bynethe in erthely thynges in soo mykel ageyne is he departed fro the loue aboue of heuenly and godly thynges ¶ Also it is one of the thre by the whyche all the worlde is Quinta racio infecte in synne yâ— the is foule luste of eyen For suche curiositees seruen to nought ellys but to fede the eyen And as ofte as a man lykyngly and in vayne wyth suche curiositee fedeth his eyen soo ofte the maker and the vser offendyth god wherfore men sholde be eschewynge suche curiositees for yeuynge occasion of synne For a man shold not assente to synne for ony cause But in all manere absteyne fro the Sexta racio offeuse of god And sythen oure lorde yafe Ensample and coÌ„mendeth loneth pouerte as it is oft sayd wythout doubte it foloweth that he is gretely offendyd in that thynge that is directe contrary to pouerte that is specially curiositee Also with al other harmes more ouer this is that it is a token Sepâ—â—ma racio â— septimuÌ„ malum of a vayne a lyghte and vnstable herte and foule wherfore he that wylle lyue in clennesse of conscience â–ª and withoute de fylynge of his soule hym behoueth to absteyne hym bothe fro the makynge and also fro the vsynge of suche vayne curiositees and to flee there fro a fro a venemous serpeÌ„te Neuer theles by thys forsayd repreef of curiosite we shal not vnder stande generally forbeden to make fayre werkes and honeste apparaille For that is leeful soo that hit kepe a good meane and namely in the thynges werkes that longen to goddes seruyce In the whiche hit is nedeful to beware to eschewe all corupte entente of vayne Joye and all fals affeccion and foule lykynge of worldes vanite soo that the vertuous meane of suffysaunt honeste passe not in to the excesse of vicioê° curiosite And thus mykel suffyseth seid of this mater at this tyme ¶ Of the tornynge ageyne of our lorde Jhesu fro Egypte Capitulum Vndecunum â—◠〈◊〉 AFter that Herode was dede and seuen yere were at ende in the whyche oure lord Jhesus had dwellyd in Egypte the aungel of oure lord appiered to Joseph in his slepe and badde that he sholde take the chylde and hys moder and god in to the londe of Israel For they were dede that soughten yâ— chylde to slee And he anone rose vp and with the chylde and his moder as the aungel badde torned ageyne in to the londe of Israel ¶ And when he came there and herde that archelaus the sone of Herode regned in that partye that was cleped Judea he dradde and durste not goo thyder but as he was efte boden of the aungel in his slepe he wente to the Countre of Galylee in to the Cyte of Nazareth ¶ Here maye we see in the comynge ageyne of Jhesu as hit was in his goynge sayd drede and disease medled with comforte and ease For what tyme they beynge in straunge londe herde of the dethe of their enemyes and that they shold come ageyne in to their owne lande noo doubte but that it was grete coÌ„forte hope of ease but takynge hede therwith to the harde trauaylle by the waye And after whan they comen in to her owne londe in hope of pees tydynges of a newe enemye and for drede of hym abyden for to eschewe his Countrey there was discomforte and disease and alle to oure lorde as hit is sayde Lord Jhesu thou fayre yonge chylde thou arte lorde and kyng of heuen and erthe what dysease and what trauaylle suffredest thou for onre sake and how soone thou beganst Sothely well spake the prophete in youre persone whan he seyd thus ¶ I am poore and in dyuerse trrauaylles fro my Pauper sum â—go fyrste yongthe Swete Jhesu how yedest thou or was caryed alle that longe and hard waye and namely thorugh that horryblae deserte passynge ouer the rede see and also the flode Jordan in so tendyr age For as hit semyth this ageyne comyng is more trauayllous and more noyous to the to thy leders than was thy fyrste goynge For why that tyme thou were so lytyl that yâ— myghtest easely be borne in harmes but now thou arte elder and more waxen as in the tyme of seuen yere thou mayst not soo and goo mykel mayst thou not for tendyr age and to ryde arte thou nought vsed ¶ Sothely hit semeth that this trauaylle al oonly that we speken now of were suffysauÌ„t vnto ful redeÌ„pcion for mankynde Ferthermore as to the processe of their way we may thynke that what tyme they come towarde the ende of that deserte there they fouÌ„den De Jâ—haÌ„ne baptista John Baptiste the whiche that tyme had begonne there to lyue in deserte penauÌ„ce doynge thouÈ it so were that he had no synÌ„e penauÌ„ce worthy for as it is said that place of Jordan in the whiche John baptised is that same place wherby the children of Israel wenten drye foot whan they comen by that deserte oute of Egypte and that nye that place in deserte John lyued in penauÌ„ce wherfore hit is lykely that Jhesus his moder founden hym there And that they maden grete Joye and myrthe ghostly comyng togyder And no wonder for he was an excellent and a worthy childe fro his byrthe He was the firste heremyte and the begynÌ„ynge of Relygious lyuyng in the Nota 〈◊〉 newe lawe He was clene mayden and grettest precher after criste He was a prophete and a precious and glorious martir wherfore we deuoutly worshyppynge honourynge hym take we oure leue at hym at thys tyme and goo we forth to oure lord Jhesu and his moder in the forsayde waye ¶ After they were passed the floâ—â— Jordan thenne come they ferther more to the hous of oure ladyes coâ—ya Elyzabeth where they weren specially refresshyd and maden togyder a grete and lykyng feste And there Joseph herynge that Archelaus regned after his fader Herode in the countre cleped Judea by byddynge of the auÌ„gels as it is said before wente with the childe his moder in to the cyte of galylee cleped Nazareth there they dwellyd as in her owne home ledyng a symple a poore lyf togyder but in that grete ghostly rychesse of charyte Loo thus is the childe ihs brought out of Egypt and than as we maye thynke the systers of our lady other kynnes folke and freÌ„des comeÌ„ to hem welcomyng hem home vysytyng hem with presentes yeftes as it was nede to them that fouÌ„den her owne bare houshold Also amonge other we maye specially haue in mynde that Johan Euangelyst came with his moder Or JohaÌ„ne euangeliâ—â—â— our ladyes sister to visite see Jhs. yâ— whiche Johan was that tyme a boute fyue yere olde For as it is wryteÌ„ of hym he deyde yâ— yere fro the passoÌ„n of our lord lx and seuen that was the yere of his age foure score xviii Soo that at the passion of crist he had in elde one
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
¶ Incipit Speculum vite Cristi AT the begynnynge of the prohemy of the booke that is cleped the myroure of the blessyd lyf of Jesu Crist the fyrste parte for the monedaye ¶ A deuoute medytacyon of the grete counceyll in heuen for the restorynge oâ— man and hys sauacyon CapituluÌ„ primuÌ„ ¶ Of the manâ—â— of lyuyng of the blessyd vyrgyn marye CapituluÌ„ SecuÌ„dum ¶ Of the Incarnacyon of Jhesu and the feste of the Annâ—cyacyon and of the gretyng Aue maria Capitulum Terâ—â—◠¶ How that oure lady wente to elysabeth and mekely greted her Capitulum Quartum ¶ How Joseph thoughte to leue pryuely oure lady saynte Marye â–ª Capitulum quintuÌ„ ¶ Of the Natiuite of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste Capitulum Sextum ¶ Of the Circoucysyon of oure lorde Jhesu Capitulum septimuÌ„ Of the Epiphanie that is open shewynge of oure lord Jhesu crist CapitulnuÌ„ Octauum Of the puryfycacion of our lady saynt marye Capitulum nonum ¶ The seconde parte for the tewesdaye ¶ Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesu in to Egypte Capilm decimum Of the tornynge ageyne of oure lord Jhesu fro Egypte Capitulum vndecimum How the chylde Jhesus was lefte allone in iherusalem Capitulum Duodecimum â–ª what maner of lyuynge our lord Jhesus had And what he dyde fro hys twelfth yere vnto the begynnynge of his xxx â–ª yere CapituluÌ„ xiii Of the baptysme of oure lorde And the waye therto Capitulum xiiii The thyrde parte for the wednesdaye ¶ Of the fastynge of oure lord Jhesu and hys teÌ„ptacyons in deserte Capitulum xv How our lord Jhesus beganne to teche gader discyples â–ª Capilum xvi Of the miracle done at the brydale of water tornyd in to wyne Capitulum xvii Of that excellent sermon of oure lorde Jhesu in the. hylle Capitulum xviii Of the seruauÌ„t of Centurio and the sone of the lytyl kynge helyd of our lorde Jhesu Capi. xix Of the palatyke man lete doune in hys bedde by the hous hyllynge and hellyd of oure lorde Jhesu Capitulum xx How that Martha was helyd of her sekenes by touchyng of the hemme of oure lordes clothyng Capitulum xxi Of the conuersyon of mary Maudalene Capitulum xxii Of the spekynge of oure lord Jhesus wyth the woman Samaritane at the pytte of water Capitulum xxiii How the dyscyples of Jhesu pluckeden the ere 's of corne and eâ—en hit for hongre vpon the sabotte daye Capitulum xxiiii ¶ The fourth parte for the thursdaye ¶ Of the fedynge of the grete peple wyth brede multiplied Capitulum xxv Of the fleynge of oure lord Jhesus when the peple wold haue made hym her kynge Capitulum xxvi Of the prayer of oure lorde Jhesu Cryste in the hylle Capitulum xxvii How the Pharysees and other token accasion of sclaunder of the wordes and the dedes of Jhesu Ca. xxviii Of the specialle reward of oure lord Jhesu behoten tho alle to that forsaken the world for hys loue Capilm xxix Of the transfyguracyon of oure lord Jhesu in the hylle Capitulum xxx Of the seke men heled at the water in Jherusalem cleped probatica piscina Capitulum xxxi How oure lord Jhesu caste out of the Temple the byars and the sellers ageynste goddes â—awe Capitulum xxxii Of the receyuynge of oure lorde Jhesu by the two systers Martha mary and the two maner of lyuynge that ben actyue conteÌ„ platyue in holy chyrche cap. xxxiii Of the reysynge of lazar other ii dede bodyes Cap xxxiiii How the Jewes token her counceyl and conspyred ageynst Jhesu in to hys deth Capitlm xxxv ¶ How our lorde Jhesus came ageyne to Betany the satyrday before plamsonday of the souper made to hem there Capitulum xxxvi ¶ How Jhesus came to Jherusalem vpon palmsonday Capitulum xxxvii ¶ what oure lord Jhesus dyde fro the palmsonday in to the thursday next sewyng Capitulum xxxviii ¶ Of that worthy souper that our lord Jhesus made the nyght before hys passyon and of the noble circumstances that be â—elle therwyth ¶ Capitulum xxxix ¶ The fyrste parte of the Frydaye Of the paâ—yon of our lord Jhesu Cryste and fyrste of his prayer and takyng at matyn tyme. Capitulum xl Of the bryngynge of oure lorde Jhesu before Pylate at pryme Catulum xli How oure lorde Jhesus was dampned to the deth of the crosse aboute Tyerce of the daye â–ª Capitulum xlii Of the crucytyenge of oure lorde Jhesus at the Seâ—te houre Capitulum xliii How oure lorde Jhesus yelded vp the spyryte at none CapituluÌ„ xliiii Of thâ— thynges that befelle after the deth of oure lorde Jhesus and after the none Caplm xlv Of the takynge doune fro the crosse our lordes body Jhesu at euensonge Capitulum xlvi Of the buryenge of our lord Jhesu at complyntyme Caplm xlvii ¶ what was done of our lady and other after the buryeng of Jhesu Capitulum xlviii The Syxte parte for the satyradye what our lady and other wyth her dyden on the satyrdaye Capitulum xlix The Seueth parte for the sondaye Of the glorious resureccion of our lord Jhesu And of the fyrste apperynge of hym to hys blessyd moder as it maye be resonably trowed Capitulum l. How that Maudalene and other maries comen to the graue Capitulum li. ¶ How oure lord Jhesus apperyd to maudalene Capitulum lii How oure lord Jhesus apperyd to the thre Maries Capitulum liii ¶ How oure lorde Jhesus apperyd to Peter Capitulum liiii Of the comynge ageyn of our lord Jhesu to the faders And of her ioyeful songe Capitulum lv How our lord Jhesus apperyd to the two disciples goyng toward the castel of Emaus Capitulum lvi How oure lord Jhesus appered to hys apostles and dyscyples that were reclused for drede on the selfe daye of hys resureccion CapituluÌ„ lvii How our lord Jhesus apperyd the eyghte daye after to hys dyscyples Thomas present Capitulum lviii How our lord Jhesus apperyd to the dyscyples in Galilee Capitulum lix How oure lord Jhesus apperyd to the dyscyples at the see Tyâ—eryades Capitulum lx Of alle the apperynges of our lord Jhesus in general Capitulum lxi Of the assency on of oure lord Jhesus Capitulum lxii Of the sendynge doune and the comynge of the holy ghoost Capitulum lxiii Of that excellente and moost worthy sacrament of Crystes blessyd body Capitulum lxiiii ¶ Explicit Capitula ¶ Sequitur prohemium ¶ Prohemium ATtende lector huius libri prout sequitur in anglico scriptis quod vbicuÌ„que in margine ponitur lâ—a N. verba suÌ„t translatoris siue coÌ„pilatoris in anglicis preter illa que inseruntur iâ— libro scriptis secunduÌ„ communeÌ„ opinionem a venerabili doctore Bonauenture in latino de meditacione vite ihesâ— cristi Et quando peruenitur ad processum verba einsdem doctoris inseritur in marginue iâ—a B prout legenti siue intueÌ„ti istuÌ„ librum speculi vite cristi lucide poterit apparere MEmorandum quod circa annuÌ„ domini Millesimum qua dringentesimum decimuÌ„ originalis copia huius libri scilicet speculi vite cristi in aÌ„glicis presentabatur LoÌ„donÌ„
