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TO his rih̄t dere sus¦ter salute & helthe of soule & of body in hī. that is true sauyour In whom is alwaye charyte. pacyence & chastyte. why∣che in trouth defendeth vs fro euyl
dooyng and meuyth vs to the holy trynite / this he graūt vs by his ho¦ly pyte / the swete Ihesus cryste / of whom as moche more as man vn¦derstondeth & sayth of his meruey¦lous godenes / soo moche more lou¦eth he & hath Ioye in him for spy∣rituell Ioye comyth of the loue of our lorde the right swete Ihesus / And the very signe of loue is to thynke often on hym. Wherfore re¦membre you oft of the humilite of his Incarnacōn / of ye goodnes of his conuersacōn / & of the charytee of his passion: And who well re∣membre thyse may fynde sure me∣dycyne ayenst euery dedely synne & temptacōn / Fyrst who that enten∣deth to be proude / bethynke hym of the grete humylite of our lorde Ihe¦su cryst. whiche is soo grete that he¦uen & erthe maye not comprehende hym / And by his mekenes list to close him wythin the wombe of a mayde. Thus was the sone of god ensample of humylite & medycyne of pryde / as saynt austyn sayth / for he hath shewed to· vs mekenes in alle his werkes / For he wolde haue an humble moder the blessyd vyrgyne marye / & an hūble howse where he was borne / whiche was callyd a dyuersorye & soo hūble a bedde / as the manger for bestes And whan he came to the age of xij. yere / by his mekenes he was o¦bedyent to Ioseph & to his blessyd moder as it is shewed in ye gospell & whan he came to more age he cho¦os meke persones / as saynt peter & saynt andrew / poor meke fisshars wyth other suche to be in his com∣pany. in token that what man or woman that wold be with him in his perdurable Ioye / it behoueth hē to be hūble / & meke as saynt austī sayth By the humylite of Ih̄u cri¦ste ye may come to the Ioye perdu∣rable / For in asmoche as Ih̄u cris¦te is kyng of that coūtree whether we entende to goo / And for asmo¦che as he is man: he is sure waye wherby we shall goo / for he is our exāple / soo as he saith in the gospel I haue giuen you ensample of hu¦mylite Now may the proude folke vnderstonde that they may goo by none other way but by Ih̄u cryste this is by the waye of mekenesse / ¶For as saynt Iames sayth. For god resisteth to the hie & prou¦de folkes. & to the hūble he gyueth̄ his grace / They ben hūble that can marke ther owne proper defawtes & holde theymself for foles & wret∣ches. For the more they disprayse theymselfe / the more largely shalle they haue ye grace of our lord▪ whe¦refor it is sayd in scrypture / The gretter that ye be in auctoryte: the more hūble shold ye be in your herte in worde / & in werke / And thenne
shal ye finde grace at our lord / & af¦ter the Ioye with̄out ende. Whiche vs graūte the swete Ih̄u cryst that somoche louyth humylite / ¶Ayenst the synne of Enuye
WHo sholde reioyce the hurte of other / or be sory of ye we¦le of other / as enuyous fol¦ke done / yf they beholde bi the eye of ferme fayth / how grete charyte the swete Ih̄u very god & man shewed vs / not for his wele / but for ye we¦le of other / whan he soo dere bough¦te vs from thinfernal pryson / whi¦che was wyth noo lityll raunson: whan he gaaf hymself for our sal¦uacyon / and all this made charyte For he reioyseth the wele of other And the sorow of other was mo¦re paynful to hym than his owne which̄e shewed well by his moost pyteous & paynfull deth that euer man suffred in erth. for the releef & comforte of other. This charyte was the gyfte that he lefte wyth his discyples at his departyng. as he saith in the gospel / By this shal all folkes knowe yf ye ben truely my dysciples / for thēne shall ye ha¦ue truly charite / & loue among you
Now dere suster remember well what marke he setteth vpon al his Wherfore yf ye wyl be one of his ye must be of that marke / as wol∣de our lorde I were one of the leest of theim· For god is ordener of lo¦ue / And in loue restyth hymselfe soo as saynt Ioh̄n sayth. ¶De∣us caritas est. &c. Now take gode hede by thyse ensamples that be soo open how good a thyng is humy∣lite of herte wyth true loue of Ih̄u cryst / For there is noo thyng vn∣der heuen that he loueth somoche / & yf ye haue that ye shall haue alle weles and god hymself. And yf ye fayle that ye shall fayle all that may torne to your wele / and as sa¦ynt poul sayth / Know ye not wel that where many folkes fyghte to¦gyder in grete oostes. that thoos yt holde theym ferme togyder may not lightly be. dyscomfyted in noo wise And soo is it of the spyrituell ba¦tayll agaynst the fende. for he doeth all his force to dysceue & departe our hertes / and to take fro vs true loue & charyte / And assone as the hertes ben therfro departed / the fen∣de entreth & sleeth on euery parte For where a man gooth alone in a cumbrous waye and stumblith comunely he falleth / But and the¦re were many togyder / euery one myghte helpe other. For yf one stumble / a nother is redy to holde hym vppe or he falle / . And yf one of theym wexe wery. his felawe wyll helpe to lede hym.
