# The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church/XXXVI

| KL. NOUEMB. | NOVEMBER I. |
| NATALE OMNIUM SANCTORUM. | THE NATIVITY OF ALL SAINTS. |
| Halige láreowas ræddon þæt seo geleaffulle gelaðung þisne dæg Eallum Halgum to wurþmynte mærsige, and arwurðlice freolsige; forðan ðe hí ne mihton heora ælcum synderlice freolstide gesettan, ne nánum menn on andweardum life nis heora eallra nama cuð, swa swa Iohannes se Godspellere on his gastlican gesihðe awrát, þus cweðende, "Ic geseah swa micele menigu, swa nán man geryman ne mæg, of eallum ðeodum and of ælcere mægðe, standende ætforan Godes þrym-setle, ealle mid hwitum gyrlum gescrydde, healdende palm-twigu on heora handum, and sungon mid hluddre stemne, Sy hǽlu urum Gode þe sitt ofer his þrym-setle. And ealle englas stodon on ymbhwyrfte his ðrym-setles, and aluton to Gode, þus cweðende, Sy urum Gode bletsung and beorhtnys, wisdom and þancung, wurðmynt and strengð, on ealra worulda woruld. Amen." | Holy doctors have counselled that the faithful church should celebrate and piously solemnize this day to the honour of All Saints; because they could not appoint a festival separately for each of them, nor to any man in the present life are the names of all of them known, as John the Evangelist wrote in his ghostly vision, thus saying, "I saw so great a multitude as no man may number, of all nations and of every tribe, standing before the throne of God, all clad in white garments, holding palm-twigs in their hands, and they sung with a loud voice, Salvation be to our God who sitteth on his throne. And all the angels stood around his throne, and bowed down to God, thus saying, Be to our God blessing and brightness, wisdom and thanksgiving, honour and strength, for ever and ever. Amen." |
| Godes halgan sind englas and menn. Englas sind gastas butan lichaman. Þa gesceop se Ælmihtiga Wealdend on micelre fægernysse, him sylfum to lofe, and to wuldre and wurðmynte his mægenþrymme on ecnysse. Be þam we forhtiað fela to sprecenne, forðan ðe Gode anum is to gewitenne hú heora ungesewenlice gecynd, butan ælcere besmitennysse oþþe wanunge, on écere hluttornysse þurhwunað. Þeah-hwæðere we oncnáwað on halgum gewritum, þæt nigon engla werod sind wunigende on heofonlicum þrymme, þe næfre náne synne ne gefremedon. Þæt teoðe werod þurh modignesse losode, and to awyrgedum gastum behwyrfede wurdon, and ascofene of heofonlicere myrhðe inn to hellicere susle. | God's saints are angels and men. Angels are spirits without body. These the Almighty Ruler created in great fairness, for his own praise, and to the glory and honour of his majesty for ever. Of these we fear to speak much, because for God alone is it to know how their invisible nature continues, without any pollution or decay, in eternal purity. Nevertheless we know from holy writings, that there are nine hosts of angels existing in heavenly majesty, who never committed any sin. The tenth host perished through pride, and were turned into accursed spirits, and driven from heavenly joy into hell-torment. |
| Soðlice sume ðæra haligra gasta, þe mid heora Scyppende þurhwunodon, to us asende cumað, and towearde ðing cyðað. Sume hí wyrcað, be Godes dihte, tácna and gelomlice wundra on middangearde. Sume hí synd ealdras gesette þam oðrum englum, to gefyllenne þa godcundlican gerynu. Þurh sume gesett God and toscæt his domas. Sume hí sind swa micclum to Gode geðeodde, þæt náne oðre him betwynan ne synd, and hí ðonne on swa micclan maran lufe byrnende beoð, swa micclum swa hí Godes beorhtnysse scearplicor sceawiað. Nu is þes dæg þisum englum arwurðlice gehalgod, and eac þam halgum mannum, þe þurh miccle geðincða fram frymðe middangeardes Gode geþugon. Of þisum wæron ǽrest heahfæderas, eawfæste and wuldorfulle weras on heora life, witegena fæderas, þæra gemynd ne bið forgiten, and heora nama þurhwunað on ecnysse; forðan ðe hi wæron Gode gecweme þurh geleafan, and rihtwisnysse, and gehyrsumnysse. Þisum fyligð þæra witegena gecorennys: hí wæron Godes gesprecan, and þam he æteowde his digelnysse, and hi onlihte mid gife þæs Halgan Gastes, swa þæt hi wiston þa towerdan ðing, and mid witigendlicere gyddunge bododon. Witodlice þa gecorenan witegan mid manegum tácnum and forebícnungum on heora life scinende wæron. Hi gehældon manna untrumnysse, and deaddra manna líc to life arærdon. Hí eac for folces þwyrnysse heofonan scuras oftugon, and eft miltsigende getiþodon. Hi