HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER
How these young presumptuous disciples misunderstand this word "in," and of the
deceits that follow thereon.
AND on this manner is this madness wrought that I speak of. They read and hear
well said that they should leave outward working with their wits, and work
inwards: and because that they know not which is inward working, therefore they
work wrong. For they turn their bodily wits inwards to their body against the
course of nature; and strain them, as they would see inwards with their bodily
eyes and hear inwards with their ears, and so forth of all their wits, smelling,
tasting, and feeling inwards. And thus they reverse them against the course of
nature, and with this curiosity they travail their imagination so
indiscreetly, that at the last they turn their brain in their heads, and then as
fast the devil hath power for to feign some false light or sounds, sweet smells
in their noses, wonderful tastes in their mouths; and many quaint heats and
burnings in their bodily breasts or in their bowels, in their backs and in their
reins and in their members.
And yet in this fantasy them think that they have a restful remembrance of their
God without any letting of vain thoughts; and surely so have they in manner, for
they be so filled in falsehood that vanity may not provoke them. And why?
Because he, that same fiend that should minister vain thoughts to them an they
were in good way--he, that same, is the chief worker of this work. And wit thou
right well, that him list not to let himself. The remembrance of God will he not
put from them, for fear that he should be had in suspect.
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