¶This temptacōn is stumbling that makyth many to falle in the myre of synne: yf he
be not susteined by other with tru charyte / and soo sayth saynt grego¦rye. By thyse ensamples appereth it thenne / that who that is boundē wyth other in true charyte / & loue hath a mighty helpe ayenst tempta¦cōn / And who that is vnboūde by hatrede sone stynkith & ouerthrow¦eth· Beholde wel then̄e how moche is worth the alyaunce of true cha¦ryte & loue / that al good & godenes holdeth togyder / soo that none may perysshe that hath that / Moche lo∣ueth vs our swete lord Ih̄us / and claymeth of vs none other rewar¦de / but to loue him agayn / and this sholde noo man denye / for alway he maye fynde mater ynough in his herte yf he enserche well / In good hour are they born that can loue hī aryght. whyche almighty god gra¦unt vs soo to doo by his holy pyte
WHo shold be inpaceint with ony thyng / or kepe wrathe in his herte / that beholdeth ye pacyence that our swete lorde Ih̄u cryst had in al his lyf / Thre degre¦es ben there in pacyence. The fyrst is hye. that is whan ye suffre hū∣bly for your owne gylti / The secon¦de more hye / yf ye suffre humbly wythout your desert / The thyrde is best and moost high / yf ye suffre payne humbly· for your good dede. ¶For though we suffre harme for our deserte / we maye not wyth Right complayne vs / Now full vnhappi and vnwyse were he that wolde rather chose to be felowe of Iudas / than the felowe of Ihesu cryst / and yet bothe two were han∣ged on the tree. Iudas for his de∣serte / And Ih̄u wythout deserte For his grete bounte was cruelly hanged on the crosse By this may ye take ensample that what man that wrongeth you or hurteth you in worde or dede is your lighte It giueth you clernes / and takith fro you the clowde of synne / But is not this euyll that man torneth to derknesse / this that shold be his ly¦ight / so that it makyth hym moche more derke / as whan a man hathe trybulacyon or aduersite & takyth it impacyently / he dooth ayenst na¦ture and as euyl metall / For that thyng derkyth him that of his na¦ture sholde gyue hym lighte & cleer¦nes. Wherfore my dere suster thyn¦ke on the pacyence of Ih̄u / & of the Remedyes ayenst wrath / That o¦ne remedye is to answer ••ebonay••¦ly to the angry. For Salamon sa¦yth· fayre answere refreyneth Ire. The seconde is scylence / whan mo∣uth is stylle the fyre quēcheth / and the hete aswageth / thenne ben they stylle fro chydynge / And therfore saith saint poul to the Irous folke holde your peas. & speke not to the wrathful / The thirde is to beholde
to our owne proper defautes / for a man in that is more apte to percei¦ue ye fawtes of other than of him∣selfe / And salamon sayth the pou¦re man that hath defawt of godes he is mesurable to other / this is to saye / a man that perceyueth hym∣self disposed to wrath / & felith in hī many defawtes of īpacyēce / he for∣bereth & suffreth moche more other wyth gretter pacyēce But he yt can perceyue noo defawte in hymselfe lightly is wroth wyth other: The fourth is to behold in what condycōn the wrathfull is / for the wyse man callith wrath a lityl wo¦odnes And thenne a man that is wrothe semyth as oute of his wit¦te / & to a madde man is foly to an¦swere / For the Irous man that is redy to saye euyll & curse may vn∣neth suffre ony man or woman to be in the hous in rest wyth hym / he makyth soo moche chidyng. Wher¦of the gospell sayth vj.M. fendes vj.C.lx. & vj. were entred by that syn̄e in to one man / & neuer one of theim departed from other / for this the wrathfull hath the cursinge of our lorde· and the peasible & pacyen¦te of meke hert hath his blessynge Wherof he sayth in the gospel / ble¦syd be the peasible / for they shall be callid the chyldern of god: And to the contrary / vnhappy be they wra¦thfull / for they shall be callyd the chyldern of