{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_6511/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_6511","id":"gutenberg_6511","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6511","summary":null,"tags":["Apocryphal books (New Testament)","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>\nAdditional proofing was done by Curtis A. Weyant\n\n\n\n\n\n                                  THE\n                              SUPPRESSED\n                          GOSPELS AND EPISTLES\n                            OF THE ORIGINAL\n                             NEW TESTAMENT\n                                   OF\n                            JESUS THE CHRIST\n\n          AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES.\n                       NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO\n                  HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES,\n       AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING\n                       THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES,\n                 BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS\n                            FORBIDDEN BY THE\n                     BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL,\n                IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE\n             AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT\n            EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS\n\n         TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL\n                   REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY,\n\n                                  BY\n                            ARCHBISHOP WAKE\n                               AND OTHER\n                            LEARNED DIVINES\n\n\n\n\n\n                            THE EPISTLES OF\n                 JESUS CHRIST & ABGARUS KING OF EDESSA.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     A copy of a letter written by King Abgarus to Jesus;\n     and sent to him by Ananius, his footman, to Jerusalem,\n     5 inviting him to Edessa.\n\nABGARUS, king of Edessa, to\nJesus the good Saviour, who\nappears at Jerusalem, greeting.\n\n2  I have been informed concerning\nyou and your cures, which are\nperformed without the use of\nmedicines and herbs.\n\n3  For it is reported, that you\ncause the blind to see, the lame to\nwalk, do both cleanse lepers, and\ncast out unclean spirits and devils,\nand restore them to health who have\nbeen long diseased; and raiseth up\nthe dead;\n\n4  All which when I heard, I was\npursuaded of one of these two,\nnamely, either that you are God\nhimself descended from heaven;\nwho do these things, or the Son\nof God.\n\n5  On this account therefore I\nhave written to you, earnestly to\ndesire you would take the trouble\nof a journey hither, and cure a\ndisease which I am under.\n\n6  For I hear the Jews ridicule\nyou and, intend you mischief.\n\n7  My city is indeed small, but\nneat, and large enough for us\nboth.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n     The answer of Jesus by Ananias the footman\n     to Abgarus the king,\n     3 declining to visit Edessa.\n\nABGARUS, you are happy,\nforasmuch as you have\nbelieved on me, whom you\nhave not seen.\n\n2  For it is written concerning\nme, that those who have seen me\nshould not believe on me, that\nthey who have not seen might\nbelieve and live.\n\n3  As to that part of your letter,\nwhich relates to my giving you a\nvisit, I must inform you, that I\nmust fulfil all the ends of my\nmission in this country, and after\nthat be received up again to him\nwho sent me.\n\n4  But after my ascension I will\nsend one of my disciples, who will\ncure your disease, and give life to\nyou, and all that are with you.\n\n\n\n\n            REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLES OF JESUS CHRIST AND\n                        ABGARUS KING OF EDESSA.\n\n[The first writer who makes any mention of the Epistles that passed\nbetween  Jesus Christ and Abgarus, is Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in\nPalestine, who flourished in the early part of the fourth century. For\ntheir genuineness, he appeals to the public registers and records of the\nCity of Edessa in Mesopotamia, where Abgarus reigned, and where he\naffirms that he found them written in the Syriac language. He published a\nGreek translation of them, in his Ecclesiastical History. The learned\nworld has been much divided on  this subject; but, notwithstanding the\nerudite Grabe, with Archbishop Cave, Dr, Parker, and other divines, have\nstrenuously contended for their admission into the canon of Scripture,\nthey are deemed apocryphal. The Rev. Jeremiah  Jones observes, that the\ncommon people in England have this Epistle in their  houses in many\nplaces, fixed in a frame, with the picture of Christ before it; and that\nthey generally, with much honesty and devotion, regard it as the word of\nGod, and the genuine Epistle of Christ.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                             THE EPISTLE OF\n                ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE LAODICEANS.\n\n     1 He salutes the brethren;\n     3 exhorts them to persevere in good works,\n     4 and not to be moved by vain speaking.\n     6 Rejoices in his bonds,\n     10 desires them to live in the fear of the Lord.\n\nPAUL an Apostle, not of men,\nneither by man, but by Jesus\nChrist, to the brethren which are\nat Laodicea.\n\n2  Grace be to you, and peace\nfrom God the Father and our Lord\nJesus Christ.\n\n3  I thank Christ in every prayer\nof mine, that ye may continue and\npersevere in good works, looking\nfor that which is promised in the\nday of judgment.\n\n4  Let not the vain speeches of\nany trouble you, who pervert the\ntruth, that they may draw you\naside from the truth of the Gospel\nwhich I have preached.\n\n5  And now may God grant, that\nmy converts may attain to a\nperfect knowledge of the truth\nof the Gospel, be beneficent,\nand doing good works which\naccompany salvation.\n\n6  And now my bonds, which I\nsuffer in Christ, are manifest,\nin which I rejoice and am glad.\nFor I know that this shall\nturn to my salvation for ever,\nwhich shall be through your\nprayer, and the supply of the\nHoly Spirit.\n\n8  Whether I live or die, to live\nshall be a life to Christ, to die\nwill be joy.\n\n9  And our Lord will grant us\nhis mercy, that ye may have the\nsame love, and be like-minded.\n\n10  Wherefore, my beloved, as\nye have heard of the coming of\nthe Lord, so think and act in fear,\nand it shall be to you life eternal;\n\n11  For it is God, who worketh\nin you:\n\n12  And do all things without\nsin.\n\n13  And what is best, my beloved\nrejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ\nand avoid all filthy lucre.\n\n14  Let all your requests be made\nknown to God, and be steady in\nthe doctrine of Christ.\n\n15  And whatsoever things are\nsound and true, and of good reort,\nand chaste, and just, and lovely,\nthese things do.\n\n16  Those things which ye have\nheard, and received, think on these\nthings, and peace shall be with\nyou.\n\n17  All the saints salute you.\n\n18  The grace of our Lord Jesus\nChrist be with your spirit. Amen.\n\n19  Cause this Epistle to be read\nto the Colossians, and the Epistle\nof the Colossians to be read among\nyou.\n\n\n\n           REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE\n                           TO THE LAODICEANS.