¶ How man by knowlege & vnderstondynge of hymselfe : maye knowe god . And how the soule of man is the ymage of god .

MAny there ben that know & vnderstonde many other thynges . & yet they knowe not theyr owne selfe . They take moche hede to other . but they loke not well to themselfe . They leue theyre inwarde & goostly thynges . and seke god amonge outwarde thynges . the whyche is within theym . Therfore I shall torne fro those thynges that ben outwarde to inwarde thynges . & from inwarde thynges I shall lyft my mynde to thynges aboue / that I maye knowe wherof I came . and whether I go what I am . and wherof I am . And so by knowlege of myselfe . I maye ascende & come to the knowlege of god . For the more I proyffyte in knowlege of my self . the more nygh I drawe to the knowlege of of god ¶ On the inward mannys behalfe I fynde thre thynges in my soule wherby I remembre / beholde & desyre my lorde god The whiche ben . the mynde . the vnderstondynge / & wyl or loue . By the mynde I remembre him . By the vnderstondynge I beholde him goostly . And by wyll or loue I loue and desyre him . Whan I remembre god I fynde in hym in my mynde . & fele therin in him swetnesse & plesyre of hym . lyke as he vouchesaufe to gyue me . By the vnderstondynge I beholde in hym what he is in hymself . what in holy angellys / and what in his blessyd sayntes . what in his creatures . & what in mankynde . In hymselfe he is incomprehensyble for he is both begynnynge & ende : Begynnynge without begynnynge / & ende wythout ende By myselfe I vnderstonde how he is comprehensyble whan I may not atteyne to vnderstondynge and knowlege of my self whome he hath made . In holy angellys he is plesaunt and desyderable . For theyr desyre is alwaye to beholde hym . In sayntes he is delectable . For they happy & blessyd delyte them in hym contynually . In creatures he is meruelous . For by his myghte & power he createth all thynges the whiche he gouerneth moost wysely / & dystrybutyth moost benyngnely : In mankynde he is amyable & louely . For he is theyr god· & they ben his people . And he dwelleth with theym as in his owne temple and they ben the temple of hym . Who someuer hath mynde and thynketh on him / vnderstondeth him and loueth hym . he is with hym . Sothely we owe to loue hym moche . syth he hath loued vs soo moche / & made vs after his owne ymage & lyknes & soo hath he done to none erthly creature . Sothly it behoueth that the thynge that is made after an ymage to be accordynge and lyke to the ymage or symylytude that it is fourmed after / and not to haue vnworthely the name of an ymage in vayne . Therfore lete vs shewe in vs th ymage of hym in desyrynge of peas and regardynge of trouth . Lete vs holde and kepe hym by perfyte loue and charyte in our mynde . Lete vs bere him in our conscyence and to hym presente in euery place lete vs do due reuerence and worshyppe .