heofodon folces synna, and heora wrace on him sylfum forscytton. Cristes menniscnysse, and his ðrowunge, and ærist, and upstige, and ðone micclan dóm, þurh ðone Halgan Gast gelærede, hí witegodon. | But some of those holy spirits, who continued with their Creator, come sent to us, and announce future things. Some of them, by God's direction, work signs and frequently miracles in the world. Some of them are chiefs set over other angels for the fulfilment of the divine mysteries. Through some God establishes and decides his dooms. Some are so closely associated with God, that no others are between them, and they are then burning in so much greater love, as they more clearly behold the brightness of God. Now is this day piously hallowed to these angels, and also to those holy men, who through great excellences have thriven to God from the beginning of the world. Of these were first the patriarchs, religious and glorious men in their lives, the fathers of the prophets, whose memory shall not be forgotten, and their names shall last for ever, because they were acceptable to God through faith, and righteousness, and obedience. These were followed by the chosen company of prophets: they held speech with God, and to them he manifested his secrets, and enlightened them with the grace of the Holy Ghost, so that they knew the things to come, and announced them in prophetic song. Verily the chosen prophets by many signs and foretokens were in their lives illustrious. They healed the sickness of men, and the bodies of dead men they raised to life. They also, for the people's perversity, withdrew the showers of heaven, and again in mercy permitted them. They bewailed the people's sins, and their punishment prevented on themselves. Christ's humanity, and his passion, and resurrection, and ascension, and the great doom, instructed by the Holy Ghost, they prophesied. |
| On ðære Nywan Gecyðnysse forðstóp Iohannes se Fulluhtere, seðe mid witegunge Cristes to-cyme bodode, and eac mid his fingre hine gebícnode. "Betwux wifa bearnum ne arás nán mærra mann þonne is Iohannes se Fulluhtere." Þisum Godes cempan geþwærlæcð þæt twelffealde getel Cristes apostola, þe he sylf geceas him to leorning-cnihtum, and hi mid rihtum geleafan and soðre láre geteah, and eallum ðeodum to láreowum gesette, swa þæt se swég heora bodunge ferde geond ealle eorðan, and heora word becomon to gemærum ealles ymbhwyrftes. To ðisum twelf apostolum cwæð se Ælmihtiga Hælend, "Ge sind middangeardes leoht: scine eower leoht swa ætforan mannum, þæt hi geseon eowre gódan weorc, and wuldrian eowerne Fæder þe on heofonum is. Ge sind mine frynd, and ic cyðe eow swa hwæt swa ic æt minum Fæder gehyrde." Eornostlice Drihten forgeaf þa mihte his twelf apostolum, þæt hi ða ylcan wundra worhton þe hé sylf on middangearde gefremode. And swa hwæt swa hí bindað ofer eorðan, þæt bið on heofonum gebunden; and swa hwæt swa hí unbindað ofer eorðan, þæt bið unbunden on heofonum. Eac he him behet mid soðfæstum beháte, þæt hí on ðam micclum dome ofer twelf dóm-setl sittende beoð, to démenne eallum mannum þe æfre on lichaman líf underfengon. | In the New Testament John the Baptist stept forth, who with prophecy preached the advent of Christ, and also with his finger pointed him out. "Among the children of women there hath arisen no greater man than is John the Baptist." With these champions of God accords the twelvefold number of Christ's apostles, whom he himself chose for his disciples, and instructed them in right belief and true doctrine, and set them as teachers to all nations, so that the sound of their preaching went over all the earth, and their words came to the boundaries of the whole world. To these twelve apostles said the Almighty Jesus, "Ye are the light of the world: let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Ye are my friends, and I make known unto you whatsoever I have heard from my Father." Verily the Lord gave power to his twelve apostles to work the same wonders which he himself performed in the world. And whatsoever they bind on earth, that shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever they unbind on earth, that shall be unbound in heaven. He also promised them with a true promise, that at the great doom they shall be sitting on twelve judgement-seats, to judge all men who have ever received life in the body. |
