The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church: Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Ælfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I.Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Religion
The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church: Containing the Sermones Catholici, or Homilies of Ælfric, in the Original Anglo-Saxon, with an English Version. Volume I.
Aelfric, Abbot of Eynsham
Sermons, English (Old)
We will speak concerning the resurrection. Now there are some men who have
doubt of the resurrection, and when they see the bones of dead men, they
say, How can these bones be again quickened? as if they speak wisely! But
we say against them, that God is Almighty, and can do all that he will. He
wrought heaven and earth and all creatures without matter. Now it seems
that it is somewhat easier to him to raise the dead from the dust, than it
was to him to make all creatures from naught: but truly to him are all
things alike easy, and nothing difficult. He wrought Adam of loam. Now we
cannot investigate how of that loam he made flesh and blood, bones and
skin, hair and nails. Men often see that of one little kernel comes a great
tree, but in the kernel we can see neither root, nor rind, nor boughs, nor
leaves: but the same God who draws forth from the kernel tree, and fruits,
and leaves, may from dust raise flesh and bones, sinews and hair, as he
said in his gospel, "There shall not be lost to you one hair of your head."
The apostle Paul said, that we should arise from death at the age that
Christ was when he suffered, that is about three and thirty years. Though a
child depart, or a worn-out man, they will, nevertheless, come to the age
we before said; yet will everyone have his own growth, which he had in this
life, or should have had, if he had awaited it. If any one be maimed, or
limbless in this life, he will be as it is written, that "All those who
belong to God's kingdom, shall have neither blemish nor hurt on their
bodies." What shall we suppose concerning those others who depart to
everlasting perdition, whether they are maimed or limbless, when they are
dwelling in eternal torment?
It will then be as Christ said, that "No man taketh to {239} wife, nor
woman to husband, nor family is begotten, nor taste they of death, but will
be like unto the angels, when they dwell with angels." No libidinousness
will give them pleasure, nor will they ever perpetrate sins. No sorrow nor
pain will be there, nor no affliction, but there will be perfect peace and
continual bliss, and there will be known both those who were known before
and those who were unknown, dwelling in brotherly love with God ever to
eternity. Amen.
* * * * *
DOMINICA II. POST PASCA.
Dixit Iesus discipulis suis, Ego sum pastor bonus: et reliqua.
Þis godspel, þe nú geræd wæs, cwyð, þæt se Hælend cwæde be him sylfum, "Ic
eom gód hyrde: se góda hyrde sylð his agen líf for his sceapum. Se hyra,
seðe nis riht hyrde, he gesihð þone wulf cuman, and he forlæt ða scép and
flyhð; and se wulf sum gelæcð and ða oðre tostencð," et reliqua.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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