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
tempted of the enemy we shold not wonder though we wretches ben ofte sythes tempted for not oonly he was tempted in these thre tymes But also as saint Bernard saith in other dyuer se tymes as the Apostle saith that he was tempted in all maner temptacyou that longeth to the infirmyte of man wythoute synÌ„e Ferthermore whan the enemy was fully ouercome gone away angels comen serueden and mynystreden hym Meditacio â—â—uoâ—â— But now here take we good hede â–ª and beholde we inwardly oure lorde Jhesu etynge alone and the AuÌ„gels aboute hym thynke we deuoutely by ymagynacion tho thynges that folowen herafter For they ben ful faire and styrynge to deuocoÌ„n And so fyrste we maye aske â–ª what maner of mete it was that the Aungels serueden hym of after that longe fast â–ª Herof speketh not holy wrytte wherfore we maye here ymagyne by reason ordeyne this worldly feest as vs lyketh not by errour affermynge but deuoutly ymagynynge and supposyng and that after the comyn kynde of the manhede For yt we take hede and speke of his myghte after the godhede there is no question For it is no doubte that he myght make what hym lyst â–ª And also haue of tho that ben weren made at his owne wille But we shall not fynde that he vsed this myght and this power for hym self or for his disciples in her bodyly nede But for the peple to shewe his godhede we reden that at two tymes he fedde hem myraculously in grete multitude of a fewe loues and fysshes but of his disciples is wryten that in his owne presence they plucked eeres of corne eten hem for honger as it shal folowe herafter ¶ Also what tyme he hym self was wery of the way and satte vpon the welle spekynge with the womaÌ„ Samarytane we rede not that he made mete for to ete but that he sende his disciples in to the Cyte to begge her mete so it was not lyckly that in thys tyme after his fast bodily honger he purueyed his mete by miracle fythen in thys tyme he shewed oonly his manhede and also there was no peple â–ª therfore to wyrche myracle to her edificacion as comynly he dide but oonly Aungels were there present And sythen in that hylle was noo dwellynge of men ne mete redy dyÈt we shall suppose that AuÌ„gels broughten him manÌ„es mete all redy dyghte fro another place as it befelle to the prophete Danyel ¶ For as holy wrytte telleth what tyme Danyel was put in the pytte of lyons and Abacuk a nother prophete bare mete to his repars in the felde goddes Aungel took hym vp by the here of his hede bare hym fro thenâ— in to babylonye to Danyel for to be fedde wyth that mete And after anone he was borne ageyne ¶ And so in that manere lete vs ymagyne here with ghostly myrth as it were rehetynge oure lorde â–ª Jhesu at his mete and also hauynge in specyally his dere moder thynke we deuoutly in this manere what tyme sathanas was reproued as a fals temptour and vtterly dryuen away holy Aungels in grete multitude comeÌ„ to oure lord Jhesu after his vyctory and fallynge downe to yâ— erthe deuoutely honoured hym and salued hym as theyr lord and Almyghty god And oure lord benyngly and swettely to ok hem vp enclynyng to hem with his hede as hit were knowlechyng hym self veray man and in that somwhat lasse lowed fro AuÌ„gels And thenÌ„e speken the AuÌ„gels saydeÌ„ thus Oure worthy lord ye haue longe fasted And it is now youre tyme to ete what is youre wille that we ordeyne for you And thenÌ„e he said goo forth to my dere moder what maner of mete she hath redy brynge to me For there is none bodyly mete so lykynge to me as that is of hir dyghtynge And anone two of theim goynge forth sodeynly were before hir â–ª and with grete reuerence gretynge hir of hir sone behalfe tolde their message And so of that symple mete yâ— she had ordeyned to hir self Joseph the Aungels token with a loof and a to wel and other necessaryes and broughten hit to Jhesu And perauenture there with a few smale fysshes that oure lady had ordeyned thenÌ„e as god wold so therwyth the Aungels comynge spradden the towel vpon the grounde leiden brede theron and myldly stoden sayden graces with oure lord Jhesu â–ª abydynge his blessyng tyl he was sette ¶ Now take go Vide solitarie â—t resluse od entente here specially thou that arte solytary and haue in mynde why thou etest thy mete alone as withoute manÌ„es teliship the maner of this mete And how lowely oure lorde Jhesê° sytteth downe to his mete on the bare grouÌ„de For there had he neyther bancquerre ne quysshen and take hede how N curteysly and how sobirly he taketh his mete notwithstondynge his honger after his longe fast The angels serueden hym as her lord perauenture one of brede another wyne another dyÈt fysshes some songen in the stede of mynstrelsy that swete songe of heuen and soo they reheteden and couÌ„forted her lord as it longen to them with mykel Joye medled with coÌ„passion This teliship hast thou though thou see hem not whan thou etest allone in thy celle yf thou be in charite and specyally when thou hast thy herte to god as ye owe to haue after the byddynge of the apostle the whiche saith to vs that whether we eten or drynken or ony other thynge doo all we shall doo in the name of oure lord the whyche name Jhesus we shall algate blysse and thanke hym in herte haue we mykel haue we lytyl haue we good haue we badde and soo ete oure mete though we ben alone as though we seene bodyly the blessyd Aungels that ben presente ghostly And here with hauynge inward compassion of oure lorde Jhesu and beholdynge in mynde hym that is Almyghty god souerayne lorde and maker of alle the worlde that yeueth mete to alle flesshely creatures soo meked and in maner neded to bodyly mete and therewith etynge as another erthely man mykel owe we to loue hym thanke hym and wyth a gladde wylle take penaunce and suffre dysease for hym that soo moche hath suffred for vs ¶ Ferthermore as to the processe when our lord Jhesus had eten and sayd grace that is to saye thanketh the fader in his maÌ„hede of that bodily refeccion He badde the AuÌ„gels bere ageyn to his moder that was lefte tellyng hir that he shold in shorte tyme come to hir ageyne And whan they hadden doo as he badde were come ageyne that was in ful shorte tyme. he spake to all the Aungels that weren there and said God ageyne to my fader and youre blysse and recoÌ„mendeth me to hym and to all the Courte of heuen For yet it behoueth me to doo my pylgremage here in erth a whyle a none therwyth they fallyng downe to the erthe deuoutely askynge his
