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AFter the sentence of our sauyour Iesu crist the inwarde regne of god is in the soule of man. Returne thy self with all thy hert to our lorde & forsake ye inordi nat loue of the worlde & thy soule shall fynde rest lerne to {con}tēpne outward thīg•• & aplie thy mīde to inwarde thīges & thou shalt {per}ceiue that the
kyngdome of god shall come to the wherwithe co∣mith peas & ioye in the holy goost that is nat graū∣ted to no wicked man. If y• wylte prepare ī thy sou¦le a condynge mansion criste shall come and abyde there to thy inly consolacyon. All the pryncipall ioy and delite that god hath in man / is in the obedyen∣ce / and vertue of the sowle: there he is customeably with merueylous swetnesse / and great famyliaryte comfortably fedynge it with goostely speche & doc∣tryne. O thou feythefull sowle prepare thy herte to Criste thy spouse that he may come therto: and by his goodnes make therin a mansyon. For he sayth in the gospell of Iohn̄: who so loueth me he shall ob¦serue my cōmaundementes and my fader & I with the holy gost shall come to hym and make with him inhabitaciō by grace vntyll we brīge hym to y• cele∣stiall habitacion of glorye. Make redy a place ī thy soule to hym that create it / andlette nothynge haue interesse therin that maye offende hym. If he abide with the that is lorde of all rychesse how maist thou ••e poore he shalbe a sufficient / and a feythefull pro∣uysoure for the in all thynge expedient for the ī who me thou muste more constauntly hope / and byleue than in euery creature: for all creatures mortall be mutable: for thoughe they promise neuer so suerlye ••et they may besone chaunged. But crist that is the ••••ete firmament euer in one abydynge may uat of ••••y wyse breke hys absolute promyse. Be a frende that is mortall neuer so feythefull / or beloued: yet in ••••at / that he is mortall / & frayle he may be chaūged
They that this day be thy frendes to morowe may be thyne ennemyes: & therfore put no sure confidē∣ce but in god whome thou shalte loue / and fere abo¦ue all thynge. Here we haue no certen habytacyon: but wheresoeuer we be in thys worlde we be as pil¦gryms and strangers and shall neuer haue rest wt∣out we be vnyte to crist. Fyxe thyne iye of thy soule of the present thynges in this worlde of the pylgris that goone by the way whiche be nat taried by the beaute of those thynges that ben in their waye: but theyr mynde renne moost of the ende of theyr iour∣ney. So lette the iye of your soule be fixed perfitly in heuen where be true iyes & than shall we be lesse taryed in the vse of erthely thynges. Beware that thou enclyne nat so moche vnto erthly thinges that thin appetite be nat therwith attached & thou made subiecte to the great enemy the worlde & so spiritu∣ally perisshe. Lete thy medifacion be alwey of hym that is most highe & directe thy cōtynuall prayer to crist if thou can nat occupie thy mīde ī the high con∣templacion of god rest than in the possession of our sauiour & lete thy contemplacion rest in his blessed woundes & there thou shalt {per}ceyue sīguler comfor∣te in all tribulacions bodely & gostly. And feere nat moche of the detraccion of euyll speche of the worl∣dely people if thou gyue no cause therto. For we ha¦ue example of oure maister crist that was most vile reputed / and in hys moste necessite forsaken of his frendes and a queyntaunce. Criste our leder wolde suffre and be dispised / & we desyre to be magnifyed
& loth to suffre iniure or wronge. Criste had aduer∣saries & detractours / and we wolde haue all to be our frēdes and benefactours. Howe shulne thy pa∣••••ence be crowned without aduersite. And yu wylte suffre none aduersite howe shuldeste thou be the lo∣uer of criste. If thou wylt regne with hym in perpe¦tuall pleasure suffre with hym here temporall tribu¦lacyons. If thou my ghtest ones perfitely entre ī the ••••ly deuocion of iesu cryste / and perceyue a litell of hys feruent loue / than thou shuldest but litell force all wordly auauntage or disauantage but shuldest rather ioye ī īiuries & contēptes shewed to the. For the perfite loue of god incyteth man to cōtynue hym selfe in the inly loue of god that is free frome all in∣ordynate affeccions and may without defaute ho∣ly conuerte hym selfe to criste and in hym haue per∣fyte reste & fruycion. He that praysethe the good of the worlde nat as they be extemed of the wordly pe¦ple but as they be of price in theyr selfe that {per}son ys very wyse and rather instructed of god than of mā That soule that hath at lyberte the inwarde moci∣ons of vertue & pondereth but lytell the outwarde thinges he abidethe nother place nor tyme to haue v{er}tuous exercise in good lyfe. The inly man may so∣••e vnite & calle to geder his inly powers & v{er}tues of his soule / for they be neuer holy occupied with out∣warde thīges. The outwarde labour or exercise is ••ecessarye for a tyme it letteth his soule but lytell of ••••s {per}feccions for euery thynge yt behāppith to hym ••heter it be aduersite or prosperyte he referreth yt
to the wyll of god. Loke howe moche more a mā lo¦ueth any wordly thynge than it shulde be loued so moche his mynde ys distracte & lete fro the tru ordi¦nate loue of god. If thy soule were {per}fytly pourged from all inordynate affeccions euery auenture and fortune comynge to the shulde be ye augmentacion of v{er}tue & grace to thy soule. The cause why manye thynges displease or trouble the is that thou art nat yet perfitly mortified in thy selfe ne pourged frome all īordinate loue of erthly thīges. There is nothīge that disordreth or fyleth the soule of man as in pure & disordred loue of creatures. If thou woldest syke no worly consolacion outwarde thou mightest ha∣ue thy meditacion and heuenly cōsolacion ī thy sou¦le the whych excedeth all wordly & trāsetory cōfort as heuen excedeth erthe.
