HERE BEGINNETH THE THREE AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER
That in this work a soul is cleansed both of his special sins
and of the pain of them, and yet how there is no perfect rest in this
life.
MORE devices tell I thee not at this time; for an thou have grace to feel the
proof of these, I trow that thou shalt know better to learn me than I thee. For
although it should be thus, truly yet me think that I am full far therefrom.
And therefore I pray thee help me, and do thou for thee and for me.
Do on then, and travail fast awhile, I pray
thee, and suffer meekly the pain if thou mayest not soon win to these arts. For
truly it is thy purgatory, and then when thy pain is all passed and
thy devices be given of God, and graciously gotten in custom; then it is no
doubt to me that thou art cleansed not only of sin, but also of the pain of
sin. I mean, of the pain of thy special foredone sins, and not of the pain of
the original sin. For that pain shall always last on thee to thy death day, be
thou never so busy. Nevertheless, it shall but little provoke thee, in
comparison of this pain of thy special sins; and yet shalt thou not be without
great travail. For out of this original sin will all day spring new and fresh
stirrings of sin: the which thee behoveth all day to smite down, and be busy to
shear away with a sharp double-edged dreadful sword of discretion. And hereby
mayest thou see and learn, that there is no soothfast security, nor yet no true
rest in this life.
Nevertheless, herefore shalt thou not go back,
nor yet be overfeared of thy failing. For an it so be that thou mayest have
grace to destroy the pain of thine foredone special deeds, in the
manner before said--or better if thou better mayest--sure be thou, that the
pain of the original sin, or else the new stirrings of sin that be to come,
shall but right little be able to provoke thee.