Here after ensueth two fruytfull sermons, made [and] compyled by the ryght Reuerende father in god Iohn̄ Fyssher, Doctour of Dyuynyte and Bysshop of Rochester

THyrdly for a conclusyon of my tale, I wolde aduyse euery chrysten man and woman that hath begon a new gracyouse lyfe in chryste, to reken with theym selfe as though theyr owne soules were now in that same gre∣uous pryson of Purgatory / and that they must lye there for the satiffaccyon of theyr synne tyll tyme euery parcell of theyr dettys be fully con∣tendyd and declared, how longe that shall be no man can tell.

¶ Saynt Bernarde, which was a mā of great & synguler holynesse, sayth in a sermon, that yf after this lyfe he myght be delyuered fro the pry son of Purgatory at any tyme before the dred∣full day of Jugement: he wolde reken that he were well and mercyfully delt withall. And yf this synguler holy man thought within hym selfe thus longe for to abyde in Purgatorye:

what shall become of vs, whose lyues be farre from the great holynes of this man? ¶ Let vs than study to delyuer our pore soules from that paynfull pryson by prayers and good workes whyle we lyue here. ¶ Do this crysten man thy selfe, while thou hast space for thyn owne soule, and trust non other with the doynge therof af∣ter thy dethe. Be now thyne owne frende in this vrgent and necessary cause. Thou ought moost specyally to do for thy selfe. Thou sholde do this moost effectually / and thou maist do the same moost merytoryously.