The lanterne of lizt, ed. from ms. Harl. 2324 / by Lilian M. Swinburn.

What is þe fendis chirche.̉ wiþ hir propurtees/

Capitulum .XIII^m.. ‖

To speke of þe þridde chirche.̉ enproprid to þe deuel/ þe [folio 119b] whiche is þe noumbre.̉ of hem þat ben encombrid/ to serue him aftir his tising.̉ aȝen Goddis heestis ‖ Firste we schullen take oure grounde.̉ in wordis of þe prophete/ Ps. xxv. 'Odiui ecclesiam malingnancium' ‖ I haue haatid þe chirche of maliciouse lyuars ‖ Þise ben þoo þat straien awey.̉ aftir hir owene desiris/ walkyng in þe large weye.̉ þat lediþ hem to helle/ neiþir þei wil be gouerned.̉ bi lawe ne bi grace/ neiþir þei wole for drede ne loue.̉ cese & go fro synne/ bi cause þis world is ful of lustis.̉ & profriþ hise louears. a ioye soone passing ‖ But þei þat traueilen aftir blisse.̉ here þei suffren peyne/ þerfore foolis wiþouten noumbre.̉ ioyen wiþ þis world/ as Crist seiþ in his gospel. Mat. vii^o./

'Intrate per angustiam portam. quia lata porta & spaciosa est via que ducit ad perdicionem et multi sunt qui intrant per eam ‖ O quam angusta porta est & arta via que ducit ad vitam & pauci [folio 120a] sunt qui inveniunt eam' ‖ Þat is to seie. Entre ȝe bi þe strayt ȝate. for large is þe ȝate & brood is þe weye þat lediþ to dampnacioun.̉ & manye þer ben þat entren bi it ‖ O, How peynful is þe ȝate & how streiȝt is þe weye þat lediþ to þe lijf.̉ & fewe þer ben þat fynden it/ for seint Ion seiþ. v^o. 'Mundus totus in maligno positus est'/ Al þis world. þat is. alle þoo men & wymmen þat ben ouercomen wiþ þis world.̉ ben sett in malice. þat is brennyng in þe fire of foule couetise/ For al þing þat is in þis world. eiþir it is þe couetise of iȝen. or ellis it is couetise of þe fleische. or ellis it is þe pride of þis lijf/ and þerfor þis chirche is groundid vpon þe deuel.̉ in þe grauel of false couetise/ as Poul seiþ. Thimo. vi^o. ‖ 'Radix enim omnium malorum est cupiditas quam quidam appetentes errauerunt a fide' ‖ Forsoþe þe roote of alle yuelis is couetise/ þe whiche summe desiryng.̉ haue errid from trewe bileue/ & han ioyned hemsilf.̉ to many sorowis ‖

Þe rering vp of þis chirche.̉ is in glotenye & leccherie/ as þe [folio 120b] wisman seiþ. rehersing þe wordis of hem þat schal be dampned/ Sap. ii^o. 'vino precioso & vnguento nos impleamus/ & non preteriat nos flos temporis. Coronemus nos rosis antequam marescant/ Nullum pratum sit. quod non pertransiat luxuria nostra ‖ Nemo nostrum exsors sit luxurie nostre vbique relinquamus/ signa leticie'/ Þat is to seie. Þise fendis lymes seyn. go we fille vs wiþ preciouse wyn and an oyntment/ & suffre we not þe flour of oure faire beaute.̉ to passe awey from vs/ croune we vs wiþ roosis of iolite.̉ or þat þei welken awey/ þer may be no medowe.̉ but if

oure leccherie passe þerbi/ Noon of vs mai be lootles of his leccherie.̉ euery where leeue we. þe tookens of oure gladnes/

