and mani touchid and were not helid, noiþer to body nor to soule. To þe þrid it is seid, þat suilk þingis were first þolid, and miraclis for rude men, and hem to be confermid in þe feiþ. But now þe opun is opun, it is veyn and supersticion to þe peple to haue swilk þingis. Þus seiþ Crisostom, Sum miraclis are of God, and sum of [Chrisos|tom.] þe fend, for it is to kum power to be ȝeuen to þe fend to do signis not of good part, þer for we how to seek if it be necessary after þe tyme or not. If Crist dede miraclis for þe conferming of þe vn|feiþful, it is opun, wan non is vnfeiþful, it is no nede to do miraclis; þerfor he þat doþ an vnprofitable signe is a fals profit, for he doþ not to edifie oþer in þe feiþ, but þat he boost him silf in his dede. Þus seiþ Bede, and rehersiþ Gregor, Þe tokunnis of miraclis, in þe [Bede.] beginning of þe kirk, were only necessary þat sche schuld growe to þe feiþ, norischid wiþ miraclis, as we watteren plantis til þey han ben rotid, and þan we cesser to watter.
XXVI. Charmis.
Þeis are oþer two poyntis. On þat charmis on no maner are leful. An oþer, þat it is supersticious to hang wordis at þe nek. As to þeis I haue seid þus; In þe law of God is þus writun, Wan [Deut. xuiijo.] þu cumyst in to þe lond þat þi Lord God schal ȝeue þe, be war þat þu wil not folow þe abhominacoun of þe folk þat þer be, ne be þer not found in þe þat compasiþ his sone or dowter, drawing bi þe fire, ne þat askiþ ariolers, nor dremis, ne chitering of briddis, ne þat þer be wiche, ne enchaunter, þat is chermar in our spech, ne þat axe counseil of hem þat han iuel sperits, noiþer at diuinar, ne seek of dead þingis þe trowþ; for þe Lord wlatiþ of þeis þingis, and of þeis maner of felonies he schal do þeis folk a wey in þi entry; þu schalt be perfit, and wiþ out spot wiþ þi Lord God. And eft, Bow þu [Lev. xixo.] not to þer wicchis, ne axe no þing of þer ariolers, þat ȝe be not polut be hem. ȝe schal not a wat dremis, ne diuyn bi criing of briddis, ne clip þe hed in to round, ne schaf þe hed, ne calle vp on þe dead; ȝe schal not prik ȝor flesch, ne mak to ȝow ani figeris, ne stigmes, þat are woundis. But if þey sey to ȝow, seek of Phi| [Isa. viijo.]