per compilatoreÌ„ eiusdem N. Reuerendissimo in cristo patri et dnÌ„o dnÌ„o Thome Arundell caÌ„ tuarieÌ„si Archiepiscopo ad inspiciendum et ex ammanduÌ„ antequam fue rat libere comuiÌ„cata Qui post ispectioneÌ„ eiusdem perdies aliquot retradens ipsum librum memorato eiusdeÌ„ libri proprie vocis oraculo in singulis comeÌ„dauit et approbauit nec noÌ„ et auctoritate sua metropolitica vt pote Catholicum publice cominicandum decreuit et mandauit ad fidelium e dificacionem et hereticoruÌ„ siue lollardorum confutacionem QVecunque scripta sunt ad nostram doctrinaÌ„ scripta suÌ„t vt per pacienciam et coÌ„solacionem scripturarum spem habeamê° ad romaÌ„os xv ¶ These ben the wordes of the grete doctour and holy apostel saynte poule consyderyng that the ghostly lyuyng of all trew Cristen creatures in this world stant specyally in hope of the blysse the lyf that is to come in another world And for as moche as two thynges pryncypally nouryshen strengthen thys hope in man that is pacyence in herte and ensample of vertues good lyuyng of holy men wreton in bookes and souereynly the wordes the dedes wryten of our lorde Jhesu Criste veray god maÌ„ for the tyme of his bodely lyuynge here in erthe Therfore to strengthe vs and conforte vs in his hope speketh the apostle the wordes forsayde to thys entente sayenge that all thynges that ben wryten generally in holy chyrche and specyally of our lord Jhesu criste They ben wreton to oure lore that by pacyence and comforte of holy scryptures we haue hope that is to saye of the lyf blesse that is to come in another worlde ¶ Here to accordynge speketh saynte Austyne thus Goddissone toke mankind in hym he suffryd that longyd to man was made medecyne of man and thys medicyne is so mykel that it maye not be thought For there is no pryde but that it maye be heled thorugh the mekenes of goddes sone There is no couetise but that it may be heled thorugh his pouerte No wrath but that it may be heled thorugh his pacience No malice but that hit maye be heled thorugh hys charite ¶ And more ouer there is no synne of wyckednesse but that it shall wante hyt and be kepte fro hit the whyche beholdeth inwardly And loueth and foloweth the wordes and the dedes of that man in whome goddes sone yaaf him selfe to vs in to ensample of good lyuynge wherfore nowe bothe men and wymmen and euery age and euery dygnyte of thys world is styred to hope of euerlastyng lyf ¶ And for thys hope and to thys entente wyth holy wrytte Also ben wreton dyuerse bookes and tretes of deuoute men not oonly to clerkes in latyn but also in englysshe to lewde men and wymmen and hem that ben of simple vnderstondynge Amonge the whyche ben wreton deuonte meditacyons of Crystes lyf more playnly in certayn partyes than is expressyd in the Gospel of the foure Euangelystes ¶ And as hit is sayde the deuoute man and worthy Clerke Bonauenture wrote hem to a relygyous woman in laten the whyche scrypture and wrytynge for the fructuous matere therof stering specyally for the loue of Jhesu Cryste and also for the playne sentence to comyne vnderstondynge semeth a monge other souereynly edyfyenge to symple creatures The whiche as chyldren haue nede to be fedde wyth mylke of lyghte doctryne not wyth sadde mete of grete clergye and oâ— hyghe contemplacyon wherfore at the Instance and prayer of somme deuout soules to edyfycacyon of suche men or wymmen is this drawynge oute of the forsayde booke of Crystes lyf wreton in englyssh wyth more putte to in certayne partyes and also wythdrawynge of dyuerse auctorytees and maters as it semeth to the wryter Bernard ad 〈…〉 dem 〈…〉 herof mooste spedeful edyfyeng to hem that ben of symple vnderstondyng To the whyche symple soules as saynte Bernard sayth comtemplacion of the manhede of Cryste is more lykynge more spedefull more syker than is hyghe contemplacoÌ„n of the godhede And therefore to hem is pryncypally to be sette in mynde the ymage of Crystes Incarnacyon Passyon and ResurreccoÌ„n so that asymple soule canne not thynke but bodyes and bodyly thynges maye haue somwhat accordynge to hys affeccyon wherwyth he maye fynde and styre hys deuocyon Nota pro 〈…〉 intellectu humâ—â— liber ¶ wherfore hyt is to vnderstonde atte the begynnyng as for a pryncypalle and generall rule of dyuerse ymagynacyons that folowen after in thys booke that the descryuyng of speches or dedes of god in heuen and angellis or other ghoostly substaunce ben only wreten in thys manere and to thys entent that is to saye as deuout ymagynacoÌ„ns and lykenes styrynge symple soules to yâ— loue of God and desyre of heuenly thynges For as saynt Gregorye sayth therfore is the kyngdome of heuene lykened to erthely thynges that by tho thynges Gregorius in Omelia Simile est reg oe th that ben vysible and that man kyndely knoweth he be stered and rauysshed to loue and desyre ghoostly inuysyble thynges that he kindely knoweth not ¶ Also saynte Jhon sayth that alle tho thynges that Jhesus dyde ben not wreten in the gospel wherfore we mowen to styrynge of deuocyon ymagyne and thynke dyuerse wordes and dedes of hym and other that we finde not wreton so that it be not ageynste the byleue as sainte Gregore and other doctours sayen that holy wrytte may be expowned and vnderstonde in dyuerse maners and to dyuerse purposes Soo that it be not ageynst the byleue or good maners And so what tyme or in what place in thys book is wreton that thus dyde Nota bene or thus spake our lorde Jhesus or other that ben spoken of and it maye not be preued by holy wryte or grounded in expresse sayenges of hooly doctours hit shalle be taken none otherwyse than as a deuoute medytacyon that hyt myght so be spoken or done ¶ And so for as moche as in the boke ben conteyned dyuerse ymagynacoÌ„ns of Crystys lyf the. whiche lyf fro the begynnyng in to the endyng euer blessyd and withoute synne passynge alle the lyues of alle other sayntes as NomeÌ„ libri for a synguler prerogatyue maye worthely be cleped the blessyd lyf of Jhesu crist The whyche also by cause hyt may not be fully descryued as the lyues of other sayntes but in a maner of lyknesse as the ymage of mannes face is shewed in the myrrour ¶ Therfore as for a pertynent name to thys booke hyt maye skylfully be cleped the Myrroure of the blessyd lyf of Jhesu Cryste Ferthermore for to speke of the proffitable good mater of this booke the forsayde Clerke Bonauenture spekynge to the woman forsayd in his proheme begynneth in this maner sentence ¶ Bonaueture Incipit AMonge other vertuous commeÌ„dynges of the holy virgyne Cecille it is wreton that she bare alwaye the gospel of Criste hydde in her breste that maye
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
al these thre dayes And thenÌ„e he answerde ageyn said And what eyleth you to seche me knowe ye not wel that it behoueth me to be occupyed in tho thynges that longen to the worshyp of my fader But these wordes they vnderstode not in that tyme. And thenÌ„e said his moder Sone wylte thou not goo home ageyn with vs And he mekely answerynge said I wylle doo as ye wylle that I doo and as it is pleasyng to yow And soo was he subget to hem and wente home ageyne with hem vnto theyr Cyte of Nazareth ¶ In thys forsaid processe of Jhesu what hope we that he dyde or where or in what maner he lyued in tho thre dayes we may suppose that he weÌ„te to some D◠〈◊〉 hospytale of poore men there he shamefastly prayed asked herborow and there ete and laye wyth poore men as a poore chylde And some doctoures sayen that he begged in those thre dayes But therof lytel force so that we folowe hym in Nota parfyte mekenes and other vertues For beggynge without forth but there be a meke herte within forth is lytel worth as to the perfeccion Ferthermore in the forsaid processe we maye note lerne thre notable thynges to vs The fyrste is that he that wyll perfytely loue god shall not dwelle amonge his flesshely frendes kynnesmen but he must leue hem goo fro hem In token wherof the chylde Jhesus lefte his owne dere moder what tyme he wolde yeue entente to the ghoostly werkes of his fader And also when he was soughte amoÌ„ge his frendes and kynnesmen he was not founden there in that tyme The seconde is that he that ledeth ghostly lyf wondre not moche ne be not discomforte ouer heuely though he be somtyme soo drye in soule and as voyde of deuocion as he were forsake of god For thys maner befell to goddes moder as it is said before wherfore be he not in dispeyre ther by but seche besely he Jhesu in holy medytacions and good werkes and specially in deuoute prayers and he shall fynde hym at last in due tyme The thirde is that a man folowe not tomoche his owne wytte or his owne wylle For oure lorde Jhesus after he said that he behoueth to be occupyed to tho thynges that longen to his faders worship After he lefte that propir wylle and folowed his parentes wylle goynge forth wyth them fro the teÌ„ple home in to Nazareth was subgette to theym And this is specially nedeful to Relygyou se folke to folowe by true obedyence to theyr souereynes And also here haue we grete ensample of mekenesse in oure lord Jhesu wherof we shall treate more playnly in the Cha pytre that next foloweth ¶ what maner of lyuynge our lord Jhesus had And what he dyde fro his twelfe yere vnto the begynnynge of hisxxx yere Capitulum xiii ERo the tyme that our lord Jhs was gone home to Nazareth with his pareÌ„tes whan he was twelue yere olde as it is said before vnto his thyrty yere we fynde nought expressid in scripture auteÌ„tyke what he dyde or how he lyued And that semeth ful wonderful what shal we than suppose of hym in al that tyme. whether he was in so mykel ydelnes that he dyde nouÈt or wrouÈte nothyng worthy to be wreton spoken of God shyelde and on that other syde yf he dide wrought why is it not wreton as other dedes of hym ben Sothely hit semeth merueyllous wonderfull But netheles yf we wolde take hereto gode enteÌ„te we shold mowe see that as in nought doynge he dyde grete thynges wonderful For there is noo thynge of his dedes or tyme of his lyuynge withoute mystery edyficacyou but as he spake wroughte vertuosly in tyme. soo he helde his pees rested withdrewe hym vertuosly in tyme wherfore he that was souerayne maister came to teche vertues and shewe the true waye of euer lastyng lyf he began fro his yongthe to doo wonderfull dedes and that in a woÌ„derful maner vnknowen and that was neuer ere herde before that is to saye shewyng hym self in that tyme as ydel vnconnynge and abiecte in the syghte of men Nota pâ—â— lâ—no 〈…〉 in maner as we shall saye after not fully affermyng in thys