Part 47

We should not be hopeless, though in this present church many are evil and few good; for Noah's ark on the waves of the great flood was a type of this church, and it was in the lower part wide and in the upper narrow. In the lowermost bottom dwelt the fierce beasts and creeping worms. On the second flooring dwelt birds and clean animals. On the third flooring dwelt Noah with his wife, and his three sons with their three wives. In the bottom the ark was roomy, where the fierce beasts dwelt, and narrowed above, where the dwelling of men was; for the holy church is in fleshly men very broad, and in spiritual narrow. She spreads her bosom where the rugged dwell in brutal habits, and she is narrowed at the end which the discreet inhabit, living in spiritual practices; for the holier they are in this present church, so the less of them there is. Much more is there of those men who live for their own lusts, than there is of those who regulate their life's actions after the commandments of God: yet is the number of holy men ever increased through the diminution of impious men. The number of God's chosen is not little, as Christ said in another place, "Many shall come from the east part and from the west, and shall sit with the patriarch Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." Again, the psalmist said of God's chosen, "I counted them, and their number is greater than the sand-grains." In this present life the chosen appear few in comparison with the number of the reprobates, but when they shall be gathered to the eternal life, their number will be so manifold, that it will exceed, according to the prophet's saying, the number of the sand-grains.

{539} Lead us, Almighty God, to the number of thy chosen saints, into the everlasting bliss of thy kingdom, which thou hast prepared from the beginning of the world for those who love thee, thou who livest and reignest with the Eternal Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen.

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[=KL]. NOUE[=MB].

NATALE OMNIUM SANCTORUM.

Halige l['a]reowas raeddon thaet seo geleaffulle geladhung thisne daeg EALLUM HALGUM to wurthmynte maersige, and arwurdhlice freolsige; fordhan dhe h['i] ne mihton heora aelcum synderlice freolstide gesettan, ne n['a]num menn on andweardum life nis heora eallra nama cudh, swa swa Iohannes se Godspellere on his gastlican gesihdhe awr['a]t, thus cwedhende, "Ic geseah swa micele menigu, swa n['a]n man geryman ne maeg, of eallum dheodum and of aelcere maegdhe, standende aetforan Godes thrym-setle, ealle mid hwitum gyrlum gescrydde, healdende palm-twigu on heora handum, and sungon mid hluddre stemne, Sy h['ae]lu urum Gode the sitt ofer his thrym-setle. And ealle englas stodon on ymbhwyrfte his dhrym-setles, and aluton to Gode, thus cwedhende, Sy urum Gode bletsung and beorhtnys, wisdom and thancung, wurdhmynt and strengdh, on ealra worulda woruld. Amen."

Godes halgan sind englas and menn. Englas sind gastas butan lichaman. Tha gesceop se Aelmihtiga Wealdend on micelre faegernysse, him sylfum to lofe, and to wuldre and wurdhmynte his maegenthrymme on ecnysse. Be tham we forhtiadh fela to sprecenne, fordhan dhe Gode anum is to gewitenne h['u] heora ungesewenlice gecynd, butan aelcere besmitennysse oththe wanunge, on ['e]cere hluttornysse thurhwunadh. Theah-hwaedhere we oncn['a]wadh on halgum gewritum, thaet nigon {540} engla werod sind wunigende on heofonlicum thrymme, the naefre n['a]ne synne ne gefremedon. Thaet teodhe werod thurh modignesse losode, and to awyrgedum gastum behwyrfede wurdon, and ascofene of heofonlicere myrhdhe inn to hellicere susle.

