The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church Part 3

The youth then, Stacteus, who had risen from death, together with the brothers, prostrated himself in the footsteps of John, and the people with them, all unanimously praying that he would intercede with G.o.d for them.

The apostle then commanded the two brothers that they for thirty days in penitence should sacrifice to G.o.d by penance, and in that s.p.a.ce should earnestly pray that the golden rods might be turned again to their former nature, and the gems to their worthlessness. After thirty days' s.p.a.ce, when they could not by their prayers restore the gold and the gems to their nature, they came with weeping to the apostle, thus saying, "Ever hast thou taught mercy, and that one should have mercy on another; and if one have mercy on another, how much more will G.o.d show mercy to and pity men, his handiwork! The sin which we have committed with covetous eyes, we now with weeping eyes repent." Then answered the apostle, "Bear the rods to the wood, and the stones to the sea-strand: they shall be restored to their nature." When they had done this they again received G.o.d's grace, so that they drove out devils, and healed the blind and the sick, and performed many miracles, in the Lord's name, as they before had done.

The apostle then converted to G.o.d all the country of Asia, which is accounted the half part of the world; and wrote the {71} fourth book of Christ, which treats most of Christ's divinity. The other three evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, wrote rather of Christ's human state.

Then there sprung up heretics in G.o.d's church, who said that Christ was not before he was born of Mary. Thereupon all the diocesan bishops besought the holy apostle to compose the fourth book, and extinguish the audacity of the heretics. John then ordered a general fast of three days; and after the fast he was so greatly filled with the spirit of G.o.d, that he excelled all G.o.d's angels and all creatures with his exalted mind, and began the evangelical memorial with these words, "In principio erat verb.u.m," etc., that is in English, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with G.o.d, and the word was G.o.d; this was in the beginning with G.o.d; all things are made through him, and without him nothing is created." And so forth, in all the evangelical memorial, he made known many things concerning Christ's divinity, how he eternally without beginning was begotten of his Father, and reigneth with him in unity of the Holy Ghost, ever without end. He wrote few things of his human nature, because the three other evangelists had composed their books abundantly concerning that.

It happened at a certain time, that the idolaters, who were yet unbelieving, said that they would force the apostle to their heathenship: whereupon the apostle said to the idolaters, "Go all together to G.o.d's church, and call all of you to your G.o.ds that, through their might, the church may fall down; then will I turn to your heathenship. But if the power of your G.o.d may not cast down the holy church, I will cast down your temple, through the might of the Almighty G.o.d, and I will crush your idol; and it shall then seem right that ye cease from your error, and believe in the true G.o.d, who alone is Almighty." The idolaters a.s.sented to this proposal, and John with kind words exhorted the people to go out from the devil's temple; and with clear voice cried {73} before them all, "In the name of G.o.d let this temple fall down with all the idols that dwell within it, that this mult.i.tude may know that this idolatry is the worship of the devil." Behold then, the temple fell suddenly to the ground, with all its idols turned to dust. On that same day twelve thousand heathens were turned to belief in Christ, and hallowed with baptism.

But the chief idolater still refused with great perverseness, and said that he would not believe unless John drank poison, and through G.o.d's might overcame the deadly drink. Then said the apostle, "Though thou give me poison, through G.o.d's name it shall not hurt me." Then said the idolater Aristodemus, "Thou shalt first see another drink it, and instantly die, that so at least thy heart may fear the death-bearing drink." John answered him, "If thou wilt believe in G.o.d, I will fearless receive this drink."

Then Aristodemus went to the prefect, and took from his prison two thieves, and gave them the poison before all the people, in the presence of John; and they immediately after the drink died. Then the idolater gave the venomous drink also to the apostle, and he having armed his mouth and all his body with the sign of the rood, and exorcised the poison in G.o.d's name, with bold heart drank it all. Aristodemus then and the people beheld the apostle three hours of the day, and saw him having a glad countenance, without paleness and fear: and they all cried, "There is one true G.o.d, whom John worshippeth." Then said the idolater to the apostle, "Yet I doubt; but if thou, in the name of thy G.o.d, wilt raise up these dead thieves, then will my heart be cleansed from every doubt." Then said John, "Aristodemus, take my tunic, and lay it on the corpses of the dead men, and say, 'The apostle of Jesus Christ hath sent me to you, that ye in his name may arise from death, and that every man may know that death and life minister to my Saviour.'" He {75} then, at the apostle's command, bare his tunic, and laid it on the two dead ones, and they forthwith rose up whole. When the idolater saw that, he prostrated himself at the feet of John, and then went to the prefect, and announced to him those miracles with a loud voice. Then they both sought the apostle, praying for his compa.s.sion: whereupon the apostle enjoined them a fast of seven days, and afterwards baptized them; and after their baptism they cast down all their idols, and with the aid of their kinsmen, and with all art, raised a great church to G.o.d in honour of the apostle.

