THE SPARKLING STONE

Hans Memling, 'St John Writing Revelation', 1479, St John's Hospital, Bruges. Reproduced by permission of Memlingmuseum, Stadelijke Musea Brugge, Belgium

Compare with Birgitta of Sweden, Revelations, 1400, Pierpont Morgan Library, both centred on the Eucharist:

mmediately after Julian of Norwich's Showings in the British Library Amherst Manuscript, 'Explicit.Juliane de Norwych ', follows a treatise by Jan van Ruusbroec, generally called De Calculo or Sparkling Stone, but in this manuscript titled 'Treatise of Perfection of the Sons of God'. The text that follows replicates the manuscript's folios, layout, capitals (which are blue with red penwork ornamentation, as here, but which drop, taking up two or three lines, impossible to do on the Internet) and rubrication, but cannot give the contractions, thorns, yochs and long tailed s's. These are transcribed into a hard copy booklet which may be ordered from Julia Bolton Holloway
 

Treatise of Perfection of the Sons of God
 n the Name Off The Blissed. Trinite In Whom at alle
tymes I putt my dispocicoun and werkes. Iintende to transpose
for myne Owne lernynge Atrettesse frome latynn into engly
sche compiled bi Dan John Rusbroke the ffirst Prior of the
chartyr howse in valle viridi iuxta bruxellam. whiche tre
tysse is called the tretesse of perfeccioun of the Sonnys of god
that es to saye the grownde and the ledere. vnto the trew
crayse of perfeccioun. Wherefore yif ony man happenn to rede it
or yit here it redde Whiche Approbately can defete it. Meke
ly I beseche thame to withedrawe the defawte and gyffe stede
to the trowthe. And att my begynnynge be mary the blys
sed virgynn. and so forthe procedynge vnto the ende. Amen

Ere begynnes a trettesse. /Explicit prologus.
the Whiche es called the tretesse of perfeccoun
Off the. Sonnys. Of. God. Deo gracias.

ho so euer will lyffe in the most perfytt state of the modere
holy chirche. fyrste it es necessary that he be agoode man
and besely actualle. The Secounde is that he be alonlye A
Spiritualle louere. The thyrde that he be contemplatyfe and lyfte
vp vnto god by loue and affeccioun of the immortalle man which
is the The fowrthe that he be abowndynge in charite com
moun and generalle. fforsothly whate tyme theys fowre comme to ge
dere in Aman than his state is perfitly growynge and perseuerynge

In alle Vertew and grace and in knawliche of verteues. both in
the sight of god and alle resonable menn. Wherfore it is behofulle
thre thynges to considere whiche makys a man goode and acce
ptable to allmyghty god. The ferste is clennes of conscyence
with owte accusynge of dedely Synne. Soo that who so wille
be agoode man. he awe to examyne hym selfe and nought with
alyttelle strayghtnesse to behalde fro the tyme in the whiche he
myght do synne. and than of alle offensis in the meene tyme do
ne aftyr the ordynaunce. of holychyrche trewly to clence hym.
The Secounde thynge makynge aman to be goode is that he be
obedyent to god. vnto holy chyrche. and to his conscience or his
resoun. or elles to the conscyence or the resoun of anothere man
gostelye lyghtened of god. ffor vnto these thre. is necessarye that
he yelde lyke obedyence and than schalle he lyeve withoute drede
and withoute inordynat besynes. And also he schalle in alle his
dedis withinforth stonde vnrepreved. that is to saye fyndynge in hym
selfe none accusacoun of synne. so clere he hase made hes consci
ence. The thyrde that makes aman agoode mann of the whiche
man awght to be partelesse. Is that he principally intende in alle his
werkys the honoure of god. ffor yif alle for the multitude of a
mannys werkys lettynge. he hase nought at alle tymes god be
fore his eyen. that is to saye in affecioun and remembraunce. atte the
leste it is necessary that his principalle intente & desyre be to lye
ve and spende his tyme aftyr the moste thankfulle wille of god
And thus theese thre afore rehersed vsyngly hadde makis a man
gracyous and goode. And who that wantys one of thees thre
he is nought perfitely goode, for he is vnable to resayve the verray
grace of god. But when sum euer any man purpose in her
te to fulfille thees thre afore rehersed. howe evylle sumeuer he
hafe bene afore tyme. in the same momente that he so intend
ys he is made goode and acceptable vnto god and is repletyd
with his fulle mercyfulle grace. Moreouer than yif that this goode man

man schulde be made alonely a Spirytualle lovere. thre thynges he
muste hafe. ferste clennesse of herte The Secounde spiritualle frenes
in desyres. And the thyrde to feele oned with god. That is to saye
in nothynge elles to hafe desyre ne wille bot onely in god. And ther
fore euereman that holdes hym selfe Spiritualle knawe he that
who sumeuere wille hafe clennesse of herte. he may nought with incly
nacioun of the saule that is to saye. with a wilfulle affeccioun ony
thynge hafe inpossessyon. nor yit drawe to nothynge with a wil
fulle redynesse or to felaschippe hym to ony conuersacioun. bot whi
che es onely for god. Why. Sothely for euere conuersacoun and euere
loue whiche es nought onely for the honoure of god it payntys
and filles the herte of aman. ffor it is not brought forthe of god
botte of the flesche. And therfore who schalle be made Spiritualle
he hase nede to renownse alle carnalle love. and knytte hym
in spirit onely vnto god. haffynge hym in desyre & love of alle
creatures. And in the havynge of god with loue is the inwarde
man clensyd frome all ymagynacouns. ffor god is a spiryt. whiche
no man kanne propyrly fygure or ymagyn. Neuerthelesse in this
werke awe aman to putte before hym goode ymaginacouns as
the passyoun of oure lorde. and alle othere thynge that maye bry
nge hym to the encrese of deuocioun the whiche hadde. it is to
be holde vnto the cause of clennesse. whiche is god and that is
the fyrste grownde of spiritualle lyffe. The secounde as y sayde afo
re is inwarde fredomme that is to saye. that a man excludynge
alle thynge. and also the fourme and the schappe of alle thyn
ge may in alle inwarde exercyse lyfte vppe hymselfe vnto god
in louynges that is to saye. in gyffynge thankynge and reuerence
in devoute prayere and hertely loue. and in alle thynge whiche
desyre and loue maye wyrke thorowe helpe of the grace of god
and euer lastynge dyligence vnto spyrituelle exercyse. And so be this
euerlastynge exercyse it is comme to the thyrde whiche is te fele on
ed with god. ffor when sumeuer a man hase clere and fre desire
to his god alonely for the honoure of hym. and nothynge elles
intendynge. Than it folowes necessarely that he sauerys the

goodnes of god. and also that he felys with his god trewe oned
thorowe the whiche is fulfilled spiritualle lyfe. ffor why oute
of it the desyre alwaye newly spryngys: and vnto newe thyn=
gys the inwarde werkys it stirres ffor in wirkynge the spirrit
ascendys into newe vnyciouns. and so alwaye the werke and
the oned ar renewed. And the renewynge of the werke and
of the vnycioun is Spiritualle lyfe. So that we may see thann
howe that aman ys a goode man be inwarde moralle vertewe
And by the vnicioun of god. /Capitulum. 2 dum

Ot and this goode Spiritualle man schalle be made con
templatyfe vnto that are othyr three thyngis required
ffyrste that he fele his grownde vnserchable. that is to saye
That his conscience be cleene frome alle synne. And so he awght
to kepe it. The Secounde is that his exersise want alle manere. that
is to saye to sette hym to a certeyne laboure. And nowth ere more
nor lesse. ffor he that dose so. hase nought verrey fredome of
spirit. The thirde thynge is that it is necessary that his affe
ccioun be continually knytte vnto god. This knyttyng or vnycoun
that is to saye oned that a spiritualle man feles with god. Somme
tyme he felys in spyrit with hymselfe as afelynge vnable to be
borne so hy thynkys it with oute mesure. and in that felynge or
openynge of the spyrrit be the meene of loue. persayues hym
selfe frome hym selfe. errynge in wisdome atte alle tymes.
felynge hym one lyfe with god so stedfastly. he abydes in that
vnknawen knawlege. And this is the fyrste grounde of contempla
tyfe lyfe. And oute of this spryngis the secounde. that is to saye
the most hyghe beynge which is wantynge alle maner in wir=
kynge. ffor the oned of god whiche euer e contemplatyfe spiritte
pretendys in loue it is euer lastynglye drawynge yn. and in hym
selfe askynge dyuyne persones and alle lovynge spyrrytys and
this drawynge in felys euer louer owthere more or lesse. ffor aftyr
mesure of his loue and the manere of his exercyse is his felynge. for
sothelye who that gyffes dewe dyligence to this indrawynge and