or other that we may not openly preue by holy wryte or doctoures approued but deuoutly ymagynyng to edyfycacyom styrynge of deuocyon as it was saide in the prohemye of thys booke at begynnynge And so we suppose that oure lord Jhesus 〈…〉 Jhesu in that tyme withdrewe hym fro the company and feli shippe of men wente ofte sythes to the synagoge as to the chirche And there was he mykel occupyed in prayer but not in the hyest and moost worshipful place but in the lowest secrete place and after in tyme whaÌ„ he came home halpe his moder And also perauenture his suppossed fader Joseph in his crafte comynge and goynge amonge men as he knewe not men All that kneweÌ„ hym of the comyn peple that he dwel led amonge and seen soo fayre semely yonge man doynge no thyng that was in to praysyng or magnifyeng of his name wondred gretely of hym Namely as the Gospel saith of hym whan he was yonge and of twelfe yere age Jhesê° profyted in age in wysdome and in grace tofore god and man that is to saye as in the syght opynyon of men But now whenÌ„e he was of more age in to the tyme of his thyrty yere he shewed no dedes of coÌ„mendacoÌ„n outward wherfore men scorned hym and helde hym as an ydeote an ydel man and a foole And so it was hys wylle to be holde as vnworthy and abiect in to the world for our sauacion as the prophete speketh in his persone thus I am a worme not a man repreef of â—go snm bermis it non homo men and abieccion of people But here maye we see that he in that abieccoÌ„n as it were not doynge dyde a ful vertuous de de of worthy commendynge And what was that Sothely that he made hym self foule and abiecte in the syght of other herof had he none nede but we had this nede For sothely as I trowe in all oure dedes there is no thynge greter or harder to fulfille than is this wherfore as me thynketh that man is come to the hyest and hardest degre of perfeccion the whyche of ful herte true wyll withoute feynynge hath ouercome hym self maystreth the proude styryng of the flesshe that he wyl leth not to be in reputacoÌ„n of men but coueyteth fully to be despysed holde a foule vnworthy and abiect For this is more worthy and more to commende than a man be passyngly stronge and a coÌ„querour of Cytees and londes as SalamoÌ„ Melior esâ— paciensvi ro forti witnessyth wherfore tyll we come to this degre of perfeccoÌ„n we shall holde oure self as ful imparfyte and all that we do ne as nought to
acounte For fythen in sothenesse all we done but as vnworthy sernauntes what tyme that we done the good that we oweÌ„ to doo as god hym self witnessyth till the tyme that we come to this degre of abieccoÌ„n and parfyte repreef of our self we ben not sette sadly in trouth but rather in vanyte as the Apostle openly sheweth in these wordes who so holdeth hym self in his owne reputacion as ought worthy Qaise 〈◊〉 isâ—mâ—â— all quid esse sythen in sothenesse he is as nought he begyleth deceyueth hym self And so as we saide before oure lord Jhesus lyued in this maner made hym self abiecte and as vnworthy to the world not for his owne nede but for to teche vs yâ— true way of perfeccoÌ„n wherfor yf we lerne it not we may not be ercused For it is an abhomynable thynce to see hym that is but a worme and wormes mete to come for to hye hym self by presumpcion and lyfte vp hym self as oughte whan that the hye lord of mageste so meked hym self by abieccion and lowed him self as nought and that dyde he nought by feyuyng but as he was sothely meke and mylde in herte Lo also with oute symulacion he lowed hym self in al maner of makenes and abieccion in the syght of other fulfyllyng firste in dede yâ— he taughte after by wordewhaÌ„ he badde his disciples tolerne of hym for to be meke mylde in herte And in soo mykel he 〈…〉 mi 〈◊〉 sum lowed hym and auauÌ„tised hym self that also after he began to preche to speke soo hye thynges of the godhede as the gospel telleth and to wyrche myracles and wonders yet the Jewes setten nought by hym but despysed and scorned hym sayeng what is he thys is not he the wryghtes sone of Joseph And also in the deuyls name he casteth oute deuils and many suche other despytes he suffred paciently and mekely making so there thorugh a swerde of mekenesse therwyth to slee the proude aduersary the deuylle of helle and yf we will see how myghtely he gyrde hym self with this swerde of mekenes after the byddyng of the ê“phete lete vs take good hede to al his dedes and we shall see in them algate shewed grete mekenes as we maye see yf we haue in mynde in alle the processe that is said yet hyder to And also herafter shall be shewed more more in to his harde deth And moreouer after his resurreccoÌ„n and at his vpstyenge to heuen and yet here to more ouer atte last daye of dome whan he shall sytte in his mageste kynge domes man of all the world yet shall he shewe his souerayn mekenes to his creatures his brethern by these wordes ¶ As longe as ye dyden almesdedes to these my loued bretheren ye dydeu it to me And why hope we that he shewed so mykel loued pryncipally thys vertue of mekenes Sothly for he knewe wel that as the begynÌ„ynge of al synÌ„e is pryde soo the fundament of all good of sauacion is mekenes wythoute the whiche fuÌ„dament the byldynge of all other vertues is in vayne And therfore yf we trust of maydenhede of pouerte or of ony other vertue or dede withoute mekenes we ben deceyued And for as mykel as he taught shewed vs in what maner this vertue of mekenes shal be geten that is to saye by de spysynge and abieccoÌ„n of a man hym self in his owne syght and also in other menÌ„es syghte and by contynuel doynge of lowe abiecte dedes Therfore vs behoueth to loue and vse these meanes yf we wille perfytely come to that hye vertue as saint Bernard saith in dyuerse places God yeue vs grace Bernard in epistolâ—â—d canoni cuâ— regula rem to gete it parfytely as it is said For sothely I that wryte this knowleche me ful ferre there fro And thus mykel at this tyme suffyseth spoken of thys souerayne vertue But now to goo ageyn to our pryncypal mater of the myrroure of the blessyd lyf of our lord Jhu beholde we there the maner of lyuynge Nota moduÌ„ viueÌ„di dnÌ„i nostri Jhesu cuÌ„ parentibus of that blessid coÌ„pany in pouerte symplenes togyder and how that olde man Joseph wroughte as he myÈt in his crafte of carpentry oure lady also with the dystaf and nedel and ther with makyng her mete and other offyce doynge that loÌ„geth to houshold as we may thinke in dyuerse maners And how oure lorde Jhs mekely halpe hem bothe at her nede and also in leyeng of the borde makyng the beddes suche other besynes gladly and lowely mynystrynge and soo fulfyllynge in dede that he saith of him self in the gospel that manÌ„es sone came not to be serued but to serue Also we maye thynke how they thre eten togyder euery daye at one lytyl borde not precious delicate metes but symple sobre as was oonly nedeful to sustenauÌ„ce of the kynde And after mete how they speken to gyder And also paraueÌ„ture other while in her mete not vayne wordes or dissolute but wordes of deuocoÌ„n and ful of wysdome and of the holy ghoost And soo as they weâ—en fedde in body they wereÌ„ mykel better fedde in soule And thenÌ„e after suche maner recreacion in comyn they wenten to prayer by theym self in theyr closettes For as we maye ymagyne they had noo grete hous but a lytyl in the whyche they had thre seuerynges as hit were thre smal chaÌ„bres there specially to pra Nota 〈…〉 ye to slepe And so maye we thynke how our lord Jhs criste euery nyght after prayer gooth to his bedde lowely mekely shewynge in that all other nedes to mankynde that he was very man hydynge his godhede fro the fende O lord Jhesu wel mayste thou be cleped hydde god that woldest in all thys longe tyme thus trauaylle and putte to penauÌ„ce that moost InnoceÌ„t body for oure sake whan the trauaylle of one nyght had suffysed to redempcion of all the world But thy grete loue of man made the to doo grete dedes of penauÌ„ce for hym And so thou that art kynge of kynges almyghty god wyth oute ende that helpest all men in theyr â–ª nede and yeuest thy go odes to all other plentyuously as euery condycoÌ„n and state as Nota 〈◊〉 â—râ— caâ—na lâ—â— â—uÌ„ dalâ—â— keth ye chose reserued to youre owne persone soo grete pouerte abieccoÌ„n penauÌ„ce in wakyng in slepyng absteynynge etynge and all youre other dedes doynge and in that so longe tyme for oure loue Lord god where ben they now that louen soo mykel the lust the lykynge the ease of the flesshe that se then soo besely precious curious and dyuerse ornamentes vanytees of the worlde Sothely we that louen and desyren suche thynges we lerne not that in the scole of this mayster For he taughte vs bothe by worde and by dede mekenesse pouerte and penaunce â–ª and chastysynge of the body And sythen we ben not wyser than he yf we wylle not
to saye clennesse of herte princypally helpeth besy and deuoute prayer of the whiche we shall speke after But for as mykel as prayer with glotenye or with the lust the lykynge of the body ydelnes is lytyll worthe Therfore hit behoueth that there be therwith fastyng bodyly penauÌ„ce yâ— with discrecion For bodily penauÌ„ce without discrecoÌ„n letteth al gode werkes Also for the kepynge fulfyllynge of all tho thre for sayd thynges helpeth moche the fourth that solytary beynge For with moche noise troublynge praier will not well deuoutly be said he that seeth hereth many thynges shal ful hard escape vnclennesse of hert offence of coÌ„science for ofte sythes deth entreth by our wyndowes in to the soule wherfoâ— thou that wilt be knytte ghostly to our lord â–ª Jhesu criste coueytest in clennesse of herte to see god by ensample of hym goo in to a solytary place in as moche as thou mayst sauynge thyne astate flee the coÌ„pany of flesshely meÌ„ Seche not by curiosite newe knowleche freÌ„shippes Fylle not thyn eyen thyn ere 's with vayn fantasyes For it was not withoute cause that holy faders here before soughten desertes other solitary places fer fro the comyn coÌ„uersacion of men And also it was not for nouÈt that they taughten boden hem that dwelleden in religious coÌ„uersacoÌ„n that they shold be blynde â–ª deeâ— dombe that may lette distourble rest of soule flee as venemous to the soule This solitary beyng this fleyng as Bernard 〈…〉 say 〈…〉 â–ª sayth is more vertuously in soule than in body that is to say that a man in his entencion in deuocion in spiryte be departed fro the world men ioyned so in spyryte to god â–ª that is a spyryte asketh not solytary beynge of body in maner tyme as specially in tyme of special prayer also in other tyme of hem that owen by way of her degree by solytary as recluse some relygious therfore saith the same saint that thou that art amonge many bodyly men thou maist be solytary alone ghostly yf thou will not loue not these worldly thynges that the comynalte loueth also yf thou despyse forsake tho thynge that comynly al men desyreÌ„ taken Also yf thou flee stryues debates yf thou fele not with sorewe thyn owne harmes haue not in mynde wronges done to the for to be auengyd And els though thou be allone solytary in body thou arte not allone in soule truly ¶ And generally in what manere companye of men that thou arte coÌ„uersauÌ„t beware specially of thoo thynges yf thou wilte be truly solytary in spirite that is that thou be not a curious and a besy sercher of other menes conuersacyon â–ª or els a presumtuouse and temerary demer of other men This is saynte Bernardes sentence of solytary beynge by the whiche we may vnderstaÌ„de that bodyly solicitude suttyseth not with oute ghostly But for to haue the ghostly the bodily helpeth ful moche puttynge away occasion without forth that myÈt drawe the ioule within forth fro the onynge and â–ª knyttynge to hir spouse Jhesu Crist wherfore that we maye so be knytte to hym by grace be we aboute with all our wille myght to tolowe hym that is