The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521
Religion
The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521
Devotional literature; Mysticism -- Great Britain; Mysticism -- History -- Middle Ages, 600-1500; Religious thought -- Middle Ages, 600-1500
travaileth busily to destroy sin in himself and in others by perfect
hatred of the sin and all the kind of sin. And thus it is said how
Zebulun is born.
CAPITULUM IX
HOW ORDAINED SHAME RISETH AND GROWETH IN THE AFFECTION
BUT though all that a soul through grace feel in it perfect hatred
of sin, whether it may yet live without sin? Nay, sikerly;[93] and
therefore let no man presume of himself, when the Apostle saith
thus: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourself, and
soothfastness is not in us."[94] And also saint Austin saith that he
dare well say that there is no man living without sin.[95] And I
pray thee, who is he that sinneth not in ignorance? Yea, and oft
times it falleth that God suffereth those men to fall full
grievously by the which He hath ordained other men's errors to be
righted, that they may learn by their own falling how merciful they
shall be in amending of others. And for that oft times men fall
grievously in those same sins that they most hate, therefore, after
hatred of sin, springeth ordained shame in a man's soul; and so it
is that after Zebulun was Dinah born. As by Zebulun hatred of sin,
so by Dinah is understanden ordained shame of sin. But wete thou
well: he that felt never Zebulun, felt never yet Dinah. Evil men
have a manner of shame, but it is not this ordained shame. For why,
if they had perfect shame of sin, they should not so customably do
it with will and advisement;[96] but they shame more with a foul
cloth on their body, than with a foul thought in their soul. But
what so thou be that weenest that thou hast gotten Dinah, think
whether thee would shame as much if a foul thought were in thine
heart, as thee would if thou were made to stand naked before the
king and all his royalme; and sikerly else wete it thou right well
that thou hast not yet gotten ordained shame in thy feeling, if so
be that thou have less shame with thy foul heart than with thy foul
body, and if thou think more shame with thy foul body in the sight
of men than with thy foul heart in the sight of the King of heaven
and of all His angels and holy saints in heaven.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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