User:Vergencescattered/Homilies

We wyllaþ to trymminge eowres geleafan eow gereccan þæs Hælendes acennednysse be þære godspellican endebyrdnysse: hu he on þysum dægþerlicum dæge on soþre menniscnysse acenned wæs on godcundnysse. Lucas se Godspellere awrat on Cristes bec, þæt on þam timan se Romanisca casere Octauianus sette gebann, þæt wære on gewritum asett eall ymbhwyrft. Þeos towritennys wearþ aræred fram þam ealdormen Cyrino, of Sirian lande, þæt ælc man oferheafod sceolde cennan his gebyrde, and his are on þære byrig þe he to gehyrde. Þa ferde Ioseph, Cristes fosterfæder, fram Galileiscum earde, of þære byrig Nazareþ, to Iudeiscre byrig, seo wæs Dauides, and wæs geciged Bethleem, forþan þe he wæs of Dauides mægþe, and wolde andettan mid Marian hire gebyrde, þe wæs þa gyt bearneaca. þa gelamp hit, þaþa hi on þære byrig Bethleem wicodon, þæt hire tima wæs gefylled þæt heo cennan sceolde, and acende þa hyre frumcennedan sunu, and mid cildclaþum bewand, and alede þæt cild on heora assena binne, forþan þe þær næs nan rymet on þam gesthuse. Þa wæron hyrdas on þam earde waciende ofer heora eowede; and efne þa Godes engel stod on emn hi, and Godes beorhtnys hi bescean, and hi wurdon micclum afyrhte. þa cwæþ se Godes engel to þam hyrdum, "Ne ondredaþ eow; efne Ic eow bodige micelne gefean, þe becymþ eallum folce; forþan þe nu todæg is eow acenned Hælend Crist on Dauides ceastre. Ge geseoþ þis tacen, ge gemetaþ þæt cild mid cildclaþum bewunden, and on binne geled." Þa færlice, æfter þæs engles spræce, wearþ gesewen micel menigu heofenlices werodes God herigendra and singendra, "Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bone uoluntatis," þæt is on urum gereorde, "Sy wuldor Gode on heannyssum, and on eorþan sibb mannum, þam þe beoþ godes willan." And þa englas þa gewiton of heora gesihþe to heofonum. Hwæt þa hyrdas þa him betweonan spræcon, "uton faran to Bethleem, and geseon þæt word þe us God æteowde." Hi comon þa hrædlice, and gemetton Marian, and Ioseph, and þæt cild geled on anre binne, swa swa him se engel cydde. Þa hyrdas soþlice oncneowon be þam worde þe him gesæd wæs be þam cilde, and ealle wundrodon þe þæt gehyrdon, and eac be þam þe þa hyrdas him sædon. Maria soþlice heold ealle þas word aræfniende on hire heortan. þa gecyrdon þa hyrdas ongean wuldrigende and herigende God on eallum þam þingum þe hi gehyrdon and gesawon, swa swa him fram þam engle gesæd wæs. Mine gebroþra þa leofostan, ure Hælend, Godes Sunu, euenece and gelic his Fæder, seþe mid him wæs æfre buton anginne, gemedemode hine sylfne þæt he wolde on þisum dægþerlicum dæge, for middangeardes alysednysse beon lichamlice acenned of þam mædene Marian. He is Ealdor and Scyppend ealra godnyssa and sibbe, and he foresende his acennednysse ungewunelice sibbe, forþan þe næfre næs swilc sibb ær þam fyrste on middangearde, swilc swa wæs on his gebyrdetide, swa þæt eall middangeard wæs anes mannes rice underþeod, and eal mennisc him anum cynelic gafol ageaf. Witodlice on swa micelre sibbe wæs Crist acenned, seþe is ure sib, forþan þe he geþeodde englas and men to anum hirede, þurh his menniscnysse. He wæs acenned on þæs caseres dagum þe wæs Octauianus gehaten, se gerymde Romana rice to þan swiþe þæt him eal middangeard to beah, and he wæs forþi Augustus geciged, þæt is geycende his rice. Se nama gedafenaþ þam heofonlican Cyninge Criste, þe on his timan acenned wæs, seþe his heofonlice rice geyhte, and þone hryre, þe se feallenda deofol on engla werode gewanode, mid menniscum gecynde eft gefylde. Na þæt an þæt he þone lyre anfealdlice gefylde, ac eac swylce micclum geihte. Soþlice swa micel getel mancynnes becymþ þurh Cristes menniscnysse to engla werodum, swa micel swa on heofonum belaf haligra engla æfter þæs deofles hryre. Þæs caseres gebann, þe het ealne middangeard awritan, getacnode swutellice þæs heofonlican Cyninges dæde, þe to þi com on middangeard þæt he of eallum þeodum his gecorenan gegaderode, and heora naman on ecere eadignysse awrite. Þeos towritennys asprang fram þam ealdormen Cyrino: Cyrinus is gereht Yrfenuma, and he getacnode Crist, seþe is soþ yrfenuma þæs ecan Fæder; and he us forgifþ þæt we mid him beon yrfenuman and efenhlyttan his wuldres. Ealle þeoda þa ferdon þæt ælc synderlice be him sylfum cennan sceolde, on þære byrig þe he to hyrde. Swa swa on þam timan be þæs caseres gebanne gehwilce ænlipige on heora burgum be him sylfum cendon, swa eac nu us cyþaþ lareowas Cristes gebann, þæt we us gegadrian to his halgan gelaþunge, and on þære ures geleafan gafol mid estfullum mode him agifan, þæt ure naman beon awritene on lifes bec mid his [[gecorenum. Drihten wæs acenned on þære byrig þe is gehaten Bethleem; forþan þe hit wæs swa ær gewitegod þisum wordum, "Þu Bethleem, Iudeisc land, ne eart þu wacost burga on Iudeiscum ealdrum: soþlice of þe cymþ se latteow þe gewylt Israhela þeoda." Crist wolde on ytinge beon acenned, to þi þæt he wurde his ehterum bedigelod. Bethleem is gereht 'Hlafhus,' and on hire wæs Crist, se soþa hlaf, acenned, þe be him sylfum cwæþ, "Ic eom se liflica hlaf, þe of heofenum astah, and seþe of þam hlafe geett ne swylt he on ecnysse." Þæs hlafes we onbyriaþ þonne we mid geleafan to husle gaþ; forþan þe þæt halige husel is gastlice Cristes lichama; and þurh þone we beoþ alysede fram þam ecan deaþe. Maria acende þa hire frumcennedan sunu on þisum andweardan dæge, and hine mid cildclaþum bewand, and for rymetleaste on anre binne gelede. Næs þæt cild forþi gecweden hire frumcennede cild swilce heo oþer siþþan acende, ac forþi þe Crist is frumcenned of manegum gastlicum gebroþrum. Ealle cristene men sind his gastlican gebroþra, and he is se frumcenneda, on gife and on godcundnysse ancenned of þam Ælmihtigan Fæder. He wæs mid wacum cildclaþum bewæfed, þæt he us forgeafe þa undeadlican tunecan, þe we forluron on þæs frumsceapenan mannes forgægednysse. Se Ælmihtiga Godes Sunu, þe heofenas befon ne mihton, wæs geled on nearuwre binne, to þi þæt he us fram hellicum nyrwette alysde. Maria wæs þa cuma þær, swa swa þæt godspel us segþ; and for þæs folces geþryle wæs þæt gesthus þearle genyrwed. Se Godes Sunu wæs on his gesthuse genyrwed, þæt he us rume wununge on heofonan rice forgife, gif we his willan gehyrsumiaþ. Ne bitt he us nanes þinges to edleane his geswinces, buton ure sawle hælo, þæt we us sylfe clæne and ungewemmede him gegearcian, to blisse and to ecere myrhþe. Þa hyrdas þe wacodon ofer heora eowode on Cristes acennednysse, getacnodon þa halgan lareowas on Godes gelaþunge, þe sind gastlice hyrdas geleaffulra sawla: and se engel cydde Cristes acennednysse hyrdemannum, forþam þe þan gastlicum hyrdum, þæt sind lareowas, is swiþost geopenod embe Cristes menniscnysse, þurh boclice lare; and hi sceolon gecneordlice heora underþeoddum bodian, þæt þæt him geswutelod is, swa swa þa hyrdas þa heofenlican gesihþe gewidmærsodan. Þam lareowe gedafenaþ þæt he symle wacol sy ofer Godes eowode, þæt se ungesewenlica wulf Godes scep ne tostence. Gelome wurdon englas mannum æteowode on þære ealdan æ, ac hit nis awriten þæt hi mid leohte comon, ac se wurþmynt wæs þises dæges mærþe gehealden, þæt hi