[6-text p 646] to labour in preynge to god for amendement of hire synnes / & that he wole graunte hem to ryse oute of hire synnes [684] [Christ Church MS folio 266a] A nother estaat is the estaat of grace. in whiche estaat he is holde to werkes of penytence / And certes to alle these thynges. is Accidie enemye & con|trarie. For he loueth no besynesse at al // [685] Now certes this foule synne / Accie is eke a ful grete enemye to the lyflode of the body / For it ne hath noo purueaunce agayns temporel necessite For it forslewith & for|sluggeth & destroieth alle goodes temporels by rechelesnesse //
[686] The .iiij. thynge is that Accidie is lyke hem / that ben in the peyne of helle. by cause of hir sleuthe / & of hire heuynesse / For they that ben dampned ben so bounde/ that thay may neyther wele doo ne thynke // [687] Of Accie cometh first that a man is anoyed & encombred for to do any goodnesse / & maketh that god hath abhomynacioun of swiche Accidye //
[688] Now cometh sleuth that wil nat suffre. non hardnesse ne no penaunce / For soothly slouthe ys so tendre & soo delicate. as seith Salomon / that he wole nat suffre noon hardnesse / ne penaunce / And therfore he shendeth al that he dooth [689] agayns this roten herted synne of Accidie & slouthe sholde men exercise hem selfe & vse hem selfe to don good werkes / and manly & vertuously cacchen corage wele to doon thenk|ynge that oure lord Ihesu criste quyteth euery good dede / be it neuer so lite [690] vsage of labour. is a greet thynge. for it maketh as [s]eith Seint Bernarde the laborer to haue stronge armes & harde synwes / & slouthe makith hem feble & tendre // [691] Than cometh drede to begynne to werke any good werkes / for certes he that is enclyned to synne / hym thinketh it is so greet an Emprise for to vndirtake to doon werkes of goodnesse / [692] and casteth in his herte that the
