Corinthies ben men of Achaye, and thes also of the apostelis hadden herd the word of treuthe, and thei weren ouerturned in many maneris of false apostelis; summe of wordy eloquence of philosophie, summe to the secte of Jewis lawe yledd. Thes reuoketh the apostle to the trewe and gospels wysdom, writynge to hem fro Effecie, by Tymothe, his disciple. Here endith the prolog, and bigynneth the epistele. The firste pistle of Poul to Corinthis. CAP. I.

1   Poul, clepid apostle of Jhesu Crist, bi the wille of God, 2   and Sostenes, brothir, to the chirche of God that is at Corinthe, to the halowid in Crist Jhesu, clepid

seyntis, with alle that inclepyn the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, in ech place of hem and oure, 3   grace `and pees to &yogh;ou of God, oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. 4   I do thankyngis to my God euermore for &yogh;ou, in the grace of God that is &yogh;ouun to &yogh;ou in Crist Jhesu. 5   For in alle thingis &yogh;e ben ryche in him, in ech word, and in ech kunnynge, `or science, as the witnessynge of Crist is confermyd 6    in &yogh;ou; 7   so that no thing fayle to &yogh;ou in ony grace, abidynge the reuelacioun, `or schewynge, of oure Lord Jhesu Crist; the which and schal conferme &yogh;ou til 8    into the ende withouten cryme, `or greet synne, in the day of the comynge of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. 9   Forsoth God is trewe, bi whom &yogh;e ben clepid in to the felowschip of his sone Jhesu Crist oure Lord. 10   Forsothe, britheren, I biseche &yogh;ou, bi the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that &yogh;e alle seye the same thing, and that scismes, or dyuysiouns, dissenciouns, `or discordis, be not among &yogh;ow; sothli be &yogh;e parfyt in the same witt, and in the same kunnynge. 11   Forsothe, britheren, it is signyfied, `or toold, to me of hem that ben of Cloes, for stryues ben among &yogh;ou. Forsoth I seye this thing, 12   that ech of &yogh;ou seith, Forsoth I am of Poul, forsoth I of Appollo, treuly I of Cephas, `that is, Petre, forsoth I of Crist. 13   Wher Crist is departid? wher Poul is crucifyed for &yogh;ou, ethir ben &yogh;e baptysid in the name of Poul? 14   I do thankyngis to God, that I baptiside no man of &yogh;ou, no but Crispus and Gayus; 15   lest ony man seye, that &yogh;e ben baptysid in my name. 16   Sothli `and I baptyside the hous of Steuene, a womman, but I woot not, if I baptiside ony othir. For Crist sente me not for to baptise, 17    but for to euangelyse, `or preche the gospel; not in wysdom of word, that the

cros of Crist be not voydid awey. 18   For the word of the cros is folye sothli to `men perischinge; forsoth to hem that ben maad saaf, that is to seye, to vs, it is the vertu of God. 19   Sothli it is writun, I schal lese the wysdom of wyse men, and I schal reproue the prudence of prudent men. 20   Where is the wyse man? where is the writere, `or man of lawe? where is the purchasour of this world? Wher God hath not maad the wysdom of this world foltisch, `or fool. 21   Forwhi for in the wysdom of God the world knew not God by wysdom, it pleside to God for to make `men saaf bileuyng, by the folie of prechinge. 22   For and Jewis seken signes, 23   and Greekis seken wisdom; forsoth we prechen Crist crucified, to Jewis sothli sclaundre, to hethene men `forsoth foly; 24   forsoth to `hem clepid, Jewis and Greekis, Crist the vertu of God, and the wysdom of God. 25   For that that is foly thing of God, is wyser than men; and that that is syk thing, `or freel, of God, is strenger than men. 26   Forsoth se &yogh;e &yogh;oure clepinge, britheren; for not manye wyse men aftir the fleisch, not many my&yogh;ty, not many noble. 27   But God chees tho thingis that ben foltysch of the world, 28   that he confounde wyse men; and God chees the syke thingis, `or freel, of the world, that he confounde the stronge thingis; and God chees the vnnoble thingis and dispisable thingis of the world, and tho thingis that ben not, that he schulde distroye tho thingis that ben; 29   that ech fleisch, `or man, `glorie not in his si&yogh;t. Forsoth of him &yogh;e ben in Crist Jhesu, 30   the which is maad to vs wysdom and ri&yogh;twysnesse, and hoolynesse, 31   and a&yogh;enbying; that,

as it is writun, He that glorieth, glorie in the Lord. CAP. II.

And I, 1   britheren, whanne I cam to &yogh;ou, cam not in hi&yogh;nesse of word, or wysdom, tellinge, `or schewinge, `to &yogh;ou the witnessing of Crist. 2   Sothli I schewide, `or demyde, not me for to wite, `or kunne, ony thing among &yogh;ou, not but Crist Jhesu, and him crucifyed. 3   And I in syknesse, and drede, and moche tremblyng, `or quakyng, 4   was anentis &yogh;ou; and my word and my preching not in persuable, `or sutile glosynge, wordis of mannis wysdom, but in schewynge of spirit and vertu; 5   that &yogh;oure feith be not in the wysdom of men, but in the vertu of God. Forsoth we speken wysdom among perfyt 6    men, forsoth not wysdom of this world, nether of princes of this world, that ben distroyed; 7   but we speken the wysdom of God, that `is hid in mysterie, `or priuyte; the which wysdom God bifore ordeynede bifore worldis in to oure glorie, the which no man of the princes of 8    this world knew; for if thei hadden knowen, thei schulden neuere haue crucified the Lord of glorie. 9   But as it is writun, That y&yogh;e sy&yogh; not, ne eere herde, nether it sti&yogh;ede in to herte of man, what thingis God made redy bifore to hem that louen him; 10   forsoth God schewyde to vs by his spirit. Forsoth the spirit sekith alle thingis, &yogh;he, the deepe thingis of God. Sotheli who of men woot, 11   what thingis ben of man, no but the spirit of man that is in him? So and what thingis ben of God, no man knowith, no but the spirit of God. 12   Forsoth we han not resseyued the spirit of this world, but the spirit that is of God, that we witen what thingis ben &yogh;ouun to vs of God. 13   The whiche thingis we speken, not in tau&yogh;t wordis of mannis

wysdom, but in doctryne of the spirit, comparisonynge spiritual thingis to gostly men. 14   Forsoth a beestli man perseyueth not tho thingis that ben of the spirit of God; sothli it is foly to him, and he may not vnderstonde, for he is examyned, `or asayed, gostly. 15   Forsoth a spiritual man demeth alle thingis, and he is demyd, `or dampned, of no man. 16   As it is writun, Who sothli knew the witt of the Lord, or who tau&yogh;te him? Forsoth we han the witt of Crist. CAP. III.

