serued ¶ And also they sorowe for the harme that falleth to soules / seynge them fall into the derkenesse of the worlde / so dwellynge abydynge in the same blyndenesse / for in that vnyoÌ whiche he hathe made in me by affeccyon of loue / he knoweth and beholdeth in me howmoche he loueth my creature / and in suche beholdynge that she seeth the a reasonable creature representeth my ymage / she is ther with rapte by loue for the loue of me / by the whiche loue she feleth an vntollerable peyne whan she seeth suche creatures be fere sro my goodnes / those peynes be so greate / that all other peynes be the lesse and fayle in the same / of whome he recketh neuer nor careth therfore / for he fareth as thoughe it were not he that receyueth suche trybulacyons ¶ Why is that ¶ For I prouyde for theÌ Â¶ Wher with ¶ With she wynge to them clere syghte and knowlege of myselfe as it maye be in this lyfe in the whiche syghte I shewe them wyckednesse and mysery of the worlde and dampnacyon of soules in comune in specyall with greate bytternessr of themselfe / as it is lykynge to my goodnesse for to shewe them / so for to encrese the more in loue and in peyne / and that also they
crye to me with stydfast hope / and with the lyghte of holy feythe so prycked / and with the fyre of my desyre / for to haue helpe of me / and that I wolde releue them in suche nedes ¶ Also I proued with my dyuyne prouydence for to releue helpe the worlde / sufferynge myselfe to be coÌstrayned of peynfull / swete / and longynge desyres of my seruauntes / noryshynge them encresynge theÌ therby in to more parfyte knowlege and vnyoÌ of me ¶ Thus thou may se how I prouyde to these parfyte folke in dyuers wyses many wayes / for alwaye as longe as ye lyue / ye be able to encrese iÌ state of parfeccyon / and for to deserue mede / therfore I purge them fro all theyr proper vnordynate loue spyrytuall and temporall / and gyue them drynke with the chalyce of many trybulacyons / for to make theÌ to haue the more parfyte fruye as it is sayde before and that greate trybulacyoÌ whiche they suffer / seynge me offended and fooles pryued fro grace / all the lesse felynge is quenched in somoche that all the labours that they maye suffer iÌ this lyfe / they hold it for nought and by that they charge asmoche trybulacyons as they do coÌfortes / for they seke nothynge theyr owne coÌfortes / they loue not me for no rewarde / nor for theyr owne loue / but they seke the glory / laude / honour of my name ¶ Dere doughter sees thou not now / that in euery reasonable creture I extende vse my prouydeÌce in many places / and in infynyte places with meruaylous wyses / vnknowen of men of derke lyuyÌge / for theyr derkenesse maye not receyue suche lyght / but onely they that haue lyght / and knowe parfytely vnparfytely after the parfeccyon of the lyghte y they haue / whiche lyghte is wonne goteÌ by knowlege that a soule hathe of herselfe / wherby it is araysed to lyght / hatyÌge most parfytely derkenesse ¶ A shorte repetycyon of the foresayde wordes / and how god speketh afterwarde of that worde whiche cryste sayde to Peter Mittite rethe ad dexteraÌ parteÌ nauis inuenietis That is to say / caste ye the nette on the ryghe syde of the shyppe / and ye shall fynde I Haue tolde that how that I prouyded for my seruauntes / and how I haue tolde the bothe generall specyall / fyrst I tolde the of the blessyd sacrameÌt how I proued it and by what maner for to make the honger of the soule encrese / how I procure wtin the felynge of the soule to theÌ grace / ymynystred by that meane of that blessyd mynyster the holy ghost / to a wycked maÌ for to reduce hym the soner to grace / to an vnêfyte maÌ for to bryÌge hyÌ the soner to grace / to êfyte meÌ that they maye the more gracyously encrese / that êfeccyon myghte growe in theÌ / for they be able to encrese be they neuer so êfyte / also I prouyde for theÌ / that they may be good êfyte meanes bytwene me maÌ / whiche is fall to me in warre endeles god / for yf thou remeÌbre the wel / thou knowes well that I haue tolde the the with meane medyacyoÌ of my seruauÌtes I wylshewe mercy to the worlde / with suche sufferauÌce of theÌ / I shal reforme my spouse holy chyrche / certayne all suche maye well be called another cryst crucyfyed / for lyke as cryst my sone toke vpoÌ hym the peyne of thou crosse for maÌnes helthe / tyght so they take vpoÌ theÌ his offyce / for he came as a meane bytwene maÌ and me / for to dystroye batayle warre bytwene vs both / for to recouÌseyle maÌ to be iÌ peas by moche sufferauÌce vnto the cruell dethe of that crosse / in the same wyse these gone as all for turmeÌted by coÌpassyoÌ / makyÌge theÌselfe meanes with holy prayers / good holy coÌuersacyoÌ for theyr wyckednesse bytwene me theÌ Â¶ All suche done shyne ymoÌge synners as precyous stones of verttu / beryÌge supportyÌge with pascyence defautes of theÌ / they be my hokes wherby I wynne soules / they also throwe forthe theyr nette vpon the ryght hoÌde not vpoÌ that lyfte hoÌde / as my soly sothefast sone Ihesu bad Peter other dysciples after the resurreccyoÌ Â¶ For the lyste hoÌde that is theyr owne loue is deed iÌ theÌ / but the ryght hoÌde lyueth by a maner of very clere swete dyuyne loue / with the whiche loue they caste forthe the nette of holy desyre iÌ to me the am that peaseable see / ryghte as it was in the story whan Peter other that were with hym drewe his nette / it was fouÌde so full of fyssh / that they called for helpe of theÌ of the other shyppe ¶ In the same wyse whaÌ they drawe theyr nette of holy desyre / they catche so greate copy of yte of fyssh that is of soules that it is spedefull for theÌ to call a felowe to theÌ for to helpe theÌ to drawe vp that nette / for one a lone maye not do it / therfore bothe in castyÌge in drawynge vp / they must nedes haue felyshyppe / that is of very mekenesse they call theyr neyghbours by loue ¶ Peter as I sayde his felyshyp dyd aske helpe for to drawe vp these fysshes of soules / in the same wyse it is sothe in my parfyte seruauÌtes / as thou hase well êued / for them semeth it is so greate a burthon for to drawe these soules whiche be take in that nette of theyr desyres / that they call and crye after felyshyppe / for they wolde that euery reasonable creature sholde helpe them / holdynge themselfe with mekenes vnworthy without theyr helpe / therfore they cry after helpe / thaÌ they drawe vp soules greate pleÌte / thoughe some for theyr owne defautes lepe out of the nette and wyl not abyde therin / the nette of desyre receyueth all / for an hoÌgry soule of my worshyp holdeth her not apayde for to haue one êty / but she wolde haue all / she seketh good that it maye helpe her to caste fysshe iÌ to her nette / for to kepe theÌ therin to the encrese of theyr parfeccyoÌ / she sercheth vnparfyte people for to helpe to make theÌ parfyte / bad to be made good / vnfeytheful mysbyleuers also men lyuyÌge in derkenes of synne / wtoute the feythe of baptym of holy chyrche / to be made feythefull to receyue the feythe of holy baptym ¶ Suche a soule wolde haue all people / of what state or what coÌdycyoÌ that they be / for they coÌsyder and se all how they be made of my goodnesse in my greate fyre of loue / rauÌsomed by the blode of my sone cryste crucyfyed ¶ And thus thou maye well knowe that suche a soule receyueth taketh all iÌ the nette
of her holy desyre / but yet as it is sayde before / many of them go oute of the nette / whiche go away fro grace by theyr owne defautes / both mysbyloued people other that lyue iÌ deedly synnes / yet neuertheles they be in that nette by coÌtynuall prayer / for yf a soule passe awaye fro me by her owne trespas / fro loue coÌuersacyon that she sholde haue to my seruauÌtes / also fro the dewe tyme reuereÌce of theÌ / yet sholde not affeccyoÌ of charyte be lessed nor mynyshed agaynste theÌ / for swete desyrous soules haue caste that nette of holy desyre vpoÌ the ryght syde ¶ O dere doughter I wolde thou wolde coÌsyder the acte that my gloryous apostell Peter dyd / as my onely sothefaste sone made hym do / whan he badde hyÌ throwe his nette in to the see / whiche acte is coÌteyned in the holy gospel / thaÌ myght thou knowe what Peter sayde to hym ¶ What sayde he ¶ Peter answered agayne to my sone thus / all this nyghte we haue laboured iÌ fysshynge toke no thynge / but nowe in this worlde I shall caste my nette / whan that was done / they caughte so grete copyosyte multytude that they called to theyr felowes in the other shyp for to come helpe them ¶ Doughter yf this fygure was sothe as the gospell saythe yet it is fygured to the as I haue sayde I wyll that thou knowe that all mysteryes that my onely sothefast sone / other to the worlde / or to his dyscyples / or els wtout his dysciples shewed / be fygured wtin the soules of my seruauÌtes / that in al suche mysteryal fygures ye maye haue a rule a doctryne / wherin ye maye beholde with lyght of reason / so that bothe to boystyous parsones also to clere wytted êsones / whiche haue a depe infynyte intelleccyon / it maye so tourne by ensample so that bothe may haue theyr parte yf they wyll ¶ I tolde the that Peter by the coÌmauÌdyment of my sones wordes cast his nette / in that he was obedyent / byleuynge with quycke feythe for to haue myght power to catche fysshe / therfore he toke many / but not in the tyme of nyghte ¶ Knowes thou well what the tyme of the nyghte meaneth ¶ It is nothynge els but the derke nyghte of deedly synne / whaÌ a soule is depryued fro the lyghte of grace / in this nyghte is nothynge take / for he casteth not his nette of affeccyon in the quycke see but in the deed see where synne is founde whiche is ryght noughte / therfore he that laboureth all in vayne with grete vnnumerable peynes wtout ony profyte / by which they be made the deuyl les martyrs not the martyrres of my sone cryste crucyfyed / but whan the daye is come that they be gone out of synne come to the lyghte of grace / than appereth to theÌ in theyr soules the preceptes the byddynges of the lawe / whiche byddeth them for to caste theyr nette in the worlde of my sothefast sone / that is to loue me aboue all thynges / theyr euen crysten as theÌselfe / so with obedyence lyghte of feythe with stydfast hope they cast theyr nette in his worlde / shewynge the doctryne the steppes of my ryghte swete sone / of his dyscyples / and how that he taketh soules / and who he calleth for to helpe / it nedeth not to be rehersed / for it is sayde before ¶ How some man casteth his nette more parfytely thaÌ another / of the excelleÌce of suche êfyte meÌ THis haue I sayde that thou myght knowe with how moche prouydeÌce my sothefaste sone Ihesu cryst for the tyme that he was conuersaunte ymonge you / he wroughte suche mysteryes other mysteryall actes for that thou sholde knowe theÌ / that ye sholde do the same ghostly in the soule / namely suche soules as dwell iÌ this moste parfyte state / thynke dere doughter that one dothe more profyte thaÌ another / after that one is more redy for to obey thaÌ another to this worde / gothe with more clere parfyte lyghte / auoydyÌge the hope of hymselfe / and onely hopeth iÌ me his maker / for he that obeyeth casteth his nette more parfytely / kepynge bothe the coÌmauÌdymentes the counseyles mentally actually / for that kepeth not the counseyles mentually / he maye not kepe the coÌmaundymeÌtes actually / for they be annexed knytte togyder as I haue declared to the before in another place more playnly fully therfore suche one catcheth parfytely / as he casteth parfytely / but êfyte folke catche abuÌdauÌtly iÌ grete êfeccyon ¶ O how they haue theyr nettes well ruled and ordred / for the good swete kepynge that the keper offre choyse dothe at the gate of wyll / altheyr wyttes and senscyble felyÌges make swetete sownes / whiche sownes come out fro wtin / that is fro the cyte of the soule / for all the gates there be shutte opened ¶ The gate of wyll is shutte to his proper loue / it is opened for to loue desyre my worshyppe / and loue of neyghbourheed ¶ Also the gate of intelleccyoÌ is shut / that it shall not beholde delyces / vanytes / wretchydnes of the worlde / whiche be all as nyght that gyueÌ derkenes to intelleccyoÌ / the whiche beholdeth theÌ vnornately / it is opened with lyghte sette in the open knowlege of that lyght of my onely sothefaste sone Ihesu ¶ The gate also of mynde is shut / that it hathe no mynde of the worlde nor of his owne sencyble felynge / it is opened for to receyue brynge to mynde the remembraunce of my benefytes / thaÌ the affeccyon of the soule maketh a ioy and a sowne temperynge the strynges and cordes of the herte with prudeÌce lyghte makynge theÌ to acorde iÌ one / that is to the ioye and praysynge of my name ¶ In this same sowne in the whiche the greate strynges myghtes of the soule ben acorded / the small strynges cordes of the bodyly wyttes be also acorded / whiche wyttes be that instrumentes of that body / as I tolde the whaÌ I spake to the of wycked men / for all they sowned deedly sownes with theyr bodyly instrumeÌtes / for asmoche as they dyd receyue theyr ghostly enemyes / lyke as they sowne dethe / so these parfyte folke do sowne lyfe / rereyuynge theyr freÌdes of very effectuall vertues / whiche be instrumentes of good and holy workes / euery lymme and euery meÌber trauayleth in that worke whiche is gyue to hyÌ for to labour in his parfyte state / that is his eye iÌ his lokynge / eâe in his herynge / the smell in his smellynge / that taste in his tastynge / the toÌgue in his spekynge / the hoÌde in his touchynge workynge / the fete
therfore ryghtewysely to hyÌ shall be gyueÌ endeles peyne with fendes ¶ Lo now thou knowes I haue prouyded in erthe for theÌ / that they ge not to endeles sorowe / yf thou dyd beholde me than aboue in the endelesse lyfe in the kyndes of angels / ymonge the cytesyns dwellynge in that endeles blysse / whiche by vertu of my sones blode that vndefouled lambe haue receyued that lyfe / that I sholde so ordeyne them and set them in order / that is for to set one for to tast onely his owne proper good in that blessyd lyfe / and not for to comune charytably be partener of the goodes of other / naye I wyll not so / but theyr charyte is so parâytely ordeyned that the greate tasteth the good of the lesse / and the lesse of the greate / I call it lytell as for the mesure / not for that the lesse is full of ioye as the moste / for eche after his degre is ful of ioye / as it is rehersed iÌ another place before ¶ O howmoche charytable broderheed there is / and howmoche oneheed in me / and one with another / for they haue that of me / they knowe well that they haue it of me whiche they haue / they kepe it with holy drede du reuerence / seynge and knowyÌge theyr owne dygnyte wherin I haue set them / there angels comune with men / that is with the soules of blessyd men / and blessyd soules with angels / and so eche of them be ioyfull of the good of other in the breÌnynge loue of charyte / and so they ioye in me with ioye and gladnes without ony sorowe / swetely without bytternesse ¶ For whaÌ they dyd lyue in erthe / iÌ theyr dyenge they tasted me by affeccyon of loue in the charyte of theyr euen crysteÌ Â¶ Who ordeyned this ¶ My wysdome with ryghte meruaylous and swete prouydeÌce / and yf thou tourne thy thoughte to purgatory / thou shal also fynde ther my swete ryght meruaylous prouydence in the wretched soules that haue loste theyr tyme in this worlde by ygnoraunce / and bycause that they maye be departed frome the body / they haue no more power for to helpe them / as for deseruynge of ony delyueraunce of peyne / and therfore I haue prouyded for theÌ by meane of you that yet do lyue iÌ erthe / whiche haue tyme for theÌ for to rauÌsome theÌ out of peyne by almesdedes and by masse syngyÌge whiche they ordeyne for to be sayde of my mynysters / by fastynge and by prayers done in the state of grace / with al these meanes ye abredge theyr tymes of peyne / by medyacyon of my mercy ¶ Nowe is this doughter a swete prouydeÌce all this haue I sayde to the that thou shold be rapte with loue with in thy soule / in suche thynges as longen to the helthe of a soule / also for thou sholde araye thyselfe with lyght of holy feythe with stydfaste hope iÌ my prouydence / that thou sholde throwe out thyselfe fro thyselfe / and in all that thou sholde do for to hope in me wtout ony seruyle drede ¶ Of the prouydence of god for his poore seruauÌtes / helpynge them with temporall goodes NOw dere doughter wyll I tell the a lytell party of the maner whiche I helpe and releue my poore seruauntes in theyr bodyly necessyte that hope and trust in me / and yet neuerthelesse they be well apayde of theyr nede other parfytely or vnêfytely as they themselfe be parfyte or vnparfyte ¶ I prouyde also to my poore folke dwellyÌge in the worlde whiche be poore in spyryte and wyl / that is with spyrytuall entent / I speke not of suche as be symple poore in the worlde / for there be many suche poore whiche wolde no poore men be / suche be ryche folke as touchyÌge theyr wyll for they hope nothynge in me / nor they bere not ryghte gladly they pouerte whiche I haue gyueÌ to them for a medycyne to theyr soules / for rychesse sholde haue done theÌ harme and turned them to dampnacyoÌ / all my seruauÌtes be poore folke and not beggers / a begger oftetyme hathe that he wolde haue / and therfore he suffereth grete necessyte / but I defayle neuer my poore seruauntes / as longe as they hope in me / I lede them forthe in that pouerte / somtyme to the laste ende / that they sholde the better knowe se that I am he whiche wyll prouyde for theÌ / by the whiche truste they shold make them stronge with loue in my prouydence / and so gladly for to receyue the spouse of very pouerte / wherfore the holy ghost theyr mynyster with mylde mekenesse wyll puruaye for theÌ all that is nede bothe to theyr bodyes by gyuynge of a greate desyre in the hertes of other folke the whiche maye gyue them / so that they shall go and releue them in theyr bodyly nedes / al the lyfe of my swete poore folke is thus gouerned with the besynesse whiche I gyue to the seruauntes of the worlde for them / neuerthelesse yet I proue theÌ in pascyeÌce / iÌ feythe / and in parseueraunce / for I suffer somtyme to be sayd and done to theÌ bothe repreues and wronges / yet he that dothe suche wronges to theÌ / I styrre them to do them almes / for to helpe them iÌ theyr nedes / this is a generall prouydeÌce gyuen to my seruauntes / but somtyme I vse it in my ryghte specyall seruauntes with out meane of ony creature onely by myselfe / as thou knowes well I dyd to my gloryous seruauÌte seynt Domynycke / for in the begynnynge of his order / his brederne dyd sufter greate nede and penury of meet / so ferforth that whan the houre of meet was come and they had nothynge to ete / my well beloued Domynycke with the lyghte of feythe hopynge in me that I shold prouyde for theÌ / sayd to his brederne thus ¶ Chyldren sette ye downe to meet / his brederne anone were obedyent to his wordes sate downe / than I prouyded to all theÌ that had trust in me / sende two angels with ryghte whyte breed to theÌ in suche plente that they had greate abundaunce therof many tymes after / this prouydence was not done with meane of man / but onely by the benynge myldenes of the holy ghoste / somtyme also I êuyde for my ryght specyall seruaunces a lytell quantyte of lyuelode whiche was not suffycyent for theÌ / as thou knowes well I dyd to the swete mayde seynt Agnes / which serued me fro her chylde heed vnto her laste ende with greate mekenesse / by the whiche mekenesse with quycke feythe / at the commauÌdyment of my blessyd Mary my sones moder / she drewe her to greate parfyte pouerte / and so without ony temporall substaunce she bylded a Monastery in suche a place / where somtyme was as thou knowes well a comune
house of womeÌ / she thought not whan she sholde bylde it thus / how myght I parforme this / but besyly with my prouydence she made there an holy monastery / where she gadered togyder in the begynnynge xviij maydens whan she had ryght noughte for to gyue them of meet drynke / but as I prouyded for theÌ / ymonge all other thynges whan I hadde longe prouyded for them as for theyr bodyly nede / I sufferd theÌ thre dayes to be without breed / onely lyuyÌge with herbes / yf thou aske me thaÌ why I withdrawe fro them theyr necessary lyuelode / nameli fro suche as had hope in me / sythen I haue sayde before that I wolde not fayle my seruauntes that put theyr hope in me / but that they sholden haue suche as them nedeth / wherfore the semeth that they lacked theyr nede / for onely with herbes the body of a reasonable creature lyueth not / for to speke comunely of suche as be not parfyte / for thoughe Agnes was êfyte / other of her susters were not parfyte in the same êfeccyon / to this I shall answere the thus ¶ I suffred that iÌ her / that she sholde be fulfylled plentuously in my prouydeÌce / and other that were yet vnparfyte of her systers / myghten haue cause by the myracle that sheweth for to parforme her begynnynge fundament in the lyghte of holy feythe / neuerthelesse in those herbes or iÌ suche other / I myghte gyue moche grace of releuynge / or els in gyuyÌge suche dysposycyon to mankynde that he sholde better lyue with the lytel herbe and somtyme without meet / thaÌ he dyd before with breed and other maner of meet that be gyuen and ordeyned for the lyfe of man / thou knowes well this is sothe / for thou hase proued this thyselfe / neuerthelesse whaÌ that Agnes had lyued so longe as I haue sayde with so lytell quantyte of lyuelode / she lyfte vp the eye of her soule to me with lyghte of feythe and sayd thus / fader my lorde ende lesse spouse hase thou made me for to take out these maydens out of theyr faders houses / that they shall now peryshe for honger / good lorde / good spouse prouyde for theyr nede ¶ Lo doughter I was he that made her for to aske me so / for that I wolde haue her feythe proued / that meke prayer was ryghte lykynge to me / therfore I extended my prouydence in her / that whan she stode so before me / I constrayned a certayne creature in his soule by inspyracyon of the holy ghoste for to bere to those women