the fende / Wherfore go¦od suster remembre often the pacy¦ence of Ihesu cryst / & of all his ble¦ssyd apostles. marters. confessours & virgyns / how grete anguysshe & payne they suffryd wyth pacience for to haue the Ioye perdurable. Wherof sayth saynt poul / by mani trybulacions behoueth vs to entre into the reygne of god: Now take good hede how those that ben pacy∣ent. peasible / & debonayr ben well by loued wyth the swete Ihesu. Now ye know well whan dere frendes departe asondre / the last wordes yt they speke at theyr departyng is be¦ste remembryd: And amonge the last wordes that our lorde sayd whan he ascended to heuen / & lefte his dere frendes in a strange coun¦tree were of swetnes & of peas / for thus sayd he to theim· peas be amō¦ge you / my peas gyue I to you / This peas graunt vs Ih̄u cryste by paeyence in herte / In mekenesse by worde / And in dede by debona∣yrtee.
WHo is it yt by slouthe sholde leue to lerne. or to labour to doo wel. that beholde by true fayth how Ihesu cryst was in er∣the. in gooyng. in prechynge / and in all well dooyng /
¶After all this beholde how in the ende of his lyfe he was tra∣uelyd / whanne he
prayed soo that wyth his swette ranne from hym droppes of blood ren̄yng down on his blessid body to therthe / And after beholde whan he was at the pyler· how sorowfully he was scorged of the felon Iewes not oonly on his legges but ouer∣all his fayr body / And at the last beholde how he vpon the harde cros∣se was sore traueylled the daye of his letyng blood. Where other fol¦kes take rest & eschewe the light / & kepe theym cloos in theyr chābers whan thei ben lete blod of ony vey¦ne / But our blessyd lorde Ihesu cri¦ste vent vpon the mount of calua¦rie / & yet more on the crosse / & was lete blood in v places wyth woun¦des large & depe & in the veynes ca¦pytall / for he was lete blood in his hede & in many places / Than who by the eye of true fayth beholde wel this traueyle of Ihesu cryst wolde Ioyefully traueyle for his loue / & neuer wolde be ydle. soo as sayth saynt Iherom / For bi slouth co¦myth many euylles / and therfore sayth an holy fader / Doo alwaye well that ye be not founde Idle of the fende. wherby he may tēpte you A nother medycyne ayenst spiry∣tuell slouth is in the hope & comfor to of euerlastyng Ioye: And this may a man haue by holy medytaci¦on of the passion of the swete Ihe¦su cryst & of his Ioye of heuen. ¶And thise medytacōns comen ofte by good lessons / herde of other folke. or by redyng theymself that makyth man & woman fermly to trust in god. and for noo synne to be in dyspaire of his mercy / for th{us} sayth saynt b••••narde / I haue syn∣ned gretly wherwyth my conscy∣ence is trowblid / but for this I dys¦payre not for I shall thynke of the woundes of our lorde that he suf∣fryd for syn̄ars. And thenne can̄ I not be afrayed for noo syn̄e that I haue done in tyme paste but that I shall be sauid / yf I haue grace to come wyth repentaunce to the mer¦cy of our lorde· A nother reme¦die there is ayenst slouth / & ayenst euery euyll. and a mene to purcha¦ce euery wele / This is oryson / and therfore the fende dredeth moche ye charytable prayer / for this cause ye prayer entreth somoche in the court of ihesu cryst ayenst the fende that it doth two thīgis / It byndeth hym & brenneth hym / We rede that a ho¦ly man was in his prayers / & the fende came fleyng ouer hym in the eyre / & sholde passe towarde the occy¦dent. by the commaūdement of Iuli¦an the emperour of Rome. And there became he soo faste bounde by the prayers of the holy man that to hym ascended as wynges moū¦tynge towarde heuen. that in noo wise he myght remeue bi ye space of
