The prologue .

MY ryght webeloued sister in God , it is longe sence that ye very effecteously desyred me to wryte you a fewe of good and holy admonitions . But it is ( as men do say ) a point of pryde for a man to go aboute to teach his betters : and therfore esteming my selfe vnworthy , to take this thyng vpon me , I haue differde and prolonged to accomplyshe youre desyre , but for asmoche as ye haue renued youre peticyon , and instanstly desyred me to the same . I remembrynge also the wordes of Chrystes sayenge , M●●h . v. whosoeuer shall constrayne the to brynge hym a myle of his way , go with him two miles And agayne gyue to those that shall requyre of the such thyngꝭ as shal be for there profyte that requyreth them , & his ease that shall gyue them . I founde that I was constrayned by charyte , & led there vnto through youre holy oracions and prayers . Therfore I haue gathered vnder the table of good holy fathers a few crummes of breade , yf I haue not gethered them as I ought to do yet I haue done the best I could the whiche crummes I sende vnto you comprised in this boke , for your instruction . Therfore my welbeloued sister take this boke and set it as a glas before youre eyes , and beholde it well , & contynually , for the commaundementes of God be as it were glasses , in the which mans soule shulde euermore be lokynge .

For by them men shal know the fylthynes of syn ( for there is no man clene from syn and ) amend Iohn 1. there euyl thoughtes , whesshīg there faces clene from all lubricite , and ordure of synfulnesse , yf men set al there mynde vpon goddes commaundementes , & behold well these glasses there is no doute but they shall se & knowe all that shal be bothe pleasant , & displeasant vnto god . Therfore my webeloued syster , rede this boke willyngly , and rede it ouer agayne and agayne , for by it ye shall knowe , howe ye shall loue bothe god and your neyghbour , howe ye shal regard and dispyse these wordly and transytory thynges , how ye shall desyre & couet that is eternall and celestyall , howe ye shulde suffer paciently for goddes sake all worldly aduersytes , and lytle or nothynge regarde flattery and wordly prosperyte , howe that in your infirmytes and sycknes ye shal thank god , & not to be proude of youre health , and howe that in prosperyte ye shall not eleuate or exale your selfe , nor in aduersyte vnderpresse your self . Therfore my welbeloued syster in Chryst / it shall pertayne to your wysdome dilygently to study , and to rede this boke & to ensue and folowe the same . Thus god aimyghtye saue you and kepe you from all euyll .

Of Fayth . j. cha.

THe lorde sayeth that all thing is possyble Math. ix . to hym that be leueth . No man can come to etnal blysse without fayth , he is ryght fortunate and happye , that beleueth well , & beleuing well liueth wel , and lyuing well , kepeth well his fayth . For. s . Paule sayeth , that it is impossyble to please GOd Hebre. vi . without fayth , and. S. Isodore sayeth , that no man can please God without fayth . Men are not constrayned to byleue , but they are drawen vnto it by goodly examples / and resonable persuasyons , for yf man shulde be constrayned to byleue , the constraynt and fere onse gone , he wolde returne and wax worse , then euer he was before . Fayth without good , and charytable Iam. ii . workes is but deade , & of none effect , for he that is not ornared with good workes , let hym truste nothynge to fayth , for it is but dead . He that beareth the crosse , ought to be as ded in this world , for why to beare the crosse , is nothyng elles but to mortifye himselfe . And he that sayeth he beareth the crosse , and doth not mortifye hym selfe in this worlde , is a very hypocrite , and a false dyssembler . But he that doutythe not at all , but fermly and stedfastly byleueth all that is heuenly and good , loke what he demaundeth he shal optayne it . He that bileueth Iohan. iii in Iesus the son of God , shall optayne etnal & euerlasting lyfe , & who so byleueth not in hym , shal neuer come thyther . S. Iames Ia● , ii . sayth , y● as the bodye without the soule is but dead , so in likewyse , fayth is but dead , & of none effecte without good workis . My wel i. Cor. xiii beloued syster fayth is an excellent , & a great thing , but of no substance without charite . Therfore loke ye haue good fayth & kepe it as pure , & as net as ye may , take hede that ye be vncorrupted , that it continue in you . And that ye confesse the selfe fayth , without any corruption , or folish communicacion of christe Iesu , suspecte no cruelnes or euyl in hym / lest the so thinking by him , ye offende , and diminish the loue ye haue , or shuld haue vnto hym be iuste in your fayth , and loke ye haue Ioyned to ryght fay the holy conuersacyon , and that in dedes ye do not denye hym that ye do praye vnto with mouth , for an euyll thynge myngled with that , that good is doth infecte and mar all , as through a lytle pryde , all other goodnes and vertues are stayned , loke therfore that ye ( the which through grace are perfaith in Fayth ) do not amis in dede , nor that ye besmutter not your faith nor polute not the integrite therof by naughtie lyuynge nor that ye myngle not vyce with vertue , nor ioyne yll to good . Thus my good syster God preserue you in health .

