❧ Of the dayly exercyse of deth the fyrst parte , whiche is of the feare or drede of deth / to be excluded , exyled and to vtterly be put away .

REuerende Mother , and good deuout sisters : you haue ( many & oftentymes with great instance ) requyred me to wryte vnto you some breue / or short lesson of deth , and howe you shulde prepare and ordeyne your selfe dayly therunto . This lesson is very short & playne after saynt Augustine : De tempore serm. ii . c. xxxix . for he sayth , the lest lesson and the best meane to dye well : is well to lyue . For who so well lyueth ( saythe he ) may nat euyll dye . Then done , we lerne to dye well / whan we lerne well to lyue / and that lesson can you teche me better than I you . For you haue longer vsed the crafte : and gyuen more dilygence therunto . Notwithstandynge somwhat in parte to satisfye your deuout myndes : somwhat / after our poore vnderstandynge : shall we say . But fyrst ( as semeth vnto me ) it is necessarye & spedefull that we inforce and gyue dilygence to auoyde , exclude , exyle , and put ferre away : that chyldyssh vayne and folyssh feare , and drede of deth , that many persones haue : for doubtles it is both vayne and folye : to feare & drede that thynge : that by no meane , may be auoyded & yet some persones ben so afrayde of deth / that they shrugge , tremble and quake , whan they here speke therof : and renne or departe out of company / bycause they wyll nat here tell of dethe . And to excuse theyr folye they take auctoryte of Aristotle the great Philosophour : iii. Ethicorum . ca. i. tra ii . M. xxvi . d. Mar. iiii . d. L. xxii . T ii . Co. v. a. that sayth : that of al terryble thynges , deth is moste terryble / & ouer that our sauyour byfore his passyon , was afrayde of deth , and naturally dyd abhorre it : for the payne therof . Saynt Paule sayth also / that we wolde nat be spoyled of our bodyes / and yet wolde we haue the clothynge of immortalyte vpon whiche / and apon lyke auctorytes they conclude that deth is peynfull , and therfore to be feared and dred . For declaracyon hereof : you must vnderstande that the drede of deth may be taken .ii. wayes , for .ii. causes / one for the payne that is in the departynge of the soule / and the body by deth . And an other waye / or cause : for the vncertente of the houre of deth and of the state of the person in that houre , or tyme . This feare & drede of deth shulde euery person haue euery houre . But as vnto the fyrst feare that is for the drede of the payne in deth , that feare is vayne . For in deth is no payne , or ryght lytle to be feared / as after we shall shewe . Arystotle sayth in dede : Vbi su . that deth is terryble & fearefull / but that is vnto them alone ( sayth he ) that doubt of any other lyfe after this present lyfe . Obiection . yet say they : that euery man doth abhorre and lothe dethe : and dothe what he can , to auoyde deth / and to prolonge lyfe / and that is generall in all lyuynge thynges / vnto that I say , Aunswere . that nature dothe worke / and cause in all thynges : the appetyte and desyre to be contynued and to endure : and last for euer / and therunto dethe infors as muche as nature may / other in them selfe or in theyr frute and kynde . But therof doth nat folowe that any peyne is in deth : ne any feare or drede to be takyn therfore . As by example of trees and frutes as well as of sensyble bestes . The trees when they wexe olde , don naturally put forth newe sprynges from the rote : and the frutes : when they be grene and yonge : wyll nat departe from the tree : nor the sedes from the herbe / or grayne , excepte vyolence : but when they ben full rype / then wyll they naturally of them selfe / and by them selfe departe without any vyolence . So is it in man : after a lyke maner : that when the person is in nature yong : grene , lusty , and stronge / and in the body conformyte / and lyke state of complexcyons : deth is then horrible hugsum , and fearefull vnto the persone bycause it is then vyolent . But when the persone is full rype : that is to say / worne by age , or sekenes , vnto the point of deth . Then is nat deth vnto that person , any thynge lothsome , fearefull , ne peyneful / but rather swete , pleasant , and desyrous : and so sayth Arystotle in his boke of naturall philosophye . Phi. v. Mors senum , dulcis est . Iuuenum vero : violenta . The dethe of aged persones ( sayth he ) is swete and pleasaunte / but the dethe of yonge persones : is vyolent and greuous / yet say I : that the feare is nat for the peyne of deth in departynge of the soule . For then is no peyne / but all the peyne is in the sekenes disease / and affliccyon before dethe . For the persones that ( as I sayde ) ben worne or wasted vnto the poynte : done dye , and departe this life : nat only without sorowe or peyne : but also with gladnes , swetnes , and pleasure . And so sayth the same philosophour Arystotle in an other boke . Aristot . de vita & morte . & Cicero .i. Tusc. And so dothe also an other greate philosophoure / and lerned Tullie . And I dare well say , that in dethe is lesse peyne vnto suche persones : then is in the prycke of a pynne , or nedyll vnto a whole persone . The feare than that our saui-had before his passyon / was nat for the peyne of deth : but it was of the fraylte of our nature in his carnall flesshely parte for the paynes that he knewe wel shulde precede / and go before dethe . And the peyne doth our sensualyte / and our carnall parte / alway abhorre / & feare naturally : all though in some persones more / and some lesse . For you may se in experyence / that some persones ben redy to swone or talme / yf they se an other persone sore wounded / blede , or put vnto great peynes / & some done shake for feare / whan they here tell howe some other persones shal be racked , and streyned . And some persones wyll abhorre to loke vpon the instrumentes , or ingyns of tourmentrye : as chyldren whan they se the rodde , or whyppe . Deth therfore is nat to be feared / nor dredde for any peyne that is therin . Many done dye , & departe this lyfe : nat onely ( as we sayd ) without peyne / but also with desyre , and pleasure . Which thyng we haue before , Probacy on by reason . proued by auctoryte / and good reason / wyll conclude the same . For yf peyne be in dethe / that peyne muste nedely be / other in the body , or in the soule . But in the body ( at the poynte of dethe ) is no peyne . For than ben all the senses and wyttes of the body : wherby he shulde feale peyne or pleasure / gone and departed : & the bodye than in suche case ( as for fealynge peyne ) as whan it is full dede . And as vnto the soule / deth is nat peynefull but rather pleasant , and ioyfull / as a person that long had ben in prison / and then were sodenly loused and put at lyberte . De bono mortis . For ( as saynt Ambrose sayth . The soule is in prison / whyle it is in the body , & therfore is it glad to be delyuered by deth . And to saye trothe , whan the poynt of deth approcheth and draweth nere bothe the partes ( in maner ) ben glad to departe in soundre / that is to saye , Marowse they cal in the counte● .ii. housband men that done tyll their lande together the soule from the body / & the body from the soule / as by example of .ii. marowes or .ii. suche persones that muste nede labour bothe together vnto such an effecte / & purpose / as can nat come to pas and be fulfylled by one of them alone / then at nyght , or when theyr purpose is ended , they ben gladde , wher the tone is nat able therunto alone without helpe to depart vnto theyr owne propre whomes , logynges and places . So is it of the soule , and the body / that here as .ii. marowse or mates done labour to gether as in an exyle or straunge countrey ( for as saynt Paule sayth ) non habemus hic ciuitatem manentem / we