to saye in true solitary beynge as it is layde and in deuoute prayer in fastyng discrete bodily penauÌ„ce doyng And ferthermore that his coÌ„uersacoÌ„n in deserte was Nota â—â—ne amonge bestes we haue ensample to lyue symply and bere vs lowely in what congregacion we ben And there with to bere paciently and suffre also hem that semen to vs as vure sonable bestiall in maneres in lyuynge And thus hauyng in mynde the maner of lyuynge of our lord Jhu Crist in deserte so in penauÌ„ce tho xl dayes euery crysten soule ought to visite hym other oftymes by deuoute coÌ„passion and specially in that tyme begynÌ„yng at the Epiphanye when he was baptised in to xl dayes after in the whiche he fasted lyued there as it is sayd But now ferthermere as to his teÌ„ptacion whan tho xl dayes of his fastynge were coÌ„plete oure lord Jhs hongred And De â—epâ—â—ci one dâ—i prima temptacoÌ„ de gulâ— anone that fals temptour the fende that besy was a boute to knowe whether he werÌ„ goddes sone came to hym began to tempte hym of glotonye and sayd yf thou be goddes sone saye that these stones be made tornyd in to loues But he myghte not with his trechery deceyue hym â–ª that was maister of trouthe For he answerd hym soo wysely that neyther he was ouercome by the temptacion of glotenye yet the aduersary myghte not knowe that he desyred For neyther he denyed ne affermed that he â–ª was goddes sone but coÌ„cluded hym by an Auctoryte of holy wrytte And soo haue we here ensaÌ„pie of our lord Jhesu to withstonde the vyce of glotenye For there must we begynne yf we wylle ouercome other vyces De 〈…〉 as the enemy comynly begynÌ„eth therwyth to assaylle hem that taken hem to ghostly lyuynge wherfore as it semeth he that is ouercomen with that vyce of gloteny that while he is feble vnmyghty to withstonde and ouercome other vyces â–ª as doctoures sayen in this place of the gospel â–ª that but glotony be fyrste refrayned man trauaileth in vayne agenst other vyces Afterward the deuylle took hym vp bare hym in to Jherusalem that was fro that place aboute eyghte myle â–ª as men sayen there he sette hym vpon a pynacle of the Temple where he tempted hym of vayne Joye coueitynge to knowe as he dyde before whether he were goddes sone But here was he also ouercome by auctoryte of holy writte so that he loste fully his purpoos â–ª in that he hurte hym not as man by pryde and hym self was neuer the vyser of hys godhede And here haue we ensample of pacience coÌ„siderynge the grete benygnyte and pacience of oure lorde Jhesu That suffred hym self to be handeled and borne of that cruel beest that hated hym and all that he loued And after that tyme as saynt Bernard sayth the enemy seyng that he shewed noo thynge of the godhede And supposynge therby that he was not god 〈…〉 tempted hym after as man at thys thyrdde tyme whenne he tooke hym efte bare hym ageyne in to a ful hye hille besyde the forsayd hylle of QuareÌ„tana as the space of two myle and there he tempted hym of auaryce And therwith of ydola trye But therfore was he there openly repreued fully ouer come and vaynquysshed ouercome as dyuerse doctoures tellen that expowneÌ„ more plainly these temptacions and thys Nota de 〈…〉 Gospel And therfore we passe ouer the shortlyer here as we doo in other exposicions standynge pryncipally in meditacions as it was said at the begynnynge of thys book â–ª If we take here good hede how oure lorde was handled
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
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
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
gospell oure lorde Jhesus yaf ensample to the prechours of goddes worde that they sholde not spare in tyme to say the sothe for displesyng of hem that feden hem or yeuen hem other bodily sustenaunce In that not withstondyng that the pharisee fedde him as he dyd ofte he reprehendyd hym openly in his owne hous of hys mysbileue of his fals thoughte in the whiche he had indignacion of the sinfull woman and as hit wolde seme to styring of his grete maulgry he spared not to Justifye that woman that he demed NoÌ„ contra condioneÌ„ malaÌ„ so sinfull shewyng hir more louyng god than he that she was saued by her true bileue before him that fayled therof â–ª but not withstoÌ„dinge this on that other syde the pharisee left not after to fede hym do hym humanite as many men nowe done the whiche what time that a sothe is sayd that is contrary to their will or opinion they withdraweÌ„ her humanite affeccion fro him that seyth it be he neuer so gode or vertuous in lyuinge And sothely in that condicion they sheweÌ„ hem self what so euer they ben vnlouing to JhuÌ„s that is very sothfastnes more vnkynde than was this pharisee soo worthy more reprefe of him more peyne Neuertheles the prechouror a nother ghostly man that representeth Cristes persone shall not spare to say the soth in time â–ª for drede or maulgre or withdrawyng of fauour or ony temporel profite yf he will be the true membre of crist And soueraiuly be he ware of glosing or fauoure to errour for that is most abhominable Also in this processe before said of the gospell in that that our lord JhuÌ„s reherced to the pharisee the gode dedes of the woman in the whiche he failed as that she wesshe his fete with hir teres that he dyd not with water so forthe of other therwith he tolde not what he dyd â–ª to him that she dyd not we haue ensample techinge what time we be tempted to Justifienge of our self reprefe of other thenÌ„e to thinke haue in minde the gode dedes vertues that ben or may ben in that other man foryetynge our gode dedes or vertues bringyng to mynde our defaultes and trespaces so shall we vertuously deme our selfe and excuse other and so profyte in the vertu of true mekenes that he graunte vs myrroure of mekenes blessyd Jhesus AMEN Hic premittuÌ„tur duo capitula de sancto Johanne Baptista ¶ Of the spekynge of oure lorde Jhesu wyth the woman Samarytane atte the pytte Capitulum xxiii IT befelle vpon a time that our lord JhuÌ„s sholde go fro the CouÌ„tre of Juda in to galilee he must make his wey by the CouÌ„tre of Samarye where was a drawe welle that they called the well of Jacob. that was a pitte of water vpoÌ„ the whiche pytte he rested hym as wery of goynge Lord JhuÌ„ 〈…〉 what is this that thou that arte the sothfast wey maker of all erthly way soo arte wery of the wey the whiche thorugh thy souereyne myght berest vp confortest all other in her way But thus woldest thou in thy manhede shewe all thy kyndely Infirmite of man as in honger in thurst werines oft sythes suche other for to shewe the very kynde of man that thou tokest for our sake so was al thy bodily liuing in this worlde paynfull traueillous to our ensaÌ„ple blessid be thou euer In the mene time as he sat so on the well his disciples were gone in to next the cite to bye men there come a woman of that couÌ„tre to fette water at that welle the whiche was called lucy our lord JhuÌ„s willing shewe to hyr by hyr to other his godhede spake with hir long time of a grete thing hyghe in Notâ— ghostly vnderstondyng the whiche speking bothe of him hir how his disciples come ageyn how at the womans worde the peple of the Cite comeÌ„ out to hym helde him with hem a certeyne time after how he went fro hem we passen ouer at this time for as mykel as hit is open plainly wryten in the gospel of John But in this processe we may note in our lord JhuÌ„ first a token of grete mekenes in that he wold be al Nota â—â—â—â— lone what tyme he sente his disciples in to the cite for to bey mete And in that byenge ensample â–ª that is leefull to goddes seruauÌ„tes for to haue money reserue it to her nede Also in that he spake so homely with that symple womaÌ„ of so grete Contra sâ—ê‘bos doctores pÌ„dicatores thinges as though it had be with many grete wyse meÌ„ the pryde the presumpcion of many grete clerkes prechours is confouÌ„ded reproued the whiche yf they shold shewe her wysedom or cuÌ„nynge not only to one man but also to fewe men they wolde holde all as lost suche a simple audience telle vnworthy to take her proude speche ¶ Ferthermore in that the ExempluÌ„ contra gulaÌ„ dyscyples broughten her mete to him beden him ete there at welle we haue ensample of pouerte and bodyly penaunce in his maner of fedynge after his trauaylle soo there wythoute the Cyte as we may suppose drynkynge of the water that not only at this time but as we suppose ofte sythes whanne he wente by the couÌ„tre he ete in that maner without the townes dwellyng of men atte somÌ„e Ryuer or welle were he neuer so wery or trauaylled in body shewynge therin the grete loue that he had in pouerte and mekenesse he vsed not curyous dyghtynge of dyuerse metes rosted soden nor precyous vessell of siluer of peewter nor delycate wynes whyte rede but only the clene water of the welle or the Ryuer etynge brede ther with as a poore man mekely vpon therthe Also in that he aÌ„swered to his discyples fyrst where they bedeÌ„ him go to mete sayd to hem thus I haue mete to ete that ye knowe not for ExempluÌ„ ê“ pÌ„dicatoti bâ— curatis my mete is that I doo worche the wyll of hym that sent me And soo he abode the comynge of men of the Cyte to preche hem first we may see how besy he was aboute ghostly fedynge Fyrst fulyllynge in dede that longeth to the soule ghostly sustenauÌ„ce than that longeth to the bodyly sustynaunce thoughe he hadde therto grete nede And so yaf he Ensample to prechours and curates for to doo Mykell more ghostly fruyte is conteyned in this gospell the whiche who so desyreth to knowe more fully he shall fynde hit in the boke of saynte Augustyne vpon the gospel of John where he maketh of the processe of this gospel a long processe clergiable ful of ghostly frute But for asmoche as here is made mynde of the pouerte of our lorde Jhesus as it is ofte before also of his abstynence therfore of
sugestyons Therfore he fell downe as he dyde And soo we maye see that couetyse of grete lordshype hyghe myghte pryued the angell of angels blysse and desyre of grete connynge despoyleth man of the Joye of endeles lyfe And of bothe myscheues was grounde and cause delyte desire of vayne worshyppe wherfore seenge this peryll of vayne worshyp yf we drede the falle of the auÌ„gell of man we muste flee in wylle fro bothe thyse hylles of hye lordshyppÌ„ grete cuÌ„nynge and goo vp wyth our lorde JhuÌ„ in to the hylle of coÌ„templacoÌ„n deuocoÌ„n by mekenes forsakyng the worlde the wyll to be worshypped of the comyn people as he dyde But in this fleenge fro the peple and goynge of hym allone in to Notabile â—â—â—â— the hyll as it is sayd before in the processe of the gospell take we hede ferdermore to our edifycacoÌ„n how he lefte his discyples and made hem ayenst her wyll to take the shyppe goâ— in to the see wythoute hym For they wolde not her thonkes haue ben departed fro hym And in that was her desyre good for to dwelle euer wyth her lorde Neuertheles he ordeyned otherwyse seenge what was best for hem And soo thenÌ„e they mekely diden as he badde and were obeyssauÌ„t to hym though nota q̄◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 spuÌ„â—â—â—â—â—edâ—â—b aâ—a ◠〈◊〉 dâ—â— ad â—â— it soo were that it were neuer soo greuous harde to hem â–ª Thus it fareth comynly wyth ghostly lyuers by specyall felinge of the presence of JhuÌ„ of his absence in her soule thâ—â— wold not that euer he shold goo fro hem as by specyall ghostly comforte in ony tyme But he dooth other wayes For he gooth comyth as it is his wyll and for her best But what shall suche a deuowte sowle doo whan she felyth her ghostly spouse JhuÌ„ soo wythdrawen towchynge his speciall comforte Sothly she behouyth besily ofte calle hym agayn in con tynuell desyre deuoute prayer and in the meane tyme paâ—yâ—tly suffre the absence of her spouse and by ensample of the disciples of JhuÌ„ that thrugh obedience at his biddynge wenten in to the shyppe and token the