lady to syte on a suppoylle to leene to and so that the lady of al the worlde in that symple aray besyde the cratche hauynge hir mylde mode and hir louely eyen wyth hir inwarde affeccion vpon hir der worth swete childe But in thys poure symple worldly arraye what ghostly Rychesse and inward comforte Joye she had may no tonge telle wherfore yf ye wylle fele the true Joye comforte of Jhesu we must with hym and â–ª with his moder loue pouerte mekenes and bodily penaunce as he Primum de pauper â—ate gaf vs ensample of all these here in thys byrth and first comynge in to thys world For of the fyrste that is pouerte saynt Bernard in a sermon of the natyuite of our lord tellyng how she was borne to coÌ„forte of mankynde seith in thys maner Goddes sone coÌ„forteth his peple wolt thou knowe his people that is of whome speketh Dauid in the Sauter and seith Lord to the is bilefte the poure peple And he hym self sayth in the Gospel woo to you Ryche men that haueÌ„ youre comforte here How shold he comforte hem that hauen here Nota bent her owne coÌ„forte wherfor Crystes Innocence childhode coÌ„forteth not Janglers grete spekers Crystes wepyng teres comforteth not dysolute laughers His symple clothyng conforteth not hem that gone in proude clothynge his trable racke comforteth not hem that louen firste setes and worldly worshyppes And also the AuÌ„gels in Cristes Natiuite appierynge to the wakyng sheepherdes comforten none other but poure traueyllers and to hem telleÌ„ they the Joye of newe lyghte not to the Ryche men that haueÌ„ her Joye comfort here Also as to the seconde we may see at this byrthe bothe in Criste and in his moder parfyte mekenes For thei were not S 〈…〉 squeymoê° of the stable ne of the bestes ne of heye other suche abiecte symplenes But this vertue of mekenes bothe 〈…〉 oure lord our lady kepten parfytely in al their dedes commended it soueraynly to vs. wherfore be we aboute with all oure myght to gete this vertue knowyng that without it is no sauacion For there is noo werke or dede of vs that maye please god with pryde Also as to the thyrdde we maye see in hem bothe and namely in the child Jhesu not a lytyl bodyly penauÌ„ce Of the whiche saint bernard sayth thus Goddes sone T 〈…〉 Câ—rpets lie 〈…〉 Bernard see 〈◊〉 〈…〉 whan he wold be borne that had in his owne free will to chese what tyme he wold take therto he chese that tyme that was moost noious harde as the colde wynter namely to a yonge childe a poure womaÌ„s sone yâ— scarscely had clothes to wrappe hym in a racke as for a cradel to leye hym in yet though ther was so mykel nede I fynde no mynde of furrys or pilches And sytheÌ„ Cryste that is no begyler chace that is most hard to fleshe sothely that is best moost prouffytable rather to be chosen and who soo techeth or byddeth other he is as a fals deceyuour to be fledde forsaken All thys sayth saint â–ª Bernard and thus moche of these vertues at thys tyme Go we now ferthermor to speke of the forsayde blessyd natyuyte of Cryst what tyme that oure lord was so borne the grete company of Aungels that there were honoryng worshyppyng her lord god wente anone to the sheepherdes that were there besyde about a myle fro Bethleem tellyng hem the â–ª byrthe of her sauyour and also the place therof by one of them appierynge wtyh grete lyght perauenture Gabriel that was special messager of this werke And therwyth al that multitude of AuÌ„gels token vp that newe Joyeful songe sayeng as the gospel telleth in these wordes Joye wythoute ende aboue in alther hyhest heuen to God and in erthe pees to alle men that ben of good wyll And so with that Joyeful songe my kel myrth they wenten vp in to heuene tellyng their other â—e lawes these newe Joyeful tydynges of their lordes blessyd byrthe wherof all the Courte of heuene Joyeful glad morÌ„ than tong can telle or herte thynke makyng a solempne feste and deuoutly thankyng the fader Almyghty god â–ª as we may deuoutly thinke ymagine comeÌ„ al after by ordre to see that louely face of goddes sone theyr lorde with grete reuerence worshyppynge hym his blessyd moder Here to accordynge speketh the apostel saynt Paule in his pystle Ad Hebreos sa yenge that when the fader of heuene brought his fyrste goteÌ„ sone in to this worlde he badde that all the AuÌ„gels of God shold worshyppe hym Also the herdmen after the AuÌ„gels we ren passid fro them camen worshyppiden this child tellyng openly what they herden of the Aungels his dere moder as she that was soueraynly wyse wytty took good hede of all that was done kepte pryuely in hyr herte al the wordes that were spoken of her blessyd sone Thus mykel and in thys maner we maye haue in comteÌ„placyon touchyng the processe of the blessyd Natyuyte of our lord Jhesus And ferthermore touchyng the solempuyte of thys feste and thys hyhe daye we shold haue in mynde that thys daye is borne the kyng of blysse and the sone of Almyghty god lorde of all lordes and maker and gouenour of all the world whos name is cleped specially prynce of pees for by hym was made that grete endeles pees that is told before the IncarnacoÌ„n wherfor this daye the Angels songen that Joyeful songe Gloria in excel sis deo as it is sayd before this day as holy chirche syngeth in the masse after the prophecye of ysaye A child is borne to vs that is lyke to vs in his manhede and a sone is yeuen to vs that is euen to the fader of heuen in his godhede Also thys day the sone of ryghtwysnes that was fyrste vnder cloude spred de openly his beames of mercy the lyghte of his grace in al the world And so this day was sene that blessid newe syÈt that neuer ere was sene in erthe that is to say god almyÈty in maÌ„nes lykenes This day also befell tho two kyndes that passen all kynde al menÌ„es wytte the whiche may al only be coÌ„ceyued thorugh trwe byleue that is to saye that god is borne a maydeÌ„ without sorowe or blemysshyng of hir maydenhede hath borne a childe wherfore thys day had she that seconde souerayn Joye in felyng done in dede that she yaf feyth to spoken before behyÈt of the angel of hir conceyuyng so to al maÌ„kynd this day is of grete Joye a grete fest both of god almyghty of his blessid moder mary as it is sayd before in the feste of the IncarnacoÌ„n for all the skylles that there were said beganÌ„e here more playnly fulfylled Joyne that to this than it wylle shewe pleynly In token also and in wytnesse of this
be vnderstonde that of the blessyd lyf of oure lord Jhesu criste wryten in the Gospel she chace certeyne partyes moost deuoute in the whiche she sette her meditacoÌ„n and hyr thought nyghte day with a clene and holy herte And whan she hadde so fully all the maner of his lif ouergone she byganne ageyn And soo wyth a lykynge and swete taste ghoostly shewyng in that maner the gospel of crist she sette and bare it euer in the pryuete of hyr breste In the same maner I counceyll that thou doo For amonge alle ghoostly exercyses I leue that this is moost necesary and moost proffytable and that may Nota tri◠〈…〉 de â—i 〈◊〉 〈…〉 brynge the to the hyhest degre of good lyuynge that stant specially in parfyghte despysynge of the world in pacience suffrynge of Aduersytees and in encrees and getyng of vertues For sothely thou shalt neuer fynde where man may soo parfyghtely be taughte fyrste for to stable his herte ageynste vanitees deceyuable lykynges of the world also to strengthe hym among tribulacions and aduersytees and ferthermore to be kepte tro vyces and to getyng or vertues as in the blessyd lyf of our lord Jesu cryst the whyche was euer wythoute defaulte mooste parfyghte Fyrste I saye that besy medytacyon Primum and custommable of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu stableth the soule and the herte ageynste vanytees and deceyuable lykynges of the worlde thys is shewed openly in the blessyd vyrgyne Exampluz de â—â—aâ—a cecilia Cecylle before named whenÌ„e she fylled so fully her herte of the lyf of cryst that vanytees of the world myghten not entre in to her For in alle the grete pompe of weddyng where so many vanytees ben vsed whan the Organs blewen and songen she sette her herte stably in God sayenge prayenge Lord be my herte and my body clene and not defyled Secundum soo that I be not confounded Also as to the Secound wherof haue martirs her strenght ageynst dyuerse Bernard de martirâ—bus tormentys But as saynt Bernard sayth in that they setten all her herte deuocyon in the passyon the wouÌ„des of criste For what tyme the martyr stant wyth all the body to rente And neuertheles he his gladde and Joyful in all hys payne where trowest is than his sowle and his herte sothely in the woundes of Jhesu ye the woundes not closed but open and wyde to entre in ellis he sholde fele the harde payne not mowe bere the payne and the sorowe but sone faylle and denye god And not only martirs but also confessours vyrgynes and all that lyuen ryghwysely despysynge the worlde in many trybulacyons Infyrmytees and dedes of penaunce both kepyng pacyeÌ„ce And also more ouer therwyth ben ioyeful and gladde in soule as we mowen sene alway and why so but for her hertes ben more proprely in crystes body by deuoute medytacoÌ„ns of hys blessyd lyf than in her owne bodyes And as to the. thyrdde poynte that it kepeth fro vyces Tercium dysposeth souereynly to geting of vertues preuethe wel in that perfeccion of all vertues is founde in cristes lyf For where shalt thou fynde so open ensample and doctrin of souerayne charyte of parfyte pouerte of profunde meknes of pacience and other vertues as in the blessyd lyf of Jhesu cryste Herfore sayth saynt Bernard that he trauayleth in Bernard super canâ—er xxâ— â–ª vaine aboute the getynge of vertues who so hopeth to fynde hem ou where but in the lord of vertues whoo 's lyf is the Myroure of TemperauÌ„ce and all other vertues Loo here grete comforte and ghoostly prouffyte in deuoute coÌ„templacyon of crystes blessyd body wherfore thou that coueytest to fele truly the fruyte of thys booke thou muste wyth alle thy thoughte all thyn entente in that manere make the in thy soule presente to tho thynges that ben here wreten sayde or done of oure lorde Jhesu And that besely lykyngly and abydyngly as though thou herdest hym wyth thy bodyly ere 's or N see them wyth thyn eyen doun puttynge awaye for the tyme and leuyg al other occupacyons and besynesses And though it so be that the begynnyng of the mater of thys booke that is the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryst be at hys Incarnacyon Neuertheles we mowen fyrst deuontly ymagyne and thynge soÌ„me thynges done before touchyng god and hys aungellys in heuen and also as anentes the blessyd vyrgyne our lady sainte marie in erthe of the whyche is to begynne ¶ And for as moche as thys booke is deuyded departed in seuen partyes after seuen dayes of the weke euery daye one partye or somme therof to be hadde in coÌ„templacyon of hem that hauen therto desyre and deuocoÌ„n Therfore at the mone daye as the fyrste weke daye of the weke begynneth thys ghoostly werke tellynge fyrste of the deuoute instaunce and desyre of holy aungellis in heuen for man restorynge and hys saluacyon to styre man amoÌ„ge other that daye specyally to worshyppe hem as holy Chyrche the same daye maketh specyally mynde of hem ¶ Also not onely the mater of thys booke is pertynent and prouffytable to be hadde in contemplacion the forsayd day is to them that wyll and mowe but also it longeth to the tymes of the yere as in aduent to rede deuoutly haue in mynde fro the begynnynge vnto the Natiuyte of oure lord Jhesus And therof after in that holy feste of Crystmasse and so forth of other maters as holy chirche maketh mynde of hem in tyme of the yere and amonge other who so redeth or hereth thys book felynge ony ghostly swetnesse or grace there thurgh praye he for charyte specyally for the auctour and the drawer out therof as it is wreton here in Englisshe to the prouffyte of symple and deuoute soules as it was sayd before and thus endeth the. prohemye and after foloweth the contemplacyon for mondaye in the fyrste party And the fyrst chapytre ¶ Die lune ¶ Incipit Prima pars ¶ A deuoute meditacyon of the grete counseylle in heuene for the restorynge of man and hys sauacion Capitulum I. Et prima pars Capitulo primo AFter the Tyme that man was exyled oute of the hyghe Cyte of heuene by the rightwys dome of almyghty god souerayne kynge therof for hys trespas and his synne and soo wretchydly lay in pryson and was holden in the bandes of that tyrauÌ„t the deuylle of helle that none myghte come ageyne to that blessyd Cyte the space of Fyue thousande yere and more All the blessyd spyrytes of heuene desyringe the restoryng of her companye that was falle doune wyth lucyfer hadden grete compsyon of soo longe meschyef of man that was made to her restorynge and prayden ofte for his restoryng But specialli and wyth more instaunce whan the tyme of grace was come what tyme as we may deuoutly ymagyne all the blessyd companye of aungels gadred to gydre wyth one wyll and souereyne
