ENDO BONA QUE GESSIT, DUM SE APUD SE ERIGIT, APUD AUCTOREM HUMiLiTATis CADiT. A man that thinketh on (the) good deeds that he hath done, and is proud thereof of himself within himself, he falleth down anon[1]before Him that is author of meekness. And therefore he that shall die must beware when he feeleth himself tempted with pride, that then he [low and] meek himself thinking on his sins: and that he wot never whether he be worthy everlasting love or hate, that is to say, salvation or damnation. Nevertheless, lest he despair, he must lift up his heart to God by hope, thinking and revolving[2] stably that the mercy of God is above all His works, and that God is true in all His words, and that He is truth and righteous- ness that never beguileth, neither is beguiled, which be-hight[3] and swore by Himself, and said by the Prophet: Vivo ego, digit dominus, nolo mortem PECCATORis, etc. God Almighty saith: By my self will not the death neither the damnation of no sinful man, but that he convert himself to Me and be saved. [Ezech. 33:11] Every man should follow Saint Antony to whom the devil said: Antony, thou hast overcome me; for when I would have thee up by pride, thou keptest thyself a-down by meekness; and when I would draw thee down by desperation, thou keptest thyself up by hope. Thus should every man do, sick and whole, and then is the devil overcome.
V. The Fifth [Temptation] that tempteth and grieveth most carnal men and secular men, that be in