\n\n[This Epistle has been highly esteemed by several learned men of the\nchurch of  Rome and others. The Quakers have printed a translation, and\nplead for it,  as the reader may see, by consulting Poole's Annotation on\nCol. vi. 16. Sixtus Senensis mentions two MSS., the one in the Sorbonne\nLibrary at  Paris, which is a very ancient copy, and the other in the\nLibrary of Joannes  a Viridario, at Padua, which he transcribed and\npublished; and which is the  authority for the following translation.\nThere is a very old translation of  this Epistle in the British Museum,\namong the Harleian MSS., Cod. 1212.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                            THE EPISTLES OF\n                 ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO SENECA, WITH\n                           SENECA' S TO PAUL.\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nI SUPPOSE, Paul, you have been\ninformed of that conversation,\nwhich passed yesterday between\nme and my Lucilius, concerning\nhypocrisy and other subjects; for\nthere were some of your disciples\nin company with us;\n\n2  For when we were retired into\nthe Sallustian gardens, through\nwhich they were also passing, and\nwould have gone another way, by\nour persuasion they joined\ncompany with us.\n\n3  I desire you to believe, that\nwe much wish for your conversation;\n\n4  We were much delighted with\nyour book of many Epistles, which\nyou have written to some cities\nand chief towns of provinces, and\ncontain wonderful instructions for\nmoral conduct:\n\n5  Such sentiments, as I suppose\nyou were not the author of, but\nonly the instrument of conveying,\nthough sometimes both the author\nand the instrument,\n\n6  For such is the sublimity of\nthose, doctrines, and their grandeur,\nthat I suppose the age of a man\nis scarce sufficient to be instructed\nand perfected in the knowledge of\nthem. I wish your welfare, my brother.\nFarewell.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nPAUL to SENECA Greeting.\n\nI RECEIVED your letter yesterday\nwith pleasure, to which I could\nimmediately have written an answer,\nhad the young man been at home,\nwhom I intended to have sent to you:\n\n2  For you know when, and by whom,\nat what seasons, and to whom I must\ndeliver everything which I send.\n\n3  I desire therefore you would\nnot charge me with negligence, if\nI wait for a proper person.\n\n4  I reckon myself very happy in\nhaving the judgment of so valuable\na person, that you are delighted\nwith my Epistles:\n\n5  For you would not be esteemed\na censor, a philosopher, or be the\ntutor of so great a prince, and a\nmaster of everything, if you were\nnot sincere.   I wish you a lasting\nprosperity.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nI HAVE completed some volumes\nand divided them into their\nproper parts.\n\n2  I am determined to read them\nto Caesar, and if any favourable\nopportunity happens, you also\nshall be present, when they are\nread;\n\n3  But if that cannot be, I will\nappoint and give you notice of a\nday, when we will together read\nover the performance.\n\n4 I had determined, if I could\nwith safety, first to have your\nopinion of it, before I published\nit to Caesar, that you might be\nconvinced of my affection to you.\nFarewell, dearest Paul.\n\n\n\nCHAP. IV.\nPAUL to SENECA Greeting.\n\nAS often as I read your letters,\nI imagine you present with\nme; nor indeed do I think any\nother, than that you are always\nwith us.\n\n2  As soon therefore as you begin\nto come, we shall presently see\neach other. I wish you all\nprosperity.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nWE are very much concerned\nat your too long absence\nfrom us.\n\n2  What is it, or what affairs are\nthey, which obstructs your coming?\n\n3  If you fear the anger of\nCaesar because you have abandoned\nyour former religion, and made\nproselytes also of others, you\nhave this to plead, that your\nacting thus proceeded not from\ninconstancy, but judgment.\nFarewell.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\nPAUL to SENECA and LUCILIUS\nGreeting.\n\nCONCERNING those things,\nabout which ye wrote to me,\nit is not proper for me to mention\nanything in writing with pen and\nink: the one of which leaves\nmarks, and the other evidently\ndeclares things.\n\n2  Especially since I know that\nthere are near you, as well as me,\nthose who will understand my\nmeaning.\n\n3  Deference is to be paid to\nall men, and so much the more,\nas they are more likely to take\noccasions of quarrelling.\n\n4  And if we show a submissive\ntemper, we shall overcome\neffectually in all points, if so\nbe they are, who are capable of\nseeing and acknowledging themselves\nto have been in the wrong. Farewell.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nI PROFESS myself extremely\npleased with the reading your\nletters to the Galatians,\nCorinthians, and people of Achaia.\n\n2  For the Holy Ghost has in\nthem by you delivered those\nsentiments which are very lofty,\nsublime, deserving of all respect,\nand beyond your own invention.\n\n3  I could wish therefore, that\nwhen you are writing things so\nextraordinary, there might not\nbe wanting an elegancy of speech\nagreeable to their majesty.\n\n4  And I must own, my brother,\nthat I may not at once dishonestly\nconceal anything from you, and be\nunfaithful to my own conscience,\nthat the emperor is extremely\npleased with the sentiments of\nyour Epistles;\n\n5  For when he heard the beginning\nof them read, he declared, that he\nwas surprised to find such notions\nin a person, who had not had a\nregular education.\n\n6  To which I replied, That the\nGods sometimes made use of mean\n(innocent) persons to speak by, and\ngave him an instance of this in a\nmean countryman named Vatienus,\nwho, when he was in the country\nof Reate, had two men appeared\nto him, called Castor and Pollux,\nand received a revelation from the\ngods. Farewell.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\nPAUL to SENECA Greeting.\n\nALTHOUGH I know the emperor is\nboth an admirer and favourer of\nour religion, yet give me leave\nto advise you against your suffering\nany injury (by showing favour to us).\n\n2  I think indeed you ventured\nupon a very dangerous attempt,\nwhen you would declare (to the\nemperor) that which is so very\ncontrary to his religion, and way\nof worship; seeing he is a\nworshipper of the heathen gods.\n\n3  I know not what you particularly\nhad in view, when you told him of\nthis; but I suppose you did it out\nof too great respect for me.\n\n4  But I desire that for the future\nyou would not do so; for you had\nneed be careful, lest by showing\nyour affection for me, you should\noffend your master:\n\n5  His anger indeed will do us no\nharm, if he continue a heathen;\nnor will his not being angry be\nof any service to us:\n\n6  And if the empress act worthy\nof her character, she will not be\nangry; but if she act as a woman,\nshe will be affronted. Farewell.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\nANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nKNOW that my letter, wherein\nI acquainted you, that I had\nread to the Emperor your Epistles,\ndoes not so much affect you as the\nnature of the things (contained\nin them.)\n\n2  Which do so powerfully divert\nmen's minds from their former\nmanners and practices, that I have\nalways been surprised, and have\nbeen fully convinced of it by many\narguments heretofore.\n\n3  Let us therefore begin afresh;\nand if any thing heretofore has\nbeen imprudently acted, do you\nforgive.\n\n4  I have sent you a book decopia\nverborum. Farewell, dearest Paul.