wHo so euer be with y• or contrary to the laboure with all thy myght to haue thy lorde god with ye in euery viage or thīg that thou doeste / and than thou mayste saye wythe Dauid the profite / god is my helper I shall nat fere the ennemye of man. The most imme¦diate meane to god with the / is to haue a good cle¦ne conscience. And loke to who so euer god putteth furth his hande to helpe ther can no aduersite hurte hym. And if thou canst kepe scylence / and pacyence thou shalt without doute perceyue the helpe of god in thy nede. He knowethe the tyme / and the wayes
of delyueraunce & therfore refrayne & committe thy selfe to hym. It {per}teineth to hym to helpe & delyuer y• feythfull obedient soules fro {per}yll & ieopardie. It ys expedyent for our humylyacion & meryie that som∣time other people knowe our defautes & synnes yt they may correcte & repreue vs. whan man for hys owne defautes humyleth hym selfe thā he hath mo¦re compassyon of the fraylte of other & reconsylethe hym selfe to those that haue offended hym & cōtrari¦wese he reconsileth them to hym. Almighty god {pro}∣tecteth & defendeth the meke man obedyēt & hym he knoweth & counselleth & enclineth hym selfe to hym & sendeth great habundaunce of grace to hym & she weth his secrete counsel to hym. Also he inuiteth hī & draweth hym by grace benigly & after his humyli∣acion & depression he enhaunteth him to glory The meke obedyent soule {pro}ued by iniury & confusyon maye rest in peas. For in asmoche it is cōtēpned of the worlde it is in maner cōstrained to fle & reste in god & neuer estimate thy selfe to haue {per}fite {pro}fite wi∣thout thou repute thy selfe most vile of all other.
TOke thou first be quiet thy selfe & than thou mayste the better pacifie other. A pacyēt mā more cōmendable & {pro}fitable than a great lettred ••ipacyent A persone that is passionate lightely ••eueth the worst party cōmonly in euery thynge. ••••at {per}sone that is content applyeth euery thynge ••t / and that soule that is nat well content is inq̄et
by diuerse suspicions & nother quite in hymselfe ne yet suffereth other to be in pease / & speketh oftimes those thynges that be nat syttynge / & omyttethe to speke of those thynges that were expediēt to be spo¦ken of. He considereth what other be bounde to do & is necligent in that / that perteyneth to hym selfe. Haue first a zele & a respecte to thy selfe / & than thou maist better attende to the dedes of other. Thou art redy to excuse thy {pro}pre errour & defautes / & wylte nat {con}sider the fraylte of thy neyghbour. But it we∣re more accordīge to equite to excuse thy neighbour & to accuse thyselfe: If thou wylt that other support & suffre the thou must somtyme charitably support & suffre other mē how ferre art thou from {per}fite hu∣mylyte & charite / by the which man shulde be moste wroth with his owne offences it is no great matter of pacience to be cōuersaūt with meke tractable / or charitable cōpany for with suche persons euery bo∣dy deliteth naturally to be accōpaned: but it is a sig∣ne of great v{er}tue & pacience to be {con}uersant paciently with frowarde wrathfull & euyll manered peple ye be redy to {pro}ue our pacience with cōtradiccions in∣iuries & wrōges. Blessed be those that amonge this people be pacient for to them by theyr pacience per∣teyneth the kyngdome of heuen. And that persone ye by grace can applie hymselfe more to suffre paciēt∣ly shal obteyne more peas & may be called a cōque∣rour of hymselfe / & ouer the worlde a lorde a frende of crist & the inheritour of heuen.
MAn is eleuate & lyft vp from erthely thinges vnto spirituall thynges by feithe / & clenesse ••f mynde as by the meane of two wynges. Thy en ••ent must be simple without any duplycite / and thy affeccion or desire pure from all disordinaūce. The symple and true entent beholdeth god: but the pure mynde apprehendeth & taketh taste of hys ineffable swetnes. If thou be fre frome all inly and īordinat affeccion there shall no good operacyon lett the frō the wey of perfeccion. That persone that entēdeth bothe the pleasure of god / & the {pro}fite of his neygh∣bour maye haue true & inly lyberte of mynde if thy herte were perfitly ordred / euery creature shulde be •• mirrour of lyfe / & a boke of holy doctryne to the. There is no creature so vnperfite or vile but ī some maner it sheweth the goodnes of god / if thy sowle were pure frome al inordynate affecciōs yu shuldest see & praise euery thinge in due order. A pure & cle∣••e herte {per}ceyueth heuen & hell comonly The īwar∣••e disposicion of man is shewede by his outwarde conuersacion there is no ioye in this worlde to the ••ye of a clene conscience. And cōtrariwise there ys no trouble or iniq̄etacion in cōparison of the trow∣ble of the mynde discōtent of euyll conscience / As y• ••ron put in the fire is clensed from the rust & made ••ere & shenīge / so the obedyent soule made hotte in the fire of tribulacion is pourged from the rust of si ••e & made clere ī conscience and made ardēt ī the lo∣••e of god / and so he ys chaunged into a newe man whan a soule begynneth to be remysse in vertuous
labour / than it fereth a litell labour & receiueth glad¦ly the outwarde cōsolacion. But whan it beginethe {per}fitl•• to ouercome it selfe: & to walke mightyly in yt way•• ••f god than it extemeth the labours / or trow∣bles but light: y• whiche before were gr••uo{us} / & ••por∣table.
