OF ÞE ZOÞE GUODES.
Nou ich þe habbe ssortliche yssewed / huyche byeþ þe lyttle*. [MS. lyltle] guodes / and þe midel guodes: nou ich þe wylle ssewy huet ys þe zoþe guod ariȝt: þet makeþ þan þet hise heþ: guod. and wyþ-oute ham: non ne wes neure ariȝt guod. Þet guod me clepeþ: godes grace. and uirtue. and charité. Grace: uor þet he yaf / helþe. and lyf. and zaule. uor wyþ-oute þise guodes: þe zaule is dyead. Vor ase þet body is dyead wyþoute zaule : alzuo is þe zaule: wyþoute godes grace. Hy is ycleped uirtue : uor þet hy worþssipeþ þe zaule myd guode workes / and mid guode þewes. Hy is ycleped charité: uor þet hy ioyneþ þe zaule to god. uor charité ne is non oþer þing: þanne dyere onhede. þet is þe ende / þet is þe perfeccion / and þe guodhedde / huer-to we ssolle ous draȝe. Moche weren þe egypciens deceyued. þet is to zigge / þe yealde filozofes þet zuo byzylyche desputede / Page 80and zoȝten huet wes þe heȝeste guod ine þise lyue. ne neure ne myȝten hit vynde. Vor zome hit zette ine loste of ulesse. þe oþre: ine richesses. and oþre / ine oneste lyf. Ac þe greate filozofe saynte pawel. þet wes ynome in to þe þridde heuene / and pasede alle þe oþre filozofes / ous proueþ be uele skeles. þet þe heȝeste guod ine þise lyue : ys þe kuen of uirtues dame charité. Vor he zayþ wyþ-oute hire: non oþer guod / ne is worþ. and huo þet þis heþ: he heþ alle þe oþre. and huanne alle þe oþre guodes fayleþ : þis ne faleþ naȝt. and aboue alle þe oþre greate guodes þet byeþ : þys is þe lheuedy. Þanne is þis þet gratteste guod: þet is onder heuene.