soules that the fader hath made vnto his lyckenes maye be saued Thenne I wolde not deye and the soules ben not agayn boughte wherfore my faders wyll be fultylled And thenÌ„e sayd the angel to hym be thenÌ„e now of good comfort my lorde and werchyth maÌ„fully For it is semely to him that is in hygh degree to do grete thynges and worthy and to hym that is a manfull man to suffre harde thynges â–ª For tho thynges that ben harde and paynfull shall soone passe thoo thynges that ben Joyefull and gloryous shall come after the fader sayth that he is and shall be euer wyth you and that he shall kepe your dere moder and your discyples att your wyll And shall yelde hem sauf agayne to you And soo the goode meke lorde toke benygnely this manere of comfort and that of his creature considerynge hymself after the kynde of man lasse in worthinesse than angels for the time of dedely lyfe in this worlde and so he was soroufull as man And so he was comforted of the angels wordes as man and soo he toke hys leue of hym prayenge hym to recoÌ„mende hym to the fader all the court of heuen And thenÌ„e this thyrde tyme he rose vp fro his prayer all his body blody whom thou mayst beholde wyth Inwarde coÌ„passion how he wypeth his body Or elles perauenture wasshith hym pryuely in the ryuer And soo gretely pyned in his body and that is reuerently to be had in soroufull coÌ„passion For wythout grete bytternesse of sorowe this myghte not befalle to hym Neuertheles doctours wyse clerkes sayen that our lorde IhuÌ„s prayed the fader in this maner not onÌ„ly for drede of his passion but also for the grete pite mercy that he had of his fyrst peple the Jewes sorowyng that they sholde be lost by occasion of his deth For they shold not haue slayn hym namly sithen he was of her kynÌ„e was also conteyned wryten in her lawe as cryst to come And ther wyth shewed hem so many grete benefyces wherforÌ„ he prayed the fader to this entent thus My fader yf it maye be wyth the hele the sauacoÌ„n of Jewes that the multytude of other folke be torned to bileue I forfake the passion the deth But if it be nedefull that the Jewes be blynded in her malyce so that other folke maye haue syght in true bileue not my wyll but thyne be fulfylled done that is to saye after the fyrste maner of wyll in hym as it is sayd before After this he came to his disciples and said to hem Now slepeth resteth for they had slept a lityl before there Sothly he is a gode herde for he was full wakely and besy vpon the kepynge of that lytyll flocke his byloued discyples O true loue he loued hem in to the vtterest that in soo grete anguyssh soo bitter agonye was soo besy to procure her hele her reste ThenÌ„e sawe our lorde after his aduersaryes comyng wyth torches armes and yet he wolde not wake his discyples tyll they came nygh hem And thenÌ„e he sayd to hem it suffyseth now ye haue slepte ynough Loo he that shall bitraye me is nyghe at honde And therwith came that wycked iudas the fals tratour and worst marchaut before hem and bodily kyssed that InÌ„ocent lambe his lorde IhuÌ„s For as it is writen in the maner of custome that oure lord vsed of his grete benygnyte was what tyme his discyples were sent forth at her comynge agayn for to receyne heÌ„ in louely kysse And therfore that traytour went before kyssed hym as who sayth I am not come with thise armed meÌ„ but in maner as here beforÌ„ I was wont at myn ayen cominge sayd Heyle mayster O very traytour take now good hede to our lorde IhuÌ„ how pacyeÌ„tly benyngly he receyueth that fals feyned clyppynge traytours kysse of that vnlely dyscyple whose fete he wysshe a lytyll before of his souerayne me kenesse and fedde hym with that highe precious mete of his owne blessid body thrugh his vnspekable charytee And also beholde how pacyently he suffreth hymself to be taken bounden smyteÌ„ and woodly lad forth as though he were a theyf or a wycked dooer and in all maner vnmyghty to helpe him self And also take hede how he hath in warde sorowe coÌ„paâ—sion of his disciples fleeÌ„ge fro hym errynge And also thâ—â— mayst see here grete sorowe of heÌ„ how ayenst her wyll brâ—â—â— elte of manÌ„es drede they gone fro hym makynge grete â—â—â—â—nynge and wyth hyghe sighynge as faderles chyldern not â—itynge what to doo And yet was her sorowe moche more seeng her mayster lorde soo vilaynsly ferde wyth And the hell boundes drawyng him as a beest to sacrefyce and him as a meke laÌ„be without resistence folowynge Now ferdermore beholde how he is ladde of thoos vylest wretches fro that ryuer vp towarde the cyte of Ihrlm And that hastely wyth grete pyâ—ne hauynge his hondes bounden behynde hym as a theyf gâ—â—de aboue his cote but not curyously And his mantel drawen fro hym and goyng bare hede and stoupinge for the grete haast and traueylle thaâ— they made hym to haue And whan be was broughte before the prynces of prestes the scrybes and the aldermen that were thenne gadred abydynge his comynge gladde were they thenÌ„e examynynge hym apposyng sothly in many questions and procuryng fals wytnesse ayenst him and spittyng on his holy face and hydynge his eyen they buffeted hym scornyng sayeÌ„ge Prophetise now telle vs who smote the laste And soo in many maners they vexed and tormented hym and he in all shewed hyghe pacyence wherfore here we owe to haue Inwarde coÌ„passoÌ„n of all that he suffred soo for vs At laste the grete maysters wenten her waye put tynge him in to a manere of prison there vnder a lofte there they bouÌ„den hym to a stonen pyler as men saye that haue seen it And also there they left wyth hym some armed men to kepe hym for more sykernesse the whiche all that nyght vexed hym in scornynges shrewde wordes abredginge hym reprouynge in thise maner wordes as we resonably maye suppose wenest thou to be better wyser than our prynces and maysters of the lawe what vn wytte foly was that in the to reprehende hem thou sholdest not haue ben so hardy ones for to haue opende thy mouth ayenst hem but now sheweth thy lewde wytte For now thou stondeste as it besemyth to suche as thou art without doubte Thou arte worthy the dethe and therforÌ„ thou shalt haue it And so al that night now one now a nother by wordes dedes scorned hym reproued hym Take hede also on that other syde of our lorde JhuÌ„s as shamfast pacyently in scylence holdynge his pees to all that they putteÌ„ vpon hym castynge downe towarde the erthe his chere as though he were gylty taken in blame and here haue we inwardly coÌ„passion O lorde ihuÌ„
wyth curtesye thanking gode wyll And theÌ„ne it befelle that Mary Maudeleyne that parauentur of time before had herde hym preche thorugh touchyng of hys grace was gretly styred to compunction and to the feruent loue of hym though hit were yet preuely hydde in her herte whan she herde knew that he was at mete in the hous of the forsayd Simon she was ferueÌ„tly touched with sorow of herte with inforth for her synnes also wyth the brennynge fyre of hys loue that she myght no lenger abyde but anone she wente to that forsayd hous where Jhesus sat at mete considryng that wythoute hym she myght not be sauf ne haue foryeuenes of hir synÌ„es and so she went bodely in to the hous And as she had foryete hir self taking none regarde to the gestes that there were at the mete holding doune hir face hir eyen to the erth she letted not tyll she come to hym that she sought inwardly NoÌ„ 〈…〉 loued our lord Jhesu And anone thenÌ„e she fell doune to the grounde prostrate at hys feet and wyth grete inward sorowe shame for hyr synnes spake in hyr herte to hym thynkynge as it were in thys manere My swete lord I wote well and truly knowleche that ye be my god and my lorde and that I haue offendyd your hyghe mageste in many grete offenses and trespaces in so mykel that I knowleche sothely that my synnes ben wythoute nombre as the grauell of the see But for as mykel as I belyue that your mercy passeth alle thynge Therfor I wretchyd synful come to you flee to your grete mercy forthynkynge inwardly of that I haue offendid askynge mercy foryeuenes