HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND FORTIETH CHAPTER
That by indiscretion in this, men shall keep discretion in all
other things; and surely else
never
BUT peradventure thou askest me, how thou shalt govern thee discreetly in meat
and in sleep, and in all these other. And hereto I think to answer thee right
shortly: "Get that thou get mayest." Do this work evermore without ceasing and
without discretion, and thou shalt well ken begin and cease in all other works
with a great discretion. For I may not trow that a soul continuing in this work
night and day without discretion, should err in any of these outward doings;
and else, me think that he should always err.
And therefore, an I might get a waking and a
busy beholding to this ghostly work within in my soul, I would then have a
heedlessness in eating and in drinking, in sleeping and in speaking, and in all
mine outward doings. For surely I trow I should rather come to discretion in
them by such a heedlessness, than by any busy beholding to the same things, as
I would by that beholding set a mark and a measure by them. Truly I should
never bring it so about, for ought that I could do or say. Say what men say
will, and let the proof witness. And therefore lift up thine heart with a blind
stirring of love; and mean now sin, and now God. God wouldest thou have, and
sin wouldest thou lack. God wanteth thee; and sin art thou sure of. Now good
God help thee, for now hast thou need!