x. dayes enteerly / And of a nother fende rede we in the lyf of saynt ber¦tylmew / yt as he was in his pray∣ers. the fende sayd to him. grete pa¦ne haue I wyth you / for your prai¦ers brenne me sore / And for thys I pray you good suster that ye oft remembre thise thynges / & thennel shall ye haue the ioy of heuē yt shal be gyuen to theym that t••aueylle for our lord Ihesu cryst / Soo as he hymselfe sayth in the gospell / calle sayth he the labourers & gyue them theyr hire: that is the Ioye of heuē
WHo sheld be coueytous or scarse / as ben thei that will for the purchasyng & recey∣uyng of erthly weles trespace ayēs¦te god / yf they beholde by true fayth the grete pouertee that was in the swete Ihesu: that conteyned fro the begynnyng of his lyf more & mo∣re vnto thende / For at the fyrst ty¦me whā. the kyng was borne that made bothe heuen & erth / he had not soo moche place on all the erth vp∣on whiche his lityl body myght res¦te / And therfore his piteous mo∣der wrapped him in pour clothes & layed him in a manger betwyx an oxe & an asse / As it is sayd in the gospell / Yet after this was he mo¦re pour / so as he hymself sayd that he had not soo moche place wheron he might rest his hede / so pour was he of erthly loggyng / But yet fo∣loweth a greter pouerte / for the kī¦ge of glorye was dyspoyled. & a••••e nakyd put vpon the crosse. And yet what is more merueile / that of all the large erthe & brode might he not haue space to laye his body to deye vpon. For the crosse was not of brede past a fo••e / or lityll more This was a thyng of grete mer∣ueyle. that he that was almyghty in heuen & in erthe / wolde wylfully be so pour as I haue here befor tou¦chid Then̄e vnhappy ben they that ouermoche desyren erthly goodes & loue & honour of this world Wher¦of saynt poul spekyth sore ayenste & saith in this wyse. It is not euyl to haue them / but rather it is euyll to loue theym / For the rych̄esse of this worlde is but thyng that go∣oth & comyth. And therfore who that hath rychesse & loueth it beco∣meth pour / & they that haue riches & loueth pouerte is ryche / For thy¦se riche folkes that ouermoche louē this worlde haue the curse of god soo as he sayth in the gospell / Cur∣sed be ye ryche folkes that haue yo∣ur comfort in your ryches. But to theim that lityll loue it hath he gy¦uē his blessyng & the Ioye perdura¦ble / & thus sayth he in the gospell ¶Blessyd be the poore. for theyrs shall be the reame of heuen. Thys graunt vs the swete Ihesus that soo moche louyd pouertee·
WHo sholde ete ouermoche by wyll or custome or dryn∣ke / wherby that the naturel forces of the soule or body sholde be destourbed / soo that they maye not doo thoffice that they are ordeyned to / Suche that ben thus accusto∣med ben the glotons that are ofte grutchyng for mete & drynke / ¶But who that by true fayth be holde well the poure petaunce that our lorde Ihesu cryst had the day yt he was lete blood on the crosse they sholde haue lityll appetyte to that glotenie / There ben two maner of folkes that haue grete nede of go¦od / & comfortable metes / this is to knowe. they that traueyle / & they yt blede. And the day of his passion our lorde was both in harde trauey¦le & bledyng. and his pour petaūce was then̄e but a draught of eysell & galle / as the gospel sheweth. who thenne sholde grutche for defawte though he haue somtyme not plen¦te at his wyll of mete or drynke. for the seruaūt ought not to be bet¦ter seruid than his lord / wherof ou¦re lorde spekith by Ieramye / Remē¦bre you sayd he that haue soo moche trespased of my grete pouerte. & of the bytternesse of the eysell & galle that was gyuen to me to drynke: & yet had I noo thynge trespased. Alas wretches that we ben / For truely if we thought of this grete defawte we sholde be content wyth lityll / & furnyssh̄ penaūce wyth ab¦stinence. and helpe those mēbres of our lorde that haue grete defawte / whiche ben the pour nedy / But it is grete merueyle yt thise rych̄e men haue not grete remorse of conscyē¦ce