see, stands ever against me with his bow bent." Therefore, if
necessity make man to go into this world, where are so many stirrings to
sin, with great fear shall he go, as into a battle to fight his foes. It
needs he be well armed against the arrows of his foe, that severely
shoots at him; and the more may he dread him because he cannot see him:
with foot-traps and snares is the way set full. Therefore, let him who
shall go forth, arm him with GOD'S holy fear. GOD warned His disciples
to be wary in the world when He said thus: "Soothly the world shall
withstand you with temptations." Therefore, if thou must go out, for
thine own profit or that of others, colour not thy going with any false
hue, to feign for thyself an occasion to dally with the world, for
pleasure or command, or to be known with praise before others....

And therefore they make a show with words and feign as they can, to be
holden holy of all who see them, that give themselves to dalliance with
the world, more than needs, as to buying, selling or quarrelling about
earthly things. And all their outward bearing so accords with the world
that David says: "They have mixed themselves with the peoples; they
partake of their works": that is, they mingle them with the folk of the
world, who have no knowledge of GOD, and such works as they see them do,
such works they do. Therefore, when thou needest to go forth, cross
thyself with the holy name of JESUS, Mary's Son, who died on the Rood
for thee, for then thou art more secure, whithersoever thou goest, as S.
Austin said to his brother, when they went forth. And S. John says:
"Whitherso thou goest, and whatsoever thou doest, thy forehead and thy
breast mark thou with the cross; for there is no other mark the fiend so
greatly dreads." See that thine outer-clothing be not over-loathsome,
nor over-curious, in shape nor in hue. Keep thy limbs to their business,
to which they were made, and do not cast thine eyes about like a child;
flourish not thine hands, and leap not with thy feet. When the heart of
man is out of ward, the limbs sometimes fail in their office. And, as
thou orderest thine outward bearing when thou goest forth, also look
thou that thou beest devout within, and specially in praying to and
praising the Lord. If in going out, thou canst not rest in saying thy
prayers, go the softlier. Many things hinder thee in toiling to pray;
weariness of limbs; men thou meetest who speak to thee; then thy five
wits