mid heofenlicum leohte hi geswutelodon, þaþa þæt soþe leoht asprang on þeostrum riht geþancodum, se mildheorta and se rihtwisa Drihten. Se engel cwæþ to þam hyrdum, "Ne beo ge afyrhte; efne Ic bodige eow micelne gefean, þe eallum folce becymþ, forþan þe nu todæg is acenned Hælend Crist on Dauides ceastre." Soþlice he bodade micelne gefean, seþe næfre ne geendaþ; forþan þe Cristes acennednys gegladode heofenwara, and eorþwara, and helwara. Se engel cwæþ, "Nu todæg is eow acenned Hælend Crist on Dauides ceastre:" Rihtlice he cwæþ on dæge, and na on nihte, forþan þe Crist is se soþa dæg, seþe todræfde mid his tocyme ealle nytennysse þære ealdan nihte, and ealne middangeard mid his gife onlihte. Þæt tacen þe se engel þam hyrdum sæde we sceolon symle on urum gemynde healdan, and þancian þam Hælende þæt he gemedemode hine sylfne to þan þæt he dælnimend wære ure deadlicnysse, mid menniscum flæsce befangen, and mid waclicum cildclaþum bewunden. Þa færlice, æfter þæs engles spræce, wearþ gesewen micel menigu heofenlices werodes God herigendra and singendra, "Sy wuldor Gode on heannyssum, and on eorþan sibb þam mannum þe beoþ godes willan." An engel bodade þam hyrdum þæs heofonlican Cyninges acennednysse, and þa færlice wurdon æteowode fela þusend engla, þy læs þe wære geþuht anes engles ealdordom to hwonlic to swa micelre bodunge: and hi ealle samod mid gedremum sange Godes wuldor hleoþrodon, and godum mannum sibbe bodedon, swutellice æteowiende þæt þurh his acennednysse men beoþ gebigede to anes geleafan sibbe, and to wuldre godcundlicere herunge. Hi sungon, "Sy wuldor Gode on heannyssum, and on eorþan sibb mannum, þam þe beoþ godes willan." þas word geswuteliaþ þæt þær wunaþ Godes sibb þær se goda willa biþ. Eornostlice mancynn hæfde ungeþwærnysse to englum ær Drihtnes acennednysse; forþan þe we wæron þurh synna ælfremede fram Gode; þa wurde we eac ælfremede fram his englum getealde: ac siþþan se heofenlica Cyning urne eorþlican lichaman underfeng, siþþan gecyrdon his englas to ure sibbe; and þa þe hi ærþan untrume forsawon, þa hi wurþiaþ nu him to geferum. Witodlice on þære ealdan æ, Loþ, and Iosue, and gehwilce oþre þe englas gesawon, hi luton wiþ heora, and to him gebædon, and þa englas þæt geþafodon: ac Iohannes se Godspellere, on þære Niwan Gecyþnysse, wolde hine gebiddan to þam engle þe him to spræc, þa forwyrnde se engel him þæs, and cwæþ, "Beheald þæt þu þas dæde ne do; Ic eom þin efenþeowa, and þinra gebroþra; gebide þe to Gode anum." Englas geþafodon ær Drihtnes tocyme þæt mennisce men him to feollon, and æfter his tocyme þæs forwyrndon; forþan þe hi gesawon þæt heora Scyppend þæt gecynd underfeng þe hi ær þan waclic tealdon, and ne dorston hit forseon on us, þonne hi hit wurþiaþ bufon him sylfum on þam heofonlican Cyninge. Ne hi manna geferrædene ne forhogiaþ, þonne hi feallende hi to þam menniscum Gode gebiddaþ. Nu we sind getealde Godes ceastergewaran, and englum gelice; uton forþi hogian þæt leahtras us ne totwæmon fram þisum micclum wurþmynte. Soþlice men syndon godas gecigede; heald forþi, þu mann, þinne godes wurþscipe wiþ leahtras; forþan þe God is geworden mann for þe. Þa hyrdas þa spræcon him betweonan, æfter þæra engla framfærelde, "uton gefaran to Bethleem, and geseon þæt word þe geworden is, and God us geswutelode." Eala hu rihtlice hi andetton þone halgan geleafan mid þisum wordum, "On frymþe wæs word, and þæt word wæs mid Gode, and þæt word wæs God"! Word biþ wisdomes geswutelung, and þæt Word, þæt is se Wisdom, is acenned of þam Ælmihtigum Fæder, butan anginne; forþan þe he wæs æfre God of Gode, Wisdom of þam wisan Fæder. Nis he na geworht, forþan þe he is God, and na gesceaft; ac se Ælmihtiga Fæder gesceop þurh þone Wisdom ealle gesceafta, and hi ealle þurh þone Halgan Gast geliffæste. Ne mihte ure mennisce gecynd Crist on þære godcundlican acennednysse geseon; ac þæt ylce Word wæs geworden flæsc, and wunode on us, þæt we hine geseon mihton. Næs þæt Word to flæsce awend, ac hit wæs mid menniscum flæsce befangen. Swa swa anra gehwilc manna wunaþ on sawle and on lichaman an mann, swa eac Crist wunaþ on godcundnysse and menniscnysse, on anum hade an Crist. Hi cwædon, "uton geseon þæt word þe geworden is," forþan þe hi ne mihton hit geseon ær þan þe hit geflæschamod wæs, and to menn geworden. Nis þeahhwæþre seo godcundnys gemenged to þære menniscnysse, ne þær nan twæming nys. We mihton eow secgan ane lytle bysne, gif hit to waclic nære; Sceawa nu on anum æge, hu þæt hwite ne biþ gemenged to þam geolcan, and biþ hwæþere an æg. Nis eac Cristes godcundnys gerunnen to þære menniscnysse, ac he þurhwunaþ þeah a on ecnysse on anum hade untotwæmed. Hrædlice þa comon þa hyrdas and gemetton Marian and Ioseph, and þæt cild geled on þære binne. Maria wæs be Godes dihte þam rihtwisan Iosepe beweddod, for micclum gebeorge; forþan þe hit wæs swa gewunelic on Iudeiscre þeode, æfter Moyses æ, þæt gif ænig wimman cild hæfde butan be rihtre æwe, þæt hi man sceolde mid stanum oftorfian. Ac God asende his engel to Iosepe, þa Maria eacnigende wæs, and bead þæt he hire gymene hæfde, and þæs cildes fosterfæder wære. Þa wæs geþuht þam Iudeiscum swilce Ioseph þæs cildes fæder wære, ac he næs; forþan þe hit næs nan neod þam Ælmihtigum Scyppende þæt he of wife acenned wære; ac he genam þa menniscnysse of Marian innoþe, and forlet hi mæden na gewemmed, ac gehalgod þurh his acennednysse. Ne oncneow heo weres gemanan, and heo acende butan sare, and þurhwunaþ on mægþhade. Þa hyrdas gesawon, and oncneowon be þam cilde, swa swa him gesæd wæs. Nis nan eadignys butan Godes oncnawennesse, swa swa Crist sylf cwæþ þaþa he us his Fæder betæhte, "Þæt is ece lif, þæt hi þe oncnawon soþne God, and þone þe þu asendest Hælend Crist." Hwæt þa ealle þa þe þæt gehyrdon micclum þæs wundrodon, and be þam þe þa hyrdas sædon. Maria soþlice heold ealle þas word aræfniende on hire heortan. Heo nolde widmærsian Cristes digelnesse, ac anbidode oþ þæt he sylf þaþa he wolde hi geopenode. Heo cuþe Godes æ, and on þæra witegena gesetnysse rædde, þæt mæden sceolde God acennan. Þa blissode heo micclum þæt heo hit beon moste. Hit wæs gewitegod þæt he on þære byrig Bethleem acenned wurde, and heo þearle wundrode þæt heo æfter þære witegunge þær acende. Heo gemunde hwæt sum witega cwæþ, "Se oxa oncneow his hlaford, and se assa his hlafordes binne." Þa geseah heo þæt cild licgan on binne, þær se oxa and se assa gewunelice fodan secaþ. Godes heahengel Gabrihel bodode Marian þæs Hælendes tocyme on hire innoþe, and heo geseah þa þæt his bodung unleaslice gefylled wæs. þyllice word Maria heold aræfnigende on hire heortan. And þa hyrdas gecyrdon ongean wuldrigende and herigende God, on eallum þam þingum þe hi gehyrdon and gesawon, swa swa him gesæd wæs. Þyssera þreora hyrda gemynd is gehæfd be eastan Bethleem ane mile, on Godes cyrcan geswutelod, þam þe þa stowe geneosiaþ. We sceolon geefenlæcan þysum hyrdum, and wuldrian and herian urne Drihten on eallum þam þingum þe he for ure lufe gefremode, us to alysednysse and to ecere blisse, þam sy wuldor and lof mid þam Ælmihtigum Fæder, on annysse þæs Halgan Gastes, on ealra worulda woruld. Amen.

