520PART II

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521

PSALM V.

522
523    The voice of halykirke, that prayes to be departid fra the
524malice of the warld and cum til god, says. lord persayue my wordis.
525that is the psalmodye of my mouth: and vndirstand my cry, that is
526the will and ȝernynge of my hert that cries til the. with eres. that is
527with presens of thi mageste, thurgh that thou heres when thou will.
528    2. I cry
529with mouth & hert. for thi byhald. that is make me to byhald: til
530my prayere, that i ne lose noght the froit thereof thurgh ill entent
531or ydill thoghtis. thou that ert my kynge, kepand me in rightwisnes,
532and my god, fedand my sayle.
533    3. If thou here noght als tyt i. sall noght therfore leue;
534bot i. sall pray til the ay, till thou here: noght in nyght bot in morne.
535when the myrknes of synne wytis a way & the light of grace comes,
536thou sall here my voice. that is than i may vndirestand that thou has
537herd me.
538    4. In morne, when i
539haf forsaken myrknes of vices .i. sall stand till the in perseuerance
540and clennes of lif; as wha say .i. sall noght lige in flescly lustis. for
541swilk an sese noght god: bot he that standys til god in morn of
542vertus. or morne he calles bygynnynge of the endles day. in heuen,
543when halykyrke and ilk rightwisman sall apertly see that na wickidman
544does godis will. and that is soth. for
545    5. He is ill that does
546that god has forboden hym to doe: and he wonnys noght bysyd

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547god, bot bysyd the deuel. vnrightwis is he that does noght that god
548biddis him doe: and he dwellis noght byfore godis lyght. for if he
549any tyme see oght what he sould doe, he dwellis noght tharin:
550for he lufes that thynge that turnys him fra god.
551    6. Na hatredyn
552falles in god na mare than othere styrynge. bot it is said that he
553hatis ill men, for he departis thaim fra him, fore thai luf synne ay
554till thaire ded, and it lykes thaim. Bot til whaim swa synne myslykes,
555and he hate it: of that he fall. frelte of kynde does that synne,
556noght he. as saynt Paule says If .i. doe ill that i. will noght doe,
557i. doe it noght, bot synne that wonnys in me: that is couaitise, in
558the whilke ilk man is borne, and it lastis in him till he dye. thou
559sall tyne all that spekis leghe. in entent to dissayf any man: for
560that is contrary til sothfastnes. til perfite men it falles not to leghe,
561nouther in ernest ne in gamen: noght of thai myght saf a mannys
562lyf there thurgh: for sothfastnes is of that thynge that is; leghynge
563is noght of the thynge that is, bot of the thynge that is noght; and
564worthily he is lost that heldis fra that at is til that at is noght.
565    7. That is at say, men slaers, with tonge or hand or hert, and fals
566men, leghers, god sall desherit, and make tham partles of heuen:
567bot .i., says halykyrke, and ilk trew man, in thi mykil mercy, noght
568in my meritis.
569    8. The mykilnes of godis
570mercy is the gret merit of perfit men, that thai haf of godis mercy,
571in that thai entire in till godis house of heuen, and takis thaire ioy
572and thaire mansyon eftire thaire perfeccioun: and i. twix .i. sall
573lout til thi haly tempill. liftand my hert vp til the til whaim .i.
574aproche with goed werkis and deuote prayere: in thi dred, that
575is gret help in the way.

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576    9. Led me lord. that is make me to wax in thi luf, and that in
577rightwisnes, in the whilk thou byhaldis thaim that mekly does penaunce.
578for myn enmys: that thai be confused or conuertyd. dress
579my way in the whilke i sall ga til the: in thi sight, that is in
580consciens whare man sees noght, bot anly god: and that consciens
581aghe noght to trow til man, lackand or louand, for he sees it
582noght: in the whilke oure way is rightyd till god.
583    10. And nede is that thou right me, for in the
584mouth of my enmys, tha ere bakbiters and defamers, sothfastnes is
585noght. forthi it is noght to trow til thaire demynge, bot to fle til my
586consciens. whare i may best knaw my selfe. and na wondire if thai
587be noght sothfast in tonge, fore thaire hert is vayn withouten grace.
588for thai wen outher that thai synn noght. or that thaire synn sall
589noght be punyst.
590    11. Thaire throt is lyknyd til a graue openand, for thai shew
591stynkand wordes that corumpis the herers, and with flaterynge thai
592deuoure wham swa thai may felaghe with thaim. with thaire ill tonges
593swikilly thai wroght. vndire colour of soth bryngand in falshed. and
594for thai ere swilk, deme thaim god. that is dampne thaim. the prophet
595couaitis noght thaire dampnacioun, bot he says that is at come.
596    12. Thus deme thaim. fall thai, that is be thai dampned. witnes
597thaire awn consciens and accusand thaim. and than outpute thaim
598fra the heritage of heuen, fere as thaire wickidnes diserues; for thai
599excitid the til vengaunce, duelland in thaire synne.
600    13. Thai sall down fall. and fayn be of the heritage in the tother lyf
601all that now hopes in the: till the whilk thou ert soft and swet. and

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602thai sall ioy withouten end, noght shortly, as erthly lufers does: and
603thou sall won in thaim, for that sall be thaire ioy, when thai ere
604made thi tempile.
605    14. The name of ihu~
606is hele and ioy: forthi na wondire if thai be in ioy of hele that lufis
607it. this luf is noght passand bot lastand, in perfit memoire and gret
608delite. the rightwise has godis blissynge. for his ioy is in god in this
609lyf & in the tother.
610    15. That is at say, lord thi goed will in this present is till vs as
611sheld agayns oure enmys, & in the tother warld as coroune that is
612endles blis & honour ymange aungels and haloghs.
613
614

PSALM VI.

