(( [@@is is] a Sermou%n% on @e First Sunday of Lentou%n%.))
<S 1>
<L 1>
First among all%e% o@%er% @yngs, @re @yngs ben [ful]
nedeful to eche ma%n% @%a%t wole come to heuen;
%and% @ese @re @yngs ben ful faire, for it ben
fei@, hope, %and% charite. Fei@ is ful nedeful
to man @%a%t he bileue in +God+, Fadir Almy$ti,
%and% in +Ih%es%u Crist+ his Sone, %and% also in @e
+Holi Goost+, @re P%er%sones %and% oon +God+. For as @e
apostle sei@ in his Epistle, "&W%i%t%h%out bileue, it&
&is imposible [ony man] to plese +God+&." Hope is
also nedeful, @%a%t [a] man fullich hope
eu%er%lastyng reward. And herfor sei@ @e
p%ro%fete, "&Blessid be he @%a%t hopi@ in our%e% Lord&."
Charite is also nedeful, @%a%t a man be ful w%i%t%h%
loue of +God+ and of his nei$bore. For, as @e
apostle sei@, "&He @%a%t loui@ his nei$bore, ha@&
&fulfillid @e Lawe&." And no wondur, for, as +Ioon+
sei@ in his Epistle, "&He @%a%t loue@ not his&
&bro@%er% @%a%t he see@, hou mai he loue +God+, @%a%t&
%he see@ not%?" %And% so whoso loue@ wel his bro@%er%,
he loue@ also his +God+. %And% "&In @ese two&
&co%m%mau%n%dementis&," as +Crist+ sei@ hymsilf ,
&hangi@ al @e Lawe and @e p%ro%fetis& wordis."
And all%e% we ben halewid in @e baptym of +Goddis+
Sone, @%a%t we shulden be spiritual bre@%er%en in
parfit charite aftir +God+. @@erfor we [shuln]
dwelle in p%ar%fit loue of +God+ and of our%e%
nei$bore @%a%t +God+ hymsilf dwelle alwei in vs.
For as +Ioon+ sei@ in his Epistle, "&+God+ is charite&,
&and he @%a%t dwelli@ in charite, dwelli@ in +God+&
&and +God+ in hym&."
But sixe @yngs ben ful p%ro%fitable to Cristen
men in @ese daies of her clensyng, @%a%t is to sey,
confessiou%n% %and% penau%n%ce, wakyngs and fastyngs,
p%re%iers and almisdedis. First, @%a%t men
knouleche w%i%t%h% hert and mou@, all%e% her synnes
@%a%t comen to her mynde @%a%t @ei han offendid
+God+ w%i%t%h% in herte, in mou@ %and% in dede. For
@e p%ro%fete sei@, in @e p%er%sone of synful me%n%,
"&Lord, I made my synne knowen to @ee&," @%a%t is to
sei, bi v%er%i knoulechyng, " &%and% myn vnri$twisnesse&
&I hid not&, to shewe @e mekenesse of mysilf, @%a%t
knouest all%e% man%er% pryuetees. &I seide, I shal&
&knouleche a$ens myself myn vnri$twisnesse to my&
&Lord&." %And% se @erfor @e p%ro%fit @%a%t folewi@
aftir. "&And @ou, Lord&," sei@ @e p%ro%fete, "&hast&
&for$eue @e wickidnesse of my synne&." %And% for
@is gret p%ro%fit sei@ +Iames+ in his Epistle,
"&Knouleche $e, ei@%er% to o@%er%, $our%e% synnes, and&
&prai@ for eche of $ou togider%e%, @%a%t $e mowe be&
&saued&. "
But @%er% ben ei$t p%r%incipal vices @%a%t vnne@e
is @%er% ony man @%a%t is not smyttid w%i%t%h% hem alle
or w%i%t%h% su%m%me. @@e first is glotonye %and% @e
second is leccherie; @e @rid is slou@e %and% @e
four@e is auarice ; @e fyue@e [is] veyn glorie
%and% @e sixte is enuye; @e seuen@e is wra@@e
%and% @e ei$t is pride, @%a%t is queen of alle
euelis. Bi pride, au%n%gel creature fel ful depe
from heuen. Bi pride, +Adam+ our%e% former fadir,
bigilid, lost @e gret blisse of +Paradijs+.
 @@erfor men @%a%t ben of feble wittis, @ei
shulden wel be ransakid of spiritual lechis [and]
aftir offence of dyu%er%s synnes biforeseid,
dyuerse remedies of +Goddis+ word shulden be put
to her sores. %And% @us +God+ desiri@ moche our%e%
shrifte for to for$eue vs our%e% synne @%a%t we han
offendid hym w%i%t%h%.
And so soo@ it is, confessiou%n% maki@ a man
gostli hool, %and% it be doon w%i%t%h% a trewe
soreuful hert. Such co%n%fessioun maki@ a man to
plese his +God+ bi v%er%tuouse lyuyng aftirward.
Suche confessiou%n% iustifie@ a man @%a%t he shal
not be cou%n%tid gilti of trespassis bifore doon.
Such confessiou%n% geti@ a man ful for$euenesse.
For al hope of for$euenesse stant @orou$ such
v%er%i confessiou%n%, and @us such confessiou%n% is
a ful gret werk of mercy. Such confessiou%n% is a
cheef medicyn to eche synful man in @is world.
Such confessiou%n% is, as it were, @e second boord
@%a%t kepi@ vs from drenchyng of @e gret depnesse
of helle. For but if we v%er%ili for@enke%n%, @%a%t is,
as it were, @e first boord, %and% aftir knouleche
treuli our%e% synnes, aftir @e abilite @%a%t +God+
grau%n%ti@ vs, we forsaken @e wei toward heuen
%and% rennen hedlyng toward helle. And to @is
entent sei@ +Salamon+, &"He @%a%t hidi@ his synnes&
&shal not be dressid& euenlich to heue%n%ward, &but&%
&he @%a%t knoulechi@ his synnes& %and% leue@ hem, &he&
&shal haue& fulli &merci&."
And @us aftir such trewe confessiou%n% must
veri penau%n%ce folewe. Of @is penaunce sei@
+Crist+ in @e Euangelie @us, "&Do $e penau%n%ce&,
&for @e kyngdom of heuens come@ ful ny$.& " Also
+Ioon Baptist+ bad @e +Pharisees+ %and% @e +Saduceis+,
"& To do wor@i fruyt of penau%n%ce&." Wor@i fruyt
of penau%n%ce is to inwardli wepe for trespassis
doon, %and% not to turne aftir to such%e% synnes,
but lyuen in v%er%tues contrarie to such%e% vices.
%And% herfor it is writen, "&Sone, leie not synne&
&vpon synne&." Also +God+ sei@ bi +Ysaie+ @e p%ro%fete,
"&Be $e wasshen %and% be $e clene&." He is wasshen
%and% also clene @%a%t wepi@ for synnes @%a%t ben doon
%and% kepi@ hym clene aftirward. But he is wasshen
%and% is not clene @%a%t wepi@ for his yuel %and%
leeuy@ it not, but turne@ a$en to suche synnes
@%a%t he made sorowe for arst.
And so v%er%i penau%n%ce bifore +God+ is a man to
make herti sorowe for his synne w%i%t%h% trew
confessiou%n% of his mou@, w%i%t%h% satisfacciou%n% of
good contynuyng lijf @%er%wi@, @ou$ man lyue not
many $eris aftir. %And% so ech man @%a%t is wou%n%den
in greuouse synnes, turne hym to v%er%i penau%n%ce bi
tyme, %and% mystrist he not on +Goddis+ merci, for
it is vpon all%e% his werkis, %and% in @is world
his merci shal not be drawen awei from ony man @%a%t
verili repenti@ hym of his synne.
But now bo@e wakyng fro bodili sleep %and%
wakyng of holi @ou$t %and% holi lyuyng musten
folewe trewe penau%n%ce @%a%t we haue spoken of.
For such wakyngs shul brynge for@ fruyt of many
v%er%tues @%a%t shuln lede a man to heuenli blisse,
wherfor it bihoue@ vs for to wake, for +Ysaie+ @e
 p&ro%fete sei@ "%Lord, my spirit waki@ to @ee bi&
&ny$t for @i co%m%mau%n%dementis ben li$t vpon er@e.&"
And herfor sei@ +Davi@+ @e p%ro%fete, "&Lord, at&
&mydny$t I roos to knouleche to @ee&." Also it is
seid in @e p%er%sone of +God+ in an o@%er% place, "&I&
&loue hem @%a%t louen me, %and% @ei @%a%t waken eerli&
&to me shuln fynde me&." %And% herfor sei@ +Crist+
in @e Euangelie, "&Waki@, for $e weten not whan @e&
&Lord shal come, at euen or at mydny$t [or] at&
&cockis crowyng or in [@e] morewnyng&."
And vnderstonde @%a%t for @re causis oure Lord
hidi@ his comyng fro man and also @e hour%e% of his
dee@. Oon cause is @%a%t if man knew @e hour%e% or
@e dai of his de@, ma%n% wold lede @e most part of
his lijf in synne, and ful late turne to +God+. But
for man shuld not tarie long from his seruyce,
he putti@ hym in vncerteynte bo@e of his comyng
to @e doom and of @e our of his de@. @@e second
cause is for man shuld not dispeire of his hel@e
for long co%n%tynuyng in his synne. For @e
fendis temptaciou%n% my$t soone ou%er%come a
synful ma%n%, if he knew his endyng dai ri$t ny$ ,
%and% he so long contynued in wickid lijf. @@e @rid
cause @%a%t +God+ hidi@ fro man @e dai of his de@
%and% of his comyng, is for man shuld alwei
suppose @%a%t @e dai of his de@ %and% +Cristis+
comyng is ful ny$, %and% so wake in holi @ou$tis
%and% make hym redi w%i%t%h% holi werkis to be
p%re%sentid vp to +God+, whaneu%er% he wold vouchesaaf
to come.
@@%er%for, freendis, I preie $ou, bi@enke $ou
wel, and enquere at $ousilf w%i%t%h%ynne, "Wher%e% ben
@e loueris of @is disseyuable world, where ben
@e stoute kyngs %and% wordli p%r%inces, where ben @e
my$tti emp%er%ours %and% me%n% @%a%t wern enrichid w%i%t%h%
wordli muk, where ben @e stronge ieau%n%tes %and% @e
flesshli wise men of @is world?" If $e haue @is
wel in mynde, @%er% shal soone be gendrid in $ou
a drede. %And% of @is drede shal spryng an
hertli sorewe; %and% of @is holi sorewe shal
kyndle a deuociou%n%; %and% of @is deuociou%n%, bi @e
grace of +God+, shal growe for@ fruyt of many
holi werkis. @@ese be%n% @e wakyngs @%a%t our%e% Lord
axi@ of vs.
And aftir @ese wakyngs musten folewe holi
fastyngs. %And% se now what +Ierom+ sei@ of such
fastyngs, "Fastyng is an holi @yng; fastyng is an
heuenli werk; fastyng is a $ate of heuen;
fastyng is a licnes of @e world to comyng. For
he @%a%t holilich doi@ @is dede, he is graciousli
ioyned to +God+; he is maad ful strau%n%ge to
[@e] lusti world, for he is maad a spiritual
man. Bi holi fastyng ben foule synnes @rowen
dou%n%; bi holi fastyng ma%n%nys flessh is wel
ymekid; bi holi fastyng ben @e feendis
temptaciou%n%s ou%er%comen." %And% so fastyngs ben
stronge dartis a$ens entisyngs of @e deuel.
But now vnderstonde, bi many faire
 ensau%m%plis, hou p%ro%fitable is such fastyng
@@e puple of @e gret citee +Nyneue+ ascapiden @e
gret venyau%n%ce of +God+, %and% gaten m%er%ci %and%
for$euenesse of her synnes, for @ei fastiden
@us @re daies togider%e%. Also @e puple of +God+
passid graciousli @e +Reed See+, drie fotid, %and%
saien her enemyes dreynt in @e see, aftir @%a%t
@ei had fastid bifore @ei eeten @e Pask Lomb.
Also +Moises+ fastid in desert, %and% aftir +God+
vouchid saaf @%a%t he herd grete pryuetes of his
wisdom. Also +Daui@+ fastid aftir @%a%t he had
greuousli synned, %and% so his synne was for$ouen
hym. And herfor +Daui@+ sei@ hymsilf, "&I haue&
&mekid my soule in fastyng&." Also +Crist+ fastid
fourti daies %and% fourti ny$tis, %and% aftir he
ou%er%come @e deuel, %and% anoon au%n%gels mynystrid
hym. Also +Petir+ fastid, %and% aftirward @e au%n%gel
delyuered hym out of p%r%isou%n%. Also +Ioon
Euangelist+ fastid, %and% aftir +God+ shewid hym his
heuenli p%r%iueties. Also +Poul+ fastid, %and% aftir
+God+ dilyuered hym from his blyndnesse, %and% soone
aftir he took his Cristendom. What shal I sei
more of fastyng? As long as +Adam+ eet not, he
forfetid not @e blisse of +Paradijs+, but whan he
had eeten of @e appul, anoon he was put out of
+Paradijs+.
@@%er%for, fastyng is ful good, whan it is wel
temp%er%id w%i%t%h% discreciou%n%. For what good dede @%a%t
it be, %and% it be do in du man%er%, @a%n%ne it is holsu%m%
to @e soule, but what good @%a%t it be %and% it lacke
discreciou%n% %and% du man%er% of doyng, it is
viciouse %and% p%er%ilouse to @e soule. But fastyng
p%ro%fiti@ litel w%i%t%h%outen good werkis %and%
almesdedis, and fastyng @%a%t is doon w%i%t%h%
almesdede and deuoute preieris is acceptable
to +God+; %and% it openy@ heuen to man %and% my$tili
ascendi@ bifore +Goddis+ troone.
%And% @us holi p%re%ieris musten folewe discrete
fastyngs. And se now what +Isidore+ sei@ of
p%re%ieris. "We ben clensid," he sei@, "w%i%t%h% holi
p%re%iers, %and% we ben [enformyd] w%i%t%h% deuoute
redyngis. " And to @is entent, sey@ Seynt +Iames+,
"&Moche is wor@ @e bisie p%re%ier of a ri$twis man.&"
Also +Moises+ bi his praier turned awei @e wra@@e
of +God+ from @e puple @%a%t made her deuociou%n%
bifore @e calf. Also +Helie+ made his p%re%ier @%a%t
it shuld not reyne vpon er@e, %and% +God+ closid @e
firmame%n%t @%a%t @e reyn descendid not @re $eer %and%
sixe mone@is; %and% aftirward he made his p%re%ier %and%
@e firmame%n%t $af his reyn %and% @e er@e $af his
fruyt. Also +Ionas+ p%re%ied in @e whallis wombe,
%and% he was graciousli delyuered @%er%of. Also
+Danyel+ p%re%ied in @e lake of liou%n%s %and% +God+ herd
his p%re%ier %and% delyuerid hy%m%. Also Kyng +E$echie+
in his sekenesse p%re%ied to +God+, %and% God grau%n%tid
hym to lyue fiftene $eir aftir. @@%er%for, whoso
wole be p%ar%fitli w%i%t%h% +God+, he must bisie hym
ofte in deuoute p%re%ieris %and% ofte rede gostilich
 ensau%m%plis if he haue ku%n%nyng @%er%to. For whan
[@at] we p%re%ien, @an in a man%er% we speken with
+God+; but whan @%a%t we reden, @an God speki@ w%i%t%h%
vs.
But now vnderstonde we @%a%t @%er% ben dyuerse
maners of p%re%ieris. For Cristen men p%re%ien
deuoutli in her wordis bisechyng +God+, @%a%t he
vouchesaaf to for$eue hem her synnes. Also such
holi folk p%re%ien in dede, in releuyng of @e nedi
bi almesdoyng aftir her power. And herfor sei@
+Crist+ hymsilf, "&$$eue@ almesdede, %and% lo all%e%&
&@yngs ben clene to $ou&." Also it is writen in
an o@%er% place, "&As @e watir quenchi@ fier, so&
&almesdede quenchi@ synne&." Also Cristen folk
preien in @e @rid man%er%, for$euyng her nei$bores
her trespassis @%a%t @ei han offendid hem w%i%t%h%.
And herfor sei@ +Crist+ on @is man%er%, "&If $e&
&for$euen to o@%er% men her trespassis, myn heuenli&
&Fadir also shal for$eue to $ou $oure synnes&."
Also @ei preien on @e four@e man%er% bi louelich
kepyng of +Cristis+ co%m%mau%n%dementis; %and% such
loue is clepid charite @%a%t hidi@ all%e% trespassis
bifore doon. [And so] it is a ful holsu%m%
p%re%ier to kepe @us +Crist%is+ co%m%mau%n%dementis,
for it p%ro%fiti@ not a man to beseche +Goddis+
m%er%cy w%i%t%h% hise wordis %and% to terre hym wickidli
w%i%t%h% his werkis.
But now last of all, discreet almesdede
folewi@ deuoute preier. %And% se now what +Austyn+
sei@ of almesdede. "Almesdede is an holi @yng.
It encreessi@ ofte tymes er@eli godis; it geti@
to man for$euenesse of his synnes. It multiplie@
a mannes $eris; it stabli@ wel a ma%n%nys mynde; it
delyueri@ hym from de@ %and% from peyne. It
felouship[i@] hym w%i%t%h% au%n%gels; it departi@ hym
from feendis. " Also of almesdede, +Ierom+ speki@ on
@is [maner], "Almesdede persi@ heuen. It maki@
weie bifore hym @%a%t doi@ such almes. It knocki@
for hym at @e $ate of heuen. It biddi@ au%n%gels
for to mete such almesdoeris. It [clepi@] +God+ in
to help of hem @%a%t doon such almesdedis." And [@us]
+Origen+ rehersi@ @re maneris of almesdedis: oon is
bodili to @e nedi man, for to $eue hym what hym
nedi@ aftir @%a%t @ou maist resonabli; an o@er is
spiritual, @%a%t is, for to for$eue hym @%a%t ha@
harmed @ee, oo wise or o@%er%; @e @rid is to teche
hym @%a%t trespassi@ %and% to bryng hy%m% into @e wei of
treu@e.
