was good and rightwys whan it was made of the good lorde is nowe for the vylyte infyrmyte therofso corrupt maÌ„ that the mouynge of it lefte to man draweth euer to yll lowe thynges hye heuenly thynges lefte For the lytell vertue strength of that nature the whiche remayneth there is as who sayth a lytell sparke of fyre wrapped and hyd in asshes This is the naturall reason of maÌ„ belapped with great darkenes yet hauynge discrecion of good yll of truthe falsenesse thoughe it be vnable to fulfyll all that he approueth nor may nat vse yet the full lyghte of truthe nor his affeccyoÌ„s helthfully wherfore it foloweth good lorde that I delyte iÌ„ thy lawe after myne inwarde maÌ„ knowynge thy commaundement to be good ryght wyse and holy arguynge also and fyndynge all yll and Synne to be exchued fledde and yet in myne outwarde man that is to saye my body I do serue to the lawe of synne whyles I obey more to sensualyte than to reason in his mocyons wherof cometh that I woll that which is good but I am of vnpower to ê‘fourme it I purpose iÌ„ my mynde oft tymes many good dedys or werkis but for that grace waÌ„teth that shuld helpe my infyrmyte febylnes therfore I go asyde cesse of good doynge for a lytell resystens Therof cometh that thoughe I knowe the wey of perfeccyon and howe I ought to do yet I aryse nat by deuocyoÌ„ of soule to suche ê‘fytenes I am so oppressyd and lettyd by my dull corrupte body thy grace good lorde is to me theragayne full necessary to begynne goodnes and to profyte therin to fynysshe the same iÌ„ ê‘fytenes for without that grace I can nothynge do and with the helpe of it I maye do all thynges necessary to me o thou heuenly grace without the which no man may be of any meryte or valour before God nor any naturall gyfte is profytable neyther craftes ne rychesse neyther beautye ne strength wytte or eloqueÌ„ce be any thynge worth before the good lorde and grace wante For gyftes of nature be gyuen Indyfferentlye to good folke euyll But the gyfte of electe and good persones is grace and loue of charite wherby they be noble and made worthye euerlastynge lyfe that Grace is of such worthynes that without it neyther the gyfte of prophesy ne the workynge of myracles and sygnes nor hye speculacion or cuÌ„nynge auayleth any thyng Also neyther feyth ne hope nor other vertues be accepte of God without grace and charyte o thou blessyd grace that makest hym that is poore in Soule ryche in vertues and hym that is meke abundaunt of goodes spyrytuall come and dyscende in me replenysshe me soone with thy consalacyon that my soule fayle nat for werynes and drynes of mynde I beseche the good lorde that I may fynde grace and mercy iÌ„ thy syght for thy grace is Inough to me if other thynges wante that nature asketh if I be vexed or troubled with many trybulacyons I shall drede none euyll whyle thy grace is with me that grace is my strength for it gyueth couceyll and helpe to hym that hath it It hath power vpon all iugementes wysedome vpon all wyse men It is the maistres of trouth and the techar of dyscyplyne the lyght of the soule the confort of pressures the chaser away of heuynes the auoyder of drede the norys of deuocyon the brynger forthe of terys what am I wtout grace but as a drye tree without moysture and an vnprofytable stocke to spyrytuall beleuynge wherefore I pray the good lorde that thy grace may euer pÌ„uent me and make me busyly gyuen to good workes by the helpe of Cryste Iesu ¶ The .lxi. chapiter we ought to forsake our selfe folowe Cryste with our crosse SOne as farre as thou mayste forsake loue thy selfe so moche more thou shalt passe into me for lyke as the inwarde peace of mannes soule is to desyre nothynge without forth so a man forsakynge hym selfe inwadly conioyneth hym to God I wyll that thou lerne to forsake or deny thy selfe perfytely in my wyll with all contradyccyon or complaynt folowe thou me for I am the way I am trouth and lyfe without way no man may go and wtout trouthe there is no knowlege And without lyfe no maÌ„ may lyue I am the waye that thou oughtest to folowe trouth to whom thou oughtest to gyue credeÌ„s and am lyfe that thou oughtest to hope in to haue I am the way vnmeuable moost right I am trouthe infallyble moost hye am lyfe withoute ende increat in the which stondeth the very lyfe blysse of spyrytes blessyd soules If thou abyde in my way thou shalt knowe the very trouth and trouthe shall delyuer the and thou shalt fynally come to euerlastyng lyfe If thou wylte come to that lyfe as it is wryten thou must obserue my commaundementes If thou haue knowlege of trouth trust to me and to my wordes If thou wylt be my dyscyple denye and forsake thy selfe and folow me if thou wylt be perfyte sell all that thou hast and gyue it to the poore folke if thou wylt possesse euerlastynge lyfe despyse this present lyfe If thou wylt be auauÌ„ced in heueÌ„ huÌ„ble