Of esperance & hope . ij . c.

THe lord sayeth despere not Marke . xi . but loke that ye haue the fayth of God in you hope that may be sene , is no hope , for Roma . viii what Hope is in that thynge a man seyth , but yf we Hope that thynge we se not we do patienly tary for it / wherupon Salomon Prouet . x. sayeth that the abode and expectacion of iust men is ioyfulnes , but the hope of euyll men shall peryshe Therfore my ryght wel beloued syster tary for the lorde , and kepe his waies that is , kepe his commaundementes and he shal so exalte you , that ye shall haue heuen for your herytage . Dere syster I saye tarry for the lorde , and declyne from al euyl , and at the day of dome and iudgement he shal exalte you , for they the wyl not leue to doyl , do lese but there labour to tary for his mercy , of the which they might be sure of , yf they wolde leue there mysse liuing . Wherupon s . Isidore saieth that we shuld fere lest y● through the great hope the god doth promis vs , we contynue in syn . And agayne , that we fall not in dyspere , bicause of his iust punishment , & correction , the which are to great fautes , that is to contynew in syn , & to despere of Goddis mercy . And therfore it shal be best to exchew them both , that is to auoyde & to renounce that is yll , & to haue good hope in the great mercy of god , for euery good man doth enforse hym selfe through hope , & fere to come to euerlasting life , hope eleuathe a man to ioye , & anone aft the remembraunce of euerlastynge payne bryngeth a man to feare : & truly who so desperith to optain remission & pardon of his synnes , doth condemne him selfe more by desperation then by sin . Therfore good syster , let your hope be sted fast in chryst Iesu , for mercy shal compas them that trust in god , trust Psal. xxxvi stedfastly in hym therfore , and do wel & inhabite the earth , that is the holy church , & ye shal be nouryshed with his goodes , the whiche the church possesseth , for the thing that is done without the auctorite of the church is of no valure nor yet of no merite . Good syst leue of , all varyghtfulnesse that is all workes which are contrary vnto god , or your neyghboure , and trust in goddis mercy , leue of al iniquite and specyally all pryde , the whiche is called iniquite and truste in thy sauour chryst Iesu , amend your selfe , and hope in the great mercye of god , put away all prauite and all noughtynesse , and hope to haue pardon , correcte your lyfe , and trust to haue lyfe eternall , to the whiche I desyre hym to bryng you that hath chosen you before all worldes .