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\nPAUL to SENECA Greeting.\n\nAS often as I write to you,\nand place my name before yours,\nI do a thing both disagreeable\nto myself, and contrary to our\nreligion:\n\n2  For I ought, as I have often\ndeclared, to become all things to\nall men, and to have that regard\nto your quality, which the Roman\nlaw has honoured all senators with;\nnamely, to put my name last in the\n(inscription of the) Epistle, that\nI may not at length with uneasiness\nand shame be obliged to do that\nwhich it was always my inclination\nto do. Farewell, most respected\nmaster. Dated the fifth of the\ncalends of July, in the fourth\nConsulship of Nero, and Messala.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nALL happiness to you,\nmy dearest Paul.\n\n2  If a person so great, and\nevery way agreeable as you are,\nbecome not only a common, but\na most intimate friend to me,\nhow happy will be the case of\nSeneca!\n\n3  You therefore, who are so\neminent, and so far exalted above\nall, even the greatest, do not think\nyourself unfit to be first named in\nthe inscription of an Epistle;\n\n4  Lest I should suspect you intend\nnot so much to try me, as to banter\nme; for you know yourself to be a\nRoman citizen.\n\n5  And I could wish to be in that\ncircumstance or station which you\nare, and that you were in the same\nthat I am. Farewell, dearest Paul.\nDated the tenth of the calends of\nApril, in the Consulship of Aprianus\nand Capito.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nALL happiness to you, my dearest\nPaul. Do you not suppose I am\nextremely concerned and grieved\nthat your innocence should bring\nyou into sufferings?\n\n2  And that all the people should\nsuppose you (Christians) so criminal,\nand imagine all the misfortunes\nthat happen to the city, to be\ncaused by you?\n\n3  But let us bear the charge\nwith a patient temper, appealing\nfor our innocence to the court\nabove, which is the only one our\nhard fortune will allow us to address\nto, till at length our misfortunes\nshall end in unalterable happiness.\n\n4  Former ages have produced\n(tyrants) Alexander the son of\nPhilip, and Dionysius; ours also\nhas produced Caius Caesar; whose\ninclinations were their only laws.\n\n5  As to the frequent burnings\nof the city of Rome, the cause is\nmanifest; and if a person in my\nmean circumstances might be allowed\nto speak, and one might declare\nthese dark things without danger,\nevery one should see the whole of\nthe matter.\n\n6  The Christians and Jews are\nindeed commonly punished for the\ncrime of burning the city; but that\nimpious miscreant, who delights\nin murders and butcheries, and\ndisguises his villainies with lies,\nis appointed to, or reserved till,\nhis proper time.\n\n7  And as the life of every\nexcellent person is now sacrificed\ninstead of that one person (who is\nthe author of the mischief), so this\none shall be sacrificed for many,\nand be shall be devoted to be burnt\nwith fire instead of all.\n\n8  One hundred and thirty-two houses,\nand four whole squares (or islands)\nwere burnt down in six days: the\nseventh put an end to the burning.\nI wish you all happiness.\n\n9 Dated the fifth of the calends\nof April, in the Consulship of\nFrigius and Bassus.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\nANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.\n\nALL happiness to you, my dearest\nPaul.\n\n2  You have written many volumes in\nan allegorical and mystical style,\nand therefore such mighty matters\nand business being committed to you,\nrequire not to be set off with any\nrhetorical flourishes of speech,\nbut only with some proper elegance.\n\n3  I remember you often said,\nthat many by affecting such a style\ndo injury to their subjects, and\nlose the force of the matters they\ntreat of.\n\n4  But in this I desire you to\nregard me, namely, to have respect\nto true Latin, and to choose just\nwords, that so you may the better\nmanage the noble trust which is\nreposed in you.\n\n5  Farewell. Dated the fifth of\nthe nones of July, Leo and Savinus\nConsuls.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\nPAUL to SENECA Greeting.\n\nYOUR serious consideration is\nrequited with those discoveries,\nwhich the Divine Being has\ngranted but to few;\n\n2  I am thereby assured that\nI sow the most strong seed in a\nfertile soil, not anything material,\nwhich is subject to corruption, but\nthe durable word of God, which\nshall increase and bring forth fruit\nto eternity.\n\n3  That which by your wisdom you\nhave attained to, shall abide\nwithout decay for ever.\n\n4  Believe that you ought to\navoid the superstitions of Jews\nand Gentiles.\n\n5  The things which you have in\nsome measure arrived to, prudently\nmake known to the emperor, his\nfamily, and to faithful friends;\n\n6  And though your sentiments\nwill seem disagreeable, and not\nbe comprehended by them, seeing\nmost of them will not regard your\ndiscourses, yet the Word of God\nonce infused into them, will at\nlength make them become new men,\naspiring towards God.\n\n7  Farewell Seneca, who art\nmost dear to us. Dated on the\ncalends of August, in the\nConsulship of Leo and Savinus.\n\n\n\n          REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE\n                   TO SENECA, WITH SENECA'S TO PAUL.\n\n[Several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of\nthese Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity. Salmeron cites\nthem to prove that Seneca was one of Caesar's household, referred to by\nPaul, Philip iv. 22, as saluting the brethren at Philippi. In Jerome's\nenumeration of  illustrious men, he places Seneca, on account of these\nEpistles, amongst the  ecclesiastical and holy writers of the Christian\nChurch. Sixtus Senensis has published them in his Bibliotheque, p 89, 90;\nand it is from thence that the present translation is made. Baronius,\nBellarmine, Dr. Cave, Spanheim, and  others, contend that they are not\ngenuine.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                     THE ACTS OF ST. PAUL AND THECLA.\n\n     The martyrdom of the holy and glorious\n     first Martyr and Apostle Thecla.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     1 Demas and Hermogenes become Paul's companions.\n     4 Paul visits Onesiphorus.\n     8 Invited by Demos and Hermogenes.\n     11 Preaches to the household of Onesiphorus.\n     12 His sermon.\n\nWHEN Paul went up to Iconium,\nafter his flight from Antioch,\nDemas and Hermogenes became\nhis companions, who were then\nfull of hypocrisy.\n\n2  But Paul looking only at the\ngoodness of God, did them no\nharm, but loved them greatly.\n\n3  Accordingly he endeavoured\nto make agreeable to them all the\noracles and doctrines of Christ,\nand the design of the Gospel of\nGod's well-beloved son; instructing\nthem in the knowledge of Christ,\nas it was revealed to him.\n\n4  And a certain man named\nOnesiphorus, hearing that Paul\nwas come to Iconium, went out\nspeedily to meet him, together\nwith his wife Lectra, and his sons\nSimmia and Zeno, to invite him to\ntheir house.\n\n5  For Titus had given them a\ndescription of Paul's personage,\nthey as yet not knowing him in\nperson, but only being acquainted\nwith his character.\n\n6  They went in the king's highway\nto Lystra, and stood there waiting\nfor him, comparing all who passed\nby with that description which\nTitus had given them.