the here in this worlde If thou wylt reygne with me in heueÌ„ bere thy crosse here with me in erthe For onely the seruauÌ„tes of the crosse fyndeth verely yâ— way of lyght eternall blysse lorde Ihesu for asmoch as thy way is the way of straytnes of hardenes the whiche is odious to worldly folke therfore I beseke the to gyue me with the contempte of the worlde that I may hate it verely as thou dyd It is nat acordyng that a seruaunt be preferred afore his lorde ne a discyple aboue his mayster Thy seruaunt therefore oughte to be exercysed in thy wayes for therin is helth very holynes what euer I rede or here besyde it I am nat refresshed ne I take nat full delectacy on therby sone for that thou haste red knowest these thynges happy art thou and thou shalt be blessyd if thou fulfyll them it is wryten he that hath my coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes in mynde and executeth theym in his conuersacion he is he that loueth me and I shall loue hym I shall shewe open my selfe to hym and I shall do hym to syt with me in the kyngedome of my father good lorde as thou hast sayd and promysed so be it done to me I haue take the crosse of thy haÌ„de I shal bere it by thy helpe grace as thou layde it vpon me whyles I lyue for trulye the lyfe of a good man is the crosse of penaunce the whiche is the verye wey to paradyse the whiche wey I with other haue begonÌ„e it is nat lefull to go backe to leue it haue do bretherne go we together the wey begon Iesus be with vs For his loue we take vpon vs this crosse of hardenesse and therfore let vs abyde therin for his
from the detraccyon of yll men And if trouthe delyuer the thou shalt be very fre from the vayne wordes of men in this worlde shall nat set by them It is true sayth a deuout soule to god that thou sayste be it done after thy saynge thy trouthe teche me kepe me brynge me to saluacyoÌ„ good ende delyuer me froÌ„ all euyll affeccyoÌ„ froÌ„ all inordynate loue so that I may walke with the good lorde in lyberte fredome of hert Truth sayth agayne to such a soule I shall teche the thynges that be rightwyse plesauÌ„te before me RemeÌ„ber thy synnes past with great dyspleasure and heuynes and repute the nat any thyng of valoure for any good dede that thou haste done Thynke verely thou arte a synner by wrapped and bouÌ„de iÌ„ many passyons synnes thynke that of thyne owne selfe thou arte nought soone turnest to that that nought is thou art soone ouercome with synne thou art soone trobled ofte broken with passyoÌ„s of syn thou haste nothynge of thy selfe that thou mayst magnyfy thy selfe of but many thynges thou hast wherfore thou oughtest to vylypeÌ„de the for thou art more feble thaÌ„ thou knowest thy selfe Therefore let nothynge that thou doste seme to the great of pryce of all thyngê that thou doest esteme nothynge pÌ„cious or in valour or iÌ„ reputacyoÌ„ laudable but that thynge that is eternall so that the euerlastynge trouth be pleasauÌ„t to the before any thiÌ„ge ellys that allvylyte or synÌ„e specially thyne owne synne foulenes dysplease the so that nothyng be to the so odyous as synne wyckednes the whiche ought to displease the more thaÌ„ the damage or losse of any other worldlye thynge Some there be that walke nat clerey before me but they be led by pryde curyosyte to serche knowe my secretys the hye thyngê of my godhede so they be neclygent about themselfe to know theyr synnes gostly helthe such ê‘sons fall ofteÌ„ tymes into teÌ„ptacyoÌ„s greuous synnes left to theÌ„ selfe for theyr pryde curiosite that they folowe drede thou therfore the iugemeÌ„tes of God the iÌ„portable wrath of god almyghty Dyscusse nat ne enserche the meruaylous werkes of god but ê¯syder thou well thy synnes wyckednes how ofte in how many great thynges thou hast offeÌ„dyd trespassyd ayenst god how many good thynges thou hast left vndone of rechelesnes some folke ther be that bere theyr deuocyon all in bokes some in Images and some in outwarde tokens fygures some ther be that bere me in mouthe ofte namynge me in worde but lytell in hert and some other there be that haue theyr intelleccyon or reason clerely illumyned with the lyght of vnderstandynge theyr affecte so pour ged of erthely thyngê that they alway aspyre to eternall thynges greuously berynge to here coÌ„menyng of erthely thynges takyng but scarsly of suche thynges as be necessaryly requyred to natural lyfe such knowe what the spyryte of trouthe speketh in theym the which techeth them to despyse erthely thynges to loue heuenly goodes and to despyse the worlde worldly thynges and to desyre euer heuen and celestyall thynges ¶ The .vi. chapyter of the marueylous desyre and affecte of the loue of God O Thou fader celestiall the eternall fader of my lorde iesu criste I loue the blesse the for thou hast vouchesaue to remembre beholde me louiÌ„gely with thy gracious consolacion O thou