Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/395

 because He  hath  given  us  our  own  choice.

He gave  a  most  stedfast  gift  and  a  most  stedfast  law

together with  that  gift,  to  every  man  until  his  end,  both  to  poor and  rich.

This is  the  gift,  that  a  man  may  do  what  he  will,

and this  is  the  law,  that  God  recompenseth  to  every  man  according to  his  works,

both in  this  world,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come,

whether good  or  evil,  whichsoever  he  practiseth.

Now if  any  man  should  wonder  why  God  willed

to give  to  evil  men  their  own  freedom,

when He  knoweth  beforehand,  that  they  will  do  evil:

then say  we,  that  it  becometh  not  any  rich  king,

that they  all  should  be  slaves  who  have  to  serve  him,

and that  there  should  not  be  one  free  man  in  his  dominion.

So likewise  it  befitted  not  the  Almighty  Lord,

that in  all  His  kingdom  there  should  not  be  any  creature

who should  not  be  strictly  compelled  in  doing  service.

Now our  freedom  ever  needeth  God's  assistance,

because we  can  do  no  good  thing  without  God's  help;

may He  ever  guide  us  in  this  world,

and bring  us  through  Himself  to  the  eternal  life,

even as  He  promised  to  all  them  that  love  Him.

To Him  be  praise  and  glory  for  ever  and  ever. Amen.