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Frend in crist as seynt poule seiþ· We ne hauen
here no cyte· þat is dwelling· but we sechen
on þat is to come here after·þe
weye toward þis place· & þerfore I preye þe þat þou
telle me þe weye toward þis place·
Dere frend
oure lord & oure mayster iesu crist seyde to his
disciples þat he hym siluen is the weye toward
heuene & he is truþe þat ledeþ vs sykurly in
oure weye & he is sykurly lyf þat makeþ vs
lyue in soule w
frend or þan þou passe ferþer I preye þe what is þat lyf of soule & telle wheþir alle men han þis lif·
¶Sire aman is made to þre manere of
liues ¶ þe first lif is þe lif of þe body· & þis
lif han boþe goodemen & schrewis·//¶þe secun|de lif is of þe soule· & þat is to lyuen out
of synne ¶Of þis lif crist spekeþ in þe gospel
þer as he seiþ but aman be born eft sones he
ne may not entren in to þe kyngdom· of heue|ne·//
¶þe first bering of aman is·· whan he is
I born in to a bodyliche lyuyng of his moder
wombe· But he is borun eft sones of water
¶And þerfore oure fadur of heuene sente his ow|ne sone adoun in to þe erþe to fulfille þe lawe & þe prophetes & so he dide· for þer as a man ne myhte noþer be þe lawe ne be þe prophetes ben I iustified of his synne· he of his grace & no&yogh;t of oure ri&yogh;twisnes· ne of oure disseruyng· for &yogh;af alle þilk men her synnes þat bi leue|den in hym & brou&yogh;te hem from deþ of syn|ne in to lif of soule·
for as crist seiþ who þat
be leueþ in me þof he be ded he schal lyue &
who þat lyueþ & be leueþ in me·· he schal ne|uere dye
¶frend as me þinkeþ
þis lif of soule þis lif of soule þat is for sakyng
of synne·· is þe ri&yogh;t weye to heuene· but we ben
ful vnstabul & ful vnconyng to go þis weye· & we
han strong temptaciouns & strong enemyes· as þe de|uel & þe world & oure owne fleshe þat euere more temp|teþ vs to synne· ¶And þer fore we moten putte vs
fulliche in þe mercy of god· & þof we lyue not so per|fytliche as he tau&yogh;t vs·· & as he lyuede hym silf
we hopen to ben saued· for he seiþ hym self who
þat be leueþ & is cristened schal be sauid
¶Sir in
summe þinges &yogh;e seye ful soþe/bot it is not al soþe
as &yogh;e hopen in &yogh;owre seying· Soþe it is þat þe ri&yogh;t
weye to heuene is for sakyng of synne· & þer
comeþ no man to heuene·· but he go þis wey· and
forsakynge of synne· is no more but þe kepyng
of goddis hestis & of his wordis & leuyng alle
þilk þinges þat god forbedeþ ¶And soth it is þat
þis is an hard wey & a streyt· for as crist seiþ
it is a streyt weye þat ledeþ a man to heuene lif
& fewe þer ben þat fynden þat weye & a brode
wey it is þat ledeþ aman to perdicioun & to deth &
ful many þer ben þat fynden þilk weyeeimoben obrelouen he is I tempted
of god· for he ne is no temptour of yuul ne he temp|teþ no man·· but eueryche man is tempted of his
owne coueytyng· & whan coueytyng þat hath con|ceyued / hit bryngeþ forth synne & whan þe synne
is brou&yogh;t to þe ende hit engendereþ deþ·
Of þes wor|des sire þou mi&yogh;t þen mi&yogh;t I seen þat hit ne is but
oure defau&yogh;te þat we he ne han cunnyng & stabul|nes to a&yogh;eyn stonde oure temptaciouns· and þof we han
strong enemyes & grete temptaciouns hit ne is but
oure owne vnkyndenes & wickednesse þat we fal|len in to synne· for god suffereþ no man to ben i-|tempted passyng his mi&yogh;t· and alle þe deuels in
helle ne alle þe might of þe world ne of mannes
flesche ne mown not maken aman / ne a womman
breken godis hestys a&yogh;ens his wille· for god haþ
I &yogh;euen aman afre wil/ & haþ I sette be forun hym
boþe good & yuul lif & deth· blessyng· & cursyng·
Soth it is also þat we moten alle put|ten vs in þe mercy of god· & not axen heuene þoru ry&yogh;t|fulnes· iustifying oure self before god· for dauid