THere shulde novertuous persons haue gre∣at cōfidence in theyr selfe. For many tymes by the meane of our presūpcion or tēptacion we lac¦ke bothe grace & wysdome of true iugement. y• spi∣rituall lyght that we haue is but lytell / & yet we lese it sone by our neclygence. And diuers tymes we be so farre ouersene: that we wyll nat or can nat {per}cey∣ue our {pro}pre blīdnes. Dyuers tymes we be euyll in our dedis & in defence or excusacision of them we be worse. There be diuers that estymate / and thynke theyr dedes be done of zele / and charite the whiche they do by īmoderate passyon and carnalyte we be redye to repreue smalle offences iu our neyghbour & to excuse our {pro}pre great offences: we be redye to note the iniuries that be done to vs: but we cōsyder nat what other suffreth of vs. If we wolde cōsyder well our {pro}pre offences we shulde more paciētly suf∣fre & iuge the defautes of other. The v{er}tuous {per}sone cōsideringe howe he shall gyue accompte of his {pro}∣pre offences: cōsidereth but litell the offēces of other for whome he shall nat answere. Thou shalt neuer be inly deuout without thou kepe sylēce of other mē nes warkes & wordes / & dylygently beholde thyne
owne. If thou gyue thyne attendaunce to god & to thy selfe only: the outwarde conuersacyon of other shall the lesse moue the / where art thou whan thou arte nat present to thy selfe. If thou consider al other thynges thy selfe nat considered what shal it auaile the? Thou shalt {pro}fite specially ī gostley lyuīge yf y• preserue thy selfe fro tumultuo{us} wordly occupacion & that religious soule may nat greatly {pro}fyte gostly that moche applyeth it selfe to seculer occupacyons Lete nothīge be so derely accept to the as thy lorde god or thynge ordred to hym: & estymate all delec∣tacion or plesure of any creature nat ordred to hym but vaine a soule yt {per}fitly loueth god / & reputeth all thīge vnder god & his seint•• but smale of price. God of his incōprehēsible goodnes replenissheth ye worl∣de & is y• {per}tite solace of soule & gladnes of herte.
THe consolacion of a good soule is in cōsyde∣racion of a good & clere conscience. Labour euer to haue a good conscience / and than thou shalt be contynually in gladnes: & myghty to bere pacy∣ently aduersitees. For a good {con}science is euer glad amōge aduersitees / & cōtrary wise an euyll cōscien∣ce is euer ferefull / impacyent / and inquiete. Thou mayste rest suerly if thy herte beinge right repreue the nat. Be notyme glade but whan thou doest wel The euyll people haue neuer true or perfite reste: ••e perceyueth nat the inly peas of mynde: for as owre lorde sayth by hys prophete Isaie. there is no sure peas to wecked people: and yf they thynke they he
sure ••e doute nat aduersyte hauynge so great con∣fydence in theyr selfe that they thīke no thynge may remoue theym frome theyr estate. Haue no confy∣dence in suche maner of people: for without they be retourned frome theyr iniquite thou shalt se y• wra∣the of god fall vpon them / and theyr subtylyte / and false way shalbe made vayne: and theyr thought is shal perisshe / and they also. It is nat greuous for a {per}fyte louer of god to ioy in tribulaciō: for that is no∣ne other but to ioye in the crosse of Iesu cryste. The honour or ioye that is gyuen to man of man ys but of smale quantite: & there foloweth that ioye for the moste parte heuynesse. The ioye of good people ys in the conscience of theym / & nat in the vayne com∣mendacion of men. and the gladnes of theym ys of god and in hym & theyr ioye in vertue & of good lyfe Tho that desire the true & eternall ioye forceth lytel of temporall felicite. That persone hath tranquilite & reste of herte that nother desireth wordly cōmen∣dacion ne forceth nat of temporall commendacyon Thou art nat more holy if thou be commended ne lesse vertuous if thou be dispreised: & whan soeuer y• be cōmended or dispraysed / thou arte as thou art & as our lorde y• sercher of secrete myndes knoweth y• so thou art v{er}tuous orvicious & if thou cōsider wel what thou art withiforth thou shalte litell force of y• outwarde lāgage of ye people. man beholdeth y• out∣warde {per}te of the / but god beholdeth ye hert. man cō∣sidereth the warkes but god the entēt of euery dede It is a good signe of a meke soule: that euer dothe
& yet extemeth it self to do but litel or nought. That soule that inquireth nat nor desireth nat outwarde testymony for it selfe: it is a sigue that it hath cōmit it selfe holy to god. the probaciō of a vertuous soule standeth nat in the cōmendacion of their selfe but of god. The state of the inly vertuous man is princy∣pally to order his myude to god by obedience & lo∣ue & be at liberte from all outwarde īordinate affec¦cions and desires.
