,,the ,,suppressed ,,gospels ,,and ,,epistles ,,of ,,the ,,original ,,new ,,testament ,,of ,,jesus ,,the ,,christ ,,and ,,other ,,portions ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,holy ,,scriptures4 ,,now ,,extant1 ,,attributed ,,to ,,his ,,apostles1 ,,and ,,their ,,disciples1 ,,and ,,venerated ,,by ,,the ,,primitive ,,christian ,,churches ,,during ,,the ,,first ,,four ,,centuries1 ,,but ,,since1 ,,after ,,violent ,,disputations ,,forbidden ,,by ,,the ,,bishops ,,of ,,the ,,nicene ,,council1 ,,in ,,the ,,reign ,,of ,,the ,,emperor ,,constantine ,,and ,,omitted ,,from ,,the ,,catholics ,,and ,,protestant ,,editions ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament1 ,,by ,,its ,,compilers ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,original ,,tongues1 ,,with ,,historical ,,references ,,to ,,their ,,authenticity1 ,,by ,,archbishop ,,wake ,,and ,,other ,,learned ,,divines ,,the ,,order ,,of ,,all ,,the ,,forbidden ,,books ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,,with ,,their ,,proper ,,names1 ,,and ,,number ,,of ,,chapters ,,contents3 ,mary ,protevangelion ,i4 ,infancy ,,ii4 ,infancy ,nicodemus ,christ and ,abgarus ,laodiceans ,paul and ,seneca ,acts of ,paul and ,thecla ,i4 ,clement ,,ii4 ,clement ,barnabas ,ephesians ,magnesians ,trallians ,romans ,philadelphians ,smyrnaeans ,polycarp ,philippians ,i4 ,hermas--,visions ,,ii4 ,hermas--,commands ,,iii4 ,hermas--,similitudes ,,preface4 ,to uphold the right of private judgment1 and our ,christian liberty wherewith ,christ hath made us free2 to add fuel to the fire of investigation1 and in the crucible of deep inquiry1 melt from the gold of pure religion1 the dross of man's invention2 to appeal from the erring tribunals of a fallible ,priesthood1 and restore to its original state the mutilated ,testament of the ,saviour2 also to induce all earnest thinkers to search not a part1 but the whole of the ,scriptures1 if therein they think they will find eternal life2 ,i1 as an advocate of free thought and untrammelled opinion1 dispute the authority of those uncharitable1 bickering1 and ignorant ,ecclesiastics who first suppressed these gospels and epistles2 and ,i join issue with their ,catholic and ,protestant successors who have since excluded them from the ,new ,testament1 of which they formed a part2 and were venerated by the ,primitive ,churches1 during the first four hundred years of the ,christian ,era4 ,my opposition is based on two grounds2 first1 the right of every rational being to become a ,priest unto himself1 and by the test of enlightened reason1 to form his own unbiased judgment of all things natural and spiritual3 second1 that the reputation of the ,bishops who extracted these books from the original ,new ,testament1 under the pretence of being ,apocryphal1 and forbade them to be read by the people1 is proved by authentic impartial history too odious to entitle them to any deference4 ,since the ,nicene ,council1 by a pious fraud1 which ,i shall further allude to1 suppressed these books1 several of them have been reissued from time to time by various translators1 who differed considerably in their versions1 as the historical references attached to them in the following pages will demonstrate4 ,but to the late ,mr4 ,william ,hone we are indebted for their complete publication for the first time in one volume1 about the year #ahbj2 which edition1 diligently revised1 and purified of many errors both in the text and the notes attached thereto1 ,i have re-published in numbers to enable all classes of the nation to purchase and peruse them4 ,as1 however1 instead of being called by their own designation ,apocryphal1 7which yet remains to be proved71 they were re-entitled ,,the ,,forbidden ,,books1 and1 from communications received1 appear to have agitated a portion of the great mass of ignorant bigotry which mars the fair form of ,religion in these sect-ridden dominions1 ,i have modified the title to its present shape with the hope that in spite of illiberal clerical influence1 my fellow ,christians will read and inwardly digest the sublime precepts they inculcate2--as pure1 as holy1 and as charitable as those principles of ,christianity taught in the ,scriptures they2 now read by permission2 although their minds may1 after mature reflection1 doubt the truth of the miraculous records therein given4 ,to ensure these ,gospels and ,epistles an unprejudiced and serious attention1 which they are entitled to1 equally with those now patronised by ,church authority1 ,i will briefly refer to that disgraceful epoch in ,roman ,ecclesiastical ,annals1 when the ,new ,testament was mutilated1 and priestly craft was employed for excluding these books from its pages4 ,,hone1 in the preface to his first edition of the ,apocryphal ,new ,testament1 so called1 without satisfactory grounds1 by the ,council of ,nice1 in the reign of the ,emperor ,constantine1 thus opens the subject3-- ,after the writings contained in the ,new ,testament were selected from the numerous ,gospels and ,epistles then in existence1 what became of the ,books that were rejected by the compilers8 ,this question naturally occurs on every investigation as to the period when and the persons by whom the ,new ,testament was formed4 ,it has been supposed by many that the volume was compiled by the first ,council of ,nice1 which1 according to ,jortin 7,rem4 on ,eccl4 vol4 ii4 p4 #agg71 originated thus3 ,alexander1 ,bishop of ,alexandria1 and ,arius1 who was a presbyter in his diocese1 disputed together about the nature of ,christ2 and the bishop being displeased at the notions of ,arius1 and finding that they were adopted by other persons1 was very angry4 ,he commanded ,arius to come over to his sentiments1 and to quit his own2 as if a man could change his opinions as easily as he can change his coat6 ,he then called a ,council of ,war1 consisting of nearly1 a hundred bishops1 and deposed1 excommunicated1 and anathematized ,arius1 and with him several ecclesiastics1 two of whom were bishops4 ,constantine sent a letter1 in which he reprimanded the bishops for disturbing the church with their insignificant disputes4 ,but the affair was gone too far to be thus composed4 ,to settle this and other points1 the ,nicene ,council was summoned1 consisting of about #cah bishops4 ,the first thing they did was to quarrel1 and to express their resentments1 and to present accusations to the ,emperor against one another4 ,the ,emperor burnt all their libels1 and exhorted them to peace and unity4 7,see ,mosheim's ,eccle4 ,hist47 ,these were the kind of spiritual shepherds of whom ,sabinus1 the ,bishop ,heraclea affirms1 that excepting ,constantine himself1 and ,eusebius ,pamphilus1 they were a set of illiterate creatures1 that understood nothing4 ,and now intelligent ,catholics1 especially ,protestants who are content to read only the books of the ,testament authorized by the ,council of ,nice1 and agreed to ever since by your own bishops1 although they and you profess to dissent from the ,papacy1 hear what ,pappus in his ,synodican to that ,council says of their crafty contrivance when they separated the books of the original ,new ,testament3--,he tells us1 that having promiscuously put all the books that were referred to the ,council for deliberation under the communion-table in a church1 they besought the ,lord that the inspired writings might get on the table1 while the spurious ones remained underneath2 and that it happened accordingly6 7,see ,com4 ,mace's ,n4 ,t4 p4 #hge47 ,therefore1 good reader1 every ,christian sect from the fourth century to the present period1 have been blessed with the books that climbed upon the communion-table1 and in consequence were deemed inspired and canonical2 at the same time have been forbidden to read the ,gospels and ,epistles herein published1 because they could not perform the same feat1 but remained under the table1 and were condemned accordingly1 as uninspired and apocryphal writings4 ,if you believe this popish legend1 you will not read the good books ,i lay before you1 but still continue to possess only ,,half ,,the ,,testament1 instead of the ,,perfect ,,one1 which will enable you to burst the trammels of priestcraft1 and by the light of ,god's whole truth become free4 ,in conclusion1 ,i implore you to examine for yourselves1 and observe the testimony of ,archbishop ,wake and other learned divines and historians appended thereto2 and subscribe myself1 ,your well-wisher1 ,,edward ,,hancock4 ,,forbidden ,,books ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,of ,,the ,,birth ,,of ,,mary4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,the ,parentage of ,mary4 #g ,joachim her father1 and ,anna her mother1 go to ,jerusalem to the feast of the dedication4 #i ,issachar1 the high priest1 reproaches ,joachim for being childless4 ,,the blessed and ever glorious ,virgin ,mary1 sprung from the royal race and family of ,david1 was born in the city of ,nazareth1 and educated at ,jerusalem1 in the temple of the ,lord4 #b ,her father's name was ,joachim1 and her mother's ,anna4 ,the family of her father was of ,galilee and the city of ,nazareth4 ,the family of her mother was of ,bethlehem4 #c ,their lives were plain and right in the sight of the ,lord1 pious and faultless before men2 for they divided all their substance into three parts2 #d ,one of which they devoted to the temple and officers of the temple2 another they distributed among strangers1 and persons in poor circumstances2 and the third they reserved for themselves and the uses of their own family4 #e ,in this manner they lived for about twenty years chastely1 in the favour of ,god1 and the esteem of men1 without any children4 #f ,but they vowed1 if ,god should favour them with any issue1 they would devote it to the service of the ,lord2 on which account they went at every feast in the year to the temple of the ,lord4 #g ,and it came to pass1 that when the feast of the dedication drew near1 ,joachim1 with some others of his tribe1 went up to ,jerusalem1 and at that time1 ,isachar was high-priest2 #h ,who1 when he saw ,joachim along with the rest of his neighbours1 bringing his offerings1 despised both him and his offerings1 and asked him1 #i ,why he1 who had no children1 would presume to appear among those who had8 ,adding1 that his offerings could never be acceptable to ,god1 who was judged by him unworthy to have children2 the ,scripture having said1 ,cursed is every one who shall not beget a male in ,israel4 #aj ,he further said1 that he ought first to be free from that curse by begetting some issue1 and then come with his offerings into the presence of ,god4 #aa ,but ,joachim being much confounded with the shame of such reproach1 retired to the shepherds who were with the cattle in their pastures2 #ab ,for he was not inclined to return home1 lest his neighbours1 who were present and heard all this from the high-priest1 should publicly reproach him in the same manner4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,an angel appears to ,joachim1 #i and informs him that ,anna shall conceive and bring forth a daughter1 who shall be called ,mary1 #aa be brought up in the temple1 #ab and while yet a virgin1 in a way unparalleled1 bring forth the ,son of ,god3 #ac ,gives him a sign1 #ad and departs4 ,,but when he had been there for some time1 on a certain day when he was alone1 the angel of the ,lord stood by him with a prodigious light4 #b ,to whom1 being troubled at the appearance1 the angel who had appeared to him1 endeavouring to compose him1 said3 #c ,be not afraid1 ,joachim1 nor troubled at the sight of me1 for ,i am an angel of the ,lord sent by him to you1 that ,i might inform you that your prayers are heard1 and your alms ascended in the sight of ,god4 #d ,for he hath surely seen your shame1 and heard you unjustly reproached for not having children3 for ,god is the avenger of sin1 and not of nature2 #e ,and so when he shuts the womb of any person1 he does it for this reason1 that he may in a more wonderful manner again open it1 and that which is born appear to be not the product of lust1 but the gift of ,god4 #f ,for the first mother of your nation1 ,sarah1 was she not barren even till her eightieth year3 and yet even in the end of her old age brought forth ,isaac1 in whom the promise was made of a blessing to all nations4 #g ,rachel1 also1 so much in favour with ,god1 and beloved so much by holy ,jacob1 continued barren for a long time1 yet afterwards was the mother of ,joseph1 who was not only governor of ,egypt1 but delivered many nations from perishing with hunger4 #h ,who among the judges was more valiant than ,sampson1 or more holy than ,samuel8 ,and yet both their mothers were barren4 #i ,but if reason will not convince you of the truth of my words1 that there are frequent conceptions in advanced years1 and that those who were barren have brought forth to their great surprise2 therefore ,anna your wife shall bring you a daughter1 and you shall call her name ,mary2 #aj ,she shall1 according to your vow1 be devoted to the ,lord from her infancy1 and be filled with the ,holy ,ghost from her mother's womb2 #aa ,she shall neither eat nor drink any thing which is unclean1 nor shall her conversation be without among the common people1 but in the temple of the ,lord2 that so she may not fall under any slander or suspicion of what is bad4 #ab ,so in the process of her years1 as she shall be in a miraculous manner born of one that was barren1 so she shall1 while yet a virgin1 in a way unparalleled1 bring forth the ,son of the most ,high ,god1 who shall1 be called ,jesus1 and1 according to the signification of his name1 be the ,saviour of all nations4 #ac ,and this shall be a sign to you of the things which ,i declare1 namely1 when you come to the golden gate of ,jerusalem1 you shall there meet your wife ,anna1 who being very much troubled that you returned no sooner1 shall then rejoice to see you4 #ad ,when the angel had said this1 he departed from him4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,the angel appears to ,anna2 #b tells her a daughter shall be born unto her1 #c devoted to the service of the ,lord in the temple1 #e1 who1 being a virgin1 and not knowing man1 shall bring forth the ,lord1 #f and gives her a sign therefore4 #h ,joachim and ,anna meet1 and rejoice1 #aj and praise the ,lord4 #aa ,anna conceives1 and brings forth a daughter called ,mary4 ,,afterwards the angel appeared to ,anna his wife1 saying2 ,fear not1 neither think that which you see is a spirit2 #b ,for ,i am that angel who hath offered up your prayers and alms before ,god1 and am now sent to you1 that ,i may inform you1 that a daughter will be born unto you1 who shall be called ,mary1 and shall be blessed above all women4 #c ,she shall be1 immediately upon her birth1 full of the grace of the ,lord1 and shall continue during the three years of her weaning in her father's house1 and afterwards1 being devoted to the service of the ,lord1 shall not depart from the temple1 till she arrive to years of discretion4 #d ,in a word1 she shall there serve the ,lord night and day in fasting and prayer1 shall abstain from every unclean thing1 and never know any man2 #e ,but1 being an unparalleled instance without any pollution or defilement1 and a virgin not knowing any man1 shall ring forth a son1 and a maid shall bring forth the ,lord1 who both by his grace and name and works1 shall be the ,saviour of the world4 #f ,arise therefore1 and go up to ,jerusalem1 and when you shall come to that which is called the golden gate 7because it is gilt with gold71 as a sign of what ,i have told you1 you shall meet your husband1 for whose safety you have been so much concerned4 #g ,when therefore you find these things thus accomplished1 believe that all the rest which ,i have told you1 shall also undoubtedly be accomplished4 #h ,according therefore to the command of the angel1 both of them left the places where they were1 and when they came to the place specified in the angels prediction1 they met each other4 #i ,then1 rejoicing at each other's vision1 and being fully satisfied in the promise of a child1 they gave due thanks to the ,lord1 who exalts the humble4 #aj ,after having praised the ,lord1 they returned home1 and lived in a cheerful and assured expectation of the promise of ,god4 #aa ,so ,anna conceived1 and brought forth a daughter1 and1 according to the angel's command1 the parents did call her name ,mary4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,mary brought to the temple at three years old4 #f ,ascends the stairs of the temple by miracle4 #h ,her parents sacrifice and return home4 ,,and when three years were expired1 and the time of her weaning complete1 they brought the ,virgin to the temple of the ,lord with offerings4 #b ,and there were about the temple1 according to the fifteen ,psalms of degrees1 fifteen stairs to ascend4 #c ,for the temple being built in a mountain1 the altar of burnt- offering1 which was without1 could not be come near but by stairs2 #d ,the parents of the blessed ,virgin and infant ,mary put her upon one of these stairs2 #e ,but while they were putting off their clothes1 in which they had travelled1 and according to custom putting on some that were more neat and clean1 #f ,in the mean time the ,virgin of the ,lord in such a manner went up all the stairs one after another1 without the help of any to lead her or lift her1 that any one would have judged from hence1 that she was of perfect age4 #g ,thus the ,lord did1 in the infancy of his ,virgin1 work this extraordinary work1 and evidence by this miracle how great she was like to be hereafter4 #h ,but the parents having offered up their sacrifice1 according to the custom of the law1 and perfected their vow1 left the ,virgin with other virgins in the apartments of the temple1 who were to be brought up there1 and they returned home4 ,,chapter ,v4 #b ,mary ministered unto by angels4 #d ,the high priest orders all virgins of fourteen years old to quit the temple and endeavour to be married4 #e ,mary refuses1 #f having vowed her virginity to the ,lord4 #g ,the high-priest commands a meeting of the chief persons of ,jerusalem1 #aa who seek the ,lord for counsel in the matter4 #ac ,a voice from the mercy-seat4 #ae ,the high-priest obeys it by ordering all the unmarried men of the house of ,david to bring their rods to the altar1 #ag that his rod which should flower1 and on which the ,spirit of ,god should sit1 should betroth the ,virgin4 ,,but the ,virgin of the ,lord1 as she advanced in years1 increased also in perfections1 and according to the saying of the ,psalmist1 her father and mother forsook her1 but the ,lord took care of her4 #b ,for she every day had the conversation of angels1 and every day received visitors from ,god1 which preserved her from all sorts of evil1 and caused her to abound with all good things2 #c ,so that when at length she arrived to her fourteenth year1 as the wicked could not lay any thing to her charge worthy of reproof1 so all good persons1 who were acquainted with her1 admired her life and conversation4 #d ,at that time the high-priest made a public order1 ,that all the virgins who had public settlements in the temple1 and were come to this age1 should return home1 and1 as they were now of a proper maturity1 should1 according to the custom of their country1 endeavour to be married4 #e ,to which command1 though all the other virgins readily yielded obedience1 ,mary the ,virgin of the ,lord alone answered1 that she could not comply with it1 #f ,assigning these reasons1 that both she and her parents had devoted her to the service of the ,lord2 and besides1 that she had vowed virginity to the ,lord1 which vow she was resolved never to break through by lying with a man4 #g ,the high-priest being hereby brought into a difficulty1 #h ,seeing he durst neither on the one hand dissolve the vow1 and disobey the ,scripture1 which says1 ,vow and pay1 #i ,nor on the other hand introduce a custom1 to which the people were strangers1 commanded1 #aj ,that at the approaching feast all the principal persons both of ,jerusalem and the neighbouring places should meet together1 that he might have their advice1 how he had best proceed in so difficult a case4 #aa ,when they were accordingly met1 they unanimously agreed to seek the ,lord1 and ask counsel from him on this matter4 #ab ,and when they were all engaged in prayer1 the high-priest according to the usual way1 went to consult ,god4 #ac ,and immediately there was a voice from the ark1 and the mercy seat1 which all present heard1 that it must be enquired or sought out by a prophecy of ,isaiah1 to whom the ,virgin should be given and be betrothed2 #ad ,for ,isaiah saith1 there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of ,jesse1 and a flower shall spring out of its root1 #ae ,and the ,spirit of the ,lord shall rest upon him1 the ,spirit of ,wisdom and ,understanding1 the ,spirit of ,counsel and ,might1 the ,spirit of ,knowledge and ,piety1 and the ,spirit of the fear of the ,lord shall fill him4 #af ,then1 according to this prophecy1 he appointed1 that all the men of the house and family of ,david1 who were marriageable1 and not married1 should bring their several rods to the altar1 #ag ,and out of whatsoever person's rod after it was brought1 a flower should bud forth1 and on the top of it the ,spirit of the ,lord should sit in the appearance of a dove1 he should be the man to whom the ,virgin should be given and be betrothed4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,joseph draws back his rod4 #e ,the dove pitches on it4 ,he betroths ,mary and returns to ,bethlehem4 #g ,mary returns to her parents' house at ,galilee4 ,,among the rest there was a man named ,joseph of the house and family of ,david1 and a person very far advanced in years1 who kept back his rod1 when every one besides presented his4 #b ,so that when nothing appeared agreeable to the heavenly voice1 the high-priest judged it proper to consult ,god again4 #c ,who answered that he to whom the ,virgin was to be betrothed was the only person of those who were brought together1 who had not brought his rod4 #d ,joseph therefore was betrayed4 #e ,for1 when he did bring his rod1 and a dove coming from ,heaven pitched upon the top of it1 every one plainly saw1 that the ,virgin was to be betrothed to him4 #f ,accordingly1 the usual ceremonies of betrothing being over1 he returned to his own city of ,bethlehem1 to set his house in order1 and make the needful provisions for the marriage4 #g ,but the ,virgin of the ,lord1 ,mary1 with seven other virgins of the same age1 who had been weaned at the same time1 and who had been appointed to attend her by the priest1 returned to her parents' house in ,galilee4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #g ,the salutation of the ,virgin by ,gabriel1 who explains to her that she shall conceive1 without lying with a man1 while a ,virgin1 #ai by the ,holy ,ghost coming upon her without the heats of lust4 #ba ,she submits4 ,,now at this time of her first coming into ,galilee1 the angel ,gabriel was sent to her from ,god1 to declare to her the conception of our ,saviour1 and the manner and way of her conceiving him4 #b ,accordingly going into her1 he filled the chamber where she was with a prodigious light1 and in a most courteous manner saluting her1 he said1 #c ,hail1 ,mary6 ,virgin of the ,lord most acceptable6 ,o ,virgin full of grace6 ,the ,lord is with you4 ,you are blessed above all women1 and you are blessed above all men1 that have been hitherto born4 #d ,but the ,virgin1 who had before been well acquainted with the countenances of angels1 and to whom such light from heaven was no uncommon thing1 #e ,was neither terrified with the vision of the angel1 nor astonished at the greatness of the light1 but only troubled about the angel's words1 #f ,and began to consider what so extraordinary a salutation should mean1 what it did portend1 or what sort of end it would have4 #g ,to this thought the angel1 divinely inspired1 replies2 #h ,fear not1 ,mary1 as though ,i intended anything inconsistent with your chastity in this salutation3 #i ,for you have found favour with the ,lord1 because you made virginity your choice4 #aj ,therefore while you are a ,virgin1 you shall conceive without sin1 and bring forth a son4 #aa ,he shall be great1 because he shall reign from sea to sea1 and from the rivers even to the ends of the earth8 #ab ,and he shall be called the ,son of the ,highest2 for he who is born in a mean state on earth1 reigns in an exalted one in heaven4 #ac ,and the ,lord shall give him the throne of his father ,david1 and he shall reign over the house of ,jacob for ever1 and of his kingdom there shall be no end4 #ad ,for he is the ,king of ,kings1 and ,lord of ,lords1 and his throne is forever and ever4 #ae ,to this discourse of the angel the ,virgin replied1 not1 as though she were unbelieving1 but willing to know the manner of it4 #af ,she said1 ,how can that be8 ,for seeing1 according to my vow1 ,i have never known any man1 how can ,i bear a child without the addition of a man's seed4 #ag ,to this the angel replied and said1 ,think not1 ,mary1 that you shall conceive in the ordinary way4 #ah ,for1 without lying with a man1 while a ,virgin1 you shall conceive2 while a ,virgin1 you shall bring forth2 and while a ,virgin shall give suck4 #ai ,for the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon you1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow you1 without any of the heats of lust4 #bj ,so that which shall be born of you shall be only holy1 because it only is conceived without sin1 and being born1 shall be called the ,son of ,god4 #ba ,then ,mary stretching forth her hands1 and lifting her eyes to heaven1 said1 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord6 ,let it be unto me according to thy word4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #a ,joseph returns to ,galilee1 to marry the ,virgin he had betrothed2 #d perceives she is with child1 #e is uneasy1 #g purposes to put her away privily1 #h is told by the angel of the ,lord it is not the work of man but the ,holy ,ghost2 #ab ,marries her1 but keeps chaste1 #ac removes with her to ,bethlehem1 #ae where she brings forth ,christ4 ,,joseph therefore went from ,judaea to ,galilee1 with intention to marry the ,virgin who was betrothed to him3 #b ,for it was now near three months since she was betrothed to him4 #c ,at length it plainly appeared she was with child1 and it could not be hid from ,joseph3 #d ,for going to the ,virgin in a free manner1 as one espoused1 and talking familiarly with her1 he perceived her to be with child1 #e ,and thereupon began to be uneasy and doubtful1 not knowing what course it would be best to take2 #f ,for being a just man1 he was not willing to expose her1 nor defame her by the suspicion of being a harlot1 since he was a pious man3 #g ,he purposed therefore privately to put an end to their agreement1 and as privately to send her away4 #h ,but while he was meditating these things1 behold the angel of the ,lord appeared to him in his sleep1 and said1 ,joseph1 son of ,david1 fear not2 #i ,be not willing to entertain any suspicion of the ,virgin's being guilty of fornication1 or to think any thing amiss of her1 neither be afraid to take her to wife3 #aj ,for that which is begotten in her and now distresses your mind1 is not the work of man1 but the ,holy ,ghost4 #aa ,for she of all women is that only ,virgin who shall bring forth the ,son of ,god1 and you shall call his name ,jesus1 that is1 ,saviour3 for he will save his people from their sins4 #ab ,joseph thereupon1 according to the command of the angel1 married the ,virgin1 and did not know her1 but kept her in chastity4 #ac ,and now the ninth month from her conception drew near1 when ,joseph took his wife and what other things were necessary to ,bethlehem1 the city from whence he came4 #ad ,and it came to pass1 while they were there1 the days were fulfilled for her bringing forth4 #ae ,and she brought forth her first-born son1 as the holy ,evangelists have taught1 even our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who with the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 lives and reigns to everlasting ages4 ,,references ,,to ,,mary',s ,,gospel ,in the primitive ages there was a ,gospel extant bearing this name1 attributed to ,st4 ,matthew1 and received as genuine and authentic by several of the ancient ,christian sects4 ,it is to be found in the works of ,jerome1 a ,father of the ,church1 who flourished in the fourth century1 from whence the present translation is made4 ,his contemporaries1 ,epiphanius1 ,bishop of ,salamis1 and ,austin also mention a gospel under this title4 ,the ancient copies differed from ,jerome's1 for from one of them the learned ,faustus1 a native of ,britain1 who became ,bishop of ,riez1 in ,provence1 endeavoured to prove that ,christ was not the ,son of ,god till after his baptism2 and that he was not of the house of ,david and tribe of ,judah1 because1 according to the ,gospel he cited1 the ,virgin herself was not of this tribe1 but of the tribe of ,levi2 her father being a priest of the name of ,joachim4 ,it was likewise from this ,gospel that the sect of the ,collyridians established the worship and offering of manchet bread and cracknels1 or fine wafers1 as sacrificed to ,mary1 whom they imagined to have been born of a ,virgin1 as ,christ is related in the ,canonical ,gospels to have been born of her4 ,epiphanius likewise cites a passage concerning the death of ,zacharias1 which is not in ,jerome's copy1 viz43 ,that it was the occasion of the death of ,zacharias in the temple1 that when he had seen a vision1 he1 through surprise1 was willing to disclose it1 and his mouth was stopped4 ,that which he saw was at the time of his offering incense1 and it was a man standing in the form of an ass4 ,when he was gone out1 and had a mind to speak thus to the people1 ,woe unto you1 whom do you worship8 he who had appeared to him in the temple took away the use of his speech4 ,afterwards when he recovered it1 and was able to speak1 he declared this to the ,jews2 and they slew him4 ,they add 7viz4 the ,gnostics in this book71 that on this very account the high-priest was appointed by their lawgiver 7by ,god to ,moses7 to carry little bells1 that whensoever he went into the temple to sacrifice he1 whom they worshipped1 hearing the noise of the bells1 might have time enough to hide himself1 and not be caught in that ugly shape and figure4 ,the principal part of this ,gospel is contained in the ,protevangelion of ,james which follows next in order4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,called ,,the ,,protevangelion2 ,or1 an ,historical ,account of the ,,birth of ,,christ1 and the perpetual ,,virgin ,,mary1 his ,mother1 by ,,james ,,the ,,lesser1 ,cousin and ,brother of the ,lord ,jesus1 chief ,apostle and first ,bishop of the ,christians in ,jerusalem4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,joachim1 a rich man1 #b offers to the ,lord1 #c is opposed by ,reuben the high priest1 because he has not begotten issue in ,israel1 #f retires into the wilderness and fasts forty days and forty nights4 ,,in the history of the twelve tribes of ,israel we read there was a certain person called ,joachim1 who being very rich1 made double offerings to the ,lord ,god1 having made this resolution3 ,my substance shall be for the benefit of the whole people1 that ,i may find mercy from the ,lord ,god for the forgiveness of my sins4 #b ,but at a certain great feast of the ,lord1 when the children of ,israel offered their gifts1 and ,joachim also offered his1 ,reuben the high-priest opposed him1 saying1 it is not lawful for thee to offer thy gifts1 seeing thou hast not begot any issue in ,israel4 #c ,at this1 ,joachim being concerned very much1 went away to consult the registries of the twelve tribes1 to see whether he was the only person who had begot no issue4 #d ,but upon inquiry he found that all the righteous had raised up seed in ,israel2 #e ,then he called to mind the patriarch ,abraham1 ,how that ,god in the end of his life had given him his son ,isaac2 upon which he was exceedingly distressed1 and would not be seen by his wife3 #f ,but retired into the wilderness1 and fixed his tent there1 and fasted forty days and forty nights1 saying to himself1 #g ,i will not go down either to eat or drink1 till the ,lord my ,god shall look down upon me1 but prayer shall be my meat and drink4 ,,chapter4 ,,ii4 #a ,anna1 the wife of ,joachim mourns her barrenness1 #f is reproached with it by ,judith her maid1 #i sits under a laurel tree and prays to the ,lord4 ,,in the mean time his wife ,anna was distressed and perplexed on a double account1 and said1 ,i will mourn both for my widowhood and my barrenness4 #b ,then drew near a great feast of the ,lord1 and ,judith her maid1 said1 ,how long will you thus afflict your soul8 ,the feast of the ,lord is now come1 when it is unlawful for any one to mourn4 #c ,take therefore this hood which was given by one who makes such things1 for it is not fit that ,i1 who am a servant should wear it1 but it well suits a person of your greater character4 #d ,but ,anna replied1 ,depart from me1 ,i am not used to such things2 besides1 the ,lord hath greatly humbled me4 #e ,i fear some ill-designing person hath given thee this1 and thou art come to reproach me with my sin4 #f ,then ,judith her maid answered1 what evil shall ,i wish you1 when you will not hearken to me8 #g ,i cannot wish you a greater curse than you are under1 in that ,god hath shut up your womb1 that you should not be a mother in ,israel4 #h ,at this ,anna was exceedingly troubled1 and having on her wedding garment1 went about three o'clock in the afternoon to walk in her garden4 #i ,and she saw a laurel-tree and sat under it1 and prayed unto the ,lord1 saying1 #aj ,o ,god of my fathers1 bless me and regard my prayer1 as thou didst bless the womb of ,sarah2 and gavest her a son ,isaac4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,anna perceiving a sparrow's nest in the laurels bemoans her barrenness4 ,,and as she was looking towards heaven she perceive a sparrow's nest in the laurel1 #b ,and mourning within herself1 she said1 ,wo is me1 who begat me8 and what womb did bear me1 that ,i should be thus accursed before the children of ,israel1 and that they should reproach and deride me in the temple of my ,god3 ,wo is me1 to what can ,i be compared8 #c ,i am not comparable to the very beasts of the earth1 for even the beasts of the earth are fruitful before thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me1 to what can ,i be compared8 #d ,i am not compared to the brute animal1 for even the brute animals are fruitful before thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me1 to what am ,i comparable8 #e ,i cannot be comparable to these waters1 for even the waters are fruitful before thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me1 to what can ,i be compared8 #f ,i am not comparable to the waves of the sea2 for these1 whether they are calm1 or in motion1 with the fishes which are in them1 praise thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,wo is me to what can ,i be compared8 #g ,i am not comparable to the very earth1 for the earth produces its fruits1 and praises thee1 ,o ,lord6 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,an ,angel appears to ,anna and tells her she shall conceive2 two angels appear on the same errand4 #e ,joachim sacrifices4 #h ,anna goes to meet him1 #i rejoicing that she shall conceive4 ,,then an angel of the ,lord stood by her and said1 ,anna1 ,anna1 the ,lord hath heard thy prayer2 thou shalt conceive and bring forth1 and thy progeny shall be spoken of in all the world4 #b ,and ,anna answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 whatever ,i bring forth1 whether it be male or female1 ,i will devote it to the ,lord my ,god and it shall minister to him in holy things1 during its whole life4 #c ,and behold there appeared two angels1 saying unto her1 ,behold ,joachim thy husband is coming with his shepherds4 #d ,for an angel of the ,lord hath also come down to him1 and said1 ,the ,lord ,god hath heard thy prayer1 make haste and go hence1 for behold ,anna thy wife shall conceive4 #e ,and ,joachim went down and called his shepherds1 saying1 ,bring me hither ten she-lambs without spot or blemish1 and they shall be for the ,lord my ,god4 #f ,and bring me twelve calves without blemish1 and the twelve calves shall be for the priests and the elders4 #g ,bring me also a hundred goats1 and the hundred goats shall be for the whole people4 #h ,and ,joachim went down with the shepherds1 and ,anna stood by the gate and saw ,joachim coming with the shepherds4 #i ,and she ran1 and hanging about his neck1 said1 ,now ,i know that the ,lord hath greatly blessed me3 #aj ,for behold1 ,i who was as a widow am no longer as a widow1 and ,i who was barren shall conceive4 ,,chapter ,v4 #a ,joachim abides the first day in his house but sacrifices on the morrow4 #b ,consults the plate on the priests forehead1 #c and is without sin4 #f ,anna brings forth a daughter1 #i whom she calls ,mary4 ,,and ,joachim abode the first day in his house1 but on the morrow he brought his offerings1 and said1 #b ,if the ,lord be propitious to me let the plate which is on the priests forehead make it manifest4 #c ,and he consulted the plate which the priest wore1 and saw it1 and behold sin was not found in him4 #d ,and ,joachim said1 ,now ,i know that the ,lord is propitious to me1 and hath taken away all my sins4 #e ,and he went down from the temple of the ,lord justified1 and he went to his own house4 #f ,and when nine months were fulfilled to ,anna1 she brought forth1 and said to the midwife1 ,what have ,i brought forth8 #g ,and she told her1 ,a girl4 #h ,then ,anna said1 ,the ,lord hath this day magnified my soul2 and she laid her in bed4 #i ,and when the days of her purification were accomplished1 she gave suck to the child2 and called her name ,mary4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,mary at nine months old1 walks nine steps4 #c ,anna keeps her holy4 #d ,when she is a year old1 ,joachim makes a great feast4 #g ,anna gives her the breast1 and sings a song to the ,lord4 ,,and the child increased in strength every day1 so that when she was nine months old1 her mother put her upon the ground1 to try if she could stand2 and when she had walked nine steps1 she came again to her mother's lap4 #b ,then her mother caught her up1 and said1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 thou shalt not walk again on this earth1 till ,i bring thee into the temple of the ,lord4 #c ,accordingly she made her chamber a holy place1 and suffered nothing uncommon or unclean to come near her1 but invited certain undefiled daughters of ,israel1 and they drew her aside4 #d ,but when the child was a year old1 ,joachim made a great feast1 and invited the priests1 scribes1 elders1 and all the people of ,israel2 #e ,and ,joachim then made an offering of the girl to the chief- priests1 and they blessed her1 saying1 ,the ,god of our fathers bless this girl1 and give her a name famous and lasting through all generations4 ,and all the people replied1 ,so be it1 ,amen3 #f ,then ,joachim a second time offered her to the priests1 and they blessed her1 saying1 ,o most high ,god1 regard this girl1 and bless her with an everlasting blessing4 #g ,upon this her mother took her up1 and gave her the breast1 and sung the following song to the ,lord4 #h ,i will sing a song unto the ,lord my ,god1 for he hath visited me1 and taken away from me the reproach of mine enemies1 and hath given me the fruit of his righteousness1 that it may now be told the sons of ,reuben1 that ,anna gives suck4 #i ,then she put the child to rest in the room which she had consecrated1 and she went out and ministered unto them4 #aj ,and when the feast was ended1 they went away rejoicing1 and praising the ,god of ,israel4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #c ,mary being three years old1 ,joachim causes certain virgins to light each a lamp1 and goes with her to the temple4 #e ,the high-priest places her on the third step of the altar1 and sits dances with her feet4 ,,but the girl grew1 and when she was two years old1 ,joachim said to ,anna1 ,let us lead her to the temple of the ,lord1 that we may perform our vow1 which we have vowed unto the ,lord ,god1 lest he should be angry with us1 and our offering be unacceptable4 #b ,but ,anna said1 ,let us wait the third year1 lest she should be at a loss to know her father4 ,and ,joachim said1 ,let us then wait4 #c ,and when the child was three years old1 ,joachim said1 ,let us invite the daughters of the ,hebrews1 who are undefiled1 and let them take each a lamp1 and let them be lighted1 that the child may not turn back again1 and her mind be set against the temple of the ,lord1 #d ,and they did thus till they ascended into the temple of the ,lord4 ,and the high-priest received her1 and blessed her1 and said1 ,mary1 the ,lord ,god hath magnified thy name to all generations1 and to the very end of time by thee will the ,lord shew his redemption to the children of ,israel4 #e ,and he placed her upon the third step of the altar1 and the ,lord gave unto her grace1 and she dance with her feet1 and all the house of ,israel loved her4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #b ,mary fed in the temple by angels4 #c ,when twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her4 #f ,the angel of the ,lord warns ,zacharias to call together all the widowers1 each bringing a rod4 #g ,the people meet by sound of trumpet4 #h ,joseph throws away his hatchet1 and goes to the meeting4 #aa ,a dove comes forth from his rod1 and alights on his head4 #ab ,he is chosen to betroth the ,virgin1 #ac refuses because he is an old man1 #ad is compelled1 #af takes her home1 and goes to mind his trade of building4 ,,and her parents went away filled with wonder1 and praising ,god1 because the girl did not return back to them4 #b ,but ,mary continued in the temple as a dove educated there1 and received her food from the hand of an angel4 #c ,and when she was twelve years of age1 the priests met in a council1 and said1 ,behold1 ,mary is twelve years of age1 what shall we do with her1 for fear lest the holy place of the ,lord our ,god should be defiled8 #d ,then replied the priests to ,zacharias the high-priest1 ,do you stand at the altar of the ,lord1 and enter into the holy place1 and make petitions concerning her1 and whatsoever the ,lord shall manifest unto you1 that do4 #e ,then the high-priest entered into the ,holy of ,holies1 and taking away with him the breast-plate of judgment made prayers concerning her2 #f ,and behold the angel of the ,lord came to him1 and said1 ,zacharias1 ,zacharias1 ,go forth and call together all the widowers among the people1 and let every one of them bring his rod1 and he by whom the ,lord shall shew a sign shall be the husband of ,mary4 #g ,and the criers went out through all ,judaea1 and the trumpet of the ,lord sounded1 and all the people ran and met together4 #h ,joseph also throwing away his hatchet1 went out to meet them2 and when they were met1 they went to the high-priest2 taking every man his rod4 #i ,after the high-priest had received their rods1 he went into the temple to pray2 #aj ,and when he had finished his prayer1 he took the rods1 and went forth and distributed them1 and there was no miracle attended them4 #aa ,the last rod was taken by ,joseph1 said behold a dove proceeded out of the rod1 and flew upon the head of ,joseph4 #ab ,and the high-priest said1 ,joseph1 ,thou art the person chosen to take the ,virgin of the ,lord1 to keep her for him3 #ac ,but ,joseph refused1 saying1 ,i am an old man1 and have children1 but she is young1 and ,i fear lest ,i should appear ridiculous in ,israel4 #ad ,then the high-priest replied1 ,joseph1 ,fear the ,lord thy ,god1 and remember how ,god dealt with ,dathan1 ,korah1 and ,abiram1 how the earth opened and swallowed them up1 because of their contradiction4 #ae ,now therefore1 ,joseph1 fear ,god lest the like things should happen in your family4 #af ,joseph then being afraid1 took her unto his house1 and ,joseph said unto ,mary1 ,behold1 ,i have taken thee from the temple of the ,lord1 and now ,i will leave thee in my house2 ,i must go to mind my trade of building4 ,the ,lord be with thee4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #a ,the priests desire a new veil for the temple1 #c seven virgins cast lots for making different parts of it1 #d the lot to spin the true purple falls to ,mary4 #e ,zacharias1 the high priest1 becomes dumb4 #g ,mary takes a pot to draw water1 and hears a voice1 #h trembles and begins to work1 #i an angel ,appears and salutes her1 and tells her she shall conceive by the ,holy ,ghost1 #ag she submits4 #ai ,visits her cousin ,elizabeth1 whose child in her womb leaps4 ,,and it came to pass1 in a council of the priests1 it was said1 ,let us make a new veil for the temple of the ,lord4 #b ,and the high-priest said1 ,call together to me seven undefiled virgins of the tribe of ,david4 #c ,and the servants went and brought them into the temple of the ,lord1 and the high-priest said unto them1 ,cast lots before me now1 who of you shall spin the golden thread1 who the blue1 who the scarlet1 who the fine linen1 and who the true purple4 #d ,then the high-priest knew ,mary2 that she was of the tribe of ,david2 and he called her1 and the true purple fell to her lot to spin1 and she went away to her own house4 #e ,but from that time ,zacharias the high-priest became dumb1 and ,samuel was placed in his room till ,zacharias spoke again4 #f ,but ,mary took the true purple2 and did spin it4 #g ,and she took a pot1 and went out to draw water1 and heard a voice saying unto her1 ,hail thou who art full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee2 thou art blessed among women4 #h ,and she looked round to the right and to the left 7to see7 whence that voice came1 and then trembling went into her house1 and laying down the water-pot1 she took the purple1 and sat down in her seat to work it4 #i ,and behold the angel of the ,lord stood by her1 and said1 ,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found favour in the sight of ,god4 #aj ,which when she heard1 she reasoned with herself what that sort of salutation meant4 #aa ,and the angel said unto her1 ,the ,lord is with thee1 and thou shalt conceive3 #ab ,to which she replied1 ,what6 shall ,i conceive by the living ,god and bring forth as all other women do8 #ac ,but the angel returned answer1 ,not so1 ,o ,mary1 but the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee2 #ad ,wherefore that which shall be born of thee shall be holy1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,living ,god1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus2 for he shall save his people from their sins4 #ae ,and behold thy cousin ,elizabeth1 she also hath conceived a son in her old age4 #af ,and this now is the sixth month with her1 who was called barren3 for nothing is impossible with ,god4 #ag ,and ,mary said1 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord2 let it be unto me according to thy word4 #ah ,and when she had wrought her purple1 she carried it to the high-priest1 and the high-priest blessed her1 saying1 ,mary1 the ,lord ,god hath magnified thy name1 and thou shalt be blessed in all the ages of the world4 #ai ,then ,mary1 filled with joy1 went away to her cousin ,elizabeth1 and knocked at the door4 #bj ,which when ,elizabeth heard1 she ran and opened to her1 and blessed her1 and said1 ,whence is this to me1 that the mother of my ,lord should come unto me8 #ba ,for lo6 as soon as the voice of thy salutation reached my ears1 that which is in me leaped and blessed thee4 #bb ,but ,mary1 being ignorant of all those mysterious things which the archangel ,gabriel had spoken to her1 lifted up her eyes to heaven1 and said1 ,lord6 ,what am ,i1 that all the generations of the earth should call me blessed8 #bc ,but perceiving herself daily to grow big1 and being afraid1 she went home1 and hid herself from the children of ,israel2 and was fourteen years old when all these things happened4 ,,chapter ,x4 #a ,joseph returns from building houses1 finds the ,virgin grown big1 being six months gone with child1 #b is jealous and troubled1 #h reproaches her1 #aj she affirms her innocence1 #ac he leaves her1 #af determines to dismiss her privately1 #ag is warned in a dream that ,mary is with child by the ,holy ,ghost1 #bj and glorifies ,god who had shewn him such favour4 ,,and when her sixth month was come1 ,joseph returned from his building houses abroad1 which was his trade1 and entering into the house1 found the ,virgin grown big3 #b ,then smiting upon his face1 he said1 ,with what face can ,i look up to the ,lord my ,god8 or1 what shall ,i say concerning this young woman8 #c ,for ,i received her a ,virgin out of the temple of the ,lord my ,god1 and have not preserved her such6 #d ,who has thus deceived me8 ,who has committed this evil in my house1 and seducing the ,virgin from me1 hath defiled her8 #e ,is not the history of ,adam exactly accomplished in me8 #f ,for in the very instant of his glory1 the serpent came and found ,eve alone1 and seduced her4 #g ,just after the same manner it has happened to me4 #h ,then ,joseph arising from the ground1 called her1 and said1 ,o thou who hast been so much favoured by ,god1 why hast thou done this8 #i ,why hast thou thus debased thy soul1 who wast educated in the ,holy of ,holies1 and received thy food from the hand of angels8 #aj ,but she1 with a flood of tears1 replied1 ,i am innocent1 and have known no man4 #aa ,then said ,joseph1 ,how comes it to pass you are with child8 #ab ,mary answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 ,i know not by what means4 #ac ,then ,joseph was exceedingly afraid1 and went ay from her1 considering what he should do with her2 and he thus reasoned with himself3 #ad ,if ,i conceal her crime1 ,i shall be found guilty by the law of the ,lord2 #ae ,and if ,i discover her to the children of ,israel1 ,i fear1 lest she being with child by an angel1 ,i shall be found to betray the life of an innocent person4 #af ,what therefore shall ,i do8 ,i will privately dismiss her4 #ag ,then the night was come upon him1 when behold an angel of the ,lord appeared to him in a dream1 and said1 #ah ,be not afraid to take that young woman1 for that which is within her is of the ,holy ,ghost1 #ai ,and she shall bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call his name ,jesus1 for he shall save his people from their sins4 #bj ,then ,joseph arose from his sleep1 and glorified the ,god of ,israel1 who had shewn him such favour1 and preserved the ,virgin4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #c ,annas visits ,joseph1 perceives the ,virgin big with child1 #d informs the high priest that ,joseph had privately married her4 #h ,joseph and ,mary brought to trial on the charge4 #ag ,joseph drinks the water of the ,lord as an ordeal1 and receiving no harm1 returns home4 ,,then came ,annas the scribe1 and said to ,joseph1 ,wherefore have we not seen you since your return8 #b ,and ,joseph replied1 ,because ,i was weary after my journey1 and rested the first day4 #c ,but ,annas turning about perceived the ,virgin big with child4 #d ,and went away to the priest1 and told him1 ,joseph in whom you placed so much confidence1 is guilty of a notorious crime1 in that he hath defiled the ,virgin whom he received out of the temple of the ,lord1 and hath privately married her1 not discovering it to the children of ,israel4 #e ,then said the priest1 ,hath ,joseph done this8 #f ,annas replied1 ,if you send any of your servants you will find that she is with child4 #g ,and the servants went1 and found it as he said4 #h ,upon this both she and ,joseph were brought to their trial1 and the priest said unto her1 ,mary1 what hast thou done8 #i ,why hast thou debased thy soul1 and forgot thy ,god1 seeing thou wast brought up in the ,holy of ,holies1 and didst receive thy food from the hands of angels1 and heardest their songs8 #aj ,why hast thou done this8 #aa ,to which with a flood of tears she answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 ,i am innocent in his sight1 seeing ,i know no man4 #ab ,then the priest said to ,joseph1 ,why hast thou done this8 #ac ,and ,joseph answered1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth1 ,i have not been concerned with her4 #ad ,but the priest said1 ,lie not1 but declare the truth2 thou hast privately married her1 and not discovered it to the children of ,israel1 and humbled thyself under the mighty hand 7of ,god71 that thy seed might be blessed3 #ae ,and ,joseph was silent4 #af ,then said the priest 7to ,joseph71 ,you must restore to the temple of the ,lord the ,virgin which you took thence4 #ag ,but he wept bitterly1 and the priest added1 ,i will cause you both to drink the water of the ,lord1 which is for trial1 and so your iniquity shall be laid open before you4--bitter water that causeth the curse #ah ,then the priest took the water1 and made ,joseph drink1 and sent him to a mountainous place1 #ai ,and he returned perfectly well1 and all the people wondered that his guilt was not discovered4 #bj ,so the priest said1 ,since the ,lord hath not made your sins evident1 neither do ,i condemn you4 #ba ,so he sent them away4 #bb ,then ,joseph took ,mary1 and went to his house1 rejoicing and praising the ,god of ,israel4 ,,chap4 ,,xii4 #a ,a decree from ,augustus for taxing the ,jews4 #e ,joseph puts ,mary on an ass1 to return to ,bethlehem1 #f she looks sorrowful1 #g she laughs1 #h ,joseph inquires the cause of each1 #i she tells him she sees two persons1 one mourning and the other rejoicing4 #aj ,the delivery being near1 he takes her from the ass1 and places her in a cave4 ,,and it came to pass1 that there went forth a decree from the ,emperor ,augustus1 that all the ,jews should be taxed1 who were of ,bethlehem in ,judaea4 #b ,and ,joseph said1 ,i will take care that my children be taxed2 but what shall ,i do with this young woman8 #c ,to have her taxed as my wife ,i am ashamed2 and if ,i tax her as my daughter1 all ,israel knows she is not my daughter4 #d ,when the time of the ,lord's appointment shall come1 let him do as seems good to him4 #e ,and he saddled the ass1 and put her upon it1 and ,joseph and ,simon followed after her1 and arrived at ,bethlehem within three miles4 #f ,then ,joseph turning about saw ,mary sorrowful1 and said within himself1 ,perhaps she is in pain through that which is within her4 #g ,but when he turned about again1 he saw her laughing1 and said to her1 #h ,mary1 how happens it1 that ,i sometimes see sorrow1 and sometimes laughter and joy in thy countenance8 #i ,and ,mary replied to him1 ,i see two people with mine eyes1 the one weeping and mourning1 the other laughing and rejoicing4 #aj ,and he went again across the way1 and ,mary said to ,joseph1 ,take me down from the ass1 for that which is in me presses to come forth4 #aa ,but ,joseph replied1 ,whither shall ,i take thee8 for the place is a desert4 #ab ,then said ,mary again to ,joseph1 take me down1 for that which is within me mightily presses me4 #ac ,and ,joseph took her down4 #ad ,and he found there a cave1 and let her into it4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #a ,joseph seeks a ,hebrew midwife1 #b perceives the owls stopping in their flight1 #c the working people at their food not moving1 #h the sheep standing still1 #i the shepherd fixed and immoveable1 #aj and kids with their mouths touching the water but not drinking4 ,,and leaving her and his sons in the cave1 ,joseph went forth to seek a ,hebrew midwife in the village of ,bethlehem4 #b ,but as ,i was going 7said ,joseph71 ,i looked up into the air1 and ,i saw the clouds astonished1 and the fowls of the air stopping in the midst of their flight4 #c ,and ,i looked down towards the earth1 and saw a table spread1 and working people sitting around it1 but their hands were upon the table and they did not move to eat4 #d ,they who had meat in their mouths did not eat4 #e ,they who lifted their hands up to their heads did not draw them back1 #f ,and they who lifted them up to their mouths did not put any thing in2 #g ,but all their faces were fixed upwards4 #h ,and ,i beheld the sheep dispersed1 and yet the sheep stood still4 #i ,and the shepherd lifted up his hand to smite them1 and his hand continued up4 #aj ,and ,i looked unto a river1 and saw the kids with their mouths close to the water1 and touching it1 but they did not drink4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 #a ,joseph finds a midwife4 #aj ,a bright cloud overshadows the cave4 #aa ,a great light in the cave1 gradually increases until the infant is born4 #ac ,the mid-wife goes out1 and tells ,salome that she has seen a virgin bring forth4 #ag ,salome doubts it4 #bj her hand withers1 #bb she supplicates the ,lord1 #bh is cured1 #cj but warned not to declare what she had seen4 ,,then ,i beheld a woman coming down from the mountains1 and she said to me1 ,where art thou going1 ,o man8 #b ,and ,i said to her1 ,i go to enquire for a ,hebrew midwife4 #c ,she replied to me1 ,where is the woman that is to be delivered8 #d ,and ,i answered1 ,in the cave1 and she is betrothed to me4 #e ,then said the midwife1 ,is she not thy wife8 #f ,joseph answered1 ,it is ,mary1 who was educated in the ,holy of ,holies1 in the house of the ,lord1 and she fell to me by lot1 and is not my wife1 but has conceived by the ,holy ,ghost4 #g ,the midwife said1 ,is this true8 #h ,he answered1 ,come and see4 #i ,and the midwife went along with him1 and stood in the cave4 #aj ,then a bright cloud over- shadowed the cave1 and the mid- wife said1 ,this day my soul is magnified1 for mine eyes have seen surprising things1 and salvation is brought forth to ,israel4 #aa ,but on a sudden the cloud became a great light in the cave1 so that their eyes could not bear it4 #ab ,but the light gradually decreased1 until the infant appeared1 and sucked the breast of his mother1 ,mary4 #ac ,then the midwife cried out1 and said1 ,how glorious a day is this1 wherein mine eyes have seen this extraordinary sight6 #ad ,and the midwife went out from the cave1 and ,salome met her4 #ae ,and the midwife said to her1 ,salome1 ,salome1 ,i will tell you a most surprising thing which ,i saw1 #af ,a virgin hath brought forth1 which is a thing contrary to nature4 #ag ,to which ,salome replied1 ,as the ,lord my ,god liveth unless ,i receive particular proof of this matter1 ,i will not believe that a virgin hath brought forth4 #ah ,if ,then ,salome went in1 and the midwife said1 ,mary1 shew thyself1 for a controversy is risen concerning thee4 #ai ,and ,salome received satisfaction4 #bj ,but her hand was withered1 and she groaned bitterly2 #ba ,and said1 ,woe to me1 because of mine iniquity2 for ,i have tempted the living ,god1 and my hand is ready to drop off4 #bb ,then ,salome made her supplication to the ,lord1 and said1 ,o ,god of my ,fathers1 remember me1 for ,i am of the seed of ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 #bc ,make me not a reproach among the children of ,israel1 but restore me sound to my parents4 #bd ,for thou well knowest1 ,o ,lord1 that ,i have performed many offices of charity in thy name1 and have received my reward from thee4 #be ,upon this an angel of the ,lord stood by ,salome1 and said1 ,the ,lord ,god hath heard thy prayer1 reach forth thy hand to the child1 and carry him1 and by that means thou shalt be restored4 #bf ,salome filled with exceeding joy1 went to the child1 and said1 ,i will touch him4 #bg ,and she purposed to worship him1 for she said1 ,this is a great king1 which is born in ,israel4 #bh ,and straightway ,salome was cured4 #bi ,then the midwife went out of the cave1 being approved by ,god4 #cj ,and lo6 a voice came to ,salome4 ,declare not the strange things which thou hast seen1 till the child shall come to ,jerusalem4 #ca ,so ,salome also departed1 approved by ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 #a ,wise men come from the east4 #c ,herod alarmed2 #h desires them if they find the child to bring him word4 #aj ,they visit the cave and offer the child their treasure1 #aa and being warned in a dream1 do not return to ,herod1 but go home another way4 ,,then ,joseph was preparing to go away1 because there arose a great disorder in ,bethlehem by the coming of some wise men from the east1 #b ,who said1 ,where is the ,king of the ,jews born8 ,for we have seen his star in the east1 and are come to worship him4 #c ,when ,herod heard this1 he was exceedingly troubled1 and sent messengers to the wise men1 and to the priests1 and enquired of them in the town-hall1 #d ,and said unto them1 ,where have you it written concerning ,christ the king1 or where should he be born8 #e ,then they say unto him1 ,in ,bethlehem of ,judaea2 for thus it is written3 ,and thou ,bethlehem in the land of ,judah1 art not the least among the princes of ,judah1 for out of thee shall come a ruler1 who shall rule my people ,israel4 #f ,and having sent away the chief priests1 he enquired of the wise men in the town-hall1 and said unto them1 ,what sign was it ye saw concerning the king that is born8 #g ,they answered him1 ,we saw an extraordinary large star shining among the stars of heaven1 and so out-shined all the other stars1 as that they became not visible1 and we knew thereby that a great king was born in ,israel1 and therefore we are come to worship him4 #h ,then said ,herod to them1 ,go and make diligent inquiry2 and if ye find the child1 bring me word again1 that ,i may come and worship him also4 #i ,so the wise men went forth1 and behold1 the star which they saw in the east went before them1 till it came and stood over the cave where the young child was with ,mary his mother4 #aj ,then they brought forth out of their treasures1 and offered unto him gold and frankincense1 and myrrh4 #aa ,and being warned in a dream by an angel1 that they should not return to ,herod through ,judaea1 they departed into their own country by another way4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 #a ,herod enraged1 orders the infants in ,bethlehem to be slain4 #b ,mary puts her infant in an ox-manger4 #c ,elizabeth flees with her son ,john to the mountains4 #f ,a mountain miraculously divides and receives them4 #i ,herod incensed at the escape of ,john1 causes ,zacharias to be murdered at the altar4 #bc ,the roofs of the temple rent1 the body miraculously conveyed1 and the blood petrified4 #be ,israel mourns for him4 #bg ,simeon chosen his successor by lot4 ,,then ,herod perceiving that he was mocked by the wise men1 and being very angry1 commanded certain men to go and to kill all the children that were in ,bethlehem1 from two years old and under4 #b ,but ,mary hearing that the children were to be killed1 being under much fear1 took the child1 and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes1 and laid him in an ox-manger1 because there was no room for them in the inn4 #c ,elizabeth also1 hearing that her son ,john was about to be searched for1 took him and went up unto the mountains1 and looked around for a place to hide him2 #d ,and there was no secret place to be found4 #e ,then she groaned within herself1 and said1 ,o mountain of the ,lord1 receive the mother with the child4 #f ,for ,elizabeth could not climb up1 #g ,and instantly the mountain was divided and received them4 #h ,and there appeared to them an angel of the ,lord to preserve them4 #i ,but ,herod made search after ,john1 and sent servants to ,zacharias1 when he was 7ministering7 at the altar1 and said unto him1 ,where hast thou hid thy son8 #aj ,he replied1 to them1 ,i am a minister of ,god1 and a servant at the altar3 how should ,i know where my son is8 #aa ,so the servants went back1 and told ,herod the whole2 at which he was incensed1 and said1 ,is not this son of his like to be king of ,israel8 #ab ,he sent therefore again his servants to ,zacharias1 saying1 ,tell us the truth1 where is thy son1 for you know that your life is in my hand4 #ac ,so the servants went and told him all this3 #ad ,but ,zacharias replied to them1 ,i am a martyr for ,god1 and if ye shed my blood1 the ,lord will receive my soul4 #ae ,besides know that ye shed innocent blood4 #af ,however ,zacharias was murdered in the entrance of the temple said altar1 and about the partition2 #ag ,but the children of ,israel knew not when he want killed4 #ah ,then at the hour of salutation the priests went into the temple but ,zacharias did not according to custom1 meet them and bless them4 #ai ,yet they still continued waiting for him to salute them2 #bj ,and when they found he did not in a long time come1 one of them ventured into the holy place where the altar was1 and he saw blood lying upon the ground congealed3 #ba ,when1 behold1 a voice from heaven said1 ,zacharias is murdered1 and his blood shall not be wiped away1 until the revenger of his blood come4 #bb ,but when he heard this1 he was afraid2 and went forth and told the priests what he had seen and heard2 and they all went in1 and saw the fact4 #bc ,then the roofs of the temple howled1 and were rent from the top to the bottom3 #bd ,and they could not find the body1 but only blood made hard like stone4 #be ,and they went away1 and told the people1 that ,zacharias was murdered1 and all the tribes of ,israel heard thereof1 and mourned for him1 and lamented three days3 #bf ,then the priests took council together concerning a person to succeed him4 #bg ,and ,simeon and the other priests cast lots1 and the lot fell upon ,simeon4 #bh ,for he had been assured by the ,holy ,spirit1 that he should not die1 till he had seen ,christ come in the flesh4 7,i ,james wrote this ,history in ,jerusalem3 and when the disturbance was ,i retired into a desert place1 until the death of ,herod1 and the disturbances ceased at ,jerusalem4 ,that which remains is1 that ,i glorify ,god that he hath given me such wisdom to write unto you who are spiritual1 and who love ,god3 to whom 7be ascribed7 glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen47 ,,the ,,protevangelion4 ,note on the death of ,zacharias in ,chap4 #af4 ,there is a story both in the ,jerusalem and ,babylonish ,talmud very similar to this4 ,it is cited by ,dr4 ,lightfoot1 ,talmud1 ,hierosol1 in ,taanith1 fol4 #fi2 and ,talmud4 ,babyl4 in ,sanhedr41 fol4 #if4 ,o ,rabbi ,jochanan said1 ,eighty thousand priests were slain for the blood of ,zacharias4 ,rabbi ,judas asked ,rabbi ,achan1 ,where did they kill ,zacharias8 ,was it in the woman's court1 or in the court of ,israel8 ,he answered1 ,neither in the court of ,israel1 nor in the court of women1 but in the court of the priests2 and they did not treat his blood in the same manner as they were wont to treat the blood of a ram or young goat4 ,for of these it is written1 ,he shall pour out his blood1 and cover it with dust4 ,but it is written here1 ,the blood is in the midst of her3 she set it upon the top of a rock2 she poured it not upon the ground4 7,ezek4 xxiv4 #g47 ,but why was this8 ,that it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance3 ,i have set his blood upon the top of a rock1 that it should not be covered4 ,they committed seven evils that day3 they murdered a priest1 a prophet1 and a king2 they shed the blood of the innocent2 they polluted the court3 that day was the ,sabbath3 and the day of expiation4 ,when therefore ,nebuzaradan came there 7viz4 to ,jerusalem17 he saw his blood bubbling1 and said to them1 ,what meaneth this8 ,they answered1 ,it is the blood of calves1 lambs1 and rams1 which we have offered upon the altar4 ,he commanded then1 that they should bring calves1 and lambs1 and rams1 and said ,i will try whether this be their blood3 accordingly they brought and slew them1 but the blood of ,zacharias still bubbled1 but the blood of these did not bubble4 ,then he said1 ,declare to me the truth of this matter1 or else ,i will comb your flesh with iron combs4 ,then said they to him1 ,he was a priest1 prophet1 and judge1 who prophesied to ,israel all these calamities which we have suffered from you2 but we arose against him1 and slew him4 ,then1 said he1 ,i will appease him2 then he took the rabbis and slew them upon his 7viz4 ,zacharias's7 blood1 and he was not yet appeased4 ,next he took the young boys from the schools1 and slew them upon his blood2 and yet it bubbled4 ,then he brought the young priests and slew them in the same place1 and yet it still bubbled4 ,so he slew at length ninety-four thousand persons upon his blood1 and it did not as yet cease bubbling2 then he drew near to it1 and said1 ,o ,zacharias1 ,zacharias1 thou halt occasioned the death of the chief of thy countrymen1 shall ,i slay them all8 then the blood ceased1 and did bubble no more4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,protevangelion4 ,this ,gospel is ascribed to ,james4 ,the allusions to it in the ancient ,fathers are frequent1 and their expressions indicate that it had obtained a very general credit in the ,christian world4 ,the controversies founded upon it chiefly relate to the age of ,joseph at the birth of ,christ1 and to his being a widower with children1 before his marriage with the ,virgin4 ,it seems material to remark1 that the legends of the latter ages affirm the virginity of ,joseph1 notwithstanding ,epiphanius1 ,hilary1 ,chrysostom1 ,cyril1 ,euthymius1 ,thephylaet1 ,occumenius1 and indeed all the ,latin ,fathers till ,ambrose1 and the ,greek ,fathers afterwards1 maintain the opinions of ,joseph's age and family1 founded upon their belief in the authenticity of this book4 ,it is supposed to have been originally composed in ,hebrew4 ,postellus brought the ,,ms4 of this ,gospel from the ,levant1 translated it into ,latin1 and sent it to ,oporimus1 a printer at ,basil1 where ,bibliander1 a ,protestant ,divine1 and the ,professor of ,divinity at ,zurich1 caused it to be printed in #aeeb4 ,postellus asserts that it was publicly read as canonical in the eastern churches they making no doubt that ,james was the author1 of it4 ,it is1 nevertheless considered apocryphal by some of the most learned divines in the ,protestant and ,catholic churches4 ,,the ,,first ,,gospel ,,of ,,the ,,infancy ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,caiphas relates that ,jesus1 when in his cradle1 informed his mother that he was the ,son of ,god4 #e ,joseph and ,mary going to ,bethlehem to be taxed1 ,mary's time of bringing forth arrives1 and she goes into a cave4 #h ,joseph fetches in a ,hebrew woman4 ,the cave filled with great lights4 #aa ,the infant born1 #ag and cures the woman4 #ai ,arrival of the shepherds4 ,,the following accounts we found in the book of ,joseph the high-priest1 called by some ,caiphas3 #b ,he relates1 that ,jesus spake even when he was in the cradle1 and said to his mother3 #c ,mary1 ,i am ,jesus the ,son of ,god1 that word1 which thou didst bring forth according to the declaration of the angel ,gabriel to thee1 and my father hath sent me for the salvation of the world4 #d ,in the three hundred and ninth year of the era of ,alexander1 ,augustus published a decree that all persons should go to be taxed in their own country4 #e ,joseph therefore arose1 and with ,mary his spouse he went to ,jerusalem1 and then came to ,bethlehem1 that he and his family might be taxed in the city of his fathers4 #f ,and when they came by the cave1 ,mary confessed to ,joseph that her time of bringing forth was come1 and she could not go on to the city1 and said1 ,let us go into this cave4 #g ,at that time the sun was very near going down4 #h ,but ,joseph hastened away1 that he might fetch her a midwife2 and when he saw an old ,hebrew woman who was of ,jerusalem1 he said to her1 ,pray come hither1 good woman1 and go into that cave1 and you will there see a woman just ready to bring forth4 #i ,it was after sunset1 when the old woman and ,joseph with her reached the cave1 and they both went into it4 #aj ,and behold1 it was all filled with lights1 greater than the light of lamps and candles1 and greater than the light of the sun itself4 #aa ,the infant was then wrapped up in swaddling clothes1 and sucking the breasts of his mother ,st4 ,mary4 #ab ,when they both saw this light1 they were surprised2 the old woman asked ,st4 ,mary1 ,art thou the mother of this child8 #ac ,st4 ,mary replied1 ,she was4 #ad ,on which the old woman said1 ,thou art very different from all other women4 #ae ,st4 ,mary answered1 ,as there is not any child like to my son1 so neither is there any woman like to his mother4 #af ,the old woman answered1 and said1 ,o my ,lady1 ,i am come hither that ,i may obtain an everlasting reward4 #ag ,then our ,lady ,st4 ,mary said to her1 ,lay thine hands upon the infant1 which1 when she had done1 she became whole4 #ah ,and as she was going forth1 she said1 ,from henceforth1 all the days of my life1 ,i will attend upon and be a servant of this infant4 #ai ,after this1 when the shepherds came1 and had made a fire1 and they were exceedingly rejoicing1 the heavenly host appeared to them1 praising and adoring the supreme ,god4 #bj ,and as the shepherds were engaged in the same employment1 the cave at that time seemed like a glorious temple1 because both the tongues of angels and men united to adore and magnify ,god1 on account of the birth of the ,lord ,christ4 #ba ,but when the old ,hebrew woman saw all these evident miracles1 she gave praises to ,god1 and said1 ,i thank thee1 ,o ,god1 thou ,god of ,israel1 for that mine eyes have seen the birth of the ,saviour of the world4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 #a ,the child circumcised in the cave1 #b and the old woman preserving his foreskin or navel-string in a box of spikenard1 ,mary afterwards anoints ,christ with it4 #e ,christ brought to the temple2 #f ,he shines1 #g and angels stand around him adoring4 #h ,simeon praises ,christ4 ,,and when the time of his circumcision was come3 namely1 the eighth day1 on which the law commanded the child to be circumcised2 they circumcised him in the cave4 #b ,and the old ,hebrew woman took the foreskin 7others say she took the navel-string71 and preserved it in an alabaster-box of old oil of spikenard4 #c ,and she had a son who was a druggist1 to whom she said1 ,take heed thou sell not this alabaster- box of spikenard-ointment1 although thou shouldst be offered three hundred pence for it4 #d ,now this is that alabaster- box which ,mary the sinner procured1 and poured forth the ointment out of it upon the head and the feet of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and wiped them off with the hairs of her head4 #e ,then after ten days they brought him to ,jerusalem1 and on the fortieth day from his birth they presented him in the temple before the ,lord1 making the proper offerings for him1 according to the requirement of the law of ,moses3 namely1 that every male which opens the womb shall be called holy unto ,god4 #f ,at that time old ,simeon saw him shining as a pillar of light1 when ,st4 ,mary the ,virgin1 his mother1 carried him in her arms1 and was filled with the greatest pleasure at the sight4 #g ,and the angels stood around him1 adoring him1 as a king's guards stand around him4 #h ,then ,simeon going near to ,st4 ,mary1 and stretching forth his hands towards her1 said to the ,lord ,christ1 ,now1 ,o ,my ,lord1 thy servant shall depart in peace1 according to thy word2 #i ,for mine eyes have seen thy mercy1 which thou hast prepared for the salvation of all nations2 a light to all people1 and the glory of thy people ,israel4 #aj ,hannah the prophetess was also present1 and drawing near1 she gave praises to ,god1 and celebrated the happiness of ,mary4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,the wise men visit ,christ4 ,mary gives them one of his swaddling clothes4 #c ,an angel appears to them in the form of a star4 #d ,they return and make a fire1 and worship the swaddling cloth1 and put it in the fire where it remains unconsumed4 ,,and it came to pass1 when the ,lord ,jesus was born at ,bethlehem1 a city of ,judaea1 in the time of ,herod the ,king2--the wise men came from the ,east to ,jerusalem1 according to the prophecy of ,zoradascht1 ,zoroaster and brought with them offerings3 namely1 gold1 frankincense1 and myrrh1 and worshipped him1 and offered to him their gifts4 #b ,then the ,lady ,mary took one of his swaddling clothes in which the infant was wrapped1 and gave it to them instead of a blessing1 which they received from her as a most noble present4 #c ,and at the same time there appeared to them an angel in the form of that star which had before been their guide in their journey2 the light of which they followed till they returned into their own country4 #d ,on their return their kings and princes came to them inquiring1 whom they had seen and done8 ,what sort of journey and return they had8 ,what ,company they had on the road8 #e ,but they produced the swaddling cloth which ,st4 ,mary had given them1 on account whereof they kept a feast4 #f ,and having1 according to the custom of their country1 made a fire1 they worshipped it4 #g ,and casting the swaddling cloth into it1 the fire took it and kept it4 #h ,and when the fire was put out1 they took forth the swaddling cloth unhurt1 as much as if the fire had not touched it4 #i ,then they began to kiss it1 and put it upon their heads and their eyes saying1 ,this is certainly an undoubted truth1 and it is really surprising that the fire could not burn it1 and consume it4 #aj ,then they took it1 and with the greatest respect laid it up among their treasures4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,herod intends to put ,christ to death4 #c ,an angel warns ,joseph to take the child and his mother into ,egypt4 #f ,consternation on their arrival4 #ac ,the idols fall down4 #ae ,mary washes ,christ's swaddling clothes1 hangs them to dry on a post1 and the son of a priest puts one on his head2 #af ,and being possessed of devils they leave him4 ,,now ,herod perceiving that the wise men did delay and not return to him1 called together the priest and wise men1 and said1 ,tell me in what place the ,christ should be born4 #b ,and when they replied1 in ,bethlehem1--a city of ,judaea1 he began to contrive in his own mind the death of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,but an angel of the ,lord appeared to ,joseph in his sleep1 and said1 ,arise1 take the child and his mother1 and go into ,egypt as soon as the cock crows4 ,so he arose1 and went4 #d ,and as he was considering with himself about his journey1 the morning came upon him4 #e ,in the length of the journey the girts of the saddle broke4 #f ,and now he drew near to a great city1 in which there was an idol1 to which the priests of the other idols and gods of ,egypt brought their offerings and vows4 #g ,and there was by this idol a priest ministering to it1 who1 as often as ,satan spoke out of that idol1 related the things he said to the inhabitants of ,egypt1 and those countries4 #h ,this priest had a son three years old1 who was possessed with a great multitude of devils1 who uttered many strange things and when the devils seized him1 walked about naked with his clothes torn1 throwing stones at those whom he saw4 #i ,near to that idol was the inn of the city1 into which when ,joseph and ,st4 ,mary were come1 and had turned into that inn1 all the inhabitants of the city were astonished4 #aj ,and all the magistrates and priests of the idols assembled before that idol1 and made inquiry there1 saying1 ,what means all this consternation1 and dread1 which has fallen upon all our country8 #aa ,the idol answered them1 ,the unknown ,god is come thither1 who is truly ,god2 nor is there any one besides him1 who is worthy of divine worship for he is truly the ,son of ,god4 #ab ,at the fame of him this country trembled1 and at his coming it is under the present commotion and consternation1 and we ourselves are afrighted by the greatness of his power4 #ac ,and at the same instant this idol fell down1 and at his fall all the inhabitants of ,egypt1 besides others ran together4 #ad ,but the son of the priest1 when his usual disorder came upon him going into the inn1 found there ,joseph and ,st4 ,mary1 whom all the rest had left behind and forsook4 #ae ,and when the ,lady ,st4 ,mary had washed the swaddling clothes of the ,lord ,christ1 and hanged them out to dry upon a post1 the boy possessed with the devil took down one of them1 and put it upon his head4 #af ,and presently the devils began to come out of his mouth1 and fly away in the shape of crows and serpents4 #ag ,from that time the boy was healed by the power of the ,lord ,christ and he began to sing praises1 and give thanks to the ,lord who had healed him4 #ah ,when his father saw him restored to his former state of health1 he said1 ,my son1 what has happened to thee1 and by what means wert thou cured8 #ai ,the son answered1 ,when the devils seized me1 ,i went into the inn1 and there found a very handsome woman with a boy1 whose swaddling clothes she had just before washed1 and hanged out upon a post4 #bj ,one of these ,i took1 and put it upon my head1 and immediately the devils left me1 and fled away4 #ba ,at this the father exceedingly rejoiced1 and said1 ,my son1 perhaps this boy is the son of the living ,god1 who made the heavens and the earth4 #bb ,for as soon as he came amongst us1 the idol was broken1 and all the gods fell down1 and were destroyed by a greater power4 #bc ,then was fulfilled the prophecy which saith1 ,out of ,egypt ,i have called my son4 ,,chapter ,v4 #a ,joseph and ,mary leave ,egypt4 #c ,go to the ,haunts of robbers1 #d ,who hearing a mighty noise1 as of a great army flee away4 ,,now ,joseph and ,mary when they heard that the idol was fallen down and destroyed1 were seized with fear and1 trembling1 and said1 ,when we ,were in the land of ,israel1 ,herod1 intending to kill ,jesus1 slew for that purpose all the infants at ,bethlehem1 and that neighbourhood4 #b ,and there is no doubt but the ,egyptians if they come to hear that this idol is broken and fallen down1 will burn us with fire4 #c ,they went therefore hence to the secret places of robbers1 who robbed travellers as they pass by1 of their carriages and their clothes and carried them away bound4 #d ,these thieves upon their coming heard a great noise such as the noise of a king with a great army1 and many horse and the trumpets sounding at his departure from his own city1 at which they were so affrighted1 as to leave all their booty behind them and fly away in haste4 #e ,upon this the prisoners arose1 and loosed each other's bonds1 and taking each man his bags1 they went way1 and saw ,joseph and ,mary coming towards them1 and inquired1 ,where is that king1 the noise of whose approach the robbers heard1 and left us1 so that we are now come off safe8 #f ,joseph answered1 ,he will come after us4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,mary looks on a woman in whom ,satan had taken up his abode1 and she becomes dispossessed4 #e ,christ kissed by a bride made dumb by sorcerers1 cures her4 #aa ,miraculously cures a gentlewoman in whom ,satan had taken up his abode4 #af ,a leprous girl cured by the water in which he was washed1 and becomes the servant of ,joseph and ,mary4 #bj ,the leprous son of a prince's wife cured in like manner4 #cg ,has mother offers large gifts to ,mary1 and dismisses her4 ,,then they went into another city where there was a woman possessed with a devil1 and in whom ,satan1 that cursed rebel1 had taken up his abode4 #b ,one night1 when she went to fetch water1 she could neither endure her clothes on1 nor to be in any house2 but as often as they tied her with chains or cords1 she brake them1 and went out into desert places1 and sometimes standing where roads crossed1 and in church yards1 would throw stones at men4 #c ,when ,st4 ,mary saw this woman1 she pitied her2 where upon ,satan presently left her1 and fled away in the form of a young man1 saying1 ,wo to me1 because of thee1 ,mary1 and thy son4 #d ,so the woman was delivered from her torment2 but considering herself naked1 she blushed1 and avoided seeing any man and having put on her clothes1 went home1 and gave an account of her case to her father and relations who1 as they were the best of the city1 entertained ,st4 ,mary and ,joseph with the greatest respect4 #e ,the next morning having received a sufficient supply of provisions for the road1 they went from them1 and about the evening of the day arrived at another town1 where a marriage was then about to be solemnized2 but by the arts of ,satan and the practices of a sorcerers1 the bride was become so dumb1 that she could not so much as open her mouth4 #f ,but when this dumb bride saw the ,lady ,st4 ,mary entering into the town1 and carrying ,lord ,christ in her arms1 she stretched out her hands to the ,lord ,christ1 and-took him in her arms1 and closely hugging him1 very often kissed him1 continually moving him and1 pressing him to her body4 #g ,straightway the string of her tongue was loosed1 and her ears were opened1 and she began to sing praises unto ,god1 who had restored her4 #h ,so there was great joy among the inhabitants of the town that night1 who thought that ,god and his angels were come down among them4 #i ,in this place they abode three days1 meeting with the greatest respect and most splendid entertainment4 #aj ,and being then furnished by the people with provisions for the road1 they departed and went to another city1 in which they were inclined to lodge1 because it was a famous place4 #aa ,there was in this city a gentlewoman1 who1 as she went down one day to the river to bathe1 behold cursed ,satan leaped upon her in the form of a serpent4 #ab ,and folded himself about her belly1 and every night lay upon her4 #ac ,this woman seeing the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 and the ,lord ,christ the infant in her bosom1 asked the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 that she would give her the child to kiss1 and carry in her arms4 #ad ,when she had consented1 and as soon as the woman had moved the child1 ,satan left her1 and fled away1 nor did the woman ever afterwards see him4 #ae ,hereupon all the neighbors praised the ,supreme ,god1 and the woman reward them with ample1 beneficence4 #af ,on the morrow1 the same woman brought perfumed water to wash the ,lord ,jesus2 and when she had washed him1 she preserved the water4 #ag ,and there was a girl there1 whose body was white with a leprosy1 who being sprinkled with this water1 and washed1 was instantly cleansed from her leprosy4 #ah ,the people therefore said ,without doubt ,joseph and ,mary1 and that boy are ,gods1 for they do not look like mortals4 #ai ,and when they were making ready to go away1 the girl1 who had been troubled with the leprosy1 came and desired they would permit her to go along with them2 so they consented and the girl went with them till they came to a city in which was the palace of a great king1 and whose house was not far from the inn4 #bj ,here they staid1 and when the girl went one day to the prince's wife1 and found her in a sorrowful and mournful condition1 she asked her the reason of her tears4 #ba ,she replied1 wonder not at my groans1 for ,i am under a great misfortune1 of which ,i dare not tell any one4 #bb ,but1 says the1 girl1 if you will entrust me with your private grievance1 perhaps ,i may find you a remedy for it4 #bc ,thou1 therefore1 says the prince's wife1 shall keep the secret1 and not discover it to any one alive4 #bd ,i have been married to this prince1 who rules as king over large dominions1 and lived long with him before he had any child by me4 #be ,at length ,i conceived by him1 but alas6 ,i brought forth a leprous son2 which1 when he saw him would not own to be his1 but said to me1 #bf ,either do thou kill him1 or send him to some nurse in such a place1 that he may be never heard of2 and now take care of yourself2 ,i will never see you more4 #bg ,so here ,i pine1 lamenting my wretched and miserable circumstances4 ,alas1 my son6 alas1 my husband2 ,have ,i disclosed it to you8 #bh ,the girl replied ,i have found a remedy for your disease1 which ,i promise you1 for ,i also was leprous1 but ,god hath cleansed me1 even he who is called ,jesus the son of the ,lady ,mary4 #bi ,the woman inquiring where that ,god was1 whom she spake of2 the girl answered1 ,he lodges with you here1 in the same house4 #cj ,but how can this be8 says she2 where is he8 ,behold1 replied the girl1 ,joseph and ,mary2 and the infant who is1 with them is called ,jesus2 and it is he who delivered me from my disease and torment4 #ca ,but by what means1 says she1 were you cleansed from your leprosy8 ,will not you tell me that8 #cb ,why not8 says the girl2 ,i took the water with which his body had been washed1 and poured it upon me1 and my leprosy vanished4 #cc ,the prince's wife then arose and entertained them1 providing a great feast for ,joseph among a large company of men4 #cd ,and the next day took perfumed water to wash the ,lord ,jesus1 and afterwards poured the same water upon her son1 whom she had brought with her1 and her son was instantly cleansed from his leprosy1 #ce ,then she sang thanks and unto ,god1 and said1 ,blessed is the mother that bare thee1 ,o ,jesus6 #cf ,dost thou thus cure men of the same nature with thyself1 with the water with which thy body is washed8 #cg ,she then offered very large gifts to the ,lady ,mary1 and sent her away with all imaginable respect4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #a ,a man who could not enjoy his wife1 freed from his disorder4 #e ,a young man who had been bewitched1 and turned into a mule miraculously cured by ,christ being put on his back1 #bh and is married to the girl who had been cured of leprosy4 ,,they came afterwards to another city1 and had a mind to lodge there4 #b ,accordingly they went to a man's house1 who was newly married but by the influence of sorcerers could not enjoy his wife4 #c ,but they lodging at his house that night1 the man was freed of his disorder4 #d ,and when they were preparing early in the morning to go forward on their journey1 the new-married person hindered them1 and provided a noble entertainment for them4 #e ,but going forward on the morrow1 they came to another city1 and saw three women going from a certain grave with great weeping4 #f ,when ,st4 ,mary saw them1 she spake to the girl who was their companion1 saying1 ,go and inquire of them1 what is the matter with them1 and what misfortune has befallen them8 #g ,when the girl asked them1 they made her no answer1 but asked her again1 ,who are ye8 and where are you going8 ,for the day is far spent1 and night is at hand4 #h ,we are travellers1 saith the girl1 and we are seeking for an inn to lodge at4 #i ,they replied1 ,go along with us1 and lodge with us4 #aj ,they then followed them1 and were introduced into a new house1 well furnished with all sorts of furniture4 #aa ,now it was winter-time1 and the girl went into the parlour where these women were1 and found them weeping and lamenting as before4 #ab ,by them stood a mule1 covered over with silk1 and an ebony collar hanging down from his neck1 whom they kissed and were feeding4 #ac ,but when the girl said1 ,how handsome1 ladies1 that mule is6 they replied with tears1 and said1 ,this mule1 which you see1 was our brother1 born of this same mother as we2 #ad ,for when our father died1 and left us a very large estate1 and we had only this brother1 and we endeavoured to procure him a suitable match1 and thought he should be married as other men1 some giddy and jealous women bewitched him without our knowledge4 #ae ,and we one night1 a little before day1 while the doors of the house were all shut fast1 saw this our brother was changed into a mule1 such as you now see him to be3 #af ,and we in the melancholy condition in which you see us1 having no father to comfort us1 have applied to all the wise men1 magicians1 and diviners in the world1 but they have been of no service to us4 #ag ,as often therefore as we find ourselves oppressed with grief1 we rise and go with this our mother to our father's tomb1 where1 when we have cried sufficiently1 we return home4 #ah ,when the girl had heard this she said1 ,take courage1 and cease your fears1 for you have a remedy for your afflictions near at hand even amoung you and in the midst of your house4 #ai ,for ,i was also leprous2 but when ,i saw this woman1 and this little infant with her1 whose name is ,jesus1 ,i sprinkled my body with the water with which his mother had washed him and ,i was presently made well4 #bj ,and ,i am certain that he is also capable of relieving you under your distress4 ,wherefore arise1 go to my mistress ,mary1 and when you have brought her into your own parlour1 disclose to her the secret1 at the same time earnestly beseeching her to compassionate your case4 #ba ,as soon as the women had heard the girl's discourse1 they hastened away to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 introduced themselves to her1 and sitting down before her1 they wept4 #bb ,and said1 ,o our ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 pity your handmaids1 for we have no head of our family1 no one elder than us2 no father or brother to go in or out before us4 #bc ,but this mule1 which you see1 was our brother1 which some women by witchcraft have brought into this condition which you see3 we therefore entreat you to compassionate us4 #bd ,hereupon ,st4 ,mary was grieved at their case1 and taking the ,lord ,jesus1 put him upon the back of the mule4 #be ,and said to her son1 ,o ,jesus ,christ1 restore 7or heal7 according to thy extraordinary power this mule1 and grant him to have again the shape of a man and a rational creature1 as he had formerly4 #bf ,this was scarce said by the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 but the mule immediately passed into a human form1 and became a young man without any deformity4 #bg ,then he and his mother and the sisters worshipped the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 and lifting the child upon their heads1 they kissed him1 and said1 ,blessed is thy mother1 ,o ,jesus1 ,o ,saviour of the world6 ,blessed are the eyes which are so happy to see thee4 #bh ,then both the sisters told their mother1 saying1 ,of a truth1 our brother is restored to his former shape by the help of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and the kindness of that girl who told us of ,mary and her son4 #bi ,and inasmuch as our brother is unmarried1 it is fit that we marry him to this girl their servant4 #cj ,when they had consulted ,mary in this matter1 and she had given her consent1 they made a splendid wedding for this girl4 #ca ,and so their sorrow being turned into gladness1 and their mourning into mirth1 they began to rejoice1 and to make merry1 and sing1 being dressed in their richest attire1 with bracelets4 #cb ,afterwards they glorified and praised ,god1 saying1 ,o ,jesus1 son of ,david1 who changest sorrow into gladness1 and mourning into mirth6 #cc ,after this ,joseph and ,mary tarried there ten days1 then went away1 having received great respect from these people4 #cd ,who1 when they took their leave of them1 and returned home1 cried1 #ce ,but especially the girl4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #a ,joseph and ,mary pass through a country infested by robbers4 #c ,titus a humane thief1 offers ,dumachus1 his comrade1 forty groats to let ,joseph and ,mary pass unmolested4 #f ,jesus prophecies that the thieves ,dumachus and ,titus shall be crucified with him and that ,titus shall go before him into paradise4 #aj ,christ causes a well to spring from a sycamore tree1 and ,mary washes his coat in it4 #aa ,a balsam grows there from his sweat4 ,they go to ,memphis1 where ,christ works more miracles4 ,return to ,judea4 #ae ,being warned1 depart for ,nazareth4 ,,in their journey from hence they came into a desert country and were told it was infested with robbers2 so ,joseph and ,st4 ,mary prepared to pass through it in the night4 #b ,and as they were going along1 behold they saw two robbers asleep in the road1 and with them a great number of robbers1 who were their confederates1 also asleep4 #c ,the names of these two were ,titus and ,dumachus2 and ,titus said to ,dumachus1 ,i beseech thee let these persons go along quietly1 that our company may not perceive anything of them4 #d ,but ,damachus refusing1 ,titus again said1 ,i will give thee forty groats1 and as a pledge take my girdle1 which he gave him before he had done speaking1 that he might not open his mouth or make a noise4 #e ,when the ,lady ,st4 ,mary saw the kindness which this robber did shew them1 she said to him1 ,the ,lord ,god will receive thee to his right hand and grant thee pardon of thy sins4 #f ,then the ,lord ,jesus answered1 and said to his mother1 ,when thirty years are expired1 ,o mother1 the ,jews will crucify me at ,jerusalem2 #g ,and these two thieves shall be with me at the same time upon the cross1 ,titus on my right hand1 and ,dumachus on my left1 and from that time ,titus shall go before me into paradise2 #h ,and when she had said1 ,god forbid this should be thy lot1 ,o my son1 they went on to a city in which were several idols2 which1 as soon as they came near to it1 was turned into hills of sand4 #i ,hence they went to that sycamore tree1 which is now called ,matarea4 #aj ,and in ,materea the ,lord ,jesus caused a well to spring forth1 in which ,st4 ,mary washed his coat2 #aa ,and a balsam is produced1 or grows1 in that country1 from the sweat which ran down there from the ,lord ,jesus4 #ab ,thence they proceeded to ,memphis1 and saw ,pharoah1 and abode three years in ,egypt4 #ac ,and the ,lord ,jesus did very many miracles1 in ,egypt1 which are neither to be found in ,gospel of the ,infancy nor in the ,gospel of ,perfection4 #ad ,at the end of three years he returned out of ,egypt1 and when he came near to ,judea1 ,joseph was afraid to enter2 #ae ,for hearing that ,herod was dead1 and that ,archelaus his son reigned in his stead1 he was afraid4 #af ,and when he went to ,judea1 an1 angel of ,god appeared to him1 and said1 ,o ,joseph go into the city of ,nazareth1 and abide there4 #ag ,it is strange indeed1 that he1 who is the ,lord of all countries1 should be thus carried backward and forward1 through so many countries4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #b ,two sick children cured by water wherein ,christ was washed4 ,,when they came afterwards into the city of ,bethlehem1 they found there several very desperate distempers1 which became so troublesome to children by seeing them1 that most of them died4 #b ,there was there a woman who had a sick son1 whom she brought1 when he was at the point of death1 to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 who saw her when she was washing ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,then said the woman1 ,o my ,lady ,mary1 look down upon this my son1 who is afflicted with most dreadful pains4 #d ,st4 ,mary hearing her1 said1 ,take a little of that water with which ,i have washed my son1 and sprinkle it upon him4 #e ,then she took a little of that water1 as ,st4 ,mary had commanded1 and sprinkled it upon her son1 who being wearied with his violent pains1 was fallen asleep2 and after he had slept a little1 awaked perfectly well and recovered4 #f ,the mother being abundantly glad of this success1 went again to ,st4 ,mary1 and ,st4 ,mary said to her1 ,give praise to ,god1 who hath cured this thy son4 #g ,there was in the same place another woman1 a neighbour of her1 whose son was now cured4 #h ,this woman's son was afflicted with the same disease1 and his eyes were now almost quite shut1 and she was lamenting for him day and night4 #i ,the mother of the child which was cured1 said to her1 ,why do you not bring your son to ,st4 ,mary1 as ,i brought my son to her1 when he was in the agonies of death2 and he was cure by that water1 with which the body of her son ,jesus was washed8 #aj ,when the woman heard her say this1 she also went1 and having procured the same water1 washed her son with it1 whereupon his body and his eyes were instantly restored to their former state4 #aa ,and when she brought her son to ,st4 ,mary1 and opened his case to her1 she commanded her to give thanks to ,god for the recovery of her son's health1 and tell no one what had happened4 ,,chapter ,x4 #a ,two wives of one man1 each have a son sick4 #b ,one of them named ,mary1 and whose son's name was ,caleb1 presents the ,virgin with a handsome carpet1 and ,caleb is cured2 but the son of the other wife dies1 #d which occasions a difference between the women4 #e ,the other wife puts ,caleb into a hot oven1 and he is miraculously preserved1 #i she afterwards throws him into a well1 and he is again preserved2 #aa his mother appeals to the ,virgin against the other wife1 #ab whose downfall the ,virgin prophecies1 #ac and who accordingly falls into the well1 #ad therein fulfilling a saying of old4 ,,there were in the same city two wives of one man1 who had each a son sick4 ,one of them was called ,mary1 and her son's name was ,caleb4 #b ,she arose1 and taking her son1 went to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 the mother of ,jesus1 and offered her a very handsome carpet1 saying1 ,o my ,lady ,mary accept this carpet of me1 and instead of it give me a small swaddling cloth4 #c ,to this ,mary agreed1 and when the mother of ,caleb was gone1 she made a coat for her son of the swaddling cloth1 put it on him1 and his disease was cured2 but the son of the other wife died4 #d ,hereupon there arose between them a difference in doing the business of the family by turns1 each her week2 #e ,and when the turn of ,mary the mother of ,caleb came1 and she was heating the oven to bake bread1 and went away to fetch the meal1 she left her son ,caleb by the oven2 #f ,whom the other wife1 her rival1 seeing to be by himself1 took and cast him into the oven1 which was very hot1 and then went away4 #g ,mary on her return saw her son ,caleb lying in the middle of the oven laughing1 and the oven quite as cold as though it had not been before heated1 and knew that her rival the other wife had thrown him into the fire4 #h ,when she took him out1 she brought him to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 and told her the story1 to whom she replied1 ,be quiet1 ,i am concerned lest thou shouldest make this matter known4 #i ,after this her rival1 the other wife1 as she was drawing water at the well1 and saw ,caleb playing by the well1 and that no one was near1 took him1 and threw him into the well4 #aj ,and when some men came to fetch water from the well1 they saw the boy sitting on the superficies of the water1 and drew him out with ropes1 and were exceedingly surprised at the child1 and praised ,god4 #aa ,then came the mother and took him and carried him to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 lamenting1 and saying1 ,o my ,lady1 see what my rival hath done to my son1 and how she hath cast him into the well1 and ,i do not question but one time or other she will be the occasion of his death4 #ab ,st4 ,mary replied to her1 ,god will vindicate your injured cause4 #ac ,accordingly a few days after1 when the other wife came to the well to draw water1 her foot was entangled in the rope1 so that she fell headlong into the well1 and they who ran to her assistance found her skull broken1 and bones bruised4 #ad ,so she came to a bad end1 and in her was fulfilled that saying of the author1 ,they digged a well1 and made it deep1 but fell themselves into the pit which they prepared4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #a ,bartholomew1 when a child and sick1 miraculously restored by being laid on ,christ's bed4 ,,another woman in that city had likewise two sons sick4 #b ,and when one was dead1 the other1 who lay at the point of death1 she took in her arms to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 and in a flood of tears addressed herself to her1 saying1 #c ,o my ,lady1 help and relieve me2 for ,i had two sons1 the one ,i have just now buried1 the other ,i see is fast at the point of death behold how ,i 7earnestly7 seek for your from ,god1 and pray to him4 #d ,then she said1 ,o ,lord1 thou art gracious1 and merciful1 and kind2 thou1 hast given me two sons2 one of them thou halt taken to thyself1 ,o spare me this other4 #e ,st4 ,mary then perceiving the greatness of her sorrow1 pitied her and said1 ,do thou place thy son in my son's bed1 and cover him with his clothes4 #f ,and when she had placed him in the bed wherein ,christ lay1 at the moment when his eyes were just closed by death2 as soon as ever the small of the garments of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ reached the boy1 his eyes were opened1 and calling with a loud voice to his mother1 he asked for bread1 and when he had received it1 he sucked it4 #g ,than his mother said1 ,o ,lady ,mary1 now ,i am assured that the powers of ,god do dwell in you1 so that thy son can cure children who are of the same sort as himself1 as soon as they touch his garments4 #h ,this boy1 who was thus cured1 is the same who in the ,gospel is called ,bartholomew4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,a leprous woman healed by ,christ's washing water4 #g ,a princess healed by it and restored to her husband4 ,,again1 there was a leprous woman who went to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 the mother of ,jesus1 and said1 ,o my ,lady1 help me4 #b ,st4 ,mary replied1 ,what help does thou desire8 ,is it gold or silver1 or that thy body be cured of its leprosy8 #c ,who1 says the woman1 can grant me this8 #d ,st4 ,mary replied to her1 ,wait a little till ,i have washed my son ,jesus1 and put him to bed4 #e ,the woman waited1 as she was commanded2 and ,mary when she had put ,jesus in bed1 giving her the water with which she had washed his body1 said1 ,take some of the water1 and pour it upon thy body2 #f ,which when she had done1 she instantly became clean1 and praised ,god1 and gave thanks to him4 #g ,then she went away1 after she had abode with her three days2 #h ,and going into the city1 she saw a certain prince1 who had married another prince's daughter2 #i ,but when he came to see her1 he perceived between her eyes the signs of leprosy like a star1 and thereupon declared the marriage dissolved and void4 #aj ,when the woman saw these persons in this condition1 exceeding sorrowful1 and shedding abundance of tears1 she inquired of them the reason of their crying2 #aa ,they replied1 inquire not into our circumstances2 for we are not able to declare our misfortunes to any1 person1 whatsoever4 #ab ,but she still pressed and desired them to communicate their case to her2 intimating1 that she might be able to direct them to a remedy4 #ac ,so when they showed the young woman to her1 and the signs of the leprosy1 which appeared between her eyes2 #ad ,she said1 ,i also whom ye see in this place1 was afflicted with the same distemper1 and going on some business to ,bethlehem1 ,i went into a certain cave1 and saw a woman named ,mary1 who had a son called ,jesus4 #ae ,she seeing me to be leprous1 was concerned for me1 and gave me some water with which she had washed her son's body1 with that ,i sprinkled my body1 and became clean4 #af ,then said these women1 ,will you ,mistress1 go along with us1 and show the ,lady ,st4 ,mary to us8 #ag ,to which she consenting1 they arose and went to the ,lady ,st4 ,mary1 taking with them very noble presents4 #ah ,and when they came in and offered their presents to her1 they showed the leprous young woman whom they brought with them to her4 #ai ,then said ,st4 ,mary1 ,the mercy of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ rest upon you2 #bj ,and giving them a little of that water1 with which she had washed the body of ,jesus ,christ1 she bade them wash the diseased person with it1 which when they had done1 she was presently cured2 #ba ,so they1 and all who were present1 praised ,god2 and being filled with joy1 they went back to their own city1 and gave praises to ,god on that account4 #bb ,then the prince hearing that his wife was cured1 took her home and made a second marriage1 giving thanks unto ,god for the recovery of his wife's health4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #a ,a girl1 whose blood ,satan sucked receives one of ,christ's swaddling clothes from the ,virgin1 #ad ,satan comes like a dragon1 and she shews it to him2 flames and burning coals proceed from it and fall upon him2 #ai he is miraculously discomfited1 and leaves the girl4 ,,there was also a girl1 who was afflicted by ,satan1 #b ,for that cursed spirit did frequently appear to her in the shape of a dragon1 and was inclined to swallow her up1 and had so sucked out all her blood1 that she looked like a dead carcass4 #c ,as often as she came to herself1 with her hands wringed about her head she would cry out1 and say1 ,wo1 ,wo is me1 that there is no one to be found1 who can deliver me from that impious dragon6 #d ,her father and mother1 and all who were about her and saw her1 mourned and wept over her2 #e ,and all who were present would especially be under sorrow and in tears1 when they heard her bewailing and saying1 ,my brethren and friends1 is here no one who can deliver me from this murderer8 #f ,then the prince's daughter1 who had been cured of her leprosy1 hearing the complaint of that girl1 went upon the top of her castle1 and saw her with her hands twisted about her head1 pouring out a flood of tears1 and all the people that were about her in tears4 #g ,then she asked the husband of the possessed person1 ,whether his wife's mother was alive8 ,he told her1 ,that her father and mother were both alive1 #h ,then she ordered her mother to be sent to her2 to whom1 when she saw her coming1 she said1 ,is this possessed girl thy daughter8 ,she moaning and bewailing said1 ,yes madam ,i bore her4 #i ,the prince's daughter answered1 ,disclose the secret of her case to me1 for ,i confess to you that ,i was leprous1 but the ,lady ,mary1 the mother of ,jesus ,christ1 healed me4 #aj ,and if you desire your daughter to be restored to her former state1 take her to ,bethlehem1 and inquire for ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 and doubt not but your daughter will be cured2 for ,i do not question but you will come home with great joy at your daughter's recovery4 #aa ,as soon as ever she had done speaking1 she arose and went with her daughter to the place appointed1 and to ,mary1 and told her the case of her daughter4 #ab ,when ,st4 ,mary had heard her story1 she gave her a little of the water with which she had washed the body of her son ,jesus1 and bade her pour it upon the body of her daughter4 #ac ,likewise she gave her one of the swaddling cloths of the ,lord ,jesus1 and said1 ,take this swaddling cloth1 and shew it to thine enemy as often as thou seest him and she sent them away in peace4 #ad ,after they had left that city and returned home1 and the time was come in which ,satan was wont to seize her1 in the same moment this cursed spirit appeared to her in the shape of a huge dragon1 and the girl seeing him was afraid1 #ae ,the mother said to her1 ,be not afraid1 daughter2 let him alone till he come nearer to thee6 then shew him the swaddling cloth1 which the ,lady ,mary gave us1 and we shall see the event4 #af ,satan then coming like a dreadful dragon1 the body of the girl trembled for fear4 #ag ,but as soon as she had put the swaddling cloth upon her head1 and about her eyes1 and chewed it to him1 presently there issued forth from the swaddling cloth flames and burning coals1 and fell upon the dragon4 #ah ,oh6 how great a miracle was this1 which was done3 as soon as the dragon saw the swaddling cloth of the ,lord ,jesus1 fire went forth and was scattered upon his head and eyes2 so that he cried out with a loud voice1 ,what have ,i to do with thee1 ,jesus1 thou son of ,mary8 ,whither shall ,i flee from thee8 #ai ,so he drew back much affrighted1 and left the girl4 #bj ,and she was delivered from this trouble1 and sang praises and thanks to ,god1 and with her all who were present at the working of the miracle4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 #a ,judas when a boy possessed by ,satan1 and brought up by his parents to ,jesus to be cured1 whom he tries to bite1 #g but failing1 strikes ,jesus and makes him cry out4 ,whereupon ,satan goes from ,jesus in the shape of a dog4 ,,another woman likewise lived there1 whose son was possessed by ,satan1 #b ,this boy1 named ,judas1 as often as ,satan seized him1 was inclined to bite all that were present2 and if he found no one else near him1 he would bite his own hands and other parts4 #c ,but the mother of this miserable boy1 hearing of ,st4 ,mary and her son ,jesus1 arose presently and taking her son in her arms1 brought him to the ,lady ,mary4 #d ,in the meantime1 ,james and ,joses had taken away the infant1 the ,lord ,jesus1 to play at a proper season with other children2 and when they went forth1 they sat down and the ,lord ,jesus with them4 #e ,then ,judas1 who was possessed1 came and sat down at the right hand of ,jesus4 #f ,when ,satan was acting upon him as usual1 he went about to bite the ,lord ,jesus4 #g ,and because he could not do it1 he struck ,jesus on the right side1 so that he cried out4 #h ,and in the same moment ,satan went out of the boy1 and ran away like a mad dog4 #i ,this same boy who struck ,jesus1 and out of whom ,satan went in the form of a dog1 was ,judas ,iscariot1 who betrayed him to the ,jews4 #aj ,and that same side1 on which ,judas3 struck him1 the ,jews pierced with a spear4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 #a ,jesus and other boys play together1 and make clay figures of animals4 #d ,jesus causes them to walk1 #f also makes clay birds1 which he causes to fly1 and eat and drink4 #g ,the children's parents alarmed1 and take ,jesus for a sorcerer4 #h ,he goes to a dyer's shop1 and throws all the cloths into the furnace1 and works a miracle therewith4 #ae ,whereupon the ,jews praise ,god4 ,,and when the ,lord ,jesus was seven years of age1 he was on a certain day with other boys his companions about the same age2 #b ,who1 when they were at play1 made clay into several shapes1 namely--asses1 oxen1 birds1 and other figures2 #c ,each boasting of his work1 and endeavouring to exceed the rest4 #d ,then the ,lord ,jesus said to the boys1 ,i will command these figures which ,i have made to walk4 #e ,and immediately they moved1 and when he commanded them to return1 they returned4 #f ,he had also made the figures of birds and sparrows1 which1 when he commanded to fly1 did fly1 and when he commanded to stand still1 did stand still2 and if he gave them meat and drink1 they did eat and drink4 #g ,when at length the boys went away1 and related these things to their parents1 their fathers said to them1 ,take heed1 children1 for the future of his company1 for he is a sorcerer2 shun and avoid him1 and from henceforth never play with him4 #h ,on a certain day also1 when the ,lord ,jesus was playing with the boys1 and running about1 he passed by a dyer's shop1 whose name was ,salem4 #i ,and there were in his shop many pieces of cloth belonging to the people of that city1 which they designed to dye of several colours4 #aj ,then the ,lord ,jesus going into the dyer's shop1 took all the cloths1 and threw them into the furnace4 #aa ,when ,salem came home1 and saw the cloths spoiled1 he began to make a great noise1 and to chide the ,lord ,jesus1 saying1 #ab ,what hast thou done to me1 ,o thou son of ,mary8 ,thou hast injured both me and my neighbours2 they all desired their cloths of a proper colour2 but thou hast come and spoiled them all4 #ac ,the ,lord ,jesus replied1 ,i will change the colour of every cloth to what colour thou desirest4 #ad ,and then he presently began to take the cloths out of the furnace1 and they were all dyed of those same colours which the dyer desired4 #ae ,and when the ,jews saw this surprising miracle1 they praised ,god4 ,,chap4 ,,xvi4 #a ,christ miraculously widens or contracts the gates1 milk pails1 sieves1 or boxes1 not properly made by ,joseph1 #d he not being skilful at his carpenter's trade4 #e ,the ,king of ,jerusalem gives ,joseph an order for a throne4 #f ,joseph works on it for two years in the king's palace1 and makes it two spans too short4 ,the king being angry with him1 #aj ,jesus comforts him1 #ac commands him to pull one side of the throne1 while he pulls the other1 and brings it to its proper dimensions4 #ad ,whereupon the bystanders praise ,god4 ,,and ,joseph1 wheresoever he went in the city1 took the ,lord ,jesus with him1 where he was sent for to work to make gates1 or milk-pails1 or sieves1 or boxes2 the ,lord ,jesus was with him1 wheresoever he went4 #b ,and as often as ,joseph had anything in his work1 to make longer1 or shorter1 or wider1 or narrower1 the ,lord ,jesus would stretch his hand towards it4 #c ,and presently it became as ,joseph would have it3 #d ,so that he had no need to finish anything with his own hands1 for he was not very skilful at his carpenter's trade4 #e ,on a certain time the ,king of ,jerusalem sent for him1 and said1 ,i would have thee make me a throne of the same dimensions with that place in which ,i commonly sit4 #f ,joseph obeyed1 and forthwith began the work1 and continued two years in the king's palace before he finished it4 #g ,and when he came to fix it in its place1 he found it wanted two spans on each side of the appointed measure4 #h ,which when the king saw1 he was very angry with ,joseph2 #i ,and ,joseph afraid of the king's anger1 went to bed without his supper1 taking not any thing to eat4 #aj ,then the ,lord ,jesus asked him1 ,what he was afraid of8 #aa ,joseph replied1 ,because ,i have lost my labour in the work which ,i have been about these two years4 #ab ,jesus said to him1 ,fear not1 neither be cast down2 #ac ,do thou lay hold on one side of the throne1 and ,i will the other1 and we will bring it to its just dimensions4 #ad ,and when ,joseph had done as the ,lord ,jesus said1 and each of them had with strength drawn his side1 the throne obeyed1 and was brought to the proper dimensions of the place3 #ae ,which miracle when they who stood by saw1 they were astonished1 and praised ,god4 #af ,the throne was made of the same wood which was in being in ,solomon's time1 namely1 wood adorned with various shapes1 and figures4 ,,chap4 ,,xvii4 #a ,jesus plays with boys at hide and seek4 #c ,some women put his playfellows in a furnace1 #g where they are transformed by ,jesus into kids4 #aj ,jesus calls them to go and play1 and they are restored to their former shape4 ,,on another day the ,lord ,jesus going out into the street1 and seeing some boys who were met to play1 joined himself to their company4 #b ,but when they saw him1 they hid themselves1 and left him to seek for them2 #c ,the ,lord ,jesus came to the gate of a certain house1 and asked some women who were standing there1 ,where the boys were gone8 #d ,and when they answered1 ,that there was no one there2 the ,lord ,jesus said1 ,who are those whom ye see in the furnace8 #e ,they answered1 ,they were kids of three years old4 #f ,then ,jesus cried out aloud1 and said1 ,come out hither1 ,o ye kids1 to your shepherd2 #g ,and presently the boys came forth like kids1 and leaped about him2 which when the women saw1 they were exceedingly amazed1 and trembled1 #h ,then they immediately worshipped1 the ,lord ,jesus1 and beseeched him1 saying1 ,o our ,lord ,jesus1 son of ,mary1 thou art truly that good shepherd of ,israel6 have mercy on thy handmaids1 who stand before thee1 who do not doubt1 but that thou1 ,o ,lord1 art come to save1 and not to destroy4 #i ,after that1 when the ,lord ,jesus said1 the children of ,israel are like ,ethiopians among the people2 the women said1 ,thou1 ,lord1 knowest all things1 nor is any thing concealed from thee3 but now we entreat thee1 and beseech of thy mercy1 that thou wouldest restore those boys to their former state4 #aj ,then ,jesus said1 ,come hither1 ,o boys1 that we may go and play2 and immediately1 in the presence of these women1 the kids were changed1 and returned into the shape of boys4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 #a ,jesus becomes the king of his playfellows1 and they crown him with flowers2 #d miraculously causes a serpent who had bitten ,simon the ,canaanite1 then a boy1 to suck out all the poison again2 #af the serpent bursts1 and ,christ restores the boy to health4 ,,in the month ,adar ,jesus gathered together the boys1 and ranked them as though he had been a king4 #b ,for they spread their garments on the ground for him to sit on2 and having made a crown of flowers1 put it upon his head1 and stood on his right and left as the guards of a king4 #c ,and if any one happened to pass by1 they took him by force1 and said1 ,come hither1 and worship the king1 that you may have a prosperous journey4 #d ,in the mean time1 while these things were doing1 there came certain men1 carrying a boy upon a couch2 #e ,for this boy having gone with his companions to the mountain to gather wood1 and having found there a partridge's nest1 and put his hand in to take out the eggs1 was stung by a poisonous serpent1 which leaped out of the nest2 so that he was forced to cry out for the help of his companions2 who1 when they came1 found him lying upon the earth like a dead person4 #f ,after which his neighbours came and carried him back into the city4 #g ,but when they came to the place where the ,lord ,jesus1 was sitting like a king1 and the other boys stood around him like his ministers1 the boys made haste to meet him1 who was bitten by the serpent1 and said to his neighbours1 ,come and pay your respects to the king2 #h ,but when1 by reason of their sorrow1 they refused to come1 the boys drew them1 and forced them against their wills to come4 #i ,and when they came to the ,lord ,jesus1 he inquired1 ,on what account they carried that boy8 #aj ,and when they answered that a serpent had bitten him1 the ,lord ,jesus said to the boys1 ,let us go and kill that serpent4 #aa ,but when the parents of the boy desired to be excused1 because their son lay at the point of death2 the boys made answer1 and said1 ,did not ye hear what the king said8 ,let us go and kill the serpent2 and will not ye obey him8 #ab ,so they brought the couch back again1 whether they would or not4 #ac ,and when they were come to the nest1 the ,lord ,jesus said to the boys1 ,is this the serpent's lurking place8 ,they said1 ,it was4 #ad ,then the ,lord ,jesus calling the serpent1 it presently came forth and submitted to him2 to whom he said1 ,go and suck out all the poison which thou hast infused into that boy3 #ae ,so the serpent crept to the boy1 and took away all its poison again4 #af ,then the ,lord ,jesus cursed the serpent1 so that it immediately burst asunder1 and died2 #ag ,and he touched the boy with his hand to restore him to his former health2 #ah ,and when he began to cry1 the ,lord ,jesus said1 ,cease crying for hereafter thou shall be my disciple2 #ai ,and this is that ,simon the ,canaanite1 who is mentioned in the ,gospel4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 #a ,james being bitten by a viper1 ,jesus blows on the wound and cures him4 #d ,jesus charged with throwing a boy from the roof of a house1 #aj miraculously raises the dead boy to acquit him2 #ab fetches water for his mother1 breaks the pitcher and miraculously gathers the water in his mantle and brings it home2 #af makes fish pools on the ,sabbath1 #bj causes a boy to die who broke them down1 #bb another boy runs against him1 whom he also causes to die4 ,,on another day ,joseph sent his son ,james to gather wood1 and the ,lord ,jesus went with him2 #b ,and when they came to the place where the wood was1 and ,james began to gather it1 behold1 a venomous viper bit him1 so that he began to cry1 and make a noise4 #c ,the ,lord ,jesus seeing him in this condition1 came to him1 and blowed upon the place where the viper had bit him1 and it was instantly well4 #d ,on a certain day the ,lord ,jesus was with some boys1 who were playing on the house-top1 and one of the boys fell down1 and presently died4 #e ,upon which the other boys all running away1 the ,lord ,jesus was left alone on the house-top4 #f ,and the boy's relations came to him and said to the ,lord ,jesus1 ,thou didst throw our son down from the house-top4 #g ,but he denying it1 they cried out1 ,our son is dead1 and this is he who killed him4 #h ,the ,lord ,jesus replied to them1 ,do not charge me with a crime of which you are not able to convict me1 but let us go and ask the boy himself1 who will bring the truth to light4 #i ,then the ,lord ,jesus going down stood over the head of the dead boy1 and said with a loud voice1 ,zeinunus1 ,zeinunus1 who threw thee down from the housetop8 #aj ,then the dead boy answered1 thou didst not throw me down1 but such a one did4 #aa ,and when the ,lord ,jesus bade those who stood by to take present praised ,god on account of that miracle4 #ab ,on a certain time the ,lady ,st4 ,mary had commanded the ,lord ,jesus to fetch her some water out of the well2 #ac ,and when he had gone to fetch the water1 the pitcher1 when it was brought up full1 brake2 #ad ,but ,jesus spreading his mantle gathered up the water again1 and brought it in that to his mother2 #ae ,who1 being astonished at this wonderful thing1 laid up this1 and all the other things which she had seen1 in her memory4 #af ,again on another day the ,lord ,jesus was with some boys by a river1 and they drew water out of the river by little channels1 and made little fish-pools4 #ag ,but the ,lord ,jesus had made twelve sparrows1 and placed them about his pool on each side1 three on a side4 #ah ,but it was the ,sabbath day1 and the son of ,hanani a ,jew came by1 and saw them making these things1 and said1 ,do ye thus make figures of clay on the ,sabbath8 ,and he ran to them1 and broke down their fish-pools4 #ai ,but when the ,lord ,jesus clapped his hands over the sparrows which he had made1 they fled away chirping4 #bj ,at length the son of ,hanani coming to the fish-pool of ,jesus to destroy it1 the water vanished away1 and the ,lord ,jesus said to him1 #ba ,in like manner as this water had vanished1 so shall thy life vanish2 and presently the boy died4 #bb ,another time1 when the ,lord ,jesus was coming home in the evening with ,joseph1 he met a boy1 who ran so hard against him1 that he threw him down2 #bc ,to whom the ,lord ,jesus said1 ,as thou hast thrown me down1 so shalt thou fall1 nor ever rise4 #bd ,and that moment the boy fell down and died4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 #d ,christ sent to school to ,zaccheus to learn his letters1 and teaches ,zaccheus4 #ac ,sent to another schoolmaster1 #ad refuses to tell his letters1 and the schoolmaster going to whip him1 his hand withers and he dies4 ,,there was also at ,jerusalem one named ,zaccheus1 who was a schoolmaster3 #b ,and he said to ,joseph1 ,joseph1 why dost thou not send ,jesus to me1 that he may learn his letters8 #c ,joseph agreed1 and told ,st4 ,mary2 #d ,so they brought him to that master2 who1 as soon as he saw him1 wrote out an alphabet for him1 #e ,and he bade him say ,aleph2 and when he had said ,aleph1 the master bade him pronounce ,beth4 #f ,then the ,lord ,jesus said to him1 ,tell me first the meaning of the letter ,aleph1 and then ,i will pronounce ,beth4 #g ,and when the master threatened to whip him1 the ,lord ,jesus explained to him the meaning of the letters ,aleph and ,beth2 #h ,also which were the straight figures of the letters1 which the oblique1 and what letters had double figures2 which had points1 and which had none2 why one letter went before another2 and many other things he began to tell him1 and explain1 of which the master himself had never heard1 nor read in any book4 #i ,the ,lord ,jesus farther said to the master1 ,take notice how ,i say to thee2 then he began clearly and distinctly to say ,aleph1 ,beth1 ,gimel1 ,daleth1 and so on to the end of the alphabet4 #aj ,at this the master was so surprised1 that he said1 ,i believe this boy was born before ,noah2 #aa ,and turning to ,joseph1 he said1 ,thou hast brought a boy to me to be taught1 who is more learned than any master4 #ab ,he said also to ,st4 ,mary1 ,this your son has no need of any learning4 #ac ,they brought him then to a more learned master1 who1 when he saw him1 said1 say ,aleph2 #ad ,and when he had said ,aleph1 the master bade him pronounce ,beth2 to which the ,lord ,jesus replied1 ,tell me first the meaning of the letter ,aleph1 and then ,i will pronounce ,beth4 #ae ,but this master1 when he did lift up his hand to whip him1 had his hand presently withered1 and he died4 #af ,then said ,joseph to ,st4 ,mary1 ,henceforth we will not allow him to go out of the house2 for every one who displeases him is killed4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,compare ,luke ii4 #db1 whose meagre account is deficient of the sublime details here given of the subjects disputed upon4 #a ,disputes learnedly with the doctors in the temple1 #g on law1 #i on astronomy1 #ab on physics and metaphysics4 #ba ,is worshipped by a philosopher1 #bh and fetched home by his mother4 ,,and when he was twelve years old1 they brought him to ,jerusalem to the feast2 and when the feast was over1 they returned4 #b ,but the ,lord ,jesus continued behind in the temple among the doctors and elders1 and learned men of ,israel2 to whom he proposed several questions of learning1 and also gave them answers3 #c ,for he said to them1 ,whose son is the ,messiah8 ,they answered1 the son of ,david4 #d ,why then1 said he1 does he in the spirit call him ,lord8 ,when he saith1 ,the ,lord said to my ,lord1 sit thou at my right hand1 till ,i have made thine enemies thy foot- stool4 #e ,then a certain principal ,rabbi asked him1 ,hast thou read books8 #f ,jesus answered1 he had read both books1 and the things which were contained in books4 #g ,and he explained to them the books of the law1 and precepts1 and statutes3 and the mysteries which are contained in the books of the prophets2 things which the mind of no creature could reach4 #h ,then said that ,rabbi1 ,i never yet have seen or heard of such knowledge6 ,what do you think that boy will be8 #i ,when a certain astronomer1 who was present1 asked the ,lord ,jesus1 ,whether he had studied astronomy8 #aj ,the ,lord ,jesus replied1 and told him the number of the spheres and heavenly bodies1 as also their triangular1 square1 and sextile aspect2 their progressive and retrograde motion2 their size and several prognostications2 and other things which the reason of man had never discovered4 #aa ,there was also among them a philosopher well skilled in physic and natural philosophy1 who asked the ,lord ,jesus1 ,whether he had studied physic8 #ab ,he replied1 and explained to him physics and metaphysics4 #ac ,also those things which were above and below the power of nature2 #ad ,the powers also of the body1 its humours1 and their effects4 #ae ,also the number of its members1 and bones1 veins1 arteries1 and nerves2 #af ,the several constitutions of body1 hot and dry1 cold and moist1 and the tendencies of them2 #ag ,how the soul operated upon the body2 #ah ,what its various sensations and faculties1 were2 #ai ,the faculty of speaking1 anger1 desire2 #bj ,and lastly the manner of its composition and dissolution2 and other things1 which the understanding of no creature had ever reached4 #ba ,then that philosopher arose1 and worshipped the ,lord ,jesus1 and said1 ,o ,lord ,jesus1 from henceforth ,i will be thy disciple and servant4 #bb ,while they were discoursing on these and such like things1 the ,lady ,st4 ,mary came in1 having been three days walking about with ,joseph1 seeking for him4 #bc ,and when she saw him sitting among the doctors1 and in his turn proposing questions to them1 and giving answers1 she said to him1 ,my son1 why hast thou done thus by us8 ,behold ,i and thy father have been at much pains in seeking thee4 #bd ,he replied1 ,why did ye seek me8 ,did ye not know that ,i ought to be employed in my father's house8 #be ,but they understood not the words which he said to them4 #bf ,then the doctors asked ,mary1 ,whether this were her son8 ,and when she said1 ,he was1 they said1 ,o happy ,mary1 who hast borne such a son4 #bg ,then he returned with them to ,nazareth1 and obeyed them in all things4 #bh ,and his mother kept all these things in her mind2 #bi ,and the ,lord ,jesus grew in stature and wisdom1 and favour with ,god and man4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 #a ,jesus conceals his miracles1 #b studies the law1 #c and is baptized4 ,,now from this time ,jesus began to conceal his miracles and secret works1 #b ,and gave himself to the study of the law1 till he arrived to the end of his thirtieth year2 #c ,at which time the ,father publicly owned him at ,jordan1 sending down this voice from heaven1 ,this is my beloved son1 in whom ,i am well pleased2 #d ,the ,holy ,ghost being also present in the form of a dove4 #e ,this is he whom we worship with all reverence1 because he gave us our life and being1 and brought us from our mother's womb1 ,glory to ,god1 #f ,who1 for our sakes1 took a human body1 and hath redeemed us1 that so he might embrace us with everlasting mercy1 and shew his free1 large1 bountiful grace and goodness to us4 #g ,to him be glory and praise1 and power1 and dominion1 from henceforth said for evermore4 ,amen4 7,the end of the whole ,gospel of the ,infancy1 by the assistance of the ,supreme ,god1 according to what we found in the original47 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,first ,,gospel ,,of ,,the ,,infancy ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,mr4 ,henry ,sike1 ,professor of ,oriental ,languages at ,cambridge1 first translated and published this ,gospel in #afig4 ,it was received by the ,gnostics1 a sect of ,christians in the second century2 and several of its relations were credited in the following ages by other ,christians1 viz41 ,eusebius1 ,athanasius1 ,epiphanius2 ,chrysostom4 c4 ,sozomen says1 he was told by many1 and he credits the relations1 of the idols in ,egypt falling down on ,joseph1 and ,mary's flight thither with ,christ2 and of ,christ making a well to wash his clothes in a sycamore-tree1 from whence balsam afterwards proceeded2 which stories are from this ,gospel4 ,chemnitius1 out of ,stipulensis1 who had it from ,peter ,martyr1 ,bishop of ,alexandria1 in the third century1 says1 that the place in ,egypt where ,christ was banished is now called ,matarea1 about ten miles beyond ,cairo2 that the inhabitants constantly burn a lamp in remembrance of it2 and that there is a garden of trees yielding a balsam1 which were planted by ,christ when a boy4 ,m4 ,la ,crosse cites a synod at ,angamala1 in the ,mountain of ,malabar1 ,a4 ,d4 #aeii1 which shows this ,gospel was commonly read by the ,nestorians in the country4 ,ahmed ,ibu ,idris1 a ,mahometan divine1 says1 it was used by some ,christians in common with the other four ,gospels2 and ,ocobius de ,castro mentions a ,gospel of ,thomas1 which he says1 he saw and had translated to him by an ,armenian ,archbishop at ,amsterdam1 that was read in very many churches of ,asia and ,africa1 as the only rule of their faith4 ,fabricius takes it to be this ,gospel4 ,it has been supposed1 that ,mahomet and his coadjutors used it in compiling the ,koran4 ,there are several stories believed of ,christ1 proceeding from this ,gospel2 as that which ,mr4 ,sike relates out of ,la ,brosse's ,persic ,lexicon1 that ,christ practised the trade of a dyer1 and his working a miracle with the colours2 from whence the ,persian dyers honour him as their patron1 and call a dye-house the shop of ,christ4 ,sir ,john ,chardin mentions ,persian legends concerning ,christ's dispute with his schoolmaster about his ,,abc2 and his lengthening the cedar-board which ,joseph sawed too short4 ,note on the ,miracles of ,christ in the preceding ,gospels4 ,a great void in the early life of the ,saviour is filled up by these ,gospels4 ,in none of the ,canonical ,evangelists is any mention made of the childhood of ,jesus4 ,the ,gospels of ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1 and ,john1 more rapidly than satisfactorily1 pass over the period intervening between ,his birth and ministry4 ,it is natural to suppose that the ,infant ,redeemer's earliest days were spent in the society of other young children1 and it is quite consistent with every sincere ,christians faith to believe that ,he had the power to perform the miracles here ascribed to him otherwise1 a limit will be set to ,his divine attributes1 doubts raised against ,his performance of the miracles related by the four ,evangelists1 in the authorised version of the ,testament1 and a denial given of the declaration therein1 ,with ,,god nothing is impossible6 ,,the ,,second1 ,,or ,,st4 ,,thomas',s ,,gospel ,,of ,,the ,,infancy ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,an ,account of the ,,actions and ,,miracles of our ,lord and ,saviour ,,jesus ,,christ in his ,,infancy4 ,,chapter ,i4 #b ,jesus miraculously clears the water after rain4 #d ,plays with clay sparrows1 which he animates on the ,sabbath day4 ,i ,,thomas1 an ,israelite1 judged it necessary to make known to our brethren among the ,gentiles1 the actions and miracles of ,christ in his childhood1 which our ,lord and ,god ,jesus ,christ wrought after his birth in ,bethlehem in our country1 at which ,i myself1 was astonished2 the beginning of which was as followeth4 #b ,when the child ,jesus was five years of age1 and there had been a shower of rain1 which was now over1 ,jesus was playing with other ,hebrew boys by a running stream2 and the water running over the banks1 stood in little lakes2 #c ,but the water instantly became clear and useful again2 he having smote them only by his word1 they readily obeyed him4 #d ,then he took from the bank of the stream some soft clay1 and formed out of it twelve sparrows2 and there were other boys playing with him4 #e ,but a certain ,jew seeing the things which he was doing1 namely1 his forming clay into the figures of sparrows on the ,sabbath day1 went presently away1 and told his father ,joseph1 and said1 #f ,behold1 thy boy is playing by the river side1 and has taken clay1 and formed it into twelve sparrows1 and profaneth the ,sabbath4 #g ,then ,joseph came to the place where he was1 and when he saw him1 called to him1 and said1 ,why doest thou that which it is not lawful to do on the ,sabbath day8 #h ,then ,jesus clapping together the palms of his hands1 called to the sparrows1 and said to them ,go1 fly away2 and while ye live remember me4 #i ,so the sparrows fled away making a noise4 #aj ,the ,jews seeing this1 were astonished1 and went away1 and told their chief persons what a strange miracle they had seen wrought by ,jesus4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #b ,causes a boy to wither who broke down his fish-pools2 #f ,partly restores him4 #g ,kills another boy4 #af causes blindness to fall on his accusers1 #ah for which1 ,joseph pulls him by the ear4 ,,besides this1 the son of ,annas the scribe1 was standing there with ,joseph1 and took a bough of a willow tree1 and scattered the waters which ,jesus had gathered into lakes4 #b ,but the boy ,jesus seeing what he had done1 became angry1 and said to him1 ,thou fool1 what harm did the lake do thee1 that thou shouldest scatter the water8 #c ,behold1 now thou shalt wither as a tree1 and shalt not bring forth either leaves1 or branches1 or fruit4 #d ,and immediately he became withered all over4 #e ,then ,jesus went away home4 ,but the parents of the boy who was withered1 lamenting the misfortune of his youth1 took and carried him to ,joseph1 accusing him1 and said1 ,why dost thou keep a son who is guilty of such actions8 #f ,then ,jesus at the request of all who were present did heal him1 leaving only some small member to continue withered1 that they might take warning4 #g ,another time ,jesus went forth into the street1 and a boy running by1 rushed upon his shoulder2 #h ,at which ,jesus being angry1 said to him1 ,thou shalt go no farther2 #i ,and he instantly fell down dead3 #aj ,which when some persons saw1 they said1 ,where was this boy born1 that every thing which he says presently cometh to pass8 #aa ,then the parents of the dead boy going to ,joseph1 complained1 saying1 ,you are not fit to live with us1 in our city1 having such a boy as that3 #ab ,either teach him that he bless and not curse1 or else depart hence with him1 for he kills our children4 #ac ,then ,joseph calling the boy ,jesus by himself1 instructed him1 saying1 ,why doest thou such things to injure the people so1 that they hate us and prosecute us8 #ad ,but ,jesus replied1 ,i know that what thou sayest is not of thyself1 but for thy sake ,i will say nothing2 #ae ,but they who have said these things to thee1 shall suffer everlasting punishment4 #af ,and immediately they who had accused him became blind1 #ag ,and all they who saw it were exceedingly afraid and confounded1 and said concerning him1 ,whatsoever he saith1 whether good or bad1 immediately cometh to pass and they were amazed4 #ah ,and when they saw this action of ,christ1 ,joseph arose1 and plucked him by the ear1 at which the boy was angry1 and said to him1 ,be easy2 #ai ,for if they seek for us1 they shall not find us3 thou hast done very imprudently4 #bj ,dost thou not know that ,i am thine8 ,trouble me no more4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,astonishes his schoolmaster by his learning4 ,a ,,certain schoolmaster named ,zaccheaus1 standing in a certain place1 heard ,jesus speaking these things to his father4 #b ,and he was much surprised1 that being a child he should speak such things2 and after a few days he came to ,joseph1 and said1 #c ,thou hast a wise and sensible child1 send him to me1 that he may learn to read4 #d ,when he sat down to teach the letters to ,jesus1 he began with the first letter ,aleph2 #e ,but ,jesus pronounced the second letter ,mpeth 7,beth7 ,cghimel 7,gimel71 and said over all the letters to him to the end4 #f ,then opening a book1 he taught his master the prophets but he was ashamed1 and was at a loss to conceive how he came to know the letters4 #g ,and he arose and went home1 wonderfully surprised at so strange a thing4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,fragment of an adventure at a dyer's4 ,,as ,jesus was passing by a certain shop1 he saw a young man dipping 7or dyeing7 some cloths and stockings in a furnace1 of a sad colour1 doing them according to every person's particular order2 #b ,the boy ,jesus going to the young man who was doing this1 took also some of the cloths 444444 7,here endeth the fragment of ,thomas's ,gospel of the ,infancy of ,jesus ,christ47 ,,reference ,,to ,,st4 ,,thomas',s ,,gospel ,,of ,,the ,,infancy ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,the original in ,greek1 from which this translation is made1 will be found printed by ,cotelerius1 in his notes on the constitutions of the ,apostles1 from a ,,ms4 in the ,french ,king's ,library1 ,no4 #bbgi4--;,it is attributed to ,st4 ,thomas1 and conjectured to have been originally connected with the1 ,gospel of ,mary4 ,unfortunately this ancient ,,ms4 was found torn at the second verse of the fourth chapter4 ,,the ,,gospel ,,of ,,nicodemus1 ,,formerly ,,called ,,the ,,acts ,,of ,,pontius ,,pilate4 ,the ,gospel of ,,nicodemus1 the disciple1 concerning the ,sufferings and ,resurrection of our ,master and ,saviour1 ,,jesus ,,christ4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,christ accused to ,pilate by the ,jews of healing on the ,sabbath4 #i ,summoned before ,pilate by a messenger who does him honour4 #bj ,worshipped by the standards bowing down to him4 ,,annas and ,caiphas1 and ,summas1 and ,datam1 ,gamaliel1 ,judas1 ,levi1 ,nepthalim1 ,alexander1 ,cyrus1 and other ,jews1 went to ,pilate about ,jesus1 accusing him with many bad crimes4 #b ,and said1 ,we are assured that ,jesus is the son of ,joseph1 the carpenter1 and born of ,mary1 and that he declares himself the ,son of ,god1 and a king2 and not only so1 but attempts the dissolution of the ,sabbath1 and the laws of our fathers4 #c ,pilate replied1 ,what is it which he declares8 and what is it which he attempts dissolving8 #d ,the ,jews told him1 ,we have a law which forbids doing cures on the ,sabbath day2 but he cures both the lame and the deaf1 those afflicted with the palsy1 the blind1 the lepers1 and demoniacs1 on that day1 by wicked methods4 #e ,pilate replied1 ,how can he do this by wicked methods8 ,they answered ,he is a conjurer1 and casts out devils by the prince of the devils2 and so all things1 become subject to him4 #f ,then said ,pilate1 ,casting out devils seems not to be the work of an unclean spirit1 but to proceed from the power of ,god4 #g ,the ,jews replied to ,pilate1 ,we entreat your highness to summon him to appear before your tribunal1 and hear him yourself4 #h ,then ,pilate called a messenger1 and said to him1 ,by what means will ,christ be brought hither8 #i ,then went the messenger forth1 and knowing ,christ1 worshipped him2 and having spread the cloak which he had in his hand upon the ground1 he said1 ,lord1 walk upon this1 and go in1 for the governor calls thee4 #aj ,when the ,jews perceived what the messenger had done1 they exclaimed 7against him7 to ,pilate1 and said1 ,why did you not give him his summons by a beadle1 and not by a messenger8--,for the messenger1 when he saw him1 worshipped him1 and spread the cloak which he had in his hand upon the ground before him1 and said to him1 ,lord1 the governor calls thee4 #aa ,then ,pilate called the messenger1 and said1 ,why hast thou done thus8 #ab ,the messenger replied1 ,when thou sentest me from ,jerusalem to ,alexander1 ,i saw ,jesus sitting in a mean figure upon a she-ass1 and the children of the ,hebrews cried out1 ,hosannah1 holding boughs of trees in their hands4 #ac ,others spread their garments in the way1 and said1 ,save us1 thou who art in heaven2 blessed is he who cometh in the name of the ,lord4 #ad ,then the ,jews cried out1 against the messenger1 and said1 ,the children of the ,hebrews made their acclamations in the ,hebrew language2 and how couldst thou1 who art a ,greek1 understand the ,hebrew8 #ae ,the messenger answered them and said1 ,i asked one of the ,jews and said1 ,what is this which the children do cry out in the ,hebrew language8 #af ,and he explained it to me1 saying1 they cry out1 ,hosannah1 which being interpreted1 is1 ,o ,lord1 save me2 or1 ,o ,lord1 save4 #ag ,pilate then said to them1 ,why do you yourselves testify to the words spoken by the children1 namely1 by your silence8 ,in what has the messenger done amiss8 ,and they were silent4 #ah ,then the governor said unto the messenger1 ,go forth and endeavour by any means to bring him in4 #ai ,but the messenger went forth and did as before2 and said1 ,lord come in1 for the governor calleth thee4 #bj ,and as ,jesus was going in by the ensigns1 who carried the standards1 the tops of them bowed down and worshipped ,jesus4 #ba ,whereupon the ,jews exclaimed more vehemently against the ensigns4 #bb ,but ,pilate said to the ,jews1 ,i know it is not pleasing to you that the tops of the standards did of themselves bow and worship ,jesus2 but why do ye exclaim against the ensigns1 as if they had bowed and worshipped8 #bc ,they replied to ,pilate1 ,we saw the ensigns themselves bowing and worshipping ,jesus4 #bd ,then the governor called the ensigns1 and said unto them1 ,why did you do thus8 #be ,the ensigns said to ,pilate1 ,we are all ,pagans and worship the gods in temples2 and how should we think anything about worshipping him8 ,we only held the standards in our hands1 and they bowed themselves and worshipped him4 #bf ,then said ,pilate to the rulers of the synagogue1 ,do ye yourselves choose some strong men1 and let them hold the standards1 and we shall see whether they will then bend of themselves4 #bg ,so the elders of the ,jews sought out twelve of the most strong and able old men1 and made them hold the standards1 and they stood in the presence of the governor4 #bh ,then ,pilate said to the messenger1 ,take ,jesus out1 and by some means bring him in again4 ,and ,jesus and the messenger went out of the hall4 #bi ,and ,pilate called the ensigns who before had borne the standards1 and swore to them1 that if they had not borne the standards in that manner when ,jesus before entered in1 he would cut off their heads4 #cj ,then the governor commanded ,jesus to come in again4 #ca ,and the messenger did as he had done before1 and very much entreated ,jesus that he would go upon his cloak1 and walk on it2 and he did walk upon it1 and went in4 #cb ,and when ,jesus went in1 the standards bowed themselves as before1 and worshipped him4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #b ,is compassionated by ,pilate's wife1 #g charged with being born in fornication4 #ab ,testimony to the betrothing of his parents4 #ae ,hatred of the ,jews to him4 ,,now when ,pilate saw this1 he was afraid1 and was about to rise from his seat4 #b ,but while he thought to rise1 his own wife who stood at a distance1 sent to him1 saying1 ,have thou nothing to do with that just man2 for ,i have suffered much concerning him in a vision this night4 #c ,when the ,jews heard this they said to ,pilate1 ,did we not say unto thee1 ,he is a conjuror8 ,behold1 he hath caused thy wife to dream4 #d ,pilate then calling ,jesus1 said1 thou hast heard what they testify against thee1 and makest no answer8 #e ,jesus replied1 ,if they had not a power of speaking1 they could not have spoke2 but because every one has the command of his own tongue1 to speak both good and bad1 let him look to it4 #f ,but the elders of the ,jews answered1 and said to ,jesus1 ,what shall we look to8 #g ,in the first place1 we know this concerning thee1 that thou wast born through fornication2 secondly1 that upon the account of thy birth the infants were slain in ,bethlehem2 thirdly1 that thy father and mother ,mary fled into ,egypt1 because they could not trust their own people4 #h ,some of the ,jews who stood by spake more favourably1 ,we cannot say that he was born through fornication2 but we know that his mother ,mary was betrothed to ,joseph1 and so he was not born through fornication4 #i ,then said ,pilate to the ,jews who affirmed him to be born through fornication1 ,this your account is not true1 seeing there was a betrothment1 as they testify who are of your own nation4 #aj ,annas and ,caiphas spake to ,pilate1 ,all this multitude of people is to be regarded1 who cry out1 that he was born through fornication1 and is a conjurer2 but they who deny him to be born through fornication1 are his proselytes and disciples4 #aa ,pilate answered ,annas and ,caiphas1 ,who are the proselytes8 ,they answered1 ,they are those who are the children of ,pagans1 and are not become ,jews1 but followers of him4 #ab ,then replied ,eleazer1 and ,asterius1 and ,antonius1 and ,james1 ,caras and ,samuel1 ,isaac and ,phinees1 ,crispus and ,agrippa1 ,annas and ,judas1 ,we are not proselytes1 but children of ,jews1 and speak the truth1 and were present when ,mary was betrothed4 #ac ,then ,pilate addressing himself to the twelve men who spake this1 said to them1 ,i conjure you by the life of ,caesar1 that ye faithfully declare whether he was born through fornication1 and those things be true which ye have related4 #ad ,they answered ,pilate1 ,we have a law whereby we are forbid to swear1 it being a sin3 ,let them swear by the life of ,caesar that it is not as we have said1 and we will be contented to be put to death4 #ae ,then said ,annas and ,caiphas to ,pilate1 ,those twelve men will not believe that we know him to be basely born1 and to be a conjurer1 although he pretends that he is the ,son of ,god1 and a king3 which we are so far from believing1 that we tremble to hear4 #af ,then ,pilate commanded every one to go out except the twelve men who said he was not born through fornication1 and ,jesus to withdraw to a distance1 and said to them1 ,why have the ,jews a mind to kill ,jesus8 #ag ,they answered him1 ,they are angry because he wrought cures on the sabbath day4 ,pilate said1 ,will they kill him for a good work8 ,they say unto him1 ,yes1 ,sir4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,is exonerated by ,pilate4 #aa ,disputes with ,pilate concerning truth4 ,,then ,pilate1 filled with anger1 went out of the hall1 and said to the ,jews1 ,i call the whole world to witness that ,i find no fault in that man4 #b ,the ,jews replied to ,pilate1 ,if he had not been a wicked person1 we had not brought him before thee4 #c ,pilate said to them1 ,do ye take him and try him by your law4 #d ,then the ,jews said1 ,it is not lawful for us to put any one to death4 #e ,pilate said to the ,jews1 ,the command1 therefore1 thou shalt not kill1 belongs to you1 but not to me4 #f ,and he went again into the hall1 and called ,jesus by himself1 and said to him1 ,art thou the king of the ,jews8 #g ,and ,jesus answering1 said to ,pilate1 ,dost thou speak this of thyself1 or did the ,jews tell it thee concerning me8 #h ,pilate answering1 said to ,jesus1 ,am ,i a ,jew8 ,the whole nation and rulers of the ,jews have delivered thee up to me4 ,what hast thou done8 #i ,jesus answering1 said1 ,my kingdom is not of this world3 if my kingdom were of this world1 then would my servants fight1 and ,i should not have been delivered to the ,jews3 but now my kingdom is not from hence4 #aj ,pilate said1 ,art thou a king then8 ,jesus answered1 ,thou sayest that ,i am a king3 to this end was ,i born1 and for this end came ,i into the world2 and for this purpose ,i came1 that ,i should bear witness to the truth2 and every one who is of the truth1 heareth my voice4 #aa ,pilate saith to him1 ,what is truth8 #ab ,jesus said1 ,truth is from heaven4 #ac ,pilate said1 ,therefore truth is not on earth4 #ad ,jesus saith to ,pilate1 ,believe that truth is on earth among those1 who when they have the power of judgment1 are governed by truth1 and form right judgment4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,pilate finds no fault in ,jesus4 #af ,the ,jews demand his crucifixion4 ,,then ,pilate left ,jesus in the hall1 and went out to the ,jews1 and said1 ,i find not any one fault in ,jesus4 #b ,the ,jews say unto him1 ,but he said1 ,i can destroy the temple of ,god1 and in three days build it up again4 #c ,pilate saith to them1 ,what sort of temple is that of which he speaketh8 #d ,the ,jews say unto him1 ,that which ,solomon was forty-six years in building1 he said he would destroy1 and in three days build up4 #e ,pilate said to them again1 ,i am innocent from the blood of that man6 do ye look to it4 #f ,the ,jews say to him1 ,his blood be upon us and our children4 ,then ,pilate calling together the elders and scribes1 priests and ,levites1 saith to them privately1 ,do not act thus2 ,i have found nothing in your charge 7against him7 concerning his curing sick persons1 and breaking the sabbath1 worthy of death4 #g ,the priests and ,levites replied to ,pilate1 ,by the life of ,caesar1 if any one be a blasphemer1 he is worthy of death2 but this man hath blasphemed against the ,lord4 #h ,then the governor again commanded the ,jews to depart out of the hall2 and calling ,jesus1 said to him1 ,what shall ,i do with thee8 #i ,jesus answered him1 ,do according as it is written4 #aj ,pilate said to him1 ,how is it written8 #aa ,jesus saith to him1 ,moses and the prophets have prophesied concerning my suffering and resurrection4 #ab ,the ,jews hearing this1 were provoked1 and said to ,pilate1 ,why wilt thou any longer hear the blasphemy of that man8 #ac ,pilate saith to them1 ,if these words seem to you blasphemy1 do ye take him1 bring him to your court1 and try him according to your law4 #ad ,the ,jews reply to ,pilate1 ,our law saith1 he shall be obliged to receive nine and thirty stripes1 but if after this manner he shall blaspheme against the ,lord1 he shall be stoned4 #ae ,pilate saith unto them1 ,if that speech of his was blasphemy1 do ye try him according to your law4 #af ,the ,jews say to ,pilate1 ,our law command us not to put any one to death4 ,we desire that he may be crucified1 because he deserves the death of the cross4 #ag ,pilate saith to them1 ,it is not fit he should be crucified3 let him be only whipped and sent away4 #ah ,but when the governor looked upon the people that were present and the ,jews1 he saw many of the ,jews in tears1 and said to the chief priests of the ,jews1 ,all the people do not desire his death4 #ai ,the elders of the ,jews answered to ,pilate1 ,we and all the people came hither for this very purpose1 that he should die4 #bj ,pilate saith to them1 ,why should he die8 #ba ,they said to him1 ,because he declares himself to be the ,son of ,god and a ,king4 ,,chap4 ,v4 #a ,nicodemus speaks in defence of ,christ1 and relates his miracles4 #ab ,another ,jew1 #bf with ,veronica1 #cd ,centurio1 and others1 testify of other miracles4 ,,but ,nicodemus1 a certain ,jew1 stood before the governor1 and said1 ,i entreat thee1 ,o righteous judge1 that thou wouldst favour me with the liberty of speaking a few words4 #b ,pilate said to him1 ,speak on4 #c ,nicodemus said1 ,i spake to the elders of the ,jews1 and the scribes1 and priests and ,levites1 and all the multitude of the ,jews1 in their assembly2 ,what is it ye would do with this man8 #d ,he is a man who hath wrought many useful and glorious miracles1 such as no man on earth ever wrought before1 nor will ever work4 ,let him go1 and do him no harm2 if he cometh from ,god1 his miracles1 7his miraculous cures7 will continue2 but if from men1 they will come to nought4 #e ,thus ,moses1 when he was sent by ,god into ,egypt1 wrought the miracles which ,god commanded him1 before ,pharaoh king of ,egypt2 and though the magicians of that country1 ,jannes and ,jambres1 wrought by their magic the same miracles which ,moses did1 yet they could not work all which he did2 #f ,and the miracles which the magicians wrought1 were not of ,god1 as ye know1 ,o ,scribes and ,pharisees2 but they who wrought them perished1 and all who believed them4 #g ,and now let this man go2 because the very miracles for which ye accuse him1 are from ,god2 and he is not worthy of death4 #h ,the ,jews then said to ,nicodemus1 ,art thou become his disciple1 and making speeches in his favour8 #i ,nicodemus said to them1 ,is the governor become his disciple also1 and does he make speeches for him8 ,did not ,caesar place him in that high post8 #aj ,when the ,jews heard this they trembled1 and gnashed their teeth at ,nicodemus1 and said to him1 ,mayest thou receive his doctrine for truth1 and have thy lot with ,christ6 #aa ,nicodemus replied1 ,amen2 ,i will receive his doctrine1 and my lot with him1 as ye have said4 #ab ,then another certain ,jew rose up1 and desired leave of the governor to hear him a few words4 #ac ,and the governor said1 ,speak1 what thou hast a mind4 #ad ,and he said1 ,i lay for thirty- eight years by the sheep-pool at ,jerusalem1 labouring under a great infirmity1 and waiting for a cure which should be wrought by the coming of an angel1 who at a certain time troubled the water3 and whosoever first after the troubling of the water stepped in1 was made whole of whatsoever disease he had4 #ae ,and when ,jesus saw me languishing there1 he said to me1 ,wilt thou be made whole8 ,and ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i have no man1 when the water is troubled1 to put me into the pool4 #af ,and he said unto me1 ,rise1 take up thy bed and walk4 ,and ,i was immediately made whole1 and took up my bed and walked4 #ag ,the ,jews then said to ,pilate1 ,our ,lord ,governor1 pray ask him what day it was on which he was cured of his infirmity4 #ah ,the infirm person replied1 ,it was on the sabbath4 #ai ,the ,jews said to ,pilate1 ,did we not say that he wrought his cures on the sabbath1 and cast out devils by the prince of devils8 #bj ,then another certain ,jew came forth1 and said1 ,i was blind1 could hear sounds1 but could not see any one2 and as ,jesus was going along1 ,i heard the multitude passing by1 and ,i asked what was there8 #ba ,they told me that ,jesus was passing by3 then ,i cried out1 saying1 ,jesus1 ,son of ,david1 have mercy on me4 ,and he stood still1 and commanded that ,i should be brought to him1 and said to me1 ,what wilt thou8 #bb ,i said1 ,lord1 that ,i may receive my sight4 #bc ,he said to me1 ,receive thy sight3 and presently ,i saw1 and followed him1 rejoicing and giving thanks1 #bd ,another ,jew also came forth1 and said1 ,i was a leper1 and he cured me by his word only1 saying1 ,i will1 be thou clean2 and presently ,i was cleansed from my leprosy4 #be ,and another ,jew came forth1 and said ,i was crooked1 and he made me straight by his word4 #bf ,and a certain woman named ,veronica1 said1 ,i was afflicted with an issue of blood twelve years1 and ,i touched the hem of his garment1 and presently the issue of blood stopped4 #bg ,the ,jews then said1 ,we have a law1 that a woman shall not be allowed as an evidence4 #bh ,and1 after other things1 another ,jew said1 ,i saw ,jesus invited to a wedding with his disciples1 and there was a want of wine in ,cana of ,galilee2 #bi ,and when the wine was all drank1 he commanded the servants that they should fill six pots which were there with water1 and they filled them up to the brim1 and he blessed them and turned the water into wine1 and all the people drank1 being surprised at this miracle1 #cj ,and another ,jew stood forth1 and said1 ,i saw ,jesus teaching in the synagogue at ,capernaum2 and there was in the synagogue a certain man who had a devil2 and he cried out1 saying1 let me alone2 what have we to do with thee1 ,jesus of ,nazareth8 ,art thou come to destroy us8 ,i know that thou art the ,holy ,one of ,god4 #ca ,and ,jesus rebuked him1 saying1 ,hold thy peace1 unclean spirit1 and come out of the man2 and presently he came out of him1 and did not at all hurt him4 #cb ,the following things were also said by a ,pharisee3 ,i saw that a great company came to ,jesus from ,galilee and ,judea1 and the sea-cost1 and many countries about ,jordan2 and many infirm persons came to him1 and he healed them all4 #cc ,and ,i heard the unclean spirits crying out1 and saying1 ,thou art the ,son of ,god4 ,and ,jesus strictly charged them1 that they should not make him known4 #cd ,after this another person1 whose name was ,centurio1 said1 ,i saw ,jesus in ,capernaum1 and ,i entreated him1 saying1 ,lord1 my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy4 #ce ,and ,jesus said to me1 ,i will come and cure him4 #cf ,but ,i said1 ,lord1 ,i am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof2 but only speak the word1 and my servant shall be healed4 #cg ,and ,jesus said unto me1 ,go thy way2 and as thou hast believed so be it done unto thee4 ,and my servant was healed from that same hour4 #ch ,then a certain nobleman said1 ,i had a son in ,capernaum1 who lay at the point of death2 and when ,i heard that ,jesus was come into ,galilee1 ,i went and besought him that he would come down to my house1 and heal my son1 for he was at the point of death4 #ci ,he said to me1 ,go thy way1 thy son liveth4 #dj ,and my son was cured from that hour4 #da ,besides these1 also many others of the ,jews1 both men and ,women1 cried out and said1 ,he is truly the ,son of ,god1 who cures all diseases only by his word1 and to whom the devils are altogether subject4 #db ,some of them farther said1 ,this power can proceed from none but ,god4 #dc ,pilate said to the ,jews1 ,why are not the devils subject to your doctors8 #dd ,some of them said1 ,the power of subjecting devils cannot proceed but from ,god4 #de ,but others said to ,pilate1 ,that he had raised ,lazarus from the dead1 after he had been four days in his grave4 #df ,the governor hearing this1 trembling1 said to the multitude of the ,jews1 ,what will it profit you to shed innocent blood8 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,pilate dismayed by the turbulence of the ,jews1 #e who demand ,barabbas to be released1 and ,christ to be crucified4 #i ,pilate warmly expostulates with them1 #bj washes his hands of ,christ's blood1 #bc and sentences him to be whipped and crucified4 ,,then ,pilate having called together ,nicodemus1 and the fifteen men who said that ,jesus was not born through fornication1 said to them1 ,what shall ,i do1 seeing there is like to be a tumult among the people4 #b ,they say unto him1 ,we know not2 let them look to it who raise the tumult4 #c ,pilate then called the multitude again1 and said to them1 ,ye know that ye have a custom1 that ,i should release to you one prisoner at the feast of the passover3 #d ,i have a noted prisoner1 a murderer1 who is called ,barabbas1 and ,jesus who is called ,christ1 in whom ,i find nothing that deserves death2 which of them1 therefore1 have you a mind that ,i should release to you8 #e ,they all cry out1 and say1 ,release to us ,barabbas4 #f ,pilate saith to them1 ,what then shall ,i do with ,jesus who is called ,christ8 #g ,they all answer1 ,let him be crucified4 #h ,again they cry out and say to ,pilate1 ,you are not the friend of ,caesar1 if you release this man2 for he hath declared that he is the ,son of ,god1 and a king4 ,but are you inclined that he should be king1 and not ,caesar8 #i ,then ,pilate filled with anger said to them1 ,your nation hath always been seditious1 and you are always against those who have been serviceable to you4 #aj ,the ,jews replied1 ,who are those who have been serviceable to us8 #aa ,pilate answered them1 ,your ,god who delivered you from the hard bondage of the ,egyptians1 and brought you over the ,red ,sea as though it had been dry land1 and fed you in the wilderness with manna and the flesh of quails1 and brought water out of the rock1 and gave you a law from heaven4 #ab ,ye provoked him all ways1 and desired for yourselves a molten calf1 and worshipped it1 and sacrificed to it1 and said1 ,these are thy ,gods1 ,o ,israel1 which brought thee out of the land of ,egypt3 #ac ,on account of which your ,god was inclined to destroy you2 but ,moses interceded for you1 and your ,god heard him1 and forgave your iniquity4 #ad ,afterwards ye were enraged against1 and would have killed your prophets1 ,moses and ,aaron1 when they fled to the tabernacle1 and ye were always murmuring against ,god and his prophets4 #ae ,and arising from his judgment seat1 he would have gone out2 but the ,jews all cried out1 ,we acknowledge ,caesar to be king1 and not ,jesus2 #af ,whereas this person1 as soon as he was born1 the wise men came and offered gifts unto him2 which when ,herod heard1 he was exceedingly troubled1 and would have killed him3 #ag ,when his father knew this1 he fled with him and his mother ,mary into ,egypt4 ,herod1 when he heard he was born1 would have slain him2 and accordingly sent and slew all the children which were in ,bethlehem1 and in all the coasts thereof1 from two years old and under4 #ah ,when ,pilate heard this account1 he was afraid2 and commanding silence among the people1 who made a noise1 he said to ,jesus1 ,art thou therefore a king8 #ai ,all the ,jews replied to ,pilate1 he is the very person whom ,herod sought to have slain4 #bj ,then ,pilate taking water1 washed his hands before the people and said1 ,i am innocent of the blood of this just person2 look ye to it4 #ba ,the ,jews answered and said1 ,his blood be upon us and our children4 #bb ,then ,pilate commanded ,jesus to be brought before him1 and spake to him in the following words2 #bc ,thy own nation hath charged thee as making thyself a king2 wherefore ,i1 ,pilate1 sentence thee to be whipped according to the laws of former governors2 and that thou be first bound1 then hanged upon a cross in that place where thou art now a prisoner2 and also two criminals with thee1 whose names are ,dimas and ,gestas4 ,,chap4 ,,vii4 #a ,manner of ,christ's crucifixion with the two thieves4 ,,then ,jesus went out of the hall1 and the two thieves with him4 #b ,and when they came to the place which is called ,golgotha1 they stript him of his raiment1 and girt him about with a linen cloth1 and put a crown of thorns upon his head1 and put a reed in his hand4 #c ,and in like manner did they to the two thieves who were crucified with him1 ,dimas on his right hand and ,gestas on his left4 #d ,but ,jesus said1 ,my ,father1 forgive them1 ,for they know not what they do4 #e ,and they divided his garments1 and upon his vesture they cast lots4 #f ,the people in the mean time stood by1 and the chief priests and elders of the ,jews mocked him1 saying1 ,he saved others1 let him now save himself if he can2 if he be the son of ,god1 let him now come down from the cross4 #g ,the soldiers also mocked him1 and taking vinegar and gall1 offered it to him to drink1 and said to him1 ,if thou art king of the ,jews1 deliver thyself4 #h ,then ,longinus1 a certain soldier1 taking a spear1 pierced his side1 and presently there came forth blood and water4 #i ,and ,pilate wrote the title upon the cross in ,hebrew1 ,latin1 and ,greek letters1 viz41 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,the ,,jews4 #aj ,but one of the two thieves who were crucified with ,jesus1 whose name was ,gestas1 said to ,jesus1 ,if thou art the ,christ1 deliver thyself and us4 #aa ,but the thief who was crucified on his right hand1 whose name was ,dimas1 answering1 rebuked him1 and said1 ,dost not thou fear ,god1 who art condemned to this punishment8 ,we indeed receive rightly and justly the demerit of our actions2 but this ,jesus1 what evil hath he done4 #ab ,after this1 groaning1 he said to ,jesus1 ,lord1 remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom4 #ac ,jesus answering1 said to him1 ,verily ,i say unto thee1 that this day thou shalt be with me in ,paradise4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #a ,miraculous appearance at his death4 #aj ,the ,jews say the eclipse was natural4 #ab ,joseph of ,arimathaea embalms ,christ's body and buries it4 ,,and it was about the sixth hour1 and darkness was upon the face of the whole earth until the ninth hour4 #b ,and while the sun was eclipsed1 behold the veil of the temple was rent from the top1 to the bottom2 and the rocks also were rent1 and the graves opened1 and many bodies of saints1 which slept1 arose4 #c ,and about the ninth hour ,jesus cried out with a loud voice1 ,eli1 ,eli1 lama sabacthani8 which being interpreted is1 ,my ,god1 ,my ,god1 why hast thou forsaken me8 #d ,and after these things1 ,jesus said1 ,father1 into thy hands ,i commend my spirit2 and having said this1 he gave up the ghost4 #e ,but when the centurion saw that ,jesus thus crying out gave up the ghost1 he glorified ,god1 and said1 ,of a truth this was a just man4 #f ,and all the people who stood by1 were exceedingly troubled at the sight2 and reflecting upon what had passed1 smote upon their breasts1 and then returned to the city of ,jerusalem4 #g ,the centurion went to the governor1 and related to him all that had passed3 #h ,and when he had heard all these things1 he was exceedingly sorrowful2 #i ,and calling the ,jews together1 said to them1 ,have ye seen the miracle of the sun's eclipse1 and the other things which came to pass1 while ,jesus was dying8 #aj ,which when the ,jews heard1 they answered to the governor1 ,the eclipse of the sun happened according to its usual custom4 #aa ,but all those who were the acquaintance of ,christ1 stood at a distance1 as did the women who had followed ,jesus from ,galilee1 observing all these things4 #ab ,and behold a certain man of ,arimathaea1 named ,joseph1 who was also a disciple of ,jesus1 but not openly so1 for fear of the ,jews1 came to the governor1 and entreated the governor that he would give him leave to take away the body of ,jesus from the cross4 #ac ,and the governor gave him leave4 #ad ,and ,nicodemus came1 bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pounds weight2 and they took down ,jesus from the cross with tears1 and bound him in linen cloths with spices1 according to the custom of burying among the ,jews2 #ae ,and placed him in a new tomb1 which ,joseph had built1 and caused to be cut out of a rock1 in which never any man had been put2 and they rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #a ,the ,jews angry with ,nicodemus3 #e and with1 ,joseph of ,arimathaea1 #g whom they imprison4 ,,when the unjust ,jews heard that ,joseph had begged and buried the body of ,jesus1 they sought after ,nicodemus1 and those fifteen men who had testified before the governor1 that ,jesus was not born through fornication1 and other good persons who had shown any good actions towards him4 #b ,but when they all concealed themselves through fear of the ,jews1 ,nicodemus alone showed himself to them1 and said1 ,how can such persons as these enter into the synagogue8 #c ,the ,jews answered him1 ,but how durst thou enter into the synagogue1 who wast a confederate with ,christ8 ,let thy lot be along with him in the other world4 #d ,nicodemus answered1 ,amen2 so may it be1 that ,i may have my lot with him in his kingdom4 #e ,in like manner ,joseph1 when he came to the ,jews1 said to them1 ,why are ye angry with me for desiring the body of ,jesus of ,pilate8 ,behold1 ,i have put him in my tomb1 and wrapped him up in clean linen1 and put a stone at the door of the sepulchre3 #f ,i have acted rightly towards him2 but ye have acted unjustly against that just person1 in crucifying him1 giving him vinegar to drink1 crowning him with thorns1 tearing his body with whips1 and praying down the guilt of his blood upon you4 #g ,the ,jews at the hearing of this were disquieted and troubled2 and they seized ,joseph1 and commanded him to be put in custody before the ,sabbath1 and kept there till the ,sabbath was over4 #h ,and they said to him1 ,make confession2 for at this time it is not lawful to do thee any harm1 till the first day of the week come4 ,but we know that thou wilt not be thought worthy of a burial2 but we will give thy flesh to the birds of the air1 and the beasts of the earth4 #i ,joseph answered1 ,that speech is like the speech of proud ,goliath1 who reproached the living ,god in speaking against ,david4 ,but ye scribes and doctors know that ,god saith by the prophet1 ,vengeance is mine1 and ,i will repay to you evil equal to that which ye have threatened to me4 #aj ,the ,god whom you have hanged upon the cross1 is able to deliver me out of your hands4 ,all your wickedness will return upon you4 #aa ,for the governor1 when he washed his hands1 said1 ,i am clear from the blood of this just person4 ,but ye answered and cried out1 ,his blood be upon us and our children4 ,according as ye have said1 may ye perish for ever4 #ab ,the elders of the ,jews hearing these words1 were exceedingly enraged2 and seizing ,joseph1 they put him into a chamber where there was no window2 they fastened the door1 and put a seal upon the lock2 #ac ,and ,annas and ,caiaphas placed a guard upon it1 and took counsel with the priests and ,levites1 that they should all meet after the ,sabbath1 and they contrived to what death they should put ,joseph4 #ad ,when they had done this1 the rulers1 ,annas and ,caiaphas1 ordered ,joseph to be brought forth4 7,in this place there is a portion of the ,gospel lost or omitted4 which cannot be supplied4 ,it may1 nevertheless1 be surmised from the occurrence related in the next chapter1 that the order of ,annas and ,caiaphas were rendered unnecessary by ,joseph's miraculous escape1 and which was announced to an assembly of people47 ,,chapter ,x4 #a ,joseph's escape4 #b ,the soldiers relate ,christ's resurrection4 #ah ,christ is seen preaching in ,galilee4 #ba ,the ,jews repent of their cruelty to him4 ,,when all the assembly heard this 7about ,joseph's escape71 they admired and were astonished1 because they found the same seal upon the lock of the chamber1 and could not find ,joseph4 #b ,then ,annas and ,caiaphas went forth1 and while they were all admiring at ,joseph's being gone1 behold one of the soldiers1 who kept the sepulchre of ,jesus1 spake in the assembly1 #c ,that while they were guarding the sepulchre of ,jesus1 there was an earthquake2 and we saw an angel of ,god roll away the stone of the sepulchre and sit upon it2 #d ,and his countenance was like lightning and his garment like snow2 and we became through fear like persons dead4 #e ,and we heard an angel saying to the women at the sepulchre of ,jesus1 ,do not fear2 ,i know that you seek ,jesus who was crucified2 he is risen as he foretold2 #f ,come and see the place where he was laid2 and go presently1 and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead2 and he will go before you into ,galilee2 there ye shall see him as he told you4 #g ,then the ,jews called together all the soldiers who kept the sepulchre of ,jesus1 and said to them1 ,who are those women1 to whom the angel spoke8 ,why did ye not seize them4 #h ,the soldiers answered and said1 ,we know not who the women were2 besides we became as dead persons through fear1 and how could we seize those women8 #i ,the ,jews said to them1 ,as the ,lord liveth1 we do not believe you2 #aj ,the soldiers answering said to the ,jews1 when ye saw and heard ,jesus working so many miracles1 and did not believe him1 how should ye believe us8 ,ye well said1 ,as the ,lord liveth1 for the ,lord truly does live4 #aa ,we have heard that ye shut up ,joseph1 who buried the body of ,jesus1 in a chamber1 under a lock which was sealed2 and when ye opened it1 found him not there4 #ab ,do ye then produce ,joseph whom ye put under guard in the chamber1 and we will produce ,jesus whom we guarded in the sepulchre4 #ac ,the ,jews answered and said1 ,we will produce ,joseph1 do ye produce ,jesus4 ,but ,joseph is in his own city of ,arimathaea4 #ad ,the soldiers replied1 ,if ,joseph be in ,arimathaea1 and ,jesus in ,galilee1 we heard the angel inform the women4 #ae ,the ,jews hearing this1 were afraid1 and said among themselves1 ,if by any means these things should become public1 then everybody will believe in ,jesus4 #af ,then they gathered a large sum of money1 and gave it to the soldiers1 saying1 ,do ye tell the people that the disciples of ,jesus came in the night when ye were asleep1 and stole away the body of ,jesus2 and if ,pilate the governor should hear of this1 we will satisfy him and secure you4 #ag ,the soldiers accordingly took the money1 and said as they were instructed by the ,jews2 and their report was spread abroad among all the people4 #ah ,but a certain priest ,phinees1 ,ada a schoolmaster1 and a ,levite1 named ,ageus1 they three came from ,galilee to ,jerusalem1 and told the chief priests and all who were in the synagogues1 saying1 #ai ,we have seen ,jesus1 whom ye crucified1 talking with his eleven disciples1 and sitting in the midst of them in ,mount ,olivet1 and saying to them1 #bj ,go forth into the whole world1 preach the ,gospel to all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost2 and whosoever shall believe and be baptized1 shall be saved4 #ba ,and when he had said these things to his disciples1 we saw him ascending up to heaven4 #bb ,when the chief priests and elders1 and ,levites heard these things1 they said to these three men1 ,give glory to the ,god of ,israel1 and make confession to him1 whether those things are true1 which ye say ye have seen and heard4 #bc ,they answering said1 ,as the ,lord of our fathers liveth1 the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob1 according as we heard ,jesus talking with his disciples1 and according as we saw him ascending up to heaven1 so we have related the truth to you4 #bd ,and the three men farther answered1 and said1 adding these words1 ,if we should not own the words which we heard ,jesus speak1 and that we saw him ascending into heaven1 we should be guilty of sin4 #be ,then the chief priests immediately rose up1 and holding the book of the law in their hands1 conjured these men1 saying1 ,ye shall no more hereafter declare those things which ye have spoken concerning ,jesus4 #bf ,and they gave them a large sum of money1 and