Wyrd-writeras secgadh thaet dhry leodscipas sind geh['a]tene India. Seo
forme India lidh to dhaera Silhearwena rice, seo odher lidh to Medas, seo
dhridde to dham micclum garsecge; theos dhridde India haefdh on anre sidan
theostru, and on odhere dhone grimlican garsecg. To dhyssere bec['o]m Godes
apostol BARTHOLOMEUS, and eode into dham temple to dham deofolgylde
Astarodh, and swa swa aeldheodig dhaer wunade. On dham deofolgylde wunade
swilc deofol dhe to mannum thurh dha anlicnysse spraec, and gehaelde
untruman, blinde and healte, tha dhe he sylf ['ae]r awyrde. He derode manna
gesihdhum, and heora lichaman mid mislicum untrumnyssum awyrde, and
andwyrde him dhurh dha anlicnysse, thaet hi him heora l['a]c offrian
sceoldon, and he hi gehaelde; ac he him ne heolp mid nanre haele, ac dhadha
hi to him bugon, dha geswac he dhaere lichamlican gedreccednysse, fordhan
dhe he ahte dha heora sawla. Tha wendon dysige men thaet he h['i] gehaelde,
dhadha he dhaere dreccednysse geswac.
Tha mid tham dhe se apostol into dham temple eode, dha adumbode se deofol
Astarodh, and ne mihte nanum dhaera dhe h['e] {456} awyrde gehelpan, for
dhaes halgan Godes dhegnes neawiste. Tha lagon dhaer binnan dham temple
fela adligra manna, and daeghwomlice tham deofolgylde offrodon; ac thadha
h['i] gesawon thaet he heora helpan ne mihte, ne nanum andwyrdan, tha
ferdon h['i] to gehendre byrig, thaer dhaer odher deofol waes gewurdhod,
thaes nama waes Beridh, and him offrodon, and befrunon, hwi heora god him
andwyrdan ne mihte? Se deofol dha Beridh andwyrde, and cwaedh, "Eower god
is swa faeste mid isenum racenteagum gewridhen thaet he ne gedyrstlaecdh
thaet he furdhon ordhige odhdhe sprece sydhdhan se Godes apostol
Bartholomeus binnan thaet tempel becom." H['i] axodon, "Hwaet is se
Bartholomeus?" Se deofol andwyrde, "He is freond thaes Aelmihtigan Godes,
and dhi he com to dhyssere scire thaet he aidlige ealle dha haedhengyld the
dhas Indiscan wurdhiadh." H['i] cwaedon, "Sege us his nebwlite, thaet we
hine oncnawan magon." Beridh him andwyrde, "He is blaecfexede and cyrps,
hwit on lichaman, and he haefdh steape eagan, and medemlice nosu, and side
beardas, hwon h['a]rwencge, medemne waestm, and is ymbscryd mid hwitum
oferslype, and binnan six and twentig geara faece: naes his reaf h['o]rig
ne tosigen, ne his scos forwerode. Hund sidhon he bigdh his cneowa on
daege, and hund sidhon on nihte, biddende his Drihten. His stemn is swylce
ormaete byme, and him faradh mid Godes englas, dhe ne gedhafiadh thaet him
hunger derige, odhdhe aenig ateorung. Aefre he bidh anes modes, and glaed
thurhwunadh. Ealle dhing he foresceawadh and w['a]t, and ealra dheoda
gereord he cann. Nu iu he w['a]t hwaet ic sprece be him, fordhan dhe Godes
englas him dheowiadh, and ealle dhing cydhadh. Thonne ge hine secadh, gif
he sylf wyle, ge hine gemetadh; gif he nele, sodhlice ne finde ge hine. Ic
bidde eow thaet ge hine geornlice biddon thaet he hider ne gewende, thelaes
dhe Godes englas dhe him mid synd me gebeodon thaet hi minum geferan
Astarodh gebudon." And se deofol mid thisum wordum suwode.
Hi gecyrdon ongean, and sceawodon aelces aeldheodiges mannes andwlitan and
gyrlan, and hi nateshwon, binnan {458} twegra daga faece, hine ne gemetton.