fyue small loues / by the whiche the soule of Agnes had reuelacyon / by the whiche reuelacyon she tourned to her systers and sayde thus / go doughters and answeree at the whele / and take in theyr breed / they went as they were coÌmaunded and and brought in breed / whiche was departed ymonges them / I gaue so greate myght and vertu to those loues in the departynge of them / that all they were plentuously fulfylled / and whan they hadde eten / there remayned asmoche whiche they toke fro the table / that they had another tyme to the full for the nede of theyr bodyly lyfe ¶ Thus do I with my prouydence whiche I vse with my seruauntes that be wylfully poore / yet not onely wylfully poore / but poore in spyryte / for without a spyrytuall entent / it were ryght noughte worthe for theÌ / as it happed to phylosophers whiche for the loue that they hadde to cunnynge and for the wyll that they hadde to lerne it / they set not by ryches / therfore they made them poore wylfully / knowynge very well that besynesse of the worldely ryches wolde let them / and not to suffer them to come to the parfyte knowlege of cunnynge / whiche cunnynge they sette before the eye of theyr intelleccyon as for one ende but bycause this wyll of pouerte was not done for the glory and laude of my name / therfore they had nother lyfe of grace nor of êfeccyon / but rather of endelesse dethe ¶ Of euylles whiche do come for kepynge and desyrynge of temporall goodes vnordynately I Haue touched the somwhat that thou maye the better knowe the tresour of wylful pouerte in spyryte ¶ Who knoweth that ¶ Certayne my well beloued poore seruauntes / whiche haue ythrowe awaye fro theÌ the burthoÌ of rychesse in to the erthe / that they myght lyghtly passe forth in theyr iournaye and so to enter by the strayte gate ¶ There be some that bothe actually and mentally throwe it awaye fro them / and they be those that bothe actually and mentually do kepe the commauÌdymentes and the couÌseyles / but some ther be that onely kepe the couÌseyles mentally / spoylyÌge theyr affeccyon fro ryches / for they kepe theym by vnordynate loue / but ordynately and with holy drede I made no possessoure of theÌ / but a dyspensatour a puruayoure for poore folke / suche one dothe wel / but yet the fyrste be êfyte bothe with more fruyte thaÌ these haue / also with lesse impedymeÌt / in whome my prouydeÌce semeth more shynynge actually thaÌ in these / for suche one by the vertu of very pouerte holdeth hymselfe meke lowe iÌ his owne syghte / of the whiche mekenesse I haue tolde the before in another place / therfore I shall tell the more now onely of the vertu of pouerte ¶ I haue tolde the yf thou haue mynde / that all euyll / all harme / all the peyne in this lyfe / in the other lyfe of peynes / do come fro the loue of delyces / but now shall I tell that what good cometh of pouerte / all peas rest cometh of pouerte / be holde now se of what chere my very poore seruauÌtes be of / with howmoche ioye iocundyte they dwell / they be neuer sory / but for offence that is done to me / whiche sorowe tourmeÌteth not theyr soules / but it maketh the soule fatte in grace / for theyr pouerte they wyÌne endeles ryches / bicause they haue forsakeÌ derknes they fynde the most êfyte lyghte / for the forsakyÌge of the worlde / they haue spyrytual ioy / for the forsakyÌge of deedly goodes / they fyÌde vndeedly goodes so receyue ghostly coÌfortes / for to haue laboure peyne / it is a refresshynge of the soule with ryghtwysenesse a fraternal charyte / they lyue with euery reasonable creature / they accepte no more one creature than another / but yf they be suche that be more vertuous thaÌ other / iÌ suche shyneth the vertu of holy feythe of veri hope / iÌ theÌ breÌneth the fyre of dyuyne charyte / the whiche do lyfte vp auoyde theyr hope fro the worlde / fro all vaânerychesse / they haue enbraced the very spouse of pouerte with the lyght of very feythe / whiche they haue in me that am
most souerayne endelesse blessydnesse ¶ Wyll thou knowe whiche be the honde maydens seruauÌtes of very pouerte ¶ Certayne vylyte / abieccyon / coÌtempte of maÌ of hyÌselfe / very mekenes / whiche do serue noryshe affeccyoÌ of pouerte in the soule ¶ The fyfte chapyter is of the excellence of them whiche be poore iÌ spyryte / how cryste taughte vs of this pouerte / not oneli bi worde / but by ensaÌple / also of the prouydence of god for theÌ that take this pouerte / a short repeticioÌ of the fore sayde dyuyne prouydeÌce / also other maters / as is reherced in the kalender Ca. v. My very seruauÌtes breÌned iÌ that fyre of charite / forsoke rychesse theyr sencyble felynge / lyke as the apostell Mathewe dyd / the whiche forsoke ryches / sued my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / whiche taughte you bothe a maner rule for to loue folowe very pouerte / he taughte you not onely by worde / but by ensample / for fro the begyÌnynge of his byrthe vnto the last ende of his lyfe / he taught you this doctryne by ensample / he hyÌselfe wedded fro you this spouse of very pouerte / not withstondynge that he was most souerayne blessydnesse by vnyon of dyuyne nature / by the whiche he is one with me and I with hym / and yf thou wyll se hym meke lowe in greate pouerte / beholde god made and arayed with the vylyte of youre maÌheed / so thou maye se that swete ryghte well byloued Ihesu borne in a stable / for to teche you that lyue in this lyfe / euer for to be borne in the stable of youre owne knowlege / wher ye sholde fynde me borne by grace within youre soules ¶ Also thou maye se hym lyenge in the mydle ymonge beestes / in so grete penury that Mary his moder had not wher with to couer hym / but in the colde tyme with the brethynge of those beestes and with haye he was made warme ¶ Lo he that was the fyre of charyte wolde suffer colde in his maÌ heed all the whyle that he was in the worlde on lyue / bothe in presence of his dyscyples and in the absence of his dyscyples / so that otherwhyle for honger his dyscyples dyd gader the ere 's of corne and ete them / yet in the laste ende of his lyfe he was dyspoyled of his clothes and scorged all aboute a pyller / and also with grete thruste he hanged vpon the crosse / iÌ suche penury and pouerte that bothe the erthe the tree whiche he haÌged vpon defayled hym so that he hadde no place where he myghte laye his heed / but that he muste nedes reste his heed vpon his shulder / and also he that was druÌke with loue / he made to you a bathe in his blode / by shedynge of his blode / in openynge of his body on euery syde / he beynge so in suche myseri gaue to you grete rychesse / and also he beynge vpon the strayte tree of the crosse / he gaue plentuously his largenesse to euery reasonable creature / by tastynge of the bytternesse of gall he gaue to you swetenesse of greate suauyte / he beynge in sorowe gaue to you coÌforte / and he beynge bounde nayled to the crosse delyuered and vnlosed you fro the bonde of deedly synne / and in that he was made seruauÌte / he made you fre and delyuered you fro the deuylles daunger / and iÌ that he was solde he raunsomed you by his blode / and in that he toke dethe he gaue you lyfe / in the whiche dethe he gaue to you the rule of loue / shewynge more loue to you thaÌ he ought for to do to you / that were to hym to me endelesse fader deedly enemyes / he gaue to you also a rule of very mekenesse / in that he suffered in the most repreuable dethe of the crosse / repreues / shames sufferynge theÌ ryghte mekely / he gaue you also a rule of very pouerte / for as it is wryten of hym / Foxes haue caues dennes / byrdes of the ayre haue nestes / but the sone of maÌ hathe not wher he maye laye his heed ¶ Who maye veryly knowe this ¶ Certayne he that hathe the lyghte of very feythe ¶ In whome may thou fynde this fâythe ¶ Certayne iÌ poore folke of spyryte that haue take for theyr spouse the quene of pouerte / this quene hathe a realme in the whiche realme is neuer warre / but pease reste / she is full of ryghtwysenesse / for all vnryghtwysenesse is departed fro her / the walles of her cytee be welles / for the fouÌdamente therof is not sette vpon the grouÌde / but on a quycke stone Ihesu my onely sothefaste sone / within is lyght / without derkenesse / for the moder of this quene is the depenesse of my dyuyne charyte / the raymeÌt of this cytee is pyte mercy / for the tyrauÌt of ryches whiche vsed cruelte is pulled away fro thens / there is one maner benyuolence with all the cytesyns / that is loue of neyghbour heed / ther is also loÌge parseuerauÌce with prudence / whiche gouerneth not his cytee vnprudeÌtly / but with greate prudence besyly wakynge / and therfore a soule that is wedded to this ryght swete quene of pouerte / she hathe made herselfe a lady of all these ryches / she maye not be lady of one / but she be lady of all / and as ofte as the appetyte of ryches falleth in that soule / so ofte she is departed fro this good / and fyndeth herselfe with greate mysery without the cytee / and yf it so be that she be founde feythfull trewe to this spouse euer alwaye / the same spouses pouerte wyll largely departe with her abundaunt ryches ¶ Who maye se this grete excelleÌce of pouerte ¶ Certayne none but suche a soule / iÌ whome shyneth the lyght of feythe / this same quene pouerte / arayeth a soule with grete purete wtdrawyÌge rychesse / whiche made her clene depryued her from wycked thoughtes / gyuyÌge to her good / she draweth out also fro her the besynesse of the worlde / and whan that bytternesse is gone / thaÌ remayneth in her swetenesse / she cutteth awaye fro her the thornes / and thaÌ remayneth the rose / she also dyscargeth the stomake of the soule fro the corrupte humours of vnordynate loue / maketh it lyght / and after tyme it is so voyded / she fylleth it with meet of vertu / whiche gyueth grete swetenesse / she setteth there also the seruauntes of holy hate of loue / for to purge araye the place for those seruauÌtes of holy hate of vyces and of proper sensualyte / turneth the soule bothe clenseth it purgeth / loue of vertu arayeth her / by puttynge awaye fro theÌs all maner doubtes / depryuyÌge her fro seruyle drede / and
