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Wycliffe (Early) [1850], THE HOLY BIBLE, CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WITH THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS, IN THE EARLIEST ENGLISH VERSIONS MADE FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BY JOHN WYCLIFFE AND HIS FOLLOWERS: Edited by THE REV. JOSIAH FORSHALL, F.R.S. etc. Late Fellow of Exeter College, and SIR FREDERIC MADDEN, K.H. F.R.S. etc. Keeper of the MSS. in the British Museum (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, OXFORD) [word count] [B02010].
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II. CORINTHIANS. Prolog to the secunde pistle to Corinthijs. Aftir penaunce don, a comfortable pistle he wrytith to hem fro Troade, by Tite; and preisynge hem he counceilith to betre, schewynge hem `y sorowid, but sothli amendid. Ende of the prolog; bigynnynge the secunde pistle. The secunde epistle to Corinthijs. CAP. I.

1   Poul, apostle of Jhesu Crist, bi the wille of God, and Tymothe, brothir, to the chirche of God that is at Corinthi, with alle seyntis that ben in al Acaye, grace to &yogh;ou, 2   and pees of God oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. 3   Blessid be God and fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, fadir of mercies, and God of al comfort, `or solace, 4   that comfortith vs `in al

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oure tribulacioun, that and we mown comforte hem, that ben in al pressure, `or ouerleyinge, by the exortacioun, `or monestynge, by which and we ben monestid of God. 5   For as the passiouns of Crist ben plenteuous in vs, so and by Crist oure coumfort is plenteuous. 6   Forsoth wher we ben trowblid, `or pursuwed, for &yogh;oure techinge and helthe, ethir we ben comfortid, for &yogh;oure comfort, ethir we ben monestid, for &yogh;oure monestinge and heelthe. The which worchith in &yogh;ou the suffryng of the same passiouns, the whiche and we suffren, 7   that oure hope be sadd for &yogh;ou; witynge for as &yogh;e ben felowis of passiouns, so &yogh;e schulen be and of comfort. 8   Forsothe, britheren, we wolen `not &yogh;ou for to vnwite of oure tribulacioun, that is don in Asye; for ouer maner we ben greuyd aboue vertu, `or my&yogh;te, so that it anoy&yogh;ede vs, &yogh;he, for to lyue. 9   But we silf in vs silf hadden answere of deeth, that we be not tristinge in vs silf, but in God that reysith deede men. 10   The which delyuerede vs, `and delyuereth fro so greet perelis, in to whom we hopen, for and &yogh;it he schal delyuere, 11   `helpynge and &yogh;ou in prayere for vs; that of the persoones of manye faces of that &yogh;yuynge that is in &yogh;ou, by manye parceneris, `graces, or thankyngis, ben don to God for vs. 12   Forwhi oure glorie is this, the witnessinge of oure conscience, that in symplenesse and clennesse of God, and not in fleischly wysdom, but in the grace of God, we lyuen in this world, forsoth more plenteuously to &yogh;ou. 13   Sothli we wryten not othere thingis, than tho that &yogh;e han rad and knowen, forsoth I hope that til to the ende &yogh;e schulen knowe, 14   as and &yogh;e

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han knowen vs of party; for we ben &yogh;oure glorie, `and &yogh;e oure in the day of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. 15   And in this tristnynge I wolde firste come to &yogh;ou, that &yogh;e hadden the secunde grace, 16   and `that I schulde `by &yogh;ou passe in to Macedonye, and eft fro Macedonye `I schulde come to &yogh;ou, and of &yogh;ou be ledd in to Judee. 17   Forsoth whanne I wolde this thing, wher I vside li&yogh;tnesse, or tho thingis that I thenke, I thenke aftir the fleisch, that `at me be, `is and not, or &yogh;he and nay? 18   Forsoth God is trewe, for oure word `the which was at &yogh;ou, `ther is not in it is and nay, but `in it is is, `that is, treuthe. 19   Sotheli Jhesus Crist, the sone of God, the which is prechid in &yogh;ou by vs, by me, and Syluan, and Tymothe, ther was not in him is and nay, but `in hym is was, `that is, stedefast treuthe. 20   Forsoth how many euere ben biheestis of God, in him `is, that is, ben fulfillid. Therefore and by him we seyn amen to God, to oure ioye. 21   `The which sothli confermeth vs with &yogh;ou in Crist, and the which God anoyntide vs, 22   and that markide vs, and &yogh;af `a wed, `or eernes, of the spirit in oure hertis. 23   Forsoth I inclepe God witnesse `in to my soule, that I sparinge &yogh;ou cam not ouer Corinthe; not for we ben lordis of &yogh;oure feith, but we ben helperis of &yogh;oure ioye; forwhi thorw bileue &yogh;e stonden. CAP. II.