And I, 1   britheren, my&yogh;te not speke to &yogh;ou as to spiritual men, but as to fleischli; as to litile children in Crist, 2   I &yogh;af to &yogh;ou mylk drynke, not mete; sothli &yogh;e my&yogh;ten not &yogh;it vndirstonde, but nether `now sothli &yogh;e mown, for &yogh;it &yogh;e ben fleischly. 3   Whanne enuye and stryf is among &yogh;ou, wher &yogh;e ben not fleischli, and aftir man &yogh;e gon? 4   For whanne summe seith, I sothli am of Poul, another forsoth, I am of Apollo, wher &yogh;e ben not men? What therfore is Apollo, what forsoth Poul? 5   Thei ben mynistris, `or sernauntis, of him, to whom &yogh;e han bileuyd; and to ech man as God hath &yogh;ouun. I plauntide, 6   Apollo watride, `or moystide, but God &yogh;af encresynge. 7   `And so neither he that plauntith is ony thing, neither he that moystith, but God that &yogh;yueth encresynge. Forsoth he that plauntith, 8   and he that moystith, ben oo thing; sothli ech schal take his propre hyre, after his traueil. For we ben the helperis of God; 9    &yogh;e ben the erthe tilyinge of God, &yogh;e ben the byldinge of God. 10   Aftir the grace of God that is &yogh;ouun to me, as a wys carpenter I sette the fundement; forsothe another bildeth aboue. Sothli ech man se, hou `and what thingis he byldeth

vpon. 11   Sothli no man may sette another foundement, `bi sydis that that is sett, the which is Crist Jhesus. 12   Forsoth if eny man bylde ouer vpon this foundement, gold, siluer, precyous stoones, stickis, hey, stuble, 13   euery mannis work schal be open, the day of the Lord schal declare; for `ech mannis work schal be schewid in fyer, `what maner it is, the fier schal proue. 14   If the werk of ony man schal dwelle, the which he byldide vpon, he schal receyue mede. 15   If eny mannis work schal brenne, it schal suffre peyringe; forsoth he schal be saaf, so nethelees as by fyer. 16   Wite &yogh;e not, for &yogh;e ben the temple of God, and the spirit of God dwellith in &yogh;ou? 17   Forsoth if ony `schal defoule the temple of God, God schal disparple him, `or distroye; forsoth the temple of God is hooly, the which &yogh;e ben. 18   No man disseyue him silf. If eny man a mong &yogh;ou is seyn for to be wyse in this world, be he maad a fool, that he be wyse. 19   Forsoth the wysdom of this world is foly anentis God; forsoth it is writun, I schal catche wyse men in her fell wysdom, 20   `or sutil gyle; and eft, The Lord `hath knowyn the thou&yogh;tis of wyse men, for thei ben veyn. 21   `And so no man glorie in men. 22   Forsoth alle thingis ben &yogh;oure, either Poul, either Apollo, eithir Cephas, `that is, Petre, eithir the world, either lyf, eithir deeth, either thingis present, eithir thingis to comynge; forsothe alle thingis ben &yogh;oure, &yogh;e forsoth of Crist, 23   Crist sotheli of God. CAP. IV.

So a man gesse, 1   `or deme, vs, as mynistris of Crist, and dispenderis of the mynisteries of God. 2   Now it is sou&yogh;t

here a mong the dispenderis, that a man be founden trewe. 3   Forsoth to me it is for the leeste thing, that I be demyd of &yogh;ou, or of mannis day; but nethir I deme my silf. 4   Sothli I am no thing gilty to my silf, but not in this thing `I am iustified; forsoth he that demeth me, is the Lord. 5   `And so nyle &yogh;e deme bi fore the tyme, til that the Lord come, the which `and schal ali&yogh;tne the hid thingis of derknessis, and schal schewe the counceils of hertis; and thanne preisynge schal be to ech man of God. 6   Sotheli, britheren, `this thing I haue transfigurid in to me and in to Apollo; that in vs &yogh;e lerne, lest that ouer that it is writun, oon a&yogh;ens anothir be inblowyn `with pride for anothir man. 7   Who forsoth demeth thee? What sothli hast thou, that thou hast not resseyued? Sothli if thou hast resseyued, what gloriest thou, as thou haddist not resseyued? 8   Now &yogh;e ben fulfillid, now &yogh;e ben maad ryche; &yogh;e regnen with oute vs; and I wolde &yogh;e regne, `that and we regneden with &yogh;ou. 9   Sothli I wene, that God schewide vs the laste apostelis, as maad redy to deeth; for we ben maad a spectacle to the world, and to aungels, and to men. 10   We foolis for Crist, &yogh;e forsothe prudent in Crist; we syke, &yogh;e forsothe stronge; &yogh;e noble, we forsoth vnnoble. Til into this hour `and we hungren, 11    and thirsten, and ben nakid, and ben smytun with boffatis, and we ben vnstable, and we trauelen worchinge with oure 12    hondis; we ben cursid, and we blessen; we suffren persecucioun, and we susteynen, `or abyden longe; 13   we ben blasfemyd, and we bisechen; as clensyngis of this world we ben maad, the paringis, `or outcastinge,

of alle thingis til &yogh;it. 14   I write not thes thingis, that I confounde &yogh;ou, but I amoneste, `or warne, as my moost dereworthe sones. 15   Forwhi if &yogh;e han ten thousandis of litle maistris in `Crist Jhesu, but not manye fadris; forwhi in Crist Jhesu I haue gendrid &yogh;ou by the gospel. 16   Therfore I preie &yogh;ou, be &yogh;e foloweris of me, as and I of Crist. 17   Therfore I sente to &yogh;ou Tymothe, that is my mooste dereworthe sone, and feithful in the Lord, the which schal moneste &yogh;ou, `or teche, my weyes, that ben in Crist Jhesu; as I teche euerywhere in ech chirche. 18   As I `be not to come to &yogh;ou, so summen ben ynblowen `with pride; I schal come to &yogh;ou soone, 19   if God schal wylne; and I schal knowe not the word of hem that ben ynblowen `with pride, but the vertu. 20   Sothli the rewme of God is not in word, but in vertu. 21   What wolen &yogh;e? Schal I come `to &yogh;ou in a &yogh;erd, or in charite, and in spirit of bonernesse, `or myldenesse? CAP. V.

1   Al `out, or al maner, fornycacioun is herd among &yogh;ou, and such fornycacioun, what maner nether among hethen men, so that sum man haue the wyf of his fadir. 2   And &yogh;e ben bolnun `with pride, and not more hadden weylynge, that he that dide this work, be taken awey fro the myddil of &yogh;ou. 3   Sothli I absent in body, but present in spirit, now haue 4   demyd as present `in the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, him that `thus hath wrou&yogh;t, `&yogh;ou and my spirit gaderid togidere, with the vertu of the Lord Jhesu,

5   for to bitake sich a man to Sathanas in to perischinge of fleisch, that the spirit be saf in the day of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. 6   &YOGH;oure gloriynge is not good. Witen &yogh;e not, for a litil sourdow&yogh; corumpith, `or defoulith, al the gobet? 7   `Clense &yogh;e out oold sourdow&yogh;, that &yogh;e ben newe spryngynge to gidere, as &yogh;e ben therf, `or withoute `sour thing. Forsoth Crist `is offrid oure pask. 8   `And so ete we, not in old sourdou&yogh;, nethir in sourdou&yogh; of malice and weywardnesse, but in therf thingis of clennesse and treuthe. 9   I wroot to &yogh;ou in `a pistle, that &yogh;e be not meynd, `or comunen not, with lecchours, sothli not with lecchours of this world, 10    or coueitouse men, or raueynours, or with men seruynge to ydols, ellis &yogh;e schulden haue gon out of this world. 11   Now sothli I wroot to &yogh;ou, for to not be meynd, `or comune not. If he that is namyd a brothir among &yogh;ou, and is a lecchour, or coueitous, or seruynge to ydols, or cursere, `or wariere, or ful of drunkennesse, or raueynour, with siche neither for to take mete. 12   Forsothe what to me for to deme of hem that ben withouteforth? Wher &yogh;e demen not of hem that ben with ynne? 13   Forwhi God schal deme hem that ben withoutenforth. `Do &yogh;e awey yuel thing of &yogh;ou silf. CAP. VI.