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
maudleyn other sayeng thus to hem Be not your herte troubled and drede ye not for I shalle not leue you desolate as faderlees For I shal goo come euer be wyth you And at the last he badde hem goo in to the mouÌ„te of olyuete for theÌ„s he wolde stie vp and soo passed at that tyme awaye fro heÌ„ And anone right his moder all other wythout taryenge yeden in to the forsayd mount yâ— is fro Jhrlm aboute a myle and therÌ„ anone our lorde apered to hem Loo here we haue on this daye two aperynges ThenÌ„e clippyd he kyssed his moder takynge leue and she again warde clippyd kysse hym full tenderly And the dyscyples maudleyne and other fallynge downe to the grouÌ„de and wepynge kisseden his fete deuoutly and he takynge hem vp kyssed all his apostles benygnely Now take hede Inwardly of hem and of all that here ben done And therwyth beholde the holy faders there beynge Inuysible how gladly and reuereÌ„tly they beholden Inwardly blessen her by whom they haue receyued soo grete a benefyce of her sauacy on They beholden tho worthy chaÌ„pyons leders of goddis oost the whiche amonge all other peple our lorde JhuÌ„s specyally hath chosen for to conquere all the worlde ¶ At yâ— last whan all the mysteryes were complete fulfylled our lorde NoÌ„ processuÌ„ asceÌ„cionis Jhesê° began to be lyfte vp fro hem and to stye vp by his owne vertue And thenne our lady and all other fellen downe to the erthe worshyppynge hym And our lady sayd My blessed sone Jhesu thynke on me And therwith she might not with holde her fro wepyuge by cause of his gooynge Neuertheles she was full Joyefull that she sawe her sone soo gloryously stye vp to heuen Also the discyples this seenge sayden Lorde we haue forsaken all worldes goodes for the haue mynde on vs And soo he hauynge his hondes lyfte vp and blessyng heÌ„ wyth a bryghte Joyefull face Crowned worthily as a kyng gloryously arrayed styenge vp to heuen and sayd Be stedfaste and werchyth manfully For I shall euer be wyth you And soo our lorde Jhesus all gloryous whyte and rudye shinynge and â–ª Joyefull ledynge wyth hym that noble multitude and gooynge before and shewynge the waye to hem in dede fulfylled thenne that the prophetes had sayd longe before of his ascencoÌ„n And they also wyth vnspeable Joye folowyng hym songen merely the psalmes ympnes of his louyuge as perteyned to that blisfull tyme of her delyuerauÌ„ce fro all sorow and entre in to all blysse wythout ende And in that tyme the archangel mychael prouoste of paradise gooyng bofore tolde the blessed court of heuen that our lorde JhuÌ„s was comyng vpstyenge And anone all the blessed spirytes after her orders yeden ayen her lorde none lefte behynde metynge wyth hym and worshippyuge â–ª hym wyth all the reuerence that they cowde ladde hym wyth hympnes songes of Joye that maye not be spoken nor thought And soo metynge togyder the holy faders and the blessed spirytes and syngen alleluya and moost Joyefull songes wyth reuerence before hym maden a grete soleÌ„pnyte a worshipful feest ye lord who myght tell what fest yâ— was in what Joye they hadden whan they mett togider And whan they had done due reuerence to our lorde and fulfylled her mery songes that perteynen to his gloryoê° ascencoÌ„n they torned hem eche to other bothe the blessed spirytes the holy princeps apâ—oâ— faders reioycynge syngyuge And fyrste the holy spirytes in this manere sayenge ye prynces of peple be welcome Joyeful we ben of your comyng All ye are now here gadred and wonderfully lyft vp wyth your god Alleluya Therfore make myrth and syngeth now to hym â–ª that so gloryously styed vp princeps pplâ—â—â— aboue heuen heuen Alleluya And the holy faders Joyefully ansuerde To you prynces of goddis peple alieluya â–ª Our kepers helpers alleluya Joye pees be euer alleluya Syngyth makyth myrth also to our god kyng and sauyour Alleluya alla alleluya And ferdermore all togyder songen and sayden in doâ—â— dnÌ„â—le Now we go merely in to the hous of oure lorde alleluya and that worshipfull cyte of god that shall receyue vs all togyder alleluya In ympnes and songes of Joye myrthe Alleluya alleluya Loo here was moche myrthe and Joye All they songen and soueraynly Joyeden as the prophete dauyd sayth God styeth in to heuen in moost wonderfully Joye of the appostles ascendâ—â— dâ—â—in in bilacoÌ„ne that sawe hym that tyme And in voyce of trompe That is in voyce of angels that apered thenne and spake to the appostles Sothly our lorde Jhesus styed vp thenne openly to the comforte of his moder And the appostles as longe as her bodily syghte wolde suffyse to see hym And after a briyght clowde took him fro her eyen And anone in a moment that is in an vnperceyuable shorte tyme. he was wyth all his angels and the forsayd faders in the hyghest heuen O lorde what Joye was thenne to see that blessed lorde soo gloryous vp styenge Sothly I trowe who soo myghte haue seen that as the appostles dyden and therwyth herde that Joyfull songe of angels holy soules wyth hym vp styenge for that passynge Joye of his soule sholde haue be departed fro the body and goon vp to heuen also wyth hem and noo wonder wherfoâ— our lorde knowyng the Infyrmyte of mankynde in bodily lyfe here wolde shewe some of his blysse to his moder other discyples In as moche as they myghte bere that was in that blisfull vpstyeng of hym and hydde â—ro hem that they myghte not bere soo in flesshly lyuynge And therfore also he sent to hem u. angels in manÌ„es lickenes that they sholde not ouer moche be traueyled in yâ— stondyng lokynge vp after hym in to heuen â–ª For they were soo rauysshed by that blysfull syght of hym that they hadden foryete hemself And also he sent than gels to coÌ„forte hem in that they herde the angels wytnesse accordynge wyth hem of thascencoÌ„n of our lorde And whan the angels had bidden hem that they sholde noo lenger loke after JhuÌ„s bodily presence in that forme that they sawe him thenÌ„e stye vp in to that tyme that he sholde come in that self forme bodily to deme all quycke dede But that they sholde torne a yen in to the cyte and there abyde the holy ghost as he had sayde heÌ„ before ThenÌ„e our lady prayed mekely the angels to recoÌ„mende B her to her blessed sone And thenÌ„e louely enclynyng to her gladly token her biddyng And also the appostles and maudleyne recoÌ„mended hem in the self maner And after the angels passyng fro hem they torned agayne in to the cyte as they were bydden to mouÌ„t syon there abidyng the holy ghost of our lorde JhuÌ„ Now goo we vp bi deuoute conteÌ„placoÌ„n to N B our lorde JhuÌ„ beholdyng in ymagynacoÌ„n
