This is that most faithful shepherd which by many and divers labours and travails over steep hills and through headlong and deep valleys did search for his own sheep that was strayed away, which also when he had found it faint and almost dead through long wandering, gat him self under it with great rejoicing, and making it fast unto him with a marvellous bond of ⟨image 65⟩charity, lifted it up out of the depth of confusion and brought it home to the ninety and nine. Behold (O Lord) my king and God almighty, behold a good shepherd, which rendereth to thee, that which thou committed to his charge. He took upon him through thine ordinance to save man, whom he hath delivered unto the clean and pure from all spots through the washing in his blood. Lo thy most dearly beloved son hath reconciled unto thee thy handy work, which was gone astray far out of the way. Lo a gentle shepherd bringeth again to thy flock, him that the ⟨p. 64⟩violent pirate & robber had driven away. He hath brought unto thy sight, the servant whom his own conscience had made to run away, that he which by him self had deserved punishment, by thy Son being his solicitor hath deserved forgiveness, unto whom also for his offences everlasting fire was due: nevertheless being a soldier under such a captain, he doth hope to be brought home to his own country. I was able (O holy Father) by my self to offend thee, but I was not able of my self to pacify and appease thee. Thy well beloved Son (O my God) was made my helper, ⟨image 66⟩by taking upon him mine humanity, to the intent he might cure mine infirmity, that whereof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring: of the same, he might offer up to thee a Sacrifice of praise. And that he might render & make me also well pleasing to to thy goodness by that thing, in the which he sitting now on thy right hand, did always show & declare him self to be equal with my substance, & as it were fellow with the same. Lo my hope, behold, in whom is all my trust. If thou despise me (as it were right) for mine iniquity: yet look upon me (at the least wise) mercifully ⟨p. 65⟩for the charity of thy beloved son. Give heed to thy Son, whereby thou mayest have mercy upon thy bond servant. Look upon the sacrament of flesh: & pardon the offences of flesh. How oft so ever thou dost remember the wounds of thy blessed Son: so oft (I beseech thee) let mine in iquities be hid.
This is that moste faithfull shepherd whiche by mani and diuers labours and trauailes ouer steep hilles and thorow hedlong and deepe valies did serche for his owne sheep that was straide away, whiche also when he had founde it faint and allmoste dead thorow long wanderyng, gat him self vnder it with greate reioising, and making it faste vnto him with a merueilous bonde of ⟨image 65⟩charitie, lifted it vp out of the depth of confusion and brought it home to the nintie and nine. Behold (O Lorde) my king and God almighty, beholde a good shepherd, whiche rēdreth to thee, that whiche thou committed to his charge. He tooke vpon him thorow thine ordinaūce to saue man, whō he hath deliuered vnto the cleane and pure from all spots thorow the washing in his bloud. Loe thy most deerly beloued sonne hathe reconciled vnto thee thy hādy wurk, whiche was gon astray far out of the way. Lo a gentle shepherd bringeth again to thy flock, him that the ⟨p. 64⟩violent pirate & robber had driuen away. He hath brought vnto thy sight, ye seruaunt whō his owne conscience had made to rū away, that he which by him self had deserued punishmēt, by thy sonne being his sollicitour hath deserued forgeuenes, vnto whō also for his offences euerlasting fier was due: neuertheles being a souldiour vnder suche a captain, he doth hope to be brought home to his owne countrey. I was able (O holy Father) by my self to offēd thee, but I was not able of my self to pacify and appese thee. Thy welbeloued sōne (O my God) was made my helper, ⟨image 66⟩by taking vpon him mine humanitie, to ye intent he might cure mine infirmitie, that wherof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring: of the same, he might offer vp to thee a Sacrifice of praise. And that he might rēdre & make me also well pleasing to to thy goodnes by that thing, in the which he sitting now on thy right hand, did alwayes shew & declare him self to be equal with my substance, & as it wer felow with the same. Lo my hope, behold, in whom is all my trust. If thou despise me (as it wer right) for mine iniquitie: yet look vpō me (at the least wise) mercifully ⟨p. 65⟩for the charitie of thy beloued sonne. Geue heed to thy sonne, wherby thou maist haue mercy vpō thy bond seruant. Look vppon the sacrament of flesh: & pardon the offences of flesh. How oft so euer thou doost remember the woundes of thy blessed sōne: so oft (I beseche thee) let mine in iquities be hid.