@@ese ben @e werkis of Lentou%n%, $he, %and% of
all%e% o@er tymes whilis we lyuen in @is world. Lo,
@is is @e worship of ri$twisnesse, %and% @is is @e
techyng of Cristen men. Lo, @is is @e medicyn of
synful folk %and% @e remedie @%a%t [@ei] musten nedis
haue for synne, for we mai wel make our%e% bodies
leene, but it p%ro%fiti@ litil wi@outen @is.
@@%er%for, $eue we vs hollich to +God+ to be his
seruau%n%tis in all%e% @ese @yngs, @%a%t we be not
blamed for defaute of our%e% seruyce. And @anne
bi @e grace of +God+, we shuln be clensid, bo@e bodi
%and% soule, %and% come to @e feest of @e Pask Lomb,
 @%a%t is +Ih%es%u Crist+, in @e blisse of heuen.
Amen.
(( @@e first Sunday of Lentou%n%. ))
<S 2>
<L 1>
&+Ih%esu%s+ was ledde into desert of a spirit, @%a%t he&
&shuld be temptid of @e deuel. And whan he had%
&fastid fourti daies %and% fourti ny$tis, aftirward%
&he hungrid. And @e tempter&, @e feend, &come to hym&,
&%and% seide, "If @ou be +Goddis+ Sone, co%m%mau%n%de @%a%t&
&@ese stoones be maad looues. " And he answerid&
&hym %and% seide, "It is wryten: 'Not oonli in&
&breed lyue@ man, but also in eu%er%y word @%a%t go@&
&for@ of +Goddis+ mou@.' " @@an @e deuel took hym&
$into @e holi citee, +I%e%r%usa%l%e%m+, %and% set hym aboue&
&@e pynnacle of @e temple. And he seide to hym,&
&"If @ou be @e Sone of +God+, late @isilf dounward;&
&for whi, it is writen @%a%t: `+God+ @e Fadir ha@&
&co%m%mau%n%did to His angels of @ee, %and% @ei shuln&
&take @ee in her hondis, lest @ou stomble @i foot&
&at a stoon.' And +Ih%esu%s+ seide to hym eftsones&,
&"It is writen: "@@ou shalt not tempte @i Lord&
&+God+.'" Eftsones @e deuel took hym into a ful hy$&
&hul, %and% shewid hym all%e% @e rewmes of @e world&,
&%and% @e glorie of hem. %And% he seide to hym, "All%e%&
&@ese @yngs I shal $eue to @ee, if @ou, fallyng&
&dou%n%, worship me." @@anne +Ih%esu%s+ seide to hym&,
&"Go, +Satanas+: For it is writen: ' @@ou shalt&
&worshipe @i Lord +God+, %and% Hym aloone @ou shalt&
&serue.'" @@anne @e feend leeft hym, %and% lo, au%n%gels&
&comen to, %and% mynystreden hym&.
Many men deliten moche to heren of o@er
mennys famouse dedis, %and% @e more wor@i @%a%t such
dedis ben, @e more men p%ro%fiten bi such
ensau%m%plis. For whan such v%er%tuouse worchyng is
openli shewid, @a%n%ne ma%n%nes likyng is more tend
for to folowe such wor@i doyng. And comynli @e
more likyng @%a%t man ha@ in heryng of oon [@yng] or
o@%er%, @e lengir @%a%t @yng is holden in mynde.
Herfor, we @%a%t now bi @is Gospel han herd
@e victoriouse batel of +Crist+ our%e% Kyng, shulden
cacche gret delite %and% stidfastnesse of v%er%tuouse
lijf, bi ensau%m%ple of his ou%er%comyng. For our%e%
Lordis werkis %and% his wordis be not onli put
for@ to our%e% delectaciou%n% %and% confortyng, but also
to moue%n% vs to folowe hym in lyuyng. And @ou$ in
all%e% @yngs we han not sufficience to folowe @is
gret Lord, ne@eles in su%m%me @yngs, as in @is, we
owen to folowen hym bi his grace in wi@standyng
of @e feend. And we shuln not leue nor mystriste
for @e woodnesse of our%e% enemy, nor for our%e% owen
feblenesse, for he @%a%t @us fau$t for vs %and% had @e
maistrie, shal $eue to his gostli fi$teris v%er%tu
%and% streng@e to her p%ro%fit.
But now in Holi Scripture, we mou%n% fynde of
four%e% batels of our%e% Lord, %and% of as many victories
@%a%t he had at his batels. @@e first batel was in
@is temptaciou%n%, @%a%t @is Gospel maki@ mynde of .
His victorie at @is batel was bi gret auctorite,
wherw%i%t%h% he ou%er%cam @e feend %and% confou%n%did hym
wit%h% word of his Godhed. @e second batel was in
his passiou%n%, %and% his second victorie in his de@.
 For whan he was slayn w%i%t%h%oute%n% ri$t, he took
awei @e power of de@ @orou$ ri$t. @@e @rid batel
was in brekyng of helle, %and% his victorie in
spoilyng of hem @%a%t wern @%er%ynne. For aftir his
de@, he brak helle %and% took awei @e spoilyngs,
@%a%t is to sei mankynde, @%a%t @e deuel p%r%iuylich
deseyuede w%i%t%h% @e fou%n%deme%n%t of enuye. %And% so he
departed @e spoilyngs of @e hous of fairnesse from
@e foule hous of helle. @@e four@e batel shal be
in @e gret doom, whan al @e world shal fi$te for
hym a$ens hem @%a%t @a%n%ne ben wickid. But his
victorie shal be in @e glorifyyng of his seyntes.
But now turne we a$en to @e first batel @%a%t
@is Gospel maki@ mynde of. &+Ih%esu%s+ was led into&
&desert of a spirit @%a%t he shuld be temptid of @e&
&feend&. Here now we han herd who it [is] @%a%t was
lad into desert, for it was our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+, aftir
tyme @%a%t he was baptisid. %And% @us +Luyk+ sei@
openli @%a%t: "+Ih%es%u+, ful of @e +Holi Goost+, went
a$en from +Iordan+, %and% was moued in spirit into
desert." %And% in @ese wordis is shewid openli of
what spirit he was @us lad, for it was of @e +Holi
Goost+, wherw%i%t%h% he was alwei ful. Also [@ese]
wordis shewen whidir he was lad, for it was into
desert. @@ese wordis also shewen wherto he was
@us lad @ider, for it was @%a%t he shuld be temptid
of @e feend. But on what maner, %and% hou ofte he
was @us temptid @ere, @is Euangelie declari@ fulli
aftir.
Ne@eles, bi concel of @e Holi T%r%inite, +Crist+
was lad @us into desert, %and% also for gret
misterie, %and% for ensau%m%ple to vs aftir. Bi
concel, @%a%t @e deuel shuld be stirid %and% terrid
in temptyng +Crist+, for but Crist had @us fou$ten,
he had not @us ou%er%come%n% to our%e% p%ro%fit. For
gret misterie, @%a%t he shuld make +Adam+ fre, @%a%t
was exilid from +Paradijs+ %and% cast into desert of
@is wrecchid world, %and% m%er%cifuly brynge hym a$en
fro @is desert, to blisful +Paradiys+ aftirward.
For ensau%m%ple to vs, to doon vs to witene @%a%t
whan we wolden encreesse in v%er%tues, hou enuyouse
@e deuel is @%a%t wole lette vs aftir his power,
but @%a%t we shulden not leeue of for @e feblenesse
of our%e%silf, we ben tau$t of +Crist+ our%e% Duyk on
what man%er% to wi@stonde hym, as is shewid in @is
Gospel.
But as clerkis seyn aftir sence of @e storie,
+Crist+ ou%er%cam @e feend in @e desert @%a%t is
bitwixe +I%e%r%usa%l%e%m+ %and% +Iericho+, wher%e% @e feend
ou%er%cam +Adam+, in figure of @is gostli batel @%a%t
+Crist+ made w%i%t%h% @e feend %and% ou%er%cam hym. And @e
int%er%pretaciou%n% of @e name of @is place shewi@
@%a%t @er wern many @euys @ere. For @@is desert was
clepid +Domyn+, @%a%t is as moche to sey as blood.
%And% ri$tli it was clepid @is name, for @er%e% bi
@euys was ofte ma%n%nes blood sheed. But +Crist+,
@%a%t is a trewe +Samaritan+, @%a%t is to sey a gostli
kepere, cam bi @at same wei %and% fonde +Adams+ kynde,
foule wou%n%did w%i%t%h% synne, bi ou%er%comyng of wickid
 spiritis, %and% heelid hym bi for$euyng of his
synne, %and% brou$t hym m%er%cifuli to @e stable of
his grace, @%a%t is to sei to @e techyng %and% @e
kepyng of @e lawe of @e Euangelie.
It folowi@ fer@%er% in @e text: &And whan he had&
&fastid fourti daies %and% fourti ny$tis, aftirward&
&he hungrid. Lo&, hou fastyng is co%m%mendid in @e
Olde Lawe, as we mai se of +Moises+. It is co%m%mendid
of p%ro%fetis, as we mai se of +Helie+. It is
co%m%mendid in @e Euangelie, as we mai se of +Crist+,
@%a%t is cheef of all%e% o@er.
@@is nou%m%bre fourti bitokene@ al @e tyme of
our%e% lijf her%e% in @is world; %and% in @is tyme al
+Goddis+ chosen puple in @e foure parties of @e
world shulden arme hem w%i%t%h% @e ten co%m%mau%n%deme%n%tis
a$ens temptaciou%n%s of @e feend. For in figure
herof, @is nou%m%bre fourti come@ vp bi encrees
of foure, %and% also it come@ vp bi encrees of ten.
Also @is nou%m%bre of foure bitokene@ all%e% vnleueful
flesshli stiryngs of ma%n%nys bodi, %and% @ese
come%n% of foure humours @%a%t spryngen of foure
elementis wherof ma%n%nes bodi is maad. %And% a$en
@ese flesshli stiryngs men shuld put good medicyn
of @e ten co%m%mau%n%deme%n%tis @%a%t ben fou%n%den in
+Goddis+ Lawe, for [ @e] ten co%m%mau%n%dementis ben
dyuyd in @re %and% seuene; %and% of @ese ten, @re
p%ar%teynen to +God+ Almy$ti %and% seuen p%ar%teynen to
ma%n%nes nei$bore, for man stant of soule @%a%t ha@
@re my$tis %and% of bodi @%a%t is maad of foure
elementis.
%And% so, for @e Holi T%r%inite shulde fulli be
worshipid of man, man is maad parfit, as it were,
in @e nou%m%bre of ten. %And% herfor al +Goddis+
co%m%mau%n%dyng of loue, as touchyng bo@e of man to
+God+, %and% also of man to man, stant in @is parfit
nou%m%bre of ten. But for @ese ten co%m%mau%n%dementis,
ofte tymes for our%e% slou@e ben nou$t fulfullid,
@is parfit nou%m%bre of ten is multiplied w%i%t%h% @e
nou%m%bre of foure, @%a%t acordi@ to our%e% feble bodi
bicause @%a%t bi mouyng of @e flessh, @%a%t charite
@%a%t we shulden haue to +God+ %and% to our%e% nei$bore
is defoulid. %And% herfor, for to whasshe awei
our%e% synnes, our%e% tyme of penau%n%ce is ordeyned in
@e noumbre of fourti. For as longe as we lyuen
here in @is world, it is nedeful @%a%t we biwepen
our%e% synnes, for, as it is seid bifore, @is
nou%m%bre of fourti bitokene@ @is tyme.
But for gret misterie, fourti daies of
penau%n%ce ben ordeyned bifore +Cristis+ passioun
%and% his resurrecciou%n%. For skilful it is @%a%t we
@%a%t ben gretli cou%n%fortid in @e solempnite of
+Cristis+ resurrecciou%n%, for we shuln rise bi v%er%tu
of hym, blisfuli in bodi %and% soule, @%a%t we be
fou%n%de in wilful penau%n%ce %and% sle @e vnleueful
flesshli lustis in our%e% bodi bi special mynde of
+Cristis+ passion. For @a%n%ne dien we wel togidere
if we absteyne vs silf @ese daies as wel from
vices and flesshli desiris, lusti metis %and%
drynkis.
And now take here good heed @%a%t for @is
 misterie +God+ ceessid not in +Noes+ tyme fourti
daies to sende dou%n% reyn, for to punysshe men for
synne. Take heed of olde fadris in +Moises+ tyme,
hou @ei shulden in fourty daies haue come to @e
lond of biheest but @ei grucchiden %and% token not
wilfulli her penau%n%ce, %and% so wern @ei taried
fourti wyntir in desert; %and% @us a $eer was
encressid for a dai. But $it now vnderstonde wel
@%a%t +God+ suffrid hem not to entre @e lond of
biheest bifore @e tyme of @is nou%m%bre fourti were
fulfillid.
But now fer@%er%more, take heede @%a%t @e desert
%and% +Cristis+ fastyng meueden @e feend to @is
forseid batail. @@e hungir @%a%t +Crist+ had deceyued
@e deuel, %and% @e pacience of +Crist+ made hym @e
more boold, but his owen malice stirid hym gretli
to tempte @is Lord. And herfor sei@ @e Euangelist
aftir: &And @e tempter cam to hym, %and% seide "If&
&@ou be +Goddis+ Sone, sei @%a%t @ese stoones be maad&
&looues&." As su%m%me men holden for opynyoun, @e
feend cam to +Crist+ oy@%er% in licnes of an au%n%gel,
ou@%er% in licnes of a kni$t, or ellis in licnesse
of an o@%er% man. But o@%er% men seien @%a%t al @is
temptaciou%n% was do bi p%r%iuey meuyng of @e feend
w%i%t%h%out sich visible apperyng. But muse we not
aboute @ese doutis, but bileue we @%a%t +Crist+ was
temptid of @e feend as @e Gospel techi@ vs. %And%
so temptaciou%n% of @e feend comynli ha@ @re
menbris: suggestiou%n%, delectaciou%n%, %and% consence is
@e @rid. %And% @us +Crist+ my$t wel be temptid w%i%t%h%
@e first menbre, but delectaciou%n% %and% consence
my$t not bite +Crist+, +God+ %and% man.
But in @is @%a%t @e fend seide, "&If @ou be&
&+Goddis+ Sone&," he aspied @%a%t @yng @%a%t he dradde ful
sore. For he knew @%a%t +Goddis+ Sone was comen into
@e world, ei@%er% bi p%ro%phetis tellyng, ei@%er% bi
au%n%gels shewyng, or ellis bi +Ioon Baptistis+
prechyng. But for he saw +Crist+ so meke %and% feble
outwardlich in bodi, he was gretli in doute wher
he were +God+, for he supposid @%a%t +Crist+ man bi @e
hi$ %and% p%r%iuey grau%n%t of +God+, my$t do such hi$
werkis, %and% so he temptid hym fer@%er% to wite @e
so@e. But +Crist+ temperid hy%m%silf so wisli in
all%e% @yngs, @%a%t he ou%er%come @e fend, %and% on such
man%er% he ou%er%come hym @%a%t @e fend doutid as moche
last as first.
But now fer@%er%more o@%er% wordis of @e text
declaren @e man%er% of @e fendis temptyng, %and% also
hou ofte he temptid hym in desert, for @ries, as
@e text shewi@, @e feend temptid +Crist+ in desert.
But if we take heede to @e man%er% of temptyng, we
mai se @%a%t @e feend first temptid +Crist+ in
glotonye, whan he moued hym @%a%t was so hungri, to
make looues of hard stones. @@e second tyme he
temptid hym in veyn glorie, whan he mouyd hym
to skippe dou%n% hedlyng, whan he had set hym vpon
@e pynnacle of @e temple. @@e @rid tyme he temptid
hym in pompous p%r%ide, whan he bihi$t hym p%r%inshed
%and% @e glorie of al @is world, if he wolde falle
dou%n% %and% worshipe hym.
But +Matheu+ rehersi@ not @ese temptaciou%n%s
 arewe as @ei wern doon, but he telli@ aftir @e
man%er% of temptyng @%a%t @e feend temptid +Adam+. But
+Luyk+ rehersi@ @ese temptaciou%n%s arewe euenlich as
@ei wern doon, not wi@seiyng +Matheus+ sentence.
For first +Luyk+ putti@ glotonye %and% aftirward
auarice, %and% @e @rid tyme pride, for it is fressh
bo@e first and last.
But +Crist+ ouercam be feend in al @%a%t he
ou%er%cam +Adam+. In glotonye @e fend ou%er%cam Adam,
whan he mouyd hym to ete of @e tree @%a%t +God+
forbad hym to ete of. He temptid hym in veyn
glorie whan he seide, "$$e shuln be as +Goddis+."
He temptid hym in auarice, whan he seide, "$e
shuln be knowyng bo@e good %and% yuel." And in
all%e% @ese temptaciou%n%s @e fend ouercam +Adam+.
But as +Daui@+ ou%er%@rew +Golie+ w%i%t%h% @re stoones @%a%t
he took of @e brook-side, so +Crist+ ou%er%cam @e
deuel w%i%t%h% @re witnessyngs @%a%t he took of his
Fadris Lawe. %And% @us +Crist+ $af vs gret ensau%m%ple
to seche our%e% victorie bi mekenesse %and% not bi
pride, bi wisdom of +God+ %and% not bi bostful wordli
power, bi resou%n% of +Goddis+ lawe %and% not bi @e hi$
v%er%tu of +God+ in sechyng of bodili myraclis.
@@e Euangelist sei@ fer@er: &@@anne @e fend&
&lefte hym&, as he @%a%t was ou%er%comen %and% schend.
But as +Mark+ sei@, "He lefte hym, but for a tyme."
For aftirward he assailed hym bi his seruau%n%tis
@%a%t wern @e +Iewis+.
&And au%n%gels comen to, %and% mynyrstriden hym&.