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
â—ernard his lord was come before and there he fonde all the holy Trimen or his messager For thou shalt vnderstonde that thys blessid Incarnacion was the hyhe werke of all the holy Trinite though hit so be that only the persone of the sone was Incarnate become man But now beware here that thou erre not in ImaginacoÌ„n of god of the holy Trinite supposynge that these thre persones the fader the sone and the holy ghost ben as thre erthely men that thou feest with thy bodyli eye whiche ben thre dyuerse substauÌ„ces eche departed fro other so that none of hem is other Nay it is not so in thys ghostly substuÌ„ce of the holy Trynyte For tho thre persones ben one substauÌ„ce and one god and yet is ther none of these persones other But yet may thou not vnderstoÌ„de by manÌ„es reason ne conceyue with thy bodyly wytte And therfore take here a generall doctrine in this mater now for algate what tyme thou herest or thynkest of the Trynyte or of the godhede or of ghoostly creatures as Aungels or soules the whiche thou mayst not see in her propre kynde with thy bodyly eye ne fele with thy bodyly wytte studye not to fer in that mater occupye not thy wytte therwith as thou woldest vnderstoÌ„de it by bodyly reson For it wylle not be whyle we be in thys boistoâ— body lyuyng here in erthe And therfore whan thou herest ony suche thyng in byleue that passeth thi kindely reson trowe soth fastly that it is soth as holy chirche techeth goo no ferther And so thou shalt bileue in thys mater of the IncarnacoÌ„n that the second persone in trynyte Goddes sone of henene come in to the erthe tooke flesshe and blood of the blessyd vyrgyne Mary and become veray man yet was he neuer departed fro the fader or the holy ghost in his godhede but euer was dwelling stylle with hem one very god in heuen But now for to goo to oure purpos of the Incarnacion before sayd take hede haue in mynde as thou were present in the pryue chaÌ„â—er af our lady where the holy Trynyte is present with his Aungel gabriel O lorde what how 's is that where suche ghestes ben suche thynges ben done For though that the holy Trynyte is euer where by preseÌ„ce of his god hede Neuertheles thou maist thynke vnderstonde that he is there in a more special maner by reson of hys hyhe werke of the Incarnacion Gabriel that entred in to Maries chambre that was stoken fro men but not fro aungels as saynt Bernard sayth knelynge wyth reuerence beganne his message in these wordes and said Heyle ful of grace oure lord is with the blessyd be thou in wymen or aboue all wymen Mary than herynge this message thys newe gretynge that she neuer herd before was astonyed and abasshed and nought answerde but thought what gretynge thys myghte be She was not abasshet or troublet by ony vycious or synfull distourblynge ne agaste of his presence for was wonte to Aungels presence to the syghte of hem but as the gospel sayth she was astonyed in his worde that was a newe gretynge For he was neuer wonte be fore to grete her in that maner And for as moche as in that gretynge she sawe her self coÌ„mended praysed specially in thre grete thynges in that she was parfyghtely meke she must nedes be abasshed in that hyhe gretynge For she was commeÌ„ded that she was sul of grace that oure lord was with her yâ— she was blessyd aboue all wymÌ„en And for as moche as the parfyÈte meke maye not here his praysynge withoute abasshement shamefastnes Therfore she was abasshed astonyed wyth an honeste shamefastnes and also with drede for though she trowed wel that the AuÌ„gel said sothe Neuertheles she drede his word for as mykel as they that ben parfytely meke haue that propirte that they rewarde not her owne vertues but rather taken hede to their owne defaultes where thorugh they mowen aâ—gate profyte vertuously holdyng in hem self a grete vertue lytyl and a lytyl defaulte grete And so as wyse and were as shamefast and dredeful she helde her pees ansuerd not Here mayst thou take ensample of Mary fyrst to loue so lytary prayer and departyng fro men that thou mayst be worthy Aungels presence And ferthermore lore of wisdome to here or thou speke and for to kepe scyleÌ„ce and loue lytyl speche For that is a ful grete and proutfytable vertue For marye herde firste the Aungel twyes speke or she wold answere ones ageyne And therfore hit is an abhominable thyng and grete repreef to a mayden or vyrgyne to be a grete iangler namely a Relygyous Ferthermore after the gospel the auÌ„gel beholdyng her semblauÌ„ce and knowynge the cause of hir abasshemente and drede answerd to hir thoughte and spake more homely callynge hyr by name sayd Drede thou not Marye and be thou not abasshed or ashamed of yâ— praysing that I haue grete the with for so is yâ— trouthe and not only thou arte ful of grace in thy self but also thou hast founden speciall grace of god and recouerd grace to al mankynde Bernarâ— For why Loo thou shalt coÌ„ceyue bere a chylde thou shalt calle his name Jhesus that betokeneth sauyour for he shall saue fro synne dampnacoÌ„n al his peple that trewely hopen in hym ¶ Here sayth saint Bernard God grauÌ„te that my lord Jhesus vouchesauf to nombre me amonge his peple so that he saue me fro my synnes For sothely I drede that many Notâ— shewen hem as they were of his peple the whiche he knoweth not ne hath not as his people And as I drede he maye saye to many that semen in his peple more religyous more holy than other this people worshippeth me wyth lyppes but sothely her herte is ful ferre fro me But wolt thou knowe where thou be of his peple or wylt thou be of his people doâ— that our lord Jhesus bydeth in the Gospel and the lawe the prophetes and also that he byddeth by his mynystres and be Bernarâ— buxome to his vykers yâ— ben in holy chirche thy soueraines not only good and wel lyuynge but also shrewes and euylle lyuynge And so lerne of Jhesu to be meke in herte and buxome and than shalt yâ— be of his blessyd peple But here now ferthermore what the Aungel speketh in praysynge of thys childe Jhesus he shall be grete not in temporal lordship and worldly dygnyte â—or that he shall forsake but he shal be grete god and man grete prophete in myracles wyrchyng grete doctour in sothfaitenes prechyng grete coÌ„querour in myghtely the deuylle ouercomynge And so worthyly he shal be cleped the sone of all ther hyest lorde god the whiche shall yeâ—e hym the sete of daâ—id his fader for he shall take mankynde be borne in flesshe by deseÌ„te of his aucestrye And he shall regne in the hous of Jacob euermore
