(19)
¶ That þenkeþ good þouȝt in sylence,
Þey speken to god in specyale.
How mow ȝe lette hem, for conscience,
Calle hem to werkis generall?
Line 148
Summe bidden, in vertue of obedience,
Contemplatyf in spirituale;
To religeon they don a gret defence,
Þat bryngen hem to werkis temperale.
Line 152
(20)
¶ Hyȝe astate, ne gentyl blod,
Bryngeþ no man to heuene blisse.
Gret hors ne iewel, ne browded hood,
Nes no cause of holynesse,
Line 156
But pore of spirit and meke of mood.
Ȝeue god þy soule, and eche man hisse.
Gret lordschipe, ne myche good,
Nes no cause of sykernesse.
Line 160
(21)
¶ Tonsure, abyte, ne no wede,
Nes no cause of religeon,
Ne wakyng, ne fastyng, ne almesdede,
Ne preyere ne oreson,
Line 164
But þe herte þerto take hede,
Wiþ werkys of discrecion.
Deuocion makeþ soules to spede
Wiþ werkis of contemplacion.
Line 168
(22)
¶ Religeon is most meke
In abyte, of alle vertues floures.
Richesse, ne worldis worschipe, seke,
But offre to god alle honoures.
Line 172
Richesse and worschipe make soules syke
In vaynglory and sharp[e] shoures.
Make vertues þe wax, deuocioun þe wyke,
To brenne briȝt in heuene boures.
Line 176