1   Dar ony of &yogh;ow, hauynge a cause a&yogh;ens anothir, be demed at wickyde men, and not at seyntis, `or hooly men? 2   Wher &yogh;e witen not, for seyntis shulen deme of this world? And if the world schal be

demed in &yogh;ou, ben &yogh;e vnworthi that demen of leest thingis? 3   Witen &yogh;e not, for we schulen deme aungels? how moche more worldly thingis? 4   Therfore if &yogh;e `schulen haue worldly nedis, ordeyne &yogh;e tho contemptyble men, `or of litil reputacioun, that ben in the chirche, for to deme. 5   I seie to &yogh;oure schame. So ther is not ony wys man, that may deme bitwixe a brother and his brothir; 6   but a brother with brothir stryueth in dome, and that anentis vnfeithful men. 7   Now forsoth trespas is algatis in &yogh;ou, for &yogh;e han domes among &yogh;ou. Whi more taken &yogh;e not wrong? Whi `not more suffren &yogh;e fraude, `or disceyt? 8   But and &yogh;e don wrong, and defrauden, `or bigilen, and that to britheren. 9   Wher &yogh;e witen not, for wickide men schulen not welde the kingdom of God? Nyle &yogh;e erre; neithir lecchours, nethir men seruynge to ydols, 10   nether auouters, neither neische, neither lecchours of men, that don synne of Sodom, nethir theuys, nether coueitouse men, or nygardis, nether `ful of drunkenesse, nethir curseris, `or wariers, nether raueynours, schulen weelde the kyngdom of God. 11   And `thes thingis &yogh;e weren sum tyme; but &yogh;e ben waischen, but &yogh;e ben halowid, but &yogh;e ben iustifyed in the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, and in the spirit of oure God. 12   Alle thingis ben leefful `to me, but not alle thingis speden. Alle thingis ben leefful to me, but I `vndir no mannis power schal be brou&yogh;t down. 13   Mete to the wombe, and the wombe to metis; forsoth God

schal distroye and this and that. Sothli the body not to fornycacioun, but to the Lord, and the Lord to the body. 14   Forsothe and God reyside the Lord, and schal reise vs by his vertu. 15   Witen &yogh;e not, for &yogh;oure bodyes ben membris of Crist? Therfore takinge membris of Crist, schal I make membris of an hoore? 16   Fer be it. Wher &yogh;e witen not, for he that cleueth to an hoore, is maad oo body? Sothli he seith, Ther schulen be tweyne in oo fleish. 17   Forsothe he that cleuith to God, is oo spirit. 18   Fle &yogh;e fornycacioun; al synne what euere synne a man `schal do, is withouten, `or by sidis, the body; forsoth he that doth fornycacioun, synneth `in to his body. 19   Wher &yogh;e witen not, for &yogh;oure membris ben the temple of the Hooli Gost, that is in &yogh;ow, whom &yogh;e han of God, and &yogh;e ben not &yogh;oure owne? 20   Forsoth &yogh;e be bou&yogh;t with greet prys. Glorifie &yogh;e, and bere God in &yogh;oure body. CAP. VII.

1   Forsothe of whiche thingis &yogh;e han writun to me, it is good to a man for to `touche not a womman. 2   Sothli for fornycacioun ech man haue his owne wyf, and ech womman haue hir hosebonde. 3   The hosebonde &yogh;elde dette to the wyf, also sothli and the wyf to the hosebonde. 4   The womman hath not power of hir body, but the hosebonde; also forsoth the hosebonde hath not power of his body, but the womman. 5   Nyle &yogh;e defraude to gidere, no but perauenture of consent to a tyme, that &yogh;e &yogh;yue tent to preier; and eft turne &yogh;e a&yogh;en in to the same thing, lest Sathanas tempte &yogh;ou for &yogh;oure incontynence.

6   Forsoth I seye this thing vp indulgence, `or for&yogh;yuenesse, not vp comaundement. 7   Sothli I wole alle men for to be as mi silf. But ech man hath his propre &yogh;ifte of God; sothli another thus, but another thus. 8   Forsoth to not weddid and widewis, it is good to hem, if thei dwellen so as and I. 9   For if thei conteynen not hem silf, `or ben not chast, `weddid be thei; forsoth it is bettere for to be weddid, than for to be brent. 10   Forsoth to hem that ben ioyned in matrymonye, I comaunde, not I, but the Lord, the wyf for `to not departe fro the hosebonde; 11   for if sche `schal departe, for to dwell vnweddid, or for to be reconsilid, `or acordid, to hir hosebonde; and the hosebonde forsake not the wyf. 12   Forwhi to othere I seye, not the Lord. If ony brothir haue an vnfeithful, `or hethen, wyf, and sche consentith for to dwelle with hym, leue he, `or forsake, hir not. 13   And if the womman hath an hosebonde vnfeithful, and this consentith for to dwelle with hir, leeue she not the hosebonde. 14   Forsoth the vnfeithful hosebonde is halowid by the feithful womman, and the vnfeithful womman is halowid by the feithful hosebonde. Ellis &yogh;oure children weren vnclene, now forsoth thei ben hooly. 15   That if the vnfeithful departith, departe he. Forsoth the brothir or sistir is not suget to seruage in suche; forsoth God clepith vs in pees. 16   Sothli wherof wost thou, womman, if thou schalt make the man saaf; or wherof wost thou, man, if thou schalt make the womman saaf? 17   No but as the Lord hath departid to ech, as God hath clepid ech

man, and so go, he and as I teche in alle chirchis. 18   Sum man circumsidid is clepid, brynge he not to prepucie. Sum man is clepid in prepucie, be he not circumsidid. 19   Circumcisioun is no&yogh;t, and prepucie is nou&yogh;t, but the kepinge of comaundementis of God. 20   Ech man in what clepyng he is clepid, in that dwelle he. 21   Thou seruaunt ert clepid, be it not to charge to thee; but if thou maist be fre, more vse thou. 22   He that `in the Lord is clepid seruaunt, is fre man of the Lord. Also and he that fre man is clepid, is the seruaunt of Crist. 23   With prys &yogh;e ben bou&yogh;t; nyle &yogh;e be maad seruauntis of men. 24   `Ech man therfor in what clepinge he is clepid, `in that dwelle he anentis God. 25   Forsoth of virgyns I haue not precept of God; sothli I &yogh;yue counceil, as hauynge mercy of the Lord, that I be trewe. 26   Therfor I gesse, `or deme, this thing for `to be good for present nede; for it is good to a man for to be so. 27   Thou art boundyn to a wyf, nyle thou seke vnbyndyng; thou ert vnboundyn fro a wyf, nyle thou seke a wyf. 28   Forsoth if thou hast taken a wyf, thou hast not synned; and if a mayden be weddid, she synned not; nethelees suche schulen haue tribulacioun of fleisch. 29   Forsoth I spare &yogh;ou. `And so, britheren, I seye this thing, The tyme is schort. The `tothir thing is, that and thei that han wyues, be as not hauynge; 30   and thei that wepen, as not wepynge; and thei that ioyen, as not ioyinge; and thei that byen, as not hauynge; 31   and thei that vsen this world, as `thei that vsen not. Forsoth the figure of this world passith. 32   Forsothe I wole &yogh;ou for to be withoute bisynesse. Sothli he that is withoute wyf

