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.
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