And I behete with all my herte ameÌ„dement of my synÌ„es And that I shall neuer to my power for sake youre obedyence Good lord put me not fro you forsake not my repentauÌ„ce for other refute I wote well I may none haue and also I wyll not haue For I loue you soueraynly aboue alle other wherfore gode lorde forsake ye not me but punysshe ye me at youre wille Neuertheles I aske algate mercy And here wyth wyth grete turste of hys mercy and inward affectyon of hys loue she kyssede hys feete otfe And sadly wepynge shedynge teres so thylke that shwesshe his feete wyth hem And so it semeth there by that our lord Jhesus went bare fote After whan she had wel wepte with grete drede of hyr vnworthynes that hyr here 's sholde touche hyr lordes fete she wiped hym with her here deuoutely For she borught no thing wyth hyr so precyous to wype him with And also she wyped hem wyth hyr heer in a mendement of that she had beofre trespaced with hyr heer that is to saye as she hadde before vsed it in the pryde and vanyte than she wold put hyt to the vse of mekenes deuocion And also for the ferueÌ„te loue deuocion that she had to hym she wolde not be letted therof bi the fetching of ony cloth to wipe hem with but so wypyng his feete with her here afterwarde de uoutly kissynge hem ofth sythes after she aÌ„oynted hem with a precious oynement that she brouÈt wyth hyr supposyng pe raueÌ„tur that oure lordes feete were hard of the weye also for inward deuocyon begynnynge wyth drede at hys feete as she dyd after with more boldenes of loue anoynted hys hede Lord god who so wold inwardly thinke take hede to this dede of this woman all the circumstauÌ„ce therof mykel ghostly fruyte sholde he fynde theryn sterynge to inward repentauÌ„ce of sin ne to true loue of Jhesu and grete deuocyon But now forth as to the processe take we hede also of the maner of oure lord Jhesu in thys tyme how benygnly and pacyently he suffreth hyr doo all hyr wylle For it lyked hym full welle knowynge the inward affection and the true loue of hyr herte And soo alle that tyme he seaced of etyng and also wyth hym all the ghestes wondryng of the woman and of that vnkouth dede and of the pacyence of oure lord Jhesu hys suffrauÌ„ce of her And specially of the maister of the hous Simon demed him gretely in hys herte that he wolde suffre suche a comyn synful womaÌ„ toche hym so homely And in that he thought that he was no prophete supposyng that he knew her not but our lord that passyng all other prophetes knewe the leest thought of manÌ„es herte answered openly to hys preuy thoughtes she wyng hym self therby a very prophete more than a prophete And by ensample of two doctours he concluded hym tusty fyeng the woman that he helde so synful preued that she loued hym more shewed more token of loue by her dede than he wyth all hys feste and soo shewynge that not only the perfection of all vertues But also the Justifyeng of the synfull stant pryncypally in true loue of god he sayd to Symon as for a conclusyon thus Many synÌ„es ben foryeuen hyr for she loued myket And thenÌ„e he tourned hym to mawdeleyne sayde to hir as for a full ende of that she asked Thy feyth hath saued the goo now in pees O lord Jhesu how swete and lykyng was thys word to hyr wyth how grete Joye that she wente a wey Sothely it was so lykyng that as I trowe hyt went neuer after oute of her mynde And so was she perfytely conuerted to Jhesu leuyng her synÌ„e fully and lyuynge euer after in all honeste holyly and drawen algate to hym and to NoÌ„ hys moder withoute departyng perseuerauÌ„tly In the forsayd processe the sentence of hys gospel ben many grete notabytees to our edificacyon of the whyche we shalle touche somÌ„e in party Firste as to a soueraine conforte of alle sinful folke we haue here openly shewed in our lord Jhesu the habundauÌ„ce of hys endeles mercy that soo soone soo gladly foryafe soo many grete synÌ„es trespaces of thys synful woman And so doth he to alle that truly desyren asken hys mercy but here behoueth charyte true loue that was so specyally commended Caâ—iâ—as boâ—â—â—â—â— of hym in thys woman the whcihe only pees bitwene god the synful man As the apostle sayth that charite couereth the multitude of synnes withoute the whyche it is Inpossyble to please god ¶ For as saynte Bernard saith the quaÌ„tite of euery mans soule shal be taken estemed after the mesure of Bernard suâ— can ser â—â—vii charyte that is therin that is to saye that soule that hath mykel of charite is grete And that hath lytyl is lytyl and that hath nought is nought as sayut Poule sayth after the rehersynge of many grete vertues concludynge thus If I haue not charyte soothely I am nought And therfor sayth our lord of thys woman that for she loueth mykyl therfore she hadde NoÌ„ mykel foryeuen as it was sayd befor Ferthermore also here haue we
deuocyon fellen doune prostrate to fore the Trone N. â— of Almyghty god kynge of heuen and Gabriel to whome as Seynte Bernard saith was made speciall reuelacion of Crystes IncarnacoÌ„n in her owne name sayd in thys maner 〈…〉 ¶ Almyghty lord hit lyked to youre hyghe mageste of your endles goodnes to make of nouÈt that noble and resonable creature man for oure comforte and oure goodnes that of hym shold be made the restoryng of oure fals companye Lucifer hys felawes that felle doune fro vs by Apostasye soo that he sholde dwelle here in thys blessyd place wyth vs louynge and worshyppyng yow wythouten ende But loo go od lord now all thei perysshen and none is saued And in so many thousand yere passed we sene none of hem all here Oure enemyes hauen the vyctorye of hem oure partye is not restored but the pryson of helle contynuelly fylled wher to lord be they borne to grete meschyef For though it be doune after your ryÈtwysnes Neuertheles lord it is now tyme of mercy haue in mynde that ye made hem after youre owne lykenes And though her fornfaders folyly wrechydly breken youre mauÌ„dement Neuertheles youre mercy is aboue al thynge wherfore all their eyen ben set vpon as the seruauÌ„tes on the lordes handes tyll ye haue mercy helpe hem wyth a spedeful heleful remedy Seqiut de coÌ„tencoÌ„e iÌ„ter miÌ„am veritatem ¶ HEre wyth beganne a maner of altercacion and disputacion bytuene the foure kynges deughters that is to saye Marcy and sothfastnes pees and ryght wysnesse Of the whiche foure mercy and pees accordyng to the Aungels prayer for sayde were fauourable to mannes restorynge But that other two systers soth Be 〈…〉 in sâ—r â–ª de An 〈…〉 fastnes and right wysnes ageyne sayden ¶ As saynte Bernarde by deuout me ditacion maketh herof a processe faire longe but for to take therof shortly as to our purpos at this tyme soÌ„what in other maner in other wordes we may ymagyne thynke thê° Fyrst mercy pees knelyng to fore her fader kyng of heuen by yâ— ê“phetes wordes Dauid said thus Lord shalt thou cast a Nunquid in â—â—â—â—num pâ—â—â—ciâ—â— de uâ— way fro the maÌ„ withouteÌ„ ende â–ª or hast thou foryeteÌ„ to do mercy And this oft they reherceden than said our lord lete clepe forth your other two systers the whyche ye sene redy ayenste you lete vs see also what they wol saye here to they were Miserâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 corâ—â—◠〈…〉 sâ—â— oâ—â— M 〈…〉 n◠〈…〉 cleped comen al to gyder mercy began said in this wyse My fader of mercy it was youre wyl euer withouten ende a moÌ„ge your other douÈters my systers to yeue me that prerogatyue aboue al other werkes that only I shold specially regne here wyth you in heuen but also that the erthe shold be replenyshed wyth me to soo moche vertu that who so wold truly besely aske my helpe in ony meschyef or nede he shold wythout fayl finde your socour helpe thoruÈ the meditacoÌ„n of me But now lo my dere fader that worthi partie of erthe your noble creature man in hys grete wretchydnesse myschyef so longe tyme lyggyng cryeth coÌ„tinuelly asketh after my helpe now time is comen in the whyche but yf ye helpe hym saue hym I lese my name Here ayenst that other sister â—eriâ—â—â— P 〈…〉 i 〈◊〉 