A   For þe; vngodly talke ∧ ymagin thus amonge them selues (but not right:) ^noteThe tyme of oure life is but short ∧ tedious, ∧ when a man is once gone, he hath nomore ioye ner pleasure, nether knowe we eny man þt; turneth agayne from death: for we are borne of naught, ∧ we shal be herafter as though we had neuer bene. For oure breth is as a smoke in oure nostrels, ∧ þe; wordes as a sparck to moue oure herte. As for o&highr; body, it shalbe very a&esset;shes þt; are qu&ebar;ched, ∧ o&highr; soule shal vanish as þe; soft ayre. Oure life shall passe awaye as þe; trace of a cloude, ∧ come to naught as þe; myst þt; is dryu&ebar; awaye &wt; the beames of þe; Sonne, ∧ put downe &wt; the heate therof. Oure name also shalbe forgotten by litle ∧ litle, ∧ no man shal haue oure workes in remembraunce.

B    ^noteFor o&highr; tyme is a very shadow þt; passeth awaye, ∧ after o&highr; ende there is no returnynge, for it is fast sealed, so þt; no m&abar; c&obar;meth agayne. Come on therfore, let vs enioye þe; pleasures þt; there are, ∧ let vs soone vse þe; creature like as in youth. We wil fyll oure selues &wt; good wyne ∧ oyntment, there shal no floure of the tyme go by vs. We wil crowne o&highr; selues &wt; roses afore they be wythered. There shal be no fayre medowe, but o&highr; lust shall go thorow it. Let euery one of you be partaker of oure volupteousnes. Let vs leaue some token of o&highr; pleasure in euery place, for þt; is oure porcion, els gett we nothinge. Let vs oppresse the poore righteous, let vs not spare the wyddowe ner olde man, let vs not regarde þe; heades þt; are gray for age. Let þe; lawe of vnrighteousnesse be oure auctorite, for þe; thinge þt; is feble is nothinge worth. C   Therfore let vs defraude the righteous, ∧ why? he is not for o&highr; profit, yee he is cleane c&obar;trary to o&highr; doinges. He checketh vs for offendinge agaynst þe; lawe, ∧ slaundreth vs as transgressours of all nurto&highr;. He maketh his hoost to haue þe; knowlege of God, yee he calleth him self Gods sonne. He is the bewrayer of oure thoughtes: ^note It greueth vs also to loke vpon him, for his lyfe is not lyke other mens, his wayes are of another fashion. He counteth vs but vayne personnes, he &wt;draweth him self from o&highr; wayes as from fylthynes: he c&obar;mendeth greatly þe; latter ende of the iust, ∧ maketh his boast þt; God is his father. Let vs se then yf his wordes be true, let vs proue what shal come vpon him: so shal we knowe what ende he shal haue. D    ^noteFor yf he be þe; true sonne of God, he will receaue him ∧ delyuer him from the handes of his enemies. Let vs examen him with despitefull rebuke and tormentinge, that we maye knowe his dignite ∧ proue his pacience. ^noteLet vs condemne him with the most shamefull death: for like as he hath spoken, so shal he be rewarded.

Soch thinges do the vngodly ymagin, ∧ go astraye, for their owne wickednes hath blynded them. As for the misteries of God, they vnderstonde them not: they nether hope for the rewarde of righteousnesse, ner regarde the worshipe that holy soules shall haue. For God created man to be vndestroied, ^note yee after the ymage of his awne licknesse made he him. ^noteNeuerthelesse thorow envye of the deuell came death in to the worlde, and they that holde of his syde, do as he doth. ^note

Previous section

Next section