{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_6516/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_6516","id":"gutenberg_6516","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6516","summary":null,"tags":["Apocryphal books (New Testament)","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"Produced by David Widger with additional proofing 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 THE ORDER OF ALL THE\n FORBIDDEN BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT\n WITH THEIR PROPER NAMES, AND NUMBER OF CHAPTERS\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS:\n\nMary\nProtevangelion\nI. Infancy\nII. Infancy\nNicodemus\nChrist and Abgarus\nLaodiceans\nPaul and Seneca\nActs of Paul and Thecla\nI. Clement\nII. Clement\nBarnabas\nEphesians\nMagnesians\nTrallians\nRomans\nPhiladelphians\nSmyrnaeans\nPolycarp\nPhilippians\nI. Hermas--Visions\nII. Hermas--Commands\nIII. Hermas--Similitudes\n\n\n\n\n\n PREFACE.\n\n\nTo uphold the \"right of private judgment,\" and our \"Christian liberty\nwherewith Christ hath made us free;\" to add fuel to the fire of\ninvestigation, and in the crucible of deep inquiry, melt from the gold\nof pure religion, the dross of man's invention; to appeal from the\nerring tribunals of a fallible Priesthood, and restore to its original\nstate the mutilated Testament of the Saviour; also to induce all earnest\nthinkers to search not a part, but the whole of the Scriptures, if\ntherein they think they will find eternal life; I, as an advocate of\nfree thought and untrammelled opinion, dispute the authority of those\nuncharitable, bickering, and ignorant Ecclesiastics who first suppressed\nthese gospels and epistles; and I join issue with their Catholic and\nProtestant successors who have since excluded them from the New\nTestament, of which they formed a part; and were venerated by the\nPrimitive Churches, during the first four hundred years of the Christian\nEra.\n\nMy opposition is based on two grounds; first, the right of every rational\nbeing to become a \"Priest unto himself,\" and by the test of enlightened\nreason, to form his own unbiased judgment of all things natural and\nspiritual: second, that the reputation of the Bishops who extracted\nthese books from the original New Testament, under the pretence of being\nApocryphal, and forbade them to be read by the people, is proved by\nauthentic impartial history too odious to entitle them to any deference.\nSince the Nicene Council, by a pious fraud, which I shall further allude\nto, suppressed these books, several of them have been reissued from time\nto time by various translators, who differed considerably in their\nversions, as the historical references attached to them in the following\npages will demonstrate. But to the late Mr. William Hone we are indebted\nfor their complete publication for the first time in one volume, about\nthe year 1820; which edition, diligently revised, and purified of many\nerrors both in the text and the notes attached thereto, I have\nre-published in numbers to enable all classes of the nation to purchase\nand peruse them. As, however, instead of being called by their own\ndesignation \"Apocryphal,\" (which yet remains to be proved), they were\nre-entitled THE FORBIDDEN BOOKS, and, from communications received,\nappear to have agitated a portion of the great mass of ignorant bigotry\nwhich mars the fair form of Religion in these sect-ridden dominions, I\nhave modified the title to its present shape with the hope that in spite\nof illiberal clerical influence, my fellow Christians will read and\ninwardly digest the sublime precepts they inculcate;--as pure, as holy,\nand as charitable as those principles of Christianity taught in the\nScriptures they; now read by permission; although their minds may, after\nmature reflection, doubt the truth of the miraculous records therein\ngiven.\n\nTo ensure these Gospels and Epistles an unprejudiced and serious\nattention, which they are entitled to, equally with those now patronised\nby Church authority, I will briefly refer to that disgraceful epoch in\nRoman Ecclesiastical Annals, when the New Testament was mutilated, and\npriestly craft was employed for excluding these books from its pages.\nHONE, in the preface to his first edition of the Apocryphal New\nTestament, so called, without satisfactory grounds, by the Council of\nNice, in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, thus opens the subject:--\n\n\"After the writings contained in the New Testament were selected from the\nnumerous Gospels and Epistles then in existence, what became of the Books\nthat were rejected by the compilers?\"\n\nThis question naturally occurs on every investigation as to the period\nwhen and the persons by whom the New Testament was formed. It has been\nsupposed by many that the volume was compiled by the first Council of\nNice, which, according to Jortin (Rem. on Eccl. vol. ii. p. 177),\noriginated thus: Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and Arius, who was a\npresbyter in his diocese, disputed together about the nature of Christ;\nand the bishop being displeased at the notions of Arius, and finding\nthat they were adopted by other persons, \"was very angry.\" He commanded\nArius to come over to his sentiments, and to quit his own; as if a man\ncould change his opinions as easily as he can change his coat! He then\ncalled a Council of War, consisting of nearly, a hundred bishops, and\ndeposed, excommunicated, and anathematized Arius, and with him several\necclesiastics, two of whom were bishops. Constantine sent a letter, in\nwhich he reprimanded the bishops for disturbing the church with their\ninsignificant disputes. But the affair was gone too far to be thus\ncomposed. To settle this and other points, the Nicene Council was\nsummoned, consisting of about 318 bishops. The first thing they did was\nto quarrel, and to express their resentments, and to present accusations\nto the Emperor against one another. \"The Emperor burnt all their libels,\nand exhorted them to peace and unity.\" (See Mosheim's Eccle. Hist.) These\nwere the kind of spiritual shepherds of whom Sabinus, the Bishop\nHeraclea affirms, that excepting Constantine himself, and Eusebius\nPamphilus, they \"were a set of illiterate creatures, that understood\nnothing.\" And now intelligent Catholics, especially Protestants who are\ncontent to read only the books of the Testament authorized by the Council\nof Nice, and agreed to ever since by your own bishops, although they and\nyou profess to dissent from the Papacy, hear what Pappus in his Synodican\nto that Council says of their crafty contrivance when they separated the\nbooks of the original New Testament:--He tells us, that having\n\"promiscuously put all the books that were referred to the Council for\ndeliberation under the communion-table in a church, they besought the\nLord that the inspired writings might get on the table, while the\nspurious ones remained underneath; and that it happened accordingly!\"\n(See Com. Mace's N. T. p. 875.) Therefore, good reader, every Christian\nsect from the fourth century to the present period, have been blessed\nwith the books that climbed upon the communion-table, and in consequence\nwere deemed inspired and canonical; at the same time have been forbidden\nto read the Gospels and Epistles herein published, because they could\nnot perform the same feat, but remained under the table, and were\ncondemned accordingly, as uninspired and apocryphal writings. If you\nbelieve this popish legend, you will not read the good books I lay before\nyou, but still continue to possess only HALF THE TESTAMENT, instead of\nthe PERFECT ONE, which will enable you to burst the trammels of\npriestcraft, and by the light of God's whole truth become free. In\nconclusion, I implore you to examine for yourselves, and observe the\ntestimony of Archbishop Wake and other learned divines and historians\nappended thereto; and subscribe myself,\n\n Your well-wisher,\n EDWARD HANCOCK.\n\n\n\n\n\n FORBIDDEN BOOKS\n OF THE\n NEW TESTAMENT.\n\n THE GOSPEL OF THE BIRTH OF MARY.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 1 The Parentage of Mary.\n 7 Joachim her father, and Anna her mother,\n go to Jerusalem to the feast of the dedication.\n 9 Issachar, the high priest, reproaches Joachim\n for being childless.\n\nTHE blessed and ever glorious\nVirgin Mary, sprung from\nthe royal race and family of David,\nwas born in the city of Nazareth,\nand educated at Jerusalem, in the\ntemple of the Lord.\n\n2 Her father's name was Joachim,\nand her mother's Anna.\nThe family of her father was of\nGalilee and the city of Nazareth.\nThe family of her mother was of\nBethlehem.\n\n3 Their lives were plain and\nright in the sight of the Lord,\npious and faultless before men;\nfor they divided all their substance\ninto three parts;\n\n4 One of which they devoted to\nthe temple and officers of the\ntemple; another they distributed\namong strangers, and persons in\npoor circumstances; and the third\nthey reserved for themselves and\nthe uses of their own family.\n\n5 In this manner they lived for\nabout twenty years chastely, in the\nfavour of God, and the esteem of\nmen, without any children.\n\n6 But they vowed, if God should\nfavour them with any issue, they\nwould devote it to the service of\nthe Lord; on which account they\nwent at every feast in the year to\nthe temple of the Lord.\n\n7 And it came to pass, that\nwhen the feast of the dedication\ndrew near, Joachim, with some\nothers of his tribe, went up to\nJerusalem, and at that time,\nIsachar was high-priest;\n\n8 Who, when he saw Joachim\nalong with the rest of his\nneighbours, bringing his offerings,\ndespised both him and his offerings,\nand asked him,\n\n9 Why he, who had no children,\nwould presume to appear among\nthose who had? Adding, that his\nofferings could never be acceptable\nto God, who was judged by him\nunworthy to have children; the\nScripture having said, Cursed is\nevery one who shall not beget a\nmale in Israel.\n\n10 He further said, that he ought\nfirst to be free from that curse by\nbegetting some issue, and then\ncome with his offerings into the\npresence of God.\n\n11 But Joachim being much\nconfounded with the shame of such\nreproach, retired to the shepherds\nwho were with the cattle in their\npastures;\n\n12 For he was not inclined to\nreturn home, lest his neighbours,\nwho were present and heard all\nthis from the high-priest, should\npublicly reproach him in the same\nmanner.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 1 An angel appears to Joachim,\n 9 and informs him that Anna shall conceive and\n bring forth a daughter, who shall be called Mary,\n 11 be brought up in the temple,\n 12 and while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled,\n bring forth the Son of God:\n 13 Gives him a sign,\n 14 and departs.\n\nBUT when he had been there for\nsome time, on a certain day\nwhen he was alone, the angel\nof the Lord stood by him with\na prodigious light.\n\n2 To whom, being troubled at\nthe appearance, the angel who had\nappeared to him, endeavouring to\ncompose him, said:\n\n3 Be not afraid, Joachim, nor\ntroubled at the sight of me, for\nI am an angel of the Lord sent by\nhim to you, that I might inform\nyou that your prayers are heard,\nand your alms ascended in the\nsight of God.\n\n4 For he hath surely seen your\nshame, and heard you unjustly\nreproached for not having children:\nfor God is the avenger of sin,\nand not of nature;\n\n5 And so when he shuts the\nwomb of any person, he does it for\nthis reason, that he may in a more\nwonderful manner again open it,\nand that which is born appear to\nbe not the product of lust, but the\ngift of God.\n\n6 For the first mother of your\nnation, Sarah, was she not barren\neven till her eightieth year: and\nyet even in the end of her old age\nbrought forth Isaac, in whom the\npromise was made of a blessing to\nall nations.\n\n7 Rachel, also, so much in\nfavour with God, and beloved so\nmuch by holy Jacob, continued\nbarren for a long time, yet\nafterwards was the mother of Joseph,\nwho was not only governor of\nEgypt, but delivered many nations\nfrom perishing with hunger.\n\n8 Who among the judges was\nmore valiant than Sampson, or more\nholy than Samuel? And yet both\ntheir mothers were barren.\n\n9 But if reason will not convince\nyou of the truth of my words, that\nthere are frequent conceptions in\nadvanced years, and that those\nwho were barren have brought forth\nto their great surprise; therefore\nAnna your wife shall bring you a\ndaughter, and you shall call her\nname Mary;\n\n10 She shall, according to your\nvow, be devoted to the Lord from\nher infancy, and be filled with the\nHoly Ghost from her mother's\nwomb;\n\n11 She shall neither eat nor\ndrink any thing which is unclean,\nnor shall her conversation be\nwithout among the common people,\nbut in the temple of the Lord;\nthat so she may not fall under any\nslander or suspicion of what is bad.\n\n12 So in the process of her\nyears, as she shall be in a\nmiraculous manner born of one that\nwas barren, so she shall, while yet\na virgin, in a way unparalleled,\nbring forth the Son of the most\nHigh God, who shall, be called\nJesus, and, according to the\nsignification of his name, be the\nSaviour of all nations.\n\n13 And this shall be a sign to\nyou of the things which I declare,\nnamely, when you come to the\ngolden gate of Jerusalem, you\nshall there meet your wife Anna,\nwho being very much troubled\nthat you returned no sooner, shall\nthen rejoice to see you.\n\n14 When the angel had said this,\nhe departed from him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 The angel appears to Anna;\n 2 tells her a daughter shall be born unto her,\n 3 devoted to the service of the Lord in the temple,\n 5, who, being a virgin, and not knowing man,\n shall bring forth the Lord,\n 6 and gives her a sign therefore.\n 8 Joachim and Anna meet, and rejoice,\n 10 and praise the Lord.\n 11 Anna conceives, and brings forth a daughter called Mary.\n\nAFTERWARDS the angel appeared\nto Anna his wife, saying;\nFear not, neither think that\nwhich you see is a spirit;\n\n2 For I am that angel who hath\noffered up your prayers and alms\nbefore God, and am now sent to\nyou, that I may inform you, that\na daughter will be born unto you,\nwho shall be called Mary, and\nshall be blessed above all women.\n\n3 She shall be, immediately\nupon her birth, full of the grace of\nthe Lord, and shall continue during\nthe three years of her weaning\nin her father's house, and afterwards,\nbeing devoted to the service of the Lord,\nshall not depart from the temple,\ntill she arrive to years of discretion.\n\n4 In a word, she shall there\nserve the Lord night and day in\nfasting and prayer, shall abstain\nfrom every unclean thing, and\nnever know any man;\n\n5 But, being an unparalleled instance\nwithout any pollution or defilement,\nand a virgin not knowing any man,\nshall ring forth a son, and a maid\nshall bring forth the Lord, who\nboth by his grace and name and works,\nshall be the Saviour of the world.\n\n6 Arise therefore, and go up to\nJerusalem, and when you shall\ncome to that which is called the\ngolden gate (because it is gilt with\ngold), as a sign of what I have told\nyou, you shall meet your husband,\nfor whose safety you have been so\nmuch concerned.\n\n7 When therefore you find these\nthings thus accomplished, believe\nthat all the rest which I have told\nyou, shall also undoubtedly be\naccomplished.\n\n8 According therefore to the\ncommand of the angel, both of\nthem left the places where they\nwere, and when they came to the\nplace specified in the angels\nprediction, they met each other.\n\n9 Then, rejoicing at each other's\nvision, and being fully satisfied in\nthe promise of a child, they gave\ndue thanks to the Lord, who exalts\nthe humble.\n\n10 After having praised the\nLord, they returned home, and\nlived in a cheerful and assured\nexpectation of the promise of God.\n\n11 So Anna conceived, and\nbrought forth a daughter, and,\naccording to the angel's command,\nthe parents did call her name Mary.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 Mary brought to the temple at three years old.\n 6 Ascends the stairs of the temple by miracle.\n 8 Her parents sacrifice and return home.\n\nAND when three years were\nexpired, and the time of her\nweaning complete, they brought\nthe Virgin to the temple of the\nLord with offerings.\n\n2 And there were about the\ntemple, according to the fifteen\nPsalms of degrees, fifteen stairs\nto ascend.\n\n3 For the temple being built in\na mountain, the altar of burnt-\noffering, which was without, could\nnot be come near but by stairs;\n\n4 The parents of the blessed\nVirgin and infant Mary put her\nupon one of these stairs;\n\n5 But while they were putting\noff their clothes, in which they had\ntravelled, and according to custom\nputting on some that were more\nneat and clean,\n\n6 In the mean time the Virgin\nof the Lord in such a manner went\nup all the stairs one after another,\nwithout the help of any to lead her\nor lift her, that any one would have\njudged from hence, that she was of\nperfect age.\n\n7 Thus the Lord did, in the\ninfancy of his Virgin, work this\nextraordinary work, and evidence by\nthis miracle how great she was like\nto be hereafter.\n\n8 But the parents having offered\nup their sacrifice, according to the\ncustom of the law, and perfected\ntheir vow, left the Virgin with\nother virgins in the apartments of\nthe temple, who were to be brought\nup there, and they returned home.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n 2 Mary ministered unto by angels.\n 4 The high priest orders all virgins of fourteen\n years old to quit the temple and endeavour to be married.\n 5 Mary refuses,\n 6 having vowed her virginity to the Lord.\n 7 The high-priest commands a meeting of the chief persons\n of Jerusalem,\n 11 who seek the Lord for counsel in the matter.\n 13 A voice from the mercy-seat.\n 15 The high-priest obeys it by ordering all the unmarried\n men of the house of David to bring their rods to the altar,\n 17 that his rod which should flower, and on which the\n Spirit of God should sit, should betroth the Virgin.\n\nBUT the Virgin of the Lord, as\nshe advanced in years, increased\nalso in perfections, and according\nto the saying of the Psalmist,\nher father and mother forsook her,\nbut the Lord took care of her.\n\n2 For she every day had the\nconversation of angels, and every\nday received visitors from God,\nwhich preserved her from all sorts\nof evil, and caused her to abound\nwith all good things;\n\n3 So that when at length she\narrived to her fourteenth year, as\nthe wicked could not lay any thing\nto her charge worthy of reproof,\nso all good persons, who were\nacquainted with her, admired her\nlife and conversation.\n\n4 At that time the high-priest\nmade a public order, That all the\nvirgins who had public settlements\nin the temple, and were come to\nthis age, should return home, and,\nas they were now of a proper\nmaturity, should, according to the\ncustom of their country, endeavour\nto be married.\n\n5 To which command, though\nall the other virgins readily yielded\nobedience, Mary the Virgin of the\nLord alone answered, that she\ncould not comply with it,\n\n6 Assigning these reasons, that\nboth she and her parents had\ndevoted her to the service of the\nLord; and besides, that she had\nvowed virginity to the Lord,\nwhich vow she was resolved never\nto break through by lying with a\nman.\n\n7 The high-priest being hereby\nbrought into a difficulty,\n\n8 Seeing he durst neither on the\none hand dissolve the vow, and\ndisobey the Scripture, which says,\nVow and pay,\n\n9 Nor on the other hand\nintroduce a custom, to which\nthe people were strangers, commanded,\n\n10 That at the approaching feast\nall the principal persons both of\nJerusalem and the neighbouring\nplaces should meet together, that\nhe might have their advice, how\nhe had best proceed in so difficult\na case.\n\n11 When they were accordingly\nmet, they unanimously agreed to\nseek the Lord, and ask counsel\nfrom him on this matter.\n\n12 And when they were all\nengaged in prayer, the high-priest\naccording to the usual way, went\nto consult God.\n\n13 And immediately there was\na voice from the ark, and the mercy\nseat, which all present heard, that\nit must be enquired or sought out\nby a prophecy of Isaiah, to whom\nthe Virgin should be given and be\nbetrothed;\n\n14 For Isaiah saith, there shall\ncome forth a rod out of the stem of\nJesse, and a flower shall spring\nout of its root,\n\n15 And the Spirit of the Lord\nshall rest upon him, the Spirit of\nWisdom and Understanding, the\nSpirit of Counsel and Might, the\nSpirit of Knowledge and Piety,\nand the Spirit of the fear of the\nLord shall fill him.\n\n16 Then, according to this\nprophecy, he appointed, that all\nthe men of the house and family\nof David, who were marriageable,\nand not married, should bring their\nseveral rods to the altar,\n\n17 And out of whatsoever\nperson's rod after it was brought,\na flower should bud forth, and on\nthe top of it the Spirit of the Lord\nshould sit in the appearance of a\ndove, he should be the man to\nwhom the Virgin should be given\nand be betrothed.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n 1 Joseph draws back his rod.\n 5 The dove pitches on it. He betroths Mary and\n returns to Bethlehem.\n 7 Mary returns to her parents' house at Galilee.\n\nAMONG the rest there was a\nman named Joseph of the\nhouse and family of David, and a\nperson very far advanced in years,\nwho kept back his rod, when every\none besides presented his.\n\n2 So that when nothing appeared\nagreeable to the heavenly voice,\nthe high-priest judged it proper to\nconsult God again.\n\n3 Who answered that he to\nwhom the Virgin was to be\nbetrothed was the only person of\nthose who were brought together,\nwho had not brought his rod.\n\n4 Joseph therefore was betrayed.\n\n5 For, when he did bring his\nrod, and a dove coming from\nHeaven pitched upon the top of\nit, every one plainly saw, that the\nVirgin was to be betrothed to him.\n\n6 Accordingly, the usual\nceremonies of betrothing being over,\nhe returned to his own city of\nBethlehem, to set his house in\norder, and make the needful\nprovisions for the marriage.\n\n7 But the Virgin of the Lord,\nMary, with seven other virgins of\nthe same age, who had been weaned\nat the same time, and who had\nbeen appointed to attend her by\nthe priest, returned to her parents'\nhouse in Galilee.\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n 7 The salutation of the Virgin by Gabriel, who explains to her\n that she shall conceive, without lying with a man, while a Virgin,\n 19 by the Holy Ghost coming upon her without the heats of lust.\n 21 She submits.\n\nNOW at this time of her first\ncoming into Galilee, the\nangel Gabriel was sent to her\nfrom God, to declare to her the\nconception of our Saviour, and\nthe manner and way of her\nconceiving him.\n\n2 Accordingly going into her,\nhe filled the chamber where she\nwas with a prodigious light, and\nin a most courteous manner saluting\nher, he said,\n\n3 Hail, Mary! Virgin of the\nLord most acceptable! O Virgin\nfull of grace! The Lord is with\nyou. You are blessed above all\nwomen, and you are blessed above\nall men, that have been hitherto\nborn.\n\n4 But the Virgin, who had\nbefore been well acquainted with\nthe countenances of angels, and\nto whom such light from heaven\nwas no uncommon thing,\n\n5 Was neither terrified with the\nvision of the angel, nor astonished\nat the greatness of the light, but\nonly troubled about the angel's\nwords,\n\n6 And began to consider what\nso extraordinary a salutation should\nmean, what it did portend, or what\nsort of end it would have.\n\n7 To this thought the angel,\ndivinely inspired, replies;\n\n8 Fear not, Mary, as though\nI intended anything inconsistent\nwith your chastity in this salutation:\n\n9 For you have found favour\nwith the Lord, because you made\nvirginity your choice.\n\n10 Therefore while you are a\nVirgin, you shall conceive without\nsin, and bring forth a son.\n\n11 He shall be great, because\nhe shall reign from sea to sea, and\nfrom the rivers even to the ends of\nthe earth?\n\n12 And he shall be called the\nSon of the Highest; for he who is\nborn in a mean state on earth,\nreigns in an exalted one in heaven.\n\n13 And the Lord shall give him\nthe throne of his father David, and\nhe shall reign over the house of\nJacob for ever, and of his kingdom\nthere shall be no end.\n\n14 For he is the King of Kings,\nand Lord of Lords, and his throne\nis forever and ever.\n\n15 To this discourse of the\nangel the Virgin replied, not, as\nthough she were unbelieving, but\nwilling to know the manner of it.\n\n16 She said, How can that be?\nFor seeing, according to my vow,\nI have never known any man, how\ncan I bear a child without the\naddition of a man's seed.\n\n17 To this the angel replied\nand said, Think not, Mary, that\nyou shall conceive in the ordinary\nway.\n\n18 For, without lying with a\nman, while a Virgin, you shall\nconceive; while a Virgin, you\nshall bring forth; and while a\nVirgin shall give suck.\n\n19 For the Holy Ghost shall\ncome upon you, and the power of\nthe Most High shall overshadow\nyou, without any of the heats of\nlust.\n\n20 So that which shall be born\nof you shall be only holy, because\nit only is conceived without sin,\nand being born, shall be called the\nSon of God.\n\n21 Then Mary stretching forth\nher hands, and lifting her eyes to\nheaven, said, Behold the handmaid\nof the Lord! Let it be unto me\naccording to thy word.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n 1 Joseph returns to Galilee, to marry the Virgin\n he had betrothed;\n 4 perceives she is with child,\n 5 is uneasy,\n 7 purposes to put her away privily,\n 8 is told by the angel of the Lord it is not the\n work of man but the Holy Ghost;\n 12 Marries her, but keeps chaste,\n 13 removes with her to Bethlehem,\n 15 where she brings forth Christ.\n\nJOSEPH therefore went from\nJudaea to Galilee, with intention\nto marry the Virgin who was\nbetrothed to him:\n\n2 For it was now near three\nmonths since she was betrothed\nto him.\n\n3 At length it plainly appeared\nshe was with child, and it could\nnot be hid from Joseph:\n\n4 For going to the Virgin in a\nfree manner, as one espoused, and\ntalking familiarly with her, he\nperceived her to be with child,\n\n5 And thereupon began to be\nuneasy and doubtful, not knowing\nwhat course it would be best to take;\n\n6 For being a just man, he was\nnot willing to expose her, nor\ndefame her by the suspicion of\nbeing a harlot, since he was a\npious man:\n\n7 He purposed therefore privately\nto put an end to their agreement,\nand as privately to send her away.\n\n8 But while he was meditating\nthese things, behold the angel of\nthe Lord appeared to him in his\nsleep, and said, Joseph, son of\nDavid, fear not;\n\n9 Be not willing to entertain\nany suspicion of the Virgin's\nbeing guilty of fornication, or to\nthink any thing amiss of her,\nneither be afraid to take her to wife:\n\n10 For that which is begotten\nin her and now distresses your\nmind, is not the work of man, but\nthe Holy Ghost.\n\n11 For she of all women is that\nonly Virgin who shall bring forth\nthe Son of God, and you shall call\nhis name Jesus, that is, Saviour:\nfor he will save his people from\ntheir sins.\n\n12 Joseph thereupon, according\nto the command of the angel,\nmarried the Virgin, and did not\nknow her, but kept her in chastity.\n\n13 And now the ninth month\nfrom her conception drew near,\nwhen Joseph took his wife and\nwhat other things were necessary\nto Bethlehem, the city from whence\nhe came.\n\n14 And it came to pass, while\nthey were there, the days were\nfulfilled for her bringing forth.\n\n15 And she brought forth her\nfirst-born son, as the holy\nEvangelists have taught, even our\nLord Jesus Christ, who with the\nFather, Son, and Holy Ghost,\nlives and reigns to everlasting ages.\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO MARY'S GOSPEL\n\n[In the primitive ages there was a Gospel extant bearing this name,\nattributed to St. Matthew, and received as genuine and authentic by\nseveral of the ancient Christian sects. It is to be found in the works\nof Jerome, a Father of the Church, who flourished in the fourth century,\nfrom whence the present translation is made. His contemporaries,\nEpiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, and Austin also mention a gospel under\nthis title. The ancient copies differed from Jerome's, for from one of\nthem the learned Faustus, a native of Britain, who became Bishop of Riez,\nin Provence, endeavoured to prove that Christ was not the Son of God till\nafter his baptism; and that he was not of the house of David and tribe of\nJudah, because, according to the Gospel he cited, the Virgin herself was\nnot of this tribe, but of the tribe of Levi; her father being a priest of\nthe name of Joachim. It was likewise from this Gospel that the sect of\nthe Collyridians established the worship and offering of manchet bread\nand cracknels, or fine wafers, as sacrificed to Mary, whom they imagined\nto have been born of a Virgin, as Christ is related in the Canonical\nGospels to have been born of her. Epiphanius likewise cites a passage\nconcerning the death of Zacharias, which is not in Jerome's copy, viz.:\n\"That it was the occasion of the death of Zacharias in the temple, that\nwhen he had seen a vision, he, through surprise, was willing to disclose\nit, and his mouth was stopped. That which he saw was at the time of his\noffering incense, and it was a man standing in the form of an ass.\nWhen he was gone out, and had a mind to speak thus to the people, Woe\nunto you, whom do you worship? he who had appeared to him in the temple\ntook away the use of his speech. Afterwards when he recovered it, and was\nable to speak, he declared this to the Jews; and they slew him. They add\n(viz. the Gnostics in this book), that on this very account the\nhigh-priest was appointed by their lawgiver (by God to Moses) to carry\nlittle bells, that whensoever he went into the temple to sacrifice he,\nwhom they worshipped, hearing the noise of the bells, might have time\nenough to hide himself, and not be caught in that ugly shape and figure.\"\nThe principal part of this Gospel is contained in the Protevangelion of\nJames which follows next in order.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE GOSPEL CALLED\n THE PROTEVANGELION;\n\nOr, an Historical Account of the BIRTH of CHRIST, and the perpetual\nVIRGIN MARY, his Mother, by JAMES THE LESSER, Cousin and Brother\nof the Lord Jesus, chief Apostle and first Bishop of the Christians in\nJerusalem.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 1 Joachim, a rich man,\n 2 offers to the Lord,\n 3 is opposed by Reuben the high priest,\n because he has not begotten issue in Israel,\n 6 retires into the wilderness and fasts\n forty days and forty nights.\n\n\nIN the history of the twelve\ntribes of Israel we read there\nwas a certain person called\nJoachim, who being very rich, made\ndouble offerings to the Lord God,\nhaving made this resolution:\nMy substance shall be for the\nbenefit of the whole people, that\nI may find mercy from the Lord\nGod for the forgiveness of my sins.\n\n2 But at a certain great feast\nof the Lord, when the children of\nIsrael offered their gifts, and\nJoachim also offered his, Reuben the\nhigh-priest opposed him, saying,\nit is not lawful for thee to offer\nthy gifts, seeing thou hast not\nbegot any issue in Israel.\n\n3 At this, Joachim being\nconcerned very much, went away to\nconsult the registries of the twelve\ntribes, to see whether he was the\nonly person who had begot no\nissue.\n\n4 But upon inquiry he found\nthat all the righteous had raised\nup seed in Israel;\n\n5 Then he called to mind the\npatriarch Abraham, How that God\nin the end of his life had given him\nhis son Isaac; upon which he was\nexceedingly distressed, and would\nnot be seen by his wife:\n\n6 But retired into the wilderness,\nand fixed his tent there, and\nfasted forty days and forty nights,\nsaying to himself,\n\n7 I will not go down either to\neat or drink, till the Lord my\nGod shall look down upon me, but\nprayer shall be my meat and drink.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER. II.\n\n 1 Anna, the wife of Joachim mourns her barrenness,\n 6 is reproached with it by Judith her maid,\n 9 sits under a laurel tree and prays to the Lord.\n\nIN the mean time his wife Anna\nwas distressed and perplexed\non a double account, and said,\nI will mourn both for my widowhood\nand my barrenness.\n\n2 Then drew near a great feast\nof the Lord, and Judith her maid,\nsaid, How long will you thus\nafflict your soul? The feast of\nthe Lord is now come, when it is\nunlawful for any one to mourn.\n\n3 Take therefore this hood\nwhich was given by one who\nmakes such things, for it is not\nfit that I, who am a servant should\nwear it, but it well suits a person\nof your greater character.\n\n4 But Anna replied, Depart\nfrom me, I am not used to such\nthings; besides, the Lord hath\ngreatly humbled me.\n\n5 I fear some ill-designing person\nhath given thee this, and thou\nart come to reproach me with my sin.\n\n6 Then Judith her maid answered,\nwhat evil shall I wish you,\nwhen you will not hearken to me?\n\n7 I cannot wish you a greater\ncurse than you are under, in that\nGod hath shut up your womb, that\nyou should not be a mother in\nIsrael.\n\n8 At this Anna was exceedingly\ntroubled, and having on her wedding\ngarment, went about three o'clock\nin the afternoon to walk in her\ngarden.\n\n9 And she saw a laurel-tree and\nsat under it, and prayed unto the\nLord, saying,\n\n10 O God of my fathers, bless\nme and regard my prayer, as thou\ndidst bless the womb of Sarah;\nand gavest her a son Isaac.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 Anna perceiving a sparrow's nest in the\n laurels bemoans her barrenness.\n\nAND as she was looking towards\nheaven she perceive a sparrow's\nnest in the laurel,\n\n2 And mourning within herself,\nshe said, Wo is me, who begat\nme? and what womb did bear\nme, that I should be thus\naccursed before the children of\nIsrael, and that they should\nreproach and deride me in the\ntemple of my God: Wo is me,\nto what can I be compared?