\n\n7  At length they saw a man coming\n(namely Paul), of a low stature,\nbald on the head; with crooked thighs,\nhandsome legs, hollow-eyes; and a\ncrooked nose; full of grace, for\nsometimes he appeared as a man,\nsometimes he had the countenance\nof an angel. And Paul saw Onesiphorus,\nand was glad.\n\n8  And Onesiphorus said:\nHail, thou servant of the blessed\nGod. Paul replied, The grace of\nGod be with thee and thy family.\n\n9  But Denies and Hermogenes\nwere moved with envy, and, under\na show of great religion, Demas\nsaid, And are not we also servants\nof the blessed God? Why didst\nthou not salute us?\n\n10  Onesiphorus replied, Because\nI have not perceived in you the\nfruits of righteousness; nevertheless,\nif ye are of that sort, ye shall be\nwelcome to my house also.\n\n11  Then Paul went into the house\nof Onesiphorus, and there was great\njoy among the family on that account:\nand they employed themselves in prayer,\nbreaking of bread, and hearing Paul\npreach the word of God concerning\ntemperance and the resurrection,\nin the following manner:\n\n12  Blessed are the pure in\nheart; for they shall see God.\n\n13  Blessed are they who keep\ntheir flesh undefiled (or pure);\nfor they shall be the temple of God.\n\n14  Blessed are the temperate\n(or chaste); for God will reveal\nhimself to them.\n\n15  Blessed are they who abandon\ntheir worldly enjoyments; for they\nshall be accepted of God.\n\n16  Blessed are they who have\nwives, as though they had them\nnot; for they shall be made angels\nof God.\n\n17  Blessed are they who tremble\nat the word of God; for they\nshall be comforted.\n\n18  Blessed are they who keep\ntheir baptism pure; for they shall\nfind peace with the Father, Son,\nand Holy Ghost.\n\n19  Blessed are they who pursue\nthe wisdom or doctrine of Jesus\nChrist; for they shall be called\nthe sons of the Most High.\n\n20  Blessed are they who observe\nthe instructions of Jesus Christ;\nfor they shall dwell in eternal\nlight.\n\n21  Blessed are they, who for the\nlove of Christ abandon the glories\nof the world, for they shall judge\nangels, and be placed at the right\nhand of Christ, and shall not suffer\nthe bitterness of the last judgment.\n\n22  Blessed are the bodies and souls\nof virgins; for they are acceptable\nto God, and shall not lose the reward\nof their virginity; for the word of\ntheir (heavenly) Father shall prove\neffectual to their salvation in the\nday of his Son, and they shall enjoy\nrest for evermore.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n     1 Thecla listens anxiously to Paul's preaching.\n     5 Thamyris, her admirer, concerts with Theoclia\n     her mother to dissuade her,\n     12 in vain.\n     14 Demas and Hermogenes vilify Paul to Thamyris.\n\nWHILE Paul was preaching\nthis sermon in the church\nwhich was in the house of\nOnesiphorus, a certain virgin\nnamed Thecla (whose mother's\nname was Theoclia, and who was\nbetrothed to a man named Thamyris)\nsat at a certain window in her house.\n\n2  From whence, by the advantage\nof a window in the house where\nPaul was, she both night and day\nheard Paul's sermons concerning\nGod, concerning charity, concerning\nfaith in Christ, and concerning\nprayer;\n\n3  Nor would she depart from\nthe window, till with exceeding\njoy she was subdued to the\ndoctrines of faith.\n\n4  At length, when she saw many\nwomen and virgins going into\nPaul, she earnestly desired that\nshe might be thought worthy to\nappear in his presence, and hear\nthe word of Christ; for she had\nnot yet seen Paul's person, but only\nheard his sermons, and that alone.\n\n5  But when she would not be\nprevailed upon to depart from the\nwindow, her mother sent to Thamyris,\nwho came with the greatest pleasure,\nas hoping now, to marry her.\nAccordingly he said to Theoclia,\nWhere is my Thecla?\n\n6  Theoclia replied, Thamyris,\nI have something very strange to\ntell you; for Thecla, for the space\nof three days, will not move from\nthe window, not so much as to eat\nor drink, but is so intent in\nhearing the artful and delusive\ndiscourses of a certain foreigner,\nthat I perfectly wonder Thamyris,\nthat a young woman of her known\nmodesty, will suffer herself to be\nso prevailed upon.\n\n7  For that man has disturbed\nthe whole city of Iconium, and\neven your Thecla, among others.\nAll the women and young men\nflock to him to receive his\ndoctrine; who, besides all the\nrest, tells them that there is\nbut one God, who alone is to be\nworshipped, and that we ought\nto live in chastity.\n\n8  Notwithstanding this, my\ndaughter Thecla, like a spider's\nweb fastened to the window, is\ncaptivated, by the discourses of\nPaul, and attends' upon them with\nprodigious eagerness, and vast\ndelight; and thus, by attending\non what he says, the young woman\nis seduced.    Now then do you go,\nand speak to her, for she is\nbetrothed to you.\n\n9  Accordingly Thamyris went,\nand having saluted her, and taking\ncare not to surprise her, he said,\nThecla, my spouse, why sittest\nthou in this melancholy posture?\nWhat strange impressions are\nmade upon thee? Turn to Thamyris,\nand blush.\n\n10  Her mother also spake to her\nafter the same manner, and said,\nChild, why dost thou sit so\nmelancholy, and, like one\nastonished, makest no reply?\n\n11  Then they wept exceedingly,\nThamyris, that he had lost his\nspouse; Theoclia, that she had\nlost her daughter; and the maids,\nthat they had lost their mistress;\nand there was an universal\nmourning in the family.\n\n12  But all these things made no\nimpression upon Thecla, so as to\nincline her so much as to turn to\nthem, and take notice of them;\nfor she still regarded the\ndiscourses of Paul.\n\n13  Then Thamyris ran forth into\nthe street to observe who they\nwere that went in to Paul, and\ncame out from him; and he saw\ntwo men engaged in a very warm\ndispute, and said to them;\n\n14  Sirs, what business have\nyou here? and who is that man\nwithin, belonging to you, who\ndeludes the minds of men, both\nyoung men and virgins, persuading\nthem, that they ought not to marry,\nbut continue as they are?\n\n15  I promise to give you a\nconsiderable sum, if ye will give\nme a just account of him; for I am\nthe chief person of this city.\n\n16  Demas and Hermogenes replied,\nWe cannot so exactly tell who he\nis; but this we know, that he\ndeprives young men of their\n(intended) wives, and virgins of\ntheir (intended) husbands, by\nteaching, There can be no future\nresurrection, unless ye continue\nin chastity, and do not defile your\nflesh.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n1 They betray Paul.\n7 Thamyris arrests him with officers.\n\nTHEN said Thamyris, Come along\nwith me to my house, and refresh\nyourselves. So they went to a very\nsplendid entertainment, where\nthere was wine in abundance,\nand very rich provision.\n\n2  They were brought to a table\nrichly spread, and made to drink\nplentifully by Thamyris, on account\nof the love he had for Thecla\nand his desire to marry her.\n\n3  Then Thamyris said, I desire\nye would inform me what the\ndoctrines of this Paul are, that\nI may understand them; for I am\nunder no small concern about Thecla,\nseeing she so delights in that\nstranger's discourses, that I am in\ndanger of losing my intended wife.\n\n4  Then Demas and Hermogenes\nanswered both together, and said,\nLet him be brought before the\ngovernor Castellius, as one who\nendeavours to persuade the people\ninto the new religion of the\nChristians, and he, according to\nthe order of Caesar, will put him\nto death, by which means you will\nobtain your wife;\n\n5  While we at the same time will\nteach her, that the resurrection\nwhich he speaks of is already come,\nand consists in our having children;\nand that we then arose again,\nwhen we came to the knowledge of God.