615
616    Wodness or ire is a stirynge of mannys will, excitand
617to vengaunce. the whilk stirynge is neuermare in god. bot the
618wodnes of him standis for gret ire. that is rightwis dome. when he
619sall be seen til ill men as wrethid & as wode. for men sais of a
620man that sparis noght, he faris as a woedman. as wha say. Lord in
621thi dome argu me noght. that is sett noght swilk skilles agayns me
622that i. be conuycte and worthi dampnacioun. for arguynge is to ouer
623come a nother with skilles: na in thi wreth amend me or chasti
624me, bot hele me here. with pyne & penaunce, that i be noght thare
625nouthere argued ne chastid. If i be made hale here, me thare
626noght dred ded, ne the hand of the leche brennand or sherand.
627The seuen psalmes of the whilk this is the first. bygynnys all in
628sorowand gretynge and bitternes of forthynkynge, & thai end in
629certaynte of pardoun. And thai ere seuen, that we wit that thurgh
630the seuen giftis of the haly gast all synne may be doen away, that
631is wroght in seuen dayes of this lif. And alswa for thare is seuen
632maners of remyssioun of synn. baptem. almus dede. Martirdome.

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633turnynge of neghbure til god. forgifynge til him that synnes in vs.
634satisfaccioun and gretynge for synn. comunynge of sacrament of
635the autere.
636 2. Haf mercy of me in this lif. for i am seke of kynde
637and thurgh synne. swa mykil that i may noght bere thi rightwisnes:
638hele me lord in saule. for my banes, that is my thoght, and all the
639strenght of my will, ere druuyd in sorowynge of my synne and in
640penance. his entent is. that sorow for his synn has reft him the
641shyrnes of warldis delite and fleschly lust, as druuynge does watere.
642 3. That is at say, Mi saule is mykil turned til penance: forthi
643how lange dylayes thou to gif grace and to hele me: as wha say, i
644doe that in me is, forthynkand my synne: doe thou that in the is,
645heland my saule.
646    4. I fele trauaile in
647turnynge: forthi thou that may, turne me perfitly til the. fulhard it is
648to be turnyd enterly til the bryghthed and the pees of godis lyght,
649fra the myrknes of erthly couaitys; forthi he says. out take my
650saule, bondyn in synn, and lettid with many enmys in turnynge.
651Naman that heres this sall thynk to be perfit withouten lange
652trauaile and gret besynes in saule. noght as some foles does. that
653wenes thaire fete are thare. whare thaire heued come noght ȝit: for
654a litill penance that thai ere in.
655    5. Thus i sorow for my synn, and that aghe me wele. for he is noght
656in dedly synne that euer has the in his thoght: and he that despises
657thi worde, he has forgetyn the. and swa he is in ded: in hell. that
658is in blyndhed of wanhope, wha sall shrife till the; nane. for that
659hell graues synful men.

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660    6. Sinful ere in ded and in
661hell, and that i be delyerd tharof i. trauaild, makand amendis for
662my synn in sorow of my hert. and .i. sall waysch my bed, that is
663his consciens. the whilk till some is rest. til some tourment. thare
664restis clen of hert. thare vnclen ere pyned. than he sais, i sall clens
665my consciens, passand ilk nyght by nyght, that is bi all synnes, that
666nane be forgetyn vnpunust, and with my teris, that is the bitternes
667of penance, my beddynge, that is the nether party of my saule.
668that is cald the sensualite, i sall wete. that is .i. sall make it to bere
669froit, that bifore was drye fra goed werkes.
670    7. Myn eghe, that is my skil,
671druuyd is, for dred, noght all out: of woednes, that is the ire of god
672on domes day, that is dred gretly. for i eldid ymangs all myn enmys.
673that is i. dwelled lange in synn, and in felaghschip of ill men, till
674whaim i assentid: that enmys ere to the saule, thof thai seme frendes
675til the body: til whaim now he spekis, forsakand thaire felaghschip.
676    8. Here he shewis that tha that duellis in thaire synn
677sall be departid fra all that does penance; the voice of his gretynge
678he kallis compunccioun of his synne.
679    9. Eftire mykyll sorrow and penaunce
680he sais verraly that god has herd him. swa that na synful man fall
681in dispaire, that will folow his penaunce. god vptoke his prayere as
682offrand. for god has delite in lastynge of men in goednes. forthi.
683    10. In ensaumpile of me shame thai with thaire
684dedis, and for drede of dome stired be thai till penaunce: in gret
685sorow be thai turnyd til god. that thai ga noght whidere thai thoght:

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686and shame thaim ful wightly. this falles til cristes myght, that tornes
687the synfulest man of the warld als tyt when he will, and makes to
688shame with his synn that bifore had ioy & louynge tharof. this
689psalme is songen in the office of dedmen, forthi that for swilk
690sorow and penaunce trew men has eftyre this lyf that thai gretly
691couaityd here. and ill men than feles the fire of hell, that thai wild
692noght here dred, bot dispised it, as nane swilk pyne ware ordaynd
693for synful men.
694
695

PSALM VII.

