Poul, apostle of Crist, by the will of God, to alle hooly men that ben at Ephecy and feithful in Crist Jhesu, grace to ȝou and pees of God, oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. Blessid be God and the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, that blesside vs in al spiritual blessinge in heuenli thingis in Crist, as he chees vs in him bifore the makyng of the world, that we schulden be hooli, and with oute wemme, or vndefoulid, in his siȝt, in charite. The which bifore ordeynede vs into the adopcioun of sones by Jhesu Crist into him, vp the purpos of his will, into heriynge of the glorie of his grace; in the which he made vs able to his grace, or made dereworthe, in his dereworthe sone. In whom we han aȝen byinge by his blood, and remissioun of synnes, vp the richessis of his grace, that haboundide greetly in vs in all wysdom and prudence, that he schulde make the sacrament of his will knowen to vs, vp the good plesaunce of him, that he purposide in him in the dispensacioun of plente of tymes for to instore alle thingis in Crist, the whiche ben in heuenes and in erthe, in him. In whom also and we by sorte, or grace, ben clepid, bifore ordeyned vp the purpos of him that worchith alle thingis vp the counceil of his will; that we be into the heryinge of his glorie, we that bifore hopiden in Crist. In whom and ȝe, whanne ȝe hadden herd the word of treuthe, resceyueden the gospel of ȝoure heelthe, in which and ȝe bileuynge ben markid with the Hooly Gost of biheeste, that is a wed, or eernes, of ȝoure heritage, into the redempcioun of purchasinge, into heryinge of his glorie. Therfore and I heeringe ȝoure feith, that is in Crist Jhesu, and louynge into alle seyntis, ceesse not doynge thankyngis for ȝou, makynge mynde of ȝou in my preieris; that God of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, fadir of glorie, ȝyue to ȝou the spirit of wysdom and of reuelacioun, into the knowynge of him; the yȝen of ȝoure herte inliȝtened, that ȝe wite, which is the hope of his clepinge, and whiche the richessis of the glorie of his heritage in seyntis; and which is the ouersemynge greetnesse of his vertu into vs that han bileuyd, vp the worchinge of the myȝt of his vertu, the which he wrouȝte in Crist, reysinge him fro deed men, and settinge on his riȝthalf in heuenly thingis, aboue ech principat, or power of princes, and potestate, and vertu, and lordschiping, and ech name that is named, not oonly in this world, but in the world to come; and made alle thingis suget vndir his feet, and ȝaf him heed vpon al the chirche, that is the bodi of him, and the plente of him, the which alle thingis in alle thingis is fulfillid.
And whanne ȝe weren deede in ȝoure giltis and synnes, in which ȝe wandreden sum tyme vp the space, or lastinge, of this world, vp the prince of the power of this eir, of the spirit that worchith now in to the sones of vntrust, or vnbileue; in the which we alle lyueden sum tyme in desyris of oure fleisch, doynge the wille of fleisch and thouȝtis, and we weren by kynde the sones of wraththe, as and othere; forsoth God, that is riche in mercy, for his ful moche charite in which he louede vs, and whanne we weren deede in synnes, quykenede vs to gidere in Crist, by whos grace ȝe ben sauyd, and to gidere aȝen reyside, and to gidere made to sitte in heuenly thingis in Crist Jhesu; that he schulde schewe in the worldis comynge ouer the plenteuouse richessis of his grace in goodnesse vpon vs in Crist Jhesu. Forsothe by grace ȝe ben saued bi feith, and not of ȝou; sothli it is the ȝifte of God, not of werkis, that no man glorie. Forsoth we ben the makinge of hym, maad of noȝt in Crist Jhesu, in good workis, that God made redy bifore, that in hem we go. For which thing be ȝe myndeful, that sum tyme ȝe that weren hethene in fleisch, the whiche weren seid prepucie, fro that that is seid circumcisioun in fleisch maad bi hand; that weren in that tyme withouten Crist, alyened, or maad straunge, fro the lyuynge of Israel, and herborid men, or gestis, of testamentis, not hauynge hope of biheeste, and with outen God in this world; now forsoth in Crist Jhesu ȝe that weren sum tyme ferr, ben maad nyȝ in the blood of Crist. Forsoth he is oure pees, that made both oon, and the myddel wal of a long wal vnbyndinge, enemytees in his fleisch; auoydinge the lawe of maundementis by domes, that he make twey peplis in him silf into a newe man, makinge pees, that he reconcile bothe in o body to God by the cross, sleynge the enemytees in him silf. And he comynge euangelisyde pees to ȝou that weren ferr, and pees to hem that weren nyȝ; for by him we both han nyȝ comynge in o spirit to the fadir. Therfore now ȝe ben not herborid men and gestis, or comelingis, but ȝe ben citeseyns of seyntis, and houshold meyne of God; aboue bildid on the foundement of apostlis and of prophetis, bi that hiȝeste corner stoon, Crist Jhesu; in whom ech bildynge maad wexith in to an hooly temple in the Lord. In whom and be ȝe bildid to gidere into the habitacle of God, in the Hooli Gost.