\n\n6  Thamyris having this account\nfrom them, was filled with hot\nresentment:\n\n7  And rising early in the morning\nhe went to the house of Onesiphorus,\nattended by the magistrates, the\nJailor, and a great multitude of\npeople with staves, and said to Paul;\n\n8  Thou hast perverted the city\nof Iconium, and among the rest,\nThecla, who is betrothed to me,\nso that now she will not marry\nme. Thou shalt therefore go with\nus to the governor Castellius.\n\n9  And all the multitude cried\nout, Away with this imposter, for\nhe has perverted the minds of our\nwives, and all the people hearken\nto him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n     1 Paul accused before the governor by Thamyris.\n     5 Defends himself.\n     9 Is committed to prison,\n     10 and visited by Thecla.\n\nTHEN Thamyris standing before\nthe governor's judgment-seat,\nspake with a loud voice in the\nfollowing manner.\n\n2 O governor, I know not whence\nthis man cometh; but he is one\nwho teaches that matrimony is\nunlawful. Command him therefore\nto declare before you for what\nreason he publishes such doctrines.\n\n3  While he was saying thus,\nDemas and Hermogenes (whispered to\nThamyris, and) said; Say that he\nis a Christian, and he will\npresently be put to death.\n\n4  But the governor was more\ndeliberate, and calling to Paul,\nhe said, Who art thou? What dost\nthou teach? They seem to lay\ngross crimes to thy charge.\n\n5  Paul then spake with a loud\nvoice, saying, As I am now called\nto give an account, O governor,\nof my doctrines, I desire your\naudience.\n\n6  That God, who is a God of\nvengeance, and who strands in need\nof nothing but the salvation of his\ncreatures, has sent me to reclaim\nthem from their wickedness, and\ncorruptions; from all (sinful)\npleasures, and from death; and to\npersuade them to sin no more.\n\n7  On this account, God sent his\nSon Jesus Christ, whom I preach,\nand in whom I instruct men to\nplace their hopes, as that person\nwho only had such compassion on\nthe deluded world, that it might\nnot, O governor, be condemned,\nbut have faith, the fear of God,\nthe knowlege of religion, and the\nlove of truth.\n\n8  So that if I only teach those\nthings which I have received by\nrevelation from God, where is my\ncrime?\n\n9  When the governor heard this,\nhe ordered Paul to be bound,\nand to be put in prison, till he\nshould be more at leisure to hear\nhim more fully.\n\n10  But in the night, Thecla\ntaking off her ear-rings, gave them\nto the turnkey of the prison, who\nthen opened the door to her, and\nlet her in;\n\n11  And when she made a present\nof a silver looking-glass to the\njailor, was allowed to go into the\nroom where Paul was; then she set\ndown at his feet, and heard from\nhim the great things of God.\n\n12  And as she perceived Paul\nnot to be afraid of suffering,\nbut that by divine assistance\nhe behaved himself with courage,\nher faith so far increased that\nshe kissed his chains.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n1 Thecla sought and found by her relations.\n4 Brought with Paul before the governor.\n9 Ordered to be burnt, and Paul to be whipt.\n15 Thecla miraculously saved.\n\nAT length Thecla was missed\nand sought for by the family\nand by Thamyris in every street,\nas though she had been lost; till\none of the porter's fellow-servants\ntold them, that she had gone out\nin the night-time.\n\n2  Then they examined the porter,\nand he told them, that she was\ngone to the prison to the strange\nman.\n\n3  They went therefore according\nto his direction, and there found\nher; and when they came out, they\ngot a mob together, and went and\ntold the governor all that had\nhappened.\n\n4  Upon which he ordered Paul\nto be brought before his judgment\nseat.\n\n5  Thecla in the mean time lay\nwallowing on the ground in the\nprison, in that same place where\nPaul had sat to teach her; upon\nwhich the governor also ordered\nher to be brought before his\njudgment-seat; which summons she\nreceived with joy, and went.\n\n6  When Paul was brought thither,\nthe mob with more vehemence cried\nout, He is a magician, let him die.\n\n7  Nevertheless the governor\nattended with pleasure upon Paul's\ndiscourses of the holy works of\nChrist; and, after a council called,\nhe summoned Thecla, and said to\nher, Why do you not, according\nto the law of the Iconians, marry\nThamyris?\n\n8  She stood still, with her eyes\nfixed upon Paul; and finding she\nmade no reply, Theoclia, her\nmother cried out saying, Let the\nunjust creature be burnt; let her\nbe burnt in the midst of the theatre,\nfor refusing Thamyris, that all\nwomen may learn from her to avoid\nsuch practices.\n\n9  Then the governor was exceedingly\nconcerned, and ordered Paul to be\nwhipt out of the city, and Thecla\nto be burnt.\n\n10  So the governor arose, and went\nimmediately into the theatre; and\nall the people went forth to see\nthe dismal sight.\n\n11  But Thecla, just as a lamb in\nthe wilderness looks every way to\nsee his shepherd, looked around\nfor Paul;\n\n12  And as she was looking upon\nthe multitude, she saw the Lord\nJesus in the likeness of Paul, and\nsaid to herself, Paul is come to see\nme in my distressed circumstances.\nAnd she fixed her eyes upon him;\nbut he instantly ascended up to\nheaven, while she looked on him.\n\n13  Then the young men and women\nbrought wood and straw for the\nburning of Thecla; who being brought\nnaked to the stake, extorted tears\nfrom the governor, with surprise\nbeholding the greatness of her beauty.\n\n14  And when they had placed\nthe wood in order, the people\ncommanded her to go upon it; which\nshe did, first making the sign of\nthe cross.\n\n15  Then the people set fire to\nthe pile; though the flame was\nexceeding large, it did not touch\nher; for God took compassion on\nher, and caused a great eruption\nfrom the earth beneath, and a\ncloud from above to pour down\ngreat quantities of rain and hail;\n\n16  Insomuch that by the rupture\nof the earth, very many were\nin great danger, and some were\nkilled, the fire was extinguished,\nand Thecla preserved.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n1 Paul with Onesiphorus in a cave.\n7 Thecla discovers Paul;\n12 proffers to follow him:\n13 he exhorts her not for fear of fornication.\n\nIN the mean time Paul, together\nwith Onesiphorus, his wife and\nchildren, was keeping a fast in a\ncertain cave, which was in the\nroad from Iconium to Daphne.\n\n2  And when they had fasted for\nseveral days, the children said to\nPaul, Father, we are hungry, and\nhave not wherewithal to buy bread;\nfor Onesiphorus had left all his\nsubstance to follow Paul with his\nfamily.\n\n3  Then Paul, taking off his coat,\nsaid to the boy, Go, child, and buy\nbread, and bring it hither.\n\n4  But while the boy was buying\nthe bread, he saw his neighbour\nThecla, and was surprised, and\nsaid to her, Thecla, where are you\ngoing?\n\n5  She replied, I am in pursuit\nof Paul, having been delivered\nfrom the flames.\n\n6  The boy then said, I will bring\nyou to him, for he is under great\nconcern on your account, and has\nbeen in prayer and fasting these\nsix days.\n\n7  When Thecla came to the cave,\nshe found Paul upon his knees\npraying and saying, O holy Father,\nO Lord Jesus Christ, grant that\nthe fire may not touch Thecla;\nbut be her helper, for she is\nthy servant.