John Wycliffe.
Select English works of John Wyclif (Volume 2) online
. (page 1 of 39)
Online Library → John Wycliffe → Select English works of John Wyclif (Volume 2) → online text (page 1 of 39)
Font size
ij>v»v*» ►JCC-'^^^^'m''.";^^-.'^!^ ■'.> .-Z
BR 75 .W83 1869 v. 2 ;
Wycliffe, John, d. 1384.
Select English works of John
Wyclif
<5;^.
SELECT ENGLISH WORKS^"''*-
OF
JOHN WYCLIF
EDITED FROM ORIGINAL MSS.
THOMAS ARNOLD, M. A.
OK UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD
Vol. II
SERMONS ON THE FERIAL GOSPELS
AND SUNDAY EPISTLES.
TREATISES.
#.iforb
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
M DCCCLXXl
[All rights reiierved'\
NOTICE.
Since the Introduction to the first volume was written, evidence,
not hitherto noticed, has come to light, which identifies Wyclif as the
author of this entire collection of Sermons beyond any reasonable
doubt. This evidence consists of two distinct references made by
Thomas Walden in his Doctrinale to passages, one of which will be
found at p. 78, the other at p. 364, of the first volume of this work.
Walden, a Carmelite friar, confessor to Henry V, and a man of great
abihty, died in the year 1430; his evidence, therefore, is very nearly
contemporary. In ch. 86 of Book II. of the Doctrinale, he charges
Wyclif with having multiplied his iniquity, ' concedens consequenter
Spiritum Sanctum columbam, sicut septem spicae fuerant septem
anni, et sacer panis est veraciter corpus Christi, immo et quodlibet
esse, esse Deum.' The reader who will refer to Sermon XXX of
vol. i. p. 78 will see that this is a plain description (though not
quite a fair one, for the explanatory matter added by the preacher
is omitted,) of Wyclif's commentary on the descent of the dove at
the baptism of Christ.
Again, in ch. 66 of Book III. of the Doctrinale, Walden says, after
declaring that he could with difficulty be persuaded that the Wycliffitcs
had derived their doctrine of clerical celibacy from their master —
' Tarde igitur mihi venit ad manus, quod in vulgari dicat in sermone
evangehi natalis festi beati Joannis Baptistae Witcleff. Hie possnm,
inquit, dubitare et tractare de statu et vita sacerdotum, qualiter sunt
dotati et innupti contra auctoritatem divinam. Nam inhibuit Christus
dotem, tam in se quam in apostolis, et approbavit nuptias apostolorum
pluriumque aliorum.' This is an accurate translation of a passage
which the reader will find at the top of p. 364 in the first volume.
VOL, II. b
vi NOTICE.
Two sections of the Sermons, published in this edition, those on
the Sunday Gospels, and those on the Gospels for the Proprium
Sanctorum, are thus identified with Wyclif on the authority of Thomas
of Walden. But as the entire collection is found in the best and
oldest MSS., and is internally connected together in various ways,
the authenticity of the whole is raised to the highest degree of
probability.
The present volume contains the remaining two sections of the
Sermons, those on the Ferial Gospels, and those on the Sunday
Epistles. To these are subjoined two polemical tracts, the Vae
Oduplex and the Of Mynystris in the Chirche, which accompany the
Sermons in all the best MSS., and seem to have been regarded as
intrinsically a part of the collection. The miscellaneous works,
properly so called, are reserved for the third volume.
CONTENTS
GOSPEL SERMONS.
SERMON
CXXIV.
cxxv.
CXXVI.
CXXVII.
CXXVIII.
CXXIX.
cxxx.
CXXXI.
CXXXII.
CXXXIII.
First Wednesday in Advent.
Principium evangelii. Mark i. i.
PAGE
I
First Friday in Advent.
Venit Johannes Baptista. Matt. iii. i.
Second Wednesday in Advent.
Dixit Jesus turbis. Matt. xi. 7.
Second Friday in Advent.
Johannes testimonium perhibebat. John i. 15.
^hird Wednesday in Advent.
Exsurgens Maria. Luke i. 39. •
Third Saturday in Advent.
Anno quinto decimo. Luke iii. i.
Fourth Wednesday in Advent.
Exiit sermo in universam Judeam. Luke vii. 17.
Fourth Friday in Advent.
Videte et cavete. Mark \n\. 15.
First Wednesday after Octave of Epiphany.
Cum audisset Jesus. Matt. iv. 12. .
First Friday after the Octave.
Egressus Jesus. Luke iv. 14
b 2
15
. 16
17
VIU
CONTENTS.
^^'^'^'^'^ Second Wednejday after the Octa-ve.
CXXXIV. Egressus Jesus abiit, Mark vi. i.
Second Friday after the Octa've.
CXXXV. Descendit Jesus. Luke iv. 31. . .
Third M'^ednejdaj after the Octa've.
CXXXVI. Intravit Jesus in synagogam. Mark iii. i.
Third Friday after the Octa-ve.
CXXXVI I. Circuibat Jesus. Matt. iv. 23.
Fourth Wednesday after the Octave.
CXXXVIII. Factum est autem. Luke ix. 57.
Fourth Friday after the Octa-ve.
CXXXIX. Offerebant Jesu parvulos. Mark y.. 13.
Fifth Wednesday after the Octave.
CXL. Homo quidam habuit. Matt. xxi. 28.
Wednesday after Septuagesima.
CXLI. Egressus Jesus ibat. Mark ix. 29.
Friday after Septuagesima.
CXLI I. Qui non est mecum. Matt. xii. 30.
Wednesday after Sexagesima.
CXLIII. Coepit Jesus docere ad mare. Mark iv. i.
Friday after Sexagesima.
CXLIV. Interrogatus Jesus Phariseis. Luke xvii. 20.
Ash Wednesday.
CXLV. Cum jejunatis. Matt. vi. 16. .
Friday in Quinquagesima,
CXLVI. Audistis quia dictum est. Matt. v. 43. .
Saturday in Quinquagesima.
CXLVII. Cum sero factum esset. Mark vi. 47.
First Monday in Lent.
CXLVIII. Cum venerit filius hominis. Matt. xxv. 31.
First Tuesday in Lent.
CXLIX. Cum intrasset Jesus. Matt. xxi. 10.
PAGE
19
23
24
26
27
29
31
34
35
38
40
44
46
49
CONTENTS.
IX
SHRMON
CL.
CLI.
CLII.
CLIII.
CLIV.
CLV.
CLVI.
CLVIl.
CLVIII.
CLIX.
CLX.
CLXI.
CLXII.
GLXIII.
CLXIV,
First fVednesday in Lent. ^*^^
Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xii. 38. . . .51
First Thursday in Lent.
Dicebat Jesus ad eos. John viii. 31 53
First Friday in Lent.
Erat dies festus Judaeorum. John v. i. . . .55
First Saturday in Lent.
Assumpsit Jesus Petrum. Matt. xvi. i. . . .57
Second Monday in Lent.
Ego vado et queritis. Jo^« viii. 21 59
Second Tuesday in Lent.
Super cathedram Moisy, Matt, xxiii. i. . . .60
Second Wednesday in Lent.
Ascendens Jesus Jerosolymam. Matt. xx. 17. . . 63
Second Thursday in Lent.
Non possum ego. John v. 30. 64
Second Friday in Lent.
