Poul apostle, not of men, neither by man, but bi Jhesu Crist, and God the fadir, that reyside him fro deede men, and alle the britheren that ben with me, to the chirchis of Galathie, grace to ȝou, and pees of God the fadir, and of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, the which ȝaf him silf for oure synnes, that he schulde delyuere vs of this present weyward world, vp the wil of God and oure fadir, to whom is honour and glorie in to worldis of worldis. Amen; so be it. I wondre, that thus so soone ȝe ben born ouer fro him that clepide ȝou into the grace of Crist, into an other gospel; the which is not other, no but ther ben summe that disturblen ȝou, and wolen mysturne the euangelie of Crist. But thouȝ we, or an aungel of heuene, euangelise to ȝou, bisydis that that we han euangelisid to ȝou, cursid be he. As I bifore seide, and now eftsoone I seye, if ony schal euangelise out taken that that ȝe han takun, cursid be he. I counceile now to men, or to God? or I seke for to plese to men? If I ȝit pleside to men, I were not the seruaunt of Crist. Sotheli, britheren, I make the gospel knowun to ȝou, the which is euangelisid, or prechid, of me, for it is not vp man; sothli nether I took it of man, nether lernyde, but by the reuelacioun of Jhesu Crist. Forsothe ȝe herden my lyuynge sum tyme in the Juwerie, for ouer manere I pursuwide the chirche of God, and fauȝte aȝens it. And I profitide in Jurye aboue many myn euene eeldis in my kyn, beynge more haboundantly louere, or folower, of my fadryn tradiciouns. Forsoth whanne it pleside to him, that departide me fro the wombe of my modir, and clepid by his grace, that he schulde schewe in me his sone, that I schulde preche hym in hethene men, anoon I acordide not to fleisch and blood; nether I cam to Jerusalem to my bifore goeris apostlis, but I wente forth into Arabye, and eftsoone I turnede aȝen to Damask. Aftirward aftir thre ȝeeris I cam to Jerusalem, for to se Petre, and dwellide anentis him fifteene dayes; forsothe I sayȝ non other man of apostlis, no but James, the brothir of the Lord. Forsoth what thingis I wryte to ȝou, loo! bifore God for I lye not, or gabbe not. Aftirward I cam into the parties of Sirye and Cilicie. Forsoth I was vnknowyn bi face to the chirchis of Judee, that weren in Crist; oonly forsoth thei hadden heeringe, for he that pursuwede vs sumtyme, now euangelisith the feith, aȝens which he fauȝte sumtyme; and in me thei clarifieden God.
Aftirward aftir fourtene ȝeer, eftsoone I stiȝede to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and Tyte takyn to. Forsoth I stiȝede vp reuelacioun, and to gidere seyde, or disputide, with hem the gospel, the which I preche among hethene men; forsoth a sydis hond, or by hem silf, to hem that weren seyn for to be sumwhat, lest perauenture I schulde renne in veyn, or hadde runne. But nether Tyte, that was with me, whanne he was hethene, was compellid for to be circumsidid; but for false britheren vndirbrouȝt yn, the whiche priuely entriden for to aspie oure liberte, that we han in Crist Jhesu, that thei schulden dryue vs into seruage. To whiche nether at oon hour we ȝauen stede to subieccioun, that the treuthe of the gospel dwelle at ȝou. Forsothe of hem that weren seyen for to be sumwhat; what maner men thei weren sum tyme, it perteyneth no thing to me, forsothe God takith not the persoone of man; forsoth thei that weren seen for to be sumwhat, no thing to me ȝauen to gidere. But aȝenward, whanne thei hadden seyn, that the gospel of prepucie, or hethene men, is bitakun to me, as of circumcisioun to Petre; for he that wrouȝte to Petre into apostelhed of circumcisioun, wrouȝte and to me among hethene men; and whanne thei hadden knowe the grace of God, that is ȝouun to me, James, and Cephas, or Petre, and John, the whiche weren seyn for to be pileris, ȝauen to me and Barnabas the riȝt hondis of felowschip, that we among hethene men, thei forsoth into circumcisioun; oonly that we schulde be myndeful of pore men, that also I was bisy for to do the same thing. Forsothe whanne Cephas, or Petre, cam to Antioche, I stood aȝens hym in to the face, for he was reprehensyble, or worthi for to be reprouyd. Forsoth bifore that summe camen fro James, he eet with hethen men; forsoth whanne thei camen, he withdrowȝ, and departide hym, dredynge hem that weren of circumcisioun. And othere conscentiden to his feynynge, so that Barnabas was ledd of hem into that feynynge. But whanne I hadde seyn, that thei walkiden not riȝtly to the treuthe of the gospel, I seide to Cephas, or Petre, bifore alle men, If thou, sithen thou ert a Jew, lyuest hethenli, and not Jewly, hou constreynest thou hethene men for to bicome Jewis? We ben Jewis of kynde, and not synners of hethene men; forsoth witynge for a man is not iustified of the workis of lawe, no but by the feith of Jhesu Crist, and we in Crist Jhesu bileuen, that we be iustyfied of the feith of Crist, and not of the workis of lawe. Wherfore of the workis of lawe ech fleisch, or man, schal not be iustified. That if we sekynge for to be iustified in Crist, and we vs silf be founden synners, wher Crist is mynistre of synne? Fer be it. Sothli if I bilde aȝen tho thingis that I distroyede, I make me for to be a trespassour. Forsoth by the lawe I am deed to the lawe, that I lyue to God; with Crist I am ficchid to the cross. Forsoth I lyue now, not I, but Crist lyueth in me. Forsoth that I lyue now in fleisch, I lyue in the feith of Goddis sone, the which louyde me, and bitook him silf for me. I caste not awey the grace of God; forsoth if riȝtwysnesse is by the lawe, Crist deiede with oute cause.
