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By mdrout, on August 29th, 2007% I have heard that far away there is the most beautiful of lands, but no powerful man may reach it because of God’s will. All the place is beautiful: green woodlands, many rivers, no rain nor snow nor frost nor fire nor hail nor rime nor heat nor cold, but everything is perfect. The land is covered with blossoms.
The land, wise men tell us, is twelve fathoms higher than the highest mountains.
The wood is filled with leaves in all seasons that never wither. When the flood came to the rest of the world, this land was unscathed and it will remain perfect even after the judgment and the fire and the opening of the tombs of mortals.
There are no enemies or suffering or weeping, no disease or death or losing of life, no hail or frost nor rain, but there are beautiful streams. Twelve times at the command of God the streams flow through the land. The leaves and flowers never fall and beautiful smells linger there always. This will never be changed until God decides to end this work.
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By mdrout, on August 28th, 2007% The youths then proclaim that God should be praised, and bless him according to all creation, heat and cold, light and darkness, fish and birds, etc., etc.
Nebuchadnezzar notes that whereas they had put three men into the furnace, there are now four there; he concludes that one is an angel. Nebuchadnezzar goes near to the furnace and commands the youths to come to him. They do so, and he sees that they are completely unharmed by the fire.
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By mdrout, on August 27th, 2007% Azarias (who has been put, with three other youths, into the hot fire by order of King Nebuchadnezzar) begins to pray to God, tellin God how great He is and apologizing for the wrong that he and the other youths have done. He notes that they will now lose their lives if not for the power of God, and reminds God of the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Then an angel comes from the heavens and protects the youths from the fire. The temperature in fact becomes pleasant and summer-like.
The three youths then begin to speak. They bless God for his creation and ordering of the world and say that they believe that only through His desire will their bodies be separated from their souls.
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By mdrout, on August 24th, 2007% The sun sets, but then a holy light comes from the heavens and illuminates the tumulus all night long. At dawn, Guthlac rises and tells the servant that it was now time to carry out the tasks Guthlac had assigned him. Then he lifts up his hands, opens his eyes, and sends his soul to heaven.
A heavenly light surrounds the tumulus as singing angels carry Guthlac to heaven. The area is filled with sweet smells and beautiful songs. Then the servant traveles in a boat to see Guthlac’s sister. He tells her of the saint’s death, saying that he himself is sad at the death of Guthlac, but that the saint has gone to God’s light. He tells the sister that she should bury Guthlac’s body.
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By mdrout, on August 23rd, 2007% The servant is very distressed, and he asks Guthlac a question that has been troubling him: “I have heard you debating with someone in the nights. Where did this person come from?” Guthlac answers that, although he does not want to brag, that he has been speaking to an angel who has been sent from God every evening after the second year in which Guthlac started living at the tumulus. But Guthlac has always kept knowledge of these visits secret–until today.
The Guthlac’s soul set forth from his body, and from his mouth came out the sweetest smell, like summer herbs covered with honey.
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By mdrout, on August 22nd, 2007% Easter arrives and Guthlac gets up from his sickbed. He preaches the gospel so beautifully to his servant than no one has ever previously heard the like: it seems to be the words of an angel.
It had now been four days since Guthlac’s illness began, and he endures without fear even though Death is sneaking nearer. Then it is seven days since the sickness began. Guthlac’s servant visits him and finds him lying on the ground. In the sixth hour, Guthlac can barely speak, but he says to the servant that he should listen to Guthlac’s final words. The servant agrees. Guthlac tells the servant to go to Guthlac’s sister once the saint is dead and tell her that he expects to see her in heaven. He should tell the sister to put Guthlac’s body in a dark tomb where it will abide for a long while in its sandy house.
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By mdrout, on August 21st, 2007% One servant remaines with Guthlac. When he notices that Guthlac is deathly ill, the servant asks him how he has become sick and if the disease can be cured. Guthlac says that pain came upon him in the night and that soon he will be dead.
The servant mourns. Guthlac understands and comforts him, saying that it is no real hardship to suffer the will of the Lord. Nor does Guthlac fear hordes of devils. He tells the servant not to be troubled in mind, because Guthlac is yearning to come to heaven and gaze upon the Lord. He knows that after his body’s death he will receive a reward that is not fleeting.
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By mdrout, on August 20th, 2007% Sometimes the birds would come to Guthlac and he would feed them. Sometimes people would visit him. Guthlac would heal those who were suffering.
It was now close to Guthlac’s death day. He had spent fifteen years in the wilderness when suddenly a sickness afflicted him. God did not want Guthlac to suffer a long time. Guthlac’s strength was spent but his spirit did not yield. Human must drink the cup of death that Eve brewed for Adam. Death approached Guthlac.