Homo erat pater familias. Matt. xxi. 33.
Second Saturday in Lent.
Homo quidam habuit duos. Luke w. 11.
Third Monday in Lent.
Quanta audivimus. Luke \\. 21.
Third Tuesday in Lent.
Respiciens Jesus. Matt, xviii. 15.
Third ffednesday in Lent.
Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xv. i.
Third Thursday in Lent.
Operamini non cibuni. John vi. 27.
Third Friday in Lent.
Oportebat Jesum transire. John iv. 4.
66
. 69
74
75
. 78
80
CONTENTS.
SER^'ON cihird Saturday hi Lent.
CLXV. Perrexit Jesus. John viii. i. . . .
Fourth Monday in Lent.
CLXVI. Prope erat Pascha. John ii. 13.
Fourth Tuesday in Lent.
CLXVII, Jam die festo mediante. John vii. 14.
Fourth Wednesday in Lent.
CLXVI II, Praeteriens Jesus. John ix. i.
Fourth Thursday in Lent.
CLXIX. Pater meus usque modo. John v. 17.
Fourth Friday in Lent.
CLXX. Erat quidam languens Lazarus. John xi. i.
Fourth Saturday in Lent.
CLXXI. Ego sum lux mundi. John v'ln. 12.
Fifth Monday in Lent.
CLXXII. Miserunt principes sacerdotum. John vii. 32.
Fifth Tuesday in Lent.
CLXXIII. Ambulavit Jesus. John vii. i. . . .
Fifth Wednesday in Lent,
CLXXIV. Facta sunt encaenia. John x. 22. .
Fifth Thursday in Lent.
CLXXV. Cum audissent quidam de turba. John vii. 40.
Fifth Friday in Lent.
CLXXVI. Collegerunt Pontilices. John xi. 47.
Ffth Saturday in Lent.
CLXXVII. Amen, amen, dico vobis. John vi. 54.
Monday in Holy Week,
CLXXVIII. Ante sex dies Pasche. John xii. 4.
Shere or Maundy Thursday,
CLXXIX. Ante diem festum. John xviii. i. . . .
PAGE
. 86
. 88
• 91
• 92
95
97
103
105
107
108
114
. 117
CONTENTS. xi
SEJ'^ON Q^^^ Friday. ^'^^^
GLXXX. Egressus Jesus trans torrentem. John xviii. i. .119
Easter Eve.
CLXXXI. Vespere autem Sabbati. Matt, xxviii. i. . -131
Easter Monday.
GLXXXII. Ex discipulis Jesu. Luke-axxw. i 133
Easter Tuesday.
GLXXXIII. Stetit Jesus in medio. Luke xxiv. 36. , . . 136
Easter Wednesday.
CLXXXIV. Manifestavit se Jesus. John xxi. i. . . -137
Easter Thursday.
CLXXXV. Maria stabat ad sepulcrum. John xx. 11. . . 139
Easter Friday.
GLXXXVI. Undecim discipuli abierunt. Matt, xxviii. 16. .140
Easter Saturday.
CLXXXVII. Una Sabati. John xx. i. 142
First Wednesday after Easter Week.
CLXXXVIII. Surgens Jesus mane, prima. iW^r^^ xvi. 9. . . 143
First Friday after Easter Week.
CLXXXIX. Exierunt mulieres. Matt, xxw'in. %. . . .144
Second Wednesday after Easter Week.
GXC. Una Sabati. Luke xxiv. i 145
Second Friday after Easter Week.
CXCI. Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. ix. 14. . . . 146
Third Wednesday after Easter Week.
CXCII. Facta est questio de. John iii. 25. ... 147
Third Friday after Easter Week.
CXCIII. Ego lux veni in mundum. Johnxn.^6. . . 149
Fourth Wednesday after Easter Week.
CXCIV. Respiciens Jesus. Jo^wxvii. it 151
Xll
CONTENTS.
SERMON
cxcv.
CXCVI.
CXCVII.
CXGVIII.
CXCIX.
GC.
CGI.
ecu.
CCIII.
CCIV.
ccv.
CCVI.
CGVII.
GCVIII.
CCIX.
Fourth Friday after Easter Week.
Filioli mei adhuc modicum. John xiii. 33.
Monday In Procession Week.
Quis vestrum habebit amicum. Luke xi. 5.
AscensioJi Eve.
Sublevatis Jesus oculis. John xvii. i. .
Friday before Whitsunday.
Et ego mitto promissum. Luke xxiv. 49.
F^'g^^ °f Whitsunday.
Si diligitis me mandata. John xiv. 15.
Monday in Whitsun Week.
Sic Deus dilexit mundum. John iii. 16,
Tuesday in Whitsun Week.
Amen, amen, dico vobis. John x. i.
Wednesday in Whitsun Week.
Nemo potest venire. John vi. 44.
Thursday in Whitsun Week.
Convocatis Jesus xii apostolis. Luke ix. i.
Friday in Whitsun Week.
Factum est in una dierum. Luke v. 17.
Trinity E-ve.
Surgens Jesus de Synagoga. Luke iv. 38.
Corpus Christi.
Caro mea vere est cibus. John vi. 56.
First Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Nollte putarc. Matt. \. i-j. . .
Second Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Cum venisset Jesus. Matt. xxi. 23.
Third Wednesday after Trinity.
Esto consentiens. Matt. v. 25.
PAGE
152
158
161
162
164
165
167
i68
169
171
172
174
CONTENTS.
xni
SERMON
ccx.
CCXI.
CCXII.
CGXIII.
CCXIV.
CCXV.
CCXVI.
CCXVII.
CCXVIII.
CCXIX.
ccxx.
CCXXI.
CCXXII.
CCXXIII.
CCXXIV.
Fourth Wednesday after Trinity.
Interrogaverunt Jesum. Matt. xvii. lo.
Fiftb Wednesday after Trinity.
Factum est in una dierum. Luke viii. 22.
Sixth Wednesday after Trinity.
Cum ingressus esset Jesus. Mark x. 17.
Se-venth Wed7iesday after Trinity.
Abiit Jesus Sabato. Matt. xii. i.
Eighth Wednesday after Trinity.
Dixerunt discipuli. Mark ix. 38.
Ninth Wednesday after Trinity.
Qui fidelis est in minimo. Luke xvi. 10.
Tenth Wednesday after Trinity.
Attendite vobis, Luke xxi. 34.
PAGE
176
178
179
I So
Ele'venth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Quia oportet semper. Luke xviii. i. .
Twelfth Wednesday after Trinity.
Cepit Jesus exprobare. Matt. xi. 20. .
Thirteenth Wednesday after Trinity.
Abeuntes Pharisey. Matt. xii. 14.
Fourteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Ait ad Jesum unus. Luke \\i. 13.
Fifteenth Wednesday after Trinity.
Factum est in una dierum. Luke xx. 1.
Sixteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Venit Jesus ad villam. Mark viii. 22.
Seruenteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Dixit Jesus discipulis. Matt. xiii. 31. .
Nineteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xiii. 36.
184
X85
186
187
. 189
191
193
194
196
XIV
CONTENTS.
SERMON T<wentieth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
CCXXV. Dixit Jesus principi. Lukey^w. 12.
Tiventy-Jirst Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
CCXXVI. Factum est ut intraret in. Luke vi. 6. .
Twenty-second Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
CCXXVII. Amen, amen, dico vobis. Mark xi. 23. .
Tnventy-third Wednesday after Trinity.