696
697    A rightwisman prayes that god delyuere him of the deuel and his
698lymmes, and sais: Lord of all thurgh myght, god of all, for all
699thynge has thou made: myn with will: i hoped in the, noght in me.
700forthi saf me fra all gastly wickydnes. and vices and synnes. and
701delyuer me.
702    2. This
703lyon is the deuel that sekis how he myght wynn mennys saule.
704His armes with the whilk he fightis agayns vs ere synnes. If crist
705by noght, ne makis safe oure saule, gifand lif with outen end. this
706lyon reues thaim till hell.
707    3. Here spekis a perfit man, that byhoues be war
708with the quaynt desaitis of anly the deuel. that when a man is ful of
709vertus, than is he ay aboute to put him in til pride. forthi a perfit
710man sais, lord if i did this thynge. that is pride, the whilk is rote of
711all illes. and if wickidnes is in my hend. noyand any man: as wha say,
712nother i haf pride in my self, ne .i. doe harme til my neghbure.
713    4. If i ȝeldid
714ill til ȝeldand til me ill for goed. that is signe of gret suffrynge.
715when he ȝeldis goed til thaim that ȝeldis ill for goed. as wha say, if i

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716did ill for ill. doun fall i. for my dede, ouercomen of myn enmys. idel
717made in vayn glory. thus he says as he myght noght haf ben ouercomen.
718for he that ȝeldis noght ill he ouercomes his ire: that is
719perfitnes.
720    5. That is at say:
721if .i. ȝeldid ill, noght anly be i made ydel, bot alswa the deuel, that is
722enmy til all man kynd, folow my saule, eggand til synne: and take
723it. that is. desaif it thurgh delite and assent. and tred my lyf in
724erth. that is tredand my lyf make it erthly and his mete. for synful
725mannys lif is the deuels mete, & my ioy, that sould be in my consciens,
726stabile in godis syght; brynge he in til dust. that is till vayn
727glorye and louynge of men. he will that his ioy be withinen thare
728god sees, for it is bot dust if he ioy in any thynge withouten.
729    6. Als wha say. if .i. did that ill. ill byfall me.
730anly perfit men may say this: but for i. did it noght. rise lord in thi
731ire, that is in vengaunce of the deuel. and be heghid in endis. that is
732in the possession of myn enmys. that is the deuel and his aungels.
733the possession of the deuel is synful men. for that prayes the perfit
734man, that the deuel lose thaim. and thai be made the possession of
735god. that is when a wickid man becomes a rightwisman, and is
736godis tempill.
737    7. Ryse lord, that is appere in flech: in the
738biddynge of meknes that thou comaundid: for thou biddis meknes: first
739doe it, and be sen meke, that other may lere for to ouercome pride,
740swa that the deuel weld thaim noght: and the synagoge. that is the
741gadrynge of folk sall vmgif the: some lufand some dispisand the.
742    8. And for that synagoge lufand the, in heght agayn ga: that is,

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743make thaim that lufis the wit thi myght: that thof thou semed
744mek in erth. thou ert god and demere of all: for thou lord demes
745folk: the whilk dome the perfit man noght dredand dare praye.
746    9. His rightwisnes is in good dedis. his vnnoyandnes is that he is
747withouten ill. A man that has kepid the comaundmentis of god.
748wele dare ask to be demed eftire his rightwisnes: the whilk rightwisnes
749and vnnoyandnes ere abouen me. for thai ere of god noght
750of me.
751    10. Endid be, that is be fulfild the felony of synful. that he
752that is in filth be mare filed, swa that at last comes rightwis dome.
753he desires noght that it be. bot he says as it sall be: and thou sall
754right the rightwis that he be mare rightwis: and for it is noght knawn
755of man whare is verrai rightwisnes, for ypocrysy. he sais that it anly
756falles til god. to ransake hertis and neris, that is thoghtis and delites.
757for he anly wate what ilk man thynkis & what thynge his delite is
758in. Oure werkis may men see; bot whi we doe thaim and whidere
759we thynk in doand thaim. anly god sees: and when he sees oure
760hert in heuen & noght be delityd in flechly luf bot in his luf. than
761he makis vs mare right and helpis vs.
762    11. This help kepis hele: for it is rightwis that he be
763helpid of god and saued, that swa helpis his brothere.
764    12. God is rightwis iuge, for he
765demes ilk man eftire his dedis. stalworth in punyschand, & soffrand.
766abydand synful men if thai will come til penaunce. and that is that
767he wrethis him noght ilk day. but swa mykill the harder will he
768punysch if thai mend thaim noght: and neuer the lattere he somondis
769thaim till penaunce & sais.

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770    13. Wickid men torne ȝow til god, or elles he will braundis his swerd:
771that is. he will doe in ȝow apert vengaunce. for he has bent his bow.
772that is he manaunce ȝow with haly writt. and redid it. thurgh haly
773men expownynge. whaim ȝe dispise. and haly lare alswa.
774    14. In haly writt he has redid uessels of ded.
775that is goed wordis, the whilk slas men fra synne, and makis thaim
776lifand til god. and his arues. that is sharpe sentence thirland
777mennys hertis, he made til thaim that ere brennand in his luf. swa
778that thai may say we ere woundid with charite, & na thynge may lett
779thaim of thaire luf. bot for many heris godis word that lufis noght.
780    15. He has consayued of
781the deuel sorow. that is appetit of erthly goedis. that is cald sorow.
782for ill men has sorow when thai lose thaim. thai ere sede of the
783whilk he bryngis forth vnrightwisnes for to dissaife his neghbure.
784    16. Oppynynge of the lake is when he has
785consayued sorow of couaitis and thynkis to begile his neghbure:
786he vpgraues it when he waitis all that he may to doe it in dede. bot
787he falles in the pit that he made: for ilk a gyloure is first hurte in
788his saule than he may noy any man in his katell.
789    17. That is at say, the sorow that he consayued sall be
790turnyd in his thoght. and his wickidnes in his skalp: for he willyd
791noght flee synn. bot likyd to be seruaunte of syn. swa that his synn
792weghe him down. that he neuer rise til the rist of heuen.

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793

PSALM XLVI.