¶ Our soule sothly is the ymage of god / for asmoche as it is apte and mete to take and receyue hym and maye be partener of hym . It is the ymage of hym . not only that it remembreth itselfe vnderstondyth or loueth itselfe . But by cause it maye remembre / vnderstonde . and loue hym . whiche made it . And whan it soo dooth . thenne it is wyse . For sothly there is no thynge more lyke to the hyghe wysdome of almyghty god . than is a resonable soule / whyche by mynde vnderstondynge and loue resteth in the blessyd Trynyte . In whiche she maye not reste and abyde . but yf she remembre hym / vnderstonde and also loue hym . ¶ But yf she thynke dylygently on her lorde god . after th ymage of whome she is created and made . And vnderstonde / loue honoure . and worshyppe hym . wyth whome she maye eternally abyde and reste in perfyghte Ioye and blysse . Sothly that soule is ryghte happy and blessyd in whome oure lorde fyndeth restynge . And in whoos tabernacle he dwelleth and resteth . That is an happy soule that maye saye . My lorde & maker hath restyd in my tabernacle . Soothly he shal not deny to suche a soule the euerlastynge reste of heuen . O why thenne loke we not in our self : but seke our lorde amonge outwarde thynges : the whyche is with vs / yf we wyll be with him . Sothly he is both in vs and in vs . but that as yet is by fayth : vnto suche tyme as we maye deserue to see him clerly We knowe ( sayth the apostle ) that by fayth Cryste abydeth in our hertes . By fayth I remembre my maker / I worshyp my mercyfull redemer . and abyde my sauyoure . I byleue that he lyueth in all creatures / that he dwelleth within me . And also I truste to knowe him in himself : the whiche is moche more blysfull & Ioyfull than all thyse ben . For sothly to knowe perfytely the fader / the sone / & the holy goste is euerlastynge lyfe / perfyte blysse & excedynge plesyre . For the mortall eye hath not sene / ne eere herde ne mannys herte vnderstonde clerly and perfytly how moche clernesse . how moche Ioye . how moche swetnes we shall haue in that blessyd syghte whan we shall beholde face to face him that is the lyght of all bryghte thynge . the refuge and reste of trauelers & labourers the receyuer and keper of them that torne to him / the very lyfe to all that lyue . And the crowne of theym that ouercome theyre goostly enmyes . Thus I fynde in my soule the ymage of the hygh & gloryous Trynyte . to the whiche moost hyghe & gloryous Trynyte : I owe to referre and orther all my lyfe . that I maye remembre hym and putte my playsyre & contemplacyon in hym . The soule is the ymage of almyghty god that whiche conteyneth thre thynges . the mynde . the vnderstondynge : & wyl . To the mynde we attrybute & put all thynge that we lerne or know though we thynke not alway theron . To the vnderstondynge we attrybute all that we knowe is true . the whiche also we commende & putte to our mynde . By the mynde we ben resemblyd & lyke to the fader / by vnderstondynge . to the sone / & by wyll or loue to the holy goost . for there is no thynge in vs more lyke to the holy goost . than is the wyll or true loue . For true loue is the yefte of god more nor so precyous that there is noo yefte of god . and it is able & excellente than it is . For true loue that cometh of god . and is god himself : is properly called the holy goost : by whome the loue of god is diffused & sprad in our hertes . And by whome all the holy & blessyd trynyte dwelleth and abydeth in vs .

¶ Of wretchydnes of the body and of the dredfull Iugemente . cao. secundo

ON the outwarde mannys behalfe I am comen of my faders . the whyche haue made me the chylde of dampnacyon before they haue made me the chylde of natyuyte . Synners in theyr synne haue begotten a synnarr . whome they haue norysshed of theyr synne . Wretches haue broughte forth a wretche in to wretchydnesse of thys worlde . I haue not of them but wretchydnesse and synne and this corruptyble and rotlewe body that I carye aboute . And soothly I haste towarde them the whiche by bodely deth be passed oute of this worlde : Whan I beholde theyr sepulcre and graues I fynde not els in them but powder . wormes / stenche & lothsomnesse . Suche as I am now they were but lately and suche as they be I shall be hastely . What am I A man made of lothsom and fylthy matere torned in to flesshe / wepynge & waylynge put in to exyle of this worlde . And loo now I dye full of wyckednes / abhomynacyon & fylthe . And hastly I shal be presented before the streyte Iuge to gyue a counte & rekenynge of my werkes . Woo shall be to me wretche whan the daye of dredfull Iugemente shall come . & the bokes shall be opened wherin all my purposes desyres & thoughtes shal be rehersed in the presence of almyghty god . Thenne shall I stonde quakynge & tremblynge in the Iugement before our lorde . castynge downe myne hede as gretly abasshed in my conscyence whan I remembre myne vnkyndenesse & trespaces . and whan it shall be sayde of me . beholde this man and his werkes . Thenne shall I haue in mynde all my dutyes & synnes . For by the prouydence & vertue of almyghty god it shall be soo ordeyned that euery mannis good dedes and euyll . shal be reducyd & called ayene to his mynde & they shall be shewed with a meruelous swyftnesse : that his knowlege maye accuse & excuse his conscyence . And thus shall euery man be Iuged For euery man shal be Iuged of his dedes . & euery mannys secretis and preuytees shall be shewed to euery man . Suche as we woll not for shame confesse . shall be shewed to all men . And all that euer we coloure here by dyssymulacyon : shall be brennyd there with the vengable flamme of fyre . For the cruell & wode fyre shal be lete lose & reyne at lyberte . And the longer that our mercyfull lorde abydeth vs . & of his greate gentylnesse yeueth vs space to amende our lyfe . the more streyter shall he punysshe vs by ryghtwysnesse / yf we wyl not amende . wherfore loue we thenne somoche & coueyte the lyfe of this worlde . in the whyche lyf the lenger we contynue & abyde / the more euyll we do & synne . And the lenger that we lyue . the more blame we deserue . For euyll thynges & shrewdnes encrease & growe dayly . & gode thynges ben withdrawen . Man is in contynuall variacion & chaunge / now in prosperite now in aduersyte : & wote not whan by deth he shal be put therfro . For lyke as a sterre with bryght bemes moueth swyftly / and sodenly vanysshed away & as a spercle of fyre is quenched & torned to asshes Soo dooth this bodyly lyf . as we maye well see yf we take hede : ¶ For whan a man lyueth merely this worlde . And trusteth soo longe to endure . dysposed & ordeyneth many thynges to be done in prosesse of longe tyme . sodenly he is rauysshed with dethe / & vnware without prouisyon he is take fro the body