VII. KL. JAN.

DECEMBER XXVI.

PASSIO BEATI STEPHANI, PROTOMARTYRIS.

THE PASSION OF THE BLESSED STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR.

We rædaþ on þære bec þe is gehaten Actus Apostolorum, þæt þa apostolas gehadodon seofon diaconas on þære gelaþunge þe of Iudeiscum folce to Cristes geleafan beah, æfter his þrowunge, and æriste of deaþe, and upstige to heofenum. Þæra diacona wæs se forma Stephanus, þe we on þisum dæge wurþiaþ. He wæs swiþe geleafful, and mid þam Halgum Gaste afylled. Þa oþre six wæron gecigede þisum namum: Stephanus wæs se fyrmesta, oþer Philippus, þridda Procorus, feorþa Nicanor, fifta Timotheus, sixta Parmenen, seofoþa Nicolaus. þas seofon hi gecuron and gesetton on þæra apostola gesihþe, and hi þa mid gebedum and bletsungum to diaconum gehadode wurdon. Weox þa dæghwonlice Godes bodung, and wæs gemenigfylld þæt getel cristenra manna þearle on Hierusalem. Þa wearþ se eadiga Stephanus mid Godes gife, and mid micelre strencþe afylled, and worhte forebeacena and micele tacna on þam folce. þa astodon sume þa ungeleaffullan Iudei, and woldon mid heora gedwylde þæs eadigan martyres lare oferswiþan; ac hi ne mihton his wisdome wiþstandan, ne þam Halgum Gaste, þe þurh hine spræc. Þa setton hi lease gewitan, þe hine forlugon, and cwædon, þæt he tallice word spræce be Moyse and be Gode. Þæt folc wearþ þa micclum astyred, and þa heafodmenn, and þa Iudeiscan boceras, and gelæhton Stephanum, and tugon to heora geþeahte; and þa leasan gewitan him on besædon, "Ne geswicþ þes man to sprecenne tallice word ongean þas halgan stowe and Godes æ. We gehyrdon hine secgan þæt Crist towyrpþ þas stowe, and towent þa gesetnysse þe us Moyses tæhte." Þa beheoldon þa hine þe on þam geþeahte sæton, and gesawon his nebwlite swylce sumes engles ansyne. þa cwæþ se ealdorbiscop to þam eadigan cyþere, "Is hit swa hi secgaþ?" þa wolde se halga wer Stephanus heora ungeleaffullan heortan gerihtlæcan mid heora forþfædera ] and gemynde, and to soþfæstnysse wege mid ealre lufe gebigan. Begann þa him to reccenne be þam heahfædere Abrahame, hu se heofenlica God hine geceas him to geþoftan, and him behet, þæt ealle þeoda on his ofspringe gebletsode wurdon, for his gehyrsumnesse. Swa eac þæra oþra heahfædera gemynd, mid langsumere race, ætforan him geniwode; and hu Moyses, þurh Godes mihte, heora foregengan ofer þa Readan Sæ wundorlice gelædde, and hu hi siþþan feowertig geara on westene wæron, mid heofenlicum bigleofan dæghwonlice gereordode; and hu God hi lædde to þam Iudeiscan earde, and þa hæþenan þeoda ætforan heora gesihþum eallunga adwæscte; and be Dauides mærþe, þæs mæran cyninges, and Salomones wuldre, þe Gode þæt mære tempel arærde. Cwæþ þa æt nextan, "Ge wiþstandaþ þam Halgum Gaste mid stiþum swuran, and ungeleaffulre heortan; ge sind meldan and manslagan, and ge þone rihtwisan Crist niþfullice acwealdon; ge underfengon æ on engla gesetnysse, and ge hit ne heoldon." Hwæt þa Iudeiscan þa wurdon þearle on heora heortan astyrode, and biton heora teþ him togeanes. Se halga Stephanus wearþ þa afylled mid þam Halgum Gaste, and beheold wiþ heofonas weard, and geseah Godes wuldor, and þone Hælend standende æt his Fæder swiþran; and he cwæþ, "Efne Ic geseo heofenas opene, and mannes Sunu standende æt Godes swiþran." Iudei þa, mid micelre stemne hrymende, heoldon heora earan, and anmodlice him to scuton, and hi hine gelæhton, and of þære byrig gelæddon to stænenne. Þa leasgewitan þa ledon heora hacelan ætforan fotum sumes geonges cnihtes, se wæs geciged Saulus. Ongunnon þa oftorfian mid heardum stanum þone eadigan Stephanum; and he clypode, and cwæþ, "Drihten Hælend, onfoh minne gast." And gebigde his cneowu, mid micelre stemne clypigende, "Min Drihten, ne sete þu þas dæda him to synne." And he mid þam worde þa gewat to þan Ælmihtigum Hælende, þe he on heofenan healicne standende geseah. Se wisa Augustinus spræc ymbe þas rædinge, and smeade hwi se halga cyþere Stephanus cwæde þæt he gesawe mannes bearn standan æt Godes swyþran, and nolde cweþan Godes bearn; þonne þe is geþuht wurþlicor be Criste to cweþenne Godes Bearn þonne mannes Bearn. Ac hit gedafenode þæt se Hælend swa geswutelod wære on heofenum, and swa gebodod on middangearde. Eall þæra Iudeiscra teona aras þurh þæt, hwi Drihten Crist, seþe æfter flæsce soþlice is mannes Sunu, eac swilce wære gecweden Godes Sunu? forþi gemunde swiþe gedafenlice þæt godcunde gewrit, mannes Sunu standan æt Godes swiþran to gescyndenne þæra Iudeiscra ungeleaffulnysse. Crist wæs æteowed his eadigan cyþere Stephane on heofenum, seþe fram ungeleaffullum on middangearde acweald wæs, and seo heofenlice soþfæstnyss be þam cydde gecyþnysse, þone seo eorþlice arleasnyss huxlice tælde. Hwa mæg beon rihtlice geciged mannes Bearn, buton Criste anum, þonne ælc man is twegra manna bearn, buton him anum? Se eadiga Stephanus geseah Crist standan, forþan þe he wæs his gefylsta on þam gastlicum gefeohte his martyrdomes. Witodlice we andettaþ on urum credan, þæt Drihten sitt æt his Fæder swiþran. Setl gedafenaþ deman, and steall fylstendum oþþe feohtendum. Nu andet ure geleafa Cristes setl, forþan þe he is se soþa dema lybbendra and deadra: and se eadiga cyþere Stephanus hine geseah standende, forþan þe he wæs his gefylsta, swa swa we ær sædon. Ealra gecorenra halgena deaþ is deorwurþe on Godes gesihþe; ac þeahhwæþere is geþuht, gif ænig todal beon mæg betwux martyrum, þæt se is healicost seþe þone martyrdom æfter Gode astealde. Witodlice Stephanus wæs to diacone gehadod æt þæra apostola handum; ac he hi forestop on heofenan rice mid sigefæstum deaþe; and swa se þe wæs neoþor on endebyrdnysse, wearþ fyrmest on þrowunge; and se þe wæs leorningcniht on hade, ongann wesan lareow on martyrdome. þone deaþ soþlice þe se Hælend gemedemode for mannum þrowian, þone ageaf Stephanus fyrmest manna þam Hælende. He is gecweden protomartyr, þæt is se forma cyþere, forþan þe he æfter Cristes þrowunge ærest martyrdom geþrowode. Stephanus is Grecisc nama, þæt is on Leden, Coronatus, þæt we cweþaþ on Englisc, Gewuldorbeagod; forþan þe he hæfþ þone ecan wuldorbeah, swa swa his nama him forewitegode. Þa leasan gewitan, þe hine forsædon, hine ongunnon ærest to torfienne; forþan þe Moyses æ tæhte, þæt swa hwa swa oþerne to deaþe forsæde, sceolde wurpan þone forman stan to þam þe he ær mid his tungan acwealde. þa reþan Iudei wedende þone halgan stændon: and he clypode, and cwæþ, "Drihten, ne sete þu þas dæda him to synne." understandaþ nu, mine gebroþra, þa micclan lufe þæs eadigan weres. On deaþe he wæs gesett, and þeah he bæd mid soþre lufe for his cwelleras; and betwux þæra