seiþ in þe sauter· Eueriche lyuyng man schal
not ben iustified in þi si&yogh;t·þat seiþ
þat he knoweþ god & kepiþ not his hestes· he
is a lyere·
And gode sire what schal cristes passioun or
þe schedyng of his blood in þe whyche blood þou art
i cristened & I clensed of þi synne stonde þe to profi&yogh;t
but þou leue þi synne & kepe goddis hestes· In
certeyn seynt petre seiþ· it were better for aman
þat he knew not þe wey of trewthe· þan after
his knewing turnen a&yogh;eyn to synne· for as he seiþ
such men ben I lyche swyne þat whan þei ben cle|ne gon in to a slowe & maken hem fouler þanne þei
weren & he seiþ also þat þei ben liche houndes· þat
kasteþ vp þe mete þat þei han eete & sithen tur|nen hem a&yogh;en· & eten þat þei casten·
frend now I se þat þe ri&yogh;t weye to heuene is lif of soule in forsakyng synne· & ke|ping goddes hestes· & I see wil þat eueryche man may leuen synne if he wole him seluen· & I see wele þa no man schal be saued but he leue his syn|ne· Noþer for þe grete mercy of god· ne for þe be le|ue þat a man haþ in god· ne for his cristenyng but if he haue goode werkes· But frende how schullen &yogh;ung childeren ben I saued þat ben i-|cristened· & siþe dyen or þan þei ben of age to knowe godes hestes
¶Sire &yogh;e wyteþ wil þat whan
But in certeyn
a man or a womman of ful age ne schal not ben
i-sauyd: but he doþ þe werkes of his be leue
þat is to seyn þat he kepe goddis hestis & leue syn|ne· for as seynt poule seiþ alle we ben þat
¶And seynt
petre seiþ riþt as in noees tyme a fewe soules as
eyghte weren i-saued by water ri&yogh;t so baptem
makeþ vs now saue / nou&yogh;t þe doyng a wey of þe
filþe of oure flesch· but as sechyng of a goode
conscience in god· by þe rysyng a&yogh;eyn from deth
to lif of oure lord iesu cristto watur &
in to penaunce· but he þat comeþ after me is strenger
þen am I· & I am not worþi to beren his schone
he schal baptize &yogh;ow in þe holy gost & in fuyr·
¶Here sire þou mi&yogh;t i-sen two baptemes þat
cristen men han· ¶On is in water of bi leue þat
þei be leuen in þe fader & in þe sone & in þe holy
gost þe whyche beleue wascheþ oure soule of
oure vnclennesse of synne ri&yogh;t as bodiliche
watur wascheþ oure body of bodily vnclennesse
¶þe oþer baptem is in þe holy gost & in fuyr whan
a man casteht
& how mow we seyn þat we
dwellen in crist & þat we ben braunches þat spryn|gen ou&yogh;t of hym þat is a verrey vyne· but we
leuen synne & kepen goddis hestis·
¶frend now I se þat þer ne is non oþer wey to he|uene bot lif of soule & for sakyng of synne & in kepyng goddis hestis· But frend as we wy|ten wele eueryche lyuyng þing haþ summe liflode as mete & drynke þat makeþ hem for to lyue & siþe we han lif of soule· I preye þe whyche is þe mete & whyche is þe drynke þat makeþ oure soule to lyue
¶Sire now &yogh;e axeþ a gret þing &
fayn I wolde telle &yogh;ow þat &yogh;e axeþ if god wulde
&yogh;eue me grace & I hopede þat &yogh;e wolden drawe &yogh;ow
to þat lyuyng whanne &yogh;e knewen wh were litil profy&yogh;t for me to wryte more opun|lyche· vn to &yogh;ow of þe lyf of soule & of his lyflode
þan I do on· & a gret harm it were to &yogh;ow & encres
of &yogh;owre peyne in tyme þat is to come & a sclaun|dre to &yogh;oure breþeren &yogh;if þei seien þat &yogh;e knowen cristes
techyng & lyuede not þerafter·
And crist seiþ a ful
hard word wo to þat man be whom comeþ sclaun|dre· It hadde ben good for hym þat he ne hadde be bore
& what euere he be þat sclaundereþ oon of þes smale
childeren þat be leueþ in me· it were spedeful to
And here fore sire knowit &yogh;owre be leue in ou|re lord & in oure god iesu crist & doþ as he haþ beden
&yogh;ow doon & leueþ synne & þan &yogh;e han þe lyuyng
of soule & his liflode· for þe beleue in crist is boþe
bred & fleysch to oure soule· & þe kepyng of his