For grace of this thing I Poul, the boundyn of Jhesu Crist, for ȝou hethene men, if nethelees ȝe han herd the dispensacioun of Goddis grace, that is ȝouun to me in ȝou. For vp reuelacioun the sacrament is maad knowun to me, as I aboue wroot in schort thing, as ȝe redinge mown vndirstonde my prudence in the mysterie of Crist. The which is not knowun to othere generaciouns to the sones of men, as it is now schewid to his hooly apostlis and prophetis in the spirit, hethen men for to be euene eiris, and to gidere bodily and to gidere parceneris of his biheeste in Crist Jhesu by the euangelie; whos mynistre I am maad, vp the ȝifte of Goddis grace, the which is ȝouun to me vp the worchinge of his vertu. Forsoth to me, leest of alle seyntis, this grace is ȝouun for to euangelise in hethen men the vnserchable richessis, or that mown not be souȝt out, of Crist, and for to ynliȝtne alle men, which is the dispensacioun of sacrament hid fro worldis in God, that made alle thingis of noȝt; that the mochefold wysdom of God be knowun to princes and potestatis in heuenli thingis by the chirche, aftir the settinge of worldis, the which he made in Crist Jhesu oure Lord. In whom we han trust and nyȝ comynge, in trustnynge by the feith of him. For which thing I aske, that ȝe fayle not in my tribulaciouns for ȝou, that is ȝoure glorie. For grace of this thing I bowe my knees to the fadir of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, of whom ech fadirheed in heuenes and in erthe is named, that he ȝyue to ȝou, vp the richessis of his glorie, vertu for to be strengthid by his spirit in the ynnere man, Crist for to dwelle by feith in ȝoure hertis; ȝe rootid and groundid in charite, that ȝe mown comprehende with alle seyntis, which is the brede, and lengthe, and hiȝnesse, and depnesse; also for to wite the charite of Crist aboue semynge to science, that ȝe be fulfillid into al the plente of God. Forsothe to him that is myȝti for to make alle thingis more plenteuously than we axen or vndirstonden, vp the vertu that worchith in vs, to him be glorie in the chirche, and in Crist Jhesu, into alle generaciouns of the world of worldis. Amen. So be it.