¶ How a synfull soule is vexed and trowbled after her departynge fro the body . cao. .iijo.

WHan the soule with greate fere & moche sorowe is departed fro the body . angels come to take her & to presente her tofore the ferdfull Iuge . And thenne she remembrynge her euyll & wicked werkes the whiche she dyde by nyght or day trembleth quaketh / & loketh how she myght escape or flee . & desyreth truesse sayenge . O yeue me space . though it be but an houre . Thenne shal the werkes as in maner of spekyng say . Thou hast wroughte vs . we ben thy werkis / We shall not lese the. but abyde styll with the & go with the to the Iugemente And they shal accuse her of many synnes & trespaces . and sholl fynde many fals wytnesse ayenste her al though true wytnes were suffycyent to her dampnacion .

The euyll fendes with ferdfull loke and terryble countenaunce shalle feere her and purswe her wyth grete cruelte and woodnesse and shall catche her with greate drede and feere . and holde her styll yf she be not delyuered frome theym by the helpe & socoure of oure lorde . Thenne the soule beholdynge the eyen the mouth & other bodely wyttes closed and spered : by whom she was wont to passe forth to take her sportes & playsyre in worldly thynges : shall retorne to herselfe . And whan she seeth herself alone lefte naked without body : smytten with grete fere and drede . she shall fayle in herself by dyspeyre . And by cause she folysshly lefte the loue of god for the loue of the worlde and flesshly plesyre : she shall be forsake of oure lorde lyke a wretche in that tyme of so grete nede of helpe . And shall be delyuered to the deuylles to be punysshed and tormented cruelly for her mysdedes .

¶ On this wyse is the soule of a synner not knowynge the daye ne the hour of his passynge . rauysshed with deth : & spared & departed fro the body . & tremblynge & quakynge she passeth of her Iourneye full of sorowe & wretchydnesse . And hauynge none excuse to alledge and shewe for her synnes : she trembleth for drede to appere before almyghty god . She is smyten with grete and wonderful fere : & vexed with many troublous thoughtes whan at her departynge fro the body ( all other thynges sette a syde ) she consydereth only herselfe : & hym to whom the tyme draweth nyghe that she muste gyue accomptes & rekenyng And knoweth that he may neuer be declyned ne chaunged frome ryghtwysnes . she consydereth well how streyght a Iuge shall sytte on her . & what reasons she shall alledge and put for her dyscharge in countynge of her lyf at soo streyghte a Iugement . & of soo precyouse Iustyce . And though it be so that she remembre no thynge / ne fynde in her self ony offence wherof she sholde be ferde & dredfull . Yet whan she shall come before that streyghte Iuge she fereth there be somwhat that is not in her remembraunce Her fere & drede encreaseth & wexeth the more . whan she thynketh that she coude not escape that tyme of this lyfe withoute synne . And also suche werkis as she thynketh be good & commendable that she hath done in her lyfe . yet they be not all fawtles yf they sholde be streyghtly Iugyd . pyte & mercy set a syde who can consydre & call to mynde how many euyll werkys we do by processe of lytyll tyme . And what good thynges we by our neclygence leue vndo / Sothely lyke as i● is synne & trespaas to do euyll . soo it is a mysse & defawte to leue good thynges vndo And soo it is greate hurte & peryll to vs whan we nother do wel ne thynke wel . But suffre our mynde to be occupyed abowte tryfles & thynges that ben varyaunt & vnprouffytable . Sothly is is full harde to kepe oure mynde surly frome euyll thoughtes . it is also very harde to be moche occupyed in worldely thynges without synne . And therfore there can no man Iuge & rebuke hymself perfytly· For he is soo moche occupyed & troubly with soo many thoughtes that he in maner knoweth not himself . soo that he knoweth not well what he doth or suffreth . Wherfore he is smyte with sodeyne fere & drede in his conscyence at his passage out of this world . For though he fynde no thynge to his knowelege that greueth his conscyence . yet he dredyth suche thynges as he knoweth not ne hath in his remembraunce .