When the apostle was ninety-nine years old the Lord Christ appeared to him with the other apostles, whom he had taken from this life, and said, "John, come to me; it is time that thou with thy brethren shouldst feast at my banquet." John then arose, and went towards Jesus. But he said to him, "Lo, on Sunday, the day of my resurrection, thou shalt come to me:" and after those words the Lord returned to heaven. The apostle greatly rejoiced in that promise, and at sunrise early rising came to the church, and from c.o.c.k-crowing until the third hour, taught G.o.d's law, and sang ma.s.s to them, and said, that the Saviour had called him to heaven on that day. He then ordered his grave to be dug opposite the altar, and the dust to be removed; and he went quick and whole into his grave, and with outstretched hands cried to G.o.d, "Lord Christ, I thank thee that thou hast invited me to thy banquet: thou knowest that with all my heart I have desired thee. Oft have I prayed thee that I might go to thee, but thou saidst that I should abide, that I might gain more people to thee. Thou hast preserved my body against every pollution, and thou hast ever illumined my soul, and hast nowhere forsaken me. Thou hast set in my mouth the word of thy truth, and I have written down the lore which I heard from thy mouth, and the wonders which I saw thee work. Now I commit to thee, Lord! thy {77} children, those which thy church, maiden and mother, through water and the Holy Ghost have gained to thee. Receive me to my brothers with whom thou camest and invitedst me.

Open towards me the gate of life, that the princes of darkness may not find me. Thou art Christ, Son of the living G.o.d, who, at thy Father's behest, hast saved the world, and hast sent us the Holy Ghost. Thee we praise and thank for thy manifold benefits throughout the world eternal. Amen."

After this prayer a heavenly light appeared above the apostle, within the grave, shining for an hour so bright, that no man's sight might look on the rays of light; and with that light he gave up his spirit to the Lord, who had invited him to his kingdom. He departed as joyfully from the pain of death, from this present life, as he was exempt from bodily defilement.

Verily his grave was afterwards found filled with manna. Manna the heavenly meat was called which for forty years fed the people of Israel in the wilderness. Now this food was found in the grave of John, and nothing else, and the meat is growing in it to this present day. Many miracles have there been manifested, and sick healed, and released from all calamities through the apostle's intercession. This hath the Lord Christ granted unto him, to whom is glory and honour with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever without end. Amen.

V. K[=L]. JAN.

NATALE INNOCENTIUM INFANTUM.

Nu to-daeg G.o.des gelaung geond ealne ymbhwyrft maersa aera eadigra cildra freols-tide, e se waelhreowa Herodes for Cristes acennednysse mid arleasre ehtnysse acwealde, swa swa us seo G.o.dspellice racu swutellice cy.

{78} Matheus awrat, on aere forman Cristes bec, ysum wordum be aes Haelendes gebyrd-tide, and cwae, "aa se Haelend acenned waes on aere Iudeiscan Bethleem, on Herodes dagum cyninges, efne a comon fram east-daele middangeardes ry tungel-witegan to aere byrig Hierusalem, us befrinende, Hwaer is Iudeiscra leoda Cyning, see acenned is? We gesawon solice his steorran on east-d?le, and we comon to i aet we us to him gebiddon. Hwaet a Herodes cyning is gehyrende wear micclum astyred, and eal s...o...b..rhwaru samod mid him. He a gesamnode ealle a ealdor-biscopas, and aes folces boceras, and befran hwaer Cristes cenningstow waere. Hi saedon, on aere Iudeiscan Bethleem. us solice is awriten urh one witegan Micheam, Eala u Bethleem, Iudeisc land, ne eart u nateshwon wacost burga on Iudeisc.u.m ealdrum: of e cym se Heretoga see gewylt and gewissa Israhela folc. a clypode Herodes a ry tungel-witegan on sunder-spraece, and geornlice hi befran to hwilces timan se steorra him aerst aeteowode, and asende hi to Bethleem, us cweende, Fara ardlice, and befrina be am cilde, and onne ge hit gemeta, cya me, aet ic mage me to him gebiddan. a tungel-witegan ferdon aefter aes cyninges spraece, and efne a se steorra, e hi on east-d?le gesawon, glad him beforan, o aet he gestod bufon am gesthuse, aer aet cild on wunode. Hi gesawon one steorran, and earle blissodon.