| Æfter þam apostolican werode we wurðiað þone gefæstan heap Godes cyðera, þe ðurh mislice tintrega Cristes ðrowunge werlice geefenlæhton, and ðurh martyrdom þæt upplice rice geferdon. Sume hi wæron mid wæpnum ofslagene, sume on líge forswælede, oðre mid swipum ofbeatene, oþre mid stengum þurhðyde, sume on héngene gecwylmede, sume on widdre sǽ besencte, oðre cuce behylde, oðre mid ísenum clawum totorene, sume mid stánum ofhrorene, sume mid winterlicum cyle geswencte, sume mid hungre gecwylmede, sume handum and fotum forcorfene, folce to wæfersyne, for geleafan and halgum naman Hælendes Cristes. Þas sind þa sigefæstan Godes frynd, þe ðæra forscyldgodra ealdormanna hæsa forsawon, and nu hí sind gewuldor-beagode midsige heora þrowunga on écere myrhðe. Hi mihton beon lichamlice acwealde, ac hi ne mihton fram Gode þurh náne tintregunga beon gebígede. Heora hiht wæs mid undeadlicnysse afylled, þeah ðe hí ætforan mannum getintregode wæron. Hí wæron sceortlice gedrehte, and langlice gefrefrode; forðan ðe God heora afándode swa swa gold on ófne, and he afunde hi him wyrðe, and swa swa halige offrunga, hi underfeng to his heofonlican rice. | After the apostolic company we honour the steadfast band of God's martyrs, who through divers torments courageously imitated the passion of Christ, and through martyrdom passed to the realm on high. Some of them were slain with weapons, some burned in flame, others beaten with scourges, others transfixed with stakes, some slain on the cross, some sunk in the wide sea, others flayed alive, others torn with iron claws, some overwhelmed with stones, some afflicted with winterly cold, some slain by hunger, some with hands and feet cut off, as a spectacle to people, for their faith and the holy name of Jesus Christ. These are the triumphant friends of God, who despised the behests of those criminal princes, and now they are glory-crowned with the triumph of their sufferings in eternal joy. They might be slain bodily, but they could not by any torments be turned from God. Their hope was filled with immortality, though before men they were tormented. They were for a short time afflicted, and lastingly comforted, for God tried them as gold in a furnace, and he found them worthy of him, and as holy offerings received them into his heavenly kingdom. |
| Æfter ablunnenre ehtnysse reðra cynega and ealdormanna, on siblicere drohtnunge Godes gelaðunge, wæron halige sacerdas Gode ðeónde, þa mid soðre láre and mid halgum gebysnungum folces menn to Gode symle gebígdon. Heora mód wæs hluttor, and mid clænnysse afylled, and hi mid clænum handum Gode Ælmihtigum æt his weofode ðenodon, mærsigende þa halgan gerynu Cristes lichaman and his blodes. Eac hí offrodon hí sylfe Gode líflice onsægednysse butan womme, oþþe gemencgednysse þwyrlices weorces. Hi befæston Godes láre heora underþeoddum, to unateorigendlicum gafele, and heora mód mid þreatunge, and bene, and micelre gymene to lifes wege gebígdon, and for nánum woruldlicum ege Godes riht ne forsuwodon; and ðeah ðe hí swurdes ecge ne gefreddon, þeah ðurh heora lífes geearnunga hí ne beoð martyrdomes bedælede, forðan þe martyrdom bið gefremmed na on blodes gyte anum, ac eac swylce on synna forhæfednysse, and on bíggenge Godes beboda. | After the persecution of the cruel kings and princes had ceased, in the peaceful condition of God's church, there were holy priests thriving to God, who with true doctrine and holy examples ever inclined the men of the people to God. Their minds were pure, and filled with cleanness, and with clean hands they served God Almighty at his altar, celebrating the holy mystery of Christ's body and his blood. They likewise offered themselves a living sacrifice to God, without blemish or admixture of perverse work. They delivered God's doctrine to their followers, as an imperishable revenue, and with chastisement, and prayer, and great care inclined them to the way of life, and for no awe of the world refrained from preaching God's law; and though they felt not the sword's edge, yet, through the merits of their lives, are they not deprived of martyrdom, for martyrdom is not effected by bloodshed only, but also by abstinence from sins, and by the observance of God's commandments. |
