thyse two vertues perfytly taughte vs by ensample bothe of hym his discyples it shall folow after more plainly in the nexte chapyter ¶ Hic pÌ„mittuÌ„tur plura capitula transit ad caplm xxxvii in Bonauentura pro eo qd materia huiê° capli videtur conueniencius sequi istud capituluÌ„ pretactum Sed postea sequntur de ipsis quinque capitula ê‘tinencia ad contemplacoÌ„nem pro die Jouis ¶ How the disciples of Jhesu pluckedeÌ„ the ere 's of corne and eten it for honger on the sabotte daye Caplm xxiiii IN a sabotte daye as the discyples of our lorde Jhesu weÌ„ten by the feeldes wyth hym where ripe corne was growynge they were ahongred and pluckeden the ere 's and froteden hem bytwene her hondes and ete hem And the pharysees that euer aspyeden our lordes wordes and dedes for to take hym in defaulte agaynste theyr lawe reproued herfore bothe hym and his discyples And sayden that it was vnleâ—ffull on the sabotte daye But our lorde excused hem first by nede that is out take in the lawe As Dauyd and his men in nede eten Nota the prestes brede that was elles forboden And also by that reason that the prestes of the lawe on the sabotte daye cyrcumsiced and made sacrifyce the whyche were bodily werkes not so nedfull as that they diden And also his presence that was lorde and auctour of the lawe yaue hem leue But yf we take here Inwarde entente wyth deuoute compassyon of that nede of the disciples in the presence of their lord almyghty we owen resonably to be stired to the loue of pouerte bodily nede for his sake For wonderfull it is to thynke that they that were choseÌ„ so specyally to yâ— hye degree of apostles there thrugh made prynces domesmeÌ„ of the worlde sholde be put in to so grete pouerte nede for to ete the rawe corne for hongre as they were vnresonable bestes and naÌ„ly in his presence that was maker of all mete drynke at his wyll lorde of all the worlde as though he myght not helpe hem at her nede But the good lorde that dyde all thyng for our sauacoÌ„n he suffreth this nede in hem for the beste as he toke in hymselfe all the nede of mankynde wythoute synÌ„e And soo though he had copassoÌ„n of hem in asmoche as he loued hem tenderly Neuertheles it lyked hym that nede in hem the gode wyll of heÌ„ therwyth that gladly suffred that nede for his loue And soo it plesyd hym not onÌ„ly for her mede that he knewe moche therfore but also for ensaÌ„ple for vs that sholde come after For Nota tria here haue we specyally that haue forsake the worlde for the loue of god ensaÌ„ple stirynge to thre vertues namly that beÌ„ nedefull to vs That is to say pacyeÌ„ce in bodily nede perfyte pouerte PrimuÌ„ ayenste gloteny vertuous abstyneÌ„ce And as to the first sythen the discyples of JhuÌ„ that hadden lefte forsaken all that Corporalis necessiâ—â—â— they had for to folowe hym suffreden pacyently gladly soo grete nede of bodily honger in his presence whom they sawe myraculously fede other men helpe at her nede moche more we owen to be pacyent in bodily nede whan it falleth that beÌ„ not soo worthy ne soo perfytly louen god but rather haue deserued for our mysliuyng vnkyndnes ayenste our lorde god moche more penauÌ„ce dysease than he wylle suffre vs for to haue And peraueÌ„ture we comeÌ„ neuer to soo grete nede for to suffre for his sake As to the seconde that is perfyte pouertee SecunduÌ„ Perfectapâ— upertas for goddes loue we shal vnderstonde that his pouerte passed in perfeccoÌ„n the hyest degree of wylful pouerte of other withoute coÌ„paryson For other menÌ„es pouerte that haue forsakeÌ„ for crystes loue all rychesses worshyppes of the worlde is in reputacoÌ„n of meÌ„ in asmoche as it is holde vertuous as it is But Nota de perfectissima paupertats Cristi his pouerte was in repreyf dispyte of men in asmoche as it was not knoweÌ„ that he toke this pouerte wilfully but as of nede as it semyth in the forsayd processe of him his discyples whan they eten rawe corne for honger and he halpe hem not and in many other places of the gospel he shewed hym as poore nedy And for asmoche as that pouertee that comyth of nede not of wyll is in dispyte repreif and all that knewen hym sawe that he had nother hous nor possessions they hadden hym in the more conteÌ„pte For comynly suche nedeful poor men ben dispysed of al men sette aâ— nought But