sent other persons along with them1 who should conduct them to their own country1 that they might not by any means make any stay at ,jerusalem4 #bg ,then the ,jews did assemble all together1 and having expressed the most lamentable concern said1 ,what is this extraordinary thing which is come to pass in ,jerusalem8 #bh ,but ,annas and ,caiaphas comforted them1 saying1 ,why should we believe the soldiers who guarded the sepulchre of ,jesus1 in telling us1 that an angel rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre8 #bi ,perhaps his own disciples told them this1 and gave them money that they should say so1 and they themselves took away the body of ,jesus4 #cj ,besides1 consider this1 that there is no credit to be given to foreigners1 because they also took a large sum of us1 and they have declared to us according to the instructions which we gave them4 ,they must either be faithful to us or to the disciples of ,jesus4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #a ,nicodemus counsels the ,jews4 #f ,joseph found4 #aa ,invited by the ,jews to return4 #ai ,relates the manner of his miraculous escape4 ,,then ,nicodemus arose1 and said1 ,ye say right1 ,o sons of ,israel2 ye have heard what those three men have sworn by the ,law of ,god1 who said1 ,we have seen ,jesus speaking with his disciples upon mount ,olivet1 and we saw him ascending up to heaven4 #b ,and the scripture teacheth us that the blessed prophet ,elijah was taken up to heaven1 and ,elisha being asked by the sons of the prophets1 ,where is our father ,elijah8 ,he said to them1 that he is taken up to heaven4 #c ,and the sons of the prophets said to him1 ,perhaps the spirit hath carried him into one of the mountains of ,israel1 there perhaps we shall find him4 ,and they besought ,elisha1 and he walked about with them three days1 and they could not find him4 #d ,and now hear me1 ,o sons of ,israel1 and let us send men into the mountains of ,israel1 lest perhaps the spirit hath carried away ,jesus1 and there perhaps we shall find him1 and be satisfied4 #e ,and the counsel of ,nicodemus pleased all the people2 and they sent forth men who sought for ,jesus1 but could not find him2 and they returning1 said1 ,we went all about1 but could not find ,jesus1 but we have found ,joseph in his city of ,arimathaea4 #f ,the rulers hearing this1 and all the people1 were glad1 and praised the ,god of ,israel1 because ,joseph was found1 whom they had shut up in a chamber1 and could not find4 #g ,and when they had formed a large assembly1 the chief priests said1 ,by what means shall we bring ,joseph to us to speak with him8 #h ,and taking a piece of paper1 they wrote to him1 and said1 ,peace be with thee1 and all thy family1 ,we know that we have offended against ,god and thee4 ,be pleased to give a visit to us1 your fathers1 for we were perfectly surprised at your escape from prison4 #i ,we know that it was malicious counsel which we took against thee1 and that the ,lord took care of thee1 and the ,lord himself delivered thee from our designs4 ,peace be unto thee1 ,joseph1 who art honourable among all the people4 #aj ,and they chose seven of ,joseph's friends1 and said to them1 ,when ye come to ,joseph1 salute him in peace1 and give him this letter4 #aa ,accordingly1 when the men came to ,joseph1 they did salute him in peace1 and gave him the letter4 #ab ,and when ,joseph had read it1 he said1 ,blessed be the ,lord ,god1 who didst deliver me from the ,israelites1 that they could not shed my blood4 ,blessed be ,god1 who hast protected me under thy wings4 #ac ,and ,joseph kissed them1 and took them into his house4 ,and on the morrow1 ,joseph mounted his ass1 and went along with them to ,jerusalem4 #ad ,and when all the ,jews heard these things1 they went out to meet him1 and cried out1 saying1 ,peace attend thy coming hither1 father ,joseph4 #ae ,to which he answered1 ,prosperity from the ,lord attend all the people4 #ac ,and they all kissed him2 and ,nicodemus took him to his house1 having prepared a large entertainment4 #ag ,but on the morrow1 being a preparation-day1 ,annas1 and ,caiaphas1 and ,nicodemus1 said to ,joseph1 ,make confession to the ,god of ,israel1 and answer to us all those questions which we shall ask thee2 #ah ,for we have been very much troubled1 that thou didst bury the body of ,jesus2 and that when we had locked thee in a chamber1 we could not find thee2 and we have been afraid ever since1 till this time of thy appearing among us4 ,tell us therefore before ,god1 all that came to pass4 #ai ,then ,joseph answering1 said ,ye did indeed put me under confinement1 on the day of preparation1 till the morning4 #bj ,but while ,i was standing at prayer in the middle of the night1 the house was surrounded with four angels2 and ,i saw ,jesus as the brightness of the sun1 and fell down upon the earth for fear4 #ba ,but ,jesus laying hold on my hand1 lifted me from the ground1 and the dew was then sprinkled upon me2 but he1 wiping my face1 kissed me1 and said unto me1 ,fear not1 ,joseph2 look upon me for it is ,i4 #bb ,then ,i looked upon him1 and said1 ,rabboni ,elias6 ,he answered me1 ,i am not ,elias1 but ,jesus of ,nazareth1 whose body thou didst bury4 #bc ,i said to him1 show me the tomb in which ,i laid thee4 #bd ,then ,jesus1 taking me by the hand1 led me unto the place where ,i laid him1 and showed me the linen clothes1 and napkin which ,i put round his head4 ,then ,i knew that it was ,jesus1 and worshipped him1 and said2 ,blessed be he who cometh in the name of the ,lord4 #be ,jesus again taking me by the hand1 led me to ,arimathaea1 to my own house1 and said to me1 ,peace be to thee2 but go not out of thy house till the fortieth day2 but ,i must go to my disciples4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 #a ,the ,jews astonished and confounded4 #af ,simeon's two sons1 ,charinus and ,lenthius1 rise from the dead at ,christ's crucifixion4 #ai ,joseph proposes to get them to relate the mysteries of their resurrection4 #ba ,they are sought and found1 #bb brought to the synagogue1 #bc privately sworn to secrecy1 #be and undertake to write what they had seen4 ,,when the chief priests and ,levites heard all these things1 they were astonished1 and fell down with their faces on the ground as dead men1 and crying out to one another1 said1 ,what is this extraordinary sign which is come to pass in ,jerusalem8 ,we know the father and mother of ,jesus4 #b ,and a certain ,levite said1 ,i know many of his relations1 religions persons1 who are wont to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings to the ,god of ,israel1 in the temple1 with prayers4 #c ,and when the high-priest ,simeon took him up in his arms1 he said to him1 ,lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace1 according to thy word2 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation1 which then halt prepared before the face of all people2 a light to enlighten the ,gentiles1 and the glory of thy people ,israel4 #d ,simeon in like manner blessed ,mary the ,mother of ,jesus1 and said to her1 ,i declare to thee concerning that child2 ,he is appointed for the fall and rising again of many1 and for a sign which shall be spoken against2 #e ,yea1 a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also1 and the thoughts of many hearts shall be revealed4 #f ,then said all the ,jews1 ,let us send to those three men1 who said they saw him talking with his disciples in mount ,olivet4 #g ,after this1 they asked them what they had seen2 who answered with one accord1 ,in the presence of the ,god of ,israel we affirm1 that we plainly saw ,jesus talking with his disciples in ,mount ,olivet1 and ascending up to heaven4 #h ,then ,annas and ,caiaphas took them into separate places1 and examined them separately2 who unanimously confessed the truth1 and said1 they had seen ,jesus4 #i ,then ,annas and ,caiaphas said ,our law saith1 ,by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established4 #aj ,but what have we said8 ,the blessed ,enoch pleased ,god1 and was translated by the word of ,god2 and the burying-place of the blessed ,moses is known4 #aa ,but ,jesus was delivered to ,pilate1 whipped1 crowned with thorns1 spit upon1 pierced with a spear1 crucified1 died upon the cross1 and was buried1 and his body the honourable ,joseph buried in a new sepulchre1 and he testifies that he saw him alive4 #ab ,and besides1 these men have declared1 that they saw him talking with his disciples in ,mount ,olivet1 and ascending up to heaven4 #ac ,then ,joseph rising up1 said to ,annas and ,caiaphas1 ,ye may be justly under a great surprise1 that you have been told1 that ,jesus is alive1 and gone up to heaven4 #ad ,it is indeed a thing really surprising1 that he should not only himself arise from the dead1 but also raise others from their graves1 who have been seen by many in ,jerusalem4 #ae ,and now hear me a little ,we all knew the blessed ,simeon1 the high-priest1 who took ,jesus when an infant into his arms in the temple4 #af ,this same ,simeon had two sons of his own1 and we were all present at their death and funeral4 #ag ,go therefore and see their tombs1 for these are open1 and they are risen3 and behold1 they are in the city of ,arimathaea1 spending their time together in offices of devotion4 #ah ,some1 indeed1 have heard the sound of their voices in prayer1 but they will not discourse with anyone1 but they continue as mute as dead men4 #ai ,but come1 let us go to them1 and behave ourselves towards them with all due respect and caution4 ,and if we can bring them to swear1 perhaps they will tell us some of the mysteries of their resurrection4 #bj ,when the ,jews heard this they were exceedingly rejoiced4 #ba ,then ,annas and ,caiaphas1 ,nicodemus1 ,joseph1 and ,gamaliel1 went to ,arimathaea1 but did not find them in their graves2 but walking about the city1 they found them on their bended knees at their devotions3 #bb ,then saluting them with all respect and deference to ,god1 they brought them to the synagogue at ,jerusalem2 and having shut the gates1 they took the book of the law of the ,lord1 #bc ,and putting it in their hands1 swore them by ,god ,adonai1 and the ,god of ,israel1 who spake to our fathers by the law and the prophets1 saying1 ,if ye believe him who raised you from the dead1 to be ,jesus1 tell us what ye have seen1 and how ye were raised from the dead4 #bd ,charinus and ,lenthius1 the two sons of ,simeon1 trembled when they heard these things1 and were disturbed1 and groaned2 and at the same time looking up to heaven1 they made the sign of the cross with their fingers on their tongues1 #be ,and immediately they spake1 and said1 ,give each of us some paper1 and we will write down for you all those things which we have seen4 ,and they each sat down and wrote1 saying3-- ,,chapter ,,xiii4 #a ,the narrative of ,charinus and ,lenthius commences4 #c ,a great light in hell4 #g ,simeon arrives1 and announces the coming of ,christ4 ,o ,,lord ,jesus and ,father1 who art ,god1 also the resurrection and life of the dead1 give us leave to declare thy mysteries1 which we saw after death1 belonging to thy cross2 for we are sworn by thy name4 #b ,for thou hast forbidden thy servants to declare the secret things1 which were wrought by thy divine power in hell4 #c ,when we were ,placed with our fathers in the depth of hell1 in the blackness of darkness1 on a sudden there appeared the colour of the sun like gold1 and a substantial purple-coloured light enlightening the place4 #d ,presently upon this1 ,adam1 the father of all mankind1 with all the patriarchs and prophets1 rejoiced and said1 ,that light is the author of everlasting light1 who hath promised to translate us to everlasting light4 #e ,then ,isaiah the prophet cried out and said1 ,this is the light of the ,father1 and the ,son of ,god1 according to my prophecy1 when ,i was alive upon earth4 #f ,the land of ,zabulon1 and the land of ,nephthalim1 beyond ,jordan1 a people who walked in darkness1 saw a great light2 and to them who dwelled in the region of the shadow of death1 light is arisen4 ,and now he is come1 and hath enlightened us who sat in death4 #g ,and while we were all rejoicing in the light which shone upon us1 our father ,simeon came among us1 and congratulating all the company1 said1 ,glorify the ,lord ,jesus ,christ the ,son of ,god4 #h ,whom ,i took up in my arms when an infant in the temple1 and being moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 said to him1 and acknowledged1 ,that now mine eyes have seen thy salvation1 which thou hast prepared before the face of all people2 a light to enlighten the ,gentiles1 and the glory of thy people ,israel4 #i ,all the saints who were in the depth of hell1 hearing this1 rejoiced the more4 #aj ,afterwards there came forth one like a little hermit1 and was asked by every one1 ,who art thou8 #aa ,to which he replied1 ,i am the voice of one crying in the wilderness1 ,john the ,baptist1 and the prophet of the ,most ,high1 who went before his coming to prepare his way1 to give the knowledge of salvation to his people for the forgiveness of sins4 #ab ,and ,i1 ,john1 when ,i saw ,jesus coming to me1 being moved by the ,holy ,ghost1 ,i said1 ,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 behold him who takes away the sins of the world4 #ac ,and ,i baptized him in the river ,jordan1 and saw the ,holy ,ghost descending upon him in the form of a dove1 and heard a voice from heaven saying1 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 #ad ,and now while ,i was going before him1 ,i came down hither to acquaint you1 that the ,son of ,god will next visit us1 and1 as the day-spring from on high1 will come to us1 who are in darkness and the shadow of death4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 #a ,adam causes ,seth to relate what he heard from ,michael the archangel1 when he sent him to ,paradise to entreat ,god to anoint his head in his sickness4 ,,but when the first man our father ,adam heard these things1 that ,jesus was baptized in ,jordan1 he called out to his son ,seth1 and said1 #b ,declare to your sons1 the patriarchs and prophets1 all those things1 which thou didst hear from ,michael1 the archangel1 when ,i sent thee to the gates of ,paradise1 to entreat ,god that he would anoint my head when ,i was sick4 #c ,then ,seth1 coming near to the patriarchs and prophets1 said1 ,i1 ,seth1 when ,i was praying to ,god at the gates of ,paradise1 beheld the angel of the ,lord1 ,michael1 appear unto me1 saying1 ,i am sent unto thee from the ,lord2 ,i am appointed to preside over human bodies4 #d ,i tell thee1 ,seth1 do not pray to ,god in tears1 and entreat him for the oil of the tree of mercy wherewith to anoint thy father ,adam for his head-ache2 #e ,because thou canst not by any means obtain it till the last day and times1 namely1 till five thousand and five hundred years be past4 #f ,then will ,christ1 the most merciful ,son of ,god1 come on earth to raise again the human body of ,adam1 and at the same time to raise the bodies of the dead1 and when he cometh he will be baptized in ,jordan2 #g ,then with the oil of his mercy he will anoint all those who believe in him2 and the oil of his mercy will continue to future generations1 for those who shall be born of the water and the ,holy ,ghost unto eternal life4 #h ,and when at that time the most merciful ,son of ,god1 ,christ ,jesus1 shall come down on earth1 he will introduce our father ,adam into ,paradise1 to the tree of mercy4 #i ,when all the patriarchs and prophets heard all these things from ,seth1 they rejoiced more4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 #a ,quarrel between ,satan and the prince of hell1 concerning the expected arrival of ,christ in hell4 ,,while all the saints were rejoicing1 behold ,satan1 the prince and captain of death1 said to the prince of hell1 #b ,prepare to receive ,jesus of ,nazareth himself1 who boasted that he was the ,son of ,god1 and yet was a man afraid of death1 and said1 ,my soul is sorrowful even to death4 #c ,besides he did many injuries to me and to many others2 for those whom ,i made blind and lame and those also whom ,i tormented with several devils1 he cured by his word2 yea1 and those whom ,i brought dead to thee1 he by force takes away from thee4 #d ,to this the prince of hell replied to ,satan1 ,who is that so powerful prince1 and yet a man who is afraid of death8 #e ,for all the potentates of the earth are subject to my power1 whom thou broughtest to subjection by thy power4 #f ,but if he be so powerful in his human nature1 ,i affirm to thee for truth1 that he is almighty in his divine nature1 and no man can resist his power3 #g ,when therefore he said he was afraid of death1 he designed to ensnare thee1 and unhappy it will be to thee for everlasting ages1 #h ,then ,satan replying1 said to the prince of hell1 ,why didst thou express a doubt1 and wast afraid to receive that ,jesus of ,nazareth1 both thy adversary and mine8 #i ,as for me1 ,i tempted him and stirred up my old people the ,jews with zeal and anger against him2 #aj ,i sharpened the spear for his suffering2 ,i mixed the gall and vinegar1 and commanded that he should drink it2 ,i prepared the cross to crucify him1 and the nails to pierce through his hands and feet2 and now his death is near at hand1 ,i will bring him hither1 subject both to thee and me4 #aa ,then the prince of hell answering1 said1 ,thou saidst to me just now1 that he took away the dead from me by force4 #ab ,they who have been kept here till they should live again upon earth1 were taken away hence1 not by their own power1 but by prayers made to ,god1 and their almighty ,god took them from me4 #ac ,who then is that ,jesus of ,nazareth that by his word hath taken away the dead from me without prayer to ,god8 #ad ,perhaps it is the same who took away from me ,lazarus1 after he had been four days dead1 and did both stink and was rotten1 and of whom ,i had possession as a dead person1 yet he brought him to life again by his power4 #ae ,satan answering1 replied to the prince of hell1 ,it is the very same person1 ,jesus of ,nazareth4 #af ,which when the prince of hell heard1 he said to him1 ,i adjure thee by the powers which belong to thee and me1 that thou bring him not to me4 #ag ,for when ,i heard of the power of his word1 ,i trembled for fear1 and all my impious company were at the same disturbed2 #ah ,and we were not able to detain ,lazarus1 but he gave himself a shake1 and with all the signs of malice he immediately went away from us2 and the very earth1 in which the dead body of ,lazarus was lodged1 presently turned him out alive4 #ai ,and ,i know now that he is ,almighty ,god who could perform such things1 who is mighty in his dominion1 and mighty in his human nature1 who is the ,saviour of mankind4 #bj ,bring not therefore this person hither1 for he will set at liberty all those whom ,i hold in prison under unbelief1 and bound with the fetters of their sins1 and will conduct them to everlasting life4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 #a ,christ's arrival at hell-gates2 the confusion thereupon4 #ai ,he descends into hell4 ,,and while ,satan and the ,prince of hell were discoursing thus to each other1 on a sudden there was a voice as of thunder1 and the rushing of winds1 saying1 ,lift up your gates1 ,o ye princes2 and be ye lift up1 ,o everlasting gates1 and the ,king of ,glory shall come in4 #b ,when the prince of hell heard this1 he said to ,satan1 ,depart from me1 and begone out of my habitations2 if thou art a powerful warrior1 fight with the ,king of ,glory4 ,but what hast thou to do with him8 #c ,and he cast him forth from his habitations4 #d ,and the prince said to his impious officers1 ,shut the brass gates of cruelty1 and make them fast with iron bars1 and fight courageously1 lest we be taken captives4 #e ,but when all the company of the saints heard this they spake with a loud voice of anger to the prince of hell1 #f ,open thy gates1 that the ,king of ,glory may come in4 #g ,and the divine prophet ,david cried out1 saying1 ,did not ,i1 when on earth1 truly prophesy and say1 ,o that men would praise the ,lord for his goodness1 and for his wonderful works to the children of men6 #h ,for he hath broken the gates of brass1 and cut the bars of iron in sunder4 ,he hath taken them because of their iniquity1 and because of their unrighteousness they are afflicted4 #i ,after this1 another prophet1 namely1 holy ,isaiah1 spake in like manner to all the saints1 ,did not ,i rightly prophesy to you when ,i was alive on earth8 #aj ,the dead men shall live1 and they shall rise again who are in their graves1 and they shall rejoice who are in the earth2 for the dew which is from the ,lord1 shall bring deliverance to them4 #aa ,and ,i said in another place1 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,o death1 where is thy sting8 #ab ,when all the saints heard these things spoken by ,isaiah1 they said to the prince of hell1 ,open now thy gates1 and take away thine iron bars2 for thou wilt now be bound1 and have no power4 #ac ,then was there a great voice1 as of the sound of thunder1 saying1 ,lift up your gates1 ,o princes2 and be ye lifted up1 ye gates of hell1 and the ,king of ,glory will enter in4 #ad ,the prince of hell perceiving the same voice repeated1 cried out1 as though he had been ignorant1 ,who is that ,king of ,glory8 #ae ,david replied to the prince of hell1 and said1 ,i understand the words of that voice1 because ,i spake them in his spirit4 ,and now1 as ,i have before said1 ,i say unto thee1 the ,lord strong and powerful1 the ,lord mighty in battle3 he is the ,king of ,glory1 and he is the ,lord in heaven and in earth4 #af ,he hath looked down to hear the groans of the prisoners1 and to set loose those that are appointed to death4 #ag ,and now1 thou filthy and stinking prince of hell1 open thy gates1 that the ,king of ,glory may enter in2 for he is the ,lord of heaven and earth4 #ah ,while ,david was saying this1 the mighty ,lord appeared in the form of a man1 and enlightened those places which had ever before been in darkness4 #ai ,and broke asunder the fetters which before could not be broken2 and with his invincible power visited those who sate in the deep darkness by iniquity1 and the shadow of death by sin4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 #a ,death and the devils in great horror at ,christ's coming4 #ac ,he tramples on death1 seizes the prince of hell1 and takes ,adam with him to ,heaven4 ,,impious death and her cruel officers hearing these things1 were seized with fear in their several kingdoms1 when they saw the clearness of the light1 #b ,and ,christ himself on a sudden appearing in their habitations1 they cried out therefore1 and said1 ,we are bound by thee2 thou seemest to intend our confusion before the ,lord4 #c ,who art thou1 who has no signs of corruption1 but that bright appearance which is a full proof of thy greatness1 of which yet thou seemest to take no notice8 #d ,who art thou1 so powerful1 and so weak1 so great and so little2 mean1 and yet a soldier of the first rank1 who can command in the form of a servant and a common soldier8 #e ,the king of ,glory1 dead and alive1 though once slain upon the cross8 #f ,who layest dead in the grave1 and art come down alive to us1 and in thy death all the creatures trembled1 and all the stars were moved2 and now hast thy liberty among the dead1 and givest disturbance to our legions8 #g ,who art thou1 who dost release the captives that were held in chains by original sin1 and bringest them into their former liberty8 #h ,who art thou1 who dost spread so glorious and divine a light over those who were made blind by the darkness of sin8 #i ,in like manner all the legions of devils were seized with the like horror1 and with the most submissive fear cried out1 and said1 #aj ,whence comes it1 ,o thou ,jesus ,christ1 that thou art a man so powerful and glorious in majesty so bright as to have no spot1 and so pure as to have no crime8 ,for that lower world of earth1 which was ever till now subject to us1 and from whence we received tribute1 never sent us such a dead man before1 never sent such presents as these to the princes of hell4 #aa ,who therefore art thou1 who with such courage enterest among our abodes1 and art not only not afraid to threaten us with the greatest punishments1 but also endeavourest to rescue all others from the chains in which we hold them8 #ab ,perhaps thou art that ,jesus1 of whom ,satan just now spoke to our prince1 that by the death of the cross thou wert about to receive the power of death4 #ac ,then the ,king of ,glory trampling upon death1 seized the prince of hell1 deprived him of all his power1 and took our earthly father ,adam with him to his glory4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 #a ,beelzebub1 prince of hell1 vehemently upbraids ,satan for persecuting ,christ and bringing him to hell4 #ad ,christ gives ,beelzebub dominion over ,satan forever1 as a recompence for taking away ,adam and his sons4 ,,then the prince of hell took ,satan1 and with great indignation said to him1 ,o thou prince of destruction1 author of ,beelzebub's defeat and banishment1 the scorn of ,god's angels and loathed by all righteous persons6 ,what inclined thee to act thus8 #b ,thou wouldst crucify the ,king of ,glory1 and by his destruction1 hast made us promises of very large advantages1 but as a fool wert ignorant of what thou wast about4 #c ,for behold now that ,jesus of ,nazareth1 with the brightness of his glorious divinity1 puts to flight all the horrid powers of darkness and death2 #d ,he has broke down our prisons from top to bottom1 dismissed all the captives1 released all who were bound1 and all who were wont formerly to groan under the weight of their torments1 have now insulted us1 and we are like to be defeated by their prayers4 #e ,our impious dominions are subdued1 and no part of mankind is now left in our subjection1 but on the other hand1 they all boldly defy us2 #f ,though1 before1 the dead never durst behave themselves insolently towards us1 nor being prisoners1 could ever on any occasion be merry4 #g ,o ,satan1 thou prince of all the wicked1 father of the impious and abandoned1 why wouldest thou attempt this exploit1 seeing our prisoners were hitherto always without the least hope of salvation and life8 #h ,but now there is not one of them does ever groan1 nor is there the least appearance of a tear in any of their faces4 #i ,o prince ,satan1 thou great keeper of the infernal regions1 all thy advantages which thou didst acquire by the forbidden tree1 and the loss of ,paradise1 thou hast now lost by the wood of the cross2 #aj ,and thy happiness all then expired1 when thou didst crucify ,jesus ,christ the ,king of ,glory4 #aa ,thou hast acted against thine own interest and mine1 as thou wilt presently perceive by those large torments and infinite punishments which thou art about to suffer4 #ab ,o ,satan1 prince of all evil1 author of death1 and source of all pride1 thou shouldest first have inquired into the evil crimes of ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and then thou wouldest have found that he was guilty of no fault worthy of death4 #ac ,why didst thou venture1 without either reason or justice1 to crucify him1 and hast brought down to our regions a person innocent and righteous1 and thereby hast lost all the sinners1 impious and unrighteous persons in the whole world8 #ad ,while the prince of hell was thus speaking to ,satan1 the ,king of ,glory said to ,beelzebub the prince of hell1 ,satan the prince shall be subject to thy dominions for ever1 in the room of ,adam and his righteous sons1 who are mine1 ,,chapter ,,xix4 #a ,christ takes ,adam by the hand1 the rest of the saints join hands1 and they all ascend with him to ,paradise4 ,,then ,jesus stretched forth his hand1 and said1 ,come to me1 all ye my saints1 who were created in my image1 who were condemned by the tree of the forbidden fruit1 and by the devil and death2 #b ,live now by the wood of my cross2 the devil1 the prince of this world1 is overcome1 and death is conquered1 #c ,then presently all the saints were joined together under the hand of the most high ,god2 and the ,lord ,jesus laid hold on ,adam's hand1 and said to him1 ,peace be to thee1 and all thy righteous posterity1 which is mine4 #d ,then ,adam1 casting himself at the feet of ,jesus1 addressed himself to him with tears1 in humble language1 and a loud voice1 saying1 #e ,i will extol thee1 ,o ,lord1 for thou halt lifted me up1 and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me4 ,o ,lord my ,god1 ,i cried unto thee1 and thou hast healed me4 #f ,o ,lord thou hast brought up my soul from the grave2 thou hast kept me alive1 that ,i should not go down to the pit4 #g ,sing unto the ,lord1 all ye saints of his1 and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness1 for his anger endureth but for a moment2 in his favour is life4 #h ,in like manner all the saints1 prostrate at the feet of ,jesus1 said with one voice1 ,thou art come1 ,o ,redeemer of the world1 and hast actually accomplished all things1 which thou didst foretell by the law and thy holy prophets4 #i ,thou hast redeemed the living by thy cross1 and art come down to us1 that by the death of the cross thou mightest deliver us from hell1 and by thy power from death4 #aj ,o ,lord1 as thou hast put the ensigns of thy glory in heaven1 and hast set up the sign of thy redemption1 even thy cross on earth2 so1 ,lord1 set the sign of the victory of thy cross in hell1 that death may have dominion no longer4 #aa ,then the ,lord stretching forth his hand1 made the sign of the cross upon ,adam1 and upon all his saints4 #ab ,and taking hold of ,adam by his right hand1 he ascended from hell1 and all the saints of ,god followed him4 #ac ,then the royal prophet1 ,david1 boldly cried1 and said1 ,o sing unto the ,lord a new song1 for he hath done marvellous things2 his right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory4 #ad ,the ,lord hath made known his salvation1 his righteousness hath he openly shewn in the sight of the heathen4 #ae ,and the whole multitude of saints answered1 saying1 ,this honour have all his saints1 ,amen1 ,praise ye the ,lord4 #af ,afterwards1 the prophet ,habbakuk cried out1 and said1 ,thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people1 even for salvation with thine anointed4 #ag ,and all the saints said1 ,blessed is he who cometh in the name of the ,lord2 for the ,lord hath enlightened us4 ,this is our ,god for ever and ever2 he shall reign over us to everlasting ages4 ,amen4 #ah ,in like manner all the prophets spake the sacred things of his praise1 and followed the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 #a ,christ delivers ,adam to ,michael the archangel4 #c ,they meet ,enoch and ,elijah in heaven1 #e and also the blessed thief1 who relates how he came to ,paradise4 ,,then the ,lord1 holding ,adam by the hand1 delivered him to ,michael the archangel2 and he led them into ,paradise1 filled with mercy and glory2 #b ,and two very ancient men met them1 and were asked by the saints1 ,who are ye1 who have not yet been with us in hell1 and have had your bodies placed in ,paradise8 #c ,one of them answering1 said1 ,i am ,enoch1 who was translated by the word of ,god3 and this man who is with me1 is ,elijah the ,tishbite1 who was translated in a fiery chariot4 #d ,here we have hitherto been1 and have not tasted death1 but are now about to return at the coming of ,antichrist1 being armed with divine signs and miracles1 to engage with him in battle1 and to be slain by him at ,jerusalem1 and to be taken up alive again into the clouds1 after three days and a half4 #e ,and while the holy ,enoch and ,elias were relating this1 behold there came another man in a miserable figure1 carrying the sign of the cross upon his shoulders4 #f ,and when all the saints saw him1 they said to him1 ,who art thou8 ,for thy countenance is like a thief's2 and why dost thou carry a cross upon thy shoulders8 #g ,to which he answering1 said1 ,ye say right1 for ,i was a thief1 who committed all sorts of wickedness upon earth4 #h ,and the ,jews crucified me with ,jesus2 and ,i observed the surprising things which happened in the creation at the crucifixion of the ,lord ,jesus4 #i ,and ,i believed him to be the ,creator of all things1 and the ,almighty ,king2 and ,i prayed to him1 saying1 ,lord remember me1 when thou comest into thy kingdom4 #aj ,he presently regarded my supplication1 and said to me1 ,verily ,i say unto thee1 this day thou shalt be with me in ,paradise4 #aa ,and he gave me this sign of the cross1 saying1 ,carry this1 and go to ,paradise2 and if the angel who is the guard of ,paradise will not admit thee1 show him the sign of the cross1 and say unto him ,jesus ,christ who is now crucified1 hath sent me hither to thee4 #ab ,when ,i did this and told the angel who is the guard of ,paradise all these things1 and he heard them1 he presently opened the gates1 introduced me1 and placed me on the right hand in ,paradise1 #ac ,saying1 ,stay here a little time1 till ,adam1 the father of all mankind1 shall enter in1 with all his sons1 who are the holy and righteous servants of ,jesus ,christ1 who was crucified4 #ad ,when they heard all this account from the thief1 all the patriarchs said with one voice1 ,blessed be thou1 ,o ,almighty ,god1 the ,father of everlasting goodness1 and the ,father of mercies1 who hast shown such favour to those who were sinners against him1 and hast brought them to the mercy of ,paradise1 and hast placed them amidst thy large and spiritual provisions1 in a spiritual and holy life4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 #a ,charinus and ,lenthius being only allowed three days to remain on earth1 #g deliver in their narratives1 which miraculously correspond2 they vanish1 #ac and ,pilate records these transactions4 ,,these are the divine and sacred mysteries which we saw and heard4 ,we1 ,charinus and ,lenthius are not allowed to declare the other mysteries of ,god1 as the archangel ,michael ordered us1 #b ,saying1 ye shall go with my brethren to ,jerusalem1 and shall continue in prayers1 declaring and glorifying the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 seeing he hath raised you from the dead at the same time with himself4 #c ,and ye shall not talk with any man1 but sit as dumb persons till the time come when the ,lord will allow you to relate the mysteries of his divinity4 #d ,the archangel ,michael farther commanded us to go beyond ,jordan1 to an excellent and fat country1 where there are many who rose from the dead along with us for the proof of the resurrection of ,christ4 #e ,for we have only three days allowed us from the dead1 who arose to celebrate the passover of our ,lord with our parents1 and to bear our testimony for ,christ the ,lord1 and we have been baptized in the holy river of ,jordan4 ,and now they are not seen by any one4 #f ,this is as much as ,god allowed us to relate to you2 give ye therefore praise and honour to him1 and repent1 and he will have mercy upon you4 ,peace be to you from the ,lord ,god ,jesus ,christ1 and the ,saviour of us all4 ,amen1 ,amen1 ,amen4 #g ,and after they had made an end of writing1 and had written on two distinct pieces of paper1 ,charinus gave what he wrote into the hands of ,annas1 and ,caiaphas1 and ,gamaliel4 #h ,lenthius likewise gave what he wrote into the hands of ,nicodemus and ,joseph2 and immediately they were changed into exceeding white forms and were seen no more4 #i ,but what they had written was found perfectly to agree1 the one not containing one letter more or less than the other4 #aj ,when all the assembly of the ,jews heard all these surprising relations of ,charinus and ,lenthius1 they said to each other1 ,truly all these things were wrought by ,god1 and blessed be the ,lord ,jesus for ever and ever1 ,amen4 #aa ,and they went all out with great concern1 and fear1 and trembling1 and smote upon their breasts and went away every one to his home4 #ab ,but immediately all these things which were related by the ,jews in their synagogues concerning ,jesus1 were presently told by ,joseph and ,nicodemus to the governor4 #ac ,and ,pilate wrote down all these transactions1 and placed all these accounts in the public records of his hall4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 #a ,pilate goes to the temple2 calls together the rulers1 and scribes1 and doctors4 #b ,commands the gates to be shut2 orders the book of the ,scriptures2 and causes the ,jews to relate what they really knew concerning ,christ4 #ad ,they declare that they crucified ,christ in ignorance1 and that they now know him to be the ,son of ,god1 according to the testimony of the ,scriptures2 which1 after they put him to death1 were examined4 ,,after these things ,pilate went to the temple of the ,jews1 and called together all the rulers and scribes1 and doctors of the law1 and went with them into a chapel of the temple4 #b ,and commanding that all the gates should be shut1 said to them1 ,i have heard that ye have a certain large book in this temple2 ,i desire you1 therefore1 that it may be brought before me4 #c ,and when the great book1 carried by four ministers of the temple1 and adorned with gold and precious stones1 was brought1 ,pilate said to them all1 ,i adjure you by the ,god of your ,fathers1 who made and commanded this temple to be built1 that ye conceal not the truth from me4 #d ,ye know all the things which are written in that book2 tell me therefore now1 if ye in the ,scriptures have found any thing of that ,jesus whom ye crucified1 and at what time of the world he1 ought to have come3 show it me4 #e ,then having sworn ,annas and ,caiaphas1 they commanded all the rest who were with them to go out of the chapel4 #f ,and they shut the gates of the temple and of the chapel1 and said to ,pilate1 ,thou hast made us to swear1 ,o judge1 by the building of this temple1 to declare to thee that which is true and right4 #g ,after we had crucified ,jesus1 not knowing that he was the ,son of ,god1 but supposing he wrought his miracles by some magical arts1 we summoned a large assembly in this temple4 #h ,and when we were deliberating among one another about the miracles which ,jesus had wrought1 we found many witnesses of our own country1 who declared that they had seen him alive after his death1 and that they heard him discoursing with his disciples1 and saw him ascending into the height of the heavens1 and entering into them2 #i ,and we saw two witnesses1 whose bodies ,jesus raised from the dead1 who told us of many strange things which ,jesus did among the dead1 of which we have a written account in our hands4 #aj ,and it is our custom annually to open this holy book before an assembly1 and to search there for the counsel of ,god4 #aa ,and we found in the first of the seventy books1 where ,michael the archangel is speaking to the third son of ,adam the first man1 an account that after five thousand five hundred years1 ,christ the most beloved son of ,god was to come on earth1 #ab ,and we further considered1 that perhaps he was the very ,god of ,israel who spoke to ,moses1 ,thou shalt make the ark of the testimony2 two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof1 and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof1 and a cubit and a half the height thereof4 #ac ,by these five cubits and a half for the building of the ark of the ,old ,testament1 we perceived and knew that in five thousand years and half 7one thousand7 years1 ,jesus ,christ was to come in the ark or tabernacle of a body2 #ad ,and so our ,scriptures testify that he is the ,son of ,god1 and the ,lord and ,king of ,israel4 #ae ,and because after his suffering1 our chief priests were surprised at the signs which were wrought by his means1 we opened that book to search all the generations down to the generation of ,joseph and ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 supposing him to be of the seed of ,david2 #af ,and we found the account of the creation1 and at what time he made the heaven and the earth1 and the first man ,adam1 and that from thence to the flood1 were two thousand seven hundred and forty- eight years4 #ag ,and from the flood to ,abraham1 nine hundred and twelve4 ,and from ,abraham to ,moses1 four hundred and thirty4 ,and from ,moses to ,david the ,king1 five hundred and ten4 #ah ,and from ,david to the ,babylonish captivity five hundred years4 ,and from the ,babylonish captivity to the incarnation of ,christ1 four hundred years4 #ai ,the sum of all which amounts to five thousand and half 7a thousand47 #bj ,and so it appears1 that ,jesus whom we crucified1 is ,jesus ,christ the ,son of ,god1 and true ,almighty ,god4 ,amen4 7,in the name of the ,holy ,trinity1 thus end the acts of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 which the ,emperor ,theodosius the ,great found at ,jerusalem1 in the hall of ,pontius ,pilate1 among the public records2 the things were acted in the nineteenth year of ,tiberius ,caesar1 ,emperor of the ,romans1 and in the seventeenth year of the government of ,herod1 the son of ,herod and of ,galilee1 on the eighth of the calends of ,april1 which is the twenty-third day of the month of ,march1 in the ,c,c,i,id ,olympiad1 when ,joseph and ,caiaphas were rulers of the ,jews2 being a ,history written in ,hebrew by ,nicodemus1 of what happened after our ,saviour's crucifixion47 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,gospel ,,of ,,nicodemus1 ,,formerly ,,called ,,the ,,acts ,,of ,,pontius ,,pilate4 ,although this ,gospel is1 by some among the learned1 supposed to have been really written by ,nicodemus1 who became a disciple of ,jesus ,christ1 and conversed with him2 others conjecture that it was a forgery towards the close of the third century by some zealous believer1 who1 observing that there had been appeals made by the ,christians of the former age1 to the acts of ,pilate1 but that such acts could not be produced1 imagined it would be of service to ,christianity to fabricate and publish this ,gospel2 as it would both confirm the ,christians under persecution1 and convince the ,heathens of the truth of the ,christian religion4 ,the ,rev4 ,jeremiah ,jones says1 that such pious frauds were very common among ,christians even in the first three centuries2 and that a forgery of this nature1 with the view above-mentioned1 seems natural and probable4 ,the same author1 in noticing that ,eusebius in his ,ecclesiastical ,history1 charges the ,pagans with having forged and published a book1 called ,the ,acts of ,pilate1 takes occasion to observe that the internal evidence of this ,gospel shows it was not the work of any ,heathen1 but that if in the latter end of the third century we find it in use among ,christians 7as it was then certainly in some churches71 and about the same time find a forgery of the ,heathens under the same title1 it seems exceedingly probable that some ,christians1 at that time1 should publish such a piece as this1 in order partly to confront the spurious one of the ,pagans1 and partly to support those appeals which had been made by former ,christians to the ,acts of ,pilate2 and ,mr4 ,jones says1 he thinks so more particularly as we have innumerable instances of forgeries by the faithful in the primitive ages1 grounded on less plausible reasons4 ,whether it be canonical or not1 it is of very great antiquity1 and is appealed to by several of the ancient ,christians4 ,the present translation is made from the ,gospel1 published by ,grynaeus in the ,orthodoxographa1 vol4 i1 tom1 ii1 p4 #fac4 ,notwithstanding the diversity of opinions here alluded to1 the majority of the learned believe that the internal evidence of the authenticity of this ,gospel is manifested in the correct details of that period of ,christ's life on which it treats1 while it far excels the canonical ,evangelists narrative of the trial of our ,saviour before ,pilate1 with more minute particulars of persons1 evidence1 circumstance1 c4 ,,the ,,epistles ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,abgarus ,,king ,,of ,,edessa4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,a copy of a letter written by ,king ,abgarus to ,jesus2 and sent to him by ,ananius1 his footman1 to ,jerusalem1 #e inviting him to ,edessa4 ,,abgarus1 king of ,edessa1 to ,jesus the good ,saviour1 who appears at ,jerusalem1 greeting4 #b ,i have been informed concerning you and your cures1 which are performed without the use of medicines and herbs4 #c ,for it is reported1 that you cause the blind to see1 the lame to walk1 do both cleanse lepers1 and cast out unclean spirits and devils1 and restore them to health who have been long diseased2 and raiseth up the dead2 #d ,all which when ,i heard1 ,i was persuaded of one of these two1 namely1 either that you are ,god himself descended from heaven2 who do these things1 or the ,son of ,god4 #e ,on this account therefore ,i have written to you1 earnestly to desire you would take the trouble of a journey hither1 and cure a disease which ,i am under4 #f ,for ,i hear the ,jews ridicule you and1 intend you mischief4 #g ,my city is indeed small1 but neat1 and large enough for us both4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,the answer of ,jesus by ,ananias the footman to ,abgarus the king1 #c declining to visit ,edessa4 ,,abgarus1 you are happy1 forasmuch as you have believed on me1 whom you have not seen4 #b ,for it is written concerning me1 that those who have seen me should not believe on me1 that they who have not seen might believe and live4 #c ,as to that part of your letter1 which relates to my giving you a visit1 ,i must inform you1 that ,i must fulfil all the ends of my mission in this country1 and after that be received up again to him who sent me4 #d ,but after my ascension ,i will send one of my disciples1 who will cure your disease1 and give life to you1 and all that are with you4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,epistles ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,and ,,abgarus ,,king ,,of ,,edessa4 ,the first writer who makes any mention of the ,epistles that passed between ,jesus ,christ and ,abgarus1 is ,eusebius1 ,bishop of ,caesarea1 in ,palestine1 who flourished in the early part of the fourth century4 ,for their genuineness1 he appeals to the public registers and records of the ,city of ,edessa in ,mesopotamia1 where ,abgarus reigned1 and where he affirms that he found them written in the ,syriac language4 ,he published a ,greek translation of them1 in his ,ecclesiastical ,history4 ,the learned world has been much divided on this subject2 but1 notwithstanding the erudite ,grabe1 with ,archbishop ,cave1 ,dr1 ,parker1 and other divines1 have strenuously contended for their admission into the canon of ,scripture1 they are deemed apocryphal4 ,the ,rev4 ,jeremiah ,jones observes1 that the common people in ,england have this ,epistle in their houses in many places1 fixed in a frame1 with the picture of ,christ before it2 and that they generally1 with much honesty and devotion1 regard it as the word of ,god1 and the genuine ,epistle of ,christ4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,the ,,apostle ,,to ,,the ,,laodiceans4 #a ,he salutes the brethren2 #c exhorts them to persevere in good works1 #d and not to be moved by vain speaking4 #f ,rejoices in his bonds1 #aj desires them to live in the fear of the ,lord4 ,,paul an ,apostle1 not of men1 neither by man1 but by ,jesus ,christ1 to the brethren which are at ,laodicea4 #b ,grace be to you1 and peace from ,god the ,father and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,i thank ,christ in every prayer of mine1 that ye may continue and persevere in good works1 looking for that which is promised in the day of judgment4 #d ,let not the vain speeches of any trouble you1 who pervert the truth1 that they may draw you aside from the truth of the ,gospel which ,i have preached4 #e ,and now may ,god grant1 that my converts may attain to a perfect knowledge of the truth of the ,gospel1 be beneficent1 and doing good works which accompany salvation4 #f ,and now my bonds1 which ,i suffer in ,christ1 are manifest1 in which ,i rejoice and am glad4 ,for ,i know that this shall turn to my salvation for ever1 which shall be through your prayer1 and the supply of the ,holy ,spirit4 #h ,whether ,i live or die1 to live shall be a life to ,christ1 to die will be joy4 #i ,and our ,lord will grant us his mercy1 that ye may have the same love1 and be like-minded4 #aj ,wherefore1 my beloved1 as ye have heard of the coming of the ,lord1 so think and act in fear1 and it shall be to you life eternal2 #aa ,for it is ,god1 who worketh in you3 #ab ,and do all things without sin4 #ac ,and what is best1 my beloved rejoice in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and avoid all filthy lucre4 #ad ,let all your requests be made known to ,god1 and be steady in the doctrine of ,christ4 #ae ,and whatsoever things are sound and true1 and of good report1 and chaste1 and just1 and lovely1 these things do4 #af ,those things which ye have heard1 and received1 think on these things1 and peace shall be with you4 #ag ,all the saints salute you4 #ah ,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with your spirit4 ,amen4 #ai ,cause this ,epistle to be read to the ,colossians1 and the ,epistle of the ,colossians to be read among you4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,the ,,apostle ,,to ,,the ,,laodiceans4 ,this ,epistle has been highly esteemed by several learned men of the church of ,rome and others4 ,the ,quakers have printed a translation1 and plead for it1 as the reader may see1 by consulting ,poole's ,annotation on ,col4 vi4 #af4 ,sixtus ,senensis mentions two ,,mss41 the one in the ,sorbonne ,library at ,paris1 which is a very ancient copy1 and the other in the ,library of ,joannes a ,viridario1 at ,padua1 which he transcribed and published2 and which is the authority for the following translation4 ,there is a very old translation of this ,epistle in the ,british ,museum1 among the ,harleian ,,mss41 ,cod4 #abab4 ,,the ,,epistles ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,the ,,apostle ,,to ,,seneca1 ,,with ,,seneca',s ,,to ,,paul4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,i ,,suppose1 ,paul1 you have been informed of that conversation1 which passed yesterday between me and my ,lucilius1 concerning hypocrisy and other subjects2 for there were some of your disciples in company with us2 #b ,for when we were retired into the ,sallustian gardens1 through which they were also passing1 and would have gone another way1 by our persuasion they joined company with us4 #c ,i desire you to believe1 that we much wish for your conversation2 #d ,we were much delighted with your book of many ,epistles1 which you have written to some cities and chief towns of provinces1 and contain wonderful instructions for moral conduct3 #e ,such sentiments1 as ,i suppose you were not the author of1 but only the instrument of conveying1 though sometimes both the author and the instrument1 #f ,for such is the sublimity of those1 doctrines1 and their grandeur1 that ,i suppose the age of a man is scarce sufficient to be instructed and perfected in the knowledge of them4 ,i wish your welfare1 my brother4 ,farewell4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,paul to ,,seneca ,greeting4 ,i ,,received your letter yesterday with pleasure1 to which ,i could immediately have written an answer1 had the young man been at home1 whom ,i intended to have sent to you3 #b ,for you know when1 and by whom1 at what seasons1 and to whom ,i must deliver everything which ,i send4 #c ,i desire therefore you would not charge me with negligence1 if ,i wait for a proper person4 #d ,i reckon myself very happy in having the judgment of so valuable a person1 that you are delighted with my ,epistles3 #e ,for you would not be esteemed a censor1 a philosopher1 or be the tutor of so great a prince1 and a master of everything1 if you were not sincere4 ,i wish you a lasting prosperity4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,i ,,have completed some volumes and divided them into their proper parts4 #b ,i am determined to read them to ,caesar1 and if any favourable opportunity happens1 you also shall be present1 when they are read2 #c ,but if that cannot be1 ,i will appoint and give you notice of a day1 when we will together read over the performance4 #d ,i had determined1 if ,i could with safety1 first to have your opinion of it1 before ,i published it to ,caesar1 that you might be convinced of my affection to you4 ,farewell1 dearest ,paul4 ,,chap4 ,,iv4 ,,paul to ,,seneca ,greeting4 ,,as often as ,i read your letters1 ,i imagine you present with me2 nor indeed do ,i think any other1 than that you are always with us4 #b ,as soon therefore as you begin to come1 we shall presently see each other4 ,i wish you all prosperity4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,,we are very much concerned at your too long absence from us4 #b ,what is it1 or what affairs are they1 which obstructs your coming8 #c ,if you fear the anger of ,caesar because you have abandoned your former religion1 and made proselytes also of others1 you have this to plead1 that your acting thus proceeded not from inconstancy1 but judgment4 ,farewell4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,paul to ,,seneca and ,,lucilius ,greeting4 ,,concerning those things1 about which ye wrote to me1 it is not proper for me to mention anything in writing with pen and ink3 the one of which leaves marks1 and the other evidently declares things4 #b ,especially since ,i know that there are near you1 as well as me1 those who will understand my meaning4 #c ,deference is to be paid to all men1 and so much the more1 as they are more likely to take occasions of quarrelling4 #d ,and if we show a submissive temper1 we shall overcome effectually in all points1 if so be they are1 who are capable of seeing and acknowledging themselves to have been in the wrong4 ,farewell4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,i ,,profess myself extremely pleased with the reading your letters to the ,galatians1 ,corinthians1 and people of ,achaia4 #b ,for the ,holy ,ghost has in them by you delivered those sentiments which are very lofty1 sublime1 deserving of all respect1 and beyond your own invention4 #c ,i could wish therefore1 that when you are writing things so extraordinary1 there might not be wanting an elegancy of speech agreeable to their majesty4 #d ,and ,i must own1 my brother1 that ,i may not at once dishonestly conceal anything from you1 and be unfaithful to my own conscience1 that the emperor is extremely pleased with the sentiments of your ,epistles2 #e ,for when he heard the beginning of them read1 he declared1 that he was surprised to find such notions in a person1 who had not had a regular education4 #f ,to which ,i replied1 ,that the ,gods sometimes made use of mean 7innocent7 persons to speak by1 and gave him an instance of this in a mean countryman named ,vatienus1 who1 when he was in the country of ,reate1 had two men appeared to him1 called ,castor and ,pollux1 and received a revelation from the gods4 ,farewell4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,paul to ,,seneca ,greeting4 ,,although ,i know the emperor is both an admirer and favourer of our religion1 yet give me leave to advise you against your suffering any injury 7by showing favour to us74 #b ,i think indeed you ventured upon a very dangerous attempt1 when you would declare 7to the emperor7 that which is so very contrary to his religion1 and way of worship2 seeing he is a worshipper of the heathen gods4 #c ,i know not what you particularly had in view1 when you told him of this2 but ,i suppose you did it out of too great respect for me4 #d ,but ,i desire that for the future you would not do so2 for you had need be careful1 lest by showing your affection for me1 you should offend your master3 #e ,his anger indeed will do us no harm1 if he continue a heathen2 nor will his not being angry be of any service to us3 #f ,and if the empress act worthy of her character1 she will not be angry2 but if she act as a woman1 she will be affronted4 ,farewell4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,anneus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,,know that my letter1 wherein ,i acquainted you1 that ,i had read to the ,emperor your ,epistles1 does not so much affect you as the nature of the things 7contained in them47 #b ,which do so powerfully divert men's minds from their former manners and practices1 that ,i have always been surprised1 and have been fully convinced of it by many arguments heretofore4 #c ,let us therefore begin afresh2 and if any thing heretofore has been imprudently acted1 do you forgive4 #d ,i have sent you a book decopia verborum4 ,farewell1 dearest ,paul4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,paul to ,,seneca ,greeting4 ,,as often as ,i write to you1 and place my name before yours1 ,i do a thing both disagreeable to myself1 and contrary to our religion3 #b ,for ,i ought1 as ,i have often declared1 to become all things to all men1 and to have that regard to your quality1 which the ,roman law has honoured all senators with2 namely1 to put my name last in the 7inscription of the7 ,epistle1 that ,i may not at length with uneasiness and shame be obliged to do that which it was always my inclination to do4 ,farewell1 most respected master4 ,dated the fifth of the calends of ,july1 in the fourth ,consulship of ,nero1 and ,messala4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,,all happiness to you1 my dearest ,paul4 #b ,if a person so great1 and every way agreeable as you are1 become not only a common1 but a most intimate friend to me1 how happy will be the case of ,seneca6 #c ,you therefore1 who are so eminent1 and so far exalted above all1 even the greatest1 do not think yourself unfit to be first named in the inscription of an ,epistle2 #d ,lest ,i should suspect you intend not so much to try me1 as to banter me2 for you know yourself to be a ,roman citizen4 #e ,and ,i could wish to be in that circumstance or station which you are1 and that you were in the same that ,i am4 ,farewell1 dearest ,paul4 ,dated the tenth of the calends of ,april1 in the ,consulship of ,aprianus and ,capito4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,,all happiness to you1 my dearest ,paul4 ,do you not suppose ,i am extremely concerned and grieved that your innocence should bring you into sufferings8 #b ,and that all the people should suppose you 7,christians7 so criminal1 and imagine all the misfortunes that happen to the city1 to be caused by you8 #c ,but let us bear the charge with a patient temper1 appealing for our innocence to the court above1 which is the only one our hard fortune will allow us to address to1 till at length our misfortunes shall end in unalterable happiness4 #d ,former ages have produced 7tyrants7 ,alexander the son of ,philip1 and ,dionysius2 ours also has produced ,caius ,caesar2 whose inclinations were their only laws4 #e ,as to the frequent burnings of the city of ,rome1 the cause is manifest2 and if a person in my mean circumstances might be allowed to speak1 and one might declare these dark things without danger1 every one should see the whole of the matter4 #f ,the ,christians and ,jews are indeed commonly punished for the crime of burning the city2 but that impious miscreant1 who delights in murders and butcheries1 and disguises his villainies with lies1 is appointed to1 or reserved till1 his proper time4 #g ,and as the life of every excellent person is now sacrificed instead of that one person 7who is the author of the mischief71 so this one shall be sacrificed for many1 and he shall be devoted to be burnt with fire instead of all4 #h ,one hundred and thirty-two houses1 and four whole squares 7or islands7 were burnt down in six days3 the seventh put an end to the burning4 ,i wish you all happiness4 #i ,dated the fifth of the calends of ,april1 in the ,consulship of ,frigius and ,bassus4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,annaeus ,,seneca to ,,paul ,greeting4 ,,all happiness to you1 my dearest ,paul4 #b ,you have written many volumes in an allegorical and mystical style1 and therefore such mighty matters and business being committed to you1 require not to be set off with any rhetorical flourishes of speech1 but only with some proper elegance4 #c ,i remember you often said1 that many by affecting such a style do injury to their subjects1 and lose the force of the matters they treat of4 #d ,but in this ,i desire you to regard me1 namely1 to have respect to true ,latin1 and to choose just words1 that so you may the better manage the noble trust which is reposed in you4 #e ,farewell4 ,dated the fifth of the nones of ,july1 ,leo and ,savinus ,consuls4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,paul to ,,seneca ,greeting4 ,,your serious consideration is requited with those discoveries1 which the ,divine ,being has granted but to few2 #b ,i am thereby assured that ,i sow the most strong seed in a fertile soil1 not anything material1 which is subject to corruption1 but the durable word of ,god1 which shall increase and bring forth fruit to eternity4 #c ,that which by your wisdom you have attained to1 shall abide without decay for ever4 #d ,believe that you ought to avoid the superstitions of ,jews and ,gentiles4 #e ,the things which you have in some measure arrived to1 prudently make known to the emperor1 his family1 and to faithful friends2 #f ,and though your sentiments will seem disagreeable1 and not be comprehended by them1 seeing most of them will not regard your discourses1 yet the ,word of ,god once infused into them1 will at length make them become new men1 aspiring towards ,god4 #g ,farewell ,seneca1 who art most dear to us4 ,dated on the calends of ,august1 in the ,consulship of ,leo and ,savinus4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,epistles ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,the ,,apostle ,,to ,,seneca1 ,,with ,,seneca',s ,,to ,,paul4 ,several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of these ,epistles4 ,they are undoubtedly of high antiquity4 ,salmeron cites them to prove that ,seneca was one of ,caesar's household1 referred to by ,paul1 ,philip iv4 #bb1 as saluting the brethren at ,philippi4 ,in ,jerome's enumeration of illustrious men1 he places ,seneca1 on account of these ,epistles1 amongst the ecclesiastical and holy writers of the ,christian ,church4 ,sixtus ,senensis has published them in his ,bibliotheque1 p #hi1 #ij2 and it is from thence that the present translation is made4 ,baronius1 ,bellarmine1 ,dr4 ,cave1 ,spanheim1 and others1 contend that they are not genuine4 ,,the ,,acts ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,and ,,thecla4 ,the martyrdom of the holy and glorious first ,martyr and ,apostle ,thecla4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,demas and ,hermogenes become ,paul's companions4 #d ,paul visits ,onesiphorus4 #h ,invited by ,demos and ,hermogenes4 #aa ,preaches to the household of ,onesiphorus4 #ab ,his sermon4 ,,when ,paul went up to ,iconium1 after his flight from ,antioch1 ,demas and ,hermogenes became his companions1 who were then full of hypocrisy4 #b ,but ,paul looking only at the goodness of ,god1 did them no harm1 but loved them greatly4 #c ,accordingly he endeavoured to make agreeable to them all the oracles and doctrines of ,christ1 and the design of the ,gospel of ,god's well-beloved son2 instructing them in the knowledge of ,christ1 as it was revealed to him4 #d ,and a certain man named ,onesiphorus1 hearing that ,paul was come to ,iconium1 went out speedily to meet him1 together with his wife ,lectra1 and his sons ,simmia and ,zeno1 to invite him to their house4 #e ,for ,titus had given them a description of ,paul's personage1 they as yet not knowing him in person1 but only being acquainted with his character4 #f ,they went in the king's highway to ,lystra1 and stood there waiting for him1 comparing all who passed by with that description which ,titus had given them4 #g ,at length they saw a man coming 7namely ,paul71 of a low stature1 bald on the head2 with crooked thighs1 handsome legs1 hollow-eyes2 and a crooked nose2 full of grace1 for sometimes he appeared as a man1 sometimes he had the countenance of an angel4 ,and ,paul saw ,onesiphorus1 and was glad4 #h ,and ,onesiphorus said3 ,hail1 thou servant of the blessed ,god4 ,paul replied1 ,the grace of ,god be with thee and thy family4 #i ,but ,denies and ,hermogenes were moved with envy1 and1 under a show of great religion1 ,demas said1 ,and are not we also servants of the blessed ,god8 ,why didst thou not salute us8 #aj ,onesiphorus replied1 ,because ,i have not perceived in you the fruits of righteousness2 nevertheless1 if ye are of that sort1 ye shall be welcome to my house also4 #aa ,then ,paul went into the house of ,onesiphorus1 and there was great joy among the family on that account3 and they employed themselves in prayer1 breaking of bread1 and hearing ,paul preach the word of ,god concerning temperance and the resurrection1 in the following manner3 #ab ,blessed are the pure in heart2 for they shall see ,god4 #ac ,blessed are they who keep their flesh undefiled 7or pure72 for they shall be the temple of ,god4 #ad ,blessed are the temperate 7or chaste72 for ,god will reveal himself to them4 #ae ,blessed are they who abandon their worldly enjoyments2 for they shall be accepted of ,god4 #af ,blessed are they who have wives1 as though they had them not2 for they shall be made angels of ,god4 #ag ,blessed are they who tremble at the word of ,god2 for they shall be comforted4 #ah ,blessed are they who keep their baptism pure2 for they shall find peace with the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4 #ai ,blessed are they who pursue the wisdom or doctrine of ,jesus ,christ2 for they shall be called the sons of the ,most ,high4 #bj ,blessed are they who observe the instructions of ,jesus ,christ2 for they shall dwell in eternal light4 #ba ,blessed are they1 who for the love of ,christ abandon the glories of the world1 for they shall judge angels1 and be placed at the right hand of ,christ1 and shall not suffer the bitterness of the last judgment4 #bb ,blessed are the bodies and souls of virgins2 for they are acceptable to ,god1 and shall not lose the reward of their virginity2 for the word of their 7heavenly7 ,father shall prove effectual to their salvation in the day of his ,son1 and they shall enjoy rest for evermore4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,thecla listens anxiously to ,paul's preaching4 #e ,thamyris1 her admirer1 concerts with ,theoclia her mother to dissuade her1 #ab in vain4 #ad ,demas and ,hermogenes vilify ,paul to ,thamyris4 ,,while ,paul was preaching this sermon in the church which was in the house of ,onesiphorus1 a certain virgin named ,thecla 7whose mother's name was ,theoclia1 and who was betrothed to a man named ,thamyris7 sat at a certain window in her house4 #b ,from whence1 by the advantage of a window in the house where ,paul was1 she both night and day heard ,paul's sermons concerning ,god1 concerning charity1 concerning faith in ,christ1 and concerning prayer2 #c ,nor would she depart from the window1 till with exceeding joy she was subdued to the doctrines of faith4 #d ,at length1 when she saw many women and virgins going into ,paul1 she earnestly desired that she might be thought worthy to appear in his presence1 and hear the word of ,christ2 for she had not yet seen ,paul's person1 but only heard his sermons1 and that alone4 #e ,but when she would not be prevailed upon to depart from the window1 her mother sent to ,thamyris1 who came with the greatest pleasure1 as hoping now1 to marry her4 ,accordingly he said to ,theoclia1 ,where is my ,thecla8 #f ,theoclia replied1 ,thamyris1 ,i have something very strange to tell you2 for ,thecla1 for the space of three days1 will not move from the window1 not so much as to eat or drink1 but is so intent in hearing the artful and delusive discourses of a certain foreigner1 that ,i perfectly wonder ,thamyris1 that a young woman of her known modesty1 will suffer herself to be so prevailed upon4 #g ,for that man has disturbed the whole city of ,iconium1 and even your ,thecla1 among others4 ,all the women and young men flock to him to receive his doctrine2 who1 besides all the rest1 tells them that there is but one ,god1 who alone is to be worshipped1 and that we ought to live in chastity4 #h ,notwithstanding this1 my daughter ,thecla1 like a spider's web fastened to the window1 is captivated1 by the discourses of ,paul1 and attends' upon them with prodigious eagerness1 and vast delight2 and thus1 by attending on what he says1 the young woman is seduced4 ,now then do you go1 and speak to her1 for she is betrothed to you4 #i ,accordingly ,thamyris went1 and having saluted her1 and taking care not to surprise her1 he said1 ,thecla1 my spouse1 why sittest thou in this melancholy posture8 ,what strange impressions are made upon thee8 ,turn to ,thamyris1 and blush4 #aj ,her mother also spake to her after the same manner1 and said1 ,child1 why dost thou sit so melancholy1 and1 like one astonished1 makest no reply8 #aa ,then they wept exceedingly1 ,thamyris1 that he had lost his spouse2 ,theoclia1 that she had lost her daughter2 and the maids1 that they had lost their mistress2 and there was an universal mourning in the family4 #ab ,but all these things made no impression upon ,thecla1 so as to incline her so much as to turn to them1 and take notice of them2 for she still regarded the discourses of ,paul4 #ac ,then ,thamyris ran forth into the street to observe who they were that went in to ,paul1 and came out from him2 and he saw two men engaged in a very warm dispute1 and said to them2 #ad ,sirs1 what business have you here8 and who is that man within1 belonging to you1 who deludes the minds of men1 both young men and virgins1 persuading them1 that they ought not to marry1 but continue as they are8 #ae ,i promise to give you a considerable sum1 if ye will give me a just account of him2 for ,i am the chief person of this city4 #af ,demas and ,hermogenes replied1 ,we cannot so exactly tell who he is2 but this we know1 that he deprives young men of their 7intended7 wives1 and virgins of their 7intended7 husbands1 by teaching1 ,there can be no future resurrection1 unless ye continue in chastity1 and do not defile your flesh4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,they betray ,paul4 #g ,thamyris arrests him with officers4 ,,then said ,thamyris1 ,come along with me to my house1 and refresh yourselves4 ,so they went to a very splendid entertainment1 where there was wine in abundance1 and very rich provision4 #b ,they were brought to a table richly spread1 and made to drink plentifully by ,thamyris1 on account of the love he had for ,thecla and his desire to marry her4 #c ,then ,thamyris said1 ,i desire ye would inform me what the doctrines of this ,paul are1 that ,i may understand them2 for ,i am under no small concern about ,thecla1 seeing she so delights in that stranger's discourses1 that ,i am in danger of losing my intended wife4 #d ,then ,demas and ,hermogenes answered both together1 and said1 ,let him be brought before the governor ,castellius1 as one who endeavours to persuade the people into the new religion of the ,christians1 and he1 according to the order of ,caesar1 will put him to death1 by which means you will obtain your wife2 #e ,while we at the same time will teach her1 that the resurrection which he speaks of is already come1 and consists in our having children2 and that we then arose again1 when we came to the knowledge of ,god4 #f ,thamyris having this account from them1 was filled with hot resentment3 #g ,and rising early in the morning he went to the house of ,onesiphorus1 attended by the magistrates1 the ,jailor1 and a great multitude of people with staves1 and said to ,paul2 #h ,thou hast perverted the city of ,iconium1 and among the rest1 ,thecla1 who is betrothed to me1 so that now she will not marry me4 ,thou shalt therefore go with us to the governor ,castellius4 #i ,and all the multitude cried out1 ,away with this imposter1 for he has perverted the minds of our wives1 and all the people hearken to him4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,paul accused before the governor by ,thamyris4 #e ,defends himself4 #i ,is committed to prison1 #aj and visited by ,thecla4 ,,then ,thamyris standing before the governor's judgment-seat1 spake with a loud voice in the following manner4 #b ,o governor1 ,i know not whence this man cometh2 but he is one who teaches that matrimony is unlawful4 ,command him therefore to declare before you for what reason he publishes such doctrines4 #c ,while he was saying thus1 ,demas and ,hermogenes 7whispered to ,thamyris1 and7 said2 ,say that he is a ,christian1 and he will presently be put to death4 #d ,but the governor was more deliberate1 and calling to ,paul1 he said1 ,who art thou8 ,what dost thou teach8 ,they seem to lay gross crimes to thy charge4 #e ,paul then spake with a loud voice1 saying1 ,as ,i am now called to give an account1 ,o governor1 of my doctrines1 ,i desire your audience4 #f ,that ,god1 who is a ,god of vengeance1 and who strands in need of nothing but the salvation of his creatures1 has sent me to reclaim them from their wickedness1 and corruptions2 from all 7sinful7 pleasures1 and from death2 and to persuade them to sin no more4 #g ,on this account1 ,god sent his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,i preach1 and in whom ,i instruct men to place their hopes1 as that person who only had such compassion on the deluded world1 that it might not1 ,o governor1 be condemned1 but have faith1 the fear of ,god1 the knowledge of religion1 and the love of truth4 #h ,so that if ,i only teach those things which ,i have received by revelation from ,god1 where is my crime8 #i ,when the governor heard this1 he ordered ,paul to be bound1 and to be put in prison1 till he should be more at leisure to hear him more fully4 #aj ,but in the night1 ,thecla taking off her ear-rings1 gave them to the turnkey of the prison1 who then opened the door to her1 and let her in2 #aa ,and when she made a present of a silver looking-glass to the jailor1 was allowed to go into the room where ,paul was2 then she set down at his feet1 and heard from him the great things of ,god4 #ab ,and as she perceived ,paul not to be afraid of suffering1 but that by divine assistance he behaved himself with courage1 her faith so far increased that she kissed his chains4 ,,chapter ,v4 #a ,thecla sought and found by her relations4 #d ,brought with ,paul before the governor4 #i ,ordered to be burnt1 and ,paul to be whipt4 #ae ,thecla miraculously saved4 ,,at length ,thecla was missed and sought for by the family and by ,thamyris in every street1 as though she had been lost2 till one of the porter's fellow-servants told them1 that she had gone out in the night-time4 #b ,then they examined the porter1 and he told them1 that she was gone to the prison to the strange man4 #c ,they went therefore according to his direction1 and there found her2 and when they came out1 they got a mob together1 and went and told the governor all that had happened4 #d ,upon which he ordered ,paul to be brought before his judgment seat4 #e ,thecla in the mean time lay wallowing on the ground in the prison1 in that same place where ,paul had sat to teach her2 upon which the governor also ordered her to be brought before his judgment-seat2 which summons she received with joy1 and went4 #f ,when ,paul was brought thither1 the mob with more vehemence cried out1 ,he is a magician1 let him die4 #g ,nevertheless the governor attended with pleasure upon ,paul's discourses of the holy works of ,christ2 and1 after a council called1 he summoned ,thecla1 and said to her1 ,why do you not1 according to the law of the ,iconians1 marry ,thamyris8 #h ,she stood still1 with her eyes fixed upon ,paul2 and finding she made no reply1 ,theoclia1 her mother cried out saying1 ,let the unjust creature be burnt2 let her be burnt in the midst of the theatre1 for refusing ,thamyris1 that all women may learn from her to avoid such practices4 #i ,then the governor was exceedingly concerned1 and ordered ,paul to be whipt out of the city1 and ,thecla to be burnt4 #aj ,so the governor arose1 and went immediately into the theatre2 and all the people went forth to see the dismal sight4 #aa ,but ,thecla1 just as a lamb in the wilderness looks every way to see his shepherd1 looked around for ,paul2 #ab ,and as she was looking upon the multitude1 she saw the ,lord ,jesus in the likeness of ,paul1 and said to herself1 ,paul is come to see me in my distressed circumstances4 ,and she fixed her eyes upon him2 but he instantly ascended up to heaven1 while she looked on him4 #ac ,then the young men and women brought wood and straw for the burning of ,thecla2 who being brought naked to the stake1 extorted tears from the governor1 with surprise beholding the greatness of her beauty4 #ad ,and when they had placed the wood in order1 the people commanded her to go upon it2 which she did1 first making the sign of the cross4 #ae ,then the people set fire to the pile2 though the flame was exceeding large1 it did not touch her2 for ,god took compassion on her1 and caused a great eruption from the earth beneath1 and a cloud from above to pour down great quantities of rain and hail2 #af ,insomuch that by the rupture of the earth1 very many were in great danger1 and some were killed1 the fire was extinguished1 and ,thecla preserved4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,paul with ,onesiphorus in a cave4 #g ,thecla discovers ,paul2 #ab proffers to follow him3 #ac he exhorts her not for fear of fornication4 ,,in the mean time ,paul1 together with ,onesiphorus1 his wife and children1 was keeping a fast in a certain cave1 which was in the road from ,iconium to ,daphne4 #b ,and when they had fasted for several days1 the children said to ,paul1 ,father1 we are hungry1 and have not wherewithal to buy bread2 for ,onesiphorus had left all his substance to follow ,paul with his family4 #c ,then ,paul1 taking off his coat1 said to the boy1 ,go1 child1 and buy bread1 and bring it hither4 #d ,but while the boy was buying the bread1 he saw his neighbour ,thecla1 and was surprised1 and said to her1 ,thecla1 where are you going8 #e ,she replied1 ,i am in pursuit of ,paul1 having been delivered from the flames4 #f ,the boy then said1 ,i will bring you to him1 for he is under great concern on your account1 and has been in prayer and fasting these six days4 #g ,when ,thecla came to the cave1 she found ,paul upon his knees praying and saying1 ,o holy ,father1 ,o ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 grant that the fire may not touch ,thecla2 but be her helper1 for she is thy servant4 #h ,thecla then standing behind him1 cried out in the following words3 ,o sovereign ,lord ,creator of heaven and earth1 the ,father of thy beloved and holy ,son1 ,i praise thee that thou hast preserved me from the fire1 to see ,paul again4 #i ,paul then arose1 and when he saw her1 said1 ,o ,god1 who searchest the heart1 ,father of my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i praise thee that thou hast answered my prayer4 #aj ,and there prevailed among them in the cave an entire affection to each other2 ,paul1 ,onesiphorus1 and all that were with them being filled with joy4 #aa ,they had five loaves1 some herbs and water1 and they solaced each other in reflections upon the holy works of ,christ4 #ab ,then said ,thecla to ,paul1 ,if you be pleased with it1 ,i will follow you whithersoever you go4 #ac ,he replied to her1 ,persons are now much given to fornication1 and you being handsome1 ,i am afraid lest you should meet with greater temptation than the former1 and should ,not withstand1 but be overcome by it4 #ad ,thecla replied1 ,grant me only the seal of ,christ1 and no temptation shall affect me4 #ae ,paul answered1 ,thecla1 wait with patience1 and you shall receive the gift of ,christ4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #a ,paul and ,thecla go to ,antioch4 #b ,alexander1 a magistrate1 falls in love with ,thecla3 #d kisses her by force3 #e she resists him3 #f is carried before the governor1 and condemned to be thrown to wild beasts4 ,,then ,paul sent back ,onesiphorus and his family to their own home1 and taking ,thecla along with him1 went for ,antioch2 #b ,and as soon as they came in4 to the city1 a certain ,syrian1 named ,alexander1 a magistrate in the city1 who had done many considerable services for the city during his magistracy1 saw ,thecla1 and fell in love with her1 and endeavoured by many rich presents to engage ,paul in his interest4 #c ,but ,paul told him1 ,i know not the woman of whom you speak1 nor does she belong to me4 #d ,but he being a person of great power in1 ,antioch1 seized her in the street and kissed her3 which ,thecla would not bear1 but looking about for ,paul1 cried out in a distressed loud tone1 ,force me not1 who am a stranger2 force me not1 who am a servant of ,god2 ,i am one of the principal persons of ,iconium1 and was obliged to leave that city because ,i would not be married to ,thamyris4 #e ,then she laid hold on ,alexander1 tore his coat1 and took his crown off his head1 and made him appear ridiculous before all the people4 #f ,but ,alexander1 partly as he loved her1 and partly being ashamed of what had been done1 led her to the governor1 and upon her confession of what she had done1 he condemned her to be thrown among the beasts4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 #b ,thecla entertained by ,trifina2 #c brought out to the wild beasts2 a she-lion licks her feet4 #e ,trifina upon a vision of her deceased daughter1 adopts ,thecla1 #aa who is taken to the amphitheatre again4 ,,which when the people saw1 they said3 ,the judgments passed in this city are unjust4 ,but ,thecla desired the favour of the governor1 that her chastity might not be attacked1 but preserved till she should be cast to the beasts4 #b ,the governor then inquired1 ,who would entertain her2 upon which a certain very rich widow1 named ,trifina1 whose daughter was lately dead1 desired that she might have the keeping of her2 and she began to treat her in her house as her own daughter4 #c ,at length a day came1 when the beasts were to be brought forth to be seen2 and ,thecla was brought to the amphitheatre1 and put into a den in which was an exceeding fierce she-lion1 in the presence of a multitude of spectators4 #d ,trifina2 without any surprise1 accompanied ,thecla1 and the she-lion licked the feet of ,thecla4 ,the title written which denoted her crime1 was ,sacrilege4 ,then the women cried out1 ,o ,god1 the judgments of this city are unrighteous4 #e ,after the beasts had been shown1 ,trifina took ,thecla home with her1 and they went to bed2 and behold1 the daughter of ,trifina1 who was dead1 appeared to her mother1 and said2 ,mother1 let the young woman1 ,thecla1 be reputed by you as your daughter in my stead2 and desire her that she should pray for me1 that ,i may be translated to a state of happiness4 #f ,upon which ,trifina1 with a mournful air1 said1 ,my daughter ,falconilla has appeared to me1 and ordered me to receive you in her room2 wherefore ,i desire1 ,thecla1 that you would pray for my daughter1 that she may be translated into a state of happiness1 and to life eternal4 #g ,when ,thecla heard this1 she immediately prayed to the ,lord1 and said3 ,o ,lord ,god of heaven and earth1 ,jesus ,christ1 thou ,son of the ,most ,high1 grant that her daughter ,falconilla may live forever4 ,trifina hearing this1 groaned again1 and said3 ,o unrighteous judgments6 ,o unreasonable wickedness6 that such a creature should 7again7 be cast to the beasts6 #h ,on the morrow1 at break of day1 ,alexander came to ,trifina's house1 and said3 ,the governor and the people are waiting2 bring the criminal forth4 #i ,but ,trifina ran in so violently upon him1 that he was affrighted1 and ran away4 ,trifina was one of the royal family2 and she thus expressed her sorrow1 and said2 ,alas6 ,i have trouble in my house on two accounts1 and there is no one who will relieve me1 either under the loss of my daughter1 or my being unable to save ,thecla4 ,but now1 ,o ,lord ,god1 be thou the helper of ,thecla thy servant4 #aj ,while she was thus engaged4 the governor sent one of his own officers to bring ,thecla4 ,trifina took her by the hand1 and1 going with her1 said3 ,i went with ,falconilla to her grave1 and now must go with ,thecla to the beasts4 #aa ,when ,thecla heard this1 she weeping prayed1 and said3 ,o ,lord ,god1 whom ,i have made my confidence and refuge1 reward ,trifina for her compassion to me1 and preserving my chastity4 #ab ,upon this there was a great noise in the amphitheatre2 the beasts roared1 and the people cried out1 ,bring in the criminal4 #ac ,but the women cried out1 and said3 ,let the whole city suffer for such crimes2 and order all of us1 ,o governor1 to the same punishment4 ,o unjust judgment6 ,o cruel sight6 #ad ,others said1 ,let the whole city be destroyed for this vile action4 ,kill us all1 ,o governor4 ,o cruel sight6 ,o unrighteous judgment4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 #a ,thecla thrown naked to the wild beasts2 #b but they all refuse to attack her4 #h ,she baptizes herself in a pit of water4 #aj ,other wild beasts refuse to injure her4 #aa ,tied to wild bulls4 #ac ,miraculously saved4 #ba4 ,released4 #bd ,entertained by ,trifina1 ,,then ,thecla was taken out of the hand of ,trifina1 stripped naked1 had a girdle put on1 and thrown into the place appointed for fighting with the beasts3 and the lions and the bears were let loose upon her4 #b ,but a she-lion1 which was of all the most fierce1 ran to ,thecla1 and fell down at her feet4 ,upon which the multitude of women shouted aloud4 #c ,then a she-bear ran fiercely towards her1 but the she lion met the bear1 and tore it in pieces4 #d ,again a he-lion1 who had been wont to devour men1 and which belonged to ,alexander1 ran towards her2 but the she-lion encountered the he-lion1 and they killed each other4 #e ,then the women were under a greater concern1 because the she-lion1 which had helped ,thecla1 was dead4 #f ,afterwards they brought out many other wild beasts2 but ,thecla stood with her hands stretched towards heaven1 and prayed2 and when she had done praying1 she turned about1 and saw a pit of water1 and said1 ,now it is a proper time for me to be baptized4 #g ,accordingly she threw herself into the water1 and said1 ,in thy name1 ,o my ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,i am this last day baptized4 ,the women and the people seeing this1 cried out and said1 ,do not throw yourself into the water4 ,and the governor himself cried out1 to think that the fish 7sea-calves7 were like to devour so much beauty4 #h ,notwithstanding all this1 ,thecla threw herself into the water1 in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #i ,but the fish 7sea-calves7 when they saw the lightning and fire1 were killed1 and swam dead upon the surface of the water1 and a cloud of fire surrounded ,thecla2 so that as the beasts could not come near her1 so the people could not see her nakedness4 #aj ,yet they turned other wild beasts upon her2 upon which they made a very mournful outcry2 and some of them scattered spikenard1 others cassia1 others amomus 7a sort of spikenard1 or the herb of ,jerusalem1 or ladies rose71 others ointment2 so that the quantity of ointment was large1 in proportion to the number of people2 and upon this all the beasts lay as though they had been fast asleep1 and did not touch ,thecla4 #aa ,whereupon ,alexander said to the governor1 ,i have some very terrible bulls2 let us bind her to them4 ,to which the governor1 with concern1 replied1 ,you may do what you think fit4 #ab ,then they put a cord round ,thecla's waist1 which bound also her feet1 and with it tied her to the bulls1 to whose privy-parts they applied red-hot irons1 that so they being the more tormented1 might more violently drag ,thecla about1 till they had killed her4 #ac ,the bulls accordingly tore about1 making a most hideous noise2 but the flame which was about ,thecla1 burnt off the cords which were fastened to the members of the bulls1 and she stood in the middle of the stage1 as unconcerned as if she had not been bound4 #ad ,but in the mean time ,trifina1 who sat upon one of the benches1 fainted away and died2 upon which the whole city was under a very great concern4 #ae ,and ,alexander himself was afraid1 and desired the governor1 saying3 ,i entreat you1 take compassion on me and the city1 and release this woman1 who has fought with the beasts2 lest both you and ,i1 and the whole city1 be destroyed2 #af ,for if ,caesar should have any account of what has passed now1 he will certainly immediately destroy the city1 because ,trifina1 a person of royal extract1 and a relation of his1 is dead upon her seat4 #ag ,upon this the governor called ,thecla from among the beasts to him1 and said to her1 ,who art thou8 and what are thy circumstances1 that not one of the beasts will touch thee8 #ah ,thecla replied to him2 ,i am a servant of the living ,god2 and as to my state1 ,i am a believer on ,jesus ,christ his ,son1 in whom ,god is well pleased2 and for that reason none of the beasts could touch me4 #ai ,he alone is the way to eternal salvation1 and the foundation of eternal life4 ,he is a refuge to those who are in distress2 a support to the afflicted1 hope and defence to those who are hopeless2 and in a word1 all those who do not believe on him1 shall not live1 but suffer eternal death4 #bj ,when the governor heard these things1 he ordered her clothes to be brought1 and said to her1 ,put on your clothes4 #ba ,thecla replied3 ,may that ,god who clothed me when ,i was naked among the beasts1 in the day of judgment clothe your soul with the robe of salvation4 ,then she took her clothes1 and put them on2 and the governor immediately published an order in these words3 ,i release