Sodhlice sume dhaera haligra gasta, the mid heora Scyppende thurhwunodon, to us asende cumadh, and towearde dhing cydhadh. Sume h['i] wyrcadh, be Godes dihte, t['a]cna and gelomlice wundra on middangearde. Sume h['i] synd ealdras gesette tham odhrum englum, to gefyllenne tha godcundlican gerynu. Thurh sume gesett God and toscaet his domas. Sume h['i] sind swa micclum to Gode gedheodde, thaet n['a]ne odhre him betwynan ne synd, and h['i] dhonne on swa micclan maran lufe byrnende beodh, swa micclum swa h['i] Godes beorhtnysse scearplicor sceawiadh. Nu is thes daeg thisum englum arwurdhlice gehalgod, and eac tham halgum mannum, the thurh miccle gedhincdha fram frymdhe middangeardes Gode gethugon. Of thisum waeron ['ae]rest heahfaederas, eawfaeste and wuldorfulle weras on heora life, witegena faederas, thaera gemynd ne bidh forgiten, and heora nama thurhwunadh on ecnysse; fordhan dhe hi waeron Gode gecweme thurh geleafan, and rihtwisnysse, and gehyrsumnysse. Thisum fyligdh thaera witegena gecorennys: h['i] waeron Godes gesprecan, and tham he aeteowde his digelnysse, and hi onlihte mid gife thaes Halgan Gastes, swa thaet hi wiston tha towerdan dhing, and mid witigendlicere gyddunge bododon. Witodlice tha gecorenan witegan mid manegum t['a]cnum and foreb['i]cnungum on heora life scinende waeron. Hi gehaeldon manna untrumnysse, and deaddra manna l['i]c to life araerdon. H['i] eac for folces thwyrnysse heofonan scuras oftugon, and eft miltsigende getithodon. Hi heofodon folces synna, and heora wrace on him sylfum forscytton. Cristes menniscnysse, and his dhrowunge, and aerist, and upstige, and dhone micclan d['o]m, thurh dhone Halgan Gast gelaerede, h['i] witegodon.

On dhaere Nywan Gecydhnysse fordhst['o]p Iohannes se {542} Fulluhtere, sedhe mid witegunge Cristes to-cyme bodode, and eac mid his fingre hine geb['i]cnode. "Betwux wifa bearnum ne ar['a]s n['a]n maerra mann thonne is Iohannes se Fulluhtere." Thisum Godes cempan gethwaerlaecdh thaet twelffealde getel Cristes apostola, the he sylf geceas him to leorning-cnihtum, and hi mid rihtum geleafan and sodhre l['a]re geteah, and eallum dheodum to l['a]reowum gesette, swa thaet se sw['e]g heora bodunge ferde geond ealle eordhan, and heora word becomon to gemaerum ealles ymbhwyrftes. To dhisum twelf apostolum cwaedh se Aelmihtiga Haelend, "Ge sind middangeardes leoht: scine eower leoht swa aetforan mannum, thaet hi geseon eowre g['o]dan weorc, and wuldrian eowerne Faeder the on heofonum is. Ge sind mine frynd, and ic cydhe eow swa hwaet swa ic aet minum Faeder gehyrde." Eornostlice Drihten forgeaf tha mihte his twelf apostolum, thaet hi dha ylcan wundra worhton the h['e] sylf on middangearde gefremode. And swa hwaet swa h['i] bindadh ofer eordhan, thaet bidh on heofonum gebunden; and swa hwaet swa h['i] unbindadh ofer eordhan, thaet bidh unbunden on heofonum. Eac he him behet mid sodhfaestum beh['a]te, thaet h['i] on dham micclum dome ofer twelf d['o]m-setl sittende beodh, to d['e]menne eallum mannum the aefre on lichaman l['i]f underfengon.

Aefter tham apostolican werode we wurdhiadh thone gefaestan heap Godes cydhera, the dhurh mislice tintrega Cristes dhrowunge werlice geefenlaehton, and dhurh martyrdom thaet upplice rice geferdon. Sume hi waeron mid waepnum ofslagene, sume on l['i]ge forswaelede, odhre mid swipum ofbeatene, othre mid stengum thurhdhyde, sume on h['e]ngene gecwylmede, sume on widdre s['ae] besencte, odhre cuce behylde, odhre mid ['i]senum clawum totorene, sume mid st['a]num ofhrorene, sume mid winterlicum cyle geswencte, sume mid hungre gecwylmede, sume handum and fotum forcorfene, folce to waefersyne, for geleafan and halgum naman Haelendes Cristes. Thas sind tha sigefaestan Godes frynd, the dhaera forscyldgodra ealdormanna haesa forsawon, and nu h['i] sind gewuldor-beagode midsige {544} heora throwunga on ['e]cere myrhdhe. Hi mihton beon lichamlice acwealde, ac hi ne mihton fram Gode thurh n['a]ne tintregunga beon geb['i]gede. Heora hiht waes mid undeadlicnysse afylled, theah dhe h['i] aetforan mannum getintregode waeron. H['i] waeron sceortlice gedrehte, and langlice gefrefrode; fordhan dhe God heora af['a]ndode swa swa gold on ['o]fne, and he afunde hi him wyrdhe, and swa swa halige offrunga, hi underfeng to his heofonlican rice.