794
795    The prophet, in voice of apostils. amonestand
796vs till louynge says. ȝe all genge til whaim grace is comen.
797makis ȝow play in goed werkis. ioyes til god, that ȝoure hand and
798ȝour tonge acorde. the hand wirkand. the tonge louand.
799    2. This is cheson to ioy, for oure lord is
800heghe. that is, myghty in all that he will. aghful in his dome, and
801gret kynge abouen all creatures.
802    3. That is, he made ill stiryngis and vayn thoghtis to be vndireloute,
803that thai ouercum vs noght. and vices ill werkis and fleyssely
804affeccion he sett vndire the fete of charite, swa that we trede thaim
805down. if we be thus heghe in erth we sall be ful heghe in heuen.
806this principate has nane bot haly men.
807    4. That is, withouten oure meryt he chese to
808gif til vs his lufers his heritage, that is, endles life. whilke heritage.
809the fairhed of iacob. for the heritage of heuen is the fairhed of
810cristen men, whare thai sall be shynand as the sun. that now semes
811outkastynge.
812    5. Ihu~ crist
813steghe in til heuen in wondirful ioy of apostils, that saghe him that
814tyme. and in voice of trumpe, that is, in voice of aungels, the
815whilke apperid than and spake. Viri galilei, &c. that was for this
816skil, that all the warld sould stabely trow that apostils and aungels
817confermyd. for thi,
818    6. Syngis til oure god with goed werkis. syngis in ioy of hert til
819oure kynge ihu~ crist: syngis assiduelly, louand him in thoght and in
820dede. fulhalsum it is that thus ofte is rehercid: forthi syngis.

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821    7. He is god that
822makis, and kynge that guuerns in ilke stede. syngis wisly, that is,
823wirkis with discrecion. for naman dos wisely that he knawis noght.
824    8. That is, on aungels and haly saules, in
825whaim his rest is.
826    9. Prynces of
827folke ere apostils, and pore men wilfully, that folows crist in
828maners. and thai sall be gadird with crist. to be domes men.
829in the last end of the warld. for goddis stalworth. that is, tirauntes
830and proude men, that traystis thaim in thaire myght. gretly ere
831vpliftid in honurs & riches. bot there princes with crist sall brynge
832thaim down with sorow. and shame and hethynge.
833
834

PSALM XLVII.

835
836    Crist is a gret
837lord: for he dos all thynge myghtyly. and louely, for faire. and
838wondirfully he dos ful mykil, withouten terym and end: bot whare
839is he louely. in the cite of oure god, that is, amange goed men.
840noght in cite of ill men whare the deuel is kynge: bot in haly
841kyrke, that is sett in his haly hill. that is. it is festid in charite.
842    2. The whilke cite is foundid in gladnes of all
843manere of men, gladly cumand til halykirke. for the hill of syon.
844that is, men heghe in contemplacioun of god. and the sydes of
845the north. that is, synful men, that ere turnyd fra the deuel hally
846til god. there ere the cite of the gret kynge crist. other kyngis ere
847smale.

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848    3. The howsis of halykirke ere sere ordirs or sere
849degres of meritis. in tha he sall be knawyn in blisse: for in ilke
850distinccion he sall shew the knawynge of him. as thai hafe lufid
851here. and that, when he sall vptake it til heuen.
852    4. The kyngis of erth, with other cristen men, ere
853gadird in anhede of trouth. thai samen come in ane, that is, in
854charite, that makis ane in god.
855    5. Thai seand, that is, vndirstandand swa mykil the ioy of heuen
856that god hight til his lufers, wondird ware, that thai had lifid swa
857lange in blyndhede of saule. druuyd thai ere for thaire syn in
858penaunce, and stird til gode. quakynge for foly and ill consciens
859toke thaim: for swa mykel was thaire dreide in hert that thai quoke
860in body.
861    6. In that
862druuyinge ware sorowis of penaunce as of a wommane that
863trauails. that is, thai ere ful grefeous, bot thai ere profitabil. for
864froite of endles ioy comes of thaim: in a gret gaste, that is, thurgh
865the haligast. thou sall altobreke the shippes of tharse. that is, the
866renners in sere lustis and synnes of this warld. forto spy how thai
867may cum til the ioy of erth. there brekis god vmwhile, to gare
868thaim seke verray ioy. and if tha will not leue, he brekis thaim
869and kastis thaim till hell fire in his wreth.
870    7. As we herd in
871prophitis swa we saghe fulfild in haly kyrke, that is cite of oure
872god. he foundid it to last withouten end.

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873    8. We hafe takyn thi mercy. that is, the haly gast gifen
874til vs mercifully. in myddys of thi tempile. that is, in the couent of
875cristen men.
876    9. Eftire thi name ihu~ is spred swa thi louynge, that is not perfitly
877bot in haly men, that ere in endis of erthe, that is, in halykirke, that
878is largid in all the warld: thi righthand, that is, endles blis, is full of
879rightwisnes, that is, of rightwis men. for many sall stand at his
880righthand. therfor,
881    10. The hill of syon, that
882is, saules heghe in contemplatife life. the doghtirs of iude. lesse. that
883shrifes thaim clene of syn: and thai may be glade for thi domes,
884that thou saues all that turnys thaim til the. and thaim that haldis
885thaim fra the thou blyndis thaim.
886    11. Vmgifis syon. that is, comes aboute haly men, honurand
887noght noyand, and halsis it in charite. telles, that is, preches til other
888the louynge tharof, in toures of it, that is in heghnes of thaire
889lerynge.
890    12. The vertu of this cite is charite, that nathynge
891ouercomes. sett ȝoure hertis tharon. and than ga ȝe not will: and
892delys, that is, distyngis house fra house, that is, the goed fra the ill:
893and swa loke whaim ȝe sall folow. bot be ware that ȝe deme not
894folily him that is goed, wenand that he be ill. that ȝe tell godis goednes
895in a nother kynde. that is, ti all that will here the gestis of
896halymen, forto folow thaim.