to thynke how they wythdrawe from the mouth of god in the po∣ur / & gyue it to the chyldern of the fende / as to thise mynstrelles & trif¦lers / glotons & vnthryftes / & doon ayenst the commaūdement of oure lorde Ihesu cryste / & to the reryll of her soules· For the book sayth / for the commaundement of god recey¦ue the pour. whiche is to meane to helpe them after your power / And yf ye may not / yet haue compascōn on theym· and be of good wyll to helpe theim / and god wyll rewarde you. And saynt austin sayth the ryche be made to helpe the pour / and the pour to pray for the riche. & god wyll gyue to eche of theim richesse & Ioye wythout ende The whiche Ioye vs graunt the swete Ihesus that fastyd xl̄ dayes in erthe.
AYēst lecherye is to be noted the clen̄esse of the pure vyr¦gyn mary / for he sholde be o¦uer vyle of his body that by tru fa¦yth beholde the clene byrth of Ihesu cryst & of his rih̄t clene & pure mo¦der the blessyd vyrgyn saynt mary and the clen̄esse of the lif that thei
ledde in erthe / and all theyrs / And on that other partye how shamful¦ly euyll & vnclene is that vyle sin¦ne / they sholde hate it wyth all the¦yr hertes. and flee it as the deth / yf they were not out of theyr wyttes or of suche frowardnesse that they raughte not of theyr dampnacōn.
For we rede in genesis that god for that vyle shamfull synne dys∣troyed al the worlde by the floode For it rayned xl dayes & xl nygh∣tes / And this wate•• was soo hye that it was aboue the hyest moun¦tayn in erthe xv cubytes· which̄e drowned al folkes & bestes & fow¦les in the world / sauyng noe & his wyfe / his thre sones & their iij. wy¦ues / And those bestes & fowles yt were saued in the same arke. the whiche water roos soo hye ouer al erth. to wasshe away the filth & foi¦lyng of that vyle synne of lecherye And as hye shall ryse the fyre be∣fore the daye of Iugement to pur∣ge the erthe of synne. as a wise fa¦der sayth / A how vnclene a thyng & vyle is that fowle synne of leche¦rye / whiche foyleth not oonly ther∣the / But the ayre. the whiche fylthe to wasshe awaye suffyseth not all the water that was in erth but that god sente fro heuen Rayne xl dayes & xl nyghtes / And for sī¦ple fornycacōn that the folke of is¦rahel dyde wyth the women of ma¦dyan rede we that there were slay of theim in one daye by the com̄a¦undement of moyses xxiij thousā¦de men / And saynt poul wytnes∣seth. And for the auoutrye that the folke of gaba dyde one nyghte in the rauysshyng the wyf of a man were slayne lx. & v.M. men / And for that vyle & shāfull synne a ayē¦ste nature god dystroyed v. cytees For it regned vpon sodome & go∣more stynkyng sulphur & bren̄yn∣ge fyre / and ouerthrewe the cytees & all the reame aboute / And all tho that enhabyted in the cytees / & all the thynges growenge in that londe / And this was done in sig¦ne that god took noo vengaunce vpon the sinners oonly / but on the place where they enhabyted / & of al the place aboute theim that eyther vsid it or knewe it. and myghte a¦mende theym & wolde not And knowe well that in all maners / ye ony man or woman procureth or assenteth therto oute of maryage / it is dedely synne. and one of ye gre¦test synnes that is / For saynt au¦stin sayth in the decre / Auoutry is gretter synne than fornycacyon / & woors & more vyle is a man to sin¦ne wyth his own moder then with a nother woman / But ouer euyl & abhomynable is it of the synne a¦yenst nature / & the leest of all oute of mariage is dāpnable Wherfore