¶ Of the dygnyte & noblesse of mannys soule . Of the wretchydnesse of the body . And how wretchyd the soule is made by the body . cao. .iiijo.

O Thou soule of man aourned with th ymage of god / made fayre & bewteuous with his symylytude / spoused and wedded to hym by fayth . endoured wyth his holy spyryte / redemed with his precyous blood . deputed and putte to be kepte with his blessyd angellys / pertener of his Ioye & blysse / the Inherytoure of his goodnes / induyd with reason & vnderstondynge . What plesyre hast thou to be so conuersaunte with the vyle body . wherby thou suffrest so moche greuaunce . tribulacion & payne . By the body thou arte punysshed for the synnes of other . & thou arte broughte to nought & repute a thyng in vayne & of lytyll valour . That carcas that thou louest & cheryseste so moche & with whome thou art so conuersaunt is fowle & lothsom matere torned in to flesshe couered wyth freyll & vnsure bewte / and hastely shall be stynkynge & roten caryon and meete to wormes For though man exalte and magnefye himselfe neuer so moche : yet he abydeth styll a foule & vnclene carcas / Certeynly yf thou consyder wel what fylth auoydeth by thy mouth / thy nose & other partes of thy body . thou sawest neuer a fowler dounghyll . Yf thou woll nombre & counte all his wretchydnes howe greuous it is oppressyd with the heuy burden of synne bounde & fretyd with vyces . moued & sty●ed with concupicence . trauayled and troubled with dyuers passyons & affeccions / defowled with Illusions . euer p●●oe & redy to euyl . & hasty to euery vyce thou shalte fynde it full of shame & confusyon . Thorugh the flesshe man is made lyke vnto vanyte For thorugh it he is enfecte wyth the vyce of concupycsence & vnleful desyre . Wherby he is kept as thral in bondage / and made so crockyd that he loueth vanyte . and werked wyckydnesse

¶ Of the myserye and wretchydnes of man in his conceyuynge . his byrth / his lyfe . and his deth . Of the noblesse of the soule . And of the sodayne myschyef of wycked men . cao. .vo.