contynually bydis therin into the felthe of dedly synne he maye
nought falle. Botte euer e co n templatyfe man whiche hafe forsa=
kene hym selfe and alle other e thynge. so that in hym selfe he fe=
les none outdrawynge for he covettys nothynge with a propre
wille botte to eu er e thynge he is fre. he that. whose he be maye al=
waye entre bare and cleyne the inwardnesse of his spirit. and
there anone he fyndis brought forthe a manere of euerlastynge lyght
in the whiche gostely lyght he feles the euer lastynge inwarde mo=
nycoun of the oned of god. And also he feles hym selfe as the perpe=
tualle brande of love. be the whiche above alle thyngys he de=
lytes to be oone with god. so frely he kanne yelde his dette whi=
che is moynest hym be alle myghty god. This sayde inwarde
monycoun of the oned of god kyndles in the spyrit euer lastynge
heete. Bot where that the dewte is dewly done. ther is the
perpetualle burnynge kyndelt. ffor sothely in the selfe informacoun
of the oned alle spyrrytis want ther wirkynge. And nothynge th
ay fele in that symple oned. safe onely a gostely burnynge the
whiche no man may fele. ne hafe withoute he be contynually
abydynge in grete clerete and loue. wantynge manere that is to
saye whiche kanne be mesured by consayvynge of the sonn of man
In this standynge the spirit feles it selfe the perfyte burnynge of
euer lastynge loue. In the whiche it fyndis nowth ere the beygynny=
nge ne ende bot euer more he feles hymselfe oone with hymsel=
fe as a spirit gostely burnynge and inselfe alwaye abydynge
ffor his loue is indurable and euere felys hym selfe burnynge
in loue. ffor he is alwaye drawyn in the be informacoun of the
ooned of god. And where that the spyrit burnys in loue con
syderynge it selfe there it persayues the dyuersyte betwix god and
it. Bot where that the spirit is burnt in loue. there it is symp=
le and in no wyse havynge discrecoun . And therfore he felys no
thynge saue onely the oned of god. ffor why the grete flaw
me of the loue of god consumys and devoures alle thynge
that the spirit may be the frelete of hit selfe consayfe. Soo

Than that we schalle verrely knawe that the indrawynge oned
of god is not elles bot inwarde loue drawynge in the ffadere
and the sonne and alle thynge in thame lyffynge into euere
lastynge beynge. ffor in that loue is the felicite of alle spiritis
Wherfore vs behoues to grouwnde oure lyfe vpon a profounde
depenesse and so we maye in euer lastynge loue drowne and
alle of oure selfe into inserchable depnesse be drowne. In the
whiche loue we schalle be alterate in to ane incomprehensible
heyght And also with that loue whiche is wantynge maner
we schale grope and it schalle lede vs and brynge vs agay
ne in to the gate of the incomprehensible depnesse of charite. in
the whiche we schalle flowe frome oure selfe. and flowys A=
gayne in vnknawyn swetnesses thorowe the spirit of the good=
nes of god. in the whyche we schalle be made ligued and stab=
le euerlastyngly be the ioye of god. So that I schewe than that
in eche of thees symylitudes is exercyse to be contemplatyfe. /cap.3.ium

here may no man entere the sayde exercyse be cunnynge
ffor contemplatyfe lyfe may nought be taught oone be anothere
bot where as god whiche es verrey trowthe manyfestys hym
selfe in spirit. ther all necessaries moste plentevously are lerned
and that is that the spirit says in the Apochalips vincenti
says he schalle gyffe hym a litil white stone and in it a newe
name the whiche no man knowes but who that takys it. This
litel stone promysed to a victorious man it is called. Calcalus.
for the litelnes ther of. ffor yyf alle a man trede it with his fete
yit he is not hurte th er with. This stone it is red with a schyny
nge witness to the lykenesse of a flawme of fyre. litylle and
rownde and be the serkle ther of it is playne and smothe. Be this
litel stone we vndyrstande oure lorde ihesu cryste. whyche by
his dyuynyte is the whitnesse of euer lastande lyght and the
schynere of the ioye of god. Also the myrroure withoute spotte
in the whiche alle thynge hase lyfe. Whosumeuere therefore

owrecommys and ascendys aboue hym selfe and alle othere thyn
gys that maye be consayved be bodely exercyse to hym his gyffyn
this litelle white stone, and in it he takis clereness and lyfe
This litel whyte stone is symulate to a flawme of fyre for
burnynge loue of the euer lastynge worde hase sacyate alle the
worlde with charite and with alle lovynge spiritys in loue
burne to nought And also this Calcalus is so lytle astone
that whate tyme it is trodunn apon vnnethes it is feled. And
therfore it is called Calcalus. As who say trodunn apon
with the heyle. the whiche the Apostele exspoundys where
he says that the sonne of god sette hym selfe atte nought A=
nd also he was obedyente to the deth vnto the whiche
Acordes the wordes of oure lorde sayde by his prophet. Isays
oure lorde am aworme and no man. reproued of men and ab=
iecte of peple. Wherefore the same tyme that the iewes tre=
tyd hym downe. he made hym selfe so lytell. that is to saye. so
meke. that vnnethes they myght fele hym. ffor yif they hadde
knawynge hym for the sonne of god they durste of no wyse
hafe crucyfyed hym. Neuerthelesse yit he is botte litle in ther hertes
that loues hym nought and therfore thay sette hym atte nought
Also this litel stone the whiche I spake of. it is rounde and be
the circumference playne. The rowndenesse thereof teches the de=
uyne trowthe nowthere to hafe begynnynge ne endynge And
the playnesse ther of informes vs that is to delyuer vs and to re
warde euere man aftyr he hase atheled whiche rewarde be it
goode or euylle abydes be the havere ther of with owtyn ende
The laste proprite that this Calculus hase is that it is smothe
And so the euer lastynge worde of the ffadere hase no burdene
And yit by the vertewe ther of it beres bothe hevynn and erthe
And also it is nere euer ethynge. And yit nithynge may cumme
tille it. ffor it excedes abofe and gase before alle creatures. And
therfore to none botte to whome he wille and where he wille

He shewys hym selfe. So than that in his smothenesse the
humanyte ascendys aboue alle hevenesse there abidynge cro=
wned on the ffadere ryght hande, Considere nowe wele thann
that this is the litle white stone whiche is gyffen to a contem =
platyue mann in the whiche is gyffenn written anewe name
that noman knawes bot who that takys it And therfore it is
to knowe that euer e spyrrit is named in his reuertynge vnto
god. And that specyally be the nobilite of his seruys, And also
be the hete of his loue. the whyche name is the fyrst name
of innocentry gyffyn vs at oure baptyme whiche newe
haue loste thorowe oure synne and wrechidnesse. And yit be
the merites of oure loue and infynyte grace of god. we
are merked and putte in knawelynge ther with agayne And therfore
yif we wille obey to alle myghtty god in thre principalle
thynges, whiche he wille wirke in vs. yit we schalle be
baptysed agayne thorowe the holigoste. And we schalle
resayfe a newe name whiche schalle abyde with vs euer

he fyrst than of thees werkes which lastingly
oure lorde werkys in euer e man. that is at saye vny=
uersalye alle men he calles and meves vnto his oned. Howe
be it that summe here his calle and summe here it nought. And
therefore alsolange as any synnere mys hyerys this calle. so
lange it is necessary that he wante the tothere two gyftys. wh=
iche immediatly folouys the fyrste/ Now therfore it is to con=
sydre that the synnes of alle synners are deuyded into fyve
kyndes. The fyrste kynde is of thame that hase no charge of
goode werkys willynge euere to lyffe aftyr the delycatnesse of
the bodye. And aftyr the delyberacion and the wille of there
owne sensualyte. Thees persons are vnable to resayfe the grace
of god. ffor in case thay had it. yit thay myght nought lange
kepe it. The secounde kynde than is of thame that wilfully
fallys into dedely synne. And nought withstandynge that yit thay
do goode dedis euer dredynge god and lovynge goode men and

desyrynge to be helpede thorow there Prayers. Also puttynge there trust
and there helpe in thame Neuerthelesse als lange as the auersyoun and the
delectacioun of vice oue re commes in man the conuersioun and loue that man
schulde hafe vnto god. So lange is he vnworthy to resayve the grace
of god The thyrde kynde than is of herytykis. and of thame that be erryn=
ge in the faythe. ffor whate sumeuer goode deede thay do or whate degre
of Religioun thay pretende in no wyse whilys thay do soo thay maye
plese god. ffor verrey trewe fayth is the sadde grownde and vertewe
of alle halynesse. The fowrthe kynde is of thame. whiche withoute
drede or schame lye in the denne and the fylthe of dedely synne. hauy
nge no drede ne ferdnesse of god. nor yit of his goodnesse alle vertew
settynge at nought. and spyritualle lyfe haldynge botte ypocrysye or
fantesy. And whate sum euere is sayde thame of god or of vertue. euen
as constreyened to here thay here it. And why. Sothely. for thay are
so indurate in herte that thay thynge there is no god. ne yit heven ne
helle. And therfore thay wille knawe nothynge elles bot onely that thay
principaly fele be ther awne consayte and false witte. So that thaye
arre cast awaye and forsakene of god. for thay synne in the holygoste
Neuerthelesse thay may be convertede. bot that is begrete difficulte. and
seldome sene. The fyfte is than of ypocritys. whiche dothe the owt
warde dedys. not for the honoure of god. ne yit for there awne helpe.
bot anely for to hafe the name of holynesse in the mowthes of men
or elles forto obteyne worldly goodes. or wyrschippys ffor yif alle thay
appere owtwarde goode and holy/ yit with inforthe thay arre false.
turned frome god. Therefore thay are voyde of alle vertue and grace
Thus than are deuyded the fyfe kyndys of synners. whiche lette a saule
to comme to the oned of god. ffor also longe as a synnere is redy to the
servyse of synne. so long he abydes. deffe and blynde. and vntawht
to taste or feele the goodnesse that oure lorde wille wyrke in his gos=
tely lovere . Neuerthlesse yif that he reverte frome synne and consydere
hym selfe haffynge a grete dysplesynge with his synnys. Than he
drawes vnto godwarde. And yif he wille gyffe hym vnto the cally=
nge and the styrrynge of god. that is necessary that he purpose to
lefe his synnes and do penaunce. And so he schalle be one herte and
saule with god. and resayfe the grace of god. wherfore atte the furste
vs muste behalde vnto god, the whiche of his awne goodnesse withouten