And þe hilling of þis chirche.̉ is pride & hiȝenes of lijf/ as þe prophete seiþ. Ps. xxxvi^o. 'vidi impium superexaltatum.̉ & eleuatum sicut cedros libani' ‖ þat is to seie. I haue sen þe vnpitiuouse & þe wickid enhaunsid & vplifted as þe cedre trees of Liban. & þei ben þe hiȝest trees of þis world/ But as smoke riseþ sodenli. & soone vanischeþ to nouȝt.̉ so þe proude ben preisid for a tyme.̉ [folio 121a] & anoon þei fallen awey/ & we witen not.̉ where þei bicomen ‖

Off þe bisines and occupacioun. þat dwellars of þis chirche vsen.̉ spekiþ þe prophete. Ps. liiii. 'Die ac nocte circumdabit eam super muros eius iniquitas & labor in medio eius & iniusticia'/ þat is to seie. Niȝt & day. wickidnesse schal cumpasse aboute þis chirche vpon hir wallis.̉ & traueile in middis of it & vnriȝtwisnesse/ & okir-julling and treccherie.̉ haþ not stintid in þe weies of hir ‖ Of þis chirche wiþ þis maner of bilding spekiþ Crist in his gospel. Mat. vii^o. Luk. vi^o. 'Omnis qui audit verba mea & non facit ea similis est viro stulto qui edificauit domum suam super arenam/ pro primo. & descendit pluuia/ pro 2^o.& flauerunt venti/ pro 3^o. inruerunt in domum illam/ pro. 4^o.& fuit ruina eius magna'/ Þat is to seie. who þat heeriþ my wordis & doiþ hem not. schal bilijke a foltid man þat haþ bildid his hous.̉ vpon þe grauel of coueitise & mysbileue/ & reyne of glotenye & leccherie.̉ cam doun

[folio 121b] on þis chirche/ and þe wyndis of pride.̉ blewen vpon þis chirche/ and feersli þise forseid synnes fellen in to þis chirche.̉ & dryuen it doun/ & þe fal of hir was greet/ for sche fel from grace & glorie.̉ to peyne & myschef wiþouten eend/ as seint Austin seiþ ‖ 'Non enim corpus domini est quod cum illo non erit in eternum quia ypocrite non cum illo dicendi sunt quamuis in eius vidiantur esse ecclesia/ Est enim diabolus caput impiorum qui sunt eius quodammodo corpus ituri cum illo in supplicium ignis eterni'‖ Þat is to seie. Forsoþe þat is not þe bodi of þe Lord.̉ þat schal not be wiþ him wiþouten eend/ for ypocritis ben not seid to be wiþ him.̉ þouȝ þei be seyn to be in his chirche/ Certis þe deuel is heed of alle þe wickid.̉ þe whiche ben on sum maner his bodi/ to goo wiþ him.̉ in to þe turment of euerlasting fier ‖ For whanne þei tooken baptem.̉ þei hiȝten feiþ & trouþe/ to kepe Goddis heestis.̉ as þe prophete seiþ/ spekyng in þe persoone.̉ of al þe general chirche/ Ps. cxviii ‖ 'Iuraui & statui custodire iudicia iustitie tue'/ Lord I haue sworn & ordeyned.̉ to kepe þy comaundementis/ and vpon þis couenaunt.̉ Crist tooke hem to [folio 122a] his mariage/ wiþ þe ryng of stedfast feiþ.̉ he sacrid þis holi spousaile/ But now þei leeue þis chast loue.̉ oure Lord Iesu Crist/ in breking of þis couenaunt.̉ & han chosen an hoore maister/ þe fend þat is a spouse-breker & ligiþ in avowtrie.̉ wiþ her sijke soules/ for seint Ion Crisostom seiþ. 'Omnis autem anima aut est sponsa Christi aut diaboli adultera est'/ Hec Crisostomus om. xlix. Forsoþe euery soule. eiþir it is Cristis spouse.̉ or ellis it is avowtresse of þe deuel/ for Crist & þe deuel may in no wise rest togidir.̉ in þe bedde of mannes soule/ for þei ben so contrarie. þat what euer þe toon biddiþ.̉ þe toþir forbediþ ‖ Crist sekiþ saluacioun.̉ þe fende dampnacioun ‖ Crist loueþ vertu.̉ þe fende loueþ synne ‖ Crist gadriþ togiddir.̉ þe fende scatiriþ abrood ‖ as Poul seiþ. II. Cor. vi^o./ 'Que enim participacio iustitie cum iniquitate? aut que societas lucis ad tenebras ‖ Que autem comunicacio Christi ad Belial? aut que pars fidelis cum