1   Forsoth I ordeynede this ilke thing at me, that I schulde not come eftsoone in to sorwe to &yogh;ou. 2   Sothli if I make &yogh;ou

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sori, `or heuy, and who is he that gladdith me, no but he that is sorowful of me? 3   And this same thing I wroot to &yogh;ou, that whanne I schal come, I haue not sorwe vp sorwe, `of hem of `the whiche it bihofte me for to ioye. Tristynge in &yogh;ou alle, for my ioye is of &yogh;ou alle. 4   For whi of moche tribulacioun and angwische of herte I wroot to &yogh;ou by manye teeris, `that &yogh;e be not sori, but that &yogh;e wite what charite I haue more plenteuously in &yogh;ou. 5   Forsoth if ony man hath maad me sorwful, he hath not maad me sorwful but in party, that I charge, `or diseese, not &yogh;ou alle. 6   This blamynge that is maad of many, sufficith to him, that is such maner man; 7   so that a&yogh;enward &yogh;e &yogh;yue more and comforte, lest perauenture he that is such maner man, be sopun vp, `or dispeire, by more greet heuynesse. 8   For which thing I biseche &yogh;ou, that &yogh;e conferme charite in to him. 9   Forsoth therfore and I wroot, `that I knowe &yogh;oure asayinge, wher in alle thingis &yogh;e ben obedyent. 10   Forsoth to whom &yogh;e han `ony thing &yogh;ouen, and I. Forwhi and I that I &yogh;af, `if I ony thing &yogh;af, haue &yogh;ouun for &yogh;ou in the persoone of Crist, that we be not disseyued of Sathanas; 11    sothli we `vnknowen not his thou&yogh;tis. 12   Forsoth whanne I hadde comen to Trowade for the gospel of Crist, and a dore was openyd to me in the Lord, 13   I hadde not reste to my spirit, for that I fond not my brothir Tite, but I seyinge to hem far wel, passide into Macedonye. 14   Therfor thankingis to God,

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that euermore makith vs to haue victorie in Crist Jhesu, and schewith by vs the odour of his knowynge in ech place; 15   for we ben the good odour, `or sauour, of Crist to God, in thes that ben maad saaf, and in thes that perischen. 16   `To othere sothli odour of deeth in to deeth, to othere forsoth odour of lyf into lyf. And to thes thingis who so able? 17   Sothli we ben not as ful manye, auoutrynge the word of God, but of clennesse, but as of God, bifore God in Crist `we speken. CAP. III.

1   Bigynne we eftsoone for to comende, `or preise, vs silf? or wher we neden, as summe, preisynge lettris to &yogh;ou, or of &yogh;ou? 2   &YOGH;e ben oure pistle, writun in &yogh;oure hertis, the which is kowd and radd of alle men; 3   &yogh;e maad opyn, for &yogh;e ben the pistle of Crist mynistrid of vs, and writun, not with enke, but by the spirit of quyk God; not in stoony tablis, but in fleischly tablis of herte. 4   Forsoth we han such trist by Crist to God; 5   not that we ben sufficient for to thenke ony thing of vs, as of vs, but oure sufficience is of God. 6   The which and made vs able mynistris of the newe testament, not bi lettre, but by spirit; for the lettre sleith, forsoth the spirit quykeneth. 7   For if the mynistracioun of deeth defformyd by lettris in stoones was in glorie, so that the children of Israel my&yogh;ten not biholde in to the face of Moyses, for the glorie of his cheere, the which glorie is auoydid, 8   hou not more the mynistracioun of spirit schal be in glorie? 9   Forwhi if the mynistracioun of dampnacioun is in glorie, moche more the mynisterie, `or seruynge, of ri&yogh;twysnesse is plenteuous in glorie.

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10   Forwhi nether `that that was cleer `in this part, `was glorified for excellent glorie; sothly if `that that is auoydid, 11   is bi glorie, moche more `that that dwellith is in glorie. 12   Therfore we hauynge such hope, vsen moche trist; 13   and not as Moyses puttide a veyl on his face, that the children of Israel schulde not byholde in to his face, the which veyl is auoydid. 14   But the wittis of hem ben astoneyed; sothli til in to this day the same veyl in redinge of the oolde testament dwellith `not schewid, for in Crist it is auoydid, but til in to this day, 15   whanne Moyses is radd, the veyl is putt vpon her hertis. 16   Forsoth whanne Israel schal be conuertid to God, the veyl schal be don awey. 17   Forsoth the Lord is spirit; forsoth where is the spirit of God, there is liberte. 18   Forsoth alle we with schewid face biholdinge the glorie of the Lord, ben transformyd into the same ymage, fro clerenesse into clerenesse, as of the spirit of the Lord. CAP. IV.

1   Therfore we hauynge this administracioun, `or office, vp which we han getun mercy, 2   faylen not, but don awey the priuey thingis of schame, not walkynge in sutil gyle, nether auoutrynge the word of God, but in schewinge of treuthe comendinge vs silf to ech conscience of men bifore God. 3   For if also oure gospel is keuerid, `or hid, in these that perischen it is keuerid; 4   in whiche the God of this world hath blyndid the soules of men out of the bileue, `or vnfeithful men, that the li&yogh;tnynge of the gospel of the glorie of Crist, that is the ymage of