neuertheles they maye be full honorable in his syghte that thê° yaue ensaÌ„ple therof wherfore it is full perylloê° for to dispyse ony poore man But yf we wyll wyte who is vertuously perfytly Nota poore we shall vnderstonde that not onÌ„ly he that made his professoÌ„n to pouerte hath left all worldly richesses as in hauour wythout forthe but he that therwyth hath that pouerte sette in his hert wythin forthe so that he wyll not more loue nor desire ony worldely godes or possessions but onÌ„ly that is nedefull to his liuyng For yf a man be in pouerte suffre nede without forth thrugh lacke of worldly godes and therwith he desyre wyth delyberacyon in herte wythin forth more than hym nedeth that man lyueth not in vertuous pouerte but in wretched nede wythout mede For the luste of the wyll within forth with full assente therto suffyseth to the fulfyllyng of synÌ„e to the losse of mede wherfore he that wyll be perfyte pore Nota 〈…〉 he muste loke that neyther he haue nor desire more than is nedeful to his liuynge Of this vertuous pouerte spekyth saynt Bernarde sermone quarto de AdueÌ„tu in sermone quarto de Bernarde Tâ—â—â—ta coÌ„â—â—a gâ—lâ—â— Natiuitate dnÌ„i Ferdermore towchyng the thyrde vertue that is abstynence wherof agaynst gloteny we haue ensample here in the discyples and also byfore in our lorde Jhesu we shal vnderstonde that gloteny is a vyce agaynste the whyche it behoueth vs while we lyuen in this flesshe for to haue contynuell batayll as holy faders that knowen the temptacoÌ„n therof by longe experieÌ„ce techen vs. specyally saynt Bernarde in dyuerse places telleth howe we shalle flee gloteny and nourysshe the body onÌ„ly as it nedeth to the he le therof and more shal we not seche oâ— desire to the body wherfore in all that we taken ouer that is to saye to fulfylle the luste the likinge that passeth the termes of kynde and disposeth to dethe bodily ghostly Nota contra plures bestiales gulosos And soo it falleth ofte that many men ben somoche ouer comen wyth the luste likynge of the flesshe that as vnresonable bestes they putten the lust before the hele takyng suche metes drynkes the whiche they knoweÌ„ well
testameÌ„t makyng hymself our sacrefyce he toke brede in his holy hondes lyft vp his eyen to his fader almyghty god blessed the brede and sayd the wordes of the consecracoÌ„n therouer â–ª By vertue of the whiche wordes brede was torned in to his body thenne he yaaf it to his discyples and sayd Taketh eteth for sothly this is my body that shall be take yeue for you And after in the same manere takynge the chalyce wyth wyne sayd takith and drynkith alle herof â–ª For this is my blode that shall be out shedde for you many other in redempcyon of synÌ„es after he yaaf heÌ„ power of the consecracoÌ„n and to all prestes in hem and sayd thus dooth ye as oft as ye take it in coÌ„memoracoÌ„n and mynde of me Take now gode here thou crysten man â–ª but specyally thou preste how deuoutly how dy ligently truely thy lorde JhuÌ„s cryste made fyrste this precyoê° sacrament And after wyth his blessed hondes minystred it commyned that blessed his byloued meyne And on that other syde take hede wyth what deuoute wonder fyrste they sawe hym make that wonderfull and excellent sacrament And after with what drede reuereÌ„ce the y toke it â–ª and receyued it of hym Sothly at this tyme they lefte all her kyndly reason of man and onÌ„ly rested in true byleue to all that he sayd and dyde byleue wythoute ony doubte â–ª that he was god and myghte not erre And soo must thou doo that wolte fele and haue the vertu the ghostly swetnesse of this blissed sacrament This B is that swete precyous memoryale that soueraynly makith mans soule worthy and plesynge to god as ofte as it is duely receyued eyther by true deuoute meditacoÌ„n of his passion or elles and that more specyally in sacramentale etynge therof wherfore by reson this excellent yeft of loue shold kyndle manÌ„es soule and enflamÌ„e it all holy in to the yeuer therof oure lorde JhuÌ„s cryste For there is noo thynge that he myght yeue and leue to vs more derworth more swete or more profy table than hymself For without ony doubte he that we receiuen in the sacrament of the aulter is he that self goddis sone Jhesus that toke flesshe and blode and was borne of the vyrgyn mary