water in his absence Suffre the wawes tempestes of temptacoÌ„n aduersyte and pacyeÌ„tly abyde tyll he wolde of his grace come in to that soule and make reste pees as it shall folowe after in the processe next to come Of this mater saynt Beruarde in diuers places ma keth a fayre processe and deuoute the whiche for asmoche as it longeth is pertyneÌ„t specyally to ghostly folke â–ª and also as I hope it is wryten suffyciently in dyuers tretees of conteÌ„pla coÌ„n we passen ouer here as we done in many other places suche auctorytees of hym leest this processe of crystes lyfe shold be tedyous to comyn peple and symple soules to the whyche it is specyally wryten AMEN ¶ Of the prayer of our lorde JhuÌ„ in yâ— hyll and how after he came to his disciples vpoÌ„ the water goyng Caplm xxvii AFter the discyples of our lorde JhuÌ„ were gone in to the shyppe the water as he badde hem and as it is said be fore he went vp in to the hyll alone and there was he ocupyed in prayer in to the fourth parte of the nyghte soo that thre partyes of the nyght that were past he had contynued in prayer And notabil de orâ—e thus we rede oft tymes he yaaf hym to prayer where fore take we here gode entent in what manere he prayed and how that he loweth him in his manhede and mekith hym to his fader of heuen He chesith solytary places and gooth to heÌ„ alone to praye and dooth his tender body to penauÌ„ce wakyth longe wakynges he prayeth as the true herde for his shepe For nÌ„ qualâ—â— Jhs orat he prayeth not for hymself but for vs. and as our aduocate mediatour bytwene the fader vs And also he prayeth to ensaÌ„ple of vs that we sholde ofte tymes praye and specyally loue prayer For ofte tymes he badde his dyscyples taughte hem for to praye And soo that he badde hem by worde he shewed hymself in dede He taught hem sayd that it behoueth is nedefull euer to pray and not fayle in leuynge therof shewynge that coÌ„tynuyng oft askynge in prayer getith at last wythoute fayle that thynge that is asked and herof he tolde ensaÌ„ple of yâ— Luce. xviii domesman that at last thrugh longe cryenge askynge of the wydo we dyde her ryght as the gospell of luke telleth Also to styre hem for to praye and trust for to gete that they asken he tolde a nother ensaÌ„ple of a frende That at last thrugh moche askynge lente to his frende the brede that hym neded as the same Luc. xi gospel tellith in processe coÌ„cludynge sayenge thus Asketh it shall be yeueÌ„ to you And al this he sayd to teche vs yâ— vertue of good prayer the whiche may not be estemed for the vertu Notabil therof is soo myghty so grete that it getith al godenes puttith awaye al maner of wickydnes wherfore yf thou wolt patiently victâ— oroÌ„ mâ— multipler suffre aduersytees and myghtely ouercome teÌ„ptacyon diseases be thou a man of prayer Also yf thou wolt knowe the sleyghtes of the deuyll be not begiled wyth his fals suggestyoÌ„s be a man of prayer Also yf thou wolt take the hye way to heuen by traueyle penauÌ„ce of the flessh therwyth gladly contynue in goddis seruyce be a man of prayer Also yf thou Hâ—mâ— oroÌ„â—â— wolt put away vayn thoughtes and fede thy soule wyth holy thoughtes ghostly meditacoÌ„ns deuocoÌ„ns be a maÌ„ of prayer Also yf thou wolt stable thyn hert in good purpose to god dis wyll puttyng away vices plaÌ„tyng vertues be a man of prayer for thrugh prayer is goteÌ„ the yeft of yâ— holy ghost that techeth the soule yâ— is nedefull therto Also yf thou wolt come to heuenly conteÌ„placoÌ„n and fele the ghostly swetnes that is felt of fewe chosen soules and knowe the grete gracyous yeftes of our lorde yâ— maye be felt but not spoken be a man of prayer For by the exercise of prayer specyally a man cometh to coÌ„teÌ„placoÌ„n the felynge of heueÌ„ly thynges Here may we see of how grete ghostly myght vertu is deuoute prayer and to coÌ„fyrmacoÌ„n herof of all those thynges that ben sayd before yâ— holy Nota de simpliâ— wrytt doctours sayeÌ„ges fully preuen Ferdermore we haue a specyall proue in that we see euery daye by experyence many meÌ„ symple vnlettred bi yâ— vertue of prayer gete haue al tho thynges yâ— ben sayd before many more gretter yeftes of grace wherfore moche oughte all cristen folke be styred to yâ— exercyse of prayer but pryncypally they that ben religyous whose manere of liuynge is ordeyned more specyally herto Of this vertue of prayer and how our lord yeuyth to hym
to vnderstōde the ghostly meanynge of hem how the myracles done than bodily And in bodyes ben now done oft times in ghostly men̄es soules and so as saynt augustyn sayth by tho thre bodyes the whiche our lorde Jhūs reysed fro dethe to lyfe bodily ben vnderstonden thre maner of dede soules the whiche thrugh his speciall grace he reyseth euery day to euerlasting lyf ghostly for as y◠gospel makith minde he reysed the doughter of the maister of the temple that lay dede in the hous By whom is vnderstonde dedely synne on̄ly in assent wythoute the fulfyilynge therof in dede Also he reysed the wydowes sone borne dede on the bere wythout the yates of the cyte by whom is vnderstonde dedely syn̄e wythout forth performed in dede And the thirde dede body he reysed that was lazar buryed and foure dayes dede by whom is tokened dedely syn̄e in custome For yf we take good hede vnderstonde that syn̄e is dethe of the soule we maye fynde that the soule is dede ghostly slayn thrugh syn̄e in thise thre maners Fyrst by ful assent of wyll to doo that is forboden of god on̄ly wythin fourth in the soule wythout the dede therof wythoute forth As by ensāple of lechery that is forboden what tyme as our lord sayth in the gospel that whan a man seeth a woman lustely to y◠ende for to haue to doo wyth her flesshly fully assentith therto in his wyll though y◠dede folowe not after he is acoūted as a lechout in his herte and soo is his soule slayne ghostly thrugh y◠assente dede in goddis syghte And this manere of ghostly deth is vnderstōde by that fyrst dede body that our lorde Jhūs reysed in the hous that was the doughter of the prynce of the synagoge or the mayster of the temple as it is sayde before Of whom the gospel telleth that he came to our lord Jhū prayenge hym that he wolde come to his house and hele his doughter that laye seke therin And as our lord that of his grete grace endlesse goodnes was euer redy to helpe to he le all tho that asked hym truely was goynge wyth hym towarde his hous There came worde to the forsard prynce that his doughter was dede And therfor̄ they bodē hym the be shold not make the mayster that is Jhūs traueyle in vayne for they trowed well that he was of might to hele the seke but not to reyse the dede Neuertheles our lorde Jhūs letted not for her mysby leue ne for her scornynge to doo his grace but badde the fader that he sholde not drede but on̄ly byleue And whā he came to his hous foūde there after her custome many wepyng mournful mynstralsy other aray for her exequyes he sayd to hē wepeth not for the wenche is not dede but slepyth and then̄e they scorned him For they vnderstode not what he meaned for though she was dede as to hem Neuertheles to him that was of myghte to reyse her and make her to lyue she dyde but slepe And then̄e puttynge oute all that were in the hous sauf the tader the moder and the thre apostles Peter James John Our lorde Jhesus badde the wēche to ryse And anone she rose vp fro dethe to lyfe And after ete and was all hool This is the processe of the gospell after the vnderstondyng of the letter In the whyche we maye ghostly vnderstonde fyrste that as our lord god thenne reysed bodily the doughter at prayer by the faythe of the fader soo he reyseth now oft tymes ghostly dede soule by syn̄e to lyfe of grace thrugh the prechynge prayeng of holy men and the fayth of holy chyrche And as our lorde Jhūs spared not for mysbyleue and scornyng of other to helpe hym that asked his grace so sholde not mē spare to profite to other soules And namly men of holy chirche spare to preche goddis worde whan it lōgeth to her offyce in to reysing of dede soules to ghostly lyf though some men scorne hem or reproue hem therfore For as saynt augustyn say the. It falleth all daye that a man that is ghostly dede bi ful assent in his herte to dedely syn̄e by the prechyng of goddes worde is compūcte in his herte therof thorugh grace as though he herde our lorde bydde hym ryse And soo is he reysed in his soule by repentaūce fro dethe to lyfe As it were in the hous or that he be borne wythoute by the dede more ouer of that syn̄e And this is the fyrst maner of dedely synne and lightest for to ryse out therof thrugh grace that is betokened by the fyrste dede bo dy reysed of Jhesu in the house as it is sayd But neuertheles this manere of dedely syn̄e that is on̄ly in assent is moost perillous yf it longe abyde And specially yf it be ghostly as hye pryde or enuye For as saynt gregory sayth that somtyme it is more greuous syn̄e in goddes syghte pryde by delyberacōn in herte than is the dede of lechery And yet aldaye that one is gretly charged that is to saye lechery but that other seldom or lityll And therfore ben many men here deceyued But now passe we here ouer Of the reysynge of the seconde dede body is wryten in the gospel of saynt luke How what tyme our lorde Of 〈…〉 dede bo d 〈…〉 Jhūs came to a cite that was named Naym his disciples wyth hym and moche peple he mette at yate of the cyte a dede body borne on a bere that was the allone sone of a widow that came wyth the corse and moche folke of the cytee wyth her And then̄e our lorde hauynge pyte of the grete soro we of the wydowe and meued thrugh his endles mercy badde her that she sholde not wepe And thenne nighyng towchyng the bere And therwyth they that beren it standinge styll he spake to the body in thyse wordes Thou yonge man I saye to the aryse vp and anone he rose fro dethe to lyfe and wente on his fete and began to speke And soo he betoke him to his moder alyue This is the processe of the gospel forsayd O lorde Jhū moche is thy mercy shewed to synfull man in the whiche as thou reysedest that dede body borne out towarde beryeng with out prayer made to the before on̄ly styrynge thyn endles godenes pyte Soo thou reysest all daye ghostly hem that bē dede in soule by grete syn̄es flesshly ghostly yeuyng thy grace oft times before or thou be prayed or sought by ony deserte thrugh the whiche synfull men be styred to repentaūce and forsakyng of syn̄e And soo by shryfte penaūce doynge after the lawes of holy chirche they ben reysed ghostly to lyf of grace that first were dede by syn̄e performed in dede And yf it soo be that this synne be openly knowen in to the euyl ensample of other sclaūder thenne it is nede of open penaunce as holy chirche hath