any difference. causes & styrres alle men vnto one oned. bothe goode.
and eville he refusys none. The Secounde vs muste feele the goodnesse
of god. that with grace abowndys. to alle that verrely inclynes vnto
his incallynge. The thyrde vs muste hafe trewe experience and vn=
dyrstandynge in oureselfe. that we may be made one lyfe. and one
spirit with god. yif that we wille forsake oure selfe. folowynge the
grace of god the whiche ordinatly wyrkys in euere man aftyr the
persayvynge of his loue and be the vniuersalle styrrynge of grace
euer e synnere takes wysdome and powere of levynge of synne. and
of turnynge into vertue. ffor be the wyrkynge of grace. may euere
goode man overe comme vice and resyste temtacioun , and so encrese
in vertue and perseuer in perfeccoun yif that we wille in alle thynge gyff
lovynge vnto the grace of god. ffor sothely alle that we are and
alle that we hafe be inwarde gyftys or outwarde. thay are of the
thankfulle gyftys of god. for the whiche we be bunne to yelde hym
thankynges. ffor with thame it is necessary we be filled. yif that we schalle ple=
E schalle knawe. that ther be many gyftys of god which /se god.
vnto goode men bene occasyoun and helpe vnto vertewe. and to
evylle men bene occasyoun and helpe vnto vyse. of the whiche gyftys
summe be thees. helthe and fayrenesse. witte and Riches. wordelye
wirschippe and prosperite. Thees bene the lowe gyftys. that oure lorde
gyffes generally. bothe to his fryndes & foes. the whiche goode men ser =
uys. bothe god and there fryndes. And the eville men servys the deville. fle
sche and the worlde. And also we schalle knowe that summe takys
the gyftys of god as mercenaries sum as trewe seruandys. Thees two
be contrarye in wyrkynge and loue. And therfore late vs take heede
vnto there dyuersyte. Knawe we that euery man so inordynatly luffynge hym
selfe that he wille nought serve god. but onely for his owne lucre and
rewarde. he that or thay whate so thay be sequestrate thame from god
and makys hym selfe proprietaries & vnfre. ffor thay intende in alle
there wyrkynges there awne lucre. and thay be inordinatlye knytte
vnto thame selfe. And therfore thay abyde euere more onely with thamm
selfe. So that trewe love they wante be the whiche thay schulde
be knytte vnto god and vnto alle goode menn and therfore yif alle it seme

that thees kepe the lawes and commawndementys of god and of
the chyrche. yit they kepe not the lawe and the bande of charite
ffor that that thay doo thay doo it not of charite bot for cause thay
may doo none oth er. lesse thay be dyspysed or slawndret: ffor thay
that be vntrewe inwarde dare not trayst strangly in god bot
alle ther inwarde lyfe is drede and ferdnesse. labore and wrech
ednesse behaldynge on the ryght hande the blysse euer lastynge
the whiche they drede to for goo. And on the lefte hande the
payne of helle ay indurynge whiche thay drede thay mon to
ffor alle the laboure and the goode dedys aman does. to putt
away this drede avayles hym nought alsolange as ther remay
nes a false loue to hym selfe. ffor the more feruently and inordy
nately men love thame selfe. the more thay drede the payne and
the tormentynge of helle. Soo that it maye be clerely knawynn
that propre wille makys a man inuyous agaynes hym selfe. for
it puttys in hym the drede of helle whiche is the begynnynge
of fole. And therfore of the contrary wyse as the prophet. And also
Salomoun in the Proverbes says. Drede of god is the begynnynge
of wisdome But this manerre drede is of thame that beholde to
the ryghthande of god. That is to saye of thame that drede to lese
the blysse euer elastynge. ffor this drede spryngys of naturelle incly
nacoun . thorowe the whiche euere man desyres to be blyste. Wherfore
yyf alle a mann be vntrewe vnto god. yit and he beholde hym we
le within he felys hym selfe of hym selfe vnto blyssednesse with
his god sumwhate inclyned. And therfore he dredys to lese this blys
sednesse. and so he loues hym selfe more than god. ffor not for
god he loues this blyssednes and dredys to leese it bot for hym
selfe whiche drede is of thame that be vntrewe lovers. and it
is calde the drede. which is the bygynnynge of wysdome. And
the lawe of vntrewe seruauntys of god. Neuerthelesse it causes
men to leue synne and to desyre vertue and to doo goode werkis
whiche inwardly dysposes a man to ressayue grace. and to be
made a trewe seruande of god. for in the same momente that a man

thorowe helpe of god forsakys and puttys awaye for the love of god his
owne propre loue and knowleges almyghty god in alle his necessitees
for his helpere and lovere in that same deid it pleses oure lorde sowele
that he wolle wochesafe to graunt & sende hym his grace. Be the
whiche grace the have rether of feles betwix hym and god verrey trewe
loue puttynge owte of his consayte alle dowte and drede. And thus
than he is made the trewe servande of god. beynge and intendynge
to loue god in alle his dedes And this is the difference betwyxe
trewe seruaundis and vntrewe mercenaries.. /Cap itulum.6.m

Ot yit forsothe we maye persayve grete difference betwyxe
the trewe seruaundys and the dere frendys of god. ffor the tre
we servandys cheses be grace to wyrke and to kepe the commawnd
mentys of god That is to saye to obey vnto hym and to holy chir
che in alle manere of vertue and goode manners. the whiche is called
vtwarde lyfe or elles doynge or wyrkynge lyfe. Bot the dere fren
dys of god chese to kepe the counselys with his commawndementys
That is to saye inwardlye thay intende to drawe to god and vnto
his euerlastynge worshippe alle thynge that thay hafe with a willfulle
forsakynge anence therselfe and a verrey loue vnto god they possesse it
That is to saye. vttyrly submyttynge thame selfe and that thay hafe
vnto the dispocicoun and the wille of god. Thees manere of men oure
lorde calles his frendys. and he teches thame discrecioun in inwarde
wyrkynge. That is to saye in many hid maners of spiritualle lyffynge
sendynge owte ther seruantys that is to say. ther outwarde curiouse wir
kyngys. so that vnto hym in alle servyse and in alle manere of goode
outwarde werkys they are Simple. Loo this oure lorde grawntys
grace & helpe vnto euere man eftyr he is apte to take it. That is to
saye aftyr his wirkynge is vnto god. owthere in vtwarde goode wer
kys. or ellys in inwarde exercyse of loue. Neuerthelesse ther may noman
be viset with inwarde loue. ne yit fele it with oute he be inwardlye
alle to geddre turned vnto god. ffor howe longe aman be devyded in
harte so longe he is behowdynge vtwarde an is vnstable And also
his saule is lyghtlye meued frome hatredynn vnto loue and frome lo
ve vnto hatredynn of temporalle thynges of the whiche the desyre
yit lyffys in hym. And therfore yif alle siche a man in his lyffynge

kepe the commawndementis of god neuerthelesse yit he is fulle litle inwar
delye lyghtned nor yit he knowes whate his inwarde exercyse is. ffor
howe he schulde he is nought taught. Neuerthelesse he holdys hym con=
tente in that he knowes, and feles that he intendys god. and in alle
his werkys he covetis to fulfille his moste plesable wille so that he
fyndes hym selfe in his intencioun nought feynynge bot trewe and dy=
ligente in his service. Whiche two funne in hym. it semes hym that his
vtwarde goode dedys done with atrewe intencoun . are more holye
and more profitable than any inwarde exercyse that he cowthe hafe
ffor alle the helpe that he covetis of god. it is vtwardlye chosene
And therfore he hawntys more vtwarde werkis with discrecoun than
he dose hym for whome he wyrkys with alle his myght and loue
And that is the cause that rathere in his harte are put the werk es
that he dose. than god. for whome he dose thame. And therfore he A=
bydis Actyfe put alle in vtwarde werkys. And so he is not apte to
fulfylle the cownseyles of oure lorde. ffor cause his wyrkynge is
rathere owtwarde than inwarde bodely more than gostelye wher
fore yif alle he be the trewe seruant of god in vtwarde exercyse. yit
that. at the secret frendys of god feles in wyrkynge. that is vn tohym
hid and vnknowen. And that is the cause that many rude vtw=
arde wyrkers allwaye deme and chalans inwarde wyrkers as
Actyfe men thame that be contemplatyfe. for thay thynke that the
contemplatyfe men are occupied both with ydelnesse. And that was the
cause that Martha made Playnte of Mary hir sustere. ffor Mari
helpyd hir nought to mynystere. And ther fore Martha thought sche dyd
grete seruyce & profetable And hir Sustyr Mari sate voyde and ydle
Bot oure lorde gafe Sentence and dome of thame bothe . blamyn=
ge Martha. bot not for hire ministracoun for that was both goode
and profitable. Bot he increpate hyre for cause sche was so besye
hevy and trubled abowte vtwarde occupacoun . Bot he praysed
Mari for inwarde exercise sayinge that one thynge is necessary the
whiche Mari hase chosene And that schalle neuer be takyn from hire /capitulum 7m .