CCXXVIII. Cum venisset Jesus. Matt. xvii. 23.
Tiventy-fourth Wednesday after Trinity.
CCXXIX. Homo quidam habebat duos. Matt. xxi. 28.
Wednesday in Ember Week.
CCXXX. Respondens unus de turba. Mark ix. 16.
Friday in Ember Week.
CCXXXI. Rogabat Jesum quidam. Luke vii. 36.
Saturday in Ember Week.
CCXXXII. Dicebat Jesus turbis. Luke xiii. 6.
PAGE
196
197
203
205
207
Dedication of a Church.
CCXXXIII. Egressus Jesus ibat, Luke xix. i.
208
Sunday after Dedication Day.
CCXXXIV. Omnis qui venit ad me. Luke vi. 47. .
Mass for Brothers and Sisters.
CCXXXV. Sedens Jesus contra gazophilacium aspiciebat.
Matt. xii. 41
Mass for Peace.
CCXXXVI. Ecce venit hora et nunc. John xvi. 32.
Mass for the Dead.
CCXXXVII. Dixit Martha ad Jesum. John xi. 21.
Another Mass for the Dead.
CCXXXVIII. Qiii verbum meum audit. John v. 34.
Mass for a Wedding.
CCXXX IX. Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xix. 37.
214
215
CONTENTS. XV
EPISTLE SERMONS.
" First Sunday in Advent. pace
Scientes quia hora est. Rom. xiii. ii 221
Second Sunday in Ad'vent.
Quecumque scripta sunt. Rom. xv. 4 225
Third Sunday in Advent.
Sic nos existimet homo, i Cor. iv. i 228
Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Gaudete in Domino semper. Phil. iv. 4. . . . 232
Christmas Day.
V. Puer natus est nobis. Isaiah ix. 6. .... 236
Sixth day after Christmas.
VI. Quanto tempore haeres parvulus. Gal. iv. i. . . 238
Sunday ivithin Octave of the Epiphany,
VII. Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem. Isaiahlx. i. . . . 241
First Sunday after the Octave.
VIII. Obsecro vos per misericordiam Dei. Rom. xii. i. . 244
Second Sunday after the Octave.
IX. Habentes donationes. Rom. xii. 6. .... 246
Third Swiday after the Octave.
X. Nolite esse prudentes. Rom. xii. 16. .... 249
Fourth Sunday after the Octave.
XI. Nemini quidquam debeatis. Rotn, xiii. 8. . . . 252
Fifth Sunday after the Octave.
XII. Induite vos sicut electi. Col. iii. 12 255
Septuagesima Sunday.
XIII. Nescitis quod ii qui in stadio. i Cor. ix. 24. . . 257
Sexagesima Sunday.
XIV. Libenter suffertis insipientes. 2 Cor. xi. 19. . . . 260
Quinquagesima Sunday.
XV. Si linguis hominum loquar. i Cor. xiii. r. . • .265
XVI
C ON TEN J S.
s^^^'o^i First Sunday in Lent.
XVI. Hortamur vos ne in vacuum. 2 Cor. vi. i.
Second Sunday in Lent.
XVII. Rogamus vos et obsecramus. i Thess. iv. i.
Third Sunday in Lent.
XVIII. Estote imitatores Dei. Eph. v. i.
Fourth Sunday in Lent.
XIX. Scriptum est enim quia Abraham. Gal. iv. 22. .
Passion Sunday.
XX. Christus assistens Pontifex. Heb.'u.. 11.
Palm Sunday.
XXI. Hoc sentite in vobis. Phil, ii, 5.
Easter Day.
XXII. Expurgate vetus fermentum. i Cor. v, 7.
First Sunday after Easter.
XXIII. Omne quod natum est ex Deo. i John v. 4.
Second Sunday after Easter.
XXIV. Christus passus semel est pro nobis, i Peter ii. 21.
Third Sunday after Easter.
XXV. Obsecro vos tanquam. i Peter W. 11. . .
Fourth Sunday after Easter.
XXVI. Omne datum optimum. James i. 17. .
Fifth Sunday after Easter.
XXVII. Estote factores verbi. James i. 22.
Sunday after Ascension Day.
XXVIII. Estote prudentes. i Peter iv. 7
Whit Sunday.
XXIX. Dum complerentur dies. Acts ii. i.
Trinity Sunday.
XXX. Vidi hostium apertum in Coelo. Apoc. iv. i.
First Sunday after Trinity.
XXXI. Deus caritas est. i John iv. 8
PAGE
270
272
280
283
289
302
305
308
312
CONTENTS.
xvii
^'^^^^o^ Second Sunday after Trinity.
XXXII. Nolite mirari si odit vos mundus. i John iii. 13.
Third Sunday after Trinity.
XXXIII. Humiliamini sub potenti manu Dei. i Peter v. 6.
Fourth Sunday after Trinity.
XXXIV. Existimo quod non sunt condignae. Rom. viii. 18.
Fifth Sunday after Tritiity.
XXXV. Omnes unanimes in oratione estote. i Peter iii. .
Sixth Sunday after Trinity.
XXXVI. Quicunque baptizati sumus. Rotn. vi. 3.
Seventh Sunday after Trinity.
XXXVII. Humanum dico propter infirmitatem. Rom. vi. 19.
Eighth Sunday after Trinity.
XXXVIII. Debitores sumus non carni, Rom.vm. 12.
Nitith Sunday after Trinity.
XXXIX. Non simus concupiscentes malorum. i Cor. x. 6,
Tenth Sunday after Trinity.
XL. Scitis quoniam cum gentes essetis. i Cor. xii. 2.
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.
XLI. Notum vobis facio evangelium. i Cor. xv. i.
Tiuelfth Sunday after Trinity.
XLI I. Fiduciam talem habemus. 2 Cor. iii. 4.
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLI 1 1. Abrahae dictae sunt promissiones. Gal. iii. 16. .
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLIV. Spiritu ambulate. Gal. v. 16
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, "
XLV. Spiritu vivimus. Gal. v. 25. ....
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLVI. Obsecro vos ne deficiat. Eph. iii. 13-
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLVI I. Obsecro vos ego vinctus in Domino. Efh. iv. i.
PAGE
321
323
325
. 328
330
331
333
336
339
342
345
. 348
351
354
. 356
xviii CONTENTS.
SER^'0N Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. ^''^^
XLVIII. Gracias ago Deo meo. i Cor. i. 4. . . . . 359
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLIX. Renovamini spiritu mentis. Eph. iv. 23. . . . 360
Tauentieth Sunday after Trinity.
L. Videte quomodo caute ambuletis. Eph. v. 15. . . 362
Tnuenty-first Sunday after Trinity.
LI. Confortamini in Domino. Eph. vi. 10 365
Tiventy-second Sunday after Trinity.
LII. Confidimus in Domino Jesu. Phil. i. 6. . . . 368
Tiventy-third Sunday after Trinity.
LII I. Imitatores mei estote. Phil. iii. 17 370
T'wenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.
LIV. Non cessamus pro vobis orantes. Col. i. 9. . . . 373
Tiventy-ffth Sunday after Trinity.
