lie is sin and ill: and not GOD'S will. Thou
needest not tell all the truth always, unless thou willest. But hate all
lies. If thou sayest a thing of thyself that seems to thy praise, but
thou sayst it to the praise of GOD and help of another, thou dost not
unwisely for thou speakest truth. But if thou will have aught private,
tell it to none but such a one that thou beest secure that it should not
be shewed (disclosed) but only to the praise of GOD, of whom is all
goodness, and who makes some better than others, and gives them special
grace, not only for themselves, but also for them that will do well
after their example. _Cleanness of work_, three things keep. One is: _a
careful thought of death_: for the wise man says; "Bethink thee of thy
last ending, and thou shalt not sin." The second: _flee from ill
fellowship_, that gives more example to love the world than GOD, earth
than heaven, filth of body than cleanness of soul. The third is:
_temperance and discretion in meat and drink_: that it be neither to
excess, nor beneath suitable sustenance for thy body. For both come to
one end: excess and over-great fasting: for neither is GOD'S will--and
that many will not suppose, for anything one may say. If you take
sustenance of such good as GOD sends for the time and the day, whatever
it be, I take out no manner of meat that Christian men use; with measure
and discretion, thou dost well; for so did Christ and His Apostles. If
you leave many meats that men have, not despising the meat that GOD has
made for man's help, but because thou thinkest thou hast no need
thereof, thou dost well: if thou seest that thou art stalwart to serve
GOD, and that it breaks not thy stomach. For if thou hast broken it with
over-great abstinence, appetite for meat is reft from thee: and often
shalt thou be in tremblings, as if thou wert ready to give up the ghost.
And wit thou well, thou didst sin that deed. And thou may'st not wit
soon whether thine abstinence be against thee, or with thee. For the
time thou art going, I counsel thee that thou should'st eat better and
more, as it comes, that thou beest not beguiled. And afterward, when
thou hast proved many things, and overcome many temptations, and knowest
better thyself and GOD than thou didst, then if thou seest that it be to
be done, thou mayst take to greater abstinence. And meanwhile thou mayst
do privy penance which all men need not know. Righteousness is not all
in fasting or in eating.