is a special feste of oure lady saint mary the whiche as this day was choseÌ„ of the fader of henene in to his dere doughter of the sone in to his mylde moder and of the holy ghost in to his special spouse this day is also is special solempnite of al the blessid spyrytys of heuen for this day was bigonÌ„e yâ— restorynge of her companye and felanship that felle doun by synÌ„e of lucifer But soueraynly this daye is a hyhe feste and a special soleÌ„nyte of al mankynde For thys daye was mankynde soueraynly worshypped in that he was oned knyt to the godhede in criste without departyng And this daye bigan the hele the redempcion of mankynde the reconcilyng to the fader of heuen For in to this tyme god was wrothe to mankynde for the synÌ„e the trespas of our fornfaders But fro this tyme forth he maye no lenger be wroth seyng his dere sone become man And therfor is this day skylfully called the plente of tyme to man And so this day oweth euer to be had in mynde of man and woman for this daye was man made to the lykenes the ymage of god sette in that Joyeful place of paradyse for to haue lyued euer without deth this day the fyrst man AdaÌ„ by yâ— fruyt of the tree forboden deformed in hym that ymage of god lost that Joyeful place was dampned to deth withoute endynge But this day the second Adam Crist god man reformed this ymage in his Incarnacion after by vertue of the blessid fruyte of his body hangyng on the Tree of the Crosse restoryng man to blysse to lyf euerlastyng Also this day yâ— firste woman Eue thoruÈ pryde assentyng to the serpent the deuyl of hell was cause of manÌ„es dampnacion And this day the blessid mayden mary thorugh meknes trowyng to the Angel gabriel was cause of manÌ„es sauacioÌ„ And. so this day man hath mater of grete Joye of grete sorowe Fyrste of the grete Joye for the souerayne goodnes worship grace of god done to hym also of grete sorowe for his grete synne vnkyndnes done to god ageynward And this maist thou haue thy conteÌ„placyon of Ca. iii this daye of thys feste blessyd of Cristes Incarnacion and oure ladyes annuÌ„ciacion And for as moche as that blessyd gretyng of the AnÌ„gel gabriel wherewith we honouren greten oure lady euery daye is grounded in thys Gospel as thou hast herde before Therfor I shal tell the somwhat more here of as me thynketh to styre thy deuocion the more in seyenge of that gretyng Aue maria AS I conceyue thys gretynge in manere as holy chirche hath ordeined it to be said hath fyue parties in the whiche may be vnderstanden specially the fyue Joyes of our lady And in tho fyue Joyes fyue vertues that she had in hem sooueraynly aboue al erthely creatures the whiche ben mekenes Chastite Feythe hope and Charyte In the fyrste parte of this gretyng that stant in these two wordes Heile mary thou Aue maria AnnuÌ„cia â—io Humilitas mayst vnderstoÌ„de the fyrste Joys that she had in hir annuÌ„ciacion of ihesu gracioê° conceyuing of the whiche meknes was the grouÌ„d as thou hast herd befor And as these wordes Hail mary ben the fyrste the begynnyng of thys gretyng so thys feste was the begynnyng of the ground of al other And as it was the begynÌ„yng of Maryes Joye all mankynde so is mekenes the begynnyng the ground of al vertues And therfore in these forsaid wordes Heyle Mary yâ— mayst skylfully vnderstonde the fyrst Joye that she had in hir aÌ„nuÌ„ciacion of the coÌ„ceyuyng of hir blessid sone Jhesu that specially thorugh the Gracia ple na Natiuitas â—asâ—itas vertue of mekenes In the secoÌ„d party that staÌ„t in these wordes Ful of grace may beÌ„ vnderstoÌ„de the second Joye that mary had in Jhesu natyuyte hyr Joyeful beryng In the which she had soueraynly the vertu of chastite of clenÌ„es therfor thenÌ„e was she specially ful of grace in that yâ— she clene mayden moder bare withoute sorow that neuer dyd woman but she all only In the thyrdde party that is in these wordes our DuÌ„s teâ—uÌ„ lord is with the may be vnderstoÌ„d the thyrd ioye that she had in hyr sone Jesu glorious vprysyng specially by the vertu Resureccio Fides of stedfast feith treue bileue For fro his deth in to that tyme he dwellid al only with hir bi stedfast bileue that she had that al hys apostles disciples wereÌ„ departed fro hym by misbyleue and dyspeyre that he was god And therfor the feythe of holy chirche tho thre dayes stode al only in hyr â–ª so in that tyme it myÈt specially be said to hyr Oure lord is wyth the. that is to say by true feyth byleue after at his vprysynge more specially by his bodyly presence firste to hyr appiecing was fulfilled Our lord is with the. In the foruth party that is in these wordes Blessyd be thou in wymen or els aboue all wymen May be vnderstoÌ„d yâ— fourth Joye that she had in the syÈte of hir sone ihesu myÈtely to heuen ascendyng in yâ— whiche syÈte the hope that she had in his godhede was fully strengthed comfirmed seyeng that other wymen neuer dyde that was that parte that he tooke of hir in flesshe blood bodyly thorugh the myght of the godhede boren vp to heuen so hopynge without drede that she shold foloweÌ„ after wel thaÌ„ myÈt it be sayd that tyme now may to hyr Blessid be thou sone raynly in wymeÌ„ seynge thy sone Jhesu myÈtely asceÌ„dyng â–ª In the fyfte parte that is Blessyd be the fruyt of thy wombe Jesus may ben vnderstoÌ„de yâ— last ioye that she had in hir blessyd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sone Jhesu when he took hir vp wyth hym to blisse there worshpfully crowned hir quene of heuen euerlastynge than was hir desyre loue fulfylled whan she was endelesly thoruÈ pleÌ„te of charyte knyt to hyr blessyd sone Jhesu he to hyr so fedde with yâ— blessid fruyt that she coueyted nomore â–ª for she was there thoruÈ fylled of al goodnes blysse Joye with outen ende And thus shortely in the fyue partyes of this gretynge Aue maria maye be vnderstande the. v. Joyes of blessid mary with v vertues that she had soueraynly in hem as I haue now said yâ— whiche gretyng after the comyn vnderstoÌ„dyng may be thus said in englysshe Haile mary ful of grace our lord is with the blessid be thou soueraynly in wymen and yâ— fruyte of thy wombe Jhesus euer blessyd â—e And yf the lyste in thys gretyng specifye the fyue Joyes with the fyue vertues before said thou mayst say thus in shorte wordes Heyle Mary mayden mekest grete of the aungel gabriel in Jhesu gracious conceyuynge Ful of Nota orâ—â—ionem grace as moder chaste
wonderful byrthe ageynst kynde at Rome that daye oute of a tauerne sprang a welle of oylle in the same Cyte an ymage of gold with a Temple that was cleped yâ— euer lastynge Temple of pees for as mykel as hit was ê“phecyed that shold neuer falle doune tyl a mayden bare a sone thys daye felle doun bothe to gyder anone as Criste was borne In the whyche place is now made a chirche in the worshippe of oure lady saint Mary whos name with hir blessid sone our lord Jhesus blessid be now and euer wythouten ende Amen ¶ Of the circuncisycion of oure lord Captlin SeptimuÌ„ â–ª IN the eyghte daye that the child was borne he was circumcised Ca. vii after the byddyng of the lawe And so in thys day two grete thynges were doune that we owen to haue deuoutly in mynde the fyrst is that the blessyd name Jhesê° that euer was withoute begynÌ„ynge yeuen to hym of the fader of heuen and also of the AuÌ„gel cleped and tolde or he were conceyued Thys day was openly declared named And he ther with specially cleped Jhesus that is as mykel to saye as sauy our and this name resonably is aboue al names For as the A postle Peter saith there is none other name vnder heuen in the whiche we owen to be saued Of the whiche name and grete worthynes and vertue therof saint Bernard speketh deuoutly by processe that shal be sayd after The second thynge Bernard super can that was done thys day worthy to be had in mynde is that this day our lord Jhesus beganne to shede his precious blood for our sake he bygan by tyme to suffre for vs he that dyde neuer synne began this day to bere payne in his swete ten dir body for our synne Mykel ouÈt we to wepe haue coÌ„passiou with hym For he wepte this day ful sore and so in the se grete festes and solempnytees we shold make mykel myr the be Joyeful for our hele and also haue inward coÌ„passoÌ„n sorowe for the peynes anguysshes that he suffred for vs For as it is said before thys day he shedde his blod when that after the ryght of the lawe his tendyr flesshe was cutte with a sharp stonen knyf and so the yonge child Jhesus our sauy our kyndely wepte for yâ— sorow that he felte there thurgh in his flesshe For withoute doubte he had very flesshe kyndly suffrable as haue other children shold not we thenÌ„e haue coÌ„passion of hym yes sothely also of his dere moder For wel may we wete that whan she sawe hir louely chyld wepe she myght not witholde wepynge than may we ymagyne and thynke how that lytyl babe in his moders barme seeynge hyr wepe putte his hand to hyr face as he wold not that she sholde wepe And she ageynward inwardly styred hauyng compassion of the sorowe and yâ— wepynge of hir dere sone wyth kyssyng spekynge comfortyd hym as she myght For she vnderstood wel by the Inspiracion of the holy ghost that was in hir the wylle of hir sone though he spake not to her ther for she sayd Dere sone yf thou wylt that I ceace of wepyng ceace thou also of wepyng For I may not but I wepe what tyme that I see the wepe and so thorugh the coÌ„passion of the moder the. child ceased of sobbynge wepyng And thenÌ„e his moder wypyng his face kysyng hym puttyng the pape in his mouthe coÌ„forted hym in all the maners that she myght Cause 〈…〉 â–ª And soo she dyde as ofte as he wepte For as we may suppose he wepte ofte sythes as other children doune to shewe the wrechidnesse of mankynde that he verely took also he hyd hym fro the deuyll that he shold not knowe hym as for god And thus moche suffyseth to be sayd at thys tyme of the circumcision of our lord Jhesu But now in tyme of grace ceaceth this circumcision of the old lawe we haue in that stede baptysme ordeyned by Cryst that is the sacramente of more grace lesse peyne But for that bodily circmcision we shal haue ghoostly circuÌ„cision that is kuttyng awey al superflue thynges fro vs that disposen to synÌ„e and holdynge wyth vs as in affeccion only that is nedeful to vertuous lyuynge For he that is truly poure is vertuously circuÌ„cised the whiche circumcisyon the Apostle techeth in these wordes when he saith that we hauyge mete and drynke and cloth we shold holde vs payed This also ghoostly circumcision nedeth to be in al oure bodyly wyttes as in seyng heringe touchyng and