LV. Ecce dies venit. Jer. xxiii. 5. 375
Vae Octuplex, or Eight Woes denounced against the Friars . .379
Of Mynystris in the Chirche, an Exposition of Matthew xxiv. . 393
EVANGELIA FERIALIA.
[The gospels for the Sundays and Saints' days present no difficulty to
the English reader, but when he comes to the ' gospels for the ferias ' he
may expect some words of explanation. In ecclesiastical parlance all the
days of the week, except Saturday, are ferias. The name, however, is
never applied to the first day, or Sunday ; but Monday is the second feria,
Tuesday the third, and so on, to Friday, the sixth feria : Saturday being,
in ecclesiastical language, Sabbatum. This use of the term seems to have
arisen in the following way. Among the Romans there were established
feriae, or holidays ; the thirty days of the Feriae Latinae, when the sacrifice
was offered to Jupiter Latiaris on the top of the Alban mount on behalf
of all the Latin communities, being the most important of these seasons.
Among the early Christians the word soon came to be used mystically
in the sense of a rest from sin (feriari a peccato), as well as in the original
sense of a rest from toil and secular business. Easter, in the conception
of the primitive Christian, was the central point of the year ; it was the
season at which, having accomplished his reconciliation with God, he com-
menced again the round of common duties and trials ; and the week days
following Easter day he called and kept as ' feriae,' abstaining on them
from all secular work, but having undoubtedly the spiritual meaning of the
term fully present to his mind also. Now just as all the Sundays in the
year came to be regarded as involving a renewal on a small scale of the
Paschal solemnity,— (Keble beautifully takes up the thought in his hymn
for Easter day : —
' Sundays by thee more glorious break.
An Easter day in every week,')
so the week days throughout the year gradually came to be called * feriae,'
because the Paschal week days were so called. That Sunday should have
been included numerically among the feriae must be accounted for by the
influence of the spiritual acceptation of the word already mentioned ; but
the name of 'dies Dominica,' established since the times of the apostles,
could not of course be superseded. Nor, again, could the seventh day of
the week be called by any other name than * Sabbatum,' consistently with
a due reverence for the elder dispensation and the rest of the Creator;
although it is practically treated as a feria for ritual purposes. (Ducange,
Bingham, Wezer and Welte, Kirchen-Lexicon ; the article in Herzog is
tedious and confused.)
All the sermons which follow, except the last five, are on gospels taken
from the * Temporale ' of the Sarum missal. The last five are on gospels
appropriated to a few of those special occasions, for which the same missal,
in the portion of it following the Commune Sanctorum, contains a great
number of separate offices.]
SERMONS ON pE
FERIAL GOSPELS.
f'E Wednesdai in 1>e firste weke of Advent
BIFORE CRISTEMASSE.
[SERMON CXXIV.]
Principium evangelii. — Mark i. [i.]
As men shulden trowe in Crist })at he is boj^e God and man,
so men shulden trowe bi hise wordis j^at jiei ben so])e, and
wordis of liif. And |)us Crist in his laste departing bad hise
ApostHs to preche ]je gospel. And in o})er place he bad jjat
Petre shulde fede his sheep; not wi)) bodili fode, si}> Crist
wolde |)at he hadde no moneye ; and Mathew tellij) how a
servaunt shal come to blisse for sich fode, and prelat Jjat faylijj
of sich foode shal be dampned depe in helle. And Luk sei})
\2X he is blessid ))at heeri]) and keepij? Goddis word; and sijj
a lordis word is worshiped after j^e gretnesse of ))is lord, and
Crist is more wij^outen mesure J^an ony kyng or er))eli lord,
how love}) ))e peple Crist, but ^ after ))at it love]) Cristis word ?
And })is bileve seij? Poul, 3if man love not Jesus Crist, he is
cursid of God, and ])at is more })an mannis curse. Cursid
be he^ ])at wolde ordeyne ])at ])e pistilis and ])e gospelis
weren turned in to decrees or decretalis^ of \q Pope. For
as no word of Goddis lawe ha)) ony strengjje, but as Crist
spekij) it, so no word of mannis lawe shulde be loved but
if Crist speke it. For Crist is treuj)e, and noo word shulde
= So E; om. A.
WYCLIF. VOL. ir. B
* So in E; om. A.
decealis.
So E ; A has, and
The paramount
authority of
the words of
Christ.
WrCLIF'S
The office of
John the Bap-
tist as fore-
runner.
Is. X. 15.
be loved but for it is trewe. Take we noon heede to beestis
skynnes, ne to enke, or oj^er ornamentis, but to treujje Jjat
Crist spake, in which stondiJ> oure bileve. For as we trowen
]jat Crist was man, so we trowen Jjat he spake J)us ; and
his wordis my3ten not be amended, sij> he is God jjat sei))
\\s treuj^e. And for dispite of Cristis wordis, and for defaute
of love of hem, ben many men ^ cursid of God ; for \t\
maken Cristis wordis unworshipid, and magnifien j^er owne
wordis, as Jjei wolden take fro God his worshipe. But, as
Poul sei)), noon shulde be trowid but aftir ))at Crist spekijj
in him. As we ben certeyn of )>e gospel, j^at Crist, God
and man, spake it, so we ben certeyn of ))e treuj^e, Jjat it
is faire and profitable.
pis ^ gospel of Mark bigynnej>, how Crist was teld in \e
olde lawe, and how al his lyf was figurid bojje in patriarkis
and prophetis. pis, seij) Mark, is pe bigynning of pe gospel
of Jesus Crist, Goddis Sone. As is writun i?i I say pe prophete :
Many men ben Goddis sones, taken bi grace of ]>er fadir;
but Crist is Goddis Sone kyndely, and \)e same God wij) him.
pe Fadir sei)? to })is Sone bi Isay ]>e prophete : Lo, V sende
myn attgel bifore pi face, which shal make redi pi wey tofore
pee. pis aungel was Baptiste, ])at witnesside J^e comyng of
Crist and hijenesse of his state, boJ)e to Godhede and to
manhede. And sich an angel mai be clepid every good
Cristen man, J)at makij? redi weie to Crist bifore Cristis laste
comyng. pis J0071 was a vois of a cryer in desert. So Joon
was vois of Goddis word, and knewe mekeli his own freelte;
and so Crist criede in desert, bi Baptist J^at was his whistle, sij)
alle creatures ben instrumentis to Goddis word. For, as Isay
seij), man is a sawe to God j^at worchip. pis vois criede
))us to men ; Make y redi pe weie of pe Lord, and make y
his papis ri'^ful. pis Lord ha|j his heestis, comun kyngis
weie ^ Jjat ech Cristene man shulde hold ; and 5if letting
be in J)is weye, men shulden wij)drawe |)is letting. And jif
men wolen go bi paj)is, and kepe \q counceilis of Crist, loke
' grete men, E. - weyes.
* In G the sermon begins at this point.
SERMONS.
|)at \Q\ croken not from him, ne fro J)e endis J)at he ordeyne)).
And J5us ))ese newe religiouse, biside Cristis lawe, ben bi
pa])is ; but to crokid and to foule to ony man to go to hevene,
for hem wanti]? rijtnesse })at })ei feynen in {ler signes. For
J?er signes serven of nou3t but to crye her holynesse, |)at jjei
ben bifore ojjer chosen of God to his service; and so |)ei
BR 75 .W83 1869 v. 2 ;
Wycliffe, John, d. 1384.