Tha betwux dhisum hrymde sum w['o]d mann dhurh deofles gast, and cwaedh,
"Eala dhu Godes apostol, Bartholomee, dhine gebedu geancsumiadh me, and
ontendadh." Se apostol dha cwaedh, "Adumba, dhu unclaena deofol, and gewit
of dham menn." And dhaerrihte weardh se mann geclaensod fram dham fulan
gaste, and gewittiglice spraec, sedhe for manegum gearum awedde.
Tha geaxode se cyning Polimius be dham witseocum menn, hu se apostol hine
fram dhaere w['o]dnysse ahredde, and het hine to him gelangian, and cwaedh,
"Min dohtor is hreowlice awed: nu bidde ic dhe thaet thu h['i] on gewitte
gebringe, swa swa dhu dydest Seustium, sedhe for manegum gearum mid
egeslicere w['o]dnysse gedreht waes." Thadha se apostol thaet maeden geseah
mid heardum racenteagum gebunden, fordhan dhe heo b['a]t and totaer aelcne
dhe heo geraecan mihte, and hire nan man genealaecan ne dorste, dha het se
apostol h['i] unbindan. Tha dhenas him andwyrdon, "Hwa dearr hi hreppan?"
Bartholomeus andwyrde, "Ic haebbe gebunden dhone feond the hi drehte, and
ge g['y]t hi ondraedadh. Gadh to and unbindadh hi, and gereordigadh, and on
aerne merigen l['ae]dadh h['i] to me." Hi dha dydon be dhaes apostoles
haese, and se awyrigeda gast ne mihte na leng hi dreccan.
Tha dhaes on merigen se cyning Polimius gesymde gold, and seolfor, and
deorwurdhe gymmas, and paellene gyrlan uppan olfendas, and sohte dhone
apostol, ac he hine nateshwon ne gemette. Eft dhaes on merigen com se
apostol into dhaes cyninges bure, beclysedre dura, and hine befr['a]n, "Hwi
sohtest dhu me mid golde, and mid seolfre, and mid deorwurdhum gymmum and
gyrlum? Thas l['a]c behofiadh tha dhe eordhlice welan secadh; ic sodhlice
nanes eordhlices gestreones, ne flaesclices lustes ne gewilnige; ac ic
wille thaet thu wite thaet dhaes Aelmihtigan Godes Sunu gemedemode hine
sylfne thaet h['e] dhurh maedenlicne innodh acenned weardh, sedhe geworhte
heofonas and eordhan and ealle gesceafta; and he haefde anginn on dhaere
menniscnysse, sedhe naefre ne ongann on {460} godcundnysse, ac he sylf is
anginn, and eallum gesceaftum, aegdher ge gesewenlicum ge ungesewenlicum,
anginn forgeaf. Thaet maeden dhe hine gebaer forhogode aelces weres
gemanan, and dham Aelmihtigan Gode hire maegdhhad behet. Hire com to Godes
heah-engel Gabriel, and hire cydde thaes heofonlican Aedhelinges to-cyme on
hire innodh, and heo his wordum gelyfde, and swa mid tham cilde weardh."
Se apostol dha tham cyninge bodade ealne cristendom, and middangeardes
alysednysse dhurh dhaes Haelendes to-cyme, and hu he dhone hellican deofol
gewylde, and him mancynnes benaemde, and cwaedh, "Drihten Crist, sedhe
dhurh his unscyldigan deadh thone deofol oferswidhde, sende us geond ealle
dheoda, thaet we todraefdon deofles dhenas, dha dhe on anlicnyssum wuniadh,
and thaet we dha haedhenan dhe hi wurdhiadh of heora anwealde aetbrudon. Ac
we ne underfodh gold ne seolfor, ac forseodh, swa swa Crist forseah;
fordhan dhe we gewilniadh thaet we rice beon on his rice, on dham naefdh
adl, ne untrumnyss, ne unrotnyss, ne deadh, naenne stede, ac thaer is ece
gesaeldh and eadignys, gefea butan ende mid ecum welum. Fordhi ic ferde to
eowerum temple, and se deofol dhe eow dhurh dha anlicnysse geandwyrde,
dhurh Godes englas dhe me sende, is gehaeft. And gif dhu to fulluhte
gebihst, ic do thaet thu dhone deofol gesihst, and gehyrst mid hwilcum
craefte he is gedhuht thaet he untrumnysse gehaele. Se awyrigeda deofol,
sidhdhan he dhone frumsceapenan mann besw['a]c, sydhdhan he haefde anweald
on ungelyfedum mannum, on sumum maran, on sumum laessan: on dham maran dhe
swidhor syngadh, on dham laessan dhe hwonlicor syngadh. Nu dedh se deofol
mid his lotwrencum thaet dha earman men geuntrumiadh, and tiht h['i] thaet
h['i] sceolon gelyfan on deofolgyld: thonne geswicdh he dhaere
gedreccednysse, and haefdh heora sawla on his anwealde; thonne h['i]
cwedhadh to dhaere deofollican anlicnysse, Thu eart min god. Ac dhes
deofol, dhe binnan eowrum temple waes, is gebunden, and ne maeg
nateshw['o]n andwyrdan dham the him to gebiddadh. Gif dhu wylt afandian
thaet ic sodh secge, ic hate hine faran into dhaere {462} anlicnysse, and
ic do thaet he andet this ylce, thaet he is gewridhen, and nane andsware
syllan ne maeg."