the body / colde / hete / nor yet no greate boystyous metes ¶ WheÌse cometh all this trowes thou ¶ Certayne fro my prouydence that I haue êuided for hyÌ / take the charge of hyÌ vpon me / iÌ asmoche as he hath fully forsake hyÌselfe / thê° dere doughter thou maye se in howmoche delyces my poore seruauÌtes enhabyte ¶ A shorte repecycyon of the foresayde dyuyne prouydence NOwe haue I tolde that the lest êty of my prouydeÌce in euery creature / in all maner of people / shewynge that the fro the begynnyÌge whaÌ I made that worlde also creatures / gyuyÌge theÌ beyÌge to the ymage lykenesse of me / vnto the laste daye I vse and haue do do what that euer I do with prudence / so to ordeyne prouyde for youre helthe / for I desyre nothyÌge of you / but youre holynes / al thyÌge that is gyueÌ to you whiche is of my substauce beynge / is gyueÌ to you onely for the same ende / that I myght vse in you my prouydeÌce / this is not knoweÌ with wycked worldely meÌ / whiche haue put fro them the lyghte / by the whiche they sholde se this / also I haue tolde that bycause they knowe it not / they be sclauÌdred in me / neuerthelesse with pacyence I suffer theÌ / abydynge euer vnto the laste euer prouidyÌge to theÌ for theyr nedes / as well to syÌners as to ryght wyse meÌ / bothe in spyrytuall teÌporall thyÌges ¶ Also I tolde that of the imparfeccyon of ryches / that in what wretchednesse they be broughte in / whiche haue ryches in possessyoÌ by vnordynate loue / also I tolde the of the excelleÌce of pouerte of ryches / that the quene of pouerte gyueth to a soule which hath choseÌ her for her spouse / felyshypped with that suster of vylyte / of the which vylyte with obedieÌce togyder / I shall tell the afterwarde ¶ Also there I shewed to the / howmoche pourte pleaseth me / how dere it is to me / how that I êuyde to it meruaylously with my êuydeÌce ¶ Al this haue I tolde that for the coÌmeÌdacyon of this vertu of pouerte / also for the coÌmeÌdacyon of êfyte feythe / with the whiche feythe a soule cometh to this the most êfyte most excelleÌt state of pouerte / that she myght encrese in feythe hope / that also she myght sorowfully knocke at the gate of my mercy ¶ Therfore dere doughter thynke this in thy soule with quycke feythe / that I shall vtterly fulfyll thy desyre / also the desyre of my seruauntes / thoughe they suffer moche vnto the laste ende of theyr dethe ¶ But be not dysconforted / be glad ioyful in me that am thy defender coÌforter / lo doughter now haue I satysfyed thy desyre of my prouydeÌce / of the whiche thou prayed me that I sholde prouyde for that necessites of my creatures / thus thou knowes hase well sene / that I am no dyspyser of very holy desyres ¶ How this soule whaÌ she gaue worshyp thankynge to go / she prayed that he wolde speke to her of the vertu of obedyence THaÌ that soule had suche delyte in that very holy pouerte / rapte by loue as a druÌkeÌ soule in the endelesse magnyfycence and transformed in the depenesse of his meruaylous prouydeÌce so ferforth that she beyÌge in the vessell of the body / wened that she hadde be without the body / by rauyshynge of the fyre of his charyte made iÌ her / she behelde stydfastly with the eye of her intelleccyon iÌ his dyuyne maieste / sayenge thus to the endelesse fader ¶ O endelesse fader / o blessed fayrenes / o endelesse wysdome / o endeles goodnes / o endeles myldenes / o worthy hope / o refute and refressher of synners / o meruaylous largenesse / o endeles infynyte good / o all wounded in loue / me semeth that thou hase nede of vs wretched creatures / for thy speche sheweth as thou couthe not lyue without vs / not withstoÌdinge thou arte endelesse lyfe of whome all thyÌges taken lyfe / without whom may no thynge lyue / why arte thou so wounded in the loue of thy reasonable creatures / they forsake the and thou serches them / they fle fro the / and thou comes nyghte to theym / more nerer thou myghe neuer come / than for to seÌde thy onely sothefast sone Ihesu to take oure flesshe vpon hym ¶ O good lorde what shall I saye what shall I speke / all my spekynge is to the no spekynge / therfore I shal say thus as a chylde dothe / a / a / a / for I can none other speke / the tongue of my body is suche that it shall haue ende / and therfore it can not expresse the affeccyon of the soule / whiche desyreth iÌfynytely / me semeth that I may saye as the blessed apostell seynt Paule sayde that was thus ¶ The eye may not se / the ere maye not here / nor in to the herte maye nor ascende suche thyÌges / as I haue sene ¶ And what hase thou sene wretched soule ¶ I haue sene the pryuytes of god / whiche is vnsefull a man to speke ¶ What shall I than saye ¶ Certayne I maye nothyÌge saye worthyly / thus abydynge iÌ my bodyly wyttes / butone thyÌge I saye to the soule thou hase tasted sene the depenesse of the endelesse prouydence of god / therfore blessed fader withou ende I thaÌke the of thy greate goodnesse shewed to me most wretche vnworthy grace / bycause I coÌsyder wei that thou arte a fulfyller of holy desyres / I desyre the that yet a lytell thou vouche safe to speke to me of the vertu of obedyence / and of his greate excellence / as thou endeles fader behyght me / that I maye also be rapte in loue with that vertu / and that I maye neuer be departed nor pass awaye fro thy obedyence / therfore endeless fader I beseche the for thy infynyte goodnesse tell me som what of the parfeccyon of vertues / and where I may fynde it / and what is the cause why it is taken awaye fro me / and what thynge it is that gyueth it to me / a token that I maye knowe whyder that I haue it or not And here now moder and sustren endeth your .vi. booke / in the whiche you may fynde ghostly fruytes and herbes ryght many with grete vertues and odyferous smelles / ryghte plesaunte and profytable for the infyrmytes sekenesse of that soule / also dyuers maters and ensamples of good and holy lyuyÌge / with the parfyte maner of fysshyÌge of soules / with other mo Septima ¶ The seuenth boke ¶ The fyrste chapyter of the seueÌth party / and the chapyters of this party speke of the vertu of obedyence / fyrste how odedyence is had / and what is that thynge / whiche putteth obedyence fro
youreselfe ¶ There was neuer sette nor putte other glose thaÌ as is sayde and yf they do you wronge / sholde ye not therfore loue theÌ yes certayne ful hole / for that was byd to you of my onely sothfast sone Ihesu whiche kepte fully the same / that ye with the same fulnesse sholde kepe do that same to youre enemyes / yf ye kepe it not / thaÌ ye do harme to yourselfe and wronge to youre soule / depryuynge it fro the lyfe of grace ¶ Take you therfore receyue the keye of obedyence with the lyghte of feythe / go ye no more fro this tyme forthewarde with suche blyndenesse and derkenesse of synne / nor with suche dulnesse / but with brennynge loue kepe this obedyence / that with the trewe kepers of my lawe ye may at the last taste very lyfe euerlastynge Amen ¶ The secoÌde chapyter is of them that sette somoche loue to obedyeÌce / that it suffyseth not to them for to obey to the generall obedyence / as to the commaundymentes of god / but yf they take be bounde to some specyall obedyence ¶ Also how a maÌ cometh by what maner fro the generall obedyence to the specyal / and of the excellences of relygyon / and of other maters as be rehersed before in the kaleÌder Ca. ii Ryght dere doughter there be some / in whome the fyre of loue encreseth sore anendes this obedyeÌce / and bycause the fyre of loue is not without hate of proper sensualyte / for by encresynge of that fyre / hate encreseth in theym / so that what by hate and what by loue they holde theÌ not content / onely to lyue vnder the generall obedyence of the commauÌdy meÌtes of the lawe / to the whiche as it is sayde before all ye be bouÌde to kepe yf ye wyll haue lyfe euer lastynge / but they take vpon theÌ a more specyall obedyence / whiche is a synguler obedyeÌce that gouerneth a soule in greate perfeccyon / by the whiche they make themselfe special kepers of the couÌseyles / bothe actually and mentually / all suche wyll for hate that they haue to themselfe slee in them selfe theyr owne wyll / bynde them more straytly in relygyon or els out of relygyoÌ / for to bynde theÌ to obeye to some creature / submyttynge to them theyr wylles / that they maye therby more spedefully open the gates of heuen ¶ These be those of whome I spake to the before / whiche haue chosen the moste parfyte obedyence ¶ Lo doughter I haue tolde the fyrste of the generall obedyence / and bycause I knowe well thy wyll is that I sholde tell the somewhat of the moste parfyte and specyall obedyence / therfore now I shall tell the of the seconde / the whiche is neuer separate fro the fyrste / but it is more parfyte for as I haue tolde the they be so coupled and knitte togyder / that they may not be departed ¶ Also I tolde the fro whense that obedyeÌce came / where it is fouÌde / what thynge it is that wihdraweth it fro you / therfore now I shall tell the of the specyall obedyeÌce / not for to withdrawe the fro the fyrste ¶ Now a man cometh and by what maner fro the generall obedyence to the specyall / and of the excellence of relygyon A Soule that with loue receyueth the youke of obedyence of that coÌmauÌdymeÌtes of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu / suyÌge his doctryne excercysynge hyÌselfe iÌ suche wyse as I haue tolde the vertuously in this generall obedyeÌce he shal come to the seconde obedeynce with the same lyghte as he came to the fyrste / for with lyghte of holy feythe he knewe my sothefast truthe / my meruaylous loue whiche I haue to the freylte of maÌkyÌde / in the blode of my meke lambe / bycause suche a soule can not vertuousli answere to me iÌ suche parfeccyon as he sholde / therfore he seeth with the same lyght in what place iÌ what wyse he myght yelde to me my dewte / and ouercome his ownefreylte / also sle his owne wyl iÌ this coÌsyderynge / he fyndeth with lyght of feythe a place that is holy relygyon whiche is made and set of the holy ghost / as a shyp for to receyue soules / wyllynge for to renne to parfeccyon / theÌ for to lede brynge to the hauen of helthe ¶ The patrone of this shyp is the holy ghost / whiche neuer sayleth in hymselfe / for no defantes of ony maner relygyous subiecte that trespaseth in relygyon / what that euer he be that trespaseth in relygyoÌ / he offendeth in the shyp of relygyon / but he maye not offende the relygyon in it selfe / but he offendeth hurteth hymselfe ¶ Neuertheles yet it happeth so that for the defaute of hym that trespaseth in the shyp / by mys gouernauÌce of holdyÌge of the sterne / oftetyme the shyp stoÌdeth in greate perell / is in poynte for to be drenched / these be wretched and wycked gouernoures / prelaces sette in gouernaunce of relygyon / by the patrone of this shyppe of relygyon ¶ This shyp of relygyon is of suche excellence in it selfe / that thy tongue is vnsuffycyent for to tell it / therfore as I sayde suche a soule after the fyre of desyre / is increased in her with holy hate of herselfe / whaÌ she hathe founde a place of relygyon with the lyght of feythe / as all deed mortyfyed to the worlde / she entreth in to the same / yf she be a very obedyent soule / that is yf she haue before kepte parsytely the generall obedynece of the commauÌdymeÌtes / yet though she enter vnparfytely that is that she kepte not parfytely the commauÌdymentes she maye yf she wyll excercyse herselfe in vertu of obedyence / attayne and come to the parfeccyon of relygyon / all be it that yet for the more party whiche enter in to relygyon be vnparfyte / for some enter with parfeccyon / some for drede / some in chyldeheed / some for peyne / some by fayre speche glosynge / all suche maye be good and holy / yf suche wyl deuoutely excercyse theÌselfe in vertu / and contynu to the laste ende of dethe / for onely as touchynge the entre maye no maÌ deme / but in the parseuerauÌce abydyÌge therin / for many enter as it semeth parfytely / whiche afterwarde wolde fayne turne agayne to the worlde / or els with moche vnparfeccyon they lyue stonde in relygyon / and therfore the maner the dede by whiche a soule entreth in to this shyp of relygyon / whiche maners be all ordeyned of me / callyÌge soules to relygyoÌ / it sholde not be demed / but onely the affeccyon of suche a soule that abydeth in the same relygyon with very parseuerauÌce ¶ This shyp of relygyon is ryche / therfore it nedeth not to a subiecte not for to thynge of his nede