haue nat here ( sayth he ) any cytie or dwellynge place / and whan that labour of them bothe to gether hathe fulfylled the course of nature vnto the periode / & poynt assygned of god / than done they gladly depart eueryche towarde his propre whome / that is , the bodye vnto the erthe , from whens it came . Gene. iii. d. And the soule vnto heuyn / except it be letted with any synne , which may neuer entre into heuen . Thus haue we proued vnto you bothe by auctoryte and by reason / that in deth is no peyne , and so that no feare shulde be taken of any , or for any suche peyne . yet shall I go forther , and proue the same by experyence . Probacyon by experyence For lady experyence hath shewed oftymes / vnto many persones , that in dethe is no peyne . For some persones haue ben in traunce / that for the tyme haue had a large experyence of dethe / whan the body was so desolate of the soule / that the body felt nothynge ne any thynge perceyued by any of the senses , or wyttes / and yet hath the soule ( in the same tyme ) sene / & perceyued the state of heuen , hell , or any other place . ii . Cor. xii . a. Saynt Paule was so in suche rapte / that he coulde nat tell him selfe whether the soule was in his bodye , or nat . And that was a large and nere experyence of dethe / but yet nother he , ne any of those so takyn in traunce , or rapt / haue made any mencyon of any peyne in theyr rapte : ergo there is no peyne in deth . Swonynge also or talmynge / is ( in maner ) a dethe / syth the body ( for that tyme ) is destytute / and voyde of all the wyttes and some in suche swones , talmes , done expyre , dye , and departe this lyfe . yet those that done suruyue / recouer , & lyue agayne / done euydently shewe what peyne they had , or suffred / that so departed in theyr swone , or talme / but they confesse / and say playnly : they felte no maner of payne / but rather a greate ease of all peynes : ergo in dethe is no peyne . Some persones also haue expyred and dyed slepynge ( which I doubt nat ) shulde haue ben waked , yf a pynne or a nedell had ben thraste , or put through theyr eares or yf fyre had brent theyr fynger / ergo no peyne in deth . Let vs yet go vnto a forther experyence of deth . Io. xi . d. Lazare brother to Magdalene and Martha ( as the Gospell sheweh ) was dede .iiii. dayes , and yet reysed by our sauyour ( & many haue ben reysed by myracle . I knewe , and spake with one suche my selfe . But nothynge haue I herde / or redde of any peyne that any of them suffre in dethe / ergo , no peyne in deth , Amb. de bonomo●tis & . ii.li . de Cain et Abel . cap. x. and so doth saynt Ambrose plainly / affyrm in a boke that he wrote of the goodnes and profyte of dethe . The feare ( sayth he ) that the frayle persones haue of dethe / is rather by the opinyon that they conceyue of deth / then for the selfe deth . Bycause they haue sene , or herd tell of many great paynes , syckenesses , and passyons that many done suffre before theyr dethe / and that causeth theyr frayle flesshe to abhorre , De bona mortis . cap. viii . and to lothe deth / bycause of those peynes and greues . And specyally suche persones as haue a loue inordynate vnto the vayne pleasures of this present lyfe . And those also , that in a whole body , haue a sycke soule / & foyled conscyence & moste done they feare dethe , that halte and ben faynte in the faythe . And no meruayle thoughe suche maner of persons do feare , In tusvbi sup. & drede deth . For ( as the lerned Cicero sayth ) yf theyr lyfe had nothynge commytted ne done / that were to be feared , they shulde of dethe haue no drede : wyse men done feare synne , whiche is the acte / and dede of quycke , and nat of dede persones . De bono mortis . vt supra . We shulde ( sayth saynt Ambrose ) feare & drede our life / the actes and dedes wherof , done appertayne and belonge vnto our selfe / and ben in our owne power and at our owne will / & nat feare dethe that is nother in our wyll , ne power . For whether we wyll or nat : that is / wyll we , nyll we expire / and dye / nedely we must . De remedis for●u it coru & Cice. vbi supra . Than ( as we sayd before ) as the wyse man Seneke saythe / it is great foly to feare and drede that thynge / that by no meane maye be escaped ne auoyded . And who so euer wyll remayne in suche feare or drede , Cicero vbi sup. shal neuer lyue in quietude and rest of mynde . Wyse men sayeth Cicero / done nat feare dethe / but rather done they contemne , dispyse dethe / & set nought therby / which thynge doutbles , doth moch auayle , ꝓfet , In tusc. vbi sup. confort , & strength any person whan so euer deth shall approche , drawe nere , and happe vnto hym / specyally if he be a feythfull christyane . Cicero vbi sup. For who so euer nat onely bycause deth is necessarye , and can nat be auoyded / but also bycause that in deth is nothyng to be feared / doth dispyse & set nought by deth / that person / sayeth he / shall for a surete haue a great succoure and helpe , here to lyue quietly / and whan the tyme shall come , to receyue dethe gladly / and after this present lyfe ioyfully to lyue / and blessedlye .

❧ Note here howe great courage and conforte this pagane gyueth men , to dispyse / and nothynge to feare dethe . Well syr , say you / this is soone sayd , or soone spoken . But yet is nat dethe so soone dispysed / ne so lyghtly set at nought . For we se , & beholde many men / that shuld haue stronge hertes , & more boldnes than we women , and such also that ben taken , & supposed for wyse & well lerned men / that ben moche affrayde of deth . Ah good systers / you muste consydre and call vnto mynde / that men ben made of the same metall , that women ben / and that amonge them some ben as feynte herted as women / & therfore take no hede vnto them . Cicero in tuscu . vt supra . For althoughe a bolde and hardye herte do moche helpe vnto the contempte , and dispisynge of dethe / yet maye you by the examples and counsels of holy fathers / ingender & make in your selfe a more stronge boldnes and hardynesse spirytuall therunto / & specially by conforte and counsell of holy scripture / whiche , as a phisicyon , dothe cure the feynt and feble hertes , withdraweth all vayne & frutles cures and cares / and delyuereth the frayle herte / from the delectable poyson of all worldly & flesshely pleasures / and so putteth awaye all feare and drede . Vbi sup. Reason also , as they said Cicero saith , doth nat lytle auayle vnto the contempte of dethe , whiche as it were by certayne preceptes , or reules doth confirme / & reyse up the feynt cowardouse herte . But aboue & beyonde all thinges , whole and pure fayth , stronge and stedfast hope and perfecte feruent charyte / done moste helpe thereunto . For these do nat onely exyle , exclude , and putte awaye all feare and drede of dethe with the moost hyghe contempte therof / but also done ingendre and gette a feruent couetous desyre of dethe . Philip. 