Tha andwyrde se cyning, "Nu to-merigen haefdh this folc gemynt thaet h['i]
heora l['a]c him offrion, dhonne cume ic dhaerto, thaet ic geseo dhas
wunderlican daeda." Witodlice on dham odhrum daege com se cyning mid thaere
burhware to dham temple, and dha hrymde se deofol mid egeslicere stemne
dhurh dha anlicnysse, and cwaedh, "Geswicadh, earme, geswicadh eowra
offrunga, dhelaes dhe ge wyrsan pinunge dhrowion dhonne ic. Ic eom gebunden
mid fyrenum racenteagum fram Cristes englum, dhone dhe dha Iudeiscan on
r['o]de ah['e]ngon: wendon thaet se deadh hine gehaeftan mihte; he sodhlice
dhone deadh oferswydhde, and urne ealdor mid fyrenum bendum gewradh, and on
dham dhriddan daege sigefaest ar['a]s, and sealde his rode-t['a]cen his
apostolum, and tosende h['i] geond ealle dheoda. An dhaera is her, dhe me
gebundenne hylt. Ic bidde eow thaet ge me to him gedhingion, thaet ic mote
faran to sumere odhre scire."
Tha cwaedh se apostol Bartholomeus, "Thu unclaena deofol, andette hw['a]
awyrde dhas untruman menn." Se unclaena gast andwyrde, "Ure ealdor, swa
gebunden swa he is, sent us to mancynne, thaet we h['i] mid mislicum
untrumnyssum awyrdon; aerest heora lichaman, fordhan dhe we nabbadh naenne
anweald on heora sawlum, buton hi heora l['a]c us geoffrion. Ac dhonne
h['i] for heora lichaman haeldhe us offriadh, thonne geswice we dhaes
lichaman gedreccednysse, fordhan dhe we habbadh sydhdhan heora sawla on
urum gewealde. Thonne bidh gedhuht swilce we hi gehaelon, dhonne we
geswicadh thaera awyrdnyssa. And menn us wurdhiadh for godas, thonne we
sodhlice deoflu sind, thaes ealdres gingran dhe Crist thaes maedenes Sunu
gewradh. Fram dham daege the his apostol Bartholomeus hider com, ic eom mid
byrnendum racenteagum dhearle fornumen, and fordhi ic sprece dhe he me het;
elles ic ne dorste on his andwerdnysse sprecan, ne furdhon ure ealdor."
Tha cwaedh se apostol, "Hwi nelt dhu gehaelan dhas untruman, swa swa dhin
gewuna waes?" Se sceocca andwyrde, "Thonne {464} we manna lichaman
derigadh, buton we dhaere sawle derian magon, dha lichaman thurhwuniadh on
heora awyrdnysse." Bartholomeus cwaedh, "And h['u] becume ge to dhaere
sawle awyrdnysse?" Se deofol andwyrde, "Thonne h['i] gelyfadh thaet we
godas sind, and us offriadh, thonne forl['ae]t se Aelmihtiga God h['i], and
we dhonne forl['ae]tadh dhone lichaman ungebrocodne, and cepadh dhaere
sawle the ['u]s to gebeah, and heo dhonne on ure anwealde bidh."
