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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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By mdrout, on August 8th, 2007 Guthlac was good and close by him was an angel. He armed himself with spiritual weapons and he had God’s protection when a host of devils attacked him. The angel gave him courage when the devils said that Guthlac would be burned on his tumulus and his death would upset his kin unless Guthlac gave up his struggle against the devils and went back to civilization.
But Guthlac did not give in. The demons claimed that Guthlac had done evil to them when he came out into the hills where they had previously dwelled.
The demons were upset because they are not allowed to live on the ground or in the air. They could also not harm Guthlac, but they still attempted to harass him. They said that he would be killed if he continued to persist, as they would return with a larger group of demons who would kill him.
Guthlac spoke to the demons, saying that God would protect him from them and that he could retain his place in the wilderness. “Be gone! This dwelling place is mine, not yours.”
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By mdrout, on August 7th, 2007 Now we will tell how Guthlac renounced all earthly things and dwelled alone at his tumulus.
He was watched over by an angel, but a demon also was there. The angel told him that the whole earth was fleeting and praised the heavens. The demon encouraged him to look for criminals and seek earthly rewards.
Both spirits struggled until the Lord caused the angel to win.
Guthlac came to love his tumulus, but multiple demons continued to come before him.
The demons appeared, flying through the air.
The place of Guthlac’s tumuls was in the countryside, hidden from people. Guthlac remained there so he could keep watch over the area. Guthlac praised the Lord and preached about the martyrs. He fasted and denied himself bodily pleasures, including fancy dress.
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By mdrout, on August 6th, 2007 When an angel and a soul meet, the angel tells the soul that it may now journey to heaven, where the souls of the steadfast will come after death.
There are many states of being for men in the world. As the world grow older, the fruit of the offspring is weaker. Every day the Lord sees the number of those who keep his law get smaller.
Some care more about worldly wealth than about heaven and they mock the saints who know that those who serve the Lord will have heaven eternally. But the saints give up worldly wealth for heavenly glory. They dwell in the waste places by their own choice. Here the devil shows them terrifying visions or tempting splendor. But angels guard the saints. They are the true warriors.
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By mdrout, on July 31st, 2007 Due to a technical glitch and an international conference, I will be unable to post to Anglo-Saxon Aloud this week. Posting (of Guthlac A, to start) will return Monday, August 6th.
By mdrout, on July 27th, 2007 Hell will have all the souls of the evils ones and the Holy Spirit will lock up hell forever with them inside.
Then the good souls will come before God and for ever enjoy the love of God and the company of the angels. The blessed will have no hunger or thirst or sleep or sickness and they will not suffer the burning of the sun or cold, but they will enjoy forever glory with the Lord.
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By mdrout, on July 26th, 2007 God will then say to the damned: “Go now into the eternal fire.”
The damned will fall into the pit with the devils where they will experience everlasting torment by fire, freezing and serpents.
Therefore we should understand that he who has given up God will be eternally punished, and God will not care how much the evil ones cry and lament. Therefore everyone must hasten to care for his own soul and then God will reward those who obey Him with heavenly glory.
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By mdrout, on July 25th, 2007 God continues speaking: “Then I decided that I did not want my creations being taken by devils. So I came into the world as the child of a virgin and suffered as an infant wrapped in cloths in a crib. Then I suffered being struck and spit on and then given a drink of vinegar and gall. I was whipped and then a crown of thorns was put around my head. Then I was hung on a cross and my side was pierced by a spear until the blood rushed out.”
“See the wounds that you made in my hands and feet where I was hung on the cross. I took your pain so that you could enjoy my kingdom. My body was laid in the tomb so that you could be among the angels.”
“Why did you give up the life I bought for you? I claim your life because I once gave you mine. Why did you contaminate your own body? Why do you again hang me on the cross? The cross of your sins is worse than the original cross on which I suffered. I was poor in the world so that you would be rich in heaven. But you have not taken care of the needy. Everything you have done to them, you do to me, the king of heaven; therefore you will suffer exile with the devils.”
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By mdrout, on July 24th, 2007 Alas! We are now able to see the sins in ourselves and are ashamed before all the inhabitants of the world. We must use the eyes of our hearts to inspect our own souls so that God will allow us into heaven.
God will speak first to the blessed.
“Now receive the kingdom which was made for you. You have merited it by doing what you were commanded and were charitable. You will be rewarded.”
But to the evil ones on his left hand, God will speak differently.
“I made you and gave you a soul and other powers and set you in paradise. But you listened to the devil and not to me. So you were cast out of paradise and has to suffer.”
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By mdrout, on July 23rd, 2007 On the day of judgment, those who have done evil will see the marks of their sins on the body of God. On the right hand of Christ, the pure will be gathered; those who are evil will be on the left hand and he will command them to depart.
There will be three special characteristics of those who are blessed: they will gleam with light, they will be able to see the angels and kingdom of heaven, and they will get to see the punishment of the evil one. The good will get great joy from the misery of those being punished.
For others, it will be a time when they can see their own sins and when God will scrutinize their sins within them. Their own punishments will make them suffer, as will the happiness of others. They would have been much better off confessing their sins before this day.
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By mdrout, on July 12th, 2007 Gone fishin’.
But if you want to buy Beowulf Aloud before the cost goes up, please feel free.
By mdrout, on July 12th, 2007 But the sinners will view God with unhappiness. God will demand payment for all of the wonderful things that he did. The sinners will see the treatment of the Lord: the cross, the wounds. The children of men will then perceive clearly how they tormented the Lord.
The story of the earthquake at the crucifixion is told. Rocks and trees knew the redeemer, but people did not, even though the first prophesies, from the beginning of time, said that the Child, the precious stone, should come into the world as refuge and help to all mankind, though that noble woman.
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