Here, then, is an answer to your former objection—that it is folly to think that our future actions and events are the causes of the prescience of God. ¶ and her by is assoiled þilke þing þat þou [5192]
puttest a litel her byforne. þat is to seyne þat it is vnworþi
þinge to seyn þat oure futures ȝeuen cause of þe
science of god For the Divine mind, embracing and comprehending all things by a present knowledge, plans and directs all things and is not dependent upon futurity. [* fol. 41 b.] ¶ For certys *þis strengþe of þe deuyne
science whiche þat enbraceþ alle þinge by his presentarie [5196]
knowynge establisseþ manere to alle þingus and it
ne awiþ nat to lattere þinges. Since no necessity is imposed upon things by the Divine prescience, there remains to men an inviolable freedom of will. and syn þat þise þinges
ben þus. þat is to seyn syn þat necessite nis nat in
þinges by þe deuyne prescience. þan is þer fredom of [5200]
arbitre. þat dwelleþ hool and vnwemmed to mortal men.
And those laws are just which assign rewards and punishments to men possessing free-will. ne þe lawes ne purpose nat wikkedly meedes and peynes
to þe willynges of men þat ben vnbounde and quit of
alle necessite.
Moreover, God, who sits on high, foreknows all things, and the eternal presence of his knowledge concurs with the future quality of our actions, dispensing rewards to good and punishments to evil men. ¶ And god byholder and forwiter of [5204]
alle þinges dwelliþ aboue and þe present eternite of hys
syȝt renneþ alwey wiþ þe dyuerse qualite of oure dedes
dispensyng and ordeynynge medes to good[e] men. and
tourmentȝ to wicked men. Nor are our hopes and prayers reposed in, and addressed to God in vain, which when they are sincere cannot be inefficacious nor unsuccessful. ne in ydel ne in veyn ne ben [5208]
þer nat put in god hope and prayeres. þat ne mowen
nat ben vnspedful ne wiþ oute effect whan þei ben ryȝtful
Resist and turn from vice—honour and love virtue, exalt your mind to God (the truest hope), offer up your prayers with humility. ¶ wiþstond þan and eschewe þou vices. worshippe
and loue þou vertus. areise þi corage to ryȝtful hoopes. [5212]
ȝelde þou humble preiers an heyȝe. If you are sincere you will feel that you are under an obligation to lead a good and virtuous life, inasmuch as all your actions and works are done in the presence of an all-discerning Judge. grete necessite of
prowesse and vertue is encharged and comaunded to
ȝow yif ȝe nil nat dissimulen. ¶ Syn þat ȝe worchen
and doon. þat is to seyn ȝoure dedes and ȝoure workes [5216]
by-fore þe eyen of þe Iuge þat seeþ and demeþ alle
þinges. [To whom be goye and worshipe bi Infynyt
tymes / AMEN.]
EXPLICIT LIBER QUINTUS. ET VLTIMUS.
4977 al þinge—alle thinges
4979 moche—mochel
4980 loken—loke
whiche—which
4981 [ek]—from C.
4987 clerely—cleerly
4989 al—alle