ghostly nor bodyly / for yf he that entreth by very obedyeÌce a trewe keper of his relygyoÌ / it shal be proued for hyÌ by his patrone / that is the holy ghost / oreles as thou knowes well I tolde the whan I spake to the of my prouydeÌce where I sayd thê° that my seruauÌtes though they be poore / they be not therfore beggers ¶ In the same wyse all such as be entred in to relygyon / yf they be very obedyent / they shall haue that they nede ¶ Of this they that be very kepers of theyr orders / haue this in experyeÌce / preue it daye by daye ¶ In olde tyme also whan that orders of relygyon were gouerned by the floure of vertu / that is with very pouerte fratârnall charyte / teÌporall substauÌce fayled them neuer / but that they hadde euer ynoughe as nede requyred the more that they had of temporall substaunce / the more nedy they were ¶ Therfore it is ryght reasonable that they be pryued to the vtterest / what fruyte they haue by inobedyeÌce / for yf they were very obedyent kepyÌge the vowe of pouerte / they wold neuer be êprytaryes nor lyue partyculerly / but in comune ¶ In suche poore comune lyuynge they fyÌde ryches of holy ordynauÌce / set ordeyned with greate dyscrecyoÌ greate lyght of suche that were iÌ erthe / the teÌple of the holy ghost ¶ Beholde se seynt Benet / with what dyscrecyon he ordeyned his shyp of relygyon / be holde also seynt Frauncys with what parfeccyoÌ and pouerte / with how many precyous Margaryte stones of vertu / he ordeyned the shyp of his order / ledynge theÌ that be entred therin vnto the waye of hyghe parfeccyon / he hymselfe was the fyrst that kepte the same rule / gyuynge to theÌ that enter to the same relygyon / very holy pouerte for theyr spouse / the whiche pouerte he toke also for his owne spouse with his suster vylyte / and settynge ryght nought by hym selfe / but he vertuously myslyket hymselfe / and he desyred neuer with out my wyll for to please ony maner creature / but rather he desyred to be sette lytell by in the worlde / euer turmeÌtynge and punyshyÌge his body / and also sleynge his owne proper wyll / arayeÌge hymselfe with repreues / peynes / and shames / for that loue of my sone that meke and vndefouled lambe Ihesu cryste / with whome he was fastned and nayled vpon the cros by affeccyoÌ of loue so ferforth that by specyall and synguler grace in his body apered the woundes of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryst crucyfyed / and so was shewed in the vessell of the body / the whiche was in affeccyon of the soule ¶ Thus he made awaye hymselfe to his subiectes / but now thou wyll aske me saye / whyther all other relygyous be fouÌded set in that same parfeccyoÌ I say yes but in euery order this vertu of pouerte is not pryncypall / thoughe it so be that al vertues be grouÌded in the same vertu / of vertues it fareth thê° / that all they take lyfe of the vertu of charyte / yet neuerthelesse as I haue tolde the iÌ other places before to some one vertu is specyall / to some another / yet all they dwell in charyte ¶ In the same wyse very êper pouerte was with this poore FrauÌcys as a pryncypall vertu / settynge the begyÌnynge of his relygyous shyp / pryncypally by his affeccyon of loue in the vertu of pouerte / and so makynge a strayte order / for all parfyte people not for comune people / but for fewe good I saye fewe for there be not many that chosen this pouerte iÌ the same order / therfore theyr defautes be multyplyed ymoÌge the people / and so they fayle of vertu ¶ This is no defaute of the shyp / but it is for defaute of vnobedyent subiectes mys ruled gouernoures ¶ Also yf thou beholde nowe the shyp of thy fader seynt Domynycke my blessyd chylde / thou shall se how he setteth a parfyte order / he wolde that subiectes whiche enter in to the shyp / sholde onely take hede to my worshyp helthe of soules / with the lyght of cuÌnyÌge / vpon the lyght / he made the pryncypall begyÌnynge of his relygyon / yet it was depryued fro that very wylful pouerte / but he had it / in tokeÌ that he had it / the coÌtrary therof dysplesed hyÌ somoch / that he lefte to his chyldreÌ in the same relygyon by his testameÌt for theyr herytage his curs myne / yf they euer sholde be of wyll to haue or kepe ony maner of possescyons / in specyall or in generall ¶ This was a very token that he chose to his spouse the quene of pouerte / but for his pryncypall vertu that he sette his relygyon vpon / was the lyghte of cunnynge / whiche he toke myghtely vpoÌ hym selfe / for to dystroye erroures here syes / whiche reygned in those dayes / he toke vpoÌ the offyce of my sone / so that in the worlde he was worthyly called a postell / bycause with ryghte greate truthe he shewed my worde / puttynge awaye derkesse gyuyÌge lyghte / he was one lyghte that shyned iÌ the derke worlde / whiche lyghte I gaue to the worlde by meane and medyacyon of Mary my sones worthy moder / that was sende to the mysteryall body of holy chyrche / as a dystroyer of heresyes / for she gaue hyÌ his abyte / whaÌ the offyce of prechynge was commytted to hym by my sone ¶ Why sayde I by meane and medyacyon of the most blessyd Mary ¶ For she prayed that the heresyes myght be dystryed in holy chyrche / wherfore I chose Domynycke for to labour ther vpon with lyghte of cunnynge / of the whiche lyghte of cunnynge / he made his chyldren in the same relygyon to ete vpon the table of the crosse / vpon the whiche crosse was sette ymonges them the table of holy desyre / wher soules do ete for my honour and worshyp / he wolde not that his chyldren sholde take hede to ony other belynesse / thaÌ onely for to stonde vpon this table with the lyghte of cunnynge / for to seke the glory and laude of my name / helthe of soules / that they sholde haue no mater for to beletted in other thynges / he dyd withdrawe fro theÌ the besynesse of teÌporall goodes / whom he wolde were poore / he doubted neuer for no lyuelod for theÌ / nor he neuer dredde that / for he had myghtyly arayed hyÌ in very feythe in stydfast hop / so hoped in my prouydeÌce / he wolde also that they sholde kepe obedyence / that they be obedyent for to do that thynge to the whiche they be chosen / also bycause that by vnclene lyuyÌge the eye of intelleccyon is blynded not onely the intelleccyon but by
they fle not the places wayes whiche brynge them in to suche corrupte thoughtes / but they serche after suche occasyons / that they myght come to the fulfyllynge of the synne ¶ This is the fruyte the sleeth hyÌ bynemeth hym lyfe of grace / gyueth hym endelesse dethe ¶ But what stynke casteth out this fruyte brought forthe with the floure of the tree ¶ Certayne it casteth out styÌke of inobedyeÌce / by the whiche he wyll with the thoughte of his herte enquyre deme in euyll the wyll of his souerayne / he casteth out also vnclennes with many wycked conuersacyons / de lytynge hymselfe wretchedly with his name of a deuoute maÌ Â¶ O wretch thou coÌsyders not that vnder colour of thy deuocyon shall folowe to the many myscheues / as chyldren of inobedyence / for thou hase not receyued nor take to the chyldren of vertu / as a very obedyeÌcer dothe / suche one sercheth for to dysceyue his souerayne / vsynge to hym leues of state rynge wordes / spekynge vnreuereÌtly with greate repreuynge / suche one supporteth not his broder / nor he maye not the leest worde saye anendes hym whan he is vndernymed for his defautes / but anone he casteth out venemous fruyte of vnpacyence and Ire and hate agaynst his broder / demynge in euyll / the he dyd to hym for good / thus suche a soule so sclauÌdred liueth iÌ peyne both wtin wtout ¶ Why is suche one dyspleased with his broder ¶ Certayne for he dyspleaseth hyÌselfe sencybly / such one fleeth his Cell / as he wolde fle venyÌ the cause is for he is gone out of his owne proper Cell of knowlege / wherby he is fall in to inobedyence / therfore he maye not abyde in his materyall Cell / he wyll not also come to the fraytur / but as he wold go to his enemy / as loÌge as he hath ony thynge to speÌde / whaÌ he hathe no more / thaÌ nede dryueth hym thyder ¶ Therfore trewe obedyeÌcers done wel whiche kepe so wel the vowe of pouerte / that they wyl nothyÌge haue for to speÌde / bycause they wolde euer be fed at the swete table of the fraytur / where a very obedyencer norysheth both his body soule in peas quyetnes / he wyl neuer thyÌke nor make ordynauÌce for sweter not better lyue lode thaÌ he fyndeth there ¶ The coÌtrary dothe an inobedyeÌcer / he wyll be the laste comyÌge iÌ to the quere / the fyrste that shall go out / with his lyppes he draweth nygh to me / but his herte is fer fro me / he fleeth also for drede of penaunce that chapyter ¶ What is cause of all this ¶ Certayne inobedyence / suche one also neuer waketh nor prayeth / yet ofte tymes whan he sholde say his dyuyne seruyce / to the whiche he is bounde / and it is vnsayde / he hathe no fraternall charyte wtin hyÌ / for he loueth none but hyÌselfe / and yet not with reasonable loue / but with beestly loue ¶ Thus many euylles ther be the falleÌ vpoÌ the heed of an vnobedyeÌt maÌ / thus many sorowfull fruytes he bryÌgeth forthe / many mo whiche no erthly toÌgue caÌtell ¶ O inobedyeÌce whiche depryues the soule fro lyght of obedyence ¶ O inobedyeÌce whiche depryues the soule fro all vertu / arayes it with all vyces / thou takes awaye fro hyÌ peas gyues hyÌ warre / thou takes fro hym lyfe gyues hyÌ dethe / thou drawes hyÌ out of the shyp of his order drenches hym iÌ the see of this wretched worlde / so straÌgles hyÌ in synne / makynge hym to swymme with his owne armes / ther he sholde swymme with the armes of his order / thou arayes hym with all maner wretchednesse / thou makes hym dye for hoÌger / takynge awaye fro hym the meet of that meryte of obedyence / thou gyues hym coÌtynuall bytternesse / fro all delectacyoÌ of swetenesse thou depryues hym and fro all good / makes hym to stonde in all maner of euyll ¶ In this lyfe thou makes hyÌ bere the ernest of endelesse turmeÌt / yf he ameÌde hyÌ not or thaÌ he passe out of this worlde / thou ledes that same inobedyent soule to endelesse daÌpnacyoÌ / euer to be turmented with the fendes yeâll out of heuen for âââyr inobedyeÌce / by the whiche they were rebell to me / now be in the armes of hell / ryght so thou inobedyence by cause thou was rebell to obedyence / dyd throwe a waye fro the this keye of obedyeÌce with whiche thou sholde haue opened the wyket in the gate of heueÌ / thou dyd take iÌ thy hoÌde thou keye of inobedyeÌce / wherwith thou hase opened the gate of heueÌ Â¶ Of the imparfeccyoÌ of theÌ whiche be slowe vnlusty iÌ relygyoÌ / all be it that they kepe them fro deedly synnes / of the remedy how that