stana hryre, þaþa gehwa mihte his leofostan frynd forgytan, þa betæhte he his fynd Gode, þus cweþende, "Drihten, ne sete þu þas dæda him to synne." Swiþor he besorgade þa heora synna þonne his agene wunda; swiþor heora arleasnysse þonne his sylfes deaþ; and rihtlice swiþor, forþan þe heora arleasnysse fyligde se eca deaþ, and þæt ece lif fyligde his deaþe. Saulus heold þæra leasra gewitena reaf, and heora mod to þære stæninge geornlice tihte. Stephanus soþlice gebigedum cneowum Drihten bæd þæt he Saulum alysde. Wearþ þa Stephanes ben fram Gode gehyred, and Saulus wearþ alysed. Se arfæsta wæs gehyred, and se arleasa wearþ gerihtwisod. On þyssere dæde is geswutelod hu micclum fremige þære soþan lufe gebed. Witodlice næfde Godes gelaþung Paulum to lareowe, gif se halga martyr Stephanus swa ne bæde. Efne nu Paulus blissaþ mid Stephane on heofenan rice; mid Stephane he bricþ Cristes beorhtnysse, and mid him he rixaþ. Þider þe Stephanus forestop, mid Saules stanum oftorfod, þider folgode Paulus gefultumod þurh Stephanes gebedu. Þær nis Paulus gescynd þurh Stephanes slege, ac Stephanus gladaþ on Paules gefærrædene; forþan þe seo soþe lufu on heora ægþrum blissaþ. Seo soþe lufu oferwann þæra Iudeiscra reþnysse on Stephane, and seo ylce lufu oferwreah synna micelnysse on Paule, and heo on heora ægþrum samod geearnode heofenan rice. Eornostlice seo soþe lufu is wylspring and ordfruma ealra godnyssa and æþele trumnys, and se weg þe læt to heofonum. Se þe færþ on soþre lufe ne mæg he dwelian, ne forhtian: heo gewissaþ, and gescylt, and gelæt. Þurh þa soþan lufe wæs þes halga martyr swa gebyld þæt he bealdlice þæra Iudeiscra ungeleaffulnysse þreade, and he orsorh betwux þam greatum hagolstanum þurhwunode; and he for þam stænendum welwillende gebæd, and þær toeacan þa heofenlican healle cucu and gewuldorbeagod [[innferde. Mine gebroþra, uton geefenlæcan be sumum dæle swa miccles lareowes geleafan, and swa mæres cyþeres lufe. uton lufian ure gebroþra on Godes gelaþunge mid swilcum mode swa swa þes cyþere þa lufode his fynd. Beoþ gemyndige hwæt seo sylfe Soþfæstnys on þam halgan godspelle behet, and hwilc wedd us gesealde. Se Hælend cwæþ, "Gif ge forgyfaþ þam mannum þe wiþ eow agyltaþ, þonne forgyfþ eow eower Fæder eowere synna: gif ge þonne nellaþ forgyfan, nele eac eower Fæder eow forgifan eowere gyltas." Ge gehyraþ nu, mine gebroþra, þæt hit stent þurh Godes gyfe on urum agenum dihte hu us biþ æt Gode gedemed. He cwæþ, "Gif ge forgyfaþ, eow biþ forgyfen." Ne bepæce nan man hine sylfne: witodlice gif hwa furþon ænne man hataþ on þisum middangearde, swa hwæt swa he to gode gedeþ, eal he hit forlyst; forþan þe se apostol Paulus ne biþ geligenod, þe cwæþ, "Þeah þe Ic aspende ealle mine æhta on þearfena bigleofan, and þeah þe Ic minne agenne lichaman to cwale gesylle, swa þæt Ic forbyrne on martyrdome; gif Ic næbbe þa soþan lufe, ne fremaþ hit me nan þing." Be þan ylcan cwæþ se godspellere Iohannes, "Seþe his broþor ne lufaþ, he wunaþ on deaþe." Eft he cwæþ, "Ælc þæra þe his broþor hataþ is manslaga." Ealle we sind gebroþra þe on God gelyfaþ, and we ealle cweþaþ, "Pater noster qui es in celis," þæt is, "ure Fæder þe eart on heofonum." Ne gedyrstlæce nan man be mægþhade, butan soþre lufe. Ne truwige nan man be ælmesdædum oþþe on gebedum, butan þære foresædan lufe; forþan þe swa lange swa he hylt þone sweartan niþ on his heortan, ne mæg he mid nanum þinge þone mildheortan God gegladian. Ac gif he wille þæt him God milde sy, þonne hlyste he godes rædes, na of minum muþe, ac of Cristes sylfes: he cwæþ, "Gif þu offrast þine lac to Godes weofode, and þu þær gemyndig bist þæt þin broþor hæfþ sum þing ongean þe, forlæt þærrihte þa lac ætforan þam weofode, and gang ærest to þinum breþer, and þe to him gesibsuma; and þonne þu eft cymst to þam weofode, geoffra þonne þine lac." Gif þu þonne þinum cristenum breþer deredest, þonne hæfþ he sum þing ongean þe, and þu scealt be Godes tæcunge hine gegladian, ær þu þine lac geoffrige. Gif þonne se cristena mann, þe þin broþor is, þe ahwar geyfelode, þæt þu scealt miltsigende forgifan. ure gastlican lac sind ure gebedu, and lofsang, and huselhalgung, and gehwilce oþre lac þe we Gode offriaþ, þa we sceolon mid gesibsumere heortan and broþerlicere lufe Gode betæcan. Nu cwyþ sum man ongean þas rædinge, Ne mæg Ic minne feond lufian, þone þe Ic dæghwonlice wælhreowne togeanes me geseo. Eala þu mann, þu sceawast hwæt þin broþor þe dyde, and þu ne sceawast hwæt þu Gode gedydest. Þonne þu micele swærran synna wiþ God gefremodest, hwi nelt þu forgyfan þa lytlan gyltas anum menn, þæt se Ælmihtiga God þe þa micclan synna forgyfe? Nu cwyst þu eft, Micel gedeorf biþ me þæt Ic minne feond lufige, and for þone gebidde þe me hearmes cepþ. Ne wiþcweþe we þæt hit micel gedeorf ne sy; ac gif hit is hefigtyme on þyssere worulde, hit becymþ to micelre mede on þære toweardan. Witodlice þurh þines feondes lufe þu bist Godes freond; and na þæt an þæt þu his freond sy, ac eac swilce þu bist Godes bearn, þurh þa rædene þæt þu þinne feond lufige; swa swa Crist sylf cwæþ, "Lufiaþ eowere fynd, doþ þam tela þe eow hatiaþ, þæt ge beon eoweres Fæder cild, seþe on heofenum is." Menigfealde earfoþnyssa and hospas wolde gehwa eaþelice forberan wiþ þan þæt he moste sumum rican men to bearne geteald beon, and his yrfenuma to gewitendlicum æhtum: forberaþ nu geþyldelice for þam ecan wurþmynte, þæt ge Godes bearn getealde beon, and his yrfenuman on heofenlicum spedum, þæt þæt se oþer forþyldigan wolde for ateorigendlicere edwiste. We secgaþ eow Godes riht; healdaþ gif ge willon. Gif we hit forsuwiaþ, ne biþ us geborgen. Cristes lufu us neadaþ þæt we simle þa godan tihton, þæt hi on godnysse þurhwunion; and þa yfelan we mynegiaþ, þæt hi fram heora yfelnessum hrædlice gecyrron. Ne beo se rihtwisa gymeleas on his anginne, ne se yfela ortruwige þurh his unrihtwisnysse. Ondræde se goda þæt he fealle; hogige se yfela þæt he astande. Se þe yfel sy geefenlæce he Paules gecyrrednysse; se þe god sy þurhwunige he on godnysse mid Stephane; forþan þe ne biþ nan anginn herigendlic butan godre geendunge. Ælc lof biþ on ende gesungen. Mine gebroþra, gyrstandæg gemedemode ure Drihten hine sylfne, þæt he þysne middangeard þurh soþe menniscnysse geneosode: nu todæg se æþela cempa Stephanus, fram lichamlicere wununge gewitende, sigefæst to heofenum ferde. Crist niþerastah, mid flæsce bewæfed; Stephanus upastah, þurh his blod gewuldorbeagod. Gyrstandæg sungon englas "Gode wuldor on heannyssum;" nu todæg hi underfengon Stephanum blissigende on heora geferrædene, mid þam he wuldraþ and blissaþ a on ecnysse. Amen.