techyng is þe drynke of oure soule for it is boþe
water & brede
¶frend þi answere þat þou &yogh;e|uest in my axyng· is ful schort & ful derk al|so for me· And þerfore I preye þe &yogh;if me a more
open answere· & myn hope is þat whan I know
cristes techyng· I wil lyf þerafter· for ellis I ne
kept not to wyten whyche it were· And frend
þenk how crist seiþ who þat &yogh;eueþ a disciple seiþ axeþ ou&yogh;t of þe &yogh;eue
hym· & ne turne þou no&yogh;t awey from hym þat wil
borewe of þe·
& tel me opunliche wordes þat I mow fulfillen
hem in dede þat I bylde me an hows
Sir
crist seiþ fader I knowleche to þe þat þou hast i-hy|de þes þinges from wyse men
¶&yogh;e schul vnderstonde sire þat crist is in two ma|neres þe liflode of oure soule þoru oure beleue
þat we byleueþ in hym· he is in on manere a bred
of heuene to þe sustinaunce of oure soule for as
he seyde to þe iewes· moyses ne &yogh;af &yogh;ow no bred
of heuene· but my fader &yogh;eueþ &yogh;ow verray bred of
heuene· for þat is verrey bred of god· þat comen
doun from heuene· & &yogh;ifeþ lyf to þe world
¶ In þis manere crist is bred of heuene· & þe liflode of oure soule tou|chyng his godhede· for in þat he is bred þat com doun fro heuene· he scheweþ þat he is verrey god & þis is a principal poynt of oure byleue· & who þat be leueþ þis he eteþ þis bred of heuene to þe sustinaunce of his soule·
And as touchyng
þe godhede of crist þat com a doun from heuene þer
ben oþer poyntes þat euereche cristen man mote m hym a doun from heuene to erþe· þoru þe
assent of þe holy gost· þat is þe þridde persone of þe
godhede· & we moten be leue þat þese þre persones of
þe blessed trinite· fader & sone & holygost ben oo god
and not manye goddis· but &yogh;it neuere on of hem is
oþer for þe fader is not þe sone ne þe holy gost· Ne
þe sone is not þe fader· ne þe holy gost· Ne þe holy
gost is not þe fader ne þe sone· We moten be leuen
also þat þes þre persones ben endeles mi&yogh;ty· & alle
on my&yogh;t· & endeles god & alle on goodnes· & ende|les trewe & endeles witty & endeles fayr & endeles
louyng & endeles ri&yogh;tful & endeles mercyful & al
þei ben on trewþe & oon wysdome on fayrnesse on
loue on ri&yogh;tfulnesse & on mercy ¶And þes þre perso|nes weren wiþ outen be gynnyng er þan þei maden
þe world of nou&yogh;t· And er þe world was i-mad· þei
weren in an endeles blisse· & in þat blisse þei ben now
& schullen ben in þe same blisse
¶And in
a noþer maner he is þe liflode of oure soule in þat
he is man· for he seiþ þat bred þat I will &yogh;euen is myn
owne flesche· for þe lif of þe world·
and touchyng
his manhede· we moten bileue many þinges· ¶Oon
is þat he was conceyued of þe holy gost· & not of
mannes seed· & þat he was i-borne of þe mayde marye
wiþ oute lesyng of here maydenhed· we moten by
leue also þat he suffered his passioun vnder pilat
of pounce & was i-hangid on a cros· & was ded &
biryed & wente adoun to helle & þe þridde day aros
from deþ to lyue· And we moten be leue þat he stey
vp to heuene· & þere he settiþ on þe ri&yogh;t hond of his
fader & from þenne he schal come to deme boþe qwyk
& dede aftir her werkis ¶And we schullen be leue
also þat crist þoru his deþ gat vs of his fader for-|&yogh;euenes of oure synnes & he hym self for &yogh;af vs
oure synnes· ¶And we moten be leue þat we schul
rysen vp fro deþ to life boþe in body & in soule· & if
we han wil i-lyued· we schul come to an euerelastyng
lif of blisse boþe in body & in soule· & þer oure sou|le schal haue his blisse in þe godhede of crist· & oure
body in his manhede & þus is crist þat is verrey god
& verrey man boþe bred & flesche to þe sustinaunce
of oure soule þat be leuiþ þus in hym & for we schul|den haue mynde & not for&yogh;eten þis lyuynge of
