_Jhesus._ Now, alle mankende, exaumple take By these grete werkys that thou dost se, How that the devylle of helle so blake In synne was besy to tempte me; ffor alle hise maystryes that he dyd make, He is overcom and now doth ffle; Alle this I suffyr ffor mannys sake, To teche the how thou xalt rewle the, Whan the devylle dothe the assayle. Loke thou concente nevyr to synne, For no sleytys, ne for no gynne, And than the victory xalt thou wynne, The devyl xal lesyn alle his travayl. To suffyr temptacion it is grett peyn, If thou withstonde it thou wynnyst grett mede, Of God the more grace thou hast serteyn, If thou with-sett the devyl in his dede. Thow that the fende tempt the ageyn, Of his power take thou no drede; ffor God hath the ȝovyn bothe myght and mayn, Hym for to with-sytt evyr at nede, Thou hast more myght than he. Whan the devyl doth tempte the thoo, Shewe thi myght aȝens thi ffoo, Whan thi sowle partyth the froo, In blysse than xal it be. _Amen!_ XXIII. THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY. _Hic de muliere in adulterio deprehensa._ _Jhesus._ Nolo mortem peccatoris! Man for thi synne take repentaunce, If thou amende that is amys, Than hevyn xal be thin herytaunce; Thow thou have don aȝens God grevauns, ȝett mercy to haske loke thou be bolde, His mercy doth passe in trewe balauns, Alle cruel jugement be many folde. Thow that ȝour synnys be nevyr so grett, ffor hem be sad and aske mercy; Sone of my ffadyr grace ȝe may gett, With the leste teer wepynge owte of ȝour ey. My ffadyr me sent the, man, to bye, Alle thi raunsom mysylfe must pay; ffor love of the mysylfe wyl dye, Iff thou aske mercy, I sey nevyr nay. Into the erthe ffrom hevyn above, Thi sorwe to sese and joy to restore, Man, I cam down, alle ffor thi love, — Love me ageyn, I aske no more! Thow thou myshappe and synne ful sore, ȝit turne aȝen and mercy crave; It is thi fawte and thou be lore, Haske thou mercy and thou xalt have. Uppon thi neybore be not vengabyl, Ageyn the lawe if he offende; Lyke as he is, thou art unstabyl, Thyn owyn frelté evyr thou attende. Evermore thi neybore helpe to amende, Evyn as thou woldyst he xulde the; Ageyn hym wrathe if thou accende, The same in happ wylle falle on the. Eche man to othyr be mercyable, And mercy he xal have at nede; What man of mercy is not tretable, Whan he askythe mercy he xal not spede. Mercy to graunt I com indede; Whoso aske mercy he xal have grace; Lett no man dowte for his mysdede, But evyr aske mercy, whyl he hath space.