Of grace . iij. chap

SAynt Paule say Roma . v. the , where hath ben moch sin , there hath ben moche grace , so that where syn hath reygned vnto death , grace may Roma . vi . also reygne through pardon to come to eternall lyfe , for the salare and rewarde of syn is no nother thynge but death● , but the grace of god , is eternall beatitude god hath distributed & giuen Ephe. iiii . grace to euery man accordynge to the measure of the gyft of christ Welbeloued syster , the profyte of a spirituall man ( as sayeth . s . Isidore ) is a gift of god , then yf whe profyte throughe the grace of god , it must nedes folow , & necessary it is that we laude god , of our good dedes , and not ourselues . Nor no man can be corrected , but it must come of God for man hath nothynge that is good of hym selfe , nor the occasion or wayes to do well commeth not of man , as sayeth the Prophete Hiece . x. Hierime : good lorde sayth he , I knowe wel that the wayes of man is not sufficyent to ordre his affares , that is to saye , it is not in mannes power to wauke in the wayes of Iustice , yf God lede hym not , the which fayleth noman that wylduly are hym the way But there are many that deserue to be depryued of that way . And when man hath receyued any gifte of god , he shulde requyre nothyng elles , but well to vse the same , lest be the vsurpyng of another mans offyce , he lese the gift that was gyuen hi before . For why he troubleth all the hole ordre of the body , that is not content with his owne office , but vsurpeth another mannes . In the diuision of goddes gyftes , y● one taketh one , that other another , for they are neuer gyuen all Roma . xiii to one man , but to dyuers , so that by humilite , some one may haue that another may maruel at For when it is wryten in Ezechiel Ezeche 〈◊〉 that the beastes wynges smyte one vpon another , be that is sygnified , that the holy saites throughe there manifold , & diuers vertues , prouoke and moue eche others affections , and that the one through good examples techeth the other . O honest virgyn I wolde ye shuld know , that with out the grace of god preuenting accompanynge , and helpyng of vs , we can do nothing that good is , the grace of god dothe preuent vs , to th entente we shulde wyll that is good , and verteous , it accompaneth vs , bicause we shuld begyn to do that good is , it helpeth and worketh with vs , to th entent we maye make perfyte and brynge to passe that , that is good and verteous .

Then it is gyuen vnto vs by GOD , to wyll well , to begynne well , and to do well , it fo●t foloweth then that vertue is gyuen vs by god , and that vyce and syn commeth of our selues of god commeth charite , purite , and honestye , but as for pryde couetusnesse , and cupidite is of oure selues , for whe can do nothyng the good is without the ayde & help of god , and throughe the grace of god whe may do great good , without Goddes grace whe be very tradius slouthfull & colde to all goodnesse , but his grace cadyng vs we be ryght dilygent to al vertues operacion , without God , that is without his helpe , we be euer more redy to synne , and to al noutynesse , but by his grace whe be delyuered therof without the helpe of god whe be inclined to loue these worldely thynges more then it becommeth vs a great dele , but by his grace and gracious assistaunce we despyce these vayne transitoryous and worldly thynges , and delyre celestiall , we war e●ected out of the celestiall paradyse for Adams mistaute , but throughe his grace we truste to come thyther agayne , throughe Adams wretchednes and syn we descended to hel . But by goddes grace we trust to assende to euerlasting ioye . And not withstandynge we be ryche , wyse , and stronge , yet it is all of his grace . And I wolde ye shuld knowe my dere syster , that all the good that we haue in this worlde , we haue it of hym , and that all our aduersytes and sorowfulnesse do come of our mislyuyng , god through his great mercye deuydeth his gyftes amonge vs but all euyl commeth for oure synnes . Of the grace of god commeth all prosperyte , and of our syn and wyckednesse , all aduersite by GOddes grace we optaine that is necessarye , and through vyce the contrary . Therfore it is very expedy●t and necessary euermore with thankes accordynge to remember the great benefites of God , of the whiche oure holy mother the church speakyng to Chryste Iesu her spouse saythe . They that remember thy grace , thy ●an . 1 , mercy , and thy benefytes , loue the , the is to say , they loue y● , that are well mynded , they are well mynnyd and of good harte , that ascriue no ryghtfulnesse , nor no holynesse to there propre merites but al to the grace of GOD . And they loue the , which are saued and remember thy grace . O honest virgyn loke ye remember euermore the grace of god , for al the goodnes that ye haue , is by his grace . Heare what Paule sayth , by the grace of god , sayth paule , I am Cor. xv . that I am . Also by the grace of GOd ye are that ye are , for that ye haue dispised the worlde , and vtterly left your fathers house , and are apoynted to serue god , and to lyue with the handmaydens of god , al these vertues , & goodnes do onely procede of the grace of GOD , and that ye are a pure and a clene virgin , and so dothe intende to contynewe , it is not of your selfe , but of the great grace of god .

