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
was his comyn hostrye and namly tho fewe dayes folowyn ge in to his passyon For there he ete on dayes slept in nygh tes wyth his discyples and his blessed moder wyth her sisters for they worshipped her soueraynly as worthy was but specyally mawdeleyne yâ— wolde neuer departe fro her ThenÌ„e amonge those his true frendes our lorde sayd that they sholde not be tomoche abasshed or distourbled with that vncouth de de to come tolde hem that he wold on the morowe goo openly in to Jhrlm And thenÌ„e were they all soueraynly aferde and prayden hym hertly his moder also namely that he wolde not put hymselfe soo vtterly in to his enmyes hondes and sothly ferdermore in to the dethe that was conspyred wythout faylle agaynst hym of yâ— Jewes But our lorde god coÌ„fortyng hem againward badde hem drede nought and sayd it is the faders wyll that I take this Journeye and he shall kepe vs and soo ordeyne for vs at this tyme that ye shall see me amonge al myn enmyes in the grettest worshyp that euer ye sawe me they shall haue noo power now agaynst me But after that I haue done all that I wyll tomorowe att euen we shall come hyder again sauf and sounde And thenne thorugh thyse wordes they were all well comforted But neuertheles alwaye dredynge How our lorde JhuÌ„s tame to Jherusalem vpon palmsonday Caplm xxxvii THe sondaye after erly vpon the morow our lorde Jhesus dysposed hym as he had sayd to goo in to Jherusalem in a new maner an vncouthe other wyse than euer he dyde before But to fulfyll yâ— prophecye of zacarye yâ— prophete â–ª sayd to that pourpoos And whan he with that lytill but blessid coÌ„pany camÌ„ to a place in middes yâ— way that was called bethfage He sente two of his discyples in to Jherusalem And badde hem bryng to him an asse her fole that were teâ—ed the re in the comyn waye and ordeyned to serue poore men at her nede that had none bestes of her owne And whan they were broughte and the discyples had layed her clothes vpon hem Our lorde mekely sette hym firste a lityl while vpon the asse after on the fole ridynge in that symple araye toke his way forth in to Jhrlm O lorde what syghte was this to see yâ— kinge of kyngis lorde of all the worlde ride in suche araye namly in to that solempne cytee of Jherusalem But sothly this thou dydest as all thyn other dedes to our enformacoÌ„n and en sample For we may see and vnderstonde that in this maner of worldes worshippe takynge thou dispisest fully all the poÌ„pe of vayne worldes worshyp hauyuge in stede of golden har neys and curyous sadels and bridels symple clothes and hem ê“yn helters And whan the people herde of his comynge by cause of that grete myracle that was publisshed before of the reysinge of lazar they weÌ„ten ayenst hym and receyueden him as kynge wyth ympnes songes and grete Joyes strewynge in his waye her clothes braunches of trees But wyth this Joye our lorde meaned sorow wepyng For whan he came nyghe the cyte he wepte therupon sayenge before the destrucci on therof that came after sorowynge for her ghostly blind nesse For we shall vnderstonde that as holy wrytte makyth mynde our lorde wepte notably thre tymes One tyme in the Primo dethe of lazar the wretchydnes of mankynde wherby he is neded to deth for the fyrste synÌ„e A nother tyme he wepte for the SecuÌ„do ghostly blyndenes vncuÌ„nynge of man as now at this tyme of hem that dwellen in that cyte of Jherusalem that wolden not knowe the tyme of her gracyous visytacoÌ„n And therforÌ„ after was to come to that cyte her vtter distruccoÌ„n The thir de tyme he wepte for the grete trespaas and malyce of man And Tercio that was in tyme of his passion hangyng on the crosse for he sawe that his passyon was sufficyent for redempcoÌ„n of all men but neuertheles it toke not effecte of profyte in all for not in reproued and harde hertes obstynate to doo pena unce that woll not forthynke amende hem of her synÌ„es And of this wepinge spekith the appostle poul whan he sayth that JhuÌ„s in tyme of his passyon wyth a grete crye wepynge teres was herde of the fader for his reuerence And of thyse thre wepyng tymes holy wrytte spekyth Also holy chirche Quart makith mynde that he wepte the fourth tyme. and that was whan he was a yonge chylde And that wepynge was for to hyde