bâ—râ—oâ— tuoru 〈…〉 â—e 〈…〉 sothfastnes sayd ye knowe wel my fader sothfast god that I am begynnyng of your wordes after ye made man in so grete worthynes that ye wedded me to him in that coÌ„dycyon that what tyme he breke your heste he al that come of hym shold lese her blessyd lyf be daÌ„pned done to deth wherfore he forsoke me betoke hym to your enmy myn the fader of lesyng witnes my syster riÈtwysnes I perysshe lese my name but he haue deth that he hath deseruyd thaÌ„ spake riÈtwys Jusâ—iâ—iâ— Jusâ—iâ—i◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—e â—â—tâ—â— nes RyÈtwis lord thou hast made me gouernour of thi dome lastyng wythoute ende my sister trouth techer of thy lawe al thouÈ it so be that our sister mercy be styred of pyte a good zele for mannes sauacyon neuertheles in that she wolde saue hym that hath so gretely forfetyd ageinst yow vs also Ca. i. withouten dewe satisfaccion she wolde destroye vs both hir susteren that is to say trouthe ryghtwysnes fordo our name Paâ— Here with yâ— fourth syster came forth that is to saye pees â—irite sovirly blamyng hir susters for her contrarious wordes her stryt said to hem thus knowe ye not wel sisters that In pace â—actuâ—â—sâ—â—ocuâ—â—â—â—â— our fader hath ordeyned made his place only there as I am I may not abyde ne dwelle there as is stryf disseÌ„cion and that is not semely but fully ageynst kynde to be amoÌ„ges vertues wherfor but ye cease of stryf be acorded I must forsake yow my fader also lo here is agrete coÌ„trauersy bytwene the se four douÈters of our lorde so grete reasons that it was not sene how that in mannes sauacion mercy sothfastnes â–ª pees ryÈtwysnes myght fully be kepte accorded than bad Pater oÌ„nâ—â—udicuim de diâ—â—iâ—iâ— the fader of heuen that for as moche as he had coÌ„mytted ye uen all his dome to his dere sone souerayne wysedome kyng euerlastyng with him in one godhede yâ— these four douÈters shold go to hym he to termyne this question yeue a dome ther on And than the kynge souerayne wysedome wrote yâ— seÌ„teâ—â—e the dome in thys maner toke it to hys chauÌ„celer Reson to rede it in his name sayenge in these wordes This doughter sothfastnes saith that she peryssheth leseth hyr name but man haue the deth that he hath deserued with hyr acordeth hir lister riÈtwysnes on yâ— other syde mercy sayth that she perissheth leseth hir name but man haue mercy be saued with hir accordeth her fourth sister pees wherfor to accorde all these to gyder for a fynal dome in this mater lete be made a good deth of man so yâ— one be founden wydâ—uten Judicium â—egis synne yâ— may wyl innoceÌ„tly for charyte suffre deth for maÌ„ than haue they all yâ— they asken For than may not dethe lenger holde hym that is without synÌ„e or trespas And so he shal perse hym makynge in hym a hole a wey thorugh the whyche man may passe and be saued ¶ In this sentence and dome all the Courte of heuen wondrynge and commeÌ„ding the souerayne wysdom assented wel here to but ferthermore askeden amonge them self where that one myght be fouÌ„den that shold fulfille and doo this dede of charyte And than mercy toke with her reson and sought among all yâ— ordres of augels in heuene to see whether ony of hem
aduersite meddled to gyder to ensaÌ„ple and techyng of vs. For he sente vs dyuerse comfortes to lyfte vp oure hope that we falle not by dispeyre and therwyth he sente vs tribulacions discoÌ„fortes to kepe vs in mekenes that therby knowynge oure owne wretchydnes we stande algate in his drede â–ª The seconde lesson that we maye lerne in this processe is touchyng the benefyces and the specyall comfortes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of god that he that feleth them specially be not there by eleuate in his owne syghte as holdyng hym more worthy thaÌ„ other that haue them nouÈt And also he that feleth not sucâ— special yeftes or coÌ„fortes be not therfore cast doun by sorowe or enuy to hym that hath hem For as we see here the Angels appieryng spekyng of the childe weren to Joseph â–ª and not to oure lady And neuertheles yet was he lesse in meryte mykel more vnworthy than she Also here we may lerne that he that feleth sucâ— specyal yeftes of god though he haue hem not algate as he wold and after his desyre that there thorugh he gruche not ne be not heuy by vnkyndnesse ageynst god For notwithstondyng that Joseph was so nyhe acceptable to god Neuertheles the appierynges of the Aungels and the reuelacions were not done to hym openly in wakyng but in maner of dremes in his slepynge The thyrdde notable thynge that we haue Ensample of here is How that our lord suffreth his derlynges to be dyseased here thorugh persecucions and tribulacions and that sheweth well here in Mary Joseph what tyme they knewe the childe sought to be slayn what myght they here more sorouful For though it so were Tercium TribulacoÌ„ electorum that they knewen and wysten wel that he was goddes sone Neuertheles the sensualite the reason of hem myÈt kyndely ben distourbled and meued that is to say in thys maner lord god fader Almyghty what nede is hit to thy blessid sone that here is to flee as thou myÈtest not defende hym fro hys enemyes and kepe hym sauf here And also her tribulacion dysease was in soo moche the more that hem behoueth to goo in to soo ferre a londe that they knewe not and that by hard weyes noyous sythen they weren soo mykel vndisposed to goynge trauayllyng oure lady for yongth tendyrnes Joseph also for elde feblenesse also the child that they shold bere carye was vnnethes two monethes olde yet here with they yeden in to that londe in the whiche they as poure vnknoweÌ„ had not to helpe hem self with All these dyseases we ren to hem mater of grete trybulacoÌ„n afflyccoÌ„n and therfor thou yâ— suffrest here trybulacoÌ„n kepe theryn pacience and loke not to haue herof pryuelege of hym that wold not take hym Quartum Benignitas erga in nimicoâ— self it ne yeue it his moder The fourth notable thynge that we may coÌ„sydere here is yâ— grete benignyte mercy of our lord For there as he myght anone in a momente haue dystroyed his enemyes that pursueden hym yet wold he not but benygnely and swetely he chose rather to flee and yeue stede for the tyme to the malyce and the wodenesse of that wycked Herode than to be aueÌ„gyd as he myght ryghtwysly of hym and this was a profuÌ„de mekenes a grete pacience In the same maner sholde we doo that is to saye not wilfully wythstonde seke vengeauÌ„ce of hem that done wronge and pursewen vs but paciently for the tyme forbere hem and flee her malyce more ouer specyally praye for hem as god techeth vs Also in an other place of the gospel to doo to oure enemyes as we wold be done to Ferthermore as to yâ— processe of the fleynge of Jhu with his moder Joseph whaÌ„ they comen to Egypte anone at the firste entente all the mawmentes of that londe felle downe as it was prophecyed before by yâ— prophete ysaye And thenne wente they to a Cyte of that londe that hyghte Hermopolis or lymopolis and there they hyred hem somme symple hous where they dwelleden seuen yere as pylgrymes and strangers poore and nedy ¶ Here maye we deuoutly ymagyne and thynke of the maner of lyuynge of theym in that straunge londe and how oure lady wroughte for hir lyuelode that is to saye with nedil sewynge and spynnynge as it is wryten of hyr and also Joseph wyrchynge in his crafte of Carpentry And how the chylde blessyd Jhesus after he came to the age of fyue yere or there aboute yede on hyr eraÌ„des and halpe in that he myght as a poore chylde to hem shewynge in all his dedes buxomnesse lowenesse and mekenesse ¶ And sythen hem behoued to gete hyr lyuelode in that maner wyth her trauaylle and parauenture wyth reprefe ofte sythes of them that they dwellyd amoÌ„ge as hit falleth comynly to strangers and also with shame ¶ what hope we of hyr howshold as of beddynge clothynge and other necessaryes whether they hadden in this superfluyte or curiositee Nay wythout doubte they that louen parfyte pouerte wold not haue though they myÈte that that is