infideli ‖ Quis autem consensus templi dei cum ydolis'‖ Þat is to seie. what participacioun of riȝtwise- -nesse wiþ wickidnesse? [folio 122b] what felaschip is of liȝt to dercknesse? what comunicacioun of Crist to Belial? or what part is of a feiþful man. to an vnfeiþful man? or what consent of þe temple of God to ydols? certis noon.̉ for iche of þise aȝenseyn oþir. aftir her owene worching ‖

Now schullen we telle what þei be.̉ þat dwellen wiþ þe fende/ for to serue him in his chirche.̉ þat is þe temple of ydols ‖ warars. cursars. schidars. sclaundirars & blasfemars/ for Poul seiþ. I. Cor. vi^o. 'Neque malidici regnum dei possidebunt'/ Þere ben vilen spekars. liears. glosears. bacbitears. motrars. swerars. & forswerars. as seint Ion seiþ. Ap. xxi^o. 'Omnibus mendacibus pars illorum erit in stagno ardenti igne & sulphure quod est mors secunda'/ Þere ben michars. robbars. and extorcioneris. tyrauntis. & oppressours. for þe prophete seiþ. Zac. v^o. 'Omnis fur sicut ibi scriptum est iudicabitur'‖ Þere ben vntrewe tilliars. vnfeiþful seruantis. recheles hired men. & reble disciplis. & vnprofitable labureris For [folio 123a] Crist seiþ. Mat. xxv^o. 'Seruum invtilem pericite in tenebras exteriores' ‖ Þere ben lecchours. fornicareris. avowtreris. incestours. þat is defoulears of her owene kyn. & alle vnclene men & wymmen þat ben wiþynne ordir or professioun/ for seint Ion seiþ. Ap. vltimo. 'Foris canes & venifici & impudici & homicide & ydolis seruientes. & omnis qui amat & facit mendacium'/ Þere ben ypocritis. sodomitis. sacrilegers, & sellars of sacramentis ‖ for Crist seiþ. Mat. xxiiii^o. & Luk. xii^o./ 'Diuidet eum partemque eius ponet cum ypocritis ibi erit fletus & stridor dencium' ‖ Þere ben alle þat preien. seruen or ȝyuen ȝiftis for chirche or spiritual

