occupaciouns than the othere comoun peple of the layfe han.
Ferthermore that Holi Scripture of the Newe Tes|tament witnessith and allowith [allowith and approueth, MS. (first hand) twice.] religioun of mannys deuising forto mowe be sett to the lawe foundid bi Crist to Cristen men, y may also proue thus: Holi Scripture of the Newe Testament witnessith and al|lowith [allowith and approueth, MS. (first hand) twice.] this: If a manys riȝt iȝe sclaundre him (that is to seie, violentli and ferseli and as it were vnaȝen|stondeabli bringith him into synne and lettith fro the more good to be doon,) that he "pulle him out and caste him awey;" and if his riȝt hond or his riȝt foot sclaundre him, (that is to seie, so as is seid violentli and feersli bringe him to synne and lett fro the more good to be doon,) that he "kutte of thilk hond and foot," as it is writun [Math. ve. capitulum.]. [A space left in the MS. for the reference.] And sithen this Scripture now alleggid meeneth not of a mannys bodili membris, but of a mannys kun|nyngis, purposis, and deedis, signified bi likenes in parabolik speche to the iȝe, the hond, and the foot, that thouȝ thei be riȝt, (that is to seie, alloweable as bi the comoun lawe of God,) ȝit if thei in the maner now seid sclaundre the hauer and the doer of hem, he mai iustli and vertuoseli leue hem, so that thei be not bede vndir comaundement of Goddis lawe. And the skile of this gouernaunce is sett forth in the same place of Scripture there thus, "It is better to thee forto entre sureli into lijf with oon iȝe, oon foot, and oon hond," (that is to seie, with the lasse good kunnyng, the lasse gode wilnyngis, and purposis, and with the fewer gode dedis,) "than forto be aboute to haue mo" good kunnyngis, mo gode purposis, and mo gode deedis, "and" (therbi and bi occasioun of hem) "falle doun into helle." And thus doon reli|giose