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897    13. Crist is here with vs present, and he is oure god,
898that hilles vs that we dye noght ill. and he is oure kynge that
899guuernys vs, that we fall noght, and that is in warldis withouten
900ende.
901
902

PSALM XLVIII.

903
904    In this psalme spekis the
905prophet. of the lufers of the warld, shewand that thai sall perische
906with all thaire ioy: for that thai sould do til honur of god thai doe
907it that thai may spede wele in thaire nedes. and haf thaire will here.
908Here the thyngis that .i. sall say, all genge. that is, all wickidmen.
909and with eren persaifes. that ȝe here not passandly. all that wonnys
910the warld: that is, all rightwismen, that ere not haldyn ne lappid
911in errours of the warld, bot thai trede thaim vndire thaire fete.
912    2. Borne of erth ere tha that
913folows erthly vices: sunnes of men he calles goed men, that lifis as
914skil leris and godis laghe. the riche, lufand the warld. and the pore,
915lufand noght bot god, heres ȝe that ere samen in ane, that is, ȝe ere
916not departid till ȝe dye. forthi heres samen godis worde: tyme
917comes when ȝe may not be samen.
918    3. Wisdome falles til thynge that
919is of god: quantise til confourmynge of maners: in there twa
920thyngis is goddis worde shewid.
921    4. That is,
922 .i. sall meke me til sothfastnes that spekis in me, and lerand me to
923speke in parabils, that is, in likyngis that all men kan noght vndirstand:
924and .i. sall oppyn in psawtry, that is, .i. sall shew in werke,
925my proposicyon, that is, what thynge .i. sett til me bifor all other

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926thynge, that is, the blisse of heuen. aswa say, .i. sall shew in dede
927my worde.
928    5. Here in his person he sekis the
929cheson of drede and of dampnacioun of ill men. that is wickidnes,
930and says. Whi sall .i. drede in ill day. that is, in the day of dome,
931that is kald ill day. for all thyngis sall than be oppynd. and ill is it
932kald for vnrightwismen, that sall than be dampned. lo whi .i. sall
933drede: for the wickidnes of my hele sall vmgif me: that is, the
934wickidnes that lastis in me at myn endynge sall make me to drede
935and be dampned.
936    6. There ere thai that
937ere vmgifen with wickidnes: aswha say. drede is of wickidnes, and
938wickidnes is of erthly thynge, in the whilke men ere swa mykil
939folis. that sum ere that traystis in thaire vertu of body, or in thaire
940wit. and other ioyes in thaire riches. for thai hafe many, whare of
941thai ere proude: or in thaire frendis. and all is in vayne. for,
942    7. Brothere crist sall not
943bye swilke. for thai trayst noght in him. bot in thaire vertu. Wha
944sa trayst in this brother he sall not drede in ill day. sall man bye
945thaim. nay, thof he be neuer swa myghty. aswha say, thai ere in
946prison of the deuel. and nane is to bye thaim oute. for crist will
947noght, thare frend mey noght, than ere thai lost: and swa he sall
948noghi gif til god. his quemynge. that is, he wil noght gif til god luf
949of his hert. tha myght queme him.
950    8. That is, he sall not doe verray penaunce
951and almusdede, thurghe the whilke he myght bye his saule fra
952hell. and therfor he sall trauaile withouten ende in pynes, and ȝit
953he sall life in the ende: that is, eftere the ende of this life. he sall

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954life in saule, and be haldyn in sorow of hell. til he take his body
955and be tourmentid in bathe.
956    9. That is, he sall not vndirstande that verray
957ded be, when he sees euenly ill and goed dye. for he says. if the
958wisman that lufis god be ded as the ill, whare til sall .i. folow him.
959 .i. will fare wele whils .i. life: and swa he knawis not the endles
960ded. that he hastis him til. and the wisman passis til life, bot the
961vnwise, that bihaldis noght what pyne is grauythid til synful men,
962and the fole, that thofe he bihald he will not doe swa that he ware
963delyuered, sall perische bathe to gidere.
964    10. And thai sall leue thaire riches, for the whilke thai did
965mykil ill. and tynt thaire saules. til aliens, thof thai leue thaim til
966thaire sunnes. for aliens thai ere til thaim that dos thaim na goed.
967and thaire sepulcres ere thare howsis. that is, thai wene that thaire
968faire and dere graues may last til menynge of thaim euermare. thof
969thai be in hell. noght in sepulcres: for thare the saule is. thare is the
970mast parte of the man.
971    11. That is,
972the howsis that thai leue til thaire ayres, thai wene thai sall last in
973kyn of sunnes and kyn of kosyns, and swa forth. thai cald thaire
974names, that is, thai seke that thaire names be kald, of thaire howsis:
975and that is not gret. for it is noght bot in thaire aghen erthe. sene
976thaire fame is noght amange straunge men: bot what is thaim the
977bettere, sen noght als mykel as a drope of watire comes til the
978tonge of him that brennys in hell.

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979    12. And in this,
980as in other thynge, man vndirstode not what he did, when he soght
981to hafe his name in this warld. for he sould hafe desired lastand ioy.
982neuer the latter he was in honur. that is, made til the ymage of god.
983and for he wroght not vndirstandanly he is likynd, losand vse of
984skill, til vnwise bestis in vnwisdome: and like he is till thaim, for his
985syn, noght of kynde.
986    13. This way, that is, this
987life of tha, for it ledis thaim til hell, is slawndire til thaim. that is,
988stangynge and sorow and cheson of thaire dampnacioun. it is not
989sykirnes til thaim, for thai ere tourementid of thaire aghen dedis.
990thynke not that swilke men ere blisful whas life is slawndire. and
991sythen when warldis godes comes at thaire will, thai sall queme in
992thaire mouth. for that is the manere of synful men, when thai fulfil
993thare ȝernyngis than thanke thai god.
994    14. Thai sall
995be sett in hell eftere this life. as shepe that has lost thaire woul and
996lifes. swa in wickidmen, withouten wastynge of thaire kynde; pyne
997fyndes ay that it tourmentis. for thai ere ay dyand and neuer may
998dye. and ded swa fedis thaim. that is, ledis fra pyne til pyne.
999    15. That is, rightwismen sall
1000be abouen thaim and deme thaim in the generall resurreccioun. and
1001the help of thaim that thai had here. in ioy of the warlde, sall elde in
1002hell. fra thaire ioy. for alsmykil as thai ware sene hafand ioy in erth,
1003als mykill sorow sall thai suffire thare.
1004    16. Thai
1005ere put fra thaire ioy; bot me he sall bye fra the pouste of the
1006deuel, when he has takyn me til his kepynge.

