University of Virginia Library

IX. On Serving Christ.

Hwi ne serue we crist. and secheþ his sauht.
Seoþþe vs wes at þe font. fulluht by-tauht.
Ne beo we siker of þe lif. on-lepy nauht.
Crist kundeliche kyng. cuþ þu þi mayht.
Rihtwise louerd. on rode wes rauht.
And þolede dom vor his duþe. þat he wes ded strauht.
Yef we habbeþ werkes. yeynes þi wille wrauht.
Louerd haue merci of vs. þat neuer ne faht.
Hwi ne beo we duhty men. and duten vre deden.
Al we schullen a-syen. and seo to þe nede.
Þer þe crysmechild for sunnes. sore schal drede.
I-seon vre louerd crist. þat schal þis world fede.
Showen his wunden. so blodi to-bleden.
Nouht for his gultes. bute for Adames deden.
Leste he schulde his duþe. from him seolue scheden.
Leue we þis for sayn. soþ al so þe crede.
As ich ihere bolde men. vpe bok rede.
Þer ere feole to fordeme. in schynynde wede.
Nis so wlonk vnder crist. ridynde on stede.
Ne þeos crefty clerekes. þat vpe bok rede.
For gold ne for seoluer. ne for glysyinde wede.
For al þe weole and þe wyn. þat riche men fede.
For seolk. ne for cendal. ne for deore [wedes]
Þat ne schal at þe dom. beon demed of heore dedes.
Þer is þe sunfulle. vnsofte to beon.
Hwer he not no wey. fyr for to fleon.
And Adames eyres beoþ parted on þre.
Þer is gronynge and grure. and gryslich gle.
Bi-seche we þe louerd. þat weldeþ þe ueo.
As he for monkunnes neodes. don wes on þe treo.
And seynte Marie þe brude. þat bryht is and bleo.
Leue þat we moten at schrifte vre sunnes vn-wreo.
Hwi nule we þenchen and beo þolemode.
For him þat þolede for vs. þe wunden of blode.
Þayh we her hoppen. ihosed and ischode.
Heonne we schulle þrynge. þat er were so mode.
Bi-leueþ oure weorre. warlawes wode.
Al þes world is bi-heled. myd heþene-hode.
Seynte peter wes prynce. and pyned is on rode.
For to volewen vre fader. his wille. þet he stode.
And we wyþ sunnes geteþ. saulene fode.
Ye mowen iheren fur drerlyke. me demeþ þis gode.
Nv ye Muwen iheren. in chireche. bo syngen and rede.
Hw seynte laurence. wes ibrouht bunde. for to brede.
So he wes i-hyed. and hot on þe glede.
Ful Derlike þis deore mon. dute his dede.