helpith trybulacyon For as the roddeconstreyneth a chylde to bowe downe his hede and taketh hede vnto his boke and recorde his lesson So trybulacyon meketh the hert and makyth hym to behold his owne freelte and to know god Wherof saynt Bernerde ¶ Deus facit se congnosci verberando qui oblitus et incognitus erat percendo God maketh hyÌ„selfe to be knowen in betyng wyth tribulacion whyche was foryetyn and vnknowen in his meryfulle sparynge Daniel iiii Of this we haue ensample of the kyng Nabugodonosor whiche for pryde was caste oute of his kyngdom and liued with wilde hestis and ete haye as an oxe But whan he lyfte vp his eye to his maker of holy herte his wytte was restorid to hym ayen and he knewe god that castised him in tribulacyon ¶ As the maner of chidren whan they felen strokes sharpe of the rodde They leften vppe her eyen to hym that smyten him For thei wolden that he shulde turne his face to hem by pitee and by compassion ¶ Now thenne thou lowely soule that arte vnder the rodde of tribulacyon considere and knowe well that the maner of louers is for to sende yeftis tokens and preui lettres eche of hem to other for to kepe loue and mynde and knowyng eche to other On the same maner oure lorde IhuÌ„ crist as a trewe louer sedinth to his treue louyd children suche tokens as he toke here for hem ¶ For here he toke mankynde in whiche he usffrid many tribulacoÌ„ns detraccoÌ„ns blasphemyes scornes repreues sclaundres hunger thirste and colde and many betyngis sharpe scourgyngys many thou and is of grete woundes and was naled vpon the crosse betwene ii theues and deyed the shamefolliste dethe that the Iewes cowde ordeyne for hym and aftir that he was rysen from deth and stied vp in to heueÌ„ he kept his woundis as for tokeÌ„s that thou shuldeste knowe that the wolde haue mynde of the and neuer forgete the as he sayde by the prophete Isaye xlix ¶ Numquid obliuisci potest mulier infantem suuÌ„ vt non misereatur filio vteri sui et si illa oblita fuerit ego tamen non obliuiscar tui Ecce in manibus-meis descripsi te ¶ Whether a woman maye foryete her childe that she haue noo mercy to the sonne of her owne body ¶ And though she forgete her childe I shall neuer forgrete the Loo I haue writen the in myne hondis that is in all my woundes whiche I suffrid for loue of the syâ—hen it is soo that he kept the shewyng of wouÌ„dis as for a token of loue And it hath grete drede there as is noo drede as the prophete sey the I bi cecideruÌ„t timore vbi noÌ„ erat timor They fellen down for drede there as noo deede was It maye be clepid a cursid comforte that is sette rather in ony creature than in god For the prophete Ieremie seyth ieremiex vn Maledictus homo qui coÌ„fidit in homiÌ„e ponit carneÌ„ brachi suum a deo recedit cor eius ¶ Cursid be the man that tristyth iÌ„ maÌ„ he that settyth ony creature to be his strenghe he that departyth his herte from god But it maye be clepid a blessid comforte that is sette in god as the same prophete seide ¶ Benedictus vir qui confidit in domino erit dnÌ„s fiducia eius ¶ Blessid be that man that trustith in oure lorde god and oure lorde shall be his truste ¶ And whan that we shall fully truste oonly in god in al maner tribulacyon ¶ And drede false comforte and euyll counseille of oure enmyes ¶ We haue ensample of Ochosyas kynge that sente mesengers to Belzebub the fende of Acharon to haue comforte and counseyle whether he shulde escape the tribulacyon of sykenes or none And god sent an angell to the prophete and bad hym seye chosie iiii regum i c Qr misisti nuncios ad consulendum belsabub deum accharon quasi non esset deus in israel a quo posses interogare sermonem Ideo non descendes de lecto super quem ascendisti sed morte morieris For thou hast sente mesengers to aske counseyle of belzabub the feende of accharon as though there were noo god in Israel of whom thou myghteste aske comforte therfore thou shalte not goo oute of the bedde that thou yediste vpon but thou shalte deye Also that we shulde not loue the worlde ne truste in worldly thyngis synte Ihon biddith i Iohis ii ¶ Nolite dilegere munduÌ„ neqmêª ea que in mundo sunt Wyll not ye loue the worlde ne worldly thyngys c. ¶ The v. maner of materiall purgacion is of grap is and ytis by a pressour ¶ For as a pressour pressith the grapes to parte the preciose lycour of wyne from draffe and the draggys Soo god pourgith the soule that he loueth in the presour of tribulacyon from corrupcyon and wickidnes of synne Some tyme by bodely sykenesse or preuy goostly heuynesse and sometyme losse of temporell goodes or persecucion or sclaunder of euyll men and enmyes Somtyme by lackynge of noble kynrede or by dethe of fayth full frendys And therfore suffre pacyentely the prouffite of this pressour yf thou wylte be broughte into cristes blessyd celar of whiche it is seyte Cant ii ¶ Introduxit me dommus rex in cellam suam vinariam ¶ The lorde the kynge hath broughte me in to his wyne seler Herto accordeth seinte Austin and seithe That holy martirs weren so pressyd by tribulacyon in thys presente lyfe that the bodely mater was lefte in the pressour of thys erthe But the preciouse soules weren resceiued into the seler of euerlastynge blisse ¶ Grutche not ayens god yf he hathe putte the in his prison of tribulacyon For he hathe assayed it afore the ¶ As I saye the prophete seithe in the personne of criste Isa lxiii ¶ Torcular calcaui solus degentibus non est ibimecum I alone haue troden the pressour of tribulacyon and noo man was there with me And note it that he seide no man but he sayde not noo woman for that blessid woman moder and mayde oure lady saynte Marie abode wyth hym in feith full whan all the apostles fledde from hym And was redy to suffre dethe for the compassyon of her sone as the. prophete Simeon seith luc ii ¶ Et tuam ipius animam pertransibit gladius ¶ The swerde of dethe shall passe tho rough thyne owne soule ¶ Now the nÌ„e sithen this is sothe that oure lorde IhuÌ„ criste hathe assayed thys pressour of tribulacyon and that blessid lady his moder mayde marie What so euer thou be that feliste the in thys pressour take it mekely and gladly prayen wyth the prophete ¶ Da nobis domine auxilium de tribula coÌ„ne Lorde god graunte vs helpe of tribulacyon ¶ De quinta vtilitate tribulacionis Capitulum v. THe v. prouffite of tribulacyon is that it reuoketh or bryngeth the to knouynge of thyselfe For that herte that
vnfrutfull braunche ben vnderstonde flessly lustes Inordinate loue of creatures carnall affeccyon of kynred and wordly rychesse Whan the humures or a vyne or of a tree is spred abouâ— louer mani uÌ„frutful brauÌ„ches it bryÌ„geth forth the lesse frute or els none Thenne it longith to a wyse tylyer or to a goode Gardiner to kitte of thyse vnfrutefull braunches that the vyne or the tree maye brynge forth the vetter frute and the more ¶ Right so almyghty god the whiche is a wise tylier and a souerayne gardiner cuttyth away vnclene lustes of the flesshe wyth the knyfe of bodyly syknesse he cutyth awaye Inordinate loue of creatures wyth the hoke of aduersytee and trybulacyon He cuttyth away carnal affeccyon of kynred wyth the swerde of deth ¶ And he cuttythe awaye worldly rychesse wyth his Iren rodde As brennynge of fyre dreuchyÌ„g of water robbyng of theues and suche other On all these maners dooth god chastyse and pourge by tribulacoÌ„n For he wolde that the loue thine herte shulde abide with him and brynge forthe plente of spirytuell frute in hym and not abyde ne truste in suche disceyuable frendshyppe For saynt Gregorye sayth Qui autem labet inuititur Necesse est vt cuÌ„ labente labatur ¶ He that lenyth to a fallynge thyÌ„ge nedis the fallynge he muste fall The fourthe maner of materyall pourgynge that accordyth to trybulacionis of corne as by betynge or thresshynge wyth a flayle to departe the corne from the chaffe Wherof saynt Austyn sayeth Quod flagello granum quod fornax auro quod luna ferro hec facit tribulatio viro iusto ¶ As the flayle seruyth to corne as the fyle seruyth to Iren so serueth trybulation to the ryghtfull man As we rede that the angelle Raphaell sayde to thoby hobye .xii. Et quia acceptus eras