is bysy what thingis ben of the Lord, how he schal plese to God. 33   Forsoth he that is with a wyf, is bisy what thingis ben of the world, how he schal plese the wyf, and he is departid. 34   And a womman vnweddid and mayden thenkith what thingis ben of the Lord, that sche be hooly in body and spirit. Forsoth she that is weddid, thenkith what thingis ben of the world, how sche schal plese the hosebonde. 35   Sotheli I seye thes thingis to &yogh;oure profyt, not that I caste to &yogh;ou a snare, but to `that that is honest, and &yogh;yueth faculte, `or esynesse, with oute letting for to biseche to the Lord. 36   Sothli if ony deme him silf for to be seyn foul on his virgyne, that she is `wel old, and so it bihoueth `for to be don, do she that she wole; sche synneth not, if sche be weddid. 37   Forwhi he that ordeynede stable, `or stedefast, in his herte, not hauynge nede, but hauynge power of his wille, and hath demyd in his herte `this thing, for to kepe his virgyn, doth well. 38   Therfor he that ioyneth his virgyn in matrimonye, doth wel; and he that ioyneth not, doith bettere. 39   The womman is boundyn to the lawe, how moche tyme hir hosebonde lyueth; that if hir hosebonde `schal slepe, `that is, die, sche is delyuered fro the lawe, be she weddid to whom she wole, oonly in the Lord. 40   Forsoth sche schal be more blessid, if sche `schal thus dwelle, aftir my counceil; forsoth I wene, that and I haue the Spirit of God. CAP. VIII.

1   Forsothe of thes thingis that ben offrid to ydols, `that ben symulacris maad to mannis liknesse, we witen, for alle we

han kunnynge. Sothli science, `or kunnynge, inblowith `with pride; charite edifieth. 2   Forsoth if ony man gesse, `or deme, him for `to wyte ony thing, he hath not &yogh;it knowyn how it bihoueth hym for to kunne. 3   Forsoth if ony man loueth God, this is knowun of him. 4   Forsoth of metis that ben offrid to ydols, we witen, for an ydol is no thing in the world, and that ther is no God but oon. 5   Forwhy `and if ther ben that ben seide goddis, ether in heuene, ether in erthe, forsoth ther ben many goddis, and many lordis; 6   nethelees to vs is oo God, the fadir, of whom alle thingis, and we in him; and oo Lord, Jhesu Crist, by whom alle thingis, and we by him. 7   But not in alle men is kunnynge. Sothli summe with conscience of ydol til now eten as thing offrid to ydols; and her conscience is vnclene, whanne it is syk. 8   Mete comendith vs not to God; `neithir forsothe we schulen faylen, if we `schulen not ete, `nethir if we eten, we schulen habounde, `or haue plente. 9   Se &yogh;e forsoth, lest perauenture this &yogh;oure leue be maad hirtinge, `or sclaundre, to syke men, `or freele. 10   Sothli if ony man schal se him that hath kunnynge, restinge in a place wher ydols ben worschipid, wher his conscience, sith it is syk, schal not be edyfyed for to ete thingis offrid to ydols? 11   And the syke brothir, for whom Crist deyede, schal perische in thi kunnynge. 12   Forsoth thus &yogh;e synnynge `in to britheren, and smytinge hir syke conscience, synnen in Crist. 13   Wherfor if mete sclaundrith my brother, I schal not ete fleisch `in to withouten ende, lest I sclaundre my brothir.

CAP. IX.

1   Wher I am not fre? Am I not apostle? Wher I sy&yogh; not Crist Jhesu, oure Lord? Wher &yogh;e ben not my work in the Lord? 2   And thou&yogh; to othere I am not apostle, but nethelees to &yogh;ou I am; forwhy &yogh;e ben the sygnacle, `or litil signe, of myn apostilhed in the Lord. 3   My defence to hem that axen me, is this. 4   Wher we han not power for to ete and drynke? 5   Wher we han not power for to lede aboute a womman sistir, as and othere apostlis, and britheren of the Lord, and Cephas, `that is, Petre? 6   Or I aloone and Barnabas han not power for to worche thes thingis? 7   Who fi&yogh;teth, `or holdith kny&yogh;thod, ony tyme with his owne soudis? Who plauntith a vyne&yogh;erd, and etith not of `his fruyt? Who feedith, `or lesuwith, a floc, and etith not of the mylk of the flok? 8   Wher aftir man I seye thes thingis? wher and the lawe seith not thes thingis? 9   Forsoth it is writun in the lawe of Moyses, Thou schalt not bynde the mouth of the oxe threischinge, `or trauelynge. Whethir of oxen is charge to God? 10   Whethir for vs sothli `he seith thes thingis? Forwhi `for vs thei ben writun; for he that erith, owith to ere in hope, and he that threischith, `or trauelith, in hope for to perseyue fruitis. 11   Forsoth yf we sowen spiritual thingis to &yogh;ou, `it is not greet, if we repen &yogh;oure fleischly thingis? 12   If othere ben parceneris of &yogh;oure power, whi not `rathere we? But we vsen not this power, but we susteynen, `or suffren, alle thingis, that we &yogh;euen not lettinge, `or sclaundre, to the euangelie of Crist. 13   Witen &yogh;e not, for thei that wirchen in the sacrarie, `that is, a place where hooly thingis ben kept, eten

tho thingis that ben of the sacrarie, and that tho that seruen to the auter, taken part with the auter? 14   So and the Lord ordeynede to hem that tellen the gospel, for to lyue of the gospel. 15   Forsoth I vside `none of thes thingis; sothli I wroot not thes thingis, that thei be don so in me; forsoth it is good to me more for to deie, than that ony man avoyde my glorie. 16   Forwhi if I schal preche the gospel, glorie is not to me, forsoth nede lith to me; forsoth wo to me, if I `schal not euangelise. 17   Forsoth if I willinge do this thing, I haue mede; sothly if a&yogh;ens my wil, dispensacioun is bitake to me. 18   What therfore is my hyre, `or mede? That I preching the gospel, putte the gospel with oute spence `takynge, or sustenaunce therfore, that I mysvse not my power in the gospel. 19   Forwhi whanne I was fre of alle men, I made me seruaunt of alle men, that I schulde wynne mo men. 20   And to Jewis I am maad as a Jew, that I schulde wynne Jewis; 21   to hem that ben vndir the lawe, as I were vndir the lawe, whanne I was not vndir the lawe, that I schulde wynne hem that weren vndir the lawe; to hem that weren with oute the lawe, as I were withoute the lawe, whanne I was not withoute the lawe of God, but I was in the lawe of Crist, that I schulde wynne hem that weren with oute lawe. 22   I am maad syk to syke men, that I schulde wynne syke men; to alle men I am maad alle thingis, that I schulde make alle men saaf. 23   Forsoth I do alle thingis for the gospel, that I be maad parcener of it. 24   Witen &yogh;e not, that thei that rennen in a furlong, alle forsoth rennen, but oon takith the priys? So renne

&yogh;e, that &yogh;e catche. 25   Ech man that stryueth in fy&yogh;t, absteyneth him fro alle thingis; and thei forsoth, that thei take a coruptible crowne, `we forsothe vncorupt. 26   Therfore I renne so, not as into vncerteyn thing; thus I fi&yogh;te, not as betynge the eyr; but I chastise my body, 27   and brynge in to seruage; lest perauenture whanne I `haue prechid to othere, I my silf be maad reprouable. CAP. X.