\n\n8  Thecla then standing behind\nhim, cried out in the following\nwords: O sovereign Lord Creator\nof heaven and earth, the Father of\nthy beloved and holy Son, I praise\nthee that thou hast preserved me\nfrom the fire, to see Paul again.\n\n9  Paul then arose, and when he\nsaw her, said, O God, who searchest\nthe heart, Father of my Lord Jesus\nChrist, I praise thee that thou hast\nanswered my prayer.\n\n10  And there prevailed among them\nin the cave an entire affection to\neach other; Paul, Onesiphorus,\nand all that were with them being\nfilled with joy.\n\n11  They had five loaves, some\nherbs and water, and they solaced\neach other in reflections upon the\nholy works of Christ.\n\n12  Then said Thecla to Paul,\nIf you be pleased with it, I will\nfollow you whithersoever you go.\n\n13  He replied to her, Persons\nare now much given to fornication,\nand you being handsome, I am\nafraid lest you should meet with\ngreater temptation than the former,\nand should Not withstand, but be\novercome by it.\n\n14  Thecla replied, Grant me\nonly the seal of Christ, and no\ntemptation shall affect me.\n\n15  Paul answered, Thecla, wait\nwith patience, and you shall\nreceive the gift of Christ.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n     1 Paul and Thecla go to Antioch.\n     2 Alexander, a magistrate, falls in love with Thecla:\n     4 kisses her by force:\n     5 she resists him:\n     6 is carried before the governor, and condemned\n     to be thrown to wild beasts.\n\nTHEN Paul sent back Onesiphorus\nand his family to their own home,\nand taking Thecla along with him,\nwent for Antioch;\n\n2  And as soon as they came in.\nto the city, a certain Syrian,\nnamed Alexander, a magistrate in\nthe city, who had done many\nconsiderable services for the city\nduring his magistracy, saw Thecla,\nand fell in love with her, and\nendeavoured by many rich presents\nto engage Paul in his interest.\n\n3  But Paul told him, I know not\nthe woman of whom you speak, nor\ndoes she belong to me.\n\n4  But he being a person of great\npower in, Antioch, seized her in\nthe street and kissed her: which\nThecla would not bear, but looking\nabout for Paul, cried out in a\ndistressed loud tone, Force me not,\nwho am a stranger; force me not,\nwho am a servant of God; I am\none of the principal persons of\nIconium, and was obliged to leave\nthat city because I would not be\nmarried to Thamyris.\n\n5  Then she laid hold on Alexander,\ntore his coat, and took his crown\noff his head, and made him appear\nridiculous before all the people.\n\n6 But Alexander, partly as he\nloved her, and partly being ashamed\nof what had been done, led her to\nthe governor, and upon her confession\nof what she had done, he condemned\nher to be thrown among the beasts.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n     2 Thecla entertained by Trifina;\n     3 brought out to the wild beasts;\n     a she-lion licks her feet.\n     5 Trifina upon a vision of her deceased\n     daughter, adopts Thecla,\n     11 who is taken to the amphitheatre again.\n\nWHICH when the people saw, they\nsaid: The judgments passed in this\ncity are unjust. But Thecla desired\nthe favour of the governor, that\nher chastity might not be attacked,\nbut preserved till she should be\ncast to the beasts.\n\n2  The governor then inquired,\nWho would entertain her; upon\nwhich a certain very rich widow,\nnamed Trifina, whose daughter\nwas lately dead, desired that she\nmight have the keeping of her;\nand she began to treat her in her\nhouse as her own daughter.\n\n3  At length a day came, when\nthe beasts were to be brought forth\nto be seen; and Thecla was brought\nto the amphitheatre, and put into\na den in which was an exceeding\nfierce she-lion, in the presence of\na multitude of spectators.\n\n4  Trifina; without any surprise,\naccompanied Thecla, and the she-\nlion licked the feet of Thecla.\nThe title written which denoted\nher crime, was Sacrilege. Then\nthe women cried out, O God, the\njudgments of this city are\nunrighteous.\n\n5  After the beasts had been\nshown, Trifina took Thecla home\nwith her, and they went to bed;\nand behold, the daughter of Trifina,\nwho was dead, appeared to her\nmother, and said; Mother, let the\nyoung woman, Thecla, be reputed\nby you as your daughter in my\nstead; and desire her that she\nshould pray for me, that I may be\ntranslated to a state of happiness.\n\n6  Upon which Trifina, with a\nmournful air, said, My daughter\nFalconilla has appeared to me, and\nordered me to receive you in her\nroom; wherefore I desire, Thecla,\nthat you would pray for my daughter,\nthat she may be translated into\na state of happiness, and to life\neternal.\n\n7  When Thecla heard this, she\nimmediately prayed to the Lord,\nand said: O Lord God of heaven and\nearth, Jesus Christ, thou Son of\nthe Most High, grant that her\ndaughter Falconilla may live forever.\nTrifina hearing this, groaned again,\nand said: O unrighteous judgments!\nO unreasonable wickedness! that\nsuch a creature should (again)\nbe cast to the beasts!\n\n8  On the morrow, at break of day,\nAlexander came to Trifina's house,\nand said: The governor and the\npeople are waiting; bring the\ncriminal forth.\n\n9  But Trifina ran in so violently\nupon him, that he was affrighted,\nand ran away. Trifina was one of\nthe royal family; and she thus\nexpressed her sorrow, and said;\nAlas! I have trouble in my house\non two accounts, and there is no\none who will relieve me, either\nunder the loss of my daughter, or\nmy being unable to save Thecla.\nBut now, O Lord God, be thou the\nhelper of Thecla thy servant.\n\n10  While she was thus engaged.\nthe governor sent one of his own\nofficers to bring Thecla. Trifina\ntook her by the hand, and, going\nwith her, said: I went with\nFalconilla to her grave, and now\nmust go with Thecla to the beasts.\n\n11  When Thecla heard this, she\nweeping prayed, and said: O Lord\nGod, whom I have made my confidence\nand refuge, reward Trifina for her\ncompassion to me, and preserving\nmy chastity.\n\n12  Upon this there was a great\nnoise in the amphitheatre; the\nbeasts roared, and the people\ncried out, Bring in the criminal.\n\n13  But the women cried out,\nand said: Let the whole city\nsuffer for such crimes; and\norder all of us, O governor,\nto the same punishment. O unjust\njudgment! O cruel sight!\n\n14  Others said, Let the whole\ncity be destroyed for this vile\naction. Kill us all, O governor.\nO cruel sight! O unrighteous\njudgment.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n     1 Thecla thrown naked to the wild beasts;\n     2 but they all refuse to attack her.\n     8 She baptizes herself in a pit of water.\n     10 Other wild beasts refuse to injure her.\n     11 Tied to wild bulls.\n     13 Miraculously saved.\n     21. Released.\n     24 Entertained by Trifina,\n\nTHEN Thecla was taken out of\nthe hand of Trifina, stripped\nnaked, had a girdle put on, and\nthrown into the place appointed\nfor fighting with the beasts: and\nthe lions and the bears were let\nloose upon her.\n\n2  But a she-lion, which was of\nall the most fierce, ran to Thecla,\nand fell down at her feet. Upon\nwhich the multitude of women\nshouted aloud.\n\n3  Then a she-bear ran fiercely\ntowards her, but the she lion met\nthe bear, and tore it in pieces.\n\n4  Again a he-lion, who had been\nwont to devour men, and which\nbelonged to Alexander, ran towards\nher; but the she-lion encountered\nthe he-lion, and they killed each\nother.\n\n5  Then the women were under\na greater concern, because the\nshe-lion, which had helped Thecla,\nwas dead.