contrary to pouerte as superfluyte curiosite And namely touchyng curiosite Trowe 〈…〉 we that our lady in hyr sowynge or other maner wyrchyng made curious werkes as many folke done Nay god forbede For though they wyrchen suche curiositees that take none hede to lese the tyme. she that was in that nede myght not ne wolde not speÌ„de yâ— tyme in wayne as many done namely in these dayes For this vyce of curiosite is one of the moost perilloê° vyce that is and that by many skilles maye be shewed First by lesynge of tyme that is ordeyned to the worship of God Prim◠〈…〉 For suche curious werke ocupieth mykel more tyme than wolde other playne and symple werke doo that were suffysaunt to the nede and that is a grete shame and contrary to goddes wylle ¶ The Seconde harmethat cometh Secunda racio of curiositee is cause and mater of vayne Joye to the wyrcher As what tyme a man maketh suche a curious werke ofte loketh he there on wyth lykynge and thynketh and ymagyneth in is ghoost besely ¶ Also whanne he wyrcheth not and specyally in tyme of goddes seruyce and whan he sholde haue his herte to god thynketh or speketh for to make that curiosytee and therby holdeth hym self subtyle and wytty And soo wolde be seen passynge other ¶ Also hit is cause of pryde to hym Tercia racio that the curyouse werke is maade to For as symple playne and boistons werkes ben occasions of lowenesse and mekenesse soo ben curious werkes as oylle norysshynge the fyre of pryde in yâ— holders hauers of hem ¶ Also hit is to hem Quarâ—a racio that haue lykynge in suche curiositee matere for to drawe they re hertes fro oure lorde god and heuenly thynges For as saynte Gregory sayth In as mykel as man hath delyte here
hard strauÌ„ge answere as to semynge hys moder was not distourbled ne in despeyre but fully trustynge in his grete godenes benignite she wente ageyne to yâ— seruauÌ„tes and sayd to them Gooth to my sone Jhesus and what so euer he sayth and byddeth you do doth and then at the byd dyng of our lord they fylleden the stenes that were ful of water And anone at hys blessyng all yâ— water was tornyd in to wyne And thenne he badde them drawe therof And bere to the archetryclyne that is to saye the moost worthy persone of alle the hgestes in that hous In the whyche byddyng we may see fyrste the dyscrecyon of our lorde in that he sente that wyne fyrste to the moste worshypfull man Also we maye see here by that our lorde satte fere fro hym in that he sayd Bereth hyt to Archetryclyne And so sythen he satte in the hygeste place it semeth that oure lorde satte in the lowest place as it was sayd before And whan he hadde tasted the wyne preysed it and he other dronken therof the mynystres that knewen how it was made tolden openly the myracle And thenne hys dyscyples byleueden in hym more sadly as for the fyrst myracle that they seen done before hem And soo in that Jhesus shewed hys blysse hys godhede ¶ Afterward whan the â—este was al done our lord Jhesus called John by himself sayd Leue thys woman that thou hast taken to thy wyf folowe me For I shal bryng the to a better and more parfyte weddynge than thys is And aÌ„one wythoute more Johan lefte hys wyf there and folowed Jhesus In thys forsayd processe we may not many thynges to our doctryn edificacion Fyrst in that our lord Jhesus wold come and be presente attebrydale weddyng he shewed vs that matrymony flesshely wedding is leefful and ordeined of god but in that he called Johan ther fro he doth vs to vnderstonde that ghoostly matrymony is mikel more better and perfite worthy Also in that harde answere and straunge as to semynge that he yaf to his moder when he sayd what is that to me and to the woman as saynt Bernard sayth he taught vs that ben relygious and haue forsake the world not for to be to besy and haue to grete care about our flesshely parentes soo that theyr nede lette not our ghostly exercyse for as long as we ben of the worlde so longe we be tâ— dette to our parentes but after we haue left it forsake our self mykel more we be free and delyuerd of y◠〈…〉 besinesse of hem and so we finde writen that ther cam vpon a tyme to an hermite or a monke that had forsake the worlde lyued solytaryly in deserte his owen flesshely broder prayeng hym of hys helpe in a certeyne nede touchinge the world and he bade hym go to hys other broder that was dede longe afore And whanne he wondred of that byddynge and sayde that he was dede as he knewe wel the monk answerde sayd that so washe dede to the world And soo thaught vs our lord Jhsus that we that haue forsake the worlde sholde not besy aboute oure pareutes and flesshely frendes ouer that that relygyon asketh when he answered to hys moder and namely to suche moder sayeng what is that to me to the womaÌ„ ¶ Anoder vnderstondyng is in this wordes the whiche cominly doctoures tellen and therfore we passe ouer atte this tyme. Ferthermore we haue here techynge of pacience hope in the dede of 〈…〉 our lady that lefte not for that straunge answere as it is sayd before And soo what tyme we callen to Jhesu for helpe atte oure nede bodily or ghostly though we finde it not anone but rather hardnes contrariete we shall not leue therfore to calle vpon hym by gode hope tyll thorugh his mercy and grace yâ— vnsauery water cold of aduersite penauÌ„ce be torned in to wyne of comforte and ghostly lykynge ¶ After thys myracle was done our lord Jhesus wyllyng purposynge so for the to wyrche and preche openly for the sauacion of man he wente fro that place wyth hys moder and hys disciples in to Capharnaum besyde Nasareth leding hys moder by the wey and folowyng hys discyples besily heryng his wordes and his techynge For he was not ydell â–ª but dyd and wroughte good or taughte and spake to edyfycacyon And so doo we in ¶ Of yâ— excelleÌ„t his name yâ— blessid be without ende ameÌ„ Srmon of oure lord JhuÌ„ made in yâ— hylle Caplm xviii WhanÌ„e our lord JhuÌ„s hadde chosen gadred his disciples as it is sayd before willynge to teche hem and enforme hem the perfeccion of yâ— newe lawe he ladde hem vp in to an hille that is called Thabor about two myle fro Nazareth after the comyn opinion and there he made to hem a longe sermon Augustinê° de sermoÌ„â— dni in moÌ„â—â— ful of fruyte the whyche as saint austin sayth in the begynnynge of this boke that he made of that sermon it conteyneth alle the perfeccion of Cristen liuinge For in that sermon he taughte hem fyrste whiche men of god ben blessyd worthy to haue his blysse Also he taughte hem the true maner of prayer of fastinge of Almesdede other vertues longynge to the parfite lyf of man as the texte of the gospel opeÌ„ly telleth and diuerse doctoures clerkes expounen it suffisauÌ„tly the whiche processe we may passe ouer here for as mykel as it is wryten bothe in latyn in Englysshe in many other places And also it were ful long processe to touche al the poyntes therof here as by maner of meditacoÌ„n wherfor we shal at this time specially note yâ— our lord began his sermon fyrst â—oÌ„ deÌ„ pâ—â—â—taâ—â— at pouerte doyng vs to that pouerte is yâ— fyrst grouÌ„de â–ª of al gostly excercyse For he that is ouerleyd charged withe temporell gode worldly rychesse maye not frely folowe Cryst that is the mirrour ensample of pouerte namely he that hath liking his affeccoÌ„n vnder these worldly goods for he is not free but thrall as in bondage of hem For of that thyng that a man loueth inwardly by affeccion â–ª he is made wilfully â–ª thrall seruauÌ„t And therfore is the pour man blessid that is to say he that inwardly loueth no thyng but god For in that he is knitte to god as for the more parte wherfor say the saint Bernard in a sermon that pouerte is a grete fether Bernerdê° i sâ—â— quarto de adueÌ„tâ— or a grete wynge thorugh the whyche man fleeth soo soone in the kyngdome of heuene For as to other vertues that folowen in this place of the gospel the mede of hem is behight for to come as in tyme that foloweth after But to the vertue of pouerte it is not only behygthe for to come but as in tyme that is now present it is yeuen of cryste by