his beste thynge that Mari chase. is euer lastynge lyfe and
that one thynge that is to euere man necessary it is the loue
of god. the whiche the secret fryndes of god cheses afore alle other

And so dyd Marie/ Bot Martha chase trewe vtwarde actyfe
lyfe & not feyned. And that is the tothere partye thorow the
whiche god is loved and served. Bot it is not so perfite nor so
goode as that that the trewe seruantis of god hase chosene for
the loue of god. And yit ther are sum menn whiche be fonde that
wille be bad inwarde and ydle. And nowth er thay wille wyrke
ne yit seryf to ther neyghtburs in the tyme of necessyte. And
thees manere of men are nowther the secrete frendys of god
ne yit his trewe seruantys. Bot thay are false and dysceved
ffor ther may no man fulfille the counselys of god that wille
not kepe his commawndementys. And therfore alle the secrete
fryndys of god are alle way his trewe seruantys. Bot not
alle trewe seruantys are secrete frendys of god. ffor thay kn=
owe not the exercyse that longys to a secrete frende. Thus
than is manyfeste the dyfference betwyx the secrete fren=
dis of god and his trewe seruantys, Bot yit ther semes a neue
difference be twyx the forsayde howe be it that ayther ylyke is
raysed vp with inwarde exersice before the syght of god Bot alle
the secrete frendys of god possesse ther inwarde exercyse that is to
saye ther inwarde wyrkynge with a trewe wille . ffor thay che=
se the drawyng nere loueablenesse. for the beste and for the
moste excellent to the whiche thay may or desyre to comme
And therfore thay maye not latte thame selfe ne yit ther werkys
passe into a voyde barenesse. or with the ymage of ther selfe
and of ther werkys thay are inwardlye hid and paynted so yif
alle in ther drawynge nere loueablnesse thay fele with god
oned Neuer thelesse yit thay fele difference betwyx god and
thame. ffor that symple entrynge into the barenesse is vn
to thame vnknowen & vnloued And therfore the most hyghe in=
warde lyfe of thame euer more abydes in resoun and in manere
yif alle thay hafe clere vndyrstondynge & discrecoun of alle
resonable vertwys. Neuerthelesse that symple behaldynge tho=
rowe mynde in the clerenesse of the godhede abydys vnto tha=

hid. yif alle thay fele thame selve lyfte vp vnto god in a feruent bur=
ning of loue. Ne er thelesse yit thay withholde vnto thame selfe som=
whate of th er spirite so that thay are not alle consumed & in vnycoun of
loue burnt vnto nought. ffor yif alle thay wolde lyeve alle waye
in the seruyce of god. And euerlastyngly in desyre to plese hym Neuer =
lesse yit thay wille not dye in alle propre tarynesse of spirit ande
one lyffe bere with god. And moreouere yif alle thay sette at litle
alle owtwarde accydentalle ryste yit thay holde grete the gyftys of
god and the inwarde werkys. And also the consolacioun and the swet=
nesse thay fele with inforthe. Thus in there Jurney they rist. nought
pleynerly dyynge for the gettynge of the heye felicite and alle to
geddyre beynge occupied in the nakede loue of god. ffor sothly yif
they myght exercyse and with discrecioun knowe alle drawynge nere
loueablenesse. And also euere inwarde ascendynge desyre whiche
is possible to hawnt in the sight of god Neuer thelesse yit ther abydes
with thame the hid and vnknowen presynge the whiche is desyre
wantynge mesure. In that Aboundande gyfte inloue superexcensialle
that is to saye above alle othere loves in the whiche nevere his
fonde begynnynge ne ende ne yit ordyr ne manere. /8m

Ot there is grete difference be twyx the secret fryndys of
god and his hid sonnys. ffor the secrete frendys of god
felys nothynge elles bot a wyse loueable ascencoun in manere Apo
the whiche the hid sonnys feles asymplylle dyinge desyre withoute
manere. And therfore the inwarde lyfe of the frendes of god is the
exercyse that is to say the occupacoun of loue goyinge vp to god in
atrewe faythe Abydynge god traystynge certaynly to have euer
lastynge blyssydnesse. And therfore thay festyn there Ankyre in god by
perfyte charite. And so it happyns thame the beste for thay plese
god. Neuerthelesse thay are in certayne of the blysse euerelasty
nge. for thay are not yit mortyfyed vnto ther selfe and vnto alle
propre tarye in god. Bot for soth alle men in ther exercyse and in that
they haue chosyn perseuerynge. god hase chosen in euer lastynge be
ynge. and ther names with ther werkys be written fro the begynnynge

In the book of diuyne predestynacioun Bot thoo that cheses alle other thyn=
ges. and ther inwarde face that is to say. there inwarde wille turnes in
to the contrary perseuerynge in ther synnys; yif alle there creatur names
be writen and knowen of god be the temp or alle ryghtwysnes the exercyse
in the whiche thay perseuere not vnto dede. therfore ther names are putte
oute of the booke of lyfe. and nowthere god. ne yit eny fruyte of
vertewe fro thens furth thay schalle taast wherfore it is behofulle
to vs alle that we with alle oure desyre vnto god. and with a grete
loue inwarde and vtwarde diligently anowrn vs with goode werkys
and so we may abyde in hope and Joye the dome and the commynge
of oure lorde Ihesu cryste. Bot and we cowth forsake oureselfe and
alle propretarynes in oure werkys. Anone than we schulde passe alle thy=
nge with oure bare and clere spyrrit. And we schulde do alle thynge
thorowe amanere of proprietarynesse wrought immediatly frome the spirit
of god wherebye we schulde feele certaynly that wer were the son=
nys of god. ffor whate so thay be that wyrkes or dose by the spyr=
it of god thoo says the Apostle are the sonnys of god And neuerthelesse
it is to knowe that alle goode trewe men be the sonnys of god. ffor
thay be borne of the spyrrit of god. the whiche spyrrit dresses and
puttes forthe euer e mann onely vnto verteuse and goode werkys
aftyr he is apte thorowe the whiche he pleses god. Neuerthelesse
for the dyuersyte of inwarde loue and of vtwarde laboure. summe
I kalle trewe servantys of god. Summe secrete frendys of god. And sum =
me the hid sonnys of god. So that alle are owthere servantys. frendes
or sonnys. ffor vnto one god thay alle serve. And one thay alle lo
ve. And also of the free spyrryt of god thay lyffe and wyrke. ffor
god grawntys vnto his frendes alle his commawndementys and
obseruancys And who that are bunne vnto the counselys it is sertaynn
that they be bunne with the bande of commaundement wherfore
it is schewed no man to be inobediente vnto god ne yit contrary
bot onely he that kepes not his commaundementys. And therfore alle
thynge that god commawndys or forbyddys in holy scripture or in

