HERE BEGINNETH THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER
How that yet unto this day all actives complain of
contemplatives as Martha did of Mary. Of the which complaining ignorance is the
cause.
AND right as Martha complained then on Mary her sister, right so yet unto this
day all actives complain of contemplatives. For an there be a man or a woman in
any company of this world, what company soever it be, religious or seculars--I
out-take none--the which man or woman, whichever that it be, feeleth him
stirred through grace and by counsel to forsake all outward business, and for
to set him fully for to live contemplative life after their cunning and their
conscience, their counsel according; as fast, their own brethren and their
sisters, and all their next friends, with many other that know not
their stirrings nor that manner of living that they set them to, with a great
complaining spirit shall rise upon them, and say sharply unto them that it is
nought that they do. And as fast they will reckon up many false tales, and many
true also, of falling of men and women that have given them to such life
before: and never a good tale of them that stood.
I grant that many fall and have fallen of
them that have in likeness forsaken the world. And where they should have
become God's servants and His contemplatives, because that they would not rule
them by true ghostly counsel they have become the devil's servants and his
contemplatives; and turned either to hypocrites or to heretics, or fallen into
frenzies and many other mischiefs, in slander of Holy Church. Of the which I
leave to speak at this time, for troubling of our matter. But nevertheless here
after when God vouchsafeth and if need be, men may see some of the
conditions and the cause of their failings. And therefore no more of them at
this time; but forth of our matter.