Tha cwaedh se apostol to eallum dham folce, "Efne nu ge habbadh gehyred
hwilc dhes god is dhe ge wendon thaet eow gehaelde; ac gehyradh nu dhone
sodhan God, eowerne Scyppend, the on heofonum eardadh; and ne gelyfe ge
heonon-fordh on idele anlicnyssa: and gif ge willadh thaet ic eow to Gode
gedhingige, and thaet dhas untruman haeldhe underfon, towurpadh thonne dhas
anlicnysse, and tobrecadh. Gif ge dhis dodh, thonne halgige ic dhis tempel
on Cristes naman, and eow dhaer on-innan mid his fulluhte fram eallum
synnum adhwea." Tha het se cyning dha anlicnysse towurpan. Hwaet thaet folc
dha caflice mid rapum hi bewurpon, and mid stengum awegdon; ac hi ne mihton
for dham deofle tha anlicnysse styrian.
Tha het se apostol tolysan dha rapas, and cwaedh to dham awyrgedan gaste
dhe hire on sticode, "Gyf dhu wylle thaet ic dhe on niwelnysse ne asende,
gewit of dhyssere anlicnysse, and tobrec h['i], and far to westene, thaer
nan fugel ne flyhdh, ne yrdhling ne eradh, ne mannes stemn ne swegdh." He
dhaerrihte ['u]t-gew['a]t, and sticmaelum tobraec dha anlicnysse, and ealle
dha graeftas binnon dham temple tobrytte. Thaet folc dha mid anre stemne
clypode, "An Aelmihtig God is, dhone dhe Bartholomeus bodadh." Se apostol
dha astrehte his handa widh heofonas weard, thus biddende, "Thu Aelmihtiga
God, on dham dhe Abraham gelyfde, and Isaac, and Iacob; thu dhe asendest
dhinne ancennedan Sunu, thaet he us alysde mid his deorwurdhan blode fram
deofles dheowdome, and haefdh us geworht dhe to bearnum; thu eart unacenned
Faeder, he is Sunu of dhe aefre acenned, and se Halga Gast is aefre
fordhstaeppende of dhe and of dhinum {466} Bearne, se forgeaf us on his
naman dhas mihte, thaet we untrume gehaelon, and blinde onlihton, hreoflige
geclaensian deoflu aflian, deade araeran, and cwaedh to ['u]s, Sodh ic eow
secge, Swa hwaet swa ge biddadh on minum naman aet minum Faeder, hit bidh
eow getidhod. Nu bidde ic on his naman thaet theos untrume menigu sy
gehaeled, thaet hi ealle oncnawon thaet dhu eart ana God on heofonan, and
on eordhan, and on s['ae], thu dhe haeldhe ge-edstadhelast dhurh dhone
ylcan urne Drihten, sedhe mid dhe and mid tham Halgan Gaste leofadh and
rixadh on ealra worulda woruld." Mid tham dhe h['i] andwyrdon, "Amen," tha
weardh eall seo untrume menigu gehaeled: and dhaer com dha fleogende Godes
engel scinende swa swa sunne, and fleah geond dha feower hwemmas thaes
temples, and agrof mid his fingre rode-tacn on dham fydherscytum st['a]num,
and cwaedh, "Se God dhe me sende cwaedh, Thaet swa swa dhas untruman synd
gehaelede fram eallum codhum, swa he geclaensode this templ fram thaes
deofles fulnyssum, dhone dhe se apostol het to westene gewitan. And God
bebead me thaet ic dhone deofol eowrum gesihdhum aer aeteowige. Ne beo ge
afyrhte thurh his gesihdhe, ac mearciadh rode-tacen on eowrum foreheafdum,
and aelc yfel gewit fram eow."