Holy chirche or in oure conscience. thees it is necessarye that wee
do or leue. or elles we be conuycte to be inobedient And so anone
forto lese the grace of god Bot that we falle in to daly lyght de
fawtys. oftyn tymes it happyns be the soueraunce of god. and also
cause of necessyte the whiche in no wyse we may avoyde. wher
fore the defawtes makys vs not inobedient for thay nowthere
put awaye oure ryst ne pees. ne yit the grace of god Neuerthelesse
howe litle or howe fewe thay be. vs owe to sorowe for thame
And with alle oure diligence beware we falle not to thame agay

hus than in this late sayde I haue made opunn the /ne
whiche I remembre me I sayde in the begynnynge that is to say
it is necessary and behofulle that euere man be obedyent vnto god
to holy chirche and to the resoun of his conscience. ffor in thees
maners I wille that euere man forsake vnryghtwys lettyng es . And
thus I leue sayde the fore writen as thay are sayde. Neuerthelesse
yit moste gladlye. I wolde knowe howe that we may be made the
hyd sonnys of god and to comme to haue in wyrkynge contemplatife
lyfe. ffor the whiche sothly the inwarde thynges and rather the
superior thyngis I haue ashet counselle and playnly I haue consayued
the trewthe. as thus. It behoves vs as it is aforsayde in alle thy
ngys to lyffe and wake in vertuse. and abowe alle vertuse to dye.
and in god to slepe. ffor sothe it es necessarye that we dye fro syn
and to be borne in god in vertuouse lyfe. And also it is necessarye
we forsake oure selfe. and in god dye in to euerlastynge lyfe. Wher
fore thus passis furthe this ordere yif that we be borne of the holye
goste. thanne we are the sonnys of grace. And our lyfe is made
fayre with vertuse. And so alle thynge that is contrary vnto god
we overe comme. ffor as the Apostle says. Alle that is borne of god.
overe commys the worlde. ffor sothely in that byrthe alle goode men
are the sonnys of god. And the spirrit of god meues. and dryffes
euere man syngulerlye vnto thoo vertewes and goode dedes the whiche
he is redy and apte to resayue and to do so that thu plese god alle
and iche one synglere, aftyr the gretnes of loue and excellentne

of exercyse. Neuerthelesse thay fele not there selfe stable nor yit havyn=
ge god perfyghtly. ne certayne thay be not of the blysse of heuen
ffor yit thay may turne and falle in to synnys. And therfore. I calle
thame rathere servantys than othere frendys or sonnys Botte
how mekylle that so euer we goo aboyfe oureselve in oure ascen=
dynge vnto god. so mekylle we be made symple that the naked
and pure loue maye consayve vs in the heyght where he exer =
cyses hym selfe above alle exercyses of vertues in oure beynge
where we are spyritualle borne. And where we are transform
ed. And also in god bothe vnto oure selfe and to alle othere thy=
nges we dye. In that intencoun sothely we are made the hid son=
nys of god. And so we fynde in vs a newe lyfe the whiche ly
fe is euerlastyngnesse Off thees sonnys spekys the Apostle whe
re he says ye are dede and youre lyfe is hid with cryst in god. decimum
Ake hede therfore nowe for this is the ordere of oure entry=
nge vnto god. We owe to bere oure selfe and oure wer=
kys before vs as euerlastynge offerande of god vnto the presen=
ce of god we schalle brynge oure selfe and oure werkys dyyn
ge in loue. ffor than we excede alle create thynges into the
Substancyalle ryches of god. ther we schalle hafe god in euerlas=
tynge mortyfyinge, And therfore says the spirit of oure lorde in the
Apocalips: Blissed be tho dede the whiche are dede in oure lorde
Worthely for sothe he callys thame blystlye dede the whiche by=
dys euerlastyngly dede. that is to saye fro thame selfe and in to
that vsable oned of god thay are drownde And also thay are
evere more newly dyinge in loue be the in entrynge formacoun
of the same. Wherfore fro nowe forthe says the spirit that thay
myght ryste of ther labores for ther werkys folowes thame. ffor sothe
ly in the same manere where that of god we are borne in spiry=
tualle verteuouse lyfe And where we bere oure werkys afore vs
as oure oblacoun vnto god. And also in that hyest where in god
we dye into euer lastyinge blissed lyfe. ther forsothe oure werkys
folous vs. for thay are one lyfe with vs. And more overe in

Oure taryynge with vertuse vnto god dwellys god in Vs. bot in that
we goo fro oure selfe and fro alle thynge we dwelle in hym. ffor=
Sothly yyf we hafe faythe hope and charite. than with owt dow=
te we hafe taken god. ffor he with his grace dwellys in vs and
sendys vs furthe as trewe seruantys to kepe his commawndmentis
And he callys vs agayne inwarde as his secrete frendes yif alo=
nely we folowe his counseyles. And be that he schewes vs that
we are his sonnys yif onely we knowe oure lyfe contrary to the
worlde/ Bot forsothe yif that we wille taste god overe alle thy=
nge or fele in vs euerlastynge lyfe. it is necessary as I consayve
that above resoun of our consayte we intende god abydynge ther
ydle that is to saye from alle ymaginacoun and feynynge of alle
erthly symylitudys lyftynge vop be loue oure mynde unto the ma=
nyfeste barnesse where sothly in loue alle thyngis we ouerepa=
sse dyynge be alle consyderacioun into Amanere of ryghtwysnesse
and derknesse. tho we do and wyrk in the euerlastynge worde the
whiche is the ymage of the fathere . And in that ydlenesse of
oure spyrrit we take that vnconsauable clerenes the whiche takyn. we
flowe ouere that is to saye we passe mesure of resoun in consay
vynge the clere syrkle of the sonne yet ouere the substaunce and
that trewe clerenesse is nought ellys bot a byholdynge and A in=
speccoun of ane unknawen ende. ffor that . that we are we be holde
and that we be holde we are . And why. ffor sothly oure lyfe. myn=
de. And alle othere thynge that we hafe allonely are lyfte vp an
knyt to the verrey trewthe whiche is god wherefore in that allon=
ly beholdynge we be one lyfe. and one spirryte with god. And
this I calle contemplatyfe lyfe. for where that we drawe nere
god in loue. ther we exercyse the best parte. And where as aboue
alle thynge ascendynge supersubstancyally we serche. ther holye
we possesse god. And vnto this contemplacioun euere more draw=
es the exercyse of the vnknawen manere. that is to saye. lyfe dra=
wynge to nought. bot we forsothe hase drawyn oure selfe in to

a derknesse and into an unsershable wantynge manere. thayre euermo=
re schynes that simple beynge of the clernesse of god in the whiche
we be growndyd. that is to saye the whiche of oure selfe drawys
vs into the moste hyghe beynge and felaschip of his loue vnto the
whiche felaschippe of loue exercyse that es to saye bysenes is the
drawere in and the folowere of trowthe trewe loue wantynge
manere. ffor loue may nought be ydle bot thorow thyrst and smellyn=
ge it is aboutwarde to serche unsersable ryches lyffynge in his
grownde that is to saye in the grownde of loue. /capitulum 11

his forsayde Sothlye is the impacient hungre besylye
goynge as a floode swyftly rynnynge. It may not be
lefte ne yit takynn to wante it is intollerable to folowe it im=
possible. It may not be schewed openn ne yit hid in silence. It ex=
cedys alle resoun and witt. And it is abofe alle creatures And
therfore it may on no wyse be touched. Neuerthelesse beholdynge
oure selfe we feele the spirit of god dryfe vs and put vs in
to that inpacient taryynge. Bot beholdynge above oure selfe
we persayve the Spirit of god of oure selfe drawynge vs and
turnynge vs to nought in hym selfe. that is in cryste with A superessencialle
loue vnto whome we be euer ychone lovere and alle thynge we
possesse largere. This hafynge is meke sauoure of the insaable
depnesse of alle goodnesse. and of euer elastynge lyfe. in the why=
che taste we are made wyde owte take that resoun passes into the
moste depe vnmeuable euer lastynge rystfulnesse of dyuynyte
of the whiche the verre trewthe allonlye teches experience ffor
whore. howe or whate it is. nowther resoun ne exercyse may ser=
che or knowe And therfore oure folowynge exercyse abydys vnstabille
and not knowynge manere. for that infynyte goodnesse. the whi=
che we taste and possesse. we may not consayfe. ne yit vndyr=
stonde. nor oure exercyse vnto it any tyme comme. Wherefore in oure
selfe we are pore. bot in god more his is oure discrecoun . ffor betw=
yx vs and god we may fele that ther is no discrecoun. Neuerthelesse
oure resoun abydes beholdynge with opunn eyghe. into the hye

dyrkenesse. and into ryghtwysnesse withoute ende. In the whiche der=
knesse is hid vnto vs the hie clernesse. for his infynytenesse com =
mynge abofe. dymmys oure resoun . goynge abofe vs in symplenesse
it selfe infourmynge abofe his consayvynge. So no meruelle than
yif we be drawyn thorowe the folowynge of god that is to saye. thorow
the helpe of the ryght hande of god. As who saye we are led by the
ryght hande of god acordynge with the syngere that syngys thus. The
kynge has ledde me into his cellare. And for cause that a cellare ha=
se his name of hydynge. therfore conueniently the depe derknesse of the
loue of god is called a cellare . ffor lyke as the derknessys of god be
comforth with alle lyghtes . and thay be hyd frome all knawlleges
aftyr the sayinge of saynt Dyonyse so is hid vnto vs the selfe Dionisus
dyuynyte. Where that alle happenesse we possesse with god.
And when that we be so knyt to god. than there abydes in vs a manere
of whik thryst. and actyfe loue. ffor with oute oure thryst that is at
say oure desyre we may not hafe god ne yit with oute exercyse of loue
be knyt vnto god. ffor yif withoute oure thryst we may not be blyste. belyke
resoun a stone the whiche hafe no kunnynge may be blyste. Also yif
that me vnknowynge I ware made the lorde of alle this lande. wh=
ate sollace and comforthe schulde it be vnto me. Therefore latte
vs fele oure selfe euerlastyngly tastynge and possessynge. and than
beres criste witnesse of vs. thus sayinge vnto the fathere : That
is says he euerlastynge lyfe. that thay knowe the alonly verrey god
and whome thou sente Jhesu criste. Thus than it is open that oure
euerlastynge lyfe is in the discrete cognycoun of god. Nowe late
than I haue sayde vs to be one with god. the whiche in dyuerse pla=
ces holy scripture beres witnesse. Bot nowe I saye vs behoues
in somme euerlastyinge thinge to abyde. the whiche bothe be ne=
cessary to be felte in vs & vndyrstondyng yif that oure lyfe schalle
be lyke vnto euerlastynge trewthe. And therfore I say that the chere of
god or of oure felynge of clerenesse of loue. in oure inwarde
face teches and informes vs the trewthe of loue and of alle