ghostly but he yeue vs And so yf he suffre vs fasting we shall fayle in the wey For withoute him we may not helpe our self in ony ghostly nede wherfore we haue no mater of elacion or vayne Joye of our self what time that we felen ony comforte or profite in ghostly excercyse for it is nought of vs but only on hym and so yf we take gode entente we may see that they that ben true seruauÌ„tes of god chosen of hym the more parfyte that they ben in lyuyng and the nere god and the more excellent in his yeftes of grace the more meke they ben and the more abiecte in her owne syght For they knowen wel that they haue noughte of hemself but wretchydnesse synÌ„e For the nere that a man cometh to god the more clere syght he hath ghostly and so he seeth the more clerly the grete godenes and the mercy of god wherfore pryde vayne Joye that comen of ghostly blyndenes may not haue place and restynge in his soule that is so lyghtned thrugh grace For wythoute doubte he that knewe well god and sothely examyned hym self myght not be proude dedely Also here is grete coÌ„forte to synfull men of the grete mercy of oure lord Jhesu yf they wyllen torne ageyne come to hym by very repentauÌ„ce what tyme they ben departed fro hym gone in to the ferre couÌ„trey of wyckednes for as the gospell telleth that he was specyally stired to mercy of the peple for as mykell as somÌ„e of hem were comen to hym fro ferre couÌ„tre So withoute doubte wyl he to euery sinful man that wyll come to hym ghostly as it is sayd by his weye of de partinge neuer so longe before AMEN ¶ Of the fleynge of our lord Jhesus when the people wolde haue made hym her kynge Eapitulum xxvi AFter that our lord JhuÌ„s had fedde the people to the full as it is sayd in the nexte chapytre before they seenge his myght in that myracle and how he myght helpe hem at her nede for her profyte temporel they woldeÌ„ haue made hym her kynge But our lord JhuÌ„s knowynge this wyll of hem hem vnwyttyng fledde in to the hyll so that they myght not fynde hym And this was that hyll as somme clerkes sayen vpon yâ— whyche he made that excellent sermon that is spoke of before and thus he fledde for he wolde not haue temporell kynge domes vayne worldes worship But take we here gode entent howe in what maner he fledde this worship effectuelly withoute feynyng Firste he badde his disciples take the shippe goo in to the water before him and thenÌ„e he allone went in to the hyl so So that yf the peple wold seche hym among his disciples they shold not finde him And so he scaped awey fro hem that soughteÌ„ hym to worshyppe yeuyng Ensample to vs for to flee temporell worship for he flede not that worshipe for him self but for vs. knowynge what perill it is vs for to coueite or desyre temporell worship For soth it is that NoÌ„ coÌ„caÌ„ 〈◊〉 nos honoâ—s perâ—uâ—a mâ—â—â— worship is one of the moste perillous gnaris of the enemy to catche begyle manÌ„es soule one of the heuyest burthen that draweth downe ouercometh the soule dedely â–ª whether hit be worship or prelacy or of temporel lordship or of grete conynge For scarcely is there ony maÌ„ that hath desyre in worship but that he is in grete perill of fallyng or els fully fallen downe P 〈…〉 in the pytte of dedely synÌ„e as we see by many resons First for as mykell as he that hath grete delyte in worship is besy al tymes in his mynde howe he maye kepe his worship make it more so as gregory sayth ¶ In as mykel as a man hath sette his lykynge in thyng that longeth to the world or to the flesshe here byneth forth in so mykel is he departed fro yâ— ghostly S 〈…〉 likyng loue of god heuenly thynges aboue forthe Also he that loueth worshyppes is besy to procure gete him frendes that now kepe hym in hys worship And also further hym to gretter worshyppes wherfore often sythes fallen dyuerse causes in the whiche he offeÌ„ded god his owen coÌ„science for to please suche frendes And in the same maner he maketh heÌ„ 〈…〉 to do for him Also comynly he hath indygnacion of other yâ— ben in worshyp bacbyteth hem to make himself more worshipfull more worthy and so he falleth in to hate enuy of Quâ—â—â—â— his broder ¶ Also he hold him felf in his owen syght also desyred to be had soo in othermens sighte worthy worship full And so he falleth in to yâ— fowle vyce of elacion and pride and vayne glory But therfore as the gospell sayth He that holde hym selfe as oughte worthy when in soothenesse he is nought he deceyueth foule hym self therfore sayd our lord to hys disciples in the gospel when ye huae done all thynges that ben beden to you saie ye sothely with herte we beÌ„ vnworthy and vayne seruauÌ„tes But this may not he say that holde QuintuÌ„ hymself worthy worshipfull Ferthermore as to the laste when this lykyng of worshype is roted in man he is so hongry gredy after worshippes that he may not be filled but euery day procureth newe worshippes the gretter the more that he geteth the more he coueyted and desireth For he holdeth algate hymself more worthy worshipfull than he was before bothe in his owne syght in other mans syght so he falleth in to depe couetyse that is the fowlest vyce the rote the cause of many other vyces Of this vayne delite in worshippes of the perill therof saint Bernard speketh to men Bernardê° sermo â—â—â—o de aâ—câ—â—sionâ— specially in this manere All we ben noble worthy creatures of a grete manere wyll wherfore kyndely we desiren hyghe nes But woo to vs yf we will folowe hym that wyll sette his sete in the hyll of highe lordshipe highe myght be lyke to god in worship that was lucifer yâ— thus stighe vp by proude wyll in to the hyll of hyghnes first a glorious Angell but sodenly fell downe therfro made a fowle fend of hell ¶ Also taketh hede ferthermore yâ— he that fowle fende after his fals coueting by his wicked enuious wyl to cast man downe fro his blisse he durste not tempte hym for to styghe vp to that hyll of lordshipe grete myghte that hymself so sodenly fell downe fro but as a fals trechour he shewed hym in another hyll lyke therto that is to say the hyll of grete connynge and couÌ„ceylled hym falsly to styghe vp in to this hylle by prowde desyre of worshipe when he sayd to hym in this manere ¶ ye shall be as goddes thrughe grete connynge knowynge bothe gode and euyll ¶ And for as mykell as man gaf his assente to his
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
to a blisful paradise thrugh his presence and al that blessid fely ship wyth myrth Joye that maye not be spoken or thought honoured worshipped and thanked soueraynly her lode â–ª that soo gracyously delyuerde hem fro that thraldome of the fende and restored hem to that blysse that they had forfeyted worthily by synne And soo in ympnes and Joyeful songes of the prophecye fulfylled Fyrste adam his progenye and after noe abraham moyses dauyd wyth all other holy faders and prophetes louinge and thankyng our lorde Jhesu contynued there wyth hym And his blessed angels in to the tyme that it lyked him to take vem thens wyth vnspekable Joye myrth and sette hem in paradise terrestre where that Enoch Hely liuynge in bodies abyden the tyme of antcryst the whiche also weren soueraynly coÌ„forted of his glorioê° presence wyth that blessed coÌ„pany And whan it drowe towarde daye vpon the sondaye that was the thirde daye fro his passion our lorde Jesus spake to hem all and sayd in thise maner wordes Now it is tyme that I reyse my body fro dethe to life And I therfore now shall goo take my body agayne And therwyth they all fallynge doune and worshippyng hym sayden Gooth oure lorde kynge of blysse soone after it be your wyll comyth agayn For we desyren soueraynly to see your moost gloryoê° body to oure souerayne comforte Comynge thenÌ„e our lorde JhuÌ„s in soule wyth a worshypful multytude of angels to the graue where his blessed body laye on the sondaye full erly byfore the full spryngynge of the daye and takynge agayn that body moost holy rose vp thorugh his owne vertue myghte and went out of that graue closid as he went first