A meditacion of þe fyue woundes of Ihesu Crist
Ms. Univ. Coll. Oxford 97
[page 262]Byhold specialy in þe fyue mooste notable woundes, two in his blessed hoondys, & two in his blessed feet, and þe mooste opene wounde in his riȝt syde. In to thise woundys of Cristes blessed hoondys & feet, with Thomas of Ynde put In thyne fyngres, that is to seye thyne mooste sotyle þouȝtes & desires. And in the wounde of Cristes blessed syde, sytthen it is the largeste and deppest, put in alle þin hoond, that is to seye al þi lyf and alle þine werkes, and þeere feel Cristes herte so hoote louynge þee; ande also þeere feel Cristis blessed herte-blood sched for thee and to raunsome thi soule, also þeere feel the watir of Cristis syde stremynge out as of a welle of lyf, for to wassche þe and alle mankynde of synne. And þanne cleeche vp watir of euerelastynge lyf withouten ende of þise fyue mooste opene woundis of Crist as out of fyue welle-sprynges. And vnderstond, see & bihoolde & leerne þat þe wounde in Cristes riȝt hoond is the welle of wysdom. The wounde in Cristis lyft hoond is the welle of mercy. The wounde in Cristis riȝt foot is the welle of grace. The wounde in Cristis lyft foot is the welle of goostly comfort. The largeste and the deppeste wounde þe whiche is in Cristis riȝt syde, is the welle of euerlastyng lyf. ¶ Out of þe welle of wysdom in Cristis riȝt hoond, cleech vp þe holsum watir of trewe lerynge and techyng; leerne þeere how muche Crist god and man louede mannes soule, and how precious is mannes soule, ffor by-cause of the greete loue of mannes soule Crist Ihesu, þat is the wysdom of the fadir of heuene, schulde and wolde by þe ordynaunce of the blessede trynytee suffre his riȝtwys riȝt hoond so dispitously to be nayled to þe cros. ¶ Out of þe welle of mercy in Cristis lyft hoond, cleech vp deuoutly the swete watir of remission and forȝeuenesse of oure synnes, and leerne bisyly heere for thy sauacion this lessun of mercy; for not-withstondyng þat the while mankynde was enemy to god, and eer that man hadde deserued it of god, ȝet oure blessed fadir of heuene spared not his owen sone but suffrede hym to be streyned on the harde cros, moore dispitously & greuously þan euer was schepys skyn streyned on the wal or vp-on þe parchemyn-makeris harowe aȝens þe sonne to drye, ffor it is likly þat þe blessede armes of Ihesu Crist weren so soore i-strayned and sprad abrood on þe cros for oure loue, þat þe veynes to-broston. Leerne heer þanne in this welle of mercy in Cristis lyft hoond, in whos lyft hoond hongynge and weldynge been alle richesses in heuene and in eerthe, how muche is his loue & how greet is þat flood euer flowyng and also spryngynge of his mercy frely profred to man, þat suffrede so grisly and greuously his blessede armes to be sprad and nayled to þe cros, to profre his mercy and hym-self to vs his vnkynde enemyes. Therfore sitthen euerlastynge goode god hath it of kynde, of custome & of myȝt to do mercy, þat neuer may ceese ne faile but ȝef god loste his kynde, or loste his vertue, or loste his myȝt, but sitthe this may neuer faile in goode god al myȝty, al connynge & al welwillynge: þerfore tristily and stedefastly out of þis welle of the wounde of Cristys lyft