\n\n3 I am not comparable to the\nvery beasts of the earth, for even\nthe beasts of the earth are fruitful\nbefore thee, O Lord! Wo is me,\nto what can I be compared?\n\n4 I am not compared to the\nbrute animal, for even the brute\nanimals are fruitful before thee,\nO Lord! Wo is me, to what am I\ncomparable?\n\n5 I cannot be comparable to\nthese waters, for even the waters\nare fruitful before thee, O Lord!\nWo is me, to what can I be compared?\n\n6 I am not comparable to the\nwaves of the sea; for these,\nwhether they are calm, or in motion,\nwith the fishes which are in them,\npraise thee, O Lord! Wo is me to\nwhat can I be compared?\n\n7 I am not comparable to the\nvery earth, for the earth produces\nits fruits, and praises thee, O Lord!\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 An Angel appears to Anna and tells her she shall conceive;\n two angels appear on the same errand.\n 5 Joachim sacrifices.\n 8 Anna goes to meet him,\n 9 rejoicing that she shall conceive.\n\nTHEN an angel of the Lord\nstood by her and said, Anna,\nAnna, the Lord hath heard thy\nprayer; thou shalt conceive and\nbring forth, and thy progeny shall\nbe spoken of in all the world.\n\n2 And Anna answered, As the\nLord my God liveth, whatever I\nbring forth, whether it be male or\nfemale, I will devote it to the Lord\nmy God and it shall minister to\nhim in holy things, during its\nwhole life.\n\n3 And behold there appeared\ntwo angels, saying unto her,\nBehold Joachim thy husband is\ncoming with his shepherds.\n\n\n4 For an angel of the Lord\nhath also come down to him, and\nsaid, The Lord God hath heard\nthy prayer, make haste and go\nhence, for behold Anna thy wife\nshall conceive.\n\n5 And Joachim went down and\ncalled his shepherds, saying, Bring\nme hither ten she-lambs without\nspot or blemish, and they shall\nbe for the Lord my God.\n\n6 And bring me twelve calves\nwithout blemish, and the twelve\ncalves shall be for the priests and\nthe elders.\n\n7 Bring me also a hundred\ngoats, and the hundred goats shall\nbe for the whole people.\n\n8 And Joachim went down with\nthe shepherds, and Anna stood\nby the gate and saw Joachim\ncoming with the shepherds.\n\n9 And she ran, and hanging\nabout his neck, said, Now I know\nthat the Lord hath greatly blessed\nme:\n\n10 For behold, I who was as a\nwidow am no longer as a widow, and\nI who was barren shall conceive.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n 1 Joachim abides the first day in his house but\n sacrifices on the morrow.\n 2 Consults the plate on the priests forehead,\n 3 and is without sin.\n 6 Anna brings forth a daughter,\n 9 whom she calls Mary.\n\nAND Joachim abode the first\nday in his house, but on the\nmorrow he brought his offerings,\nand said,\n\n2 If the Lord be propitious to\nme let the plate which is on the\npriests forehead make it manifest.\n\n3 And he consulted the plate\nwhich the priest wore, and saw it,\nand behold sin was not found in\nhim.\n\n4 And Joachim said, Now I know\nthat the Lord is propitious\nto me, and hath taken away all\nmy sins.\n\n5 And he went down from the\ntemple of the Lord justified,\nand he went to his own house.\n\n6 And when nine months were\nfulfilled to Anna, she brought\nforth, and said to the midwife,\nWhat have I brought forth?\n\n7 And she told her, A girl.\n\n8 Then Anna said, The Lord\nhath this day magnified my soul;\nand she laid her in bed.\n\n9 And when the days of her\npurification were accomplished,\nshe gave suck to the child; and\ncalled her name Mary.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n 1 Mary at nine months old, walks nine steps.\n 3 Anna keeps her holy.\n 4 When she is a year old, Joachim makes a great feast.\n 7 Anna gives her the breast, and sings a song to the Lord.\n\nAND the child increased in\nstrength every day, so that\nwhen she was nine months old, her\nmother put her upon the ground,\nto try if she could stand; and\nwhen she had walked nine steps,\nshe came again to her mother's\nlap.\n\n2 Then her mother caught her\nup, and said, As the Lord my God\nliveth, thou shalt not walk again\non this earth, till I bring thee\ninto the temple of the Lord.\n\n3 Accordingly she made her\nchamber a holy place, and suffered\nnothing uncommon or unclean to\ncome near her, but invited certain\nundefiled daughters of Israel, and\nthey drew her aside.\n\n4 But when the child was a year\nold, Joachim made a great feast,\nand invited the priests, scribes,\nelders, and all the people of\nIsrael;\n\n5 And Joachim then made an\noffering of the girl to the chief-\npriests, and they blessed her,\nsaying, The God of our fathers bless\nthis girl, and give her a name\nfamous and lasting through all\ngenerations. And all the people\nreplied, So be it, Amen:\n\n6 Then Joachim a second time\noffered her to the priests, and they\nblessed her, saying, O most high\nGod, regard this girl, and bless\nher with an everlasting blessing.\n\n7 Upon this her mother took\nher up, and gave her the breast,\nand sung the following song to the\nLord.\n\n8 I will sing a song unto the\nLord my God, for he hath visited\nme, and taken away from me the\nreproach of mine enemies, and\nhath given me the fruit of his\nrighteousness, that it may now be\ntold the sons of Reuben, that Anna\ngives suck.\n\n9 Then she put the child to rest\nin the room which she had consecrated,\nand she went out and ministered unto\nthem.\n\n10 And when the feast was\nended, they went away rejoicing,\nand praising the God of Israel.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n 3 Mary being three years old, Joachim causes certain virgins to\n light each a lamp, and goes with her to the temple.\n 5 The high-priest places her on the third step of the altar, and\n sits dances with her feet.\n\nBUT the girl grew, and when\nshe was two years old, Joachim\nsaid to Anna, Let us lead her\nto the temple of the Lord,\nthat we may perform our vow,\nwhich we have vowed unto the\nLord God, lest he should be angry\nwith us, and our offering be\nunacceptable.\n\n2 But Anna said, Let us wait\nthe third year, lest she should\nbe at a loss to know her father.\nAnd Joachim said, Let us then\nwait.\n\n3 And when the child was\nthree years old, Joachim said,\nLet us invite the daughters of the\nHebrews, who are undefiled, and let\nthem take each a lamp, and let\nthem be lighted, that the child\nmay not turn back again, and her\nmind be set against the temple of\nthe Lord,\n\n4 And they did thus till they\nascended into the temple of the Lord.\nAnd the high-priest received her,\nand blessed her, and said, Mary,\nthe Lord God hath magnified thy\nname to all generations, and to the\nvery end of time by thee will the\nLord shew his redemption to the\nchildren of Israel.\n\n5 And he placed her upon the\nthird step of the altar, and the\nLord gave unto her grace, and she\ndance with her feet, and all the\nhouse of Israel loved her.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n 2 Mary fed in the temple by angels.\n 3 When twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her.\n 6 The angel of the Lord warns Zacharias to call together all the\n widowers, each bringing a rod.\n 7 The people meet by sound of trumpet.\n 8 Joseph throws away his hatchet, and goes to the meeting.\n 11 A dove comes forth from his rod, and alights on his head.\n 12 He is chosen to betroth the Virgin,\n 13 refuses because he is an old man,\n 14 is compelled,\n 16 takes her home, and goes to mind his trade of building.\n\nAND her parents went away\nfilled with wonder, and praising God,\nbecause the girl did not return back\nto them.\n\n2 But Mary continued in the\ntemple as a dove educated there,\nand received her food from the\nhand of an angel.\n\n3 And when she was twelve\nyears of age, the priests met in a\ncouncil, and said, Behold, Mary is\ntwelve years of age, what shall we\ndo with her, for fear lest the holy\nplace of the Lord our God should\nbe defiled?\n\n4 Then replied the priests to\nZacharias the high-priest, Do you\nstand at the altar of the Lord, and\nenter into the holy place, and make\npetitions concerning her, and\nwhatsoever the Lord shall manifest\nunto you, that do.\n\n5 Then the high-priest entered\ninto the Holy of Holies, and taking\naway with him the breast-plate of\njudgment made prayers concerning her;\n\n6 And behold the angel of the\nLord came to him, and said,\nZacharias, Zacharias, Go forth and\ncall together all the widowers\namong the people, and let every\none of them bring his rod, and\nhe by whom the Lord shall shew\na sign shall be the husband of\nMary.\n\n7 And the criers went out\nthrough all Judaea, and the trumpet\nof the Lord sounded, and all\nthe people ran and met together.\n\n8 Joseph also throwing away\nhis hatchet, went out to meet\nthem; and when they were met,\nthey went to the high-priest;\ntaking every man his rod.\n\n9 After the high-priest had\nreceived their rods, he went\ninto the temple to pray;\n\n10 And when he had finished\nhis prayer, he took the rods, and\nwent forth and distributed them,\nand there was no miracle attended\nthem.\n\n11 The last rod was taken by\nJoseph, said behold a dove\nproceeded out of the rod, and\nflew upon the head of Joseph.\n\n12 And the high-priest said,\nJoseph, Thou art the person\nchosen to take the Virgin of the\nLord, to keep her for him:\n\n13 But Joseph refused, saying,\nI am an old man, and have children,\nbut she is young, and I fear\nlest I should appear ridiculous\nin Israel.\n\n14 Then the high-priest replied,\nJoseph, Fear the Lord thy God,\nand remember how God dealt with\nDathan, Korah, and Abiram, how\nthe earth opened and swallowed\nthem up, because of their\ncontradiction.\n\n15 Now therefore, Joseph, fear\nGod lest the like things should\nhappen in your family.\n\n16 Joseph then being afraid,\ntook her unto his house, and\nJoseph said unto Mary, Behold, I\nhave taken thee from the temple\nof the Lord, and now I will leave\nthee in my house; I must go to\nmind my trade of building. The\nLord be with thee.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n 1 The priests desire a new veil for the temple,\n 3 seven virgins cast lots for making different parts of it,\n 4 the lot to spin the true purple falls to Mary.\n 5 Zacharias, the high priest, becomes dumb.\n 7 Mary takes a pot to draw water, and hears a voice,\n 8 trembles and begins to work,\n 9 an angel Appears and salutes her, and tells her she\n shall conceive by the Holy Ghost,\n 17 she submits.\n 19 Visits her cousin Elizabeth, whose child in her womb leaps.\n\nAND it came to pass, in a council\nof the priests, it was said,\nLet us make a new veil for the\ntemple of the Lord.\n\n2 And the high-priest said,\nCall together to me seven undefiled\nvirgins of the tribe of David.\n\n3 And the servants went and\nbrought them into the temple of\nthe Lord, and the high-priest said\nunto them, Cast lots before me\nnow, who of you shall spin the\ngolden thread, who the blue, who\nthe scarlet, who the fine linen, and\nwho the true purple.\n\n4 Then the high-priest knew\nMary; that she was of the tribe of\nDavid; and he called her, and the\ntrue purple fell to her lot to spin,\nand she went away to her own\nhouse.\n\n5 But from that time Zacharias\nthe high-priest became dumb, and\nSamuel was placed in his room till\nZacharias spoke again.\n\n6 But Mary took the true purple;\nand did spin it.\n\n7 And she took a pot, and\nwent out to draw water, and heard\na voice saying unto her, Hail thou\nwho art full of grace, the Lord\nis with thee; thou art blessed\namong women.\n\n8 And she looked round to the\nright and to the left (to see) whence\nthat voice came, and then trembling\nwent into her house, and laying\ndown the water-pot, she took\nthe purple, and sat down in her\nseat to work it.\n\n9 And behold the angel of the\nLord stood by her, and said, Fear\nnot, Mary, for thou hast found\nfavour in the sight of God.\n\n10 Which when she heard, she\nreasoned with herself what that\nsort of salutation meant.\n\n11 And the angel said unto her,\nThe Lord is with thee, and thou\nshalt conceive:\n\n12 To which she replied, What!\nshall I conceive by the living God\nand bring forth as all other\nwomen do?\n\n13 But the angel returned\nanswer, Not so, O Mary, but the\nHoly Ghost shall come upon thee,\nand the power of the Most High\nshall overshadow thee;\n\n14 Wherefore that which shall\nbe born of thee shall be holy,\nand shall be called the Son of the\nLiving God, and thou shalt call his\nname Jesus; for he shall save his\npeople from their sins.\n\n15 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth,\nshe also hath conceived a son in her\nold age.\n\n16 And this now is the sixth\nmonth with her, who was called\nbarren: for nothing is impossible\nwith God.\n\n17 And Mary said, Behold the\nhandmaid of the Lord; let it be\nunto me according to thy word.\n\n18 And when she had wrought\nher purple, she carried it to the\nhigh-priest, and the high-priest\nblessed her, saying, Mary, the\nLord God hath magnified thy name,\nand thou shalt be blessed in all the\nages of the world.\n\n19 Then Mary, filled with joy,\nwent away to her cousin Elizabeth,\nand knocked at the door.\n\n20 Which when Elizabeth heard,\nshe ran and opened to her, and\nblessed her, and said, Whence is\nthis to me, that the mother of my\nLord should come unto me?\n\n21 For lo! as soon as the voice\nof thy salutation reached my ears,\nthat which is in me leaped and\nblessed thee.\n\n22 But Mary, being ignorant of\nall those mysterious things which\nthe archangel Gabriel had spoken\nto her, lifted up her eyes to heaven,\nand said, Lord! What am I, that\nall the generations of the earth\nshould call me blessed?\n\n23 But perceiving herself daily\nto grow big, and being afraid, she\nwent home, and hid herself from\nthe children of Israel; and was\nfourteen years old when all these\nthings happened.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n 1 Joseph returns from building houses, finds the Virgin\n grown big, being six months gone with child,\n 2 is jealous and troubled,\n 8 reproaches her,\n 10 she affirms her innocence,\n 13 he leaves her,\n 16 determines to dismiss her privately,\n 17 is warned in a dream that Mary is with child by the Holy Ghost,\n 20 and glorifies God who had shewn him such favour.\n\nAND when her sixth month was\ncome, Joseph returned from\nhis building houses abroad, which\nwas his trade, and entering into the\nhouse, found the Virgin grown big:\n\n2 Then smiting upon his face,\nhe said, With what face can I look\nup to the Lord my God? or, what\nshall I say concerning this young\nwoman?\n\n3 For I received her a Virgin\nout of the temple of the Lord my\nGod, and have not preserved her\nsuch!\n\n4 Who has thus deceived me?\nWho has committed this evil in\nmy house, and seducing the Virgin\nfrom me, hath defiled her?\n\n5 Is not the history of Adam exactly\naccomplished in me?\n\n6 For in the very instant of his\nglory, the serpent came and found\nEve alone, and seduced her.\n\n7 Just after the same manner it\nhas happened to me.\n\n8 Then Joseph arising from the\nground, called her, and said, O\nthou who hast been so much\nfavoured by God, why hast thou\ndone this?\n\n9 Why hast thou thus debased\nthy soul, who wast educated in the\nHoly of Holies, and received thy\nfood from the hand of angels?\n\n10 But she, with a flood of tears,\nreplied, I am innocent, and have\nknown no man.\n\n11 Then said Joseph, How\ncomes it to pass you are with\nchild?\n\n12 Mary answered, As the Lord\nmy God liveth, I know not by what\nmeans.\n\n13 Then Joseph was exceedingly afraid,\nand went ay from her, considering\nwhat he should do with her;\nand he thus reasoned with himself:\n\n14 If I conceal her crime, I shall\nbe found guilty by the law of the\nLord;\n\n15 And if I discover her to the\nchildren of Israel, I fear, lest\nshe being with child by an angel,\nI shall be found to betray the life\nof an innocent person.\n\n16 What therefore shall I do?\nI will privately dismiss her.\n\n17 Then the night was come\nupon him, when behold an angel\nof the Lord appeared to him in a\ndream, and said,\n\n18 Be not afraid to take that\nyoung woman, for that which is\nwithin her is of the Holy Ghost,\n\n19 And she shall bring forth\na son, and thou shalt call his name\nJesus, for he shall save his people\nfrom their sins.\n\n20 Then Joseph arose from his\nsleep, and glorified the God of\nIsrael, who had shewn him such\nfavour, and preserved the Virgin.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\n 3 Annas visits Joseph, perceives the Virgin big with child,\n 4 informs the high priest that Joseph had privately married her.\n 8 Joseph and Mary brought to trial on the charge.\n 17 Joseph drinks the water of the Lord as an ordeal,\n and receiving no harm, returns home.\n\nTHEN came Annas the scribe,\nand said to Joseph, Wherefore\nhave we not seen you since\nyour return?\n\n2 And Joseph replied, Because\nI was weary after my journey, and\nrested the first day.\n\n3 But Annas turning about\nperceived the Virgin big with child.\n\n4 And went away to the priest,\nand told him, Joseph in whom you\nplaced so much confidence, is\nguilty of a notorious crime, in\nthat he hath defiled the Virgin\nwhom he received out of the temple\nof the Lord, and hath privately\nmarried her, not discovering it to\nthe children of Israel.\n\n5 Then said the priest, Hath\nJoseph done this?\n\n6 Annas replied, If you send\nany of your servants you will find\nthat she is with child.\n\n7 And the servants went, and\nfound it as he said.\n\n8 Upon this both she and Joseph\nwere brought to their trial, and\nthe priest said unto her, Mary,\nwhat hast thou done?\n\n9 Why hast thou debased thy\nsoul, and forgot thy God, seeing\nthou wast brought up in the Holy\nof Holies, and didst receive thy\nfood from the hands of angels, and\nheardest their songs?\n\n10 Why hast thou done this?\n\n11 To which with a flood of\ntears she answered, As the Lord\nmy God liveth, I am innocent in\nhis sight, seeing I know no man.\n\n12 Then the priest said to Joseph,\nWhy hast thou done this?\n\n13 And Joseph answered, As\nthe Lord my God liveth, I have\nnot been concerned with her.\n\n14 But the priest said, Lie not,\nbut declare the truth; thou hast\nprivately married her, and not\ndiscovered it to the children of\nIsrael, and humbled thyself under\nthe mighty hand (of God), that thy\nseed might be blessed:\n\n15 And Joseph was silent.\n\n16 Then said the priest\n(to Joseph), You must restore to\nthe temple of the Lord the Virgin\nwhich you took thence.\n\n17 But he wept bitterly, and the\npriest added, I will cause you both\nto drink the water of the Lord,\nwhich is for trial, and so your\niniquity shall be laid open before\nyou.--[bitter water that causeth the curse]\n\n18 Then the priest took the water,\nand made Joseph drink, and sent him\nto a mountainous place,\n\n19 And he returned perfectly\nwell, and all the people wondered\nthat his guilt was not discovered.\n\n20 So the priest said, Since the\nLord hath not made your sins\nevident, neither do I condemn\nyou.\n\n21 So he sent them away.\n\n22 Then Joseph took Mary, and\nwent to his house, rejoicing and\npraising the God of Israel.\n\n\n\nCHAP. XII.\n\n 1 A decree from Augustus for taxing the Jews.\n 5 Joseph puts Mary on an ass, to return to Bethlehem,\n 6 she looks sorrowful,\n 7 she laughs,\n 8 Joseph inquires the cause of each,\n 9 she tells him she sees two persons,\n one mourning and the other rejoicing.\n 10 The delivery being near, he takes her\n from the ass, and places her in a cave.\n\nAND it came to pass, that there\nwent forth a decree from\nthe Emperor Augustus, that all\nthe Jews should be taxed, who\nwere of Bethlehem in Judaea.\n\n2 And Joseph said, I will take\ncare that my children be taxed;\nbut what shall I do with this young\nwoman?\n\n3 To have her taxed as my wife\nI am ashamed; and if I tax her as\nmy daughter, all Israel knows she\nis not my daughter.\n\n4 When the time of the Lord's\nappointment shall come, let him do\nas seems good to him.\n\n5 And he saddled the ass, and\nput her upon it, and Joseph and\nSimon followed after her, and\narrived at Bethlehem within three\nmiles.\n\n6 Then Joseph turning about\nsaw Mary sorrowful, and said\nwithin himself, Perhaps she is in\npain through that which is within\nher.\n\n7 But when he turned about\nagain, he saw her laughing, and\nsaid to her,\n\n8 Mary, how happens it, that I\nsometimes see sorrow, and sometimes\nlaughter and joy in thy countenance?\n\n9 And Mary replied to him,\nI see two people with mine eyes,\nthe one weeping and mourning,\nthe other laughing and rejoicing.\n\n10 And he went again across\nthe way, and Mary said to Joseph,\nTake me down from the ass, for\nthat which is in me presses to come\nforth.\n\n11 But Joseph replied, Whither\nshall I take thee? for the place is\na desert.\n\n12 Then said Mary again to Joseph,\ntake me down, for that which is\nwithin me mightily presses me.\n\n13 And Joseph took her down.\n\n14 And he found there a cave,\nand let her into it.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n 1 Joseph seeks a Hebrew midwife,\n 2 perceives the owls stopping in their flight,\n 3 the working people at their food not moving,\n 8 the sheep standing still,\n 9 the shepherd fixed and immoveable,\n 10 and kids with their mouths touching\n the water but not drinking.\n\nAND leaving her and his sons\nin the cave, Joseph went\nforth to seek a Hebrew midwife in\nthe village of Bethlehem.\n\n2 But as I was going (said Joseph),\nI looked up into the air,\nand I saw the clouds astonished,\nand the fowls of the air stopping in\nthe midst of their flight.\n\n3 And I looked down towards\nthe earth, and saw a table spread,\nand working people sitting around\nit, but their hands were upon the\ntable and they did not move to\neat.\n\n4 They who had meat in their\nmouths did not eat.\n\n5 They who lifted their hands\nup to their heads did not draw\nthem back,\n\n6 And they who lifted them up\nto their mouths did not put any\nthing in;\n\n7 But all their faces were fixed\nupwards.\n\n8 And I beheld the sheep dispersed,\nand yet the sheep stood still.\n\n9 And the shepherd lifted up\nhis hand to smite them, and his\nhand continued up.\n\n10 And I looked unto a river,\nand saw the kids with their mouths\nclose to the water, and touching it,\nbut they did not drink.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n 1 Joseph finds a midwife.\n 10 A bright cloud overshadows the cave.\n 11 A great light in the cave, gradually\n increases until the infant is born.\n 13 The mid-wife goes out, and tells Salome\n that she has seen a virgin bring forth.\n 17 Salome doubts it.\n 20 her hand withers,\n 22 she supplicates the Lord,\n 28 is cured,\n 30 but warned not to declare what she had seen.\n\nTHEN I beheld a woman coming\ndown from the mountains,\nand she said to me, Where art thou\ngoing, O man?\n\n2 And I said to her, I go to\nenquire for a Hebrew midwife.\n\n3 She replied to me, Where is\nthe woman that is to be delivered?\n\n4 And I answered, In the cave,\nand she is betrothed to me.\n\n5 Then said the midwife, Is she\nnot thy wife?\n\n6 Joseph answered, It is Mary,\nwho was educated in the Holy of\nHolies, in the house of the Lord,\nand she fell to me by lot, and is\nnot my wife, but has conceived by\nthe Holy Ghost.\n\n7 The midwife said, Is this true?\n\n8 He answered, Come and see.\n\n9 And the midwife went along\nwith him, and stood in the cave.\n\n10 Then a bright cloud over-\nshadowed the cave, and the mid-\nwife said, This day my soul is\nmagnified, for mine eyes have seen\nsurprising things, and salvation is\nbrought forth to Israel.\n\n11 But on a sudden the cloud\nbecame a great light in the cave,\nso that their eyes could not bear it.\n\n12 But the light gradually\ndecreased, until the infant appeared,\nand sucked the breast of his mother,\nMary.\n\n13 Then the midwife cried out,\nand said, How glorious a day is\nthis, wherein mine eyes have seen\nthis extraordinary sight!\n\n14 And the midwife went out\nfrom the cave, and Salome met\nher.\n\n15 And the midwife said to her,\nSalome, Salome, I will tell you a\nmost surprising thing which I saw,\n\n16 A virgin hath brought forth,\nwhich is a thing contrary to\nnature.\n\n17 To which Salome replied, As\nthe Lord my God liveth unless I\nreceive particular proof of this\nmatter, I will not believe that a\nvirgin hath brought forth.\n\n18 If Then Salome went in, and\nthe midwife said, Mary, shew thyself,\nfor a controversy is risen\nconcerning thee.\n\n19 And Salome received satisfaction.\n\n20 But her hand was withered,\nand she groaned bitterly;\n\n21 And said, Woe to me, because\nof mine iniquity; for I have\ntempted the living God, and my\nhand is ready to drop off.\n\n22 Then Salome made her\nsupplication to the Lord, and said,\nO God of my Fathers, remember me,\nfor I am of the seed of Abraham,\nand Isaac, and Jacob.\n\n23 Make me not a reproach\namong the children of Israel, but\nrestore me sound to my parents.\n\n24 For thou well knowest,\nO Lord, that I have performed many\noffices of charity in thy name,\nand have received my reward from\nthee.\n\n25 Upon this an angel of the\nLord stood by Salome, and said,\nThe Lord God hath heard thy\nprayer, reach forth thy hand to\nthe child, and carry him, and by\nthat means thou shalt be restored.\n\n26 Salome filled with exceeding\njoy, went to the child, and said,\nI will touch him.\n\n27 And she purposed to worship\nhim, for she said, This is a great\nking, which is born in Israel.\n\n28 And straightway Salome was\ncured.\n\n29 Then the midwife went out\nof the cave, being approved by God.\n\n30 And lo! a voice came to Salome.\nDeclare not the strange things\nwhich thou hast seen, till\nthe child shall come to Jerusalem.\n\n31 So Salome also departed,\napproved by God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n 1 Wise men come from the east.\n 3 Herod alarmed;\n 8 desires them if they find the child to bring him word.\n 10 They visit the cave and offer the child their treasure,\n 11 and being warned in a dream, do not return to Herod,\n but go home another way.\n\nTHEN Joseph was preparing to\ngo away, because there arose\na great disorder in Bethlehem by\nthe coming of some wise men\nfrom the east,\n\n2 Who said, Where is the King\nof the Jews born? For we have\nseen his star in the east, and are\ncome to worship him.\n\n3 When Herod heard this, he\nwas exceedingly troubled, and sent\nmessengers to the wise men, and\nto the priests, and enquired of\nthem in the town-hall,\n\n4 And said unto them, Where\nhave you it written concerning\nChrist the king, or where should\nhe be born?\n\n5 Then they say unto him, In\nBethlehem of Judaea; for thus it\nis written: And thou Bethlehem in\nthe land of Judah, art not the least\namong the princes of Judah, for\nout of thee shall come a ruler,\nwho shall rule my people Israel.\n\n6 And having sent away the\nchief priests, he enquired of the\nwise men in the town-hall, and\nsaid unto them, What sign was it\nye saw concerning the king that is\nborn?\n\n7 They answered him, We saw\nan extraordinary large star shining\namong the stars of heaven, and so\nout-shined all the other stars, as\nthat they became not visible, and\nwe knew thereby that a great king\nwas born in Israel, and therefore\nwe are come to worship him.\n\n8 Then said Herod to them, Go\nand make diligent inquiry; and if\nye find the child, bring me word\nagain, that I may come and worship\nhim also.\n\n9 So the wise men went forth,\nand behold, the star which they\nsaw in the east went before them,\ntill it came and stood over the cave\nwhere the young child was with\nMary his mother.\n\n10 Then they brought forth out\nof their treasures, and offered unto\nhim gold and frankincense, and\nmyrrh.\n\n11 And being warned in a dream\nby an angel, that they should not\nreturn to Herod through Judaea,\nthey departed into their own country\nby another way.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\n 1 Herod enraged, orders the infants in Bethlehem to be slain.\n 2 Mary puts her infant in an ox-manger.\n 3 Elizabeth flees with her son John to the mountains.\n 6 A mountain miraculously divides and receives them.\n 9 Herod incensed at the escape of John, causes Zacharias\n to be murdered at the altar.\n 23 The roofs of the temple rent, the body miraculously\n conveyed, and the blood petrified.\n 25 Israel mourns for him.\n 27 Simeon chosen his successor by lot.\n\nTHEN Herod perceiving that\nhe was mocked by the wise\nmen, and being very angry,\ncommanded certain men to go and\nto kill all the children that were\nin Bethlehem, from two years old\nand under.\n\n2 But Mary hearing that the\nchildren were to be killed, being\nunder much fear, took the child,\nand wrapped him up in swaddling\nclothes, and laid him in an\nox-manger, because there was no\nroom for them in the inn.\n\n3 Elizabeth also, hearing that\nher son John was about to be\nsearched for, took him and went\nup unto the mountains, and looked\naround for a place to hide him;\n\n4 And there was no secret place\nto be found.\n\n5 Then she groaned within herself,\nand said, O mountain of the Lord,\nreceive the mother with the child.\n\n6 For Elizabeth could not climb up,\n\n7 And instantly the mountain\nwas divided and received them.\n\n8 And there appeared to them\nan angel of the Lord to preserve\nthem.\n\n9 But Herod made search after\nJohn, and sent servants to Zacharias,\nwhen he was (ministering) at the altar,\nand said unto him, Where hast thou hid\nthy son?\n\n10 He replied, to them, I am a\nminister of God, and a servant at\nthe altar: how should I know\nwhere my son is?\n\n11 So the servants went back,\nand told Herod the whole; at\nwhich he was incensed, and said,\nIs not this son of his like to be\nking of Israel?\n\n12 He sent therefore again his\nservants to Zacharias, saying, Tell\nus the truth, where is thy son, for\nyou know that your life is in my\nhand.\n\n13 So the servants went and told\nhim all this:\n\n14 But Zacharias replied to\nthem, I am a martyr for God, and\nif ye shed my blood, the Lord will\nreceive my soul.\n\n15 Besides know that ye shed\ninnocent blood.\n\n16 However Zacharias was murdered\nin the entrance of the temple\nsaid altar, and about the partition;\n\n17 But the children of Israel\nknew not when he want killed.\n\n18 Then at the hour of salutation\nthe priests went into the temple\nbut Zacharias did not according\nto custom, meet them and bless them.\n\n19 Yet they still continued\nwaiting for him to salute them;\n\n20 And when they found he did\nnot in a long time come, one of\nthem ventured into the holy place\nwhere the altar was, and he saw\nblood lying upon the ground\ncongealed:\n\n21 When, behold, a voice from\nheaven said, Zacharias is murdered,\nand his blood shall not be\nwiped away, until the revenger\nof his blood come.\n\n22 But when he heard this, he\nwas afraid; and went forth and told\nthe priests what he had seen and\nheard; and they all went in, and\nsaw the fact.\n\n23 Then the roofs of the temple\nhowled, and were rent from the\ntop to the bottom:\n\n24 And they could not find the\nbody, but only blood made hard\nlike stone.\n\n25 And they went away, and\ntold the people, that Zacharias\nwas murdered, and all the tribes\nof Israel heard thereof, and mourned\nfor him, and lamented three days:\n\n26 Then the priests took\ncouncil together concerning\na person to succeed him.\n\n27 And Simeon and the other\npriests cast lots, and the lot fell\nupon Simeon.\n\n28 For he had been assured by\nthe Holy Spirit, that he should not\ndie, till he had seen Christ come in\nthe flesh.\n\n (I James wrote this History in Jerusalem: and when the disturbance\n was I retired into a desert place, until the death of Herod, and the\n disturbances ceased at Jerusalem. That which remains is, that I\n glorify God that he hath given me such wisdom to write unto you who\n are spiritual, and who love God: to whom (be ascribed) glory and\n dominion for ever and ever. Amen.)\n\n\n\n\n THE PROTEVANGELION.\n Note on the death of Zacharias in Chap. 16.\n\nThere is a story both in the Jerusalem and Babylonish Talmud very similar\nto this. It is cited by Dr. Lightfoot, Talmud, Hierosol, in Taanith, fol.\n69; and Talmud. Babyl. in Sanhedr., fol. 96. \"O Rabbi Jochanan said,\nEighty thousand priests were slain for the blood of Zacharias. Rabbi\nJudas asked Rabbi Achan, Where did they kill Zacharias? Was it in the\nwoman's court, or in the court of Israel? He answered, Neither in the\ncourt of Israel, nor in the court of women, but in the court of the\npriests; and they did not treat his blood in the same manner as they were\nwont to treat the blood of a ram or young goat. For of these it is\nwritten, He shall pour out his blood, and cover it with dust. But it is\nwritten here, The blood is in the midst of her: she set it upon the top\nof a rock; she poured it not upon the ground. (Ezek. xxiv. 7.) But why\nwas this? That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance: I have\nset his blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.\nThey committed seven evils that day: they murdered a priest, a prophet,\nand a king; they shed the blood of the innocent; they polluted the court:\nthat day was the Sabbath: and the day of expiation. When therefore\nNebuzaradan came there (viz. to Jerusalem,) he saw his blood bubbling,\nand said to them, What meaneth this? They answered, It is the blood of\ncalves, lambs, and rams, which we have offered upon the altar. He\ncommanded then, that they should bring calves, and lambs, and rams, and\nsaid I will try whether this be their blood: accordingly they brought\nand slew them, but the blood of Zacharias still bubbled, but the blood of\nthese did not bubble. Then he said, Declare to me the truth of this\nmatter, or else I will comb your flesh with iron combs. Then said they to\nhim, He was a priest, prophet, and judge, who prophesied to Israel all\nthese calamities which we have suffered from you; but we arose against\nhim, and slew him. Then, said he, I will appease him; then he took the\nrabbis and slew them upon his (viz. Zacharias's) blood, and he was not\nyet appeased. Next he took the young boys from the schools, and slew them\nupon his blood; and yet it bubbled. Then he brought the young priests and\nslew them in the same place, and yet it still bubbled. So he slew at\nlength ninety-four thousand persons upon his blood, and it did not as yet\ncease bubbling; then he drew near to it, and said, O Zacharias,\nZacharias, thou halt occasioned the death of the chief of thy\ncountrymen, shall I slay them all? then the blood ceased, and did bubble\nno more.