A! ȝe witlees men of Galathie, who disceyuede ȝou for to not bileue to the treuthe? bifore whos yȝen Jhesu Crist is dampnyd, or excilid, and in ȝou crucifyed. This thing oonli wole I lerne of ȝou, han ȝe take the spirit of the workis of the lawe, wherof the heeringe of bileue? So ȝe ben foolis, that whanne ȝe bigunne by spirit, now ȝe ben endid by fleisch. Ȝe han suffrid so many thingis withoute cause, nethelees if with oute cause. Therfore he that ȝyueth to ȝou the spirit, and worchith vertues in ȝou, whethir of the worchis of lawe, or of heeringe of feith? As it is writun, Abraham bileuyde to God, and it is rettid to him to riȝtwysnesse. Therfore knowe ȝe, that thei that ben of the feith, thei ben sones of Abraham. Forsothe the scripture purueyinge, for God iustifieth of feith hethen men, toold bifore to Abraham, For in thee alle folkis, or hethene men, schulen be blessid. Therfore thei that ben of the feith, schulen be blessid with feithful Abraham. Forsoth who euere ben of the workis of lawe, ben vndir curs; for it is writun, Cursid ech man, that schal not dwelle in alle thingis that ben writun in the booke of lawe, that he do hem. Forsoth for no man is iustified in the lawe anentis God, it is knowen, for a riȝtful man lyueth of feith. Forsoth the lawe is not of bileue, but he that schal do tho thingis, schal lyuen in hem. Crist deliuerede vs fro the curs of the lawe, maad for vs curs, that is, sacrifice for curs; for it is writun, Cursid is ech that hangith in the tree; that blessinge of Abraham in hethen men schulde be maad in Crist Jhesu, that we take the biheeste of spirit by feith. Britheren, I seye vp man, nethelees no man dispisith the testament of a man, or ordeyneth aboue. Biheestis ben seid to Abraham and to his seed; he seith not, In seedis, as in manye, but as in oon, And in thi seed, that is, Crist. Forsoth I seie this, a testament confermyd of God, the which aftir foure hundrid ȝeeris and thritti is maad lawe, makith not voyde for to avoyde the biheeste. Forwhy if of lawe the heritage, now not of biheeste. Forsoth God ȝaf to Abraham bi aȝenbiheeste. What therfore lawe? For trespassynge it is putt, til the seed cam, to whom God bihiȝte thingis ordeyned by aungelis, in the hond of a medyatour. Forsoth a mediatour is not of o thing. Forsoth God is oon. Therfore the lawe anentis, or contrarie to, the heestis of God? Fer be it. Sothli if ther were a lawe ȝouun, the which myȝte quykene, vereily riȝtwysnesse were of lawe. But the scripture enclosyde alle thingis vndir synne, that biheeste schulde be ȝouun of the feith of Jhesu Crist to men bileuynge. Forsothe bifore that the feith cam, we weren kept vndir the lawe, schette to gidere in to that faith that was to be schewid. And so the lawe was oure litil maistir in Crist, that we be iustified of the feith. But where the feith cam, now we ben not vndir the litil maistir. Forsoth alle ȝe ben the sones of God by feith in Crist Jhesu. Forsothe who euere ȝe ben baptysid in Crist, ȝe han clothid Crist. Ther is not Jew, neither Greek; ther is not seruaunt, nethir fre man; ther is not male, nether female; sotheli alle ȝe ben oon in Crist Jhesu. Forsoth if ȝe ben of Crist, therfore ȝe ben seed of Abraham, vp biheeste eyris.