deo Necesse fuit vt temptacio probaret te ¶ And for thou were acceptable to god it was nedefull that trybulacion shulde preue the For as betiÌ„g of a flayle constreyneth the corne to departe frome the chaffe so trybulacion constreyneth the herto for sake the disceyuable loue of the worlde and the false frendshyp of synners Whiche are vnderstonde by chaffe The prouffyte of this flayle knewe the ê“phete whan pe sayde Ecce egorn flagella ê‘atus suÌ„ Lo I am redy to suffre the betynge of tribulacyon and therfore saythe saynte Austyn Noly coÌ„querere de flagello tribulacionis si vis heÌ„re puruÌ„ gratiuÌ„ reponi cupis iÌ„ celo vbi non nisi puruÌ„ granuÌ„ reponetetur Playne the not of the flayle of trybulacyon yf thou wylte haue clene corn of consyence yf thou wylte coueyte to be putte in the garner of the blys of heuen in to the whiche thou mayst not come till thou be clene pourge But be well ware for as corne that is greue moste not rype ne dryed is not departid from the chaffe with the betiÌ„g of the flayle but rather cleueth ther to Soo it is for to drede the hertis that whiche aren grene in begynÌ„ynge of coÌ„uersion moste in carnall affeccoÌ„n that wihche haue not assaid the prouffite of tribulacoÌ„n ben not departid from the falsf frendship of her enemyes But rather cleuen to heÌ„ as though thei wolde be coÌ„fortid by heÌ„ For whan god sendith vs visitacoÌ„ns for to pourge the soule that he louyth be it by bodily sykenes or losse of teÌ„poral godes or aduersite of enemyes or ony other teÌ„ptacyon of heuynesse And one the herte rennyth al aboutâ— to seke coÌ„forte to haue miÌ„de on the Why shuldeste not be glad whan he fendyth to the suche tokens of loue as he toke here for the For he wolde that thou shuldest haue mynde of hym knowe hym For he is thi freÌ„de wyll not forgete that For as many diuerse tribulacoÌ„ns as he seÌ„deth to the soo many sondrye messengers thou haste cleping warnyng that to haue mynde on hym But nowe peraueÌ„tur thou woldest saye that suche tribulacoÌ„ns are not moost necessary to clepe that to haue mynde on him But rather his gracyoê° benefaytys of prosperite For as seynte Austyn seythe Dei bnÌ„ficia nil aliud fuit nisi monicoÌ„es veniedi ad euÌ„ The bnÌ„fytes of god beÌ„ no thing els but warnynges or clepynges to come to hym To this maye be answerid al though the graciouse bnÌ„faytes of god as yeftis of prosperitee riches bewte bouÌ„tee suche other clepen that to hauynge to suche yeftis that he wythdraweth thyn herte to haue mynde rather on the yeftis than on the yeuer wherfore he playeneth by the prophete seyenge Expandi manus meas et non erat qui aspiciret I haue spred out myn handes that is yeuyng benefices And there was noo man that wolde beholde Qr omnes diligunt munera et secuntur retribucioÌ„nes For all men louen yeftis and they pursuen aftir rewardes from the mooste to the leste But â—ewe there ben or els none that beholden mekely knowyÌ„ge the yeuer of him Also perauenture thou woldyst seye all though it be according to god to clepe indurate and rebellyng hertis to knowe him bi tribulacoÌ„n Neuertetheles it nedith not to good and meke hertys the whiche desire to knowe hym bi benefaytes and yeftis To this maye be seyde all though gode and meke hertys knowen the yeuerof hem by naturall delityng in benefaytes yet neuertheles to to the prouffite of perfighte knowing yf god maye thei not come wythoute growyng of tribulacion Example herof we reden that Salamon was clepid bi benefaytes and yeftis Iob was clepid by drawyng or takyng awaye of his temporell goodes and seÌ„dyng him tribulacions and aduersitees But thyse tribulacyons brought Iob to the perfight knowynge of god Salamon bi propiriteâ—e felle in to folie lesyng the prouffite of perfghte knowing of god Whatsoeuer thou arte truste not that thou myghteste not longe abide in this knowyng in suche prosperite and therfore suffre pacientli tribulacoÌ„ns and aduersytees And yf thou be dyscomforted that they be many and grete be thou comforted For the moo and the gretter that they ben to the the more prouffyte of