Eodon a inn, and aet cild gemetton mid Marian his meder, and nierfeallende hi to him geb?don. Hi geopenodon heora hordfatu, and him lac geoffrodon, gold, and recels, and myrram. Hwaet a G.o.d on swefne hi gewarnode and bebead aet hi eft ne cyrdon to an rean cyninge Herode, ac urh oerne weg hine forcyrdon, and swa to heora eele becomon. Efne a G.o.des engel aeteowode Iosepe, aes cildes foster-faeder, on swefnum, cweende, 'Aris, and nim is cild mid aere meder, and fleoh to Egypta lande, and beo aer o aet ic e eft secge: solice toweard is aet Herodes smea hu he aet cild fordo.' Ioseph {80} a aras nihtes, and aet cild mid aere meder samod to Egypta lande ferede, and aer wunode o aet Herodes gewat; aet seo witegung waere gefylled, e be aere fare aer us cwae, Of Egypta lande ic geclypode minne sunu."

Nu secga wyrd-writeras aet Herodes betwux isum wear gewreged to am Romaniscan casere, e ealne middangeard on am timan geweold. a gewende he to Rome, be aes caseres haese, aet he hine betealde, gif he mihte. a betealde he hine swie geaplice, swa swa he waes snotorwyrde to an swie, aet se casere hine mid maran wurmynte ongean to Iudeisc.u.m rice asende.

aa he ham com, a gemunde he hwaet he aer be an cilde gemynte, and geseah aet he waes bepaeht fram am tungel-witegum, and wear a earle gegremod.

Sende a his cwelleras, and ofsloh ealle a hyse-cild, e w?ron on aere byrig Bethleem, and on eallum hyre gemaerum, fram twywintrum cilde to anre nihte, be aere tide e he geaxode aet am tungel-witegum. a waes gefylled Hieremias witegung, e us witeG.o.de, "Stemn is gehyred on heannysse, micel wop and oterung: Rachel beweop hire cildru, and nolde beon gefrefrod, foran e hi ne sind."

On am twelftan daege Cristes acennednysse comon a ry tungel-witegan to Herode, and hine axodon be am acennedan cilde; and aa hi his cenning-stowe geaxodon, a gewendon hi wi aes cildes, and noldon one rean cwellere eft gecyrran, swa swa he het. a ne mihte he forbugan aes caseres haese, and waes a, urh his langsume faer, aera cildra slege geuferod swior onne he gemynt haefde; and hi wurdon a on ysum daegerlic.u.m daege wuldorfullice gemartyrode; na swa-eah aes geares e Crist acenned waes, ac aefter twegra geara ymbryne aefter aes waelhreowan hamcyme.

Naes he aeelboren, ne him naht to am cynecynne ne gebyrode; ac mid syrewungum and swicdome he becom to {82} aere cynelican geince; swa swa Moyses be am awrat, aet ne sceolde ateorian aet Iudeisce cynecynn, oaet Crist sylf come. a com Crist on am timan e seo cynelice maeig ateorode, and se aelfremeda Herodes aes rices geweold. a wear he micclum afyrht and anracode aet his rice feallan sceolde, urh to-cyme aes soan cyninges. a clypode he a tungel-witegan on sunder-spraece, and geornlice hi befran, on hwilcne timan hi aerest one steorran gesawon; foran e he ondred, swa swa hit gelamp, aet hi eft hine ne gecyrdon. a het he fory acwellan ealle a hyse-cild aere burhscire, fram twywintrum cilde o anre nihte: ohte gif he hi ealle ofsloge, aet se an ne aetburste e he sohte. Ac he waes ungemyndig aes halgan gewrites, e cwy, "Nis nan wisdom, ne nan raed naht ongean G.o.d."