BLessed is that soule that perfitly knowinge Iesu crist loueth hym aboue all thynge and for his loue contempneth itselfe / as it is syttīge that a kynge be most princypall in his owne reame So it is according that Iesu be ordred as princypall in the soule of man the whiche is his reame as he saith hym selfe in the gospell of Luke. The kyngdome of god is within you: that is to saye in the sowle of a feythfull louer of Iesu. The loue of a creature ys vayne and vnstable / but the loue of iesu is feythfull and perseueraunt. That {per}sone that wyll rest / or be supported of a disceyuable or roton staffe muste of necessite fall therwith. and cōtrary wise be a sowle neuer so feble / or frayle if it wyll rest or applie it self with all spirituall strengthe therof to Iesu criste yt shalbe {per}fitly stablisshed & made strōge in him Loue hym & kepe hym before all other. For if al other frē∣des forsake the / he wyll nat leue the ne suffre the fy∣nally to perisshe. And thou must somtyme of neces∣syte be departed from all thy frendes of this world
But indeuour thy selfe to kepe this great trend ie∣su & thou shalt nat be seperated frome hym neyther lyuynge nor diynge & thou shalt fynde hym so feith∣ful to the that whan all other fayle ofsocour & helpe towarde the he shall neuer fayle. And if thou wylt a∣uoyde all iordinate loue of creatures Iesu wil glad¦ly īhabite & abyde with the. What so euer thou do to man or receyue of hym nat ordred to icsus is asvai∣ne & loste. Be nat adherent ne put nat thy cōfidence in that thynge that is as an holowe stocke or a rede hauynge no substaunce to susteyne the: euery man lyuynge in a mortall body: sayth our lorde is resem¦bled to hay. And all his bodely pleasure shall sone fa¦de & fall as doth the flowres in the medowe▪ If thou attende & gyue hede to outwarde apparance of mā thou shalt sone be disceyued. If thou wylt besily se∣che solace & lucre / thou shalt fynde many tymes dis∣pleasure & detryment. If thou seche thy lorde iesu ī euery thynge thou shalt truly fynde hym. And i like wise if thou seche thy selfe / thou shalt fynde thyselfe but to thy distruccyon. For he that laboreth to haue all other thinges & iesu cōtēpne is more ennemye to hīselfe than al his aduersaries ouer al ye worlde mai
WHat soule that hath the gracious presēce of iesus hath all thīge that is good with∣out any difficultes {pro}ne & redy to euery v{er}¦tuous operacion & where iesus is nat present by his grace / there is euery dede of v{er}tue i maner peynfull
There is no perfite inly and goostely consolacyon but whan iesu speketh in the religius soule Did nat mary Mawdeleyne arise sone whan Martha had shewed hir that hir mayster cryste iesu was nyghe and cleped hir. That may be called an happy houre whan criste calleth a soule from lamentacyon / and wepynge and specially of minde. O thou soule how harde & vndeuoute arte thou whan iesu is nat with the by assistence of his grace. It is nat more doma∣ge to lese his grace / than all the worlde what maye the worlde auayle the without the grace of the ma∣ker therof: It is in maner a peyne of helle to be sepe∣rate fro iesu / & it is a plesaunt paradise to be vnytte and knitte with hym by grace. And there shal none aduersite neo ther enemye ouercome the / as longe as Iesu is with the / and that soule that syketh hym and fyndeth hym hath founde the tresour of all tre¦soures: and if thou lese hym thou haste more doma∣ge: than thoughe thon shuldeste lese all the worlde / That persone may be called moste poore that hath nat iesus / and he is mooste ryche that hath hym by grace / it is great wisdome and cunnynge to be con∣uersaunt with iesus / to kepe hym with the. Labour to haue {per}fite mekenes and to be quiet / & deuoute / & iesu shall abide with the. If thou applie thy desires inordinatly to outwarde thynges / thou reiectis the inwarde grace of iesus. and than thou shalte be full disolate of true amite and frenhshyp / for wythoute his grace & gostely conforte / thou shalte neuer haue {per}fytly gostely gladnes in hym afore all other / And
also we shulde rather wyll to haue all the worlde cō¦trarie to vs: than to offende hym Amōge all thy de re & speciall frendes chese iesu as most dere feithful & speciall whome thou shuldest loue for hym selfe / & all other in ordre to hym. For ther is none other but he that hath all degrees of goodes & amyte but he a∣lone & therfore in hym & for hym loue both thy fren∣des & also thyn enemyes: & praie for them that they may knowe god & {per}fitly loue hym. Neuer coueit to be cōmended & loued singulerly. For that of ryghte belongeth to our lorde to whome none maye be cō∣pared. Mixe neuer thy loue with any inordinat lo∣ue of creatures if thou wilt know how swete Iesus is. But none maye taste of his swetenes without he be p̄uente with grace: & specially called of our lorde all other callynges sett aparte: so that thou sīglerly abyde with hym alone. Whan the grace of our lord cometh to a soule / than it is made stronge to euerye thinge that v{er}tue reqreth. & whan grace de{per}teth fro the soule it is faint & frayle vnapte to do or to suffre that v{er}tue cōmaūdeth: but it be with great difficulte & peyne: but yet leue nat those ded•• of v{er}tue & dispai∣re nat: but cōforme thy wyll to the pleasure of Iesu criste. For after wynter folowethe somer / after the night the day: after the tempest the fayre wether.
IT is no great maistry to contempne the cōso∣lacyon of man whan that the soule is preuent with heuenly comforte: but sothely that soule is ful