to you ,thecla the servant of ,god4 #bb ,upon which the women cried out together with a loud voice1 and with one accord gave praise unto ,god1 and said2 ,there is but one ,god1 who is the ,god of ,thecla2 the one ,god who hath delivered ,thecla4 #bc ,so loud were their voices1 that the whole city seemed to be shaken2 and ,trifina herself heard the glad tidings1 and arose again1 and ran with the multitude to meet ,thecla2 and embracing her1 said3 ,now ,i believe there shall be a resurrection of the dead2 now ,i am persuaded that my daughter is alive4 ,come therefore home with me1 my daughter ,thecla1 and ,i will make all over that ,i have to you4 #bd ,so ,thecla went with ,trifina1 and was entertained there a few days1 teaching her the word of the ,lord1 whereby many young women were converted2 and there was great joy in the family of ,trifina4 #be ,but ,thecla longed to see ,paul1 and inquired and sent every where to find him2 and when at length she was informed that he was at ,myra1 in ,lycia1 she took with her many young men and women2 and putting on a girdle1 and dressing herself in the habit of a man1 she went to him to ,myra in ,lycia1 and there found ,paul preaching the word of ,god2 and she stood by him among the throng4 ,,chapter ,x4 #a ,thecla visits ,paul2 #f visits ,onesiphorus2 #h and visits her ,mother #i who repulses her4 #ad ,is tempted by the devil4 #af ,works miracles4 ,,but it was no small surprise to ,paul when he saw her and the people with her2 for he imagined some fresh trial was coming upon them2 #b ,which when ,thecla perceived1 she said to him3 ,i have been baptized1 ,o ,paul2 for he who assists you in preaching1 has assisted me to baptize4 #c ,then ,paul took her1 and led her to the house of ,hermes2 and ,thecla related to ,paul all that had befallen her in ,antioch1 insomuch that ,paul exceedingly wondered1 and all who heard were confirmed in the faith1 and prayed for ,trifina's happiness4 #d ,then ,thecla arose1 and said to ,paul1 ,i am going to ,iconium4 ,paul replied to her3 ,go and teach the word of the ,lord4 #e ,but ,trifina had sent large sums of money to ,paul1 and also clothing by the hands of ,thecla1 for the relief of the poor4 #f ,so ,thecla went to ,iconium4 ,and when she came to the house of ,onesiphorus1 she fell down upon the floor where ,paul had sat and preached1 and1 mixing tears with her prayers1 she praised and glorified ,god in the following words3 #g ,o ,lord the ,god of this house1 in which ,i was first enlightened by thee2 ,o ,jesus1 son of the living ,god1 who wast my helper before the governor1 my helper in the fire1 and my helper among the beasts2 thou alone art ,god for ever and ever1 ,amen4 #h ,thecla now 7on her return7 found ,thamyris dead1 but her mother living4 ,so calling her mother1 she said to her3 ,theoclia1 my mother1 is it possible for you to be brought to a belief1 that there is but one ,lord ,god1 who dwells in the heavens8 ,if you desire great riches1 ,god will give them to you by me2 if you want your daughter again1 here ,i am4 #i ,these and many other things she represented to her mother1 7endeavouring7 to persuade her 7to her own opinion74 ,but her mother ,theoclia gave no credit to the things which were said by the martyr ,thecla4 #aj ,so that ,thecla perceiving1 she discoursed to no purpose1 signing her whole body with the sign 7of the cross71 left the house and went to ,daphne2 and when she came there1 she went to the cave1 where she had found ,paul with ,onesiphorus1 and fell down upon the ground2 and wept before ,god4 #aa ,when she departed thence1 she went to ,seleucia1 and enlightened many in the knowledge of ,christ4 #ab ,and a bright cloud conducted her in her journey4 #ac ,and after she had arrived at ,seleucia she went-to a place out of the city1 about the distance of a furlong1 being afraid of the inhabitants1 because they were worshippers of idols4 #ad ,and she was lead 7by the cloud7 into a mountain called ,calamon1 or ,rodeon4 ,there she abode many years1 and underwent a great many grievous temptations of the devil1 which she bore in a becoming manner1 by the assistance which she had from ,christ4 #ae ,at length certain gentle-women hearing of the virgin ,thecla1 went to her1 and were instructed by her in the oracles of ,god1 and many of them abandoned this world1 and led a monastic life with her4 #af ,hereby a good report was spread everywhere of ,thecla1 and she wrought several 7miraculous7 cures1 so that all the city and adjacent countries brought their sick to that mountain1 and before they came as far as the door of the cave1 they were instantly cured of whatsoever distemper they had4 #ag ,the unclean spirits were cast out1 making a noise2 all received their sick made whole1 and glorified ,god1 who had bestowed such power on the virgin ,thecla2 #ah ,insomuch that the physicians of ,seleucia were now of no more account1 and lost all the profit of their trade1 because no one regarded them2 upon which they were filled with envy1 and began to contrive what methods to take with this servant of ,christ4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 #a ,thecla is attempted to be ravished1 #ab escapes by a rock opening1 #ag and closing miraculously4 ,,the devil then suggested bad advice to their minds2 and being on a certain day met together to consult1 they reasoned among each other thus3 ,the virgin is a priestess of the great goddess ,diana1 and whatsoever she requests from her1 is granted1 because she is a virgin1 and so is beloved by all the gods4 #b ,now then let us procure some rakish fellows1 and after we have made them sufficiently drunk1 and given them a good sum of money1 let us order them to go and debauch this virgin1 promising them1 if they do it1 a larger reward4 #c 7,for they thus concluded among themselves1 that if they be able to debauch her1 the gods will no more regard her nor ,diana cure the sick for her74 #d ,they proceeded according to this resolution1 and the fellows went to the mountain1 and as fierce as lions to the cave1 knocking at the door4 #e ,the holy martyr ,thecla relying upon the ,god in whom she believed1 opened the door1 although she was before apprised of their design1 and said to them1 ,young men1 what is your business8 #f ,they replied1 ,is there any one within1 whose name is ,thecla8 ,she answered1 ,what would you have with her8 ,they said1 ,we have a mind to lie with her4 #g ,the blessed ,thecla answered1 ,though ,i am a mean old woman1 ,i am the servant of my ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and though you have a vile design against me1 ye shall not be able to accomplish it4 ,they replied1 ,is it impossible8 but we must be able to do with you what we have a mind1 #h ,and while they were saying this1 they laid hold on her by main force1 and would have ravished her4 ,then she with the 7greatest7 mildness said to them3 ,young men have patience1 and see the glory of the ,lord4 #i ,and while they held her1 she looked up to heaven and said3 ,o ,god most reverend1 to whom none can be likened2 who makest thyself glorious over thine enemies2 who didst deliver me from the fire1 didst not give me up to ,thamyris1 and didst not give me up to ,alexander3 who deliveredst me from the wild beasts2 who didst preserve me in the deep waters2 who hast everywhere been my helper1 and hast glorified thy name in me2 #aj ,now also deliver me from the hands of these wicked and unreasonable men nor suffer them to debauch my chastity which ,i have hitherto preserved for thy honour2 for ,i love thee1 and long for thee1 and worship thee1 ,o ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 for evermore4 ,amen4 #aa ,then came a voice from heaven1 saying1 ,fear not ,thecla1 my faithful servant1 for ,i am with thee4 ,look and see the place which is opened for thee2 there thy eternal abode shall be2 there thou shalt receive the 7beatific7 vision4 #ab ,the blessed ,thecla observing1 saw the rock opened to as large a degree as that a man might enter in2 she did as she was commanded1 bravely fled from the vile crew1 and went into the rock1 which instantly so closed1 that there was not any crack visible where it had opened4 #ac ,the men stood perfectly astonished at so prodigious a miracle1 and had no power to detain the servant of ,god2 but only catching hold of her veil 7or hood71 they tore off a piece of it2 #ad ,and even that was by the permission of ,god1 for the confirmation of their faith1 who should come to see this venerable place2 and to convey blessings to those in succeeding ages1 who should believe on our ,lord ,jesus ,christ from a pure heart4 #ae ,thus suffered that first martyr and apostle of ,god1 and virgin1 ,thecla1 who came from ,iconium at eighteen years of age2 afterwards1 partly in journeys and travels1 and partly in a monastic life in the cave1 she lived seventy- two years2 so that she was ninety years old when the ,lord translated her4 #af ,thus ends her life4 #ag ,the day which is kept sacred to her memory1 is the twenty-fourth of ,september1 to the glory of the ,father1 and the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost1 now and for evermore4 ,amen4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,acts ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul ,,and ,,thecla4 ,tertullian says that this piece was forged by a ,presbyter of ,asia1 who being convicted1 confessed that he did it out of respect to ,paul1 and ,pope ,gelasius1 in his ,decree against apocryphal books1 inserted it among them4 ,notwithstanding this1 a large part of the history was credited and looked upon as genuine among the primitive ,christians4 ,cyprian1 ,eusebius1 ,epiphanius1 ,austin1 ,gregory1 ,nagianzen4 ,chrysostom1 and ,severus ,sulpitius1 who all lived within the fourth century mention ,thecla or refer to her history4 ,basil of ,seleucia wrote her acts1 sufferings and victories1 in verse2 and ,euagrius ,scholasticus an ecclesiastical historian1 about #eij1 relates that after the ,emperor ,zeno1 had abdicated his empire1 and ,basilik had taken possession of it1 he had a vision of the holy and excellent martyr ,thecla1 who promised him the restoration of his empire2 for which1 when it was brought about1 he erected and dedicated a most noble and sumptuous temple to this famous martyr1 ,thecla1 at ,seleucia1 a city of ,isauria1 and bestowed upon it very noble endowments1 which 7says the author7 are preserved even till this day4 ,hist4 ,ecel4 lib4 #c cap4 #h4--;,cardinal ,barenius1 ,locrinus1 ,archbishop ,wake1 and others2 and also the learned ,grabe1 who edited the ,septuagint1 and revived the ,acts of ,paul and ,thecla1 consider them as having been written in the ,apostolic age2 as containing nothing superstitious1 or disagreeing from the opinions and belief of those times2 and1 in short1 as a genuine and authentic history4 ,again1 it is said1 that this is not the original book of the early ,christians2 but however that may be1 it is published from the ,greek ,,ms4 in the ,bodleian ,library at ,oxford1 which ,dr4 ,mills copied and transmitted to ,dr4 ,grabe4 ,,the ,,first ,,epistle ,,of ,,clement ,,to ,,the ,,corinthians4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,clement commends them for their excellent order and piety in ,christ1 before their schism broke out4 ,,the ,church of ,god which is at ,rome1 to the ,church of ,god which is at ,corinth1 elect1 sanctified by the will of ,god1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord3 grace and peace from the ,almighty ,god1 by ,jesus ,christ1 be multiplied unto you4 #b ,brethren1 the sudden and unexpected dangers and calamities that have fallen upon us1 have1 we fear1 made us the more slow in our consideration of those things which you inquired of us3 #c ,as also of that wicked and detestable sedition1 so unbecoming the elect of ,god1 which a few headstrong and self-willed men have fomented to such a degree of madness1 that your venerable and renowned name1 so worthy of all men to be beloved1 is greatly blasphemed thereby4 #d ,for who that has ever been among you has not experienced the firmness of your faith1 and its fruitfulness in all good works2 and admired the temper and moderation of your religion in ,christ2 and published abroad the magnificence of your hospitality2 and thought you happy in your perfect and certain knowledge of the ,gospel8 #e ,for ye did all things without respect of persons1 and walked according to the laws of ,god2 being subject to those who had the rule over you1 and giving the honour that was fitting to the aged among you4 #f ,ye commanded the young men to think those things that were modest and grave4 #g ,the women ye exhorted to do all things with an unblameable1 and seemly1 and pure conscience2 loving their own husbands1 as was fitting3 and that keeping themselves within the bounds of a due obedience1 they should order their houses gravely1 with all discretion4 #h ,ye were all of you humble- minded1 not boasting of anything desiring rather to be subject than to govern2 to give than to receive2 being a content with the portion ,god hath dispensed to you3 #i ,and hearkening diligently to his word1 ye were enlarged in your bowels1 having his sufferings always before your eyes4 #aj ,thus a firm1 and blessed1 and profitable peace was given unto you3 and an unsatiable desire of doing good2 and a plentiful effusion of the ,holy ,ghost was upon all of you4 #aa ,and being full of good designs1 ye did with1 great readiness of mind1 and with a religious confidence stretch forth your hands to ,god ,almighty2 beseeching him to be merciful unto you1 if in anything ye had unwillingly sinned against him4 #ab ,ye contended day and night for the whole brotherhood2 that with compassion and a good conscience1 the number of his elect might be saved4 #ac ,ye were sincere1 and without offence towards each other2 not mindful of injuries2 all sedition and schism was an abomination unto you4 #ad ,ye bewailed every one his neighbours' sins1 esteeming their defects your own4 #ae ,ye were kind one to another without grudging2 being ready to every good work4 ,and being adorned with a conversation altogether virtuous and religious1 ye did all things in the fear of ,god2 whose ,i commandments were written upon the tables of your heart4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,how their divisions began4 ,,all honour and enlargement was given unto you2 and so was fulfilled that which is written1 my beloved did eat and drink1 he was enlarged and waxed fat1 and he kicked4 #b ,from hence came emulation1 and envy1 and strife1 and sedition2 persecution and disorder1 war and captivity4 #c ,so they who were of no renown1 lifted up themselves against the honourable2 those of no reputation against those who were in respect2 the foolish against the wise2 the young men against the aged4 #d ,therefore righteousness and peace are departed from you1 because every one hath forsaken the fear of ,god2 and is grown blind in his faith2 nor walketh by the rule of ,god's commandments nor liveth as is fitting in ,christ3 #e ,but every one follows his own wicked lusts3 having taken up an unjust and wicked envy1 by which death first entered into the world4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,envy and emulation the original of all strife and disorder4 ,examples of the mischiefs they have occasioned4 ,,for thus it is written1 ,and in process of time it came to pass1 that ,cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the ,lord4 ,and ,abel1 he also brought of the firstlings of his flock1 and of the fat thereof3 #b ,and the ,lord had respect unto ,abel1 and to his offering4 ,but unto ,cain and unto his offering he had not respect4 ,and ,cain was very sorrowful1 and his countenance fell4 #c ,and the ,lord said unto ,cain1 ,why art thou sorrowful8 ,and why is thy countenance fallen8 ,if thou shalt offer aright1 but not divide aright1 hast thou not sinned8 ,hold thy peace3 unto thee shall be his desire1 and thou shalt rule over him4 #d ,and ,cain said unto ,abel his brother1 ,let us go down into the field4 ,and it came to pass1 as they were in the field1 that ,cain rose up against ,abel his brother1 and slew him4 #e ,ye see1 brethren1 how envy and emulation wrought the death of a brother4 ,for this1 our father ,jacob fled from the face of his brother ,esau4 #f ,it was this that caused ,joseph to be persecuted even unto death1 and to come into bondage4 ,envy forced ,moses to flee from the face of ,pharoah king of ,egypt1 when he heard his own countryman ask him1 ,who made thee a ,judge1 and a ruler over us8 ,wilt thou kill me as thou didst the ,egyptian yesterday8 #g ,through envy ,aaron and ,miriam were shut out of the camp1 from the rest of the congregation seven days4 #h ,emulation's sent ,dathan and ,abiram quick into the grave because they raised up a sedition against ,moses the servant of ,god4 #i ,for this1 ,david was not only hated of strangers1 but was persecuted even by ,saul the king of ,israel4 #aj ,but not to insist upon ancient examples1 let us come to those worthies that have been nearest to us2 and take the brave examples of our own age4 #aa ,through zeal and envy1 the most faithful and righteous pillars of the church have been persecuted even to the most grievous deaths4 #ab ,let us set before our eyes1 the holy ,apostles2 ,peter by unjust envy underwent not one or two1 but many sufferings2 till at last being martyred1 he went to the place of glory that was due unto him4 #ac ,for the same cause did ,paul in like manner receive the reward of his patience4 ,seven times he was in bonds2 he was whipped1 was stoned2 he preached both in the ,east and in the ,west2 leaving behind him the glorious report of his faith3 #ad ,and so having taught the whole world righteousness1 and for that end travelled even to the utmost bounds of the ,west2 he at last suffered martyrdom by the command of the governors1 #ae ,and departed out of the world1 and went unto his holy place2 having become a most eminent pattern of patience unto all ages4 #af ,to these ,holy ,apostles were joined a very great number of others1 who having through envy undergone in like manner many pains and torments1 have left a glorious example to us4 #ag ,for this1 not only men but women have been persecuted2 and having suffered very grievous and cruel punishments1 have finished the course of their faith with firmness2 and though weak in body1 yet received a glorious reward4 #ah ,this has alienated the minds even of women from their husbands2 and changed what was once said by our father ,adam2 ,this is now bone of my bones1 and flesh of my flesh4 #ai ,in a word1 envy and strife1 have overturned whole cities1 and rooted out great nations from off the earth4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #d ,he exhorts them to live by holy rules1 and repent of their divisions1 and they shall be forgiven4 ,,these things1 beloved1 we write unto you1 not only for your instruction1 but also for our own remembrance4 #b ,for we are all in the same lists1 and the same combat is prepared for us all4 #c ,wherefore let us lay aside all vain and empty cares2 and let us come up to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling4 #d ,let us consider what is good1 and acceptable and well-pleasing in the sight of him that made us4 #e ,let us look steadfastly to the blood of ,christ1 and see how precious his blood is in the sight of ,god3 which being shed for our salvation1 has obtained the grace of repentance for all the world4 #f ,let us search into all the ages that have gone before us2 and learn that our ,lord has in every one of them still given place for repentance to all such as would turn to him4 #g ,noah preached repentance2 and as many as hearkened to him were saved4 ,jonah denounced destruction against the ,ninevites4 #h ,howbeit they repenting of their sins1 appeased ,god by their prayers3 and were saved1 though they were strangers to the covenant of ,god4 #i ,hence we find how all the ministers of the grace of ,god have spoken by the ,holy ,spirit of repentance4 ,and even the ,lord of all1 has himself declared with an oath concerning it2 #aj ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord1 ,i desire not the death of a sinner1 but that he should repent4 ,adding farther this good sentence1 saying ,turn from your iniquity1 ,o house of ,israel4 #aa ,say unto the children of my people1 though your sins should reach from earth to heaven2 and though they shall be redder than scarlet1 and blacker than sackcloth yet if ye shall turn to me with all your heart1 and shall call me father1 ,i will hearken to you1 as to a holy people4 #ab ,and in another place he saith on this wise3 wash ye1 make you clean2 put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes2 cease to do evil1 learn to do well2 seek judgment1 relieve the oppressed1 judge the fatherless1 plead for the widow4 #ac ,come now and let us reason together1 saith the ,lord3 though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow2 though they be as red as crimson1 they shall be as wool4 #ad ,if ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land but1 if ye refuse and rebel1 ye shall be devoured with the sword2 for the mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4 #ae ,these things has ,god established by his ,almighty will1 desiring that all his beloved should come to repentance4 ,,chapter ,v4 #a ,he sets before them the examples of holy men1 whose piety is recorded in the ,scripture4 ,,wherefore let us obey his excellent and glorious will2 and imploring his mercy and goodness1 let us fall down upon our faces before him1 and cast ourselves upon his mercy2 laying aside all vanity1 and contention1 and envy which leads unto death4 #b ,let us look up to those who have the most perfectly ministered to his excellent glory4 ,let us take ,enoch for our example2 who being found righteous in obedience1 was translated1 and his death was not known4 #c ,noah being proved to be faithful1 did by his ministry1 preach regeneration to the world2 and the ,lord saved by him all the living creatures1 that went with one accord into the ark4 #d ,abraham1 who was called ,god's friend1 was in like manner found faithful2 inasmuch as he obeyed the commands of ,god4 #e ,by obedience he went out of his own country1 and from his own kindred1 and from his father's house2 that so forsaking a small country1 and a weak affinity1 and a little house1 he might inherit the promises of ,god4 #f ,for thus ,god said unto him2 get thee out of thy country1 and from thy kindred1 and from thy father's house1 unto a land that ,i will show thee4 #g ,and1 ,i will make thee a great nation1 and will bless thee1 and make thy name great1 and thou shalt be blessed4 ,and ,i will bless them that bless thee1 and curse them that curse thee2 and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed1 #h ,and again when he separated himself from ,lot1 ,god said unto him2 ,i ,lift up now thine eyes1 and look from the place where thou art northward1 and southward1 and eastward1 and westward1 for all the land which thou seest1 to thee will ,i give it1 and to thy seed for ever4 #i ,and ,i will make thy seed as the dust of the earth1 so that if a man can number the dust of the earth1 then shall thy seed also be numbered4 #aj ,and again he saith3 and ,god brought forth ,abraham1 and said unto him2 look now toward heaven1 and tell the stars1 if thou be able to number them3 so shall thy seed be4 #aa ,and ,abraham believed ,god1 and it was counted to him for righteousness4 #ab ,through faith and hospitality he had a son given him in his old age2 and through obedience he offered him up in sacrifice to ,god1 upon one of the mountains which ,god showed into him4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 #a ,redemption for such as have been eminent for their faith1 kindness1 and charity to their neighbours4 ,,by hospitality and goodliness was ,lot saved out of ,sodom1 when all the country round about was destroyed by fire and brimstone4 #b ,the ,lord thereby making it manifest1 that he will not forsake those that trust in him2 but will bring the disobedient to punishment and correction4 #c ,for his wife who went out with him1 being of a different mind1 and not continuing in the same obedience1 was for that reason set forth for an example1 being turned into a pillar of salt unto this day4 #d ,that so all men may know1 that those who are double minded1 and distrustful of the power of ,god1 are prepared for condemnation1 and to be a sign to all succeeding ages4 #e ,by faith and hospitality was ,rahab the harlot saved4 ,for when the spies were sent by ,joshua the son of ,nun to search out ,jericho1 and the king of ,jericho knew that they were come to spy out his country1 he sent men to take them1 so that they might be put to death4 #f ,rahab therefore1 being hospitable1 received them1 and hid them under the stalks of flax1 on the top of her house4 #g ,and when the messengers that were sent by the king came unto her1 and asked her1 saying1 ,there came men unto thee to spy out the land1 bring them forth1 for so hath the king commanded3 ,she answered1 ,the two men whom ye seek came unto me1 but presently they departed1 and are gone3 ,not discovering them unto them4 #h ,then she said to the spies1 ,i know that the ,lord your ,god has given this city into your hands2 for the fear of you is fallen upon all that dwell therein4 ,when1 therefore1 ye shall have taken it1 ye shall save me and my father's house4 #i ,and they answered her1 saying1 ,it shall be as thou hast spoken unto us1 ,therefore1 when thou shalt know that we are near1 thou shalt gather all thy family together1 upon the house-top and they shall be saved3 but all that shall be found without thy house shall be destroyed4 #aj ,and they gave her moreover a sign1 that she should hang out of her house a scarlet rope1 showing thereby1 that by the blood of our ,lord1 there should be redemption to all that believe and hope in ,god4 ,ye see1 beloved1 how there was not only faith1 but prophesy too in this woman4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 #a ,what rules are given for leading a holy life4 ,,let us1 therefore1 humble ourselves1 brethren1 laying aside all pride1 and boasting1 and foolishness1 and anger3 ,and let us do as it is written4 #b ,for thus saith the ,holy ,spirit2 ,let not the wise man glory in his wisdom1 nor the strong man in his strength1 nor the rich man in his riches2 but let him that glorieth1 glory in the ,lord1 to seek him1 and to do judgment and justice4 #c ,above all1 remembering the words of the ,lord ,jesus1 which he spake concerning equity and long suffering1 saying1 #d ,be ye merciful1 and ye shall obtain mercy2 forgive1 and ye shall be forgiven2 as ye do1 so shall it be done unto you2 as ye give1 so shall it be given unto you2 as ye judge1 so shall ye be judged2 as ye are kind to others1 so shall ,god be kind to you2 with what measure ye mete1 with the same shall it be measured to you again4 #e ,by this command1 and by these rules1 let us establish ourselves1 that so we may always walk obediently to his holy words2 being humble minded3 #f ,for so says the ,holy ,scripture2 upon whom shall ,i look1 even upon him that is poor and of a contrite spirit1 and that trembles at my word4 #g ,it is1 therefore1 just and righteous1 men and brethren1 that we should become obedient unto ,god1 rather than follow such as through pride and sedition1 have made themselves the ring-leaders of a detestable emulation4 #h ,for it is not an ordinary harm that we shall do ourselves1 but rather a very great danger that we shall run1 if we shall rashly give up ourselves to the wills of men1 who promote strife and seditions1 to turn us aside from that which is fitting4 #i ,but let us be kind to one another1 according to the compassion and sweetness of him that made us4 #aj ,for it is written1 ,the merciful shall inherit the earth2 and they that are without evil shall be left upon it3 but the transgressors shall perish from off the face of it4 #aa ,and again he saith1 ,i have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like the cedar of ,libanus4 ,i passed by1 and lo6 he was not2 ,i sought his place1 but it could not be found4 #ab ,keep innocently1 and do the thing that is right1 for there shall be a remnant to the peaceable man4 #ac ,let us1 therefore1 hold fast to those who religiously follow peace2 and not to such as only pretend to desire4 #ad ,for he saith in a certain place1 ,this people honoureth me with their lips1 but their heart is far from me4 #ae ,and again1 ,they bless with their mouths1 but curse in their hearts4 #af ,and again he saith1 ,they loved him with their mouths1 and with their tongues they lied to him4 ,for their heart was not right with him1 neither were they faithful in his covenant4 #ag ,let all deceitful lips become dumb1 and the tongue that speaketh proud things4 ,who have said1 with our tongue will we prevail2 our lips are our own1 who is ,lord over us8 #ah ,for the oppression of the poor1 for the sighing of the needy1 now will ,i arise saith the ,lord2 ,i will set him in safety1 ,i will deal confidently with him4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,he advises then1 to be humble1 and1 follow the examples of ,jesus1 and of holy men in all ages4 ,,for ,christ is theirs who are humble1 and not who exalt themselves over his flock4 ,the sceptre of the majesty of ,god1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 came not in the show of pride and arrogance1 though he could have done so2 but with humility as the ,holy ,ghost had before spoken concerning him4 #b ,for thus he saith1 ,lord1 who hath believed our report1 and to whom is the arm of the ,lord revealed2 ,for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant1 and as a root out of a dry ground2 #c ,he hath no form or comeliness1 and when we shall see him1 there is no beauty that we should desire him4 #d ,he is despised and rejected of men2 a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief4 #e ,and we hid1 as it were1 our faces from him2 he was despised1 and we esteemed him not4 #f ,surely he hath borne our griefs1 and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken1 smitten of ,god1 and afflicted4 #g ,but he was wounded for our transgressions2 he was bruised for our iniquities2 the chastisement of our peace was upon him2 and with his stripes we are healed4 #h ,all we like sheep have gone astray2 we have turned every one to his own way2 and the ,lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all4 #i ,he was oppressed1 and he was afflicted1 yet he opened not his mouth3 he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter2 and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb1 so he openeth not his mouth4 #aj ,he was taken from prison and from judgment2 and who shall declare this generation8 ,for he was cut off out of the land of the living3 for the transgression of my people was he stricken4 #aa ,and he made his grave with the wicked1 and with the rich in his death2 because he had done no violence1 neither was any deceit in his mouth4 #ab ,yet it pleased the ,lord to bruise him2 he hath put him to grief3 when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin1 he shall see his seed1 he shall prolong his days1 and the pleasure of the ,lord shall prosper in his hand4 #ac ,he shall see of the travail of his soul1 and shall be satisfied3 by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many2 for he shall bear their iniquities4 #ad ,therefore will ,i divide him a portion with the great1 and he shall divide the spoil with the strong2 because he hath poured out his soul unto death2 and he was numbered with the transgressors1 and he bare the sin of many1 and made intercession for the transgressors4 #ae ,and again he himself saith1 ,i am a worm and no man1 a reproach of men1 and despised of the people4 ,all they that see me laugh me to scorn2 they shoot out their lips1 they shake their heads1 saying2 ,he trusted in the ,lord that he would deliver him1 let him deliver him seeing he delighted in him4 #af ,ye see1 beloved1 what the pattern is that has been given to us4 ,for if the ,lord thus humbled himself1 what should we do who are brought by him under the yoke of his grace8 #ag ,let us be followers of those who went about in goat-skins1 and sheep-skins2 preaching the coming of ,christ4 #ah ,such were ,elias1 and ,eliaxus1 and ,ezekiel1 the prophets1 ,and let us add to these1 such others as have received the like testimony4 #ai ,abraham has been greatly witnessed of2 having been called the friend of ,god4 ,and yet he steadfastly beholding the glory of ,god1 says with all humility1 ,i am dust and ashes4 #bj ,again of ,job1 it is thus written1 ,that he was just1 and without blame1 true2 one that served ,god1 and abstained from all evil4 ,yet he accusing himself1 said1 ,no man is free from pollution1 no1 not though he should live but one day4 #ba ,moses was called faithful in all ,god's ,house2 and by his conduct the ,lord punished ,israel by stripes and plagues4 #bb ,and even this man1 though thus greatly honoured1 spake not greatly of himself2 but when the oracle of ,god was delivered to him out of the bush1 he said1 ,who am ,i1 that thou dost send me8 ,i am of a slender voice1 and a slow tongue4 #bc ,and again he saith1 ,i am as the smoke of the pot4 #bd ,and what shall we say of ,david1 so highly testified of in the ,holy ,scriptures8 ,to whom ,god said1 ,i have found a man after my own heart1 ,david the son of ,jesse1 with my holy oil have ,i anointed him4 #be ,but yet he himself saith unto ,god1 ,have mercy upon me1 ,o ,god1 according to thy loving kindness2 according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies1 blot out my transgressions4 #bf ,wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity1 and cleanse me from my sin4 ,for ,i acknowledge my transgressions1 and my sin is ever before me4 #bg ,against ,thee only have ,i sinned1 and done this evil in thy sight2 that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest2 and be clear when thou judgest4 #bh ,behold ,i was shapen in iniquity1 and in sin did my mother conceive me4 #bi ,behold1 thou desirest truth in the inward parts2 and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom4 #cj ,purge me with hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean3 wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow4 #ca ,make me to hear joy and gladness1 that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice4 #cb ,hide thy face from my sins1 and blot out all mine iniquities4 ,create in me a clean heart ,o ,god2 and renew a right spirit within me4 #cd ,cast me not away from thy presence1 and take not thy holy spirit from me4 #ce ,restore unto me the joy of thy salvation1 and uphold me with thy free spirit4 #cf ,then will ,i teach transgressors thy ways1 and sinners shall be converted unto thee4 #cg ,deliver me from blood-guiltiness1 ,o ,god1 thou ,god of my salvation2 and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness4 #ch ,o ,lord open thou my lips1 and my mouth shall show forth thy praise4 #ci ,for thou desirest not sacrifice1 else would ,i give it2 thou delightest not in burnt-offerings4 #dj ,the sacrifices of ,god are a broken spirit2 a broken and a contrite heart1 ,o ,god1 thou wilt not despise4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,he again persuades them to compose their divisions4 ,,thus has the humility and godly fear of these great and excellent men recorded in the ,scriptures1 through obedience1 made not only us1 but also the generations before us better2 even as many as have received his holy oracles with fear and truth4 #b ,having therefore so many1 and such great and glorious examples1 let us return to that peace which was the mark that from the beginning was set before us2 #c ,let us look up to the ,father and ,creator of the whole world2 and let us hold fast to his glorious and exceeding gifts and benefits of peace4 #d ,let us consider and behold with the eyes of our understanding his long suffering will2 and think how gentle and patient he is towards his whole creation4 #e ,the heavens moving by his appointment1 are subject to him in peace4 #f ,day and night accomplish the courses that he has allotted unto them1 not disturbing one another4 #g ,the sun and moon1 and all the several companies and constellations of the stars1 run the courses that he has appointed to them in concord1 without departing in the least from them4 #h ,the fruitful earth yields its food plentifully in due season both to man and beast1 and to all animals that are upon it1 according to his will2 not disputing1 nor altering any thing of what was ordered by him4 #i ,so also the unfathomable and unsearchable floods of the deep1 are kept in by his command2 #aj ,and the conflux of the vast sea1 being brought together by his order into its several collections1 passes not the bounds that he has set to it2 #aa ,but as he appointed it1 so it remains4 ,for he said1 ,hitherto shalt then come1 and thy floods shall be broken within thee4 #ab ,the ocean impassable to mankind1 and the worlds that are beyond it are governed by the same commands of their great master4 #ac ,spring and summer1 autumn and winter1 give place peaceably to each other4 #ad ,the several quarters of the winds fulfil their work in their seasons1 without offending one another4 #ae ,the ever-flowing fountains1 made both for pleasure and health1 never fail to reach out their breasts to support the life of men4 #af ,even the smallest creatures live together in peace and concord with each other4 #ag ,all these has the ,great ,creator and ,lord of all1 commanded to observe peace and concord2 being good to all4 #ah ,but especially to us who flee to his mercy through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 to whom be glory and majesty for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,he exhorts them to obedience1 from the consideration of the goodness of ,god1 and of his presence in every place4 ,,take heed1 beloved1 that his many blessings be not to our condemnation2 except we shall walk worthy of him1 doing with one consent what is good and pleasing in his sight4 #b ,the spirit of the ,lord is a candle1 searching out the inward parts of the belly4 #c ,let us therefore consider how near he is to us2 and how that none of our thoughts1 or reasonings which we frame within ourselves1 are hid from him1 #d ,it is therefore just that we should not forsake our rank1 by doing contrary to his will4 #e ,let us choose to offend a few foolish and inconsiderate men1 lifted up and glorying in their own pride1 rather than ,god4 #f ,let us reverence our ,lord ,jesus ,christ whose blood was given for us4 #g ,let us honour those who are set over us2 let us respect the aged that are amongst us2 and let us instruct the younger men1 in the discipline and fear of the ,,lord4 #h ,our wives let us direct1 to do that which is good4 #i ,let them show forth a lovely habit of purity1 in all their conversation2 with a sincere affection of meekness4 #aj ,let the government of their tongues be made manifest by their silence4 #aa ,let their charity be without respect of persons1 alike towards all such as religiously fear ,god4 #ab ,let your children be bred up in the instruction of ,christ3 #ac ,and especially let them learn how great a power humility has with ,god2 how much a pure and holy charity avails with him2 how excellent and great his fear is2 and how it will save all such as turn to him with holiness in a pure mind4 #ad ,for he is the searcher of the thoughts and counsels of the heart2 whose breath is in us1 and when he pleases he can take it from us4 ,,chap4 ,,xi4 ,of faith3 and particularly what we are to believe as to the ,resurrection4 ,,but all these things must be confirmed by the faith which is in ,christ2 for so ,he himself bespeaks us by the ,holy ,ghost2 #b ,come ye children and hearken unto me1 and ,i will teach you the fear of the ,lord4 ,what man is there that desireth life1 and loveth to see good days8 #c ,keep thy tongue from evil1 and thy lips that they speak no guile4 #d ,depart from evil and do good2 seek peace and pursue it4 #e ,the eyes of the ,lord are upon the righteous1 and his ears are open unto their prayers4 #f ,but the face of the ,lord is against them that do evil1 to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth4 #g ,the righteous cried1 and the ,lord heard him1 and delivered him out of all his troubles4 #h ,many are the troubles of the wicked2 but they that trust in the ,lord mercy shall encompass them about4 #i ,our all-merciful and beneficent ,father hath bowels of compassion towards them that fear him3 and kindly and lovingly bestows his graces upon all such as come to him with a simple mind4 #aj ,wherefore let us not waver1 neither let us have any doubt in our hearts1 of his excellent and glorious gifts4 #aa ,let that be far from us which is written1 ,miserable are the double-minded1 and those who are doubtful in their hearts2 #ab ,who say these things have we heard1 and our fathers have told us these things4 ,but behold we are grown old1 and none of them has happened unto us4 #ac ,o ye fools consider the trees3 take the vine for an example4 ,first it sheds its leaves2 then it buds2 after that it spreads its leaves2 then it flowers2 then come the sour grapes2 and after them follows the ripe fruit4 ,see how in a little time the fruit of the trees comes to maturity4 #ad ,of a truth yet a little while and his will shall suddenly be accomplished4 #ae ,the ,holy ,scripture itself bearing witness1 that ,he shall quickly come and not tardy1 and that the ,lord shall suddenly come to his temple1 even the #c holy ones whom ye look for4 #af ,let us consider1 beloved1 how the ,lord does continually show us1 that there shall be a future resurrection2 of which he has made our ,lord ,jesus ,christ the first fruits1 raising him from the dead4 #ag ,let us contemplate1 beloved1 the resurrection that is continually made before our eyes4 #ah ,day and night manifest a resurrection to us4 ,the night lies down1 and the day arises3 again the day departs and the night comes on4 #ai ,let us behold the fruits of the earth4 ,every one sees how the seed is sown4 ,the sower goes forth1 and casts it upon the earth2 and the seed which when it was sown fell upon the earth dry and naked1 in time dissolves4 #bj ,and from the dissolution1 the great power of the providence of the ,lord rises it again2 and of one seed many arise1 and bring forth fruit4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,the ,resurrection further proved4 ,,let us consider that wonderful type of the resurrection which is seen in the ,eastern countries3 that is to say1 in ,arabia4 #b ,there is a certain bird called a ,phoenix2 of this there is never but one at a time3 and that lives five hundred years4 ,and when the time of its dissolution draws near1 that it must die1 it makes itself a nest of frankincense1 and myrrh1 and other spices into which when its time is fulfilled it enters and dies4 #c ,but its flesh putrefying1 breeds a certain worm1 which being nourished with the juice of the dead bird brings forth feathers2 and when it is grown to a perfect state1 it takes up the nest in which the bones of its parent lie1 and carries it from ,arabia into ,egypt1 to a city called ,heliopolis3 #d ,and flying in open day in the sight of all men1 lays it upon the altar of the sun1 and so returns from whence it came4 #e ,the priests then search into the records of the time3 and find that it returned precisely at the end of five hundred years4 #f ,and shall we then think it to be any very great and strange thing for the ,lord of all to raise up those that religiously serve him in the assurance of a good faith1 when even by a bird he shows us the greatness of his power to fulfil his promise8 #g ,for he says in a certain place1 ,thou shalt raise me up and ,i shall confess unto thee4 #h ,and again1 ,i laid me down and slept1 and awaked1 because thou art with me4 #i ,and again1 ,job says1 ,thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine1 that has suffered all these things4 #aj ,having therefore this hope1 let us hold fast to him who is faithful in all his promises1 and righteous in all his judgments2 who has commanded us not to lie1 how much more will he not himself lie8 #aa ,for nothing is impossible with ,god but to lie4 #ab ,let his faith then be stirred up again in us2 and let us consider that all things are nigh unto him4 #ac ,by the word of his power he made all things3 and by the same word he is able1 7whenever he will17 to destroy them4 #ad ,who shall say unto him1 what dost thou8 or who shall resist the power of his strength8 #ae ,when1 and as he pleased1 he will do all things2 and nothing shall pass away of all that has been determined by him4 #af ,all things are open before him2 nor can anything be hid from his counsel4 #ag ,the heavens declare the glory of ,god1 and the firmament showeth his handy work4 ,day unto day uttereth speech1 and night unto night showeth knowledge4 ,there is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,it is impossible to escape the vengeance of ,god1 if we continue in sin4 ,,seeing then all things are seen and heard by ,god1 let us fear him1 and let us lay aside our wicked works which proceed from ill desires2 that through his mercy we may be delivered from the condemnation to come4 #b ,for whither can any of us flee from his mighty hand8 ,or what world shall receive any of those who run away from him8 #c ,for thus saith the ,scripture in a certain place4 ,whither shall ,i flee from thy spirit1 or where shall ,i hide myself from thy presence8 #d ,if ,i ascend up into heaven1 thou art there2 if ,i shall go to the uttermost parts of the earth1 there is thy right hand3 if ,i shall make my bed in the deep1 thy ,spirit is there4 #e ,whither then shall any one go2 or whither shall he run from him that comprehends all things8 #f ,let us therefore come to him with holiness of heart1 lifting up chaste and undefiled hands unto him2 loving our gracious and merciful ,father1 who has made us to partake of his election4 #g ,for so it is written1 ,when the ,most ,high divided the nations2 when he separated the sons of ,adam1 he set the bounds of the nations1 according to the number of his angels2 his people ,jacob became the portion of the ,lord1 and ,israel the lot of his inheritance4 #h ,and in another place he saith1 ,behold the ,lord taketh unto himself a nation1 out of the midst of the nations1 as a man taketh the first- fruits of his flour2 and the ,most ,holy shall come out of that nation4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,how we must live that we may please ,god4 ,,wherefore we being apart of the ,holy ,one3 let us do all those things that pertain unto holiness3 #b ,fleeing all evil-speaking against one another2 all filthy and impure embraces1 together with all drunkenness1 youthful lusts1 abominable concupiscences1 detestable adultery1 and execrable pride4 #c ,for ,god saith1 he resisteth the proud1 but giveth grace to the humble4 #d ,let us therefore hold fast to those to whom ,god has given his grace4 #e ,and let us put on concord1 being humble1 temperate2 free from all whispering and detraction2 and justified by our actions1 not our words4 #f ,for he saith1 ,doth he that speaketh and heareth many things1 and is of a ready tongue1 suppose that he is righteous8 ,blessed is he that is born of a woman1 that liveth but a few days3 use not therefore much speech4 #g ,let our praise be of ,god1 not of ourselves2 for ,god hateth those that commend themselves4 #h ,let the witness of our good actions be given to us by others1 as it was given to the holy men that went before us4 #i ,rashness1 and arrogance1 and confidence1 belong to them who are accursed of ,god3 but equity1 and humility1 and mildness1 to such as are blessed by him4 #aj ,let us then lay hold of his blessing1 and let as consider what are the ways by which we may attain unto it4 #aa ,let us look back upon those things that have happened from the beginning4 #ab ,for what was our ,father ,abraham blessed8 ,was it not because that through faith he wrought righteousness and truth8 #ac ,isaac being fully persuaded of what he knew was to come1 cheerfully yielded himself up for a sacrifice4 ,jacob with humility departed out of his own country1 fleeing from his brother1 and went unto ,laban and served him2 and so the sceptre of the twelve tribes of ,israel was given unto him4 #ad ,now what the greatness of this gift was1 will plainly appear1 if we shall take the pains distinctly to consider all the parts of it4 #ae ,for1 from him came the priests and ,levites2 who all ministered at the altar of ,god4 #af ,from him came our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 according to the flesh4 #ag ,from him came the kings1 and princes1 and rulers in ,judah4 #ah ,nor were the rest of his tribes in any little glory3 ,god having promised that their seed shall be as the stars of heaven4 #ai ,they were all therefore greatly glorified1 not for their own sake1 or for their own works1 or for the righteousness that they themselves wrought1 but through his will4 #bj ,and we also being called by the same will in ,christ ,jesus1 are not justified by ourselves1 neither by our own wisdom1 or knowledge1 or piety1 or the works which we have done in the holiness of our hearts4 #ba ,but by that faith1 by which ,god ,almighty has justified all men from the beginning2 to whom be glory for ever and ever1 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,we are justified by faith2 yet this must not lessen our care to live a virtuous life1 nor our pleasure in it4 ,,what shall we do therefore1 brethren8 ,shall we be slothful in well-doing1 and lay aside our charity8 ,god forbid that any such thing should be done by us4 #b ,but rather let us hasten with all earnestness and readiness of mind1 to perfect every good work4 ,for even the ,creator and ,lord of all things himself rejoices in his own works4 #c ,by his ,almighty power he fixed the heavens1 and by his incomprehensible wisdom he adorned them4 #d ,he also divided the earth from the water1 with which it is encompassed3 and fixed it as a secure tower1 upon the foundation of his own will4 #e ,he also by his appointment1 commanded all the living creatures that are upon it1 to exist4 #f ,so likewise the sea1 and all the creatures that are in it2 having first created them1 he enclosed them therein by his power4 #g ,and above all1 he with his holy and pure hands1 formed man1 the most excellent2 and1 as to his understanding1 truly the greatest of all other creatures2 the character of his own image4 #h ,for thus ,god says2 ,let us make man in our image1 after our own likeness2 so ,god created man1 male and female created he them4 #i ,and having thus finished all these things1 he commended all that he had made1 and blessed them1 and said1 increase and multiply4 #aj ,we see how all righteous men have been adorned with good works ,wherefore even the ,lord himself1 having adorned himself with his works1 rejoiced4 #aa ,having therefore such an example1 let us without delay1 fulfil his will2 and with all our strength1 work the work of righteousness4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,a virtuous life enforced from the examples of the holy angels1 and from the exceeding greatness of that reward which ,god has prepared for us4 ,,the good workman with confidence receives the bread of his labour2 but the sluggish and lazy cannot look him in the face that set him on work4 #b ,we must therefore be ready and forward in well-doing3 for from him are all things4 #c ,and thus he foretells us1 behold the ,lord cometh1 and his reward is with him1 even before his face1 to render to everyone according to his work4 #d ,he warns us therefore beforehand1 with all his heart to this end1 that we should not be slothful and negligent in well-doing4 #e ,let our boasting1 therefore1 and our confidence be in ,god let us submit ourselves to his will1 ,let us consider the whole multitude of his angels1 how ready they stand to minister unto his will4 #f ,as saith the ,scripture1 thousands of thousands stood before him and ten thousand times ten thousand ministered unto him4 ,and they cried1 saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy is the ,lord of hosts2 ,the whole earth is full of his glory4 #g ,wherefore let us also1 being conscientiously gathered together in concord with one another2 as it were with one mouth1 cry1 earnestly unto him1 that he would make us partakers of his great and glorious promises4 #h ,for he saith1 a ,eye hath not seen1 nor ear heard1 neither have entered into the heart of man1 the things which ,god has prepared for them that wait for him1 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 #a ,we must attain the gifts of ,god by faith and obedience1 which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the duties of our several stations1 without envy or contention4 #bd ,the necessity of different orders among men4 #cc ,we have none of us anything but what we received of ,god3 whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey4 ,,how blessed and wonderful1 beloved1 are the gifts of ,god4 #b ,life in immortality6 brightness in righteousness6 truth in full assurance6 faith in confidence6 temperance in holiness6 #c ,and all this has ,god subjected to our understandings3 #d ,what therefore shall those things be which he has prepared for them that wait for him8 #e ,the ,creator and ,father of spirits1 the ,most ,holy2 he only knows both the greatness and beauty of them1 #f ,let us therefore strive with all earnestness1 that we may be found in the number of those that wait for him1 that so we may receive the reward which he has promised4 #g ,but how1 beloved1 shall we do this8 ,we must fix our minds by faith towards ,god1 and seek those things that are pleasing and acceptable unto him4 #h ,we must act conformably to his holy will2 and follow the way of truth1 casting off from us all unrighteousness and iniquity1 together with all covetousness1 strife1 evil manners1 deceit1 whispering1 detractions2 all hatred of ,god1 pride and boasting2 vain-glory and ambition2 #i ,for they that do these things are odious to ,god2 and not only they that do them1 but also all such as approve of those that do them4 #aj ,for thus saith the ,scripture1 ,but unto the wicked1 ,god said1 ,what hast thou to do to declare my statute1 or that thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth8 ,seeing that thou hatest instruction1 and castest my words behind thee4 #aa ,when thou sawest a thief1 then thou consentedst with him2 thou hast been partaker with adulterers1 ,thou givest thy mouth to evil1 and thy tongue frameth deceit4 ,thou sittest and speakest against thy brother2 thou slanderest thine own mother's son4 #ab ,these things hast thou done and ,i kept silence2 thou thoughtest that ,i was altogether such a one as thyself3 but ,i will reprove thee1 and set them in order before thine eyes4 #ac ,now consider this ye that forget ,god1 lest ,i tear you in pieces1 and there be none to deliver4 #ad ,whose offereth praise1 glorifieth me2 ,and to him that disposeth his way aright1 will ,i show the salvation of ,god4 #ae ,this is the way1 beloved1 in which we may find our ,saviour1 even ,jesus ,christ1 the high-priest of all our offerings1 the defender and helper of our weakness4 #af ,by him we look up to the highest heavens2 and behold1 as in a glass1 his spotless and most excellent visage4 #ag ,by him are the eyes of our hearts opened2 by him our foolish and darkened understanding rejoiceth to behold his wonderful light4 #ah ,by him would ,god have us to taste the knowledge of immortality3 who being the brightness of his glory1 is by so much greater than the angels1 as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they4 #ai ,for so it is written1 who maketh his angels spirits1 and his ministers a flame of fire3 #bj ,but to his son1 thus saith the ,lord1 ,thou art my ,son1 to-day have ,i begotten thee4 #ba ,ask of me and ,i will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance1 and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession4 #bb ,and again he saith unto him1 ,sit thou on my right hand until ,i make thine enemies thy foot-stool4 #bc ,but who are his enemies8 even the wicked1 and such who oppose their own wills to the will of ,god4 #bd ,let us therefore march-on1 men and brethren1 with all earnestness in his holy laws4 #be ,let us consider those who fight under our1 earthly governors ,how orderly1 how readily1 and with what exact obedience they perform those things that are commanded them4 #bf ,all are not generals1 nor colonels1 nor captains1 nor inferior officers3 #bg ,but everyone in his respective rank does what is commanded him by the king1 and those who have the authority over him4 #bh ,they who are great1 cannot subsist without those that are little2 nor the little without the great2 #bi ,but there must be a mixture in all things1 and then there will be use and profit too4 #cj ,let us1 for example1 take our body3 the head without the feet is nothing1 neither the feet without the head4 #ca ,and even the smallest members of our body are yet both necessary and useful to the whole body4 #cb ,but all conspire together1 and are subject to one common use1 namely1 the preservation of the whole body4 #cc ,let therefore our whole body by saved in ,christ ,jesus2 and let everyone be subject to his neighbour1 according to the order in which he is placed by the gift of ,god4 #cd ,let not the strong man despise the weak2 and let the weak see that he reverence the strong4 #ce ,let the rich man distribute to the necessity of the poor2 and let the poor bless ,god1 that he has given one unto him1 by whom his want may be supplied4 #cf ,let the wise man show forth his wisdom1 not in words1 but in good works4 #cg ,let him that is humble1 not bear witness to himself1 but let him leave it to another to bear witness of him4 #ch ,let him that is pure in the flesh1 not grow proud of it1 knowing that it was from another that he received the gift of continence4 #ci ,let us consider therefore1 brethren1 whereof we are made2 who1 and what kind of men we came into the world1 as it were out of a sepulchre1 and from outer darkness4 #dj ,he hath made us1 and formed us1 brought us into his own world2 having presented us with his benefits1 even before we were born4 #da ,wherefore1 having received all these things from him1 we ought in everything to give thanks unto him1 to whom be glory for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,clement therefore exhorts them to do everything orderly in the ,church1 as the only way to please ,god4 ,,foolish and unwise men1 who have neither prudence1 nor learning1 may mock and deride us2 being willing to set up themselves in their own conceits4 #b ,but what can a mortal man do8 ,or what strength is there in him that is made out of the dust8 #c ,for it is written1 there was no shape before mine eyes2 only ,i heard a sound and a voice4 #d ,for what8 ,shall man be pure before the ,lord8 ,shall he be blameless in his works8 #e ,behold1 he trusteth not in his servants2 and his angels he chargeth with folly4 #f ,yes1 the heaven is not clean in his sight1 how much less they that dwell in houses of clay2 of which also we ourselves were made8 #g ,he smote them as a moth3 and from morning even unto the evening they endure not4 ,because they were not able to help themselves1 they perished2 he breathed upon them and they died1 because they had no wisdom4 #h ,call now if there be any that will answer thee2 and to which of the angels wilt thou look8 #i ,for wrath killeth the foolish man1 and envy slayeth him that is in error4 #aj ,i have seen the foolish taking root1 but lo1 their habitation was presently consumed4 #aa ,their children were far from safety1 they perished at the gates of those who were lesser than themselves3 and there was no man to help them4 #ab ,for what was prepared for them1 the righteous did eat2 and they shall not be delivered from evil4 #ac ,seeing then these things are manifest unto us1 it will behove us to take care that looking into the depths of the divine knowledge1 we do all things in order1 whatsoever our ,lord has commanded us to do4 #ad ,and particularly that we perform our offerings and service to ,god1 at their appointed seasons for these he has commanded to be done1 not rashly and disorderly1 but at certain determinate times and hours4 #ae ,and therefore he has ordained by his supreme will and authority1 both where1 and by what persons1 they are to be performed2 that so all things being piously done unto all well-pleasing1 they may be acceptable unto him4 #af ,they therefore who make their offerings at the appointed seasons1 are happy and accepted2 because through obeying the commandments of the ,lord1 they are free from sin4 #ag ,and the same care must be had of the persons that minister unto him4 #ah ,for the chief-priest has his proper services2 and to the priest their proper place is appointed2 and to the ,levites appertain their proper ministries2 and the layman is confined within the bounds of what is commanded to laymen4 #ai ,let every one of you therefore1 brethren1 bless ,god in his proper station1 with a good conscience1 and with all gravity1 not exceeding the rule of his service that is appointed to him4 #bj ,the daily sacrifices are not offered everywhere2 nor the peace- offerings1 nor the sacrifices appointed for sins and transgressions2 but only at ,jerusalem3 nor in any place there1 but only at the altar before the temple2 that which is offered being first diligently examined by the high-priest and the other minister we before mentioned4 #ba ,they therefore who do any thing which is not agreeable to his will1 are punished with death4 #bb ,consider1 brethren1 that by how much the better knowledge ,god has vouchsafed unto us1 by so much the greater danger are we exposed to4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,the orders of ,ministers in ,christ's ,church established by the ,apostles1 according to ,christ's command1 #g after the example of ,moses4 #af ,therefore they who have been duly placed in the ministry according to their order1 cannot without great sin be put out of it4 ,,the ,apostles have preached to us from the ,lord ,jesus ,christ ,jesus ,christ from ,god4 #b ,christ therefore was sent by ,god1 the ,apostles by ,christ2 so both were orderly sent1 according to the will of ,god4 #c ,for having received their command1 and being thoroughly assured by the resurrection of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and convinced by the word of ,god1 with the fulness of the ,holy ,spirit1 they went abroad1 publishing1 ,that the kingdom of ,god was at hand4 #d ,and thus preaching through countries and cities1 they appointed the first fruits of their conversion to be bishops and ministers over such as should afterwards believe1 having first proved them by the ,spirit4 #e ,nor was this any new thing2 seeing that long before it was written concerning bishops and deacons4 #f ,for thus saith the ,scripture1 in a certain place2 ,i will appoint their overseers in righteousness1 and their ministers in faith4 #g ,and what wonder if they1 to whom such a work was committed by ,god in ,christ1 established such officers as we before mentioned2 when even that blessed and faithful servant in all his house1 ,moses1 set down in the ,holy ,scriptures all things that were commanded him4 #h ,whom also all the rest of the prophets followed1 bearing witness with one consent to those things that were appointed by him4 #i ,for he1 perceiving an emulation to arise among the tribes concerning the priesthood1 and that there was a strife about it1 which of them should be adorned with that glorious name2 commanded their twelve captains to bring to him twelve rods2 every tribe being written upon its rod1 according to its name1 #aj ,and he took them and bound them together1 and sealed them with the seals of the twelve princes of the tribes3 and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness1 upon the table of ,god4 #aa ,and when he had shut the door of the tabernacle1 he sealed up the keys of it1 in like manner as he had done the rods2 and said unto them1 ,men and brethren1 whichsoever tribe shall have its rod blossom1 that tribe has ,god chosen to perform the office of a priest1 and to minister unto him in holy things4 #ab ,and when the morning was come1 he called together all ,israel1 six hundred thousand men2 and showed to the princes their seals and opened the tabernacle of witness2 and brought forth the rods4 #ac ,and the rod of ,aaron was found not only to have blossomed1 but also to have fruit upon it4 #ad ,what think you1 beloved8 ,did not ,moses before know what should happen8 #ae ,yes verily3 but to the end there might be no division1 nor tumult in ,israel1 he did in this manner1 that the name of the true and only ,god might be glorified2 to whom be honour for ever and ever1 ,amen4 #af ,so likewise our ,apostles knew by our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that there should contentions arise1 upon account of the ministry4 #ag ,and therefore having a perfect fore-knowledge of this1 they appointed persons1 as we have before said1 and then a gave direction1 how1 when they should die1 other chosen and approved men should succeed in their ministry4 #ah ,wherefore we cannot think that those may justly be thrown out of their ministry1 who were either appointed by them1 or afterwards chosen by other eminent men1 with the consent of the whole church2 and who have with all lowliness and innocency ministered to the flock of ,church1 in peace1 and without self-interest1 and were for a long time commended by all4 #ai ,for it would be no small sin in us1 should we cast off those from their ministry1 who holily and without blame fulfil the duties of it4 #bj ,blessed are those priests1 who having finished their course before these times1 have obtained a fruitful and perfect dissolution for they have no fear1 lest any one should turn them out of the place which is now appointed for them4 #ba ,but we see how you have put out some1 who lived reputably among you1 from the ministry1 which by their innocence they had adorned4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,he exerts them to peace from examples out of the ,holy ,scriptures1 #bj particularly from ,st4 ,paul's exhortation to them4 ,,ye are contentious1 brethren1 and zealous for things that pertain not unto salvation4 #b ,look into the ,holy ,scriptures1 which are the true words of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,ye know that there is nothing unjust or counterfeit written in them4 #c ,there you shall not find that righteous men were ever cast off by such as were good themselves4 #d ,they were persecuted1 but it was by the wicked and unjust4 #e ,they were cast into prison1 but they were cast in by those that were unholy4 #f ,they were stoned1 but it was by transgressors4 #g ,they were killed1 but by accursed men1 and such as had taken up an unjust envy against them4 #h ,and all these things they underwent gloriously4 #i ,for what shall we say1 brethren8 ,was ,daniel cast into the den of lions1 by men fearing ,god8 ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego1 were they cast into the fiery furnace by men1 professing the excellent and glorious worship of the ,most ,high8 ,god forbid4 #aj ,what kind of persons then were they that did these things8 ,they were men abominable1 full of all wickedness2 who were incensed2 to so great a degree1 as to bring those into sufferings1 who with a holy and unblameable purpose of mind worshipped ,god3 not knowing that the ,most ,high is the protector and defender of all such as with a pure conscience serve his holy name3 to whom be glory for ever and ever1 ,amen4 #aa ,but they who with a full persuasion have endured these things1 are made partakers of glory and honour3 and are exalted and lifted up by ,god for a memorial throughout all ages1 ,amen4 #ab ,wherefore it will behove us also1 brethren1 to follow such examples as these2 for it is written1 ,hold fast to such as are holy2 for they that do so shall be sanctified4 #ac ,and again in another place he saith1 ,with the pure1 thou shalt be pure 7and with the elect thou shalt be elect17 but with1 the perverse man thou shalt be perverse4 #ad ,let us therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous2 for such are the elect of ,god4 #ae ,wherefore are there strifes1 and anger1 and divisions1 and schisms1 and wars1 among us8 #af ,have we not all one ,god1 and one ,christ8 ,is not one spirit of grace poured out upon us all8 ,have we not one calling in ,christ4 #ag ,why then do we rent and tear in pieces the members of ,christ2 and raise seditious against our own body8 ,and are come to such a height of madness1 as to forget that we were members one of another8 #ah ,remember the words of our ,lord ,jesus1 7how he said1 ,woe to that man by whom offences come74 ,it1 were better for him that he had never been born1 than that he should have offended one of my elect4 ,it were better for him1 that a mill-stone should be tied about his neck1 and he should be cast into the sea1 than that he should offend one of my little ones4 #ai ,your schism has perverted many1 has discouraged many3 it has caused diffidence in many1 and grief in us all4 ,and yet your sedition continues still4 #bj ,take the ,epistle of the blessed ,paul the ,apostle into your hands2 ,what was ,it that he wrote to you at his first preaching the ,gospel among you8 #ba ,verily he did by the spirit admonish you concerning himself1 and ,cephas1 and ,apollos1 because that even then ye had begun to fall into parties and factions among yourselves4 #bb ,nevertheless your partiality then led you into a much less sin forasmuch as ye placed your affections upon ,apostles1 men of eminent reputation in the church2 and upon another1 who was greatly tried and approved of by them4 #bc ,but consider1 we pray you1 who are they that have now led you astray2 and lessened the reputation of that brotherly love that was so eminent among you2 #bd ,it is a shame1 my beloved1 yea1 a very great shame1 and unworthy of your ,christian profession1 to hear that the most firm and ancient church of the ,corinthians should1 by one or two persons1 be led into a sedition against its priests4 #be ,and this report is come not only to us1 but to those also that differ from us4 #bf ,insomuch that the name of the ,lord is blasphemed through your folly2 and even ye yourselves are brought into danger by it4 #bg ,let us therefore with all haste put an end to this sedition2 and let us fall down before the ,lord1 and beseech him with tears that he would be favourably reconciled to us1 and restore us again to a seemly and holy course of brotherly love4 #bh ,for this is the gate of righteousness1 opening unto life3 ,as it is written1 ,i ,open unto me the gates of righteousness2 ,i will go into them and will praise the ,lord4 ,this is the gate of the ,lord1 the righteous shall enter into it4 #bi ,although therefore many gates are opened1 yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in ,christ at which blessed are they that enter in1 and direct their way in holiness and righteousness2 doing all things without disorder4 #cj ,let a man be faithful1 let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge2 let him be wise in making an exact judgment of words2 let him be pure in all his actions4 #ca ,but still by how much the more he seems to be above others1 by reason of these things1 by so much the more will it behove him to be humble-minded2 and to seek what is profitable to all men1 and not his own advantage4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 #a ,the value which ,god1 puts upon love and unity3 the effects of a true charity1 #h which is the gift of ,god1 and must be obtained by prayer4 ,,he that has the love that is in ,christ1 let him keep the commandments of ,christ4 #b ,for who is able to express the obligation of the love of ,god8 ,what man is sufficient to declare1 and is fitting1 the excellency of its beauty8 #c ,the height to which charity leads1 is inexpressible4 #d ,charity unites us to ,god2 charity covers the multitude of sins3 charity endures all things2 is long-suffering in all things4 #e ,there is nothing base and sordid in charity3 charity lifts not itself up above others2 admits of no divisions2 is not seditious2 but does all things in peace and concord4 #f ,by charity were all the elect of ,god made perfect3 ,without it nothing is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of ,god4 #g ,through charity did the ,lord join us into himself2 whilst for the love that he bore towards us1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ gave his own blood for us1 by the will of ,god2 his flesh for our flesh2 his soul for our souls4 #h ,ye see1 beloved1 how great and wonderful a thing charity is2 and how that no expressions are sufficient to declare its perfection4 #i ,but who is fit to be found in it8 ,even such only as ,god shall vouchsafe to make so4 #aj ,let us therefore pray to him1 and beseech him1 that we may be worthy of it2 that so we may live in charity2 being unblameable1 without human propensities1 without respect of persons4 #aa ,all the ages of the world1 from ,adam1 even unto this day1 are passed away2 but they who have been made perfect in love1 have by the grace of ,god obtained a place among the righteous2 and shall be made manifest in the judgment of the kingdom of ,christ4 #ab ,for it is written1 ,enter into thy chambers for a little space1 till my anger and indignation shall pass away3 ,and ,i will remember the good day1 and1 will raise you up out of your graves4 #ac ,happy then shall we be1 beloved1 if we shall have fulfilled the commandments of ,god1 in the unity of love2 that so1 through love1 our sins may be forgiven us4 #ad ,for so it is written1 ,blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven1 and whose sins are covered4 ,blessed is the man to whom the ,lord imputeth no sin1 and in whose mouth there is no guile4 #ae ,now this blessing is fulfilled in those who are chosen by ,god through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 to whom be glory for ever and ever1 ,amen4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 #a ,he exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to repent1 and return to their unity1 confessing their sin to ,god1 #g which he enforces from the example of ,moses1 #aj and of many among the heathen1 #bc and of ,judith and ,esther among the ,jews4 ,,let us therefore1 as many as have transgressed by any of the suggestions of the adversary1 beg ,god's forgiveness4 #b ,and as for those who have been the heads of the sedition and faction among you1 let them look to the common end of our hope4 #c ,for as many as are endued with fear and charity1 would rather they themselves should fall into trials than their neighbours3 ,and choose to be themselves condemned1 rather than that the good and just charity delivered to us1 should suffer4 #d ,for it is seemly for a man to confess wherein he has transgressed4 #e ,and not to harden his heart1 as the hearts of those were hardened1 who raised up sedition against ,moses the servant of ,god whose punishment was manifest unto all men1 for they went down alive into the grave2 death swallowed them up4 #f ,pharaoh and his host1 and all the rulers of ,egypt1 their chariots also and their horsemen1 were for no other cause drowned in the bottom of the ,red ,sea1 and perished2 but because they hardened their foolish hearts1 after so many signs done in the land of ,egypt1 by ,moses the servant of ,god4 #g ,beloved1 ,god is not indigent of anything2 nor does he demand anything of us1 but that we should confess our sins unto him4 #h ,for so says the ,holy ,david1 ,i will confess unto the ,lord1 and it shall please him better than a young bullock that hath horns and hoof4 ,let the poor see it and be glad4 #i ,and again he saith1 ,offer unto ,god the sacrifice of praise1 and pay thy vows unto the ,most ,highest4 ,and call upon me in the day of trouble1 and ,i will deliver thee1 and thou shalt glorify me4 ,the sacrifice of ,god is a broken spirit4 #aj ,ye know1 beloved1 ye know full well1 the ,holy ,scriptures2 and have thoroughly searched into the oracles of ,god3 call them therefore to your remembrance4 #aa ,for when ,moses went up into the mount1 and tarried there forty days and forty nights in fasting and humiliation2 ,god said unto him1 ,arise1 ,moses1 and get thee down quickly from hence1 for thy people whom thou broughtest out of the land of ,egypt1 have committed wickedness3 they have soon transgressed the way that ,i commanded them1 and have made to themselves graven images4 #ab ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,i have spoken unto thee several times1 saying1 ,i have seen this people1 and behold it is a stiff- necked people3 let me therefore destroy them1 and put out their name from under heaven4 ,and ,i will make unto thee a great and a wonderful nation1 that shall be much larger than this4 #ac ,but ,moses said1 ,not so1 ,lord3 ,forgive now this people their sin2 or if thou wilt not1 blot me also out of the book of the living4 ,o admirable charity6 ,o insuperable perfection6 ,the servant speaks freely to his ,lord3 ,he beseeches him either to forgive the people1 or to destroy him together with them4 #ad ,who is there among you that is generous8 ,who that is compassionate8 ,who that has any charity8 ,let him say1 if this sedition1 this contention1 and these schisms1 be upon my account1 ,i am ready to depart2 to go away whithersoever you please2 and do whatsoever ye shall command me3 ,only let the flock of ,christ be in peace1 with the elders that are set over it4 #ae ,he that shall do this1 shall get to himself a very great honour in the ,lord2 and there is no place but what will be ready to receive him3 ,for the earth is the ,lord's1 and the fulness thereof4 #af ,these things1 they who have their conversation towards ,god not to be repented of1 both have done1 and will always be ready to do4 #ag ,nay and even the ,gentiles themselves have given us examples of this kind4 #ah ,for we read1 ,how many kings and princes1 in times of pestilence1 being warned by their oracles1 have given up themselves unto death2 that by their own blood1 they might deliver their country from destruction4 #ai ,others have forsaken their cities1 so that they might put an end to the seditions of them4 #bj ,we know how many among ourselves1 have given up themselves unto bonds1 that thereby they might free others from them4 #ba ,others have sold themselves into bondage1 that they might feed their brethren with the price of themselves4 #bb ,and even many women1 being strengthened by the grace of ,god1 have done many glorious and manly things on such occasions4 #bc ,the blessed ,judith1 when her city was besieged1 desired the elders1 that they would suffer her to go into the camp of their enemies2 and she went out exposing herself to danger1 for the love she bare to her country and her people that were besieged3 and the ,lord delivered ,holofernes into the hands of a woman4 #bd ,nor did ,esther1 being perfect in faith1 expose herself to any less hazard1 for the delivery of the twelve tribes of ,israel1 in danger of being destroyed4 ,for by fasting and humbling herself1 she entreated the ,great ,maker of all things1 the ,god of spirits2 so that beholding the humility of her soul1 he delivered the people1 for whose sake she was in peril4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,the benefit of mutual advice and correction4 ,he entreats them to follow that which is here given to them4 ,,wherefore let us also pray for such as are fallen into sin4 ,that being endued with humility and moderation1 they may submit not unto us1 but to the wish of ,god4 #b ,for by this means they shall obtain a fruitful and perfect remembrance1 with mercy1 both in our prayers to ,god1 and in our mention of them before his saints4 #c ,let us receive correction1 at which no man ought to repine4 #d ,beloved1 the reproof and the correction which we exercise towards one another1 is good1 and exceeding profitable3 for it unites us the more closely to the will of ,god4 #e ,for1 so says the ,holy ,scripture1 ,the ,lord corrected me1 but he did not deliver me over unto death4 ,for whom the ,lord loveth he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth4 #f ,the righteous1 saith he1 shall instruct me in mercy and reprove me2 but let not oil of sinners make fat my head4 #g ,and again he saith1 ,happy is the man whom ,god correcteth2 therefore despise not thou the chastening of the ,almighty4 #h ,for he maketh gore and bindeth up2 he woundeth and his hands make whole4 #i ,he shall deliver thee in six troubles2 yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee4 ,in famine he shall redeem thee from death2 and in war from the power of the sword4 #aj ,thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue2 neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh4 #aa ,thou shalt laugh at the wicked and sinners2 neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth4 ,the wild beast shall be at peace with thee4 #ab ,then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in peace2 and the habitation of thy tabernacle shall not err4 ,then shalt know also that thy seed shall be great and thy offspring as the grass of the earth4 #ac ,thou shalt come to thy grave as the ripe corn1 that is taken in due time3 like as a shock of corn cometh in1 in its season4 #ad ,ye see1 beloved1 how there shall be a defence to those that are corrected of the ,lord4 ,for being a good instructor1 he is willing to admonish us by his holy discipline4 #ae ,do ye therefore who laid the first foundation of this sedition1 submit yourselves unto your priests2 and be instructed unto repentance1 bending the knees of your hearts4 #af ,learn to be subject1 laying aside all proud and arrogant boasting of your tongues4 #ag ,for it is better for you to be found little1 and approved1 in the sheepfold of ,christ1 than to seem to yourselves better than others1 and be cast out of his fold4 #ah ,for thus speaks the excellent and all-virtuous wisdom1 ,behold ,i will pour out the word of my spirit upon you1 ,i will make known my speech unto you4 #ai ,because ,i called and ye would not hear1 ,i stretched out my hand and ye regarded not4 #bj ,but ye have set at nought all my counsel1 and would none of my reproof4 ,i will also laugh at your calamity1 and mock when your fear cometh4 #ba ,when your fear cometh as desolation1 and your destruction as a whirlwind1 when distress and anguish cometh upon you4 #bb ,then shall ye call upon me but ,i will not hear you3 the wicked shall seek me but they shall not find me4 ,for that they hated knowledge1 and did not seek the fear of the ,lord4 #bc ,they would not hearken unto my counsel3 they despised all my reproof4 ,therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own ways2 and be filled with their own wickedness4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 #a ,recommends them to ,god4 ,desires speedily to hear that this ,epistle has had a good effect upon them4 #d ,conclusion4 ,,now ,god1 the inspector of all things1 the ,father of ,spirits1 and the ,lord of all flesh1 who hath chosen our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and us by him1 to be his peculiar people2 #b ,grant to every soul of man that calleth upon his glorious and holy name1 faith1 fear1 peace1 long-suffering1 patience1 temperance1 holiness and sobriety1 unto all well-pleasing in his sight2 through our ,high-,priest and ,protector ,jesus ,christ1 by whom be glory and majesty1 and power1 and honour unto him now and for ever more1 ,amen4 #c ,the messengers whom we have sent unto you1 ,claudius1 ,ephebus1 and ,valerios ,bito1 with ,fortunatus1 send back to us again with all speed1 in peace and with joy1 that they may the sooner acquaint us with your peace and concord1 so much prayed for and desired by us3 and that we may rejoice in your good order4 #d ,the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with you1 and with all that are any where called by ,god through him3 ,to whom be honour and glory1 and might and majesty1 and eternal dominion1 by ,christ ,jesus1 from everlasting to everlasting1 ,amen4 ,,references ,,to ,,clement',s ,,first ,,epistle ,,to ,,the ,,corinthians4 ,clement was a disciple of ,peter1 and afterwards ,bishop of ,rome4 ,clemens ,alexandrinus calls him an apostle4 ,jerome says he was an apostolic man1 and ,rafinus that he was almost an apostle4 ,eusebius calls this the wonderful ,epistle of ,st4 ,clement1 and says that it was publicly read in the assemblies of the primitive church4 ,it is included in one of the ancient collections of the ,canon ,scripture4 ,its genuineness has been much questioned1 particularly by ,photius1 patriarch of ,constantinople in the ninth century1 who objects that ,clement speaks of worlds beyond the ocean3 that he has not written worthily of the divinity of ,christ2 and that to prove the possibility of a future resurrection1 he introduces the fabulous story of the phoenix's revival from its own ashes4 ,to the latter objection1 ,archbishop ,wake replies that the generality of the ancient ,fathers have made use of the same instance in proof of the same point2 and asks1 if ,st4 ,clement really believed that there was such a bird1 and that it did revive out of the cinders of the body after burning1 where was the1 great harm either in giving credit to such a wonder1 or1 believing it1 to make rich a use as he here does of it8--,the present is the ,archbishop's translation from the ancient ,greek copy of the ,epistle1 which is at the end of the celebrated ,alexandrine ,,ms4 of the ,septuagint and ,new ,testament1 presented by ,cyril1 patriarch of ,alexandria1 to ,king ,charles the ,first1 now in the ,british ,museum4 ,the ,archbishop1 in prefacing his translation1 esteems it a great blessing that this ,epistle was at last so happily found out1 for the increase and confirmation both of our faith and our charity4 ,,the ,,second ,,epistle ,,of ,,clement ,,to ,,the ,,corinthians ,,chapter ,i4 ,that we ought to value our salvation2 and to show that we do by a sincere obedience4 ,,brethren1 we ought so to think of ,jesus ,christ as of ,god3 as of the judge of the living1 and the dead2 nor should we think any less of our salvation4 #b ,for if we think meanly of him1 we shall hope only to receive some small things from him4 #c ,and if we do so1 we shall sin2 not considering from whence we have been called1 and by whom1 and to what place2 and how much ,jesus ,christ vouchsafed to suffer for our sakes4 #d ,what recompense then shall we render unto him8 ,or what fruit that may be worthy of what he has given to us8 #e ,for indeed how great are those advantages which we owe to him in relation to our holiness8 ,he has illuminated us2 as a father1 he has called us his children2 he has saved us who were lost and undone4 #f ,what praise shall we give to him8 ,or what reward that may be answerable to those things which we have received4 #g ,we were defective in our understandings2 worshipping stones1 and wood2 gold1 and silver1 and brass1 the work of men's hands2 and our whole life was nothing else but death4 #h ,wherefore being encompassed with darkness1 and having such a mist before our eyes1 we have looked up1 and through his will have laid aside the cloud wherewith we were surrounded4 #i ,for he had compassion upon us1 and being moved in his bowels towards us1 he saved us2 having beheld in us much error1 and destruction2 and seeing that we had no hope of salvation1 but only through him4 #aj ,for he called us1 who were not2 and was pleased from nothing to give us being4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,that ,god had before prophesied by ,isaiah1 that the ,gentiles should be saved2 #h ,and that this ought to engage1 such especially to live well2 without which they will still miscarry4 ,,rejoice1 thou barren1 that bearest not1 break forth and cry thou that travailest not2 for she that is desolate hath many more children than she that hath a husband4 #b ,in that saying1 ,rejoice thou barren that bearest not1 he spake of us3 for our church was barren before children were given unto it4 #c ,and again2 when he said1 ,cry thou that travailest not3 he implied thus much3 ,that after the manner of a woman in travail1 we should not cease to put up our prayers unto ,god abundantly4 #d ,and for what follows1 because she that is desolate hath more children than she that hath a husband2 it was therefore added1 because our people which seemed to have been forsaken by ,god1 now believing in him1 are become more than they who seemed to have ,god4 #e ,and another ,scripture saith1 ,i came not to call the righteous but sinners 7to repentance74 ,the meaning of which is this2 that those who were lost must be saved3 #f ,for that is1 indeed1 truly great and wonderful1 not to confirm those things that are yet standing1 but those which are falling1 #g ,even so did it seem good to ,christ to save what was lost2 and when he came into the world1 he saved many1 and called us who were already lost4 #h ,seeing then he has showed so great mercy towards us2 and chiefly for that we who are alive1 do now no longer sacrifice to dead ,gods1 nor pay any worship to them1 but have by him been brought to the knowledge of the ,father of truth4 #i ,whereby shall we show that we do indeed know him1 and by not denying him by whom we have come to the knowledge of him4 #aj ,for even he himself saith1 ,whosoever shall confess me before men1 him will ,i confess before my ,father4 ,this therefore is our reward1 if we shall confess him by whom we have been saved4 #aa ,but1 wherein must we confess him8--,namely1 in doing those things which he saith1 and not disobeying his commandments by worshipping him not with our lips only1 but with all our heart1 and with all our mind4 ,for he saith in ,isaiah2 ,this people honoureth me with their lips1 but their heart is far from me4 #ab ,let us then not only call him ,lord2 for that will not save us4 ,for he saith3 ,not everyone that saith unto me ,lord1 ,lord1 shall be saved1 but he that doth righteousness4 #ac ,wherefore1 brethren1 let us confess him by our works2 by loving one another2 in not committing adultery1 not speaking evil against each other1 not envying one another2 but by being temperate1 merciful1 good4 #ad ,let us also have a mutual sense of one another's sufferings2 and not be covetous of money2 but let us1 by our good works1 confess ,god1 and not by those that are otherwise4 #ae ,also let us not fear men3 but rather ,god4 ,wherefore1 if we should do such wicked things1 the ,lord hath said2 ,though ye should be joined unto me1 even in my very bosom1 and not keep my commandments1 ,i would cast you off1 and say unto you2 ,depart from me2 ,i know not whence you are1 ye workers of iniquity4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,that1 whilst we secure the other world1 we need not fear what can befall its in this4 #e ,that1 if we follow the interests of this present world1 we cannot escape the punishment of the other4 #aj ,which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness1 #ad and that presently3 because in this world is the only time for repentance4 ,,therefore brethren1 leaving willingly for conscience sake our sojourning in this world1 let us do the will of him who has called us1 and not fear to depart out of this world4 #b ,for the ,lord saith1 ,ye shall be as sheep in the midst of wolves4 ,peter answered and said1 ,what if the wolves shall tear in pieces the sheep8 ,jesus said unto ,peter1 ,let not the sheep fear the wolves after death3 ,and ye also fear not those that kill you1 and after that have no more than they can do unto you2 but fear him who after you are dead1 has power to cast both soul and body into hell-fire4 #c ,for consider1 brethren1 that the sojourning of this flesh in the present world1 is but little1 and of a short continuance1 but the promise of ,christ is great and wonderful1 even the rest of the kingdom that is to come1 and of eternal life4 #d ,what then must we do that we may attain unto it8--,we must order our conversation1 holy and righteously1 and look upon all the things of this world as none of ours1 and not desire them4 ,for1 if we desire to possess them we fall from the way of righteousness4 #e ,for thus saith the ,lord1 ,no servant can serve two masters4 ,if therefore we shall desire to serve ,god and ,mammon1 it will be without profit to us4 ,for what will it profit1 if one gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul8 #f ,now this world and that to come are two enemies4 ,this speaketh of adultery and corruption1 of covetousness and deceit2 but that renounces these things4 #g ,we cannot1 therefore1 be the friends of both2 but we must resolve by forsaking the one1 to enjoy the other4 ,and we think it is better to hate the present things1 as little1 short-lived1 and corruptible2 and to love those which are to come1 which are truly good and incorruptible4 #h ,for1 if we do the will of ,christ1 we shall find rest3 but if not1 nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment if we shall disobey his commands4 ,for even thus saith the ,scripture in the prophet ,ezekiel1 ,if ,noah1 ,job1 and ,daniel should rise up1 they shall not deliver their children in captivity4 #i ,wherefore1 if such righteous men are not able by their righteousness to deliver their children2 how can we hope to enter into the kingdom of ,god1 except we keep our baptism holy and undefiled8 ,or who shall be our advocate1 unless we shall be found to have done what is holy and just8 #aj ,let us1 therefore1 my brethren1 contend with all earnestness1 knowing that our combat is at hand2 and that many go long voyages to encounter for a corruptible reward4 #aa ,and yet all are not crowned1 but they only that labour much1 and strive gloriously4 ,let us1 therefore1 so contend1 that we may all be crowned4 ,let us run in the straight road1 the race that is incorruptible3 and let us in great numbers pass unto it1 and strive that we may receive the crown4 ,but if we cannot all be crowned1 let us come as near to it as we are able4 #ab ,moreover1 we must consider1 that he who contends in a corruptible combat2 if he be found doing anything that is not fair1 is taken away and scourged1 and cast out of the lists4 ,what think ye then that he shall suffer1 who does anything that is not fitting in the combat of immortality8 #ac ,thus speaks the prophet concerning those who keep not their seal2 ,their worm shall not die1 and their1 fire shall not be quenched2 and they shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh4 #ad ,let us therefore repent1 whilst we are yet upon the earth3 for we are as clay in the hand of the artificer4 ,for the potter if he make a vessel1 and it be turned amiss in his hands1 or broken1 again forms it anew2 but if he has gone so far as to throw it into the furnace of fire1 he can no more bring any remedy to it4 #ae ,so we1 whilst we are in this world should repent with our whole heart for whatsoever evil we have done in the flesh2 while we have yet the time of repentance1 that we may be saved by the ,lord4 #af ,for after we shall have departed out of this world1 we shall no longer be able either to confess our sins or repent in the other4 #ag ,wherefore1 brethren1 let us1 doing the will of the ,father1 and keeping our flesh pure1 and observing the commandments of the ,lord1 lay hold on eternal life3 for the ,lord saith in the ,gospel1 ,if ye have not kept that which was little1 who will give you that which is great8-- ,for ,i say unto you1 he that is faithful in that which is least1 is faithful also in much4 #ah ,this1 therefore1 is what he saith2 keep your bodies pure1 and your seal without spot1 that ye may receive eternal life4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,we shall rise1 and be judged1 in our bodies2 therefore we must live well in them2 #f that we ought1 for our own interest1 to live well2 though few seem to mind what1 really is for their advantage2 #aj and we should not deceive ourselves3 seeing ,god will certainly judge us1 and render to all of us according to our works4 ,,and let not any one among you say1 that this very flesh is not judged1 neither raised up4 ,consider1 in what were you saved in what did you look up1 if not whilst you were in the flesh8 #b ,we must1 therefore1 keep our flesh as the temple of ,god4 ,for in like manner as ye were called in the flesh1 ye shall also come to judgment in the flesh4 ,our one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who has saved us1 being first a spirit1 was made flesh1 and so called us2 even so we also shall in this flesh receive the reward4 #c ,let us1 therefore1 love one another1 that we may attain unto the kingdom of ,god4 ,whilst we have time to be healed1 let us deliver up ourselves to ,god our physician1 giving our reward unto him4 #d ,and what reward shall we give8--,repentance out of a pure heart4 ,for he knows all things beforehand1 and searches out our very hearts4 #e ,let us1 therefore1 give praise unto him3 not only with our mouths1 but with all our souls2 that he may receive us as children4 ,for so the ,lord hath said2 ,they are my brethren1 who do the will of my father4 #f ,wherefore1 my brethren1 let us do the will of the ,father1 who hath called us1 that we may live4 ,let us pursue virtue1 and forsake wickedness1 which leadeth us into sins2 and let us flee all ungodliness1 that evils overtake us not4 #g ,for1 if we shall do our diligence to live well1 peace shall follow us4 ,and yet how hard is it to find a man that does this8 ,for almost all are led by human fears1 choosing rather the present enjoyments1 than the future promise4 #h ,for they know not how great a torment the present enjoyments bring with them2 nor what delights the future promise4 #i ,and if they themselves only did this1 it might the more easily be endured2 but now they go on to infect innocent souls with their evil doctrines2 not knowing that both themselves1 and those that hear them1 shall receive a double condemnation4 #aj ,let us1 therefore1 serve ,god with a pure heart1 and we shall be righteous3 but if we shall not serve him1 because we do not believe the promise of ,god1 we shall be miserable4 #aa ,for thus saith the prophet2 ,miserable are the double-minded1 who doubt in their heart1 and say1 these things we have heard1 even4 in the time of our fathers1 but we have seen none of them1 though we have expected them from day to day4 #ab ,o ye fools6 compare yourselves to a tree2 take the vine for an example4 ,first it sheds its leaves1 then it buds1 then come the sour grapes1 then the ripe fruit2 even so my people has borne its disorders and afflictions1 but shall hereafter receive good things4 #ac ,wherefore my brethren1 let us not doubt in our minds1 but let us expect with hope1 that we may receive our reward2 for he is faithful1 who has promised that he will render to everyone a reward according to his works4 #ad ,if1 therefore1 we shall do what is just in the sight of ,god we shall enter into his kingdom1 and shall receive the promises2 ,which neither eye has seen1 nor ear heard1 nor have entered into the heart of man4 #ae ,wherefore let us every hour expect the kingdom of ,god in love and righteousness2 because we know not the day of ,god's appearing4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,fragment4 ,man's immortal nature a type of the ,lord's kingdom4 #a 99 99 99 ,for the ,lord himself1 being asked by a certain person1 ,when his kingdom should come8 answered1 ,when two shall be one1 and that which is without as that which is within2 and the male with the female1 neither male nor female4 #b ,now two are one1 when we speak the truth to each other1 and there is 7without hypocrisy7 one seal in two bodies3 #c ,and that which is without as that which1 is within2--,he means this2 he calls the soul that which is within1 and the body that which is without4 ,as therefore thy body appears1 so let thy soul be seen by its good works4 #d ,and the male with1 the female1 neither ,male nor female2--,he means this2 he calls our anger the male1 our concupiscence the female4 #e ,when therefore a man is come to such a pass that he is subject neither to the one nor the other of these 7both of which1 through the prevalence of custom1 and an evil education1 cloud and darken the reason17 #f ,but rather1 having dispelled the mist arising from them1 and being full of shame1 shall by repentance have united both his soul and spirit in the obedience of reason2 then1 as ,paul says1 there is in us neither male nor female4 ,,reference ,,to ,,the ,,second ,,epistle ,,the ,,corinthians4 ,archbishop ,wake is the translator of this ,second ,epistle1 which he says was not of so great reputation among the primitive ,fathers as the first4 ,he defends it notwithstanding2 and in answer to those who objected to ,clement's ,first ,epistle1 that it did not duly honour the ,trinity2 the ,archbishop refers to this as containing proof of the writer's fulness of belief on that point4 ,,the ,,general ,,epistle ,,of ,,barnabas4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,preface to the ,epistle4 ,,all happiness to you my sons and daughters1 in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who loved us1 in peace4 #b ,having perceived abundance of knowledge of the great and excellent laws of ,god to be in you1 ,i exceedingly rejoice in your blessed and admirable souls1 because ye have so worthily received the grace which was grafted in you4 #c ,for which cause ,i am full of joy1 hoping the rather to be saved2 inasmuch as ,i truly see a spirit infused into you1 from the pure fountain of ,god3 #d ,having this persuasion1 and being fully convinced thereof1 because that since ,i have begun to speak unto you1 ,i have had a more than ordinary good success in the way of the law of the ,lord1 which is in ,christ1 #e ,for which cause brethren1 ,i also think verily that ,i love you above my own soul2 because that therein dwelleth the greatness of faith and charity1 as also the hope of that life which is to come4 #f ,wherefore considering this1 that if ,i shall take care to communicate to you a part of what ,i have received1 it shall turn to my reward1 that ,i have served such good souls4 ,i gave diligence to write in a few words unto you2 that together with your faith1 your knowledge also may be perfect4 #g ,there are therefore three things ordained by the ,lord2 the hope of life1 the beginning1 and the completion of it4 #h ,for the ,lord hath both declared unto us1 by the prophets1 those things that are past2 and opened to us the beginnings of those that are to come4 #i ,wherefore1 it will behove us1 as he has spoken1 to come more holily1 and nearer to his altar4 #aj ,i therefore1 not as a teacher but as one of you1 will endeavour to lay before you a few things by which you may1 on many accounts1 become the more joyful4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,that ,god has abolished the legal sacrifices1 to introduce the spiritual righteousness of the ,gospel4 ,,seeing then the days are exceedingly evil1 and the adversary has got the power of this present world we ought to give the more diligence to inquire into the righteous judgments of the ,lord4 #b ,now the assistants of our faith are fear and patience2 our fellow-combatants1 long suffering and continence4 #c ,whilst these remain pure in what relates unto the ,lord1 wisdom1 and understanding1 and science1 and knowledge1 rejoice together with them4 #d ,for ,god has manifested to us by all the prophets1 that he has no occasion for our sacrifices1 or burnt-offerings1 or oblations3 saying thus2 ,to what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me1 saith the ,lord4 #e ,i am full of the burnt-offerings of rams1 and the fat of fed beasts2 and ,i delight not in the blood of bullocks1 or of he-goats4 #f ,when ye come to appear before me1 who hath required this at your hands8 ,ye shall no more tread my courts4 #g ,bring no more vain oblations1 incense is an abomination unto me your new moons and sabbaths1 and the calling of assemblies ,i cannot bear with1 it is iniquity1 even the solemn meeting2 your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth4 #h ,these things therefore hath ,god abolished1 that the new law of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which is without the yoke of any such necessity1 might have the spiritual offering of1 men themselves4 #i ,for so the ,lord saith again to those heretofore2 ,did ,i at all command your fathers when they came out of the land of ,egypt concerning burnt-offerings of sacrifices8 #aj ,but this ,i commanded them1 saying1 ,let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour1 and love no false oath4 #aa ,forasmuch then as we are not without understanding1 we ought to apprehend the design of our merciful ,father4 ,for he speaks to us1 being willing that we who have been in the same error about the sacrifices1 should seek and find how to approach unto him4 #ab ,and therefore he thus bespeaks us1 ,the sacrifice of ,god 7is a broken spirit17 a broken and contrite heart--,god will not despise4 #ac ,wherefore brethren1 we ought the more diligently to inquire after those things that belong to our salvation1 that the adversary may not have any entrance into us1 and deprive us of our spiritual life4 #ad ,wherefore he again speaketh to them1 concerning these things2 ,ye shall not fast as ye do this day1 to make your voice to be heard on high4 #ae ,is it such a fast that ,i have chosen8 ,a day for a man to afflict his soul8 ,is it to bow down his head like a bulrush1 and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him8 ,wilt thou call this a fast1 and an acceptable day to the ,lord8 #af ,but to us he saith on this wise3 ,is not this the fast that ,i have chosen1 to loose the bands of wickedness1 to undo the heavy burdens1 and to let the oppressed go free3 and that ye break every yoke8 #ag ,is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry1 and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house8 ,when thou seest the naked that thou cover him1 and that thou hide not thyself from thy own flesh4 #ah ,then shall thy light break forth as the morning1 and thy health shall spring forth speedily2 and thy righteousness shall go before thee2 the glory of the ,lord shall be thy reward4 #ai ,then shalt thou call and the ,lord shall answer2 thou shalt cry and he shall say1 ,here ,i am2 if thou put away from the midst of thee the yoke2 the putting forth of the finger1 and speaking vanity2 and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry2 and satisfy the afflicted soul4 #bj ,in this1 therefore1 brethren1 ,god has manifested his foreknowledge and love for us2 because the people which he has purchased to his beloved ,son were to believe in sincerity2 and therefore he has shown these things to all of us1 that we should not run as proselytes to the ,jewish ,law4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the prophecies of ,daniel concerning the ten kings1 and the coming of ,christ4 ,,wherefore it is necessary that searching diligently into those things which are soon to come to pass1 we should write to you what may serve to keep you whole4 #b ,to which end1 let us flee from every evil work and hate the errors of the present time1 that we may be happy in that which is to come4 #c ,let us not give ourselves the liberty of disputing with the wicked and sinners2 lest we should chance in time to become like unto them4 #d ,for the consummation of sin is come1 as it is written1 as the prophet ,daniel says4 ,and for this end the ,lord hath shortened the times and the days1 that his beloved might hasten his coming to his inheritance4 #e ,for so the prophet speaks2 ,there shall ten kings reign in the heart1 and there shall rise last of all another little one1 and he shall humble three kings4 #f ,and again ,daniel speaks in like manner concerning the kingdoms2 and ,i saw the fourth beast dreadful and terrible1 and strong exceedingly2 and it had ten horns4 ,i considered the horns1 and behold there came up among them another little horn1 before which were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots4 #g ,we ought therefore to understand this also3 ,and ,i beseech you1 as one of your own brethren1 loving you all beyond my own life1 that you look well to yourselves1 and be not like to those who add sin to sin1 and say2 ,that their covenant is ours also4 ,nay1 but it is ours only3 for they have forever lost that which ,moses received4 #h ,for thus saith the ,scripture ,and ,moses continued fasting forty days and forty nights in the ,mount2 and he received the covenant from the ,lord1 even the two tables of stone1 written by the hand of ,god4 #i ,but having turned themselves to idols they lost it2 as the ,lord also said to ,moses2 ,moses1 go down quickly1 for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of ,egypt1 have corrupted themselves1 and turned aside from the way which ,i commanded them4 ,and ,moses cast the two tables out of his hands2 and their covenant was broken2 that the love of ,jesus might be sealed in your hearts1 unto the hope of his faith4 #aj ,wherefore let us give heed unto the last times4 ,for all the time past of our life and our faith1 will profit us nothing2 unless we continue to hate what is evil1 and to withstand the future temptations4 ,so the ,son of ,god tells us2 ,let us resist all iniquity and hate it4 #aa ,wherefore consider the works of the evil way4 ,do not withdraw yourselves from others as if you were already justified2 but coming altogether into one place1 inquire what is agreeable to and profitable for the beloved of ,god4 ,for the ,scripture saith2 ,woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes2 and prudent in their sight4 #ab ,let us become spiritually a perfect temple to ,god4 ,as much as in us lies let us meditate upon the fear of ,god2 and strive to the utmost of our power to keep his commandments2 that we may rejoice in his righteous judgments4 #ac ,for ,god will judge the world without respect of persons and everyone shall receive according to his works4 #ad ,if a man shall be good1 his righteousness shall go before him if wicked1 the reward of his wickedness shall follow him4 #ae ,take heed therefore lest sitting still now1 that when we are called1 we fall asleep in our sins2 and the wicked one getting the dominion over us1 stir us up1 and shut us out of the kingdom of the ,lord4 #af ,consider this also3 although you have seen so great signs and wonders done among the people of the ,jews1 yet this notwithstanding the ,lord hath forsaken them4 #ag ,beware1 therefore1 lest it happen to us2 as it is written ,there may be many called1 but few chosen4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,that ,christ was to suffer is proved from the prophecies concerning him4 ,for this cause did our ,lord vouchsafe to give up his body to destruction1 that through the forgiveness of our sins we might be sanctified2 that is1 by the sprinkling of his blood4 #b ,now for what concerns the things that are written about him1 some belong to the people of the ,jews1 and some to us4 #c ,for thus saith the ,scripture2 ,he was wounded for our transgressions1 he was bruised for our iniquities1 and by his blood we are healed4 ,he was led as a lamb to the slaughter1 and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb1 so he opened not his mouth4 #d ,wherefore we ought the more to give thanks unto ,god1 for that he hath both declared unto us what is passed1 and not suffered us to be without understanding of those things that are to come4 #e ,but to them he saith2 ,the nets are not unjustly spread for the birds4 #f ,this he spake1 because a man will justly perish1 if having the knowledge of the way of truth1 he shall nevertheless not refrain himself from the way of darkness4 #g ,and for this cause the ,lord was content to suffer for our souls1 although he be the ,lord of the whole earth2 to whom ,god said before the beginning of the world1 ,let us make man after our own image and likeness4 #h ,now how he suffered for us1 seeing it was by men that he underwent it1 ,i will shew you4 #i ,the prophets having received from him the gifts of prophecy1 spake before concerning him3 #aj ,but he1 that he might abolish death1 and make known the resurrection from the dead1 was content1 as it was necessary1 to appear in the flesh1 that he might make good the promise before given to our fathers1 and preparing himself a new people1 might demonstrate to them whilst he was upon earth1 that after the resurrection he would judge the world4 #aa ,and finally1 teaching the people of ,israel1 and doing many wonders and signs among them1 he preached to them1 and shewed the exceeding great love which he bare towards them4 #ab ,and when he chose his apostles1 which were afterwards to publish his ,gospel1 he took men who had been very great sinners2 that thereby he might plainly shew ,that he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance4 #ac ,then he clearly manifested himself to be the ,son of ,god4 ,for had he not come in the flesh1 how should men have been able to look upon him1 that they might be saved8 #ad ,seeing that if they beheld only the sun1 which was the work of his hands1 and shall hereafter cease to be1 they are not able to endure steadfastly to look against the rays of it2 #ae ,wherefore the ,son of ,god came in the flesh for this cause1 that he might fill up the measure of their iniquity1 who have persecuted his prophets unto death4 ,and for the same reason also he suffered4 #af ,for ,god hath said of the stripes of his flesh1 that they were from them4 ,and1 ,i will smite the shepherd1 and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered4 #ag ,thus he would suffer1 because it behoved him to suffer upon the cross4 #ah ,for thus one saith1 prophesying concerning him2 ,spare my soul from the sword4 ,and again1 ,my flesh trembleth for fear4 #ai ,and again1 the congregation of wicked doers rose up against me1 7,they have pierced my hands and my feet74 #bj ,and again he saith1 ,i gave my back to the smiters1 and my face ,i set as a hard rock4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,the subject continued4 ,and when he had fulfilled the commandment of ,god1 ,what says he8 ,who will contend with me8 ,let him stand against me or who is he that will implead me8 ,let him draw near to the servant of the ,lord4 ,woe be to you6 ,because ye shall all wax old as a garment1 the moth shall eat you up4 #b ,and again adds the prophet1 ,he is put for a stone of stumbling4 ,behold ,i lay in ,zion for a foundation1 a precious stone a choice corner-stone2 an honourable stone4 ,and what follows8 ,and he that hopeth in him shall live for ever4 #c ,what then8 ,is our hope built upon a stone8 ,god forbid4 ,but because the ,lord hath hardened his flesh against sufferings1 he saith1 ,i have put me as a firm rock4 #d ,and again the prophet adds2 ,the stone which the builders refused has become the head of the corner4 ,and again he saith ,this is the great and wonderful day which the ,lord hath made4 ,i write these things the more plainly to you that ye may understand3 ,i ,for indeed ,i could be content even to die for your sakes4 #e ,but what saith the prophet again2 ,the counsel of the wicked encompassed me about4 ,they came about me1 as bees about the honey-comb3 and1 ,upon my vesture they cast lots4 #f ,forasmuch then as our ,saviour was to appear in the flesh and suffer1 his passion was hereby foretold4 #g ,for thus saith the prophet against ,israel3 ,woe be to their soul because they have taken wicked counsel against themselves1 saying2 let us lay snares for the righteous1 because he is unprofitable to us4 #h ,moses also in like manner speaketh to them2 ,behold thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,enter ye into the good land of which the ,lord hath sworn to ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 that he would give it you1 and possess it2 a land flowing with milk and honey4 #i ,now what the spiritual meaning of this is1 learn2 ,it is as if it had been said1 ,put your trust in ,jesus1 who shall be manifested to you in the flesh4 ,for man is the earth which suffers3 forasmuch as out of the substance of the earth ,adam was formed4 #aj ,what therefore does he mean when he says1 ,into a good land flowing with milk and honey8 ,blessed be our ,lord1 who has given us wisdom1 and a heart to understand his secrets4 ,for so says the prophet1 ,who shall understand the hard sayings of the ,lord8 ,but he that is wise1 and intelligent1 and that loves his ,lord4 #aa ,seeing therefore he has renewed us by the remission of our sins1 he has put us into another frame1 that we should have souls like those of children1 forming us again himself by the spirit4 #ab ,for thus the ,scripture saith concerning us1 where it introduceth the ,father speaking to the ,son2 ,let us make man after our likeness and similitude2 and let them have dominion over the beasts of the earth1 and over the fowls of the air1 and the fish of the sea4 #ac ,and when the ,lord saw the man which he had formed1 that behold he was very good2 he said1 ,increase and multiply1 and replenish the earth4 ,and this he spake to his son4 #ad ,i will now show you1 how he made us a new creature1 in the latter days4 #ae ,the ,lord saith2 ,behold ,i will make the last as the first4 ,wherefore the prophet thus spake1 ,enter into the land flowing with milk and honey1 and have dominion over it4 #af ,wherefore ye see how we are again formed anew2 as also he speaks by another prophet2 ,behold saith the ,lord1 ,i will take from them2 that is1 from those whom the spirit ,i of the ,lord foresaw1 their hearts of stone1 and ,i will put into them hearts of flesh4 #ag ,because he was about to be made manifest in the flesh and to dwell in us4 #ah ,for1 my brethren1 the habitation of our heart is a 'holy temple unto the ,lord4 ,for the prophet saith again1 ,in what place shall ,i appear before the ,lord my ,god1 and be glorified8 #ai ,he answers ,i will confess unto thee in the congregation in the midst of my brethren2 and will sing unto thee in the church of the saints3 #bj ,wherefore we are they whom he has brought into that good land4 #ba ,but what signifies the milk and honey8 ,because as the child is nourished first with milk1 and then with honey2 so we being kept alive by the belief of his promises and his word1 shall live and have dominion over the land4 #bb ,for he foretold before1 saying1 increase and multiply1 and have dominion over the beasts1 fishes1 and birds4 #bc ,but who is there that is now able to have this dominion over the wild beasts1 or fishes1 or fowls of the air8 ,for you know that to rule1 is to have power2 that a man should be set over what he rules4 #bd ,but forasmuch as this we have not now1 he tells us when we shall have it2 namely1 when we shall become perfect1 that we may be made the inheritors of the covenant of the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,the sacrifice of ,jesus1 and of a goat1 an evident type of ,christ crucified4 ,,understand then my beloved children1 that the good ,god hath before manifested all things unto us1 that we might know to whom we ought always to give thanks and praise4 #b ,if therefore the ,son of ,god who is the ,lord of all1 and shall come to judge both the quick and dead1 hath suffered1 that by his stripes we might live2 let us believe that the ,son of ,god could not have suffered but for us4 ,but being crucified1 they gave him vinegar and gall to drink4 #c ,hear therefore how the priests of the temple did foreshow this also3 the ,lord by his command which was written1 declared that whosoever did not fast the appointed fast he should die the death3 because he also was himself one day to offer up his body for our sins2 that so the type of what was done in ,isaac might be fulfilled1 who was offered upon the altar4 #d ,what therefore is it that he says by the prophet8 ,and let them eat of the goat which is offered in the day of the fast for all their sins4 ,hearken diligently1 7my brethren17 and all the priests1 and they only shall eat the inwards not washed with vinegar4 #e ,why so8 because ,i know that when ,i shall hereafter offer my flesh for the sins of a new people1 ye will give me vinegar to drink mixed with gall2 therefore do ye only eat1 the people fasting the while1 and lamenting in sackcloth and ashes4 #f ,and that he might foreshow that he was to suffer for them1 hear then how he appointed it4 #g ,take1 says he1 two goats1 fair and alike1 and offer them2 and let the high priest take one of them for a burnt offering4 ,and what shalt be done with the other8 ,let it1 says he1 be accursed4 #h ,consider how exactly this appears to have been a type of ,jesus4 ,and let all the congregation spit upon it1 and prick it2 and put the scarlet wool about its head2 and thus let it be carried forth into the wilderness4 #i ,and this being done1 he that was appointed to convey the goat1 led it into the wilderness1 and took away the scarlet wool1 and put it upon a thorn bush1 whose young sprouts1 when we find them in the field1 we are wont to eat3 so the fruit of that thorn only is sweet4 #aj ,and to what end was this ceremony8 ,consider2 one was offered upon the altar1 the other was accursed4 #aa ,and why was that which was accursed crowned8 ,because they shall see ,christ on that day having a scarlet garment about his body2 and shall say3 ,is not this he whom we crucified2 having despised him1 pierced him1 mocked him8 ,certainly1 this is he1 who then said1 that he was the ,son of ,god4 #ab ,as therefore he shall be then like to what he was on earth1 so were the ,jews heretofore commanded1 to take two goats fair and equal2 that when they shall see 7our ,saviour7 hereafter coming 7in the clouds of heaven71 they may be amazed at the likeness of the goats4 #ac ,wherefore ye here again see a type of ,jesus who was to suffer for us4 #ad ,but what then signifies this1 ,that the wool was to be put into the midst of the thorns8 #ae ,this also is a figure of ,jesus1 set out to the church4 ,for as he who would take away the scarlet wool must undergo many difficulties1 because that thorn was very sharp1 and with difficulty get it3 ,so1 says ,christ1 they that will see me1 and come to my kingdom1 must through many afflictions and troubles attain unto me4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,the red heifer1 another type of ,christ4 ,,but what type do ye suppose it to have been1 where it is commanded to the people of ,israel1 that grown persons in whom sins are come to perfection1 should offer an heifer1 and after they had killed it should burn the same2 #b ,but then young men should take up the ashes and put them in vessels2 and tie a piece of scarlet wool and hyssop upon a stick1 and so the young men should sprinkle every one of the people1 and they should be clear from their sins8 #c ,consider how all these are delivered in a figure to us4 #d ,this heifer is ,jesus ,christ2 the wicked men that were to offer it are those sinners who brought him to death2 who afterwards have no more to do with it3 for the sinners have no more the honour of handling it3 #e ,but the young men that performed the sprinkling1 signified those who preach to us the forgiveness of sins1 and the purification of the heart1 to whom the ,lord gave authority to preach his ,gospel3 being at the beginning twelve1 to signify the tribes1 because there were twelve tribes of ,israel4 #f ,but why were there three young men appointed to sprinkle8 ,to denote ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 because they were great before ,god4 #g ,and why was the wool put upon a stick8 ,because the kingdom of ,jesus was founded upon the cross2 and therefore they that put their trust in him1 shall live for ever4 #h ,but why was the wool and hyssop put together8 ,to signify that in the kingdom of ,christ there shall be evil and filthy days1 in which however1 we shall be saved2 and because he that has any disease in the flesh by some filthy humours1 is cured by hyssop4 #i ,wherefore these things being thus done1 are to us indeed evident1 but to the ,jews they are obscure2 because they hearkened not unto the voice of the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,of the circumcision of the ears and how in the first institution of circumcision ,abraham mystically foretold ,christ by name4 ,,and therefore the ,scripture again speaks concerning our ears1 that ,god has circumcised them1 together with our hearts4 ,for thus saith the ,lord by the holy prophet3 ,by the hearing of the ear they obeyed me4 #b ,and again1 ,they who are afar off1 shall hear and understand what things ,i have done4 ,and again1 ,circumcise your hearts1 saith the ,lord4 #c ,and again he saith1 ,hear ,o ,israel6 ,for thus saith the ,lord thy ,god4 ,and again the ,spirit of ,god prophesieth1 saying3 ,who is there that would live for ever1 let him hear the voice of my ,son4 #d ,and again1 ,hear1 ,o ,heavens1 and give ear ,o ,earth6 ,because the ,lord has spoken these things for a witness4 #e ,and again1 he saith1 ,hear the word of the ,lord1 ye princes of the people4 ,and again1 ,hear ,o children6 ,the voice of one crying in the wilderness4 #f ,wherefore he has circumcised our ears1 that we should hear his word1 and believe4 ,but as for that circumcision1 in which the ,jews trust1 it is abolished3 for the circumcision of which ,god spake1 was not of the flesh4 #g ,but they have transgressed his commands1 because the evil one hath deceived them4 ,for thus ,god bespeaks them2 ,thus saith the ,lord your ,god1 7,here ,i find the new law7 ,sow not among thorns2 but circumcise yourselves to the ,lord your ,god4 ,and what doth he mean by this saying8 ,hearken unto your ,lord4 #h ,and again he saith1 ,circumcise the hardness of your heart1 and harden not your neck4 ,and again1 ,behold1 saith the ,lord1 all the nations are uncircumcised1 7they have not lost their fore-skin73 but this people is uncircumcised in heart4 #i ,but you will say the ,jews were circumcised for a sign4 ,and so are all the ,syrians and ,arabians1 and all the idolatrous priests3 but are they therefore of the covenant of ,israel8 ,and even the ,egyptians themselves are circumcised4 #aj ,understand therefore1 children1 these things more fully1 that ,abraham was the first1 that brought in circumcision1 looking forward in the ,spirit1 to ,jesus2 circumcised1 having received the mystery of three letters4 #aa ,for the ,scripture says that ,abraham circumcised three hundred and eighteen men of his house4 ,but what therefore was the mystery that was made known unto him6 #ab ,mark1 first the eighteen1 and next the three hundred4 ,for the numeral letters of ten and eight are ,t ,h4 ,and these denote ,jesus4 #ac ,and because the cross was that by which we were to find grace1 therefore he adds1 three hundred2 the note of which is ,t 7the figure of his cross74 ,wherefore by two letters he signified ,jesus1 and by the third his cross4 #ad ,he who has put the engrafted gift of his doctrine within us1 knows that ,i never taught to anyone a more certain truth3 but ,i trust that ye are worthy of it4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,that the commands of ,moses concerning clean and unclean beasts1 were all designed for a spiritual signification4 ,,but why did ,moses say ,ye shall not eat of the swine1 neither the eagle nor the hawk2 nor the crow2 nor any fish that has not a scale upon him8--,i answer that1 in the spiritual sense1 he comprehended three doctrines1 that were to be gathered from thence4 #b ,besides which he says to them in the book of ,deuteronomy1 ,and ,i will give my statutes unto this people4 ,wherefore it is not the command of ,god that they should not eat these things2 but ,moses in the spirit spake unto them4 #c ,now the sow he forbad them to eat2 meaning thus much3 ,thou shalt not join thyself to such persons as are like unto swine1 who1 whilst they live in pleasure1 forget their ,god2 but when any want pinches them1 then they know the ,lord3 as the sow when she is full knows not her master1 but when she is hungry she makes a noise2 and being again fed1 is silent4 #d ,neither1 says he1 shalt thou eat the eagle1 nor the hawk1 nor the kite1 nor the crow2 that is1 thou shalt not keep company with such kind of men as know not how by their labour and sweat to get themselves food2 but injuriously ravish away the things of others1 and watch how to lay snares for them2 when at the same time they appear to live in perfect innocence4 #c ,so these birds alone 7seek not food for themselves17 but sitting idle1 seek how they may eat of the flesh others have provided being destructive through their wickedness4 #f ,neither1 says he1 shalt thou eat the lamprey1 nor the polypus1 nor the cuttle-fish2 that is thou shalt not be like such men1 by seeking to converse with them who are altogether wicked and adjudged to death4 ,for so those fishes are alone accursed1 that wallow in the mire1 nor swim as other fishes1 but tumble in the dirt at the bottom of the deep4 #g ,but1 he adds1 neither shalt thou eat of the hare4 ,to what end8--,to signify this to us2 ,thou shalt not be an adulterer1 nor liken thyself to such persons4 ,for the hare every year multiplies the places of its conception2 and as many years as it lives1 so many it has4 #h ,neither shalt thou eat of the hyena3 that is1 again1 be not an adulterer1 nor a corrupter of others2 neither be like to such4 ,and wherefore so8--,because that creature every year changes its kind1 which is sometimes male and sometimes female4 #i ,for which cause also he justly hated the weazel2 to the end that they should not be like such persons who with their mouths commit wickedness by reason of their uncleanness2 nor join themselves with those impure women1 who with their mouths commit wickedness4 ,because that animal conceives with its mouth4 #aj ,moses1 therefore1 speaking as concerning meats1 delivered indeed three great precepts to them in the spiritual signification of those commands4 ,but they according to the desires of the flesh1 understood him as if he had only meant it of meats4 #aa ,and therefore ,david took aright the knowledge of his three-fold command1 saying in like manner3 #ab ,blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly2 as the fishes before mentioned in the bottom of the deep1 in darkness4 #ac ,nor stood in the way of sinners1 as they who seem to fear the ,lord1 but yet sin1 as the sow4 #ad ,and hath not sat in the seat of the scorners2 as those birds who sit and watch that they may devour4 #ae ,here you have the law concerning meat perfectly set forth and according to the true knowledge of it4 #af ,but1 says ,moses1 ye shall eat all that divideth the hoof1 and cheweth the cud4 ,signifying thereby such an one as having taken his food1 knows him that nourisheth him2 and resting upon him1 rejoiceth in him4 #ag ,and in this he spake well1 having respect to the commandment4 ,what1 therefore1 is it that he says8--,that we should hold fast to them that fear the ,lord2 with those who meditate on the command of the word which they have received1 in their heart2 with those that declare the righteous judgments of the ,lord1 and keep his commandments2 #ah ,in short1 with those who know that to meditate is a work of pleasure1 and therefore exercise themselves in the word of the ,lord4 #ai ,but why might they eat those that clave the hoof8 ,because the righteous liveth in this present world2 but his expectation is fixed upon the other4 ,see1 brethren1 how admirably ,moses commanded these things4 #bj ,but how should we thus know all this1 and understand it8 ,we1 therefore1 understanding aright the commandments1 speak as the ,lord would have us4 ,wherefore he has circumcised our ears and our hearts1 that we might know these things4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,baptism and the cross of ,christ foretold in figures under the law4 ,,let us now inquire whether the ,lord took care to manifest anything beforehand concerning water and the cross4 #b ,now for the former of these1 it is written to the people of ,israel how they shall not receive that baptism which brings to forgiveness of sins2 but shall institute another to themselves that cannot4 #c ,for thus saith the prophet3 ,be astonished1 ,o ,heaven6 and let the earth tremble at it1 because this people have done two great and wicked things3 they have left me1 the fountain of living water1 and have digged for themselves broken cisterns1 that can hold no water4 #d ,is my holy mountain of ,zion1 a desolate wilderness8 ,for ye shall be as a young bird when its nest is taken away4 #e ,and again the prophet saith1 ,i will go before thee1 and will make plain the mountains1 and will break the gates of brass1 and will snap in sunder the bars of iron2 and will give thee dark1 and hidden1 and invisible treasures1 that they may know that ,i am the ,lord ,god4 #f ,and again3 he shall dwell in the high den of the strong rock4 ,and then1 what follows in the same prophet8 ,his water is faithful2 ye shall see the king with glory1 and your soul shall learn the fear of the ,lord4 #g ,and again he saith in another prophet3 ,he that does these things2 ,i shall be like a tree planted by the currents of water1 which shall give its fruit in its season4 ,its leaf also shall not wither1 and whatsoever he doth it shall prosper4 #h ,as for the wicked it is not so with them2 but they are as the dust which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth4 #i ,therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment1 neither the sinners in the council of the righteous4 ,for the ,lord knoweth the way of the righteous1 and the way of the ungodly shall perish4 #aj ,consider how he has joined both the cross and the water together4 #aa ,for this he saith3 ,blessed are they who put their trust in the cross1 and descend into the water2 for they shall have their reward in due time3 then1 saith he1 will ,i give it them4 #ab ,but as concerning the present time1 he saith1 their leaves shall not fall3 meaning thereby1 that every word that shall go out of your mouth1 shall through faith and charity be to the conversion and hope of many4 #ac ,in like manner doth another prophet speak4 ,and the land of ,jacob was the praise of all the earth2 magnifying thereby the vessel of his spirit4 #ad ,and what follows8--,and there was a river running on the right hand1 and beautiful trees grew up by it2 and he that shall eat of them shall live for ever4 ,the signification of which is this that we go down into the water full of sins and pollutions1 but come up again1 bringing forth fruit2 having in our hearts the fear and hope which is in ,jesus1 by the spirit4 ,and whosoever shall eat of them shall live for ever4 #ae ,that is1 whosoever shall hearken to those who call them1 and shall believe1 shall live for ever4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the subject continued4 ,,in like manner he determines concerning the cross in another prophet1 saying3 ,and when shall these things be fulfilled8 #b ,the ,lord answers3 ,when the tree that is fallen shall rise1 and when blood shall drop down from the tree4 ,here you have again mention made1 both of the cross1 and of him that was to be crucified upon it4 #c ,and yet farther he saith by ,moses2 7when ,israel was fighting with1 and beaten by1 a strange people2 to the end that ,god might put them in mind how that for their sins they were delivered unto death7 yea1 the holy spirit put it into the heart of ,moses1 to represent both the sign of the cross1 and of him that was to suffer3 that so they might know that if they did not believe in him1 they should be overcome for ever4 #d ,moses therefore ,i piled up armour upon armour in the middle of a rising ground1 and standing up high above all of them1 stretched forth his arms1 and so ,israel again conquered4 #e ,but no sooner did he let down his hands1 but they were again slain4 ,and why so8--,to the end they might know1 that except they trust in him they cannot be saved4 #f ,and in another prophet1 he saith1 ,i have stretched out my hands all the day long to a people disobedient1 and speaking against my righteous way4 #g ,and again ,moses makes a type of ,jesus1 to show that he was to die1 and then that he1 whom they thought to be dead1 was to give life to others2 in the type of those that fell in ,israel4 #h ,for ,god caused all sorts of serpents to bite them1 and they died3 forasmuch as by a serpent transgression began in ,eve2 that so he might convince them that for their transgressions they shall be delivered into the pain of death4 #i ,moses then himself1 who had commanded them1 saying1 ,ye shall not make to yourselves any graven or molten image1 to be your ,god yet now did so himself1 that he might represent to them the figure of the ,lord ,jesus4 #aj ,for he made a brazen serpent1 and set it up on high1 and called the people together by a proclamation3 where being come1 they entreated ,moses that he would make an atonement for them1 and pray that they might be healed4 #aa ,then ,moses spake unto them1 saying3 when any one among you shall be bitten1 let him come unto the serpent that is set upon the pole2 and let him assuredly trust in him1 that though he be dead1 yet he is able to give life1 and presently he shall be saved2 and so they did4 ,see therefore how here also you have in this the glory of ,jesus2 and that in him and to him are all things4 #ab ,again2 ,what says ,moses to ,joshua1 the ,son of ,nun1 when he gave that name unto him1 as being a prophet1 that all the people might hear him alone8 ,because the father did manifest all things concerning his son ,jesus1 in ,joshua1 the ,son of ,nun2 and gave him that name when he sent him to spy out the land of ,canaan1 saying2 ,take a book in thine hands1 and write what the ,lord saith4 ,forasmuch as ,jesus the ,son of ,god shall in the last days cut off by the roots all the house of ,amalek1 see here again ,jesus1 not the son of man1 but the ,son of ,god1 made manifest in a type1 and in the flesh4 #ac ,but because it might hereafter be said that ,christ was the ,son of ,david2 therefore ,david fearing and well knowing the errors of the wicked1 saith2 the ,lord said unto my ,lord1 sit thou on my right hand until ,i make thine enemies thy footstool4 #ad ,and again ,isaiah speaketh on this wise1 ,the ,lord said unto ,christ my ,lord1 ,i have laid hold on his right hand1 that the nations should obey before him1 and ,i will break the strength of kings4 #ae ,behold1 how doth ,david and ,isaiah call him ,lord1 and the ,son of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,the ,promise of ,god not made to the ,jews only1 but to the ,gentiles also1 and fulfilled to us by ,jesus ,christ4 ,,but let us go yet further1 and inquire whether this people be the heir1 or the former2 and whether the covenant be with us or with them4 #b ,and first1 as concerning the people1 hear now what the ,scripture saith3 #c ,isaac prayed for his wife ,rebekah1 because she was barren2 and she conceived4 ,afterwards ,rebekah went forth to inquire of the ,lord4 #d ,and the ,lord said unto her2 ,there are two nations in thy womb1 and two people shall come from thy body2 and the one shall have power over the other1 and the greater shall serve the lesser4 ,understand here who was ,isaac2 who ,rebekah2 and of whom it was foretold1 this people shall be greater than that4 #e ,and in another prophecy ,jacob speaketh more clearly to his son ,joseph1 saying2 ,behold the ,lord hath not derived me of seeing thy face1 bring me thy sons that ,i may bless them4 ,and he brought unto his father ,manasseh and ,ephraim1 desiring that he should bless ,manasseh1 because he was the elder4 #f ,therefore ,joseph brought him to the right hand of his father ,jacob4 ,but ,jacob by the spirit foresaw the figure of the people that was to come4 #g ,and what saith the ,scripture8 ,and ,jacob crossed his hands1 and put his right hand upon ,ephraim1 his second1 and the younger son1 and blessed him4 ,and ,joseph said unto ,jacob2 ,put thy right hand upon the head of ,manasseh1 for he is my first-born son4 ,and ,jacob said unto ,joseph2 ,i know it1 my son1 ,i know it2 but the greater shall serve the lesser2 though he also shall be blessed4 #h ,ye see of whom he appointed it1 that they should be the first people1 and heirs of the covenant4 #i ,if therefore ,god shall have yet farther taken notice of this1 by ,abraham too2 our understanding of it will then be perfectly established4 #aj ,what then saith the ,scripture of ,abraham1 when ,i be believed1 and it was imputed unto him for righteousness8 ,behold ,i have made thee a father of the nations1 which without circumcision believe in the ,lord4 #aa ,let us therefore now inquire whether ,god has fulfilled the covenant1 which he sware to our fathers1 that he would give this people8 ,yes1 verily1 he gave it2 but they were not worthy to receive it by reason of their sins4 #ab ,for thus saith the prophet ,and ,moses continued fasting in mount ,sinai1 to receive the covenant of the ,lord with the people1 forty days and forty nights4 #ac ,and he received of the ,lord two tables written with the finger of the ,lord's hand1 in the ,spirit4 ,and ,moses1 when he had received them1 brought them down that he might deliver them to the people4 #ad ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses2 ,moses1 ,moses1 get thee down quickly1 for the people which thou broughtest out of the land of ,egypt have done wickedly4 #ae ,and ,moses understood that they had again set up a molten image3 and he cast the two tables out of his hands2 and the tables of the covenant of the ,lord were broken4 ,moses therefore received them1 but they were not worthy4 #af ,now then learn how we have received them4 ,moses1 being a servant1 took them2 but the ,lord himself has given them unto us1 that we might be the people of his inheritance2 having suffered for us4 #ag ,he was therefore made manifest2 that they should fill up the measure of their sins1 and that we being made heirs by him1 should receive the covenant of the ,lord ,jesus4 #ah ,and again the prophet saith ,behold1 ,i have set thee for a light unto the ,gentiles2 to be the saviour of all the ends of the earth1 saith the ,lord2 the ,god who hath redeemed thee4 #ai ,who for that very end was prepared1 that by his own appearing he might redeem our hearts1 already devoured by death1 and delivered over to the irregularity of error1 from darkness2 and establish a covenant with us by his word4 #bj ,for so it is written that the father commanded him by delivering us from darkness1 to prepare unto himself a holy people4 #ba ,wherefore the prophet saith ,i the ,lord thy ,god have called thee in righteousness1 and ,i will take thee by thy hand1 and will strengthen thee1 and give thee for a covenant of the people2 for a light to the ,gentiles4 ,to open the eyes of the blind1 to bring out the prisoners from the prison1 and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house4 #bb ,consider1 therefore1 from whence we have been redeemed4 ,and again the prophet saith ,the spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 because he hath anointed me3 he hath sent me to preach glad tidings to the lowly2 to heal the broken in heart2 to preach remission to the captives1 and give sight unto the blind2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the ,lord1 and the day of restitution2 to comfort all that mourn4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,that the sabbath of the ,jews was but a figure of a more glorious sabbath to come1 and their temple1 of the spiritual temples of ,god4 ,,furthermore it is written concerning the sabbath1 in the ,ten ,commandments1 which ,god spake in the mount ,sinai to ,moses1 face to face3 ,sanctify the sabbath of the ,lord with pure hands1 and with a clean heart4 #b ,and elsewhere he saith2 ,if thy children shall keep my ,sabbaths1 then will ,i put my mercy upon them4 #c ,and even in the beginning of the creation he makes mention of the sabbath4 ,and ,god made in six days the works of his hands1 and he finished them on the seventh day2 and he rested the seventh day1 and sanctified it4 #d ,consider1 my children1 what that signifies1 he finished them in six days4 ,the meaning of it is this3 that in six thousand years the ,lord ,god will bring all things to an end4 #e ,for with him one day is a thousand years2 as himself testifieth1 saying1 ,behold this day shall be as a thousand years4 ,therefore1 children1 in six days1 that is1 in six thousand years1 shall a all things be accomplished4 #f ,and what is that he saith1 ,and he rested the seventh day he meaneth this3 that when his ,son shall come1 and abolish the season of the ,wicked ,one1 and judge the ungodly2 and shall change the sun and the moon1 and the stars2 then he shall gloriously rest on that seventh day1 #g ,he adds1 lastly3 ,thou shalt sanctify it with clean hands and a pure heart4 ,wherefore we are greatly deceived if we imagine that anyone can now sanctify that day which ,god has made holy1 without having a heart pure in all things4 #h ,behold1 therefore1 he will then truly sanctify it with blessed rest1 when we 7having received the righteous promise1 when iniquity shall be no more1 all things being renewed by the ,lord7 shall be able to sanctify it1 being ourselves first made holy2 #i ,lastly1 he saith unto them ,your new moons and your ,sabbaths ,i cannot bear them4 ,consider what he means by it2 the ,sabbaths1 says he1 which ye now keep are not acceptable unto me1 but those which ,i have made2 when resting from all things ,i shall begin the eight day1 that is1 the beginning of the other world4 #aj ,for which cause we observe the eight day with gladness1 in which ,jesus rose from the dead2 and having manifested himself to his disciples1 ascended into heaven4 #aa ,it remains yet that ,i speak to you concerning the temple3 how those miserable men being deceived have put their trust in the house1 and not in ,god himself who made them1 as if it were the habitation of ,god4 #ab ,for much after the same manner as the ,gentiles1 they consecrated him in the temple4 #ac ,but learn therefore how the ,lord speaketh1 rendering the temple vain3 ,who has measured the heaven with a span1 and the earth with his hand8 ,is it not ,i8 ,thus with the ,lord1 ,heaven is my throne1 and the earth is my footstool4 ,what is the house that ye will build me8 ,or what is the place of my rest8 ,know therefore that all their hope is vain4 #ad ,and again he speaketh after this manner3 ,behold they that destroy this temple1 even they shall again build it up4 ,and so it came to pass2 for through their wars it is now destroyed by their enemies2 and the servants of their enemies build it up4 #ae ,furthermore it has been made manifest1 how both the city and the temple1 and the people of ,israel should be given up4 ,for the scripture saith2 ,and it shall come to pass in the last days1 that the ,lord will deliver up the sheep of his pasture1 and their fold1 and their tower unto destruction4 ,and it is come to pass1 as the ,lord hath spoken4 #af ,let us inquire therefore1 whether there be any temple of ,god8 ,yes there is3 and there where himself declares that he would both make and perfect it4 ,for it is written3 ,and it shall be that as soon as the week shall be completed1 the temple of the ,lord shall be gloriously built in the name of the ,lord4 #ag ,i find therefore that there is a temple4 ,but how shall it be built in the name of the ,lord8 ,i will shew you4 #ah ,before that we believed in ,god1 the habitation of our heart was corruptible1 and feeble1 as a temple truly built with hands4 #ai ,for it was a house full of idolatry1 a house of devils2 inasmuch as there was done in it whatsoever was contrary unto ,god4 ,but it shall be built in the name of the ,lord4 #bj ,consider1 how that the temple of the ,lord shall be very gloriously built2 and by what means that shall be1 learn4 #ba ,having received remission of our sins1 and trusting in the name of the ,lord1 we are become renewed1 being again created as it were from the beginning4 ,wherefore ,god truly dwells in our house1 that is1 in us4 #bb ,but how does he dwell in us8 ,by the word of his faith1 the calling of his promise1 the wisdom of his righteous judgments and the commands of his doctrine4 ,he himself prophesies within us1 he himself dwelleth in us1 and openeth to us who were in bondage of death the gate of our temple1 that is1 the mouth of wisdom1 having given repentance unto us2 and by this means has brought us to be an incorruptible temple4 #bc ,he therefore that desires to be saved looketh not unto the man1 but unto him that dwelleth in him1 and speaketh by him2 being struck with wonder1 forasmuch as he never either heard him speaking such words out of his mouth1 nor ever desired to hear them4 #bd ,this is that spiritual temple that is built unto the ,lord4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,of the way of light2 being a summary of what a ,christian is to do1 that he maybe happy for ever4 ,,and thus ,i trust1 ,i have declared to you as much1 and with as great simplicity as ,i could1 those1 things which provide for your salvation1 so as not to have omitted any thing that might be requisite thereunto4 #b ,for should ,i speak farther of the things that now are1 and of those that are to come1 you would not yet understand them1 seeing they lie in parables4 ,this therefore shall suffice as to these things4 #c ,let us now go on to the other kind of knowledge and doctrine4 ,there are two ways of doctrine and power2 the one of light1 the other of darkness4 #d ,but there is a great deal of difference between these two ways for over one are appointed the angels of ,god1 the leaders of the way of light2 over the other1 the angels of ,satan4 ,and the one is the ,lord from everlasting to everlasting2 the other is the prince of the time of unrighteousness4 #e ,now the way of light is this3 ,if any one desires to attain to the place that is appointed for him1 and will hasten thither by his works4 ,and the knowledge that has been given to us for walking in it1 to this effect3 ,thou shalt love him that made thee3 thou shalt glorify him that hath redeemed thee from death4 #f ,thou shalt be simple in heart1 and rich in the spirit4 ,thou shalt not cleave to those that walk in the way of death4 ,thou shalt hate to do anything that is not pleasing unto ,god4 ,thou shalt abhor all dissimulation4 ,thou shalt not neglect any of the commands of the ,lord4 #g ,thou shalt not exalt thyself1 but shalt be humble4 ,then shalt not take honour to thyself4 ,thou shalt not enter into any wicked counsel against thy neighbour4 ,thou shalt not be over confident in thy heart4 #h ,thou shaft not commit fornication1 nor adultery4 ,neither shalt thou corrupt thyself with mankind4 ,thou shalt not make use of the word of ,god1 to any impurity1 #i ,thou shalt not except any man's person1 when thou reprovest any one's faults4 ,thou shalt be gentle4 ,thou shalt be quiet4 ,thou shalt tremble at the words which thou hast heard4 ,thou shalt not keep any hatred in thy heart against thy brother4 ,thou shalt not entertain any doubt whether it shall be or not4 #aj ,thou shalt not take the name of the ,lord in vain4 ,thou shalt love thy neighbour above thy own soul1 #aa ,thou shalt not destroy thy conceptions1 before they are brought forth2 nor kill them after they are born4 #ab ,thou shalt not withdraw thy hand from thy son1 or from thy daughter2 but shall teach them from their youth the fear of the ,lord4 #ac ,thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's goods2 neither shalt thou be an extortioner4 ,neither shall thy heart be joined to proud men2 but thou shalt be numbered among the righteous and the lowly4 ,whatever events shall happen unto thee1 thou shalt receive them as good4 #ad ,thou shalt not be double- minded or double-tongued2 for a double tongue is the snare of death4 ,thou shalt be subject unto the ,lord and to inferior masters as to the representatives of ,god1 in fear and reverence4 #ae ,thou shalt not be bitter in thy commands towards any of thy servants that trust in ,god2 lest thou chance not to fear him who is over both2 because he came not to call any with respect of persons1 but whomsoever the spirit had prepared4 #af ,thou shalt communicate to thy neighbour of all thou hast2 thou shalt not call anything thine own3 for if ye partake of such things as are incorruptible1 how much more should you do it in those that are corruptible8 #ag ,thou shalt not be forward to speak2 for the mouth is the snare of death4 ,strive for thy soul with all thy might4 ,reach not out thine hand to receive1 and withhold it not when thou shouldest give4 #ah ,thou shalt love1 as the apple of thine eye1 everyone that speaketh unto thee the ,word of the ,lord4 ,call to thy remembrance1 day and night1 the future judgment4 #ai ,thou shalt seek out every day1 the persons of the righteous2 and both consider and go about to exhort others by the word1 and meditate how thou mayest save a soul4 #bj ,thou shaft also labour with thy hands to give to the poor1 that thy sins may be forgiven thee1 ,thou shalt not deliberate whether thou shouldst give2 nor having given1 murmur at it4 #ba ,give to everyone that asks so shalt thou know who is the good rewarder of thy gifts4 #bb ,keep what thou hast received2 thou shalt neither add to it nor take from it4 #bc ,let the wicked be always thy aversion4 ,thou shalt judge with righteous judgment4 ,thou shalt never cause divisions2 but shalt make peace between those that are at variance1 and bring them together4 #bd ,thou shalt confess thy sins2 and not come to thy prayer with an evil conscience4 #be ,this is the way of light4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,of the way of darkness2 that is1 what kind of persons shall be for ever cast out of the kingdom of ,god4 ,,but the way of darkness is crooked1 and full of cursing4 ,for it is the way of eternal death1 with punishment2 in which they that walk meet those things that destroy their own souls4 #b ,such are2 idolatry1 confidence1 pride of power1 hypocrisy1 double- mindedness1 adultery1 murder1 rapine1 pride1 transgression1 deceit1 malice1 arrogance1 witchcraft1 covetousness1 and the want of the fear of ,god4 #c ,in this1 walk those1 who are the persecutors of them that are good2 haters of truth2 lovers of lies2 who know not the reward of righteousness1 nor cleave to any thing that is good4 #d ,who administer not righteous judgment to the widow and orphan2 who watch for wickedness1 and not for the fear of the ,lord2 #e ,from whom gentleness and patience are far off3 who love vanity1 and follow after rewards2 having no compassion upon the poor2 nor take any pains for such as are heavy laden and oppressed4 #f ,ready to evil speaking1 not knowing him that made them2 murderers of children2 corrupters of the creature of ,god2 that turn away from the needy2 oppress the afflicted2 are the advocates of the rich1 but unjust judges of the poor2 being altogether sinners4 #g ,it is therefore fitting that learning the just commands of the ,lord1 which we have before mentioned1 we should walk in them4 ,for he who does such things shall be glorified in the kingdom of ,hod4 #h ,but he that chooses the other part1 shall be destroyed1 together with his works4 ,for this cause there shall be both a resurrection1 and a retribution4 #i ,i beseech those that are in high estate among you1 7if so be you will take the counsel which with a good intention ,i offer to you17 you have those with you towards whom you may do good2 do not forsake them4 #aj ,for the day is at hand in which all things shall be destroyed1 together with the wicked one4 ,the ,lord is near1 and his reward is with him4 #aa ,i beseech you1 therefore1 again1 and again1 ,be as good lawgiver's to one ,another2 continue faithful counsellors do each other remove from among you all hypocrisy4 #ab ,and may ,god1 the ,lord of all the world1 give you wisdom1 knowledge1 counsel1 and understanding of his judgments in patience3 #ac ,be ye taught of ,god2 seeking what it is the ,lord requires of you1 and doing it2 that ye may be saved in the day of judgment4 #ad ,and if there be among you any remembrance of what is good1 think of me2 meditating on these things1 that both my desire and my watching for you may turn to a good account4 #ae ,i beseech you2 ,i ask it as a favour of you2 whilst you are in this beautiful tabernacle of the body1 be wanting in none of these things2 but without ceasing seek them1 and fulfil every command1 ,for these things are fitting and worthy to be done4 #af ,wherefore ,i have given the more diligence to write unto you according to my ability1 that you might rejoice4 ,farewell1 children of love and peace4 #ag ,the ,lord of glory and of all grace1 be with your spirit1 ,amen4 ,the end of the ,epistle of ,barnabas the ,apostle1 and fellow-traveller of ,st4 ,paul the ,apostle4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,general ,,epistle ,,of ,,barnabas4 ,barnabas was a companion and fellow-preacher with ,paul4 ,this ,epistle lays a greater claim to canonical authority than most others4 ,it has been cited by ,clemens1 ,alexandrinus1 ,origen1 ,eusebius1 and ,jerome1 and many ancient ,fathers4 ,cotelerius affirms that ,origen and ,jerome esteemed it genuine and canonical2 but ,cotelerius himself did not believe it to be either one or the other2 on the contrary1 he supposes it was written for the benefit of the ,ebionites1 7the christianized ,jews17 who were tenacious of rites and ceremonies4 ,bishop ,fell feared to own expressly what he seemed to be persuaded of1 that it ought to be treated with the same respect as several of the books of the present canon4 ,dr4 ,bernard1 ,savilian professor at ,oxford1 not only believed it to be genuine1 but that it was read throughout in the churches of ,alexandria1 as the canonical ,scriptures were4 ,dodwell supposed it to have been published before the ,epistle of ,jude1 and the writings of both the ,johns4 ,vossius1 ,dupuis1 ,dr4 ,cane1 ,dr4 ,mill1 ,dr1 ,s4 ,clark1 ,whitson1 and ,archbishop ,wake also esteemed it genuine3 ,menardus1 ,archbishop ,land1 ,spanheim1 and others deemed it apocryphal4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,ephesians4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,ignatius commends the brethren for sending ,onesimus and other members of the church to him4 #h ,exhorts them to unity2 #ac by a due subjection to their bishop2 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the church which is at ,ephesus in ,asia2 most deservedly happy3 being blessed through the greatness and fullness of ,god the ,father1 and predestinated before the world began2 that it should be always unto an enduring and unchangeable glory2 united and chosen through his true passion1 according to the will of the ,father1 and ,jesus ,christ our ,god2 all happiness1 by ,jesus ,christ1 and his undefiled grace4 #b ,i have heard of your name much beloved in ,god2 which ye have very justly attained by a habit of righteousness1 according to the faith and love which is in ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour4 #c ,how that being followers of ,god1 and stirring up yourselves by the blood of ,christ ye have perfectly accomplished the work that was con-natural unto you4 #d ,for hearing that ,i came bound from ,syria1 for the common name and hope1 trusting through your prayers to fight with beasts at home2 so that by suffering ,i may become indeed the disciple of him who gave himself to ,god1 an offering and sacrifice for us2 ye hastened to see me4 ,i received1 therefore1 in the name of ,god1 your whole multitude in ,onesimus2 #e ,who by3 inexpressible love is ours1 but according to the flesh is our bishop2 whom ,i beseech you1 pray ,jesus ,christ1 to love3 and that you would all strive to be like unto him4 ,and blessed be ,god1 who has granted unto you1 who are so worthy of him1 to enjoy such an excellent bishop4 #f ,for what concerns my fellow servant ,burrhus1 and your most blessed deacon in things pertaining to ,god2 ,i entreat you that he may tarry longer1 both for yours1 and your bishop's honour4 #g ,and ,crocus also worthy of both our ,god and you1 whom ,i have received as the pattern of your love1 has in all things refreshed me1 as the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ shall also refresh him2 together with ,onesimus1 and ,burrhus1 and ,euplus1 and ,fronto1 in whom ,i have1 as to your charity1 seen all of you1 ,and may always1 have joy of you1 if ,i shall be worthy of it4 #h ,it is therefore fitting that you should by all means glorify ,jesus ,christ1 who hath glorified you that by a uniform obedience ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind1 and in the same judgment2 and may all speak the same things concerning everything3 #i ,and that being1 subject to your bishop1 and the presbytery1 ye may be wholly and thoroughly sanctified4 #aj ,these things ,i prescribe to you1 not as if ,i were somebody extraordinary3 for though ,i am bound for his name1 ,i am not yet perfect in ,christ ,jesus4 ,but now ,i begin to learn1 and ,i speak to you as fellow disciples together with me4 #aa ,for ,i ought to have been stirred up by you1 in faith3 in admonition2 in patience2 in long- suffering2 but forasmuch as charity suffers me not to be silent towards you1 ,i have first taken upon me to exhort you1 that ye would all run together1 according to the will of ,god4 #ab ,for even ,jesus ,christ1 our inseparable life1 is sent by the will of the ,father2 as the bishops1 appointed unto the utmost bounds of the earth1 are by the will of ,jesus ,christ4 #ac ,wherefore it will become you to run together according to the will of your bishop1 as also ye do1 #ad ,for your famous presbytery1 worthy of ,god1 is fitted as exactly to the bishop1 as the strings are to the harp4 #ae ,therefore in your concord and agreeing charity1 ,jesus ,christ is sung2 and every single person among you makes up the chorus3 #af ,that so being all consonant in love1 and taking up the song of ,god1 ye may in a perfect unity with one voice1 sing to the ,father by ,jesus ,christ2 to the end that he may both hear you1 and perceive by your works1 that ye are indeed the members of his son4 #ag ,wherefore it is profitable for you to live in an unblameable unity1 that so ye may always have a fellowship with ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,the benefit of subjection4 #d ,the bishop not to be respected the less because he is not forward in exacting it3 #h warns brethren against heretics2 bidding them cleave to ,jesus1 whose divine and human mature is declared3 commends them for their care to keep themselves from false teachers3 and shews them the way to ,god4 ,,for if ,i in this little time have had such a familiarity with your bishop1 ,i mean not a carnal1 but spiritual acquaintance with him2 how much more must ,i think you happy who are so joined to him1 as the church is to ,jesus ,christ1 and ,jesus ,christ to the ,father2 so that all things may agree in the same unity4 #b ,let no man deceive himself2 if a man be not within the altar1 he is deprived of the bread of ,god4 ,for if the prayer of one or two be of such force1 as we are told2 how much more powerful shall that of the bishop and the whole church be8 #c ,he therefore that does not come together in the same place with it1 is proud1 and has already condemned himself2 for it is written1 ,god resisteth the proud4 ,let us take heed therefore1 that we do not set ourselves against the bishop1 that we may be subject to ,god4 #d ,the more any one sees his bishop silent1 the more let him revere him4 ,for whomsoever the master of the house sends to be over his own household1 we ought in like manner to receive him1 as we do him that sent him4 ,it is therefore evident that we ought to look upon the bishop1 even as we do upon the ,lord himself4 #e ,and indeed ,onesimus himself does greatly commend your good order in ,god3 that you all live according to the truth1 and that no heresy dwells among you4 ,for neither do ye hearken to anyone more than to ,jesus ,christ speaking to you in truth4 #f ,for some there are who carry about the name of ,christ in deceitfulness1 but do things unworthy of ,god2 whom ye must flee1 as ye would do so many wild beasts4 ,for they are raving dogs1 who bite secretly2 against whom ye must guard yourselves1 as men hardly to be cured4 #g ,there is one ,physician1 both fleshy and spiritual2 made and not made2 ,god incarnate2 true life in death2 both of ,mary and of ,god3 first passible1 then impassible2 even ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 #h ,wherefore let no man deceive you2 as indeed neither are ye deceived1 being wholly the servants of ,god4 ,for inasmuch as there is no contention nor strife among you1 to trouble you1 ye must needs live according to ,god's will4 ,my soul be for yours2 and ,i myself1 the expiatory offering for your church of ,ephesus2 so famous throughout the world4 #i ,they that are of the flesh cannot do the works of the spirit2 neither they that are of the spirit the works of the flesh2 as he that has faith cannot be an infidel2 nor he that is an infidel have faith4 ,but even those things which ye do according to the flesh are spiritual2 forasmuch as ye do all things in ,jesus ,christ4 #aj ,nevertheless ,i have heard of some who have passed by you1 having perverse doctrine2 whom ye did not suffer to sow among you2 but stopped your ears1 that ye might not receive those things that were sown by them3 because being the stones of the temple of the ,father1 prepared for his building2 and drawn up on high by the ,cross of ,christ1 as by an engine2 #aa4 ,using the ,holy ,ghost as the rope3 your faith being your support2 and your charity the way that leads unto ,god4 #ab ,ye are therefore1 with all your companions in the same journey full of ,god2 his spiritual temples1 full of ,christ1 and of holiness3 adorned in all things with the commands of ,christ4 #ac ,in whom also ,i rejoice that ,i have been thought worthy by this present epistle to converse1 and joy together with you2 that with respect to the other life1 ye love nothing but ,god only4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,exhorts them to prayer2 to be unblamable4 #e ,to be careful of salvation2 #aa frequent in public devotion2 #ac and to live in charity4 ,,pray also without ceasing for other men2 for there is hope of repentance in them1 that they may attain unto ,god4 ,let them therefore at least be instructed by your works1 if they will be no other way4 #b ,be ye mild at their anger2 humble at their boasting2 to their blasphemies return your prayers to their error1 your firmness in the faith2 when they are cruel1 be ye gentle2 not endeavouring to imitate their ways4 7#c ,let us be their brethren in all kindness and moderation1 but let us be followers of the ,lord2 for who was ever more unjustly used8 ,more destitute8 ,more despised874 #d ,that so no herb of the devil may be found in you3 but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety both of body and spirit1 in ,christ ,jesus4 #e ,the last times are come upon us3 let us therefore be very reverent1 and fear the long- suffering of ,god1 that it be not to us unto condemnation4 #f ,for let us either fear the wrath that is to come1 or let us love the grace that we at present enjoy2 that by the one or other of these1 we may be found in ,christ ,jesus1 unto true life4 #g ,besides him1 let nothing be worthy of you2 for whom also ,i bear about these bonds2 those spiritual jewels1 in which ,i would to ,god that ,i might arise through your prayers4 #h ,of which ,i entreat you to make me always partaker1 that ,i may be found in the lot of the ,christians of ,ephesus1 who have always agreed with the ,apostles1 through the power of ,jesus ,christ4 #i ,i know both who ,i am1 and to whom ,i write3 ,i1 a person condemned2 ye1 such as have obtained mercy2 ,i1 exposed to danger2 ye confirmed against danger4 #aj ,ye are the passage of those that are killed for ,god2 the companions of ,paul in the mysteries of the ,gospel2 the holy1 the martyr1 the deservedly most happy ,paul3 at whose feet may ,i be found1 when ,i shall have attained unto ,god2 who throughout all his epistles1 makes mention of you in ,christ ,jesus4 #aa ,let it be your care therefore to come more fully together1 to the praise and glory of ,god2 for when ye meet fully together in the same place1 the powers of the devil are destroyed1 and his mischief is dissolved by the unity of your faith4 #ab ,and indeed1 nothing is better than peace1 by which all war both spiritual and earthly is abolished4 #ac ,of all which1 nothing is hid from you1 if ye have perfect faith and charity in ,christ ,jesus1 which are the beginning and end of life4 #ad ,for the beginning is faith2 the end is charity4 ,and these two joined together1 are of ,god2 but all other things which concern a holy life1 are the consequences of these4 #ae ,no man professing a true faith1 sinneth2 neither does he who has charity hate any4 #af ,the tree is made manifest by its fruit2 so they who profess themselves to be ,christians are known by what they do4 #ag ,for ,christianity is not the work of an outward profession2 but shows itself in the power of faith1 if a man be found faithful unto the end4 #ah ,it is better for a man to hold his peace1 and be2 than to say1 he is a ,christian1 and not to be4 #ai ,it is good to teach2 if what he says he does likewise4 #bj ,there is therefore one master who spake1 and it was done2 and even those things which he did without speaking1 are worthy of the ,father4 #ba ,he that possesses the word of ,jesus1 is truly able to bear his very silence4 ,that he may be perfect1 he will do according to what he speaks1 and be known by those things of which he is silent4 #bb ,there is nothing hid from ,god1 but even our secrets are nigh unto him4 #bc ,let us therefore do all things1 as becomes those who have ,god dwelling in them2 that we maybe his temples2 and he may be our ,god as also he is1 and will manifest himself before our faces1 by those things for which we justly love him4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,to have a care for the ,gospel4 #i ,the virginity of ,mary1 the incarnation1 and the death of ,christ1 were hid from the ,devil4 #aa ,how the birth of ,christ was revealed4 #af ,exhorts to unity4 ,,be not deceived1 my brethren3 those that corrupt families by adultery1 shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 #b ,if therefore they who do this according to the flesh1 have suffered death2 how much more shall he die1 who by his wicked doctrine corrupts the faith of ,god1 for which ,christ was crucified8 #c ,he that is thus defiled1 shall depart into unquenchable fire1 and so also shall he that hearkens to him4 #d ,for this cause did the ,lord suffer the ointment to be poured on his head2 that he might breathe the breath of immortality unto his church4 #e ,be not ye therefore anointed with the evil savour of the doctrine of the prince of this world3 let him not take you captive from the life that is set before you4 #f ,and why are we not all wise1 seeing we have received the knowledge of ,god1 which is ,jesus ,christ8 ,why do we suffer ourselves foolishly to perish2 not considering the gift which the ,lord has truly sent to us8 #g ,let my life be sacrificed for the doctrine of the cross2 which is indeed a scandal to the unbelievers1 but to us is salvation and life eternal4 #h ,where is the wise man8 ,where is the disputer8 ,where is the boasting of those who are called wise8 #i ,for our ,lord ,jesus ,christ was according to the dispensation of ,god1 conceived in the womb of ,mary1 of the seed of ,david1 by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he was born and baptized1 that through his passion he might purify water1 to the washing away of sin4 #aj ,now the ,virginity of ,mary1 and he who was born of her1 was kept in secret from the prince of this world2 as was also the death of our ,lord3 three of the mysteries the most spoken of throughout the world1 yet done in secret by ,god4 #aa ,how then was our ,saviour manifested to the world8 ,a star shone in heaven beyond all the other stars1 and its light was inexpressible1 and its novelty struck terror into men's minds4 ,all the rest of the stars1 together with the sun and moon1 were the chorus to this star2 but that sent out its light exceedingly above them all4 #ab ,and men began to be troubled to think whence this new star came so unlike to all the others4 #ac ,hence all the power of magic became dissolved2 and every bond of wickedness was destroyed3 men's ignorance was taken away2 and the old kingdom abolished2 ,god himself appearing in the form of a man1 for the renewal of eternal life4 #ad ,from thence began what ,god had prepared3 from thence4 forth things were disturbed2 forasmuch as he designed to abolish death4 #ae ,but if ,jesus ,christ shall give me grace through your prayers1 and if it be his will1 ,i purpose in a second epistle which ,i will suddenly write unto you1 to manifest to you more fully the dispensation of which ,i have now begun to speak1 about the new man1 which is ,jesus ,christ2 both in his faith1 and charity2 in his suffering1 and in his resurrection4 #af ,especially if the ,lord shall make known unto me1 that ye all by name come together united in one faith1 and in ,jesus ,christ2 who was of the race of ,david according to the flesh2 the ,son of man1 and son of ,god2 obeying your bishop and the presbytery with an entire affection2 breaking one and the same bread1 which is the medicine of immortality2 our antidote that we should not die1 but live for ever in ,christ ,jesus4 #ag ,my soul be for yours1 and theirs whom ye have sent1 to the glory of ,god2 even unto ,smyrna1 from whence also ,i write to you2 giving thanks unto the ,lord and loving ,polycarp even as ,i do you4 ,remember me1 as ,jesus ,christ does remember you4 #ah ,pray for the church which is in ,syria from whence ,i am carried bound to ,rome2 being the least of all the faithful which are there1 as ,i have been thought worthy to be found1 to the glory of ,god4 #ai ,fare ye well in ,god the ,father1 and in ,jesus ,christ1 our common hope4 ,amen4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,magnesians ,,chapter ,i4 #d ,ignatius mentions the arrival of ,damas1 their bishop1 and others1 #f whom he exhorts them to reverence notwithstanding he was a young man4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the blessed church1 by the grace of ,god the ,father1 in ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour2 through whom ,i salute the church which is at ,magnesia1 near the ,maeander3 and wish it all joy in ,god the ,father1 and in ,jesus ,christ4 #b ,when ,i heard of your well- ordered love and charity in ,god1 being full of joy1 ,i desired much to speak unto you in the faith of ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,for having been thought worthy to obtain a most excellent name1 in the bonds which ,i carry about1 ,i salute the churches2 wishing in them a union both of the body and spirit of ,jesus ,christ1 our eternal life3 as also of faith and charity1 to which nothing is preferred3 but especially of ,jesus and the ,father2 in whom if we undergo all the injuries of the prince of this present world1 and escape1 we shall enjoy ,god1 #d ,seeing1 then1 ,i have been judged worthy to see you1 by ,damas your most excellent bishop2 and by your worthy presbyters1 ,bassus and ,apollonius2 and by my fellow-servant ,sotio1 the deacon2 #e ,in whom ,i rejoice1 forasmuch as he is subject unto his bishop as to the grace of ,god2 and to the presbytery as to the law of ,jesus ,christ2 ,i determined to write unto you4 #f ,wherefore it will become you also not to use your bishop too familiarly upon the account of his youth2 but to yield all reverence to him according to the power of ,god the ,father2 as also ,i perceive that your holy presbyters do3 not considering his age1 which indeed to appearance is young2 but as becomes those who are prudent in ,god1 submitting to him1 or rather not to him but to the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the bishop of us all4 #g ,it will therefore behove you with all sincerity1 to obey your bishop2 in honour of him whose pleasure it is that ye should do so4 #h ,because he that does not do so1 deceives not the bishop whom he sees1 but affronts him that is invisible4 ,for whatsoever of this kind is done1 it reflects not upon man1 but upon ,god1 who knows the secrets of our hearts4 #i ,it is therefore fitting1 that we should not only be called christians1 but be so4 #aj ,as some call indeed their governor1 bishop2 but yet do all things without him4 #aa ,but ,i can never think that such as these have a good conscience1 seeing that they are not gathered together thoroughly according to ,god's commandment4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,that as all must die1 #d he exhorts them to live orderly and in unity4 ,,seeing then all things have an end1 there are these two indifferently set before us1 death and life3 and everyone shall depart unto his proper place4 #b ,for as there are two sorts of coins1 the one of ,god1 the other of the world1 and each of these has its proper inscription engraven upon it2 so also is it here4 #c ,the unbelievers are of this world2 but the faithful1 through charity have the character of ,god the ,father by ,jesus ,christ3 by whom if we are not readily disposed to die after the likeness of his passion1 his life is not in us4 #d ,forasmuch1 therefore1 as ,i have in the persons before mentioned1 seen all of you in faith and charity2 ,i exhort you that ye study to do all things in a divine concord3 #e ,your bishop presiding in the place of ,god2 your presbyters in the place of the council of the ,apostles2 and your deacons most dear to me1 being entrusted with the ministry of ,jesus ,christ2 who was the ,father before all ages1 and appeared in the end to us4 #f ,wherefore taking the same holy course1 see that ye all reverence one another1 and let no one look upon his neighbour after the flesh2 but do ye all mutually love each other in ,jesus ,christ4 #g ,let there be nothing that may be able to make a division among you2 but be ye united to your bishop1 and those who preside over you1 to be your pattern and direction in the way to immortality4 #h ,as therefore the ,lord did nothing without the ,father1 being united to him2 neither by himself nor yet by his ,apostles1 so neither do ye do anything without your bishop and presbyters3 #i ,neither endeavour to let anything appear rational to yourselves apart2 #aj ,but being come together into the same place1 have one common prayer2 one supplication2 one mind2 one hope2 one in charity1 and in joy undefiled4 #aa ,there is one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 than whom nothing is better4 ,wherefore come ye all together1 as unto one temple of ,god2 as to one altar2 as to one3 ,jesus ,christ1 who proceeded from one ,father1 and exists in one2 and is returned to one4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,he cautions them against false opinions4 #c ,especially those of ,ebion and the ,judaising ,christians4 ,,be not deceived with strange doctrines2 nor with old fables which are unprofitable4 ,for if we still continue to live according to the ,jewish law1 we do confess ourselves not to have received grace4 ,for even the most holy prophets lived according to ,christ ,jesus4 #b ,and for this cause were they persecuted1 being inspired by his grace to convince the unbelievers and disobedient that there is one ,god who has manifested himself by ,jesus ,christ his ,son2 who is his eternal word1 not coming forth from silence2 who in all things pleased him that sent him4 #c ,wherefore if they who were brought up in these ancient laws1 came nevertheless to the newness of hope2 no longer observing sabbaths1 but keeping the ,lord's day in which also our life is sprung up by him1 and through his death1 whom yet some deny3 #d 7,by which mystery we have been brought to believe and therefore wait that we maybe found the disciples of ,jesus ,christ1 our only