Verteuse. And namely that we a rein thame taughte to fele wele of god
and of our selfe. Thus when we fele in oure selfe be grace we
may nought be ydle. ffor lyke as the sonne thorowe his clerenesse
and be his hete lyghtnes and gladdes alle the worlde. so god be
his grace schynes and makys mery euere man to hym beynge obe=
dyent. Therfore yyf we wille fele god in vs and the fyre of his
loue burne in vs euerlastyngly. it es necessary that we norysche
hym with a foure fawlde frewille. that is to saye. ffyrst that we A=
byde knytt within oure selfe vnto that fyre of loue with ane inwar=
de hete. The Secounde is that we goo furthe of oure selfe vnto oure
neyghtbore with trewthe and fraternalle charite. The thyrde that
we descende within oure selfe. doynge penaunce and in goode wer=
kys beyng besye. euer alle inordynate covetynge refrenynge. The
fourth than is that be the flawme of the fyre of loue we ascen=
de abofe oure selfe with devocioun and lovynge to the kynge of gra =
ce. And also with inwarde prayere drawynge vnto god besylye
with atrewe intente and a hartly loue. Be thees god dwelles
in vs abydynge be his grace. ffor in thees foure maneres is vn=
dyrstonde alle maner exercyse that may be done be prayere in manere
And with oute thees no man may plese god. And therfore who that
is funne in the exercyse of hemm moste perfyte he is moste nere oure
lorde. Wherefore euere man hase nede to thees foure . ffor owte
take contemplacoun . ther is no exercyse abofe it. Therefore as it is say
de afore. when we fele vs wyllynge to be the lovers of god than
we fele oure lorde in vs be his grace. And also yif we hafe con
templatyfe lyfe than we feele vs lyffynge in god. And so owte
of that lyfe schynes a manere of clerenesse in owre inwarde fa=
ce. that is to saye in the eye of oure sawlle. lytenynge oure
resoun and beynge the mene betwix god and vs. & when that in
that schynynge clerete. be resoun we abyde with in oure selfe than
we fele oure spirite withoute cesynge wyrkynge and in his euerlasty=
nge lyfe euer more serchynge/ Bot where that we folowe oure
clerete above resoun that is to saye oure felynge in loue with

ASofte beholdynge and a voluntarye inclynacoun vnto the moste hye
lyfe. There we take the selfe perfytnesse of god in alle oure beynge And
also there we fele oure selfe in god alle to gydre vnbelappyd. C.m 12.m

he thyrde dyfference be the whiche we are one with god
is whereby we fele the informacoun of god. And also
where thorowe we fele vs sunken into ane infynyte depnesse
of oure euerlastynge happenesse. where that be twix god and vs we
may fynde no dyfference. And that is oure moste hye felynge
the whiche we may nought hafe save onely in the swalowynge
of loue wherefore when we are lyfte vp into the hyest felynge
than we be raveste. Alle oure power es dyinge in Amanere of beynge
fruycoun . Not that they be vtterly turnyd into nought. for than
we schulde forgo oure fourmynge that is to say oure makynge or beyn=
ge. Also longe sothly as the spirit is inclynynge with opene.
gostely eyen. And with oute consyderacioun . so longe we abyde
ydle. that is to saye not laborynge nor wyrkynge. bot as the
spyrit freyly is meved by the towche of gostely felynge. And
so longe we may be in contemlacioun. And vse the spirit gyffyn for
the tyme. ffor in the same momente in the whiche we be abowt=
warde to have experyence, and to consyddre whate it is that
we fele. Anone than we falle into resoun and so we fynde be=
twyx god and vs a manere of dyfference And also we fele god with
oute vs in heyght incomprehensible. And this is the fourt diffe=
rence. in the whiche we fele our selfe and god. ffor we fele
vs stondynge in the presence of god that is to saye the trewe conscy
yence whiche of the chere of god we take berys vs witnesse
we wille oure lorde to be alle to gydre oures. And lyke wyse
hym to wille vs to be alle to gydre his. ffor in the same inst=
ant in the whiche we fele vs wille god to be alle oures. spry=
nges in vs aglad abydynge desyre frome god welle smelly=
nge depe and wyde. so that yif god gaffe vs alle thynge owt septe

hym Selfe yit thay may not suffice to sucyat the desyre . for in that
we fele hym selfe to informe oure desyre in that we coveite hym
to tayste with alle oure desyre and affeccoun the whiche also we
be taught in the trewthe of his techere that is to say in the trewe
beholdynge of hym and that we so tayste is in comparysoun of the
tothere as Adrope of watere vnto alle the watere in the see./.13.m

N this consideracioun is oure spirit lyfte vp and be grete
burnynge styrd in to impacyens of loue And the more
we tayst the more is incresed oure appetyte and hungre . ffor the to=
ne is cause of the tothere . In this heete we are knowen to Abyde
be incomprehensible loue thorowe the whiche we be fedde And no
mervayle yif we may not swalowe it for we be abowte his infy=
nytenesse bot we may not reche it And for burnynge impacy=
ence of loue we may not forsake oure selfe. Wherfore for that cause
is the heyte so intemperate that the exercyse of loue betwix god and
vs goos & commes in the manere of the lefnynge schynynge. And
yit we may not burne. ffor in that loue alle oure werkys exce=
dys alle resoun & manere. ffor loue be desyre covetys to ateyne vn
to a inpossible resoun . vnto the whiche he may not comme vnto
the tyme we persayve that thorowe the inwarde feruentnesse
of contemplacoun oure wille is god ys wille Ad godys wille oure wille
Also oftynn tymes it happyns that the goodnesse of god and oure fer=
uent desyre And the impacyente heyt of loue styrres vs to loue
euer lastynge loue. And of the contrary wyse inwarde drawynge
be the techynge of god takys vs forthe of oure selfe. styrrynge vs to
melte and in oned to be turned to nought. In this drawynge in and
techynge we fele god wylle vs to be his. And in that it behoues
vs to forsake oure selfe and suffre hym to wyrke oure helthe. ffor whare
that he towches vs begrace flowynge ther le leves vs at oure owne
powere gyffynge vs lyberte settynge vs in his presence techynge
vs to wyrschippe in spyrit and trewthe. And to aske with A
famylyare lyberte. And also schewynge vnto vs his in comprehensib=
le ryches so many folde infynyte more than we kanne thynke
it. ffor whate sum evere swetnesse that maye thorowe mynde
be consayved, in hym with owten mesure it is funne. therfore when

When we fele with alle the ryches oure wille to be. and hym and tha=
me with vs euere more dwellynge vnto that than consentys alle our
myghtys. And namely the devourynge appetyte of oure desyre synkis
in to hym And also alle the ryuers of the goodnesse of god rynnes in
to vs the whiche the more we tayste. the more we desyre to tas=
te And the more that we be made depe and thyrlde be loue the mo
re clerely we knowe the inconprehensible swetnesse of god to be infy
nyte. Vnto the whiche the prophet says Taste ye & see ye that swete is
oure lorde. ffor cause that his swetnesse is hye & grete. therfore we
may not lyghtlye gytt ne swalowe it; vnto the whiche beres wit=
nesse the holy goste in Canticles, where he says that vndyr the schadow
of hym whome I desyre I hafe sittyn And his fruyte is swete vnto
my throte. Grete is the dyfference be twyxe the clerete of the good
nesse of god and the moste hye clerete of god vnto the whiche in
this lyfe we may not comme. ffor the schadowe of synne couers oure
wyldyrnesse that is to saye oure state that schulde be vertuus. Botte
in the heyghtys of hy hillys is no schadowe bot euerlastynge clere
nesse. Neuerthelesse the same sonne & the same clerete lyghtnesse oure
deserte and the hyght of hillys. Bot the state of thame that be blyssed
is litle & glorious. And therfore the myddes remeuyd thay that resayfe
glorious clerenesse. Bot oure state whiche is yit mortalle & rude
cawses and schaddowes oure vndyrstondynge that god ne yit hevenlye
thynges as sayntys we may knowe. ffor it is manyfestly knowen
that we may not se the sonne in his substaunce that is to say his
perfyte beynge Also longe as we goo in aschadowe wherefore that
oure knowlyche is be Amyrroure in a schadowe the Apostle beres
witnesse. Neuerthelesse owre schadowe yit in so mykylle of the
lyght of the sonne is schyned that we may lere discernynge
of vertues & alle treuthe. vnto oure mortalle state necessary bot
and we wile be knyt vnto the clerenesse of the sonne than it
is necessary for vs to folowe loue wantynge Invy And to goo
furthe of oure selfe. And so we made blynde the sonne schalle dr=
awe vs vnto the clerete of hym selfe where that we schalle passe
into oned with god. ffor lyke as to fele & to vndyrstonde is contempla=
tyfe lyfe acordynge vnto oure degre. So the state of Jewes in the