and of his kingdome shal be none ende This hous of Jacob is ghostly holy chirche in yâ— whiche JhuÌ„s shall reygne in trewe soules fyrst ouercomyng synnes the deuylle here in erthe by grace And after in heuen in blysse withouten ende Here may thou say with saynt Bernard 〈…〉 desyrynge in the kiÌ„gdome of JhuÌ„ thus come my lord Jesu and putte aweye al sclauÌ„ders of â—ynne fro thy reame that is my soule soo that thou maye reygne therein as the oweth to do For couetyse cometh chalengeth his reame in me â–ª Presumpcyon coueyteth to be my lorde Pryde wolde be my quene lechery saith I wol regne De traccion enuy wrath and glotony stryuen whiche of hem shal pricipally regne in me and I in as mykel as I waâ—e ageynstonde hem But thou my lord Jhesu destroye hem in thy vertue and take thou thy reame and thy kyngdome in me For I haue no trewe kyng but thy my lord Jhesu And whan the Aungel hadde tolde these condicions and the worthynes of this blessid child the â—â—s to that meke mayden mary that was chosen to his mo â–ª der Than she spake fyrste to the Aungel nought dredyng of his wordes ne of hyr coÌ„ceyuyng ne knoulechyng ne forsakyng the praysynges before said of his gretynge but wyllynge to be more certyfyed playnly of that she drede most that was that she sholde not lese hir maydenhede asked of the AuÌ„gel the maner of hyr conceyuynge in these wordes how and of what maner shal this be done syth I knowe no man flesshely And I haue made a vowe to kepe me chaste to my lord god withoute faylle and I shalle neuer dele wyth man flesshly And than the aungel answerd and said to hir it shal be done by the wyrchynges of yâ— holy ghost that shal lyghten in to yâ— in a synguler maner thoruÈ his vertu that is alther hygest thou shalt coÌ„ceyue sauyng thy maidenhede therfore that holy thyng that shall be borne of the shal be named godes sone in coÌ„forte ferthermore here of the aungel said Loo Elizabeth thy cosyn that is olde was bareyne hath coÌ„ceyued a child now six monethes apassed for ther shal no thyng be imposible to god Now take here good hede haue in mynde how fyrst all the holy Trynyte is there abydinge a fynal answer asseÌ„t of his blessyd vyrgyne Mary takyng hede and be holdyng lykyngly hir shamefast seÌ„blaunce hir sadde maners Bernarâ— hir wyse wordes And ferthermore how all the blessyd spyrytes of heuen al the ryghtwys lyuynge men in erthe alle the choseÌ„ soules that were that tyme in helle as Adam Abraham Dauyd all other desyreden hyr assente in the which stode the sauacion of all mankynde And also how the auÌ„gel gabriel stoÌ„dynge with reuerence before his lady enclynyng and with mylde semblaunce abydeth the answer of hys mesage And on that other syde take hede how mary stant sadly with drede mekenes in grete auysement hauyng no pryde ne veyne glorye For al the hyhe praysynge before said But tho souerayne yeftes of grace that she hath herde yeuen to hir that neuer were yeue to creature before all she aretid only to the grace of god lerne thou than by ensaÌ„ple of hir to be shamefaste vertuously meke for withouten these two vertues maydeÌ„ Bernarâ— hede or vyrgynyte is but lytyl worthe For as Saynte Bernarde saith vyrgynyte is a fayre vertue but mekenes is mor necessary For thou may be sauf wythoute the fyrst but withoute the other that is mekenes thou maye not In soo moche that I dar hardly saye that withoute mekenes the vyrgynite of mary had not be plesynge to god For but Mary had be meke the holy ghost had not rested vpon hir sayth saynte Bernard At the last as the ende of the gospel seith the mylde maydeÌ„ mary when she had herde wysely vnderstonde the Aungels wordes by good auysement yaf hir assente in thys maner as it is writen in her reuelacoÌ„ns she knelyd doun with souerain deuocion holdyng vp bothe hir handes and lyftyng vp her eyen to heuen sayd these wordes Loo here the handmayden the seruaunt of my lord â–ª be it done to me fulfilled after thy word And so in these meke and lowe wordes of Mary at the ende thou hast ensample of grete mekenes as thou haddest in hyr sylence at the begynnyng loo she is chosen godes moder and of the Aungel cleped ful of grace and she named 〈…〉 hyr self his hand mayden And noo wonder for as saynt Bernard saith Mekenes is euer wonte to be felâ—w with the grace 〈…〉 of god But this mekenes was not lytyl For as he sayth It is not mykel to prayse mekenes in abieccion but it is a grete vertue seldome sene mekenes in worship Also sone than as she yaf hir answer goddes sone entrid in to hir wombe thorugh worchyng of the holy ghost was made maÌ„ in very flesshe blod taken of her body and not as other chyldren conceyued borne by kynde ben shapen membre after membre and after the soule shedde in to the body but anone at the fyrste instaunce was full shapen in all membres and all hole man in body and soule but neuertheles ful lytyl in quantyte For after he weâ—ed more more kyndely as other chyldren done Soo that at the fyrste he was ful parfyghte God man al 's wyse and as myghty as he is now And whan thys was done Gabriel knelyng doune with our lady and sone after with hyr rysyng vp tooke curtoisli his leue of hir with a deuoute lowe bowynge to the erthe and so vanisshed away fro hir with a swift flyghte and toke his wey to heuen agein tellynge certyfyenge the holy courte of heuene hys message fulfylled And that that was done in erthe and than was there a newe Joye and a newe feste â–ª and full mykel myrthe and solempnyte Afterward our lady fulfylled enflaÌ„med with the holy ghost in the loue of god more brennynge than she was before felyng that she had conceyued knelyd doune and thanked god of that grete yefte mekely besechynge hym and deuoutly prayenge that he wold sende hir grace and teche hir so that al that were after to come and to be done aboute hys blessyd sone that she myght fulfylle hem doo hem wythout defaulte And thus mykel touchynge the Gospel and the processe of the incarnacyon of Jhesu Cryste ¶ Of the feste of the annuÌ„ciacion And of tho thynges that befelle that daye NOw take good hede vnderstoÌ„de how worthy thys feste thys soleÌ„pnyte is And haue therfore a ghostly myrthe make a speciall feste in thy soule thaÌ„kynge god inwardly For suche was neuer herd before for this is the soÌ„lempnite of al the holy Trynyte the Fader sone and holy ghoost by whome this souereyn dede of Incarnacyon was wroughte and fulfylled as it is said before Thys also