fader of mercy god of consolacion I thanke the that thou coÌ„fortest me vnworthy to haue anye consolacion I blesse prayse the alwey with thy only begoteÌ„ sone the holy goste whithout ende whan thou good lorde my louer as thou arte of al man kynde shal come into my herte all my inwarde ê‘tes shall ioye Thou art my ioy thou art my hope refuge iÌ„ the tyme of my tribulacion but for asmoche as I am iÌ„perfite of vertue feble in loue Therfore I haue nede to be coÌ„forted helped of the. Wherfore I beseche thy endeles goodnes to vysete me oftymes and iÌ„structe me with thy holy disciplenes and techynges Delyuer me from passions he le my herte fro all inordinat desires affeccyons Se that I inwardely be purged eleuate frome wordly affeccions and may be made apte and able to loue the good lorde spiritually stronge in pacience to suffre for the and stable by ê‘seueraunce in goodnes Loue is a great thinge an excellent vertue that maketh euerye greuous harde thynge light swete importyble thiÌ„ge easye to bere and bitter thynges swete sauorable The loue of iesu perfyghtly imprynted in mannes soule makethe a man to do great thynges and exortethe hym therafter alweye to desire more and more perfight thynges Goostly loue desyreth euer to ascende to heuenly goodes vily pendeth al erthly thiÌ„ges his necessaries saued Suche gostely loue coueteth to be fre and alyenate frome all wordly occupacioÌ„s lyste that his inwarde syghte of soule be derked or letted ne his affeccion to gostely and heuenlye thiÌ„ges be letted frome his liberte by wordly thynges Nothynge is more swete than is loue no thiÌ„ge ys more stronge than loue no thynge hygher larger meryer fuller ne better in heuen or erthe For loue cometh of god ne it may nat reste fynally iÌ„ any creature lower than god It maketh a man renewe ioye It maketh a man fre in hys soule wythout any retaininge of synne It maketh a maÌ„ set nought by wordly goodes but to departe with all that he hath to relyue the indignes and myserye of other folke Also it maketh a man content with that lytell that god sendeth hym noughttd desire that ê‘teineth to other for he resteth aboue all thynge erthely in one perfite goodnes that is to say iÌ„ god almighty of whome all other goodnes floweth ê“cedeth Suche a persone beholdeth not only the gyftes that be gyuen to hym but he attendeth aboue al thinges with loue and drede vnto god the giuer Loue knoweth no measure but it incendethe the louer out of measure Loue makethe man to fele no hardnes ne other burden layde vpon hym and it maketh a maÌ„nat repute any labour that is impute to hym it maketh any man to desire ouer his power and might It complaynethe nat of impotencye any tyme For it makethe a man to thynke alle thynhes possyble to hym and lefull Loue therfore dothe and may do great thynges where the louer lieth nat nor defayleth nat It maketh a man gladly to wake whan he is dulle and disposed to slepe Whan a man is wery it maketh hym nat to accompte it Whan a man ys arted or troubled it chassethe aweye all trouble feere inwarde For as a quycke bronde or flame of fyre if it be moued or blowen it flamethe vpwarde so a gostely louer in troubles is lyfte vp by feruour of loue to god and so by the helpe of god almighty he ouerpassethe all suche peynes and trybulacions He that is a
with the prophete Samuel that thou vouchesaue to speke to me thy selfe I shall here the. Let nother Moises ne none other ê“phet but thou good lorde the inwarde inspirour of al ê“phetes speke to me in me For thou only without them maist ê‘fitly teche me They withoute thy goodnes can nat profyte me They may well ê“fer vtter thi wordes but they can nat gyue the spirite of vnderstandynge they ê“fer fayre wordes but if thou worke nat with them they make none ardour inwarde they shewe fayre letters writtiges but thou alone openest theyr sense they profer great misteries but thou alone openest the clere vnderstandige of them They shewe thy coÌ„maundementes to be fulfylled but thou alon helpest vs by thy grace to perfourme them They shewe vs the way that we shulde walke i but thou alone doest coÌ„fort vs to go theri They worke only without forth but thou only illumynest within forth They onlye water outwardely but thou gyuest vs the frute of grace good workes They crie speke to ys in outwarde wordes but thou giuest vnderstandinge of that we here wherfore I besech the that I may here the speke to me nat moyses lyst I die be voyde of the frute of good lyuynge if I be only outwarly monisshed nat iflamed iÌ„wardly that nat thy worde be only herde nat fulfylled in dede knowyn nat loued byleued nat kepte so be to me daÌ„pnacioÌ„ speke thou good lorde to me thy seruaunte shal be redy to here the for thou haste the wordes of eternall life shyt in the Speke to me I beseche the yâ— wordes of rsolacion coÌ„forte to my soule to the amendement of my lyfe to thy