Part 13

The Lord wondered at the centurion's faith, not because he knew it not before, who knows all things, but he to whom he was wonderful manifested to men his faith with praise. Whence came the officer's faith but of Christ's gift, who afterwards praised him in these words? "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith in the people of Israel." {131} This was not said of the patriarchs or prophets, but of the present people, who were not yet of so great faith.

Mary and Martha were two sisters of great faith in God: they said to Christ, "Lord, if thou hadst been present, our brother would not have died." This officer said to Christ, "Say thy word, and my servant shall be whole. I am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this, Go thou, and he goeth; to another, Come thou, and he cometh; to my servant, Do this, and he doeth. How much more canst thou, who art Almighty God, through thy behest, execute whatsoever thou wilt!" The Lord said, "I say to you in sooth, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall rest with the patriarch Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." These words are pleasant to hear, and they greatly gladden our minds, that many shall come from the east part of the world, and from the west part, to the kingdom of heaven, and rule with the patriarchs in everlasting joy.

By the two parts, the east and the west, are betokened the four corners of the whole world, from which God's chosen shall be gathered from every people to the dwelling of the patriarchs and of all the saints. By the east part may be betokened those who in youth incline to God; because in the east part is the day's beginning. By the west part are betokened those who in age turn to God's service; because in the west part the day ends.

The following sentence is very awful, "The rich children shall be cast into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The rich children are the Jewish, over whom God ruled, by the old law; but they rejected Christ, and despised his doctrine; and he casts them into utter darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many rich men, however, thrive to God, if they are righteous and merciful. The patriarch Abraham was a rich man, and David the great king, and Zaccheus, who gave half his riches to the {133} poor, and with the half part compensated fourfold for what he had before wrongfully gained. These rich and their like come by good conversion to the everlasting kingdom, which will never fail them.

They are called children of God who love him more than this world; and those are called rich children who plant the root of their hearts in this present life more than in Christ: such shall be cast into darkness. The gospel says, "Into utter darkness." Utter darkness is the blindness of the body without. Inward darkness is the darkness of the mind within. He who in this present life is blinded within, so that he has no understanding, nor heed of God's commandments, he will then be blinded without, and deprived of every light; because he had before spent his life without remembrance of God. The miserable guilty ones shall suffer torment in everlasting fire, and yet that swart fire shall give them no light. Worms shall tear their bodies with fiery teeth, as Christ said in his gospel, "There their worm shall never die, nor their fire be quenched." There shall be associated in one torment, those who in life were united in evil deeds, so that murderers shall eternally be tortured together; and adulterers with adulterers, the rapacious with the rapacious, robbers with robbers, perjurers with perjurers, in the broad flame, without any ending, shall perish. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth; for their eyes shall be tormented in the great burning, and their teeth shall afterwards quake in the intense cold. If any one doubt of the universal resurrection, let him understand this divine saying, That there shall be a true resurrection, where there shall be weeping eyes and gnashing teeth.

The Lord said to the centurion, "Go home, and betide thee as thou hast believed; and his servant was healed from that hour." By this is to be understood how greatly a christian man's own faith profiteth him, when that of another man profiteth him so greatly. Verily, for the centurion's faith was {135} the bedridden healed. Faith is of all virtues first; without it no man may be pleasing to God; and the righteous lives by his faith. Let us believe in the Holy Trinity, and in true Unity, that the Almighty Father, and his Son, that is his wisdom, and the Holy Ghost who is the love and will of them both, that they are three in person and in name, and one God, in one Godhead ever continuing, without beginning and end. Amen.

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IIII. NON. FEB.

IN PURIFICATIONE S[=C]E. MARIE.

Postquam impleti sunt dies purificationis Mariae: et reliqua.

God bebead on thaere ealdan ['ae], and het Moyses, thone heretogan, thaet he hit awrite betwux odhrum bebodum, thaet aelc w['i]f dhe cild gebaere sceolde gebidan feowertig daga aefter thaere cenninge, swa thaet heo ne c['o]me into Godes temple, ne on anum bedde mid hire were, aer dham fyrste the we ['ae]r cwaedon; thaet is feowertig daga, gif hit hyse-cild waere: gif hit thonne maeden-cild waere, thonne sceolde heo forhabban fram ingange Godes huses hund-ehtatig daga, and eac fram hire gebeddan; and aefter dham fyrste g['a]n mid lace to Godes huse, and beran thaet cild fordh mid thaere l['a]ce, and sydhdhan, mid Godes bletsunge, genealaecan hyre gemacan. This waes geset be wifum.