goddis body in forme of brede and his very blode in forme of wyne And though that forme of brede wyne seme as to alle the bodily wyttes of man brede wyne in his kynde as it was before Neuertheles it is not soo in so othnes but oonli goddis flesshe blode in substaunce so that the accydents of brede and wyne wonderfully and myraculously agaynst manÌ„es reason and the comyn order of kynde beÌ„ there in that holy sacrament wyth her kyndly subiect and very cristes body that suffred deth vpoÌ„ the crosse is there in that sacrament bodily vnder the forme and lyknesse of brede and his very blood vnder lyknes of wyne substancyally and holy wythout ony feynyng or deceyte And not oonly in fygure as Notâ— the fals heretyke sayth Thise termes I touche here soo specially by cause of the lewde lollardes that medlen hem agaynst the fayth falsly And more ouer this before sayd fayth of holy chirche touchynge this excellent sacrament taughte by holy doctours and worthy clerkes â–ª is confermed by many maneres of myracles as we reden in many bokes and heren alday preche and taughte But here laugheth the lollarde and scorneth holy chirche in allegaunce of suche myracles holding heÌ„ but as madde tales and feyned Illusyons And by cause that he tasteth not the swetnesse of this precyous sacramente nor felyth the gracyous werchynge therof in hymself therfore he loueth not that ony other doth but here in coÌ„fession of al fals lollardes in confort of all true louers worshyppers of this holy sacrament and princypally to the louynge honoure of the hye auctour and maker of our lorde IhuÌ„s I shall sare more ouer somwhat in specyall that I knowe sothly of the gracyous werchynge in sensible felinge of this blessid sacramente the whiche merueylously werching felyngeaboue comin kynde of man shewyth proueth soueraynly the blessed bodies presence of JhuÌ„ in that sacrament There is one persone yâ— I know liuynge perauenture there ben many that I know not in the selfe degree or hygher the whiche persone of tymes whan our lord Jhesus vouchesauf to touche hym of his grace in tretynge of that blessed sacrament wyth the Inwarde siyght of his soule deuout meditacoÌ„n of his presious passion Sodeynly felyth also shedde in to the same body a Joye and likynge that passyth wythout comparyson the hyghest likynge that ony creature may haue or fele as by way of kynde in this lyfe thrugh the whiche Joye likynge all the membres of the bodi enflamÌ„ed of soo delectable and Joyefull hete that hym thynkyth sensibly alle the body as it were meltynge for Joye as waxe dooth anenst the hote fyre so ferforth that the body might not bere that excellent likyng but that it shold vtterly faylle nere the gracyous kepynge susteynyng of the towcher our lorde JhuÌ„ aboue kynde O lorde JhuÌ„ â–ª in what delectable paradise is he for the tyme that thus felith that blessid bodily presence of the in that precions sacrament â–ª thrugh the whiche he felyth hym sensybly wyth vnspeable Joye as he were Joyned body to body Sothly I trowe that there maye no man telle it or speke it And I am syker that there maye noo man fully sothfastly knowe it but he that in experyence felyth it For wythoute doubte this is specyally that hydde manÌ„a that is to saye the angels mete that no man knowyth but he that felyth it As saynt John witnessith in his apolipse And he that soothfastly felyth it maye well saye wyth dauyd the prophete soueraynly reioycynge body soule herte flesshe in god alyue O lorde Jhesu how moche is the multytude of thy swetnesse Quam magna multitu do dulce dinis that thou hast hydde to hem that in true loue dreden the Thus haue I vnderstonde of the forsayd gracyous wonderfull and myraculous worchinge of our lorde JhuÌ„ shewynge sensibly his blessyd delectable bodily presence in that moost excelleÌ„te sacrament of the awter in manere as the forsayd persone that felte it myght tell it soo in party and as I cowde shortly inperfectly wryte it The whiche myraculous worching to my vnderstondynge hauynge consideracyon to all cirstauÌ„ce ther of passeth many grete myracles that we redeÌ„ shewed in this holy sacrament In asmoche as the witte of that bodily felinge passyth incertaynte the wytte of syghte and hathe lasse of straunge lyckenes and more of the self sothfastnesse For what tyme that our lorde Jhesus apered in that blessed sacrament to streÌ„gthyng of byleue or to comfort of his chosen derlynges eyther in liknes of a lityll childe as he dyde to saynt edwarde kynge confessour or elles in quantyte of flessh al blody as it is wryten in the lyfe of saynt gregory other places Sooth it is that that bodily lyknes seen in that quantyte accordeth not wyth the very bodily quantyte shappe of oure lorde that henge on the crosse and that is sothly in that sacrament fro the bodily syghte But he that felyth that gracyous yefte before sayd hath noo strauÌ„ge bodily syghte of ony lyknesse other than sacrament in true byleue but in his soule lightned thrugh specyall grace he seeth inwardly wyth souerayn Joye that blessed body of JhuÌ„ cryst ryght as he henge on the crosse wythoute ony deceyte therwyth in the body Also he felyth sensibly the bodily presence of our lorde JhuÌ„s in manere as it is sayd before with soo grete Joye likynge that there can nootonge telle it fully nor hert vnderstonde it but onÌ„ly he that felyth it And as it semyth that Joyfull felyng in the body is lyke to yâ— that holy chirche syngeth of the apostles disciples at the feste of penthecoste whan the holy ghost was sent to hem sodenly in the lyknes of fire wythoutforth vnspekable Joy in her bodies wythin forth that is yâ— her bowels fylled wyth the holy ghoste Joyed soueraynly in god And soo maye he yâ— Imple ta gaudent viscera hath that forsayd gracyous yeft sothly say in that tyme with dauyd in specyall maner and hyghe gracyous felyng My herte and my flesshe reioyced hem soueraynly in to the presence of god alyue Jhesus That blessed be he euer and soueraynly for this hye feest of grace to man But now seace we bere awhyle of this delectable ghostly shewynge treatynge of this moost deynteous and precyous mete and take we hede ferdeâ—r more to the noble lesson that our lorde JhuÌ„s taughte his dâ—sciples therwyth after that worthy supper that is the fourth artycle beforsayd with purpose yet yf our lorde will sende grace to touche more of his precyous sacramente and that at laste ende of this boke as in conclusion of all the blessid lyfe here bodily of our lorde JhuÌ„ accordynge so wyth the gracious and resonable ordynaunce of holy chirche of the worthy solempne feste of this blessed sacrament as in a perfyte conclusyon af all the festes of our
excellent sacrament of his blessed body and in that swete sermon full of brenÌ„yng coles of charyte And the thyrde of passynge pacyence in soo benygne suffrynge of his traytoure and all dispyte done to hym after The fourth of perfyte obedyence in takynge wylfully yâ— harde passyon bytter deth after the faders wyll And yâ— fyâ—th of deuoute prayer coÌ„teyned thre tymes in longe feruent praienge and his precyous blode shedynge In the whiche v. vertues he grauÌ„t vs grace to folowe him JhuÌ„s that blessed be euer prefâ—â—â— wythout ende AMEN ¶ Thus endeth the conteÌ„placion for the thu â–ª sdaye and after foloweth the passion that longith specially to frydaye ¶ Of yâ— passion of our lord JhuÌ„ firste of his prayer takinge at maâ—yn tyme Capâ—m xl AT the beginÌ„ynge thou that desirest to haue sorouful coÌ„passion thrugh senteÌ„ce inwarde affeccoÌ„n of the painful passion of JhuÌ„ thou must in thy mynde departe in maner for the tyme the myght of the godhede fro the kyndly Infirmyte of the manhede though it soo be in sothnes that the godhede was neuer departed fro the manhede For ther ben many soo blynded ghostly by vnresonable ymagynacoÌ„n of the myghte of the godhede in JhuÌ„ that they trowe not that ony thing myight be paynfull or sorowfull to hym as to a nother comyn man yâ— hath onÌ„ly the kynde of man therfore haue they none coÌ„passion of yâ— paynes that he suffred supposyng that for as moche as he was god there myght noo thynge be ayenst his wyll or dere hym but therforÌ„ herayeÌ„st for to haue true ymagynacoÌ„n Inwarde coÌ„passion of yâ— paynes the passion of our lord IhuÌ„ veri god man we shal vnderstoÌ„de yâ— as his wyl was to suffre the hardeste dethe sorowful paynes for redempcoÌ„n of maÌ„kinde soo by the same will he suspendeth in all his passion the vse the myght of the godhede fro the Infyrmyte of the maÌ„hede nomore takynge of for the tyme. than hath a nother tender delicate man onÌ„ly after the kynde of man wherfore thou shalt ymagyne inwardly thinke on him in his passyon as of a fayr yoÌ„ge man of the age of xxxiii yere being yâ— fayrest the wysest the moost rihhtwis in liuyng moost goodly innocent that euer was or myght be in this worlde so falsly accused soo enuyously pursued soo wronfully demed soo dyspitously slayn as the processe of his passion after tellith and all for thy loue Also vnderstonde as clerkes sayen reason techith that in his bodily kinde of man he was of the clenÌ„est coÌ„plexion that euer was man or myght be wherfore he was yâ— more tender in the bodi and soo folowith that the paynes in the body were the more sore bytter and the harder to suffre thenÌ„e sythen he toke noo socour of the godhede but onÌ„ly sufffred after kynde of the manhede The leest payne that he had was more paynful to him thaÌ„ it myght haue be to ony other maÌ„ wherfore hauyng this in mynde fyrst to styryng of yâ— more coÌ„passion Ferdermore after the processe of Bonauenture who so desireth wyth the apostle poul to be Joyeful in yâ— crosse of our lorde IhuÌ„ cryst in the blessed passion he must with besy meditacoÌ„n therin for the grete misteries al the processe therof yf they were Inwardly coÌ„sidred wyth all the Inwarde mynde and beholdyng of manÌ„es soule as I fully trowe they sholde brynge that beholder in to a newe state of grace For to hym that wolde serche the passion of our lord wyth al his herte and all his Inwarde affeccyon there sholde come many deuoute felynges stirynges that he neuer supposed before Of the whiche he sholde fele a new coÌ„passyon a newe loue Haue now ghostly comfortes thrugh the whyche he shold perceyue hymself torned as it were in to a newe state of soule in the whiche astate the forsayd ghostly felynges shold seme to hym as a nernest and party of the blysse and Joye to come And for to gete this astate of the soule I trowe as he that is vncunnynge and blaberynge that it behoueth to sette thereto all the sharpnesse of mynde wyth wakynge eyen of herte put tynge awaye leuynge all other cures besynes for the tyâ—â—â— and makynge hymself as presente in all that befell aboute yâ— passyon crucifyxion affectuously besily auysedly perseuerantly and not passyng lightly or with tedious heuynes but wyth all the herte ghostly gladnes â–ª wherfore yf thou that redest or herest this boke hast here beforÌ„ besily taken hede to thâ— thynges that hauen be wryten spoken of the blessid â—yâ—â— of our lorde IhuÌ„ cryste in to this tyme Moche more now yâ—â—â—â—l te gader all thy mynde and all the strength of thy soule to tho thynges that folowen of his blessed passyon For here specyally is shewed his hye charyte the whiche resonably shold all hooly enflamme and brenne our hertes in his loue Goo we pro 〈…〉 pa 〈…〉 now thenÌ„e to the procrsse of his passion takynge hede makynge vs in mynde as present to all that folowith And fyrst beholdinge how after the processe of the gospell of saynt Johan our lorde IhuÌ„s after that worthy supper was done and that noble and fructuous sermon ended wherof it is spoken in the nexte chapyter before went wyth his discyples ouer yâ— water of cedron in to a gardine in to the whiche â—e was woÌ„ te ofte tyme to come wyth his discyples And there he badde hem abyde and praye And ferdermore takyng wyth him his thre specyall secretoryes That is to saye Peter James and Johan And tellynge hem that his herte was heuy and soroufull vnto the dethe Badde hem there abyde and wake wyth him in prayers And soo a lityll ferder fro hem as aboute yâ— space of a â—tone cast vpon a lityll hylle Mekely reuerently knelynge vpon his both knees made his prayer to the fader deuoutly in maner as it folowyth after But here abyde we a lityll whyle and take we hede wyth a deuoute mynde of this wonderfull dede of our lorde IhuÌ„ sothly worthy to be had in mynde in Inwarde sorowfull coÌ„passion For loo now he prayeth to the fader mekely and that for hymself as we rede that he hathe ott beforÌ„ prayed But thenÌ„e for vs as for our aduocat wherefore we sholde skylfully be stired to Inwarde coÌ„passoÌ„n and wonder here gretly of the lowest mekenesse and of the moost perfyte obedyence of vnspekable charytee of god shewed to vs. And fyrste of his profouÌ„de mekenesse considerynge hym N. ê“fuÌ„ dissiam buÌ„ilitâ—tem that is very god euen wyth the fader almyghty â–ª and euerlastynge soo as it were foryetynge hymself as god and soo lowely prayenge as a nother comyn man of the peple Also take hede of his most perfite obedience For what is he that prayeth Sothly he prayeth the fader yf it be his wyll that he be not llayn â—â— and put to that harde