1 . c . Saynt Paule vnto wytnes sayenge . Cupio dissolui , et essem cum Christo / I couet , sayeth he , and desyre / to be dissolued and departed from this lyfe , to be with Chryste / for faythe dothe teche , assure , and gyue certayne knowledge of an other lyfe to come after this lyfe which shall be more pleasaunt without comparacyon , than this lyfe is . For to say trouth in this lyfe is no maner of pleasure , Amb. lib. ii . de . Caī●t Abel . ●api . x. Augusti . Catho . without some maner of passyon or payne goynge before , or folowynge after . And therfore saynt Augustyne sayet / it shulde rather be called a deth than a lyfe / & contrarye this deth shulde be called lyfe / because it is the ende of all dethes ( that is to saye ) the ende of al myseryes / all sorowes , all syckenesses , all diseases , all troubles / all paynes whiche in them selfe ben dethes . ●mbrosi s de b o ●o mortis . capi-viii . et . Boetius de coosolatione . i. i. Cor. xv And also because it is nat onely the ende of all euylles / but also the begynnynge of all that is good as of all felicyte , ioye , gladnes , conforth , and pleasure / & of lyfe euerlastynge . For as by this wretched lyfe is one passage vnto dethe / so by this dethe / is oure retourne vnto lyfe / for yf we shulde neuer expyre and dye / we shulde neuer ryse to lyfe agayne . And yf we neuer ryse , we shuld neuer be rewarded in our bodyes / for the great miseryes & paynes that we done here suffre in them for the loue of god . i. Cor. xv And if that were true / than were we , as saynt Paule sayeth / in more myserable state , and in wors case than any other people . But our faythe doth make vs sure and certayne of resurrection , where we say . Carnis resurrectionem / that is to say , I beleue the resurrexion of our flesshe and bodyes / as in our commune Crede . Hope also doth helpe moche vnto the dispysyng of deth . For whan a person hath full fayth that god maye and can do all that he wyll / & that he is of suche goodnes that he dothe loue vs all : than doth hope folowe that faythe / and so dothe verely trust and byleue to haue ( after or in the sayd resurrexion ) euerlastyng rewarde , and that rewarde shall be good and pleasaunt , ioyouse and confortable . It shall be a great rewarde , as moche as may be desyred or gyuen / it shal be all god hym selfe . And this rewarde than muste nedely cause a great loue , that is charyte , & very charyte / and loue dothe nat onely dispyse deth / but also causeth a feruent desyre therof . Here some perso●es done saye syr / yf we were cert●● and sure of that rewarde after 〈◊〉 deth / we shuld set lytle by deth , and be content and glad to depart : wherunto I saye , that all we may be sure therof , yf we wyll our selfe . For our lorde hath frely gyuen vs that grace , Augusti . that we may wyll and so wyllynge & disposynge our selfe therunto : he may nat of iustyce / ne wyll of his goodnes withholde it from vs . Diuus Thoma . i. sent. That rewarde than he ordeyned and promysed vnto them that loue hym / & done worke there after . Well syr say you , it is harde so well to worke in this lyfe / that we may come vnto that rewarde without payne , after this lyfe : and that payne is it / that feareth vs more , than dothe the payne of deth / and causeth vs to be so lothe to dye , and departe hens . For we wolde lyue lenger to amende our lyfe , and to do penaunce to auoyde or ( at the least ) to minysshe & make lesse that payne . Vnto this I saye true penaunce done for the loue of god / may as well in short tyme as in longe , auoyde or minysshe that payne / as is euydent in hym that hange by our sauyour on the crosse vnto whom he sayde . ♣ Hodie mecum eris in Paradiso . Thys day shalt thou be with me in paradyse : it is than nother the longe tyme : nor the short : nor yet the penaunce that dothe put away : or make lesse that payne of it selfe : but the loue of god / for whose sake that penaunce is done , and that loue may be in a persone feruente in shorte tyme as well as in longe / and all the penaunce that is done , Grego . probatio a mortis . is nothynge but a profe of that loue / & so as longe as we byde in this corruptyble sory bodye we must loue / and euer proue that loue by contynuall penaunce and good werkes forsakynge all synne . For els is all the penaunce & the workes voyde and loste . But yet foloweth nat therof that we shulde desyre longe lyfe ne shorte , but as he wyll . For to gyue vnto god frely , fully , and holly our wyll / so that we haue no wyll but his , is the greattest gyfte that we can gyue vnto god , and the thynge that he chefely requireth & desyreth of vs / for he doth nat desyre our affliction ne penaunce / but gyue me saith he thyne hert : & that suffyseth me . Than so to gyue vnto him the thynge that he fyrst gaue frely vnto vs : that is fre wyll , is that thyng that may best auoyde or make lesse that payne . And so to say , thynke , & wyl that yf he wolde haue vs longer in payne / we shulde consent and wyll so to be / & yet forther , we shuld rather chuse & desyre payne perpetuall after his wyl : than ioy euerlastyng , contrarye vnto his wyll . And this wil may be had in fewe yeres & shore tyme . To wyll than , Marcu . trism●g . ad E●●l● pium . and to desyre to be with god / by longe or shorte payne or withoute any payne , as best shall please hys gracyous goodnes / is the best meane , nexte remedy and moost sure waye to auoyde , fle , and to minysshe payne / and in that wyll ( without feare , & drede of deth / or rather dispysynge deth ) to tary , byde / & in euery thing to suffre his wyll & pleasure / euer redy for dethe , and lokynge euery houre for deth , with feruent desyre / and wysshe to be with hym , and to abyde here / for nothynge , but only for hym / so that he be ( as saynt Paule sayth ) all our lyfe / and deth ( for his sake ) be vnto vs lucre , Phil. i. gaynes , wynnynge and auauntage . The pagane Cicero sayeth , In Tus . that a wyse man wyll neuer feare dethe . The reason why is : that deth by reason of vncertayne chaunces , doth dayly and hourely fall happye , & sodenly come vnto euery sorte / degre , and maner of ages / and also because of the shortnes of our lyfe , dethe can nat be longe absent from vs . For ( as saynt Ambrose sayeth ) we may be in certente : that yf we lyue very longe : yet shall we dye shortly . De bono mortis . ca. i. & ix . For the longest of our lyues , is very shorte / and specially , yf we compare it vnto the longe life of eternite : than is it nothynge nat so moche : as one mote vnto the whole erthe / yet the commune people , whan a yonge person departeth doth saye : oh alas , Vbi su . it is pytie that such a person shuld dye thus , and departe before his tyme / but hereunto he doth answere . Before the tyme , sayeth he / what tyme done they meane ? other that tyme that they wolde set and desyre : or els that tyme that god hathe determyned and appoynted ? If they meane theyr tyme , I wyll nat dispute ne reason with them . But if they meane goddes tyme / than wyll I saye / that almyghtye god dothe nat gyue lyfe vnto any person for euer / as his owne thyng : but rather dothe lende it . As dette to be payde , whan so euer it shal be axed , and nat at any certayne day appointed / and as the detter may vse the dette so lent , whyle he hathe it / and yet hath no wronge , although it be axed soner than he wolde , or yet than he supposed . So in lyke maner god hath lent euery person lyfe , but he poynted no daye whan he wyll axe and haue it agayne / & that he dyd bycause he wolde that man shulde be alway redy to paye , whan so euer he were called vpon . Howe than may any person complayne or grudge , whan so euer he is taken by deth / syth he receyued life by that condicyon . yet syr sayd they / the credytour and lender is called harde , that calleth for the dette before the borower haue any gaynes , or profet therof / & so done we thinke that god dealeth hardely with the yonge persones / because he taketh theyr lyfe , before they haue any pleasure thereof . Hereto nowe ( saye I ) they done suppose ( by erroure ) that is nothynge trewe / that is , that in this lyfe shulde be pleasure / whiche in very dede well consydered , is contrarye ( that is to say ) displeasure , payne , miserie , wo , and dethe . And therfore those persones that come to dethe in theyr youthe / ben moch bounde to thanke our lorde : that hath delyuered them from those incommodytes and miseryes , that they shulde haue had and suffred in lenger lyuynge . And here the commune people suppose an other great errour , that is / that longe lyfe shulde be good and pleasaunt , where in dede longe lyfe taketh awaye all maner of goodes & pleasures of this lyfe / that is to say , the goodes of fortune / as landes , possessyons , golde , syluer , and other goodes , and cattell . For age in longe life spendeth all / and getteth nothynge . It taketh away also the senses and wyttes of man / as hearynge , Cicero vbi sup syght , smellynge , tastynge , and touchyng / with the other goodes of nature : as youthe , strength , beaute , and agilyte / nymlesse and quickenes . And yet the goodes that ben more precyous and dere than al these : that is to say , memorye , and remembraunce / reason & vnderstandynge , connynge , and knowlege / & maketh many tymes the wyll frowarde . And doth rendre and make whole man , bothe in soule and body : full dull in deuocyon and in all maner of goodnes and vertue , wherfore the wysman sayd . Ec. vi . b. Better is he and more happy that dyeth at the mothers wombe forthwith after his byrth / than is he that lyueth longe . No person therfore of any age hath wronge by deth for euery person ( by the lawe of synne ) is in the fyrste day of byrthe , or rather in the fyrst day of lyfe mortall and subdued vnto deth / and in the fyrste daye of lyfe , euery person begynneth to dye . Augusti . And therfore is it nat agayne the lawe for any person to dye at any tyme , yonge or olde . Let vs therfore ( good deuout chrystyanes ) put clene away and vtterly exyle this frayle and fals opinyon of deth / and let vs thynke verely , and beleue / that in dethe is no wronge , but all ryght : no payne , but great pleasure , In tus . vbi sup. all good & nothyng euyll . For ( as the oftsayde Cicero sayth ) howe may that thyng be vnto any person euyll , and hurt ? that almyghty god hath ordayned vnto all persones indifferentlye / for theyr good and profet : and as the ende of all euyles ? Good lorde , than howe curragyously & gladly shuld that iourney and voyage be interprysed & taken / whiche ones made and finysshed no care , ne woo / no thought ne busynes / no turmoyle , ne trouble , no stryfe ne debate / no payne , ne disease / no vexacyon , ne displeasure may remayne ne folow but vnto them that well hope / shal wel happe / what tyme so euer they go . But yet ben they most happye / and gracyouse , that ( in state of saluacyon ) done dye , and departe this lyfe , in theyr youthe / and strength . For vnto them ( immedyately after theyr deth , must nedely folowe one of these twayne ( that is ) that they must go streyght way vnto heuyn : or els vnto payne . If they go vnto payne / than the soner they dye / & the shorter tyme they lyue : the lesse there , and the shorter tyme shall be theyr payne . And ouer that they shall haue the greattest comforde that any creature may haue beyng out of heuyn . For the whiche comforde to be had : any faythfull person wold be glad to suffre any maner of most cruell & horryble payne or passyon ( that is to say ) surety of saluacyon . Sanctus Thoma . iiii . sent. di . xv . q. .iii. ar. l. For all the soules beynge in payne ben communely sure , & certayne of theyr saluacyon , that whan theyr penaunce is paste , and theyr synnes purged / they knowe for certente they shal go into heuen vnto euerlastynge ioy and comfort . But remembre that I sayde / they ben communely sure & certayne of saluacyon . For it may be , the some one , or fewe soules haue nat that knowledge / but that god ( for some specyall offence / and for a speciall payne & punysshement therof ) doth hyde , & kepe that knowledge from them , as we haue in the reuelacyons of our holy mother saynte Byrget . And that payne is more alone , than all the paynes of the other soules . For that sure knowledge of saluacyon , Live . vi . c. xxxix . ● . is vnto them a synguler confort in all paynes , and dothe cause them to suffre the paynes with good wyll in the charyte of our lorde : glad to suffre moche more at his gracyous wyll and pleasure . If those that departe this lyfe , go streyght vnto heuyn : than ben they ferre more happye that from the miseryes of this wretched worlde : they be come vnto the pleasaunt possession of so great vnspekeable ioye . For you may be sure it is an excellente ioye , to be there in companye with the pure virgynes , the holy confessours / the gloryous martyrs / diuyne apostles , sage patryarches / bryght shynynge aungels / and the virgyn mother our blessyd Lady , and all these to se and beholde with our reuerende lord , and souerayne sauyour Iesu Chryst / And all before the presence of the blessyd Trinyte / father son & holy ghost , there prayenge all for vs , and lowly besechinge that hygh mageste eterne , & euerlasting god . For al mankynd I thinke & verely beleue that any faithful christiane , wold be glad to expire & suffre dethe euery day newely / if it were possible , & oftimes in the day , so he were sure that he therby myght atteyne & come vnto the pleasure / why than ( nowe I speke with stomake ) why for shame , shuld we as cowardes or chyldren fere & drede deth ? specially sith deth is nothing , but like vnto a slepe . For the old philosophours said that slepe was a very ymage of deth : & as one man may knowe an other by his ymage althogh he had neuer se ne him before : ii . Mac. xii . Iohan . xi . Iob. so may we know what deth is by the ymage , which is slepe : & so is it called also in scripture in diuers places , & our sauiour him selfe said : the lazarus slept whan he was ded / & deth also is called a shadow / but you perceyue wel & se , that folkes been nat afrayde of a shadow , nor yet of step nother . For oftimes we slepe with our feare or drede , and without any payne or grefe / but rather with desyre and pleasure / why shulde we than feare dethe syth we so euydently done ●e & per●eyue by the ymage howe lytle dethe is to be drede / let vs therfore put awaye this opinyonatyue feare and drede of dethe / and syth it dothe dayly approche & wayte for vs : let vs agayne with glad mynde and redye good wyll , abyde and wayte for it , and haue therof a thurst and a desyre / rather than any feare or drede : howe be it ( of a suretye ) dethe is than lest feared and most desyred : whan the lyfe of the persone / may ( at the tyme of deth ) be of sure and vnfayned godly frendes / conforted with the true testymonye and prayse of vertue / wherfore ( good deuoute chrystynes ) althoughe your reason & lernynge be nat sufficyent to cause or to perswade you / vtterly to dispyse deth / yet let your well spente lyfe & clere conscyence , perfourme and so satisfie you that you be perswaded : and verely beleue as a trothe euydent and opyn vnto you / that to lyue lenger were more miserye / & that your lyfe hath be verey longe or rather ouerlonge . If it had pleased our lorde : before and erste to haue called you . Thus now ( good Chrystianes ) let vs without any care of deth , leaue the carnall mournynge , and waylynge therof / vnto our suruyuyng frendes / that with lamentacyon / and shal inteere and burye our bodyes . And let vs take an other maner of care and dilygence / to prepare , apparell , and to order our selfe vnto that thynge that we knowe well , no persone shall auoyde nor escape / byleuynge and trustyng verely , that he that made vs of nought / and whan we were lost , wold so derely bye vs agayne / wyll nat suffre vs to dye . But rather ( as I sayd before ) to chaunge this wretched lyfe , for an other more precyous and ioyful / & onely to be desyred . All this hytherto haue I sayde to the intente that you shulde exyle , exclude , and put away ferre from you , the commune feare full fantasye of the odious opinyon of deth / and somwhat to ingendre , and bylde in you a contrarye opinyon . A couetous desyre to be with our lorde . Amen .

❧ Nowe shall folowe the seconde parte of this interpryse / of the dayly exercyse and experyence of deth . ❧ Of the exercyse and experyence of dethe . The seconde parte of this interpryse .