Of feare . iiij . cha

MY we beloued siter , harken what I saye , harken vnto my admonition , and to my wordes , feare God aboue all thynges , and Ecclesi . 〈◊〉 kepe alwayes his commaundementes , for the eyes of GOD , are alwayes vpon those that fere hym , and vpon those that fere hym , and vpon those that truste to his mercy . And Salomon Prouer. iii sayeth , feare GOD , and leue al wickednesse , he that feareth god forgetteth nothynge , and a certayne wyse man sayeth , that the feare of god is glorye , and that gloriation is the myrth , & crowne of all exultacyon , the feare of Eccle. i. god shall delyte the harte , and with long lyfe gyue ioye & myrthe , for he that is without the fere of GOD , can not be iustifyed Eccle. i. the feare of god , is wisdome and discipline , doute not in the feare of god , nor approche not towardes hym with a double harte .

You that feare God , sustayne & kepe wel his mercy , & depart not from hym , least ye fal , ye that feare god , byleue in hi , & your reward shall not be diminysshed . You the Ecclesi . ii . feare god , loue hym , and youre hartes shal be illuminated , and inflamed , they that feare god , beleue his wordes , and they that feare him , wyll kepe and folowe his waves , they that feare god wyl enquere for such thyngꝭ as shall plese him , & are replenished with his lawes . They that fere God wyll proue there hartes , and in his presence sanctifye there soules , they that feare god , kepe his commaundementes , and haue patience vntyl he loke vpon them , that is vntyll they departe the worlde . Goddes eyes are alwayes vpon them that feare hym , & Eccle. xv he knoeth all there workes , wysdome is the ende of the feare of god , he that feareth god , is very fortunate , and god in tyme of temptation shall delyuer hym from all euyll . The spiryte of those that feare god shal be requyred , and sought for , and be blessed in his syght . The feare of god is lykened to paradyse , and shal be couerde with all benediction and glorye . Happe is he , vnto whom god hath gyuen his feare , for the feare of god , is the begynnynge Eccle. xxv . of the loue of god . O my welbeloued syster , there is nothynge that kepeth or defendeth vs better from syn , then the feare of hell & the loue of god to feare god is to do no euyl , & to leue no goodnesse vndone , the which are moche necessary to cause and to ingender in man the feare of god , that is the fountayn of wisdome . blyssed shall he be at the houre Eccle. i. of his death , that feryth GOd . Good syster , it is a very good Iohn , ii●● thynge to feare God , for the fere of god doth exile and banysshe syn , and represse vyce , the feare of god causyth a man to be wyse and diligent , where is no fere of god , there the soule is in greate parell and daunger . Where is no feare of God , there is mys & dissolute liuynge , where there is no feare of God , there is abundance of syn . Therfore honest virgyn , loke that fere and hope be in your harte , and that they contynewe in you . And trust so vnto the mercy of GOd , that ye alwayes feare his iustice .

But yet ye shall vnderstande the there are foure maner of feares , feare humane , feare seruile , Iniciall , and chaste feare , feare humayne ( as sayeth Cassiodore ) is when we feare to suffer any daunger of the body , or the feare of losse of our worldly goodes and substaunce , this worldly and noughtye feare is lefte in the worlde , in his fyrst degre , for the Lorde Math. xv . sayeth , ye shall not feare them that kyll the body , & can not touch the soule . The seconde feare is called Seruile , as saythe blissed S. Austen , for he that for the great fere of the paynes of hell leuyth to synne , and dothe no good for GODdes sake , but for feare of payne , he fearythe after the maner of a seruaunt , the which dothe suche good as he dothe , not for feare of lesinge of that he loueth not , but for feare of punyshment whiche he feareth to suffer , such men feare not to lese the swete imbrasynges of there swete spowse Iesus . But they feare to be condempned , of this feare , saynt Paule sayeth . Uerely sayeth he , ye haue not receyued Roma . viii the spyryte of seruytute in feare , but ye haue receyued the spiryte of chyldly adoption .