And se engel dha aeteowde tham folce dhone awyrigedan gast on dhyssere
gelicnysse. He weardh dha aeteowod swylce ormaete Silhearwa, mid scearpum
nebbe, mid sidum bearde. His loccas hangodon to dham anccleowum, his eagan
waeron fyrene spearcan sprengende; him st['o]d swaeflen l['i]g of dham
mudhe, he waes egeslice gefidherhamod, and his handa to his baece
gebundene. Tha cwaedh se Godes engel to dham atelican deofle, "Fordhan dhe
dhu waere gehyrsum dhaes apostoles haesum, and tobraece thas deofellican
anlicnysse, nu aefter his behate ic dhe unbinde, thaet thu fare to westene,
thaer dhaer nanes mannes drohtnung nis; and dhu thaer wunige odh thone
micclan dom." And se engel hine dha unband, and he mid hreowlicere
w['a]nunge aweg-gew['a]t, and nawar sidhdhan ne aeteowde. Se engel dha, him
eallum onlocigendum, fleah to heofonum.
{468} Hwaet dha se cyning Polimius, mid his wife and his twam sunum, and
mid ealre his leode, gelyfde on dhone sodhan God, and weardh gefullod, and
awearp his cynehelm samod mid his purpuran gyrlum, and nolde dhone Godes
apostol forlaetan, Aefter dhisum gesamnodon gehwylce dhwyrlice widhercoran,
and wrehton dhone cyning to his bredher Astrigem, se waes cyning on odhrum
leodscipe, and cwaedon, "Thin brodher is geworden anes dryes folgere, se
geagnadh him ure tempel, and ure godas tobrycdh." Tha weardh se cyning
Astriges gehathyrt, and sende dhusend gewaepnodra cempena, thaet hi dhone
apostol gebundenne to him bringan sceoldon. Thadha se apostol him to gelaed
waes, dha cwaedh se cyning, "Hw['i] amyrdest dhu minne brodhor mid thinum
drycraefte?" Bartholomeus andwyrde, "Ne amyrde ic hine, ac ic hine awende
fram haedhenum gylde to dham sodhan Gode." Se cyning him to cwaedh, "Hw['i]
towurpe dhu ure godas?" He andwyrde, "Ic sealde dha mihte dham deoflum,
thaet h['i] tocwysdon dha idelan anlicnysse the h['i] on wunodon, thaet
thaet mennisce folc fram heora gedwyldum gecyrde, and on dhone ecan God
gelyfde." Tha cwaedh se cyning, "Swa swa dhu dydest minne brodhor his god
forlaetan, and on dhinne god gelyfan, swa do ic eac dhe forlaetan dhinne
god, and on minne gelyfan." Tha andwyrde se apostol, "Ic aeteowode thone
god dhe dhin brodhor wurdhode him gebundenne, and ic het thaet he sylf his
anlicnysse tobraece. Gif dhu miht dhis d['o]n minum Gode, thonne gebigst
dhu me to dhines godes biggengum: gif dhu dhonne this minum Gode d['o]n ne
miht, ic tobryte ealle dhine godas, and dhu dhonne gelyf on dhone sodhan
God the ic bodige."
Mid tham dhe h['i] dhis spraecon, tha cydde sum man tham cyninge thaet his
maesta god Baldadh feolle, and sticmaelum toburste. Se cyning dha totaer
his purpuran reaf, and het mid stidhum saglum dhone apostol beatan, and
sidhdhan beheafdian. And he dha on dhisum daege swa gemartyrod to dham ecan
life gew['a]t. Witodlice aefter dhisum com se brodhor mid his folce, and
dhone halgan lichaman mid wulderfullum lofsangum {470} aweg ferodon, and
getimbrodon mynster wundorlicere micelnysse, and on dham his halgan
reliquias arwurdhlice gelogedon. Eornostlice on dham thrittigodhan daege,
se cyning Astriges, dhe dhone apostol ofslean het, weardh mid feondlicum
gaste gegripen, and egeslice awedde: swa eac ealle dha dhwyran
haedhengyldan, the dhone apostol mid nidhe to dham cyninge gewregdon,
aweddon samod mid him, and urnon h['i] and he to his byrgene, and dhaer
wedende swulton. Tha aspr['a]ng micel ['o]ga and gryre ofer ealle dha
ungeleaffullan, and hi dha gelyfdon, and gefullode wurdon aet dhaera
maessepreosta handum, dhe se apostol ['ae]r geh['a]dode. Tha onwreah se
apostol Bartholomeus be dham geleaffullan cyninge Polimius, thaet he
biscoph['a]d underfenge; and dha Godes dheowan and thaet geleaffulle folc
hine anmodlice to dham h['a]de gecuron. Hit gelamp dha, aefter dhaere
h['a]dunge, thaet he worhte fela t['a]cna on Godes naman, dhurh his
geleafan, and dhurhwunode twentig geara on dham biscopdome, and on godre
drohtnunge; and fulfremedum gedhincdhum gew['a]t to Drihtne, tham is
wurdhmynt and wuldor ['a] on worulde.