and that suffred deth on the crosse for vs. and rose the thirde daye fro dethe to lyfe and after styed vp in to heuen and sittyth on the faders ryght side and that shall come at the daye of dome and deme all maÌ„kynde In whoo 's power is bo the lyfe and dethe that made bothe heuen helle and that onÌ„li maye saue vs or daÌ„pne vs euer wythout ende And soo he yâ— self god man is conteyned in that lityll oost that thou seest in forme of brede And eueri daye is offred vp to the fader of N heueÌ„ for our ghostly hele euerlastyng sauacoÌ„n This is the true bileue that holy chirche hath tauÈte vs of this blessid sacrament But yet more ouer lete vs sitte a lityll loÌ„ger at this worthy lordes boorde JhuÌ„s and take we hede Inwardly of oure ghostly foode comforte more specyally of that precyous moost deâ—â—teous mete that is there sette before vs. that is the blessed body of our lorde JhuÌ„s in this holy sacrameÌ„t beforsayd And so by inwarde coÌ„sideracoÌ„n taaste we the swetnesse of this heuenly fode hauynge fyrst in mynde the gracious resonable makyng ordenauÌ„ce of yâ— blessed sacrameÌ„t and after the grete worthines merueylous werkyng therof in chosen soules to coÌ„forte strengthyng of our fayth And as anenst the firste poynt we shall vnderstonde that almyghty goddis sone the seconde persone in trinyte willynge of his souerayne charyte endles goodnes to make vs partyners of his godhede he toke our kynde and became man to make men as goddes ferdermore that he toke of our kynde that was flesshe blode aâ—â—e he yaaf to vs for our hele our sauacoÌ„n For he offred to his fader of heuen vpon the aulter of the crosse his blessyd body for our reconcilynge and he shedde his precyous blood in to pryce for to bye vs out of our wretchid thraldom to wasâ—â— vs make vs clene of all synne And for asmoche as he wolde that the mynde of that hye grete benefyce sholde dwelle in vs euerlastyngly he yaaf to al cristen people his body in to mete and his blode in to drynke vnder the lyknesse of brede wyne in manere as it is sayd before in the fyrst makyng of this blessed sacrament But now here beholde we Inwardly take we hede what wondrynge it was to the appostles thenne to see oure lorde JhuÌ„s very man as they were syttynge wyth hem bodily and therwith holdyng in his hondes that self body in that yâ— semyd to her bodiâ—y syghte noughte elles but brede affermynge thus sothly This is my body that shall be yeuen for you And also of that that in the chalyce semed oonly very wyne This is my bloode that shall be shedde for remyssion of your synnes And soo that self bodi that they sene wyth her bodily eyen before hem was sothly vnder the forme of brede And that self blode that was all hole in his bodi was there in the chalice in forme of wyne But thenne was not that brede as it semid as it was before the wordes of coÌ„secracoÌ„n nor wyne as it semid in self maner but onÌ„ly the liknes or the fourme of brede wyne conteynynge very crystes flesshe and blode as it is sayd But what manÌ„es wytte or reason myghte comprehende att this tyme Sothly none And therfore the true apostles at that tyme leften all her bodily reason wytte and rested onÌ„ly in true byleue to her lordes wor des as it is sayd beforÌ„ sauf Judas that was reproued for his falshede mysbyleue and therfore he receyued that blessed sa coÌ„tra lol lardos crament to his dampnacoÌ„n And so done all tho that beÌ„ now of his parte the whiche falsly bileuen and sayen that the holi sacramente of the aulter is in his kynde brede or wyne as it was before the consecracoÌ„n by cause that it semyth soo to all her bodily felynge as in syght taast touchyng the whiche beÌ„ more reprouable as in that parte than Judas For they sene not JhuÌ„s bodily beside that sacrament as he dyde and therforÌ„ it is lyghter to hem for to byleue and more to her dampnacion yf they byleue not as god himself holy chirche hath taughte namly sythen that true techinge of this blessed sacramente hath be holden stedfastly soo many huÌ„dred yeres and of so Fides sacrameÌ„ti many holy men marters confessours other true cristen men the whiche in to her laste dayes stoden without doubte in this faythe and deyden therin The whiche is this in fewe wordes that the sacrament of the aulter duely made by vertue of crystes wordes is very