1   Sotheli, britheren, I nyle &yogh;ou for to vnknowe, for alle oure fadris weren vndir cloude, and alle passiden the see; 2   and alle ben baptysid in Moyses, in the cloude and in the see; 3   and alle eeten the same spiritual breed, 4   and alle dronken the same spiritual drynke; forsoth thei dronken of the spiritual, a stoon folowynge hem; forsoth the stoon was Crist. 5   But not in ful manye of hem it was wel plesant to God; forwhi `thei ben cast doun in the desert. 6   Forsoth thes thingis ben don in figure of vs, that we ben not coueyteris of yuelis, as and thei coueitiden. 7   Neithir be &yogh;e maad ydolatreris, `that is, worschiperis of false mawmetis, as summe of hem; as it is writun, The peple sat for to ete and drynke, and thei `han risun vp for to pleie. 8   Neither do we fornycacioun, as summe of hem diden fornycacioun, and thre and twenty thousandis felden, `or deieden, in o day. 9   Neither tempte we Crist, as summe of hem temptiden, and perischeden of serpentis. 10   Neither grucche &yogh;e, as summe of hem grucchiden, and thei perischiden of a wastour, `or distrier. 11   Forsothe alle thes thingis felden to hem in figure; sothli thei ben writun to oure coreccioun, `or

amendynge, in to whom the endis of the world han comen. 12   `And so he that gessith him for to stonde, se, that he falle not. 13   Temptacioun take not &yogh;ou, no but mannus; forsoth God is trewe, the which schal not suffre &yogh;ou for to be temptid ouer `that that &yogh;e mown; but he schal make with temptacioun also puruyaunce, that &yogh;e mown susteyne. 14   Wherfore, &yogh;e moost dereworthe to me, fle fro worschipinge of ydols. 15   As to prudent men I speke, &yogh;e &yogh;ou silf deme that thing that I seye. 16   The cuppe of blessynge `the which we blessen, `wher it is not the comenynge of Cristis blood? and the breed which we breken, wher it is not the `delynge, or `part takynge, `of the body of the Lord? 17   For `o breed and o body we manye ben, alle we that taken part of o breed and of o cuppe. 18   Se &yogh;e Israel aftir the fleisch, wher thei that eten oostis, `or sacrifices, ben not parceneris of the auter? 19   What therfore seye I, that thing offrid to ydols is ony thing, or that the ydole is ony thing? 20   But tho thingis that hethene men offren, thei offren to deuelis, and not to God. Forsoth I nyle &yogh;ou for to be maad felowis of fendis; for &yogh;e mown not drynke the cuppe of the Lord, and the cuppe of fendis; 21   &yogh;e mown not be parceneris of the boord of the Lord, and of the boord of fendis. 22   Wher we `suwen by enuye the Lord? wher we ben strengere than he? Alle thingis ben leefful to me, but not alle thingis speden. 23   Alle thingis ben leefful, but not alle thingis edifyen. 24   No man seke that thing that is his owne, but that thing that is of another. 25   Al thing that cometh in the

bocherie, `ete &yogh;e, no thing axynge for conscience. 26   The erthe and the plente of it, is `the Lordis. 27   Forsoth if ony of vnfeithful, `or hethen men, clepith &yogh;ou to souper, and &yogh;e wolen go, al thing that is sett to &yogh;ou, `ete &yogh;e, nothing axynge for conscience. 28   If ony man sothli `schal seie, This thing is offrid to ydols, nyle &yogh;e ete, for him that schewide, and for conscience; 29   forsothe I seie not, thi conscience, but of anothir. Sothli wherto is my liberte, `or freedom, demyd of anothir mannus conscience? 30   Therfore if I take part with grace, what am I blasfemyd, `for that I do graces, `or thankyngis? 31   Therfore where &yogh;e eten, or drynken, or don any othir thing, do &yogh;e alle thingis in to glorie of God. 32   Be &yogh;e withoute offencioun, `or sclaundre, to Jewis, and hethene men, and to the chirche of God; 33   as and I by alle thingis plese to alle men, not sechinge what is profitable to me, but `that that to many men, that thei be maad saaf. CAP. XI.

1   Be &yogh;e `my foloweris, as and I of Crist. 2   Forsoth, britheren, I preise &yogh;ou, that bi alle thingis &yogh;e be myndeful of me; `as and I bitook to &yogh;ou my comaundementis, &yogh;e kepen. 3   Forsothe I wole `&yogh;ou for to wite, that Crist is the heed of ech man; forsoth the heed of the womman is the man; forsoth the heed of Crist, God. 4   Ech man preyinge, or prophesyinge, `the heed hilid, defoulith his heed. 5   Forsoth ech womman preiynge, or prophesyinge, `the heed not hilid, defoulith hir heed; forsoth it is oon, as &yogh;if sche be

maad ballid, `pollid, or clippid. 6   For if a womman be not veylid, `or keuerid, be she pollid; for if it is foul thing to a womman for to be pollid, or for to be maad ballid, veyle, `or hyde, she hir heed. 7   Sothly a man schal not veyle, `or hyde, his heed, for he is the ymage and glorie of God; forsothe a womman is the glorie of man. 8   Sothli a man is not of the womman, but the womman of the man. 9   `And forsothe the man is not maad for the womman, but the womman for the man. 10   Therfore the womman schal haue a veyle on hir heed, and for aungels. 11   Netheles neithir the man withouten womman, neither the womman withouten man, in the Lord. 12   Forwhi as the womman of man, so and man by woman; forsothe alle thingis of God. 13   &YOGH;e &yogh;ou silf deme; bicometh, `or bisemeth, it a womman not veylid for to preye God? 14   Neither the kynde it silf techith vs, forsoth that if a man norische long heer, it is yuel fame, `or sclaundre, to him; 15   but if a womman norische long heer, it is glorie to hir, for heeris ben &yogh;ouun to hir for veyle, `or keueryng. 16   Forsoth if ony man is seyn for to be ful of stryf `among &yogh;ou, we han not such custom, neither the chirche of God `hath sich. 17   Sothli this thing I comaunde, not preisynge, that &yogh;e comen to gidere not in to betere thing, but into worse. 18   First forsoth `&yogh;ou comynge to gidere into chirche, I heere `departyngis, or dissenciouns, for `to be, and of partye

I bileue. 19   Forwhi it bihoueth heresies for to be, that thei `the which ben prouyd, be maad knowun in &yogh;ou. 20   Therfore `&yogh;ou comynge to gidere into oon, now it is not for to ete the Lordis sopere; 21   forsoth ech man `bifore takith his sopere for to ete, and sothely anothir is hungrie, another forsoth is drunkyn. 22   Wher &yogh;e han not housis for to ete and drynke, or &yogh;e dispisen the chirche of God, and confounden hem that han not? What schal I seye to &yogh;ou? I preise &yogh;ou; in this thing I preise not. 23   Forsothe I haue takun of the Lord that thing, `the which and I haue bytakun to &yogh;ou. For the Lord Jhesu, in what ny&yogh;t he was bytrayed, took breed, 24   and `doynge graces, `or thankyngis, he brak, and seide, Take &yogh;e, and `ete &yogh;e; this is my body, the which schal be bitrayd for &yogh;ou; do &yogh;e this thing `in to my mynde. 25   Also and he took the cuppe, aftir he hath soupid, seiynge, This cuppe is the newe testament in my blood; do &yogh;e this thing, how ofte euere &yogh;e schulen drynke, in to my mynde. 26   Sothli how ofte euere &yogh;e schulen ete this breed, and schulen drynke the cuppe, &yogh;e schulen schewe the deeth of the Lord, til he come. 27   `And so who euere `schal ete the breed, or drynke the cuppe of the Lord vnworthily, he schal be gilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28   Forsoth proue a man him silf, and so ete he of `the ilke breed, and drynke of the cuppe. 29   Forsoth he that etith and drynkith vnworthily, etith and drynkith dom, `or dampnacioun, to hym, not wysely demynge the body of the Lord. 30   Therfore among &yogh;ou manye syke, and vnstronge, `or feble, and manye slepen, `or deien.

