we dress our life
to His Will. And wit thou well, thou sinnest not sleeping, if waking
thou beest evermore without excess of meat and drink, and without
ill-thoughts. But many a one the devil has deceived, through dreams,
when he has made them set their heart on them. For he has shewn them
some truth, but afterwards beguiled them with one that was false.
Therefore says the wise man that many cares follow dreams; and they fell
that hoped in them. Wherefore that thou beest not beguiled with them, I
will that thou wit that _there are six manners of dreams_. Two are, that
no man, holy or other, may escape: they are, if their stomach be
over-empty or over-full; then many vanities, in sore manners, befall
them sleeping. The third is of illusions of our enemy. The fourth is, of
thought before and of illusions following. And the fifth through the
revelation of the Holy Ghost, that is done in many a manner. The sixth
is, of thoughts before that are due to Christ or Holy Church, revelation
coming after. In thus many manners, the image of dreams touches men when
they sleep. But so much the less shall we give faith to any dream,
because we can not wit which is truth, which is false; which is of our
enemy, which is of the Holy Ghost. For where many dreams are, there are
many vanities. And many they may make to err, for they set up unwise
men, and so deceive them.

CHAPTER III.

I know that thy life is given to the service of GOD. Then is it shame to
thee, unless thou beest as good, or better, within thy soul, as thou art
seeming in the sight of men. Turn therefore thy thoughts perfectly to
GOD, as it seems that thou hast done thy body. For I will not that thou
shouldest ween that all are holy that have the habit of holiness, and
are not occupied with the world. Nor that all are ill who discourse of
earthly business. But they only are holy, what state or degree they be
in, the which despise all earthly things, that is to say, love it not;
and burn in the love of JESUS Christ; and all their desires are set to
the joy of heaven, and hate all sin, and cease not from good works, and
feel a sweetness in their heart of the love without end: and
nevertheless, they think themselves vilest of all, and hold themselves
wretchedest, least and lowest. This is holy men's life; follow it and be
holy. And if thou wilt be in the Apostles' reward, think not what thou
forsookest, but what thou despisest. For they who follow JESUS Christ in
wi