benefice. alle false possessioneris. alle myȝti wilful mendineris. & alle her sturdi maynteners/ for seint Iude seiþ. i^o. ca^o../ 'Ve qui in via caym abierunt. pro primo. et in errore Balaam mercede effusi sunt. pro secundo. & in contradiccione chore perierunt. pro tertio'/ 'Ve' secundum magistrum historiarum notat eternam dampnacionem/ Þere ben þoo men þat boosen her bristis. pinchin [folio 123b] her belies. parten her hosis. cracowen her schoos. & alle disgisears of garmentis/ for God seiþ bi þe prophete Sopho. i^o. ca^o../ 'visitabo super omnes qui induti sunt veste peregrina'‖ Þere ben þoo. þat steerchen or poppen her facis. þat bridilen her heedis wiþ gigge haltiris. þat setten aboue honycombis. wiþ miche oþir tatiryng. to make hemsilf salle-kene to synne & setten abrood her pappis to cacche men wiþ her lymȝerdes/ for God seiþ bi þe prophete. Ysa. iii^o. 'Pro eo quod eleuate sunt filie syon et ambulauerunt collo extento. &c.;/ decaluabit dominus verticem filiarum syon' ‖ Þer ben false lawe makars. Goddis lawe haatars. fyndars of custumes. distriears of vertues. autours of synnes ‖ for Poul seiþ. Rom. ii^o./ 'In quo enim iudicas alterum te ipsum contempnas' ‖ In þis chirche ben mawmetrers. heretikis. ydolatreris. sortilogeris. enchauntours. arioleris. charmours. & rerars of þe deuel. & alle þoo þat trowen þat helþe may cum. of vsing Goddis word. þat we [folio 124a] clepen writtes oonli hangid or born on man. or þat þei ben medcinable to bodi or to soule.̉ so hangid or so born/ for Gregor seiþ. 26. q. 5/ 'Si quis ariolas aruspices incantatores obseruauerit aut philaterijs vsus fuerit anathema sit'/ Idem Leuitici. 20. 'Anima que declinauerit &c.;' ‖ Þere ben marchauntis. chappemen. vitileris. vintineris. tauerneris. chaungeris. biggeris. sellers. þat vsen disceit in wheiȝt. noumbre. or mesure/ for Poul seiþ. I. Thess. iiii^o./ 'vindex est dominus de omnibus hijs' ‖ In þis chirche ben vsureris. okureris. iourours. iullars. questmongars. & alle false witnesse berars. for þe prophete seiþ. Ps. xiiii./ 'Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram et munera super innocentem non accepit' ‖ In þis chirche ben pleetars. lawiars. sequestreris.

comissarijs. officials. denes. sumnouris. & allen þat sellen trouþe or synne to take money/ for þe prophete seiþ. Ps. xxv. 'In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextera eorum repleta est muneribus' ‖ In þis chirche ben auditours. resceyuours. tresoureris. procatours. iuggis. & alle þat accepten persoones for a cause inpertinent ‖ [folio 124b] for seint Iames seiþ. ii^o./ 'Si enim personas accipitis peccatum operamini redarguti a lege quasi transgressores' ‖

Þis chirche whanne it is beten. it wexiþ þe hardir/ whanne it is blamed.̉ it wexiþ þe dullidar/ whanne it is tauȝt.̉ it is þe lewidar/ whanne it is done wel to.̉ it is þe schrewidar/ and þanne it falliþ doun & comeþ to noȝt. whanne it semeþ in mannes iȝe.̉ moost strongli to stonde ‖ Seynt Austyn seiþ. Cristis chirche pursweþ yuel lyuars in charite.̉ bi weye of amendement ‖ But þe fendis chirche. pursueþ Cristis chirche in malice.̉ bi weye of sclaundir & sleeyng/ and þus Caym. þat false enviouse cursid man.̉ slow his broþir Abel. þat blessid symple ynnocent man/ as þe fyue expositours seyn.̉ in a prolog on þis spalme. 'Quid gloriaris'. þat Caym was þe bigynnyng of Babiloyn/ and anticrist schal be þe endar/ And Abel was þe bigynner of Ierusalem.̉ & Crist þe endar ‖ Forsoþe Ismael pursued Ysac.̉ but not so [folio 125a] Ysac Ismael/ Esau pursued his broþir Iacob.̉ but not so blessid Iacob cursid Esau/ for bi þe counseile of his modir.̉ he fledde in to Mesopatony/ from þe wraþþe of his broþir.̉ til þat it was swagid ‖ Þus oure modir holi chirche.̉ counseiliþ hir children/ to flee þe malice of þe fendis chirche.̉ til þat it be slakid/ Mat. x^o. 'Cum autem persequentur vos in ciuitate ista. fugite in aliam' ‖ Forsoþe whanne þe fendis chirche schal purswe ȝou in þis cite.̉ flee ȝe til anoþir/ But þis must be don bi discrecioun.̉ for hirting of oure broþiris conscience ‖ Crist pursued not þe Iewis.̉ but þe Iewis Iesu Crist ‖ Heeþen men slowen þe apostlis.̉ but not þe apostlis heeþen men/ Se now þe frowardnes of þis world.̉ þat haþ ben vsid fro þe bigynnyng/ whanne Isaie þe holi prophete prophecied.̉ & prechid vnto þe peple/ þei wolde not heere hise wordis.̉ ne suffre him on lyue/ But peple þat risen aftir his deeþ.̉ radden hise bookis & seiden/ 'If we hadde lyued in hise daies.̉ he schulde not haue be deed'/ & ȝit þei slowen Ieremye.̉ þat wiþ þe spirit [folio 125b] of God/ toold þingis þat were to come.̉ & tauȝt hem verry trouþe/

