,,philochristus                         
,memoirs of a ,disciple of the ,lord    
,illustration                           
,,philochristus                         
,,memoirs                               
,,of                           ,a       
,,disciple ,,of ,,the ,,lord            
'                                       
,london                                 
,,macmillan ,,and ,,co                  
#ahgh             ,the ,right of        
,translation and ,reproduction is       
,reserved                               
,,london3                         ,r4   
,,clay1 ,,sons1 ,,and ,,taylor1         
,,bread ,,street ,,hill1 ,e4 ,c4        
,,to                         ,,the      
,,author ,,of #8,,ecce ,,homo'          
,,not ,,more ,,in ,,admiration ,,of     
,,his ,,writings                        
,,than ,,in ,,gratitude                 
,,for ,,the ,,suggestive ,,influence    
,,of ,a ,,long ,,and ,,intimate         
,,friendship4                           
,,philochristus ,,the ,,elder ,,to ,,the

 ,,saints ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,in      
,,londinium1      ,,grace1 ,,mercy1     
,,and ,,peace ,,from ,,the ,,lord       
,,jesus ,,christ4    ,forasmuch as      
almost all those disciples who with me  
saw the ,lord ,jesus in  the flesh1 are 
now fallen asleep1 and ,i myself am well
 stricken in years  and daily expect the
 summons of the ,lord2 it hath therefore
 seemed good to  me to bequeath unto you
 some memorial of ,christ in writing2   
which1 instead  of my voice1 shall      
testify to you of him for ever4    ,all 
the more need seemeth thereof because   
the ,lord delayeth his coming4  ,for now
 these ten years ,jerusalem hath been   
trodden down of the ,gentiles1  and the 
words of the ,lord concerning the       
destruction of the ,holy ,city have     
been fulfilled2 and yet he cometh not4  
,yea1 and sometimes my mind  presageth  
that his coming may be yet longer       
delayed1 even till all they  that knew  
him in the flesh have fallen asleep4    
,for this cause ,i was long ago moved1  

even from the second or third year      
after the destruction of the ,holy      
,city1 to leave some record behind me to
  testify of the ,lord4 ,but when ,i    
adventured to write1 behold1 it was an  
hard matter and wellnigh impossible1 to 
set forth such an image of the  ,lord   
,jesus as should be at once according to
 the truth1 and yet not  altogether too 
bright for mortal eye to look upon and  
love4 ,therefore at  the last1 when ,i  
perceived that it was not given unto me 
to portray any  character of the ,lord  
as he was in himself1 ,i determined     
rather to set  forth an history of mine 
own life2 wherein1 as in a mirror1 might
  perchance be discerned some lineaments
 of the countenance of ,christ1 seen  as
 by reflexion1 in the life of one that  
loved him4                              
,,the ,,table      ,chapter          #a 
,of my childhood in ,galilee2 and how ,i
 gave myself              wholly to the 
study of the ,law4          #b   ,of my 
doubts concerning the ,law2 and of the  

,patriots              or ,galileans2   
and of the expectation concerning ,john 
the son of ,zachariah4          #c      
,concerning the casting out of unclean  
,spirits2 and of              the nature
 of the ,redemption of ,israel2 and how 
,i first              saw ,jesus of     
,nazareth4          #d   ,of the        
doctrine of ,john the ,prophet1 how it  
suited              with the people of  
the land2 and how ,i was baptized of    
the ,prophet4          #e   ,of the     
,greek philosophers in ,alexandria2 and 
how ,i had              discourse with  
,philo the ,alexandrine4          #f    
,how ,i found not salvation in the      
worship of the              ,temple2 nor
 in the teachers of ,galilee2 nor in the
              ,essenes2 and how ,i first
 spake with ,jesus of ,nazareth4        
#g   ,of the ,good ,news2 and concerning
 the ,kingdom of ,god2              and 
how we desired of ,jesus new laws4      
#h   ,of the ,new ,law4          #i     
,how ,quartus interpreted the ,new ,law4

         #aj   ,how some desired ,jesus 
to mix the ,new ,law with the ,old      
,law2 and concerning the legion of      
swine2 and how ,jesus              began
 to teach in parables4         #aa      
,concerning the new power of the        
,forgiveness of ,sins4         #ab      
,how the ,forgiveness of ,sins is the   
,key that openeth              the ,new 
,kingdom2 and how the ,old ,law and the 
,new ,law              must not be      
mixed4         #ac   ,of the plotting of
 the ,pharisees against ,jesus1 how     
they said he had a devil2 and concerning
 the ,holy              ,spirit4        
#ad   ,how ,john the ,prophet doubted   
concerning ,jesus2 and                  
concerning them that are 8born of       
women20 and              of the         
beheading of ,john the ,prophet4        
#ae   ,how ,jesus fled from ,capernaum1 
and the ,galileans at              first
 fell away from him2 and concerning the 
levy in              ,galilee2 and of   
the visit of ,jesus to ,nazareth4       

#af   ,how1 after the death of ,john the
 ,prophet1 ,jesus              foresaw  
that he also must be slain2 and of the  
,bread of              ,life1 and the   
feeding of the five thousand2 and       
concerning the leaven of the ,pharisees 
and ,sadducees4         #ag   ,how      
,xanthias the ,alexandrine said that the
 philosophy              of ,jesus aimed
 at the taking in of the ,gentiles into 
the ,kingdom1 and at the enfranchisement
 of slaves2 and              how he     
found fault with ,jesus for that he     
called              himself the ,son of 
man4         #ah   ,of signs in heaven2 
and concerning the healing of the       
,syrophnician maiden1 how ,jesus seemed 
to gain thereby              some new   
knowledge4         #ai   ,how ,jesus    
would work no sign in heaven2 and       
concerning              his temptation  
and wherefore he denied to work signs in
              heaven4         #bj   ,how
 ,jesus led us1 in our exile1 to the    
,rock of              ,salvation2 and   

how he founded the ,temple of his       
,congregation thereon2 and how he gave  
the ,key thereof              to ,simon 
,peter4         #ba   ,how ,jesus1      
having now determined to die1 spake of  
that              which was to come1    
with ,moses and ,elias1 upon the ,mount 
,hermon4         #bb   ,of our going up 
to ,jerusalem2 and of the division      
between parents and children2 and how   
,jesus testified              of a ,day 
of ,judgment4         #bc   ,of         
covetousness2 and of fleeing from ,death
 into ,life2              and concerning
 the ,law of ,retribution4         #bd  
,of the falling away of ,judas of       
,kerioth2 and of the              ,times
 and ,seasons2 and of the ,chief ,places
 in the              ,kingdom2 and how  
,jesus did and said nothing except it   
were prepared for him by the ,father4   
#be   ,concerning the fire of the ,lord2
 and of the parables              of    
watching2 and of the ,holy ,spirit2 and 
how ,quartus              urgeth that   

,jesus knew not all things beforehand4  
#bf   ,how ,jesus went down to          
,jerusalem1 as a king1 to wage          
war against ,satan in the ,temple2 and  
how he foresaw              that the    
,temple must be cast down2 and of the   
parable              of the withered    
figtree4         #bg   ,how ,jesus      
prophesied of troubles1 and of a great  
battle against ,satan2 and in the end   
the victory of the              ,son of 
man2 but1 first of all1 his death4      
#bh   ,how ,jesus1 by his ,testament1   
bequeathed himself to his               
disciples for ever2 and how he bare the 
sins of men in              ,gethsemane4
         #bi   ,of the crucifixion of   
,jesus2 and of his last words           
upon the cross4         #cj   ,how the  
,holy ,spirit1 through much sorrow1     
prepared the              disciples to  
behold ,jesus risen from the dead2 and  
of              the vision of angels1   
which appeared first of all unto        
the women4         #ca   ,how ,jesus    

appeared ofttimes to his disciples2 and 
how1              after many days1 he   
ascended up to heaven4         #cb      
,how ,jesus now ruleth the world1       
sitting on the right              hand  
of the ,father in heaven4               
,,philochristus                         
,,chapter ,i      ,my former name was   
,joseph the son of ,simeon1 and ,i was  
born in ,sepphoris1  the metropolis of  
,galilee1 in the twentieth year of the  
reign of the  ,emperor ,augustus1 about 
four years before the death of ,king    
,herod4 ,in  those days ,israel was     
grievously afflicted1 and tribulation   
befell the  righteous4 ,satan put it    
into the heart of the rulers of the land
 to move  the people to the worship of  
false gods1 and the ,lord ,god had not  
yet  raised up a ,redeemer for ,israel4 
,in my fourth year my father's brother1 
the ,rabbi ,matthias1 was burned  alive 
by ,herod for causing his scholars to   
cast down the golden image of  an eagle 
which the king had set up over the gate 

of the temple of the  ,lord4 ,not many  
months afterwards1 the ,romans marched  
through ,sepphoris in  order to bring   
succour to ,sabinus1 who was hard beset 
by the men of  ,jerusalem in the        
fortress called ,antonia2 and we fought 
against them1 and  my father was taken  
captive and crucified by ,varus4 ,now as
 concerning my  father and my father's  
brother1 how they were slain1 perchance 
,i remember  their deaths rather from my
 mother's often mention of them in after
 times  than from what ,i heard then3   
but this thing can ,i never forget1 for 
,i saw  it with mine own eyes3 namely1  
how1 when my mother brought me forth    
from  the caves of ,arbela whither we   
had been sent for refuge1 behold1 where 
,sepphoris had stood1 there was not now 
one house standing2 and ,i saw also  the
 bodies of many of my kinsfolk1 which   
lay unburied and crying unto the  ,lord 
for vengeance4 ,yet the ,lord sent no   
avenger4    ,after this came tidings    
that the ,parthians1 which went with    

,varus1 had  laid waste the country in  
the south far and wide1 and had slain   
our  brethren with the sword2 and that  
,varus had taken two thousand of my     
countrymen in ,jerusalem and had        
crucified them1 and among them ,eleazar1
  the youngest and dearest of my        
mother's brethren4 ,then my mother led  
me to  a rocky place not far from       
,sampho4 ,there was a cave there1 and   
only one  path led to it1 and that so   
narrow that no multitude of men could   
force an  entrance1 if one brave man    
withstood them4 ,when we were come      
thither1 my  mother lifted up her voice 
and wept1 and pointing to the cave she  
said1  8,in former times this cave was  
held by my mother's brother1 ,hezekiah  
by  name4 ,six children he had2 and he  
fled from ,herod the ,king with them and
  with his wife1 and here they took     
refuge4 ,now when the king could by no  
means drive ,hezekiah hence by force1 he
 offered much gold unto him if he  would
 come forth from the cave quietly4 ,but 

when ,hezekiah refused1 the  king began 
to let down armed men by ropes from the 
top of the hill1 with  firebrands in    
their hands1 to kindle fires at the     
mouth of the cave4 ,then  when no hope  
of safety remained1 behold1 my mother's 
brother brought out  his children1 and  
slew the youngest with his sword in the 
sight of the  king4 ,afterwards he laid 
his hands on his second child4 ,but     
,herod1  perceiving his intent1         
stretched out his right hand and        
besought ,hezekiah  to spare his        
children and to come forth in peace4    
,but he slew the second  also1 heaping  
reproaches on ,herod as an usurper and a
 son of ,edom1 sitting  on ,david's     
seat2 and he slew the third and the rest
 likewise1 even to the  sixth1 and last 
of all his wife2 and then he cast       
himself down the steep  place and       
perished40 ,then spake my mother unto me
 and said1 8,the ,lord do  so unto thee1
 my son1 and more likewise1 if thou     
avenge not the blood of  thy kinsfolk   

and of thy father40 ,so it came to pass 
that1 even from a  child1 ,i hated the  
very name of a ,gentile with an         
exceeding hatred2  insomuch that ,i     
should have accounted him blessed who   
should have taken  the children of ,rome
 7according as it is written7 and dashed
 them against  the stones4    ,there    
stood up at this time divers to lead    
,israel2 but they were no true  leaders 
of the people1 and the ,lord had not    
sent them4 ,athronges the  shepherd1 a  
man of great stature1 and ,simon1 one of
 the servants of ,herod  the ,king1 rose
 up in the south of ,judah2 but they    
both perished1 and their  followers were
 scattered4 ,again1 about the time of   
the numbering of the  people1 when the  
decree went forth from the ,emperor     
,augustus that all  ,israel should be   
taxed1 there rose up ,judas of ,gamala4 
,this was about the  thirtythird year of
 the ,emperor ,augustus4 ,the people    
came to him from all  sides2 and ,judas 
taught them that it was not lawful to   

pay tribute to  ,csar1 nor to call any  
man ,master1 save ,god alone4 ,at that  
time ,i was some  thirteen years old2   
and ,i saw him when1 with a thousand    
men1 he marched  into ,capernaum and    
burned down the house of customs there2 
and as ,i looked  upon his face1 and the
 numbers of his followers1 ,i thought   
within my  heart1 8,surely the hand of  
the ,lord is with this man1 surely this 
is the  ,redeemer of ,israel1 even the  
,messiah to whom all the prophets bear  
witness1 that he must arise and judge   
the land40 ,but five ,sabbaths had not  
passed away before he also had been cut 
off2 and all the men that were  with him
 were either scattered to their homes or
 slain4    ,meanwhile1 as ,i grew up1 ,i
 was being trained by my mother with all
 care in  the paths of the law of       
,israel2 and according to the custom of 
my people1  at five years old ,i had    
begun to learn the ,scripture1 and1 at  
ten years1  ,mishnah2 and ,i profited   
more than my companions in the study of 

the  ,traditions4 ,but when ,i read how 
great things ,god had done in times past
  for ,his chosen ones1 and how ,he had 
redeemed ,israel by the hand of ,his    
servants ,gideon and ,david1 then did my
 heart burn within me2 and ,i  besought 
the ,lord that ,he would repeat ,his    
mercies upon ,his chosen people1  and   
that ,he would speedily send that       
,messiah of whom all the prophets       
spake1 for the ,redemption of ,israel4  
,afterwards ,i questioned one of my     
teachers1 by name ,abuyah the son of    
,elishah1 and ,i said unto him1 8,it is 
revealed and known before the ,allseeing
 7blessed is ,he7 that our will is  to  
do ,his will3 and what hindereth80 ,then
 he answered and said1 8,the dough  in  
the leaven0 7meaning ,gentile customs1  
which corrupt the customs of  ,israel   
even as leaven changeth bread7 8and     
servitude to the ,kingdom40 ,then  ,i   
said1 8,why therefore do we not rise up 
against the ,gentile ,kingdom80 ,but  he
 answered1 8,joseph1 son of ,simeon1    

busy thyself with the ,law4 ,whosoever  
is busied in the ,law for the ,law's    
sake deserveth many things2 and not     
only so1 but he is worth the whole      
world4 ,he is called friend1 beloved2   
loveth ,god1 loveth mankind2 pleaseth   
,god1 pleaseth mankind4 ,and it         
clotheth him with meekness and fear1 and
 fitteth him to become righteous1       
pious1 upright1 and faithful2 and       
removeth him from sin1 and bringeth him 
towards the side of merit40 ,then said  
,i1 8,but wherefore doth not the ,god   
of our ,salvation bring freedom to      
,israel80 ,but he answered1 8,it is     
said1  ,the tables were the work of     
,god1 and the writing was the writing of
 ,god1  graven upon the tables4 ,read   
not charuth1 graven1 but cheruth1       
freedom2 for thou wilt find none free1  
save only them which be occupied in  the
 learning of the ,law4 ,for whoso is    
occupied in learning the ,law1  behold1 
it magnifieth him and exalteth him over 
all things40    ,then ,i applied myself 

more diligently to the study of the     
,law1 and ,i  observed ,sabbaths and    
festivals1 and practised ablutions with 
all scruple2  and ,i became known among 
my companions as a sinfearer1 instructed
 in the  wisdom of the ,law1 avoiding   
those lesser faults which are called the
  8,descendants10 as well as those which
 are called the 8,fathers02 insomuch    
that ,i would not even curdle milk on   
the ,sabbath1 because that had been     
declared by the decisions of the ,wise  
to be a lesser kind of building2        
neither would ,i walk upon grass during 
the ,sabbath1 because that also had     
been pronounced by the ,rabbis to be a  
lesser kind of threshing4 ,also in  the 
matter of fringes and phylacteries1 and 
in smaller matters1 even to  the burning
 of nailparings1 ,i walked diligently   
according to the  decisions of the      
,ancients4 ,thus in all things ,i strove
 to bear in mind the  saying that       
8,while in the written ,law there are   
light as well as weighty  precepts1 the 

precepts of the ,scribes are all        
weighty40 ,i took little  sleep1 little 
merriment2 ,i associated myself ever    
with the wise1 and  abstained from the  
company of the people of the land 7for  
by this name the  ,pharisees were wont  
to call them that gave not themselves to
 the study of  the ,law72 ,i settled my 
heart to study2 ,i asked1 and answered1 
and  whatsoever ,i received ,i strove to
 add thereto4 ,and it came to pass that1
  because ,i had a strength of memory   
more than was usual among my fellow     
students1 my teacher said to me1        
8,joseph1 son of ,simeon1 thou art a    
plastered cistern1 which loseth no drop 
of water02 and by this name of          
8plastered cistern0 ,i became known     
among my fellows4 ,and when ,i perceived
  that the ,traditions said little      
concerning a ,messiah2 and that my      
teachers  also said little1 and had no  
hope1 nor so much as a desire 7for the  
most  part7 that a ,messiah should ever 
come1 but were wholly given up to the   

study of the ,law2 then ,i endeavoured  
myself also to do the same1 and to  put 
away the thought of a ,redeemer4        
,nevertheless at times the question     
would arise within me1 8,wherefore do ,i
  serve ,god for naught80 ,for all      
around ,i saw the wicked and the        
scornful  seated1 as kings1 in high     
places1 and the poor and the humble     
trampled  under foot4 ,there was the    
name of peace among us1 but it was no   
peace2 for  ,satan was making war upon  
us under the semblance of peace4        
,everywhere  defilement was taking the  
land by force or by stealth4 ,many      
,greek cities1  called by the names of  
the great ones among the ,gentiles1 were
 built in  the midst of us1 such as     
,tiberias1 and ,julias1 and ,csarea     
,stratonis1 and  ,csarea ,philippi2 and 
even in our city of ,sepphoris1 now     
rebuilt1 we were  constrained to admit  
,greeks to be our fellowcitizens4       
,theatres and  amphitheatres1 and games1
 and alien rites in honour of false     

gods1 had  been brought in among us4    
,images of living things began to be    
seen on  every side1 and even our       
coinage was defiled with the uncleanness
 of the  ,gentiles2 so that1 in place of
 the vineclusters and wheatsheaf and    
star  of ,israel1 we were forced to     
handle the semblances of ,thracian      
shields and  helmets1 and the winged rod
 of enchantments1 called by the         
,gentiles the  caduceus4 ,moreover1 as  
each year passed1 our fears waxed       
greater and  greater1 lest at last the  
eagles of the ,gentiles should be       
brought from  ,csarea into the streets  
of the ,holy ,city itself1 and lest the 
image of  the ,emperor should be set up 
therein4 ,for the former ,emperor1 even 
,csar  ,augustus1 was now dead1 and a   
new ,emperor reigned in his stead1 whose
 name  was ,tiberius4 ,but he attained  
not unto the former ,emperor in wisdom2 
wherefore the minds of many were        
unsettled1 the common people fearing    
lest  the ,romans should take away their

 religion1 and the ,scribes fearing lest
  the common people should incense the  
,romans by fresh revolt1 and so bring   
destruction on the nation4    ,so it    
came to pass that by reason of my       
continual sorrow for the burdens  of    
,sion1 my heart was pressed down with   
care1 and my trouble became too  heavy  
for me to bear2 and ,i found no peace1  
no1 not even in the study of  the ,law4 
,in vain ,i repeated to myself the      
saying of the ,wise1 8,whoso  studieth  
the ,law1 he becometh modest and        
longsuffering and forgiving of  insult02
 and again1 8,the ,law is acquired by   
longsuffering1 by a good  heart1 by     
faith in the ,wise1 by acceptance of    
chastisements40 ,i looked  upon my      
countrymen in their servitude1 and ,i   
could not feel long  suffering2 neither 
could ,i attain to the wisdom of the    
acceptance of  chastisements4    ,when  
,i mentioned my trouble to my teacher1  
,abuyah the son of ,elishah1 he  rebuked
 me for presumption2 for he said that   

such doubts came of evil1  neither would
 he hearken unto me4 ,therefore ,i      
turned to another of the  ,scribes1     
whose name was ,jonathan the son of     
,ezra4 ,now ,jonathan was older  than   
,abuyah the son of ,elishah1 but not so 
learned4 ,howbeit he was of a  more     
gentle and loving disposition4 ,he said 
to me1 8,beware lest thou  follow the   
path of ,elishah the son of ,solomon40  
8,what path80 ,i asked4 ,then  ,jonathan
 answered as follows3 8,it is reported  
that ,elishah the son of  ,solomon was  
once studying the ,scriptures1 and he   
saw two men taking birds'  nests4 ,the  
one obeyed not the ,law1 but took the   
mother with the young2 yet  he went his 
way in peace4 ,the other obeyed the ,law
 and took the young  only1 but let the  
mother go free2 yet as he descended from
 the tree a  serpent stung him and he   
died4 ,then said ,elishah the son of    
,solomon1 #8,is  it not written1 ,the   
young thou mayest take to thyself1 but  
the mother thou  shalt surely let go1   

that it may be well with thee and that  
thou mayest  live many days8 ,verily the
 promises of ,god are naught1 for the   
man that  obeyed hath not lived many    
days1 but the man that disobeyed is     
unhurt4'0  ,then said ,i1 8,and what    
answer was made to ,elishah the son of  
,solomon80 ,and  my teacher replied1    
8,whosoever obeyeth the ,law1 his days  
will be long in  the world to come40    
,then was my heart comforted for a      
while1 and ,i devoted  myself even more 
diligently than before to the study of  
the ,law4                               
,,chapter ,,ii      ,for the space of   
nine or ten years ,i was content to give
 myself wholly to  the study of the     
,law2 but when ,i had now numbered      
thirty years1 my doubts  and fears came 
back to me again4 ,while ,i sat in the  
school with the  ,scribe1 and heard his 
answers and asked him questions1 so long
 ,i seemed to  myself righteous and on  
the path of righteousness2 but when ,i  
came forth  into the streets1 or back to

 my mother's house1 then seemed my      
righteousness immediately to have       
vanished away4 ,at such seasons the     
learning of the ,wise seemed to me not  
bread1 but a stone4    ,moreover1 my    
heart was turned from some of the       
,scribes that lived in  ,sepphoris1 even
 them that were counted as props and    
pillars of the ,law4 ,to  ,jonathan the 
son of ,ezra ,i ceased not to pay       
honour2 but ,abuyah the son of  ,elishah
 ,i could not reverence1 and others also
 like unto him3 for they had  regard    
unto the praise of men rather than to   
the love of ,god4 ,as1 for  example1    
,abuyah1 whensoever he was delayed by   
the crowd so that he came  not to the   
synagogue in time for prayer1 he would  
stand where he chanced  to be1 at the   
hour of prayer1 praying in the middle of
 the marketplace4  ,when he walked1 he  
walked with a mincing gait and with his 
eyes half  closed1 feigning to be given 
up to the meditation of the ,law1 so    
that he  saw no passer by4 ,on fast days

 he would ever look pale and worn1 as if
  with watching and hunger2 and         
whensoever he met a woman as he went in 
the  way1 he would shiver and turn      
aside4 ,it came to pass that on a       
certain day  one of his pupils asked him
 which was the most weighty of precepts4
 ,then  ,abuyah answered1 8,the ,law of 
,tassels02 and continued he1 8so do ,i  
esteem  this law that once1 because ,i  
had chanced to tread upon a portion of  
the  fringe of my garment1 going up a   
ladder1 ,i steadfastly refused to move  
from the spot where ,i stood1 till such 
time as the rent had been  repaired40   
,another day1 this ,abuyah chid my      
mother because she wore on her  dress a 
ribbon that was not sewn1 but only      
fastened to her vesture4 ,for  thus1 he 
said1 my mother transgressed the ,law by
 bearing burdens on the  ,sabbath4 ,but 
by such teaching ,abuyah himself laid   
upon his pupils burdens  grievous to be 
borne2 and among the ,rabbis of ,israel 
there were more like  unto ,abuyah the  

son of ,elishah than unto ,jonathan the 
son of ,ezra4    ,many things also in   
the traditions of the ,wise seemed to me
 not worthy of  wise men1 nor even of   
honest men4 ,i had joined myself to a   
certain  brotherhood 7who all1 or almost
 all1 were ,pharisees71 such as bound   
themselves to observe the ,law with     
special strictness1 and in particular   
to pay tithes of all things4 ,the       
brotherhood was called ,chabura1 and    
each  of the brethren was called a      
,chaber4 ,now it was the custom of us   
,chaberim  to meet on the ,sabbath day  
at one another's houses that we might   
sup  together4 ,but the space between   
our houses often exceeded two thousand  
paces1 which distance was not to be     
exceeded by a man journeying on the     
,sabbath day4 ,therefore to a plain man 
it would have seemed that we could  not 
sup with one another on the ,sabbath day
 and at the same time obey the  ,law4   
,but the ,scribes were otherwise minded2
 and many of them1 yea even of  the     

strictest sect1 escaped from the ,law   
after this fashion4 ,on the  evening    
before the ,sabbath1 they would place   
small pieces of meat1 distant  two      
thousand paces one from another1 on the 
road whereon they desired to  journey4  
,where a man's meat is1 said they1 there
 is his home4 ,so when they  were come  
in their journeying to the first piece  
of meat1 they would say1  8,now ,i am at
 my home and may walk yet another two   
thousand paces40 ,and so1  walking from 
this home to other homes if need were1  
they walked as far as  they listed4     
,this mixing of distances they called   
erbh1 or 8mixture20  and the device     
remaineth unto this day4    ,again1 if a
 man's ox were dying on some holy day1  
and the owner thereof  desired to kill  
it2 he was forbidden4 ,but if he slew   
the beast and then  took of the meat and
 ate thereof1 yea1 even though it were a
 piece of  flesh no bigger than an      
olive1 and if he said1 8,i slay the     
beast to  provide a necessary meal10    

then he was held excused4 ,likewise1    
though a  man might not buy from a      
butcher on the ,sabbath1 yet if he      
abstained from  mentioning the number or
 weight of the things bought1 and the   
sum of money  to be paid1 then he might 
buy as much as his heart desired and be 
held  blameless4 ,thus he would say1    
8,give me a portion1 or half a portion  
of  meat10 and the butcher would give   
it2 and the buyer would go away1 paying 
naught4 ,but next day the money would be
 paid4 ,and this was called not a  sale1
 but a gift4 ,after the same manner they
 did away with the ,law which  remitteth
 debts in the ,sabbatical year4 ,on the 
day of payment the creditor  would come 
7such was the ordinance of the ,scribes7
 and say1 8,in accordance  with the     
,sabbatical year ,i remit thee the      
debt40 ,then the debtor was bound  to   
reply1 8,i nevertheless wish to pay it10
 and the debt was paid1 and the  ,law   
was made of none effect4    ,about the  
thirteenth year of the ,emperor         

,tiberius1 it came to pass that ,i      
7being now thirtythree years old or a   
little more7 discoursed with a  ,greek  
proselyte concerning the ,law4 ,he said 
to me that it seemed to him  better to  
disannul such ordinances as were not    
convenient 7just as a man  might prune a
 too luxuriant vine72 and not to say1   
8,i will obey the  ordinance1 but ,i    
will make my obedience the same as      
disobedience40 ,his  words pleased me2  
but when ,i reported this saying to some
 of the ,scribes  my friends1 they with 
one consent rejected it4 ,abuyah the son
 of ,elishah  said1 scoffing at my      
doubts1 8,the ,law drowneth them that   
cannot swim40  ,then said ,i 7repeating 
a certain saying of the ,greek71 8,but  
water groweth  bad if it be kept long in
 one vessel40 ,but he straightway put me
 to  silence saying1 8,is this likewise 
the case with the ,law8 ,nay1 it is like
  unto wine which groweth better as it  
groweth older40 ,jonathan the son of    
,ezra also added in a gentle voice1 8,my

 son1 thou knowest the saying of the    
,elders1 the first of the sayings of the
 ,wise3 ,be deliberate in judgment1  and
 raise up many disciples1 and make a    
fence to the ,law4 ,but thou1 ,o my     
son1 wouldst fain pull down fences4 ,but
 if we begin to destroy a part of  the  
,law1 who shall stay the hand of the    
destroyer8 ,and in the end we shall  be 
even as the ,gentiles1 which have no    
law4 ,is it not better to be too        
careful rather than to be too careless8 
,is it not better to have too many      
fences rather than to have too few8 ,for
 to what is the matter like8 ,even  to a
 man watching a garden4 ,if he watch it 
from without1 it is all  watched4 ,but  
if he watch it from within1 the part in 
front of him is  watched2 but the part  
behind him is not watched4 ,be thou     
therefore careful  to go in thine       
obedience even beyond the things which  
the ,law requireth at  thy hands2 and   
watch the ,law not from within1 but from
 without40    ,there seemed much wisdom 

in the sayings of ,jonathan1 and ,i knew
 not what  answer to make4 ,for if to   
transgress the ,law1 even in the        
smallest matter1  was to fall into      
destruction1 then it seemed wise to     
fence round the ,law1  even as a man    
would fence round a pit2 and not to     
suffer the unwary to go  near1 and      
peradventure to stumble1 and so to be   
swallowed up4 ,yet ,i could  not but    
perceive that it was not well for men   
thus to resort to the ,law  and to the  
,traditions as to a sacred oracle1 even 
on those occasions and  in those matters
 wherein the voice of the ,lord speaking
 unto the heart  saith clearly1 8,this  
is right1 do this4 ,this is wrong1 do   
not this40 ,for  thus it must needs come
 to pass that men would pervert even the
 ,law to the  contradicting of the voice
 of the ,lord4 ,and so indeed it was    
with us4 ,as1  for example1 the ,law    
forbade fornication1 neither did it     
permit us to  marry a woman with intent 
to divorce her2 but one of the          

,traditions1  making the ,law of none   
effect1 told us that 8,if a man first   
tell her that  he is going to marry her 
for a season1 then it is lawful40 ,other
  ,traditions sinned yet more grievously
 in the cloaking of sins and            
impurities4 ,hence also the duties of   
children to parents 7albeit upheld      
indeed by the better part of the ,wise7 
were by many diminished1 or even  made  
of none effect4    ,now ,i have heard   
certain ,romans say that in their ,law  
they also use the  same devices to      
observe the letter and to break the     
spirit4 ,but the  mischief was1 that our
 ,law was not as the laws of the        
,gentiles1 which  concern naught save   
lands1 and houses1 and slaves1 and the  
like1 and which  have not to do with the
 souls and spirits of men4 ,the         
,gentiles could break  the letter of    
their laws and sin not3 for what sin was
 it to make a slave  free by feigning to
 sell him1 or1 in disputing about a     
farm1 to treat of a  clod as though it  

were the farm8 ,but our ,law had to do  
with the supreme  ,god1 the ,maker of   
all things1 the ,allseeing 7blessed is  
,he74 ,therefore to  observe the letter 
and to break the spirit of ,his ,law    
seemed to be a  profaning of ,his ,holy 
,name4 ,now ,i had been trained up from 
my earliest  years to dread the pulling 
down of the fences1 having this precept1
 as it  were1 engraved and charactered  
in my memory1 8,whoso pulleth down a    
hedge a  serpent shall sting him30 and  
,i had been taught to prefer ,sinai1    
that is1  the teacher of the ,law1 even 
to an 8uprooter of mountains10 that is1 
to a  teacher which hath understanding  
to remove all manner of offences and    
stumblingblocks from the path of the    
weak ones4 ,howbeit1 at times1 after    
discourse with the ,greek proselyte whom
 ,i mentioned above1 there would  arise 
in my heart this thought1 that when the 
words of the ,law seemed to  contradict 
that which was right1 then we ought to  
go into the presence of  ,god and to    

say1 8,thou1 ,o ,god of righteousness1  
art righteous altogether1  neither can  
it be ,thy pleasure that we should be   
unrighteous02 and again1  8,thou art a  
,god of truth1 neither can it be ,thy   
will that we should lie  with our hands 
in ,thy presence4 ,therefore permit us  
in this case to break  ,thy ,law4 ,for  
,thy righteousness is greater than ,thy 
,law40 ,but the ,scribes  would not so  
much as listen to such words as these2  
for they said that  scarce even a       
prophet durst speak so exceeding boldly4
 ,but when ,i asked  them whether it    
might be that a prophet should arise in 
,israel1 then the  most said that it was
 not possible2 for the ,shekinah and the
 ,holy ,spirit  had departed from       
,israel when the first ,temple had been 
destroyed4 ,thus my  words were an      
abomination unto my teachers1 so that ,i
 hid my thoughts in  my heart3 but it   
was pain and grief to me4    ,yet       
another trouble was added to me4 ,for as
 ,i grew older and understood  more of  

the ways of men and perceived the       
thoughts of men's hearts1 it  seemed to 
me a strange and horrible thing that the
 ,law of the ,lord should  be cut off   
from the greater part of the ,lord's    
people3 so that it was a  current saying
 with the ,rabbis that the common people
 were an accursed  rabble which knew not
 the ,law3 insomuch that one of the most
 pious of our  teachers1 even ,hillel   
the ,great1 said that no boor could be a
 sinfearer1  and that the people of the 
land 7for by that name they called the  
common  people7 could not be pious4     
,this1 ,i say1 seemed an horrible thing3
 yet  indeed ,i could not deny that the 
,scribes must needs be right1 and that  
the  people of the land could not be    
pious1 so long as to be pious meant to  
be  obedient to the light precepts of   
the ,law1 such as the laws concerning   
the  exact observance of the ,sabbath1  
and concerning purifications1 and       
concerning the consumption of           
nailparings1 and the like4 ,for the     

knowledge of all these things was not to
 be obtained save by men of  leisure1   
that could give their time1 and settle  
their minds to the study  of such       
matters3 and how was this possible for  
them that must needs earn  their bread  
with the sweat of their brow1 to wit1   
the sailors and  fishermen1 the         
vinedressers and ploughmen1 the dyers   
and glassmakers2 who  all were called of
 the ,scribes 8the people of the land08 
,so it was borne  in upon me that our   
,law was a ,law for the schools1 but not
 for the lives  of men2 and for         
,scribes1 but not for the whole nation4 
,then my heart sank  within me1 and ,i  
remembered the words of the ,prophet1   
how that a time  shall come when men    
shall no longer teach each one his      
neighbour1 saying1  ,know the ,lord2 but
 all shall know ,him from the least even
 to the greatest2  and ,i wondered if it
 would please the ,lord to bring such a 
time as that to  ,israel1 and to make   
,his ,law clear to all our nation1 yea1 

even to the poor  and simple1 even to   
the people of the land4    ,others that 
did not observe the ,law so exactly as  
,i did1 nor felt the  burdens thereof so
 sorely1 were nevertheless ill pleased  
that the ,scribes  did naught to free   
them from the yoke of the ,gentiles4 ,of
 these some dwelt  in ,juda1 and a few  
in ,pera2 but the more part dwelt in    
,galilee1 insomuch  that the sect of    
,patriots was known by the name of      
,galileans4 ,there were  also living    
among us ,james and ,john1 the two      
eldest sons of ,judas of  ,galilee1 and 
their youngest brother ,manahem4 ,to    
these1 for the sake of  their great     
father1 we all had respect4 ,many also  
7like myself7 were ever  in a readiness 
to avenge upon the ,romans the blood of 
kinsfolk shed in the  ,galilean wars4   
,hence it came to pass that in ,galilee 
more than in any  region of ,syria1 the 
minds of men were ready for revolt      
against the  ,romans1 and waited but for
 the ripening of occasion4    ,now it   

came to pass that in the fourteenth year
 of ,tiberius ,csar1 there  arose a     
quarrel between the ,tetrarch of        
,galilee and his fatherinlaw1 the  ,king
 of ,arabia2 because the ,tetrarch had  
behaved ill to the ,king's  daughter his
 wife1 and sought to divorce her4 ,then 
it seemed good to some  of my friends to
 join the army of ,antipas the          
,tetrarch1 to the intent that  they     
might thereby gain experience in war2   
but others spake against it1  saying    
that it was not lawful to take up arms  
for the unjust against the  just4    ,at
 this time also a rumour went forth that
 a new prophet had of late  appeared1   
,john by name1 the son of ,zachariah a  
priest1 who was calling the  whole of   
,israel to repent and to be purified    
with baptisms1 prophesying  that the    
,lord would soon send the ,deliverer of 
,israel1 or ,messiah3 for by  this name 
of ,messiah1 the ,deliverer that was to 
come 7of whom the prophets  had         
prophesied7 was commonly known among us4

 ,some said that ,john himself  was the 
,messiah2 others denied it1 but said    
that the ,lord had sent down  ,elias    
from heaven1 and that ,john was ,elias4 
,many other rumours also were  noised   
abroad1 and this rumour prevailed most1 
that 8,one from the ,east  would come   
forth to rule the world10 which saying  
had spread even to ,italy  and ,spain3  
and we in ,galilee thought that this    
conqueror from the ,east  would be our  
,messiah4 ,thus1 the hearts of all men  
everywhere being in  expectation1 it    
came to pass that many of my friends    
7who were the leaders  of the sect      
called the ,patriots or ,galileans71    
having purposed these many  weeks to    
hold a council1 determined at this time 
to confer together in a  little valley  
between ,sepphoris and ,nazareth1 there 
to resolve what should  be done4        
,most of those present were from the    
inland parts of ,galilee3 of these      
,barabbas1 and one other1 were from     
,jotapata4 ,only ,hezekiah1 the son of  

,zachariah 7a ,scribe1 who was thought  
to be well affected towards the         
,galileans71 came from ,jerusalem4 ,and 
from ,capernaum came my cousin ,baruch1 
the son of ,manasseh1 with three others4
 ,there were present also from the      
region of ,gaulonitis ,james and ,john  
and ,manahem1 sons of the famous ,judas 
of ,galilee4 ,james the son of ,judas   
spake first1 giving his judgment for    
war1 and saying that ,israel had slept  
too long3 8,for while we sleep10 said   
he1 8the leaven spreadeth2 ,greek cities
 cover our land2 our own cities are     
being defiled with ,gentile             
abominations4 ,they are stealing from us
 even  our language4 ,no man may earn a 
living in ,galilee now1 unless he speak 
,greek4 ,with ,greek theatres and       
amphitheatres1 and baths1 and market    
places2 with ,greek pictures and images1
 and feasts and games2 with ,greek      
songs1 and poems1 and histories1 they   
purpose1 by easy degrees1 to beguile    
the hearts of our young men from the    

religion of their forefathers4 ,our     
princes are ,edomites in the pay of     
,rome4 ,our rich men long for the       
fleshpots of ,rome1 and call themselves 
by the name of ,herod4 ,our ,scribes1   
our wise men1 cry peace when there is no
 peace1 and wink at the payment of      
tribute4 ,publicans and harlots bring   
down the wrath of ,god upon the  nation1
 and go unpunished4 ,all these things   
are as the meshes of the net  wherein   
,rome is encompassing our city4 ,and lo1
 the fowler layeth the net  and the     
silly bird stayeth still40 ,then ,baruch
 said3 8,but is it so indeed  that the  
,romans would blot out our religion8 ,do
 they not suffer all  religions8 ,the   
,gauls1 the ,spaniards1 the ,numidians1 
,egyptians and  ,scythians1 all worship 
divers gods3 so have ,i heard from a    
,greek merchant  at ,capernaum2 and     
this1 without let or hindrance from the 
,romans40    8,nay10 cried ,barabbas1   
8but thou seest not that the ,roman     
suffereth all  false religions and      

hindereth them not2 but he hateth the   
worship of the  true ,god of ,israel4   
,for this alone putteth other gods to   
shame4 ,the  ,syrians and the ,egyptians
 scruple not to worship the ,roman gods1
 besides  ,astarte and ,osiris1 and to  
offer incense to the emperor of ,rome1  
to boot4  ,but the children of ,israel  
will bow down to no false god1 neither  
offer  they incense before the image of 
the emperor4 ,hence cometh it to pass   
that  the ,romans hate our religion and 
would fain destroy it4 ,james therefore 
speaketh the words of truth2 and whoso  
speaketh otherwise allegeth naught  but 
pretexts of delay and cowardice40       
8,peace1 ,barabbas10 said ,john1 the son
 of ,judas2 8we meet to hold            
conference1 not to cast reproaches4     
,nevertheless1 my judgment goeth with   
my brother1 that our choice lieth       
between lingering perdition and speedy  
deliverance4 ,hereof this is proof4 ,but
 lately ,i was at the ,holy ,city1 not  
many days before the ,passover2 and     

there went abroad a rumour that the     
,procurator ,pilate was minded to bring 
the eagles of the legions from  ,csarea 
to ,jerusalem1 yea1 even into the       
streets of the ,holy ,city4 ,then  the  
,priests1 even the ,chief ,priests1 yea1
 even the whole ,council1 fell  down at 
,pilate's feet1 if perchance he would   
change his purpose4  ,multitudes ran    
together round the ,prtorium4 ,in vain  
did they pray and  were disquieted4     
,under the cloak of night the procurator
 brought in the  ,abomination4 ,then all
 the men of ,jerusalem1 and all the     
pilgrims which had  come together from  
the uttermost parts of the earth1       
clothed themselves in  sackcloth1 and   
sat down in the streets about the       
palace1 with ashes on  their heads after
 the manner of suppliants2 crying aloud 
that they would  sit there for ever     
rather than endure the presence of the  
,abomination4 ,but  when ,pilate saw all
 the streets of ,jerusalem thronged1 so 
that no one  might pass night and day1  

and all business was at a stand1 did he 
yield  from his purpose8 ,nay1 he gave  
orders that the armed cohorts should    
beset  the streets around us1           
threatening to smite us with the sword  
if we should  not straightway void the  
streets4 ,and when we would not1 then   
went the  word forth from the captains  
to draw the swords2 and the swords were 
drawn1 and the soldiers were in act to  
fall upon us4 ,but we uncovered our     
necks and held them out to the soldiers1
 crying #8,give us death rather than    
defilement4' ,so at the last1 but not   
till blood had been shed1 the           
procurator gave consent that the images 
should be sent back4 ,suppose ye  that  
this was a little matter1 naught but an 
error in judgment of the  procurator8   
,would a procurator have dared to risk  
the peace of the whole  province for a  
little matter8 ,it was no little matter4
 ,pilate did what he  did1 not of       
himself1 but at the express instance of 
the emperor2 to prove  the limits of our

 slavishness1 and to force us into      
defilement and into  the worship of the 
,abomination40    ,hereat there was a   
general applause2 but he1 not heeding   
it1 continued1  8,if ye be of one mind  
with me that the hour is come to smite  
with the  sword2 then how and where8 ,i 
say1 let certain of us join ourselves to
 the  army of the ,tetrarch1 which even 
now maketh ready to march against       
,aretas4  ,thereby we shall gain        
experience of war1 and1 as ,i hope1 win 
over some of  the army to our side4 ,as 
for the tyrant's guards1 the ,gauls1    
,germans1 and  ,thracians1 they are     
bought with his money1 so that we have  
no hope of  them2 but by far the larger 
part of the army consisteth of our own  
countrymen2 and many of them may revolt 
on our side2 as they did with  ,simon   
against ,archelaus1 and some also helped
 ,athronges1 whom men call a  rebel4    
,meantime1 let the rest of us make ready
 our friends in our several  cities to  
take up arms next ,passover4 ,they in   

,jerusalem will attack the  garrison    
there1 others break open the armoury at 
,sepphoris and in ,masada4  ,on the same
 day our countrymen in ,joppa1 ,csarea1 
and ,ptolemais will  attack and drive   
out the ,greeks4 ,then will rise a flame
 of war from one  end of ,syria to the  
other4 ,our rich men1 even the          
,herodians1 seeing all  the people to be
 of one mind1 will stand with us2 and   
having ,israel with  us as one man1     
doing battle for the name of the true   
,god against the gods  of the ,gentiles1
 doubt not but we shall have also the   
sword of the ,lord on  our side1 as in  
the days of ,gideon40    ,the applause  
was now yet louder than before2 and at  
first it seemed as  though the whole    
assembly were minded with one consent to
 obey the words  of ,john the son of    
,judas of ,galilee4 ,but one of the     
companions of  ,hezekiah1 ,levi by name1
 an old man and greybearded1 rose up    
presently and  said that the hour had   
not yet arrived1 because1 said he1 the  

,sabbath was  not yet duly observed1 and
 the wrath of the ,lord still weighed   
upon  ,israel4 ,then ,barabbas answered 
with indignation1 saying that it was    
only  the rich and delicate1 or else    
they that were enfeebled with old age1  
who  were thus content to be the slaves 
of idolaters4    ,upon this ,hezekiah   
the ,scribe stood up to speak3 8,these  
young men of  ,galilee gladly make      
mention of the old times of ,gideon and 
,david1 yet do  they not themselves     
imitate the old times in having respect 
unto old age4  ,for even though ,levi   
were old and enfeebled1 yet what saith  
the ,tradition8  #8,old age1 though it  
be broken1 is yet to be held in         
reverence1 even as the  broken tables of
 the ,law were kept in the ark of the   
,lord4' ,but what  meaneth this youth of
 ,jotapata1 when he calleth my friend   
and companion  ,levi1 the son of ,ezra1 
delicate or enfeebled2 and all because  
the advice  of ,levi is not the advice  
of ,barabbas8 ,hear1 ,o ye young men of 

,galilee1  the words of ,levi are true3 
the hour hath not yet arrived4 #8,what  
hindereth8' ye ask4 ,i answer in the    
words of the ,wise1 #8,the dough in the 
leaven4'    8,i also1 like ,john the son
 of ,judas1 will give proof of my words2
 but do  ye1 being ,galileans1 incline  
your ears to the saying of a ,galilean1 
according to the proverb1 #8,a ,galilean
 said ,when the shepherd is angry with  
his flock1 he appointeth for their      
leader a blind bellwether4' ,note       
therefore the leaders of ,israel1 which 
have risen up against the ,romans of    
late4 ,hath ,god sent them in anger or  
in mercy8 ,have they been blind bell    
wethers1 or endowed with sight8 ,i say  
naught of ,judas of ,gamala1 in the     
presence of his sons3 but ,judas the son
 of the robber ,hezekiah1 how went  it  
with him8 ,he thought in his heart that 
he was a second ,joshua1 and that  the  
waters of ,jordan would part at his     
word4 ,but who knoweth not his          
miserable end8 ,as also the end of      

,athronges3 who aimed at the kingdom    
because1 forsooth1 he was in stature a  
second ,saul4 ,simon also1 the slave  of
 ,herod the king1 when he had shewn     
forth his valour by destroying the      
king's palace at ,jericho1 became a     
portion for foxes at ,amathus1 and his  
head was cast before the feet of the    
conqueror4 ,answer then unto me1 ye     
young men4 ,hath the ,lord sent ,simon  
the slave1 and ,athronges the shepherd1 
and ,judas the son of the robber1 in    
mercy or in wrath8    8,nay1 but since  
shame hindereth your answering1 ,i1 even
 ,i1 a man of ,juda1  will answer for   
you1 according as it is said1 #8,from   
,juda grain1 from  ,galilee straw1 from 
,pera chaff4' ,the ,lord sent these men 
in wrath4 ,all  these were blind        
bellwethers1 blinded by the lust of fame
 or gain4 ,but do  ye therefore wait for
 the true leaders whom the ,lord your   
,god will send8  ,leave it to this young
 man of ,jotapata to follow any knave   
that may chance  to call himself the    

,redeemer of ,israel because1 forsooth1 
he may be a head  taller than his       
neighbours1 or may have dreamed a dream1
 or may perchance  have gained some     
knowledge of herbs or unclean spirits4  
8,even now they say there hath appeared 
in the southern parts 7so ,i heard1     
coming but now from ,jericho7 one ,john 
the son of ,zachariah1 concerning  whom 
,i judge 7if he be indeed a true prophet
 and no deceiver7 that he is  either the
 prophet spoken of by ,moses1 or else   
,elias4 ,for that ,elias is to  come    
again we all know1 because it is so     
written2 and that the prophet  like unto
 ,moses must needs appear1 this also the
 ,scriptures tell us3 but  that other   
prophets should appear is not written1  
neither is it likely2  for the age of   
prophets is past4 ,but whether this     
,john be ,elias or  whatever else1 meet 
it is that we go to him2 for he may     
perchance reveal  to us what it is our  
wisdom to do4 ,if ye ask #8,what shall  
be the sign of  the true prophet8'3 ,i  

answer1 it is written in our traditions1
 #8,a false  prophet may shew signs on  
earth and in the deep2 but a sign from  
heaven he  cannot shew4' ,wait therefore
 till the sign from heaven shall be     
vouchsafed1 revealing the true ,prophet1
 whom it will be our wisdom to  obey1   
and for whom 7during this present7 it is
 our wisdom to wait40    ,when ,hezekiah
 had made an end of speaking1 ,james the
 son of ,judas was sore  displeased at  
his words1 and made as if he would have 
spoken in answer2  but ,john 7who was of
 a gentler disposition7 prevented his   
brother1 and  said that ,hezekiah gave  
good counsel4 ,for he1 like the rest of 
us1 had  been moved by the mention of   
,john the ,prophet4 ,so in the end it   
was  determined according to the words  
of ,hezekiah the ,scribe2 and we brake  
up  without resolving anything further1 
except that we would go straightway1  so
 many of us as conveniently could1 to   
,bethany beyond ,jordan1 where the      
prophet was baptizing4 ,but on the      

morrow and on the day after1 when ,i    
spake to my friends and acquaintance    
concerning ,john the son of ,zachariah1 
it was a marvel to see how greatly the  
hearts of all men were stirred at  the  
thought of a new prophet in ,israel4    
,for that after so many hundreds of     
years a prophet should arise in ,israel 
7none having prophesied since the  time 
of ,malachi1 the last of the prophets1  
more than four hundred years  ago7 this 
seemed a marvellous thing and well nigh 
impossible1 and almost  as if a man     
should rise again from the dead4 ,for   
the prophets were counted  as it were   
dead and out of mind in ,israel1 meet to
 be reverenced for their  past words1   
but not to be hoped for in the time to  
come4 ,for this cause  were we much     
moved by the mention of the name of     
,john the son of  ,zachariah4 ,and as   
the ,prophet ,elias from the top of     
,carmel looking out  into the ,great    
,sea and discerning a cloud no bigger   
than a man's hand1  foretold the        

imminent storm1 so did all we in        
,galilee1 on the first breath  of the   
rumour of the coming of a prophet1 begin
 to forebode in our hearts  of the      
coming of one that should be no common  
prophet2 but1 in all  likelihood1 ,elias
 from the dead2 or else one greater than
 ,moses1 to give  us perchance a new    
,law and a new ,kingdom4                
,,chapter ,,iii      ,on the fourth day1
 ,i set out in company with ,baruch my  
cousin1 the son of  ,manasseh1 my       
father's brother1 intending to go to    
,capernaum1 and thence to  take ship for
 ,gamala1 where we were to meet ,james  
and ,john the sons of  ,judas of        
,galilee2 and so to journey all together
 to ,bethany1 where the  prophet was4   
,when we were come to ,capernaum1 we    
tarried two days in the  house of       
,manasseh3 and the second day was the   
,sabbath4 ,now the house of  ,manasseh  
was nigh unto the wharf1 so that nothing
 stood between it and the  lake4    ,it 
happened that ,i was sitting on the     

houseroof and the sun wanted yet an     
hour or two of setting2 and a tumult    
arose on the beach below1 between a     
,greek merchant and certain of the      
townsmen4 ,word had come to the ,greek  
that his son was sick in ,bethsaida and 
nigh unto death3 so he had besought     
certain of the sailors that they would  
launch their ship and put out to  sea1  
although the sun had not yet set2 to the
 intent that he might pass  over with   
all speed1 if perchance he might see his
 child before he died4  ,the sailors    
were persuaded by the man's prayers and 
gifts1 and were  preparing their vessel 
to launch it4 ,but the inhabitants1     
those of the  more devout sort1 coming  
together with stones and staves1        
threatened the  sailors1 and forced them
 to cease1 declaring that not a boat    
should leave  the strand till the       
,sabbath should be ended4    ,the air   
was calm and still so that the          
merchant's words came up even to my     
ears1 as he pointed again and again to  

the coast over against us3 8,surely     
your ,god will permit you to do this    
service of kindness4 ,yonder is my son1 
mine only son1 dying as if within sight 
of his father4 ,strangers will  receive 
his last breath1 and close his eyes4 ,i 
beseech you1 as ye are  fathers1 have   
compassion on a father who must soon be 
childless40 ,so  saying the ,greek beat 
his breast and tore his hair2 but in    
vain4 ,the ruler  of the synagogue1 who 
had gathered the multitude together1    
would not  listen to his entreaties2 and
 he departed1 weeping and wailing and   
calling  upon his gods in vain4    ,then
 the ruler of the synagogue1 seeing the 
crowd running together1  exhorted them  
to a more strict observing of the       
,sabbath1 declaring that  the breaking  
of the ,sabbath was the principal cause 
of the wrath of ,god  with ,his people1 
and of the delay of the ,redemption of  
,sion4 ,he went on to  speak of the     
blessing of the ,redemption1 and he     
besought the people to do  what lay in  

them to hasten it forward1 by raising up
 the fences of the  ,law1 and by        
constant and scrupulous obedience4 8,let
 all repent10 he said1  8of former      
slackness and misdoings2 for the ,lord  
your ,god is merciful1  long suffering1 
slow to anger1 and of great kindness1   
and repenteth ,him of  the evil4 ,to    
,him belong mercies and forgiveness1    
though ye have rebelled  against ,him40 
,by this time a great multitude was come
 together1 and in the uttermost  parts  
of the throng stood certain taxgatherers
 7among whom was the  principal receiver
 of customs in ,capernaum1 by name      
,matthew the son of  ,alpheus71 with    
certain of the looser sort1 men and     
women1 outcasts from  the synagogue3    
which had been cast forth1 some for     
weighty offences1 but  some for light1  
according to the custom of our ,scribes4
 ,these had  approached1 as it seemed to
 me1 because they had heard mention of  
8mercy10  and 8forgiveness02 and their  
faces were somewhat sad1 as if they also

  would fain have drawn near unto the   
,god of ,israel1 that they might receive
  forgiveness of sins4 ,but the ruler of
 the synagogue1 catching sight of  them1
 drove them away with reproaches1       
reviling them as children of ,satan4    
8,even your alms10 he cried1 8we trample
 under our feet2 away1 extortioners  and
 harlots1 fit food for fire and worms60 
,they departed in haste amid the scoffs 
and curses of the crowd4 ,but their     
countenances changed as they went1 and  
there seemed no more thought of         
repentance in them2 for they hardened   
their faces as flint stones because  of 
the reproaches of the chief ruler4 ,then
 it came into my heart that the  ruler  
of the synagogue erred1 in that he drove
 away the sinners that would  fain have 
drawn nigh unto the ,lord4 ,and not only
 he1 but all our ,rabbis  and ,scribes  
seemed to be in the same error1 because 
they drove away  instead of bringing    
nigh4 ,for even the words of the ,wise  
tell us that  peace is to be proclaimed 

to the faroff as well as to the near2   
and to  the faroff first4 ,moreover the 
words of the ,prophet ,ezekiel came to  
my  mind1 that if the wicked turned from
 his wickedness and did that which was  
lawful and right1 he should live4 ,now  
the ruler of the synagogue had  himself 
also used words like unto these2 yet his
 acts had not been like  unto his words4
 ,for after that he had spoken of ,god  
as merciful and  forgiving1 he had      
driven away the sinners as though ,god  
were unmerciful  and unforgiving4       
,therefore he had on his lips the wisdom
 of the ,law2 but  in the thoughts of   
his heart and the works of his hand     
there was no  wisdom4 ,then ,i repeated 
to myself the tradition of the ,wise1   
8,whoso hath  much wisdom and little    
works1 to what is he like8 ,even to a   
tree whereof  the branches be abundant  
but the roots poor and thin3 and the    
wind cometh  and uprooteth it and       
overturneth it40 ,truly1 said ,i1 the   
wisdom of the  ,scribes is like unto a  

tree whereof the roots suffice not for  
the  branches4    ,then began ,i to     
consider with myself what would be the  
doctrine of ,john  the son of ,zachariah
 as touching forgiveness and repentance2
 and it was  borne in upon my mind that 
we lacked1 not the true doctrine of     
forgiveness  7for this we had already in
 the ,law and the ,traditions71 but     
somewhat  beyond the reach of doctrine2 
albeit1 what it was1 ,i did not yet     
understand4 ,also methought we had need 
of some new kind of wisdom that  should 
avail1 not only for ,scribes and lawyers
 but also for the people of  the land1  
for ploughmen and fishermen1 yea1       
perchance even for tax  gatherers and   
sinners4 ,then behold1 as ,i mused1     
methought all the precepts  of the ,law 
and of the ,traditions lay scattered    
about on the beach1 like so  many dry   
bones 7according to the vision of the   
,prophet ,ezekiel71 and there  they lay1
 awaiting1 till the breath of the       
,spirit of ,god should blow upon  them  

and give them life4 ,and1 in my musing1 
,i saw ,one coming1 and his face  was as
 bright as the morning star1 and the    
breath of the ,lord breathed  from his  
mouth1 and he came forward to the bones 
for to breathe life into  them2 and ,i  
spake aloud and said1 8,perchance ,john 
the son of ,zachariah is  the ,messiah1 
and will breathe life into these bones40
    ,but while ,i thus mused1 came      
,baruch behind me and touched my        
shoulder1 and  pointed to the crowd and 
said1 8,see1 the sun has now just set2  
and the  people are following the       
exorcist yonder4 ,shall we not go with  
them8 ,he is  no common exorcist1 but by
 means of certain herbs known only to   
himself he  can draw an evil spirit out 
of the nostrils of the possessed2 and   
this  hath he done many times this week 
in the presence of certain of the most  
notable people in ,capernaum1 insomuch  
that all men here do hold him in  great 
esteem4 ,and even now he goeth to cast  
out an evil spirit from  ,raphael1 the  

son of one of our neighbours3 who hath  
been possessed now  these two years40   
,so lost was ,i in thought that1 while  
,baruch was speaking1 ,i scarce         
understood the purport of his words4    
,but shouts and shrieks from below      
caused me to awake out of my trance4 ,so
 ,i looked2 and behold1 a great         
multitude below1 and in the midst       
thereof a youth possessed with an evil  
spirit4 ,the youth was led by three     
strong men2 and as he went1 he shrieked 
aloud and struggled against them that   
led him4 ,close after them came one     
whose sorrowful countenance betokened   
him to be the father of the youth4      
,before them all went the exorcist4     
,here in ,britain it is a rare thing to 
see a man possessed with a demon4       
,therefore it is needful to say first1  
that in the land of ,israel 7and        
especially in the lowlands of ,galilee  
along the coast of the ,sea of          
,gennesareth1 and also in the valley of 
,jordan71 the unclean spirits  prevailed

 mightily in my days1 insomuch that ,i  
have noted as many as  twelve or even   
more in a small town1 such as           
,bethsaida4 ,they wandered  about the   
country half clothed or naked1 assailing
 their dearest friends  or strangers1 or
 even themselves1 with stones or other  
weapons1 such as  they could procure4   
,they saw strange sights1 demons and    
flames2 their ears  were filled with    
thunderings and roarings of beasts and  
voices of devils4  ,a stench1 as of     
sulphur and brimstone1 was in their     
nostrils4 ,their  bellies also were     
beset with worms1 toads1 snakes1 or     
scorpions2 which  nevertheless destroyed
 them not4 ,two voices1 the voice of the
 demon and  the voice of the man1 issued
 from the mouth of the possessed4       
,verily of  all the diseases with which 
,satan hath been permitted by the       
,unsearchable  7blessed is ,he7 to      
afflict the children of men1 this       
disease is the worst  and cruellest2    
inasmuch as it poisoneth the very       

springs of love1 causing  the son to    
hate even the father that begot him and 
the mother that gave  him suck4    ,what
 were the causes of this evil1 wise men 
have asked1 and have given no  certain  
answer4 ,they at ,jerusalem said that it
 was a chastisement because  of men's   
neglect of worship in the ,holy ,temple2
 and certain it is1 that  ,gentiles and 
outcasts from the synagogue were more   
often possessed than  the devout4 ,nay1 
,i have known some 7more especially     
women7 that1 having  been possessed1    
were cured by the offering of sacrifice1
 or by a more  constant attending on the
 worship in the ,temple4 ,others said   
that it was a  punishment for eating    
swine's flesh2 others for dwelling in   
houses built  amid tombs or on ancient  
burialplaces4 ,but others said that they
 which  lived in the lowlands about the 
,lake of ,gennesareth and in the valley 
of  ,jordan were more under the unclean 
demons2 for that the demons possessed   
and ruled over waterish and lowlying    

regions4 ,and so much is undoubted1     
that in the inland highlands of ,galilee
 there were few possessed1 and in       
,jerusalem none1 or at least no number  
worthy of mention2 but down in  ,jericho
 and ,capernaum the possessed could be  
seen at the corner of every  street4    
,cure there was none1 or at least no    
certain cure4 ,sometimes sudden terror  
or sudden joy availed to drive out the  
unclean spirit4 ,i have heard of one    
,joachim the son of ,levi1 that was     
vexed with a dumb spirit for many years2
  but seeing some robbers about to kill 
his father1 the string of his tongue    
was unloosed1 and he cried out to them  
not to kill him4 ,but no physic1 nor  no
 diet1 was of any certain avail4 ,this  
uncertainty brought great gain to  many 
vagrant exorcists which wandered here   
and there throughout ,galilee1  their   
scrips full of amulets1 charms1 drugs1  
magic roots1 and books of  incantations4
 ,these men1 with shouts and shrieks and
 uncouth gestures and  dances1 were wont

 to amaze the demoniacs for a time and  
to drive them into  a kind of torpor2   
which torpor they called health and     
peace1 and boasted  that they had       
wrought a cure4 ,at other times1 by     
magic arts1 they would  persuade ,satan 
to go out of the man for a short time1  
that they might  obtain a reward4 ,but  
in either case1 the cure lasted no long 
time4 ,for in  a brief space the demon  
would awake again out of torpor2 or if  
he had been  driven out1 he would       
return1 and sometimes bring with him    
other demons yet  more powerful than    
himself2 insomuch that it was a proverb 
among us that  it was better for a      
possessed person that the unclean spirit
 should not be  driven out at all1 than 
that1 having been driven out1 he should 
be allowed  to return4    ,but about the
 causes and cures of this evil let      
others consider and  dispute3 ,i speak  
now of the exorcist in ,capernaum4      
,going down straightway  with ,baruch1  
,i followed him into a house not two    

hundred paces from the  quay4 ,when we  
entered1 there seemed scarce space for  
the exorcist and the  demoniac in the   
middle of the chamber1 so thick stood   
the people together2  but by favour of  
the master of the house1 who was known  
to ,baruch1 we  obtained place in the   
inner part of the circle4 ,the father of
 the boy now  came up to my cousin4 8,i 
have taken ,raphael10 he said1 8to many 
exorcists  before1 but never a man of   
them was to be compared with this       
learned man4  ,i have described to him  
the nature of the unclean spirit that   
possesseth  my son1 and he protesteth to
 me that he hath frequently driven out  
the  like kind of demons1 and that he is
 assured of success40 ,meanwhile        
,raphael1 the boy possessed with the    
unclean spirit1 was seated on the       
ground in the middle4 ,he no longer     
struggled nor shrieked1 but sat quiet1  
though sullen withal4    ,two slaves now
 came forth1 the first carrying in one  
hand a bucket of  water and in the other

 a covered basket2 but the second bore a
 chafing  dish4 ,now all voices were    
hushed1 for the exorcist stepped into   
the middle  of the chamber4 8,many10 he 
said1 8of my profession pretend to drive
 out  evil spirits1 but they do not     
perform what they promise4 ,but that ye 
may  perceive how far ,theudas the son  
of ,eleazar differeth from such common  
vagrants and impostors1 ,i shall not    
only cast out this unclean spirit1 but  
,i shall also give you proof thereof    
which ye shall see with your own  eyes40
 ,he then bade the slaves place the     
bucket upon a shelf in the room  where  
all could see it2 but the basket and    
chafingdish were set in the  midst of   
the circle4    ,perchance the boy began 
to understand in part that the exorcist 
was  speaking of him2 or it may be that 
from his father's anxious mien and      
troubled countenance he conjectured that
 some new thing was at hand4 ,for  he   
leapt from the ground1 and shrieked1 and
 blasphemed ,god1 uttering  obscene     

words1 tearing his hair1 and marring his
 cheeks with his nails2  and but for the
 two keepers on either side of him he   
would assuredly have  rent off his      
garments2 and even with all their       
efforts they had much ado  to hinder    
him4    ,but the exorcist threw a few   
leaves and fragments of root on the     
chafing  dish1 muttered a charm1 waved  
his wand1 and then waited as though for 
an  answer4 ,then frowning1 he waved his
 wand a second time1 and repeated a     
louder charm1 stamping his foot on the  
ground1 and then waited again4 ,a  deep 
silence fell on all in the chamber1     
insomuch that no one ventured so  much  
as to draw breath2 and even the boy     
ceased from his struggles and  stared   
amazedly at the exorcist4 ,but he1 now  
standing upright and  manifesting in his
 face that he had received an answer    
from the unclean  spirit1 turned from us
 to the possessed1 and fixing his eye   
full upon his  face1 he cried in a loud 
voice1 8,thou unclean spirit1 thine hour

 is come4  ,thy name is revealed unto   
me1 and thy shape likewise4 ,in vain    
thou wouldst  evade my sight1 assuming  
the semblance of a long black worm4 ,lo6
 by the  mysterious power of ,king      
,solomon's ring and these strong roots  
,i will draw  thee out of the poor boy's
 nostrils in the presence of this       
assembly3 and  when ,i say the word1    
thou1 obedient to my commands1 shalt    
leave the body  which thou defilest1    
and1 in thy passage1 thou shalt overturn
 yonder  vessel of water4 ,dost hear me8
 ,thy name is ,ialdabaoth40    ,hereat  
the demoniac shrieked and raved louder  
than before1 and a deep  voice1 deeper  
than the voice of a youth1 cried out    
from within him1 8,i am  ,ialdabaoth1   
the worm of darkness2 depart from me40  
,the crowd shouted1 and  the sorcerer1  
turning to us1 8,sirs10 said he1 8ye see
 how the evil spirit  is already half   
conquered2 for he hath confessed his    
name and nature to be  even as ,i       
foretold40 ,then turning to the boy and 

applying a ring to his  nostrils1 he    
cried aloud1 8,come forth1 ,ialdabaoth20
 and with very great  quickness1 so that
 the motion could scarce be perceived1  
7all the time  shouting charms and      
incantations with a loud voice17 he drew
 forth from  the nostrils of the        
demoniac a shape like unto a long black 
worm4 ,now  verily the crowd shrieked as
 if they themselves were possessed2 but 
the  boy sat1 not struggling1 but still 
and pale1 as though no life were in     
him4 ,but the exorcist1 turning himself 
quickly round to the vessel of  water   
behind him1 8,away10 he cried1 8away1   
worm of darkness6 ,back1  ,ialdabaoth1  
to the abyss6 ,back through the air3 and
 dash down yonder  bucket as thou       
fliest60 ,at the word1 the worm         
vanished1 the bucket was  dashed down1  
and the boy fell1 as it seemed1         
lifeless4    ,we all pressed in upon the
 youth1 wishing to discern whether life 
were  still in him1 or no2 but the      
exorcist waved us back1 as one having   

authority2 and taking the boy by the    
hand1 he raised him up1 speaking kind   
words to him and to his father4 ,soon   
his life returned to the boy1 and the   
exorcist restored him to his father1    
whole and sound 7albeit weak and  pale71
 and1 as it appeared1 delivered from the
 unclean spirit4 ,the father1  weeping  
for joy1 placed a heavy purse in the    
hand of the exorcist2 who1 at  first1   
put it from him1 as though he would have
 none of it4 ,but  afterwards1 while he 
was receiving the salutations and       
greetings of them  that were departing1 
one of his slaves1 being urged by the   
father1 took  the purse and placed it in
 the covered basket4    ,as for us1 it  
being now late1 we stayed not to        
congratulate with the  father of        
,raphael2 but with all speed1 made our  
way through the press2 all  the people  
around us praising ,god and marvelling  
at the power which the  ,lord had given 
to ,theudas the son of ,eleazar4 ,but we
 hasted to the house  of ,manasseh to   

make ready for our journey2 for we were 
to set forth early  on the morrow4 ,but 
when the morrow came1 behold1 ,baruch   
was sick of a  fever1 and could not     
travel2 and ,i tarried for him for the  
space of four  days4 ,but on the fifth  
day after the ,sabbath1 ,baruch being   
now in case to  travel1 we purposed to  
take ship for ,gamala1 which lieth on   
the southern  coast of the lake4 ,for   
our intent was there to join ourselves  
to ,james and  ,john1 the sons of       
,judas1 and so to continue our journey  
with them till we  came to ,bethany in  
,pera where ,john was baptizing4    ,now
 it came to pass that very early in the 
morning when we were to set  out1 the   
sun being not yet risen1 ,i went to the 
house of ,joazar1 the  father of        
,raphael1 to inquire concerning the     
boy's welfare4 ,and when ,i  came to the
 threshold1 behold1 another stood at the
 door2 but his back was  towards me1 so 
that ,i knew not who he was4 ,and before
 ,i could accost him1  the door was     

opened unto us2 and behold1 a sound as  
of shrieking and  lamentation4 ,then we 
both listened1 and lo1 a deep voice from
 an upper  chamber1 and it cried1 8,we  
are ,ialdabaoth6 ,we are ,ialdabaoth1   
the worms of  darkness60 ,then came     
forth other words of blasphemy and      
filthiness1 so  that ,i loathed to      
listen to them2 and ,i turned to go     
back4 ,but at that  instant ,i heard the
 voice of the father bewailing3 and the 
stranger  delayed not1 but entered into 
the house2 wherefore ,i also1 albeit    
against  my will1 was moved to go in    
likewise4    ,so ,i went in1 following  
the stranger till we both came to the   
door of the  upper room3 and there ,i   
stood1 and durst not enter into the     
chamber2 for  my heart was empty of     
comfort1 neither knew ,i how to console 
the old man  in his affliction4 ,but the
 stranger that was with me1 going       
forward1 spake  first of all to ,joazar 
the father1 and said some words of      
kindness to him4  ,now so it was1 that  

when the stranger first entered into the
 chamber1 the  evil spirits ceased not1 
but raged yet more fiercely than before1
 crying  aloud and saying1 8,depart from
 us2 let us alone2 let us alone02 and   
the  youth also rent his cheeks so that 
the blood gushed out2 and he would fain 
have leaped up from his bed4 ,but the   
stranger 7whose face ,i had not yet     
seen71 hearing the voices of the        
spirits1 turned himself round from the  
old man to the son3 and going up to the 
bedside he stood there1  steadfastly    
looking at the youth4 ,now when he thus 
turned himself1 then  for the first time
 ,i beheld his countenance2 and1 as ,i  
remember1 ,i  marvelled thereat1 and    
also at the manner of his dealing with  
the youth4  ,for1 first of all1 when he 
looked upon the youth1 his face seemed  
swallowed up with pity2 and then of a   
sudden it changed again1 and he         
stretched out his arm as one having     
authority1 and as if on the point to    
bid the evil spirits depart1 and this he

 did twice2 but twice again he  drew    
back his arm1 as if changing his        
purpose4 ,then1 at the last1 the pity   
came back upon his face all in an       
instant1 so that his features seemed    
even melted therewith2 and he stooped   
down and embraced the boy1 and  kissed  
him2 and1 as ,i thought1 he whispered   
words in his ear4 ,but this ,i  know not
 for certain2 howbeit the boy1 in any   
case1 ceased from his raging  and no    
longer struggled1 but lay still and     
quiet1 only muttering and  moaning a    
little4 ,hereat the stranger turned     
himself to ,joazar to take his  leave2  
but ,i 7perchance because my mind       
misgave me that ,i had played the       
eavesdropper1 albeit1 unwittingly1 or   
for whatever other reason7 feared to    
wait and meet the stranger2 so ,i turned
 my back1 and went forth in haste  from 
the house4    ,when ,i was come to      
,baruch again1 ,i held my peace         
concerning ,raphael1 lest  ,i should    
stir up melancholy in my cousin1 since  

he was freshly recovered  from his      
disease4 ,but1 when we went on board the
 vessel1 the sailors were  not yet ready
 to sail4 ,so ,i lay down on the        
sleepingcushion3 but no sleep  fell upon
 my eyes4 ,for there appeared ever      
before me the image of the  demoniac    
,raphael and his sorrowful father2 and  
my heart was weighed down  with the     
thought of their affliction4 ,but ,i    
grieved not for them alone1  but also   
for the daughter of ,sion2 who seemed to
 be1 in a manner1  possessed with an    
evil spirit1 and to cry aloud for some  
one that should  cast it out4 ,all the  
deliverers of old seemed to be even as  
,theudas the  son of ,eleazar2 and even 
as the demon had returned into ,raphael1
 so that  his last state was worse than 
the first1 even so it seemed with       
,israel2  therefore ,i besought the     
,lord to hasten the time of the coming  
of the true  ,redeemer of ,sion4    ,as 
,i mused1 ,i began to consider with     
myself what would be the manner of  the 

true redemption4 ,beside the demoniac1  
there appeared unto me the face  of     
,matthew the publican and the faces of  
the sinners4 ,it was borne in upon  my  
mind that1 even though every legionary  
in ,syria were slain or driven  out1 and
 though the borders of ,israel should be
 enlarged from the ,nile to  the        
,euphrates1 yet if we still had amidst  
us sinners unforgiven1 and  ,priests and
 ,rulers with no power to forgive nor to
 convert1 then of a  surety the evil    
spirit would not depart from us save    
only for a season4    ,by this time1 as 
,i remember1 we were but just putting   
out into the deep1  and the sun was     
risen4 ,and there came down certain     
fishermen to the beach  to prepare their
 tackling for fishing3 and with them    
there came one that1  as ,i noted1 was  
no fisherman 7for he was not girt as a  
fisherman73 and he  walked down to the  
brink of the waters and looked out      
steadfastly to the  deep4 ,and so it was
 that1 as he looked1 the sun even that  

instant rising  above the eastern       
mountains1 shone suddenly upon his face 
so that ,i could  see it clearly 7though
 we were by this time a full furlong    
from the  shore72 and behold1 it was the
 countenance of the stranger that ,i had
 seen  that same morning in the house of
 ,joazar4 ,so ,i called to ,tobias      
straightway and asked him who the       
stranger might be3 and ,tobias raised   
himself upon his elbow where he lay on  
the sleepingcushion1 and he  looked1 and
 knew him1 and told me his name4 ,and   
then first ,i heard the  name of ,jesus 
of ,nazareth4    ,again ,i lay down to  
sleep1 but still no sleep would come to 
me3 wherefore  ,i took forth from my    
bosom the book of the prophet ,isaiah1  
which ,i had  with me1 and began to read
 therein4 ,and so it was that as ,i     
unrolled it1  my eyes fell upon the     
place where the prophet saith1 8,to what
 purpose is  the multitude of your      
sacrifices unto me8 saith the ,lord3 ,i 
am full of the  burnt offerings of rams1

 and the fat of fed beasts4444 ,bring no
 more vain  oblations2 incense is an    
abomination unto me2 the new moons and  
sabbaths1  the calling of assemblies1 ,i
 cannot away with2 it is iniquity1 even 
the  solemn meeting40    ,now at that   
word1 8the new moons and sabbaths ,i    
cannot away with10 ,i  ceased from      
reading4 ,for ,i seemed to hear the     
,greek merchant weeping and  crying to  
the sailors1 8,surely your ,god will    
permit you to do this service  of       
kindness40 ,then ,i called to mind the  
words of the ,lord1 8,i will have       
mercy1 and not sacrifice20 and behold1  
it came in upon me all at once1 as  in a
 flood1 that our exactness in the       
observing of the ,sabbath might haply   
be an abomination in the eyes of the    
,allseeing 7blessed is ,he7 whensoever  
it hindereth kindness and mercy4 ,after 
this my eyes again fell upon the  roll1 
and ,i read aloud these words wherein   
the prophet prescribeth the  cure for   
the wounds of ,israel4 8,cease to do    

evil2 learn to do well2 seek  judgment1 
relieve the oppressed1 judge the        
fatherless1 plead for the  widow40 ,then
 ,i cried aloud1 8,is not this a plain  
and simple path even for  the people of 
the land1 that all ,israel should walk  
therein40    ,now so it was that ,baruch
 had come up while ,i was thus reading  
and  speaking aloud2 and ,i knew it not4
 ,so he answered and said1 8,thou       
speakest  well2 notwithstanding ,i have 
heard a certain ,greek of mine          
acquaintance in  ,capernaum say that    
virtue cannot be taught2 for that some  
men have their  hearts inclined by      
nature to do well1 but others to do ill2
 so that it  availeth nothing to say    
#8,learn to do well4'0 ,then was ,i     
silent for a  while1 for methought the  
,greek said well1 and indeed we needed1 
not so  much that a new path should be  
made plain1 as that a clean heart and a 
right spirit should be created anew     
within us1 according as it is written1  
8,make me a clean heart1 ,o ,god1 and   

renew a right spirit within me40 ,so in 
the end ,i concluded to wait till we    
should understand what new message the  
prophet ,john the son of ,zachariah     
might bring to us from the ,lord1 if    
perchance he might teach us aught       
concerning the creating of a right      
spirit4 ,but by this time our ship was  
come to ,gamala2 where we were          
courteously entertained by ,james and   
,john the sons of ,judas2 and we abode  
with them three days4 ,but on the fourth
 day we set out for ,bethany of  ,pera4 
,,chapter ,,iv      ,as we drew near to 
,bethany1 we noted many hundreds of     
travellers on the  road1 the most part  
on foot1 but many on asses and camels2  
for rich as  well as poor were          
journeying to the new prophet4 ,a full  
score of ,scribes  went past us in the  
space of an hour2 there were also some  
soldiers going  to ,machrus2 here and   
there was a taxgatherer2 and ,baruch    
took note of  certain that were sinners1
 outcasts from the synagogue of         

,capernaum4 ,we  had now been journeying
 for a day and a half2 and toward the   
end of the  second day1 we began to see 
the valley of ,jordan right over against
 us4  ,going down a little further1 we  
perceived that there was a great        
multitude  gathered together near the   
bank of the river2 and presently we     
could  clearly discern the prophet      
himself4    ,around him stood men in    
white garments awaiting purification2 at
 a  somewhat greater distance1 the mixed
 multitude hearkening to his words4     
,john himself1 wearing no tunic1 but    
clad only in a rough mantle of camel's  
hair with a girdle of untanned leather1 
was sitting upon a rock1 and  thence he 
was speaking to the people in a clear   
voice1 whereof the sound  7though not as
 yet the meaning7 was borne up even to  
our ears4 ,for a while  we stood still1 
with one consent1 marvelling at the     
sight2 for there had  not been a prophet
 in ,israel for four hundred years and  
more2 but  presently1 riding down with  

all speed1 we came into the valley1 and 
joined  ourselves to the multitude3 and1
 albeit1 we could not come very nigh to 
,john1 for the press1 yet was there such
 a stillness among all the  assembly1   
that we very soon understood whatsoever 
he said4    ,he had been speaking 7this 
,i learned afterwards from one of the   
bystanders7 concerning the old wars and 
troubles which the ,lord had sent  on   
,israel2 how1 according to the saying of
 the ,prophet ,isaiah1 the ,lord  had   
brought the ,assyrian against the land  
as an axe1 whereby ,he had cut  down our
 chosen nobles and princes1 even as a   
woodman felleth the choicest  trees4    
,also how1 in the days of the ,prophet  
,jeremiah1 the ,lord had sent  the blast
 of ,his wrath upon the people1 and had 
winnowed away the unstable  and         
faithless into captivity1 even as a     
winnower fanneth the chaff from  the    
wheat4 ,the same things were at hand    
even now1 he said3 8,now also the  axe  
is laid at the root of the trees2       

therefore every tree which bringeth  not
 forth good fruit is hewn down and cast 
into the fire40    ,hereat the multitude
 cried aloud1 saying that it was even   
so2 for indeed  we all felt in our      
hearts that the prophet spake the truth4
 ,as the  ,assyrian axe in the days of  
old1 so now the ,roman axe was laid at  
the root  of ,israel2 and unless the    
,lord turned away ,his wrath from us1   
the nation  would be destroyed4 ,but    
then a stillness fell upon the          
multitude1 as we  waited till the       
prophet should tell us what we should do
 to turn away the  ,lord's wrath4       
,then the prophet set his face toward   
the men in white garments1 and said  to 
them that they should cleanse their     
hearts and not their bodies merely1  and
 put away the iniquity of their souls1  
and he called upon them to  confess     
their sins4 ,he bade them also not to   
trust in their being children  of       
,abraham1 nor in the purifications of   
the ,law1 nor in the observances of     

,sabbaths and feastdays4 ,if1 said he1  
the tree was to escape the axe1 it  must
 no longer be barren3 8bring forth      
fruits therefore worthy of  repentance1 
and think not to say within yourselves1 
,we have ,abraham to our  father1 for ,i
 say unto you that ,god is able of these
 stones to raise up  children unto      
,abraham40    ,saying these words1 he   
beckoned to the men in white robes that 
they should  follow him4 ,the multitude 
made way for them2 and he led them down 
to a  place by the side of the river    
where the reeds and thickets of         
willowbeds  had been rooted up1 so that 
there might be free passage into the    
water4  ,then he cried in a clear voice1
 8,receive the baptism of ,repentance10 
and  bade them plunge themselves beneath
 the surface4 ,at the same time he      
offered up prayers to ,god2 and we upon 
the higher bank said1 ,amen4 ,when he   
had made an end of baptizing the men1 he
 went up again to the rock1 and  thence 
he again spoke to the people2 and as    

many as desired purification  went up to
 him there4    ,now while the people    
were going up by courses1 ,i also began 
to resolve in  my heart that ,i too     
would go up in the order of my course4  
,yet had ,i sore  misgivings in my soul2
 for it seemed as if ,i were on the     
verge of a great  sea1 launching out    
into the deep ,i knew not whither4 ,for 
the teaching of  this new prophet in no 
wise agreed with the teaching of the    
,scribes and  ,lawyers1 whom ,i had     
reverenced2 and if ,i went with him1 ,i 
perceived that ,i  must needs go away   
from them4 ,now it came to pass that a  
certain ,scribe  7who was with our      
company7 perceived the reasonings of my 
heart1 and that  ,i was desirous to     
receive purification at the hands of    
,john4 ,therefore he  took me by the    
cloak1 and held me back1 saying1        
8,behold1 if ,john the son  of          
,zachariah speaketh well1 the ,scribes  
have spoken ill1 and have taught  ill4  
,yea1 and all thy study of the ,law1 and

 thy painful meditations  therein1 and  
thy nightly watchings and weariness of  
the flesh have all  been in vain4 ,but  
wilt thou lightly forsake the teaching  
of the ,law and  the ,traditions of the 
,fathers1 and all for the sake of one   
new prophet1  concerning whom thou      
knowest not as yet even that he is a    
prophet8 ,and  wherefore shouldst thou  
thus seek after prophets8 ,knowest thou 
not that  the ,inscrutable 7blessed be  
,he7 decreed that1 after the destruction
 of the  first ,temple1 there should be 
no longer with us the ,shekinah1 nor the
 ,holy  ,spirit1 nor the ,urim and      
,thummim2 wherefore it is said1 #8,from 
the fourth  year of ,king ,darius1 the  
,holy ,spirit no longer rested upon the 
prophets4'  ,but in the place of the    
prophets 7who were not always with      
,israel7 thou  hast now the ,scribes    
always with thee1 according as it is    
said1 #8,moses  received the ,law from  
,sinai1 and the elders delivered it to  
the prophets1  and the prophets to the  

men of the ,great ,congregation2' and it
 is also  said1 #8from the time that the
 ,temple was destroyed1 the gift of     
prophecy  was taken from the prophets   
and given to the ,wise4'0    ,his words 
moved me1 and ,i restrained myself for  
the time4 ,yet on the other  side there 
rose in my heart a certain ,voice1 which
 seemed to come from the  ,lord1 saying1
 8,the words of ,john are right1 and    
they are simple1  converting the soul4  
,moreover1 they are fit for the people  
of the land1  and not only for ,scribes 
and scholars and pedants4 ,but that he  
is a  prophet1 thine own heart          
convinceth thee2 for even when thou     
hearest him1  thou knowest that he      
speaketh not from himself1 but that he  
is taught from  above4 ,and did not also
 the prophets of old speak like things1 
saying1  #8,rend your hearts1 and not   
your garments1' and bidding ,israel not 
to offer  sacrifice1 but to shew mercy1 
and not to observe ,sabbaths1 but to do 
judgment and relieve the oppressed80 ,so

 between the words of the ,scribe  and  
the words of the ,voice within me ,i was
 in a great strait4 ,howbeit for  the   
time ,i restrained myself and did       
nothing1 but remained where ,i was1     
giving heed to the words of the         
,prophet4    ,now it came to pass that  
certain of the soldiers from ,machrus   
went up3  and all we in the crowd waited
 silently expecting that the ,prophet   
would  deny purification to these men1  
except they should first promise to     
depart  from the army of ,herod4 ,but he
 commanded them only to abstain from    
robbery  and outrage4 ,upon this certain
 taxgatherers 7whom the ,romans call    
publicans7 took confidence1 and they too
 went up4 ,and now indeed all we  that  
looked on1 expected that there should   
have been a great outburst of  wrath and
 of cursing upon them1 as upon traitors 
and apostates from  ,israel4 ,but the   
,prophet received these also1 and bade  
them exact no more  than that which was 
appointed to them4 ,to others he said   

that they were to  observe that saying  
in the ,traditions which enjoineth the  
doing of  kindnesses2 that is to say1   
they were to clothe the naked and to    
feed the  hungry1 and the like4         
,hereupon arose a murmuring among       
certain of the ,scribes from ,jerusalem1
  who were standing nigh to the place   
where ,i was3 and ,i heard the voice of 
,hezekiah son of ,zachariah saying in an
 austere manner1 8,it is said1 #8,on    
three things the world is stayed2 on the
 ,law1 and on the ,worship1 and on  the 
bestowal of ,kindnesses3' what meaneth  
this teacher of strange things          
therefore1 to subvert the ,law and the  
,worship1 in that he maketh no  mention 
thereof1 but he exalteth ,kindnesses to 
the skies80 ,then another  said1 8,he   
allegeth the authority of no teacher2   
why therefore hearken we  to him80 ,but 
a third said1 8,peradventure he is a    
prophet1 and is taught of  ,god40 ,but  
,hezekiah made answer1 8,the time of    
prophets hath passed4  ,besides1 he hath

 wrought no sign from ,heaven2 how know 
we therefore that  he is a true         
prophet80    ,these things spake the    
,scribes together1 as we went back from 
the river to  the place where our tents 
were pitched2 for by this time the sun  
was  setting4 ,but all that night long  
my thoughts still beat on the doctrine  
of  ,john2 and ,i marvelled much whence 
it came that the people so flocked to   
,john as to a prophet2 yea1 and that my 
own heart also was so drawn towards     
him1 although he had wrought no sign in 
heaven1 nor so much as driven out  any  
unclean spirit4 ,but the reason seemed  
to me partly in himself4 ,for his  very 
countenance1 yea1 even his gesture and  
carriage1 proclaimed him to  be1 not a  
student of books1 but one that was      
taught of ,god2 and yet  further the    
hardships that he endured1 and the      
manner of his clothing and  food 7for he
 fed on nothing but locusts and wild    
honey7 shewed to all men  that he did   
not prophesy for gain4 ,but another     

reason lay in his doctrine4  ,for the   
doctrine of ,john was simple and just1  
commending itself to the  consciences of
 men2 not flattering any nor busying    
itself with abstruse  matters2 but fit  
for the work of life and the paths of   
busy men1 able1 as  it seemed1 to carry 
purity and righteousness even to the    
side of the  plough1 and into the ranks 
of armed men1 and into the shops and    
offices of  tradesmen and taxgatherers4 
,for this cause the teaching of ,john   
won a way  into the hearts of men of    
every degree1 save only certain of the  
,pharisees4 ,so when ,i thought on all  
these things1 ,i began to be convinced  
that he was sent of ,god4    ,but when  
,i went forth on the morrow to behold   
the purification of the  disciples and  
to hear the teaching of the ,prophet1 my
 heart was even more  drawn unto him4   
,for ,i compared him with ,abuyah the   
son of ,elishah1 and  with the ruler of 
the synagogue1 that had driven away the 
taxgatherers  and sinners from the      

teaching of repentance2 and it seemed to
 me that ,john  was as much better than 
they1 as light is better than darkness4 
,for though  he were of a stern         
countenance and austere in aspect1 yet  
was the  austerity of ,john in no wise  
as the austerity of ,abuyah the son of  
,elishah4 ,for ,abuyah was sour and     
peevish1 for that he ever loved to find 
fault1 and because he desired to obtain 
occasion for rebuking1 to the  intent   
that he might persuade himself that he  
was better than others3 but  ,john      
seemed to be austere only because he    
hated sin4 ,so ,i no more delayed1  but 
went up with the rest1 about the second 
hour of the day2 and ,i  confessed my   
sins and received purification4         
,after we had been purified1 ,i stood   
with the rest1 clothed in white         
garments1 wholly given up to meditating 
upon the new life whereto we  seemed to 
have risen out of the waters4 ,but ,i   
was aroused by hearing these  words     
spoken with a great vehemency of anger3 