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1007    17. Drede thou noght to be goed, thof the synful made
1008be riche, and thou pore: for it is not grete that he is riche. when
1009outkastyngis of men has riches. & when the ioy of his howse ware
1010multiplide in honurs: for all that is not at tell by.
1011    18. Hethynge is this of riche men. for thai take noght with
1012thaim when thai dye, & the ioy of thaire howse wites away, and thai
1013descend in til hell with sorow.
1014    19. In his life his saule is heghid in lustis & delites of this
1015warld, & forthi in ded it sall be tourmentid. he sall shrife. that is,
1016he sall loue the, god. when thou has done goed til him. that is, anly
1017in wele, neuermare in wa. that is a despisabile shrift that ese makis,
1018bot that is of mykil meryt that na sorow may fordow.
1019    20. That is, he sall folow ald wickid men. and therfore he
1020sall not see light. for wha swa folowis the werst men thai sall be
1021dampned in thaire felaghschip. and thai see noght light withouten
1022end. for in this warld thai ere blyndid in saule, and in the tother
1023thai suffire the myrknes of hell.
1024    21. He rehercys
1025the foulhed of man, that the ill man stynt of his ill.
1026
1027

PSALM XLIX.

1028
1029    In this

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1030psalme the prophet leris that na man drede thof thai haf na bodily
1031thynge to offire til god: for oure lord couaytis lufe and louynge
1032of vs, and noght elles. And he reprehendis riche men that wenes
1033to be safe for thaire offrandis, or for goed that thai gif til pore men.
1034bot wit thai wele, thof thai gafe all that thai hafe, thai be not safe,
1035bot if thai luf god. God, makere of godis thurgh his grace. he
1036calles goed cristen men godis, for he has gifen thai myght to be
1037goddis sunnes. lord of all, spake in his seruauntes, and in his aghen
1038person in erth, and he called the erth. that is, men that ere erthe,
1039    2. He cald men fra the est,
1040bigynand; that is, at thaim that ere in light of grace, til the west.
1041that is, til thaim. fra whaim the sone of rightwisnes departis, and
1042thai dye in thaire syn. bot of syon, that is, fra iherusalem, is his
1043fayrhede first shewid: for thare it bigan to be preched.
1044    3. He
1045sall cum apertly to deme, and than he sall not still to say the rightwisnes
1046of dome: bot now he is still, abidand men til penaunce.
1047    4. Here descryues he his comynge
1048til the dome. fire materiel. or of ill consciens, sall bren. than may
1049the cafe drede, and stubil: in syght of him. that is, when thai sall
1050see in him demand. that fire sall bren the face of this warld, and
1051purge it and make it bright. and it sall bren ill men in till hell.
1052If oght be in goed men it sall purge thaim. and in his vmgange,
1053that is, in his halighis. that sall sitt and deme with him. sall be
1054storme, that is, demynge and sentence of euennes, and that gret,
1055for it sall depart goed fra ill. this sall be an vgly storme til thaim,
1056dryuand thaim in til endles sorow.
1057    5. He cumand to deme sall call heuen. that is all
1058perfite men, to be siters with him and deme: fra abouen, that is of
1059his myght, that is abouen. thai sall sitte an twelfe setils to deme the
1060twelfe kyndis of israel. and he sall call the erth.

page 380

1061

PSALM CVI.

1062
1063    And that .i. say of his mercy.
1064    2. Crist with his blode boght
1065cristen men fra the deuyl. and gedird thaim tobe a folk of god.
1066that bifore was scatird in sere errours. whethen gedird he thaim.
1067    3. The see he settis for the south. for the grete see is in that syde
1068of the warld.
1069    4. Thai errid for thai knew noght sothfastnes. dwelland in
1070anly stede withouten god. and in stede withouten watire. that is,
1071withouten haly lare. for thai fand noght ihu~ crist. that is way that
1072ledis til the cite of heuen, whare goed wonynge is. for thai ware.
1073    5. That
1074is, thai had noght mete of godis worde, na drynke of his grace: forthi
1075na wondire if thaire saule faylid fra gastly goed. for it dwellid in
1076thaim selfe. that is, it passid noght til godis luf. ffor luf suffirs noght
1077oure thoght to be in oure selfe. bot it rawysshis it in til the thynge
1078that we luf. the whilk luf if it be in god. it is oure corown. if it be in
1079any creature it is fire that bren sall oure kaytif saules.
1080    6. Thai ware ouercomen in defaute and in errour and
1081hungire. thai cried and he delyuerd thaim of nedyngis. that is, of
1082illis the whilk thai myght noght fle.