| Þysum fyligð ancersetlena drohtnung, and synderlic ingehyd. Þa on westenum wunigende, woruldlice éstas and gælsan mid strecum mode and stiðum life fortrædon. Hi forflugon woruld-manna gesihðe and herunge, and on wáclicum screafum oððe hulcum lutigende, deorum geferlæhte, to engelicum spræcum gewunode, on micclum wundrum scínende wæron. Blindum hí forgeafon gesihðe, healtum færeld, deafum hlyst, dumbum spræce. Deoflu hí oferswyðdon and afligdon, and ða deadan þurh Godes mihte arærdon. Seo bóc þe is geháten Uitae Patrum sprecð menigfealdlice embe þyssera ancersetlena, and eac gemænelicra muneca drohtnunge, and cwyð, þæt heora wæs fela ðusenda gehwær on westenum and on mynstrum wundorlice drohtnigende, ac swa-þeah swyðost on Egypta-lande. Sume hí leofodon be ófete and wyrtum, sume be agenum geswince, sumum ðenodon englas, sumum fugelas, oðþæt englas eft on eaðelicum forðsiðe hí to Gode feredon. | This is followed by the life and extraordinary knowledge of anchorites. These dwelling in the waste, trampled with stern mind and rigid life on worldly delicacies and luxuries. They fled from the sight and praise of worldly men, and, crouching in miserable caves or huts, associated with beasts, accustomed to angelic speeches, were shining in great wonders. To the blind they gave sight, gait to the halt, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb. Devils they overcame and drove away, and through God's might raised the dead. The book which is called Vitæ Patrum speaks manifoldly concerning the lives of these anchorites, and also of common monks, and says that there were many thousands of them living wonderfully everywhere in the deserts and in monasteries, but yet especially in Egypt. Some of them lived on fruit and herbs, some by their own labour, some were served by angels, some by birds, until angels afterwards by an easy death bore them to God. |
| Eala ðu, eadige Godes cennestre, symle mæden Maria, tempel ðæs Halgan Gastes, mæden ǽr geeacnunge, mæden on geeacnunge, mæden æfter geeacnunge, micel is ðin mærð on ðisum freols-dæge betwux þam foresædum halgum; forðan ðe ðurh þine clænan cenninge him eallum becom halignyss and ða heofonlican geðincðu. We sprecað be ðære heofonlican cwene endebyrdlice æfter wífháde, þeah-hwæðere eal seo geleaffulle gelaðung getreowfullice be hire singð, þæt heo is geuferod and aháfen ofer engla werod to þam wuldorfullan heahsetle. Nis be nanum oðrum halgan gecweden, þæt heora ænig ofer engla werod aháfen sy, buton be Marian ánre. Heo æteowde mid hire gebysnungum þæt heofonlice líf on eorðan, forðan þe mægðhád is ealra mægna cwén and gefera heofonlicra engla. Ðyses mædenes gebysnungum and fótswaðum fyligde ungerím heap mægðhádes manna on clænnysse þurhwunigende, forlætenum giftum, to ðam heofonlicum brydguman Criste geþeodende mid ánrædum mode, and haligre drohtnunge, and sidefullum gyrlan, to þan swiðe, þæt heora for wel menige for mæigðháde martyrdom geðrowodon, and swa mid twyfealdum sige to heofonlicum eardung-stowum wuldorfulle becomon. | O thou, blessed parent of God, ever maiden Mary, temple of the Holy Ghost, maiden before conception, maiden in conception, maiden after conception, great is thy glory on this festival among the beforesaid saints; because through thy pure childbirth holiness and heavenly honours came to them all. We speak of the heavenly queen, as is usual, according to her womanhood, yet all the faithful church confidently sing of her, that she is exalted and raised above the hosts of angels to the glorious throne. Of no other saints is it said, that any of them is raised above the hosts of angels, but of Mary alone. She manifested by her example the heavenly life on earth, for maidenhood is of all virtues queen, and the associate of the heavenly angels. The example and footsteps of this maiden were followed by an innumerable body of persons in maidenhood, living in purity, renouncing marriage, attaching themselves to the heavenly bridegroom Christ with steadfast mind and holy converse, and with wide garments, to that degree, that very many of them suffered martyrdom for maidenhood, and so with twofold victory went glorious to the heavenly dwelling-places. |