MAn takehede what thou were before thy natyuyte . What thou arte fro the begynnynge vnto thyne endynge . And what thou thalte be after this lyf . O man fyrste fylth & lothsom matere / Afterwarde a stynkynge sackefull of dounge / And at the last mete to wormes to gnawe on in the grounde . How sholdest thou be proude / Sothly thou was fyrste as nought . thenne thou made & brought forth of vyse and fylthy matere / wrapped in vnclene clothynge & garmentes in thy moders wombe / where thou was fedde & nuorysshed with a fowle lothsome matere . And thy cote was not very honest ne pleasaunt . thus cladde & nourysshed came thou to vs / And yet thou haste not in mynde . how vyle and wretched thy begynnynge was . For bewty / fauour of people youth . & ryches / make the that thou knowest not what man is . The whiche is not els but fowle and stynkynge matere / A sacke of dounge . & fynally wormes meete / Wherof thenne is man prowde that is conceyued in synne & broughte forth with payne . lyuynge in moche laboure & vexacion / & finably must nedes deye . Thus is man torned in to vermyn . stenche / & abhominacion . And euery man is torned in to no man . Wherfore thenne arte thou proude man consyderynge that thou was somtyme vyle & foule sede & blood coagulate in thy moders wombe / Afterwarde broughte forth . Ieoparded & putte to . wretchydnesse of this lyfe & to synne . and fynally shall become wormes and mete to wormes in thy graue . O thou duste & powdre . wherfore arte thou prowde that arte conceyued in synne / broughte forth with wretchydnes . lyuest in payne & trybulacion . & shalt deye with angwysshe & vexacyon . Wherto fedeste that thy carcas soo delycyously with precyous meetes· & adurnest it with soo gaye & precyous garmentes . that whyche wythin fewe dayes shall fede wormes in the sepulcre / and leuest thy soule naked & bare of vertues & gode werkes . that is to be presented tofore almyghty god & his blessyd angellys in heuen . O why settest thou soo lytyll pryce by thy soule . & cheryssheste more thy body than it . Sothly it is grete abusion that maystresse lady to serue & to be kepte in subieccyon & the hondmen to rule & haue domynacyon . For sothely all the worlde maye not be estemed & reputed ryghtfully to the value & pryce of one soule . For our lorde wolde not gyue his lyfe for all the worlde . the whiche he gaue for mannis soule . therfore the pryce of the soule is grete . what commutacyon & chaunge thenne shall thou gyue for thy soule . that gyuest it for noughte . Dyde not the sone of god restyng in the bosom of his fader descende frome his regall sete to delyuer her fro the power of the deuyll . the whiche whan he sawe teyed & fettred with snares of synne . & in poynt to be lost & deuoured with fendes / and damned to perpetuell deth . he had pety on her & wepte / for her that coude not wepe for her selfe . And not oonly wepte . but suffred hymselfe to be slayne to redeme her with the raunson of his precyous blood . ¶ O thou man mortall . beholde how precyouse an oblacion was yeuen for the. Take hede man & vnderstonde how moche noble thy soule is . And how greuous her woundes were / for whoos helth it behouyd Cryste that was god & man to be so greuously wounded . Yf they had not ben mortall woundes & of dethe euerlastyyge . the sone of god sholde neuer haue suffred deth to hele them . Beware therfore that thou vylupende not & sette at lytyll the hurte & payne of thy soule . of whome thou seeste that hyghe mageste of god haue so greate compassyon . He morned & wepte for the. Wepe thou . & wasshe thy bedde euery nyghte with compunccion of herte & plente of teerys He shed his precyous blood for the / shed thou thyne for hym by dayly punysshemente of thy body . Whiche syth thou mayste not spende at ones by martyrdom or deth for loue of hym . At the leest wyse spende it by more ease . but by more lenger mardyrdome . Take no hede ne regarde to that vnleefull concupyscence of thy flesshe . but by the goostly desyre of thy soule . O how gloryouse shall the soule be whan it shal torne to his lorde / yf it be not defoyled with the flesshe but hath wasshed away all fylthe . and is made pure and clene . Perauenture thou wylte saye that this is an harde thynge . I can not despyse the worlde . & hate myne owne body / I praye the tell me where be the louers of the worlde that somtyme dwelled amonge vs . of whome there remayneth not but powdre & wormes . Take good hede what they be now and what they were somtyme . They were men as thou arte . ete . drynke . and made mery . And spended theyr dayes in playsyre . And in a momente they be descended to the pytte of helll And here theyr bodyes ben deputed to wormes . and thyer soules to hote fyre vnto suche tyme as they felsshypped and Ioyned togyder ayene in an vnhappy company . be put to euerlastynge fyre / The whyche were felowes in synne & wyckydnesse . for lyke as they were knytte togyder in one wyll & playsyre in synne . Soo shall they be punysshed wyth lyke payne . ¶ What hath prouffyted theym vayn glory . shorte myrth / worldly power : or domynacyon . flesshely pleasyre / false & vnsure rychesse . greate housholde & wycked concupys●●nce . Where is theyr myrth . where is theyr play and sportes . where is theyr boste . where is theyr pryde . Beholde what sorowe & wretchydnesse . cometh of soo greate myrth and gladnesse : What payne foloweth ●o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 / They ben fallen frome Ioye & myrth in to greate myschyef and hyghe tormentynges . And lyke as it befell to theym . soo it maye befall to the. For thou arte a man . erthe made of erth . Man cometh of erthe . of erth thou arte / Of erthe thou lyuest . and in to erthe thou shalte be torned whan thy laste daye cometh . The whyche shall come hastely . And perauenture it shall come this daye . O syth we ben but fylth and dunge and erthe the whiche shall ●orne to erthe / How or where of maye we be prowde .