8,ye serpents1 ye generation  of vipers1
 who hath warned you to flee from the   
wrath to come80 ,great  indeed was my   
astonishment when1 raising myself to see
 what they were to  whom the ,prophet   
was thus speaking1 ,i discerned the     
faces of some of the  most famous       
,scribes in ,jerusalem4 ,it seemed that 
they had been questioning  him who he   
was and by what authority he taught     
these things4 ,but the  ,prophet rebuked
 them with exceeding indignation4 ,for  
he said that they  were even as barren  
trees1 full of leaf1 but bearing no     
fruit1 fit for  naught but to be cut    
down and cast into the fire4 ,then they 
went backward1  being put to utter      
confusion2 but ,john turned to us that  
had been  purified1 and spake to us a   
second time as follows3    8,i am not   
the ,christ4 ,call not yourselves my    
disciples3 for ,i myself am  naught but 
a herald in the wilderness preparing the
 way for the ,great  ,king4 ,but verily 
the ,king cometh4 ,therefore weep no    

more for the evils of  sin4 ,the rough  
ways of oppression shall be made smooth2
 the crooked paths  of deceit and       
violence shall be made straight4 ,let   
the daughter of  ,jerusalem rejoice     
greatly1 for her salvation is nigh4 ,for
 the glory of the  ,lord draweth near1  
and all flesh shall see it together4    
,notwithstanding  think not of me as    
your deliverer4 ,he that hath the bride 
is the  bridegroom1 and the ,bridegroom 
of ,sion is the ,redeemer1 who shall    
espouse  her in the day of salvation4 ,i
 am but the friend of the ,bridegroom4  
,nay1 ,i  am but his servant1 not worthy
 to follow him as slave1 nor to loose   
the  latchet of his sandal4 ,ye ask in  
your hearts who ,i am4 ,but think not of
  me1 for ,i am as one that is no man4  
,i am naught but a voice1 even the      
voice of one crying in the wilderness1  
#8,prepare ye the way of the ,lord1     
make ,his paths straight4'0    ,then he 
warned us that had been purified not to 
suppose that we needed no  further      

purification4 ,speaking of the old days 
of ,joshua the ,conqueror1 he  brought  
to our minds how our fathers had two    
kinds of purification2 one  inferior1   
with water1 wherewith they purified     
things perishable1 such as  garments and
 the like2 but a more searching         
purification1 wherewith they  purified  
silver and gold and other imperishable  
things1 and this was with  fire4 ,even  
so1 he said1 it was given to him to     
purify only with the  washing of water2 
but one would come after him1 the       
,messiah and ,redeemer2  and he would   
purify us with fire and with the ,holy  
,spirit4    ,in the evening1 when we1   
that had received the purification1     
conversed  together in the inn at       
,jericho1 there was much questioning    
whence the  ,messiah should come1 and by
 what signs he should be known4 ,but    
most of the  ,scribes did not believe   
that ,john was a true prophet2 and      
,hezekiah  protested that he ought not  
to be called a prophet1 for he had      

wrought no  sign1 not even on earth1    
much less in heaven4 ,but this he said  
not openly1  for fear of the multitude2 
for almost all believed ,john to be a   
prophet4    ,but on the morrow1 when we 
turned ourselves to go northward1       
heaviness  fell upon my heart1 and all  
things seemed flat and unprofitable4    
,all our  counsels of action1 whether to
 join ourselves to the army of ,herod1  
or  straightway to rise up against the  
,romans1 behold1 they now seemed no     
longer the wisdom of men1 but rather the
 vain talk of children4 ,for what  could
 ,barabbas and the sons of ,judas do1 in
 comparison with the true  ,redemption  
which had been prophesied by the        
,prophet2 or how could they  avail to   
bring about the day of that ,redemption8
 ,it seemed to be our  wisdom to wait   
for the ,lord1 who alone could send the 
true ,redeemer4 ,and  yet1 on the other 
hand1 how was it possible for one that  
loved ,israel and  longed after         
righteousness1 to look patiently upon   

the servitude of his  country8 ,hence ,i
 loathed the thought of living in peace 
at home4    ,when ,i returned to        
,sepphoris1 ,i applied myself to labour 
and to study1 if  perchance ,i might    
settle my thoughts2 but ,i could not1   
for ,i was divided  between two minds4  
,at one time ,i was minded to obey ,john
 and his teaching1  and to set no store 
on the teaching of the ,scribes1 nor to 
give heed to  what were called the      
8light precepts0 of the ,fathers1 such  
as those  concerning tassels and        
fringes1 and the purification of        
vessels1 and the  observance of the     
,sabbath for things without life1 and   
the like2 and it  seemed nobler to cast 
these things away1 and to say that      
mercy1 and  judgment1 and truth1 and    
kindness1 were the great commandments1  
and whoso  observeth these1 observeth   
all4 ,but then at other times1 when ,i  
considered  with myself how frail and   
fitful a thing is man1 how impotent for 
all good  ends1 and how easily led aside

 from the right path by passion and by  
ignorance1 then ,i trembled at the      
thought of casting down the fences which
  had been raised by the generations of 
the wise2 for ,i feared lest ,i should  
be guilty of presumption1 and should    
fall1 and be swallowed up with an  utter
 destruction4    ,but in the minds of   
other men 7and not in me alone7 there   
was at this time  much unsettlement and 
many searchings of heart4 ,for many     
others in  ,sepphoris became illcontent 
with the teaching of the ,scribes1 and  
with  the performance of the precepts of
 the ,law4 ,some men even said that1    
when  the ,messiah came1 there should be
 no more ,law4 ,so1 if1 even before1 men
  had been expecting the ,messiah and   
looking forward to the ,redemption of   
,sion1 much more did they do so now1    
after the preaching of ,john the        
,prophet2 insomuch that the whole of    
,galilee became as dry fuel ready for   
the flame3 and nothing was wanting save 
a spark of fire from heaven to  kindle  

the whole into a great blaze4    ,by    
this time ,i had numbered thirtyfour    
years1 or something more2 and it  was   
the fourteenth year of the ,emperor     
,tiberius4                              
,,chapter ,v      ,now it came to pass  
that about this time1 at the beginning  
of the  fifteenth year of ,tiberius     
,csar1 very early in the spring1 the    
only son  of my mother's eldest brother 
died in ,alexandria2 and my mother's    
brother  7whose name was ,onias7 sent to
 my mother desiring her that she would  
suffer me to come to ,alexandria to     
visit him during his affliction4 ,he was
  a shipwright and a man of great       
wealth1 possessing many cornships2 and  
he  was desirous to have adopted me for 
his son4 ,but to this ,i would not      
consent1 nor did my mother urge me      
thereto4 ,howbeit out of love for her   
brother1 and because she thought it     
would be for my advantage1 she desired  
me to visit my uncle for a time4 ,i had 
no mind to remain in ,alexandria1  nor  

to leave my mother for long4 ,but at my 
mother's bidding ,i was willing  to go  
to my uncle for a season1 if perchance  
,i might comfort him a little4    ,two  
days ,i spent at ,csarea ,stratonis     
waiting for the sailing of our  vessel2 
and during that time my heart was moved 
within me1 for that ,i saw  on all sides
 the signs of the power and prosperity  
of the ,gentiles2 for a  ,gentile city  
this was1 insomuch that1 though the wall
 be on holy ground1  yet was the city   
itself esteemed of our ,scribes to be   
defiled and in a  ,gentile land4 ,for   
the region round about was called the   
land of life2 but  the city was called  
the daughter of ,edom4 ,a great         
breakwater here  protecteth the ships   
from the rage of the sea4 ,each stone   
therein is  thirty cubits long1 six     
cubits deep1 and seven cubits broad1 let
 down into  water twenty fathom deep4   
,above the waters the breakwater is of  
the  breadth of one hundred and forty   
cubits4 ,over against the mouth of the  

haven standeth a temple dedicated to    
,csar1 and thereon two images of        
marble1 very large1 the one of ,csar1   
the other of ,rome4 ,there is also in   
this city a theatre1 and an             
amphitheatre1 and a marketplace1 after  
the  manner of the ,greeks2 and in all  
parts of the city there were to be seen 
baths1 and gardens1 and palaces1 and    
porticoes1 and other public  buildings1 
all adorned1 after the ,greek fashion1  
with images of living  creatures4 ,when 
,i looked on these things1 ,satan       
tempted me and said1 8,god  loveth the  
,romans more than ,he loveth the        
children of ,israel2 and the  wisdom of 
the ,greeks is greater than the wisdom  
of ,sion40    ,more1 yea much more      
grievously did ,satan tempt me when ,i  
was come to that  great city1 even to   
,alexandria4 ,for here the streets were 
broader and the  public buildings also  
larger and goodlier than those of       
,csarea2 and in  the streets and public 
gardens1 yea even in the households of  

the ,gentiles  to whom my uncle         
commended me1 ,i perceived the          
abominations of idolatry4  ,for on every
 side were to be seen images and        
pictures of false gods and of  demons   
which they called demigods and heroes2  
insomuch that the walls of  the houses  
and the chambers1 yea even the seats1   
and couches1 and  ornaments of dress1   
and utensils of furniture1 and          
instruments of music  were all painted  
or carven with abominable devices1      
setting forth the  doings of these      
demons4 ,but when ,i heard the          
interpretation of these  pictures and   
graven images1 then sometimes indeed my 
heart loathed them  for their lewd and  
profane spirit2 but at other times ,i   
was constrained to  confess that there  
was a certain wondrous beauty and       
delight in the songs  of certain of the 
poets of the ,gentiles4    ,here also   
men of all nations and religions1 ,jews 
and ,greeks1 ,romans and  ,egyptians1   
and strangers from the ,east1 lived all 

together in peace1  making gain1 and    
worshipping after the traditions of     
their fathers2 and no  one vexed nor    
oppressed other4 ,all this troubled me1 
for ,i said in my  heart1 8,there is but
 one ,god3 how then doth the            
,allpowerful 7blessed is  ,he7 endure   
that the ,gentiles should live thus     
prosperously in the worship  of gods    
that are no true gods80    ,my uncle's  
house also was a snare unto me and a    
temptation2 for although  he himself    
reverenced the ,law1 yet did he consort 
with many of our nation  which scoffed  
at the ,scriptures and warred against   
all sacred things1  making it their     
delight to have the commandments of the 
,lord in derision1  and saying to the   
faithful among their countrymen1 8,do ye
 still make  account of your laws as if 
they contained the rules of the truth8  
,yet see1  the ,holy ,scriptures1 as ye 
call them1 contain also fables1 such as 
ye are  accustomed to laugh at1 when ye 
hear others say the like40    ,when ,i  

rebuked these backsliders and revolters 
in the presence of my  uncle1 he spake  
kindly to me2 yet did his words shake my
 faith4 ,as for the  ,scribes whose     
teaching ,i had once so prized1 he      
described them as meaning  well1 but not
 teaching well2 and he called them      
8puzzlebrowed sophists10  and 8those    
that busy themselves with the letter40  
,the letter of the ,law1  he said1 was  
full of falsehoods1 such as the ,greeks 
call myths1 which were  intended to warn
 the wise from cleaving unto the letter 
of the ,law4    ,again1 he exhorted me  
not to despise the learning of the      
,greeks1 nor the  teaching of the       
,gentile ,scribes1 whom they called     
8,philosophers40 8,for10  said he1 8they
 enlarge and open the mind and help to  
the right  understanding of the ,law of 
,israel40 ,but when ,i repeated the     
proverb of my  countrymen1 8,the very   
air of ,palestine maketh wise10 and said
 that the  ,scribes in ,galilee eschewed
 the ,greek learning1 warning their     

pupils  against it1 as against a net    
that entangleth the feet1 and when ,i   
appealed  to the ,scribes of my uncle's 
acquaintance1 hoping that they should   
have  been on my side1 behold1 they were
 with one consent against me and with my
  uncle4 ,for they all said that the    
,galilean ,scribes spake as unlearned   
men1  and that there was much to be     
learned from a certain ,gentile         
philosopher  called ,plato2 and one     
added a line from a ,greek playwriter   
which saith  8even from enemies one may 
win learning40 ,then was ,i staggered in
 my  judgment1 and bent to their        
opinion1 so that ,i began to frequent   
the  schools of the philosophers4       
,but great indeed was my perplexity and 
bewilderment when ,i found that  these  
philosophers treated not of such        
subjects as ,i had supposed1 namely  of 
the nature of the soul1 and whether it  
be mortal or immortal1 or  whether there
 be many gods or one ,god2 but they     
questioned whether the  world came      

together by chance or by design1 and    
whether there be any ,god  or no4 ,yet  
howsoever they differed among           
themselves1 they agreed all in          
believing that our ,god was not the true
 ,god1 and that the stories of the      
mighty works wrought by ,him for our    
forefathers were mere myths and  fables2
 or1 if any thought otherwise1 they held
 that our stories were no  truer than   
their stories1 and that sculapius and   
,hercules were far more  worthy of      
honour than ,elijah and ,samson4 ,now a 
certain voice within me  constantly     
testified that they were in error2 for  
the righteous teaching  of our prophets 
and our lawyers far exceeded anything   
that the ,gentiles  could shew from     
their philosophers or lawgivers4 ,but ,i
 had been taught by  the ,scribes of    
,galilee not to trust to this voice     
within me1 namely to my  conscience1 but
 only to tradition and authority2 and   
behold1 my traditions  and the authority
 whereon ,i set store were rejected by  

these ,gentiles3  wherefore ,i knew not 
how to answer them4    ,it came to pass 
that1 on a certain day1 going from      
lectureroom to  lectureroom1 ,i         
perceived a great multitude passing into
 a hall in the  ,great ,library1 where  
there was to be a dispute between two   
philosophers2  so ,i followed with them4
 ,one of the two belonged to the sect   
called the  ,stoics1 and the other to   
the sect called the ,epicureans2 and the
 dispute  was concerning the government 
of the universe by the gods1 which is   
affirmed by the former sect1 but denied 
by the latter4 ,now the contention  had 
endured for the space of a whole day    
already1 and yesterday the ,stoic  had  
delivered his arguments3 but today the  
dispute was to be continued by  the     
other1 and so it was that1 when ,i      
entered the chamber1 the ,epicurean  was
 at the point to speak4    ,he began    
with reckoning up how many unjust acts1 
how many oppressions and  sins1 how many
 diseases and miseries1 had been let    

loose by the gods 7if  gods there were7 
to prey upon the children of men4 ,he   
set forth the  diverse gods and         
goddesses worshipped by diverse nations2
 the gods of the  ,grecians and ,romans1
 wrought of marble or ivory2 the sword  
worshipped by  the ,scythians2 the cat  
and ibis by the ,egyptians4 ,what1 he   
asked1 had they  all done for their     
servants8 ,then he said that in a       
certain region of  ,syria there lived a 
nation which professed to reject the    
gods of other  nations and to believe in
 one only god3 but to what end8 ,their  
god had  allowed their enemies to       
destroy his own temple with fire1 and   
had given  up his chosen people to be   
the servants of the ,romans4 ,he added a
 story of  one of our learned men1 whose
 life had been blameless and whose      
teaching  had been of the ,one ,true    
,god4 8,yet10 said the ,epicurean1 8what
 befell this  teacher of truth in his   
old age8 ,his god delivered him into the
 hands of  persecutors1 who placed his  

tongue between the teeth of a dog which 
had  been made exceeding fierce with    
hunger2 and so the dog bit off the      
tongue  of the pious teacher1 even that 
tongue which had ever spoken words of   
truth4 ,what say we then8 ,if there be a
 god1 then he suffered this  wickedness 
7for without him is naught72 and        
therefore he is wicked4 ,but if  there  
be no god1 then at least we are         
delivered from the constraint to        
believe that the ,supreme ,governor of  
the world is worse than the worst of    
men40    ,the people1 who had been on   
the side of the ,epicurean from the     
first1 in  despite of the interruptions 
of the ,stoic1 now loudly applauded2 and
 when  it fell to the ,stoic to speak1  
he had little to say4 ,if he discoursed 
of  oracles as proofs of the divine     
foreknowledge1 then the ,epicurean asked
  who had ever been profited by oracles1
 bringing forward many dark sayings  of 
the gods1 which had led men to          
destruction2 and other sayings that     

savoured of manifest folly2 adding      
thereto jests and flouts of oracles     
drawn from the plays of the comedians4  
,when the ,stoic spake of a life  after 
death1 and alleged apparitions of the   
dead1 then his adversary  answered that 
the said apparitions were mere          
unsubstantial phantasms1 such  as appear
 to madmen and drunkards when they see  
all things twofold4  ,lastly1 when the  
,stoic spake of judgment after death1   
and a final  consumption of the world by
 fire1 then the ,epicurean demanded     
proof  hereof2 and he laughed at the    
stories of ,minos and ,rhadamanthus as  
nursery  fables and bugbears to frighten
 babes withal4 ,he also compared the    
,supreme  ,being of the ,stoics burning 
up the world1 to an unskilful cook that 
burneth the cake that he is baking4     
,again the people laughed loudly1 and   
shouted applause2 but the ,stoic1       
touched with choler1 left reasoning with
 his adversary and began to revile  him1
 calling him atheist and sacrilegious   

wretch1 and other names2 which  only    
made the people laugh the more4 ,but ,i 
came forth from the theatre  sick at    
heart and saddened1 not more by the     
arguments of the ,epicurean  than by the
 faithlessness of the multitude4 ,then  
said ,i1 8,how know ,i that  there is a 
life after death8 or who hath returned  
from the grave to bring  back word      
thereof8 ,for it is written1            
#8,whatsoever thy hand findeth to do1   
do it with thy might4' ,but wherefore8  
#8,even because1' saith the ,scripture1 
#8there is no work1 nor device1 nor     
knowledge1 nor wisdom in the grave      
whither thou goest4'0 ,then again ,i    
lamented that ,i had wasted my years in 
labour1 and much study had been to me a 
weariness in the flesh1 and ,i  said1   
8,it would have been wiser to have      
preferred mirth1 for it is  written1    
#8,a man hath no better thing under the 
sun than to eat and drink1  and to be   
merry3 for that shall abide with him of 
his labour the days of  his life1 which 

,god giveth him under the sun4'0        
,from henceforth my days and nights were
 busied with such questions as  these1  
which crept into my soul against my     
will1 and would not be driven  out3     
,after death shall ,i live no more1 and 
will no one even once think of  me1     
since infinite time burieth all things  
in forgetfulness8 ,will it be  even as  
though ,i had never been born8 ,when was
 the world created1 and what  was in the
 beginning before the world8 ,if the    
world was from all eternity1  then it   
will always be2 but if it had a         
beginning1 then must it likewise  have  
an end4 ,and1 after the end of the      
world1 what will be then8 ,what  perhaps
 but the silence of death8    ,being    
constantly given up to such thoughts1 ,i
 resorted yet more diligently  to the   
schools of the philosophers1 hoping to  
obtain some deliverance from  my doubts3
 but ,i saw nothing but the contentions 
of orators1 and the  foyning and        
thrusting of rhetoricians1 fighting not 

for the truth1 but  each desiring to    
prove himself more skilful than his     
adversaries4 ,so it  came to pass that  
,i inclined1 now to one1 now to another4
 ,as1 for example1  at one time they    
that taught the immortality of the soul 
seemed to  prevail2 then again they that
 would have the soul to be mortal4 ,when
 the  former doctrine had the upper     
hand1 ,i rejoiced3 when the latter1 ,i  
was  downcast4 ,thus was ,i driven to   
and fro by differing opinions1 and was  
forced to conclude that things appear   
not as they are in themselves1 but  as  
they happen to be presented on this     
side1 or on that4 ,my brain was in a    
greater whirl than ever1 and ,i sighed  
from the bottom of my heart4    ,at the 
last ,i went to my uncle in my distress1
 and poured forth my  troubles in his   
ear4 ,but when he had hearkened to my   
complaints1 he said1  8,it will be well 
that thou shouldst have speech with     
,philo2 for he is our  principal teacher
 here1 and he will answer thy doubts40  

,but ,i said in my  haste and           
impatience1 8,behold1 ,i have resorted  
unto the wisest teachers in  ,galilee1  
and now1 at thy word1 ,i have frequented
 the lectures of these  ,gentile        
philosophers2 but they have added       
nothing to me1 for they are as  driedup 
springs40 ,at this my uncle laughed1 and
 said1 8,suppose not1 ,o son  of my     
sister1 that our ,philo is like unto the
 ,scribes of ,galilee3 for as  well     
might a dog hope to lap up the ,nile as 
that thou shouldst drain dry  the wisdom
 of ,philo the ,alexandrine40 ,so       
without more ado ,i accompanied  him to 
the house of ,philo4    ,when we entered
 the house of ,philo1 ,i admired first  
of all the homely  plainness of his     
household4 ,for though he were one of   
the foremost ,jews in  ,alexandria 7and 
there were nigh unto a hundred myriads  
of our countrymen  in the city and the  
country round about7 and kinsman also to
 ,alexander the  ,alabarch1 whose wealth
 was known to all1 yet were there no    

signs of  luxury1 nor of pride in his   
house1 nor in his furniture nor in his  
clothing3 and his wife also wore a plain
 and simple garment without  plaiting of
 the hair1 or painting1 or adornment    
with gold and precious  stones2 and in  
all the house there was naught whereat  
the strictest  ,pharisee could have been
 offended4    ,philo received us        
courteously2 and when ,i had opened to  
him at large all  my doubts1 he replied 
fully to them4 ,i cannot at this time   
set down  exactly all that we spake     
together2 but this was the substance4   
,first1 ,i  said that ,i was loth to be 
as one of the backsliders among my      
countrymen1  who in effect gave up the  
,law1 deriding it as a heap of fables2  
yet on the  other hand1 ,i confessed    
that after much study of the ,law ,i had
 not been  able to attain to            
righteousness nor peace4 ,thereto ,philo
 made answer that  he was not one of    
them that rejected the ,law of ,israel2 
for he diligently  observed it1         

believing that it contained all         
knowledge and all wisdom2  8and10 said  
he1 8,i consider that ,moses was the    
greatest and most perfect  of men1 and  
that he attained unto the very pinnacle 
of wisdom47#a7 ,but as  for the wisdom  
of the ,greeks1 it is but as a handmaid 
in respect of our  wisdom2 even as the  
slave ,hagar was1 in respect of her     
mistress and queen1  ,sarah4            
,notwithstanding10 added he1 8when ,i   
speak of our ,scriptures1 ,i mean  that 
there are two interpretations of every  
,scripture4 ,there is first the  outer  
meaning1 which is as it were the body2  
but there is1 next1 the inner  spiritual
 meaning1 which is1 as it were1 the     
soul4 ,thus1 for example1 when  thou    
readest that ,eve was made out of the   
rib of ,adam1 or that the world  was    
made in six days1 or that ,god talked   
with ,moses in a thornbush1 the  letter 
of these ,scriptures is indeed fable1   
but the spiritual meaning is  truth and 
life40 ,then said ,i1 8,if the letter be

 fable1 why retain the  letter80 ,but he
 said1 8,and if the body be unspiritual1
 why retain the  body8 ,as well cast    
away the body because it is not soul1 as
 cast away the  letter because it is not
 spirit40    ,then ,i asked1 8,but how  
shall ,i attain righteousness80 ,philo  
replied1 8,all  men have in them a      
certain spiritual nature1 in virtue     
whereof they are  allied with the ,word 
of ,god4 ,whosoever recogniseth the sins
 wherewith he  is defiled1 hath the     
power 7if he will use it7 of rising     
above his  passions1 and conquering his 
lusts1 so that in the end1 by repentance
 and  by constant struggling after      
righteousness1 he can follow after the  
virtues of the ,father in heaven who    
begat him40 ,then said ,i1 8,all this   
have ,i done2 for ,i have now these many
 years observed not only the words  of  
the ,law1 but also the ,traditions of   
the ,elders2 yet have ,i not attained   
peace40 ,but he said1 8,thou puttest    
first that which should come second2    

first aim after the virtues that have to
 do with men2 afterward shalt thou      
attain the virtue that hath to do with  
,god40 8,it would seem therefore10  said
 ,i1 8that thou dost not advise thy     
disciples to withdraw themselves  from  
the world1 after the manner of hermits40
 8,yea1 but ,i do advise them10  said   
,philo2 8only first men should attain to
 the lower step before aiming  at the   
higher4 ,for first1 they should study   
truthfulness1 striving to love  their   
neighbours1 and to be helpful and gentle
 to all2 for man should be  gentle1 and 
not savage1 being fitted by nature for  
fellowship and concord4  ,but after that
 thou hast attained to this lower stage1
 my counsel is that  thou forsake thy   
home and thy friends1 and thy wealth1   
and all that thou  hast1 and that thou  
abstain from business of state1 and from
 all traffic1  and that thou give       
thyself entirely to the contemplation of
 the divine  essence40    ,then said ,i1
 8,methinks1 many of our ,scribes in    

,galilee would not please  thee2 for    
they seek after righteousness by other  
ways1 observing the  smallest matters of
 the ,law1 and afflicting the flesh40   
8,tell such an one  from me10 said      
,philo1 8when thou shalt see him        
perchance abstaining from  food or drink
 at the times of eating1 or disdaining  
the bath and the use  of oil1 or        
tormenting himself with a hard couch or 
with nightwatchings1  deceiving himself 
with this show of abstinence1 that he is
 not in the true  way to continence1 and
 that all his labour is in vain40       
8,but what10 asked ,i1 8is this highest 
revelation of the essence of the        
,supreme 7blessed is ,he7 to which the  
soul shall at last attain80 ,philo      
paused a moment and then answered1      
8,thou shalt attain to the knowledge of 
,god1 as mere being or existence40 ,but 
,i1 not understanding him aright1  said1
 8,thou sayest #8existence3' dost thou  
mean #8holy existence'80 ,but  ,philo   
answered with a smile1 8,how can we call

 ,him holy who is holier than  all      
holiness8 ,but by #8mere existence1' ,i 
mean that which is known as  existence  
and in no other way40 ,then ,i said1    
8,may we not therefore call  ,him good8 
or loving80 8,call ,him so10 replied    
,philo1 8if thou dost not  believe that 
,he is better than all goodness1 more   
loving than all love40    ,hereat my    
heart sank within me2 for such a ,god as
 this 8mere existence0  seemed to me not
 a being able to love me nor to be loved
 by me1 no more  than if it had been a  
triangle or a circle4 ,but presently ,i 
called to mind  that ,moses had named   
,god the ,father of the spirits of all  
flesh3 and the  prophets also had named 
,god ,father4 ,therefore said ,i to     
,philo1 8,and the  name ,father also8   
,may we not give this name to ,god80    
8,no10 said ,philo1  8except in order to
 teach the common folk2 as when the     
,scripture saith  that ,god chasteneth  
those whom ,he loveth1 like as a father 
chasteneth his  son4 ,for ,god cannot   

change2 neither can ,he feel anger1 nor 
love1 nor joy4  ,but when the ,scripture
 sayeth such words as these1 it speaketh
 for the  common multitude1 even as when
 it saith that ,god spake or heard2 or  
that  ,he smelled a sweet savour2 or    
that ,he awaked from sleep2 or that ,he 
repented of that which ,he had done40   
,when ,i heard this1 it seemed to me    
that ,i had come to ,philo for naught2  
but ,i said to him1 8,thou speakest of  
that revelation of ,god1 which thou     
callest mere existence1 as being the    
highest revelation4 ,is there then a    
lower revelation80 8,certainly10 he     
replied1 8for just as there is1 in      
human life1 the thing and the word that 
revealeth the thing1 even so is  there  
also on the one hand ,god1 the true     
,god1 ,,that ,,which ,,is1 and on the   
other hand the ,word of ,god1 which     
revealeth ,god to the minds of men40    
,then  ,i questioned him concerning this
 ,word of ,god1 or ,logos 7as he called 
it1  using a ,greek name73 and he       

answered me fully1 yet not so that ,i   
could  altogether understand him4 ,but  
this ,i gathered1 that the ,word or     
,logos was  a second divine being1      
inseparable from the ,father2 and that  
by the ,word  was the world made4 ,but  
sometimes he said that the world1 as    
conceived by  the intellect1 was the    
,word1 78for10 said he1 8as a city1 not 
yet being1  is in the mind or reason of 
the architect thereof1 so the world1    
albeit  not being1 was in the mind or   
reason of ,god027 and with these exact  
words  he made an end of this part of   
his discourse1 for ,i set them down at  
the  time3 8,if any one should desire to
 use still plainer terms1 he would not  
call the world 7regarded as perceptible 
only to the intellect7 as anything  else
 but the ,reason of ,god busied with the
 creation of the world2 for  neither is 
a city1 while only perceptible to the   
intellect1 anything else  except the    
reason of the architect40    ,then said 
,i1 8,but how do men attain to the      

revelation of the ,word80 8,by  the     
exercise of the divine ,word or ,reason 
within them10 said ,philo2 8for  all men
 have in themselves a ray of light from 
the archetypal ,light1 the  ,word of the
 ,supreme ,being4 ,for no mortal thing  
is framed1 nor could have  been framed1 
in the similitude of the ,supreme       
,father2 but only after the  pattern of 
the second deity1 the ,word4 ,now this  
,word can be received of  all them that 
will live according to it4 ,for the race
 of mankind is  twofold1 the one being  
the race of them that live by the       
,divine ,spirit and  reason2 the other1 
of such as live according to the        
pleasures of the  flesh4 ,the universe  
therefore1 apprehended by the reason of 
man1 conveyeth  the revelation of the   
,word4 ,and this revelation1 this       
heavenly food of the  soul 7which ,moses
 calleth manna71 the ,word of ,god      
meteth out in equal  portions among all 
them which are to use it4 ,for the      
blessed soul  proffereth her own reason 

as the holy goblet of true joy4 ,but who
 can pour  forth the wine of life1 save 
only the ,cupbearer of ,god1 the ,master
 of the  ,feast1 the ,word8 ,and indeed 
the ,cupbearer differeth in no wise from
 the  draught4 ,for the ,word is the    
draught itself1 pure and unpolluted40   
,then it was borne in upon my mind1 that
 in all his discourse 7which  inforced  
attention by reason of the beauty of his
 sayings1 and because of  his exceeding 
earnestness7 he had left no place for   
the ,messiah or  ,redeemer of ,israel1  
whose coming had been prophesied by     
,john1 the son of  ,zachariah4          
,therefore ,i questioned him of this    
matter4 ,but he smiled and  said1       
8,trouble not thyself on this matter2   
for it is likely that no  ,messiah is to
 come4 ,but it will come to pass1 in the
 day of ,redemption1  that the children 
of ,israel1 which be now scattered over 
the earth1 will  be led from all parts  
back to the ,sacred ,land1 by the light 
of a great  light invisible to all      

others1 but visible only to such as are 
to be  saved40 ,then1 seeing that ,i was
 of a sad countenance1 he added1 8,dost 
thou  not perceive that the revelation  
of a ,messiah would be as much inferior 
to  the revelation of the ,word1 or     
,logos1 as the revelation of the ,logos 
is  itself inferior to the revelation of
 mere existence1  1 or ,,that  ,,which  
,,is8 ,for the revelation of the ,logos 
7that is of ,god known by  creation7 is 
through hope and fear2 but the          
revelation of   7that is  ,god in       
itself7 is through love4 ,and the       
revelation of a ,messiah must needs  be 
a poor and low thing as compared with   
either of these4 ,but thou  shouldst    
aspire towards the highest revelation of
 all1 even the ,father of  all1 with a  
divinely inspired passion not inferior  
to the enthousiasmos  wherewith the     
worshippers of the gods of the ,gentiles
 celebrate their  inferior rites40      
,the day was now far spent3 so my uncle 
arose to bid ,philo farewell4 ,i        

thanked him with my whole heart3 for    
righteousness and goodness breathed  in 
his presence2 and my spirit was         
refreshed while ,i heard him speak4 ,for
  the very voice of the ,lord seemed to 
sound from him when he said that to     
afflict the flesh was of no avail       
without afflicting the spirit1 and that 
the practice of virtue with men should  
go before the practice of virtue  with  
,god4 ,but when ,i was departed from    
him1 musing as ,i returned home1  then  
,i saw that the philosophy of ,philo    
could in no wise give me peace4  ,for it
 was not possible that ,i should feel   
that enthousiasmos1 or divine  passion1 
whereof he made mention1 for such a     
being as ,mere ,existence3 and          
methought ,i could feel this            
enthousiasmos for none save a man1 or   
some  similitude of a man4    ,therefore
 my heart went back to that lower       
revelation whereof he spake1 to  wit1 to
 ,god revealed through the world2 that  
is1 the ,word3 and this seemed  to me   

more likely to give peace4 ,but as for  
,mere ,existence1 albeit ,philo  called 
it the ,father of all1 yet had he       
plainly told me he meant this only  for 
the unlearned multitude4 ,and whereas he
 used one word1 ,god1 to signify  two   
things1 one thing for the learned1 and  
another for the unlearned2  herein1 to  
say truth1 his doctrine brought to my   
mind a certain tale of  the poet ,homer1
 which my uncle had but yesternight     
related unto me2 how a  certain mighty  
man of valour1 and a wise counsellor    
among the ,greeks1  ,ulysses by name1   
deceived the giant ,polyphemus1 saying  
that his name was  ,,noman4 ,wherefore1 
when ,polyphemus said that ,,noman had  
blinded him1 his  brethren1 the giants1 
thought that he meant to say that not a 
man1 but a  god1 had blinded him4 ,and  
even so ,philo seemed to me1 when he    
spake to the  wise and learned1 to call 
,god no man2 but when he spake to the   
foolish  and unlearned1 he called ,him  
,,noman1 making them think ,he was a    

person4    ,but what troubled me in this
 revelation was1 that it seemed not to  
leave  any room or place for the        
,messiah1 the ,redeemer of ,israel4 ,and
 8,why10  thought ,i1 8should the ,word 
reveal himself only through the world1  
and not  through mankind8 ,but if he    
revealed himself through mankind 7which 
,philo  also would allow71 why might he 
not reveal himself through a ,messiah80 
,all  that night ,i lay awake musing on 
the same thing1 and asking whether it   
might not be that ,philo spake truth in 
proclaiming the revelation of the       
,word1 and yet ,john the son of         
,zachariah might also speak truth in    
proclaiming the revelation of the       
,messiah4 ,but after long tossing of the
  matter in my mind ,i concluded that   
there was no cause why the one should   
destroy the other3 so ,i prayed that    
both might be true4    ,but as for my   
former studies1 and my old strict       
observances of the ,sabbath  and of the 
precepts concerning the use of          

purifications and concerning the        
consumption of nailparings1 and         
concerning the wearing of tassels1      
behold1 all these matters began to seem 
unto me things far off1 forgotten1  and 
childish4 ,and though ,i knew not       
clearly whither to turn1 yet ,i felt at 
least that to them ,i could return no   
more2 for ,i perceived that1 even if ,i 
became as perfect in these matters as   
,abuyah the son of ,elishah himself1    
yet should ,i none the more attain to   
peace1 nor could ,i find in them that   
food for want whereof my soul was       
anhungered4 ,wherefore ,i was now       
resolved in my mind of this one thing1  
in any case1 namely1 that the           
observance of the smaller precepts of   
the ,law could not gain for me that     
,banquet1 or ,manna1 or heavenly        
,draught of the ,word of ,god whereof   
,philo  had made mention4 ,but what the 
true ,manna might be1 or how ,i might   
attain  to it1 this ,i did not as yet   
perceive4 ,for ,i was1 at that time1    

even as a  little child in a boat       
without oars or sail1 which hath drifted
 out  unawares far into the open sea4   
,,chapter ,,vi      ,not many days after
 my discourse with ,philo the           
,alexandrine1 when ,i  returned from the
 ,great ,library to my uncle's house1 a 
messenger was  waiting for me1 bearing a
 letter from ,rabbi ,jonathan4 ,opening 
it ,i read  that my mother was suffering
 under a grievous disease1 and being1 as
 she  thought1 nigh unto death1 she     
would fain see me before she died4 ,so  
,i  straightway made all things ready   
for my journey1 and having bidden       
farewell to my uncle1 ,i set sail on the
 morrow from ,alexandria1 and on the    
fifth day arrived in ,jerusalem2 where1 
according to my mother's desire1 ,i     
purposed to offer sacrifice unto the    
,lord1 and to make vows for my  mother's
 health4    ,the sun was well nigh set  
when ,i came to ,jerusalem4 ,but on the 
morrow1 as  ,i went up to the ,temple   
through the narrow ways1 amid the throng

 of them  that sold oxen and sheep and  
doves1 new thoughts and doubts rose in  
my  heart1 such as ,i had never felt    
before when ,i had gone up to sacrifice 
during the three great feasts4          
,methought the ,lord must needs turn    
,his face  from so much traffic and     
disorder and defilement of ,his ,holy   
,house4 ,on  both sides of the gate     
,hora1 as far as ,solomon's porch1 were 
shops of  merchants and stalls of       
moneychangers4 ,even in the ,court of   
the ,gentiles1  which is a part of the  
,temple itself1 there were penned flocks
 of sheep  and oxen1 with drovers and   
salesmen4 ,pilgrims and proselytes from 
all  parts pressed and thronged2 buyer  
reviled seller1 and seller buyer2 from  
the stalls of the moneychangers one     
might hear the clink of money mixed     
with the sounds of contention4 ,the     
stench also of so many cattle1 being    
increased by reason of the great heat1  
made the illsavour of the place  almost 
past bearing4 ,also ,i could not but    

marvel at the greediness of the         
sellers4 ,for the ,chief ,priests had   
let out the right of selling offerings  
at a great price1 to make profit thereof
 for themselves1 insomuch that a  single
 dove was sold for a gold piece4        
,then1 again1 when it came to the       
offering of the sacrifice1 ,i must needs
  wait for the space of an hour whilst  
others were offering up their           
sacrifices2 and the ,levites and priests
 seemed all in haste1 and did their     
work rather as an handicraft than as    
worship2 and many others were           
sacrificing at the same time1 and the   
cries and struggles of the victims1  and
 the smoke and reek of the fat1 and the 
blood flowing on all sides1  caused the 
place to seem rather like a butcher's   
shambles than like the  ,house of the   
,lord4 ,now all this ,i had known and   
seen aforetime1 yet had ,i  never taken 
it to heart4 ,but now there came to my  
mind certain words of  ,philo touching  
the sect called the ,essenes1 how they  

worship the ,lord with  an exceeding    
carefulness of purity3 wherefore they   
think it not meet to  sacrifice the     
blood of beasts unto the ,lord1 but they
 offer up their own  hearts1 purified so
 as to be a fit offering for ,him4 ,also
 at this time  7perchance because ,i was
 but freshly come from the lecturerooms 
of the  philosophers of ,alexandria1 or 
belike because the ,lord would have it  
so to  be1 willing by easy degrees to   
open mine eyes1 and to reveal unto me   
,his  ,messiah7 so it was that ,i could 
think of naught but the words of ,isaiah
  the ,prophet wherein the ,lord saith1 
8,i am full of the burnt offerings of   
rams1 and the fat of fed beasts1 and ,i 
delight not in the blood of  bullocks1  
or of lambs1 or of hegoats40 ,these     
words1 ,i say1 so possessed  my soul    
that1 even when the victim was being    
slain1 ,i could not refrain  from       
repeating them to myself again and      
again2 albeit against my will1  being   
fearful to pollute the sacrifice of the 

,lord4 ,but though ,i made  shift to    
dissemble my trouble until the sacrifice
 was ended1 for fear of  offending the  
priests1 yet when ,i had returned to my 
lodging in the city1  ,i could not      
forbear weeping2 for behold1 all worship
 seemed as vanity1 and  the children of 
men were in mine eyes as beasts of the  
field1 void of  understanding and given 
over to all folly2 and ,god was ,he that
 had made  them thus4 ,therefore ,i     
cried aloud in the fervency of my       
passion and said1  8,it is written1     
#8,on three things the world is stayed3 
on the ,law1 and on  the ,worship1 and  
on the ,bestowal of ,kindnesses2' and   
lo1 ,i know not the  interpretation of  
the ,law2 and worship is naught but     
vanity2 and as for  kindness1 my heart  
is dry and empty of love1 so that there 
is no kindness  in me40    ,on the third
 day after the sacrifice1 ,i came to    
,sepphoris4 ,my mother was  so far      
recovered of her sickness that she was  
no longer despaired of by  the          

physicians4 ,for the time1 my joy       
thereat1 and our rejoicing together     
7because the ,lord had suffered us to   
look on one another again7 drove away   
my former searchings of heart3 which    
notwithstanding presently came back     
upon me4 ,my mother took a delight in my
 continual presence1 and that ,i  should
 sit by her bed1 expounding unto her    
passages of the ,law2 and many a  time1 
while ,i was doing this1 she would make 
mention of the title  wherewith ,i had  
been honoured by ,rabbi ,jonathan1 who  
had called me 8the  plastered cistern40 
,but oftentimes it was not in my heart  
to find any  words of comfort or hope1  
and when my mother longed for the       
draughts of  the ,law ,i felt that ,i   
was a driedup cistern1 and no longer    
full4    ,at the last1 on a certain     
morning1 my mother1 having 7as ,i       
suppose7 noted  my silence before1 spake
 aloud reproving me1 albeit gently1 and 
saying1  8,why flow not the drops of    
refreshment from the plastered cistern  

as in  former days80 ,but ,i replied in 
haste1 8,call me no longer1 ,o my       
mother1 a  cistern4 ,for lo1 ,i am      
become even as a strainer1 which letteth
 out the  wine and keepeth in itself    
nothing but the dregs40 ,then my mother 
wept  bitterly1 thinking that she had   
angered me1 and that ,i had spoken      
falsely2  and ,i also wept1 partly for  
that ,i had made her weep1 but still    
more  because my words were true4       
,then went ,i forth hastily into the    
street2 and meeting ,jonathan the son of
  ,ezra1 and ,abuyah the son of         
,elishah1 ,i accompanied them4 ,and we  
came to  the well that is on the road to
 ,nazareth1 about a thousand paces from 
the  town1 and there we sat down to     
rest4 ,for a time we were silent4 ,then 
,i  turned to ,rabbi ,jonathan and said1
 8,simeon the ,just was of the remnant  
of  the ,great ,synagogue4 ,he used to  
say1 #8,on three things the world is    
stayed3  on the ,law1 and on the        
,worship1 and on the ,bestowal of       

,kindnesses4' ,now  there was a certain 
young man which observed the ,law1 and  
worshipped duly  in the temple4 ,also he
 clothed the naked1 and buried them that
 lay  unburied1 and fed the hungry3 but 
there was no kindness in his heart4 ,is 
such an one1 therefore1 in the path of  
righteousness80 ,then ,abuyah replied   
at once1 8,he is righteous4 ,for it is  
written concerning the statutes and     
judgments of the ,law of the ,lord that 
whosoever doeth them shall live in      
them2 but whether he shall do them      
easily or with difficulty1 or gladly or 
sorrowfully1 concerning this1 behold1   
nothing is written40 ,but ,jonathan  the
 son of ,ezra was silent for a while1   
and said at last1 8,antigonus of  ,soko 
used to say1 #8,be not as slaves that   
minister to their lord with  intent to  
receive recompense2 but be ye as slaves 
that minister to their  lord without    
thought of recompense2 and let the fear 
of ,heaven be upon  you4'0    ,then ,i  
replied1 8,true1 oh my ,master2 but     

ought not the love of ,heaven as  well  
as the fear of ,heaven to be upon us8   
,for is it not said1 #8,learn for  love1
 and honour will come in the end'80     
8,thou speakest well10 said  ,jonathan1 
8and it is written also as the chief of 
all the commandments1  #8,thou shalt    
love the ,lord thy ,god1 and ,him only  
shalt thou serve4'0 ,then ,i  said1     
8,but what if a man feel no love of ,god
 in his heart8 ,for ,i have met  lately 
certain of the ,gentiles1 yea1 and some 
also of our own nation1  which have no  
love of ,god2 whereof some even         
constantly say that there is  no ,god4  
,yea1 and even in mine own heart arise  
strange questionings as to  whence ,i   
came into this world1 and whither ,i am 
going1 and before whom ,i  am to give   
account and reckoning40    ,then ,abuyah
 brake forth again3 8,joseph son of     
,simeon1 busy not thyself  with         
questions that are too high for thee3   
for it is said #8,whosoever shall       
consider four things1 what is above1    

below1 before1 behind1 it were better   
for him that he had not come into the   
world4'0 8,yea1 but10 said ,i1  smiling1
 8it is said by the ,wise1 #8,consider  
three things1 and thou wilt  not come   
into transgression1 ,know whence thou   
earnest2 and whither thou  art going2   
and before whom thou art to give account
 and reckoning4'0  ,hereat ,abuyah arose
 hastily from his seat in sore          
displeasure1 and he  said1 8,child1 thou
 hast defiled thyself by going to a city
 of the ,gentiles  which is not a place 
of the ,law2 for it is said1 #8,two that
 sit together  without words of the ,law
 are a session of scorners2' and again1 
#8,betake  thyself to a place of the    
,law1 and say not that it shall come    
after thee1  for thine associates will  
confirm it unto thee3 and lean not unto 
thine  own understanding4' ,howbeit1 ,i 
thank thee1 ,o ,lord my ,god and ,god of
 my  fathers1 that ,thou hast cast my   
lot among them that do frequent the     
schools and synagogues1 and not among   

such as frequent the theatre and the    
circus4 ,for both ,i and they work and  
watch3 ,i to inherit eternal life1 but  
they for eternal destruction40 ,so      
saying he departed1 and left me alone   
with ,jonathan the son of ,ezra4        
,jonathan sat still by my side saying   
naught1 but gazing up into the  heaven1 
or else upon the trees round about us4  
,for all around us were  orangetrees and
 pomegranatetrees2 the leaves thereof   
scarce to be seen  for the multitude of 
white and scarlet blossoms2 for the     
spring was now  something worn4 ,the    
fields also and the gardens and the     
hedges of cactus1  by reason of the     
rains1 were of a marvellous verdure1    
even above their  wont4 ,behind us1 at a
 little distance1 stood a grove of      
olivetrees1  wherein the doves made a   
pleasant murmuring3 and birds of divers 
colours  fluttered to and fro around the
 well4 ,nigh over our heads there were  
passing larger birds1 flying in a long  
train towards the country of the  ,lake2

 and far off ,i could discern an eagle1 
like a spot1 high up in the  sky4 ,then 
,jonathan spake unto me and said1 8,my  
son1 dost thou not remember  the words  
of the ,psalmist1 how he praiseth the   
name of ,god because #8,he  sendeth the 
springs into the valleys1 which run     
among the hills4 ,they give  drink to   
every beast of the field3 the wild asses
 quench their thirst4 ,by  them shall   
the fowls of the heaven have their      
habitation1 which sing among  the       
branches4 ,he causeth the grass to grow 
for the cattle and herb for the  service
 of man3 that he may bring forth food   
out of the earth2 and wine  that maketh 
glad the heart of man1 and oil to make  
his face to shine1 and  bread which     
strengthened man's heart4' ,doth not the
 sight of all this  glory and beauty    
cause thee also to say with the ,singer 
of ,israel1 #8,o  ,lord1 how manifold   
are ,thy works6 in wisdom hast ,thou    
made them all'80    ,but ,i made answer1
 in the bitterness of my heart1         

according to the words  of the same     
,psalm1 saying1 8,thou hidest ,thy face1
 they are troubled3 ,thou  takest away  
their breath1 they die1 and return to   
their dust40 ,then  ,jonathan bowed his 
head and answered nothing1 but ,i       
continued1 8,did not  the same hand     
which made the dove make also yonder    
eagle to destroy the  dove8 ,did not the
 ,god which chose out ,israel from among
 the ,gentiles to  serve ,him1 choose   
out ,rome also to rend ,israel in       
pieces8 ,thou speakest  after the manner
 of ,philo the ,alexandrine1 who saith  
that ,god revealeth  ,himself to us     
through ,his ,word in the universe4 ,but
 verily ,he revealeth  ,himself not so  
unto me4 ,nay rather1 unsearchable are  
the paths of the  ,creator in the       
universe1 and ,his ways in the ,world   
are past finding out40    ,then the old 
man covered his face with his hands and 
wept2 but soon  raising his head he     
said1 8,is it seemly that a son of      
,abraham should have  so little trust in

 the ,lord8 ,bethink thee of the times  
when the ,holy  ,temple was burned with 
fire1 and ,judah led into captivity3 did
 not all the  ,gentiles say in those    
days1 #8,god hath forsaken them'8 ,yet  
did the ,lord  save ,israel out of the  
hand of the daughter of ,babylon1 and   
out of the  hand of the ,assyrian and   
the ,philistine1 as also out of the hand
 of the  ,egyptian1 in the days of old4 
,commit thy way therefore unto the      
,lord1 and  trust in ,him1 and ,he shall
 bring the word of ,his prophets to     
pass4    8,is not the ,lord our ,god    
perchance even now on the point to stop 
the  mouths of them that complained8 ,is
 there not even now1 after four hundred 
years1 a prophet again in ,israel8 ,but 
if the ,lord sendeth unto us a  prophet 
after so long a time1 as it were from   
the dead1 surely it is like  that ,he   
hath some great redemption in store for 
,sion4 ,even during this  week have ,i  
heard that ,john the prophet1 who hath  
these six months  prophesied of a       

,deliverer shortly to come1 hath of late
 prophesied that  the ,redeemer is even 
now amongst us2 and some say that it is 
a certain  ,jesus1 the son of ,joseph1  
of the town of ,nazareth1 one famous in 
word and  deed4 ,this ,jesus1 as they   
report the matter1 being baptized of    
,john1  beheld a vision of the ,lord2   
and in that instant the ,spirit of the  
,lord  fell upon him2 insomuch that1    
since that time1 he both speaketh as a  
prophet and worketh signs as a man of   
,god4 ,moreover1 ,i had speech but      
yesterday with some that say he is come 
into ,galilee1 and is even now in  these
 parts4 ,who knoweth whether this may   
not be true8 ,but whether it be  true or
 false1 trust thou in the ,lord ,god of 
,abraham and of ,isaac and  ,jacob1     
whose arm is not shortened1 and who is  
not a man that ,he should  lie40    ,for
 an instant1 my heart leaped up at the  
mention of the name of that  ,jesus whom
 ,i had seen in the house of the father 
of ,raphael2 but then it  seemed not    

possible that one of so gentle an aspect
 should be the ,redeemer  of ,israel4   
,howbeit1 ,i asked ,jonathan concerning 
the vision that had been  reported to   
have been seen of ,jesus2 and he told me
 that it had not been a  vision of      
flames of fire1 nor of angels1 nor of   
thrones1 nor of seraphim1  nor any such 
vision as had been seen of the prophets 
in times past1 but a  vision of a dove  
descending from heaven4 ,hereat ,i      
marvelled and ,i said1 as  ,i remember1 
in the bitterness and folly of my heart1
 that the times needed  an eagle1 and1  
lo1 the new prophet brought a dove4     
,but ,jonathan rose up from his seat to 
depart1 and paying no heed to my  last  
words1 he spake kindly unto me and said1
 8,if thy heart inclineth  thee1 my     
child1 to prove whether there be any    
avail for thee in a life of             
contemplation1 and whether thou mayest  
thereby attain peace2 wherefore  goest  
thou not unto the village of ,jotapata  
where the ,essenes dwell8  ,menahem the 

son of ,barachiah is their chief ruler1 
a man that followeth  after holiness and
 seeth things to come2 who1 being my    
friend1 will for my  sake receive thee  
kindly4 ,finally my child1 offer up     
prayers unto ,god and  pour forth thy   
troubles before ,him2 neither think too 
evil of thyself nor  give place unto    
dark thoughts2 and let not thy prayers  
be uttered at set  times and in set     
words1 but let them express thy heart's 
desire1 according  as it is said1       
#8,make not thy prayer an ordinance1 but
 an entreaty before  ,him who filleth   
all space 7blessed is ,he74' ,think not 
also too evil of  thine own heart2 but  
remember the saying1 #8,be not wicked   
unto thyself4'  ,and now farewell1 for  
,i must needs go back to the city40     
,saying these words1 the old man        
departed and left me still sitting by   
the  well4 ,but1 as it was not yet the  
third hour of the day 7and the ,essene  
village was distant not much more than a
 two hours' journey1 or three  hours' at

 the most71 it came into my mind that ,i
 would hearken unto the  voice of       
,jonathan1 and visit the village of the 
,essenes that very day4 ,so  ,i arose   
straightway and set out on my journey4  
,i rested often during the  heat of the 
day1 for ,i was weary with long watching
 and fasting2 but a  little before      
noontide1 ,i was come to the top of the 
mountain which  looketh down upon the   
village4    ,then ,i looked1 and lo1 in 
the valley the ,essenes busy at their   
labours1  even as the ants that move to 
and fro in an anthill2 and as near as ,i
  could conjecture1 they were to the    
number of three or four hundred thus    
labouring together4 ,but as ,i looked1  
behold1 a sound as of one proclaiming   
the hour of prayer2 and lo1 the fields  
were empty1 neither was any one         
anywhere to be seen4 ,presently they    
appeared again in white robes  thronging
 to the house of prayer4 ,then a sound1 
as of psalms sung by many  voices1 rose 
up to my ears1 and filled my heart with 

a deep peace4 ,i  waited for the space  
of nearly an hour1 till the assembly had
 broken up1  returning in their white   
robes to their several cottages4 ,when  
,i had  beheld all this1 my heart       
rejoiced1 and ,i said1 8,if only all    
,israel could  thus return to the ,lord1
 then would the dough be no longer      
corrupt with  leaven1 according to the  
saying2 and the wrath of the ,lord would
 be turned  from ,his people40 ,but then
 came into my mind the saying of ,philo1
 that the  virtue towards man must come 
before the virtue towards ,god4 ,i      
remembered  also that which ,i had often
 before heard of the ,essenes1 how they 
neither  marry nor give in marriage1 but
 replenish their community by adopting  
the  children of others and by admitting
 of strangers into their number4 ,then  
,i  bethought myself that if all the    
children of ,israel should become       
,essenes1  ,israel would speedily       
perish2 neither could there be any      
,redemption4 ,for  even now1 though     

there had been ,essenes these thirty or 
forty years1 or  even more1 yet did they
 number no more than three thousand or  
four  thousand men in all ,israel2 and  
of these almost all lived in the        
country1  avoiding towns for fear of    
defilement1 and exceeding even the      
,pharisees in  the strictness wherewith 
they observe ,sabbaths and obey the     
precepts of  the ,law 7save only in the 
matter of sacrifice74 ,so1 as ,i looked 
down upon  the village1 and round upon  
the hills which shut it in and hid it   
from the  sight of men1 the proverb came
 to my mind which sayeth that 8a city   
that  is set upon a hill cannot be hid30
 but said ,i1 8the city of the ,essenes 
lieth in a valley40 ,then ,i turned my  
back upon the place and would not go    
down to see ,menahem1 but set out to    
return to ,sepphoris4    ,but as ,i     
went1 my burden grew heavier than ,i    
could bear1 and ,i cried unto  the ,lord
 in the sore grief of my heart4 ,for all
 ,israel seemed unto me even  as sheep  

without a shepherd1 a nation given over 
to servitude4 ,for behold1  the         
,scribes1 and ,lawyers1 and all the     
,pharisees1 had set their thought on    
vanity1 and fed the people with chaff   
and not with wheat4 ,yea1 they  despised
 the poor and simple1 and said that the 
8people of the land0 could  not attain  
to the knowledge of the ,law4 ,but as   
for the ,priests and  ,sadducees1 they  
were given over to the pursuit of wealth
 and to the  pleasures of this world4   
,and last of all1 these ,essenes were as
 naught  save for themselves alone4 ,for
 they took for their watchword the      
saying1  8,withdraw thyself from an evil
 neighbour and consort not with the     
wicked30  therefore were they of no     
avail to the sinners of my people4 ,for 
albeit  that saying of ,hillel was often
 in their mouths1 which saith1 8,be of  
the  disciples of ,aaron1 loving peace  
and pursuing peace20 yet did they forget
  the last words of that saying1 which  
bid us also to 8love mankind and  bring 

men nigh unto the ,law40 ,for the       
,essenes bring no man nigh unto the     
,law save themselves only4    ,but when 
,i came in my journey back to the well  
where ,rabbi ,jonathan and ,i  had      
discoursed together1 then did my despair
 so weigh upon me that ,i could  not so 
much as cry unto the ,lord2 for the     
,lord seemed as one that heard  not2 and
 even as ,i had made a circle in my     
journey that day1 and was now  come back
 to the same place whence ,i had set    
forth at the first1 and all  in vain1   
even so did ,i seem to have journeyed   
these many years in a circle  of vain   
thoughts1 searching and groping after   
,god2 and all for naught4  8,for10 said 
,i1 8,i have gone from the ,scribes of  
,galilee to the teaching of  ,john the  
,prophet1 and from ,john the ,prophet to
 the wisdom of the ,greeks1  and from   
the wisdom of the ,greeks to the        
teaching of ,philo the ,wise2 and  yet  
seem ,i no nearer to ,god than before1  
but even where ,i was at the  first4    

,and they which did profess to guide1   
have been unto me as no  guides4        
,therefore the foundations of my life   
are broken up1 and the rock  of my trust
 is become as unstable as water4        
,whithersoever ,i look1 ,i see no  one  
to avenge1 no one to deliver2 for the   
ways of the world are crooked1  and sin 
is stronger than righteousness40        
,then a ,voice of the ,lord spake unto  
me1 and rebuked me in that1 albeit ,i   
compassed sea and land in search of     
guides1 and had made much of them  which
 explain the ,law and the ,prophets1 yet
 ,i had not given myself so  zealously  
to the true guides of ,israel1 even the 
,prophets themselves1 of  whom ,john the
 son of ,zachariah was one4 ,now they   
all with one consent  prophesied of a   
day of ,redemption1 and of a ,redeemer2 
and without a  ,redeemer their          
prophecies seemed maimed and void of    
fulfilment4 ,moreover  ,john the son of 
,zachariah had prophesied that the      
,redeemer should come  speedily1 and    

that the rough places should be made    
smooth1 and the crooked  places         
straight2 and ,jonathan the son of ,ezra
 had spoken as if the  ,redeemer were   
even now among us1 yea in our own       
country of ,galilee4 ,so  falling on my 
face before the ,lord1 ,i besought the  
,almighty 7blessed is  ,he7 to make no  
long tarrying1 but to have mercy upon me
 and either to take  away my life1 or   
else to send the ,redeemer unto me1 even
 me1 and to grant  me ,his salvation4   
,but as ,i arose1 there came one behind 
me unperceived and touched my  shoulder2
 and he said unto me1 8,wherefore       
weepest thou80 ,i started at his  voice1
 for there was a power in it2 but ,i    
looked not up for weeping1 but  made    
answer and said1 8,because of the yoke  
of the ,law2 for it is written  #8,whoso
 receiveth upon him the yoke of the     
,law1 ,,they remove from him the  yoke  
of oppression and the yoke of the path  
of the world4' ,but it is not  so with  
me4 ,for from a child ,i have settled my

 heart to study the ,law1 and  to take  
upon me the yoke thereof1 yet have ,i   
not attained to the knowledge  thereof4 
,but the yoke of the world and the yoke 
of the oppression of  ,israel weigheth  
heavily upon me40 ,then he that spake   
said unto me1 8,cast  away the heavy    
yoke and take upon thee the light       
yoke407#b7 ,so ,i looked up1  marvelling
 at such words1 and behold1 it was not  
the face of a stranger1  for ,i knew it2
 and yet again ,i knew it not1 neither  
could ,i bring to mind  the name of him 
that spake to me4 ,but ,i saw strength  
in his countenance1  and his face was as
 the morningstar in brightness2 and ,i  
rejoiced with a  great joy1 for ,i knew 
that the ,lord had sent unto me a       
teacher to guide my  feet into the path 
of life4 ,so ,i replied1 8,what yoke1 ,o
 ,master80 ,and he  answered and said1  
8,take my yoke upon thee1 and learn of  
me2 for ,i am meek  and lowly of heart40
 ,when ,i heard that1 ,i was speechless 
and as one  astonied to hear such a     

saying1 which seemed in part the words  
of a king1  and in part the words of a  
child4 ,but when speech came back to me1
 ,i said1  8,my heart is afflicted      
because of the wonder of the ways of the
 ,lord1 and  because ,his paths are past
 finding out40 ,but he answered1 8,they 
that  wonder shall reign1 and they that 
reign shall rest407#c7 ,now ,i perceived
  not all the meaning of his words at   
the time2 but thus much ,i did most     
clearly perceive1 that here was one that
 could guide me through all  wonderment 
and perplexity1 even unto the haven of  
rest4 ,but a sudden fear  fell upon me  
that peace would depart from my soul1 if
 my ,master should  depart2 therefore   
with many entreaties ,i besought him to 
tarry that night  at my mother's house4 
,so when he had consented we straightway
 went to the  city4 ,but1 as we went1 my
 mind still beat upon the thought that  
,i had seen  my ,master's countenance   
before2 yet could ,i not call to mind   
the when and  where4    ,but even as we 

entered into the house1 behold1 my      
mother was crying aloud1  being         
tormented beyond measure by her disease3
 and when my ,master heard  it1 he asked
 who cried thus1 and ,i answered and    
told him concerning my  mother's        
condition4 ,then straightway he desired 
to go into the upper  chamber where she 
lay2 and having gone in1 he looked      
steadfastly at her1  and took her by the
 hand1 and said1 as one having          
authority1 8,arise30 and  immediately my
 mother arose and went about as one     
whole4 ,now it came to  pass1 that when 
he looked steadfastly at my mother1 even
 in that instant ,i  knew his face1 that
 it was the face of the stranger that   
had looked after  the like manner upon  
,raphael the son of ,joazar1 even the   
face of ,jesus of  ,nazareth2 and then  
also in that same instant it was borne  
to my mind that  this was he of whom    
,jonathan had spoken1 concerning whom   
,john the son of  ,zachariah had        
prophesied1 saying that he was the      

,messiah of ,israel3 and ,i  marvelled  
that ,i had not known him before2 but ,i
 perceived that1 albeit  the same1 yet  
was he not the same2 so great a glory   
and a brightness1 as  of power from     
heaven1 now reigned in his countenance4 
,all this1 ,i say1 ,i  perceived even   
when he was gazing on my mother2 but ,i 
durst not for my  life speak to him     
then4 ,but when my mother was made whole
 and arose from  her bed1 then          
straightway ,i fell down on my knees and
 bowed before him2  and ,i spake also to
 my mother all the words of ,jonathan   
the son of ,ezra1  how that ,john had   
affirmed my ,master to be the ,redeemer 
of ,israel3 and ,i  believed1 and my    
mother also1 and all our household4     
,on the morrow1 when ,i would fain have 
accompanied ,jesus to ,capernaum 7for   
he was journeying thither71 he suffered 
me not1 but said that he must  needs go 
to ,capernaum alone2 but ,i was to      
remain for nine days at  ,sepphoris with
 my mother1 and on the tenth day ,i     

might go down to  ,capernaum4 ,but he   
suffered me to go with him about twelve 
or thirteen  furlongs out of the town1  
and there ,i was to bid him farewell4   
,he did not speak many words to me by   
the way2 but what ,i noted especially   
in him 7as being that wherein he        
differed from all my former teachers7   
was  that he spake not according to     
rule1 nor out of any books1 nor         
traditions1  but as it were out of      
himself4 ,for he taught as one having   
authority4  ,there was also yet another 
difference4 ,for most of the ,pharisees 
were wont  to walk with their faces     
turned up to the sky1 or else with their
 eyes  half shut1 repeating1 as they    
went1 certain passages of the ,law1 or  
prayers1 or precepts of the ,elders2 and
 if they met women they would avoid     
them2 and of children also they took no 
note1 except it were to instruct  them  
or question them in the ,law and the    
,traditions2 moreover they walked  with 
a sour and austere countenance4 ,but    

,jesus was in all respects  different   
from these4 ,for he looked on all       
things1 and in all things  seemed to see
 joy and gladness1 taking note even of  
the smallest matters1  such as the      
flowers of the field1 and the birds of  
the air1 and also of  the trees1 and the
 cornfields4 ,moreover1 as often as we  
met women on the  way1 he saluted them  
courteously and shunned them not4       
,but most marvellous of all1 in my      
judgment1 was the manner of his dealing 
with children4 ,for so it was1 as ,i    
remember1 that when we were passing by  
a hamlet1 about six furlongs from       
,sepphoris1 a little child ran out from 
the door of a house1 even under the feet
 of our asses1 insomuch that we  had    
much ado to prevent the asses from      
trampling down the child4 ,but when  ,i 
rebuked the child somewhat vehemently1  
,jesus chid me2 and presently1  after we
 had ridden on awhile in silence1 he    
turned to me and bade me  always have   
respect unto little children2 8,for10   

said he1 8their angels do  always behold
 the face of my ,father which is in     
heaven40 ,then he added  words still    
stranger and harder for me to           
understand1 that 8,except a man  were   
born again and become as a little child1
 he could in no wise enter  into the    
,kingdom of ,heaven40    ,but ,i        
returned1 marvelling greatly at his     
words and pondering them in my  mind4   
,for ,i could in no wise perceive how we
 could redeem ,israel and drive  out the
 ,tetrarch from ,tiberias1 and the      
,romans from ,jerusalem1 and set up  the
 ,kingdom of ,god1 and all this by      
becoming as little children4            
,,chapter ,,vii      ,when ,i drew nigh 
to ,capernaum1 it was about the eleventh
 hour2 so ,i hasted  that ,i might      
inquire where ,jesus of ,nazareth abode1
 before the sun went  down3 for it was  
the day before the ,sabbath4 ,but as ,i 
journeyed down the  valley1 called the  
,valley of the ,doves1 and came to the  
place where the  road turneth round to  

the right1 ,i could not forbear to draw 
rein for a  while1 so beautiful was the 
sight2 and though ,i had seen it        
oftentimes  before1 yet never before1   
methought1 had it seemed so beautiful as
 now4    ,on the tops of the hills were 
walnuttrees2 lower down figtrees2 and   
below them grew luxuriant palms4 ,for   
the place hath1 as it were1 several     
climates suiting several trees and      
plants2 corn also aboundeth in those    
parts1 and flax is not wanting2 but the 
olivetrees 7as elsewhere in  ,galilee7  
stand so thick together1 and so         
thriving1 that it was a common  saying1 
8,thou mayest sooner rear a forest of   
olivetrees in ,galilee than  one child  
in ,juda20 fruittrees also of all sorts 
grew there without  number1 laden with  
the goodliest fruits1 exceeding the     
fruittrees of any  other part of        
,galilee2 insomuch that the place was   
justly wont to be  called the ,garden of
 ,abundance4 ,but the city itself was as
 a halfcircle  of pearls1 encompassed   

with gardens as with a circlet of       
emerald4 ,a  multitude of ships and     
fishingboats bestrewed the surface of   
the lake1  which was of a deep blue     
colour1 as blue as sapphire2 and the    
waves  thereof were very still1 because 
no wind at all was blowing4 ,but as ,i  
looked towards ,chorazin1 the sight in  
the surface of the waters surpassed  the
 sight of the land4 ,for there1 as in a 
mirror1 one might see by  reflexion in  
the water below1 all that was on the    
land above2 the walnut  trees and       
figtrees and palmtrees1 and the         
oleanders on the border of the  waters1 
and the white pelicans watching for     
their prey upon the brink  thereof1 and 
the hedges of cactus1 and the cottages  
of the husbandmen2 all  these things    
were to be clearly seen as if painted on
 the waters of the  lake4    ,then came 
into my mind certain words which my     
,master had said to me when  we went    
forth from ,sepphoris together2 how that
 our ,father in heaven  provideth for   

the adornment even of the grass of the  
fields1 and how ,he  hath made the      
simple flowers of the fields more       
beautiful than ,solomon in  his glory4  
,and so it was that1 as ,i thought on   
these words1 ,i praised the  ,lord of   
,hosts1 who hath made the world so      
beautiful2 and though ,i had seen  this 
sight many times before when ,i had come
 down from ,sepphoris1 yet now  mine    
eyes seemed1 as it were1 to be opened to
 discern a new beauty  therein4 ,but ,i 
thought also on ,israel and of the      
blessedness that was in  store for this 
goodly land1 if only the ,roman could be
 driven forth4 ,as ,i  thought on these 
things1 an east wind sprang up2 and lo1 
where there had  been but a moment ago  
so fair a sight1 naught was now to be   
seen save  troubled waters of many      
divers colours4 ,then ,i hasted onward1 
purposing to  inquire concerning ,jesus 
of ,nazareth first1 and afterwards to go
 to the  house of my uncle4    ,but when
 ,i was now at the going down to the    

city1 my cousin ,baruch was  come forth 
to meet me1 saying ,i was stayed for at 
a feast in the house of  ,manasseh4 ,so 
,i went straightway with him1 and the   
sun set and the ,sabbath  was begun2 and
 ,i had not yet seen ,jesus of          
,nazareth4 ,during supper time ,i  would
 have inquired of ,manasseh concerning  
,jesus2 but ,baruch had  forewarned me  
that ,i should be silent4 ,for my uncle1
 7he was a dyer by  trade1 and had many 
slaves and more than one house of       
merchandise1 there  and at ,magdala1 and
 elsewhere round about the ,lake17 being
 fond of peace  and wholly given to     
traffic1 feared ,jesus1 lest he should  
beguile the  people of ,capernaum to    
take up arms against the ,romans4 ,also 
he feared for  ,baruch1 lest he too     
should be led away by ,jesus4 ,this ,i  
learned from my  cousin after supper2   
howbeit he said not much about ,jesus1  
for my uncle  watched us4 ,only he said 
that ,jesus had been now a full week in 
,capernaum1  and that he was said to be 

able to work signs1 and that certain of 
the  fishermen had joined themselves    
unto him2 but the most part still held  
with ,john the ,prophet1 saying that    
,john was greater than ,jesus2 neither  
believed they that ,jesus was the       
,messiah4    ,on the morrow1 about the  
sixth hour1 we went to the synagogue4   
,there was a  great throng1 so that we  
were fain to sit in the farthest seats  
from the  ,ark of the ,law2 neither     
could we discern who sat in the chief   
seats1 nor  who read1 because a pillar  
stood between us and the pulpit4 ,now   
first the  ,law was read and prayers    
were offered up according to custom2 but
 by  reason of my sadness1 because ,i   
desired to have seen ,jesus again1 ,i   
was  even as the parched ground1 and no 
moisture fell upon my soul4 ,but when   
the ,prophets were read1 then it was as 
a shower of heaven on the  congregation1
 and the dew of the ,lord upon our      
souls2 for the voice of him  that read  
was the voice of ,jesus of ,nazareth4   

,when he had made an end of reading1    
,jesus began to exhort the people1      
saying that he was sent to proclaim good
 news1 to release the captive1  give    
health to the sick1 and light to the    
blind1 and to bring ,redemption  to     
,israel4 ,god1 he said1 loved all2 not  
the good alone1 but even the bad3  yea1 
,god was in very truth our ,father in   
heaven4 ,therefore how much soever  the 
kindest father on earth may love his    
children1 albeit they transgress        
against him1 much more is the love of   
,god toward us though we be sinners4    
,he did not tell us that we were not    
sinful2 nay rather1 he made it clear  to
 us that our sins were as red as blood  
in the sight of the ,allseeing2  but    
none the less1 he called us the children
 of ,god4 ,as many as would  repent     
should be forgiven2 and he spake as if  
he himself had a certain  divine power  
of forgiveness whereby he might purify  
the soul and bring us  close to ,god1   
one family in the presence of our       

,father4 ,one thing was  needful1 that  
we should trust in him and in his       
message4 ,this day1 he  said1 this very 
day1 are the prophecies of ,redemption  
fulfilled in your  ears4 ,then he cried 
aloud unto all that were hungering or   
thirsting for  righteousness1 all that  
were weary of the burden of their sins1 
all that  felt themselves utterly       
hopeless1 friendless1 and vile1 bidding 
them  resort to him as their refuge3    
8,come unto me all ye that are weary and
  heavy laden1 and ,i will give you     
rest40    ,while he was speaking1       
methought ,i was not hearing words1 but 
seeing  somewhat that might be seen and 
touched2 so solid seemed the mercies of 
,god1 even as a rock whereon one        
standeth4 ,for ,jesus ever testified of 
the  ,father as one testifieth that     
knoweth by experience1 and spake of     
heaven  as of that which he had known   
and felt4 ,yea1 and more than that2 a   
certain  strange power was in him to    
make things invisible to seem visible by

 his  discourse4 ,wherefore1 albeit     
,moses had called ,god the ,father of   
the  spirits of all flesh1 and the      
,prophets also had taught ,israel to say
 unto  ,god1 8,thou art our ,father10   
and all this doctrine was well known and
 trite  among us2 yet now1 for the first
 time1 the doctrine seemed to be no more
 a  mere dead letter1 but a living word4
 ,such a life did ,jesus of ,nazareth   
breathe into it1 insomuch that his ,good
 ,news 7for so he called it7 came  upon 
our hearts as news indeed1 never heard  
before among the children of  men4      
,this long while 7since ,jesus had first
 begun to speak71 a certain youth  whom 
,i had before noted1 sitting not far    
from me1 had been muttering and  moaning
 gently to himself2 but ,i was rapt in  
the words of ,jesus1 wherefore  ,i had  
given the less heed to the boy4 ,but    
now1 he stood up1 and cried  aloud in a 
deep hollow voice1 as of a fullgrown    
man1 8,what hast thou to  do with us8   
,let us alone1 let us alone40 ,then in  

his own voice he cried  again1 8,i know 
thee who thou art1 the ,holy ,one of    
,god40 ,immediately ,i  perceived that  
it was the demoniac1 even ,raphael the  
son of ,joazar1 whom  ,theudas the      
,exorcist had adventured to heal2 but a 
great fear fell on all  the             
congregation1 and the women rose up from
 their places1 shrieking for  terror4   
,but ,jesus1 without use of charm or    
gesture1 rebuked the unclean  spirits   
and bade them come forth4 ,then they    
tare the youth1 so that he  shrieked    
with a piercing shriek2 and so they came
 forth4 ,and ,jesus  delivered the boy  
to his father2 who would scarce suffer  
,jesus out of his  sight1 between joy   
that the devils were gone forth1 and    
fear lest they  might return4 ,howbeit1 
now the spirits were driven out so that 
they  returned no more4 ,for the boy    
lived to be a man2 nor did he die 7as it
  hath been reported to me7 till he     
numbered fifty years1 dying about twelve
  years ago1 two years before           

destruction came upon the ,holy ,city4  
,when ,jesus departed from the          
synagogue1 the people thronged him1     
bringing  to him divers requests1 some  
concerning their friends that were      
diseased  or lunatic1 or afflicted with 
devils2 others begging him to come and  
bless  their children2 others asking him
 that he would lodge in their houses1 or
  at the least sup with them4 ,for at   
this time all men1 rich and poor1       
,pharisees1 ,sadducees1 and ,galileans1 
inclined to follow ,jesus4 ,but he      
would go to none of the rich men's      
houses1 but only to the house of ,simon 
the son of ,jonah 7whom he afterwards   
called ,peter72 he was one of the       
fishermen of the place and had joined   
himself to ,jesus4 ,but ,jesus suffered 
me to accompany him4    ,but when we    
were now entering into the house1 behold
 all things were full  of disorder and  
lamentation4 ,for ,simon's wife's mother
 7who abode in the  house7 had been     
suddenly afflicted with a grievous      

sickness1 so that1  instead of serving  
the guests1 she was laid speechless upon
 a bed in an  upper room4 ,then they    
spake to ,jesus concerning her4 ,now ,i 
was not myself  present when the thing  
took place2 but 7as it was reported to  
me7 ,jesus  healed her after the same   
manner as he had healed my mother2 for  
he took  her by the hand and lifted her 
up1 and she arose whole and free from   
her  disease1 and ministered unto the   
guests4    ,jesus straitly charged us   
that we should tell no man2 whereat we  
marvelled  not a little4 ,but howsoever 
we obeyed him1 it could not be hid4 ,and
  besides this1 the fame of the healing 
of ,raphael the son of ,joazar had  been
 noised abroad through the whole of the 
city1 insomuch that at sunset1  when we 
went forth1 the ,sabbath being now      
ended1 we saw great multitudes  of      
demoniacs1 lunatics1 and some also sick 
of the palsy and of fever1 laid  in     
their beds along the road through which 
we would have passed4 ,some  also1 that 

were afflicted with incurable diseases1 
had been brought  notwithstanding1      
because of their entreaties2 if         
perchance ,jesus might  heal them2 and  
,i saw one man that had been blind from 
his birth4    ,now it came to pass that 
when ,jesus came forth from ,simon      
,peter's house1  and saw the faces of   
all these sick people1 and the faces of 
their  friends1 all waiting if perchance
 he would help them1 his countenance was
  altered1 and the shadow of sorrow fell
 upon him1 and he sighed and said1      
8,verily for the sorrowful ,i am        
sorrowful1 and for the sick ,i am       
sick407#d7  ,then he passed along the   
ranks of the sick people2 and           
wheresoever he  perceived that any could
 be healed1 he laid his hands on them1  
and lo1  they were at once freed from   
their infirmities2 and many unclean     
spirits  were driven out from those whom
 they had possessed4 ,now most of them  
that  were healed had been possessed    
with evil spirits2 but others were      

lunatic1  or sick of the palsy1 or of   
fever1 or had impediment in their       
speech4 ,but  ,jesus had a marvellous   
power to discern1 methought1 not only   
them that had  faith from them that had 
not1 but also such diseases as were to  
be cured1  from such as were not to be  
cured1 because it was not prepared for  
him  that he should cure them4 ,but when
 ,jesus had made an end of healing1 the 
multitude still followed us2 and the    
friends of such as had not been  cured1 
vexed us with importunities2 and others1
 whose friends had been  cured1 called  
down blessings on ,jesus1 and refused to
 leave him4 ,thus1 go  whither we would1
 we could not be alone4 ,so ,jesus      
returned to the house1  and ,i went back
 to the house of ,manasseh4    ,i opened
 my mind to my uncle that night1 and    
said to him that ,i purposed  to go with
 ,jesus of ,nazareth whithersoever he   
went2 and ,baruch said the  same4 ,but  
my uncle no longer opposed himself      
against our wills2 only he  forewarned  

us that evil was in store for us2       
8,for10 said he1 8,i have  sojourned in 
,italy among the ,romans three years1   
and ,i know well that  nothing can      
withstand their power4 ,but whoso       
gainsayeth them gainsayeth  the strength
 of a king3 according as it is written1 
#8,where the word of a  king is1 there  
is power2 and who may say unto him1     
,what doest thou8'0    ,all the night   
long no sleep came to my eyes for musing
 on all the things  that ,i had seen and
 heard that day3 8,for this day10 said  
,i1 8is1 as it  were1 the birthday of   
the ,redemption of ,israel10 ,but when  
,i thought  thereon1 and considered with
 myself that ,i had now joined myself   
unto  ,jesus as the ,redeemer1 and when 
,i compared ,jesus with the image of the
  ,redeemer of ,sion 7such as ,i had    
framed it in my mind from the reading of
  the ,prophets1 and such as my         
countrymen expected71 then was ,i as one
  astonied and amazed to find myself    
believing in ,jesus1 and standing on his

  side4 ,for ,i had imagined unto myself
 one that should perchance appear1      
riding on the clouds of heaven1         
encompassed by thousands of angels1     
taking  vengeance upon the enemies of   
,sion1 according to the word of the     
prophet  ,daniel2 or else ,i had thought
 to see a royal deliverer1 even such    
another  as ,david himself1 mighty with 
the sword1 riding at the head of his ten
  thousands1 ruling the ,gentiles with a
 rod of iron1 or breaking them in       
pieces like a potter's vessel2 or else  
,i had fashioned in my mind a           
,deliverer after the manner of ,elias1  
rebuking kings in their pride1 and      
calling down fire from heaven for a     
sign1 or for the destruction of the     
,gentiles4    ,now before this time1 ,i 
had had no leisure to consider the      
matter2 for1 in  the presence of ,jesus1
 ,i had been drawn towards him as by an 
enchantment3  but in the stillness of   
the night1 ,jesus being no more before  
my face1 ,i  thought on all the signs   

and wonders wrought by ,moses and ,elias
 aforetime1  and doubt fell upon me2 and
 it seemed to me not possible that      
,jesus of  ,nazareth could be greater   
than they1 so as to be the ,messiah4    
,but when ,i  asked myself1 8,could it  
then be that ,jesus is a deceiver80 my  
heart made  answer1 8,nay1 that could   
not be4 ,and if thou trust not in       
,jesus1 there is  not any one in the    
world in whom thou canst trust40 ,so ,i 
comforted myself  in my perplexity1     
saying to myself1 8,perchance the time  
hath not yet come  for ,jesus to        
manifest himself as the son of ,david1  
nor as the ,son of man  spoken of by the
 prophet ,daniel3 but doubtless that    
time will come2 and  then shalt thou see
 ,jesus1 as the ,messiah indeed1 in     
power40    ,but on the morrow1 very     
early1 when we went forth to the house  
of ,simon  ,peter1 behold1 a mixed      
multitude had gathered round the doors  
waiting for  the coming of ,jesus4 ,and 
,i also waited1 standing with them1 and 

heard how  they conversed with each     
other4 ,but it seemed that one had but  
now come  forth from the house of       
,peter1 saying that ,jesus could not be 
found in the  house4 ,then arose a      
murmur in the crowd2 and a certain man  
from ,antioch  said that ,simon had set 
a snare for ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and had
 betrayed  him to ,herod the ,tetrarch4 
,but there was in the press one ,gorgias
 the son  of ,philip1 a man well known  
to ,simon2 and he laughed the man of    
,antioch to  scorn4 ,he had been in the 
army of ,herod the ,king in former      
times1 and his  father was a ,greek2 but
 he conformed himself to the ,law and   
joined himself  to the sect of the      
,galileans2 and his word prevailed      
greatly with them1  because he was      
versed in warlike matters4 ,this man    
declared that ,jesus had  withdrawn     
himself1 that he might not be shut up in
 prison by the ,tetrarch3  8,and no     
marvel10 said he1 8for1 seeing that the 
tyrant hath but now taken  ,john the son

 of ,zachariah1 why should he not also  
adventure to take the  new prophet80    
,others1 beside myself1 had not heard   
before that ,john had been cast into    
prison4 ,so we questioned ,gorgias1 and 
heard that the prophet had been cast    
into prison in the ,black ,castle at    
,machrus three days ago4 ,many of them  
that were in the crowd had been         
disciples of ,john2 and they cried aloud
  that the men of ,galilee ought to rise
 up and deliver the prophet4 ,but       
,gorgias beckoned with his hand that    
they should be silent1 and when  silence
 was made1 he said1 8,let us rise up1   
indeed1 but not without a  leader4 ,now 
the ,lord hath sent to us this ,jesus of
 ,nazareth3 and that he  is a prophet   
sent from ,god none can deny40 ,the     
multitude shouted that it  was even so1 
and one or other uttered praises of     
,jesus2 and a certain man  said1 8,yea1 
never man spake as this spake40 ,but    
,gorgias answered and said1  8,it is    
known to all that ,i am a soldier1      

neither do words prevail with me        
without deeds4 ,wherefore ,i also1 until
 yesterday1 did but lightly esteem      
,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,but now he hath   
shown forth his power in deeds4 ,and he 
that can do such deeds as ,jesus hath   
wrought in our streets1 shall he not  do
 even greater deeds than these when the 
time shall come for them8 ,yea1         
doubtless1 all things are possible to   
him4 ,and what will avail squadrons  of 
horse1 or legions of foot1 against one  
that can call down fire from  heaven1 or
 cause the walls of a city to fall to   
the ground8 ,choose we  therefore ,jesus
 to be our leader1 and no one shall be  
able to stand  against us40    ,at this 
instant ,simon ,peter came forth1 and he
 confirmed what had been  said1 to wit1 
that ,jesus of ,nazareth was not in the 
house3 but he thought  that he was gone 
forth to be alone4 ,and so it was4 ,for 
when we had made  diligent search for   
him we found him alone on a mountain1   
about three  miles from the town4 ,we   

besought him to return2 but he answered 
that he  must proclaim the ,good ,news  
in other villages also1 for to that end 
he had  been sent4 ,so ,simon ,peter and
 the rest of the disciples accompanied  
him1  and ,baruch and ,i went with them2
 and for the space of four or five weeks
  we continued with him1 going from town
 to town in ,galilee2 and ,jesus        
preached the ,good ,news1 and healed the
 sick2 and a great multitude of all     
sorts was added to our number4    ,now  
the greater part of our band were honest
 people1 hungering and  thirsting for   
the ,redemption of ,sion3 but some were 
vain men1 children of  iniquity1 seeking
 the wages of unrighteousness4          
,especially they that had  been formerly
 soldiers resorted to ,jesus1 as to a   
prince or general1 like  vultures       
hasting to the prey1 supposing that they
 should gain much spoil  if he prevailed
 against the ,romans4 ,and so it was    
that once when ,jesus  spake to his     
disciples1 saying that they must be     

8fishers of men10 then  ,baruch1 being  
offended by the presence of these       
children of mammon among  us1 answered  
and said1 8,but must the fishers catch  
vile fish as well as  good80    ,hereat 
,jesus turned and looked sorrowfully on 
,baruch1 and said1 8,the  kingdom of    
heaven is like unto a net that was cast 
into the sea1 and  gathered of every    
kind3 which1 when it was full they drew 
to shore1 and  sat down1 and gathered   
the good into vessels1 but cast the bad 
away4 ,so  shall it be at the end of the
 age4 ,the messengers of ,god shall come
 forth  and sever the wicked from among 
the just1 and shall cast them into the  
furnace of fire4 ,there shall be wailing
 and gnashing of teeth40    ,another    
parable spake he to the same effect1    
that the tares must needs  grow with the
 wheat till the day of harvest1 for not 
till then can the  division be made     
between good and evil4 ,when we heard   
this1 we grieved  thereat2 for we had   
supposed that none save the faithful    

should have been  admitted into the     
,kingdom1 and we marvelled why ,jesus   
should first suffer  the bad to enter1  
and then drive them forth4 ,howbeit1 we 
besought him that  he would give us     
ordinances which we might observe1 to   
the intent that we  might not be cast   
out of the ,kingdom4 ,for some of our   
number had begun to  say that ,jesus had
 come to destroy the ,law1 so that every
 one might do  what he listed2 as though
 ,jesus had said that ,god loveth the   
wicked as  much as the righteous1 even  
though the wicked abide in wickedness4  
,thus  they brought shame upon us1 and  
they set stumblingblocks in the path of 
many that had otherwise believed4       
,moreover the disciples of ,john the    
,baptist compared us with themselves1   
and asked us concerning our laws and    
customs and prayers2 and1 when they     
found that we had none of these  things1
 then they despised us1 saying that our 
,master was not equal to  ,john4 ,for at
 this time the fame of ,john the son of 