out of his mâ—â—s wombe clene virgyn in his natiuyte wythout sorow or wemÌ„e of synÌ„e And thenÌ„e aboute the same tyme that is to saye erly on morough mary mawdleyn mary of James of salome takynge her leue fyrste at our lady token the waye to warde the graue wyth precyous onements duellynge styll att home our lady and makynge her prayers in this maner Allmyghty god fader moost mercyfull and moost piteous as ye well knowe my dere sone is dede beryed For sothly he was nayâ—led to the crosse and hanged bitwyx ii theues And after he was dede I helped to berie hym wyth myne owne hondes whom I conceyued wythout corrupcyon And bare hym wy thoute traueylle and sorowe And he was alle my good alle my desyre and all the lyfe and comforte of my soule But at laste he passed awaye fro me all to beten all to wounded al to rente And all his enmyes rysen ayenst hym and scorned hym and dampned hym And his owne dâ—ycyples forsoken hym and flewe fro hym And I his sorouâ—â—ll moder myght not helpe hym And as ye knowen well fader of pyte and of mercy that haue all power myghte ye wolde not thenÌ„e delyuer hym fro the harde deth But now ye maye restore hym to me agayn to lyfe and that I beseche your hyghe mageste Lorde where is he now why taryeth he soo longe fro me Good fader sende him I praye you to me For my soule may not be in rest in to the tyme that I see hym â–ª O my swete sone what doost thou now And why abydest thou soo longe or thou â—â—me to me Sothly thou saydest that thou sholdest agayne vp ryse the thirde daye And is not this the thirde daye my dere sone Aryse vp now all my Joye and comforte me wyth thâ—â—e agayn comynge whom thou soo dyscomfortest thrugh tâ—â—n awaye passynge And with that she soo prayenge and swete teeres shedynge Loo sodenly our lorde JhuÌ„s came apered to her and in all the whitest clothes with a gladde louely â—here gretynge her on syde half in thise wordes â–ª Salue sâ—taÌ„ parens that is to saye â–ª Heyle holy moder And anone she torned her ◠〈…〉 sayd Arte thou JhuÌ„s my blessed sone And therwyth she knelyng downe honoured hym And also he agaynwarde knelâ—â—ge sayd My dere moder I am he I am vprysen and â—o I am wyth yâ— And after both rysyng vp kysseden louely other and she wyth vnspekable Joye clippynge hym sadly rested aâ— vpon him and he gladly bare her vp susteyned her After both sittyng togyder our lady besily and curyously behelde hym â—â—semblaunce and in hondes fete and al the body whether be had the sygnes of the wouÌ„des before â–ª Askynge hym whether all the paynes and sorowe weren awaye â–ª And he ansuerde sayd ye soothly worshypfull moder all sorowe is aware fro me And dethe sorowe and alle paynes anguysshes I haue ouercome soo that I shall neuer hens forwarde fele ought of heÌ„ And thenÌ„e she sayd Blessed be the holy fader that hath yâ— agayne yeuen to me and his holy name be exalted loued and magnyfied euer wythout ende And soo they bothe louely likyngly talkynge togider maden a grete Joyefull feest and oure lorde JhuÌ„s tolde her the worthy thynges that he dyde in tho iii. dayes after his passion And hou be delyuerde his choseÌ„ peple fro helle the deuell Loo this is a souerayne paske this is the Joyefull daye that dauyd spekyth of specyally sayenge â—ec est dies quam fecit dnÌ„s exultemus igitur et letemur in ea AMEN ¶ How that Mawdlayne and other maryes camen to the graue Caplm li. AS I sayd before Mary Mawdleyne and her two felowes token her waye towarde the graue of oure lorde Jhesu wyth precioê° oynements And whaÌ„ they came wythout the ya te of the cyte they token in to her mynde the paynes the tormeÌ„tes of her dere mayster And therfoâ— in al places where ony thynge was notably done agaynst hym or by hym they somwhat stoden and abydynge knelynge doune kissynge the erthe sighyng wepyng and in thise maner wordes sayeng to other lo here we mett hym wyth yâ— grete heuy crosse on his backe whaÌ„ his moder swouned and half dede And after her he torned to the wymÌ„en of Jhrlm yâ— maden sorowe for hym And ferdermore here for werynesse ouer myghte he layed downe the crosse And here it was that the wicked tormentours violently and cruelly putten him fourth and constrayneden him to goo faster And here at the laste they spoylleden hym of his clothes and maden hym all naked and soo cruelly nayleden hym vpon the crosse And thenÌ„ wyth grete sorowe and shedynge of teres fallynge doune vpon her faces they worshippeden inwardly and kisseden deuoutly the crosse of oure lorde that was thenÌ„e spreyned wyth his precyous rede blode And ferdermore they rysynge vp and goinge Tettus towarde the graue sayden to other who shall ouertorne to vs that grete stone fro the dore of the sepulcre And therwith they nyghinge therto and Inwardly beholdynge seen the stone ouertorned And an angell syttyng therupon and sayenge to hem Dredeth not ye sechyth Jhesu And soo forth as the
closed where Thomas was thenÌ„e presente wyth hem that was not soo the fyrste daye before sayde And aâ—ter his felowes hadden tolde hym how they had seen her lorde And he not byleuyng but yt he myghte touche hym as the processe of the gospell plainly tellyth ThenÌ„e the gode herdman of his errynge shepe â–ª besy and hauinge compassion sodenly stondynge in myddes of hem â–ª and sayd Pees to you And therwyth tornyng hym specyally to thomas sayd Putt in thy fynger hyder and see touche my hondes and bryng fourth thyn honde and putt it in to my syde And be no more of mysbyleue but hâ—sforwarde truely byleuyng And thenÌ„e reuerently Thomas knelyng downe wyth bothe Joye and drede touched his wouÌ„des as he badde sayd My lord and my god He sawe hym man â–ª and byleued hym god And thenÌ„e also he knouleged his gylte in that he had forsaken hym as other dyden also â–ª And our lorde goodly takynge hym vp sayd Drede not all thy synnes ben foryeue And this longe doubte and mysbyleue of thomas was of the grete godenes of our lorde in that manere suffred for our profyte to the more open pre yf and certaynte of his very resurreccyon And soo we maye see here the grete benygnytee mekenesse and feruent loue of oure lorde Jhesu in that yâ— he shewyth to Thomas and his other discyples soo openly his wouÌ„des for to put away fro her hertes alle manere derkenesse of mysbyleue to bothe hers and ours grete profyte And specially our lord reserued in his gloryous body the steppes of his woundes for iii â–ª skylles that is to saye Fyrste to confermyng of the fayth of his resurreccoÌ„n N. bil to t 〈…〉 discyples And secondly for to shewe hem to the fader 〈…〉 woll praye for vs and make hym plesed to vs for 〈…〉 r specyall and souerayne aduocate in that party And th 〈…〉 de skylle is for to shewe hem at the daye of dome to yâ— reproued peple vnto her confusion â–ª And soo stondeth our lorde wyth his blessed moder and maudleyne his discyples as longe as hym lyste comynynge homely wyth hem in maner as it is sayd in the nexte chapyter to be had in contemplacoÌ„n And thenÌ„e att laste he badde hem goo in to galile to the mounte Thabor as it is sayd For there he sayd he wolde speke more wyth hem And thenne yeuynge hem his blessynge he passed awaye fro hem ¶ How our lorde Jhesus appered to his dyscyples in galyle Caplm lix AFter the discyples were gone in to Galyle as our lorde badde there he appered efte to hem â— sayd There is yeuen to men alle the power in heuen in erthe Gooth now 〈…〉 teche all maner of peple baptisynge hem in the name of the fader the sone and the holy ghost â–ª and techynge hem to kepe all those thynges that I haue bydden you and be of gode comforte For loo I am wyth you all the dayes in to the worldes ende And they honoured him at his cominge and stonden after wyth hym full Joyeful and gladde ¶ Now take we good hede to the forsayd wordes for they ben full comfortable worthy Fyrst he shewyth to hem that he is lorde of all thyng After he yeuyth hem auctoryte mauÌ„dement to preche â–ª The thirde he yeuyth hem the fourme of baptisynge And att laste the strongest holde and comfort that they myght haue whan he