¶ Of the dethe . and also of the paynes of wycked men after deth . cao. viᵒ.

CErtayn it is that thou shalte deye / but it is vncerten / whan / how or . where . For deth makyth hym redy ayenste the in euery place . and yf thou be wyse thou wylte alwaye make the redy agaynst hym whersoeuer thou be . Of all thynges that ben vncerten . there is no more vncerten than is the hour of deth . And there is none thynge more certen than dethe is . For deth is sure & vndowted . but the houre of dethe is preuy and vnknowen . Yf thou lyue after the flesshe . thou shalte be punysshed in the flesshe Yf thou desyre precyous clothynge . vermyn shall be strewed vnder the for fresshnes of thyn araye . & thy coueryng shal be wormes . He that loueth better worldly thynges than god . gloteny beter than abstynence / foloweth the deuyll . & shall goo with hym in to euerlastynge payne / but yf he amende . What mornynge trowest thou what sorowe & heuynesse shall be . whan wycked people shall be departed fro the blessyd company of sayntes fro the syghte of god / & shall be taken in to the hondes of deuylles . & goo with them in to euerlastynge fyre . where they shall abyde euer ▪ withoute ende in sorowe & waylynge . Sothly they banysshed & outlawed ferre fro the blessyd countrey of paradyse . shall be tormented in perpetuell paynes of helle They shall neuer see lyghte . Neuer haue socoure / ne refresshyng : but by thousandes thousandes yeres they shall be crucyat & cruelly tormented in hell / & shall neuer be delyuerd fro thens . Where the tormentour is neuer wery . & he that is tormentyd shall neuer deye . The fyre wastyth & punysshyth there on suche manere . that it euer reserueth dampnyd people . The tormentynges ben done on suche wyse : that they are euer renued / For euery man that is dampned shall suffer payne in hell accordynge to his synnes . And those synnes that be lyke : shall be punysshyd wyth lyke payne . No thynge shal be herd there but wepyng syghyng : sorowynge / wayllynge . mornynge : & gnasshynge of teeth . There shall nought be seen but vermyn : lothely & feerfull facys of tormentours / & the fowlest & moost vgly felyshypp of fendes . Cruell wormes shall gnawe within the herte . There is excedynge sorowe : abhomynable stenche / waylyng confusion wondre & huge feere . & wretches shall brenne in euerlastynge fyre alwaye wythoute ende . They shal be crucyat & tormentyd in body with fyre : & in soule with the worme of conscyence . There shal be sorowe intollerable : incomparable stenche / & horryble drede . Deth both of body & soule : wythout hope of meecy . & forgeuenes : But they shall soo deye that they maye euer lyue . & they shall so lyue that they may euer deye . Thus mannys soule is tormented euermore in hell for his synnes : or elles put in paradys : for his merytys & good dedes . Chese we then one of thyse tweyne ▪ other to be tormented euermore wyth wycked people / or euer to Ioye & make mery with holy sayntes . Sothly both good & euyll . lyf & deth be put before vs . that we maye extende & put forth oure hondes whether we woll . And yf it be soo that that dredful tormentynges make vs not ferde : At the leyst waye lete the grete rewardes of Ioye excyte and styre vs to goodnes .

¶ Of the rewardes of blessyd soules . And of the Ioyes of heuen . cao. .vijo.