This feare seruyle is good and profitable , notwithstandyng it be not sufficyent nor yet perfyte , for therby , groweth by a lytle & a litle , a custome of Iustice and of good workes . For when man begynneth to byleue the daye of Iudgment , he begynneth also to feare it . But he that feareth it , hath not perfyte trust therof , nor there is no perfyte charyte in hym that fearyth , for yf he had perfyte charite , he wold not feare for perfyte charite shulde Iohan. iiii cause perfyte iustice in man . And so he shuld haue no cause to fere but rather a good cause to desyre that all iniquite war paste and gone , and that the kyngdome of heuen war come . What other thynge is perfyte charite , but perfyte holines , he hath perfyte charyte , that lyueth perfytely , & he that lyueth perfetly , hathe no cause to be condempned , but to be crouned in heuen , he that hath in him selfe , perfyte charite nedeth not tofeare to be dāued but to hope to be a glorious saynte in heuen . And of this speaketh Dauid , sayenge . All they that Psal. v. loue thy name , shal be gloryfyed in the , so it foloweth the feare is not in charite , but that perfyte charite chaseth all feare awaye . To this kynde of fere succedeth the thyrde feare called Iniciall , that is when a man begynneth to do that thynge for Chrystes sake , the whiche at the begynnyng he dyd for feare of eternal dampnation , of this fere speketh Dauid saieuge , that the feare of Psal. cx . god , is the beginning of al wysdome , for Inicial is , when a man beginneth to loue God , whome he feared before And so the second kynde of feare , is excluded from the harte of man . Unto this Iniciall feare succedyth the fourthe kynde of feare , called chast feare be the which we feare least that the lorde tarry to longe from vs , and that he wyll leue vs , and that we shall offende hym , and moue him by our synnes , and finally lese hym . This maner of feare doth descende and spryngeth of loue , of the which we rede in the sauter . The feare of god , Psal. xviii sayeth Dauid , remayneth eternally for euermore , fere commeth fyrst to mans harte , why so ? To prepare a place for charite , when charite shal begyn to be in the hart of man , then feare which had prepared a place for charite , is reiected and sende from thense .

Lysten good syster vnto this example or similitude . We se that by the bristell the threde is brawen throwe , for the brystell enter the fyrst , & ledithe the threde throw the seme In lyke maner , feare doth fyrst enter into mans soule , and after it , commeth charite , but after that charite is onse enterde she chaseth feare away This chast feary , is a very holy feare for it ingenderth all goodnes in mans thought . This is a holy feare , that bryngeth to mannes thought perfite charite , for ꝑfet charite , is perfite holynesse , this is a feare that is very chaste , for it falleth into no auoutery , but loueth GOD aboue al thyng , and preferthe nothyng aboue the loue of GOd , this feare is also caulde chyldly feare , for it feareth not god , as a seruant fereth his cruel maister , but as a child feareth his swete father . But what meneth Dauid be this sayenge Psal. xviii , that feare of god remayneth for euermore . When saynt Iohn layeth , that perfet charite dothe repell and chace feare awaye . Iohn . iiii

This is that we tolde you before , that he hathe chast feare in hym , that fereth not GOD bycause of the paynes of hell , nor for the tormentes of the fyer , but for the reuerence & loue he hath vnto GOd , and this reuerent , & louynge feare to God shall endure for euermore . He that feareth god for the paynes of hell , hath not this chast fere , but the feare called seruyle , nor he hath no perfyte charite , for yf he loued god perfetly , he wolde haue perfyte iustice in him selfe , & shuld not feare god for feare of the pa●es of hell , but onely for reuerence and good loue , & therfore the fere of payne is not in charite for perfyte Charite putteth all feare awaye . A seruaunt feareth his maister after another sorte , then the chyld the father . The seruant feareth his mayster with dispeare and hatred , the childe fereth his father with all loue and reuerence .