Se swicola Herodes cwae to am tungel-witegum, "Fara, and geornlice befrina be am cilde, and cya me, aet ic eac mage me to him gebiddan."

Ac he cydde syan his facenfullan syrewunge, hu he ymbe wolde, gif he hine gemette, aa he ealle his efenealdan adyleG.o.de for his anes ehtnysse.

earflaes he syrwde ymbe Crist: ne com he fory aet he wolde his eorlice rice, oe aeniges ores cyninges mid riccetere him to geteon; ac to i he com aet he wolde his heofenlice rice geleaffullum mannum forgyfan. Ne com he to y aet he waere on maerlic.u.m cynesetle ahafen, ac aet he waere mid hospe on rode hengene genaeglod. He wolde eah aes waelhreowan syrewunge mid fleame forbugan, na fori aet he dea forfluge, see sylfwilles to rowienne middangearde genealaehte; ac hit waere to hraedlic, gif he a on cild-cradole acweald wurde, swilce onne his to-cyme mancynne bediglod waere; i forhradode G.o.des engel aes arleasan geeaht, and bebead aet se foster-faeder one heofenlican aeeling of am earde ardlice ferede.

Ne forseah Crist his geongan cempan, eah e he lichamlice on heora slege andwerd naere; ac he asende hi fram isum {84} wraecfullum life to his ecan rice. Gesaelige hi wurdon geborene aet hi moston for his intingan dea rowian. Eadig is heora yld, seoe a gyt ne mihte Crist andettan, and moste for Criste rowian. Hi waeron aes Haelendes gewitan, eah e hi hine a gyt ne cuon. Naeron hi geripode to slege, ac hi gesaeliglice eah swulton to life. Gesaelig waes heora acennednys, foran e hi gemetton aet ece lif on instaepe aes andweardan lifes. Hi wurdon gegripene fram moderlic.u.m breostum, ac hi wurdon betaehte aerrihte engellic.u.m bosmum. Ne mihte se manfulla ehtere mid nanre enunge am lytlingum swa micclum fremian, swa micclum swa he him fremode mid aere rean ehtnysse hatunge. Hi sind gehatene martyra blostman, foran e hi waeron swa swa up-aspringende blostman on middeweardan cyle ungeleaffulnysse, swilce mid sumere ehtnysse forste forsodene. Eadige sind a innoas e hi gebaeron, and a breost e swylce gesihton. Witodlice a moddru on heora cildra martyrdome rowodon; aet swurd e aera cildra lima urh-arn becom to aera moddra heortan; and neod is aet hi beon efenhlyttan aes ecan edleanes, onne hi waeron geferan aere rowunge. Hi waeron gehwaede and ungewittige acwealde, ac hi arisa on am gemaenelic.u.m dome mid fullum waestme, and heofenlicere snoternysse. Ealle we c.u.ma to anre ylde on am gemaenelic.u.m aeriste, eah e we nu on myslicere ylde of yssere worulde gewiton.

aet G.o.dspel cwe aet Rachel beweop hire cildra, and nolde beon gefrefrod, foran e hi ne sind. Rachel hatte Iacobes wif, aes heahfaederes, and heo getacnode G.o.des gelaunge, e bewyp hire gastlican cild; ac heo nele swa beon gefrefrod, aet hi eft to woruldlic.u.m gecampe gehwyrfon, a e aene mid sygefaestum deae middangeard oferswidon, and his yrma aetwundon to wuldorbeagienne mid Criste.

Eornostlice ne breac se arleasa Herodes his cynerices mid langsumere gesundfulnysse, ac buton yldinge him becom seo {86} G.o.dcundlice wracu, e hine mid menigfealdre yrme fordyde, and eac geswutelode on hwilc.u.m suslum he moste aefter forsie ecelice cwylmian. Hine gelaehte unasecgendlic adl; his lichama barn wiutan mid langsumere haetan, and he eal innan samod forswaeled waes, and toborsten. Him waes metes micel l.u.s.t, ac eah mid nanum aetum his gyfernysse gefyllan ne mihte. He hriode, and egeslice hweos, and angsumlice siccetunga teah, swa aet he earfolice orian mihte.