master37 #e ,how shall we be able to live different from him2 whose disciples the very prophets themselves being1 did by the spirit expect him as their master2 #f ,and therefore he whom they justly waited for1 being come1 raised1 them up from the dead4 #g ,let us not then be insensible of his goodness2 for should he have dealt with us according to our works1 we had not now had a being4 #h ,wherefore being become his disciples1 let us learn to live according to the rules of ,christianity2 for whosoever is called by any other name besides this1 he is not of ,god4 #i ,lay aside therefore the old and sour1 and evil leaven2 and be ye changed into the new leaven1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 #aj ,be ye salted in him1 lest any one among you should be corrupted2 for by your ,savior ye shall be judged4 #aa ,it is absurd to name ,jesus ,christ1 and to ,judaize4 ,for the christian religion did not embrace the ,jewish1 but the ,jewish the christian2 that so every tongue that believed might be gathered together unto ,god4 #ab ,these things1 my beloved1 ,i write unto you2 not that ,i know of any among you that lie under this error3 but as one of the least among you1 ,i am desirous to forewarn you1 that ye fall not into the snares of false doctrine4 #ac ,but that ye be fully instructed in the birth1 and suffering1 and resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 our hope2 which was accomplished in the time of the government of ,pontius ,pilate1 and that most truly and certainly3 and from which ,god forbid that any among you should be turned aside4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,commends their faith and piety2 exhorts them to persevere2 #aj desires their prayers for himself and the church at ,antioch4 ,,may ,i therefore have joy of you in all things1 if ,i shall be worthy of it4 ,for though ,i am bound1 yet am ,i not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty4 #b ,i know that ye are not puffed up2 for ye have ,jesus ,christ in your hearts4 #c ,and especially when ,i commend you1 ,i know that ye are ashamed1 as it is written1 ,the just man condemneth himself4 #d ,study therefore to be confirmed in the doctrine of our ,lord1 and of his ,apostles2 that so whatever ye do1 ye may prosper both in body and spirit1 in faith and charity1 in the ,son1 and in the ,father1 and in the ,holy ,spirit2 in the beginning1 and in the end3 #e ,together with your most worthy bishop1 and the well-wrought spiritual crown of your presbytery1 and your deacons1 which are according to ,god4 #f ,be subject to your bishop1 and to one another1 as ,jesus ,christ was to the ,father1 according to the flesh2 and the ,apostles1 both to ,christ1 and to the ,father2 and to the ,holy ,ghost3 that so ye may be united both in body and spirit4 #g ,knowing you to be full of ,god1 ,i have the more briefly exhorted you4 #h ,be mindful of me in your prayers1 that ,i may attain unto ,god1 and of the church that is in ,syria1 from which ,i am not worthy to be called4 #i ,for ,i stand in need of your joint prayers in ,god1 and of your charity1 that the church which is in ,syria may be thought worthy to be nourished by your church4 #aj ,the ,ephesians from ,smyrna salute you1 from which place ,i write unto you2 7being present here to the glory of ,god1 in like manner as you are17 who have in all things refreshed me1 together with ,polycarp1 the bishop of the ,smyrneans4 #aa ,the rest of the churches in the honour of ,jesus ,christ salute you4 #ab ,farewell1 and be ye strengthened in the concord of ,god2 enjoying his inseparable spirit1 which is ,christ ,jesus4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,trallians4 ,,chapter #a4 #a ,acknowledges the coming of their bishop4 #e ,commends them for their subjection to their bishop1 priests1 and deacons2 and exhorts them to continue in it3 #ae is afraid even of his over-great desire to suffer1 lest it should be prejudicial to him4 ,,ignattus1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the holy church which is at ,tralles in ,asia3 beloved of ,god1 the ,father of ,jesus ,christ2 elect and worthy of ,god1 having peace through the flesh and blood1 and passion of ,jesus ,christ our hope2 in the resurrection which is by him3 which also ,i salute in its fullness1 continuing in the apostolical character1 wishing all joy and happiness unto it4 #b ,i have heard of your blameless and constant disposition through patience1 which not only appears in your outward conversation1 but is naturally rooted and grounded in you4 #c ,in like manner as ,polybius your bishop has declared unto me1 who came to me to ,smyrna1 by the will of ,god and ,jesus ,christ1 and so rejoiced together with me in my bonds for ,jesus ,christ1 that in effect ,i saw your whole church in him4 #d ,having therefore received testimony of your good will towards me for ,god's sake1 by him2 ,i seemed to find you1 as also ,i knew that ye were the followers of ,god4 #e ,for whereas ye are subject to your bishop as to ,jesus ,christ1 ye appear to one to live not after the manner of men1 but according to ,jesus ,christ who died for us1 that so believing in his death1 ye might escape death4 #f ,it is therefore necessary1 that as ye do1 so without your bishop you should do nothing3 also be ye subject to your presbyters1 as to the ,apostles of ,jesus ,christ our hope2 in whom if we walk1 we shall be found in him4 #g ,the deacons also1 as being the ministers of the mysteries of ,jesus ,christ1 must by all means please ye4 ,for they are not the ministers of meat and drink1 but of the church of ,god4 ,wherefore they must avoid all offences1 as they would do fire4 #h ,in like manner let us reverence the deacons as ,jesus ,christ2 and the bishop as the ,father2 and the presbyters as the ,sanctuary of ,god1 and college of the ,apostles4 #i ,without these there is no church2 concerning all which1 ,i am persuaded that ye think after the very same manner2 for ,i have received1 and even now have with me1 the pattern of your love1 in your bishop4 #aj ,whose very look is instructive2 and whose mildness powerful3 whom ,i am persuaded1 the very ,atheists themselves cannot but reverence4 #aa ,but because ,i have a love towards you1 ,i will not write any more sharply unto you about this matter1 though ,i very well might but now ,i have done so1 lest being a condemned man1 ,i should seem to prescribe to you as an ,apostle4 #ab ,i have great knowledge in ,god2 but ,i refrain myself1 lest ,i should perish in my boasting4 #ac ,for now ,i ought the more to fear1 and not to hearken to those that would puff me up4 #ad ,for they that speak to me1 in my praise1 chasten me4 #ae ,for ,i indeed desire to suffer1 but ,i cannot tell whether ,i am worthy so to do4 #af ,and this desire1 though to others it does not appear1 yet to myself it is for that very reason the more violent4 ,i have1 therefore1 need of moderation2 by which the prince of this world is destroyed4 #ag ,am ,i not able to write to you of heavenly things8--,but ,i fear lest ,i should harm you1 who are yet but babes in ,christ2 7excuse me this care27 and lest perchance being not able to receive them1 ye should be choken with them4 #ah ,for even ,i myself1 although ,i am in bonds1 yet am not therefore able to understand heavenly things2 #ai ,as the assembly of angels1 and the several companies of them1 under their respective princes2 things visible and invisible3 but in these ,i am yet a learner4 #bj ,for many things are wanting to us1 that we come not short of ,god4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 #a ,warns them against heretics1 #d exhorts them to humility and unity1 #aj and briefly sets before them the true doctrine concerning ,christ4 ,,exhort you therefore1 or rather not ,i1 but the love of ,jesus ,christ2 that ye use none but christian nourishment2 abstaining from pasture which is of another kind1 ,i mean heresy4 #b ,for they that are heretics1 confound together the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 with their own poison3 whilst they seem worthy of belief3 #c ,as men give a deadly potion mixed with sweet wine2 which he who drinks of1 does with the treacherous pleasure sweetly drink in his own death4 #d ,wherefore guard yourself against such persons2 and that you will do1 if you are not puffed up2 but continue inseparable from ,jesus ,christ our ,god1 and from your bishop1 and from the commands of the ,apostles4 #e ,he that is within the altar1 is pure2 but he that is without1 namely1 does anything without the bishop1 the presbyters1 and deacons1 is not pure in his conscience4 #f ,not that ,i know there is any thing of this nature among you2 but ,i fore-arm you1 as being greatly beloved by me1 foreseeing the snares of the devil4 #g ,wherefore putting on meekness1 renew yourselves in faith1 which is the flesh of the ,lord2 and in charity1 which is the blood of ,jesus ,christ4 #h ,let no man have any grudge against his neighbour4 ,give no occasion to the ,gentiles2 lest by means of a few foolish men1 the whole congregation of ,god be evil spoken of4 #i ,for woe to that man through whose vanity my name is blasphemed by any4 #aj ,stop your ears therefore1 as often as any one shall speak contrary to ,jesus ,christ1 who was of the race of ,david2 by the ,virgin ,mary4 #aa ,who was truly born1 and did eat and drink2 was truly persecuted under ,pontius ,pilate2 was truly crucified and dead2 both those in heaven and on earth1 and under the earth1 being spectators of it3 #ab ,who1 was also truly raised from the dead by his ,father1 after the same manner as ,,he will also raise up us who believe in him by ,christ ,jesus2 without whom we have no true life4 #ac ,but if1 as some who are ,atheists1 that is to say infidels1 pretend1 that he seemed to suffer1 7they themselves only seeming to exist7 why then am ,i bound8-- ,why do ,i desire to fight with beasts8--,therefore do ,i die in vain3 therefore ,i will not speak falsely against the ,lord4 #ad ,flee therefore these evil sprouts which bring forth deadly fruit2 of which if any one taste1 he shall presently die4 #ae ,for these are not the plants of the ,father2 seeing if they were1 they would appear to be the branches of the cross1 and their fruit would be incorruptible2 by which he invites you through his passion1 who are members of him4 #af ,for the head cannot be without its members1 ,god having promised a union with himself4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,he again exhorts to unity1 and desires their prayers for himself1 and for his church at ,antioch4 ,i ,,salute you from ,smyrna1 together with the churches of ,god that are present with me2 who have refreshed me in all things1 both in the flesh and in the spirit4 #b ,my bonds1 which ,i carry about me for the sake of ,christ1 7beseeching him that ,i may attain unto ,god7 exhort you that you continue in concord among yourselves1 and in prayer with one another4 #c ,for it becomes everyone of you1 especially the presbyters1 to refresh the bishop1 to the honour of the ,father of ,jesus ,christ1 and of the ,apostles4 #d ,i beseech you1 that you hearken to me in love2 that ,i may not by those things which ,i write1 rise up in witness against you4 #e ,pray also for me2 who1 through the mercy of ,god1 stand in need of your prayers1 that ,i may be worthy of the portion which ,i am about to obtain1 and that ,i be not found a reprobate4 #f ,the love of those who are at ,smyrna and ,ephesus salute you4 ,remember in your prayers the church of ,syria1 from which ,i am not worthy to be called1 being one of the least of it4 #g ,fare ye well in ,jesus ,christ2 being subject to your bishop as to the command of ,god2 and so like4 wise to the presbytery4 #h ,love every one his brother with an unfeigned heart4 ,my soul be your expiation1 not only now1 but when ,i shall have attained unto ,god2 for ,i am yet under danger4 #i ,but the ,father is faithful in ,jesus ,christ1 to fulfil both mine and your petition2 in whom may ye be found unblameable4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,romans4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,ignatius testifies his desire to see1 and his hopes of suffering for ,christ #e which he earnestly entreats them not to prevent1 #aj but to pray for him1 that ,god would strengthen him to the combat4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the church which has obtained mercy from the majesty of the ,most ,high ,father1 and his only begotten ,son ,jesus ,christ2 beloved1 and illuminated through the will of him who willeth all things which are according to the love of ,jesus ,christ our ,god2 which also presides in the place of the region of the ,romans2 and which ,i salute in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 as being united both in flesh and spirit to all his commands1 and filed with the grace of ,god2 with all joy in ,jesus ,christ our ,god4 #b ,forasmuch as ,i have at last obtained through my prayers to ,god1 permission to see your faces1 which ,i much desired to do2 being bound in ,jesus ,christ1 ,i hope ere long to salute you1 if it shall be the will of ,god to grant me to attain unto the end ,i long for4 #c ,for the beginning is well disposed1 if ,i shall but have grace1 without hindrance1 to receive what is appointed for me4 #d ,but ,i fear your love1 lest it do me an injury2 for it is easy for you to do what you please2 but it will be hard for me to attain unto ,god1 if you spare me4 #e ,but ,i would not that ye should please men1 but ,god2 whom also ye do1 please4 ,for neither shall ,i hereafter have such an opportunity of going unto ,god2 nor will you1 if ye shall now be silent1 ever be entitled to a better work4 ,for if you1 shall be silent in my behalf1 ,i shall be made partaker of ,god4 #f ,but if you shall love my body1 ,i shall have my course again to run4 ,wherefore ye cannot do me a greater kindness1 than to suffer me to be sacrificed unto ,god1 now that the altar is already prepared3 #g ,that when ye shall be gathered together in love1 ye nay give thanks to the ,father through ,christ ,jesus1 that he has vouchsafed to bring a bishop of ,syria unto you1 being called from the east unto the west4 #h ,for it is good for me to turn from the world1 unto ,god2 that ,i may rise again unto him4 #i ,ye have never envied any one2 ye have taught others4 ,i would therefore that ye should now do those things yourselves1 which in your instructions you have prescribed to others4 #aj ,only pray for me1 that ,god would give me both inward and outward strength1 that ,i may not only say1 but will2 nor be only called a christian1 but be found one4 #aa ,for if ,i shall be found a christian1 ,i may then deservedly be called one2 and be thought faithful1 when ,i shall no longer appear to the world4 #ab ,nothing is good1 that is seen4 #ac ,for even our ,god1 ,jesus ,christ1 now that he is in the ,father1 does so much the more appear4 #ad ,a christian is not a work of opinion2 but of greatness of mind1 especially when he is hated by the world4 ,,chapter4 ,,ii4 ,expresses his great desire and determination to suffer martyrdom4 ,i ,,write to the churches1 and signify to them all1 that ,i am willing to die for ,god1 unless you hinder me4 #b ,i beseech you that you show not an unseasonable good will towards me4 ,suffer me to be food to the wild beasts1 by whom ,i shall attain unto ,god4 #c ,for ,i am the wheat of ,god1 and ,i shall be ground by the teeth of the wild-beasts1 that ,i may be found the pure bread of ,christ4 ,rather encourage the beasts1 that they may became my sepulchre1 and may let live nothing of my body2 that being dead ,i may not be troublesome to any4 #e ,then shall ,i be truly the disciple of ,jesus ,christ1 when the world shall not see so much as my body4 ,pray therefore unto ,christ for me1 that by these instruments ,i may be made the sacrifice of ,god4 #f ,i do not1 as ,peter and ,paul1 command you4 ,they were ,apostles1 ,i a condemned man2 they were free1 but ,i am even to this day a servant3 #g ,but if ,i shall suffer1 ,i shall then become the freeman of ,jesus ,christ1 and shall rise free4 ,and now1 being in bonds1 ,i learn not to desire any thing4 #h ,from ,syria even unto ,rome1 ,i fight with beasts both by sea and land2 both night and day3 being bound to ten leopards1 that is to say1 to such a band of soldiers1 who1 though treated with all manner of kindness1 are the worse for it4 #i ,but ,i am the more instructed by their injuries2 yet am ,i not therefore justified4 #aj ,may ,i enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me2 which also ,i wish may exercise all their fierceness upon me4 #aa ,and whom for that end ,i will encourage1 that they may be sure to devour me1 and not serve me as they have done some1 whom out of fear they have not touched4 ,but if they will not do it willingly1 ,i will provoke them to it4 #ab ,pardon me in this matter2 ,i know what is profitable for me1 now ,i begin to be a disciple4 ,not shall any thing move me whether visible or invisible1 that ,i may attain to ,jesus ,christ4 #ac ,let fire and the cross2 let the companies of wild beasts2 let breakings of bones1 and tearing of members2 let the shattering in pieces of the whole body1 and all the wicked torments of the devil come upon me2 only let me enjoy ,jesus ,christ4 #ad ,all the ends of the world1 and the kingdoms of it1 will profit me nothing3 ,i would rather die for ,jesus ,christ1 than rule to the utmost ends of the earth4 ,him ,i seek who died for us2 him ,i desire who rose again for us4 ,this is the gain that is laid up for me4 #ae ,pardon me1 my brethren1 ye shall not hinder me from living2 nor seeing ,i desire to go to ,god1 may you separate me from him1 for the sake of this world2--nor induce me by any of the desires of it4 ,suffer me to enter into pure light1 where being come1 ,i shall be indeed the servant of ,god4 #af ,permit me to imitate the passion of my ,god4 ,if any one has ,god within himself1 let him consider what ,i desire2 and let him have compassion on me1 as knowing how ,i am straightened4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,further expresses his desire to suffer4 ,,the prince of this world would fain carry me away1 and corrupt my resolution towards my ,god4 ,let none of you therefore help him2 rather do ye join with me1 that is1 with ,god4 #b ,do not speak with ,jesus ,christ1 and yet covet the world4 ,let not any envy dwell with you2 no1 not though ,i myself1 when ,i shall be come unto you1 should exhort you to it1 yet do not ye hearken to me2 but rather believe what ,i now write to you4 #c ,for though ,i am alive at the writing of this1 yet my desire is to die4 ,my love is crucified2 and the fire that is within me does not desire any water2 but being alive and springing within me1 says1 ,come to the ,father4 #d ,i take no pleasure in the food of corruption1 nor in the pleasures of this life4 #e ,i desire the bread of ,god which is the flesh of ,jesus ,christ1 of the seed of ,david2 and the drink that ,i long for is his blood1 which is incorruptible love4 #f ,i have no desire to live any longer after the manner of men2 neither shall ,i1 if you consent4 ,be ye therefore willing1 that ye yourselves also maybe pleasing to ,god4 ,i exhort you in a few words2 ,i pray you believe me4 #g ,jesus ,christ will shew you that ,i speak truly4 ,my mouth is without deceit1 and the ,father hath truly spoken by it4 ,pray therefore for me1 that ,i may accomplish what ,i desire4 #h ,i have not written to you after the flesh1 but according to the will of ,god4 ,if ,i shall suffer1 ye have loved me3 but if ,i shall be rejected1 ye have hated me4 #i ,remember in your prayers the church of ,syria1 which now enjoys ,god for its shepherd instead of me4 ,let ,jesus ,christ only oversee it1 and your charity4 #aj ,but ,i am even ashamed to be reckoned as one of them2 for neither am ,i worthy1 being the least among them1 and as one born out of due season4 ,but through mercy ,i have risen to be somebody1 if ,i shall get unto ,god4 #aa ,my spirit salutes you2 and the charity of the churches that have received me in the name of ,jesus ,christ2 not as a passenger1 for even they that were not near to me in the way1 have gone before me to the next city to meet me4 #ab ,these things ,i write to you from ,smyrna1 by the most worthy of the church of ,ephesus4 #ac ,there is now with me1 together with many others1 ,crocus1 most beloved of me4 ,as for those which are come from ,syria1 and are gone before me to ,rome1 to the glory of ,god1 ,i suppose you are not ignorant of them4 #ad ,ye shall therefore signify to them that ,i draw near1 for they1 are all worthy both of ,god and of you3 ,whom it is fit that you refresh in all things4 #ae ,this have ,i written to you1 the day before the ninth of the1 calends of ,september4 ,be strong unto the end1 in the patience of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,philadelphians4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,commends their bishop1 whom they had sent unto him1 warns them against division and schism4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the church of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which is at ,philadelphia in ,asia2 which has obtained mercy1 being fixed in the concord of ,god1 and rejoicing evermore in the passion of our ,lord1 and being fulfilled in all mercy through his resurrection3 ,which also ,i salute in the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 which is our eternal and undefiled joy2 especially if they are at unity with the bishop1 and presbyters who are with him1 and the deacons appointed according to the mind of ,jesus ,christ2 whom he has settled according to his own will in all firmness by his ,holy ,spirit3 #b ,which bishop ,i know obtained that great ministry among you1 not of himself1 neither by men1 nor out of vain glory2 but by the love of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,whose moderation ,i admire2 who by his silence is able to do more than others with all their vain talk4 ,for he is fitted to the commands1 as the harp to its strings4 #d ,wherefore my soul esteems his mind towards ,god most happy1 knowing it to be fruitful in all virtue1 and perfect2 full of constancy1 free from passion1 and according to all the moderation of the living ,god4 #e ,wherefore as becomes the children both of the light and of truth2 flee divisions and false doctrines2 but where your shepherd is1 there do ye1 as sheep1 follow after4 #f ,for there are many wolves who seem worthy of belief1 that with a false pleasure lead captive those that run in the course of ,god2 but in the concord they shall find no place4 #g ,abstain therefore from those evil herbs which ,jesus ,christ does not dress3 because such are not the plantation of the ,father4 ,not that ,i have found any division among you1 but rather all manner of purity4 #h ,for as many as are of ,god1 and of ,jesus ,christ1 are also with their bishop4 ,and as many as shall with repentance return into the unity of the church1 even these shall also be the servants of ,god1 that they may live according to ,jesus ,christ4 #i ,be not deceived brethren2 if any one follows him that makes a schism in the church1 he shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,if any one walks after any other opinion1 he agrees not with the passion of ,christ4 #aj ,wherefore let it be your endeavour to partake all of the same holy eucharist4 #aa ,for there is but one flesh of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 one cup in the unity of his blood2 and one altar2 #ab ,as also there is one bishop1 together with his presbytery1 and the deacons my fellow servants that so whatsoever ye do1 ye may do it according to the will of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,desires their prayers1 and to be united1 but not to ,judaize4 ,,my brethren1 the love ,i have towards you makes me the more large2 and having a great joy in you1 ,i endeavour to secure you against danger2 or rather not ,i1 but ,jesus ,christ2 in whom being bound1 ,i the more fear1 as being yet only on the way to suffering4 #b ,but your prayer to ,god shall make me perfect1 that ,i may attain to that portion1 which by ,god's mercy is allotted to me ,fleeing to the ,gospel as to the flesh of ,christ2 and to the ,apostles as to the presbytery of the church4 #c ,let us also love the prophets1 forasmuch as they have led us to the ,gospel1 and to hope in ,christ1 and to expect him4 #d ,in whom also believing they were saved in the unity of ,jesus ,christ2 being holy men1 worthy to be loved1 and had in wonder2 #e ,who have received testimony from ,jesus ,christ1 and are numbered in the ,gospel of our common hope4 #f ,but if any one shall preach the ,jewish law unto you1 hearken not unto him2 for it is better to receive the doctrine of ,christ from one that has been circumcised1 than ,judaism from one that has not4 #g ,but if either the one1 or other1 do not speak concerning ,christ ,jesus2 they seem to me to be but as monuments and sepulchres of the dead1 upon which are written only the names of men4 #h ,flee therefore the wicked arts and snares of the prince of this world2 lest at any time being oppressed by his cunning1 ye grow cold in your charity4 ,but come altogether into the same place1 with an undivided heart4 #i ,and ,i bless my ,god that ,i have a good conscience towards you1 and that no one among you has whereof to boast either openly or privately1 that ,i have been burthensome to him in much or little4 #aj ,and ,i wish to all1 among whom ,i have conversed1 that may not turn to a witness again them4 #aa ,for although some would have deceived me according to the flesh1 yet the spirit1 being from ,god1 is not deceived3 for it knows1 both whence it comes and whither it goes1 and reproves the secrets of the heart4 #ab ,i cried whilst ,i was among you2 ,i spake with a loud voice3 attend to the bishop1 and to the presbytery1 and to the deacons4 #ac ,now some supposed that ,i spake this as foreseeing the division that should come among you4 #ad ,but he is my witness for whose sake ,i am in bonds that ,i know nothing from any man4 ,but the spirit spake1 saying on this wise3 ,do nothing without the bishop3 #ae ,keep your bodies as the temples of ,god3 ,love unity2 ,flee divisions2 ,be the followers of ,christ1 as he was of his ,father4 #af ,i therefore did as became me1 as a man composed to unity for where there is division1 and wrath1 ,god dwelleth not4 #ag ,but the ,lord forgives all that repent1 if they return to the unity of ,god1 and to the council of the bishop4 #ah ,for ,i trust in the grace ,jesus ,christ that he will free you from every bond4 #ai ,nevertheless ,i exhort you that you do nothing out of strife but according to the instruction of ,christ4 #bj ,because ,i have heard some who say2 unless ,i find written in the originals1 ,i will not believe it to be written in the ,gospel4 ,and when ,i said1 ,it is written2 they answered from what lay before them in the corrupted copies4 #ba ,but to me ,jesus ,christ instead of all the uncorrupted monuments in the world2 together with those undefiled monuments1 his cross1 and death1 and resurrection1 and the faith which is by him2 by which ,i desire1 through your prayers1 to be justified4 #bb ,the priests indeed are good2 but much better is the ,high ,priest to whom the ,holy of ,holies has been committed2 and who alone has been intrusted with the secrets of ,god4 #bc ,he is the door of the ,father2 by which ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all the prophets1 enter in2 as well as the ,apostles1 and the church4 #bd ,and all these things tend to the unity which is of ,god4 ,howbeit the ,gospel has somewhat in it far above all other dispensations2 namely1 the appearance of our ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 his passion and resurrection4 #be ,for the beloved prophets referred to him2 but the ,gospel is the perfection of incorruption4 ,all therefore together are good1 if ye believe with charity4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,informs them he had heard that the persecution was stopped at ,antioch3 and directs them to send a messenger thither to congratulate with the church4 ,,now as concerning the church of ,antioch which is in ,syria1 seeing ,i am told that through your prayers and the bowels which ye have towards it in ,jesus ,christ1 it is in peace2 it will become you1 as the church of ,god1 to ordain some ,i deacon to go to them thither as the ambassador of ,god2 that he may rejoice with them when they meet together1 and glorify ,god's name4 #b ,blessed be that man in ,jesus1 ,christ1 who shall be found worthy of such a ministry2 and ye yourselves also shall be glorified4 #c ,now if you be willing1 it is not impossible for you to do this for the grace of ,god2 as also the other neighbouring churches have sent them some bishops1 some priests and some deacons4 #d ,as concerning ,philo the deacon of ,cilicia1 a most worthy man1 he still ministers unto me in the word of ,god3 together with ,rheus of ,agathopolis a singular good person1 who has followed me even from ,syria1 not regarding his life3 ,these also bear witness unto you4 #e ,and ,i myself give thanks to ,god for you1 that you receive them as the ,lord shall receive you4 ,but for those that dishonoured them1 may they be forgiven through the grace of ,jesus ,christ4 #f ,the charity of the brethren that are at ,troas salutes you3 from whence also ,i now write by ,burrhurs1 who was sent together with me by those of ,ephesus and ,smyrna1 for respect sake4 #g ,may our ,lord ,jesus ,christ honour them2 in whom they hope1 both in flesh1 and soul1 and spirit2 in faith1 in love1 in unity4 ,fare-well in ,christ ,jesus our common hope4 ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,smyrneans4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,declares his joy for their firmness in the ,gospel4 #d ,enlarges on the person of ,christ1 against such as pretend that ,christ did not suffer4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theohorus1 to the church of ,god the ,father1 and of the beloved ,jesus ,christ1 which ,god hath mercifully blessed with every good gift2 being filled with faith and charity1 so that it is wanting in no gift2 most worthy of ,god1 and fruitful in saints2 the church which is at ,smyrna in ,asia2 all through his immaculate spirit1 through word of ,god4 #b ,i glorify ,god1 even ,jesus ,christ1 who has given you such wisdom4 #c ,for ,i have observed that you are settled in an immoveable faith1 as if you were nailed to the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 both in the flesh and in the spirit2 and are confirmed in love through the blood of ,christ2 being fully persuaded of those things which relate unto our ,lord4 #d ,who truly was of the race of ,david according to the flesh1 but the ,son of ,god according to the will and power of ,god2 truly born of the ,virgin1 and baptised of ,john2 that so all righteousness might be fulfilled by him4 #e ,he was also truly crucified by ,pontius ,pilate1 and ,herod the ,tetrarch1 being nailed for us in the flesh2 by the fruits of which we are1 even by his most blessed ,passion2 #f ,that he might set up a token for all ages through his resurrection1 to all his holy and faithful servants1 whether they be ,jews or ,gentiles1 in one body of his church4 #g ,now all these things he suffered for us that we might be saved2 and he suffered truly1 as he also truly raised up himself2 and not1 as some unbelievers say1 that he only seemed to suffer2 they themselves 'only seeming to be4' #h ,and as they believe so shall it happen unto them1 when being divested of the body they shall become mere spirits4 #i ,but ,i know that even after his resurrection he was in the flesh2 and ,i believe that he is still so4 #aj ,and when he came to those who were with ,peter1 he said unto them1 ,take1 handle me1 and see that ,i am not an incorporeal daemon4 ,and straightway they felt and believed2 being convinced both by his flesh and spirit4 #aa ,for this cause they despised death1 and were bound to be above it4 #ab ,but after his resurrection he did eat and drink with them1 as he was flesh2 although as to his ,spirit he was united to the ,father4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,exhorts them against heretics4 #h ,the danger of their doctrine4 ,,now these things1 beloved1 ,i put you in mind of1 not questioning but that you yourselves also believe that they are so4 #b ,but ,i arm you before-hand against certain beasts in the shape of men1 whom you must not only not receive1 but if it be possible must not meet with4 #c ,only you must pray for them1 that if it be the will of ,god they may repent2 which yet will be very hard4 ,but of this our ,lord ,jesus ,christ has the power1 who is our true life4 #d ,for if all these things were done only in show by our ,lord1 then do ,i also seem only to be bound3 #e ,and why have ,i given up myself to death1 to the fire1 to the sword1 to wild beasts8 #f ,but now the nearer ,i am to the sword1 the nearer ,i am to ,god3 when ,i shall come among the wild beasts1 ,i shall come to ,god4 #g ,only in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i undergo all1 to suffer together with him2 he who was made a perfect man strengthening1 me4 #h ,whom some not knowing1 do deny2 or rather have been denied by him1 being the advocates of death1 rather than of the truth4 ,whom neither the prophecies1 nor the law of ,moses have persuaded2 nor the ,gospel itself1 even to this day2 nor the sufferings of every one of us4 #i ,for they think also the same things of us4 ,for what does a man profit me1 if he shall praise me1 and blaspheme my ,lord2 not confessing that he was truly made man8 #aj ,now he that doth not say this1 does in effect deny him1 and is in death4 ,but for the names of such as do this1 they being unbelievers1 ,i thought it not fitting to write them unto you4 #aa ,yea1 ,god forbid that ,i should make any mention of them1 till they shall repent to a true belief of ,christ's passion1 which is our resurrection4 #ab ,let no man deceive himself2 both the things which are in heaven1 and the glorious angels1 and princes1 whether visible or invisible1 if they believe not in the blood of ,christ1 it shall be to them1 unto condemnation4 #ac ,he that is able to receive this1 let him receive it4 ,let no man's place or state in the world puff him up3 that which is worth all his faith and charity1 to it nothing is to be preferred4 #ad ,but consider those who are of a different opinion from us1 as to what concerns the grace of ,jesus ,christ which is come unto us1 how contrary they are to the design of ,god4 #ae ,they have no regard to charity1 no care of the widow1 the fatherless1 and the oppressed2 of the bond or free1 of the hungry or thirsty4 #af ,they abstain from the eucharist1 and from the public offices2 because they confess not the eucharist to be the flesh of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ which suffered for our sins1 and which the ,father of his goodness raised again from the dead4 #ag ,and for this cause contradicting the gift of ,god1 they die in their disputes2 but much better would it be for them to receive it1 that they might one day rise through it4 #ah ,it will therefore become you4 to abstain from such persons1 and not to speak with them1 neither in public nor in private4 #ai ,but to hearken to the prophets1 and especially to the ,gospel1 in which both ,christ's passion is manifested unto us1 and his resurrection perfectly declared4 #bj ,but flee all divisions1 as the beginning of evils4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,exhorts them to follow their bishop and pastors2 but especially their bishop4 #f ,thanks them for their kindness1 #aa and acquaints them with the ceasing of the persecution at ,antioch4 ,,see that ye all follow your bishop1 as ,jesus ,christ1 the ,father2 and the presbytery1 as the ,apostles2 and reverence the deacons1 as the command of ,god4 #b ,let no man do any thing of what belongs to the church separately from the bishop4 #c ,let that eucharist be looked upon as well established1 which is either offered by the bishop1 or by him to whom the bishop has given4 his consent4 #d ,wheresoever the bishop shall appear1 there let the people also be3 as where ,jesus ,christ is1 there is the ,catholic church4 #e ,it is not lawful without the bishop2 neither to baptize1 nor to celebrate the ,holy ,communion but whatsoever he shall approve of1 that is also pleasing unto ,god2 that so whatever is done1 may be sure and well done4 #f ,for what remains1 it is very reasonable that we should repent whilst there is yet time to return unto ,god4 #g ,it is a good thin to have a due regard both to ,god1 and to the bishop3 he that honours the bishop1 shall be honoured of ,god2 but he that does any thing without his knowledge1 ministers unto the devil4 #h ,let all things therefore abound to you in charity2 seeing that ye are worthy4 #i ,ye have refreshed me in all things2 so shall ,jesus ,christ you4 ,ye have loved me both when ,i was present with you1 and now being absent1 ye cease not to do so4 #aj ,may ,god be your reward1 for whom whilst ye undergo all things1 ye shall attain unto him4 #aa ,ye have done well in that ye have received ,philo1 and ,rheus ,agathopus1 who followed me for the word of ,god1 as the deacons of ,christ our ,god4 #ab ,who also gave thanks unto the ,lord for you1 forasmuch as ye have refreshed them in all things4 ,nor shall any thing that you have done be lost to you4 #ac ,my soul be for yours1 and my bonds which ye have not despised1 nor been ashamed of4 ,wherefore neither shall4 ,jesus ,christ1 our perfect faith1 be ashamed of you4 #ad ,your prayer is come to the church of ,antioch1 which is in ,syria4 ,from whence being sent bound with chains becoming ,god4 ,i salute the churches2 being not worthy to be called from thence1 as being the least among them4 #ae ,nevertheless by the will of ,god ,i have been thought worthy of this honour2 not for that ,i think ,i have deserved it1 but by the grace of ,god2 #af ,which ,i wish may be perfectly given unto me1 that through your prayers ,i may attain unto ,god4 #ag ,and therefore1 that your work may be fully accomplished1 both upon earth and in heaven2 it will be fitting1 and for the honour of ,god1 that your church appoint some worthy delegate1 who being come as far as ,syria1 may rejoice together with them that they are in peace2 and that they are again restored to their former state1 and have again received their proper body4 #ah ,wherefore ,i should think it a worthy action1 to send some one from you with an epistle1 to congratulate with them their peace in ,god2 and that through your prayers1 they have now gotten to their harbour4 #ai ,for inasmuch as ye are perfect yourselves1 you ought to think those things that are perfect4 ,for when you are desirous to do well1 ,god is ready to enable you there4 unto4 #bj ,the love of the brethren that are at ,troas salute you2 from whence ,i write to you by ,burrhus whom ye sent with me1 together with the ,ephesians1 your brethren2 and who has in all ,things refreshed me4 #ba ,and ,i would to ,god that all would imitate him1 as being a pattern of the ministry of ,god4 ,may his grace fully reward him4 #bb ,i salute your very worthy bishop1 and your venerable presbytery2 and your deacons1 my fellow-servants2 and all of you in general1 and every one in particular1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 and in his flesh and blood2 in his passion and resurrection both fleshly and spiritually2 and in the unity of ,god with you4 #bc ,grace be with you1 and mercy1 and peace1 and patience1 for evermore4 #bd ,i salute the families of my brethren1 with their wives and children2 and the virgins that are called widows4 ,be strong in the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,philo1 who is present with me salutes you4 #be ,i salute the house of ,tavias1 and pray that it may be strengthened in faith and charity1 both of flesh and spirit4 #bf ,i salute ,alce my well-beloved1 together with the incomparable ,daphnus1 and ,eutechnus1 and all by name4 #bg ,farewell in the grace of ,god4 ,,ignatius ,,to ,,polycarp ,,chapter ,i4 ,ignatius blesses ,god for the firm1 establishment of ,polycarp in the faith1 and gives him particular directions for improving it4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to ,polycarp1 bishop of the church which is at ,smyrna2 their overseer1 but rather himself overlooked by ,god the ,father1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 all happiness4 #b ,having known that thy mind towards ,god1 is fixed as it were upon an immoveable rock2 ,i exceedingly give thanks1 that ,i have been thought worthy to behold thy blessed face1 in which may ,i always rejoice in ,god4 #c ,wherefore ,i beseech thee by the grace of ,god with which thou art clothed1 to press forward in thy course1 and to exhort all others that they may be saved4 #d ,maintain thy place with all care both of flesh and spirit3 ,make it thy endeavour to preserve unity1 than which nothing is better4 ,bear with all men even as the ,lord with thee4 #e ,support all in love1 as also thou dost4 ,pray without ceasing ask more understanding than what thou already hast4 ,be watchful1 having thy spirit always awake4 #f ,speak to every one according as ,god shall enable thee4 ,bear the infirmities of all1 as a perfect combatant2 where the labour is great1 the gain is the more4 #g ,if thou shalt love the good disciples1 what thank is it8 ,but rather do thou subject to thee those that are mischievous1 in meekness4 #h ,every wound is not healed with the same plaister3 if the accessions of the disease be vehement1 modify them with soft remedies3 be in all things wise as a serpent1 but harmless as a dove4 #i ,for this cause thou art composed of flesh and spirit2 that thou mayest modify those things that appear before thy face4 #aj ,and as for those that are not seen1 pray to ,god that he would reveal them into thee1 that so thou mayest be wanting in nothing1 but mayest abound in every gift4 #aa ,the times demand thee1 as the pilots the winds2 and he that is tossed in a tempest1 the haven where he would be4 #ab ,that thou mayest attain unto ,god1 be sober as the combatant of ,god4 ,the crown proposed to thee is immortality1 and eternal life3 concerning which thou art also fully persuaded4 ,i will be thy surety in all things1 by my bonds1 which thou halt loved4 #ac ,let not those that seem worthy of credit1 but teach other doctrines1 disturb thee4 ,stand firm and immoveable1 as an anvil when it is beaten upon4 #ad ,it is the part of a brave combatant to be wounded1 and yet overcome4 ,but especially we ought to endure all things for ,god's sake1 that he may bear with us4 #ae ,be every day better than others2 consider the times1 and expect him1 who is above all time1 eternal2 invisible1 though for our sakes made visible3 impalpable1 and impassible1 yet for us subjected to sufferings2 enduring all manner of ways for our salvation4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,continues his advice1 #f and teaches him how to advise others4 #ab ,enforces unity and subjection to the bishop4 ,,let not the widows be neglected3 be thou after ,god1 their ,guardian4 #b ,let nothing be done without thy knowledge and consent2 neither do thou anything but according to the will of ,god2 as also thou dost1 with all constancy4 #c ,let your assemblies be more full3 inquire into all by name4 #d ,overlook not the men and maid servants2 neither let them be puffed up3 but rather let them be the more subject to the glory of ,god1 that they may obtain from him a better liberty4 #e ,let them not desire to be set free at the public cost1 that they be not slaves to their own lusts4 #f ,flee evil arts2 or rather make not any mention of them4 #g ,say to my sisters1 that they love the ,lord2 and be satisfied with their own husbands1 both in the flesh and spirit4 #h ,in like manner1 exhort my brethren in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 that they love their wives1 even as the ,lord the church4 #i ,if any man can remain in a virgin state1 to the honour of the flesh of ,christ1 let him remain without boasting2 but if he boast1 he is undone4 ,and if he desire to be more taken notice of than the bishop he is corrupted4 #aj ,but it becomes all such as are married1 whether men or women1 to come together with the consent of the bishop1 that so their marriage may be according to godliness1 and not in lust4 #aa ,let all things be done to the honour of ,god4 #ab ,hearken unto the bishop1 that ,god also may hearken unto you4 ,my soul be security for them that submit to their bishop1 with their presbyters and deacons4 ,and may my portion be together with theirs in ,god4 #ac ,labour with one another2 contend together1 run together1 suffer together2 sleep together1 and rise together2 as the stewards1 and assessors1 and ministers of ,god4 #ad ,please him under whom ye war2 and from whom ye receive your wages4 ,let none of you be found a deserter2 but let your baptism remain1 as your arms2 your faith1 as your helmet2 your charity1 as your spear2 your patience1 as your whole armour4 #ae ,let your works be your charge1 that so you may receive a suitable reward4 ,be long suffering therefore towards each other in meekness2 as ,god is towards you4 #af ,let me have joy of you in all things4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,greets ,polycarp on the peace of the church at ,antioch3 #b and desires him to write to that and other churches4 ,,now forasmuch as the church of ,antioch in ,lyria is1 as ,i am told1 in peace through your prayers2 ,i also have been the more comforted1 and without care in ,god2 if so be that by suffering1 ,i shall attain unto ,god2 and through your prayers ,i may be found a disciple of ,christ4 #b ,it will be very fit1 ,o most worthy ,polycarp1 to call a select council1 and choose some one whom ye particularly love1 and who is patient of labour3 that he may be the messenger of ,god2 and that going unto ,syria1 he may glorify your incessant love1 to the praise of ,christ4 #c ,a ,christian has not the power of himself2 but must be always at leisure for ,god's service4 ,now this work is both ,god's and our's2 when ye shall have perfected it4 #d ,for ,i trust through the grace of ,god that ye are ready to every good work that is fitting for you in the ,lord4 #e ,knowing therefore your earnest affection for the truth1 ,i have exhorted you by these short letters4 #f ,but forasmuch as ,i have not been able to write to all the churches1 because ,i must suddenly sail from ,troas to ,neapolis2 7for so is the command of those to whose pleasure ,i am subject27 do you write to the churches that are near you1 as being instructed in the will of ,god1 that they also may do in like manner4 #g ,let those that are able send messengers2 and let the rest send their letters by those who shall be sent by you3 that you may be glorified to all eternity1 of which you are worthy4 #h ,i salute all by name2 particularly the wife of ,epitropus with all her house and children4 ,i salute ,attalus my well-beloved4 #i ,i salute him who shall be thought worthy to be sent by you into ,syria4 ,let grace be ever with him1 and with ,polycarp who sends him4 #aj ,i wish you all happiness in our ,god1 ,jesus ,christ2 in whom continue1 in the unity and protection of ,god4 #aa ,i salute ,alce my well- beloved4 ,farewell in the ,lord4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,seven ,,epistles ,,of ,,ignatius4 ,the ,epistles of ,ignatius are translated by ,archbishop ,wake from the text of ,vossius4 ,he says that there were considerable difference in the editions2 the best for a long time extant containing fabrications1 and the genuine being altered and corrupted4 ,archbishop ,usher printed old ,latin translations of them at ,oxford1 in #afdd4 ,at ,amsterdam1 two years afterwards1 ,vossius printed six of them in their ancient and pure ,greek2 and the seventh1 greatly amended from the ancient ,latin version1 was ,printed at ,paris1 by ,ruinart1 in #afhi1 in the ,acts and ,martyrdom of ,ignatius1 from a ,greek uninterpolated copy4 ,these are supposed to form the collection that ,polycarp made of the ,epistles of ,ignatius1 mentioned by ,irenaes1 ,origen1 ,eusebius1 ,jerome1 ,athanasius1 ,theodoret1 and other ancients3 but many learned men have imagined all of them to be apocryphal4 ,this supposition1 the piety of ,archbishop ,wake1 and his persuasion of their utility to the faith of the church1 will not permit him to entertain3 hence he has taken great pains to render the present translation acceptable1 by adding numerous readings and references to the ,canonical ,books4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,polycarp ,,to ,,the ,,philippians4 ,the genuineness of this ,epistle is controverted1 but implicitly believed by ,archbishop ,wake1 whose translation is below4 ,there is also a translation by ,dr4 ,cave attached to his life of ,polycarp4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,polycarp commends the ,philippians for their respect to those who suffered for the ,gospel2 and for their own faith4 ,,polycarp1 and the presbyters that are with him1 to the church of ,god which is at ,philippi2 mercy unto you1 and peace from ,god ,almighty1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour1 be multiplied4 #b ,i rejoiced greatly with you in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that ye received the images of a true love1 and accompanied1 as it behoved you1 those who were in bonds1 becoming saints2 which are the crowns of such as are truly chosen by ,god and our ,lord3 #c ,as also that the root of the faith which was preached from ancient times1 remains firm in you to this day2 and brings forth fruit to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who suffered himself to be brought even to the death for our sins3 #d ,whom ,god hath raised up1 having loosed the pains of death4 ,whom having not seen1 ye love2 in whom though now ye see him not1 yet believing1 ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 #e ,into which many desire to enter2 ,i knowing that by grace ye are saved2 not by works1 but by the will of ,god through ,jesus ,christ4 #f ,wherefore girding up the loins of your minds2 ,i serve the ,lord with fear1 and in truth2 laying aside all empty and vain speech1 and the errors of many2 believing in him that raised up our ,lord ,jesus ,christ from the dead1 and hath given him glory and a throne at his right hand4 #g ,to whom all things are made subject1 both that are in heaven1 and that are in earth2 whom every living creature shall worship2 who shall come to be the judge of the quick and dead3 whose blood ,god shall require of them that believe not in him4 #h ,but he that raised up ,christ from the dead1 shall also raise up us in like manner1 if we do his will1 and walk according to his commandments2 and love those things which he loved3 #i ,abstaining from all unrighteousness2 inordinate affection1 and love of money2 from evil4 speaking2 false witness2 not rendering evil for evil1 or railing for railing1 or striking for striking1 or cursing for cursing3 #aj ,but remembering what the ,lord has taught us saying1 ,judge not1 and ye shall not be judged2 forgive and ye shall be forgiven2 be ye merciful1 and ye shall obtain mercy2 for with the same measure that ye meet withal1 it shall be measured to you again4 #aa ,and again2 ,blessed are the poor1 and they that are persecuted for righteousness sake2 for theirs is the kingdom of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #b ,exhorts to ,faith1 ,hope1 and ,charity4 #e ,against covetousness1 and as to the duties of husbands1 wives1 widows1 #i deacons1 young men1 virgins1 and presbyters4 ,,these things1 my brethren1 ,i took not the liberty of myself to write unto you concerning righteousness1 but you yourselves before encouraged me to it4 #b ,for neither can i1 nor any other such as ,i am1 come up to the wisdom of the blessed and renowned ,paul2 who being himself in person with those who then lived1 did with all exactness and soundness teach the word of truth2 and being gone from you wrote an epistle to you4 #c ,into which if you look1 you will be able to edify yourselves in the faith that has been delivered unto you1 which is the mother of us all2 being followed with hope1 and led on by a general love1 both towards ,god and towards ,christ1 and towards our neighbour4 #d ,for if any man has these things1 he has fulfilled the law of righteousness3 for he that has charity is far from all sin4 #e ,but the love of money is the root of all evil4 ,knowing therefore that as we brought nothing into this world1 so neither may we carry any thing out2 let us arm ourselves with the armour of righteousness4 #f ,and teach ourselves first to walk according to the commandments of the ,lord2 and then your wives to walk likewise according to the faith that is given to them2 in charity1 and in purity2 loving their own husbands1 with all sincerity1 and all others alike1 with all temperance2 and to bring up their children in the instruction and fear of the ,lord4 #g ,the widows likewise teach that they be sober as to what concerns the faith of the ,lord3 praying always for all men2 being far from all detraction1 evil speaking1 false witness2 from covetousness1 and from all evil4 #h ,knowing that they are the altars of ,god1 who sees all blemishes1 and from whom nothing is hid2 who searches out the very reasonings1 and thoughts1 and secrets of our hearts4 #i ,knowing therefore that ,god is not mocked1 we ought to walk worthy both of his command and of his glory4 #aj ,also the deacons must be blameless before him1 as the ministers of ,god in ,christ1 and not of men4 ,not false mousers1 not double tongued1 not lovers of money2 but moderate in all things2 compassionate1 careful2 walking according to the truth of the ,lord1 who was the servant of all4 #aa ,whom if we please in this present world1 we shall also be made partakers of that which is to come1 according as he has promised to us1 that he will raise us from the dead2 and that if we shall walk worthy of him1 we shall also reign together with him1 if we believe4 #ab ,in like manner the younger men must be unblameable in all things2 above all1 taking care of their purity1 and to restrain themselves from all evil4 ,for it is good to be cut off from the lusts that are in the world2 because every such lust warreth against the spirit3 and neither fornicators1 nor effeminate1 nor abusers of themselves with mankind1 shall inherit the kingdom of ,god2 nor they who do such things as are foolish and unreasonable4 #ac ,wherefore ye must needs abstain from all these things1 being subject to the priests and deacons1 as unto ,god and ,christ4 #ad ,the virgins admonish to walk in a spotless and pure conscience4 #ae ,and let the elders be compassionate and merciful towards all2 turning them from their errors2 seeking out those that are weak2 not forgetting the widows1 the fatherless1 and the poor2 but always providing what is good both in the sight of ,god and man4 #af ,abstaining from all wrath1 respect of persons1 and unrighteous judgment2 and especially being free from all covetousness4 #ag ,not easy to believe anything against any2 not severe in judgment2 knowing that we are all debtors in point of sin4 #ah ,if therefore we pray to the ,lord that he would forgive us1 we ought also to forgive others2 for we are all in the sight of our ,lord and ,god2 a and must all stand before the judgment-seat of ,christ2 and shall every one give an account of himself4 #ai ,let us therefore serve him in fear1 and with all reverence as both himself hath commanded2 and as the ,apostles who have preached the ,gospel unto us1 and the prophets who have foretold the coming of our ,lord have taught us3 #bj ,being zealous of what is good2 abstaining from all offence1 and from false brethren2 and from those who bear the name of ,christ in hypocrisy2 who deceive vain men4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,as to faith in our ,saviour ,christ2 his nature and sufferings1 the resurrection and judgment4 #c ,exhorts to prayer #e and steadfastness in the faith1 from the examples of ,christ1 #g and ,apostles and saints1 and exhorts to carefulness in all well-doing4 ,,for whosoever does not confess that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh1 he is ,antichrist3 and whoever does not confess his suffering upon the cross1 is from the devil4 #b ,and whosoever perverts the oracles of the ,lord to his own lusts1 and says that there shall4 neither be any resurrection1 nor judgment1 he is the first-born of ,satan4 #c ,wherefore leaving the vanity of many1 and their false doctrines2 let us return to the word that was delivered to us from the beginning3 ,watching unto prayer2 and persevering in fasting2 #d ,with supplication beseeching the all seeing ,god not to lead us into temptation2 as the ,lord hath said1 ,the spirit is truly willing1 but the flesh is weak4 #e ,let us therefore without ceasing hold steadfastly to him who is our hope1 and the earnest of our righteousness1 even ,jesus ,christ2 ,who1 his own self1 bare our sins in his own body on the tree3 who did no sin1 neither was guile found in his mouth2 but suffered all for us that we might live through him4 #f ,let us therefore imitate his patience2 and if we suffer for his name1 let us glorify him2 for this example he has given us by himself1 and so have we believed4 #g ,wherefore ,i exhort all of you that ye obey the word of righteousness1 and exercise all patience2 which ye have seen set forth before your eyes1 not only in the blessed ,ignatius1 and ,zozimus1 and ,rufus2 but in others among yourselves2 and in ,paul himself1 and the rest of the ,apostles3 #h ,being confident of this1 that all these have not run in vain1 but in faith and righteousness2 and are gone to the place that was due to them from the ,lord2 with whom also they suffered4 #i ,for they loved not this present world2 but him who died1 and was raised again by ,god for us4 #aj ,stand therefore in these things1 and follow the example of the ,lord2 being firm and immutable in the faith1 lovers of the brotherhood1 lovers of one another3 companions together in the truth1 being kind and gentle towards each other1 despising none4 #aa ,when it is in your power to do good defer it not1 for charity delivered from death4 #ab ,be all of you subject one to another1 having your conversation honest among the ,gentiles2 that by your good works1 both ye yourselves may receive praise1 and the ,lord may not be blasphemed through you4 ,but woe be to him by whom the name of the ,lord is blasphemed4 #ac ,therefore teach all men sobriety2 in which do ye also exercise yourselves4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,valens1 a presbyter1 having fallen into the sin of covetousness1 he exhorts them against it4 ,i am greatly afflicted for ,valens1 who was once a presbyter among you2 that he should so little understand the place that was given to him in the church1 ,wherefore ,i admonish you that ye abstain from covetousness2 and that ye be chaste1 and true of speech4 #b ,keep yourselves from all evil4 ,for he that in these things cannot govern himself1 how shall he be able to prescribe them to another8 #c ,if a man does not keep himself from covetousness1 he shall be polluted with idolatry1 and be judged as if he were a ,gentile4 #d ,but who of you are ignorant of the judgment of ,god8 ,do we not know that the saints shall judge the world1 as ,paul teaches8 #e ,but ,i have neither perceived nor heard anything of this kind in you1 among whom the blessed ,paul laboured2 and who are named in the beginning of his ,epistle4 #f ,for he glories of you in all the churches who then only knew ,god2 for we did not then know him4 ,wherefore1 my brethren1 ,i am exceedingly sorry both for him and for his wife2 to whom ,god grant a true repentance4 #g ,and be ye also moderate upon this occasion2 and look not upon such as enemies1 but call them back as suffering and erring members1 that ye may save your whole body3 for by so doing1 ye shall edify your own selves4 #h ,for ,i trust that ye are well exercised in the ,holy ,scriptures1 and that nothing is hid from you but at present it is not granted unto me to practise that which is written1 ,be angry and sin not2 and again1 ,let not the sun go down upon your wrath4 #i ,blessed be he that believeth and remembereth these things2 which also ,i trust you do4 #aj ,now the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and he himself who is our everlasting high-priest1 the ,son of ,god1 even ,jesus ,christ1 build you up in faith and in truth1 and in all meekness and lenity2 in patience and long- suffering1 in forbearance and chastity3 #aa ,and grant unto you a lot and portion among his saints1 and us with you2 and to all that are under the heavens1 who shall believe in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and in his ,father who raised him from the dead4 #ab ,pray for all the saints3 pray also for kings1 and all that are in authority2 and for those who persecute you1 and hate you1 and for the enemies of the cross2 that your fruit may be manifest in all2 and that ye may be perfect in ,christ4 #ac ,ye wrote to me1 both ye1 and also ,ignatius1 that if any one went from hence into ,syria1 he should bring your letters with him2 which also ,i will take care of1 as soon as ,i shall have a convenient opportunity2 either by myself1 or him whom ,i shall send upon your account4 #ad ,the ,epistle of ,ignatius1 which he wrote unto us1 together with what others of his have come to our hands1 we have sent to you1 according to your order2 which are subjoined to this ,epistle3 #ae ,by which we may be greatly profited2 for they treat of faith and patience1 and of all things that pertain to edification in the ,lord ,jesus4 #af ,what you know certainly of ,ignatius1 and those that are with him1 signify to us4 #ag ,these things have ,i written unto you by ,crescens1 whom by this present ,epistle ,i have recommended to you1 and do now again commend4 #ah ,for he has had his conversation without blame among us2 and ,i suppose also with you4 #ai ,ye will also have regard unto his sister when she shall come unto you4 #bj ,be ye safe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and in favour with all yours4 ,amen4 ,,the ,,first ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas ,,called ,,his ,,vision4 ,,vision ,i4 #a ,against filthy and proud thoughts2 #bj also the neglect of ,hermas in chastising his children4 ,,he who had bred me up sold a certain young maid at ,rome2 whom when ,i saw many years after1 ,i remembered her1 and began to love her as a sister4 ,it happened some time afterwards1 that ,i saw her washing in the river ,tyber2 and ,i reached out my hand unto her1 and brought her out of the river1 #b ,and when ,i saw her ,i thought with myself1 saying1 ,how happy should ,i be if ,i had such a wife1 both for beauty and manners4 ,this ,i thought with myself2 nor did ,i think any thing more4 ,but not long after1 as ,i was walking1 and musing on these thoughts1 ,i began to honour this creature of ,god1 thinking with myself2 how noble and beautiful she was4 #c ,and when ,i had walked a little1 ,i fell asleep2 and the spirit caught me away1 and carried me through a certain place towards the right hand1 through which no man could pass4 ,it was a place among rocks1 very steep1 and unpassable for water4 #d ,when ,i was past this place1 ,i came into a plain2 and there falling down upon my knees1 ,i began to pray unto the ,lord1 and to confess my sins4 #e ,and as ,i was praying1 the heaven was opened1 and ,i saw the woman which ,i had coveted1 saluting me from heaven1 and saying1 ,hermas1 hail6 and ,i looking upon her1 answered1 ,lady1 what dost thou do here8 ,she answered me1 ,i am taken up hither to accuse thee of sin before the ,lord4 #f ,lady1 said ,i1 wilt thou convince me8 ,no1 said she3 but hear the words which ,i am about to speak unto thee4 ,god who dwelleth in heaven1 and hath made all things out of nothing1 and hath multiplied them for his holy church's sake1 is angry with thee because thou hast sinned against me4 #g ,and ,i answering said unto her1 ,lady1 if ,i have sinned against thee1 tell me where1 or in what place1 or when did ,i ever speak an unseemly or dishonest word unto thee8 #h ,have ,i not always esteemed thee as a lady8 ,have ,i not always reverenced thee as a sister8 ,why then dost thou imagine these wicked things against me8 #i ,then she1 smiling upon me1 said3 the desire of naughtiness has risen up in thy heart4 ,does it not seem to thee to be an ill thing for a righteous man to have an evil desire rise up in his heart4 #aj ,it is indeed a sin1 and that a very great sin1 to such a one2 for a righteous man thinketh that which is righteous4 ,and whilst he does so1 and walketh uprightly1 he shall have the ,lord in heaven favourable unto him in all his business4 #aa ,but as for those who think wickedly in their hearts1 they take to themselves death and captivity2 and especially those who love this present world1 and glory in their riches1 and regard not the good things that are to come2 their souls wander up and down and know not where to fix4 #ab ,now this is the case of such as are double-minded1 who trust not in the ,lord1 and despise and neglect their own life4 #ac ,but do thou pray unto the ,lord1 and he will heal thy sins1 and the sins of thy whole house1 and of all his saints4 #ad ,as soon as she had spoken these words the heaven were shut1 and ,i remained utterly swallowed up with sadness and fear3 and said within myself1 if this be laid against me for sin1 how can ,i be saved4 #ae ,or how should ,i ever be able to entreat the ,lord for my many and great sins8 ,with what words shall ,i beseech him to be merciful unto me8 #af ,as ,i was thinking over these things1 and meditating in myself upon them1 behold a chair was set over against me of the whitest wool1 as bright as snow4 #ag ,and there came an old woman in a bright garment1 having a book in her hand1 and sat alone1 and saluted me1 saying1 ,hermas1 hail6 and ,i being full of sorrow and weeping1 answered1 ,hail ,lady6 #ah ,and she said unto me1 ,why art thou sad1 ,hermas1 who wert wont to be patient1 and modest1 and always cheerful8 ,i answered1 and said to her1 ,lady1 a reproach has been laid to my charge by an excellent woman1 who tells me that ,i have sinned against her4 #ai ,she replied1 ,far be any such thing from the servant of ,god4 ,but it may be the desire of her has risen up in thy heart8 ,for indeed such a thought maketh the servants of ,god guilty of sin4 #bj ,nor ought such a detestable thought to be in the servant of ,god3 nor should he who is approved by the ,spirit desire that which is evil2 but especially ,hermas1 who contains himself from all wicked lusts1 and is full of all simplicity1 and of great innocence4 #ba ,nevertheless the ,lord is not so much angry with thee for thine own sake1 as upon the account of thy house1 which has committed wickedness against the ,lord1 and against their parents4 #bb ,and for that out of thy fondness towards thy sons1 thou hast not admonished thy house1 but hast permitted them to live wickedly2 for this cause the ,lord is angry with thee3 but he will heal all the evils that are done in thy house4 ,for through their sins and iniquities1 thou art wholly consumed in secular affairs4 #bc ,but now the mercy of ,god hath taken compassion upon thee1 and upon thine house1 and hath greatly comforted thee4 ,only as for thee1 do not wander1 but be of an even mind1 and comfort thy house4 #bd ,as the workman bringing forth his work1 offers it to whomsoever he pleaseth2 so shalt thou by teaching every day what is just1 cut off a great sin4 ,wherefore cease not to admonish thy sons1 for the ,lord knows that they will repent with all their heart1 and they shall be written in the book of life4 #be ,and when she had said this1 she added unto me2 ,wilt thou hear me read8 ,i answered her1 ,lady1 ,i will4 #bf ,hear then1 said she2 and opening the book she read1 gloriously1 greatly1 and wonderfully1 such things as ,i could not keep in my memory4 ,for they were terrible words1 such as no man could bear4 #bg ,how it be ,i committed her last words to my remembrance2 for they were but few1 and of great use to us3-- #bh ,behold the mighty ,lord1 who by his invisible power1 and with his excellent wisdom made the world1 and by his glorious counsel beautified his creature1 and with the word of his strength fixed the heaven1 and founded the earth upon the waters2 and by his powerful virtue established the ,holy ,church1 which he hath blessed4 #bi ,behold he will remove the heavens1 and the mountains1 the hills1 and the seas2 and all things shall be made plain for his elect2 that he may render unto them the promise which he has promised1 with much honour and joy2 if so be that they shall keep the commandments of ,god1 which they have received with great faith4 #cj ,and when she had made an end of reading1 she rose out of the chair2 and behold four young men came1 and carried the chair to the east4 #ca ,and she called me unto her1 and touched my breast1 and said unto me1 ,did my reading please thee8 ,i answered1 ,lady1 these last things please me2 but what went before was severe and hard4 #cb ,she said unto me1 these last things are for the righteous1 but the foregoing for the revolters and heathen4 #cc ,and as she was talking with me1 two men appeared1 and took her upon their shoulders1 and went to the east where the chair was4 #cd ,and she went cheerfully away2 and as she was going1 said unto me1 ,hermas1 be of good cheer4 ,,vision ,,ii4 ,again1 of his neglect in correcting his talkative wife2 and of his lewd sons4 ,,as ,i was on the way to ,cuma1 about the same time that ,i went the year before1 ,i began to call to mind the vision ,i formerly had4 ,and again the spirit carried me away1 and brought me into the same place1 in which ,i had been the year before4 #b ,and when ,i was come into the place1 ,i fell down upon my knees1 and began to pray unto the ,lord1 and to glorify his name1 that he had esteemed me worthy1 and had manifested unto me my former sins4 #c ,and when ,i arose from prayer1 behold ,i saw over against me the old woman whom ,i had seen the last year1 walking and reading in a certain book4 #d ,and she said unto me1 ,canst thou tell these things to the elect of ,god8 ,i answered and said unto her1 ,lady1 ,i cannot retain so many things in my memory1 but give me the book1 and ,i will write them down4 #e ,take it1 says she1 and see that thou restore it again to me4 #f ,as soon as ,i had received it1 ,i went aside into a certain place of the field1 and transcribe every letter1 for ,i found no syllables4 #g ,and as soon as ,i had finished what was written in the book1 the book was suddenly caught out of my hand1 but by whom ,i saw not4 #h ,after fifteen days1 when ,i had fasted1 and entreated the ,lord with all earnestness1 the knowledge of the writing was revealed unto me4 ,now the writing was this3-- #i ,thy seed1 ,o ,hermas6 hath sinned against the ,lord1 and have betrayed their parents1 through their great wickedness4 ,and they have been called the betrayers of their parents1 and have gone on in their treachery4 #aj ,and now have they added lewdness to their other sins1 and the pollutions of their naughtiness3 thus have they filled up the measure of their iniquities4 ,but do thou upbraid thy sons with all these words2 and thy wife1 who shall be as thy sister2 and let her learn to refrain her tongue1 with which she calumniates4 #aa ,and when she shall hear these things1 she will refrain herself1 and shall obtain mercy4 #ab ,and they also shall be instructed1 when thou shalt have reproached them with these words1 which the ,lord has commanded to be revealed unto them4 #ac ,then shall their sins be forgiven1 which they have heretofore committed1 and the sins of all the saints who have sinned even unto this day2 if they shall repent with all their hearts1 and remove all doubts out of their hearts4 #ad ,for the ,lord hath sworn by his glory concerning his elect1 having determined this very time1 that if any one shall even now sin1 he shall not be saved4 #ae ,for the repentance of the righteous has its end2 the days of repentance are fulfilled to all the saints2 but to the heathen1 there is repentance even unto the last day4 #af ,thou shalt therefore say to those who are over the church1 that they order their ways in righteousness2 so that they may fully receive the promise with much glory4 #ag ,stand fast therefore ye that work righteousness and continue to do it1 that your departure may be with the holy angels4 #ah ,happy are ye1 as many as shall endure the great trial that is at hand1 and whosoever shall not deny his life4 #ai ,for the ,lord hath sworn by his ,son1 that whoso1 denieth his ,son and ,,him1 being afraid of his life1 he will also deny him in the world that is to come4 #bj ,but those who shall never deny him1 he will of his exceeding great mercy be favourable unto them4 #ba ,but thou1 ,o ,hermas6 remember not the evils which thy sons have done1 neither neglect thy sister1 but take care that they amend of their former sins4 #bb ,for they will be instructed by this doctrine1 if thou shalt not be mindful of what they have done wickedly4 #bc ,for the remembrance of evils worketh death1 but the forgetting of them eternal life4 #bd ,but thou1 ,o ,hermas6 hast undergone a great many worldly troubles for the offences of thy house1 because thou hast neglected them1 as things that did not belong unto thee2 and thou art wholly taken up with thy great business4 #be ,nevertheless1 for this cause shalt thou be saved1 that thou hast not departed from the living ,god1 and thy simplicity and singular continency shall preserve thee1 if thou shalt continue in them4 #bf ,yes1 they shall save all such as do such things1 and walk in innocence and simplicity4 #bg ,they who are of this kind shall prevail against all impiety1 and continue until life eternal4 #bh ,happy are all they that do righteousness1 they shall not be consumed for ever4 #bi ,but thou wilt say1 ,behold there is a great trial coming4 ,if it seem good to thee1 deny him again4 #cj ,the ,lord is nigh to them that turn to him1 as it is written in the book of ,heldam and ,modal1 who prophesied to the people of ,israel in the wilderness4 #ca ,moreover1 brethren1 it was revealed to me1 as ,i was sleeping1 by a very goodly young man1 saying unto me1 ,what thinkest thou of that old woman from whom thou receivedst the book2 who is she8 ,i answered1 a ,sybil4 #cb ,thou art mistaken said he1 she is not4 ,i replied1 ,who is she then1 sir8 ,he answered me1 ,it is the church of ,god4 #cc ,and ,i said unto him1 ,why then does she appear old8 ,she is therefore1 said he1 an old woman1 because she was the first of all the creation1 and the world was made for her4 #cd ,after this ,i saw a vision at home in my own house1 and the old woman1 whom ,i had seen before1 came to me and asked me whether ,i had yet delivered her book to the elders of the church8 ,and ,i answered1 that ,i had not yet4 #ce ,she replied1 ,thou hast well done1 for ,i have certain words more to tell thee4 ,but when ,i shall have finished all the words1 they shall be clearly understood by the elect4 #cf ,and thou shalt write two books1 and send one to ,clement and one to ,grapte4 ,for ,clement shall send it to the foreign cities1 because it is permitted to him so to do3 but ,grapte shall admonish the widows and orphans4 #cg ,but thou shalt read in this city with the elders of the church4 ,,vision ,,iii4 ,of the building of the church triumphant1 and of the several sorts of reprobates4 ,,the vision which ,i saw1 brethren1 was this4 #b ,when ,i had often fasted and prayed unto the ,lord1 that he would manifest unto me the revelation1 which he had promised by the old woman to show unto me2 the same night she appeared unto me1 and said unto me1 #c ,because thou dost thus afflict thyself1 and art so desirous to know all things1 come into the field1 where thou wilt1 and about the sixth hour1 ,i will appear unto thee1 and show thee what thou must see4 #d ,i asked her1 saying2 ,lady1 into what part of the field8 ,she answered1 wherever thou wilt1 only choose a good and a private place4 ,and before ,i began to speak and tell her the place1 she said unto me2 ,i will come where thou wilt4 #e ,i was therefore1 brethren in the field and ,i observed the hours1 and came into the place where ,i had appointed her to come4 #f ,and ,i beheld a bench placed2 it was a linen pillow1 and over it spread a covering of fine linen4 #g ,when ,i saw these things ordered in this manner1 and that there was nobody in the place1 ,i began to be astonished1 and my hair stood on end1 and a kind of horror seized me2 for ,i was alone4 #h ,but being come to myself1 and calling to mind the glory of ,god1 and taking courage1 ,i fell down upon my knees and began again to confess my sins as before4 #i ,and whilst ,i was doing this1 the old woman came thither with the six young men whom ,i had seen before1 and stood behind me as ,i was praying1 and heard me praying and confessing my sins unto the ,lord4 #aj ,and touching me1 she said2 ,leave off praying now only for thy sins2 pray also for righteousness1 that thou mayest receive a part of it in thy house4 #aa ,and she lifted me up from the place1 and took me by the hand1 and brought me to the seat2 and said to the young men1 go1 and build4 #ab ,as soon as they were departed1 and we were alone1 she said unto me2 sit here4 ,i answered her2 ,lady1 let those who are elder sit first4 ,she replied1 ,sit down as ,i bid you4 #ac ,and when ,i would have sat on the right side1 she suffered me not1 but made a sign to me with her hand1 that ,i should sit on the left4 #ad ,as ,i was therefore musing1 and full of sorrow1 that she would not suffer me to sit on the right side1 she said unto me1 ,hermas1 why art thou sad8 #ae ,the place which is on the right hand is theirs who have already attained unto ,god1 and have suffered for his name-sake4 ,but there is yet a great deal remaining unto thee1 before thou canst sit with them4 #af ,but continue as thou doest1 in thy sincerity1 and thou shalt sit with them2 as all others shall1 who do their works1 and shall bear what they have borne4 #ag ,i said to her2 ,lady1 ,i would know what it is that they have suffered8 ,hear then1 said she3 wild beasts1 scourgings1 imprisonments1 and crosses for his name-sake4 #ah ,for this cause the right hand of holiness belongs to them1 and to all others as many as shall suffer for the name of ,god2 but the left belongs to the rest4 #ai ,howbeit the gifts and the promises belong to both1 to them on the right1 and to those on the left hand2 only that sitting on the right hand they have some glory above the others4 #bj ,but thou art desirous to sit on the right hand with them1 and yet thy defects are many4 ,but thou shalt be purged from thy defects1 as also all who doubt not shall be cleansed from all the sins which they have committed unto this day4 #ba ,and when she had said this she would have departed4 #bb ,wherefore1 falling down before her feet1 ,i began to entreat her1 for the ,lord's sake1 that she would show me the vision which she had promised4 #bc ,then she again took me by the hand1 and lifted me up1 and made me sit upon the seat at the left side2 and holding up a certain bright wand1 said unto me1 ,seest thou that great thing8 ,i replied1 ,lady1 ,i see nothing4 #bd ,she answered1 ,dost thou not see over against thee a great tower1 which is built upon the water with bright square stones8 #be ,for the tower was built upon a square by these six young men that came with her4 #bf ,but many thousand of other men brought stones2 some drew them out of the deep1 others carried them from the ground1 and gave them to the six young men2 and they took them and built4 #bg ,as for those stones which were drawn out of the deep1 they put them all into the building2 for they were polished1 and their squares exactly answered one another1 and so one was joined in such wise to the other1 that there was no space to be seen where they joined1 insomuch that the whole tower appeared to be built as it were of one stone4 #bh ,but as for the other stones that were taken off from the ground1 some of them they rejected1 others they fitted into the building4 #bi ,as for those which were rejected1 some they cut out1 and cast them at a distance from the tower2 but many others of them lay round about the tower1 which they made no use of in the building4 #cj ,for some of these were rough1 others had clefts in them1 others were white and round1 not proper for the building of the tower4 #ca ,but ,i saw the other stones cast afar off from the tower1 and falling into the high-way1 and yet not continuing in the way1 but were rolled from the way into a desert place4 #cb ,others ,i saw falling into the fire and burning2 others fell near the water1 yet could not roll themselves into it1 though very desirous to fall into the water4 #cc ,and when she had showed me these things she would have departed2 but ,i said to her1 ,lady1 what doth it profit me to see these things1 and not understand what they mean8 #cd ,she answered and said unto me2 ,you are very cunning1 in that you are desirous to know those things which relate to the tower4 ,yea1 said ,i1 lady1 that ,i may declare them unto the brethren1 and they may rejoice1 and hearing these things may glorify ,god with great glory4 #ce ,then she said1 ,many indeed shall hear them1 and when they shall have heard them1 some shall rejoice1 and others weep4 ,and yet even these1 if they shall repent1 shall rejoice too4 #cf ,hear therefore what ,i shall say concerning the parable of the tower1 and after this be no longer importunate with me about the revelation4 #cg ,for these revelations have an end1 seeing they are fulfilled4 ,but thou dost not leave off to desire revelations1 for thou art very urgent4 #ch ,as for the tower which thou seest built1 it is myself1 namely1 the church1 which have appeared to thee both now and heretofore4 ,wherefore ask what thou wilt concerning the tower1 and ,i will reveal it unto thee1 that thou mayest rejoice with the saints4 #ci ,i said unto her1 ,lady1 because thou hast thought me once worthy to receive from thee the revelation of all these things1 declare them unto me4 #dj ,she answered me1 ,whatsoever is fit to be revealed unto thee shall be revealed3 only yet thy heart be with the ,lord1 and doubt not1 whatsoever thou shalt see4 #da ,i asked her1 ,lady1 why is the tower built upon the water8 ,she replied1 ,i said before to thee that thou wert very wise to inquire diligently concerning the building1 therefore thou shalt find the truth4 #db ,hear therefore why the tower is built upon the water3 because your life is and shall be saved by water4 ,for it is founded by the word of the almighty and honourable name1 and is supported by the invisible power and virtue of ,god4 #dc ,and ,i answering1 said unto her1 ,these things are very admirable2 but1 lady1 who are those six young men that build8 #dd ,they are1 said she1 the angels of ,god1 who were first appointed1 and to whom the ,lord has delivered all his creatures1 to frame and build them up1 and to rule over them4 ,for by these the building of the tower shall be finished4 #de ,and who are the rest who bring them stones8 #df ,they also are the holy angels of the ,lord2 but the others are more excellent than these4 ,wherefore when the whole building of the tower shall be finished1 they shall all feast together beside the tower1 and shall glorify ,god1 because the structure of the tower is finished4 #dg ,i asked her1 saying1 ,i would know the condition of the stones1 and what the meaning of them is8 #dh ,she answering1 said unto me1 ,art thou better than all others that this should be revealed unto thee8 ,for others are both before thee and better than thou art1 to whom these visions should be made manifest4 #di ,nevertheless1 that the name of ,god may be glorified1 it has been shown and shall be revealed unto thee1 for the sake of those who are doubtful1 and think in their hearts whether these things are so or not4 #ej ,tell them that all these things are true1 and that there is nothing in them that is not true but all are firm and truly established4 #ea ,hear now then concerning the stones that are in the building4 #eb ,the square and white stones which agree exactly in their joints1 are the apostles1 and bishops1 and doctors1 and ministers1 who through the mercy of ,god have come in1 and governed1 and taught and ministered holily and modestly to the elect of ,god1 both they that have fallen asleep1 and which yet remain2 and have always agreed with them1 and have had peace within themselves1 and have heard each other4 #ec ,for which cause their joints exactly meet together in the building of the tower4 #ed ,they which are drawn out of the deep and put into the building1 and whose joints agree with the other stones which are already built1 are those which are already fallen asleep1 and have suffered for the sake of the ,lord's name4 #ee ,and what are the other stones1 lady1 that are brought from the earth8 ,i would know what are they4 #ef ,she answered1 ,they which lie upon the ground and are not polished1 are those which ,god has approved1 because they have walked in ,i the law of the ,lord1 and directed their ways in his commandments4 #eg ,they which are brought and put in the building of the tower1 are the young in faith and the faithful4 ,and these are admonished by the angels to do well because iniquity is not found in them4 #eh ,but who are those whom they rejected1 and laid beside the tower8 #ei ,they are such as have sinned and are willing to repent2 for which cause they are not cast far from the tower1 because they will be useful for the building1 if they shall repent4 #fj ,they therefore that are yet to repent1 if they repent they shall become strong in the faith2 that is1 if they repent now1 whilst the tower is building4 ,for if the building shall be finished there will then be no place for them to be put in1 but they shall be rejected2 for he only has this privilege who shall now be put into the tower4 #fa ,but would you know who they are that were cut out1 and cast afar off from the tower8 ,lady said ,i1 ,i desire it4 #fb ,they are the children of iniquity1 who believed only in hypocrisy1 and departed not from their evil ways2 for this cause they shall not be saved1 because they are not of any use in the building by reason of their sins4 #fc ,wherefore they are cut out1 and cast afar off1 because of the anger of the ,lord1 and because they have provoked him to anger against them4 #fd ,as for the great number of other stones which thou hast seen placed about the tower1 but now put into the building2 those which are rugged1 are they who have known the truth1 but have not continued in it1 nor been joined to the saints1 and therefore are unprofitable4 #fe ,those that have clefts in them1 are they that keep up discord in their hearts against each other1 and live not in peace2 that are friendly when present with their brethren1 but as soon as they are departed from one another1 their wickedness still continues in their hearts3 these are the clefts which are seen in those stones4 #ff ,those that are maimed and short1 are they who have believed indeed1 but still are in great measure full of wickedness2 for this cause they are maimed and not whole4 #fg ,but what are the white and round stones1 lady1 and which are not proper for the building of the tower8 #fh ,she answering said unto me3 ,how long wilt thou continue foolish and without understanding1 asking everything and discerning nothing8 #fi ,they are such as have faith indeed1 but have withal the riches of this present world4 ,when therefore any troubles arise1 for the sake of their riches and traffic1 they deny the ,lord4 #gj ,i answering1 said unto her1 ,when therefore will they be profitable to the ,lord8 ,when their riches shall be cut away1 says she1 in which they take delight1 then they will be profitable unto the ,lord for his building4 #ga ,for as a round stone1 unless it be cut away and is cast somewhat of its bulk1 cannot be made square1 so they who are rich in this world2 unless their riches be pared off2 cannot be made profitable unto the ,lord4 #gb ,learn this from thy own experience3 when thou wert rich1 thou wast unprofitable2 but now thou art profitable1 and fit for the life which thou hast undertaken2 for thou also once was one of those stones4 #gc ,as for the rest of the stones which thou sawest cast afar off from the tower1 and running in the way1 and tumbled out of the way into desert places2 they are such as have believed indeed1 but through their doubting have forsaken the true way1 thinking that they could find a better4 ,but they wander and are miserable1 going into desolate ways4 #gd ,then for those stones which fell into the fire and were burnt1 they are those who have for ever departed from the living ,god2 nor doth it ever come into their hearts to repent1 by reason of the affection which they bear to their lusts and wickedness which they commit4 #ge ,and what are the rest which fell by the water1 and could not roll into the water8 #gf ,they are such as have heard the word1 and were willing to be baptised in the name of the ,lord2 but considering the great holiness which the truth requires1 have withdrawn themselves1 an walked again after wicked lusts4 #gg ,thus she finished the explanation of the tower4 #gh ,but ,i being still urgent1 asked her1 ,is there repentance allowed to all those stones which are thus cast away1 and were not suitable to the building of the tower2 and shall they find place in this tower8 #gi ,they may repent1 said she1 yet they cannot come into this tower2 but1 they shall be placed in a much lower rank1 and then only after they shall have been afflicted and fulfilled the days of their sins4 #hj ,and for this cause they shall be removed1 because they have received the word of righteousness3 and then they shall be translated from their afflictions1 if they shall have a true sense in their