The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 118 pages of information about The Cell of Self-Knowledge .

The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 118 pages of information about The Cell of Self-Knowledge .
clepe the spirit of malice, of wrath, and of wickedness the worst spirit of them all; and why?  Certes, for it reaveth us the best thing of all, and that is charity, the which is God.  For who so lacketh peace and restfulness of heart, him lacketh the lively presence of the lovely sight of the high peace of heaven, good gracious God His own dear self.  This witnesseth David in the psalm, where he saith, that the place of God is made in peace, and His dwelling place in Sion.[294] Sion is as much to say as the sight of peace; the sight of the soul is the thought of that same soul; and, certes, in that soul that most is occupied in thoughts of peace hath God made His dwelling place.[295] And thus saith Himself by the prophet, when he saith:  “Upon whom shall my spirit rest, but upon the meek and the restful."[296] And, therefore, who so will have God continually dwelling in him, and live in love and in sight of the high peace of the Godhead, the which is the highest and the best party of contemplation that may be had in this life, be he busy night and day to put down, when they come, the spirit of the flesh and the spirit of the world, but most busily the spirit of malice, of wrath, and of wickedness, for he is the foulest and the worst filth[297] of all.  And it is full needful and speedful to know his quaintise, and not for to unknow his doleful deceits.  For sometime he will, that wicked cursed wight, change his likeness in to an angel of light, that he may under colour of virtue do more dere;[298] but yet then, if we look more redely,[299] it is but seed of bitterness and of discord that that he sheweth, seem it never so holy nor never so fair at the first shewing.  Full many he stirreth unto singular holiness passing the common statute and custom of their degree, as is fasting, sharp wearing, and many other devout observances and outward doings, in open reproving of other men’s defaults, the which they have not of office for to do.  All such and many other he stirreth them for to do, and all under colour of devotion and of charity; not for he is delighted in any deed of devotion and of charity, but for he loveth dissension and slander, the which is evermore caused by such unseemly singularities; for where so ever that any one or two are in any devout congregation, the which any one or two useth any such outward singularities, then in the sight of fools all the remenant are slandered by them; but, in the sight of the wise man, they slander themselves.  But for because that fools are more than wise men, therefore for favour of fools such singular doers ween that they be wise, when (if it were wisely determined) they and all their fautors[300] should be seen apert fools, and darts shot of the devil, to slay true simple souls under colour of holiness and charity.  And thus many deceits can the fiend bring in on this manner.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.