Waeter-seocnyss hine ofereode, beneoan am gyrdle, to an swie, aet his gesceapu maan weollon, and stincende attor singallice of am toswollenum fotum fleow. Unaberendlic gyha ofereode ealne one lichaman, and ungelyfendlic toblawennys his inno geswencte. Him stod stincende steam of am mue, swa aet earfolice aenig laece him mihte genealaecan. Fela aera laeca he acwealde; cwae aet hi hine gehaelan mihton and noldon. Hine gedrehte singal slaepleast, swa aet he urhwacole niht buton slaepe adreah; and gif he hwon hnappode, aerrihte hine drehton nihtlice gedwimor, swa aet him aes slaepes ofuhte. aa he mid swilic.u.m l.u.s.te his lifes gewilnode, a het he hine ferigan ofer a ea Iordanen, aeraer waeron gehaefde hate bau, e w?ron halwende gecwedene adligendum lichaman. Wear a eac his laec.u.m geuht aet hi on wlac.u.m ele hine gebeedon. Ac aa he waes on issere beunge geled, a wear se lichama eal toslopen, swa aet his eagan wendon on gelicnysse sweltendra manna, and he laeg cwydeleas butan andgite. Eft aa he com, a het he hine ferigan to aere byrig Hiericho.

aa he wear his lifes orwene, a gelaode he him to ealle a Iudeiscan ealdras of gehwilc.u.m burgum, and het hi on cwearterne beclysan, and gelanG.o.de him to his swustur Salome and hire wer Alexandrum, and cwae, "Ic wat aet is Iudeisce folc micclum blissigan wile mines deaes; ac ic maeg habban arwurfulle lic-enunge of heofigendre menigu, gif ge willa minum bebodum gehyrsumian. Swa ricene swa ic gewite, ofslea ealle as Iudeiscan ealdras, e ic on {88} cwearterne beclysde, onne beo heora siblingas to heofunge geneadode, a e wylla mines forsies f.a.gnian." He a his cempan to am slege genamode, and het heora aelc.u.m fiftig scyllinga to sceatte syllan, aet hi heora handa fram am blodes gyte ne wibrudon. aa he mid ormaetre angsumnysse waes gecwylmed, a het he his agenne sunu Antipatrem arleaslice acwellan, to-eacan am twam e he aer acwealde. aet nextan, aa he gefredde his deaes nealaecunge, a het he him his seax araecan to screadigenne aenne aeppel, and hine sylfne hetelice yde, aet him on acwehte.

yllic waes Herodes forsi, e manfullice ymbe aes heofenlican aeelinges to-cyme syrwde, and his efen-ealdan lytlingas unscaeige arleaslice acwealde.

Efne a G.o.des engel, aefter Herodes deae, aeteowode Iosepe on swefnum, on Egypta lande, us cweende, "Aris, and nim aet cild and his moder samod, and gewend ongean to Israhela lande; solice hi sind forfarene, ae ymbe aes cildes feorh syrwdon." He a aras, swa swa se engel him bebead, and ferode aet cild mid aere meder to Israhela lande. a gefran Ioseph aet Archelaus rixode on Iudea lande, aefter his faeder Herode, and ne dorste his neawiste genealaecan. a wear he eft on swefne gemyneG.o.d aet he to Galilea gewende, foran e se eard naes ealles swa gehende am cyninge, eah e hit his rice waere. aet cild a eardode on aere byrig e is gehaten Nazareth, aet seo witegung waere gefylled, e cwae, aet he sceolde beon Nazarenisc geciged. Se engel cwae to Iosepe, "a sind forfarene, e embe aes cildes feorh syrwdon." Mid am worde he geswutelode aet ma aera Iudeiscra ealdra embe Cristes cwale smeadon; ac him getimode swie rihtlice aet hi mid heora arleasan hlaforde ealle forwurdon.