Hise successouris tooken hise bookis.̉ & radde hem in her temple/ & weiliden him for an holi man.̉ þat he was so slayn amonges hem/ But þei slowen Ezechiel.̉ & many oþir moo ‖ Þanne þe Iewis maden faire.̉ þe toumbis of þise prophetis ‖ as were scribis & pharisees.̉ & seiden in ypocrisie/ If þei hadden ben in her daies.̉ þey schulden not haue be slayn/ but þei ȝyuen þe counseile.̉ þat Crist schulde be dede/ heed of alle seyntis.̉ wiþ moost dispitouse deeþ ‖ Þe fendis chirche in þise daies.̉ preesen aboue clowdis/ Crist & hise hooli seyntis.̉ wiþ wordis & wiþ signes/ But þei pursuen to þe deeþ.̉ þe louars of his lawe/ and þus seiþ Crist in his gospel. Luk. vi^o. 'Secundum enim hec faciebant prophetis patres eorum'/ Þat is to seie. riȝt as ȝe don now.̉ so dide ȝoure fadris to her prophetis in her daies/ And þerfore woo to ȝow helle-houndis. for Crist seiþ. In þis world ȝe ben riche. faat [folio 126a] fed. lauȝyng & preisid iche of oþir.̉ weepe ȝe & make ȝe sorow for ȝoure peyne is myche in helle ‖ O. þise schal haue a dredeful dai.̉ whanne þei ben reynd at þe barre of iugement/ & Crist haþ rerid vp his croos.̉ þe banere of his passioun ‖ Of þis dai spekiþ þe prophete Sopho. i^o. 'Iuxta est dies domini magnus & velox nimis/ vox diei domini amara tribulabitur ibi fortis/ dies illa dies ire. dies tribulacionis & angustie dies calamitatis & miserie. dies tenebrarum & caliginis. dies nebule & turbinis dies tube & clangoris' ‖ Þe greet dai of þe Lord.̉ is nyȝ & fast biside/ & hiȝeþ toward wondir swiþe.̉ it schal not long tarie/ In þat dai schal be trublid.̉ he þat is strong & myȝti ‖ for þe voice of þe Lord.̉ is bittir to þe dampned/ þat dai is a dai of wraþþe.̉ a dai of tribulacioun/ þat is a dai of angir & tene.̉ of schenschip & of wrecchidnes/ þat is a dai of dercknes.̉ & of þick smok/ þat is a dai of cloude.̉ & of þe wood whirlwynde/ þat is þe dai of tromp.̉ & of hidouse noise/ [folio 126b] for þanne þei schal see.̉ her iuge abouen hem. stirid to wraþþe ‖ Þanne schal þei see.̉ helle open bineþ hem/ and aungelis on her riȝt siȝde.̉ hasting hem to helle/ fendis on her lift siȝde.̉ drawyng hem to helle/ Seyntis approuyng Goddis doome.̉ & al þe world accusing/ and her owene conscience.̉ as open as a book/ in þe whiche þei schal rede.̉ her owene dampnacioun ‖ Þise wrecchis biholding.̉ þe greet glorie of hem/ þat þei dispisid in þis world.̉ þanne schal þei seie þise wordis. Sap. v^o. 'Hij sunt quos aliquando habuimus in derisum & in similitudinem improperij. Nos insensati