Select English works of John
Wyclif
<5;^.
SELECT ENGLISH WORKS^"''*-
OF
JOHN WYCLIF
EDITED FROM ORIGINAL MSS.
THOMAS ARNOLD, M. A.
OK UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD
Vol. II
SERMONS ON THE FERIAL GOSPELS
AND SUNDAY EPISTLES.
TREATISES.
#.iforb
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
M DCCCLXXl
[All rights reiierved'\
NOTICE.
Since the Introduction to the first volume was written, evidence,
not hitherto noticed, has come to light, which identifies Wyclif as the
author of this entire collection of Sermons beyond any reasonable
doubt. This evidence consists of two distinct references made by
Thomas Walden in his Doctrinale to passages, one of which will be
found at p. 78, the other at p. 364, of the first volume of this work.
Walden, a Carmelite friar, confessor to Henry V, and a man of great
abihty, died in the year 1430; his evidence, therefore, is very nearly
contemporary. In ch. 86 of Book II. of the Doctrinale, he charges
Wyclif with having multiplied his iniquity, ' concedens consequenter
Spiritum Sanctum columbam, sicut septem spicae fuerant septem
anni, et sacer panis est veraciter corpus Christi, immo et quodlibet
esse, esse Deum.' The reader who will refer to Sermon XXX of
vol. i. p. 78 will see that this is a plain description (though not
quite a fair one, for the explanatory matter added by the preacher
is omitted,) of Wyclif's commentary on the descent of the dove at
the baptism of Christ.
Again, in ch. 66 of Book III. of the Doctrinale, Walden says, after
declaring that he could with difficulty be persuaded that the Wycliffitcs
had derived their doctrine of clerical celibacy from their master —
' Tarde igitur mihi venit ad manus, quod in vulgari dicat in sermone
evangehi natalis festi beati Joannis Baptistae Witcleff. Hie possnm,
inquit, dubitare et tractare de statu et vita sacerdotum, qualiter sunt
dotati et innupti contra auctoritatem divinam. Nam inhibuit Christus
dotem, tam in se quam in apostolis, et approbavit nuptias apostolorum
pluriumque aliorum.' This is an accurate translation of a passage
which the reader will find at the top of p. 364 in the first volume.
VOL, II. b
vi NOTICE.
Two sections of the Sermons, published in this edition, those on
the Sunday Gospels, and those on the Gospels for the Proprium
Sanctorum, are thus identified with Wyclif on the authority of Thomas
of Walden. But as the entire collection is found in the best and
oldest MSS., and is internally connected together in various ways,
the authenticity of the whole is raised to the highest degree of
probability.
The present volume contains the remaining two sections of the
Sermons, those on the Ferial Gospels, and those on the Sunday
Epistles. To these are subjoined two polemical tracts, the Vae
Oduplex and the Of Mynystris in the Chirche, which accompany the
Sermons in all the best MSS., and seem to have been regarded as
intrinsically a part of the collection. The miscellaneous works,
properly so called, are reserved for the third volume.
CONTENTS
GOSPEL SERMONS.
SERMON
CXXIV.
cxxv.
CXXVI.
CXXVII.
CXXVIII.
CXXIX.
cxxx.
CXXXI.
CXXXII.
CXXXIII.
First Wednesday in Advent.
Principium evangelii. Mark i. i.
PAGE
I
First Friday in Advent.
Venit Johannes Baptista. Matt. iii. i.
Second Wednesday in Advent.
Dixit Jesus turbis. Matt. xi. 7.
Second Friday in Advent.
Johannes testimonium perhibebat. John i. 15.
^hird Wednesday in Advent.
Exsurgens Maria. Luke i. 39. •
Third Saturday in Advent.
Anno quinto decimo. Luke iii. i.
Fourth Wednesday in Advent.
Exiit sermo in universam Judeam. Luke vii. 17.
Fourth Friday in Advent.
Videte et cavete. Mark \n\. 15.
First Wednesday after Octave of Epiphany.
Cum audisset Jesus. Matt. iv. 12. .
First Friday after the Octave.
Egressus Jesus. Luke iv. 14
b 2
15
. 16
17
VIU
CONTENTS.
^^'^'^'^'^ Second Wednejday after the Octa-ve.
CXXXIV. Egressus Jesus abiit, Mark vi. i.
Second Friday after the Octa've.
CXXXV. Descendit Jesus. Luke iv. 31. . .
Third M'^ednejdaj after the Octa've.
CXXXVI. Intravit Jesus in synagogam. Mark iii. i.
Third Friday after the Octa-ve.
CXXXVI I. Circuibat Jesus. Matt. iv. 23.
Fourth Wednesday after the Octave.
CXXXVIII. Factum est autem. Luke ix. 57.
Fourth Friday after the Octa-ve.
CXXXIX. Offerebant Jesu parvulos. Mark y.. 13.
Fifth Wednesday after the Octave.
CXL. Homo quidam habuit. Matt. xxi. 28.
Wednesday after Septuagesima.
CXLI. Egressus Jesus ibat. Mark ix. 29.
Friday after Septuagesima.
CXLI I. Qui non est mecum. Matt. xii. 30.
Wednesday after Sexagesima.
CXLIII. Coepit Jesus docere ad mare. Mark iv. i.
Friday after Sexagesima.
CXLIV. Interrogatus Jesus Phariseis. Luke xvii. 20.
Ash Wednesday.
CXLV. Cum jejunatis. Matt. vi. 16. .
Friday in Quinquagesima,
CXLVI. Audistis quia dictum est. Matt. v. 43. .
Saturday in Quinquagesima.
CXLVII. Cum sero factum esset. Mark vi. 47.
First Monday in Lent.
CXLVIII. Cum venerit filius hominis. Matt. xxv. 31.
First Tuesday in Lent.
CXLIX. Cum intrasset Jesus. Matt. xxi. 10.
PAGE
19
23
24
26
27
29
31
34
35
38
40
44
46
49
CONTENTS.
IX
SHRMON
CL.
CLI.
CLII.
CLIII.
CLIV.
CLV.
CLVI.
CLVIl.
CLVIII.
CLIX.
CLX.
CLXI.
CLXII.
GLXIII.
CLXIV,
First fVednesday in Lent. ^*^^
Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xii. 38. . . .51
First Thursday in Lent.
Dicebat Jesus ad eos. John viii. 31 53
First Friday in Lent.
Erat dies festus Judaeorum. John v. i. . . .55
First Saturday in Lent.
Assumpsit Jesus Petrum. Matt. xvi. i. . . .57
Second Monday in Lent.
Ego vado et queritis. Jo^« viii. 21 59
Second Tuesday in Lent.
Super cathedram Moisy, Matt, xxiii. i. . . .60
Second Wednesday in Lent.
Ascendens Jesus Jerosolymam. Matt. xx. 17. . . 63
Second Thursday in Lent.
Non possum ego. John v. 30. 64
Second Friday in Lent.
Homo erat pater familias. Matt. xxi. 33.
Second Saturday in Lent.
Homo quidam habuit duos. Luke w. 11.
Third Monday in Lent.
Quanta audivimus. Luke \\. 21.
Third Tuesday in Lent.
Respiciens Jesus. Matt, xviii. 15.
Third ffednesday in Lent.
Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xv. i.
Third Thursday in Lent.