| Eallum ðisum foresædum halgum, þæt is, englum and Godes gecorenum mannum, is þyses dæges wurðmynt gemærsod on geleaffulre gelaðunge, him to wurðmynte and us to fultume, þæt we ðurh heora þingrædene him geferlæhte beon moton. Þæs ús getiðige se mildheorta Drihten, þe hí ealle and ús mid his deorwurðan blode fram deofles hæftnedum alysde. We sceolon on ðyssere mærlican freols-tide mid halgum gebedum and lofsangum us geinnian, swa hwæt swa we on oðrum freols-dagum ealles geares ymbrynes, þurh mennisce tyddernysse hwónlicor gefyldon, and carfullice hógian þæt we to ðære ecan freols-tide becumon. | To all these beforesaid saints, that is, angels and God's chosen men, is the honour of this day celebrated in the faithful church, in honour to them and in aid to us, that we, through their intercession, may be with them associated. May the merciful Lord grant us this, who redeemed them all and us with his precious blood from the devil's thraldom. We should, on this great festival, complete, with holy prayers and hymns, whatsoever we on other festivals of the whole circuit of the year have, through human weakness, less perfectly performed, and carefully cogitate that we may come to the eternal festival. |
| EUANGELIUM. | GOSPEL. |
| Videns Iesus turbas ascendit in montem: et reliqua. | Videns Jesus turbas ascendit in montem: et reliqua. |
| Ðæt hálige godspel, þe nu lytle ǽr ætforan eow gerædd wæs, micclum geþwærlæcð þyssere freols-tide, forðan ðe hit geendebyrt þa eahta eadignyssa ðe ða halgan to heofonlicum geðincðum gebrohton. | The holy gospel, that has just now been read before you, accords greatly with this festival, for it sets forth in order the eight beatitudes, which have brought the holy to heavenly honours. |
| Matheus awrát on þysum dægþerlican godspelle, þæt se Hælend on sumere tide "gesawe micele menigu him fyligende; þa astah he upp on ane dune. Þaða hé gesæt, þa genealæhton his leorning-cnihtas him to, and hé undyde his muð, and hi lærde, þus cweðende, Eadige beoð þa gastlican ðearfan:" et reliqua. | Matthew wrote in this day's gospel, that Jesus at a certain time "saw a great multitude following him; then he went up on a mount. When he sat his disciples approached him, and he opened his mouth, and taught them, thus saying, Blessed are the spiritual poor," etc. |
| Se wisa Augustinus trahtnode þis godspel, and sæde, þæt seo dún þe se Hælend astah getácnað ða healican bebodu soðre Rihtwisnysse: þa læssan beboda wæron gesette ðam Iudeiscan folce. An God þeah-hwæðere gesette, þurh his halgan witegan, þa læssan bebodu Iudeiscre ðeode, þe mid ógan ða-gyt gebunden wæs; and he gesette, þurh his agenne Sunu, þa maran bebodu cristenum folce, þa ðe he mid soðre lufe to alysenne com. Sittende he tæhte: þæt belimpð to wurðscipe láreowdomes. Him to genealæhton his discipuli, þæt hí gehendran wæron lichamlice, þa ðe mid mode his bebodum genealæhton. Se Hælend geopenode his muð. Witodlice se geopenode his muð to þære godspellican láre, seðe on ðære ealdan ǽ gewunelice openode þæra witegena muð. Þeah-hwæðere his muðes geopenung getácnað þa deoplican spræce ðe he ða forð-ateah. He cwæð, "Eadige beoð þa gastlican ðearfan, forðan þe heora is heofonan rice." Hwæt sind ða gastlican ðearfan buton ða eadmodan, þe Godes ege habbað, and nane toðundennysse nabbað? Godes ege is wisdomes angynn, and modignyss is ælcere synne anginn. Fela sind ðearfan þurh hafenleaste, and na on heora gaste, forðan ðe hí gewilniað fela to hæbbenne. Sind eac oðre ðearfan, na ðurh hafenleaste ac on gaste, forðan þe hí synd, æfter þæs apostolican cwyde, "Swa swa naht hæbbende, and ealle ðing geagnigende." On þas wisan wæs Abraham ðearfa, and Iacob, and Dauid, seðe, on his cynesetle aháfen, hine sylfne geswutelode þearfan on gaste, þus cweðende, "Ic soðlice eom wædla and þearfa." Þa módigan rican ne beoð þearfan ne þurh hafenleaste ne on gaste, forðan ðe hí synd gewelgode mid æhtum, and toðundene on mode. Þurh hafenleaste and on gaste synd þearfan ða fullfremedan munecas, þe for Gode ealle ðing forlætað to ðan swiðe, þæt hi nellað habban heora agenne lichaman on heora anwealde, ac lybbað be heora gastlican láreowas wissunge; and forði swa micclum swa hí her for Gode on hafenleaste wuniað, swa micclum hí beoð eft on ðam toweardan wuldre gewelgode. | The wise Augustine expounded this gospel, and said, that the mount which Jesus ascended betokens the high commandments of true Righteousness: the less commandments were appointed for the Jewish folk. One God, nevertheless, appointed, through his holy prophets, the less commandments to the Jewish nation, which was yet bound by fear; and he appointed, through his own Son, the greater commandments for the christian folk, whom he with true love came to redeem. He taught sitting: that belongs to the dignity of teachership. His disciples approached him, that they might be nearer bodily, who with mind approached to his