of heuenly thinges by lykenes of erthly thynges how he wyth all that forsayd worthy blysful multytude of holy soules openynge heuen yates that were beforÌ„ that tyme spered ayenst mankynde as a worthy conquerour Joyefully entred and gladly before the forsayd fader Fader I thaÌ„ke the that thou hast yeuen me the vycto ry of all oure enmyes and aduersaryes And loo fader here I present to the our frendes that were holden in thraldome And for asmoche as I haue behight to my brethern discyples the whyche I haue left in the worlde to sende to hem the holy ghost I praye the fader fulfyll my byhest and I recoÌ„mende hem also to the ThenÌ„e the fader takynge hym vp made him sytte on his right honde and said My blessed sone al power dome I haue yeuen to the. and therforÌ„ of that thou askedest dyspose and doo as the lyketh After that all the holy faders blessed spirytes the whiche had in worshping of the holy trynyte fall doune lowely wyth all reuerence risynge vp began agayn to synge her songes of myrthe and vnspekable Jore before the trone of god For sithen moyses the chyldern of Israhel songen in thankyng louynge of god whan they were passed the reed see and her enmyes therin drowned And also the selfe tyme mary aarons syster with other wymÌ„en her folowing in tym panes and other melodye dauÌ„sen songen to goddis louyng Also dauyd wyth his peple ledynge the arke of god in to Jherusalem â–ª harped daunsed for Joye before the arke and chauÌ„ters songen and in other dyuers myntralsye they honoured worshipped god And also saynt Johan sayth in the apocalip se that he herde a voys in heuen of an huÌ„dred fourty and four thousande harpes harpyng and syngynge a newe songe bifore the throne and the seet of the very lambe Jhesu Moche more we resonably trowe that now in this Joyefule tyme whan JhuÌ„s wyth his company passed all sorowe and al his aduersaryes were so gracyously ouercome And he that was tokened by the arke JhuÌ„s was soo gracyously come in to the cyte of heuenly Jherusalem All that blessed felyship of spirytes and soules wythoute nomber songen and maden Joye myrthe that noo tonge maye telle ne herte thynke Soothly now in that blessed cytee of heuenly Jherusalem is songeu herde that souerayn songe of Joye after the prophecy of thobie by all the stretes therof is songen Alleluya that is as moche NoÌ„ excel lenciaÌ„ festi asceÌ„ci oiÌ„s suâ— a lia festa to saye as louynge be to our lorde Neuer from the begynÌ„yng was there soo soleÌ„pne soo Joyefull a feest ne neuer peraueÌ„ sure shall be But at the laste after the daye of dome whaÌ„ all the chosen soules shall be preseÌ„ted there wyth her bodies gloryfyed And therfore as I sayd at begynÌ„ynge of this chapyter This soleÌ„pnyte all thynges considred passeth all other Take Incarnacio hede of eche of hem and see whether it be soo that I saye Fyrste the Incarnacyon of our lorde JhuÌ„ is a solempne feest worthy For that was the begynÌ„ynge of all our good oure Natiuitas sauacoÌ„n But that was our Joye and not his for he was closed thenÌ„e in his moders wombe Also the natyuyte is a soleÌ„pne and hyghe feest and worthy myrthe to be made therin but that is also as on our syde For as on his syde we owen to haue compassoÌ„n of hym that was for vs borne in soo grete pouertee Hardenesse of weder and other abieccoÌ„n Also as to vs Passio his passion is a grete feest thrugh the whiche we ben broughte oute of the feudes thraldome And all oure synnes ben for yeue and done away And as saynt gregory saith It had not auaylled vs to be borne but it had also profyted vs for to be boughte Neuertheles for the grete tormentes of hym and that hardest and moost despytous dethe that he suffred for our Redempcyon Resurreccio and byenge there was noo matere of Joye but rather of sorowe bothe to hym in that paynfull suffrynge and to vs for our synfull deseruynge Ferdermore yet the resurreccoÌ„n of our lorde Jhesu is a gloryous solempne and a Joyful feest bothe for hym and for vs for thenne was his body gloryfied and all payne sorow passed and we iustyfied haue an ernest and ensample wythout doubte of our laste vprysynge in body soule And therfore of this worshipfull Joyful Hec eÌ„ dies quaÌ„ fecit dnÌ„s daye specyall syngeth holy chirche by the wordes of the prophete dauyd This