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God inuysible, schyne not. 5   Sothli we prechen not vs silf, but Jhesu Crist oure Lord; forsothe vs &yogh;oure seruauntis by Jhesu. 6   For God, that seide the ly&yogh;t for to schyne of derknessis, he hath ynli&yogh;tid in oure hertis, to the illumynynge of the science of the cleernesse of God, into the face of Jhesu Crist. 7   Forsothe we han this tresour in brotil vesselis, that the hi&yogh;nesse be of Goddis vertu, and not of vs. 8   In alle thingis we suffren tribulacioun, but we ben not `maad streit; we ben maad pore, but we ben not distroyed; we suffren persecucioun, 9   but we ben not forsaken; we ben maad lowe, but we ben not confoundid; we ben cast down, but we perischen not; 10   euermore beringe aboute the mortifyinge of Jhesu Crist in oure body, that and the lyf of Jhesu be schewid in oure bodies. 11   Sothli euermore we that lyuen, ben takun in to deeth for Jhesu, that and the lyf of Jhesu be schewid in oure deedly fleisch. 12   Therfore deeth worchith in vs, lyf sothli in &yogh;ou. 13   Forsoth hauynge the same spirit of feith, as it is writun, I haue bileued, for which thing I spak; and we bileuen, for which thing and we speken; 14   witynge for he that reiside Jhesu, schal reise and vs with Jhesu, and schal ordeyne vs with &yogh;ou. 15   Sothli alle thingis for &yogh;ou, that grace beynge plenteuous by manye in doynge of thankingis be plenteuous into glorie of God. 16   For which thing we faylen not, but thou&yogh; `the ilke that is withouteforth, oure man be coruptid; nethelees that man that is withinne forth, is renewid,

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`or maad newe a&yogh;en, fro day into day. 17   Forsoth that that is `in present, `or now, `a litil moment lastynge, and li&yogh;t, `or esy, thing of oure tribulacioun, worchith ouer manere, `or mesure, into hi&yogh;nesse the euerelasting wei&yogh;te of glorie in vs, 18   vs not biholdynge tho thingis that ben seyn, but tho that ben not seyn. Sothli tho thingis that ben seyn, ben temperal, `or durynge by short tyme; forsothe tho thingis that ben not seyn, ben euerlastinge, `or withouten ende. CAP. V.

1   Sotheli we witen, for if oure erthely hous of this dwellyng be dissolued, that we han a bildyng of God, an hous not maad by hondis, euerlastinge in heuenes. 2   Forwhi and in this thing we mornen, coueitynge for to be clothid aboue oure dwellinge of heuene; 3   if netheles we ben founden clothid, and not nakid. 4   Forwhi and we that ben in this tabernacle, sorwen `with inneforth greuyd, for that we wolen not be dispoylid, but be clothid aboue; that `the ilke thing that is deedli, be sopun vp of lyf. 5   Forsothe he that makith vs into this thing, is God, that &yogh;af to vs a wedd, `or eernes, of spirit. 6   Therfore we beynge hardy alle gatis, and witinge for the whyle we ben in this body, we gon in pilgrymage fro the Lord; forsoth we walken by feith, 7   and not by cleer si&yogh;te. 8   Forsoth we ben hardy, and han good wille, more for to be in pilgrymage fro the body, and for to be present to God. 9   And therfore we stryuen, whether absent, whethir present, for to plese hym. 10   Forsothe it byhoueth vs alle

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for to be schewid bifore the trone of Crist, that euery man resceyue, `or telle a&yogh;en, the propre thingis of body, as he hath don, ether good, ethir yuel. 11   Therfore we witynge the drede of the Lord, softly mouen, `or counceilen, to men, forsoth to God we ben opyn; sothly I hope, and in &yogh;oure consciencis vs for `to be knowun. 12   We comenden not vs silf eftsoone to &yogh;ou, but we &yogh;yuen to &yogh;ou occacioun for to glorie for vs, that &yogh;e haue to hem that glorien in the face, and not in the herte. 13   Sothli wher we by mynde, `or resoun, passen to God, wher we ben sobre to &yogh;ou? 14   Sothli the charite of Crist dryueth vs; gessinge, `or demynge, this thing, for if oon is deed for alle, therfore alle ben deede. 15   And Crist deyde for alle, that and thei that lyuen, lyue not now to hem silf, but to him that deyede for hem, and roos a&yogh;en. 16   `And so we fro this tyme `han knowe no man vp the fleisch; `and if we knowen Crist vp the fleisch, but ri&yogh;t now we `han not knowen. 17   Therfore if ony newe creature is in Crist, oolde thingis han passid, and lo! alle thingis ben maad newe. 18   Forsothe alle thingis of God, the which reconcilede, `or acordide, vs to him by Crist, and &yogh;af to vs the mynisterie, `or seruyse, of reconcilinge. 19   Sothli for God was in Crist, reconcilynge to him the world, not rettinge to hem her giltis, and puttide in vs the word of reconcilinge. 20   Therfore we `ben sett in legacie, `or message, for Crist, as God monestinge by vs; we bisechen &yogh;ou for Crist, be &yogh;e reconcilid to God. 21   God the fadir made him the synne

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for vs, `that is, redempcioun, or sacrifice for synne, the which knew not synne, that we schulde be maad ri&yogh;twysnesse of God in hym. CAP. VI.