FIrst you must knowe , what is exercyse / and what is experynce / & howe by them you may come vnto the knowledge of deth . An exercyse ( than ) is an acte dede & an vse of workynge or laborynge . Than done you exercyse vertue , Defini . of exercice . whan you put it vnto vse and workyng therof , & the exercyse of deth / is the acte and vse of the workyng therof . Defini . of experyence . i. Meth. Experyence is a knowledge that without any maister or techer is founde out and gotyn , by exercyse and vse . Ibidem . And by many experyences sayeth Aristotle arte / crafte or connynge is ingendred and gotyn , so that experience ( as he sayth ) doth apꝑtayne & by long proprely vnto singulare persones & art craft or connyng vnto al ꝑsōes . And although that artcraft or connyng that is called speculatyue may be had by lerning of a techer , or by dylygent studye / yet this arte or craft that we speke of here must nedely be had , by experyence / and experyence , by exercyse and vse . So that yf you wyll haue the actyue knowledge of dethe / by the arte and crafte therof , you must begynne fyrste at exercyse and vse . And yet can no man put a thynge vnto exercyse / without some introduction and leadynge therunto / other by techynge , studye , or naturall disposicyon . you muste than knowe fyrst what the thing is that you shall put in exercyse / and so to haue experyence , and knowledge therof ( that is to say ) you must knowe what dethe is / or what is ment by this terme , or worde dethe . For the selfe terme deth dothe signifye / and is taken dyuersly in dyuers maners Somtyme dethe is taken , & called a chaunge of lyfe . So the commune people done often vse it , as whan they say of a deed person / he is nat deed ( say they ) out he hathe chaunged his lyfe / and so dothe saynte Ambrose say , as we shewed before . De bono mortis . And yet chaunge of lyfe is called deth in dyuers other maners . As whan a person dothe fall by synne from good lyfe vnto the state of damnacyon or contrary / whan he doth aryse by grace from synne vnto the state of saluacyon . Ro. vi . ● , Saynt Paule dothe shewe bothe vnto the Romaynes / as whan he sayeth that in our baptysme we ben buryed with Chryst vnto deth from synne / and we byleue we shall aryse agayne with Chryste vnto a newe lyfe of grace . Rom. i. ● And for the tother parte he sayeth , that occasyon hathe deceyued the frayle person / and so hathe slayne hym , & brought him to deth . This chaunge of life is , Augusti . that spirytuall dethe / that ( as saynt Augustyne sayeth ) doth departe god from the soule . For god is the lyfe of the soule / & whan god than is ( by synne ) departed there from , the soule is deed . And this is the deth onely to be feared & abhorred / as the worste dethe of all dethes / and yet to saye trouthe , there is none other dethe euyll / except onely that dethe that must nedely folowe this deth / that is to say , the deth of both body and soule eterne and euerlastyng damnacyon . The other maner of dethe : that I spake of / that is : the chaunge of euyll lyfe vnto good / Rom. vl. and of the whiche ( as I sayde ) saynt Paule wrote vnto the Romanes : is a good deth / whiche you and euery faythfull persone haue exercysed and oft put in vse , by reason of the holy sacramentes . And whan nede shal requyre , ben redy so to do / whan I speke here of euyll lyfe to be chaunged : I meane nat the state onely of mortall or deedly synne . For many persones , that ofte done vse the sacramentes / done lyue without any deedly synne / but I meane the lyfe spotted with any vyce or synne . Mercu. trismeg . For a great clerke sayeth . Omne ●onum nostrum , mixtum est cum malo . Euery thinge good that is ours / & doth appertayne vnto vs , is mixed or myngled with euyll . So that our whole lyfe , is euer mixed , coupled , & cumbred with some vise & euyll / which natwithstandynge may ( by the grace of the sacramentes ) be dayly purged , and so our life chaunged / and we therby haue the exercyse , vse , & experyence of this deth . But yet is there an other maner of deth called of lerned men , meditatio mortis / that is to meane the meditacion ( that is to saye ) the cogytacyon , thought and remembraunce / the busynes , tractacyon or intreatye , mencyon , & disputacyon of dethe . Tota vita philosophorum , meditatio mortis est . All the whole lyfe of philosophers : and wyse men ( saye they ) is the cōmentacyon , remembraunce , & mencyon or disputacyon of deth / oft mencyon , remembraunce / oft disputacyon , and discussyon of any thyng doth cause it to be the better knowen . Cicero . Macer . libro . i. de somno Sipiōis . Eras . in Enchr. And men communely wyll make oft mencion , speke , and talke often of that thyng wherunto they haue desyre , loue , or haue good mynde and affection . And contrarye they wyl nat here tell of that thyng that they hate , and loue nat : and so is it of many persones that wyll nat here speke , ne any mencyon made of deth . And yf ( by chaunce ) any mencyon be made of dethe agayne theyr myndes and wylles / they wyll lyfte vp the hande and blesse them , or els murmure out softly : some supersticyous prayers as though they harde speke of the deuyll / or of some abhomynable & cruell dede . And certaynly it is no meruayle thoughe suche persones be affrayde to dye , and lothe therunto / because they be nat acquoynted with deth , nor be exercysed ther in . But as ( in case ) a person the longe tyme had layne fetred in prysone / coulde nat for lacke of exercyse go faste , ne renne whan he were newly put vnto lyberte / so these maner of persones , wrapped in the worlde / & fetred in the flesshe / can nat quyckely and couragyouslye for lacke of experyence : walke the way of deth , whiche natwithstandyng they must nedely trede / & passe whether they wyll or no. Lacke ( I say ) of exercyse vse , and experyence / causeth these persones to feare and drede dethe . As by example , chyldren and some women , or such persones neuer had experience ne knowledge of a bugge that is a personage , that in playe dothe represent the deuyll at the fyrst syght / ben moche affrayde therof : in so moche that some persones haue ben in ieoperdye to lose theyr wytte & reason therby . But whan they afterward haue knowledge what it was & by vse haue experience therof : they ben than nothyng affrayde therof , but rather done take pleasure ther in . So is it of them that haue nat the experience of deth / bycause they will nat take , but rather wyll they fle / & auoyde / the vse & exercise therof . But & yf they knewe what / & how great profet there is in the exercyse / meditacyon & oft recorde : & remembraunce of dethe : they wolde nat fle nor auoyde it : but rather with studye & diligence gyue & applye them selfe dayly therunto . Ec. i. d. Psalmus . xxxviii . The wyseman saith . Fili memorare nouissima tua . &c. In al thy werkes sone ( sayth he ) remembre thy laste ende / and thou shalte neuer offende god . The prophete therfore prayde vnto our lorde sayenge . Notum fac mihi domine finem meum . Good lorde ( sayeth he ) let me haue knowledge of my last ende , as though he sayd . Good lorde gyue me grace that ( by the dayly exercyse , and meditacyon of deth ) I may haue an experyence and knowledge of my last ende : & euermore to be redy therunto / accordyng vnto thy wyll & pleasure . Nothyng is more valyaunt to expell and put awaye synne from the soule : nor yet more profytable to replenyssh & garnysshe the soule with good vertues : then is the dayly exercyse , & meditacyon of dethe . But howe to put & apply them selfe vnto that exercyse , all persones can nat tell . For many that fayne wolde haue and vse the meditacyon and exercyse of deth : haue nat the way , ne knowe any fourme or fassyon therof . And yet ben there dyuers fourmes and wayes therof and all good . For some persones : One maner of exercyse of dethe . Tho. done go no forther , but to remembre and thynke that deth is the payne of synne inflycted , iudged & appoynted by almyghtye god , vnto our fyrst parentes : and therfore due & ryght vnto all theyr posteryte , folowers , and of sprynge : so that no man after them dyd euer escape deth / ne neuer man shall , vnto the day of generall iudgement : & therfore sure it is that we must dye : but whan or howe we can nat tell . To haue therfore a dayly exercyse of deth . I shall set you here .ii. fourmes of this exercyse . An other fourme or maner of the exercyse of dethe . The fyrste fourme is this that in some conuenyent tyme of the day or nyght appoynted and chosen for this exercyse : you shall ymagyne , call vnto remembraunce and so set forth before the eyes & syght of your soule : howe you haue sene or herde of a person that hathe ben condemned by iudgement , vnto bodely dethe : as to be brent , hanged , or heded , or suche other . Than saye or thynke vnto your selfe : what and if I were in suche case : as that person was I knowe well , and knowledge vnto our lorde : that I haue deserued more cruel dethe ( for euery deedly synne , is worthy more payne / than any worldly payne ) or els yf you were in suche case as you haue dremed in your slepe , or herde of dremyng / that you shulde forthwith go vnto the execucyon of deth , without remedye : howe than wolde I do / or howe shulde I then , or were bounde to do for the saluacion of my soule / or yf euer you haue sene or herde of the maner of them that ben nere vnto theyr passage / & lye drawyng vpon vnto deth . And the people about some wepynge & mournyng / some cryenge , and callynge vpon the sycke / to remember our lorde god and our moste swete sauyour Iesu Christ / our blessyd lady with other holy sayntes . And remembre howe the sycke is than combred with syckenes and payne : so that he can do lytle for hym selfe / all weke , feble , & infirme . And howe than , the ghostly enemye the deuyll wolde prese : and come in before you with a foule sorte of vgsum souldiours / & assayle you in many sondry wyse / lay before you the multytude of your synnes & all your omyssyons of suche good dedes as you might haue done / wherof you were neglygent , and all to brynge you vnto dispeyre of your saluacyon : & that you shulde leaue your faythe / and haue no hope ne trust of mercy . Than remember what confort it shulde be vnto you at that tyme / that you had prepared & made redy before hande for all these maters / & howe oftymes you had sene in your soule all this conclusyon : & howe often you had reasynge vp your frayle hert dispysed deth and nothyng set therby / & how you had apointed / to beleue that in deth is none euyll but great good / and that you than shuld make an ende of al mysery & shortly come vnto a better state . Than begyn to say vnto your selfe . I wil now in helth study , & exercise my selfe with this fourme : & specially how I shal answere the lothly best the fende . I wyl now in this tyme present : for the tyme of deth that nedely shall come / left vp my handes & hert vnto my lord / & besech him of grace & succour / & than wil I besech the good blessed lady mother of mercy : my good angel with my holy patrons there namyng such saintes as you haue in most synguler deuocyon : & all the holy sayntes of heuen , to be there present with me to ayde , confort , & to strength me agayne that cruel best . And as vnto my synnes say you I haue gadred them al togeder ( as ferre as I can remember ) & brought them vnto the slon there to be polysshed , rubbed , & scoured ( that stone is the holy sacrament of penaunce ) that by the merytes of Chrystes precyous blode / hathe wasshed awaye my synne . For I knowe well that one drope alone of that most holy sacred blod , were sufficyent , and ynoughe / and ferre more than ynoughe / to wasshe and clense all the synne of the worlde / and yet shed he all his blode euery drope . And therfore ( nowe at this tyme for and in stede of that tyme : I put the precyous blode with his bytter passyon and his most cruel / and shamefull deth / bytwene me & all the synnes that euer I dyd in thought , worde , or dede , & betwexe me and his wrath and displeasure . And hauynge full fayth and trust vnto his promyse ( that is ) that he wyll gracyously receyue all penytentes vnto mercy : I now for then boldly prouoke the and deffye the most cruell and false fende , and I straytely charge the in his holy blessed name Iesu : that if you haue any thinge to lay vnto my charge : shewe it nowe : tell it out . For thou shalt nother confounde , ne feare me / nor yet disconforde me therwith / but rather do me great pleasure to put me in remembraunce .

❧ If I haue forgoten to confesse any thynge worthy penaunce / that I may nowe ( vnto thy confusyon / shewe it and with the wyll at the lest ) & desyre of perfect contricyon , and with indignacyon : I may cast it at thy face amonge all the other synnes that euer I dyd by any meanes / whiche synnes I vtterly forsake , as nothynge appertaynynge vnto me . For I am gracyously bathed , wasshed , and clensed in the precyous blode of my souerayne sauyour Iesu Chryst . And therfore I bequethe and commytte all my synne , vnto the cruell best / the auctor & begynner of all synne : with the to remayne from whens it came and whether it shall / in the & with the eternally to be punysshed . And than leauyng him there : turne vnto our lorde god , & vnto our swete sauyour Iesu . And as yf you were than , at the poynt of deth / axe hym hertely forgyuenes of all your offenses / and beseche his goodnes of mercy and grace , & pray the sayntes ( as I sayd before ) to pray for you , and than ( yf you be goynge vnto rest , whiche tyme is most conuenyent for this exercise ) blesse you thus In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum : redemisti me domine deus veritatis . In nomine patris & filii , & spiritus sancti . Amen . Makynge a crosse with a holy candell yf you haue it present , after the maner that you haue / in your boke for housholders . And thus do .iii. tymes together / and so go vnto reste as you shulde go vnto your grace . This exercyse ( good deuout soules ) is nat to be dispysed / for by dayly vse and custome / it shall ingendre and bylde in you a great boldnes , and hardynes . So that whan so euer naturall dethe shall approche / you shall than , nat as a woman or chyld , but as a very man / as a stronge and myghty champyon thus surely armed / stande styfly without feare , or drede , and lytle care / or rather set nought by deth / but vtterly dispyse dethe , as euery houre and tyme redy therunto . An other exercyse of dethe . But nowe we shall lede you forth vnto an other exercyse of dethe more hygh & excellent than this / & so to haue experyence of that deth / that more proprely is called dethe / wherby you shall nat onely without fere or drede ) dispyse deth , but also ( as an hongrye person ) you shall haue an auidiouse & gredye appetite to thurst & wyssh for deth . And with a feruent mynde , and flamynge desyre / you shall langour mourne and longe for deth . Sayenge with saynt Paule . Phi. i. c Cupio dissolui et esse cum Christo . I couete wysshe , & wyll , to be dissolued from this presente lyfe , and to be with Chryst . In this exercyse : you shall nat onely haue the experience / and the full arte , scyence , connyng , and knowledge of dethe / but also the very practyse of dethe / so that you shall euery day ( whan you wyll ) be as verely deed / accordynge vnto the very definicyon of dethe . For deth ( after all auctours ) proprely taken is . The definicion & determinacion of dethe . A departynge in sondre / of the soule and the bodye . To departe than the soule from the body : and to rendre and put eyther vnto his propre and naturall place / is the very practyse of deth . The propre and naturall place or whome of the soule , is heuyn . Wherof saint Paule sayth . Heb. xiii . c. Non habemus hic ciuitatem manentem , sed aliam inquirimus : we haue here ( sayeth he ) no dwellyng place / but we do seke and serche for an other place . Gen. iii. c And the naturall place of the body , is the earth / for thens it came , and thyder it muste agayne / whan so euer than the soule ( by dilygent study ) is occupyed wholly in heuenly thynges / and the body lefte without the senses or wyttes / that is