oure soule ne his liflode a scher þorsday at ny&yogh;t
er þan he schulde passe ou&yogh;t of þis world to his
fader as he & his disciples seten at þe soper he toke
bred & blessid hit· & brake hit & seyde· tak þis & eteþ
þis· þis is my body þat schal be take for &yogh;ow makeþ
¶And þus syre eueryche cristen man
þat be leueþ þat crist is verrey god· etiþ eueryche day bred
of heuene· & in þat he beleueþ þat crist is verray man
he eteþ eueryche day his fleische & his body· And þis bred
& þis flesche is þe mete of oure soule· But oure
¶Of þis ilke water drynken alle þilke
men· þat kepen cristes wordes as he tau&yogh;te to hem· & þes wordes ben two wordes of loue· þat enclosen alle þe
ten hestis· ¶þe first word of þes is þe first & þe grettest
comaundement of goddis lawe· & þat is þou schalt
loue þi lord god· abouen alle oþer þinges·
¶And who þat loueþ god in þis wyse·
goddis at lordes
at ones
¶And he kepeþ also þe þridde heste of þe ten
þat is þou schalt not take þi lordes name in veyn·
for he þat loueþ god abouen alle oþer þinges nyl
do no þing þat god for bedeþ· ne þat is desplesyng
to god· & þanne he nyl not take goddis name in veyn
In two maners aman may take goddis name in veyn
¶On is whan a man swereþ be þe name of god þere
as it is no nede· ¶In anoþer manere a man takeþ
goddis name in veyn· whan he clepiþ god his lord
& &yogh;it ne drediþ hym not as a seruaunt schulde· ne
is not buxum to his hestis· oþer whan a man clepiþ
god his fader/ & ne loueþ hym nou&yogh;t as a good
child schulde· ne is not buxum to his wille but
he þat loueþ god a bouen alle oþer þinges he nil
not take goddis name in veyn in noon of þes maners
& so who þat kepiþ
þis loue had
oure lord iesu crist to his fader of heuene to &yogh;euen
vs ensample how we schulden loue oure lord fa|der of heuene abouen alle oþer þinges· & in two þin|ges he schewed his loue· On þing was þat in al
... seyde þis is
my leeue sone in whom I am plesed ¶here &yogh;e him·
And whan
þe peple wolde han i-hadde hym to here kyng· he fleþ
a wey fro hem in to þe wildernes· for he wolde not dis|plesen his fader·llt
¶In a noþer þing also he schewiþ þis same
loue for he suffered wilfullyche what disese men
wolden do to hym boþe of word & of stroke & of
deþ· for he wolde not ben vnbuxum to his fader
ne doon a&yogh;eyns his wille· for in þe ny&yogh;t be forn his
passioun he seyde þe spiryt is redy· but þe flesche
is seke ly party of charite it is to loue god a bouen
alle oþer þingges· & þer comeþ no man to heuene
but he haue þis loue & so drynke of cristes cuppe
for whan cristis cosyne preyde him þat oon of hire so|nes mi&yogh;t sitten on his ry&yogh;t syde & þat oþere on his left
syde in his kyngdom crist seyde· &yogh;e witteþ not what
&yogh;e axen· mow &yogh;e drynke þe cuppe þat I schal drynke
& þei seyden we mowne· ¶And crist seyde my cuppe
&yogh;e schul drynke but to sitte on my ri&yogh;t syde· or on
my left syde· it is not myn to graunte &yogh;ow but to
þilk þat is i-ordeyned of my fadersoule loue
þat creatures han to her god· & euerychon to oþer· And of
þis herying of loue· þer comeþ a noþer gret herying
to god of þe whyche heriyng dauid seyde in þe sauter
a sacrifice to god is a spiry&yogh;t· þat is i-trubeled· & ano|yed for his synne· And god þou ne wilt not dispisen
an herte þat is contrit &
& but aman loue god with al his herte· & wiþ al his herte for þinkyng his synne elles be he certeyn þat he ge|teþ not of god for &yogh;euenesse of his synne· alle þes prophetes þat I haue i-told· folewen siche men þat lo|uen god a bouen alle oþere þinges·
And crist seiþ þe
secunde grettest comaundement is i-lyche to þis þou
schalt loue þi broþer as þi seluen & in þes two co|maundementis hangeþ alle þe lawe & þe prophetes·& not
¶Also he þat kepiþ þes two