1   Forsothe we helpinge monestyn, that &yogh;e resceyuen not the grace of God in veyn. 2   Sothli he seith, In tyme accept, `or wel plesynge, I haue herd thee, and in the day of helthe I haue helpid thee. Lo! now a tyme acceptable, lo! now a day of heelthe. 3   `To no man &yogh;yuynge ony offencioun, `or hurtynge, that oure mynisterie, `or seruyse, be not reprouyd; 4   but in alle thingis &yogh;yue we vs silf as mynistris of God, in moche pacience, in tribulaciouns, and in nedis, 5   in angwischis, in betyngis, `or scorgingis, in prisouns, in dissenciouns with ynne forth, in trauelis, in wakyngis, 6   in fastingis, in chastite, in science, `or kunnynge, in long abydinge, in swetnesse, in the Hooly Goost, in charite not feyned, 7   in the word of treuthe, in the vertu of God; by armers of ri&yogh;twysnesse on the ri&yogh;t half and left half; 8   by glorie and vnnobley; by yuel fame and good fame; as disseyueris, and trewe men; as thei that ben vnknowen, and knowun; as men deyinge, and `lo! 9   we lyuen; as chastisid, and not maad deed; 10   as sorowful, forsoth euermore ioyinge; as `hauynge nede, `or as nedy men, sothly makynge manye riche; as no thing hauynge, and weldinge alle thingis. 11   A! &yogh;e Corynthis, oure mouth is opyn to &yogh;ou, oure herte is alargid; 12   `be &yogh;e not maad streit in vs, but `be &yogh;e maad streit in &yogh;oure entrailis. 13   Forsothe we hauynge the same reward, I seye as to sones, and be &yogh;e alargid. 14   Nyle &yogh;e lede &yogh;ok with vnfeithful

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men. Sothli what partynge, `or comunynge, of ri&yogh;twysnesse with wickidnesse? or what felowschip of li&yogh;t to derknessis? 15   sothli what acordinge of Crist to Belial? or what part of a feithful, `or cristen man, with vnfeithful, `or hethene? 16   but what consent to the temple of God with ydols? Forsoth &yogh;e ben the temple of quyk God, as the Lord seith, For I schal dwelle in hem, `and I schal walken in; and I schal be the God of hem, and thei schulen be to me a peple. 17   For which thing go &yogh;e out of the myddel of hem, and be &yogh;e departid, seith the Lord, and touche &yogh;e not vnclene thing; 18   and I schal resceyue &yogh;ou, and I schal be to &yogh;ou in to a fadir, and &yogh;e schulen be to me into sones and dou&yogh;tris, seith the Lord almy&yogh;ti. CAP. VII.

1   Therfore, moost dereworthe britheren, we hauynge thes &yogh;iftis, clense vs fro alle filthe of fleisch and spirit, perfytli makynge halowynge in the drede of `the Lord. 2   Take &yogh;e vs; we han hurt no man, we han corupt no man, we han bigylid no man. 3   I seye not for &yogh;oure condempnynge; forsoth I seide bifore, that &yogh;e ben in oure hertis, for to deie to gidere, and lyue to gidere. 4   Moche trist is to me anentis &yogh;ou, moche gloriynge is to me for &yogh;ou. I am fulfillid with comfort, I abounde, `or am plenteuous, in ioye in al oure tribulacioun. 5   Forwhi and whanne we hadden comen to Macedonye, oure fleisch hadde no reste, but we suffriden al tribulacioun; forsoth withouteforth, fi&yogh;tingis, `with ynneforth, dredis. 6   But he that comfortith meeke men, God comfortide vs in the comynge of Tyte. 7   Forsoth not oonli in the comynge of him, but also in the comfort by which he `comfortide

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me in &yogh;ou, tellinge to vs &yogh;oure desyr, &yogh;oure wepinge, &yogh;oure loue for me, so that I ioyede more. 8   For `and if I made &yogh;ou sori in `a pistle, now it rewith `me not; and if it rewide, I seynge that thou&yogh; I made &yogh;ou sory `in that pistle at an hour, now `haue I ioye; 9   not for &yogh;e weren maad sorowful, but for &yogh;e weren maad sorowful to penaunce. Sothli &yogh;e ben maad sory aftir God, that in no thing &yogh;e suffre peirement of vs. 10   Forsoth that sorwe that is aftir God, worchith penaunce in to stedefast heelthe; forsoth sorwe of the world worchith deeth. 11   Lo! sotheli this same thing, &yogh;ou for to be sorowful aftir God, how moche bisynesse it worchith in &yogh;ou; but defending, but indignacioun, but drede, but desyr, but loue, but veniaunce. In alle thingis &yogh;e han &yogh;ouun &yogh;ou silf for to be vndefoulid in cause, `or nede. 12   Therfore `and if I wroot to &yogh;ou, not for him that dide iniurie, nether for him that suffride, but for to schewe oure bysynesse, the which we han for &yogh;ou bifore God. 13   Therfore we ben comfortid, forsothe in oure comfort more plenteuously we ioyeden more on the ioye of Tyte, for his spirit is fulfillid of alle &yogh;ou. 14   And if I gloriede ony thing anentis him of &yogh;ou, I am not confoundid, `or schamyd; but as we han spokun to &yogh;ou alle thingis `in treuthe, so and oure glorie that was at Tyte, is maad treuthe. 15   And the entraylis of him ben more plenteuously in &yogh;ou, `of him hauynge in mynde the obedience of &yogh;ou alle, how with drede and tremblinge &yogh;e resseyueden him. 16   I haue ioye, that in alle thingis I triste in &yogh;ou.