VI. KAL. JAN.

DECEMBER XXVII.

ASSuMPTIO SCI IOHANNIS APOSTOLI.

THE] ASSuMPTION OF SAINT JOHN THE APOSTLE.

Iohannes se Godspellere, Cristes dyrling, wearþ on þysum dæge to heofenan rices myrhþe, þurh Godes neosunge, genumen. He wæs Cristes moddrian sunu, and he hine lufode synderlice; na swa micclum for þære mæglican sibbe swa for þære clænnysse his ansundan mægþhades. He wæs on mægþhade Gode gecoren, and he on ecnysse on ungewemmedum mægþhade þurhwunode. Hit is geræd on gewyrdelicum racum þæt he wolde wifian, and Crist wearþ to his gyftum gelaþod. Þa gelamp hit þæt æt þam gyftum win wearþ ateorod. Se Hælend þa het þa þenigmen afyllan six stænene fatu mid hluttrum wætere, and he mid his bletsunge þæt wæter to æþelum wine awende. Þis is þæt forme tacn þe he on his menniscnysse openlice geworhte. Þa wearþ Iohannes swa onbryrd þurh þæt tacn, þæt he þærrihte his bryde on mægþhade forlet, and symle syþþan Drihtne folgode, and wearþ þa him inweardlice gelufod, forþan þe he hine ætbræd þam flæsclicum lustum. Witodlice þisum leofan leorningcnihte befæste se Hælend his modor, þaþa he on rode hengene mancynn alysde; þæt his clæne lif þæs clænan mædenes Marian gymde, and heo þa on hyre swyster suna þenungum wunode. Eft on fyrste, æfter Cristes upstige to heofonum, rixode sum wælhreow casere on Romana rice, æfter Nerone, se wæs Domicianus gehaten, cristenra manna ehtere: se het afyllan ane cyfe mid weallendum ele, and þone mæran godspellere þæron het bescufan; ac he, þurh Godes gescyldnysse, ungewemmed of þam hatum bæþe eode. Eft þaþa se wælreowa ne mihte þæs eadigan apostoles bodunge alecgan, þa asende he hine on wræcsiþ to anum igeoþe þe is Paþmas geciged, þæt he þær þurh hungres scearpnysse acwæle. Ac se Ælmihtiga Hælend ne forlet to gymeleaste his gelufedan apostol, ac geswutelode him on þam wræcsiþe þa toweardan onwrigenysse, be þære he awrat þa boc þe is gehaten Apocalipsis: and se wælhreowa Domicianus on þam ylcan geare wearþ acweald æt his witena handum; and hi ealle anmodlice ræddon þæt ealle his gesetnyssa aydlode wæron. Þa wearþ Nerua, swiþe arfæst man, to casere gecoren. Be his geþafunge gecyrde se apostol ongean mid micclum wurþmynte, seþe mid hospe to wræcsiþe asend wæs. Him urnon ongean weras and wif fægnigende, and cweþende, "Gebletsod is se þe com on Godes naman." Mid þam þe se apostol Iohannes stop into þære byrig Ephesum, þa bær man him togeanes anre wydewan lic to byrigenne; hire nama wæs Drusiana. Heo wæs swiþe gelyfed and ælmesgeorn, and þa þearfan, þe heo mid cystigum mode eallunga afedde, dreorige mid wope þam lice folgodon. þa het se apostol þa bære settan, and cwæþ, "Min Drihten, Hælend Crist! Arære þe, Drusiana; aris, and gecyrr ham, and gearca us gereordunge on þinum huse." Drusiana þa aras swilce of slæpe awreht, and, carfull be þæs apostoles hæse, ham gewende. On þam oþrum dæge eode se apostol be þære stræt, þa ofseah he hwær sum uþwita lædde twegen gebroþru, þe hæfdon behwyrfed eall heora yldrena gestreon on deorwurþum gymstanum, and woldon þa tocwysan on ealles þæs folces gesihþe, to wæfersyne, swylce to forsewennysse woruldlicra æhta. Hit wæs gewunelic on þam timan þæt þa þe woldon woruldwisdom gecneordlice leornian, þæt hi behwyrfdon heora are on gymstanum, and þa tobræcon; oþþe on sumum gyldenum wecge, and þone on sæ awurpan; þilæs þe seo smeaung þæra æhta hi æt þære lare hremde. Þa clypode se apostol þone uþwitan Graton him to, and cwæþ, "Dyslic biþ þæt hwa woruldlice speda forhogige for manna herunge, and beo on Godes dome geniþerod. Ydel biþ se læcedom þe ne mæg þone untruman gehælan; swa biþ eac ydel seo lar þe ne gehælþ þære sawle leahtras and unþeawas. Soþlice min lareow Crist sumne cniht þe gewilnode þæs ecan lifes þysum wordum lærde, Þæt he sceolde ealle his welan beceapian, and þæt wurþ þearfum dælan, gif he wolde fulfremed beon, and he syþþan hæfde his goldhord on heofenum, and þær toeacan þæt ece lif." Graton þa se uþwita him andwyrde, "Þas gymstanas synd tocwysede for ydelum gylpe, ac gif þin lareow is soþ God, gefeg þas bricas to ansundnysse, þæt heora wurþ mæge þearfum fremian." Iohannes þa gegaderode þæra gymstana bricas, and beseah to heofonum, þus cweþende, "Drihten Hælend, nis þe nan þing earfoþe; þu geedstaþelodest þisne tobrocenan middangeard on þinum geleaffullum, þurh tacen þære halgan rode; geedstaþela nu þas deorwurþan gymstanas, þurh þinra engla handa, þæt þas nytenan menn þine mihta oncnawon, and on þe gelyfon." Hwæt, þa færlice wurdon þa gymstanas swa ansunde, þæt furþon nan tacen þære ærran tocwysednysse næs gesewen. Þa se uþwita Graton samod mid þam cnihtum feoll to Iohannes fotum, gelyfende on God. Se apostol hine fullode mid eallum his hirede, and he ongann Godes geleafan openlice bodian. Þa twegen gebroþra, Atticus and Eugenius, sealdon heora gymstanas, and ealle heora æhta dældon wædlum, and filigdon þam apostole, and micel menigu geleaffulra him eac to geþeodde. Þa becom se apostol æt sumum sæle to þære byrig Pergamum, þær þa foresædan cnihtas iu ær eardodon, and gesawon heora þeowan mid godewebbe gefreatewode, and on woruldlicum wuldre scinende. þa wurdon hi mid deofles flan þurhscotene, and dreorige on mode, þæt hi wædligende on anum waclicum wæfelse ferdon, and heora þeowan on woruldlicum wuldre scinende wæron. Þa undergeat se apostol þas deoflican facn, and cwæþ, "Ic geseo þæt eower mod is awend, and eower andwlita, forþan þe ge eowre speda þearfum dældon, and mines Drihtnes lare fyligdon: gaþ nu forþi to wuda, and heawaþ incre byrþene gyrda, and gebringaþ to me." Hi dydon be his hæse, and he on Godes naman þa grenan gyrda gebletsode, and hi wurdon to readum golde awende. Eft cwæþ se apostol Iohannes, "Gaþ to þære sæstrande, and feccaþ me papolstanas." Hi dydon swa; and Iohannes þa on Godes mægenþrymme hi gebletsode, and hi wurdon gehwyrfede to deorwurþum gymmum. Þa cwæþ se apostol, "Gaþ to smiþþan, and fandiaþ þises goldes and þissera gymstana." Hi þa eodon, and eft comon, þus cweþende, "Ealle þas goldsmiþas secgaþ þæt hi næfre ær swa clæne gold, ne swa read ne gesawon: eac þas gymwyrhtan secgaþ þæt hi næfre swa deorwurþe gymstanas ne gemetton." Þa cwæþ se apostol him to, "Nimaþ þis gold, and þas gymstanas, and faraþ, and bicgaþ eow landare; forþan þe ge forluron þa heofenlican speda. Bicgaþ eow pællene cyrtlas, þæt ge to lytelre hwile scinon swa swa rose, þæt ge hrædlice forweornion. Beoþ blowende and welige hwilwendlice, þæt ge ecelice wædlion. Hwæt la, ne mæg se Ælmihtiga Wealdend þurhteon þæt he do his þeowan rice for worulde, genihtsume on welan, and unwiþmetenlice scinan? Ac he sette gecamp geleaffullum sawlum, þæt hi gelyfon to geagenne þa ecan welan, þa þe for his naman þa hwilwendan speda forhogiaþ. Ge gehældon untruman on þæs Hælendes naman, ge afligdon deoflu, ge forgeafon blindum gesihþe, and gehwilce uncoþe gehældon: efne nu is þeos gifu eow ætbroden, and ge sind earmingas gewordene, ge þe wæron mære and strange. Swa micel ege stod deoflum fram eow, þæt hi be eowere hæse þa ofsettan deofolseocan forleton; nu ge ondrædaþ eow deoflu. Þa heofenlican æhta sind us eallum gemæne. Nacode we wæron acennede, and nacode we gewitaþ. Þære sunnan beorhtnys, and þæs monan leoht, and ealra tungla sind gemæne þam rican and þam heanan. Renscuras, and cyrcan duru, fulluht, and synna forgyfenys, huselgang, and Godes neosung, sind eallum gemæne, earmum and eadigum: ac se ungesæliga gytsere wile mare habban þonne him genihtsumaþ, þonne he furþon orsorh ne bricþ his genihtsumnysse. Se gytsere hæfþ ænne lichaman, and menigfealde scrud; he hæfþ ane wambe, and þusend manna bigleofan: witodlice þæt he for gytsunge uncyste nanum oþrum syllan ne mæg, þæt he hordaþ, and nat hwam; swa swa se witega cwæþ, 'On idel biþ ælc man gedrefed, seþe hordaþ, and nat hwam he hit gegaderaþ.' Witodlice ne biþ he þæra æhta hlaford, þonne he hi dælan ne mæg; ac he biþ þæra æhta þeowa, þonne he him eallunga þeowaþ; and þær toeacan him weaxaþ untrumnyssa on his lichaman, þæt he ne mæg ætes oþþe wætes brucan. He caraþ dæges and nihtes þæt his feoh gehealden sy; he gymþ grædelice his teolunge, his gafoles, his gebytlu; he berypþ þa wannspedigan, he fulgæþ his lustum and his plegan; þonne færlice gewitt he of þissere worulde, nacod and forscyldigod, synna ana mid him ferigende; forþan þe he sceal ece wite þrowian." Efne þaþa se apostol þas lare sprecende wæs, þa bær sum wuduwe hire suna lic to bebyrgenne, se hæfde gewifod þritigum nihtum ær. Seo dreorige modor þa samod mid þam licmannum rarigende hi astrehte æt þæs halgan apostoles fotum, biddende þæt he hire sunu on Godes naman arærde, swa swa he dyde þa wydewan Drusianam. Iohannes þa ofhreow þære meder and þæra licmanna dreorignysse, and astrehte his lichaman to eorþan on langsumum gebede, and þa æt nextan aras, and eft upahafenum handum langlice bæd. Þaþa he þus þriwa gedon hæfde, þa het he unwindan þæs cnihtes lic, and cwæþ, "Eala þu cniht, þe þurh þines flæsces lust hrædlice þine sawle forlure; eala þu cniht, þu ne cuþest þinne Scyppend; þu ne cuþest manna Hælend; þu ne cuþest þone soþan freond; and forþi þu beurne on þone wyrstan feond. Nu Ic ageat mine tearas, and for þinre nytennysse geornlice bæd, þæt þu of deaþe arise, and þisum twam