Nu waes dheah-hwaedhere thaet halige maeden MARIA, Cristes moder, Godes beboda gemyndig, and eode on dhysum daege to Godes huse mid l['a]ce, and gebrohte thaet cild the heo acende, Haelend Crist, gel['a]cod to tham Godes temple, swa swa hit on Godes ['ae] geset waes.

Dha waes thaer, binnan thaere byrig Hierusalem, sum Godes mann, and his nama waes Symeon; he waes swydhe rihtwis, {136} and haefde micelne Godes ege, and he ge-andbidode dhone frofer, dhe behaten waes tham folce Israhel, thaet is Cristes to-cyme. Se Halga Gast waes wunigende on dhaem Symeone, and he wiste genoh georne thaet se Aelmihtiga Godes Sunu wolde to mannum cuman, and menniscnysse underfon. Tha waes dhes man swidhe oflyst dhaes Haelendes to-cymes, and baed aet Gode daeighwamlice on his gebedum, thaet he moste Crist geseon aer he deadhes onbyrigde. Tha fordhy the he swa micele gewilnunge haefde Cristes to-cymes, dha com him andswaru fram tham Halgan Gaste, thaet he ne sceolde deadhes onbyrigan aertham dhe he Crist gesawe. And he waes tha blidhe thaes behates, and c['o]m to Godes temple, thurh myngunge dhaes Halgan Gastes. And seo halige Maria c['o]m dha to dham temple mid tham cilde, and se ealda man Symeon eode togeanes tham cilde, and geseah thone Haelend, and hine georne gecneow, thaet he waes Godes Sunu, Alysend ealles middan-eardes. He hine genam dha on his earmas mid micelre onbryrdnesse, and hine gebaer into tham temple, and thancode georne Gode thaet he hine geseon moste. He cwaedh tha, "Min Drihten, dhu forlaetst me n['u] mid sibbe of thisum life, after thinum worde; fordhon the mine eagan gesawon thinne Halwendan, dhone dhu gearcodest aetforan ansyne ealles folces; leoht to onwrigennysse theoda, and wuldor thinum folce Israhele."

Hit is awriten on Cr['i]stes b['e]c, and gehwaer on othrum bocum, thaet fela witegan and rihtwise men woldan geseon Cristes to-cyme, ac hit naes na him getidhod, ac waes getidhod thisum ealdan men; fordham the hit is be him awriten, thaet he cwaede daeghwamlice on his gebedum, "Ela, hwaenne cymdh se Haelend? Hwaenne bidh he acenned? Hwaenne mot ic hine geseon? Hwaedher ic mote lybban odhthaet ic hine geseo?" And tha for dhysre gewilnunge him com andswaru, thaet he ne gesawe deadh, aerdham dhe he Crist gesawe.

Maria, Cristes moder, baer thaet cild, and se ealda Symeon eode hire togeanes, and gecneow thaet cild dhurh onwrigenysse, and hit beclypte and baer into dham temple. He baer thaet {138} cild, and thaet cild baer hine. Hu baer thaet cild hine? Thone baer se ealda Symeon on his earmum, the ealle dhing hylt and gewylt. Lytel he waes dhaer gesewen, ac dheah-hwaedhere he waes swidhe micel and ormaete. Lytel he waes gesewen, fordhan dhe he wolde gefeccan tha lytlan, and gebringan up to his rice. Hwaet synd dha lytlan dhe he wolde habban up to his rice? Thaet synd dha eadhmodan. Ne sohte Crist na dha modigan, tha tha micele beodh on hyra gethance; ac dha dhe beodh lytle and eadhmode on heora heortan, tha cumadh to Godes rice; ac dhider ne maeg astigan n['a]n modignys. Thaer waes se deofol dhe modegode, ac his modignes hine awearp into helle grunde; fordhy ne maeg ure tyddernes dhyder astigan, gif heo modig bidh, thatha se engel dhaer beon ne mihte thatha he modegode.