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CAP. VIII.

1   Britheren, forsothe we maken knowe to &yogh;ou the grace of God, that is &yogh;ouun in the chirchis of Macedonye, 2   and that in moche asayinge of tribulacioun, the haboundaunce, `or plente, of the ioye of hem was, and the hi&yogh;este pouert of hem was plenteuous into the richessis of the symplenesse of hem. 3   For I bere witnessinge and to hem, vp vertu, `or power, `and aboue vertu thei weren wilful, 4   with moche monestynge bisechinge vs the grace and comenynge of mynysterie, that is maad in to hooly men. 5   And not as we hopiden, but thei &yogh;auen hem silf first to the Lord, aftirward to vs by the wille of God. 6   So that we preieden Tyte, that as he bigan, so and he perfoorme in &yogh;ou also this grace. 7   But as &yogh;e abounden in alle thingis, in feith, word, and science, `or kunnynge, and al bisynesse, moreouer and in &yogh;oure charite in to vs, that and in this grace &yogh;e habounde. 8   I seie not as comaundinge, but by the bisynesse of othere men `also prouynge to gidere the good wit of &yogh;oure charite. 9   Sothli &yogh;e witen the grace of oure Lord Jhesu Christ, forwhi he was made nedy for vs, whanne he was ryche, that &yogh;e schulden be maad ryche by his myseste, `or nedynesse. 10   And I &yogh;yue counceil in this thing; sothli this is profitable to &yogh;ou, that not `oonly bigynnen for to do, but and for to wilne fro the formere &yogh;eer. 11   Now forsothe and in dede performe &yogh;e, that as the ynwitt of wil is redy, so be it and of performynge of that thing that &yogh;e han. 12   Sothli if the wille be redy, it is acceptid vp

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that that it hath, not vp that that it hath not. 13   Forsoth not `that it be remyssioun, `or slouthe, to othere, forsoth to &yogh;ou tribulacioun; 14   but of euenesse, in the present tyme &yogh;oure haboundaunce fulfille the myseste of hem, that and the haboundaunce of hem be `supplement, or fulfillinge, of &yogh;oure myseste, that euenesse be maad; 15   as it is writun, He that hath moche, haboundide not, and he that litil, hadde not lasse. 16   Forsoth I do thankyngis to God, that &yogh;af the same bysynesse for &yogh;ou in the herte of Tyte, 17   for sotheli he resceyuede exortacioun, `or monestynge; but whanne he was bisyere, with his wille he wente forth to &yogh;ou. 18   Forsoth we senten with hym oure brother, whos preisynge is in the gospel by alle chirchis. 19   Forsoth not oonly, but and he is ordeyned of chirchis the felowe of oure pilgrymage into this grace, that is mynystrid of vs to the glorie of the Lord, and to oure ordeyned wille; 20   eschewinge this thing, that no man blame, `or dispise, vs in this plente, that is mynystrid of vs to the glorie of the Lord. 21   Sothli we purueyen goode thingis, not oonly bifore God, but also bifore alle men. 22   Forsoth we senten with hem and oure brother, whom we han prouyd in manye thingis ofte, for to be bisy, now forsoth moche bisyer, in moche trist in &yogh;ou, 23   ethir for Tyte, that is my felowe, and in &yogh;ou helpere, ether oure britheren, apostlis of chirchis of the glorie of Crist. 24   Therfor schewe &yogh;e in to the faces of chirchis, the schewynge that is of &yogh;oure charite and of oure glorie for

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&yogh;ou `into hem. 1   Forwhi of the mynysterie that is maad into hooly men, it is to me of `haboundaunt, or plente, for to wryte to &yogh;ou. CAP. IX.

2   Forsoth I woot &yogh;oure ynwitt redy, for the which I haue glorie of &yogh;ou anentis Macedonyes, for and Acaye is redi fro a &yogh;eer passid, and &yogh;oure loue hath stirid ful manye. 3   Forsoth we han sent britheren, that that thing that we glorien in &yogh;ou, be not auoydid in this partie, that as I seyde, &yogh;e be redy. 4   Lest when Macedonyes schulen come with me, and schulen fynde &yogh;ou vnredy, we schamen, that we seye &yogh;ou not, in this substaunce. 5   Therfore I gesside necessarie for to praye britheren, that thei come bifore to &yogh;ou, and make redy this bihi&yogh;t blessynge for to be redy, so as blessinge, not as auarice. 6   This thing forsothe I seye, for he that sowith scarsly, schal and scarsly repe; and he that sowith in blessingis, schal repe and of blessyngis. 7   Ech man as he castide in his herte, not of heuynesse, `or of nede; forsoth God loueth a glad &yogh;yuere. 8   Forsothe God is my&yogh;ty for to make al grace abounde in &yogh;ou, that &yogh;e in alle thingis euermore hauynge al sufficience, abounde in to al good work; 9   as it is writun, He delide a brood, he &yogh;af to pore men, his ri&yogh;twisnesse dwellith into `withouten ende. 10   Forsoth he that mynistrith seed to the `man sowynge, and schal &yogh;yue breed for to ete, and he schal multiplie &yogh;oure seed, and make moche the encresyngis