other that is to say that we in all these eschewe superfluyte kepe scarcite namely in spekynge For mykel speche withoute fruyte is a grete vyce displeysyng to god and good men a token of an vnstable and a dissolute herte as ageyn ward scyleÌ„ce is a grete vertu and for grete cause of goodnes ordeyned in religion of the whiche vertu dyuerse clerkes speken that Ca â–ª vii we shal passe ouer at this tyme and thus endeth this chapitre Of the Epiphanie that is opeÌ„ shewyng of our lord Ca viii FIrste touchyng this solempne daye and worthy fest we shal vnderstonde that there is none feste that hath soo moche dyuerse seruyce in holy chirche as longynge therto as this feste hath not for hit is more worthy than other but for many grete thynges be felle and were done this day specially touchyng the state of holy chirche As firste vnderstondyng that holy chirche here in erthe stante in two maner of peple that one is of them that comeÌ„ of the Jewes that hadden moyses lawe and weren circumcysed that other is of the remanaunt that weren not circumcised and weren Primum factum cleped gentyles This day that is to say the xiii day fro the natyuyte accouÌ„tynge that same day the blessid childe Jhesus shewed hym as god man specially to the kynges that wereÌ„ of the gentyles ¶ And in her persone holy chirche now crystned is pryncypally gadred of yâ— multytude of gentyles was thus receyued of â–ª our lord God to true byleue For the day of his natyuyte he appiered shewed hym specially to the Jewes in the persone of herdemen the whiche Jewes for the moost party receyued not goddes word and by leue but this daye he shewed hym to the gentyls of whome we comeÌ„ that ben now his chosen chirche wherfore this feste is specially propirly the feste of holy chyrche of true cristeÌ„ men The seconde thynge that was done this day touchynge Sâ—â—m factum holy chirche is that she was this day ghostly wedded to criste truli knytte to hym by the baptysme that he took this daye xx ix yere coÌ„plete For in the baptisme bâ— soules weded to criste the congregacion of crysten soules is cleped holy chirche that baptysme is wesshen maade clene of thefylthe of synÌ„e and clothed newe in vertues ¶ The
abiecte in her owne herte ben not eleuate by pryde as in their owne syght but neuertheles they wold not be holdeÌ„ suche in other menes syÈte ne maye not suffre to be despysed or scorned of other And also they wold not that theyr vnworthynes and their defaultes were knoweÌ„ of other leest they were despysed repreâ—ed of theym But thus dide not thys daye that chylde Jhs lord aboue al other for he wold that his lowenes abieccoÌ„n were knowen seen to his to other that not to symple fewe but to grete many that is to say to kynges lordes theyr meyne many fele And also that is more to wonder in suche caas tyme in the whiche by reason it was mykel to drede that is to saye leest they comynge fro so fer fyndynge hym that they soughteÌ„ kynge of Jewes And whome they troweden almyghty god lyggynge in so symple arraye so grete abieccion by that symple syght supposynge them deceyued Nota holden them self as fooles sholden goo awaye withoute deuocionÌ„ and byleue ¶ But not for thy the mayster of mekenes and louer of symplenesse lefte not to fulfylle the perfeccion therof yeuynge to vs ensample that we shold not go fro the grouÌ„d of true mekenes by coloure of ony semelynes prouffyte or good but that we shold lerne to wylle for to appiere and be seen symple abiecte in the syghte of other that vertue of parfyte mekenes he grauÌ„te vs thorough hys grace that soo wolde meke hym for our sake oure blessid lorde Jhesus Amen DE mora dnÌ„i apud presepe continetur in proximo capitulo excepta meditacioÌ„e de ministerio suo solicitudine circa pueruÌ„ Jhesum de quibus poterit quis feliciter meditari ¶ Of the puryfycacion of our lady saynte Marye Capitulum Nonum AFter the tyme the kynges had performed her offryng were gone home ageyne in to they re owne Countre as it is sayd yet stode that worthy lady of all the worlde in that symple herburgh wyth hyr blessyd sone Jhesu and hyr husband that holy olde man Joseph at the racke pacieÌ„tly abydyng vnto the xl day ordeyned by the lawe puryfycacyon as she were another woman of the peple defouled thorugh synne and as the chylde Jhs were a poore man not god â—edy to kepe the obseruauÌ„ce of the lawe But why hope we that they dyden thus Sothely for ensaÌ„ple to vs shewyng the true way of obedyeÌ„ce And for they wold noo synguler prerogatyf they kepten the comyn lawe as other dyde but thus done not many that lyuen in comyn coÌ„gregacoÌ„n the whiche desyre to haue special prerogatyues and therby wylle be seen more worshipful than other synguler aboue other but thys suffreth not true mekenes whaÌ„ the xl dayes were comeÌ„ of hir puryficacoÌ„n after the lawe thenÌ„e weÌ„te our lady wyth her sone Jhesê° Joseph and took the waye fro Bethlehem in to Jhe rusaleÌ„ that is aboute v. or vi myle there to present the chylde and offre hym to god in the Temple after that hit is wryteÌ„ in the lawe of god Now lete vs here goo wyth hem by deuout conteÌ„placoÌ„n helpe we to bere that blessid byrthen the childe Jhesus in oure soule by deuocoÌ„n and take we inwardly Contemplacio good entente to all that ben here sayde and done For they ben ful deuoute In thys maner thenne they herynge bringyng the chylde Jhesus into Jherusalem the lord of the temple in to the Temple of god at the entre therof they boughteÌ„ two turteles or els two douue byrdes to offre for hym as the maner was for pooer folke And therfore the gospel speketh not of a lambe that was the comyn offryng of ryche men in token that they weren with the poorest folke And here with that ryght wyse man Symeon lad in spiryte by the holy ghoost came in to the temple to see that he had longe tyme desired cryst goddes sone after the byhest answere of the holy goost and anone as he came and had the sight of hym knowynge hym by spyryte of ê“phecye he knelyd downe deuoutely honoured and worsipped him as he was in his moders armes borne and the chylde blessyd hym and lokyng vpoÌ„ his moder bowed toward hym in tokeÌ„ that he wold goo wyth hym soo the mod vnderstondynge the chyldes wylle therof woÌ„dryng tooke hym to Symeon and he with grete Joye and reuerence clippyng hym in his armes rose vp blessyng god sayeng with gladde spirite Lorde I thanke the for now thou letest thy seruauÌ„t after thy worde in pees For why I haue sene wyth myn eyen thy blessyd sone our sauyour And after warde he prophecyed of his passion and of the sorowe ther of that sholde as a swerde perce wounde the moders herte Herewyth also that worthy wydow Anne the prophetesse came to theim in to the teÌ„ple worshippyng the childe she prophecied of hem also and spake of redempcoÌ„n that was to come by hym to mankynde And the moder wondryng of alle thyse wordes kepte theim by good entent pryuely in her hert And thenne the child Jhesus stretchynge hys armes to warde his moder was bytaken hyr ageyne Afterward they yeden in maner of processyon toward the aulter wyth the chyld theâ— whyche processoÌ„n is preseÌ„ted thys day in al holy chirche with light brennyng to goddes worship And thenÌ„e they wente in thys maner Fyrste to two worshipful olde men Joseph simeon gone before Joyeful eyther holdyng other by the handes And wyth grete myrthe syngynge sayeng Lord god we haue receyued thys daye thy grete mercy in myddes of thy teÌ„ple And therfore after thy grete name so by thy louynge and thy worship in to the ferdest ende of al the worlde After them folowed the blessyd moder mayden mary beryng the kyng S 〈…〉 of heuen Jhs and wyth hyr on that one syde goth that worshpful wydowe Anne wyth grete reuerence and vnspecable Joye louynge and praysyng god Thys is a solempne worshipful procession of so fewe persones but grete thynges be tokenyng and represeÌ„tynge For there ben or al states of maÌ„kynde some that is to saye of men and wymÌ„en olde yonge maydens and wydowes Ferthermore when they were come to the aulter of the temple the moder wyth reuereÌ„ce knelyng doune offryd hyr swete sone to the fader of heuen sayenge in this maner Taketh now hyhest fader youre dere sone whom I offre here to you after the byddynge of youre lawe For he is fyrst borne of his moder But god fader I beseche you that ye yeue hym to me ageyne ¶ And thenÌ„e she rysyng vp lyfte Nota ablâ— nonâ— Jhesâ—â— hym on the aulter O lord god what offryng is this Sothly there was neuer none sythen suche another fro the begynÌ„yng of the world ne shal neuer after in to the ende Now take we here good hede how yâ— chyld Jhesus sitte vpon the
aulter as it were another chyld of the comyn peple wyth that louely face and sadde chere he loketh and beholdeth vpon hys dere moder other that there were presente pacyently mekely a bydynge what they wold doo wyth hym and therwyth were brought the prestys of th Temple and the child lord of al the world was bouÈt ageyne as a seruauÌ„t for v. pens that wereÌ„ cleped sycles a maner of money after the lawe as other and when Joseph had payed that money for hym the moder our lady took ageyne wyth ful gladde wille hir blessid sone and after she took the forsaid birdes of Jhoseph knelyng doune lyftyng vp deuoutly her eyen in to heuen holdyng them in hir handes offred them sayenge thus Almyghty mercyful fader of heuen vnderfonge ye thys lytel yefte offrynge and the fyrste yefte that your lytil child thys day presenteth to your hâ—he mageste of his symple pouerte And there with the child thesus puttyng hys hondes to the byrdes lyftynge his eyen vp to heuen spake not but sheweth couÌ„tenaunce of his offrynge with the moder and soo they leyden them vpon the Aulter Now here takynge hede what they ben that thus offren that is to saye the moder and the sone Trowe we whether that of fryng though it were lytil myght be forsake Nay god forbede â–ª But we shal fully trowe that this was by AuÌ„gels presented vp in to the. Courte of heuen And therof fader of heuen ful gladly accepted so that the blessyd coÌ„pany of heuen there thorugh was reioyced and gladed After thys was done soo the lawe fully kept as it is seid in all that that longed to the child from his byrthe in to this tyme our lady wyth hir blessyd sone and hir spouse Joseph took the way fro that Cyte of Jerusalem homeward in to nazareth But by the waye she visyted her cosyn Elyzabeth desyrynge also to see hir sone that she loued specially And what tyme they metten to gyder â—oÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—isi None â—â—â—cibeth eâ— liâ—ahaÌ„niâ— Jo they madeÌ„ grete Joie and namely Elyzabeth whan she sawe that blessyd syÈt of the childe by vertue of whome in hir fyrste coÌ„cepcion Joâ—n in hir wombe reioiced she also replenisshed with the holy ghoost Also the children Jhesus Joâ—n whaÌ„ they were broughte to geder they kysyden other louely with lawghyng chere and makynge moche myrthe to gyder But Johan as vnderstondynge his lord â–ª had hym alwey in countenaunce as with reuerence to hir And what tyme they had rested them there certeyne dayes oure lady with hir child and Joseph wenten forth in their waye toward Nazareth as to hir home and reste But yet befelle no reste to them as it shall shewe after Now yf we take good entente to the forsayd processe and how longe tyme they haue leyn oute of they re owne hous in so grete pouerte and symplenes by reason we shold be styred to compassoÌ„n and to leren by ensample of them mekenesse pouerte and buxomnesse that were openly shewed in her symple dwellyng in her poure offrynge and in the lawe kepynge And ferthermore as wordly men maken bodyly myrthe in thys tyme fro the Natyuyte in to Noâ—â—â—e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 domini 〈◊〉 〈…〉 otam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feste