Aefter ablunnenre ehtnysse redhra cynega and ealdormanna, on siblicere drohtnunge Godes geladhunge, waeron halige sacerdas Gode dhe['o]nde, tha mid sodhre l['a]re and mid halgum gebysnungum folces menn to Gode symle geb['i]gdon. Heora m['o]d waes hluttor, and mid claennysse afylled, and hi mid claenum handum Gode Aelmihtigum aet his weofode dhenodon, maersigende tha halgan gerynu Cristes lichaman and his blodes. Eac h['i] offrodon h['i] sylfe Gode l['i]flice onsaegednysse butan womme, oththe gemencgednysse thwyrlices weorces. Hi befaeston Godes l['a]re heora undertheoddum, to unateorigendlicum gafele, and heora m['o]d mid threatunge, and bene, and micelre gymene to lifes wege geb['i]gdon, and for n['a]num woruldlicum ege Godes riht ne forsuwodon; and dheah dhe h['i] swurdes ecge ne gefreddon, theah dhurh heora l['i]fes geearnunga h['i] ne beodh martyrdomes bedaelede, fordhan the martyrdom bidh gefremmed na on blodes gyte anum, ac eac swylce on synna forhaefednysse, and on b['i]ggenge Godes beboda.

Thysum fyligdh ancersetlena drohtnung, and synderlic ingehyd. Tha on westenum wunigende, woruldlice ['e]stas and gaelsan mid strecum mode and stidhum life fortraedon. Hi forflugon woruld-manna gesihdhe and herunge, and on w['a]clicum screafum odhdhe hulcum lutigende, deorum geferlaehte, to engelicum spraecum gewunode, on micclum wundrum sc['i]nende waeron. Blindum h['i] forgeafon gesihdhe, healtum faereld, deafum hlyst, dumbum spraece. Deoflu h['i] oferswydhdon and afligdon, and dha deadan thurh Godes mihte araerdon. Seo b['o]c the is geh['a]ten Uitae Patrum sprecdh menigfealdlice {546} embe thyssera ancersetlena, and eac gemaenelicra muneca drohtnunge, and cwydh, thaet heora waes fela dhusenda gehwaer on westenum and on mynstrum wundorlice drohtnigende, ac swa-theah swydhost on Egypta-lande. Sume h['i] leofodon be ['o]fete and wyrtum, sume be agenum geswince, sumum dhenodon englas, sumum fugelas, odhthaet englas eft on eadhelicum fordhsidhe h['i] to Gode feredon.

Eala dhu, eadige Godes cennestre, symle maeden Maria, tempel dhaes Halgan Gastes, maeden ['ae]r geeacnunge, maeden on geeacnunge, maeden aefter geeacnunge, micel is dhin maerdh on dhisum freols-daege betwux tham foresaedum halgum; fordhan dhe dhurh thine claenan cenninge him eallum becom halignyss and dha heofonlican gedhincdhu. We sprecadh be dhaere heofonlican cwene endebyrdlice aefter w['i]fh['a]de, theah-hwaedhere eal seo geleaffulle geladhung getreowfullice be hire singdh, thaet heo is geuferod and ah['a]fen ofer engla werod to tham wuldorfullan heahsetle. Nis be nanum odhrum halgan gecweden, thaet heora aenig ofer engla werod ah['a]fen sy, buton be Marian ['a]nre. Heo aeteowde mid hire gebysnungum thaet heofonlice l['i]f on eordhan, fordhan the maegdhh['a]d is ealra maegna cw['e]n and gefera heofonlicra engla. Dhyses maedenes gebysnungum and f['o]tswadhum fyligde unger['i]m heap maegdhh['a]des manna on claennysse thurhwunigende, forlaetenum giftum, to dham heofonlicum brydguman Criste getheodende mid ['a]nraedum mode, and haligre drohtnunge, and sidefullum gyrlan, to than swidhe, thaet heora for wel menige for maeigdhh['a]de martyrdom gedhrowodon, and swa mid twyfealdum sige to heofonlicum eardung-stowum wuldorfulle becomon.