Olde testamente was nyghtly. And therfore thay walked in derknesse
and stay stode in the schadowe of dethe as says the prophet Ezechiele
The schadowe of dethe was caused of the orygynalle synne for the
whiche necessarely thay wanted the ioy of god/ Bot oure state of cristen
faythe thorowe the tymely morntyde begynnes to wexe colde bot
than yit the daye of grace vnto vs spryngynge causes vs to wauk
in lyght and to sitte in the schadowe of god betwixe whome & vs
the mene muste be grace thorowe whome alle thynge owrecommy=
nge. And alle thynge vnto vs dyinge we owe to passe into ane oned with
he state of good men is feruente & clere for why /god 14m
thay lyffe and wauke in the mydday. and with open and cle=
re eyen the goodly sonne in his clerenesse thay beholde. And thay
sacyate with the ioye of god. And therfore as euere man ys inclerete
so he persayves & knowes the frute of alle vertuse geddyrde togyd
dere with the sayntes, Bot that at thay synglerly taste & knowe
the blyssede trinyte in vnyte. And the oned in the trinyte is vnto
thame the moste excellente mete fedynge and in hym selfe
makynge to ryst syche ane experyence. Thus sayinge the loue vn=
to the lovere in the songe of songys. Schewe vnto me whome
my soule loffes Where fedys thou. Where lyes thu in the myddys
of the daye In the lyght of ioye says saynte Bernarde. Alle myght
the whiche ys gyffen vs in this morne tyde schadowe is not
ellys bot a preuynge of the myght that is to comme in the mydday
of the ioye of god. and yit neuerthelesse the louer says sche syttys
vndyr the schadowe and his froute is to be swete vnto hire thro=
te. ffor when we feele vs withinforthe touched. than wee
taste frute the whiche is mete. for vnto hym it perteynes
to feede vs. So that lyke as it is afore sayde that the towchyng
of god owthere is the indrawynge or ellys fyllynge in. thorow
the whiche vs behoves to be his An ther we be teched to dye
and to be contemplatyfe ffor in his fyllynge he wille be alle our=
es And more overe he teches vs to lyffe in the heyght of ver
tues, in the whyche indrawynge touchynge alle oure streng=
thes and myghttys fayles vs. than we sitt vndre his schadow /thes

ffor his frute is swete Vnto oure throte The frute of god is the
Sonne of god whome the fadere brynges furthe in oure spyrit this
frute sothly ys so swete vnto oure throte that is to saye vnto oure
Spyrite that neythere we may swalowe hym. ne yit syuke hym
in to vs bot he hym selfe schalle swalowe vs in to hym And so
we schalle taste that hid Angelle foode gyffynge vs euerlastynge
lyfe. ffor we hafe takyn hym of whome it is wryten afore
that is to saye. the white litle stone in the whiche is oure newe
name afore the begynnynge of the worlde wryttyn. This is
a newe name the whiche no man knowes bot who that takis it
Euereman felynge hym selfe knyt with god. persayues his na=
me aftyre the manere of the vertues wyrkynge in hym and
of his affeccioun for that euere man schulde purches and euerlastyn=
gly possesse his name therfore the lamme that is to saye the
manhede of cryste wilfully offered hym selfe to dethe. And
so folowynge he opened vs the booke of lyfe in the whi=
che the names of thame that are electe be wryten the why=
che names with the forsayde boke of lyfe. that is to saye with
the sonne of god are one of the whiche names not one
schalle be put awaye. Also the forsayde dethe of cryste
lowsys dyssposyd be the euerlastynge wysdome of god. And after
as euery man sekys and laborys to ouercomme hym selfe and
to dye to alle erthely thynge. Aftyr that he felys hym
inwardly towched and swetly to taste the frute of the
sonne thorowe the whiche taste the holy goste beres hym
witnesse to be eyre of god. So than that in thees three none
ys lyke anothere aftyr maner in wyrkynge And therfore euery
chone hase his specyalle name be the whiche be newe
gyftys of grace and newe werkys of vertue contynually re
O mervelle than it es yif that in the name of /newed
Jhesu euere knee bowe for he fawght for vs and optened

The victorye. He also hase lyghtened oure derknesse and alle vertue
in the moste excellente degre he hase ordayned. ffor the whiche
worthely his name is exalted. for above alle the chosen saules
he is the most pryncypalle. and more overe in his name we
be called and made free and fayre for thorowe his grace ande
vertues we Abyde the ioye of god. Therfore that his name maye be
exaltede and lyghtned in vs. folowe we hym in to the hille in the
barenesse of oure mynde. lyje as folowed hym into the mounte
of Thabor. Peter James. And John. Thabor ys as moche to saye
as commynge of light. Petry knowyng the treuthe. James ouere
commynge the worlde. And John full of grace. and havynge ver=
tues in ryghtwysnesse. Than takys ihesu vs and ledys vs in
to the mount of barenesse of oure mynde and into Amanere of der=
kenesse when he schewys vnto vs him selfe thorow the clere
nesse of the godhede made clere . for than in his name the Al
myghty fadere openes to vs a boke of euerlastynge wysdome
in the whiche is persayued clere beholdynge. and Symplenesse
of spirit passynge in to Amanere of vnknowlyche. of goode or
yuelle . And with oute sauoure of dyscrecoun . ffor in oure lyftyn=
ge vp alle one is to beholde inwardly. and to know. to taste
to fele. And to haue. And to be that . that is hadde. Alle thees a re
turned into one. afore whose hyenesse we alle are assystente
And the fathere almyghtty gyues ychone of vs his wysedome &
his goodnesse aftyr the merytte and nobilyte of euerychone of
oure werkys. Therefore yf we wolde euermore in the heyght
of oure mynde abyde with cryste in the mownt of Thabor than
we schulde euermore fele newe werkys of the lyght of trewthe
ffor than we schulde euermore fele the paternalle voyce touch=
ynge vs owthere flowynge in be grace or ellys entrynge be ve=
rteuys. The voyce sothly of the fathere heyres alle the folowers
of cryste of the whiche paternalle plesaunce the fathere says
thus. Tho says he are my chosen sonnys in whome I am gretly
rensed & plesed. Of the whiche Paternalle plesaunce euere manne

Hase grace aftyr the mesure and manere be the whiche he pleses the
ffathere alle myghtty. And therfore more ouere be twix the plesure of
god vnto vs and oures vnto hym wirkys trewe loue be the whiche
euereman feles and knowes his name and offesse. And also the frute
of his werkys. In this exercyse alle goode men are hid frome all wor=
ldly lovers. ffor alle warldly louers be dede afore god. and withoute
name And therfore thay may not fele the myght whiche alonly is com
mun to thame that be lyffynge. And therfore the flowynge in touchynge
of god makys vs inspyrryt lyevynge. and it fyllys vs with grace
thorowe the knowlyche of trewe vertuse. And also it rutys in vs
discrecioun And we stondynge in the presence of god inso myghty ver
tewe it kepis vs and causes vs to consayfe withoute any faylyn=
ge alle the swete sauoure and the gyftys of god. /16m
Ot the inwarde touchynge of god we schalle knowe causes
vs to be made one with god to dye into euerlastynge happe=
nesse & in to that loue whiche is moste one and symplest thorow the
whiche the ffathere and the sonne are both consayved And so yf
that we entre vnto the mownte of clennesse with cryste in a sym=
ple & aclere beholdynge Anone than we fele the hete of the holye
goste And the oned of god. burnynge and makynge vs lyquet. And
there we hyre the voyce of the ffathere drawynge vs in And techy=
nge vs thus spekyn vnto his welbeloued in his euerlastynge wor
de: This he says is my welbeloued sonne in whome I am wele ple
sed. Therefore as where as we fele the foresayde oned ther we are one
lyfe and one beynge with god for ther is alle thynge consumed. And
also ther is alle thynge renewed ffor in that hyghe halsynge of the
loue of god. we be baptyste. where that the ioye of euereman is so gre=
te that none may thynge of other Joye or consydre. for ther is the haw
ntynge love the whiche in it selfe is alle thynge And withoute it
nothynge is gotynn Wherfore vnto Aman desyrynge god. thre thy=
nges be requyred that is to say. trewe pees & ryst in warde sylence
and quietnes of Spyrit. And a taryynge drawynge to/. Therfore w=
ho that loves god alonly and with afre wille. for the honoure of
god. forsakes alle inordynate loues. and vsable thynges. And also