\n\n6  Afterwards they brought out\nmany other wild beasts; but Thecla\nstood with her hands stretched\ntowards heaven, and prayed; and\nwhen she had done praying, she\nturned about, and saw a pit of\nwater, and said, Now it is a proper\ntime for me to be baptized.\n\n7  Accordingly she threw herself\ninto the water, and said, In thy\nname, O my Lord Jesus Christ, I\nam this last day baptized. The\nwomen and the people seeing this,\ncried out and said, Do not throw\nyourself into the water. And the\ngovernor himself cried out, to\nthink that the fish (sea-calves)\nwere like to devour so much\nbeauty.\n\n8  Notwithstanding all this,\nThecla threw herself into the water,\nin the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\n9  But the fish (sea-calves) when\nthey saw the lightning and fire,\nwere killed, and swam dead upon\nthe surface of the water, and a\ncloud of fire surrounded Thecla;\nso that as the beasts could not\ncome near her, so the people could\nnot see her nakedness.\n\n10  Yet they turned other wild\nbeasts upon her; upon which they\nmade a very mournful outcry; and\nsome of them scattered spikenard,\nothers cassia, others amomus (a\nsort of spikenard, or the herb of\nJerusalem, or ladies rose), others\nointment; so that the quantity of\nointment was large, in proportion\nto the number of people; and upon\nthis all the beasts lay as though\nthey had been fast asleep, and did\nnot touch Thecla.\n\n11  Whereupon Alexander said\nto the governor, I have some very\nterrible bulls; let us bind her to\nthem. To which the governor, with\nconcern, replied, You may do what\nyou think fit.\n\n12  Then they put a cord round\nThecla's waist, which bound also\nher feet, and with it tied her to\nthe bulls, to whose privy-parts they\napplied red-hot irons, that so they\nbeing the more tormented, might\nmore violently drag Thecla about,\ntill they had killed her.\n\n13  The bulls accordingly tore\nabout, making a most hideous noise;\nbut the flame which was about Thecla,\nburnt off the cords which were\nfastened to the members of the\nbulls, and she stood in the middle\nof the stage, as unconcerned as\nif she had not been bound.\n\n14  But in the mean time Trifina,\nwho sat upon one of the benches,\nfainted away and died; upon which\nthe whole city was under a very\ngreat concern.\n\n15  And Alexander himself was\nafraid, and desired the governor,\nsaying: I entreat you, take\ncompassion on me and the city,\nand release this woman, who has\nfought with the beasts; lest both\nyou and I, and the whole city,\nbe destroyed;\n\n16  For if Caesar should have any\naccount of what has passed now,\nhe will certainly immediately\ndestroy the city, because Trifina,\na person of royal extract, and a\nrelation of his, is dead upon her\nseat.\n\n17  Upon this the governor called\nThecla from among the beasts to him,\nand said to her, Who art thou? and\nwhat are thy circumstances, that not\none of the beasts will touch thee?\n\n18  Thecla replied to him; I am\na servant of the living God; and\nas to my state, I am a believer on\nJesus Christ his Son, in whom\nGod is well pleased; and for that\nreason none of the beasts could\ntouch me.\n\n19  He alone is the way to eternal\nsalvation, and the foundation of\neternal life. He is a refuge to\nthose who are in distress; a support\nto the afflicted, hope and defence\nto those who are hopeless; and in\na word, all those who do not\nbelieve on him, shall not live,\nbut suffer eternal death.\n\n20  When the governor heard these\nthings, he ordered her clothes\nto be brought, and said to her,\nPut on your clothes.\n\n21  Thecla replied: May that God\nwho clothed me when I was naked\namong the beasts, in the day of\njudgment clothe your soul with\nthe robe of salvation. Then she\ntook her clothes, and put them\non; and the governor immediately\npublished an order in these words:\nI release to you Thecla the servant\nof God.\n\n22  Upon which the women cried\nout together with a loud voice,\nand with one accord gave praise\nunto God, and said; There is but\none God, who is the God of Thecla;\nthe one God who hath delivered\nThecla.\n\n23  So loud were their voices,\nthat the whole city seemed to be\nshaken; and Trifina herself heard\nthe glad tidings, and arose again,\nand ran with the multitude to\nmeet Thecla; and embracing her,\nsaid: Now I believe there shall\nbe a resurrection of the dead;\nnow I am persuaded that my daughter\nis alive. Come therefore home\nwith me, my daughter Thecla, and\nI will make all over that I have\nto you.\n\n24  So Thecla went with Trifina,\nand was entertained there a few\ndays, teaching her the word of the\nLord, whereby many young women\nwere converted; and there was\ngreat joy in the family of Trifina.\n\n25  But Thecla longed to see Paul,\nand inquired and sent every where\nto find him; and when at length\nshe was informed that he was at\nMyra, in Lycia, she took with her\nmany young men and women; and\nputting on a girdle, and dressing\nherself in the habit of a man,\nshe went to him to Myra in Lycia,\nand there found Paul preaching\nthe word of God; and she stood\nby him among the throng.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n     1 Thecla visits Paul;\n     6 visits Onesiphorus;\n     8 and visits her Mother\n     9 who repulses her.\n     14 Is tempted by the devil.\n     16 Works miracles.\n\nBUT it was no small surprise\nto Paul when he saw her and the\npeople with her; for he imagined\nsome fresh trial was coming upon them;\n\n2  Which when Thecla perceived,\nshe said to him: I have been baptized,\nO Paul; for he who assists you in\npreaching, has assisted me to baptize.\n\n3  Then Paul took her, and led her\nto the house of Hermes; and Thecla\nrelated to Paul all that had\nbefallen her in Antioch, insomuch\nthat Paul exceedingly wondered,\nand all who heard were confirmed\nin the faith, and prayed for\nTrifina's happiness.\n\n4  Then Thecla arose, and said\nto Paul, I am going to Iconium.\nPaul replied to her: Go and teach\nthe word of the Lord.\n\n5  But Trifina had sent large sums\nof money to Paul, and also clothing\nby the hands of Thecla, for the\nrelief of the poor.\n\n6  So Thecla went to Iconium.\nAnd when she came to the house\nof Onesiphorus, she fell down upon\nthe floor where Paul had sat and\npreached, and, mixing tears with\nher prayers, she praised and\nglorified God in the following\nwords:\n\n7 O Lord the God of this house,\nin which I was first enlightened by\nthee; O Jesus, son of the living\nGod, who wast my helper before\nthe governor, my helper in the\nfire, and my helper among the\nbeasts; thou alone art God for\never and ever, Amen.\n\n8  Thecla now (on her return)\nfound Thamyris dead, but her\nmother living. So calling her\nmother, she said to her: Theoclia,\nmy mother, is it possible for you\nto be brought to a belief, that\nthere is but one Lord God, who\ndwells in the heavens? If you\ndesire great riches, God will\ngive them to you by me; if you\nwant your daughter again, here\nI am.\n\n9  These and many other things\nshe represented to her mother,\n(endeavouring) to persuade her\n(to her own opinion). But her\nmother Theoclia gave no credit to\nthe things which were said by the\nmartyr Thecla.\n\n10  So that Thecla perceiving,\nshe discoursed to no purpose,\nsigning her whole body with the\nsign (of the cross), left the house\nand went to Daphne; and when\nshe came there, she went to the\ncave, where she had found Paul\nwith Onesiphorus, and fell down\nupon the ground; and wept before\nGod.\n\n11  When she departed thence,\nshe went to Seleucia, and\nenlightened many in the knowledge\nof Christ.