euerlastinge laude praysinge in heuen ¶ The .iii. chaptre howe the wordes of god shulde be wekely herde howe many ponder them nat in theyr conscience OUr lorde spketh to his deuoute seruaunt saiynge thous My sone gyue hede to my wordes they be full swete pcellige alwisdome cuÌ„nige of philosophers wise men of this worlde Mi wordes be spuÌ„al gostly lyfe nat paisible in mannes mynde they be nat to be applyed ne drawed as vaine complacens but to be herde stydfastly in sylence and peas of soule and to be taken with al humslyte desire of the soule The deuoute seruaunt of god answereth his lorde god thus sayinge to hym Blessed is that man that thou doest enfourme and teche good lorde to vnderstande thy lawes coÌ„maundementis that thou maist so spare hym in the day of thy wrathe fro thy indignacion that he be nat loste wythout coÌ„forte in the lande of dampnacion Oure lorde say the agayne I haue taught ê“phetes with other fro the begynnige of the worlde hytherto and yet I cesse nat to enforme men but many there be that be harde defete to here my wordes Many here more gladly the wordly spekynge than godly or gostly spekynge Many folow gladly theyr flesshely appetites of theyr body than the pleasure or coÌ„mauÌ„d ment of god The worlde ê“mitteth somtyme gyueth vs temporall thynges lytell of valure for the whyche we serue it with greate desire But god almyghty ê“mytteth gyueth vs hye thynges eternal yet men be dulle lowe to his seruice and to at tayne suche rewardes as he ê“mytteth Who so serueth obeyeth god almyghty in obseruynge his coÌ„maundmentis as it is obeyed to wordly princes maysters Almoste none for a lytell fee or prebende greate iourneys harde labours be take an hande for suche wordly lordes for yâ— etnallyfe skarsly we may any labour or any hardnes suffre So a vyle price is besily sought an excellent rewarde is put vnder For a peny to be gotten or won we wyl lightly put our body soule iÌ„ ieoâ—dy aueÌ„ture for a vaine thynge and a lytell ê“myse we gyue oft our selfe day and nyght to great fatygacyon but alas for god almyghty that is euerlastynge goodnes rewarde of ryght wyse people for the vnspectable iestymable Ioy in heueÌ„ or for the hye honour glory intermynable for to be had in rewarde in heueÌ„ we dysdeyne be slowe to suffer a lytell faty gacioÌ„ Be thou ashamed sayth our lorde god to slowe folke repreuyth them with theyr seruyce that worldly folke be fouÌ„de more dylygeÌ„t to theyr ê‘dycioÌ„ thaÌ„ be to euerlastyng lyfe they ioy more in vanyte than other in trothe or stedfast thynges yet they be ofte frustrate of that that they truste vpon but the promyse of our Lorde god deceyueth no man for he is true faythfull all his wordes behestys to suche folke specyallye that serue hym vnto theyr ende I am sayth he the rewarder of all good folke and the prouer helper of all deuoute men wryte my wordes sayth he in thy herte thynke vpon them they shall be to the right necessary in tyme of trybulacyon Thou shalt vnderstaÌ„de iÌ„ tyme of my vysytacyon these thynges that thou redyst before vnderstaÌ„de nat I am wonte to vysyt sayth our lorde my seruauntis in two maner wyse that is to saye by probacyon and coÌ„solacyon I proue them dayly by rebukynke theyr vyces defautes and I coÌ„forte them agayne by exortacyon to vertu and to the encrese of grace He that hereth my wordes and dispyseth them hath that shall iuge hym iÌ„ the last day ¶ The .iiii. chapter how by prayer we may opteyn to deuocyon THou good lorde arte all goodnes I am nat worthy to speke to the thy excellence is suche I am thy moost poore seruauÌ„t moost abiecte worme moost poore coÌ„temptyble of all other for I am very noughte nothynge hauynge ne nothynge of valoure thou alone good lorde arte god ryghtwyse and holy thou arte almyghty thou geuest all thyng thou fulfyllest all thynges leuynge all onely the synfull voyde of grace haue mynde good Lorde of thy merytes fulfyll my hert with thy grace for thy workynge is neuer voyde Howe may I lyue withoute great anguysshe perplyxyte in this wretchyd lyfe but if thy grace mercy coÌ„forte me wherefore I beseche the that thou turne nat thy gracious face of helpe from me tary nat thy vysytacioÌ„ from me with draw nat thy swete consolacioÌ„ fro me that nat my soule be aryfyed be made as drye erthe withoute the moystoure of grace good lorde teche me to knowe fulfyll thy wyll teche me to lyue humbly and worthely in thy pleasure for thou arte all wysdom iÌ„ the which thou knewe me before the worlde was and before I was brought into this lyfe by naturall byrthe ¶ The .v. chapter how we ought to beleue truthe huÌ„ilite before god here SOn sayth our lorde walke before me alway iÌ„ truth symplicite of herte all doublenes auoyde from the in suche wyse do alway seke me He that walketh before me and alwey in trouth shal be safe from all perellys Ieo berdyes trouth shall delyuer hym froÌ„ deceyuours