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of fruytis of &yogh;oure ri&yogh;twysnesse; 11   that in alle thingis &yogh;e maad ryche habounde `in to alle symplenesse, the which worchith by vs doynge of thankyngis to God. 12   For the mynisterie of this office not oonly fillith tho thingis that faylen to hooly men, but also aboundith by manye in doynge of thankingis to the Lord, 13   by prouynge of this mynysterie, glorifiynge God in the obedience of &yogh;oure knowleching in the gospel of Crist, and in symplenesse of comynycacioun into hem and into alle, 14   and in the bisechinge of hem for &yogh;ou, desyringe &yogh;ou for the clere grace in &yogh;ou. 15   I do thankingis to God vpon the `vnenarrable, or that may not be told, &yogh;ifte of hym. 1   Forsoth I Poul biseche &yogh;ou, by the homlynesse, `or myldenesse, and softenesse, `or pacience, of Crist, the which sothely in the face am meek among &yogh;ou, forsoth I absent triste in &yogh;ou. CAP. X.

2   Forsothe, britheren, I preie &yogh;ou, that I present be not hardy by `the ilke trist, in which I am gessid for to be hardy in to summe, the whiche deme vs, as we wandren vp the fleisch. 3   Forsoth we walkynge in fleisch, `fi&yogh;ten not, `or holden not kny&yogh;thod, vp the fleisch. 4   Forwhi the armers of oure kny&yogh;thod ben not fleischly, but my&yogh;ty to God to the destruccioun of wardingis, `or strengthis; we distroyinge counceils, 5   and al hi&yogh;nesse reysinge him a&yogh;ens the science of God, and dryuynge into caytifte al vndirstondinge into the seruyse of Crist; 6   also hauynge in redynesse for to venge

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al vnobedience, whanne &yogh;oure obedience schal be fulfillid. 7   Se &yogh;e the thingis that ben vpon the face. If ony man tristith to him silf, him for `to be of Crist, thenke he this thing eft anentis himsilf, 8   for as he is Cristis, so and we. Forwhi and if I schal glorie ony thing more of oure power, the which the Lord &yogh;af to vs into edifyinge, and not into &yogh;oure distruccioun, I schal not schame. 9   Forsothe that I be not gessid as for to feere &yogh;ou by epistlis, forwhi thei seyn, 10   The epistlis ben heuye, `or greuouse, and strong, but the presence of body sijk, and the word contemptible, `or worthi for to be dispysid. 11   He that is such `maner man, thenke this, for what maner men we `ben absent by epistlis, suche maner men vs present in dede. 12   Sothli we doren not putte vs among, `or comparisowne vs to summe, that comenden hem silf; but we metinge, `or mesuringe, `vs in `vs silf, and comparisownynge vs silf to vs, 13   sothli we schulden not glorie `into ful moche, but vp the mesure of reule, bi which God mesuride to vs, the mesure of strecchinge til to &yogh;ou. 14   Forsoth not as we not strecchinge to &yogh;ou, `ouerholden vs. Forsoth `til to &yogh;ou we camen in the gospel of Crist, 15   not gloryinge `into ful moche in othere mennis trauelis. Sothly we hauynge hope of &yogh;oure feith waxynge in &yogh;ou for to be magnyfied vp oure reule in haboundaunce, 16   also for to preche into tho thingis that ben by&yogh;ondes &yogh;ou, not for to glorie in othir mennis reule, in thes thingis that ben maad redy. 17   Forsothe he that

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glorieth, glorie in the Lord. 18   Forsoth not he that comendith him silf is proued, but whom God comendith, `or preisith. CAP. XI.

1   I wolde `&yogh;e schulden susteyne a litil thing of myn vnwysdom, but and supporte me, `or bere vp me. 2   Sothly I loue &yogh;ou by the loue of God; sothli I haue bihi&yogh;t, `or bicome borwe, for to &yogh;yue &yogh;ou a chast virgyne to a man, Crist. 3   Forsoth I drede, lest as the serpent disceyuede Eue with his sutil wordis, so &yogh;oure wittis ben corupt, and falle doun fro the symplenesse that is in Crist. 4   Forwhi if he that cometh, prechith anothir Crist, whom we prechen not, or if &yogh;e taken anothir spirit, whom &yogh;e resseyueden not, or anothir gospel, the which &yogh;e resceyueden not, ri&yogh;tly &yogh;e schulden suffre. 5   Sothli I wene `for to haue don no thing lasse fro the greete apostlis. 6   Forwhi thou&yogh; I be vnlerned in sermoun, `or word, but not in science, `or kunnyng. Forsoth in alle thingis I am schewid, `or maad knowe, to &yogh;ou. 7   Or whethir I haue do synne, mekynge, `or makinge low&yogh;, my silf, that &yogh;e ben enhaunsid, for freely I euangeliside to &yogh;ou the euangelie of God? 8   I spoilide, `or made nakide, or took &yogh;iftis, of othir chirchis, takynge soude to &yogh;oure seruyse. 9   And whenne I was anentis &yogh;ou, and nedide, I was chargeous to no man; forwhi britheren that camen fro Macedonye, `supplieden, or fulfilden, that that failide to me. And in alle thingis I haue kept, and schal kepe me withoute charge to &yogh;ou. 10   The treuthe of Crist is in me; for this glorie schal not be brokun in me, in the `regiouns, or kuntrees, of