knowynge of god they bryngen to the And yf thou can not fele ony comforte for frowardnesse or freelte of thy selfe praye to god that he comforte the in trybulacyon and graunt the grace to come to the prouffyte of perfyght knowyng of hym and say ¶ Da nobis domine auxilium de tribulacione ¶ Lorde graunt vs helpe of trybulacyon ¶ De quarta vtilitate tribulacionis Ca. iiii THe .iiii. prouffyte of trybulacyon is that it lighteneth the to haue the knowynge of god In whyche is perfeccyon and the prouffyte of mannys knowynge the whyche Saynt Austyn desyred seyenge in the boke of answers to hymselfe ¶ Libro soliloquiorum ¶ Thus wolde god I shulde knowe the. And also it is wretten in the boke of wysdom sapiencie quinto ¶ Nosce te iusticia est consummata ¶ To knowe the lorde god it is ryghtfulnesse ende of cunnynge to this knowynge
refusyth the mesenger refusyth his lorde Whan is the messenger refusyd whan the herte wyth a vylement coÌ„trarieth and gruâ—chith ayens tribulacyon ¶ Note well that tribulacyon turmenyth in pourgyng and pourgyth in turmentyngh But whan the herte grutchyth ayenste tribulacyon Thenne he parteth pourgyng from turmentynge For he kepyth the better turmente of tribulacyon And he lesith the swete profitable pourgynge thorough his folye and contrarious grutchynge De sexta vtilitate tribulacionis Capitulum vi THe sixt prouffite of tribulacyon is that it is ayenst in payeng of thy dettis in whiche thou arte bounde to god whom thou maye not flee ne disceyue ne hide noo thynge from hym of thy dettis Thyse dettis aren penaunce whiche thou owest for thy synnes ¶ And though euerlast ynge penauÌ„ce be dette for one dedely synne by the rightwysnes of god in to temporel penaunse by contrycion and confessyon And forthermore it is foryeuen by satisfacion and somtyme it is all relesid and namely by tribulacyon Herof vnderstonde welle for what soo euer thou sufferiste pacyently in tribulacyon afore god it is acounted to hym as for paymente of thy dette ¶ For as a lordis aduitoure somtyme in the ende of acountys layeth a counter of bras or coper or a nother thyng of lytyll valewe to be worthe or signifie an hundryd i pounde of golde or siluer Soo tribulacyon of lytyll tyme wyth pacyence resceyued in thys presente lyfe deliuerith the from euerlastyng tribulacyon of the payen of helle ¶ And bryngith the to the euerlastyng blysse of the ryche kyng of heuen Wherof we haue example of the theyf that hinge on cristeryghte syde that whan he suffryd the tourmente of the crosse And was bounde by dewe dette of synne to the payne of helle ¶ He hauyng contricyon of hys wickid nes in that same houte torned hym to god and sayd ¶ Lorde whan thou comest in to thy kyngdom thyÌ„ke on me and anone he was vnbounden and delyuered of all det of payne And herde the swete voyce of cryste sayenge to hym ¶ Amen dico tibi hodie mecum eris in paradiso ¶ Sothely I saye to the thou shalte be wyth me to day in paradyse Wo to hym that nothynge payeth of his dette in this lyfe but addyth synne vpon synne Woo to hyÌ„ that of large expencys that he makyth shall be constreyned to come to a streyght countes Sothely suche that haue lyued euer wythoute a counte muste paye for theyr dette euerlastynge payne in helle wythouten ony relees ¶ There shalle vepe many marchauntes that in this lyfe laughen and Ioyen Wherof it is sayde in the boke of the apocalips Mercatores terre flebunt Marchauntis of the erhte shall vepe Marchauntis of the erhte are thoo that set all her thoughte and her loue in erhtely thyngys the whiche shall wepe full bitterly For god shall shewe her Marhaundyse to all that worlde But marchauÌ„tys of heuen thenne shall laugh and Ioye For they shall see that for litill shorte tribulacon they haue gete the blysse of paradise Wherof it is sayde in Eclesiastici Est qui multum redemtt de modico precio ¶ Some other ben that byen moche thinge wyth litill price that is to be paciente in tribulacon of this presente lyfe that god resceyueth for the grete For it is comenly sayde of an euyll payer men resceyuen ootys for whete And though it so