hestis of loue· he leueþ þe seuene dedly synnes·
þus aman leueþ þe seuene dedly syn|nes þat kepiþ þe two comaundementes of loue
And who þat haþ þis luf· he doþ þe werkes of
mercy· for &yogh;if he seeþ his broþerre an hungred· he
wil &yogh;eue hym mete· and if he is a þirst· he wil &yogh;eue
hym drynke· & if he be naked he wil &yogh;euen hym
cloþes· & if he lacke herborewe· he wil leenen hym
an hous & &yogh;if he be seke oþere in prisone he wole visi|ten hym & conforten hym· And if he be ded· he by|ryeþ his body in þe erþe· þes ben þe werkes of loue
And in certeyn alle þinges þat crist biddeþ
doon to oure breþeren or it is loue or it comeþ ou&yogh;t
of loue· or it norischeþ loue crist seyde to his disciples
þis is my comaundement þat &yogh;e louen to gedere as
I haue loued &yogh;ow & in þis men schul knowe· þat &yogh;e
ben my disciples· &yogh;if &yogh;e louen to gedere·
And many tyme whan crist bad a
pharyse þat he schulde loue his nexte broþer as
hym seluen & seyde þat hit was oon of þe gret|test comaundementis of goddis lawe· þe pharise
axid hym who was his broþere nexte· And crist told
hym a taale & seyde þer was a man þat wente from
ierusalem in to ierico & fel among þeues & þei robbeden
þat was i-woundid as oure seluen· for þe sa|maritan & þe iew
þis loue & charite is cristes lawe· & for we
schulden not lesen þis charite crist chargeþ
vs wiþ six vertues· þat comen out of loue· and
and ri&yogh;t as in þe oolde
testament men fou&yogh;ten for here lawe· & for here
ri&yogh;tfulnes ri&yogh;t so men schulden in þis new testa|ment· sufferen & nou&yogh;t fy&yogh;ten for ri&yogh;tfulnesse
& so crist dide þat was &yogh;euer & maker of þis newe
testament· & whan on of his seruauntes smot for
his loue· crist bad hym putten his swerd in his
scheþe· & seyde who þat smyteþ wiþ a swerd with
a swerd he schal perische·Iseye
Isaye seiþ þer schal ben in þe last dayes an hul i-or|deyned goddis hous in þe coop
¶And zacarye þe prophete seiþ· be þou ful glad
þou douter of syon & make myche mirþe þou dou|t
And siþ cristis lawe is charite·
& pacience is a condicioun of charite· Nedeliche who
þat wil kepe goddis lawe mut be pacient & suf|ferynge & certeyn elles he foleweþ nou&yogh;t crist· & sore
a drade mowe þes proud men ben þat seyen þat þei
mowe not sufferen for schame of þe world· It is cer|teyn þat he þat is aschamed to sufferen· is a schamed
to knowleche þat he is cristis seruaunt þat suffered
ful myche· ¶And crist seiþ who þat is aschamed to kno|wleche me & my wordes be fore men· I wil ben a-|schamed to knowleche hym be fore my fader in heue|ne·
¶Of mekenesse þat is a noþer vertu þat comeþ
ou&yogh;t of loue
& for he wolde te|chen hem mekenes in dede as wil as in word· ¶þe
ny&yogh;t be foren his passioun· he wysch his disciples
feet & seyde to hem wyte &yogh;e what I doon haue· &yogh;e
clepeþ me mayster & lord· & &yogh;e siggeþ wil· for so I am
& þerfore &yogh;if
¶And whan his disciples axi|den hym· who was þe grettest in þe kyngdom of he|uene· Crist clepid to hym a litul child & sette hym
in þe myddel of hem and seyde ¶Soþeliche I saye
&yogh;ow but &yogh;e ben I turned & ben i-made as smale chil|dren· &yogh;e ne schul not entren in to þe kyngdom of
heuene· & þerfore who þat humbleþ hym as þis child
doþ· he is grettest in þe kyngdom of heuene·
two poyntes of mekenes
crist techiþ vs to haue· One is þat we dispise not
oure breþeren þat ben in cas not so worþi as we ben
ne þat we hyghe nou&yogh;t oure seluen for oure goo|de werkes abouen oure breþeren þat perauntre ne
do nou&yogh;t so goode werkis· for as crist seiþ· þer wen|ten two men in to þe temple to maken her preyeres
þe one was a pharise & þe oþer was a puplican·
and þe pharise seyde· lord I þanke þe· for I am not
as oþere men ben· þat ben robberes & vnry&yogh;tful·