is the day of our lorde made be we mery therin gladde And as augustyn sayth in a sermon This day is holyest of all other but that maye be vnderstonde of all other before that day For this of the ascencoÌ„n by reason is gretter holyer â–ª and that touchynge thre partyes That is to say our lorde hymself the blessed spirytes in heuen mankynde in erthe For as to the fyrste though our lorde had thenÌ„e gloryously in body soule vprysen fro dethe to lyf euerlastyng neuertheles he was bodily yet as a pilgryme in erthe fro his owne kynde herytage reame Also as to the seconde yet saye not yâ— angels her felishyp encreased by season takynge of mankynde wyth hem in blysse And as aneÌ„st the thyrde yet was closed shytte the yate of heuenly paradyse and yet were not the holy faders soules presented to the fader of heuen the whiche all thre were coÌ„plete and fulfylled in his holy ascencoÌ„n And yf we take good hede we maye see that all that god wroughte dyde he dyde for to come to this ende And wythout this all his werkes had ben as Inperfite For lo heuen erthe and all that is made in hem is made for man And man for to haue the blysse of heuen And therto myghte noo man come after â—â—opâ—â—â— he had synned in to this daye were he neuer soo gode and rightwys And soo we maye see how worthy this holy daye is yet more ouer this feest of penthcoste is hyghe holy â–ª And worthily holy chirche makyth it solempne For thenne was yeuen therto that hyghe worthiest yefte that is the holy ghost AscencoÌ„ But this is to vs and not to hym But this ascencyon daye is properly the moost solempne feest of oure lorde Jhesu For FmÌ„ JhuÌ„ this daye fyrste in his manhede he beganne to sytte on the taders ryght honde in blysse And toke ful reste of his pylgrymage before All this is properly the feest of all the blessed spyrytes AscencoÌ„ in heuen For this daye they had a newe Joye of her lorde whom they sawe neuer before there in his manhede â–ª And also AscencoÌ„ FmÌ„ angelo for this daye beganne fyrste to be restored the fallyng downe of her felowes And that in soo greate a multytude and nombre of blessyd soules of patryarkes
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
ordeyned after that our lord Jhūs yaue ensample in that open reysynge of the forsayd dede body that was opēly borne dede on y◠bere wythout forth in y◠syght of the peple BVt now as to our princypall purpose for to speke of y◠reysynge of the iii. dede body that is to saye Lazar foure dayes dede For asmoche as in this processe ben many fayre grete notable thynges Therfore we shall here more specyally gader in our entente and make vs by ymagynacōn as they were present in bodily conuersacōn not on̄ly wyth our lorde Jhū and his dyscyples but also wyth that blessed and deuout meyne That is to saye martha mary and Lazar that was specyally beloued of our lorde Jesu as the gospell wytnessith And fyrste we shall vnderstonde and haue in mynde the processe of the nexte chapyter before this How vpon a tyme whan our lorde Jhūs walked in the temple That is to saye in that place that was called salamons porche in the feste of the dedicacyon of the temple The Jewes camen aboute hym as rauysshynge wulues or wood dogges wyth grete yre gren̄ynge vpon hym sayeng in thise maner wordes How longe wolt thou make vs in suspēse in dwere in our hertes what thou arte If thou be cryste telle vs openly This they sayden bi false malycyous entent to that ende that yf he had openly knowleged that he was criste that is to saye enoynted kynge then̄e for to haue taken hym and accused hym as a traytoure to cezar the emperour of rome But therfore our lorde Jhūs knowyng her fals ymagynacōn tempred wysly his ansuere as an In̄ocent lambe amonge soo many trechours wulues sobyrly and mekely sayd to hem agayne I speke to you and ye leue me not But the werke that I doo in the name of my fader tho beren wytnes of me what I am And after more ouer whan he sayd I and my fader am alone they token vppe stones to haue stoned hym as a blasphemer makynge hym self god And ferdermore whan our lorde had concluded them in that partye by reason auctorytees of holy wrytt that they myght not ayen say and they notwythstōdyng his resonable meke ansuere and soo goodly wordes contynueden and encreasen in her malyce For asmoche