,zachariah overshadowed  the fame of    
,jesus2 yea1 and for some time after    
this1 even after ,john had  been cast   
into prison4 ,for this cause we         
intreated ,jesus that he would  both    
teach us how to pray1 as ,john also had 
taught his disciples1 and also  that he 
would lay down laws for the new         
,kingdom1 even as ,moses had laid  down 
laws for the kingdom in old times4      
,jesus hearkened to our petition in     
silence4 ,then he said that he must     
depart from us for a season and go to   
the top of a certain mountain2 but  he  
appointed the third hour of the         
following day that we should come to    
him4 ,certain of the ,scribes that      
followed with us murmured at ,jesus1    
because he had appointed that we should 
come to him on the mountain3 and  one1  
finding fault for that ,jesus was often 
wont to spend the whole night  praying  
alone on some mountain1 said1 8,it is   
written1 #8,out of the depths  have ,i  
cried unto thee1 ,o ,lord2' therefore it

 is good to pray from a low  place1 and 
not from a high place40 ,but ,nathanael 
answered and said that  ,jesus loved to 
be alone on the mountain by night1 to   
meditate on the  greatness of the ,lord 
and how ,he hath exalted the ,son of    
man1 according as  it is written1 8,i   
will consider thy heavens1 even the     
works of thy  fingers1 the moon and     
stars which thou hast ordained30 and    
8these very  words10 said ,nathanael1   
8,i heard the ,prophet but yesterday    
repeat1 when we  were upon the top of   
yonder mountain40 ,hereat the ,scribes  
murmured the  more1 saying that it was  
not written that any prophet in old     
times thus  took counsel with the       
heavens after the manner of a ,chaldean4
 ,but ,gorgias  the son of ,philip      
murmured for another cause1 saying that 
the ,prophet  ought not thus to mistrust
 his followers1 nor to be so fearful for
 his own  safety1 and that it behoved   
the friends of ,jesus to take him by    
force1 if  need be1 and to make him a   

king4 ,and to this ,judas of ,kerioth   
consented  and some others4    ,but to  
the most of us the words of ,gorgias    
seemed an abomination2 for we  knew that
 ,jesus did not depart for fear3 for    
indeed fear was not in him4  ,but he    
desired to be alone because he wished to
 pray1 and because of the  burden of his
 heart4 ,for it grieved him1 more than  
can be told1 to see the  misery and     
wretchedness1 yea1 and the ignorance and
 the sinfulness of the  mixed multitude 
which pressed round him4 ,all their     
pains pained him and  all their         
sufferings he suffered1 insomuch that   
more than once ,i have  heard him saying
 in a low voice to himself1 8,for them  
that are hungry ,i  hunger1 and for them
 that are athirst ,i thirst1 and for    
them that are sick  ,i am sick407#e7    
,notwithstanding he was not so much     
distressed with the pains and diseases  
of the body as with the pains and       
diseases of the soul4 ,for the sins of  
souls seemed to him as real and         

loathsome as the diseases of the flesh  
to  us2 and oftentimes a transgression  
that would appear slight to us1 he      
counted as a work of ,satan2 so that    
whithersoever he moved1 he saw sins     
more than could be seen of common men1  
yea1 a very sea of sinfulness2  albeit1 
underlying the sea of sin and sorrow1 he
 still discerned the  ,everlasting      
,arms4    ,moreover1 because he loved   
all men with an exceeding great love1   
for this  cause every hour in his life  
brought unto him a burden passing the   
power  of words to describe4 ,for the   
sins of men were not unto him as the    
sins of  aliens and strangers1 but as   
the sins of his own brethren3 yea1 they 
were  even as his own sins2 for1        
although he himself sinned not1 neither 
knew  sin1 yet what pain cometh from the
 bearing of a brother's sin1 that he    
knew full well4 ,wherefore in him was   
fulfilled the saying of the prophet     
,isaiah2 who prophesied that the        
,messiah should be a man of sorrows and 

acquainted with griefs1 and that he     
should carry our sins and bear our      
iniquities4                             
,,chapter ,,viii      ,on the morrow1   
about the second hour1 we began to go up
 the mountain which  ,jesus had         
appointed4 ,but having strayed from the 
path1 we knocked at the  door of a house
 which was near the foot of the         
mountain1 and besought the  goodman of  
the house that he would guide us4 ,there
 opened the door a man  of churlish     
appearance2 but he would neither come   
out1 nor so much as  speak with us4     
,this delayed us for a time1 but we soon
 found the path1 and  the way became    
steep4 ,the sun shone1 but not with too 
fervent a heat1 and  the north wind blew
 gently from ,hermon1 whose top we saw  
clearly toward  the north1 clad in snow4
 ,on the west was the ,mount ,carmel1   
shining with a  brightness as of purple2
 and further off the ,great ,sea1       
resembling a blue  plain1 whereon       
appeared many sails1 almost too small   

for sight by reason  of the distance4   
,we climbed upward through groves of    
terebinth and oak4 ,as  often as we     
turned round to recover breath1 the     
houses and fields grew  smaller1 till1  
at the last1 when we drew nigh unto the 
top1 the whole  plain of ,esdraelon     
seemed but as a small groundplat2 and   
large towns  appeared as little hamlets1
 and all the works of man became very   
small in  our eyes1 as though we were   
leaving earth and approaching heaven4   
,then said ,baruch1 8,is not this a     
second ,sinai8 ,for verily ,jesus of    
,nazareth is about to give us a new     
law40 ,but ,eliezer the son of ,arak1   
the  principal ,scribe of ,capernaum    
7for he at this time followed ,jesus and
 was  now with us7 rebuked him1 saying1 
8,even though ,jesus of ,nazareth were  
the  greatest of prophets1 yet were he  
not equal to ,moses2 for it is said1    
,sinai is to be preferred even to the   
uprooter of mountains60 ,and another    
said1 8,behold1 the ,word of ,god1 when 

it went forth from ,sinai from the      
mouth of the ,holy ,one 7blessed be ,his
 ,name71 was like sparks1 and           
lightnings1 and flames of fire2 a torch 
of flame was on his right hand1  and a  
torch of flame on his left hand3 it flew
 and hovered in the air of  the heavens1
 and returned and graved itself upon the
 tables of the  covenant which were     
given into the hands of ,moses4 ,how    
then is it possible  that the like      
wonders should be wrought on this       
mountain80    ,then said ,nathanael to  
,simon ,peter that it might perchance   
please the ,lord  not always to speak by
 the whirlwind or by the fire1 but1 as  
in the days  of ,elias1 by the still    
small voice4 ,and to this ,peter agreed1
 but others  did not agree3 for though  
they inclined not to ,eliezer the son of
 ,arak1  yet it was because they thought
 that ,jesus would of a surety soon work
  some sign in heaven to prove that he  
was the ,redeemer4 ,but ,judas of       
,kerioth affirmed that ,jesus would not1

 at this present time1 lay down laws    
for the ,kingdom1 but only ordinances   
for a season1 to instruct the host in   
the journey towards ,jerusalem2 but     
until ,jerusalem should be ours1 lasting
  laws would not be made4    ,while we  
were disputing among ourselves          
concerning the saying of ,judas1  ,peter
 cried 8,peace30 for1 said he1 8yonder  
is the ,prophet30 and looking  upward1  
we saw ,jesus on a rock stretching out  
his hands in prayer4 ,when he  had made 
an end of praying1 ,peter approached him
 and besought him a second  time to     
teach us to pray2 and ,jesus gave us    
that wellknown prayer which  is used in 
all the churches4 ,afterwards he        
beckoned to us to follow him1  and he   
came down and stood in the bed of a     
torrent1 which was dry by  reason of the
 drought4 ,while we were following him1 
,i heard the companion  of ,eliezer     
murmuring because there were no words in
 the prayer concerning  the ,redemption 
of ,israel2 8moreover10 said he1 8albeit

 the prayer asketh  for bread1 yet is   
there no mention of wine1 nor oil1 nor  
even of raiment4  ,but how can a man sit
 and search the ,law and the            
,traditions1 and know not  whence he is 
to drink as well as eat1 and whence to  
be clad and covered80  ,to this ,i would
 have made reply2 but ,peter again cried
 to us to hold our  peace1 for ,jesus   
was beginning to speak4    ,when he     
opened his lips1 every one was silent   
for expectation2 but1 as he  proceeded1 
the silence was a silence as of them    
that are astonished and  disappointed4  
,for he began with setting forth in his 
discourse a character  and image of a   
citizen of the ,new ,kingdom2 and lo1 it
 was not the image of  a conqueror1 but 
of one conquered4 ,also he drew as it   
were a model of the  palace of the      
,great ,king1 and of the princes and    
nobles which stand about  ,his throne2  
and behold1 when we compared the model  
with that which we had  imagined in our 
hearts1 and with that which we had read 

of in histories1  the model of ,jesus   
was in all things contrary to the model 
in our hearts4  ,for in old times men   
had done reverence unto the valiant1 the
 proud1 the  strong1 the rich and the   
wise2 but ,jesus said that the chief    
places about  the throne of ,god should 
be given to the hungry and thirsty1 and 
poor2 to  them that were innocent and   
simple2 to them that made not war1 but  
peace2  yea1 even to them which resisted
 not evil1 but rewarded evil with good4 
,upon all these1 as being the nobles and
 princes of the ,new ,kingdom1 ,jesus   
pronounced a blessing2 to wit1 that all 
things should work together for  good to
 them1 so that they should have all that
 they needed1 according to  the words of
 the prophet1 8,behold1 my servants     
shall eat1 but ye shall be  hungry2     
behold1 my servants shall drink1 but ye 
shall be thirsty2 behold1  my servants  
shall rejoice1 but ye shall be ashamed40
 ,even so did ,jesus  ordain that they  
which hungered should be satisfied1 and 

that the makers  of peace should conquer
 and inherit the earth4    ,next1 he    
described the statutes and judgments of 
the ,new ,kingdom2 and1  behold1 instead
 of an easier yoke1 he seemed to be     
placing upon us a yoke  even heavier    
than the yoke of the ancient ,law1 too  
heavy to be borne4 ,for  the old ,law   
forbade us to commit murder2 but the new
 ,law forbade us even  to hate our      
enemies4 ,again1 the old ,law forbade us
 to commit adultery2 but  the new ,law  
forbade us even to entertain a lustful  
thought in our hearts4  ,in a word1 the 
old ,law laid down certain ordinances1  
which if a man  obeyed1 he should live  
therein2 but the new ,law laid down     
nothing fixed  nor certain for us1 so   
that we might say 8,i have done this or 
that1 and  therefore ,i have fulfilled  
the ,law of ,christ40 ,for the ,law of  
,moses  touched the life of man1 as it  
were1 in certain points2 as for example1
 in  sacrifices1 and feasts1 and        
purifications1 and ,sabbaths1 and in the

  obeying of the ,ten ,commandments3 but
 the ,law of ,christ covered the whole  
of the state of man1 the thoughts as    
well as the deeds2 even as the          
encompassing air1 which pierceth into   
every corner and cavern of the  earth1  
wheresoever human life is4 ,in fine1    
whereas the ,law of ,moses  commanded us
 what we should do1 the ,law of ,christ 
commanded what we should  be4 ,for this 
cause ,jesus set himself against all    
bookishness1 and against  all worship of
 ,traditions1 and even of the precepts  
of the ,scriptures2 for  he taught that 
precepts1 howsoever they may shape the  
outward action1  shape not the inner    
man4    ,again1 as concerning the laws1 
and the judgments1 and the rewards1 and 
the  punishments1 in the ,new ,kingdom1 
he spake as if they were not laws of    
man's device1 but rather ,laws according
 to the nature of things1 like unto  the
 ordinances of the rain and the         
sunshine1 the harvest and the seed      
time4 ,for he said that righteousness   

was not any such thing as could be      
attained by a price1 nor by the doing of
 deeds2 but that it consisted in a      
seeing of that which may be seen of     
,god4 ,he also spake of a certain eye of
  the soul1 which1 if it were clear1 the
 man would be righteous2 but if it  were
 darkened1 the man would be unrighteous4
 ,also he spake of a certain  law of    
retributions1 which decreeth that whoso 
judgeth shall be judged1  whoso         
forgiveth shall be forgiven1 whoso      
giveth shall receive3 adding  thereunto 
this most strange doctrine1 that if we  
would go forth into the  world1 giving  
and ready to give1 then1 from all sides1
 the world would  give to us again2 yea1
 the angels of ,god1 and the elements of
 the world  7which are ,his ministers7  
and even the children of men1 should    
make us  marvel by reason of their      
gratitude1 giving us back good measure  
pressed  down and running over4 ,now    
there is a saying in the ,traditions    
that1  8,whensoever a poor man standeth 

at thy door1 the ,holy ,one 7blessed is 
,he7  standeth at his right hand4 ,if   
thou givest him alms1 know that thou    
shalt  receive a reward from ,him who   
standeth at his right hand40 ,jesus     
therefore  added to this doctrine1      
teaching that ,god standeth at the right
 hand not  of the poor only1 but of     
every one that is in need of aught1 that
 is to  say1 of every one of the        
children of men3 wherefore whatsoever is
 given to  men1 is given to ,god1 and   
from ,god cometh back multiplied to the 
giver4  ,howbeit1 we were neither to    
give alms1 nor to do aught else1 for    
hope of  reward2 but only out of love4  
,concerning citizenship in the ,kingdom 
and how men should become citizens      
therein1 he spake little to us1 as being
 already citizens therein3 save  only   
this1 that whoso would come1 must come  
unto him2 and through him1 as  through a
 door1 they should pass into the        
,kingdom4 ,and behold1 the ,kingdom  was
 no other than a family1 wherein ,god   

was at once ,father and ,king1 and  all 
men were as children of the ,father in  
,heaven4 ,for the foundation of  all    
was1 that the heart and not the hands   
shaped the goodness and badness  of all 
deeds1 and made men to become citizens  
of the ,kingdom3 wherefore  the heart   
and not the hands must be purified2 nor 
could any be in truth  citizens of the  
,kingdom except they had the thought of 
the ,kingdom always  in their hearts1 so
 that their hopes and treasures were all
 stored up1 not  in the banks of        
moneychangers1 but in the ,kingdom of   
,heaven4    ,then he spake of the       
exceeding joys of the citizens of the   
,kingdom of ,god1  and how they are free
 from all troubles and all disquietudes4
 ,but none1 he  said1 could serve ,god  
and ,mammon at one time2 neither was it 
possible to  serve ,god aright and yet  
to be distracted and torn asunder by    
cares  concerning meat or raiment4      
,hereat the companion of ,eliezer       
murmured  again1 saying that ,jesus had 

before spoken blasphemously in joining  
the  forgiving of sins by ,god with the 
forgiving of sins by men1 and now he had
  spoken as a madman1 in forbidding us  
to be careful about food and raiment2   
8,can a man sit10 said he1 8and search  
the ,law1 and not know whence he is  to 
eat1 and drink1 and to be clad80 ,now   
whether ,jesus perceived his  murmuring 
,i know not3 but he pointed1 first      
upwards to the birds 7for even  at that 
instant there was a flight of pelicans  
above us7 and then downward  to the     
flowers1 which bestrewed the side of the
 brook1 and he said that  our ,father in
 ,heaven fed the birds and clothed the  
flowers2 and should ,he  not much more  
care for us8 ,then he bade us seek first
 the ,kingdom of ,god  and ,his         
righteousness1 and all things else      
should be added unto us4    ,now        
concerning this ,kingdom of ,god 7or    
,kingdom of ,heaven1 for he called it   
by both names7 we understood not much at
 this time3 but my judgment now is  that

 ,jesus desired that all the ,lord's    
people should be as ,prophets1 not      
teaching one the other and saying 8,know
 the ,lord10 but all knowing the  ,lord 
from the least to the greatest4 ,for he 
perceived that all the tribes  of the   
earth were joined together under one    
emperor through desire of  wealth and   
ease1 and that ,israel was joined       
together through hatred of the  ,romans 
and through desire to be rescued from   
them2 but he saw that neither  love of  
ease nor hatred of enemies could bind   
men together in an enduring  ,kingdom3  
but that which bindeth men together is  
the ,spirit of love1 which  is a ,spirit
 of brotherhood among men and of        
childhood unto ,god4 ,for all  nations  
begin with being first families1 and    
then many families together2  helping   
one another by reason of kindred1 and   
not by reason of manhood4  ,now such a  
nation as this1 and all men of such a   
nation1 ,jesus called  8born of flesh   
and blood30 and he said that no nation  

could leave off to  be a tribe and      
become a nation indeed1 except it were  
born again1 not of  flesh and blood1 but
 of the ,spirit2 so as to enter into a  
certain  government of ,god1 which the  
,greeks called theocratia1 but ,jesus   
called  it the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,such a
 theocratia ,moses had partly           
established in  old times2 howbeit the  
,king in the kingdom of ,moses was the  
,god of  ,abraham1 but the ,king in the 
kingdom of ,jesus was the ,father of the
 ,son of  man4    ,but now to return to 
the words of ,jesus4 ,he ended his      
discourse with  warning4 ,first he      
warned us to beware of the common       
saying1 8,give judgment  according to   
the greater number02 for he said that   
the path to destruction  is broad1 and  
many go thereby4 ,he bade us also try   
teachers and prophets  by their works4  
,last of all1 he spake very earnestly   
against certain which  pretended to obey
 him but obeyed him not4 ,we were the   
salt of the earth1  he said1 but if we  

lost our savour1 how could the world be 
salted1 and to  what end could we serve1
 but to be cast out and trampled under  
foot8 ,whoso  heard him and obeyed him  
not1 such an one he likened unto a      
foolish  shepherd 7and even as he spake1
 there was nigh1 within a bowshot of us1
 a  sheepcote that had been cast down by
 the swollen waters of the brook7  which
 built his house upon the sand1 so that 
it fell3 but whoso heard and  obeyed1 he
 likened him unto a wise shepherd1 which
 built his house upon a  rock so that it
 fell not4 ,this parable ,jesus did not 
at this time  interpret to us1 but      
afterwards he made it clear4 ,for even  
as the  ,psalmists of ,israel spake     
often of a certain ,rock of ,salvation1 
even so  was it afterwards a common     
saying with ,jesus both that each       
citizen of the  ,new ,kingdom must build
 his house upon a ,rock1 and that the   
,kingdom itself  must be founded on a   
,rock1 so that the gates of ,hades or   
,destruction  should not prevail against

 it4 ,howbeit what this ,rock might be1 
we did not  as yet understand2 for he   
had not at this time revealed it unto   
us4                                     
,,chapter ,,ix      ,when ,jesus had    
ended all these words1 he came down from
 the mountain1 and  we followed1        
reasoning much among ourselves4 ,baruch 
spake first1  complaining that the new  
,law was full of hard sayings4 8,for10  
said he1  8when the ,prophet proclaimed 
a blessing on the poor and hungry1 that 
was  easy to understand1 and ,i rejoiced
 thereat3 but afterwards1 when he bade  
us bless them that cursed us1 and do    
good to those that injured us1 yea1  and
 turn the left cheek to him that had    
smitten us on the right1 and give  our  
coat to him that had taken away our     
cloak1 then indeed his doctrine  seemed 
too wonderful for the mind of man to    
fathom40 ,then a certain ,essene  7who  
at that time followed with us7 made     
answer and said1 8,this world is  but as
 a vestibule before the world to come3  

therefore the ,prophet's  intent is to  
instruct us how to prepare ourselves at 
the vestibule so that  we may find grace
 to come into the ,king's presence3 and 
his words enjoin  on us to abstain from 
all earthly cares and pleasures1 and to 
withdraw  ourselves from the cities of  
men40 ,but to this ,simon ,peter made   
answer  that ,jesus had taught us to    
live in the sight of all men1 like a    
city on  an hill or like a candle on a  
candlestick3 moreover1 he had promised  
that  we should inherit the earth4      
,but here ,eliezer the son of ,arak     
could no longer constrain himself4 8,i  
marvel10 he said1 8that we listen so    
long without first asking this  ,prophet
 by what authority he sayeth these      
things1 or what sign he can work  in    
,heaven to prove his authority4 ,for    
other teachers received of teachers     
before them2 as1 for example1 ,hillel   
and ,shammai received from ,shemaiah    
and ,abtalion2 and ,shemaiah and        
,abtalion received from ,jehudah the son

 of  ,tabai1 and ,simeon the son of     
,shatach2 and so on successively2 but   
this  teacher maketh mention of no      
teachers from whom he hath received his 
doctrine3 neither worketh he any sign in
 ,heaven4 ,but whence doth he draw  his 
knowledge about the ,unapproachable     
7blessed is ,he78 ,even from the        
creatures2 even from the weeds of the   
field1 and the silly birds that are     
caught in the snare of the fowler2 from 
the senseless rain and from the  shining
 of the sun2 yea1 and from the nature of
 the heart of man1 which is  evil from  
his youth6 ,but how much better than all
 these is the ,law1  whereby was created
 all that is2 according as it is said1  
#8,beloved are the  children of ,israel1
 in that there was given to them the    
instrument by  which the world was      
created4'0    ,no answer was made to the
 words of ,eliezer3 but ,barabbas took  
up the words  of ,baruch1 and said1 8,if
 we are to turn the left cheek to him   
which hath  smitten the right1 and if we

 are to do good unto them which do us   
harm1  who shall cause injustice to     
cease in the world8 ,for verily the     
unjust  will wax fat in their injustice 
and will go on from oppression to       
oppression40 ,but said ,judas of        
,kerioth1 8,listen unto me1 ,o foolish  
ones1  and take counsel from me3 for is 
it not even as ,i foretold8 ,did not ,i 
say  unto you that the ,prophet would   
not at this time make laws that should  
endure for ever1 but only ordinances for
 a season1 till we had gained the  upper
 hand8 ,wherefore ye must know that it  
is in the mind of the ,prophet  to draw 
unto himself the hearts of all people by
 fair words and gentle  dealing3 but    
when the time is come for different     
policy1 then we shall  take fresh       
counsel according to our needs4 ,but now
 hearken4 ,did not the  ,prophet        
prophesy woe to the rich and the        
powerful8 ,these are the ,romans2  and  
in foretelling woe to them1 he foretold 
woe against the ,romans4 ,again1  did he

 not prophesy blessing for the poor8    
,and we are poor3 and in every  city of 
,israel the poor are the greater part1  
and will fight on our side1  and will   
have a part in our blessing4 ,i grant1  
he said not that we should  be judges   
and princes3 but he promised that we    
should have that for which  we asked2   
and is not this enough for us8 ,yea1 and
 albeit he mentioned not  expressly     
money1 or lands1 or houses1 yet he said 
that our reward should  be great4 ,but  
if persecution or the shedding of some  
of our blood must  needs come before our
 success1 who is so fainthearted and    
womanish as to  draw back for such a    
cause8 ,therefore1 ,i say1 be of good   
heart2 and though  there be some dark   
sayings of the ,prophet1 let us be      
content to stand fast  on those sayings 
which are plain4 ,but as touching the   
words of ,eliezer1 we  all know in our  
hearts that ,jesus is not a man as other
 men1 but that he  is a leader sent from
 ,god2 and howsoever he teacheth1 and   

whithersoever he  leadeth1 it is our    
wisdom to obey him and to follow him40  
,the words of ,judas pleased us3 and we 
all agreed to them4 ,only a certain     
,alexandrine 7whose name was ,quartus7  
said to ,baruch that he judged not  that
 the words of ,jesus were intended to be
 merely transitory ordinances4  ,now    
this ,quartus was a man of no common    
understanding and discernment2 and      
inasmuch as his father had been a ,greek
 and had caused him to be trained  in   
the ,greek learning and philosophy1 he  
spake with more art and subtlety  than  
most of my companions4 ,howbeit he      
lacked not faith and the love of        
righteousness2 and1 his mother being of 
our nation1 he had been  circumcised1   
and had conformed himself to the worship
 of ,israel2 but  having been bred up in
 the schools of the ,greeks and in the  
school of  ,philo1 he was at all times  
desirous to compare the teaching of     
other  philosophers with the teaching of
 ,jesus4 ,he was a merchant1 and his    

business brought him oftentimes to      
,capernaum1 where ,i had met him2 but ,i
  had also met him before in the house  
of my uncle at ,alexandria4 ,so when ,i 
overheard ,quartus saying these words to
 my cousin1 ,i questioned him how he    
interpreted the sayings of ,jesus1 and  
in particular1 that saying  concerning  
the turning of the cheek to the smiter4 
,then said ,quartus unto me1 after some 
pause1 8,be not displeased if ,i speak  
in a parable4 ,many times in ,capernaum 
have ,i seen mariners 7such as know  not
 your waters7 grievously tossed by a    
storm while they strove to enter  into  
the harbour by a straight course1 and   
toiling hard for many hours1  but all to
 no purpose2 but others 7which know the 
secret7 leave the  straight course on   
one side1 and stand far out to ,tariche4
 ,thence floweth  a current toward      
,capernaum1 strong at all times2 but in 
stormy weather it  cannot be resisted4  
,falling into this current therefore1   
the wise mariner  needeth but to row    

softly1 or scarce at all1 and lo1 he    
entereth into  ,capernaum as it were    
upon wings4 ,now even such a wise       
mariner doth ,jesus  seem unto me40     
,i marvelled at his words4 ,but ,quartus
 perceived that ,i understood him not2  
and he continued1 8,i speak as one      
groping in the dark4 ,but the meaning of
  my parable is this3 ,the lake is the  
world2 the vessel is ,israel2 and       
,capernaum is redemption4 ,other pilots 
have striven to guide ,israel to        
redemption by dint of force1 but they   
have failed3 ,jesus is the true  pilot1 
and knoweth the currents and streams in 
the nature of men and  things2 and by   
his wisdom he thinketh to guide us      
aright40    8,but what10 ,i asked1 8are 
these streams and currents80 ,again     
,quartus was  silent for a while1 and   
longer than before1 so that by this time
 we were  almost come down from the     
mountain2 but at last he said unto me1  
8,what  seemeth to thee the strongest   
current in the nature of men80 ,but1    

when ,i  held my peace1 not knowing what
 to answer1 he spake again very         
earnestly1  8,thou art a student of the 
sayings of the ,wise1 ,o ,joseph1 and   
canst answer  with discerning4 ,tell me1
 then1 on what standeth the earth80     
,then ,i  replied according to the      
saying1 8,upon the pillars2 and the     
pillars upon  the waters40 8,yea10      
replied ,quartus2 8and after these      
cometh the wind2 and  what after the    
wind80 ,then ,i said1 8,beneath the wind
 is the storm1 and  beneath the storm is
 the arm of the ,holy ,one2 for it is   
said1 #8,underneath  are the            
,everlasting ,arms4'0 ,then said        
,quartus1 8,it is so2 and verily the    
foundations of earth are the            
,everlasting ,arms of the ,father in    
,heaven3 but  if the ,fatherhood of ,god
 be the strongest thing on earth1 and if
 this be  the mightiest stream or       
current in the nature of men1 then how  
may we best  sail with that current80 ,i
 remembered the words which ,jesus had  

spoken  that we were to become as little
 children2 so ,i answered1 8,i suppose1 
by  approaching ,him as children40      
,here ,judas interrupted us and said1   
8,nay1 but wisdom is the strongest      
thing in the world1 for it is written of
 wisdom1 #8,the ,lord possessed me in   
the beginning of ,his way1 before ,his  
works of old4 ,when ,he appointed the   
foundations of the earth1 then ,i was by
 ,him as one brought up with ,him4'0    
8,thou sayest well10 said ,quartus1 8but
 what human wisdom is like unto that    
wisdom which revealeth ,god to men8 ,now
 as no child can understand his  father 
unless he love his father1 so no man can
 know ,god 7who is our  ,father in      
,heaven7 unless he love ,him2 but whoso 
loveth1 understandeth2  therefore to    
love ,god is the highest wisdom of man40
 ,then ,judas scoffed at  him and said1 
8,this is nothing but repeating in new  
words the old saying  of the ,law1      
#8,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god   
with all thy heart1 and with  all thy   

soul1 and with all thy mind1 and with   
all thy strength4' ,what6 do  ye then   
deem our ,master to be naught but a     
merchant that retaileth old  wares as if
 they were new80 ,so he left us and went
 on before4    ,but ,quartus continued1 
8,judas saith truly that the new ,law   
aimeth at the  same mark as the old     
,law4 ,but the means are diverse4 ,for  
the old ,law  worketh by purifications  
and feasts and sabbaths2 but the new    
,law belike  worketh in part by these   
means1 but in greater part by other     
means4 ,and1  as ,i judge1 ,jesus goeth 
toward the end of the old ,law2 but by a
 path that  is new1 yea1 altogether new4
 ,for ,i have myself heard him say that 
the  redeemers of old were like unto    
thieves and robbers1 using force and    
violence2 but he himself cometh not like
 a thief over the wall1 but like  the   
true shepherd through the door of the   
fold1 that is to say1 through  the path 
of ,redemption which ,god hath          
appointed4 ,now this path is kindness   

or love4 ,and ,jesus saith that the     
former redeemers failed of their        
purpose1 for they thought to redeem men 
by force2 but he will not fail1  for he 
purposeth to redeem men by gentleness4  
,and he saith that ,god  ordaineth      
strength out of babes and sucklings1 and
 that the spirit of  childhood is the   
conquering spirit of the world4         
,rememberest thou not how  our teacher  
,philo said some things not much unlike 
to these1 teaching that  the highest    
revelation of ,god is through love8     
,howbeit1 none methinks1  save ,jesus   
only1 can reveal this revelation4 ,for  
,philo testifieth of that  which is     
behind the veil2 but ,jesus of ,nazareth
 hath power to lift up the  veil40      
,by this time we had overtaken the      
others1 whom we found all sitting1 and  
,jesus in the midst of them4 ,by the    
side of ,jesus was a man bearing in his 
arms a little child4 ,he was come forth 
from a house nigh to the place  where   
,jesus sat1 bringing a cup of water for 

,jesus to drink4 ,while ,jesus  was     
drinking1 the father still kept his eyes
 upon the child in his arms1  and his   
face was full of compassion and         
tenderness2 for the child was very      
sickly4 ,we soon perceived that it was  
the same man that had denied to give  us
 guidance in the morning2 but at first  
we knew him not2 pity and love  had so  
transformed his countenance4 ,now it    
came to pass that when ,jesus  had given
 back the cup to the man1 he laid his   
hands on the child and  blessed him4    
,and as he blessed him1 his face shone  
as with the glory of  the ,lord2 and the
 little one also seemed to rejoice and  
to partake in the  brightness of our    
,master's countenance4    ,we both stood
 still1 beholding ,jesus4 ,then said    
,quartus unto me1 8,did not  ,eliezer   
the son of ,arak say truly1 that        
#8,jesus looketh upon the book of  the  
world as well as upon the book of the   
,law1 and seeth in all things  ,god'8   
,for even as ,elias the ,prophet loved  

to commune with ,god on the tops  of    
mountains1 and in deserts1 and in caves1
 and received revelations of  the ,lord 
from earthquakes and fires1 but most of 
all from the still small  voice2 even so
 doth our ,master look upon all things  
that are1 yea even on  the smallest     
things that live or grow1 and from all1 
he heareth a still  small voice that    
speaketh of the ,father4 ,yea1 and there
 is yet more than  this4 ,for           
whithersoever he turneth his face1      
methinks he giveth of his  love to all  
things1 whether they be the flowers of  
the field1 or the  birds1 or the        
mountains1 or the children of men3 and  
because he thus  giveth1 it is given to 
him again2 yea1 wisdom and joy and peace
 are given  back to him1 even from      
things that have not life2 but most of  
all from the  children of men1 which are
 made in the image of ,god4 ,therefore  
said ,i that  ,jesus seemeth as the wise
 mariner of whom we spake but now2 for1 
by the  ,word of ,god in himself1 he    

hath haply hit upon a certain current in
 the  nature of created things1 whereby 
he will easily prevail over the blasts  
of all opposing storms1 and be carried  
into the haven of ,god1 both he and  all
 they that put their trust in him40     
8,thy words are fair10 ,i replied1 8but 
they do not persuade me4 ,that the  love
 of children doth bind husband and wife 
together1 and that the bond of  families
 is the bond of nations1 this ,i deny   
not4 ,perchance also the love  that     
parents have to their children may have 
lifted up the hearts of many  in        
,israel1 during many generations1 to the
 true ,god4 ,but how we are to  take    
,jerusalem or thrust forth the ,romans  
from ,syria by becoming as little       
children1 this passeth my understanding4
 ,or dost thou not believe that  ,jesus 
will lead us against the ,romans in     
,jerusalem80    8,i know not10 replied  
,quartus 7who spoke as one musing1 and  
not giving  heed to my question72 8but  
what troubleth me most of all is the    

fear lest  the knowledge of ,jesus may  
haply perish with him2 for if he hath   
7as ,i  judge that he hath7 a certain   
inborn power of winning men over to his 
will  by kindness and gentleness1 then1 
as it seemeth to me1 this power may be  
likened unto the fabled ring of         
,solomon1 which gave unto the owner well
  nigh whatsoever he desired4 ,but there
 is this difference4 ,the ring could  be
 delivered from one man to another2 but 
the art or secret of ,jesus is1  in all 
likelihood1 not able to be delivered to 
them that shall come after2  but it will
 perish with him4 ,and then what        
becometh of his ,kingdom of  ,god80     
,as long as ,quartus was speaking ,i    
heard him gladly3 but when he had       
ceased1 his words seemed like mist in   
the morning sun2 but the words of       
,judas seemed as the solid ground from  
which the mist rolleth away4 ,for  what 
,quartus said was hard to understand2   
but the words of ,judas seemed          
according to reason1 and very plain to  

be understood2 to wit1 that the         
ordinances given on the mountain of     
blessing were transitory1 and that we   
were still to wait for the ,new ,law3   
and to this ,i agreed1 and not ,i only1 
but the most part of the disciples4     
,,chapter ,x      ,it came to pass1 not 
many days afterwards 7about a month     
after the ,feast  of the ,harvest71 that
 we journeyed to ,capernaum2 and        
,nathanael1 and  ,gorgias the son of    
,philip1 and ,i1 had been sent on before
 to prepare a  lodging4 ,now when we    
were standing at the door of the house  
where we were  to lodge1 we heard a     
sound as of many feet2 and1 looking up1 
,gorgias said1  8,see1 hither cometh the
 ,tetrarch's ,thracian guard40 ,i looked
 and saw a  band of about three hundred 
men1 of a wild and savage aspect1       
bearing  targets and girt with          
scimitars4 ,but ,gorgias1 noting as ,i  
suppose the  anger in my countenance1   
answered1 8,these dogs 7may the ,lord   
destroy them  root and branch67 are     

swift indeed to shed the blood of women 
and  children1 but they are as naught   
compared with the ,romans4 ,could'st    
thou  but see a ,roman legion how they  
march1 these would seem unto thee but as
  jackals at the lion's tail4 ,mark but 
how the dogs straggle4 ,but when the    
,romans march1 the spears in their hands
 all point one way1 and the swords  by  
their sides hang all after one fashion1 
and even their stakes and tools  7which 
they carry behind their backs7 do all   
swing to one time1 and their  feet1     
arms1 and heads1 yea1 even to the       
winking of their eyes1 go all  together 
after the manner of a fivebanked        
cornship of ,alexandria1 with  her five 
hundred oars all keeping time2 and when 
they charge1 they charge  like ten      
thousand elephants clad in iron4        
,moreover1 they add to their  power so  
much wisdom1 that when they halt for the
 night1 each man setteth  up his stake  
in the ground1 and taketh his spade1 and
 diggeth his portion  of trench before  

his stake1 and behold1 the solitary     
place becometh in a  trice a fortified  
city1 with streets and walls and        
ditches4 ,verily these  ,roman swine are
 all as children of ,satan2 but a ,roman
 legion is as ,satan  himself40 ,by this
 time our ,master had arrived2 so ,i was
 silent4 ,but when  he went into the    
house1 ,i remained without1 musing2 for 
the words of ,jesus  came into my mind  
again1 concerning the entering into the 
,kingdom2 and  methought it would be    
very hard to overthrow these ,thracians1
 and much  more the ,romans1 by becoming
 as little children4    ,while ,i       
thought on these things there came to   
the door of the house  ,jonathan the son
 of ,ezra2 for he knew that ,i was      
coming to ,capernaum1 and  he had       
appointed to meet me there4 ,when he had
 greeted me in loving terms1  he said   
that he desired to speak with me        
touching ,jesus of ,nazareth2  8,for10  
said he1 8,i hear that he turneth from  
him the minds of many1 in  that he      

observeth not the ,sabbath40 ,i could   
not deny this2 for indeed  ,jesus had   
oftentimes1 during our journey in       
,galilee1 broken the ,sabbath4          
,sometimes he had healed the sick on the
 ,sabbath2 and but lately on the        
,sabbath before the ,feast of the       
,harvest1 he had healed one that had an 
impediment in his speech2 and when      
certain of the ,pharisees had blamed it1
  he had said aloud1 before all the     
people1 that it was right to do good on 
the ,sabbath1 but not to do evil4       
,moreover1 he had not rebuked them that 
carried the sick to him on the ,sabbath1
 though the bearing of burdens be       
forbidden4 ,once1 indeed1 he had even   
commanded a sick man to carry with  him 
the bed whereon he lay4 ,i therefore    
held my peace1 but ,jonathan added1     
8,even though he cure the sick on the   
,sabbath1 yet why need he offend the    
learned and the pious by bidding the    
sick bear burdens on the day of rest8   
,moreover1 if he desire to go more than 

a ,sabbath day's journey on some  errand
 of mercy1 why doth he not use the      
device of meat1 so that he may  keep the
 letter of the ,law8 ,therefore1 speak  
thou unto him1 as one that  loveth him2 
and warn him that the ,pharisees are    
wroth40    ,then there came into my mind
 how1 on the last ,sabbath day1 ,jesus  
had  passed by a house in a certain     
village1 which was the house of a poor  
widow2 and a great storm of wind and    
rain1 which had arisen in the night1    
had washed away some part of the wall   
thereof1 so that the rest was in  danger
 to fall4 ,and behold1 a man1 a mason by
 trade1 was working  diligently to      
repair the breach4 ,when we saw it we   
were ready to take up  stones for to    
stone him2 but ,jesus forbade us1 and   
said to the man1 8,man1  if thou knowest
 what thou doest1 blessed art thou2 but 
if thou knowest not  what thou doest1   
cursed art thou407#f7 ,thereat we all   
marvelled1 and there  was much          
questioning among us4 ,but when we had  

considered the matter1 we  perceived no 
more but this2 that ,jesus would not    
have us to observe the  ,sabbath as the 
,scribes observed it4    ,i therefore   
replied that ,i durst not speak to      
,jesus1 nor did ,i believe  that he     
would give heed to my speech3 for that  
,i thought he brake the  ,sabbath1 not  
out of heedlessness1 but of set purpose4
 ,jonathan was  astonished at these     
words1 but ,i continued1 8,not that our 
,master aimeth at  breaking the         
,sabbath3 but if a sick man needeth to  
be healed1 he thinketh  it right that   
the ,sabbath should be broken for the   
sick man's sake40 ,then  ,jonathan said1
 8,then what new rule doth he teach8    
,doth he suffer you to go  four thousand
 paces or even five thousand paces on   
the ,sabbath1 instead of  two thousand1 
which the ,law alloweth80 ,but ,i       
replied1 8,neither four  thousand paces1
 nor five thousand2 for our ,master     
maketh no rules4 ,but1 as  it seemeth to
 me1 there is in him a certain spirit   

from ,god which  prompteth him to do    
this or that1 and forbiddeth him to do  
otherwise3 and  if the spirit of        
kindness say unto him #8,go1' then he   
will go and bid us  go1 though it be ten
 thousand or twenty thousand paces2 and 
this1 even on  the ,sabbath4 ,for1 in   
fine1 he saith that the ,sabbath is made
 for man1 and  not man for the          
,sabbath40    ,hereat ,jonathan was     
sorely grieved1 and said1 8,if this be  
so1 ,i fear lest  counsel be of no      
avail40 ,but after that he had weighed  
the matter1 he  said1 8,even though he  
be a prophet1 and have a message from   
,god1 yet are  there seasons and ways of
 delivering a message2 and in these     
matters the  experience and counsel of  
old age may have weight4 ,therefore ,i  
will  adventure to speak to him40 ,i was
 glad that he had thus determined3 for  
many of us had desired to speak with    
,jesus4 ,yet ,i feared lest ,jonathan   
might not prevail4 ,for ,i had noted    
that ,jesus at first brake the ,sabbath1

  only when a kindness compelled2 but   
when the ,scribes and ,pharisees were   
wroth1 and strove to place the yoke on  
his neck1 so as to cause him to  cease  
from good works on the ,sabbath1 then he
 not only rebelled against  it1 but made
 as if he would break the yoke from off 
the necks of all1  especially the poorer
 sort1 to whom the ,sabbath was rather a
 burden than a  joy4 ,for the more the  
,pharisees raged against him1 the more  
he made war  against the ,sabbath4      
,therefore ,i did not forebode well for 
,jonathan3  howbeit1 ,i accompanied him 
into the presence of ,jesus4    ,when we
 entered into the house1 behold1        
,barabbas was with ,jesus1  beseeching  
him that he would not go into the       
synagogue on the next  ,sabbath3 8,for10
 said he1 8the chief ruler of the       
synagogue hath a plot  against thee1 and
 desireth to question thee touching the 
,sabbath1 that he  may raise up a tumult
 of the people against thee4 ,for all   
the ,pharisees  and elders of the       

synagogue are wroth with thee for the   
sake of the  ,sabbath1 saying that thou 
dost both break it and teach others also
 to  break it40    ,hereon ,jonathan1   
finding his occasion1 spake to the same 
effect1 saying  that all the ,scribes in
 the country round about ,sepphoris had 
been turned  away from ,jesus because it
 had been noised abroad that he observed
 not the  ,sabbath4 ,so he besought     
,jesus to consider his course well3     
8,despise not  instruction from an      
elder1 ,o my son1 even though thou art a
 prophet4 ,art  thou confident in thine 
heart that it is a spirit from ,god1 and
 not a  spirit from ,satan1 that        
tempteth thee thus to break the         
,sabbath8 ,bethink  thee also how thou  
wilt cause the people of the land to go 
astray4 ,for the  simple walk by rules1 
and straighten their path by ordinances4
 ,but lo1  thou takest away rules and   
ordinances2 and what dost thou leave in 
the  place thereof8 ,i have heard from  
,eliezer the son of ,arak that a certain

  man was working even at his handicraft
 on the ,sabbath day1 and thou sawest   
him1 and didst not rebuke him3 but didst
 say1 that if he had knowledge of  that 
which he did1 he was blessed2 but if he 
had not that knowledge1 he  was         
accursed4 ,whence1 ,o my son1 should the
 simple and unlearned gain this         
knowledge whereof thou speakest8 ,but if
 thou sayest1 #8,i am a prophet and     
will give them this knowledge1' then    
remember that thou too art mortal1  and 
as the grass of the field2 and when thou
 shalt pass away1 thy  knowledge shall  
perish with thee1 unless it be set forth
 in rules4 ,but  thou givest no rules to
 thy disciples4    8,but come1 let us   
reason together as though thou wert     
altogether right in  this matter1 having
 a message from ,god to us touching the 
,sabbath4  ,notwithstanding1 is there   
not a place and a time for delivering a 
message1  and a place and a time for    
concealing it8 ,there is a time to go   
forward2  but is there not also a time  

to make a stand8 ,it is good to set thy 
face  toward the light1 that thou mayest
 advance2 but it is good also to turn   
thy face from the light1 that thou      
mayest see whither thou hast advanced4  
,moreover1 why dost thou cause the      
,pharisees to stumble1 and the rich to  
take offence at thy doctrine8 ,art thou 
not the ,redeemer of all ,israel8 ,are  
not the ,pharisees also thy brethren1   
and the rich also sheep of the flock8   
,why therefore dost thou drive them from
 the fold and cast them forth into  the 
wilderness8 ,if thou sayest1 #8,they are
 weak1' then take pity1 ,o my son1  on  
the weak ones of ,israel1 yea and       
perchance on thine own disciples1 lest  
they that may come after thee drink of  
thy doctrine and die1 and the ,name  of 
,heaven be profaned40    ,now at the    
first the face of ,jesus was not altered
 toward ,jonathan the son  of ,ezra1 and
 he heard him kindly1 yet patiently     
withal1 and as if he knew  what the old 
man would say1 before he said it4 ,but  

when ,jonathan begged  him for          
compassion's sake not to cause the weak 
ones to stumble1 then the  fashion of   
his countenance was changed as if he    
would have wept1 and he  seemed to us   
like one in sore straits1 for he changed
 colour and was  silent4 ,judge1        
therefore1 how great was our            
astonishment when he stood up  and      
rebuked ,jonathan as though his words   
were from ,satan4    ,perplexity and    
sore grief fell upon us all1 and the old
 man would have  retired abashed4 ,but  
,jesus took him by the hand and         
constrained him to  stay1 and made him  
sit down by his side and spake kindly   
unto him4 ,yet he  began to speak again 
of the words of ,jonathan as being a    
sore temptation1  telling us how in     
former times he had undergone a like    
temptation from  ,satan4 ,he had been in
 the wilderness1 he said1 and lo1 in a  
moment of time  he had been borne to the
 top of a mountain1 whence he saw the   
kingdoms of  the earth and the glory    

thereof1 and ,satan said to him1 8,all  
these things  will ,i give unto thee1 if
 thou wilt fall down and worship me40   
,while we marvelled at the words of     
,jesus1 and disputed among ourselves how
  that temptation in the wilderness     
could be like unto this temptation1     
behold1 ,judas of ,kerioth came into the
 chamber1 saying the same things  which 
,barabbas had said1 to wit that the     
,pharisees in ,capernaum were  laying a 
snare for ,jesus1 for to catch him in   
his teaching1 that they  might cause the
 people to stone him4 ,but ,jesus gave  
command that we should  pass over on the
 morrow to the other side of the lake4  
,on the morrow1 while we rowed across   
the lake1 ,i asked ,nathanael what      
seemed to him the nature of the         
temptation of ,satan whereof ,jesus had 
spoken4 ,nathanael made answer and said1
 8,thou perceivest that the heart of    
our ,master overfloweth with pity for   
the miseries of men2 and even to  redeem
 them from these miseries he hath been  

sent by the ,lord4 ,now as for  silver  
and gold1 or fame1 or wisdom1 none of   
these things can in any wise  tempt him 
once to go aside either to the right    
hand or to the left from  the straight  
path of ,redemption4 ,howbeit1 pity and 
love can tempt him4  ,wherefore the only
 temptation that can befal him is from  
the ,voice that  saith1 ,be pitiful1    
even though thou transgress in pitying2 
,do evil that  thou mayest do good2     
,gain power by crooked ways1 that thou  
mayest  straighten the paths of         
salvation for them which wander astray2 
,wink thou  at falsehood1 that they     
which err may be guided toward truth4   
,now this  ,voice1 as it seemeth to me1 
is to our ,master the ,voice of ,satan2 
and to  listen to it is to bow down to  
,satan4 ,and ,satan1 perchance1 knowing 
that  in this way alone can our ,master 
be tempted1 hath caused ,jonathan the   
son  of ,ezra to tempt him4 ,but ,i know
 no more than thou2 only such is my     
conjecture40    ,while we thus conversed

 together the boat drew nigh unto the   
eastern  shore4 ,the mountains came down
 to the water's edge1 so close1 and so  
precipitous withal1 that there was      
scarce space enough to land3 and1       
because the sun still lay low in the    
east1 all was dark before us1 though    
the waters behind us shone fair and     
bright4 ,but when we were now entering  
under the shadow of the cliffs1 so that 
we could discern things more  clearly1  
we perceived that there was a margin of 
shore1 but narrow and  exceeding rocky1 
strewn all over with large and small    
fragments of black  rock1 which had     
fallen from the mountain above4 ,then   
suddenly there fell  on our ears a      
marvellous strange cry1 neither as of a 
man nor yet as of a  wild beast2 and    
while we ceased rowing for to listen1   
behold1 yet another  cry1 more piercing 
and strange than the first1 and then    
straightway  another3 and withal the    
rocks and cliffs took up the sound and  
multiplied  it1 and tossed it this way  

and that way till all the land seemed   
alive  with the clamour4 ,but ,gorgias  
trembled and said it was an evil spirit1
  for1 said he1 8,there be burialplaces 
in this part of the coast40 ,then       
,peter cried aloud and said1 8,i see a  
form as of a man1 lank and lean1  coming
 out from the rocks2 and it is naked40  
,then some of us bade steer  towards    
another part of the coast2 but ,jesus   
commanded to keep on our  course4       
,now when we landed1 we perceived that  
it was a man1 but he was one  possessed 
with evil spirits4 ,for he had chains   
about his body2 and he had  cut and     
lanced his flesh with grievous wounds4  
,when he saw us1 he took up  stones to  
cast at us1 so that we feared to        
approach him2 and certain  shepherds    
from afar off beckoned to us to go back 
from him4 ,but ,jesus went  before the  
rest of us and accosted him4 ,and lo1 at
 the voice of ,jesus1 the  man          
straightway let the stones fall from his
 hands2 and1 for a moment1 he  stood as 

one astonied and in a trance4 ,then he  
shrieked aloud and made  answer to      
,jesus in two voices1 after the manner  
of those possessed with  unclean        
spirits4 ,for at one time the man spake1
 and at another the devils4  ,but the   
devils1 speaking in a deep hollow voice1
 declared that they were  swine1 and    
three thousand in number1 and that their
 name was ,legion4  ,moreover they      
besought ,jesus that he would not send  
them into the abyss  7for by this name  
do the evil spirits use to call that    
place wherein they  must needs wander so
 long as they have no bodies of men to  
dwell in71 but  that he would suffer    
them to remain in the man's body4 ,but  
,jesus drove  them out1 and the ,legion 
went forth into the abyss1 to the number
 of three  thousand1 and in the shapes  
of swine4 ,but ,jesus did not suffer the
 man to  accompany him1 but bade him    
return to his friends1 and to tell them 
what  great things the ,lord had done   
for him4    ,this mighty work of ,jesus 

,i have set down the more exactly1      
because no  such unclean spirit as this 
was ever cast out by any other exorcist4
 ,for  other men have been possessed    
with swine1 or toads1 or scorpions1 or  
serpents1 but not with many in number1  
seldom with more than seven4 ,but  this 
man was possessed with three thousand   
swine4 ,for ,i not only heard him  say  
this to ,jesus1 but he also repeated it 
to me2 for ,i conversed with  him4 ,he  
told me also that he himself saw the    
three thousand swine go forth  and run1 
first upward1 and then violently down   
from the cliff1 even to the  abyss4 ,now
 the man was a ,gadarene1 a ,jew by     
birth1 and a patriot1 one of  the sect  
of the ,galileans4 ,howbeit1 living in  
,gadara1 which is a ,greek  city1 he had
 suffered himself to become defiled1 and
 had rejected the ,law  and the         
,worship1 and had eaten swine's flesh4  
,but it came to pass that on  a certain 
day1 even at the hour of prayer1 when he
 thought on these  things1 a darkness   

fell upon his soul1 and he saw sights of
 demons2 and  sometimes also he saw the 
sun as though it were red as blood2 and 
he  loathed his food as it had been     
poison4 ,and this continued for the     
space  of six months4 ,but at the end of
 the six months1 on a certain ,sabbath1 
as  he stood in the streets of ,gadara1 
so it was that there came a cohort1     
which is the tenth part of a ,roman     
legion1 marching through the town4 ,and 
he turned and cursed them in the name of
 the ,lord2 and lo1 as the curse  went  
forth from his mouth1 the devils entered
 into him in the shape of a  legion of  
swine2 and they possessed him even to   
the day when ,jesus healed  him4 ,all   
this ,i heard from the demoniac himself4
    ,when ,jesus had worked this miracle
 we all rejoiced greatly2 for we thought
  that whoso could do so mighty a work1 
to him all things were possible2 and  we
 desired ,jesus to go back to the other 
side of the lake1 and there to  work    
miracles that he might convince the     

,pharisees4 ,but we marvelled that      
,jesus set so little store on his mighty
 works1 insomuch that he even  seemed   
oftentimes unwilling to work them4 ,many
 also he wrought in private2  and many  
he would fain have kept secret1 but he  
could not4 ,now when ,i  asked          
,nathanael 7for he was as it were an    
interpreter unto me to explain  such    
sayings of ,jesus as were hard to       
understand7 for what cause ,jesus       
lightly esteemed his own miracles1 he   
asked me whether ,i had not noted how   
the common folk resorted to ,jesus as a 
mere worker of wonders1 so that         
sometimes they even interrupted his     
discourse1 being desirous that ,jesus   
should cease to teach that he might     
begin to work cures4 8,now ,jesus10 he  
said1 8doth not desire that men should  
come to him merely as the healer of     
their bodies1 but as the healer also of 
their souls40    8,for this cause10 said
 ,nathanael1 8,jesus often biddeth such 
as he healeth  in ,galilee to keep      

silence1 although he suffered the       
,gadarene in these  distant parts to    
make it known4 ,for he deemeth it his   
especial work not so  much to drive out 
diseases and evil spirits from the body1
 as rather to  heal the soul1           
ministering bread to the hungry and wine
 to them that are  athirst1 loosing the 
tongue of the dumb1 and causing the deaf
 to hear1  opening the eyes of the      
blind1 and making the lame to leap as a 
hart in  the paths of salvation40    ,we
 made no long stay on the eastern side  
of the lake2 but when we came  again to 
,capernaum we found the hearts of the   
people turned from us4 ,for  not only   
did the chief ruler and the elders of   
the synagogue watch us1 as  before1 if  
perchance they could take us at an      
advantage2 but the zeal of  the townsmen
 also seemed to have waxed cold4        
,scarcely had our boat touched  the     
strand at ,capernaum when my uncle      
,manasseh met me4 ,he took me aside  and
 spake with me very earnestly1 saying   

that he had rebuked his son  ,baruch for
 his slackness at business1 because     
poverty was coming upon them  as an     
armed man1 by reason of his constant    
attending on ,jesus2 and he  added1 8,it
 is true also of thee as of ,baruch1    
#8,he becometh poor that  dealeth with a
 slack hand2 but the hand of the        
diligent maketh rich4 ,he  that         
gathereth in summer is a wise son2 but  
he that sleepeth in harvest is  a son   
that causeth shame4'0 8,and what said   
,baruch80 ,i asked4 8,he hath  consented
 to my words10 said ,manasseh1 8and hath
 promised that he will no  longer       
accompany this ,jesus of ,nazareth in   
his wanderings3 and do thou the  like40 
,but this ,i would not do2 so we parted 
in anger4    ,not a few left ,jesus at  
this time1 mostly they of the wealthier 
sort1 as  were ,baruch and ,manasseh2   
some going back to their vineyards1     
others to  their olivepresses1 others to
 the dyeworks and glassfurnaces1 whereof
  there were many in ,galilee4 ,but the 

poorer sort joined themselves to ,jesus 
as much as before1 being drawn unto him 
by the fame of his mighty works4        
,howbeit they also began to wax         
impatient that ,jesus should give the   
sign  for war4 ,nor did they give now   
much heed to the words of ,jesus2 but   
they  paid regard to him as to some     
great exorcist and sorcerer1 who useth  
his  art for good ends4 ,therefore the  
heart of our ,master was sad at this    
time2  and he was grieved that the      
simple folk knew him not3 and their     
words of  praise were an abomination to 
him4    ,now it came to pass that on the
 third day after we had returned to     
,capernaum1 the fame of ,jesus1 how he  
had driven out the legion of swine  into
 the abyss1 having been now noised      
abroad on our side of the lake1  behold1
 the common people thronged him more    
than before2 insomuch that1  when he    
began to teach the people on the shore  
after his manner1 during  the cool of   
the evening1 they pressed in upon him   

and interrupted him1 so  that he was not
 able to continue his discourse4 ,but   
,jesus1 being grieved  thereat1 gave    
command to ,peter and to ,andrew that   
they should straightway  launch a boat2 
and he went on board4 ,when the people  
saw it1 they made  lamentation2 but the 
boat was stayed at about fifty paces    
from the land2  and ,jesus sat in the   
boat and taught us while we stood on the
 shore4    ,when he opened his mouth1 we
 perceived that he taught after a new   
fashion4  ,for he no longer said 8,do   
this10 8,do not that02 but he spake in  
parables4  ,now almost all the teaching 
of the ,wise is in parables1 and ,jesus 
also had  before taught in parables2 but
 these parables had been short1 and     
along  with the parables there had been 
added the interpretation thereof4 ,but  
it  was not so now2 for the parable was 
naught but a tale about a certain       
sower1 how he sowed seed on several     
kinds of ground3 of the seeds1 some     
falling on rock were destroyed by birds2

 others by heat and the  shallowness of 
the soil2 others by weeds2 but some     
brought forth fruit4    ,hereat certain 
murmured1 and ,gorgias said aloud1      
8,doth he think to redeem  ,sion with a 
tale8 ,lo1 the prophet ,john is in      
prison1 and the men of  ,galilee wait   
but for a nod from ,jesus to rescue him2
 and our ,master  rescueth him not1 but 
openeth his mouth in dark sayings40 ,but
 the greater  number listened all agape1
 as though spellbound2 for the very     
voice of  ,jesus had power to bind the  
souls of a multitude4 ,howbeit1 when    
evening1  or at the most when the morrow
 came1 the parable had clean vanished   
out of  the minds of the greater part4  
,notwithstanding some 7but these only a 
very  few7 stored up the words of ,jesus
 in their hearts1 and diligently        
pondered  them4    ,in the evening ,i   
went with the rest to ,jesus2 and we    
besought him to tell  us what the       
parable might mean1 and also why he     
taught thus in parables4  ,when he had  

answered1 ,i perceived the meaning of   
the parable1 how that  ,abuyah the son  
of ,elishah1 and ,eliezer the son of    
,arak1 were the rocky  ground from which
 the birds picked up the seed2 but      
,baruch1 and such as  ,baruch1 were the 
shallow ground2 and ,manasseh and the   
rich merchants and  artificers were the 
fertile ground wherein weeds choked the 
seed4 ,but  still we were fain to know  
why he spake in parables4    ,when we   
again questioned him of this1 behold1   
,jesus cried aloud with an  exceeding   
bitter cry1 saying1 in the words of the 
,prophet ,isaiah3 8,i heard  the voice  
of the ,lord saying1 ,whom shall ,i     
send1 and who will go for us8  ,then    
said ,i1 ,here am ,i2 send me4 ,and the 
,lord said1 #8,go and tell this  people1
 ,hear ye indeed1 but understand not2   
and see ye indeed1 but  perceive not4   
,make the heart of this people fat1 and 
make their ears  heavy1 and shut their  
eyes2 lest they see with their eyes1 and
 hear with  their ears1 and understand  

with their heart1 and be converted1 and 
be  healed4'0    ,then were we all sad1 
and sat silent for a while2 for our     
,master's face  was full of sorrow1 and 
this was1 as it were1 the first shadow  
of evil  that had fallen upon our path4 
,moreover we began to fear that1 as in  
the  days of ,isaiah1 so it would be    
now4 ,the ,lord had sent his prophet1   
even  ,jesus of ,nazareth2 but the      
hearts of the people would be hardened  
against  the words of the prophet2 yea1 
the prophet himself would seem to make  
the  hearts of the people hard and not  
soft1 as it was with ,abuyah the son of 
,elishah and ,eliezer the son of ,arak1 
whose hearts were made fat and their    
ears heavy by the words of ,jesus of    
,nazareth4    ,for we perceived in part 
his meaning1 to wit1 not that he desired
 in truth  to shut the eyes of the      
people1 but that he was constrained of  
the ,lord to  preach the ,gospel1 and   
all pressed to hear it2 yet could he in 
no wise  preach it so as to make it     

plain to all1 but only to a few4 ,for   
behold1 he  had made trial of the plain 
way of teaching1 and men had thought    
they had  understood him1 but they had  
understood him not2 but had esteemed him
  lightly1 as little better than an     
exorcist4 ,for his words had not pierced
  into their hearts1 but had rested     
without1 as seeds on the wayside2       
insomuch that they had been carried away
 by the angels of ,satan4 ,therefore    
must he now adventure a new path of     
teaching to the end that1 at the  least1
 some few of us might be convinced of   
our want of understanding1 so  that we  
might seek and find the truth2 but1 to  
the most1 all things should  be in      
darkness1 yea1 the light itself should  
be as darkness unto the most4    ,all   
this the ,lord ,jesus spake more clearly
 afterwards1 when he perceived  the will
 of the ,father that only a few should  
be chosen1 though many were  called3 but
 at this time 7perchance because it had 
been but newly revealed  to him7 he     

spake more darkly and with a greater    
bitterness of sorrow4  ,howbeit when he 
had lifted up his head and perceived    
that we also were  weighed down with his
 affliction1 then straightway he made   
himself to be  of a cheerful            
countenance1 and comforted us1 saying1  
8,unto you it is given  to know the     
mysteries of the kingdom of ,god2 but   
unto them that are  without1 all things 
are done in parables40 ,then he bade us 
take heed that  we taught others even as
 he had taught us2 for1 said he1 8with  
what  measure ye mete1 it shall be      
measured to you40 ,he said also1 8,take 
heed  how ye hear2 for whosoever hath1  
to him shall be given1 and whosoever    
hath  not1 from him shall be taken even 
that which he hath40 ,these latter words
  we understood not then2 but1 as ,i    
take it1 the meaning of ,jesus was      
twofold2 first1 that whoso had not faith
 nor honesty would receive damage  7even
 as ,judas received damage1 and not     
advantage7 from the doctrine of  ,jesus2

 but1 secondly1 he seemed to mean that  
the doctrine was1 as it were1  lent to  
each of the disciples1 as money upon    
usury2 each being bound to  traffic with
 the doctrine in the commerce of his own
 thoughts1 so as to  add thereto4 ,in   
the same way he told us1 at another     
time1 that we were to  bring forth out  
of our treasuries things new as well as 
old2 and he also  bade us to 8be        
trustworthy bankers407#g7 ,for of all   
things ,jesus misliked  that we should  
repeat his words by rote2 nor did he    
even bid us copy his  actions exactly   
7but he even said that a time should    
come when we should  do greater works   
than he had done72 and the like also of 
his words4 ,for  this cause perchance1  
,jesus spake afterwards to us also1 even
 to us his  disciples1 sometimes in dark
 sayings2 to the intent that we might   
ponder1  and ask and know the truth4    
,for albeit we often feared to ask him  
questions 7because of our folly and our 
want of faith71 yet did he ever  desire 

us to question him2 teaching us that    
only to them that knock1 is  the door   
opened2 and only to them that hunger1 is
 given of the bread of  ,life4    ,when 
we went forth from the chamber1 ,gorgias
 said1 8,what meaneth the  ,prophet8    
,doth he say that whosoever is rich1 he 
shall be made richer8 ,and  whosoever is
 poor1 shall he also be made poorer80   
,hereat we all smiled2  for we knew that
 our ,master spake not of money1 but of 
wisdom3 and one  made answer to ,gorgias
 to this effect4 ,then said ,judas1     
8,but if ,jesus mean  wisdom1 then how  
sayeth he #8,with what measure ye mete1 
it shall be  measured to you8'0 ,but    
,jonathan the son of ,ezra replied1 8,is
 not this even  according to the saying 
of the ,wise1 #8,man is born to learn in
 order to  teach8' ,and again1 #8,he    
that learneth the ,law and doth not     
teach it1 he it  is that despiseth the  
,name of the ,lord4' ,therefore the     
meaning of ,jesus  is1 that if a man    
teach others what he hath learned1 the  

angels give into  his bosom a           
hundredfold reward40 ,to this ,nathanael
 agreed1 and he added1  8,the reward is 
not as a price that is paid1 so many    
shekels for so much  teaching2 but it is
 even as the rain cometh from the cloud1
 or as heat  cometh from the fire4 ,even
 so doth wisdom come from teaching4 ,for
 wisdom  is not as a dead block that    
wasteth with the using1 but as a living 
thing  that groweth with exercise4 ,but 
most of all is this true of that kind of
  wisdom whereof our ,master speaketh40 
,then ,judas said1 8,but ,i would to    
,god that our ,master would leave off to
  speak of wisdom and would do          
somewhat40 ,and ,gorgias said ,amen to  
that4 ,but  ,simon ,peter replied3 8,it 
is said1 #8,take to thyself a master1   
and be quit  of doubt4' ,now my ,master 
is ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and ,i purpose  
not to spend  the time in doubting1 nor 
to halt between many opinions4 ,for the 
man that  is given to much doubting1 to 
what is he like8 ,he is like unto a ship

 with  many pilots1 which attaineth not 
to the harbour4 ,therefore have ,i      
settled  my mind to believe that        
whatsoever ,jesus doeth1 that is        
righteousness1 and  whatsoever he       
purposeth1 that is wisdom40    ,to this 
we agreed1 and no more was said4        
,howbeit many of us could not so  far   
constrain ourselves1 but we had some    
searchings of heart2 and passing  clouds
 of trouble sometimes crossed our souls 
for that the ,pharisees were  set       
against us1 and because ,jesus himself  
had that day seemed like unto  one      
bearing a burden of the ,lord4          
,notwithstanding on the morrow1 when we 
looked upon his countenance1 full of    
brightness and cheerfulness1 and when   
we heard him speak1 after his wont1 of  
the greatness and the glory of the      
,kingdom that was to come1 behold1 all  
our dark thoughts had immediately       
vanished away4                          
,,chapter ,,xi      ,among them that    
came to ,jesus1 a few were outcasts from

 the synagogues1  or1 as they were      
called1 8sinners02 and it grieved the   
chief ruler of the  synagogue in        
,capernaum and the elders of that       
synagogue that ,jesus should  receive   
such people4 ,but ,jesus received them  
gladly1 and his anger waxed  daily      
hotter against the rulers of the        
synagogues and against the ,scribes1    
8because10 said he1 8they kept the key  
of the ,kingdom1 and yet they would     
neither enter in themselves nor suffer  
others to enter in40 ,he also spake     
sometimes of a new ,key which he must   
give to his disciples2 but this1 as     
yet1 he spake not clearly4 ,but as ,i   
remember1 these words concerning the    
,scribes were spoken when ,jesus first  
heard of the story of ,hannah2 which ,i 
will set down here1 though the matter   
occurred some days before4    ,there    
lived in ,capernaum a certain woman     
whose name was ,hannah1 sister of  the  
mother of ,nathanael4 ,this woman was   
afflicted by ,satan1 so that she  could 

not stand upright1 but was bowed down to
 the earth4 ,now it came to  pass that  
on a certain day when ,nathanael visited
 her in her affliction1  behold1 the    
,rabbi ,eliezer was in her house1       
questioning her touching her  sins4 ,and
 ,eliezer had persuaded the woman that  
she was guilty of many  sins2 for       
enquiring whether she had visited any of
 her acquaintance on the  ,sabbath1 he  
found that one of them1 a widow1 old and
 bedridden1 lived  somewhat more than   
two thousand paces from her house2      
wherefore he  declared that ,hannah had 
broken the ,law in visiting this poor   
widow on the  ,sabbath4 ,moreover he    
reproved ,hannah because she had borne  
burdens on the  ,sabbath1 in that she   
had worn ribbons upon her garment during
 the ,sabbath1  which ribbons were not  
sewn to her garment2 neither had she    
observed the  ,law of the ,sabbath as   
touching things that are not living4    
,many other like  sins did ,eliezer     
reprove in ,nathanael's kinswoman4      

,but when she sought how to be forgiven1
 he said1 8,thou hast not sinned        
against man1 but against ,god4 ,if a man
 sin against men1 the judge shall  judge
 him3 but if a man sin against the      
,lord1 who shall entreat for him8  ,but 
give of thy substance to the treasury of
 the synagogue1 and ,i will  entreat for
 thee if perchance the ,lord will deal  
mercifully with thee4  ,howbeit thou    
must needs wait till the ,day of        
,atonement3 for until that day  thou    
mayest not be forgiven4 ,but in the mean
 season fast1 and eat no  pleasant food1
 nor drink wine3 but afflict thy soul   
before the face of the  ,allmerciful    
7blessed is ,he7 if perchance ,he may   
incline ,his ear unto thy  prayer40     
,now when ,hannah heard these things1   
her spirit fainted within her1 and she  
knew not what to do1 and she cried aloud
 to ,eliezer1 8,alas6 the ,angel of     
,death is even now upon my threshold1   
and my sins weigh heavily upon me4 ,i   
beseech thee therefore1 entreat the     

,lord for me1 that ,he may forgive me   
immediately1 lest ,i die unforgiven40   
,but he made answer1 as before1 that    
she must needs wait till the ,day of    
,atonement2 and he made ready to        
depart4 ,then she caught him by the     
garment to entreat him2 but he would    
not stay1 but went out4    ,on the third
 day after these things1 it came to pass
 that seven evil  spirits entered into  
,hannah and possessed her in the shapes 
of swine2 and  ,eliezer heard it1 and   
said that it was a judgment of the      
,lord4 ,then was  ,nathanael sorely     
grieved1 and he came to ,jesus and told 
him everything2  both that which        
,eliezer had said1 and how ,hannah had  
cried unto him1 and  afterwards how the 
evil spirits had entered into her4 ,but 
,jesus 7as it was  reported to me by    
,nathanael71 being exceeding wroth1     
arose in haste upon  hearing of this    
story2 and he went forth straightway to 
the house of  ,hannah and cast out the  
seven devils1 and bade her be of good   

cheer and  live in peace4 ,and then it  
was that he uttered this saying against 
the  ,scribes1 whereof ,i made mention  
above1 namely that they kept the key of 
the ,kingdom of ,god1 but would neither 
enter in themselves1 nor suffer  others 
to enter in4    ,now it happened that1  
soon after these things1 ,i brought     
,nathanael to  visit the ,rabbi         
,jonathan at his lodging in ,capernaum2 
and we found there  the aforesaid       
,eliezer the son of ,arak conversing    
with him4 ,when ,eliezer  saw us1 he    
complained sorely of the lightmindedness
 7so he called it7  which our ,master   
manifested in receiving sinners4 ,but   
,jonathan replied  saying that the cause
 lay in the exceeding gentleness of our 
,master1  because he knew not the evil  
nature of man4    8,for10 said he1 8from
 his birth upward1 ,jesus of ,nazareth  
hath moved in  ,paradise2 and being     
himself good1 pure1 and gentle1 he      
believeth that  others also are in their
 thoughts like unto himself1 and that   

they need  but a little help to make    
them in their deeds like unto himself4  
,for he  esteemeth of sin as being      
naught but an infirmity4 ,but time and  
experience  will open his eyes40        
,then answered ,nathanael and said to   
,eliezer1 8,but is it not truly said1 ,o
  son of ,arak1 that #8,the perfection  
of wisdom is repentance8' and again1    
#8,when a man hath been wholly wicked1  
and hath repented at last1 the ,holy    
,one receiveth him'8 ,nay1 it is added  
that1 #8,if a sinner repent1 all the    
transgressions which he hath committed  
are imputed to him as merits1' and  that
 #8,repentance was created before the   
world4' ,how then is our ,master  wrong 
in receiving them that repent80 ,but    
,eliezer answered1 with an  austere     
countenance1 that repentance availed    
nothing without works2 and he  quoted   
the saying1 8,no boor is a sinfearer2   
nor is the vulgar pious02 and  another  
saying which warneth men 8,not to       
frequent the company of the  unlearned40

 8,moreover10 he added1 8the ,allseeing 
7blessed is ,he7 alone  knoweth the     
hearts of men1 and discerneth the true  
repentance from the  false4 ,wherefore  
none can forgive sins but ,god alone40  
,then ,nathanael1 remembering how great 
an evil had befallen his kinswoman      
through the hardness of ,eliezer1 became
 exceeding wroth1 and brake out  into   
bitter accusations against the ,scribes1
 because they despised the  people of   
the land3 8,for lo10 he said1 8more than
 half of ,israel even now  goeth down to
 the pit of destruction1 and ye raise no
 hand to save them4  ,yea1 when the     
drowning ones lift up their heads from  
the waters and cry  saying1 #8,we are   
alive1 help us1' then stand ye on the   
bank and answer1  saying1 #8,down1 down1
 ye ought not to be alive1 ye are not   
alive4' ,for ye  say that ye make fences
 to keep in the ,law2 but ye make fences
 indeed to  keep out the people from the
 ,law4 ,wherefore your fences are as    
offences1  and ye are guilty of the     

blood of half the nation of ,israel in  
the sight  of the ,lord40    ,then      
,eliezer arose in wrath1 and as he went 
to the door1 he turned and  looked on   
,nathanael and said1 8,like master1 like
 scholar30 and so he went  out4 ,but    
when he was departed1 ,jonathan said to 
us1 8,eliezer spake  unadvisedly and    
harshly2 yet is there truth in his      
words4 ,for when we shun  the           
#8unlearned' and the #8vulgar1' or the  
people of the land1 we mean such  as    
have not learned their duties toward    
,god and man1 which also are wholly     
given up to the things of earth4 ,such  
men are lovers of self1 wallowing in    
carnal lusts3 and are they not to be    
blamed80    ,to this ,nathanael replied1
 8,true1 ,o my father2 and if all the   
teachers of  ,israel were as thou art1  
verily ,israel would be blessed4 ,but do
 not the  ,scribes cast out many from   
the synagogues for small matters1 even  
though  they perform the weightier      
duties8 ,yea1 ,i myself have heard      

,eliezer say  many times1 #8,hasten to a
 light precept'2 and ,i have seen him to
 be more  angered for a light           
transgression than a heavy one4 ,also   
many of them say  that a #8vulgar'      
person is one that repeateth not the    
daily ,krishma1 or  weareth not         
phylacteries1 or fringes1 or doth not   
wait on the learned4  ,these things do  
the ,scribes exalt1 but they pass over  
justice1 mercy1  righteousness1 and     
truth40    ,jonathan made no answer to  
this at first2 but presently he sighed  
and  said1 8,truly we have need of a    
discerning spirit2 and we should pray   
unto  the ,allseeing 7blessed is ,he7   
that we may not make defiled the pure1  
nor  make pure the defiled1 and that we 
may not bind the loosed nor loose the   
bound40 ,no one spake further about this
 matter4 ,but ,nathanael sat musing1    
while ,i conversed with ,jonathan       
concerning his return to ,sepphoris and 
concerning certain messages which ,i    
desired that he should deliver to my    

mother4 ,presently we bade farewell to  
,jonathan and departed4    ,but as we   
passed through the street together1     
,nathanael still mused1 and1  as it     
seemed to me1 was repeating to himself  
the words of ,jonathan1 8,that  we may  
not bind the loosed nor loose the       
bound40 ,then he turned to me and  said1
 8,joseph1 is there not a certain saying
 touching the destroying of  the ,evil  
,nature80 8,yes1 of a truth is there10  
replied ,i2 8for it is said  that it    
shall come to pass1 in the time to come1
 that the ,holy ,one will  bring the    
,evil ,nature1 and slay him in the      
presence of the righteous and  in the   
presence of the wicked40 ,then          
,nathanael smote his hands together  for
 joy1 and lifted up his voice and said  
8,perchance1 therefore1 in the  day of  
the ,redemption of ,sion1 the ,evil     
,nature shall be utterly destroyed1  and
 we shall no longer pray according to   
the prayer of ,jonathan the son of      
,ezra1 that we may not loose the bound2 

for all shall be loosed40    ,while he  
spake thus1 somewhat loudly1 behold1 a  
certain ,barachiah the son  of ,zadok   
heard the last words of ,nathanael2 and 
he cried after us and  mocked at us and 
our ,nazarene prophet1 for so he called 
,jesus4 ,now this  man was a beggar1    
crookbacked and lame1 and of a malignant
 disposition1  one that took pleasure in
 slander and mischief3 and oftentimes he
 had  thrust himself in the path of     
,jesus and had besought ,jesus to heal  
him of  his deformity4 ,but ,jesus would
 not4 ,so this man called after us1     
mocking  us and imitating the voice of  
,jesus and saying1 8,go in peace1 go in 
peace40    ,then ,i began to question   
,nathanael why ,jesus had not healed    
this  ,barachiah3 ,nathanael answered   
and said1 8,because he hath not faith4  
,moreover1 as thou knowest1 ,jesus doth 
not adventure to heal all  afflictions  
and all diseases4 ,and even if the      
affliction be such as can be  healed1   
yet he healeth not1 except there be     

first faith40 ,then ,i said1  8,but how 
doth he discern such as have faith from 
such as have not faith80  ,but          
,nathanael answered1 8,i know not2 and  
indeed it is a marvel to me to  see how 
he healeth the sick4 ,but he speaketh of
 these mighty works as  being prepared  
for him beforehand in heaven4 ,and      
indeed it seemeth to me  that whensoever
 ,jesus doeth a mighty work on earth1 he
 seeth it also done1  in that instant1  
in heaven4 ,for he looketh upon the body
 of the sick man  with his eyes2 but    
with his spirit methinks he looketh on  
the spirit of  the man in heaven2 and   
there he seeth a ,hand1 even the ,hand  
of the  ,everlasting ,arm2 and          
whatsoever the ,hand worketh in heaven1 
even that doth  ,jesus work on earth2   
and if he seeth the ,hand unloosing the 
chain from the  spirit of the man in    
heaven1 then ,jesus unlooseth the chain 
on earth4 ,but  if he seeth that the    
,hand in heaven moveth not1 then his    
hand also is  stayed on earth40    ,but 

,i said1 8,when ,jesus hath healed the  
sick1 he biddeth them go in peace1  as  
,barachiah but now cried after us4 ,now 
if there be no peace in the man's       
heart1 how can he go in peace8 ,doth    
,jesus therefore make peace in the      
man's heart8 ,or is it that he merely   
seeth peace in the man's heart1 and     
speaketh aloud that which he seeth80    
8,both10 replied ,nathanael2 8at least1 
so it seemeth to me4 ,for ,i judge that 
,jesus not only discerneth peace1 but   
also maketh peace4 ,likewise also he    
seemeth to me to make faith4 ,i know    
not how it is1 but of late a certain    
,mattathias described to me the manner  
in which ,jesus had dealt with him4 ,now
 this ,mattathias was afflicted with  a 
disease in his feet1 insomuch that he   
had not walked for these three  years3  
and he was carried by his friends into  
the presence of ,jesus4  #8,and1' said  
he1 #8before ,i saw ,jesus1 ,i had      
scarce any hope that he might  be able  
to help me2 but when ,i looked upon     

,jesus1 and saw what a strength  shone  
in his countenance1 then ,i began to    
have faith1 but not much2 for  still ,i 
feared more than ,i hoped4 ,yet as      
,jesus healed first one and then        
another 7for there were many waiting to 
be healed before me7 my faith grew      
stronger and stronger4 ,but when ,jesus 
was come to the bed whereon ,i lay1  he 
fixed his eyes steadfastly upon me1 so  
that the brightness thereof  passed like
 purifying fire into my soul2 and he    
looked up unto heaven and  then down    
upon me1 and it was as if he had been   
wrestling with the evil  spirit of      
faithlessness in my heart and had quite 
driven it out4 ,for now1  behold1 of a  
sudden1 my doubts and fears and troubles
 were all clean gone1  and my heart was 
as light as air1 and a certain          
irresistible faith  possessed me2       
insomuch that1 though ,i lay still on my
 bed1 ,i knew that ,i  had been made    
whole and that ,i needed naught save the
 bidding of ,jesus to  tell me when to  

arise4 ,and when the word came1 ,i      
arose4' ,now10 said  ,nathanael1 8thus  
spake ,mattathias to me4 ,but if he     
spake aright1 then  methinks ,jesus hath
 a power to create faith in the heart as
 well as to  heal the diseases of the   
body40    ,all that night ,i meditated  
upon the words of ,nathanael and upon   
the story  of ,mattathias3 for that a   
prophet should cure diseases seemed     
possible1  though wonderful2 but that   
any one1 yea1 even though he were the   
,redeemer  of ,israel himself1 should   
have power to create peace and faith1   
this  indeed seemed a marvellous and    
almost an impossible thing4 ,but it came
 to  pass that on the morning of the    
very next day1 as ,i remember1 we went  
into  the house of a certain rich man   
with ,jesus2 and a great company was    
assembled 7some because of the mighty   
work that ,jesus had wrought on the     
,gadarene1 but others1 of the richer    
sort1 because they desired to abet the  
plotting of the ,pharisees against him71

 and ,jesus was now on the point to     
speak to the people1 when a noise was   
heard from the roof above4 ,there had   
been no small stir1 even before1 near   
the door of the house1 and none had     
taken heed thereof2 but now we looked   
up1 and behold1 one sick of the  palsy  
in a bed was let down by ropes1 until   
the bed reached the place  where ,jesus 
was2 for he sat in the gallery that ran 
round the courtyard1  but we stood in   
the courtyard below4 ,now many of us    
thought that ,jesus  would not heal one 
that thus thrust himself into the midst 
of the people1  interrupting his        
exhortation and doctrine2 and some cried
 out to remove  the man1 but others     
cried out ,nay4 ,howbeit1 when ,jesus   
gave command that  there should be      
silence1 there was silence1 even such a 
silence that men  feared almost to      
breathe2 so great was the expectation of
 all to see what  ,jesus would do4      
,then sounded forth these words above   
the heads of all the congregation1  full

 of pity1 yet like unto the sound of a  
silver trumpet in clearness3  8,thy sins
 be forgiven thee40 ,i myself was so far
 off that ,i heard the  words1 but could
 not see the countenance of ,jesus4 ,but
 they that saw him  told me that it was 
even as ,nathanael had described unto me
 the healing of  ,mattathias4 ,for      
,jesus fixed his eyes steadfastly on the
 man1 as if he saw1  not the man        
himself1 but the man's angel standing in
 heaven bound before  the throne of     
,god1 with the chains of ,satan round   
him1 and all the host of  heaven looking
 thereon4 8,his countenance also shone  
as the sun3 pity and  sorrow were there1
 but pity and sorrow swallowed up in the
 brightness and  glory of joy and       
triumph2 and the sick man's face gave   
back the  brightness4 ,but when ,jesus  
perceived that the time had come1 and   
that the  word of ,god had gone forth1  
and that the chains in heaven had been  
broken1  then ,jesus spake and broke the
 chains on earth40 ,so spake one unto me

  afterwards1 describing the manner of  
,jesus1 how he forgave the palsied  man4
    ,but after the first silence there  
arose a great murmuring and the sound of
  many voices disputing4 ,the voice of  
,eliezer was clearly heard saying1      
8,this man blasphemeth2 who can forgive 
sins but ,god alone80 8,yea10 said      
another1 8and sins are forgiven not on  
earth1 but in heaven1 at the last  day40
 ,but others mocking said that the sick 
man seemed not yet to have  gained much 
profit1 albeit his sins had been        
forgiven4 ,all this noise and  stir     
ceased at once when ,jesus began to     
speak4 ,he said1 8,why reason ye  these 
things in your hearts8 ,whether is it   
easier to say to the sick of  the palsy1
 #8,thy sins be forgiven thee1' or to   
say #8,arise1 and take up thy  bed and  
walk'8 ,but that ye may know that the   
,son of ,man hath authority  even upon  
earth to forgive sins0--here he paused  
and stood up1 and behold1  the whole of 
the congregation was constrained to     

stand up with one  consent2 insomuch    
that ,i saw even ,eliezer the son of    
,arak standing up with  the rest1 and   
his face was kindling as the faces of   
the rest1 and the  silence was even such
 as could be felt1 and the palsied man  
himself seemed  half to raise himself in
 his bed in expectation3 and1 like a    
shock1 there  fell on us the word       
8,arise40 ,and lo1 the man arose at     
once1 and stood  straight up1 and ,jesus
 said to him1 8,take up thy bed1 and go 
thy way into  thy house40 ,and          
immediately he arose1 took up his bed1  
and went forth  whole before them all4  
,then were all amazed1 and glorified    
,god1 and some said1 8,we never saw it  
in this fashion40 ,but others praised   
and magnified the ,allmerciful  because 
,he had given this new authority to men1
 so as to forgive sins1 and  this too   
not hereafter in heaven1 but at once and
 upon earth4 ,but ,eliezer  and the     
chief ruler and others of the elders of 
the synagogue1 when they  had recovered 

from their first astonishment1 took     
counsel how they might  again catch     
,jesus in his doctrine4 ,for they said1 
8,none can forgive sins1  except ,god   
only3 therefore it is certain that this 
man maketh himself  ,god40 ,howbeit they
 veiled their thoughts with a smooth    
countenance1 for  fear of the multitude2
 and going up to ,jesus they saluted him
 before they  departed from the         
synagogue4 ,but ,jesus looked wistfully 
at them1 like unto  one hoping for good 
news2 for he thought that they would    
have understood  that ,god had sent him1
 perceiving the finger of ,god in the   
healing of the  man that was sick of the
 palsy4 ,but when he perceived their    
dissimulation1  he was silent until he  
had come forth from the synagogue3 and  
then ,i heard  him sigh1 and he said in 
a low voice to himself1 8,for judgment  
am ,i come  into this world1 that those 
who see may see not40    ,during the    
rest of that day ,jesus sat musing3 and 
at one time he seemed to  be sad1 but at

 another time to rejoice4 ,but even when
 he was sad1 there  always appeared a   
joy beneath the sadness2 so that his    
sadness was but as  the cloud that      
dappleth the side of a mountain1 the    
summit whereof shineth  bright in the   
sunlight4 ,for it was the nature of     
,jesus always to be  cheerful and to    
rejoice2 insomuch that peace and joy    
seemed to go forth  from him to all men 
and things around him1 and from them to 
come back with  increase to him again4  
,but now he was sorrowful1 as we        
gathered1 because  of the hardness of   
heart of the ,pharisees4 ,for howsoever 
they might  outwardly dissemble1 yet did
 he discern their hearts1 that they were
  inwardly grieved1 yea1 at the goodness
 of ,god2 wherefore now indeed1 after   
this second token of their hardness1 it 
seemed to be indeed the will of  ,god   
that the ,good ,news should be of no    
avail unto the ,scribes1 save only  to  
make their eyes blind1 and their hearts 
fat1 and their ears hard of  hearing4   

,for this cause our ,master sorrowed3   
but for some other cause he  rejoiced1  
or seemed in expectation of some joy to 
come4    ,but as for the rest of us1 we 
disputed among ourselves touching this  
new  power which ,jesus had brought into
 the world2 for it seemed more than     
human1 and such as no prophet before him
 had ever used or so much as  sought    
from ,god4 ,only ,judas was silent more 
than was his custom3 and he  seemed     
disturbed and doubtful1 as one uncertain
 of his path and not  knowing whether to
 go forward or backward4 ,for when      
,nathanael spake about  our ,master's   
authority to forgive sins1 and how in   
the day of ,redemption  he would destroy
 the ,evil ,nature1 then ,judas at times
 heard him gladly1 as  if he earnestly  
desired that this should be true2 but at
 another time he  scoffed and said that 
8,no forgiveness of sins would drive out
 ,herod from  ,tiberias1 nor the ,romans
 from ,jerusalem40                      
,,chapter ,,xii      ,by this time the  

autumn was come round1 and it wanted but
 a few days to  the tenth day of the    
month ,tisri1 which is the ,great ,day  
of ,atonement4 ,now  so it was that1    
when we arose on a certain morning 7in  
the first week1 as  ,i remember1 of the 
month ,tisri71 behold1 ,jesus was not in
 the house1 and  when we sought him1 we 
found him on the shore musing2 insomuch 
that at  first he was not aware of our  
presence4 ,but when he saw us1 he bade  
,simon  ,peter prepare his fishingboat1 
for he desired to go out into the deep4 
,so  ,simon ,peter and ,andrew launched 
the boat1 and ,i with them2 and ,jesus  
went  on board1 and there he sat1 still 
musing1 while we made ready the tackling
  and the nets4 ,while we busied        
ourselves herein1 many of the sailors   
and  fishermen of the town came down to 
the coast and began to launch their     
vessels2 for the day was fair for       
fishing4    ,now there was standing on  
the beach the hunchback ,barachiah1 the 
son of  ,zadok3 for his custom was to   

beg of the sailors1 and to do for them  
such  small services as he was able4    
,but he was hated of the most part of   
the  sailors by reason of his envious   
and malignant disposition1 and because  
he  could not refrain from reproaches   
and revilings4 ,moreover they accused   
him  that he had sometimes mislaid or   
hurt their tackling4 ,others also said  
that he had an evil eye and brought evil
 fortune4 ,wherefore he fared ill  with 
the sailors1 and even when they gave him
 alms1 it was as to a dog or  an unclean
 creature3 and oftentimes they struck   
him when he crossed them4  ,now it      
chanced that while we made ready our    
nets1 behold1 a certain  merchant1      
coming down to the water1 stumbled upon 
a stone and fell against  ,barachiah4   
,then ,barachiah cried out in anger1    
8,wast thou born with a  bridle in thy  
hand that thou shouldst treat thy       
brethren as if they were  mules or      
asses80 ,but the other replied1 8,yea1  
and thou wast born with a  saddle on thy

 back1 that ,i might ride upon thee40   
,so saying1 he spurned  ,barachiah out  
of his path1 so that he fell to the     
ground3 and hereat all  the sailors     
laughed4    ,not long after this there  
came down two sailors1 nigh to the place
 where  ,barachiah sat wiping the blood 
from his face2 and one of them spake to 
the  hunchback some words1 ,i know not  
what1 but1 as it appeared1 of kindness4 
,then straightway ,barachiah rose up and
 went with the man1 and willingly       
helped him to launch his boat and to    
prepare his tackling4 ,and the man's    
companion laughed and said1 8,whence    
hast thou the power to soften the  heart
 of that child of ,satan80 ,but when    
,barachiah was departed1 the sailor     
answered that he had in times past shown
 kindness to a brother of  ,barachiah1  
that was now dead2 and he added in jest1
 8,in all men there be  two hearts1 a   
heart of stone and a heart of flesh3 and
 ,barachiah hath his  heart of flesh1   
even as others1 though he be a child of 

,satan40 8,nay10  replied the other1    
8but if there be a heart of flesh in    
,barachiah1 it  would need ,solomon's   
ring to find out where it is hid40 ,and 
so jesting  they rowed out into the     
deep4    ,now ,i perceived that ,jesus  
noted all these words of the two        
sailors1 and  likewise that which had   
befallen ,barachiah1 and while he       
listened and  looked1 the appearance of 
his countenance was altered2 for before1
 he had  seemed in his musing like one  
waiting for an answer to a question1 but
 now  like one that had received an     
answer4 ,howbeit still he mused and     
ceased  not1 while we rowed out into the
 deep1 and busied ourselves with casting
  our nets4    ,but so it was that1 as  
we rowed and drifted hither and thither 
in our  fishing1 we were carried very   
close to the coast1 where the rocks came
  straight down to the sea after the    
manner of a wall2 and suddenly we heard 
a piteous sound as of bleating4 ,when we
 looked up1 we saw a lamb1 which  had   

strayed from the flock1 and had come to 
a stand upon a ledge in the  rock1      
exceeding narrow1 so that it could not  
go forward1 neither knew it  how to turn
 back3 but there it stood1 and bleated  
often and piteously1 so  that our hearts
 were sorry for the creature1 and we    
would fain have helped  it1 but knew not
 how2 for there was not space to land4  
,but while we hung  upon our oars not   
knowing what to do1 ,peter cried out1   
8,the shepherd  cometh02 and presently  
we all discerned him1 very high up1 and 
clambering  from rock to rock for to    
reach the lamb4 ,and when we all shouted
 and  beckoned to him1 he straightway   
understood us1 and coming down1 though  
with much ado1 took the lamb on his     
shoulders and bore it safely away4      
,hereat we were all well content2 but   
when ,i looked on ,jesus1 his face      
shone with an exceeding joy1 too great1 
methought1 for so small a matter1  so   
that ,i marvelled4 ,for there was no    
more in his countenance the look of  one

 questioning1 but rather of one gazing  
upon the glory of ,god4 ,then when  we  
had hauled in the net1 he gave command  
that we should row back to  ,capernaum4 
,now the next day ,jesus showed forth   
what he had on his mind4 ,for about     
noon he went down to the place where one
 ,matthew a taxgatherer was  sitting at 
the house of customs near the quay4 ,and
 for a while ,jesus  beheld him1 how he 
bore himself amid all the concourse and 
stir of that  busy place2 then he drew  
nigh1 and called ,matthew to be one of  
his  disciples1 saying unto him1        
8,follow me40 ,and ,matthew arose and   
followed  him and bade him to a great   
feast in his house on the same day1 and 
thereto he called many of his           
acquaintance1 both taxgatherers and     
sinners1 and others of the poorer sort2 
and ,jesus promised that he would  come 
to the feast4 ,but when this was noised 
about the town1 the anger of  the       
,pharisees was great2 for they counted  
it as a sign that ,jesus would  not join

 himself to them1 nor do anything to    
gain their favour4 ,but as for  the     
sailors and common people1 some         
rejoiced1 others marvelled2 insomuch    
that when we came to ,matthew's house1  
we found a great concourse of people    
both round the doors and in the         
feastchamber4    ,now as we entered the 
chamber1 ,i could not but chafe somewhat
 for the  baseness of the company with  
whom we were forced to consort4 ,for    
they were  all unlearned men1 and given 
to vain conversation2 and many of them  
had  not washed before supper2 and the  
savour of their garments and the heat of
  the room were scarce to be borne4     
,moreover ,i saw at one of the tables   
,barachiah the son of ,zadok1 and others
 with whom ,i should never have         
expected to sit at meat4 ,then the words
 of ,jonathan the son of ,ezra came     
back to my mind1 how he had said that   
,jesus was misled1 in that he knew  not 
the evil nature of men2 nor could ,i    
refrain from imparting these words  to  