31   For if we demeden wysely vs silf, forsoth we schulden not be demed; 32   sothli the while we ben demed of the Lord, we ben chastysid, that we ben not dampned with this world. 33   `And so, my britheren, whanne &yogh;e comen to gidere for to ete, abyde &yogh;e to gidere. If ony man hungrith, ete he at hom, 34   that &yogh;e come not to gidere in to dom. Sothli I schal dispose othere thingis, whanne I schal come. CAP. XII.

1   Forsothe of spiritual thingis, britheren, I nyle `&yogh;ou for to vnknowe. 2   Sothly &yogh;e witen, for whanne &yogh;e weren hethen men, as &yogh;e weren ledd goynge to doumbe symylacris. 3   Therfore I make knowun to &yogh;ou, that no man spekinge in the spirit of God, seith departynge fro Jhesu; and no man may seye the Lord Jhesu is, no but in the Hooly Gost. 4   Sothli departingis of gracis ben, forsothe the same Spirit; and departyngis of seruyngis, 5   forsothe the same Lord; 6   and departingis of worchingis ben, forsoth the same God, that worchith alle thingis in alle thingis. 7   Forsoth to ech man the schewynge of spirit is &yogh;ouun to profyt. To anothir forsoth by spirit the word of wysdom is &yogh;ouun; 8   to anothir sothli the word of kunnynge, aftir the same spirit; 9   feith to another, in the same spirit; to another, grace of heelthis, in o spirit; 10   to another, the worchinge of vertues; to another, prophesye; to another, discrescioun, `or verrey knowynge, of spiritis; to another, kyndis of tungis, `or langagis; to another, interpretynge, `or expownyng, of wordis. 11   Forsoth alle thes thingis oon and the same spirit worchith, departynge to ech by him silf as he wole. 12   Sothli as ther is o body, and hath many membris, forsoth

alle the membris of the body, whanne thei ben manye, ben o body, so and Crist. 13   `And sotheli in o spirit alle we ben baptisid in to o body, either Jewis, either hethene, either seruauntis, either fre; and alle we `han drunken in o spirit. 14   Forwhi and the body is not o membre, but manye. 15   If the foot `schal seye, For I am not the honde, I am not of the body; not therfore `it is not of the body. 16   And if the eere `schal seye, For I am not the y&yogh;e, I am not of the body; not therfore `it is not of the body. 17   If al the body be y&yogh;e, where is heringe? and if al the body be heeringe, where is smellinge? 18   Now forsoth God hath put membris, and ech of hem in the body, as he wolde. 19   That if alle weren o membre, where the body? 20   But now sothli many membris, sothli o body. 21   Forsoth the y&yogh;e `schal not mowe seye to the hond, I haue no nede to thi werk; or eft the heed to the feet, &YOGH;e ben not necessarie to me. 22   But moche more tho that ben seyn for to be more syke, `or lowere, membris of the body, ben more nedeful; 23   and to hem that we gessen for to be vnnoblere membris of the body, we &yogh;yuen more honour `in cumpas; and tho membris that ben vnhonest, han more honeste. 24   Forsoth oure honest membris `of noon han nede; but God tempride the body, &yogh;yuynge more worschipe to it, 25   to whom it failide, that debaat be not in the body, but that the membris ben bisy into the same thing for ech othir. 26   And if o membre suffrith ony thing, alle membris suffren therwith; ethir if o membre glorieth, alle membris ioyen to gidere. 27   Forsoth &yogh;e ben the body of Crist, and membris of membre. 28   And sothli God puttide summe in the chirche, first apostlis, the secunde tyme prophetis,

the thridde techeris, aftirward vertues, aftirward graces of heelingis, helpingis, governaylis, `or gouernyngis, kyndis of langagis, interpretaciouns of wordis. 29   Wher alle apostlis? wher alle prophetis? wher alle techeris? 30   wher alle vertues? wher alle men han grace of heelingis? wher alle speken with langages? wher alle interpreten, `or expownen? 31   Forsoth sue &yogh;e the bettere gostli &yogh;yftis. And &yogh;it I schewe to &yogh;ou a more excellent, `or worthi, weye. CAP. XIII.

1   If I speke with tungis of men and aungels, `sothli I haue not charite, I am maad as bras sownnynge, or a symbal tynkynge. 2   And if I schal haue prophesye, and `haue knowun alle mysteries, and al kunnynge, `or science, and if I schal haue al feith, so that I `bere ouere hillis `fro o place to another, forsoth if I `schal not haue charite, I am no&yogh;t. 3   And if I schal departe alle my goodis into metis of pore men, and if I schal bytake my body, so that I brenne, forsothe if I `schal not haue charite, it profitith to me no thing. 4   Charite is pacient, it is benygne, `or of good will, charite enuyeth not, it doth not gyle, it is not inblowyn `with pride, 5   it is not ambicious, `or coueitous of worschipis, it sekith not tho thingis that ben her owne, it is not stirid to wraththe, 6   it thenkith not yuel, it ioyeth not in wickidnesse, forsoth it ioyeth togidere to treuthe; 7   it suffrith alle thingis, it bileueth alle thingis, it hopith alle thingis, it susteyneth alle thingis. 8   Charite fallith not down, where prophecyes schulen be voydid, ether langagis schulen ceesse, ether science schal be distroyed. 9   Forsoth of party we han

knowen, and of party we prophesien; 10   forsothe whanne that schal come that is perfyt, that thing that is of party, schal be avoydid. 11   Whanne I was a litil child, I spak as a litil child, I vndirstood as a litil child, I thou&yogh;te as a litil child; forsoth whanne I was maad man, I auoydide tho thingis that weren of a litil child. 12   Forsoth we seen now by a myrour in a derknesse, thanne forsothe face to face; now I knowe of party, `thanne forsoth I schal knowe, as and I am knowyn. 13   Now forsothe dwellen feith, hope, and charite, thes thre; forsoth the mooste of thes is charite. CAP. XIV.

1   Sue &yogh;e charite, loue &yogh;e spiritual thingis, more forsoth that &yogh;e prophecie. 2   Sothli he that spekith in tunge, spekith not to men, but to God; forsoth no man heerith. Sothli the spirit spekith mysteries. 3   Forwhi he that prophecieth, spekith to men, to edificacioun, and monestynge, and comfortynge, `or solasynge. 4   He that spekith in tunge, edifieth him silf; forsoth he that prophecieth, edyfieth the chirche of God. 5   Forsothe I wole `&yogh;ou alle for to speke in tungis, `but more `for to prophecie. Forwhi he that prophecieth, is more than he that spekith in tungis, `or langagis; no but perauenture he interprete, `or declare, that the chirche take edificacioun. 6   Now forsoth, britheren, if I schal come to &yogh;ou, spekynge in tungis, what schal I profyte, no but if I schal speke to &yogh;ou ether in reuelacioun, ethir in science, ether in prophecie, ether in techinge? 7   Nethelees tho thingis that ben with oute soule, `or lyf, &yogh;yuynge voyces, ether pype, ether harpe, no but thei