be that thou arte not bounde in ony dette of dedely syn ve or veniall For whiche tribulacyon shulde deliuer the Neuertheles tribulacyon reserueth the froÌ„ fallyng in to dette as sainte Gregorye seide Multa sunt innocencia que cito innocenciam perderent nisi ea tribulaciones preseruarent ¶ Many ben innocente the whiche sholde soone lese Innocencie but yf tribulacoÌ„ns preseruen hem ¶ Therfore thou soule that feliste bounden in dettys or thou that drediste the paymente suffre pacyently tribulacoÌ„ns As longe as tyme endureth It payeth tofore thy dettis in the whiche thou arte bounden as by an obligacyon For though all the tribulacoÌ„ns of thys worlde were togider they myghte not be lykened to the leste poynte of tribulacyon of helle Ne all the trybulacyons of the erthe ben not in coÌ„paryson to the leste Ioye of paradyse As saynt poule sayth ¶ Non sunt condigne passionis huius teÌ„poris ad futuram gloriam que reuelabitur in vobis Ad romanos viii ¶ There ben none worthy passyons of this tyme to the blysse that is to come that shall be shewed in vs vpon this sayth saynt bernarde ¶ Non sunte condigne passiones ad preteritum peccatum quod nobis dimutitur ad presentem graciam que nobis immittitur et ad futuram gloriam que nobis promittitur ¶ There ben noo worthy passyons to the synne that is foryeuen vs to the presente grace that is yeuen vs and to the blysse that is be hyghte vs. ¶ De septima vtilitate tribulacionis CapÌ„ vii THe .vii. prouffyte of trybulacyon is that it spredith abrode or openeth thy herte to receyue the grace of god For as a goldsmyth wyth many strokes of the hamer spredyth a pyece a brode of golde or of syluer to make a vesselle for to putte in wyne or precyouse lycoure Soo almyghti god maker of euery creature ordeyneth trybulacioÌ„ to sprede or to open the soule to put therin yeftes of his grace Wherfore â—eyth the prophete in the psalme ¶ In tribulacione delatasti michi ¶ In tribulacion thou haste spredde a brode or opened to me Therfore suffre gladly the strokes of tribulacion ¶ For the more they spredde abrode the herte in suffrynge pacyently the more goostly yeftys our lorde god purtyth therin gracyously And considre that as the more precyouse metalle is more ductill and obeyeng to the strokys of the goldsmyth Soo the more precyouse a meke herte is more pacyent in tribulacyon And all though the sharpe strokys of tribulacyon greuously turmente the yet comforte the that the goldsmyth almyghty god holdeth the hamer of tribulacion in his honde and knoweth full well what thou mayste suffir and mesuryht his smytyng after thy freel nature ¶ Ne will thou not be thenne as metall in a boystouse gobet wyth spredyng of sharpe as herde hertys ben wythoute techynge In whiche god fyndeth noo place of worchyngeÌ„ Ne wille thou not be as an olde frienge panne that for hete by a lytyll stroke all to brestyth in many brekynges Ryghte soo faren felle Impacyente hertys in tribulacyon by a lytyll stroke in temptacyon of assayenge they fallen in in to many grete harmes of peyryng therefore suffre with goode wylle tribulacyon to worche his crafte in the For so biddith Salamon Eclesiasticin ¶ Sustine sustentacioÌ„es dei coniungere deo et sustine vt crescat in nouisimo vita tua Suffre the berynge vppe or the helpers of god to Ioyne the to god and suffre that thy lyfe encrese in the laste ende ¶ As who sayth suffre trybulacyon in this worlde for god and yelde hym
in prosperitee wherof sayth seynte Austyn that god sendyth tribulacyon to some men to stire hem to aske that he wolde graunte In the persone of suche seyth the prophete ¶ Ad dominum cum tribularer clamaui exaudiuit me Whan I Was in tribulacyon I cryed to oure lorde and he harde me And though all it happe that in prosperitee thou prayeste god that prosperite shulde not make the to slowe ¶ Yet neuertheles it maketh the some tyme bothe insolent and slowe so that thi prayer in prosperite is not spedeful as it is inaduercitee occupie soo moche thy herte that thou thynkeste that it hathe none entente ne deuocyon lyke as it had in prosperite yet