%And% @us temptaciou%n% $ede bifore %and% victorie
folewid aftir; %and% herfor au%n%gels mynystriden hym
to shewe fulli @e wor@ynesse of his victorie.
And so of @is @yng, we mai se @%a%t @e nature of
Godhed %and% @e nature of manhed be%n% @e same oon
+Cristis+ p%er%sone. For man it was @%a%t @e fend
temptid, %and% @e same man was +God+ @%a%t au%n%gels
mynystriden to. @@%er%for wor@ili is he clepid %and%
bileuyd Lord of au%n%gels, whos bir@e au%n%gels
sheweden, %and% wern redi at his s%er%uyce whan he
was temptid, at his diyng %and% vprisyng %and% whan
he shuld ascende to heuen, and also au%n%gels
shewiden his second comyng not oonli to @e
apostlis but to all%e% men of ri$t bileue.
@@%er%for worshipe we in hym his Godhed, @%a%t he
bowid loweli dou%n% for to $yue vs ensau%m%ple of
mekenesse. Worshipe we in hym oure kynde, @%a%t bi
v%er%tu of his Godhed, he lift ful hi$ aboue au%n%gels.
For @%a%t ma%n%nes kynde in +Crist+ shuld @us be
worshipid, Seynt +Austyn+ shewi@ openli %and% sei@,
"@@%er%for I worshipe our%e% Lord%is% flessh, $he, @e
p%ar%fit manhed in +Crist+; for it was vnderfonge of
@e Godhed %and% also ooned to @e Godhed. And @ese
two kyndis in +Crist+ maken not two p%er%sones in
+Crist+, but I knouleche hem to be Crist, oon +God+
%and% man, v%er%i Sone of +God+." Studie we now @%er%for
to gete @e dignite of @is manlich kynde, w%i%t%h%
vertuouse lyuyng while we ben here. Longe we
toward @is dignite w%i%t%h% fastyngs, wakyngs %and%
p%re%ieris, w%i%t%h% almesdedis, %and% w%i%t%h% al @e
deuociou%n% of our%e% hertis. For $it it is not
openli shewid what we shuln be, but we witen wel
@%a%t [whan] +Crist+ our%e% lijf shal appere openli to
 al @e world, @an soone we shuln appere w%i%t%h% hym
in blisse, %and% @anne we shuln be liche to hym,
for as he is face to face we suln se hym in @e
blisse of heuen. Am%en%.
(( @@e seconde Sunday of Lentou%n%))
<S 3>
<L 1>
&Ovr%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+, goon out, $ede into @e&
&coostis of +Tire+ %and% of +Sydon+. And lo, a wo%m%man&
&of +Cananee+ goon out of @o coostis cried, seiyng&
&to hym, "Lord, sone of +Daui@+, haue m%er%cy on me&.
&My dou$tir is yuel turmentid of a fend." And he&
&answerd not to hir a word. And his disciples,&
&comyng to hym, preiden hym, seiynge "Delyuere&
&hir, for she crie@ aftir vs." And he answerd %and%&
&seide, "I am not sent but to @e sheep @%a%t han&
&perishid of @e hous of +I%s%r%ae%l+." And she cam %and%&
&worshipide hym, seiyng, "Lord, help me. " And&
&he answerd, %and% seide, "It is not [good] to&
&take @e breed of sones, %and% sende it to hou%n%dis&. "
&And& @anne &seide she, "Soo@, Lord, but $it @e&
&whelpis eten of @e cru%m%mes @%a%t fallen fro @e boord&
&of her lordis." And [@anne] +Ih%esu%s+ answerid, %and%&
&seide to hir, "A, wo%m%man, @i bileue is moche. Be&
&it doon to @ee as @ou wolt." And hir dou$tir was&
&heelid fro @%a%t houre for@.&
Our%e% Lord %and% our%e% a$enbier, @%a%t cam into @is
world for to seche %and% [to] saue @%a%t @yng @%a%t
was p%er%ishid, putti@ aboute here %and% @ere
bifore our%e% i$en hooli folk @%a%t we shulden
folowe in liuyng. For in many places he setti@
for@ bifore synful me%n% grete ensau%m%plis of his
m%er%cy. For take we heede to +Petir+ %and% +Poul+, to
@e @eef, to +$$achee+, %and% to +Marie+, %and% also to @e
woman of +Cananee+, %and% @anne in all%e% @ese moun we
se @%a%t +God+ ha@ put bifore our%e% i$en sadnesse of
hope %and% of penau%n%ce. For if ony man in bileue
be sliden awei %and% greuousli ha@ pursued +Cristis+
puple @%a%t is clepid Holi Chirche, loke he sadli
vpon +Petir+ %and% on +Poul+. For +Petir+ wept bitturli
whan he had denyed +Crist+ for feere, %and% +Poul+ $af
hi%m%silf to @e de@ for +Crist+, for he had crueli
pursued +Cristis+ seyntis. [Also] if ony ma%n% haue
be brent in malice %and% cruelnesse a$ens his
nei$bore, bi@enke he wel vpon @e @eef @%a%t in p%er%el
of de@ @orou$ fruytful for@ynkyng cam to @e mede
of heuenli blisse. [Also] if ony man haue
bre@id w%i%t%h% gret heete of auarice, %and% so
raueshid o@%er% me%n%nys good, take he heede to
+$$achee+, @%a%t seide he wolde $yue @e foure double
if he had take any ma%n%nes good w%i%t%h% wrong. Also
if ony man haue be tend w%i%t%h% @e fier of leccherie,
%and% so haue lost @e cle%n%nesse of his bodi,
bi@enke he on +Marie Mawdeleyn+ @%a%t dried vp hir
yuel flesshli lust w%i%t%h% @e fier of inward sorowe.
Also if ony man fele hymsilf ny$ deed bi synne,
turne hym fast to @is wo%m%man of +Cananee+, @orou$
whos bileue %and% deuociou%n% hir dou$tir @%a%t was so
yuel turmentid was delyuerid from @e deuel %and%
restorid to her hel@e. But on what man%er% @is was
doon, here we bo@e p%ro%fitabli %and% shortli.
 &Our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+ goon [out],& @%a%t is, of @e
p%r%iuynesse of his Fadir, or ellis litterali of
@e +Iewri+, %and% also of @e hous @%a%t +Mark+ sei@ he
was ynne whan @e wo%m%man cam to hym, @%a%t, as
+Mathew+ sei@, folewid hym anoon whan he was goon
fro @ennes, w%i%t%h% deuoute bileue %and% certeyn hope,
%and% also w%i%t%h% charite not feyned. &He $ede for@&
&into @e coostis of +Tir[e]+ %and% of +Sidon+&. @@%a%t is to
sei, he ca%m% into @is world @%a%t is bitokened bi
+Tire+ %and% +Sidon+, for +Sidon+ is as moche to sei as
vnp%ro%fitable huntyng, %and% +Tire+ is as moche to sei
as angwish. Also &he $ede for@& fro @e wickid +Iewis+
bi @e p%re%chyng of @e apostlis %and% turned hym to @e
he@en folk @%a%t receyueden hym bi bileue. And herfor
seide +Poul+, in repreef [of] @e +Iewis+, "For $e han
put fro $ou @e word of +God+ %and% demed $ow silf
vnwor@i lijf eu%er%lastyng, lo we ben turned to @e
he@en folk."
But now gostli [@ese] too citees bitokenen
too man%er% of synful folk in @is world, for ech
synful man dwelli@ ei@%er% in +Tire+ or in +Sidon+,
@%a%t is to sey in angwish of p%r%iue synne or ellis
in hu%n%tyng, @%a%t bitokene@ open synne. For he
dwelli@ in gret angwish @%a%t beri@ his synnes
p%r%iueli %and% wole not shewe hem out for to haue
his soule hel@e, for whe@%er% he sitte or ellis go,
he is ful strei$tli bownde w%i%t%h% a wou%n%did
conscience. %And% @us if he go to batel, "Alas,"
he sei@, "if I die here, I shal be [put] in
@raldu%m%, in sorowe of helle." If he be in perel
of watir, "Alas," he sei@, "if I be dreynt, soone
wole @e fend put me to @e pyne of helle. " If he
here @e grete blastis of @ondir %and% se @e feerdful
leytyngs of fier, he waxi@ pale %and% quaki@ fast.
%And% for he is sore biten w%i%t%h% @e conscience of
greuouse synnes, @%er%for he weny@ to be smyten
w%i%t%h% @e grisli leityng fier. @@%er%for, wel is it
seid @%a%t @is synful man dwelli@ in +Tire+, [for]
ou%er%al where he be, he is sore pressid in angwish
of conscience for manyfolde sy%n%nes. But he @%a%t
dwelli@ in +Sidon+, @%a%t is to sey, he @%a%t openli
w%i%t%h%out shame, $yue@ hym to dyu%er%s horrible synnes,
he is turned to an vnp%ro%fitable hu%n%tyng, for he
is ful fast shakelid w%i%t%h% @e grenys of @e deuel.
%And% @us @e deuel is an hu%n%ter in @is world
%and% is bitokened bi +Nemroth+, @%a%t was a ful gret
hunter, as is witnessid in Holi Sc%r%ipture. @@e
hou[n]dis of @e fend ben wickid spiritis @%a%t ben
his sogetis. %And% as @e hu%n%ter abidi@ @e tyme %and%
@e place moost li$tli to cacche @e wield beest bi
vncouplyng of his hou%n%dis, so @e deuel seche@
bisilich what tyme and whic[h]e seruau%n%tis he
shal sende to cacche man %and% wo%m%man in to sy%n%ne%.%
%And% as @e hu%n%ter, anoon as he ha@ cau$t @e beest,
slei@ it %and% $eti@ out @e blood, so @e feend, anoon
as he ha@ cau$t ma%n%nes soule fro +God+, anoon as he
mai, he slei@ it, turmentyng it in @e fier of
helle.
@@erfor he @%a%t dwelli@ in +Sidon+, @%a%t is to sey,
is an open synner w%i%t%h%out shame, is wrecchidli
maad a @ral to @is feendis hu%n%tyng. And also he
@%a%t dwelli@ in +Tire+, @%a%t is to sey, deliti@ hym
priueli in dyuerse synnes, he is @rist togidere
 ful sore in gret spiritual angwish. An[d] so
for to delyuere @ese too man%er% synful folk, &our%e%&
&Lord $ede for@& bi his m%er%ci whan he com into @is
world for to take our%e% feble ky%n%de. %And% @us he
was liche o@%er% men in @yngs @%a%t longiden to kynde
of man, but he was w%i%t%h%out fil@e of synne @%a%t cam
to saue synful men.
It folowi@ fer@%er% in @e text: &And lo a wo%m%man&
&of +Cananee+&, @%a%t is to sey, @e cu%m%panye of he@en
folk, &was qoon out of @o coostis&, @%a%t is to sey
fro @e derkenessis of her vnknowyng, %and% from
worshipyng of her mawmetis, %and% from her olde
cursid lyuyng. And in figure herof, +Abraham+ $ede
out of +Hur of Caldeis+, %and% also +Loth+ out of +Sodom+,
%and% @e children of +Isr%ae%l+ out of +Egipt+. Also in
bitokenyng herof, +@e Queen of @e Sou$t+ cam fro
@e vtmost coostis of er@e for to here @e wisdom
of +Salamon+. %And% but if @is wo%m%man of +Cananee+ had
goon out @us of her coostis, she wold not haue
cried w%i%t%h% gret deuociou%n% on @is man%er%, "&Haue&
&m%er%ci on me, sone of +Daui@+&." And ful ri$tli
clepid she hym Lord %and% sone of +Daui@+, in
bitokenyng @%a%t Hooli Chirche shuld fei@fuli
knouleche hy%m% bo@e +God+ %and% man. And for @is
wo%m%man bi @e grace of @e +Holi Goost+ vnderstod @is
wel, @%er%for went she not to +Petir+, to +Ioon+, nor to
+Iames+, no[r] to ony of @e apostlis, but tristyng
vpon @e gret m%er%ci of +God+, in stide of hem alle,
she took w%i%t%h% her for@enkynge, %and% so ran to @e
depe welle of m%er%ci. %And% she brou$t not w%i%t%h% hir
@e siyk maiden @%a%t she cam to p%re%ie fore, but bi
gret bileue she seide @us w%i%t%h%ynne hirsilf, "It is
+God+ @%a%t I go to. @@ou$ @yng be absent, he see@ it
wel; he biholdi@ hid @yngs; all%e% @yngs he mai wel ;
alle @yngs he knowi@ fulli."
And @us oonlich she opened @e cause of hir
sorowe %and% seide to +Crist+ on @is man%er%, "&My&
&dou$tir is ful yuel turmentid of a fend&." @@%a%t is
to sei, "Ofte I se hir i$en weiwardli turned.
Ofte hir cheer is swart as blood. Ofte hir hondis
ben turned wrong. Ofte hir heer is to-drawe. Ofte
hir necke is wried mys. Ofte she fro@i@ at @e
mou@. Ofte I here hir enemye come yn, but he is
not seyn. Ofte I here sown of betyng. Ofte she
answeri@ w%i%t%h% gret cri whan I here noon speke to
hir. %And%, good Lord, @is it is @%a%t I weile, @is
it is @%a%t I sorowe, @is it is @%a%t maki@ me ferd,
@is it is @%a%t on al wise I desire, @%a%t for @i
pitee @ou woldest put awei from hir."
But now gostli as is seid bifore &@is wo%m%man&
bitokene@ @e puple turned to bileue @%a%t is clepid
Hooli Chirche, @%a%t p%re%ie@ &for hir dou$tir&, @%a%t is
to sei, for certeyn p%er%sones @%a%t be not trewe in
bileue @%a%t @ei mown be vnbownden fro @e snare of
@e deuelis disseit, wherw%i%t%h% @ei han longe be
wi@holden %and% trauelid as it were of a fend. Also
@is dou$tir bitokene@ @e soule %and% @e conscience
of man @%a%t bi synne is maad boond to @e fend.
%And% @is dou$tir is turmentid w%i%t%h% as many fendis
as it [is] wrecchidli ou%er%@rest w%i%t%h% dyu%er%se
greuouse synnes. For whos herte shrewid
couetise ou%er%come@ %and% pride blowi@, whos hert
wra@@e torendi@ %and% lecherie defouli@, whos hert
 enuye waasti@ %and% hate bryngi@ yn vnreste %and%
also auarise blemesshi@, he w%i%t%h%out doute beri@
a dou$tir ful sore trauelid, for whom Holi Chirche
shulde ofte prey. %And% also man @%a%t ha@ be
defoulid w%i%t%h% synne, shuld p%re%ie for his conscience
so foule blemesshid.
It folewi@ fer@%er% in @e text: &And he answerid&
&hir not a word&. And @is was not of pride, but for
grete p%r%iue skiles: oon to put awei @e myscalenge
of @e +Pharisees+, if he had spoken anoon homeli to
hir; an o@%er% @%a%t he taried of his speche was to
moue more %and% more @e bileue of @e wo%m%man, %and% @e
@ridde to stire his disciples to pite. And so
here we mou%n% vnderstonde @%a%t if man haue be
trauelid w%i%t%h% a feend @%a%t bitokene@ g%r%euouse synne,
%and% desire@ of +God+ dyu%er%s remedie, as hym seme@,
to soule hel@e, %and% ha@ not anoon al his likyng,
he shuld not @%er%for dispeire but cheeflich trist
to +Goddis+ grace %and% laste in praieris as dide @is
wo%m%man. For @anne +Goddis+ halewen ben stirid bi
godenesse @%a%t @ei taken of her +God+ to p%re%ie for
p%ro%fit of siche a man @%a%t +God+ wole haue holpen of
his grace.
And so it is seid fer@%er% in @e text &@%a%t +Cristis+&
&disciplis comen to hym&, not oonli w%i%t%h% mouyng
neer of her feet, but also w%i%t%h% a pitouse desijr
of her hertis, &and p%re%ieden hym, seiyng, "Lord&,
&delyuer hir&. " @@%a%t is to sei, "Haue m%er%ci vpon hir,
as @ou art woned to do m%er%ci, @orou$ @i gret
pitee, whom @ou tariest %and% not herist to hir
semyng. &Delyuer hir, for she crie@ aftir vs&.
@@is wo%m%man crie@ for to be holpen. @@is wo%m%man
crie@, shewyng mornyngli hir gret disese.
@@%er%for, &delyuer hir& whom @ou tariest %and% herist
not as it seme@."
Lo, @is wo%m%man, hou she was praid fore of
+Cristis+ disciplis. Oon skil was for @ei knew not
$it @e cause whi @%a%t +Crist+ taried @us of his
answere. An o@%er% skil, for @ei wern moued to
merci, for reu@e @%a%t @ei hadden vpon @is wo%m%man;
%and% @e @rid @%a%t hit @ou$te hem greuouse @%a%t she
was @us taried %and% cried aftir hem so longe. But
+Crist+ seide to hem @us, "&I am not sent but to @e&
&sheep @%a%t han p%er%ishid of @e hous of +Isr%ae%l+&." [He
seide not to @e womman, "Go hens fro me." Nei@er
he seide to his disciplis, "Put hir awei out of my
si$t. &I am not sent&," he seide, "&but to @e sheep&
&@at han perishid of @e hous of +Israel+&."] As if
+Crist+ wold seie, "@@is wo%m%man is comen fro fer. She
cam to me %and% axid me a boon. She ha@ clepid me
Lord %and% sone of +Daui@+, but I wole @%a%t she
knouleche me fulli v%er%i +God+, %and% also laste in
fei@ful preier to ensau%m%ple of o@%er% aftir."