vitam illorum estimabamus insaniam. & finem illorum sine honore/ Quomodo ergo conputati sunt inter filios dei & inter sanctos sors illorum est/ Ergo errauimus a via veritatis & iustitie lumen non luxit nobis/ Quid nobis profuit superbia aut diuiciarum iactancia quid contulit nobis/ transierunt omnia illa tanquam vmbra' ‖ Þise it ben þat we sumtyme hadde in scorne.̉ & in to licknesse of vpbreyding ‖ we witlesse dampned helle-brondis.̉ trowiden her lijf hadde be woodnes & madnesse/ & we gessiden þat her eende.̉ [folio 127a] had ben wiþouten worschip/ how now for þei ben countid.̉ among þe sones of God ‖ & þei taken her loot.̉ among hise seintis/þerfore we han errid.̉ from þe weie of trouþe/ & þe liȝt of riȝtwisenesse.̉ liȝtned not to vs/ we ben wery of þe weye of wickidnesse & dampnacioun/ what profite haþ oure pride don to vs? or greet avaunt. or boost of richessis? what haþ it ȝyuen til us? alle þo þingis ben passid from vs.̉ as þe schadowe/ Þanne schal þe iuge seie.̉ to hem wiþ stirne cheere/ Mat. xxv^o./ 'Discedite a me maledicti in ignem eternum qui preparatus est diabolo & angelis eius' ‖ Go awey fro me ȝe cursid lymes.̉ in to þe fire of helle euerlastyng/ þat is ordeyned to þe deuel & hise aungels/ Þanne may þe soule seie to þe bodi þise wordis/ 'Cum on þou cursid careyn.̉ cum & goo wiþ me/ for I am compellid.̉ to cum aȝen to

þee/ þat we mowe go togidir.̉ eiþir to oþir schame/ to take oure iewesse as we han disserued.̉ peyne for euermore/ þat þing þat we loued.̉ now it is gon from vs/ & al þat we haatid.̉ is turned [folio 127b] vp- -on vs. Now is oure ioye turned in to sorow.̉ and oure myrþe in to wepyng/ Now is oure lawȝtir. turned in to mornyng.̉ & al oure game into weiling/ No þing abidiþ to vs.̉ but fire hoot brennyng/ watir coold chelling/ wormes as addris/ toodis & snakis euer gnawyng/ euer diyng & neuer deed/ dercknesse palpable. þat is so þick. þat it may be gropid/ wanting þe siȝt of ony counfort/ seyng al þat may discounforte/ Feer intollerable. drede vntellable/ quakyng of þe fendis felaschip/ alwey discorde wiþouten frenschip/ & ful dispeyre of ony eende' ‖

Neþeles assay in þis lijf.̉ if ȝe may leeue þe fendis chirche/ & brynge ȝoure silf boþe bodi & soule.̉ in to þe chirch of Iesu Crist/ while grace & mercy may be grauntid.̉ axe of him þat offrid him silf/ vpon a cros wiþ wilful cheere.̉ to saue vs alle whanne we were loost/ For þus it is writen of þe wordis of God.̉ þat he spekiþ to a synful soule/ Cant. vi^o. 'Reuertere reuertere. sunamitis'/ [folio 128a] turne þee aȝen turne þee aȝen þou synful soule.̉ turne þee aȝen. turne þee aȝen. þat we may biholde þee/ for God knowiþ þi mys-gouernaunce.̉ & wil not forsake þee/ if þou wilt turne aȝen.̉ as he seiþ bi þe prophete. Iere. iii^o. 'Tu autem fornicata es cum amatoribus multis. tamen reuertere ad me dicit dominus & ego suscipiam te' ‖ Þat is to seie. Forsoþe þou hast don fornicacioun.̉ wiþ many louears/ neþeles turne þee to me seiþ þe Lord.̉ & I schal resceyue þee/ & take þee to grace/ vpon þis seiþ seynt Gregory 'Quantum nos diligit ostendit cum a nobis relinquitur? nos non relinquit' ‖ In þis God schewiþ. how miche he loueþ vs/ for whanne we forsaken him.̉ he forsakeþ not vs/ as seiþ seynt Austin. 'O. homo. non diffidas de dei misericordia. quia maior est eius misericordia quam tua miseria' ‖ A. man mystrist þou not on þe merci of God.̉ for more is his mercy. þan þi wrecchidnes/ And þus seid kyng Dauiþ to Abner/ II. Re. iii^o. 'Misit ergo Abner nuncios ad Dauiþ pro se dicentes/ Cuius est terra. Et vt loquerentur/ Fac mecum amicicias & erit manus mea tecum [folio 128b] et reducam ad te vniuersum Israel/ Qui ait/ Optime ego faciam tecum amicicias.̉ sed vnam rem peto a te dicens/ Non videbis