ye wretches that folow soo the vi¦se desires of your flessh̄. bethinke ye and repent you And remēbre how greuous is this vyle syn̄e of leche¦rye. And therof sayth saynt Ioh̄n in thapocalipsis / ye vicyous wret¦ches & auouterers / that will not le¦ue their synne shall be payned per¦durably in a lake of stynkyng sul¦phur & brennyng fire. for this that they ben now soo brennyng in the fowle desire of theyr wretchid fles¦sh̄ before god & his angelles / and all good folkes / But yet the mer¦cy of our lord is soo grete / yt whan the wretchid man or woman repē¦teth hem of hir synnes / haue they euer somoche offended in ony syn̄e what soo euer it be / so that they ke¦pe hem clene forthe in body & herte shall goo to the Ioye perdurable where they shall see Ih̄u cryst ye fa¦der & the holy goost. soo as sayth ye gospell / Blessyd be the clene of her¦te: for they shal see god / & swete ihe¦su the sone of marye / & all the holy company of heuen / My dere suster there I trust we shall be togyder bo¦the body & sowle at the grete daye of Iugement And this graūt vs almighti god of his Infinite mer¦cy / Amen / And all ye that rede or here this. pray ye for hym that ma¦de it / & for theym that wrote it: and for hir that was the cause that it was made / and of your charite for theym that translated it / & wrote it out of frenssh̄ in to ēglissh̄ / one pa¦ter noster & one auee / that god ha∣ue mercy on vs. & that we may co¦me to hym after this mortall lyfe in to the euerlastyng lyf wythout departynge / Amen /
AS wyse folkes sayen there ben thre signes of very lo∣ue & frenshyp / One is a per¦sone wyll be gladde to speke well of whom they loue beste. A nother they wylle be gladde to here often well & good tidynges of theym / The thyrde they haue theim somo∣che in theyr remembraūce▪ that at somtyme all other thyng is forgo¦ten. but oonly the same thyng that they loue best / And this is the mo¦ost sure & true signe of all other / & moost to be preysed. And this dy∣de saynt Fraūceys / of whom pope gregory wytnessith by his bull / yt he sawe often wyth his eyen / that whan men named the name of ihe¦su before saynt fraunceys / he was soo rauysshyd wyth that blessid na¦me. that he had nother the herynge nor the sight of ony persone or thī¦ge that was done aboute him for a tyme. And thus my right dere sus¦ter for goddes sake ouer all thyng loue ye him· & doo your true deuour to wynne the specyall fauour and grace of him that so hiely will ma¦rye his louers. As well preuyd it
saynt Katheryne and saynt an̄es and holde ye thenne this maner to thynke what a loue the swete Ih̄s is· Thynke fyrst how by naturell reason ye be moost beholden to loue theim that moost hath gyuen you and moost hath don̄ for you with out ony deserte of you & wythoute ony rewarde of you / For al ye go¦od & weles that is in you / ye haue receyued of hym. Thenne shee wit well that aboue all other ye ought to loue him wyth all your herte / & wyth all your power / For after ye grete weles & bountees that ye ha∣ue receyued of him / soo ought you¦re loue to be grete towarde hym / & this sayth hymself by the prophete Ysaye / I haue noo desire of golde nor siluer / nor other tresour. but o∣nely of the faythfull loue of man or woman / Now bethynke you well thenne dere suster where may ye better gyue your hert & loue thā to hym / Wherfore to remēbre yow euery daye yf ye haue leyser. what ben ye weles that ye haue receyued of god wythout your deserte / & say or thinke in this manere / My lor∣de god I vnderstonde well that ye of your grace hath made me of no thyng / and giuen me beyng amon¦ge your creatures / and truly whā I was noo thynge. I myght noo thyng deserue / Then̄e all this that I am & haue / I haue receiued of yo¦ur specyall gyfte & grace wythout my deserte / And of your creatures there ben some hyer & some lower / And I knowe well that ye mygh¦te haue made me the most vyle cre¦ature that is / and this dyde ye not But of your bountee fourmed me to be amonge the moost hie creatu¦res that is / this is to knowe aun¦gell & man that in your owne lik∣nesse shall see you in your glorye. And this dignyte haue ye gyuen me wythout my deserte / yf I lese it not by my defawte· And by thys reason mercyful lorde am I enteer¦ly bounde soueraynly to loue you / wyth all my soule wyth all my her¦te / and wyth all my power /