schulen &yogh;yue distinccioun of sownyngis, how schal it be kowd that is songun, ether `that that is harpid? 8   `And sothli if the trumpe &yogh;yue vncerteyn vois, who schal make `him silf redy to bateil? 9   So and `no but &yogh;e schulen &yogh;yue an opyn word by tunge, how schal `that that is seid be knowun? Sothli &yogh;e schulen be spekynge in the eiris, 10   `so manye as ben tungis, `or langagis, in this world, and no thing is withoute voys. 11   Therfore if I `schal not knowe the vertu of vois, I schal be to him, to whom I schal speke, a barbar, `or not vndirstondun; and he that spekith, to me `a barbar. 12   So and &yogh;e, for &yogh;e ben loueris of spiritis, to edificacioun of the chirche seke that &yogh;e be plenteuous. 13   And therfore he that spekith in tunge, preie, that he interprete, `or expowne. 14   Forwhi if I preye in tunge, my spirit preieth; forsoth my mynde, `or resoun, is withoute fruyt. 15   Therfore what thing is? I schal preie in spirit, I schal preie and in mynde, `or resoun; I schal seie salm in spirit, I schal seye salm in mynde, `or resoun. 16   Forwhi if thou `schalt blesse in spirit, who fulfillith the place of an ydiote, `or vnlerid man, how schal he seie Amen vpon thi blessing, for he woot not, what thou seist? 17   Forwhi thou sothli doist wel gracis, `or thankyngis, but another man is not edified. 18   I do graces to my God, for I speke in the langagis of alle &yogh;ou; 19   but in the chirche I wole speke fyue wordis in my witt, that and I teche othere men, than ten thousandis of wordis in tunge. 20   Britheren, nyle &yogh;e be maad children in wittis, but in malice `be &yogh;e litil; forsoth

in wittis `be &yogh;e perfyt. 21   Sothly in the lawe it is writun, For in othere tungis and othere lippis I schal speke to this peple, and nethir so `it schal heere me, seith the Lord. 22   `And so langagis ben in to tokene, not to feithful men, but to men out of the feith; forsoth prophesyes not to men out of feith, but to feithful men. 23   Therfore if al the chirche come to gidere in to oon, and alle men speke in tungis, sothli if ydiotes entren, `or men out of the feith, wher thei `seyn not, What ben &yogh;e wood? 24   Forsoth if alle men prophecien, forsoth if ony vnfeithful man or ydiot entre, he is conuict of alle, he is wyseli demed of alle. 25   Forsoth the hid thingis of his herte ben knowen, and so he fallinge doun `in to the face, schal worschipe God, schewinge verily that God `in &yogh;ou is. 26   Therfor, britheren, what is? Whanne &yogh;e comen to gidere, ech of &yogh;ou hath a salm, he hath techinge, he hath apocalips, `or reuelacioun, he hath tunge, he hath `interpretynge, `or expownynge; be alle thingis don to edificacioun. 27   Whethir a man spekith in tunge, aftir tweyne, `or as moche thre, and by partis, that oon interprete. 28   Forsoth if ther be not an interpretour, be he stille, `or speke not, in the chirche; sothli speke he to him silf, and to God. 29   Sothli prophetis tweyne or thre seye, and othere wysely deme. 30   That if ony thing schal be schewid to `oon sittinge, `the formere be stille. 31   Forsoth &yogh;e mown prophecie alle, by ech bi him silf, that alle men lerne, and alle moneste. 32   And the spiritis of prophetis

ben sugetis to prophetis; 33   sothli God is not of dissencioun, but of pees; as and in alle chirchis of hooly men I teche. 34   Wymmen in chirchis be stille; sothli it is not suffrid to hem for to speke, but for to be suget, as the lawe seith. 35   Forsoth if thei wolen ony thing lerne, at hom axe thei her hosebondis; forsoth it is foul thing to womman for to speke in chirche. 36   Whether of &yogh;ou the word of God cam forth, or to &yogh;ou aloone it cam? 37   If ony man is seyn for to be a prophete, `or spiritual, knowe he tho thingis that I wryte to &yogh;ou, for thei ben the comaundementis of the Lord. 38   Forsothe if ony man vnknowith, he schal be vnknowen. 39   `And so, bretheren, loue &yogh;e for to prophecie, and nyle &yogh;e forbede for to speke in tungis. 40   Forsoth be alle thingis don honestli, and vp ordre in &yogh;ou. CAP. XV.

1   Sotheli, britheren, I make the gospel knowun to &yogh;ou, `the which I haue prechid to &yogh;ou, the which and &yogh;e han takun, in which and &yogh;e stonden, 2   by which and &yogh;e ben saued; by which resoun I haue prechid to &yogh;ou, if &yogh;e hoolden, if &yogh;e han not bileuyd ydeli. 3   Forsoth I bitook to &yogh;ou in the firste that thing `that and I took; for Crist was deed for oure synnes, vp the scriptures; 4   and for he was biried, and for he roos a&yogh;en in the thridde day, vp the scripturis; 5   and for he was seyn to Cephas, `that is, Petre, and aftir `this thing to enleuene; 6   aftirward he was seyn to mo than fyue hundrid britheren to gidere, of the whiche manye dwellen

`til to &yogh;it, forsothe summe han slepte, `or dyede; 7   aftirward he was seyn to James, aftirward to alle apostlis. 8   Forsoth at the laste of alle, he was seyn and to me, as to a mysborn child. 9   Forsoth I am the leeste of apostlis, that am not worthi for to be clepid apostle, for I pursuede the chirche of God. 10   Forsothe by the grace of God, I am that thing that I am; and his grace was not voyde, `or ydel, in me. But I trauelide more plenteuously than alle thei; forsoth not I, but the grace of God with me. 11   Sothli whether I, whether thei, so we han prechid, and so &yogh;e han bileuyd. 12   Forsoth if Crist is prechid, that he roos a&yogh;en fro deed spiritis, hou `summe seyn `in &yogh;ou, for the a&yogh;en rysinge of deed men is not? 13   Forsoth if the a&yogh;en rysinge of deed men is not, nether Crist roos. 14   Sothli if Crist roos not, oure prechinge is veyn, oure feith is veyn. 15   Forsoth and we ben found fals witnessis of God, for we han seyd witnessynge a&yogh;ens God, that he reyside Crist, whom he reiside not, if deed men rysen not a&yogh;en. 16   Forwhy if deede men rysen not a&yogh;en, nether Crist roos a&yogh;en; that if Crist roos not a&yogh;en, 17   oure feith is veyn; forsoth &yogh;it &yogh;e ben in &yogh;oure synnes. 18   Therefore and thei that slepten, `or dyeden, in Crist, `han perischid. 19   If in this lyf oonly we ben hopinge in Crist, we ben more wrecchis than alle men. 20   Now forsoth Crist roos a&yogh;en, `fro deede men, the firste fruytis of slepynge men, `or deyinge; 21   for sothli `bye a man deeth, and bye a man a&yogh;en rysinge of deed men. 22   And as in Adam alle men deyen, so and in Crist alle men schulen be quykenyd. 23   Ech man forsothe in his ordre; first fruytis, Crist, aftirward thei