that same aduersite makith thi prayer more precyouse And sothely all though tribulacyon oppresset the so moche that thou mayest not open thi mowthe to crye to god certynly this tribulacyon cryeth and prayeth to god for the so that thou haue pacyence for as seith a grete clerke Petir of lazer that as many woundis as he had so many prayers or cryers he had to god For whan lazer stillid wyth hys mouth his woundys cryed to god for hym wherof oure lorde seide to caym that had killid his brother abelle Genesis ¶ Vox sanguinis fratris tui abel clamat ad me de terra The bloode of thy brother abel cryeth to me fro the erthe Thus thenne it shewyth that tribula◠〈…〉 more precyouse the more acceptable to god Tribulacyons ben as it were a paymente for alettir selyd of delyueryng Wherof seyth Iob. ¶ Quis michi det vt ueniar peticio mea quod expecto tribuat michi deus qui cepit me ipse me conuertat soluat manum suam et succidit me et michi sit consolacio vt astligens me dolotem meum non percat ¶ Who shall yeue me myn askynge and who shall graunte me that I abyde god that began he conuerte me lose he his honde and kite me vp and that it be to my comforte that he tormentynge me spare not my sorowe Not well that that Iob that had loste his possessions his sonnes and his doughters and all his body was smyten with woundes or sepre from the soole of the soote vnto the ouerest parte of the hede And was repreued of his frendis and scorned of his wyfe and of his false freÌ„des He desired in no other thyng comforte but that god shulde not spare hym It thou askest what perteyneth to his delyuerynge it maye be aunswerid thus the askynge of his affeccyons or tourmentes ¶ For his tourmentys were paymentys of his leters as it is vsid in some place that whan a poure man drinketh in a tauerne and hath not wherofe to paye hys scote He asketh to be betyn and soo to be desiue If thou askist wherein was his comforte of thys Iob· ¶ Whan he asked to be turmentyd Saynt Gregory answeryth and sayeth ¶ That god sparyth some here in this worlde to tourmente they in afterwarde and some he tourmentyth here the whyche he wyll afterwarde spare ¶ The comforte of Iob was that he wyste well by presente trybulacyhe shulde escape euerlastynge dampnacyon For as it is sayde ¶ Non indicabit bis deus inidipÌ„m God shall neuer punysshe or deme twyse for one thynge And therfore this same Iob that asked that god shulde not spare hym here in this worlde asked in a nother place and sayde ¶ Parce michi domine Lorde spare me in tyme comynge suffre pacyently here in this worlde trybulacyon For tribulacyon saueth the soule as Iob sayde ¶ Ipse vulnerat et medicinat ¶ He woundeth he heleth For he woundeth the body and helyth the soule De vndecima vtilitate tribulacionis Caplm xi THe xi prouffyte of trybulacyon is that it kepyth and nourysshyth the herteÌ„ Sothely ryght as fyre is kepte in asshes ryght so the hertes of the frendes of god aren kepte in trybulacion Therfore oure lorde god commaunded Exodi ¶ Quod tabernaculum faccis cilicinis cooperietur That the tabernacle of god shuld de hyled wyth heiren sackes the whiche shulde the fende the presioê° curteynes of softe sylke and goddes ryche vesselles of golde or syluer ayenste wyndes and reynes In token that vertues of goddis seruauntes named menes ben kepte in aduersytee of trybulacyon For trybulacyon constreyneth the herte to thynke on the wretchydnesse of his owne Infyrmytee And so it constreyneth a man to be meke ¶ Whome worldly ê“sperytee had haunsyd by vayÌ„glorye aboue hyÌ„self Also trybulacyon nourysshyth the herte as a norys she her chylde For as the moder wyth the chyld cheweth harde mete the whiche the childe may not chewe and draweth it in to her body where that mete is turned into mylke to nourysshynge of the childe Soo cryste that in holy wryte is cleped oure moder for the gretnesse of his teÌ„der loue that he hath to vs He chewed for vs bytter paynes harde wordes re preues and sclaundres wyth bytternesse of his passyon that suffred for vs to nourysshe vs and strey neth vs goostly by ensample of