fro the deuilles the mysterye of his JncarnacoÌ„n Beholde we now our lorde JhuÌ„s soo wepynge and that not feynyngly but effectuelly and largely wyth a sorowfull herte specyally for her dampnacoÌ„n without ende with the destruccoÌ„n tem porell of hem and of her cytee And as we maye sothfastly trowe his dere moder and all that company seenge hym wepyng soo myght not conteyne hem fro wepyng at that tyme and nomore sholde we sene losse of soules Thê° our lord Jesus rydynge on the asse and hauynge in stede of prynces erles borons his poore symple discyples aboute hym wyth his moder other deuoute wymÌ„en folowynge entred in to that solempne cyte and also the peple doynge hym great worshyp as it is sayd before Of the whiche comynge al the cyte was gretly styred And soo went he firste in to the temple cast oute therof the byars sellers agaynst goddis lawes as it is sayde here before in the xxxii chapiter And there was he stondin ge openly in the temple prechynge ansuerynge to the prynces pharysees all that daye tyll it drewe towarde euen And soo he his discyples stondyng all the daye fastynge after the grete worshyp before done there was not one yâ— wolde bydde hym ones drynke wherfore at euen he wente wyth his discyples to his homely hostry bethanye gooynge soo symply thorugh the cyte wyth that lityll company that came on the mo rowe wyth soo grete worshyp And here maye we consyder yâ— it is lityll to charge and lityll force of worldes worshyp that is soo soone done and soo lyghtly passeth awaye But what Joye trowe we that his moder mawdeleyne other true freÌ„des hadden whan they sawe hym soo worshypped of the people namly at nyght whan he was come wyth his disciples sauf in prosperyte to bethanye Sothly he alonly knowyth our lord JhuÌ„s that euer blessed be with ende AMEN What our lorde JhuÌ„s dyde from palmsonday in to the thursdaye after next sewynge Caplm xxxviii OVr lord JhuÌ„s ful of charyte well of al charyte wyllynge to shew bothe in worde dede his souerayne charyte as well to his foes as to his frendes and desirynge that noo man sholde be loste but al saaf whan it drewe to the ende of his dedely lyfe here of his passion tyme was nyghe at honde he traueyled besily in prechyng and techyug opeÌ„ly to yâ—
ye breke him not as ye haue done the theues soo that I maye berye his body all hole for it nedith not sythen as ye seen he is fully dede and was a longe tyme now passed And therwyth John magdalene and her other systers knelynge wyth our lady besoughten the same wyth her sore wepynge O lady what doo ye ye lowen you to the fete of hem that ben moost wycked And prayen hem that haue noo rewarde to ony good prayer Suppose ye to bowe by your pyte hem that ben moost cruell and moost wycked wythout pyte Or to ouercome hem that ben alder proudest with mekenes naye For proude men haue abhomynacoÌ„n of mekenes ye traueyllen in vayne And therwyth one that was named longius and was that tyme wycked proude but after a true lyuer marter despisyng her wepyng prayers wyth a sharpe spere openyd the syde of oure lorde Jhesu and made a grete wounde Out of the whiche anone ranÌ„e togyder bothe bloode water And therwyth our lady felle doune in a swounyug half dede bytwene the harmes of magdalene And that John not mowynge bere that grete sorow toke to hym manÌ„es hert and risyng ayenst hem sayd ye wycked meÌ„ why doo ye this cruelte See ye not that he is dede why woll ye also slaye this woman his moder Go now your way for we shall berye hym And therwyth as god wolde they wente her waye ThenÌ„e was our lady excyted and so rose as it had be fro slepe askynge what was done more to her sone they sayd none newe thynge more ayenst hym And after she had caughte spiryte and behelde her sone soo greuously wounded was also wouÌ„ded in her herte wyth a newe wouÌ„de of sorow Seest thou now how oft times our lady is this day dede sothly as oft as she sawe done ayeÌ„st her sone oni payne wherfore now is fulfylled in her that symeon sayd to her prophecyeng Tâ—aÌ„ ipsiê° aâ—am ptraÌ„sibit gladâ—ê° longe before his suerde shal perce thrugh thyn oune soule that is to saye the suerde of his passoÌ„n sorowe And that befelle oft tymes in this daye But now sothly the suerde of this spere hath perced both the body of the sone the soule of the moder After