trewe Apostilis, as mai be had of the firste and ije. Epistilis of Poul to the Corynthies. And whether this yuel comyng into the chirche in this now seid maner, and that for defaute of riches, was not a greet myscheef; ȝhe, and gretter than schulde haue be likeli to falle, if alle the clergie in tho daies hadde be endewid bi vnmouable godis richeli, deme ȝe. For what [forwhat, MS.] so greet myscheef schulde bi likelihode haue come bi habundaunce of ricches in tho pseudo, as came bi her pouerte in hem, whanne thei diffameden the trewe Apostlis and peruertiden the Corinthies and the Thessalonicenses [Tessalonicenses, MS.] fro the wey in which Poul and Apollos [Appollo, MS.] hadden hem foundid and groundid? And therfore to alle freel persoones and not disposid to greet perfitnes of pacience and of douȝtines, as Poul was, the lak of sufficience is of more perel than habundance ouer and aboue sufficience.
Also forto proue this same purpos more euidentli bi Holi Scripture, y procede also thus: It is writun, Prouerb. xxxe. capitulum. thus: Ȝeue thou not to me beggerie neither richessis; ȝeue thou oonli necessaries to my lijflode; lest perauenture y be fillid and be drawen to denye, and seie, Who is the Lord? and leste y compellid bi nedines stele, and forswere [for swere, MS.] the name of my God. Lo how Salamon is aknowe to God that bothe greet ricches and lak of sufficience ben occasiouns of yuel; and therfore for feer he desirid the meene, which is sufficience, withoute hauyng of nede and withoute hauyng of more richesse than is necessarie into sufficience, as weel for thanne as for tyme to come. Neuertheles into my present purpos he weel witnessith, that gretter perel is [is is added by a later hand.] in lak of sufficience than is in habundaunce of grete ricchessis;