hym to suffre trybulacyons and aduersytees of this worlde As wyne that is clensed thoroughe a bagge fulle of spyces chaungeth his owne sauoure drawynge to hym the sauoure of the spyce Soo a man suffrynge trybulacyons and aduersytees of thys worlde oweth to cleÌ„synge by the blessyd body of oure lorde Ihesu consyderynge the passyon that he suffred for hym And so it shall wexe swere and tollerable that to foresemyd full bytter and intollerable ¶ De duodecuna vtilitate tribulationis Capitulum xii THe .xii. prouffyte of trybulacyon is that trybulacyon is a certeyn token of loue that god hath towarde hym that it is sente to Wherof he sayde ¶ Quos amo arguo et castigo ¶ Hym that I loue I vndernymme and chastyle And also Salamon sayde Ecclesiastici ¶ Qui diligit fililiuÌ„ assidua et flagella· He that loueth his son he scourgyth hym ofte tyme. ¶ Wherof sayde saynte Ierome ¶ Summus pater Ihesus Christus filios suos semper sub aliquo flagello vel virga retinet vt quando eripiuntur ab vno sub alio capiuntur ¶ Oure souereyne lorde Ihesu cryste kepyth euer his chyldren vnder a scourge or a rodde And whan they ben deliuered of one they ben caughte vnder a nother But oure gode meke fader and lorde sente not alle his scourgis at ones to geder but one after a nother knowynge oure freelte For he wyl that noo man perysshe but he wyll all men be safe But euyll men and vnkynde that byleue hym not ne louen hym the whiche lyuen here wythoute scourge of of trybulacion Whome noo correccyon of chastysyÌ„ge maye wythdrawe from theyr errours god shalle punysshe wyth all his arowes of vengaunce For sothely all tourmentys that now ben departed aboute in all the worlde thenne shall be gadered togyder and abyde as in her owne place As oure lorde sayde Deutrononni xxxii ¶ Congregabo suê‘ eos mala et sagitas meas complebo in eis ¶ I shal gader togyder euyll thynges vppon euyllmen ¶ And I shall spende all myne arowes of vengaunce amonge hem ¶ Therfore thou good soule yf thou wylte be beloued of god wyll thou not putte awaye trybulacyons For they shewen to the tokens and wytnes of the loue of god But perauenture yf thou sayste the goddys chyldren taken of hym bothe good thynges euyll thynges Why is the takynge of euylle thyÌ„ges shewyÌ„ge or token of the loue of god more thaÌ„ the takynge of gode thyÌ„ges To this maye be answeryd that god yeuith many gode thynges and grete to his spyrytuell frendis and bytter and gretter to theym that he louyth more But the blessyd fader of heuen loued wythoute comparyson more his blessid sone oure lorde Ihesu criste than all the worlde and yet he sente hym here many anguesshes pouertees tribulacyons aduersytees repreues and scornynges betynges bydynges scorgynges many woundes and cruelle dethe but fewe temporell goodis Thenne is the yefte of aduersitee more shewinge token of loue of god than the yefte of temporelle prosperitee Also ferthermore oure lorde Ihesu criste goddis sone that leued here in this worlde as a wyse marchauÌ„te chose good marchaundyse and refused the badde For whan they wolde haue made hym kynge of Iude he refusid it and chase rather to I lee in to deserte And whan they soughte hym to tourmente hym and to slee hym he fleddee not but he chase rather for to deye and sayde ¶ Ego sum I am he whom ye seke Thenne yf criste was wyseste iÌ„ chesynge the whyche chase aduersitees they ben moche foles that dispisen tribulacyon and aduersy tees and chesen worldly prosperites that may not delyuer hem in tyme comynge from the hondes of her enmyes the cruell fendis Suffre thenne pacyently wyth criste here tribulacyons that thou maye take afterwarde the crowne of lyfe in the blysse of heuen For sothely otherwyse thou mayste not come to the blysse For the apostle sayth ¶ Per mulcas tribulaciones oportet nos intrare in regum celoruÌ„ ¶ It behouyth vs by many trybulacyons to entre in to the kyngdome of heuen He brynge all vs that suffred dethe oure lorde Ihesus AMEN ¶ Thus endeth this treatyse shewynge the .xii. ê“fytes of trybulacyon Enprynted at Westmyster in Caxtons hous By me Wynkyn the worde