hearts of what they have done amiss4 #ha ,but if they shall not have this sense in their hearts1 they shall not be saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts4 #hb ,when therefore ,i had done asking her concerning all these things1 she said unto me1 ,wilt thou see something else8 ,and being desirous of seeing it1 ,i became very cheerful of countenances4 #hc ,she therefore looking back upon me1 and smiling a little1 said unto me1 ,seest thou seven women about the tower8 ,lady1 said ,i1 ,i see them4 #hd ,this tower1 replied she1 is supported by them1 according to the command of the ,lord3 hear therefore the effects of them4 #he ,the first of them1 which holds fast with her hand1 is called ,faith2 ,the next1 which is girt up1 and looks manly1 is named ,abstinence3 she is the daughter of ,faith4 #hf ,whosoever therefore shall follow her shall be happy in all his life1 because he shall abstain from all evil works1 believing that if he shall contain himself from all concupiscence1 he shall be the heir of eternal life4 ,and what1 lady1 said ,i1 are the other five8 #hg ,they are1 replied she1 the daughters of one another4 ,the first of them is called ,simplicity2 the next ,innocence2 the third ,modesty2 then ,discipline2 and the last of all is ,charity4 ,when therefore thou shalt have fulfilled the works of their mother1 thou shalt be able to do all things4 #hh ,lady1 said ,i1 ,i would know what particular virtue every one of these has4 #hi ,hear then1 replied she2 they have equal virtues1 and their virtues are knit together1 and follow one another as they were born4 #ij ,from ,faith proceeds ,abstinence2 from ,abstinence1 ,simplicity2 from ,simplicity1 ,innocence2 from ,innocence1 ,modesty2 from ,modesty1 ,discipline and ,charity4 ,therefore the works of these are holy1 and chaste1 and right4 #ia ,whoever therefore shall serve these1 and hold fast to their works1 he shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of ,god4 #ib ,then ,i asked her concerning the times1 whether the end were now at hand8 #ic ,but she cried out with a loud voice1 saying1 ,o foolish man6 ,dost thou not see the tower yet a building8 ,when therefore the tower shall be finished1 and built1 it shall have an end2 and indeed it shall soon be accomplished4 #id ,but do not ask me any more questions4 ,what has been said may suffice thee and all the saints for the refreshment of your spirits4 ,for these things have not been revealed to thee only1 but that thou mayest make them manifest unto all4 #ie ,for therefore1 ,o ,hermas1 after three days thou must understand these words which ,i begin to speak unto thee1 that thou mayest speak them in the ears of the saints2 that when thou shall have heard and done them1 they may be cleansed from their iniquities1 and thou together with them4 #if ,hear me therefore1 ,o my sons6 ,i have bred you up in much simplicity1 and innocency1 and modesty1 for the love of ,god1 which has dropped down upon you in righteousness1 that you should be sanctified and justified from all sin and wickedness2 but ye will not cease from your evil doings4 #ig ,now therefore hearken unto me1 and have peace one with another1 and visit one another1 and receive one another1 and do not enjoy the creatures of ,god alone4 #ih ,give freely to them that are in need4 ,for some by too free feeding contract an infirmity in their flesh1 and do injury to their bodies2 whilst the flesh of others1 who have not food1 withers away1 because they want sufficient nourishment1 and the bodies are consumed4 #ii ,wherefore this intemperance is hurtful to you1 who have1 and do not contribute to them that want4 ,prepare for the judgment that is about to come upon you4 #ajj ,ye that are the more eminent1 search out them that are hungry1 whilst the tower is yet unfinished4 ,for when the tower shall be finished1 ye shall be willing to do good1 and shall not find any place in it4 #aja ,beware1 therefore1 ye that glory in your riches1 lest perhaps they groan who are in want1 and their sighing come up unto ,god1 and ye be shut out with your goods without the gate of the tower4 #ajb ,behold ,i now warn you who are set over the church1 and love the highest seats1 be not ye like unto those that work mischief4 #ajc ,and they indeed carry about their poison in boxes1 but ye contain your poison and infection in your hearts1 and will not purge them1 and mix your sense with a pure heart1 that ye might find mercy with the ,great ,king4 #ajd ,take heed1 my children1 that your dissensions deprive you not of your lives4 ,how will ye instruct the elect of ,god1 when ye yourselves want correction8 ,wherefore admonish one another1 and be at peace among yourselves1 that ,i1 standing before your ,father1 may give an account of you unto the ,lord4 #aje ,and when she had made an end of talking with me1 the six young men that built1 came and carried her to the tower2 and four others took up the seat on which she sat1 and they also went away again to the tower4 ,i saw not the faces of these1 for their backs were towards me4 #ajf ,as she was going away1 ,i asked her1 that she would reveal to me what concerned the three forms1 in which she had appeared unto me4 #ajg ,but she answering said unto me1 concerning these things thou must ask some other1 that they may be revealed unto thee4 #ajh ,now1 brethren1 in the first vision the last year1 she appeared unto me exceedingly old1 and sitting in a chair4 #aji ,in another vision1 she had indeed a youthful face1 but her flesh and hair were old2 but she talked with me standing1 and was more cheerful than the first time4 #aaj ,in the third vision1 she was in all respects much younger1 and comely to the eye2 only she had the hair of an aged person3 yet she looked cheerful1 and sat upon a seat4 #aaa ,i was therefore very sad concerning these things1 until ,i might understand the vision4 #aab ,wherefore ,i saw the same old woman in a vision of the night saying unto me1 ,all prayer needeth humiliation4 ,fast1 therefore1 and thou shalt learn from the ,lord that which thou dost ask4 ,i fasted therefore one day4 #aac ,the same night a young man appeared to me and said1 ,why dost thou thus often desire ,revelations in thy prayers8 ,take heed that by asking many things1 thou hurt not the body4 ,let these ,revelations suffice thee4 #aad ,canst thou see more notable ,revelations than those which thou hast already received8 #aae ,i answered and said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i only ask this one thing upon the account of the three figures of the old woman that appeared to me1 that the ,revelation may be complete4 #aaf ,he answered me1 ,you are not without understanding1 but your doubts make you so2 for as much as you have not your heart with the ,lord4 #aag ,i replied and said1 ,but we shall learn these things more carefully from you4 #aah ,hear then1 says he1 concerning the figures about which you inquire4 #aai ,to begin2 in the first vision she appeared to thee in the shape of an old woman sitting in1 a chair1 because your old spirit was decayed1 and without strength1 by reason of your infirmities1 and the doubtfulness of your heart4 #abj ,for as they who are old have no hope of renewing themselves1 nor expect any thing but their departure2 so you being weakened through your worldly affairs gave yourself up to sloth1 and cast not away your solicitude from yourself upon the ,lord3 and your sense was confused1 and you grew old in your sadness4 #aba ,but1 sir1 ,i would know why she sat upon a chair8 #abb ,he answered1 because every one that is weak sitteth upon a chair by reason of his infirmity1 that his weakness may be upheld4 ,behold therefore the figure of the first vision4 #abc ,in the second vision you saw her standing1 and having a youthful face1 and more cheerful than her former2 but her flesh and her hair were ancient4 ,hear1 said he1 this parable also4 #abd ,when any one grows old1 he despairs of himself by reason of his infirmity and poverty1 and expects nothing but the last day of his life4 #abe ,but on a sudden an inheritance is left to him1 and he hears of it1 and rises3 and being become cheerful1 he puts on new strength4 ,and now he no longer sits down1 but stands1 and is delivered from his former sorrow2 and sits not1 but acts manfully4 #abf ,so you1 having heard the ,revelation which ,god revealed unto you1 because ,god had compassion upon you1 and renewed your spirit1 both laid aside your infirmities1 and strength came to you1 and you grew strong in the faith2 and ,god1 seeing your strength1 rejoiced4 #abg ,for this cause he showed you the building of the tower1 and will show other things unto you1 if you shall have peace with all your heart among each other4 #abh ,but in the third vision you saw her yet younger1 fair and cheerful1 and of a serene countenance4 #abi ,for1 as if some good news comes to him that is sad1 he straightway forgets his sadness1 and regards nothing else but the good news which he has heard2 and for the rest he is comforted1 and his spirit is renewed through the joy which he has received even so you have been refreshed in your spirit by seeing these good things4 #acj ,and for that you saw her sitting upon a bench1 it denotes a strong position2 because a bench has four feet1 and stands strongly4 ,and even the world itself is upheld by the four elements4 #aca ,they therefore that repent perfectly1 shall be young2 and they that turn from their sins with their whole heart1 shall be established4 #acb ,and now you have the ,revelation fully1 ask no more to have any thing farther revealed unto you4 #acc ,but if any thing is to be revealed1 it shall be made manifest unto you4 ,,vision ,,iv4 ,of the trial1 and tribulation that is about to come upon men4 ,i ,,saw a vision brethren1 twenty days after the former vision2 a representation of the tribulation that is at hand4 ,i was walking in the field way4 #b ,now from the public way to the place whither ,i went is about ten furlongs2 it is a way very little frequented3 #c ,and as ,i was walking alone1 ,i entreated the ,lord that he would confirm the ,revelations which he had shown unto me by his ,holy ,church4 #d ,and would grant repentance to all his servants who had been offended1 that his great and honourable name might be glorified1 and because he thought me worthy to whom he might show his wonders1 and1 that ,i might honour him1 and give thanks unto him4 #e ,and behold somewhat like a voice answered me2 ,doubt not1 ,hermas4 ,wherefore ,i began to think1 and say within myself1 why should ,i doubt1 seeing ,i am thus settled by the ,lord1 and have seen such glorious things8 #f ,i had gone but a little farther1 brethren1 when behold ,i saw a dust rise up to heaven4 ,i began to say within myself1 is there a drove of cattle coming1 that rises such a dust8 #g ,it was about a furlong off from me4 ,and behold ,i saw the dust rise more and more1 insomuch that ,i began to suspect that there was somewhat extraordinary in it4 #h ,and the sun shone a little2 and behold ,i saw a great beast1 as it were a whale2 and fiery locusts came out of his mouth4 ,the height of the beast was about a hundred feet1 and he had a head like a large earthen vessel4 #i ,i began to weep1 and to pray unto the ,lord that he would deliver me from it4 ,then ,i called to mind the word which ,i had heard2 ,doubt not1 ,hermas4 #aj ,wherefore1 brethren1 putting on a divine faith1 and remembering who it was that had taught me great things1 ,i delivered myself bodily unto the beast4 #aa ,now the beast came on in such a manner1 as if it could at once have devoured a city4 #ab ,i came near unto it1 and the beast extended its whole bulk upon the ground1 and put forth nothing but its tongue1 nor once moved itself till ,i had quite passed by it4 #ac ,now the beast had upon its head four colours2 first black1 then a red and bloody colour1 then a golden1 and then a white4 #ad ,after that ,i had passed by it1 and was gone forward about thirty feet1 behold there met me a certain virgin1 well adorned as if she had been just come out of her bride-chamber2 all in white1 having on white shoes1 and a veil down her face1 and covered with shining hair4 #ae ,now ,i knew by my former visions that it was the church1 and thereupon grew the more cheerful4 ,she saluted me1 saying1 ,hail1 ,o ,man6 ,i returned the salutation1 saying1 ,lady1 ,hail6 #af ,she answering said unto me1 ,did nothing meet you1 ,o man6 ,i replied1 ,lady1 there met me such a beast1 as seemed able to devour a whole people2 but by the power of ,god1 and through his singular mercy1 ,i escaped it4 #ag ,thou didst escape it well1 said she1 because thou didst cast thy whole care upon ,god1 and opened thy heart unto him1 believing that thou couldst be safe by no other than by his great and honourable name4 #ah ,for this cause the ,lord sent his angel1 who is over the beast1 whose name is ,hegrin1 and stopped his mouth1 that he should not devour thee1 ,thou hast escaped a great trial through thy faith1 and because thou didst not doubt for such a terrible beast4 #ai ,go1 therefore1 and relate to the elect of ,god the great things that he hath done for thee4 ,and thou shalt say unto them1 that this beast is the figure of the trial that is about to come4 #bj ,if1 therefore1 ye shall have prepared yourselves1 ye may escape it1 if your hearts be pure and without spot2 and if ye shall serve ,god all the rest of your days without complaint4 #ba ,cast all your care upon the ,lord1 and he will direct them4 ,believe in ,god1 ye doubtful1 because he can do all things2 he can both turn away his wrath from you1 and send you help and security4 #bb ,woe to the doubtful1 to those who shall hear these words1 and shall despise them3 it had been better for them that they had not been born4 #bc ,then ,i asked her concerning the four colours which the beast had upon its head4 ,but she answered me saying2 ,again thou art curious in that thou asketh concerning these things4 ,but ,i said to her1 ,lady1 chew me what they are8 #bd ,hear1 said she2 ,the black which thou sawest denotes the world in which you dwell4 ,the fiery and bloody colour signifies that this age must be destroyed by fire and blood4 #be ,the golden part are ye1 who have escaped out of it2 for as gold is tried by the fire1 and is made profitable1 so are ye also in like manner tried who dwell among the men of this world4 #bf ,they therefore1 that shall endure to the end1 and be proved by them1 shall be purged4 ,and as gold1 by this trial1 is cleansed and loses its dross1 so shall ye also cast away all sorrow and trouble1 and be made pure for the building of the tower4 #bg ,but the white colour denotes the time of the world which is to come1 in which the elect of ,god shall dwell3 because the elect of ,god shall be pure and without spot until life eternal4 #bh ,wherefore do not thou cease to speak these thing in the ears of the saints4 ,here ye have the figure of the great tribulation that is about to come2 which1 if you please1 shall be nothing to you4 #bi ,when she had spoken thus much1 she departed2 but ,i saw not whither she went4 ,but suddenly ,i heard a noise1 and ,i turned back1 being afraid1 for ,i thought that the beast was coming toward me4 ,,the ,,second ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas1 ,,called ,,his ,,commands4 ,introduction4 ,,when ,i had prayed at home1 and was sat down upon the bed1 a certain man came in to me with a reverend look1 in the habit of a ,shepherd1 clothed with a white cloak1 having his bag upon his back1 and his staff in his hand1 and saluted me4 #b ,i returned his salutation1 and immediately he sat down by me1 and said unto me1 ,i am sent by that venerable messenger1 that ,i should dwell with thee all the remaining days of thy life4 #c ,but ,i thought that he was come to try me1 and said unto him1 ,who are you8 ,for ,i know to whom ,i am committed4 ,he said unto me1 ,do you not know me8 ,i answered no4 ,i am1 said he1 that shepherd to whose care you are delivered4 #d ,whilst he was yet speaking1 his shape was changed2 and when ,i knew that it was he to whom ,i was committed1 ,i was ashamed1 and a sudden fear came upon me1 and ,i was utterly overcome with sadness1 because ,i had spoken so foolishly unto him4 #e ,but he said unto me1 ,be not ashamed1 but receive strength in thy mind1 through the commands which ,i am about to deliver unto thee4 ,for1 said he1 ,i am sent to show unto thee all those things again1 which thou hast seen before1 but especially such of them as may be of most use unto thee4 #f ,and first of all write my ,commands and ,similitudes1 the rest thou shall so write as ,i shall show unto thee4 ,but ,i therefore bid thee first of all write my ,commands and ,similitudes1 that by often reading of them thou mayest the more easily keep them in memory4 #g ,whereupon ,i wrote his ,commands and ,similitudes1 as he bade me4 #h ,which things if when you have heard1 ye shall observe to do them1 and shall walk according to them1 and exercise yourselves in them with a pure mind1 ye shall receive from the ,lord those things which he has promised unto you4 #i ,but if having heard them ye shall not repent1 but shall still go on to add to your sins1 ye shall be punished by him4 #aj ,all these things that ,shepherd1 the angel of repentance1 commanded me to write4 ,,command ,i4 ,of believing in one ,god4 ,,first of all believe that there is one ,god who created and brought all things out of nothing into existence4 #b ,he comprehends all things1 and is only ,,infinite1 not to be comprehended by any4 #c ,who can neither be defined by any words1 nor conceived by the mind4 #d ,therefore believe in him1 and fear him2 and fearing him abstain from all evil4 #e ,keep these things1 and cast all lust and iniquity far from thee1 and put on righteousness1 and thou shalt live to ,god1 if thou shalt keep his commandment4 ,,command ,,ii4 ,that we must avoid detraction1 and do our alms-deeds with simplicity4 ,,he said unto me1 ,be innocent and without disguise2 so shalt thou be like an infant who knows no malice which destroys the life of man4 #b ,especially see that thou speak evil of none1 nor willingly hear any one speak evil of others4 #c ,for if thou observest not this1 thou also who hearest shall be partaker of the sin of him that speaketh evil1 by believing the slander1 and thou also shalt have sin1 because thou believedst him that spoke evil of thy brother4 #d ,detraction is a pernicious thing2 an inconstant1 evil spirit2 that never continues in peace1 but is always in discord4 ,wherefore refrain thyself from it1 and keep peace ever more with thy brother4 #e ,put on an holy constancy1 in which there are no sins1 but all is full of joy2 and do good of thy labours4 #f ,give without distinction to all that are in want1 not doubting to whom thou givest4 #g ,but give to all1 for ,god will have us give to all1 of all his own gifts4 ,they therefore that receive shall give an account to ,god1 both wherefore they received and for what end4 #h ,and they that receive without real need1 shall give an account for it2 but he that gives shall be innocent4 #i ,for he has fulfilled his duty as he received it from ,god2 not making any choice to whom he should give1 and to whom not4 ,and this service he did with simplicity and to the glory of ,god4 #aj ,keep therefore this command according as ,i have delivered it into thee3 that thy repentance nay be found to be sincere1 and that good may come to thy house2 and have a pure heart4 ,,command ,,iii4 ,of avoiding lying1 and the repentance of ,hermas for his dissimulation4 ,,moreover he said unto me love truth2 and let all the speech be true which proceeds out of thy mouth4 #b ,that the spirit which the ,lord hath given to dwell in thy flesh may be found true towards all men2 and the ,lord be glorified1 who hath given such a spirit unto thee3 because ,god is true in all his words1 and in him there is no lie4 #c ,they therefore that lie1 deny the ,lord1 and become robbers of the ,lord1 not rendering to ,god what they received from him4 #d ,for they received the spirit free from lying3 ,if therefore they make that a liar1 they defile what was committed to them by the ,lord1 and become deceivers4 #e ,when ,i heard this1 ,i wept bitterly2 and when he saw me weeping1 he said unto me1 ,why weepest thou8 ,and ,i said1 ,because1 sir1 ,i doubt whether ,i can be saved4 #f ,he asked me1 ,wherefore8 ,i replied1 ,because1 sir1 ,i never spake a true word in my life2 but always lived in dissimulation1 and affirmed a lie for truth to all men2 and no man contradicted me1 but all gave credit to my words4 ,how then can ,i live1 seeing ,i have done in this manner8 #g ,and he said unto me1 ,thou thinkest well and truly2 for thou oughtest1 as the servant of ,god1 to have walked in the truth1 and not have joined an evil conscience with the spirit of truth1 nor have grieved the holy and true ,spirit of ,god4 #h ,and ,i replied unto him1 ,sir1 ,i never before hearkened so diligently to these things4 ,he answered1 ,now thou hearest them ,take care from henceforth1 that even those things which thou hast formerly spoken falsely for the sake of thy business1 may1 by thy present truth receive pardon4 #i ,for even those things may be forgiven1 if for the time to come thou shalt speak the truth2 and by so doing thou mayest attain unto life4 #aj ,and whosoever shall hearken unto this command1 and do it1 and shall depart from all lying1 he shall live unto ,god4 ,,command ,,iv4 ,of putting away one's wife for adultery4 ,,furthermore1 said he1 ,i command thee1 that thou keep thyself chaste2 and that thou suffer not any thought of any other marriage1 or of fornication1 to enter into thy heart2 for such a thought produces great sin4 #b ,but be thou at all times mindful of the ,lord1 and thou shalt never sin4 ,for if such an evil thought should arise in thy heart1 then thou shall be guilty of a great sin2 and they who do such things1 follow the way of death4 #c ,look therefore to thyself1 and keep thyself from such a thought2 for where chastity remains in the heart of a righteous man1 there an evil thought ought never to arise4 #d ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 suffer me to speak a little to you4 ,he bade me say on4 ,and ,i answered1 ,sir1 if a man that is faithful in the ,lord shall have a wife1 and shall catch her in adultery2 doth a man sin that continues to live still with her8 #e ,and he said unto me1 ,as long as he is ignorant of her sin1 he commits no fault in living with her2 but if a man shall know his wife to1 have offended1 and she shall not repent of her sin1 but go on still in her fornication1 and a man shall continue nevertheless to live with her1 he shall become guilty of her sin1 and partake with her in her adultery4 #f ,and ,i said unto him1 ,what therefore is to be done1 if the woman continues on in her sin8 ,he answered1 ,let her husband put her away1 and let him continue by himself2 but if he shall put away his wife and marry another1 he also doth commit adultery4 #g ,and ,i said1 ,what1 if the woman that is so put away1 should repent1 and be willing to return to her husband1 shall she not be received by him8 ,he said unto me1 ,yes2 and if her husband shall not receive her1 he will sin1 and commit a great offence against himself2 for he ought to receive the offender1 if she repents3 only not often4 #h ,for1 to the servants of ,god1 there is but one repentance2 and for this cause a man that putteth away his wife ought not to take another1 because she may repent4 #i ,this act is alike both in the man and in the woman4 ,now they commit adultery1 not only who pollute their flesh1 but who also make an image4 ,if therefore a woman perseveres in any thing of this kind1 and repents not1 depart from her2 and live not with her1 otherwise thou also shalt be partaker of her sin4 #aj ,but it is therefore commanded that both the man and the woman should remain unmarried1 because such persons may repent4 #aa ,nor do ,i in this administer any occasion for the doing of these things2 but rather that whoso has offended1 should not offend any more4 #ab ,but for their former sins1 ,god who has the power of healing will give a remedy2 for he has the power of all things4 #ac ,i asked him again1 and said1 ,seeing the ,lord hath thought me worthy that thou shouldest dwell with me continually1 speak a few words unto me1 because ,i understand nothing1 and my heart is hardened through my former conversation2 and open my understanding because ,i am very dull1 and apprehend nothing at all4 #ad ,and he answering said unto me1 ,i am the minister of repentance1 and give understanding to all that repent4 ,does it not seem to thee to be a very wise thing to repent8 ,because he that does so gets great understanding4 #ae ,for he is sensible that he hath sinned and done wickedly in the sight of the ,lord1 and he remembers within himself that he has offended1 and repents and does no more wickedly1 but does that which is good1 and humbles his soul and afflicts it1 because he has offended4 ,you see therefore that repentance is great wisdom4 #af ,and ,i said unto him1 ,for this cause1 sir1 ,i inquire diligently into all things1 because ,i am a sinner1 that ,i may know what ,i must do that ,i may live2 because my sins are many4 #ag ,and he said unto me1 ,thou shalt live if thou shalt keep these my commandments4 ,and whosoever shall hear and do these commands shall live unto ,god4 #ah ,and ,i said unto him1 ,i have even now heard from certain teachers1 that there is no other repentance beside that of baptism1 when we go down into the water1 and receive the forgiveness of our sins2 and that after that1 we must sin no more1 but live in purity4 #ai ,and he said unto me1 ,thou hast been rightly informed4 ,never- the-less seeing now thou inquirest diligently into all things1 ,i will manifest this also unto thee2 yet not so as to give any occasion of sinning1 either to those who shall hereafter believe1 or to those who have already believed in the ,lord4 #bj ,for neither they who have newly believed1 or shall hereafter believe1 have any repentance of sins1 but forgiveness of them4 #ba ,but as to those who have been called to the faith1 and since that are fallen into any gross sin1 the ,lord hath appointed repentance1 because ,god knoweth the thoughts of all men's hearts1 and their infirmities1 and the manifold wickedness of the devil1 who is always contriving something against the servants of ,god1 and maliciously lays snares for them4 #bb ,therefore our merciful ,lord had compassion towards his creature1 and appointed that repentance1 and gave unto me the power of it4 ,and therefore ,i say unto thee1 if any one after that great and holy calling shall be tempted by the devil and sin1 he has one repentance4 ,but if he shall often sin and repent1 it shall not profit such a one2 for he shall hardly live unto ,god4 #bc ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 ,i am restored again to life since ,i have thus diligently hearkened to these commands4 ,for ,i perceive that if ,i shall not hereafter add any more of my sins1 ,i shall be saved4 #bd ,and he said1 ,thou shalt be saved3 and so shall all others1 as many as shall observe these commandments4 #be ,and again ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 seeing thou hearest me patiently1 show me yet one thing more4 ,tell me1 saith he1 what it is4 #bf ,and ,i said1 ,if a husband or a wife die1 and the party which survives marry again1 does he sin in so doing8 ,he that marries says he1 sins not3 howbeit1 if he shall remain single1 he shall thereby gain to himself great honour before the ,lord4 #bg ,keep therefore thy chastity and modesty1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,observe from henceforth those things which ,i speak with thee1 and command thee to observe1 from the time that ,i have been delivered unto thee1 and dwell in thy house4 #bh ,so shall thy former sins be forgiven1 if thou shalt keep these my commandments4 ,and in like manner shall all others be forgiven1 who shall observe these my commandments4 ,,command ,v4 ,of the sadness of the heart1 and of patience4 ,be patient1 says he1 and long- suffering2 so shalt thou have dominion over all wicked works1 and shall fulfil all righteousness4 #b ,for if thou shalt be patient1 the ,holy ,spirit which dwelleth in thee shall be pure1 and not be darkened by any evil spirit2 but being full of joy shall be enlarged1 and feast in the body in which it dwells1 and serve the ,lord with joy1 and in great peace4 #c ,but if any anger shall overtake thee1 presently the ,holy ,spirit which is in thee will be straightened and seek to depart from thee4 #d ,for he is choked by the evil spirit1 and has not the liberty of serving the ,lord as he would2 for he is grieved by anger4 ,when1 therefore1 both these spirits dwell together1 it is destructive to a man4 #e ,as if one should take a little wormwood1 and put it into a vessel of honey1 the whole honey would be spoiled2 and a great quantity of honey is corrupted by a very little wormwood1 and loses the sweetness of honey1 and is no longer acceptable to its ,lord because the whole honey is made bitter1 and loses its use4 #f ,but if no wormwood be put into the honey1 it is sweet and profitable to its ,lord4 ,thus is forbearance sweeter than honey1 and profitable to the ,lord who dwelleth in it4 #g ,but anger is unprofitable4 ,if therefore anger shall be mixed with forbearance1 the soul is distressed1 and its prayer is not profitable with ,god4 #h ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i would know the sinfulness of anger1 that ,i may keep myself from it4 ,and he said unto me1 ,thou shall know it2 and if thou shalt not keep thyself from it1 thou shalt lose thy hope with all thy house4 ,wherefore depart from it4 #i ,for ,i the messenger of righteousness am with thee1 and all that depart from it3 as many as shall repent with all their hearts1 shall live unto ,god2 and ,i will be with them1 and will keep them all4 #aj ,for all such as have repented have been justified by the most holy messenger1 who is a minister of salvation4 #aa ,and now1 says he1 hear the wickedness of anger2 how evil and hurtful is is1 and how it overthrows the servants of ,god2 for it cannot hurt those that are full of faith because the power of ,god is with them2 but it overthrows the doubtful1 and those that are destitute of faith4 #ab ,for as often as it sees such men1 it casts itself into their hearts2 and so a man or woman is in bitterness for nothing3 for the things of life1 or for sustenance1 or for a vain word1 if any should chance to fall in2 or by reason of any friend1 or for a debt1 or for any other superfluous things of the like nature4 #ac ,for these things are foolish1 and superfluous1 and vain to the servants of ,god4 ,but equanimity is strong1 and forcible2 and of great power1 and sitteth in great enlargement2 is cheerful1 rejoicing in peace2 and glorifying ,god at all times ,i with meekness4 #ad ,and this long-suffering dwells with those that are full of faith4 ,but anger is foolish1 and light1 and empty4 ,now bitterness is bred through folly2 by bitterness1 anger2 by anger1 fury2 and this fury arising from so many evil principles1 worketh a great and incurable sin4 #ae ,for when all these things1 are in the same man in which the ,holy ,spirit dwells1 the vessel cannot contain them1 but runs over3 and because the ,spirit being tender cannot tarry with the evil one2 it departs and dwells with him that is meek4 #af ,when1 therefore1 it is departed from the man in whom it dwelt1 that man becomes destitute of the ,holy ,spirit1 and is afterwards filled with wicked spirits1 and is blinded with evil thoughts4 ,thus doth it happen to all angry men4 #ag ,wherefore depart then from anger1 and put on equanimity1 and resist3 wrath2 so then shalt be found with modesty and chastity by ,god4 ,take good heed1 therefore1 that thou neglect not this commandment4 #ah4 ,for if thou shalt obey this command1 then thou shalt also be able to observe the other commandments which ,i shall command thee4 #ai ,wherefore strengthen thyself now in these commands1 that then mayest live unto ,god4 ,and whosoever shall observe these commandments shall live unto ,god4 ,,command ,,vi4 ,that every man has two angels and of the suggestions of both4 ,i ,,commanded thee1 said he1 in my first commandments1 that thou shouldst keep faith and fear1 and repentance4 ,yes1 sir1 said ,i4 #b ,he continued4 ,but now ,i will shew thee the virtues of these commands1 that then mayest know their effects2 how they are prescribed alike to the just and unjust4 #c ,do thou therefore believe the righteous1 but give no credit to the unrighteous4 ,for righteousness keepeth the right way1 but unrighteousness the wicked way4 #d ,do thou therefore keep the right way1 and leave that which is evil4 ,for the evil way has not a good end1 but hath many stumbling- blocks2 it is rugged and full of thorns1 and leads to destruction2 and it is hurtful to all such as walk in it4 #e ,but they who go in the right way walk with evenness1 and without offence2 because it is not rough nor thorny4 #f ,thou seest therefore how it is best to walk in this way4 ,thou shalt therefore go1 says he1 and all others1 as many as believe in ,god with all their heart1 shall go through it4 #g ,and now1 says he1 ,i understand first of all what belongs to faith4 ,there are two angels with man2 one of righteousness1 the other of iniquity4 #h ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 how shall ,i know that there are two such angels with man8 ,hear1 says he1 and understand4 #i ,the angel of righteousness1 is mild and modest1 and gentle1 and quiet4 ,when1 therefore1 he gets into thy heart1 immediately he talks with thee of righteousness1 of modesty1 of chastity1 of bountifulness1 of forgiveness1 of charity1 and piety4 #aj ,when all these things come into thy heart1 know then that the angel of righteousness is with thee4 ,wherefore hearken to this angel and to his works4 #aa ,learn also the works of the angel of iniquity4 ,he is first of all bitter1 and angry1 and foolish2 and his works are pernicious1 and overthrow the servants of ,god4 ,when therefore these things come into thine heart2 thou shalt know by his works1 that this is the angel of iniquity4 #ab ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 how shall ,i understand these things8 ,hear1 says he1 and understand2 ,when anger overtakes thee1 or bitterness1 know that he is in thee3 #ac ,as also1 when the desire of many things1 and of the best meats1 and of drunkenness2 when the love of what belongs to others1 pride1 and much speaking1 and ambition2 and the like things1 come upon thee4 #ad ,when therefore these things arise in thine heart1 know that the angel of iniquity is with thee4 ,seeing therefore thou knowest his works1 depart from them all1 and give no credit to him3 because his works are evil1 and become not the servants of ,god4 #ae ,here therefore thou hast the works of both these angels4 ,understand now and believe the angel of righteousness1 because his instruction is good4 #af ,for let a man be never so happy2 yet if the thoughts of the other angel arise in his heart1 that man or woman must needs sin4 #ag ,but let man or woman be never so wicked1 if the works of the angel of righteousness come into their hearts1 that man or woman must needs do some good4 #ah ,thou seest therefore how it is good to follow the angel of righteousness4 ,if therefore thou shall follow him1 and submit to his works1 thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and as many as shall submit to his work shall live also unto ,god4 ,,command ,,vii4 ,that we must fear ,god but not the ,devil4 ,,fear ,god1 says he1 and keep his commandments4 ,for if thou keepest his commandments thou shalt be powerful in every work1 and all thy works shall be excellent4 ,for by fearing ,god1 thou shalt do everything well4 #b ,this is that tear with which thou must be affected that thou mayest be saved4 ,but fear not the ,devil3 for if thou fearest the ,lord1 thou shalt have dominion over him2 because there is no power in him4 #c ,now if there be no power in him1 then neither is he to be feared3 for every one that has power1 is to be feared4 ,but he that has no power is despised by every one4 #d ,fear the works of the ,devil1 because they are evil4 ,for by fearing the ,lord1 thou wilt fear and do not the works of the ,devil1 but keep thyself from them4 #e ,there is therefore a twofold fear2 if thou wilt not do evil1 fear the ,lord and thou shalt not do it4 ,but if thou wilt do good1 the fear of the ,lord is strong1 and great and glorious4 #f ,wherefore1 fear ,god and thou shalt live3 and whosoever shall fear him1 and keep his commandments1 their life is with the ,lord4 ,but they who keep them not1 neither is there life in them4 ,,command ,,viii4 ,that we must flee from evil1 and do good works4 ,i ,,have told thee1 said he1 that there are two kinds of creatures of the ,lord1 and that there is a two-fold abstinence4 ,from some things therefore thou must abstain1 and from others not4 #b ,i answered1 ,declare to me1 sir1 from what ,i must abstain1 and from what not4 ,hearken1 said he1 ,keep thyself from evil1 and do it not2 yet abstain not from good1 but do it4 ,for if thou shalt abstain from what is good1 and not do it1 thou shalt sin4 ,abstain therefore from all evil1 and thou shalt know all righteousness4 #c ,i said1 ,what evil things are they from which ,i must abstain8 ,hearken1 said he2 from adultery1 from drunkenness1 from riots1 from excess of eating1 from daintiness and dishonesty1 from pride1 from fraud1 from lying1 from detraction1 from hypocrisy1 from remembrance of injuries1 and from all evil speaking4 #d ,for these are the works of iniquity1 from which the servant of ,god must abstain4 ,for he that cannot keep himself from these things1 cannot live unto ,god4 #e ,but hear1 said he1 what follows of these kind of things3 for indeed many more there are from which the servant of ,god must abstain4 ,from theft1 and cheating2 from false witness1 from covetousness1 from boasting1 and all other things of the like nature4 #f ,do these things seem to thee to be evil or not8 ,indeed they are very evil to the servants of ,god1 ,wherefore the servant of ,god must abstain from all these works4 #g ,keep thyself therefore from them1 that thou mayest live unto ,god1 and be written among those that abstain from them4 ,and thus have ,i shown thee what things thou must avoid3 now learn from what thou must not abstain4 #h ,abstain not from any good works1 but do them4 ,hear1 said he1 what the virtue of those good works is which thou must do1 that thou mayest be saved4 ,the first of all is faith2 the fear of the ,lord2 charity2 concord2 equity2 truth2 patience2 chastity4 #i ,there is nothing better than these things in the life of men2 who shall keep and do these things in their life4 ,hear next what follow these4 #aj ,to minister to the widows2 not to despise the fatherless and poor2 to redeem the servants of ,god from necessity2 to be hospitable 7for in hospitality there is sometimes great fruit72 not to be contentious1 but be quiet4 #aa ,to be humble above all men2 to reverence the aged2 to labour to be righteous2 to respect the brotherhood2 to bear affronts2 to be long-suffering2 not to cast away those that have fallen from the faith1 but to convert them1 and make them be of good cheer3 to admonish sinners2 not to oppress those that are our debtors2 and all other things of a like kind4 #ab ,do these things seem to thee to be good or not8 ,and ,i said1 ,what can be better than these words8 ,live then1 said he1 in these commandments1 and do not depart from them4 ,for if thou shalt keep all these commandments1 thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and all they that shall keep these commandments shall live unto ,god4 ,,command ,,ix4 ,that we must ask of ,god daily2 and without doubting4 ,,again he said unto me2 remove from thee all doubting2 and question nothing at all when thou askest any thing of the ,lord2 saying within thyself1 how shall ,i be able to ask any thing of the ,lord and receive it1 seeing ,i have so greatly sinned against him8 #b ,do not think thus1 but turn unto the ,lord with all thy heart1 and ask of him without doubting1 and thou shalt know the mercy of the ,lord2 bow that he will not forsake thee1 but will fulfil the request of thy soul4 #c ,for ,god is not as men1 mindful of the injuries he has received2 but he forgets injuries1 and has compassion upon his creature4 #d ,wherefore purify thy heart from all the vices of this present world2 and observe the commands ,i have before delivered unto thee from ,god2 and thou shall receive whatsoever good things thou shalt ask1 and nothing shall be wanting unto thee of all thy petitions2 if thou shalt ask of the ,lord without doubting4 #e ,but they that are not such1 shall obtain none of those things which they ask4 ,for they that are full of faith1 ask all things with confidence1 and receive from the ,lord1 because they ask without doubting4 ,but he that doubts1 shall hardly live unto ,god1 except he repent4 #f ,wherefore purify thy heart from doubting1 and put on faith1 and trust in ,god1 and thou shall receive all that thou shalt ask4 ,but if thou shouldest chance to ask something1 and not immediately receive it1 yet do not therefore doubt1 because thou hast not presently received the petition of thy soul4 #g ,for it may be thou shalt not presently receive it for thy trial1 or else for some sin which thou knowest not4 ,but do not thou leave off to ask1 and then thou shalt receive4 ,else if thou shalt cease to ask1 thou must complain of thyself1 and not of ,god1 that he has not given unto thee what thou didst desire4 #h ,consider therefore this doubting how cruel and pernicious it is2 and how it utterly roots out many from the faith1 who were very faithful and firm4 ,for this doubting is the daughter of the ,devil1 and deals very wickedly with the servants of ,god4 #i ,despise it therefore1 and thou shalt rule over it on every occasion4 ,put on a firm and powerful faith3 for faith promises all things and perfects all things4 ,but doubting will not believe that it shall obtain any thing by all that it can do4 #aj4 ,thou seest therefore1 says he1 how faith cometh from above from ,god2 and hath great power4 ,but doubting is an earthly spirit1 and proceedeth from the ,devil1 and has no strength4 #aa ,do thou therefore keep the virtue of faith1 and depart from doubting1 in which is no virtue1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and all shall live unto ,god1 as many as do these things4 ,,command ,x4 ,of the sadness of the heart2 and that we must take1 heed not to grieve the spirit of ,god that is in us4 ,,put all sadness far from thee2 for it is the sister of doubting and of anger4 ,how1 sir1 said ,i is it the sister of these8 ,for sadness1 and anger1 and doubting1 seem to me to be very different from one another4 #b ,and he answered3 ,art thou without sense that thou dost not understand it8 ,for sadness is the most mischievous of all spirits1 and the worst to the servants of ,god3 ,it destroys the spirits of all men1 and torments the ,holy ,spirit1 and it saves again4 #c ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i am very foolish1 and understand not these things4 ,i cannot apprehend how it can torment1 and yet save4 ,hear1 said he1 and understand4 ,they who never sought out the truth1 nor inquired concerning the majesty of ,god1 but only believed1 are involved in the affairs of the heathen4 #d ,and there is another lying prophet that destroys the minds of the servants of ,god2 that is of those that are doubtful1 not of those that fully trust in the ,lord4 ,now those doubtful persons come to him1 as to a divine spirit1 and inquire of him what shall befall them4 #e ,and this lying prophet1 having no power in him of the ,divine ,spirit1 answers them according to their demands1 and fills their souls with promises according as they desire4 ,howbeit that prophet is vain1 and answers vain things to those who are themselves vain4 #f ,and whatsoever is asked of him by vain men1 he answers them vainly2 nevertheless he speaketh some things truly4 ,for the ,devil fills him with his spirit1 that he may overthrow some of the righteous4 #g ,whosoever therefore are strong in the faith of the ,lord1 and have put on the truth2 they are not joined to such spirits1 but depart from them4 ,but they that are doubtful1 and often repenting1 like the heathens1 consult them1 and heap up to themselves great sin1 serving idols4 #h ,as many therefore as are such1 inquire of them upon every occasion2 worship idols1 and are foolish2 and void of the truth4 ,for every spirit that is given from ,god needs not to be asked3 but having the power of divinity speaks all things of itself1 because he comes from above2 from the power of ,god4 #aj ,but he1 that being asked speaks according to men's desires and concerning many other affairs of this present world1 understands not the tidings which relate unto ,god4 ,for these spirits are darkened through such affairs1 and corrupted1 and broken4 #aa ,as good vines if they are neglected1 are oppressed with weeds and thorns1 and at last killed by them2 so are the men who believe such spirits4 #ab ,they fall into many actions and businesses1 and are void of sense1 and when they think of things pertaining unto ,god1 they understand nothing at all2 but at any time they chance to hear any thing concerning the ,lord1 their thoughts are upon their business4 #ac ,but they that have the fear of the ,lord1 and search out the truth concerning ,god1 having all their thoughts towards the ,lord2 apprehend whatsoever is said to them1 and forthwith understand it1 because they have the fear of the ,lord in them4 #ad ,for where the spirit of the ,lord dwells1 there is also much understanding added4 ,wherefore join thyself to the ,lord1 and thou shalt understand all things4 #ae ,learn now1 ,o unwise man6 how sadness troubleth the ,holy ,spirit1 and how it saves4 ,when a man that is doubtful is engaged in any affair1 and does not accomplish it by reason of his doubting2 this sadness enters into him1 and grieves the ,holy ,spirit1 and makes him sad4 #af ,again anger1 when it over4 takes any man for any business he is greatly moved2 and then again sadness entereth into the heart of him1 who was moved with anger1 and he is troubled for what he hath done1 and repenteth1 because he hath done amiss4 #ag ,this sadness therefore seemeth to bring salvation1 because he repenteth of his evil deed4 ,but both the other things1 namely1 doubting and sadness1 such as before was mentioned1 vex the spirit3 doubting1 because his work did not succeed2 and sadness1 because he angered the ,holy ,spirit4 #ah ,remove therefore sadness from thyself1 and afflict not the ,holy ,spirit which dwelleth in thee1 lest he entreat ,god1 and depart from thee4 ,for the spirit of the ,lord which is given to dwell in the flesh1 endureth no such sadness4 #ai ,wherefore clothe thyself with cheerfulness1 which has always favour with the ,lord1 and thou shalt rejoice in it4 ,for every cheerful man does well2 and relishes those things that are good1 and despises sadness4 #bj ,but the sad man does always wickedly4 ,first1 he doth wickedly1 because he grieveth the ,holy ,spirit1 which is given to man being of a cheerful nature4 ,and again he does ill1 because be prays with sadness unto the ,lord1 and maketh not first a thankful acknowledgment unto him of former mercies1 and obtains not of ,god what he asks4 #ba ,for the prayer of a sad man has not always efficacy to come up to the altar of ,god4 ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 why has not the prayer of a sad man virtue to come up to the altar of ,god8 ,because1 said he1 that sadness remaineth in his heart4 #bb ,when therefore a man's prayer shall be accompanied with sadness1 it will not suffer his requests to ascend pure to the altar of ,god4 ,for as wine when it is mingled with vinegar1 has not the sweetness it had before2 so sadness being mixed with the ,holy ,spirit1 suffers not a man's prayer to be the same as it would be otherwise4 #bc ,wherefore cleanse thyself from sadness1 which is evil1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,and all others shall live unto ,god1 as many as shall lay aside sadness1 and put on cheerfulness4 ,,command ,,xi4 ,that the spirits and prophets are to be tried by their works2 and of a twofold1 spirit4 ,,he showed me certain men sitting upon benches1 and one sitting in a chair3 and he said unto me2 ,seest thou those who sit upon the benches8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i see them4 ,he answered1 ,they are the faithful2 and he who sits in the chair is an earthly spirit4 #b ,for he cometh not into the assembly of the faithful1 but avoids it4 ,but he joins himself to the doubtful and empty2 and prophesies to them in corners and hidden places2 and pleases them by speaking according to all the desires of their hearts4 #c ,for he placing himself among empty vessels1 is not broken1 but the one fitteth the other4 ,but when he cometh into the company of just men1 who are full of the spirit of ,god1 and they pray unto the ,lord2 that man is emptied1 because that earthly spirit flies from him1 and he is dumb1 and cannot speak anything4 #d ,as if in a store-house you shall stop up wine or oil1 and among those vessels place an empty jar2 and when afterwards you come to open it1 you shall find it empty as you stopped it up2 so those empty prophets when they come among the spirits of the just1 are found to be such as they came4 #e ,i said1 ,how then shall a man be able to discern them8 ,consider what ,i am going to say concerning both kinds of men2 and as ,i speak unto thee so shalt thou prove the prophet of ,god1 and the false prophet4 #f ,and first try the man who hath the spirit of ,god1 because the spirit which is from above is humble1 and quiet1 and departs from all wickedness2 and from the vain desires of the present world2 and makes himself more humble than all men2 and answers to none when he is asked2 nor to every one singly3 for the ,spirit of ,god doth not speak to a man when he will1 but when ,god pleases4 #g ,when therefore a man who hath the ,spirit of ,god hath come into the church of the righteous1 who have the faith of ,god1 and they pray unto the ,lord2 then the holy angel of ,god fills that man with the blessed ,spirit1 and he speaks in the congregation as he is moved of ,god4 #h ,thus therefore is the spirit1 of ,god known1 because whosoever speaketh by the ,spirit of ,god1 speaketh as the ,lord will4 #i ,hear now concerning the earthly spirit1 which is empty and foolish1 and without virtue4 ,and first of all the man who is supposed to have the ,spirit1 7whereas he hath it not in reality71 exalteth himself1 and desires to have the first seat1 and is wicked1 and full of words4 #aj ,and spends his time in pleasure1 and in all manner of voluptuousness1 and receives the reward of his divination2 which if he receives not1 he does not divine4 #aa ,should the ,spirit of ,god receive reward1 and divine8 ,it doth not become a prophet of ,god so to do4 #ab ,thus you seethe life of each of these kind of prophets4 ,wherefore prove that man by his life and works1 who says that he hath the ,holy ,spirit4 ,and believe the ,spirit which comes from ,god1 and has power as such4 ,but believe not the earthly and empty spirit1 which is from the devil1 in whom there is no faith nor virtue4 #ac ,hear now the similitude which ,i am about to speak unto thee4 ,take a stone1 and throw it up towards heaven2 or take a spout of water1 and mount it up thitherward2 and see if thou canst reach unto heaven4 #ad ,sir2 said ,i1 how can this be done8 ,for neither of those things which you have mentioned1 are possible to be done4 ,and he answered1 ,therefore as these things cannot be done1 so is the earthy spirit without virtue1 and without effect4 #ae ,understand yet farther the power which cometh from above1 in this similitude4 ,the grains of hail that drop down are exceedingly small2 and yet when they fall upon the head of a man1 how do they cause pain to it4 #af ,and again1 consider1 the droppings of a house2 how the little drops falling upon the earth1 work a hollow in the stones4 #ag ,so in like manner the least things which come from above1 and fall upon the earth1 have great force4 ,wherefore join thyself to this spirit1 which has the power2 and depart from the other which is empty4 ,,command ,,xii4 ,of a two fold desire3 that the commands of ,god1 are not impossible3 and that the devil is not to be feared by them that believe4 ,,again he said unto me2 remove from thee all evil desires1 and put on good and holy desires4 ,for having put on a good desire1 thou shalt hate that which is evil1 and bridle it as thou wilt4 ,but an evil desire is dreadful1 and hard to be tamed4 #b ,it is very horrible and wild2 and by its wildness consumes men4 ,and especially if a servant of ,god shall chance to fall into it1 except he be very wise1 he is ruined by it4 ,for it destroys those who have not the garment of a good desire and are engaged in the affairs of this present world2 and delivers them unto death4 #c ,sir1 said ,i1 what are the works of an evil desire1 which bring men unto death8 ,shew them to me that ,i may depart from them4 ,hear1 said he1 by what works an evil desire bringeth the servants of ,god unto death4 #d ,first of all1 it is an evil desire to covet another man's wife1 or for a woman to covet another's husband2 as also to desire the dainties of riches2 and multitude of superfluous meats2 and drunkenness2 and many delights4 #e ,for in much delicacy there is folly2 and many pleasures are needless to the servants of ,god4 ,such lusting therefore is evil and pernicious1 which brings to death the servants of ,god4 ,for all such lusting is from the devil4 #f ,whosoever therefore shall depart from all evil desires1 shall live unto ,god2 but they that are subject unto them shall die forever4 ,for this evil lusting is deadly4 ,do thou therefore put on the desire of righteousness1 and being armed with the fear of the ,lord resist all wicked lusting4 #g ,for this fear dwelleth in good desires2 and1 when evil coveting shall see thee armed with the fear of the ,lord1 and resisting it2 it will fly far from thee1 and not appear before thee1 but be afraid of thy armour4 #h ,and thou shall have the victory1 and be crowned for it2 and shall attain to that desire which is good2 and shall give the victory which thou hast obtained unto ,god1 and shall serve him in doing what thou thyself wouldest do4 #i ,for if thou shalt serve good desires1 and be subject to them2 then thou shalt be able to get the dominion over thy wicked lustings2 and they will be subject to thee1 as thou wilt4 #aj ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 ,i would know how to serve that desire which is good8 ,hearken1 said he1 ,fear ,god1 and put thy trust in him1 and love truth1 and righteousness1 and do that which is good4 #aj ,if thou shalt do these things1 thou shall be an approved servant of ,god1 and serve him2 and all others who shall in like manner serve a good desire1 shall live unto ,god4 #ab ,and when he had fulfilled these twelve commands1 he said unto me1 ,thou hast now these commands1 walk in them2 and exhort those that hear them1 to repent1 and that they keep their repentance pure all the remaining days of their life4 #ac ,and fulfil diligently this ministry which ,i commit to thee1 and thou shalt receive great advantage by it1 and find favour with all such as shall repent and believe thy words4 ,for ,i am with thee1 and will force them to believe4 #ad ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 these commands are great and excellent1 and able to cheer the heart of that man that shall be able to keep them4 ,but1 ,sir1 ,i cannot tell1 whether they can be observed by any man8 #ae ,he answered1 ,thou shalt easily keep these commands1 and they shall not be hard3 howbeit1 if thou shalt suffer it once to enter into thine heart that they cannot be kept by any one1 thou shalt not fulfil them4 #af ,but now ,i say unto thee1 if thou shalt not observe these commands1 and shall neglect them1 thou shalt not be saved1 nor thy children1 nor thy house3 because thou hast judged that these commands cannot be kept by man4 #ag ,these things he spake very angrily unto me1 insomuch that he greatly affrighted me1 for he changed his countenance so that a man could not bear his anger4 #ah ,and when he saw me altogether troubled and confounded1 he began to speak more moderately and cheerfully1 saying1 ,o foolish1 and without understanding6 #ai ,unconstant1 not knowing the majesty of ,god how great and wonderful he is2 who created the world for man1 and hath made every creature subject unto him2 and given him all power1 that he should be able to fulfil all these commands4 #bj ,he is able1 said he1 to fulfil all these commands1 who has the ,lord in his heart2 but they who have the ,lord only in their mouths1 their hearts are hardened1 and they are far from the ,lord3 to such persons these commands are hard and difficult4 #ba ,therefore1 ye that are empty and light in the faith1 put the ,lord your ,god in your hearts2 and ye shall perceive how that nothing is more easy than these commands1 nor more pleasant1 nor more gentle and holy4 #bb ,and turn yourselves to the ,lord your ,god1 and forsake the devil and his pleasures1 because they are evil1 and bitter1 and impure4 ,and fear not the devil1 because he has no power over you4 #bc ,for ,i am with you1 the messenger of repentance1 who have the dominion over him4 ,the devil doth indeed affright men but his terror is vain4 ,wherefore fear him not1 and he will flee from you4 #bd ,and ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 hear me speak a few words unto you4 ,he answered1 ,say on3 ,a man indeed desires to keep the commandments of ,god1 and there is no one but what prays unto ,god1 that he may be able to keep his commandments2 #be ,but the devil is hard1 and by his power rules over the servants of ,god4 ,and he said2 ,he cannot rule over the servants of ,god1 who trust in him with all their hearts4 #bf ,the devil may strive1 but he cannot overcome them4 #bg ,for if ye resist him1 he will flee away with confusion from you4 ,but they that are not full in the faith1 fear the devil1 as if he had some great power4 ,for the devil tries the servants of ,god and if he finds them empty1 he destroys them4 #bh ,for as man1 when he fills up vessels with good wine1 and among them puts a few vessels half full1 and comes to try and taste of the vessels1 doth not try those that are full1 because he knows that they are good1 but tastes those that are half full1 lest they should grow sour2 7for vessels half full soon grow sour1 and lose the taste of wine37 so the devil comes to the servants of ,god to try them4 #bi ,they that are full of faith resist him stoutly1 and he departs from them1 because he finds no place where to enter into them then he goes to those that are not full of faith1 and because he has a place of entrance he goes into them1 and does what he will with them1 and they become his servants4 #cj ,but ,i1 the messenger of repentance1 say unto you1 fear not the devil1 for ,i am sent unto you1 that ,i may be with you1 as many as shall repent with your whole heart1 and that ,i may confirm you in the faith4 #ca ,believe therefore1 ye who by reason of your transgressions have forgot ,god and your own salvation2 and adding to your sins have made your life very heavy4 #cb ,that if ye shall turn to the ,lord with your whole hearts1 and shall serve him according to his will2 he will heal you of your former sins1 and ye shall have dominion over all the works of the devil4 #cc ,be not then afraid in the least of his threatenings1 for they are without force1 as the nerves of a dead man4 ,but hearken unto me1 and fear the ,lord ,almighty1 who is able to save and to destroy you2 and keep his commands1 that ye may live unto ,god4 #cd ,and ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ,i am now confirmed in all the commands of the ,lord whilst you are with me1 and ,i know that you will break all the powers of the devil4 #ce ,and we also shall overcome him1 if we shall be able1 through the help of the ,lord1 to keep these commands which you have delivered4 #cf ,thou shalt keep them1 said he1 if thou shalt purify thy heart towards the ,lord4 ,and all they also shall keep them who shall cleanse their hearts from the vain desires of the present world1 and shall live unto ,god4 ,,the ,,third ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas1 ,,called ,,his ,,similitudes4 ,,similitude ,i4 ,that seeing we have no abiding city in this world1 we ought to look after that which is to come4 ,,and he said onto me2 ,ye know that ye who are the servants of the ,lord1 live here as in a pilgrimage2 for your city is far off from this city4 #b ,if1 therefore1 ye know your city in which ye are to dwell1 why do ye here buy estates1 and provide yourselves with delicacies1 and stately buildings1 and superfluous houses8 ,for he that provides himself these things in this city1 does not think of returning into his own city4 #c ,o foolish1 and doubtful1 and wretched man2 who understandest not that all these things belong to other men1 and are under the power of another4 ,for the ,lord of this city saith unto thee2 ,either obey my laws1 or depart out of my city4 #d ,what therefore shalt thou do who art subject to a law in thine own city8 ,canst thou for thy estate1 or for any of those things which thou hast provided1 deny thy law8 ,but if thou shalt deny it1 and wilt afterwards return into thy own city1 thou shalt not be received1 but shall be excluded thence4 #e ,see therefore1 that like a man in another country1 thou procure no more to thyself than what is necessary1 and sufficient for thee2 and be ready1 that when the ,god or ,lord of this city shall drive thee out of it thou mayest oppose his law1 and go into thine own city2 where thou mayest with all cheerfulness live according to thine own law with no wrong4 #f ,take heed therefore ye that serve ,god1 and have him in your hearts3 work ye the works of ,god1 being mindful both of his commands and of his promises1 which he has promised2 and be assured that he will make them good unto you2 if ye shall keep his commandments4 #g ,instead therefore of the possessions that ye would otherwise purchase1 redeem those that are in want from their necessities1 as every one is able2 justify the widows2 judge the cause of the fatherless2 and spend your riches and your wealth in such works as these4 #h ,for this end has ,god enriched you1 that ye might fulfil these kind of services4 ,it is much better to do this1 than to buy lands or houses2 because all such things shall perish with this present time4 #i ,but what ye shall do for the name of the ,lord1 ye shall find in your city1 and shall have joy without sadness or fear4 ,wherefore covet not the riches of the heathen2 for they are destructive to the servants of ,god4 #aj ,but trade with your own riches which you possess1 by which ye may attain unto everlasting joy4 #aa ,and do not commit adultery1 nor touch any other man's wife1 nor desire her2 but covet that which is thy own business1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,,similitude ,,ii4 ,as the vine is supported by the elm1 so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor4 ,,as ,i was walking into the field1 and considered the elm and the vine1 and thought with myself of their fruits1 an angel appeared unto me1 and said unto me2 ,what is it that thou thinkest upon thus long within thyself8 #b ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i think of this vine and this elm because their fruits are fair4 ,and he said unto me2 ,these two trees are set for a pattern to the servants of ,god4 #c ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i would know in what the pattern of these trees which thou mentionest1 does consist4 ,hearken1 saith he2 seest thou this vine and this elm8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i see them4 #d ,this vine1 saith he1 is fruitful1 but the elm is a tree without fruit4 ,nevertheless this vine unless it were set by this elm1 and supported by it1 would not bear much fruit2 but lying along upon the ground1 would bear but ill fruit1 because it did not hang upon the elm2 whereas1 being supported upon the elm1 it bears fruit both for itself and for that4 #e ,see1 therefore1 how the elm gives no less1 but rather more fruit1 than the vine4 ,how1 ,sir1 said ,i1 does it bear more fruit than the vine8 ,because1 said he1 the vine being supported upon the elm gives both much and good fruit2 whereas1 if it lay along upon the ground1 it would bear but little1 and that very ill too4 #f ,this similitude1 therefore1 is set forth to the servants of ,god2 and it represents the rich and poor man4 ,i answered1 ,sir1 make this manifest unto me4 ,hear1 said he2 the rich man has wealth3 howbeit towards the ,lord he is poor2 for he is taken up about his riches1 and prays but little to the ,lord2 and the prayers which he makes are lazy and without force4 #g ,when therefore1 the rich man reaches out to the poor those things which he wants1 the poor man prays unto the ,lord for the rich2 and ,god grants unto the rich man all good things1 because the poor man is rich in prayer2 and his requests have great power with the ,lord4 #h ,then the rich man ministers all thing to the poor1 because he perceives that he is heard by the ,lord2 and he the more willingly and without doubting1 affords him what he wants1 and takes care that nothing be lacking to him4 #i ,and the poor man gives thanks unto the ,lord for the rich2 because they both do their work from the ,lord4 #aj ,with men1 therefore1 the elm is not thought to give any fruit2 and they know not1 neither understand that its company being added to the vine1 the vine bears a double increase1 both for itself and for the elm4 #aa ,even so the poor praying unto the ,lord for the rich1 are heard by him2 and their riches are increased1 because they minister to the poor of their wealth4 ,they are1 therefore1 both made partakers of each other's good works4 #ab ,whosoever1 therefore1 shall do these things1 he shall not be forsaken by the ,lord1 but shall be written in the book of life4 #ac ,happy are they who are rich1 and perceive themselves to be increased3 for he that is sensible of this1 will be able to minister somewhat to others4 ,,similitude ,,iii4 ,as the great trees in the winter cannot be distinguished from the dry2 so neither can the righteous from the wicked in this present world4 ,,again he showed me many trees whose leaves were shed1 and which seemed to me to be withered1 for they were all alike4 ,and he said unto me1 ,seest thou these trees8 ,i said1 ,sir1 ,i see that they look like dry trees4 #b ,he answering1 said unto me2 ,these trees are like unto the men who live in the present world4 ,i replied3 ,sir1 why are they like unto dried trees8 ,because1 said he1 neither the righteous1 nor unrighteous1 are known from one another2 but all are alike in this present world4 #c ,for this world is as the winter to the righteous men1 because they are not known1 but dwell among sinners4 #d ,as in the winter all the trees having lost their leaves1 are like dry trees2 nor can it be discerned which are dry and which are green3 so in this present world neither the righteous1 nor wicked are discerned from each other2 but they are all alike4 ,,similitude ,,iv4 ,as in the summer the living trees are distinguished from the dry by their fruit and green leaves2 so in the world to come the righteous shall be distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness4 ,,again he showed me many other trees1 of which some had leaves1 and others appeared dry and withered4 ,and he said unto me1 ,seest thou these trees ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i see them2 some are dry1 and others full of leaves4 #b ,these trees1 saith be1 which are green1 are the righteous1 who shall possess the world to come4 ,for the world to come1 is the summer to the righteous2 but to sinners it is the winter4 #c ,when1 therefore1 the mercy of the ,lord shall shine forth1 then they who serve ,god shall be made manifest1 and plain unto all4 ,for as in the summer the fruit of every tree is shown and made manifest4 so also the works of the righteous shall be declared and made manifest1 and they shall all be restored in that world merry and joyful4 #d ,for the other kind of men1 namely the wicked1 like the trees which thou rawest dry1 shall1 as such1 be found dry and without fruit in that other world2 and like dry wood shall be burnt2 and it shall be made manifest that they have done evil all the time of their life2 #e ,and they shall be burnt because they have sinned and have not repented of their sins4 ,and also all the other nations shall be burnt1 because they have not acknowledged ,god their ,creator4 #f ,do then1 therefore1 bring forth good fruit1 that in the summer thy fruit may be known2 and keep thyself from much business1 and thou shalt not offend4 ,for they who are involved in much business1 sin much2 because they are taken up with their affairs1 and serve not ,god4 #g ,and how can a man that does not serve ,god1 ask anything of ,god1 and receive it8 ,but they who serve him1 ask and receive what they desire4 #h ,but if a man has only one thing to follow1 he may serve ,god1 because his mind is not taken off from ,god1 but he serves him with a pure mind4 #i ,if1 therefore1 thou shalt do this1 thou mayest have fruit in the world to come2 and as many as shall do in like manner1 shall bring forth fruit4 ,,similitude ,v4 ,of a true fast1 and the rewards of it3 also of the cleanliness of the body4 ,,as ,i was fasting1 and sitting down in a certain mountain1 and giving thanks unto ,god for all the things that he had done unto me2 behold1 ,i saw the ,shepherd1 who was wont to converse with me1 sitting by me1 and saying unto me3 ,what has brought thee hither thus early in the morning8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 to-day ,i keep a station4 #b ,he answered1 ,what is a station2 ,i replied1 it is a fast4 ,he said1 ,what is that fast8 ,i answered1 ,i fast as ,i have been wont to do4 ,ye know not1 said he1 what it is to fast unto ,god2 nor is this a fast which ye keep1 profiting nothing with ,god4 #c ,sir1 said ,i1 what makes you speak thus8 ,he replied1 ,i speak it1 because it is not the true fast which you think that you keep2 but ,i will show you what that is which is a complete fast1 and acceptable unto ,god4 #d ,hearken1 said he1 ,the ,lord does not desire such a needless fast2 for by fasting in this manner1 thou advancest nothing in righteousness4 #e ,but the true fast is this3 ,do nothing wickedly in thy life1 but serve ,god with a pure mind2 and keep his commandments1 and walk according to his precepts1 nor suffer any wicked desire to enter into the mind4 #f ,but trust in the ,lord1 that if thou dost these things1 any fearest him1 and abstaineth from every evil work1 thou shall live unto ,god4 #g ,if thou shalt do this1 thou shall perfect a great fast1 and an acceptable one unto the ,lord4 #h ,hearken unto the similitude which ,i am about to propose unto thee1 as to this matter4 #i ,a certain man having a farm1 and many servants1 planted a vineyard in a certain part of his estate for his posterity3 #aj ,and taking a journey into a far country1 chose one of his servants which he thought the most faithful and approved1 and delivered the vineyard into his care2 commanding him that he should stake up the vines4 ,which if he did1 and fulfilled his command1 he promised to give him his liberty4 ,nor did he command him to do any thing more2 and so went into a far country4 #aa ,and after that servant had taken that charge upon him1 he did whatsoever his lord commanded him4 ,and when he had staked the vineyard1 and found it to be full of weeds1 he began to think within himself1 saying3 #ab ,i have done what my lord commanded me1 ,i will now dig this vineyard1 and when it is digged1 it will be more beautiful2 and the weeds being pulled up1 it will bring forth more fruit and not be choked by the weeds4 #ac ,so setting about this work he digged it1 and plucked up all the weeds that were in it2 and so the vineyard became very beautiful and prosperous1 not being choked with weeds4 #ad ,after some time the lord of the vineyard comes and goes into the vineyard1 and when he saw that it was handsomely staked and digged1 and the weeds plucked up that were in it1 and the vines flourishing1 he rejoiced greatly at the care of his servant4 #ae ,and calling his son whom he loved1 and who was to be his heir1 and his friends with whom he was wont to consult2 he tells them what he had commanded his servant to do1 and what his servant had done more2 and they immediately congratulated that servant1 that he had received so full a testimony from his lord4 #af ,then he said to them1 ,i indeed promised this servant his liberty1 if he observed the command which ,i gave him2 and he observed it1 and besides has done a good work to my vineyard1 which has exceedingly pleased me4 #ag ,wherefore1 for this work which he hath done1 ,i will make him my heir together with my son2 because that when he saw what was good1 he neglected it not1 but did it4 #ah ,this design of the lord both his son and his friends approved1 namely1 that his servant should be heir together with his son4 #ai ,not long after this the master of the family calling together1 his friends1 sent from his supper several kinds of food to that servant4 #bj ,which when he had received1 he took so much of them as was sufficient for himself1 and divided the rest among his fellow-servants4 #ba ,which when they had received1 they rejoiced2 and wished that he might find yet greater favour with his lord1 for what he had done to them4 #bb ,when his lord heard all these things1 he was again filled with great joy3 and calling again his friends and his son together1 he related to them what his servant had done with the meats which he had sent unto him4 #bc ,they therefore so much the more assented to the master of the household2 and he ought to make that servant his heir together with his son4 #bd ,i said unto him1 sir1 ,i know not these similitudes1 neither can ,i understand them1 unless you expound them unto me4 ,i will1 says he1 expound1 all things unto thee whatsoever ,i have talked with thee1 or shown unto thee4 #be ,keep the commandments of the ,lord and thou shalt be approved1 and shall be written in the number of those that keep his commandments4 ,but if besides those things which the ,lord hath commanded1 thou shalt add some good thing2 thou shall purchase to thyself a greater dignity1 and be in more favour with the ,lord than thou shouldst otherwise have been4 #bf ,if therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the ,lord1 and shalt add to them these stations1 thou shall rejoice2 but especially if thou shalt keep them according to my commands4 #bg ,i said unto him1 sir1 whatsoever thou shall command me1 ,i will observe2 for ,i know that thou wilt be with me4 ,i will1 said he1 be with thee who hast taken up such a resolution2 and ,i will be with all those who purpose in like manner4 #bh ,this fast1 saith he1 whilst thou dost also observe the commandments of the ,lord1 is exceeding good2 therefore thus shalt thou keep it4 #bi ,first of all1 take heed to thyself1 and keep thyself from every wicked act1 and from every filthy word1 and from every hurtful desire2 and purify thy mind from all the vanity of this present world4 ,if thou shalt observe these things1 this fast shall be right4 #cj ,thus therefore do4 ,having performed what is before written1 that day on which thou fastest thou shalt taste nothing at all but bread and water2 and computing the quantity of food which thou art want to eat upon other days1 thou shalt lay aside the expense which thou shouldest have made that day1 and give it unto the widow1 the fatherless1 and the poor4 #ca ,and thus thou shalt perfect the humiliation of thy soul2 that he who receives of it may satisfy his soul1 and his prayer come up to the ,lord ,god for thee4 #cb ,if therefore thou shalt thus accomplish thy fast1 as ,i command thee1 thy sacrifice shall be acceptable unto the ,lord1 and thy fast shall be written in his book4 #cc ,this station1 thus performed1 is good and pleasing and acceptable unto the ,lord4 ,these things if thou shalt observe with thy children and with all thy house1 thou shalt be happy4 #cd ,and whosoever1 when they hear these things1 shall do them1 they also shall be happy2 and whatsoever they shall ask of the ,lord they shall receive it4 #ce ,and ,i prayed him that he would expound unto me the similitude of the farm1 and the ,lord1 and of the vineyard1 and of the servant that had staked the vineyard2 and of the weeds that were plucked out of the vineyard2 and of his son and his friends which he took into counsel with him2 for ,i understand that that was a similitude4 #cf ,he said unto me1 ,thou art very bold in asking2 for thou oughtest not to ask any thing2 because if it be fitting to show it unto thee1 it shall be showed unto thee4 #cg ,i answered him2 ,sir1 whatsoever thou shalt show me1 without explaining it unto me1 ,i shall in vain see it1 if ,i do not understand what it is4 ,and if thou shalt propose any similitudes1 and not expound them1 ,i shall in vain hear them4 #ch ,he answered me again1 saying3 ,whosoever is the servant of ,god1 and has the ,lord in his heart1 he desires understanding of him1 and receives it2 and he explains every similitude1 and understands the words of the ,lord which need an inquiry4 #ci ,but they that are lazy and slow to pray1 doubt to seek from the ,lord3 although the ,lord be of such an extraordinary goodness1 that without ceasing he giveth all things to them that ask of him4 #dj ,thou therefore who art strengthened by that venerable messenger1 and hast received such a powerful gift of prayer2 seeing thou art not slothful1 why dost thou not now ask understanding of the ,lord1 and receive it8 #da ,i said unto him2 seeing ,i have thee present1 it is necessary that ,i should seek it of thee1 and ask thee2 for thou shewest all things unto me1 and speakest to me when thou art present4 #db ,but if ,i should see or hear these things when thou wert not present1 ,i would then ask the ,lord that he would chew them unto me4 #dc ,and he replied1 ,i said a little before that thou wert subtle and bold1 in that thou asketh the meaning of these similitudes4 #dd ,but because thou still persistest1 ,i will unfold to thee this parable which then desirest1 that thou mayest make it known unto all men4 #de ,hear1 therefore1 said he1 and understand4 ,the farm before mentioned denotes the whole earth4 ,the ,lord of the farm is he1 who created and finished all things2 and gave virtue unto them4 #df ,his son is the ,holy ,spirit2 the servant is the ,son of ,god3 the vineyard is the people whom he saves4 ,the stakes are the messengers which are set oven them by the ,lord1 to support his people4 ,the weeds that are plucked up out of the vineyard1 are the sins which the servants of ,god had committed4 #dg ,the food which he sent him from his supper1 are the commands which he gave to his people by his ,son4 ,the friends whom he called to counsel with him1 are the holy angels whom he first created4 ,the absence of the master of the household1 is the time that remains unto his coming4 #dh ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 all these things are very excellent1 and wonderful1 and good4 ,but1 continued ,i1 could ,i or any other man besides1 though never so wise1 have understood these things8 #di ,wherefore now1 sir1 tell me1 what ,i ask4 ,he replied1 ask me what thou wilt4 ,why1 said ,i1 is the ,son of ,god in this parable1 put in the place of a servant4 #ej ,hearken1 he said3 the ,son of ,god is not put in the condition of a servant1 but in great power and authority4 ,i said unto him1 how1 sir8 ,i understand it not4 #ea ,because1 said he1 the ,son set his messengers over those whom the ,father delivered unto him1 to keep every one of them2 but he himself laboured very much1 and suffered much1 that he might blot out their offences4 #eb ,for no vineyard can be digged without much labour and pains4 ,wherefore having blotted out the sins of his people1 he showed to them the paths of life1 giving them the law which he had received of the ,father4 #ec ,you see1 said he1 that he is the ,lord of his people1 having received all power from his ,father4 ,but why the lord did take his son into counsel1 about dividing the inheritance1 and the good angels1 hear now4 #ed ,that ,holy ,spirit1 which was created first of all1 he placed in the body in which ,god should dwell2 namely1 in a chosen body1 as it seemed good to him4 ,this body therefore into which the ,holy ,spirit was brought1 served that ,spirit1 walking rightly and purely in modesty2 nor ever defiled that ,spirit4 #ee ,seeing therefore the body at all times obeyed the ,holy ,spirit1 and laboured rightly and chastely with him1 nor faltered at anytime2 that body being wearied conversed indeed servilely1 but being mightily approved to ,god with the ,holy ,spirit1 was accepted by him4 #ef ,for such a stout course pleased ,god1 because he was not defiled in the earth1 keeping the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he called therefore to counsel his ,son1 and the good angels1 that there might be some place of standing given to this body which had served the ,holy ,spirit without blame2 lest it should seem to have lost the reward of its service4 #eg ,for every pure body shall receive its reward2 that is found without spot1 in which the ,holy ,spirit has been appointed to dwell4 ,and thus you have now the exposition of this parable also4 #eh ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i now understand your meaning1 since ,i have heard this exposition4 ,hearken farther1 said he3 keep this thy body clean and pure1 that the ,spirit which shall dwell in it may bear witness unto it1 and be judged to have been with thee4 #ei ,also take heed that it be not instilled into thy mind that this body perishes1 and thou abuse it to any lust4 ,for if thou shalt defile thy body1 thou shalt also at the same time defile the ,holy ,spirit2 and if thou shalt defile the ,holy ,spirit1 thou shall not live4 #fj ,and ,i said1 ,what if through ignorance this should have been already committed1 before a man heard these words2 ,how can he attain into salvation1 who has thus defiled his body8 #fa ,he replied1 ,as for men's former actions which through ignorance they have committed1 ,god only can afford a remedy unto them2 for all the power belongeth unto him4 #fb ,but now guard thyself2 and seeing ,god is almighty and merciful1 he will grant a remedy to what thou hast formerly done amiss1 if for the time1 to come thou shalt not defile thy body and spirit3 #fc ,for they are companions together1 and the one cannot be defiled but the other will be so too4 ,keep therefore both of them pure1 and thou shalt live unto ,god4 ,,similitude ,,vi4 ,of two sorts of voluptuous men1 and of their death and defection2 and of the continuance of their pains4 ,,as ,i was sitting at home1 and praising ,god for all the things which ,i had seen2 and was thinking concerning the commands1 that they were exceedingly good1 and great1 and honest1 and pleasant1 and such as were able to bring a man to salvation2 ,i said thus within myself1 ,i shall be happy if ,i walk according to these commands2 and whosoever shall walk in them shall live unto ,god4 #b ,whilst ,i was speaking on this wise within myself1 ,i saw him whom ,i had before been wont to see1 sitting by me2 and he spake thus unto me3 #c ,what doubtest thou concerning my commands which ,i have delivered unto thee8 ,they are good1 doubt not1 but trust in the ,lord1 and thou shalt walk in them2 for ,i will give thee strength to fulfil them4 #d ,these commands are profitable to those who shall repent of the sins which they have formerly committed2 if for the time to come they shall not continue in them4 #e ,whosoever therefore ye be that repent1 cast away from you the naughtiness of the present world2 and put on all virtue1 and righteousness1 and so shall ye be able to keep these commands2 and not sin from henceforth any more4 #f ,for if ye shall keep yourselves from sin for the time to come1 ye shall cut off a great deal of your former sins4 ,walk in my commands1 and ye shall live unto ,god3 ,these things have ,i spoken unto you4 #g ,and when he1 had said this1 he added2 let us go into the field1 and ,i will show thee shepherds of sheep4 ,i replied1 sir1 let us go4 #h ,and we came into a certain field1 and there he showed me a young shepherd1 finely arrayed1 with his garments of a purple colour4 ,and he fed large flocks2 and his sheep were full of pleasure1 and in much delight and cheerfulness2 and they skipping1 ran here and there4 #i ,and the shepherd took very great satisfaction in his flock2 and the countenance of that shepherd was cheerful1 running up and down among his flock4 #aj ,then the angel said unto me1 ,seest then this shepherd8 ,i answered1 sir1 ,i see him4 ,he said unto me1 this is the messenger of delight and pleasure4 ,he therefore corrupts the minds of the servants of ,god1 and turns them from the truth1 delighting them with many pleasures1 and they perish4 #aa ,for they forget the commands of the living ,god1 and live in luxury and in vain pleasures1 and are corrupted by the evil angel1 some of them even unto death2 and others to a falling away4 #ab ,i replied2 ,i understand not what you mean1 by saying unto death1 and to a falling away4 ,hear1 says he2 all those sheep which thou sawest exceeding joyful1 are such as have for ever departed from ,god1 and given selves up to the lusts of this present time4 #ac ,to these therefore there is no return1 by repentance1 unto life2 because1 to their other sins they have added this1 that they have blasphemed the name of the lord3 ,these kind of men are ordained unto death4 #ad ,but those sheep which thou sawest not leaping1 but feeding in one place2 are such as have indeed given themselves up to pleasure and delights2 but have not spoken anything wickedly against the ,lord4 #ae ,these therefore are only fallen off from the truth1 and so have yet hope laid up for them in repentance4 ,for such a falling off hath some hope still left of a renewal2 but they that are dead1 are utterly gone for ever4 #af ,again we went a little farther forward1 and he showed me a great shepherd1 who had as it were a rustic figure2 clad with a white goat's skin1 having his bag upon his shoulder1 and in his hand a stick full of knots1 and very hard1 and a whip in his other hand2 and his countenance was stern and sour1 enough to affright a man2 such was his look4 #ag ,he took from that young shepherd such sheep as lived in pleasures1 but did not skip up and down2 and drove them into a certain steep craggy place fall of thorns and briars1 insomuch that they could not get themselves free from them3 #ah ,but being entangled in them1 fed upon thorns and briars1 and were grievously tormented with his whipping4 ,for he still drove them on1 and afforded them not any place1 or time1 to stand still4 #ai ,when therefore ,i saw them so cruelly whipped and afflicted1 ,i was grieved for them2 because they were greatly tormented1 nor had they any rest afforded them4 #bj ,and ,i said unto the shepherd that was with me3 ,sir1 who is this cruel and implacable shepherd1 who is moved with no compassion towards these sheep8 ,he answered1 ,this shepherd is indeed one of the holy angels1 but is appointed for the punishment of sinners4 #ba ,to him therefore are delivered those who have erred from ,god1 and served the lusts and pleasures of this world4 ,for this cause he punishes them every one according to their deserts1 with cruel and various kinds of pains4 #bb ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i would know what kind of pains they are which every one undergoes8 ,hearken1 said he2 ,the several pains and torments are those which men every day undergo in their present lives4 ,for some suffer losses2 others poverty2 others divers sicknesses4 ,some are unsettled2 others suffer injuries from those that are unworthy2 others fall under many other trials and inconveniences4 #bc ,for many with an unsettled design at many things1 and it profiteth them not2 and they say that they have not success in their undertakings4 #bd ,they do not call to their mind what they have done amiss1 and they complain of the ,lord4 ,when therefore they shall have undergone all kind of vexation and inconvenience2 then they are delivered over to me for good instruction1 and are confirmed in the ,faith of the ,lord1 and serve the ,lord all the rest of their days with a pure mind4 #be ,and when they begin to repent of their sins1 then they call to mind their works which they have done amiss1 and give honour to ,god1 saying1 that he is a just ,judge1 and they have deservedly suffered all things according to their deeds4 #bf ,then for what remains of their lives1 they serve ,god with a pure mind2 and have success in all their undertakings1 and receive from the ,lord whatever they desire4 #bg ,and then they give thanks unto the ,lord that they were delivered unto me2 nor do they suffer any more cruelty4 #bh ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ,i entreat you still to show me now one thing4 ,what1 said he1 dost thou ask8 ,i said unto him2 ,are they who depart from the fear of ,god1 tormented for the same time that they enjoyed their false delight and pleasures8 ,he answered me2 they are tormented for the same time4 #bi ,and ,i said unto him2 ,they are then tormented but little2 whereas they who enjoy their pleasures so as to forget ,god1 ought to endure seven times as much punishment4 #cj ,he answered me2 ,thou art foolish1 neither understandest thou the efficacy of this punishment4 ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 if ,i understood it1 ,i would not desire you to tell me4 #ca ,hearken1 said he1 and learn what the force of