&And& @us @is &wo%m%man&, ful of mekenesse %and% bileue,
&cam %and% worshipid hym, seiyng, "Lord, help me&. "
Lo, [hou] @is wo%m%man p%ro%fitede in encrees of bileue,
for hym @%a%t she clepid first sone of +Daui@+, now
she worshipi@ hym v%er%ili as Lord of heuen %and% of
er@e, %and% @us su%m% man%er% answere she deseruyd to
haue of +Crist+. "&It is not good&," seide +Crist+, "&to&
&take @e breed of sones&, @%a%t is to sey, of +Iewis+
@%a%t ben sones bi biheest @%a%t was maad to +Abraham+,
&and sende it to hou%n%dis&, @%a%t is to sei, to $ou @%a%t
ben he@en hou%n%dis bi vnclennesse %and% mysbileue. "
&And she seide to +Crist+, "Soo@, Lord&." Lo @e
 stedfastness of @is wo%m%man. Lo @e entent of hir
hert. Lo @e p%ar%fitnesse of hir bileue. @@e leche
wi@drow hym to ma%n%nes semyng, but she left not to
crie aftir heel@e. Ne@eles she was not refusid
as an yuel vnshamfast wo%m%man but she deserued to
be co%m%mendid, for she abood to haue heel@e @%a%t
she axid %and% mekid hirsilf more %and% more seiyng,
&"But $it, Lord, $u%n%ge whelpis eten of @e cru%m%mes&
&@%a%t fallen from @e boord of her lordis&." As if
she seide, "It is soo@, Lord, @%a%t @ou seist. I
deserue not @e breed, @%a%t is to sei, @e fillyng
of eu%er%lastyng swetnesse, or ellis to sitte at
@e boord, @%a%t is to seie Holi Sc%r%ipture, @%a%t
specialy was bi-take to @e +Iewis+. But I holde me
wel apaied w%i%t%h% @e releuys, @%a%t is to sei, w%i%t%h%
esi sacramentis of bileue @%a%t longen to hem @%a%t
ben feble in bileue, as to vs he@en puple."
And @us @is wo%m%man of +Cananee+ was sette in
foure faire v%er%tues @%a%t wern bitokened bi @e foure
whelid chare of +Amynadab+. For @is wo%m%man, as is
seid bifore, had a cleer bileue @%a%t trowid fulli
@%a%t hir dou$tir my$t be helid @ou$ she were bodili
absent; %and% @is is @e first wheel. She had also
a cheef pacience, for she $ede not for@ awey
whan +Crist+ $af hir not an answer, but lete hir
aloone, as it were, w%i%t%h%outen cou%n%fort; %and% @is is
@e second wheel. She had also a gret stidfastnesse
@%a%t wold not leeue of of hir preier whan +Crist+
shewid not vtterli wordis of cou%n%fort to hir-ward
for @e preier of his disciplis; %and% @is was @e
@rid wheel. She had also a ful gret mekenesse,
@%a%t she licned hirsilf to a whelp whan +Crist+
licned hir to an hou%n%d; %and% @is [is] @e four[@]e
wheel.
And now as we han herd of @ese gostli
wheelis arewe, so here we now shortli @e offis
of hem. @@e first gostli wheel brou$t @e wo%m%man
of +Cananee+ to +Crist+ @%a%t bileuyd treuli in hym,
for bileue is bigynnyng of al goodnesse. @@e
second gostli wheel made hir [to] come ful ny$
[to] +Crist+, for bi pacience she lernyd to be-
welde eseli hir soule. @@e @rid gostli wheel,
stedfastnesse, couplid hir trewe in @e bileue to
+Crist+; for not oonlich she deserued to haue his
speche, but also his graciouse felouship for hir
long %and% sad abidyng. But @e four@e wheel,
mekenesse, glorified hir ful myche; for he @%a%t
first left hir as it were w%i%t%h%outen outward
cou%n%fort, %and% @%a%t answerid hir not a word, %and%
@%a%t likned hir to an hou%n%d, anoon aftir he brast
out %and% seide, "&O, wo%m%man, @i bileue is gret&. "
As if +Crist+ had seid, "@@ou hast not seen $it ony
deed man be reisid of me, nei@%er% leprouse man
clensid of me. @@ou hast not $it hard @e
p%ro%fecies of me, nor @ou hast bifore @ou$t in
my lawe, nor @ou hast not $it hadde @e p%re%chyng
of au%n%gels, %and% $it @ou bileuest @%a%t I am almy$ti.
@@%er%for, &as @ou wolt, be it doon to @ee&." Lo, which
a mede @is is of bileue. And @us it is seide in
@e Euangelie aftir &@%a%t hir dou$tir was heelid fro&
&@%a%t hour%e% for@&, not fro @%a%t hour%e% @%a%t @e womman
cam hoom a$en into her hous, but fro @%a%t hour%e%
 @%a%t @e word was passid out of +Cristis+ mou@. And
@us here it was fulfillid @%a%t is writen in an o@er
place. "He co%m%mau%n%did %and% it was doon."
@@%er%for dwelle we stidfast in bileue, %and%
cleue we faste to @is foure wheelid chare of
vertues, @%a%t @orou$ +Cristis+ help we mou%n% delyuere
our%e% soule, @%a%t is bitokened bi @e dou$tir, fro @e
fendis [boond] of helle. Am%en%.
(( @@e @rid Su%n%day of Lentou%n% +Luc%e%+ .))
<S 4>
<L 1>
&Ovre Lord +Ih%es%u+ was castyng out a fend, %and% it&
&was dou%m%be. %And% whan he had cast out @e fend, @e&
&dou%m%be man spak; %and% @e cu%m%panyes of puple wern&
&a-wondrid. But su%m%me of hem seiden, "He casti@&
&out deuelis in +Beel$ebub+, p%r%ince of fendis." And&
&o@%er%, temptyng hym, sou$ten a signe from heuen of&
&hym. But he, as he saw her @ou$tis, seide to hem&,
&"Ech rewme, dyuydid in itsilf, shal be maad&
&solitarie, %and% hous shal falle vpon hous. And so&
&if +Satanas+ be dyuydid in hymsilf, hou shal his&
&rewme stonde? For $e seien @%a%t I cast out&
&fendis in& @e name of &+Bel$ebub+&. For &if I cast out&
&fendis in& @e name of &+Beel$ebub+, in whos name&
&casten $oure sones out fendis? @@%er%for, @ei shuln&
&be [$oure] owen iuges. But sikerli, if I cast out&
&fendis in @e fyngir of +God+, certeis @an&ne is &@e&
&kyngdom of +God+ comen among $ou. Whan @e my$ti&,
&wel yarmed, kepi@ his hous, all%e% @yngs @%a%t he&
&weldi@ ben in pees. But if a strenger @an he&
&come vpon hym %and% ou%er%come@ hym, he shal take&
&awei all%e% his armes @%a%t he tristid ynne, %and% he&
&shal delen aboute his spoilyngs. He @%a%t is not&
&w%i%t%h% me is a$ens me; and he @%a%t gederi@ not w%i%t%h%&
&me, scatiri@ abrood. Whan an vnclene spirit goi@&
&out from a man, he wandri@ aboute bi drie places&
&sechyng rest; and nou$t fyndyng, he sei@, ' I shal&
&turne into myn hous @%a%t I went out fro.' And&
&whan he come@, he fyndi@ it clensid w%i%t%h% besemes.&
&And @anne he go@ %and% taki@ w%i%t%h% hym seuen o@%er%&
&spiritis, worse @an hymsilf, %and% @ei goon yn %and%&
&dwellen @%er%e. And @e laste of @at man ben maad&
&worse @an @e first." And it bifel whan he had&
&seid @ese wordis, a wo%m%man of @e puple, liftyng&
&vp her vois, seide to hym, "Blessid be @e wombe&
&@%a%t bar @ee, %and% @e brestis @%a%t @ou soukidist&."
&%And% he seide, "$$he, also blessid be @ei @%a%t heren&
&+Goddis+ word %and% kepen it&."
+Goddis+ hy$ mysteries ben ful pryue, so @%a%t
ma%n%nes hert, @%a%t is so freel, suffici@ not to
serche hem out as @ei ben in hemsilf. And
herfor @e hi$ p%r%iue seer +Poul+, vndirstandyng @e
defaute of our%e% er@eli bodi, cried, seiyng, "
@e hi$nesse of richessis of +Goddis+ ku%n%nyng %and%
of his wisdom: Hou inco%m%prehensible ben his domes
%and% his weies, as it were vnable to be fou%n%den."
Ne@eles, @ou$ I be vnwor@i @%a%t haue bigu%n%ne @is
werke, bi +Goddis+ g%r%ace I shal not leeue it
vnparformed. For I hope @%a%t +God+ wole be myn help,
@%a%t I shal not be put of of my purpos, nor stonde
voide in +Goddis+ si$t, but offre of @%a%t litel @%a%t
I haue to p%ro%fit of o@%er%, %and% +God+ wole.
 And I take a full%e% gret comfort of @e bygynnyng
of @is Euangelie @%a%t shewi@ me hou @e welle of
m%er%ci m%er%cifuli leet at large @e tu%n%ge of a
dou%m%be man. For as it is seid: &Our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+&
&was& castyng out a fend %and% it was domb, @%a%t is to
sey, it made dombe @e man @%a%t it had in his power.
But now also vouche he saaf of his merci to opene
my mou@ to his worship, to shewen out @e manyfold
sense of @is Euangelie to @e p%ro%fit of @e herers.
As it is seid bifore: &Our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+ was&
&castyng out a fend&. @@is Euangelie ha@ fyue partis.
@@e first part shewi@ @e myraclis @%a%t our%e% [Lord]
+Ih%es%u+ dide @at men @%a%t wolden not trowen [to] his
prechyng shulden bileue to his werkis. @@e second
part declari@ to vs hou sotilli he answerd his
myscalengeris. In @e @rid part we mou%n% se hou
wiseli he confirmed his answer w%i%t%h% acordyng
symylitude %and% @%a%t he had noon acoord w%i%t%h% @e fend.
In @e four@e part is shewid to vs hou openli he
confundid @e +Iewis+ p%ro%uyung @%a%t @ei [b]reken @e
lawe of her +God+, %and% so herbi losten her former
grace. In @e fif@e partie is shewid to vs @e
v%er%tu of +Crist+ %and% @%a%t he was v%er%i +God+ %and% v%er%i
man bi his owen witnessyng %and% o@%er%. Now lat vs
se which ben @ese fyue parties w%i%t%h% her
declaraciou%n%s arewe.
@@e first part bigynne@ @us: &Our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+&
&was castyng out a deuel&. And @is was euen p%ro%pur
to hym, for he bigan it not @anne of @e newe, but
he had vsid it fulli bifore. For bifore multipliyng
of mankynde, he cast out a fend, whan he made
+Lucifer+, pryns of fendis, falle out hedlyng fro
heuen to helle. And now in @e latt%er% ende of @e
world, he was boren of a maiden for to cast out @e
deuel fro man %and% so, bi his grace, to delyuer%e%
hym fro @e fendis power. %And% in tokene of @ese
two out-castyngis, he cast out a fend of @is man.
@%a%t @is Gospel maki@ mynde of.
&And @is fend was domb&, @%a%t is to sei, it made
mankynde domb @%a%t it worshipid not his hi$ Maker.
For [as] @e apostle sei@, "Whan men hadden knowe
+God+ bi gret resou%n%s, @ei worshipeden hym not as
+God+, or diden hym @ankyngs for her ku%n%nyng, so
moche wern @ei blyndid bi @e fend; but @ei
wauereden veynlich aboute in her @ou$tis."
But Mathew telli@ also @%a%t @is forseid man
was bo@e dou%m%b %and% blynd. And @us we moun se
here @re myraclis in +Cristis+ worchyng: @e blynd
man saw; @e dou%m%b man spak, %and% also was delyuered
of @e fend. But now take heede @%a%t @is myracle was
gostli doon in @e co%n%u%er%siou%n% of he@en folk, %and%
in figure herof, it was bodili doon in @is forseid
dou%m%b man. For whan @e he@en folk forsoken @e
fil@e of her mawmetrie, %and% token @e li$t of
bileue, %and% whan her mou@es wern opened @%a%t wern
ful stille in p%re%isyng of +God+, %and% after speken her
wordis to +Goddis+ worship, @anne wern @ei delyuered
fro @e fend. @@anne receyueden @ei gostli si$[t]e
%and% wern delyuered from her dou%m%bnesse.
 Also @is goostli myracle is fulfillid in ech
man @%a%t ha@ be synful %and% is li$tned bi @e grace
of +God+ to sore for@enkyng hym of his synne, %and%
aftir is delyuered bi v%er%i knoulechyng, of his
synnes, of greuouse synnes a$ens +God+, as it were,
of as many fendis. And for now is tyme of
confessiou%n% %and% of penau%n%ce, studie we fast bi
@ese two to be delyuerid fro @e fend @%a%t ha@ bou%n%den
vs w%i%t%h% manyfold synne. For if we trauele on @is
man%er%, we shuln not be likned to @e wickid @%a%t ben
maad mynde of now next aftir.
&But su%m%me of hem seiden& @%a%t is to seie, @e
scribes %and% @e +Pharisees+, %and% not @e symple puple.
For ofte tyme, @e symple bileuen %and% @e wise
dispisen. "&He casti@ out deuels&," @ei seiden, "&in&
&+Bel$ebub+, p%r%ins of fendis&." @@is name +Bel$ebub+ cam
vp of a mawmet @%a%t was clepid +Beel+, @%a%t oon +Ninus+
@%a%t was +Beli+ sone, made in mynde of +Beel+ his
fadir. And so @e puple of +Chaldee+ worshipfulli
vndirfongen @is symylitude %and% clepeden it aftir
Beel, but @e +Palestyne+ folk clepiden it +Baal+, %and%
@e folk of +Moab+ clepiden it +Belfegor+. But @e
+Iewis+ @%a%t worshipeden oon +God+ %and% not such fals
mawmetrie, in shorne of @e he@en folk, clepiden
it +Bel$ebub+, @%a%t is to sey, a man of flies or
hauyng flies. For many flies gaderiden aboute @is
ymage for plente of raw flessh @%a%t was offrid
@%er%to in sacrifice.
And @us as now is maad mynde @ese wickid
scribes %and% +Farisees+, in repreef of +Goddis+ Sone,
seiden, "&He casti@ out fendis in +Bel$ebub+, p%r%ins&
&of fendis&." And @ese men wern ful deuelich, @%a%t
@us ou%er%@wartiden +Goddis+ werk. Of @ese [men]
playned +God+ bi @e p%ro%fete, seiyng, "@@ei $eldiden
me yuel for good %and% also hate for my loue. " For
+Crist+ shewid %and% dide [hem] many good werkis,
but eu%er%more he fonde hem vnkynde %and% rebel. For
as @ei hadden enuye to his v%er%tues, so sclau%n%drid
@ei hym for hys myraclis; @ei scorneden hym w%i%t%h%
her wordis; @ei blasfemeden hym for his benefetes;
@ei grucchiden for p%er%fecciou%n% of his ri$twisnesse,
%and% @%a%t more worse was, @ei shewiden hym myche
malice for his gode loue.
But now take [good] heede @%a%t sixe man%er%
condiciou%n%s @%er% ben among dyuers men in @is world.
Oon is to $elde good for yuel %and% an o@%er% to not
$elde yuel for yuel. @@ese two condiciou%n%s han
oonlich good men, but @e first is bettir @an @e
second. @@e @rid condiciou%n% is not to $elden good
for good, %and% @e four@e is to $elde yuel for good.
%And% @ese too condiciou%n%s han yuel men, but @e
second is worse @an @e first. @@e fyue@e condiciou%n%
is to $elde good for good %and% @e sixte is to $elde
yuel for yuel. %And% @ese two condiciou%n%s han men
in @e world @%a%t ben menelich gode or menelich
yuel. But @e first is [ful] ny$ nei$bore to
condiciou%n% of good men @%a%t +Crist+ repreue@ not in
@e Euangelie. "But more," he sei@, "it bihouy@ to
do, for he@en men doon on @is maner, @%a%t louen men
@%a%t louen hem." But @e second is ful ny$ to
condiciou%n% of yuel men. Ne@eles, it acordid
w%i%t%h% @e gode, for @e Lawe set a mesure of wreche.
 For it is writen, "Too@ for too@ %and% i$e for i$e."
And @us on @re maners co%m%mynli men synnen in
condiciou%n%s biforseid. Oon is in not $eldyng good
for good. An o@%er% is to $elde yuel for yuel.
But @e @rid is to $elde yuel for good. %And% @is
condiciou%n% had @e wickid gen%er%aciou%n% of scribes
%and% +Farisees+, @%a%t contrarieden @e +Hooli Gost+ %and%
maliciousli wi@stoden +Crist+, @%a%t cheeflich sou$te
her hel@e, as is maad mynde now in @is Gospel.
But a$en @ese @re foule synnes ben @re ful
good remedies. @@e first is for to do good for
good. @@e second is not to $elde yuel for yuel,
but @e most p%ar%fit of all%e% is for to do good for
yuel. And @is +Crist+ dide for @e +Iewis+, whan he
p%re%ied for hem as he henge on @e croos, %and%
specialy whan he $af sufficientli his lijf for hem
@%a%t so foule bla[sfe]meden hym, if @ei wolden be
conu%er%tid. For @us he delyuerid many of @e +Iewis+
from @e horrible peyne of helle @%a%t aftir wern
turned to Cristen bileue.
&But o@%er% bygu%n%nen to seche of hym signes from&
&heuen&, @%a%t is to seie, @%a%t fijr shuld come dou%n%
from heuen as it dide in +Helies+ tyme, or ellis
leitnyngs %and% @undris, as diden in +Samuelis+ tyme,
or ellis @ei wolden han had manna comyng fro
heuen, as @ou$ @e myraclis @%a%t +Crist+ dide hadden
be noone g%r%et wondris. &But he, as he saw her&
&@ou$tis&, @%a%t is to seie, as v%er%i +God+ knew all%e%
@yngs open %and% hid, %and% from whom mai no @yng be
p%r%iue, &seide to hem, "Ech rewme, dyuydid in&
&itsilf, shal be desolatid&."