they may come out of that vnlustynes O Dere doughter howe many be there nowe of the wretched inobedyen cers / whiche in these dayes be fedde noryshed in the shyp of relygyon / ryght fewe there be that be very obedyencers neuertheles sothe it is that bytwene these êfyte obedyencers these wretched obedyencers be many / whiche lyue comunely in the order / for nother they be êfyte as they shold be / nor they be moche wycked / bycause they kepe clene theyr coÌscyeÌce fro deedly synÌe / but yet they stoÌde in dulnesse neclygeÌce of herte / yf suche excercysed not theyr lyuynge in kepynge somwhat of theyr obseruauÌces of the order / they sholde fall to greate perell / therfore they haue nede to be ryght besy and slepe not iÌ derkenesse / but that they aryse fro dulnesse slothe / for yf they abyâe loÌge therin / they be able for to fall ryght lore / yet though they fall not / they sholde slode vnder maÌnes praysyÌge a plesauÌce / colored with the colour of relygyoÌ / besyeÌge theÌ rather in kepyÌge of some outwarde cerymonyes in the syght of maÌ / thaÌ for to kepe properly the pure religyoÌ / oftetymes suche with lytellyghte that they haue be able to fal to domes demynges of them that kepe the order more straytely thaÌ they in lesse êfeccyon of ceremonyes / of whom they make theÌselfe specyal kekers ¶ To all suche it semeth to theÌ ryght noyus for to dwell in comune obedyeÌce / in asmoche as they neclygently ouerpasse trewe obedyeÌce / with moche peyne labour with a colde herte they bere that obseruauÌces of the order ¶ Thus they offende êfeccyon / by the whiche they entred / and thoughe they do lytell harme as I haue sayd to other yet neuertheles they do full euyll / the is bycause they come not clereli out of the world / wher they shold haue lyued kepte the keye of generall obedyeÌce / and than for to come to
/ but that they were euer redy for to obeye to me redyly whan that they were caste in to the hote brennynge fyre / it noyed them not / lyke as thou fyndes of thre chyldren that were caste in that breÌnyÌge oueÌ / of many other / whiche were to longe to tell ¶ Also in the same wyse of the water / for that obeyed to this vertu whiche was wel knowe by Maure / for whaÌ he was sende for to take out that dyscyple whiche was sonke in the water / he ranne vpon the water as he wolde vpon the erthe brought out that dyscyple / he thoughte not one hymselfe / but with the lyghte of feythe he purposed for to fulfyll the obedyeÌce of his souerayne / in all thyÌges yf thou open the eye of thy intelleccyon / thou shall well fynde that the excellence of this vertu is specyally shewed / so that all thynges that a relygyous man dothe sholde be lefte for obedyence / for thoughe a relygyous man were in somoche araysed by contemplacyon and vnyon of his soule in me / that his body were ther with lyfte vp fro the erthe / to hym were commaunded a certayne obedyeÌce of his souerayne / that is spekyÌge byddyÌge to hyÌ generally not partyculerly / whiche generall spekyÌge setteth no lawe of tulfyllynge yf he myght / he sholde enforce hym for to leue his hyghe contemplacyoÌ for to fulfyll his obedyeÌce / in the same wyse a relygyous maÌ sholde leue his taxed specyall prayers for nede / for charyte / and for obedyence ¶ All this commendacyon I tell the of obedyence / for I wolde that thou knewe how lykynge it is to me how pleasauÌte / and also that I wolde it were ryght prompte and redy in my seruauntes / for what that euer a very obedyencer dothe / it turneth to hym for meryte mede / yf he ete he eteth for obedyence / yf he slepe he slepeth for obedyence / yf he go / stonde / faste / wake / al this he dothe for obedyeÌce / also yf he do seruyce to his broder or to his euencrysteÌ / he dothe it for obedyence / yf he be in the quere or in the fraytur or in his Cell ¶ Who ledeth hym or maketh hym stonde in these places ¶ Certayne obedyence with the lyghte of very feythe / with the whiche lyght / he hathe mortyfyed hymselfe to al his owne proper wyl / and lowed hymselfe with holy hate of hymselfe in the armes of his order / and in the hondes of his souerayne / with this obedyence he resteth in the shyp of relygyon / he roweth in the same shyp throwout all this tempestyous see of this wretched lyfe / with greate ghostly prosperyte / with a clere shynynge soule and tranquyllyte of herte / for obedyeÌce with feythe hath put awaye all derkenes / he is ryght stronge and syker / for obedyeÌce hath put awaye fro hyÌ feblenesse drede / by auoydyÌge of his owne wyl ¶ Of whom cometh suche feblenesse vnordynate drede / and what eteth this spouse obedyence ¶ Certayne her meet is the knowlege of herselfe and me / for a relygyoê° maÌ sholde knowe hymselfe full of defautes and ryght nought without ony beynge of hym selfe / and me that am he that am / in whome he tasteth eteth my sothefaste truthe / whiche he knoweth in the sothefastnesse of my onely incarnate sone Ihesu ¶ And what drynketh this spouse obedyence ¶ The drynke that she drynketh in my sones bloode in the whiche bloode my sone sheweth to a religyous maÌ my truth and meruaylous loue that I haue to mankynde / in that blode he shewed his obedyeÌce / that was put to hyÌ of me endelesse fader for you / ther fore a very obedyencer maketh hym very drunke ghostly in that blode / after tyme he is so druÌke with that blessyd bloode / he hathe all loste and hyd hymselfe in obedy ce / al his coÌceytes and felynges and by grace he hathe me full / tastynge me by affeccyon of loue / with lyghte of feythe in obedyence / all the lyfe of suche an obedyencer cryeth peas / and in his dethe whan he is departed fro this lyfe / he receyueth the thynge the was promysed hym of his souerayne in my name / that is euer lastyÌge lyfe / syghte of peas and of endelesse tran quyllyte and reste / whiche is a good vnestymable / that none lyuynge in ecthe maye thynke nor coÌprehende in his wyttes howmoche it is / for it is infynyte / in asmoche as it maye not be coÌpreheÌded of a lesse thynge / for euery lesse thyÌge is so it as a vessell put in the see / but onely the same quantyte whiche it hathe receyued / the see is that whiche comprehendeth / and not the vessell put in to the seeâ tyght so I that am that peaseable see / am he alone that comprehende myselfe and compas myselfe / and of my owne comprehencyon and estymacyon I ioye in my selfe / whiche ioye and good that I haue in myselfe / I parte it with you / to eche of you after his mesure / for I fyll his mesure / and neuer holde it to be voyde / gyuynge to hym êfyte blessednesse / and he comprehendeth knoweth of my goodnesse / asmoche as I wyl that he knowe / thus is a very obedyencer with the lyghte of feythe in my truthe / all brenned in the furneys of my endelesse charyte / noynted with mekenesse / drunke with my sones blode / he is also proued with pacyence the suster of obedyence / and he dyspyseth hymselfe by vylyte abieccyon / and with strengthe he abydeth in longe parseuerauÌce / byclypped al aboute with many other vertues / and with the fruyte of them / he receyueth his ende and rewarde of me that am his maker ¶ The fyfte chapyter of this laste party is of a repetycyon of all the hole boke / and how this deuoute soule yeldynge worshyp and thankynges to god / made a prayer for all holy chyrche for al the worlde / and here is commended the vertu of feythe / so is the ende fulfylled of this boke Ca. v. NOwe ryght swete dere doughter I haue satysfyed thy desyre / fro the begynnynge therof vnto the laste of obedyence / thou knowes well at the begynnyge thou prayed to me with loue and longynge desyres / by the whiche desyres / I made the to aske of me / that is that I sholde encrese in thy soule the fyre of my brennynge charyte / and than thou dyde aske of me foure petycyons ¶ One was for thy selfe / whome I satysfyed pllumynyÌge me by my endelesse truthe / there shewynge the how thou myght knowe my sothefast truthe / whiche thou desyred to knowe / and there I tolde the that with knowlege of thyselfe and of me by the lyght of feythe thou myghte come to the knowlege of my truthe ¶ The secuÌde petycyon that thou made
or dothe satysfaccyon by a feruent desyre of the soule that is to saye with a veraye contrycyon / a dyspysynge of synne ¶ For veraye contrycyon / maketh satysfaccyoÌ to the synne / and to the payne for synne / not for the payne the the soule suffreth for the tyme / whiche tyme hathe ende / but for the desyre that the soule hathe / whiche hathe no ende / and that is for god / whiche is without ende Aske you sorowe in herte for synne without ende / loue god contynually wtout ende ¶ Sorowe it asketh without ende that is to saye without ceasynge in this worlde / and that is in two maners ¶ One is that a man haue veraye coÌtrycyon for his owne offence that he hathe done agaynst his god / and his owne maker ¶ The seconde is that a maÌ haue sorowe for the offence that he seeth or knoweth done to god of his neyghbour ¶ Of suche men / for asmoche as they haue suche contrycyoÌ iÌ bothe maners ¶ Also for they haue suche a desyre that hathe none ende / for they beÌ coupled to me with a desyre of loue / therfore they sorowen whan they offende themselfe / or whaÌ they se / or knowe ony creature offende god / for that contynuall sorowe for themselfe / and for other / for desyre of loue / all the payne of suche men that they suffren bodyly or ghostly / of what euer parte it cometh / that payne deserueth / or shal haue merytes the whiche haue none ende / and dothe satysfaccyon for the synne / whiche synÌe worthely asketh and dyscerneth a payne that sholde haue no ende Not withstondynge the dede of synne had an ende / and it was done suche a tyme that it hadde and ende / and the cause is thus / for that synne parauenture was done with some vertues / with desyre of loue / with contrycyon and with dyspleasaunce of all fautes that were done Therfore the payne of the trespasse that sholde haue no ende was modyfyed and shall haue an ende / and make full satysfaccyon for that synne ¶ Thus sheweth the apostle whan he sayde yf I shall speke with the tongues of men / and of aungels and yf I haue prophecy / and yf that I deale all my goodes in to poore mennes meet / and yf I take or put my body to the fyre / and it to brunne / yet all this profyteth me not / yf I haue not charyte ¶ Seynt Paule also sheweth / that all suche werkes / bodyly or ghostly / the whiche haue an ende in this worlde / ben not suffycyent to punesshe the wretchednesse of synne / nor to gyue rewarde / with out salte or fatnesse / and swete sauour of the desyre of the holy charyte ¶ How desyre contrycyon of herte maketh satysfaccyon for synne / and payne for synne / and somtyme it maketh satysfaccyoÌ for synne / and not for payne Now doughter I haue shewed the how synne in this tyme that shall passe / is not punyssed onely with suche penauÌce that is done here / but it is punysshed with penauÌce inwardely / that is suffred by desyre and with loue oned to god / and by contrycyon of mennes hertes / not by vertu of payne oneli / but throwe the vertu of a feruent dysyre of soules / and as holy desyres and other desyres