God bebead, on thaere ealdan ['ae], his folce thaet hi sceoldon him offrian aelc frumcenned hyse-cild, oththe alysan hit ut mid fif scyllingum. Eac on heora orfe, swa hwaet swa frumcenned waere, bringan thaet to Godes huse, and hit dhaer Gode offrian. Gif hit thonne unclaene nyten waere, thonne sceolde se hlaford hit acwellan, oththe syllan Gode other claene nyten. We ne thurfon thas bebodu healdan n['u] lichamlice, ac g['a]stlice. Thonne on urum mode bidh acenned sum dhing g['o]des, and we thaet to weorce awendadh, thonne sceole we thaet tellan to Godes gyfe, and thaet Gode betaecan. Ure yfelan gedhohtas odhdhe weorc we sceolan alysan mid fif scyllingum; thaet is we sceolon ure yfelnysse behreowsian mid urum fif andgitum, thaet synd gesihth, and hlyst, and swaec, and stenc, and hrepung. Eac swa tha unclaenan nytenu getacniadh ure unclaenan gethohtas and weorc, dha we sceolon symle acwellan, odhdhe behwyrfan mid claenum; thaet is thaet we sceolon ure unclaennysse and ure yfelnesse symle adwaescan, and forlaetan yfel, and d['o]n g['o]d.

Seo eadige Maria dha geoffrode hire l['a]c Gode mid tham cilde, swa hit on Godes ['ae] geset waes. Hit waes swa geset on thaere ealdan ['ae] thurh Godes haese, thaet dha the mihton {140} dhurhteon sceoldon bringan anes geares lamb mid heora cylde, Gode to lace, and ane culfran, oththe ane turtlan. Gif thonne hwylc wif to dham unspedig waere thaet heo dhas dhing begytan ne mihte, thonne sceolde heo bringan twegen culfran-briddas, odhdhe tw['a] turtlan.

Thas laessan l['a]c, thaet sind tha fugelas, the waeron wannspedigra manna l['a]c, waeron for Criste geoffrode. Se Aelmihtiga Godes Sunu waes swidhe gemyndig ure neoda on eallum dhingum; na thaet an thaet he wolde mann beon for ['u]s, dhadha he God waes, ac eac swylce he wolde beon thearfa for us, dhadha he rice waes: to dhy thaet he us forgeafe dael on his rice, and maensumunge on his godcundnysse. Lamb getacnadh unscaedhdhinysse and tha maran godnysse; gif we thonne swa earme beodh thaet we ne magon tha maran godnysse Gode offrian, thonne sceole we him bringan twa turtlan, oththe twegen culfran-briddas, thaet is twyfealdlic onbryrdnes eges and lufe. On twa wisan bidh se man onbryrd: aerest he him ondraet helle w['i]te, and bewepdh his synna, sydhdhan he nimdh eft lufe to Gode; thonne ongindh he to murcnienne, and dhincdh him to lang hwaenne he beo genumen of dhyses lifes earfodhnyssum, and gebroht to ecere reste.

Lytel waes an lamb, odhdhe twa turtlan, Gode to bringenne; ac h['e] ne sceawadh na thaes mannes lac swa swidhe swa h['e] sceawadh his heortan. Nis Gode nan neod ure aehta; ealle dhing sindon his, aegdher ge heofen, ge eordhe, and s['ae], and ealle dha dhing dhe on him wuniadh: ac he forgeaf eordhlice dhing mannum to brice, and bebead him thaet h['i] sceoldon mid tham eordhlicum dhingum hine oncnawan the h['i] aer forgeaf, na for his neode, ac for mancynnes neode. Gif dhu oncnaewst dhinne Drihten mid dhinum aehtum, be dhinre maedhe, hit fremedh the sylfum to dham ecan life: gif dhu hine forgitst, hit hearmadh the sylfum and na Gode, and thu dholast dhaere ecan mede. God gyrndh tha godnysse dhines modes, and na dhinra aehta. Gif dhu hwaet dest Gode to lofe, mid cystigum mode, thonne geswutelast dhu tha g['o]dnysse thines modes mid thaere daede; gif thu dhonne nan {142} g['o]d d['o]n nelt, Gode to wurdhmynte, dhonne geswutelast dhu mid thaere uncyste dhine yfelnysse, and seo yfelnys the fordedh widh God.

