FIRST CHAPTER

IN the year of Our Lord 1340, it came to pass, that a Master in Holy Scripture preached oft-times in a certain city, and the people loved to hear him, and his teachings were the talk of the country for many leagues round. Now this came to the ears of a layman who was rich in God’s grace, and he was warned three times in his sleep that he should go to the city where the Master dwelt, and hear him preach. Now that city was in another country, more than thirty leagues distant. Then the man thought within himself, “I will go thither and wait to see what God is purposed to do or bring to pass there.” So he came to that city and heard the Master preach five times. Then God gave this man to perceive that the Master was a very loving, gentle, good-hearted man by nature, and had a good understanding of the Holy Scripture, but was dark as to the light of grace; and the man’s heart did yearn over him, and he went to the Master and said, “Dear and honoured Sir, I have travelled a good thirty leagues on your account, to hear your teaching. Now I have heard you preach five times, 41and I pray you in God’s name to let me make my confession to you.” The Master answered, “With all my heart.” Then the man confessed to the Master in all simplicity, and when he desired to receive the Lord’s Body, the Master gave it him. When this had lasted twelve weeks, the man said to the Master, “Dear Sir, I beg you for God’s sake to preach us a sermon, showing us how a man may attain to the highest and utmost point it is given to us to reach in this present time.” The Master answered, “Ah! dear son, what dost thou ask for? how shall I tell thee of such high things? for I ween thou wouldst understand but little thereof.” But the man said, “Ah! dear Master, even though I should understand little or nothing thereof, yet I cannot but thirst after it. Multitudes flock to hear you; if there were only one among them all who could understand you, your labour were well bestowed.” Then said the Master, “Dear son, if I am to do as thou sayest, I must needs give some study and labour to the matter before I can put such a sermon together.” But the man would not cease from his prayers and entreaties till the Master promised him that he should have his desire.

So, when the Master had finished his sermon, he announced to the people that in three days they should come together again, for he had been requested to teach how a man could attain to the Highest and Best and nearest to God that might be reached in this present time. And when the day was come, much people came to the church, and the man sat down in a place where he could hear well; and the Master came, and thus began his discourse, and said: