whiche wolde bringe &yogh;ou to oure folowinge. The paynymes, `or Jentilis, a&yogh;eenward answerden, In how myche the grettere benefises &yogh;ee tellen abouten &yogh;ou, in so myche &yogh;ee shulen shewe &yogh;ouself gilti the more blame. For euere to alle these thingis &yogh;ee han ben vnkinde, that aftir `the vois of God herd, forgeden &yogh;ou mawmetis. The whiche tho&yogh; &yogh;ee haden not do, thur&yogh; that onli synne &yogh;ee my&yogh;ten not taken for&yogh;yuenesse, that the `Lord, to &yogh;ou by `profetes voises bihi&yogh;t, not onli &yogh;ee wolden not resceyuen, but also &yogh;ee slowen; whom wee vnderfongen, whan of hym to vs no man hadde fornseid. In hou myche therfore oure feith be betere, clerli it is open. `Forsothe that wee serueden to maumetis, was not of rebelte, but of ignoraunce. Forsothe where wee knewen the treuthe, anoen wee foleweden, the sones of Abraham; not of fleshli birthe, but of the grace of Crist it was. To these thus striuende the apostil putte hym a mene bitwen, shewende to bothe puples, neither circumcisioun to ben o&yogh;t, neither `the kept flesh, but the feith that werkith bi charite; euere forsothe `bi while mekende hem bi al the epistil with resownes and wittenesses, counceilith to onhed, and shewith neithir thur&yogh; his ri&yogh;fulnesse haue this deserued, but al what euere to be depute to the grace of God; shewende the Jewis forsothe and the paynymes greuousli to han trespassid, and witendely; the Jewis, for thei bi breking of the lawe han vnwrshipid God; the Gentilis, for thei chaungeden the treuthe of God in to lesinge. It is axid, whi `he wrot no mo than ten epistolis to chirches? Ten forsothe ben epistolis, with thilke that is seid to Ebrues; for the othere foure to disciples homli weren sent, `or put forth; for he wolde shewen the newe `to not discorden fro the olde testament, and hymself not to don a&yogh;en the lawe of Moises, ordeynede his epistolis to the noumbre of the firste maundementus of the decaloge. And with how manye preceptis he Moyses ordeynede Jewis deliuered fro Farao, with ri&yogh;t so manye epistolis this Powil techeth men purchasid fro the deuel, and fro the seruage of mawmetrie. Forwhi also the two tables of ston to han had figure of the two testamentis, ri&yogh;twel lered men han taken. The epistil holly that to Ebrues ys writen, `or entitlid, to ben noen of Powelis, summe affermen, for so myche that it is not entitlid with his name, and for the distaunce of speche, and maner of writinge; but or Barnabeis, aftir Tertullian, or Luks, after summe, or certeyn Clementis, the disciple of the apostolis, and aftir hem ordeyned bishop of Rome chirche. To whom it is thus to answern. If therfore it is not Powilis epistil, for it hath not his name, eek it shal be no manes, for with no manes name it is entytlid. The whiche thinge to graunte if it be foul, his it is most to be beleued to be, that so myche shyneth with the eloquence of his doctrine; or certeyn, for that at the Ebrues chirches he was had as destro&yogh;ere of the lawe with fals suspecioun, he

wolde, his name beende stille, of the figures of the lawe, and the treuthe of Crist &yogh;elde rekenynge; lest happili hate of the prelatis name, shulde exclude the profit of the lessoun. It is no wnder holli if he be wisere in his owne langage, that is Ebru, than in a straunge, that is in Grw, in whiche speche othere epistolis ben writene. It moueth also summe men, whi that the epistil of Romaynes is put in first, sythen resoun openeth it to han be writen aftir; for he witnesseth hymself to han writen this epistil, thanne goende to Jerusalem, aftir thanne that he hadde amonestid with lettris, that weren epistolis, the Corintheis and othere, that thei shulden gedere the mynysterye, `or collect, that schulde be born with hym. Wherefore it is to vnderstonde, so alle the epistolis to ben ordeyned, that thilke firste shulde be put, the whiche to lowere men in lyuyng was sent, and bi `alle, or eche, epistolis fro gree to gree, thei shulden comen to parfitere thingis. Romaynes sothli ri&yogh;t manye weren so vnstedefast, that thei vnderstoden not hemself to be sauid thur&yogh; Goddis grace, but thur&yogh; here merytes; and for that two puplis shulden not striuen among hemself, therfore he afermeth hem nedi to be confermed, the vices of her paynymrie rathere myndende. To Corintheis sothly he seith, the grace of science to be grauntid, and not as wel he blameth hem, as he repreueth whi thei vndernemen not othere, whan he seith, Ther is herd amongis &yogh;ou fornycacioun; and eftsoone, My sperit with &yogh;ou `gedered togedere, taketh suchon to Sathanas. In the secounde epistil, forsothe thei ben preisid, and that thei profite more and more, thei ben counseilid. The men of Galas thanne of no blame ben repreued, but for thei beleueden to fele false apostolis. Effesienes holli noen vndernymyng, but myche preising ben wrthi, for thei kepten the feith of the apostolis. The Filipenses sothly myche more ben preisid, for forsothe neither thei wolden heren false apostolis. The Tessalonycensis netheles in two epistolis with alle preising he `sueth forth; for as myche as not only `thei kepten `the feith of treuthe, vntosmyten, but also in persecucioun of ther citeseynes thei weren founden stable. Colocensis sothli suche weren, that no nede shulden han, that thei shulden be seen fleshli of the apostil. Forsothe to hem he bihi&yogh;te neuere his comynge, to the whiche also he seith, And they&yogh; I be absent in bodi, but in spirit I am with &yogh;ou, io&yogh;ende and seende &yogh;oure ordre. Of the Ebrues sothli what shal I seie? Of whom the Thessalonycenses, that gretly ben preisid, ben seid to be maad foleweres, as he seith, And &yogh;ee, brethern, ben maad foloweris off the chirches of God, that ben in Jewerie; the same sothli also &yogh;ee han suffrid of &yogh;oure kinrede, that also thei of Jewis. At thilke Ebreues also the same he remembreth, seiende, Forwhi also to men bounden &yogh;ee han had compassioun, and raueyn of &yogh;oure goodis with gladnesse &yogh;ee han suffrid, knowende &yogh;ou to han betere and dwellende substaunce. Here eendeth the prologe, and bygynneth the epistel of Poule to Romaynus.

Here bigynneth a prolog on the pistil to the Romayns. ^note Romayns ben thei, that of Jewis and of hethene men gaderid to gidere, bileeueden in Crist. And the cause of this sendinge of the pistil of Poul is this, that whanne strijf was risen among hem silf, thei desiriden to sette hem silf ech aboue othere in worschip. For the Jewis seiden, We ben the peple of God, which he hath loued and norischid fro the bigynnynge; we ben circumcidid; and we comen by dissent of Abrahams kynde, and holy lynage; and herfore God was oonly knowen at Judee. We weren delyuerd out of Egipt with tokenes and vertues of God, and passiden the see with drie foot, whanne moost heuy floodis drenchiden oure enemyes. To us also God reynede doun aungils mete in desert, and mynystride an heuenly foode `to us, as to hise owne sones; and a piler of cloude and of fier wente bifore us day and ny&yogh;t, for it schulde schewe to us `oure passage, ther was no wey vsid. Also thou&yogh; we ben stille of alle benfetis wrou&yogh;t aboute us, we weren oonly worthi to take the lawe of God, and to heere the vois of God spekinge, and to knowe his owne wil. In which lawe Crist was bihote to us, to whom he himsilf witnesside to come, and seide, I cam not but to the scheep, that `han perischid of the hous of Israel. And sithen he clepith &yogh;ou houndis rather than men, `therfore it is good equite, that &yogh;e that this day first han forsake &yogh;oure mawmettis, to whom &yogh;e han serued fro the bigynnynge, be maad nowe euene to us in worschip, but rather ben &yogh;e ordeyned in the stide of prosolitis and vndirlingis, bothe bi autorite of lawe and custum? And &yogh;it &yogh;e disserueden neuere this worschip, but for he of his plenteuous goodnes wolde resseyue &yogh;ou to oure secte. And thanne the hethene men answeriden a&yogh;enward, and seiden, Euere the grettir beenfetis of God, that &yogh;e tellen that God hath doon to &yogh;ou,

euere `the more &yogh;e schulden schewe &yogh;ou gilti of the grettir trespassis; for in alle these benfetis `that &yogh;e tellen, &yogh;e weren euermore vnkynde. For with the same feet that &yogh;e passiden the drie see, &yogh;e pleieden and daunsiden bifore &yogh;oure mawmettis that &yogh;e maden; and with the same mouth, that a litil bifore &yogh;e worschipiden God with song for slau&yogh;tir of &yogh;oure enemyes, &yogh;e axiden &yogh;oure mawmetis to be maad; and with thilke i&yogh;en that &yogh;e weren wont to biholde God in cloud or in fier, &yogh;e biheelden inwardly in &yogh;oure mawmettis. Also aungels mete was to &yogh;ou abhomynable; and euere &yogh;e grucchiden a&yogh;ens the Lord in desert, desirynge to turne a&yogh;en in to Egipt, fro the which God hadde brou&yogh;t `&yogh;ou out with strong hond. What more? Thus &yogh;oure fadris `with ofte terrynge stiriden God to wraththe, so that alle dieden in desert, and no mo of the eeldre men but tweyne entriden in to the lond of biheeste. But wherto reherse we oolde thingis? sith thou&yogh; &yogh;e hadde neuere do these thingis, &yogh;it of this aloone no man wolde deme &yogh;ou worthi for&yogh;euenes, that &yogh;e wolde `not resseyue oonly oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that was euere bihote to &yogh;ou bi the vois of profetis; but also &yogh;e distruyeden him with moost dispitous deeth. And on him we bileeueden, as soone as we herden of him; and &yogh;it ther was no thing profecied `to us bifore. Wherfore it is weel preued, that it schulde not be arettid to a rotid malice of oure wil, that we serueden to mawmettis, but to oure vnkunnynge. For thilke same God that we folowe now, sikirli we wolde haue folowid bifore, if we hadden rathir knowen as we knowen now. And truly if &yogh;e boosten of nobley of kinde, as thou&yogh; folowinge of gode maners made &yogh;ou not rather Goddis sones than fleischly birthe, sikerly Esau and Ismael, thou&yogh; thei ben of Abrahams lynage, thei ben not rikened among sones. And while thei stryuen thus, the apostil putte him bitwene as a mene, distruynge alle her qwestiouns, as a good noumpere; strecchinge forth the hond to hem, and spekyng brou&yogh;te hem alle to oon acoord; schewinge noon of hem `to be saued thoru hise owne meritis, but he preuede `bothe the peplis, `that thei hadden greuously trespassid.

The Jewis hadden trespassiden, for thei dishonouriden God bi brekinge of the lawe; and the hethene men trespassiden, `that siththe knowingli thei worschipiden a creature as maker of the world; for thei chaungiden Goddis worschip into mawmetis maad with hond. Also he preuith euere ether peple to haue for&yogh;euenes, and to be euen in worschip, bi a ful trewe resoun. And `nameli siththe he schewith, that it was profecied in her owne lawe, that bothe of Jewis and of hethene men schulden be clepid to the feith of Crist. Wherfore bi dyuers tymes Poul mekede hem, and amonestide hem `to come to pees and acord. Here endith the prolog to the Romayns. An other vpon Romayns. Romayns `the whiche in the cite of Rome lyueden in to Jhesu Crist, so of false apostlis were deprauyd, that vndir the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist in to the olde lawe and circumcisioun thei weren led. Thes reuokith the apostle to the verrey and the gospels bileue, wrytynge to hem fro Athenys. Here endith the prolog, and bigynneth epistle to Romayns.

The epistle to Romayns. CAP. I.

1   Poul, seruaunt of Jhesu Crist, clepid apostle, departid into the euangelie of God; 2   `the which he bihi&yogh;t bifore by his prophetis in hooly scripturis of his sone, 3    `the which is maad `to him of the seed of Dauith aftir the fleisch, 4   the which is predestynat, `or bifore ordeyned bi grace, the sone of God in vertu, aftir the spirit of halewyng of the a&yogh;eyn rysynge of deed men, 5   of Jhesu Crist oure Lord, by whom we han resseyued grace and apostilhed, `or stat of apostle, to obeische to the feith in alle folkis for his name, 6   in which and &yogh;e ben clepid of Jhesu Crist, 7   to alle that ben at Rome, the louede of God, clepid hooly, grace to &yogh;ou, and pees of God oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. 8   Firste sothely I do thankyngis to my God, by Jhesu Crist, for alle &yogh;ou, for &yogh;our feith is schewid in al the world. 9   Forsoth God is a witnesse to me, to whom I serue in my spirit, 10   in the gospel of his sone, for with outen ceessinge I make mynde of &yogh;ou euermore in my preieris, if by ony maner aftirward sumtyme I haue esy, `or spedy, weie in the wille of God of comynge to &yogh;ou. 11   Forsothe I desyre for to se &yogh;ou, that I &yogh;yue to &yogh;ou sum thing of spiritual grace, to &yogh;ou to be confermyd, that is to seie, 12   to be comfortid to gidere in &yogh;ou, by that feith that is to gidere &yogh;oure and myn, `or of ech to othir. 13   Sothly, britheren, I nyle &yogh;ou for to vnknowe, that ofte I purposide for to come to &yogh;ou, and I am forbodyn til &yogh;it, that I haue sum fruyt in &yogh;ou, as and in othere folkis.

14   To Grekis and barbaryns, `or hethene men, to wyse men and vnwyse men, I am dettour, 15   so that that is in me is redy for to euangelyse and to &yogh;ou that ben at Rome. 16   Forsoth I schame not the gospel, for it is the vertu of God in to helthe to ech man bileuynge, to the Jew first, and to the Greek. 17   Sothely the ri&yogh;twysnesse of God is shewid in it, of feith in to feith, as it is writun, Forsothe a iust man lyueth of feith. 18   Forsothe the wraththe of God is schewid fro heuene vpon al vnpite and vnri&yogh;twisnesse of tho men, that withholden, `or holden a bac, the treuthe of God in vnri&yogh;twysnesse. 19   For that that is knowyn of God, is schewid, `or maad opyn, to hem, forsothe God schewide to hem. 20   `For the inuysible thingis of hym, of the creature `of the world, by tho thingis that ben maad, `vndirstondyn, ben biholdun, and the euerlasting vertu of him and the godhede, so that thei ben vnexcusable. 21   For whanne thei hadden knowe God, thei glorifieden not as God, `or diden thankyngis; but thei vanyscheden in her thou&yogh;tis, and the vnwyse herte of hem is derkid, `or maad derk. 22   Sothli thei seyinge hem selue for to be wyse men, ben maad foolis. 23   And thei chaungiden the glorie of God vncorruptible, that `may not deie, ne be peirid, in to the lyknesse `of an ymage of coruptible man, and of briddis, and of foure footide beestis, and of serpentis. 24   For which thing God bytook hem in to the desyris of her herte, in to vnclennesse, that thei ponysche with wrongis, `or dispitis, her bodies in hem silf. 25   The whiche men chaungiden the treuthe of God in to leesyng, and herieden and serueden to a creature rathere than to the creatour,

`that is, maker of nou&yogh;t, that is blessid in to worldis, `or with outen ende. Amen, `or so be it. 26   Therfore God bitook hem in to passiouns of yuel fame, `or schenschip. Forwhi the wymmen of hem chaungiden the kyndely vss in to that vss that is a&yogh;ens kynde. 27   Also forsoth and the mawlis, `or men, the kyndeli vss of womman forsakyn, brennyden in her desyris to gidere, mawlis in to mawlis worchinge filthhede, and receyuynge in hem silf the `mede, or hyre, that byhofte of her errour. 28   And as thei proueden not for to haue God in knowinge, God bitook hem in to a reprouable witt, that thei do tho thingis that acoorden not, `or bysemen not; 29   hem fulfillid with al wickidnesse, malice, fornycacioun, couetyse, weywardnesse, ful of enuye, mansleynge, stryf, gyle, yuel will, `priuey bacbyteris, `or soweris of discord, 30   detractouris, `or opyn bacbyteris, hateful to God, wrongly dispyseris `of othere men, proude, hy&yogh;e ouermesure, fynderis of yuele thingis, not obeischinge to `fadir and modir, 31   vnwyse, vncouenable in berynge with oute forth, with outen affeccioun, `or loue, withouten bond of pees, withouten mercy. 32   The whiche whanne thei hadden knowen the ri&yogh;twisnesse of God, vndirstoden not, for thei that don suche thingis ben worthi the deeth, not oonly thei that don tho thingis, but also thei that consenten to men doynge. CAP. II.

1   For which thing thou ert vnexcusable, thou ech man that demest, sothli in what thing thou demest an othir man, thou condempnist thi silf; forsothe thou doist the same thingis whiche thou demest. 2   Sothely we witen, for the dom of God is vp

treuthe to hem, that don siche thingis. 3   Gessist thou, man, forsothe, that demest hem that don suche thingis, and thou doist hem, for thou schalt ascape the dom of God? 4   Wher `thou dispisist the richessis of his goodnesse, and pacience, and longe abidyng? Vnknowest thou, for the benygnyte, `or good wille, of God ledith thee to penaunce? 5   Forsothe aftir thi hardnesse and vnrepentaunt herte, thou tresourist to thee wraththe in to the day of wraththe and of schewynge of the ri&yogh;tful dom of God, 6   that schal &yogh;elde to ech man vp his workis; 7   sothely to hem that vp patience of good werk, glorie, and honour, and vncoripcioun, to hem sekynge euerelasting lyf; 8   forsothe to hem that ben of stryf, and that assenten not to treuthe, but bileuen to wickidnesse, wraththe and indignacioun, 9   tribulacioun and angwische, in to ech soule of man worchinge yuel thing, of Jew first and Greek; 10   sothely glorie, and honour, and pees, to ech worchinge good thing, to Jew first, and to Greek. 11   For accepciouns of persoones, `that is, to putte oon bifore another withoute desert, is not anentis God. 12   Forsothe who euere synnen withoute lawe, schulen perische withouten lawe; and who euere in the lawe synnen, schulen be demed by the lawe. 13   Sothely the heereris of lawe ben not iust anentis God, but the doeris of lawe schulen be maad iust. 14   Forsoth whanne hethene that han not lawe, don kyndeli, `or by stiryng of kynde, tho thingis that ben of the lawe, thei not hauynge such maner lawe, ben lawe to hem silf, that 15   schewen the work of lawe writun in her hertis; the conscience of hem &yogh;eldinge to

hem a witnessinge and bitwixe hem selue of thou&yogh;tis accusinge or also defendinge, 16   in the day whanne God schal deme the pryuei thingis of men vp my gospel, by Jhesu Crist. 17   Forsoth if thou ert namyd a Jew, and restist in the lawe, and hast glorie in God, 18   and hast knowe his wille, and thou lerned by the lawe preuyst more profitable thingis, 19   tristnest thi silf for to be a ledere of blynde men, the li&yogh;t of hem that beth in derknessis, 20   a techere of vnwyse men, a maistir of &yogh;onge children, hauynge the foorme of science, `or kunnynge, and of treuthe in the lawe; 21   therfore thou that techist anothir, techist not thi silf? Thou that prechist to not stele, stelist? 22   Thou that seist to `not do leccherie, doist leccherie? Thou that wlatist ydols, `or mawmetis, doist sacrilegie, `that is, thefte of hooly thingis? 23   Thou that gloriest in the lawe, by `brekinge of the lawe vnworschipist, `or dispisist, God? 24   Forsoth the name of God by &yogh;ou is blasfemyd among hethene men, as it is writun. 25   Sothli circumcisioun profyteth, if thou kepe the lawe; forsoth if thou be a trespassour of the lawe, thi circumcisioun is maad prepucie, `or custom of hethen men. 26   Therfore if prepucie, `or custom of hethen men, kepe ri&yogh;twysnesse of the lawe, wher his prepucie schal not be rettid in to circumcisioun? 27   And the prepucie, that is of kynde, fullinge the lawe, schal deme thee, that by lettre and circumcisioun ert trespassour of the lawe. 28   Forsoth not he that is a Jew in opyn, ne the circumcisioun that is in the fleisch in opyn; 29   but he that is a Jew in hidd, and the circumcisioun of herte in spirit, not in lettre, whos preisyng is not of men, but of God.

CAP. III.

1   Therfore what is more to a Jew, or what profyt of circumcisioun? 2   Moche by alle maner; first sothli, for the spekyngis of God ben bitakun to hem. 3   What sothli if summe of hem bileueden not? Wher the vnbileue of hem hath auoydid the feith of God? 4   Fer be it. Forsoth God is trewe, `or sothfast, sothli ech man a lyere, `or vnstable; as is writun, That thou be iustifyed, `or founden trewe, in thi wordis, and ouercome, whanne thou ert demed. 5   Forsoth if oure wickidnesse, `or vnequyte, comende the ri&yogh;twysnesse of God, what schulen we seie? Wher God is wickid, that bryngeth in wraththe? 6   Vp man I seie. Fer be it. Ellis how `God schal deme this world? 7   Forsoth if the treuthe of God hath haboundid, `or be plenteuous, in my lesynge, in to the glorie of hym, what and &yogh;it am I demed as a synnere? 8   And not as we ben blasfemyd, and as summe seyen vs for to seye, Do we yuele thingis, that goode thingis come. 9   Whos dampnacioun is iust. What therfore? Passen we hem? Nay; sothli we han schewid by skile, Jewis and Greekis alle for to be vndir synne, 10   as it is writun, For ther is not ony man iust; 11   ther is not a man vndirstondinge, neither sekinge God. 12   Alle bowedyn a wey, to gidere thei ben maad vnprofitable; ther is not that doith good thing, ther is not til to oon. 13   `A sepulcre openynge is the throte of hem; with her tungis thei diden gilyngly, `or trecherously; the venym of eddris, `that ben clepid aspis, vndur her lippis. 14   The mouth of whom is ful of cursyng, `or wariyng, and bitternesse; 15   the feet of hem ben swift for to schede out blood. 16   Contricioun, `or defoulyng togidere, and

`infelicite, or cursidnesse, in the weies of hem, 17   and thei knewen not the wey of pees; 18   the drede of God is not bifore her y&yogh;en. 19   Forsothe we witen, for what euere thingis the lawe spekith, it spekith to hem that ben in the lawe, that ech mouth be stoppid, and ech world be maad suget to God. 20   For of the workis of lawe ech fleisch, `that is, mankynde, schal not be iustifyed bifore him; forsothe by the lawe is knowinge of synne. 21   Forsothe now withouten the lawe the ri&yogh;twysnesse of God is schewid, witnessid of the lawe and prophetis. 22   Sothli the ri&yogh;twysnesse of God is by the feith of Jhesu Crist on alle that bileuen in to hym; forsoth ther is no distynccioun, `or departynge. For alle men synneden, 23   and han nede to the glorie of God; 24   thei iustified freely bi his grace, by the redemcioun, `or the a&yogh;enbiyng, that is purposid in Jhesu Crist. 25   Whom God purposide an helpere by feith in his blood, to the schewinge of his ri&yogh;twysnesse, for remiscioun of `bifore goynge synnes, 26   in the sustentacioun, `or beringe vp, of God, to the schewynge of his ri&yogh;twysnesse in this tyme, that he be iust, and iustifyinge him that is of the feith of Jhesu Crist. 27   Where is therfore thi gloriynge? It is excludid, `or put out. By what lawe? Of dedis doynge? Nay, but by the lawe of feith. 28   Forsothe we demen a man for to be iustifyed by feith, withouten workis of lawe. 29   Wher of Jewis is God oonly? Wher he is not and of hethene? &YOGH;is, and of hethene. For sothely oon is God, 30   that iustifyeth circumcisioun of feith, and prepucie, `or hethen men, by feith. 31   Therfore distrye we the lawe by the feith? Fer be it; but we stablischen the lawe.

CAP. IV.

What therfore schulen we seye, 1   `oure fadir Abraham for `to haue founden vp `the fleysch? 2   Forsoth if Abraham be iustified of the workis of lawe, he hath glorie, but not anentis God. 3   `What sothli seith the scripture? Abraham bileuede to God, and it is rettid to him to ri&yogh;twysnesse. Forsoth to him that worchith 4    mede is not `&yogh;ouun to, `or rettid, vp grace, but vp dette. 5   But to hym that worchith not, forsoth bileuynge into him that iustifyeth the wickid man, `or vnpitous, his feith is rettid to ri&yogh;twysnesse, vp the purposinge of Goddis grace. 6   As and Dauid seith the blessidnesse of a man, to whom God acceptith ri&yogh;twysnesse withoute werkis `of the lawe, Blessid thei, 7   whos wickidnessis ben for&yogh;ouun, and whos synnes ben keuered, `or hid. 8   Blessid that man, to whom God rettide not synne. 9   Therfore this blessidnesse dwellith oonly in circumcisioun, or also in prepucie, `or staat of hethene men? Forsothe we seyn, for the feith is rettid to Abraham to ri&yogh;twysnesse. 10   Hou therfore is it rettid? in circumcisioun, or in prepucie? Not in circumcisioun, but in prepucie. And he took a signe of circumcisioun, 11    a markynge, `or tokenynge, of ri&yogh;twysnesse of feith that is in prepucie, that he be fadir of alle men bileuynge by prepucie, that it be rettid and to hem to ri&yogh;twysnesse; 12   and that he be fadir of circumcisioun, not oonly to hem that ben of circumcisioun, but and to hem that suen his steppis `of the feith `of our fadir Abraham, that is in prepucie. 13   Forsothe not by the lawe is biheeste to Abraham, or to his seed, that he be the

eyr of the world, but bi the ri&yogh;twysnesse of feith. 14   Sothli if thei that ben of the lawe, ben eyris, feith is anentyschid, `or distroyed, biheeste is don awey. 15   Forsoth the lawe worchith wraththe; sothli wher the lawe is not, nethir is preuaricacioun, `or trespassinge. 16   Therfore of the feith, that vp grace biheeste be stable, `or stedefast, to ech seed, not to that seed oonly that is of the lawe, but to that that is of the feith of Abraham, the which is fadir of vs alle. 17   As it is writun, For I haue sett thee fadir of manye folkis, bifore God to whom thou hast bileuyd. The which God quykeneth deede men, and clepith tho thingis that ben not, as tho that ben. The which Abraham a&yogh;ens hope bileuede 18    in to hope, that he schulde be maad fadir of manye folkis, vp that it is seid to hym, Thus schal thi seed be, as sterris of heuene, and as grauel, `or sond, that is in the brynke of the see. And he is not maad vnstedefast in the 19    bileue, nethir he biheld his body now ny&yogh; deed, whanne he was almoost of an hundrid &yogh;eer, and the wombe of Sare ny&yogh; deed. 20   Also in the byheeste of God he doutide not with vntrust; but he is comfortid in bileue, &yogh;yuynge glorie to God, witinge moost fully for what euere 21    thingis God hath bihi&yogh;t, he is my&yogh;ti and for to do. 22   Therfore it is rettid to him to ri&yogh;twysnesse. 23   Forsothe it is not writun oonly for hym, for it is rettid to him to ri&yogh;twysnesse, 24   but and for vs, to which it schal be rettid, beleuynge in to hym that reyside oure Lord Jhesu Crist fro deede spiritis. 25   The which is bitakun for oure synnes, and roos a&yogh;en for oure iustifyinge.

CAP. V.

Therfore we, 1   iustified of feith, haue pees at God by oure Lord Jhesu Crist. By whom we han `accesse, 2   or ny&yogh; goynge to, by feith in to this grace, in which we stonden, and han glorie in the hope of glorie of Goddis sones. 3   Forsoth not oonly, but and we glorien in tribulaciouns, witinge that tribulacioun worchith pacience, 4   sothli pacience prouynge, forsothe prouynge hope. 5   Forsoth hope confoundith not, for the charite of God is spred abrood in oure hertis by the Hooly Gost, that is &yogh;ouun to vs. 6   Wherto sothly deiede Crist for wickide men, whanne we weren &yogh;it syke, `or vnstable, `vp tyme? 7   Sothli vnnethis deieth eny man for the iust; for whi for the goode perauenture `sum man dar deye. 8   Forsoth God comendith his charite in vs; for if whanne we weren &yogh;it synners, `vp tyme Crist is deed for vs, 9   moche more now we iustifyed in his blood, schulen be saaf fro wraththe by him. 10   Sothli if whenne we weren enemyes, we ben recouncilid to God by deeth of his sone, moche more we recounsylid schulen be saaf in the lyf `of him. 11   Forsothe not oonly, but and we glorien in God, by oure Lord Jhesu Crist, by whom we han receyued now recouncilyng, `or acordyng. 12   Therfore as by o man synne entride in to this world, and by synne deeth, so `deeth passide forth in to alle men, in which man alle men synneden. Sothli til to the lawe synne was 13    in the world; forsothe synne was not `wyitid, or rettid, whanne lawe was not. But deeth regnyde fro Adam til to Moyses, 14    also in to hem that synneden not in licnesse of trespassinge of Adam, which

is foorme, `or licnesse, of oon to comynge. But not as gilt, 15   `or trespas, so and the &yogh;ifte; sothli if thorw the gilt of oon manye ben deed, moche more the grace of God and &yogh;ifte in the grace of o man Jhesu Crist hath haboundid in to many men. 16   And not as by o synne, so and by &yogh;yfte; forwhi sothli dom of oon in to condempnacioun, grace forsothe of manye giltis, `or trespassingis, in to iustificacioun. 17   Forsoth if in the gilt of oon deeth regnede thorw oon, moche more men takynge plente of grace, and &yogh;yuynge, and ri&yogh;twysnesse, `in lyf schulen regne by oon Jhesu Crist. 18   Therfore as by the gilt of oon in to alle men in to condempnacioun, so and by the ri&yogh;twysnesse of oon in to alle men in to iustifyinge of lyf. 19   Sothli as by inobedience of o man manye ben ordeyned synneris, so and by obedience of oon manye schulen be ordeyned iust. 20   `Forsoth the lawe entride, that gilt shulde be plenteuous; sothli wher gilt was plenteuous, and grace haboundide, `or was plenteuous. 21   That as synne regnede in to deeth, so and grace regne by ri&yogh;twysnesse into euere lastynge lyf, by `Jhesu Crist oure Lord. CAP. VI.

Therfore what schulen we seye? 1   Schulen we dwelle in synne, that grace be plenteuous? 2   Ferr be it. Sothli we that ben deed to synne, `how schulen we `&yogh;it lyue ther ynne? 3   Wher, bretheren, `&yogh;e vnknowen, for whiche euere we ben baptysid, `or cristened, in Crist Jhesu, `in his deeth we ben baptysid? Sothli we ben to gidere biried 4    with him bi cristendom in to deeth; that

as Crist roos fro deede spiritis bi glorie of the fadir, so and we walke in the newenesse of lyf. 5   Forsoth if we `plauntid to gidere ben maad to the liknesse of his deeth, also and we schulen ben of his risyng a&yogh;en; 6   witinge that oure oolde man is to gidere crucifyed, that the body of synne be distroyed, that we serue no more to synne. 7   Sothli he that is deed `to synne, is iustified fro synne. 8   Forsoth if we ben deed with Crist, we bileuen that also we schulen lyue to gidere with him; 9   witinge for Crist, rysinge a&yogh;en fro deede spiritis, now deieth not, deeth schal no more lordschipe to him. 10   Forsoth `he that is deed to synne, he is deed oonys; sothli `he that lyueth, he lyueth to God. So and &yogh;e deme &yogh;ou for to be deed 11    sothli to synne, forsoth lyuynge to God in Jhesu Crist oure Lord. 12   Therfore regne not synne in &yogh;oure deedly body, that &yogh;e obeische to his coueitingis. 13   But neither &yogh;yue &yogh;e &yogh;oure membris aarmours of wickidnesse to synne, but &yogh;yue &yogh;e &yogh;ou self to God, as of deed men lyuynge, and &yogh;oure membris armers of ri&yogh;twisnesse to God. Forsothe synne schal not lordschipe to 14    &yogh;ou; sothli &yogh;e ben not vndir lawe, but vndir grace. 15   What therfore? Schulen we synnen, for we ben not vndir the lawe, but vndir grace? 16   Ferr be it. Witen &yogh;e not, for to whom &yogh;e &yogh;yuen &yogh;ou seruauntis for to obeische, &yogh;e ben seruauntis of that thing, to which &yogh;e han obeischid, either of synne to deeth, othir of obedience to ri&yogh;twysnesse? 17   Sothli I do thankyngis to God, that &yogh;e weren seruauntis of synne; forsoth &yogh;e han obeyschid of herte in to that fourme of techyng, in which &yogh;e ben bitakun. 18   Forsoth &yogh;e delyuered fro

synne, ben maad seruauntis of ri&yogh;twysnesse. I seie mannis thing, 19   for the infirmite, `or vnstabilnesse, of &yogh;oure fleisch. Sothli as &yogh;e han &yogh;ouun &yogh;oure membris for to serue to vnclennes, and wickidnesse to wickidnesse, so now &yogh;yue &yogh;e &yogh;oure membris for to serue to ri&yogh;twysnesse in to hoolynesse. 20   Forsothe whanne &yogh;e weren seruauntis of synne, &yogh;e weren fre of ri&yogh;twysnesse. 21   Therfore what fruyt hadden &yogh;e thanne in tho thingis, in whiche &yogh;e schamen now? `Now therfore the ende of hem is deeth. 22   Forsoth now &yogh;e delyuered fro synne, `maad sotheli seruauntis to God, han &yogh;oure fruyt in to hoolynesse, the ende forsoth euerlastyng lyf. Treuli the hyris of synne, deeth; the grace of God, euerlasting lyf in `Crist Jhesu oure Lord. CAP. VII.

Bretheren, 1   wher &yogh;e vnknowen; forsoth I speke to men witinge the lawe; for the lawe hath lordschip in a man, hou longe tyme it lyueth? 2   Forwhi that womman that is vnder an housbonde, is bounden to the lawe, `lyuynge the housebonde; sothli if hir hosebonde `be deed, sche is delyuered, `or vnbounden, fro the lawe of the man. 3   Therfore `lyuynge the man, she schal be clepid auoutresse, if she schal be with another man; forsothe if hir hosebonde be deed, she is deliuered fro lawe of the man, that sche be not auoutresse, if she schal be with another man. Treuli, 4   britheren, and &yogh;e ben maad deed to the lawe thorw&yogh; the body of Crist, that &yogh;e ben anotheris, that roos a&yogh;en fro deede spiritis, that we bere fruit to God. Forsoth whanne we weren in fleisch, passiouns of synnes, that weren bi the

lawe, wrou&yogh;ten in oure membris, that thei schulden bere fruyt to deeth. 6   Now forsothe we ben vnbounden fro the lawe of deeth, in the which we weren holde, so that we serue in newenesse of spirit, and not in oldnesse of lettre. 7   What therfore schulen we seie? The lawe is synne? Fer be it. But I knew not synne, no but by lawe; forwhi I wiste not coueitynge for to be synne, `no but the lawe seide, Thou schalt not coueite. 8   Forsothe occasioun takun, synne by the maundement hath wrou&yogh;te in me al coueityng, `or coueityse; sothli with oute the lawe, synne was deed. 9   Forsothe I lyuede with oute the lawe sum tyme; but whanne the comaundement hadde comen, synne lyuede a&yogh;en. 10   Sothli I am deed, and the comaundement is founden to me, `that was to lyf, this thing for to be to deeth. Forwhi synne, 11   occasioun takun bi the comaundement, disseyuede me, and bi it slou&yogh; me. 12   `And so the lawe sotheli hooly, and the comaundement hooly, and iust, and good. 13   Therfor `that that is good, `to me is maad deeth? Fer be it. But that synne appere, `or be knowen, synne, thorw good thing wrou&yogh;te deeth to me, that ther be maad synne synnynge ouer manere, `or mesure, by comaundement. Sothli we witen, 14   for the lawe is spiritual, `or goostli; forsoth I am fleischly, sold vndir synne. 15   Sothli I vndirstonde not that that I worche; sothly I do not the good thing that I wole, but I do `the ilke yuel thing that I hate. Forsoth if I do that thing that I wole 16    not, I consente to the lawe, for it is good. Now sothely I worche not now, 17   but that synne that dwellith in me. 18   Sothli I wot, for in me, that is, in my fleisch, dwellith

no good; forwhi wil lith to me, trewli `for to performe good thing I fynde not. Forsothe I do not `the ilke good thing 19    that I wole, but I do `the ilke yuel thing that I wole not. 20   Sothli if I do that thing that I wole not, I worche not it, but the synne that dwellith in me. 21   Therfore I fynde a lawe to me willinge for to do good thing, for `to me yuel thing lith to. `Therfore the lawe is good to me willinge; 22   forsoth I delite to gidere to the lawe of God, vp the ynner man. Sothly I se an other lawe in my membris, 23    a&yogh;enfi&yogh;tinge to the lawe of my soule, and makynge me caytyf in the lawe of synne, that is in my membris. 24   I a wooful man; who schal delyuere me fro the body of this synne? 25   Forsothe the grace of God, bi Jhesu Crist oure Lorde. Therfore I my silf by `resoun of the soule serue to the lawe of God; sothli bi the fleisch to the lawe of synne. CAP. VIII.

Therfore now no thing of dampnacioun 1    is to hem that ben in `Crist Jhesu, the whiche wandren not aftir the fleisch. Forsoth the spirit of lyf in Crist Jhesu 2    hath delyuered me fro the lawe of synne, and deeth. 3   Forwhi that that was vnpossible to the lawe, in what thing it was syk, `or freel, by fleisch, God sendinge his sone in to the liknesse of fleisch of synne, of the synne dampnede synne in fleisch; 4   that the iustifiynge of lawe were fulfillid in vs, that not aftir the fleisch wandren, but aftir the spirit. 5   Forsoth thei that ben aftir the fleisch, saueren tho thingis that ben of the fleisch; but thei that ben after the spirit, feelen tho thingis that ben of the spirit. 6   Forwhi the prudence of fleisch is deeth; forsoth the

prudence of spirit lyf and pees. 7   For the wysdom of fleish is enemy to God; forsoth it is not suget to the lawe of God, sothly nethir it may. 8   Forsoth thei that ben in fleisch, mown not plese to God. 9   Sothli &yogh;e ben not in fleisch, but in spirit; `nethelees if the spirit of God dwellith in &yogh;ow. Forsoth if ony hath not the spirit of Crist, this is not his. Forsoth if Crist is in &yogh;ou, 10   sothli the body is deed for synne, but the spirit lyueth for iustifiynge. 11   For if the spirit of him that reiside Jhesu Crist fro deede spiritis dwellith in &yogh;ou, he that reiside Jhesu Crist fro deede spiritis, schal quykene and &yogh;oure deedli bodies, for the spirit of him dwellinge in &yogh;ou. 12   Therfore, bretheren, we ben dettours, not to the fleisch, that we lyue aftir the fleisch. Forsoth if &yogh;e schulen lyue aftir the 13    fleisch, &yogh;e schulen deie; forsoth if &yogh;e bi spirit `schulen sle the deedis of fleish, &yogh;e schulen lyue. 14   Sothli who euere ben lad by the spirit of God, thes ben the sones of God. 15   Forsothe &yogh;e han not taken eftsoone the spirit of seruage in drede, but &yogh;e han taken the spirit of adopcioun of sones, `that is, to be sones of God by grace, in which spirit we cryen, Abba, fadir. 16   Forsoth `the ilke spirit &yogh;eldith witnessyng to oure spirit, that we ben the sones of God; 17   forsoth if sones, and eyris, sothli eyris of God, trewli euene eyris of Crist; if nethelees we `to gidere suffren, that and we glorified to gidere. 18   Trewli I deme, that the passions of this tyme ben not euene worthi to the glorie to comynge, that schal be schewid in vs. Forwhi the abydinge of creature, 19   `that is, man, abidith the schewinge of the sones of God. 20   Sothli the creature is suget to vanyte, not willinge, but for him that

`sugetide it, `or made it suget, in hope; for and `the ilke creature schal be delyuered 21    fro seruage of corupcioun in to liberte of the glorie of the sones of God. Sothli we witen, 22   that ech creature insorwith, and childith, `or worchith with angwis, til &yogh;it. 23   Forsoth not oonly it, but and we vs silf, hauynge the firste fruytis of the spirit, and we vs silf sorwen with ynne vs the adopcioun of Goddis sones, `that is, with greet mornynge desyren the staat of Goddis sones bi grace, abidinge the `a&yogh;en bygging of oure body. 24   Sothli by hope we ben mad saaf. Forsoth the hope that is seyn, is not hope; forwhy what hopith a man that thing, that he seeth? 25   Forsoth if we hopen that thing that we seen not, we abiden by pacience. Also and the spirit helpith oure infirmyte, 26    `or vnstedefastnesse; forwhy what we schulen preie, as it bihoueth, we witen not, but `the ilke spirit axith for vs with sorowyngis, that mown not ben toold out. Forsothe he that sekith the hertis, 27   wot what the spirit desyrith, for aftir God, `that is, at Goddis wille, he axith for hooly men. 28   Forsoth we witen, for to men louynge God alle thingis worchen to gidere into good thing, to hem that aftir purpos ben clepid seyntis. 29   Forwhy and whom he wiste bifore, `and he ordeynede `by grace for to be maad lychi of the ymage of his sone, that he be the firste bigetun in many britheren. 30   Sothely whom he bifore ordeynede to blisse, and hem he clepide; and whom he clepide, and hem he iustifiede; sothli whom he iustifiede, and hem he glorifiede. 31   What therfore schulen we seye to thes thingis? If God for vs, who a&yogh;ens vs? 32   `The which also sparide not his owne sone, but for vs alle

bitook him, how also &yogh;af he not to vs alle thingis with him? 33   Who schal accuse a&yogh;enus the chosene sones of God? God that iustifieth, 34   who is it that condempneth? Jhesus Crist that is deed, &yogh;he, the which and roos a&yogh;en, the which is on the ri&yogh;thalf of God, and the which preieth for vs. 35   Who therfore schal departe `vs from the charite of God? tribulacioun, or angwisch, or hungur, or nakidnesse, or persecucioun, or perel, or swerd? 36   As it is writun, For we ben slayn al day for thee; we ben gessid as shceep to slau&yogh;tir. 37   But in alle thes thingis we ouercomen, for him that louede vs. 38   Sothli I am certeyn, for nether deeth, nether lyf, nether angels, nether pryncipatis, nether virtutes, `nether potestatis, nether present thingis, nether thingis to comynge, nether strengthe, 39   nether hi&yogh;the, nether depnesse, nether othir creature schal may departe vs fro the charite of God, that is in `Jhesu Crist oure Lord. CAP. IX.

I seye treuthe in Crist Jhesu, 1   I lye not, my conscience beringe witnessyng to me in the Hooly Goost, 2   for greet heuynesse is to me, and continuel sorwe to myn herte. Forsothe I my silf desyride for to be 3    cursid, `or departid, fro Crist for my bretheren, that ben my cosyns aftir the fleisch, 4   that ben Israelytis, `or of Israel; whos is adopcioun of sones, and glorie, and testament, and &yogh;yuynge of lawe, and seruyse, 5   and biheestis; whos ben the fadris, and of whom Crist aftir the fleisch, that is God aboue alle thingis, blessid in to worldis. 6   Amen. Sothli not that the word of God hath falle doun, `or failide vnfulfillid. Sothli not alle that ben of

Israel, thes ben Israelitis, `or sones of Jacob. Nether thei that ben seed of Abraham, 7    alle ben sones; but in Ysaac seed schal be clepid to thee; 8   that is to seye, not thei that ben sones of the fleish, ben sones of God, but thei that ben sones of biheeste ben demyd in seed `of biheeste. Sothli this is the word of biheeste, 9   Vp this tyme I schal come, and a sone schal be to Sare. 10   Forsoth not oonly she, but and Rebecca, of o `liggynge by hauynge tweye sones of Ysaac, oure fadir. 11   Sothli whanne thei weren not &yogh;it born, ether hadden don ony thing of good or yuel, that the purpos of God schulde dwelle vp the eleccioun, 12   not of workis, but of God clepinge, 13   it is seid to him, For the more schal serue to the lasse, as it is writun, I louede Jacob, forsothe `Esau I hadde in hate. 14   What therfore schulen we seie? Wher wickidnesse be anentis God? Fer be it. 15   Forsoth he seith to Moyses, I schal haue mercy to whom I schal haue mercy; and I schal &yogh;yue mercy to whom I schal haue mercy. 16   Therfore it is not nether of man willinge, nether rennynge, but of God hauynge mercy. 17   Forsothe the scripture seith to Pharao, For in to this thing I haue stirid thee, that I schewe in thee my vertu, and that my name be told in al erthe. 18   Therfore of whom God wole, he hath mercy; and whom he wole, he endurith, `or hardeneth. 19   `And so thou seist to me, What thing is &yogh;it sou&yogh;t? sothli who withstondith his will? 20   Aa! man, who art thou, `the which answerist to God? Wher a pott, `or a maad thing, seith to him that made it, What hast thou maad me so? 21   Wher a pottere of cley hath not power of the same gobet

for to make sothli o vessel in to honour, anothir forsothe in to dispyt, `or low&yogh; office? That if God willinge for to schewe 22    wraththe, and for to make power knowun, susteynede in greet pacience the vessels of wraththe able in to perdicioun, `or dampnacioun, 23   that he schulde schewe the richessis of his glorie in to vesselis of mercy, `the whiche he made redy in to glorie. 24   `And whiche he clepide not oonli of Jewis, 25   but also of hethen men, as he seith in Osee, I schal clepe not my peple my peple, and not my loued my loued, and not hauynge mercy hauynge mercy; and it schal be in place, 26   wher it is seid, Not &yogh;e my peple, there thei schulen be clepid the sones of God lyuynge. 27   Forsoth Ysai cryeth for Israel, If the noumbre of Israel shal be as the grauel of the see, the relifs schulen be maad saf. 28   Forsoth a word endinge, and abreggynge in equyte, for the Lord schal make a word breggid, `or maad short, vpon al erthe. And as Ysaie bifore seide, 29   `No but God hadde left to vs seed, we hadden ben maad as Sodom, and we hadden ben lyk as Gomor. Therfore what schulen we seye? 30    That hethene men that sueden not ri&yogh;twysnesse, han kau&yogh;t ri&yogh;twysnesse, sothli the ri&yogh;twysnesse that is of feith. 31   Forsoth Israel suynge the lawe of ri&yogh;twisnesse, cam not parfytli in to the lawe of ri&yogh;twysnesse. Whi? 32   For not of feith, but as of workis. Sothli thei offendiden `in to the stoon of offencioun, 33   `or spurnynge, as it is writun, Lo! I putte a stoon of offencioun in Syon, and a stoon of sclaundre; and ech that schal bileue in to it, schal not be confoundid, `or schent. CAP. X.

Britheren, 1   sothli the will of myn herte and my biseching is maad to God for

hem in to heelthe. 2   Forsothe I bere witnessinge to hem, for thei han loue of God, but not vp kunnynge. 3   Sothli thei vnknowynge Goddis ri&yogh;twysnesse, and sekinge for to make stedefast her owne, ben not suget to the ri&yogh;twysnesse of God. Forsothe the ende of the lawe Crist, 4   to ri&yogh;twysnesse to ech man bileuynge. 5   Sothli Moyses wrot, For the man that schal do ri&yogh;twysnesse that is of the lawe, schal lyue in it. 6   Forsoth the ri&yogh;twysnesse that is of byleue, seith thus, Seie thou not in thin herte, Who schal sty&yogh;e into heuene? that is to seie, for to lede doun Crist; or who schal go doun in to depnesse, 7    `or helle? that is, for to a&yogh;en clepe Crist fro the deede spiritis. 8   But what seith the scripture? The word is ny&yogh; in thi mouth, and in thin herte; this is the word of bileue, `the which we prechen. That if thou knowleche in thi mouth the 9    Lord Jhesu Crist, and byleuest in thin herte, that God reiside him fro deede spiritis, thou schalt be saaf. 10   Forsoth by herte me bileueth to ri&yogh;twysnesse, by mouth sothli knowleching is maad to helthe. 11   Sothli the scripture seith, Ech that bileueth into him, schal not be confoundid. Sothli ther is no distynccioun of Jew and 12    Greek; for why the same Lord of alle, ryche into alle, that inclepen him. 13   Forsoth ech man who euere schal inclepe the name of the Lord, schal be saaf. 14   How therfore schulen thei inclepyn hym, into whom thei han not bileued? or how schulen thei bileue to hym, whom thei herden not? How forsoth schulen thei heere, 15   with outen the prechinge? or how schulen thei preche, no but if thei be sent? As it is writun, How faire the feet of `men euangelisinge pees, of prechinge

goode thingis. 16   But not alle men obeischen to the gospel. Forsoth Ysaie seith, Lord, who bileuyde to oure heeringe? Therfore feith of heeringe, 17   heering forsoth by the word of Crist. 18   But I seye, Wher thei herden not? And sothli the word of hem wente out into al erthe, and into the endis of the roundnesse of the erthe `her wordis. 19   But I seie, Wher Israel knew not? First Moyses seith, I schal lede &yogh;ou to enuye, `into not a folk; into an vnwys folk, I schal sende &yogh;ou in to wraththe. 20   Forsoth Ysaie dar, and seith, I am foundyn of men not sekinge me; openly I apperide to hem, that axiden not me. 21   Forsothe to Yrael he seith, Al day I strei&yogh;te out my hondis to a peple not bileuynge to me, but a&yogh;en seyinge. CAP. XI.

Therfore I seye, Wher God hath putt 1    awey his peple? Ferr be it. Forwhy and I am an Israelyte, of the seed of Abraham, of the lynage of Beniamyn. 2   `The Lord `putte not awey his peple, `the which he bifore wiste. Wher &yogh;e witen not, `in Helye `what the scripture seith? How he preieth God a&yogh;ens Israel, 3   Lord, thei han slayn thi prophetis, thei han vndirdoluen thin auteris, and I am left aloone, and thei seken my lyf. 4   But what seith Goddis answere to him? I haue left to me seuene thousand of men, that han not bowid her knees bifore Baal. So therfore and in this tyme, 5   the relyfs ben mad saaf, vp the chesynge of the grace of God. 6   For if bi the grace of God, now not of workis; ellis grace is not now grace. 7   What therfore? Israel hath not getyn that that he sou&yogh;te, forsothe eleccioun hath getyn; sothli the

othere ben blyndid. 8   As it is writun, He &yogh;af to hem a spirit of compunccioun, y&yogh;en that thei se not, and eeris, that thei heeren not, til in to this day. 9   And Dauith seith, Be the boord of hem maad `bifore hem in to a gnare, and in to catchinge, and in to sclaundre, and into &yogh;eldinge a&yogh;en to hem. Be the y&yogh;en of hem maad derke, 10   that thei se not; and incroke algatis the bak of hem. 11   Therfore I seye, Wher thei offendiden so, that thei schulden falle doun? Fer be it. But bi the gilt of hem heelthe is maad to hethene men, that thei sue hem. 12   That if the gilt of hem ben richessis of the world, and the menusinge, `or makinge lesse, `of hem ben richessis of hethen men, hou moche more the plente of hem? 13   Sothli I seye to &yogh;ou, hethen men, hou longe sothli I am apostle of hethen men, I schal honoure my mynysterie, `or seruyse, 14   if on ony maner I stire my fleisch for to folwe, and I make summe of hem saaf. 15   Forsoth if the losse of hem is reconsilinge of the world, what takinge vp, no but lyf of deede men? For if the sacrifise, 16   `or litel part of tastynge, be hooly, and the hool gobet; and if the roote is hooly, and the braunchis. That if ony of the braunchis ben broken, 17    thou sothli, whanne thou were a wylde olyue tre, art `sett yn among hem, and ert maad felowe of the roote, and of fatnesse of the olyue tre, 18   nyle thou glorie a&yogh;eyns the braunchis. For if thou gloriest, thou berist not the roote, but the roote thee. Therfore thou seist, 19   The braunchis ben broken, that I be `yn sett. 20   Wel, for vnbileue the braunchis ben broken; forsoth thou stondist by feith. Nyle thou sauere hi&yogh;e thing, 21   but drede thou, forsothe if

God sparide not the kyndely braunchis, lest perauenture he spare not thee. Therfore se the goodnesse, 22   and feersnesse of God; sothli feersnesse in to hem that felden doun, sothli the goodnesse of God in thee, if thou `schalt dwelle in goodnesse, ellis and thou schalt be kitt down. 23   But and thei schulen ben ynsett, if thei `schulen not dwelle in vnbileue. Forsoth God is my&yogh;ty, eftsoone for to ynsette hem. 24   Forwhi if thou ert kitt doun of the kyndely wylde olyue tre, and a&yogh;ens kynde ert inseet in to a good olyue tre, how moche more thei that by kynde, schulen be ynsett to her olyue tre? 25   Forsothe, britheren, I nyle &yogh;ou vnknowe this mysterie, that &yogh;e ben not wyse to &yogh;ou silf; for blyndnesse hath felde of party in Israel, til the plente of hethen men entriden, 26   and so al Israel schulde be maad saaf. As it is writun, He schal come of Syon, that schal delyuere, and turne awey the vnpite of Jacob. 27   And this testament to hem of me, whanne I schal do awey her synnes. 28   Sothli vp the gospel enemyes for &yogh;ou, forsothe moost dereworthe vp the eleccioun for fadris. Sothli the &yogh;iftis and clepynge of God ben 29    withouten forthinkynge, `or reuokynge. Sothli as sum tyme and &yogh;e bileueden not 30    to God, `now forsothe &yogh;e han gete mercy for the vnbileue of hem; 31   so and thes now bileueden not in to &yogh;oure mercy, that and thei gete mercy. 32   Forsothe God closide to gidere alle thingis in vnbileue, that he haue mercy on alle. 33   A! the hi&yogh;nesse, `or depnesse, of the richesse of wysdom and kunnynge of God; hou incomprehensyble ben his domes, and his weyis vnserchable.

Forsothe who knew the witt 34    of God, 35   or who was his councelour? or who formere &yogh;af to hym, and it schal be quyt a&yogh;en to him? 36   For of him, and by him, and in hym ben alle thingis. To him `honour and glorie in to worldis. Amen. CAP. XII.

`And so, 1   britheren, I biseche &yogh;ou by the mercy of God, that &yogh;e &yogh;yue &yogh;oure bodyes a lyuynge oost, `or sacrifice, hooly, plesynge to God, &yogh;oure seruyce resonable. And nyle &yogh;e be confoormed, 2   `or maad lyk, to this world, but `be &yogh;e refoormed in newenesse of &yogh;oure witt, that &yogh;e proue which is the wille of God, good, and wel plesynge, and parfyt. 3   Forsoth I seie, bi the grace that is &yogh;ouun to me, to alle that ben among &yogh;ou, for to not sauere, `or kunne, more than it behoueth for to kunne, but for to kunne to sobrenesse; and to ech man, as God hath departid the mesure of feith. 4   Forsoth as in oo body we han many membris, sothli alle the membris han not the same acte, 5   `or dede; so we `ben manye oo body in Crist, ech forsothe membris `the tother of an other. Therfore hauynge &yogh;iftis dyuersinge, 6   vp grace that is &yogh;ouun to vs, ether prophesie, vp resoun of feith; 7   ether mynisterie, `or seruyce, in mynistringe; ether he that techith, 8   in techinge; he that stireth softly, in exhortacioun, `or monestinge; he that &yogh;yueth, in symplenesse; he that is byfore, `or souereyn, in bisynesse; he that hath mercy, in gladnesse. 9   Loue with oute feynynge, hatynge yuel, cleuynge, `or faste drawynge, to good thing; 10   louynge to gidere the charite of

britherhed; comynge bifore to gidere in honour, 11   not slow in bisynesse, feruent, `or brennynge, in spirit, seruynge to the Lord, 12   ioyinge in hope, pacient in tribulacioun, bisy in preier, 13   comunynge to the nedis of seyntis, suynge, `or kepinge, hospitalite, `that is, herboringe of pore men. 14   Blesse &yogh;e men pursuynge &yogh;ou; blesse &yogh;e, and nyle &yogh;e curse, `or warie; 15   for to ioye with men ioyinge, for to wepe with men wepinge; 16   feelynge the same thing to gidere; not sauerynge, `or kunnynge, hi&yogh;e thingis, but consentynge to meke thingis. Nyle &yogh;e be prudent anentis &yogh;ou silf; 17   to no man &yogh;eldinge yuel for yuel, purueyinge goode thingis, not oonly bifore God, but also bifore alle men. 18   If it may be don, that that is of &yogh;ou, hauynge pees with alle men. 19   &YOGH;e moost dereworthe britheren, not defendynge, `or vengynge, &yogh;ou silf, but `&yogh;yue &yogh;e place to ire, `or wraththe; forsoth it is writun, The Lord seith, To me veniaunce, and I schal &yogh;elde a&yogh;en. 20   But if thin enemye `schal hungre, feede thou him; if he thirstith, &yogh;yue thou drynke to hym; forsothe thou doynge `thes thingis schalt gidere to gedre colis on his heed. 21   Nyle thou be ouercome of yuel thing, but ouercome thou yuel thing in good thing. CAP. XIII.

Euery soule, 1   `or lyuynge man, be suget to hi&yogh;er poweris. Forsoth there is not power no but of God; sothli tho thingis that ben of God, ben ordeyned. 2   `And so he that `a&yogh;en stondith power, a&yogh;en stondith `the ordynaunce of God; forsoth thei that a&yogh;enstonden, getith to hem silf dampnacioun. 3   Forwhi princis ben not

to the drede of good werk, but of yuel. Sothli wilt thou not drede power? Do thou good thing, and thou schalt haue preysyng of it; 4   forsoth he is the mynystre of God to thee into good. Sothli if thou doist yuel thing, drede thou; for not withoute cause he berith the swerd, for he is the mynistre of God, vengere into wraththe to him that doth yuel thing. And therfore by nede be &yogh;e suget, 5   not oonly for wraththe, but and for conscience. Sothli therfore and &yogh;e &yogh;yuen tributis, 6    thei ben the mynistris of God, `for this same thing seruynge. 7   Therfore &yogh;elde &yogh;e `to alle men dettis, to whom tribut, tribut, to whom tol, `or custom `for thingis borun aboute, tol, `or such custom, to whom drede, drede, to whom honour, honour. 8   To no man owe &yogh;e ony thing, no but that &yogh;e loue to gidere. Sothli he that loueth his nei&yogh;bore, hath fulfillid the lawe. 9   Forwhy, Thou schalt `do no leccherie, Thou schalt not sle, Thou schalt not stele, Thou schalt not seye fals witnessinge, Thou schalt not coueite the thing of thi nei&yogh;bore, and if there be ony othir maundement, it is instorid, `or enclosid, in this word, Thou schalt loue thi nei&yogh;bore as thi silf. 10   The loue of thi nei&yogh;bore worchith not yuel; therfore loue is the plente, `or fulfillinge, of the lawe. 11   And we witinge this tyme, for hour is now, vs for to ryse of slepe; sothli now oure heelthe is neer, than whanne we bileueden. 12   The ny&yogh;t wente byfore, forsothe the day `schal nei&yogh;e. Therfore caste we a wey the workis of derknessis, and be we clothid with the armeris of li&yogh;t. 13   As in day wandre we honestly, not in `ofte etyngis and

drynkyngis, not in couchis and vnchastitees, not in stryf and in enuye; 14   but be &yogh;e clothid in the Lord Jhesu Crist, and do &yogh;e not cure, `or bisynesse, of fleisch in desyris. CAP. XIV.

Forsothe take &yogh;e a syk man in bileue, 1    not in deceptaciouns, or dispeticiouns, of thou&yogh;tis. 2   Sothli anothir bileueth himsilf for to ete alle thingis; forsoth he that is syk, `or vnstedefast, ete he wortis, `or potage. 3   He that etith, dispise not `the man not etynge; and he that etith not, deme not `the man etynge. Sothli God hath takyn him. 4   Who art thou, that demest anothir seruaunt? To his lord he stondith, or fallith doun. Forsoth he schal stonde; forsoth the Lord is my&yogh;ti for to `ordeyne him, `or make stedefast. Forwhi anothir demeth a day bytwixe 5    day, another demeth ech day. Ech man habunde, `or be plenteuous, in his witt. He that sauerith, 6   `or vndirstondith, the day, vndirstondith to the Lord. And he that etith, etith to the Lord, for he doith thankyngis to `the Lord. And he that etith not, etith not to the Lord, and doith thankingis to God. 7   Forsoth no man of vs lyueth to hym silf, and no man deieth to him silf. 8   Sothli where we lyuen, we lyuen to the Lord; where we deien, we deien to the Lord. Therfore wher we lyuen or deien, we ben `of the Lord. 9   In this thing sothli Crist is deed, and `roos a&yogh;en, that he be Lord and of quike and of deede. 10   Forsothe what demest thou thi brother? or whi dispisist thou thi brother? for alle we schulen stonde bifore the trone

of Crist. 11   For it is writun, I lyue, seith the Lord, for to me ech knee schal ben bowid, and ech tunge schal knowleche to God. 12   `And so ech of vs schal &yogh;elde resoun to God for him silf. 13   Therfore no more deme we to gidere, `or ech othir; but more deme &yogh;e this thing, that &yogh;e putte not hurtynge, `or sclaundre, to a brother. I woot and truste in the Lord Jhesu, 14   for no thing is comune, `or vnclene, by him, no but to him that demeth ony thing for to be vnclene, `to him it is vnclene. Sothli if thi brothir be maad sory, 15   `or heuy in conscience, for mete, now thou walkist not aftir charite. Nyle thou thorw thi mete leese him, for whom Crist diede. 16   Therfore be not oure good thing blasfemyd, `or dispisid. 17   Sothli the rewme of God is not mete and drynke, but ri&yogh;twysnesse and pees and ioye in the Hooly Gost. 18   Forsoth he that in this thing serueth Crist, plesith God, and is prouyd to men. 19   And so sue we tho thingis that ben of pees, and kepe we tho thingis to gidere that ben of edificacioun, `that is, to bylde soulis to heuene. 20   Nyle thou for mete distroye the work of God. Sothli alle thingis ben cleene, but it is yuel to the man that etith by offendinge, `or sclaundre. 21   It is good for to not ete fleisch, and for to not drynke wyn, nether in what thing thi brothir offendith, `or is sclaundrid, or is maad syk, `or vnstedefast. Thou that hast feith anentis thi 22    silf, haue thou bifore God. Blessid is he that demeth not, `or dampneth not, him silf in that thing that he proueth. 23   Forsoth he that demeth, `if he ete, is dampned; for it is not of feith. Forsoth al thing that is not of feith, is synne.