Eallum dhisum foresaedum halgum, thaet is, englum and Godes gecorenum mannum, is thyses daeges wurdhmynt gemaersod on geleaffulre geladhunge, him to wurdhmynte and us to fultume, thaet we dhurh heora thingraedene him geferlaehte beon moton. Thaes ['u]s getidhige se mildheorta Drihten, the h['i] ealle and ['u]s mid his deorwurdhan blode fram deofles haeftnedum alysde. We sceolon on dhyssere maerlican freols-tide {548} mid halgum gebedum and lofsangum us geinnian, swa hwaet swa we on odhrum freols-dagum ealles geares ymbrynes, thurh mennisce tyddernysse hw['o]nlicor gefyldon, and carfullice h['o]gian thaet we to dhaere ecan freols-tide becumon.

EUANGELIUM.

Videns Iesus turbas ascendit in montem: et reliqua.

Dhaet h['a]lige godspel, the nu lytle ['ae]r aetforan eow geraedd waes, micclum gethwaerlaecdh thyssere freols-tide, fordhan dhe hit geendebyrt tha eahta eadignyssa dhe dha halgan to heofonlicum gedhincdhum gebrohton.

Matheus awr['a]t on thysum daegtherlican godspelle, thaet se Haelend on sumere tide "gesawe micele menigu him fyligende; tha astah he upp on ane dune. Thadha h['e] gesaet, tha genealaehton his leorning-cnihtas him to, and h['e] undyde his mudh, and hi laerde, thus cwedhende, Eadige beodh tha gastlican dhearfan:" et reliqua.

Se wisa Augustinus trahtnode this godspel, and saede, thaet seo d['u]n the se Haelend astah get['a]cnadh dha healican bebodu sodhre Rihtwisnysse: tha laessan beboda waeron gesette dham Iudeiscan folce. An God theah-hwaedhere gesette, thurh his halgan witegan, tha laessan bebodu Iudeiscre dheode, the mid ['o]gan dha-gyt gebunden waes; and he gesette, thurh his agenne Sunu, tha maran bebodu cristenum folce, tha dhe he mid sodhre lufe to alysenne com. Sittende he taehte: thaet belimpdh to wurdhscipe l['a]reowdomes. Him to genealaehton his discipuli, thaet h['i] gehendran waeron lichamlice, tha dhe mid mode his bebodum genealaehton. Se Haelend geopenode his mudh. Witodlice se geopenode his mudh to thaere godspellican l['a]re, sedhe on dhaere ealdan ['ae] gewunelice openode thaera witegena mudh. Theah-hwaedhere his mudhes geopenung get['a]cnadh tha deoplican spraece dhe he dha fordh-ateah. He cwaedh, "Eadige beodh tha gastlican dhearfan, fordhan the heora is heofonan rice." Hwaet sind dha gastlican dhearfan buton dha eadmodan, the Godes ege {550} habbadh, and nane todhundennysse nabbadh? Godes ege is wisdomes angynn, and modignyss is aelcere synne anginn. Fela sind dhearfan thurh hafenleaste, and na on heora gaste, fordhan dhe h['i] gewilniadh fela to haebbenne. Sind eac odhre dhearfan, na dhurh hafenleaste ac on gaste, fordhan the h['i] synd, aefter thaes apostolican cwyde, "Swa swa naht haebbende, and ealle dhing geagnigende." On thas wisan waes Abraham dhearfa, and Iacob, and Dauid, sedhe, on his cynesetle ah['a]fen, hine sylfne geswutelode thearfan on gaste, thus cwedhende, "Ic sodhlice eom waedla and thearfa." Tha m['o]digan rican ne beodh thearfan ne thurh hafenleaste ne on gaste, fordhan dhe h['i] synd gewelgode mid aehtum, and todhundene on mode. Thurh hafenleaste and on gaste synd thearfan dha fullfremedan munecas, the for Gode ealle dhing forlaetadh to dhan swidhe, thaet hi nelladh habban heora agenne lichaman on heora anwealde, ac lybbadh be heora gastlican l['a]reowas wissunge; and fordhi swa micclum swa h['i] her for Gode on hafenleaste wuniadh, swa micclum h['i] beodh eft on dham toweardan wuldre gewelgode.