\n\n12  And a bright cloud conducted\nher in her journey.\n\n13  And after she had arrived at\nSeleucia she went-to a place out\nof the city, about the distance\nof a furlong, being afraid of the\ninhabitants, because they were\nworshippers of idols.\n\n14  And she was lead (by the\ncloud) into a mountain called\nCalamon, or Rodeon. There she\nabode many years, and underwent\na great many grievous temptations\nof the devil, which she bore in a\nbecoming manner, by the assistance\nwhich she had from Christ.\n\n15  At length certain gentle-women\nhearing of the virgin Thecla, went\nto her, and were instructed by her\nin the oracles of God, and many of\nthem abandoned this world, and led\na monastic life with her.\n\n16  Hereby a good report was\nspread everywhere of Thecla, and\nshe wrought several (miraculous)\ncures, so that all the city and\nadjacent countries brought their\nsick to that mountain, and before\nthey came as far as the door of\nthe cave, they were instantly cured\nof whatso'ever distemper they had.\n\n17  The unclean spirits were cast\nout, making a noise; all received\ntheir sick made whole, and glorified\nGod, who had bestowed such power\non the virgin Thecla;\n\n18  Insomuch that the physicians\nof Seleucia were now of no more\naccount, and lost all the profit\nof their trade, because no one\nregarded them; upon which they\nwere filled with envy, and began\nto contrive what methods to take\nwith this servant of Christ.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\n     1 Thecla is attempted to be ravished,\n     12 escapes by a rock opening,\n     17 and closing miraculously.\n\nTHE devil then suggested bad\nadvice to their minds; and\nbeing on a certain day met together\nto consult, they reasoned among\neach other thus: The virgin is a\npriestess of the great goddess\nDiana, and whatsoever she requests\nfrom her, is granted, because she\nis a virgin, and so is beloved\nby all the gods.\n\n2  Now then let us procure some\nrakish fellows, and after we have\nmade them sufficiently drunk, and\ngiven them a good sum of money,\nlet us order them to go and debauch\nthis virgin, promising them, if\nthey do it, a larger reward.\n\n3 (For they thus concluded among\nthemselves, that if they be able\nto debauch her, the gods will no\nmore regard her nor Diana cure\nthe sick for her).\n\n4  They proceeded according to\nthis resolution, and the fellows\nwent to the mountain, and as fierce\nas lions to the cave, knocking at\nthe door.\n\n5  The holy martyr Thecla relying\nupon the God in whom she believed,\nopened the door, although she was\nbefore apprised of their design,\nand said to them, Young men,\nwhat is your business?\n\n6  They replied, Is there any\none within, whose name is Thecla?\nShe answered, What would you\nhave with her? They said, We\nhave a mind to lie with her.\n\n7  The blessed Thecla answered,\nThough I am a mean old woman,\nI am the servant of my Lord Jesus\nChrist; and though you have a\nvile design against me, ye shall\nnot be able to accomplish it. They\nreplied, Is it impossible? but we\nmust be able to do with you what\nwe have a mind,\n\n8  And while they were saying\nthis, they laid hold on her by main\nforce, and would have ravished her.\nThen she with the (greatest)\nmildness said to them: Young men\nhave patience, and see the glory\nof the Lord.\n\n9  And while they held her, she\nlooked up to heaven and said: O\nGod most reverend, to whom none\ncan be likened; who makest thyself\nglorious over thine enemies; who\ndidst deliver me from the fire,\ndidst not give me up to Thamyris,\nand didst not give me up to\nAlexander: who deliveredst me\nfrom the wild beasts; who didst\npreserve me in the deep waters;\nwho hast everywhere been my\nhelper, and hast glorified thy\nname in me;\n\n10  Now also deliver me from\nthe hands of these wicked and\nunreasonable men nor suffer them\nto debauch my chastity which I\nhave hitherto preserved for thy\nhonour; for I love thee, and long\nfor thee, and worship thee,\nO Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,\nfor evermore. Amen.\n\n11  Then came a voice from\nheaven, saying, Fear not Thecla,\nmy faithful servant, for I am with\nthee. Look and see the place\nwhich is opened for thee; there thy\neternal abode shall be; there thou\nshalt receive the (beatific) vision.\n\n12  The blessed Thecla observing,\nsaw the rock opened to as large\na degree as that a man might enter\nin; she did as she was commanded,\nbravely fled from the vile crew,\nand went into the rock, which\ninstantly so closed, that there\nwas not any crack visible where\nit had opened.\n\n13  The men stood perfectly\nastonished at so prodigious a\nmiracle, and had no power to detain\nthe  servant of God; but only\ncatching hold of her veil (or hood),\nthey tore off a piece of it;\n\n14  And even that was by the\npermission of God, for the\nconfirmation of their faith,\nwho should come to see this\nvenerable place; and to convey\nblessings to those in succeeding\nages, who should believe on our\nLord Jesus Christ from a pure heart.\n\n15  Thus suffered that first\nmartyr and apostle of God, and\nvirgin, Thecla, who came from\nIconium at eighteen years of age;\nafterwards, partly in journeys and\ntravels, and partly in a monastic\nlife in the cave, she lived seventy-\ntwo years; so that she was ninety\nyears old when the Lord translated\nher.\n\n16  Thus ends her life.\n\n17  The day which is kept sacred\nto her memory, is the twenty-fourth\nof September, to the glory of the\nFather, and the Son, and the Holy\nGhost, now and for evermore. Amen.\n\n\n\n              REFERENCES TO THE ACTS OF ST. PAUL AND THECLA.\n\n[Tertullian says that this piece was forged by a Presbyter of Asia, who\nbeing  convicted, \"confessed that he did it out of respect to Paul,\" and\nPope Gelasius, in his Decree against apocryphal books, inserted it among\nthem.  Notwithstanding this, a large part of the history was credited and\nlooked upon as  genuine among the primitive Christians. Cyprian,\nEusebius, Epiphanius, Austin, Gregory, Nagianzen. Chrysostom, and Severus\nSulpitius, who all lived within the fourth century mention Thecla or\nrefer to her history.  Basil of Seleucia wrote her acts, sufferings and\nvictories, in verse; and Euagrius Scholasticus an ecclesiastical\nhistorian, about 590, relates that \"after the  Emperor Zeno, had\nabdicated his empire, and Basilik had taken possession of it, he had a\nvision of the holy and excellent martyr Thecla, who promised him the\nrestoration of his empire; for which, when it was brought about, he\nerected and dedicated a most noble and sumptuous temple to this famous\nmartyr, Thecla, at Seleucia, a city of Isauria, and bestowed upon it very\nnoble endowments, which (says the author) are preserved even till this\nday.\" Hist. Ecel. lib. 3  cap. 8.--Cardinal Barenius, Locrinus, Archbishop\nWake, and  others; and also the learned Grabe, who edited the Septuagint,\nand revived  the Acts of Paul and Thecla, consider them as having been\nwritten in the Apostolic age; as containing nothing superstitious, or\ndisagreeing from the opinions and belief of those times; and, in short,\nas a genuine and authentic history. Again, it is said, that this is not\nthe original book of the early  Christians; but however that may be, it\nis published from the Greek MS. in the Bodlian Library at Oxford, which\nDr. Mills copied and transmitted to Dr, Grabe.]","title":"The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 5, St. Paul","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":10170}