Nelle we as race na leng teon, ylaes e hit eow aeryt ince; ac bidda eow ingunge aet ysum unscaeigum martyrum. Hi sind a e Criste folgia on hwitum gyrlum, {90} swa hwider swa he gae; and hi standa aetforan his rymsetle, butan aelcere gewemmednysse, haebbende heora palmtwigu on handa, and singa one niwan lofsang, am aelmihtigan to wurmynte, see leofa and rixa a butan ende. Amen.

DECEMBER XXVIII.

THE NATIVITY OF THE INNOCENTS.

Now to-day G.o.d's church throughout all the globe celebrates the festival of the blessed children whom the cruel Herod, on account of the birth of Christ, slew in impious persecution, as the evangelical narrative manifestly makes known to us.

{79} Matthew wrote, in the first book of Christ, in these words, of the birth-time of Jesus, and said, "When Jesus was born in the Judaean Bethlehem, in the days of Herod the king, behold there came from the east part of the earth three astrologers to the city of Jerusalem, thus inquiring, Where is the King of the Jewish people, who is born? Verily we saw his star in the east part, and we come in order that we may worship him. Now king Herod hearing this was greatly troubled, and all the citizens together with him. He then a.s.sembled all the chief bishops and scribes of the people, and inquired where the birthplace of Christ might be. They said, In the Judaean Bethlehem. Thus verily it is written by the prophet Micah, Ah thou Bethlehem, Judaean land, thou art in no wise meanest of cities among the Jewish princes: of thee shall come the Ruler who shall rule and govern the people of Israel. Then Herod called the three astrologers in separate discourse, and diligently questioned them at what time the star had first appeared to them, and sent them to Bethlehem, thus saying, Go instantly, and inquire concerning the child, and when ye find it, let me know, that I may worship him. After the king's speech the astrologers went, and lo, the star which they had seen in the east part glided before them, till it stood over the inn in which the child was staying. They saw the star and greatly rejoiced. They then went in, and found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they worshipped him.

They opened their cases of treasure and offered him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Then G.o.d warned them in a dream, and commanded, that they should not return to the cruel king Herod, but should turn through another way, and so come to their own country. Lo, G.o.d's angel appeared to Joseph, the child's foster-father, in a dream, saying, 'Arise, and take this child with the mother, and flee to the land of Egypt, and be there until I speak to thee again: for it will come to pa.s.s that Herod will devise how he may fordo the child.' {81} Joseph then arose by night, and conveyed the child together with the mother to the land of Egypt, and there staid until Herod departed; that the prophecy might be fulfilled which of old thus spake of that journey, From the land of Egypt I have called my son."

Now chroniclers say that in the meanwhile Herod was accused to the Roman emperor, who at that time ruled all the earth. He therefore went, by the emperor's command, to Rome, that he might clear himself, if he could. He cleared himself very cunningly, as he was so sagacious, that the emperor sent him back with great honour to the Jewish kingdom. When he came home he remembered what he had intended concerning the child, and saw that he had been deceived by the astrologers, and was exceedingly irritated. He then sent his executioners, and slew all the male children that were in the city of Bethlehem, and in all its boundaries, from the child of two years to that of one day, according to the time which he had inquired of the astrologers. Then was fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, who thus prophesied, "A voice is heard on high, great weeping and wailing: Rachel wept for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."

On the twelfth day of Christ's birth the three astrologers came to Herod, and informed him concerning the child that was born; and when they had discovered his birthplace, they went to the child, and would not return to the cruel murderer, as he had commanded. He might not then avoid the emperor's command, and, therefore, through his long journey, the slaughter of the children was delayed more than he had intended; and they were on this present day gloriously martyred; not, however, in the year that Christ was born, but after the course of two years after the return of the cruel tyrant.

He was not of n.o.ble birth, nor did he belong to the royal race; but by artifices and deception he attained to the kingly {83} dignity; as Moses wrote concerning him, That the royal Jewish race should not decay until Christ himself came. Now Christ came at the time that the royal family was decayed, and the stranger Herod ruled the kingdom. Then was he greatly afraid and terrified lest his kingdom should fall through the coming of the true king. He called therefore the astrologers in separate converse, and diligently questioned them at what time they first saw the star; for he feared, as it came to pa.s.s, that they would not return to him. He therefore commanded all the children of that district, from the age of two years to that of one day, to be slain, that the one might not escape whom he sought.