\"\n\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO THE PROTEVANGELION.\n\n[This Gospel is ascribed to James. The allusions to it in the ancient\nFathers are frequent, and their expressions indicate that it had\nobtained a very general credit in the Christian world. The controversies\nfounded upon it chiefly relate to the age of Joseph at the birth of\nChrist, and to his being a widower with children, before his marriage\nwith the Virgin. It seems material to remark, that the legends of the\nlatter ages affirm the virginity of Joseph, notwithstanding Epiphanius,\nHilary, Chrysostom, Cyril, Euthymius, Thephylaet, Occumenius, and indeed\nall the Latin Fathers till Ambrose, and the Greek Fathers afterwards,\nmaintain the opinions of Joseph's age and family, founded upon their\nbelief in the authenticity of this book. It is supposed to have been\noriginally composed in Hebrew. Postellus brought the MS. of this Gospel\nfrom the Levant, translated it into Latin, and sent it to Oporimus,\na printer at Basil, where Bibliander, a Protestant Divine, and the\nProfessor of Divinity at Zurich, caused it to be printed in 1552.\nPostellus asserts that it was publicly read as canonical in the eastern\nchurches they making no doubt that James was the author, of it. It is,\nnevertheless considered apocryphal by some of the most learned divines in\nthe Protestant and Catholic churches.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE FIRST GOSPEL OF\n THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 1 Caiphas relates that Jesus, when in his cradle,\n informed his mother that he was the Son of God.\n 5 Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem to be taxed, Mary's\n time of bringing forth arrives, and she goes into a cave.\n 8 Joseph fetches in a Hebrew woman. The cave filled with\n great lights.\n 11 The infant born,\n 17 and cures the woman.\n 19 Arrival of the shepherds.\n\nTHE following accounts we found\nin the book of Joseph the\nhigh-priest, called by some\nCaiphas:\n\n2 He relates, that Jesus spake\neven when he was in the cradle,\nand said to his mother:\n\n3 Mary, I am Jesus the Son of\nGod, that word, which thou didst\nbring forth according to the\ndeclaration of the angel Gabriel to\nthee, and my father hath sent me\nfor the salvation of the world.\n\n4 In the three hundred and\nninth year of the era of Alexander,\nAugustus published a decree that\nall persons should go to be taxed\nin their own country.\n\n5 Joseph therefore arose, and\nwith Mary his spouse he went to\nJerusalem, and then came to Bethlehem,\nthat he and his family might be taxed\nin the city of his fathers.\n\n6 And when they came by the cave,\nMary confessed to Joseph that her\ntime of bringing forth was come,\nand she could not go on to the city,\nand said, Let us go into this cave.\n\n7 At that time the sun was very\nnear going down.\n\n8 But Joseph hastened away,\nthat he might fetch her a midwife;\nand when he saw an old Hebrew\nwoman who was of Jerusalem, he\nsaid to her, Pray come hither,\ngood woman, and go into that cave,\nand you will there see a woman\njust ready to bring forth.\n\n9 It was after sunset, when the\nold woman and Joseph with her\nreached the cave, and they both\nwent into it.\n\n10 And behold, it was all filled\nwith lights, greater than the light\nof lamps and candles, and greater\nthan the light of the sun itself.\n\n11 The infant was then wrapped\nup in swaddling clothes, and sucking\nthe breasts of his mother St.\nMary.\n\n12 When they both saw this\nlight, they were surprised; the\nold woman asked St. Mary, Art\nthou the mother of this child?\n\n13 St. Mary replied, She was.\n\n14 On which the old woman\nsaid, Thou art very different from\nall other women.\n\n15 St. Mary answered, As there\nis not any child like to my son,\nso neither is there any woman like\nto his mother.\n\n16 The old woman answered,\nand said, O my Lady, I am come\nhither that I may obtain an\neverlasting reward.\n\n17 Then our Lady St. Mary\nsaid to her, Lay thine hands upon\nthe infant, which, when she had\ndone, she became whole.\n\n18 And as she was going forth,\nshe said, From henceforth, all the\ndays of my life, I will attend upon\nand be a servant of this infant.\n\n19 After this, when the shepherds\ncame, and had made a fire, and they\nwere exceedingly rejoicing, the\nheavenly host appeared to them,\npraising and adoring the supreme God.\n\n20 And as the shepherds were\nengaged in the same employment,\nthe cave at that time seemed like\na glorious temple, because both\nthe tongues of angels and men\nunited to adore and magnify God,\non account of the birth of the Lord\nChrist.\n\n21 But when the old Hebrew\nwoman saw all these evident miracles,\nshe gave praises to God, and\nsaid, I thank thee, O God, thou\nGod of Israel, for that mine eyes\nhave seen the birth of the Saviour\nof the world.\n\n\n\nCHAP. II.\n\n 1 The child circumcised in the cave,\n 2 and the old woman preserving his foreskin or navel-string in a\n box of spikenard, Mary afterwards anoints Christ with it.\n 5 Christ brought to the temple;\n 6 He shines,\n 7 and angels stand around him adoring.\n 8 Simeon praises Christ.\n\nAND when the time of his\ncircumcision was come: namely,\nthe eighth day, on which the\nlaw commanded the child to be\ncircumcised; they circumcised\nhim in the cave.\n\n2 And the old Hebrew woman\ntook the foreskin (others say she\ntook the navel-string), and preserved\nit in an alabaster-box of old oil\nof spikenard.\n\n3 And she had a son who was a\ndruggist, to whom she said, Take\nheed thou sell not this alabaster-\nbox of spikenard-ointment, although\nthou shouldst be offered three\nhundred pence for it.\n\n4 Now this is that alabaster-\nbox which Mary the sinner procured,\nand poured forth the ointment out\nof it upon the head and the feet\nof our Lord Jesus Christ, and wiped\nthem off with the hairs of her head.\n\n5 Then after ten days they\nbrought him to Jerusalem, and on\nthe fortieth day from his birth\nthey presented him in the temple\nbefore the Lord, making the proper\nofferings for him, according\nto the requirement of the law of\nMoses: namely, that every male\nwhich opens the womb shall be\ncalled holy unto God.\n\n6 At that time old Simeon saw\nhim shining as a pillar of light,\nwhen St. Mary the Virgin, his\nmother, carried him in her arms,\nand was filled with the greatest\npleasure at the sight.\n\n7 And the angels stood around\nhim, adoring him, as a king's\nguards stand around him.\n\n8 Then Simeon going near to\nSt. Mary, and stretching forth his\nhands towards her, said to the\nLord Christ, Now, O My Lord,\nthy servant shall depart in peace,\naccording to thy word;\n\n9 For mine eyes have seen thy\nmercy, which thou hast prepared\nfor the salvation of all nations;\na light to all people, and the glory\nof thy people Israel.\n\n10 Hannah the prophetess was\nalso present, and drawing near,\nshe gave praises to God, and\ncelebrated the happiness of Mary.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 The wise men visit Christ. Mary gives them\n one of his swaddling clothes.\n 3 An angel appears to them in the form of a star.\n 4 They return and make a fire, and worship the\n swaddling cloth, and put it in the fire where it\n remains unconsumed.\n\nAND it came to pass, when the\nLord Jesus was born at Bethlehem,\na city of Judaea, in the time of Herod\nthe King;--the wise men came from the\nEast to Jerusalem, according to the\nprophecy of Zoradascht, [Zoroaster]\nand brought with them offerings:\nnamely, gold, frankincense, and myrrh,\nand worshipped him, and offered to him\ntheir gifts.\n\n2 Then the Lady Mary took one\nof his swaddling clothes in which\nthe infant was wrapped, and gave\nit to them instead of a blessing,\nwhich they received from her as a\nmost noble present.\n\n3 And at the same time there\nappeared to them an angel in the\nform of that star which had before\nbeen their guide in their journey;\nthe light of which they followed\ntill they returned into their own\ncountry.\n\n4 On their return their kings\nand princes came to them inquiring,\nwhom they had seen and done?\nWhat sort of journey and return\nthey had? What Company\nthey had on the road?\n\n5 But they produced the swaddling\ncloth which St. Mary had given\nthem, on account whereof they kept\na feast.\n\n6 And having, according to the\ncustom of their country, made\na fire, they worshipped it.\n\n7 And casting the swaddling\ncloth into it, the fire took it\nand kept it.\n\n8 And when the fire was put out,\nthey took forth the swaddling cloth\nunhurt, as much as if the fire had\nnot touched it.\n\n9 Then they began to kiss it,\nand put it upon their heads and\ntheir eyes saying, This is certainly\nan undoubted truth, and it is really\nsurprising that the fire could not\nburn it, and consume it.\n\n10 Then they took it, and with\nthe greatest respect laid it up\namong their treasures.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 Herod intends to put Christ to death.\n 3 An angel warns Joseph to take the child\n and his mother into Egypt.\n 6 Consternation on their arrival.\n 13 The idols fall down.\n 15 Mary washes Christ's swaddling clothes, hangs them to\n dry on a post, and the son of a priest puts one on his head;\n 16 And being possessed of devils they leave him.\n\nNOW Herod perceiving that the\nwise men did delay and not return\nto him, called together the priest\nand wise men, and said, Tell me in\nwhat place the Christ should be born.\n\n2 And when they replied, in\nBethlehem,--a city of Judaea, he\nbegan to contrive in his own mind\nthe death of the Lord Jesus Christ.\n\n3 But an angel of the Lord\nappeared to Joseph in his sleep,\nand said, Arise, take the child and\nhis mother, and go into Egypt as soon\nas the cock crows. So he arose,\nand went.\n\n4 And as he was considering\nwith himself about his journey,\nthe morning came upon him.\n\n5 In the length of the journey\nthe girts of the saddle broke.\n\n6 And now he drew near to a great\ncity, in which there was an idol,\nto which the priests of the other\nidols and gods of Egypt brought\ntheir offerings and vows.\n\n7 And there was by this idol a\npriest ministering to it, who, as\noften as Satan spoke out of that\nidol, related the things he said to\nthe inhabitants of Egypt, and those\ncountries.\n\n8 This priest had a son three\nyears old, who was possessed with\na great multitude of devils, who\nuttered many strange things and\nwhen the devils seized him, walked\nabout naked with his clothes torn,\nthrowing stones at those whom\nhe saw.\n\n9 Near to that idol was the inn\nof the city, into which when Joseph\nand St. Mary were come, and had\nturned into that inn, all the\ninhabitants of the city were\nastonished.\n\n10 And all the magistrates and\npriests of the idols assembled\nbefore that idol, and made inquiry\nthere, saying, What means all this\nconsternation, and dread, which\nhas fallen upon all our country?\n\n11 The idol answered them,\nThe unknown God is come thither,\nwho is truly God; nor is there any\none besides him, who is worthy of\ndivine worship for he is truly the\nSon of God.\n\n12 At the fame of him this\ncountry trembled, and at his\ncoming it is under the present\ncommotion and consternation, and\nwe ourselves are afrighted by the\ngreatness of his power.\n\n13 And at the same instant this\nidol fell down, and at his fall all\nthe inhabitants of Egypt, besides\nothers ran together.\n\n14 But the son of the priest,\nwhen his usual disorder came upon\nhim going into the inn, found\nthere Joseph and St. Mary, whom\nall the rest had left behind and\nforsook.\n\n15 And when the Lady St. Mary\nhad washed the swaddling clothes\nof the Lord Christ, and hanged\nthem out to dry upon a post, the\nboy possessed with the devil took\ndown one of them, and put it upon\nhis head.\n\n16 And presently the devils\nbegan to come out of his mouth,\nand fly away in the shape of crows\nand serpents.\n\n17 From that time the boy was\nhealed by the power of the Lord\nChrist and he began to sing\npraises, and give thanks to the\nLord who had healed him.\n\n18 When his father saw him\nrestored to his former state of\nhealth, he said, My son, what has\nhappened to thee, and by what\nmeans wert thou cured?\n\n19 The son answered, When the\ndevils seized me, I went into the\ninn, and there found a very\nhandsome woman with a boy, whose\nswaddling clothes she had just\nbefore washed, and hanged out upon\na post.\n\n20 One of these I took, and put\nit upon my head, and immediately\nthe devils left me, and fled away.\n\n21 At this the father exceedingly\nrejoiced, and said, My son,\nperhaps this boy is the son of the\nliving God, who made the heavens\nand the earth.\n\n22 For as soon as he came\namongst us, the idol was broken,\nand all the gods fell down, and\nwere destroyed by a greater power.\n\n23 Then was fulfilled the prophecy\nwhich saith, Out of Egypt I have\ncalled my son.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n 1 Joseph and Mary leave Egypt.\n 3 Go to the Haunts of robbers,\n 4 Who hearing a mighty noise,\n as of a great army flee away.\n\nNOW Joseph and Mary when\nthey heard that the idol was\nfallen down and destroyed, were\nseized with fear and, trembling,\nand said, When we Were in the\nland of Israel, Herod, intending\nto kill Jesus, slew for that purpose\nall the infants at Bethlehem, and\nthat neighbourhood.\n\n2 And there is no doubt but\nthe Egyptians if they come to\nhear that this idol is broken and\nfallen down, will burn us with fire.\n\n3 They went therefore hence to\nthe secret places of robbers, who\nrobbed travellers as they pass by,\nof their carriages and their clothes\nand carried them away bound.\n\n4 These thieves upon their\ncoming heard a great noise such\nas the noise of a king with a great\narmy, and many horse and the\ntrumpets sounding at his departure\nfrom his own city, at which they\nwere so affrighted, as to leave\nall their booty behind them and\nfly away in haste.\n\n5 Upon this the prisoners arose,\nand loosed each other's bonds,\nand taking each man his bags,\nthey went way, and saw Joseph\nand Mary coming towards them,\nand inquired, Where is that king,\nthe noise of whose approach the\nrobbers heard, and left us,\nso that we are now come off safe?\n\n6 Joseph answered, He will come\nafter us.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n 1 Mary looks on a woman in whom Satan had taken\n up his abode, and she becomes dispossessed.\n 5 Christ kissed by a bride made dumb by sorcerers,\n cures her.\n 11 Miraculously cures a gentlewoman in whom Satan\n had taken up his abode.\n 16 A leprous girl cured by the water in which he was\n washed, and becomes the servant of Joseph and Mary.\n 20 The leprous son of a prince's wife cured in like manner.\n 37 Has mother offers large gifts to Mary, and dismisses her.\n\n\nTHEN they went into another\ncity where there was a woman\npossessed with a devil, and in\nwhom Satan, that cursed rebel,\nhad taken up his abode.\n\n2 One night, when she went to\nfetch water, she could neither\nendure her clothes on, nor to be\nin any house; but as often as they\ntied her with chains or cords, she\nbrake them, and went out into desert\nplaces, and sometimes standing\nwhere roads crossed, and in\nchurch yards, would throw stones\nat men.\n\n3 When St. Mary saw this\nwoman, she pitied her; where\nupon Satan presently left her, and\nfled away in the form of a young\nman, saying, Wo to me, because\nof thee, Mary, and thy son.\n\n4 So the woman was delivered\nfrom her torment; but considering\nherself naked, she blushed,\nand avoided seeing any man and\nhaving put on her clothes, went\nhome, and gave an account of her\ncase to her father and relations\nwho, as they were the best of the\ncity, entertained St. Mary and\nJoseph with the greatest respect.\n\n5 The next morning having\nreceived a sufficient supply of\nprovisions for the road, they went\nfrom them, and about the evening of\nthe day arrived at another town,\nwhere a marriage was then about\nto be solemnized; but by the arts\nof Satan and the practices of a\nsorcerers, the bride was become\nso dumb, that she could not so\nmuch as open her mouth.\n\n6 But when this dumb bride\nsaw the Lady St. Mary entering\ninto the town, and carrying\nLord Christ in her arms, she\nstretched out her hands to the\nLord Christ, and-took him in her\narms, and closely hugging him,\nvery often kissed him, continually\nmoving him and, pressing him to\nher body.\n\n7 Straightway the string of her\ntongue was loosed, and her ears\nwere opened, and she began to\nsing praises unto God, who had\nrestored her.\n\n8 So there was great joy among\nthe inhabitants of the town that\nnight, who thought that God and\nhis angels were come down among\nthem.\n\n9 In this place they abode\nthree days, meeting with the greatest\nrespect and most splendid entertainment.\n\n10 And being then furnished by\nthe people with provisions for the\nroad, they departed and went to\nanother city, in which they were\ninclined to lodge, because it was a\nfamous place.\n\n11 There was in this city a\ngentlewoman, who, as she went down\none day to the river to bathe, behold\ncursed Satan leaped upon her in the\nform of a serpent.\n\n12 And folded himself about her\nbelly, and every night lay upon\nher.\n\n13 This woman seeing the Lady\nSt. Mary, and the Lord Christ the\ninfant in her bosom, asked the\nLady St. Mary, that she would\ngive her the child to kiss, and\ncarry in her arms.\n\n14 When she had consented,\nand as soon as the woman had\nmoved the child, Satan left her,\nand fled away, nor did the woman\never afterwards see him.\n\n15 Hereupon all the neighbors\npraised the Supreme God, and the\nwoman reward them with ample,\nbeneficence.\n\n16 On the morrow, the same\nwoman brought perfumed water to\nwash the Lord Jesus; and when\nshe had washed him, she preserved\nthe water.\n\n17 And there was a girl there,\nwhose body was white with a\nleprosy, who being sprinkled with\nthis water, and washed, was\ninstantly cleansed from her leprosy.\n\n18 The people therefore said\nWithout doubt Joseph and Mary,\nand that boy are Gods, for they do\nnot look like mortals.\n\n19 And when they were making\nready to go away, the girl, who\nhad been troubled with the leprosy,\ncame and desired they would\npermit her to go along with them;\nso they consented and the girl went\nwith them till they came to a city\nin which was the palace of a great\nking, and whose house was not far\nfrom the inn.\n\n20 Here they staid, and when\nthe girl went one day to the\nprince's wife, and found her in a\nsorrowful and mournful condition,\nshe asked her the reason of her\ntears.\n\n21 She replied, wonder not at\nmy groans, for I am under a great\nmisfortune, of which I dare not\ntell any one.\n\n22 But, says the, girl, if you\nwill entrust me with your private\ngrievance, perhaps I may find you\na remedy for it.\n\n23 Thou, therefore, says the\nprince's wife, shall keep the\nsecret, and not discover it to\nany one alive.\n\n24 I have been married to this\nprince, who rules as king over\nlarge dominions, and lived long\nwith him before he had any child\nby me.\n\n25 At length I conceived by\nhim, but alas! I brought forth a\nleprous son; which, when he saw\nhim would not own to be his, but\nsaid to me,\n\n26 Either do thou kill him, or\nsend him to some nurse in such a\nplace, that he may be never heard\nof; and now take care of yourself;\nI will never see you more.\n\n27 So here I pine, lamenting\nmy wretched and miserable\ncircumstances. Alas, my son! alas,\nmy husband; Have I disclosed it\nto you?\n\n28 The girl replied I have found\na remedy for your disease, which\nI promise you, for I also was\nleprous, but God hath cleansed\nme, even he who is called Jesus\nthe son of the Lady Mary.\n\n29 The woman inquiring where\nthat God was, whom she spake\nof; the girl answered, He lodges\nwith you here, in the same house.\n\n30 But how can this be? says\nshe; where is he? Behold, replied\nthe girl, Joseph and Mary; and\nthe infant who is, with them is\ncalled Jesus; and it is he who\ndelivered me from my disease and\ntorment.\n\n31 But by what means, says she,\nwere you cleansed from your leprosy?\nWill not you tell me that?\n\n32 Why not? says the girl; I\ntook the water with which his\nbody had been washed, and poured\nit upon me, and my leprosy\nvanished.\n\n33 The prince's wife then arose\nand entertained them, providing a\ngreat feast for Joseph among a\nlarge company of men.\n\n34 And the next day took\nperfumed water to wash the Lord\nJesus, and afterwards poured the\nsame water upon her son, whom\nshe had brought with her, and her\nson was instantly cleansed from\nhis leprosy,\n\n35 Then she sang thanks and\nunto God, and said, Blessed\nis the mother that bare thee,\nO Jesus!\n\n36 Dost thou thus cure men of\nthe same nature with thyself, with\nthe water with which thy body is\nwashed?\n\n37 She then offered very large\ngifts to the Lady Mary, and sent\nher away with all imaginable\nrespect.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n 1 A man who could not enjoy his wife, freed from his disorder.\n 5 A young man who had been bewitched, and turned into a\n mule miraculously cured by Christ being put on his back,\n 28 and is married to the girl who had been cured of leprosy.\n\n\nTHEY came afterwards to another\ncity, and had a mind to lodge there.\n\n\n2 Accordingly they went to a man's\nhouse, who was newly married\nbut by the influence of sorcerers\ncould not enjoy his wife.\n\n3 But they lodging at his house\nthat night, the man was freed of\nhis disorder.\n\n4 And when they were preparing\nearly in the morning to go forward\non their journey, the new-married\nperson hindered them, and\nprovided a noble entertainment\nfor them.\n\n5 But going forward on the\nmorrow, they came to another\ncity, and saw three women going\nfrom a certain grave with great\nweeping.\n\n6 When St. Mary saw them, she\nspake to the girl who was their\ncompanion, saying, Go and inquire\nof them, what is the matter with\nthem, and what misfortune has\nbefallen them?\n\n7 When the girl asked them,\nthey made her no answer, but\nasked her again, Who are ye? and\nwhere are you going? For the day\nis far spent, and night is at hand.\n\n8 We are travellers, saith the\ngirl, and we are seeking for an inn\nto lodge at.\n\n9 They replied, Go along with\nus, and lodge with us.\n\n10 They then followed them,\nand were introduced into a new\nhouse, well furnished with all\nsorts of furniture.\n\n11 Now it was winter-time, and\nthe girl went into the parlour\nwhere these women were, and\nfound them weeping and lamenting\nas before.\n\n12 By them stood a mule, covered\nover with silk, and an ebony collar\nhanging down from his neck, whom\nthey kissed and were feeding.\n\n13 But when the girl said, How\nhandsome, ladies, that mule is!\nthey replied with tears, and said,\nThis mule, which you see, was our\nbrother, born of this same mother\nas we;\n\n14 For when our father died,\nand left us a very large estate, and\nwe had only this brother, and we\nendeavoured to procure him a suitable\nmatch, and thought he should\nbe married as other men, some\ngiddy and jealous women bewitched\nhim without our knowledge.\n\n15 And we one night, a little before\nday, while the doors of the house\nwere all shut fast, saw this our\nbrother was changed into a mule,\nsuch as you now see him to be:\n\n16 And we in the melancholy\ncondition in which you see us,\nhaving no father to comfort us,\nhave applied to all the wise men,\nmagicians, and diviners in the\nworld, but they have been of no\nservice to us.\n\n17 As often therefore as we find\nourselves oppressed with grief, we\nrise and go with this our mother\nto our father's tomb, where, when\nwe have cried sufficiently, we\nreturn home.\n\n18 When the girl had heard this\nshe said, Take courage, and cease\nyour fears, for you have a remedy\nfor your afflictions near at hand\neven amoung you and in the midst\nof your house.\n\n19 For I was also leprous; but\nwhen I saw this woman, and this\nlittle infant with her, whose name\nis Jesus, I sprinkled my body with\nthe water with which his mother\nhad washed him and I was\npresently made well.\n\n20 And I am certain that he is\nalso capable of relieving you under\nyour distress. Wherefore arise,\ngo to my mistress Mary, and when\nyou have brought her into your\nown parlour, disclose to her the\nsecret, at the same time earnestly\nbeseeching her to compassionate\nyour case.\n\n21 As soon as the women had\nheard the girl's discourse, they\nhastened away to the Lady St.\nMary, introduced themselves to\nher, and sitting down before her,\nthey wept.\n\n22 And said, O our Lady St.\nMary, pity your handmaids, for\nwe have no head of our family, no\none elder than us; no father or\nbrother to go in or out before us.\n\n23 But this mule, which you\nsee, was our brother, which some\nwomen by witchcraft have brought\ninto this condition which you see:\nwe therefore entreat you to\ncompassionate us.\n\n24 Hereupon St. Mary was\ngrieved at their case, and taking\nthe Lord Jesus, put him upon the\nback of the mule.\n\n25 And said to her son, O Jesus\nChrist, restore (or heal) according\nto thy extraordinary power this\nmule, and grant him to have again\nthe shape of a man and a rational\ncreature, as he had formerly.\n\n26 This was scarce said by the\nLady St. Mary, but the mule\nimmediately passed into a human\nform, and became a young man\nwithout any deformity.\n\n27 Then he and his mother and\nthe sisters worshipped the Lady\nSt. Mary, and lifting the child\nupon their heads, they kissed him,\nand said, Blessed is thy mother,\nO Jesus, O Saviour of the world!\nBlessed are the eyes which are\nso happy to see thee.\n\n28 Then both the sisters told\ntheir mother, saying, Of a truth,\nour brother is restored to his former\nshape by the help of the Lord\nJesus Christ, and the kindness\nof that girl who told us of Mary\nand her son.\n\n29 And inasmuch as our brother\nis unmarried, it is fit that we\nmarry him to this girl their\nservant.\n\n30 When they had consulted\nMary in this matter, and she had\ngiven her consent, they made a\nsplendid wedding for this girl.\n\n31 And so their sorrow being\nturned into gladness, and their\nmourning into mirth, they began\nto rejoice, and to make merry,\nand sing, being dressed in their\nrichest attire, with bracelets.\n\n32 Afterwards they glorified and\npraised God, saying, O Jesus, son\nof David, who changest sorrow\ninto gladness, and mourning into\nmirth!\n\n33 After this Joseph and Mary\ntarried there ten days, then went\naway, having received great\nrespect from these people.\n\n34 Who, when they took their\nleave of them, and returned home,\ncried,\n\n35 But especially the girl.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n 1 Joseph and Mary pass through a country infested by robbers.\n 3 Titus a humane thief, offers Dumachus, his comrade,\n forty groats to let Joseph and Mary pass unmolested.\n 6 Jesus prophecies that the thieves Dumachus and Titus shall be\n crucified with him and that Titus shall go before him into paradise.\n 10 Christ causes a well to spring from a sycamore tree, and Mary\n washes his coat in it.\n 11 A balsam grows there from his sweat. They go to Memphis, where\n Christ works more miracles. Return to Judea.\n 15 Being warned, depart for Nazareth.\n\n\nIN their journey from hence they\ncame into a desert country and\nwere told it was infested with\nrobbers; so Joseph and St. Mary\nprepared to pass through it in the\nnight.\n\n2 And as they were going along,\nbehold they saw two robbers asleep\nin the road, and with them a great\nnumber of robbers, who were their\nconfederates, also asleep.\n\n3 The names of these two were\nTitus and Dumachus; and Titus\nsaid to Dumachus, I beseech thee\nlet these persons go along quietly,\nthat our company may not perceive\nanything of them.\n\n4 But Damachus refusing, Titus\nagain said, I will give thee forty\ngroats, and as a pledge take my\ngirdle, which he gave him before\nhe had done speaking, that he\nmight not open his mouth or make\na noise.\n\n5 When the Lady St. Mary saw\nthe kindness which this robber did\nshew them, she said to him, The\nLord God will receive thee to his\nright hand and grant thee pardon\nof thy sins.\n\n6 Then the Lord Jesus answered,\nand said to his mother, When\nthirty years are expired, O mother,\nthe Jews will crucify me at\nJerusalem;\n\n7 And these two thieves shall\nbe with me at the same time upon\nthe cross, Titus on my right hand,\nand Dumachus on my left, and\nfrom that time Titus shall go before\nme into paradise;\n\n8 And when she had said, God\nforbid this should be thy lot, O\nmy son, they went on to a city in\nwhich were several idols; which,\nas soon as they came near to it,\nwas turned into hills of sand.\n\n9 Hence they went to that\nsycamore tree, which is now called\nMatarea.\n\n10 And in Materea the Lord\nJesus caused a well to spring\nforth, in which St. Mary washed\nhis coat;\n\n11 And a balsam is produced,\nor grows, in that country, from\nthe sweat which ran down there\nfrom the Lord Jesus.\n\n12 Thence they proceeded to\nMemphis, and saw Pharoah, and\nabode three years in Egypt.\n\n13 And the Lord Jesus did very\nmany miracles, in Egypt, which\nare neither to be found in\nGospel of the Infancy nor in the\nGospel of Perfection.\n\n14 At the end of three years\nhe returned out of Egypt, and\nwhen he came near to Judea,\nJoseph was afraid to enter;\n\n15 For hearing that Herod was\ndead, and that Archelaus his son\nreigned in his stead, he was afraid.\n\n16 And when he went to Judea,\nan, angel of God appeared to\nhim, and said, O Joseph go\ninto the city of Nazareth, and\nabide there.\n\n17 It is strange indeed, that he,\nwho is the Lord of all countries,\nshould be thus carried backward and\nforward, through so many countries.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n2 Two sick children cured by water\nwherein Christ was washed.\n\nWHEN they came afterwards\ninto the city of Bethlehem,\nthey found there several very\ndesperate distempers, which became\nso troublesome to children by seeing\nthem, that most of them died.\n\n2 There was there a woman who\nhad a sick son, whom she brought,\nwhen he was at the point of death,\nto the Lady St. Mary, who saw\nher when she was washing Jesus\nChrist.\n\n3 Then said the woman, O my\nLady Mary, look down upon this\nmy son, who is afflicted with most\ndreadful pains.\n\n4 St. Mary hearing her, said,\nTake a little of that water with\nwhich I have washed my son, and\nsprinkle it upon him.\n\n5 Then she took a little of that\nwater, as St. Mary had commanded,\nand sprinkled it upon her son,\nwho being wearied with his violent\npains, was fallen asleep; and after\nhe had slept a little, awaked\nperfectly well and recovered.\n\n6 The mother being abundantly\nglad of this success, went again to\nSt. Mary, and St. Mary said to\nher, Give praise to God, who hath\ncured this thy son.\n\n7 There was in the same place\nanother woman, a neighbour of\nher, whose son was now cured.\n\n8 This woman's son was afflicted\nwith the same disease, and his eyes\nwere now almost quite shut, and\nshe was lamenting for him day\nand night.\n\n9 The mother of the child which\nwas cured, said to her, Why do\nyou not bring your son to St. Mary,\nas I brought my son to her, when\nhe was in the agonies of death;\nand he was cure by that water,\nwith which the body of her son\nJesus was washed?\n\n10 When the woman heard her\nsay this, she also went, and having\nprocured the same water, washed\nher son with it, whereupon his\nbody and his eyes were instantly\nrestored to their former state.\n\n11 And when she brought her\nson to St. Mary, and opened his\ncase to her, she commanded her to\ngive thanks to God for the recovery\nof her son's health, and tell\nno one what had happened.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n 1 Two wives of one man, each have a son sick.\n 2 One of them named Mary, and whose son's name was Caleb,\n presents the Virgin with a handsome carpet, and Caleb is cured;\n but the son of the other wife dies,\n 4 which occasions a difference between the women.\n 5 The other wife puts Caleb into a hot oven, and he is\n miraculously preserved,\n 9 she afterwards throws him into a well,\n and he is again preserved;\n 11 his mother appeals to the Virgin against the other wife,\n 12 whose downfall the Virgin prophecies,\n 13 and who accordingly falls into the well,\n 14 therein fulfilling a saying of old.\n\nTHERE were in the same city\ntwo wives of one man, who\nhad each a son sick. One of them\nwas called Mary, and her son's\nname was Caleb.\n\n2 She arose, and taking her son,\nwent to the Lady St. Mary, the\nmother of Jesus, and offered her a\nvery handsome carpet, saying, O\nmy Lady Mary accept this carpet\nof me, and instead of it give me a\nsmall swaddling cloth.\n\n3 To this Mary agreed, and\nwhen the mother of Caleb was\ngone, she made a coat for her son\nof the swaddling cloth, put it on\nhim, and his disease was cured;\nbut the son of the other wife died.\n\n4 Hereupon there arose between\nthem a difference in doing\nthe business of the family by turns,\neach her week;\n\n5 And when the turn of Mary\nthe mother of Caleb came, and she\nwas heating the oven to bake\nbread, and went away to fetch the\nmeal, she left her son Caleb by the\noven;\n\n6 Whom the other wife, her\nrival, seeing to be by himself,\ntook and cast him into the oven,\nwhich was very hot, and then went\naway.\n\n7 Mary on her return saw her\nson Caleb lying in the middle of\nthe oven laughing, and the oven\nquite as cold as though it had not\nbeen before heated, and knew that\nher rival the other wife had thrown\nhim into the fire.\n\n8 When she took him out, she\nbrought him to the Lady St. Mary,\nand told her the story, to whom\nshe replied, Be quiet, I am\nconcerned lest thou shouldest make\nthis matter known.\n\n9 After this her rival, the other\nwife, as she was drawing water at\nthe well, and saw Caleb playing\nby the well, and that no one was\nnear, took him, and threw him\ninto the well.\n\n10 And when some men came to\nfetch water from the well, they\nsaw the boy sitting on the\nsuperficies of the water, and\ndrew him out with ropes, and were\nexceedingly surprised at the child,\nand praised God.