of vertues haue lyfe / or be acceptable and merytory whaÌ they ben taken and vsed / for the loue of my sone crucyfyed ¶ For asmoche as the soule taketh loue of hym / and foloweth his steppes with vertues / fastynges / and prayers ¶ In suche maner suche penaunces done they profyte the and in none other so they make satysfaccyon to the payne for synne / and that is by the vnyon / or knyttynge togyder of that holy loue the whiche is goten and purchased in the knowynge of my amyable goodnesse / and in the bytternesse and sorowe of the herte / and iÌ knowynge and knowlegynge of his owne defautes / whiche knowynge bryÌgeth forthe an hatered of his owne vnworthynesse mysery / and a greate dyspleasaunce of synnes ¶ Wherfore he demeth hymselfe vnworthy ony grace / and holdeth hym worthy to haue tourment and payne And thus the holy sothefastnes spake of all other / whiche suffred all thynges with pacyeÌce / and demed them selfe with mekenesse in all thynges / vnworthy to receyue the gracyous gyftes of god / and worthy to haue punysshemeÌt throwe loue of herte with the ferueÌt bruÌnynge of pasyence and of mekenesse ¶ After this informacyon / forthewith god spake to her and sayde Take hede than intentytly in thy inwarde wytte / in what maner it is sayde to the / how that satysfaccyoÌ is made for synne ¶ Thou does aske paynes of me / the whiche myght make satysfaccyon / for the offences done to me of my creatures ¶ Also thou dyde aske of me whiche am the lyfe of all thynges / to knowe / to loue êfytely ¶ This is the waye / thou shall be in wyll to ascende to the heyght of êfyte knowynge / thou shall be in wyll to taste me / the whiche am euer lastynge sothefastnesse / so that thou neuer go oute of the way of knowynge of thy selfe ¶ And whan thou arte caste downe iÌ to the vallaye of mekenesse / than knowe me in the / of whome thou shall haue all thynges that ben to the necessary / or behourable ¶ There may no vertu stoÌde / nor abyde / but it come of charyte / or that it be grounded in charyte / and mekenes dothe nouresshe most and best / the vertu of charyte ¶ ThaÌ thou shall be made meke in knowynge of thy selfe / yf thou consyder the that thou hase no beynge of thy selfe / but thou shall knowe thy beynge of me / the whiche loued the you all / or euer that ye were borne / of my greate loue whiche maye not be meiured / my wyll was to reforme you agayne to grace / and in my reformynge you agayne / with the brennynge of so greate a loue / the which I had to you / I wasshed you with the blode of my sone / the whiche was shedde for you ¶ The shedynge of that blode / maketh a man to knowe the sothefastnes / the whiche hathe put awaye the cloude of his propre loue / by knowynge of hyÌ selfe / the whiche sothfastnes he myght not elles knowe And thaÌ in the knowynge of me / the soule is closed with suche a feruent loue / that for that brennynge loue / the soule is in contynuall payne / but not in payne whiche greueth the soule / nor maketh it to tall / but rather that payne maketh the soule more vertuous / and refressheth it / and comforteth more the soule / for he suffreth payne / bycause he knoweth my sothefastnes / and his owne synnes and vnkyndenesse / and the greate blyÌdenesse of crysteÌ people And for the greate loue that the soule
the soule in asmoche as with a very trewe wyll / they ben conformed and made lyke to me / therfore it is to them greate coÌforte ioye / to suffre peyne for me ¶ The seruauntes of the worlde ben tourmented / bothe within and without and specyally within / for the greate drede they haue to lose theyr temporall goodes / and also for loue / desyrynge that they maye not haue ¶ Other maner vexacyons that they haue besyde these / ben two pryÌcypall causes / that is drede of losynge / loue of wynnyÌge / whiche thy tongue is not suffycyent / nor yet able to tell ¶ Sees thou not now therfore the in this lyfe ryghtwysemen beÌ at more ease in soule thaÌ synners me thyÌke thou sholde for thou hase nowe seen the lyuynge and the endynge of bothe ¶ How a drede that is bouÌden / or a seruyle drede ben not suffycyent to obtayne euerlastyÌge lyfe / and how with excercyse of this drede a man may come to the excercyse of vertues NNw I haue sayde to the and declared / that there be some the whiche felen them tourmented of worldely try bulacyons / and I wyll that it be so / that a soule maye knowe her imparfeccyoÌ and ende / also to knowe that this wretched lyfe / that worldely vanyce is vnparfyte and traÌsytory ¶ This a soule maye knowe by this token / whan she desyreth inwardely me / that am her ende by suche inwardely desyre / a soule begynneth fyrst to put awaye the cloude that hathe longe blynded her fro the clere syghte of vertu ¶ And than by seruyle drede of trybulacyons / she begynneth to come out of the floode that she had loÌge be dreÌched in / castyÌge out fro her the venym / with the hate that she was poysoned with / the whiche was cast out of the scorpyon in the lykenesse of golde / and so was receyued vnmanerly / and nothynge manerly / wherfore it was tourned to them that dyd receyue it / in to venyÌ Â¶ They knowyÌge this begyÌnynge gracyously to aryse / towarde the hauen begyn to set theyr pases / cleâynge fyrste to the same brydge / of the whiche I spake of before ¶ Neuerthelesse it is not ynoughe onely for to go to this brydge with seruyle drede / for that drede dothe nothyÌge ellys but purgeth a soule fro deedly synÌes / but it fulfylleth not her with vertues grouÌded iÌ loue ¶ And therfore it is not ynoughe onely in seruyle dride to wynue euerlastynge lyfe / but yf the fete be sette vpon the tyrste steppe of the brydge / that is desyre and affeccyon / the whiche be e the fete of the soule / bryngyÌge her in to affeccyon of my very sothefastnesse / of the whiche as I sayde before / I haue made a brydge ¶ This is the ladder / vpon the whiche I wolde ye sholde step vp / for my very sone hath made ladders to step vpon ¶ Neuerthelesse sothe it is / that this is a generall rysynge / whiche comynly worldely men do vse / that is for to ryse fyrste for drede of peyne ¶ And also bycause that ofte tymes aduersytes of this worlde bryngeth them in to greate heuynesse / and therfore a man begynneth to be dyspysed with them ¶ And yf they vse this drede with lyght of trewe feythe / doubte not but they shall come to the loue of vertu ¶ There ben some that gone out so dull so slugyshly out of this depe floode of worldely loue / that ofte tymes they fallen therin agayne ¶ For after tyme they come to the haueÌ of that stoode / by comynge agaynst them of contrary wyndes / the ben ouertyrued agayne by the reawes of the see / vnto the cloudy vallaye of derkenesse of the wretchydnesse of this lyfe ¶ And thoughe ther come a happy wynde / they wyll not in no wyse quyckely step vpon the fyrste degre / that is affeccyon and loue of vertu to ghostly delyces / but as meÌ the were made dull / slugyshly they gone forthe / I doubte not but that with suche a myse ruled plesaunce / they shal tourne backewarde ¶ Also yf the wynde or tempest blowe by vnpasyence / they wyll tourne theyr backes / bycause they hate not verely synne / onely for the offence done to me / but onely fro drede of peyne / the whiche peyne foloweth them / as them semeth ¶ This is no parfyte rysynge / for all vertues rysynge go forthe with parseuerauÌce / without whome / no man maye come to the effecte and spede of his desyre / that is to that ende for whome he brgan / to the whiche he shal neuer come with out parseueraunce / and therfore that his desyre maye be fulfylled / parseuerauÌce is ryght nedeful ¶ I sayd also to the that suche tournen them after dyuers styrrynges / that fall to theÌ / other by impugnynge of theyr owne sensualyte within themselfe agaynst the spyryte / or els by tournynge of theyr affeccyons / by vnordynate loue to all creatures without me / or els by vnpasyence of wroÌges that ghey do suffre / other offendes / or of dyuers outwarde batayles / and other whyle by styrrynge chastysynge or vexynge of ghostly enemyes / that they myght brynge them the soner in to shame and confusyoÌ / sayenge thus to theÌ Â¶ The good thynge the whiche thou hase begonne / shall be to the no profyte / for thy synnes and defautes be more than those ¶ This the enemy dothe / for he sholde leue of / cees of suche vertues and desyres / that he hathe begonne ¶ Otherwyse also he teÌpteth hym with to moche delyte and delectacyon of his good dedes / that is with the hope that he receyueth of my mercy / sayenge thus to hym ¶ Why wyll thou laboure and vexe thyselfe / be glad and ioyfull in this lyfe / thynkynge that at the last thou shall haue mercy ¶ In this wyse and in many other sotell dyuers maners of temptacyons wretchydly they gone abacke / and in no wyse they ben parseuerauÌt and stydfast ¶ And the cause of al this is nothyÌge elles / but that the roote of her owne propre loue is not fully put awaye ¶ And therfore they ben not stable and abydyÌge / but with ryght grete presumpcyon they receyuen mercy by the hope that theyr enemy hathe put them in ¶ Not for they sholde worthely receyue my mercy / but that vncuÌnyngly as presumptuous people they shold trust therin / the whiche mercy is euery day offended by theÌ Â¶ I gyue not my mercy to theÌ / they for to offende it by presumpcyoÌ / but bycause they sholden defende them therby fro wycked desyres of fendes fro the mysruled and dysordynate confusyon / and shame of the soule ¶ But they done the contrary / for with the arme of my mercy / they offenden me / and that is bycause they vse not / nor haue not in excersyce / theyr fyrst
