[6-text p 683] thynke that they myghte nat longe perseuere in good|nesse // [1071] The ferste wanhope comyth of that he demyth that he hath synnyd so gretly & so ofte & so longe leyn in synne that he schal not been sauyd / [1072] Certis a-geyn that cursede wanhope / schulde he thynke that the passioun [folio 443b] of Ihesu Crist is more strong for to onbynde; than synne is strong for to bynde. [1073] ¶ Ageyns the secunde wanhope / he schal thynke that as ofte as he fallyth he may ary[s]e a-geyn by penytence & thow he neuere so longe haue leyn in synne / the mercy of Crist is euere more redy to resceyue hym to mercy. [1074] ¶ A-geyns the wanhope that he demyth / that he schulde nat longe perseuere in goodnesse / he schal thynke that the febilnesse of the deuyl may no thyng don but if men wele suffere hym [1075] And ek he schal han strenthe of the helpe of ihesu crist & of al holy chyrche / & of the protexioun of angelis ȝif hym leste //
[1076] Thanne schal man vndyrstonde what is the meryt [[meryt corrected]] of penaunce / & aftyr the word of ihesu Cryst it is the endeles blysse / of heuene / [1077] theere Ioye hat non ende no contrarite of woo / ne greuaunce / there alle harmys been passid of this present lyf / theere as is the sekyrnesse from the peyne of helle / theere as is the blysful cumpany that reioysyn hem euere moo euereyche of otherisIoye/[1078] theere as the body of man that wilhom was foul & derk; is moore cler than is the sunne / there as the body that whylom was sik frel & febele & mortal; is inmortal / & so strong & so hol that theere may no man apeyre it / [1079] there as ne is neythyr hungir thrust ne cold but euery soule replenyschid / with the syghte of the parfite knowynge of god [1080] ¶ This blysful regne / may men purchase by pouerte espirituel / & the glorye by lou|nesse / the plente of Ioye with hungir & thurst & the reste; by trauayle / & the lyf be deth & mortificacioun of synne /
