[6-text p 647] . . . . . [no gap] saiþ seynt gregory
[693] ¶ Now comeþ wanhope þat is despair of þe mercy of god þat comeþ som tyme of to moche out|rageous sorwe [folio 272b] and som tyme of to moche drede ymagyn|ynge þat he haþ do so moche synne þat it wil not auaile him þough he wolde repent him and forsake synne. [694] þurgh which despeir or drede he abundith al his herte to alle maner synne as seith seint augustin. [695] whiche dampnable synne if þat it continue vnto his lyues ende it is cleped synnyng of þe holy gost. [696] This horrible synne is so perilous. þat he þat is despaired þer is no felonye ne no synne þat he doutith for to do. as schewed wel by Iudas. [697] Certes aboue alle synnes. þan is þis synne most displesant to crist and most aduersarie [698] sothely he þat despisith him is like þe coward campioun recreaunt þat seith recreaunt wiþoute neede. allas allas needeles is he recreaunt and needeles despaired [699] ¶ Certes þe mercy of god is euer redy to þe penitent and is aboue alle his werkes. [700] allas can not a man byþenk him on þe gospel of seint luk/ wher as crist saith þat as wel schal þer be ioye in heuen vpon a synful man þat doþ penitence as vpon nynety and nyne þat ben rightful men þat . . . . . [no gap] needen no penitence [701] ¶ loke forþer in þe same gospel þe ioye and þe fest of þe goode man þat had lost his sone. whan þe sone with repentaunce was torned to his fader [702] ¶ Can not þay remembre eek þat as saiþ seint luk xxiijo. how þat þe þef þat was hangid biside ihū crist sayde ¶ lord remembre of me whan þou comest in to þy regne [703] ¶ Forsoþe saith crist. to day þou schalt be wiþ me in paradis [704] ¶ Certis þer is noon so horrible synne of