theê¯syderacyon loue of thy creature take fro the loke that thou lerne to ouercome thy selfe i all thynges for the possessyon of thy creature than thou mayst come to the knowlege of thy lorde god what so euer thynge thou louest in ordiatly be it neuer so lytell yet it defoylith thy soule letteth the to come to the knowlege loue of god ¶ The .xlviii. chapt ageynevayne seculerscyeÌ„ce SOne saythe our lorde to his louer beware that thou be nat moued by the fayre subtyll wordes or sayinges of men the reygne of god standeth nat in worde but in vertue attende my wordes for they illumyne maÌ„nes mynde iÌ„flameth with the ardure of loue maÌ„nys herte they make coÌ„puÌ„ccyon iÌ„ man to be sory for his synnes with that they brynge to maÌ„nys soule great ê¯solacioÌ„ gyue the nat to lecture or study for that thou woldest be sene cunnynge or wyse before other but study therby to mortyfye thy vyces vicioê° lyuynge i the other for that shall more ê“fyte the thaÌ„ the knowlege of many qÌ„stions for whaÌ„ thou haste red knowen many thynges thou must at last come to one pryncypall begynÌ„yng of all other I am he that techeth man cuÌ„nynge I gyue more clerevnderstaÌ„dige to huÌ„ble ê‘sones thaÌ„ any man techith loke whom I speke to he shal be wyse ê“fyte i soule who shall be them that seke of men curyous thynges and lytell ponder the wey how they shuld serue and please me the tyme shall come whaÌ„ that Cryste the mayster of all maysters and Lorde of auÌ„gels shall apere redy to here euery maÌ„nes lesson that is to say to examyne euery maÌ„nes coÌ„scyeÌ„s than shall IherusaleÌ„ be lyghtened enserched with lanternes lyghtes and the hyd warke cogitacyons of men shal be manyfestly opened all vayne excuses shal be fordone layd a syde I am he sayth god that sodeynly ryse vp and illumyneth an humble mynde that he may take and perceyue mo reasons of eternall trouth soner thaÌ„ he that studyeth .x. yere in the scolys I teche without souÌ„de of wordes without confusyon of opynyons without pryde of worshyp without fyght of argumeÌ„tacyoÌ„ I teche to dispyse erthely thynges and thynges present I make my louers to seke to sauoure thynges eternall to fle honours paciently to suffer sclaunders and aduersytes nothyng without me to desyre but all theyr hope to put in me and to loue me ardently aboue all thynges some in louynge me inwardlye haue dyuyne and godle thynges cuÌ„nyng to speke marueylous thyngê suche hath more ê“fyted iÌ„ forsa kynge all thyngê thaÌ„ iÌ„ studyinge about subtyle thiges but I speke to some comon thynges to other specyall thyngê I appere to some swetely in hyd synes fyguers to other I shewe great mysteryes with great lyght of vnderstaÌ„dynge there is onevoyce one letter in the bokes that they beholde but that voyce or letter informeth nat all in lyke for I am yâ— inwarde techer of trouthe serchar of maÌ„nes hert yâ— vnderstander of maÌ„nes thought ê“moter of his dedis gyuynge to euery man as I thynke worthy ¶ The .xlix. chapiter howe we shuld despyse nat greatly desyre outwarde worldly thynges SOne thou must be ignoraÌ„t vnknowing many thiÌ„gê thou must accoÌ„pte thy selfe as dede vpon erthe seke one that all the worlde is crucyfyed to thou muste ouer passe many thynges that thou shalt parauenture ayenste the or thy frende with a deffe ere nat answerynge to such but to such rather those thyngê that be to thy peace it is better a man to turne a way his iyen fro thynges of dyspleasure to let euery man to thynke loke as he wyll Also to withdraw thyn erys fro vnprofytable fables thaÌ„ to deserne to ê¯tencious wordes if thou wylt stande enclyne to god dylygently beholde his iugemeÌ„t the meke answers in his reproues thou shuldest suffer the more easely to be ouercome o lorde God what be we lo we wepe lament greatly for a lytell teÌ„porall harme or losse we renne ayenst myght and laboure bodely for a lytell teÌ„porall auauntage but our spuÌ„all losses detrymeÌ„tis that we suffre be soone forgote withvs scarsly we returne agayne therto any tyme after our losse to that thyng that is lytell or noughte worth we gyue great attendaunce and that thynge that is of great pryce moost necessary to vs we set nat by it for all mankynde in maner reÌ„neth towarde outwarde thynges but they soone aryse fro suche dysposycyon they shall gladly lye delyte euer in outwarde thynges ¶ The .l. chapyter howe euery tale or worde is nat to be beleued howe mannes worde soone slydeth GOod lorde gyue grauÌ„t me helpe of my trouble that I suffer for maÌ„nes helpe is but vayne vnuaylable in such nedis I haue ofte fayled of helpe socoure where I trusted to haue founde it and ofte haue I founde faythfulnes where I trusted leest to haue fouÌ„de it wherfore I say that man laboureth invayne that putteth his hope in man thou good lorde art the very hope helth of man blessyd be thou iÌ„ all thynges for all thynges