THenne after thynke agayn yet. Lorde amonge thise cre¦atures· angell & man. there ben some of one parte & some of a nother. For some of theym for the¦yr synne fylle in to helle / And ye all pyteous hye kyng of heuen des¦cended from your hye throne in to your lityll preuy chāber. this was the wombe of the blessid virgyne / whan of hir it pleysed you humbli to be born / & to receyue the humayn flessh̄ / to suffre deth for the redemp¦cōn of all mankynde. wherof all be not parteners / but suche as be crys¦ten & liue wel therafter / & dey in ye right fayth / But other may not clayme that. as Iewes & sarrazins
and all other mescreauntes & vn∣true crysten And good lorde ye mi¦yghte haue lete me deye wythoute baptesme / and thēne had I be caste wyth theym in to helle wythout en¦de / But this dyde ye not. but ma∣de me partener of your redempcōn by the grace that ye haue gyuē me to receyue baptesme wherby ye deli¦uerde me fro the snare of perdura∣ble deth / And yet had I then̄e noo thanke to yelde you. nor noughte haue deserued of on wele or grace nomore than they that deyed vn∣crystned: and descended in to helle wythout recouer / o mercyfull lorde Ih̄u howe moche am I bounden by this reason ouer all thing to gyue you that poore loue that can come of me / And after this thynke fur¦ther of tho that ben crystened how some of theym ben naturell fooles & wythout vnderstondyng. & how god hath gyuen you wythout yo∣ur deserte resonable vnderstonding ¶Also in like wyse some of hem ben lepers deef / & dombe / and ful of other foule siknesses. or lame or di¦fformed / And ye haue receyued of god without your desert your natu¦rel helth & right shape. wherof hūbli thanke him. And thynke thenne ferder that some there be that haue their helth & wel formed & resona∣ble vnderstondyng. & yet al the day¦es of their lif liue in grete pouerte and labour for theyr mete / drynke & clothes / and yet haue therof full scarse sustenaūce / And all other∣wyse hath our lorde pourueyed for you / for to haue delicyous metes & of all other sustenaūces grete lar∣gesse wythout your deserte / Behol¦de thēne fro the begynnyng of your lif in al tymes yf euer ye cowde fī¦de in you ony manere of wele lityl or moche: but that ye haue recey∣ued it of god by his specyall loue & grace that he hath gyuen to yow more than to many other / And wyth thise grete bountees that he hath giuen you / Remembre you of the grete harmes & daūgers that he hath defended you & deliuerd you from / & saye or thynke in this ma¦nere / Moost mercyfull lorde Ihesu I know well that I haue ofte syn¦ned dedely / both by wyll & dede. wher¦by ye myght by rightful Iugemēt haue condēpned me forthwyth in to helle without ende / And this di¦de ye not / but by your grete mercy hath spared me / & gyuen me leyser to doo penaūce. And by this on̄ly reison am I boūde to serue you / & lo¦ue you ouer all thyng / And whā ye shall haue in suche manere wel enserchid in your hert the grete gra¦ces & giftes that ye haue receyued of our lord Ih̄u cryst / Yf ye auyse you wel your lif & your dedes. and beholde what wele / what loue and