commandments. Jesus opened his mouth. Verily he opened his mouth to the evangelic lore, who in the old law was wont to open the mouths of the prophets. Yet the opening of his mouth betokens the deep speech which he then drew forth. He said, "Blessed are the spiritual poor, for of them is the kingdom of heaven." Who are the spiritual poor but the humble, who have awe of God, and have no arrogance? Awe of God is the beginning of wisdom, and pride is the beginning of every sin. Many are poor through indigence, and not in their spirit, because they desire to have much. There are also other poor, not through indigence but in spirit, because they are, according to the apostolic saying, "As having nought and possessing all things." In this way Abraham was poor, and Jacob, and David, who, raised on his throne, showed himself poor in spirit, thus saying, "I truly am poor and needy." The proud rich are not needy through indigence nor in spirit, for they are enriched with possessions and swelled up in mind. Poor through indigence and in spirit are those perfect monks, who for God so completely forsake all things, that they will not have their own bodies in their power, but live by direction of their ghostly teacher; and therefore as much as they here for God continue in indigence, so much will they be hereafter enriched in the glory to come. |
| "Eadige beoð þa liðan, forðan þe hí þæt lánd geagniað." Þa synd liðe and gedefe, þa ðe ne wiðstandað yfelum, ac oferswyðað mid heora góódnysse þone yfelan: hi habbað þæt lánd þe se sealm-sceop embe spræc, "Drihten, þu eart min hiht: beo min dæl on þæra lybbendra eorðan." Þæra lybbendra eorðe is seo staðelfæstnyss þæs ecan eardes, on ðam gerest seo sawul swa swa se lichama on eorðan. Se eard is rest and líf gecorenra halgena. | "Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land." They are meek and gentle, who withstand not the evil, but with their goodness overcome the evil: they shall have the land of which the psalmist spake, "Lord, thou art my hope: be my portion in the earth of the living." The earth of the living is the stability of the eternal country, in which the soul rests as the body does on earth. That country is the rest and life of the chosen saints. |
| "Eadige beoð ða þe heofiað, forðan ðe hi beoð gefrefrode." Na beoð þa eadige, þe for hynðum oððe lirum hwilwendlicra hyðða heofiað; ac ða beoð eadige, ðe heora synna bewepað, forðan þe se Halga Gast hí gefrefrað, seðe deð forgyfenysse ealra synna, se is geháten Paraclitus, þæt is, Frefrigend, forðan ðe he frefrað þæra behreowsigendra heortan þurh his gife. | "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." They are not blessed who mourn for calamities or losses of transitory comforts; but they are blessed who bewail their sins, for the Holy Ghost will comfort them, who grants forgiveness of all sins, who is called Paraclete, that is Comforter, because he comforts the hearts of the penitent by his grace. |
| "Eadige beoð þa þe sind ofhingrode and ofþyrste æfter rihtwisnysse, forðan ðe hi beoð gefyllede." Se bið ofhingrod and ofðyrst æfter rihtwisnysse, seðe Godes beboda lustlice gehyrð, and lustlicor mid weorcum gefylð: se bið þonne mid þam mete gefylled ðe Drihten embe spræc, "Min mete is, þæt ic wyrce mines Fæder willan, þæt is rihtwisnys." Þonne mæg hé cweðan mid þam sealm-sceope, "Drihten, ic beo æteowed mid rihtwisnysse on ðinre gesihðe, and ic beo gefylled, þonne ðin wuldor geswutelod bið." | "Blessed are they who are hungry and thirsty after righteousness, for they shall be filled." He is hungry and thirsty after righteousness who joyfully hears God's commandments and more joyfully by works fulfils them: he will then be filled with the meat of which the Lord spake, "My meat is, that I work my Father's will, that is righteousness." Then may he say with the psalmist, "Lord, I will appear with righteousness in thy sight, and I shall be filled, then will thy glory be manifested." |
| "Eadige beoð þa mildheortan, forðan þe hí begytað mildheortnysse." Eadige beoð þa ðe earmra manna þurh mildheortnysse gehelpað, forðan ðe him bið swa geleanod, þæt hí sylfe beoð fram yrmðe alysede. | "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall get mercy." Blessed are they who help miserable men through mercy, for they shall be so rewarded that they themselves shall be redeemed from misery. |