that ben of Crist, that bileueden in the comynge `of Crist; 24   aftirward an ende, whanne he schal bitake the kyngdom to God and to the fadir, whanne he schal auoyde al princehede, and power, and vertu. 25   Sothli it bihoueth him for to regne, til he putte alle his enemyes vndir his feet. 26   Forsoth at the laste, the enemy deeth schal be distroyed; forsoth he hath maad suget alle thingis vndir his feet. 27   Forsoth whanne he seith, alle thingis ben sugetis to him, withouten doute out taken him that sugettide alle thingis to him. 28   Sothli whanne alle thingis schulen be suget to hym, thanne he the sone schal be suget to hym, that sugettide alle thingis to him, that God be alle thingis in alle thingis. 29   Ellis what schulen thei don, that ben baptysid for deede men, if in al manere deede men rysen not a&yogh;en? 30   Wherto and we ben in perel euery hour? 31   Ech day I deie for &yogh;oure glorie, britheren, the which glorie I haue in `Crist Jhesu oure Lord. 32   If vp man I haue fou&yogh;te to beestis at Epheci, what `profitith it to me, if deede men rysen not a&yogh;en? Ete we, and drynke we, `to morwe forsoth we schulen deye. 33   Nyle &yogh;e be disseyued; forsoth yuele spechis corumpen, `or distroyen, goode thewis, `or vertues. 34   Awake &yogh;e, iuste men, and nyle &yogh;e synne; forsothe summe han ignoraunce of God, to reuerence I speke to &yogh;ou. 35   But `summan seith, How schulen deede men ryse a&yogh;en, or in what maner body schulen thei come? 36   Vnwyse man, that thing that thou sowist, is not quykenyd, no but it deie first; 37   and that thing that thou sowist, not the body that

is to come thou sowist, but a nakid corn, as of whete, or of sum of the othir; 38   forsothe God &yogh;yueth to it a body as he wole, and to ech of seedis the propre body. 39   Not ech fleisch the same fleisch, but `forsothe anothir of men, anothir sothli of beestis, anothir forsothe of briddis, anothir of fischis. 40   And heuenly bodyes, and ertheli bodyes; but forsothe anothir glorie of heuenli bodies, anothir forsoth of ertheli. 41   Anothir clerenesse of the sunne, anothir clerenesse of the mone, and anothir clerenesse of the sterris; forsothe a sterre diuersith fro a sterre in clerenesse. 42   So and the a&yogh;en rysinge of deede men. It is sowun in corupcioun, it schal ryse in vncorupcioun; 43   it is sowun in vnnobley, it schal ryse in glorie; it is sowun in infirmyte, it schal ryse in vertu; 44   it is sowun a beestly body, it schal ryse a spiritual body. If there is a beestly body, ther is and a spiritual body; as it is writun, 45   The firste man Adam is maad in to a soule lyuynge, the laste Adam in to a spirit quykenynge. 46   But not first that that is spiritual, but that that is beestlich, aftirward that that is spiritual. 47   The firste man of erthe, ertheli; the secunde man of heuene, heuenli. 48   What maner the ertheli man, such the ertheli men; and what maner the heuenli man, such the heuenli men. 49   Therfore as we han born the ymage of the ertheli man, bere we and the ymage of the heuenly. 50   Britheren, I seye this thing, for fleisch and blood mown not welde the kyngdom of God, nethir corupcioun schal weelde incorupcioun. 51   Lo! I seye to &yogh;ou mysterie, `or priuyte, of hooly thingis. Forsothe alle we schulen ryse a&yogh;en, but not alle we

schulen be inchaungid; 52   in a moment, in the smytinge of an y&yogh;e, in the laste trumpe; forsoth the trumpe schal synge, and deede men `that ben `in Crist schulen ryse a&yogh;en, `the firste incorupt, and we schulen be inchaungid. 53   Forsoth it byhoueth this coruptible thing clothe incorupcioun, and this deedly thing for to clothe vndeedlynesse. 54   Forsothe whanne this deedly thing schal clothe vndeedlynesse, thanne schal be maad the word that is writun, Deeth is sopun vp in victorie. 55   Deeth, wher is thi victorie? 56   Deeth, wher is thi pricke? Forsoth the pricke of deeth is synne; forsoth the vertu of synne is lawe. 57   Forsoth thankingis to God, that &yogh;af to vs victorie by oure Lord Jhesu Crist, `that was deed `for vs. 58   `And so, my dereworthe britheren, `be &yogh;e stidefast and vnmouable, beynge plentenous in work of the Lord, euermore witynge that &yogh;oure trauel is not ydel in the Lord. CAP. XVI.

1   Forsothe of the collectis, or gaderingis of moneye, that ben maad in to seyntis, as Y ordeyned in the chirchis of Galathi, 2   so and do &yogh;e by oon of the woke. Ech of &yogh;ou kepe, or leye vp, at hym silf, kepinge that that `schal plese to him, that not whanne I schal come, thanne be maad collectis. 3   Forsothe whanne I schal be present, whom &yogh;e schulen proue bi epistlis, hem I schal sende for to perfytly bere &yogh;oure grace in to Jerusalem. 4   For if it schal be worthi that and I go, thei schulen go with me. 5   Sothli I schal come to &yogh;ou, whanne I schal passe by Macedonye; forwhi I schal passe by Macedonye. 6   Sothli perauenture I

schal dwelle at &yogh;ou, or also dwelle by wyntir, that and &yogh;e lede me whidir euere I schal go. 7   Sothli I wole not now se &yogh;ou in passynge, forsothe I hope `sum what of tyme for to dwelle at &yogh;ou, if God schal suffre. 8   Forsoth I schal dwelle at Effecy, til to Witsuntide. 9   Sothli a greet dore and euident, `or opyn, is openyd to me, and manye aduersaries. 10   Sothli if Tymothe schal come, se &yogh;e that he be withoute drede at &yogh;ou, for he worchith the work of the Lord, as and I. 11   Therfore no man dispise him; forsoth lede &yogh;e him in pees, that he come to me; forsoth I abyde hym with britheren. 12   Forsoth, britheren, I make knowun to &yogh;ou of Apollo, for I preiede hym moche, that he schulde come to &yogh;ou, with britheren. And sothli it was not his wille, `that he schulde come now; forsoth he schal come, whanne it schal be able to hym. 13   Wake &yogh;e, and `stonde &yogh;e in the feith; do &yogh;e manly, and `be &yogh;e coumfortid in the Lord, 14   and be alle &yogh;oure thingis don in charite. 15   Forsothe, britheren, I beseche &yogh;ou, &yogh;e han knowen the hous of Stheuene, the womman, and of Fortunati, and Acaye, for thei ben the firste fruytis of Acaye, and in to mynysterie of seyntis thei han ordeyned hem silf; 16   that and &yogh;e be sugettis to such, and to ech worchinge to gidere and trauelinge. 17   Forsothe I enioye in the presence of Stheuene, `the womman, and of Fortunate, and Acaye; for thei fulfilliden that thing that faylide to &yogh;ou; 18   forsoth thei han `fulfillid and my spirit and &yogh;oure. Therfore knowe &yogh;e hem, that ben suche maner men. 19   Alle the chirchis of Asye greeten &yogh;ou wel. Aquyla and Prisca greeten &yogh;ou moche in the Lord, at `the whiche and I am herborid, `with her homely chirche. 20   Alle britheren greeten

&yogh;ou wel. Greeteth &yogh;e wel to gidere in hooly coss. 21   My greetynge by Poulis hond. 22   If ony man loue not oure Lord Jhesu Crist, be he cursid, Maranatha, `that is, in the comynge of the Lord. 23   The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist be with &yogh;ou. 24   My charite be with &yogh;ou alle in Crist Jhesu oure Lord. Amen. Here endith the firste pistle to Corinthis, and now bigynneth the prolog to the secunde.

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