\n\n11 Then came the mother and\ntook him and carried him to the\nLady St. Mary, lamenting, and\nsaying, O my Lady, see what my\nrival hath done to my son, and\nhow she hath cast him into the\nwell, and I do not question but\none time or other she will be the\noccasion of his death.\n\n12 St. Mary replied to her, God\nwill vindicate your injured cause.\n\n13 Accordingly a few days after,\nwhen the other wife came to the\nwell to draw water, her foot was\nentangled in the rope, so that she\nfell headlong into the well, and\nthey who ran to her assistance\nfound her skull broken, and bones\nbruised.\n\n14 So she came to a bad end,\nand in her was fulfilled that saying\nof the author, They digged a well,\nand made it deep, but fell themselves\ninto the pit which they prepared.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\n 1 Bartholomew, when a child and sick, miraculously\n restored by being laid on Christ's bed.\n\nANOTHER woman in that city\nhad likewise two sons sick.\n\n2 And when one was dead, the\nother, who lay at the point of\ndeath, she took in her arms to the\nLady St. Mary, and in a flood of\ntears addressed herself to her,\nsaying,\n\n3 O my Lady, help and relieve\nme; for I had two sons, the one I\nhave just now buried, the other I\nsee is fast at the point of death\nbehold how I (earnestly) seek for\nyour from God, and pray to him.\n\n4 Then she said, O Lord, thou\nart gracious, and merciful, and\nkind; thou, hast given me two\nsons; one of them thou halt taken\nto thyself, O spare me this other.\n\n5 St. Mary then perceiving the\ngreatness of her sorrow, pitied her\nand said, Do thou place thy son in\nmy son's bed, and cover him with\nhis clothes.\n\n6 And when she had placed him\nin the bed wherein Christ lay,\nat the moment when his eyes were\njust closed by death; as soon as\never the small of the garments of\nthe Lord Jesus Christ reached the\nboy, his eyes were opened, and\ncalling with a loud voice to his\nmother, he asked for bread, and\nwhen he had received it, he sucked\nit.\n\n7 Than his mother said, O Lady\nMary, now I am assured that the\npowers of God do dwell in you, so\nthat thy son can cure children who\nare of the same sort as himself, as\nsoon as they touch his garments.\n\n8 This boy, who was thus cured,\nis the same who in the Gospel is\ncalled Bartholomew.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\n A leprous woman healed by Christ's washing water.\n 7 A princess healed by it and restored to her husband.\n\n\nAGAIN, there was a leprous\nwoman who went to the Lady\nSt. Mary, the mother of Jesus,\nand said, O my Lady, help me.\n\n2 St. Mary replied, What help\ndoes thou desire? Is it gold or\nsilver, or that thy body be cured\nof its leprosy?\n\n3 Who, says the woman, can\ngrant me this?\n\n4 St. Mary replied to her, Wait\na little till I have washed my son\nJesus, and put him to bed.\n\n5 The woman waited, as she\nwas commanded; and Mary when\nshe had put Jesus in bed, giving\nher the water with which she had\nwashed his body, said, Take some\nof the water, and pour it upon thy\nbody;\n\n6 Which when she had done,\nshe instantly became clean, and\npraised God, and gave thanks to\nhim.\n\n7 Then she went away, after\nshe had abode with her three\ndays;\n\n8 And going into the city, she\nsaw a certain prince, who had\nmarried another prince's daughter;\n\n9 But when he came to see her,\nhe perceived between her eyes the\nsigns of leprosy like a star, and\nthereupon declared the marriage\ndissolved and void.\n\n10 When the woman saw these\npersons in this condition, exceeding\nsorrowful, and shedding abundance\nof tears, she inquired of them\nthe reason of their crying;\n\n11 They replied, inquire not\ninto our circumstances; for we\nare not able to declare our\nmisfortunes to any, person,\nwhatsoever.\n\n12 But she still pressed and\ndesired them to communicate their\ncase to her; intimating, that she\nmight be able to direct them\nto a remedy.\n\n13 So when they showed the young\nwoman to her, and the signs\nof the leprosy, which appeared\nbetween her eyes;\n\n14 She said, I also whom ye\nsee in this place, was afflicted\nwith the same distemper, and going\non some business to Bethlehem, I\nwent into a certain cave, and saw\na woman named Mary, who had a\nson called Jesus.\n\n15 She seeing me to be leprous,\nwas concerned for me, and gave\nme some water with which she\nhad washed her son's body, with\nthat I sprinkled my body, and\nbecame clean.\n\n16 Then said these women, Will\nyou Mistress, go along with us,\nand show the Lady St. Mary to\nus?\n\n17 To which she consenting,\nthey arose and went to the Lady\nSt. Mary, taking with them very\nnoble presents.\n\n18 And when they came in and\noffered their presents to her,\nthey showed the leprous young woman\nwhom they brought with them to\nher.\n\n19 Then said St. Mary, The\nmercy of the Lord Jesus Christ\nrest upon you;\n\n20 And giving them a little of\nthat water, with which she had\nwashed the body of Jesus Christ,\nshe bade them wash the diseased\nperson with it, which when they\nhad done, she was presently\ncured;\n\n21 So they, and all who were\npresent, praised God; and being\nfilled with joy, they went back to\ntheir own city, and gave praises to\nGod on that account.\n\n22 Then the prince hearing that\nhis wife was cured, took her home\nand made a second marriage, giving\nthanks unto God for the recovery\nof his wife's health.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n 1 A girl, whose blood Satan sucked receives one\n of Christ's swaddling clothes from the Virgin,\n 14 Satan comes like a dragon, and she shews it to him;\n flames and burning coals proceed from it and fall upon him;\n 19 he is miraculously discomfited, and leaves the girl.\n\nTHERE was also a girl, who\nwas afflicted by Satan,\n\n2 For that cursed spirit did\nfrequently appear to her in the shape\nof a dragon, and was inclined to\nswallow her up, and had so sucked\nout all her blood, that she looked\nlike a dead carcass.\n\n3 As often as she came to herself,\nwith her hands wringed about\nher head she would cry out, and\nsay, Wo, Wo is me, that there is\nno one to be found, who can deliver\nme from that impious dragon!\n\n4 Her father and mother, and\nall who were about her and saw\nher, mourned and wept over her;\n\n5 And all who were present\nwould especially be under sorrow\nand in tears, when they heard her\nbewailing and saying, My brethren\nand friends, is here no one who can\ndeliver me from this murderer?\n\n6 Then the prince's daughter,\nwho had been cured of her leprosy,\nhearing the complaint of that girl,\nwent upon the top of her castle,\nand saw her with her hands twisted\nabout her head, pouring out a flood\nof tears, and all the people that\nwere about her in tears.\n\n7 Then she asked the husband\nof the possessed person, Whether\nhis wife's mother was alive? He\ntold her, That her father and\nmother were both alive,\n\n8 Then she ordered her mother\nto be sent to her; to whom, when\nshe saw her coming, she said,\nIs this possessed girl thy daughter?\nShe moaning and bewailing said,\nYes madam I bore her.\n\n9 The prince's daughter answered,\nDisclose the secret of her case to me,\nfor I confess to you that I was leprous,\nbut the Lady Mary, the mother of\nJesus Christ, healed me.\n\n10 And if you desire your\ndaughter to be restored to her\nformer state, take her to Bethlehem,\nand inquire for Mary the mother\nof Jesus, and doubt not but your\ndaughter will be cured; for I do\nnot question but you will come\nhome with great joy at your\ndaughter's recovery.\n\n11 As soon as ever she had done\nspeaking, she arose and went with\nher daughter to the place appointed,\nand to Mary, and told her the case\nof her daughter.\n\n12 When St. Mary had heard\nher story, she gave her a little\nof the water with which she had\nwashed the body of her son Jesus,\nand bade her pour it upon the\nbody of her daughter.\n\n13 Likewise she gave her one of\nthe swaddling cloths of the Lord\nJesus, and said, Take this swaddling\ncloth, and shew it to thine\nenemy as often as thou seest him\nand she sent them away in\npeace.\n\n14 After they had left that\ncity and returned home, and the\ntime was come in which Satan was\nwont to seize her, in the same\nmoment this cursed spirit appeared\nto her in the shape of a huge\ndragon, and the girl seeing him\nwas afraid,\n\n15 The mother said to her, Be\nnot afraid, daughter; let him alone\ntill he come nearer to thee! then\nshew him the swaddling cloth,\nwhich the Lady Mary gave us, and\nwe shall see the event.\n\n16 Satan then coming like a\ndreadful dragon, the body of the\ngirl trembled for fear.\n\n17 But as soon as she had put\nthe swaddling cloth upon her\nhead, and about her eyes, and\nchewed it to him, presently there\nissued forth from the swaddling\ncloth flames and burning coals,\nand fell upon the dragon.\n\n18 Oh! how great a miracle was\nthis, which was done: as soon as\nthe dragon saw the swaddling\ncloth of the Lord Jesus, fire went\nforth and was scattered upon his\nhead and eyes; so that he cried\nout with a loud voice, What have\nI to do with thee, Jesus, thou son\nof Mary? Whither shall I flee\nfrom thee?\n\n19 So he drew back much\naffrighted, and left the girl.\n\n20 And she was delivered from\nthis trouble, and sang praises and\nthanks to God, and with her all\nwho were present at the working\nof the miracle.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n 1 Judas when a boy possessed by Satan, and brought up\n by his parents to Jesus to be cured, whom he tries to bite,\n 7 but failing, strikes Jesus and makes him cry out.\n Whereupon Satan goes from Jesus in the shape of a dog.\n\nANOTHER woman likewise\nlived there, whose son was\npossessed by Satan,\n\n2 This boy, named Judas, as\noften as Satan seized him, was\ninclined to bite all that were\npresent; and if he found no one else\nnear him, he would bite his own\nhands and other parts.\n\n3 But the mother of this miserable\nboy, hearing of St. Mary and her son\nJesus, arose presently and taking\nher son in her arms, brought him\nto the Lady Mary.\n\n4 In the meantime, James and\nJoses had taken away the infant,\nthe Lord Jesus, to play at a proper\nseason with other children;\nand when they went forth, they\nsat down and the Lord Jesus with\nthem.\n\n5 Then Judas, who was possessed,\ncame and sat down at the right hand\nof Jesus.\n\n6 When Satan was acting upon him\nas usual, he went about to bite\nthe Lord Jesus.\n\n7 And because he could not do\nit, he struck Jesus on the right\nside, so that he cried out.\n\n8 And in the same moment Satan\nwent out of the boy, and ran\naway like a mad dog.\n\n9 This same boy who struck\nJesus, and out of whom Satan went\nin the form of a dog, was Judas\nIscariot, who betrayed him to the\nJews.\n\n10 And that same side, on which\nJudas: struck him, the Jews\npierced with a spear.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n 1 Jesus and other boys play together,\n and make clay figures of animals.\n 4 Jesus causes them to walk,\n 6 also makes clay birds, which he causes to fly,\n and eat and drink.\n 7 The children's parents alarmed,\n and take Jesus for a sorcerer.\n 8 He goes to a dyer's shop, and throws all the\n cloths into the furnace, and works a miracle therewith.\n 15 Whereupon the Jews praise God.\n\nAND when the Lord Jesus was\nseven years of age, he was\non a certain day with other boys\nhis companions about the same\nage;\n\n2 Who, when they were at play,\nmade clay into several shapes,\nnamely--asses, oxen, birds, and\nother figures;\n\n3 Each boasting of his work,\nand endeavouring to exceed the\nrest.\n\n4 Then the Lord Jesus said to\nthe boys, I will command these\nfigures which I have made to\nwalk.\n\n5 And immediately they moved,\nand when he commanded them to\nreturn, they returned.\n\n6 He had also made the figures\nof birds and sparrows, which,\nwhen he commanded to fly, did\nfly, and when he commanded to\nstand still, did stand still; and if\nhe gave them meat and drink, they\ndid eat and drink.\n\n7 When at length the boys went\naway, and related these things to\ntheir parents, their fathers said to\nthem, Take heed, children, for the\nfuture of his company, for he is a\nsorcerer; shun and avoid him, and\nfrom henceforth never play with\nhim.\n\n8 On a certain day also, when\nthe Lord Jesus was playing with\nthe boys, and running about, he\npassed by a dyer's shop, whose\nname was Salem.\n\n9 And there were in his shop\nmany pieces of cloth belonging to\nthe people of that city, which they\ndesigned to dye of several colours.\n\n10 Then the Lord Jesus going\ninto the dyer's shop, took all the\ncloths, and threw them into the\nfurnace.\n\n11 When Salem came home, and\nsaw the cloths spoiled, he began to\nmake a great noise, and to chide\nthe Lord Jesus, saying,\n\n12 What hast thou done to me,\nO thou son of Mary? Thou hast\ninjured both me and my neighbours;\nthey all desired their cloths\nof a proper colour; but thou hast\ncome and spoiled them all.\n\n13 The Lord Jesus replied, I\nwill change the colour of every\ncloth to what colour thou desirest.\n\n14 And then he presently began\nto take the cloths out of the furnace,\nand they were all dyed of those same\ncolours which the dyer desired.\n\n15 And when the Jews saw this\nsurprising miracle, they praised\nGod.\n\n\n\nCHAP. XVI.\n\n 1 Christ miraculously widens or contracts the gates,\n milk pails, sieves, or boxes, not properly made by Joseph,\n 4 he not being skilful at his carpenter's trade.\n 5 The King of Jerusalem gives Joseph an order for a throne.\n 6 Joseph works on it for two years in the king's palace,\n and makes it two spans too short. The king being angry with him,\n 10 Jesus comforts him,\n 13 commands him to pull one side of the throne, while he\n pulls the other, and brings it to its proper dimensions.\n 14 Whereupon the bystanders praise God.\n\nAND Joseph, wheresoever he\nwent in the city, took the\nLord Jesus with him, where he\nwas sent for to work to make\ngates, or milk-pails, or sieves, or\nboxes; the Lord Jesus was with\nhim, wheresoever he went.\n\n2 And as often as Joseph had\nanything in his work, to make\nlonger, or shorter, or wider, or\nnarrower, the Lord Jesus would\nstretch his hand towards it.\n\n3 And presently it became as\nJoseph would have it:\n\n4 So that he had no need to\nfinish anything with his own hands,\nfor he was not very skilful at his\ncarpenter's trade.\n\n5 On a certain time the King\nof Jerusalem sent for him, and\nsaid, I would have thee make me\na throne of the same dimensions\nwith that place in which I\ncommonly sit.\n\n6 Joseph obeyed, and forthwith\nbegan the work, and continued two\nyears in the king's palace before\nhe finished it.\n\n7 And when he came to fix it\nin its place, he found it wanted\ntwo spans on each side of the\nappointed measure.\n\n8 Which when the king saw,\nhe was very angry with Joseph;\n\n9 And Joseph afraid of the\nking's anger, went to bed without\nhis supper, taking not any thing\nto eat.\n\n10 Then the Lord Jesus asked\nhim, What he was afraid of?\n\n11 Joseph replied, Because I\nhave lost my labour in the work\nwhich I have been about these two\nyears.\n\n12 Jesus said to him, Fear not,\nneither be cast down;\n\n13 Do thou lay hold on one side\nof the throne, and I will the other,\nand we will bring it to its just\ndimensions.\n\n14 And when Joseph had done\nas the Lord Jesus said, and each\nof them had with strength drawn\nhis side, the throne obeyed, and\nwas brought to the proper\ndimensions of the place:\n\n15 Which miracle when they\nwho stood by saw, they were\nastonished, and praised God.\n\n16 The throne was made of the\nsame wood which was in being\nin Solomon's time, namely, wood\nadorned with various shapes, and\nfigures.\n\n\n\nCHAP. XVII.\n\n 1 Jesus plays with boys at hide and seek.\n 3 Some women put his playfellows in a furnace,\n 7 where they are transformed by Jesus into kids.\n 10 Jesus calls them to go and play, and they\n are restored to their former shape.\n\nON another day the Lord Jesus\ngoing out into the street,\nand seeing some boys who were\nmet to play, joined himself to their\ncompany.\n\n2 But when they saw him, they\nhid themselves, and left him to\nseek for them;\n\n3 The Lord Jesus came to the\ngate of a certain house, and asked\nsome women who were standing\nthere, Where the boys were gone?\n\n4 And when they answered,\nThat there was no one there; the\nLord Jesus said, Who are those\nwhom ye see in the furnace?\n\n5 They answered, They were\nkids of three years old.\n\n6 Then Jesus cried out aloud,\nand said, Come out hither, O ye\nkids, to your shepherd;\n\n7 And presently the boys came\nforth like kids, and leaped about\nhim; which when the women saw,\nthey were exceedingly amazed, and\ntrembled,\n\n8 Then they immediately worshipped,\nthe Lord Jesus, and beseeched him,\nsaying, O our Lord Jesus, son of\nMary, thou art truly that good\nshepherd of Israel! have mercy\non thy handmaids, who stand before\nthee, who do not doubt, but that\nthou, O Lord, art come to save,\nand not to destroy.\n\n9 After that, when the Lord\nJesus said, the children of Israel\nare like Ethiopians among the\npeople; the women said, Thou,\nLord, knowest all things, nor is\nany thing concealed from thee:\nbut now we entreat thee, and\nbeseech of thy mercy, that thou\nwouldest restore those boys to\ntheir former state.\n\n10 Then Jesus said, Come hither,\nO boys, that we may go and\nplay; and immediately, in the\npresence of these women, the kids\nwere changed, and returned into\nthe shape of boys.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\n 1 Jesus becomes the king of his playfellows,\n and they crown him with flowers;\n 4 miraculously causes a serpent who had\n bitten Simon the Canaanite, then a boy,\n to suck out all the poison again;\n 16 the serpent bursts, and Christ restores the boy to health.\n\n\nIN the month Adar Jesus\ngathered together the boys, and\nranked them as though he had\nbeen a king.\n\n2 For they spread their garments\non the ground for him to sit\non; and having made a crown of\nflowers, put it upon his head, and\nstood on his right and left as the\nguards of a king.\n\n3 And if any one happened to\npass by, they took him by force,\nand said, Come hither, and worship\nthe king, that you may have a\nprosperous journey.\n\n4 In the mean time, while\nthese things were doing, there\ncame certain men, carrying a boy\nupon a couch;\n\n5 For this boy having gone with\nhis companions to the mountain to\ngather wood, and having found\nthere a partridge's nest, and put\nhis hand in to take out the eggs,\nwas stung by a poisonous serpent,\nwhich leaped out of the nest; so\nthat he was forced to cry out for\nthe help of his companions; who,\nwhen they came, found him lying\nupon the earth like a dead person.\n\n6 After which his neighbours\ncame and carried him back into\nthe city.\n\n7 But when they came to the\nplace where the Lord Jesus, was\nsitting like a king, and the other\nboys stood around him like his\nministers, the boys made haste to\nmeet him, who was bitten by the\nserpent, and said to his neighbours,\nCome and pay your respects to the\nking;\n\n8 But when, by reason of their\nsorrow, they refused to come, the\nboys drew them, and forced them\nagainst their wills to come.\n\n9 And when they came to the\nLord Jesus, he inquired, On what\naccount they carried that boy?\n\n10 And when they answered that\na serpent had bitten him, the Lord\nJesus said to the boys, Let us go\nand kill that serpent.\n\n11 But when the parents of the\nboy desired to be excused, because\ntheir son lay at the point of death;\nthe boys made answer, and said,\nDid not ye hear what the king\nsaid? Let us go and kill the serpent;\nand will not ye obey him?\n\n12 So they brought the couch\nback again, whether they would\nor not.\n\n13 And when they were come to\nthe nest, the Lord Jesus said to\nthe boys, Is this the serpent's\nlurking place? They said, It was.\n\n14 Then the Lord Jesus calling\nthe serpent, it presently came forth\nand submitted to him; to whom he\nsaid, Go and suck out all the poison\nwhich thou hast infused into that\nboy:\n\n15 So the serpent crept to the\nboy, and took away all its poison\nagain.\n\n16 Then the Lord Jesus cursed\nthe serpent, so that it immediately\nburst asunder, and died;\n\n17 And he touched the boy with\nhis hand to restore him to his\nformer health;\n\n18 And when he began to cry,\nthe Lord Jesus said, Cease crying\nfor hereafter thou shall be my\ndisciple;\n\n19 And this is that Simon the\nCanaanite, who is mentioned in\nthe Gospel.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\n 1 James being bitten by a viper,\n Jesus blows on the wound and cures him.\n 4 Jesus charged with throwing a boy from\n the roof of a house,\n 10 miraculously raises the dead boy to acquit him;\n 12 fetches water for his mother, breaks the pitcher\n and miraculously gathers the water in his mantle\n and brings it home;\n 16 makes fish pools on the Sabbath,\n 20 causes a boy to die who broke them down,\n 22 another boy runs against him,\n whom he also causes to die.\n\nON another day Joseph sent his\nson James to gather wood,\nand the Lord Jesus went with\nhim;\n\n2 And when they came to the\nplace where the wood was, and\nJames began to gather it, behold,\na venomous viper bit him, so that\nhe began to cry, and make a\nnoise.\n\n3 The Lord Jesus seeing him in\nthis condition, came to him, and\nblowed upon the place where the\nviper had bit him, and it was\ninstantly well.\n\n4 On a certain day the Lord\nJesus was with some boys, who\nwere playing on the house-top,\nand one of the boys fell down, and\npresently died.\n\n5 Upon which the other boys all\nrunning away, the Lord Jesus was\nleft alone on the house-top.\n\n6 And the boy's relations came\nto him and said to the Lord Jesus,\nThou didst throw our son down\nfrom the house-top.\n\n7 But he denying it, they cried\nout, Our son is dead, and this is\nhe who killed him.\n\n8 The Lord Jesus replied to\nthem, Do not charge me with a\ncrime of which you are not able to\nconvict me, but let us go and ask\nthe boy himself, who will bring\nthe truth to light.\n\n9 Then the Lord Jesus going\ndown stood over the head of the\ndead boy, and said with a loud\nvoice, Zeinunus, Zeinunus, who\nthrew thee down from the housetop?\n\n10 Then the dead boy answered,\nthou didst not throw me down,\nbut such a one did.\n\n11 And when the Lord Jesus\nbade those who stood by to take\npresent praised God on account\nof that miracle.\n\n12 On a certain time the\nLady St. Mary had commanded\nthe Lord Jesus to fetch her some\nwater out of the well;\n\n13 And when he had gone to\nfetch the water, the pitcher, when\nit was brought up full, brake;\n\n14 But Jesus spreading his mantle\ngathered up the water again,\nand brought it in that to his\nmother;\n\n15 Who, being astonished at\nthis wonderful thing, laid up this,\nand all the other things which she\nhad seen, in her memory.\n\n16 Again on another day the\nLord Jesus was with some boys\nby a river, and they drew water\nout of the river by little channels,\nand made little fish-pools.\n\n17 But the Lord Jesus had\nmade twelve sparrows, and placed\nthem about his pool on each side,\nthree on a side.\n\n18 But it was the Sabbath day,\nand the son of Hanani a Jew came\nby, and saw them making these\nthings, and said, Do ye thus make\nfigures of clay on the Sabbath?\nAnd he ran to them, and broke\ndown their fish-pools.\n\n19 But when the Lord Jesus\nclapped his hands over the sparrows\nwhich he had made, they fled away\nchirping.\n\n20 At length the son of Hanani\ncoming to the fish-pool of Jesus\nto destroy it, the water vanished\naway, and the Lord Jesus said to\nhim,\n\n21 In like manner as this water\nhad vanished, so shall thy life\nvanish; and presently the boy\ndied.\n\n22 Another time, when the\nLord Jesus was coming home in\nthe evening with Joseph, he met\na boy, who ran so hard against\nhim, that he threw him down;\n\n23 To whom the Lord Jesus\nsaid, As thou hast thrown me\ndown, so shalt thou fall, nor ever\nrise.\n\n24 And that moment the boy\nfell down and died.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\n 4 Christ sent to school to Zaccheus to learn\n his letters, and teaches Zaccheus.\n 13 Sent to another schoolmaster,\n 14 refuses to tell his letters, and the schoolmaster\n going to whip him, his hand withers and he dies.\n\nTHERE was also at Jerusalem\none named Zaccheus, who\nwas a schoolmaster:\n\n2 And he said to Joseph, Joseph,\nwhy dost thou not send Jesus to me,\nthat he may learn his letters?\n\n3 Joseph agreed, and told St. Mary;\n\n4 So they brought him to that\nmaster; who, as soon as he saw\nhim, wrote out an alphabet for him,\n\n5 And he bade him say Aleph;\nand when he had said Aleph, the\nmaster bade him pronounce Beth.\n\n6 Then the Lord Jesus said to\nhim, Tell me first the meaning of\nthe letter Aleph, and then I will\npronounce Beth.\n\n7 And when the master threatened\nto whip him, the Lord Jesus\nexplained to him the meaning of\nthe letters Aleph and Beth;\n\n8 Also which were the straight\nfigures of the letters, which the\noblique, and what letters had\ndouble figures; which had points,\nand which had none; why one\nletter went before another; and\nmany other things he began to tell\nhim, and explain, of which the\nmaster himself had never heard,\nnor read in any book.\n\n9 The Lord Jesus farther said\nto the master, Take notice how I\nsay to thee; then he began clearly\nand distinctly to say Aleph, Beth,\nGimel, Daleth, and so on to the\nend of the alphabet.\n\n10 At this the master was so\nsurprised, that he said, I believe\nthis boy was born before Noah;\n\n11 And turning to Joseph, he\nsaid, Thou hast brought a boy to\nme to be taught, who is more\nlearned than any master.\n\n12 He said also to St. Mary,\nThis your son has no need of any\nlearning.\n\n13 They brought him then\nto a more learned master, who,\nwhen he saw him, said, say Aleph;\n\n14 And when he had said Aleph,\nthe master bade him pronounce\nBeth; to which the Lord Jesus\nreplied, Tell me first the meaning\nof the letter Aleph, and then I\nwill pronounce Beth.\n\n15 But this master, when he did\nlift up his hand to whip him, had\nhis hand presently withered, and\nhe died.\n\n16 Then said Joseph to St. Mary,\nHenceforth we will not allow him\nto go out of the house; for every\none who displeases him is killed.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\n [Compare Luke ii. 42, whose meagre account is deficient\n of the sublime details here given of the subjects disputed upon.]\n\n 1 Disputes learnedly with the doctors in the temple,\n 7 on law,\n 9 on astronomy,\n 12 on physics and metaphysics.\n 21 Is worshipped by a philosopher,\n 28 and fetched home by his mother.\n\nAND when he was twelve years\nold, they brought him to\nJerusalem to the feast; and when\nthe feast was over, they returned.\n\n2 But the Lord Jesus continued\nbehind in the temple among the\ndoctors and elders, and learned\nmen of Israel; to whom he proposed\nseveral questions of learning,\nand also gave them answers:\n\n3 For he said to them, Whose\nson is the Messiah? They answered,\nthe son of David.\n\n4 Why then, said he, does he in\nthe spirit call him Lord? When he\nsaith, The Lord said to my Lord,\nsit thou at my right hand, till I\nhave made thine enemies thy foot-\nstool.\n\n5 Then a certain principal Rabbi\nasked him, Hast thou read books?\n\n6 Jesus answered, he had read\nboth books, and the things which\nwere contained in books.\n\n7 And he explained to them the\nbooks of the law, and precepts,\nand statutes: and the mysteries\nwhich are contained in the books\nof the prophets; things which\nthe mind of no creature could\nreach.\n\n8 Then said that Rabbi, I never\nyet have seen or heard of such\nknowledge! What do you think\nthat boy will be?\n\n9 When a certain astronomer,\nwho was present, asked the Lord\nJesus, Whether he had studied\nastronomy?\n\n10 The Lord Jesus replied, and\ntold him the number of the spheres\nand heavenly bodies, as also their\ntriangular, square, and sextile\naspect; their progressive and\nretrograde motion; their size and\nseveral prognostications; and other\nthings which the reason of man\nhad never discovered.\n\n11 There was also among them\na philosopher well skilled in\nphysic and natural philosophy,\nwho asked the Lord Jesus, Whether\nhe had studied physic?\n\n12 He replied, and explained to\nhim physics and metaphysics.\n\n13 Also those things which were\nabove and below the power of nature;\n\n14 The powers also of the body,\nits humours, and their effects.\n\n15 Also the number of its members,\nand bones, veins, arteries,\nand nerves;\n\n16 The several constitutions of\nbody, hot and dry, cold and moist,\nand the tendencies of them;\n\n17 How the soul operated upon\nthe body;\n\n18 What its various sensations\nand faculties, were;\n\n19 The faculty of speaking, anger,\ndesire;\n\n20 And lastly the manner of its\ncomposition and dissolution; and\nother things, which the\nunderstanding of no creature\nhad ever reached.\n\n21 Then that philosopher arose,\nand worshipped the Lord Jesus,\nand said, O Lord Jesus, from\nhenceforth I will be thy disciple\nand servant.\n\n22 While they were discoursing\non these and such like things,\nthe Lady St. Mary came in, having\nbeen three days walking about\nwith Joseph, seeking for him.\n\n23 And when she saw him sitting\namong the doctors, and in his turn\nproposing questions to them, and\ngiving answers, she said to him,\nMy son, why hast thou done thus\nby us? Behold I and thy father\nhave been at much pains in\nseeking thee.\n\n24 He replied, Why did ye seek\nme? Did ye not know that I ought\nto be employed in my father's\nhouse?\n\n25 But they understood not the\nwords which he said to them.\n\n26 Then the doctors asked Mary,\nWhether this were her son? And\nwhen she said, He was, they said,\nO happy Mary, who hast borne\nsuch a son.\n\n27 Then he returned with them\nto Nazareth, and obeyed them in\nall things.\n\n28 And his mother kept all these\nthings in her mind;\n\n29 And the Lord Jesus grew in\nstature and wisdom, and favour\nwith God and man.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\n 1 Jesus conceals his miracles,\n 2 studies the law,\n 3 and is baptized.\n\nNOW from this time Jesus began\nto conceal his miracles and\nsecret works,\n\n2 And gave himself to the study\nof the law, till he arrived to the\nend of his thirtieth year;\n\n3 At which time the Father publicly\nowned him at Jordan, sending\ndown this voice from heaven, This\nis my beloved son, in whom I am\nwell pleased;\n\n4 The Holy Ghost being also\npresent in the form of a dove.\n\n5 This is he whom we worship\nwith all reverence, because he gave\nus our life and being, and brought\nus from our mother's womb,\nGlory to God,\n\n6 Who, for our sakes, took a\nhuman body, and hath redeemed\nus, that so he might embrace\nus with everlasting mercy, and\nshew his free, large, bountiful\ngrace and goodness to us.\n\n7 To him be glory and praise,\nand power, and dominion, from\nhenceforth said for evermore.\nAmen.\n\n(The end of the whole Gospel of\nthe Infancy, by the assistance of\nthe Supreme God, according to\nwhat we found in the original.)\n\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO THE FIRST GOSPEL OF\n THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST\n\n[Mr. Henry Sike, Professor of Oriental Languages at Cambridge, first\ntranslated and published this Gospel in 1697. It was received by the\nGnostics, a sect of Christians in the second century; and several of its\nrelations were credited in the following ages by other Christians, viz.,\nEusebius, Athanasius, Epiphanius; Chrysostom. &c. Sozomen says, he was\ntold by many, and he credits the relations, of the idols in Egypt falling\ndown on Joseph, and Mary's flight thither with Christ; and of Christ\nmaking a well to wash his clothes in a sycamore-tree, from whence balsam\nafterwards proceeded; which stories are from this Gospel. Chemnitius, out\nof Stipulensis, who had it from Peter Martyr, Bishop of Alexandria, in\nthe third century, says, that the place in Egypt where Christ was\nbanished is now called Matarea, about ten miles beyond Cairo; that the\ninhabitants constantly burn a lamp in remembrance of it; and that there\nis a garden of trees yielding a balsam, which were planted by Christ when\na boy. M. La Crosse cites a synod at Angamala, in the Mountain of\nMalabar, A. D. 1599, which shows this Gospel was commonly read by the\nNestorians in the country. Ahmed Ibu Idris, a Mahometan divine, says, it\nwas used by some Christians in common with the other four Gospels; and\nOcobius de Castro mentions a Gospel of Thomas, which he says, he saw and\nhad translated to him by an Armenian Archbishop at Amsterdam, that was\nread in very many churches of Asia and Africa, as the only rule of their\nfaith. Fabricius takes it to be this Gospel. It has been supposed, that\nMahomet and his coadjutors used it in compiling the Koran. There are\nseveral stories believed of Christ, proceeding from this Gospel; as that\nwhich Mr. Sike relates out of La Brosse's Persic Lexicon, that Christ\npractised the trade of a dyer, and his working a miracle with the\ncolours; from whence the Persian dyers honour him as their patron, and\ncall a dye-house the shop of Christ. Sir John Chardin mentions Persian\nlegends concerning Christ's dispute with his schoolmaster about his ABC;\nand his lengthening the cedar-board which Joseph sawed too short.]\n\n\n\n Note on the Miracles of Christ in the preceding Gospels.\n\nA great void in the early life of the Saviour is filled up by these\nGospels. In none of the Canonical Evangelists is any mention made of the\nchildhood of Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, more\nrapidly than satisfactorily, pass over the period intervening between His\nbirth and ministry. It is natural to suppose that the Infant Redeemer's\nearliest days were spent in the society of other young children, and it\nis quite consistent with every sincere Christians faith to believe that\nHe had the power to perform the miracles here ascribed to him otherwise,\na limit will be set to His divine attributes, doubts raised against His\nperformance of the miracles related by the four Evangelists, in the\nauthorised version of the Testament, and a denial given of the\ndeclaration therein, \"With GOD nothing is impossible!\"\n\n\n\n\n THE SECOND, OR ST. THOMAS'S GOSPEL OF\n THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.\n\n An Account of the ACTIONS and MIRACLES of our Lord and Saviour\n JESUS CHRIST in his INFANCY.