,nathanael1 who was my companion at the 
table4    ,but ,nathanael answered that 
,i erred greatly1 for that ,jesus knew  
the evil  that was in men better than   
any man1 and hated it more than any man3
  8,but10 said he1 8the evil of unwashed
 hands and unsavoury garments doth  not 
seem to ,jesus the greatest of evils40  
8,but10 said ,i1 8these men are  given  
to other sins2 and how cometh it to pass
 that ,jesus beareth with the  sins of  
these men1 but doth not bear with the   
,scribes1 who do not commit  such sins80
 ,then said ,nathanael1 8,as it seemeth 
to me1 there is a certain  light in the 
hearts of men2 and whoso hath this light
 in him1 loveth  light1 and is drawn    
towards the light whenever the light is 
placed near to  him1 even though he may 
have turned his back upon the light3 and
 thus  these sinners are drawn towards  
,jesus4 ,but if a man for many years    
make it  his business to quench the     
light in himself1 because he feareth it2
 then  he cannot love the light1 nor can

 he be drawn towards it1 even though it 
be very close to him4 ,even as the      
,pharisees fear the light in themselves1
  and say there is no light save in the 
,law and the ,traditions4 ,therefore    
they quench the light in their hearts   
and cannot see the true light2 and  they
 destroy the ,word of ,god in their     
hearts1 and cannot hear the true        
,word40 8,but10 said ,i1 8if there be   
stripped off finesounding words from    
thy speech1 to what is the matter like8 
,it is as though thou shouldst say1     
#8,it is better that a man should commit
 murder and adultery and theft          
7provided that he love righteousness71  
than that he should abstain from  all   
these sins1 but not love                
righteousness4'0 8,thou knowest well10  
replied  ,nathanael1 8that according to 
a man's love of righteousness will be   
his  hatred of sin2 and whoso really    
hateth sin1 he cannot live therein4 ,yet
  what thou sayest is true2 there is    
more hope of the vilest sinner than of  

the man that hath in his heart no love  
of righteousness40    ,i mused for a    
while1 and then ,i said1 8,thou speakest
 of hope3 but doth it  seem to thee     
truthful1 looking upon a bad man1 to    
say1 this man is good1  merely because  
thou mayest have hopes that he may      
become good80 ,but before  ,nathanael   
could make answer1 there came into my   
mind the words of the  sailor1 that 8,if
 ,barachiah the son of ,zadok had a     
heart of flesh as well  as a heart of   
stone1 it would need ,solomon's ring to 
find out where the  heart of flesh was  
hid20 so ,i told the words to           
,nathanael4 ,straightway  ,nathanael    
looked toward the place were ,barachiah 
was sitting at table2 and  then he      
turned to me and said1 8,and hath not   
our ,master the ring of  ,solomon80     
,then ,i also looked at ,barachiah2 and 
,i marvelled to see what a  gentleness  
there was in his countenance4 ,but      
,jesus was at that instant  beginning a 
discourse2 so we ceased conversing that 

we might hearken unto  it4    ,the      
discourse told of a certain son of a    
kind father1 who1 taking his  patrimony1
 wandered into a distant city1 where he 
squandered his substance  in riotous    
living1 so that he was forced to keep   
swine like an hireling2  but returning  
to his father he was welcomed4 ,other   
like parables he spake3  and all the    
people were marvellously attentive to   
hear him4  ,notwithstanding1 ,jesus     
would not always discourse himself      
alone3 for he  gladly heard others1 and 
by questions led many to speak1         
questioning them  with courtesy in no   
way akin to condescension 7even as a    
brother meeting  brothers after long    
absence72 the merchants concerning      
foreign countries2  the officers of the 
customs concerning the commerce and     
wares of the  place2 the mariners and   
soldiers concerning the ships and       
currents and  strong places and         
fortresses whereof they severally had   
knowledge4 ,with  all these common      

people did ,jesus converse1 and to each1
 methought1 he  added somewhat of his   
own nature4 ,and so it was that amid all
 that  concourse of vulgar and unlearned
 people and boors 7as the ,scribes would
  have called them71 not one did or said
 anything unworthy of the presence  of  
our ,master4 ,thus did ,jesus give to   
others1 and lo1 they gave back to  him  
good measure into his bosom1 pressed    
down and running over1 according  to his
 own saying4    ,but when he rose up to 
go1 behold1 ,barachiah the son of ,zadok
 also rose up  in haste1 and coming to  
,jesus he fell down on his knees before 
him1 and  besought him that he would    
forgive all the slanders and revilings  
which he  had used concerning ,jesus and
 concerning his disciples4 ,and ,jesus  
both  forgave him and blessed him4 ,and 
from that hour even to the day of his   
death ,barachiah was a new creature2    
insomuch that he was no longer known    
among them of ,capernaum as the viper1  
or the child of ,satan1 but they  called

 him 8the changed man40    ,but as      
,jesus was now going forth1 two of the  
disciples of ,john the son of           
,zachariah came unto him4 ,for they had 
been present in the chamber1 though     
they had not partaken of the feast2 and 
they marvelled at the cheerfulness  of  
,jesus1 because he ate bread and drank  
wine and conversed freely with  the     
common people1 not after the manner of  
their master4 ,so they were  offended at
 ,jesus1 and said to him1 8,master1 why 
do we and the ,pharisees  fast oft1 but 
thy disciples fast not80 ,now ,john     
himself had called ,jesus  the          
,bridegroom of ,israel4 ,jesus          
therefore1 using these same words1      
answered and said1 8,can the children of
 the bridechamber mourn as long as  the 
bridegroom is with them80 ,then he      
turned and looked at us1 and his  face  
was sorrowful2 and he added1 8,but the  
days will come when the  bridegroom     
shall be taken from them1 and then shall
 they fast in those  days40 ,then first 

did ,jesus speak concerning his         
departure from his  disciples3 and he   
meant1 perchance1 that as ,john the     
,prophet had been  taken from the midst 
of his disciples1 so also would he      
himself be taken  away from us2 for the 
,lord had revealed unto him that ,israel
 was not to be  redeemed easily1 nor    
without much tribulation4 ,but by what  
power he should  be thus taken1 whether 
by imprisonment 7as had befallen ,john71
 or by death  of violence 7as was       
shortly to befall ,john71 or by death in
 course of  nature1 concerning these    
things he said naught at this time4 ,but
 we  neither understood his words1      
neither took we thought of them4    ,but
 as we came forth1 we met ,eliezer the  
son of ,arak1 and the chief ruler  of   
the synagogue1 and many of the elders of
 the synagogue2 and they looked  at us  
with sore displeasure4 ,and the chief   
ruler did not restrain himself1  but    
said to ,jesus aloud in the presence of 
us all1 8,is it even so that  thou      

wouldst fain be ,ruler over ,israel8    
,behold1 on thy side are ,matthew  the  
taxgatherer1 and ,barachiah the child of
 ,satan1 and ,mary the sinner2  but on  
my side are ,eliezer the son of ,arak   
and all the elders of the  synagogue4   
,is it not better to be the tail of a   
lion rather than the head  of a dog80   
,but when ,jesus noted how certain of   
the sinners feared to stand before the  
faces of ,eliezer the son of ,arak1 and 
of the ruler of the synagogue1 and  how 
they were shaken in their faith and     
abashed 7for that they were  accustomed 
to be despised and to be trampled on1 as
 being without all hope  of redemption72
 then was he exceeding wrath1 and he    
answered and said unto  the ruler of the
 synagogue1 8,woe unto the world because
 of offences3 for  it must needs be that
 offences come3 but woe to that man by  
whom the  offence cometh40 ,then he     
pointed to the sinners behind him 7whom 
he was  wont to call 8little ones10     
because they were babes in faith71 and  

he  spake again to the chief ruler and  
his party1 saying1 8,take heed that ye  
despise not one of these little ones2   
for ,i say unto you that in heaven      
their angels do always behold the face  
of my ,father which is in heaven4  ,for 
the ,son of ,man is come to save that   
which was lost40    ,then ,eliezer the  
son of ,arak interrupted him and said1  
8,why eatest thou1  contrary to the     
,traditions1 with taxgatherers and      
sinners80 ,but ,jesus  answered and     
said1 8,how think ye8 ,if a man have an 
hundred sheep1 and one  of them be gone 
astray1 doth he not leave the           
ninetyandnine1 and goeth  into the      
mountains1 and seeketh that which is    
gone astray8 ,and if so be  that he find
 it1 verily ,i say unto you1 he         
rejoiceth more of that sheep  than of   
the ninetyandnine which went not        
astray40 8,but10 said another of  the   
,scribes1 8why dost thou shun and rebuke
 the righteous8 ,what evil is it  not to
 be a sinner80 ,when ,jesus heard that1 

he said unto him1 8,they that  be whole 
need not a physician1 but they that be  
sick4 ,but go ye and learn  what that   
meaneth1 ,i will have mercy and not     
sacrifice4 ,for ,i am not come  to call 
the righteous1 but sinners to           
repentance40 ,so saying1 he passed on   
and left the ,pharisees1 and we followed
 him4    ,now ,andrew and ,simon ,peter 
had been disciples of ,john the son of  
,zachariah1 before they had joined      
themselves to ,jesus4 ,in the evening1  
therefore1 they resorted to ,jesus to   
question him touching the answer he  had
 that day given to ,john's disciples    
concerning fasting4 ,i was with  them1  
and also ,judas of ,kerioth1 and a      
certain ,eleazar the son of ,azariah1  a
 ,scribe of ,sepphoris and a friend of  
,jonathan4 ,now ,eleazar did not        
venture to advise ,jesus to use shifts  
and subterfuges so as to keep           
friendship with the ,pharisees2 but he  
said that perchance such sinners as     
might be converted to the path of       

righteousness might not be able to      
continue therein1 unless the path were  
fenced in by rules and laws1  feasts1   
fasts1 and other like ordinances4 ,he   
also bade ,jesus not separate  himself  
from the congregation2 for said he1     
8,whatsoever is decreed by the          
congregation below1 that is decreed by  
the congregation above2 and what is     
ratified on earth is ratified in heaven2
 and with whomsoever the spirit of  men 
is pleased the ,spirit of ,god is       
pleased40    ,but ,jesus answered that  
as new wine was not like unto old wine1 
nor a new  garment like an old garment1 
even so the doctrine of ,john was not   
like  unto his doctrine2 neither could  
the two be mixed4 ,the doctrine of the  
,pharisees also1 he said1 was not like  
his doctrine1 and the two kinds of      
doctrine needed two several and distinct
 shapes1 even as several kinds of  wine 
need several bottles4 ,when ,eleazar    
heard this1 he went out2 for these      
words seemed to him 7as he said to ,john

 the son of ,zebedee7 to be a kind  of  
proclaiming of war against the          
,pharisees2 so that there appeared no   
longer any hope of concord between      
,jesus and them4 ,judas also1 although  
he  still seemed strangely perturbed1   
and spake less than was his wont1       
nevertheless said that a great gulf was 
opening itself between our ,master  and 
the ,pharisees2 8and10 said he1 8unless 
something is speedily done1  this gulf  
will be impassable40 ,many also that had
 been disciples of ,john  the ,prophet  
murmured against ,jesus1 because he had 
promised to fulfil the  ,law and had    
been expected to follow in the course of
 ,john1 but now he went  contrary to the
 ,law and was for choosing a path of his
 own4 ,for at that  time in ,galilee    
they that honoured ,john the ,prophet   
were more than they  that honoured      
,jesus of ,nazareth4    ,but for my part
 my soul was given up to thanksgiving   
and to praise of ,god1  because of this 
new power which ,he had sent down to    

men1 of forgiving  sins4 ,for if it     
seemed a divine word to say 8,let there 
be light10 and  there was light1 much   
more divine a word it seemed to say1    
8,let there be  righteousness10 and lo1 
there was righteousness4 ,and when ,i   
remembered the  saying of the sailor1   
how that it needed ,solomon's ring to   
find out the  heart of flesh in bad men1
 and when ,i called to mind how ,jesus  
had found  it out1 then it seemed to me 
that a greater than ,solomon was among  
us4 ,i  thought also on the words of    
,nathanael1 how that1 in the day of     
,redemption1 the ,holy ,one 7blessed is 
,he7 will bring the ,evil ,nature and   
slay him in the presence of the         
righteous and of the wicked2 and my     
thoughts were swallowed up in wonder4   
,,chapter ,,xiii      ,the words of     
,judas were true1 that a great gulf now 
lay between our ,master  and the        
,pharisees2 and day by day the gulf grew
 wider1 as ,i soon  perceived4 ,it      
chanced that ,eliezer the son of ,arak  

knew that ,i was a  friend of ,jonathan2
 and desiring to draw me away from      
,jesus1 he wrote a  letter to ,jonathan 
begging him to move me that ,i might    
return home4 ,this  letter of ,eliezer  
therefore ,jonathan sent unto me1 and it
 was to the  following effect3    8,from
 ,eliezer the son of ,arak to ,jonathan 
the son of ,ezra3 salutation and  peace4
 ,be it known unto thee1 ,o ,jonathan1  
that this ,jesus of ,nazareth1          
concerning whom we once had hopes that  
he might be a deep well or  perchance   
even an everwelling spring of the ,law1 
hath proved an empty  vessel and a      
broken cistern4 ,he profaneth the       
,sabbath and teacheth others  to profane
 it2 he eateth without the washing of   
hands2 he teacheth that no  man is      
defiled by that which he toucheth or    
eateth2 in a word1 he breaketh  the ,law
 and causeth others to profane it4 ,yet 
this in part was known unto  thee even  
before1 and thou didst deceive thyself1 
and saidst1 #8,perchance  he hath a     

message from ,god concerning the        
,sabbath and concerning the ,law4'      
,hear1 therefore1 ,o son of ,ezra1 what 
new thing this blind guide hath taken   
upon himself to do4 ,he not only        
teacheth all people everywhere to       
abstain  from sacrifice1 wresting to his
 own destruction that hard saying of the
  ,prophet which saith1 #8,i will have  
mercy and not sacrifice1' but he also   
hath dared to make himself as ,god1     
forgiving sins4 ,this he hath done      
publicly in the synagogue1 before the   
face of the congregation4    8,now we   
would fain deal gently with the young   
man1 because he seemed once  to purpose 
well1 and because he hath made unto     
himself a name for casting  out unclean 
spirits4 ,moreover he is befriended not 
only by the rabble that  knoweth not the
 ,law1 but also by a few of the wise and
 pious1 as1 for  example1 thyself4 ,for 
this cause we are minded not at once to 
punish him  in accordance with the law  
for blasphemy1 but to make excuses for  

him by  saying that he is beside        
himself4    8,and this indeed seemeth to
 be not unlikely1 for he is not as other
 men  are2 for ofttimes he sleepeth not1
 but watcheth 7as ,i am informed7 whole 
nights together2 and albeit he seeth no 
vision 7which sheweth him to be no      
prophet71 yet he carrieth himself in    
such strange fashion as if he saw       
visions daily2 also he is wroth at small
 faults and at no faults 7as thou       
thyself knowest71 and yet withal easy to
 forgive great faults4 ,moreover of     
late he most strangely forsweareth the  
company of all the pious and  learned1  
and consorteth publicly with            
taxgatherers and sinners2 insomuch      
that1 but now1 having called one        
,matthew a taxgatherer1 to be one of his
  disciples1 afterwards1 at a feast in  
the house of this ,matthew1 amid mirth  
and winebibbing1 he took upon himself to
 forgive the sins of that  ,barachiah   
the son of ,zadok1 who1 as thou knowest1
 is by all men called the  child of     

,satan4    8,now therefore1 for the sake
 of the young man ,jesus himself1 it    
beseemeth  thee1 ,o ,jonathan1 to cause 
this evil to cease1 and to warn his     
friends1 if  perchance they may see fit 
to restrain him4 ,write therefore1 ,i   
pray thee1  to his mother ,mary1 and to 
his brethren 7but ,i grieve that his    
father no  longer liveth to restrain    
him7 that they may come and lay hands   
upon him3  for they will listen to thy  
voice4 ,we desire also that thou wouldst
 write  to the young man1 thy pupil and 
friend1 ,joseph the son of ,simeon1 that
 he  may return to ,sepphoris1 lest he  
too fall into the pit of destruction    
along with this blind guide ,jesus4 ,if 
also thou shouldst inform ,joanna1  the 
mother of ,joseph1 concerning all these 
things1 she would peradventure  join her
 voice to thine1 that thy pupil might   
return4 ,but in any case it  were well  
that the certainty of the madness of    
this ,jesus should be noised  abroad    
among all thy friends and acquaintances1

 to the intent that we may  the more    
easily restrain him4    8,hearken1 ,i   
pray thee1 unto my words1 ,o ,jonathan1 
for ,i will not hide the  truth from    
thee1 that certain of us judge the young
 man ,jesus of ,nazareth  more harshly1 
saying that he is possessed by          
,beelzebub4 ,others also say  that hands
 should be laid upon him without delay1 
and that he should be  delivered to     
,herod4 ,now if he hearken unto thee and
 desist from his  consorting with       
sinners1 or if his kinsmen lay gentle   
hands upon him1 then  we are willing    
that he should suffer few stripes2 but  
if not1 many stripes  will be needful4  
,but if he should be delivered to       
,herod1 or if the people  should        
peradventure take up stones to stone    
him1 who knoweth the end  thereof8      
,peace be with thee60    ,together with 
the letter of ,eliezer was a letter from
 ,jonathan1 who  besought me to send    
word unto him about the welfare of      
,jesus2 and ,i could  perceive that1    

albeit the old man was wroth that any   
should say that ,jesus  was possessed   
with an unclean spirit1 yet even he     
inclined his ear to  believe that ,jesus
 was beside himself4 ,for after some    
words touching the  health of my mother1
 the letter ended thus1 8,alas1 because 
of the iniquity  of this generation6    
,for verily ,jesus was fit to be the    
,redeemer of ,israel2  but the          
generation was unfit4 ,he was as the    
morning star in his joy1 and  as the sun
 in the glory of his brightness2 but the
 night cometh apace1 and  the sun must  
give place to the darkness4 ,verily1    
,jesus was of them that  have entered   
into ,paradise1 and have tasted of the  
honey of the highest  heaven4 ,but      
perchance he hath seen things not       
vouchsafed to men to see1  even the     
mystery of the ,chariot2 and the vision 
hath been too much for the  eye of man1 
and with much honey the mind hath been  
demented40    ,when ,i received these   
letters1 ,i purposed at once to inform  

,jesus  concerning the plots of the     
,pharisees4 ,but he was not at that time
 at  ,capernaum1 but at ,bethsaida      
,julias2 so ,i hastened thither4 ,when  
,i was come  thither1 ,jesus was        
exhorting the people2 and there was a   
great concourse  to hear him1 so that ,i
 could not come nigh unto him for the   
press4 ,but  while ,i stood afar off1   
behold1 ,eliezer the son of ,arak       
advanced towards  him through the midst 
of the press2 and all men made way for  
him4 ,but he1  making as though he could
 not advance further1 called to ,jesus  
in a loud  voice1 so that all men should
 hear3 8,behold1 thy mother and thy     
brethren  stand without1 desiring to see
 thee40    ,now could ,i see from       
,eliezer's countenance and from the     
manner of his  speech1 and from the     
faces of some of the ,scribes that were 
sitting in the  principal places1 yea1  
and from the faces of some others that  
were in the  outermost part of the crowd
 7for they nodded and beckoned each to  

the  other7 that here was indeed the    
very plot of the ,pharisees whereof     
,eliezer  had made mention in his letter
 to ,jonathan4 ,for the mother and      
brethren of  ,jesus had come with intent
 to lay hands on him1 having been       
persuaded that  he was beside himself4  
,and immediately all that were in the   
chamber seemed  to become aware of the  
plot4 ,for ,jesus ceased from his       
teaching2 and many  stood on tiptoe     
gazing toward that quarter of the crowd 
where the mother  of ,jesus was waiting1
 and then they gazed back on ,jesus     
again1 marking how  he bore himself4 ,so
 there arose a marvellous great         
stillness1 while every  one waited to   
hear what ,jesus would say3 and my heart
 beat so that ,i could  even hear the   
beating thereof4 ,but ,jesus said1 8,who
 is my mother1 and who  are my          
brethren80 ,then he looked round about  
on those of his disciples  that sat nigh
 unto him and he said1 8,behold my      
mother and my brethren4 ,for  whosoever 

shall do the will of ,god1 the same is  
my brother and my sister  and mother40  
,when he had said these words1 then the 
countenance of ,eliezer fell4 ,for he   
had hoped either to have found occasion 
against ,jesus 7as though he paid  no   
reverence to his mother1 not rising up  
or going forth to meet her71 or  else   
that the brethren of ,jesus should have 
laid hands on him as he went  forth1 and
 so all men should ever after have      
esteemed him as one beside  himself4    
,but the words of ,jesus manifested that
 he ceased not to love and  honour his  
mother1 howbeit he loved and honoured   
others also1 even as many  as were in   
the ,family of ,god1 unto whom he was as
 a brother or as a son2  neither ought  
he to have forsaken all the ,family of  
,god to please the  family of ,nazareth2
 for1 had he gone forth to meet them    
that stood  without1 he had forsaken and
 caused to stumble all them that sat    
within4  ,so they perceived what was in 
the mind of ,jesus2 and they magnified  

him  the more4    ,when the ,pharisees  
perceived that they had not prevailed   
with the common  people1 they began to  
adventure a second plot4 ,for they      
procured a certain  ,scribe to accuse   
,jesus in the synagogue1 and to say that
 he cast out  devils through ,beelzebub 
the prince of the devils4 ,the name of  
the ,scribe  was ,hezekiah the son of   
,zachariah1 from ,jerusalem2 even the   
same ,hezekiah  of whom ,i spake before1
 when ,i spake of the meeting of the    
,galileans in  the valley nigh unto     
,sepphoris4 ,howbeit1 neither did this  
plot prevail  with the common people4   
,for the same accusation had been       
brought by the  ,scribes against ,john  
the prophet3 but in vain4 ,for the      
people could in no  wise be persuaded   
that such an one as ,jesus was possessed
 with an unclean  spirit1 nor that sick 
men could be healed and devils driven   
out by  ,beelzebub4    ,but that which  
caused most surprise to many of the     
disciples was to note  how great a wrath

 was kindled in ,jesus by this          
accusation4 ,it chanced1 as  ,i         
remember1 that we were in a small       
synagogue in the town called ,jotapata4 
,he had driven out a devil from a young 
man1 and the devil tare the young  man  
as he passed out of him1 so that the    
young man lay on the ground  lifeless4  
,jesus1 as his manner was1 took the     
young man by the hand for to  help him  
to arise2 and because there seemed no   
life in him1 he stooped  down and       
embraced him for to lift him up4 ,now   
the rest of them that were  with        
,hezekiah held their peace1 albeit      
against their will2 so great was  their 
marvel at the deed1 and so mighty was   
the presence of ,jesus4 ,only  ,hezekiah
 still hardened his heart4 ,therefore   
while ,jesus was now lifting  up the    
youth1 of a sudden was heard the voice  
of ,hezekiah crying aloud1  8,thou      
castest out devils through ,beelzebub   
the prince of the devils30 and  all the 
people were as men amazed1 and stood    

agape1 expecting what ,jesus  would do4 
,jesus himself1 at first1 seemed like   
unto one in a dream1 turning his eyes   
from the young man 7whose life had now  
returned to him7 to the face of         
,hezekiah1 and from ,hezekiah again back
 to the young man2 as though either  he 
himself had not heard aright1 or else   
,hezekiah had not seen clearly how      
great a work had been wrought for the   
young man4 ,for belike he could  scarce 
believe that any man in ,israel could   
refrain from rejoicing at the  young    
man's deliverance2 nor did it seem      
possible to him that any among  the     
children of men could suppose that a    
devil could be cast out save by  the    
finger of ,god4 ,but when he perceived  
that the face of ,hezekiah was set  as a
 rock against him1 and that his eyes    
were as the eyes of one mocking  him2   
and when he looked round also upon the  
people1 and perceived that  some of them
 were abashed and shaken in their faith 
because he had as yet  made no answer1  

then indeed his countenance was changed 
against ,hezekiah1  and he made answer  
to him after his folly3 that1 if it was 
so indeed1 and  if ,satan was divided   
against himself1 then let all men       
rejoice1 for  behold1 ,satan could not  
stand4 ,but if not1 and if he cast out  
devils by  the hand of ,god1 8,then10   
said he1 8the ,kingdom of ,god hath come
 upon you  unawares40    ,when he had   
spoken these words1 he stood1 as if in  
pause1 and fixed his  eyes on the face  
of ,hezekiah4 ,but he looked upon him no
 more with anger1  but with a marvellous
 pity2 and behold1 his countenance1     
which was wont to  shine as the sun1    
became pale and cold to look upon1 even 
as the moon in  her brightness1 looking 
down upon a man drowning in deep waters2
 and he  added and said1 8,all manner of
 sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven    
unto  men2 but the blasphemy against the
 ,holy ,spirit shall not be forgiven    
unto  men4 ,and whosoever speaketh a    
word against the ,son of man1 it shall  

be  forgiven him3 but whosoever speaketh
 against the ,holy ,spirit1 it shall not
  be forgiven1 neither in this age1 nor 
in the age to come40 ,never before  had 
we seen ,jesus so moved4 ,hezekiah      
himself was confounded1 and gasped  for 
breath and could not speak1 but went out
 of the synagogue in  confusion2 neither
 was there one in the congregation that 
went out with  him4    ,but when the    
congregation had departed ,i went to    
,nathanael and questioned  him          
concerning this matter4 ,for even from  
the first1 ,nathanael had a  discerning 
spirit1 able to discern matters wherein 
,i groped as in  darkness2 but moreover 
of late ,i had noted how he had seemed  
to grow in  wisdom and discernment1 so  
that it was a marvel to see how great a 
change  had come to pass in how short a 
time3 and he was to me1 as it were1 an  
interpreter of the words of ,jesus4 ,so 
,i asked ,nathanael what ,jesus meant   
by the words 8blasphemy against the     
,holy ,spirit10 and why that sin was    

above all other sins so that it could   
not be forgiven4    8,for10 said ,i1    
8,jesus was blasphemed as a gluttonous  
man and as a wine  bibber1 not many days
 past1 in this very place1 and ,i noted 
well 7but thou  wast not with us7 with  
what a calmness1 yea1 even to mirth1    
,jesus endured  the charge4 ,for we     
chanced to be passing through this very 
street1 and the  children were coming   
forth from the school and sporting after
 their  manner2 and ,jesus sat him down 
on the stone yonder and watched them at 
their sports4 ,and behold1 the children 
had divided themselves into two         
companies1 a small company and a large  
company2 and the small company had      
pipes and tabors1 and were to play      
thereon2 but the others were to conform 
themselves to the music of their        
fellows4 ,but when they were now        
beginning1 the larger company could not 
agree among themselves1 and 7after  the 
manner of wanton children7 they knew not
 their own minds4 ,so when the  pipers  

piped merry music they would not dance1 
but cried out for sad  music2 but when  
the pipers piped sadly1 then they would 
not beat their  breasts1 nor make as if 
they were in the house of mourning1 but 
stopped  their ears and called for merry
 music3 whereat the pipers were vexed1  
and  complained of the inconstancy of   
their fellows4 ,then do ,i right well   
remember how ,jesus noted it all1 and   
smiled thereat4 ,and turning to us1 he  
said1 still smiling 7though with some   
touch of sadness71 that this  generation
 was like unto those children3 for he   
had come piping merry  music1 and ,john 
the ,prophet had come piping sad music1 
but the men of this  generation would   
listen to neither2 for they said that   
,john had a devil1  and that he himself 
was a gluttonous man and a winebibber1 a
 friend of  publicans and sinners4 ,now 
wherefore1 thinkest thou1 did ,jesus    
endure so  lightly to be blasphemed as a
 gluttonous man and a winebibber1 but   
endured  not to hear the words of       

,hezekiah8 ,and what is this sin against
 the ,holy  ,spirit80    ,while ,i was  
saying these words1 standing beneath the
 olivegrove on the  side of the hill    
which looketh on ,jotapata1 ,nathanael  
sat down upon the  grass2 and ,i sat    
down likewise4 ,then he said to me1     
8,not many days gone  by1 ,i heard      
,jesus speak concerning the ,holy       
,spirit2 and his words were on  this    
wise4 ,as in each man the man's breath  
or spirit is the life of the  body1 so  
in each man there is a certain holy     
breath or spirit which is the  life of  
his soul2 whence also cometh every good 
thought and deed unto the  man4         
,moreover thou seest that the air which 
we breathe1 and which is the  breath of 
our bodies1 is but a part of that great 
sea of air which  embraceth the whole   
earth so that there is nothing hidden   
from the touch  thereof2 insomuch that  
the same air or breath which is coming  
towards us  from yonder mountain top1   
making the terebinthtrees to bow1 and   

which  even now rustleth in the         
olivetrees above us1 even this is our   
breath and  our life4 ,now ,i have heard
 ,jesus say that there is a likeness    
between this  breath of our bodies and  
the breath or spirit of our souls4 ,for 
as the  wind bloweth where it listeth1  
and we hear the sound thereof1 but know 
not  whence it cometh nor whither it    
goeth1 even so it is with the spirit of 
our souls1 the spirit of goodness1 which
 is the ,holy ,spirit of ,god40    ,then
 ,i said1 8,but how shall we obtain this
 ,holy ,spirit8 ,or is it indeed        
needful that we should obtain it1 seeing
 that we have it already8 ,or do  some  
have it1 but others have it not80       
,nathanael answered and said1 8,all     
have it4 ,but some have little1 and none
 much2 and ,jesus hath come that we  may
 have it abundantly4 ,but how we shall  
obtain it1 this ,i know not now4  ,but  
this ,i know1 that ,jesus hath the ,holy
 ,spirit in himself1 and that he  will  
impart it to us4 ,for ,i heard him say  

that no man can enter into the  ,kingdom
 of ,god unless he is born again of the 
,holy ,spirit40    ,then he paused1 and 
said1 8,is there not1 ,o ,joseph1 a     
certain saying  touching the ,shekinah1 
how that it dwelleth not with one man1  
but with  many80 ,and ,i replied1 8,yea1
 but with one also2 for it is said1     
#8,when ten  sit and are occupied in    
words of the ,law1 the ,shekinah is     
among them1 for  it is said1 ,god       
standeth in the congregation of the     
mighty4 ,and whence  dwelleth it even   
with two8 ,because it is said1 ,then    
they that feared the  ,lord spake often 
one to another4 ,and whence even with   
one8 ,because  it is said1 ,in all      
places where ,i record my name ,i will  
come unto thee  and bless thee4'0       
,nathanael smiled and said1 8,our       
,master also teacheth  that the presence
 of the ,holy ,spirit is with two or    
three1 whensoever they  are gathered    
together in his name4 ,but this doctrine
 he foundeth not on  words of           

,scripture2 but methinks he seeth that  
there is a certain ,spirit  of ,goodness
 or ,kindness which passeth from one man
 to his neighbour and  gathereth        
strength as it passeth4 ,but when a man 
is alone and without  neighbours1 it    
cannot in this way gather strength4 ,for
 it is a ,spirit of  ,love4 ,wherefore1 
as it seemeth to me1 our ,master        
teacheth that the ,holy  ,spirit is     
present1 in some sort1 in the           
intercourse between man and man1        
whensoever men do aught together as the 
children of ,god40    8,but yet10 said  
,i1 8,i would fain know why ,hezekiah   
the ,scribe was thus  rebuked1 and why  
the blasphemy against the ,holy ,spirit 
is not forgiven40  ,then said           
,nathanael1 8,all men have within       
themselves some portion of the  ,spirit 
of ,god2 even as we now have some       
portion of that great wind and  breath  
of heaven which here in ,jotapata is    
rustling in the olivebranches1  and     
yonder at ,capernaum is driving the     

fishingboats1 and out in the ,great     
,sea is speeding the ships of ,tarshish 
on their path4 ,now if thou closest  thy
 mouth and thy nostrils against the     
winds of heaven and sayest1 #8,the  air 
is as poison to me1 ,i will not breathe 
it1' behold1 thou perishest4  ,even so  
is it with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,every man
 that cometh into the world1  hath in   
him some portion of the ,holy ,spirit4  
,for the spirit which is in  him        
breatheth of the ,holy ,spirit1 and     
dependeth and liveth thereon4 ,but if   
he shall say knowingly in his heart1    
#8,i will not breathe thereof2 ,i will  
call good evil1 and the ,holy ,spirit ,i
 will call unholy'2 then lo1 his  spirit
 dieth within him1 and he can no more   
enter into the life of ,god40    ,then  
,i said1 8,is not the sin of ,hezekiah  
less than the sin of ,barachiah  the son
 of ,zadok1 who cursed ,jesus80 ,and    
,nathanael replied1 8,no1 for           
,barachiah cursed ,jesus in his anger   
and in his haste1 knowing not the       

truth3 but ,hezekiah saith in his heart1
 #8,lo1 the truth is not pleasing  unto 
me1 therefore ,i will not look upon it2 
nay1 it is hateful1 therefore  ,i will  
call it evil4'0    ,then ,i mused for a 
space1 and afterwards ,i questioned     
,nathanael yet again  and said1 8,thou  
hast said that in the ,day of           
,redemption the ,holy ,one  7blessed is 
,he7 will slay the ,evil ,nature of men4
 ,therefore at the great  day what      
thinkest thou of them which have        
blasphemed the ,holy ,spirit8 ,will     
they also perish together with the ,evil
 ,nature8 ,or will there be yet  another
 age after the age that is to come1 so  
that even the wicked may yet  be in the 
end redeemed8 ,for ,jesus said that they
 should not be forgiven1  neither in    
this age nor in the age to come40 ,but  
,nathanael could not  answer this       
question2 and we feared to ask ,jesus   
concerning the matter4    ,while we thus
 spake together1 behold1 ,barabbas stood
 before us3 and he  saluted us and      

besought us that we would sup at his    
house2 for he dwelt at  ,jotapata4 ,but 
,i asked him for what cause he had been 
absent from us of  late1 and where he   
had been1 and what the people of        
,jotapata said touching  the words of   
,hezekiah the ,scribe4 ,touching the    
cause of his absence he  made no answer2
 but as concerning the people1 he said  
that the men of  ,jotapata were of one  
mind1 that ,hezekiah had spoken for     
envy4 8,nor is it  possible10 said he1  
8that a man should believe that ,jesus  
hath a devil1  unless he himself should 
have a devil4 ,for they which have      
devils say and  do all things without   
forethought and with distraction1 as if 
divided  against themselves2 but in     
,jesus there is the contrary from these3
 for he  doth all things with           
forethought1 yea1 and perchance0 7these 
words he  uttered with some show of     
anger7 8with more than enough of        
forethought40    ,now ,barabbas spake   
with something of austerity1 which was  

not usual with  him4 ,moreover ,i       
marvelled at those words which he had   
said touching 8too  much of             
forethought40 ,therefore ,i asked him   
again where he had been of  late1 and   
why he had forsaken the disciples4 ,but 
he answered with still  more of passion 
than before1 8,because ,i am weary of   
these idle wanderings  about ,galilee1  
which bring forth no fruit4 ,not to sit 
on stools at the  feet of a ,scribe did 
,i and my friends join ourselves to     
,jesus of ,nazareth4  ,why tarrieth he  
so long idle8 ,why is his hand so       
backward to smite the  oppressor80 ,but 
,i bade him be of good cheer1 for the   
hour was not yet  come1 and ,jesus would
 know better than we the season fit for 
our uprising4    ,but he replied1 still 
in great heat1 8,thou wouldst fain know 
where ,i have  tarried these twenty     
days4 ,well1 ,i will tell thee4 ,i have 
but even now  come from ,machrus1 where 
,i have tarried these two weeks and     
more1 nigh  unto the fort called the    

,black ,castle1 wherein ,john the       
,prophet is  imprisoned4 ,with the      
,prophet himself ,i had no speech2 for  
he is kept in  close durance1 insomuch  
that he pineth1 as ,i hear1 for lack of 
air and  freedom4 ,this ,i heard from   
one of the guard1 who is a kinsman of   
mine4  ,moreover my kinsman told me that
 had it not been for ,chuza the         
,steward1  the ,prophet had been slain  
ten days ago4 ,for the ,tetrarch1 after 
supper1  being heavy with wine1 was     
moved by the adulteress1 even by        
,herodias1 to  write letters that ,john 
should be beheaded4 ,howbeit ,chuza took
 order that  the letter should be stayed
 for that time1 and won the ,tetrarch   
from his  purpose4 ,but what surety have
 we that the adulterous woman may not   
win the  ,tetrarch to write even such   
another letter tomorrow8 ,and when ,john
 shall  feel the left hand of the       
,thracian gripping his hair and the     
,thracian  scimitar 7may it be          
accursed67 hacking at his neck1 will he 

not then cry  unto the ,lord in his sore
 agony and say1 #8,jesus of ,nazareth   
hath forsaken  me3 ,jesus of ,nazareth  
is guilty of my blood'8 ,for this cause 
do we  ,galileans begin no more to trust
 your ,master1 because he speaketh many 
fair words1 but we see not from him any 
doing of deeds40    ,his words so       
troubled me that ,i knew not what to    
say2 ,nathanael also was  silent4 ,but  
,i besought ,barabbas to trust in ,jesus
 because of his mighty  works1 and      
because of his ,gospel1 which surely was
 a message from ,god4  8,certainly10 ,i 
began1 8,jesus of ,nazareth will not    
suffer the ,prophet to  die as a dog    
dieth40 ,but1 even while ,i spake1 it   
came into my mind that  the ways of     
,jesus were not as the ways of other    
men2 neither could ,i  foretell what    
,jesus would do1 or not do1 save only ,i
 knew that he would do  right4 ,so ,i   
paused1 and added1 8or1 if              
otherwise----40 ,but ,barabbas1 at that 
word 8if10 brake away from us1 and was  

departing in fury4 ,howbeit1            
remembering himself1 he returned and    
constrained himself1 and courteously    
besought us to tarry with him that      
night4 ,but we could not2 for we were to
  pass on to another town1 and not to   
tarry at ,jotapata4 ,so we bade him     
farewell4    ,as we journeyed eastward1 
,i looked back now and then to the high 
rock  whereon the tower of ,jotapata is 
built3 for it was exceeding high1 being 
indeed one of the firestations whence   
the new moon was wont to be  proclaimed4
 ,and as the sun was now sinking towards
 the west behind the  rock1 the castle  
seemed to stand up very clear1 and easy 
to be seen  against the red sky4 ,but as
 often as ,i looked thereat1 the words  
of  ,barabbas would come again and again
 into my mind2 and there rose up before 
me the black castle of ,machrus and the 
face of the prophet shut up in  chains  
and darkness1 and waiting for a         
deliverer4 ,then it seemed to me  that  
the shadows of evil were encompassing   

our own ,master also4 ,for the          
,pharisees had set their faces against  
him2 and though he had avoided their    
first snares1 yet ,i knew full well that
 they were even now making others       
ready4 ,yea1 ,eliezer himself had       
confessed as much2 for he had said in   
his  letter to ,jonathan that1 if other 
means failed1 it was purposed to deliver
  ,jesus over to ,herod4 ,and now       
behold1 the ,galileans also were like to
 sever  themselves from ,jesus and to   
desert him4 ,so all things seemed full  
of  danger1 and there appeared no path  
of deliverance4    ,in my dejection     
there came one upon another into my mind
 all the dark  sayings of ,jesus1 and   
especially the words which he had spoken
 to us in  the house of ,matthew the    
taxgatherer1 that 8,the days should come
 when the  bridegroom should be taken   
away from the children of the           
bridechamber1 and  then should they fast
 in those days40 ,so ,i marvelled and   
pondered what  those words might mean1  

8the bridegroom should be taken away40  
,but they  were too deep for me to      
understand1 and ,i was as one wading in 
them and  out of my depth2 nor could ,i 
light upon anything solid in them save  
only  this1 that they appeared to       
prophesy some evil4                     
,,chapter ,,xiv      ,on the third or   
fourth day after that we had seen       
,barabbas1 we came to  ,bethsaida4 ,and 
behold1 as ,jesus was exhorting the     
people1 there came into  the synagogue  
two disciples of ,john the ,prophet4    
,and the principal ,scribe  of the place
 brought the men in1 saying that they   
had a message from the  ,prophet to     
,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,then all men held 
their peace and expected  what the      
message should be2 and ,i remembered the
 words of ,barabbas  concerning ,john1  
and my mind presaged that the prophet   
had sent to bid  ,jesus release him4    
,but the ,scribe 7for he knew what the  
message was1 and  desired to discredit  
,jesus7 said aloud that the message was 

a strange one1  not fit for the ear of  
the common multitude2 therefore it      
should be  reserved for the ear of      
,jesus alone4 ,but all the people       
listened the more  intently2 and ,jesus 
gave command that the messengers should 
deliver their  message aloud1 and they  
did so4 ,now the words of the message   
were these1  8,john the ,prophet hath   
sent us to thee from the prison of      
,herod1 saying1  #8,art thou he that    
should come1 or must we look for        
another8'0    ,when we heard these words
 we all looked that ,jesus should either
 rebuke  the ,prophet for his want of   
faith1 or else make some comfortable    
answer1  saying that he would come with 
speed and deliver the ,prophet from his 
bonds4 ,howbeit ,jesus made no answer1  
but continued his exhortation2 and he   
drove out certain unclean spirits1 and  
forgave sins4 ,but when he had ended    
these things1 he called to the disciples
 of ,john1 and he repeated to them      
those passages of the prophets which    

describe the signs of ,redemption1 and  
in particular the prophecy of ,isaiah3  
how the ears of the deaf shall be       
unstopped to hear the tidings of        
,redemption1 and the eyes of the blind  
shall be opened to discern the truth of 
the ,lord2 and the lame man shall  leap 
as a hart in the paths of salvation2 and
 the tongue of the dumb shall  sing the 
praises of the ,lord4 ,and he said unto 
the two messengers1 8,go and  show ,john
 the things which ye do hear and see3   
the blind receive their  sight1 and the 
lame walk2 the lepers are cleansed1 and 
the deaf hear2 the  dead are raised up1 
and the poor have the gospel preached to
 them40 ,then  he added these words1    
8,blessed is he who shall not be        
offended in me40    ,when the messengers
 were departed1 ,jesus spake to the     
people concerning  ,john1 saying that   
,john 7howbeit he might have changed and
 fallen from his  first estate1 seeming 
to be1 for the time1 unstable as a reed 
or pliant as  a courtier7 was1 none the 

less1 truly a prophet1 yea1 and the     
greatest of  prophets1 inasmuch as he   
was sent by ,god as the herald of the   
,redeemer4  ,then he added thereto a    
certain saying which filled us all with 
amazement3  yea1 and even now after     
forty years1 though ,i be enlightened   
with the ,holy  ,spirit1 yet can ,i not 
choose but be amazed thereat4 ,for the  
words were  these3 8,verily ,i say unto 
you1 among them that are born of women1 
there  hath not risen a greater than    
,john the ,baptist3 notwithstanding he  
that is  least in the ,kingdom of       
,heaven is greater than he40    ,when   
the congregation brake up1 many of the  
people said among themselves  that this 
was an hard saying4 ,others asked what  
,jesus meant by dividing  them that were
 8born of women0 from them that are in  
the ,kingdom of  ,heaven2 and whether   
the former meant the living and the     
latter meant the  dead4 ,now ,i         
understood 7for ,nathanael had          
instructed me7 that ,jesus put a        

difference between them which are born  
of flesh and blood1 and them which  are 
born of the ,spirit2 wherefore ,i partly
 perceived the meaning of his  saying1  
namely1 that the kingdom of the ,law and
 of the ,prophets now had an  end1 and  
that the kingdom of the ,spirit of ,god 
was at hand2 and that the  greatest in  
the former kingdom was less than the    
least in the latter4  ,likewise ,i      
understood ,jesus to say that the       
sending of this message and  the moving 
of ,jesus to take up the arms of the    
flesh argued in ,john a  certain nature 
of flesh2 as if he thereby shewed       
himself to be born not of  the ,new     
,kingdom1 but of the ,old ,kingdom of   
flesh and blood1 albeit the  greatest   
therein4 ,yet for all this1 that such an
 one as ,jesus of ,nazareth1  whose     
gentleness and meekness 7albeit mixed at
 all times with a certain  royal        
carriage and demeanour7 for the most    
part exceeded the meekness of a  little 
child1 should notwithstanding seem to   

rate so low the greatest of  all the    
prophets of ,israel1 and exalt so high  
the meanest of all the  citizens in the 
,kingdom that was to come 7which also   
seemed perforce to  include a certain   
magnifying of himself as being chief in 
that ,kingdom72  this1 ,i say1 for all  
my poising and pondering1 still         
perplexed and  distracted my mind1 as a 
thing new and strange1 and 7,i had      
almost said7  monstrous to human reason4
    ,i desired to question ,nathanael   
the son of ,zebedee concerning these    
things2 but ,i could not4 ,for having   
noted the face of one of my mother's    
household in the congregation1 and      
fearing lest he might have some message 
touching my mother's health1 ,i hasted  
to seek the man out3 and it proved  even
 as ,i feared1 for my mother was indeed 
sick1 and had sent1 desiring  that ,i   
would come to see her4 ,therefore ,i    
went to ,jesus at once1 and  besought   
him that he would suffer me to go to my 
mother4 ,as ,i went to  ,jesus1 ,i met  

,eliezer the son of ,arak1 and would    
have passed him4 ,but he1  noting that  
,i was somewhat moved1 stayed me1 and   
having questioned me1 he  said1 8,if    
thou art wise1 thou wilt not go to      
,jesus3 for but now1 he  forbade one of 
his disciples to bid farewell to his    
parents1 and another  he would not so   
much as suffer to bury the dead body of 
his father4 ,for he  rageth like a young
 lion taken in the net of the hunter2   
and whoso leaveth  his side1 though it  
be for an hour1 seemeth to him a        
traitor4 ,be  persuaded1 therefore1 and 
quit this ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and his  
rabble of  sinners1 and come unto the   
side of the learned1 and thou shalt have
  eminence among us40    ,now ,i could  
not indeed deny that ,jesus had         
forbidden certain of his  disciples to  
leave him2 but he had done it for their 
advantage1 and  because he knew that it 
would have been ill for them to leave   
him4  ,therefore ,i answered ,eliezer   
with the same proverb which the ruler of

 the  synagogue had said to ,jesus1 that
 it was better to be the tail of the    
lion  than the head of the fox2 and so  
,i left him4 ,for he spake out of a     
malignant heart1 and not because he     
loved me4 ,moreover1 ,i knew that if    
,jesus should say1 ,go not1 it would be 
well said2 for ,i trusted him in all    
things4    ,i found ,jesus surrounded by
 many disciples1 who had been asking him
  questions concerning ,john the        
,prophet1 and concerning the manner of  
his  deliverance4 ,for all we at that   
time were assured in our minds that     
,john  would be delivered3 for men      
counted ,john the son of ,zachariah and 
,jesus of  ,nazareth as yokefellows in  
,israel1 and the safety of one seemed to
 depend  on the safety of the other1 and
 the salvation of ,israel on both4 ,and 
indeed ,i myself have often marvelled   
that ,jesus was not moved to adventure  
to deliver ,john4 ,but1 as ,i judge1 he 
rejected all such motions as            
temptations of ,satan1 because he knew  

that he had not been sent to smite  with
 the sword but only with the breath of  
his mouth4 ,wherefore1 if he  were      
tempted at all1 it was rather1 as ,i    
suppose1 that he should die with  ,john 
than that he should fight that ,john    
might live4 ,and at this time1          
methinks1 it came into his mind that if 
indeed it was ordained that ,john  the  
,prophet should be slain1 and perchance 
he himself also1 then was it  high time 
that new labourers should be sent into  
the harvest of the ,lord1  to take the  
places of them that were to pass away4  
,howbeit1 concerning  these things ,i   
can but conjecture2 but1 as ,i remember1
 when ,i came to  ,jesus1 he was looking
 at the young corn in the fields around 
very  intently1 and as if he espied in  
the sight more than others could see4   
,presently he said to them which sat    
next to him1 8,say ye not1 ,there are   
yet four months and then cometh the     
harvest8 ,behold1 ,i say unto you1 ,lift
  up your eyes1 and look on the fields1 

for they are white already to  harvest4 
,and he that reapeth receiveth wages and
 gathereth fruit unto life  eternal2    
that both he that soweth and he that    
reapeth may rejoice  together40 ,then   
,judas said to them which sat nigh unto 
him1 that these  words signified that   
,john should be delivered at once1 and  
that a levy was  to be made throughout  
all ,galilee3 and he added aloud1       
looking to ,jesus1  that1 8,the reapers 
were ready10 or words to that effect4   
,but ,jesus  answered and said1 8,the   
harvest truly is plenteous1 but the     
labourers are  few3 pray ye therefore   
the ,lord of the harvest1 that he will  
send forth  labourers into his harvest40
    ,then ,i spake to ,jesus and told   
him that ,i desired to go and see my    
mother4  ,but ,i thought perchance that 
he would have restrained me1 if it were 
so  indeed that a levy was to be made   
throughout all ,galilee4 ,but he        
restrained me not1 but bade me go in    
peace and blessed me1 and spake         

comfortable words to me2 and wished me  
to comfort my mother4    ,on the next   
day ,i came to ,sepphoris1 and behold my
 mother was grievously  sick and nigh   
unto death4 ,but when ,i took her by the
 hand and delivered to  her the message 
of ,jesus1 saying that he bade her be of
 good cheer1 even  in that instant her  
strength came back to her1 and her      
disease abated2 and  on the fourth day  
it departed1 so that she rose from her  
bed4 ,but when the  day came that ,i    
should depart1 so it was that my mother 
desired me to go  first to ,tiberias1   
there to collect certain debts which    
were owing to her  now many days4 ,to   
this ,i agreed1 nothing loth1 for it    
seemed to me that by  passing through   
,tiberias to ,capernaum ,i might bring  
unto ,jesus the newest  tidings touching
 the doings of ,herod1 and perchance    
also touching the  state of ,john the   
,prophet4 ,for there were certain of    
mine acquaintance in  the house of      
,chuza1 the king's steward1 who lived in

 ,tiberias nigh unto  the royal palace4 
,so ,i set out for ,tiberias first4 ,but
 when ,i reached the  city1 it being now
 about the tenth hour of the day1 ,i    
found the people  gathered together in  
the ,greek quarter by twos and by threes
 in the  streets2 and in our part of the
 city1 instead of rejoicings 7which ,i  
had  expected1 because the ,feast of    
,purim was at this time71 there were    
everywhere signs of lamentation and     
mourning4 ,so ,i saluted one of them    
that passed by1 and asked him what these
 things might mean4 ,but he glanced  at 
my mule 7which ,i had borrowed1 for more
 speed1 of a ,greek in ,sepphoris2  for 
not many in ,galilee1 except ,gentiles1 
use to ride on mules71 and he  said1 8,i
 perceive that thou art but a sojourner 
here1 else wouldst thou  surely have    
known these tidings which are in the    
mouths of all the people1  since the    
eighth hour of the day1 touching ,john  
the ,prophet40 ,then ,i said1  8,what   
tidings80 ,he answered 8,that he is     

dead1 slain with the sword2 and  they   
say that his head hath been given to    
,herodias on a charger4 ,but why  speak 
,i of things that concern me not80 ,so  
saying he looked at me1 as ,i  had been 
a spy 7for the spies of ,herod were     
everywhere in ,galilee at this  time1   
and most of all in ,tiberias72 and so he
 passed on4    ,straightway ,i hasted on
 to come to the ,greek quarter1 seeking 
the house of  ,chuza4 ,but on my way    
thither ,i passed the royal palace2 and 
at the gate  thereof were certain of the
 ,thracian guard keeping watch4 ,now as 
,i passed  them1 one of the soldiers    
called to his companion and said1 8,but 
wherefore  dost thou keep guard today80 
,and the other said1 8,i keep guard in  
the  place of ,thrasymachus who is gone 
with three centuries to ,capernaum40    
8,and  wherefore to ,capernaum80 said   
the first4 8,there is like to be a      
tumult in  the town10 replied the       
sentinel1 8because of the beheading of  
this ,john in  ,machrus2 and they say   

that the rabble will set some leader at 
their head1  who is to be arrested40    
8,nay10 said the other1 8and sayest thou
 arrested8  ,i would have no arresting1 
but make quick despatch with these      
leaders of  the rabble4 ,but hath ,herod
 heard of this leader80 8,not so10 said 
the  other1 8for he is busy in the south
 with the army2 but our general meaneth 
to take order that ,herod shall never   
hear of him40 ,with that he laughed1    
and made a sign to signify beheading1   
drawing his hand across his throat2     
then he bade his fellow go carry some   
message for him1 for he should be  busy 
that day2 8,for10 said he1 8the cohort  
hath not been gone one full  hour yet1  
and will not be here again these six    
hours or more1 for they  mean not to    
take him by force publicly1 but will    
arrest the man quietly at  nightfall40  
,when ,i heard these things1 my spirit  
fainted1 and there was no strength in   
me2 but when ,i came to myself1 it      
seemed best to journey forwards at once 

to ,capernaum if perchance ,i might     
prevent the coming of the ,thracian     
guard  and give the alarm to ,jesus4 ,so
 ,i turned the mule's head straightway  
toward the city gate1 and rode on the   
way that leadeth to ,capernaum4 ,but    
she was sore wearied by reason of the   
length of the journey1 and could  scarce
 carry me4 ,howbeit after the space of  
an hour's riding ,i came up  with the   
rear of the ,thracians3 but ,i perceived
 that ,i could not pass  them4 ,for a   
certain merchant riding on a fresh mule 
had passed out from  the city gate      
before me1 and behold1 they had stayed  
him1 and suffered him  not to pass2 but 
he rode behind with the rear4 ,now when 
,i saw this1 ,i  smote my hands         
together1 for ,i saw that ,i could be of
 no avail to my  ,master4 ,and by this  
time the houses of ,capernaum1 that is  
to say the quay  and the houses near the
 quay1 were in sight1 and not far off4  
,for one  headland only remained between
 us and the headland whereon the town   

standeth2 and when the ,thracians should
 have passed round that first  headland1
 there were but six furlongs between    
them and the marketplace of  ,capernaum4
 ,but the sun was now nigh setting and  
the barbarians began to  quicken their  
pace4    ,therefore ,i cried unto the   
,lord in sore distress and left my mule 
and  climbed up to a rock whence ,i     
could watch what befel1 and there ,i    
offered  up prayers to the              
,all,powerful1 who alone is able to     
save4 ,now behold1 by  this time the    
,thracians had passed round the first   
headland1 and the last  of them were out
 of my sight1 so that ,i could see      
nothing but the quay of  ,capernaum and 
two or three fishingboats riding at     
anchor just off the  quay3 and there    
seemed no signs of tumult2 for there was
 no man stirring  there4 ,and presently 
began the helmets of the ,thracians to  
shine again  before mine eyes as their  
front guard drew near unto the town1 and
 still  no man perceived them2 for the  

cliff lay between them and the town1 and
  there were still none save two or     
three sailors on the quay4 ,then ,i took
  off the covering from my head and     
waved it in the air that the sailors    
perchance might take note of it3 but    
they took no note4    ,now by this time 
there was but about a space of two      
furlongs between the  front of the      
column of the ,thracians and the quay of
 ,capernaum1 and ,i  could hear the     
captain give the word of command 7albeit
 not in a loud  voice7 to hasten their  
march that they might enter the town the
 more  quickly 7for darkness was now    
falling upon the lake72 and as the word 
of  command sounded across the water    
even to my ears in the stillness of the 
evening1 behold1 the ,thracians hastened
 their march so that they began to  run4
 ,now ,i held my breath1 for ,i could   
not so much as pray for very  trouble2  
when lo1 a great noise of shouting from 
the other side of the  headland1 even   
from ,capernaum2 and at the same time a 

great concourse of  people upon the     
quay1 and immediately a long galley     
appeared1 which rowed  forth very       
swiftly toward the eastward side of the 
lake4 ,then the  barbarians halted1 even
 without the word of command2 for they  
knew that  the bird was escaped from the
 snare of the fowlers3 and the noise of 
their  cursing and clamour came up even 
unto mine ears as ,i sat upon my place  
of  watching4 ,but ,i glorified the ,god
 of ,israel2 and gave thanks to ,him    
whose  mercy endureth for ever4         
,,chapter ,,xv      ,when ,i came into  
,capernaum1 ,i thought to have heard all
 men rejoicing for  that ,jesus had not 
been taken by the ,thracians4 ,but1 go  
where ,i might1 ,i  found it quite      
contrary2 for all men were wroth with   
him for departing4  ,barabbas was there1
 and ,james the son of ,judas of        
,galilee1 and many others  of the       
,galilean sect2 but ,i could not have   
much speech with them1 so hot  was their
 anger against ,jesus2 but on the       

morrow1 lighting upon my cousin         
,baruch1 ,i questioned him touching that
 which had happened1 and he said  that  
8the ,prophet had turned from him all   
the hearts of the ,galileans  because he
 would not raise up ,israel to avenge   
the death of ,john40    ,then ,i asked  
how soon they had received tidings of   
,john's death1 and he  said 8,yesterday 
a little before sunset40 ,i marvelled   
how the news should  have been brought  
past the ,thracians2 for1 said ,i1 8they
 stayed all  travellers from ,tiberias1 
neither suffered they any to pass them40
 ,but  ,baruch said that ,james the son 
of ,judas had contrived that lights     
should  be held up each night from      
,gamala on the other side of the lake1  
to the  intent that the ,galileans in   
,capernaum might know how ,john fared2  
and one  light should signify that the  
,prophet lived1 but two lights that he  
lived  not4 8,and10 said ,baruch1       
8yestereven before the sun went down1   
many of the  ,galileans had gathered    

together by twos or by threes upon the  
strand to  watch for the signal4 ,and   
first one light appeared1 as was usual2 
and the  men said that it was well1 for 
they had one more day wherein to labour 
for  the ,prophet's deliverance4 ,but   
then ,barabbas cried out that there were
 two  lights2 and at first no man would 
believe it1 for 7because the sun had not
  yet set7 the lights were not plain to 
see4 ,but presently ,judas also saw  the
 second light1 and then they all saw it4
 ,hereupon arose a loud  lamentation1   
and the news spread at once through all 
the city1 and the  women began to wail1 
and the men rushed forth into the       
streets1 and there  was a great         
gathering4 ,presently with one consent  
the multitude ran  together to the door 
of the house where ,jesus lodged2 and   
first ,barabbas  went in to ask ,jesus  
to be leader of the host1 but soon he   
came forth  again1 saying that ,jesus   
would not4 ,then went in ,james the son 
of ,judas1  saying that he would beseech

 ,jesus in the name of his father1 who  
had  fought and died for ,israel4 ,with 
,james there went in also three others  
of  the eldest and most reverend of the 
,galileans1 and they remained in the    
house longer1 so that the people thought
 they had prevailed upon ,jesus2  and   
there was a great expectation4 ,but when
 the elders came out1 they  showed by   
their countenances that they had not    
prevailed4    8,then there was much     
clamour2 and the greater part cried out 
that they  would not depart from before 
the threshold of ,jesus till they had   
persuaded ,jesus to be leader of the    
host2 and some cried out to draw him    
forth by violence and to make him leader
 of the host4 ,but immediately the  door
 opened1 and ,jesus himself came forth4 
,then they no more talked of  violence2 
but ,barabbas and others of the armed   
men held out their right  hands to him1 
and promised to give up their lives for 
his sake if he would  be their king4    
,others fell down on their knees before 

him2 and some caught  him by the garment
 to have stayed him4 ,only ,james the   
son of ,judas said  nothing2 and it     
seemed to me10 said ,baruch1 8that at   
the sight of ,james1  ,jesus was more   
moved than by all the rest4 ,howbeit he 
halted not1 but  moved straight down to 
the beach4    8,then when the people    
perceived that he would leave them1 they
 cried out  even louder than before1 and
 threw dust in the air and poured it    
upon  their heads2 and some threw       
themselves on the ground in his path for
 to  stay him2 and some also spared not 
threatening4 ,but ,jesus took no heed   
thereof1 but went still onward with his 
eyes fast set upon the ground2  till one
 thrust himself before the rest1 crying 
aloud and saying that they  would do    
more for ,john dead than for ,jesus     
living1 and that it was better  for a   
man to lose his life1 as ,john the      
,prophet had lost it1 than to save  his 
life as ,jesus desired to save it4      
,thereat ,jesus stayed for an instant1  

and lifted his eyes from the ground2    
howbeit not in anger1 but rather as  he 
is wont to do 7for thou well knowest his
 manner7 whensoever he heareth  a ,voice
 of ,god4 ,but when all the people      
shouted again1 supposing that he  had   
been bent from his purpose1 then ,jesus 
beckoned with the hand1 and  when he had
 commanded silence1 he spake briefly    
unto them1 and said the  hour was not   
yet come2 and so he departed4    8,now10
 said ,baruch1 8while ,jesus was        
speaking to the people1 and even        
afterwards while he was in the sight of 
the people1 it was a marvellous  thing  
to see how still they were2 for he hath 
a power over the hearts of  the people  
so that when he is present no one dare  
move his tongue against  him4 ,but as   
soon as the boat had rowed away and they
 could see him no  more1 straightway    
,barabbas and his friends began to curse
 and swear2 and  they said that they    
would never again ask aught of ,jesus1  
nor place any  faith in him4 ,james the 

son of ,judas said little1 but his mind 
seemed to  be the same4 ,for this cause 
therefore all the ,galileans are        
incensed  against ,jesus2 insomuch that1
 whereas they had begun to rate him far 
above  ,john1 they now esteem the memory
 of ,john more than the presence of     
,jesus40    ,after this1 ,baruch began  
to advise me to sever myself from ,jesus
 and to  return to my home at           
,sepphoris1 for1 said he1 8,he hath the 
,pharisees for  his enemies2 and the    
richer sort are also estranged from him2
 and it is  commonly reported that      
,herod the ,tetrarch seeketh to slay him
 with the  sword2 and now behold1 even  
the ,galileans are turned away from him4
 ,now  therefore be persuaded1 and come 
back with me to the house of my father  
,manasseh1 and tarry with us for the    
night1 and refresh thyself1 and on the  
morrow set forth for thy home40    ,but 
,i made him some fair answer and bade   
him farewell2 for ,i had  determined    
with myself to take ship that same      

night1 to have sailed over  to the other
 side4 ,but on the morrow1 ,i thought it
 good 7albeit perchance  ,i erred       
therein7 to return first to my mother   
and to relate to her all  that had come 
to pass1 and to bid her farewell3 for   
all men now accounted  of ,jesus as of  
one that must either fight or perish3   
for it could not be  that he should live
 and be honoured of men1 and yet not    
avenge the death  of ,john the ,prophet4
 ,wherefore1 before ,i joined myself to 
a cause that  seemed so full of peril1  
,i desired to take leave of my mother4  
,on the fourth day after ,i was come to 
,sepphoris1 word was brought that       
,jesus of ,nazareth was gathering the   
people for battle1 and that he was      
making a levy throughout all ,galilee1  
and for this intent had chosen out      
twelve of his disciples1 whom also he   
called ,apostles2 and these he had  sent
 out by two and two through the several 
villages and towns4 ,jonathan  the son  
of ,ezra brought me these tidings2 and  

,i was with him next day1  walking on   
the road between ,sepphoris and         
,capernaum1 when we met ,simon  ,peter  
and ,andrew4    ,they told us that they 
had been sent forth by ,jesus to        
proclaim the  ,kingdom of ,heaven1 and  
to drive out unclean spirits1 and to    
heal diseases4  ,they came without      
wallet1 or food1 or money1 trusting to  
the alms of the  people4 ,but when we   
questioned them as to the ,kingdom1 and 
whether indeed  it was to be achieved by
 force of arms 7as the rumour went71 or 
by signs  such as fire from heaven and  
the like3 concerning this they knew     
nothing4  ,as for the healing of        
diseases1 we saw with our own eyes that 
they had  this power2 for they healed   
certain that were sick in ,sepphoris1   
and even  cast out three or four unclean
 spirits4    ,when we had bidden        
farewell to ,simon ,peter and ,andrew   
7for they were in  haste1 passing from  
place to place like messengers of war7  
then ,jonathan  turned to me and said1  

8,whoso pulleth down his old house and  
doth not  first build for himself a new 
one1 is he wise80 ,i replied1 8,nay40   
,then  said ,jonathan1 8,lo1 ,jesus of  
,nazareth pulleth down the house of the 
,law2  tell me therefore1 what buildeth 
he in the place thereof80 ,i was silent1
  for ,i knew not what to answer2 but at
 last ,i said that ,jesus spake of a    
certain new ,spirit which would purify  
the children of men and enable them  to 
attain righteousness without the ,law4  
,but ,jonathan said1 8,nay but1 my  son1
 can a ,spirit tell each man of the     
children of men1 from day to day1  what 
meat he shall eat and what he shall not 
eat2 and when to fast and  when to      
feast2 and what to do on the ,sabbath   
day1 and what not to do8 ,now  if the   
,spirit shall tell each man different   
things1 shall there not be a  confusion 
as of ,babel8 ,but if the same things1  
then why should not these  things be    
written in a law8 ,moreover who shall   
tell which man hath the  ,spirit and    

which hath not8 ,for all will say they  
have it40 ,then ,i said  that ,i could  
not answer those questions1 but that ,i 
trusted in ,jesus of  ,nazareth as in   
one sent from ,god1 who could not       
deceive1 neither be  deceived1 for that 
his deeds and words were those of a     
prophet4 ,after this  manner ,i         
answered2 but ,jonathan said nothing1   
but only shook his head a  little1 as   
one that doubted more than he hoped4    
,now on the third day after this        
discourse 7it being1 as ,i remember1 the
  month called ,adar1 a little after the
 ,feast of ,purim71 my mother being now 
completely recovered of her disease1 ,i 
determined to return to ,jesus4 ,for    
tidings came in daily that all ,galilee 
was ready to rise up when he gave  the  
sign1 and ,i was unwilling to show      
myself a laggard if matters should  come
 to smiting with the sword4 ,but every  
day ,i heard that ,jesus was more  and  
more beloved of the people4 ,for all    
7save only the ,pharisees7 were now     

drawn towards him1 in that he seemed to 
be bent upon avenging ,john the         
,prophet4 ,and his fame began to be     
noised abroad through all the country of
  ,galilee and the parts beyond1        
insomuch that many that had not heard of
 him  before1 began to cast in their    
minds what he could be4 ,and some said  
that  he was ,elias4 ,for the common    
folk1 yea1 and the ,scribes also1 were  
ever  expecting that ,elias should be   
sent down to earth1 according to the    
saying  of the prophet ,malachi4 ,but   
others said that he was ,john the       
,baptist risen  from the dead2 and this 
saying was commonly reported1 especially
 among the  ,gentiles which border on   
the land of ,galilee and in ,decapolis1 
insomuch  that ,herod himself heard of  
the rumour1 and feared lest it might be 
even  so4 ,but whatsoever men reported  
about ,jesus1 in any case his fame waxed
  very great at this time4 ,for before  
,john was beheaded1 the fame of ,john   
prevailed over the fame of ,jesus in the

 minds of many2 but now all alike1  even
 the disciples of ,john1 looked to      
,jesus as the avenger of ,john and as   
the only ,deliverer2 insomuch that1 at  
this time1 ,jesus had both his own  fame
 and also the fame of ,john the         
,prophet4    ,i found ,jesus in a       
village about seven miles to the north  
of ,galilee4 ,but  when ,i had saluted  
him1 ,i noted that he was marvellously  
changed2 yet not  so that he was        
austere1 nor even very sad2 yet still   
changed withal1  albeit ,i knew not how 
nor why4 ,but ,i had expected that he   
should have  rebuked me for that ,i had 
been so long absent1 neither had ,i come
 to him  with all speed so as to be     
present when first he made the levy in  
,galilee4  ,howbeit1 he reproved me not2
 but questioned me kindly touching my   
mother's  health1 and rejoiced when ,i  
gave him a good report3 but afterwards  
he gave  himself again to meditation4   
,when ,i was come forth from his        
presence1 ,i  asked the disciples       

concerning the state of ,galilee1 and   
what number of  men were ready to fight 
on our side1 and when the levy should be
 made1 and  the hour for battle should  
be at hand4 ,but the rest were silent1  
and ,judas  alone made answer1 that     
concerning these things the disciples   
knew  nothing2 yea1 and from certain    
signs he conjectured that even to ,jesus
  himself the hour of uprising was not  
yet known1 no1 nor yet the manner of    
it1 nor the means for it4    8,but10    
said ,i1 8did not the people in ,galilee
 receive you when ye went  forth to     
proclaim the ,redemption80 8,yes truly  
did they10 said ,judas1 8but  all of the
 baser sort1 and the poor folk which    
have naught of their own2  wherefore    
they be always ready for warfare40 8,and
 what answer made ,jesus  to your       
report80 asked ,i4 8,truly a marvellous 
answer10 replied ,judas1 8for  when we  
said that only the poor and simple folk 
received us1 he rejoiced  thereat1 and  
thanked ,god that it was even so40      

8,nay10 said ,i1 8that were  hard to    
believe40 8,but yea10 said ,judas2 8for 
his words were these1 that  he thanked  
the ,father1 because ,he had hidden     
these things from the wise  and the     
prudent1 and revealed them unto babes40 
,then ,i looked at ,nathanael  to know  
whether it was even so1 and ,nathanael  
nodded his head1 as if to  say that it  
was so4    ,but ,judas continued3 8,this
 also is not the worst4 ,for he hath not
 only  turned from him the ,galileans2  
but besides1 since our flight1 whereas  
there is special need to be busy and    
striving1 behold1 these ten days1 he    
museth and meditateth1 and ceaseth not4 
,neither are his musings touching  war1 
nor vengeance1 nor military matters2 but
 he broodeth over  prophesyings and     
abstruse matters4 ,and a stranger might 
go near to think  that he had conceived 
an imagination that1 because the ,lord  
hath suffered  ,john the son of         
,zachariah to die1 therefore he must    
needs die also4 ,but  unless he be      

speedily raised up from this humour of  
dejection1 all is  lost40    ,he said no
 more at this time1 for ,jesus came     
forth into the courtyard  where we sat  
together around the fountain2 and       
straightway we held our  peace4 ,then we
 fell to discourse of ,john the son of  
,zachariah1 how great  things he had    
prophesied1 and how we had hoped that he
 should have  triumphed with us in the  
,kingdom of ,god2 and one likened ,john 
unto ,elias  the prophet1 saying that he
 spake in the spirit of ,elias1 and that
 many of  the common people would have  
it that this ,john was indeed ,elias    
risen from  the dead4 ,then another     
spake of the love in which the disciples
 of ,john  the son of ,zachariah still  
had their ,master1 and how1 though he   
were dead1  yet did they still cleave to
 him in their hearts2 insomuch that his 
spirit  seemed to rule over them yet    
more than his living presence4 ,but     
another  said that ,john the ,prophet   
could not be ,elias3 for was it possible

 that  the ,lord should suffer such an  
one as ,elias to be slain8 ,and to him  
,nathanael replied that ,isaiah the     
,prophet was sawn asunder1 and wherefore
  not also ,elias8 ,then ,thomas1 one of
 the ,twelve1 lamented for ,john the son
  of ,zachariah1 because he had been    
thus swallowed up by destruction1       
neither had he left children to stand in
 his stead upon the earth2 8for  they   
that die1 leaving children behind them10
 said he 7quoting a certain  proverb of 
my countrymen7 8die not1 but only fall  
asleep3 but they that  die and leave no 
children1 these die indeed40 ,to this   
,john the son of  ,zebedee made answer  
that whoso leaveth behind him children  
perverse and  alien from his own nature1
 he liveth not1 for all his children2   
but whoso  leaveth behind him disciples 
and followers like unto himself and     
imbued  with his own doctrine1 such an  
one liveth1 yea even though he be       
childless  and lie in the grave4 ,hereat
 methought ,jesus was strangely moved3  

howbeit  he sat still where he was1 and 
spake never a word4    ,but presently   
mention was made of ,jonah the ,prophet1
 how that he also was  an exile and fled
 from his country1 even as our ,master  
had been forced to  flee4 ,then ,judas  
said that ,jonah had done ill to flee1  
for that none could  flee from the      
presence of the ,allseeing1 the ,maker  
of all things1 8for10  said he1 8the son
 of man1 while he liveth1 is like unto a
 horse tethered  by a cord which        
suffereth him to graze1 but resteth     
still in the hand of  his owner40       
,thereon some one took up the discourse 
and said1 8,nay1 but  rather the cord is
 a cord of love1 and the owner is not an
 owner1 but a  father20 and another     
disciple quoted the words of the        
psalmist1 8,by thee  have ,i been holden
 up from the womb40 ,thereat ,jesus     
smiled as if to say  that that disciple 
had spoken well1 and he bade ,john      
repeat the rest of  that same psalm4    
,but when ,john came1 in his repeating1 

to the words1 8,o  ,god1 ,thou hast     
taught me from my youth3 and hitherto   
have ,i declared thy  wondrous works10  
then did ,jesus seem somewhat moved4    
,but afterwards when  ,john came unto   
the words1 8,thou1 which hast shewed me 
great and sore  troubles1 shalt give me 
life again1 and shalt bring me up again 
from the  depths of the earth20 then    
indeed the face of ,jesus kindled with a
  marvellous light1 and he bade ,john   
cease4 ,but he himself sat1 still       
musing1 and his lips moved like unto one
 repeating the same words over and  over
 again3 8,thou shalt bring me up again  
from the depths of the earth40    ,it   
came to pass that1 about two or three   
weeks after these things we came  to    
,nazareth1 where ,jesus was born4 ,now  
,jesus had not gone to the place  these 
many days4 ,some said that he came      
thither now for to shew unto his  mother
 and his brethren 7for his father had   
been long since dead7 that he  was sound
 in health and not possessed nor        

distraught4 ,others said that he        
desired to cause his brethren to believe
 in him2 for at this time they  believed
 not4 ,but others said that he desired  
to bid farewell to his  mother before he
 went forth to deliver ,israel2 and to  
this most people  agreed4    ,but when  
we came to ,nazareth1 we marvelled that 
there was so little faith  in the men of
 that place4 ,for they thronged us1 as  
in the other towns1 and  they were fain 
to look on ,jesus1 and called him by    
familiar names 7some  being playmates   
and schoolfellows1 some his kinsfolk1   
and almost all of  the number of his    
acquaintances72 moreover they were eager
 that he should  do some mighty work    
before their eyes2 yet could they not   
believe that he  was a prophet1 much    
less that he was the ,redeemer of       
,israel4 ,neither would  they believe   
that he could drive out evil spirits or 
heal diseases4    ,hence it came to pass
 that ,jesus could do no mighty work    
there4 ,and when  they brought unto him 

many that were sick1 and possessed with 
evil  spirits1 he looked on them1 but   
perceived that they had not faith to be 
healed4 ,wherefore he healed none of    
them2 save only that he laid his hands  
on a few that were sick of slight       
diseases and healed them1 and even these
  not without labour4 ,for the same     
things happened as once in another city1
  where a man was healed that had been  
afflicted with a deaf and dumb  spirit4 
,for there1 because of the man's want of
 understanding and lack of  faith1      
,jesus took him apart from the people   
7for there was a great stir of  traffic 
and of men coming and going71 and made  
signs to him1 at the same  time touching
 his ears and his tongue2 and he also   
spake very loud in the  man's ears1 not 
in ,greek1 but in the language of the   
,jews 7which is used  by the poorer     
people71 saying ,ephphatha4 ,in this way
 the man was healed1  but only with     
labour and by degrees4 ,and so it was   
now1 but even worse4  ,wherefore ,jesus 

himself marvelled at their unbelief4    
,now the cause of their unbelief was    
that they knew him from a child4 ,for1  
said one of them to ,jesus himself in my
 hearing1 8,behold1 these thirty  years 
we have known thy goings out and thy    
comings in2 we have also sat by  thy    
side in the school1 and whatsoever thou 
didst learn we also learned2  thou didst
 play with us at our games round the    
well2 we have seen thee a  working in   
thy father's house2 our couches and our 
seats are made by thy  hand2 and shall  
we call thee the ,redeemer of ,israel80 
,moreover another  bade him come back to
 the carpenter's shop2 and a third cried
 out that he  had changed trades for the
 worse1 for the ,redemption of ,israel  
was a  dangerous trade4 ,all these were 
moved by jealousy1 and spake out of the 
malignity of their hearts4    ,but a    
certain old ,scribe1 ,josiah the son of 
,hezekiah1 7which also was the  chief   
,scribe of the place1 and had known     
,jesus and loved him of a child7  coming

 forth from his house1 met him and fell 
upon his neck1 and blessed  him1 and    
embraced him2 and then1 when he had     
looked more narrowly at his             
countenance1 he began to mourn over him 
as if he were his own son1  lamenting   
for that the bloom of beauty had        
departed from the countenance  of       
,jesus3 8for behold10 said he1 8sorrow  
hath driven out the former  brightness  
of thy joy4 ,thou wast as the dew of the
 morning1 ,o my lamb1 but  art become as
 the parched ground at noontide4        
,behold1 ,o my lamb1 around  thy cradle 
mercy and righteousness joined hands    
together2 and when thou  didst sport    
amid this valley1 lo1 truth and peace   
went ever with thee1 and  thou didst    
still hold converse with the angels of  
,god8 ,unfit art thou1 ,o  my gentle    
one1 to do battle with the wickedness of
 wicked men1 and with  the cunning arts 
of the adversary4 ,verily thou wilt be  
led as a lamb to  the slaughter4 ,hast  
thou fathomed the depth of the pit of   

destruction8 ,or  dost thou know by     
experience the snares of deceit8        
,return1 ,o thou that art  the apple of 
mine eye1 while there is yet time1 lest 
evil befal thee4 ,for  ,i know that     
danger compasseth thee around1 and if   
thou shalt go hence1  thou wilt come    
back to me no more40    ,jesus spake    
comfortably to the old man and consoled 
him2 and while he  consoled him1 his    
face shone with joy and love2 insomuch  
that the old man  also rejoiced1 saying 
that ,jesus appeared now again as he    
appeared in the  days of his youth4 ,but
 still he besought ,jesus to return and 
to avoid  contention with the           
,pharisees1 saying that 8no vessel but  
peace can hold  blessing40 ,but ,jesus  
answered him kindly and bade him        
farewell4 ,and so we  departed from     
,nazareth4    ,when we were now come to 
the top of the hill which looketh down  
on  ,nazareth1 we rested a little to    
recover our breath4 ,now ,jesus was     
sorrowful because of the unbelief of his

 kinsfolk and acquaintance1 and he  was 
silent 7as was his wont when sorrow fell
 upon him71 musing and  meditating1 and1
 as it seemed to me1 praying2 even as   
one striving to  unloose the knot of    
some hard saying or riddle4 ,for the    
unbelief of his  kinsfolk had filled him
 with astonishment4 ,while he thus      
mused1 we  conversed together1 and      
,judas said that it was an error to have
 come to  ,nazareth4 8,for who knoweth  
not10 said he1 8that a prophet hath no  
honour  in his own country8 ,for a      
prophet known is a prophet despised40   
,but ,john the son of ,zebedee replied  
that it was a strange thing that the    
acquaintance and kinsfolk of ,jesus     
should suppose that they knew the mind  
and spirit of ,jesus because they knew  
his outward shape and mien and  manner  
of speech3 8,for his mind and spirit    
pass knowledge2 and the more a  man     
knoweth thereof1 the more a man must    
needs wonder thereat40 ,so spake  ,john2
 but ,judas jested at him1 and said that

 ,john spake as a babe and as a  simple 
clown1 knowing nothing of the world4    
8,yet10 added he1 looking up at  ,jesus1
 8it is strange methinks that even our  
,master should also wonder at  that     
which is in no way wonderful40 ,then    
,john rebuked him and said1  8,knowest  
thou not the saying of our ,master1     
#8,they that wonder shall reign1  and   
they that reign shall rest8' ,wherefore 
who knoweth whether it may not  be that 
even our ,master day by day learneth    
some new revelation from ,god  whereat  
to wonder8 ,for whoso increaseth not    
diminisheth40    ,when ,i heard these   
words ,i looked at ,jesus1 and behold1  
it was even as  ,john said4 ,for the    
sorrow that rested upon his countenance 
because of the  unbelief of his kinsfolk
 seemed to be passing away1 and to be   
revealing  beneath it an exceeding joy1 
as of one learning some hidden mystery1 
or  hearing some glad tidings4 ,and     
there came into my mind the words of    
,barabbas 7which were contrary to the   

words of ,john71 how he said that       
,jesus did everything with forethought2 
and behold1 both the words of ,john     
seemed true and also the words of       
,barabbas2 but the words of ,john seemed
  the truer4 ,for though ,jesus did     
naught in haste nor in fear nor         
perturbation2 yet was he not like unto  
one that seeth all things to come1      
great and small alike1 marked out for   
him as in a chart1 nor like unto him    
which trusteth in the strength of his   
own unchangeable will4 ,nay rather1     
even as a little child hangeth upon the 
bosom of his mother and hath no  will of
 his own1 even so did ,jesus continually
 look upon earth and heaven  and on the 
deeds and words of men2 and1 look where 
he might1 he discerned  in all things   
some new knowledge1 some revelation     
concerning the will of  the ,father in  
heaven2 insomuch that no day passed1 yea
 no hour of the day1  but ,jesus in this
 wise held communion with his ,father4  
,by this time ,jesus was arisen from his

 seat1 and we ceased conversing         
together when he drew nigh4 ,but ,judas1
 desirous to say somewhat 7so as to     
hide what he had been saying71 pointed  
down to the white houses of  ,nazareth  
and to the fields and orchards which    
compass the city round in  the bottom of
 the valley2 and he said to ,jesus that 
the place was  exceeding beautiful1 like
 unto a handful of pearls in a goblet of
 emerald4  ,but ,jesus looked narrowly  
at ,judas for an instant1 and then down 
at  ,nazareth1 and then at ,judas again2
 and the sounds of the bleating of the  
goats and the piping of the shepherds   
came up to our ears1 and the  laughter  
of the children as they sported round   
the well4 ,when ,jesus heard  these     
things1 he sighed1 and cast his eyes    
down again on ,nazareth1 even on  the   
place of his nativity2 and he looked at 
it for a long while very  lovingly4     
,then he turned away his head and       
departed1 and he saw it no  more4       
,,chapter ,,xvi      ,now so it was     

that1 at this time1 the more the hearts 
of the people were  drawn toward ,jesus 
7for though the people of ,nazareth had 
rejected him1  yet was he much honoured 
in the rest of ,galilee71 so much the   
more did  ,jesus seem to thrust them    
away4 ,for he began to teach us at this 
time that  he should give us no new law1
 but a certain manna or bread from      
heaven4  ,now if he had said no more    
than this1 this was not hard to         
understand2 for  our ,scribes also      
taught in parables after this fashion3  
but he added that  this manna or bread  
from heaven should be himself1 his flesh
 and his  blood1 which should be given  
for the life of the world4 ,now albeit  
,i have  myself heard the ,scribes speak
 of 8the days when ,israel shall eat the
  ,messiah107#h7 meaning that ,israel   
shall enjoy the presence of the         
,messiah1  yet ,jesus seemed to mean    
somewhat more than this1 insomuch that  
his words  were a stumblingblock unto   
many4 ,and straightway many of them     

departed  from him4    ,but when ,i went
 7according to my wont7 to question     
,nathanael touching  these words1 he    
replied that they were hidden from him  
also4  ,notwithstanding it seemed to him
 that at this time our ,master was      
receiving some new revelation1 whereof  
these words might peradventure be a     
part4 ,for he said that on the day      
before1 when ,i had been absent1 mention
  had been made of the coming ,passover1
 and how ,jesus would not be present    
thereat2 and from mentioning the        
sacrifice of the ,passover they came to 
speak of other sacrifices2 and one said 
that ,jesus had come to take away       
sacrifice1 for that he had said that    
,god desired mercy1 and not sacrifice1  
and that the right sacrifice was that   
the whole nation should serve the  ,lord
 and do ,his will4 ,then another1       
quoting the ,scripture1 said1 8,nay1 but
  the people may perchance stand in the 
place of the fuel and the fire3 but     
where is the lamb for the               

burntoffering80 ,then answered another  
from the  same ,scripture1 and said1    
8,god will provide himself a lamb for   
the burnt  offering40 ,and at these     
words1 said ,john1 8the countenance of  
,jesus  changed as if he had heard some 
new word from ,god40 ,hereat ,i         
marvelled  greatly1 and wondered what   
new thing the ,lord was preparing for us
 and for  our ,master4 ,and the words of
 ,judas came to my mind that1 because   
,john the  son of ,zachariah had been   
slain1 therefore ,jesus had begun to    
imagine that  he also must needs be     
slain4 ,but it was but for an instant2  
for ,i durst  not so much as entertain  
the thought of so great an evil4        
,but1 as ,i now judge1 the ,lord ,jesus 
began at this time to see clearly that  
he must needs die for ,israel1 even as  
,john the son of ,zachariah had died1   
and that he must needs rise again       
7according to the ,prophets72 even as   
the  common people spake1 saying that   
,john the ,baptist was at this very time

  risen from the dead4 ,for he perceived
 that the needs of the world1 that is   
to say the will of the ,father1 required
 that he should rise again from the     
dead4 ,moreover as ,john the son of     
,zachariah had gained strength through  
death1 so that all men still loved and  
honoured ,john1 and were more ready  to 
die for him dead than living2 even so   
,jesus perceived that he also  should   
have more strength to help us after his 
death than before his  death4 ,but      
touching the manner of his rising again1
 and the time of it1  and whether he    
should appear in his own shape 7as he   
did indeed71 or in  some other shape 7as
 did ,elias in the shape of ,john the   
,baptist71  concerning all this1 what   
was revealed unto him ,i know not2 the  
,lord only  knoweth4 ,but that he should
 of a certainty rise again from the     
dead1 this  was without doubt revealed  
unto him2 and1 as ,i conceive1 about    
this time4    ,for this cause1 because  
he perceived that by the giving of his  

body and  blood to die for men1 his     
spirit would pass into his disciples    
7even as  the spirit of ,john the son of
 ,zachariah had passed into the         
disciples of  ,john71 for this cause1 ,i
 say1 he spake at this time 7as he did  
also  afterwards71 saying that he would 
give himself to be the food of men1 even
  the ,bread of ,life4 ,for his spirit  
was a spirit of sonship to ,god1 and of 
brotherhood to men2 and except the world
 should receive this spirit into        
itself1 the world could not be          
quickened1 and the nations of the earth 
could not pass into the family or       
kingdom of ,god4    ,from this time also
 he began to be very careful1 even to   
disquietude1  concerning us his         
disciples1 what should be our estate    
when he should have  departed from us2  
and he desired to impart to us this     
,bread of ,life that  we also in turn   
might impart it to the multitude4       
,moreover he would fain  exercise us    
already in imparting this ,bread of     