Operamini non cibuni. John vi. 27.
Third Friday in Lent.
Oportebat Jesum transire. John iv. 4.
66
. 69
74
75
. 78
80
CONTENTS.
SER^'ON cihird Saturday hi Lent.
CLXV. Perrexit Jesus. John viii. i. . . .
Fourth Monday in Lent.
CLXVI. Prope erat Pascha. John ii. 13.
Fourth Tuesday in Lent.
CLXVII, Jam die festo mediante. John vii. 14.
Fourth Wednesday in Lent.
CLXVI II, Praeteriens Jesus. John ix. i.
Fourth Thursday in Lent.
CLXIX. Pater meus usque modo. John v. 17.
Fourth Friday in Lent.
CLXX. Erat quidam languens Lazarus. John xi. i.
Fourth Saturday in Lent.
CLXXI. Ego sum lux mundi. John v'ln. 12.
Fifth Monday in Lent.
CLXXII. Miserunt principes sacerdotum. John vii. 32.
Fifth Tuesday in Lent.
CLXXIII. Ambulavit Jesus. John vii. i. . . .
Fifth Wednesday in Lent,
CLXXIV. Facta sunt encaenia. John x. 22. .
Fifth Thursday in Lent.
CLXXV. Cum audissent quidam de turba. John vii. 40.
Fifth Friday in Lent.
CLXXVI. Collegerunt Pontilices. John xi. 47.
Ffth Saturday in Lent.
CLXXVII. Amen, amen, dico vobis. John vi. 54.
Monday in Holy Week,
CLXXVIII. Ante sex dies Pasche. John xii. 4.
Shere or Maundy Thursday,
CLXXIX. Ante diem festum. John xviii. i. . . .
PAGE
. 86
. 88
• 91
• 92
95
97
103
105
107
108
114
. 117
CONTENTS. xi
SEJ'^ON Q^^^ Friday. ^'^^^
GLXXX. Egressus Jesus trans torrentem. John xviii. i. .119
Easter Eve.
CLXXXI. Vespere autem Sabbati. Matt, xxviii. i. . -131
Easter Monday.
GLXXXII. Ex discipulis Jesu. Luke-axxw. i 133
Easter Tuesday.
GLXXXIII. Stetit Jesus in medio. Luke xxiv. 36. , . . 136
Easter Wednesday.
CLXXXIV. Manifestavit se Jesus. John xxi. i. . . -137
Easter Thursday.
CLXXXV. Maria stabat ad sepulcrum. John xx. 11. . . 139
Easter Friday.
GLXXXVI. Undecim discipuli abierunt. Matt, xxviii. 16. .140
Easter Saturday.
CLXXXVII. Una Sabati. John xx. i. 142
First Wednesday after Easter Week.
CLXXXVIII. Surgens Jesus mane, prima. iW^r^^ xvi. 9. . . 143
First Friday after Easter Week.
CLXXXIX. Exierunt mulieres. Matt, xxw'in. %. . . .144
Second Wednesday after Easter Week.
GXC. Una Sabati. Luke xxiv. i 145
Second Friday after Easter Week.
CXCI. Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. ix. 14. . . . 146
Third Wednesday after Easter Week.
CXCII. Facta est questio de. John iii. 25. ... 147
Third Friday after Easter Week.
CXCIII. Ego lux veni in mundum. Johnxn.^6. . . 149
Fourth Wednesday after Easter Week.
CXCIV. Respiciens Jesus. Jo^wxvii. it 151
Xll
CONTENTS.
SERMON
cxcv.
CXCVI.
CXCVII.
CXGVIII.
CXCIX.
GC.
CGI.
ecu.
CCIII.
CCIV.
ccv.
CCVI.
CGVII.
GCVIII.
CCIX.
Fourth Friday after Easter Week.
Filioli mei adhuc modicum. John xiii. 33.
Monday In Procession Week.
Quis vestrum habebit amicum. Luke xi. 5.
AscensioJi Eve.
Sublevatis Jesus oculis. John xvii. i. .
Friday before Whitsunday.
Et ego mitto promissum. Luke xxiv. 49.
F^'g^^ °f Whitsunday.
Si diligitis me mandata. John xiv. 15.
Monday in Whitsun Week.
Sic Deus dilexit mundum. John iii. 16,
Tuesday in Whitsun Week.
Amen, amen, dico vobis. John x. i.
Wednesday in Whitsun Week.
Nemo potest venire. John vi. 44.
Thursday in Whitsun Week.
Convocatis Jesus xii apostolis. Luke ix. i.
Friday in Whitsun Week.
Factum est in una dierum. Luke v. 17.
Trinity E-ve.
Surgens Jesus de Synagoga. Luke iv. 38.
Corpus Christi.
Caro mea vere est cibus. John vi. 56.
First Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Nollte putarc. Matt. \. i-j. . .
Second Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Cum venisset Jesus. Matt. xxi. 23.
Third Wednesday after Trinity.
Esto consentiens. Matt. v. 25.
PAGE
152
158
161
162
164
165
167
i68
169
171
172
174
CONTENTS.
xni
SERMON
ccx.
CCXI.
CCXII.
CGXIII.
CCXIV.
CCXV.
CCXVI.
CCXVII.
CCXVIII.
CCXIX.
ccxx.
CCXXI.
CCXXII.
CCXXIII.
CCXXIV.
Fourth Wednesday after Trinity.
Interrogaverunt Jesum. Matt. xvii. lo.
Fiftb Wednesday after Trinity.
Factum est in una dierum. Luke viii. 22.
Sixth Wednesday after Trinity.
Cum ingressus esset Jesus. Mark x. 17.
Se-venth Wed7iesday after Trinity.
Abiit Jesus Sabato. Matt. xii. i.
Eighth Wednesday after Trinity.
Dixerunt discipuli. Mark ix. 38.
Ninth Wednesday after Trinity.
Qui fidelis est in minimo. Luke xvi. 10.
Tenth Wednesday after Trinity.
Attendite vobis, Luke xxi. 34.
PAGE
176
178
179
I So
Ele'venth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Quia oportet semper. Luke xviii. i. .
Twelfth Wednesday after Trinity.
Cepit Jesus exprobare. Matt. xi. 20. .
Thirteenth Wednesday after Trinity.
Abeuntes Pharisey. Matt. xii. 14.
Fourteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Ait ad Jesum unus. Luke \\i. 13.
Fifteenth Wednesday after Trinity.
Factum est in una dierum. Luke xx. 1.
Sixteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Venit Jesus ad villam. Mark viii. 22.
Seruenteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Dixit Jesus discipulis. Matt. xiii. 31. .
Nineteenth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xiii. 36.
184
X85
186
187
. 189
191
193
194
196
XIV
CONTENTS.
SERMON T<wentieth Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
CCXXV. Dixit Jesus principi. Lukey^w. 12.
Tiventy-Jirst Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
CCXXVI. Factum est ut intraret in. Luke vi. 6. .
Twenty-second Wednesday after Corpus Christi.
CCXXVII. Amen, amen, dico vobis. Mark xi. 23. .
Tnventy-third Wednesday after Trinity.
CCXXVIII. Cum venisset Jesus. Matt. xvii. 23.
Tiventy-fourth Wednesday after Trinity.
CCXXIX. Homo quidam habebat duos. Matt. xxi. 28.
Wednesday in Ember Week.