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 2 Jesus miraculously clears the water after rain.\n 4 Plays with clay sparrows, which he animates\n on the Sabbath day.\n\nI THOMAS, an Israelite, judged\nit necessary to make known to\nour brethren among the Gentiles,\nthe actions and miracles of Christ\nin his childhood, which our Lord\nand God Jesus Christ wrought\nafter his birth in Bethlehem in our\ncountry, at which I myself, was\nastonished; the beginning of which\nwas as followeth.\n\n2 When the child Jesus was\nfive years of age, and there had\nbeen a shower of rain, which was\nnow over, Jesus was playing with\nother Hebrew boys by a running\nstream; and the water running\nover the banks, stood in little\nlakes;\n\n3 But the water instantly became\nclear and useful again; he\nhaving smote them only by his\nword, they readily obeyed him.\n\n4 Then he took from the bank\nof the stream some soft clay, and\nformed out of it twelve sparrows;\nand there were other boys playing\nwith him.\n\n5 But a certain Jew seeing the\nthings which he was doing, namely,\nhis forming clay into the figures\nof sparrows on the Sabbath day,\nwent presently away, and told\nhis father Joseph, and said,\n\n6 Behold, thy boy is playing by\nthe river side, and has taken clay,\nand formed it into twelve sparrows,\nand profaneth the Sabbath.\n\n7 Then Joseph came to the\nplace where he was, and when he\nsaw him, called to him, and said,\nWhy doest thou that which it is\nnot lawful to do on the Sabbath\nday?\n\n8 Then Jesus clapping together\nthe palms of his hands, called to\nthe sparrows, and said to them\nGo, fly away; and while ye live\nremember me.\n\n9 So the sparrows fled away\nmaking a noise.\n\n10 The Jews seeing this, were\nastonished, and went away, and\ntold their chief persons what a\nstrange miracle they had seen\nwrought by Jesus.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 2 Causes a boy to wither who broke down his fish-pools;\n 6 Partly restores him.\n 7 Kills another boy.\n 16 causes blindness to fall on his accusers,\n 18 for which, Joseph pulls him by the ear.\n\nBESIDES this, the son of Annas\nthe scribe, was standing there\nwith Joseph, and took a bough\nof a willow tree, and scattered\nthe waters which Jesus had\ngathered into lakes.\n\n2 But the boy Jesus seeing what\nhe had done, became angry, and\nsaid to him, Thou fool, what harm\ndid the lake do thee, that thou\nshouldest scatter the water?\n\n3 Behold, now thou shalt wither\nas a tree, and shalt not bring forth\neither leaves, or branches, or fruit.\n\n4 And immediately he became\nwithered all over.\n\n5 Then Jesus went away home.\nBut the parents of the boy who\nwas withered, lamenting the\nmisfortune of his youth, took and\ncarried him to Joseph, accusing him,\nand said, Why dost thou keep a\nson who is guilty of such actions?\n\n6 Then Jesus at the request of\nall who were present did heal him,\nleaving only some small member\nto continue withered, that they\nmight take warning.\n\n7 Another time Jesus went\nforth into the street, and a boy\nrunning by, rushed upon his\nshoulder;\n\n8 At which Jesus being angry,\nsaid to him, Thou shalt go no\nfarther;\n\n9 And he instantly fell down\ndead:\n\n10 Which when some persons\nsaw, they said, Where was this\nboy born, that every thing which\nhe says presently cometh to pass?\n\n11 Then the parents of the dead\nboy going to Joseph, complained,\nsaying, You are not fit to live with\nus, in our city, having such a boy\nas that:\n\n12 Either teach him that he\nbless and not curse, or else depart\nhence with him, for he kills our\nchildren.\n\n13 Then Joseph calling the\nboy Jesus by himself, instructed\nhim, saying, Why doest thou such\nthings to injure the people so, that\nthey hate us and prosecute us?\n\n14 But Jesus replied, I know\nthat what thou sayest is not of\nthyself, but for thy sake I will\nsay nothing;\n\n15 But they who have said these\nthings to thee, shall suffer\neverlasting punishment.\n\n16 And immediately they who\nhad accused him became blind,\n\n17 And all they who saw it were\nexceedingly afraid and confounded,\nand said concerning him, Whatsoever\nhe saith, whether good or bad,\nimmediately cometh to pass and\nthey were amazed.\n\n18 And when they saw this action\nof Christ, Joseph arose, and\nplucked him by the ear, at which\nthe boy was angry, and said to\nhim, Be easy;\n\n19 For if they seek for us, they\nshall not find us: thou hast done\nvery imprudently.\n\n20 Dost thou not know that I\nam thine? Trouble me no more.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 Astonishes his schoolmaster by his learning.\n\nA CERTAIN schoolmaster\nnamed Zaccheaus, standing\nin a certain place, heard Jesus\nspeaking these things to his father.\n\n2 And he was much surprised,\nthat being a child he should speak\nsuch things; and after a few days\nhe came to Joseph, and said,\n\n3 Thou hast a wise and sensible\nchild, send him to me, that he may\nlearn to read.\n\n4 When he sat down to teach\nthe letters to Jesus, he began with\nthe first letter Aleph;\n\n5 But Jesus pronounced the\nsecond letter Mpeth (Beth) Cghimel\n(Gimel), and said over all the\nletters to him to the end.\n\n6 Then opening a book, he\ntaught his master the prophets\nbut he was ashamed, and was at a\nloss to conceive how he came to\nknow the letters.\n\n7 And he arose and went home,\nwonderfully surprised at so strange\na thing.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 Fragment of an adventure at a dyer's.\n\nAS Jesus was passing by a certain\nshop, he saw a young man dipping\n(or dyeing) some cloths and stockings\nin a furnace, of a sad colour, doing\nthem according to every person's\nparticular order;\n\n2 The boy Jesus going to the\nyoung man who was doing this,\ntook also some of the cloths ......\n\n(Here endeth the fragment of\nThomas's Gospel of the Infancy\nof Jesus Christ.)\n\n\n\n\n REFERENCE TO ST. THOMAS'S GOSPEL OF THE\n INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.\n\n[The original in Greek, from which this translation is made, will be\nfound printed by Cotelerius, in his notes on the constitutions of the\nApostles, from a MS. in the French King's Library, No. 2279.--It is\nattributed to St. Thomas, and conjectured to have been originally\nconnected with the, Gospel of Mary. Unfortunately this ancient MS. was\nfound torn at the second verse of the fourth chapter.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS,\n FORMERLY CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.\n\n\nThe Gospel of NICODEMUS, the disciple,\nconcerning the Sufferings and Resurrection\nof our Master and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 1 Christ accused to Pilate by the Jews\n of healing on the Sabbath.\n 9 Summoned before Pilate by a messenger\n who does him honour.\n 20 Worshipped by the standards bowing down to him.\n\nANNAS and Caiphas, and\nSummas, and Datam, Gamaliel,\nJudas, Levi, Nepthalim, Alexander,\nCyrus, and other Jews, went\nto Pilate about Jesus, accusing\nhim with many bad crimes.\n\n2 And said, We are assured that\nJesus is the son of Joseph, the\ncarpenter, and born of Mary, and\nthat he declares himself the Son of\nGod, and a king; and not only so,\nbut attempts the dissolution of the\nSabbath, and the laws of our\nfathers.\n\n3 Pilate replied, What is it\nwhich he declares? and what is it\nwhich he attempts dissolving?\n\n4 The Jews told him, We have\na law which forbids doing cures\non the Sabbath day; but he cures\nboth the lame and the deaf, those\nafflicted with the palsy, the blind,\nthe lepers, and demoniacs, on that\nday, by wicked methods.\n\n5 Pilate replied, How can he\ndo this by wicked methods? They\nanswered He is a conjurer, and\ncasts out devils by the prince of\nthe devils; and so all things,\nbecome subject to him.\n\n6 Then said Pilate, Casting out\ndevils seems not to be the work of\nan unclean spirit, but to proceed\nfrom the power of God.\n\n7 The Jews replied to Pilate,\nWe entreat your highness to summon\nhim to appear before your tribunal,\nand hear him yourself.\n\n8 Then Pilate called a messenger,\nand said to him, By what means\nwill Christ be brought hither?\n\n9 Then went the messenger\nforth, and knowing Christ,\nworshipped him; and having spread\nthe cloak which he had in his hand\nupon the ground, he said, Lord,\nwalk upon this, and go in, for the\ngovernor calls thee.\n\n10 When the Jews perceived\nwhat the messenger had done,\nthey exclaimed (against him) to\nPilate, and said, Why did you not\ngive him his summons by a beadle,\nand not by a messenger?--For the\nmessenger, when he saw him,\nworshipped him, and spread the\ncloak which he had in his hand\nupon the ground before him, and\nsaid to him, Lord, the governor\ncalls thee.\n\n11 Then Pilate called the\nmessenger, and said, Why hast thou\ndone thus?\n\n12 The messenger replied, When\nthou sentest me from Jerusalem to\nAlexander, I saw Jesus sitting in\na mean figure upon a she-ass, and\nthe children of the Hebrews cried\nout, Hosannah, holding boughs of\ntrees in their hands.\n\n13 Others spread their garments\nin the way, and said, Save us, thou\nwho art in heaven; blessed is he\nwho cometh in the name of the\nLord.\n\n14 Then the Jews cried out,\nagainst the messenger, and said,\nThe children of the Hebrews made\ntheir acclamations in the Hebrew\nlanguage; and how couldst thou,\nwho art a Greek, understand the\nHebrew?\n\n15 The messenger answered\nthem and said, I asked one of the\nJews and said, What is this which\nthe children do cry out in the\nHebrew language?\n\n16 And he explained it to me,\nsaying, they cry out, Hosannah,\nwhich being interpreted, is, O\nLord, save me; or, O Lord, save.\n\n17 Pilate then said to them,\nWhy do you yourselves testify to\nthe words spoken by the children,\nnamely, by your silence? In what\nhas the messenger done amiss?\nAnd they were silent.\n\n18 Then the governor said unto\nthe messenger, Go forth and\nendeavour by any means to bring\nhim in.\n\n19 But the messenger went forth\nand did as before; and said, Lord\ncome in, for the governor calleth\nthee.\n\n20 And as Jesus was going in\nby the ensigns, who carried the\nstandards, the tops of them bowed\ndown and worshipped Jesus.\n\n21 Whereupon the Jews exclaimed\nmore vehemently against the ensigns.\n\n22 But Pilate said to the Jews,\nI know it is not pleasing to you\nthat the tops of the standards did\nof themselves bow and worship\nJesus; but why do ye exclaim\nagainst the ensigns, as if they had\nbowed and worshipped?\n\n23 They replied to Pilate,\nWe saw the ensigns themselves\nbowing and worshipping Jesus.\n\n24 Then the governor called the\nensigns, and said unto them, Why\ndid you do thus?\n\n25 The ensigns said to Pilate,\nWe are all Pagans and worship\nthe gods in temples; and how\nshould we think anything about\nworshipping him? We only held\nthe standards in our hands,\nand they bowed themselves and\nworshipped him.\n\n26 Then said Pilate to the rulers\nof the synagogue, Do ye yourselves\nchoose some strong men, and let\nthem hold the standards, and we\nshall see whether they will then\nbend of themselves.\n\n27 So the elders of the Jews\nsought out twelve of the most\nstrong and able old men, and made\nthem hold the standards, and they\nstood in the presence of the governor.\n\n28 Then Pilate said to the\nmessenger, Take Jesus out, and by\nsome means bring him in again.\nAnd Jesus and the messenger went\nout of the hall.\n\n29 And Pilate called the ensigns\nwho before had borne the standards,\nand swore to them, that if they\nhad not borne the standards in\nthat manner when Jesus before\nentered in, he would cut off\ntheir heads.\n\n30 Then the governor commanded\nJesus to come in again.\n\n31 And the messenger did as he\nhad done before, and very much\nentreated Jesus that he would go\nupon his cloak, and walk on it;\nand he did walk upon it, and went\nin.\n\n32 And when Jesus went in,\nthe standards bowed themselves as\nbefore, and worshipped him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 2 Is compassionated by Pilate's wife,\n 7 charged with being born in fornication.\n 12 Testimony to the betrothing of his parents.\n 15 Hatred of the Jews to him.\n\nNOW when Pilate saw this, he\nwas afraid, and was about to\nrise from his seat.\n\n2 But while he thought to rise,\nhis own wife who stood at a\ndistance, sent to him, saying, Have\nthou nothing to do with that just\nman; for I have suffered much\nconcerning him in a vision this\nnight.\n\n3 When the Jews heard this\nthey said to Pilate, Did we not say\nunto thee, He is a conjuror? Behold,\nhe hath caused thy wife to dream.\n\n4 Pilate then calling Jesus, said,\nthou hast heard what they testify\nagainst thee, and makest no answer?\n\n5 Jesus replied, If they had not\na power of speaking, they could\nnot have spoke; but because every\none has the command of his own\ntongue, to speak both good and\nbad, let him look to it.\n\n6 But the elders of the Jews\nanswered, and said to Jesus, What\nshall we look to?\n\n7 In the first place, we know\nthis concerning thee, that thou\nwast born through fornication;\nsecondly, that upon the account of\nthy birth the infants were slain in\nBethlehem; thirdly, that thy father\nand mother Mary fled into Egypt,\nbecause they could not trust their\nown people.\n\n8 Some of the Jews who stood\nby spake more favourably, We\ncannot say that he was born\nthrough fornication; but we know\nthat his mother Mary was betrothed\nto Joseph, and so he was not born\nthrough fornication.\n\n9 Then said Pilate to the Jews\nwho affirmed him to be born\nthrough fornication, This your\naccount is not true, seeing there was\na betrothment, as they testify who\nare of your own nation.\n\n10 Annas and Caiphas spake to\nPilate, All this multitude of people\nis to be regarded, who cry out,\nthat he was born through fornication,\nand is a conjurer; but they who deny\nhim to be born through fornication,\nare his proselytes and disciples.\n\n11 Pilate answered Annas and\nCaiphas, Who are the proselytes?\nThey answered, They are those\nwho are the children of Pagans,\nand are not become Jews, but\nfollowers of him.\n\n12 Then replied Eleazer, and\nAsterius, and Antonius, and James,\nCaras and Samuel, Isaac and Phinees,\nCrispus and Agrippa, Annas and Judas,\nWe are not proselytes, but children\nof Jews, and speak the truth,\nand were present when Mary was\nbetrothed.\n\n13 Then Pilate addressing\nhimself to the twelve men who\nspake this, said to them, I conjure\nyou by the life of Caesar, that ye\nfaithfully declare whether he was\nborn through fornication, and those\nthings be true which ye have related.\n\n14 They answered Pilate, We\nhave a law whereby we are forbid\nto swear, it being a sin: Let them\nswear by the life of Caesar that it\nis not as we have said, and we will\nbe contented to be put to death.\n\n15 Then said Annas and Caiphas\nto Pilate, Those twelve men will\nnot believe that we know him to be\nbasely born, and to be a conjurer,\nalthough he pretends that he is\nthe Son of God, and a king: which\nwe are so far from believing, that\nwe tremble to hear.\n\n16 Then Pilate commanded\nevery one to go out except the\ntwelve men who said he was not\nborn through fornication, and\nJesus to withdraw to a distance,\nand said to them, Why have the Jews\na mind to kill Jesus?\n\n17 They answered him, They\nare angry because he wrought\ncures on the sabbath day. Pilate\nsaid, Will they kill him for a\ngood work? They say unto him,\nYes, Sir.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n1 Is exonerated by Pilate.\n11 Disputes with Pilate concerning truth.\n\nTHEN Pilate, filled with anger,\nwent out of the hall, and said\nto the Jews, I call the whole\nworld to witness that I find no\nfault in that man.\n\n2 The Jews replied to Pilate,\nIf he had not been a wicked person,\nwe had not brought him before thee.\n\n3 Pilate said to them, Do ye take\nhim and try him by your law.\n\n4 Then the Jews said, It is not\nlawful for us to put any one to\ndeath.\n\n5 Pilate said to the Jews, The\ncommand, therefore, thou shalt\nnot kill, belongs to you, but\nnot to me.\n\n6 And he went again into the\nhall, and called Jesus by himself,\nand said to him, Art thou the king\nof the Jews?\n\n7 And Jesus answering, said\nto Pilate, Dost thou speak this\nof thyself, or did the Jews tell\nit thee concerning me?\n\n8 Pilate answering, said to\nJesus, Am I a Jew? The whole\nnation and rulers of the Jews have\ndelivered thee up to me. What\nhast thou done?\n\n9 Jesus answering, said, My\nkingdom is not of this world:\nif my kingdom were of this world,\nthen would my servants fight,\nand I should not have been\ndelivered to the Jews: but now\nmy kingdom is not from hence.\n\n10 Pilate said, Art thou a king\nthen? Jesus answered, Thou sayest\nthat I am a king: to this end\nwas I born, and for this end came\nI into the world; and for this\npurpose I came, that I should bear\nwitness to the truth; and every\none who is of the truth, heareth\nmy voice.\n\n11 Pilate saith to him, What is\ntruth?\n\n12 Jesus said, Truth is from\nheaven.\n\n13 Pilate said, Therefore truth\nis not on earth.\n\n14 Jesus saith to Pilate,\nBelieve that truth is on earth\namong those, who when they have\nthe power of judgment, are governed\nby truth, and form right judgment.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 Pilate finds no fault in Jesus.\n 16 The Jews demand his crucifixion.\n\nTHEN Pilate left Jesus in the hall,\nand went out to the Jews, and said,\nI find not any one fault in Jesus.\n\n2 The Jews say unto him, But\nhe said, I can destroy the temple\nof God, and in three days build it\nup again.\n\n3 Pilate saith to them, What\nsort of temple is that of which he\nspeaketh?\n\n4 The Jews say unto him,\nThat which Solomon was forty-six\nyears in building, he said he\nwould destroy, and in three days\nbuild up.\n\n5 Pilate said to them again, I\nam innocent from the blood of that\nman! do ye look to it.\n\n6 The Jews say to him, His\nblood be upon us and our children.\nThen Pilate calling together the\nelders and scribes, priests and\nLevites, saith to them privately,\nDo not act thus; I have found\nnothing in your charge (against\nhim) concerning his curing sick\npersons, and breaking the sabbath,\nworthy of death.\n\n7 The priests and Levites replied\nto Pilate, By the life of Caesar,\nif any one be a blasphemer, he is\nworthy of death; but this man hath\nblasphemed against the Lord.\n\n8 Then the governor again\ncommanded the Jews to depart out\nof the hall; and calling Jesus,\nsaid to him, What shall I do with\nthee?\n\n9 Jesus answered him, Do according\nas it is written.\n\n10 Pilate said to him, How is it\nwritten?\n\n11 Jesus saith to him, Moses\nand the prophets have prophesied\nconcerning my suffering and\nresurrection.\n\n12 The Jews hearing this, were\nprovoked, and said to Pilate,\nWhy wilt thou any longer hear the\nblasphemy of that man?\n\n13 Pilate saith to them, If these\nwords seem to you blasphemy, do\nye take him, bring him to your\ncourt, and try him according to\nyour law.\n\n14 The Jews reply to Pilate,\nOur law saith, he shall be obliged\nto receive nine and thirty stripes,\nbut if after this manner he shall\nblaspheme against the Lord, he\nshall be stoned.\n\n15 Pilate saith unto them, If\nthat speech of his was blasphemy,\ndo ye try him according to your\nlaw.\n\n16 The Jews say to Pilate, Our\nlaw command us not to put any one\nto death. We desire that he may be\ncrucified, because he deserves the\ndeath of the cross.\n\n17 Pilate saith to them, It is not\nfit he should be crucified: let him\nbe only whipped and sent away.\n\n18 But when the governor looked\nupon the people that were present\nand the Jews, he saw many of the\nJews in tears, and said to the\nchief priests of the Jews, All\nthe people do not desire his death.\n\n19 The elders of the Jews answered\nto Pilate, We and all the people\ncame hither for this very purpose,\nthat he should die.\n\n20 Pilate saith to them, Why should\nhe die?\n\n21 They said to him, Because\nhe declares himself to be the Son\nof God and a King.\n\n\n\nCHAP. V.\n\n 1 Nicodemus speaks in defence of Christ,\n and relates his miracles.\n 12 Another Jew,\n 26 with Veronica,\n 34 Centurio, and others,\n testify of other miracles.\n\nBUT Nicodemus, a certain Jew,\nstood before the governor,\nand said, I entreat thee,\nO righteous judge, that thou\nwouldst favour me with the\nliberty of speaking a few words.\n\n2 Pilate said to him, Speak on.\n\n3 Nicodemus said, I spake to\nthe elders of the Jews, and the\nscribes, and priests and Levites,\nand all the multitude of the Jews,\nin their assembly; What is it ye\nwould do with this man?\n\n4 He is a man who hath wrought\nmany useful and glorious miracles,\nsuch as no man on earth ever\nwrought before, nor will ever\nwork. Let him go, and do him\nno harm; if he cometh from God,\nhis miracles, (his miraculous\ncures) will continue; but if from\nmen, they will come to nought.\n\n5 Thus Moses, when he was\nsent by God into Egypt, wrought\nthe miracles which God commanded\nhim, before Pharaoh king of Egypt;\nand though the magicians of that\ncountry, Jannes and Jambres,\nwrought by their magic the same\nmiracles which Moses did, yet they\ncould not work all which he did;\n\n6 And the miracles which the\nmagicians wrought, were not of\nGod, as ye know, O Scribes and\nPharisees; but they who wrought\nthem perished, and all who\nbelieved them.\n\n7 And now let this man go;\nbecause the very miracles for\nwhich ye accuse him, are from\nGod; and he is not worthy of\ndeath.\n\n8 The Jews then said to Nicodemus,\nArt thou become his disciple,\nand making speeches in his favour?\n\n9 Nicodemus said to them, Is\nthe governor become his disciple\nalso, and does he make speeches\nfor him? Did not Caesar place\nhim in that high post?\n\n10 When the Jews heard this\nthey trembled, and gnashed their\nteeth at Nicodemus, and said to\nhim, Mayest thou receive his\ndoctrine for truth, and have\nthy lot with Christ!\n\n11 Nicodemus replied, Amen;\nI will receive his doctrine, and\nmy lot with him, as ye have said.\n\n12 Then another certain Jew\nrose up, and desired leave of the\ngovernor to hear him a few words.\n\n13 And the governor said,\nSpeak, what thou hast a mind.\n\n14 And he said, I lay for thirty-\neight years by the sheep-pool at\nJerusalem, labouring under a great\ninfirmity, and waiting for a cure\nwhich should be wrought by the\ncoming of an angel, who at a\ncertain time troubled the water: and\nwhosoever first after the troubling\nof the water stepped in, was made\nwhole of whatsoever disease he had.\n\n15 And when Jesus saw me languishing\nthere, he said to me, Wilt thou be\nmade whole? And I answered, Sir,\nI have no man, when the water is\ntroubled, to put me into the pool.\n\n16 And he said unto me, Rise,\ntake up thy bed and walk. And\nI was immediately made whole,\nand took up my bed and walked.\n\n17 The Jews then said to Pilate,\nOur Lord Governor, pray ask\nhim what day it was on which he\nwas cured of his infirmity.\n\n18 The infirm person replied,\nIt was on the sabbath.\n\n19 The Jews said to Pilate, Did\nwe not say that he wrought his\ncures on the sabbath, and cast out\ndevils by the prince of devils?\n\n20 Then another certain Jew\ncame forth, and said, I was blind,\ncould hear sounds, but could not\nsee any one; and as Jesus was\ngoing along, I heard the multitude\npassing by, and I asked what\nwas there?\n\n21 They told me that Jesus was\npassing by: then I cried out,\nsaying, Jesus, Son of David, have\nmercy on me. And he stood still,\nand commanded that I should be\nbrought to him, and said to me,\nWhat wilt thou?\n\n22 I said, Lord, that I may\nreceive my sight.\n\n23 He said to me, Receive thy\nsight: and presently I saw, and\nfollowed him, rejoicing and giving\nthanks,\n\n24 Another Jew also came forth,\nand said, I was a leper, and he\ncured me by his word only, saying,\nI will, be thou clean; and presently\nI was cleansed from my leprosy.\n\n25 And another Jew came\nforth, and said I was crooked,\nand he made me straight by his\nword.\n\n26 And a certain woman\nnamed Veronica, said, I was\nafflicted with an issue of blood\ntwelve years, and I touched the\nhem of his garment, and presently\nthe issue of blood stopped.\n\n27 The Jews then said, We\nhave a law, that a woman shall\nnot be allowed as an evidence.\n\n28 And, after other things,\nanother Jew said, I saw Jesus\ninvited to a wedding with his\ndisciples, and there was a want\nof wine in Cana of Galilee;\n\n29 And when the wine was all\ndrank, he commanded the servants\nthat they should fill six pots which\nwere there with water, and they\nfilled them up to the brim, and he\nblessed them and turned the water\ninto wine, and all the people drank,\nbeing surprised at this miracle,\n\n30 And another Jew stood forth,\nand said, I saw Jesus teaching\nin the synagogue at Capernaum;\nand there was in the synagogue\na certain man who had a devil;\nand he cried out, saying,\nlet me alone; what have we to\ndo with thee, Jesus of Nazareth?\nArt thou come to destroy us?\nI know that thou art the Holy One\nof God.\n\n31 And Jesus rebuked him, saying,\nHold thy peace, unclean spirit,\nand come out of the man; and\npresently he came out of him, and\ndid not at all hurt him.\n\n32 The following things were\nalso said by a Pharisee: I saw\nthat a great company came to\nJesus from Galilee and Judea, and\nthe sea-cost, and many countries\nabout Jordan; and many infirm\npersons came to him, and he healed\nthem all.\n\n33 And I heard the unclean\nspirits crying out, and saying,\nThou art the Son of God. And\nJesus strictly charged them, that\nthey should not make him known.\n\n34 After this another person,\nwhose name was Centurio, said,\nI saw Jesus in Capernaum, and I\nentreated him, saying, Lord, my\nservant lieth at home sick of the\npalsy.\n\n35 And Jesus said to me, I\nwill come and cure him.\n\n36 But I said, Lord, I am not\nworthy that thou shouldst come\nunder my roof; but only speak\nthe word, and my servant shall be\nhealed.\n\n37 And Jesus said unto me, Go\nthy way; and as thou hast believed\nso be it done unto thee. And my\nservant was healed from that same\nhour.\n\n38 Then a certain nobleman\nsaid, I had a son in Capernaum,\nwho lay at the point of death; and\nwhen I heard that Jesus was come\ninto Galilee, I went and besought\nhim that he would come down to\nmy house, and heal my son, for he\nwas at the point of death.\n\n39 He said to me, Go thy way,\nthy son liveth.\n\n40 And my son was cured from\nthat hour.\n\n41 Besides these, also many\nothers of the Jews, both men and\nWomen, cried out and said, He is\ntruly the Son of God, who cures\nall diseases only by his word, and\nto whom the devils are altogether\nsubject.\n\n42 Some of them farther said,\nThis power can proceed from none\nbut God.\n\n43 Pilate said to the Jews, Why\nare not the devils subject to your\ndoctors?\n\n44 Some of them said, The\npower of subjecting devils cannot\nproceed but from God.\n\n45 But others said to Pilate,\nThat he had raised Lazarus from\nthe dead, after he had been four\ndays in his grave.\n\n46 The governor hearing this,\ntrembling, said to the multitude of\nthe Jews, What will it profit you\nto shed innocent blood?\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n 1 Pilate dismayed by the turbulence of the Jews,\n 5 who demand Barabbas to be released, and Christ\n to be crucified.\n 9 Pilate warmly expostulates with them,\n 20 washes his hands of Christ's blood,\n 23 and sentences him to be whipped and crucified.\n\nTHEN Pilate having called\ntogether Nicodemus, and the\nfifteen men who said that Jesus\nwas not born through fornication,\nsaid to them, What shall I do,\nseeing there is like to be a tumult\namong the people.\n\n2 They say unto him, We know\nnot; let them look to it who raise\nthe tumult.\n\n3 Pilate then called the\nmultitude again, and said to them,\nYe know that ye have a custom, that\nI should release to you one prisoner\nat the feast of the passover:\n\n4 I have a noted prisoner, a\nmurderer, who is called Barabbas,\nand Jesus who is called Christ, in\nwhom I find nothing that deserves\ndeath; which of them, therefore,\nhave you a mind that I should\nrelease to you?\n\n5 They all cry out, and say,\nRelease to us Barabbas.\n\n6 Pilate saith to them, What\nthen shall I do with Jesus who is\ncalled Christ?\n\n7 They all answer, Let him be\ncrucified.\n\n8 Again they cry out and say to\nPilate, You are not the friend of\nCaesar, if you release this man;\nfor he hath declared that he is the\nSon of God, and a king. But are\nyou inclined that he should be\nking, and not Caesar?\n\n9 Then Pilate filled with anger\nsaid to them, Your nation hath\nalways been seditious, and you are\nalways against those who have\nbeen serviceable to you.\n\n10 The Jews replied, Who are those\nwho have been serviceable to us?\n\n11 Pilate answered them, Your\nGod who delivered you from the\nhard bondage of the Egyptians,\nand brought you over the Red Sea\nas though it had been dry land,\nand fed you in the wilderness with\nmanna and the flesh of quails, and\nbrought water out of the rock, and\ngave you a law from heaven.\n\n12 Ye provoked him all ways,\nand desired for yourselves a\nmolten calf, and worshipped it,\nand sacrificed to it, and said,\nThese are thy Gods, O Israel,\nwhich brought thee out of the\nland of Egypt:\n\n13 On account of which your\nGod was inclined to destroy you;\nbut Moses interceded for you, and\nyour God heard him, and forgave\nyour iniquity.\n\n14 Afterwards ye were enraged\nagainst, and would have killed\nyour prophets, Moses and Aaron,\nwhen they fled to the tabernacle,\nand ye were always murmuring\nagainst God and his prophets.\n\n15 And arising from his\njudgment seat, he would have gone\nout; but the Jews all cried out,\nWe acknowledge Caesar to be king,\nand not Jesus;\n\n16 Whereas this person, as\nsoon as he was born, the wise\nmen came and offered gifts unto\nhim; which when Herod heard,\nhe was exceedingly troubled,\nand would have killed him:\n\n17 When his father knew this,\nhe fled with him and his mother\nMary into Egypt. Herod, when\nhe heard he was born, would have\nslain him; and accordingly sent\nand slew all the children which\nwere in Bethlehem, and in all the\ncoasts thereof, from two years old\nand under.\n\n18 When Pilate heard this\naccount, he was afraid; and\ncommanding silence among the\npeople, who made a noise, he said\nto Jesus, Art thou therefore a king?\n\n19 All the Jews replied to\nPilate, he is the very person\nwhom Herod sought to have slain.\n\n20 Then Pilate taking water,\nwashed his hands before the people\nand said, I am innocent of the\nblood of this just person; look ye\nto it.\n\n21 The Jews answered and said,\nHis blood be upon us and our\nchildren.\n\n22 Then Pilate commanded Jesus\nto be brought before him, and\nspake to him in the following\nwords;\n\n23 Thy own nation hath charged\nthee as making thyself a king;\nwherefore I, Pilate, sentence thee\nto be whipped according to the\nlaws of former governors; and\nthat thou be first bound, then\nhanged upon a cross in that place\nwhere thou art now a prisoner;\nand also two criminals with thee,\nwhose names are Dimas and Gestas.\n\n\n\nCHAP. VII.\n\n 1 Manner of Christ's crucifixion\n with the two thieves.\n\nTHEN Jesus went out of the\nhall, and the two thieves\nwith him.\n\n2 And when they came to the\nplace which is called Golgotha,\nthey stript him of his raiment, and\ngirt him about with a linen cloth,\nand put a crown of thorns upon his\nhead, and put a reed in his hand.\n\n3 And in like manner did they\nto the two thieves who were\ncrucified with him, Dimas on his\nright hand and Gestas on his left.\n\n4 But Jesus said, My Father,\nforgive them, For they know not\nwhat they do.\n\n5 And they divided his garments,\nand upon his vesture they cast lots.\n\n6 The people in the mean time\nstood by, and the chief priests\nand elders of the Jews mocked him,\nsaying, He saved others, let him\nnow save himself if he can; if he\nbe the son of God, let him now\ncome down from the cross.\n\n7 The soldiers also mocked him,\nand taking vinegar and gall, offered\nit to him to drink, and said to him,\nIf thou art king of the Jews,\ndeliver thyself.\n\n8 Then Longinus, a certain soldier,\ntaking a spear, pierced his side,\nand presently there came forth blood\nand water.\n\n9 And Pilate wrote the title\nupon the cross in Hebrew, Latin,\nand Greek letters, viz., THIS IS\nTHE KING OF THE JEWS.\n\n10 But one of the two thieves\nwho were crucified with Jesus,\nwhose name was Gestas, said to\nJesus, If thou art the Christ,\ndeliver thyself and us.\n\n11 But the thief who was\ncrucified on his right hand,\nwhose name was Dimas, answering,\nrebuked him, and said, Dost not\nthou fear God, who art condemned\nto this punishment? We indeed\nreceive rightly and justly the\ndemerit of our actions; but this\nJesus, what evil hath he done.\n\n12 After this, groaning, he said\nto Jesus, Lord, remember me\nwhen thou comest into thy kingdom.\n\n13 Jesus answering, said to\nhim, Verily I say unto thee, that\nthis day thou shalt be with me in\nParadise.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n 1 Miraculous appearance at his death.\n 10 The Jews say the eclipse was natural.\n 12 Joseph of Arimathaea embalms Christ's\n body and buries it.\n\nAND it was about the sixth\nhour, and darkness was upon\nthe face of the whole earth until\nthe ninth hour.\n\n2 And while the sun was eclipsed,\nbehold the veil of the temple was\nrent from the top, to the bottom;\nand the rocks also were rent, and\nthe graves opened, and many\nbodies of saints, which slept,\narose.\n\n3 And about the ninth hour\nJesus cried out with a loud voice,\nEli, Eli, lama sabacthani? which\nbeing interpreted is, My God, My\nGod, why hast thou forsaken me?\n\n4 And after these things, Jesus\nsaid, Father, into thy hands I\ncommend my spirit; and having\nsaid this, he gave up the ghost.\n\n5 But when the centurion saw\nthat Jesus thus crying out gave up\nthe ghost, he glorified God, and\nsaid, Of a truth this was a just\nman.\n\n6 And all the people who stood\nby, were exceedingly troubled at\nthe sight; and reflecting upon\nwhat had passed, smote upon their\nbreasts, and then returned to the\ncity of Jerusalem.\n\n7 The centurion went to the\ngovernor, and related to him all\nthat had passed:\n\n8 And when he had heard all\nthese things, he was exceedingly\nsorrowful;\n\n9 And calling the Jews together,\nsaid to them, Have ye seen the\nmiracle of the sun's eclipse, and\nthe other things which came to\npass, while Jesus was dying?