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„
now hens forwarde be pleysed well wylled to hem for my loue all olde offence trespace foryeue and wype awaw put aferre all vnclenÌ„es of synÌ„e fro hem For sothly I offre here now myself for theim and their he le And thenne he that was on the ladder behynde the Crosse takyth his ryghte honde and was on yâ— ladder behynde the crosse taketh hys ryght honde nayleth it fast to the crosse And after he that was on the lifte syde draweth whyth all his myghte the lyttt arme and honde and dryueth ther thruÈ another grete nayle After they comen doune taken aweye all the ladders and so hangeth our lorde oonely by tho two nayles smyten thrugh his hondes wythoute sustenaunce of the body drawynge dounwarde peynfully thorugh the weyght therof Here wyth also another harlot renneth to and draweth doune his fete wyth all his myghte and another anone dryueth a grete longe nayle thorugh bothe his fete Joyned to other this is one maner of hys crucifyenge after the oppynyon of somÌ„e men Other ther ben that trowen that he was not crucyfyed in this maner but fyrste lyggynge the crosse on the ground they nayled hym therupon after wyth hym so hangyng they lyften vp the crosse and festen it doune in the erthe And yf it was done in this maner thenne mayst thou see hou vylaynsly they taken hym as a rybaulde casten hym doune vpon the crosse â–ª and thenÌ„e as wode theues drewen on bothe sydees fyrst hys hondes after hys fete soo nayled hym fast to the crosse And after wyth all her myghte lyften vp yâ— crosse wyth him hangyng as hyghe as they myghte And thenÌ„e lete it falle dooune in to the moiteyse In the whyche falle as thou mayst vnderstonde all the senowes to breken to hys souerayne payne But whether soo hit be in one maner or in other sothe it is that our lord JhuÌ„s was nayled BN hard vpon the crosse honde foote and soo streyned and drawen that as he hym self sayth by the prophete Dauyd that DinuÌ„e taueruÌ„t ossa mea they myghte telle and nombre all hys bones thenÌ„e rennen oute of hys blessyd body the stremes of that holyest blood on all sydes habondauntly fro the grete woundes and soo he is con streyned and arted that he maye not meue but hys hede wherfore hangynge the body onely by tho thre nayles noo doubte But that he suffreth so bytter sorowe and paynes that there maye noo herte thynke ne tonge telle And yet more ouer he hanged bytwene two theues of the whiche that one blasphe myed teÌ„pted hym to JnpacyeÌ„ce and therwith other blasphe myng scornynge sayen Vath this is he yâ— destroyeth the temple of god makith it vp ayen in iii. dayes And other saydeÌ„ He made sauf other but he maye not now saue hymself and many other reproues scornynges they sayden to hym as the gospel tellyth And all thise reproues blasphemyes despites ben done seenge herynge his moost soroufull moder whose NotabnÌ„ coÌ„passion sorowe made hym her sone to haue the more bytter payne And on that other half she henge in soule with her sone on the crosse and desyred Inwardly rather to haue deyed that tyme wyth hym than to haue lyued lenger And soo stode the moder besyde the crosse of her sone bytwene his crosse the crosse of the theif she torned neuer her eyen fro him She was full of anguyssh as he was also And she prayed to the fader at that tyme wyth all her herte sayenge thus Fader and Nâ— oâ—o neÌ„ mâ—â—s ê“ filio god wythout ende it was pleysyng to you that my sone shol de be crucifyed it is done yet is not now tyme to aske hym of you ayen but ye see now in what anguyssh is his soule I beseche you that ye woll ease his paynes Good fader Iâ—recommende to you in all that I maye my dere sone and also he her sone prayed for her pryuely in hymself sayenge My fader ye Nâ— oâ—o neÌ„ filii ê“ mrÌ„e knowe how my moder is tormented for me I sholde onÌ„ly be crucifyed and not she But loo now she hangeth on the crosse wyth me Myn owne crucifyenge suffyseth for I bere the synÌ„es of all the peple She hath not deserued ony suche thing wherforÌ„ I recoÌ„mende her to you that ye make her paynes lesse ThenÌ„e was with our lady John mawdleyn the biloued discyples other of his freudes by the crosse of our lorde JhuÌ„ the whiche all maden grete sorow wepten â–ª and myghteÌ„ not be comforted in noo maner of her byloued mayster but euer was her sorow renewed wyth his sorow eyther in reproues or in dede as it foloweth after ¶ How our lord JhuÌ„s yelded vp the spiryte at none xliiii NOw hangeth oure lorde Jhesus on the crosse in grete payne yet he is not ydle by cause of yâ— payn But he wroughte alwaye spake yâ— was profytable for vs wherfoâ— so Nâ— vâ— â—ba dâ— in 〈…〉 hangynge he spake vii no table wordes that ben fouÌ„den writen in the gospell The first was in the tune that they crucifyed hym whaÌ„ he prayed for hem sayenge P 〈…〉 vbâ— pt ignoâ—â—â— illis Sâ—dm mulâ—eâ—eâ— sâ— filius tuâ—â— Teâ—câ—â— hodieme cuÌ„ eris â— paradiso QuartuÌ„ hely hely lama zabatani thus Fader foryeue hem for they wite nought what thei done the whiche worde was a worde of grete pacience of grete loue vnspeka ble benygnyte The secoÌ„de was to his moder sayeng thê° woman loo thy sone also to John loo thy moder He called not her at that time moder leest she sholde thrugh feruent tendernes haue ben more sory The thyrde was to the blessed theyf sayenge this daye thou shalt be wyth me in paradise wherin his moost large merci is openly shewed The fourth was whan he sayd Hely hely lamazabatany that is to saye My god whi hast thou forsake me as though he said in this senteÌ„ce My god fader of heuen thou hast somoche loued the redempcoÌ„n of yâ— worlde that thou hast yeuen me therfore and as it semed forsaken Lo JhuÌ„ what coÌ„forte was that forsayd worde to all thyn enmyes and what discoÌ„forte to all thy frendes Sothly as it semyth there was neuer worde that oure lorde spake that yaaf so moche boldenes to hys enemyes and so moche occasion to hys frendes for to despayre that he was god as that worde For they vnderstode hit that tyme but nakedly after theletter souneth But our lord wold shewe in to the last ende that as he suffred in body fully after the kynde of man so also in his B N spekynge after the infirmyte of man that he was very man suspendyng for the tyme the vse of all the myghte of the godhe de The v worde was Sicio I am thursty the whiche worde QuintuÌ„ Scicio also was occasion to his moder and
sore wepynge accused reprehended hemself that they had soo lefte her lorde Thenne our lady comfortynge hem sayd â–ª Oure gode lorde mayster â–ª and our true herdman is goon fro vs. and we ben left now as faderles chyldern But I hope truely yâ— we shall soone hane hym agayn And ye knowe well that my sone is benygne and mercyful blessed may he be For he loued you well and therfore doubteth not but that he shall be well reâ—oucylied to you and gladly he shall foryeue all the trespasses all offences For sothly by suffrauÌ„ce of the fader the malyce ayenst hym was so grete and the woodnes of his enmyes so stronge mighty that ye myght not haue socoured him though ye had abyde styll wyth hym and therfore dredeth not all shall be well ThenÌ„e ansuerde peter and sayd sothly as ye saye soo it is For I that sawe but a lityll of the begynnyng was wyth soo grete drede smyten in the porche of Cayphas house that vnneth wende I for to haue scaped the deth And therfore I forsoke hym and had noo mynde att that tyme of the wordes that he had sayd to me before tyll he loked on me And mawdleyne asked what those wordes were and he said how he tolde hym before that he sholde forsake hym what tyme And soo forth he tolde all his wordes spoken to hem specyally yâ— he tolde before many thynges to hem of his passion in that supper tyme. that he made with heÌ„ the thursday at euen ThenÌ„e our lady sayd that she wold gladly here of that processe that befell at that supper And Peter made sygne to John that he sholde tell that processe and John telleth al that was done and sayd And after to peter he tolde all the processe of his passion as he desyred And so what of thise thynges of other done by our lorde JhuÌ„ amonge hem they tellen to other now one and now another as it comyth to her mynde Durynge awaye all that daye in suche maner talkynges of our lord JhuÌ„ O lorde how attentifly besely mawdleine listned to those wordes but moche more our lady saienge oft tymes at the ende of a processe Blessyd be my sone Jhesus namely whan she mawdleyne herde of the makynge of the sacrament And how he yaaf hem in the forme of brede his owne body to ete and in the forme of wyne his blode to drynke Sothly I trow that wyth souerayn merueyle her hertes melted in to likynge sorowe and soroufull likynge brekyng out on wepynge and shedynge swete teres for that hye brennyng loue that he shewed to man soueraynly in that excellent passige dede of charyte But now passing ouer soo shortly of this ineditacoÌ„n at this tyme Morouer take hede and beholde hem this daye in grete sorowe drede and haue compassion of heÌ„ yf thou canst For what is it to see how that the lady of al the world and the pryncesse of holy chirche chyuetayns of goddis peple ben now soo in drede sorowe stoken hydde in yâ— lityll hous not knowinge what they maye doo not hauynge comforte but oonly in that comynge of the wordes dedes of her lorde JhuÌ„ Neuertheles our lady stode alwaye sadly in a restfull and peasyble herte For she had euer a certayne hope of the resurreccoÌ„n of her sone And therfoâ— holy chyrche makyth mynde specyall of her euery saterdaye by that in that dare stode onÌ„ly in her the fayth of our lorde JhuÌ„ that he was very god Neuertheles she myghte not haue fully Joye by cause of the mynde of his harde dethe his bytter passion whan the sonÌ„e was gone downe and it was leifful to werche mary mawdleyne another mary with her yeden forth in to the cyte for to bye maters able for to make oynements of as thei had soÌ„ what done on the fridaye before in to the sonÌ„e settelyng For by the law they were bouÌ„de to kepe the sabbot day fro yâ— sonÌ„e reste of the daye before in to the sonne reste of the same daye Now take hede and behold hem how they goon with soroufull chere in maner of desolate wydoues to some apothecha â–ª ry or spycer the whiche they had knowlege of that he was a good deuoute man and that wolde gladly fulfylle her wylle and desyre in that party And whan they haue chosen the best oynements that they cowde fynde and payed therfoâ— they yeden home agayne werchynge hem in the beste manere that they cowde And so maist thou see how diligeÌ„tly truely they werchen traueyle for her lord wyth wepynges and sighynges a monge And how our lady and thapastles stoden behelden and peraueuture helpen amonge And whan it was nyghte they seaceden yeden to rest suche as was And soo this maye be the meditacoÌ„n for the saterdaye touchyng our lady other wymmen and the apoostles BVt what dyde our lorde JhuÌ„s that day Soothly anone as he was dede He wente in soule doune in to helle there as holy faders weren And thenne weren they in Joye and blysse by vertue of his blessed presence For the syghte of god â–ª is perfyte Joye And here may we see howe grete is his benygnytee in that he wolde hymself goo doune to helle How grete charyte mekenesse that was For he mighte haue sende an angell and hane delyuerde hem out of the deuylles bondes broughte hem to hym where he had lyste but his loue his mekenes wolde not haue suffred that and therfore he wente hymselfe doune in to helle vysited his chosen soules there that not as seruauÌ„tes but freÌ„des of hym that was lorde of all And thenÌ„e all the holy faders in his comyng fylled wyth Joye blysse and al sorowe myslikyng away passed stoden before hym in louynges songes of prophecyes and psalmes that were beforsaid And thenÌ„e fulfilled as they ben writen in holy wrytt in to the tyme that he wold take his body ayen and ryse vp gloriously fro deth to lyf as it folouyth in processe herafter To the whiche lif for to rise at the last with him he grauÌ„t vs our lord JhuÌ„s that for vs deyed on the crosse ¶ Of the gloryous ResurreccoÌ„n of our our lorde Jhesu and how he fyrste appered to his moder as it maye be resonably trowed Caplm l. AFter that the worthy est Prynce and myghtyest Conquerour Jhesus thrugh his bytter passyon and harde dethe had vaynquysshed and vtterly onecome that souerayne tyraunte mannes enm ye thys aduersary sathanas wyth all his wycked oost As so one as the soule was departed fro the body he wente doune to that tyraunts prison helle And right as in soth he was lorde of vertues kyage of blysse so by his souerayn myght rightwysnes he brake of that pryson and entred with vnspekeable Joye blysse to his chosen people that there had ben in distresse many thousandes yeres before And thenÌ„e was that pryson torned in