herde bested that is disolate of conforte both of god and man / and yet yf it can pacyently suffre this for the loue of our lorde it deseruethe to be conforted of hym. what great mysterye is it to be mery / and de∣uoute. Whan thou perceyueste the grace of god in thy soule redy to helpe the. That soule rydeth full pleasauntly whome the grace of oure lorde suppor∣tethe / and bereth vp. What meruayle is yf that sou∣le be nat ouer charged with trybulacyon that is sup¦ported of hym that is omnypotente / and ys conuey∣ed by hys infynyte wysdome we be gladde to haue consolacion and supportacion in all our lyfe and la¦bours and sory to be without them or to forsake our owne {pro}pre appetyte / and pleasure. The holy mar∣tyr seynt Laurens was so feruent in the loue of our lorde that he gladly forsoke nat alonly the worlde & his speciall beloued frende and preste Sixtus: but also his mortall lyfe by passion moste terryble and ferefull he ouer came the loue of man by the loue of his maker & he made cōmutacion of transetory con∣solacion & lyfe for euerlastīge & solacyous life. Here we may lerne to cōfourme our will to ye wyl & plea∣sure of god whan he of his grace taketh to his mer∣cy any of our frendes be they neuer so dere & specy∣al to vs. For lyke as we come to the worlde by hys will & cōmandement so we must de{per}te fro this mor∣tall lyfe & tēporall cohabitaciō. It is no lytell ne shor¦te batayle a man to ouercome him selfe and to ordre all his affeccions to the pleasure of god. The veray true louer of god / & study{us} desire of v{er}tue is nat besy
to acquyre wordly consolacion or sensuall pleasurs ne bodely delectacions: but rather glad for the loue of god to exercise theyr selfe in harde and payntfull labours whan the spirituall & deuyne consolaciō is graūted to y• for a tyme repute that of his goodnes & nat of thy deseruynge: be nat therof ioyfull to mo¦che ne p̄sume therof vaynly but be therof meke and circūspecte & timerous ī all thy actis / for that houre shall passe & tēptacion & tribulacion shal come. And whan they come take nat īmoderate thought or so∣row ne in no wise dispeyre nat / but mekely & paciēt∣ly abide the deuine cōsolacion: for he ys of power to graunt to the more habūdaūce & cōtynuaūce of spi∣rituall consolacion & swetnes than thou hadest befo¦re. And merueyle nat of suche altercacion in thy mi∣de for thou art nat the first that hath had experiens of these / for the holy seyntes {pro}phetes / pr̄iarkes and appostels haue had like altercacions of minde som¦tyme mery by deuyne consolacions & somtymes {pro}¦ued by withdrawīge of cōsolacion & belapped with tribulacion & vexacion. The {pro}phete Dauid (hauig y• cōsolacious ••sence of the deuyne grace) sayde he shulde neuer be remoued therfro without ende & a∣none whan he had experiēce of y• absēce of this gra∣ce he saide to our lorde thou hast withdrawen thy de¦lectable chere of thy presence & I am made disolate & troabled betwene those .ii. extremites of ioy & try∣bulacion take we no defēce but rather prai we with Dauid sayīge I shalnat cesse to crye to y• form̄ey & I shall mekeli pray to y• my lord god: so finally he {pro}curid ••
frute & effecte of his prayer as he testifieth sayinge Our lorde hath harde me & hath mercy of me / & ys made my helper & after saith. Good lorde thou hast tourned my sorowe īto ioy & yu hast belapped me wt ioye. If almyghty god hath in this wise delt with ye great excellent seyntes we that be of smale reputaci¦on may take therof confidence in god: thoughe we haue somtime feruour of spirite & somtyme lacke of deuocion & spirituall cōsolacion / for his spirite of ho¦ly cōsolacion cometh & de{per}teth at his pleasure as y• holy man Iob sayth. Thou graciously visetest him in the morowtyde: and shortlye afterwarde thou {pro}∣uydest hym by mater of paciēce. And therfore wher in shall I truste or in whome shall I haue cōfidence but in the great mercy of god / & hope of the heuenly helpe. If I myghte haue the assistence of good de∣uoute men / the helpe of holy bokes / and the roiall & noble processe of scrypture / also incited to deuocion by the meane of swete melodyous sōge. all those thī¦ges may lytell auayle / whan I am lafte to my frail∣te and pouerte without grace / than there is no bet•• remedye but by pacience to remoue owre owne wil & conforme vs to the wyll of god. Iohn̄ Gerson the auctour of this treatese sayth: he neuer had knowe∣••ege of religious persone but he had at somtime sub¦traccion & demynucion of gostly swetnes: feruoure & deuocion. There was neuer religious soule so il∣umined orso rauisshed in y• visiō of our lorde but it was {pro}ued by tēptaciō other afore or aft{er}ward. For ther be none worthy to haue y• hye deuine {con}tēplaciō
but if be they be exercised firste with some tribulaci∣on for the loue god. it is {pro}uyded by the greate wys∣dome of god to the electe soules to haue temptaciōs as a signe or token of cōsolacion to come. For to tho¦se that be prouyded pacyently by tribulacions be {pro}mysed of our lorde heuenly rewarde & cōsolacōn as it appereth by the sētence of the holy gost shewed bi ye mouthe of the holy euangeliste Iohn̄ seyīge who souer ouercometh tribulaciō by paciēce vice & sinne by resistēce shalbe fed with the frute of y• tree of lyfe y• is with the clere deuine vision & vnspekable frui∣cion of y• blessed godhed. & also the deuine {con}solacion is graūted vnto man for to make hym more strōge to suffre aduersite. And anone folo with tēptaciō list yt mā take any elacion of y• gostly {con}solaciō. The de∣uil slepith nat ne y• flesshely appetitis be nat yet mor¦fied / & therfore p̄pare thyselfe to batell for yu hast en∣nemies on euery side he yt neuer sesith to assaile y•.