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1083    7. Aswhasay. he toke thaim out of ignoraunce.
1084and he shewid thaim crist, thorgh whaim wele wirkand thai sould
1085ga in til the cite of sykire wonynge.
1086    8. That is cheson and mater to
1087luf oure lord. his mercys noght oure merytis. & his wondirs. shewid
1088til men. that is, tha ilk mercys that ere gifen til men in woundireful
1089manere of redempcioun.
1090    9. That is, of konynge and grace, that it
1091had will to desyre goednes. sum ere ouere takyn with swa mykil
1092hungire that thai hafe noght appetite to ete. swilk is a hungry saule
1093that list noght luf god. for it is noght wont thar till.
1094    10. Sitand, that is, dwelland.
1095for thai ware ouercumyn with ill custum. in myrknes. that is,
1096in synnys, and in shadow of ded. that is, in vicious life. that is
1097ymage of endles ded. bunden in begynge. that is, in nede of saule
1098fode. and in iryn, that is, hard bundyn in wickidnes.
1099    11. That is, thai wroght
1100agayns godis wordes. in whas rewlys thai wald noght lif. bot held
1101thaim sharpe & noght at do. Godis counsaile was that tha that
1102ware proude sould be mekid in anguys. that is halsum counsaile. bot
1103the pryde of this warlde voydis it and despisis it.
1104    12. ffor thai despisid his counsaile thai ware in trauaile. and swa
1105seke that thai ware vnmyghty to stande agayn vicys. and at the last
1106thai ware mekid. for if god help noght. thou may trauayle. bot
1107ouere may thou noght. for thi.

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1108    13. In the same chesun. the same sentence that is abouen.
1109    14. That is,
1110the hardnes and ill custum of syn.
1111    15. Whi sall thai shrife.
1112    16. That is, he distroyd kyndly couaitys and
1113suggestions of the deuyl. brasen ȝatis. ere synful custums of men.
1114that suffirs thaim not to pass out that ere closid in thaim. barris
1115ere fendys that barris the ȝatis.
1116    17. He vptoke thaim in heght of goed werke. for thaire
1117vnrightwisnes, that thai wald noght be suget til god. thai ere mekid.
1118that is, casten down and tourmentid. and thai fand that thai ere
1119noght withouten god.
1120    18. That
1121is, thaim noyed with godis worde. that is mete of saule. and forthi
1122thai neghid till ȝatis of ded. that is, til defaute of saule. here he
1123spekis of temptacioun of sleuth, that oft sithe takis him that has
1124ouercumyn wickidnes and couaitys. swa that sum tyme he has
1125nother delite to rede ne to pray. bot when thou felis that vice do
1126as he says.
1127    19. Lo in what maner.
1128    20. That is, he

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1129gafe thaim comforte and delite in his worde. and swa he toke
1130thaim fra corupcioun of thoght. that has na sauoure in swete thynge.
1131and of this.
1132    21. Til whaim god dos all this
1133grace.
1134    22. Noght in noy & sorow:
1135for now is he soft to be louyd.
1136    23. As whasay, thai sall
1137shew his werkis. that descendis fra contemplacioun. in the see. that
1138is, to suffire for crist stremys of tribulacioun. in shippis, that is,
1139in vertus that safys thaim fra peryssynge. wirkand in many watirs.
1140that is, lerand many men the way of life.
1141    24. Thai sagh bifor other what god wondirfully werkis
1142in mannys hertis. for the grund of the warld is hert of man. whethen
1143wynd of bostus wordis cumys, and makis stormys of contekis and
1144of discordis.
1145    25. That is, he suffird, and the persecucioun
1146of tirauntis or of the deuyl lastid. and the stremys. that is,
1147cumyngis of tribulacioun. ere waxand. wharefore.
1148    26. The tirauntis and ill riche men steghis noght til heuen.
1149for in lordshipis of the warld thai ere heghid agayns god. and thai
1150light in till depnes. that is, thai fall in till hell. & in thaire illis faylid
1151the saule of prelatys. and.

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1152    27. Druuyd in confusion of wit. and stird in angire. stumbiland as
1153a drunkyn man. that kan noght hald the right way. In quyet the
1154prelatis semys wyse men. bot when storme cumys. all thaire witt
1155and counsaile faylis. and thaire wisdome is all eten. for thai see
1156noght what thai sall do. than bihoues thaim cry. that god stabill
1157thaire hert.
1158    28. And mare he did. for.
1159    29. That is, the persecuciouns he tempird. and
1160made thaim suffrabil. or all anguys he turnys in til bryghthed of
1161endles rest. and swa the stremys, that is, all noyes, ere still.
1162    30. All men that
1163ere here in trauayle and in anguys for godis luf. ere fayn when ded
1164comys. for than ther wa stillis. and god ledis thaim in hauen of
1165thaire will. that is, till the bliss of heuen. that thai couaytid in all
1166thaire will. & of this.
1167    31. NO COMMENTARY
1168    32. That is. less
1169men, that ere guuernyd, loue him. and mare men, that guuernys,
1170loue him.
1171    33. That is, proude men that ere heghid of thaire cunynge.
1172or of thaire vertu. he sett in desert. that is, dry withouten grace.
1173and withouten froite of charite. and thaim of whaim passid watire
1174of lare, in gastly threst.

