called two of his disciples, and sent them to Jesus, saying: Art thou he that art to come; or expect we another? 20And when the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us to thee, saying: Art thou he that art to come; or expect we another? 21(And the self same houre, he cured many of maladies, and hurts, and evil Spirits: and to many blinde he gave sight.) 22And answering, he said to them: Goe and report to John what you have heard and seen: εχαρισατο
Esa 35, 5. 61, 1.* That the blind see, the lame walke, the lepers are made cleane, the deafe heare, the dead rise againe, 23 [1] the poore are evangelized: and blessed is he whosoever shal not be scandalized in me.
24 Mt. 11, 7.* And when Johns messengers were departed, he began to say of John to the multitudes: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed moved with the wind? 25But what went you forth to see? a man clothed in [2] soft garments? Behold they that are in costly apparel and delicacies, are in the house of Kings. 26But what went you out for to see? a Prophet? Certes I say to you, and more then a Prophet. 27This is he of whom it is written: Mal. 3, 1.Behold I send mine Angel before thy face, which shal prepare thy way before thee. 28For I say to you: A greater Prophet among the children of women then John the Baptist, there is no man. But he that is the lesser in the Kingdom of God, is greater then he. 29And al the People hearing and the Publicans, justified God, being baptized with Johns Baptisme. 30But the Pharisees and the lawyers [3] despised the counsel of God against them selves, being not baptized of him. 31And our Lord said: Whereunto then shal I liken the men of this Generation, and whereunto are they like? 32They are like to children sitting in the market-place, and speaking one to another, and saying: We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have lamented, and you have not wept. 33For John the Baptist came Mt. 3, 4.* neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say: He hath a Divel. 34The sonne of man came eating and drinking; and you say: Behold a man that is a gurmander and a drinker of wine, a freind of Publicans and sinners. 35And wisedom is justified of al her children.
36And one of the Pharisees desired him to eate with him. And being entred into the house of the Pharisee, he sate downe to meate. 37And behold a woman that was in the citie, a sinner, as she knew that he was set downe in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster boxe of ointment; 38and standing behind beside his feet, she began to [4] water his feet with teares, and wiped them with the haires of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39And the Pharisee that had bid him seeing it, spake within himself, saying: This man if he were a Prophet, would know certes who and what maner of woman she is which toucheth him, that she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. But he said: Maister, say. 41A certaine creditour had two debters; one did owe five hundred pence, and the other fiftie. 42They having not wherewith to pay, he forgave both. Whether therfore doth love him more? 43Simon answering said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave more. But he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly. 44And turning to the woman, he said
- ↑ Pauperes evangelizantur, that is, to the poore the Ghospel is preached, and they receave it.
- ↑ Marke this wel concerning Johns apparel and diet. See the Annotations upon S. Matth. c. 3, 4.
- ↑ As they that contemned Johns Baptisme, despised Gods counsel and wisedom; so much more they that make no account of the Sacraments of the Church, despise Gods counsel and ordinance touching their salvation, to their own damnation.
- ↑ A perfect paterne of true pennance in this woman, who sought of Christ with open teares and other strange works of satisfaction and devotion, remission of her sinnes.