But he was unmindful of the holy scripture, which says, "No wisdom nor any counsel is aught against G.o.d."

The treacherous Herod said to the astrologers, "Go, and diligently inquire concerning the child, and let me know, that I may worship him." But he manifested afterwards his guileful artifice, how he would have done, if he had found him, when he destroyed all those of equal age, for the persecution of him alone. Needlessly he machinated against Christ: he came not because he would acquire for himself his earthly kingdom, or any other king's by violence; but he came because he would give his heavenly kingdom to believing men. He came not that he might be exalted on a pompous throne, but that he might with contumely be nailed hanging on a cross.

Nevertheless, he would avoid the machination of the cruel tyrant by flight, not because he fled from death, who of his own will visited the world for the purpose of suffering; but it would have been too early, if he had been slain in the child's cradle, for his advent would then, as it were, be hidden from mankind; G.o.d's angel, therefore, prevented the impious counsel, and bade the foster-father convey the heavenly Prince forthwith from the country.

Christ despised not his young champions, though he was not bodily present at their slaughter; but he sent them from {85} this miserable life to his eternal kingdom. Blessed they were born that they might for his sake suffer death. Happy is their age, which could not yet acknowledge Christ, and might for Christ suffer. They were witnesses of Jesus, though they yet knew him not. They were not ripened for slaughter, yet they blessedly died to life. Blessed was their birth, because they found everlasting life at the entrance of this present life. They were s.n.a.t.c.hed from their mothers'

b.r.e.a.s.t.s, but they were instantly committed to the bosoms of angels. The wicked persecutor could not by any service so greatly favour those little ones, so greatly as he favoured them by the fierce hate of persecution.

They are called blossoms of martyrs, because they were as blossoms springing up in the midst of the chill of infidelity, consumed, as it were, by the frost of persecution. Blessed are the wombs which bare them, and the b.r.e.a.s.t.s that such have sucked. Verily the mothers suffered through their children's martyrdom; the sword that pierced their children's limbs entered the hearts of the mothers, and it is needful that they be partakers of the eternal reward, when they were companions of the suffering. They were slain while little and witless, but they shall arise at the common doom in full growth, and with heavenly wisdom. We shall all come to one age at the common resurrection, although we now in various age depart from this world.

The gospel says, that Rachel wept for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Jacob the patriarch's wife was called Rachel, and she betokened G.o.d's church, which weeps for her ghostly children; but it will not so be comforted, that they again return to temporal strife, who once by a triumphant death have overcome the world, and escaped from its miseries to be crowned with glory with Christ.

But the impious Herod did not enjoy his kingdom in long healthfulness, for without delay the divine vengeance came {87} upon him, which afflicted him with manifold misery, and also manifested in what torments he must after death eternally suffer. An unspeakable disease seized him; his body burned without with a lasting heat, and all within he was inflamed and bursten. He had great craving for food, but yet with no viands could he satisfy his voracity, and fearfully rotted away, and dolefully fetched sighs, so that he could with difficulty breathe. Dropsy came on him, beneath the girdle, to that degree that his members swarmed with vermin, and stinking venom ever flowed from his swollen feet. Unbearable palsies spread over his whole body, and incredible inflation afflicted his entrails. Stinking vapour proceeded from his mouth, so that hardly any leech could approach him. Many of the leeches he slew; he said that they might heal him and would not.

Constant sleeplessness afflicted him, so that he pa.s.sed the whole night without sleep; and if he dozed a little, nightly phantoms immediately tormented him, so that he repented of his sleep. As he with violent longing desired his life, he commanded to be conveyed over the river Jordan, where there were hot baths, which were said to be salutary to diseased bodies. It then seemed good to his leeches that they should bathe him in lukewarm oil.

But when he was led to this bathing, the body was all relaxed, so that his eyes turned to the likeness of dead men's, and he lay speechless, without sense. When he came to, he commanded to be borne to the city of Jericho.