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Achaye. 11   Whi? for I loue not &yogh;ou? 12   God woot. `For that that I do, and I schal do, that I kitte awey `the occasioun of hem, that wolen occasioun, `or plente, or power, that in the thing, in which thei glorien, thei be founde suche as and we. 13   Forwhi suche false apostlis ben trecherous, `or gylous, work men, transfiguringe hem into apostlis. 14   And not wondir; sothli he Sathanas transfygurith him into an aungel of ly&yogh;t. 15   Therfor it is not greet, if his mynistris ben transfigurid as the mynistris of ri&yogh;twysnesse, whos ende schal be aftir hir workis. 16   Eft I seye, lest ony man deme me vnwyse; ellis take &yogh;e me vnwyse, that and I haue glorie a litil what. 17   `That that I speke, I speke not vp God, but as into vnwysdom, in this substaunce of glorie. 18   Forwhi many men glorien vp the fleisch, and I schal glorie. 19   Forsoth &yogh;e suffren gladly vnwyse men, whanne &yogh;e silf ben wyse. 20   Sothli &yogh;e susteynen, if ony man dryue &yogh;ou into seruage, if ony man deuourith, if ony man takith, if ony man is enhaunsid `bi pride, if ony man smytith &yogh;ou `into face. 21   Vp vnnobley, I seye, as we weren syke in this partye. In what thing ony man dar, in vnwysdom I seie, and I dar. 22   Thei ben Ebrewis, and I; thei ben Ysraelitis, and I; thei ben the seed of Abraham, and I; 23   thei ben the mynistris of Crist, and I. As lasse wys I seye, `I more; in ful manye trauels, in prisouns more plenteuously, in woundis aboue `manere, or ouer mesure, in deethis ofte tymes. 24   I resceyuede of the Jewis fyue sythis fourty strokis oon lesse; 25   thries I was betun with &yogh;erdis, onys I was stoonyd, thryes Y maad

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perisching in schip, ny&yogh;t and day I was in depnesse of the see; 26   in weies ofte, in perelis of flodis, in perels of theues, in perelis of kyn, in perels of hethen men, `in perels in cite, in perels in desert, in perels in see, in perels in false britheren, in traueil and myseste, 27   in many wakyngis, in hungir and thirst, in many fastingis, in cold and in nakidnesse. 28   Withoute tho thingis that ben withouteforth; myn eche dayes wakynge, `or studyinge, the bisynesse of alle chirchis. 29   Who is syk, and I am not syk? who is sclaundrid, and I am not brend? CAP. XII.

30   If it bihoueth for to glorie, I schal glorie in tho thingis that ben of myn infirmyte, `or freelte. 31   God and the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that is blessid into the worldis, woot, that I `gabbe not, or lyie not. 32   The prouost, or kepere, of Damaske, of the king of the folk Arethe, kepte the cite of Damascenys for to take me; 33   and by a wyndow in a leep I was latun down by the wal, and so I scapide his hondis. 1   If it bihoueth for to glorie, sothli it spedith not; forsoth I schal come to the visyouns and reuelaciouns of the Lord. 2   I woot a man in Crist bifore fourtene &yogh;eer; wher in body, wher out of body, I woot not, God woot; sich a man rauyschid `til to the thridde heuene. 3   And I woot such a man; wher in body, or out of body, 4   I noot, God woot; for he was rauyschid into paradys, and herde priuey wordes, the whiche it is not leefful to a man for to speke. 5   For sich maner thing I schal glorie; forsothe for me no thing, no but in myn infirmitees. 6   Forwhi and if I schal wilne for to glorie, I schal not

