Page 443
Moral.
¶ This Emperoure betokeneth our lorde Ihesu criste, the whiche loueth gretely the songe of perfyte deuocyon. For whan we praye, we speke with god, and whan we rede, god speketh with vs. The welle, that was in the palays, betokeneth confessyon that is in the chirche. Therfore yf ony man be dronken with synne / lete hym drynke on the welle of confessyon / and with out doubte he shall be safe. This ydrony betokeneth euery man, that wylfully torneth agayne vnto synne after his confessyon / lyke as a dogge whiche maketh a voment, and casteth oute the mete that he hathe eten before / and after, whan he is hungry, cometh & eteth it agayne. Neuerthelesse yf a man that hath synned thus wyll drynke of the welle of confessyon, he shal receyue his goostly strengthes. The nyghtyngale, that satte on the tree, betokeneth ye soule, that sytteth on a tree of holy doctryne. And her songe betokeneth the soule, that sytteth on the tree in the deuoute prayers to god. But this soule dothe auoutry as ofte tymes as she consenteth to synne. Neuerthelesse, yf she renne to confessyon, and bathe her with the water of contrycyon, god shall loue her. But her fomen, whiche betokeneth the fendes of helle, seynge this, yt god [is] soo mercyfull / they stoppe the welle of confessyon / that is to saye, the mouthes of men, that wolde shryue theym selfe / with shame and with drede of theyr penaunce, that they dare not tell forth theyr synnes to theyr confessyon. And thus ben many exyled, and putte to dethe euerlastynge. And therfore study we to bathe our lyfe in the welle of confessyon, with ye water of contrycyon / [signature G viij.] and than may we be sure to come to euerlastynge lyfe. Unto the which I praye god brynge both you and me! Amen.