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
ryght half is verily and hooly in all the places of the worlde where this sacramente is treated soothly conteyned in that sacrament in the selfe flesshe blode that was conceiued of the holi ghost and borne of the blessed virgyn mary and henge vpon the crosse for our sauacyon This maye not be comprehended fully by manÌ„es reason but onÌ„ly stondeth in byleue Neuertheles there is a maner lyke merueyle in kynde that a worde spoken of one man to moche peple is holy in him that spekith it and also in all those that here it ben they neuer so many ¶ It is also a grete merueylle that soo grete a body of our lorde JhuÌ„ is fully holy coÌ„prehended in soo lityl a quantyte of thoost and therwith also yf that oost be departed in to many smale peces it is as fully in euery parte as it was in all the hole ¶ Herto also is a maner of lykenesse that we seen in kynde how thymage of a manÌ„es grete face of a grete body is seen in a litil myrrour And yf it be broken departed yet in euery parte it semyth al the hole ymage not in party after the partes of yâ— glasse so broken Many other wonderfull merueyles our lorde god almighty werchith in this precious sacrament of his endles mercy to our ghostly comfort hele of soule the whyche we maye not coÌ„prehende by kyndly reason our bodily wyâ—t but onÌ„ly by true bileue fayth And therfore it is grete foly ghostly peryll to seche curyously in ymagynacoÌ„n of reason yâ— merueyles of this worthy sacrament But it is most siker to a symple soule namly and suffyseth to sauacoÌ„n Touthyng the forsayd merueyles and all other of this blessed sacramente to thinke fele in this matere Thus haue holi doctours taughte and holy chirche determyned And therforÌ„ I trowe and fully bileue that it is in sothnesse though my kyndely reason againsay it For as saynt gregory sayth That fayth hath no 〈…〉 â–ª meryte to the whiche manÌ„es reason yeuith experyence Touchynge the seconde manere of merueylles myracles shewed wythout forth by vertue of this holy sacramente and in this holy sacrament as we fynde wryten â–ª For thre skylles ouâ—â—oâ—de 〈…〉 shewyth in dyuerse maners those merueylles myracles in this precyous sacrament that is to saye Somtyme to coÌ„forte hem that ben in true byleue of this blessed sacrament and to kyndle her loue therby the more feruently to god to worshippyng of that sacrament Also somtyme by specyall grace for to coÌ„uerte â—orne to true byleue hem that ben oute ther of And also somtyme to open preif of the â–ª grete vertues ther of in delyuerauÌ„ce of paynes and sauyng fro bodily myscheyf ghostly And eche of thyse thre I shall tell shortly some merueyles myracles that I fynde wryten the whyche ben of soo grete auctoryte as to my felynge that there maye noo man agaynsaye hem but he be wors than a Jewe or a paynym â–ª Towchynge the fyrst that is to say how our lorde somtyme â— â–ª causa shewyth openly merueyles myracles of this blessed sacrament to comfort hem that ben in true bileue and to kyndle her hertes in to the more feruent loue of god We fynden wryteÌ„ N 〈…〉 in the lyft of the holy Confessour saynt Edwarde the kyng whos body lyeth in shryne at westmynstre the whiche lyf as for the more auctoryte in sothnesse wrote the worthy clerke holy abbot of Ryuaus Alred thus sayenge touchynge this matere ¶ In that worthy monestery of saynt Peter called westmestre and at the aulter dedifyed there in the worship of the holy trinyte as the forsayd holy kynge edwarde herde masse on a daye wyth the worthy erle called Leueryche the whyche wyth his noble wyfe GodÈyue the couÌ„tesse was founder of many worthy houses of religion what tyme it came to yâ— coÌ„secracoÌ„n and goddis body in forme of brede was holde vp to the peples syght bytwyx the prestes hondes after the vse of holy chyrche He that is fayrest in shape beforÌ„ al menÌ„es sones our lorde JhuÌ„s cryst apered bodily in that oost to bothe her syâ—ghtes liftynge vp his right honde makynge a crosse toward the kynge blessynge And thenÌ„e the kynge wyth lowtyng of his hede honouryng the presence of goddis magestec mekely wyth all the body dyde reuerence to soo worthy a blessinge But the erle that sawe the selfe syghte not knowynge what was in yâ— kynges hert And after desiryng that the kinge mighte be partyner of soo grete worthy a syghte began to goo towarde the kynge fro his place that was perauenture on syde byneth as longed to his astate But the kynge vnderstondin ge what was theâ—es entent said to him in this maner Stande Leueryche stande For that thou seest I see also After this they bothe of so Joyefull a sighte ghostly comforted torned all in deuoute prayers and swete wepynge teeres weren made ghostly dronken of the pleÌ„te of goddis hous and fed wyth the ryuer of his souerayne Joye and ghostly lykynge And after the ende of the masse they that were soo blisfully refeted wyth ghostly mete comyned togider of the forsayd heuenly siyght with swete teres inwarde sighynges â–ª oft tymes brekinge her speches And thenÌ„e sayd saynt edwarde My dere Leueryche I praye the charge the by that hyghe magestee that we haue soo gracyonsly seen that neuer whyle we lyue this thynge be brought fourth in to the comyn knowyng leest we therby falle in to vaynglory pryde thrugh thoppinyon of the comyn peple to our ghostly dethe Or leest the enuye of mysbyleuynge men lette and destroye true byleue to the wordes ther of wherfore after the forsayd erle was goon fro the kynges courte by the JuspyracoÌ„n of the holy ghost as it is to byleue He was taughte soo that he kepte the byddynge the heste of his lorde And yet therwyth that highe vertuous myracle sholde not be fully vnknowen to them that were after to come For after he came to the monastery of wircestre and there in confession to a Religyous man he tolde the forsayd myracle chargyng hym in manere as the kynge had charged him and prayed hym that he wolde wryte the preuytee of soo worthy a visyon and put in suche a place that it mighte be vnknowen to hem that thenÌ„e were liuynge and that it myght be knowen to hem that were to comyng And so dyde that holy maÌ„ after the erles prayer He wrote all thorder maner of the forsayd visyon in a bylle and layd it amonge relyques closed in a cofre the whiche cofre longe tyme after the kinges deth with out manÌ„es honde thrugh the myghte of god as it is to bileue was founde open And thenne the bretherne of that place besily serchynge the reliques fouÌ„den the forsayd bylle and radde it And after for asmoche as they wolde not that soo grete a tresour and worthy myracle sholde
that there maye noo true angel teche the contrary of the bileue of holy chirche And therforÌ„ he that soo dooth is an angell of sathanas and not of god As ben all the fals lollardes the whiche haue neyther true drede nor perfyte loue of oure lord JhuÌ„ And therfore they fele not the ghostly swetnes of this heuenly mete of his precyous body ne the likynge mynde of his merueylles shewed in that blessed sacramente â–ª But we that thorugh grace stonden in true byleue as holy chyrche hath taught vs in this souerayne holyest sacrament wyth goostly lykynge of sowle Haue we not oonly in mynde the grete merueylles and myghty myracles wryten and preched of that holy Sacrament in dyuerse maners shewed as it is beforsayd But also consider we how that our lorde JhuÌ„s of his vnspeable goodnes shewed to mankynde he yeueth hym self to vs euery daye bodily in that precious sacrament as in a conclusion and moost specyall mynde of all his blessed lyf to souerayne comforte helpe of our wretchid lyfe the whyche is full of temptacoÌ„ns and ouersette wyth many enmyes Wherfore it is spedfull to vs contynuelly to crye after helpe of the sonerayne vertue of this blessed sacrament by the wordes that holy chyrche syngeth in the ympne of this sacrament thus O thou helful oost that openest the door of heueÌ„ the bataylles of our enmyes oppressen ouerseten vs wherfore yeue vs strengthe of wythstondynge and brynge vs thy helpe to her ouercomyng Also to wythstondynge of temptacoÌ„ns and ouercomyng of vices to getynge of vertues and encreace of feruent affeccoÌ„ns of our lorde JhuÌ„ as for a full ende of all his blessed lyfe before wryten ¶ Enprynted by wynkin the worth ¶ Here folowyth a shorte deuoute prayer to JhuÌ„ cryst his body in the sacrament of the aulter the whiche oweth to be sayd in presence of that holy sacrament at the masse with inwarde deuocoÌ„n HEyle holyest body of our lorde Jhesu cryste that art now soothfastly conteyned here in this moost excellent sacrament I knowlege the my lorde god wyth my mouth I loue the wyth all my herte and I desyre the wyth all the Inwarde affeccyon of my soule I beseche the swete JhuÌ„ that thou vochesauf of thy souerayne goodnes this daye soo benygnely gracyously to vysite my sike soule desiryng to receyue the goostly our heelfull sacrifyce well of all grace soo that I may wyth gladnesse fynde medecyne heele in body soule by vertue of thy blessed presence Beholde not lorde JhuÌ„ to my wickydnesse manyfolde neclygences and my grete vnkyndnes but rather to thy souerayne mercy endles godenes Sothly thou arte that holy lambe wythout weÌ„me of synÌ„e that this day is offred to the euerlastinge fader of heuen for the redempcoÌ„n of al the worlde O thou swettest manÌ„a angels mete â–ª O thou moost likynge ghostly drynke brynge in to my Inwarde mouth that hony swete taast of thy helfull presence Byadie in me the feruour of thy charyte Quenche in me all maner vyces Shede in to me the plentee of vertues Encreace in me the yeftes of graces And yeue me heele of body soule to thy plesynge My god I biseche the that thou wolt soo gracyously bowe the and fro thy hye heuen now come doune to me yâ— I knytted Joyned to the be made one spiryte wyth the O yâ— worshypfull sacrament I byseche the that al myn enmyes be put awaye fro me by the strengthe of the and all my synnes foryeue and all wyckidnes be excluded by the blessid presence of the Good purpose lorde yeue thou me My maners thou correcte amende And al my werkes dedes thou dispose in thy wyll My wytte vnderstondyng by the swete JhuÌ„ be made here clere wyth a newe lyghte of grace Myne affeccoÌ„n be enflaÌ„med wyth the fyre of thy loue and myne hope coÌ„forted strengthed wyth this blessid sacrament soo that my lyf here profyte euer in amendynge to better And at last fro this wretchid worlde wyth a blessed departyng that I maye come wyth the to lyf euerlastyng JhuÌ„ lorde by vertue grace of thy lyfe blessed wythout endynge Amen amen Amen ¶ JhuÌ„ lorde thy blessid lyfe helpe comforte our wretchid lyfe AMEN ¶ Explicit Speclm vite xpÌ„i cuÌ„ â–ª â—tiliâ—â—ime tractatu breue de sacramento corporis xpÌ„i oracoÌ„ne eidâ—â—â— sacramenti ImpressuÌ„ westmonasterii Anno dnÌ„i M. Câ—â—â— â–ª â—xxxxiiii