Therfore I aduyse you to feare god with all loue and reuerence I wyl not ye shuld be euermore vnder the yoke of feare , but that ye shulde lyfte vp your selfe vnto god the father , that made and created you as his owne doughter . Also I exhorte you to loue god chastely , and that ye prefar nothynge aboue his loue , but that for his sake & loue , ye esteme lytle all worldly thynges . Ferthermore honest virgyn , I desyre you to amende your liuyng as moche as ye maye possible , & in such maner that your wordes and communicacion may be pudyke & chast , youre pase all honest , your countenaunce humble & meke , your tongue affable , your soule replenished with the loue of God , your handes ful of good workis , the lorde helpyng you , without whose ayde it is impossible to do well . My deare syster in chryst , yfye feare GOd , withall youre harte , ye shall haue great aboundaunce of ryches not onely in this present lyfe , but also in tyme to come .

Of charite . v. cha.

THe king hath brought 〈…〉 . me into his wyne celler , & hath ordayned charite in me . This wine celler is the church in the whiche is the wyne of prechyng of the gospel . Into this celler is brought the louer of the spouse that is the deuoute soule of man wherin charite is ordained & set , for eueri thynge ought not to be equally belouyd but in diuers maners , we shulde not loue all thynges alyke and with one affection , but one more and another lesse , for why to know what we ought to do , and not to knowe howe to order it , is no perfite science , for yf we loue not such thynges as we shulde loue , or yf we loue suche thynges as we shulde not loue , our charite is not well orderde , or yf we loue any thynge more or lesse then we shulde do , oure Charite is not well ordered , for Charite well ordered , wylleth that we feare god aboue all thyng , we shulde loue god with al our harte , that is with all our vnder Math. xxii standyng , and with all our mynd , & that is with all our wyll , and with all our thought , that is with all our memory , we shulde also e●alte and lyft vp vnto god all our vnderstandynge , all oure thought , all oure lyfe , of whome we haue althynge . And beware that there be no part of our lyfe in ydelnesse , but what soeuer that commeth to our mynde : redresse it vnto hym , from whome finally all feruentnes of loue dothe descende and flowe . Therfore my dere syster it is a ryght worthy thynge & a very necessary , that we loue God aboue all thynge , for he is the soueraine goodnes then to loue the souerayne goodnesse , is souerayne beatitude , & the more a man loueth god , the more he is fortunate , he that loueth god is reputed to be good , and yf he be good , it foloweth that he is fortunate . Of the whiche thynge it is wryten in the canticles . The loue of god is as stronge as death , that is well sayde , for as death doth violently seperate the soule from the bodye , so the loue of god , dothe violently seperate man from all carnall , and worldly loue , and verely the loue of GOD is , as stronge as death , for when that through the loue of god , we be mortified from vice , then what soeuer death dothe in mannes body , the same dothe the delection of god in the cupidites and pleasures of this worlde . God shulde be beloued for his owne sake , for he is the souerayn goodnes of all goodnes and he that hathe created vs of nought . Charite is the delection , by the which the lorde is loued for his owne sake , and a mans nyghbour for goddꝭ sake . Aboue all thing & fyrst god ought to be beloued as I haue shewed you , that is before all other thynge , and secondarely your neyghbour in god , that is in all goodnesse . Charite hath two commaundementes and preceptes . The fyrst pertayneth to the dilection of god , the whiche is the principall point of all . The seconde pertayneth to the dilection of your neyghbour , the which is lyke vnto the fyrst , as it is wryten . Thou shalt Math. xxii loue thy lorde god , & thy neyghbour as thy selfe , as thoughe he wold say , that shuld loue thy neighbour for the thing & to the ende y● dost loue thy selfe , the i● , the he maye be good & come the blysse of heuen . And of this godly & neighbourly dilection chryst in the Canticles sayeth vnto his spouse , charite , for if charite were in him god shuld be in hym , for God is charite . Also we shulde loue our neighbours & kynsfolke , yf they be good , & goddes seruantes , but yet we shuld rather loue a straunger copelyd vnto vs by charite , then our kynsfolke that neyther loue nor serue GOd : Why so ? For the coniunction & copulation of men by charite , is of a more perfection & holynesse , then onely bodely coniunction . We shulde loue all faythful people , but for asmoch as we cannot profyte them all , we ought principally to profyte them the which by reason of in habitation tyme , & other oportunites , are straytly ioyned vnto vs by charite , but yet with lyke loue , we shuld desyre euery mans saluatton , & loue al maner of people charitable that is , we shulde loue them to th entent they may loue God and be saued , yet we ought not to shewe the workes of mercy egally to euerye man , but to some more , to some lesse . My welbeloued sister , yf we kepe trewe , and perfyte charite , by GODdes helpe , and grace we may come to saluation , and for the loue of god , we shulde loue our enemyes , as it is wryten .