Lo, @is is @e second part @%a%t shewi@ what
+Crist+ answerd, %and% hou wiseli he rebuykid her
myscalengyng. Certis, euen aftir @e lettir, @ese
wordis of +Crist+ ben open ynow, for as litil @yngs
of valew encreessen bi accord, so bi discoord ful
soone @ei sliden awei. But what @ese wordis meenen
goostli, +Crist+ expowne@ hymsilf in @e next wordis:
&"If +Sathanas+,"& he sei@, "&be dyuydid in hymsilf,&
hou shal his rewme stonde?" As if +Crist+ seide,
"If it were as $e seien, @%a%t I cast out fendis in
+Bel$ebubis+ power, p%r%ince of fendis, @an is @e
deuelis rewme departid a$ens itself, %and% so @e
power of his malice mai not stonde. And if oon
fend mai not put out an o@%er%, @anne seien $e faIs
@%a%t I cast out fendis in [@e] power of @e p%r%ince of
feendis. And if oon feend mai cast out an o@%er%,
as $e seien, @anne take good heede to $ou silf ,
@%a%t $e go out of his rewme @%a%t is dyuyd, lest $e
p%er%isshe w%i%t%h% hym foreu%er%."
Se now to +Cristis+ hi$ answer, @%a%t is v%er%ili
v%er%tu %and% wisdom of +God+. For chese @e +Farisees+
what part @ei wolden, %and% $it wern @ei fulli
cau$t bi v%er%tu of word. For contrariouse @ei wern
to +Crist+, %and% so to @e rewme @%a%t he was of %and%
@anne wern @ei of @e fendis rewme, for ech man
must be of @e toon or of be to@%er%.
But se now what seide fur@%er%more: "&Cert%is%&
&if I cast out feendis in +Goddis+ fyngir&," @%a%t is to
seie, in @e power of @e +Hooli Goost+, whom +Pharaos+
 dyuynours knoulchiden, %and% clepiden hym @e fyngir
of +God+, to whos v%er%tu fendis mou%n% not wi@stonde,
"@anne &sikerli is @e kyngdom of +God+ comen among&
&$ou&." As if +Crist+ seide, "Deme@ not now wher it
be @us bi @e outward si$t @%a%t $e han of my bodi,
but deme@ wher it be @us or no, bi @e werkis @%a%t
I worche, @ou$ I speke w%i%t%h% condiciou%n%."
But now among o@%er%, @is word "kyngdo%m% of +God+"
ha@ @re bitokenyngs. But specialy here it
bitokene@ +Cristis+ p%er%soon, @%a%t +Ioon Baptist+ spak
of to @e +Faresees+ seiyng: "@@%er% stood oon in @e
myddil of $ou, whom $e knowe not. " Also @is
word bitokene@ endeles blisse, @%a%t ri$twise folk
shuln haue for her mede, @%a%t +Crist+ %and% +Ioon
Baptist+ prechiden to @e puple, seiyng: "Doi@
penau%n%ce, for @e kyngdom of heuen nei$@ ful faste."
Also @is word "ky%n%gdom of +God+" bitokene@ Hooli
Scripture, @%a%t +Crist+ seide shuld be taken awei
fro @e +Iewis+ %and% $ouen to folk @%a%t wolde do @e
fruyt @%er%of, @%a%t is to sey, worche @%er%aftir.
But now, as is seid bifore, @e fyngir of +God+
is clepid @e +Hooli Goost+, %and% @%a%t is for delyng
aboute of dyuerse graciouse $iftis @%a%t ben
partid of @e +Hooli Goost+, whe@%er% it be to men or
au%n%gels. For in noon of our%e% o@%er% menbris is
yshewid such a man%er% delyng as is p%ar%ceyued in
our%e% fyngers.
Lat now se what +Crist+ sei@ fer@%er%: "&Whan @e&
&my$ti kepi@ his hous&." Lo now, @is is @e @rid
part @%a%t conferme@ his former answer bi a
co%n%uenient simylitude, shewyng @%a%t @%er% was noon
acoord bitwene hym %and% @e feend. "&Whan @e my$ti&, "
he sei@, "&kepi@ his hous&, " @%a%t is to sey, whan
@e deuel @%a%t is my$ti to noie man, ne@eles, not as
moche as he wole, but as myche as +God+ wole suffre
hym, whom not his owen v%er%tu, but our%e% synnes maken
strong %and% sogeten vs to his seruage, @%a%t not
oonli is strong, but also &armed& w%i%t%h% many
spiritual wickidnessis. For he ha@ an helm of
wickidnesse %and% a spere of synful delite, %and% a
sheeld of hardnesse in synne, %and% an haburiou%n% of
dispeir, %and% a swerd of slau$tre, %and% pride to his
squyer, @%a%t algatis goi@ bifore hym %and% doi@ myche
shame to @e fi$tyng men of @e lyuyng +God+.
"&Whan @is my$ti armed& enemye &kepi@ his hous&,
@e world," @%a%t is to sey, @e fals wordli puple
fulli set in wickidnesse, "@anne &all%e% @yngs @%a%t he&
&weldi@ ben in pees&." For vndirstonde wel @%a%t noon,
vnto @e comyng of +Crist+, my$t taken awey his
lordship @%a%t he held cruely vpon mankynde. And
@us sei@ +Crist+ fer@%er% &@%a%t, "If a strenger @an he&
&come vpon hym, anoon he shal ou%er%come hym&." And
@is was fulli verified whan +Goddis+ Sone, Almy$ti
Lord, cam %and% fau$te w%i%t%h% hym, strongli %and% wiseli,
%and% aftir ou%er%cam hym, %and% boond hy%m%, %and% bynam
hym his former power. And @us, as it is seid
aftir, "&@%a%t @is& my$tier &shal take awei all%e% his&
&armes @%a%t he trist ynne&;" @%a%t is to sey he shal
quenche all%e% his disseyuable castis of his
 spiritual wickidnesse. &And he shal take awei&
&his spoiles&, @%a%t is to sey, he shal delyuere from
his hold @e soules @%a%t he had in his power.
Bi @is p%ro%cess, now mou%n% we se @%a%t @%er% is
noon acoord bitwix +Crist+ %and% +Belial+. And herfor
sei@ +Crist+ aftir, "&He @%a%t is not w%i%t%h% me is a$ens&
&me&." Now vndirstande @%a%t al @is is seid of @e
deuel %and% his menbris, @%a%t algatis ben contra[r]ie
to +Crist+ %and% his menbris. For @ei gaderen not
w%i%t%h% +Crist+ soulis toward heuenli blisse, but @ei
rauesshen %and% disparplen @ese soules in dyu%er%se
synnes.
But now come we to @e four@e part @%a%t shewi@
hou +Crist+ confu%n%did @e +Iewis+, p%ro%uyng @%a%t @ei
wern ful of @e deuel. "&Whan an vnclene spirit&,"
sei@ +Crist+, &"goi@ out from a man, he wandri@&
&aboute bi drie places&." Goostli, @e vnclene
spirit @%a%t ledi@ a man into many vnclennessis,
went out of [@e] puple of @e +Iewis+ aftir @%a%t @ei
hadden take @e Lawe of +Moises+, %and% cam to @e he@en
folk, @%a%t ben bitokened bi drie places, for @ei
hadden not moisture of good werkis. But aftir
@%a%t @e he@en folk hadden kau$t @e bileue of +Crist+,
@e deuel fonde not in he%m% reste, bicause of
moisture of hooli lyuyng. But aftir @%a%t +Crist+ had
take flessh %and% blood, @e fend turned a$en to @e
puple of [@e] +Iewis+ @%a%t was outwardlich, as it
were, clensid w%i%t%h% bodili customs of @e Olde Lawe,
but @ei wern voide from good werkis %and% loue of
+Crist+ @%a%t cam to saue bo@e +Iewis+ %and% he@en.
&And& so, @is foule spirit &took w%i%t%h% hym seuen&
&spiritis worse @an hymsilf&, @%a%t is to sey, a
multitude of greuouse synnes, mayntened %and%
vsid vndir colour of ri$twisnesse, a$ens +Crist+
%and% his menbris. And so @ei $eden yn among @ese
+Iewis+ %and% stedfastli &dwelleden @ere&. And &so @e&
&laste& of @e +Iewis+, &wern maad worse @an her former&
&werkis&. For worse @ei wern in blasfemyng +Cristis+
p%er%soon @an @ei wern su%m%tyme whil @ei dwelleden
in +Egipt+. @@erfor, specialy, +Cristis+ entent in @is
p%ro%cess, was to speke of @ese +Iewis+.
But now, fer@%er%more, @is mai ri$tli be
strecchid for@ to eu%er%y such man @%a%t @e deuel
encu%m%bri@ in his seruyce aftir @%a%t man ha@ bou%n%den
hym to +God+ in takyng of his Cristendom. For whan
man is baptisid %and% forsaki@ [alle] @e pompis of
@e fend, @anne @e deuel &goi@ out fro hym&. And
@anne he wandri@ aboute bi drie places, @%a%t is to
sey, he tempti@ @e hertis of hooli folk @%a%t ben
dried fro watrynesse of floteryng veyn @ou$tis %and%
moisture of flesshli synne. &And& whan &he fyndi@&
&not rest& @%er%e wheryn he mai abide bi synne, he
sei@, "&I shal turne a$en to myn hous @%a%t I went fro."&
@@%a%t is to sei, "I shal turne to @%a%t ma%n%nes
conscience from whom I was cast out in his baptym.
%And% @%er%e wole I haue my form%er% possessiou%n% %and%
sogeten hy%m% to my lordship bi manyfold synne."
And @us &whan he come@& @%er%to first a$en, &he fyndi@&
&it swept w%i%t%h% besyms&, @%a%t is to sei, clensid fro
 vices bi baptym but voide from good werkis.
But now take heede @%a%t +God+ ha@ his besemes
%and% @e deuel ha@ his besems. +Goddis+ besems ben @oo
@at maken cleene +Goddis+ hous, such a lord to dwelle
ynne, as ben for@enkyng of synne, w%i%t%h% hertili
teeris, hooli p%re%ieris %and% almesdoyngs, %and% such
o@%er% good fruytis. @@e deuelis besems ben @oo @%a%t
maken not his hous cleene, but ra@%er% defoulen it
out of mesure, as ben flesshli loue of @e world,
wantou%n%nesse of @ou$t, %and% despisyng of +Goddis+
commau%n%deme%n%tis, %and% such o@%er% yuel fruytis.
But @e seuen spiritis @%a%t @e fend taki@ w%i%t%h%
hym, %and% bi hem maki@ his dwellyng in man, ben @e
seuen heed synnes, @%a%t also ben clepid worse @an
@e fend hymsilf. For to vs, our%e% vices @%a%t regnen
in vs obstynatli, ben worse @an ben quyk fendis,
for @ei fi$ten a$ens vs w%i%t%h%oute for@, %and% @ese
vices bisilich werren vs dou%n% wi@ynne for@. %And%
ofte tyme hoomlich enemyes ben more greuouse
[ @anne] ben fome%n% @%a%t ben strau%n%ge. And @us sei@
+Crist+ now next aftir @%a%t, &"@@e laste& werkis &of& such
&a man ben maad worse @an @e firste&." For lasse
peyne shulde be to ma%n% not to knowe @e weie of
treu@e @an aftir @e knowyng to falle backward fro
Cristen lijf to fendis werkis.
O@%er% wordis of @e fyfte part folewyng
shewen @e worshipyng of +Crist+ %and% @e blessednesse
of hem @%a%t heren +Goddis+ word %and% kepen it. And
if we wolen be p%ar%tyners of @is hi$ blisse, we
musten hertili heren @e word of +God+ %and% wilfulli
kepyn it in our%e% lyuyng. For not oonli @e herers
of +Goddis+ Lawe shuln be iustified bifore God but
@e trewe folewers @%er%of in worchyng shuln be
glorified, w%i%t%h%outen ende in blisse. Amen.
(( @@e four@e Sunday of Lentou%n% +Io%hannis+%))
<S 5>
<L 1>
&Whan our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+ had lift vp his i$en %and%&
&seen @%a%t a ful gret multitude cam to hym, he&
&seide to +Filip+, "Wherof shul we bie looues @%a%t&
&@ese mou%n% ete?" @is, forso@e he seide temptyng&
&hym, for he wist hymsilf what he was for to do.&
&+Filip+ answerd hym, "Two hu%n%drid penywor@ looues&
&suffise not to hem @%a%t ech man take a litil what&."
&And oon of his disciplis, +Andrew+, +Symou%n%d Petris+&
&bro@%er%, seide to hy%m%, "@%er %is a child here, @%a%t&
&ha@ fyue barli looues %and% two fisshes. But what&
&ben @ese among so many?" @@anne seide +Ih%es%u+&,
&"Maki@ @e men to sitte." @@%er% was forso@e moche&
&hey in @e place. And so @e men saten dou%n%, in&
&nou%m%bre, as it were, fyue @ousande. And so +Ih%es%u+&
&took @e looues, %and% whan he had do @ankyngs& to his
Fadir, &he dalte to hem @%a%t saten& at @e meete, &and&
&also of @e fisshes, as moche as @ei wolden. And&
&whan @ei wern fillid, he seide to his disciples,&
&Gaderi@ @e releuys @%a%t ben lefte @%a%t @ei&
&p%er%isshe not." And so @ei gaderiden %and% filleden&
&twelue lepis of relijf of fyue barli looues @%a%t&
&wern lefte of hem @%a%t hadden eten. @@%er%for, @oo&
&men, whan @ei hadden seien @%a%t +Ih%es%u+ had doon a&
 &myracle @ei seiden "@@is is v%er%ili a p%ro%fete&
&@%a%t is to comen into @e world&."
All%e% @yngs @%a%t ben co%n%teyned in @is
Euangelie ben ful of gret misteries. For whan
+Ih%es%u+ went from @e +Iewri+, he cam into desert %and%
@e puple folewid hym. He heelid her sike folk; he
had reu@e vpon @e hu%n%gri puple; %and% @ese @yngs
he dide not in @e morewnyng, nei@%er% in @e wexyng
of @e dai, nei@%er% in @e myddil of @e dai, but at
euen. %And% al @is was in token @%a%t aboute @e ende
of @e world, @%a%t is bitokened bi @e eueny%n%g, @e
su%n%ne of ri$twisnesse wolde shewe his graciouse
werkis for sauaciou%n% of mankynde.
And here [now] we mou%n% se seuen graciouse
@yngis. Oon is @e m%er%ci of our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+ whan
he had reu@e vpon @e puple @%a%t folewide hym.
An o@%er% is @e gret v%er%tu, wherw%i%t%h% he halp hem @%a%t
wern sike. @@e @rid is mekenesse @%a%t for @is
mau%n%gerie [he] wolde cou%n%cele w%i%t%h% his disciplis.
@@e four@e is good willynesse @%a%t he had to his
apostlis, whan he bad hem make @e folk to sitte.
@@e fyue@e is goodlynesse in his worchyng whan he
fedde @e hu%n%gri puple at @e fulle. @@e sixte is
power whan he multiplied @us @e looues. @@e
seuen@e is prudence @%a%t @us litle %and% litle he
made his chosen puple redi to hi$er p%er%fecciou%n%.
For first hem @%a%t wern vndir @e Lawe he fedde w%i%t%h%
fyue barli looues, in token of reule vndir @e Lawe
co%n%teyned in fyue bokis of +Moises+. @@e second tyme,
he%m% @%a%t wern newid in spirit bi bileue to @e
Euangelie he fedde w%i%t%h% seuen looues, in token @%a%t
trewe bileueris in +Crist+ shulden receyue @e seuen
$iftis of @e +Hooli Goost+. But @e @rid tyme he $af
to his disciplis as to @e parfite, @e mysterie of
his flessh %and% blood, in token @%a%t al @%a%t $ede
bifore must [be] knyt vp to ma%n%nes p%ro%fit bi @e
v%er%tu of +Crist%is+% passiou%n%. But atte laste aftir
al @is, he shal $eue grau%n%t to his trwe seruau%n%tis
to ete %and% drynke vpon his boord in @e kyngdom of
heuens vpon a graciouse man%er%.
But now turne we to @e gostli menyng of @is
Euangelie. &Whan our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+ had lifte vp his&
&i$en.& Goostli, @e heuyng vp of @e i$en of our%e%
Lord +Ih%es%u+ bitokene@ his gret m%er%ci wherw%i%t%h% he
biheld fro heuen vpon mankynde %and% delyuered [hem]
m%er%cifuly fro @e @raldam of @e deuel, @%a%t is
bitokened bi +Farao+ but specialy our%e% Lordis yen
ben spiritual $iftis @%a%t m%er%cifuly he grau%n%ti@ to
his chosen puple %and% whan he deeli@ he%m% such
$ersyues, @an he setti@ vpon hem his i$en of pitee.
And herfor sei@ @e Euangelist aftir: &And whan he&
&had seen a ful gret multitude,& @%a%t is to sey,
Hooli Chirche gaderid togeder%e% of foure parties of
@e world, &comyng to hym& bi @e p%re%chyng of @e
Euangelie. For of @is multitude sei@ +Crist+
hymsilf, in an o@%er% place, "Many shuln come fro
@e eest %and% @e weest, %and% @ei shuln sitte w%i%t%h%
+Abraham+, +Ysaac+, %and% +Iacob+ in @e kyngdom of heuens."
%And% take good heede @%a%t it is seied @%a%t our%e%
 &Lord +Ih%es%u+ saw a multitude comyng to hym&. For
as many as comen to hym bi bileue %and% bi loue,
@is benyng Lord m%er%cifulli biholdi@ hem, %and% in
biholdyng gladli vnderfongi@ hem, %and% in his
vndirfongyng loue@ hem, %and% so filli@ his loued
children w%i%t%h% breed of lijf %and% vndirstandynge.
%And% in token @%a%t he is eu%er%more redi to
goostli refetyng of his chosen puple, @%er%for sei@
@e Euangelist, whan he saw @is puple, &he seide to&
&+Filip+&, @%a%t is to sei, to ech goostli shepard of
Hooli Chirche. +Filip+ is as moche to sey as @e
mou@ of a lau%m%pe, %and% herfor goostli faderis of
Hooli Chirche ben bitokened bi +Filip+, for whosoeu%er%
take such hooli offis an hand, as @e lau%m%pe $eue@
[his] li$t at @e mou@, so bo@e in word %and% in
dede, he must $eue li$t of +Goddis+ word. W%i%t%h%
word he muste $eue @e li$t of trewe techyng to
norisshe for@ @e puple of +God+ in Cristen law;
w%i%t%h% ensau%m%ple of dede he must $eue li$t to p%ro%ue
w%i%t%h% dede @%a%t he p%re%chi@ w%i%t%h% word.