& spousebrekeres & coueytous ne as þis publi|can I faste twyes in þe wyke & I &yogh;if þe tiþinges
of alle þe goodes þat I haue· but þe publican ne
heued not vp his yen but smote his brest & seyde
lord haue mercy on me þat am a synful man· and
crist seiþ· þees went hom i-iustified of þe oþer·
for who þat hygheþ hym self schal ben i-hum|blid & who þat humbliþ hym self schal ben i-hyg|hed
¶An oþere poynt of mekenesse
crist techeþ & þat is þat we sechen nou&yogh;t þe wur|schipe of þe world· ne þat we doon nou&yogh;t oure
goode werkes to haue wurschipes for hem· of
þe peple· for he seiþ vp on moyses chayer þer han
Of porenesse in spiri&yogh;t crist spekeþ &
seiþ i-blessed ben pore men in spyri&yogh;t· for þe kyng|dom of heuene is heres· & woo to riche men·
for þei han here counfort in þis world·
¶In a noþer place also
crist techiþ vs to ben pore in spiry&yogh;t· & to leuen co|ueytise· for þer com a man to crist & preyde hym
to departen his heritage be twix his broþer & hym
& crist seyde man who made me domes man on
&yogh;ow & þoo he seyde to his disciples· be &yogh;e war of e|ueriche coueytise· for no mannes lyuyng is in þe ha|bundaunce of his goodis þat he haþ·
¶ And afterward he seyde þer may no
man seruen two lordes· for or he mut haten þe
toon & loue þat oþere· Oþere susteyne þat oon
& dispise þat oþer &yogh;e mowe not serue god & &yogh;oure
richesses & þerfore I sey &yogh;ow· ne be &yogh;e not besy to &yogh;oure
soule what &yogh;e eeten· ne to &yogh;oure body how &yogh;e ben
cloþed· for þe soule is more worþi þan mete &
þe body more worþi þan cloþing· be holdeþ þe brid|des of heuene þat nouþer sowen ne repen ne
gaderen nou&yogh;t in to bernes & &yogh;oure heuenly
fader fediþ hem· And ne be &yogh;e not more worþi
þan þei ben· And whyche of &yogh;ow þinking may
throwen a cubyte to his stature ¶And of cloþing
¶And a ful hard
word seyþ seynt Jame to riche men of þe world· for he
seiþ wepe &yogh;e riche men· & make &yogh;e sorewe· for þe wrec|hednes þat schal come to &yogh;ow her aftur· &yogh;oure ri|ches is for rotid· & &yogh;owre cloþes ben i-eten wiþ mo|wtes· &yogh;owre gold & &yogh;ower siluer is i-rustid· & &yogh;owr
¶ Treu|þe is a noþer uertu· þat comeþ ou&yogh;t of loue· & norischeþ
loue also· for who þat loueþ god· he wole loue trew|þe & be trewe boþe in werk & in word· for god hym self
is treuþe & endeles trewe· as he seiþ in þe gospel þe de|uel was mansleere from þe be gynnyng· & ne haþ
not stonden in treuþe· for treuþe is not in hym and
whanne he spekeþ
¶Chastite is þe sixte
vertu þat comeþ ou&yogh;t of loue· & noryscheþ loue·
¶Also for he þat loueþ god nyl not take no
lust þat is displesyng to god· ne þat his har|meful to his broþer ne to his sister ¶ And crist þat þat made man from þe be|gynnyng made & womman & seyde· herfore aman
schal leuen fadir & modir and drawen hym to
his wyf· And þei schulde be two in oon flesch·
But now þei ben not two but oon fleysch· &
þerefore þat god haþ ioyned no man departe·
weddeþ leueþ his wyf· but hit be for forni|cacioun & weddeþ a noþer he doþ fornicacioun· And
who þat weddiþ a womman þat is lefte of hire
housbonde· doþ fornicacioun lecherie
& þoo seyden
his disciples· &yogh;if it be so be twene aman & his
wyf· It is not spedeful to be wedded· And crist
seyde alle men ne take not þis word· but þilk
þat it is graunted to· for þer ben men i-geldid
þat ben i-born of her moder wombe· And þer ben
summe þat ben i-geldid of men· & þer ben summe
men þat gelden hem seluen· for þe kyngdome of
heuene· Who þat may take þis take he in þis
wyse·
Sire in þes two comaundementes of loue is al goodnesse fulfild· & al euel eschewed· & so þe lyuynge of oure soule & þe ri&yogh;t weye to heuene is to be leuyn stedefastliche in crist & to kepe þes two comaundementes of loue.