wHy secheste thou reste whan thou arte ordeined in thys lyfe to labour Applye thyselfe more to pacience than to consolacyon / or pleasure / to the crosse of penaunce rather than to temporall ioye / & pleasure. There ys none so seculer or wordly: but if they might haue cō¦tinuaunce of spirituall cōsolacōn they wolde gladly accepte yt. For the spyrytuall ioyes excede all other wordly cōsolacioos & bodely pleasures. All wordly & bobely plesurs be transetori & mixte with somdele of vnclenes. But the spitritual plesurs & desyres be
pure honest & ioyfull {pro}cedynge of vertues & graū∣ted of our lorde alonlye to pure and clene myndes. But this tranquylyte of gostely cōsolacions is ma¦ny tymes ouerflowen by the outragious tēpestis of tēptacion. The false lyberte of lyuynge & greate cō∣fidence in our owneselfe be two thinges moche cō∣trary to heuenly visitacion & consolacion: Our lord shewith his goodnes to man grauntinge to hym y• grace of gostely consolacion. But man sheweth his vnwise neclygence / whan he withdraweth cōdigne thanke ne īputeth nat this grace only to oure lorde and therfore we be nat worthye to haue his mercy∣full grace to abyde with vs. Grace is euer graūted to the meke soules that euer be rede to yelde thākes to god for his mercyfull benefaites. and cōtrariwi∣se grace is withdrawen fro the vnkynde & the elate persone. I desire nat to haue that consolacōn by the whiche the compunccion of hert may be minysshed or remoued / ne that desire or loue that with drawy∣th cōtēplacion & inciteth my frayle soule to elacyon Euery excellency is nat holy: ne euery desyre pure ne enery swetnes good & holsome. There be diuers thynges full dere to man / that be nat accepte to god we shulde accepte gladly the grace wherby we mai be made humble / and tymerous to god / and more prompte to forsake our propre appetites / & wylles That soule that is perfytelye enfourmed wyth the rewarde of grace & lerned with the rod of subtracc••¦on of grace hath none audacite to ascribe any v{er}tue or grace to it selfe: but rather it reputeth / & cōfesseth
it selfe pore and naked / yelde thou to god that is his & to thy selfe that is thyne: that is to say thanke our lorde for his graces & thy selfe for thy synne / for the whiche iuge thy selfe worthy for to haue peine & sub traccion of grace. There may no soule attaye thys hyghe degree of grace or perfeccion ne stande therī without it grounde it selfe in humilyte & obedyence Tho that be moste precious & highe in the sighte of god be moste vyle & lowe in theyr {pro}pre consideraci¦on. & the more precious that they be in grace ye mo∣re meke they be / full of trouthe of heuenly glory nat auidious of wordly vanite. Tho that be roted & {per}∣fitly fixed in the drede & loue of god: may nat of no wise be obstynate or proude. And tho that ascribe al the goodes that they receyue to almighty god they be nat desirous of the vayne cōmendacyon of man but they rather desire the glory & cōmēdacion why∣che is of god alone: and they labour that god be ho∣noured & loued of all his sayntes: & they refarre all theyr labours to the same ende. Be thou kīde ī yel∣dynge thankes to god for the smale benefaytes that therby thou maiste deserue more greate & {pro}fitable graces. Repute the lest giftes of god gret & the natu¦rall dyfformytees and specyall tokyns of loue: for they be medycyns / & meanes to meke oureselfe. If we wolde consider perfitly the honour and dignite of the lorde that graūteth vs those gyftes we shuld exsteme no gyft lytell ne vyle. Howe may we Iuge that thynge lytell in acceptacion that is gyuen of y• great kīge maker & gouerner of y• worlde without
whose wyl & {pro}uidence there fallethe no lefe ••to the tre. And therfore he gyueth to diuers of hys electe people: peynes: tribulacions bodely & gostly as me anes of euerlastynge {pro}mocion. who soeuer desyre to retayne the grace of god let hym be diligent ī yel dynge thankes for the graces that he hath receyued And euer applie thyselfe to wisdom & mekenes lyst yt thou lese the grace that thou haste receyued If yt fortune by tēptaciō or frailte to be withdra wen frō the. say inly in thy soule that thou haste deserued y• subtraccion therof: & paciently & humbly pray for y• recoueringe therof: thou maist nat by thy {pro}pre me∣rites be restored to the mercy & grace loste by sinne but by the meane of faderly pyte and moste merci∣full passion of Iesu criste.
IHesus the heuenly kynge hath many louers of his heuenly kyngdome: but there be fewe that wyll take his crosse and folow hym. There be many desirers of hys consolacion: nat of his trybu∣lacion: he hath many redy to be parteners of his ta∣ble & repaste: but none of his abstinence & penaunce All men wolde be glad to haue ioye with hym: but there be nat many that desire peyne / & tribulacion for his loue. Many foloweth hym to be parteners of the fraccyon of his brede: but there be fewe that wyll paciently drīke with hym of hys chalice of try∣bulacion. And many meruelously commende hym for his great meracles: but many of them be lothe
to folowe the shame & vilete of his crosse. There be many that folowe hym in prosperite & loue & blesse hym as lōge as they receyue of hym prosperite and consolacion. And if he withdrawe hym selfe for a se∣ason fro them by shewynge no tokyns of pleasure or consolacion they fall soone to lamentable cōplay∣nynge & desperacion. Tho that loue that lorde nat for {pro}sperite ne cōsolacion of mynde alonly but prin¦cipally for hym selfe they blesse hym as hertly ī tēp∣tacion & tribulaciō or any other necessite as they do in theyr perfite prosperite. And if he shulde gyue to them euer in this worlde aduersite: yet they shulde euer loue and thanke hym. O howe myghty is the pure loue of Iesu nat {per}mixed with any inordinaūs of fauour or affeccion. Tho that seche of god pryn∣cipally by prayer or any other v{er}tuous pleasure bo∣dely or gostly may be called rather couetouse mar∣chauntes / than liberall louers the reason hereof we may perceyue for tho {per}sons applie theyr seruice / & loue to our lorde for his benefaites & they serue & lo∣ue ye benefaites afore god / & they loue the benefait▪ & gyftes in that they be profitable to theyr selfe / & so suīgly they may ryghtfully be called louers of their self rather thā of god. It is full hard to fīde any {per}sō so spirituall yt is {per}fitly fre from all inordinate affec∣cions. That {per}sone shulde nat be {pro}fitable or desirer only of those that be nere hym: but of ye farr extremi¦tes of y• worlde. If a {per}son were so v{er}tuo{us} yt he wold leue all the worldes substaunce & do gret penaunce & had all knowlege: and were feruent in deuocyon
yet he shulde nat atteyne the most excellent & great {per}feccion in lyuynge to the whiche he may nat apro∣che without al other thynges forsaken he vtterly re¦nounce his owne selfe & holy forsake his owne wyll & lyuynge & beinge at liberte & fre frome all priuate & seuerall affeccions & desires. & whan thou hast do∣ne all that thou knowest to be done exteme and iuge thy selfe as thou hadest of thy selfe no thynge done & as the auctour of truthe our sauyour saith: whan we haue done that is possible to be done: yet we be of ourselfe vnprofitable seruauntes & nat worthi to be rewarded but of his grace. than we beynge pore & frayle in body & soule voyde of all meritorious v{er}tue may cōueniently say with the {pro}phete Dauid I am disolate & pore. There is none more ryche none more fre ne at liberte nor more of power than yt sou∣le that knoweth itselfe: & wyl be redy to forsake nat all worly thynges: but also itselfe & repute and iuge itselfe most vyle of al other.