And herfor seide +Crist+ to +Filip+, "&Wherof&
&shul we bie looues @%a%t @is folk mowe ete&?" As if
+Crist+ seide, "Wherof shul we bie wordis %and%
sacramentis of bileue wherw%i%t%h% my trewe puple mou%n%
be fillid, @%a%t @ei faile not in weie of v%er%tues,
for goostli shepardis of Hooli Chirche musten
puruey all%e% @ese @y%n%gs to her symple sheep
vnderne@e. But &@is he seide temptyng hym.&
But now take heede @%a%t @%er% is an yuel
temptaciou%n% wherw%i%t%h% wickid men ben temptid to her
owen da%m%pnaciou%n%. And of @is temptaciou%n% sei@
+Iames+ @%a%t +God+ is an vnte%m%pter of yuel. @@%er% is
also a good te%m%ptaciou%n% wherw%i%t%h% +God+ tempti@ his
chosen puple for @e hel@e of her soule. %And% @us
was it seid to @e children of +Isr%ae%l+, "$$our%e% Lord
+God+ te%m%pti@ $ou whe@%er% @%a%t $e louen hym." @@us
also it is seid @%a%t +God+ temptid +Abraham+. @@us also
our%e% Lord temptid +Filip+ of his ignorau%n%ce to shewe
hym @e slownesse of his bileue %and% to bitokene bi
his special ignorau%n%ce @e mysvndirstondyng of @e
+Iewis+ in @e Lawe @%a%t +God+ bitook hem. &But he&
&hymsilf wist what he was for to do&.
For in foure maners as we reden in @e Olde
Testame%n%t +God+ of his hi$ ku%n%nyng visitid his puple .
For he visitid our%e% fadris w%i%t%h% myraclis, whan w%i%t%h%
many grete wondris he delyuerid hem fro @e power
of Kyng +Pharao+. He visitid hem w%i%t%h% benefetis,
whan he reyned to hem manna fro heuen %and% fedde
[hem] fourti wyntir in desert. He visitid hem
w%i%t%h% his co%m%mau%n%deme%n%tis, whan he $af hem a
lawe of ri$t lyuyng bi +Moises+, @e gret p%ro%fete.
He visitid hem also w%i%t%h% shourgyngs, whan he bitook
hem for her synne into her enemyes hondis, %and%
chastisid hem w%i%t%h% dyuers t%r%ibulaciou%n%s.
And vndirstonde wel @%a%t in such man%er% he cam
for to visite @e puple of @e Newe Testament. First,
he visitid hem bi myraclis to brynge hem fulli in
bileue @%a%t he was v%er%i +God+ %and% man. Aftir he
visitid hem bi benefetis for @ei shulden loue hym
 @e more. @@e @rid tyme he visitid hem bi his co%m%mau%n%dementis,
 to shewe hem @%a%t he was a ri$twise
Lord. @@e four@e tyme he visitid hem bi dyuerse
shourgyngs, fo[r] he wolde be drad of hem. Bi
myraclis he visitid hem whan he turned watir into
wyn, whan he heelid men in @e palesie, whan he
clensid mesels of her lepre, whan he reisid @e
dede to lijf, He visitid his puple w%i%t%h% benefetis,
whan he fedde fyue @ousynde [of] men w%i%t%h% fyue
looues %and% two fisshes, as is maad mynde now in
@is Gospel. He visitid his puple w%i%t%h% his
co%m%mau%n%dementis whan he $af @ese newe heestis;
"Loue $e $our%e% enemyes, do $e wel to hem @%a%t han
hatid $ou." He visitid his puple w%i%t%h% shourgyngs
as ofte as he chastisid hem bi [ony] pestilence,
or o@%er% t%r%ibulaciou%n%.
$it also now-a-daies he visiti@ vs bi his
myraclis, %and% $it bileue we not as we shulden; w%i%th
benefetis, %and% we @anken hym not ri$tli; w%i%t%h% his
co%m%mau%n%dementis, %and% we obeien not loueli. Also he
visiti@ vs w%i%t%h% dyu%er%se shourgyngs, %and% $it drede
we hym not sufficientli. And herfor sei@ [@e]
Euangelist aftir: &But he wist what he was for to do&.
It folowi@ fer@%er%: &+Filip+ answerd %and% seide to&
&hym, "Two hundrid penywor@ of breed suffice not to&
&hem @%a%t ech ma%n% take a little what&." Lo, hou
+Filip+ haltid $it in bileue. He knew wel +C%r%istis+
goodnesse, but he vndirstood not $it sufficientli
his gret power. For $it he had not hard @ese
wordis: "+Filip+, he @%a%t see@ me, see@ also my Fadir."
For +Crist+ seide hym @ese wordis aftir, a litil
bifore he went to his passiou%n%. Ne@eles, to gostli
vndirstondyng, +Filippis+ wordis wern ful so@e, for
no ku%n%nyng, no worchyng, noon enformyng, seme it
neu%er% so parfit, suffici@ to hel@e of ma%n%nes soule
w%i%t%h%outen +Crist+, breed of lijf, @%a%t descendid fro
heuen for ma%n%nes p%ro%fit.
&And oon of his disciples, +Andrew+, +Symou%n%d&
&Petris+ bro@%er%, seide to hym&. All%e% @ese wordis ben
seide to gret co%m%me%n%daciou%n% of +Andrew+. In @%a%t @%a%t
it is seid @%a%t he was +Cristis+ %disciple% is openli
exp%re%ssid his mekenesse %and% obedience. In @%a%t @%a%t
he was clepid &+Andrew+%, @%a%t is as moche to sey as
manli, is bitokened his gret hertli stedfastnesse.
And in @%a%t @%a%t he was clepid &+Symou%n%d Petris+ bro@%er%&,
is faire shewid his bileue %and% good acoord of
trewe loue. But now lat se what he seide. "@@%er%
is oon child here @%a%t ha@ fyue barli looues %and%
two fisshes." Lo, here he spak but fewe wordis, but
he vndirstood ful moche more. Ne@eles he spak
manli, for his name is as moche to sey as manli.
For but if he had vndirstonde @e gret Godlich v%er%tu
in his maistir, he wold not haue maad menciou%n% of
fyue looues %and% two fisshes for to fede so many
@ousynde. %And% @us he seide fer@%er%more, "&But what&
&ben @ese among so many?&" As if he seide, "It is
but litle or nou$t @%a%t I haue spoke of, but if @ou
blesse %and% breke %and% also multiplie @is mete @%a%t
$euest mete to al mankynde." But here now what
is bitokened bi al @is.
 It is licli @%a%t @is oon child was oon of
+Cristis+ disciplis or ellis, as su%m%me men seien,
oon of @e folk @%a%t was fed, @%a%t bitokened @e
puple of @e +Iewis+. @@e fyue looues bitokenen @e
fyue bokis of +Moises+ wherbi @e +Iewis+ wern tau$t
for to knouleche oon +God+, %and% for to haue knowyng
of @e worldis makyng, %and% figurali to haue
vndirstondyng of biheest of lijf eu%er%lastyng to
mankynde. @@e two fisshes bitoken resou%n% %and%
vndirstondyng, %and% also p%ro%fecies %and% @e Salmes
wherw%i%t%h% @e puple of +God+ is enformed %and% norisshid
for@ in bileue. Also @is child bitokene@ +Crist+
%and% @e fyue looues his fyue wou%n%dis. But @ese
looues wern of barli @%a%t is a sharp corn among
o@%er%, and +Cristis+ passiou%n% was ful sharp, but $it
it confortid at @e fulle, bi m%er%ci @%a%t man gat
@%er%e @orou$ as @is barli breed cou%n%fortid @e
puple in releuyng of her hu%n%gir. @@e two fisshes
bitoken watir %and% blood @%a%t ben an oynement of
stoor for +Goddis+ puple, for @ese two walliden out
of +Cristis+ side as sowuel to refresshe w%i%t%h%
ma%n%nes soule. But as we fynden treulich wryten
@%a%t @%er% is @re man%er% of breed @%a%t is sett for@ on
+Goddis+ bord for @re man%er% of folk @%a%t shuld be fed:
breed baken vndir askis, as we fynden was leid at
+Helies+ heed; also breed maad of barli, as we maken
now mynde of in @is Gospel @%a%t fyue @ousande men
wern fed w%i%t%h%; also breed maad of wheete wherw%i%t%h%
foure @ousande me%n% wern fed as it is writen in an
o@%er% place.
@@e first breed is $ouen to pore men, @e second
to seruau%n%tis. @@e @rid breed is $ouen to sones.
Pore men at +Goddis+ boord ben @ei @%a%t ben freel of
hemsilf, @ou$ @ei haue gode wille to v%er%tu, %and%
neden grete ensau%m%plis of mekenesse, to sette
litil bi her flessh as litil prijs is sett bi askis.
Serua%n%tis at +Goddis+ bord ben @ei @at trauelen sore
in exercise of depnesse of Hooli Sc%r%iptures, %and%
bisien he%m% fast to wy%n%nen awei foule errours for
to haue @e cleene corn of vndirstondyng of Hooli
Writ. But sharpe disesis musten @ese s%er%uauntis
suffre, for so deden alle @%a%t token fei@fulli @is
trauel. Sones at +Goddis+ boord ben @ei @%a%t holili
resten in ese of inward swetnesse %and% be%n% not
inwardli troblid in regard of @e to@%er%, as we mou%n%
se of +Cristis+ modir, %and% parfit comtemplatif folk
han such reste @%a%t is swettir to hem @an @e
wheete. And so to @e pore men is set for@ breed
baken vndir askis to cou%n%forte hem w%i%t%h% manyfold
ensau%m%ple of mekenesse, %and% to seruau%n%tis is set
for@ breed of barli to moue hem to trauele for
mede folowyng, but to children is set for@ breed
of whete to refete hem in cou%n%fortyng of her
heuenli loue. And @us @ese pore me%n% receyuen her
breed [to gret counfortyng, and @e seruauntis her
breed] to her streng@yng, but @e sones taken her
breed to her manyfold heuenli ioyyng.
It folewi@ fer@%er% in @e text: &@@%er%for +Ih%es%u+&
&seide to hem&, @%a%t is to sey, to his disciplis,
&"Maki@ @e men for to sitte&." Lo, @is was a gret
dignite of @e apostlis, @%a%t +Crist+ wold haue hem
to be helpers @%a%t @ei deserueden to be stiwardis
of @e hi$ seruysis of +God+. Also it was a gret
vouchyng saaf of @is maistir, @%a%t in ensau%m%ple of
mekenesse, wold ordeyne his disciplis to be
 togidere worcheris of so gret a myracle,
But take heede @%a%t @e gestis saten not on
peyntid bankeris but on hei @%a%t was @er%e% redi.
And al @is was in tokene @%a%t @ei shulden lerne
of +Crist+ to dispise synful lustis of her bodi @%a%t
shal fade as gras to hey. And &so +Ih%esu%s+ took&
&breed&. For first he bigan to do %and% aftir to
teche. &And whan he had do @ankyngs& to his Fadir,
in ensau%m%ple @%a%t we shulden take %and% do all%e%
@yngs w%i%t%h% [@ankyngs] to +God+, &he delid aboute to&
&hem @%a%t saten& at @e mete. %And% @is he dide bo@e
bi hymsilf %and% his apostlis whom he ordeyned
mynystris of @e Newe Testame%n%t. But first he
brak @e breed, for he hymsilf declarid @e Lawe,
%and% @a%n%ne aftir wern many fillid bi @e techyng
of his apostlis. &And wha%n% @ei wern& @us holsu%m%li
fillid w%i%t%h% @e holsu%m% mete of @is Lordis breed
%and% fissh, &he seide to his disciplis, "Gaderi@&
&@e releuys @%a%t ben left ou%er% to @ese me%n% @%a%t han&
&eten&." For parfit men bisilich sechen p%r%iuey
mysteries of Hooli Writ @%a%t ruyde folk cacchen
not for inward boistesnesse of he%m%silf .
But @e twelue lepis @%a%t wern fillid w%i%t%h%
manyfold cru%m%mes of releef ben vndersto%n%den @e
twelue apostlis %and% her trewe foleweris in her
offis. Such lepis comynli wern put to seruyle
werkis %and% such werkis bitokenen many synnes.
But +Crist+ of his gret grace clensid @ese leepis,
@%a%t is to sey, @e apostlis %and% her trewe folewers,
%and% fillid hem w%i%t%h% relijf of holsu%m% goostli
mete so @%a%t @ei ou%er%comen men of gret noblei,
my$ti %and% wise of @e world, %and% aftir $ouen hem
mete of many faire doctrynes.
&@@%er%for @o me%n%, whan @ei sawen @%a%t he had doon&
&a myracle, @ei seiden, "@@is is v%er%ili a p%ro%fete&
&@%a%t is [for] to comen into @e world.&" $$it su%m%
li$t @%er% was in @ese me%n% @%a%t li$tned her herte
whan @ei hadden seen so gret a myracle of +Crist+.
But $it wern @ei not parfit in @e bileue, for @ei
clepiden hym @%a%t was +God+ %and% Lord of p%ro%fetis,
oonlich a p%ro%fete. But soo@ @ei seiden whan @ei
clepeden hym a p%ro%fete, for @us he sei@ of hymsilf
in an o@%er% place of @e Euangelie, "It falli@ not
@e profete to die w%i%t%h%oute @e bou%n%dis of +I%e%r%usa%l%e%m+."
And so @ese rude folk %and% symple p%ro%fiteden more
bi @e v%er%tu of oon myracle @an @e scribes %and%
+Farisees+ @%a%t hadden seie moche more, %and% lerned
@e Lawe %and% p%ro%fetis bokis, %and% ofte [hadden] rad
%and% herd @%a%t @%a%t was writen of +Crist+.
But now what wondir is it to vs @%a%t bileuen
treuli @ou$ +Goddis+ Sone fedde so many @ousande
w%i%t%h% so fewe looues, @%a%t all%e% @yngs made of nou$t,
gou%er%ny@ %and% disposi@, %and% all%e% @yngs beri@ vp
bi his gret v%er%tu. For certis, if we take heede
to mouyng aboute of @e speris of heuen, to @e
cours of sterris, to @e variy%n%g of tymes, to @e
settyng of er@e %and% broodnesse of sees, %and% to
alle o@%er% @yngs @%a%t bi hym ben made, w%i%t%h%out whom
no @yng mai sto%n%de, we shuln bi resou%n% knouleche
hym v%er%i +God+ %and% Lord of all%e% creatures. But @%a%t
his Godhed was hid in flessh, %and% @%a%t he shewid
hy%m% pore %and% abiect to men, it was of his gret
vouchyng saaf %and% of his eu%er%lastyng ordynau%n%ce
to sauaciou%n% of mankynde. For if he had shewid
hymsilf in @e gret clerenesse of his Godhed to @e
 world men shulden not haue susteyned @e si$t of
his gret bri$tnesse, for whan he was t%r%ansfigurid
bifore his @re apostlis, lo, @ei fellen dou%n%
vpon [her] face %and% sufficiden not to se @%a%t cleer
si$t. And for @is skil +Goddis+ Sone araied hi%m%
graciousli on such a man%er% in takyng of our%e%
feble kynde @%a%t @ou$ he were invisible bi his
Godhed to vs here, we myte see%n% hy%m% bi his manhed.
And so it was to vs ful p%ro%fitable @%a%t he shewid
su%m%me m%er%uels to his disciplis @%a%t sawen hy%m% here
bodili, to streng@e vs @%a%t shulden come aftir in
bileue of his Godhed. For se now hou moche @ese
rude folk p%ro%fiteden in seyng of +Cristis+ myracle
@%a%t crieden %and% seiden on @is man%er%, "&@@is is v%er%ili&
&a p%ro%fete @%a%t is to come into @is world&."
@@%er%for, we to who%m% +God+ ha@ $ouen more largeli
%and% more parfitli to knowe @e misteries of @e
kyngdom of +God+, seie we w%i%t%h% mou@ %and% bileue we
treuli @%a%t he is v%er%i Sauyour of @e world. For he
sei@ hy%m%silf in an o@%er% place, "Ma%n%nes Sone is
not come to deme @e world, but @%a%t @e world be
saued bi hy%m%." %And% @is was soo@ fro @e tyme @%a%t
+Crist+ was bore to @%a%t he ascendid into heuen.
And +Poul+ sei@ @%a%t +God+ @e Fadir was in +Crist+ @e
Sone recou%n%selyng @e world to hym, and so noon
o@%er% creatur%e% was sent for to make a ful see@ for
ma%n%kynde @%a%t was lore but he @%a%t was a sufficient
meene bitwen +God+ %and% synful men, +Ih%es%u Crist+, v%er%i
+God+ %and% man.
@@%er%for holde we @is reule of bileue, %and%
stidfastlich %and% fei@fullich fele we [@is] of
+Goddis+ Sone %and% worche we outward in dede acordyng
w%i%t%h% our%e% fei@ w%i%t%hy%nne @%a%t bi @is bileue we mowe
be fillid here w%i%t%h% @e breed of lijf @%a%t cam dou%n%
from heuen, %and% aftir haue hy%m% in ful knowyng in
blisse @%a%t neu%er% shal haue ende. Am%en%.
((@@e fif@e Sunday of Lentou%n%))
<S 6>
<L 1>
&"Who of $ou shal vndirnyme me of synne? If&
&I sei $ou @e trew@e, whi bileue $e me not? He&
&@%a%t is of +God+ heri@ +Goddis+ wordis. @@%er%for $e&
&heren not, for $e ben not of +God+." @@%er%for @e&
&+Iewis+ answeriden %and% seiden to hym, "Seie we not&
&wel @%a%t @ou art a +Samaritan+ %and% hast a deuel&?"