\n\n10 Which when the Jews heard,\nthey answered to the governor,\nThe eclipse of the sun happened\naccording to its usual custom.\n\n11 But all those who were the\nacquaintance of Christ, stood at\na distance, as did the women who\nhad followed Jesus from Galilee,\nobserving all these things.\n\n12 And behold a certain man\nof Arimathaea, named Joseph, who\nwas also a disciple of Jesus, but\nnot openly so, for fear of the Jews,\ncame to the governor, and entreated\nthe governor that he would give him\nleave to take away the body of Jesus\nfrom the cross.\n\n13 And the governor gave him leave.\n\n14 And Nicodemus came, bringing\nwith him a mixture of myrrh and\naloes about a hundred pounds\nweight; and they took down Jesus\nfrom the cross with tears, and\nbound him in linen cloths with\nspices, according to the custom of\nburying among the Jews;\n\n15 And placed him in a new\ntomb, which Joseph had built,\nand caused to be cut out of a rock,\nin which never any man had been\nput; and they rolled a great stone\nto the door of the sepulchre.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n 1 The Jews angry with Nicodemus:\n 5 and with, Joseph of Arimathaea,\n 7 whom they imprison.\n\nWHEN the unjust Jews heard\nthat Joseph had begged and buried\nthe body of Jesus, they sought\nafter Nicodemus, and those fifteen\nmen who had testified before the\ngovernor, that Jesus was not born\nthrough fornication, and other\ngood persons who had shown any\ngood actions towards him.\n\n2 But when they all concealed\nthemselves through fear of the\nJews, Nicodemus alone showed\nhimself to them, and said, How\ncan such persons as these enter\ninto the synagogue?\n\n3 The Jews answered him, But\nhow durst thou enter into the\nsynagogue, who wast a confederate\nwith Christ? Let thy lot be along\nwith him in the other world.\n\n4 Nicodemus answered, Amen;\nso may it be, that I may have\nmy lot with him in his kingdom.\n\n5 In like manner Joseph, when\nhe came to the Jews, said to them,\nWhy are ye angry with me for\ndesiring the body of Jesus of\nPilate? Behold, I have put him in\nmy tomb, and wrapped him up in\nclean linen, and put a stone at the\ndoor of the sepulchre:\n\n6 I have acted rightly towards\nhim; but ye have acted unjustly\nagainst that just person, in\ncrucifying him, giving him vinegar\nto drink, crowning him with thorns,\ntearing his body with whips, and\npraying down the guilt of his blood\nupon you.\n\n7 The Jews at the hearing of\nthis were disquieted and troubled;\nand they seized Joseph, and\ncommanded him to be put in custody\nbefore the Sabbath, and kept there\ntill the Sabbath was over.\n\n8 And they said to him, Make\nconfession; for at this time it is\nnot lawful to do thee any harm,\ntill the first day of the week come.\nBut we know that thou wilt not be\nthought worthy of a burial; but\nwe will give thy flesh to the birds\nof the air, and the beasts of the\nearth.\n\n9 Joseph answered, That speech\nis like the speech of proud Goliath,\nwho reproached the living God in\nspeaking against David. But ye\nscribes and doctors know that God\nsaith by the prophet, Vengeance is\nmine, and I will repay to you evil\nequal to that which ye have\nthreatened to me.\n\n10 The God whom you have\nhanged upon the cross, is able to\ndeliver me out of your hands. All\nyour wickedness will return upon\nyou.\n\n11 For the governor, when he\nwashed his hands, said, I am clear\nfrom the blood of this just person.\nBut ye answered and cried out,\nHis blood be upon us and our\nchildren. According as ye have\nsaid, may ye perish for ever.\n\n12 The elders of the Jews hearing\nthese words, were exceedingly\nenraged; and seizing Joseph, they\nput him into a chamber where\nthere was no window; they fastened\nthe door, and put a seal upon\nthe lock;\n\n13 And Annas and Caiaphas placed\na guard upon it, and took counsel\nwith the priests and Levites,\nthat they should all meet after\nthe Sabbath, and they contrived\nto what death they should put Joseph.\n\n14 When they had done this, the\nrulers, Annas and Caiaphas,\nordered Joseph to be brought\nforth.\n\n(In this place there is a portion\nof the Gospel lost or omitted.\nwhich cannot be supplied. It\nmay, nevertheless, be surmised\nfrom the occurrence related in\nthe next chapter, that the order\nof Annas and Caiaphas were rendered\nunnecessary by Joseph's miraculous\nescape, and which was announced\nto an assembly of people.)\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n 1 Joseph's escape.\n 2 The soldiers relate Christ's resurrection.\n 18 Christ is seen preaching in Galilee.\n 21 The Jews repent of their cruelty to him.\n\nWHEN all the assembly heard\nthis (about Joseph's escape),\nthey admired and were astonished,\nbecause they found the same seal\nupon the lock of the chamber, and\ncould not find Joseph.\n\n2 Then Annas and Caiaphas went\nforth, and while they were all\nadmiring at Joseph's being gone,\nbehold one of the soldiers, who\nkept the sepulchre of Jesus, spake\nin the assembly,\n\n3 That while they were guarding\nthe sepulchre of Jesus, there was\nan earthquake; and we saw an angel\nof God roll away the stone of the\nsepulchre and sit upon it;\n\n4 And his countenance was like\nlightning and his garment like\nsnow; and we became through fear\nlike persons dead.\n\n5 And we heard an angel saying\nto the women at the sepulchre of\nJesus, Do not fear; I know that\nyou seek Jesus who was crucified;\nhe is risen as he foretold;\n\n6 Come and see the place where\nhe was laid; and go presently, and\ntell his disciples that he is risen\nfrom the dead; and he will go before\nyou into Galilee; there ye shall\nsee him as he told you.\n\n7 Then the Jews called together\nall the soldiers who kept the sepulchre\nof Jesus, and said to them, Who are\nthose women, to whom the angel spoke?\nWhy did ye not seize them.\n\n8 The soldiers answered and said,\nWe know not who the women were;\nbesides we became as dead persons\nthrough fear, and how could we\nseize those women?\n\n9 The Jews said to them, As the\nLord liveth, we do not believe you;\n\n10 The soldiers answering said to\nthe Jews, when ye saw and heard\nJesus working so many miracles,\nand did not believe him, how should\nye believe us? Ye well said,\nAs the Lord liveth, for the Lord\ntruly does live.\n\n11 We have heard that ye shut\nup Joseph, who buried the body of\nJesus, in a chamber, under a lock\nwhich was sealed; and when ye\nopened it, found him not there.\n\n12 Do ye then produce Joseph\nwhom ye put under guard in the\nchamber, and we will produce\nJesus whom we guarded in the\nsepulchre.\n\n13 The Jews answered and said,\nWe will produce Joseph, do ye\nproduce Jesus. But Joseph is in\nhis own city of Arimathaea.\n\n14 The soldiers replied,\nIf Joseph be in Arimathaea,\nand Jesus in Galilee, we heard\nthe angel inform the women.\n\n15 The Jews hearing this, were\nafraid, and said among themselves,\nIf by any means these things\nshould become public, then\neverybody will believe in Jesus.\n\n16 Then they gathered a large\nsum of money, and gave it to the\nsoldiers, saying, Do ye tell the\npeople that the disciples of Jesus\ncame in the night when ye were\nasleep, and stole away the body of\nJesus; and if Pilate the governor\nshould hear of this, we will satisfy\nhim and secure you.\n\n17 The soldiers accordingly took\nthe money, and said as they were\ninstructed by the Jews; and their\nreport was spread abroad among\nall the people.\n\n18 But a certain priest Phinees,\nAda a schoolmaster, and a Levite,\nnamed Ageus, they three came from\nGalilee to Jerusalem, and told\nthe chief priests and all who\nwere in the synagogues, saying,\n\n19 We have seen Jesus, whom\nye crucified, talking with his\neleven disciples, and sitting in the\nmidst of them in Mount Olivet,\nand saying to them,\n\n20 Go forth into the whole world,\npreach the Gospel to all nations,\nbaptizing them in the name of the\nFather, and the Son, and the Holy\nGhost; and whosoever shall believe\nand be baptized, shall be saved.\n\n21 And when he had said these\nthings to his disciples, we saw him\nascending up to heaven.\n\n22 When the chief priests and\nelders, and Levites heard these\nthings, they said to these three\nmen, Give glory to the God of\nIsrael, and make confession to\nhim, whether those things are true,\nwhich ye say ye have seen and heard.\n\n23 They answering said, As the\nLord of our fathers liveth, the\nGod of Abraham, and the God of\nIsaac, and the God of Jacob,\naccording as we heard Jesus talking\nwith his disciples, and according\nas we saw him ascending up to\nheaven, so we have related the\ntruth to you.\n\n24 And the three men farther\nanswered, and said, adding these\nwords, If we should not own the\nwords which we heard Jesus speak,\nand that we saw him ascending\ninto heaven, we should be guilty\nof sin.\n\n25 Then the chief priests\nimmediately rose up, and holding\nthe book of the law in their hands,\nconjured these men, saying, Ye\nshall no more hereafter declare\nthose things which ye have spoken\nconcerning Jesus.\n\n26 And they gave them a large\nsum of money, and sent other\npersons along with them, who\nshould conduct them to their own\ncountry, that they might not by any\nmeans make any stay at Jerusalem.\n\n27 Then the Jews did assemble\nall together, and having expressed\nthe most lamentable concern said,\nWhat is this extraordinary thing\nwhich is come to pass in Jerusalem?\n\n28 But Annas and Caiaphas comforted\nthem, saying, Why should we believe\nthe soldiers who guarded the sepulchre\nof Jesus, in telling us, that an angel\nrolled away the stone from the door\nof the sepulchre?\n\n29 Perhaps his own disciples told\nthem this, and gave them money\nthat they should say so, and they\nthemselves took away the body of Jesus.\n\n30 Besides, consider this, that\nthere is no credit to be given to\nforeigners, because they also took\na large sum of us, and they have\ndeclared to us according to the\ninstructions which we gave them.\nThey must either be faithful to us\nor to the disciples of Jesus.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\n 1 Nicodemus counsels the Jews.\n 6 Joseph found.\n 11 Invited by the Jews to return.\n 19 Relates the manner of his miraculous escape.\n\nTHEN Nicodemus arose, and\nsaid, Ye say right, O sons of\nIsrael; ye have heard what those\nthree men have sworn by the Law\nof God, who said, We have seen\nJesus speaking with his disciples\nupon mount Olivet, and we saw\nhim ascending up to heaven.\n\n2 And the scripture teacheth\nus that the blessed prophet Elijah\nwas taken up to heaven, and Elisha\nbeing asked by the sons of the\nprophets, Where is our father Elijah?\nHe said to them, that he is taken up\nto heaven.\n\n3 And the sons of the prophets\nsaid to him, Perhaps the spirit\nhath carried him into one of the\nmountains of Israel, there perhaps\nwe shall find him. And they besought\nElisha, and he walked about with\nthem three days, and they could\nnot find him.\n\n4 And now hear me, O sons of\nIsrael, and let us send men into\nthe mountains of Israel, lest\nperhaps the spirit hath carried\naway Jesus, and there perhaps we\nshall find him, and be satisfied.\n\n5 And the counsel of Nicodemus\npleased all the people; and they\nsent forth men who sought for Jesus,\nbut could not find him; and they\nreturning, said, We went all about,\nbut could not find Jesus, but we\nhave found Joseph in his city of\nArimathaea.\n\n6 The rulers hearing this, and\nall the people, were glad, and\npraised the God of Israel, because\nJoseph was found, whom they had\nshut up in a chamber, and could\nnot find.\n\n7 And when they had formed a\nlarge assembly, the chief priests\nsaid, By what means shall we bring\nJoseph to us to speak with him?\n\n8 And taking a piece of paper,\nthey wrote to him, and said, Peace\nbe with thee, and all thy family,\nWe know that we have offended\nagainst God and thee. Be pleased\nto give a visit to us, your fathers,\nfor we were perfectly surprised at\nyour escape from prison.\n\n9 We know that it was malicious\ncounsel which we took against\nthee, and that the Lord took care\nof thee, and the Lord himself\ndelivered thee from our designs.\nPeace be unto thee, Joseph, who\nart honourable among all the\npeople.\n\n10 And they chose seven of\nJoseph's friends, and said to them,\nWhen ye come to Joseph, salute\nhim in peace, and give him this\nletter.\n\n11 Accordingly, when the men\ncame to Joseph, they did salute\nhim in peace, and gave him the\nletter.\n\n12 And when Joseph had read it,\nhe said, Blessed be the Lord God,\nwho didst deliver me from the\nIsraelites, that they could not\nshed my blood. Blessed be God,\nwho hast protected me under thy\nwings.\n\n13 And Joseph kissed them, and\ntook them into his house. And on\nthe morrow, Joseph mounted his\nass, and went along with them to\nJerusalem.\n\n14 And when all the Jews heard\nthese things, they went out to\nmeet him, and cried out, saying,\nPeace attend thy coming hither,\nfather Joseph.\n\n15 To which he answered,\nProsperity from the Lord attend\nall the people.\n\n13 And they all kissed him; and\nNicodemus took him to his house,\nhaving prepared a large\nentertainment.\n\n17 But on the morrow, being\na preparation-day, Annas, and\nCaiaphas, and Nicodemus, said to\nJoseph, Make confession to the\nGod of Israel, and answer to us\nall those questions which we shall\nask thee;\n\n18 For we have been very much\ntroubled, that thou didst bury the\nbody of Jesus; and that when we\nhad locked thee in a chamber, we\ncould not find thee; and we have\nbeen afraid ever since, till this\ntime of thy appearing among us.\nTell us therefore before God, all\nthat came to pass.\n\n19 Then Joseph answering,\nsaid Ye did indeed put me under\nconfinement, on the day of\npreparation, till the morning.\n\n20 But while I was standing at\nprayer in the middle of the night,\nthe house was surrounded with\nfour angels; and I saw Jesus as\nthe brightness of the sun, and fell\ndown upon the earth for fear.\n\n21 But Jesus laying hold on my\nhand, lifted me from the ground,\nand the dew was then sprinkled\nupon me; but he, wiping my face,\nkissed me, and said unto me, Fear\nnot, Joseph; look upon me for\nit is I.\n\n22 Then I looked upon him, and\nsaid, Rabboni Elias! He answered\nme, I am not Elias, but Jesus of\nNazareth, whose body thou didst\nbury.\n\n23 I said to him, show me the\ntomb in which I laid thee.\n\n24 Then Jesus, taking me by the\nhand, led me unto the place where\nI laid him, and showed me the\nlinen clothes, and napkin which I\nput round his head. Then I knew\nthat it was Jesus, and worshipped\nhim, and said; Blessed be he who\ncometh in the name of the Lord.\n\n25 Jesus again taking me by the\nhand, led me to Arimathaea, to my\nown house, and said to me, Peace\nbe to thee; but go not out of thy\nhouse till the fortieth day; but\nI must go to my disciples.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\n 1 The Jews astonished and confounded.\n 16 Simeon's two sons, Charinus and Lenthius,\n rise from the dead at Christ's crucifixion.\n 19 Joseph proposes to get them to relate the\n mysteries of their resurrection.\n 21 They are sought and found,\n 22 brought to the synagogue,\n 23 privately sworn to secrecy,\n 25 and undertake to write what they had seen.\n\nWHEN the chief priests and\nLevites heard all these\nthings, they were astonished, and\nfell down with their faces on the\nground as dead men, and crying\nout to one another, said, What is\nthis extraordinary sign which is\ncome to pass in Jerusalem? We\nknow the father and mother of\nJesus.\n\n2 And a certain Levite said,\nI know many of his relations,\nreligions persons, who are wont to\noffer sacrifices and burnt-offerings\nto the God of Israel, in the temple,\nwith prayers.\n\n3 And when the high-priest\nSimeon took him up in his arms,\nhe said to him, Lord, now lettest\nthou thy servant depart in peace,\naccording to thy word; for mine\neyes have seen thy salvation,\nwhich then halt prepared before\nthe face of all people; a light to\nenlighten the Gentiles, and the\nglory of thy people Israel.\n\n4 Simeon in like manner blessed\nMary the Mother of Jesus, and\nsaid to her, I declare to thee\nconcerning that child; He is\nappointed for the fall and rising\nagain of many, and for a sign\nwhich shall be spoken against;\n\n5 Yea, a sword shall pierce\nthrough thine own soul also, and\nthe thoughts of many hearts shall\nbe revealed.\n\n6 Then said all the Jews, Let\nus send to those three men, who\nsaid they saw him talking with\nhis disciples in mount Olivet.\n\n7 After this, they asked them\nwhat they had seen; who answered\nwith one accord, In the presence\nof the God of Israel we affirm,\nthat we plainly saw Jesus talking\nwith his disciples in Mount Olivet,\nand ascending up to heaven.\n\n8 Then Annas and Caiaphas took\nthem into separate places, and\nexamined them separately; who\nunanimously confessed the truth,\nand said, they had seen Jesus.\n\n9 Then Annas and Caiaphas said\n\"Our law saith, By the mouth of\ntwo or three witnesses every word\nshall be established.\"\n\n10 But what have we said?\nThe blessed Enoch pleased God,\nand was translated by the word of\nGod; and the burying-place of the\nblessed Moses is known.\n\n11 But Jesus was delivered to\nPilate, whipped, crowned with\nthorns, spit upon, pierced with a\nspear, crucified, died upon the\ncross, and was buried, and his\nbody the honourable Joseph buried\nin a new sepulchre, and he testifies\nthat he saw him alive.\n\n12 And besides, these men have\ndeclared, that they saw him talking\nwith his disciples in Mount Olivet,\nand ascending up to heaven.\n\n13 Then Joseph rising up, said\nto Annas and Caiaphas, Ye may be\njustly under a great surprise,\nthat you have been told, that\nJesus is alive, and gone up to\nheaven.\n\n14 It is indeed a thing really\nsurprising, that he should not\nonly himself arise from the dead,\nbut also raise others from their\ngraves, who have been seen by\nmany in Jerusalem.\n\n15 And now hear me a little\nWe all knew the blessed Simeon,\nthe high-priest, who took Jesus\nwhen an infant into his arms in\nthe temple.\n\n16 This same Simeon had two sons\nof his own, and we were all present\nat their death and funeral.\n\n17 Go therefore and see their\ntombs, for these are open, and\nthey are risen: and behold, they\nare in the city of Arimathaea,\nspending their time together in\noffices of devotion.\n\n18 Some, indeed, have heard\nthe sound of their voices in prayer,\nbut they will not discourse with\nanyone, but they continue as mute\nas dead men.\n\n19 But come, let us go to them,\nand behave ourselves towards them\nwith all due respect and caution.\nAnd if we can bring them to swear,\nperhaps they will tell us some of\nthe mysteries of their resurrection.\n\n20 When the Jews heard this\nthey were exceedingly rejoiced.\n\n21 Then Annas and Caiaphas,\nNicodemus, Joseph, and Gamaliel,\nwent to Arimathaea, but did not\nfind them in their graves; but\nwalking about the city, they found\nthem on their bended knees at\ntheir devotions:\n\n22 Then saluting them with all\nrespect and deference to God, they\nbrought them to the synagogue at\nJerusalem; and having shut the\ngates, they took the book of the\nlaw of the Lord,\n\n23 And putting it in their hands,\nswore them by God Adonai, and\nthe God of Israel, who spake to\nour fathers by the law and the\nprophets, saying, If ye believe\nhim who raised you from the dead,\nto be Jesus, tell us what ye have\nseen, and how ye were raised from\nthe dead.\n\n24 Charinus and Lenthius, the\ntwo sons of Simeon, trembled\nwhen they heard these things, and\nwere disturbed, and groaned; and\nat the same time looking up to\nheaven, they made the sign of the\ncross with their fingers on their\ntongues,\n\n25 And immediately they spake,\nand said, Give each of us some\npaper, and we will write down for\nyou all those things which we have\nseen. And they each sat down\nand wrote, saying:--\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n 1 The narrative of Charinus and Lenthius commences.\n 3 A great light in hell.\n 7 Simeon arrives, and announces the coming of Christ.\n\nO LORD Jesus and Father, who\nart God, also the resurrection\nand life of the dead, give us\nleave to declare thy mysteries,\nwhich we saw after death, belonging\nto thy cross; for we are sworn by\nthy name.\n\n2 For thou hast forbidden thy\nservants to declare the secret\nthings, which were wrought by\nthy divine power in hell.\n\n3 When we were Placed with\nour fathers in the depth of hell,\nin the blackness of darkness,\non a sudden there appeared the\ncolour of the sun like gold,\nand a substantial purple-coloured\nlight enlightening the place.\n\n4 Presently upon this, Adam,\nthe father of all mankind, with\nall the patriarchs and prophets,\nrejoiced and said, That light is the\nauthor of everlasting light, who\nhath promised to translate us to\neverlasting light.\n\n5 Then Isaiah the prophet cried\nout and said, This is the light\nof the Father, and the Son of God,\naccording to my prophecy, when I\nwas alive upon earth.\n\n6 The land of Zabulon, and the\nland of Nephthalim, beyond Jordan,\na people who walked in darkness,\nsaw a great light; and to them\nwho dwelled in the region of the\nshadow of death, light is arisen.\nAnd now he is come, and hath\nenlightened us who sat in death.\n\n7 And while we were all rejoicing\nin the light which shone upon us,\nour father Simeon came among us,\nand congratulating all the company,\nsaid, Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ\nthe Son of God.\n\n8 Whom I took up in my arms when\nan infant in the temple, and\nbeing moved by the Holy Ghost,\nsaid to him, and acknowledged,\nThat now mine eyes have seen thy\nsalvation, which thou hast prepared\nbefore the face of all people; a\nlight to enlighten the Gentiles,\nand the glory of thy people Israel.\n\n9 All the saints who were in\nthe depth of hell, hearing this,\nrejoiced the more.\n\n10 Afterwards there came forth\none like a little hermit, and was\nasked by every one, Who art thou?\n\n11 To which he replied, I am\nthe voice of one crying in the\nwilderness, John the Baptist, and\nthe prophet of the Most High, who\nwent before his coming to prepare\nhis way, to give the knowledge of\nsalvation to his people for the\nforgiveness of sins.\n\n12 And I, John, when I saw\nJesus coming to me, being moved\nby the Holy Ghost, I said, Behold\nthe Lamb of God, behold him who\ntakes away the sins of the world.\n\n13 And I baptized him in the\nriver Jordan, and saw the Holy\nGhost descending upon him in the\nform of a dove, and heard a voice\nfrom heaven saying, This is my\nbeloved Son, in whom I am well\npleased.\n\n14 And now while I was going\nbefore him, I came down hither to\nacquaint you, that the Son of God\nwill next visit us, and, as the\nday-spring from on high, will come to\nus, who are in darkness and the\nshadow of death.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n 1 Adam causes Seth to relate what he heard\n from Michael the archangel, when he sent him\n to Paradise to entreat God to anoint his\n head in his sickness.\n\nBUT when the first man our father\nAdam heard these things, that\nJesus was baptized in Jordan,\nhe called out to his son Seth,\nand said,\n\n2 Declare to your sons, the\npatriarchs and prophets, all those\nthings, which thou didst hear from\nMichael, the archangel, when I\nsent thee to the gates of Paradise,\nto entreat God that he would\nanoint my head when I was sick.\n\n3 Then Seth, coming near to the\npatriarchs and prophets, said, I,\nSeth, when I was praying to God\nat the gates of Paradise, beheld\nthe angel of the Lord, Michael,\nappear unto me, saying, I am sent\nunto thee from the Lord; I am\nappointed to preside over human\nbodies.\n\n4 I tell thee, Seth, do not pray\nto God in tears, and entreat him\nfor the oil of the tree of mercy\nwherewith to anoint thy father\nAdam for his head-ache;\n\n5 Because thou canst not by any\nmeans obtain it till the last day\nand times, namely, till five thousand\nand five hundred years be past.\n\n6 Then will Christ, the most\nmerciful Son of God, come on\nearth to raise again the human\nbody of Adam, and at the same\ntime to raise the bodies of the\ndead, and when he cometh he will\nbe baptized in Jordan;\n\n7 Then with the oil of his\nmercy he will anoint all those\nwho believe in him; and the oil\nof his mercy will continue to\nfuture generations, for those\nwho shall be born of the water\nand the Holy Ghost unto eternal\nlife.\n\n8 And when at that time the\nmost merciful Son of God, Christ\nJesus, shall come down on earth,\nhe will introduce our father Adam\ninto Paradise, to the tree of mercy.\n\n9 When all the patriarchs and\nprophets heard all these things\nfrom Seth, they rejoiced more.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n 1 Quarrel between Satan and the prince of hell,\n concerning the expected arrival of Christ in hell.\n\nWHILE all the saints were\nrejoicing, behold Satan, the\nprince and captain of death, said\nto the prince of hell,\n\n2 Prepare to receive Jesus of\nNazareth himself, who boasted\nthat he was the Son of God, and\nyet was a man afraid of death, and\nsaid, My soul is sorrowful even to\ndeath.\n\n3 Besides he did many injuries\nto me and to many others; for\nthose whom I made blind and lame\nand those also whom I tormented\nwith several devils, he cured by\nhis word; yea, and those whom I\nbrought dead to thee, he by force\ntakes away from thee.\n\n4 To this the prince of hell\nreplied to Satan, Who is that so\npowerful prince, and yet a man who\nis afraid of death?\n\n5 For all the potentates of the\nearth are subject to my power,\nwhom thou broughtest to subjection\nby thy power.\n\n6 But if he be so powerful in his\nhuman nature, I affirm to thee for\ntruth, that he is almighty in his\ndivine nature, and no man can\nresist his power:\n\n7 When therefore he said he was\nafraid of death, he designed to\nensnare thee, and unhappy it will be\nto thee for everlasting ages,\n\n8 Then Satan replying, said to\nthe prince of hell, Why didst thou\nexpress a doubt, and wast afraid to\nreceive that Jesus of Nazareth,\nboth thy adversary and mine?\n\n9 As for me, I tempted him and\nstirred up my old people the Jews\nwith zeal and anger against him;\n\n10 I sharpened the spear for his\nsuffering; I mixed the gall and\nvinegar, and commanded that he\nshould drink it; I prepared the\ncross to crucify him, and the nails\nto pierce through his hands and\nfeet; and now his death is near\nat hand, I will bring him hither,\nsubject both to thee and me.\n\n11 Then the prince of hell\nanswering, said, Thou saidst to me\njust now, that he took away the\ndead from me by force.\n\n12 They who have been kept here\ntill they should live again upon\nearth, were taken away hence,\nnot by their own power, but by\nprayers made to God, and their\nalmighty God took them from me.\n\n13 Who then is that Jesus of\nNazareth that by his word hath\ntaken away the dead from me\nwithout prayer to God?\n\n14 Perhaps it is the same who\ntook away from me Lazarus, after\nhe had been four days dead, and\ndid both stink and was rotten, and\nof whom I had possession as a dead\nperson, yet he brought him to life\nagain by his power.\n\n15 Satan answering, replied to\nthe prince of hell, It is the very\nsame person, Jesus of Nazareth.\n\n16 Which when the prince of hell\nheard, he said to him, I adjure\nthee by the powers which belong\nto thee and me, that thou bring\nhim not to me.\n\n17 For when I heard of the power\nof his word, I trembled for fear,\nand all my impious company were\nat the same disturbed;\n\n18 And we were not able to detain\nLazarus, but he gave himself a\nshake, and with all the signs of\nmalice he immediately went away\nfrom us; and the very earth, in\nwhich the dead body of Lazarus\nwas lodged, presently turned him\nout alive.\n\n19 And I know now that he is\nAlmighty God who could perform\nsuch things, who is mighty in his\ndominion, and mighty in his human\nnature, who is the Saviour of\nmankind.\n\n20 Bring not therefore this person\nhither, for he will set at liberty\nall those whom I hold in prison\nunder unbelief, and bound with\nthe fetters of their sins, and will\nconduct them to everlasting life.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\n 1 Christ's arrival at hell-gates;\n the confusion thereupon.\n 19 He descends into hell.\n\nAND while Satan and the Prince\nof hell were discoursing thus\nto each other, on a sudden there\nwas a voice as of thunder, and the\nrushing of winds, saying, Lift up\nyour gates, O ye princes; and be\nye lift up, O everlasting gates,\nand the King of Glory shall come in.\n\n2 When the prince of hell heard\nthis, he said to Satan, Depart from\nme, and begone out of my habitations;\nif thou art a powerful warrior,\nfight with the King of Glory.\nBut what hast thou to do with\nhim?\n\n3 And he cast him forth from his\nhabitations.\n\n4 And the prince said to his\nimpious officers, Shut the brass gates\nof cruelty, and make them fast with\niron bars, and fight courageously,\nlest we be taken captives.\n\n5 But when all the company of\nthe saints heard this they spake\nwith a loud voice of anger to the\nprince of hell,\n\n6 Open thy gates, that the King\nof Glory may come in.\n\n7 And the divine prophet David\ncried out, saying, Did not I, when\non earth, truly prophesy and say,\nO that men would praise the Lord\nfor his goodness, and for his\nwonderful works to the children\nof men!\n\n8 For he hath broken the gates\nof brass, and cut the bars of iron\nin sunder. He hath taken them\nbecause of their iniquity, and\nbecause of their unrighteousness\nthey are afflicted.\n\n9 After this, another prophet,\nnamely, holy Isaiah, spake in like\nmanner to all the saints, Did not\nI rightly prophesy to you when I\nwas alive on earth?\n\n10 The dead men shall live, and\nthey shall rise again who are in\ntheir graves, and they shall rejoice\nwho are in the earth; for the dew\nwhich is from the Lord, shall\nbring deliverance to them.\n\n11 And I said in another place,\nO grave, where is thy victory?\nO death, where is thy sting?\n\n12 When all the saints heard\nthese things spoken by Isaiah,\nthey said to the prince of hell,\nOpen now thy gates, and take\naway thine iron bars; for thou\nwilt now be bound, and have no\npower.\n\n13 Then was there a great voice,\nas of the sound of thunder, saying,\nLift up your gates, O princes; and\nbe ye lifted up, ye gates of hell,\nand the King of Glory will enter\nin.\n\n14 The prince of hell perceiving\nthe same voice repeated, cried out,\nas though he had been ignorant,\nWho is that King of Glory?\n\n15 David replied to the prince\nof hell, and said, I understand the\nwords of that voice, because I\nspake them in his spirit. And now,\nas I have before said, I say unto\nthee, the Lord strong and powerful,\nthe Lord mighty in battle: he is\nthe King of Glory, and he is the\nLord in heaven and in earth.\n\n16 He hath looked down to hear\nthe groans of the prisoners, and to\nset loose those that are appointed\nto death.\n\n17 And now, thou filthy and\nstinking prince of hell, open thy\ngates, that the King of Glory may\nenter in; for he is the Lord of\nheaven and earth.\n\n18 While David was saying this,\nthe mighty Lord appeared in the\nform of a man, and enlightened\nthose places which had ever before\nbeen in darkness.\n\n19 And broke asunder the fetters\nwhich before could not be broken;\nand with his invincible power\nvisited those who sate in the deep\ndarkness by iniquity, and the shadow\nof death by sin.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\n 1 Death and the devils in great horror\n at Christ's coming.\n 13 He tramples on death, seizes the prince\n of hell, and takes Adam with him to Heaven.\n\nIMPIOUS death and her cruel\nofficers hearing these things,\nwere seized with fear in their\nseveral kingdoms, when they saw\nthe clearness of the light,\n\n2 And Christ himself on a sudden\nappearing in their habitations,\nthey cried out therefore, and said,\nWe are bound by thee; thou seemest\nto intend our confusion before\nthe Lord.\n\n3 Who art thou, who has no signs\nof corruption, but that bright\nappearance which is a full proof of\nthy greatness, of which yet thou\nseemest to take no notice?\n\n4 Who art thou, so powerful,\nand so weak, so great and so little;\nmean, and yet a soldier of the first\nrank, who can command in the form\nof a servant and a common soldier?\n\n5 The king of Glory, dead and\nalive, though once slain upon the\ncross?\n\n6 Who layest dead in the grave,\nand art come down alive to us,\nand in thy death all the creatures\ntrembled, and all the stars were\nmoved; and now hast thy liberty\namong the dead, and givest\ndisturbance to our legions?\n\n7 Who art thou, who dost release\nthe captives that were held\nin chains by original sin, and\nbringest them into their former\nliberty?\n\n8 Who art thou, who dost spread\nso glorious and divine a light over\nthose who were made blind by the\ndarkness of sin?\n\n9 In like manner all the legions\nof devils were seized with the like\nhorror, and with the most submissive\nfear cried out, and said,\n\n10 Whence comes it, O thou\nJesus Christ, that thou art a man\nso powerful and glorious in majesty\nso bright as to have no spot, and\nso pure as to have no crime? For\nthat lower world of earth, which\nwas ever till now subject to us,\nand from whence we received\ntribute, never sent us such a\ndead man before, never sent such\npresents as these to the princes of\nhell.\n\n11 Who therefore art thou, who\nwith such courage enterest among\nour abodes, and art not only not\nafraid to threaten us with the\ngreatest punishments, but also\nendeavourest to rescue all others\nfrom the chains in which we hold\nthem?\n\n12 Perhaps thou art that Jesus,\nof whom Satan just now spoke to\nour prince, that by the death of\nthe cross thou wert about to\nreceive the power of death.\n\n13 Then the King of Glory\ntrampling upon death, seized the\nprince of hell, deprived him of all\nhis power, and took our earthly\nfather Adam with him to his glory.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\n 1 Beelzebub, prince of hell, vehemently upbraids Satan for\n persecuting Christ and bringing him to hell.\n 14 Christ gives Beelzebub dominion over Satan forever,\n as a recompence for taking away Adam and his sons.