We magon niman bysne be dhaere apostolican lare, thaet nan cristen mann ne
sceal his haele gefeccan buton aet dham Aelmihtigan Scyppende, dham dhe
gehyrsumiadh lif and deadh, untrumnys and gesundfulnys, sedhe cwaedh on his
godspelle, thaet ['a]n lytel fugel ne befyldh on deadh butan Godes dihte.
He is swa mihtig, thaet he ealle dhing gediht and gefadadh butan geswince;
ac he beswincgdh mid untrumnyssum his gecorenan, swa swa he sylf cwaedh,
"Tha dhe ic lufige, dha ic dhreage and beswinge." For mislicum intingum
beodh cristene men geuntrumode, hwilon for heora synnum, hwilon for
fandunge, hwilon for Godes wundrum, hwilon for gehealdsumnysse g['o]dra
drohtnunga, thaet h['i] dhy eadmodran beon; ac on eallum dhisum thingum is
gedhyld nyd-behefe. Hwilon eac thurh Godes wrace becymdh tham arleasan menn
swidhe egeslic yfel, swa thaet his wite ongindh on dhyssere worulde, and
his sawul gewit to dham ecum witum for his waelhreawnysse; swa swa {472}
Herodes dhe dha unscaedhdhigan cild acwealde on Cristes acennednysse, and
manega odhre to-eacan him. Gif se synfulla bidh gebrocod for his
unrihtwisnysse, thonne gif he mid gedhylde his Drihten heradh, and his
miltsunge bitt, he bidh dhonne adhwogen fram his synnum dhurh dha
untrumnysse, swa swa horig hraegl thurh sapan. Gif he rihtwis bidh, he
haefdh thonne maran gedhincdhe thurh his brocunge, gif he gedhyldig bidh.
Se dhe bidh ungethyldig, and mid gealgum mode ceoradh ongean God on his
untrumnysse, he haefdh twyfealde genidherunge, fordhan dhe he geycdh his
synna mid thaere ceorunge, and dhrowadh nadhelaes.
God is se sodha laece, the dhurh mislice swingla his folces synna gehaeldh.
Nis se woruld-laece waelhreow, dheah dhe he thone gewundodan mid baernette,
odhdhe mid ceorfsexe gel['a]cnige. Se laece cyrfdh odhdhe baerndh, and se
untruma hrymdh, theah-hwaedhere ne miltsadh he thaes odhres w['a]nunge,
fordhan gif se laece geswicdh his craeftes, thonne losadh se forwundoda.
Swa eac God gel['a]cnadh his gecorenra gyltas mid mislicum brocum; and
theah dhe hit hefigtyme sy dham dhrowigendum, theah-hwaedhere wyle se
g['o]da Laece to ecere haeldhe hine gel['a]cnigan. Witodlice se dhe n['a]ne
brocunge for dhisum life ne dhrowadh, he faerdh to dhrowunge. For agenum
synnum bidh se mann geuntrumod, swa swa Drihten cwaedh to sumum bedridan,
dhe him to geboren waes, "Min bearn, dhe synd thine synna forgifene: aris
nu, and ber ham dhin leger-bed."