CCXXX. Respondens unus de turba. Mark ix. 16.
Friday in Ember Week.
CCXXXI. Rogabat Jesum quidam. Luke vii. 36.
Saturday in Ember Week.
CCXXXII. Dicebat Jesus turbis. Luke xiii. 6.
PAGE
196
197
203
205
207
Dedication of a Church.
CCXXXIII. Egressus Jesus ibat, Luke xix. i.
208
Sunday after Dedication Day.
CCXXXIV. Omnis qui venit ad me. Luke vi. 47. .
Mass for Brothers and Sisters.
CCXXXV. Sedens Jesus contra gazophilacium aspiciebat.
Matt. xii. 41
Mass for Peace.
CCXXXVI. Ecce venit hora et nunc. John xvi. 32.
Mass for the Dead.
CCXXXVII. Dixit Martha ad Jesum. John xi. 21.
Another Mass for the Dead.
CCXXXVIII. Qiii verbum meum audit. John v. 34.
Mass for a Wedding.
CCXXX IX. Accesserunt ad Jesum. Matt. xix. 37.
214
215
CONTENTS. XV
EPISTLE SERMONS.
" First Sunday in Advent. pace
Scientes quia hora est. Rom. xiii. ii 221
Second Sunday in Ad'vent.
Quecumque scripta sunt. Rom. xv. 4 225
Third Sunday in Advent.
Sic nos existimet homo, i Cor. iv. i 228
Fourth Sunday in Advent.
Gaudete in Domino semper. Phil. iv. 4. . . . 232
Christmas Day.
V. Puer natus est nobis. Isaiah ix. 6. .... 236
Sixth day after Christmas.
VI. Quanto tempore haeres parvulus. Gal. iv. i. . . 238
Sunday ivithin Octave of the Epiphany,
VII. Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem. Isaiahlx. i. . . . 241
First Sunday after the Octave.
VIII. Obsecro vos per misericordiam Dei. Rom. xii. i. . 244
Second Sunday after the Octave.
IX. Habentes donationes. Rom. xii. 6. .... 246
Third Swiday after the Octave.
X. Nolite esse prudentes. Rom. xii. 16. .... 249
Fourth Sunday after the Octave.
XI. Nemini quidquam debeatis. Rotn, xiii. 8. . . . 252
Fifth Sunday after the Octave.
XII. Induite vos sicut electi. Col. iii. 12 255
Septuagesima Sunday.
XIII. Nescitis quod ii qui in stadio. i Cor. ix. 24. . . 257
Sexagesima Sunday.
XIV. Libenter suffertis insipientes. 2 Cor. xi. 19. . . . 260
Quinquagesima Sunday.
XV. Si linguis hominum loquar. i Cor. xiii. r. . • .265
XVI
C ON TEN J S.
s^^^'o^i First Sunday in Lent.
XVI. Hortamur vos ne in vacuum. 2 Cor. vi. i.
Second Sunday in Lent.
XVII. Rogamus vos et obsecramus. i Thess. iv. i.
Third Sunday in Lent.
XVIII. Estote imitatores Dei. Eph. v. i.
Fourth Sunday in Lent.
XIX. Scriptum est enim quia Abraham. Gal. iv. 22. .
Passion Sunday.
XX. Christus assistens Pontifex. Heb.'u.. 11.
Palm Sunday.
XXI. Hoc sentite in vobis. Phil, ii, 5.
Easter Day.
XXII. Expurgate vetus fermentum. i Cor. v, 7.
First Sunday after Easter.
XXIII. Omne quod natum est ex Deo. i John v. 4.
Second Sunday after Easter.
XXIV. Christus passus semel est pro nobis, i Peter ii. 21.
Third Sunday after Easter.
XXV. Obsecro vos tanquam. i Peter W. 11. . .
Fourth Sunday after Easter.
XXVI. Omne datum optimum. James i. 17. .
Fifth Sunday after Easter.
XXVII. Estote factores verbi. James i. 22.
Sunday after Ascension Day.
XXVIII. Estote prudentes. i Peter iv. 7
Whit Sunday.
XXIX. Dum complerentur dies. Acts ii. i.
Trinity Sunday.
XXX. Vidi hostium apertum in Coelo. Apoc. iv. i.
First Sunday after Trinity.
XXXI. Deus caritas est. i John iv. 8
PAGE
270
272
280
283
289
302
305
308
312
CONTENTS.
xvii
^'^^^^o^ Second Sunday after Trinity.
XXXII. Nolite mirari si odit vos mundus. i John iii. 13.
Third Sunday after Trinity.
XXXIII. Humiliamini sub potenti manu Dei. i Peter v. 6.
Fourth Sunday after Trinity.
XXXIV. Existimo quod non sunt condignae. Rom. viii. 18.
Fifth Sunday after Tritiity.
XXXV. Omnes unanimes in oratione estote. i Peter iii. .
Sixth Sunday after Trinity.
XXXVI. Quicunque baptizati sumus. Rotn. vi. 3.
Seventh Sunday after Trinity.
XXXVII. Humanum dico propter infirmitatem. Rom. vi. 19.
Eighth Sunday after Trinity.
XXXVIII. Debitores sumus non carni, Rom.vm. 12.
Nitith Sunday after Trinity.
XXXIX. Non simus concupiscentes malorum. i Cor. x. 6,
Tenth Sunday after Trinity.
XL. Scitis quoniam cum gentes essetis. i Cor. xii. 2.
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity.
XLI. Notum vobis facio evangelium. i Cor. xv. i.
Tiuelfth Sunday after Trinity.
XLI I. Fiduciam talem habemus. 2 Cor. iii. 4.
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLI 1 1. Abrahae dictae sunt promissiones. Gal. iii. 16. .
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLIV. Spiritu ambulate. Gal. v. 16
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, "
XLV. Spiritu vivimus. Gal. v. 25. ....
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLVI. Obsecro vos ne deficiat. Eph. iii. 13-
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLVI I. Obsecro vos ego vinctus in Domino. Efh. iv. i.
PAGE
321
323
325
. 328
330
331
333
336
339
342
345
. 348
351
354
. 356
xviii CONTENTS.
SER^'0N Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. ^''^^
XLVIII. Gracias ago Deo meo. i Cor. i. 4. . . . . 359
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity.
XLIX. Renovamini spiritu mentis. Eph. iv. 23. . . . 360
Tauentieth Sunday after Trinity.
L. Videte quomodo caute ambuletis. Eph. v. 15. . . 362
Tnuenty-first Sunday after Trinity.
LI. Confortamini in Domino. Eph. vi. 10 365
Tiventy-second Sunday after Trinity.
LII. Confidimus in Domino Jesu. Phil. i. 6. . . . 368
Tiventy-third Sunday after Trinity.
LII I. Imitatores mei estote. Phil. iii. 17 370
T'wenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.
LIV. Non cessamus pro vobis orantes. Col. i. 9. . . . 373
Tiventy-ffth Sunday after Trinity.
LV. Ecce dies venit. Jer. xxiii. 5. 375
Vae Octuplex, or Eight Woes denounced against the Friars . .379
Of Mynystris in the Chirche, an Exposition of Matthew xxiv. . 393
EVANGELIA FERIALIA.
