HERE BEGINNETH THE FIVE AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER
Of three means in the which a contemplative Prentice should be occupied, in
reading, thinking, and praying.
NEVERTHELESS, means there be in the which a contemplative prentice should be
occupied, the which be these--Lesson, Meditation, and Orison: or else to thine
understanding they may be called--Reading, Thinking, and Praying. Of these three
thou shalt find written in another book of another man's work, much better than
I can tell thee; and therefore it needeth not here to tell thee of the qualities
of them. But this may I tell thee: these three be so coupled together, that unto
them that be beginners and profiters--but not to them that be
perfect, yea, as it may be here--thinking may not goodly be gotten, without
reading or hearing coming before. All is one in manner, reading and hearing:
clerks reading on books, and lewd men reading on clerks when they hear them
preach the word of God. Nor prayer may not goodly be gotten in beginners and
profiters, without thinking coming before.
See by the proof. In this same course, God's word either written or spoken is
likened to a mirror. Ghostly, the eyes of thy soul is thy reason; thy conscience
is thy visage ghostly. And right as thou seest that if a foul spot be in thy
bodily visage, the eyes of the same visage may not see that spot nor wit where
it is, without a mirror or a teaching of another than itself; right so it is
ghostly, without reading or hearing of God's word it is impossible to man's
understanding that a soul that is blinded in custom of sin should see the foul
spot in his conscience.
And so following, when a man seeth in a bodily or ghostly mirror, or wots by
other men's teaching, whereabouts the foul spot is on his visage, either bodily
or ghostly; then at first, and not before, he runneth to the well to wash him.
If this spot be any special sin, then is this well Holy Church, and this water
confession, with the circumstances. If it be but a blind root and a stirring of
sin, then is this well merciful God, and this water prayer, with the
circumstances. And thus mayest thou see that no thinking may goodly be gotten in
beginners and profiters, without reading or hearing coming before: nor praying
without thinking.
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