,life1 yea1 before he had  passed away2 
to the end that1 by beginning in his    
presence1 we might learn  by degrees to 
be steadfast in the ministering of the  
,bread even though he  were absent from 
us4 ,and for this he found occasion not 
many days  afterwards4 ,for about the   
tenth day before the ,passover1 ,jesus  
being still  on the other side of the   
lake 7but ,i had been sent with ,judas  
on an errand  to ,capernaum71 it came to
 pass that much people resorted to him2 
some from  ,capernaum1 and others from  
the parts round about the village       
wherein he  had lodged4 ,for1 because of
 the ,passover1 which was at hand1 many 
were  going up to ,jerusalem4 ,also of  
the ,galileans some came2 howbeit not   
,james  nor ,barabbas1 nor any of them  
which had most authority with the       
,galileans4  ,now ,jesus himself        
ministered unto certain of them the     
,bread of ,life1 and  forgave sins1 and 
healed the sick4 ,but afterwards1       
because of the  multitude of them which 

came unto him 7for they were more than  
five  thousand7 he caused the disciples 
to divide them into companies and to    
minister the ,bread unto the people4 ,so
 they ministered as ,jesus bade them1   
and the grace of the ,lord was with     
them2 insomuch that ,thomas 7who had    
been at the first loth to minister the  
,bread1 as not being worthy7 came       
afterwards to ,jesus saying1 8,of a     
truth the crumbs of thy ,banquet which  
are fallen from the table of the guests 
do suffice unto them that  minister3 for
 the ,lord hath increased the ,bread of 
,life within us40 ,so  mightily did the 
,bread of our ,master increase in the   
hands of the ,twelve4  ,and ,matthew    
said that ,jesus had not only spread a  
table in the wilderness  for the hungry1
 but that he had also fulfilled his     
saying1 8,give and it  shall be given   
unto you4 ,for10 said he1 8behold1 to   
each of the disciples  there cometh back
 his basketful of the fragments of the  
,feast40 ,and the  like happened on     

another occasion1 when they ministered  
the ,bread unto  another very great     
multitude about four thousand in number4
    ,all this ,i heard when ,i returned 
with ,judas from ,capernaum1 bringing   
word  that the ,thracians had left the  
town4 ,so we returned to ,capernaum1 and
  there we kept the ,passover2 for      
,jesus would not go up to ,jerusalem to 
keep  it1 though we were very desirous  
that he should go up2 but he said that  
his hour had not yet come4 ,but scarcely
 had we been in ,capernaum five or  six 
days1 and the ,feast of the ,passover   
was still not ended1 when we fled  7upon
 some new rumour of danger7 from        
,capernaum again to the eastern side  of
 the lake4 ,now while we were rowing    
across1 some of us murmured 7though  not
 so loud methought that ,jesus could    
hear7 concerning our many flights  and  
wanderings1 and we wondered why our     
,master would not suffer the common     
people to make him king4    ,in the     
midst of our disputing ,jesus called    

unto us from the hinder part of  the    
boat and said1 8,beware of the leaven of
 the ,pharisees and of the  leaven of   
the ,sadducees40 ,then we looked one at 
another1 for we felt that  we were      
guilty2 for in the haste of our         
embarking1 because we had come on  board
 before it was well dawn 7for fear of   
the arrival of the ,thracians1  which   
was reported to us7 we had forgotten to 
bring with us any unleavened  bread2 and
 the feast of the ,passover wanted yet  
two days before it should  have an end1 
and behold1 we were going to a ,gentile 
country where our  customs were not     
regarded1 so that we could not easily   
obtain such bread  as was needful4      
,therefore we confessed to ,jesus1 and  
said that indeed we  were verily guilty 
of sore neglect4    ,but when ,jesus    
heard our words1 he rebuked us for our  
want of  understanding2 and he asked us 
whether we did not remember how the     
disciples had ministered the ,bread of  
,life to the four thousand and to the   

five thousand2 and he made mention of   
the saying of ,thomas1 one of the       
,twelve1 how the bread had been         
multiplied in the hands of the ,twelve1 
and  also of the saying of ,matthew the 
son of ,levi1 how the fragments of the  
,feast had returned to them that        
ministered1 and had satisfied them4 ,so 
we  perceived that he spake not of the  
leaven that leaveneth bread of corn1    
but of the leaven which leaveneth and   
corrupteth the bread of the soul4       
,yet forasmuch as the ,pharisees agree  
not with the ,sadducees 7neither do     
they teach the same doctrine1 nor       
observe the same customs7 ,i could not  
understand what this 8leaven of the     
,pharisees and ,sadducees0 might be4    
,but  when ,i asked ,nathanael thereof1 
he said that perchance ,jesus desired to
  warn us lest we should be led away in 
our hearts by the desire of this  world1
 and by the haste to be prosperous4     
8,for10 said ,nathanael1 8the           
,sadducees love place and wealth and    

ease1 and the ,pharisees love power     
with the people1 and the salutations of 
the rich1 and the respect of the  poor1 
and the name and reputation for piety2  
and these sects do both go  straight    
towards their several ends4 ,but1 though
 several in appearance1  their ends are 
really the same4 ,for both the          
,pharisees and ,sadducees serve         
themselves1 and live for their own      
pleasure4 ,and methinks our ,master     
feareth lest we too in the same way may 
follow him not out of love and out  of  
faithfulness1 but from a desire to be   
prosperous40    8,but are we not10 asked
 ,i1 8to be prosperous in the end80     
8,yes1 assuredly  in the end10 replied  
,nathanael2 8but the end may perchance  
be somewhat  farther off than we        
suppose1 and our course may perchance be
 somewhat  slow4 ,for in all works there
 are two courses1 the course of men and 
the  course of ,god4 ,now men work      
visibly and speedily1 and with much stir
 and  noise2 but the ,father in ,heaven 

worketh for the most part invisibly and 
slowly1 and very gently4 ,now it may be 
that the slow ways are best4 ,but in    
any case ,i begin to perceive that our  
,master loveth the slow ways best1      
according to his saying that the        
,kingdom of ,heaven is like unto the    
wheat1  which is sown and watered and   
resteth long unseen in the earth1 and   
springeth up at last and by degrees1 and
 putteth forth1 first the blade1  and   
then the ear and then the full corn2 and
 all this by slow ways1  quietly and    
gently1 while the husbandman riseth and 
sleepeth and goeth in  and out1 and     
taketh no heed how great a work the     
gentle hand of the ,lord  is working    
around him40    ,thus spake ,nathanael1 
and ,i gave heed unto his words2 for he 
seemed day by  day to grow in the love  
and knowledge of our ,master1 and       
behold1 the  knowledge of ,jesus seemed 
to bestow upon him knowledge of all     
spiritual  things1 so that he was not   
like the same ,nathanael whom ,i had    

first known  now a year ago4 ,and the   
other disciples also were greatly       
changed from  their former selves4 ,for 
we had now been a full year with the    
,lord ,jesus2  and it was the sixteenth 
year of ,tiberius ,csar4                
,,chapter ,,xvii      ,between the      
,feast of ,passover and the ,feast of   
,weeks ,i was not much with  ,jesus2 for
 when ,i perceived that ,jesus was in no
 instant peril1 ,i returned  to         
,sepphoris for a while1 partly by reason
 of my mother's health1 and  partly to  
gather in the harvest4 ,and during this 
time1 when it was  perceived that ,jesus
 went not up to the ,passover1 neither  
made any levy of  the people as had been
 expected1 the ,pharisees for a while   
ceased to lay  snares for him3 and the  
common people1 though they murmured that
 he went  not up to ,jerusalem1         
nevertheless had him in honour4 ,but the
 harvest being  now over1 when ,i went  
back to meet ,jesus at ,capernaum1 ,i   
found there one  of mine acquaintance1 a

 merchant 7whom ,i had known at         
,alexandria in my  uncle's house71 a    
,greek learned in the knowledge of the  
,greeks4 ,this man  was not a proselyte2
 neither did he in any wise conform     
himself to the ,law  of ,moses4 ,but he 
spake of himself1 at that time1 as a    
seeker after truth2  for he did not join
 himself to any of the schools of the   
,gentile  philosophers1 but chose forth 
from each whatsoever seemed to him      
useful or  true4 ,he had read our       
,scriptures1 and was greatly given to   
the study of  our psalms and prophecies2
 and when he had heard me speak of      
,jesus of  ,nazareth as being our       
,messiah1 his heart was moved to hear   
,jesus preach  the gospel4 ,so it came  
to pass1 about the first or second      
,sabbath after  the ,feast of ,weeks1 he
 accompanied me into the synagogue where
 ,jesus was  to speak to the people4    
,but as ,i went1 ,i perceived ,abuyah   
the son of  ,elishah2 and with him were 
certain of the ,sadducees1 and some also

 of the  ,herodians4 ,and when ,i saw   
them1 ,i knew that they had come for no 
good  purpose4    ,and so it proved4    
,for when we were now assembled in the  
synagogue1 ,abuyah  came forward and    
said to ,jesus1 8,behold1 thou art a    
vessel very full of  knowledge1 and the 
people are come together at thy feet for
 to hear of  thee the words of wisdom1  
according as it is said1 #8,powder      
thyself in the  dust of the feet of the 
wise1 and drink their words with        
thirstiness4' ,now  therefore1 ,i pray  
thee1 suffer me to ask of thee touching 
a certain  matter40 ,and ,jesus said1   
8,ask40 ,and ,abuyah said1 8,is it      
lawful for a man  to put away his wife80
    ,now when ,abuyah spake these words1
 all the ,herodians and ,sadducees      
listened with greedy ears1 as though    
they would devour the words that fell   
from ,jesus1 if perchance he should say 
something against ,herod the  ,tetrarch4
 ,for ,herod had put away his own wife  
and had married ,herodias1  the wife of 

his brother ,herod ,philip1 which thing 
was not lawful for him  to do4 ,and it  
was for this cause that ,abuyah had     
asked the question4 ,for  the ,pharisees
 considered that in this way they would 
do one of two things2  either they would
 incense ,herod against ,jesus 7even as 
they had incensed  him against ,john the
 son of ,zachariah1 whose death they had
 procured71 or  else they would cause   
,jesus to appear unto the people a      
timeserver and a  prophet of smooth     
things1 a prophet not to be trusted4    
,but ,jesus knew their devices and said 
to ,abuyah1 8,what did ,moses command   
you80 ,and ,abuyah said1 8,moses        
suffered a man to write a bill of       
divorcement and to put his wife away40  
,but ,jesus answered and said1 8,for    
the hardness of your hearts he wrote you
 this precept4 ,but from the  beginning 
of the creation ,god made them male and 
female4 ,for this cause  shall a man    
leave his father and mother1 and cleave 
to his wife3 and they  twain shall be   

one flesh4 ,so then they are no more    
twain1 but one flesh4  ,what therefore  
,god hath joined together let not man   
put asunder40 ,by these  words we       
understood ,jesus both to find fault    
with them that allowed of  divorce for  
every slight cause 7as did certain of   
the ,pharisees72 and also  to disallow  
of divorce generally1 except 7as he     
afterwards said7 for  adultery2 which   
alone is1 of itself1 a divorce4 ,but it 
was quite after the  manner of ,jesus to
 found this doctrine not upon the ,law1 
but upon the  nature of things1 as it   
was created in the beginning2 teaching  
that woman  was not made as an          
afterthought1 nor as a mere pleasure to 
the man2 but  that mankind was made1    
from the first1 male and female4 ,and   
according to  this doctrine did ,jesus  
ever behave towards women1 showing unto 
them not  only gentleness and kindness1 
but also a singular reverence4    ,after
 these words ,jesus began to exhort the 
people3 and he taught them  that ,god   

requireth purity in the inner parts1    
namely1 in the soul1 saying1  ,not that 
which goeth into a man defileth a man1  
but that which cometh out  of a man1    
evil and impure thoughts and deeds1     
these1 he said1 defile a  man4 ,hereat  
many of the disciples were sore grieved 
that ,jesus should thus  openly1 as it  
seemed1 trample upon the ,law of ,moses2
 and from this time  certain ,essenes   
that had hitherto followed with us1 now 
altogether left  ,jesus4 ,and one of the
 younger ,scribes1 interrupting him1    
cried aloud1 8,he  that despiseth the   
washing of hands shall be rooted out40  
,but ,jesus went  on to say1 ,nay1 but  
every plant that the ,father in ,heaven 
had not planted1  should be rooted out2 
and as for the teaching of the          
,pharisees1 he likened  it to the tares1
 the end whereof is to be burned4 ,he   
also likened them and  their pupils to  
blind men leading other blind men2 who  
should all together  fall into the pit4 
,then he drew1 as it were1 a model of   

the ,new ,kingdom2 wherein1 he said1    
the only thing needful would be that a  
man should love ,god with all the       
heart1 and his neighbours as himself4   
,and when some one asked him who were  a
 man's neighbours1 he replied1 in       
parables1 that whosoever was sick1 or   
naked1 or anhungered1 or in pain or     
sorrow1 whosoever in fine was in need   
of aught1 that man 7yea1 even though he 
were a ,samaritan71 was neighbour  unto 
each citizen in the ,new ,kingdom2 and  
towards every neighbour the  citizens   
were to do whatsoever they would desire 
that their neighbours  should do unto   
them4    ,when the people were come     
forth out of the synagogue1 the ,greek  
merchant  walked by my side for a while 
in silence3 but ,abuyah1 who walked     
behind  us1 was plainly heard blaming   
,jesus as one that brake the ,law and   
taught  others to break it4 ,hearing    
these words1 the merchant nodded over   
his  shoulder1 and exclaimed1 8,yonder  
pedant1 who with his washings would     

purify the very sun1 is altogether void 
of understanding2 else would he         
perceive that the philosophy of thy     
,teacher mounteth up to something far   
higher than the pulling down of the laws
 of thy nation40 ,then he  questioned me
 touching ,jesus1 and of his former     
doctrine and manner of  life since he   
had begun to teach2 and ,i replied to   
all these things and  asked of him in   
turn what he might mean by his words    
about the philosophy  of ,jesus4 ,but he
 seemed rapt for the time in other      
thoughts1 and1 instead  of answering me1
 he questioned me further concerning the
 birth and rearing  and childhood of    
,jesus2 and in particular1 whether both 
his parents were  of ,israel1 or whether
 his mother were not a ,greek4 ,but     
after that ,i had  answered again to all
 his questioning1 when ,i perceived that
 he was still  musing on his own        
thoughts1 and took no heed of my words1 
,i waxed  impatient1 and repeated my    
question somewhat loudly4    ,then my   

friend made answer1 howbeit not in the  
way of a direct reply to my  question1  
but rather as still partly meditating   
with himself3 8,thou  describest a      
gracious1 a very gracious nature1       
ignorant of evil throughout  his youth1 
seeing ever in his mind's eye the ,isles
 of the ,blessed1 and  desiring that    
same blessedness for all mankind4 ,and  
lo1 whatsoever he  desireth that he     
seeth3 for he deceiveth himself1        
feigning that all things  are like unto 
that beautiful idea which he seeth in   
his mind40 ,but ,i said  to the         
merchant1 8,nay1 friend ,xanthias10 for 
that was the man's name1 8but  when     
,jesus spake of the ,pharisees1 did he  
then seem to thee ignorant of  evil80   
8,thou didst not give me time10 replied 
the merchant1 8to finish my  speech3 for
 ,i was about to say that1 as it seemeth
 to me1 thy teacher is  even now        
awakening to the evil that is in the    
world2 and1 becoming at last            
undeceived1 he seeth his fair phantasma 

vanishing away4 ,thus his gracious      
nature1 yielding to the over great      
pressure of the evil that surroundeth   
him1 is becoming marred and wounded4    
,alas for the pitiful change6 ,for      
behold1 his former life1 as thou        
describest it1 was like unto a deer     
sporting gladly in the woods1 to whom   
the flowers of the fields are as        
friends1 and the wind ever bringeth glad
 tidings4 ,but to what shall ,i  liken  
the latter end of his life8 ,it is like 
unto the same deer wounded by  the      
huntsman1 who passeth by the same way1  
and through the same woods2 but  she is 
glad no longer1 for the dart still      
cleaveth to her side1 and the  flowers  
delight her no longer1 and the breezes  
are messengers of evil40    ,i was      
grieved at his words1 and all the more  
because they agreed with  certain fears 
in the depth of my own heart1 whereof ,i
 had up to this time  made no mention   
even to ,nathanael1 no1 nor yet unto    
mine own self4 ,but ,i  was grieved also

 because the ,greek knew not the true   
nature of ,jesus4 ,for  he spake of him 
as of one gracious and lovable1 but he  
knew not the might  and the power of our
 ,master1 how he was like unto a rock   
immovable1  unchangeable2 even such     
another as the ,gentiles fable ,atlas to
 have been1  who bore up the world by   
the strength of his shoulders4 ,for ,i  
knew that1  if heaven and earth had set 
themselves in league against ,jesus1 to 
make  him do aught against the will of  
the ,father1 ,jesus would have stood up 
alone against earth and heaven1 and hell
 to boot4 ,moreover1 ,i had noted  how  
there still came forth from ,jesus a new
 strength to bear each new  burden1 and 
a new knowledge to discern each new     
,revelation from the  ,father1 yea1 and 
a new delight to delight therein4 ,for  
though it were true  indeed1 as the     
,greek had said1 that ,jesus had        
sometimes marvelled at evil  7when it   
befel him7 as though he had been        
ignorant thereof before1 yet was  it    

also true that he seemed to have become 
greater through the increase of  the    
knowledge of evil4 ,but ,xanthias knew  
naught of this4 ,for he was  deceived by
 the gentleness of ,jesus1 not          
perceiving that this same  gentleness of
 ,jesus was stronger than the strength  
of kings4 ,therefore was  ,i grieved at 
his words2 but ,i constrained myself and
 asked him yet again  what he might mean
 by saying that the philosophy of ,jesus
 mounted to  somewhat higher than the   
pulling down of the ,law4    ,then said 
the ,greek1 8,are there then in this    
country no slaves80 8,thou  knowest10 ,i
 replied1 8that there are slaves3       
howbeit1 not many1 nor ill  used1 nor   
treated like beasts1 as the ,gentiles   
treat them40 ,then said he  to me1 8,and
 wouldst thou willingly be a slave in   
this country80 ,i said1  8,nay40 8,and  
if thou wert a slave1 wouldst thou wish 
that thy master should  retain thee as a
 slave1 or should enfranchise thee80 ,i 
replied1 8,the  latter40 ,then said the 

,greek with a smile1 8,but if ye all    
became followers  of ,jesus of          
,nazareth1 would ye not perforce confess
 that all men were your  neighbours1    
yea1 even ,greeks and ,romans2 yea1 even
 ,samaritans2 yea1 even  your own       
slaves80 ,then was ,i silent3 for ,i    
understood now that his meaning  was1   
that the teaching of ,jesus would in the
 end bring to pass the  enfranchising of
 all slaves1 and ,i knew not what to    
reply4    ,but he1 still smiling1 said1 
8,i perceive that thou understandest my 
meaning4 ,for the teaching of thy       
,master aimeth at nothing less than the 
destroying of all manner of slavery4    
,but without slavery the race of man    
neither hath existed1 nor can exist1 as 
thou knowest very well4 ,for  without   
slaves no work could be performed except
 the tilling of the land1  which alone  
is fit for free men40 ,i said then to   
him that in ,israel there  was not the  
same disliking of handicrafts as among  
the ,greeks and ,romans4  ,but he said1 

8,dost thou suppose that thy ,master's  
philosophy concerneth  only thine own   
people80 8,yea1 of a surety10 said ,i2  
8our own people1 and  none else2 for he 
himself proclaimed the ,kingdom to no   
strangers40 ,he  replied1 8,that may be1
 for a time3 but is not the ,samaritan  
thy  neighbour80 ,then was ,i again     
silent4 ,for there came into my mind    
that  ancient prophecy which saith that 
in the seed of ,abraham1 that is to say 
in the ,messiah1 all the nations of the 
earth shall be blessed2 and ,i          
remembered how oft ,jesus had of late   
taught us that the ,samaritans were     
neighbours to the citizens in the       
,kingdom4 ,but ,i put the thought away  
from  me2 for the truth was at that time
 hid from our eyes3 neither could ,i at 
that time perceive how we could be      
redeemed or delivered1 if we were to    
treat the ,romans as neighbours4 ,but   
while ,i mused thereon1 ,xanthias       
continued his speech concerning ,jesus1 
and he said that ,jesus did wisely  in  

that he seemed to encourage marriage1   
and to prohibit many wives1 and  to     
forbid divorce4 8,for10 said he1 8herein
 ,i incline rather to ,aristotle  than  
to ,plato1 believing that the state is  
composed of families2 and if  the family
 be rotten1 the state cannot be sound4  
,but to hope to destroy  slavery is to  
hope to pull down the pillar whereon the
 life of all states  is based40    ,now 
was my heart hot within me2 and ,i was  
fain to speak1 and to say that  ,jesus  
would indeed pull down slavery in       
,israel1 and make our people to be  a   
nation of priests and princes for the   
world1 and would in the end  destroy    
even the ,evil ,nature of man4 ,but ,i  
abstained from speech2 for ,i  knew that
 my words would be foolishness in his   
ears1 and that he could not  understand 
the ,redemption unless he understood    
,jesus himself4 ,therefore ,i  made him 
some courteous answer and accompanied   
him toward the house where  he lay4     
,but he still continued his discourse of

 the philosophy of ,jesus 7as he  called
 it71 and he likened ,jesus unto the    
,greek ,teacher ,socrates1 in that      
neither ,socrates nor ,jesus would      
receive teaching upon mere authority1   
nor  because this saying or that precept
 chanced to have been written in books3 
but ,socrates trusted to a certain power
 of reason or dialectic1 and ,jesus  to 
a certain power which he called a       
,spirit3 the two being diverse in       
appearance1 but in truth following one  
and the same method4 ,thus ,xanthias    
continued his speech of ,jesus2 but as  
he bade me farewell near the  threshold1
 it came to pass that ,abuyah1 who had  
been walking behind us1  came near1     
still talking with his companions1 and  
saying in a loud voice  that ,jesus was 
as the bramble1 whereof ,jotham maketh  
mention in the  ,scriptures4            
8,wherefore10 said he1 8meet it is that 
we cut down this vile  thorntree1 lest  
there come forth fire from the bramble  
and consume the  olivetree1 and the fig1

 and all the fruitful trees of the      
forest40    ,when ,abuyah had passed by1
 the merchant said unto me1 8,truly ,i  
have heard  no philosopher whose        
lectures have so pleased me as the      
teaching of this  thy ,teacher2 and1    
though ,i esteem little of wonders1     
whereof we have  enough and to spare at 
,alexandria1 yet if even the half of    
that which thou  sayest touching the    
acts of thy ,jesus be true1 he will     
deserve worship  even better than       
sculapius or ,amphiaraus4 ,but as thou  
knowest1 my dear  friend1 ,i am one of  
them which doubt all things2 and ,i     
incline to the  belief that there are no
 gods1 or if there be1 that they deal   
not with  human matters4 ,and thereto ,i
 incline the more because ,i see all    
human  things full of misery and        
oppression4 ,and1 unless my fears       
deceive me1  this my belief will be     
confirmed by the fate of thine own      
,teacher4 ,for ,i  fear1 ,i greatly     
fear1 lest the friends of ,abuyah the   

,scribe may prevail  over the friends of
 ,jesus the philosopher of the ,new     
,kingdom and deliverer  of the slaves40 
,so saying he turned himself round to   
depart4 ,but ,i was scarce gone ten     
paces when he called me back1 and taking
 me by the hand very earnestly1 8,i     
pray thee10 said he1 8tell me by what   
name doth thy ,master call himself4 ,a  
prophet8 or a teacher8 ,or doth he say  
that he is your ,messiah8 or a  lawgiver
 like unto ,moses80 ,but ,i made answer 
that ,jesus called himself by  none of  
these names2 but1 for the most part1    
only 8,son of man40 ,hereat  ,xanthias  
marvelled and said1 8,but wherefore     
useth he this title8 ,for thou1  and ,i1
 and all men1 are not we all sons of    
men8 ,doth thy ,master therefore  fear  
lest his disciples may perchance forget 
that he is a man and deem him  to be a  
god8 ,for such a title as this1 albeit  
humble in appearance1  seemeth in verity
 too proud for any save such as aspire  
to be gods4 ,but  perchance your        

prophets have so used this title that it
 hath some strange  meaning1 whereof ,i 
know naught40 ,then ,i said that the    
word was indeed used  by the prophets3  
for whensoever the ,lord speaketh to    
,ezekiel as to a  mortal creature1 the  
,lord calleth him ,son of man1 as if to 
set the mortal  infirmities of the      
prophet over against the divine nature  
of the ,lord2 but  again the prophet    
,daniel saith that1 in the day of       
,judgment1 there shall  appear one like 
unto the ,son of man1 sitting on the    
clouds of heaven1 and  coming in glory  
to judge the nations of the earth3      
wherefore the title  seemed to signify  
the weak nature of man1 whether infirm  
or whether  exalted4 ,howbeit1 added ,i1
 before ,jesus1 no prophet spake thus of
 himself  as the ,son of man4    ,hereat
 ,xanthias marvelled the more1 saying   
that this was indeed a strange  title1  
and such as no philosopher had ever     
before taken upon himself4 ,then  he    
mused a while1 still holding me by the  

cloak1 and would have questioned  me    
farther2 but ,i could tell him no more4 
,so at the last he let me go1  shaking  
his head1 and saying that it was        
strange1 it was passing strange1  and   
that there was more in this than he     
could understand3 and as he turned      
himself to depart1 ,i heard him         
repeating again to himself that it was a
  proud title1 a very proud title1 and  
such as no wise and sober philosopher   
should take4 ,and thus he departed1     
meditating as he went1 and so rapt in   
his study that he forgot to bid me      
farewell4 ,but when he was departed1 so 
that ,i had leisure to think on his     
wonder and on the cause thereof2 then ,i
  also began to perceive that there was 
more than ,i had as yet understood1  in 
this title of the ,son of man4          
,,chapter ,,xviii      ,no evil followed
 on the words which ,jesus had spoken   
concerning divorce2  and we remained    
many days in peace1 even till the day of
 ,atonement1 which  falleth toward the  

beginning of the autumn in the month    
called ,tisri4 ,but  we had friends in  
,tiberias1 who were to send us word by  
day1 or signify to  us by lights during 
the night1 if perchance any plot were   
intended against  ,jesus4    ,now so it 
was that some of the ,galileans did not 
consent to ,james the son  of ,judas1   
and to ,barabbas in forsaking ,jesus1   
neither did they allow the  conduct of  
the ,pharisees2 but having gathered     
themselves together they  agreed that it
 was not fit that ,israel should so long
 halt between two  opinions2 but as it  
had been in the days of ,elias the      
prophet1 so should  it be now4 8,for10  
said the chief man among them1 8,elias  
gathered the  people together and the   
people promised to be on his side1 if he
 brought  down fire from heaven2 and he 
did so4 ,now perchance this ,jesus is   
even  ,elias2 for many so report of him1
 and even the ,scribes say that ,elias  
must  come1 and some say that ,elias    
hath come oftentimes before now4 ,but   

whether  he be ,elias or no1 doubtless1 
if he be a true prophet1 he can work the
  sign of ,elias4 ,for a false prophet  
can work signs on the earth and in the  
air1 and in the deep2 but a sign in     
heaven or from heaven he cannot work4   
,therefore meet it is that the          
,pharisees1 instead of setting snares   
for  ,jesus1 should promise to obey him 
if he will work a sign in heaven in     
their presence4 ,my counsel is therefore
 that we ask ,jesus to work a sign  in  
heaven2 and if he consent1 then that we 
obey him1 even though all the           
,pharisees speak against him1 yea1 and  
though he bid us hold out our  throats  
to be cut by the ,romans40    ,thus     
spake the ,galileans at their council1  
not many days after the  discourse of   
,jesus concerning divorce4 ,and the     
counsel of the ,galileans  was reported 
unto the ,scribes4 ,but when ,abuyah the
 son of ,elishah heard  it1 he said that
 this was according to the ,scripture   
and the ,traditions1  and that it should

 be so4 ,but ,eliezer the son of ,arak  
said that it should  not be so2 for that
 it was in no wise certain that a       
magician could not  work a sign in      
heaven1 or at the least1 a sign that    
should appear to be in  heaven4 ,but if 
he could1 said ,abuyah1 then1 though the
 sign should not  really be in heaven1  
yet if it appeared to be therein1 all   
the foolish  rabble1 even the people of 
the land1 would be drawn after ,jesus1  
and the  ,pharisees also would be       
obliged to submit to him4 8,for10 added 
he1 8,i have  heard of magicians which  
can make statues walk1 and can knead    
loaves of  stones2 and of others that   
can become serpents1 and transform      
themselves  into goats1 and can open    
locked gates1 and can melt iron in a    
moment of  time2 but if they can do     
things so wonderful1 think ye they      
cannot  likewise perform signs which    
shall appear to be signs in heaven80    
,others also protested to the same      
effect1 and one said that he had been   

present when a certain magician had been
 smitten right through his body  with   
the sword1 but behold1 the sword had    
passed through him as through  smoke1   
and he had taken no hurt2 and another   
said that he had seen an  enchanter at a
 banquet create all manner of images1   
and cause dishes to be  borne of        
themselves to wait upon the guests1 no  
bearers being seen4 ,at the  last       
,abuyah himself confessed that he also  
had once seen a certain  magician roll  
himself on the fire1 and yet not burned2
 and the same man  also to fly in the   
air4 8,wherefore10 said he1 8true it is1
 as ,eliezer  saith1 that one flying    
high enough in the air1 might seem to   
fly down from  heaven1 and so to perform
 some sign in heaven2 and thus might he 
lead away  the common people1 which know
 not the ,law40 ,all this ,i heard from 
a  certain ,scribe1 a friend of         
,jonathan the son of ,ezra2 his name was
 ,eleazar  the son of ,azariah1 and he  
was present at the meeting of the       

,scribes4    ,the same ,eleazar also    
told me that whilst the ,scribes were   
yet debating  what they should do1 a    
message was brought1 as from one that   
had spoken  with the chosen disciples of
 ,jesus1 saying that ,jesus would       
certainly not  work a sign in heaven2   
for that he had refused to do this1     
though he had  been besought by his     
disciples4 ,when they heard this1 they  
rejoiced  greatly2 and ,eliezer the son 
of ,arak rose up and straightway gave   
his  judgment that they should now      
change their policy4 8,for10 said he1   
8the  ,lord having revealed this new    
thing unto us1 meet it is that we change
 our  path accordingly1 neither harden  
our faces against the will of ,god4     
,wherefore my judgment now is1 that we  
ask this ,jesus to work a sign in       
heaven before the face of the whole     
congregation in the synagogue4 ,for     
when it shall be perceived that he      
cannot work a sign in heaven1 all men   
will go from him2 for they will know    

that he is a false prophet40 ,and       
thereto the rest agreed1 and it was so  
resolved4 ,but ,i knew not thereof  till
 many days after4    ,it was the intent 
of the ,scribes to have asked ,jesus to 
work a sign in  heaven on the next      
,sabbath2 but in the meantime1 lights   
having been held  up by night in        
,tiberias 7on ,i know not what report or
 rumour of some  danger intended to     
,jesus by ,herod1 or some marching forth
 of the ,thracian  guard71 ,jesus gave  
command to pass over again unto the     
other side of the  lake4 ,we accompanied
 him1 albeit sorely against our will2   
for there seemed  to be no end unto     
these wanderings or flights2 and each   
new flight was  like to turn the hearts 
of the people more and more from ,jesus4
 ,moreover1  the manner of ,jesus at    
this time disquieted us1 and made some  
of us to  doubt4 ,not that he seemed to 
fear2 for fear had no part in him1      
neither  did he seem to know what fear  
meant4 ,but he appeared again 7as in    

former  days7 like unto one waiting for 
a message and marvelling somewhat that  
the  message came not4    ,during these 
days1 and these wanderings to and fro1  
the words of the  prophet ,jonah were   
often in his mouth1 and he seemed as if 
he discerned a  certain likeness between
 that prophet and himself2 but what it  
was we  understood not4 ,for sometimes  
he spake of ,nineveh1 and how ,jonah    
thought  only of his own people1 and had
 no compassion upon that great city of  
the  ,gentiles1 yea1 and fought against 
the voice of the ,lord1 who bade him go 
prophesy unto them2 and how he wandered 
hither and thither1 if perchance  he    
could flee from the voice of the ,lord4 
,but at other times he spake how  ,jonah
 cried unto the ,lord even from the     
belly of hell1 and how the ,lord        
inclined ,his ear unto him1 and heard   
him1 and raised him up to prophesy  unto
 the ,gentiles2 and he quoted oftentimes
 the words of the prayer of the         
prophet1 8,i went down to the bottoms of

 the mountains2 the earth with her  bars
 was about me for ever2 yet hast thou   
brought up my life from  corruption1 ,o 
,lord my ,god40 ,likewise he made       
mention of some sign of  ,jonah1 which  
he said should be manifested to this    
generation2 but whether  he meant that  
he should be sent far away unto the     
,gentiles1 or that he  should be cast   
into the depths1 and delivered again1 as
 ,jonah was1 this we  understood not1   
and the saying was hidden from us4      
,now it came to pass1 when we had       
journeyed now many days on the other    
side  of the lake1 we came nigh to the  
mountain of ,hermon4 ,snows cover the   
top  of this mountain both summer and   
winter2 and when the sun in his strength
  shineth on the snows thereof1 it is as
 though the glory of the ,lord had  come
 down from heaven4 ,towards this        
mountain ,jesus had set his face as     
though he had an errand thither from the
 ,lord2 and as we journeyed towards  it1
 he gazed often thereon and rejoiced    

greatly4 ,but it came to pass1 as  we   
now drew nigh unto the mountain1 we     
journeyed through a certain village  of 
the country2 and because we were in     
haste and ,jesus desired that none      
should know him1 we were to have passed 
quickly through the village before      
dawn4 ,for the fame of ,jesus1 how he   
could cast out unclean spirits1 was     
spread abroad even in that country4 ,but
 as we passed through the village1  we  
heard sounds as of one calling after us3
 and some thought they heard  shrieks4  
,howbeit we turned not back1 but        
journeyed forward the more  quickly4    
,now a certain woman in this village 7a 
worshipper of idols1 after the  manner  
of the people of that land7 had a       
daughter possessed with an  unclean     
spirit1 which1 whensoever it took her1  
drove her to all manner of  wickedness1 
even to the attempting of her mother's  
life4 ,so the woman had  resolved in her
 own mind that when ,jesus passed by    
7for he must needs come  through that   

village71 she would beseech ,jesus to   
heal her daughter1 and  she had told her
 daughter of her purpose1 and likewise  
all her friends and  acquaintance2 and  
she had been advised of the approach of 
,jesus and was  watching for us4        
,therefore seeing us pass quickly       
through her village1 she  adventured to 
bring out her daughter unto ,jesus3 but 
her daughter would  not come4 ,for even 
then1 at the hearing of the name of     
,jesus1 the devil  took her1 and she    
shrieked aloud and strove against her   
mother1 and would  have slain her3 but  
her mother ran forth from the house and 
followed  ,jesus1 calling and crying    
aloud and piteously lamenting4    ,now  
to us it seemed a strange thing and an  
unseemly1 that a prophet of  ,israel    
should thus be beset and importuned by  
an heathen woman4 ,so we  expected that 
,jesus should have at once sent the     
woman away4 ,but ,jesus  uttered never a
 word1 nor so much as turned his face   
towards her1 but  journeyed steadfastly 

forward4 ,and even as one running a race
 towards a  goal settleth his soul upon 
the prize that is before him1 even so   
seemed  ,jesus to settle his soul upon  
the snows of the mountain of ,hermon3   
for  they shone in the light of the     
rising sun1 like unto a dove sent from  
,god1  whose breastfeathers are as      
silver1 and whose wings like unto fine  
gold4  ,but the woman ceased not from   
her following and lamenting1 and poured 
forth before ,jesus all the story of her
 troubles4    ,at last we adventured to 
accost ,jesus1 and we besought him to   
send her  away4 ,but he answered us1    
still not turning his face1 8,i am not  
sent but  unto the lost sheep of the    
house of ,israel40 ,yet as he spake1 he 
slackened  his going1 and spake1 as it  
were1 like unto one doubting somewhat1  
and  willing to have his words amended4 
,now came the woman in haste up to him1 
and threw herself before his feet and   
said1 8,lord1 help me40 ,then ,jesus    
stayed4 ,yet did he still keep his eyes 

fixed on that which he saw afar  off2   
and for a brief space he was silent2 but
 then he said1 as though he  were asking
 a question of his own soul1 8,it is not
 meet to take the  children's bread1 and
 to cast it unto the dogs80 ,but the    
woman answered1  8,truth1 ,o ,master1   
yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which    
fall from their  master's table40       
,when ,jesus heard these words he turned
 his face straightway from the glory  of
 the mountain and looked down on the    
woman2 and behold1 he rejoiced more     
because of that which he beheld nigh    
unto him1 than because of the glory     
that was afar off4 ,for the fashion of  
his countenance was changed so as ,i    
cannot describe it4 ,and immediately he 
stooped down1 and took the woman by  the
 hand and raised her up1 and said unto  
her1 8,o woman1 great is thy  faith2 be 
it unto thee even as thou wilt40    ,now
 when the woman ran back to her house1  
she found the child on a bed1           
struggling1 and scarce held of her      

friends2 who stood by1 weeping and      
supposing the child to be possessed1 not
 now with one devil but with many4      
,then she cried aloud for joy1 and told 
her acquaintance how that ,jesus had    
granted her prayer4 ,and straightway1   
when the devil heard this saying1  even 
at the mention of the name of ,jesus1 he
 tare the child1 and departed1  leaving 
her1 as it seemed1 lifeless4 ,but       
presently she rose up whole and  sound1 
being delivered from the devil2 nor was 
she ever again afflicted4  ,all this was
 done by the word of ,jesus spoken by   
the ,syrophnician woman2  for he was not
 present to heal the girl2 albeit 7as ,i
 gathered7 the girl  had before heard   
oftentimes of her mother that ,jesus was
 to come to heal  her1 and how great    
things he had done for others that were 
possessed4 ,but  when ,jesus had heard  
the words of the ,syrophnician woman1 he
 was no  longer minded to journey       
towards the north1 but went back into   
the village  where was the girl         

afflicted with the unclean spirit4 ,now 
the people would  fain have constrained 
him to tarry with them2 but he would    
not1 but set  his face southward again  
to go toward the ,sea of ,galilee4 ,for 
the faith of  the ,syrophnician had     
strangely moved him1 insomuch that he   
spake as if  the ,redemption were nearer
 than it had been before2 and1 as ,i    
judge1 he  desired to make one more     
proof of the ,pharisees1 whether they   
also would  not have faith in him4 ,and 
straightway he crossed over and came    
again to  ,capernaum4    ,as we rowed   
across the lake back to ,capernaum we   
rejoiced greatly2 for we  thought that  
the time was at hand when the ,galileans
 7for of the intent of  the ,pharisees  
we knew naught7 would ask ,jesus to work
 a sign in heaven1  and ,jesus would now
 grant their request4 ,but when ,jesus  
had done this1 we  trusted that the     
whole nation should have believed in    
him1 and that the  time should have come
 that he should redeem ,israel4 ,howbeit

 certain of the  disciples 7and more    
especially ,judas of ,kerioth7 took it  
ill that ,jesus  should have listened to
 the prayer of an heathen woman which   
was an  idolater4 ,for although ,esaias 
saith that the ,gentiles are to come to 
the  rising of the ,lord1 and that the  
,gentiles shall seek to the ,deliverer  
of  ,israel1 yet had it been always     
fixed and rooted in our hearts that the 
deliverance of the ,gentiles 7if it     
should come to pass at all7 must come   
by the uprising of the children of      
,israel1 who should be princes and      
kings1 conquering and triumphing over   
the nations of the earth4 ,and then  the
 ,gentiles were to seek to ,israel and  
to become proselytes1 entering  into the
 true fold4 ,and this belief ,jesus had 
confirmed in our hearts in  that he had 
bidden us to go not to the ,samaritans  
nor to the ,gentiles1 but  only to the  
lost sheep of the house of ,israel4     
,which saying ,jesus himself  now seemed
 to contradict1 having thus healed the  

,syrophnician maiden4 ,but  whether it  
had been revealed to our ,master1       
through the words of the  ,syrophnician1
 that the deliverance of the ,gentiles  
should come more  speedily than had been
 supposed1 and not by fetching a        
compass1 as it  were1 round all the     
borders of ,israel1 but by a more direct
 course1  concerning this ,i know       
nothing3 but ,quartus judgeth that it   
was so4                                 
,,chapter ,,xix      ,gorgias the son of
 ,philip exceeded the rest of us in his 
rejoicing at the  return of ,jesus1 and 
in the largeness of his expectation1    
saying that it  could not be that our   
,master1 when he adventured to work a   
sign1 would  suffer himself to be       
surpassed by any1 albeit the most       
cunning magicians4  8,now10 said he1 8,i
 have heard an ,alexandrine say that    
there are certain  magicians which1 in  
the middle of the marketplace1 in return
 for a few  obols1 will drive out demons
 and diseases1 and call up the souls of 

heroes1 and costly banquets1 tables1    
dishes1 and dainties1 all as though     
ready for a feast2 all which at the     
magician's wand shall vanish away4 ,if  
therefore a common magician can do such 
things for hire1 how much more can      
,jesus do greater things than these for 
the ,redemption of ,israel60 ,judas     
also spake after the same manner1 and he
 said that perchance it was well  done  
of ,jesus not to work a sign in heaven  
at first2 for had he worked the  sign   
too early1 it would have been counted   
cheap1 and would have been  despised4   
8,much wiser10 continued he1 8to hold   
the sign back till the  people crave for
 it1 and till the ,pharisees 7supposing 
forsooth that he  cannot do it7 venture 
to promise obedience to ,jesus on the   
condition that  he work a sign in       
heaven4 ,for thus shall they be taken in
 their own  snare40 ,only ,john was     
doubtful1 saying to ,judas1 8,hast thou 
then forgotten  how once in our presence
 our ,master said he should work no sign

 in  heaven80 ,but ,judas replied that  
our ,master had more than once changed  
his  course1 suiting it to the needs of 
the time2 8,and10 said he1 8when he     
shall once perceive that the ,redemption
 of ,sion dependeth upon the working  of
 a sign in heaven1 then1 trust me1 the  
sign will not long be wanting4  ,and so 
strongly am ,i assured thereof1 that it 
would even seem to me to be  a friendly 
deed to tell the ,pharisees how ,jesus  
hath said that he will  never work the  
sign1 and in this way to move them to   
ask ,jesus to work the  sign2 to the    
intent that they may dig a pit for      
,jesus and fall into it  themselves40   
,now this he spake jesting2 but 7as ,i  
afterwards learned7 ,judas had indeed   
moved the ,pharisees even1 as he said1  
to ask ,jesus to work a sign in  heaven4
 ,and ,judas it was that had sent to    
,eliezer that message whereof ,i  have  
before made mention4 ,but these things  
,judas did1 not because he  desired 7at 
that time7 to harm ,jesus1 but wishing  

to help him1 and  supposing that he     
should help him by forcing him to do    
that which1 of  himself1 ,jesus would   
not do4 ,howbeit of all these things we1
 at this  present1 knew nothing2 and we 
took the words of ,judas as if spoken in
  jest4 ,but ,john shook his head and   
made no answer4    ,it was in the       
winter1 in the month called ,chisleu1   
that we returned to  ,capernaum4 ,but it
 came to pass1 on the first ,sabbath day
 after that we had  returned1 we went   
into the synagogue after our custom1 and
 ,jesus taught  the people2 and the hand
 of the ,lord was present among them1   
and the  people were very attentive to  
hear him4 ,but when he had ended his    
words  there rose up ,abuyah the son of 
,elishah2 and he spake after the manner 
of  the ,galileans1 saying that it was  
not right that ,israel should be any    
more  divided against itself1 but that  
all should confess that ,jesus was the  
,anointed or ,christ1 if indeed he could
 shew that he was the ,christ4 8,but    

the proof10 said he1 8is1 as we all     
know1 the working of a sign in heaven4  
,for signs on earth and in the deep1    
false prophets can work2 but not in     
heaven4 ,now1 therefore1 this is the sum
 of the matter3 thou wouldst have  us1  
the ,scribes and teachers of ,israel1 to
 believe in thee and to follow  thee4   
,our answer is1 ,work a sign in heaven  
such as ,elias worked1 and  straightway 
we follow thee40    ,while ,abuyah was  
speaking his last words1 a hesitation   
and a gasping  overcame him1 so that he 
was almost speechless4 ,for he was      
abashed by the  aspect of ,jesus and by 
the stillness of the multitude4 ,and1 to
 say the  truth1 when ,abuyah spake     
those words1 8such as ,elias worked10 we
 held our  breath2 expecting when the   
fire of heaven should come down1 as in  
the days  of ,elias1 and should consume 
,abuyah1 and ,eliezer1 and all the      
enemies of  ,jesus2 or else we thought  
that the earth should have opened and   
swallowed  them up1 as the earth        

swallowed up ,korah and his fellows4    
,but when ,eliezer  had ended all his   
words1 and no gulf yawned nor fire came 
down from  heaven1 then indeed our      
hearts sank within us4 ,but ,abuyah and 
,eliezer  began to be of good cheer2 for
 they perceived that they had been well 
advised1 and that ,jesus would work no  
sign in heaven4    ,when ,jesus made    
answer to ,abuyah1 the people listened  
to him and were  silent2 but their      
hearts no longer inclined unto him as   
before4 ,for indeed  his words were not 
easy to understand4 ,but he bade the    
,pharisees note the  signs of the times1
 even as they noted the signs of the    
weather1 and  therein1 he said1 they    
should find proof enough4 ,moreover he  
spake those  same strange words which he
 had spoken before to us privately1 to  
wit1  that they should have no sign but 
the sign of the prophet ,jonah4 ,having 
said these words he departed from the   
synagogue2 and at sunset1 finding  that 
the hearts of all men were turned from  

him1 he gave command once  again to     
launch the boat and to pass over unto   
the other side4    ,never before were   
the minds of the disciples so troubled  
as now3 for we  had all been assured1 in
 the very depth of our hearts1 that     
,jesus had even  for this cause returned
 to ,capernaum1 because he purposed now 
at last to  work a sign in heaven4      
,neither could we in any way understand 
why he  should thus suffer the          
slanderers to triumph1 delaying so long 
the  ,redemption of ,sion4 ,judas       
especially inflamed our grief1 saying   
that all  was now lost1 and that one    
sign in heaven would have been better   
worth  than a thousand discourses about 
the ,kingdom of ,heaven4    ,but        
suddenly we were silent2 for we heard   
the voice of ,jesus speaking2 and  he   
told us that he had formerly been       
tempted in a like fashion1 even as  the 
,pharisee had tempted him2 for he had   
been led by the ,spirit into a          
wilderness1 and there in some vision the

 ,evil ,spirit had placed him upon  the 
battlements of the ,holy ,temple1       
bidding him cast himself down as a  sign
 unto the multitudes of them which were 
walking in the courts of the  ,temple2  
and the ,evil ,one had said unto him1   
8,if thou be the ,son of ,god1  cast    
thyself down3 for it is written1 ,he    
shall give ,his angels charge           
concerning thee2 and in their hands they
 shall bear thee up1 lest at any  time  
thou dash thy foot against a stone40    
,but ,jesus had made answer1  saying1   
8,it is written again1 ,thou shalt not  
tempt the ,lord thy ,god40 ,now         
therefore we all understood 7after a    
dark fashion1 and1 as it were1          
obliquely7 that ,jesus esteemed the     
temptation to perform a sign in heaven  
to be a temptation from ,satan4 ,but why
 he so esteemed it1 was hid from the    
most of us1 and we feared to ask him    
thereof4    ,when ,jesus lay down on the
 sleepingcushion1 ,i questioned         
,nathanael why  ,jesus would work no    

sign in heaven4 8,for10 said ,i1 8signs 
on earth and in  the bodies of men he   
daily worketh2 as but now1 when he      
raised up the  daughter of ,jairus 7all 
men supposing her to be dead73 and      
again1 at  another time1 albeit he      
neither said nor did aught1 a woman was 
healed1  though she did but touch him1  
and that too in a throng3 so powerful   
was  the mere garment of our ,master to 
work healing4 ,and when ,jesus perceived
  the woman 7discerning the pressure of 
her hand1 albeit in the midst of the    
throng71 then1 as thou rememberest1 he  
was neither wroth nor chid the  woman   
for thus1 as it were1 stealing a        
miracle2 but bade her go in peace1  and 
be healed of her disease4 ,wherefore    
then worketh he no sign in heaven8  ,did
 not ,moses and ,elias work signs in    
heaven8 ,yet our ,master is greater     
than they40 ,to these words ,nathanael  
made no answer for a while2 but at  last
 he said1 8,concerning ,moses and       
,elias1 and concerning what they did or 

did not1 ,i am not able to speak4 ,but  
as touching ,jesus of ,nazareth1 thus   
much ,i know1 that he lightly esteemeth 
all signs1 both in heaven and in  earth1
 except they reveal the mercifulness of 
,god4 ,for he teacheth that  heaven and 
earth shall pass away1 but his words    
shall remain for ever4 ,and  assuredly  
he seemeth to me to be greater than     
,moses and ,elias1 yea1 though  he      
should work no sign at all4 ,for he     
moveth upon the face of the earth  like 
unto the ,son of ,god1 and looketh upon 
all things that are1 as being  the      
servants of his ,father4 ,but seeing    
that they are the servants of his       
,father1 he loveth them2 yea1 he        
cherisheth even the flowers of the      
fields2  the sky also1 and the winds1   
and the waters seem to him as the       
ministers  of his ,father2 and the more 
he loveth the ,father1 the more he      
loveth his  ,father's servants2 neither 
will he check them nor chide them save  
according to his ,father's will1 but    

submitteth himself unto them even more  
willingly than others submit themselves4
 ,for this cause he endureth to be      
cold1 and anhungered1 and athirst1 and  
homeless2 neither doth he chide  the    
frost1 nor stamp on the ground to make  
the wheat spring up for him2  nor strike
 waters from the rock2 nor bid the      
stones come together at his  word for to
 build him an house40 8,but is not this 
patience10 asked ,i1 8the  condition of 
a slave80 8,yes1 truly is it10 replied  
,nathanael1 8but what  saith our        
,master8 ,he that is to be greatest     
among men must be as he that  is least2 
he that is to rule must be as he that   
ministereth2 he that is to  be king over
 all must be as the slave of all4 ,only 
it is needful that we  serve not        
unwillingly1 but willingly4 ,but whoso  
serveth the ,lord in all  things        
willingly1 he is no slave1 but a son4   
8,for this cause1 in part methinks1     
,jesus calleth himself the ,son of man2 
as if to shew that he is willingly      

subject to all the fleshly weaknesses   
wherewith the ,all,wise hath encompassed
 the souls of men to the end that  they 
may depend on ,him4 ,for he teacheth    
that he1 being the weakness of  man1    
shall be made strength and exalted to   
the very throne of ,god1 and we  with   
him2 so that we shall reign with ,god1  
and the ,kingdom of ,god shall  also be 
a ,kingdom of man1 according as it is   
said1 #8,what is man that thou  art     
mindful of him1 and the son of man that 
thou visitest him8 ,thou madest  him to 
have dominion over the works of thy     
hands3 thou hast put all things  in     
subjection under his feet4'0    8,yea1  
but10 said ,i1 8the ,psalmist speaketh  
only of the things of the  earth1 to    
wit1 the #8sheep and oxen and the beasts
 of the field1 the fowl  of the air1 and
 the fish of the sea1 and whatsoever    
passeth through the  paths of the       
seas4'0    ,but to this ,nathanael made 
answer1 8,in the ,kingdom of ,god the   
,son of man  shall be ,lord over all    

things in heaven and earth1 not on earth
 merely2  yea1 over death itself1 and   
over the ,evil ,nature in man4 ,for this
 cause1  even as an earnest of that     
which is to come1 our ,master checketh  
and  chideth diseases and devils in them
 which be possessed4 ,for our ,master   
hateth the devils and diseases even as  
he hateth the sins of men1  esteeming   
them as the work of ,satan1 and not as  
the work of his ,father4  ,but the      
course and appointed order of the world 
he esteemeth as the  vesture of ,god1   
whereof he would not disturb one single 
fold40    ,now herein ,nathanael spake  
truly4 ,for once only 7as ,i have heard7
 did  ,jesus so much as appear to       
adventure to alter the course of the    
world4 ,it  was on a winter evening1 and
 the disciples were on the lake2 but ,i 
was not  with them4 ,a great storm had  
suddenly come down on them 7as storms   
are  wont to come down from the         
mountains round about the lake7 and the 
boat  was now wellnigh filled with the  

waves and like to sink4 ,then the       
disciples lifted up their voices for    
fear1 and ran to ,jesus as he slept     
upon the cushion1 and besought him1     
saying1 8,master1 carest thou not that  
we perish80 ,then he arose in grief for 
them1 as it seemed1 that they  should1  
after so cowardly a fashion1 tremble    
before the winds2 and he  opened his    
mouth to rebuke them4 8,and all this    
while10 said ,matthew 7for  he was      
present71 8the winds yet raged1 and the 
waves beat in upon the  deck1 and in    
another instant1 methought1 we had been 
all dead men4 ,but  ,jesus1 noting this1
 turned himself from us toward the sea1 
and then 7as if  it were revealed to him
 that he1 being the safety of the world1
 could not  be wrecked by any turbulence
 of winds or waves1 and therefore that  
the  storm was to cease71 behold1 he    
stretched out his hands to the tempest1 
praying2 and straightway the storm      
seemed to abate a little2 and then1     
perceiving the will of the ,father1 he  

stood up like some great king or        
emperor1 and rebuked the storm1 bidding 
it be still2 and immediately there  was 
a great calm40    ,now on this only     
occasion did our ,master appear to      
change the course of  the world2 and    
methinks1 even here1 he did it only in  
appearance4 ,for he  spake as he was    
moved by the ,holy ,spirit1 it being    
revealed to him that  the storm must    
needs cease lest the fortunes of the    
world should be  shipwrecked1 if the    
,son of man should perish4 ,but if      
,xanthias findeth  fault with this      
story1 saying that on this only occasion
 our ,master spake  after the manner of 
a ,mnad1 and not worthily of himself1 to
 this ,i reply  that1 if ,jesus of      
,nazareth was the ,son of ,god 7as ,i   
doubt not71 then it  was fit that he    
should feel faith1 yea1 a singular faith
 in ,god his  ,father4 ,and if ,caius   
,csar1 the first ,emperor1 could be     
assured that he  was not to be drowned1 
saying to the boatmen that they must be 

of good  cheer because they carried     
,csar and his ,fortune2 how much more   
might the  true ,emperor of men be      
assured that the ,fortune of mankind    
should not be  shipwrecked1 yea1 and    
rather than this should come to pass1   
that the storm  must cease8 ,for this   
cause ,i incline not to the opinion of  
,xanthias2 who  saith that ,jesus       
rebuked not the storm1 but the          
disciples1 bidding them  not be fearful 
and of little faith4 ,and1 though ,i was
 not myself present1  yet was the matter
 reported to me afterwards by one that  
had heard the  relation thereof from    
,matthew the son of ,levi1 as ,i said   
above4    ,while ,i spake with          
,nathanael1 there came into my mind     
certain words of my  ,greek friend1 whom
 ,i had met at ,capernaum 7,i mean the  
,alexandrine  merchant71 how he had     
praised ,jesus in that he breathed a    
spirit of  soberness and peace1 so that1
 wheresover he might be1 he seemed happy
 and  at home2 and ,i told this to      

,nathanael4 ,but he said1 8,thy friend  
said well2  for to ,jesus the world is  
as a great instrument of music giving   
forth  sounds which we hear not1 but he 
both heareth and enjoyeth4 ,and well ,i 
remember how once1 in the presence of   
,jesus1 there arose a dispute between  a
 musician and another1 concerning the   
sense of hearing and the sense of       
sight2 and the other said1 jesting at   
the musician1 #8,to believe thee1 the   
sun should have a voice if it is to be  
perfect4' #8,nay1' said the musician1   
#8but the sun hath indeed a voice to    
those which have ears to hearken2 for   
when it riseth in the east1 it is not a 
large round shining shekel1 but it  is a
 minister of ,god and crieth with ten   
thousand times ten thousand  voices1    
,holy1 ,holy1 ,holy is the ,lord ,god   
,almighty4' ,and thereat ,jesus  smiled 
and said that it was even so1 and that  
in the time to come there  would dwell  
this power of sound not in the lights of
 heaven alone1 but  also in the earth1  

and all that therein is2 insomuch that  
the vinetwigs  and grapeclusters should 
have voices of their own and commune    
with the  children of men407#i7    ,by  
this time we had reached the coast1 and 
we went forth from the vessel1  and took
 our way to a little village lying in   
the road which leadeth unto  ,csarea    
,philippi4 ,and as ,nathanael had been  
sent on before the rest to  prepare     
lodging for us1 ,i could find no more   
occasion that day to converse  with him4
 ,but my mind was still beating on the  
dark saying of ,jesus  touching the     
temptation of ,satan1 and ,i still      
assayed to understand why  ,jesus would 
not work a sign in heaven3 for the words
 of ,nathanael had not  sufficed to make
 the matter clear unto me4    ,only     
concerning the sign in heaven1 thus much
 was revealed unto me1 that ,i  myself  
was not drawn unto ,jesus by his signs  
and wonders1 but by reason of  my love  
for him and trust in him2 and the same  
was true also of the other  disciples4  

,moreover ,jesus desired that men should
 be drawn unto him in  this way1 by love
 and trust1 and by feeling that he was  
needful to them1  and not by being      
astonished at signs and wonders4        
,further ,i questioned  myself and said1
 8,if ,jesus had caused the sun to stop 
still1 would ,abuyah  the son of        
,elishah1 and ,eliezer the son of ,arak1
 and the chief ruler of  the synagogue  
straightway have loved ,jesus and       
trusted in him1 as ,jesus  desireth his 
disciples to love and trust in him80    
,now ,i knew that they  might have      
obeyed him and followed him1 but they   
could not have loved him4  ,for ,jesus  
was light3 but they loved darkness4     
,wherefore ,jesus could not  redeem them
 nor deliver them1 even though he had   
worked a sign in heaven4  ,for he could 
not deliver them which loved him not2   
no1 not though he had  worked ten       
thousand signs in heaven4               
,,chapter ,,xx      ,as soon as day     
dawned on the morrow1 we left the       

village where we had lain  that night1  
and journeyed northward2 and ,jesus set 
his face once more  toward ,mount       
,hermon4 ,we were all very silent1 more 
than was our custom2  for we were       
downcast and dejected by reason of our  
often fleeing from  before the face of  
our enemies1 and because of the delay of
 the day of  ,redemption4 ,and though we
 still loved ,jesus and trusted him     
after a  manner1 yet we knew not what to
 think concerning the things that he had
  done of late4 ,as we journeyed1 ,jesus
 spake much concerning faith1 and how1  
without faith1 no one could truly       
believe in him4 ,from time to time he   
looked at us1 as we went by his side2   
and he seemed as if he were  measuring  
our thoughts by our faces1 and reckoning
 up the sum of our  strength3 and now he
 seemed desirous to speak1 and now to   
delay speaking2  watching over us as if 
some great burden were at hand1 and as  
though he  feared lest the burden should
 be more than we could bear4    ,but as 

concerning faith he said some things    
hard to understand2 to wit1  that if a  
man had not faith1 there should be taken
 from him even that  which he seemed to 
have2 and yet1 at the same time1 he said
 that no man  could have faith in him   
nor come to him unless he were drawn by 
the  ,father4 ,moreover he said that    
whoso had faith as a grain of           
mustardseed1  should be able to         
overthrow trees or mountains4 ,likewise 
he added that1 if  two or three would   
agree together touching anything that   
they would ask of  the ,father in       
heaven1 it should be done for them4     
,now as touching the overthrowing of    
mountains or destruction of trees1  some
 have supposed that ,jesus really       
wrought such wonders as these2 and ,i   
have heard that stories of this kind are
 currently reported in the ,church4     
,but ,jesus did never any such thing4   
,but in our language an 8uprooter of    
mountains0 was a name given to any      
,rabbi that had power by his words to   

remove great difficulties out of the    
path of the righteous1 and to make      
smooth the rough places in the ways of  
the ,law4 ,and after the like manner1   
as ,i suppose1 are to be interpreted the
 words of ,jesus touching the answer  to
 prayer4 ,for it entered not into his   
mind that his disciples should ask  for 
earthly things as their hearts' desire2 
but they were to ask for  heavenly      
things1 and earthly things should be    
added to them1 sufficient  for their    
needs4 ,howbeit ,quartus explaineth this
 saying somewhat  otherwise1 as ,i shall
 set forth further on4    ,as we        
journeyed1 ,jesus would not that any    
should know him3 and few took  heed of  
us2 for instead of a great multitude1   
none now went with him1 save  the       
,twelve1 and three or four others beside
 myself4 ,but passing by a  certain     
house wherein dwelt one of our          
countrymen 7though we were by this  time
 far beyond the bounds of ,galilee7     
,jesus entered in asking for water2  for

 the weather was exceeding sultry4 ,and 
so it was that in the house the  good   
folk were making ready to circumcise a  
child2 and 7after the manner  of the    
people in ,galilee7 an empty chair had  
been set for the prophet  ,elias1 as    
being the prophet of the covenant of    
circumcision4 ,but some one  of our     
company 7,judas of ,kerioth1 as ,i      
remember7 not knowing wherefore the     
chair was thus set1 asked the cause     
thereof4 ,so the good man of the house  
said that it was set for ,elias the     
prophet1 8who hath ofttimes appeared10  
said he1 8in the guise of a merchant1 to
 one or other of the ,scribes in  old   
times2 and1 three days before the       
,messiah come1 he needs must appear  for
 to anoint the ,messiah3 but ,i have    
heard it said of many1 these ten  days1 
that he hath appeared indeed as a       
prophet1 on the other side of the  lake1
 for to avenge the death of ,john the   
son of ,zachariah40    ,when he said    
these words1 we looked each at other but

 held our peace3 and  ,jesus1 after he  
had courteously thanked the man1 came   
forth and addressed  himself again to   
the journey2 but1 methought1 even more  
sadly and  sorrowfully than before4 ,but
 still his discourse 7as oft as he said 
anything7 was on faith2 and presently he
 began to say in a low voice a  certain 
psalm 7which was both at this time and  
during many days afterwards  upon his   
lips72 and in the psalm are these words1
 first of supplication  and then of     
praise3 8,deliver my soul from the      
sword1 my darling from the  power of the
 dog1 save me from the lion's mouth1    
thou hast heard me also  from among the 
horns of the unicorns4 ,i will declare  
thy ,name unto my  brethren2 in the     
midst of the congregation will ,i praise
 thee40 ,now when  he spake these words 
touching the 8congregation10 and also   
the following  words1 8my praise is of  
thee in the great congregation10 then so
 it was  that ,judas1 who had been      
scarce able1 these many days1 to        

restrain himself  because of his anger  
at the tarrying of ,jesus1 spake aloud  
and very  vehemently1 saying that1 but  
one or two months ago1 there was indeed 
a  congregation1 and a great            
congregation1 which also had been ready 
with one  consent to have risen up      
against the ,romans2 8but now10 said    
,judas1 8we be  scarce a score in all40 
,hereat ,jesus stayed1 and turned round 
and looked at ,judas1 methought1 to     
have rebuked him2 but when his eyes fell
 upon our 8little flock10 as he  was    
wont to call us at this time1 not a     
score in all 7for herein had ,judas     
spoken truly71 then it seemed as if his 
thoughts for us drove out the  thought  
of ,judas3 and he paused as if he would 
have questioned us3 8,do ye  also say as
 ,judas saith80 ,but then he turned     
again and went before us1  beckoning to 
us to follow a little behind2 and so he 
continued his  journey1 steadfastly     
looking toward the north1 where the     
,mount ,hermon rose  up before us all   

glorious to behold4 ,but so far as ,i   
could gather from  some words that ,i   
heard1 he still spake to himself        
concerning the  8congregation30 and once
 ,i thought ,i heard him praying for us 
with great  passion1 and beseeching ,god
 that he would bring us out of the      
horrible  pit1 out of the mire and clay1
 and set our feet upon the rock4        
,when ,i spake with one of the disciples
 concerning that which was to come1  and
 how the ,kingdom was to be established1
 now that all ,israel was against  us1  
he would fain have kept silence2 and    
when ,i urged him1 he said1 8,what  know
 ,i8 ,sometimes ,i am lifted up in my   
soul1 and ,i know and am sure that  the 
,kingdom shall come2 but at other times 
,i know not what to think1 nor  can ,i  
understand why ,jesus would work no sign
 in heaven4 ,but then again ,i  say unto
 myself that whether he be the ,redeemer
 of ,israel or no1 he is of  a surety   
the ,redeemer of my soul4 ,for in his   
presence ,i find life3 but to  be absent

 from him is death4 ,the sum is1 that ,i
 trust in him today1 for ,i  know not   
what else to do3 but as for the morrow  
and what it may bring  forth1 behold1   
all things are uncertain and unshapen in
 my mind40 ,the like  also said others  
of the disciples1 albeit not in such    
plain terms1 for  almost all spake      
unwillingly4 ,yet could ,i not but      
perceive that the most  part had been   
sorely shaken in their faith1 because   
,jesus had denied to  work a sign in    
heaven3 and it was even as ,jesus had   
warned us2 the leaven  of the ,pharisees
 and of the ,sadducees had entered into 
our souls4  ,wherefore1 although we all 
still called our ,master1 as before1 the
 ,christ  or ,anointed1 and the         
,redeemer1 or at the least1 the         
,prophet1 yet inwardly  we were wavering
 in our hearts2 and a breath would have 
moved us this way  or that way1 towards 
belief or towards unbelief4 ,for indeed 
we were being  driven down1 as it were1 
from our former faith1 whereby we had   

believed in  ,jesus as a worker of      
wonders or fulfiller of prophecy2 and we
 were falling  7as it seemed1 but in    
truth we were rising7 to another and a  
new belief in  ,jesus as a man1 full of 
tenderness1 and suffering1 and patience1
 and  withal of a goodness that could   
not be deceived nor disappointed2 and   
this  perchance was the very thing      
whereat ,jesus aimed1 to wit1 that we   
should  believe in him as the ,son of   
man1 conquering through weakness4 ,for  
our  former belief was as the mire or   
shifting sand1 because it could give no 
firm footing3 but our new belief in the 
,son of man was to be as the rock       
whereon we and all others were to stand 
immovable for ever4 ,but we1 at  this   
present1 being1 as it were1 still on the
 sand1 and not yet aware of  the ,rock1 
how nigh it was at hand1 we1 ,i say1    
knowing in our minds that we  wavered1  
were notwithstanding desirous to keep   
our wavering secret2  insomuch that we  
spake little on this matter one to      

another1 yea1 we would  scarce confess  
it each man to himself3 so greatly did  
we tremble at the  very thought of      
severing ourselves from ,jesus4 ,yet1   
for all our  dissembling1 ,jesus knew   
our thoughts2 even as though he had been
 seated in  our hearts4    ,by this time
 the aspect of the country shewed that  
we were leaving the  region of the lake4
 ,for the thickets of oleander1 which   
but yesterday we  had seen blossoming   
thickly with red blossoms1 were here1 in
 these  northern and higher parts1 still
 green and in bud4 ,now also the snows  
of  ,hermon seemed very nigh1 even over 
our heads2 and we were not far from the 
town called ,csarea ,philippi4 ,the     
grass was everywhere green under our    
feet as though the land knew not        
drought2 and trees of diverse foliage   
shaded us overhead2 and as we drew nigh 
to the town1 we heard the sound of  many
 rushing waters4    ,yet though all     
things shewed thus fair around us1 our  
hearts were sad1  yea1 all the sadder   

for the beauty of the place1 which      
seemed to rejoice  while we sorrowed4   
,jesus himself looked not now 7as he was
 wont to do7 on  the glories of the     
mountainous country1 but rather on our  
faces2 neither  did he take note of the 
cedars1 and the olives1 and the groves  
of oak  trees2 nor of the great plains  
of green grass2 nor even of the ,mount  
,hermon1 the top whereof1 all covered   
with snow1 waxed daily larger and yet   
larger as we journeyed still northward4 
,ever and anon he turned to us as  if he
 would have said some new thing to us2  
but as often1 he turned again1  as if   
still perceiving that the hour was not  
yet come4    ,we were now nigh to the   
outskirts of the town called ,csarea1   
even at the  place where the fountain of
 the ,jordan floweth forth2 and here    
,jesus bade  us sit down4 ,if we had had
 leisure to admire1 there was much cause
 for  admiration4 ,before us1 just above
 the spring1 was a cavern wherein the   
inhabitants worshipped a certain false  

god of the ,greeks1 which haunteth      
thickets and forests1 and he is called  
,pan3 whence also the town in former    
times had been called ,paneas4 ,higher  
up1 on the summit of the cliff1 stood  a
 temple of marble1 white and fair to    
look on1 built by ,herod in honour of   
,augustus ,csar4 ,below1 from the foot  
of the same rock1 there flowed forth1   
under cover of poplars and oleanders1   
many little rills of pure clear  water1 
which1 meeting together1 made a rushing 
stream1 the noise whereof  was          
exceedingly pleasant4 ,this stream it is
 which passeth through the lake  called 
,merom1 and1 flowing southward1 becometh
 our river of ,jordan4    ,but for all  
these sights we had at that time no     
leisure2 or if we noted  them1 they     
brought no delight to our eyes1 being   
unto us but as signs and  tokens that we
 were exiles4 ,our great river ,jordan1 
the river of ,joshua  and of ,gideon1 a 
river of mighty works and wonders of the
 ,lord1 how  exceeding small did it     

appear1 even as a mere rivulet1 in this 
land of the  ,gentiles where it first   
arose6 ,the cavern of ,pan also and the 
temple of  ,augustus filled us with sad 
thoughts1 to think how all the world was
  covered with the worship of false gods
 as with a net2 so that1 save in one    
little corner of ,syria1 the true ,god  
was not known4 ,the name of ,augustus   
also1 yea1 and the very names of the    
town whereon we looked1 ,paneas and     
,csarea ,philippi1 these all but spake  
aloud1 testifying unto us how great  was
 the power not only of the ,greek       
worship1 but also of the ,roman         
kingdom1 inasmuch as our own princes    
built these temples and towns1 and      
called them by the names our conquerors4
 ,wherefore it was not possible  that a 
son of ,israel1 fresh from ,galilee1    
should look on such sights as  these and
 not feel downcast4    ,jesus stood a   
while1 steadfastly beholding the temple2
 then he sat down  amid the rest of us4 
,our speech among ourselves had1 even   

before1 become  less and less while we  
waited for that which was to come from  
,jesus3 for  we had all perceived these 
many hours that he purposed to say unto 
us some  new and strange thing4 ,but    
now1 because we knew that the time was  
at hand1  none dared so much as to open 
his mouth2 and a deep silence and a     
great  fear fell on us2 and we saw the  
lips of ,jesus moving as if in prayer4  
,but  when ,jesus at last opened his    
mouth to speak1 he said nothing at first
  such as we had expected and dreaded4  
,for he neither rebuked us nor          
prophesied evil1 but only asked us      
touching himself 7calling himself by    
that familiar title whereof ,i have made
 mention above7 what the common  people 
considered him to be1 saying1 8,whom do 
men say that ,i the ,son of  man am80   
,straightway all the disciples began    
severally to make answer1  saying that  
most men in that region deemed him to be
 ,elias risen from the  dead2 but that  
others supposed him to be the prophet   

concerning whom ,moses  had prophesied1 
and others again called him one of the  
prophets4 ,these  several answers we    
made to ,jesus readily and promptly1 for
 our hearts were  lightened because we  
supposed that this was the question that
 he had had  so long in mind1 for which 
we had all been waiting4 ,but ,jesus1 as
 ,i noted1  listened to our speech as a 
mother listeneth to the prattle of her  
children4 ,for his lips still moved as  
if in prayer1 and his eyes were  fixed  
upon the temple on the rock before him2 
and his mind was not with us  nor with  
our words1 but with something that still
 was to come from the  depths of the    
future4    ,and lo1 while we were still 
reporting this and that1 touching the   
opinions  of the common people1 ,jesus  
turned himself round and set his eyes   
full  upon us who were sitting before   
him1 but most directly 7as it seemed to 
me7 upon ,peter1 who was face to face   
with him3 and he opened his mouth and   
said1 8,but whom say ye that ,i am80 ,as

 he spake these words1 he looked at  us 
for an instant as if he could read our  
inmost hearts1 and as if he knew  that  
we could not and would not deceive him4 
,then he turned from us again1  as      
though to leave us to our own thoughts1 
because he would not constrain  us nor  
draw forth from us any word that was not
 our own3 and so he  remained1 gazing   
steadfastly on the rock and waiting for 
our answer1 for  as long1 ,i suppose1 as
 one would take to count ten very       
slowly4    ,i have read in a certain    
story of enchantments how a prince was  
caused by  a magician to plunge his head
 into a vessel of water and to hold his 
breath1 and behold1 while he was holding
 his breath beneath the water1 he       
seemed to himself to have travelled long
 journeys and to have been  shipwrecked 
and to have had many other adventures1  
and to have married a  wife and reared  
up children1 and to have passed through 
a life of many  years even till he had  
reached old age1 and all this within the

 compass of  a single breath4 ,even so  
was it with us while ,jesus was waiting 
our  answer4 ,for we seemed in that     
moment to be summing up all our past    
life  and all the life that lay before  
us1 in order to answer this question of 
,jesus aright4 ,for we dared not lie to 
him nor flatter him2 yea1 rather we     
would have displeased him sooner than   
have flattered him4 ,such a  constraint 
lay upon us to speak the truth at all   
times in his presence2  and especially  
now4 ,but what the truth might be we    
knew not1 and searched  through all the 
past and groped in the future1 if       
perchance we might light  upon it4    ,a
 few ,sabbaths1 before1 we should have  
been very ready with an answer2 for     
then all men said that ,jesus was the   
,redeemer1 the ,christ2 and we had      
often said the same thing4 ,but now many
 stumblingblocks lay in our path4  ,the 
,scribes and the pious and the learned1 
all1 save a very few1 had  rejected     
,jesus4 ,the patriots had joined        

themselves to him for a long time1  but 
they too had cast him off2 yea1 and even
 the rest of the men of  ,galilee had   
been led away with them4 ,the poor1 as  
well as the rich1 were  now against us4 
,in fine1 none were now on our side     
except a few of the  lowest of the      
people1 sinners and taxgatherers and the
 like4 ,besides all  this1 ,john        
himself1 a prophet1 and one whom ,jesus 
had called the greatest  of the         
prophets1 even he seemed to have wavered
 in his faith in ,jesus2 and  when he   
had besought help in prison1 ,jesus had 
helped him not4 ,yea1 and  ,jesus       
himself of late seemed to have cast off 
faith in himself4 ,for when  he had been
 challenged to work a sign in heaven1   
which seemed an easy  thing for a       
prophet to do1 he had refused to do it4 
,also1 he had fled from  the face of    
,herod and from the ,pharisees1 and     
seemed to have become a  wanderer rather
 than a deliverer4 ,else1 why were we1  
children of ,abraham  and inheritors of 

the ,land of ,promise1 sitting there    
like exiles1 looking  on the temples of 
false gods in a foreign land8 ,even in  
the words wherein  he had questioned us1
 ,jesus had spoken of himself as the    
,son of man4 ,might  it not be indeed   
that he was1 and knew that he was1      
naught more than one  of the common sons
 of man8 ,when had he called himself the
 ,redeemer8 ,never4    ,we seemed in    
that instant to have been brought by the
 hand of the ,lord  into a place where  
two roads met1 and we had to choose one 
of the two4 ,and  if we went by the one1
 behold we had against us not only ,rome
 and ,greece  and the whole inhabited   
world1 but also the princes of our own  
people1 and  the priests and the        
patriots1 and the traditions also of our
 forefathers  handed down through many  
hundreds of years1 and the ,law given   
unto us by  ,god for which many         
generations of our countrymen had fought
 and died2 yea1  even ,moses himself    
seemed to be as an adversary if we went 

by that road4  ,but on the other road no
 one stood against us2 only we saw not  
,jesus  there4 ,so the conclusion seemed
 to be that we had in that instant to   
choose between ,jesus and all the world4
    ,and1 as ,i judge1 even for this    
cause did the ,lord lead us into the    
wilderness together with our ,master in 
sorrow and in exile1 to the intent  that
 there1 being apart from the world1 we  
might weigh1 as it were in a  balance1  
on the one side all the world1 and on   
the other side the ,son of  man2 a man  
of sufferings and sorrows1 a man of     
wanderings and exiles1  acquainted with 
rejections and contempts2 and then that1
 having weighed  the two1 we might      
prefer the ,son of man1 because of a    
certain voice in our  hearts which cried
 within us1 8,whom have we in heaven but
 thee8 ,and there  is none on earth that
 we desire in comparison of thee40 ,and 
this1 as ,i  judge1 was the faith that  
,jesus desired of us3 and to this faith 
was the  ,lord leading our hearts1 while

 ,jesus was patiently waiting for our   
answer4  ,but though it needeth many    
words to show even a very little of the 
searchings of our hearts in that sore   
extremity1 yet the time thereof was     
short1 not more 7as ,i said before7 than
 while a man could count nine or  ten   
very slowly4    ,then ,peter rose up4   
,if it were possible to judge from their
 countenances1  some of the other       
disciples also were very nigh unto      
speaking2 for their  features were as it
 were in a flux1 dissolving in passion1 
and speech  seemed welling upward       
through them1 and the lips of ,john the 
son of  ,zebedee were trembling as if   
upon the brink of utterance4            
,notwithstanding  it was reserved for   
,simon ,peter to set forth in words and 
to shape by the  force of his soul the  
thoughts of ,john and all the rest4 ,he 
therefore rose  up and spake as ,i never
 heard man speak before1 neither think  
,i ever to  hear man speak again1       
saying1 8,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son

 of the living  ,god40    ,twice or     
thrice at least1 before this time1 ,i   
had heard words like unto  these2 when  
either the disciples or the multitude1  
marvelling at his  mighty works1 had    
hailed ,jesus as the ,son of ,god4 ,also
 many thousands of  times have ,i heard 
the like confession made in the         
accustomed worship of  the ,church4 ,but
 never till this day1 nor ever after1   
did ,i hear the words  uttered in the   
same way4 ,for there seemed to come     
forth from the mouth of  ,simon ,peter  
no mere airy syllables1 unsubstantial   
beatings of the wind1  but a certain    
solid truth1 able as it were to be seen 
and touched1 and not  to be destroyed by
 force of man4 ,what made the difference
 ,i know not3 nor  know ,i how to       
explain the difference1 except it came  
from ,jesus himself4  ,for indeed it    
seemed to me that power passed from     
,jesus into ,peter and  gave unto him a 
strength more than his own1 and not     
human4 ,yea1 again and  again1 pondering

 that saying of ,simon ,peter in my     
mind1 ,i have thought of  the words of  
,nathanael1 how he said that ,jesus gave
 a voice to all visible  things even    
though they be voiceless by nature2 and1
 in the same way1 it  might have been   
said also that ,jesus had power to give 
a kind of light to  sounds3 such        
brightness did he seem to cast upon the 
words of ,simon ,peter1  insomuch that  
the words1 though old1 seemed new1 yea  
quite new1 and never  heard before4 ,for
 the tongue and the voice seemed the    
tongue and the voice  of ,peter1 but the
 spirit and the light thereof seemed to 
proceed from  ,jesus2 so that one scarce
 knew whether it were truer to say that 
it was  ,jesus speaking through ,peter1 
or that it was ,peter speaking in the   
spirit  of ,jesus4    ,but when ,jesus  
heard the words of ,peter1 he turned and
 looked upon all the  disciples and upon
 ,peter1 and he rejoiced with an        
exceeding joy1 as if in  that utterance 
of faith the first seed had been sown   

which was to grow up  into the ,tree of 
,life2 or as if he had seen before his  
very eyes the  laying of the foundations
 of a great temple1 not like unto the   
marble  temple of ,augustus built upon  
the visible rock1 but a temple of human 
souls compacted together by no hands of 
man1 but by the ,spirit of ,god1 and    
destructible by no power in earth or    
hell4 ,howbeit he called it not         
,temple1 but rather 7using the word     
which our fathers had used in old days  
concerning ,israel7 ,congregation4 ,for 
oftentimes he had instructed us to      
believe that the gathering together of  
the disciples made a temple1            
wheresoever it might be1 even at the    
ends of the earth3 but the ,temple      
could not of itself make disciples3 yea1
 though the ,temple itself were         
destroyed yet he said that ,god would   
raise up even in two or three days a    
new temple not made by hands4 ,so ,jesus
 made answer unto ,peter calling him  by
 his two names1 first by the name which 

he had from his father 7which  name he  
had as being 8born of woman07 and then  
by that name of ,peter which  he bore in
 the ,kingdom1 which name ,jesus himself
 gave unto him3 and he  signified that  
,simon the son of ,jonah1 being changed 
by faith into ,peter  7which name       
meaneth a stone or rock71 presented and 
manifested forth that  very ,rock upon  
which the ,congregation should be built2
 and these were his  very words3        
8,blessed art thou1 ,simon son of       
,jonah3 for flesh and blood  hath not   
revealed it unto thee1 but my ,father   
which is in heaven4 ,and ,i  say also   
unto thee1 ,thou art ,peter1 and upon   
this rock ,i will build my              
,congregation2 and the gates of hell    
shall not prevail against it40    ,then1
 as if he already saw the ,temple of the
 ,new ,congregation standing on  the    
,rock1 he added yet another blessing    
upon ,simon ,peter and his faith1       
making mention of the key of the ,new   
,temple1 and promising that he would    

give this key to ,peter1 because they   
which have faith1 those alone can       
forgive3 and forgiveness is the key     
which openeth the ,congregation to all  
the world4 ,now it is a common prayer   
with the scholars of the ,scribes that  
8,we may not make defiled the pure1 nor 
make pure the defiled2 that we may  not 
bind the loosed1 nor loose the bound40  
,but ,jesus promised unto ,peter        
something better than this1 to wit1 that
 the faith which ,peter had this  day   
manifested 7that is1 the faith of the   
,new ,congregation7 should have  power  
to loose them that else had been bound2 
and that forgiveness below  should go   
hand in hand with forgiveness above2    
saying that he would give  unto ,peter  
the keys of the kingdom of heaven3 and  
he added1 8,whatsoever  thou shalt bind 
on earth shall be bound in heaven1 and  
whatsoever thou  shalt loose on earth   
shall be loosed in heaven40    ,when he 
had spoken these words1 he arose and    
went into ,csarea1 where we  were to    

tarry that night4 ,we followed him1     
marvelling much at his words1  and      
especially because of this promise      
touching binding and loosing4 ,for  we  
did not understand how we could receive 
such a power2 and even though  we should
 receive it1 we did not perceive how it 
would avail us to conquer  the ,romans  
nor how it could hasten the ,redemption 
of ,sion4  ,notwithstanding1 we rejoiced
 even more than we marvelled2 partly    
because  we dimly understood that the   
,lord had this day wrought some great   
work for  us2 partly because we felt    
ourselves to be more settled and        
confirmed in  our allegiance to our     
,master2 but most of all because we     
perceived that  ,jesus rejoiced with an 
exceeding joy1 and we could not but     
rejoice with  him4    ,only ,judas said 
that he liked not that ,jesus should    
speak of a  ,congregation and not of a  
,nation or ,people4 8,for10 said he1 8a 
,congregation goeth not forth to battle1
 nor taketh cities1 nor setteth up      

empires and kingdom3 but this is the    
work of a ,people4 ,wherefore my mind   
misgiveth me lest our ,master1 becoming 
desperate of his first purpose of       
setting up a kingdom1 should now        
determine within himself to found a sect
  such as the sect of the ,essenes or   
,pharisees4 ,for he was not wont before 
to speak of a ,congregation1 but he ever
 spake of a ,kingdom of ,god1 or a      
,kingdom of heaven40 ,but one made      
answer and said that it was written1    
8,let  the ,congregation of saints      
praise him2 let the saints be joyful    
with  glory2 let the praises of ,god be 
in their mouth1 and a twoedged sword in 
their hands1 to be avenged of the       
heathen30 wherefore1 said he1 the       
meaning of our ,master perchance is1    
that in the time to come1 ,israel shall 
be both a nation of conquerors and a    
congregation of saints4 ,and to this  we
 all agreed4                            
,,chapter ,,xxi      ,from that day     
forth we noted but seldom in our        

,master's countenance that  look of     
expectancy which had sometimes perplexed
 us before4 ,for now1 and  for many days
 after1 he spake and acted like one that
 seeth things to come  as clear as      
things past4 ,on the morrow after the   
blessing of ,simon ,peter1  he called us
 together1 and told us that we must go  
up to ,jerusalem at the  next ,passover4
 ,if we were joyful before1 much more   
did we rejoice now2 and  ,judas smote   
his hands together for very gladness1   
esteeming ,jerusalem  already captured4 
,for he supposed that ,jesus could not  
march up to  ,jerusalem so as not to    
raise up the ,romans against him1 8and  
when they  come against us in battle10  
he said1 8then ,jesus will perforce put 
forth  his power against them1 and will 
utterly destroy them40    ,these words  
said ,judas 7but not so loud that ,jesus
 could hear them7 during  the first stir
 that followed the saying of ,jesus     
about going up to  ,jerusalem4 ,but     
,jesus opened his mouth to speak again1 

and behold1 he  prophesied things that  
passed all understanding2 namely1 that  
he should be  rejected by the rulers of 
the people1 and delivered over to them1 
and put  to death with insult4 ,but then
 he added that although this must needs 
come  to pass1 yet in a few days        
afterwards1 yea no more than one or two1
 it  should be with him as with ,jonah1 
whose prayer was heard even from the    
belly of hell1 and according to the     
words of the prophet ,hosea1 who wrote  
this saying1 8,come and let us return   
unto the ,lord1 for he hath torn and  he
 will heal us3 he hath smitten and he   
will bind us up4 ,after two days  will  
he restore us to life2 in the third day 
he will raise us up1 and we  shall live 
in his sight40    ,we stood silent      
around him1 all agape with wonder1 and  
scarce believing  our ears4 ,but he     
spake quietly and cheerfully1 like unto 
one describing  what had already been   
accomplished1 or as if he perceived that
 the thing  was as much according to    

nature as that a stone should fall      
downwards or a  spark fly upwards4 ,for 
not long afterwards he spake as if this 
were an  ordinance of ,god1 that 8,whoso
 saveth his life shall lose it2 but     
whoso  loseth it shall save it30        
desiring1 as ,i suppose1 to teach us    
that in  death1 no less than in life1   
there prevailed that great ,law of ,god 
which  was ever in his mouth1 8,give1   
and it shall be given unto you30 meaning
  that whoso gave up his life unto the  
,father should receive it again         
abundantly1 both now and ever4          
,notwithstanding1 at this time our ears 
were deaf and our hearts were  hardened 
against all such words as these1 and we 
feared to ask him  concerning them4     
,only ,peter1 mindful how ,jesus had of 
late blessed him1  and therefore        
venturing somewhat more than the rest1  
would fain  expostulate4 ,so after he   
had besought ,jesus not to vex the      
hearts of us  his loving followers by   
prophesying evil things1 he spake       

concerning the  death of ,jesus1 saying1
 8,be it far from thee1 ,o ,master2 this
 shall not  happen to thee40 ,then      
,jesus looked wrathfully upon ,simon    
,peter1 even as he  had looked before   
upon ,jonathan the son of ,ezra1 and he 
rebuked ,peter as  if he had been the   
,adversary himself tempting him2 and he 
said1 8,get thee  behind me1 ,satan2    
thou art a stumblingblock unto me2 for  
thou savourest  not the things that be  
of ,god1 but those that be of men40 ,yet
 was there no  hate in his countenance1 
though he used the name of ,satan2 but  
there was  grief1 and trouble1 and many 
signs of inward perturbation2 as if     
,peter had  assailed him where he was   
weakest1 appealing to him in the name of
 the  disciples whom he must needs      
forsake4 ,yea1 the tears seemed nigh at 
hand  even in the moment of the         
bitterest rebuking4    ,after this1     
,jesus began to speak to us of the      
journey to ,jerusalem1 how  full of     
peril1 and how desperate it was like to 

be4 ,for he said that  whosoever        
followed him must be prepared to risk   
all for his sake4 ,yea1  even as men    
condemned to die might go forth to their
 doom with the ropes  round their necks 
or the crosses on their shoulders1 even 
so must we go up  to ,jerusalem1 all    
prepared for death1 if we were fain to  
go with him4 ,and  this he said many    
times1 saying that none might follow him
 except they  would take up the cross2  
and during all the time of our going up 
to  ,jerusalem1 the cross was1 as it    
were1 the only watchword that he would  
appoint for them that went with him3    
insomuch that some1 mocking1 called  it 
a journey of the cross1 or a journey of 
the halter4 ,but he added that1  if we  
had courage to go with him1 a reward was
 in store for us3 8,whosoever  will save
 his life shall lose it3 and whosoever  
will lose his life for my  sake shall   
find it4 ,for what is a man profited if 
he shall gain the whole  world and lose 
his own soul8 ,or what shall a man give 

in exchange for his  soul8 ,for the ,son
 of man shall come in the glory of his  
,father with his  angels2 and then shall
 he reward every man according to his   
works40    ,now at these last words     
,judas turned away in anger1 saying in a
 low voice1  8,he speaketh only of what 
is after the grave40 ,but ,jesus        
straightway  added1 8,verily ,i say unto
 you1 there be some standing here which 
shall not  taste of death till they see 
the ,son of man coming in his ,kingdom40
 ,at  these words we all rejoiced again1
 and ,judas with the rest1 for1 said he1
  8,these words are no dark saying1 but 
such as babes can understand40 ,so we   
went out from the presence of ,jesus    
marvelling indeed1 but rejoicing even   
more than we marvelled4    ,now when we 
were come forth1 and were alone apart   
from ,jesus1 we disputed  among         
ourselves what his words might mean4    
,but ,judas said 7after his wont7  that 
whatsoever was obscure should be        
interpreted by that part which was      

clearer4 ,now ,jesus had declared that  
he would come and reward his  followers 
and take unto himself his ,kingdom even 
in the lifetime of some  that were      
standing by4 ,but as for the rest1      
concerning the losing of life  and      
finding of it1 and as for what ,jesus   
had said concerning his own dying  and  
rising again1 it was clear1 said ,judas1
 that the words were used  poetically   
and in a figure1 as if one should speak 
of sinking into the pit  of the darkness
 of ruin and then of being raised up    
therefrom1 as it had  been described    
also by ,jonah1 and as ,hosea the       
prophet had spoken4    ,but then ,thomas
 said1 8,yet methinks1 since all men    
must die1 therefore  also the ,redeemer 
of ,israel must perforce come to the    
grave at some time2  and then what shall
 befall the disciples that shall remain 
in the flesh80  ,to this some one made  
reply that ,jesus would assuredly not   
depart from  life till he had           
established the kingdom and trampled all

 our enemies  under his feet4 ,another  
said that1 if ,jesus indeed died as a   
captive  according to his own words1    
then his death would be like unto that  
of  ,samson1 who destroyed many         
thousands of the ,gentiles in his own   
destruction4 ,but still ,thomas         
persevered that1 whensoever the time    
came  that ,jesus should depart from the
 flesh1 then all the brightness of joy  
would depart from the disciples for     
ever4    ,then ,john answered and said  
that ,thomas had well spoken1 only that 
the  ,lord would provide against so     
great an evil2 and he added1 8,let us   
not  suppose that the gates of death can
 separate us from the love of the ,lord1
  neither let our imagination assure us 
that the grave is a strong place        
against the hand of the ,almighty4 ,for 
by the ,word of ,god we were framed2    
and by the ,word of ,god we were born2  
and by the ,word of ,god we live2 and   
by the ,word of ,god we die2 and by the 
,word of ,god we are to give account    

before the ,king of kings4 ,wherefore if
 even we are in the hand of the ,lord   
though we lie in the grave1 how much    
more is the ,redeemer of ,israel1 who   
is in the bosom of the ,father8         
,wherefore my counsel is that we trust  
in  the ,lord1 and that we rejoice      
because we see our ,master rejoicing40  
,to this we all agreed4 ,howbeit1 when  
we tried to understand the meaning of   
the words of ,jesus1 the judgment of    
,judas seemed good to the most part of  
us4 ,and so it was that when we         
rejoiced1 we rejoiced with ,john2 but   
when  we reasoned we reasoned with      
,judas4 ,but of this we were all with   
one  consent persuaded1 that it could   
not be that the ,lord would permit such 
an  one as ,jesus of ,nazareth to die a 
common death2 but either he would not   
die at all1 or if he were taken from us1
 it must be after the manner of  ,elias1
 exalted to heaven in a chariot of fire4
    ,but ,jesus desired to offer up     
prayers to the ,lord upon ,mount ,hermon

 before  he set his face to go southward
 to ,jerusalem4 ,for he had long been   
journeying towards it1 and it seemed to 
be unto him as a goal and limit of  his 
wanderings4 ,moreover at all times      
,jesus loved to be alone on the tops  of
 mountains1 not as though he counted    
high places to be more holy than        
others1 but because all visible things  
testified to him of the ,father1 and    
when he looked forth upon the world at  
sunrise from the summit of a  mountain1 
then the ,angels of ,god which rule over
 the light and the sky and  the earth   
and the air1 seemed to speak unto him   
with a louder and a fuller  voice4      
,moreover though he spake not of the    
moon and stars in parables 7but  only of
 the flowers of the field and the seed  
and the smaller things of  earth71 yet  
did he oft consider the heavens and the 
lights therein which  are the works of  
the fingers of ,god2 and for this cause 
he would sometimes  spend a whole night 
upon a mountaintop alone1 meditating on 

the works of  ,god4 ,so it came to pass 
that on the morrow after these things we
 went with  ,jesus even to the foot of  
,mount ,hermon4 ,there we tarried during
 the night  in a village just below the 
mountain2 but ,jesus left us and went up
 the  mountain alone1 save that he took 
with him ,simon ,peter1 and ,john1 and  
,james the brother of ,john4    ,now as 
for what happened on the mountain1 ,i   
myself was not present2 but  the three  
disciples told us afterwards things that
 made us to marvel4 ,at  first indeed   
they saw nothing more than common1 nor  
indeed took heed of  aught which they   
saw2 for they were wearied with the     
labour of the long  journey1 going for  
many hours up hill1 and besides they    
were faint with  hunger2 insomuch that1 
when they were come to that part of the 
mountain  where the snow lieth          
continually1 they were borne down with  
sleep4 ,hereat  ,jesus bade them stay   
where they were1 and pray2 but he       
himself went  forward higher up the     

mountain1 as it were a distance of three
 bowshot2  yet not so far but they could
 hear his voice2 for the air was        
exceeding  still1 and all sounds came   
with a marvellous clearness to their    
ears even  from very far off4 ,now it   
came to pass that when the three        
disciples were  alone1 they strove to   
pray1 sometimes standing up1 but at     
other times  kneeling or lying flat upon
 their faces4 ,howbeit their eyes were  
still  weighed down and heavy with      
sleep2 but even as they began to        
slumber1  behold1 the voice of ,jesus1  
like unto the voice of an angel1 fell   
upon  their ears magnifying and praising
 ,god4 ,so the night passed1 while they 
lay there betwixt sleeping and waking2  
sometimes hearing the voice of  ,jesus  
and praying with him2 anon falling into 
slumber and dreaming strange  dreams and
 seeing visions2 and 7betwixt dreaming  
and waking7 scarce able  to know what   
they saw1 nor what they heard1 nor even 
whether they slept or  waked4 ,but at   

the last the ,lord sent upon them a deep
 sleep2 and how long  they slept they   
knew not1 but suddenly with one consent 
awaking1 they  perceived that they were 
on holy ground1 and that the presence of
 the ,lord  was around them1 and the    
voice of the ,lord sounding in their    
ears4 ,yet for  the instant they knew   
not what work the ,lord had in hand2    
only they felt  that ,he was very nigh4 
,but when they came to themselves1 they 
heard the voice of ,jesus speaking      
words as if conversing with men present 
and face to face4 ,then for a brief     
space the disciples lay even where they 
had been sleeping1 still and  astonied1 
supposing that it was a dream and that  
the voice should have  speedily ceased4 
,but it ceased not1 but continued4 ,and 
they heard ,jesus  plainly speaking both
 to ,moses and to ,elias concerning that
 which was to  come to pass in          
,jerusalem2 which1 he said1 would not be
 an error1 nor a  misadventure1 but the 
very fulfilment of the ,law and the     