[The gospels for the Sundays and Saints' days present no difficulty to
the English reader, but when he comes to the ' gospels for the ferias ' he
may expect some words of explanation. In ecclesiastical parlance all the
days of the week, except Saturday, are ferias. The name, however, is
never applied to the first day, or Sunday ; but Monday is the second feria,
Tuesday the third, and so on, to Friday, the sixth feria : Saturday being,
in ecclesiastical language, Sabbatum. This use of the term seems to have
arisen in the following way. Among the Romans there were established
feriae, or holidays ; the thirty days of the Feriae Latinae, when the sacrifice
was offered to Jupiter Latiaris on the top of the Alban mount on behalf
of all the Latin communities, being the most important of these seasons.
Among the early Christians the word soon came to be used mystically
in the sense of a rest from sin (feriari a peccato), as well as in the original
sense of a rest from toil and secular business. Easter, in the conception
of the primitive Christian, was the central point of the year ; it was the
season at which, having accomplished his reconciliation with God, he com-
menced again the round of common duties and trials ; and the week days
following Easter day he called and kept as ' feriae,' abstaining on them
from all secular work, but having undoubtedly the spiritual meaning of the
term fully present to his mind also. Now just as all the Sundays in the
year came to be regarded as involving a renewal on a small scale of the
Paschal solemnity,— (Keble beautifully takes up the thought in his hymn
for Easter day : —
' Sundays by thee more glorious break.
An Easter day in every week,')
so the week days throughout the year gradually came to be called * feriae,'
because the Paschal week days were so called. That Sunday should have
been included numerically among the feriae must be accounted for by the
influence of the spiritual acceptation of the word already mentioned ; but
the name of 'dies Dominica,' established since the times of the apostles,
could not of course be superseded. Nor, again, could the seventh day of
the week be called by any other name than * Sabbatum,' consistently with
a due reverence for the elder dispensation and the rest of the Creator;
although it is practically treated as a feria for ritual purposes. (Ducange,
Bingham, Wezer and Welte, Kirchen-Lexicon ; the article in Herzog is
tedious and confused.)
All the sermons which follow, except the last five, are on gospels taken
from the * Temporale ' of the Sarum missal. The last five are on gospels
appropriated to a few of those special occasions, for which the same missal,
in the portion of it following the Commune Sanctorum, contains a great
number of separate offices.]
SERMONS ON pE
FERIAL GOSPELS.
f'E Wednesdai in 1>e firste weke of Advent
BIFORE CRISTEMASSE.
[SERMON CXXIV.]
Principium evangelii. — Mark i. [i.]
As men shulden trowe in Crist })at he is boj^e God and man,
so men shulden trowe bi hise wordis j^at jiei ben so])e, and
wordis of liif. And |)us Crist in his laste departing bad hise
ApostHs to preche ]je gospel. And in o})er place he bad jjat
Petre shulde fede his sheep; not wi)) bodili fode, si}> Crist
wolde |)at he hadde no moneye ; and Mathew tellij) how a
servaunt shal come to blisse for sich fode, and prelat Jjat faylijj
of sich foode shal be dampned depe in helle. And Luk sei})
\2X he is blessid ))at heeri]) and keepij? Goddis word; and sijj
a lordis word is worshiped after j^e gretnesse of ))is lord, and
Crist is more wij^outen mesure J^an ony kyng or er))eli lord,
how love}) ))e peple Crist, but ^ after ))at it love]) Cristis word ?
And })is bileve seij? Poul, 3if man love not Jesus Crist, he is
cursid of God, and ])at is more })an mannis curse. Cursid
be he^ ])at wolde ordeyne ])at ])e pistilis and ])e gospelis
weren turned in to decrees or decretalis^ of \q Pope. For
as no word of Goddis lawe ha)) ony strengjje, but as Crist
spekij) it, so no word of mannis lawe shulde be loved but
if Crist speke it. For Crist is treuj)e, and noo word shulde
= So E; om. A.
WYCLIF. VOL. ir. B
* So in E; om. A.
decealis.
So E ; A has, and
The paramount
authority of
the words of
Christ.
WrCLIF'S
The office of
John the Bap-
tist as fore-
runner.
Is. X. 15.
be loved but for it is trewe. Take we noon heede to beestis
skynnes, ne to enke, or oj^er ornamentis, but to treujje Jjat
Crist spake, in which stondiJ> oure bileve. For as we trowen
]jat Crist was man, so we trowen Jjat he spake J)us ; and
his wordis my3ten not be amended, sij> he is God jjat sei))
\\s treuj^e. And for dispite of Cristis wordis, and for defaute
of love of hem, ben many men ^ cursid of God ; for \t\
maken Cristis wordis unworshipid, and magnifien j^er owne
wordis, as Jjei wolden take fro God his worshipe. But, as
Poul sei)), noon shulde be trowid but aftir ))at Crist spekijj
in him. As we ben certeyn of )>e gospel, j^at Crist, God
and man, spake it, so we ben certeyn of ))e treuj^e, Jjat it
is faire and profitable.
pis ^ gospel of Mark bigynnej>, how Crist was teld in \e
olde lawe, and how al his lyf was figurid bojje in patriarkis
and prophetis. pis, seij) Mark, is pe bigynning of pe gospel
of Jesus Crist, Goddis Sone. As is writun i?i I say pe prophete :
Many men ben Goddis sones, taken bi grace of ]>er fadir;
but Crist is Goddis Sone kyndely, and \)e same God wij) him.
pe Fadir sei)? to })is Sone bi Isay ]>e prophete : Lo, V sende
myn attgel bifore pi face, which shal make redi pi wey tofore
pee. pis aungel was Baptiste, ])at witnesside J^e comyng of
Crist and hijenesse of his state, boJ)e to Godhede and to
manhede. And sich an angel mai be clepid every good
Cristen man, J)at makij? redi weie to Crist bifore Cristis laste
comyng. pis J0071 was a vois of a cryer in desert. So Joon
was vois of Goddis word, and knewe mekeli his own freelte;
and so Crist criede in desert, bi Baptist J^at was his whistle, sij)
alle creatures ben instrumentis to Goddis word. For, as Isay
seij), man is a sawe to God j^at worchip. pis vois criede
))us to men ; Make y redi pe weie of pe Lord, and make y
his papis ri'^ful. pis Lord ha|j his heestis, comun kyngis
weie ^ Jjat ech Cristene man shulde hold ; and 5if letting
be in J)is weye, men shulden wij)drawe |)is letting. And jif
men wolen go bi paj)is, and kepe \q counceilis of Crist, loke
' grete men, E. - weyes.
* In G the sermon begins at this point.
SERMONS.
|)at \Q\ croken not from him, ne fro J)e endis J)at he ordeyne)).
And J5us ))ese newe religiouse, biside Cristis lawe, ben bi
pa])is ; but to crokid and to foule to ony man to go to hevene,
for hem wanti]? rijtnesse })at })ei feynen in {ler signes. For
J?er signes serven of nou3t but to crye her holynesse, |)at jjei
ben bifore ojjer chosen of God to his service; and so |)ei
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
Online Library → John Wycliffe → Select English works of John Wyclif (Volume 2) → online text (page 1 of 39)
Using the text of ebook Select English works of John Wyclif (Volume 2) by John Wycliffe active link like:
read the ebook Select English works of John Wyclif (Volume 2)
read the ebook Select English works of John Wyclif (Volume 2)