THere be many that repute y• wordes of our sauyour harde and peynefull whan he say∣the we may nat be his disciples without we denie & reuounce our owne wyll and take the crosse and fo∣lowe hym. But it shalbe more peynefull and sorow∣full withoute comparison for to here the wordes of mouthe in the extreme and last iugement / whan he shall pronownce the wordee of perpetuall dampna¦cyon sayinge to the reprobate creatures: Go ye fro
me for euer to be perpetuall fire that is ordeined for the deuyll & his angels: Tho that now here the wor¦de of god and be gladde to folowe it / than they shall nat be astonyed of theyre owne partye herynge the wordes of dampnacion of the reproued peple whā our Lorde shall come to deme all the worlde ye syg∣ne of the crosse shalbe heuē and so those that be true seruauntes of the lorde that was crucified / & at that day hauynge his conisaunce or signe that is to say the crosse of penaūce. than maye they haue full sure accesse to hym theyr maister & Iuge. Why fereste yu to take the crosse of short penaunce whereby yu maist comesuerly to the perpetuall ioyfull kyngdome. in yt v{er}tue of the crosse is spūall helthe & lyfe proteccion from our enemye. & infusion of heuenly swetnes. the strength of mynde ye ioy of the spirite. there is {pro}fita¦ble & excellent v{er}tue with {per}fecciō of holynes of liuīge There is no helthe of the soule ne hope of heuenly li¦fe / but by te vertue of the crosse and therfore take y• crosse of penaunce & folowe Iesu thy leder into euer lastynge blysse. He hath gone before the beringe the crosse / & therupon for thy loue suffred deth. than ta∣ke the crosse of tribulacion sikenes or other disases & desire to suffre deth for his loue / if thou wylt be as∣sembled to hym in paciently sufferynge peyne try∣bulacion & dethe. than thou shalt be {per}tener of his ple¦sure cōsolacion & {per}petuall lyfe & ioy. Than beholde what v{er}tue cometh by the holy crosse. & what habun∣daūce of grace by ye ardēt desire to suffre deth for yt loue of our lorde. There ys none other way to come
to life and inly peas. but by the way of the crosse of penaunce & cōtynuall mortificacōn of our rebellio{us} sensuall partis. Go whether soeuer thou wylt & en∣quyre whatsoeuer thou desirest: but thou shalt ne∣ner abowe the vnder the fende a more excellent & su∣re way than by the way of imitaciō of the holy cros Dispose thy selfe & order euery thynge after thy pro¦pre wyll & desire / & thou shalt fynde thou must euer suffre other frely & by thy wyl or violently & ageinst thy wyll & so thou shalt nat auoide the crosse outher sikenes & peynein thy body / orellis by tribulacyon in thy soule. Somtyme our lorde deleth with yt as he wolde forsake the / and somtyme by his wisdome he suffre the to be iniured & vexed of thy neyghbour & somtyme of thyn owne selfe and there is no reme∣dye ne alienation but thou must paciently suffre tyll it plese the great phisicion to sende alegians & reme∣dye to the. For he wyll that thou lerne to suffre try∣bulacion that therby thou mayst be made more hū∣ble & holy conuerte thy selfe to hym. There be none that perceyueth or inly or hertly foloweth y• glory{us} passion of crist as tho that for his loue or the {pro}fit of theyr soules hath had cōformable peyne. This cros of tribulaciō is euer redy & abideth the in euery pla∣ce & therfore thou maist nat auoyde it ī any place. for if thou were secluded fro all the world. yet thou shul dest haue experience of this crosse of tribulacion in thyselfe Cōuerte thyselfe to those aboue ye / orellis to those yt ben vnder y• / and aboute ye and loke wythin the. And in all those / thou shalte fynde the crosse of
temptacyon ad tribulacion / and therfore it is expe∣dyent to the euer to arme thy selfe with pacience: yf thou wylthaue inly peas and the crowne of perpe∣tuall tryumphe and ioye. Endeuoure thyselfe to be∣re this crosse of tribulacion pacyently / and it shall susteyne the myghtyly and lede the to a ioyfull en∣de where thou shalt neuer bere the burdē of any kī∣de of tribulaciō or tēptacion. If thou bere this cros ageinst thy wyll / than thou berest a burden yt more chargeth thy selfe / & therfore in asmoche as yu must of necessite bere it / applie thy selfe that thou paciēt∣ly susteyne it. and doute the nat if thou abiecte it / & put it away: but thou shalt haue another & perauē∣ture a more heuy and greuous to susteyne thynkest thou to auoyde that neuer mortall creature yet mi∣ghte escape. What saynt fro the begynnynge of the worlde to thys daye hath come to heuen wythoute this crosse of trybulacion. No nat the sonne of god our sauyour: the whiche from his fyrste comynge ī¦to this worlde: vnto his departynge was nat ye spa∣ce of one houre alyenate from the peyne of the cros and trybulacion. It was behouable that crist shuld suffre dethe and arise agayne / and so to entre īto, his glorye. Howe shuldest thou synfull creature thynke that thou shuldeste go to heuen by any other waye than by the playne / ryght and hygh kynges waye that is to saye the way of the crosse. Desyreste thou to come to heuen by pleasure and ioye. Nowe sithe the ledar of lyfe with all hys martyrs haue paste by the way of trybulacion and the crosse. Who so euer