Loue your enemyes , do good to Luke . v● . those that hate you , and pray for them that persecute you , that euen so , ye maye be the chyldren of GOD . Then good syster , Charite is very necessary for without it no man can please GOD , he loueth not GOD that hateth his peple , nor he loueth not god , that dispeseth his Hevre . xii . commaundementes , charite is the very rote of all vertue , without charite what soeuer we do , it helpeth not , al our diligence is vaine without charite , where that charite is not there raygneth flesly cupidite and lust , and therfore a man is called perfyte , when he is ful of charite , for without charite ( notwithstandynge a man byleue neuer so well ) he shal neuer come to eternall beatitude , the vertue of charite is so excellent and so noble , that without it , all other vertues auayle not , but yf charite be in man , as it ought to be , he hath all thynge , he that loueth not GOd , loueth not hym selfe . Therfore nowe at this tyme , I monyshe you , that by perfite loue ye annexe & ioine your self to your īuiseble spouse chryst Iesu , and that be no meanes ye couet not , these worldly thynges . And haste you also be affection to be out of this dale of wretchednes , & thynk it a payne to be long here , nor take no pleasure therin , but with al your myght and desyre be as faruent as ye may to departe vnto god youre louer , & that for the loue of him , ye esteme and repute youre proper helthe as nothynge . And loke that ye be euermore throw pearsed with the woundes of his excellent loue , and so , that ye maye say these wordes , I am wounded with charite . My welbeloued lyster in chryst Iesu , harken vnto goddes wordes . Whosoeuer sethe , that he loued me , shal Iohn . xiiii be beloued of my father , & I wyl loue hym , and manyfestly vysclose my selfe vnto hym . Therfore good sister , loue him in this transitory worlde , that he maye loue you with his father in perpetuall beatitude .

Amen .

¶ Of the contempt of the worlde . viij . cha.

MY Welbeloued syster , Math. xix . Marke . x. Luke . xvii . harken vnto Chryst Iesu the whiche sayth . Whosoeuer wyl forsake and seue his house , his father and mother , his brethren and systers , or his children , his feldes , or his heritage for the loue of me and my name , he shal receyue a hunderth tymes asmoch , and therwith eternal and euerlastynge lyfe . Wherfore good syster it is for oure greate luker & profyte , to leue al earthly Iaco. iiii . thynges for Goddes sake to get eternall , for whosoeuer be a frend and a fauerer of the worlde , he is goddes enemie . Wherfore let vs not loue the worlde , least that God shall hate vs . He shall easely despyse all thynge , that rememberth euermore that he shal dye . Yf we dayly call oure death to memory , we shall wyllyngly despyse all earthly thynges , yf we thynke dayly vpon the daye of oure death , we shall efthsones forget and despyse all worldly pleasures .

Amen .