THe rewardes of blessyd men ben to behold god : to lyue with god / & to lyue of god . To be wyth god : to be in god / and to haue god that is moost noble and souerayne goodnes . There is perfyte felycyte : perfyte myrth & Ioye / very lyberte . perfyte charyte : perpetuell suretee / and sure perpetuyte There is very and true gladnesse : of cunnynge plenteuousnes / all bewte & fayrnes . & all beatitude & blisfulnes . There is contynuall peas : truthe / & charyte euerlastynge lyght : vertue / & honeste : Inestimable Ioye & myrthe : excedynge swetnesse / & lyf wythout ende . etnall glory : lawde / quyete . rest : loue / swete concord . & vnyte . In this blysse shall he abyde euermore wyth our lord : in whose conscyence shal be founde no synne . He shal beholde hym at his owne lyberte . He shall haue hym to his grete playsure and swetnesse . And he shall be knytte to hym in loue . to his grete myrthe & gladnes . He shall lyue in eternyte . shyne in truthe / & Ioye in gladnesse . And lyke as he shal haue in abydynge perpetuyte . so he shall haue cunnynge & knowlege without diffyculte or hardens . & in perpetuell reste euerlastyng felycyte . Sothely he shall be the cytezyn of that holy cyte . where angels ben cyteyzins . where almyghty god the fader is the temple . and his sone the lyghte / and the holy goost is the loue & charyte· O heuenly cyte / a sure mansyon . a countrey conteynyng eury thynge . playsaunt & delectable . Wherof the people lyue without stryf or grutchynge / the dwellers lyue in quyetnesse & reste / where men suffre none Indygence ne scarsnesse . O thou cyte of god . how gloryous thynges are spoken of the. All that euer dwell in the. dwell in perpetuell Ioye & felycyte . All ben Ioyfull of oure lorde whose countenaunce and chere is meke / whose face is fayre & bewteuous & speche very swete & delycyous . He is pleasaunt to see . swete to haue and kepe . and delycyous to loue . He is ynough of hymselfe fully to please & contente vs . And also of him self is a suffycyent rewarde for our merytes : There is no thynge desyred besyde hym / For what som euer is desyred . is founde in him . It is grete lykynge and pleasyre euermore to beholde him . euer more to haue hym . And euermore to delyte in hym . And to be Ioyned and knytte to hym euer more in perfyte loue . The vnderstondyng is made clere in him And the desyre is purefyed to knowe and loue truthe . And is all the good and welth of man . That is to knowe and loue his maker .

¶ What greate foly thenne & madnesse causeth vs to desyre the bytternesse of vyces . & to folowe perylles of this worlde / to suffre the vnfortunes of this vnstable lyfe . And to be subgette of the wycked tyrannye of the deuyll . & coueyte not rather to flee to the blessyd company of sayntes & felycyte of angellis . to the solemnyte & feest of heuenly gladnesse / and to the Ioye & swetnes of contemplatyf lyf . that we maye entre in to the kyngnome of our lorde . & see th abūdaūt ryhces of his goodnesse . There we shall reste in ase . & we shall see how swete our lorde is / & ho● plenteuous the multytude of his swetnesse is . We shall see the bewte of eternall glorye . the bryghtnes of sayntes / the honoure & worshyp of the regall mageste . we shall knowe the power of the fader the wysdome of the sone / & the moost benyngne goodnes of the holy good . And soo we shall haue knowlege of thou holy trynyte . We see now bodely thynges by the body / Also we knowe the symylytude of bodely thynges by our soule . But thenne we shall se that soth fast truthe with clere syghte of our soule . O blessyd and happy syght to see almyghty god verely in himself to see him in vs . And to see vs in him in blessydful Ioye & Ioyefull blysse . We shall haue all that euer we shall desyre . so that we shall not lyste to desyre ony more . We shall be blessyd with swetnesse & loue of hym & delyciousnes of beholdinge him . The noblenesse of the hygh felycyte shal be whan the clere god hede shal be knowen in his pure beynge . and thenne shal be comprehendyd & knowen clerly the blessyd trynyte . that is incomprehensyble . The preuytees of the godhede shal be shewed openly . very god shal be seen & loue . And that syghte & loue fulfyllynge al the hert of man : shal be the hole perfeccyon of the felycyte & blysse . One tonge shal be comyn to all . myrth with oute werynesse / one desyre & eurlastynge loue . Truthe shal be shewed clerly / Charyte shall replenysshe & bothe the body & the soule shal be fully sacyat . man hede glorefyed shall shyne as the sonne . There shall be restfull helthe . concorde of body & soule . Angels & men shal Ioye to gyder in one Ioye . speke togyder one speche . And be fested all in one feest . The loue shall not fayle . ne be made lesse . There shal be noo sorowe ne payne for dyfferryng of thynges desyred but all good thynges be present . for the blessyd presence of the mageste of almyghty god is al thynges to them all . & conteyneth theym fully in all that they desyre . His power . that is almighty . wisdom . peas . ryght wysnesse / & vnderstondyng· shal be comyn to al. In that perpetuell peas shal be no dyuersyte of tonges or langage . but a peasyble & a greable concorde of maners & desyres . In the flood of that playsure the appetyte heepyd & sacyat wyth plenteuousnes shal desyre noo more . There shall be soo moche felycyte and blysse . For there shal be the hepe or mough of felycyte and blysse : excedynge Ioye and myrthe / & plenteuouse gladnesse .

