Hereinne is told the cause whi this writynge is maad, and hou sche schal have hire in the
The Purpose of This Writing
The author explains that this work is intended to stir both himself and the reader toward a more diligent and humble pursuit of the contemplative life.
reading for which it was created.1 Look, I’ve told you a little, as it seems to me—first about contemplation, what it is, and then about the ways that lead to it by grace. Not because I have it in feeling and in practice as I have it in speaking; nevertheless, by these words, such as they are, I would first stir my own negligence to do better than I have done, and also my purpose is to stir you or any other man or woman who has taken the state of contemplative life to labor more diligently and more humbly in that way of life by such simple words as God has given me grace to say.2 Therefore, if any word here stirs or comforts your heart more toward the love of God, thank God, for it is His gift and not from the word itself.3 And if it doesn't comfort you at all, or if you don't grasp it readily, don't study it too long, but lay it aside until another time and give yourself to prayer or some other occupation. Take it as it comes, and not all at once.
Guidance for the Contemplative Path
The author invites the reader to exercise discernment in reading his words and offers a final blessing for the contemplative journey.
Also, don't take these words that I write too strictly; but where you think, after careful judgment, that I've spoken too briefly — whether for lack of English or for want of reasoning — I ask you to amend it only where there's need. Also, these words that I write to you do not all belong to someone who lives the active life, but to you or to another who has the state of contemplative life.4 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Read the original Latin
redynge that it was maad unto.
Lo, I have tolde thee a litil, as me thenketh, first of contemplacioun, what it is, and sithen of the weies that bi grace leden therto. Not for I have it in felynge and in worchynge as I have it in seiynge; nevertheles I wolde bi thise wordes, siche as thei aren, first stire myn owen necgligence for to doon betere than I have doon, and also my purpos is for to stire thee or ony othir man or woman that hath take the staat of contemplatif liyf for to traveile more bisili and more mekeli in that maner of lif bi siche simple wordes as God hath gyven me grace for to seie. And therfore yif ony word be thereinne that stireth or conforteth thyn herte more to the love of God, thanke God, for it is His gift and not of the word. And yif it conforteth thee nought, or ellis thou takest it not redeli, studie not to longe theraboute, but lei hit biside thee til anothir tyme, and gyve thee to praier or to othir occupacion. Take it as it wole come, and not al at onys.
Also thise wordes that I write, take hem not to streiteli, but there as thee thenketh bi good avysement that I speke to schorteli, oithir for lackynge of Ynglisch or wantynge of resoun, I prey thee mende it there nede is oonli. Also thise wordis that y write to thee longen not alle to oon man whiche hath actif lif, but to thee or to anothir whiche hath the staat of liyf comtemplatif. The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist be with thee. Amen
Notes
- 1 ↩Standalone source unit looks like a truncated clause, likely continuing the chapter heading (‘…and how she shall conduct herself in the reading…’). Rendered as the relative clause sense of ME ‘redynge that it was maad unto’ (‘reading for which / to which it was made’).
- 2 ↩felynge and worchynge: interior experience and lived practice, contrasted with mere seiynge (speaking/writing about it).
- 3 ↩not of the word: the stirring belongs to God's gift, not to the human wording as its source.
- 4 ↩Source 'comtemplatif' is a clear spelling of contemplatif; rendered as contemplative. 'longen...to' = belong/pertain to; 'staat of liyf' = the vowed or ordered state of life.
Scala Perfectionis (The Scale of Perfection) companion
A daily portion of stillness
Chosen Portion delivers one short contemplative reading and a guided moment of silence each day — the ascent, one step at a time.
Chosen Portion is the paced doorway into this collection: it portions the dense mystical treatises into one daily reading plus guided silence, exactly as the 14-day plan teaches.
- Daily bite-sized excerpts from the contemplative classics, never a wall of text
- A built-in timed stillness practice that grows from 2 minutes to 10
- Gentle progression through the tradition — the app remembers where you are on the ascent