Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/167

158 GREGORY'S PASTORAL. [Cotton MSS. flæsclicum gecynde oððe of wacmodnesse & of unbieldo oððe of untrymnesse modes oððe lichoman. Forðam is swiðe micel niedðearf ðæt mon mid micelre gemetgunge swelcra scylda ðreaunga geliðigie & gemetgige, forðonþe we ealle, þa hwile þe we libbað on ðissum deadlican flæsce, ðære tidernesse & ðære hnesenesse ures flæsces we bioð underðidde. Be him selfum sceal ælc mon geðenccan hu he oðrum deman wille, ðylæs he sie ongieten ðæt he sie onstyred & onæled mid ðæm andan his hieremonna unðeawa, & hæbbe hiene selfne forgietenne. Be ðæm swiðe wel Paulus us manode, þa he cwæð: Gif hwa sie abisgod mid hwelcum scyldum, ge ðonne þe gastlice sindon gelærað ða swelcan mid manðwærnesse gaste ; gesceawiað eow selfe, ðylæs eow becyme costnung. Swelce he openlice cwæde: Ðonne eow misliciað þa medtrymnessa þe ge on oðrum monnum gesiod, ðonne geðence ge hwæt ge sien & hwelce ge sien ; forðæm ðæt ge eower mod gemetgien on ðæm niðe, ðonne ge eow selfum ondrædað ðæt ðæt ge on oðrum monnum tælað. Ond ðeah sindon monige swiðe swiðe to ðreageanne, ðonne hie selfe nyllað ongietan hiera scylda, ðæt hie ðonne gehieren ðreagende of ðæs lare(o)wes muðe hu micle byrðenne hie habbað on hiera scyldrum [scyldum]; ðonne hie willað him selfum ðæt yfel ðæt hie ðurhtugon to swiðe gelihtan, ðæt hie ðonne ondræden for ðæs lareowes ðreaunge ðæt hie hit him gehefgien. Đæt ðonne bið ðæs recceres ryht ðæt he ðurh ða stemne his lareowdomes ætiewe ðæt wuldor ðæs uplican eðles, & hu monega digla costunga ðæs ealdan feondes lutigeað on ðys andweardun life he eac geopenige, ond ðæt he his hieremonna yflu to hnesclice forberan ne sceal, ac mid miclum

or timidity, or weakness of mind or body. Therefore it is very neces- sary that the chiding of such sins be tempered and regulated with great moderation, because we all, while we live in this mortal flesh, are subject to the weakness and frailty of our flesh. Let every man consider from his own circumstances how he will judge others, lest it be known that he is excited and inflamed with indignation at the vices of his subjects, and has forgotten himself. Therefore Paul admonished us very well, saying: “If any one be afflicted with any sins, ye who are spiritual instruct such ones with the spirit of humanity; contemplate yourselves, lest temptation assail you.” As if he had openly said: “When ye are offended at the weaknesses which