On dhaere ealdan ['ae] is gehwaer gesett, thaet God het gelomlice thas fugelas offrian on his lace, for dhaere getacnunge the h['i] getacniadh. Nis nu nanum men alyfed thaet he healde tha ealdan ['ae] lichomlice, ac gehealde gehwa h['i] gastlice. Culfran sind swidhe unscaedhdhige fugelas, and bilewite, and h['i] lufiadh annysse, and fleodh him floccmaelum. Do eac swa se cristena man; beo him ['u]nsceadhthig, and bilewite, and lufige annysse, and brodhorraedene betwux cristenum mannum; thonne geoffradh he gastlice Gode tha culfran-briddas. Tha turtlan getacniadh claennysse: h['i] sind swa geworhte, gif hyra odher odherne forlyst, thonne ne secdh seo cucu naefre hire odherne gemacan. Gif dhonne se cristena man swa dedh for Godes lufon, thonne geoffradh he dha turtlan on tha betstan wisan. Dhas twa fugel-cyn ne singadh na, swa swa odhre fugelas, ac hi geomeriadh, fordhan the hi getacniadh haligra manna geomerunge on dhisum life, swa swa Crist cwaedh to his apostolum, "Ge beodh geunrotsode on thisum life, ac eower unrotnys bidh awend to ecere blisse." And eft he cwaedh, "Eadige beodh tha the heora synna bewepadh, fordhan dhe hi beodh gefrefrode."

Se ealda man Symeon, the we aer embe spraecon, ne gyrnde n['a] thaet he moste Crist gehyran sprecan, fordhan dhe he hine gecneow thaet he God waes, dheah dhe he dha-gyt on thaere menniscnysse unsprecende waere. Sprecan he mihte, gif he wolde; and ealswa wis he waes dha, thatha he waes anre nihte, swa swa he waes, thatha he waes dhrittig geara; ac he wolde ab['i]dan his waestma timan on dhaere menniscnysse, swa swa hit gecyndelic is on mancynne. Symeon cwaedh tha, "Drihten, thu forlaetst me nu on sibbe of dhysum life, fordhon the m['i]ne eagan habbadh gesewen dhinne Halwendan." Se Halwenda the he embe spraec is ure Haelend Crist, sedhe com to gehaelenne ure wunda, thaet sindon ure synna. He cwaedh tha Symeon, "Dhone thu gearcodest aetforan gesihdhe ealles folces." Hine {144} ne gesawon na ealle men lichomlice, ac he is gebodod eallum mannum, gelyfe sedhe wylle. Se the on hine gelyfdh, he gesihdh hine nu mid his geleafan, and on than ecan life mid his eagum. Symeon cwaedh tha-gyt, "He is leoht to onwrigennysse dheoda, and wuldor thinum folce Israhel." Ealle dhas word spraec se Symeon be dham cilde to tham heofenlican Faeder, the hine to mannum sende. He is sodh leoht the todraefde tha theostra dhises lifes, swa swa he sylf cwaedh on his godspelle, "Ic eom leoht ealles middangeardes, se dhe me fyligdh, ne cymdh he na on thystrum, ac he haefdh lifes leoht." Swa swa leoht todraefdh theostra, swa eac todraefdh Cristes lufu and his geleafa ealle leahtras and synna fram ure heortan: and he is wuldor and bliss ealles gelyfedes folces.

Tha Maria, thaet halige maeden, and thaes cildes fostor-faeder, Ioseph, waeron ofwundrode thaera worda the se ealda Symeon clypode be dham cilde. And se Symeon him dha sealde bletsunge, and witegode gyt mare be tham cilde, and cwaedh, "This cild is gesett manegum mannum to hryre, and manegum to aeriste and to tacne, and tham bidh widhcweden." Swa swa dha men the on Crist gelyfadh beodh gehealdene thurh his to-cyme, swa eac tha the nelladh gelyfan on Crist beodh twyfealdlice fordemde. Anfealdlice hi sind scyldige dhurh Adames synne, and twyfealdlice hi beodh fordemde, thonne h['i] widhsacadh Cristes to-cymes, and nelladh gelyfan on dhone sodhan Haelend. Dham ungeleaffullum mannum com Crist to hryre, and tham geleaffullum to aeriste; and eac anum gehwilcum gelyfedum men waes Cristes to-cyme aegdher ge hryre ge aerist. Hu dhonne? He com to dhy thaet he wolde aelc yfel towurpan, and aelc g['o]od araeran. Nu towyrpdh he on ['u]s leahtras, and araerdh mihta. He towyrpdh modignysse, and araerdh eadmodnysse. He towyrpdh galnysse, and araerdh claennysse. And ealle undheawas he towyrpdh on his gecorenum mannum, and araerdh on him ealle godnysse. Ne maeg thaet g['o]d beon getymbrod buton thaet yfel beo aer toworpen. "To tacne com Crist, and tham is widhcweden." His acennednys is wundorlic tacn, fordhan dhe {146} he waes of maedene acenned, swa swa nan odher nis; and thaet widhcwaedon tha ungeleaffullan men, and noldon gelyfan. And eac his aeriste of deadhe, and his upstige to heofenum, and ealle dha wundra the he worhte, ealle hit waeron tacna, and dham widhcwaedon tha ungeleaffullan, and tha geleaffullan gelyfdon.