what kyndnesse ye haue yelded to hym that hath shewed you soo gre¦te loue & done somoche for you with out your deserte. Perauenture ye shall well perceyue in your selfe yt noo thyng in regarde haue ye yel∣den to hym. but oonly syn̄e / and yf ye may fynde there ony wele. it is soo lityll. that it is as noo thynge ayenst soo many graces & benefay¦tes as he hath lente & gyuen you & whan thyse thynges ye haue well remembred & well torned & retor∣ned / thēne with a hole mynde speke or thynke hūbly & deuoutly in you¦re herte towarde hym My swete lor¦de Ih̄u cryst I perceyue wel that so¦me Rent am I boūden to yeue yow for so many boūtees & weles as ye haue gyuen me And I know wel that though I hadde a thousande worldes in my power for to gyue you. noo thyng shold that encrease you. For your glory & ryches is so grete & infenite. that there may no thyng encrease it / for ye haue nede of noothyng / & therfore good lord I wote well / that ye aske of me no more than may be foūde in my po¦wer / This is to knowe. that I lo∣ue you / & serue you with al my sou¦le / wyth all my hert. & wyth all my power. But this may I not haue but of your gyfte. for I haue noo thyng of myself / but sin̄e & malice / And it were to grete a wronge & vnkyndnes to yelde you sin̄e & ma¦lice for your grete boūtee & swetnes¦se that ye haue shewed me / & truely than behoueth me to haue it of you For there is noo wele nor good∣nes but it cometh of you But how shal I haue it of you / not by byēge for I haue noo good to gyue you but of your owne. for ye are lorde of all thīg / & haue power ouer al / ¶Ha good lord thēne behoueth it me to gete it by hūble & fayr pray∣er. And yf I pray to you ye may ryghtfully refuse it. for this that I am a wretchyd sin̄er And yet mer¦cyful lorde I know wel that tho∣ugh I had in me the sin̄es & maly∣ces of all creatures / whiche sholde be ouermoche. yet were all my vyle wretchydnesse lityll in comparison of your grete boūte Wherfore almi¦ighty god al merciful & piteous / I beseche you that your grete boūtee be not wythdraw by my wretchid¦nesse Syth it is soo good lord that I yelde me to you / & come to yow wyth grete drede & dyspayr for my grete wretch̄ydnesse / but yet wyth grete sure hope of you for your me¦rueylous mercy & boūtee / and sith ye axe of me nomore for all ye we¦les & graces that I haue receyued of you / but that I sholde loue you o¦uer all thyng / and this may I not haue but oonly of you & of youre gyfte / Wherfore moost mercyfull
lorde swete Ihesu I beseche you. for that loue that made you descende frō heuen. & to be come man for mā and to suffre soo cruel & harde deth for loue of the redempcōn of man. That it may pleyse you tern tow∣arde me: & graūt me of your grace that I may yelde you my lityll po∣or loue ayenst the grete merueylo¦us & mercyful loue ye haue shewed vnto me / Soo that my poor herte rest on noo creature by vayne & de¦ceyuable loue cōtrary to your wyll & pleysure / As verely as I know well that noo thynge is to be belo¦uyd / But for bountee or beaute that they haue receyued of you / And moost gracyous lorde for ye paynfull pascōn that ye deyned to suffre for my syn̄es / ye that neuer dyde syn̄e / I require & hūbly beseche you. that ye graūt me very sorowe & true repentaūce for my sinnes in this lif / soo that I be not by theim deliuerde to eternall payne / And dere suster whan ye shall thus ha∣ue spoken to the sone. tourne yow thēne to his blessid moder. & say or thynke. O moost blessid glorious virgyn mary & moder of our lorde Ih̄u cryst / for that swete loue that was betwene you & your dere sone whan ye soo swetly enbrased hym thē same that is the kyng of glori And wyth your breste gaaf hym sowke / and many a swete kisse ga¦ue and Receyued of hym / I requy¦re & hūbly beseche you / that ye pur∣chace me that grace of your dere chylde truly to loue him. And my prayer soo to auaūce / that I maye atteyne his blessid loue / And I be¦seche you moder of mercy / for that grete sorow that was in your herte whan ye saw your dere sone wyth out gylte suffre soo harde & cruel de¦the: for me synfull & all other syn̄∣ners. that it wyll pleyse you to be meane for vs to gete vs his grace of true repentaūce for our syn̄es / he¦re in th̄is wretchyd & short lyf: so yt we may to his pleysure peasible de¦parte▪ & come Ioyfully to ye presen¦ce of your dere sone & you / there to contynue wythout ende / Amen /