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
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
yâ— forsayd wordes at the beginÌ„yng of his sermon that ben in these Blessyd be tho yâ— ben poure in spirite for her mede is the kingdom of heuen Lo he saith not her mede shal be but as now her me de is Also they that ben not only pour â–ª but poure in spirite bâ— â—â— blessid for therin stant the vertu of pouerte he is poure in spirite that hath lytil of the spirite of pryde that is comyn to mankinde by the fyrst synÌ„e as a man is called poure worldly that hath lityl of worldly goods But now leuynge this mater B torne we vs to conteÌ„placion beholdyng our lord JhuÌ„ how lowely mekely he sitteth vpon that hill his disciples about him with how lowely sadde chere he speketh thoo wordes ful of edificacion teched that nobel lesson of souerayne perfeccion also how mekely enteÌ„tly his disciples beholden his blessyd face heren the swete wordes setten hem besyly in her mynde And soo haue they grete Joye ghostly lykynge in his speche in his sighte And specyally as I hope they weren â—â— comforted in yâ— nobel shorte praier that he tauÈt hem amonge other in that tyme that is pater noster â— that for the grete frute 〈…〉 that they felten therin also for the grete trust hope that they were put in therby For as we maye well suppose as to the firste that is the fruite therof not only they vnderstonde it after the lettir but also therwith they hadden thorugh grace yâ— ghostly vnderstondyng of eche peticion therof And sythen ther in is conteyned the askynge of al that vs nedeth to the body to the soule and that touchinge our temporel lyf in this worlde the lyf euerlastynge in a nother world al comprehendid in so shorte wordes no wonder thouÈ they hadden grete likinge comforte in that praier by the grete fruyt that they tasted therin And so hauen al they that thorugh grace feleÌ„ the ghostly fruyte and the swete taste therof ¶ Also as to the Seconde SecunduÌ„ comforte in that prayer that is trust and hope how might her trust hope be more stabled strengthed than to see hym that al only knewe what was nedeful and spedeful to hem to aske that myghte only yeue hit hem teche hem the petycy on by the whiche they myght not erre in her askinge nor fay le of her askynge And soo he that was domes man made the lybelle in her cause ageynst the whyche he myght not yeue his dome his sentence ¶ Also he that was lorde made the bille of his seruauÌ„tes for to aske only thoo thynges that were nede ful to them and likyng to him for to grauÌ„te More comforte myght not be touchinge prayer askyng in nede ¶ And also more ouer this comforte of this prayer was the more For as mykel as nexte before in the same place of that sermon he reproued the prayer of ypocrytes other that wern not wor thy to be herde And soo was the medecine more confortable and likinge that the defaulte sekenes was opened tolde be fore All this comforte shall we fynde in this forsayd prayer Pater noster yf we saye hit deuoutly not in dedely synÌ„e For our lord JhuÌ„s made not only this prayer to his discyples that weren that tyme specially with hym in that hille but also to vs and al Cristen men generally that shold make their prayer to the fader of heuen in his name in to the worldes ende â—oÌ„ 〈◊〉 causa But the more harme is here is mykel peple deceyued that leuen to mykel thys moost worthy prayer best by singuler de nocion in other priuate prayers or sayeng it withoute denocion As we may see all day many men â–ª and wymmen bering bedes with trillynge on the fingers waggynge the lippes â–ª but the syghte caste to vanitees the herte that only god knoweth as it is to drede sette more vpon worldly thynges Of the whyche manere of peple speketh our lord god by the prophete and saith thus This peple prayeth honoureth me with her lyppes Populus hic labiis me honorat but their herte is fer from me But for as mykel as this matere is spoken of in many other tretees and bokes bothe in latyne and in englysshe â–ª this prayer sufficauÌ„tly expouned therfore we passen ouer more shortly at this time herof But â—oÌ„ de â—â—pâ— riâ—cia oâ—â—â—i onâ—â— Paâ—â—â— nosâ—â—â— one thynge touchyng this prayer â–ª sothely I trowe that whoo so wille yeue his entente for to saye it wyth deuocion hath an inward desire to the ghostly vnderstonding therof settyng his herte as mykel as he may when he saith it both in comin and in pryuate he shalle thorughe grace by processe of tyme fynde soo mykel comforte there in that there is none prayer made of man that shal be to hym soo sauery so effectuell in what so euer nede or caas he be styred specially to pray for remedy and helpe to god soo shall he fynde in his sowle when god wyll yeue his grace with grete likynge diuerse vnderston dynge therof moste aperteyneth to hys desyre and that other than is writen in the comyn exposicion therof or parauâ—â—ur better than he can tell But mykel folke as seruauÌ„tes and by red men haue more wille to praye for speciall mede that they coueyten here than as true sones for the loue and the plesyng of oure fader god of heuen And so they setten more her likâ—â— ge and besines in a pryuate prayer made of man to our lady or to other sainâ— of heueÌ„ thaÌ„ they done this in general praier made of god hym self the whiche withoute doubte is moost plesinge to hym and most spedful to vs. and therfor they ben deceyued in many maners I speke not here of the sauter and the seruice in holy chirche Neuertheles other deuoute praiers made to god and to oure lady other sayntes ben good to be said after that the deuocion of men is stired to saye them in couenable tyme. so that they sette not her affeccion the lasse vpon this moste worthy prayer Pater noster As mykell folke in the sayeng of other priuate praiers setten all her entent speken hem with grete deuocion but in the sayenge of the Pater noster they ben to necligent rabben it forth withoute deuocion that maketh ofte special mede temporel that they hope for to haue by the sayenge of suche priuate prayers as to ouercome their enemyes or for to be kepte fro fyre or water or sodeyne deth or other bodely perils And that is a grete foly to trust vpon by the saieng of ony praiers without ritghwys lyuing And also men shold not desyre suche special temporel medes but only as is the wylle of god that all only knoweth what is spedful to vs and that withoute doubte shal gete vs moste