gebroþrum, Attico and Eugenio, cyþe hu micel wuldor hi forluron, and hwilc wite hi geearnodon." Mid þam þa aras se cniht Stacteus, and feoll to Iohannes fotum, and begann to þreagenne þa gebroþru þe miswende wæron, þus cweþende, "Ic geseah þa englas, þe eower gymdon, dreorige wepan, and þa awyrigedan sceoccan blissigende on eowerum forwyrde. Eow wæs heofenan rice gearo, and scinende gebytlu mid wistum afyllede, and mid ecum leohte: þa ge forluron þurh unwærscipe, and ge begeaton eow þeosterfulle wununga mid dracum afyllede, and mid brastligendum ligum, mid unasecgendlicum witum afyllede, and mid anþræcum stencum; on þam ne ablinþ granung and þoterung dæges oþþe nihtes: biddaþ forþi mid inweardre heortan þysne Godes apostol, eowerne lareow, þæt he eow fram þam ecum forwyrde arære, swa swa he me fram deaþe arærde; and he eowre saula, þe nu synd adylegode of þære liflican bec, gelæde eft to Godes gife and miltsunge." Se cniht þa Stacteus, þe of deaþe aras, samod mid þam gebroþrum, astrehte hine to Iohannes fotswaþum, and þæt folc forþ mid ealle, anmodlice biddende þæt he him to Gode geþingode. Se apostol þa bebead þam twam gebroþrum þæt hi þritig daga be hreowsunge dædbetende Gode geoffrodon, and on fæce geornlice bædon, þæt þa gyldenan gyrda eft to þan ærran gecynde awendon, and þa gymstanas to heora wacnysse. Æfter þritigra daga fæce, þaþa hi ne mihton mid heora benum þæt gold and þa gymstanas to heora gecynde awendan, þa comon hi mid wope to þam apostole, þus cweþende, "Symle þu tæhtest mildheortnysse, and þæt man oþrum miltsode; and gif man oþrum miltsaþ, hu micele swiþor wile God miltsian and arian mannum his handgeweorce! Þæt þæt we mid gitsigendum eagum agylton, þæt we nu mid wependum eagum bereowsiaþ." þa andwyrde se apostol, "Beraþ þa gyrda to wuda, and þa stanas to sæstrande: hi synd gecyrrede to heora gecynde." Þaþa hi þis gedon hæfdon, þa underfengon hi eft Godes gife, swa þæt hi adræfdon deoflu, and blinde, and untrume gehældon, and fela tacna on Drihtnes naman gefremedon, swa swa hi ær dydon. Se apostol þa gebigde to Gode ealne þone eard Asiam, se is geteald to healfan dæle middaneardes; and awrat þa feorþan Cristes boc, seo hrepaþ swyþost ymbe Cristes godcundnysse. þa oþre þry godspelleras, Matheus, Marcus, Lucas, awriton æror be Cristes menniscnysse. Þa asprungon gedwolmenn on Godes gelaþunge, and cwædon þæt Crist nære ær he acenned wæs of Marian. Þa bædon ealle þa leodbisceopas þone halgan apostol þæt he þa feorþan boc gesette, and þæra gedwolmanna dyrstignesse adwæscte. Iohannes þa bead þreora daga fæsten gemænelice; and he æfter þam fæstene wearþ swa miclum mid Godes gaste afylled, þæt he ealle Godes englas, and ealle gesceafta, mid heahlicum mode oferstah, and mid þysum wordum þa godspellican gesetnysse ongan, "In principio erat uerbum, et uerbum erat apud Deum, et Deus erat uerbum, et reliqua:" þæt is on Englisc, "On frymþe wæs word, and þæt word wæs mid Gode, and þæt word wæs God; þis wæs on frymþe mid Gode; ealle þing sind þurh hine geworhte, and nis nan þing buton him gesceapen." And swa forþ on ealre þære godspellican gesetnysse, he cydde fela be Cristes godcundnysse, hu he ecelice butan angynne of his Fæder acenned is, and mid him rixaþ on annysse þæs Halgan Gastes, a butan ende. Feawa he awrat be his menniscnysse, forþan þe þa þry oþre godspelleras genihtsumlice be þam heora bec setton. Hit gelamp æt sumum sæle þæt þa deofolgyldan þe þa gyt ungeleaffulle wæron, gecwædon þæt hi woldon þone apostol to heora hæþenscipe geneadian. Þa cwæþ se apostol to þam hæþengyldum, "Gaþ ealle endemes to Godes cyrcan, and clypiaþ ealle to eowerum godum, þæt seo cyrce afealle þurh heora mihte; þonne buge Ic to eowerum hæþenscipe. Gif þonne eower godes miht þa halgan cyrcan towurpan ne mæg, Ic towurpe eower tempel þurh þæs Ælmihtigan Godes mihte, and Ic tocwyse eower deofolgyld; and biþ þonne rihtlic geþuht þæt ge geswycon eoweres gedwyldes, and gelyfon on þone soþan God, seþe ana is Ælmihtig." Þa hæþengyldan þisum cwyde geþwærlæhton, and Iohannes mid geswæsum wordum þæt folc tihte, þæt hi ufor eodon fram þam deofles temple; and mid beorhtre stemne ætforan him eallum clypode, "On Godes naman ahreose þis tempel, mid eallum þam deofolgyldum þe him on eardiaþ, þæt þeos menigu tocnawe þæt þis hæþengyld deofles biggeng is." Hwæt þa færlice ahreas þæt tempel grundlunga, mid eallum his anlicnyssum to duste awende. On þam ylcan dæge wurdon gebigede twelf þusend hæþenra manna to Cristes geleafan, and mid fulluhte gehalgode. Þa sceorede þa gyt se yldesta hæþengylda mid mycelre þwyrnysse, and cwæþ þæt he nolde gelyfan buton Iohannes attor drunce, and þurh Godes mihte þone cwelmbæran drenc oferswiþde. Þa cwæþ se apostol, "Þeah þu me attor sylle, þurh Godes naman hit me ne deraþ." þa cwæþ se hæþengylda Aristodemus, "Þu scealt ærest oþerne geseon drincan, and þærrihte cwelan, þæt huru þin heorte swa forhtige for þam deadbærum drence." Iohannes him andwyrde, "Gif þu on God gelyfan wylt, Ic unforhtmod þæs drences onfo." Þa getengde se Aristodemus to þam heahgerefan, and genam on his cwearterne twegen þeofas, and sealde him þone unlybban ætforan eallum þam folce, on Iohannes gesihþe; and hi þærrihte æfter þam drence gewiton. Syþþan se hæþengylda eac sealde þone attorbæran drenc þam apostole, and he mid rodetacne his muþ, and ealne his lichaman gewæpnode, and þone unlybban on Godes naman halsode, and siþþan mid gebildum mode hine ealne gedranc. Aristodemus þa and þæt folc beheoldon þone apostol þreo tida dæges, and gesawon hine habban glædne andwlitan, buton blacunge and forhtunge; and hi ealle clypodon, "An soþ God is, seþe Iohannes wurþaþ." Þa cwæþ se hæþengylda to þam apostole, "Gyt me tweonaþ; ac gif þu þas deadan sceaþan, on þines Godes naman arærst, þonne biþ min heorte geclænsod fram ælcere twynunge." þa cwæþ Iohannes, "Aristodeme, nim mine tunecan, and lege bufon þæra deadra manna lic, and cweþ, 'Þæs Hælendes Cristes apostol me asende to eow, þæt ge on his naman of deaþe arison, and ælc man oncnawe þæt deaþ and lif þeowiaþ minum Hælende.'" He þa be þæs apostoles hæse bær his tunecan, and alede uppon þam twam deadum; and hi þærrihte ansunde arison. Þaþa se hæþengylda þæt geseah, þa astrehte he hine to Iohannes fotum, and syþþan ferde to þam heahgerefan, and him þa wundra mid hluddre stemne cydde. Hi þa begen þone apostol gesohton, his miltsunge biddende. Þa bead se apostol him seofon nihta fæsten, and hi siþþan gefullode; and hi æfter þam fulluhte towurpon eall heora deofolgyld, and mid heora maga fultume, and mid eallum cræfte arærdon Gode mære cyrcan on þæs apostoles wurþmynte. Þaþa se apostol wæs nigon and hundnigontig geara, þa æteowode him Drihten Crist mid þam oþrum apostolum, þe he of þisum life genumen hæfde, and cwæþ, "Iohannes, cum to me; tima is þæt þu mid þinum gebroþrum wistfullige on minum gebeorscipe." Iohannes þa aras, and eode wiþ þæs Hælendes; ac he him to cwæþ, "Nu on sunnandæg, mines æristes dæge, þu cymst to me:" and æfter þam worde Drihten gewende to heofenum. Se apostol micclum blissode on þam behate, and on þam sunnanuhtan ærwacol to þære cyrcan com, and þam folce, fram hancrede oþ undern, Godes gerihta lærde, and him mæssan gesang, and cwæþ þæt se Hælend hine on þam dæge to heofonum gelaþod hæfde. Het þa delfan his byrgene wiþ þæt weofod, and þæt greot utawegan. And he eode cucu and gesund into his byrgene, and astrehtum handum to Gode clypode, "Drihten Crist, Ic þancige þe þæt þu me gelaþodest to þinum wistum: þu wast þæt Ic mid ealre heortan þe gewilnode. Oft Ic þe bæd þæt Ic moste to þe faran, ac þu cwæde þæt Ic anbidode, þæt Ic þe mare folc gestrynde. Þu heolde minne lichaman wiþ ælce besmittennysse, and þu simle mine sawle onlihtest, and me nahwar ne forlete. Þu settest on minum muþe þinre soþfæstnysse word, and Ic awrat þa lare þe Ic of þinum muþe gehyrde, and þa wundra þe Ic þe wyrcan geseah. Nu Ic þe betæce, Drihten! þine bearn, þa þe þin gelaþung, mæden and moder, þurh wæter and þone Halgan Gast, þe gestrynde. Onfoh me to minum gebroþrum mid þam þe þu come, and me gelaþodest. Geopena ongean me lifes geat, þæt þæra þeostra ealdras me ne gemeton. Þu eart Crist, þæs lifigendan Godes Sunu, þu þe be þines Fæder hæse middangeard gehældest, and us þone Halgan Gast asendest. Þe we heriaþ, and þanciaþ þinra menigfealdra goda geond ungeendode worulde. Amen." Æfter þysum gebede æteowode heofenlic leoht bufon þam apostole, binnon þære byrgene, ane tid swa beorhte scinende, þæt nanes mannes gesihþ þæs leohtes leoman sceawian ne mihte; and he mid þam leohte his gast ageaf þam Drihtne þe hine to his rice gelaþode. He gewat swa freoh fram deaþes sarnysse, of þisum andweardan life, swa swa he wæs ælfremed fram lichamlicere gewemmednysse. Soþlice syþþan wæs his byrgen gemet mid mannan afylled. Manna wæs gehaten se heofenlica mete, þe feowertig geara afedde Israhela folc on westene. Nu wæs se bigleofa gemett on Iohannes byrgene, and nan þing elles; and se mete is weaxende on hire oþ þisne andweardan dæg. Þær beoþ fela tacna æteowode, and untrume gehælde, and fram eallum frecednyssum alysede, þurh þæs apostoles þingunge. Þæs him getiþaþ Drihten Crist, þam is wuldor and wurþmynt mid Fæder and Halgum Gaste, a butan ende. Amen.