| "Eadige beoð þa clænheortan, forðan ðe hí geseoð God sylfne." Stunte synd þa ðe gewilniað God to geseonne mid flæsclicum eagum, þonne he bið mid þære heortan gesewen; ac heo is to clænsigenne fram leahtrum, þæt heo God geseon mage. Swa swa eorðlic leoht ne mæg beon gesewen buton mid clænum eagum, swa eac ne bið God gesewen buton mid clænre heortan. | "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God himself." Foolish are they who desire to see God with fleshly eyes, when he will be seen with the heart; but it is to be cleansed from sins, that it may see God. So as earthly light cannot be seen but with clean eyes, so also God cannot be seen but with a clean heart. |
| "Eadige beoð þa gesibsuman, forðan ðe hí beoð Godes bearn gecígede." On sibbe is fulfremednyss þær ðær nán ðing ne þwyrað: forði synd þa gesibsuman Godes bearn, forðan ðe nán ðing on him ne wiðerað ongean God. Gesibsume sind þa on him sylfum, ðe ealle heora modes styrunga mid gesceade gelógiað, and heora flæsclican gewilnunga gewyldað swa þæt hí sylfe beoð Godes rice. Ðeos is seo sib ðe is forgyfen on eorðan þam mannum þe beoð gódes willan. God ure Fæder is gesibsum; witodlice forði gedafenað þam bearnum þæt hi heora Fæder geefenlæcon. | "Blessed are the peaceful, for they shall be called children of God." In peace there is perfectness where nothing thwarts: therefore are the peaceful children of God, because nothing in them is adverse to God. Peaceful are they in themselves, who order all the perturbations of their mind with reason, and govern their fleshly desires so that they are themselves God's kingdom. This is the peace which is given on earth to those men who are of good will. God our Father is peaceful; verily therefore it befitteth the children to imitate their Father. |
| "Eadige beoð ða ðe þoliað ehtnysse for rihtwisnysse, forðan ðe heora is heofonan rice." Fela sind ða ðe ehtnysse ðoliað for mislicum intingum, swa swa doð mannslagan, and sceaðan, and gehwilce fyrnfulle; ac seo ehtnys him ne becymð to nánre eadignysse; ac seo ehtnys ana þe bið for rihtwisnysse geðolod becymð to ecere eadignysse. Nis to ondrǽdenne ðwyrra manna ehtnys, ac má to forðyldigenne, swa swa Drihten to his leorning-cnihtum cwæð, "Ne ondræde ge eow ða ðe eowerne lichaman ofsleað, forðan ðe hí ne magon eowre sawle ofslean, ac ondrædað God, ðe mæg ægðer ge sawle ge lichaman on helle-susle fordón." Ne sceole we ðeah þa ðwyran to ure ehtnysse gremian, ac swiðor, gif hí astyrede beoð, mid rihtwisnysse gestillan. Gif hi ðonne þære ehtnysse geswycan nellað, selre ús bið þæt we ehtnysse ðolion þonne we riht forlæton. | "Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Many are they who suffer persecution for divers causes, so as murderers do, and robbers and all criminals; but to them persecution leads to no beatitude; but the persecution only which is suffered for righteousness leads to everlasting beatitude. The persecution of perverse men is not to be dreaded, but rather to be patiently borne, as the Lord said to his disciples, "Fear not those who slay your body, for they cannot slay your soul, but dread God, who can fordo both soul and body in hell-torment." Yet should we not irritate the perverse to persecute us, but rather, if they be provoked, still them with righteousness. But if they will not cease from persecution, better will it be for us to suffer persecution than to forsake the right. |
| Eahta eadignyssa synd on þisum godspelle geendebyrde; is ðeah gyt an cwyde bæftan, ðe is geðuht swilce he sy se nygoða stæpe, ac he soðlice belimpð to ðære eahteoðan eadignysse, forðan ðe hi butu sprecað be ehtnysse for rihtwisnysse and for Criste. Þa eahta eadignyssa belimpað to eallum geleaffullum mannum, and se æftemysta cwyde, þeah ðe he synderlice to þam apostolum gecweden wære, belimpð eac to eallum Cristes limum, forðan ðe hé nis se nygoða, ac fyligð þære eahteoðan eadignysse, swa swa we ǽr sædon. Se Hælend cwæð, "Eadige ge beoð þonne man eow wyrigð, and eower eht, and ælc yfel ongean eow sprecð leogende for me." Se bið eadig and gesælig þe for Criste ðolað wyriunge and hospas fram leasum licceterum, forðan ðe seo lease wyriung becymð þam rihtwisum to eadigre bletsunge. | Eight beatitudes are set forth in this gospel; but there is yet one sentence remaining, which seems as though it were the ninth step, but it truly belongs to the eighth beatitude, for they both speak of persecution for righteousness and for Christ. The eight beatitudes belong to all believing men, and the last sentence, though it was particularly said to the apostles, belongs also to all members of Christ, for it is not the ninth, but follows the eighth beatitude, as we before said. Jesus said, "Blessed are ye when men curse you, and persecute you, and lying speak every evil against you for me." He will be blessed and happy who for Christ suffers malediction and insults from false hypocrites, because false malediction becomes a blessed benediction to the righteous. |