I seye forsothe, how moche tyme the eyr is litil, he dyuersith no thing fro a seruaunt, whanne he is lord of alle; but he is vndir tutouris and actouris, til to the tyme determyned of the fadir. So and we, whanne we weren litile, weren seruynge vndir the elementis of the world. But where the plente of tyme cam, God sente his sone, maad of a womman, maad vndir the lawe, that he schulde aȝenbye hem that weren vndir the lawe, that we schulde resceyue the adopcioun of sones. Forsoth for ȝe ben the sones of God, God sente the spirit of his sone into ȝoure hertis, criynge, Abba, that is, fadir. And so now ther is not seruaunt, but sone; that if sone, thanne and eyr bi God. But thanne sothli ȝe vnknowynge God, seruyden to hem that weren not goddis, in kynde. Now forsoth whanne ȝe han knowen God, ȝhe, rathere ȝe ben knowen of God, hou ben ȝe turned to gidere eftsoone to syke, or freel, and nedy elementis, to whiche ȝe wolen serue eftsoone? Ȝe kepen dayes, and monethis, and tymes, and ȝeeris. Forsoth I drede ȝou, lest perauenture I haue trauelid in ȝou withoute cause. Be ȝe as I, for and I as ȝe. Britheren, I biseche ȝou, ȝe han no thing hirt me. Sothli ȝe witen, for by infirmyte of fleisch I haue euangelisid to ȝou now bifore; and ȝoure temptacioun in my fleisch ȝe dispiseden not, neither forsoken, but ȝe resceyueden me as an aungel of God, as Crist Jhesu. Therfore wher is ȝoure blessinge? Sothli I bere witnessinge to ȝou, for if it myȝte be don, ȝe schulden haue put out ȝoure yȝen, and haue ȝouun to me. Therfore am I maad enemy to ȝou, seiynge trewe thing to ȝou? Forsothe thei louen ȝou not wel, but thei wolen exclude ȝou, that ȝe sue hem. Forsothe sue ȝe good euermore in good, and not oonly whanne I am present anentis ȝou. My litle sones, whom I childe, or brynge forth by traueyl, eftsoone, til Crist be fourmyd in ȝou, forsothe I wolde now be at ȝou, and chaunge my vois, for I am confoundid, or schamed, in ȝou. Seie ȝe to me, that wolen be vndir lawe, han ȝe not radd the lawe? Sothli it is writun, for Abraham hadde twey sones, oon of the hand mayden, and oon of the fre wyf. Forsoth he that of the hand mayden, vp the fleisch was borun; but he that of the fre wyf, by aȝenbiheeste. The whiche thingis ben seid by allegorie, or goostly vndirstondinge. Sothli thes thingis ben twey testamentis; sothli that oon in the mount of Syna, gendringe in to seruage, that is Agar. Forsoth Syna is an hil in Arabie, the which is ioyned to it that now is Jerusalem, and seruith with her sones. Forsothe that Jerusalem that is aboue, is free, the which is oure modir. Forsoth it is writun, Be glad, thou bareyne, that childist not, or bryngist not forth child; brek out and crie, thou that childist not; for manye sones of the desert, or left womman, more than of hir that hath an housbonde. Forsothe, britheren, we ben vp Isaac the sones of biheeste; but how thanne he that was borun vp the fleisch pursuwide him that vp the spirit, so and now. But what seith the scripture? Cast out the hand mayden and hir sone, forsoth the sone of the hand mayden schal not be eyr with the sone of the free wyf. And so, britheren, we ben not sones of the hand mayden, but of the free wyf, by which liberte Crist hath maad vs free.