as the tyme of his passyon was not yet comen and for to yeue ensāple of penaūce ▪ of yeuynge stede to woodnesse he withdrewe hym out of her hondes and wente wyth his discyples beyonde Jordan in to y◠place where John baptyzed fyrste aboute xviii myle fro Jherusalem And there he dwelled awhile wyth his discyples And in that tyme soone after as the gospell telleth now to our purpoos lazar the broder of martha mary before sayde wexed sore sike And anone y◠two systers senden worde to Jesu where he was in that forsayd place beyonde Jordan sayenge to hym in this manere Loo lorde he that thou loueste that is lazar is sore seke And they sayden noo more For asmoche as hē thought that y◠suffised to hym that loued wyst what they meaned And also perauenture for they knowing y◠malyce of the Jewes agaynst hym to his deth and how a lityl before they wolde haue stoned hym they durst not calle hym to hem but com̄ytted all to his wyll And then̄e Jhesus sayd to hem This infirmyte is not to dethe but for the praysyng of god that goddis sone be glorifyed therby The gospel tellyth that he sayd thise wordes to hem but it specifyeth not to whom for the sisters that senden to him were not that tyme present but a grete waye fro hym as it is sayd Neuertheles we may vnderstonde as by the processe that he ansuerde to hem in thyse wordes by the messager or elles sayd to his discyples or to bothe as it is moost lykely O lorde what cōforte was this to y◠systers whan they herde of the messager thise wordes that Jhesus sayd this Infirmyte is not to dethe vnderstondyng perauēture by hym y◠her broder sholde not deye bodily by y◠Infirmyte But what discomforte was it to hem after whan he was dede beryed not vnderstondynge that oure lorde meaned of that gloryous reysynge that folowed after nor trowynge thenne that it sholde haue falle Neuertheles that dyscomforte for the tyme was after torned in to more comfort than they desired Fyrst by that they wolde haue had hym preserued fro the deth helyd of his Infyrmyte by oure lorde Jhūs Thus it fallyth oft tymes wyth hem that god loueth and ben in trybulacion or disease our lorde god graūteth hem not that comfort that they askē desyren but suffreth hem as for the tyme to be in dispeyre of her desyre And after whan his wyll is he fulfylleth her desyre better than they wolde firste torneth her discōforte in to more comfort than they wolde haue ymagined or thoughte Ferdermore as to the processe of the gospel after oure lorde was certifyed of the seke Lazar. and had ansuere as it is sayd he dwellled styll in the forsayd place two dayes af◠he sayd to his discyples Goo we agayne in to Jewery they aferde of this worde sayden to him Maister right now the Jewes wolde haue stoned the there and now wolte thou goo agayn thyder And then̄e Jhūs ansuerde agayn Ben there not twelue houres of the daye as who sayth why ben ye aferde supposyng that the Jewes contynuē in her malyce wete ye not well that as oft tymes as the houres chaūgen on the daye so ofte man̄es herte purpoos varyeth chaungeth But the goostly meanynge of thyse wordes as saynt austyn expowneth is this Our lord vnderstondyng hymself as the daye and his twelue discyples as twelue houres of y◠daye reprehended her mysbileue and her vnresonable drede of his deth that was in his wyll that they wold yeue coūseyle to hym as men to god dyscyples to the mayster the seruaūtes to her lorde and the feble seke to hym that was souerayne leche wherfore in maner blamyng hem our lorde sayd to hem in this manere sentēce Are there not twelue houres of the daye who so walkyth in the day he offendeth not or erreth not Folowe ye me yf ye woll not erre and wyll ye not yeue coūseyle to me sythen it is nede to you to take counseyle of me And therfore sythen it is soo that I am the daye the houres and by kindly reason the houres folowē the daye not the daye the houres Folowe ye me and that yf ye woll not offende or erre And after this oure lord Jhūs knowyng in spiryte that lazar was dede sayd to hem Lazare oure frende slepyth but I woll goo for to wake hym and reyse hym fro slepe And then̄e the discyples vnderstondyng flesshly tho wordes of kyndly slepe sayden ▪ Syre yf he slepe it is a token that he shall be hole saaf of his sykenesse For comynly by way of kynde slepe of seke