both is1 both of the pleasure and of the punishment4 ,an hour of pleasure is terminated within its own space3 but one hour of punishment has the efficacy of thirty days4 ,whosoever therefore enjoys his false pleasure for one day1 and is one day1 tormented2 that one day of punishment is equivalent to a whole year's space4 #cb ,thus look how many days any one pursues his pleasures1 so many years is he punished for it4 ,you see therefore how that the time of worldly enjoyments is but short2 but that of pain and torments1 a great deal more4 #cc ,i replied2 ,sir1 forasmuch as ,i do not understand at all these times of pleasure and pain2 ,i entreat you that you would explain yourself more clearly concerning them4 ,he answered me1 saying2 ,thy foolishness still sticks unto thee4 #cd4 ,shouldst thou not rather purify thy mind1 and serve ,god8 ,take heed1 lest when thy time is fulfilled1 thou be found still unwise4 ,hear then1 as thou desirest1 that thou mayest the more easily understand4 #ce ,he that gives himself up one day to his pleasures and delights1 and does whatsoever his soul desires1 is full of great folly1 nor understands what he does1 but the day following forgets what he did the day before4 #cf ,for delight and worldly pleasure are not kept in memory1 by reason of the folly that is rooted in them4 ,but when pain and torment befall a man a day1 he is in effect troubled the whole year after2 because his punishment continues firm in his memory4 #cg ,wherefore he remembers it with sorrow the whole year2 and then calls to mind his vain pleasure and delight1 and perceives that for the sake of that he was punished4 #ch ,whosoever therefore have delivered themselves over to such pleasures1 are thus punished2 because that when they had life1 they rendered themselves liable to death4 #ci ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 what pleasures are hurtful8 ,he answered2 ,that is pleasure to every man which he doth willingly4 #dj ,for the angry man1 gratifying his passion1 perceives pleasure in it2 and so the adulterer1 and drunkard2 the slanderer and liar2 the covetous man and the defrauder2 and whosoever commits anything like unto these1 he followeth his evil disposition1 because he receives a satisfaction in the doing of it4 #da ,all these pleasures and delights are hurtful to the servants of ,god4 ,for these therefore they are tormented and suffer punishment4 #db ,there are also pleasures that bring salvation unto men4 ,for many1 when they do what is good1 find pleasure in it1 and are attracted by the delights of it4 #dc ,now this pleasure is profitable to the servants of ,god1 and brings life to such men2 but those hurtful pleasures1 which were before mentioned1 bring torments and punishment4 #dd ,and whosoever shall continue in them1 and shall not repent of what they have done1 shall bring death upon themselves4 ,,similitude ,,vii4 ,that they who repent1 must bring forth1 fruits worthy of repent once4 ,,after a few days ,i saw the same person that before talked with me1 in the same field1 in which ,i had seen those shepherds1 ,and he said unto me2 ,what seekest thou8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i came to entreat you that ,you would command the shepherd1 who is the minister of punishment1 to depart out of my house1 because he greatly afflicts me4 #c ,and he answered1 ,it is necessary for thee to endure inconveniencies and vexations2 for so that good angel hath commanded concerning thee1 because he would try thee4 #d ,sir1 said ,i2 ,what so great offence have ,i committed1 that ,i should be delivered to this messenger8 ,hearken1 said he3 ,thou art indeed guilty of many sins1 yet not so many that thou shouldest be delivered to this messenger4 #e ,but thy house hath committed many sins and offences1 and therefore that good messenger being grieved at their doings commanded that for some time thou shouldst suffer affliction2 that they may both repent of what they have done1 and may wash themselves from all the lusts of this present world4 #f ,when therefore they shall have repented1 and be purified1 then that messenger which is appointed over thy punishment1 shall depart from thee4 #g ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 if they have behaved themselves so as to anger that good angel1 yet what have ,i done8 ,he answered3 ,they cannot otherwise be afflicted1 unless thou1 who art the head of the family1 suffer4 #h ,for whatsoever thou shalt suffer1 they must needs feel it but as long as thou shalt stand well established1 they cannot experience any vexation4 #i ,i replied2 ,but1 sir1 behold they also now repent with all their hearts4 ,i know1 says he1 that they repent with all their hearts2 but dost thou therefore think that their offences who repent1 are immediately blotted out4 #aj ,no1 they are not presently2 but he that repents must afflict his soul and show himself humble in all his affairs1 and undergo many and divers vexations4 #aa ,and when he shall have suffered all things that were appointed for him2 then perhaps ,,he that made him1 and formed all things besides1 will be moved with compassion towards him1 and afford him some remedy2 and especially if ,,he shall perceive his heart who repents1 to be free from every evil work4 #ab ,but at present it is expedient for thee1 and for thy house1 to be grieved2 and it is needful that thou shouldst endure much vexation1 as the angel of the ,lord who committed thee unto me1 has commanded4 #ac ,rather give thanks unto the ,lord1 that knowing what was to come he thought thee worthy1 to whom he should foretell that trouble was coming upon thee1 who art able to bear it4 #ad ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 but be thou also with me1 and ,i shall easily undergo any trouble4 ,i will1 said he1 be with thee2 and ,i will entreat the messenger who is set over thy punishment1 that he would moderate his afflictions towards thee4 #ae ,and moreover thou shalt suffer adversity but for a little time2 and then thou shalt again be restored to thy former state2 only continue on in the humility of thy mind4 #af ,obey the ,lord with a pure heart2 thou1 and thy house1 and thy children2 and walk in the commands which ,i have delivered unto thee2 and then thy repentance may be firm and pure4 #ag ,and if thou shalt keep these things with thy house1 thy inconveniencies shall depart from thee4 #ah ,and all vexation shall in like manner depart from those1 whosoever shall walk according to these commands4 ,,similitude ,,viii4 ,that there are many kinds of elect1 and of repenting sinners3 and how all of these shall receive a reward proportionable to the measure of their repentance and good works4 ,,again he showed me a willow which covered the fields and the mountains1 under whose shadow came all such as were called by the name of the ,lord4 #b ,and by that willow stood an4 angel of the ,lord very excellent and lofty1 and did cut down bows from the willow with a great hook2 and reached out to the people that were under the shadow of the willow1 little rods1 as it were about a foot long4 #c ,and when all of them had taken them1 he laid aside his hook1 and the tree continued entire1 as ,i had before seen it2 at which ,i wondered1 and mused within myself4 #d ,then that shepherd said unto me2 ,forbear to wonder that the tree continues whole1 not-with-standing so many boughs have been cut off from it3 but stay a little1 for now it shall be shown thee1 what that angel means1 who gave those rods to the people4 #e ,so he again demanded the rods of them2 and in the same order that every one had received them1 was he called to him1 and restored his rod2 which when he had received1 he examined them4 #f ,from some he received them dry and rotten1 and as it were touched with the moth2 those he commanded to be separated from the rest1 and placed by themselves4 ,others gave in their rods dry indeed1 but not touched with the moth3 these also he ordered to be set by themselves4 #g ,others gave in their rods half dry2 these also were set apart1 ,others gave in their rods half dry and cleft2 these too were set by themselves4 ,others brought in their rods half dry and half green1 and these were in like manner placed by themselves4 #h ,others delivered up their rods two parts green1 and the third dry2 and they too were set apart4 ,others brought their rods two parts dry1 and the third green2 and were also placed by themselves4 #i ,others delivered up their rods less dry 7for there was but a very little1 to wit1 their tops dry71 but they had clefts1 and these were set in like manner by themselves4 ,in the rods of others there was but a little green1 and the rest dry2 and these were set aside by themselves4 #aj ,others came1 and brought their rods green as they had received them1 and the greatest part of the people brought their rods thus2 and the messenger greatly rejoiced at these1 and they also were put apart by themselves4 #aa ,others brought in their rods not only green1 but full of branches2 and these were set aside1 being also received by the angel with great joy4 ,others brought their rods green with branches1 and those also some fruit upon them4 #ab ,they who had such rods1 were very cheerful2 and the angel himself took great joy at them2 nor was the shepherd that stood with me1 less pleased with them4 #ac ,then the angel of the ,lord commanded crowns to be brought1 and the crowns were brought made of palms2 and the angel crowned those men in whose rods he found the young branches with fruit1 and commanded them to go into the tower4 #ad ,he also sent those into the tower1 in whose hands he found branches without fruit1 giving a seal unto them4 ,for they had the same garment1 that is1 one white as snow2 with which he bade them go into the tower ,and so he did to those who returned their rods green as they had received them2 giving them a white garment1 and so sent them away to go into the tower4 #ae ,having done this1 he said to the shepherd that was with me1 ,i go my way2 but do thou send these within the walls1 every one into the place in which he has deserved to dwell2 examining first their rods1 but examine them diligently that no one deceive thee2 and if any one shall escape thee1 ,i will try them upon the altar4 ,having said this to the shepherd1 he departed4 #af ,after he was gone1 the shepherd said unto me2 ,let us take the rods from them1 and plant them2 if perchance they may grow green again4 ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 how can those dry rods ever grow green again8 #ag ,he answered me2 ,that tree4 is a willow1 and always loves to live4 ,if therefore these rods shall be planted1 and receive a little moisture1 many of them will recover themselves4 #ah ,wherefore ,i will try1 and will pour water upon them1 and if any of them can live1 ,i will rejoice with them2 but if not1 at least by this means ,i shall be found not to have neglected my part4 #ai ,then he commanded me to call them2 and they all came unto him1 every one in the rank in which he stood1 and gave him their rods2 which having received he planted every one of them in their several orders4 #bj ,and after he had planted them all1 he poured much water upon them1 insomuch that they were covered with water1 and did not appear above it4 ,then when he had watered them1 he said unto me2 ,let us depart1 and after a little time we will return and visit them4 #ba ,for he who created this tree1 would have all those live that received rods from it4 ,and ,i hope now that these rods are thus watered1 many of them receiving in the moisture1 will recover3 #bb ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 tell me what this tree denotes8 ,for ,i am greatly astonished1 that after so many branches have been cut off1 it seems still to be whole3 nor does there any thing the less of it appear to remain1 which greatly amazes me4 #bc ,he answered1 ,hearken4 ,this great tree which covers the plains and the mountains1 and all the earth1 is the law of ,god1 published throughout the whole world4 #bd ,now this law is the ,son of ,god1 who is preached to all the ends of the earth4 ,the people that stand under its shadow1 are those which have heard his preaching1 and believed4 #be ,the great and venerable angel which you saw1 was ,michael who had the power over his people1 and governs them4 ,for he has planted the law in the hearts of those who have believed3 and therefore he visits them to whom lie has given the law1 to see if they have kept it4 #bf ,and he examines every one's rod2 and of those1 many that are weakened3 for those rods are the law of the ,lord4 ,then he discerns all those who have not kept the law1 knowing the place of every one of them4 #bg ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 why did he send away some to the tower1 and left others here to you8 ,he replied1 those who have transgressed the law1 which they received from him1 are left in my power1 that they may repent of their sins3 but they who fulfilled this law and kept it1 are under his power4 #bh ,but who then1 said ,i1 are those1 who went into the tower crowned8 ,he replied1 all such as having striven with the devil1 have overcome him1 are crowned3 and they are those1 who have suffered hard things1 that they might keep the law4 #bi ,but they who gave up their rods green1 and with young branches1 but without fruit1 have indeed endured trouble for the same law1 but have not suffered death2 neither have they denied their holy law4 #cj ,they who delivered up their rods green as they received them1 are those who were modest and just1 and have lived with a very pure mind1 and kept the commandments of ,god4 #ca ,the rest thou shalt know1 when ,i shall have considered those rods which ,i have planted and watered4 #cb ,after a few days we returned1 and in the same place stood that glorious angel1 and ,i stood by him4 ,then he said unto me2 ,gird thyself with a towel1 and serve me4 #cc ,and ,i girded myself with a clean towel1 which was made of coarse cloth4 ,and when he saw me girded1 and ready to minister unto him1 he said1 ,call those men whose rods have been planted1 every one in his order as he gave them4 #cd ,and he brought me into the field1 and ,i called them all1 and they all stood ready in their several ranks4 ,then he said unto them2 let every one pluck up his rod1 and bring it unto me4 ,and first they delivered theirs1 whose rods had been dry and rotten4 #ce ,and those whose rods still continued so1 he commanded to stand apart4 ,then they came whose rods had been dry but not rotten4 ,some of these delivered4 in their rods green2 others dry and rotten1 as if they had been touched by the moth4 #cf ,those who gave them up green1 he commanded to stand apart3 but those whose rods were dry and rotten1 he caused to stand with the first sort4 ,then came they whose rods had been half dry1 and cleft3 many of these gave up their rods green1 and uncleft4 #cg ,others delivered them up green with branches1 like unto theirs who went crowned into the tower4 ,others delivered them up dry1 but not rotten2 and some gave them up as they were before1 all dry1 and cleft4 #ch ,every one of these he ordered to stand apart2 some by themselves1 others in their respective ranks4 #cb ,then came they whose rods had been green1 but cleft4 ,these delivered their rods altogether green1 and stood in their own order4 ,and the shepherd rejoiced at these1 because they were all changed1 and free from their clefts4 #dj ,then they gave in their rods1 who had them half green and half dry4 ,of these some were found wholly green1 others half dry3 others green1 with young shoots4 ,and all these were sent away1 every one to his proper rank4 #da ,then they gave up their rods1 who had them before two parts green1 and the third dry4 ,many of those gave in their rods green2 many half dry2 the rest dry but not rotten4 ,so these were sent away1 each to his proper place4 #db ,then came they who before had their rods two parts dry and the third green2 many of these delivered up their rods half dry1 others dry and rotten2 others half dry and cleft3 but few green4 ,and all these were set every one in his own rank4 #dc ,then they reached in their rods1 in which there was before but a little green1 and the rest dry4 ,their rods were for the most part found green1 having little boughs1 with fruit upon them2 and the rest altogether green4 #dd ,and the shepherd upon sight of these rejoiced exceedingly1 because he had found them thus2 and they also went to their proper orders4 #de ,now after he had examined all their rods1 he said unto me1 ,i told thee that this tree loved life thou seest how many have repented1 and attained unto salvation4 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i see it4 #df ,that thou mightest know saith he1 that the goodness and mercy of the ,lord is great1 and to be had in honour2 who gave his spirit to them that were found worthy of repentance4 #dg ,i answered1 ,sir1 why then did not all of them repent8 ,he replied1 ,those whose minds the ,lords foresaw would be pure1 and that they would serve him with all their hearts1 to them he gave repentance4 #dh ,but for those whose deceit and wickedness he beheld1 and perceived that they would not truly return unto him2 to them he denied any return unto repentance1 lest they should again blaspheme his law with wicked words4 #di ,i said unto him2 ,now1 ,sir1 make known unto me1 what is the place of every one of those1 who have given up their rods1 and what their portion2 that when they may have not kept their seal entire1 but have wasted the seal which they received1 shall hear and believe these thins1 and may acknowledge their evil deeds and repent2 #ej ,and receiving again their seal from you1 may give glory to ,god1 that he was moved with compassion towards them1 and sent you to renew their spirits4 #ea ,hearken1 said he2 they whose rods have been found and rotten1 and as it were touched with the moth2 are the deserters and the betrayers of the church2 #eb ,who with the rest of their crimes1 have also blasphemed the ,lord1 and denied his name when he had called upon them4 ,therefore all these are dead unto ,god and thou seest that none of them have repented1 although they have heard my commands which thou hast delivered unto them4 ,from these men therefore life is far distant4 #ec ,they also who have delivered up their rods dry1 but not rotten1 have not been far from them4 ,for they have been counterfeits1 and brought in evil doctrines1 and have perverted the servants of ,god1 especially those who had sinned2 not suffering them to return unto repentance1 but keeping them back by their false doctrines4 #ed ,these therefore have hope2 and thou seest that many of them have repented1 since the time that thou hast laid my commands before them2 and many more will yet repent4 ,but they1 that shall not repent2 shall lose both repentance and life4 #ee ,but they that have repented1 their place is begun to be within the first walls1 and some of them are even gone into the tower4 ,thou seest therefore1 said he1 that in the repentance of sinners there is life2 but for those who repent not1 death is prepared4 #ef ,hear now concerning those who gave in their rods half dry and full of clefts4 ,those whose rods were only half dry1 are the doubtful2 for they are neither living nor dead4 #eg ,but they who delivered in their rods1 not only half dry but also full of clefts1 are both doubtful and evil speakers2 who detract from those that are absent1 and have never peace among themselves1 and who envy one another4 #eh ,howbeit1 to those also repentance is offered2 for thou seest that some of these have repented4 #ei ,now all those of this kind who have quickly repented1 shall have a place in the tower2 and they who have been more slow in their repentance1 shall dwell within the walls3 but they that shall not repent1 and shall continue on in their wicked doings1 shall die the death4 #fj ,as for those who had their rods green1 but yet cleft2 they are such as were always faithful and good1 but they had some envy and strife among themselves concerning dignity and pre-eminence4 #fa ,now all such as are vain1 and without understanding1 contend with one another about these things4 #fb ,nevertheless1 seeing they are otherwise good1 if when they shall hear these commands they shall amend themselves1 and shall at my persuasion suddenly repent2 they shall at last dwell in the tower1 like those who have truly and worthily repented4 #fc ,but if any one shall again return to his dissension2 he shall be shut out from the tower1 and shall lose his life4 ,for the life of those who keep the commandments of the ,lord1 consists in doing what they are commanded2 not in principality1 or in any other dignity4 #fd ,for by forbearance and humility of mind1 men shall attain unto life2 but by seditions and contempt of the law1 they shall purchase death unto themselves4 #fe ,they who in their rods had half dry and half green1 are those who are engaged in many affairs of the world1 and are not joined to the saints4 ,for which cause half of them liveth1 and half is dead4 #ff ,wherefore many of these since the time that they have heard my commands1 have repented1 and begun to dwell in the tower4 ,but some of them have wholly fallen away2 to these there is no more place for repentance4 #fg ,for by reason of their present interests1 they have blasphemed and denied ,god3 and for this wickedness they have lost life4 ,and of these many are still in doubt1 yet these may return2 and if they shall quickly repent1 they shall have a place in the tower2 but if they shall be more slow1 they shall dwell within the walls2 but if they shall not repent1 they shall die4 #fh ,as for those who had two parts of their rods green1 and the third dry2 they have by manifold ways denied the ,lord4 ,of these many have repented1 and found a place in the tower3 and many have altogether departed from ,god4 ,these have utterly lost life4 #fi ,and some being in a doubtful state1 have raise up dissensions3 these may yet return1 if they shall suddenly repent and not continue in their lusts2 but if they shall continue in their evil-doing they shall die4 #gj ,they who gave in their rods two parts dry1 and the other been1 are those who have indeed been faithful1 but withal rich and full of good things2 and thereupon upon have desired to be famous among the heathen which are without1 and have thereby fallen into great pride1 and begun to aim at high matters1 and to forsake the truth4 #ga ,nor were they joined to the saints1 but lived with the heathen2 and this life seemed the more pleasant to them4 ,howbeit they have not departed from ,god1 but continued in the faith2 only they have not wrought the works of faith4 #gb ,many therefore of these have repented2 and begun to dwell in the tower4 ,yet others still living among the heathen people1 and being lifted up with their vanities1 have utterly fallen away from ,god1 and followed the works and wickedness of the heathen4 ,these kind of men therefore are reckoned among strangers to the ,gospel4 #gc ,others of these began to be doubtful in their minds2 despairing by reason of their wicked doings ever to attain unto salvation ,others being thus made doubtful1 did moreover stir up dissensions4 #gd ,to these therefore1 and to those who by reason of their doings are become doubtful1 there is still hope of return2 but they must repent quickly1 that their place may be in the tower4 ,but they that repent not1 and continue still in their pleasures1 are nigh unto death4 #ge ,as for those who gave in their rods green1 excepting their tops1 which only were dry1 and had clefts2 these were always good1 and faithful1 and upright before ,god3 nevertheless they sinned a little1 by reason of their empty pleasures and trifling thoughts which they had within themselves4 #gf ,wherefore many of them when they heard my words1 repented forthwith1 and began to dwell in the tower4 ,nevertheless some grew doubtful1 and others to their doubtful minds added dissensions4 ,to these therefore there is still hope of return1 because they were always good2 but they shall not hardly be moved4 #gg ,as for those1 lastly1 who gave in their rods dry1 their tops only excepted1 which alone were green2 they are such as have believed indeed in ,god1 but have lived in wickedness2 yet without departing from ,god3 having always willingly borne the name of the ,lord1 and readily received into their houses the servants of ,god4 #gh ,wherefore hearing these things they returned1 and without delay repented1 and lived in all righteousness4 ,and some of them suffered death3 others readily underwent many trials1 being mindful of their evil doings4 #gi ,if ,and when he had ended his explications of all the rods1 he said unto me1 ,go1 and say unto all men that they repent1 and they shall live unto ,god2 because the ,lord being moved with great clemency hath sent me to preach repentance unto all3 #hj ,even unto those who by reason of their evil doings1 deserve not to attain unto salvation4 ,but the ,lord will by patient1 and keep the invitation that was made by his ,son4 #ha ,i said unto him1 sir1 ,i hope that all when they shall hear these things1 will repent4 ,for ,i trust that everyone acknowledging his crimes1 and taking up the fear of the ,lord1 will return unto repentance4 #hb ,he said unto me1 ,whosoever shall repent with all their hearts1 and cleanse themselves from all the evils that ,i have before mentioned1 and not add anything more to their sins1 shall receive from the ,lord cure of their former iniquities1 if they do not make any doubt of these commands1 and shall live unto ,god4 #hc ,but they that shall continue to add to their transgressions1 and still converse with the lusts of the present world1 shall condemn themselves unto death4 ,but do thou walk in these commands1 and whosoever shall ,walk in these1 and exercise them rightly1 shall live unto ,god4 #hd ,and having showed me all these things1 he said2 ,i will show thee the rest in a few days4 ,,similitude ,,ix4 ,the greatest mysteries of the militant and triumphant ,church which is to be built4 ,,after ,i had ,written the ,commands and similitudes of the ,shepherd1 the ,angel of ,repentance came unto me1 and said to me1 ,i will show thee all those things which the ,spirit spake with thee under the figure of the church4 ,for that ,spirit is the ,son of ,god4 #b ,and because thou wert weak in body1 it was not declared unto thee by the angel1 until thou wert strengthened by the ,spirit1 and increased in force1 that thou mightest also see the angel3 #c ,for then indeed the building of the tower was very well and gloriously shown unto thee by the church2 nevertheless thou sawest all things shown unto thee as it were by a virgin4 #d ,but now thou art enlightened by the angel1 and yet by the same ,spirit4 ,but thou must consider all things diligently2 for therefore am ,i sent into thy house by that venerable messenger1 that when thou shalt have seen all things powerfully1 thou mayest not be afraid as before4 #e ,and he led me to the height of a mountain in ,arcadia1 and we sat upon its top4 ,and he showed me a great plain1 and about it twelve mountains in different figures4 #f ,the first was black as soot4 ,the second was smooth1 without herbs4 ,the third was full of thorns and thistles4 ,the fourth had herbs half dried2 of which the upper part was green1 but that next the root was dry2 and some of the herbs1 when the sun grew hot1 were dry4 #g ,the fifth mountain was very rugged2 but yet had green herbs4 ,the sixth mountain was full of clefts1 some lesser1 and some greater2 and in these clefts grew grass1 not flourishing1 but which seemed to be withering4 #h ,the seventh mountain had delightful pasture1 and was wholly fruitful2 and all kinds of cattle1 and of the birds of heaven2 fed upon it2 and the more they fed on it1 the more and better did the grass grow4 #i ,the eighth mountain was full of fountains1 and from those fountains were watered all kinds of the creatures of ,cod4 ,the ninth mountain had no water at all1 but was wholly destitute of it2 and nourished deadly serpents1 very destructive to men4 #aj ,the tenth mountain was full of tall trees1 and altogether shady2 and under the shade of them lay cattle resting and chewing the cud4 #aa ,the eleventh mountain was full of the thickest trees1 and those trees seemed to be loaded with several sorts of fruits2 that whosoever saw them could not choose but desire to eat of their fruit4 #ab ,the twelfth mountain was altogether white1 and of a most pleasant aspect1 and itself gave a most excellent beauty to itself4 #ac ,in the middle of the plain he showed me a huge white rock1 which rose out of the plain1 and the rock was higher than those mountains1 and was square2 so that it seemed capable of supporting the whole world4 #ad ,it looked to me to be old1 yet it had in it a new gate1 which seemed to have been newly hewn out of it4 ,now that gate was bright beyond the sun itself2 insomuch1 that ,i greatly wondered at its light4 #ae ,about the gate stood twelve virgins2 of which four that stood at the corners of the gate1 seemed to me to be the chiefest1 although the rest were also of worth3 and they stood in the four parts of the gate4 #af ,it added also to the grace of those virgins1 that they stood in pairs1 clothed with linen garments1 and decently girded1 their right arms being at liberty1 as if they were about to lift up some burthen2 for so they were adorned1 and were exceeding cheerful and ready4 #ag ,when ,i saw this1 ,i wondered with myself to see such great and noble things4 ,and again ,i admired upon the account of those virgins1 that they were so handsome and delicate2 and stood with such firmness and constancy1 as if they would carry the whole heaven4 #ah ,and as ,i was thinking thus within myself1 the shepherd said unto me2 ,what thickest thou within thyself8 ,why art thou disquieted1 and fillest thyself with care8 #ai ,do not seem to consider1 as if thou wert wise1 what thou doest not understand1 but pray unto the ,lord1 that thou mayest have ability to understand it4 ,what is to come thou canst not understand1 but thou seest that which is before thee4 #bj ,be not therefore disquieted at those things which thou canst not see2 but get the understanding of those which thou seest4 #ba ,forbear to be curious2 and ,i will show thee all things that ,i ought to declare unto thee3 but first consider what yet remains4 #bb ,and when he had said this unto me ,i looked up1 and behold ,i saw six tall and venerable men coming2 their countenances were all alike1 and they called a certain multitude of men2 and they who came at their call were also tall and stout4 #bc ,and those six commanded them to build a certain tower over that gate4 ,and immediately there began to be a great noise of those men running here and there about the gate1 who were come together to build the tower4 #bd ,but those virgins which stood about the gate perceived that the building of the tower was to be hastened by them4 ,and they stretched out their hands1 as if they were to receive somewhat from them to do4 #be ,then those six men commanded1 that they should lift up stones out of a certain deep place1 and prepare them for the building of the tower4 ,and there were lifted up ten white stones1 square1 and not cut round4 #bf ,then those six men called the ten virgins to them1 and commanded them to carry all the stones that were to be put into the building1 and having carried them through the gate to deliver them to those that were about to build the tower4 #bg ,immediately the virgins began all of them together to lift up those stones1 that were before taken out of the deep4 #bh ,and they who also stood about the gate did carry stones in such a manner1 that those stones which seemed to be the strongest were laid at the corners1 and the rest were put into the sides2 #bi ,and thus they carried all the stones1 and bringing them through the gate delivered them to the builders1 as they had been commanded3 who receiving them at their hands1 built with them4 #cj ,but this building was made upon that great rock1 and over the gate2 and by these the whole tower was supported4 ,but the building of the ten stones filled the whole gate1 which began to be made for the foundation of that tower4 #ca ,after those ten stones did five and twenty others rise up out of the deep2 and these were placed in the building of the same tower2 being lifted up by those virgins1 as the others had been before4 #cb ,after these did fire and thirty others rise up2 and these were also in like manner fitted into the same work4 ,then forty other stones were brought up1 and all these were added unto the building of that tower4 #cc ,so there began to be four ranks in the foundation of that tower2 and the stones ceased to rise out of the deep2 and they also which built rested a little4 #cd ,again1 those six men commanded the multitude1 that they should bring stones out of those twelve mountains to the building of the same tower4 #ce ,so they cut out of all the mountains stones of divers colours1 and brought them and gave them to the virgins2 which when they had received they carried them1 and delivered them into the building of the tower4 #cf ,in which when they were built they became white1 and different from what they were before2 for they were all alike1 and did change their former colours4 ,and some were reached up by the men themselves1 which when they came into the building1 continued such is they were put in4 #cg ,these neither became white1 nor different from what they were before2 because they were not carried by the virgins through the gate4 ,wherefore these stones were disagreeable in the building2 which1 when these six men perceived they commanded them to be removed1 and put again in the place from which they were brought4 #ch ,and they said to those who brought these stones2 ,do not ye reach up to us any stones for this building1 but lay them down by the tower1 that these virgins may carry them and reach them to us4 #ci ,for unless they shall be carried by these virgins through this gate1 they cannot change their colours3 therefore do not labour in vain4 #dj ,so the building that day was done2 howbeit the tower was not finished1 for it was afterwards to be built2 therefore now also there was some delay made of it4 #da ,and these six men commanded those that built to depart1 and as it were to rest for some time2 but they ordered those virgins that they should not depart from the tower2 so now they seemed to me to be left for the guarding of it4 #db ,when all were departed1 ,i said unto the shepherd2 ,sir1 why is not the building of the tower finished8 ,because it cannot1 said he1 be finished until its ,lord comes1 and approves of the building2 that if he shall find any stones in it that are not good they may be changed2 for this tower is built according to his will4 #dc ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i would know what the building of this tower signifies2 as also ,i would be informed concerning this rock1 and this gate2 #dd ,and concerning the mountains1 and the virgins1 and the stones that did rise out of the deep1 and were not cut1 but put into the building just as they came forth2 and why the ten stones were first laid in the foundation2 then the twenty-five1 then thirty- five2 then forty8 #de ,also concerning those stones that were put into the building1 and again taken out1 and carried back into their places8 ,fulfil1 ,i pray1 the desire of my soul as to all these things1 and manifest all unto me4 #df ,and he said unto me2 ,if thou shalt not be dull1 thou shall know all1 and shall see all the other things that are about to happen in this1 tower3 and shall understand diligently all these similitudes4 #dg ,and after a few days we came into the same place where we had sat before2 and he said unto me1 ,let us go unto the tower2 for the ,lord of it will come and examine it4 #dh ,so we came thither1 and found none but those virgins there4 ,and he asked them whether the ,lord of that tower was come thither8 ,and they replied1 that he would be there presently to examine the building4 #di ,after a very little while ,i saw a great multitude of men coming1 and in the middle of them a man so tall1 that he surpassed the tower in height4 #ej ,about him were those six1 who before commanded in the building1 and all the rest of those who had built that tower1 and many others of great dignity3 and the virgins that kept the tower ran to meet him1 and kissed him1 and began to walk near unto him4 #ea ,but he examined the building with so much care1 that he handled every stone2 and struck every one with a rod which he held in his hand3 #eb ,of which some being so struck turned black as soot2 others were rough2 some looked as if they had cracks in them2 others seemed maimed2 some neither black nor white2 some looked sharp1 and agreed not with the other stones1 and others were full of spots4 #ec ,these were the several kinds of those stones which were not found proper in the building2 all which the ,lord commanded to be taken out of the tower1 and laid near it1 and other stones to be brought and put in their places4 #ed ,and they that built1 asked him from which of the mountains he would have stones brought to put in the place of those that were laid aside4 ,but he forbad them to bring any from the mountains1 and commanded that they should take them out of a certain field that was near4 #ee ,so they digged in the field1 and found many bright square stones1 and some also that were round4 ,howbeit1 all that were found in that field were taken away1 and carried through the gate by those virgins2 and those of them that were square were fitted and put into the places of those that were pulled out4 #ef ,but the round ones were not put into the building1 because they were hard1 and it would have required too much time to cut them but they were placed about the tower1 as if they should hereafter be cut square1 and put into the building2 for they were very white4 #eg ,when he who was chief in dignity1 and lord of the whole tower saw this1 he called to him the shepherd that was with me1 and gave him the stones that were rejected and laid about the tower1 and said unto him2 cleanse these stones with all care1 and fit them into the building of the tower1 that they may agree with the rest2 but those that will not suit with the rest1 cast away afar off from the tower4 #eh ,when he had thus commanded him1 he departed1 with all those that came with him to the tower but those virgins still stood about the tower to keep it4 #ei ,and ,i said unto that shepherd2 ,how can these stones1 seeing they have been rejected1 return into the building of this tower8 ,he replied2 ,i will cut off the greatest part from these stones1 and will add them to the building1 and they will agree with the rest4 #fj ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 how will they be able to fill the same place1 when they shall be so much cut away8 ,he answered2 ,they that shall be found too little shall be put into the middle of the building1 and the greater shall be placed without1 and keep them in4 #fa ,when he had said thus unto me1 he added2 ,let us go1 and after three days we will return1 and ,i will put these stones1 being cleansed1 into the tower4 #fb ,for all these that are about the tower must be cleansed1 lest the master of the house chance to come upon the sudden1 and find those which are about the tower unclean2 and be so exasperated that these stones should never be put into the building of this tower1 and ,i shall be looked upon to have been unmindful of my master's commands4 #fc ,when therefore we came after three days to the tower1 he said unto me2 ,let us examine all these stones1 and let us see which of them may go into the building4 ,i answered1 ,sir1 let us see4 #fd ,and first of all we began to consider those which had been black2 for they were found just such as they were when they were pulled out of the tower3 wherefore he commanded them to be removed from the tower and put by themselves4 #fe ,then he examined those which had been rough2 and commanded many of those to be cut round1 and to be fitted by the virgins into the building of the tower2 so they took them1 and fitted them into the middle of the building and he commanded the rest to be laid by with the black ones1 for they also were become black4 #ff ,next he considered those which were full of cracks1 and many of those also he ordered to be pared away1 and so to be added to the rest of the building1 by the came virgins4 #fg ,these were placed without because they were found entire2 but the residue through the multitude of their cracks could not be reformed1 and therefore were cast away from the building of the tower4 #fh ,then he considered those that had been maimed2 many of these had cracks1 and were become black2 others had large clefts2 these he commanded to be placed with those that were rejected2 #fi ,but the rest being cleansed and reformed1 he commanded to be put into the building4 ,these therefore those virgins took up1 and fitted into the middle of the building1 because they were but weak4 #gj ,after these he examined those which were found half white and half black1 and many of those which were now black2 these also he ordered to be laid among those that were cast away4 #ga ,the rest were found altogether white2 those were taken up by the virgins1 and fitted into the same tower3 and they were put in the outside1 because they were found entire2 that so they might keep in those that were placed in the middle1 for nothing was cut off from them4 #gb ,next he looked upon those which had been hard and sharp2 but few of these were made use of1 because they could not be cut1 for they were found very hard3 but the rest were formed1 and fitted by the virgins into the middle of the building1 because they were more weak4 #gc ,then he considered those which had spots2 of these a few were found black1 and they were carried to their fellows4 ,the rest were white and entire2 and they were fitted by the virgins into the building1 and placed in the outside1 by reason of their strength4 #gd ,after this he came to consider those stones which were white and round3 and he said unto me1 ,what shall we do with these stones8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i cannot tell4 #ge ,he replied1 ,canst thou think of nothing then for these8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i understand not this art2 neither am ,i a stone-cutter1 nor can ,i tell anything4 #gf ,and he said1 seest thou not that they are very round8 ,now to make them square1 ,i must cut off a great deal from them2 howbeit1 it is necessary that some of these should go into the building of the tower4 #gg ,i answered2 ,if it be necessary1 why do you perplex yourself1 and not rather choose1 if you have any choice among them1 and fit them into the building4 #gh ,upon this he chose out the largest and brightest1 and squared them2 which1 when he had done the virgins took them up1 and fitted them into the building4 #gi ,and the rest that remained were carried back into the same field from which they were taken2 howbeit1 they were not cast away2 because1 said he1 there is yet a little wanting to this tower1 which is to be built2 and perhaps the ,lord will have these stones fitted into this building1 because they are exceeding white4 #hj ,then there were called twelve very stately women1 clothed with a black garment1 girded1 and their shoulders free1 and their hair loose4 ,these seemed to me to be country women4 #ha ,and the shepherd commanded them to take up those stones which were cast out of the building1 and carry them back to the mountains out of which they were taken4 #hb ,and they took them all up joyfully1 and carried them back to their places from whence they had been taken4 #hc ,when not one stone remained about the tower1 he said unto me1 ,let us go about this tower1 and see whether anything be wanting to it4 #hd ,we began therefore to go round about it2 and when he saw that it was handsomely built1 he began to be very glad2 for it was so beautifully framed1 that any one that had seen it must have been in love with the building4 #he ,for it seemed to be all but one stone1 nor did a joint any where appear2 but it looked as if it had all been cut out of one rock4 #hf ,and when ,i diligently considered what a tower it was1 ,i was extremely pleased3 and he said unto me1 ,bring hither some lime and little shells1 that ,i may fill up the spaces of those stones that were taken out of the building1 and put in again2 for all things about the tower must be made even4 #hg ,and ,i did as he commanded me1 and brought them unto him and he said unto me1 ,be ready to help me1 and this work will quickly be finished4 #hh ,he therefore filled up the spaces of those stones1 and commanded the place about the tower to be cleansed4 #hi ,then those virgins took besoms1 and cleansed all the place around1 and took away all the rubbish1 and threw water on2 which being done1 the palace became delightful1 and the tower beauteous4 #ij ,then he said unto me1 ,all is now clean if the ,lord should come to finish the tower1 he will find nothing whereby to complain of us4 #ia ,when he had said this he would have departed4 ,but ,i laid hold on his bag1 and began to entreat him for the ,lord's sake1 that he would explain to me all things that he had shown me4 #ib ,he said unto me1 ,i have at present a little business2 but ,i will suddenly explain all things unto thee4 ,tarry here for me till ,i come4 #ic ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 what shall ,i do here alone8 ,he answered1 ,thou art not alone1 seeing all these virgins are with thee4 #id ,i said1 ,sir1 deliver me then unto them4 ,then he called them and said unto them1 ,i commend this man unto you until ,i shall come2 #ie ,so ,i remained with those virgins3 now they were cheerful and courteous unto me2 especially the four1 which seemed to be the chiefest among them4 #if ,then those virgins said unto me1 that shepherd will not return hither to-day4 ,i said unto them1 ,what then shall ,i do8 ,they answered1 ,tarry for him till the evening1 if perhaps he may come and speak with thee2 but if not1 yet thou shalt continue with us till he does come4 #ig ,i said unto them1 ,i will tarry for him till evening2 but if he comes not by that time1 ,i will go home1 and return hither again the next morning4 #ih ,they answered me1 ,as thou art delivered unto us1 thou mayest not depart from us4 ,i said1 ,where shall ,i tarry8 #ii ,they replied1 ,thou shalt sleep with us as a brother1 not as a husband2 for thou art our brother1 and we are ready from henceforth to dwell with thee2 for thou art very dear to us4 #ajj ,howbeit ,i was ashamed to continue with them4 ,but she that seemed to be the chiefest amongst them1 embraced me1 and began to kiss me4 ,and the rest when they saw that ,i was kissed by her1 began also to kiss me as a brother2 and led me about the tower1 and played with me4 #aja ,some of them also sung psalms1 others made up the chorus with them4 ,but ,i walked about the tower with them1 rejoicing silently1 and seeming to myself to be grown young again4 #ajb ,when the evening came on1 ,i would forthwith have gone home1 but they withheld me1 and suffered me not to depart4 ,wherefore ,i continued with them that night near the same tower4 #ajc ,so they spread their linen garments upon the ground2 and placed me in the middle1 nor did they anything else1 only they prayed4 #ajd ,i also prayed with them without ceasing1 nor less than they4 ,who1 when they saw me pray in that manner1 rejoiced greatly3 and ,i continued there with their till the next day4 #aje ,and when we had worshipped ,god1 then the shepherd came and said unto them3 ,you have done no injury to this man8 ,they answered1 ,ask him4 ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,i have received a great deal of satisfaction in that ,i have remained with them4 #ajf ,and he said unto me1 ,how didst thou sup8 ,i answered1 ,sir1 ,i feasted the whole night upon the words of the ,lord4 ,they received thee well then1 said he8 ,i said1 ,sir1 very well4 #ajg ,he answered1 ,wilt thou now learn what thou didst desire8 ,i replied1 ,sir1 ,i will3 and first ,i pray thee that thou shouldest show me all things in the order that ,i asked them4 #ajh ,he answered1 ,i will do all as thou wouldst have me1 nor will ,i hide any thing from thee4 #aji ,first of all1 ,sir1 said ,i1 tell me1 what this rock and this gate denote8 ,hearken1 said he2 this rock1 and this gate1 are the ,son of ,god4 ,i replied1 ,sir1 how can that be2 seeing the rock is old1 but the gate new8 #aaj ,hear1 said he1 ,o foolish man6 and understand4 ,the ,son of ,god is indeed more ancient than any creature2 insomuch that he was in council with his ,father at the creation of all things4 #aaa ,but the gate is therefore new1 because he appeared in the last days in the fullness of time2 that they who shall attain unto salvation1 may by it enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aab ,you have seen1 said he1 those stones which were carried through the gate1 how they were placed in the building of the tower2 but that those which were not carried through the gate1 were sent away into their own places8 #aac ,i answered1 sir1 ,i saw it4 ,thus1 said he1 no man shall enter into the kingdom of ,god1 but he who shall take upon him the name of the ,son of ,god4 #aad ,for if you would enter into any city1 and that city should he encompassed with a wall1 and had only one gate1 could you enter into that city except by that gate8 #aae ,i answered1 ,sir1 how could ,i do otherwise8 ,as therefore1 said he1 there would be no other way of entering into that city but by its gate1 so neither can any one enter into the kingdom of ,god1 but only by the name of his ,son1 who is most dear unto him4 #aaf ,and he said unto me1 ,didst thou see the multitude of those that built that tower8 ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i saw it4 ,he answered1 ,all those are the angels1 venerable in their dignity1 #aag ,with those is the ,lord encompassed as with a wall3 but the gate is the ,son of ,god1 who is the only way of coming unto ,god4 ,for no man shall go to ,god1 but by his ,son4 #aah ,thou sawest also1 said he1 the six men1 and in the middle of them that venerable great man1 who walked about the tower1 and rejected the stones out of the tower8 #aai ,sir1 said ,i1 ,i saw them4 ,he answered1 that tall man was the ,son of ,god2 and those six were his angels of most eminent dignity1 which stand about him on the right hand and on the left4 #abj ,of these excellent angels none comes in unto ,god without him4 ,he added1 ,whosoever there4 fore shall not take upon him his name1 he shall nor enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aba ,then ,i said1 ,what is this tower8 ,this1 said he1 is the church4 ,and what1 ,sir1 are these virgins8 ,he said unto me1 ,these are the holy spirits1 for no man can enter into the kingdom of ,god1 except these clothe him with their garment1 #abb ,for it will avail thee nothing to take up the name of the ,son of ,god1 unless thou shalt also receive their garment from them4 ,for these virgins are the powers of the ,son of ,god4 ,so shall a man in vain bear his name1 unless he shall be also endued with his powers4 #abc ,and he said unto me1 sawest thou those stones that were cast away8 ,they bore indeed the name1 but put not on their garment4 ,i said1 ,sir1 what is their garment8 ,their very names1 said he1 are their garment4 #abd ,therefore whosoever beareth the name of the ,son of ,god1 ought to bear their names also2 for the ,son of ,god also himself beareth their names4 #abe ,as for those stones1 continued he1 which being delivered by their hands1 thou sawest remain in the building1 they were clothed with their power2 for which cause thou seest the whole tower of the same colour with the rock1 and made as it were of one stone4 #abf ,so also those who have believed in ,god by his ,son1 have put on his spirit4 ,behold there shall be one spirit1 and one body1 and one colour of their garments2 and all they shall attain this1 who shall bear the names of these virgins4 #abg ,and ,i said1 ,sir1 why then were those stones cast away which were rejected1 seeing they also were carried through the gate1 and delivered by the hands of these virgins into the building of this tower8 #abh ,seeing1 said he thou takest care to inquire diligently into all things1 hear also concerning those stones which were rejected4 ,all these received the name of the ,son of ,god1 and with that the power of these virgins4 #abi ,having therefore received these spirits1 they were perfected1 and brought into the number of the servants of ,god2 and they began to be one body1 and to have one garment1 for they were endued with the same righteousness1 which they alike exercised4 #acj ,but after that they beheld those women which thou sawest clothed with a black garment1 with their shoulders at liberty and their hair loose2 they fixed their desires upon them1 being tempted with their beauty2 and were clothed with their power1 and cast off the clothing of the virgins3 #aca ,therefore were they cast off from the house of ,god1 and delivered to those women4 ,but they that were not corrupted with their beauty1 remained in the house of ,god4 ,this1 said he1 is the signification of those stones which were rejected4 #acb ,and ,i said1 sir1 what if any of these men shall repent1 and cast away their desire of those women1 and be converted1 and return to these virgins1 and put on again their virtue2 shall they not enter into the house of ,god8 #acc ,they shall enter1 said he1 if they shall lay aside all the works of those women1 and shall resume the power of these virgins1 and shall walk in their works4 #acd ,and for this cause there is a stop in the building1 that if they shall repent1 they may be added to the building of this tower2 but if they shall not repent1 that others may be built in their places1 and so they may be utterly cast away4 #ace ,for all these things ,i gave thanks unto the ,lord1 that being moved with mercy towards all those upon whom his name is carried1 he sent to us the angel of repentance to preside over us who have sinned against him2 and that he has refreshed our spirits which were almost gone1 and who had no hope of salvation1 but are now refreshed to the renewal of life4 #acf ,then ,i said1 ,show me now sir1 why this tower is not built upon the ground1 but upon a rock1 and upon the gate8 ,he replied1 ,thou art foolish1 and without understanding1 therefore thou asketh this4 #acg ,and ,i said1 sir1 ,i must needs ask all things of you because ,i understand nothing at all4 ,for all your answers are great and excellent2 and which a man can hardly understand4 #ach ,hear1 said he3 ,the name of the ,son of ,god is great and without bounds1 and the whole world is supported by it4 ,if therefore1 said ,i1 every creature of ,god be sustained by his ,son1 why should he not support those also who have been invited by him1 and who carry his name1 and walk in his commandments8 #aci ,seest thou not1 said he1 that he doth support them1 who with all their heart1 bear his name8 ,he therefore is their foundation1 and gladly supports those who do not deny his name1 but willingly bear it4 #adj ,and ,i said3 ,sir1 tell me the names of these virgins2 and of those women that were clothed with the black garment4 #ada ,hear1 said he1 the names of those virgins which are the more powerful1 and stand at the corners of the gate4 ,these are their names3 #adb ,the first is called ,faith2 the second ,continence2 the third ,power2 the fourth ,patience2 the rest which stand beneath these are1 ,simplicity1 ,innocence1 ,chastity1 ,cheerfulness1 ,truth1 ,understanding1 ,concord1 ,charity4 #adc ,whosoever therefore bear these names1 and the name of the ,son of ,god1 shall enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #add ,hear now1 said he1 the names of those women1 which were clothed with the black garment4 ,of these1 four are the principal3 the first is ,perfidiousness2 the second1 ,incontinence2 the third1 ,infidelity2 the fourth1 ,pleasure4 #ade ,and the rest which follow are called thus1 ,sadness1 ,malice1 ,lust1 ,anger1 ,lying1 ,foolishness1 ,pride1 and ,hatred4 ,the servant of ,god1 which carries these spirits1 shall see indeed the kingdom of ,god1 but he shall not enter into it4 #adf ,but1 sir1 what are those stones which were taken out of the deep and fitted into the building8 ,the ten1 said he1 which were placed at the foundation1 are the first age2 the following five-and- twenty1 are the second1 of righteous men4 #adg ,the next thirty-five1 are the prophets and ministers of the ,lord4 ,and the forty1 are the ,apostles and doctors of the preaching of the ,son of ,god4 #adh ,and ,i said1 sir1 why did the virgins put even those stones into the building after they were carried through the gate8 ,and he said1 ,because these first carried those spirits1 and they departed not one from the other1 neither the men from the spirits1 nor the spirits from the men3 #adi ,but the spirits were joined to those men even to the day of their death2 who if they had not had these spirits with them1 they could not have been useful to the building of this tower4 #aej ,and ,i said1 sir1 show me this farther4 ,he answered1 ,what dost then ask8 ,why did these stones come out of the deep1 and were placed into the building of this tower1 seeing that they long ago carried those holy spirits8 #aea ,it was necessary1 said he1 for them to ascend by water1 that they might be at rest4 ,for they could not otherwise enter into the kingdom of ,god1 but by laying aside the mortality of their former life4 #aeb ,they therefore being dead1 were nevertheless sealed with the seal of the ,son of ,god1 and so entered into the kingdom of ,god4 #aec ,for before a man receives the name of the ,son of ,god1 he is ordained unto death2 but when he receives that seal1 he is freed from death1 and assigned unto life4 #aed ,now that seal is the water of baptism1 into which men go down under the obligation unto death1 but come up appointed unto life4 #aee ,wherefore to those also was this seal preached1 and they made use of it1 that they might enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aef ,and ,i said1 ,why then1 sir1 did these forty stones also ascend with them out of the deep1 having already received that seal8 #aeg ,he answered1 ,because these ,apostles and teachers1 who preached the name of the ,son of ,god1 dying after they had received his faith and power1 preached to them who were dead before3 and they gave this seal to them4 #aeh ,they went down therefore into the water with them1 and again came up4 ,but these went down whilst they were alive1 and came up again alive3 whereas those who were before dead1 went down dead1 but came up alive2 #aei ,through these therefore they received life1 and knew the ,son of ,god3 for which cause they came up with them1 and were fit to come into the building of the tower2 and were not cut1 but put in entire2 because they died in righteousness1 and in great purity2 only this seal was wanting to them4 #afj ,thus you have the explication of these things4 #afa ,i answered3 ,sir1 tell me now what concerns those mountains2 why are they so different1 some of one form1 and some of another8 #afb ,hear1 said he2 ,these twelve mountains which thou seest1 are twelve nations1 which make up the whole world4 ,wherefore the ,son of ,god is preached to them1 by those whom he sent unto them4 #afc ,but why1 said ,i1 are they different1 and every one of a figure8 ,he replied1 ,hearken4 ,those twelve nations which possess the whole world1 are twelve people4 #afd ,and as thou hast beheld these mountains different1 so are they4 ,i will therefore open to thee the meaning and actions of every mountain4 #afe ,but first1 sir1 said ,i1 show me this2 ,seeing these mountains are so different1 how have they agreed in the building of this tower2 and been brought to one colour2 and are no less bright than those that came out of the deep8 #aff ,because1 replied he1 all the nations which are under heaven1 have heard and believed in the same one name of the ,son of ,god by whom they are called4 #afg ,wherefore having received his seal1 they have all been made partakers of the same understanding and knowledge2 and their faith and charity have been the same2 and they have carried the spirits of these virgins together with his name4 #afh ,and therefore the building of this tower appeared to be of the same colour1 and did shine like the brightness of the sun4 #afi ,but after that they had thus agreed in one mind1 there began to be one body of them all2 howbeit some of them polluted themselves1 and were cast off from those of the righteous1 and again returned to their former state1 and became even worse than they were before4 #agj ,how1 air1 said ,i1 were they worse who knew the ,lord8 ,he answered3 ,if he who knows not the ,lord liveth wickedly1 the punishment of his wickedness attends him2 #aga ,but he who has known the ,lord1 ought to abstain altogether from all wickedness1 and more and more to be the servant of righteousness4 #agb ,and does not he then seem to thee to sin more who ought to follow goodness1 if he shall prefer the part of sin2 than he who offends without knowing the power of ,god8 #agc ,wherefore these are indeed ordained unto death2 but they who have known the ,lord1 and have seen his wonderful works1 if they shall live wickedly1 they shall be doubly punished1 and shall die for ever4 #agd ,as therefore thou hast seen that after the stones were cast out of the tower1 which had been rejected1 they were delivered to wicked and cruel spirits2 and thou beheldest the tower so cleansed1 as if it had all been made of one stone3 #age ,so the church of ,god1 when it shall be purified3 7the wicked and counterfeits1 the mischievous and doubtful1 and all that have behaved themselves wickedly in it1 and committed divers kinds of sin1 being cast out7 shall become one body1 and there shall be one understanding1 one opinion1 one faith1 and the same charity4 #agf ,and then shall the ,son of ,god rejoice among them1 and shall receive his people with a pure will4 #agg ,and ,i said2 ,sir1 all these things are great and honourable2 but now show unto me the effect and force of every mountain3 that every soul which trusteth in the ,lord1 when it shall hear these things may honour his great1 and wonderful1 and holy name4 #agh ,hear1 said he1 the variety of these mountains1 that is1 of the twelve nations4 #agi ,they who have believed of the first mountain1 which is black1 are those who have revolted from the faith1 and spoken wicked things against the ,lord2 and betrayed the servants of ,god4 #ahj ,these are condemned to death2 there is no repentance for them3 and therefore they are black1 because their kind is wicked4 #aha ,of the second mountain which was smooth1 are the hypocrites1 who have believed1 and the teachers of naughtiness3 and these are next to the foregoing1 which have not in them the fruit of righteousness4 #ahb ,for as their mountain is barren and without fruit so also such kind of men have indeed the name of ,christians1 but are empty of faith2 nor is there any fruit of the truth in them4 #ahc ,nevertheless there is room left to them of repentance1 if they shall speedily pursue it2 but if they shall delay1 they also shall be partakers of death with the foregoing kind4 #ahd ,i said1 air1 why is there room left to those for repentance1 and not to the foregoing kind1 seeing their sins are well nigh the same8 #ahe ,there is therefore1 said he1 to these a return unto life by repentance1 because they have not blasphemed against their ,lord1 nor betrayed the servants of ,god3 but by their desire of gain have deceived men1 leading them according to the lusts of sinners2 wherefore they shall suffer for this thing4 #ahf ,howbeit there is still left them room for repentance1 because they have not spoken any thing wickedly against the ,lord4 #ahg ,they who are of the third mountain which had thorns and brambles1 are those who believed1 but were some of them rich2 others taken up with many affairs3 the brambles are their riches2 the thorns1 those affairs in which they were engaged4 #ahh ,now they who are entangled in much business1 and in diversity of affairs1 join not themselves to the servants of ,god1 but wander1 being called away by those affairs with which they are choked4 #ahi ,and so they which are rich1 with difficulty yield themselves to the conversation of the servants of ,god2 fearing lest any thing should be asked of them4 ,these therefore shall hardly enter the kingdom of ,god4 #aij ,for as men walk with difficulty bare-foot over thorns1 even so these kind of men shall scarcely enter into the kingdom of ,god4 #aia ,nevertheless there is afforded to all these a return unto repentance1 if they shall quickly return to it2 because in their former days they having neglected to work1 in the time that is to come they may do some good4 #aib ,if therefore having repented they shall do the works of righteousness1 they shall live2 but if they shall continue in their evil courses1 they shall be delivered to those women who will take away their lives4 #aic ,as for the fourth mountain1 which had many herbs1 the upper part of which is green1 but the roots dry1 and some of which being touched with the heat of the sun1 are withered2 #aid ,it denotes the doubtful1 who have believed1 and some others who carry the ,lord on their tongues1 but have him not in their hearts3 therefore their grass is dry1 and without root2 because they live only in words1 but their works are dead4 #aie ,these therefore are neither dead nor living1 and withal are doubtful4 ,for the doubtful are neither green nor dry2 that is neither dead nor alive4 #aif ,for as the herbs dry away at the sight of the sun1 so the doubtful1 as soon as they hear of persecution1 and fear inconveniencies1 return to their idols1 and again serve them1 and are ashamed to bear the name of their ,lord4 #aig ,this kind of men then is neither dead nor alive2 nevertheless these also may live1 if they shall presently repent2 but if not1 they shall be delivered to those women1 who shall take away their lives4 #aih ,as concerning the fifth mountain that is craggy1 and yet has green grass2 they are of this kind who have believed1 and are faithful indeed1 but believe with difficulty1 and are bold and self- conceited2 and would be thought to know all things1 but really know nothing4 #aii ,wherefore1 by reason of this confidence1 knowledge is departed from them2 and a rash presumption is entered into them4 #bjj ,but they carry themselves high1 and as prudent men2 and though they are fools1 yet would seem to be teachers4 #bja ,now by reason of this folly many of them whilst they magnify themselves1 are become vain and empty4 ,for boldness and vain confidence is a very evil spirit4 #bjb ,wherefore many of these are cast away2 but others acknowledging their error1 have repented1 and submitted themselves to those who are knowing4 #bjc ,and to all the rest of this kind1 there is repentance allowed2 forasmuch as they were not so much wicked as foolish1 and void of understanding4 #bjd ,if these therefore shall repent1 they shall live unto ,god2 but if not1 they shall dwell with those women1 who shall exercise their wickedness upon them4 #bje ,for what concerns the sixth mountain having greater and lesser clefts1 they are such as have believed2 but those in which were lesser clefts are they who have had controversies among themselves2 and by reason of their quarrels languish in the faith3 #bjf ,nevertheless many of these have repented1 and so will the rest when they shall hear my commands2 for their controversies are but small1 and they will easily return unto repentance4 #bjg ,but those who have the greater clefts1 will be as stiff stones1 mindful of grudges and offences1 and full of anger among themselves4 ,these therefore are cast from the tower1 and refused to be put into its building2 for this kind of men shall hardly live4 #bjh ,our ,god and ,lord1 who ruleth over all things1 and has power over all his creatures1 will not remember our offences1 but is easily appeased by those who confess their sins3 but man being languid1 mortal1 infirm1 and full of sins1 perseveres in his anger against man2 as if it were in his power to save or destroy him4 #bji ,but ,i1 as the angel who am set over your repentance1 admonish you1 that whosoever among you has any such purpose he should lay it aside1 and return unto repentance2 and the ,lord will heal your former sins1 if you shall purge yourself from this evil spirit2 but if you shall not do it1 ye shall be delivered to him unto death4 #baj ,as for the seventh mountain in which the grass was green and flourishing1 and the whole mountain faithful2 and all kind of cattle fed upon the grass of it1 and the more the grass was eaten1 so much the more it flourished2 #baa ,they are such as believed1 and were always good and upright2 and without any differences among themselves1 but still rejoiced in the servants of ,god1 having put on the spirit of these virgins2 and been always forward to show mercy to all men1 readily giving to all men of their labours without upbraiding1 and without deliberation4 #bab ,wherefore the ,lord seeing their simplicity and innocence1 has increased them in the works of their hands1 and given them grace in all their works4 #bac ,but ,i1 who am the angel appointed over your repentance1 exhort you1 that as many as are of this kind would continue in the same purpose1 that your seed may not be rooted out for ever4 #bad ,for the ,lord hath tried you1 and written you into our number2 and all your seed shall dwell with the ,son of ,god2 for ye are all of his spirit4 #bae ,as concerning the eighth mountain in which were a great many springs1 by which every kind of all the creatures of ,god was watered2 they are such as have believed the ,apostles which the ,lord sent into all the world to preach2 #baf ,and some of them being teachers have preached and taught purely and sincerely1 and have not in the least yielded to any evil1 desires1 but have constantly walked in righteousness and truth4 #bag ,these therefore have their conversations among the angels4 #bah ,again2 as for what concerns the ninth mountain which is a desert1 and full of serpents2 they are such as have believed1 but had many stains3 #bai ,these are such ministers as discharge their ministry amiss2 ravishing away the goods of the widows and fatherless2 and serve themselves1 not others1 out of those things which they have received4 #bbj ,these1 if they continue in this covetousness1 have delivered themselves unto death1 nor shall there be any hope of life for them4 ,but if they shall be converted1 and shall discharge their ministry sincerely1 they may live4 #bba ,as for those which were found rough1 they are such as have denied the name of the ,lord1 and not returned again to the ,lord1 but have become savage and wild2 not applying themselves to the servants of ,god2 but being separated from them1 have for a little carelessness lost their lives4 #bbb ,for as a vine that is forsaken in a hedge1 and never dressed1 perishes and is choked by the weeds1 and in time becomes wild1 and ceases to be useful to its lord2 so this kind of men despairing of themselves1 and being soured1 have begun to be unprofitable to their ,lord4 #bbc ,howbeit1 to these there is1 after all1 repentance allowed1 if they shall not be found from their hearts to have denied ,christ2 but if any of these shall be found to have denied him from his heart1 ,i cannot tell whether such a one can attain unto life4 #bbd ,i say therefore that if any one hath denied1 he should in these days return unto repentance2 for it cannot be that anyone who now denies the ,lord1 can afterwards attain unto salvation nevertheless repentance is promised unto them who have formerly denied4 #bbe ,but he who will repent must hasten on his repentance1 before the building of this tower is finished2 otherwise1 he shall be delivered by those women unto death4 #bbf ,but they that are maimed1 are the deceitful2 and those who mix with one another1 are the serpents that you saw mingled in that mountain4 #bbg ,for as the poison of serpents is deadly unto men1 so the words of such persons infect and destroy men4 ,they are therefore maimed in their faith1 by reason of that kind of life which they lead4 #bbh ,howbeit some of them1 having repented1 have been saved2 and so shall others of the same kind be also saved1 if they shall repent2 but if not1 they shall die by those women who power and force posses1 #bbi ,for what concerns the tenth mountain1 in which were the trees covering the cattle1 they are such as have believed2 and some of them have been bishops1 that is1 governors of the churches4 #bcj ,others1 are such stones as have not feignedly1 but with a cheerful mind entertained the servants of ,god4 #bca ,then1 such as have been set over inferior ministries1 and have protected the poor and the widows2 and have always kept a chaste conversation3 therefore they also are protected by the ,lord4 #bcb ,whosoever shall do on this wise1 are honoured with the ,lord2 and their place is among the angels1 if they shall continue to obey the ,lord even unto the end4 #bcc ,as to the eleventh mountain in which were trees loaded with several sorts of fruit2 they are such as have believed1 and suffered death1 for the name of the ,lord2 and have endured with a heavy mind1 and have given up their lives with all their hearts4 #bcd ,and ,i said1 ,why then1 sir1 have all these fruit indeed1 but yet some fairer than others8 #bce ,hearken1 said he3 ,whosoever have suffered for the name of the ,lord are esteemed honourable by the ,lord2 and all their offences are blotted out1 because they have suffered death for the name of the ,son of ,god4 #bcf ,hear now1 why their fruits are different1 and some of them excel others4 ,they who were brought before magistrates1 and being asked1 denied not the ,lord1 but suffered with a ready mind2 these are more honourable with the ,lord4 ,the fruits therefore that are the most fair are these4 #bcg ,but they who were fearful and doubtful1 and have deliberated with themselves whether they should confess or deny ,christ1 and yet have suffered2 their fruits are smaller1 because that this thought came into their hearts4 #bch ,for it is a wicked and evil thought for a servant to deliberate whether he should deny his master3 ,take heed therefore ye who have such thoughts1 that this mind ,pontinrie not in you1 and ye die unto ,god4 #bci ,but ye who suffer death for his name sake1 ought to honour the ,lord1 that he has esteemed you worthy to bear his name2 and that you should be delivered from all your sins4 #bdj ,and why therefore do you not rather esteem yourselves happy8 ,ye think verily that if any one among you suffer1 he performs a great work6 ,yet the ,lord giveth you life1 and ye understand it not4 ,for your offences did oppress you2 and if you had not suffered for his name sake1 ye would now be dead unto the ,lord4 #bda ,wherefore ,i speak this unto you who deliberate whether ye should confess or deny him4 ,confess that ye have the ,lord for your ,god1 lest at any time denying him1 ye be delivered up into bonds4 #bdb ,for if all nations punish their servants which deny their masters2 what think you that the ,lord will do unto you1 who has the power of all things8 #bdc ,remove therefore out of your hearts these doubts1 that ye may live for ever unto ,god4 #bdd ,as for the twelfth mountain1 which was white1 they are such as have believed like sincere children1 into whose thoughts there never came any malice1 nor have they ever known what sin was1 but have always continued in their integrity4 #bde ,wherefore this kind of men shall without all doubt inherit the kingdom of ,god2 because they have never in any thing defiled the commandments of ,god1 but have continued with sincerity in the same condition all the days of their lives4 #bdf ,whosoever therefore1 said he1 shall continue as children without malice2 shall be more honourable than all those of whom ,i have yet spoken3 for all such children are honoured by the ,lord1 and esteemed the first of all4 #bdg ,happy therefore are ye who shall remove all malice from you1 and put on innocence2 be4 cause ye shall first see the ,lord4 #bdh ,and after he had thus ended his explication of all the mountains1 ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 show me now also what concerns the stones that were brought out of the plain1 and put into the tower in the room of those that were rejected4 #bdi ,as also concerning those round stones which were added into the building of the tower2 and also of those who still continued round4 #bej ,hear now1 says he1 concerning those stones which were brought out of the plain into the building of the tower1 and placed in the room of those that were rejected3 they are the roots of that white mountain4 #bea ,wherefore because those who have believed of that mountain1 were very innocent2 the lord of this tower commanded that they which were of the roots of this mountain should be placed into the building4 #beb ,for he knew that if they were put into1 this building they would continue bright2 nor would any of them any more be made black4 #bec ,but if he had added after this manner1 from the rest of the mountains1 he would almost have needed again to visit the tower1 and to cleanse it4 #bed ,now all these white stones are the young men who have believed1 or shall believe2 for they are all of the same kind4 ,happy is this kind1 because it is innocent4 #bee ,hear now also concerning those round and bright stones2 all these are of this white mountain4 ,but they are therefore found round1 because their riches have a little darkened them from the truth1 and dazzled their eyes4 #bef ,howbeit they have never departed from the ,lord1 nor has any wicked word proceeded out of their mouths2 but all righteousness1 and virtue1 and truth4 #beg ,when therefore the ,lord saw their minds1 and that they might adorn the truth2 he commanded that they should continue good1 and that their riches should be pared away3 #beh ,for he would not have them taken wholly away1 to the end they might do some good with that which was left1 and live unto ,god2 because they also are of a good kind4 #bei ,therefore was there little cut off from them1 and so they were put into the building of this tower4 #bfj ,as for the rest which continued still round1 and were not found fit for the building of this tower1 because they have not yet received the seal2 they were carried back to their place1 be4 cause they were found very round4 #bfa ,but this present world must be cut away from them1 and the vanities of their riches2 and then they will be fit for the kingdom of ,god4 ,for they must enter into the kingdom of ,god1 because ,god has blessed this innocent kind4 #bfb ,of this kind therefore none shall fall away3 for though any of them being tempted by the devil should offend1 he shall soon return to his ,lord ,god4 #bfc ,i the angel of repentance esteem you happy1 whosoever are innocent as little children1 because your portion is good and honourable with the ,lord4 #bfd ,and ,i say unto all you who have received this seal2 keep simplicity1 and remember not the offences which are committed against you1 nor continue in malice1 or in bitterness1 through the memory of offences4 #bfe ,but become one spirit1 and provide remedies for these evil rents1 and remove them from you2 that the lord of the sheep may rejoice at it2 for he will rejoice1 if he shall find all whole4 #bff ,but if any of these sheep shall be found scattered away1 ,woe shall be to the shepherds2 and if the shepherds themselves shall be scattered2 what will they answer to the lord of the sheep-fold8 ,will they say that they were troubled by the sheep8 ,but they shall not be believed4 #bfg ,for it is an incredible thing that the shepherd should suffer by his flock2 and he shall be the more punished for his life4 #bfh ,now ,i am the shepherd2 and especially must give an account of you4 #bfi ,wherefore take care of yourselves whilst the tower is1 yet building4 ,the ,lord dwells in those that love peace1 for peace is beloved2 but he is far off from the contentious1 and those who are full of malice4 #bgj ,wherefore restore unto him the ,spirit entire1 as ye received it4 ,for if thou shalt give unto a fuller a garment new and whole1 thou wilt expect to receive it whole again2 if therefore the fuller shall restore it unto thee torn1 wouldst thou receive it8 #bga ,wouldst thou not presently be angry1 and reproach him1 saying3 ,i gave my garment to thee whole1 why halt thou rent it1 and made it useless to me8 ,now it is of no use to me1 by reason of the rent which thou hast made in it4 ,wouldst thou not say all this to a fuller1 for the rent which he made in thy garment8 #bgb ,if therefore thou wouldst be concerned for thy garment1 and complain that thou hadst not received it whole2 what thinkest thou that the ,lord will do1 who gave his ,spirit to thee entire1 and thou hast rendered him altogether unprofitable1 so that he can be of no use unto his ,lord8 ,for being corrupted by thee1 he is no longer profitable to him4 #bgc ,will not therefore the ,lord do the same concerning his ,spirit1 by reason of thy deed8 ,undoubtedly1 said ,i1 he will do the same to all those whom he shall find to continue in the remembrance of injuries4 #bgd ,tread not then under foot he said1 his mercy2 but rather honour him1 because he is so patient with respect to your offences1 and not like one of you2 but repent1 for it will be profitable for you4 #bge ,all these things which are above written1 ,i the shepherd and angel of repentance1 have shown and spoken to the servants of ,god4 #bgf ,if therefore ye shall believe and hearken to these words1 and shall walk in them and correct your ways1 ye shall live4 ,but if ye shall1 continue in malice1 and in the remembrance of injuries1 no such sinners shall live unto ,god4 #bgg ,all these things which were to be spoken by me1 ,i have thus delivered unto you4 ,then the shepherd said unto me1 ,hast thou asked all things of me8 ,i answered1 sir1 ,i have4 #bgh ,why then1 said he1 hast thou not asked concerning the spaces of these stones that were put in the building1 that ,i may explain that also unto thee8 ,i answered1 sir1 ,i forgot it4 ,hear1 then1 said he1 concerning these also4 #bgi ,they are those who have now heard these commands1 and have repented with all their hearts2 #bhj ,and when the ,lord saw that their repentance was good and pure1 and that they could continue in it1 he commanded their former sins to be blotted out4 ,for these spaces were their sins1 and they are therefore made even that they might not appear4 ,,similitude ,x4 ,of ,repentance and alms-deeds4 ,,after ,i had written this book1 the angel which had delivered me to that shepherd1 came into the house where ,i was and sat upon the bed1 and that shepherd stood at his right hand4 #b ,then he called me and said unto me2 ,i delivered thee and thy house to this shepherd1 that thou mightest be protected by him4 ,i said1 ,yes1 ,lord4 #c ,if therefore1 said he1 thou wilt be protected from all vexations and from all cruelty1 and have success in every good word and work1 and have all virtue and righteousness2 walk in those commands which he has given thee1 and thou shalt have dominion over all sin4 #d ,for if thou keepest those commands1 all the lust and pleasure of this present world shall be subject to thee2 and success shall follow thee in every good undertaking4 #e ,take therefore his gravity and modesty towards thee1 and say unto all1 that he is in great honour and renown with ,god1 and is a prince of great authority1 and powerful in his office4 #f ,to him only is the power of repentance committed throughout the whole world4 ,does he not seem to thee to be of great authority8 #g ,but ye despise his goodness1 and the modesty which he shows towards you4 #h ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ask him since the time that he came into my house whether ,i have done any thing disorderly1 or have offended him in any thing8 #i ,i know1 said he1 that thou hast done nothing disorderly1 neither wilt thou hereafter do any such thing1 and therefore ,i speak these things with thee that then mayest persevere2 for he has given me a good account concerning thee4 #aj ,but thou shalt speak these things to others1 that they who either have repented1 or shall repent1 may be like-minded with thee1 and he may give me as good an account of them also2 and that ,i may do the same unto the ,lord4 #aa ,i answered2 ,sir1 ,i declare to all men the wonderful works of ,god2 and ,i hope that all who love them1 and have before sinned1 when they shall hear these things1 will repent1 and recover life4 #ab ,continue therefore1 said he1 in this ministry1 and fulfil it4 ,and whosoever shall do according to the commands of this shepherd1 he shall live2 and shall have great honour both here and with the ,lord4 #ac ,but they that shall not keep his commands1 flee from their life1 and are adversaries to it4 ,and they that follow not his commands1 shall deliver themselves unto death2 and shall be every one guilty of his own blood4 #ad ,but ,i say unto thee1 keep these commandments1 and thou shalt find a cure for all thy sins4 #ae ,moreover1 ,i have sent these virgins to dwell with thee2 for ,i have seen that they are very kind to thee4 ,thou shalt therefore have them for thy helpers1 that thou mayest the better keep the commands which he hath given thee2 for these commands cannot be kept without these virgins4 #af ,and as ,i see how they are willing to be with thee1 ,i will also command them that they shall not all depart from thy house4 #ag ,only do thou purify thy house2 for they will readily dwell in a clean house4 ,for they are clean and chaste1 and industrious2 and all of them have grace with the ,lord4 #ah ,if therefore thou shalt have thy house pure1 they will abide with thee4 ,but1 if it shall be never so little polluted1 they will immediately depart from thy house2 for these virgins cannot endure any manner of pollution4 #ai ,i said unto him2 ,sir1 ,i hope that ,i shall so please them1 that they shall always delight to dwell in my house4 ,and as he to whom you have committed me1 makes no complaint of me2 so neither shall they complain4 #bj ,then he said to that shepherd3 ,i see that the servant of ,god will live and keep these commandments1 and place these virgins in a pure habitation4 #ba ,when he had said this1 he delivered me again to that shepherd1 and called the virgins1 and said unto them2 ,forasmuch as ,i see that ye will readily dwell in this man's house1 ,i commend him and his family to you1 that ye may not at all depart from his house4 ,and they willingly heard these words4 #bb ,then he said unto me1 ,go on manfully in thy ministry2 declare to all men the great things of ,god1 and thou shalt find grace in this ministry4 #bc ,and whosoever shall walk in these commands1 shall live1 and be happy in his life4 ,but he that shall neglect them1 shall not live1 and shall be unhappy in his life4 #bd ,say unto all that whosoever can do well1 cease not to exercise themselves in good works1 for it is profitable unto them4 ,for ,i would that all men should be delivered from the inconveniences they lie under4 #be ,for he that wants1 and suffers inconveniences in his daily life1 is in great torment and necessity4 ,whosoever therefore delivers such a soul from necessity1 gets great joy unto himself4 #bf ,for he that is grieved with such inconveniencies is equally tormented1 as if he were in chains4 ,and many upon the account of such calamities1 being not able to bear them1 have chosen even to destroy themselves4 #bg ,he therefore that knows the calamity of such a man1 and does not free him from it1 commits a great sin1 and is guilty of his blood4 #bh ,wherefore exercise yourselves in good works1 as many as have received ability from the ,lord2 lest whilst ye delay to do them1 the building of the tower be finished2 because for your sakes the building is stopped4 #bi ,except therefore ye shall make haste to do well1 the tower shall be finished1 and ye shall be shut out of it4 #cj ,and after he had thus spoken with me1 he rose up from the bed and departed1 taking the shepherd and virgins with him4 #ca ,howbeit he said unto me1 that he would send back the shepherd and virgins unto my house4 ,amen4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,hermas1 ,,the ,,shepherd4 ,this book1 divided into three parts1 called his ,,visions1 ,,commands1 and ,,similitudes1 is thus entitled1 because it was composed by ,hermas1 brother to ,pius1 bishop of ,rome2 and because the ,angel1 who bears the principal part in it1 is represented in the form and habit of a shepherd4 ,ireneus quotes it under the very name of ,scripture4 ,origen thought it a most useful writing1 and that it was divinely inspired2 ,eusebius says that1 though it was not esteemed canonical1 it was read publicly in the churches1 which is corroborated by ,jerome2 and ,athanasius cites it1 calls it a most useful work1 and observes1 that though it was not strictly canonical1 the ,fathers appointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith and piety4 ,jerome1 notwithstanding this1 and that he applauded it in his catalogue of writers1 in his comments upon it afterwards1 terms it apocryphal and foolish4 ,tertullian praised it when a ,catholic1 and abused it when a ,montanist4 ,although ,gelasius ranks it among the apocryphal books1 it is found attached to some of the most ancient ,,mss4 of the ,new ,testament2 and ,archbishop ,wake1 believing it the genuine work of an apostolical ,father1 preserves it to the ,english reader by the foregoing translation1 in which he has rendered the three parts of it not only more exact1 but in greater purity than they had before appeared4 ,the archbishop procured ,dr4 ,grabe to entirely collate the old ,latin version with an ancient ,,ms4 in the ,lambeth library2 and the learned prelate himself still further improved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the original ,greek never before used for that purpose4