faciem meam antequam adduxeris Michol et sic veniens videbis me' ‖ Þis is þus schortli to seie. ȝe þat wil haue kyng Dauiþ.̉ a merciful lord to ȝou/ ȝe must bryng wiþ ȝou.̉ þis womman Michol/ if ȝe wole se.̉ his gracious face/ for Dauiþ loued myche þis womman.̉ as þis stoory telliþ here. Dauiþ þe kyng in þis place.̉ beriþ þe figure of Iesu Crist/ And Michol whanne it is declarid.̉ is to seie þe watir of al ‖ Þanne is þis þus to mene/ ȝe þat desiren in al ȝoure myȝt.̉ to fynde & haue þe mercy of God/ & se his graciouse face in blisse.̉ ȝe must haue watir of verry penaunce/ from ȝoure herte wiþ ful contricioun.̉ of wille neuere to turne to synne/ and if þat ȝe wil be trewe.̉ & no more breeke þis couenaunt/ God wole not þat ȝe be deed.̉ but þat ȝe haue euerelastyng lijf.

Notes

• Vulg. Ps. xxv. 5.
• W. V. 'I hatide the chirche of wariende men.' 1388, 'I hatide the chirche of yuele men.'
• Vulg. Matt. vii. 13, 14.
• W. V. 'Entre ȝe bi the streyt ȝate; for the gate that ledith to perdicioun, or dampnacioun, is brode, and the weye large, and ther ben many that entren bi it. Hou streyt is the ȝate, and narewe the weye, that ledith to lijf, and ther fewe that fynden it.'
• Vulg. 1 Joh. v. 19.
• W. V. 'Al the world is put in wickid.' 1388, 'Al the world is set in yuel.'
• Vulg. 1 Tim. vi. 10.
• W. V. 'Sothly the roote of alle yuels is couetyse, the which sum men coueitynge, or desyringe, erreden fro the feith, and bisettiden hem with many sorwis.'
• Vulg. Sap. ii. 7-9 'Vino pretioso et unguentis,' etc.
• W. V. 'With precyous win and oynemens fille wee us; and passe not us the flour of tyme. Crowne wee us with roses, er thei welewen; no medwe be, that oure leccherie passe not thurȝ. Noon of us be withoute lot of oure leccherie; ouer al lefe wee signes of gladnesse.'
• Vulg. Ps. xxxvi. 35.
• W. V. 'I saȝ the unpitouse aboue hauncid; and rerid up as cedris of Liban.' 1388, 'I siȝ a wickid man enhaunsid aboue; and reisid up as the cedris of Liban.'
• Vulg. Ps. liv. 11, 12.
• W. V. 'Dai and nyȝt wickidnesse shal enuyroune it upon the wallis of it; and travaile in the myddes of it, and unriȝtwisnesse. And ther failede not fro the stretis of it usure and treccherie.' 1388, 'Bi dai and nyȝt wickidnesse schal cumpasse it on the wallis therof, and trauel and unriȝfulnesse ben in the myddis therof. And usure and gile failide not fro the stretis therof.'
• Vulg. Matt. vii. 26, 27; Luc. vi. 49.
• Vulg. Matt. vii. 26, 27 'Omnis qui audit verba mea haec, et non facit ea, similis erit viro stulto, qui aedificavit domum suam super arenam; et descendit pluvia, et venerunt flumina, et flaverunt venti, et irruerunt in domum illam, et cecidit, et fuit ruina illius magna.'
• Augustinus, De Doctrina Christiana, Liber III, cap. xxxvii (Migne, tom. 34, cols. 82, 88).