,prophets1 and the  foreordained will of
 the ,father4 7,also ,quartus saith 7but
 this ,i heard  not myself from any of  
the three7 that ,jesus testified unto   
,moses1 saying  that he came not to     
destroy sacrifice but to fulfil         
sacrifice47    ,but when the disciples  
perceived that it was no dream1 they    
with one  consent started up2 and       
behold1 the sun was just risen1 and     
,hermon was all  afire with the glory of
 the ,lord1 and the ice and the snow all
 around  shone like unto burning gold   
and silver and sapphire1 only far       
brighter1  even as the brightness of the
 ,throne of the ,majesty on ,high4 ,but 
,jesus  stood on a rock above them2 and 
when they looked on him1 behold1 his    
garments were exceeding white1 whiter   
than snow1 and his face was             
transfigured as the face of an          
archangel1 and his shape was all        
glorious  to behold1 shining with a     
wondrous light2 and his eyes were set   
like unto  one looking on the forms of  

departing friends4 ,for ,moses and      
,elias were  now passed away and were no
 more to be seen4    ,but ,simon ,peter1
 being nigh distraught at the glory of  
the sight1 and  scarce knowing whether  
he were asleep or awake1 cried out to   
,jesus in a  loud voice that they would 
remain on that mountaintop for ever2 and
 he  said1 8,master1 it is good for us  
to be here2 and let us make three       
tabernacles1 one for thee1 and one for  
,moses1 and one for ,elias40 ,but       
,jesus took no heed of his words1 but   
kept still gazing upon ,moses and       
,elias4 ,and while they still looked1   
the ,lord sent down on them a cloud1    
and compassed them round with darkness2 
and they feared exceedingly when  they  
entered into the cloud2 and there came a
 voice as of thunder out of  the cloud1 
saying that ,jesus was the son of ,god4 
,then fell the disciples  on their      
faces1 and offered up prayers unto the  
,lord4 ,but presently1 when  they arose1
 the cloud had passed away1 and ,jesus  

alone was standing by  their side4      
,when ,jesus came down from the         
mountain1 all we that were waiting for  
him  in the village below perceived that
 he had had a vision2 for there was     
still an unwonted brightness on his     
countenance4 ,likewise also the people  
which were with us 7for there was a     
great multitude7 marvelled at the       
brightness of his countenance2 and      
running to ,jesus1 they saluted him as a
  prophet4 ,some also began to beseech  
him to heal a certain boy which was     
possessed with an evil spirit4 ,for so  
it was that1 while ,jesus was upon  the 
mountain1 certain of the ,pharisees that
 dwelt in that village 7for  there was a
 synagogue there1 and many ,jews dwelt  
round about that country7  came to us   
bringing one possessed with an unclean  
spirit and bidding us  cast him out4 ,so
 we adventured to drive him out4 ,but we
 could not do it4  ,therefore the       
,pharisees strove against us and        
declared that we were  vagabonds and    

deceivers1 and that our ,master was like
 unto us2 and of the  multitude part    
sided with us and part with the         
,pharisees1 insomuch that  there was a  
great uproar and noise of contention4   
,all these things had  come to pass     
while ,jesus was coming down from the   
mountain2 but when we  saw ,jesus near  
at hand1 straightway on both sides we   
all ceased from our  contention4    ,now
 when ,jesus understood the cause of the
 contention1 and that the  ,pharisees   
were striving against us because we had 
not been able to drive  out the unclean 
spirit1 he looked around both upon us   
and our adversaries3  and behold1 we    
were all heated with disputing1 and     
angered by  reproachings1 and there was 
no faith in us4 ,therefore he was sorely
  grieved1 and he sighed bitterly1 and  
said1 8,o faithless and perverse        
generation1 how long shall ,i be with   
you1 how long shall ,i suffer you80     
,then he turned to the father of the    
child 7for the man was standing nigh1   

piteously bewailing his child7 and he   
said1 8,bring thy son hither to me40    
,so they brought him4    ,but ,jesus1   
looking upon the boy and upon the father
 and upon the  ,pharisees1 and upon all 
them which were standing nigh1 perceived
  straightway that there was no faith as
 yet that the boy should be cured4      
,therefore he asked the father certain  
questions touching the boy1 and the  man
 replied that the boy had been possessed
 even from a child2 8and  oftentimes10  
continued he1 weeping as he spake1 8it  
hath cast him into the  fire1 and into  
the waters to destroy him2 but if thou  
canst do anything1  have compassion on  
us and help us40 ,when ,jesus perceived 
that the man had  not yet faith 7but    
only desire bordering upon faith71 he   
said unto him1  repeating the man's     
words1 8,if thou canst2 if thou canst4  
,nay1 but  believe4 ,all things are     
possible to him that believeth40 ,and   
straightway  the man cried out for      
anguish of soul1 and said with tears1   

8,lord1 ,i  believe2 help thou mine     
unbelief40 ,then the face of ,jesus was 
glad1 and  immediately he rebuked the   
unclean spirit2 and it came forth       
tearing the  boy and leaving him as one 
dead1 insomuch that many said 8he is    
dead40 ,but  ,jesus took him by the hand
 and lifted him up1 and he arose4       
,hereupon the multitude departed1       
praising ,god for ,his goodness2 but    
when  we were come to the house1 we     
asked him why we had not been able to   
cast  out the unclean spirit4 ,jesus    
answered that it was because of our want
 of  faith2 and he repeated the words   
which he had before spoken1 that        
whosoever had but faith1 even as a grain
 of mustardseed1 should be able  to     
uproot mountains4 ,but such spirits as  
these1 he said1 could not be  driven out
 save by much prayer4 ,he did not       
further rebuke us for our ill  success3 
but our want of faith seemed to engender
 in him a certain  disquietude for our  
sakes1 perchance because he perceived   

that we were as  yet too weak to stand  
by ourselves2 and this1 though the hour 
was nigh  when his hand could no longer 
hold us upright4 ,howbeit he said no    
more at  that season1 but only gave     
command that we should straightway set  
out for  ,capernaum4                    
,,chapter ,,xxii      ,as we passed     
through the country to ,capernaum1 we   
began to tell the people  everywhere    
that ,jesus had now determined to go up 
to ,jerusalem at the head  of his       
followers1 and that the time of         
,redemption was at hand4 ,but ,jesus    
forbade us2 for he would not that any   
man should know that he was passing     
through4 ,howbeit1 even though we were  
silent1 the rumour of his journey  was  
everywhere noised abroad1 so that he    
could not be hid4 ,many therefore  left 
their ploughs1 and their fishingboats1  
and their trades1 and  followed with us3
 or1 if they followed not1 they         
appointed to be with us  at the next    
,passover when we went up to the ,holy  

,city4 ,for it was already  the month   
called ,adar1 so that it wanted no more 
than four or five weeks  to the         
,passover4    ,now certain youths and   
striplings followed us1 not             
deliberately1 nor with  forethought1 but
 because they were ever unstable and    
ever seeking after  new things4 ,them   
therefore ,jesus warned to go back to   
their homes1 telling  them that they had
 not counted the cost of the journey4   
,others were fain  to have come with us2
 but their friends sought by all means  
to prevent  them1 telling them what     
cruelties the ,romans had wrought upon  
their  fathers and kinsfolk in former   
times2 how some had been sold for       
slaves1  some slain with the sword1 some
 crucified2 and with many tears sisters 
besought their brothers1 and mothers    
their children1 not to go up to         
,jerusalem1 nor to bring them down with 
sorrow to the grave4 ,now ,jesus did    
not call upon such as these to come to  
him2 but if they were minded to  come1  

he bade them remember that they must    
above all things trust in him  and love 
him2 yea1 he said that they must love   
him better than houses1 or  lands1 or   
kinsfolk4    ,hence also it came to pass
 that in a certain village he spake     
words which  have been a stumblingblock 
to many4 ,for so it was that a certain  
young man  of that village had come     
forth to meet ,jesus2 and after he had  
saluted  him1 the young man had promised
 to follow in his army1 and to serve him
  even to the death4 ,howbeit he        
besought ,jesus that he would suffer him
  first to go and bid farewell to his   
father and mother4 ,now ,jesus looked on
  him1 and perceived that he was as a   
reed that bendeth with the wind4 ,so he 
said unto him that he must not go3      
8,for10 said he1 8he that putteth his   
hand to the plough and looketh back1 is 
not fit for the ,kingdom of ,god40      
,thereupon the face of the young man    
fell and he became very sad2 yet he     
obeyed ,jesus1 for that day1 and        

followed him2 but on the morrow he      
secretly departed for to bid his parents
 farewell1 meaning shortly to  return to
 ,jesus4 ,so when ,jesus passed through 
the village wherein the  young man      
abode1 behold1 the young man was even   
then coming forth from the  door of his 
home4 ,but his mother ran behind him1   
and caught him by the  cloak1 and       
embracing him besought him again and    
again not to go with  ,jesus4 ,thus she 
constrained him4 ,but ,jesus1 looking   
back on the youth1  said1 8,verily he   
that hateth not his father and his      
mother cannot be my  disciple40         
,already1 even at the beginning of our  
march1 when we first departed from      
,hermon1 there had arisen a questioning 
among us1 who should have the chief     
places in the ,new ,kingdom4 ,for now1  
within one month1 we looked to see the  
,romans cast out of ,jerusalem1 the     
,holy ,city and ,temple purified1 and   
the  throne of the ,redeemer            
established4 ,this done1 it seemed to us

 that ,syria  would be portioned out to 
several princes or governors2 ,galilee  
to one1  ,samaria to another1 ,pera to a
 third2 after the manner of the ,romans1
  whose custom it is to divide their    
dominions among many princes4 ,so we    
disputed among ourselves who should have
 the best provinces4 ,judas1 as  being  
ever foremost in all actions1 claimed a 
principal share2 but the  others also   
were not backward4 ,thus we disputed as 
we walked behind ,jesus1  being now nigh
 to ,capernaum2 and so it was that1 in  
the heat of our  disputing1 we knew not 
that ,jesus was standing still1 waiting 
till we  should overtake him4 ,therefore
 we walked on1 still disputing1 with    
clamour  and much anger1 till1 lo1      
,jesus was in the midst of us4 ,he      
looked  sorrowfully on us1 but said     
nothing for that time1 and we were all  
straightway silent4    ,but in the      
evening1 when we were all together in   
the house1 ,jesus called  us to him1    
holding a little child by the hand2 and 

when we were gathered  round him1 he set
 the little one in the midst of us1 and 
said that we had  forgotten his former  
saying1 how that no man could enter the 
,kingdom  unless he became as a little  
child4 ,then he added these words1      
8,whosoever  shall humble himself as    
this little child1 the same is greatest 
in the  ,kingdom of ,heaven40 ,then said
 ,judas1 8,whoso hath wrought much1     
shall he  not receive much8 and whoso   
hath wrought little1 shall he not       
receive  little8 ,and is not the ,master
 of the work faithful1 who will pay us  
the  wage of our work80    ,for an      
instant ,jesus was silent1 looking at   
,judas as though perchance he  had not  
heard his words aright4 ,then he        
answered that in the ,new ,kingdom      
there was no difference of reward2 for  
the least were to be as the  greatest4  
,at the same time he placed his hand on 
the head of the little  one and said1   
8,whoso shall receive one such little   
child in my name  receiveth me1 and     

whosoever shall receive me receiveth not
 me1 but ,him  that sent me40 ,he also  
spake a certain parable to us1 as if to 
shew that  the reward in the kingdom is 
not by way of price but rather by way of
 a  free gift1 coming from the ,father1 
as cometh the rain from heaven1 and     
sufficing for all them which receive it2
 even as the lord of an estate1  out of 
the kindness of his heart1 might give   
unto all his labourers the  same wage   
7and that sufficing for their needs71   
even though some of the  labourers might
 perchance be hired later than the rest4
    ,judas had withdrawn himself before 
,jesus began this parable4 ,for he was  
greatly abashed1 though ,jesus had not  
rebuked him by name4 ,but ,jesus  seemed
 saddened by our disputing1 and by our  
hardness of heart in that we  understood
 him not4 ,notwithstanding he was still 
cheerful and gentle  according to his   
wont4 ,for albeit he saw close before   
his feet the  darkness of the valley of 
death1 yet1 above and beyond the valley 

of death  was the hill of life1 which   
7at that time7 he seemed to see and to  
describe1 even as if he had traversed   
and measured it out with a measuring    
reed4 ,notwithstanding for our sakes he 
seemed sometimes to be in  meditation   
and sorrow1 as though1 when he had      
reached ,paradise1 he should  look back 
upon us left behind and alone4    ,when 
we went forth from before the face of   
,jesus1 we found ,judas chafing  much at
 his repulse 7for so he termed it71 and 
asking how it was possible  that in any 
kingdom there should be no degrees of   
rank or honour8 ,for  some1 he said1    
must needs be near the throne1 others   
far off2 and some  courtiers2 but others
 tillers of the land and artificers4 ,to
 us there  seemed much reason in the    
sayings of ,judas1 though we liked not  
that he  should pay so little deference 
to our ,master4 ,john also himself      
confessed  that he understood not how it
 should be otherwise than ,judas had    
said4  8,notwithstanding10 said he1 8if 

,jesus should see fit not to give us    
power  and wealth in the ,new ,kingdom1 
we must none the less be content1 and   
not  lust after the table of kings2 for 
our table is greater than their table1  
and our crown greater than their crown1 
and faithful is our taskmaster who  will
 pay us the wage of our work40    ,the  
words of ,john did not please the most  
of the disciples2 who said that  it     
would not be fit that ,jesus should give
 power and wealth to other  servants and
 courtiers1 and should neglect them that
 had borne the burden  of the first     
persecutions1 who were now to bear the  
brunt of the conflict  at ,jerusalem4   
,so they went away still disputing among
 themselves4 ,then1  when we were alone1
 ,i asked ,nathanael whether he thought 
that ,jesus had  any certain plans how  
to take ,jerusalem or how to drive out  
the ,romans4  ,but ,nathanael answered  
that it seemed to him that ,jesus had no
 such  certain plans4 ,then said ,i1    
8,wherefore then goeth he up to         

,jerusalem80  8,because10 replied       
,nathanael1 8thus much hath been        
revealed to him that he  must needs go  
up to ,jerusalem1 there to be glorified 
and lifted up4 ,but as  to the manner   
and time thereof1 he saith nothing4     
,yea1 and ,i have heard  him speak as if
 he himself knew not these things1 but  
they are known to  the ,father alone40  
,at this time ,jesus began to speak more
 often than before of a certain day  of 
wrath in store for ,israel2 and1 as     
,david on ,araunah's threshingfloor  saw
 the sword between heaven and earth1    
even so did ,jesus discern a sword  of  
the ,lord2 howbeit not stayed1 as ,david
 saw it1 but uplifted and in act  to    
strike4 ,sometimes he spake as if he    
himself were to wield this flaming      
sword2 but evermore1 beyond the fire and
 the sword1 he discerned the glory  of  
the ,kingdom of ,god2 and he spake as if
 the ,kingdom could not come  except the
 fire should first be kindled1 and he   
must needs kindle it  himself4          

,therefore once1 when ,jonathan the son 
of ,ezra said to him that he  was       
accused of his enemies the ,pharisees as
 if he would fain set all  ,israel on   
fire1 he replied1 8,the nearer to me the
 nearer to the fire2 but  the further   
from me1 the further from the           
,kingdom407#aj7    ,seeing this flaming 
sword ever before him1 ,jesus none the  
less continued  to speak of his death4  
,this perplexed us not a little4 ,for at
 one time he  would say that his enemies
 would be slain with the sword2 or      
destroyed as  tares are destroyed with  
fire2 and yet1 on the other hand1 he    
repeated  again and again that he should
 die at the hands of his enemies in     
,jerusalem4 ,howbeit of the evil        
prophecy we his disciples took small    
heed1  but gave our minds to the        
prophecies of good things4 ,for he spake
 much of  being 8perfected10 and of     
being 8glorified10 and how he should be 
8lifted  up0 or 8raised up0 in          
,jerusalem4 ,moreover1 ,jesus was wont  

to use the word  8dead0 of them that    
were in the deep waters of sin2 as when 
he said that  8,the dead should bury    
their own dead20 and again1 when he said
 that 8,the  son of man hath power to   
quicken the dead40 ,oftentimes also he  
spake in  the same way of raising up the
 dead1 as when he told the disciples of 
,john  the son of ,zachariah that 8the  
dead are raised up40 ,hence it came to  
pass  that1 if we heeded at all his     
words touching his death1 we were       
assured  that he meant to say only this1
 that he should be for some days        
struggling  with ,satan1 and not at once
 overcoming1 but as it were in darkness 
and in  the shadow and depth of death2  
but that in two or three days he should 
be  raised up and triumph over ,satan4  
,in this belief we were much confirmed  
by our ,master's constancy and          
stoutness of heart4 ,for on the second  
day after we had returned to            
,capernaum1 ,eliezer the son of ,arak1  
with others of the ,pharisees1 came to  

,jesus where he was seated in the midst 
of his disciples1 and making as if  they
 were reconciled to ,jesus1 they bade   
him flee from ,galilee lest ,herod      
should slay him4 ,but this they did1 not
 out of love to ,jesus1 but hoping  to  
rid the city of him1 and partly desiring
 to discredit him with the  disciples1  
as if ,jesus once more would go into    
exile for to avoid strife4  ,but ,jesus 
made an exceeding bold answer1 and said 
that the ,pharisees were  to tell that  
fox 7for so he called ,herod7 that he   
would go on his way to  ,jerusalem not  
through fear of him1 nor in haste1 like 
unto a fugitive1 but  healing and       
teaching as he went1 both today and     
tomorrow2 and on the  third day 7for the
 journey was a journey of three days for
 a strong man1  according to the common 
saying7 he said that he should be       
perfected1 even  in ,jerusalem4         
,moreover1 when ,eliezer1 nothing       
abashed1 dissembled still  further1 and 
bade ,jesus take heed lest he should    

perish even as the  ,galileans1 whom    
,pilate had slain1 ,jesus answered that 
to be slain did not  argue that the men 
slain were sinners above the rest2 and  
then he added  that another sword 7which
 they saw not7 was near at hand to smite
 them  also themselves1 if they repented
 not4    ,this gladdened our hearts and 
made us eager for the journey3 and when 
on  the morrow we went up from          
,capernaum1 journeying towards ,samaria1
 there  was not one in our band that was
 fainthearted nor desirous to return4   
,now  at that time there were about     
three hundred following ,jesus4 ,but the
  greater part of our friends1 as we    
understood1 were not to go with us1 but 
to meet us at the going in to           
,jerusalem1 or at some place nigh unto  
,jerusalem4    ,when we were come to a  
certain village in the road 7the name of
 the  village is ,beth,gader7 where a   
man journeying towards ,jerusalem from  
,samaria leaveth the ,lake of           
,gennesareth behind him and seeth it no 

more1  then it came to pass that our    
,master turned him round to look his    
last  upon ,capernaum1 and ,bethsaida1  
and ,chorazin1 and upon all the cities  
of  the ,lake1 wherein he had taught and
 wrought4 ,and he stood and gazed a long
  time1 and cried out that it should be 
ill for those cities in the day of      
,judgment2 for if the mighty deeds that 
had been wrought there1 had been        
wrought in ,tyre and ,sidon1 they would 
have repented a long while ago in       
sackcloth and ashes4 ,but when he saw   
,capernaum1 and the fields thereof1  and
 the gardens which compass it round1 all
 bright with the greenness of  spring1  
and the lake1 still and peaceful1       
whereon were fishingboats and  ships    
innumerable1 then he lifted up his voice
 and prophesied evil against  the place1
 saying1 8,thou also1 ,capernaum1 which 
art exalted to heaven1  shalt be brought
 down to hell2 for if the mighty works  
which have been  done in thee had been  
done in ,sodom1 it would have remained  

unto this  day40 ,then spake he to us1  
saying1 that it should be more tolerable
 for  the land of ,sodom in the ,day of 
,judgment than for that city4 ,when he  
had  said these words1 he turned his    
back upon ,capernaum and upon all the   
country of the lake2 and he departed and
 saw it no more4                        
,,chapter ,,xxiii      ,when we were now
 drawing nigh to the borders of         
,samaria1 it being 7as ,i  remember7    
about the ninth hour in the second day  
of our journey1 behold1 a  tumult arose 
in the front of the band1 and shouts as 
of men contending  together4 ,then those
 of us that had swords drew them2 for we
 thought  surely the hour was now come  
for battle4 ,but ,jesus bade us put up  
our  swords2 and going forward he saw a 
multitude of ,samaritans gathered       
together to oppose us1 neither would    
they suffer us to pass through their    
country2 and they reviled us and began  
to cast stones at us4 ,when he saw      
this1 ,jesus neither reproached them nor

 persuaded them to let us pass1 but     
straightway commanded that our band     
should go back a distance of many       
furlongs on the road whereby we had     
come1 and then to turn eastward2 so     
that we might pass through the country  
beyond ,jordan1 thus avoiding  ,samaria4
 ,this seemed to the most part of us a  
grievous thing and scarce  tolerable1   
that the army of the ,redeemer of ,sion 
should be thus turned out  of the path  
by a ,samaritan rabble4 ,therefore we   
besought ,jesus with many  entreaties1  
and some even with tears1 that he would 
suffer us to force a  passage2 but he   
would not hear4 ,at the last1 when he   
had now begun to go  back1 ,james and   
,john1 being filled with wrath because  
the ,redeemer of  ,israel was thus      
despised1 prayed ,jesus that1 if he     
would not suffer them  to smite with the
 sword he would1 at the least1 suffer   
them to call upon  the ,lord that ,he   
might send down fire upon our enemies4  
,hereat we all were  in suspense1 and   

hearkened eagerly to what ,jesus would  
say2 for in our  hearts we had long     
supposed that ,jesus purposed in this   
way to destroy the  bands of the        
,romans1 even as the prophet ,elias had 
destroyed the captains  and footmen of  
,ahaziah4 ,but ,jesus looked steadfastly
 upon ,james and ,john  and said unto   
them1 8,ye know not what manner of      
spirit ye are of4 ,for the  ,son of man 
is not come to destroy men's lives1 but 
to save them40 ,then he  went back by   
the way whereby he had come2 and we     
followed him1 sorely  grieving4 ,some of
 us also murmured 7and ,judas most of   
all71 saying that it  was a strange     
thing that our ,master should have      
threatened to cast the  ,pharisees into 
the valley of ,hinnom1 and              
notwithstanding would not force a       
passage through the ,cuthite strip 7for 
by this name we termed ,samaria71  nor  
call down fire on a rabble of           
unbelievers4 ,moreover ,judas spared not
  to say that ,jesus must be made       

perforce to shew forth some mighty work 
against the enemy1 or else the          
,redemption of ,sion would not come to  
pass4  ,and the heart of ,judas began   
from this time to be turned away from   
,jesus  even more than before2 and      
,jesus also1 as it seemed to me1 began  
to  perceive that ,judas was estranged  
from him4 ,for whensoever his eyes      
rested  upon ,judas1 then the face of   
,jesus was as if ,god had hidden ,his   
countenance for a season4    ,after this
 we went over ,jordan and journeyed     
through the country that  lieth eastward
 of ,jordan1 which is called ,pera4     
,here we tarried some  days1 even till  
the beginning of ,nisan1 which is the   
month of the  ,passover3 and1 about this
 time1 were completed two full years    
during which  we had followed ,jesus of 
,nazareth4 ,now the people and the land 
of ,pera  are not like unto the people  
and the land of ,galilee4 ,for in       
,galilee the  fields are small1 and they
 till corn and vines and olives2 and the

 men are  exceeding stubborn and        
resolute1 neither very rich1 nor very   
poor4 ,but in  ,pera they have great    
pastures1 and some are rich in flocks   
and herds1  while others have scarce    
bread to eat2 moreover the men are of an
 unstable  disposition1 fond also of    
wealth1 and given to ease1 and not so   
steadfast  as the men of ,galilee4      
,therefore it came to pass that in this 
country and at this season1 our  ,master
 testified most of all against          
covetousness1 and lifted up his voice   
against them which had their good things
 in this world and wanted nothing  more4
 ,at this time also he spake many       
parables1 which it needeth not to  set  
forth at full length1 for that they are 
well known among the saints4  ,but among
 other parables1 as ,i remember1 he     
spake one against a certain  rich and   
foolish farmer 7the like of whom we saw 
many in that country7 who  thought not  
of others but of himself only1 and had  
promised unto himself  many years of    

plenty and ease1 but was cut off by ,god
 that night2 also  another parable      
against a rich man that suffered the    
poor to lie at his  gate untended2 but  
afterwards the poor man was comforted1  
but the rich man  punished in hell4     
,about this time also began ,jesus to   
speak less of the ,kingdom of ,god and  
more of a certain ,eternal ,life1 which1
 as he said1 the righteous and none     
other should attain4 ,some would have it
 that he changed his words1 only  for   
fear of the ,romans1 lest they should   
suspect his often mention of the        
,kingdom of ,god1 and lay hands upon him
 as one aiming to be king2 and these    
men said that ,eternal ,life signified  
the ,kingdom of ,god1 though in         
different words4 ,and perchance it did  
signify the same thing3 howbeit  ,jesus 
changed not his words for fear1 but     
partly1 as ,i judge1 because the        
covetousness of the people weighed upon 
him1 and because he perceived them  to  
be wholly given up to the lusts of the  

flesh1 insomuch that they were  even as 
dead1 and content to lie in the valley  
of the shadow of death4    ,for ever as 
,jesus drew nearer to ,jerusalem1 the   
sins of the people seemed  to weigh     
heavier upon his soul1 and death and    
destruction seemed to grow  larger in   
his eyes2 insomuch that now he desired  
to exhort the people not  so much to    
enter into the ,kingdom1 as rather to   
flee from death unto life4  ,yea1 so    
exceedingly did he fear the power of    
,satan to slay the souls of  men1 that  
about this time1 when a certain disciple
 desired to have left  him for a season 
to bury his father1 ,jesus would have   
the young man still  continue with him1 
saying that the dead should bury their  
own dead4  ,howbeit1 though we          
understood this afterwards1 we perceived
 it not at the  time2 but whensoever    
,jesus spake of ,eternal ,life1 then we 
would interpret  the words still to     
signify the setting up of his ,kingdom  
in ,jerusalem4    ,notwithstanding1     

while ,jesus spake day by day more      
earnestly touching them  which would not
 come into the ,kingdom of ,god1 and    
concerning those whose  hearts were     
satisfied with the good things of this  
world so that they  thought they needed 
nothing1 he none the less was tender and
 gentle to all  sinners1 and to the     
afflicted1 and to young children1 after 
his wont2 yea1  and perchance1 even     
exceeding his wont4 ,for albeit he saw  
daily more and  more of the evil nature 
of men1 yet was he not embittered       
thereby2 but  whensoever his burden     
became heavier to bear1 then1 as it     
seemed to me1  his gentleness appeared  
greater likewise4 ,of which gentleness  
,i will here  set down one among many   
instances4 ,when we were come into a    
certain  village1 at the end of a day's 
journey1 the hour being now late 7for   
the  sun had already set71 behold1 at   
the going into the village1 stood many  
women with children in their arms2 and  
they besought ,jesus to bless them4     

,then we 7who went before ,jesus and the
 rest to prepare a lodging for him7     
bade the women take away the children   
and to bring them on the morrow2 for  we
 had walked a long journey and were     
weary and had fasted long2 and1 said    
we1 it was not seemly at that hour to   
trouble the ,master4 ,but he was sore   
displeased at us1 and took up the little
 children in his arms and blessed  them 
and said1 8,suffer little children to   
come unto me1 and forbid them  not1 for 
of such is the ,kingdom of ,heaven40 ,he
 also repeated his former  saying1 that 
none should inherit the ,kingdom unless 
they became as little  children4 ,these 
words seemed to some of us well fit for 
peaceful times and  for quiet talk and  
meditation in ,galilee1 but not fit now 
when the hour  had come to enter the    
,kingdom1 as we supposed1 by smiting    
with the sword4  ,howbeit to ,jesus     
these words seemed always fit and       
seasonable2 so gentle  was he and so    
loving1 even to the last4    ,it came to

 pass that in the throng1 listening to  
these words of ,jesus1  there was a     
certain young man whose name was ,tobias
 the son of ,zechariah4  ,he also came  
that same night to the inn1 to hearken  
to the teaching of  ,jesus3 and he said 
unto certain of his friends in my       
hearing that he was  willing to do      
anything that ,jesus should say1 even to
 the giving of half  his wealth3        
moreover he made many professions as if 
on the morrow he would  join himself    
unto ,jesus and go forth with us to     
,jerusalem4 ,howbeit on the  morrow1    
when we assembled early according to our
 wont to set forth1 the  young man      
,tobias was not with us4 ,but we 7for it
 was usual with us to hear  many        
promises and to see few fulfilments7    
began our journey without him4  ,but we 
had not gone more than six or seven     
furlongs when the young man  came in    
haste running after us1 and when he had 
come near to ,jesus1 he  saluted him and
 knelt before him4 ,for his heart had   

been inflamed with  admiration of the   
doctrine which ,jesus taught concerning 
the ,kingdom of  ,god2 howbeit he       
trusted not in our ,master as the       
,redeemer of ,israel1 but  he loved him 
as a very pious ,scribe1 teaching things
 lovable and  excellent4 ,therefore1    
willing to gain the favour of ,jesus and
 yet being  unwilling to journey forth  
with ,jesus1 he was fain to gain our    
,master's  favour and also satisfy his  
own conscience1 if it might be1 by doing
 some  other good work in lieu of doing 
that which he had promised to do4 ,so he
  called ,jesus 8,good ,teacher10 and   
said unto him1 8,what shall ,i do that  
,i  may inherit eternal life80    ,now  
,jesus perceived that the young man was 
deceiving himself2 for he  supposed     
himself to be righteous1 but he was not2
 moreover he trusted in  his wealth and 
thought to buy the mercies of ,god with 
a price4 ,therefore  ,jesus took        
compassion on him2 and looking upon him1
 he loved him1 and  would fain have     

opened his eyes that he might know      
himself and be less  content with       
himself4 ,so he desired to shew him that
 he was wrapped up in  the love of his  
possessions4 ,therefore first of all    
,jesus answered as a  teacher 7forasmuch
 as the young man also had called him a 
teacher71 and he  bade the young man    
obey the ,law4 ,but ,tobias1 like unto a
 pupil reproaching  a teacher for that  
the task appointed is too easy1 replied 
that he had  observed the ,law from his 
childhood upward4 ,then ,jesus1 knowing 
what would  come to pass1 made mention  
of the watchword of our desperate       
journey1  calling it the journey of the 
cross 7or halter1 as some people termed 
it72  and he said to the young man1     
8,one thing thou lackest3 go thy way1   
sell  whatsoever thou hast1 and give to 
the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure  
in heaven2 and come1 take up the cross  
and follow me40 ,then the  countenance  
of the young man fell1 for he had not   
supposed that the  teacher would appoint

 so great a task2 for he had great      
possessions4 ,so he  rose up from his   
knees1 and departed1 grieving much1 and 
he went back by  the way he had come4   
,jesus looked after him as he went2 even
 as a physician regardeth the  patient  
which struggleth against the knife of   
healing4 ,and he stood still1  and      
marvelled much because of the power of  
the things of this world over  the mind 
of man1 and yet more because of the     
power of the ,lord to deliver  the souls
 of men from the things of this world4  
,for when he considered the  weakness of
 men and the strength of this world1    
then it seemed to him 7as  he was wont  
to say7 a harder and a greater work to  
redeem a rich man's  soul than to uproot
 a tree or a mountain1 or what else may 
be wrought by  art of magic4 ,so he     
turned to us and said1 8,children1 how  
hardly shall  they that have riches     
enter into the ,kingdom of ,heaven4 ,it 
is easier for a  camel to go through the
 eye of a needle1 than for a rich man to

 enter into  the ,kingdom of ,god40     
,hereat we were astonished out of       
measure1 saying  among ourselves1 8,who 
then can be saved80 ,but ,jesus looked  
upon us and  said1 8,with men it is     
impossible1 but not with ,god3 for with 
,god all  things are possible40         
,afterwards as we walked behind him1 we 
discoursed further among ourselves      
concerning these words1 and ,judas said1
 8,how then8 ,are we never to be  rich60
 ,but another said1 8,he meaneth that   
none that are rich can enter  into the  
,kingdom2 howbeit when we have attained 
to the ,kingdom1 then shall  we be rich1
 though we be poor now2 but the rich    
shall be shut out40 ,but  ,nathanael    
said to me privately he thought ,jesus  
meant otherwise2 as if he  divided the  
children of men into two parts1 the one 
part having their  hopes and treasures  
in heaven and the other part having     
their hopes and  treasures on earth     
7according as he had himself commanded  
us to have our  treasure in heaven1     

saying that where our treasure is1 there
 would our  heart be also73 now if a man
 have his treasure in heaven1 then      
though he  have five hundred talents on 
earth1 yet they harm him not1 for he    
useth  them to good end3 but whoso hath 
his treasure on earth1 though he have   
but  five hundred pence on earth1 yet   
they harm him1 clogging his soul1 and   
hindering him from looking upwards1     
because he useth his little wealth to   
the ends of his own pleasure4 8,for10   
said ,nathanael1 8as often as ,jesus    
speaketh of wealth1 he meaneth ever some
 spiritual meaning1 as when he  speaketh
 of bread and corn and wine1 and the    
like40    ,i doubt not that ,nathanael  
interpreted aright the words of ,jesus4 
,howbeit  also true it is that very few 
whom the world calleth rich1 entered    
either  then or afterwards into the     
,kingdom of ,god4 ,therefore ,i judge   
that ,jesus  meant also perchance to    
warn us how dangerous a thing it is for 
a man to  have more wealth than is      

needful for simple wants4 ,for the      
experience of  the saints hath been1    
everywhere and at all times1 that fewer 
men come  into the ,church with five    
hundred talents than with five hundred  
pence4    ,but after we had discoursed a
 long time concerning the matter1 ,judas
 moved  ,peter to question ,jesus1 and  
to ask whether indeed it was true1 that 
the  disciples should never be rewarded 
with wealth4 ,so ,peter went to ,jesus  
and  said1 8,lo1 we have left all and   
followed thee40 ,he said no more1 but   
,jesus  perceived what was in his heart2
 and he answered and said to us all1    
8,verily ,i say unto you1 there is no   
man that hath left house1 or brethren1  
or sisters1 or father1 or mother1 or    
wife1 or children1 or lands1 for my     
sake and the ,gospel's1 but he shall    
receive an hundredfold now in this      
time1 houses and brethren and sisters   
and mothers and children and lands1     
with persecutions3 and in the world to  
come eternal life40 ,then he ceased2    

but when we thought that he had made an 
end and we were departing1 he  added1   
8,but many that are first shall be last1
 and the last first40    ,these latter  
words of ,jesus troubled us not a       
little4 ,for of late since we  had left 
,capernaum1 many new disciples had      
joined themselves to us1 and  ,jesus had
 suffered them gladly2 and now we       
thought that his intent was  that1 in   
the kingdom of ,jerusalem1 they1 even   
these new disciples1 should  have equal 
reward with us1 who had followed him    
through all his  wanderings4 ,moreover  
we were vexed because in the beginning  
of our  consorting with ,jesus he had   
set much store upon us his followers1   
saying  unto us1 8,whosever is not with 
me is against me10 as much as to say    
that  only we1 which followed with him1 
were his friends1 but all else were his 
enemies2 but now he seemed to set store 
upon all them that were not siding  with
 his enemies4 ,for of late when ,john   
the son of ,zebedee saw a certain  man  

adventuring to cast out evil spirits in 
the name of ,jesus1 and yet he  followed
 not with us1 ,john would have forbidden
 him4 ,but ,jesus said  8,forbid him    
not3 for whosoever is not against me is 
with me40 ,these words  were contrary to
 the words which he had spoken before1  
insomuch that we  knew not what to      
think4    ,but as concerning the first  
words of ,jesus1 namely1 that all our   
goods1  whatsoever we had left for the  
sake of ,jesus1 should be multiplied an 
hundredfold1 and that too even in this  
life1 we rejoiced exceedingly4 ,for     
some that had left small fields1 began  
to reckon that they should have  great  
estates2 others that had left houses or 
boats1 counted up whole  villages and   
navies that should be theirs when ,jesus
 should be king in  ,jerusalem4         
,moreover a certain ,scribe1 who        
followed with us1 said 8,this  saying of
 ,jesus is also in accordance with the  
sayings of the ,wise2 for it  is said   
all things are done according to exact  

retribution1 whether in way  of         
punishment or reward4 ,even as ,samson  
7who followed after the desire of  his  
eyes7 was blinded by the ,philistines2  
and ,absolom 7who boasted of his  hair7 
was hanged upon the tree by his hair1 so
 that he died4 ,moreover also  ,ham the 
father of ,canaan 7who sinned by seeing 
and by telling1 that is  with the eyes  
and with the teeth7 was therefore made a
 slave2 as ,moses  also enacted that    
whatsoever slave was sinned against by  
his master in the  matter of teeth or   
eyes1 so as to suffer loss thereof1 he  
should be made  no longer a slave but   
free4 ,for this is according to the law 
of  retributions2 for with what measure 
a man measureth1 ,,they measure to him40
    8,nevertheless10 said ,matthew the  
,publican1 8,i would fain know how1 when
 we  attain to the ,kingdom1 the mothers
 of the faithful should be multiplied an
  hundredfold40 ,but some one said1 in  
answer to ,matthew1 that perchance the  
meaning of that hard saying was1 that as

 many as were in the ,kingdom  should be
 as one family2 so that all men1        
esteeming one another as  brethren1     
should look upon the mothers of their   
brethren as being their  own mothers4   
,howbeit most of us agreed to the words 
of ,judas1 who said  that we should take
 our stand upon the clear sayings of    
,jesus and leave  the dark sayings3 now 
,jesus had said that our houses and     
lands should be  multiplied an          
hundredfold1 and that saying ought to   
suffice for us4    ,thus for that season
 we gave not much heed to the deep      
saying of ,jesus3  but afterwards when  
,i wrote concerning it to ,quartus the  
,alexandrine1 of  whom ,i spake before1 
he explained it after a different       
fashion4 ,for he  said that ,jesus had  
in his mind a law of retribution indeed1
 but not such  a law of retribution as  
that whereof the ,scribes spake1 but a  
far deeper  one1 a certain retribution  
of the soul4 8,for10 said he1 8the      
meaning of  ,jesus is 7as ,i understand 

it7 that whatsoever the mind of man     
giveth to  ,god1 this returneth from    
,god to the mind of man again with      
increase1 in  like manner as there      
returneth from the earth to man         
whatsoever fruit or  produce man        
trusteth to the earth4 ,for ,god giveth 
to man many good gifts1  such as food1  
and houses1 and lands1 and wealth1 and  
friends1 and  kinsfolk2 and these all   
are as seed4 ,now if a man keep these   
good gifts to  himself1 and use them for
 his own pleasure1 he is like unto a    
husbandman  that should keep his seeds  
in a vessel1 or closet1 feasting himself
 with  the sight thereof1 and not       
venturing to trust them to the earth2   
wherefore  they grow not nor return him 
fruits of increase4 ,but whoso trusteth 
all  these seeds to ,god1 and useth them
 according to ,his will1 behold1 unto   
him  there ariseth a harvest in heaven4 
8,for whosoever useth food aright1 there
 springeth up for him cheerfulness  and 
thankfulness and temperance and         

selfrestraint2 and whoso useth aright   
lands and houses and wealth1 there      
springeth up for him liberality and     
generosity and magnanimity2 again1      
whosoever casteth the seed of           
friendship into the lap of the divine   
goodness1 behold there springeth up  for
 him a tree of living friendship that   
knoweth not death4 ,and in the  same    
way1 whosoever consecrateth unto ,god   
the love of mother and father1  he      
receiveth a new power of love multiplied
 an hundredfold1 and a new  feeling of  
fatherhood1 whereby he is drawn nearer  
unto the ,eternal ,father4  ,for        
assuredly1 whensoever ,jesus speaketh of
 the increase of houses1 and  lands1 and
 money1 and the like1 for them that     
enter into the ,kingdom2 he  hath not in
 his mind shekels1 and vines of ,eschol 
or ,engedi1 but he ever  seeth a certain
 spiritual coinage and a spiritual      
vineyard of the ,lord40    ,after this  
manner wrote ,quartus unto me2 making   
mention at the same time  of the words  

of ,jesus1 how he had said that         
whosoever should receive a  righteous   
man1 i4e4 an observer of the law1 in the
 name of a righteous  man1 should       
receive a righteous man's reward2 and   
whosoever should receive  a prophet in  
the name of a prophet1 should receive a 
prophet's reward4  8,now by these       
words10 said ,quartus1 8,jesus          
signifieth not that a man shall  have   
more or less of shekels1 or more or less
 of food1 or raiment1 or  happiness1 for
 that he receiveth a prophet or a       
righteous man2 but his  meaning is this3
 that whoso by force of fellowfeeling   
and by the links of  faith shall be     
bound to a righteous man1 or shall be   
bound to a prophet in  his heart1 he    
shall become one with the righteous man 
or one with the  prophet1 so that he    
shall receive the like reward with the  
righteous man  or with the prophet1 to  
wit1 increase of righteousness1 or      
increase of the  knowledge of ,god's    
will40    ,whether ,quartus1 or he that 

made answer to ,matthew1 be the better  
interpreter of these words of ,jesus1 ,i
 know not even now3 howbeit at that     
time we gave not much thought to these  
words1 nor to aught else of the         
doctrine of ,jesus4 ,for whatsoever we  
had learned or whatsoever we thought    
that we had learned aforetime1 while we 
were in ,galilee1 concerning the        
forgiveness of sins1 and the not        
resisting evil1 and the becoming as     
little children1 behold1 all these      
lessons now began to seem to us dim and 
far off1 and fit rather for the schools 
of children than for the stir of  the   
lives of men3 because we were now going 
up to ,jerusalem1 and because  the ,day 
of ,decision seemed nigh at hand4 ,for  
each morning1 when we arose1  we said   
unto one another1 8,perchance the       
,romans may this day attack us10  and   
each day1 when we lay down to take rest1
 we reckoned the time and  said1 8,there
 wanteth now one day less to the day of 
the ,passover3 and on  that day1 if not 

before1 ,jesus must of a surety redeem  
,israel with the  strong hand40         
,,chapter ,,xxiv      ,on the last day  
of the month ,adar1 as ,i remember1 we  
left the young man  ,tobias behind us3  
and about three or four days afterwards1
 to wit on the  third or fourth day of  
the month ,nisan 7which is the month of 
the  ,passover71 we came down to the    
valley of ,jordan over against ,jericho4
 ,now  therefore there wanted but ten   
days to the fourteenth day of the month1
  which is the great day of the         
,passover4 ,as the time drew nigh for   
our  entering into ,jerusalem1 ,judas   
began to complain very bitterly that    
,jesus  neither strengthened nor        
encouraged his followers like a wise    
leader1 but  kept back some from        
following1 and others1 which followed1  
he made to be  of a faint heart4        
,especially he reproached ,jesus for    
that he did not set  forth the ,kingdom 
in clear words2 8,for10 said he1 8two or
 three words  would suffice1 if ,jesus  

would but tell us plainly the when and  
the where  thereof2 but now he speaketh 
darkly1 saying at one time1 that it is  
at  hand2 at another time1 that it is   
among us2 anon1 that it is still        
distant2 then1 that we must strive to   
enter into it4 ,wherefore1 to what is   
this ,kingdom of ,god like8 ,even to a  
mist1 which taketh many different       
shapes1 because it hath no substance40  
,now ,jesus seemed to me to perceive    
what was in the mind of ,judas1 and to  
be grieved thereat2 but he took no note 
thereof in our presence1 although       
,judas had been these many days turning 
his heart from our ,master and          
inclining himself to leave him4 ,for    
indeed he had by this time begun to     
repent that he had ever joined himself  
to ,jesus4 ,notwithstanding even now1   
at certain seasons1 while ,jesus was    
speaking1 ,judas was drawn towards him  
as in old times2 but1 as it were1       
perforce1 and in spite of himself4      
,hence  it came to pass that he was     

sorely distracted in his mind1 being    
tossed  now this way1 now that1 like    
unto a troubled sea4 ,for sometimes1    
upon no  apparent cause1 he would break 
out into protestations of love for      
,jesus2  but at other times1 when he    
thought no one was at hand 7yea1 and    
even in  our hearing when the passion   
was on him7 he would rage and fume that 
he  had ever left ,kerioth for to join  
such a leader as this1 declaring that   
,jesus would ruin all them that followed
 him1 and saying that he could  wellnigh
 hate him as a blind leader of the      
blind4    ,oftentimes hath it been      
marvelled how it should come to pass    
that ,jesus  should have chosen ,judas  
to be one of his apostles2 for he knew  
what was  in men4 ,why therefore did our
 ,master choose for an apostle one that 
should  afterwards betray him8 ,but the 
answer which ,quartus giveth is this1   
that1  at the first1 perchance ,jesus   
did not know that ,judas would betray   
him2  yea1 and had not ,judas hardened  

himself against ,jesus1 he might have   
become a chosen vessel of the ,lord4    
,for1 at the first1 ,judas was no       
traitor1 nor like unto one that should  
be  a traitor2 but of a sanguine        
complexion and disposition1 cheerful    
even to  mirthfulness1 and frank on a   
first acquaintance2 not given to musing 
nor  premeditating2 but active and      
strenuous1 and withal a lover of        
,israel3  albeit perchance somewhat too 
ambitious and less ready in friendship  
than  in counsel4 ,from a child his mind
 was ever given to great purposes2 and  
towards these ends he bent all his      
faculties3 for he was of a deep         
understanding1 skilled in the ways of   
men1 and of a discerning spirit1  quick 
to perceive what means were fit to      
accomplish his ends4 ,but the  mischief 
was that the power to understand was    
quicker in him than the  power to love2 
for his understanding moved as a flame  
of fire1 but his  heart was very cold4  
,when he first became acquainted with   

our ,master1 he straightway clave unto  
him as unto a great leader of the       
people1 who was like to redeem ,sion4   
,howbeit his heart went not out to      
,jesus as the heart of ,john the son of 
,zebedee1 and as the heart of ,simon the
 son of ,jonah4 ,for ,i remember once1  
when ,i questioned ,simon ,peter for    
what cause he first joined himself to   
,jesus1 ,peter said1 8,because he had   
been drawn unto ,jesus he knew not how1 
and by the hand of the ,lord02 but      
,judas said1 8,nay1 but thou speakest as
 a  sheep or a goat1 in whom there is   
feeling but no understanding3 but ,i    
applied myself to him with deliberation1
 as deeming him to be the fittest       
instrument to do good unto ,sion40      
,now perchance because ,judas gave not  
so much of his heart unto our ,master1  
for this cause he received not so much  
back again2 wherefore he grew not  in   
spirit like the rest1 but went backward 
rather than forward4 ,and when  he found
 that ,jesus of ,nazareth was not to be 

used as an instrument1 no  not even to  
do good to ,sion2 then he began to      
repent that he had joined  himself unto 
him4 ,afterwards1 when ,jesus first took
 upon him to forgive  sins1 this was1 as
 it were1 the turningpoint in the course
 of ,judas4 ,for  he was sore disturbed 
at that time1 insomuch that he carried  
his  searchings of heart written even   
upon his countenance4 ,for he was much  
moved to have poured himself out before 
,jesus of ,nazareth1 beseeching him  to 
take away the coldness of heart1 and to 
give him a heart of flesh4  ,howbeit    
,satan hindered it1 taking advantage of 
his pride2 for the man was  always very 
proud1 and had hitherto been foremost   
among the apostles2 nor  could he brook 
now to step down from his high place and
 to make himself  even as one of the    
sinners4 ,wherefore he opened himself   
not to ,jesus1 but  hardened himself    
against the voice of the ,lord within   
him4    ,yet methinks the conflict was  
no light one in his heart2 and even to  

the  last1 he could scarce refrain from 
giving himself up to ,jesus4 ,and1 as it
  seemed to me1 for this cause ,jesus   
called him to be one of the ,twelve1    
perceiving how great gifts the ,lord had
 bestowed upon him1 and also  hoping1 by
 this means1 perchance1 to have cast out
 the jealousy and the  pride from his   
heart1 and in the end1 to have drawn him
 wholly towards  himself4 ,for if ,judas
 could have felt that he was altogether 
trusted1 even  as the chief of all the  
apostles1 then belike he would have cast
 away the  pride whereon he clothed     
himself1 and would have opened his heart
 to our  ,master2 and then verily he    
would have been a light in ,israel1 not 
less  than the greatest of the apostles4
 ,but it was not so to be2 for it was   
otherwise willed by the ,inscrutable4   
,so it came to pass that1 from the time 
when he was rebuked by ,jesus1 as ,i    
have related above 7though in truth the 
rebuke was not more for ,judas than  for
 the rest of the disciples71 ,judas     

withdrew himself more and more from     
,jesus and from the other disciples2    
neither would he speak freely nor ask   
questions as before1 but he moved the   
other disciples to question ,jesus in   
his stead4 ,yet notwithstanding when    
,jesus exhorted or rebuked us1 ,judas   
would ever take the rebuke unto himself 
above all1 and say that ,jesus  pointed 
at him1 though he did not mention him by
 name4 ,then would he fume  and rage and
 depart in anger1 and avoid the rest for
 many hours together4  ,but when he came
 among the disciples1 he would sow      
strife among us with  speech of passion 
and jealousy2 so that he was1 as it     
were1 a thorn in the  side of the       
,master4    ,all this ,jesus perceived1 
and grieved thereat4 ,yet he said       
nothing4 ,and1  as it seemed to me1 his 
grief for ,judas was swallowed up in    
another and a  larger grief2 which ,i   
understood not then1 but now ,i         
understand in part4  ,for ,jesus at this
 time began to see more and more clearly

 that all or  almost all in ,israel     
should reject him2 and that his         
disciples should  prove faithless1 at   
least for a time2 and that he should    
bring troubles  and sorrows and wars    
upon the earth1 as well as joy and      
peace2 and that  the day of ,deliverance
 and ,redemption was further off than   
had been  supposed4 ,howbeit1 for all   
this1 he turned not to the right hand   
nor to  the left from the going up to   
,jerusalem3 for he knew that the ,lord  
,god had  an errand for him there2 and  
that his death was to be for the life of
 men3  and that the ,lord would in the  
end give him the victory over all his   
enemies4    ,on the fourth day of the   
month ,nisan1 being 7as ,i said above7  
the tenth  day before the ,passover1 we 
set forth again on our journey to       
,jerusalem1  and much people went with  
us4 ,and when we came down from the     
mountains to  ,jordan1 even to the fords
 of the river1 then some expected that  
,jesus  should have stretched out his   

hand and dried up the river1 even as a  
certain ,egyptian false prophet had     
lately promised to do2 and likewise     
,elias in old times had dried up        
,jordan1 and it had been also dried up  
at  the word of the priests when ,joshua
 passed over4 7,for both now1 and       
before1 and for a long time after1 the  
minds of all in ,israel were ready  to  
expect any sign howsoever strange and   
monstrous1 and to follow any that  would
 profess to work such signs2 insomuch   
that1 about ten years ago1 even  on the 
very day that the ,holy ,temple was     
burned with fire by the ,romans1  even  
on that last day 7as ,i have heard7 a   
certain false ,christ led some  six     
thousand of my countrymen into one of   
the courtyards of the ,temple1          
expecting a sign from heaven4 ,so strong
 was faith in ,israel2 if it be  faith  
indeed1 to trust in any that profess to 
work signs and wonders47  ,howbeit      
,jesus wrought neither this nor any     
other sign at this season1 and  we all  

passed over1 even as the other pilgrims1
 by the fords2 but with not  a little   
difficulty and even some peril1 for the 
river was marvellously  swollen4 ,hereat
 some of the common people that were    
with us began to  murmur1 wondering when
 the time should come that ,jesus should
 put away  delays1 and work such works  
as they expected from a ,messiah4       
,when we came unto ,gilgal we rested2   
but ,judas made some pretext that he    
should go on to ,jericho before us to   
prepare the way for ,jesus2 and1 as ,i  
afterwards learned1 he went to the house
 of a certain ,scribe in ,jericho  one  
of his acquaintance1 and a principal man
 among the ,pharisees of that  city1 and
 he conversed with him a long time4 ,the
 name of the ,scribe was  ,azariah the  
son of ,simon4    ,now while we rested  
at ,gilgal1 we looked gladly upon       
,jericho1 gazing at  the forest of      
palmtrees which lay between us and the  
city4 ,much did we  admire also the four
 towers of the city1 which rose up      

straight to heaven  on the other side of
 the forest1 and the walls high and     
newly built2  surrounded on all sides by
 thickets of balsam1 and gardens of     
roses1 and  full of all delights4 ,for  
the place knoweth not drought1 by reason
 of the  perpetual waters2 but it is a  
paradise all the year round4 ,beyond    
,jericho1  on the other side1 we could  
see1 rising up as it were over against  
us1 the  mountains that lead up to      
,jerusalem2 insomuch that it was a      
saying with  them of the ,holy ,city    
that the sounds of the sacred music and 
the smell of  the incense go down even  
to the men of ,jericho4 ,but the ascent 
is steep  and the way bleak and barren1 
through cliffs and rocks on the right   
hand  and on the left2 where no trees   
are1 nor any water2 but robbers and     
murderers lurk at all times in the caves
 on the sides of the mountains1  for to 
come down unawares upon the pilgrims and
 travellers which pass by  that way4    
,then said ,peter unto ,john1 8,without 

doubt the ,romans will not  suffer us to
 go up2 but they will fall upon us by   
the way4 ,and should not  the people be 
advised thereof1 that they may stand    
upon their guard80 ,but  ,john said     
nothing2 notwithstanding1 he seemed     
troubled that ,jesus took no  order for 
what was to come to pass upon our       
journey4    ,when we came unto ,jericho1
 behold1 the people had been advised of 
our  coming1 and on both sides of the   
road there was gathered together a great
  multitude to see ,jesus as he passed2 
and the common people hailed him at     
this time by the name that was dearest  
unto the patriots of our nation1        
calling him a deliverer after the manner
 of ,david1 and saying1 8,hosanna1  son 
of ,david40 ,but ,azariah the son of    
,simon1 who was of the acquaintance  of 
,judas1 was come forth also2 and he     
saluted ,jesus and besought him to  eat 
bread in his house4 ,howbeit ,jesus     
would not eat bread in the house of     
,azariah4 ,for as he passed through the 

midst of the people1 he had espied a    
certain man1 by name ,zacchus1 looking  
down upon him from a sycamoretree1  into
 the which he had climbed up1 out of the
 fervency of his desire to see  ,jesus3 
and straightway he had called unto the  
man1 and bidden him come  down1 saying  
that he must eat bread in the man's     
house4 ,now the man was a  taxgatherer1 
as might have been seen by his dress and
 tablets1 and indeed  the crowd shouted 
aloud that he was a taxgatherer1 when   
they saw that  ,jesus had chosen him to 
eat bread in his house2 and they were   
sore  displeased at ,jesus4             
,notwithstanding ,jesus was constant in 
his purpose not  to eat bread in the    
house of ,azariah the ,rabbi1 but in the
 house of  ,zacchus the publican4 ,so   
,azariah dissembled his anger and came  
to the  feast in the house of ,zacchus1 
and certain other ,pharisees with him4  
,howbeit they themselves feasted not    
with the common people and the tax      
gatherers2 but they conversed with      

,jesus and asked him questions4    ,now 
it came to pass1 during the feast1 that 
the heart of ,zacchus the tax  gatherer 
was turned unto ,jesus 7even as the     
heart of ,barachiah the son of  ,zadok  
had been turned to ,jesus in the house  
of ,matthew the publican1 as ,i  related
 above73 and he stood up and repented   
aloud of his evil deeds1 and  promised  
to make restitution1 and that also not  
twofold but fourfold1  saying moreover  
that he would give the half of his goods
 to the poor4 ,and  ,jesus rejoiced at  
his words and said1 8,this day is       
salvation come unto  this house1        
forasmuch as he also is a son of        
,abraham40    ,now while ,jesus was     
saying these words1 ,i took note that   
,judas was making  signs unto ,azariah2 
and ,jesus had scarce made an end of    
speaking when  ,azariah 7upon a set     
plan1 as ,i conjecture1 devised with    
,judas7 said to  him1 8,thou sayest that
 the ,kingdom of ,heaven is at hand3    
tell us therefore  when cometh it1 and  

at what hour8 ,so shall we be prepared  
and ready when  it cometh40 ,but ,jesus 
made answer to him and said1 8,the      
,kingdom of ,heaven  cometh not with    
observation4 ,neither shall they say1   
,lo here6 or1 ,lo  there6 ,for behold0  
7and saying these words he pointed to   
,zacchus7 8the  ,kingdom of ,heaven is  
within you40 ,at these words the face of
 ,azariah was  clouded with anger2 for  
he had not attained that which he       
desired3 and we  also were somewhat     
sorry1 for we had hoped that we should  
have heard some  new thing4 ,but ,judas 
straightway went out of the chamber1 not
 able to  contain himself for           
displeasure4    ,when the guests and the
 ,pharisees were gone forth1 and we were
 alone with  ,jesus1 we would have      
questioned him still further concerning 
this matter2  but we were afraid4       
,howbeit many of the common people1 yea 
and some also  of ourselves1 expected   
that on the morrow ,jesus should have   
made an  assault on the barracks of the 

guard in ,jericho and on the king's     
palace2  or1 at the least1 that he      
should have suffered us to burn down the
 house  of customs4 ,but ,jesus did none
 of these things3 but on the morrow we  
set  forth again to go up to ,jerusalem4
 ,it was now the sixth day of the month 
,nisan1 and the eighth day before the   
day of the ,passover4    ,after we had  
journeyed for about an hour1 the way    
being exceeding steep1  and the sun     
7although it was not long risen7 beating
 with an exceeding  heat upon us1 by    
reason of the rocks and cliffs around us
 and before us2  it came to pass that we
 sat down to rest4 ,and ,jesus looked   
down upon  ,jericho1 and on the         
palmtrees thereof and on the            
balsamgroves1 and on  all the gardens of
 the place1 and then he turned and      
looked to the right  hand upon the      
country where ,jordan floweth into the  
,dead ,sea1 and he  opened his mouth and
 taught us concerning the ,kingdom of   
,god4 ,for he said  that1 as in old time

 the cities of ,sodom and ,gomorrah had 
been swallowed  up in that same sea of  
destruction which we saw before our     
eyes1 even so  should it be hereafter3  
and the ,kingdom of ,heaven should come 
in a flash1  even as the lightning which
 lighteneth out of the one part under   
heaven  and shineth unto the other part 
under heaven4 ,but first he said that   
trouble should come upon the disciples2 
for the ,son of man should be  rejected1
 and the days should come when we should
 desire to see one of the  days of the  
,son of man1 and should not see it4     
,most of all he lamented  that in the   
darkness of that time there should be   
division in ,israel1 yea  in every      
household and in every corner of        
,israel3 8,i tell you in that  night    
there shall be two men in one bed2 the  
one shall be taken and the  other left4 
,two women shall be grinding together2  
the one shall be taken  and the other   
left4 ,two men shall be in the field2   
the one shall be taken  and the other   

left40    ,now this seemed quite        
contrary to the word which ,jesus had   
spoken  yesterday4 ,for then ,jesus had 
said that the ,kingdom of ,god was      
within us2  but now he said that it     
should come like the lightning4         
,howbeit1 these  latter words made us   
rejoice2 for now again we were lifted up
 in our  hearts1 supposing that ,jesus  
would work some sudden sign1 to destroy 
our  enemies in a moment of time4 ,and  
,judas was now no longer able to        
constrain  himself 7for he had been sore
 displeased1 even before1 that the      
question  of ,azariah had not been      
answered by ,jesus73 therefore1 when    
,jesus had made  an end of speaking     
these words1 how that 8the one shall be 
taken and the  other left10 supposing   
that now at last he should obtain to    
know that  secret which he had so long  
desired to know1 he leapt up in the     
vehemence  of his desire1 and cried     
aloud to ,jesus1 8,where1 ,o ,master80  
,but ,jesus  paused and looked          

steadfastly at him and said1            
8,wheresoever the body is1  thither will
 the eagles be gathered together40      
,saying these words1 ,jesus  arose and  
turned his face from the ,dead ,sea and 
from the pleasant places  of ,jericho1  
and bent himself again to ascend the    
mountainous way which  leadeth up to    
,bethany and thence to ,jerusalem4 ,but 
,judas remained behind  standing in the 
same place1 and there ,i saw him still  
standing and musing1  long after the    
rest of the disciples had followed      
,jesus up the mountainous  way4    ,when
 ,judas at last overtook us1 he         
complained much that ,jesus knew in     
himself what was to come to pass1 and   
yet hid it from his followers4  8,for10 
said he1 8we risk our lives for him1 yet
 he trusteth us not40 ,now  we were     
displeased at the words of ,judas2 for  
we were assured that ,jesus  did all    
things for the best4 ,notwithstanding we
 were somewhat moved  because ,jesus    
thought not fit to tell us beforehand   

that which was to  befall us in         
,jerusalem and on our journey to        
,jerusalem4 ,and so it was  that1 while 
we were disputing1 there was a great    
clamour in the front of  our band1 and a
 cry went up that the ,romans were upon 
us2 and straightway  there was much stir
 of men putting themselves in order of  
defence 7those  at least that had arms71
 and certain of the women cried out for 
fear4 ,and  ,peter said it was not      
unlikely that the ,romans should fall   
upon us here2  for this was the very    
place where they had laid ambush for    
,athronges and  slain him2 moreover one 
came running past us saying that he had 
seen the  glittering of their helmets1  
and that they were lying in wait for us 
at  the corner of the road4 ,howbeit the
 report was false2 for there were no    
,romans1 but some one had been deceived 
by the shining of the sun against  the  
rocks1 and so had caused all this stir4 
,now ,jesus was grieved when he saw that
 some of the disciples were afraid2  and

 he rebuked us1 bidding us not to fear  
destruction of body1 but only           
destruction of soul4 ,he himself also   
shewed no sign of fear1 so that we      
marvelled at his steadfastness and      
stoutness of heart4 ,nevertheless ,judas
  said that it would have been better if
 ,jesus1 being a prophet1 had           
forewarned the multitude and had said   
unto them1 8,the ,romans will not fall  
upon us save at ,bethany1 or so many    
furlongs on this side of ,bethany2 or1  
they will not fall upon us today1 but   
tomorrow at the seventh hour1  naming   
the place and time exactly30 and this1  
said ,judas1 would have been  far better
 than that our band should thus be      
thrown into a confusion upon  a mere    
rumour4    ,we said nothing against     
,judas2 for we knew not what to say3    
neither do ,i  perfectly know even to   
this day4 ,but ,quartus saith that      
8,jesus knew not  all these things      
exactly1 but only generally1 and as it  
were on a large  scale2 as if a pilot1  

piloting a vessel into an haven1 should 
know the  winds1 and the currents1 and  
the shoals1 and the aspect and form of  
the  coast1 but not all the pebbles upon
 the strand1 nor even the very moment   
that the ship should come into the      
harbour4 ,for by certain signs of the   
times10 said ,quartus1 8,jesus discerned
 of that which was to come1 even as  a  
wise mariner foretelleth the weather by 
the clouds1 and winds1 and the  other   
signs in the heavens4 ,neither was      
,jesus like unto a magician or  common  
enchanter1 who pretendeth to change the 
course of things by his  enchantment2   
but he was even as a ,son of ,god1 who  
can read what is in the  book of the    
future1 yea1 and can shape the future1  
because he doeth all  things in         
accordance with the invisible laws of   
,god40    ,thus far ,quartus2 but       
concerning these things ,i know not1    
neither  pronounce judgment4 ,but let us
 return to our journey4 ,soon after     
these  things1 going to ,john the son of

 ,zebedee1 ,i found him conversing with 
his  mother2 and he received me with a  
constrained countenance not according to
  his custom4 ,presently ,i perceived   
that his mother desired him to do a     
certain thing1 which he was loth to do4 
,it seemed that ,judas had been         
speaking to her1 saying that it was fit 
that strife should be quenched  among   
the disciples by determining once and   
for all who should have the  first      
places in the ,kingdom2 for1 said he1   
until this be settled1 there  must still
 be quarrelling among the disciples4    
,for ,simon ,peter1 forsooth1  had      
supposed himself to be chief1 because   
,jesus had blessed him and given  unto  
him a title2 but the sons of ,zebedee   
had done no less deeds1 and  shewn no   
less zeal1 than ,peter2 and they1 as    
well as ,peter1 had received a  title1  
having been called ,sons of ,thunder2   
wherefore then 7said ,judas7  should    
they not claim the first places8 ,for   
himself1 he said1 he had no  thoughts   

about such high matters2 for ,jesus     
loved him not as the rest4  ,howbeit1 he
 desired that the expedition should not 
fail owing to the  strife among the     
disciples4 ,now ,jesus had promised that
 if two or three of  his disciples      
agreed touching anything they should    
ask1 it should be done  for them4       
,therefore he bade the mother of ,john  
go with her two sons to  ,jesus and ask 
of him a certain favour2 and if ,jesus  
granted it1 then she  was to ask that   
her two sons might be next to ,jesus in 
the place of honour  in the ,new        
,kingdom4    ,when ,james and ,john had 
been at last persuaded by their mother1 
they made  their petition unto ,jesus4  
,but ,jesus refused it1 saying that to  
sit on his  right hand and on his left  
hand was not his to give1 save to those 
for  whom it had been prepared by the   
,father4 ,for he would do nothing       
unjustly1  nor out of respect for       
persons2 but here1 as in all things1 he 
desired to  conform himself to the      

unseen ordinances of the ,father4 ,and  
herein ,jesus  shewed himself very      
different from that which he was        
supposed to be by  ,jonathan the son of 
,ezra4 ,for ,jonathan supposed that he  
was misled by his  desires1 and that    
whatsoever things seemed to ,jesus      
desirable1 these ,jesus  fancied to be  
true3 but it was not so2 for no one ever
 saw1 more clearly  than ,jesus1 that   
which must needs be4 ,only he rebelled  
not against it1 but  willingly submitted
 himself to it and embraced it1 as being
 the will of  the ,father1 and therefore
 very good4 ,for this cause both now and
 at other  times1 he spake of all his   
words and works as being prepared for   
him2  saying that he could neither do   
nor say anything of himself1 but only   
that  which the ,father had prepared4   
,also ,i marked1 both at this time and  
often  before and after1 how ,jesus     
joined together in himself virtues that 
mix  not well together in the minds of  
most4 ,for with most men a nature that  

judgeth well and wisely is somewhat     
cold2 and they which love warmly1 love  
neither wisely nor well1 but are fond4  
,but with ,jesus it was not so3 for  the
 more he loved men1 the more he loved   
justice and truth2 because1 as ,i       
suppose1 his love of men on earth sprang
 out of his love of ,him in heaven      
whose name is ,truth and ,justice4      
,on this same day ,jesus spake much     
concerning that which was to come2 and  
all his words tended to sadness4 ,for he
 lamented over the divisions among  his 
disciples1 and the divisions that should
 be in the world1 saying that  it was as
 if he had not come to bring peace but a
 sword2 yea1 and that he  had verily    
come to kindle a fire upon the earth4   
,moreover of the day of  ,redemption he 
spake as though it were a great way off1
 and the disciples  would need to wait  
long for it1 and to watch1 and to pray1 
and to resist  many temptations4        
,howbeit in every parable he spake      
confidently of a  certain day of        

,decision or ,judgment1 when the good   
should be separated  from the evil1 and 
the evil should be cast into the fire1  
but the good  should be preserved for   
everlasting life4    ,these things he   
said to all the disciples2 but when the 
,twelve1 and we  that were always with  
him1 were come to him in the inn where  
he rested  during the heat of the       
noontide1 he spake privately to us      
concerning our  disputings and          
contentions among ourselves4 ,for he had
 noted how sorely  the rest of the      
apostles were displeased at ,john and   
,james2 and also at  other times he had 
perceived that we were jealous one of   
another4  ,wherefore he besought us 7and
 as it seemed to me there were even     
tears in  his eyes7 to be at peace among
 ourselves4 ,moreover he spake about    
himself1  saying that he had a cup of   
sorrow to drink and a baptism of        
suffering to  be baptized withal1 and   
that he had come to give his life a     
ransom for the  multitude4 ,therefore if

 any man among us desired to be chief of
 all and  foremost of all1 he desired   
that man to be foremost in serving1 and 
in  ministering1 and in suffering2 even 
as he also came to be a sufferer and a  
minister for the multitude4    ,then he 
besought us with great passion and      
fervency to suffer nothing to  come     
between us and our entrance into the    
,kingdom1 saying that it were  better   
for us to cut off our right hand or     
pluck out our right eye and so  to enter
 into life1 rather than to enter with   
two eyes and hands into  darkness1 into 
the valley of ,hinnom1 where the worm   
ceaseth not and the  fire is not        
quenched4 ,finally1 he lamented over the
 world1 how that it was  not fit to be a
 sacrifice to the ,father because it was
 not salted2 and he  called us the salt 
of the world3 8,but if10 said he1 8the  
salt hath lost  its savour1 wherewith   
shall the salting be performed80    ,now
 some of his words were hidden from us1 
but these last were easy to  understand4

 ,and we were ashamed of our disputings1
 and because we were not  like unto our 
,master in singleness of heart4 ,judas  
also himself seemed to  be moved        
somewhat at the time3 yet1 soon after1  
he spake again as before1  saying that  
it was impossible to obey ,jesus1       
because ,jesus said at one  time one    
thing and at another time another2      
8,wherefore10 added ,judas1  8inasmuch  
as our ,master will neither plan nor    
perform aught to do good  unto himself1 
methinks it is meet that we his         
disciples should strive to  do him good1
 even though it be against his own      
will40                                  
,,chapter ,,xxv      ,after ,jesus had  
made an end of this exhortation1 he set 
forth on his  journey to go towards     
,bethany1 which lay still far up above  
us4 ,there was  in his countenance even 
such a brightness as we had noted when  
he came  down from the mountain with    
,peter and ,james and ,john4 ,whereat we
  marvelled1 because he that had but now

 spoken to us with such a passion of    
sorrow concerning a cup of suffering and
 death1 seemed to go towards  suffering 
and death like unto one triumphing in   
glory4 ,howbeit we feared  to ask him   
further concerning these things2 but we 
followed after him1  questioning among  
ourselves4    ,now ,judas ceased not    
cavilling at the exhortation of ,jesus1 
saying that it  was not fit that a      
leader should make himself like a child1
 nor that whoso  would fain be greatest 
should make himself least2 8,for10 said 
,judas1 8a  leader must lead1 not       
follow2 and he must command1 not obey2  
and he must  have the forethought of a  
man to arrange all things orderly1 not  
the  afterthought of a child to         
adventure all things at hazard4 ,now    
,jesus1 in  his former days1 when he was
 like himself1 ever took upon himself   
the part  of leader1 yea1 even a leader 
greater than ,moses2 for he was wont to 
speak  in our ears such words as these1 
,it was said to them of old time1 ,do   

this1  but ,i say unto you1 ,do that2   
and again1 ,come unto me1 and ,i will   
give you rest2 ,take my yoke upon you1  
and the like4 ,were not these words  the
 words of a leader8 ,but now what saith 
he8 ,even such words as these3 #8,i  am 
not a leader1 but a follower'2 #8,i am  
not as the greatest1 but as the  least'2
 #8,i am not a conqueror1 but as one to 
be vanquished1 yea and  already         
vanquished1 even as a lamb led to the   
slaughter4' ,nor doth he give  command  
beforehand1 nor warn us how to meet the 
enemy1 nor where to expect  the onset4  
,but behold it wanteth but a week or    
less1 and there cometh the  ,passover2  
and nothing is settled4 ,verily we are  
as sheep without a  shepherd40    ,thus 
spake ,judas in the bitterness of his   
heart1 more freely than he had  ever    
spoken before 7at least in our          
presence71 and we marvelled at the      
bitterness of his speech4 ,but ,peter   
rebuked him and said1 8,say not such    
words as these1 ,o ,judas1 for of a     

surety ,jesus is our leader even unto   
death2 but his ways are not as our ways1
 and we must have faith in him4         
,howbeit concerning what is to come to  
pass on the day after the morrow1       
somewhat1 as ,i know1 is already        
settled2 for he purposeth to enter the  
,holy ,city publicly1 even before the   
face of all that dwell in ,jerusalem4   
,now when that cometh to pass1 then     
doubtless he will be moved to perform   
some mighty work4 ,i say not that he    
will smite with the sword2 for he ever  
shrinketh from the sword4 ,but perchance
 he will pray unto the ,lord1 and  the  
earth will open for our enemies1 even as
 it opened for the children of  ,korah1 
or fire will go forth from the presence 
of our ,master himself1 and  he will    
consume his enemies with the fervency of
 his breath4 ,for the  mercies of the   
,lord are manifold1 and very many are   
,his paths for the  destruction of the  
wicked40    ,when ,judas heard mention  
of the going of ,jesus into ,jerusalem1 

he held his  peace1 thinking 7as ,i     
perceived from his words afterwards7    
that this was  perchance a sign that    
,jesus was minded to become a leader    
indeed4 ,but  another1 taking up the    
word spoken by ,simon ,peter touching   
the fire from  the presence of ,jesus1  
said1 8,and perchance this fire is even 
what our  ,master signifieth1 when he   
saith that the adversaries shall be cast
 into  the fire40 ,but another said1    
8,nay1 but it is written1 the punishment
 of  malefactors shall be fire and      
worms4 ,also it is written in the       
prophet  ,isaiah that1 when all things  
are made anew1 in that day the righteous
  shall go up to ,jerusalem to worship  
the ,lord1 #8and they shall go forth and
  look upon the carcases of the men that
 have transgressed against me2 for      
their worm shall not die1 neither shall 
their fire be quenched4' ,therefore  it 
is most certain that1 when ,jerusalem   
shall be purified1 the adversaries      
shall be cast forth into the valley of  

,hinnom1 even to the fire and worms2    
and they shall be an abhorring to all   
flesh40    ,to this the most part       
agreed4 ,only ,nathanael seemed         
doubtful2 but he said  nothing in the   
hearing of the rest4 ,but when ,i       
questioned him concerning  the meaning  
of the words of ,jesus1 he answered that
 he knew not for  certain what they     
meant2 only he felt assured that ,jesus 
had in his mind  not a visible but some 
kind of invisible fire1 which preyeth   
upon  wickedness1 even as the fire      
whereon we look preyeth upon fuel4 ,this
  seemed to me at that time a hard      
saying1 but now ,i consent unto it4 ,and
 to  the same effect spake ,quartus     
afterwards1 saying1 8,to ,jesus the     
invisible  things were visible1 even as 
those things which are seen with the    
eyes2  yea1 they were more visible4     
,therefore when he looked upon the      
hearts of  men and discerned in them    
jealousy or malignity or hypocrisy1     
behold1 such  men seemed to him as men  

that are suffering from a sore disease1 
which  disease must be burned away with 
the fires of ,god4 ,for as the all      
encompassing sunlight bringeth life to  
them which are whole1 but fiery  heats  
to them in whose veins the fever rageth1
 even so the fire of ,god  7which       
compasseth all invisible things1 so that
 naught can escape from the  flame      
thereof7 purifieth that which will be   
purified1 but consumeth that  which is  
corrupt1 according as it is written1    
#8,the jealousy of the ,lord  burneth   
like fire for ever4'0    ,now ,xanthias1
 the ,greek merchant of ,alexandria1 was
 wont to say that ,jesus  would have    
done well to make distinction between   
the fire of ,god and the  fires of men2 
lest his disciples should be led astray 
by his words1 and  lest they should     
suppose that ,jesus was speaking of     
earthly destruction4  ,but if ,xanthias 
had lived unto these days1 and had seen 
how1 after the  death of our ,master1   
the most part of our nation were given  

up to darkness  and madness1 and their  
city and temple were burned with fire1  
and they  themselves were consumed by   
hundreds and by thousands1 then1 as it  
seemeth  to me1 he would have perceived 
that the fire whereof ,jesus spake      
consumeth  alike things visible and     
invisible1 and on earth as well as not  
on earth4  ,howbeit at this season we   
understood none of these things1 and    
almost all  thought that the ,romans and
 other ,gentiles in ,jerusalem1 and     
whosoever of  our own nation stood up   
against our ,master1 should be slain and
 cast out  into the valley of ,hinnom to
 be consumed by fire and worms4    ,but 
while we thus disputed among ourselves1 
behold1 we were now come nigh  unto the 
village called ,bethany2 which lieth    
high up on the mountain  called the     
,mount of ,olives1 and looketh1 from    
above1 upon the road that  goeth down to
 ,jericho4 ,and from ,bethany to        
,jerusalem is but sixteen  furlongs or  
less4 ,here therefore our journey was at

 an end2 for our ,master  was to tarry  
at ,bethany1 in the house of ,mary and  
,martha1 for that night  and during the 
morrow also2 for the ,sabbath was at    
hand4 ,but of the rest  of our band1    
some few remained with us2 others went  
forward a little space  to ,bethphage1  
which was about a ,sabbath day's        
journey2 others1 and these  the greater 
part1 hasted to pass into ,jerusalem    
before the ,sabbath should  have begun2 
for there wanted but one hour of sunset4
    ,during all that night ,jesus said  
not much to us4 ,only1 while speaking to
  the women after supper1 he discoursed 
concerning the need of patience1 and    
how the disciples in the ,new ,kingdom  
must be like unto wise virgins going    
unto a wedding1 which take not only     
lighted lamps1 but also good store of   
oil that they may keep their lamps      
alight2 but the foolish1 which take no  
oil1 have not their lamps alight when   
the bridegroom arriveth suddenly3       
wherefore they come too late for the    

feast and are shut out4 ,thereby1 said  
,peter1 ,jesus seemed to mean that he   
was to leave us for a time and to       
return suddenly2 and whoso was not      
prepared to meet him should be shut out 
from the ,kingdom4 ,some other parables 
,jesus spake to the same effect4    ,now
 concerning these parables ,quartus     
judgeth that ,jesus spake in them of    
his resurrection4 8,for10 said he1 8the 
meaning of ,jesus was1 that if the      
disciples had not prayed unto the ,lord1
 and watched and waited after his  death
 7but contrariwise had given themselves 
over to idleness and folly1  as men     
desperate71 then ,jesus would never have
 appeared to them2 and they  would have 
been shut out from the ,kingdom40       
,others interpret the words1 as  if     
,jesus spake of some other coming1 which
 may not perchance be fulfilled  in our 
days4 ,but ,i incline rather to think   
that our ,master prophesied  partly     
concerning some future coming which is  
not yet fulfilled2 and  partly          

concerning his resurrection and         
manifestation to us his disciples1  soon
 to be fulfilled2 but partly also       
concerning our nation3 how that1  after 
his death1 some few should be ready to  
receive him1 but the greater  part      
should be unready2 and as for these1    
darkness should fall upon their  hearts1
 and then the door should be shut1 and  
they should grope around the  door1 but 
find no entrance4 ,which things have    
indeed come to pass4 ,for at  the first1
 ,israel was desirous to enter into the 
,kingdom1 but now the veil  is upon     
their hearts1 so that they can no longer
 have light to enter into  the ,kingdom1
 no1 not though they desire it4    ,the 
morrow1 as ,i have said1 was the        
,sabbath2 and all the day1 ,jesus sat   
still in the house talking with the     
women1 especially with ,mary and ,martha
  the sisters of our host2 neither did  
he go forth all that day1 save that  he 
went to the village of ,bethphage to see
 some sick folk4 ,but in the  evening he

 spake to us very kindly1 yea1 very     
tenderly1 even more than his  wont4 ,and
 though he said not many words1 yet all 
his words were concerning  us1 not      
concerning himself2 or1 if he spake of  
himself1 it was for our  sakes1 as if he
 were striving to look into the darkness
 of that which was  to come1 so that he 
might discern what perils awaited us1   
for to warn us  thereof4    ,as we      
walked towards ,bethphage1 it came to   
pass that ,philip said to ,jesus        
7thinking to please him71 that certain  
,greeks which were in ,jerusalem        
desired to see him4 ,now so it was1 that
 when ,philip spake these words1 we     
chanced to be passing through the fields
 of corn2 and the corn was now  strong  
and in ear1 for the spring was well     
advanced4 ,but ,jesus stopped at  that  
word ,greeks1 and looked down at the    
corn2 and then he said that the  hour   
was verily come when he should be       
glorified3 8,for10 said he1 8except  a  
corn of wheat fall into the ground1 it  

abideth alone3 but if it die1 it        
bringeth forth much fruit40 ,then he    
went on to say that1 after his death1   
we need not fear lest we should be left 
desolate1 for a ,spirit should          
strengthen us2 and of this ,spirit he   
spake1 at one time as coming from       
himself1 but at another time as coming  
from his ,father2 moreover it should    
come to us1 he said1 by a certain       
ordinance1 which could not be altered4  
,for just as the ear of wheat cometh not
 unless the corn of wheat first  die1   
even so his ,spirit should not come1    
except he also should first  depart from
 us4    ,hereat ,judas brake out in hot 
anger1 8,wherefore1 then1 go we up to   
,jerusalem1 if our going is to be for   
naught1 and if thou art to depart  from 
us1 and if we are to be left as sheep   
without a shepherd80 ,jesus  rebuked him
 not1 neither answered as we had        
expected2 but said that it  could not be
 that a prophet should perish out of    
,jerusalem4 ,hereat one  said1 8,nay    

but1 ,o ,master1 the prophet ,john      
perished not in ,jerusalem40 ,but  to   
this ,jesus made no answer2 but only    
spake a few words touching the          
difference between the simplicity of the
 ,galileans and the subtlety of the  men
 of ,jerusalem2 and he condemned the    
,scribes of ,jerusalem and the  priests 
of the temple1 for that they made       
darkness instead of light1  causing all 
,israel1 and even the ,galileans1 to    
transgress4 ,he also spake  as if ,satan
 reigned in the ,holy ,city1 and as if  
he were shortly going down  to do battle
 there with ,satan in ,jerusalem4 ,so he
 seemed to signify that  ,jerusalem was 
as it were a field of battle1 whereon it
 was meet and right  that a true prophet
 should die4 ,after this he added1 that 
if he were  lifted up in the sight of   
all men1 he should draw all men unto    
him4 ,this  joining together of words   
diverse in nature1 of perishing and     
lifting up1  and of departing and       
drawing all men unto him1 filled us with

 perplexity2  insomuch that ,judas said 
in a low voice that the words of ,jesus 
were like  unto oil and vinegar1 which  
cannot be mixed4 ,the rest of us also   
showed1  as ,i suppose1 by our          
countenances that we understood him not2
 for he  looked kindly on us1 and       
rebuked us not1 but said that he had yet
 many  things to say unto us1 but we    
could not bear them now4 ,he also added 
at  another time1 this promise1 that a  
,spirit of ,truth should come1 which    
should guide us into all the truth4     
,now so it was that1 while ,jesus was   
saying these words1 we were now  drawing
 nigh unto ,bethphage1 and we spake     
concerning the going into  ,jerusalem on
 the morrow4 ,and it came to pass that  
,matthew1 looking upon an  ass 7which   
was standing in the village at the back 
of a house where two  ways met71 made   
mention of a certain prophecy which     
saith that the ,messiah  shall come into
 ,jerusalem1 not as an ,egyptian nor as 
an ,assyrian 7for they  ride in chariots

 or on horses71 but as one of the       
princes of our nation1  who used to ride
 on asses2 and the words were these1    
8,rejoice greatly1 ,o  daughter of      
,sion2 shout1 ,o daughter of ,jerusalem2
 behold1 thy king cometh  unto thee4 ,he
 is meek and having salvation1 lowly and
 riding upon an ass1  and a colt1 the   
foal of an ass40 ,now ,jesus overheard  
these words1 but said  nothing2 yet1 as 
it seemed to me1 he took note thereof4  
,when we returned to the house1 ,jesus  
gave command for the morrow1 that we    
should rise early to go down into       
,jerusalem with him1 and that certain of
  the disciples should go before the    
rest into ,jerusalem1 even to our       
friends and companions there1 for to    
instruct them concerning the time of    
the going down of ,jesus1 that they     
might come forth to meet us4 ,hereat we 
rejoiced greatly3 and all the teaching  
of ,jesus concerning his death and      
departure1 and concerning the days of   
trouble and of parting1 quite  vanished 

away2 and even ,judas was glad4 ,and now
 our minds began to be set  once more1  
and even more than before1 upon the     
,kingdom1 and upon our  places in the   
,kingdom4 ,so when we lay down on the   
supper couches1 our  tongues still      
harped thereon2 and our disputings were 
so loud that ,jesus  could not but hear 
them4 ,then was he sore displeased that 
we should thus  think of ourselves when 
he was to depart from us2 and he opened 
his mouth  to speak4 ,but he spake not2 
for it was as if no words could avail to
  pierce the hardness of our hearts4    
,howbeit1 when supper was ended and ,i  
was gone forth from the chamber1 then1  
as it was reported to me by some  7but  
others say that it happened on another  
evening71 he arose from the  table1 and 
girded himself as a servant1 and would  
wash the feet of all the  disciples2 and
 when they would have resisted1 he      
constrained them2 but  when he had made 
an end1 he said1 8,i have given you an  
example that ye  should do as ,i have   

done to you40    ,after this manner     
therefore that ,sabbath ended2 but      
throughout the whole  of the ,sabbath   
and all the evening after1 yea and on   
the morrow1 and  during all the days    
before his suffering1 ,jesus1 as it now 
appeareth unto  me1 was wholly bent upon
 serving us1 and upon helping us1       
thinking ever of  our needs and our     
weaknesses1 and how we should fare      
without him1 and how  he could          
strengthen us so that we might be ready 
when he suddenly came  back to us4 ,for 
our sakes also1 as ,i judge1 he made    
entry after that  public and solemn     
fashion into ,jerusalem1 to the intent  
that no man might  hereafter reproach   
any of us and say1 8,thy master was no  
,messiah2 for he  dared not show himself
 as ,messiah before the face of the     
people2 neither  did he claim           
allegiance1 but only professed himself a
 servant2 nor did he  manifest bravery1 
but hid himself from his enemies even to
 the last40    ,for this cause do ,i in 

no wise assent to the saying of         
,xanthias1 that the  going in of ,jesus 
into ,jerusalem was not worthy of him4  
,for1 as ,i judge1  he did it for our   
sakes1 and not for his own2 yea1 and for
 the sake of the  whole world2 that it  
might be on record for ever how that the
 ,son of man1  though he were the       
humblest of men1 did nevertheless claim 
for himself the  allegiance of all them 
that were in the city1 yea1 and of all  
that were in  the inhabited world2 as if
 he were at once the king and the       
servant of  mankind4    ,but as touching
 that other saying 7not of ,xanthias1   
but of the ,scribe  ,hezekiah7 that1    
8,if ,jesus had been a prophet indeed1  
he should have  prophesied unto his     
disciples the whole manner of his death1
 and the  manner of his resurrection1   
and the manner of the giving of the     
,holy  ,spirit10 concerning this ,i say 
nothing1 as one doubtful and waiting for
  the truth4 ,but ,quartus is perchance 
herein too bold 7though he speak out  of

 his great love for the ,lord ,jesus7 in
 saying that our ,master 8knew not      
little matters that were to come1 but   
only great matters4 ,and so he knew     
that the fire of heaven would fall on   
,jerusalem1 but when it would fall1     
this was hidden from him4 ,likewise1 he 
knew that he must die2 for unless  he   
died his ,spirit would not come2 but    
when the ,spirit should come1 this  too 
was hidden from him4    8,yea and even  
as touching his own death and rising    
again2 that he should  go unto the      
,father he knew1 and that he should come
 again he knew2 but on  what day he     
should come again1 and at what hour he  
should manifest himself  to his         
disciples1 this he knew not4 ,and even  
for this cause1 perchance10  saith      
,quartus 7who was not present in        
,jerusalem when the ,lord suffered and  
rose again71 8he was so earnest with you
 that ye should give your minds to      
watching and praying in the hour when he
 should be taken from you2 to the       

intent that1 when he came suddenly back 
to you from the grave 7manifesting      
himself to you in the night1 whether in 
the first watch1 or at midnight1  or at 
cockcrow1 or whensoever it might be7 he 
might not find you given  over to       
surfeit and drunkenness1 and to the     
thoughts and cares of this  present     
world2 and so your hearts should be     
closed against the sight of  him1 and he
 should not be able to reveal himself   
unto you4 ,for if1 when  ,jesus died1 ye
 had given yourselves over to despair   
and recklessness1 then  though ,jesus   
himself had stood before you1 coming    
from his grave1 yet  would ye none the  
more have seen him40    ,against these  
words of ,quartus there standeth1 as it 
were1 in opposition1  a certain prophecy
 of ,jesus1 wherein he was wont to      
declare to us that he  should be raised 
from the dead in three days1 limiting   
the time exactly4  ,and true it is that 
,jesus made often mention of certain    
words of the  prophet ,hosea which speak

 thus about being revived in three days3
 8,come  and let us return unto the     
,lord3 for he hath torn and he will heal
 us2 he  hath smitten1 and he will bind 
us up4 ,after two days will he revive   
us3 in  the third day he will raise us  
up1 and we shall live in his sight40    
,now  because of this prophecy1 which   
was very often in the mouth of ,jesus1  
it  hath been supposed by many that     
,jesus knew for certain that he should  
die  on the day of the ,passover1 and   
that he should lie in the grave two     
days1  and be raised up on the third    
day4    ,but to this ,quartus yieldeth  
not4 ,for he saith that the words 8two  
days0  and 8three days0 were used by the
 prophet ,hosea to signify only 8a short
  time10 even as the ,romans also1 and  
men of other nations1 speak of 8the  day
 after the morrow10 or 8in a day or     
two10 when they mean 8a short time      
hence02 or even as the ,hebrew tongue1  
speaking of past time1 useth 8the  third
 day0 to signify 8some time ago40       