intende to come to heuen withoute the way of try∣bulacion & the crosse they erre from the ryght waye for all the way of this mortall lyfe is full of meseres & crosses of tribulacion. And euer the more a soule {pro}fiteth in v{er}tue the more peinfull crosses & greuous tribyulacions it shall fynde {per}tly for the fende assay∣leth more fersly those {per}sons whome he seeth encrese more in vertue. The seconde cause is / for the more strongly a soule encreaseth in vertue the more desy∣re it hath to be eleuate frome the incommoditees of thys temporall exyle: & to be at lyberte in the perpe∣tuall ioy & {pro}pre countrey. But the soule thus vexed with many folde affeccions may syngulerlye be re∣cōforted whan it perceyueth that for euery trybula∣cyon pacyētly & by grace ouercome it shalbe rewar∣ded with the frute of euerlastynge lyfe. And euer ye body is punysshed with peyne and tribulaciou: the more shall the soule receyue of spiritual strengthe & consolacion. And somtyme the soule is so reconfor∣ted in aduersite and tribulacion that it wolde nat be without them consyderynge that therby it ys made coformable to oure sauyoure cryste. And also it con∣syderethe well that the more peyne and tribulacyon it may suffre for his loue / the more acceptable it shal be in hys sight. Howe may this be that man by paci∣ence suffereth and desireth that nature fleethe / and hateth nat by no vertue in man but by the synguler grace of Iesu criste. It is nat the naturall appetite of man to loue / and suffre a peynefull crosse to cha∣slyse the bodye / and subdue it to the seruyce of the
spirite to flee honours / & gladly accepte repreues & iniuries: to dispise hymselfe: & desire to be dispised / paciently to suffre all aduersitees with shames & re∣preues / & to desire no {pro}sperite in this worlde. Be∣holde thy selfe well / & thou shalt wel perceyue that if thou haue those thīges aforsaid thou hast nat them of thy selfe: but if thou wylt applie thy selfe & haue cō¦fidence in god: he shall sende the fro heuen that thou shalt haue these v{er}tues & also thy sensuall part▪ with the worlde shalbe made subiectes to the / & yf thou wylt arme thy selfe with y• quycke feith & the crosse of iesu cryst: thou shalt nat nede to fere the enuious subtylte of the fyende. than prepare thy selfe as a fei∣thfull seruaunt of iesu criste to bere his crosse cōstāt¦ly / cōsideringe howe he thy lorde dyd bere it for the peinfully & mercifully: order thy selfe to suffre mani aduersitees / īiuries & wrōges ī this miserable life: & so thou shalt haue hym with the where so euer thou be also thou shalt fynbe hym where so euer thou hi∣de y•. Than if thou desire to be dere & a frende to thy redemer & haue {per}te of his cōsolacion / desire affectu∣ally to drīke wt hym of his chalys of trybulacion de∣sire no cōsolacion ne {pro}sperite but at the wyll of god & order thy self to suffre tribulacions / & repute them as the moste speciall consolacyons / for they be y• re∣dy meanes to come tho the heuenly & {per}petuall cōso∣lacions. whan thou comest to that degre of pacyēce that tribulacion is swete & pleasaunt to the for y• lo∣ue of god / than exteme thy selfe in goode state / and that thou hast founde paradise in erthe And as lōge
as it is greuous to the to suffre & enforceth thy selse to fle tribulacion: so longe thou arte nat in the {per}fite state of pacience: & whersoeuer thou fleest thou shalt fynde trybulacion nere & folowethe. If thou order thy selfe euer to suffre paciently & to haue remēbrāce of thy dethe / than thou shalt {per}ceyue thy selfe ī good state & also in q̄etnes & reste. If thou were so {per}fite yt thou were rauysshed spiritually with Paule into y• thyrde heuen: thou shuldeste nat be sure therbye to be without aduersyte. For owre sauy our spekyng of Paule saythe: I shall shewe hym howe manye thynges he shall suffre for my name. Than if thou wilt serue and loue thy lorde perpetually thou must nowe suffre & saye manye tymes to thy selfe: wolde to god I were able for to suffre for the name of my sw••te lorde Iesu. For therby thou shuldest gyue oc∣casion of specyall edificacion of thy neyghbour gre¦at glory to thy selfe & exaltacion of gladnes to ye ho∣ly aungels. All people in maner recōmende pacien∣ce: but there be fewe yt wyll vse it. Thou that takest great labours & suffereste moche for the loue of the worlde / and wordly thinges by greate reason thou shuldeste be glad to suffre a lytell for the loue of the moste true louer criste. And euer the more thou mor¦tifie discretly thy selfe the more thou begīnest to ly∣ue in the sighte of god. There is no {per}sone apt to cō∣prehende heuenly thīges withuot they submit their selfe to suffre aduersite for the loue of criste. There is no thinge more {pro}fitable for thy selfe & acceptable to god thā to be pacient & glad to suffre for the loue
of hym. And if {pro}sperite & aduersite were put in thy eleccion thou shuldest rather chese aduersite / than desire to be recreate with many cōsolacions: For bi aduersite thou arte made conformable vnto cryste & all his seyntes. Our meryte & {per}feccion of state stā¦deth nat in great plesaunt & delectable cōsolacions but rather ī greuous tēptacions & tribulacions and penalyte of life. If there had be any more expedient meane to the helthe of man / than to suffre peyne / & tribulacion our lorde criste wolde haue shewed it bi wordes & examples. But he exorted hys disciples & all other that wolde folowe hym to heuen to take y• crosse as the moste mediate meane to folowe hym sayinge who that will folow me to heuen thei must denye theyr owne selfe forsakīge theyr {pro}pre wyll & take the crosse of peuaunce & folow me. Af•• all these thīges redde & perfitly serched it foloweth as a fy∣nall cōclusion that it is behouable to vs ta entre into the kyngdome of heuen by wany tribulacions.