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be vnwys; sothli I schal seye treuthe; forsoth I spare, lest ony man gesse me ouer that thing that he seeth in me, or heerith ony thing of me. 7   And lest the greetnesse of reuelaciouns enhaunce me `in pride, the pricke of fleisch, an aungel of Sathanas, is &yogh;ouun to me, `the which boffatith me. 8   For which thing thries I preide the Lord, that it schuld go a wey fro me. 9   And he seide to me, My grace sufficith to thee; forwhi vertu is perfitly maad in infirmite. Therfore gladly I schal glorie in myn infirmytees, that the vertu of Crist dwelle in me. 10   For which thing I plese to me in myn infirmitees, in wrong dispisyngis, `or reprouyngis, in nedis, in persecuciouns, in angwyschis, for Crist; sothli whanne I am syk, thanne I am my&yogh;ty. 11   I am maad vnwitty, &yogh;e constreyneden me. Forsoth I `schulde, or ow&yogh;te, for to be comendid of &yogh;ou; sothli I dide no thing lesse `fro hem that ben apostlis aboue manere. Forwhi thou&yogh; I be nou&yogh;t, 12   nethelees the sygnes of `myn apostilhed ben maad on &yogh;ou, in al pacience, and singnes, `or miraclis, and grete wondris, and vertues. 13   Sothli what is it, that &yogh;e hadden lasse bifore othere chirchis, no but that I my silf greuyde &yogh;ou not? For&yogh;yue &yogh;e to me this wrong. 14   Loo! this thridde tyme I am redy for to come to &yogh;ou, and I schal not be greuous to &yogh;ou; forsothe I seke not tho thingis that ben &yogh;oure, but &yogh;ou. Forsoth nethir sones owen to tresoure, `or make tresour, to fadir and modir, but the fadir and modir to the sones. 15   Forsoth I moost wilfully schal &yogh;yue, and I my silf schal be `ouer&yogh;ouun for &yogh;oure soulis; thou&yogh; I more louynge, be lesse loued. 16   But be it; I greuyd not &yogh;ou, but whanne I was sutil

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wyse, I took &yogh;ou with gyle. 17   Wher I disceyuede &yogh;ou by ony of hem, `the whiche I sente to &yogh;ou? 18   I preiede Tyte, and I sente with him a brothir. Wher Tyte bigylide &yogh;ou? wher we gon not in the same spiryt? wher not in the same steppis? 19   Sum tyme &yogh;e wenen, that we schulen excuse vs anentis &yogh;ou. Bifore God in Crist we speken; forsothe, moost dere britheren, alle thingis for &yogh;oure edyfyinge. 20   Sotheli I drede, lest perauenture whanne I schal come, I schal fynde &yogh;ou not which manere I wole, and I schal be founde of &yogh;ow which maner &yogh;e wolen not; lest perauenture stryuyngis, enuyes, sturdynessis, dissenciouns and detracciouns, priuey spechis of discord, bolnynges bi pride, debatis be among &yogh;ou; lest eftsoone whanne I schal come, 21   God make me lou&yogh; anentis &yogh;ou, and I weyle manye of hem, that bifore synneden, and diden not penaunce of the vnclennesse, and fornycacioun, and vnchastite, that thei han don. CAP. XIII.

1   Lo! this thridde tyme I come to &yogh;ou, and in the mouth of tweyne or thre witnessis euery word schal stonde. 2   I seide bifore, and seye bifore, as present twyes, and now absent, to hem that bifore han synned, and to alle othere; for if I schal come eftsoone, I schal not spare. 3   Wher &yogh;e seken asayinge of him that spekith in me, Crist, the which is not syk in &yogh;ou, but is my&yogh;ty in vs? 4   Forwhi thou&yogh; he was crucified of infirmyte, but he lyueth of the vertu of God. Forwhi and we ben syke in hym, but we schulen lyue with him of the vertu of God in vs. 5   Asaye &yogh;ou silf, if &yogh;e ben in the feith; &yogh;e &yogh;ou

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silf proue. Wher &yogh;e knowen not &yogh;ou silf, for Crist Jhesu is in &yogh;ou? no but &yogh;e ben repreuable. 6   Forsoth I hope, that &yogh;e knowen for we ben not repreuable. 7   Sothely we preien the Lord, that &yogh;e don no thing of yuel; not that we seme prouyd, but that &yogh;e do that that is good, forsoth that we be repreuable. 8   Forsothe we mowen no thing a&yogh;ens treuthe, but for treuthe. 9   Forsothe we ioyen, for we ben syke, forsoth &yogh;e ben my&yogh;ty; and we preien this thing, &yogh;oure endinge. 10   Sothli therfore I absent write `this thing, that I present do not hardere, vp the power, the which the Lord &yogh;af to me into edificacioun, and not into distruccioun. 11   Britheren, hennis forward ioye &yogh;e, `be &yogh;e perfyt, and `teche &yogh;e; `vndirstonde &yogh;e the same thing; haue &yogh;e pees, and God of pees and loue schal be with &yogh;ou. 12   Greete &yogh;e wel to gidere in hooly coss. Alle hooly men greeten &yogh;ou wel. 13   The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, and the charite of God, and the comunynge of the Hooly Gost, be with &yogh;ou alle. Amen. Here endith the secunde pistle to Corinthis, and now bigynneth the prolog to Galathies.

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Wycliffe (Early) [1850], THE HOLY BIBLE, CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WITH THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS, IN THE EARLIEST ENGLISH VERSIONS MADE FROM THE LATIN VULGATE BY JOHN WYCLIFFE AND HIS FOLLOWERS: Edited by THE REV. JOSIAH FORSHALL, F.R.S. etc. Late Fellow of Exeter College, and SIR FREDERIC MADDEN, K.H. F.R.S. etc. Keeper of the MSS. in the British Museum (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, OXFORD) [word count] [B02010].
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