ensample of true repentaunce and penauÌ„ce that is Vâ—â—â— peniteÌ„cia ê“ peccatis CoÌ„te a lollardos NoÌ„ de coÌ„teâ—â— ioÌ„e nedful to forieuenesse of sinÌ„es shewed in this woman Maudaleyne as we haue herde the whyche penaunce as alle hooly Chirche techeth stant in sorow of herte in shrift of mouthe and in satisfactoÌ„n of dede But here paraueÌ„tur somme men thynkyng after the fals oppynyon of lollardes that shryft of mouth is not nedefull but that it sufiseth only in herte to be shriueÌ„ to god as the forsayd womaÌ„ was â–ª for the gospell telleth not that she spake ony word by mouthe yet was her synne fully foryeuen as it is sayd as it semeth this is a grete euydeÌ„ce NoÌ„â—â—sâ— for that opinion But here to is an answere resonable that our lord JhuÌ„s to whome she made hir coÌ„fession in herte was there in bodily preseÌ„ce very god man to whome by vertu of the godhede was al 's open the thouÈte of herte as is to man yâ— speche of mouth as oft sithes the processe of the gospel tellethe specially here opeÌ„ly bothe of yâ— woman also oâ— the pharisees thouÈt wherfor yâ— thouÈt of herte was only thaÌ„ to him as mykel as is now therwith speche of mouthe to man bodily And for as moche as now in the newe lawe what tyme that we synÌ„en dedely we offenden him not only after his godhede but also after his manhede that he bought vs with fro synne and ghostly dethe Therfore vs behoueth to do satisfaccion to him after bothe kyndes by true penauÌ„ce knowelechynge oure trespaces both to god and man askynge foryeuenes And sy then we haue not here his bodily preseÌ„ce as Maudaleyne had therfore in hys stede vs behoueth to shewe to the preest by worde that we haue offendid him as man as we shewen to hym by repentauÌ„ce in herte that we haue offendid hym as god yâ— is to say at yâ— lest by dedely synÌ„e For therby only we ben deê‘ted fro him and vnkindely lesen the grete benefice that he gaf vs in his manhede wherfore yf we wyll be restored ageyne and knytte to hym as we were before in grace we muste doo satisfaction not only to hym as to god but also as to man that we haue soo forsake by dedely synne in manere as it is sayd ¶ And soo as holy Chyrche hath resonably ordeyned and beden knowleche by mouth make oure confessyon truly of oure synne to the prestes that he hath specyally ordeyned in hys stede as hys vykers here to by thoo wordes of the gospell that he spake to his dysciples when he sayd to them thus ¶ what so euer ye bynden in erthe it shall be bonden in heuen And what soo ye vnbynden in erthe shall be vnbonden in heuen ¶ Of this true penaunce nedefull for dedely synne not only by repentauÌ„ce in herte but also by shrifte of mouthe to the preste in godes stede yf we may For more our lord god afketh not And therwyth of due satisfaccion folowyng we haue parfyte Ensample opeÌ„ly shewed in this blessid woman that was before so synfull Mary maudeleyne in the processe before sayd of this Gospell as it is open ynoughe touchyng the firste parte and the laste that is to saye repentauÌ„ce and satisfaccyon ¶ And as to the Seconde that is confession though we rede hit not of hir by worde speking for that was no nede to hym that knewe fully her herte our lord JhuÌ„ the re beyng in his bodily presence as it is sayd Neuertheles she shewed the affeccion of this confession parfitely in dede in that that she wold not shewe hir to hym pryuate as synfull askynge mercy as she myght haue done betwyx him and hir or els before his discyples but sparing for no shame that is a grete parte of penauÌ„ce in confession she chese the place and the tyme where it myghte be to hir as open repreef shame that was in the hous of the pharysee of the whiche she knew wel hauynge indygnacion and despyte of the sinfull and also at the mete whan hit shold be moste wondringe to him al his ghestes vpon her for the repreef shame that she had of her synÌ„e was so grete withinforth that she foryate all shame reprefe wythoute forth And so in that dede she knowleched openly her synne in generall and also by wyll in special not refusinge for to haue herd it reherced and openly tolde of hym that she cam to our lord Jhesu the whiche as she wiste well knewe in specyall the leste parte therof and that myght resonably haue reprehended hir openly of it or he hade foryeuen it But our curtois lord ful of grace and mercy sawe that very contricyon in her herte and that gode wyll grounded in true byleue that he was very god that myght fully foryeue hir NoÌ„ fideÌ„â—â—aâ—iâ—ateÌ„ ri quisitis in coÌ„tricione vera synÌ„e as hym lyked and therwith that she had full hope to haue his grace foryeuenesse and also the feruent loue that she had to hym the whiche thre vertues ben nedefull to euery maÌ„ yâ— wyll haue foryeuenes of synÌ„e And so wythoute ony more penauÌ„ce he fully foryaf all her synÌ„es and bad her goo in pees that was pees of coÌ„science fully made bytwene hir god and man for hir true feyth bilyue in the whiche were grounded parfitely hope charite as it is sayd had made hir sauf And so shall it the moste synfull man that is or euer shall be â–ª yf he haue it truly grounded in his herte by veray contricion as she had for thenne withoute doubte he wyll not spare for ony shame to knowleche hys synÌ„e by worde openly to man in goddes R 〈…〉 stede as she dyde by wyll to hym that was bothe god man as it is sayd But here parauentur semeth to somÌ„e men that as the synfull man shall folowe this woman by true forthin kyng of his synÌ„e so shold the preste folowe our lord in lyght foryeuynge shewed therof enioynyng no more penauÌ„ce than R 〈…〉 â–ª he dyde therfore But here answere holy doctoures that sayen that the contricion and the forthynkynge of synne may be so grete and so parfite that it suffyseth wythoute ony more penauÌ„ce to full foryeuenes there of the whyche there as it is yf the preste myght see and fully knowe he shold yeue no more penauÌ„ce But for as mykel as man seeth not the herte as our lord JhuÌ„s god man dyde and so may he not knowe it but in party as by tokens wythoutforthe therfore as to the syker parte he shall enioyne penauÌ„ce for synne more or lasse as holy chirche hath ordeyned And wold god that all synfull people wold folowe this womaÌ„ in true forthynkynge thenÌ„e with N 〈…〉 i bâ— oute doubte they sholde haue of god full foryeuynge were the penauÌ„ce more or lesse of the prestes enioynynge Ferthermore in the forsaid processe of the