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1175    34. The erth that gayfe froyte of goed werkis.
1176he sett in bryne. that is, in baraynhed, that na goednes grow. and
1177that is for the malice of men that wonys in the erth. that is, ill
1178princes and ill sugetis.
1179    35. That
1180is, in synful men that was desert. he made watirs of grace and lare
1181to stand. & that thai ren fra thaim till other.
1182    36. That is. in that grace he sett thaim
1183that hungird thar eftire. and wild take it gladly. and tha stabild,
1184bogheand hally til godis comaundments. the cite of wonynge. that
1185is, haly kyrke, whare is wonynge til we won in heuen.
1186    37. This thai do
1187that purgis thaire hertis. & thaire bodis with the lare of heuen.
1188that thai bere froyte of goed werkis. and of vertus.
1189    38. That is, thorgh his blissynge thai ere multiplyde. in noumbire
1190and meryt ful mykil. for many ere cald and fa ere cheson. and
1191thaire bestis. that is, sympil men and profetabile, that ere noght
1192lerid. bot thai halde trouth and charite. he lessid noght: for god
1193knawis whilk ere his.
1194    39. The goed fa
1195ere made in likynynge of many ill men. & trauayld thai ere of tribulacioun
1196of deuyls. and fals brether. and of sorow for thaire synnys
1197& other mennys.
1198    40. This vers
1199has mare nede of sorowynge than of expownynge. for the folk will

page 386

1200noght halde pes with god. & do his comaundmentis. the wreth of
1201god is first helte on princys, for thai ere wers than other. and swa
1202ryses strife and werre itwix landis. and god suffirs all to erre out of
1203the way of rightwisnes. that ilkan sla other. that is the vengaunce
1204of god that maste bifallis for the ill leders of cristen men.
1205    41. Aswhasay. the proude ere kastyn fra god in
1206errours. and the pore man. that is, the meke, that cries ay at godis
1207ȝate. he helpis out of nede of body and saule. and his menȝe sett
1208as shepe. that is, he kepis thaim in meknes and in vnnoyandnes.
1209    42. Reght sall be fayn
1210that goed men ere heghid thorgh godis mercy. & ill men dampnyd
1211for thaire pride. and swa all wickidnes, iangland agayns rightwisnes.
1212sall stope the mouth. as a man that is ouercumen & kan noght say.
1213    43. That is, he that is wyse sall kepe
1214there thyngis. that is. that he be pore and meke, noght riche na
1215proude. for he vndirstandis that cristis mercy safes of errour and
1216of ill custum. and of gastly noy. noght the meryt of any man.
1217
1218

PSALM CVII.

1219
1220    ffor my hert is
1221redy withouten lettynge .i. sall synge in haboundance of gastly
1222softnes. and .i. sall tharwith do goed werekis, and that in my ioy.
1223that is, in bihaldynge of ioyful risynge in the day of dome.
1224    2. This says the fadire til
1225the sun, or the sun til his body. thou ert psautery in noblay of
1226maners. and harpe in passion. rise fra ded. he answers, .i. sall ryse
1227in the dagheynge. & than.

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1228    3. That is, in thaim .i. sall loue the.
1229    4. That is, aungels vsys thi
1230benefycis. and haly men rayns lare til thaire herers.
1231    5. That is, shew the heghe abouen all creatures. that
1232thi derlyngis be delyuerd. of all pyne in the tothere warld and here.
1233    6. That is, make thi seruauntis
1234safe thorgh thi fauour and thi mercy. and here me prayand for
1235thaim. for god spak in his halighe. that is, in crist.
1236    7. Loke the exposicioun
1237of this fere abouen.
1238    8. ffor all that beris froyte
1239of charite & goed werkis. crist, that is oure heuyd, resayfes thaim.
1240and thai resayfe him.
1241    9. Juda, that is, crist is my kynge.
1242and whils he ledis me. moab, that is, ill men, that dos me noy. is
1243pot of my hope. that is, thai make me to hope fulliere endles life.
1244for thaire anguysynge of me.
1245    10. Thorgh luf.
1246    11. Cite warnyst he callis hell. that
1247nane myght opyn. In ydumy ere genge til whaim criste made

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1248knawyn his risynge. bot this myght anly be done of the godhede.
1249forthi says he.
1250    12. We seme put
1251agayn for we ere despisid in this warlde, and god shewis noght oure
1252vertus. agayns thaim that settis vs at noght.
1253    13. That is. it is passand and vncertayn: bot what sa
1254men say of vs or do til vs.
1255    14. ffor if thai last in thaire
1256ill, will thai be damnyd.
1257
1258

PSALM CVIII.

1259
1260    Crist in his manhed prayand til the fadire. says.
1261God hald noght still my louynge. for verray louynge is of verray
1262god. and the synful and the tricherous has thaire mouth oppyn til
1263my reprofe. bot it is noght to trow til thaim: for the blamynge of a
1264leghere is fals.
1265    2. Trecherous tunge thai hade when thai sayd. Maystire we wate
1266that thou ert sothfast. wordis of hateredyn, when thai cried, do him
1267on the cross. and this thai did of selfe will. that is, withouten rightwis
1268chesun. for wickidnes likes til wickidmen. as euenhed dos till goed
1269men.
1270    3. That is, thai sould hafe lufid me

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1271for .i. was godis sun. and thai bakbitid me, sayand. in belzebub he
1272kastis out fendis. bot .i. prayed for thaim.
1273    4. He come to gif thaim life, and tharfor
1274sett thai ded agayns him.
1275    5. ffor iudas sett the deuyls werkis bifor
1276the werkis of crist. and auarice bifore hele. and ilk man has the
1277deuyll at his right syde that lufis mare any erthly thynge. than the
1278wisdome of god. or gastly hele.
1279    6. ffor it is noght thorgh crist
1280whaim he wol not folow. that prayer is nouȝt in crist. that nowther
1281is made in gode will ne hit askis gode.
1282    7. ffor mathye was set in stid of iudas. & his dayes was
1283few that hyngid him selfe.
1284    8. Here hit semes
1285that iudas had wyfe & barnes. nouȝt onely of iudas may all that is
1286seyd in this psalme be takyn, bot all cristes enemys. fals iewis &
1287fals cristen men.
1288    9. Dowtand, that is, vncerteyn be thei whither thei shal go, & left
1289holly withouten help.
1290    10. Many folis dos now
1291as iudas did. he foloyd god. & left til his wife & his barnes his
1292godes. bot his hert was ȝit in thaim. and wold not breke the
1293band of couetyse. so dos som that changes thair abyt.