,moreover ,quartus urgeth that1 if      
,jesus had known of the day and hour1 he
 would assuredly not have harrowed  our 
souls with a needless sorrow1 but would 
have told them to us2 and he  thinketh  
that ,jesus spake concerning his coming 
from the grave1 when he  said that the  
day of the coming of the ,son of man was
 not known to any1  neither to the      
angels1 nor even to the ,son himself1   
but only to the  ,father4    8,therefore
 in my judgment10 saith ,quartus1 8when 
,jesus spake about the  fire which      
should consume his enemies1 and         
concerning his death and  lifting up or 
glorifying1 and concerning his departing
 and coming again1  and concerning the  
giving of the ,holy ,spirit1 he knew    
indeed that all  these things must needs
 come to pass1 because they were        
according to the  pattern and ordinance 
of things invisible2 but when1 and      
where1 and how  they should come to     
pass1 he knew not4 ,neither did he hide 
that which he  knew1 cloaking it from   

you his disciples1 for to keep you in   
ignorance and  in suspense2 but he spake
 as he knew1 and all that he knew1 so   
far as ye  could understand it40        
,thus wrote ,quartus to me2 and         
sometimes ,i incline to his words1 but  
at  other times ,i do not4 ,howbeit1 to 
whichsoever opinion ,i incline1 it      
mattereth little2 for whether ,jesus    
knew little or much of that which was   
to come 7and he himself told us that he 
knew not all71 my love for him is  the  
same3 save that sometimes it seemeth to 
me as if he were almost more  lovable   
and more divine1 going forth into the   
darkness of death in trust  and faith1  
and knowing not everything that was to  
betide him1 than if he  had had the     
descents and ascents and all the paths  
of ,hades marked out for  him exactly   
beforehand as in a chart4               
,,chapter ,,xxvi      ,on the morrow    
7which was the first day of the week71  
some of us rose  earlier than the rest1 
and went down to ,jerusalem to carry    

word to the  other disciples and to such
 as were friendly among the ,galileans  
7for many  of them favoured us at this  
time1 and a great number of them had    
come up  to the ,feast7 that they might 
come forth from the city to meet ,jesus 
and  to welcome him4 ,but the rest of us
 stayed with ,jesus in ,bethany4 ,about 
the  second hour of the day1 when we    
were now about to set forth1 ,jesus sent
  ,matthew the taxgatherer1 and another1
 to the village over against us1        
bidding them bring the ass whereof we   
had taken note yesterday2 and if any    
man said aught1 ,matthew was to make    
answer that 8the ,master hath need of   
him40 ,when the ass was brought1 ,jesus 
mounted thereon1 and we set forth at    
once2 and it was now about the third    
hour of the day4    ,when ,bethany was  
by this time out of our sight1 as we    
went by the road  that lieth between the
 ,tombs of the ,prophets and the ,mount 
of ,offence1  suddenly we heard a       
shouting as of a mixed multitude1 and   

presently we  discerned a great crowd of
 the disciples coming over the brow of  
the hill  towards us1 with many hundreds
 of the ,galileans1 all waving          
palmbranches  in their hands1 and       
hailing ,jesus as the son of ,david4    
,now ,jesus was  riding before our band1
 upon the ass2 but when the two bands   
met1 there  was a great shouting for    
joy2 and the former band turned round   
and went on  as vanguard1 but our band  
marched on behind4 ,presently1 as we    
drew near to  the descent of the ,mount 
of ,olives1 when we began to descry that
 quarter  of the ,holy ,city which men  
called the ,city of ,david1 the shouting
 became  louder1 and so it continued1   
even there where the road descendeth so 
that  the ,holy ,city is no longer seen4
    ,but when at last we attained unto  
the summit of the ,mount ,olivet1 so    
that  the whole of the city was seen at 
once spread out before our eyes1 with   
all the roofs1 and towers1 and pinnacles
 thereof1 and the gilded  battlements of

 the temple1 shining like fire in the   
sun1 then indeed the  splendour of the  
sight so lifted up our hearts that we   
were even beside  ourselves for         
admiration2 and looking unto ,jesus as  
the ,king of all this  glory1 we cried  
even louder than before unto him as our 
,king and  ,conqueror1 like unto ,david 
of old4 ,but ,jesus neither now nor at  
any time  during the entering into      
,jerusalem seemed at all lifted up by   
our  salutations and praises2 nor yet1  
on the other hand1 was he of a gloomy or
  sad countenance as though he foreboded
 evil and ruin4 ,rather he was as one   
waiting and expecting1 looking perchance
 for some sign of the will of the       
,lord1 in case it might yet please ,him 
to turn the hearts of the ,pharisees1   
that they might be converted and live4  
,therefore also when he looked on  the  
glory of ,jerusalem below his feet1 he  
was neither astonished at the  beauty   
thereof1 nor did he 7at least at this   
time7 weep or lament over it3  but he   

gazed at it1 as it were in suspense and 
questioning his own spirit2  if         
perchance it might be the ,lord's       
pleasure to manifest ,himself to the    
daughter of ,sion1 and to stay ,his hand
 from destroying the beautiful city2  or
 whether that could not be1 but evil    
must take his course4    ,but we1 at    
this time1 perceived naught of that     
which was in our ,master's  mind2 but we
 lifted up our voices and shouted amain1
 hailing him as ,son of  ,david1 and    
crying1 8,hosanna to the ,son of ,david6
 ,blessed is ,he that cometh  in the    
name of the ,lord6 ,blessed is the      
kingdom that cometh of our father       
,david60 ,some also cast their          
palmbranches down in the road before    
him1  and others strewed their garments 
in the path to do him honour4 ,after    
this  fashion therefore1 shouting1 and  
singing1 and praising ,god1 the whole   
multitude of us came down from the      
mountain into the valley below4    ,when
 we drew nigh unto the gate of the city1

 we saw that only some few of  the      
citizens were come forth to welcome us4 
,for the most part feared  ,jesus1 lest 
he should bring down the wrath of the   
,romans upon the ,holy  ,city2 neither  
knew they him as the ,galileans knew    
him4 ,but instead of the  citizens1     
there stood a great throng of children  
gathered together before  the gate2 and 
when they heard the voices of the       
disciples and the voices  of the        
,galileans1 immediately they also took  
up the cry1 and sang  8,hosanna1        
,hosanna10 in a clear shrill voice1     
after the manner of children1  so that  
their song sounded forth quite          
distinctly1 and above all the noise  and
 shouting of the multitude4 ,now of the 
,pharisees1 none had gone forth  from   
the city to welcome ,jesus2 but certain 
of the younger among them1  desirous to 
look on the coming in of ,jesus1 as on a
 show in a theatre 7and  perchance      
willing1 by the manifesting of their    
contempt of him1 to overawe  and to     

control the multitude of pilgrims71 were
 come as far as the gate2  and there    
they stood1 over against the children1  
waiting the coming of  ,jesus1 and with 
many gestures and beckonings signifying 
their displeasure4  ,when therefore they
 heard the sound of the singing1 they   
straightway  rebuked the children1 and  
would have them to hold their peace3 but
 when  the children would not1 then     
turned the ,pharisees in sore           
displeasure to  ,jesus1 and bade him    
constrain them4    ,now ,jesus all this 
while had seemed rapt in other matters2 
even as if he  heard not the shouting   
nor the singing1 neither understood the 
meaning  thereof2 but as if he heard    
other voices which we could not hear1   
and  which1 even for him1 were not easy 
to understand4 ,and when he drew nigh   
unto the gate of the city1 and beheld   
the ,pharisees1 how they stood all      
together1 and made no sign of welcome2  
then he looked up 7methinks as ,i  now  
remember it7 with a wistful countenance 

to the gate1 as though he  partly       
expected that the very stones should cry
 out from the wall  7according to the   
saying of the prophet ,habakkuk71 as if 
bearing witness  against the unbelief of
 the ,pharisees4 ,even thus looked      
,jesus1 as he drew  nigh to the gate1   
and there seemed as it were a shadow of 
doubt and  expectancy upon his face2 and
 just then it was that the ,pharisees   
thrust  themselves in his way and bade  
him stop the brawling of the children1  
for  so they termed it4    ,now for an  
instant ,jesus seemed scarce to         
understand the intent of the            
,pharisees1 nor even the meaning of     
their words4 ,but when he perceived it1 
and when he turned his face toward the  
children 7who all this time ceased  not 
from their singing1 but cried ,hosanna1 
,hosanna1 even louder than  before71    
then his mind seemed to come back to    
earth1 and his countenance  became      
clearer1 and he smiled for joy2 for     
methought in the voices of  those simple

 children he acknowledged the very voice
 of the ,father in  ,heaven speaking by 
,his little ones on earth1 and showing  
unto him how that  there must be no sign
 of fire from ,heaven1 nor no mighty    
work of any  visible sort2 but only     
strength through weakness1 and wisdom   
through  simplicity1 and the ,kingdom of
 ,god through little children1 according
 to  the eternal ordinance4    ,this    
behaviour of ,jesus1 though we          
understood it not then1 yet was it      
partly interpreted to us1 even at that  
time1 by the answer which he made  unto 
the ,pharisees1 saying unto them1       
8,verily ,i say unto you1 if these      
should hold their peace1 the very stones
 should cry out40 ,moreover1            
afterwards1 when they would have had him
 rebuke them in the ,temple1 and  when  
they said unto him1 8,hearest thou what 
these say80 then ,jesus spake  unto them
 yet more clearly1 and said1 8,yea1 have
 ye never read1 #8,out of  the mouths of
 babes and sucklings ,thou hast         

perfected praise'80    ,when we came to 
the foot of ,mount ,moriah1 we arrayed  
ourselves to enter  into the temple1 and
 we went in by the gate called ,shushan4
 ,but lo1 the  courts of the temple and 
all the ways which lead into the courts 
were  crowded with oxen and doves1 and  
drovers and moneychangers2 and it was   
more like unto a marketplace or shambles
 than to a temple of the ,lord3  even as
 ,i had beheld it two years before1 when
 ,i came to offer sacrifice  during my  
mother's sickness1 yea1 and worse also4 
,for during the week  before the        
,passover1 almost the whole of the      
,jewish nation was wont to  assemble in 
,jerusalem for to offer sacrifice1 even 
as many 7so it hath  been reported to   
me1 but it is well nigh past belief7 as 
three hundred  myriads2 wherefore1      
though there should be but one lamb     
slain for a score  of pilgrims1 yet the 
number of beasts to be sacrificed at one
 time must  needs be many thousands1 not
 less than one hundred and fifty        

thousand4  ,when ,jesus looked around on
 all this stir and traffic1 he was sore 
displeased1 and his anger was very hot1 
yea1 such as ,i had seldom noted  the   
like in him before2 and he bade the     
merchants and moneychangers take  their 
wares hence4 ,but when they would not1  
he made unto himself a scourge  of cords
 and drove them before him2 and the     
disciples and the people did  the same1 
and overthrew the tables of the         
moneychangers1 and thrust out  them     
which sold doves4 ,and ,jesus said unto 
the ,pharisees1 8,it is written1  ,my   
house shall be called the ,house of     
,prayer2 but ye have made it a den of   
thieves40    ,when ,jesus spake these   
words1 the ,pharisees were exceeding    
wrath1 and  certain of their servants   
ran forward as if they would have laid  
hands on  ,jesus4 ,howbeit1 ,hezekiah   
the ,scribe 7the same of whom ,i have   
often made  mention above7 checked them1
 lest there should have been a tumult of
 the  people4 ,but it was plain to all  

men that they would fain have destroyed 
,jesus1 only they feared the people4    
,therefore ,jesus made no long stay for 
that day in the temple1 but gave        
commandment to return to ,bethany 7for  
he  would not tarry in ,jerusalem by    
night lest the chief priests and        
,pharisees  should lay hands upon him72 
and certain of the disciples accompanied
 us to  the gate of the city1 but not   
many4    ,while we were going through   
the streets of the city toward the gate1
 we  conversed concerning that which had
 happened1 and especially concerning    
the driving out of the merchants and the
 moneylenders2 and most said that  it   
was well done1 for the presence of them 
that bought and sold defiled  the ,house
 of the ,lord4 ,but a certain ,greek1 of
 ,philip's acquaintance 7one  of them   
that had desired ,philip that they might
 see ,jesus71 said that it  was not well
 done of our ,master1 thus with his own 
hand to drive out them  that bought and 
sold3 8,for10 said he1 8it is not the   

part of a philosopher  to use violence1 
nor to be moved by passion to anything  
that is against  seemliness and dignity1
 nor to take upon himself the part of a 
common  doorkeeper40 ,not much was said 
in answer at that time1 for other       
thoughts  possessed our minds2 only     
,john said that our ,master did well to 
be angry1  because he saw his ,father's 
,house defiled4 ,nevertheless           
oftentimes1 since  that day1 the words  
of the ,greek have come into my mind1   
and also other  like words of ,xanthias1
 how that 8towards the end of his life1 
,jesus of  ,nazareth was driven out of  
the bounds of his patience by the       
persecution  of enemies2 so that he     
became bitter and somewhat austere40    
,but my judgment is not so4 ,for to me  
it seemeth that all through those  days 
of tarrying in ,jerusalem and in        
,bethany1 our ,master was neither       
bitter nor austere4 ,but he had ever    
before his eyes the thought of us his   
disciples2 and he was ever musing on our

 desolation1 7which should fall  upon us
 when he should be parted from us71 and 
how we should fare1  contending without 
him against the ,pharisees and against  
all other evil4  ,therefore he desired  
to leave it1 as it were1 on record1 that
 the worst  kind of sacrilege is the    
sacrilege of them which handle sacred   
things  without the feeling thereof4    
,and1 as he had entered into ,jerusalem 
like  one having authority1 so he       
desired perchance 7for our sakes7 to    
manifest  himself1 in the temple also1  
as one to whom obedience was due4       
,again1  whereas ,xanthias saith that   
,jesus1 ever before in ,galilee1 taught 
us to  endure evil1 and not to put down 
evil by force1 as now in ,jerusalem2    
8,the  former rule10 saith ,quartus1    
8applieth only to the brethren that live
 in  the midst of them that know not the
 truth4 ,but wheresoever a nation or a  
congregation1 shall recognise a certain 
law0 7as our nation did in the  worship 
of the temple71 8there perchance the    

breaking of the law is not to  be       
suffered1 and the law is to be          
maintained1 even by force4 ,for it is   
one  thing to avenge oneself1 but       
another to avenge a law40 ,after this   
manner  wrote ,quartus2 but1 in any     
case1 ,xanthias was assuredly wrong in  
saying  that ,jesus was 8embittered by  
persecution20 unless it be bitter to    
call  ,satan ,satan4 ,for he was gentle 
and tender and very loving even to the  
last4    ,howbeit at this time our      
thoughts were full of other matters1 so 
that we  were the less bent on defending
 our ,master against the friend of      
,philip4  ,for we were something        
downcast1 and ,judas even more than the 
rest1 because  nothing had come of our  
entering into ,jerusalem2 but1 as ,judas
 phrased it1  all our great purposes had
 ended in naught4 8,for10 said ,judas1  
8the ,lord  hath given occasions1 but we
 have used them not4 ,for first1 when we
  entered in at this same gate this     
morning1 then ,i looked that ,jesus     

should  have given the word to disarm   
the guard that kept watch therein4 ,but 
afterwards1 when we had entered into the
 city and all the citizens were         
gathered to us1 then at least ,i hoped  
to have heard him give commandment  to  
assail the ,fort of ,antonia2 or else ,i
 expected that he would have  worked    
some sign in heaven1 to have turned     
every one to our side1 and so  to have  
driven out the ,gentiles without        
shedding of blood4 ,but now we have     
gained nothing4 ,nay1 we have lost      
everything4 ,for we shall not again     
gather the multitude thus round us4 ,and
 as for the ,pharisees1 he hath now  so 
angered them that1 even were he to work 
an hundred signs in heaven1 ,i  doubt   
they would not now accept him40         
,hereupon ,john said that we must have  
patience and trust in ,jesus2 but ,judas
 made answer that the time had  passed  
for patience1 and that other courses    
must be tried4    ,for the space of two 
days1 namely1 the second day of the     

week1 and  likewise the third day1      
,jesus resorted to the temple daily1 and
 taught the  people there3 but the more 
he saw of the temple1 and of the priests
  therein1 and likewise of the          
,pharisees and ,sadducees 7who disputed 
with  him daily in the temple71 so much 
the more his heart loathed the          
abominations which he discerned1        
insomuch that he seemed like unto one   
contending against ,satan himself1      
enthroned in the ,holy ,place2 and his  
words against the ,pharisees in those   
days were as if he desired that they    
should be engraven in fiery letters upon
 the hearts of all that heard him1  for 
ever4 ,so hot was the vehemency of his  
passion against them2 yet not  against  
them1 but against the ,satan in their   
hearts1 who through them  reigned over  
,israel4 ,for whatsoever ,jesus had     
noted of evil in the  teaching of the   
,scribes in ,galilee1 and whatsoever of 
blindness and  narrowness1 yea1 and of  
persecution and malignity2 all this1 and

 much more  did he note in the ,scribes 
of ,jerusalem2 insomuch that the ,holy  
,city and  the temple itself now seemed 
to him to have become a very source of  
evil1  poisoning the waters of life for 
the whole of the people4    ,at the     
first1 the ,pharisees began to lay      
snares to take him at an  advantage     
before the face of all the people2 but  
he answered them  according to their    
folly1 proving to all the people that   
they knew not the  foundations of truth4
 ,when they asked him by what authority 
he did that  which he did1 he would not 
tell them2 but they must first tell him 
whether  the baptism of ,john were from 
heaven or no2 which question they feared
 to  answer4 ,as to the giving of       
tribute1 he said that the denarius      
7which had  on it the image of ,csar7   
spake1 of itself1 that they that used it
 should  give ,csar his due4 ,but when  
he gave back unto the ,pharisee the     
denarius1  saying these words1 8,render 
therefore to ,csar the things which are 

,csar's10 then he paused for an instant1
 and afterwards added1 8and to ,god  the
 things that are ,god's40 ,this he said1
 not as though some things  belonged to 
,csar and not to ,god2 but as though    
each man1 in giving unto  ,csar his     
dues1 must bear in mind that he was     
thereby giving to ,god his  dues also2  
for a time might come when it might be a
 defrauding of ,god to  give ,csar      
tribute2 but1 at that time1 to have     
refused tribute to ,csar1  would have   
been to refuse ,god ,his dues4 ,so he   
bade them obey the signs of  the times1 
yet so as never to defraud ,god2 nor    
would he lay down any rule1  as they had
 desired1 but pointed to the foundations
 of righteousness1  which lie in the    
heart and not in the hands4 ,the like   
also he did in  saying that the love of 
,god and of man was the chief           
commandment of the  ,law4 ,but          
concerning the ,sadducees and their     
doctrine1 that there is no              
resurrection1 he said that the second   

life differeth from the first as  much  
as angels differ from men2 so that the  
bands whereby we are bound  together    
here1 will not be the same as will bind 
us together there4  ,howbeit he said not
 that there should be no bands          
hereafter1 nor that  these present bands
 should vanish2 but only that they      
should be different1  and not carnal1   
but spiritual4 ,moreover he questioned  
the ,pharisees  concerning their        
expectations of the ,messiah and their  
interpretations of  the ,scriptures2 and
 they could not make answer to his      
questions4    ,but all these were only  
as the beginnings of the conflict4 ,for 
presently  the ,pharisees began to wax  
more vehement in their disputations and 
to  reveal their hatred of him more     
clearly4 ,and when ,jesus looked upon   
their  faces1 he discerned his own death
 instant therein4 ,so he turned and     
spake  to the people in parables1       
likening ,israel to an estate let out to
 greedy  husbandmen1 which killed the   

servants of their lord1 and last of all 
slew  his son also1 when he came to     
receive of the fruits of the land4      
,again1 he  likened the ,kingdom of     
,heaven to a wedding feast1 and the     
,pharisees to  murderous people1        
subjects of a king2 who would not come  
to the wedding of  the king's son1 but  
slew his servants that invited them4    
,then one in the  crowd1 a ,galilean by 
birth1 and a man of loose life1 cried   
aloud1 8,that is  well said1 ,o prophet2
 for we1 that are poor1 shall enter into
 the ,kingdom2  but the rich shall not  
enter40 ,but ,jesus straightway         
continued his parable  and described an 
unworthy guest1 admitted indeed to the  
feast1 but soon  cast out1 because he   
had come in not having on a wedding     
garment4    ,thus all the day was spent 
in contention2 but in the evening1 at   
,bethany1  ,jesus spake unto us very    
tenderly concerning the ,holy ,spirit   
7the mention  whereof was at this time  
daily more and more upon his lips71 and 

how this  ,spirit should abide with us  
for ever and be always our guide and    
helper4  ,moreover he encouraged us to  
be of good cheer1 saying that1 though   
the  world were against us1 yet he had  
overcome the world3 and that he could   
give us a peace that should last for    
ever4 ,likewise he began at this time   
to say more oft and more clearly 7for he
 had said the like before once or  twice
 in dark sayings7 that1 besides his     
little flock 7for so he was wont        
lovingly to call us71 there should be   
yet other flocks gathered unto him1  and
 there should be one fold1 and one      
shepherd4 ,now of all this we           
understood not much at that season2 for 
our hearts were not yet opened to  it4  
,howbeit his words were sweet to the    
ear1 yea1 and they reached to our  very 
souls2 insomuch that we were drawn unto 
him even more than before1  and loved   
him with an exceeding love3 but still it
 was hidden from us that  our ,master   
was shortly to depart4    ,but as       

concerning the ,pharisees1 ,jesus told  
us that the wrath of the ,lord  must    
needs fall upon them4 ,and he likened   
them unto a figtree which  7after the   
manner of figtrees7 should1 by course of
 nature1 put forth  fruit first and     
leaves afterwards2 but this figtree1 he 
said1 putteth  forth leaves but no      
fruits4 ,therefore the ,lord1 seeking   
fruit1 goeth unto  the tree1 rising up  
early in the morning2 and he looketh on 
it1 and behold  there are leaves1 but no
 fruits4 ,then was the ,lord wroth1 and 
breathed  upon the tree1 and said unto  
it1 8,no man eat fruit of thee hereafter
 for  ever30 and lo1 when ,he returned  
and came by the same path again in the  
evening1 the tree had withered away4    
,when we heard these things1            
straightway there came into our minds   
another parable which our ,master had   
spoken in former times concerning a     
barren tree2 how the owner thereof      
cometh to the gardener and saith1 8,lo1 
these two years ,i come seeking  fruit  

and find none4 ,cut it down40 ,but the  
gardener besought the ,lord that  it    
might not be cut down till another year 
should pass1 if perchance it  might in  
the meantime bear fruit4 ,thence we     
perceived1 comparing the two  parables  
together1 that ,jesus discerned the     
wrath of ,god now nearer at  hand4 ,for 
before1 there was mention of hope and of
 a respite of two years2  but now there 
was to be no hope and no respite4       
,but most strange it was to us to note  
how the worship and splendour of the    
temple1 caused him no pleasure1 but     
rather displeasure4 ,yet so it was4 ,for
  on the second day of the week1 when he
 was going forth from the city in  the  
evening1 a certain citizen of ,jerusalem
 besought the disciples that  they would
 shew him the buildings of the temple2  
8,for10 said he1 8it were  a shame that 
,jesus of ,nazareth should have been now
 two whole days in  ,jerusalem and not  
to have seen these sights40 ,but when   
the disciples moved  him to see these   

things1 he seemed like unto one         
constraining himself to  look upon them 
that he might do us a pleasure3 and when
 he had looked  round upon them all1    
then he was silent for a while1 and we  
perceived that  they pleased him not4   
,at last he opened his mouth and said   
unto us1 8,see  ye not all these things8
 verily ,i say unto you there shall not 
be left  here one stone upon another    
that shall not be thrown down40    ,but 
when another spake of the many years    
during which the temple had been        
abuilding1 ,jesus answered that1 even   
though the temple were destroyed to     
day1 the ,lord could raise up the true  
temple in three days4 ,now whether by   
8three days10 he meant three days       
exactly1 or 8two or three days10        
according to the common phrase1         
concerning this matter1 it has been     
disputed sufficiently above4 ,but when  
he spake of the true temple1  assuredly 
he meant1 not the temple of ,herod1 but 
that invisible temple set  upon a rock1 

whereof he had before spoken to ,simon  
,peter2 and this temple  seemed to him  
at all times one with himself3 therefore
 said he that the  true temple would be 
raised up1 meaning the ,son of man1 and1
 in himself1  the ,church or            
,congregation of mankind4    ,but all   
this was hid from us at that time1 save 
that we understood ,jesus  to set no    
store by the temple of ,herod1 in that  
he discerned the fire of  ,god's wrath  
impending over it4 ,and to us1 as ,i    
remember1 yea even to us  that had daily
 converse with ,jesus1 it seemed strange
 that he should so  set at naught that  
same temple which he had himself        
cleansed4 ,for  throughout all the land 
of ,israel1 the temple1 being but one   
7and not  many1 as in ,gentile          
countries71 and very full of most       
ancient memories1  because it presented 
and signified to us the former temple of
 ,solomon and  the tabernacle of ,moses1
 this temple1 ,i say1 albeit ,herod the 
,iduman had  built it1 nevertheless     

seemed to us1 in ,israel1 very holy1 and
 well nigh  one with ,israel itself4    
,and for this cause ,xanthias blameth   
the saying of  ,jesus touching the      
temple1 how that it should be thrown    
down3 for saith  ,xanthias1 the casting 
down of the temple must needs have      
seemed to the  common folk in ,israel   
all one with the casting down of ,israel
 itself even  as the ,romans took it ill
 when1 in after days1 ,gaius ,csar      
desired of his  gods that the ,roman    
people might have had but one neck that 
he might have  destroyed it at a blow4  
,wherefore ,xanthias findeth fault with 
this saying  of ,jesus1 as not politic1 
nor discreet4    ,but1 in my judgment1  
,jesus spake herein not truthfully only1
 but also  expediently2 yea and         
expediently for all time2 bearing       
witness1 as it  were1 even now to all   
the churches1 lest perchance the service
 of the ,lord  become the service of    
,satan3 as it was in the temple of      
,herod4 ,for all  things therein seemed 

unto him to savour of hypocrisy1 being  
done to  obtain praise and admiration of
 men1 but not to lift up the heart unto 
the  ,lord2 so that the very splendour  
and brightness hid1 instead of          
revealing1  ,him whose name is the      
,truth4 ,therefore when he was led to   
the treasury and  bidden to mark how    
great gifts the rich men cast therein1  
he stood awhile  watching2 then turning 
round to us1 he pointed to a certain    
poor widow  7who had cast in no more    
than two mites1 or a farthing71 and he  
said1  8,this poor widow hath cast in   
more than all they which have cast into 
the  treasury40 ,many other like words  
he said at this time3 and1 in fine1 he  
ceased after the first day to speak     
concerning the purifying of the  temple1
 nor would he any more call it his      
,father's house2 for he perceived  that 
it was become a den of thieves and that 
the purifying must be by  fire4 ,but    
that which most of all made us at that  
time to marvel1 was1 that  he spake of  

the ,chief ,priests and ,pharisees as   
murderers4 ,but hereby he  meant1 as ,i 
judge1 not only that they desired to    
slay him1 but also that  they were      
slaying the souls of all ,israel by     
giving unto the people a  doctrine and a
 worship1 that were as poison to the    
hearts of mankind4  ,wherefore1 as a man
 might discern with the eye the spots of
 blood upon the  hand of a murderer1    
even so 7but with much more clearness7  
did our ,master  discern the blood of   
,israel upon the souls of the ,priests  
and ,scribes in  the temple2 insomuch   
that the temple itself appeared even as 
a great  slaughterhouse1 and the        
worshippers as murdered men1 and the    
priests1 as  butchers girt for the      
slaughter of ,truth4    ,therefore on   
the last day1 even on the third day of  
the week1 when the sun  was nigh        
setting1 and the time was now at hand   
that ,jesus should depart  from the     
temple1 and he knew he should enter it  
no more2 behold1 he stood  up in the    

presence of all the people1 and poured  
forth denunciation  against the         
,pharisees as being verily the children 
of ,satan4 ,some of them  he charged    
with love of gain2 and he bade the      
multitude especially to  beware of those
 ,scribes who devour widows' houses and 
wring forth gifts  for the synagogues1  
and for a pretence make long prayers4   
,these1 he said1  should receive even   
greater condemnation than the rest4 ,but
 even against  them that cared not for  
money1 yea even against all the         
,pharisees1 he  brought grievous        
accusations4    ,for he said they had   
quenched the spirit of life within their
 hearts1 so  that ,satan had taken      
possession of them and used them as his 
tools4 ,for  this cause they could not  
distinguish between small things and    
great1  between the purifying of the    
outside and the inside1 between that    
which  sanctifieth and that which is    
sanctified2 and they esteemed the       
tithing of  mint and anise and cummin of

 more avail than mercy1 judgment1 and   
truth4  ,also he said they had made the 
interpretation of the ,law into a       
gainful  profession1 doing whatsoever   
they did for to be honoured and admired 
of  men4 ,therefore he spared not to    
call them1 not only fools and blind1 but
  also hypocrites4 ,for he said that    
they knew in their own hearts that they 
had no sight and no knowledge1 yet they 
professed to see and to know2 and  they 
had cast out their own consciences1 yet 
would they fain appear able  to judge   
between right and wrong4 ,thus they     
presented one appearance to  men1 which 
look only on the outside2 but another   
appearance to ,god1 who  discerneth the 
inside2 and therefore he called them    
actors in masks1 or  hypocrites2 he     
likened them also unto whited           
sepulchres1 hiding death  within them4  
,for they hated the ,spirit of life1 and
 they lived by rules  and precepts which
 work death2 and they would neither     
enter into life  themselves1 nor suffer 

the people of the land to enter in2 and 
they feared  and hated prophets and     
prophecies1 and would fain destroy them2
 and they  had hated ,john the prophet  
while he lived1 and now they hated      
,jesus1 even  to the death3 and this1   
while they professed to repent of the   
persecutions  of the prophets by our    
forefathers1 and to build monuments to  
their  memory1 saying1 8,if we had been 
in the days of our fathers1 we would not
  have been partakers with them in the  
blood of the prophets40    ,after this1 
he turned round1 to go forth for the    
last time from the  temple4 ,but as he  
came to the steps1 he looked back upon  
all the  ,pharisees1 and upon all their 
friends 7who stood all gathered together
  behind him1 watching him depart71 and 
he pronounced a curse upon them2 as     
though it needs must be that they must  
yet continue their course2 and  ,satan  
must accomplish his purpose in them1 and
 must be revealed in all his  wickedness
 working through the ,pharisees his     

bondsmen2 and the judgment of  the ,lord
 must needs fall upon these servants of 
,satan3 8,fill ye up the  measure of    
your fathers4 ,ye serpents1 ye          
generation of vipers1 how can ye  escape
 the damnation of hell8 ,wherefore      
behold1 ,i send unto you prophets  and  
wise men and scribes3 and some of them  
ye shall kill and crucify3 and  some of 
them shall ye scourge in your synagogues
 and persecute from city  to city4 ,that
 upon you may come all the righteous    
blood shed upon the  earth1 from the    
blood of righteous ,abel unto the blood 
of ,zachariah son of  ,barachiah1 whom  
ye slew between the temple and the      
altar4 ,verily ,i say  unto you1 all    
these things shall come upon this       
generation40                            
,,chapter ,,xxvii      ,when ,jesus had 
made an end of denouncing the           
,pharisees1 many of the young  men with 
them and their servants were desirous to
 have laid hands on him2  and they came 
near as if for that intent1 but the     

older sort checked them4  ,yet was their
 wrath clearly to be read in their      
faces3 and when ,i came out  of the     
temple1 being a little space behind the 
rest1 ,hezekiah the ,scribe  overtook me
 and said1 8,young man1 ,i warn thee    
that thou mayest with speed  sever      
thyself from this blind shepherd3 for   
lo1 he hath today provoked  war1 and war
 shall fall upon him2 for unless he     
perish we shall perish40  ,but ,i made  
answer1 that ,i should follow ,jesus    
constantly even to the end4  ,then he   
spake again of the evil which1 he said1 
had befallen that rash  young man       
,barabbas2 how that he had been taken   
ten days ago by the ,romans  on the road
 that goeth down to ,jericho1 while he  
was riding at the head of  a band of    
,galileans that were raising sedition3  
and1 said ,hezekiah to me1  8,thy friend
 of ,jotapata is to be crucified1 as ,i 
hear1 two or three days  hence4 ,take   
heed therefore unto thine own steps1    
lest thou also fall into  the same      

destruction40 ,i made him no further    
answer1 but departed1  sorrowing not a  
little for the sake of ,barabbas3 for ,i
 had not before  heard how great an evil
 had befallen him4    ,when ,i overtook 
the rest1 ,i heard the disciples        
conversing earnestly one  with another2 
and the ,greek1 even the friend of      
,philip1 bade us take note  that we were
 beset with spies and watched2 for      
8,when ye issued from the  temple10 said
 he1 8,i perceived that the servants of 
the chief priests and  the ,pharisees   
watched you whithersoever ye turned2    
and1 meseemeth1 it is  their intent to  
lay hands on your ,master this night4   
,but ,i marvel why your  ,master so     
inveighed against the ,pharisees1       
transgressing the bounds of  seemliness 
and decorum1 at least in my judgment40  
,so spake he1 after his  ,greek fashion2
 but ,judas also spake to the same      
effect1 and said that we  had come up to
 ,jerusalem to destroy enemies1 and lo1 
we had destroyed  none1 but made many4  

,the rest knew not what answer to make  
to these words2 neither did ,i myself   
at that time4 ,howbeit1 now ,i know well
 that ,jesus came not to prophesy       
smooth things1 but to teach us the      
truth4 ,therefore was it most needful   
that he should speak the truth1 and     
nothing less than the truth1  concerning
 the ,pharisees2 to the intent that the 
eyes of all mankind might  be opened1   
even to the generations of generations1 
that they might discern  that the sin of
 sins is hypocrisy4 ,for other sins     
wound1 but this sin  slayeth1 the       
conscience4 ,peradventure also ,jesus   
foresaw that a time might  come when    
certain1 even among his own disciples1  
would err as the  ,pharisees had erred1 
shutting their eyes against the truth1  
as being unfit  for use and not         
convenient4 ,and he that came to make a 
spiritual ,israel1 a  nation of priests 
and ministers for mankind1 was it not   
most needful that  he should thus as it 
were mark out and brand with censure the

 special sin  of priests8 ,he also that 
came to redeem all the children of men  
from all  evil1 was it not most         
necessary that he should make clear in  
the sight of  all men what was the      
greatest evil8 ,for if men knew it not1 
how could he  redeem them from it8 ,and 
well ,i know that1 if he had not        
assailed the  ,pharisees as he did1 then
 these same ,greeks who now say that    
8,jesus  transgressed the bounds of     
seemliness10 would in that case have    
said 7even  as ,jonathan the son of     
,ezra said7 that 8,jesus knew not the   
evil in human  nature40 ,notwithstanding
 at this season we thought not of these 
things2  but we feared what should      
betide to our ,master if the ,pharisees 
took him  and cast him into bonds4      
,but a certain man of the ,pharisees1   
,joseph by name1 of the town of         
,arimatha1 clave unto ,jesus2 and       
although he dared not openly consort    
with  us1 he sent a servant after us1   
when we came forth from the ,temple1 to 

bid  ,jesus not abide in the same house 
this night as last night1 because1 said 
he1 8the ,pharisees purpose to take     
thee40 ,he also warned ,jesus not to    
come  into ,jerusalem on the morrow4    
,but if ,jesus desired to have some     
chamber in  the city wherein to keep the
 ,passover1 ,joseph promised that he    
would  provide one4 ,so much ,i heard   
myself2 for ,i was nigh to ,jesus when  
the  servant of ,joseph brought the     
message2 but the answer of ,jesus ,i    
heard  not1 save that he thanked the    
messenger courteously4    ,in the       
meantime we had passed out of the gate  
of the city1 and had begun  to climb up 
the side of the hill called ,olivet2 and
 by reason that we were  in the depth of
 the valley1 the sun had by this time   
set for us4 ,but when  we had gone some 
space up the side of the hill1 as we    
turned round to take  breath and rest1  
behold1 the sun had not yet set1 but was
 just beginning  to sink2 and the       
western quarter of the heaven was lit up

 with a light  exceeding red and fiery1 
and the roofs of the temple and the     
towers of the  castle of ,herod shone as
 with a bloodred flame2 and though our  
hearts  were heavy with many thoughts1  
yet could we not choose but look4 ,but  
when  ,jesus saw the city and the       
temple1 whence he had but now come and  
wherein  he was never to set foot again2
 his eyes were filled with tears1 and he
  changed colour and could go no        
further1 but sat down upon a stone and  
covered his face with his hands3 and    
then he looked again upon the city  and 
wept1 mourning over it and saying1 8,o  
,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 thou that       
killest the prophets and stonest them   
which are sent unto thee1 how often     
would ,i have gathered thy children     
together1 even as a hen gathereth her   
chickens under her wings1 and ye would  
not6 ,behold1 your house is left  unto  
you desolate4 ,for ,i say unto you1 ye  
shall not see me henceforth1  till ye   
shall say1 ,blessed is he that cometh in

 the name of the ,lord40    ,having said
 these words1 he arose and went on his  
way1 going up the hill4  ,and we        
followed him1 as men in the ,valley of  
the ,shadow of ,death1 that  follow an  
angel of deliverance1 but fear while    
they follow1 lest at any  time their    
guide should vanish out of their sight1 
and they should be left  alone4 ,even so
 followed we ,jesus up the ,mount of    
,olives1 and we feared  much to question
 him concerning his words1 but we feared
 even more to  remain silent and so to  
be ignorant concerning the approaching  
peril4  ,therefore presently ,simon     
,peter1 with two other disciples1 went  
to him and  questioned him1 saying1     
8,tell us when shall these things be40  
,jesus turned  and looked upon our      
faces1 and he perceived that we were all
 desirous to  question him4 ,so he      
beckoned to us to sit down1 and he      
himself sat down  upon a stone1 and we  
also sat down upon the ground around    
him4    ,then began ,jesus to pour forth

 many prophecies of troubles near at    
hand  and troubles far off2 and he      
seemed like unto one upon the shore of a
  stormy sea covered with mists and     
darkness1 who peereth into the night if 
perchance he may descry the ship wherein
 his friends sail tempesttossed2  even  
so did ,jesus look forward into that    
which was to come1 for our sakes4  ,for 
though his own end was at hand1 his     
thoughts and words were all for  us4    
,but he also had in his mind the        
prophecies of the prophet ,daniel2 who  
had prophesied1 many generations before1
 that a time should come when the       
worship of ,god should fail1 and a king 
of evil set himself up to be            
worshipped1 and the daily sacrifice     
should be taken away1 and the           
abomination of desolation set in the    
place thereof4 ,daniel likewise         
prophesieth that those of the nation who
 were of understanding should  remain   
upright2 yet even these should fall for 
a time1 to try them and to  purify them4

 ,but because the prophecies of ,daniel 
were like unto the words  of our        
,master1 ,i will here set them down2 for
 ,daniel saith1 8,they shall  pollute   
the sanctuary of strength1 and shall    
take away the daily  sacrifice1 and they
 shall place the abomination that maketh
 desolate4 ,and  such as do wickedly    
against the covenant shall he corrupt by
 flatteries2  but the people that do    
know their ,god shall be strong and do  
exploits4 ,and  they that understand    
among the people shall instruct many2   
yet they shall  fall by the sword1 and  
by flame1 by captivity1 and by spoil    
many days4 ,now  when they shall fall   
they shall be holpen with a little help2
 but many  shall cleave to them with    
flatteries4 ,and some of them of        
understanding  shall fall1 to try them1 
and to purge1 and to make them white1   
even to the  time of the end1 because it
 is yet for a time appointed40    ,now  
these prophecies of ,daniel were        
fulfilled1 in part1 in the days of  that

 wicked king ,antiochus who is called   
,epiphanes1 or ,illustrious2 but  ,jesus
 prophesied that they1 or others like   
unto them1 should still be  fulfilled4  
,howbeit1 in my judgment1 he did not    
prophesy that these things  should come 
to pass merely because ,daniel had      
prophesied the like2 but  because1      
looking upon the present1 he discerned  
the signs of the times  7according to   
his own saying71 and hence he perceived 
that which was yet  to come4 ,for his   
words were the words of ,daniel2 but his
 thoughts were the  thoughts that came  
to him from that which he saw in the    
world4 ,for when he  looked upon the    
world1 he saw love of self1 and love of 
ease1 and all  manner of baseness and   
servility2 and all the empire was given 
up to the  worship of a man1 even the   
,emperor ,tiberius1 and that man a      
tyrant and a  man of sin1 a slave to all
 abominations of the flesh4 ,wherefore  
death was  reigning over the whole of   
the world4 ,but when he looked to       

,israel1 which  was appointed to redeem 
the world and to lead the world to the  
knowledge  of the true ,god1 behold1    
,israel himself was blind2 and they     
which should  have been priests unto the
 ,gentiles were as naught but pedants2  
and these  too1 given over unto all sin1
 hypocrites1 and murderers in their     
hearts1  and children of ,satan4        
,therefore it was discerned clearly by  
,jesus 7having his eyes open to  things 
future even as our eyes are open to     
things present71 that a great  conflict 
was at hand between evil and good1 evil 
rearing itself aloft in  the world to   
receive the worship of all mankind and  
driving out the true  worship of ,god2  
and for a time evil must prevail4 ,for  
if he looked upon us  his apostles or   
disciples1 then he perceived even too   
easily in our hearts  the signs of      
weakness and instability2 and for this  
cause he prophesied  that we should all 
desert him and fall away for a time4    
,moreover1 because  he saw how the men  

of ,israel thirsted for redemption1 yea1
 and how all the  children of men       
desired some deliverance from their     
present evils1  therefore he knew and   
prophesied that1 when he had departed1  
his place  would not be left empty1     
neither at once nor in after            
generations2 but in  every time and in  
every nation false deliverers and false 
redeemers should  arise1 saying that men
 should obey them1 and that they would  
deliver men4  ,for this cause he warned 
us against false ,christs1 yea1 even    
though they  should work signs and      
wonders4    ,but as concerning the times
 and seasons when these several troubles
 should  arise1 he said naught2 nor did 
he describe the manner of the wars1 nor 
the  nations1 nor the armies that should
 make war4 ,now ,quartus judgeth that   
,jesus knew not these matters2 and true 
it is that ,jesus himself spake         
concerning the time of his coming1      
saying1 8,but of that day and hour      
knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels of   

heaven1 neither the ,son1 but the       
,father40 ,only1 concerning one part of 
the prophecy1 he said1 for certain1     
that this generation should not pass    
away till all had been fulfilled4 ,but  
this1 saith ,quartus1 he knew because of
 the signs of the times3 for as to  that
 which he said1 8,ye shall not see me   
henceforth1 till ye shall say1  ,blessed
 is he that cometh in the name of the   
,lord10 ,quartus supposeth that  ,jesus 
himself knew not the time thereof1 but  
only this1 that it was not  possible    
that ,sion could behold him until ,sion 
desired him3 for the  beholding of      
,jesus after his death was not to be    
with the bodily eye1 but  with the      
spiritual1 through love and desire4 ,now
 concerning the  foreknowledge of       
,jesus1 what things he knew1 and what   
things he knew not1  ,i have said above 
that ,i pronounce no judgment4 ,but true
 it is that at  this time he spake unto 
us a third parable concerning the       
figtree1 and  said that we were to      

discern the coming of these evils from  
the signs of  the times1 even as men    
discern the coming of the summer from   
the figtree1  when it putteth forth     
leaves4 ,for1 like as the summer causeth
 the figtree  to put forth her leaves1  
or like as the scent of the carcase     
guideth the  vultures to the prey1 even 
so he taught us that the sins of men1   
and  especially of ,israel1 would bring 
after them miseries and judgments1 not  
by chance1 but of necessity4            
,therefore he prophesied that great     
tribulation should fall on the land of  
,israel1 such as was not since the      
beginning of the world to this time1 no1
  nor yet ever shall be4 ,and except    
those days should be shortened1 there   
should no flesh be saved2 but for the   
elect's sake those days should be       
shortened4 ,but after the tribulation of
 ,israel1 he prophesied that all the    
empire should be shaken1 and the thrones
 and princedoms thereof should be  cast 
down1 and the throne of the ,son of man 

should be set up on high in  the sight  
of all men1 and the tribes of the earth 
should mourn1 and the  ,gentiles should 
see the ,son of man coming on the clouds
 of heaven with  power and great glory1 
and the elect should be gathered        
together by an  angel as with the sound 
of a trumpet from all the corners of the
 earth4  ,finally he exhorted us to     
watch in patience1 for we knew not at   
what hour  our ,master would come4      
,now as concerning these prophecies1    
part were perchance fulfilled when our  
,master came to us from the grave2 for  
then to them that watched and waited  he
 appeared4 ,but part also1 in my        
judgment1 yea1 and a great part1 were   
fulfilled ten years ago1 when ,jerusalem
 was trodden down by the ,gentiles1  and
 the temple was burned with fire1 and   
,israel was scattered over the  face of 
the earth1 and many were slain1 and many
 more sold for slaves1 and  such        
tribulation befell them as never before4
 ,but part remaineth to be  fulfilled1  

when men's hearts shall fail them       
because the empire shall be  shaken1 and
 the thrones of this world shall be cast
 down1 and the worship  of the ,son of  
man shall be set up4 ,for albeit the    
empire fell not in the  days of ,nero1  
when all men expected that the end of   
all things was at  hand2 yet must the   
empire needs be cast down4 ,and it is   
like that this  shall come to pass in my
 days1 even in the days of me           
,philochristus1 the  writer of this     
book4 ,and when ,israel shall turn unto 
the ,lord ,jesus and  shall call them   
blessed that come in his name1 then     
shall ,israel see him1  according to his
 saying4 ,howbeit concerning the day and
 the hour we have  no knowledge thereof2
 only we know that in the end the ,son  
of man must  come with glory2 and until 
the ,son of man shall reign over the    
world1  peace cannot be2 that is to say1
 cannot be so as to be settled and firm4
  ,for all things move violently to     
their place1 but easily in their place4 

,wherefore the ways of the world cannot 
be smooth1 nor can the children of  men 
and the tribes of men move smoothly and 
easily in the world1 until the  ,son of 
man be in his place as ,king of the     
world over all men and over all         
nations1 and until all men and all      
nations be in their places as his       
servants2 and then there shall be peace 
for ever2 but not till then4    ,but all
 this ,i write1 having been enlightened 
by the ,spirit4 ,but at the  time when  
we were sitting thus round about ,jesus1
 listening to his  prophecies1 we were  
not yet enlightened2 for the ,spirit of 
,jesus was not  yet in the world1       
because ,jesus was yet with us4         
,therefore were we all  greatly dismayed
 by his words1 and our hearts quite     
failed us2 and when he  had made an end 
of speaking1 we sat still silent2 and   
the shadow of night1  stretching over   
the face of the earth1 seemed unto us   
like to a shadow of  ,satan encompassing
 both us and all the world and our      

,redeemer himself1 in  whom we had      
trusted that he should have redeemed    
,sion4 ,thomas at last  brake silence1  
and said1 8,alas1 ,o ,master1 dost thou 
not remember thine own  words on that   
other mount in ,galilee1 where thou     
didst pour blessings on  us1 and didst  
strengthen us with comfortable sayings1 
telling us that the  meek should inherit
 the earth8 ,verily the prophecies of   
the ,mount of  ,olives do not accord    
with the prophecies of the ,mount of    
,blessing40 ,by  this time it was become
 dark1 so that we could not clearly     
discern the  features of ,jesus1 for the
 moon had not yet risen2 but he seemed  
to turn  his face suddenly to ,thomas as
 though his words had grieved him4      
,howbeit1  he said nothing1 but arose   
from his place1 and we followed him up  
the  mountain even unto ,bethany4       
,when we had been a full hour in        
,bethany1 our ,master called for ,judas1
 that  he should bear some message to   
,joseph of ,arimathea in ,jerusalem2 for

 ,judas  was oftentimes employed by     
,jesus about such matters1 being a man  
of  understanding1 and of a ready wit1  
and having a knowledge of the ways of   
men1 more than the rest of the          
disciples4 ,but search being made for   
,judas1  he was not to be found2 and    
this seemed not a little to disquiet    
,jesus4  ,howbeit1 he bade me go in his 
stead1 and bear a certain letter to     
,joseph  of ,arimathea4 ,so ,i went down
 straightway and delivered the letter2  
and  having received an answer written  
and sealed1 ,i set forth to return to   
,bethany4 ,now the moon was by this time
 risen1 and shining very brightly4  ,so1
 because ,i was minded not to be seen of
 any of the servants of the  chief      
priests1 ,i kept myself in the shadow of
 the street as ,i went forth  to the    
gate of ,kidron2 and it being now late1 
even in the second watch of  the night1 
there were few people stirring4    ,but 
as ,i was now near to the street called 
,straight1 whereby one turneth  to the  

right hand to go unto the gate1         
methought ,i heard the sound of the     
voice of the nightwatch going their     
rounds4 ,so ,i drew near to the wall1   
and remained in a corner where ,i could 
not be seen4 ,and straightway  ,hezekiah
 the ,scribe came by1 and ,judas with   
him1 walking very near the  place where 
,i was 7but they discerned me not7 and  
talking in a low voice  together4 ,and  
as they passed1 ,i clearly heard ,judas 
say to ,hezekiah1 8,but  if he should   
call down fire upon the guards80 ,and   
,hezekiah made answer1  8,then thou     
wouldst have done him good service10 or 
words to that effect3  but the exact    
words of ,hezekiah ,i heard not1 because
 they were by this  time gone somewhat  
past me4 ,neither could ,i hear what    
,judas said in answer  to the words of  
,hezekiah4 ,only ,i noted1 even afar    
off1 that after they had  conversed some
 while longer1 ,judas held out his right
 hand to ,hezekiah1  and ,hezekiah      
seemed to take it as a pledge4    ,when 

,i saw this1 my mind misgave me that all
 was not well2 yet did it not  so much  
as enter into my mind1 at that time1    
that one of the ,twelve could  purpose  
treachery against our ,master2 and1     
because of my message and my  haste1 ,i 
gave no thought to the words that ,i had
 heard4 ,but ,i sped away to  the gate1 
and passing through unquestioned1 ,i    
went up the mountain in  haste2 and when
 ,i came to the top1 ,i found ,john1 the
 son of ,zebedee1  waiting for me1 to   
take me to the house where ,jesus lay   
that night2 for he  was not to abide in 
the same house as before1 for fear of   
the ,pharisees4  ,so ,i came to ,jesus  
and delivered my letter2 and ,i found   
with him a certain  ,nicodemus1 a great 
teacher among the ,pharisees4 ,he had   
come to converse  with ,jesus1 but      
secretly1 for fear of the chief priests4
 ,then ,i delivered  my letter to       
,jesus1 and ,i told him how ,i had seen 
,judas discoursing with  ,hezekiah4 ,but
 the old man1 even ,nicodemus1 was      

troubled when he heard me  make mention 
of ,judas1 and he turned to ,jesus and  
said that from friends  came sometimes  
even more dangers than from enemies2 and
 as he had before  warned ,jesus against
 the plotting of the ,chief ,priests1 so
 now again he  besought ,jesus not to   
adventure himself in ,jerusalem on the  
morrow4 ,then  he gave thanks to ,jesus 
for his doctrine1 and departed4 ,but    
when the  letter of ,joseph of          
,arimathea was opened1 it confirmed the 
words of  ,nicodemus2 for he also bade  
,jesus not come to ,jerusalem on the    
morrow1 but  to tarry till the next day4
 ,he also added 7but these words ,jesus 
read not  aloud1 so that ,i knew not of 
them till afterwards7 that ,jesus should
 keep  the ,passover on the day after   
the morrow2 howbeit not at his house1   
but at  another house which his servants
 should prepare4 ,he also gave ,jesus a 
sign  whereby he might be guided to the 
house4 ,likewise the letter bade him    
beware of false friends4    ,when ,jesus

 had made an end of reading aloud those 
last words bidding him  beware of false 
friends1 his heart was sorely troubled1 
and the burden  seemed more than he     
could bear2 and he went out for a while 
to be alone  and to pray4 ,but presently
 he returned and spake comfortable words
 to us1  and cheered us with his        
kindness2 and so for that night he lay  
down to  rest2 and some of us slept     
while others watched4 ,howbeit that     
night no  enemy came4    ,on the morrow 
7which was the fourth day of the week7  
,jesus neither went  down to ,jerusalem1
 nor sent any down to make preparation  
for the ,passover4  ,but he remained    
with us in ,bethany1 part of the time in
 the house1 and  part in the fields     
round about1 going with us hither and   
thither1 and  speaking more and more to 
us of that same ,holy ,spirit whereof he
 had  spoken before2 which should guide 
us1 he said1 into all truth1 and teach  
us what to reply unto our enemies1 and  
be unto us a comforter and a  friend1   

yea1 the source of all happiness and    
good4 ,and more and more he  spake      
concerning his departure2 insomuch that1
 though we were unwilling1  yet by this 
time we were constrained to suppose that
 our ,master must be  severed from us   
for a season1 and that we must watch for
 his return4 ,yet  how or in what way he
 should be taken from us we could not   
conjecture3  only that he should be     
slain by his enemies we had no manner of
 belief1  no1 nor so much as a fear     
thereof1 although he had so many times  
prophesied it to us4 ,for the thing was 
hidden from us of the ,lord1 that we    
should neither believe it nor conceive  
it4    ,but the women were otherwise    
minded1 and were very full of fears4 ,to
 them  it seemed that1 if ,jesus was    
indeed about to be taken from them1 then
 it  mattered not whether he were taken 
in a chariot of fire or by whatever     
other means3 and they lamented over him 
as over one already dead4 ,many  times  
did we rebuke them for their            

faithlessness 7for so it seemed to us71 
but they would not cease4 ,judas also   
rebuked them even more bitterly than    
we3 for he had come to us on the morning
 of that day1 saying that he had  been  
with certain of his acquaintance in     
,jerusalem that he might be  informed   
concerning the plots of the ,pharisees4 
,jesus received him kindly1  even more  
methought than was usual2 and when we   
sat together at meat that  night1 he    
placed ,judas next unto himself1 ,john  
being on one side of him  and ,judas on 
the other1 in the seat of honour4       
,now so it was that1 while we were at   
meat1 behold1 one of the women came     
behind ,jesus1 having an alabaster box  
of very precious ointment1 and  poured  
it on his head1 at the same time        
uttering most piteous cries and         
lamentations4 ,then ,judas changed      
colour2 for his heart misgave him1 as ,i
  judge1 that the lamentations of the   
women might prove true2 and besides1  he
 was wrath perchance because the love   

wherewith this woman loved ,jesus  put  
his semblance of love utterly to shame4 
,therefore he rose up from his  seat in 
indignation and said1 8,to what purpose 
is this waste8 for this  ointment might 
have been sold for three hundred pence  
and given to the  poor40 ,we also       
ourselves in like manner murmured       
against the woman4 ,but  ,jesus said1   
8,why trouble ye the woman8 for she hath
 wrought a good work  upon me4 ,for ye  
have the poor always with you2 but me ye
 have not always4  ,for in that she hath
 poured this ointment on my body she did
 it for my  burial40 ,then he paused1   
and mused for an instant1 and added a   
prophecy1  that wheresoever his good    
tidings of ,redemption should be        
proclaimed in  the whole world1 there   
also should this that this woman had    
done be told  for a memorial of her4    
,now before these words1 while we had   
sat at meat listening to the  discourse 
of ,jesus1 ,judas seemed as if his heart
 were enlarged towards  ,jesus2 and     

albeit at times he fell to pondering and
 musing 7like unto a  man doubting of   
two courses which to take71 yet anon he 
would be aroused  by some word that     
,jesus spake2 and then his countenance  
would kindle1 and  he would stoop       
forward1 as in old times1 with his eyes 
all aglow1  listening as if he would    
fain devour each syllable with his ears4
 ,but now  his countenance fell1 and he 
was filled with rage because he had been
  rebuked by ,jesus2 and he went forth  
from the chamber1 and we saw him that   
night no more4 ,but as for us that      
remained1 our hearts became exceeding   
sorrowful2 for now indeed it pressed    
upon us that the departure of ,jesus    
must needs be sad and grievous and full 
of sorrow1 like unto death4 ,but  still1
 that he should die indeed1 and be      
buried3 this1 even now1 we could  in no 
wise believe4                           
,,chapter ,,xxviii      ,when the morrow
 came 7which was the fifth day of the   
week7 ,jesus abode  still in ,bethany1  

and went not forth to ,jerusalem4 ,now  
so it was that the  ,passover that year 
fell on the ,sabbath day2 and because of
 the multitude  of the sacrifices that  
were to be slain between the two        
evenings in the  temple1 it was a custom
 that certain of the pilgrims should    
keep the  ,passover on a day before the 
,sabbath4 ,for it was said 7though ,i   
can scarce  believe it7 that there were 
nigh upon three hundred myriads of souls
 in  ,jerusalem during the ,passover    
week2 and even though the women partook 
not  of the feast1 yet the number of    
lambs to be slaughtered must needs be   
very  great4 ,therefore we expected that
 he should have gone down to ,jerusalem 
that day1 for so it had been determined 
with ,joseph of ,arimathea2 and we      
marvelled that he did not go4 ,but he   
continued speaking unto ,mary and       
,martha and other of the women4 ,and by 
this time it was noon1 and yet  nothing 
had been done4    ,but at the last      
,peter went to him and reminded him that

 after two days  would be the feast of  
the ,passover2 and he asked ,jesus where
 he desired  that we should prepare for 
the feast4 ,then ,jesus bade ,peter and 
,john go to  a certain street in        
,jerusalem and to stand there during the
 ninth hour of  the day2 and they should
 meet there a certain slave of ,joseph  
of ,arimathea  bearing a pitcher of     
water upon his head2 and they were to   
say1 as a sign  to the man1 8,the       
,master saith1 my time is at hand2 ,i   
will keep the  ,passover at thy house   
with my disciples20 and the slave would 
shew them an  upper room prepared2 and  
there they were to make ready4 ,for the 
space of  an hour after ,peter and ,john
 were departed1 ,jesus continued still  
speaking  unto the women3 then he arose 
and bade them farewell1 and set his face
 to  go down to ,jerusalem4    ,when it 
was now late1 the sun having set two    
hours or more1 we sat down to  keep the 
feast2 and ,judas also was with us4     
,while we sat at meat1 we  spake1       

according to the custom1 concerning the 
ancient deliverance of  ,israel in the  
days of ,moses3 but our hearts were very
 heavy1 for we said  within ourselves1  
8,we need not a past1 but a present     
deliverance2 and1  behold1 it is not to 
be40 ,jesus alone was of good cheer1 and
 rejoiced with  a marvellous joy2 and he
 spake very cheerfully and tenderly to  
us1 and  said that his heart had yearned
 to eat this ,passover with us1 for he  
should not eat with us again till the   
,kingdom of ,god should be  established4
 ,now at this we marvelled1 but we      
rejoiced not2 for we had  learned by    
much experience not to rejoice at the   
promises of ,jesus as if  they were the 
promises of common men4 ,moreover we    
were sore disturbed by a  certain saying
 of ,jesus4 ,for in the midst of his    
comfortable discourse to  us1 he        
suddenly brake off1 saying that one of  
us1 that sat there at meat  with him1   
should betray him4 ,and he said1 8,the  
,son of man goeth as it is  written of  

him2 but woe unto that man by whom the  
,son of man is betrayed6  ,it had been  
good for that man if he had not been    
born40 ,and hereat we sat  a while dumb 
and looking each at other1 wondering    
whom ,jesus might mean1  and afterwards 
we brake out into many and passionate   
questionings1 each  asking whether he   
himself was to be the traitor3 but      
,jesus made no certain  answer1 none at 
least that ,i heard4 ,at the last1      
before rising from the  table1 ,jesus   
looked earnestly upon us all1 as if his 
heart went out to us3  and he pitied us1
 and said that he would now give us his 
last gift2 for  this feast was as a     
funeral feast1 and he was to die and    
leave us alone2  therefore1 before he   
died1 he desired to bequeath to us      
somewhat by his  last will and          
testament4    ,while we marvelled what  
this gift or legacy might be1 behold1   
,jesus took  bread and blessed ,god1 and
 brake it and gave it to each of us1    
saying1  8,take1 eat1 this is my body40 

,after this he took wine and blessed    
that  likewise1 and bade us drink of it1
 saying1 8,this is my blood of the ,new 
,testament1 which is shed for many40 ,so
 we ate and drank as we were bidden1    
even like children that have no         
understanding2 nor did we then discern  
the  meaning of his words4 ,howbeit1    
even at that time we understood somewhat
 of  his purpose2 for we perceived that 
,jesus was pouring his love1 yea1 and   
his life1 into our hearts2 and our souls
 stretched out as it were toward  the   
truth1 namely1 that ,jesus1 in this     
testament of his1 was bequeathing       
himself to us his disciples1 to be our  
possession for ever4    ,now all the    
other disciples were strangely moved1   
insomuch that their  hearts were melted 
with the fervency of their love2 but    
,judas alone was  unmoved4 ,yea1 rather 
he was moved indeed1 but in a manner    
quite contrary  to the rest4 ,for when  
,jesus reached unto him the bread1 all  
eyes were upon  him1 for we could not   

now refrain from suspecting him3 but he 
ate it  against his will1 and as though 
he ate it with difficulty2 and when he  
had  eaten it1 he looked angrily at us  
that gazed still upon him1 and then he  
rose up in haste from the table1 like   
unto one possessed with ,satan4 ,now    
while he was eating1 ,jesus beheld him  
with a marvellous love and pity1  yea1  
and1 as it seemed to me1 with a great   
struggle and conflict of soul1  as if he
 were wrestling for the last time       
against ,satan for the soul of  ,judas4 
,but1 when he perceived that ,judas had 
hardened his heart against  him1 he     
sighed1 and said some word unto him1 but
 what it was ,i heard not3  and hereupon
 ,judas went hastily forth1 and left    
,jesus still sitting with  us4 ,then did
 our hearts misgive us yet more4 ,for   
none could any longer  doubt that ,judas
 was indeed a traitor2 and we bethought 
ourselves for what  cause he had gone   
forth1 and when he would return4    ,but
 ,jesus neither stayed him1 nor lamented

 when he had departed2 but he  seemed   
like unto one in whom all tears and     
sorrow had been swallowed up in  a      
certain unfathomable depth of joy4 ,for 
he looked up to heaven and  offered up  
praise unto the ,lord1 the ,deliverer of
 ,israel1 and he bade us  join him in   
singing a portion of the great ,hallel2 
for the singing of  these psalms was    
according to the custom of the          
,passover4 ,now so it was  that1 in the 
singing1 ,jesus must needs utter certain
 words that tell how  the ,lord giveth  
life out of death3 8,the snares of death
 compassed me round  about1 and the     
pains of hell gat hold upon me4 ,i shall
 find trouble and  heaviness1 and ,i    
will call upon the name of the ,lord1 ,o
 ,lord ,i beseech  thee1 deliver my     
soul30 and then1 8,turn again then unto 
thy rest1 ,o my  soul1 for the ,lord    
hath rewarded thee4 ,and why8 ,thou hast
 delivered my  soul from death1 mine    
eyes from tears1 and my feet from       
falling4 ,i will  walk before the ,lord 

in the land of the living40 ,while he   
sang these  words1 it was a wonder to   
see the face of ,jesus1 with what a     
brightness he  looked up to heaven1 and 
how great a trust shone from his        
countenance2  insomuch that1 as we gazed
 upon him1 our hearts also seemed lifted
 up with  his4 ,but ,jesus went on1     
until he came to those following words  
of the  ,hallel which say how 8,the     
right hand of the ,lord hath the        
preeminence3  the right hand of the     
,lord bringeth mighty things to pass4 ,i
 shall not die  but live1 and declare   
the works of the ,lord4 ,the ,lord hath 
chastened and  corrected me1 but he hath
 not given me over unto death4 ,open me 
the gates  of righteousness1 that ,i may
 go into them and give thanks unto the  
,lord40    ,at the last1 when we sang of
 the stone refused of the builders but  
become  the head stone of the corner1 he
 sang with an exceeding clear voice1 not
  loud1 but very piercing1 so that it   
seemed to cleave us to the very heart2  

and behold1 our voices became lower1    
even as his became clearer2 and we      
feared to sing the same words as he     
sang2 but we were rapt with wonder as   
we looked upon his countenance2 for it  
was as the countenance of an angel      
seeing the very glory of the ,most ,high
 and gazing upon ,him face to face4     
,and when he sang the last words of all1
 8,god is the ,lord who hath shewed  us 
light1 bind the sacrifice with cords1   
yea even unto the horns of the  altar4  
,thou art my ,god1 and ,i will thank    
thee2 thou art my ,god1 and ,i will     
praise thee02 then indeed it came to    
pass that all we that listened to him   
were lifted up in spirit with him in an 
ecstasy1 being delivered from all  our  
doubts and cares and fears1 looking down
 on them as petty things2 and  it was   
even as if ,jesus were holding us by the
 hand and carrying us up  with himself  
above the firmament1 to the seventh     
heaven and beyond1 yea  even to the     
,throne of the ,blessed4    ,that       

instant1 a knocking was heard at the    
door1 and one entered in haste  and as  
if in terror2 and he went up to ,jesus  
and whispered in his ear4  ,then the    
glory faded from the face of ,jesus1 and
 he became sad1 and  straightway gave   
commandment to depart4 ,but as we went  
forth from the  chamber to the roof 7for
 the guestchamber was an upper chamber  
and upon  the roof1 as was the custom in
 my country71 we heard from the slave   
that a  guard had been sent forth by    
,annas to seek ,jesus1 and that ,judas  
of  ,kerioth was thought to be with     
them1 to guide them to the place where  
,jesus was4 ,so we went down immediately
 from the upper chamber where we had    
been at meat2 and behold1 as we passed  
from the brightness of the  moonlight1  
which shone upon the roof1 down into the
 darkness of the shadow  of the street1 
we seemed to have passed out of life    
into death1 and to  have been cast down 
from ,paradise to the depths beneath the
 earth4    ,now when we were all come   

down from the house into the street1    
,jesus stood  for a while in the midst  
of his disciples looking up to the sky2 
and he  seemed for an instant like unto 
one doubting whither he should go4 ,for 
first he made two or three steps toward 
the temple and the tower of  ,antonia1  
as if to go thither 7but this would have
 been certain death1 for  the guard was 
coming thence1 and we should have met   
them72 but then he  looked at us and    
seemed to change his purpose4 ,for he   
turned towards the  gate that leadeth to
 the vale of ,kidron4 ,now why he did   
this we knew not  at that time2 but     
afterwards we judged that he was moved  
at first to go to  meet the guard that  
he might give himself up at once unto   
death2 but when  he had thought thereon1
 it seemed better for our sakes that he 
should  still remain with us a few hours
 longer4 ,perchance also he wished to   
commune with ,god alone upon the        
mountain of ,olivet2 for he ever loved  
the  loneliness of mountainous places   

and nightly prayers4 ,moreover ,quartus 
writeth to this effect1 that 8though    
,jesus knew that he was to die1 yet  the
 manner of his dying1 and how he should 
be taken1 was not known to him3         
therefore he would not prevent the hand 
of the ,lord1 but would avoid the  peril
 by all honourable means even till the  
last1 leaving the decision  with the    
,lord40    ,as we drew nigh to the gate 
of ,kidron ,i was near him1 and ,i heard
 him  repeating some saying of          
,scripture to himself2 and at the last1 
he spake  aloud and said1 8,all ye shall
 be offended because of me this night1  
for it  is written1 ,i will smite the   
shepherd1 and the sheep shall be        
scattered40  ,but when he marked us1 how
 exceedingly we sorrowed at these words 
of his1  then he began to encourage us  
again2 and he spake some words how that 
he  would return to us1 or guide us     
hereafter4 ,now what he said exactly ,i 
know  not1 for ,i was a little behind   
the rest4 ,but he looked around him in  

the  narrow street1 as though that were 
no place for him to abide in3 and then  
he added some words concerning ,galilee1
 which ,i did not clearly hear4         
,howbeit1 it seemed to me that he said  
he should manifest himself to us        
hereafter1 not in ,jerusalem but in     
,galilee47#aa7 ,and so also most of the 
disciples interpreted his words4 ,but we
 all with one consent cried out  that we
 would never desert him nor go from his 
side2 and he listened to us  gently1    
even as a mother listeneth to the       
prattle of a little child which         
prattleth concerning the things which he
 will do when he cometh to man's        
estate4 ,even so listened ,jesus to our 
speech2 but when ,peter was vehement1   
even above the rest1 in protestations1  
,jesus interrupted him1 and said  that  
before the morrow's sun had risen1 yea1 
before cockcrow1 ,simon ,peter  should  
have denied him4    ,by this time we    
were come to the gate of the ,kidron    
valley2 and methought  certain of the   

servants of the chief priests1 which    
stood together at the  gate1 were       
advised of the intent to arrest ,jesus1 
and were fain to lay  hands on him4     
,howbeit1 many were coming in and going 
out1 and we that were  going with ,jesus
 joined ourselves together around him1  
insomuch that the  guards suffered us to
 pass2 for they could not then have     
taken him  quietly1 nor without a       
tumult2 which thing they purposed to    
avoid4 ,and so  it was that1 as we      
closed ourselves together for to        
encompass ,jesus and to  guard him1 my  
place was very nigh unto ,jesus1 even   
next upon his left  hand2 and as we went
 down the steep path which leadeth      
across the brook  ,kidron1 ,i chanced to
 stumble2 and ,jesus took me by the     
right hand to stay  me from falling4    
,and the touch thereof remaineth with me
 unto this day2  for his hand was not   
again to touch my hand upon earth4      
,when we were now going up the hill on  
the other side of the brook 7being  by  

this time quite out of the shadow of the
 city walls1 so that we could  see all  
things in the moonlight very clearly71  
we perceived that ,jesus was  still     
meditating on prophecies2 and ever and  
anon he looked upon us1 as  though his  
care for us were a burden on his soul4  
,and perchance he desired  to prepare us
 to live without him in the world2 and  
not to depend upon the  exact words of  
his precepts1 nor to make therefrom a   
rule nor a law unto  ourselves1 but to  
obey the ,spirit only2 making new rules 
and laws for  ourselves if need were1   
even as the times might suggest and the 
,spirit  might bid us4 ,for he said unto
 us1 8,when ,i sent you without purse1  
and  scrip1 and shoes1 lacked ye        
anything80 ,and we said 8,nothing40     
,then said he  unto us1 8,but now he    
that hath a purse let him take it1 and  
likewise his  scrip40 ,here he paused   
awhile1 and then he added these words3  
8,and he that  hath no sword let him    
sell his garment and buy one4 ,for ,i   

say unto you  that this that is written1
 must yet be accomplished in me3 #8,and 
he was  reckoned among the              
transgressors4' ,for the things         
concerning me have an  end40 ,hereat we 
wondered1 that ,jesus 7who had ever     
spoken against smiting  with the sword7 
should bid us buy swords4 ,howbeit1 we  
answered that we had  two swords with   
us4 ,straightway ,jesus ceased from     
walking1 and stood quite  still for an  
instant2 and it seemed as if he         
marvelled at our want of  understanding1
 but yet perceived that he must needs be
 content1 for he  could do no more to   
help us4 ,therefore he said nothing1 but
 presently  continued to walk on as     
before4 ,but1 as ,i now suppose1 his    
meaning was to  prepare us for much     
tribulation1 and that we should1 in the 
days to come1  use all means and all    
faculties in his service4 ,howbeit1 even
 to this day1  ,i understand not        
altogether that saying about the buying 
of a sword4 ,but  as ,i judge1 ,jesus   

had invisible things in his mind1 and he
 spake of the  stores and treasures1 and
 of the weapons also1 that were like to 
be needed  in the great and terrible war
 which we were to wage against ,satan in
 the  days to come4    ,against this1   
,xanthias urgeth 7and methinks not      
without shew of reason7  that the scrip 
and purse whereof ,jesus made mention in
 ,galilee were not  invisible things1   
but visible3 but1 if they were visible1 
so also must the  sword needs be1       
whereof ,jesus made mention in the same 
saying4 ,but ,quartus  replieth that    
when ,jesus1 being still with us in the 
flesh1 sent the  disciples forth in     
,galilee without purse and scrip1 he    
would have them to  go forth not only   
without visible purse and scrip 7which  
indeed they did71  but also without the 
spirit of the purse and the spirit of   
the scrip1 that  is to say without      
forethought and provision1 the better to
 awaken them to  whom they were to      
preach the ,good ,news3 and this1 saith 

,quartus1 was the  main part of the     
precept of ,jesus4 ,but now that he was 
to be no longer  with us in the flesh1  
he changed his precept1 bidding us use  
the spirit of  the purse and the spirit 
of the scrip3 and 8after those words10  
saith  ,quartus1 8that ye might the     
better understand them1 ,jesus paused0  
7which  indeed he did1 for ,i took note 
of it7 8in the midst of his saying1 and 
bade you buy a sword1 supposing that ye 
would know assuredly that he 7who  ever 
hated the sword7 could not mean a       
visible sword1 but an invisible3  even  
that twoedged sword which ,jesus brought
 into the world to do battle  against   
evil withal4 ,and belike10 saith        
,quartus1 8,jesus meant that1 after  he 
should be taken away1 we were never to  
be content to defend ourselves  against 
evil1 nor to lead harmless lives in     
peace and quiet 7as the  ,essenes are   
wont to do72 but that we were evermore  
to do battle against  evil1 and to      
assail it1 and to give up all things    

sooner than cease to  make war against  
it40    ,at this time came down one from
 ,bethany to tell us that the servants  
of  the chief priests had beset the     
house of ,mary and ,martha1 and others  
were  watching on the road for to take  
,jesus if he should come up the hill4   
,therefore ,jesus turned aside from the 
road and went unto a place whither  he  
had also beforetime gone with us3 it was
 a small vale1 wherein grew  many       
olivetrees1 insomuch that it was hence  
called the ,press of ,olive  ,oil1 or   
,gethsemane4 ,when ,jesus came to this  
place1 we would fain have  still        
accompanied him2 but he suffered us not1
 but bade us stay where we  were1 and   
there to watch and pray1 lest we entered
 into temptation3 for  these were his   
very words to us4 ,but taking ,john and 
,peter and ,james1 he  himself went     
forward about a stone's cast2 and we    
noted that1 after a  short while1 he    
parted from them1 though they were fain 
to stay him 7for  we could hear all     

things as well as see1 because the night
 was very calm1  and no less still than 
bright72 and he went on yet another     
stone's cast or  somewhat less1 and the 
three disciples sat down where they     
were4 ,then  ,jesus stretched out his   
hands unto the ,lord and prayed with    
exceeding  earnestness2 and to us1 where
 we stood1 he seemed as one in a sore   
agony2  for at one time we could discern
 him standing erect1 but at another time
  kneeling or prostrate upon the ground2
 and though he spake not loud1 yet      
could ,i hear words that made my very   
flesh to shiver and creep2 for he  cried
 unto the ,lord and said1 8,father1 if  
it be possible1 let this cup  pass from 
me40 ,these words he said more than     
once1 so that ,i could not but  hear    
them2 and a sickness of heart and an    
horror fell on me that such an  one as  
,jesus of ,nazareth should come to such 
a pass1 and should ever need  to say1   
8if it be possible40    ,now so it was1 
that in spite of our sorrow and anguish 

of heart1 all we  that watched with     
,jesus at this time were so pressed down
 with a strange  slumber that it was not
 possible for us to resist the burden   
thereof upon  our eyelids2 and          
oftentimes we would walk up and down and
 speak each to  other for to shake off  
the leaden weight from our eyes2 but we 
could not1  no1 though we were angered1 
and reproached ourselves aloud4 ,for we 
had not  slept much during three nights 
past or more1 because of the need of    
watching for ,jesus2 and besides1 the   
very unexpectedness of all that  sorrow 
which had of late encompassed us round  
on every side1 caused us to  feel like  
unto them which wander in the wilderness
 of a dream or vision of  the night1    
insomuch that we scarce knew whether we 
were asleep or awake3  and the anguish  
of ,jesus itself was unto us as it were 
but a part of a bad  dream4 ,for we     
could not attain to understand his      
sorrow1 nor to share in  his burden4    
,only we knew that he sorrowed not for  

fear of death4 ,but we  knew not at that
 time the secret of his agony1 how he   
was at that instant  wrestling with     
,satan for the salvation of all the     
children of men4 ,yet so  indeed it was4
 ,and though the suffering of ,jesus was
 seen of men when his  body hung upon   
the cross1 yet meseemeth it was seen of 
,god when he was  prostrate upon the    
ground in ,gethsemane1 and his soul was 
crying unto the  ,lord and saying1 8if  
it be possible40    ,loth am ,i to write
 many words concerning that which is    
above all reach of  words1 yea1 and     
above all reach of the thoughts of men2 
yet will ,i here  set down that which   
was said unto me concerning this matter 
by a certain  ,alexandrine1 a friend of 
,quartus1 who was a man of an           
understanding spirit  and of discernment
 above the common4 ,this man1 when ,i   
once marvelled  aloud1 in his presence1 
as to the cause of the agony of ,jesus1 
made answer  to me and said1 8,what was 
it1 thinkest thou1 that caused ,jesus   

more pain  and sorrow than aught else80 
,so ,i replied1 8,without doubt1 the    
sins of  men3 for he often spake as if  
it were a pain to him1 even to forgive  
the  sins of men40 ,but the ,alexandrine
 replied1 8,as it seemeth to me1 ,jesus 
did  not merely forgive sins twice or   
thrice in a week1 nor in a day1 no1 nor 
even in an hour3 but his whole life was 
a state of forgiving1 and a state  of   
bearing sins and of carrying iniquities1
 and of making himself one with         
sinners4 ,for this end it was needful   
that ,jesus should have strength to     
trust in men and to hope for men3 for   
without trust and hope thou knowest  it 
is impossible for thee to lift up a     
sinful man in forgiveness1  howsoever   
great may be thy love for the sinful4   
8,therefore1 even as the ,gentiles fable
 that ,atlas doth bear up the pillars   
of the earth1 even so1 methinks1 ,jesus 
of ,nazareth knew in himself that he    
bare up the pillars of the invisible    
,jerusalem1 the city of the souls of    

men2 and so long as he had strength to  
trust and hope1 so long he knew  that   
the invisible city stood and was to     
stand2 but1 if he should fail in  trust 
and hope so that he should fall 7even   
for a single instant71 then  behold1 in 
that same fall of the ,son of man fell  
all the world1 yea1 all  the souls of   
men1 and all the ,temple of the         
,congregation of the children  of ,god2 
and so the universe became the          
huntingground of ,satan1 and the        
children of men his prey1 and ,god was  
not4 ,peradventure1 therefore1 the      
burden of ,jesus was this bearing of the
 sins of men1 and especially of the  sin
 of ,judas and the infirmities of you   
his disciples1 and the thought of  the  
impotence of good to conquer evil4      
,moreover perchance there rose up       
before him the image of the morrow1 when
 he should hang upon the cross1  and    
when the strength and force of life     
should leave him1 and there should  be  
no one to succour1 no one to comfort2   

and a vision from ,satan stood  before  
him1 and he heard a voice that whispered
 evil things3 #8,if now thou  shouldest 
lose thy trust for an instant8 and the  
pillar should be snapped8  and the      
invisible city should fall8 and the     
gates of hell should prevail  over the  
gates of heaven8'0    ,this then is what
 the ,alexandrine said unto me          
concerning the suffering of  ,jesus3 but
 it needeth not to say that at this time
 we understood naught of  these things3 
only we perceived that some terrible    
thing was at hand4 ,but  about the space
 of an hour or more1 as ,i judge1 had   
passed since we first  heard ,jesus say1
 8if it be possible02 and now methought 
,jesus was less  disturbed in praying4  
,and presently we saw him standing      
upright1 very  clearly to be seen in the
 light of the moon1 which streamed upon 
him  through the olive branches2 and    
these words were borne to our ears      
through  the stillness of the night1 8,o
 my ,father1 if this cup may not pass   

away  from me1 except ,i drink it1 thy  
will be done40 ,but some of the         
disciples  told me afterwards that at   
this time they saw a shape1 as of an    
angel  clothed in white1 ministering    
unto him4 ,but ,i saw it not1 for it may
 be  that ,i was at that time           
slumbering3 for soon after ,i had heard 
,jesus speak  these last words1 there   
fell a deep sleep upon me and upon the  
rest of the  disciples that were nearest
 to me4 ,afterwards they all slumbered  
and  slept1 even the sons of ,zebedee   
and ,peter also2 and perchance this     
thing  was from the ,lord1 to the intent
 that ,jesus might bear all his burden  
alone4    ,after this1 ,i remember no   
more1 save that ,i had a vision of the  
night in  my slumber1 wherein ,i saw    
,jesus of ,nazareth clothed in bright   
raiment1  glorious to behold4 ,he stood 
and prayed upon the summit of a         
mountain4  ,howbeit in my dream it      
seemed to be not ,mount ,olivet1 but the
 ,mount of the  ,law in ,galilee4 ,and  

as ,i looked upon him1 his stature grew 
larger and his  raiment brighter1 till  
the brightness thereof filled the sky1  
and set it  all in a flame4 ,with that  
,i awoke on a sudden1 and opening mine  
eyes1 ,i  perceived that there were     
flames indeed around me2 then1 leaping  
up1 ,i  found myself in the midst of    
torches1 and armed men compassing me    
round4  ,yet could ,i discern1 through  
the midst of them all1 ,jesus1 with a   
calm  countenance1 stooping over ,john  
and ,peter and ,james1 and arousing them
  from sleep4    ,now all that came to  
pass thereafter was finished in a few   
moments1 though  it take long to tell4  
,for ,judas1 who was the guide of the   
armed men1 ran  swiftly before the rest 
up to ,jesus and said1 8,hail1 ,master10
 and saluted  him4 ,and1 as ,i was told 
by them that were nigh to see1 ,judas   
seemed as if  he knew not1 even at the  
last1 what would come to pass1 nor      
scarce what he  himself was doing4 ,for 
he embraced ,jesus and pointed to the   

soldiers that  followed behind him1 as  
if half expecting that ,jesus would call
 down fire  upon them4 ,but ,jesus      
looked upon him as if looking upon a    
stranger1 and  made him such answer as  
to shew that he perceived his treachery2
 whereat  ,judas drew back1 they said1  
as one distraught4 ,then ,simon ,peter  
drew a  sword and struck a blow at one  
of the soldiers2 and the rest of us ran 
up  to have joined in the fray4 ,but    
,jesus straightway rebuked us1 and      
bidding  ,peter put up his sword1 he    
yielded himself up to the soldiers4 ,yet
 even to  the last he was as a son      
obeying the will of the ,father1 and not
 like unto  one acting from constraint2 
for ,i myself heard him say unto ,simon 
,peter1  8,thinkest thou that ,i cannot 
pray to my ,father and ,he shall        
presently give  me more than twelve     
legions of angels8 ,but how then shall  
the ,scriptures  be fulfilled1 that thus
 it must be80    ,now up to this moment 
we had not yet fled2 for we could not   

even then  believe that our ,redeemer1  
the ,messiah1 the ,son of the ,living   
,god1 would  be led captive2 yea1 even  
though he resisted not1 yet were we     
assured that  the ,lord ,god of ,israel 
would stretch out ,his hand to deliver  
,his ,holy ,one4  ,so we still waited   
and were in expectation4 ,but when at   
last the servants  of the high priests  
laid their hands on him and the soldiers
 bound him and  dragged him roughly     
away1 and yet no fire from heaven came  
down upon them1  neither did the earth  
open her mouth to swallow them up2 then 
we all  forsook him and fled4           
,,chapter ,,xxix      ,though we had so 
basely fled from our ,master1 yet away  
from him we were  not able to rest4     
,therefore we followed after the guard  
down the mountain1  even into           
,jerusalem1 and mingled with the        
concourse that was gathered  together   
before the doors of the ,high ,priest's 
house4 ,near me was ,john the  son of   
,zebedee2 who1 having some acquaintance 

in the household of the ,high  ,priest1 
gained access into the house2 and ,peter
 also with him4 ,but ,i  remained       
without2 and ,i conversed with the      
people1 making as if ,i were no         
,galilean1 but a citizen of ,jerusalem4 
,for ,i perceived that the most part  of
 the multitude were men of ,jerusalem1  
some indeed citizens1 but the  greater  
part servants of the chief priests1 and 
moneychangers1 and  cattledealers2 who  
had been gathered together of set       
purpose by the  enemies of ,jesus4      
,but when ,i asked one why he hated     
,jesus 7for the man had declared aloud  
that he trusted that day to see ,jesus  
on the cross71 he replied1 8,because    
this ,galilean marreth our trade1 and   
taketh away our living2 for behold1     
these three days men buy no beasts for  
sacrifice from my stalls in the         
temple40 ,and another said1 8,yea1 and  
he maketh no secret that he purposeth   
to destroy our religion1 and change our 
customs which ,moses appointed3 for  he 

saith that he will destroy this temple1 
and boasteth1 forsooth1 that he  will   
raise up another equal to this in three 
days40 ,now this saying of  ,jesus      
7which indeed he had not said1 for ,i   
have set down his words exactly  above7 
had been carried from mouth to mouth    
throughout ,jerusalem2 and the  chief   
priests had everywhere caused it to be  
rumoured that the intent of  ,jesus was 
to destroy the temple with fire during  
that ,passover4 ,therefore  the hearts  
of many of the devout and sober people  
were turned away from  ,jesus4    ,after
 we had waited about two hours or       
something less1 a certain ,scribe  came 
up to a servant of the chief priests1   
who was conversing with me2 and  the    
,scribe asked the man concerning the    
multitude1 for what cause it was        
gathered together3 and the man said1    
8,to see the false prophet1 named       
,jesus of ,nazareth1 who is to be       
condemned to death40 8,nay10 said the   
other1 8then thou losest thy labour4    