that happeth to vs we be sicke vnstable of our selfe we be soone chaunged fro goodnes disceyued who is he that can so warely wysely kepe hym selfe in all thyngê that he fall nat sometyme into a snare of dysceyte of some ê‘plexite but he that trusteth in the good lorde and seketh the with symple herte dothe nat so soone remeue from the and if it hap hym to fall into anye tribulacyon howe so euer he be wrapped therin he shall soone be delyuered therof by yâ— or ellys soone receyue coÌ„fort of thy goodnes for thou good lorde forsakest them neuer that truly truste in the it is harde to fynde a faythfull a trusty frende that so perseueryth in all the trybulacyons of his frende thou good lorde art moost faythfull iÌ„ all such nedys lyke vnto the none is nor may be fouÌ„de o full well felte sauoured that soule in god the which sayde my mynde is grouÌ„ded stablysshed iÌ„ my lorde god if it were so with me I shuld nat so soone drede man ne be moued at his wordes who may ê“uyde all thynges for to come or who may eschewe yâ— perelles or euyls here after ensuynge if chauÌ„ces or thiÌ„ges before sene ofte anoyeth hurteth man what shall I saye than of thyngê vnprouyded but that they more greuously hurt but wherfore haue nat I wretche better prouyded or purueyed why gaue I so soone credeÌ„s to other mennes sayinge but we be men ye thoughe we be reputed and extemed aungels of many folke to whom shall I gyue credeÌ„s but to the good lorde for thou art very trouthe that nother dysceyuest ne may be disceyued and euery other man is a lyervn stable soone dysceyuyng moost in wordes so that vneth it can or may be beleued that semeth ryghtwyse
with tyme is both lytell short do therfore as thou doste and labour feythfully iÌ„ my vyneyarde that is to say in my church after the degre that thou art called to and I shal be thy rewarde wryte thou rede synge sorow for thy synnes kepe thy mouth fro yll veyne wordis pray thou be pacient iÌ„ aduersites such exercyses with such other vertuoê° labours be the very wey merytes of euerlastyge lyfe peace shall come one day that is knoweÌ„ to our lorde hyd fro man that daye shal nat be as the day or nyght of this lyfe but it shal be lyght euer endurynge clerenes stedfast peace and infynnyte rest infallyble sure Thou shalt nat than say with the apostle who shall delyuer me fro the ê‘ellys the ieoê‘dy of my mortall body ne thou shalt nat than crye with the ê“phet with desyre to be desolued say these wordes wo is me that myne abydyng here in this mortall body is ê“loÌ„ged why for than shall deth that before had dnÌ„acion in man be ouerthrowen destroyed helth of body soule shall thaÌ„ euer be without ende none anoye shall thaÌ„ be to man but a blessyd ioy myrth a swete and fayre coÌ„pany O if thou sawe the ê‘petuell crownes of sayntes in heuen in what maner of glorye they lyue ioy in now that were before despysed iÌ„ theyr lyuynge reputed vnworthy to lyue sothely thou wolde humble the in the moost lowlye wyse thou wolde soner desyre to be subiecte to euery man thaÌ„ to haue gouernauÌ„ce of any man nor thou wold nat desyre the glad dayes of this worlde but thou wold rather desyre to be in trybulacion for god and thou wolde desyre also to be vylypendyd set at nought amonge men for cryst with cryst thy saueour o if these thynges were sauery to the shuld profoundely ê‘se thy herte thou weldest nat ones coÌ„playne the at such troubles aduersytees why for we ought eche of vs to suffer all labours hardnesse for the lyfe eternall that is so precyous it is no lytell thyng to wynne or to lese the kyngedome of heuen lyft vp thy soule into heuen beholde me my sayntes all that hath had and suffred great conflyctes and batayles with me in this worlde nowe they ioye with me nowe they be coÌ„forted nowe they surely rest after theyr labours shall euerlastynglye abyde and reygne with me iÌ„ the euerlastyng reygne of my fader ¶ The .liii. chapiter of the day of eternyte of the anguysshe of this present lyfe THe mansyon of the hygh cyte of heuen is all full of blysse ioy infynyte o thou day eternall moost clere yâ— which art nat made derke by any nyghte but it shyneth euer by the hye trouthe of almyghty god this day is euer ioyful and moost mery euer sure and stedfast neuer chauÌ„gynge his state into coÌ„modyousnes wolde god that daye shulde shyne to vs all teÌ„porall thynges were endyd this day of eternyte gyueth lyght to the sayntes in heueÌ„ with perpetuall clerte and shynynge but to trauaylers here in erthe it is farre as by the mene of a myrrour the Cytezins of heuen knowe how ioyfull that daye is and we whiche be the chyldren of Eue and outlawes from heuen sorowe for tedyousnes bytternes of this our temporall day the days of this tyme beshorte euyll full of sorowes and anguysshes where man is defoyled with many synnes and is feblysshed and destroyed often by passyons he is