of purificacion that is called candelmasse soo shold eche deuonte soule in thys tyme specyally with deuocion and ghostly myrthe in soule worshippe and honoure that blessid childe Jhesus and his moder Mary vysytynge hem by contemplacion and some deuoute prayer atte lest ones on the daye as they seene in spiryte our lady with hyr chylde lyggynge at the racke hauynge therwyth in mynde the mekenesse the pouerte and the buxomnesse of hem as hit it is sayd and louynge hem and kepynge hem vertuously in dede Amen And thus endeth the fyrste parte of this book in contemplacion for the monedaye ¶ Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesu in to Egypte Capitulum Decimum WHan our lady and hir childe Jhesus were toward Nazareth as it is said before not knowyng yet the pryuy couÌ„ceylle of god herof that Herode the kynge purposed to slee the child Jhesus the Aungel of god a piered to Joseph in his slepe byddynge that he shold flee in to Epypte with the childe his moder For Herode wolde seche the childe to slee hym And anone Joseph wakyng of his slepe cleped oure lady and told hyr these hard tydynges and she in haste took vp hir dere sone and began to goo For she was ful â—ore agaste of this word and she wold not as she myÈt be sene neclygeÌ„t in the kepyng of hym wherfor anon in that nyght they tokeÌ„ the wey toward Egypte and so fledde that grete lord the pursute of his seruauÌ„t ye more propirly the deuyls seruaunt trauayllynge with hym his yonge tendyr moder and that old man Jhseph by a noyoê° wey and hard and dyuerse that was not inhabited and also a wey that is long that is to say after the comyn sayeÌ„ge the space of xii or xv dayes Jorney of a comyn currour ê‘aueÌ„ture to them hit was trauayle of two monethes or more and that wey as it is said was bi that deserte in the whiche the children of Israel lad oute of Egypte dwel leden xl yere Lord how dide they there of her lyuelode or wher rested they and were herberowed in the nyghtes For in that waye fouÌ„de they ful seldome ony hous Here ought we to haue inwardly coÌ„passion of hem not be loth or thynke trauellous to doo penauÌ„ce for our self sythen other took soo grete and so ofte trauaylle for vs namely they that were so noble and soo worthy Also in thys processe yf we take good heede we may see many good ensamples and notable doctrynes to vs Fyrste yf we take good hede how oure lord Jhesus tooke Quaâ—noâ— nobiliâ— Primum Paciencia inter prospera et aâ— pera in his owne persone somtyme prosperite and welthe somtyme Aduersyte woo we sholde not be styred to InpacieÌ„ce what tyme that hit befalle to vs in the same maner but in tyme of temptacion and discomfort abyde with pacieÌ„ce the tyme of prosperite of comforte and soo ageynwarde on that other syde And yf thou wylt see ensaÌ„ple herof in Jhesu Loo first in his byrthe he was magnified of the herdmen as god and honoured and worshipped of them as god with grete Joye And soone after he was circuÌ„cysed as a synful symple man wyth sorowe ¶ After the kynges comynge to hym worshipped hym soueraynly bothe in theyr persones grete yeftes and yet dwellyd he stylle in that stable amonge bestes in pouerte wepynge as another child of a symple man After he was preseÌ„ted in the Temple with Joye grete thynges were prophecyed of him as of god Almyghty and now he is boden of the Aungel to flee fro Herode in to Egypte as he were a poure man withoute myghte And so ferthermore in al his lyf prosperite and
thyrty yere And Cryste hym self xxxiii or lytyl more And soo at this ageyne comynge of Jhesu that was thenne seuen yere olde Johan was fyue yere olde and as he was after amonge other choseÌ„ Apostles and discyples specyally beloued of oure lorde Jhesus soo it is lykely that in this tyme of theyr chyldhode he was more chere than other and as moost specyall pleyser to Jhesu Fro thys tyme in to the tyme of xii yere of Jhesus age the gospel maketh noo mynde of the chylde Jhesu Netheles it is wryten and said that there is yet in that place a welle wherof the chylde Jhesê° fette ofte sythes water to his moder For that meke lord refused not to doo suche lowe seruyces to his moder and also she had none other seruaunt All her lyuynge was in mekenesse and in pouerte to our ensample to folowe hym Amen ¶ How the chylde Jhesus was lefte allone in Jheru salem Capitulum xii WHan the chylde Jhesê° was twelue yere olde and his dere moder with Joseph wente in to Jherusalem for the feste daye that laste eyght dayes after the byddynge and the custome of the lawe he weÌ„te also with them in that tendyr age traueylyng al that longe waye bifore seid to honoure worshyp his fader of heuen in his reste dayes as reson wold For there is souerayne loue bytwene the rader the sone Netheles there was more inward sorow of herte coÌ„passion to the sone of yâ— vnworshyppyng of his fader that he sawe in doynge of many maner synnes thenÌ„e was onyioye without forth in yâ— pompe soleÌ„pnyte of that feste but so stode he with his pareÌ„tes in the tyme of that feste kepynge the lawe as mekely as another of the poore peple tyll what tyme yâ— fest dayes were fulfylled ended theâ—â—e after that his pareÌ„tes were gone homeward he dwellyd styll there in Jerusalem hem vnwytyng Now take we here gode entente as we were presente in all that is here spoken of for this is a ful deuoute mater a prouffitable to vs as it is said before The cyte of nazareth where our lady dwellid was fro JherusaleÌ„ yâ— space of â—x myle xiiii or there aboute so bâ—felle that his moder our lady Joseph token dyuerse wayes homeward what tyme they comen togyder at euen where they hadden sette to be herberowed our lady seenge Joseph wythout the chylde that she supposed had gone with hym asked of hym where was the chylde he said that he wist neuer for he wender as he said that she had lad him with hir therwith she brest on wepyng with grete sorowe said Alas where is my dere childe for now I see that I haue not wel kepte hym anone she began to goo aboute in the euentyde as she myÈt honestely fro hous to hous askynge Sawe ye ouÈt of my sone Sawe ye ouÈt of my sone vnnethes myÈt she fele hir self for sorowe care of hir sone And the sely olde man Joseph folowed hir algate wepyng what tyme they hadden longe souÈten fouÌ„den hym not what rest hope we they hadden in that nyÈt namely the moder that loued hym moost tendirly Sothly no wonder though they hadden no coÌ„forte al thouÈ her frendes coÌ„forted hem as they myÈten For it was not a lytyll losse to lese Jhesu wherfore here we maye haue resonably grete compassion of the grete anguysshe that our ladyes soule is now in for hir sone She was neuer in so grete sorowe fro the tyme that she was borne also here may we lerne what tyme tribulacoÌ„ns anguisshe falleÌ„ to vs not to be heuy or mykel distourbled therby sithen god spared not his owne moder as in thys party For he sustreth generally tribulacions to falle to them that ben his choseÌ„ and so they ben token of his loue and to vs it is expediente to haue hem for many skylles ThenÌ„e our lady sory as it is said for she myght not fynde hir sone that nyght closed hir in her chaÌ„bre and toke hir to prayer as to the best remedy in that caas sayeng in this maner Almyghty fader of heuen full of mercy Oâ—â—â—io â—â—iâ— and of pyte hit lyked yow and was youre wylle to yeue me your dere sone but loo now fader I haue lost hym and wote not where he is but thou that knowest all thynge telle me shewe me where my swete sone is yeue hym to me agayn Good fader take hede and beholde the sorowe of my herte not my grete necligence For I knowleche wel that I haue offendyd in this caas Neuertheles for it is falle me to be IgnorauÌ„te ye for your grete goodnes yeue hym to me ageyn for I may not lyue withoute hym And thou my swete sone Ihu where arte thou now or how is it with the and where arte thou now herberowed Lord whether thou be goon vp in to heuen ageyne to thy fader For I wote wel that thou arte very god goddes sone But why thenÌ„e woldest thou not telle me before Also I wote wel that thou arte veray man of me borne And here before I kepte the. bare the in to Egypte fro the malyce of Herode that sought the to slee But now whether ony wycked man hath aspyed the. the fader of heuen Almyghty he kepe the. and shylde the fro alle perylle malyce Dere sone telle me where thou arte that I may come to the or els thou come to me foryeue me this neclygence at thys tyme and I behete that it shal neuer efte befalle me for how this is befalle I wote neuer but thou knowest that arte my hope my lyf and al my good withoute the I maye not lyue In this maner and by suche wordes as we maye deuoutely suppose all that nyghte the moder cared and prayed for hyr dere sone After vpon the morowe erly Mary Joseph soughten hym by dyuerse other wayes that â—aâ—den to Jherusalem ferthermore soughten hym besely amonge her frendes kynnesmeÌ„ but they myÈte not here of hym wherfore his moder was so sory that she myÈte in no maner be comforted But the thirde daye after whan they comen in to Jherusalem and soughten hym at the Temple there they fouÌ„de hym sittynge amonge the doctoures of lawe heryng hem enteÌ„tyâ—ly askynge hem questions wysely And anone as oure lady had the syÈt of hym she was as gladde as she had be torned tro deth to lyf and therewith knelynge downe thanked god inwardly with wepinge Joye And also soone as the chylde Jhesus sawe his moder he wente to hyr And she with vnspekable Joye clypped hym in her armes and kyssynge hym ofte sythes and holdynge hym in her barme rested a whyle with hym for tendernes tyll she had take spyryte and thenne she spake to hym sayd Dere sone what hast thou done to vs in this maner For lo thy fader I with grete sorowe haue soughte the
effectuelly of ony other prayer the Pater noster yf it be sayd truly wyth deuocion and specially by that peticion askinge Fiat voluÌ„tas tua sicut in celo et in terra that is to saye Oure â—ader in heuen thy wylle be doone in al thing as in heuen so in erthe And so yf it be best to vs for to be kepte fro fyer or water or sodeyne deth or ony other bodily perylle wyth oute doubte our fader of heuen god wylle yeue it vs after the forsayd peticion with rightwys linyng els not saye we neuer so many priuate prayers For as we rede al daye of diuer se martirs saintes that somÌ„e were brente somme drowned and in other diuerse maners putte to shamful dethe as to the worlde and that was best to hem encreace of her Joye and blisse of heuen wherfor it had ben a grete open foly to hem as we may well were to haue prayed for to be kept fro suche bodily harmes or perils as ayenst sodeyne deth it is spedeful to many men for to haue suche dethe shamful to mannes syghte As saynt Gregory telleth by Ensample of the prophete Abdo that was woryed of the lyon that god purged of tyme here ryghtwys men by suche shamful dethe For as holy writ Jusâ—ê° simoâ— te â—occupatê° fuâ—â—it in refrigeâ—â—â—â—â—it te wytnesseth sothely the ryghtwysman yf he be ouercome by ony maner of bodely dethe his soule shal be saued and be sette in reste euerlastynge Neuertheles we prayen ofte that lawfully to be kepte fro sodayne dethe but that is vnderston de that we be not combred wyth dedely synne therinne to deye withoute repentauÌ„ce of herte shryfte of mouthe and therto as I hope is moost beste effectuel prayer the pater noster specyally in the two laste petycyons and askinges therof by the whyche we prayen almighty god fader of heuen that he suf freth vs to falle to be combred with temptacyon of dedely Et nâ—noâ— i ducas inâ—â—p taâ—â—onâ— synÌ„e but that he kepe vs and delyuere vs fro all wyckednesse And though it so be that the matere of this worthy prayer be so plentiuous also the thesyre of the wryther herof were to speke more there of Neuertheles