\n\nTHEN the prince of hell took\nSatan, and with great indignation\nsaid to him, O thou prince of\ndestruction, author of Beelzebub's\ndefeat and banishment, the scorn\nof God's angels and loathed by all\nrighteous persons! What inclined\nthee to act thus?\n\n2 Thou wouldst crucify the King\nof Glory, and by his destruction,\nhast made us promises of very\nlarge advantages, but as a fool\nwert ignorant of what thou wast\nabout.\n\n3 For behold now that Jesus of\nNazareth, with the brightness of\nhis glorious divinity, puts to flight\nall the horrid powers of darkness\nand death;\n\n4 He has broke down our prisons\nfrom top to bottom, dismissed\nall the captives, released all\nwho were bound, and all who were\nwont formerly to groan under the\nweight of their torments, have\nnow insulted us, and we are like\nto be defeated by their prayers.\n\n5 Our impious dominions are\nsubdued, and no part of mankind\nis now left in our subjection, but\non the other hand, they all boldly\ndefy us;\n\n6 Though, before, the dead never\ndurst behave themselves insolently\ntowards us, nor being prisoners,\ncould ever on any occasion be\nmerry.\n\n7 O Satan, thou prince of all\nthe wicked, father of the impious\nand abandoned, why wouldest thou\nattempt this exploit, seeing our\nprisoners were hitherto always\nwithout the least hope of\nsalvation and life?\n\n8 But now there is not one of\nthem does ever groan, nor is there\nthe least appearance of a tear in\nany of their faces.\n\n9 O prince Satan, thou great\nkeeper of the infernal regions,\nall thy advantages which thou didst\nacquire by the forbidden tree, and\nthe loss of Paradise, thou hast\nnow lost by the wood of the\ncross;\n\n10 And thy happiness all then\nexpired, when thou didst crucify\nJesus Christ the King of Glory.\n\n11 Thou hast acted against thine\nown interest and mine, as thou\nwilt presently perceive by those\nlarge torments and infinite\npunishments which thou art\nabout to suffer.\n\n12 O Satan, prince of all evil,\nauthor of death, and source of all\npride, thou shouldest first have\ninquired into the evil crimes of\nJesus of Nazareth, and then thou\nwouldest have found that he was\nguilty of no fault worthy of death.\n\n13 Why didst thou venture,\nwithout either reason or justice,\nto crucify him, and hast brought\ndown to our regions a person\ninnocent and righteous, and thereby\nhast lost all the sinners, impious\nand unrighteous persons in the\nwhole world?\n\n14 While the prince of hell was\nthus speaking to Satan, the King\nof Glory said to Beelzebub the\nprince of hell, Satan the prince\nshall be subject to thy dominions\nfor ever, in the room of Adam and\nhis righteous sons, who are mine,\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\n 1 Christ takes Adam by the hand,\n the rest of the saints join hands,\n and they all ascend with him to Paradise.\n\nTHEN Jesus stretched forth his\nhand, and said, Come to me,\nall ye my saints, who were created\nin my image, who were condemned\nby the tree of the forbidden fruit,\nand by the devil and death;\n\n2 Live now by the wood of my\ncross; the devil, the prince of this\nworld, is overcome, and death is\nconquered,\n\n3 Then presently all the saints\nwere joined together under the\nhand of the most high God; and\nthe Lord Jesus laid hold on Adam's\nhand, and said to him, Peace be\nto thee, and all thy righteous\nposterity, which is mine.\n\n4 Then Adam, casting himself\nat the feet of Jesus, addressed\nhimself to him with tears, in\nhumble language, and a loud voice,\nsaying,\n\n5 \"I will extol thee, O Lord, for\nthou halt lifted me up, and hast\nnot made my foes to rejoice over\nme. O Lord my God, I cried\nunto thee, and thou hast healed\nme.\"\n\n6 \"O Lord thou hast brought up\nmy soul from the grave; thou\nhast kept me alive, that I should\nnot go down to the pit.\"\n\n7 \"Sing unto the Lord, all ye\nsaints of his, and give thanks at\nthe remembrance of his holiness,\nfor his anger endureth but for a\nmoment; in his favour is life.\"\n\n8 In like manner all the saints,\nprostrate at the feet of Jesus,\nsaid with one voice, Thou art come,\nO Redeemer of the world, and hast\nactually accomplished all things,\nwhich thou didst foretell by the\nlaw and thy holy prophets.\n\n9 Thou hast redeemed the living\nby thy cross, and art come down\nto us, that by the death of the\ncross thou mightest deliver us\nfrom hell, and by thy power from\ndeath.\n\n10 O Lord, as thou hast put the\nensigns of thy glory in heaven,\nand hast set up the sign of thy\nredemption, even thy cross on earth;\nso, Lord, set the sign of the victory\nof thy cross in hell, that death\nmay have dominion no longer.\n\n11 Then the Lord stretching\nforth his hand, made the sign of\nthe cross upon Adam, and upon\nall his saints.\n\n12 And taking hold of Adam by\nhis right hand, he ascended from\nhell, and all the saints of God\nfollowed him.\n\n13 Then the royal prophet, David,\nboldly cried, and said, O sing\nunto the Lord a new song, for he\nhath done marvellous things; his\nright hand and his holy arm have\ngotten him the victory.\n\n14 The Lord hath made known\nhis salvation, his righteousness\nhath he openly shewn in the sight\nof the heathen.\n\n15 And the whole multitude of\nsaints answered, saying, This\nhonour have all his saints, Amen,\nPraise ye the Lord.\n\n16 Afterwards, the prophet\nHabbakuk cried out, and said,\nThou wentest forth for the salvation\nof thy people, even for salvation\nwith thine anointed.\n\n17 And all the saints said,\nBlessed is he who cometh in the\nname of the Lord; for the Lord\nhath enlightened us. This is our\nGod for ever and ever; he shall\nreign over us to everlasting ages.\nAmen.\n\n18 In like manner all the prophets\nspake the sacred things of his\npraise, and followed the Lord.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\n 1 Christ delivers Adam to Michael the archangel.\n 3 They meet Enoch and Elijah in heaven,\n 5 and also the blessed thief, who relates\n how he came to Paradise.\n\nTHEN the Lord, holding Adam\nby the hand, delivered him\nto Michael the archangel; and he\nled them into Paradise, filled with\nmercy and glory;\n\n2 And two very ancient men\nmet them, and were asked by the\nsaints, Who are ye, who have not\nyet been with us in hell, and have\nhad your bodies placed in Paradise?\n\n3 One of them answering, said,\nI am Enoch, who was translated\nby the word of God: and this man\nwho is with me, is Elijah the\nTishbite, who was translated in a\nfiery chariot.\n\n4 Here we have hitherto been,\nand have not tasted death, but are\nnow about to return at the coming\nof Antichrist, being armed with\ndivine signs and miracles, to\nengage with him in battle, and to be\nslain by him at Jerusalem, and to\nbe taken up alive again into the\nclouds, after three days and a\nhalf.\n\n5 And while the holy Enoch\nand Elias were relating this,\nbehold there came another man in a\nmiserable figure, carrying the sign\nof the cross upon his shoulders.\n\n6 And when all the saints saw\nhim, they said to him, Who art\nthou? For thy countenance is like\na thief's; and why dost thou carry\na cross upon thy shoulders?\n\n7 To which he answering, said,\nYe say right, for I was a thief,\nwho committed all sorts of wickedness\nupon earth.\n\n8 And the Jews crucified me\nwith Jesus; and I observed the\nsurprising things which happened\nin the creation at the crucifixion\nof the Lord Jesus.\n\n9 And I believed him to be the\nCreator of all things, and the\nAlmighty King; and I prayed to\nhim, saying, Lord remember me,\nwhen thou comest into thy kingdom.\n\n10 He presently regarded my\nsupplication, and said to me,\nVerily I say unto thee, this day\nthou shalt be with me in Paradise.\n\n11 And he gave me this sign of\nthe cross, saying, Carry this, and\ngo to Paradise; and if the angel\nwho is the guard of Paradise will\nnot admit thee, show him the sign\nof the cross, and say unto him\nJesus Christ who is now crucified,\nhath sent me hither to thee.\n\n12 When I did this and told the\nangel who is the guard of Paradise\nall these things, and he heard\nthem, he presently opened the\ngates, introduced me, and placed\nme on the right hand in Paradise,\n\n13 Saying, Stay here a little\ntime, till Adam, the father of all\nmankind, shall enter in, with all\nhis sons, who are the holy and\nrighteous servants of Jesus Christ,\nwho was crucified.\n\n14 When they heard all this\naccount from the thief, all the\npatriarchs said with one voice,\nBlessed be thou, O Almighty God,\nthe Father of everlasting goodness,\nand the Father of mercies, who hast\nshown such favour to those who were\nsinners against him, and hast\nbrought them to the mercy of\nParadise, and hast placed them\namidst thy large and spiritual\nprovisions, in a spiritual and\nholy life. Amen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\n 1 Charinus and Lenthius being only allowed\n three days to remain on earth,\n 7 deliver in their narratives, which miraculously\n correspond; they vanish,\n 13 and Pilate records these transactions.\n\nTHESE are the divine and\nsacred mysteries which we saw\nand heard. We, Charinus and\nLenthius are not allowed to declare\nthe other mysteries of God, as the\narchangel Michael ordered us,\n\n2 Saying, ye shall go with my\nbrethren to Jerusalem, and shall\ncontinue in prayers, declaring and\nglorifying the resurrection of\nJesus Christ, seeing he hath raised\nyou from the dead at the same\ntime with himself.\n\n3 And ye shall not talk with\nany man, but sit as dumb persons\ntill the time come when the Lord\nwill allow you to relate the\nmysteries of his divinity.\n\n4 The archangel Michael farther\ncommanded us to go beyond Jordan,\nto an excellent and fat country,\nwhere there are many who rose\nfrom the dead along with us\nfor the proof of the resurrection\nof Christ.\n\n5 For we have only three days\nallowed us from the dead, who\narose to celebrate the passover of\nour Lord with our parents, and to\nbear our testimony for Christ the\nLord, and we have been baptized\nin the holy river of Jordan. And\nnow they are not seen by any one.\n\n6 This is as much as God allowed\nus to relate to you; give ye\ntherefore praise and honour to\nhim, and repent, and he will have\nmercy upon you. Peace be to you\nfrom the Lord God Jesus Christ,\nand the Saviour of us all. Amen,\nAmen, Amen.\n\n7 And after they had made an\nend of writing, and had written\non two distinct pieces of paper,\nCharinus gave what he wrote into the\nhands of Annas, and Caiaphas, and\nGamaliel.\n\n8 Lenthius likewise gave what\nhe wrote into the hands of Nicodemus\nand Joseph; and immediately they\nwere changed into exceeding white\nforms and were seen no more.\n\n9 But what they had written\nwas found perfectly to agree, the\none not containing one letter more\nor less than the other.\n\n10 When all the assembly of the\nJews heard all these surprising\nrelations of Charinus and Lenthius,\nthey said to each other, Truly all\nthese things were wrought by\nGod, and blessed be the Lord Jesus\nfor ever and ever, Amen.\n\n11 And they went all out with\ngreat concern, and fear, and\ntrembling, and smote upon their\nbreasts and went away every one\nto his home.\n\n12 But immediately all these\nthings which were related by the\nJews in their synagogues concerning\nJesus, were presently told by Joseph\nand Nicodemus to the governor.\n\n13 And Pilate wrote down all\nthese transactions, and placed all\nthese accounts in the public records\nof his hall.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\n 1 Pilate goes to the temple; calls together\n the rulers, and scribes, and doctors.\n 2 Commands the gates to be shut;\n orders the book of the Scriptures; and\n causes the Jews to relate what they really\n knew concerning Christ.\n 14 They declare that they crucified Christ\n in ignorance, and that they now know him\n to be the Son of God, according to the\n testimony of the Scriptures; which,\n after they put him to death, were examined.\n\nAFTER these things Pilate went\nto the temple of the Jews,\nand called together all the rulers\nand scribes, and doctors of the\nlaw, and went with them into a\nchapel of the temple.\n\n2 And commanding that all the\ngates should be shut, said to them,\nI have heard that ye have a certain\nlarge book in this temple; I desire\nyou, therefore, that it may be\nbrought before me.\n\n3 And when the great book,\ncarried by four ministers of the\ntemple, and adorned with gold and\nprecious stones, was brought,\nPilate said to them all, I adjure\nyou by the God of your Fathers,\nwho made and commanded this temple\nto be built, that ye conceal not the\ntruth from me.\n\n4 Ye know all the things which\nare written in that book; tell me\ntherefore now, if ye in the\nScriptures have found any thing of\nthat Jesus whom ye crucified, and at\nwhat time of the world he, ought\nto have come: show it me.\n\n5 Then having sworn Annas and\nCaiaphas, they commanded all the\nrest who were with them to go out\nof the chapel.\n\n6 And they shut the gates of the\ntemple and of the chapel, and said\nto Pilate, Thou hast made us to\nswear, O judge, by the building of\nthis temple, to declare to thee that\nwhich is true and right.\n\n7 After we had crucified Jesus,\nnot knowing that he was the Son\nof God, but supposing he wrought\nhis miracles by some magical arts,\nwe summoned a large assembly in\nthis temple.\n\n8 And when we were deliberating\namong one another about the\nmiracles which Jesus had wrought,\nwe found many witnesses of our\nown country, who declared that\nthey had seen him alive after his\ndeath, and that they heard him\ndiscoursing with his disciples, and\nsaw him ascending into the height\nof the heavens, and entering into\nthem;\n\n9 And we saw two witnesses,\nwhose bodies Jesus raised from the\ndead, who told us of many strange\nthings which Jesus did among the\ndead, of which we have a written\naccount in our hands.\n\n10 And it is our custom annually\nto open this holy book before an\nassembly, and to search there for\nthe counsel of God.\n\n11 And we found in the first of\nthe seventy books, where Michael\nthe archangel is speaking to the\nthird son of Adam the first man,\nan account that after five thousand\nfive hundred years, Christ the\nmost beloved son of God was to\ncome on earth,\n\n12 And we further considered,\nthat perhaps he was the very God\nof Israel who spoke to Moses,\nThou shalt make the ark of the\ntestimony; two cubits and a half\nshall be the length thereof, and a\ncubit and a half the breadth thereof,\nand a cubit and a half the height\nthereof.\n\n13 By these five cubits and a\nhalf for the building of the ark\nof the Old Testament, we perceived\nand knew that in five thousand\nyears and half (one thousand) years,\nJesus Christ was to come in the\nark or tabernacle of a body;\n\n14 And so our Scriptures testify\nthat he is the Son of God, and the\nLord and King of Israel.\n\n15 And because after his suffering,\nour chief priests were surprised\nat the signs which were wrought\nby his means, we opened that book\nto search all the generations down\nto the generation of Joseph and\nMary the mother of Jesus,\nsupposing him to be of the\nseed of David;\n\n16 And we found the account of\nthe creation, and at what time he\nmade the heaven and the earth,\nand the first man Adam, and that\nfrom thence to the flood, were two\nthousand seven hundred and forty-\neight years.\n\n17 And from the flood to Abraham,\nnine hundred and twelve.\nAnd from Abraham to Moses, four\nhundred and thirty. And from\nMoses to David the King, five\nhundred and ten.\n\n18 And from David to the Babylonish\ncaptivity five hundred years.\nAnd from the Babylonish captivity\nto the incarnation of Christ, four\nhundred years.\n\n19 The sum of all which amounts\nto five thousand and half (a thousand.)\n\n20 And so it appears, that Jesus\nwhom we crucified, is Jesus Christ\nthe Son of God, and true Almighty\nGod. Amen.\n\n(In the name of the Holy Trinity,\nthus end the acts of our Saviour\nJesus Christ, which the Emperor\nTheodosius the Great found at\nJerusalem, in the hall of Pontius\nPilate, among the public records;\nthe things were acted in the\nnineteenth year of Tiberius Caesar,\nEmperor of the Romans, and in\nthe seventeenth year of the\ngovernment of Herod, the son of\nHerod and of Galilee, on the\neighth of the calends of April,\nwhich is the twenty-third day of\nthe month of March, in the CCIId\nOlympiad, when Joseph and Caiaphas\nwere rulers of the Jews; being a\nHistory written in Hebrew by\nNicodemus, of what happened after\nour Saviour's crucifixion.)\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS, FORMERLY\n CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.\n\n[Although this Gospel is, by some among the learned, supposed to have\nbeen really written by Nicodemus, who became a disciple of Jesus Christ,\nand conversed with him; others conjecture that it was a forgery towards\nthe close of the third century by some zealous believer, who, observing\nthat there had been appeals made by the Christians of the former age,\nto the acts of Pilate, but that such acts could not be produced,\nimagined it would be of service to Christianity to fabricate and publish\nthis Gospel; as it would both confirm the Christians under persecution,\nand convince the Heathens of the truth of the Christian religion. The\nRev. Jeremiah Jones says, that such pious frauds were very common among\nChristians even in the first three centuries; and that a forgery of this\nnature, with the view above-mentioned, seems natural and probable. The\nsame author, in noticing that Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History,\ncharges the Pagans with having forged and published a book, called \"The\nActs of Pilate,\" takes occasion to observe that the internal evidence of\nthis Gospel shows it was not the work of any Heathen, but that if in the\nlatter end of the third century we find it in use among Christians (as\nit was then certainly in some churches), and about the same time find a\nforgery of the Heathens under the same title, it seems exceedingly\nprobable that some Christians, at that time, should publish such a piece\nas this, in order partly to confront the spurious one of the Pagans, and\npartly to support those appeals which had been made by former Christians\nto the Acts of Pilate; and Mr. Jones says, he thinks so more particularly\nas we have innumerable instances of forgeries by the faithful in the\nprimitive ages, grounded on less plausible reasons. Whether it be\ncanonical or not, it is of very great antiquity, and is appealed to by\nseveral of the ancient Christians. The present translation is made from\nthe Gospel, published by Grynaeus in the Orthodoxographa, vol. i, tom,\nii, p. 613.]\n\nNotwithstanding the diversity of opinions here alluded to, the majority\nof the learned believe that the internal evidence of the authenticity of\nthis Gospel is manifested in the correct details of that period of\nChrist's life on which it treats, while it far excels the canonical\nEvangelists narrative of the trial of our Saviour before Pilate, with\nmore minute particulars of persons, evidence, circumstance, &c.\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\npersuaded 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 report,\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 he 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 knowledge 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\nshe-lion 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 whatsoever 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 Bodleian Library at Oxford, which\nDr. Mills copied and transmitted to Dr. Grabe.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE FIRST EPISTLE OF\n CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n Clement commends them for their excellent order\n and piety in Christ, before their schism broke out.\n\nTHE Church of God which is\nat Rome, to the Church of God\nwhich is at Corinth, elect,\nsanctified by the will of God,\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord:\ngrace and peace from the Almighty\nGod, by Jesus Christ, be multiplied\nunto you.\n\n2 Brethren, the sudden and\nunexpected dangers and calamities\nthat have fallen upon us, have, we\nfear, made us the more slow in our\nconsideration of those things which\nyou inquired of us:\n\n3 As also of that wicked and\ndetestable sedition, so unbecoming\nthe elect of God, which a few\nheadstrong and self-willed men\nhave fomented to such a degree of\nmadness, that your venerable and\nrenowned name, so worthy of all\nmen to be beloved, is greatly\nblasphemed thereby.\n\n4 For who that has ever been\namong you has not experienced\nthe firmness of your faith, and\nits fruitfulness in all good works;\nand admired the temper and\nmoderation of your religion in\nChrist; and published abroad the\nmagnificence of your hospitality;\nand thought you happy in your\nperfect and certain knowledge of\nthe Gospel?\n\n5 For ye did all things without\nrespect of persons, and walked\naccording to the laws of God;\nbeing subject to those who had\nthe rule over you, and giving the\nhonour that was fitting to the aged\namong you.\n\n6 Ye commanded the young men\nto think those things that were\nmodest and grave.\n\n7 The women ye exhorted to do\nall things with an unblameable,\nand seemly, and pure conscience;\nloving their own husbands, as was\nfitting: and that keeping themselves\nwithin the bounds of a due obedience,\nthey should order their houses\ngravely, with all discretion.\n\n8 Ye were all of you humble-\nminded, not boasting of anything\ndesiring rather to be subject than\nto govern; to give than to receive;\nbeing a content with the portion\nGod hath dispensed to you:\n\n9 And hearkening diligently to\nhis word, ye were enlarged in\nyour bowels, having his sufferings\nalways before your eyes.\n\n10 Thus a firm, and blessed,\nand profitable peace was given\nunto you: and an unsatiable desire\nof doing good; and a plentiful\neffusion of the Holy Ghost was\nupon all of you.\n\n11 And being full of good\ndesigns, ye did with, great\nreadiness of mind, and with\na religious confidence stretch\nforth your hands to God Almighty;\nbeseeching him to be merciful\nunto you, if in anything ye had\nunwillingly sinned against him.\n\n12 Ye contended day and night\nfor the whole brotherhood; that\nwith compassion and a good\nconscience, the number of his\nelect might be saved.\n\n13 Ye were sincere, and without\noffence towards each other; not\nmindful of injuries; all sedition\nand schism was an abomination\nunto you.\n\n14 Ye bewailed every one his\nneighbours' sins, esteeming their\ndefects your own.\n\n15 Ye were kind one to another\nwithout grudging; being ready to\nevery good work. And being\nadorned with a conversation\naltogether virtuous and religious,\nye did all things in the fear of\nGod; whose I commandments were\nwritten upon the tables of your\nheart.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n How their divisions began.\n\nALL honour and enlargement\nwas given unto you; and so\nwas fulfilled that which is written,\nmy beloved did eat and drink, he\nwas enlarged and waxed fat, and\nhe kicked.\n\n2 From hence came emulation,\nand envy, and strife, and sedition;\npersecution and disorder, war and\ncaptivity.\n\n3 So they who were of no renown,\nlifted up themselves against\nthe honourable; those of no\nreputation against those who were\nin respect; the foolish against the\nwise; the young men against the\naged.\n\n4 Therefore righteousness and\npeace are departed from you,\nbecause every one hath forsaken\nthe fear of God; and is grown blind\nin his faith; nor walketh by the\nrule of God's commandments nor\nliveth as is fitting in Christ:\n\n5 But every one follows his\nown wicked lusts: having taken\nup an unjust and wicked envy, by\nwhich death first entered into the\nworld.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n Envy and emulation the original of all\n strife and disorder. Examples of the\n mischiefs they have occasioned.\n\nFOR thus it is written,\nAnd in process of time it came to\npass, that Cain brought of the fruit\nof the ground an offering unto the\nLord. And Abel, he also brought\nof the firstlings of his flock,\nand of the fat thereof:\n\n2 And the Lord had respect unto\nAbel, and to his offering. But\nunto Cain and unto his offering he\nhad not respect. And Cain was\nvery sorrowful, and his countenance\nfell.\n\n3 And the Lord said unto Cain,\nWhy art thou sorrowful? And\nwhy is thy countenance fallen?\nIf thou shalt offer aright, but not\ndivide aright, hast thou not sinned?\nHold thy peace: unto thee shall\nbe his desire, and thou shalt rule\nover him.\n\n4 And Cain said unto Abel his\nbrother, Let us go down into the\nfield. And it came to pass, as\nthey were in the field, that Cain\nrose up against Abel his brother,\nand slew him.\n\n5 Ye see, brethren, how envy\nand emulation wrought the death\nof a brother. For this, our father\nJacob fled from the face of his\nbrother Esau.\n\n6 It was this that caused Joseph\nto be persecuted even unto death,\nand to come into bondage. Envy\nforced Moses to flee from the\nface of Pharoah king of Egypt,\nwhen he heard his own countryman\nask him, \"Who made thee a Judge,\nand a ruler over us? Wilt thou\nkill me as thou didst the\nEgyptian yesterday?\"\n\n7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam\nwere shut out of the camp, from\nthe rest of the congregation\nseven days.\n\n8 Emulation's sent Dathan and\nAbiram quick into the grave because\nthey raised up a sedition against\nMoses the servant of God.\n\n9 For this, David was not\nonly hated of strangers, but was\npersecuted even by Saul the king\nof Israel.\n\n10 But not to insist upon ancient\nexamples, let us come to those\nworthies that have been nearest\nto us; and take the brave\nexamples of our own age.\n\n11 Through zeal and envy, the\nmost faithful and righteous pillars\nof the church have been persecuted\neven to the most grievous deaths.\n\n12 Let us set before our eyes,\nthe holy Apostles; Peter by unjust\nenvy underwent not one or two,\nbut many sufferings; till at last\nbeing martyred, he went to the\nplace of glory that was due unto\nhim.\n\n13 For the same cause did\nPaul in like manner receive the\nreward of his patience. Seven\ntimes he was in bonds; he was\nwhipped, was stoned; he preached\nboth in the East and in the West;\nleaving behind him the glorious\nreport of his faith:\n\n14 And so having taught the\nwhole world righteousness, and\nfor that end travelled even to\nthe utmost bounds of the West;\nhe at last suffered martyrdom\nby the command of the governors,\n\n15 And departed out of the\nworld, and went unto his holy\nplace; having become a most\neminent pattern of patience\nunto all ages.\n\n16 To these Holy Apostles\nwere joined a very great number\nof others, who having through\nenvy undergone in like manner\nmany pains and torments, have\nleft a glorious example to us.\n\n17 For this, not only men but\nwomen have been persecuted;\nand having suffered very grievous\nand cruel punishments, have\nfinished the course of their faith\nwith firmness; and though weak\nin body, yet received a glorious\nreward.\n\n18 This has alienated the\nminds even of women from their\nhusbands; and changed what was\nonce said by our father Adam;\nThis is now bone of my bones,\nand flesh of my flesh.\n\n19 In a word, envy and strife,\nhave overturned whole cities, and\nrooted out great nations from off\nthe earth.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 4 He exhorts them to live by holy rules, and repent\n of their divisions, and they shall be forgiven.\n\nTHESE things, beloved, we\nwrite unto you, not only for\nyour instruction, but also for our\nown remembrance.\n\n2 For we are all in the same\nlists, and the same combat is\nprepared for us all.\n\n3 Wherefore let us lay aside all\nvain and empty cares; and let us\ncome up to the glorious and\nvenerable rule of our holy calling.\n\n4 Let us consider what is good,\nand acceptable and well-pleasing\nin the sight of him that made us.\n\n5 Let us look steadfastly to the\nblood of Christ, and see how\nprecious his blood is in the sight\nof God: which being shed for our\nsalvation, has obtained the grace\nof repentance for all the world.\n\n6 Let us search into all the\nages that have gone before us;\nand learn that our Lord has in\nevery one of them still given place\nfor repentance to all such as would\nturn to him.\n\n7 Noah preached repentance;\nand as many as hearkened to him\nwere saved. Jonah denounced\ndestruction against the Ninevites.\n\n8 Howbeit they repenting of\ntheir sins, appeased God by their\nprayers: and were saved, though\nthey were strangers to the covenant\nof God.\n\n9 Hence we find how all the\nministers of the grace of God\nhave spoken by the Holy Spirit of\nrepentance. And even the Lord of\nall, has himself declared with an\noath concerning it;\n\n10 As I live, saith the Lord,\nI desire not the death of a sinner,\nbut that he should repent. Adding\nfarther this good sentence, saying\nTurn from your iniquity, O house\nof Israel.\n\n11 Say unto the children of\nmy people, though your sins should\nreach from earth to heaven; and\nthough they shall be redder than\nscarlet, and blacker than sackcloth\nyet if ye shall turn to me with all\nyour heart, and shall call me\nfather, I will hearken to you, as\nto a holy people.\n\n12 And in another place he saith\non this wise: wash ye, make you\nclean; put away the evil of your\ndoings from before mine eyes;\ncease to do evil, learn to do well;\nseek judgment, relieve the\noppressed, judge the fatherless,\nplead for the widow.\n\n13 Come now and let us reason\ntogether, saith the Lord: though\nyour sins be as scarlet, they shall\nbe as white as snow; though they\nbe as red as crimson, they shall\nbe as wool.\n\n14 If ye be willing and obedient\nye shall eat the good of the land\nbut, if ye refuse and rebel, ye\nshall be devoured with the sword;\nfor the mouth of the Lord hath\nspoken it.\n\n15 These things has God\nestablished by his Almighty will,\ndesiring that all his beloved\nshould come to repentance.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n 1 He sets before them the examples of holy men,\n whose piety is recorded in the Scripture.\n\nWHEREFORE let us obey his\nexcellent and glorious will;\nand imploring his mercy and\ngoodness, let us fall down upon\nour faces before him, and cast\nourselves upon his mercy; laying\naside all vanity, and contention,\nand envy which leads unto death.\n\n2 Let us look up to those who\nhave the most perfectly ministered\nto his excellent glory. Let us\ntake Enoch for our example;\nwho being found righteous in\nobedience, was translated, and\nhis death was not known.\n\n3 Noah being proved to be\nfaithful, did by his ministry,\npreach regeneration to the world;\nand the Lord saved by him all the\nliving creatures, that went with\none accord into the ark.\n\n4 Abraham, who was called\nGod's friend, was in like manner\nfound faithful; inasmuch as he\nobeyed the commands of God.\n\n5 By obedience he went out of\nhis own country, and from his\nown kindred, and from his father's\nhouse; that so forsaking a small\ncountry, and a weak affinity, and\na little house, he might inherit\nthe promises of God.\n\n6 For thus God said unto him;\n\"get thee out of thy country, and\nfrom thy kindred, and from thy\nfather's house, unto a land that\nI will show thee.\"\n\n7 \"And, I will make thee a great\nnation, and will bless thee, and\nmake thy name great, and thou\nshalt be blessed. And I will\nbless them that bless thee, and\ncurse them that curse thee; and\nin thee shall all families of the\nearth be blessed,\"\n\n8 And again when he separated\nhimself from Lot, God said unto\nhim; I Lift up now thine eyes, and\nlook from the place where thou\nart northward, and southward, and\neastward, and westward, for all\nthe land which thou seest, to thee\nwill I give it, and to thy seed for\never.\n\n9 And I will make thy seed as\nthe dust of the earth, so that if a\nman can number the dust of the\nearth, then shall thy seed also be\nnumbered.\n\n10 And again he saith: and\nGod brought forth Abraham, and\nsaid unto him; look now toward\nheaven, and tell the stars, if thou\nbe able to number them: so shall\nthy seed be.\n\n11 And Abraham believed God,\nand it was counted to him for\nrighteousness.\n\n12 Through faith and hospitality\nhe had a son given him in his\nold age; and through obedience\nhe offered him up in sacrifice to\nGod, upon one of the mountains\nwhich God showed into him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n 1 Redemption for such as have been eminent for their\n faith, kindness, and charity to their neighbours.\n\nBY hospitality and goodliness\nwas Lot saved out of Sodom,\nwhen all the country round about\nwas destroyed by fire and brimstone.\n\n2 The Lord thereby making it\nmanifest, that he will not forsake\nthose that trust in him; but will\nbring the disobedient to punishment\nand correction.\n\n3 For his wife who went out\nwith him, being of a different\nmind, and not continuing in the\nsame obedience, was for that reason\nset forth for an example, being\nturned into a pillar of salt\nunto this day.\n\n4 That so all men may know,\nthat those who are double minded,\nand distrustful of the power of\nGod, are prepared for condemnation,\nand to be a sign to all succeeding\nages.\n\n5 By faith and hospitality was\nRahab the harlot saved. For when\nthe spies were sent by Joshua the\nson of Nun to search out Jericho,\nand the king of Jericho knew that\nthey were come to spy out his\ncountry, he sent men to take them,\nso that they might be put to\ndeath.\n\n6 Rahab therefore, being hospitable,\nreceived them, and hid them under\nthe stalks of flax, on the top of\nher house.\n\n7 And when the messengers that\nwere sent by the king came unto\nher, and asked her, saying,\nThere came men unto thee to spy\nout the land, bring them forth, for\nso hath the king commanded: She\nanswered, The two men whom ye\nseek came unto me, but presently\nthey departed, and are gone: Not\ndiscovering them unto them.\n\n8 Then she said to the spies,\nI know that the Lord your God has\ngiven this city into your hands;\nfor the fear of you is fallen upon\nall that dwell therein. When,\ntherefore, ye shall have taken it,\nye shall save me and my father's\nhouse.