Tha cwaedh se ealda Symeon to dhaere eadigan Marian, "His swurd sceal dhurhg['a]n dhine sawle." Thaet swurd getacnode Cristes dhrowunge. Naes seo eadige Maria na ofslegen ne gemartyrod lichomlice, ac gastlice. Dhadha heo geseh niman hyre cild, and adrifan ['i]sene naeglas thurh tha handa and thurh dha f['e]t, and sydhdhan mid spere gewundigan on dha sidhan, tha waes Cristes dhrowung hire dhrowung; and heo waes mare dhonne martyr, fordhon the mare waes hyre modes throwung thonne waere hire lichaman, gif heo gemartyrod waere. Ne cwaedh na se Symeon thaet Cristes swurd sceolde thurhg['a]n Marian lichaman, ac hyre sawle. Cristes swurd is her gesett, swa swa we cwaedon, for his dhrowunge. Theah dhe Maria gelyfde thaet Crist arisan wolde of deadhe, theah-hwaedhere eode hyre cildes throwung swidhe thearle into hire heortan.

Thadha se Symeon haefde gewitegod thas witegunge be Criste, tha com thaer sum wuduwe, seo waes Anna gehaten. "Seo leofode mid hire were seofon gear, and sydhdhan heo waes wuduwe feower and hund-eahtatig geara, and theowode Gode on faestenum, and on gebedum, and on claennysse; and waes on eallum tham fyrste wunigende binnan tham Godes temple; and com dha to tham cilde, and witegode be him, and andette Gode." Rihtlice swa halig w['i]f waes thaes wyrdhe thaet heo moste witigian embe Crist, dhadha heo swa lange on claennesse Gode theowode. Behealde, ge w['i]f, and understandadh hu be hire awriten is. Seofon gear heo leofode mid hire were, and sidhdhan heo waes wunigende on wudewan h['a]de, odh feower and hund-eahtatig geara, swa lybbende swa se apostol taehte. He cwaedh, se apostol Paulus, "Seo wuduwe the lyfadh on estmettum, heo ne lyfadh na, ac heo is dead." Theos Anna, dhe we {148} embe sprecadh, ne lufude heo na estmettas, ac lufude faestenu. Ne lufude heo ydele spellunge, ac beeode hire gebedu. Ne ferde heo w['o]rigende geond land, ac waes wunigende gethyldelice binnan Godes temple. Gif wife getimige thaet heo hire wer forleose, dhonne nime heo bysne be dhisre wudewan.