for it is writen in so many other places as I hope suffysauÌ„tly and also for the grete processe that foloweth after we leue this matere at thys tyme al the fructuous sermons that our lord JhuÌ„s made to his discyples in that hyll before goynge downe with him by deuoute contemplacion and beholdinge how that after that noble lesson taught in the hyll as it was skylful for the hyghe per feccion therof our lord JhuÌ„s cam downe with that meke tâ—lke of his disciples spekyng also homely with hem by the waye they as the chykens of the henÌ„e folowen him with mikel ghostly lykynge coueytynge eche before other to be neâ—â— hym and here is vertuous swete wordes ¶ And after he was come downe mykel peple cam ageinst him bringinge diuerse se ke folke many as the gospel telleth by processe the whiche al he ful of mercy heled made hole bothe in body in soule ¶ And thus shotly we passen here ouer mykel processe of tye gospel many chapiters of the forsayd boke of boâ—aâ—â—uâ—â—t for the litil edificacion of hem as it semeth nedful to simple soules to yâ— whiche this boke is specially writen in englisshe as it hath ofte be sayd here before And so leuyng this processe in many places we shall only telle the notabylytees therupon shortely to edyficacion AmeÌ„ ¶ Of the seruauÌ„t of CeÌ„turio the sone of the litil kynge heled of our lord Calpin â—â—â— IN this Gospel in that our lord ihesus mekely vnpraâ—ed wente bodely to hele the seke seruauÌ„t and wold not go to the kinges sone praied our pride is reproued in that we â—oÌ„ coÌ„â—â—â— suphiaÌ„ muÌ„â—â— noâ—um in the contrary maner ben redy leue to goo to Ryche men and myghty that we maye beworldly worshipped by and to please them and do the seruyce that we may for worldly me de but we ben loth to go to poure men and simple or to helpe hem in her nede for ghostly mede leest it were ageynste our worshyp as saynt Gregory noteth in thys place ¶ Of the paletike maÌ„ leide done in his bedde by the hous heling heled of our lord JhuÌ„ Captm xx IN this gospel NoÌ„de iâ—iâ—mi taâ—ibê° corpo ralibê° spuÌ„ alibê° we haue ensample doctryne that ofte sythes bodely sykenes cometh of ghostely sikenes that is sinÌ„e and that the helinge of ghostly sekenes is ofte cause of bodyly hele In that our lord first foriaf to yâ— paletike his sinÌ„es after heled him of the bodily palesye ¶ Also here we may see the grete vertu of true bilyue in yâ— yâ— the feith the biliue of one man helped saueth another as the feyth of the berers of this paletike man saued hym also in the next chapytre before the feithe of Centurio De â—â—ute fidei gate he le to his seruauÌ„te And also here after the feithe of the woman Chananee saued her douÈter And so it falleth now al daye that children baptysed after dede before the yeres of discression ben saued in the feith of their godfaders thorugh the meryte of crist this is openly ageinste somme heretikes that helden the contrary opinion ¶ How that Martha was heled of hyr sykensse by touchynge of the hemme of our lord clothinge Captm xxi The gospel nameth not the woman that was heled by the Finibria vestimeÌ„â—a bin touching of the hemme of JhuÌ„s clothinge But saint Ambrose and other doctours sayen that she was Martha the syster of mary Maudeleyne by the hemme of Jhesus clothynge as sainte Bernerd saith may be vnderstonde euery meke seruauÌ„t of god the whyche in ony vertuous dede that he doth oweth to knowe truly herte and openly knowleche by mouthe that only god is principall doer therof and noughté he as the clothe heled not but our lord JhuÌ„s that wered that cloth ¶ Of the Conuersyon of Mary Maudeleyne Captm xxii OVre curteis lord Jhesus was prayed of Symon the leprose on a daye to ete with him and therto he grauÌ„ted gladly came to mete as he was wonte to do oftsythes both of hys owene curtosie also for the loue the zele that he had NoÌ„ de cuâ—â— alâ—tateâ— dom 〈◊〉 Iâ—â—â—â— to the sauacyon of manÌ„es sowles for yâ— wyche he was made man for so etyng wyth hem benygnly comining wyth hem he drowe hem to the loue of hym Also for as mykel as he made hym self so pertitely poure that he toke none pocession of worldly godes for hym self as for hys therfore thruÈ that loue of pouerte he that was the mirrour of mekenes what time that he was prayed or beden to mete toke it for the tyme the place mekely
grutchith in the for fayth grutcheth And yf fayth be in vs thenÌ„e cryst is in vs so in this maner of grutching is hope of vprisyng For after this wepyng trowblyng as the processe of yâ— gospel I telleth our lord IhuÌ„s asked where they had put lazar not for vnknowing but in spekyng in maner of man in token ghostly of a strauÌ„gnes of his grace to hem that ben ouerlayed wyth dedely synÌ„e for the tyme Neuertheles he hath alwaye coÌ„passyon of the synful And his mercy is redy to all yâ— woll truly aske it For after he had asked where they had putt hym they sayden ayen Lorde come see thenÌ„e he wept And yâ— Jewes yâ— there were sayden â–ª loo how he loued hym And so he shewed the affeccoÌ„n that he hath to the synfull as he sayth in yâ— gospel I came not to calle the rightwis but the synÌ„ers to penauÌ„ce But now goo we to yâ— graue of lazar folowyng our lord IhuÌ„ wyth all that meyne that is to saye the two systers martha mary and the apostles Jewes many that were there that tyme to comforte the systers And as oure lorde wolde to see bere wytnesse of that solempne worthy myracle and so we maye see by deuoute ymagynacoÌ„n how our lorde IhuÌ„s gooth before bytwene the ii sisters talking homly wyth hem they wyth hym shewyng to hym the grete dyscoÌ„fort sorow that they hadden of her broders deth And specially for asmoche as they durst not bydde hym come to helpe hem kepe him fro de the for drede of the malice of the Jewes that they knewe had coÌ„spired in to his dethe and how they were hyely coÌ„forted theÌ„ne of his presence But neuertheles therwyth they had grete drede of hym by cause of the Jewes And thenÌ„e how our lord benyngly coÌ„forted hem again and bad hem not drede of him for al sholde be for the best at the faders wyll And so talkinge togyder they camen to the graue that was couered wyth a grete stone aboue ThenÌ„e bad our lorde IhuÌ„s that they sholde take awaye the stone and they abasshed for the grete tender loue that they had to hym dredynge the horribylyte the styuke of carayne that it sholde ought of feÌ„de hym sayden â–ª Lorde now he stynketh for he is iiii dayes dede shewynge therby that they had none hope of his liuynge ayen But our lorde ayenwarde coÌ„forted her byleue and makyng the stone to be taken awaye Afterwarde liftynge vp his eyen to heuen sayd Fader I thanke the. for thou herdest me and sothly I wote well that thou herest me euer But I saye this for the peple that here stant yâ— they byleue that thou haste sente me And whan he had sayd thus he cryed wyth a grete voys Lazar come oute of thy graue O lorde IhuÌ„ what nede was the to crye Sothly as saynt austin sayth to shew in ghostly vnderstoÌ„ding how harde it is to augusti â–ª hym for to reyse to lyfe a soule that is ouerlayed with the stone of dedely synne in custome How many ben there sayth saynt Austyn in this peple the whiche ben ouerlayed wyth this heuy burden of wycked custome PeraucÌ„ture some beren me that ben ouercome wyth lechery or gloteny that the appostle forbedeth hem where he sayth thus wyll ye not be dronken wyth wyne in the whiche is lechery And they sayenge again Nolite iÌ„ briari vi no we may not and soo forth of other grete mysdedes wyckydnes that god forbedeth holy chirche whan it is sayd to hem dooth none of thyse leest ye peryssh they ansuerynge sayeng we maye not leue our custome O lorde JhuÌ„ reyse thise folke as thou reysedest lazar for thou arte sothly as the resurreccoÌ„n or vprisyng lyfe How heuily this stone of wicked custome ouerlayeth men in all degrees not onÌ„ly lered lewde seculers but also religyous nyghe by in all astates who soo woll speke N ayenst her wycked customes he shall know sothly by experyence that there is noo remedye but onÌ„ly JhuÌ„ O lorde JhuÌ„ crye to all thise men with an hye voys that is to saye shewe thy myÈte teyse hem to lyfe of grace puttynge away that heuy stone of wycked custome as thou reysedest lazar For after thi crye and at thy biddyng he rose vp and wente out of his graue but yet bouÌ„den hondes fete tyll he was losed and vnbouÌ„den by thy discyples at thy byddynge This is a grete wonder as saynt augustyn sayth to many men how he myghte goo out of the graue wyth his fete bouÌ„den But it is moche more wonder how he rose fro dethe to lyfe that was foure dayes dede and beryed And wyth that body of a stynkynge careyne But what tokenyth all this sayth saynt Augustyn Sothly this it tokenith whan thou doost a grete synÌ„e bi conteÌ„pt thou arte ghostly dede And yf thou contynuest customably therin thenÌ„e arte thou dede beried And whan thou forthinkest within forth and shryuest the and knowlegest thy synne wythout fourth For thenne rysest thou and goost out of thy graue For it is nought elles to saye goo forth out but shewe and make knowen outwarde that is preuy wythin forth And this knowynge shewynge of synÌ„e makyth onÌ„ly god cryenge wyth a grete voys that is to saye wyth his grete grace callynge But N yet though he that was dede be reysed and goone oute of his graue Neuertheles he dwelled bouÌ„den that is to say gylty in to the tyme that he be losed vnbouÌ„den by goddis mynystres to whom onÌ„ly he gaaf that power sayenge thus to hem Al that ye vnbynde in erth shal be vnbouÌ„den in heuen Al this N sayth saynt augustyn in sentence In the whiche we maye see openly a suffycient auctoryte agaynst hem that reprouen confession ordeyned by holy chyrche and also the assoylyng of curates sayenge falsly that it is ynough generally to euery man for to shryue hym onÌ„ly in his herte to god And that prestes curates of holy chirche haue nomore power to assoyle of sinnes than a nother man but that god allonly assoyleth none other in his name But now leuyng the fals opynyons go B ynge to the ende of our forsayd processe what tyme that Lazar was reysed to lif by our lord JhuÌ„s as it is sayd and after vnbouÌ„den by his discyples he his systers wyth grete Joye lowely thanked JhuÌ„s of that souereyn bienfete and laddeÌ„ him home wyth hem to her hous makynge moche myrthe And thenÌ„e the Jewes that there were woÌ„dryng hyghly of that grete myracle some torned in byleue to JhuÌ„ and some yeden tolden yâ— pharisees that JhuÌ„s had done and so was it publyshed opeÌ„ly knowen in somoche that grete multytude of Jerlm the couÌ„tree theraboute camen to sce lazar that was reysed And thenÌ„e were the prynces of the Jewes the pharisees all confused and thoughten casten for to slee lazar
by cause thorugh hym many were conuerted to JhuÌ„ Now thenÌ„e for to make N coÌ„clusio augusti a coÌ„clusion of all the processe beforsayd of the thre dede bodies reysed by our lorde JhuÌ„ saynt augustyn sayth in this senteÌ„ce All the forsayd thynges we haue herde bredern to that ende yâ— they that lyuen ghostly kepen hem in lyfe of grace And they that ben dede ryse vp in this maner Fyrste he that hath synÌ„ed dedely by assent in hert and is not goon oute therof by perfor mynge in dede amende hym of that thoughte by repentaunce N And soo ryse he vp that was dede within the hous of his con science Also he that hath performed in dede that he conceyued dedely in thoughte be he not in dispeyre But though he rose not wythin forth rise he wtout forth So he be not beryed ouerlayed wyth the heuy stone of wycked custome But perauenture I speke to hym the whiche is ouerlayed wyth yâ— harde stone of his wycked maners and combred wyth the heuynes of custome And soo is as foure dayes dede and stynkyth yet ê“uerbi orum xxi dispeyre he not For though he be depe dede beryed criste Jhesus is highe of myghte can breke all erthly byrthen cryenge thrugh his grete grace and makynge hym to lyfe fyrst by him self wythinforth and after takynge hym to his discyples for to vnbynde hym and soo fully restore hym to ghostly lyfe so that there shall be lefte noo stynke of synÌ„e in his soule ghostli notabil nomore than dyde lazar reysed bodily that he graunte to al theym that haue nede JhuÌ„s cryste AMEN Hic premittuÌ„tur duo capitula bonauenture ¶ How the Jewes couÌ„seyled conspired ayenst JhuÌ„ in to his dethe Eaplm xxxv AFter the reysynge of lazar before sayd whan the tyme neyghed in the whiche our lorde JhuÌ„s disposed to werke our redempcoÌ„n thrugh the shedyng of his precyous blode the deuyll fader of enuy armed his knyghtes minysters and whetted her hertes ayenst our lorde JhuÌ„ finally in to his deth and specyally by occasoÌ„n of his good vertuoê° werkyng but for soueraynly for the reysynge of lazar enuy kyndled in her hertes more more in somche that they myght noo lenger bere her woodnes wythout execucoÌ„n therof ayenst hym wherforÌ„ the prynces the pharisees gadred a couÌ„seyle ayenst hym in yâ— whiche counseyle cayphas bysshop of that yere all thongh he meaned wickedly prophecyed sothly that JhuÌ„s sholde dey for N sauacoÌ„n of mankynde And soo haue we here open ensaÌ„ple yâ— wycked men reproued of god hauen somtyme the yefte of prophecie so by comyu assent those fals princes pharisees in that counseyle vtterly ordeyned to slee that Innocent lambe JhuÌ„ And to that ende leest all the peple sholde byleue tro we hym And thenÌ„e the romayns as settynge her lawe at noughte sholde come destroye bothe her temple the peple â–ª O fooles foly couÌ„seyle haue ye not wryten of the wyse man that there is noo wysdome ne counseyle agaynst god And therfor ê“â—erbio ruÌ„ 〈◊〉 it shall fall in contrary maner to your wycked entent as it is now perfourmed in dede For there as ye slewen JhuÌ„ leest the romayns sholde destroye your place your peple after befell â–ª agaynwarde that for ye sleweÌ„ JhuÌ„ your place peple was dâ—stroyed by the romayns as the story telleth of yâ— destruccoÌ„â— of Jhrlm by tyte vaspasyane In the same manere it falleth of te tymes in worldes wysdome That is contrary to the wisdome of god For ofte tymes our lorde god torneth in to the beste that the worlde demeth as worst And specyally there as enuye is grounded of that entente of worldes wysdome as it is shewed openly by a notable ensample in Joseph whom his bretherne by enuye of worldes wysdome solden in to Egypte as to his vndoynge For they wolde not worshyppÌ„ hym after his sweuen But after it torned in to contrary effecte by god dis grace For that shewynge of hym was occasyon and cause of his highe auauÌ„cynge And her lowe submyssion to hym and worshyppinge And soo it fallyth all daye men maye see proued by experyence in the wordes chaunged But now leuynge this matere and tournyng to our pourpoos of the for sayd fals and enuyous councelynge our lorde JhuÌ„s euerlastinge wysdome of the fader of heuen to whom may noo thynge be hydde knowynge this malicyous conspirynge of the Jewes agaynst hym For as moche as his tyme was not fully come in the whiche he disposed to suffre dethe for manÌ„es saâ—a coÌ„n and also to yeue ensample as it is sayd in the nexte chapiter before to flee malyce that it encreace not by dwellynge he wythdrewe hym for the tyme fro the Jewes and went in to a couÌ„tre beside desert in to a cite that was called Effrem where he dwelled wyth his discyples a lityll whyle that is to say a seuennyghte For as some clerkes sayen he reysed lazar the fridaye before the passyon sondaye whan the same gospel is redde in holy chirche And the saterdaye seuennyghte after he was come in to bethanye as the processe after declareth ¶ How our lord JhuÌ„s came ayen to bethanie the saterday be forÌ„ yâ— palmsonday of the supper made there to hym and of those thynges done therat CapituluÌ„ xxxvi N OVr lorde JhuÌ„s souereyne doctour maister of al vertues not onÌ„ly by worde techyng but also by ensample yeuynge B prudeÌ„cia right as in the processe before sayd to our edifycacoÌ„n he vsed the vertue of prudence in fleeÌ„g fro his enmyes And there by shewyage that we also shall wysely wythdrawe vs fro yâ— woodnesse of hem that pursewen vs malicyously That is to saye the place and the tyme asketh so now he vsed the vertue of ghostly strengthe in this tornynge ayen to his enmyes whaÌ„ the due time was come in yâ— whiche he wold bi his free Fortitu wyll offer him to the passion And strongly myghtly suffre the malyce of his pursewers in to the vtterest ende yâ— was the harde deth Thus also he vsed teÌ„perauÌ„ce a nother tyme what tyme he fledde eschewinge worldes worshyp whan the peple wolde haue made hym her kyng And ayen warde he vsed ryÈt wysnesse whaÌ„ he wolde be worshypped as a kynge as it foloweth herafter what tyme the peple camen ayenst hym wyth brauÌ„ches of trees other manere of grete reuerence dooynge to hym in the cyte of Jhrlm And ferdermore soueraynly he vsed this rightwysnes after whan he entred in to the temple sharply reproued the couetyse of the prestes of the lawe and pharysees And wyth a scorge droue out the biars sellars of goddis temple And soo vsed the lorde of vertues thise foure pryncypall vertues that is to saye prudence temperaunce StreÌ„gth rightwisnes for our doctrine InformacoÌ„n wher fore as he shall not be supposed or demed as varyaunt or in constauÌ„te no
testameÌ„t makyng hymself our sacrefyce he toke brede in his holy hondes lyft vp his eyen to his fader almyghty god blessed the brede and sayd the wordes of the consecracoÌ„n therouer â–ª By vertue of the whiche wordes brede was torned in to his body thenne he yaaf it to his discyples and sayd Taketh eteth for sothly this is my body that shall be take yeue for you And after in the same manere takynge the chalyce wyth wyne sayd takith and drynkith alle herof â–ª For this is my blode that shall be out shedde for you many other in redempcyon of synÌ„es after he yaaf heÌ„ power of the consecracoÌ„n and to all prestes in hem and sayd thus dooth ye as oft as ye take it in coÌ„memoracoÌ„n and mynde of me Take now gode here thou crysten man â–ª but specyally thou preste how deuoutly how dy ligently truely thy lorde JhuÌ„s cryste made fyrste this precyoê° sacrament And after wyth his blessed hondes minystred it commyned that blessed his byloued meyne And on that other syde take hede wyth what deuoute wonder fyrste they sawe hym make that wonderfull and excellent sacrament And after with what drede reuereÌ„ce the y toke it â–ª and receyued it of hym Sothly at this tyme they lefte all her kyndly reason of man and onÌ„ly rested in true byleue to all that he sayd and dyde byleue wythoute ony doubte â–ª that he was god and myghte not erre And soo must thou doo that wolte fele and haue the vertu the ghostly swetnesse of this blissed sacrament This B is that swete precyous memoryale that soueraynly makith mans soule worthy and plesynge to god as ofte as it is duely receyued eyther by true deuoute meditacoÌ„n of his passion or elles and that more specyally in sacramentale etynge therof wherfore by reson this excellent yeft of loue shold kyndle manÌ„es soule and enflamÌ„e it all holy in to the yeuer therof oure lorde JhuÌ„s cryste For there is noo thynge that he myght yeue and leue to vs more derworth more swete or more profy table than hymself For without ony doubte he that we receiuen in the sacrament of the aulter is he that self goddis sone Jhesus that toke flesshe and blode and was borne of the vyrgyn mary and that suffred deth on the crosse for vs. and rose the thirde daye fro dethe to lyfe and after styed vp in to heuen and sittyth on the faders ryght side and that shall come at the daye of dome and deme all maÌ„kynde In whoo 's power is bo the lyfe and dethe that made bothe heuen helle and that onÌ„li maye saue vs or daÌ„pne vs euer wythout ende And soo he yâ— self god man is conteyned in that lityll oost that thou seest in forme of brede And eueri daye is offred vp to the fader of N heueÌ„ for our ghostly hele euerlastyng sauacoÌ„n This is the true bileue that holy chirche hath tauÈte vs of this blessid sacrament But yet more ouer lete vs sitte a lityll loÌ„ger at this worthy lordes boorde JhuÌ„s and take we hede Inwardly of oure ghostly foode comforte more specyally of that precyous moost deâ—â—teous mete that is there sette before vs. that is the blessed body of our lorde JhuÌ„s in this holy sacrameÌ„t beforsayd And so by inwarde coÌ„sideracoÌ„n taaste we the swetnesse of this heuenly fode hauynge fyrst in mynde the gracious resonable makyng ordenauÌ„ce of yâ— blessed sacrameÌ„t and after the grete worthines merueylous werkyng therof in chosen soules to coÌ„forte strengthyng of our fayth And as anenst the firste poynt we shall vnderstonde that almyghty goddis sone the seconde persone in trinyte willynge of his souerayne charyte endles goodnes to make vs partyners of his godhede he toke our kynde and became man to make men as goddes ferdermore that he toke of our kynde that was flesshe blode aâ—â—e he yaaf to vs for our hele our sauacoÌ„n For he offred to his fader of heuen vpon the aulter of the crosse his blessyd body for our reconcilynge and he shedde his precyous blood in to pryce for to bye vs out of our wretchid thraldom to wasâ—â— vs make vs clene of all synne And for asmoche as he wolde that the mynde of that hye grete benefyce sholde dwelle in vs euerlastyngly he yaaf to al cristen people his body in to mete and his blode in to drynke vnder the lyknesse of brede wyne in manere as it is sayd before in the fyrst makyng of this blessed sacrament But now here beholde we Inwardly take we hede what wondrynge it was to the appostles thenne to see oure lorde JhuÌ„s very man as they were syttynge wyth hem bodily and therwith holdyng in his hondes that self body in that yâ— semyd to her bodiâ—y syghte noughte elles but brede affermynge thus sothly This is my body that shall be yeuen for you And also of that that in the chalyce semed oonly very wyne This is my bloode that shall be shedde for remyssion of your synnes And soo that self bodi that they sene wyth her bodily eyen before hem was sothly vnder the forme of brede And that self blode that was all hole in his bodi was there in the chalice in forme of wyne But thenne was not that brede as it semid as it was before the wordes of coÌ„secracoÌ„n nor wyne as it semid in self maner but onÌ„ly the liknes or the fourme of brede wyne conteynynge very crystes flesshe and blode as it is sayd But what manÌ„es wytte or reason myghte comprehende att this tyme Sothly none And therfore the true apostles at that tyme leften all her bodily reason wytte and rested onÌ„ly in true byleue to her lordes wor des as it is sayd beforÌ„ sauf Judas that was reproued for his falshede mysbyleue and therfore he receyued that blessed sa coÌ„tra lol lardos crament to his dampnacoÌ„n And so done all tho that beÌ„ now of his parte the whiche falsly bileuen and sayen that the holi sacramente of the aulter is in his kynde brede or wyne as it was before the consecracoÌ„n by cause that it semyth soo to all her bodily felynge as in syght taast touchyng the whiche beÌ„ more reprouable as in that parte than Judas For they sene not JhuÌ„s bodily beside that sacrament as he dyde and therforÌ„ it is lyghter to hem for to byleue and more to her dampnacion yf they byleue not as god himself holy chirche hath taughte namly sythen that true techinge of this blessed sacramente hath be holden stedfastly soo many huÌ„dred yeres and of so Fides sacrameÌ„ti many holy men marters confessours other true cristen men the whiche in to her laste dayes stoden without doubte in this faythe and deyden therin The whiche is this in fewe wordes that the sacrament of the aulter duely made by vertue of crystes wordes is very