V. KL. JAN.

DECEMBER XXVIII.

NATALE INNOCENTIuM INFANTuM.

THE NATIVITY OF THE INNOCENTS.

Nu todæg Godes gelaþung geond ealne ymbhwyrft mærsaþ þæra eadigra cildra freolstide, þe se wælhreowa Herodes for Cristes acennednysse mid arleasre ehtnysse acwealde, swa swa us seo godspellice racu swutellice cyþ. Matheus awrat, on þære forman Cristes bec, þysum wordum be þæs Hælendes gebyrdtide, and cwæþ, "Þaþa se Hælend acenned wæs on þære Iudeiscan Bethleem, on Herodes dagum cyninges, efne þa comon fram eastdæle middangeardes þry tungelwitegan to þære byrig Hierusalem, þus befrinende, Hwær is Iudeiscra leoda Cyning, seþe acenned is? We gesawon soþlice his steorran on eastdæle, and we comon to þi þæt we us to him gebiddon. Hwæt þa Herodes cyning þis gehyrende wearþ micclum astyred, and eal seo burhwaru samod mid him. He þa gesamnode ealle þa ealdorbiscopas, and þæs folces boceras, and befran hwær Cristes cenningstow wære. Hi sædon, on þære Iudeiscan Bethleem. Þus soþlice is awriten þurh þone witegan Micheam, Eala þu Bethleem, Iudeisc land, ne eart þu nateshwon wacost burga on Iudeiscum ealdrum: of þe cymþ se Heretoga seþe gewylt and gewissaþ Israhela folc. þa clypode Herodes þa þry tungelwitegan on sunderspræce, and geornlice hi befran to hwilces timan se steorra him ærst æteowode, and asende hi to Bethleem, þus cweþende, Faraþ ardlice, and befrinaþ be þam cilde, and þonne ge hit gemetaþ, cyþaþ me, þæt Ic mage me to him gebiddan. Þa tungelwitegan ferdon æfter þæs cyninges spræce, and efne þa se steorra, þe hi on eastdæle gesawon, glad him beforan, oþ þæt he gestod bufon þam gesthuse, þær þæt cild on wunode. Hi gesawon þone steorran, and þearle blissodon. Eodon þa inn, and þæt cild gemetton mid Marian his meder, and niþerfeallende hi to him gebædon. Hi geopenodon heora hordfatu, and him lac geoffrodon, gold, and recels, and myrram. Hwæt þa God on swefne hi gewarnode and bebead þæt hi eft ne cyrdon to þan reþan cyninge Herode, ac þurh oþerne weg hine forcyrdon, and swa to heora eþele becomon. Efne þa Godes engel æteowode Iosepe, þæs cildes fosterfæder, on swefnum, cweþende, 'Aris, and nim þis cild mid þære meder, and fleoh to Egypta lande, and beo þær oþ þæt Ic þe eft secge: soþlice toweard is þæt Herodes smeaþ hu he þæt cild fordo.' Ioseph þa aras nihtes, and þæt cild mid þære meder samod to Egypta lande ferede, and þær wunode oþ þæt Herodes gewat; þæt seo witegung wære gefylled, þe be þære fare ær þus cwæþ, Of Egypta lande Ic geclypode minne sunu." Nu secgaþ wyrdwriteras þæt Herodes betwux þisum wearþ gewreged to þam Romaniscan casere, þe ealne middangeard on þam timan geweold. Þa gewende he to Rome, be þæs caseres hæse, þæt he hine betealde, gif he mihte. Þa betealde he hine swiþe geaplice, swa swa he wæs snotorwyrde to þan swiþe, þæt se casere hine mid maran wurþmynte ongean to Iudeiscum rice asende. Þaþa he ham com, þa gemunde he hwæt he ær be þan cilde gemynte, and geseah þæt he wæs bepæht fram þam tungelwitegum, and wearþ þa þearle gegremod. Sende þa his cwelleras, and ofsloh ealle þa hysecild, þe wæron on þære byrig Bethleem, and on eallum hyre gemærum, fram twywintrum cilde to anre nihte, be þære tide þe he geaxode æt þam tungelwitegum. Þa wæs gefylled Hieremias witegung, þe þus witegode, "Stemn is gehyred on heannysse, micel wop and þoterung: Rachel beweop hire cildru, and nolde beon gefrefrod, forþan þe hi ne sind." On þam twelftan dæge Cristes acennednysse comon þa þry tungelwitegan to Herode, and hine axodon be þam acennedan cilde; and þaþa hi his cenningstowe geaxodon, þa gewendon hi wiþ þæs cildes, and noldon þone reþan cwellere eft gecyrran, swa swa he het. Þa ne mihte he forbugan þæs caseres hæse, and wæs þa, þurh his langsume fær, þæra cildra slege geuferod swiþor þonne he gemynt hæfde; and hi wurdon þa on þysum dægþerlicum dæge wuldorfullice gemartyrode; na swaþeah þæs geares þe Crist acenned wæs, ac æfter twegra geara ymbryne æfter þæs wælhreowan hamcyme. Næs he æþelboren, ne him naht to þam cynecynne ne gebyrode; ac mid syrewungum and swicdome he becom to þære cynelican geþincþe; swa swa Moyses be þam awrat, Þæt ne sceolde ateorian þæt Iudeisce cynecynn, oþþæt Crist sylf come. þa com Crist on þam timan þe seo cynelice mæigþ ateorode, and se ælfremeda Herodes þæs rices geweold. Þa wearþ he micclum afyrht and anþracode þæt his rice feallan sceolde, þurh tocyme þæs soþan cyninges. Þa clypode he þa tungelwitegan on sunderspræce, and geornlice hi befran, on hwilcne timan hi ærest þone steorran gesawon; forþan þe he ondred, swa swa hit gelamp, þæt hi eft hine ne gecyrdon. Þa het he forþy acwellan ealle þa hysecild þære burhscire, fram twywintrum cilde oþ anre nihte: þohte gif he hi ealle ofsloge, þæt se an ne ætburste þe he sohte. Ac he wæs ungemyndig þæs halgan gewrites, þe cwyþ, "Nis nan wisdom, ne nan ræd naht ongean God." Se swicola Herodes cwæþ to þam tungelwitegum, "Faraþ, and geornlice befrinaþ be þam cilde, and cyþaþ me, þæt Ic eac mage me to him gebiddan." Ac he cydde syþþan his facenfullan syrewunge, hu he ymbe wolde, gif he hine gemette, þaþa he ealle his efenealdan adylegode for his anes ehtnysse. Þearflæs he syrwde ymbe Crist: ne com he forþy þæt he wolde his eorþlice rice, oþþe æniges oþres cyninges mid riccetere him to geteon; ac to þi he com þæt he wolde his heofenlice rice geleaffullum mannum forgyfan. Ne com he to þy þæt he wære on mærlicum cynesetle ahafen, ac þæt he wære mid hospe on rode hengene genæglod. He wolde þeah þæs wælhreowan syrewunge mid fleame forbugan, na forþi þæt he deaþ forfluge, seþe sylfwilles to þrowienne middangearde genealæhte; ac hit wære to hrædlic, gif he þa on cildcradole acweald wurde, swilce þonne his tocyme mancynne bediglod wære; þi forhradode Godes engel þæs arleasan geþeaht, and bebead þæt se fosterfæder þone heofenlican æþeling of þam earde ardlice ferede. Ne forseah Crist his geongan cempan, þeah þe he lichamlice on heora slege andwerd nære; ac he asende hi fram þisum wræcfullum