Chapter 51
Chapter 51
That men should have great wariness so that they understand not bodily a thing that is meant spiritual; and specially it is good to be wary in understanding of this word "in," and of this word "up."
AND therefore lean meekly to this blind stirring of love in thine heart. I mean not in thy bodily heart, but in thy spiritual heart, the which is thy will. And be well wary that thou conceive not bodily that that is said spiritually. For truly I tell thee, that bodily and fleshly conceits of them that have curious and imaginative wits because of much error.
Ensample of this may thou see, by that that I bid thee hide thy desire from God in that that in thee is. For perhaps if I had bidden thee show thy desire unto God, thou should have conceived it more bodily than thou dost now, when I bid thee hide it. For thou knowest well, that all that thing that is wilfully hidden, it is cast into the deepness of spirit. And thus me thinketh that it needeth greatly to have much wariness in understanding of words that be spoken to spiritual intent, so that thou conceive them not bodily but spiritual, as they be meant: and specially it is good to be wary with this word in, and this word up. For in misconceiving of these two words hangeth much error, and much deceit in them that purpose them to be spiritual workers, as me thinketh. Somewhat know I by the proof, and somewhat by hearsay; and of these deceits let me tell thee a little as me thinketh.
A young disciple in God's school new turned from the world, the same desires that for a little time that he hath given him to penance and to prayer, taken by counsel in confession, that he be therefore able to take upon him spiritual working of the which he heareth men speak or read about him, or perhaps readeth himself. And therefore when they read or hear spoken of spiritual working--and specially of this word, "how a man shall draw all his mind within himself," or "how he shall climb above himself"--as fast for blindness in soul, and for fleshliness and curiosity of natural mind, they misunderstand these words, and imagine, because they find in them a natural covetousness to hid things, that they be therefore called to that work by grace. Insomuch, that if counsel will not accord that they shall work in this work, as soon they feel a manner of grumbling against their counsel, and think--yea and perhaps say to such other as they be--that they can find no man that can know what they mean fully. And therefore as fast, for boldness and presumption of their curious mind, they leave meek prayer and penance over soon; and set them, they imagine, to a full spiritual work within in their soul. The which work, if it be truly conceived, is neither bodily working nor spiritual working; and shortly to say, it is a working against nature, and the devil is the chief worker thereof. And it is the readiest way to death of body and of soul, for it is madness and no wisdom, and leadeth a man even to madness. And yet they imagine not thus: for they purpose them in this work to think on nought but on God.