contracte and dystrayned with many dredes and with many busynesses is he occupyed he is wrappyd in many vanytes with many errours he is intriked and broke with many laboures he is moued with many temptacyons he is ouercome with delytes he is crucyate turmentyd with penury and nede o whan shall all these labours be ended and whan shall I be delyuered fro the mysery and thraldome of vyces whan shall I thynke of the alone good lorde all other thynges lefte and whaÌ„ shall I ioy in the fully whan shall I be without all Impedyment or lettynge in very lyberte without all greuaunce of body and mynde whaÌ„ shall I possesse sadde peace without trouble sure peace within and without sure on euery syde o good iesu whan shall I stande to beholde the whan shall I haue syght and coÌ„templacyoÌ„ of the eternall glory of thy kyngedome whaÌ„ shalt thou be to me all in all o whan shall I be with the in thy kyngedome the whiche thou hast of thy goodnes preparate to thy louers at the begynnyng lo I am lefte here a poore outlawe in the Lande of myne ennemyes where dayly batayles and in fortunes be full great comforte me good lorde in my exyle mytygate my sorowe for I syghe vnto the with all desyre for all that the worlde offreth vnto me for my solace is but a burden to me I desyre inwardely to be knytte cleue to the good lorde but I may nat come therto I desyre to be coÌ„uerted and atteyn the heuenly thynges but worldly thynges and possessyons vnmortyfyed in me let me where in my mynde I wolde and desyre to be aboue all teÌ„porall thynge I am coÌ„pellyd ageynst my wyll by my dull body to be vnder all so I vnhappy man am â— ê¯tynuall fight with my selfe I am made greuous to my selfe whyles my spyryte desyreth to be aboue my flessh to be downe o what is my suffrauÌ„ce with inforthe that whan I treate of heuenly thynges by dylygence of my mynde anone a multytude of carnall thoughtê mette letted me good lorde be thounat by thy grace far fro me nor declyne thou nat in wrath fro thy seruauÌ„t sende downe the lyghtnynge of thy grace ê¯sume such vayne troblous thoughtes sende downe thy arowes of drede chase away all the fantasyes of the ennemy gather together all my sensys to the make me forget all worldly thynges gyue me grace soone to auoyde fro me to despyse the fantasmes or Images of synne Socoure thou me eternall truthe that no vanytes meue me O thou heuenly swetnes come and enter into me chase fro me all vnclennes forgyue me I beseke the mercyfully ê‘don as ofte as I ê¯syder â— my mynde any thynge in tyme of prayer excepte thy goodnes I knowlege the good lorde that I haue be wont to behaue me very distractely iÌ„ prayer other thyngê for I am nat often there but absent where I stande or sytte bodyly but I am more there whether I am borne by suche thoughtis for I am there where my desyres be and there my thought desyre is where that thyng is that I loue for that thyng doth mete me anoÌ„ in thought that naturally pleaseth or delyteth wherfore thou truthe hast openlye sayde where thy treasour is there is thy herte if I loue heuen I thynke gladly on heuenly thynges If I loue the worlde I ioy of hit
thy holy tabernacle and dwellynge place and the sâ—te of thy eternall glorye No thynge be fouÌ„de in me at any tyme that shulde offende thy hye maieste after the greatnes of thy goodnes and thy manyfolde mercyes beholde me and here gracyosly the prayer of me thy poore seruauÌ„t beynge farre exyled iÌ„ the regyon of the shadowe of deth defende and conserue the soule of me thy seruaunt good lorde whyle I laboure amonge the manyfolde perels of this corruptyble lyfe and dyrecte it by thy grace coÌ„tynuallye in this lyfe vnto yâ— fynall couÌ„trey of euerlastyng peace and claryte Amen ¶ Here endeth the thyrde booke of IhonÌ„ Gerson Emprynted in London by Rycharde Pynson in Flete strete at the Sygne of the george at the commaundement and instaunce of the right noble excelleÌ„t princes Margarete moder to our soueraygne lorde Kyng Henry the. vii couÌ„tesse of RychmouÌ„t Derby the yere of our lorde god M. CCCCC and xvii The .vii. day of October ¶ Here beginethe the forthe boke of the folowynge Iesu cryst of the conteÌ„pniÌ„ge of the world In prynted at the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of the most excelleÌ„t prices Margarete moder vnto our souereine lorde kinge HeÌ„ry the .vii. Countes of RychemouÌ„t Derby And by the same Prynces it was traÌ„slated out of freÌ„che into Englysshe in fourme maner ensuynge The yere of our lorde god M. D. iiii ¶ Prologus COme to me saythe our mercyfull lorde all that laboreth and be charged and I shall gyue vnto you refeccyon And the bredde that I shall gyue vnto you shal be my flesshe for the lyfe of yâ— worlde Take ete it for it is my body that for you shal be gyuen â— sacryfice Do ye this in remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of me For who