life to his ecan rice. Gesælige hi wurdon geborene þæt hi moston for his intingan deaþ þrowian. Eadig is heora yld, seoþe þa gyt ne mihte Crist andettan, and moste for Criste þrowian. Hi wæron þæs Hælendes gewitan, þeah þe hi hine þa gyt ne cuþon. Næron hi geripode to slege, ac hi gesæliglice þeah swulton to life. Gesælig wæs heora acennednys, forþan þe hi gemetton þæt ece lif on instæpe þæs andweardan lifes. Hi wurdon gegripene fram moderlicum breostum, ac hi wurdon betæhte þærrihte engellicum bosmum. Ne mihte se manfulla ehtere mid nanre þenunge þam lytlingum swa micclum fremian, swa micclum swa he him fremode mid þære reþan ehtnysse hatunge. Hi sind gehatene martyra blostman, forþan þe hi wæron swa swa upaspringende blostman on middeweardan cyle ungeleaffulnysse, swilce mid sumere ehtnysse forste forsodene. Eadige sind þa innoþas þe hi gebæron, and þa breost þe swylce gesihton. Witodlice þa moddru on heora cildra martyrdome þrowodon; þæt swurd þe þæra cildra lima þurharn becom to þæra moddra heortan; and neod is þæt hi beon efenhlyttan þæs ecan edleanes, þonne hi wæron geferan þære þrowunge. Hi wæron gehwæde and ungewittige acwealde, ac hi arisaþ on þam gemænelicum dome mid fullum wæstme, and heofenlicere snoternysse. Ealle we cumaþ to anre ylde on þam gemænelicum æriste, þeah þe we nu on myslicere ylde of þyssere worulde gewiton. Þæt]] godspel cweþ þæt Rachel beweop hire cildra, and nolde beon gefrefrod, forþan þe hi ne sind. Rachel hatte Iacobes wif, þæs heahfæderes, and heo getacnode Godes gelaþunge, þe bewypþ hire gastlican cild; ac heo nele swa beon gefrefrod, þæt hi eft to woruldlicum gecampe gehwyrfon, þa þe æne mid sygefæstum deaþe middangeard oferswiþdon, and his yrmþa ætwundon to wuldorbeagienne mid Criste. Eornostlice]] ne breac se arleasa Herodes his cynerices mid langsumere gesundfulnysse, ac buton yldinge him becom seo godcundlice wracu, þe hine mid menigfealdre yrmþe fordyde, and eac geswutelode on hwilcum suslum he moste æfter forþsiþe ecelice cwylmian. Hine gelæhte unasecgendlic adl; his lichama barn wiþutan mid langsumere hætan, and he eal innan samod forswæled wæs, and toborsten. Him wæs metes micel lust, ac þeah mid nanum ætum his gyfernysse gefyllan ne mihte. He hriþode, and egeslice hweos, and angsumlice siccetunga teah, swa þæt he earfoþlice orþian mihte. Wæterseocnyss hine ofereode, beneoþan þam gyrdle, to þan swiþe, þæt his gesceapu maþan weollon, and stincende attor singallice of þam toswollenum fotum fleow. unaberendlic gyhþa ofereode ealne þone lichaman, and ungelyfendlic toblawennys his innoþ geswencte. Him stod stincende steam of þam muþe, swa þæt earfoþlice ænig læce him mihte genealæcan. Fela þæra læca he acwealde; cwæþ þæt hi hine gehælan mihton and noldon. Hine gedrehte singal slæpleast, swa þæt he þurhwacole niht buton slæpe adreah; and gif he hwon hnappode, þærrihte hine drehton nihtlice gedwimor, swa þæt him þæs slæpes ofþuhte. Þaþa he mid swiþlicum luste his lifes gewilnode, þa het he hine ferigan ofer þa ea Iordanen, þærþær wæron gehæfde hate baþu, þe wæron halwende gecwedene adligendum lichaman. Wearþ þa eac his læcum geþuht þæt hi on wlacum ele hine gebeþedon. Ac þaþa he wæs on þissere beþunge geled, þa wearþ se lichama eal toslopen, swa þæt his eagan wendon on gelicnysse sweltendra manna, and he læg cwydeleas butan andgite. Eft þaþa he com, þa het he hine ferigan to þære byrig Hiericho. Þaþa]] he wearþ his lifes orwene, þa gelaþode he him to ealle þa Iudeiscan ealdras of gehwilcum burgum, and het hi on cwearterne beclysan, and gelangode him to his swustur Salome and hire wer Alexandrum, and cwæþ, "Ic wat þæt þis Iudeisce folc micclum blissigan wile mines deaþes; ac Ic mæg habban arwurþfulle licþenunge of heofigendre menigu, gif ge willaþ minum bebodum gehyrsumian. Swa ricene swa Ic gewite, ofsleaþ ealle þas Iudeiscan ealdras, þe Ic on cwearterne beclysde, þonne beoþ heora siblingas to heofunge geneadode, þa þe wyllaþ mines forþsiþes fagnian." He þa his cempan to þam slege genamode, and het heora ælcum fiftig scyllinga to sceatte syllan, þæt hi heora handa fram þam blodes gyte ne wiþbrudon. Þaþa he mid ormætre angsumnysse wæs gecwylmed, þa het he his agenne sunu Antipatrem arleaslice acwellan, toeacan þam twam þe he ær acwealde. Æt nextan, þaþa he gefredde his deaþes nealæcunge, þa het he him his seax aræcan to screadigenne ænne æppel, and hine sylfne hetelice þyde, þæt him on acwehte. Þyllic wæs Herodes forþsiþ, þe manfullice ymbe þæs heofenlican æþelinges tocyme syrwde, and his efenealdan lytlingas unscæþþige arleaslice acwealde. Efne]] þa Godes engel, æfter Herodes deaþe, æteowode Iosepe on swefnum, on Egypta lande, þus cweþende, "Aris, and nim þæt cild and his moder samod, and gewend ongean to Israhela lande; soþlice hi sind forþfarene, þaþe ymbe þæs cildes feorh syrwdon." He þa aras, swa swa se engel him bebead, and ferode þæt cild mid þære meder to Israhela lande. Þa gefran Ioseph þæt Archelaus rixode on Iudea lande, æfter his fæder Herode, and ne dorste his neawiste genealæcan. Þa wearþ he eft on swefne gemynegod þæt he to Galilea gewende, forþan þe se eard næs ealles swa gehende þam cyninge, þeah þe hit his rice wære. Þæt cild þa eardode on þære byrig þe is gehaten Nazareth, þæt seo witegung wære gefylled, þe cwæþ, þæt he sceolde beon Nazarenisc geciged. Se engel cwæþ to Iosepe, "Þa sind forþfarene, þe embe þæs cildes feorh syrwdon." Mid þam worde he geswutelode þæt ma þæra Iudeiscra ealdra embe Cristes cwale smeadon; ac him getimode swiþe rihtlice þæt hi mid heora arleasan hlaforde ealle forwurdon. Nelle]] we þas race na leng teon, þylæs þe hit eow æþryt þince; ac biddaþ eow þingunge æt þysum unscæþþigum martyrum. Hi sind þa þe Criste folgiaþ on hwitum gyrlum, swa hwider swa he gæþ; and hi standaþ ætforan his þrymsetle, butan ælcere gewemmednysse, hæbbende heora palmtwigu on handa, and singaþ þone niwan lofsang, þam Ælmihtigan to wurþmynte, seþe leofaþ and rixaþ a butan ende. Amen.