your helth ¶ Ryght so a blessyd soule by departynge fro the body endeth peyne / but the charpta ble desyre of soule helth endeth neuer ¶ For yf that my affeccyon of charyte / the whiche I shewed to you by meane of hym / had thaÌ be ended agaynste you ye sholde neuer be in asmoche as ye be made of loue / yf the loue were withdrawe fro me that I sholde not loue ye sholde neuer be / but my loue hathe made you / my loue hathe kepte you coÌserued you ¶ And so my onely sothefaste sone ended iÌ his passyon peyne of desyre / but neuer loue of desyre ¶ Thus loserth a soule in blysse / that euery seynt euery soule that is in blysse / is there without peyne of desyre of helthe of soules / for the peyne ended in her departynge fro the body / but she is not there without affeccyon of charyte ¶ For whaÌ suche a soule departeth fro the body / she passeth out ghostly drunke in the blode of my onely sothefast sone that vndefowled lambe / and so bathed in his blode / and arayed with the cote of chary te of neygh bourheed / entreth iÌ me that am the pease able se ¶ And than for euer suche a soule is departed fro mpatfeccyon / that is fro vnfulfyllyngenesse / and come to parfeccyon fullylled with al good / the whiche good she vseth ende lesly ¶ And here it shall be shewed how that seynt Paule after tyme he was assumpte and take to the gloty of them that be in blysse / he coueted to be vnbounde and vnlosed fro the body / and so do they the whiche be come to the thyrde and the fourthe state before sayd O Hat lame good Paule sauoured and tasted / whan I rauyshed hym to the thyrde heueÌ that is to the heyghte of the trynyte by the whiche tastynge he knewe the sothefastnesse therof / where he receyued fully my spyryte / and lerned verely and truly the doctryne of my onely sothefalt sone IIhesu cryst crucyfyed / and the soule of hym was oned by ryghte that tyme to me the fader by selynge / and arayed with the shynynge clerenesse or the blessyd endeles lyfe / saue that his soule was not departed fro the vody / but onely by felynge and vnycyon ¶ It plesed and lyked me tyght well / for to take vp and rauysshe suche a chosen vessel / bycause he sholde beholde and se in to the depenesse of my ende lesse trynyte / there for to lerne to suffre for my name by inspeccyoÌ of my onely fothefaste sone Thesu cryste crucysyed / the whiche suffred ryght sharpe flagellacyoÌs with many byt ter peynes for the saluacyon of man kynde / by the whiche bytter passyon he was lerned and taught for to say as he sayde / whan the he sayde thus ¶ Lorde what wyll thou that I shall do / tell me what I shal do / and that tyght gladly wyll I do ¶ Than I taughte hym whan I putte before the eye of his intelleccyon / the passy on of my sothefast sone Ihesu cryst / endowynge hym with the doctryne of my truthe and yllumynynge hyÌ with the lyghte of very knowlege / by the whiche very knowlege / he amended hym of his lyuynge / and so grounded in very charyte / aryde hym with the very doctryne of my sones passyon / and that doctryne of the passyoÌ he kepte so truly / that as he sayde hymselfe it went neuer fro his backe / nother by temptacyon of fendes / nor by pryckynge of his flesshe / the whiche oft tymes ipugned hym / the whthe I suffred hym to haue for my goodnesse / that he sholde encrese in grace / in mede / and also in mekenesse ¶ This clothe of crystes passyon after the tyme that Paule hadde tasted the very depenenesse of the holy trynyte / myght neuer be take frome hym / nother by temptacyons nor trybuiacyoÌs / but he kepteit so streyte to hym / that he dydde lose his bodyly lyfe therfore ¶ In this wyse the holy doctoure seynt Paule knewe the experyence what it was for to taste me without greuaunce of the body / not by separacyon fro the body / but by felynge of oncheed ¶ Therfore whaÌ he was come to hymselfe so arayed with the clothe of crystes passyoÌ / hym semed that his loue was inparfyte / consyderynge the inparfeccyon of loue / the whiche he tasted in me aboue lyght the whiche loue seyntes departed fro the body / dyd tast euerlastyÌgely ¶ Wherfore hyÌ semed that the ponderosyte of the body rebelled agaynst hym / and letted the greate parfeccyon of endelesse plentuous desyre or loue / the whiche after departynge fro the body a chosen soule feleth tasteth ¶ His mynde also was as hym thoughte vnparfyte and feble the whiche inparfeecyon and feble the whiche inparfeccyon and feblenesse letted hym for to haue fresshe remembraunce of that he hadde tasted before in truthe with parfeccyon / as seyntes receyuen of me in heuen ¶ So that al thynges as hym semed as longe as he abode in the body / were to hym a contrary lawe / the whiche inpugned and rebelled agaynste the lpyryte ¶ Not onely by inpugnacyon of sytme / for as I haue sayde to the / I made hym syket that he sholde not fall / excepte the he wolde wylfully worke agaynste grace / for I sayd to hyÌ thus / Paule my grace is suffycyent to the / for to kepe the frome fallynge yf thou wyll bucdy suche inpugnacyon / that is lettynge parfeccyon of the spyryte to se me / in my owne effencyall beynge / the whiche syghte was lette by greuous ponderosyte and contrary lawe of the body / and therfore he gemented / with greate wemytacyon he cryed thus Infelix ego homo c. That is to say ¶ O wretched man that I am / who shal departe me fro this deedly body / the whiche I bere aboute ¶ I se an other lawe in the outewarde felynge of my body / the whiche repugneth the inwarde lawe of my soule / and ledeth me in to the lawe of synne / the whiche lawe is belefte in my bodyly sencyble wyttes ¶ And thus in sothe it is / that the mynde is inpugnynge of the inparfeccyon of the body ¶ The intelleccyon is also letted and bounde of the greuous poÌderosyte of the body / bycause it may not se me iÌ my effncyall bynge as I am ¶ And the wyll is also bounde / bycause it maye attayne not for to tast me endelesse good with the greuous heuynesse of the body / but with greate peyne / as I haue tolde the before ¶ And so seynt Paule sayde truthe / whan he sayde thus / Ileus my bodyly lymmes a strauÌge lawe repugnynge the inwarde telynge of the soule ¶ Thus in the same wyse all my specyall seruauntes the whiche be come to the thyrde and to the fourthe state or gree of parfyte vnyon / all they do saye as seynt Paule sayde /
maner beholdynge to her owne profyte / but onely to the honour and worshyp of me / and helthe of soules ¶ Beholde therfore ryght swete doughter how swete this state is how gloryous / in the whiche state a soule hath made suche an vnyon / and oned at the brest of charyte / for ryghte as a mouthe that souketh is neuer founde without the brest / nor the breste without mylke / in the same wyse that holy desyre of suche a soule is neuer founde without cryst crucyfyed / nor without me endeles fader / the whiche soule fyndeth in me by tastyÌge / souereyne and endeles godheed ¶ O I wolde a man myghte se how the myghtes of the soule be fulfylled / the mynde is fulfylled with contynuall remeÌbrauÌce of me / drawynge by loue to her my benefytes / not onely the dede of my benefytes / but the affeccyon of my charyte / the whiche I haue gyuen to her / and namely the synguler benefyce of a creature / seynge herselfe made to the ymage of me and lykenesse / in the whiche benefyte rehersed in the fyrst state before sayde / she knoweth in herselfe the peyne of vnkyndenesse / the whiche folowed her ¶ And therfore by the benefytes of the blode of Ihesu cryst / she arose fro wretchednes / in the whiche blode I haue reformed her agayne to grace / wasshynge the faces of youre soules fro lepre of synne by the same blode / wherin a soule fyndeth herselfe in the secunde state / tastynge ther one maner of swetenesse of loue / the whiche mysse lyketh all synne / in the whiche swetenesse / she seeth well how synne dyspleaseth me somoche / that I punyshe it vpon the body of my onely sone Ihesu vpon the cros ¶ After this she fyndeth that coÌforte of the holy ghost that hathe declared and clereth a soule in very sothefastnesse ¶ But whan receyueth a soule this truthe ¶ In sothe after tyme it knoweth in herselfe my benefytes / by the fyrste secunde state ¶ Than it receyueth a parfyte lyght of me / that am endeles fader / knowynge my very truthe ryghtwysenes sothefastnes that I haue made here by loue / for to gyue her endeles lyfe / this is that sothe and truthe / whiche truthe I shewed you with the blode of my onely sone Ihesu cryste crucyfyed ¶ After tyme she knoweth this she loueth / by loue she sheweth it / louyÌge that I loue / hatynge that I hate ¶ Thus she fyndeth herselfe in the thyrde gre of charytable neyghboureheed / so that the mynde at this brest is fulfylled with parfeccyon / for it hathe my benefytes in mynde ¶ The intelleccyon also receyueth this lyghte / and for inwardely beholdynge in mynde / it knoweth the truthe / leuynge the blyÌdenes of her propre loue / it dwelleth remayneth stydfastly iÌ the clere syghte of eryst crucyfyed / where it knoweth bothe god maÌ / the whiche knowlege cometh not of kynde as I haue sayde nother by workynge of her owne êpre vertu / but of grace gyuen of my most swetest sothefastnesse / the whiche very sothefastnes / dyspyseth neuer loue nor longynge desyre / nor labours / nor trauayles / that in suche loue loÌgynge is offred to me ¶ Wyll also and affeccyon that foloweth after intelleccyon / cometh and coupleth hym with parfeccyoÌ / most brennynge loue ¶ Yf it were than asked / whan the myghtes of the soule be thus fulfylled / whether this be a soule It myght be sayde yes / thoughe it be alterate by vnyon of loue ¶ What toÌgue were that / that myghte tell the excelleÌce of this last vnytyue state / also of these dyuers fruytes that such a soule receyueth whan the myghtes ben fulfylled so by the techynge of my endelesse god heed ¶ This it that swete coÌgregacyon of the whiche I made mencyoÌ to the in the thre generall grees before / declarynge by the worde of my sothefastnesse / the whiche no toÌgue is fuffycyent for to tell ¶ But holy doctours illumyned by this gloryous lyghte / do shewe well that it is sothe / the whiche doctours declared holy wrytte by the same lyght / lyke as it is founde of the gloryous doctoure seynt Thomas Alquyn / the whiche had the cunnynge and scyence of all holy wryte / rather by contynuaunce excersyce of holy and deuoute prayers / and by lyftyÌge vp of the soule / lyght of vnderstoÌdyÌge / than by ony study and besynesse of man ¶ He was a lyghte whiche I sende in to the mysteryall body of the moder of holy chyrche / for to queÌche the derkenesse of erroures ¶ And yf thou wyll tourne the to the gloryous euangelyst seynt Iohan / thou maye se what lyght of grace he gate vpon that precyous brest of my onely sothefast sone Ihesu cryste / with the whiche lyghte by suche grace goten / he preched aboute / as longe as he dwelled in erthe ¶ And so this gracious lyght ran aboute that it came to all the apostles doctours of holy chyrche / so that all they dyd shewe the same truthe of crystes doctryne by the same lyghte / one one wyse / and an other an other wyse ¶ Neuertheles the inwarde felynge that they had by that gracyous lyghte and vnspekeable swetenesse / also êfyte vnyoÌ couthe nor can no tongue tel / for it was is a thynge that is infynyte / so it semed to seynt Paule whaÌ he sayde thus no eye may se / nor no ere may here / nor in to mannes herte maye ascede the sencyble swetenes and parfyte vnyon that god hathe ordeyned to them that ben parfyte louers ¶ O how swete is that swere mansyon / and that parfyte vnyon aboue all swetenesse that suche a soule hathe in me / for iÌ herselfe hathe she no wyl but her wyll was in me and she is one with me / suche a soule cryeth euer with the voyce of holy desyre / not with the voyce of a man in the syghte of my dyuyne maieste after heithe of soule ¶ These be the vnytyue fruytes that a soule receyueth and eteth in this lyfe in the last state of teres / goten with moche labour / wepynges / and syghyÌges / and so it passeth parfytely forthe with very parseueraunce fro lyfe of grace that is fro this vnyon the whiche is vnparfyte as longe as it is bouÌde in the body / for in this lyfe it maye not be fulfylled / of that thyÌge that it desyreth ¶ And therfore bycause it is yet bounde with a contrary us lawe / the whiche lawe thoughe it be a slepe by affeccyon of vertu / it is not yet deed / wherfore it may yet be waked / yf the instrumeÌt of vertu be put asyde / the whiche maketh it slepe ¶ Neuertheles yet this inparfyte vnyoÌ ledeth the soule for to receyue euerlastyÌge durable parfeccyon / that in no wyse it maye be take awaye fro her / wher