soeteth my flesse drynketh my blode he shall dwell in me â— in hym ¶ These wordes that I haue sayde vnto you belyfeâ— and spiryte of helthe ¶ In what great reuerence and feruent desyre we ought to receyue our lorde Iesu crist Capitulo primo O My lorde Iesu crist eternall trouthe these wordes beforesayde be thy wordes Albeit they haue nat ben sayde in one selfe tyme nor wrytten i one selfe place yet for that they be thy wordes I ought feythefully agreably to vnderstande theym They be thy wordes and thou hast ê“ferred them And they be now myn for thou hast sayde theym for my helthe I wyll gladly receythem of thy mouthe to th ende they may be the better so wen planted in my herte Thy wordes of so great pyte full of loue swetnes dileccion greatly excyteth me but lorde my ê“per synes fereth draweth backe my conscience nat pure to receyue so great a mystery The swetnes of thy wordes inciteth ê“uokethe me but the multytude of my synnes charge the sore greueth me Thou coÌ„mauÌ„dest that I shal come vn to the feythfully if I wyll haue parte with the to the ende I may receyue the norysshynge of imortalyte if I desyre to opteyne the Ioy and lyfe eternall Thou sayst lorde come ye to me that labour be charged I shall refresshe you O how swete amyable a worde is that in the Gre of a synner that thou my lorde my god lysleth of thy benygne grace to byd me that am so pore haue so moche nede of the holy coÌ„muny on of thy precyous body O good lorde what am I to presume to desyre yâ— that the heuen erthe may nat coÌ„prehende thou saist com ye all to me who asketh wylleth this right meke worthynesse and amyable byddynge Howe shall I dare come vnto the whiche feele nat that I haue done any good How shall I enterteine yâ— into my how 's whiche so often haue offended before thy glorious ryght benygne face The auÌ„gels arkasâ—gels honour the the holy iuste creatures drede the. thou sayst good lorde yet come ye allvnto me Lorde who shulde byleue thys thynge to be true if thy selfe sayd it nat And who is he that durste approche there vnto If thou dydest not coÌ„maunde it Noe that iust man labored by an hundreth yere to make the arke to the ende be myght be saued with a fewe of his people Howe may I preprayre me than in an howre to receyne the withe due reuerence coÌ„posour and creatour of all thys worlde Moyses thy greate famylier and speciall frende made tharke of tymber nat corruptyble whiche he couered with right pure gold put in the tables of the lawe I a corrupt creature howe shall I nowe dare receyue the that arte conditour of the Lawe and gyuer of grace and lyfe vnto all creatures The right wyse Salamankynge of Israeledifyed a ryche Temple to the praysig of thy name by the space of .vii. yere and by .viii. dayes halowed the feest of the dedicacoÌ„n of the same he offred a thousande hostys to pacifye thy goodnes with and put the arke of alyaunce in the place made redy for the same with the souÌ„ de of claryons and trumpettys Howe dare I than cursed and right pore amonge other creatures receyue the into my howse whiche vnnethe can knowe that I haue well passed and enployed one howre of tyme nouther to my knowelege that I haue deuoutely passed one halfe howre Do my god howe many haue there ben before me that haue studyede to do any thynge that myght please the. Alas howe lytell thing ys that I do albe it the tyme ys shorte Aud yet whan I despose me to receyue thy holy coÌ„munyon I am but losely gadred to gether and full coldly purged from all distraccioÌ„s of mynde And certeinly no cogitacions vnprofitable ought to come into the holy presence of thy deyte Also I ought nat to occupye me with any creature for I shall nat receyue an auÌ„gel but the lorde of aungels in to the secrete of my herte ¶ For there is a greate dyfference betwene the Arke of alyaunce with his relyques and the ryght pure and precious body with hys vertues nat faylynge but euermore duryng ¶ And betwene yâ— sacryfyce of the prefyguratyue lawe that was to come and the true hostye of thy precyous body that ys thaccomplesshement of all the olde sacryfyce ¶ Wherfore than shulde nat I be more inflamed in thy venerable presence and by more solycytude prepayre me to receyue the sacred and holy gyftes and benyfyttes of the. In so moche the holy auncyent patryarkes and prophettes kinges and prynces with all the people hath shewedeso greate affeccion towardes thyne honoure and dyuyne seruyce ityme passed ¶ The ryght deuout kynge Dauid inclyned to the arke of god with all his strengthe knowlegeynge remeÌ„berynge yâ— benefytes don vnto his faders he made orgayns of dyuers maners he composed psalmes instytute that they shulde be songen and he hym selfe sange theym with gladnes of ten tymes with the harpe of the holy goost Thys kynge inspired with the grace of hod hath taught the people of Israel to prayse god with all theyr hertes blessynge