Cam/StJo/G.22
NAME
G.22.
DESCRIPTION
Parchment; iii + 112 + iii; 209 x 137; fifteenth century (first half).
CONTENTS
ff. 1r–78v: Set of Wycliffite-derived sermons on the Sunday Gospels from the First to the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity; ff. 79r–112v: Set 1 (on the Sunday Gospels) of the Wycliffite Sermons (IPMEP 304), beginning imperfectly with the Second Sunday after the Octave of the Epiphany (equating with Hudson and Gradon 1983–96, I, Sermon 33/60) and ending incompletely with Trinity Sunday (equating with Hudson and Gradon 1983–96, I, Sermon 54/31).
PARALLEL TRADITIONS
For the sermons on the Sunday Gospels, which also occur in Cam/Add 5338, ff. [1r]–67r, and Dub/Trinity/241, see Dub/Trinity/241. For the Wycliffite Sermons see BL/Add 40672.
COMMENTS
There is frequent seventeenth-century annotation in the manuscript, especially in the first cycle of sermons, which demonstrates an engaged reading of the text. The front pastedown shows that the manuscript was given to St John's College by [John] Gent, rector of Birdbrook in Essex, who gained a BA in 1625/6 and his MA in 1629.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
James 1913:226; Hudson and Gradon 1983–96:I, 78–79.
Sermon Description: Cam/StJo/G.22/002
OCCASION
Second Sunday after Trinity.
HEADING/TITLE
Dominica ii post trinitatem euangelium. Luce 14.
THEME
Homo quidam fecit cenam magnam et vocauit multos [Lc 14:16 (L)].
LENGTH
3r–5v.
INCIPIT
Homo quidam fecit cenam magnam et vocauit multos. Crist seide to his disciplis a parable and seide žese wordis in his gospel, as Luk witnessež, žat žere was a man žat made a gret soper and clepid žerto many men. And žis lord sente his seruaunt atte hour of soper to seyn to hem žat were boden to his soper žat žei comen for now all žingis be made redi. And že gospel seiž žat all žo žat were boden to že soper begonne all togidre to excuse hem. Že first seide to že seruaunt of že lord, 'I haue bou3t a toun; I haue nede to gon out and sen it. I beseke to že haue me excusid.'
EXPLICIT
That is to seyne, as seiž Crist, '3e žat han folwid me, whan mannes sone schal sitte in že see of his maieste, 3e schul sitte with him iuggynge že xii kynredis of Israel', žat is, al že peple of že world. And as oure beleeue techith vs, alle žo žat dei3en in deedly synne withouten repentaunce schul be dampned vnto že euerelastynge fier of helle, and žo žat dei3en in verteuous lyuynge to že liif withouten ende. To že whiche liif withouten ende Crist vs mote bryngen. Amen.
SUMMARY
[The gospel of Lc 14:16–24, the parable of the lord hosting a supper, is given in English.] [3v] The host signifies Christ and his supper is called a 'gret soper' for four reasons: the host is a great lord; a great number of people are invited; precious food will be served; it will last forever. As supper is the last meal of the day, those who eat Christ's supper will not need any more food.
The servant sent to summon the lord's guests [4r] signifies the preachers of God's word. They should tell the people how to keep God's commandments and avoid worldly covetousness and fleshly lust in order to be ready to come to Christ's supper. The three guests who excused themselves from the supper signify three types of sin which prevent people from coming to the heavenly supper. The first excused himself because he had bought an estate, signifying the proud who occupy themselves with worldly affairs. The second excused himself because he had bought five yoke of oxen, signifying [4v] the worldly goods by which people are yoked to the devil. All goods ultimately come from God but the devil makes use of them to damn people; those who obtain goods unjustly obtain them from the devil. One should not love worldly goods so much that one despises God who made the world and its goods; one should possess only what is necessary. The third guest excused himself because he had recently married, signifying those who are overcome by sins of the flesh, gluttony and lust. They refuse to abandon their sins, signified by the new bride. [5r]
The lord was angry at his guests' refusals and sent his servant to summon the feeble, the blind, and the lame, signifying those people Christians should help with alms. They should not give anything to 'stronge beggeris' who are capable of earning a living but beg contrary to God's will. Having been summoned twice, all those ordained by God will be in heaven but there will be a third summons. God will compel the clergy to do their duty and preach to the people; [5v] if they do not, they are traitors to God. Those who have worldly power should compel both priests and people through fear to keep God's law. All Christians who think themselves safe should remember that the proud, avaricious, gluttonous, and lecherous cannot enter heaven. Those who follow Christ will sit in judgement with him.
BIBLICAL CITATIONS
Lc 14:16 (L); Lc 14:16–24; Col 3:11; Io 6:35; I Tim 4:12; I Io 2:15; I Tim 6:9; I Tim 6:10; I Tim 6:8; Ps 61:11; II Thes 3:12; Lc 19:40; I Cor 6:9–10; Mt 22:13; Mt 19:28 (L).
CONCEPTS
Sin; Friars; Salvation; Preaching.