&+Ih%es%u+ answerd he%m%, "I haue not a deuel, but I&
&honoure my Fadir %and% $e haue inhonourid me. Certis&,
&I seche not myn owen glorie&, as in @%a%t @%a%t I am man,
&but @%er% is oon @%a%t sechi@ it %and% deme@&. So@eli,
so@e&li, I sey to $ou, whoso kepi@ my word, he&
&shal not se de@ w%i%t%h%outen ende." @@%er%for @e&
&+Iewis+ seiden to hym, "Now haue we knowe @%a%t @ou&
&hast a deuel. +Abraham+ our%e% fadir is deed %and% @e&
&p%ro%fetis, %and% @ou seist, "Whoso kepi@ my word, he&
&shal not taste @e dee@ w%i%t%h%outen ende. " Whe@%er%&
&@ou be more @an our%e% fadir +Abraham+ @%a%t is deed and&
&@e p%ro%fetes ben dede? Whom makist @ou @isilf&?"
&+Ih%es%u+ answerd, "If I glor[if]ie mysilf, my glorie&
&is nou$t. It is my Fadir @%a%t glorifie@ me, @%a%t $e&
&seien is $our%e% +God+ but $e han not know hym. I&
&certis haue know hym and if I seie @%a%t I knowe&
&hym not, I shal be liyk to $ou, a lie$er. But I&
&knowe hym %and% I kepe his wordis. +Abraham+ $our%e%&
&fadir ioied @%a%t he shuld se my day, %and% he saw %and%&
 &he was& gretli &gladid." @@%er%for @e +Iewis+ seiden&
&to hym, "@@ou has not $it fifti $eer in age %and%&
&hast @ou seyn +Abraham+?" +Ih%esu%s+ seide to hem&,
&"So@eli, so@eli, I seie to $ou, bifore +Abraham+&
&was maad I am." @@%er%for @e +Iewis+ token vp stoones&
&for to caste vpon hym. +Ih%esu%s+, certis, hid hym&
&%and% went out of @e temple&.
Whan @%a%t +Cristis+ passioun was ny$, ofte he
cam to @e +Iewis+, %and% rep%re%ued hem %and% co%n%uyctid hem
of her falshed but he turned hem not from her
vntreu@e. And @is was doon @%a%t +Isaies+ p%ro%fecie
shuld be fulfillid @%a%t was @is: "Blynde @ou @e
hert of @is puple, %and% make her eeris heuy for to
here, %and% close her i$en, lest @ei se w%i%t%h% her
i$en, %and% here w%i%t%h% her eeris, %and% vndirstonde
w%i%t%h% her hert, %and% be turned for to be heelid."
And @us as wood me%n% dispisen @e leche @%a%t is sent
to hem, so @ei dispisiden +Goddis+ Sone, %and% clepiden
hym a synner%e% %and% a deceyuer%e%. But he not
maliciousli nor w%i%t%h% viciouse dispisyng, shewid
hem %@a%t wern out of resou%n% her vnresonable wordis,
answeryng hem on @is man%er%, "&Who of $ou&," @%a%t is
to sey sones of @e deuel, bi folewyng of his
trace, %and% sones of synne, bi manyfold shrewid
worchyng, "&shal vndirnyme me&, as I mai $ou %and%
$our%e% fadir of manyfold &sy%n%ne&."
So@ it is @at +Crist+ mi$t not skilfuly be
vndirnome of orygynal synne, for so +Goddis+ Sone
was maad flessh %and% dwellid among vs @%a%t he took
v%er%ilich @e kynde of man w%i%t%h%outen receyuynge of
fil@e of synne; nor noon my$t bi resou%n% vndirnyme
hym of actuel synne. For as +Petir+ sei@, "He dide
not synne nor gile was fou%n%den in his mou@." And
so bi certeyn p%ro%pirte, he was @e brasen eddre
@%a%t had not venym in hymsilf but put out venym
fro%m% o@%er%. And herfor +Crist+ seide fer@%er%more
ful sharpli to @e +Iewis+, "%If I seie $ou treu@e, as&
@e Lawe %and% @e p%ro%fetis beren witnesse of me, &whi&
&bileue $e not to me&? Certis, for $e ben sones of
dampnaciou%n% %and% of @e deuel."
But now take ri$t good heede @%a%t oon it is
to bileue +Crist+, an o@%er% for to bileue to Crist,
%and% an o@%er% for to bileue in +Crist+. For to bileue
+Crist+ is for to bileue @%a%t he is +Goddis+ Sone %and%
veri man, %and% @%a%t he come into @is world [for] to
a$enbie mankynde, %and% to make vs attoon w%i%t%h% @e
Fadir of heuen. For to bileue to +Crist+ is for to
gladli here @e wordis of lijf @%a%t he tau$t
ope%n%lich to @e world, to obeie w%i%t%h%out
a$enseiyng of mou@ to his p%re%ceptis @%a%t ben forme
of v%er%i techyng %and% no @yng to doute of his
bihestis @%a%t ben ful of treu@e. But for to bileue
in +Crist+, is for to bileue @%a%t he, aftir his
Godhed, is fullich liyk his Fadir, %and% not aftir
his Fadir bi tyme, [not] lower @an his Fadir bi
power, not vneuen to his Fadir in blisse, [not]
dyuydid from his Fadir in s%u%bstau%n%ce. And so to
parceyue @is w%i%t%h%ynfor@ w%i%t%h%oute%n% ony doute, %and%
to worche sufficientli w%i%t%h%outfor@ acordyngli
to @is stidfast parceit w%i%t%h%ynne, is for to bileue
in +Crist+. But @e wickid +Iewis+, ful enemyes of
treu@e, wolden not in @is @rid man%er% bileue noon
of @ese poyntis in +Cristis+ p%er%soone. And @us in
a man%er% @ei wern worse @an fendis @%a%t bileue%n% in
@e first wise, %and% @%er%wi@ quaken for fere. For
if @ei hadden ben on +Goddis+ haalf, @ei wolden
 gladli haue herd +Cristis+ wordis or ellis trowid
to his werkis. And herfor it is seid aftir, "&He&
&@%a%t is of +God+, heri@ +Goddis+ wordis,&" @%a%t is to sey,
he loue@ +Goddis+ wordis, %and% kepi@ hem in his
lyuyng .
But now on @re maners is a @yng seid to be of
+God+: bi kynde, as +Crist Ih%es%u+ @%a%t spak @ese wordis;
bi grace, as is eu%er%y wel bileuyng man; %and% @e
@rid, bi cause as is ech kynde of creatures. And
@us @is wickid gen%er%aciou%n% of +Iewis+ bi oonlich
cause was of +God+, @%a%t is cheef cause of beyng of
all%e% creatures, but bi g%r%ace it was not of +God+.
And @is witnessi@ +Crist+ openli, aftir seiyng,
"&@%er%for $e heren not for $e ben not of +God+.&" But
now vndirstonde @%a%t @%er% ben foure man%er% of folk
@%a%t come%n% %and% here%n% +Goddis+ word. For su%m%me heren,
but @ei vndirstonden not, nor fulfillen it in
dede, as symple folk of litil ku%n%nyng. Su%m%me
heren +Goddis+ word, %and% vndirstonden it, but @ei
kepen it not as @e dispisers of +Goddis+ word. But
su%m%me heren +Goddis+ word %and% vndirstonden it %and%
kepen it, as @e heires of @e kyngdom of heuen.
But @e four@e man%er% of folk nei@%er% heren nor
vndirstonden, nor doon aftir +Goddis+ word as men
@%a%t ben out of bileue. And @ese last man%er% of
folk ben bitokened bi hem @%a%t seiden on @is
man%er%, "&Sey we not wel @%a%t @ou art a +Samaritan+&
&%and% hast a deuel&."
Lo, for @ese +Iewis+ wern co%n%uyctid @%a%t @ei
wern nei@%er% +Abrahams+ sones nor +Goddis+ sones, but
@e sones of @e deuel, anoon @ei turneden hem to
rep%re%uyng wordis. Ne@eles, so@ @ei seiden, @ou$
it were not w%i%t%h% god entent, @%a%t he was a
+Samaritan+. For +Samaritan+ is as moche to sey as a
keper%e%, %and% +Crist+ was keper of mankynde. And
herfor sei@ +Dauy@+ @us of +Crist+, "Lo, @ou shalt
not nappe, nei@%er% slepe @%a%t kepist @e puple of
+Isr%ae%l+. " But @ei lieden falsli whan @ei seiden
he had a deuel, for as @e apostle sei@, "Al @e
fulnesse of @e Godhed dwellid fulli in +Cristis+
p%er%sone." And @us +Crist+ denyed not @%a%t he was a
+Samaritan+, but he forsook @%a%t he had a deuel.
And so here he $af vs a fair%e% ensau%m%ple of
pacience, @%a%t we shuld not maliciousli $yue an
yuel word for an o@er. %And% herfor +Crist+ answerid
@us w%i%t%h% al myldenesse to [@e] deuelich +Iewis+,
"&I haue not a deuel&, for in no @yng consente I to
fendis." %And% for to p%ro%ue @is, he sei@ anoon
aftir, "&But I worshipe my Fadir&." %And% [@at] is
myslikyng to all%e% fendis, for he @%a%t honouri@ +God+,
wi@stondi@ @e fend %and% confou%n%di@ hym, %and% terry@
hym.
@@%a%t @is Sone [worshipid] his Fadir shewed his
dedis, his co%n%u%er%saciou%n%, his v%er%tu %and% his
p%re%chyng. For what meruaile @%a%t he seide or
dide for @e tyme of his manhed, he dide it fulli
to @e glorie of his Fadir. "&But $e&," sei@ +Crist+,
"&han inhonourid me& w%i%t%h% foule rep%re%uyngs %and%
o@%er% beryngs an hond of synne. %But I&," sei@
+Crist+, "&seche not myn owen glorie&, @%a%t is to sey,
ma%n%nes fauour in @is world. &For @%er% is oon @%a%t&
&sechi@ it,& @%a%t is to seie, my Fadir, @%a%t shal
glorifie me hastili bifore $our%e% si$t. And he
shal &deme it&, for he shal kepe $oure myscalengyngs
to my doom in @e last dai."
It folewi@ fer@%er% in @e text: "&So@eli, so@eli&,
&I sey to $ou, whoso kepi@ my word, he shal not se&
&de@ w%i%t%h%outen ende&." $e han herd now +Cristis+
pacience %and% myldenesse, se now his grace %and%
 his bon%er%nesse. He clepid a$en @ese blasphemyes
[to] lijf [of] v%er%tu. He rehersid not @e
iniurie @%a%t @ei putten [on] hym. He enformed
hem @%a%t erriden so foule. He clepid hem w%i%t%h%
fairnesse to hel@e @%a%t wolden not @%er%of %And% al
@is is to our%e% ensau%m%ple @%a%t we shulden doo on
lich man%er%. For as gode men ofte tyme whan @ei
suffren disese ben @e better%e%, so yuel men ofte
tyme ben @e worse for goodnesse @%a%t is p%ro%frid to
hem. And so @ese +Iewis+ wolden not here wordis
of treu@e but seide, "&Now haue we knowe @%a%t @ou&
&hast a deuel&." Hou my$t @is wickid gen%er%aciou%n%
more synfuli haue berkid a$ens +Crist+ @%a%t was so
meke? Lo, hou for p%ro%fore of +Cristis+ goodnesse
@ese wickid +Iewis+ wern @e worse, %and% seiden @%a%t
+Goddis+ Sone had a deuel, @%a%t bi his owen v%er%tu
droof out fendis %and% made hem do at his
co%m%mau%n%dement. And not oonli @ei $eld[id]en
yuel for good, but to @e encrees of her
da%m%pnaciou%n%, as @e man%er% of shrewen is, @ei
traueleden to maynten for@ her errour, seiyng,
"&+Abraham+ is deed %and% @e p%ro%fetis&."
Lo, for to shende +Cristis+ sentence, @ei
brou$ten for@ +Abraham+ %and% @e p%ro%fetis @%a%t wern
[veri] kepers of +Goddis+ word, %and% neu%er%@eles @ei
dieden, and @us hem semed @%a%t +Cristis+ wordis wern
vntrewe @%a%t seide, "&Whoso kepi@ my word shal not&
&die w%i%t%h%oute%n% ende.&" But @%er% ben four%e% man%er% of
de@is, but @ei vnderstoden not for her
flesshlynesse of wich of hem +Crist+ ment. @@e first
de@ is de@ of soule @%a%t forsaki@ her +God+ bi synne,
but many bi @e gret m%er%ci of +God+ keueren a$en
from @is de@. @@e second de@ is de@ of bodi; %and%
@is de@ nei@%er% gode men nor yuel shuln a-sterte.
@@e @rid de@ is de@ of soule oonli @%a%t it suffri@
in pyne whan it is departid fro @e bodi. @@e four@e
de@ is whan @e soule receyue@ his bodi to be cast
in fier w%i%t%h%oute%n% ende; %and% @is is @e de@ @%a%t
our%e% Lord spak of, @%a%t @e +Iewis+ vndirstoden not.
@@is de@ saw not +Abraham+, nei@%er% @e p%ro%fetis, bi
exp%er%ience suffryng it in hemsilf, bicause of
ri$twisnesse of her bileue.
And +Crist+ speki@ fer@%er% of +Abraham+, %and% sei@
@us to @e +Iewis+, "&+Abraham+& @%a%t was &$our%e% fadir&
aftir @e flessh, for he was @e fer stok @%a%t $e
comen of, but $e ben not his children bi trewe
folewyng of his bileue, %and% @%a%t is moost for to
charge, &ioied @%a%t he shuld se my day.& @@%a%t is to
sey, he ioied @%a%t it was shewid hy%m% bi @e +Hooli
Goost+ to vndirsto%n%de an eu%er%lastyng day of blisse.
&He ioied @%a%t he shuld se& in spirit &my day& of
takyng mankynde for sauaciou%n% of hym %and% his
childryn. And for it is writen: '@@e desijr of @e
ri$twis man shal come to hym' @%er%for, &he saw& on
@is man%er%, and &was gladid&. He saw in spirit myn
endeles day, whan in figure of @e hi$ T%r%inite, he
receyued me w%i%t%h% two au%n%gels. He saw in spirit
my day of takyng of mankynde wha%n%, in figure of my
incarnaciou%n%, he sent his seruaunt w%i%t%h% his sone,
for his sone shuld wedde a wijf, %and% made his
s%er%uau%n%t to swere vpon his leende." For in @is
dede he saw afer @%a%t +Crist+ shuld be bore of his
seed, @%a%t shuld a$enbie ma%n%kynde @%a%t was forlore.
But now, aftir moral sence, @%er% ben @re
 spiritual daies @%a%t ma%n% ledi@ his lijf ynne.
@@e first day is drede, @e second is treu@e %and% @e
@rid is charite. @@e su%n%ne of @e first dai is
power; @e su%n%ne of @e second dai is wisdom, %and%
@e su%n%ne of @[e] @rid dai is benyngnite. Power
parteyne@ to @e Fadir, wisdom to @e Sone, %and%
benyngnite to @e +Hooli Goost+. Of @ese daies sei@
+Daui@+ @us, "Shewe $e fro dai [in]to dai his hel@e".
What is [his] hel@e? Our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+, @e Fadris
Sone of heuen @%a%t ha@ taken kynde of man. %And%
@%er%for he is clepid hel@e, for bi hym man is
reformed to hel@e, bo@e of bodi %and% of soule. And
@us @e dai of wisdom, @%a%t is to sey of our%e% Lord
+Ih%es%u+ is treu@e, for @%er% was noon wor@i to be
sent for to fulfille treu@e but he in whom stood
al fulnesse of treu@e. For he it is @%a%t, as he
bihi$t, ha@ a$enbou$t mankynde %and% all%e% @yngs
fulfillid @%a%t wern biforseid of hy%m% bi p%ro%fetis.
And so of @is dai +Abraham+ ioied, for he [knew]
in spirit @%a%t +Goddis+ Sone wold a$enbie man %and%
@is he couetid w%i%t%h% gret desijr.
But day of drede was in tyme of @e olde
Lawe @%a%t [bi] gret pyne tau$t synful men to drede
%and% to knowe her +God+, %and% @is knowyng was @anne
dai, but not cleer, for it was ful dusk bi
derknesse of sy%n%ne. %And% in @is dai was +Goddis+
power of punysshyng moche shewid. But @e dai of
treu@e is day of hel@e, @%a%t sette a-dou%n% sy%n%ne
%and% made @e form%er% dai more cleer, not vttirlich
takeng awei @e form%er% drede, but chau%n%gyng it
into more better drede; %and% @is was a gret
wisdom of +Ih%es%u Crist+ @%a%t is treu@e. But $it was
not ful clerenesse of @is dai among men til @%a%t @e
dai of @e +Hooli Goost+, @%a%t is to sey charite, were
ioyned to men @%a%t wern in tyme of @is form%er% treu@e.
For as it is writen, @e +Hooli Goost+ tau$t al
treu@e %and% fullid @e world w%i%t%h% grace %and% v%er%tu.
And so in @e tyme of @e Olde Testament, @%a%t
ri$tli mai be clepid dai of drede, was ma%n%nes synne
openli punysshid bi @e dredful power of +God+ @e
Fadir.
But now in tyme of @e Newe Testament, @%a%t
mai wel be clepid dai of treu@e, +God+, @e Second
P%er%sone v%er%i treu@e, dide awei synne fro man
@%a%t treulich wold receyue his Lawe. %And% of @is
day not oonlich +Abraham+ but also all%e% his
fei@ful children aboute in @e world maden ioye.
But in tyme of li$tnyng of @e +Hooli Goost+, @%a%t
is clepid dai of charite, ha@ man mater of gret
co%n%fort, for he maki@ ma%n% sad in al goodnesse
@%a%t he ha@ bigu%n%ne. And @us drede, treu@e, %and%
charite ben @re daies iourney @%a%t we shulden
trauele y%n%ne, if we wolen be trewe +Abrahams+
sones @%a%t in figure herof, $ede @re daies to offre
+Ysaac+ his sone vp[on] @e mou%n%t @%a%t +God+ bad hym.