"Eadige beodh tha lidhan, fordhan the h['i] thaet l['a]nd geagniadh." Tha synd lidhe and gedefe, tha dhe ne widhstandadh yfelum, ac oferswydhadh mid heora g['o]['o]dnysse thone yfelan: hi habbadh thaet l['a]nd the se sealm-sceop embe spraec, "Drihten, thu eart min hiht: beo min dael on thaera lybbendra eordhan." Thaera lybbendra eordhe is seo stadhelfaestnyss thaes ecan eardes, on dham gerest seo sawul swa swa se lichama on eordhan. Se eard is rest and l['i]f gecorenra halgena.

"Eadige beodh dha the heofiadh, fordhan dhe hi beodh gefrefrode." Na beodh tha eadige, the for hyndhum odhdhe lirum hwilwendlicra hydhdha heofiadh; ac dha beodh eadige, dhe heora synna bewepadh, fordhan the se Halga Gast h['i] gefrefradh, sedhe dedh forgyfenysse ealra synna, se is geh['a]ten Paraclitus, thaet is, Frefrigend, fordhan dhe he frefradh thaera behreowsigendra heortan thurh his gife.

"Eadige beodh tha the sind ofhingrode and ofthyrste aefter rihtwisnysse, fordhan dhe hi beodh gefyllede." Se bidh {552} ofhingrod and ofdhyrst aefter rihtwisnysse, sedhe Godes beboda lustlice gehyrdh, and lustlicor mid weorcum gefyldh: se bidh thonne mid tham mete gefylled dhe Drihten embe spraec, "Min mete is, thaet ic wyrce mines Faeder willan, thaet is rihtwisnys." Thonne maeg h['e] cwedhan mid tham sealm-sceope, "Drihten, ic beo aeteowed mid rihtwisnysse on dhinre gesihdhe, and ic beo gefylled, thonne dhin wuldor geswutelod bidh."

"Eadige beodh tha mildheortan, fordhan the h['i] begytadh mildheortnysse." Eadige beodh tha dhe earmra manna thurh mildheortnysse gehelpadh, fordhan dhe him bidh swa geleanod, thaet h['i] sylfe beodh fram yrmdhe alysede.

"Eadige beodh tha claenheortan, fordhan dhe h['i] geseodh God sylfne." Stunte synd tha dhe gewilniadh God to geseonne mid flaesclicum eagum, thonne he bidh mid thaere heortan gesewen; ac heo is to claensigenne fram leahtrum, thaet heo God geseon mage. Swa swa eordhlic leoht ne maeg beon gesewen buton mid claenum eagum, swa eac ne bidh God gesewen buton mid claenre heortan.

"Eadige beodh tha gesibsuman, fordhan dhe h['i] beodh Godes bearn gec['i]gede." On sibbe is fulfremednyss thaer dhaer n['a]n dhing ne thwyradh: fordhi synd tha gesibsuman Godes bearn, fordhan dhe n['a]n dhing on him ne widheradh ongean God. Gesibsume sind tha on him sylfum, dhe ealle heora modes styrunga mid gesceade gel['o]giadh, and heora flaesclican gewilnunga gewyldadh swa thaet h['i] sylfe beodh Godes rice. Dheos is seo sib dhe is forgyfen on eordhan tham mannum the beodh g['o]des willan. God ure Faeder is gesibsum; witodlice fordhi gedafenadh tham bearnum thaet hi heora Faeder geefenlaecon.

"Eadige beodh dha dhe tholiadh ehtnysse for rihtwisnysse, fordhan dhe heora is heofonan rice." Fela sind dha dhe ehtnysse dholiadh for mislicum intingum, swa swa dodh mannslagan, and sceadhan, and gehwilce fyrnfulle; ac seo ehtnys him ne becymdh to n['a]nre eadignysse; ac seo ehtnys ana the bidh for rihtwisnysse gedholod becymdh to ecere eadignysse. Nis to ondr['ae]denne dhwyrra manna ehtnys, ac m['a] to fordhyldigenne, {554} swa swa Drihten to his leorning-cnihtum cwaedh, "Ne ondraede ge eow dha dhe eowerne lichaman ofsleadh, fordhan dhe h['i] ne magon eowre sawle ofslean, ac ondraedadh God, dhe maeg aegdher ge sawle ge lichaman on helle-susle ford['o]n." Ne sceole we dheah tha dhwyran to ure ehtnysse gremian, ac swidhor, gif h['i] astyrede beodh, mid rihtwisnysse gestillan. Gif hi dhonne thaere ehtnysse geswycan nelladh, selre ['u]s bidh thaet we ehtnysse dholion thonne we riht forlaeton.

