The following passage is a translation of part of a sermon by Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris. The sermon was translated in the late 1200s from French into the Kentish dialect of Middle English. The sermon is on the text of John 2:1-11, the wedding at Cana. This miracle, the first performed by Jesus, involves his changing water into wine at a wedding feast. The portion of the sermon that I have transcribed below is the exegesis--the explanation of the meaning of the miracle in spiritual terms.

I have included no glossary because all the words should be in the OED. Few are difficult.

Nu ye habbeþ iherd þe miracle; nu ihereþ þe signefiance. Þet water bitockned se euele Cristeneman. For also þet water is naturliche schald, and akelþ alle þo þet hit drinkeþ, so is se euele Cristeman chald of þo luue of Gode, for þo euele werkes þet hi doþ; ase so is lecherie, spusbreche, roberie, manslechtes, husberners, bakbiteres, and alle oþre euele deden, þurch wyche þinkes man ofserueth þet fer of helle, ase Godes oghe mudh hit seid. And alle þo signefied þet water, þet þurche yemere werkes oþer þurch yemer iwil liesed þo blisce of heuene. Þet wyn, þat is naturelliche hot ine himselue, and anhet alle þo þet hit drinked, betokned all þo þet bied anheet of þe luue of ure Lorde.

Nu, lordinges, ure Lord God Almichti, þat hwylem in one stede and ine one time flesliche makede of watere wyn, yet ha deþ mani time maked of watere wyn gostliche, wanne þurch his grace maked of þo euele manne good man, of þe orgeilus umble, of þe lechur chaste, of þe niþinge large; and of all oþre folies, so ha maket of þo watere wyn. Þis his si signefiance of þe miracle. Nu loke euerich man toward himseluen yef he is win: þet is to siggen, yef he is anheet of þo loue of Gode; oþer yef he is water: þet is, yef þu are chold of Godes luue. Yef þu art euel man, besech ure Lorde þet he do ine þe his uertu, þet ha þe wende of euele into gode, and þet he do þe do swiche werkes þet þu mote habbe þo blisce of heuene.