And so I bounden in the Lord byseche, that ȝe walke worthily in the clepinge, in which ȝe ben clepid, with al mekenesse and myldenesse, with pacience supportinge to gidere in charite, bisy for to kepe vnite of spirit in the bond of pees. O body and o spirit, as ȝe ben clepid in oon hope of ȝoure clepinge; o Lord, o feith, o baptym, o God and fadir of alle, the which is aboue alle men, and by alle thingis, and in vs alle. To ech of vs grace is ȝouun vp the mesure of the ȝyuynge of Crist; for which thing he seith, He styȝinge into hiȝ, ledde caitifte caytif, or prysonynge prisoned, he ȝaf ȝiftis to men. Forsoth that he assendide, what is it, no but for he dessendide first into the lowere partis of the erthe? He it is that cam down, and that stiȝede vp on alle heuenes, that he schulde fulfille alle thingis. And he ȝaf summe sotheli apostlis, summe forsoth prophetis, othere forsothe euangelistis, othere forsoth schepherdis and techeris, to the ful endynge of seyntis, into the work of mynisterie, into edificacioun of Cristis body, til we rennen alle, in vnyte of feith and of knowynge of Goddis sone, into a parfyt man, into the mesure of age of the plente of Crist; that we ben not now litile children, mouynge as wawis, and be borun aboute with al wynd of techinge, in the weywardnesse of men, in sutil witt, to the disceyuynge of errour. Forsoth we doynge treuthe in charite, wexen in him bi alle thingis, that is Crist the heed; of whom al the body sett to gidere, and boundyn to gidere by ech ioynture of vndirseruyng, vp worching into mesure of ech membre, makith encresynge of the body, into edificacioun of it in charite. Therfore this thing I seie, and witnesse it in the Lord, that ȝe walke not now, as and hethen men walken, in the vanyte of her witt, in derknessis; hauynge vndirstondyng derkened, alyened, or maad ferr, fro the lyf of God, bi ignoraunce, or vnkunnynge, that is in hem, for the blyndnesse of her herte. Thei dispeiringe bitoken hem silf to vnchastite, in to worchinge of al vnclennesse in coueityse. Forsothe ȝe han not so lerud Crist, if nethelees ȝe herden hym, and ben tauȝt in him, as is treuthe in Jhesu. Do ȝe awey vp the firste lyuyng the olde man, that is corupt vp the desyris of errour; forsoth be ȝe renewid, or maad newe aȝen, by spirit of ȝoure mynde; and clothe ȝe the newe man, that vp God is maad of noȝt in riȝtwysnesse and hoolynesse of treuthe. For which thing ȝe puttinge awey leesyng, speke treuthe ech man with his neiȝbore, for we ben membris to gidere. Be ȝe wroth, and nyle ȝe synne; the sunne falle not down on ȝoure wraththe. Nyle ȝe ȝyue stede to the deuel. He that staal, now stele not; more forsoth traueile he in worchinge with his hondis that that is good thing, that he haue wherof he schal ȝyue to a man suffringe nede. Ech yuel word go not out of ȝoure mouth; but if ony is good to edificacioun of feith, that it ȝyue grace to men heeringe. And nyle ȝe make the Hooly Gost of God sori, or heuy, in the which ȝe ben markid in the day of redempcioun. Al bitternesse, and wraththe, and indignacioun, and cry, and blasphemye be takun awey fro ȝou, with al malice; forsoth be ȝe to gidere benygne, or of good will, mercyful, ȝyuynge to gidere, as and God ȝaf to ȝou in Crist.
Therfore be ȝe foloweris of God, as moost dereworthe sones; and walke ȝe in loue, as and Crist louede vs, and ȝaf him silf for vs an offryng and sacrifice to God, in to the odour of swetnesse. Fornycacioun forsoth, and al vnclennesse, or auarice, be not named in ȝou, as it bicometh hooly men; ether filthe, or foly speche, or harlotrie, that perteyneth not to thing, but more doynge of thankyngis. Forsoth this thing wyte ȝe, vndirstondinge that ech fornycatour, or vnclene man, or coueytous, that is seruage of ydols, or mawmetis, hath not heritage in the kingdom of Crist and God. No man disceyue ȝou by veyne wordis; forsoth for thes thingis the wraththe of God cam into the sones of vntrist, or vnbileue. Therfore nyle ȝe be maad parteneris of hem. Forsoth ȝe weren sum tyme derknessis, now forsoth ȝe ben liȝt in the Lord. Walke ȝe as sones of liȝt. Forsothe the fruyt of liȝt is in al goodnesse, and riȝtwysnesse, and treuthe; prouynge what is wel plesynge to God. And nyle ȝe comune to vnfruytouse workes of derknessis; forsothe more reproue ȝe. Forsothe what thingis ben don of hem and in priuey, it is foul and for to seye. Forsoth alle thingis that ben prouyd of the liȝt, ben maad opyn; forsoth al thing that is schewid, is liȝt. For which thing he seith, Ryse