• Vulg. Ps. cxviii. 106.
• W. V. 'I swoor and sette to kepe the domes of thi riȝtwisnesse.' 1388. 'I swoor, and purposide stidefastli; to kepe the domes of thi riȝtfulnesse.'
• MS. ad.
• Vulg. 2 Cor. vi. 14-16 'Quae enim participatio ... quae autem conventio Christi ad Belial aut quae pars fideli cum infideli? Qui autem consensus templo Dei cum idolis?'
• W. V. 'Sothli what partynge, or comunynge, of riȝtwysnesse with wickidnesse? or what felowschip of liȝt to derknessis? sothli what acordinge of Crist to Belial? or what part of a feithful or cristen man, with unfeithful, or hethene? but what consent to the temple of God with ydols? 1388, '... and what consent to the temple of God with mawmetis?'
• Vulg. 1 Cor. vi. 10.
• MS. stang^o.
• Vulg. Apoc. xxi. 8.
• Vulg. Zach. v. 3.
• Vulg. Matt. xxv. 30 'Inutilem servum eiicite in tenebras exteriores.'
• Apoc. xxii. 15.
• Vulg. Matt. xxiv. 51; Luc. xii. 46.
• Vulg. Jude i. 11.
• Vulg. Jude i. 11.
• MS. eterna.
• Vulg. Sophon. i. 8.
• Vulg. Isaias iii. 16, 17.
• Vulg. Rom. ii. 1.
• Gratian, Decreti Pars Secunda, causa xxvi, q. v (Migne, tom. 187, col. 1346).
• Vulg. Lev. xx. 6.
• Vulg. 1 Thess. iv. 6.
• Vulg. Ps. xiv. 5.
• Vulg. Ps. xxv. 10.
• Vulg. Jac. ii. 9.
• Vulg. Ps. li (A. V. lii).
• Vulg. Matt. x. 23.
• Vulg. Luc. vi. 23.
• Vulg. Sophon. i. 14-16.
• MS. Luxiþ.
• Vulg. Sap. v. 3-6, 8, 9.
• W. V. 'Thes ben whom we hadden sum tyme in to scorn, and in to licnesse of repref. Wee unwise eymeden the lif of hem wodnesse, and the ende of them without wrshipe; hou thanne ben thei countid among the sonus of God, and among seyntis the lot of hem is? Therfore wee erreden fro the weie of treuthe, and the liȝt of riȝtwisnesse liȝtede not to us, and the sunne off understanding is not sprunge to us. Weri wee ben in the weie of wickidnesse, and of perdicioun; and wee han gon harde weies. The wei forsothe of the Lord wee knewen not: what profitede to us pride, or bost of richessis, what ȝaf it to us? Alle tho thingus passeden as shadewe.' 1388, 'We woode men gessiden her lijf woodnesse, and the ende of hem with oute onour; hou therfor ben thei reckened among the sones of God, and her part is among seyntis? Therfor we erriden fro the weie of treuthe, and the liȝt of riȝtfulnesse schynede not to us, and the sunne of undurstondyng roos not up to us. We weren maad weri in the wei of wickidnesse and of perdicioun; and we ȝeden hard weies. But we knewen not the weie of the Lord; what profitide pride to us, ether what brouȝte the boost of richessis to us? All tho thingis passiden as schadewe.'
• Vulg. Matt. xxv. 41.
• W. V. 'Depart fro me, ȝee cursid in to everlastynge fijr, the whiche is maad redy to the deuyl and his angelis.'
• Vulg. Cant. vi. 12.
• Vulg. Jer. iii. 1.
• MS. set.
• Vulg. 2 Reg. iii. 12, 13.