| "Blissiað and fægniað, forðan ðe eower méd is menigfeald on heofonum." Geleaffullum gedafenað þæt hi wuldrion on gedrefednyssum, forðan ðe seo gedrefednys wyrcð geðyld, and þæt geðyld afándunge, and seo afándung hiht. Se hiht soðlice ne bið næfre gescynd, forðan þe Godes lufu is agóten on urum heortum þurh ðone Halgan Gast, seðe us is forgífen. Be þisum cwæð se apostol Iacobus, "Eala ge mine gebroðra, wenað eow ælcere blisse, þonne ge beoð on mislicum costnungum, forðan þe seo afándung eowres geleafan is miccle deorwurðre þonne gold þe bið ðurh fyr afándod." Eft cwyð þæt halige gewrit, "Læmene fatu beoð on ofne afándode, and rihtwise menn on gedrefednysse heora costnunge." Be þisum cwæð eac se Hælend on oðre stowe to his leorning-cnihtum, "Gif ðes middangeard eow hatað, wite ge þæt hé me hatode ǽr eow; and gif hí min ehton, þonne ehtað hi eac eower." Crist sylf wæs fram arleasum mannum acweald, and swa eac his leorning-cnihtas and martyras; and ealle ða ðe gewilniað arfæstlice to drohtnigenne on geleaffulre gelaðunge, hí sceolon ehtnysse ðolian, oððe fram ungesewenlicum deofle oððe fram gesewenlicum arleasum deofles limum: ac þas hwilwendlican ehtnyssa oþþe gedrefednyssa we sceolon mid gefean for Cristes naman geðafian, forðan ðe he þus behet eallum geðyldigum, "Blissiað and fægniað, efne eower méd is menigfeald on heofonum." | "Rejoice and be glad, for your meed is manifold in heaven." It befits the faithful to glory in tribulations, for tribulation works patience, and patience trial, and trial hope. But hope is never confounded, because the love of God is poured into our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is given to us. Of this spake the apostle James, "O ye my brothers, hope for yourselves every bliss, when ye are in divers temptations, for the trial of your faith is much more precious than gold which has been tried by fire." Again, holy writ says, "Vessels of clay are tried in a furnace, and righteous men in the affliction of their temptation." Of these said Jesus also in another place to his disciples, "If this world hate you, know ye that it hated me before you; and if they persecuted me, then will they also persecute you." Christ himself was slain by impious men, and so also his disciples and martyrs; and all those who desire to live religiously in the faithful church shall suffer persecution, either from the invisible devil or from visible impious limbs of the devil: but these transitory persecutions or tribulations we should with joy undergo for Christ's name, because he has thus promised to all the patient, "Exult and rejoice, behold your meed is manifold in heaven." |
| We mihton ðas halgan rædinge menigfealdlicor trahtnian, æfter Augustines smeagunge, ac us twynað hwæðer ge magon maran deopnysse ðæron þearflice tocnawan; ac uton biddan mid inweardre heortan þone Ælmihtigan Wealdend, seðe ús mid menigfealdre mærsunge ealra his halgena nu to-dæg geblissode, þæt he us getiðige genihtsumnysse his miltsunge þurh heora menigfealdan þingrædena, þæt we on écere gesihðe mid him blission, swa swa we nu mid hwilwendlicere þenunge hí wurðiað. | We might more elaborately expound this holy text, according to the interpretation of Augustine, but we doubt whether ye can accurately judge of greater deepness therein; but let us with inward heart pray to the Almighty Ruler, who has gladdened us to-day with the manifold celebration of all his saints, that he grant us abundance of his mercy through their manifold intercessions, so that we ever in their sight may rejoice with them, as we now with transitory service honour them. |
| Sy wuldor and lóf Hælendum Criste, seðe is anginn and ende, Scyppend and Alysend ealra halgena, mid Fæder and mid Halgum Gaste, á on ecnysse. Amen. | Be glory and praise to Jesus Christ, who is the beginning and end, Creator and Redeemer of all saints, with Father and with Holy Ghost, ever to eternity. Amen. |