Of peynes and vengeaunce of god. Capitulum 23m.
aLexandre, dere sone, among alle othir thingis kepe the wel fro shedyng of mennys blood, for that longith only to god, for he knowith þe hertis of alle men, and wot what euery man is worthi to haue. Therfore take not vpon the goddis myght but if thou haddist his knowyng therwith. The doctour Hermogenes saith that he that slethe the creature that is like to god, alle the vertues of hevene cesse neuer of criyng to the maieste of god, saiyng, "lord, thi servaunt wolle be like to thee, takyng on him hasty and sodeyne vengeaunce," and wite this wel that who so sleth any man without cause resonabille, god wol avenge the blood, for god saith him silf vnto the vertues of hevene, "lete be, lete be, for in me is the vengeaunce, and y shalle quyte it." And wite þou welle that the vertues of hevene leue neuer of criyng of vengeaunce for mannys deth, vnto the tyme that god hath herde hem and done his iustificacioun in vengeaunce doyng.