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
gospell tellyth But they for as moche as they founde not yâ— body of her mayster there as they hopeden were soo dystour â–ª bled in her wittes and abasshed that they token noâ— rewarde to the angels wordes But wyth grete sorow and drede anone tourned agayne to the discyples And tolde theym that her lordes body was taken awaye And whyther they wyste not â–ª And thenne Peter and Johan rennen towarde the sepulture And wyth hem also the forsayd wymmen And alle they rennen for feruente loue to Jhesu sechynge her herte and her lyf â—u 〈…〉 â— ii viii But after the processe of the gospell Peter and Johan entrynge the graue and not fyndynge the body but oonly the clothes that he was wrapped in and the sudary of his hede wyth grete heuynesse they tourned home agayne ¶ And here we owen to haue Inwarde compassyon of hem For sothly att this tyme they were in full grete desolacoÌ„n â–ª and sorow whanne they soughte soo theyr lorde and founde hym not Nor wyste where they sholde seche hym more Also here we haue ensaÌ„ple yâ— oft tymes before grete Joye â— comyth grete dyscomforte and sorowe the whyche is to be born pacyently for the tyme and euer Jhesu to be sought and called on by denoute prayer and feruent desire vnto the tyme that he be fouÌ„den as the processe after folowynge sheweth B For after the ii apostles were gone ayen as it is sayd in maner of despeyre The forsayd maryes abyden lokeden efte in lucexiiii the sepulcre and thenÌ„e they sawe the ii angels sittyng in white clothes sayenge to hem what seke ye hym that lyueth wyth hem that ben dede But they yet token no rewarde to her wordes nor token ony coÌ„forte to the syght of the angels for they soughten not the angels but the lord of angels And for they fonde hym not therforÌ„ the ii felawes of mawdlayne al heuy discoÌ„forted withdrewe hem setten hem doune somwhere a lityll besyde makyng her mone to other But mary magdalayne I. ii viii wittyng not what she myght doo for wythout her mayster she coude not lyue And for she fonde hym not there nor wyste where she shold seche hym elles she stode styll there wythout the graue wepyng and eft she loked in For she hoped Tertus maria st abat ad monumentuÌ„ Notabil euer to fynde hym there as she helped to berye hym And theÌ„ne sayden the angels to her woman why wepest thou whom sekest thou And she said they haue take awaye my lorde and I wote not where they haue put hym Beholde here the wonderfull werchynge of loue A lytyll before she herde of one angell that he was rysen and after of ii that he lyued And yet she had it not iu mynde but sayd I wote not alle that made loue For as orygene sayth her hert her mynde was not theâ— she was in body but it was there as her loue was that is to saye her mayster JhuÌ„s therfore she coude not speke nor here but of hym And therfore befell that what tyme she wept so toke none rewarde to the angels by cause of the feruent loue that she had to JhuÌ„ that was lorde of angels her mercyful mayster myght noo leuger holde hym fro her but appered to her as it foloueth ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s apered after his resurreccoÌ„n to mawdelayne Caplm lii OVre lorde JhuÌ„s spekynge with his blessed moder at his fyrste apperynge to her â–ª as it was tolde and sayd before Amonge other louely comynynge tolde her of the grete besynes feruent felynge of mawdleyne and sayd that he wolde goo shewe hym bodily to her to comforte her And our lady gladde therof sayd My blessed sone gooth in pees and comforte her For she louyth you full moche and full truely and was full sory of your dethe But I praye you thynketh to come agayn to comforte me And soo she louely clyppyng and kissynge hym lete him goo ¶ And anone he was in the gardyne where mawdleyne was and sayd to her woman whoÌ„ sechest thou And why wepest thou Oure lorde asked that he wyste well To that ende as saynt gregory sayth that by her ansuere in the namyng of hym the fyre of loue sholde be more feruently kyndled in her herte Neuertheles she not knoweynge hym but all dystracte and out of herself supposing that he had be a gardyâ—er sayd Sire yf thou hast take him away telle me where thou haste done hym that I maye take him to me And though our lorde was not a bodily gardyner neuertheles as the same clerke gregory sayth he was so in soth to her ghostly For he was that planted in her herte the plantes of vertues and true loues And thenÌ„e our lorde JhuÌ„s hauyng compassyon of her grete sorowe wepynge chere called her by her homely name and sayd mary the whiche worde sodenly heled all her sorowe And she thenÌ„e knowynge hym wyth vnspekable Joye sayd O Rabony that is mayster ye be he yâ— I haue soo longe soughte and why haue ye hydde you so longe from me And anone she ranne to hym and fallyng downe to the erthe wolde haue kyssed his fete as she was wonte before by vnperfyte affeccoÌ„n to his manhede that was thenÌ„e dedely but not soo now after his ResurreccoÌ„n wherfore oure lorde willynge to lyfte vp ghostly her herte and her affeccyon to heuen to the godhede â–ª and that she sholde nomore seke hym in erthe in manere as she dyde before that he was dede sayde Touche me not in that erthli maner for I haue not stied vp to my fader That is to say I am not yet lyfte vp in thy soule by true perfyte byleue that I am euen wyth the fader veri god And therfore touche me not in that manere Inperfytely But goo saye to my brethern I ascende vp to my fader and your fader to my god and your god And ferdermotÌ„ our lord homely comynyng wyth her spake to her in this maner woost thou not well doughter that I tolde the before my passion that I sholde ryse the thyrde daye from dethe to lyfe And why woldest thou thenne soo besily seke me in the sepulcre And she sayd Soothly mayster I saye you that my herte was fylled wyth so grete sorowe of the bitternesse of your harde passyon and deth that I foryate all other thynge and onÌ„ly thoughte of your bodâ— dede and beried and on the place that it was beryed in And therforÌ„ I broughte now the oynement for to haue enoynted wyth your gloryous body Blessed be your almyghty godhede where thrugh ye wolde ryse fro deth and come agayne to vs And soo they two true louers stoden spaken togyder wyth grete likynge and Joye And she curyously beholdeth his glorious body and askith what her lykith and he in all thynge ansuerde plesyngly to her paye And ferdermore though our lorde soo strangly as it semyth
