HERE BEGINNETH THE FOUR AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER
How that by Virtue of this word a man is governed full wisely,
and made full seemly as well in body as in
soul.
WHOSO had this work, it should govern them full seemly, as well in body as in
soul: and make them full favourable unto each man or woman that looked upon
them. Insomuch, that the worst favoured man or woman that liveth in this life,
an they might come by grace to work in this work, their favour should suddenly
and graciously be changed: that each good man that them saw, should be fain and
joyful to have them in company, and full much they should think that they were
pleased in spirit and holpen by grace unto God in their presence.
And therefore get this gift whoso by grace
get may: for whoso hath it verily, he shall well con govern himself by the
virtue thereof, and all that longeth unto him. He should well give discretion,
if need were, of all natures and all dispositions. He should well con make
himself like unto all that with him communed, whether they were accustomed
sinners or none, without sin in himself: in wondering of all that him saw, and
in drawing of others by help of grace to the work of that same spirit that he
worketh in himself.
His cheer and his words should be full of ghostly
wisdom, full of fire, and of fruit spoken in sober soothfastness without any
falsehood, far from any feigning or piping of hypocrites. For some there be
that with all their might, inner and outer, imagineth in their speaking how
they may stuff them and underprop them on each side from falling, with many
meek piping words and gestures of devotion: more looking after for
to seem holy in sight of men, than for to be so in the sight of God and His
angels. For why, these folk will more weigh, and more sorrow make for an
unordained gesture or unseemly or unfitting word spoken before men, than they
will for a thousand vain thoughts and stinking stirrings of sin wilfully drawn
upon them, or recklessly used in the sight of God and the saints and the angels
in heaven. Ah, Lord God! where there be any pride within, there such meek
piping words be so plenteous without. I grant well, that it is fitting and
seemly to them that be meek within, for to shew meek and seemly words and
gestures without, according to that meekness that is within in the heart. But I
say not that they shall then be shewed in broken nor in piping voices, against
the plain disposition of their nature that speak them. For why, if they be
true, then be they spoken in soothfastness, and in wholeness of voice and of
their spirit that speak them. And if he that hath a plain and an
open boisterous voice by nature speak them poorly and pipingly--I mean but if
he be sick in his body, or else that it be betwixt him and his God or his
confessor--then it is a very token of hypocrisy. I mean either young hypocrisy
or old.
And what shall I more say of these venomous
deceits? Truly I trow, unless they have grace to leave off such piping
hypocrisy, that betwixt that privy pride in their hearts within and such meek
words without, the silly soul may full soon sink into sorrow.