thou that slepist, and ryse vp fro deede thingis, and Crist schal illumyne thee. And so, britheren, se ȝe, how warly ȝe schulen go; not as vnwyse men, but as wyse men, aȝen byinge tyme, for the dayes ben yuele. Therfore nyle ȝe be maad vnprudent, but vndirstondinge which is the will of the Lord. And nyle ȝe be fulfillid, or be drunkun, with wyn, in which luxurie is, but be ȝe fulfillid with the Hooly Gost; spekinge to ȝou silf in psalmes, and ymnes, and spiritual songis, syngynge and seyinge psalme in ȝoure hertis to the Lord; euermore doynge thankyngis for alle thingis in the name of oure Lord Jhesu Crist to God and the fadir, ȝe suget to gidere in the drede of Crist. Be wymmen suget to her men, or housbondis, as to the Lord; for the man is heed of the womman, as Crist is heed of the chirche; he sauyour of his body. But as the chirche is suget to Crist, so and wymmen to her housebondis in alle thingis. Men, loue ȝe ȝoure wyues, as and Crist louede the chirche, and ȝaf him silf for it, that he schulde make it hooly; clensynge it with the waisching stoon of watir, in the word of lyf; that he schulde ȝyue the chirche glorious to him silf, not hauynge wem, or spot, or ryuelyng, or ony such thing, but that it be hooli and vndefoulid. So and men schulen loue her wyues, as her owne bodies. He that loueth his wyf, loueth him silf; forsoth no man hatide euere his fleisch, but norischith and fostrith it, as and Crist doth the chirche. For we ben membris of his body, of his fleisch, and of his boones. For this thing a man schal forsake his fadir and his modir, and he schal clyue to his wyf; and thei schulen be tweyne in o fleisch. Forsoth this sacrament is greet; forsoth I seye in Crist, and in his chirche. Netheles and ȝe alle, ech man loue his wyf as him silf; forsoth the wyf drede hir hosebonde.
Sones, obeische ȝe to ȝoure fadir and modir, in the Lord; forsothe this thing is iust, or riȝtful. Honoure thou thi fadir and thi modir, that is the firste maundement in the biheeste; that it be wel to thee, and that thou be longe lyuynge on the erthe. And, ȝe fadris, nyle ȝe terre ȝoure sones to wraththe; but norische ȝe hem in the discipline and correccioun, or chastysing, of the Lord. Seruauntis, obeysche ȝe to fleishly lordis with drede and tremblyng, in symplenesse of ȝoure herte, as to Crist; not seruynge at yȝe, as plesynge to men, but as seruauntis of Crist; doynge the will of God of ynwitt, or resoun, with good will seruynge as to the Lord, and not to men; witynge that ech man, what euere good thing he schal do, this he schal resceyue of the Lord, whethir seruaunt, whether fre man. And, ȝe lordis, do the same thingis to hem, forȝyuynge manacis; witynge for her Lord and ȝoure is in heuenes, and takynge of persoones is not anentis God. Here aftirward, britheren, be ȝe comfortid in the Lord, and in the myȝt of his vertu. Clothe ȝou with the armer of God, that ȝe mown stonde aȝens aspyingis, or asaylyngis, of the deuel. For stryuynge is not to vs aȝens fleisch and blood, but aȝens the princes and potestatis, aȝens gouernours of the world of thes derknessis, aȝens spiritual thingis of wickidnesse, in heuenli thingis. Therfore take ȝe the armer of God, that ȝe mown aȝenstonde in the yuel day; and in alle thingis stonde parfyt. Therfore stonde ȝe, gird aboute ȝoure leendis in sothfastnesse, and clothid the haberioun of riȝtwysnesse, and schood the feet in makynge redy of the gospel of pees; in alle thingis takinge the scheeld of feith, in the which ȝe mown quenche alle the firy dartis of the worste enmye. And take ȝe the helm of heelthe, and the swerd of the Gost, that is, the word of God; by al preier and bisechinge preiynge al tyme in spirit, and in him wakynge in al bysynesse, and byseching for alle hooly, and for me; that word be ȝouun to me in openynge of my mouth, with trist for to make knowun the mysterie of the gospel, for which I am sett in legacie, or message, in this cheyne; so that in it I be hardy for to speke, as it bihoueth me. Forsothe that and ȝe wite, what thingis ben aboute me, what I schal do, Titicus, my moost dere brother, and trewe mynistre in the Lord, schal make alle thingis knowun to ȝou; whom I sente to ȝou into this same thing, that ȝe knowe what thingis ben aboute vs, and that he comforte ȝoure hertis. Pees to britheren, and charite, with feith of God oure fadir, and of the Lord Jhesu Crist. Grace with alle men that louen oure Lord Jhesu Crist in vncorupcioun. Amen.
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