When he was hopeless of life he called to him all the Jewish elders from every city, and ordered them to be confined in prison, and sent for his sister Salome and her husband Alexander, and said, "I know that this Jewish people will greatly rejoice at my death; but I may have an honourable funeral attendance of a mourning mult.i.tude, if ye will obey my commands. As soon as I depart, slay all the Jewish elders whom {89} I have confined in prison, then will their relations be compelled to mourn, who will rejoice at my departure." He then appointed his soldiers to that slaughter, and commanded fifty shillings as reward to be given to each of them, that they might not withdraw their hands from the shedding of blood. When he was tormented with intense agony he wickedly commanded his own son Antipater to be killed, in addition to the two whom he had killed previously. At last, when he was sensible of his death's approach, he commanded them to reach him his knife to shred an apple, and violently stabbed himself, so that it quaked in him. Such was the death of Herod, who wickedly machinated on the coming of the heavenly Prince, and impiously killed the innocent little ones, his equals in age.

Lo, then, G.o.d's angel, after the death of Herod, appeared to Joseph in a dream, in the land of Egypt, thus saying, "Arise, and take the child together with his mother, and go again to the land of Israel; for they are dead, who machinated against the child's life." He then arose, as the angel had commanded him, and conveyed the child with the mother to the land of Israel. Then Joseph learned that Archelaus reigned in Judaea after Herod his father, and he durst not approach his presence. Then again he was admonished in a dream that he should go to Galilee, because the country there was not quite so near to the king, though it was in his kingdom. The child then dwelt in the city which is called Nazareth, that the prophecy might be fulfilled, which said, that he should be called a Nazarene. The angel said to Joseph, "They are dead who machinated against the child's life." With that word he manifested that more of the Jewish elders meditated the slaying of Christ; but it befell them very rightly, that they with their impious lord all perished.

We will not longer extend this narrative, lest it may seem tedious to you, but will pray for the intercession of these innocent martyrs for you. They are those who follow Christ {91} in white garments, whithersoever he goeth; and they stand before his throne, without any impurity, having their palm-twigs in hand, and sing the new hymn in honour of the Almighty, who liveth and ruleth ever without end. Amen.

K[=L]. JA[=N].

OCTABAS ET CIRc.u.mCISIO DOMINI NOSTRI.

Se G.o.dspellere Lucas beleac is daegerlice G.o.dspel mid feawum wordum, ac hit is mid menigfealdre mihte aere heofenlican gerynu afylled. He cwae, "Postquam consummati sunt dies octo ut circ.u.mcideretur puer, uocatum est nomen ejus Iesus, quod uocatum est ab angelo, priusquam in utero conciperetur." aet is on ure geeode, "aefter an e w?ron gefyllede ehta dagas Drihtnes acennednysse aet he ymbsniden waere, a waes his nama geciged Iesus, aet is Haelend, am naman he waes gehaten fram am engle, aeram e he on innoe geeacnod waere."

Abraham se heahfaeder waes aerest manna ymbsniden, be G.o.des haese. Abraham waes G.o.des gespreca, and G.o.d to him genam geoftraedene aefter Noes flode swiost, and him to cwae, "Ic eom aelmihtig Drihten, gang beforan me, and beo fulfremed. And ic sette min wed betwux me and e; and ic e earle gemenigfylde, and u bist manegra eoda faeder. Cyningas aspringa of e, and ic sette min wed betwux me and e, and inum ofspringe aefter e, aet ic beo in G.o.d and ines ofspringes." Abraham hine astrehte eallum limum to eoran, and G.o.d him to cwae, "Heald u min wed, and in ofspring aefter e on heora maegum. is is min wed, aet ge healdan sceolon betwux me and eow; aet aelc hyse-cild on eowrum cynrene beo ymbsniden: aet tacn sy betwux me and eow. aelc hyse-cild, onne hit eahta nihta {92} eald bi, sy ymbsniden, aeger ge aeelboren ge eowetling; and see is forgaei his sawul losa, foran e he min wed adlode. Ne beo u geciged heonon-for Abram, ac Abraham, foran e ic gesette e manegra eoda faeder. Ne in wif ne beo gehaten Sarai, ac beo gehaten Sarra; and ic hi gebletsige, and of hire ic e sylle sunu, one u gecigest Isaac; and ic sette min wed to him and to his ofspringe on ecere faestnunge. And aefter aere spraece se aelmihtiga up gewende." On am ylcan daege waes Abraham ymbsniden, and eal his hyred, and syan his sunu Isaac, on am eahtoan daege his acennednysse.