this they saten doune all besyde the crosse but what they shall doo they wote not For they may not take do un the body berye it by cause they haue neyther streÌ„gthe nor Instrumentes apte therfore And for to goo awaye fro hym soo hangynge they dare not and longe abyde there they may not â–ª by cause that the nyghte was come on hem Here mayst thou see in what sorow and perplexyte they ben O benygne lorde Jhesu how is this that ye suffre your dere moder chosen before all other that is the myrrour of the worlde and youre specyall restynge place soo to be tormeÌ„ted troubled that vnneth she hathe ony spiryte to lyue And tyme it were that she had some manere of reste and relecynge of her sorowe ¶ Of the takynge doune of the crosse our lordes body Jhesu at euensonge tyme Caplm xlvi IN the mene tyme that oure lady Johan other before sayd were in soo grete perplexyte desolacion as it is sayd they lokeden toward the cyte as oftymes dyden for drede and thenne see they many other comynge towarde hem by the waye the whyche was Joseph of armathre and Nycodeme bryngynge wyth hem dyuerse Instrumentes wyth the whyche they sholde take doune the body of JhuÌ„ fro the crosse And also they broughte an hondred pouÌ„de of myrre and aloes for to anoynte his body soo burye hyt And thenÌ„e they all rysen vp wyth grete drede not knowynge what they wold do O lord god how grete is thy sorowe this daye ThenÌ„e Johan taking hede to hem that were so coming sayd to our lady Sothely I see comyng there Joseph Nichodeme And thenÌ„e our lady caughte spiryte was gretely comforted and sayd Blessed be oure lord god that hath sente vs helpe at oure nede hath mynde of oure sorowe that hath not forsake vs in oure trybulacyon Good sone Johan goo agaynst hem welcome hem For I wote well they come to our socoure And anone Johan wente agaynste hem And when they metten they clipped other wyth wepynge teres myghte not speke to other a grete whyle for tendernes of coÌ„passyon and sorowe After that they hadde walked forth a lytyll whyle and drawen nyghe towarde the Crosse Joseph asked who were there wythe our lady how it stode wyth the other dyscyples Johan answerynge tolde hem whoo were there wyth our lady but of the discyples he coude not tell for he sayd there was none of hem sene of all yâ— day â–ª ferthermore at her askynge he tolde all that was done agaynst our lord all the processe of his passyon when they come nygh the place knelynge doune and wepynge they honoured our lorde Jhesu And after metynge togyder our Lady and her systers mawdleyne receyued hem worshipfully with knelyng low bowynge to therthe and they ayen warde knelynge worship pynge wyth grete wepynge stoden soo togyder a grete whyle or they speken But at last our lady began to speke to hem said Sothly frendes ye hane done wel that ye haue mynde so of your mayster for he loued you well And as I knowlege plainly to you it semyd to me that there was a newe light rysen at your comynge For before we wyste not what we myighte doo therfore god quyte you And they sayden ayeÌ„warde we ben sory wyth all our herte for all thyse wronges malice done ayenst hym For as we seen well the wycked men hauen the maystry ayenst the ryghtwysman and we wolde full gladly haue delyuerde him fro so grete Jniury yf we had mighte â–ª But at the leest we shal do this seruyce to our lorde maister that we ben come fore And thenÌ„e they made hem redy to take hym downe Take now good hede in maner as I haue sayd before to the maner of takynge downe there are sette ii laders on the sydes on the crosse one ayenst another Joseph gooth vpon the ladder stoÌ„dynge of that houde on the right halfe besteth hym to drawe out the nayle of that honde but it is full harde For the nayle is grete longe harde driuen in to the tree And wythout grete thirstyng doune of our lordes hoÌ„de it may not be done but that is noo force for our lorde knowyth that he doyth al truly with good entent and therfore he acceptith his dede And whan the nayle was drawen out iohn makith sygne to nychode for to take hym it priuely soo that our lady see it not for dyscomfortynge And after in the same manere nychodeme drawyth oute the nayle of the lyfte honde and takyth it pryuely to Johan And thenne nychodeme comyth doune for to draw out the thirde nayle of the fete