For fandunge beodh sume menn geuntrumode, swa swa waes se eadiga Iob,
dhadha he waes rihtwis, and Gode gehyrsum. Tha baed se deofol, thaet he his
fandigan moste, and he dha anes daeges ealle his aehta amyrde, and eft hine
sylfne mid tham maestan broce geuntrumode, swa thaet him weollon madhan
geond ealne dhone lichaman. Ac se gedhyldiga Iob, on eallum dhisum
ungelimpum, ne syngode mid his mudhe, ne nan dhing stuntlices ongean God ne
spraec, ac cwaedh, "God me forgeaf dha aehta, and h['i] eft aet me genam;
sy his nama gebletsod." God eac dha hine gehaelde, and his aehta mid
twyfealdum him {474} forgeald. Sume menn beodh geuntrumode for Godes
t['a]cnum, swa swa Crist cwaedh be sumum blindan men, dhadha his
leorning-cnihtas hine axodon, for hwaes synnum se mann wurde swa blind
acenned. Tha cwaedh se Haelend, thaet he naere for his agenum synnum, ne
for his maga, blind geboren, ac fordhi thaet Godes wundor thurh hine
geswutelod waere. And he thaerrihte mildheortlice hine gehaelde, and
geswutelode thaet he is sodh Scyppend, dhe dha ungesceapenan eahhringas mid
his halwendan spatle geopenode.
For gehealdsumnysse sodhre eadmodnysse beodh forwel oft Godes gecorenan
geswencte, swa swa Paulus se apostol be him sylfum cwaedh, "Me is geseald
sticels mines lichaman, and se sceocca me gearplaet, thaet seo micelnys
Godes onwrigenyssa me ne onhebbe; fordhan ic baed thriwa minne Drihten,
thaet he afyrsode thaes sceoccan sticels fram me; ac h['e] me andwyrde,
Paule, dhe genihtsumadh min gifu. Sodhlice maegen bidh gefremod on
untrumnysse. Nu wuldrige ic lustlice on minum untrumnyssum, thaet Cristes
miht on me wunige."
Se cristena mann dhe on aenigre thissere gelicnysse bidh gebrocod, and he
dhonne his haeldhe secan wyle aet unalyfedum tilungum, odhdhe aet wyrigedum
galdrum, oththe aet aenigum wiccecraefte, dhonne bidh he dham haedhenum
mannum gel['i]c, the dham deofolgylde geoffrodon for heora lichaman
haeldhe, and swa heora sawla amyrdon. Se dhe geuntrumod beo, bidde his
haele aet his Drihtne, and gedhyldelice tha swingla forbere; loc h['u]
lange se sodha laece hit foresceawige, and ne beceapige na dhurh aenigne
deofles craeft mid his sawle dhaes lichaman gesundfulnysse; bidde eac
g['o]ddra manna bletsunge, and aet halgum reliquium his haele gesece. Nis
nanum cristenum menn alyfed thaet he his haele gefecce aet nanum stane, ne
aet nanum treowe, buton hit sy halig rode-tacen, ne aet nanre stowe, buton
hit sy halig Godes hus: se dhe elles dedh, he begaedh untwylice
haedhengild. We habbadh hwaedhere tha bysne on halgum bocum, thaet mot se
dhe wile mid sodhum laececraefte his lichaman getemprian, swa swa dyde se
w['i]tega Isaias, the {476} worhte dham cyninge Ezechie clidhan to his
dolge, and hine gel['a]cnode.
Se wisa Augustinus cwaedh, thaet unpleolic sy theah hw['a] laece-wyrte
dhicge; ac thaet h['e] taeldh to unalyfedlicere w['i]glunge, gif hw['a] dha
wyrta on him becnitte, buton he h['i] to dham dolge gelecge.
Theah-hwaedhere ne sceole we urne hiht on laece-wyrtum besettan, ac on
dhone Aelmihtigan Scyppend, the dham wyrtum dhone craeft forgeaf. Ne sceal
nan man mid galdre wyrte besingan, ac mid Godes wordum h['i] gebletsian,
and swa dhicgan.
Wite dheah-hwaedhere gehw['a], thaet nan man butan earfodhnyssum ne becymdh
to dhaere ecan reste, thadha Crist sylf nolde his agen rice butan micelre
earfodhnysse astigan: swa eac his apostoli, and dha halgan martyras mid
heora agenum feore thaet heofonlice rice beceapodon: sydhdhan eac halige
andetteras, mid micelre drohtnunge on Godes dheowdome, and thurh miccle
forhaefednyssa and claennysse, halige wurdon. Hwaet wylle we endemenn
dhyssere worulde, gif we for urum synnum gebrocode beodh, buton herian urne
Drihten, and eadmodlice biddan, thaet he us thurh dha hwilwendlican swingla
to dham ecan gefean gelaede? Sy him wuldor and lof on ealra worulda woruld.
Amen.