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
blessyng after he had blessyd them wenten vp ageyn to heuen tellyng there these tidynges of his gracious vyctory And therof was all the blessyd Courte reioysed fulfilled in myrthe thankynge of god And thus in thys maner we may thynke ymagyne the forsaid processe to styrynge of oure deuocion as by way of meditacion in the whiche processe ben many good notabylitees touchyng temptacion of man in this world of the wiche saynte Gregory other doctours spekeÌ„ in the exposicion of this Gospel Duet â–ª est Jhesus in deserto cetera And specially Crisostome in in perfecto the whiche for they ben suffisauÌ„tly wryten not only in latyn but also in Englisshe we passen ouer at this tyme Spekynge ferthermore of the tornynge ageyne of oure Lorde 〈…〉 Jhesus home to his moder at Nazareth And thenÌ„e whan he wente downe fro that hylle and cam to Jordan Johan Baptiste as soone as he sawe hym come towarde hym wyth his fynger puttynge toward hym shewed hym and sayd loo the lambe of god loo he that dooth a way the synÌ„es of the worlde He hit is vpon whome I sawe the holy ghost reste what tyme I baptysed hym ¶ Afterward also a nother day whan Johan hadde shewed hym as he dyde firste Andrewe and Peter with other disciples speken wyth hym and hadden a begynnynge of his knowleche as Johan telleth in his Gospel Afterward oure lord Jhesê° lefte that Countre â–ª and took the waye towarde Galilee tyl he came to his moder at Nazareth whome we shall also folowe by coÌ„passion of his grete trauaylle all that longe waye of lxxiiii myle as it is said before And what tyme that he was come home and his moder had the syghte of hym noo wonder was though she was gladde ioyeful in so mykel that there may no tonge telle â–ª wherfore anone she rose clippynge and kyssyng hym welcomyd hym home and thanked the fader of heuen that brought hym sauf to hir But there with beholding his face lene pale she had grete coÌ„passoÌ„n and he ayenward reuerently enclynynge dyde hir worshippe as to his moder also to Joseph as to his trowed fader And so dwellid he with them as he dyde before me kely but in another maner of lyuynge as by shewynge withoute forth of his perfeccion more and more as it shal shewe Nota bene pro ordine capituloruÌ„â— modo sâ—ribeâ—di in sequâ—ntibus hereafter But for as mykel as it were longe werke peraueÌ„ture tedious bothe to the reders to the herers herof yf al the processe of the blessid lyf of Jhu shold be wryten in Englissh so fully by meditacions as it is yet hyder to after the processe of the book before named of Bonauenture in latyn therfore hereafterward many chapitres longe processe that semeth lytyl edifycacoÌ„n in as to the maner of symple folke that this book is specyally wryten to shalle be lefte vnto it drawe to the passion the whiche with the grace of Jhu shalle be more playnly coÌ„tynued as the mater that is moost nedeful moste edyfyenge And before oonly tho materes that semen moost fructuous and the Chapytres of theym shalle be wryten as god wille yeue grace wherfore as the same Bonauenture B byddeth thou that wilt fele the swetnes and the fruyte of these meditacions take heede algate and in all places deuoutly Vide iÌ„ coâ— ê“xio seque ti qd hic omittitur in thy mynde beholdynge the persone of oure lorde Jhesu in all his dedes as whan he stante with his disciples and whan wyth other synful men And whan he preched to the peple And how he speketh to theym And also whenÌ„e he wyrcheth myracles â–ª so forth takynge hede of all his dedes his maners and pryncipally beholdynge his blessid face yf thou canst ymagyne it that semeth to me moost hard of all other but as I trowe it is moost lykynge to hym that hath grace therof And soo what tyme that synguler me ditacions ben not specifyed this generalle shal suffyle AmeÌ„ ¶ De apercioÌ„e libri iÌ„ sinagoga notatur in capitulo sequeÌ„ti ¶ How oure lord Jhesus began to teche and gadre disciples Capitulum xvi AFter that oure lorde Jhesus was come home ageyne to Nazareth fro his baptisme and his temptacion as it is sayd he beganne a lytil a lytil to shewe hym self and to tech pryuely and in party For as openly and fully we rede not that he took vpon hym thoffyce of prechynge all that yere folowyng that is to saye vnto that tyme that he wrought the first myracle at the weddyng that was that self day a twelue moneth that he was baptised And though he or his disciples precheden in the meane tyme other whyle Neuertheles it was not so fully nor so customably done before that Johan Baptiste was taken emprisoned as after And in that he gaf vs ensample of a wonderful mekenes when touchyng thoffyce of prechynge he gaf stede to Johan that was mykel lesse with oute comparison more vnworthy than he And soo we may see that he began not with boost blowynge as many done but with mekenesse lytyl lytyl softely wherfore vpon a sab botte daye when he was come in to the synagoge as he was wonte to doo with other as in the chirche of Jewes he rose vp for to rede in maner of â–ª a mynyster or a Clerke And whan there was take hym the book of the prophete ysaye he tornyd to that pace where it is wryten soo he redde in this maner The spyryte of oure lord hath rested vpon me wherfore he hath anoynted me and for to preche to the poore he hath seÌ„te me cetera And thenÌ„e whan he had closed the booke taken it to the seruauÌ„t he sat down and thenÌ„e he spake ferthermore This day is this scripture fulfylled in youre ere 's Now take hede of hym how mekely at begynÌ„ynge he took vpon hym yâ— offyce of a reder as it were a symple clerke fyrste with a benigne and lowely chere redynge and after expownyng it me kely of hym self yet not openly expressyng or menyng hym self when he said this day is fulfilled this scripture as who seith I that rede this this daye am he of whome it speketh And the eyen of all that were in the Synagoge were sette be sely in hym And alle they wondred of these wordes of grace that yeden oute of his mouthe And no wonder for he was soueraynly fair also moost eloquente As Dauid saith of hym also Thou faire in shappe passyng the chyldren of meÌ„ Specioâ—ê° â—oâ—â—a pre 〈…〉 s homi num and grace is shewed in thy lyppes Ferthermore also our lord Jhesus besyenge hym aboute oure sauacoÌ„n beganne to clepe gadre to hym dysciples and soo he cleped Peter Andrew thre tymes Fyrste tyme when he was aboute yâ— water of Jordan as it was sayd before and thenÌ„e they comeÌ„ somwhat in De