CAP. XV.

Forsothe we saddere owen for to susteyne, 1    `or bere vp, the feblenesse of syke men, `or vnsadde in feith, and not plese to vs silf. 2   Ech of vs plese to his nei&yogh;bore in to good, to edificacioun. 3   `And forsoth Crist pleside not to hym silf, but, as it is writun, The reprouys, `or schenschipis, of men displesinge thee, felden on me. 4   Forsothe what euere thingis ben writun, thei ben writun to oure techinge, that by pacience and comfort of scripturis we han hope. 5   Forsothe God of pacience and solace, `or comfort, &yogh;yue to &yogh;ou for to vndirstonde the same thing, ech in to othir aftir Jhesu Crist, 6   that &yogh;e of oo wille, `or witt, with oo mouth worschipe God and the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. For which thing take &yogh;e to gidere, 7   as and Crist took &yogh;ou into the honour of God. Sothli I seie Jhesu Crist for `to haue be 8    a mynistre of circumcisioun for the treuthe of God, for to conferme the biheestis of fadris. 9   Sothli hethene men for to honoure God vpon mercy; as it is writun, Therfore, Lord, I schal knowleche to thee in hethene men, and I schal synge to thi name. 10   And eftsoone he seith, Glade, or ioye, &yogh;e hethene men with his peple. And eftsoone, 11   Alle hethene men, herye &yogh;e the Lord; and alle peplis, magnyfie &yogh;e him. 12   And eft Ysaie seith, Ther schal be a roote of Jesse, and hethene men schulen hope in him, that schal ryse for to gouerne hethene men. 13   Forsoth God of hope fulfille &yogh;ou in al ioye and pees in bileuynge, that &yogh;e habounde in hope and vertu of the Hooly Gost. 14   Sotheli, britheren, and I my silf am certeyn of &yogh;ou, `for and &yogh;e &yogh;ou silf ben ful of loue, &yogh;he, fulfillid with al science, `or kunnynge, so that &yogh;e mown moneste ech other. 15   Sotheli,

britheren, more hardily I wroot to &yogh;ou `of party, as a&yogh;en bryngynge &yogh;ou in to mynde, for the grace that is &yogh;ouun to me of God, 16   that I be the mynistre of Crist Jhesu in hethene men; I halwinge the gospel of God, that the offringe of hethene men be maad acceptid, and halewid in the Hooly Gost. 17   Therfore I haue glorie in Crist Jhesu to God. 18   Forsoth I dar not speke ony thing of tho thingis, the whiche Crist makith not by me, into obedyence of hethene men, in word and dedis, 19   in vertu of tokenes and grete wondris, in vertu of the Hooli Gost, so that from Jerusalem by cumpas, `or enuyroun, til vnto Illiryk I haue fulfillid the gospel of Crist. 20   Forsoth so I haue prechid this gospel, not where Crist was named, lest I bilde vpon otheris ground, but as it is writun, 21   For to whom it is not told of him, thei schulen se, and thei that herden not, schulen vndirstonde. 22   For which thing I was lettid ful moche for to come to &yogh;ou, and I am forbodyn til into &yogh;it. 23   Forsoth now I `not hauynge ferthere place in thes cuntrees, sothli hauynge couetyse `of comynge to &yogh;ou, of many &yogh;eeris now goynge bifore, 24   whanne I schal bygynne for to passe in to Spayne, I hope that I passinge forth schal se &yogh;ou, and of &yogh;ou I schal be lad thidur, if I schal vsen &yogh;ou first in party. 25   Therfore now I schal passe forth to Jerusalem, for to mynystre to seyntis. 26   Forsoth Macedonye and Achaye proueden for to make sum collacioun, `or gedrynge of moneye, in to pore men of seyntis, that ben in Jerusalem. 27   Sothli it pleside to hem, and thei ben dettouris of hem; forwhi if hethene men ben maad parteneris of her goostly thingis, thei owen and in fleischly thingis for to

mynistre to hem. 28   Therfore whanne I schal ende this thing, and assigne hem this fruit, bi &yogh;ou I schal passe into Spayne. Forsoth I woot, 29   that I comynge to &yogh;ou, schal come into the haboundaunce, `or plente, of the blessinge of Crist. 30   Therfore, britheren, I beseche &yogh;ou by oure Lord Jhesu Crist, and bi charite of the Hooly Gost, that &yogh;e helpe me in &yogh;oure prayeris `for me to the Lord, 31   that I be delyuerid fro the vntrewe, `or vnfeithful, men, that ben in Judee, and that the offrynge of my seruyce be acceptid in Jerusalem to seyntis; 32   that I come to &yogh;ou in ioye, by the wille of God, and that I be refreschid with &yogh;ou. 33   Sothli God of pees be with &yogh;ou alle. Amen. CAP. XVI.

Forsoth, 1   britheren, I comende to &yogh;ou Feben, oure sister, that is in the seruyce of the chirche that is in Teucris, 2   that &yogh;e resseyue hir in the Lord worthily to seyntis, and that &yogh;e `stonde ny&yogh;, `or helpe, hir in what euere nede, `or thing, she schal nede of &yogh;ou. Forsoth and she `stood ny&yogh;, `or helpide, to manye, and to me silf. 3   Saluwe &yogh;e, or `greete &yogh;e, Priska and Aquyla, myn helperis in Crist Jhesu, 4   the whiche vndirputtiden her neckis for my soule, `or lyf; to whiche not I aloone do thankingis, but and alle the chirchis of hethene men. 5   And `greete &yogh;e wel hir homeli chirche. `Grete &yogh;e wel Efenete, loued to me, that is the firste of Asye in Crist Jhesu. 6   Greete wel Marie, `the which hath trauelid moche in vs. 7   Greeteth wel Andronyk and Juliane, myn cosyns, and myn euene caytifs, `or prisoneris, the whiche ben noble among apostlis, and the whiche weren bifore me

in Crist. 8   Greeteth wel Ampliate, moost dereworthe to me in the Lord. 9   Greete wel Vrban, oure helper in Crist Jhesu, and Stacchen, my loued. 10   Greete wel Appellem, noble in Crist. 11   Greete wel hem that ben of Aristoblis hous. Greete wel Erodyon, my cosyn. `Greete we hem that ben of Narcisties hous, that ben in the Lord. 12   Greete wel Triphenam and Triphonam, the whiche wymmen trauelen in the Lord. Greete wel Persida, moost dereworthe womman, that hath moche trauelid in the Lord. 13   Greete wel Rufus, chosun in the Lord, and his modir, and myn. 14   Greete wel Ansicrete, Flegoncia, Hermen, Patroban, Herman, and britheren that ben with hem. 15   Greete wel Filologus, and Julyan, and Venerum, and his sistir, and Olympiades, and alle the seyntis that ben with hem. 16   Greetith wel to gidere in hooly coss. Alle the chirchis of Crist greeten &yogh;ou wel <sup>note</sup> 17   Forsoth, britheren, I preie &yogh;ou, that &yogh;e aspye hem that maken discenciouns and hirtyngis, or sclaundris, bisydis the doctryn that &yogh;e han lernyd, and `bowe &yogh;e awey fro hem. Sothely siche men seruen not to the Lord 18    Crist, but to her wombe, and by swete wordis and blessingis disseyuen the hertis of innosent men. 19   Sothli &yogh;oure obedience is pupplischid into euery place, therfore I ioye in &yogh;ou. But I wole &yogh;ou for to be wyse in good thing, and symple in yuel thing. 20   Forsothe God of pees defoule Sathanas vndir &yogh;oure feet sweftly. The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist be with &yogh;ou. 21   Tymothe, myn helpere, greetith &yogh;ou wel, and also Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my cosyns. 22   `I the thridde greete &yogh;ou wel, that haue writyn the epistle, in the Lord. 23   Gayus, my herborgere, greetith

&yogh;ou wel, and al the chirche. Erastus tresorer, `or kepere, of the cite, greetith &yogh;ou wel, and Quartus, brother. 24   The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist with &yogh;ou alle. Amen. 25   Forsoth to him, that is my&yogh;ty for to conferme &yogh;ou by my gospel, and preching of Jhesu Crist, vp the revelacioun of mysterie holdun stille, that is, not schewid, in tymes euerlastynge; the which mysterie is now maad opyn by scripturis of prophetis, vp the comaundement of God withouten bygynnynge and endynge, to the obedyence of feith in alle hethene men, the mysterie knowun to God aloone wyse `by Jhesu Crist, to whom honour and glorie into worldis of worldis. Amen. Here endith the epistle to Romayns, and now bigynneth the prolog to the firste epistle to Corinthis.

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