now hens forwarde be pleysed well wylled to hem for my loue all olde offence trespace foryeue and wype awaw put aferre all vnclenÌ„es of synÌ„e fro hem For sothly I offre here now myself for theim and their he le And thenne he that was on the ladder behynde the Crosse takyth his ryghte honde and was on yâ— ladder behynde the crosse taketh hys ryght honde nayleth it fast to the crosse And after he that was on the lifte syde draweth whyth all his myghte the lyttt arme and honde and dryueth ther thruÈ another grete nayle After they comen doune taken aweye all the ladders and so hangeth our lorde oonely by tho two nayles smyten thrugh his hondes wythoute sustenaunce of the body drawynge dounwarde peynfully thorugh the weyght therof Here wyth also another harlot renneth to and draweth doune his fete wyth all his myghte and another anone dryueth a grete longe nayle thorugh bothe his fete Joyned to other this is one maner of hys crucifyenge after the oppynyon of somÌ„e men Other ther ben that trowen that he was not crucyfyed in this maner but fyrste lyggynge the crosse on the ground they nayled hym therupon after wyth hym so hangyng they lyften vp the crosse and festen it doune in the erthe And yf it was done in this maner thenne mayst thou see hou vylaynsly they taken hym as a rybaulde casten hym doune vpon the crosse â–ª and thenÌ„e as wode theues drewen on bothe sydees fyrst hys hondes after hys fete soo nayled hym fast to the crosse And after wyth all her myghte lyften vp yâ— crosse wyth him hangyng as hyghe as they myghte And thenÌ„e lete it falle dooune in to the moiteyse In the whyche falle as thou mayst vnderstonde all the senowes to breken to hys souerayne payne But whether soo hit be in one maner or in other sothe it is that our lord JhuÌ„s was nayled BN hard vpon the crosse honde foote and soo streyned and drawen that as he hym self sayth by the prophete Dauyd that DinuÌ„e taueruÌ„t ossa mea they myghte telle and nombre all hys bones thenÌ„e rennen oute of hys blessyd body the stremes of that holyest blood on all sydes habondauntly fro the grete woundes and soo he is con streyned and arted that he maye not meue but hys hede wherfore hangynge the body onely by tho thre nayles noo doubte But that he suffreth so bytter sorowe and paynes that there maye noo herte thynke ne tonge telle And yet more ouer he hanged bytwene two theues of the whiche that one blasphe myed teÌ„pted hym to JnpacyeÌ„ce and therwith other blasphe myng scornynge sayen Vath this is he yâ— destroyeth the temple of god makith it vp ayen in iii. dayes And other saydeÌ„ He made sauf other but he maye not now saue hymself and many other reproues scornynges they sayden to hym as the gospel tellyth And all thise reproues blasphemyes despites ben done seenge herynge his moost soroufull moder whose NotabnÌ„ coÌ„passion sorowe made hym her sone to haue the more bytter payne And on that other half she henge in soule with her sone on the crosse and desyred Inwardly rather to haue deyed that tyme wyth hym than to haue lyued lenger And soo stode the moder besyde the crosse of her sone bytwene his crosse the crosse of the theif she torned neuer her eyen fro him She was full of anguyssh as he was also And she prayed to the fader at that tyme wyth all her herte sayenge thus Fader and Nâ— oâ—o neÌ„ mâ—â—s ê“ filio god wythout ende it was pleysyng to you that my sone shol de be crucifyed it is done yet is not now tyme to aske hym of you ayen but ye see now in what anguyssh is his soule I beseche you that ye woll ease his paynes Good fader Iâ—recommende to you in all that I maye my dere sone and also he her sone prayed for her pryuely in hymself sayenge My fader ye Nâ— oâ—o neÌ„ filii ê“ mrÌ„e knowe how my moder is tormented for me I sholde onÌ„ly be crucifyed and not she But loo now she hangeth on the crosse wyth me Myn owne crucifyenge suffyseth for I bere the synÌ„es of all the peple She hath not deserued ony suche thing wherforÌ„ I recoÌ„mende her to you that ye make her paynes lesse ThenÌ„e was with our lady John mawdleyn the biloued discyples other of his freudes by the crosse of our lorde JhuÌ„ the whiche all maden grete sorow wepten â–ª and myghteÌ„ not be comforted in noo maner of her byloued mayster but euer was her sorow renewed wyth his sorow eyther in reproues or in dede as it foloweth after ¶ How our lord JhuÌ„s yelded vp the spiryte at none xliiii NOw hangeth oure lorde Jhesus on the crosse in grete payne yet he is not ydle by cause of yâ— payn But he wroughte alwaye spake yâ— was profytable for vs wherfoâ— so Nâ— vâ— â—ba dâ— in 〈…〉 hangynge he spake vii no table wordes that ben fouÌ„den writen in the gospell The first was in the tune that they crucifyed hym whaÌ„ he prayed for hem sayenge P 〈…〉 vbâ— pt ignoâ—â—â— illis Sâ—dm mulâ—eâ—eâ— sâ— filius tuâ—â— Teâ—câ—â— hodieme cuÌ„ eris â— paradiso QuartuÌ„ hely hely lama zabatani thus Fader foryeue hem for they wite nought what thei done the whiche worde was a worde of grete pacience of grete loue vnspeka ble benygnyte The secoÌ„de was to his moder sayeng thê° woman loo thy sone also to John loo thy moder He called not her at that time moder leest she sholde thrugh feruent tendernes haue ben more sory The thyrde was to the blessed theyf sayenge this daye thou shalt be wyth me in paradise wherin his moost large merci is openly shewed The fourth was whan he sayd Hely hely lamazabatany that is to saye My god whi hast thou forsake me as though he said in this senteÌ„ce My god fader of heuen thou hast somoche loued the redempcoÌ„n of yâ— worlde that thou hast yeuen me therfore and as it semed forsaken Lo JhuÌ„ what coÌ„forte was that forsayd worde to all thyn enmyes and what discoÌ„forte to all thy frendes Sothly as it semyth there was neuer worde that oure lorde spake that yaaf so moche boldenes to hys enemyes and so moche occasion to hys frendes for to despayre that he was god as that worde For they vnderstode hit that tyme but nakedly after theletter souneth But our lord wold shewe in to the last ende that as he suffred in body fully after the kynde of man so also in his B N spekynge after the infirmyte of man that he was very man suspendyng for the tyme the vse of all the myghte of the godhe de The v worde was Sicio I am thursty the whiche worde QuintuÌ„ Scicio also was occasion to his moder and
of heuenly thinges by lykenes of erthly thynges how he wyth all that forsayd worthy blysful multytude of holy soules openynge heuen yates that were beforÌ„ that tyme spered ayenst mankynde as a worthy conquerour Joyefully entred and gladly before the forsayd fader Fader I thaÌ„ke the that thou hast yeuen me the vycto ry of all oure enmyes and aduersaryes And loo fader here I present to the our frendes that were holden in thraldome And for asmoche as I haue behight to my brethern discyples the whyche I haue left in the worlde to sende to hem the holy ghost I praye the fader fulfyll my byhest and I recoÌ„mende hem also to the ThenÌ„e the fader takynge hym vp made him sytte on his right honde and said My blessed sone al power dome I haue yeuen to the. and therforÌ„ of that thou askedest dyspose and doo as the lyketh After that all the holy faders blessed spirytes the whiche had in worshping of the holy trynyte fall doune lowely wyth all reuerence risynge vp began agayn to synge her songes of myrthe and vnspekable Jore before the trone of god For sithen moyses the chyldern of Israhel songen in thankyng louynge of god whan they were passed the reed see and her enmyes therin drowned And also the selfe tyme mary aarons syster with other wymÌ„en her folowing in tym panes and other melodye dauÌ„sen songen to goddis louyng Also dauyd wyth his peple ledynge the arke of god in to Jherusalem â–ª harped daunsed for Joye before the arke and chauÌ„ters songen and in other dyuers myntralsye they honoured worshipped god And also saynt Johan sayth in the apocalip se that he herde a voys in heuen of an huÌ„dred fourty and four thousande harpes harpyng and syngynge a newe songe bifore the throne and the seet of the very lambe Jhesu Moche more we resonably trowe that now in this Joyefule tyme whan JhuÌ„s wyth his company passed all sorowe and al his aduersaryes were so gracyously ouercome And he that was tokened by the arke JhuÌ„s was soo gracyously come in to the cyte of heuenly Jherusalem All that blessed felyship of spirytes and soules wythoute nomber songen and maden Joye myrthe that noo tonge maye telle ne herte thynke Soothly now in that blessed cytee of heuenly Jherusalem is songeu herde that souerayn songe of Joye after the prophecy of thobie by all the stretes therof is songen Alleluya that is as moche NoÌ„ excel lenciaÌ„ festi asceÌ„ci oiÌ„s suâ— a lia festa to saye as louynge be to our lorde Neuer from the begynÌ„yng was there soo soleÌ„pne soo Joyefull a feest ne neuer peraueÌ„ sure shall be But at the laste after the daye of dome whaÌ„ all the chosen soules shall be preseÌ„ted there wyth her bodies gloryfyed And therfore as I sayd at begynÌ„ynge of this chapyter This soleÌ„pnyte all thynges considred passeth all other Take Incarnacio hede of eche of hem and see whether it be soo that I saye Fyrste the Incarnacyon of our lorde JhuÌ„ is a solempne feest worthy For that was the begynÌ„ynge of all our good oure Natiuitas sauacoÌ„n But that was our Joye and not his for he was closed thenÌ„e in his moders wombe Also the natyuyte is a soleÌ„pne and hyghe feest and worthy myrthe to be made therin but that is also as on our syde For as on his syde we owen to haue compassoÌ„n of hym that was for vs borne in soo grete pouertee Hardenesse of weder and other abieccoÌ„n Also as to vs Passio his passion is a grete feest thrugh the whiche we ben broughte oute of the feudes thraldome And all oure synnes ben for yeue and done away And as saynt gregory saith It had not auaylled vs to be borne but it had also profyted vs for to be boughte Neuertheles for the grete tormentes of hym and that hardest and moost despytous dethe that he suffred for our Redempcyon Resurreccio and byenge there was noo matere of Joye but rather of sorowe bothe to hym in that paynfull suffrynge and to vs for our synfull deseruynge Ferdermore yet the resurreccoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu is a gloryous solempne and a Joyful feest bothe for hym and for vs for thenne was his body gloryfied and all payne sorow passed and we iustyfied haue an ernest and ensample wythout doubte of our laste vprysynge in body soule And therfore of this worshipfull Joyful Hec eÌ„ dies quaÌ„ fecit dnÌ„s daye specyall syngeth holy chirche by the wordes of the prophete dauyd This is the day of our lorde made be we mery therin gladde And as augustyn sayth in a sermon This day is holyest of all other but that maye be vnderstonde of all other before that day For this of the ascencoÌ„n by reason is gretter holyer â–ª and that touchynge thre partyes That is to say our lorde hymself the blessed spirytes in heuen mankynde in erthe For as to the fyrste though our lorde had thenÌ„e gloryously in body soule vprysen fro dethe to lyf euerlastyng neuertheles he was bodily yet as a pilgryme in erthe fro his owne kynde herytage reame Also as to the seconde yet saye not yâ— angels her felishyp encreased by season takynge of mankynde wyth hem in blysse And as aneÌ„st the thyrde yet was closed shytte the yate of heuenly paradyse and yet were not the holy faders soules presented to the fader of heuen the whiche all thre were coÌ„plete and fulfylled in his holy ascencoÌ„n And yf we take good hede we maye see that all that god wroughte dyde he dyde for to come to this ende And wythout this all his werkes had ben as Inperfite For lo heuen erthe and all that is made in hem is made for man And man for to haue the blysse of heuen And therto myghte noo man come after â—â—opâ—â—â— he had synned in to this daye were he neuer soo gode and rightwys And soo we maye see how worthy this holy daye is yet more ouer this feest of penthcoste is hyghe holy â–ª And worthily holy chirche makyth it solempne For thenne was yeuen therto that hyghe worthiest yefte that is the holy ghost AscencoÌ„ But this is to vs and not to hym But this ascencyon daye is properly the moost solempne feest of oure lorde Jhesu For FmÌ„ JhuÌ„ this daye fyrste in his manhede he beganne to sytte on the taders ryght honde in blysse And toke ful reste of his pylgrymage before All this is properly the feest of all the blessed spyrytes AscencoÌ„ in heuen For this daye they had a newe Joye of her lorde whom they sawe neuer before there in his manhede â–ª And also AscencoÌ„ FmÌ„ angelo for this daye beganne fyrste to be restored the fallyng downe of her felowes And that in soo greate a multytude and nombre of blessyd soules of patryarkes