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By mdrout, on August 17th, 2007% God created men out of the earth. Adam was the first, brought forth into Paradise, which was perfect, full of endless joys and free of death. But too soon he and his wife tired of following the Ruler’s law. His wife took the fruit that the as the serpent convinced her to. Then Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise and thrust into exile and toil. From then on, women and men would have to pay for sins through death. The devil ruled the world and, no matter how hard one tries to follow God’s laws, no one can avoid the bitter drink that Eve served to Adam.
Death has ruled over all earth-dwellers. But there have been a great many saints who have done God’s will. Books tell us how Guthlac reached perfection among the English. His miracles were known far and wide through Britain. He healed many people. No one can count all the miracles he performed.
Often troops of devils invaded his dwelling place. They would make a loud noise in the wilderness. But Guthlac would withstand their torment. The devils would take various forms, including that of a dragon or of humans. But Guthlac persevered no matter how the devils threatened him.
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By mdrout, on August 16th, 2007% The poet says that no one should doubt the story of Guthlac because the events happened within “our lifetimes.” God so loves all people that He wants us to always take in wisdom so that His truth may conquer.
Guthlac’s soul was brought to heaven by angels and the saint was granted a throne in heaven. And similarly the souls of those who hold to truth will be able to ascend to heaven. These people are the chosen warriors of Christ. The love to fast, avoid doing evil, and the pray; they struggle against sins and hold to truth. They depart from the earth and pass onto the heavenly Jerusalem and there they will always gaze upon the face of God.
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By mdrout, on August 15th, 2007% Guthlac says that the devils will be always miserable because God will never grant them any light and they will always be separated from Him and remain in hell.
Then a messenger from heaven comes and commands the devils to return Guthlac unharmed to his tumulus. The angel says that there shall be no wounding of Guthlac. He (the messenger) is the judge and he tells the devils that not only must they heal Guthlac of any of his hurts, but they must now obey his commands. The messenger is one of the twelve disciples [we learn immediately that he is Bartholomew].
Guthlac’s spirit soars as he is carried by the obedient devils back to his tumulus. The birds bless him with their songs and often bring food to him so that he can remain happy in the wilderness.
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By mdrout, on August 14th, 2007% The devils obviously knew that God was protecting Guthalc. Nevertheless, they drag the saint to the hellmouth and speak to him, telling him that he was not worthy of God’s love and would now sink down deep into hell.
Guthlac tells them to go ahead and lead him into hell. If God wills it, Guthlac submits to it. He sings the praise of God by day and by night. He promises to do reverence to God at all times, and notes that the devils are themselves betrayers of trust who have been punished by having to live in exile in the wilderness. Guthlac believes that God will never desert him and believes that the devils will never be allowed to drag him to torment.
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By mdrout, on August 13th, 2007% Now the time had come when God would reward Guthlac, who speaks to the demons, saying:
“You are completely separated from the Lord and will only remain guilty. But I could see the radiance of the heavens even while I was suffering. You were able to reproach me because I had tolerated bad behavior in the churches of God.”
[ There is then a wisdom passage similar to those found later in the Exeter Book] Young men will go through phases in which they indulge in the world’s joys. But then they grow out of this behavior and serve God.
Guthlac let the devils seize him again, and Guthlac himself visited the world and poured out his blood at the hands of murderers.
Guthlac retained no doubt in his heart even though his tormenters continued to threaten him.
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By mdrout, on August 10th, 2007% Guthlac tells the devils that no matter what happens to his body, his soul will always survive and eventually dwell in bliss.
The devils get even angrier and make even angrier noises, But God protected Guthlac.
Then the devils lift Guthlac high in the air and grant him power to see everything that is happening. In particular he sees into monasteries where men were enjoying possession and vanities and adornmennts.
The devils then lead Guthlac back to his tumulus. God had rewarded him for his courage.
The devils speak to Guthlac, telling him that they have shown him how many men serve the pleasures of their bodies when they should be serving the Lord. “You have not been able to prove otherwise,” they say.
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By mdrout, on August 9th, 2007% The devils gather around the tumulus and raise a ruckus.
The lead devils speaks: “We have never met anyone as arrogant as you. You will suffer from hunger and thirst if you stay here. But if you will listen to us and leave, we will be friendly to you. Otherwise we will come again with a greater company. We will destroy this place in which you live when we come in with companies of horses and armies.”
Guthlac answers: “Even if you call on every devil in the wilderness you still cannot win. Although I will not shed blood to take this place for God, my heart is not frightened because God keeps watch over me. Every day He provides for everything I want.”
Guthlac remains on the tumulus and prays for the salvation of many other souls. He keeps his body from pleasures as a warrior should. The devils hopes that a desire for human companionship on the part of Guthlac would help them in their task of chasing him away. But this did not happen. Guthlac says that he who is guided by the Holy Spirit must obey God’s commands.
[there is then a missing leaf in the manuscript]
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