sayth that he shall euer be wyth hem â—oo what Joye and comfort he yeueth hem And how many grete tokens of charytee he shewyth to hem And soo yeuynge hem his blessynge he passed awaye fro hem ¶ How our lorde JhuÌ„s apered to the discyples at the see Tyberiadis Johis xxi Caplm lx Dwellynge yet the discyples in Galyle vpon a tyme vii of theym wenten to fysshe in the see of Tiberyadis as the gospel tellith in processe the whiche I passe ouer ¶ But yf we take hede Inwardly to all those thynges that were there spoken done we maye fynde moche ghostly mirthe comforte in hem and namly in that solempne feest that our lorde made there to hem In the whiche he homely etynge wyth hem and as his maner alwaye was mekely seruynge heÌ„ ful likyngly fedde hem not onÌ„ly bodily but moche more ghostly wherof he yeue vs part ghostly JhuÌ„s for his mercy Amen ¶ After the forsayd feest complete our lorde asked of peter de petro whether he loued hym more than other and eft and the thyr de tyme askynge whether he loued hym At euery tyme he coÌ„meÌ„ded to hym his peple yâ— he sholde after gouernÌ„ badde him fede his shepe wherin we may see the proper benignyte me kenes of our lorde JhuÌ„s and specyally his hyghe charyte and de petro Joâ—e the grete lone that he hath to our soules And after he tellith before to peter the deth that he sholde suffre for his loue And peter willynge to wite also of John that folowed with him in what maner he sholde deye was ansuerde thus of our lorde I woll that he dwelle soo tyll I come As who sayth I woll not that he folowe me as thou by the passyon suffrynge but yâ— in his full age contemplacoÌ„n he ende this lyfe in pees Neuertheles other discyples mys vndstode by that worde that he sholde not haue deyed and yet had not that ben a grete yeft sy then it is better to be bodily dede and dwelle euer wyth cryste as the appostle sayth ¶ After this our lorde Jhesus passed a waye fro theym and went again as he was wonte to the holy faders in paradyse Also our lorde Jhesus appered a nother tyme to moo than fyue hundred discyples and brethern gade Apparu 〈◊〉 JhuÌ„s â—ngent â–ª fribus red togyder As the appostle poul wytnessyth But where or what tyme or how it is not wryten Neuertheles we may suppose that it was as he was wont wyth grete charyte meke nesse and goodnesse on his syde and wyth grete Joye comforte on her syde And soo haue we now touched of xii apperynges of our lorde JhuÌ„ after his resurreccoÌ„n wythout two yâ— folowen after in his ascencoÌ„n ¶ Of alle the Apperynges of oure lorde Jhesu in generalle Caplm lxi THough it soo be that our lorde JhuÌ„s appered in druerse manere after his resurreccyon xiiii tymes as it is sayde Netheles the gospel specifyeth not but onÌ„ly of x. For how he apered to his moder it is not wryten in ony place but we resonably deuoutly trowe it as it is sayd before Also of other iii. apperynges that is to saye to Joseph to James mo than v. C. brethern is specyfied beforÌ„ where they ben wryten but not in the gospell Also we maye well suppose of many mo For it is lykly that he the moost benigne lorde ofte tymes visited bothe his moder his dyscyples and maudleyne his specyall beloued comfortynge and gladynge hem specyally that were in his
grete comforte of hym that forsakyth worldly coÌ„forte for god The same saint bernarde coÌ„cluded in thise wordes The apostles in this bidyng seten perseuerauÌ„t wyth one No bnÌ„ wyll togyder in prayer wyth the woman mary JhuÌ„s moder And in the selfe maner lerne thou to praye lerne thou to seke No bernardum to aske and knocke at the door tyll thou fynde tyll thou take and tyll it be opened to the Our lorde knoweth thy freeyll feble kynde and he is true and wol not suffre the to be tempted more than thou mayst bere And I truste in him that yf thou wolt abyde truely thou shalt not abide the tenth day but that he shall come before coÌ„forte thy desolate soule And so prayenge in his blessynges of ghostly swetnesse soo that thou shalte haue soo grete likyng in his mynde and in those ghostly drinkes that he shal make the dronke oft in soule that thou shalt be Joyfull gladde that euer thou forsoke the fals comfortes of the worlde Loo by this forsaid sentence of saynt bernarde we maye see in party what behouyth to receyue the holy Ghost his loue wherfore that we maye be able to receyue here that grete yefte of the holy ghost his coÌ„forte and after come to the blisse that our lord JhuÌ„s is now steyen vp hath made our way before vs. leue we hate we al fals loue likyng of this wretched worlde And set we not our loue on the stynkyng flessh nourissh we it not in desires but desire we coÌ„tynuelly for to be departed therfro Soo that thrugh the grace of the holy ghost helping vs we maye folowe somwhat the blessed lyf of our lorde in this worlde after goo vp to him to our kynde heritage of blysse in the gloryious cytee of heuenly Jhrlm where he souerain kyng wyth the fader the holy ghost one god in trinyte lyueth regneth wythout ende Amen ¶ Thus endeth the contemplacoÌ„n of the blessed lyfe of our lorde JhuÌ„ the whiche processe for asmoche as it is here thus wryten in englysshe tonge lenger in many partyes in other maner than is the laten of Bonauenture â–ª therfore it semyth not conuenient to folowe the processe therof bi the dayes of the weke after th entent of the forsayd Bonauenture For it were to tedious as me thynketh and also it sholde soo soone be fulsome and not in comfortable deyntees by cause of the freilte of mankynde that hath likynge to here and to knowe newe thynges and those that ben seldom herde ben oft in the more deyntee wherforÌ„ it semyth to me best that euery deuoute creature that loueth to rede or here this boke take the parties therof as it semyth moost comfortable and stirynge to his deuocoÌ„n Somtyme one somtyme another and specyally in tymes of the yere and the festes ordeyned in holy chirche as the maters ben pertynent to hem And for asmoche as that blessed and worthy feest of the precyous sacrament of JhuÌ„s body in the whiche he is euery daye bodily presente wyth vs to oure moost comforte that we maye haue in erthe is the ende and conclusyon of alle other Festes of hym gracyously and resonably ordeyned by holy chirche as it was sayd before TheforÌ„ wyth the grace of the holy ghost of him of whom that feest is we shal speke somwhat more to coÌ„forte of hem that truely bileuen and to confusion of all fals lollardes heretykes AmeÌ„ ¶ Blessed be the name of our lorde JhuÌ„ his moder mary now euer wythout ende AMEN ¶ Explicit Spâ—lm vite Cristi ¶ A shorte treatyce of the highest moost worthy sacrament of cristis blessid body and the merueyles therof MEmoriam fecit mirabiliuÌ„ suorum misericors miserator dnÌ„s escaÌ„ dedit timentibus se Thyse wordes of dauyd in the saâ—â—ter sayd in prophecye soÌ„ge tyme before thyncarnacoÌ„n of our lorde JhuÌ„ specyally of the worshipfull sacramente of his precyous bodi hauen senteÌ„ce vnder stondynge in englyssh tonge Our lorde mercyfull mercy yeuer hath maade a mynde of his merueyles that he hathe yeue mete to hem that dreden him This mete is that precyous ghostly mete of the blessed body of our lorde in the sacrament of th aulter that he of his souerayn mercy yeuyth euery day in forme of brede to all tho that truely dreden him as her lord god by the whiche drede they kepen hem from dedely synne and mekely standen in stedfaste byleue of holy chyrche ¶ And this ghostly mete he yeuyth and hath made therby a specyall mynde of his merueiles That is to saye as the prestes rehercen in the canon of the masse in mynde of his merueyles blessed passoÌ„n and of his merueylous ResurreccoÌ„n and of his gloryous AscencoÌ„n And generally in minde of all the merueylous werkes dedes of hym in his blessed lyf here in this worlde the whiche is treated in all this boke before wryten For to begyn â—yrst at his merueyllous IncarnacoÌ„n soo how expresse mynde therof is this mete that he yeuyth to vs in the sacrament of the aulter For therin is he verily and in that self body