without hearyng , seynge , smellynge , tastynge , and touchyng / than is that person as deed . But that a person ( for the state of this lyfe ) may be in suche case / the philosophours done shew & determyne . Tullie sayeth . Plato . & Cicero in tusc. i. quest. Fieri potest , vt oculis , et auribus apertis : nihil videamus neque audiamus . It may come to passe ( sayeth he ) that thoughe our eyes & eares be opyn : yet shall we nother se , nor here . Many a holy person ( as saynt ) Katherine of Sene and dyuers other ) hath ben so depe in contemplacion that the body ( for the tyme ) was with out the senses , so that whan they were prycked with pynnes , or nedles , they nothynge felte . So than this exercyse , standeth al in contemplacyon , which thing who dayly vseth shall be so experte , and practysed in deth / that whan so euer it shall approche and come , it shall be no new thyng vnto the person . For betwyxt naturall deth , and this deth of contemplacyon , is lytle difference . For as the person that exspireth and departeth this lyfe / dothe leaue and forsake all this worlde , and all the care of kynne or frendes / as father mother , syster , and brother , neyghboure / & the whole pleasure of all . So doth the person , that is deed in contemplacyon for that tyme / leaue the body as a lumpe of claye without any mynde , care , or thoughte therupon / or vpon any other bodely or worldly thyng / wherfore whan dethe commeth ( as I sayd before ) it shall nother be newe , nor straunge vnto the person that hath ben dayly exercised therin / & that had so large experyence therof , and often practysed the same . But as you haue herde of .ii. marouwse that ( for tyllynge of theyr lande ) done laboure sore all day together , and at nyght theyr labours fynished and ended / done thankefully , and gladly eche departe from other vnto theyr owne whomes , howses , or dwelling places : so doubtles done the body and the soule , whan theyr labours ben accomplysshed and at an ende / and the due tyme commen / they done gladly and ioyfully departe , eche vnto his propre whome / the body vnto his naturall place the erthe . And the soule as a prisoner newly losed and put vnto lyberte / doth ren streyght forth hyr redye race / hyr knowen cours / hyr tryed and ofte troden path , and her well vsed way vnto her propre and naturall place / that is heuyn . But here nowe you wyll axe of me / in what maner of contemplacion you may best put this deth in exercyse / and so to haue the said experyence / and practyse of dethe , wherunto I answere that ( althoughe you can teche me that lesson better than I you ) I wyll sende you vnto the lytle werke that I deuysed vnto youre communyon , or howselynge . For to wryte and setforth all that here agayne , shuld be superfluous . Specyally syth this werke is so lytle the you may ( with small coste ) ioyne or bynde it with that werke . And therfore haue I caused it to be prynted of the same volume . And yet because you shal nat fynde the ende of this lytle werke all naked and bare / we shall make you a breue and shorte remembraunce of these thynges that there ben sayd in effecte , althoughe nat after that same ordre . The order of this deth & contemplacion Fyrst than purposynge at that tyme to haue the very experyence , and practyse of deth / remember depely from whens you came . For you were nat , ne be of your selfe . Than remembre that whan you had a beynge / what you were / a filthy lumpe of slymy erth / and yet agayne , whan that slymye clay was fourmed and framed vp with your soule / and you a reasonable creature / & therunto a creature most noble except aungell / yet were you but an hethen hounde / vnto the tyme you receyued the grace of baptisme . Than remember whan , where , howe , and of whom / and by whome you had all that you nowe haue & all that you euer shall haue that is or shall be good / and you shal fynde ( by reason ) and perceyue that you hadde neuer / ne haue , or shall haue any thynge of your selfe but euyll . For whan you were nothynge , you had a begynnynge in your mothers wombe / and that by synfull generacyon with ful fylthy and lothesum mater / thus you se whan , where , and howe ( that is ) whan you were nat , you had beyng : where ? in your mothers wombe / howe by synfull concepcyon . Of whome than had you al , of our lorde god alone . And by whome , & what meane ? Certenly by the meane of our lorde & sauyour Iesu Chryste , the seconde person in Trinite very essencyall god one / and the same selfe substaunce , and nature with the father , and the holy ghost . Se well , beholde , and consydre who it is that hathe done for you : howe excellent the person is . And than for whom he dyd . For you of whom he had no nede / nor you any thyng had or coulde or might do for him / but all he dyd for loue , and of mere charyte / and that also for his enemye / and so beynge in depe prison , neuer to be delyuerde , but by hym alone . Nowe consyder , and pondre well who this persone is / and than loke vpon your self make collacyon / & compare both together , although there may in deed , no comparyson be made . yet se , & beholde howe great & mighty a person he is / how lytle , & howe infyrme & feble a person you be , howe wyse , & how well lerned he is / & howe lytle lernynge & wysdome you haue , how ryche he is : & howe poore you ben / howe excellent & noble he is , & how rustycall a vyllayne you be / howe goodly a person he is , and howe vyle & fylthy you be : how kynde & louyng he is : & howe churlysshe , & frowarde you be . And to conclude , he most hyghe god / and you a wretched worme of the earthe he all : and you ryght nought . After this collactō perceyuyng what maner of persones bothe ben : than pondre and wey , what & howe moche he dyd for you . Fyrst he left ( in maner ) all heuyn for you : and here toke vpon hym your nature / & so made you a great estate / cosyn and of kynne vnto almighty god . And yet dyd he serue here for you : nat onely .vii. yeres : as Iacob for Rachell : but for a worse & more lothsum than Lia , all the dayes of his lyfe / and here begyn to remembre that lyfe of our sauyour . After some suche auctours as we haue named in the other workes / or at the least vnder suche a shorte fourme as we haue set forth in the boke of housholders . Thus his blessyd incarnacyon , his ioyfull byrthe / his paynefull circumsicyon : his honorable epiphanye / his legall presentacyon / his sorowfull flyght into Egypt / his confortable retourne and commynge agayne in to his countrey / his meruaylous and lerned disputyng with the doctours at .xii. yeres of age , his lowly obedyence vnto his parentes , his educacyon & bryngynge vp vnto the age of nere .xxx. yeres his baptisme his fast in wyldernes / his temptacyon there of the wycked spiryte & his victory . The callynge eletcyon and chosynge of his apostles and discyples , prechynge , techynge , labours , and miracles / & his manye wrongfull repreues , rebukes / and infamyes of the iewes , and theyr malicyous awaytes / his solempe soper / his most meke minystrye / & seruyce in the wasshynge of the fete of his apostles . The worthy consecracyon of his blessyd body & blode in the whiche sacrament , all his apostles were made preestes / & had the same power , his most swete sermon & his tediouse agonye / whan he swette water and blode / his fals betrayenge ( by Iudas ) and his takynge his presentacyon vnto the bysshoppes Annas and Cayphas . And the cruell dealyng of the ●ues & the presentynge of hym ( by them ) vnto Pylate , & by hym vnto Herode by whom mocked and clothed in a whyte fooles cote / he was sende agayne vnto Pylate and by hym examyned , and without cause founde : put naked and scourged & arayde with a purpure garment & crowned with thornes with a rede in his hande as a sceptre al in mockeage & scorne brought forthe before the iewes & by their crye , & request : put agayne into his owne clothes & condemned vnto deth his payne full beryng of the heuy crosse / his fatigacyon / and feyntynge vnder the same , so that he fell vnto the grounde / his crucifixon & naylyng vpon the crosse & his pytefull hangyng vpon the same his deth with a lowde crye . The woundynge of his hert after that deth his takyng downe , & buryall , his gloryous resurrection & apperynges / his meruaylous ascencyon into heuyn / where he toke for you possessyon of the plate : that was prepared & ordayned for you , before the constitucyon & ordynaunce of the world . Here you may remembre the commodytes of the place : whiche in hit selfe is moste hyghly beauteous , fayre , goodly , and pleasaunte aboue that can be thoughte vpon erthe and of all thynges that ben in this worlde , is there plentye and aboundance without any nede or wante possessyon is there of the lande that neuer shall decaye / & ryches that neuer shall be minisshed or made lesse . And as vnto the commodites of the body & goodes of nature there is youth , euer florysshyng fresshe without age or any miseryes therof . Beaute and fayrenes , without any deformyte / or fadynge . Myght and strength ▪ without debilyte or feblenes helth without syckenes , or disease / all pleasure and neuer payne . Euer myrth without any mornyng , euer gladnes : and neuer sadnes . Euer ioy , and neuer sorowe of all thynges contentacion without any murmure or grudge . Euer loue , and neuer hate . Euer charyte , and neuer enuye , mercye , pitye , and compassyon / without any crueltye , or vnkyndnes . Euer vnyte and peace and neuer varyaunce : ne debate . Euer trouth and fidelite : without any falshed or deceyte . Euer iustice equite : and ryghte / and neuer oppression / ne wronge . Euer due honoure / and reuerence & neuer dysdayne ne dyspyte . And to conclude there is al that is good / and neuer euyll . And of all these thynges : constant durans , 1. Cor. ii . without any mynysshynge , mutabilyte or chaung . And yet ben there mo commodytes than eare may here , eye may se , tonge may tell , or any herte may thynke . whiche almyghty god hath ordayned for them that loue hym . And yet there is vnto all these commodytes , lyfe immortall , & euerlastyng . And yet forthermore , you may consydre in what company / and with whom you shall vse , and inioye the sayd commodytes . There shall you fynde your holy patrones / suche sayntes , as you dayly haue serued / the pure company of virgynes / the confessours , and martyrs / the innocentes , the apostles / the patryarches & prophetes . And the goodly bright company of angels / al redy to present you vnto our lady the blessyd gloryous virgyne Marye / and by her with them to be recommended & committed vnto her dere sone our lorde / & moste swete sauyour Iesu , which wyl nat disdayne to receyue you most beningly & gently & so to represent & offre you vnto yepresence of his most worthy father which ( by him ) is also your father . Se now ( good deuout soule ) beholde , & loke wel & inwardly , perceyue where you nowe ben / & with whom . With your lorde & ma●●ter / your very father & brother your gouernor & gyder / your helpe & confort your only refuge , & succour your inward loue : your whole hert & desyre , redemer & sauyour , your creature & maker , your god & all your good : with all the holy sayntes & angels of heuyn in the presence / & before the throne of the gloryous trinite , the father the sone & the holy ghost .iii. distinct persons , & one nature one substance one essencyall god . Se nowe ( I saye ) and take hede where and with whome you be . And here knelynge or rather lyenge downe prostrate vpon your face : remayne , byde & dwell here styll / here expyre & dye starke deed / & vtterly that no soule ne spiryte be lefte or byde in youre body / but all for the tyme so ferre departed / nat onely from all thynges of the world , but also from the selfe body that there lyenge as a lumpe of cley be lefte without any senses or wyttes of heryng , seynge , smellynge , tastyng , or touchynges . So done we rede ( as I sayde before ) of saynt Ambrose , Aug. li. confes . saynt Kathe●yne of Shene with diuers other . This is nowe the moost hyghe poynte of this exercyse and practyse of dethe after the verye definicyon of deth . Whiche ( as I sade ) is called a departynge of the soule from the bodye . For in this dethe ( for that tyme ) youre soule is departed from youre body , so that you be nat than youre selfe : but deed & clene from your selfe . For as the yren lyenge in the fyre / is by similytude al fyre , so ben you al one with god . Qui adheret deo / vnus spiritus est . i. Cor. vi . d . Who so euer ( sayeth saynt Paule ) dothe cleue , and stycke faste vnto our lorde : is with hym one spiryte . So ben you than that same thyng that you shall be / with our lorde hereafter , that is al one with hym / dwellynge and abydynge in hym , and he in you so al diuyne & godly . Say nowe ( good deuout soule ) yf you can thynke or suppose in con●●●●ce , that any faythfull christy 〈…〉 synge this exercise : and so ha 〈…〉 ge so large experyence & pract●se of deth / may haue , fele , or perc●yue , any notable payne in dethe / syt● nowe in this deth , so oftymes exercysed the bodye prycked with pynnes or nedyles : feleth no payne at all . Or howe may any horrour drede , or feare , troble or moue that person / that is in suche place , with suche company and in such case as before we haue shewed . yet ( saye you ) syr the deuyll wyll be present at my dethe / what than ? saye I so peraduenture / he wyll be at this dayly exercyse . For so done we rede in the lyues : and collacyons of the holy fathers / but that hathe alway ben , and euer shall be vnto his confusyon / rebuke , and hurte / and vnto your triumphe , glorye , & prayse . But yet you saye , that the syght of that greslye ghost , can nat be without great feare : wherunto I saye agayne that although the syght of hym be ( of it selfe ) horryble , vgly , & fearefull / yet ben there dyuers confortes redy at hande to helpe . One is that may be sure , he can nat hurt you . An other is , 〈…〉 diue Brigit . li. vi . ca. lxxxxiii . the presence of the holy sayntes , your sayde fryndes the wyll restrayne his power and malicyous wyll . For they ben moche more valeant and myghty than he is . And doubt you nat they wyll al be preste , and redy there at the tyme about you / nat feyned , but as faithfull frendes , with whome well acquoynted and fully knowen / you ben nowe and of longe tyme haue ben very familyer and whomely . Truste you surely in them , for they wyll nat deceyue you . For yf they dyd , they were nat faithful / but rather feyned frendes . For a very frende ( sayth the wyseman ) loueth at all tymes and euer is proued in necessyte or nede : & at dethe is most nede . For although good loue and faythfull frendshyppe / be well proued in all the lyfe tyme : yet is it better proued at the tyme of dethe / and best of all after deth . For than communely feyned frendes done sone forget . But these frendes wyll neuer forget you . For as they nowe ( in your helth ) done dayly conforte and defend you in all temtacyons : so wyl they at your deth delyuer you out of all daungers / & afterwarde wyl they deduce , lede , conuey , & cary or bere you vp vnto the place & company before rehersed . And yet haue you no meruayle though ( in the meane tyme ) they suffre you to be troubled & grudged with the opinyon of dethe & with the drede of that vgly syght . For they done so suffre for your welth & meryte that you therby may be exercised with deth : and so to be euer redy for it . For dethe only semeth euyll and onely is feared by opinyon & nat of any other ryght cause . For deth of it selfe is very good & to be loked & wayted for , & receyued of all persons , specially thus exercysed / nat onely without feare or drede of payne / but also , as we sayd before , with feruent desyre great ioy & gladnes as the fynall conclusyon and laste ende of all miseryes , sorowes , and all euyls , & as the begynnynge of all welthe & goodnes ( that is to saye ) of euerlastynge helthe and saluacyon in the blysse of heuyn . Whyther he brynge vs the bought vs , our lorde & most swete sauyour Iesu Chryst , that lyueth and reigneth with god the father / and with god the holy ghost world without ende . Amen .