Select English works of John Wyclif. Vol. 3. Miscellaneous works / edited from original mss. by Thomas Arnold.

XVI. [SIMONISTS AND APOSTATES.]

[Of this tract, in English, there is only one known MS., that at New College, Oxford, (Q in the present edition). But there is a Latin version of it among the Wyclif MSS. at Vienna,—a fact which forms the principal ground for ascribing it to our author. Its position in the New College MS., between the 'Letter to Urban,' and the 'Letter on the Love of God,'—pieces of undoubted authenticity,—is also pretty good proof that the com∣piler of that MS. considered it to be from the hand of Wyclif. There is no sure indication of date; but from the absence of allusion to certain favourite topics of the reformer's last years, such as the doctrine of the Eucharist and the papal schism, I am inclined to infer that it is a comparatively early production. This tract is No. 56 in Shirley's Catalogue.]

ÞER ben two maner of heretikis of whiche Englond schuld be purgid, and symonieris ben þe first. And alle siche ben symonieris þat occupien bi symonye þe patrimonye of Crist,—be þei popis, be þei bischopis, curatis, or provendereris. And lite prestis or none ben clene of þis symonye. For to spek generali of þis synne of symonye, it is unleful chaffaringe wiþ spiritual goodis; and so boþe partis ben bleckid wiþ þis synne. ȝif freris sellen her prechyng, her preying, and her schryvyng, þe symonye is þe worse in siche ypocritis. If þes possessioners bien hem þus rentis, and propringe of chirchis, wiþ oþere privy∣legies, þei ben opyn heretekis to harm of þe Chirche. And þus ȝif seculer prestis, oþer more or lesse, bien her dignytees, to be greet in þe worlde, and leven þe servise of God and profit to his Chirche, þei ben opyn heretikis, and oþere þat mayntenen hem.

Þe seconde heretikis in þe Chirche ben apostataas [corrected; apostaas, Q.] , and ben

alle siche þat gon abac in Cristis ordre, for þei trowen not fully þat Crist was most pore man [This looks as if Wyclif, supposing him to be the author, had adopted the notion of the spiritual Francis∣cans, so much debated in the four∣teenth century, concerning the abso∣lute poverty of Christ. See Mil∣man's Latin Christianity, vol. vii. ch. 6.] . And mony degrees of þe Chirche ben bleckid wiþ þis heresie; as alle men þat coveiten more siche statis for worschip of þe world, or richesse þerof, þan for worschip of Crist and profit of his Chirche, and for medeful lif to sue Crist in povert. Alle siche rotid in þis ben apostataas; and ȝif þei mayntenen þis errour aȝens Goddis lawe, þei ben perelous heretikis to harm of Cristis Chirche. And siche wolen depart men fro God and hevenlie ȝiftis, and dis∣troye rewmes by synne and discenciouns. And herfore alle Cristen men schulden fle þis perel. And þus haþ God meved men now to spek of heretikis more þan þei diden bifore, to discryve hem bi Goddis lawe. For certis holy Chirche schal never be wiþoute debate, þe while siche heretikis ben so þick sowun. And siche men ben heretikis þat ben aȝenns Goddis lawe, or in word or in lif, alle ȝif þei holden wiþ mannus lawe; and jugement of prelatis makiþ not siche heretikis, but þe fend and synful lif, þat partis hem from Goddis lawe. And þevis in þe Chirche, moost heretikis of alle, wolen clepe trewe men heretikis, and unable her witnesse; as a þef in a derknesse biddiþ a trewe man stonde, for he wold þat no man spak aȝenns him. And heere we schulden leeve mannus lawe and jugement of þe world, and holde hool Goddis lawe, and mak it oure juge. And men weren traytours to God ȝif þei hidden þis sentence; siþ opyn werkis of heretikis crien hem to þe Chirche. And armis of men þat tellen þis schulden be on two maners; þei schulden knowe Goddis lawe, and so bi werkis knowe heretikis, and arme hemsilf wiþ patiense, and above wiþ charite, and putte hem to perel of deþ for distroying of þis synne. 'Fac quod in te est, et sic perficis illud; propheta dicente, Zelus domus tue comedit me.'