Therfore stonde ȝe, and eftsoone nyle ȝe be to gidere holdun in ȝok of seruage. Loo! I Poul seie to ȝou, for if ȝe ben circumcidid, Crist schal profite to ȝou nothing. Sothli I bere witnessinge eftsoone to euery man circumsiding him silf, for he is dettour of al the lawe for to be don. Ȝe ben auoydid fro Crist, ȝe that ben iustified in the lawe han fallen awey fro grace. Forsoth we by spirit of feith abiden the hope of riȝtwysnesse. Forwhi in Crist Jhesu nethir circumcisioun is ony thing worth, nether prepucie, that is, maner of hethen men, but feith that worchith by charite. Ȝe runnen wel; who lettide ȝou for to not obeische to treuthe? To no man consente ȝe; forsoth this persuacioun, or softe mouynge, is not of hym that clepide ȝou. A litil sourdowȝ corumpith al the gobet. I truste of ȝou in the Lord, that ȝe schulen vndirstonde noon othir thing. Forsothe he that disturblith ȝou, schal bere dom, who euere he is. Forsothe, britheren, if I preche ȝit circumcisioun, what ȝit suffre I persecucioun? therfore the sclaundre of the cross is avoydid. I wolde and thei that disturblen ȝou, be kitt of. Forsoth, britheren, ȝe ben clepid into liberte oonly; ȝyue ȝe not liberte in to occasioun of fleisch, but by charite of spirit serue ȝe to gidere. Forsoth al the lawe is fulfillid in o word, Thou schalt loue thi neiȝbore as thi silf. For if ȝe biten to gidere, and eten, se ȝe, lest ȝe be waastid fro a twynne, or ech fro othir. Forsoth I seie in Crist, wandre ȝe in spirit, and ȝe schulen not perfoorme the desyris of fleisch. For the fleisch coueitith aȝen the spirit, sothli the spirit aȝens the fleisch; forsothe thes ben aduersaries to hem silf to gidere, that ȝe do not tho thingis, what euere thingis ȝe wolen. For if ȝe ben led by the spirit, ȝe ben not vndir the lawe. Forsothe the workis of the fleisch ben opyn, the whiche ben fornycacioun, vnclennesse, vnchastite, leccherie, seruynge of ydols, or false goddis, doyngis of venym, enemytees, stryues, enuyes, or folowyngis in yuel, wraththis, chidingis, dissenciouns, sectis, or heresyes, enuyes, mansleyngis, drunkenessis, glotenyes, and lyche thingis to thes, the whiche I preche to ȝou, as I bifore seide, for thei that don suche thingis, schulen not haue the kingdom of God. Forsothe the fruyt of the spirit is charite, ioye, pees, pacience, benygnyte, or good will, goodnesse, long abydynge, myldenesse, feith, temperaunce, contynence, chastite; aȝens such thingis the lawe is not. Forsoth thei that ben of Crist, han crucified her fleisch with vices and concupiscencis, or coueitisis. If we lyuen by spirit, by spirit and walke we; be we not maad coueitous of veyn glorie, to gidere stiringe to wraththe, hauynge enuye to gidere.
Britheren, and if a man be bifore occupied, or ouercomen, in ony gilt, or trespas, ȝe that ben spiritual, teche siche a maner man in spirit of softnesse, or mekenesse, biholdinge thi silf, that and thou be not temptid. Bere ȝe chargis the tothir of the tothir, and so ȝe schulen fulfille the lawe of Crist. Forwhi if ony man gessith him silf for to be ouȝt, whanne he is noȝt, he disceyueth him silf. Forsoth ech man proue his owne werk, and so he schal haue glorie oonly in hym silf, and not in an othir. Forsoth ech man schal bere his owne charge. Forsoth he that is tauȝt by word, comune to him that techith him, in alle good thingis. Nyle ȝe erre, God is not scornyd; forsothe what thingis a man schal sowe, and thes thinges he schal repe. For he that sowith in his fleisch, and of the fleisch he schal repe corupcioun; forsoth he that sowith in spirit, of the spirit schal repe euerlastyng lyf. Forsoth we doynge good, fayle not; sothli in his tyme we schulen repe, not faylinge. Therfore the while we han tyme, worche we good to alle men; forsoth moost to the houshold meyne of the feith. Se ȝe, with what maner lettris I haue writun to ȝou by myn hond. Sothli who euere wolen plese in fleisch, thes constreynen ȝou for to be circumsidid, oonly that thei suffre not the persecucioun of Cristis cross. Forsoth neither thei that ben circumsidid kepen the lawe; but thei wolen ȝou for to be circumsidid, that thei glorie in ȝoure fleisch. Forsoth be it ferr to me for to glorie, no but in the cross of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Forsothe in Crist Jhesu nethir circumcisioun is ouȝt worth, nether prepucie, that is, maner of hethen men, but a newe creature. And who euere schulen suwe this rewle, pees vpon hem, and mercy, and vpon Israel of God. Fro hennis forth no man be heuy to me; forsoth I bere in my body the tokenis of oure Lord Jhesu Crist. The grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist with ȝoure spirit, britheren. Amen.
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