Eahta eadignyssa synd on thisum godspelle geendebyrde; is dheah gyt an cwyde baeftan, dhe is gedhuht swilce he sy se nygodha staepe, ac he sodhlice belimpdh to dhaere eahteodhan eadignysse, fordhan dhe hi butu sprecadh be ehtnysse for rihtwisnysse and for Criste. Tha eahta eadignyssa belimpadh to eallum geleaffullum mannum, and se aeftemysta cwyde, theah dhe he synderlice to tham apostolum gecweden waere, belimpdh eac to eallum Cristes limum, fordhan dhe h['e] nis se nygodha, ac fyligdh thaere eahteodhan eadignysse, swa swa we ['ae]r saedon. Se Haelend cwaedh, "Eadige ge beodh thonne man eow wyrigdh, and eower eht, and aelc yfel ongean eow sprecdh leogende for me." Se bidh eadig and gesaelig the for Criste dholadh wyriunge and hospas fram leasum licceterum, fordhan dhe seo lease wyriung becymdh tham rihtwisum to eadigre bletsunge.

"Blissiadh and faegniadh, fordhan dhe eower m['e]d is menigfeald on heofonum." Geleaffullum gedafenadh thaet hi wuldrion on gedrefednyssum, fordhan dhe seo gedrefednys wyrcdh gedhyld, and thaet gedhyld af['a]ndunge, and seo af['a]ndung hiht. Se hiht sodhlice ne bidh naefre gescynd, fordhan the Godes lufu is ag['o]ten on urum heortum thurh dhone Halgan Gast, sedhe us is forg['i]fen. Be thisum cwaedh se apostol Iacobus, "Eala ge mine gebrodhra, wenadh eow aelcere blisse, thonne ge beodh on mislicum costnungum, fordhan the seo af['a]ndung eowres geleafan is miccle deorwurdhre thonne gold the bidh dhurh fyr af['a]ndod." Eft cwydh thaet halige gewrit, "Laemene fatu beodh on ofne af['a]ndode, and rihtwise menn on gedrefednysse heora costnunge." Be thisum cwaedh eac se Haelend on odhre {556} stowe to his leorning-cnihtum, "Gif dhes middangeard eow hatadh, wite ge thaet h['e] me hatode ['ae]r eow; and gif h['i] min ehton, thonne ehtadh hi eac eower." Crist sylf waes fram arleasum mannum acweald, and swa eac his leorning-cnihtas and martyras; and ealle dha dhe gewilniadh arfaestlice to drohtnigenne on geleaffulre geladhunge, h['i] sceolon ehtnysse dholian, odhdhe fram ungesewenlicum deofle odhdhe fram gesewenlicum arleasum deofles limum: ac thas hwilwendlican ehtnyssa oththe gedrefednyssa we sceolon mid gefean for Cristes naman gedhafian, fordhan dhe he thus behet eallum gedhyldigum, "Blissiadh and faegniadh, efne eower m['e]d is menigfeald on heofonum."

We mihton dhas halgan raedinge menigfealdlicor trahtnian, aefter Augustines smeagunge, ac us twynadh hwaedher ge magon maran deopnysse dhaeron thearflice tocnawan; ac uton biddan mid inweardre heortan thone Aelmihtigan Wealdend, sedhe ['u]s mid menigfealdre maersunge ealra his halgena nu to-daeg geblissode, thaet he us getidhige genihtsumnysse his miltsunge thurh heora menigfealdan thingraedena, thaet we on ['e]cere gesihdhe mid him blission, swa swa we nu mid hwilwendlicere thenunge h['i] wurdhiadh.

Sy wuldor and l['o]f Haelendum Criste, sedhe is anginn and ende, Scyppend and Alysend ealra halgena, mid Faeder and mid Halgum Gaste, ['a] on ecnysse. Amen.

NOVEMBER I.

THE NATIVITY OF ALL SAINTS.

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."

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 {541} 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.