Dhry hadas sindon the cydhdon gecydhnysse be Criste; thaet is maeigdh-had, and wudewan-had, and riht sinscype. Maeden is Cristes modor, and on maegdh-hade wunude Iohannes se Fulluhtere, the embe Crist cydde, and manega odhre to-eacan him. Widewe waes dheos Anna, the we gefyrn aer embe spraecon. Zacharias, Iohannes faeder, waes wer; aegdher ge he ge his w['i]f witegodon embe Crist. Thas dhry hadas syndon Gode gecweme, gif hi rihtlice lybbadh. Maegdh-had is aegther ge on waepmannum ge on w['i]fmannum. Tha habbadh rihtne maegdh-had tha the fram cild-hade wuniadh on claennysse, and ealle galnysse on him sylfum forseodh, aegdher ge modes ge lichoman, thurh Godes fultum. Thonne habbadh hi aet Gode hundfealde mede on dham ecan life. Widewan beodh tha the aefter heora gemacan on claennysse wuniadh for Godes lufon: h['i] habbadh thonne syxtigfealde mede aet Gode hyra geswinces. Tha dhe rihtlice healdadh hyra ['ae]we, and on alyfedum timan, for bearnes gestreone, haemed beg['a]dh, h['i] habbadh thrittigfealde mede for hyra gesceadwisnysse. Se dhe wile his galnysse gefyllan swa oft swa hine lyst, thonne bidh he widhmeten nytenum and na mannum. Be thysum taehte se apostol Paulus, "Tha dhe w['i]f habbadh, beon h['i] swilce h['i] nan nabbon;" fordhan ealle hyra unlustas hi sceolon gebetan sylfwylles on thyssum life, odhdhe unthances aefter dhyssum life; and h['i] cumadh sidhdhan to dham ecan life mid maran earfodhnysse. Tha men the beodh butan rihtre ['ae]we, and yrnadh fram anum to odhrum, nabbadh h['i] naenne dael ne nane bletsunge mid Criste, buton h['i] dhaes geswicon and hit gebeton. Uton fon nu on thaet godspel dhaer we hit aer forleton.

Seo eadige Maria, and Ioseph, dhaes cildes fostor-faeder, {150} gecyrdon to thaere byrig Nazareth mid tham cilde; "and thaet cild weox, and waes gestrangod, and mid wisdome afylled, and Godes gifu waes on him wunigende." He weox and waes gestrangod on thaere menniscnysse, and he ne behofode nanes waestmes ne nanre strangunge on thaere godcundnysse. He aet, and dranc, and slep, and weox on gearum, and waes theah-hwaedhere eal his lif butan synnum. He naere na man gedhuht, gif he mannes life ne lyfode. He waes mid wisdome afylled, forthan dhe he is himsylf wisdom, and on him wunadh eal gefyllednys thaere godcundnysse: lichomlice Godes gifu wunude on him. Micel gifu waes thaet dhaere menniscnysse, thaet he waes Godes Sunu and God sylf, swa hradhe swa he ongann man to beonne. He waes aefre God of tham Faeder acenned, and wunigende mid tham Faeder and mid tham Halgan Gaste: h['i] dhry ['a]n God untodaeledlic; thry on hadum, and ['a]n God on anre godcundnysse, and on anum gecynde aefre wunigende. Se Sunu ana underfeng tha menniscnysse, and haefde anginn, sedhe aefre waes. He waes cild, and weox on thaere menniscnysse, and throwode deadh sylfwilles, and aras of deadhe mid tham lichaman the he aer on throwode, and astah to heofenum, and wunadh nu aefre on godcundnysse and on menniscnysse, an Crist, aegdher ge God ge mann, undeadlic, sedhe aer his dhrowunge waes deadlic. He throwade, ac he ne dhrowadh heonon-fordh naefre eft, ac bidh aefre butan ende, eallswa ['e]ce on thaere menniscnysse swa he is on thaere godcundnysse.

Wite gehwa eac thaet geset is on cyrclicum theawum, thaet we sceolon on dhisum daege beran ure leoht to cyrcan, and laetan h['i] dhaer bletsian: and we sceolon g['a]n sidhdhan mid tham leohte betwux Godes husum, and singan dhone lofsang dhe thaerto geset is. Theah dhe sume men singan ne cunnon, hi beron theah-hwaedhere thaet leoht on heora handum; fordhy on dhissum daege waes thaet sodhe Leoht Crist geboren to tham temple, sedhe us alysde fram thystrum, and us gebrincdh to tham ecan leohte, sedhe leofadh and rixadh ['a] butan ende. Amen.

FEBRUARY II.

ON THE PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY.

Postquam impleti sunt dies purificationis Mariae, etc.

God commanded in the old law, and bade the leader Moses write it among other commandments, that every woman who had borne a child should wait forty days after the birth, so that she should come neither into God's temple, nor into a bed with her husband, before that space of time which we have said: that is forty days, if it were a male child; but if it were a maiden child, then she should abstain from entering God's house for eighty days, and also from her husband; and after that space go with a gift to God's house, and bear forth the child with the gift, and afterwards, with God's blessing, approach her consort. This was established regarding women.

Now was, nevertheless, the holy maiden MARY, Christ's mother, mindful of God's commands, and she went on this day to God's house with a gift, and brought the child that she had given birth to, Jesus Christ, to be presented to God's temple.