alle thoo that he vses agayne the honoure of god or yit be
lyklenesse may vse he that hase trewe pese be twyx god and
hym/ The Secunde that is to saye inwarde sylence is ydlenesse
of mynde and of alle vyces the inremembraunce and also of
alle heryngys and ymaginacouns vtter priuacoun . The thyrde
than that is to saye ataryynge drawynge to that is the hawnty
nge of loue. ffor who that of verrey pore loue knyttys hym
vnto god. not for no profytablenesse ne for no necessyte of hym
selfe. he that who so he be loues god trewly and he feles hym
selfe that he loues god And that he ys loued of god And th=
an he feles and lykes to ryste where that the loued is loued
of the lovere in clere and naked beynge loue And there the love=
re with loue is fallyn into the lovede. the tone trewly knyt
to the tothere in verey ryste & stedfaste loue. And so aftyr this
fyrst folowes the Secounde the whiche is called amanere of
slepynge in god where that the spyrit flowes owte of hym
selfe. not knowynge where ne howe. And aftyr that than folow
es the thyrde and the laste. that is to saye abeholdynge of
a manere of derkenesse the whiche be reson may nought be ser=
ched ne vndyrstondyd in the whiche the spyrryt feles it selfe
dede and loste & one with oute any difference with god/ And
thore is god pees and ryst. And so the loue funne in the tow=
chynge of god the spyrit inwardly qwykkyns agayne. These
sax therefore nowe lately sayde yf that ye vnderstonde thame
I dowte not ye vndyrstonde alle afore sayde. And than I trowe
it be alsolyght vnto yowe to be contemplatyfe as it is to lyffe in na=
ture. ffor of syche plentyfulnesse sprynges commun lyfe of the
whiche I spake at the begynnynge. The whiche is the fourthe
lyfe or ellys the fowrthe manere of lyffynge. fro the thre there
assyned. of the whiche fourthe. I intende nowe alytle to saye
he that from that heyght of god in to the vayle of wrycched=
nesse is ordayned or sente. he is fulle of trowthe and ryche with
alle vertues he sekys not thoo thynges that is his owne. bot his

That Sente Hym. And therfore in alle His dedys he is ryghtw
us and trewe euer abydynge and redy to do whate as god com
mawndys stronge and myghty to Suffre that he hase pro=
mysed. he beres commun lyfe and yit he as redy to contemplacoun
as to wirke othere wyse. And so he is perfytte in bothe. ffor thare
may no man hafe that lyfe the whiche is commun botte onely
a contemplatyfe mann . ffor to be contemplatife and vse god no man
may bot yif he hafe in hym theese aforesayde And be the ordre
aforesayde. Wherefore they erre alle thoo that trowes thame
to be contemplatyfe and wyrschyps inordunatlye any creature
or hase in Affeccioun . And also they erre that trowe thame to
hafe contemplacoun . or the tyme they be frome alle the forme
and the schappe of the thynge clensed and put in reste. ffor
almyghty god wille vs to be conuerted vnto hym with ane
opun harte and arystfulle conscyance alle feynynge putte
awaye And so we schalle ascende than frome vertewe to ver
teue beholdynge and hawntynge one exercise with god and
so fynally possesse trewe conscyaunce opunn harte & verrey
affeccioun and love in allemyghty god. who preserve vs fro=
me synne and stabylle vs in vertewe and specyally gyffe tha=
me grace that this trettesse schalle rede trewly and chare=
tabely to consayfe & reporte & euer to praye for the writer
whilke graunt ihesu Amen

Explicit the tretyse of Perfeccoun. Off
the. Sonnes of god. conteynynge. xvj. Cha
pitures, to man sawle ryght be hofulle
and necessary. Ihesu mercy. Deo gracias

Jan van Ruusbroec writes his text, inspired by the Holy Spirit, upon wax tablets, his scribe putting these words to parchment pages, both together beneath the trees of Groenendaal.

For Jan van Ruusbroec, see also the Julian Library Portfolio booklet, God Friends: The Continental Medieval Mystics and the Website essay on Godfriends and the essay written by the modern contemplative, Don Divo Barsotti, on Ruusbroec. The Amherst Manuscript gives certain passages in red, and its capitals are blue with red penwork. The scribe wrote it in a fine clear Anglicana script, circa 1435-1450 in a Grantham, Lincolnshire dialect, including among these texts translations made by the Lincolnshire Carmelite Richard Misyn, for an anchoress, Margaret Heslyngton. It is possible that Richard Misyn himself is the scribe. Later, a Sheen contemplative, James Grenehalgh, heavily annotated the manuscript, usually doing so for a Syon nun, Johanna Sewell. The text, transcribed here folio by folio and line by line from the manuscript, is side by side there with the Short Text of Julian of Norwich's Showing of Love, and, with Henry Suso, Horologium Sapientiae, and Marguerite Porete, Mirror of Simple Souls, which are also present in the Amherst Manuscript, may represent Julian's own library, perhaps given her, even translated for her, by Cardinal Adam Easton, Benedictine of Norwich, who defended similar writings by St Birgitta of Sweden , for her canonization, and who is known to have written now-lost contemplative treatises and translations in the vernacular. The first illustration is by Hans Memling in the Hospital of St John, Bruges, where, for centuries, John writes the Apocalypse amidst the landscape of his vision. The second is from Birgitta of Sweden's Revelationes. Ruusbroec bases the Sparkling Stone, like Julian her Showing of Love, like Birgitta in her Revelationes, upon the Apocalypse, the Book of Revelation, or Showings, and upon the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius, the third illustration being from a Ruusbroec manuscript, reproduced on the cover of Vanden Blinkenden Steen.

__________

Recently, I received an e-mail from China, from Beijing's Global Village's President, Liao Xiaoyi. She came to Florence with her seventeen-year-old daughter to speak about Jan van Ruusbroec, spirituality and ecology. Then, a Belgian visitor, Paul Van Gansen, shared with me the information of Jan van Ruusbroec's Groenendaal for her:

The priory of Groenendaal started as a humble hut in the woods (http://www.filipsport.com/dutch/zonien.php, near Brussels). The hut was inhabitated by a hermit. The canons of the church of St. Goedele (in Brussels) established themselves on that spot (1343) and founded an abbey of Augustinians. The first prior was Jan van Ruusbroec. He was the best known mystic of his time. The priory was wealthy and powerful. Benefactors not only gave the Augustinian canons privileges and land, but also works of art, for instance a painting of Rogier van der Weijden.
 
The priory completely burnt down in 1435. Thanks to a plenary indulgence, granted by Pope Eugenius IV to everyone who helped to rebuilt, the abbey rose from its ashes. The new complex however, has not been spared from further calamities. Again and again the buildings were repaired and embellished.
 
In 1578, during the religious war between catholics and protestants, the monks fled to Brussels. They returned in 1606.
 
In 1784 however, the Austrian emperor Jozef II ordered the abolition of all contemplative monastic orders. Two years later the greater part of the abbey was already demolished, and all the works of art were sold.
 
Fantastic baroque choir-stalls (1663) can still be admired in the church of "Onze Lieve Vrouw" (Our Lady) at Vilvoorde (Brussels) - the main altar can be found in the church of Herfelingen - the side-altars in the church of Erps, and the confessionals at Wezembeek-Oppem.
 
After the revolution of Brabant (1789), a few monks went back to Groenendaal (1793), but the cloister was shut definitively by the French Republic in 1795.
 
Only a few buildings were saved: the house of the priors,called in Flemish "het kasteel" (the castle), and the cloister farm (1775), now called the "Bosmuseum" (museum of the woods). The castle is now let to a bridge club.
 
However, in the future, the Flemish Community will lay out an "archeological landscape". They intend to make visible the remains of ancient gardens, the profile of the terrace gardens and the alleys. The ruinous abbeychurch will be restored and fitted up as a centre of documentation of the priory of Groenendaal.
 
Everything is to be found at the limit of 2 villages:
                                                                           - Hoeilaart-Groenendaal
                                                                           - St.Genesius-Rode
A path of 5.7 km leads you to the spot.
 

Kindest regards,
 
Paul Van Gansen

I shared with him my reverence for Don Divo Barsotti, a contemplative hermit monk living above Florence who loved in turn, St Sergius of Russia, and their contemporaries, the Friends of God, Julian of Norwich and Jan van Ruusbroec. Padre modeled his hermitage, the Casa di San Sergio, upon theirs, creating within it a great library with these mystics' books. Next, Nic Peeters, gave me the Ruusbroec catalogue for our library:

Jan van Ruusbroec 1293-1381: Tentoonstellingscatalogus Met als bijlage een chronologische tabel en dire karten (Brussel: Koninklije Bibliotheek Albert I, 1981).

Our library also has:

Ioannis Rusbrochii. De Ornatv spiritvalivm nvptiarvm. Wilhelmo Iordani interprete. Ed. Kees Schepers, Bernard Desoer. Turnhout: Brepols, 2004. Reviewed for Speculum, Cambridge, 2006.

Jan van Ruusbroec. Vanden Blinckenden Steen. Lannoo: Tielt en Bussum, 1981. JBH, Bruges.

John Ruusbroec. The Spiritual Espousals and Other Works. Ed. James A. Wiseman. Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1985. JBH.

Somewhere in heaven, in a flowery woodland meadow, these mystics are dancing together, as in Fra Angelico's painting of angels and saints carolling upon flowers.

For the Internet is such a Global Village, such a Global Hermitage.

See also Amherst Manuscript and Don Divo Barsotti, Jan van Ruusbroec

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