and prophetes â–ª And all the holy soules that this daye entred fyrst in to that blessid cyte of heuenly Jhrlm her kynde herytage aboue wherfore sy then we maken soleÌ„pne the feest of one saynt that is passyd out of this world to heuen Moche more we owen to doo of soo many thousandes and yet passingly of hym that is saint Ascencio FmÌ„ dnÌ„e of all sayntes Also this is specialli the fest of our lady for as moche as this daye she sawe her blessed sone JhuÌ„ very god man soo gloryously crowned as kynge steye vp to heuen ¶ yet this daye is properly our feest For this daye was first our kynde exalted lyft vp oboue the heueÌ„s And also for but yf cryst had so styen vp yâ— worthy yeft of the holy ghost wherof we make soleÌ„pnyte we myghte not haue receyued to hys disciples â—t is spedful to you that I goo vp to the fader for but yf I goo fro you the holy ghost comforter shall not comÌ„ to you â–ª And therfore saith saynt bernarde in a sermon of this feest of thascencoÌ„n in the coÌ„fermacoÌ„n of my forsayd sentence that this gloryous feest of thascencion of our lorde JhuÌ„ is an ende a fulfillyng of all other solempnytees festes and blessed conclusion of all the Journeye of our lorde JhuÌ„ his manhede ¶ Thus maye we openly see that this daye this feest is moche hygh solempne of all other and that soule that loued truely our lorde JhuÌ„ shold this day be more rauysshed to heuen and more ghostly Joye haue in herte than in ony daye of the yere For thus sayd our lorde JhuÌ„s to his discyples yf ye loued me soothly ye sholde be gladde Joyefull for that I goo to the fader â–ª wherforÌ„ I leue that I sayd truly before that was in heuen neuer a daye soo Joyefull and so solempne as this daye And soo this daye and this solempnyte lasted in to the daye of penthecoste wherof we maye deuoutly ymagyne and haue medytacoÌ„n in this maner The ascencoÌ„n of our lorde was at the serte hour For before he ete wyth his discyples at tyerce ThenÌ„e may we thê° ymagyne yâ— those x-dayes fro yâ— hour that he ascended into the hour of the holy ghost sending the ix â–ª orders of angels wyth the holy faders and soules that he toke vp wyth hym made him x. festes he ayen warde reward ded hem specyally in some synguler comfort euery daye and soo though all that were thenÌ„e in heueÌ„ generally were of his ascencoÌ„n Joyefull and made soo mery a feest that noo tonge can telle Neuertheles the fyrst daye fro the hour of his ascencoÌ„n in to the sexte of the next daye folowynge angels maden her feest Te seconde day in the self maner maden her feest ar chaÌ„gels the thirde day virtutes the fourth daye potestates the fyfth day pryncipatus the sexte day domynacoÌ„nes the seueÌ„th day thrones the eyght daye cherubyn the ninthe day seraphin And soo thise nyne orders of angels coÌ„tynued her festes in to the sexte hour of the vigyll of penthcost And fro thens in to tyerce of the daye folowyng â–ª that is the sondaye of penthcost the holy faders wyth her felyshyp made her feest to JhuÌ„s blessed be he wythout ende Amen ¶ Of the sendyng doune of the holy ghost Caplm lxiii AFter that oure Lorde Jhesus was goone vppÌ„ to his blysse And the angels had bydden the dyscyples to tourne agayn in to the cyte as it was sayde next before they wyth his blessed moder worshippinge him kissyng deuoutely the steppes of his fete wherÌ„ he last towched the erthe as the gospell of Luke tellyth they wente agayn in to Jherusalem with grete Joye there they abyden the comynge of yâ— holy ghost contynuelly in deuout prayers louynge god and blessinge our lorde And whan the tenth daye was come fro his AscencoÌ„n thenÌ„e was the fyfthy daye of his resurreccoÌ„n our lord JhuÌ„s Joynynge the fygure of tholde testament with the new For asmoche as the tyme of grace was in that daye come he sayd to the fader thus My fader hauith now in mynde the byhest that I made to my brethern of the holy ghost And the fader ansuerd My dere sone I am wel apaid of that byhest and now it is tyme that it be fulfilled And morouer he sayd to yâ— holy ghost we pray the that thou goo doune to our discyples And that thou fylle hem of thy grace comforte hem strength hem teche hem and yeue hem habuÌ„daunce of vertues Joye And anone the holy ghost came doune wyth a wonderfull noyse N in brenÌ„ynge tonges vpon an huÌ„dred twenty discyples gadred that tyme togider and fyllid hem wyth all Joye vertues grace â–ª By vertue wherof the discypled strengthed taughte lyghted and enflaÌ„med yeden after by all parties of the world and made it subget to hem in grete partye This is a worthi feest and amonge other a swete louely feest For this is the feest of hym that is loue properly as saynt Gregory sayth that the holy ghost is loue wherfore he that loueth god sholde in this feest specially be enflaÌ„med with loue or at the leest with a brennynge desire to loue But this woll not be with flesshly or wordly loue medled as saynt bernard saith in a sermon bernarde of the ascencoÌ„n in this maner sentence He erryth gretly who soo he is that weneth for to medle togyder that heuenly Joye wyth thise bytter asshes of flesshly likynge Or that swete ghostly baume wyth this venym or those gracious yeftes of the holy ghost wyth thise lynkynge lustes And noo wonder For as the self bernarde sayth Thapostles for the tyme that they hadden his bodily presence wyth hem â–ª for the loue that they hadden to his body though it was holy good yet for that tyme they were vnable to receyue perfytly yâ— holy ghost as he sayd hymself But yf I goo fro you the holy ghost shall not Nisiego abiero come to you Moche more thenÌ„e he that is knytte wyth loue to rotten mucke or to a stynkyng carrayn is in al maner vnable to that clenÌ„est swetest loue of the holy ghost For there is none accorde knyttynge togyder of sothfastnes vanyte of lighte and derkenes of the spiryte and the flesshe of fyre colde water But thou perauenture that felest not the swetnesse comforte of that ghostly likynge and loue sayst to me wyth out comforte of loue likynge I maye not be â–ª what shall I not doo thenÌ„e whyle I fele not that ghostly loue Saynt bernarde ansuereth thus sayth to the Forsake fyrst fully truly all vayne worldes comforte and all flesshly loue lykynge abyde awhyle in deuoute prayers as the appostles dyden abydynge the holy ghost wherof they knewe noo certayne tyme And thou shalt fele wythin shorte tyme. that he shall come comforte the better than thou cowdest before knowe or thinke and in
that there maye noo true angel teche the contrary of the bileue of holy chirche And therforÌ„ he that soo dooth is an angell of sathanas and not of god As ben all the fals lollardes the whiche haue neyther true drede nor perfyte loue of oure lord JhuÌ„ And therfore they fele not the ghostly swetnes of this heuenly mete of his precyous body ne the likynge mynde of his merueylles shewed in that blessed sacramente â–ª But we that thorugh grace stonden in true byleue as holy chyrche hath taught vs in this souerayne holyest sacrament wyth goostly lykynge of sowle Haue we not oonly in mynde the grete merueylles and myghty myracles wryten and preched of that holy Sacrament in dyuerse maners shewed as it is beforsayd But also consider we how that our lorde JhuÌ„s of his vnspeable goodnes shewed to mankynde he yeueth hym self to vs euery daye bodily in that precious sacrament as in a conclusion and moost specyall mynde of all his blessed lyf to souerayne comforte helpe of our wretchid lyfe the whyche is full of temptacoÌ„ns and ouersette wyth many enmyes Wherfore it is spedfull to vs contynuelly to crye after helpe of the sonerayne vertue of this blessed sacrament by the wordes that holy chyrche syngeth in the ympne of this sacrament thus O thou helful oost that openest the door of heueÌ„ the bataylles of our enmyes oppressen ouerseten vs wherfore yeue vs strengthe of wythstondynge and brynge vs thy helpe to her ouercomyng Also to wythstondynge of temptacoÌ„ns and ouercomyng of vices to getynge of vertues and encreace of feruent affeccoÌ„ns of our lorde JhuÌ„ as for a full ende of all his blessed lyfe before wryten ¶ Enprynted by wynkin the worth ¶ Here folowyth a shorte deuoute prayer to JhuÌ„ cryst his body in the sacrament of the aulter the whiche oweth to be sayd in presence of that holy sacrament at the masse with inwarde deuocoÌ„n HEyle holyest body of our lorde Jhesu cryste that art now soothfastly conteyned here in this moost excellent sacrament I knowlege the my lorde god wyth my mouth I loue the wyth all my herte and I desyre the wyth all the Inwarde affeccyon of my soule I beseche the swete JhuÌ„ that thou vochesauf of thy souerayne goodnes this daye soo benygnely gracyously to vysite my sike soule desiryng to receyue the goostly our heelfull sacrifyce well of all grace soo that I may wyth gladnesse fynde medecyne heele in body soule by vertue of thy blessed presence Beholde not lorde JhuÌ„ to my wickydnesse manyfolde neclygences and my grete vnkyndnes but rather to thy souerayne mercy endles godenes Sothly thou arte that holy lambe wythout weÌ„me of synÌ„e that this day is offred to the euerlastinge fader of heuen for the redempcoÌ„n of al the worlde O thou swettest manÌ„a angels mete â–ª O thou moost likynge ghostly drynke brynge in to my Inwarde mouth that hony swete taast of thy helfull presence Byadie in me the feruour of thy charyte Quenche in me all maner vyces Shede in to me the plentee of vertues Encreace in me the yeftes of graces And yeue me heele of body soule to thy plesynge My god I biseche the that thou wolt soo gracyously bowe the and fro thy hye heuen now come doune to me yâ— I knytted Joyned to the be made one spiryte wyth the O yâ— worshypfull sacrament I byseche the that al myn enmyes be put awaye fro me by the strengthe of the and all my synnes foryeue and all wyckidnes be excluded by the blessid presence of the Good purpose lorde yeue thou me My maners thou correcte amende And al my werkes dedes thou dispose in thy wyll My wytte vnderstondyng by the swete JhuÌ„ be made here clere wyth a newe lyghte of grace Myne affeccoÌ„n be enflaÌ„med wyth the fyre of thy loue and myne hope coÌ„forted strengthed wyth this blessid sacrament soo that my lyf here profyte euer in amendynge to better And at last fro this wretchid worlde wyth a blessed departyng that I maye come wyth the to lyf euerlastyng JhuÌ„ lorde by vertue grace of thy lyfe blessed wythout endynge Amen amen Amen ¶ JhuÌ„ lorde thy blessid lyfe helpe comforte our wretchid lyfe AMEN ¶ Explicit Speclm vite xpÌ„i cuÌ„ â–ª â—tiliâ—â—ime tractatu breue de sacramento corporis xpÌ„i oracoÌ„ne eidâ—â—â— sacramenti ImpressuÌ„ westmonasterii Anno dnÌ„i M. Câ—â—â— â–ª â—xxxxiiii