¶ Who is able to haue the Ioyes of heuen . viijo.

BVt who is he that is apt and conuenyent to thyse Ioyes / sothely he that is a true penytent : A good obedyent : a louely felow and a faythfull seruaunt . A true and perfyte penytent is euer in sorowe and laboure . He sorowith for his synnes that ben presente & also that ben paste . And labouryth dylygently that he maye beware & shone synnes to come . For very true & parfyte penaunce : is to sorowe for synnes wythoute sessynge . He sorowyth for his synnes that he hath done : that he doo ne commyse nomore suche synnes as he ought to sorowe and bewayle fore . For he is not very penytent ne sorowfull : whyche dooth and cōmysyth contynually suche offences as he ought to be penytent & sorowfull fore . Therfore yf thou wolt be veryly and perfytly penytent : ceasse of synne . And be in wyll & purpoos no more for to synne .

¶ A good obedyent submyttyth his wyll : and is refusynge for leyff or for lothe . And geuyth hym holy ly to oure lorde god . That he maye saye : Myne herte is redy good lorde ▪ myne herte is redy / It is redy to do what so euer thou commaundest it . It is redy wyth a beckenynge to obeye redely at thy byddynge And so it is redy good lorde to serue the to mynystre & helpe myn neyghbours / to kepe well myselfe and to reste in contemplacyon of heuenly thynges . ¶ A good & an amyable or a louely felowe is dylygent & seruysable to all . & noyous or greuous to none . He is dylygent & seruesable / For he is deuoute to god . benygne & gentyll to his neyghbour / and sobre to the worlde . He is the seruaunt of our lorde god / felowe of his neyghbour . and lorde of the worlde . He hath heuenly thynges that ben aboute him to Ioye in . thynges that ben equall to hym to felysshyp & company with . And thynges vnderneth hym to serue hym . He is noyous or greuous to none . but he dressyth and ordenyth lowe thynges to the prouffyte of mydwarde thynges . & to the honour & worshyp of thynges aboue / subdued & folowynge heuenly thynges . subduynge and rulynge erthly thynges .

¶ A faythfull seruaunt is besy in contemplacion of god . & kepynge of himself . Therfore put all thy dylygence to kepe thyselfe well / Thenne knowynge that thyne owne dylygence maye neuer be suffycyent to kepe the withoute the helpe of god . call for the helpe of oure lorde . Thenne aske with deuoute prayer the defence & kepynge of holy angelles to beholde in the the good . the plesaunte and perfyte wyll of thy maker . Purchace also wyth deuoute prayer the helpe of all that reyneth with Cryste . ¶ Renne by eche one syngulerly . Make thy supplicacion to them euery one syngulerly . And crye to them & saye· Haue mercy on me / haue mercy on me . Specyally ye that ben my frendes haue ruth & pyte on me . Receyue a banysshed creature ▪ Neuertheles I wolde fayne be your seruaunte· Receyue your brother and seruaunte that fleeth to you for socour / Your broder & kynnesman in the blood of our mercyfull redemer Beholde a begger stondynge at the dore cryenge & knockynge Open ye . and lede hym to the kynge / that I protestate & cowchyng lowe at his fete may shewe to hym all my wretchydnesse and necessytees that I suffre . ¶ At the last shewe thy herte with all the progenye & kynred therof to thy prelate / And lete no synne abyde in the that is not put awaye by pure and clene confessyon . Also put Ihesu Chryste vpon thy herte as a seale . and the locke & keper of thy lyfe . whome cryste kepeth the dore of the herte and is the porter therof . that all the housmenye of the herte go in and forth by hym / consequently there shall be thousandes vpon thousandes of angels watchynge and kepynge at the gates of thyne outwarde wyttes . And there is noo alyante & stranger soo bolde to breke those terryble and ferdful hostes for reuerence of the keper and vssher / and for dyffence and kepynge of angellys .