,for if a man be tried for his life1  he
 may not be tried on the day before the 
,sabbath2 for the ,law alloweth  appeal 
on the morrow4 ,therefore if1 as thou   
sayest1 ,jesus of ,nazareth is  yonder  
being tried1 it cannot be that he is    
tried for his life40 ,hereat ,i         
rejoiced greatly1 for ,i bethought      
myself that it was even so as the       
,scribe  had said1 wherefore it could   
not be that ,jesus was to be tried for  
his  life4 ,but when ,i drew nigh unto  
them 7for the press had parted us for an
  instant73 8,i give thee a yea for thy 
nay10 said the other1 8for thou  knowest
 the ,law1 but ,i know my master ,annas2
 and he is not the man to  allow a      
little matter of a day to stand in his  
way2 nor to permit the  booths and shops
 in the temple 7whence cometh profit to 
the priests7 to be  destroyed by false  
prophets and ,galileans to boot40 ,then 
indeed my heart  misgave me that it was 
to be no trial1 but only a murder4      
,just then one came down the steps      

leading from the ,high ,priest's house1 
and the people ran together towards him 
to know what had been done4 ,he  stood  
still1 and made a gesture that they     
should keep silence2 and then in  a     
clear voice he spake to the multitude   
and said1 8,the council hath  pronounced
 that ,jesus of ,nazareth is a man of   
death40 ,hereupon there was a  general  
shout1 for all knew that to be 8a man of
 death0 meant to be  condemned to die3  
and straightway a cry arose1 8,stone    
him1 stone him2  bring him out that we  
may stone him40 ,but the man checked    
them that  shouted1 saying that the     
accused must first be led to the        
judgment seat of  the procurator1       
,pontius ,pilate1 for without his       
judgment it was not lawful  that any    
should be put to death4    ,then my     
heart revived a little again2 for it    
seemed there was still some  hope4 ,but 
seeing ,simon ,peter come forth from the
 ,high ,priest's house1 ,i  pressed     
through the throng if perchance ,i might

 come at him1 to ask him  touching the  
trial1 and what the witnesses had       
testified1 and how ,jesus  had borne    
himself4 ,but ,peter seemed not to see  
me2 and even when ,i called  him by name
 he would not hear me4 ,at last1 by dint
 of striving1 ,i came  near him in the  
throng and caught hold of his garment1  
and stayed him by  force4 ,then1 indeed1
 he stayed2 but as he turned round and  
his face looked  upon my face1 behold1  
,i saw in his countenance shame1 and    
remorse1 and  despair2 and he assayed to
 speak1 but could not1 and wrung my hand
 in  silence4 ,then waving me off that  
,i should not any more stay him1 he     
hasted  away1 and ,i durst not follow   
him2 for it was evident to me that the  
prophecy of ,jesus had been fulfilled1  
and that ,simon ,peter had denied our   
,master4    ,i turned back into the     
throng1 for my intent was to have       
remained standing  without1 till such   
time as ,jesus came forth4 ,but ,i heard
 the servant of  the ,high ,priest say  

to one of his acquaintance that the     
procurator was not  one to have his     
sleep broken by business at so early an 
hour2 8,therefore10  said he to his     
companion1 8go home to thy house1 and   
warm thee1 if thou  wilt2 for there will
 be naught to see these three hours40   
,then it came  into my mind that the    
mother of ,jesus1 and likewise ,mary    
,magdalene1 and  the other women1 were  
all this while in ,bethany1 neither knew
 they aught  of that which had befallen 
,jesus2 and it was fit they should be   
told4  ,therefore ,i went forth by the  
gate of ,kidron and up the ,mount of    
,olives  even to ,bethany2 and there ,i 
writ a few words1 telling what had      
befallen1  and left it in the hand of   
one of the servants of the house2 for to
 go in  myself and to tell the tale1 and
 to look upon their sorrow1 ,i durst not
 do  it4 ,this done1 ,i hasted back for 
to go down to the house of the          
procurator1 making sure to have arrived 
thither long before they had made  an   

end of the trial4 ,but when ,i was gone 
but two or three hundred paces  from    
,bethany1 one of the women ran after me 
with tears and lamentations1  beseeching
 me to return and to tell them all2 and 
she constrained me4 ,so ,i  returned and
 told them all2 and the memory of their 
lamenting remaineth  with me unto this  
day4    ,thus passed a long time1 a very
 long time as it seemed to me2 but at   
last  ,i withdrew myself from them      
perforce1 and hasted down the mountain4 
,but  when ,i was come to the palace1   
behold the trial was over2 and ,i saw   
the  rear part of a moving throng1 and  
one told me that they were taking the   
prisoner to be crucified at ,golgotha4  
,then my heart within me seemed to      
burst2 but though ,i was faint before   
with long watching and weariness1 ,i    
was not faint now1 but sped after the   
throng4 ,many times did ,i strive to    
press in amidst them1 if perchance      
,jesus might look but once upon me1 or  
,i  might see his face1 or so much as   

catch a sight of his garment as he      
walked2 and ,i wept and was ready to    
curse myself that ,i had gone from the  
,high ,priest's door before ,i had seen 
my ,master's face4 ,for now ,i could not
  see him1 no1 nor anything of him1 save
 now and then the cross1 which1 as  they
 told me1 he was carrying upon his      
shoulders2 but ,i heard the men in  the 
crowd saying what insults had been      
offered to him1 and how he had been     
scourged and mocked and spit upon1      
decked with a crown of thorns and a     
sceptre of reed2 and ,i was as one      
distracted1 in whom there is no power of
  thought4    ,by this time we had      
passed out of the city through the      
western gate1 and  the fore part of the 
multitude was come to the place of      
execution2 and  they that went before me
 came now to a stand2 and ,i saw the    
cross lifted  up for an instant1 to the 
intent1 as it seemed1 that it might be  
laid upon  the ground2 and one near me  
said1 8,now they are making ready40     

,then ,i  gnashed my teeth1 for ,i could
 do naught else2 but ,i was ready to    
curse ,god  7blessed is ,he71 for ,i    
knew right well what that 8making ready0
 meant2 and  a deep silence fell on all 
the crowd2 and ,i could hear the blows  
of the  hammer upon the nails2 and every
 man held his breath1 if perchance there
  might come the sound of a shriek or a 
groan4 ,but no such sound came to the   
place where we stood4    ,presently     
arose a very loud shouting from the     
multitude that stood before  me1 and    
behold1 the cross was reared up so that 
the top thereof was a  little above the 
heads of the people2 and from afar off  
,i could just  discern ,jesus4 ,but ,i  
saw not his face2 for his head was bowed
 forward and  his hair1 hanging over his
 forehead1 hid his eyes4 ,but when ,i   
thrust  myself forward to have          
approached nearer1 ,i could not for the 
press4 ,at  the same time there rang in 
upon mine ears a very storm of mocking  
and  reviling and cursing against ,jesus

 from all the bystanders1 yea1 even from
  the women and little children 7with   
such a venom of slander had the ,chief  
,priests poisoned the minds of the      
people72 insomuch that ,i seemed to     
stand  alone among a host of the        
children of ,satan2 neither could ,i    
endure any  longer to behold such a     
sight1 amid such beholders1 and to be of
 no avail4  ,wherefore ,i became as one 
possessed2 and ,i turned my back upon   
the cross  and forced my way out of the 
crowd2 the people calling after me and  
mocking me1 and plucking me back by the 
cloak as ,i fled4    ,but even as my    
body fled away1 my soul was drawn back  
unto the cross2 and  ,i feared to go    
back lest ,i should see ,jesus1 and ,i  
feared to go forward  lest ,i should    
never see him4 ,and these two fears were
 as two devils that  possessed me1      
driving me hither and thither about all 
the hills and  valleys of that          
neighbourhood for the space of two hours
 or more2 and  during all that time the 

fear to go back was the stronger4 ,but  
about the  eighth hour of the day1 as ,i
 wandered like unto one dreaming1 not   
knowing  whither ,i went1 behold1 ,i    
stood on the top of a certain hill2 and 
thereon  was a flock of sheep quietly   
pasturing1 and the shepherdboy piping to
  them1 and sunlight was all around4    
,but casting mine eyes downward1 ,i saw 
very far off1 under a dark cloud1 the   
multitude still standing round  ,jesus1 
and three crosses in the midst 7for     
other two were crucified with  him72 and
 all in so small a space that it seemed 
no larger than a man's  hand4    ,then  
came my misery back to me with a shock2 
and it seemed a wonderful and  an       
horrible thing that in a little corner  
of the earth the ,almighty should       
suffer such a one as ,jesus of ,nazareth
 to be slain on the cross3 and yet1     
behold1 the sun shone and the shepherds 
piped to their sheep1 and there  was    
peace upon the mountains1 and all as if 
nothing strange were happening  below4  

,but soon these and all other thoughts  
were swallowed up in one  remembrance1  
namely1 that if ,i would see ,jesus     
alive1 not many minutes now  remained   
unto me2 for the sun was sinking towards
 the west1 and ,i knew  that he could   
not be suffered to remain upon the cross
 when the ,sabbath  began2 for that had 
been against our customs4 ,therefore ,i 
ran down with  exceeding speed1 and came
 again to ,golgotha about the tenth     
hour4    ,when ,i was now within two or 
three furlongs of the place1 ,i         
perceived that  some of the people were 
already coming away2 for the ,passover  
was near at  hand1 so that they must    
needs go to their homes4 ,so ,i ran on1 
and came to  the place where the        
multitude was standing4 ,and because the
 throng was  diminished1 ,i was now able
 to come very much nearer to the midst  
of the  multitude1 not more than a      
stone's cast from the cross4 ,but alas  
for the  sight ,i saw6 ,for though ,i   
was so close1 ,i could not discern      

anything of  ,jesus as he once had been2
 because his head was bowed forward even
 more  than before1 and moreover there  
was an unwonted darkness over all the   
place4 ,the people were very still1 nor 
was there now any more sound of  cursing
 or mocking2 for of them that still     
remained round the cross some  were the 
friends of ,jesus1 and others had been  
greatly moved 7so it was  told me       
afterwards7 by the manner in which he   
had borne himself upon the  cross2      
insomuch that even the soldiers which   
kept guard mocked him no  more1 but     
stood watching in silence4 ,but ,i came 
forward to the furthest  that ,i might1 
and placed myself where haply he might  
see me2 and ,i would  fain have called  
unto him2 but ,i durst not1 lest ,i     
should trouble him1 for  he was very    
still4 ,but when ,i was now come so     
close unto him that ,i might  almost    
discern his features in spite of the    
darkness1 behold it was as if  a        
trembling ran through all his limbs1 and

 he raised his head a little1  and a    
voice came forth1 which1 whoso heard1   
could not forget for ever3 8,my  ,god1  
my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me80    
,then there was another cry  exceeding  
long and loud1 and a second trembling   
running through all the  limbs even to  
the neck and face2 and then a stiffness 
as of death4    ,now up to the very last
 ,i had not given up all hope that      
,jesus might yet  come down from the    
cross1 shewing forth some mighty work   
worthy of a  ,messiah2 nor did ,i indeed
 know how much hope ,i had had1 till    
this moment  wherein all hope perished4 
,but now1 when ,i turned myself to go   
away from  the cross and to leave ,jesus
 for ever1 all things seemed ended1 and 
,i felt  as one alone in the world2 yea1
 ,i knew not whether there were a ,god1 
or  whether ,i myself lived1 or all life
 were not a dream4 ,thus ,i went        
forward1  as one in a trance2 when on a 
sudden ,i heard the voice of ,hezekiah  
the  ,scribe3 8,art thou not yet        

convinced of thy folly8 ,behold1 it is  
written  that thou shouldest not put thy
 trust in any child of man4 ,for when   
the  breath of man goeth forth1 he shall
 turn again to his earth1 and then all  
his thoughts perish2 even as this thy   
master1 the false prophet1 hath         
perished4 ,but blessed is he that hath  
the ,god of ,jacob for his help1 who    
keepeth ,his promises for ever4 ,but thy
 master1 how keepeth he his  promises8  
,unless perchance10 and here he lowered 
his voice and looked  jealously at me1  
8unless 7as is reported to us7 ye       
,galileans hope to steal  his body from 
the grave and so to feign that he is    
risen2 but that shall  not be4 ,for     
though your patron ,joseph of ,arimathea
 may have his will to  day1 yet will we 
take good order that we have our will   
tomorrow4 ,for the  body of a false     
prophet deserveth not honourable        
burial40    ,i could endure his words no
 longer1 but ran past him as one mad4   
,but1 when  ,i was now rid of his       

presence1 passing back into the city by 
the western  gate1 my mind ran on all   
such things as ,i had done with ,jesus  
on the day  before1 and my feet turned  
of themselves toward the house where we 
had  kept the ,passover together4       
,thence1 but still as one in a dream1   
scarce  knowing what ,i did1 ,i bent my 
way towards the gate of the valley of   
,kidron4 ,here ,i was musing how1 but   
yesterday1 in this very place1 ,i had   
walked by the side of ,jesus1 even at   
his right hand1 and how the touch of    
his arm had held me up in my stumbling2 
when behold1 ,i started back as if  ,i  
had seen a spirit4 ,for the voice of one
 close to me in the twilight  whispered 
with an hissing sound1 8,he is not      
dead40 ,i looked1 and behold1  ,judas   
stood before me4 ,his face was pale and 
his eyes glared1 and passion  so wrought
 his features that they moved and       
quivered1 as if against his  will1 like 
unto the features of one possessed by   
,satan4 ,when ,i drew back  from him1 at

 first he would have stayed me2 but     
seeing that ,i loathed him1  he also    
drew back and said1 8,nay1 be not       
afraid1 ,i cannot betray another4  ,but 
he is not dead4 ,hast thou not seen     
him80 ,i marvelled at him1 but said     
nothing1 only shaking my head4 ,then    
,judas replied1 8,think not that ,i have
  slain him2 he liveth3 he hunteth me to
 death2 these three times have ,i  seen 
him4 ,i have not slain him4 ,why then   
doth he yet hunt me8 ,but thou1  thou   
didst love him1 be thou at peace with   
me40 ,saying these words1 he  came      
forward again to have taken me by the   
hand2 but ,i could not4 ,then he  turned
 away and laughed such a laugh as ,i    
pray ,god ,i may never hear again4  ,but
 as he departed1 he cried aloud1 8,thou 
rememberest his words1 #8,it were       
better for him that he had never been   
born'3 verily he was a prophet40  ,then 
he laughed again1 even such another     
laugh as before2 and he cursed  the ,god
 that had made him4 ,with that he went  

his way1 and ,i saw him no  more4       
,for a while ,i stood where ,i was1 as  
if in a trance1 almost expecting that   
the words of ,judas should prove true1  
and that ,jesus should come forth to  me
 out of the air around me4 ,then ,i     
passed through the gate of ,kidron2     
and1 crossing the brook1 ,i began to go 
out by the way which leadeth to         
,bethany4 ,but ever as ,i went up the   
mountain1 ,i pondered over the words of 
,judas1 8,he is not dead1 ,i have seen  
him30 for ,i could not forget them1 nor 
put them away from my mind4 ,and behold1
 whithersoever ,i looked in the         
twilight1 all things bore witness unto  
,jesus and seemed to say the same       
words1 8,we have seen him4 ,he is not   
dead40 ,for if ,i looked back at the    
city gates1 then ,i remembered how      
,jesus had lately passed through them in
  triumph2 and if ,i looked on the road 
before me1 then every tree and rock     
seemed to testify that ,jesus had but   
now been there again and again1 in  his 

passing between ,bethany and the city2  
and at one place he had spoken a        
certain parable3 at another1 he had sat 
down and rested2 or at a third1 we  had 
asked him certain questions and he had  
answered them4 ,thus the whole  of the  
mountain and all things thereon seemed  
to cry aloud with one  consent1 8,he is 
not dead02 but my heart cried back      
again1 8,nay1 but he is  dead indeed40  
,when at last ,i came in my wanderings  
nigh to the top of the mount1 even to   
the stone whereon ,jesus had sat down in
 the midst of the disciples and had     
prophesied of his coming1 then could ,i 
no longer refrain myself2 but ,i  threw 
myself on the ground in a passion of    
tears and sobbings1 beating my  breast  
and rending my garments4 ,and when ,i   
desired to cry unto the ,lord in  my    
agony1 behold1 the words of ,jesus on   
the cross came into my mouth2 and  if ,i
 tried to fashion some other prayer1 no 
other words would come to me1  but ,i   
could do naught but repeat them over and

 over again1 crying unto the  ,lord and 
saying1 8,why hast ,thou forsaken him8  
,why hast ,thou forsaken him80  ,so     
speaking1 ,i scarce refrained from doing
 even as ,judas had done1 so as  to     
curse the day wherein ,i was born2 and  
,i became again as one distraught4  ,but
 after a time 7but how long a time ,i   
know not7 a darkness came down  upon    
mine eyes1 and all things swam around   
me1 and ,i fell to the ground as  one   
without life4    ,when ,i came to       
myself1 behold1 ,i lay upon my back and 
looked upward1 and  the moon was shining
 high in the heavens above me4 ,so ,i   
thought how the  same moon had shone    
down with the same brightness           
yesternight upon my  ,master in         
,gethsemane4 8,and now where is he80 ,i 
ceased from that thought1  and went back
 in my mind to thoughts of the past4    
,then ,i remembered what a  splendour1  
even such as ,i now saw1 had shone upon 
our ,master's face when  he came down   
from ,mount ,hermon1 and when he came up

 from ,jericho to  ,bethany1 and also   
when of late he gave us the bread and   
wine at our last  supper together4 ,also
 there came into my mind the words that 
he had  spoken1 when this brightness had
 been upon his countenance3 how he had  
then prophesied1 and more than once1    
that he should be slain2 but we had     
never believed him4 ,yet his words had  
come to pass4 ,then ,i asked within     
myself how it was that ,jesus had       
foreseen his own death and prophesied it
  so oft1 yet had never been dismayed   
nor even disturbed by the thought       
thereof2 and ,i remembered that         
whensoever he had spoken of his death1  
he  had spoken also of a certain rising 
again1 or coming3 and ,i said aloud1    
8,if ,jesus prophesied his death truly1 
why might he not also prophesy truly    
concerning his coming again80    ,but   
against this hope there set themselves  
those last words which had come  from   
the mouth of ,jesus on the cross1 8,my  
,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou  forsaken  

me80 ,now these words are the first     
words1 and as it were the  prelude1 of  
one of our psalms4 ,so ,i began to      
repeat to myself the words of  the      
psalm2 which beginneth with sadness1 yea
 even from the depths of  sorrow1 but   
these words follow afterwards3 8,i will 
declare thy name unto  my brethren3 in  
the midst of the congregation will ,i   
praise thee4 ,for he  hath not despised 
nor abhorred the affliction of the      
afflicted2 neither  hath he hid his face
 from him1 but when he cried unto him he
 heard40 ,so ,i  wondered whether       
,jesus1 in speaking those last words1   
had in his mind all  the words of the   
psalm1 and 8,perchance10 ,i said1 8in   
saying the first  words1 he signified   
7in his sore weakness when the breath   
was departing  from him7 that he desired
 to say the whole2 for the first words  
are but as  a title to the whole4       
,wherefore1 perchance1 beneath the sense
 of the  forsaking1 there was a deeper  
sense that ,god did not despise the     

affliction of the afflicted40 ,then ,i  
mused again concerning the words of  the
 ,psalm1 and especially on these1 8,when
 he cried unto him1 he heard40  ,and ,i 
looked up to the moon and the stars in  
heaven1 which are the work of  the hand 
of ,god1 and ,i asked whether it was    
possible that the ,maker of so          
beautiful an order in heaven should     
suffer disorder to prevail upon the     
earth2 and my heart said that it could  
not prevail for ever4 8,therefore10     
said ,i1 8,god must needs have heard    
,jesus of ,nazareth when he cried unto  
,him4 ,yea1 though ,he seemed not to    
hear1 yet must ,he have heard indeed4   
,yea1 even though ,jesus be dead1 yea1  
even though ,jesus be not the ,messiah1 
yet surely the ,lord must have heard    
,jesus2 for not to have heard him1      
would have been not to be ,god40        
,then rose ,i up and stood and stretched
 out my hands in prayer unto the  ,lord 
with whom all things are possible1 that 
,he would shew forth ,his mercy  upon   

me2 and behold1 when ,i tried to pray1  
my lips would shape forth no  other     
prayer1 but that ,he would bring back   
,jesus unto us1 even though it  were for
 a moment of time1 that we might look   
upon him and know that he  still lived4 
,and at one moment ,i rebuked myself    
because the thing seemed  impossible2   
but the next moment that prayer rose up 
again1 and no other4  ,but when ,i had  
prayed1 ,i lay down again1 for ,i was   
very weary2 and because  ,i was now more
 at peace within myself1 there came upon
 me a sweet sleep4    ,in my sleep ,i   
dreamed2 and the ,lord sent unto me a   
vision of the night1  whereof the former
 part was like unto the vision which ,i 
had had the night  before1 but the      
latter part was different4 ,for again1  
methought1 ,i saw  ,jesus standing on   
the top of a mountain in great glory2   
and albeit his  face was like the face  
of him that hath passed through much    
tribulation1  yet did the glory prevail 
over the sorrow1 and he rejoiced as one 

triumphing over ,satan and ,death4 ,as  
,i looked1 methought ,jesus was lifted  
up in a chariot from the mountain       
towards the clouds1 and angels          
accompanied him as he rode upward2 and a
 sound of solemn music came down  from  
above to greet him4 ,the heavens opened1
 yea1 even to the seventh  heaven1 and  
there appeared the likeness of a throne 
on the right hand of  the ,majesty on   
high2 and ten thousands of thousands of 
saints were about  the throne1 with     
palms in their hands1 singing hosannas  
unto the ,son of  ,david4 ,but even as  
the chariot rose higher and higher1 the 
music waxed  louder and fuller2 till at 
the last1 when the chariot was now nigh 
unto  the throne1 behold all the harps  
in heaven rang out hosannas with such a 
peal of praise as made me start out of  
my vision2 and ,i awoke1 and it was  a  
dream4                                  
,,chapter ,,xxx      ,when ,i awoke1 it 
was now hard upon the third hour of the 
day1 and the sun  from behind ,mount    

,olivet was shining brightly down upon  
the city4 ,all  things below were full  
of beauty and glory1 nor would a        
stranger have  known that the stain of  
innocent blood was upon the place2 so   
fair shone  all the city rejoicing in   
the ,sabbath sun4 ,when ,i looked       
thereon1 the  memory of my dream        
vanished1 even as the mists which ,i saw
 rolling upward  from the side of the   
mountain and vanishing into the pure    
air4 ,my misery  returned upon me again2
 and ,i felt once more alone and without
 ,god in the  world4 ,but ,i resolved to
 go up straightway to ,bethany1 if      
perchance ,i  might there find the      
apostles in the house of ,mary and      
,martha4 ,when ,i was  come thither1 ,i 
found them all1 save ,judas2 and ,i     
entered in and sat with  them in        
silence2 and for a long time we neither 
prayed nor spake together1  nor so much 
as lamented aloud2 but there we sat     
speechless and  comfortless2 for the    
hand of the ,lord was heavy upon us4    

,at the last spake certain of the women1
 saying that they had brought  spices1  
such as are used in the embalming of    
bodies1 and that they  purposed to go   
early on the morrow for to embalm the   
body of ,jesus4 ,then ,i  asked where he
 was buried2 and they told me1 8in a    
garden of ,joseph of  ,arimathea1 nigh  
unto the place of crucifixion40 ,after  
that1 ,i asked  whether any had stood   
near1 and in view of the cross while he 
was  suffering2 for ,i had been thrust  
away by the crowd4 ,then ,john the son  
of  ,zebedee answered and said that he  
had been nigh1 and that ,jesus had borne
  all the anguish with a marvellous     
constancy4 ,he told me also of certain  
other words which ,jesus had spoken     
while he was on the cross1 and that a   
soldier1 after his death1 had wounded   
his side with a spear2 but when ,i      
asked him whether he had heard ,jesus   
speak also those words which ,i had     
myself heard1 namely that ,god had      
forsaken him1 then ,john said nothing1  

but only moved his head as if to say    
that it was so2 and the rest also  were 
silent1 for we feared to think on those 
words4    ,after we had all thus sat    
silent for a while1 one of the women    
began to  speak again and to say that   
all things had happened according to the
 words  of ,jesus2 for he had said that 
he should be slain2 and he had blessed  
,mary1 in that she had anointed his body
 for the burial4 ,then another of  the  
women began to bring to our mind how    
,jesus had long ago prophesied  that the
 time should come when we should desire 
to see one of the days of  the ,son of  
man1 and should not find it4 ,and       
another spake how1 at another  time1    
when we were in the country round about 
,hermon1 he had prophesied  that he     
should be slain2 therefore1 said she1 he
 was a true prophet4 ,but  ,thomas made 
mention of the saying of ,hosea1 whereof
 ,jesus had oftentimes  been used to    
speak1 8,come and let us return unto the
 ,lord1 for he hath  torn and he will   

heal us2 he hath smitten1 and he will   
bind us up4 ,after  two days will he    
revive us2 in the third day he will     
raise us up1 and we  shall live in his  
sight40 ,then said ,thomas1 8,a part of 
the sayings of  ,jesus hath indeed come 
to pass02 and he added no more4 ,but all
 we that  were in that chamber sitting  
together1 knew what ,thomas had in his  
mind to  say 7for it was in our minds   
also71 namely1 that the rest of the     
words of  ,jesus were not to be         
fulfilled4 ,so again we sat silent2 for 
indeed our  souls were wholly given up  
to meditating on those words of ,jesus1 
8after  two days he will revive us02 and
 each knew that the others were         
meditating  on the same2 yet durst none 
of us say so much as a word1 nor so much
 as  confess to himself that the words  
could import anything now2 for about    
that matter we feared even to hope4     
,but by degrees our tongues were loosed1
 and we began to speak more freely      
concerning the goodness of ,jesus1 how  

exceeding gentle he was at all times  to
 the young and simple1 and to the poor  
and oppressed2 how full of peace  and   
cheerfulness2 how thoughtful for others1
 how forgetful of himself4  ,then we    
spake of his marvellous power in the    
forgiving of sins1 and in the  healing  
of diseases1 and in the casting out of  
unclean spirits4 ,and one  said that    
with all these faculties he joined a    
marvellous grace of modesty  and        
humility1 so that no child could carry  
himself with less of pride or           
ostentation4 8,yea10 said another1 8and 
yet withal1 though he were never so     
simple and humble1 he ever spake of     
himself1 none the less1 as the haven    
and refuge for men1 saying such words as
 these unto us1 #8,come unto me1 and  ,i
 will give you rest1' and again1 #8,take
 my yoke upon you3' moreover he  bade us
 take his voice as our ,law in the stead
 of the ,law of ,moses1  saying1 #8,it  
was said to them of old1 do this1 but ,i
 say unto you1 do  that4' ,therefore are

 we of all men most miserable in that1  
having received  from ,god the very     
source of light and life1 now we are    
deprived thereof40  ,then ,peter said1  
8,yea1 verily we have none else to whom 
we can go1 for  ,jesus alone hath the   
words of eternal life2 and without him  
we have no  life40 ,but said another1   
8,if ,god be good1 how could it be that 
,he should  have forsaken ,jesus1 so    
that he cried aloud1 #8,my ,god1 my     
,god1 why hast  thou forsaken me8'0     
,then ,nathanael spake and said 7the    
very thought that  was in my heart also7
 that perchance ,jesus used those words1
 desiring  briefly to pour forth all the
 trouble and all the trust of his heart2
 for1  said he1 8,these words are as it 
were the title of the psalm1 and the    
psalm  beginneth with trouble1 but it   
endeth with trust40 ,to this the rest   
agreed  that it might be so2 but we all 
felt within ourselves that this was     
small  comfort3 for we needed not only  
to think that it might be so1 but to    

know  that it was so4    ,then one said 
that the ,kingdom of ,god and the       
,redemption of ,sion were now  as far   
off as ever4 ,but ,mary of ,magdala said
 with great vehemency1 8that  she       
mourned not for the ,redemption of      
,sion1 but because the breath of life   
was taken out of the world1 for without 
,jesus there was no more truth nor      
righteousness4 ,he trusted in ,god1     
would not ,god deliver him8 ,was he not 
the ,son of the living ,god8 ,if1       
therefore1 the ,father live1 how can the
 ,son  be dead80 ,she added yet other   
words still more passionate1 as if ,god 
were  no ,god unless ,jesus were        
restored to life4 ,we chid her1 and     
would have  stayed her speech3 for1     
though she did indeed express the very  
feelings of  our hearts1 yet were we    
afraid to see them put into plain words1
 and  besides1 we dreaded the pain of   
new hopes4 ,for to hope that we should  
look  again on ,jesus1 and afterwards to
 fail of that hope1 had been to have had

  ,jesus snatched from us a second time4
    ,by this time the sun had set1 and  
the women began to make ready the spices
  for the embalming4 ,but ,i 7because it
 had been reported to certain of the    
disciples that the chief priests        
purposed to set a guard round the tomb7 
determined to go down that ,i might see 
whether the tomb were beset with  guards
 or no1 and whether the women could have
 easy access to it4 ,i easily  found the
 place in the light of the moon1 and it 
was even as the women had  said2 for the
 garden of ,joseph lay not more than    
three stones' cast from  the place where
 ,jesus had been crucified4 ,so ,i stood
 for a while looking  on the stone1     
which was at the mouth of the tomb1 and 
no man else was in  the garden4 ,but    
while ,i stood near the tomb1 very nigh 
unto the mouth  thereof1 ,i heard a     
sound on my right hand2 and when ,i     
turned round1  behold1 a light2 and the 
lights grew many as ,i looked1 and ,i   
perceived  that there were torches      

approaching4 ,so ,i went back some      
distance1 and  still the torches came   
nearer2 and the men were1 as it seemed  
to me1  servants of the chief priests1  
but ,i discerned also the face of       
,hezekiah  the ,scribe2 and they all    
stood round the tomb1 and ,i also stood 
and  watched them from afar off1 to see 
what they would do4 ,but ,i could not   
remain2 for they sent out watchers on   
all sides calling to one another in  a  
circle1 like unto men keeping sentinel1 
for to spy whether any one were  near4  
,then ,i fled perforce and in haste2 and
 though ,i fled straightway1  yet could 
,i not contrive but the watchers        
perceived me and chased after me  and   
went near to take me4 ,but ,i escaped   
out of their hands1 and went up to      
,bethany to bear word unto the women4   
,and when the women heard these things  
they were sore distressed4 ,howbeit they
 resolved that in any case they  would  
go forth to the tomb very early on the  
morrow4    ,but before we lay down to   

rest that night1 we spake again of      
,jesus1 and  concerning all that he had 
said and done2 and we continued our     
discourse  late into the night1 and were
 loth to break off2 for while we        
discoursed  together of former times1 we
 seemed to have ,jesus again in the     
midst of  us4 ,but at the end1 when we  
were now ceasing1 the ,spirit of the    
,lord fell  upon ,mary of ,magdala1 and 
she lifted up her voice and sang as the 
,lord  moved her1 and the words were    
even from the psalm whereof we had been 
but  now speaking1 while discoursing    
concerning the forsaking of ,jesus by   
,god4  ,now the song describeth the     
suffering of the ,messiah4 ,therefore   
when she  came in her singing to these  
words1 8,they pierced my hands and my   
feet2 ,i  may tell all my bones2 they   
stand staring and looking upon me4 ,they
 part  my garments among them1 and cast 
lots upon my vesture03 then we wept1    
remembering the sufferings of ,jesus4   
,but when she sang the next words1      

8,but be not thou far from me1 ,o ,lord4
 ,thou art my succour1 haste thee to    
help me4 ,deliver my soul from the      
sword1 my darling also from the power of
  the dog4 ,save me from the lion's     
mouth3 ,thou hast heard me from among   
the  horns of the unicorns4 ,i will     
declare thy name unto my brethren2 in   
the  midst of the congregation will ,i  
praise thee4 ,for he hath not despised1 
nor abhorred the low estate of the poor2
 he hath not hid his face from  him2 but
 when he called unto him he heard him03 
then we wept no longer1  but we         
marvelled while we looked on her1 and   
while we hearkened to the  words of her 
singing3 for she sang as one taught of  
,god1 so that we durst  not stay her2   
yet we thought in our hearts1           
8,notwithstanding when ,jesus  called   
unto ,him1 ,he heard him not40 ,and when
 we thought on this we  besought her    
that she would cease4    ,howbeit she   
ceased not1 but began to sing yet       
another psalm1 a part of the  great     

,hallel2 even the very words that ,jesus
 himself had sung to us on the  night   
before he suffered4 ,and the other women
 joined with her1 and they  sang so that
 the sound thereof pierced to our very  
souls4 ,then could we  endure it no     
longer1 but covered our faces with our  
hands4 ,but they  continued singing1 8,i
 shall not die1 but live1 and declare   
the works of  the ,lord4 ,the ,lord hath
 chastened and corrected me1 but he hath
 not given  me over unto death4 ,thou   
art my ,god1 and ,i will thank thee2    
thou art my  ,god1 and ,i will praise   
thee40    ,now while they were singing1 
,i had closed mine eyes2 and lo1 there  
rose up  before me a vision of the upper
 room where we had supped together with 
,jesus on the night that he was         
betrayed3 and ,i seemed to see the face 
of  ,jesus himself2 yea1 though ,i was  
not asleep nor in a trance1 yet did ,i  
see  ,jesus himself sitting again as if 
at meat with us4 ,therefore was ,i loth 
to  open mine eyes2 for ,i feared that1 

when ,i opened them1 ,i should no longer
  see what ,i saw4 ,but when the women  
had made an end of singing1 then opened 
,i mine eyes1 half expecting that it    
might prove no vision1 and that ,jesus  
would be sitting before me in the midst 
of us4 ,but ,i saw nothing2 nor were    
the women any longer with us1 for they  
were gone forth into another  chamber to
 finish their preparations for the      
embalming4 ,for they desired  to visit  
the sepulchre very early in the morning1
 and it was by this time  the third     
watch of the night4 ,about the space of 
an hour1 ,i remained in  the chamber    
with the rest3 then ,i heard the        
footsteps of the women as they  passed  
forth from the house4 ,i tried to sleep1
 but could not2 for ever in  my mind was
 present the thought of ,jesus in the   
tomb1 waiting the approach  of the women
 to embalm him4 ,so my heart went forth 
with the women upon  their errand1 and  
,i reckoned over the time and said ever 
and anon1 8,now  they are come down from

 the mountain2 by this time they are    
nigh to  ,golgotha2 now they are in the 
garden2 now they are at the tomb40 ,then
 ,i  saw before mine eyes the women     
embracing the dead limbs of our ,master4
  8,and now10 said ,i1 8the stone is    
rolled away and they have entered in3   
they weep1 but he answereth not1 neither
 heareth2 his eyes move not nor  make   
any answer to their eyes2 they clasp his
 hands1 but his hands clasp  not theirs 
again40    ,when ,i thought on these    
things ,i arose in sore extremity nigh  
unto  despair1 and went up to the       
housetop4 ,above the mountains of ,moab1
 to the  east1 there was a faint token  
of dawn4 ,i thought of the coming day1  
and ,i  loathed it2 for without ,jesus  
the light seemed unto me as darkness4   
,moreover when ,i strove to pray1 ,satan
 tempted me very sorely1 so that ,i     
could not pray3 for ,i said1 8,behold ,i
 am without ,jesus3 but ,god without    
,jesus is to me as no ,god40 ,then fell 
,i flat upon my face and wrestled with  

,satan in prayer1 and ,i besought the   
,lord again and again that ,he would    
give ,jesus back to us1 yea1 though it  
were but to look on him for one  moment1
 that we might be assured that all was  
well with him4 ,how long ,i  prayed ,i  
know not1 but it seemed to me many      
hours2 and sometimes ,i stood  in my    
praying and watched the dawn growing    
brighter2 and even as the dawn  grew1 my
 fears and doubts grew with it2 but at  
other times ,i lay prostrate  and shut  
out the light4 ,so at last the sky began
 to brighten towards  sunrise2 and still
 ,i was crying unto the ,lord from the  
depths1 according  as it is written1 8,i
 wait for the ,lord2 my soul doth wait1 
and in his word  do ,i hope4 ,my soul   
waiteth for the ,lord more than they    
that watch for the  morning1 more1 ,i   
say1 than they that watch for the       
morning40    ,now while ,i lay          
grovelling in the very deepest of the   
depths1 beseeching  the ,lord to destroy
 me if ,i might not have peace1 behold1 

a sound as of  many feet below1 without 
the house1 and then a knocking1         
exceeding loud2  and one asked from     
within1 8,who is there80 ,and the answer
 came piercing  the air1 8,,he ,,is     
,,risen6 ,,he ,,is ,,risen6 ,,jesus ,,is
 ,,risen ,,from ,,the ,,dead60 ,now at  
first ,i thought that the voice was the 
voice of an angel2 but when ,i          
considered1 and heard how answer was    
made1 and the door forthwith opened1    
and a sound as of feet entering1 then   
straightway ,i knew that it was the     
voice of one of the women come back from
 the sepulchre4 ,immediately1           
therefore1 going down1 ,i found all the 
household stirring1 and the women       
returned1 and all the disciples gathered
 together1 and standing round the       
women1 questioning them1 and listening  
to their words4    ,then the women told 
us how they had gone down to ,golgotha1 
even to the  tomb2 and when ,mary of    
,magdala was now nigh1 even at the mouth
 of the tomb  7for she walked somewhat  

before the rest71 behold1 the great     
stone at the  mouth of the tomb was     
rolled away4 ,then she called aloud for 
despair1 and  her companions hasted to  
her2 but when they were now come to her1
 as she  was even now adventuring to    
enter into the tomb1 of a sudden ,mary  
cried  out again1 saying1 8,behold1 an  
angel of the ,lord60 ,and lo1 there     
appeared  to them 7even to all the women
 and not to ,mary only7 an angel clothed
 in  white2 and they all heard a voice  
which said1 8,he is not here1 but is    
risen40 ,and1 said ,mary ,magdalene1 the
 voice added that we were to return  to 
,galilee1 and there we should see him2  
but another of the women said  that the 
voice seemed to her also to speak of    
,galilee1 but she heard not  those other
 words which ,mary heard47#ab7 ,also    
some of the women had seen  two angels1 
but others only one4 ,but as concerning 
this at least1 all the  women were      
agreed1 namely1 that they had seen a    
vision of angels1 and that  they had    

heard a voice which cried out1 8,he is  
not here1 he is risen40    ,now when we 
had spent much time in questioning and  
hearing the women1 ,i  desired to go    
down forthwith to the sepulchre1 for to 
see it with mine own  eyes3 but the     
women stayed me1 and said1 8,it were    
better to wait2 for  ,peter and ,john   
are already gone down40 ,so ,i waited1  
but in sore trouble of  mind2 for at one
 time ,i believed1 but at another time  
,i doubted4 ,for as  concerning the     
tomb1 it came into my mind that it was  
like enough that the  servants of the   
chief priests 7whom ,i had seen in the  
garden during the  night7 might haply   
have broken open the tomb and stolen    
away the body2 but  then on the other   
side there was the vision of the angels 
and the voice2  and besides1 it was     
being borne in upon my mind1 and upon   
the minds of  most of us1 that ,jesus   
must indeed arise from the dead1 for    
thus should  both the words of the      
prophets be fulfilled1 and his own words

 also2 but  otherwise they could not be 
fulfilled4 ,so ,i waited till ,john and 
,peter  should return4    ,but while ,i 
was still waiting and marvelling that   
they tarried so long1  there came in    
certain of the disciples2 these were not
 ,galileans1 but  abode in ,jerusalem1  
and they asked us whether we had seen   
aught that  night4 ,we said 8,no40 ,then
 said one of them to us1 8,last night1  
in  returning from beholding that which 
came to pass at ,golgotha1 about two    
hours after sunset1 ,miriam1 my sister's
 daughter1 saw her father 7who hath  now
 been buried these six weeks7 risen from
 the grave and standing wrapped  in the 
graveclothes near her bed2 moreover two 
other women of mine  acquaintance saw   
the bodies of their little children1    
fresh and blooming  as if they were     
verily alive2 and another1 a certain    
young man named  ,mattathias 7but he is 
not known to me71 is said to have seen  
his brother1  who hath been buried more 
than a year1 standing as if alive1 so   

that he  even approached him and called 
him by name4 ,and other wonderful sights
  have appeared to very many40 ,and his 
companions confirmed all his words1     
saying1 8,the like also we ourselves    
have heard40    ,while we marvelled at  
their words1 the two disciples1 ,peter  
and ,john1 came  into the chamber4 ,but 
they had seen nothing2 only the stone   
rolled away1  even as the women had     
said1 and the tomb void of the body4    
,then one of the  disciples brought     
again to our minds how that ,jesus1 even
 before his  death1 had bidden us go    
into ,galilee1 saying that he would     
there manifest  himself unto us2 and    
when we questioned ,mary of ,magdala1   
she constantly  affirmed that the voice 
of the angels was to the same effect4   
,therefore ,i  resolved that ,i would   
set forth that very day to go to        
,capernaum4 ,for a  hope was now waxing 
strong within me that ,i should after   
all see ,jesus  again4 ,so ,i set out   
without delay1 with certain other of the

 disciples2  howbeit the greater part   
would stay in ,jerusalem yet a few days4
                                        
,,chapter ,,xxxi      ,when we came to  
,capernaum1 on the evening of the third 
day1 we spent the  rest of that day in  
praying and praising ,god2 and we fasted
 and besought  the ,lord that we might  
see ,jesus according to ,his promise4   
,and so we spent  the next day likewise4
 ,but on the morrow1 which was the fifth
 day of the  week1 it being now a full  
week from the time when ,jesus had      
broken bread  with us on the night when 
he was betrayed1 we determined that we  
also  would break bread together1 even  
as he had commanded us1 in memory of    
him4  ,and about the sixth hour of the  
day1 when we were seated together in an 
upper room praying to the ,lord1 there  
came in ,peter and ,james and other of  
the disciples1 but now returned from    
,jerusalem4 ,and ,peter related how the 
,lord ,jesus himself had appeared to    
him2 and ,james said that he also had   

seen the ,lord ,jesus4 ,now at first ,i 
feared lest it might be the will of  the
 ,lord that ,jesus should reveal himself
 to none save the ,twelve2 but ,i       
understood that ,mary of ,magdala also  
had seen him4    ,then two other of the 
disciples1 and they not of the number of
 the ,twelve1  related to me how ,jesus 
had appeared to them also1 at the       
breaking of  bread4 ,for they had walked
 forth together conversing much about   
,jesus of  ,nazareth1 and about the     
hopes which they had had that he should 
have  redeemed ,israel4 8,and so it     
was10 said one of them 7for ,i will set 
down  the story as it was told me by one
 of the disciples1 whose name was       
,cleophas71 8that we had just made      
mention between ourselves of the voice  
and the vision of angels2 making mention
 thereof as of an idle tale4 ,and  it   
was the hour of prayer4 ,and because of 
the extremity of our sorrow we  both    
fell on our faces1 and poured out all   
our desire before the ,lord1  beseeching

 ,him for the ,redemption of ,israel4   
,then the ,lord ,jesus had  compassion  
on us and came to us4 ,for when we rose 
up from praying1 we  heard a voice from 
the ,lord ,jesus himself1 chiding us for
 our folly and  slowness of heart in not
 believing all that the prophets had    
spoken2 for  that it was needful that   
,christ should have suffered these      
things1 and  thus to enter into his     
glory3 and lo1 at an instant the whole  
of the truth  of the ,scriptures lay    
before our eyes1 and all the meaning of 
the words of  the ,lord ,jesus withal4  
8,as we went forward1 our hearts burned 
within us while the ,lord revealed  unto
 us the ,scriptures and all the meaning 
of his prophecies2 but still  our eyes  
were not opened to discern that he      
himself was present with us2  yet we    
perceived that there was a divine       
presence near us4 ,but when the  sun was
 setting and we drew nigh unto the      
village whither we were going1  our     
hearts became faint and dull1 as if the 

presence were departing from  us4       
,therefore we knelt down once more and  
besought the ,lord that he would        
continue to us the strength of his      
presence4 ,notwithstanding even now our 
eyes were not opened that we should     
discern him4    8,but in the evening1 it
 being now late1 when we were sat down  
to eat bread  together1 our hearts being
 full of the presence of ,jesus1 we     
brake the  bread and blessed it1 even as
 ,jesus had broken and blessed1 and then
 we  said aloud1 according to his word1 
#8,behold1 the body of the ,lord2' and  
lo1  at that word the cloud was removed 
from our eyes1 and first my companion1  
and then ,i also1 discerned ,jesus on   
the other side of the table1 reclining  
as if at meat 7even as he reclined when 
he last brake bread with us71 and  with 
his hands stretched out as if in the    
breaking and blessing of bread4  ,now   
for a while 7but ,i knew not how long1  
except that it was not very  long71     
,jesus remained with his hands still    

outstretched as at the first1  looking  
at us with a very loving countenance1   
but saying naught2 and we  sat upright  
as men astonied and speechless1 and not 
able to move for  astonishment2 but when
 we rose up for to have embraced him1   
straightway  ,jesus vanished out of our 
sight40    ,all we that were in the     
chamber rejoiced when we heard ,cleophas
 saying  these things4 ,only ,thomas    
believed not2 for the thing seemed unto 
him too  beautiful to be verily true1   
and he said1 8,if ,i believe that ,jesus
 is  risen from the dead1 and afterwards
 find that it is not so1 then shall my  
misery be increased twofold3 therefore  
will ,i believe not40 ,and he added     
moreover1 8,except ,i shall see in his  
hands the print of the nails and put  my
 finger in the print of the nails and   
thrust my hand into his side1 ,i  will  
not believe40 ,we were grieved at the   
words of ,thomas3 howbeit none  rebuked 
him1 for we knew that he spake out of   
his exceeding love of ,jesus4  ,but we  

besought him to break bread with us that
 evening1 according to the  commandment 
of ,jesus4    ,so about one hour after  
sunset1 we were assembled all together  
in the  upper room 7it was a room in the
 house of ,peter1 wherein ,jesus was    
wont to  sit at meat with us in past    
times71 and ,thomas also was with us4   
,but the  door was shut and made fast   
for fear of spies2 whom the ,scribes in 
,capernaum had begun to set over us for 
to watch us4 ,when all things were  now 
ready1 first we sang a psalm1 even the  
same psalm that ,jesus had sung  on the 
same night in the week before1 when we  
kept the ,passover together4  ,then     
,simon ,peter offered up prayers and    
praises to ,god1 and made mention  of   
the comfortable words of the ,lord      
,jesus1 how he had said that he would   
never leave us nor forsake us1 but that 
wheresoever two or three were  gathered 
together in his name1 there would he be 
present among them4 ,last  of all he    
spake of the testament of the ,lord     

,jesus1 how he had bidden us  break     
bread and drink wine in memory of him1  
that we might partake of his  body and  
his blood4 ,then began ,simon ,peter to 
break bread and to reach it  to each of 
us1 and at the same time he said1 8,this
 is the body of the  ,lord40 ,but       
behold1 in the midst of his giving of   
the bread1 ,peter made a  sudden pause  
and was silent1 and his eyes were fixed1
 and he gazed  steadfastly upon the     
place which had been left empty at the  
table2 for  ,jesus had been wont to sit 
there in times past1 wherefore in that  
place  durst no man sit4 ,then ,i turned
 round hastily to look1 and behold1     
,jesus  was there2 as clear to view as  
ever ,i had seen him in this life1 only 
very  pale1 and there were the          
nailprints in his hands1 and methought  
there was  a wound in his side2 and the 
brightness of his love and compassion   
passed  sensibly forth from his eyes to 
mine1 and all my soul went out to him as
 ,i  looked2 but ,i could in no wise    

speak1 nor did ,i desire to speak2 for  
,i had  thoughts deeper than all words4 
,now not a hand moved1 not a word was   
spoken3 and there was such a silence  as
 if one could hear and count the        
footsteps of time2 neither could ,i turn
  mine eyes from ,jesus till ,i heard   
,thomas weeping beside me2 but he threw 
himself on the ground1 stretching out   
his hands to ,jesus1 and reproaching    
himself for his faithlessness2 and at   
the same time1 pressing the bread1  even
 the body of the ,lord which he held in 
his hand1 he cried out saying1  8,my    
hand hath touched2 yea ,i have touched2 
,i believe1 ,i believe40 ,but  neither  
he nor any of us durst adventure to go  
to that part of the table  where ,jesus 
sat2 but when ,i looked again1 behold   
his hand was stretched  out 7even as the
 two disciples had described their      
vision of ,jesus7 as if  he brake and   
blessed the bread that was his body2 and
 ,thomas also heard a  voice 7but ,i    
heard not the voice7 saying that he was 

to touch with his  hand1 according to   
his own saying1 and to be no more       
faithless1 but  believing4 ,after this  
,jesus vanished from our eyes1 and      
neither in his  coming nor in his       
departing was the door opened1 but it   
remained shut  fast2 whereat we all     
marvelled4    ,from henceforth old      
things seemed to pass away1 and all     
things became new  unto us4 ,for        
whithersoever we went1 and whatsoever we
 did1 we knew that we  had the presence 
of ,jesus with us1 even when we saw him 
not4 ,but  oftentimes he revealed       
himself to us1 and we saw him plainly2  
and this too  not only in the house and 
sitting at meat 7albeit he oftentimes1  
and  methinks most times1 revealed      
himself to us in the house71 but        
sometimes  also abroad in the fields1 or
 even on the lake4 ,yea ,i myself was   
once  present when a storm came down    
upon us on the lake1 and the winds sent 
up  such waves as were like to have     
covered our boat1 and we cried unto     

,jesus  in our terror2 and behold1 the  
storm ceased1 and the clouds parted     
asunder1 and we saw ,jesus walking on   
the waves and stilling them under his   
feet4 ,and to others of the disciples he
 appeared at another time1 when  they   
had been toiling the night long at      
fishing1 and had caught nothing2  and he
 gave unto them a draught of fishes     
exceeding any that they had ever  before
 taken4    ,but the most of the         
manifestations of ,jesus were vouchsafed
 to us when we  brake bread together2   
after which manner also he revealed     
himself unto  ,james1 as ,i have heard4 
,for ,james had taken an oath that he   
would neither  eat nor drink until he   
had seen ,jesus risen from the dead4    
,therefore on  the night after the      
vision of angels which had been seen by 
the women1  ,james was in the house at  
,bethany with ,simon ,peter and ,john1  
and the table  was spread for supper2   
but ,james would not eat4 ,then suddenly
 ,jesus was  seen sitting in the midst  

of them1 breaking bread and blessing it1
 and  bidding ,james to partake         
thereof47#ac7 ,but1 as ,i have said1    
,jesus appeared  to us at other times   
and in other places1 and not merely in  
the breaking  of bread2 and sometimes in
 visions without a voice1 but at other  
times in  a voice without any vision1   
and sometimes also1 as it has been      
reported  unto me1 by signs and tokens  
7without either voice or vision71 and   
even in  the guise of strangers2 and all
 this for the space of little less than 
a  year1 insomuch that1 if any one      
should adventure to set forth all the   
manifestations of ,jesus1 and the time  
and place and manner of each1 ,i        
suppose that the world itself could not 
contain the books that should be        
written4 ,therefore passing over these1 
,i will relate how ,jesus appeared in   
,galilee on a certain mountain to more  
than five hundred of the brethren at    
one time4    ,it was on this wise4 ,a   
year1 or not much less1 had passed away 

since the  rising of ,jesus from the    
dead2 and we were still tarrying in     
,galilee1 and  the ,passover was at     
hand4 ,now during that year the number  
of the disciples  had been increasing1  
but not much2 for we had not at that    
time been moved  to proclaim the        
,resurrection of ,jesus4 ,but as the    
,passover drew nigh1  ,jesus began to   
manifest himself less often to us2 and  
he made known to us  by the mouth of    
,peter and of other of the disciples    
that the time was at  hand when he      
should ascend up to heaven4 ,then there 
arose a questioning  among us whether we
 should go up to the ,passover or not2  
for some said  that ,jerusalem was an   
accursed city 7because the doom of our  
,lord had gone  forth upon it71 and that
 we should not go up2 but others said   
that we  should go up2 for the ,lord    
would there reveal his will to us4 ,then
 it  seemed good that the disciples     
should meet together on a certain       
mountain  in ,galilee1 whereto ,jesus   

had often resorted aforetime2 and there 
we were  to consider of these matters   
and to ask counsel of the ,lord4 ,now   
when we  were assembled to the number of
 five hundred in all1 women and men     
together1 behold1 as we were all        
offering up prayers with one consent in 
the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 there was 
a cry1 8,behold him40 ,and ,jesus       
appeared unto us1 of the same aspect as 
before1 but fainter1 and as it  seemed  
standing at a distance from us2 insomuch
 that some that had not  before seen    
,jesus risen from the dead1 were in     
doubt2 and others said they  saw        
nothing4 ,but when we prayed more       
earnestly1 behold1 ,jesus came closer   
to us1 so that all1 or almost all1 could
 discern him2 and he waved with  the    
hand as if bidding us go southward4     
,afterwards the ,lord spake by the      
mouth of ,peter1 saying that we were    
verily to go to ,jerusalem4 ,and so it  
was determined4    ,now in the meantime1
 while we were waiting till the ,feast  

of the ,passover  should come round1 our
 hearts began to burn within us as if   
something  great must surely come to    
pass1 and the time must be at hand when 
we  should go forth to preach ,jesus to 
the world4 ,for words may not describe  
with how great a joy we lived during    
those days one with another1 and what  a
 passion of love knit our hearts        
together2 and it seemed a sin that so   
much joy and happiness should not be    
imparted to others besides ourselves    
only4 ,for at this time we1 the         
disciples of ,jesus1 were as it were in 
,paradise1 and joy went ever with us4   
,for if we sailed upon the lake in our  
fishingboats1 ,jesus was there2 or if we
 remained in ,capernaum1 working in  the
 gardens1 or on the quay1 or about the  
booths1 or went out into the  fields1   
,jesus was there2 and when we met       
together in the evenings to break  bread
 in memory of him1 or in the early dawn 
on the first day of the week1  to renew 
the remembrance of his rising again1    

then verily ,jesus was not  only there1 
but also often visibly there2 insomuch  
that while we touched  his body with our
 hands1 and while we drank of the blood 
from his side1 we  were able at the same
 time to feast our eyes upon the        
brightness of his  countenance4 ,yet    
with all our joy we were not yet moved  
to go forth to  preach the ,good ,news4 
,for it seemed sufficient for that      
present time that  we should take       
delight in the presence of ,jesus1 and  
suck in strength from  often beholding  
him visibly present among us4           
,howbeit1 though we were still as       
children clinging to the mother1 and not
  yet able to walk alone1               
notwithstanding day by day we were      
learning some  new thing concerning the 
will of the ,lord3 and the teaching of  
,jesus1  which had in times past been   
hid from us1 began now to appear more   
clear1  and our eyes were being opened  
also to understand the ,law and the     
prophets2 and we all now understood that

 it had been the will of ,god from  the 
first that ,jesus should die upon the   
cross and give his life as a  ransom for
 many4 ,moreover1 we began to perceive  
that a time might be at  hand when the  
,lord ,jesus would depart from us1 and  
seem to leave us alone  upon the earth  
to preach the ,kingdom of ,god3 and we  
no longer feared to be  alone1 for we   
knew now that the ,lord ,jesus could    
never really leave us4    ,so we came up
 to ,jerusalem4 ,and it came to pass on 
the day of the ,feast of  the ,passover1
 ,jesus once more revealed himself      
visibly to us2 and by the  mouth of     
,peter he spake concerning that which   
was to come1 and said that  he must now 
be lifted up from among us3 howbeit his 
,spirit should abide  with us1 and      
thence we should receive the power of   
forgiving sins4 ,some  also said that   
they saw ,jesus open his lips like unto 
one breathing forth  breath upon        
another2 as if he then breathed upon us 
the spirit of  forgiveness3 but this ,i 

saw not1 nor anything that ,jesus did1  
save that he  blessed and brake bread1  
after his wont4    ,now after the       
,passover we waited patiently at        
,jerusalem for nigh forty  days2 and all
 that time ,jesus revealed himself not  
to any one of us1  neither by sight nor 
by voice3 and we questioned much among  
ourselves  whether we ought to delay    
longer1 for our hearts were desirous to 
preach  ,jesus4 ,but when the feast of  
,pentecost was now at hand the word of  
the  ,lord ,jesus came to us1 saying    
that we should go forth to ,mount       
,olivet1  even to ,bethany4 ,and we went
 forth even as the ,lord led us3 yet he 
spake  no word more to us2 and it was   
now the tenth hour of the day4 ,and     
after  that we had walked for some while
 this way and that way upon the uplands 
of that mountain 7even where our ,master
 had walked in times past71 and  when we
 had spoken much together concerning all
 that he had said and done  in these    
same places1 behold1 we came unto a     

hollow cleft in the mountain1  whither  
no path led1 nor was any habitation of  
men nigh unto it4 ,now by  this time it 
wanted but a little of sunset3 yet were 
we loth to go back to  ,jerusalem till  
we should have understood what the will 
of the ,lord might  be4 ,so ,peter said1
 8,sit we down here1 and let us pray    
that the ,lord may  reveal his will unto
 us40    ,so we sat down and prayed2 but
 we saw nothing1 neither did the ,lord  
speak  by the voice of any of us4 ,so we
 waited yet longer2 but nothing came1   
vision nor voice nor sign2 and by this  
time the sun had set4  ,notwithstanding 
it was not yet dark1 for there was a    
wondrous brightness  in the west1 and   
behold1 all the clouds and air above us 
were filled with  a glorious appearance 
as of amber1 and sapphire1 and gold1 and
 flames of  fire4 ,then ,peter stood up 
and stretched out his hands unto the    
,lord ,jesus1  and looked up to the     
heaven and said1 8,thou1 ,o ,lord1 didst
 promise that  wheresoever two or three 

were gathered together in thy name1     
there wouldst  thou be in the midst of  
them4 ,therefore1 ,o ,lord1 be present  
now1 we  entreat thee40 ,now before the 
words had well passed from his lips1 he 
ceased on a sudden1 and his eyes were   
fixed1 and his hand pointed to the  sky1
 and ,john also cried out1 saying1 8,he 
goeth up3 lo1 ,i see the ,lord  ,jesus  
going up to heaven40 ,then ,i looked    
where ,john pointed1 and lo1 ,i  also   
saw the ,lord4 ,but his face was no     
longer pale as before1 nor were the     
prints of nails any more to be seen in  
his hands and feet1 neither could ,i    
now discern his features so clearly as  
was usual3 for his whole form  seemed   
robed in a vesture of glory1 and a crown
 of light about his head1  and he sat   
upon a throne of sapphire4 ,for the     
space of a minute or more we  all gazed 
fixed in wonder2 but then the throne    
rose slowly upwards1 and  with it rose  
likewise the angels1 like unto flames of
 fire1 round the  sapphire throne2 and  

so the glory grew fainter and more      
distant1 and at  the last a cloud or a  
darkness passed over it1 and received it
 out of our  sight4    ,but when the    
glory had now quite departed1 we        
remained a long while  steadfastly      
looking up to heaven1 yea1 even to the  
darkness of heaven1 if  perchance the   
glory might yet return to us4 ,for we   
knew that we were now  bidding farewell 
to the ,lord ,jesus for ever4 ,but at   
the last ,peter spake  to us and said1  
8,be not sad1 brethren1 because ,jesus  
is gone from us3 for  ,i heard the word 
of the ,lord coming unto me1 even from  
the angels about  the throne of ,jesus1 
and the message of the ,lord unto us is 
this1 #8,why  stand ye gating up unto   
heaven8 ,this same ,jesus which is taken
 up from you  into heaven shall so come 
in like manner as ye have seen him go   
into  heaven4'0    ,then we returned    
thanks to ,god1 praising and magnifying 
,him whose mercy  endureth for ever2 and
 we returned to ,jerusalem rejoicing and

 singing  songs of praise4 ,but in the  
evening1 when we sat together at meat1  
,simon  ,peter said that it behoved us1 
while we returned thanks to ,god for the
  gift of the ,law 7for it is a custom  
of our nation to do this on the  evening
 before the morning of ,pentecost71 to  
return thanks yet more for  the gift of 
the grace of ,jesus2 and he also        
besought the ,lord to give us  his grace
 even more abundantly1 that the law of  
,jesus might be written on  our hearts4 
,so we sat late into that night         
conversing together and praying  and    
singing praises unto ,god4    ,on the   
morrow we rose up very early and        
assembled ourselves together again  to  
pray3 and there were with us many       
disciples of several nations1 devout    
men2 not ,galileans only1 but also      
,alexandrines1 and men of ,cyrene1 and  
some of ,mesopotamia and ,cappadocia1   
who all believed in ,jesus4 ,when we    
were now all assembled together and the 
door had been made fast1 then  ,peter   

stood up1 and thanked the ,lord for that
 ,he had given to us ,his ,holy  ,one1  
,jesus of ,nazareth1 whom ,he had now   
taken to ,himself2 and he besought  the 
,lord that1 as ,he had taken up ,jesus  
to heaven after the manner of  ,elias1  
so1 after the same manner1 ,he would    
send down some portion of ,his  power   
upon us 7even as ,elias had sent down   
power upon his disciples7 to  the intent
 that all the people might know that the
 ,lord had sent us to  preach ,his word 
to ,israel4    ,then did the ,lord hear 
us and answer us from heaven1 even as   
,he answered  ,elias by fire in the     
former days4 ,for behold the ,spirit    
from above fell  upon us1 and there was 
a sound as of many voices1 even as the  
roar of many  waters2 and as the ,lord  
touched the mouth of the prophet ,esaias
 with fire1  even so did ,he give unto  
us the ,spirit of fire upon us1         
according to the  saying of ,john the   
son of ,zachariah1 so that our hearts   
were all aglow1  and our faces kindling2

 and we prophesied as the ,spirit gave  
us utterance1  according to the saying  
of the prophet ,jeremiah1 8,behold ,i   
will make my  words in thy mouth as     
fire40 ,but herein was a great marvel2  
for we sang no  psalms1 nor did we speak
 in ,scriptures1 nor even in any        
articulate words2  but we uttered       
strange sounds1 whereof we felt the     
sense1 but knew not of  what language   
they were2 for our tongues moved as the 
,spirit bade us4 ,but  behold1 certain  
of the disciples that had not been moved
 by the ,spirit to  speak in tongues1   
were moved by the same ,spirit to       
understand the meaning  of our words2   
and one came up to me and said1 8,thou  
speakest the language  of ,mesopotamia1 
even as ,i heard it in my childhood2 and
 ,i verily  understand thee1 for thou   
speakest the very thoughts of my heart1 
thanking  ,god for that ,he hath chosen 
us forth to be the servants of ,his son 
and to  proclaim ,his ,gospel to all the
 world40 ,then came another1 a man of   

,cyrene1  and he said the like1 namely1 
that ,i spake in his own language1 which
 was  not the language of ,mesopotamia1 
but the ,punic tongue4 ,now while we all
  marvelled hereat1 and knew not what to
 think1 ,peter stood up and said that   
the purpose of the ,lord was that1 in   
the times to come1 all men upon the     
face of the earth should be of one      
language and of one family4 8,and to    
this end10 said he1 8,god hath this day 
sent unto you this sign and token4  ,for
 this day is fulfilled among you the    
saying of the prophets3 ,and it  shall  
come to pass that ,i will pour out my   
,spirit upon all flesh4 ,for the  time  
is at hand when all men shall know the  
,lord from the least to the  greatest4  
,for men shall no longer be taught of   
priests saying1 ,know the  ,lord2 nor   
shall the knowledge of ,him be given    
only to the rich and to them  that have 
leisure2 but upon the servants and upon 
the handmaids in those  days will the   
,lord pour out ,his ,spirit40    ,then  

did we all rejoice with an exceeding    
joy1 and we went forth openly  into the 
temple for to magnify the ,lord therein4
 ,and as ,i went1 my heart  leaping up  
and dancing within me for the fervour of
 my gladness1 there  came into my mind  
how1 about three years ago1 ,philo the  
,alexandrine had  spoken to me of a     
certain enthousiasmos that should fall  
upon the  righteous3 but his            
enthousiasmos was ,i knew not what1 a   
passion for  8mere existence10 or for   
8that which is02 and ,i could not attain
 to  apprehend so much as the meaning of
 it4 ,but now ,i had indeed attained to 
the true enthousiasmos1 which uplifteth 
and ennobleth and comforteth the  soul1 
and stirreth to action1 and purifieth   
the thought1 and pervadeth  every corner
 of the life of man1 and includeth all  
things create and  uncreate2 so that my 
heart went out in love to all the       
creatures of ,god1  and to all men      
without distinction1 ,gentiles as well  
as ,jews1 tax  gatherers as well as     

,scribes2 yea1 even to the ,romans did  
my heart now go  forth in love4    ,but 
when we were come together to the       
temple1 the ,pharisees and the chief    
priests and all the people marvelled at 
our boldness4 ,for we were as  changed  
men in their sight2 because we no longer
 feared them as of old2  neither1 on the
 other hand1 did we hate them1 nor      
desire to revenge  ourselves on them for
 that they had slain ,jesus4 ,but we    
pitied them2 yea1  we felt an exceeding 
compassion and love for them1 as for    
them that  wandered in darkness1 while  
we sat in a great light4 ,therefore were
 we  exceeding bold2 and as for fear1 we
 had forgotten what it meant3 but we    
desired to pour out the good news of    
,christ before all men4 ,for our hearts 
could not contain themselves for the    
abundance of joy and gladness and  peace
 which the ,lord had vouchsafed to us4  
,so the people gathered  themselves     
together around us4 ,but when the ,holy 
,spirit fell upon us1 some  men mocked1 

and called us drunkards2 but the more   
part gave heed when  ,peter spake to    
them4    ,so ,simon ,peter spake in the 
ears of all the people1 and said to     
them1 even  as he had said to us1 that  
this outpouring was for a sign to men1  
because  the ,lord was to pour out ,his 
,spirit upon the face of the earth4     
,moreover  he added that ,jesus was     
indeed the ,christ1 and that the ,lord  
had raised  him from the dead 7whereof  
we were witnesses71 to the intent that  
he  should come again to judge the world
 in power2 for he should assuredly      
prevail1 and cast down all his enemies  
beneath his feet4 ,when the people      
heard these words1 they believed in     
,jesus2 for a power went forth from the 
mouth of ,peter and from the mouths of  
the other disciples1 so that their      
words pierced into the very souls of    
such as should be saved4 ,and we        
purified them 7for we also baptized1    
even as ,john the son of ,zachariah had 
baptized his disciples7 and baptized    

them in the brook of ,kidron4 ,then was 
fulfilled the word of ,jesus of         
,nazareth1 which he spake unto the      
apostles1  saying that he would make    
them 8fishers of men20 for on that day  
the net  of the ,gospel was indeed cast1
 and great was the draught of the       
fishes1 so  that there were added unto  
the ,lord three thousand of them that   
believed4                               
,,chapter ,,xxxii      ,here must this  
history have an end4 ,but ,i marvel how 
smoothly and easily  the relation       
seemeth to have ascended from ,jesus on 
earth to ,jesus in  heaven1 as if by    
some ladder of easy ascent1 and as      
though there were not  seven heavens    
between4 ,and perchance men would marvel
 the more1 if ,i had  been able to set  
down exactly the image of ,jesus as he  
appeared to me at  the first in my      
mother's house at ,sepphoris1 or when he
 sat with us in the  fishingboat on the 
lake2 so that the image of ,jesus as he 
seemed then1  might be compared with the

 image of ,jesus as he seemeth now4 ,but
 ,i know  that ,i have not been able to 
do this4 ,for my pen hath still outrun  
the  story3 and in adventuring to       
describe ,jesus as he appeared to me on 
earth1  ,i have often failed of my      
intent1 and have described him1 not as  
he  appeared to me on earth1 but as he  
was hereafter to appear to me from      
heaven4    ,oftentimes1 musing on the   
difference between ,jesus1 as he was in 
deed and  in truth1 and ,jesus1 as we in
 ,galilee supposed him to be1 ,i have   
questioned myself and said1 8,whence    
this waste of the life of the ,lord     
,jesus8 ,for if it be good for us to    
know him1 and if the knowledge of him   
be eternal life1 as we believe2 then how
 much better had it been that we  should
 have known him while he was alive1 and 
not to have tarried for the  knowledge  
till death had taken him from us80      
,now1 looking back1 ,i seem to discern a
 reason for our ignorance1 or1 at  the  
least1 a certain wholesome fruit        

springing therefrom4 ,for methinks1  had
 we known the ,lord ,jesus as he was1   
and all his greatness and glory1  and   
all that was to betide him1 and his     
resurrection1 and his ascension1  even  
then when he sat with us at meat1 and   
went in and out with us  throughout the 
villages of ,galilee2 ,i say1 had we    
known even then that  ,jesus was to be  
raised from the dead1 and to sit at the 
right hand of ,god1  methinks we could  
not have loved him so dearly1 nor have  
spoken with him  so familiarly1 nor have
 questioned him so freely1 revealing    
unto him all  our infirmities1 and      
trusting him as a friend1 yea1 loving   
him as a very  son of man1 even one of  
ourselves4    ,but the ,lord so ordained
 it that we should come to ,jesus as to 
a great and  good man1 becoming infected
 with his spirit and imbued with the    
love of  him as of a mortal being2 and  
then1 when he had caught our hearts as  
it  were by guile1 so that he had made  
himself now needful unto us even as the 

very breath of our lives1 then began he 
to say unto us1 8,whom say ye that  ,i1 
the ,son of man1 am80 ,and lo1 trying   
our hearts1 we began to perceive  that  
this same ,son of man1 who had so given 
life to our souls1 could be  none other 
than the very ,son of the ,living ,god4 
,hence it came to pass that1 when he    
departed from us1 and when we felt a    
void in our hearts1 and when we         
questioned ourselves what it was that we
  had lost1 and what it was that we most
 loved and trusted and revered1 yea     
also1 and what it was that we most      
worshipped as divine2 then behold1      
searching our hearts1 we found that     
there was nothing in heaven above nor   
in the earth beneath1 nor in the waters 
under the earth1 no1 nor in the  host   
above the heavens1 that could compare   
with ,jesus of ,nazareth4 ,and so  it   
was that1 when we worshipped him as the 
,son1 it seemed not unto us as  if we   
were honouring him by calling him ,god2 
but 7if ,i may speak as a  child7 it    

seemed rather as though we were striving
 to honour ,god by saying  that ,god was
 one with ,jesus4 ,for saying this1     
seemed all one with saying  that ,god   
was ,love4    ,therefore if any put this
 question unto me1 8,why believest thou 
not that  ,romulus is ,god1 and ,liber1 
and ,amphiaraus1 and ,elias1 and ,enoch 
7who all  are said to have escaped      
death71 and yet thou believest that     
,jesus of  ,nazareth is ,god803 my      
answer is this1 that ,i believe ,jesus  
to be ,god1  first1 because ,god is     
,love1 and ,jesus is ,love2 secondly1   
because ,god is  ,might and ,jesus is   
,might2 and lastly1 because1 if ,jesus  
was not indeed  divine1 then must he    
needs have been a poor deluded creature1
 unfit and  unable to do any great work 
for the children of men4 ,for certainly1
 albeit  he was the most humble and     
lowly of men1 yet did he ever speak of  
himself1  not as one of many redeemers1 
but as the redeemer of men1 the refuge  
of  the wretched1 the forgiver of sins1 

the source of life and truth4    8,but10
 say some1 8,jesus was of a surety not  
,might2 for he came not as a  conqueror1
 but as one conquered40 ,now1 methinks1 
concerning them that say  such things1  
it was well said by ,xanthias that 8they
 are like unto the  foolish giant       
,polyphemus1 who could not think that   
,ulysses could be  ,ulysses indeed1 for 
that he was not a giant like unto       
himself4 ,in the same  way certain      
persons of gross understanding0 7even of
 such an understanding  as ,i myself    
had1 before that ,i had been enlightened
 by the spirit of  ,christ7 8suppose    
that ,jesus could not have been the     
,messiah1 for that he  did not come into
 the world as they themselves would have
 come1 nor do the  works which they     
themselves would have done1 had they    
been ,messiahs4 ,for  they would have   
come into the world1 forsooth1 riding on
 the clouds1 or  borne on chariots of   
fire1 or working signs in heaven or     
portents upon  earth4 ,now this is even 

such a ,messiah as ,polyphemus would    
have devised  for himself4 ,but it was  
surely a much more divine thing that the
 ,word of  ,god should come into the    
world as a poor man1 and the child of   
the poor  7as if to shew that no estate 
of man is too low to be sanctified by   
the  ,divine ,word72 and that he should 
subdue all men unto himself1 not by     
force  nor portents1 but by love1       
patience1 and suffering2 submitting     
himself  patiently to all the laws of   
the world1 yea even to the law of death1
 and  yet triumphing over them all      
through the force of righteousness40    
,thus spake ,xanthias1 and ,i assent    
unto his words4 ,but furthermore1 if ,i 
believed ,jesus to be the ,son of ,god  
when mine eyes were opened to discern   
him after his resurrection1 much more do
 ,i believe it now2 because all the     
years as they pass by1 yea1 and all the 
seventy nations of the earth1 are  as so
 many angels of ,god1 which do cry aloud
 with a clear voice and say1  8,jesus of

 ,nazareth is our ,king2 ,jesus of      
,nazareth1 though he be in heaven1  is  
ruling on earth40 ,for whithersoever ,i 
look throughout the ,empire1 ,i  behold 
the love of ,christ beginning already to
 rule over the tribes of the  earth1    
though as yet it be in small beginnings4
 ,in ,britain1 where ,i now  write1 in  
,gaul1 in ,spain1 in ,italy1 in ,greece1
 in all the parts of ,asia  ,minor1 in  
,carthage and ,egypt1 yea even unto     
,babylon and the parts far  beyond the  
,river1 the ,lord ,jesus now hath his   
worshippers4    ,too long were it now to
 recount what ,i beheld in ,alexandria  
and in ,rome  concerning the power of   
,christ and how the churches in those   
cities  increased and are still         
increasing4 ,but thus much have ,i noted
 concerning  the law of ,christ1 that it
 differeth from all other laws1 in that 
it is  fitted for all nations and       
climates and times4 ,it is as useful for
 the  poor as for the rich4 ,it loveth  
order and concord1 and hateth disorder  

and  tumult4 ,it loveth truth1          
righteousness1 and happiness2 it hateth 
deceits  and unrighteousness and misery4
 ,it doth not say unto all nations1     
8,take  unto yourselves the customs of  
the ,greeks10 nor yet 8,take unto       
yourselves  the laws of the ,romans10   
neither doth it prescribe any pattern of
  government as the best3 but what saith
 it8 ,it saith1 8,love ,god and thy     
neighbour2 and ,i1 even ,i1 will give   
thee strength to love them40 ,for our   
law is none other than the ,lord ,jesus 
himself1 dwelling with us again1 and    
abiding in our hearts for ever1 through 
faith4    ,therefore is the law of      
,jesus in the end to prevail over other 
laws4 ,for  other laws are laws of fear1
 and they rule by constraint and hinder 
growth2 but the law of ,jesus is a law  
of love1 and ruleth through freedom1    
causing all good things to grow1 and    
making the heart to leap up with joy4   
,other laws need addition of rewards and
 punishments2 but the law of ,jesus     

assigneth fit reward1 and executeth     
needful punishment1 of itself1 without  
help of king or lawgiver4 ,the laws of  
other lawgivers will pass away with  the
 passing of those needs for which the   
laws were made3 but the law of  love    
will abide for ever1 for the need       
thereof passeth not away4 ,and when     
that law shall be established1 then1 and
 not till then1 shall wars cease  from  
the earth1 and all nations shall be as  
one3 for as ,moses gave ,israel  a law  
to knit the ten tribes into one nation1 
even so hath the ,lord ,jesus  given us 
a law to knit the seventy nations of the
 earth into one family of  ,god4    ,in 
this hope ,i rejoice1 even in the midst 
of tribulations1 for ,i trust  that     
,jesus of ,nazareth reigneth4 ,therefore
 shall my heart not fail1 albeit  the   
signs and mighty works of the ,church   
seem now to be passing away1 and  devils
 be not now cast out as of old2 nor are 
the sick so often healed2  and the      
saints speak less oft with tongues4 ,for

 if the signs of  righteousness and     
mercy and truth abide in the ,church1   
those other signs  may perchance be     
suffered to pass away4 ,but that which  
sometimes troubleth  me more1 is that1  
as ,i hear in some of the churches1 the 
saints are  overmuch given to the       
governing of the congregations1 and the 
arranging of  the worship of the saints1
 and the observing of feasts and fasts1 
more  than to the waging of the war     
against unrighteousness4 ,for though it 
be  well to follow after peace1 yet can 
,i not forget that the ,lord ,jesus     
studied not to lead a quiet life1 but   
spake unto us saying that he must  needs
 send a sword on earth4 ,and who knoweth
 not how he stood up with the  sword of 
his mouth against the ,pharisees in the 
,temple of the ,lord8 ,the  like of     
which contests and protestations against
 evil we hear not so oft1  methinks1 as 
in old times3 howbeit1 perchance even   
herein the ,holy ,spirit  guideth us4   
,but be this as it may1 ,i still trust  

in the ,lord ,jesus2 yea1  even though  
there be 7as ,i hear there be7 divisions
 in certain of the  churches1 yet trust 
,i in him4 ,for ,i perceive that the    
,lord's ways are not  as our ways2 but  
the last are made first2 and the weak   
become strong2 and  the foolish are     
exalted above the wise4 ,therefore1 even
 as from the fall  of ,sion there       
seemeth to have come uprising to the    
,gentiles1 even so  perhaps out of the  
divisions of the churches may arise     
truth for all the  world4    ,but as    
concerning the hour of the coming of the
 ,lord1 ,i deny not that he  tarrieth   
long1 even past all expectation4 ,but   
inasmuch as the ,lord ,jesus  himself   
said that he knew not that hour1 for    
this cause ,i judge that no  man shall  
know it4 ,only this is revealed unto me1
 that when the ,lord shall  come1 it    
shall not be after such manner as we    
expect and shape forth in  our minds1   
but the manner thereof shall be         
unexpected and new3 better1 ,i  doubt   

not1 than ever we hope or imagine1 yet  
none the less1 strange2 yea1  and       
perchance1 at the first1 full of        
disappointment4 ,for ,i perceive that   
all the dealings of the ,lord with men  
are after this fashion4 ,he ever        
prepareth some good thing for us1       
exceeding all that we had expected2     
notwithstanding1 with the good1 there   
cometh also some wholesome pain or      
temptation that we expect not4 ,for thus
 the ,lord dealt with ,adam in          
,paradise1 and thus with ,israel in the 
,promised ,land2 and thus also dealt    
the ,lord ,jesus with his disciples on  
earth4 ,wherefore thus also1 ,i doubt   
not1 the ,lord ,jesus will deal still   
with his disciples now that he  reigneth
 in heaven4    ,but why speak ,i in     
conjectures concerning these unknown    
matters1 or why  yearn ,i thus          
impatiently for the hour of the ,lord's 
coming1 seeing that  the ,lord          
vouchsafeth to me1 even on earth1 his   
perpetual presence in mine  heart1 and  

the signs of his presence compass me    
everywhere around1 so that  even to live
 is joy8 ,for verily to thee1 ,o ,lord1 
and to thy ,kingdom1 all  things in     
heaven and earth do bear witness4       
,the faces of all children1 whom thou   
didst call thy little ones1 give back   
the brightness of thy countenance2 the  
goodness of all good men testifieth     
unto thee1 the supreme pattern of all   
good2 yea even the bad and the weak     
proclaim their need of thee1 ,o ,lord   
our ,redeemer1 in whom alone is power   
to create goodness in the worst1 and to 
make the weakest strong4 ,to thy  word  
the seedtime and harvests bear witness2 
the flowers also do sing of  thy        
trustfulness and hope4 ,if ,i look unto 
the earth1 thou hast trodden and        
sanctified it2 if to the heaven1 thou   
hast gone up into it and dost  possess  
it2 if ,i think of the terrors of the   
depths beneath the earth1  behold1 thou 
knowest them1 and hast passed through   
them1 and overcome  them1 and hast      

broken the bars thereof2 that they may  
no more keep captive  them that shall   
follow in thy footsteps1 passing through
 the darkness of  the grave4 ,thus hast 
thou1 ,o ,eternal ,word 7by whom in ages
 past the worlds  were created7 now in  
these last times created the universe   
anew for them  that love thee2 so that  
all things do serve thee and proclaim   
thy ,good  ,tidings1 and the world is   
become unto thee as a vesture1 and the  
elements  are become thy servants3 yea  
death itself thou hast subdued to be thy
  minister1 and sin thou shalt subdue to
 be thy bondslave4    ,who is like unto 
thee1 ,o most mighty ,lord1 for verily  
thy truth is on  every side4 ,whither   
shall ,i go from thy ,spirit1 or whither
 shall ,i flee  from thy presence8 ,if  
,i climb up into heaven1 thou art there4
 ,if ,i go down  unto the dead1 thou art
 there also4 ,if ,i take the wings of   
the morning and  remain in the uttermost
 parts of the sea1 even there also shall
 thy hand  lead me and thy right hand   

shall hold me4 ,therefore when ,i sleep 
in the  grave1 ,i am in thy cradle2 and 
when ,i shall arise up and awake1 behold
  around me are thy everlasting arms4   
,,the ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,history        
,,of                                    
,,philochristus4                        
,,postscript      ,it had been my       
purpose1 beloved brethren1 to have      
continued this history  from the year   
after the ,lord ,jesus suffered 7in     
which year ,i left ,syria  and came to  
,alexandria7 even to this present year1 
the tenth year after  the destruction of
 the ,holy ,city4 ,herein ,i was minded 
to have set forth  how great things the 
,lord wrought for us in the ,church of  
,alexandria1 and  the troubles that     
befell us there2 even to the time of my 
going on the  embassage unto ,gaius     
,csar along with ,philo the             
,alexandrine4 ,next it was  my intent to
 have spoken of the ,church of ,rome1   
how it grew and prospered1  and how in  
those days the ,spirit of the ,lord     

began to lead the saints  towards wisdom
 in the governing and administering of  
the ,church2 lastly1  the history would 
have told how ,i accompanied ,julius    
,plautius the legate  hither1 even to   
,londinium1 where now ,i write1 where   
the ,lord had prepared  a work for me to
 do in building up the ,church in       
,britain4 ,for in this way  methinks it 
might have been possible for you1 my    
brethren1 more clearly  to discern how  
the ,lord ,jesus1 though he be now in   
heaven1 still guideth  his ,church upon 
earth4    ,notwithstanding1 because ,i  
am now stricken in years 7being now     
fourscore  and six years of age71 and   
forasmuch as ,i know not whether ,i may 
have life  to complete so great a work1 
it seemeth best 7although ,i have in    
part  already written these matters of  
my later life7 first to make an end of  
this former history1 especially         
considering the troubles now imminent in
  ,britain from the barbarous people1   
and to defer the rest to a more         

convenient season4                      
,farewell4                              
,,scholia                               
,,scholia                               
,i      ,these words of the ,lord ,jesus
 are not indeed found in our ,gospels2  
but  they have been handed down by      
tradition47#ad7 ,nor have ,i been able  
to  find in the history of              
,philochristus any sayings of the ,lord 
,jesus1 save  such as have been either  
handed down by tradition or else        
recorded in our  ,gospels4    ,moreover1
 the writer 7as it seemeth to me1 having
 diligently compared  this history with 
the ,gospels of the holy ,evangelists   
,matthew and ,mark and  ,luke7 maketh   
mention of all such miracles as are     
found in all the three  ,gospels 7though
 the raising of ,jairus' daughter and   
the healing of the  woman with the issue
 be but briefly mentioned73 but if any  
miracle is  found in one or in two      
,gospels only1 concerning that he is    
silent4 ,and  this he seemeth to do not 

by chance1 but of set purpose1 as if he 
were  minded to speak of those miracles 
only which are common to the first three
  ,gospels4 ,but ,anchinous the son of  
,alethes maketh conjecture that         
,philochristus had in his mind a certain
 ,original ,gospel 7whether it were a   
book or tradition7 of exceeding         
antiquity2 whence also the holy         
,evangelists drew that part of their    
several relations which is common to    
the first three ,gospels4               
,,ii      ,here again the writer of this
 history addeth nothing to our          
knowledge3  for of all the words that   
,philo the ,alexandrine uttereth to     
,philochristus1  there is scarce one    
that may not be found in the writings of
 ,philo1 such  as we now possess4       
,the like observation also is to be made
 concerning that which  ,philochristus  
reporteth of the sayings of the         
,scribes3 whereof there is  scarce one  
but ,i have found it 7or the like of it7
 among these sayings of  the ,teachers  

of ,israel which have been handed down  
to us even to this  day47#ae7           
,,iii      ,whereas ,philochristus      
reporteth that a certain ,scribe in his 
days spake  of 8eating the ,messiah10 ,i
 find no such saying current in those   
days4 ,but true it is that1 many years  
afterwards1 ,rabbi ,hillel 7but this  is
 not the same as ,hillel the ,great1 who
 lived in the generation before         
,philochristus7 said these words3       
8,there is no ,messiah for ,israel1     
since they have already eaten him in the
 days of ,hezekiah407#af7  ,moreover the
 saying of ,moses1 how that the nobles  
of ,israel 8saw ,god  and did eat and   
drink10 is1 without doubt1 explained by 
some of the  ,teachers among the ,jews  
to mean that the ,shekinah was as meat  
and drink to  the nobles4 ,but whether  
this saying was current in those days1  
or whether  ,philochristus erreth here  
also 7as elsewhere71 certain it is that 
many of  the sayings of the ,scribes    
reported by ,philochristus were not made

 known  nor published till very long    
after2 and meseemeth he hath perverted  
the  doctrine of the ,scribes with      
intent to cause the reader to have them 
in  derision4    ,but ,anchinous the son
 of ,alethes saith that1 howsoever the  
sayings of the  ,scribes 7whereof       
,philochristus maketh mention7 have not 
been handed down  to us as spoken in    
those times2 yet the cause is1 saith    
,anchinous1 that  few sayings of those  
times have been preserved4 ,but if they 
had been  preserved1 then1 saith he1 we 
should have found that ,philochristus   
described the teaching of the ,scribes  
with exactness2 even as the ,gospels    
also bear witness that the ,scribes in  
those days strained at gnats but        
swallowed camels2 and overmuch esteemed 
the tithing of mint and anise and       
cummin1 and the purification of pots and
 platters2 and counted an oath  that was
 sworn by the gold of the ,temple1 as   
being weightier than an oath  that was  
sworn by the ,temple itself4            

,,iv      ,herein it is marvellous to   
see with what a persistence             
,philochristus  cleaveth only unto that 
part of the first three ,gospels which  
is common to  all the three2 so that one
 might go near to suppose that          
,anchinous was  right1 in that he       
conjectured that ,philochristus doth    
this not by chance1  but of set purpose2
 having before him1 perchance1 some book
 or tradition  which contained no more  
than this4 ,for whereas ,philochristus  
saith that  the women heard some mention
 made of ,galilee1 but what it was1 they
 agreed  not exactly among themselves3  
,i will here set down1 in order1 the    
three  relations3--    #a 7,saint       
,matthew1 xxviii4 #g7 8,and behold ,,he 
,,goeth ,,before ,,you ,,into           
,,galilee2 there shall ye see him3 lo ,i
 ,,have ,,told ,,you40    #b 7,saint    
,mark1 xvi4 #g7 8,,he ,,goeth ,,before  
,,you ,,into ,,galilee3 there shall  ye 
see him1 as ,,he ,,said unto you40    #c
 7,saint ,luke1 xxiv4 #f7 8,remember how

 ,,he ,,spake unto you ,,while ,,he     
,,was ,,yet ,,in ,,galilee40    ,but as 
to the ,gospel of the holy ,apostle     
,john1 ,i have not been able to  find   
out whether any part of it were known to
 ,philochristus4 ,howbeit  ,anchinous   
saith that ,philochristus1 although he  
make no mention of any  of the acts1 nor
 of the long discourses1 nor set        
dialogues of that ,gospel1  nevertheless
 useth the doctrine of that ,gospel as  
the foundation of the  whole of his     
history4 ,notwithstanding1 saith        
,anchinous1 ,philochristus  seemeth not 
to attribute this doctrine to ,john the 
son of ,zebedee 7who  ever speaketh     
after a different manner1 and rather as 
one of the ,sons of  ,thunder1 or as the
 writer of the book of ,revelation1 than
 as the writer of  the ,fourth ,gospel71
 but to ,nathanael and ,quartus4        
,v      ,here ,philochristus is unlike  
himself4 ,for whereas he is wont for the
 most  part to omit miracles1 albeit the
 ,gospels relate them1 here on the other

  hand he inserteth one1 albeit the     
,gospels omit it4 ,howbeit1 true it is  
that the holy ,apostle ,paul seemeth1 in
 his first epistle to the  ,corinthians1
 to make mention of some manifestation  
of the ,lord ,jesus to  the holy        
,apostle ,james4 ,and the same is       
mentioned in certain traditions4    ,but
 it is to be noted that1 in the whole   
relation of the ,resurrection of        
,jesus1 ,philochristus departeth from   
his usual course4 ,for he reporteth     
many manifestations whereof mention is  
not made in all the three ,gospels1  nor
 even in two1 but in one only2 and he   
speaketh of others also  innumerable4   
,howbeit he maketh no mention of that   
manifestation wherein  the ,lord partook
 of fish and honey with the ,disciples4 
,,london3 ,r4 ,,clay1 ,,sons1 ,,and     
,,taylor1 ,,printers4                   
,,footnotes          #a ,see ,note ,,ii4
        #b ,see ,note ,i4        #c ,see
 ,note ,i4        #d ,see ,note ,i4     
#e ,see ,note ,i4        #f ,see ,note  

,i4        #g ,see ,note ,i4        #h  
,see ,note ,,iii4        #i ,see ,note  
,i4       #aj ,see ,note ,i4       #aa  
,see ,note ,,iv4       #ab ,see ,note   
,,iv4       #ac ,see ,note ,v4       #ad
 ,they belong to the twenty traditional 
sayings 8which seem to        contain1  
in a more or less altered form1 traces  
of words of our                         
,lord40--7,westcott's ,introduction to  
the ,study of the ,gospels1 p4          
#dec74       #ae 8,sayings of the       
,jewish ,fathers10 by ,c4 ,taylor1      
,m4,a41        published by the         
,cambridge ,university ,press4       #af
 ,ibid4 p4 #gd4                         
,,transcriber',s ,,note      ,variations
 in hyphenation 7e4g4 8winebibber01     
8winebibber01 8courtyard01  8courtyard07
 or spelling have not been changed4     
,several missing quote marks have been  
added silently4    ,other changes1 which
 have been made to the text3            
page #cf1 8waived0 changed to 8waved0   
page #fg1 8said1 ,i0 changed to 8said   

,i10        page #hj1 8,reedemer0       
changed to 8,redeemer0        page #ajc1
 8,nathaniel0 changed to 8,nathanael0   
page #bje1 8familar0 changed to         
8familiar0        page #cgd1 comma      
removed after 8this0        page #cgh1  
double 8be0 removed after 8thy will0    
page #dag1 period changed to comma after
 8led0