For drede techi@ vs to bowe from yuel; treu@e
lerne@ vs to do good; but p%ar%fit charite enforme@
vs to co%n%tynue in godnesse. %And% @is is su%m%what
@e menyng of @ese wordis: "&+Abraham+ $our%e% fadir&
&ioied @%a%t he shuld se my dai %and% he saw it %and%&
&was gladid&."
But @e +Iewis+, al ou%er%comen w%i%t%h% flesshli
errour, vnderstoden not a +God+lich kynde but
oonlich @e kynde of man in +Cristis+ p%er%sone; %and%
 @%er%for @ei seide, &"@@ou hast not $it fifty wynter&
&%and% hast @ou seyn +Abraham+&?" $he, @ou$ +Crist+ bi
his manhed had be an hu%n%drid wynter olde, $it
shuld not he in al @is tyme haue seyn +Abraham+
lyuyng in flessh. And so for to distrie @e errour
of flesshli vndirstondyng of @e +Iewis+, +Crist+
shewid hem @%a%t he spak to hem of his Godhed %and%
seide @us, &"So@eli, so@eli, I seie to $ow, bifore&
&@%a%t +Abraham+ shulde be maad, I am&." He seide not,
&"Bifore @%a%t +Abraham+ shuld be maad& I was," but &"I&
&am&." For to his Godhed al @yng is p%re%sent. But
@e +Iewis+, enemyes of treu@e, supposiden @%a%t @is
had ben a gret blasfemye &and token vp stones for&
&to cast vpon hym.&
Lo, as flesshli men rennen to flesshli
werkis, so [@e] hard men of hert ru%n%nen to
stoones, %and% purposiden for to haue @rowen hy%m%
dou%n% %and% slayn hym of whom @ei shulden haue axid
lijf %and% for$eu[en]esse of her synnes. &But +Ih%es%u+&
for to shewe @%a%t he dide as he tau$te, &hid hym %and%&
&went out of @e temple&. And [so] he $ede out %and%
hid hym, for $it was not @e hour%e% of his passiou%n%
come, %and% also he chees not @is man%er% of de@.
And @is goyng out %and% hidyng bitokened @e
wi@drawyng of his grace fro @e +Iewis+, %and% @%a%t he
wold $eue it to he@en folk, for he sei@ hymsilf
in an o@%er% place, "Lo, $our%e% hous shal be left to
$ou desolat."
And @us +Crist+, w%i%t%h% his ensau%m%ple of
pacience, sufficientli enforme@ vs @%a%t whan we
mou%n% wi@stonde our%e% enemyes, we shulden mekeli
bowe awei from her maliciouse p%r%ide. @@%er%for if
we wolen v%er%ili be pacient, @reste we out noon
irouse wordis, @ou$ men speken maliciousli to vs.
Holde we no wra@@e nor hate in hert, but
ou%er%come we yuel men w%i%t%h% our%e% goodnesse %and%, @%a%t
more is, loue we hem @%a%t we @us suffren. For he
@%a%t loue@ not his pursueris but suffri@ hem, he
$eue@ not for@ pacience, but feyne@ hym for to
shewe it. And if we mou%n% not resonabli ceessen
@e wra@@e of our%e% pursueris, at @e leest fle we
from hem %and% $yue we place to her wra@@e. For if
we wolen treuli folewe +Crist+, it is more glorious
victorie to ou%er%come bi pacient suffryng @a%n% bi
bodili maisturful wi@stondyng a$en. And @us
pacience, as sei@ @e apostle, is ful necessarie
to vs. For whan man ha@ it w%i%t%h%out feynyng, it
meue@ man moche to manyfold plesyng of +God+. It
maki@ a man plese his nei$bore. It quenchi@
wra@@e %and% breki@ p%r%ide. It maki@ a ma%n%nes hert
glad. It kepi@ mekenesse %and% charite. Also it
loue@ ri$twisnesse %and% dressi@ a ma%n%nes hope vp
to +Godward, %and% hem @%a%t co%n%tynuen treuli
@%er%ynne it brynge@ he%m% to blisse @%a%t ha@ noon
ende. Am%en%.
(( [Here bigynne@ be Gospel on] +Palm Sunday+. Seche))
((@e text of @is Gospel at @e first Sunday of Aduent.))
<S 7>
<L 1>
&Whan our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+ cam ny$ [to] +Ier%usa%l%e%m+&.
Our%e% Lord +Ih%es%u+, whan he shuld go toward his
passiou%n%, %and% vpon +Palm Sunday+ shuld come vp to
+Ier%usa%l%e%m+, he chees hym a wey @%a%t bitokened
v%er%tues of obedience %and% mekenesse. And @is was
for ensau%m%ple of Cristen men @%a%t [shulden] be his
disciplis to wandre in @e same spiritual wey, %and%
w%i%t%h%outen ony turnyng backward, to folewe hym @%a%t
is wey, treu@e %and% lijf. For as sei@ +Ioon @e
Euangelist+, "&He @%a%t wole dwelle in +Crist+, must&
&wandre as he wandrid&." And @%er%for he @%a%t p%re%sume@
 to go an o@%er% weie, he shal not be +Cristis+
disciple or his folewer, to @%a%t he turne into
+Cristis+ weye a$en.
And so @%er% ben @re man%er% of weies wherynne
ofte tyme dyu%er%se men walken. @@e first is weie
of +God+; @e second is weie of ma%n%; @e @rid is wey
of @e fend. @@e wei of +God+ is treu@e; @e wei of
man is necessite, @%a%t he drawe on oon [side] or
o@%er%; but @e wei of @e deuel is wickidnesse. @@e
wei of +God+ %and% @e wei of @e deuel mou%n% not be
bowid, @%a%t ne @ei strecchen ech of hem to his ende,
for @e wei of +God+ mai not be yuel nor @e wei of
@e deuel mai not be good. But @e wei of man is
chau%n%geable for it mai be bowid ou@%er% to @e wei
of +God+ or ellis to @e wei of @e fend. And so if
ma%n%nes necessite be bowid to couetise, %and% so to
o@%er% wickidnesse, @anne it is maad wei of @e
fend; but if it be bowid to good mesure, %and% so
for@ to o@%er% ri$twisnesse, @a%n%ne it is maad @e wei
of +God+ @%a%t taki@ his bigynnyng of mekenesse.
And herfor our%e% Lord, whan he cam to +Ierusalem+,
he sat not vpon a proude hors, but vpon a bon%er%
%and% a meke asse. %And% bi @is asse mai ri$tli be
vnderstonden Holi Chirche or ech p%er%sone @%er%of bi
hymsilf. And @us sei@ +God+ bi +Ysaie+, "&Vpon whom&
&shal my spirit reste but vpon @e mylde %and% @e&
&meke %and% on hym @%a%t dredi@ my wordis&." And +Crist+
bad his apostlis to vnbynde @is asse, in tokene
@%a%t @ei hadden power of byndyng %and% losyng of
me%n%nes synnes in Holi Chirche. And vpon @is
gostli asse +Crist+ sitte@ %and% resti@ ech dai, %and%
maki@ hir esi w%i%t%h% @e $ok of his techyng %and% loue
of v%er%tues, %and% so at @e laste bryngi@ hir to his
stable of blisse eu%er%lastyng @%a%t is bitokened bi
er@eli +Ier%usa%l%e%m+.
But if we take ri$t good heede to @e
bigynnyng of @is wei, myddil %and% ende, we mou%n%
haue @%er%bi gret edificaciou%n%. For lo, our%e% Lord
took his wei fro +Bethanye+, @%a%t is to sei, fro @e
hous of obedience. For as @e apostel sei@, "He
was maad obedient to @e de@ of @e cros." And
@us ech man @%a%t wole come to +Ier%usa%l%e%m+, @%a%t is
to sei, to @e blisse of heuen, he must bigynne
at @is weie of obedience. For whoso wole for@enke
hym of his synne %and% aftirward fle yuel dedis
%and% so offre hymsilf a quyk oost to +God+, he must
haue a louelich drede wi@ynnefor@ %and% fle
synful flesshli desires @%a%t fy$ten a$ens @e soule.
For whil a man dwelli@ in synne %and% so folewi@
his owen flesshli wille, he is not treulich
obedient. But aftirward +Crist+ cam to +Bethfage+,
@%a%t is to sei, to @e hous of a cheke, @%a%t
bitokene@ knoulechyng.
And se now @e gode acoord of @is iourney.
First is set obedience, %and% aftirward knoulechyng.
For man must first obedie%n%tli forsake his synne,
%and% @anne he must knouleche +Crist+ w%i%t%h% his mou@
to his hel@e, as @e apostle sei@. For, as
w%i%t%h%oute%n% v%er%i penau%n%ce, litel or nou$t p%ro%fiti@
knoulechyng of mou@, so w%i%t%h%out treue knoulechyng
of mou@, man plesi@ not +Crist+ his +God+.
And aftir @is +Crist+ asce%n%did to @e +Mou%n%t of
Olyuet+, @%a%t is to sey, to @e werkis of m%er%ci,
wherynne charite is norisshid %and% wexi@ warm, as
olyues wexen %and% ben norisshid in mou%n%tis. And
 herfor sei@ a gret clerk @%a%t no @yng co%m%mendi@
a man more to +God+ @an doi@ m%er%ci, nor no man shal
be more blessid, @an he @%a%t vndirstondi@ vpon @e
nedi %and% @e pore. Whi so? For in @e yuel dai,
+God+ shal delyuere hym. And not oonli he shal
delyuer%e% hym fro%m% yuel of wickid men, but also he
shal glorifie hym in @e blisful $eldyng of
ri$twis men. [@@is] is @e wey of @re daies iourney
@%a%t we musten nedis passe if we woln ascape fro
@e fend, @%a%t is bitokened bi +Farao+, %and% make
sacrifice to +God+ w%i%t%h% clennesse of herte, w%i%t%h%
puttyng awei of foule synful @ou$tis, @%a%t ben
bitokened bi @e abhomynaciou%n%s of +Egipt+.
Also @ese @re v%er%tues ben bitokened bi @e @re
$atis @%a%t @e puple of +Isr%ae%l+ muste passe @orou$ or
@ei entriden into @e lond of biheest. @@e first
of @ese $atis is narow. @@e second is narower, but
@e @rid is narowest, for as +Crist+ sei@, "@@e wei
@%a%t ledi@ to lijf is narow %and% hard. " %And% so @e
first $ate, @%a%t is to sei of obedience, is ful
narowe, for strei$t it is obedientli to forsake
our%e% olde synful wone, %and% tempre our%e% wille %and%
werkis aftir +Goddis+ biddyng. For such yuel
customs ben as bitter wedis @%a%t drawen dou%n% @e
swete corn. But we musten ordeyne vs hokis of
penau%n%ce %and% of hooli p%re%iers, %and% so bi @e help
of +God+, we shuln litil %and% litil kut he%m% vp.
@@e second $ate, @%a%t is to sei of treue
knoulechyng of +Crist+, is more strei$t, for
many for shame %and% for leesyng of wordli
frenship %and% o@%er% peyne, dursten not treulich
knouleche @is name. But +Crist+ sei@ @%a%t whoso is
ashamed of hym %and% of his wordis, Ma%n%nes Sone
shal ashame hym, whan he come@ in @e maieste of
his Fadir %and% of his holi au%n%gels. And as
touchyng wordli frenship +Crist+ sei@ @%a%t whoso
loue@ fadir or modir, sustir of bro@%er%, $he, or
his owen lijf, more @an hym, he is not wor@i to
be his. %And%, as touchyng o@%er% peyne, +Crist+ sei@,
"Nyle $e drede hem @%a%t sleen @e bodi, but drede
hym @%a%t bo@e bodi %and% soule mai caste into helle. "
And for @is k[n]oulechyng is hard, @%er%for bi sich
knoulechyng of mou@ is hel@e maad to ma%n%nes soule.
@@e @red $ate, @%a%t is to seie of loue %and%
merci, is moost strei$t, for hard it is all%e% @yngs
to forsake for +Goddis+ loue, but harder it is a man
@%a%t tristi@ in his richessis %and% wole not spende
vpon @e pore, to entre into @e kyngdom of heuen.
For @e $ate of m%er%ci %and% of loue receyue@ pore
men %and% in mysese, %and% @%a%t more is, it receyue@
enemyes to loue; but bi @is $ate passi@ not @e
wickid riche man nor @e auerouse nor @e wra@ful
man. And @us it is nedeful to go vp to @e +Mou%n%t
of Olyues+, @%a%t is to sei to @e werkis of m%er%ci,
%and% so wi@ @is goostli oyle of gladnesse to anoynte
@e hardnesse of our%e% hert. For oyl of olyues
putti@ awei achis %and% aswagi@ swellyngs %and% alwei
fleti@ aboue %and% maki@ a ma%n%nes face glad. So
charite maki@ esi %and% delectable to man @e werkis
of m%er%ci @%a%t bifore wern to hym harde, for @ou$ a
man @enke @ese werkis esi to hym @%a%t is of @e gret
grace of +God+ @%a%t maki@ of bitter @yngs swete. And
 in figure herof in +Helisees+ tyme, @e mete @%a%t was
in @e pot was bittir to @e p%ro%fetis sones, %and%
 herfor @ei seiden to +Helisee+, "+Goddis+ man, de@ is
in @e pot." %And% he spryngid meele in @e pot @%a%t
bitokene@ @e grace of +God+, %and% anoon @e mete was
swet ynow to hem all%e%, to whom bifore it was bitter.
But now bicause @%a%t in @e +Mou%n%t of Olyuet+,
@%a%t is to sey, in hi$nesse of such v%er%tues, su%m%
tyme crepi@ yn swellyng of p%r%ide, @%er%for we muste
go dou%n% to @e +Vale of Iosaphat+, @%a%t is as moche
for to sey as mekenesse of doom. For if ma%n%
ascende to hi$nesse of v%er%tues %and% folili p%re%sume@
@%a%t he ha@ @is of hymsilf, he deme@ not mekeli nor
ri$tli hymsilf. For he @%a%t is in @e valey of
mekenesse, he retti@ it fulli to +God+, %and% if he do
ony @yng yuel, he putti@ it to his owen feblenesse.
And @us such a man taki@ heede to his owne
freelte. He doi@ noon vnworship to +Goddis+ grace.
He worshipi@ hem @%a%t ben hier of degre @an he.
He suffri@ his euene; he is felawlich v%er%tuousli
to hem @%a%t ben lower @an he. And @us at @e last,
he entri@ ful sikirli into +I%e%r%usa%l%e%m+, @%a%t is to
sey, to @e visiou%n% of pees, w%i%t%h% moche worship
%and% ioie.
For in token herof, +Crist+ entrid on +Palm
Sunday+ into +I%e%r%usa%l%e%m+, %and% wolde be receyued of
@e puple, w%i%t%h% p%re%isyng %and% worship of whom he
was vnworshipid longe bifore. And al @is was
doon to enforme vs @%a%t shulden vnderfongen hym,
to mete hym w%i%t%h% brau%n%chis of palmes, @%a%t is to
sey, w%i%t%h% floures of v%er%tues, %and% to strewe our%e%
clo@es in @e wey, @%a%t is to sey, to putte awey
our%e% synful fless[h]li lustis, @%a%t we mowe
vndirfonge hym %and% brynge hy%m% w%i%t%h% al spiritual
myr@e to @e temple of our%e% soule.
Also our%e% Lord wolde haue pore men %and%
children for to mete hym, in token @%a%t hy%m%
liki@ moche @e seruyce of ynnocent me%n% %and% meke.
And herfor sei@ +Crist+ in an o@%er% place, "&Suffri@&
&litle children for to come to me, for of such is @e&
&kyngdom of heuen&." As if +Crist+ seide, "V%er%i
ynnocent men %and% meke deseruen to haue @e
kyngdom of heuen, %and% not wickid men nor gilours."
@@%er%for pore men shulde%n% not be dispisid nor caste
awey, but @ei shulden be receyued, loued %and%
worshipid as +Cristis+ temple, as @e receyuyng place
of @e +Hooli Goost+, %and% @e herburgeries %and%
hostagis of @e Hooli Trynyte.
But @%a%t @e cu%m%pany of puple $ede bifore %and%
cam aftir, criyng to @e sone of +Daui@+, bitokene@
oon bileue of +God+ in @e Olde Testament goyng bifore,
%and% in @e Newe Testament folewyng aftir. @@%er%for
if we wolen treuli folewe +Crist+, we musten wandre
in @e wey of obedience, for bi @is v%er%tue we
musten gete a$en @a loue of +God+ @%a%t we losten bi
vnobedience. Also bi obedience we musten gete
a$en our%e% heritage of blisse @%a%t we losten bi
vnobedience. Also if we wolen come to @e
visiou%n% of blisful pees, we musten holde @e v%er%tu
of trewe knoulechyng of +Crist+, @%a%t is, as it were,
@e second boord @%a%t kepi@ vs from drenchyng in
synne. For it is lasse greef for to suffre shame
 %and% peyne of men here @an to be shamed bifore
+God+ %and% all%e% his halewen, %and% to renne into
endeless dampnaciou%n% of helle. Also if we wolen
haue endeless worship w%i%t%h% +Crist+, we musten fulfille
@e werkis of merci as he hymsilf ha@ tau$t vs.
And @anne we shuln haue m%er%ci at @e fulle %and% as
it were, gold for er@e %and% an hundrid fold for
oon, %and% @e best good @%a%t mai be for @yng of nou$t
in regard of @at. But now w%i%t%h% @ese @re v%er%tues
we musten haue mekenesse, not oonli in mou@, but
also in hert %and% in werkis, for @is v%er%tu is
keper of all%e% @e to@%er%. And @anne w%i%t%h% @is trewe
loue, we shuln come aftir to @e visiou%n% of veri
pees, @%a%t is to sey, to heuenli +I%e%r%usa%l%e%m+, %and%
w%i%t%h% gret goostli solempnite, receyue @%er%e +Ih%es%u+
+Crist+ w%i%t%h% +Ebreu+ children %and% so ioie w%i%t%h% hym
w%i%t%h%outen ende. Am%en%.