that was so merueylously conceyued by the holy ghost aboue kynde And also soo merueylously borne of his blessed moder mary wythout sorowe or weme of synne And soo forth of all the merueyllous werkes and dedes of hym in to this ghostly mete we haue that specyall mynde that none maye be more and that we haue of none other For all other thynges passed that we haue mynde of we conceyue in spiryte and in hert soo that therby we haue not the bodily presence of hem But in this ghostly mete and sacramentale coÌ„memoracoÌ„n of our lord Jhesu he is verily bodily present wyth vs vnder another forme But sothly in his owne proper substaunce very god man For what tyme he sholde stye vp in to heueÌ„ he sayd to his discyples his folowers in thise wordes Lo I am wyth you all the dayes in to the worldes ende coÌ„fortyng hem by this benigne promyse that he sholde dwell wyth hem not onÌ„ly by ghostly presence of his godhede but also by the bodyly presence of his manhede that he yeuyth to vs in this forsayd mete of his flessh blode in mynde of his merneyles generally as it is sayd but most specyall in mynde of that blessed passion that he suffred for vs. For what tyme he shold passe out of this world to the fader the nyght before his passoÌ„n at that worthy supper wyth his discyples as it is sayd before he made and ordeyned this souerayne moost worshypfull sacrament of his flessh blode yeuynge his body to mete and his blode in to drynke for a specyall mynde of his passion dethe For thus he sayde to his appostles in that fyrste makynge of this heelfull sacrament This dooth ye in my mynde Soo that the souerayne moost worthy
mynde of his passyon and passyng loue to vs sholde be euermore this hyghe worshipfull sacrament this is that precyous ghostly mete specyall mynde of our lord JhuÌ„ in the whiche is had al ghostly likynge the sauour taast of all swetnesse And also this is that swete memoryale where thrugh we ben wythdrawe kept fro wyckednesse and comforted strengthed in goodnes and protyten euery day in encreace of vertues of grace in sothfastnesse This is that hic yefte moost noble memoryale that oweth worthily to be prynted euer in our mynde and to be bestly kept in the inward affeccoÌ„n of the hert in contynuel mynde of hym that yeuith vs this swete memoryale precyous yeft For whos yett is ofttyme seen hins mynde is likyngly prynted in the hert Thus our lord JhuÌ„s of his grete mercy hath made a likynge mynde of his merueyles yeuyng this mete specyally to he that dredeÌ„ hym And here we shal vnderstonde that in ii maners men dreden god and therafter he yeuith this mete diuersly to hem For some dreden god as seruauÌ„tes dreden her lorde leuyng eschewynge to synÌ„e onÌ„ly for drede of payn and to thise maner of men yf they ben out of dedely synÌ„e in grace our lorde yeuith this forsayd mete as to her ghostly sustenauÌ„ce soo that bi the vertue therof they ben susteyned in lyf of soule and kept fro euerlastyng dethe But other ben that dreden god as true chyldern dreden to offende their fader for the loue of him And to thise maner of men our lord god yeuith his precyous mete not onÌ„ly to her ghostly sustenauÌ„ce but also to her souerayn likynge woÌ„derful comfort in soule And of this maner of dreding folke spekith of the same prophete dauid in thise wordes O lorde god how moche is the manyfolde plentee of thy swetnesse the whiche thou hast hidde to hem that dreden the But they that dreden not god haue neyther ghostly sustenauÌ„ce nor heelful likynge of this precyous noble mete but thrugh her owne wyckednesse vndisposyng in soule taken it and eten it to her ghostly dethe euerlastynge dampnacoÌ„n And that beÌ„ two maner of peple One is of hem that dreden not to receyue this holiest sacrament in dedely synÌ„e or elles by defaulte of drede contynuen in her synne For as the wyse man sayth The drede of god casteth out synÌ„e and therfore who soo contynueth in dedely synÌ„e it is an open preyf that he dredeth not god And thenÌ„e he is vnable to receyue and heelfully ete thys worthy sacrament Another maner of peple that lacken the drede of god ben heretikes the whiche in defawte of buxome drede to god holy chirche presuÌ„ptuously leuynge vpon her bodily wyttes kyndly reison Leue not that holy doctours haue tauÈt holy chirche determyned â–ª of this blessed sacrament but falsly trowen obstynatly sayeÌ„ that it is brede in his kynde as it was before the consecracoÌ„n So that the substance of brede is not torned in to yâ— substance of goddis body but abydeth styll brede as it was before by cause that it semyth so to all her bodily wyttes The whiche errour heresie al other of this holyest sacrament wythout doubt spryngeÌ„ of ghostly pryde presuÌ„pcyon of kyndly wytt in defawte lacke of lowly drede For eyther suche men leuen that god may worche al those merueyles aboue the comin cours of kinde as holy chirche techyth in this holy sacrament or noughte And yf they leue not that he maye thenÌ„e dreden they hym nought as god almyghty and so ben they wors men than iewes or sarrasynes For bothe byleue that god is almyghty And on that other side yf they sayen leuen that god for he is almyghty may werke those merueyles but they leue not that he dooth soo for as moche as her kynde by reason tellyth hem the contrary thenÌ„e dreden they not for to ayensay the souerayne goodnes lâ—ne of god to maÌ„kinde as in yâ— party that holy chirche techith by leuyth of this holy sacrament and in that they preuen heÌ„self grete foles For though it were so yâ— it were in doubt whether the techyng byleue yâ— holy chirche hath of this holy sacrameÌ„t were sooth or nought Or elles also sett caas that it were so the yet the syker paâ—te were to byleue as holy chirche techyth with a buxome drede For in that we leuen our kindly reson ben obeysauÌ„t to god holy chirche as hymself byddeth vs â–ª And also we wythdrawe not in our byleue of the myght of god nor of his loue souerayn goodnes to vs but rather maken it more yf it so were yâ— it were not soth as we byleuen that were lytyll peryl or rather none but mede in vs in al partes for our good wyll to god holy chirche And also in that byleue there is noo peryl of ydolatrye as the fals heretykes sayen that we honouren maken brede our god For we sayen bileueÌ„ that in that holy sacrament brede is torned in to goddis body by vertue of crystis wordes And soo we all honouren not brede but god and his blessed body in forme of brede That is to say in that lykenesse of brede that we seen by true byleue in soule wyth our ghostly eyen Thus we hauyng loue drede of god and stondynge stedfastly in the byleue yâ— holy chirche hath taughte vs specially of this holyest sacrament we shall consyder Inwardly beholde the kyndlynge nourisshyng of our loue to our lorde JhuÌ„ that yeuyth vs of his hye grace this precyous mete of his blessed body The merueyles that he makyth and worchyth therin specyally in two maneres That is to saye in one manere euery daye pryuely wher of we haue knowynge oonly by byleue wythin forth and also in a nother maner somtyme openly wherof we haue knowynge by true tellynge of myracles shewed wythout forth â–ª Towchyng the fyrste manere of merueyles it is a full grete merueyle that by vertue of crystis wordes brede is torned into goddis body and wyne in to his blode And to strength vs in bileue of this merueyle whe shal haue in mynde that he with the self myghte of his worde made all the worlde of nought and of the rybbe of adam made eue in flesshe blode and torned the wyfe of loth in to an ymage of salte and moyses yerde in to a serpent And welles waters of egypte torned in to blode wherfore sythen god almyghty wrought all thyse merueyles and many moo aboue the reason of man and the comyn cours of kynde why maye he not also by the self myght torne brede in to his body There is noo reason to preue the contrary But yf we wolde saye that god were not almyghty â–ª That god forbede ¶ Also it is a grete merueyle that the self body of our lorde Jhesu that sittyth in heuen vpon the faders