\n\n9 And they answered her, saying,\nIt shall be as thou hast spoken\nunto us, Therefore, when thou\nshalt know that we are near, thou\nshalt gather all thy family together,\nupon the house-top and they shall\nbe saved: but all that shall be\nfound without thy house shall\nbe destroyed.\n\n10 And they gave her moreover\na sign, that she should hang\nout of her house a scarlet rope,\nshowing thereby, that by the\nblood of our Lord, there should be\nredemption to all that believe and\nhope in God. Ye see, beloved,\nhow there was not only faith, but\nprophesy too in this woman.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n 1 What rules are given for leading a holy life.\n\nLET us, therefore, humble ourselves,\nbrethren, laying aside all pride,\nand boasting, and foolishness,\nand anger: And let us do as it\nis written.\n\n2 For thus saith the Holy Spirit;\nLet not the wise man glory in his\nwisdom, nor the strong man in\nhis strength, nor the rich man\nin his riches; but let him that\nglorieth, glory in the Lord, to seek\nhim, and to do judgment and justice.\n\n3 Above all, remembering the\nwords of the Lord Jesus, which he\nspake concerning equity and long\nsuffering, saying,\n\n4 Be ye merciful, and ye shall\nobtain mercy; forgive, and ye\nshall be forgiven; as ye do, so\nshall it be done unto you; as ye\ngive, so shall it be given unto\nyou; as ye judge, so shall ye be\njudged; as ye are kind to others,\nso shall God be kind to you; with\nwhat measure ye mete, with the\nsame shall it be measured to you\nagain.\n\n5 By this command, and by\nthese rules, let us establish\nourselves, that so we may always\nwalk obediently to his holy words;\nbeing humble minded:\n\n6 For so says the Holy Scripture;\nupon whom shall I look, even upon\nhim that is poor and of a contrite\nspirit, and that trembles at my word.\n\n7 It is, therefore, just and\nrighteous, men and brethren, that\nwe should become obedient unto God,\nrather than follow such as through\npride and sedition, have made\nthemselves the ring-leaders of\na detestable emulation.\n\n8 For it is not an ordinary harm\nthat we shall do ourselves, but\nrather a very great danger that we\nshall run, if we shall rashly give\nup ourselves to the wills of men,\nwho promote strife and seditions,\nto turn us aside from that which is\nfitting.\n\n9 But let us be kind to one\nanother, according to the compassion\nand sweetness of him that made us.\n\n10 For it is written, The merciful\nshall inherit the earth; and they\nthat are without evil shall be left\nupon it: but the transgressors shall\nperish from off the face of it.\n\n11 And again he saith, I have\nseen the wicked in great power\nand spreading himself like the\ncedar of Libanus. I passed by,\nand lo! he was not; I sought his\nplace, but it could not be found.\n\n12 Keep innocently, and do the\nthing that is right, for there shall\nbe a remnant to the peaceable\nman.\n\n13 Let us, therefore, hold fast\nto those who religiously follow\npeace; and not to such as only\npretend to desire.\n\n14 For he saith in a certain\nplace, This people honoureth me\nwith their lips, but their heart\nis far from me.\n\n15 And again, They bless with\ntheir mouths, but curse in their\nhearts.\n\n16 And again he saith, They\nloved him with their mouths, and\nwith their tongues they lied to\nhim. For their heart was not right\nwith him, neither were they\nfaithful in his covenant.\n\n17 Let all deceitful lips become\ndumb, and the tongue that speaketh\nproud things. Who have said, with\nour tongue will we prevail; our lips\nare our own, who is Lord over us?\n\n18 For the oppression of the\npoor, for the sighing of the needy,\nnow will I arise saith the Lord;\nI will set him in safety, I will\ndeal confidently with him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n He advises then, to be humble, and, follow the\n examples of Jesus, and of holy men in all ages.\n\nFOR Christ is theirs who are\nhumble, and not who exalt\nthemselves over his flock. The\nsceptre of the majesty of God, our\nLord Jesus Christ, came not in\nthe show of pride and arrogance,\nthough he could have done so;\nbut with humility as the Holy\nGhost had before spoken\nconcerning him.\n\n2 For thus he saith, Lord, who\nhath believed our report, and to\nwhom is the arm of the Lord\nrevealed; For he shall grow up\nbefore him as a tender plant, and\nas a root out of a dry ground;\n\n3 He hath no form or comeliness,\nand when we shall see him, there\nis no beauty that we should desire\nhim.\n\n4 He is despised and rejected of\nmen; a man of sorrows and acquainted\nwith grief.\n\n5 And we hid, as it were, our\nfaces from him; he was despised,\nand we esteemed him not.\n\n6 Surely he hath borne our\ngriefs, and carried our sorrows\nyet we did esteem him stricken,\nsmitten of God, and afflicted.\n\n7 But he was wounded for our\ntransgressions; he was bruised for\nour iniquities; the chastisement\nof our peace was upon him; and\nwith his stripes we are healed.\n\n8 All we like sheep have gone\nastray; we have turned every one\nto his own way; and the Lord hath\nlaid on him the iniquity of us all.\n\n9 He was oppressed, and he was\nafflicted, yet he opened not his\nmouth: he is brought as a lamb to\nthe slaughter; and as a sheep\nbefore her shearers is dumb,\nso he openeth not his mouth.\n\n10 He was taken from prison\nand from judgment; and who shall\ndeclare this generation? For he\nwas cut off out of the land of the\nliving: for the transgression of my\npeople was he stricken.\n\n11 And he made his grave with\nthe wicked, and with the rich in\nhis death; because he had done no\nviolence, neither was any deceit\nin his mouth.\n\n12 Yet it pleased the Lord to\nbruise him; he hath put him to\ngrief: when thou shalt make his\nsoul an offering for sin, he shall\nsee his seed, he shall prolong his\ndays, and the pleasure of the Lord\nshall prosper in his hand.\n\n13 He shall see of the travail\nof his soul, and shall be satisfied:\nby his knowledge shall my righteous\nservant justify many; for he shall\nbear their iniquities.\n\n14 Therefore will I divide him\na portion with the great, and he\nshall divide the spoil with the\nstrong; because he hath poured\nout his soul unto death; and he\nwas numbered with the transgressors,\nand he bare the sin of many, and\nmade intercession for the\ntransgressors.\n\n15 And again he himself saith,\nI am a worm and no man, a reproach\nof men, and despised of the people.\nAll they that see me laugh me to\nscorn; they shoot out their lips,\nthey shake their heads, saying;\nHe trusted in the Lord that he\nwould deliver him, let him\ndeliver him seeing he delighted\nin him.\n\n16 Ye see, beloved, what the\npattern is that has been given to\nus. For if the Lord thus humbled\nhimself, what should we do who\nare brought by him under the\nyoke of his grace?\n\n17 Let us be followers of those\nwho went about in goat-skins, and\nsheep-skins; preaching the coming\nof Christ.\n\n18 Such were Elias, and Eliaxus,\nand Ezekiel, the prophets,\nAnd let us add to these, such\nothers as have received the like\ntestimony.\n\n19 Abraham has been greatly\nwitnessed of; having been called\nthe friend of God. And yet he\nsteadfastly beholding the glory of\nGod, says with all humility, I am\ndust and ashes.\n\n20 Again of Job, it is thus\nwritten, That he was just, and\nwithout blame, true; one that served\nGod, and abstained from all evil.\nYet he accusing himself, said, No\nman is free from pollution, no,\nnot though he should live but one\nday.\n\n21 Moses was called faithful in\nall God's House; and by his conduct\nthe Lord punished Israel by stripes\nand plagues.\n\n22 And even this man, though\nthus greatly honoured, spake not\ngreatly of himself; but when the\noracle of God was delivered to him\nout of the bush, he said, Who\nam I, that thou dost send me? I\nam of a slender voice, and a slow\ntongue.\n\n23 And again he saith, I am as\nthe smoke of the pot.\n\n24 And what shall we say of\nDavid, so highly testified of in the\nHoly Scriptures? To whom God said,\nI have found a man after my own\nheart, David the son of Jesse,\nwith my holy oil have I anointed\nhim.\n\n25 But yet he himself saith unto\nGod, Have mercy upon me, O God,\naccording to thy loving kindness;\naccording unto the multitude of\nthy tender mercies, blot out my\ntransgressions.\n\n26 Wash me thoroughly from\nmine iniquity, and cleanse me\nfrom my sin. For I acknowledge\nmy transgressions, and my sin is\never before me.\n\n27 Against Thee only have I\nsinned, and done this evil in\nthy sight; that thou mightest\nbe justified when thou speakest;\nand be clear when thou judgest.\n\n28 Behold I was shapen in\niniquity, and in sin did my mother\nconceive me.\n\n29 Behold, thou desirest truth\nin the inward parts; and in the\nhidden part thou shalt make me to\nknow wisdom.\n\n30 Purge me with hyssop, and\nI shall be clean: wash me, and I\nshall be whiter than snow.\n\n31 Make me to hear joy and\ngladness, that the bones which\nthou hast broken may rejoice.\n\n32 Hide thy face from my sins,\nand blot out all mine iniquities.\nCreate in me a clean heart O God;\nand renew a right spirit\nwithin me.\n\n34 Cast me not away from thy\npresence, and take not thy holy\nspirit from me.\n\n35 Restore unto me the joy of\nthy salvation, and uphold me with\nthy free spirit.\n\n36 Then will I teach transgressors\nthy ways, and sinners shall be\nconverted unto thee.\n\n37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,\nO God, thou God of my salvation;\nand my tongue shall sing aloud\nof thy righteousness.\n\n38 O Lord open thou my lips,\nand my mouth shall show forth\nthy praise.\n\n39 For thou desirest not sacrifice,\nelse would I give it; thou\ndelightest not in burnt-offerings.\n\n40 The sacrifices of God are\na broken spirit; a broken and a\ncontrite heart, O God, thou wilt\nnot despise.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n He again persuades them to compose their divisions.\n\nTHUS has the humility and\ngodly fear of these great\nand excellent men recorded in\nthe Scriptures, through obedience,\nmade not only us, but also the\ngenerations before us better;\neven as many as have received his\nholy oracles with fear and truth.\n\n2 Having therefore so many,\nand such great and glorious\nexamples, let us return to that\npeace which was the mark that\nfrom the beginning was set before\nus;\n\n3 Let us look up to the Father\nand Creator of the whole world;\nand let us hold fast to his glorious\nand exceeding gifts and benefits\nof peace.\n\n4 Let us consider and behold\nwith the eyes of our understanding\nhis long suffering will; and think\nhow gentle and patient he is\ntowards his whole creation.\n\n5 The heavens moving by his\nappointment, are subject to him\nin peace.\n\n6 Day and night accomplish the\ncourses that he has allotted unto\nthem, not disturbing one another.\n\n7 The sun and moon, and all the\nseveral companies and constellations\nof the stars, run the courses that\nhe has appointed to them in concord,\nwithout departing in the least from\nthem.\n\n8 The fruitful earth yields its\nfood plentifully in due season both\nto man and beast, and to all animals\nthat are upon it, according to his\nwill; not disputing, nor altering\nany thing of what was ordered by him.\n\n9 So also the unfathomable and\nunsearchable floods of the deep,\nare kept in by his command;\n\n10 And the conflux of the vast\nsea, being brought together by his\norder into its several collections,\npasses not the bounds that he has\nset to it;\n\n11 But as he appointed it, so it\nremains. For he said, Hitherto\nshalt then come, and thy floods\nshall be broken within thee.\n\n12 The ocean impassable to\nmankind, and the worlds that are\nbeyond it are governed by the\nsame commands of their great\nmaster.\n\n13 Spring and summer, autumn\nand winter, give place peaceably\nto each other.\n\n14 The several quarters of the\nwinds fulfil their work in their\nseasons, without offending one\nanother.\n\n15 The ever-flowing fountains,\nmade both for pleasure and health,\nnever fail to reach out their breasts\nto support the life of men.\n\n16 Even the smallest creatures\nlive together in peace and concord\nwith each other.\n\n17 All these has the Great Creator\nand Lord of all, commanded to\nobserve peace and concord; being\ngood to all.\n\n18 But especially to us who flee\nto his mercy through our Lord\nJesus Christ; to whom be glory\nand majesty for ever and ever.\nAmen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n He exhorts them to obedience, from the consideration\n of the goodness of God, and of his presence in every place.\n\nTAKE heed, beloved, that his\nmany blessings be not to our\ncondemnation; except we shall\nwalk worthy of him, doing with\none consent what is good and\npleasing in his sight.\n\n2 The spirit of the Lord is a\ncandle, searching out the inward\nparts of the belly.\n\n3 Let us therefore consider how\nnear he is to us; and how that\nnone of our thoughts, or reasonings\nwhich we frame within ourselves,\nare hid from him,\n\n4 It is therefore just that we\nshould not forsake our rank, by\ndoing contrary to his will.\n\n5 Let us choose to offend a few\nfoolish and inconsiderate men,\nlifted up and glorying in their\nown pride, rather than God.\n\n6 Let us reverence our Lord\nJesus Christ whose blood was\ngiven for us.\n\n7 Let us honour those who are\nset over us; let us respect the\naged that are amongst us; and let\nus instruct the younger men, in\nthe discipline and fear of the\nLORD.\n\n8 Our wives let us direct, to do\nthat which is good.\n\n9 Let them show forth a lovely\nhabit of purity, in all their\nconversation; with a sincere\naffection of meekness.\n\n10 Let the government of their\ntongues be made manifest by their\nsilence.\n\n11 Let their charity be without\nrespect of persons, alike towards\nall such as religiously fear\nGod.\n\n12 Let your children be bred\nup in the instruction of Christ:\n\n13 And especially let them learn\nhow great a power humility has\nwith God; how much a pure and\nholy charity avails with him; how\nexcellent and great his fear is;\nand how it will save all such as\nturn to him with holiness in a pure\nmind.\n\n14 For he is the searcher of the\nthoughts and counsels of the heart;\nwhose breath is in us, and when\nhe pleases he can take it from\nus.\n\n\n\n\nCHAP. XI.\n\n Of faith: and particularly what we are\n to believe as to the Resurrection.\n\nBUT all these things must be\nconfirmed by the faith which\nis in Christ; for so He himself\nbespeaks us by the Holy Ghost;\n\n2 Come ye children and hearken\nunto me, and I will teach you the\nfear of the Lord. What man is\nthere that desireth life, and loveth\nto see good days?\n\n3 Keep thy tongue from evil,\nand thy lips that they speak no\nguile.\n\n4 Depart from evil and do good;\nseek peace and pursue it.\n\n5 The eyes of the Lord are upon\nthe righteous, and his ears are\nopen unto their prayers.\n\n6 But the face of the Lord is\nagainst them that do evil, to cut\noff the remembrance of them from\nthe earth.\n\n7 The righteous cried, and the\nLord heard him, and delivered\nhim out of all his troubles.\n\n8 Many are the troubles of the\nwicked; but they that trust in the\nLord mercy shall encompass them\nabout.\n\n9 Our all-merciful and beneficent\nFather hath bowels of compassion\ntowards them that fear him: and\nkindly and lovingly bestows his\ngraces upon all such as come to\nhim with a simple mind.\n\n10 Wherefore let us not waver,\nneither let us have any doubt in\nour hearts, of his excellent and\nglorious gifts.\n\n11 Let that be far from us\nwhich is written, Miserable are\nthe double-minded, and those who\nare doubtful in their hearts;\n\n12 Who say these things have\nwe heard, and our fathers have\ntold us these things. But behold\nwe are grown old, and none of\nthem has happened unto us.\n\n13 O ye fools consider the trees:\ntake the vine for an example.\nFirst it sheds its leaves; then it\nbuds; after that it spreads its\nleaves; then it flowers; then come\nthe sour grapes; and after them\nfollows the ripe fruit. See how in\na little time the fruit of the trees\ncomes to maturity.\n\n14 Of a truth yet a little while\nand his will shall suddenly be\naccomplished.\n\n15 The Holy Scripture itself\nbearing witness, that He shall\nquickly come and not tardy, and\nthat the Lord shall suddenly come\nto his temple, even the 3 holy ones\nwhom ye look for.\n\n16 Let us consider, beloved,\nhow the Lord does continually\nshow us, that there shall be a\nfuture resurrection; of which he\nhas made our Lord Jesus Christ\nthe first fruits, raising him from\nthe dead.\n\n17 Let us contemplate, beloved,\nthe resurrection that is continually\nmade before our eyes.\n\n18 Day and night manifest a\nresurrection to us. The night lies\ndown, and the day arises: again\nthe day departs and the night\ncomes on.\n\n19 Let us behold the fruits of\nthe earth. Every one sees how the\nseed is sown. The sower goes\nforth, and casts it upon the earth;\nand the seed which when it was\nsown fell upon the earth dry and\nnaked, in time dissolves.\n\n20 And from the dissolution,\nthe great power of the providence\nof the Lord rises it again; and of\none seed many arise, and bring\nforth fruit.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\n The Resurrection further proved.\n\nLET us consider that wonderful\ntype of the resurrection which\nis seen in the Eastern countries:\nthat is to say, in Arabia.\n\n2 There is a certain bird called\na Phoenix; of this there is never\nbut one at a time: and that lives\nfive hundred years. And when\nthe time of its dissolution draws\nnear, that it must die, it makes\nitself a nest of frankincense, and\nmyrrh, and other spices into which\nwhen its time is fulfilled it enters\nand dies.\n\n3 But its flesh putrefying, breeds\na certain worm, which being nourished\nwith the juice of the dead bird\nbrings forth feathers; and when\nit is grown to a perfect state,\nit takes up the nest in which\nthe bones of its parent lie, and\ncarries it from Arabia into Egypt,\nto a city called Heliopolis:\n\n4 And flying in open day in the\nsight of all men, lays it upon the\naltar of the sun, and so returns\nfrom whence it came.\n\n5 The priests then search into\nthe records of the time: and find\nthat it returned precisely at the\nend of five hundred years.\n\n6 And shall we then think it to\nbe any very great and strange\nthing for the Lord of all to raise\nup those that religiously serve him\nin the assurance of a good faith,\nwhen even by a bird he shows us\nthe greatness of his power to fulfil\nhis promise?\n\n7 For he says in a certain place,\nThou shalt raise me up and I shall\nconfess unto thee.\n\n8 And again, I laid me down\nand slept, and awaked, because\nthou art with me.\n\n9 And again, Job says, Thou\nshalt raise up this flesh of mine,\nthat has suffered all these\nthings.\n\n10 Having therefore this hope,\nlet us hold fast to him who is\nfaithful in all his promises, and\nrighteous in all his judgments;\nwho has commanded us not to lie,\nhow much more will he not\nhimself lie?\n\n11 For nothing is impossible\nwith God but to lie.\n\n12 Let his faith then be stirred\nup again in us; and let us consider\nthat all things are nigh unto him.\n\n13 By the word of his power he\nmade all things: and by the same\nword he is able, (whenever he\nwill,) to destroy them.\n\n14 Who shall say unto him,\nwhat dost thou? or who shall\nresist the power of his strength?\n\n15 When, and as he pleased,\nhe will do all things; and nothing\nshall pass away of all that has been\ndetermined by him.\n\n16 All things are open before\nhim; nor can anything be hid\nfrom his counsel.\n\n17 The heavens declare the\nglory of God, and the firmament\nshoweth his handy work. Day\nunto day uttereth speech, and\nnight unto night showeth\nknowledge. There is no speech nor\nlanguage where their voice is not\nheard.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n It is impossible to escape the vengeance of God,\n if we continue in sin.\n\nSEEING then all things are seen\nand heard by God, let us fear\nhim, and let us lay aside our\nwicked works which proceed from\nill desires; that through his mercy\nwe may be delivered from the\ncondemnation to come.\n\n2 For whither can any of us flee\nfrom his mighty hand? Or what\nworld shall receive any of those\nwho run away from him?\n\n3 For thus saith the Scripture\nin a certain place. Whither shall\nI flee from thy spirit, or where\nshall I hide myself from thy\npresence?\n\n4 If I ascend up into heaven,\nthou art there; if I shall go to the\nuttermost parts of the earth, there\nis thy right hand: if I shall make\nmy bed in the deep, thy Spirit is\nthere.\n\n5 Whither then shall any one\ngo; or whither shall he run from\nhim that comprehends all things?\n\n6 Let us therefore come to him\nwith holiness of heart, lifting up\nchaste and undefiled hands unto\nhim; loving our gracious and\nmerciful Father, who has made us\nto partake of his election.\n\n7 For so it is written, When\nthe Most High divided the nations;\nwhen he separated the sons of\nAdam, he set the bounds of the\nnations, according to the number\nof his angels; his people Jacob\nbecame the portion of the Lord,\nand Israel the lot of his\ninheritance.\n\n8 And in another place he saith,\nBehold the Lord taketh unto himself\na nation, out of the midst of the\nnations, as a man taketh the first-\nfruits of his flour; and the Most\nHoly shall come out of that nation.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n How we must live that we may please God.\n\nWHEREFORE we being apart\nof the Holy One: let us do\nall those things that pertain unto\nholiness:\n\n2 Fleeing all evil-speaking\nagainst one another; all filthy\nand impure embraces, together with\nall drunkenness, youthful lusts,\nabominable concupiscences,\ndetestable adultery, and\nexecrable pride.\n\n3 For God saith, he resisteth\nthe proud, but giveth grace to the\nhumble.\n\n4 Let us therefore hold fast to\nthose to whom God has given his\ngrace.\n\n5 And let us put on concord,\nbeing humble, temperate; free\nfrom all whispering and detraction;\nand justified by our actions,\nnot our words.\n\n6 For he saith, Doth he that\nspeaketh and heareth many things,\nand is of a ready tongue, suppose\nthat he is righteous? Blessed is\nhe that is born of a woman, that\nliveth but a few days: use not\ntherefore much speech.\n\n7 Let our praise be of God, not\nof ourselves; for God hateth those\nthat commend themselves.\n\n8 Let the witness of our good\nactions be given to us by others,\nas it was given to the holy men\nthat went before us.\n\n9 Rashness, and arrogance, and\nconfidence, belong to them who\nare accursed of God: but equity,\nand humility, and mildness, to\nsuch as are blessed by him.\n\n10 Let us then lay hold of his\nblessing, and let as consider what\nare the ways by which we may\nattain unto it.\n\n11 Let us look back upon those\nthings that have happened from\nthe beginning.\n\n12 For what was our Father\nAbraham blessed? Was it not\nbecause that through faith he\nwrought righteousness and truth?\n\n13 Isaac being fully persuaded\nof what he knew was to come,\ncheerfully yielded himself up for\na sacrifice. Jacob with humility\ndeparted out of his own country,\nfleeing from his brother, and went\nunto Laban and served him; and\nso the sceptre of the twelve tribes\nof Israel was given unto him.\n\n14 Now what the greatness of\nthis gift was, will plainly appear,\nif we shall take the pains distinctly\nto consider all the parts of it.\n\n15 For, from him came the\npriests and Levites; who all\nministered at the altar of God.\n\n16 From him came our Lord\nJesus Christ, according to the\nflesh.\n\n17 From him came the kings,\nand princes, and rulers in Judah.\n\n18 Nor were the rest of his\ntribes in any little glory: God\nhaving promised that their seed\nshall be as the stars of heaven.\n\n19 They were all therefore\ngreatly glorified, not for their own\nsake, or for their own works, or\nfor the righteousness that they\nthemselves wrought, but through\nhis will.\n\n20 And we also being called by\nthe same will in Christ Jesus, are\nnot justified by ourselves, neither\nby our own wisdom, or knowledge,\nor piety, or the works which we\nhave done in the holiness of our\nhearts.\n\n21 But by that faith, by which\nGod Almighty has justified all\nmen from the beginning; to whom\nbe glory for ever and ever, Amen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n We are justified by faith; yet this must not\n lessen our care to live a virtuous life,\n nor our pleasure in it.\n\nWHAT shall we do therefore,\nbrethren? Shall we be slothful\nin well-doing, and lay aside\nour charity? God forbid that any\nsuch thing should be done by us.\n\n2 But rather let us hasten with\nall earnestness and readiness of\nmind, to perfect every good work.\nFor even the Creator and Lord of\nall things himself rejoices in his\nown works.\n\n3 By his Almighty power he\nfixed the heavens, and by his\nincomprehensible wisdom he\nadorned them.\n\n4 He also divided the earth\nfrom the water, with which it is\nencompassed: and fixed it as a\nsecure tower, upon the foundation\nof his own will.\n\n5 He also by his appointment,\ncommanded all the living creatures\nthat are upon it, to exist.\n\n6 So likewise the sea, and all\nthe creatures that are in it;\nhaving first created them, he\nenclosed them therein by his power.\n\n7 And above all, he with his\nholy and pure hands, formed man,\nthe most excellent; and, as to his\nunderstanding, truly the greatest\nof all other creatures; the character\nof his own image.\n\n8 For thus God says; Let us\nmake man in our image, after our\nown likeness; so God created man,\nmale and female created he them.\n\n9 And having thus finished all\nthese things, he commended all\nthat he had made, and blessed\nthem, and said, increase and\nmultiply.\n\n10 We see how all righteous men\nhave been adorned with good works\nWherefore even the Lord himself,\nhaving adorned himself with his\nworks, rejoiced.\n\n11 Having therefore such an\nexample, let us without delay,\nfulfil his will; and with all\nour strength, work the work of\nrighteousness.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\n A virtuous life enforced from the examples\n of the holy angels, and from the exceeding\n greatness of that reward which God has prepared for us.\n\nTHE good workman with\nconfidence receives the bread of\nhis labour; but the sluggish and\nlazy cannot look him in the face\nthat set him on work.\n\n2 We must therefore be ready\nand forward in well-doing: for\nfrom him are all things.\n\n3 And thus he foretells us,\nbehold the Lord cometh, and his\nreward is with him, even before his\nface, to render to everyone according\nto his work.\n\n4 He warns us therefore beforehand,\nwith all his heart to this end,\nthat we should not be slothful and\nnegligent in well-doing.\n\n5 Let our boasting, therefore,\nand our confidence be in God\nlet us submit ourselves to his will,\nLet us consider the whole multitude\nof his angels, how ready they\nstand to minister unto his will.\n\n6 As saith the Scripture,\nthousands of thousands stood\nbefore him and ten thousand\ntimes ten thousand ministered\nunto him. And they cried, saying,\nHoly, holy, holy is the Lord of\nhosts; The whole earth is full\nof his glory.\n\n7 Wherefore let us also, being\nconscientiously gathered together\nin concord with one another; as\nit were with one mouth, cry,\nearnestly unto him, that he would\nmake us partakers of his great and\nglorious promises.\n\n8 For he saith, a Eye hath not\nseen, nor ear heard, neither have\nentered into the heart of man, the\nthings which God has prepared for\nthem that wait for him,\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\n 1 We must attain the gifts of God by faith and obedience,\n which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the\n duties of our several stations, without envy or contention.\n 24 The necessity of different orders among men.\n 33 We have none of us anything but what we received of God:\n whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey.\n\nHOW blessed and wonderful,\nbeloved, are the gifts of God.\n\n2 Life in immortality! brightness\nin righteousness! truth in full\nassurance! faith in confidence!\ntemperance in holiness!\n\n3 And all this has God subjected\nto our understandings:\n\n4 What therefore shall those\nthings be which he has prepared\nfor them that wait for him?\n\n5 The Creator and Father of\nspirits, the Most Holy; he only\nknows both the greatness and\nbeauty of them,\n\n6 Let us therefore strive with\nall earnestness, that we may be\nfound in the number of those that\nwait for him, that so we may\nreceive the reward which he has\npromised.\n\n7 But how, beloved, shall we do\nthis? We must fix our minds by\nfaith towards God, and seek those\nthings that are pleasing and\nacceptable unto him.\n\n8 We must act conformably to\nhis holy will; and follow the way\nof truth, casting off from us all\nunrighteousness and iniquity,\ntogether with all covetousness,\nstrife, evil manners, deceit,\nwhispering, detractions; all\nhatred of God, pride and boasting;\nvain-glory and ambition;\n\n9 For they that do these things\nare odious to God; and not only\nthey that do them, but also all\nsuch as approve of those that do\nthem.\n\n10 For thus saith the Scripture,\nBut unto the wicked, God said,\nWhat hast thou to do to declare\nmy statute, or that thou shouldst\ntake my covenant in thy mouth?\nSeeing that thou hatest instruction,\nand castest my words behind thee.\n\n11 When thou sawest a thief,\nthen thou consentedst with him;\nthou hast been partaker with\nadulterers, Thou givest thy mouth\nto evil, and thy tongue frameth\ndeceit. Thou sittest and speakest\nagainst thy brother; thou slanderest\nthine own mother's son.\n\n12 These things hast thou done\nand I kept silence; thou thoughtest\nthat I was altogether such a one\nas thyself: but I will reprove thee,\nand set them in order before thine\neyes.\n\n13 Now consider this ye that\nforget God, lest I tear you in pieces,\nand there be none to deliver.\n\n14 Whose offereth praise,\nglorifieth me; And to him that\ndisposeth his way aright, will\nI show the salvation of God.\n\n15 This is the way, beloved, in\nwhich we may find our Saviour,\neven Jesus Christ, the high-priest\nof all our offerings, the defender\nand helper of our weakness.\n\n16 By him we look up to the\nhighest heavens; and behold, as\nin a glass, his spotless and most\nexcellent visage.\n\n17 By him are the eyes of our\nhearts opened; by him our foolish\nand darkened understanding\nrejoiceth to behold his wonderful\nlight.\n\n18 By him would God have us\nto taste the knowledge of\nimmortality: who being the\nbrightness of his glory, is by\nso much greater than the angels,\nas he has by inheritance obtained\na more excellent name than they.\n\n19 For so it is written, who\nmaketh his angels spirits, and his\nministers a flame of fire:\n\n20 But to his son, thus saith the\nLord, Thou art my Son, to-day\nhave I begotten thee.\n\n21 Ask of me and I will give\nthee the heathen for thy inheritance,\nand the utmost parts of the earth\nfor thy possession.\n\n22 And again he saith unto him,\nSit thou on my right hand until\nI make thine enemies thy\nfoot-stool.\n\n23 But who are his enemies?\neven the wicked, and such who\noppose their own wills to the\nwill of God.\n\n24 Let us therefore march-on,\nmen and brethren, with all\nearnestness in his holy laws.\n\n25 Let us consider those who\nfight under our, earthly governors\nHow orderly, how readily, and\nwith what exact obedience they\nperform those things that are\ncommanded them.\n\n26 All are not generals, nor\ncolonels, nor captains, nor\ninferior officers:\n\n27 But everyone in his respective\nrank does what is commanded him by\nthe king, and those who have the\nauthority over him.\n\n28 They who are great, cannot\nsubsist without those that are little;\nnor the little without the great;\n\n29 But there must be a mixture\nin all things, and then there will\nbe use and profit too.\n\n30 Let us, for example, take\nour body: the head without the\nfeet is nothing, neither the feet\nwithout the head.\n\n31 And even the smallest members\nof our body are yet both necessary\nand useful to the whole body.\n\n32 But all conspire together,\nand are subject to one common\nuse, namely, the preservation of\nthe whole body.\n\n33 Let therefore our whole body\nby saved in Christ Jesus; and let\neveryone be subject to his neighbour,\naccording to the order in which\nhe is placed by the gift of God.\n\n34 Let not the strong man despise\nthe weak; and let the weak see that\nhe reverence the strong.\n\n35 Let the rich man distribute\nto the necessity of the poor; and\nlet the poor bless God, that he has\ngiven one unto him, by whom his\nwant may be supplied.\n\n36 Let the wise man show forth\nhis wisdom, not in words, but in\ngood works.\n\n37 Let him that is humble, not\nbear witness to himself, but let\nhim leave it to another to bear\nwitness of him.\n\n38 Let him that is pure in the\nflesh, not grow proud of it, knowing\nthat it was from another that he\nreceived the gift of continence.\n\n39 Let us consider therefore,\nbrethren, whereof we are made;\nwho, and what kind of men we\ncame into the world, as it were\nout of a sepulchre, and from outer\ndarkness.\n\n40 He hath made us, and formed\nus, brought us into his own world;\nhaving presented us with his\nbenefits, even before we were born.\n\n41 Wherefore, having received\nall these things from him, we\nought in everything to give thanks\nunto him, to whom be glory for\never and ever. Amen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\n Clement therefore exhorts them to do everything\n orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God.\n\nFOOLISH and unwise men, who\nhave neither prudence, nor\nlearning, may mock and deride\nus; being willing to set up\nthemselves in their own conceits.\n\n2 But what can a mortal man\ndo? Or what strength is there in\nhim that is made out of the dust?\n\n3 For it is written, there was no\nshape before mine eyes; only I\nheard a sound and a voice.\n\n4 For what? Shall man be pure\nbefore the Lord? Shall he be\nblameless in his works?\n\n5 Behold, he trusteth not in\nhis servants; and his angels he\nchargeth with folly.\n\n6 Yes, the heaven is not clean\nin his sight, how much less they\nthat dwell in houses of clay; of\nwhich also we ourselves were\nmade?\n\n7 He smote them as a moth:\nand from morning even unto the\nevening they endure not. Because\nthey were not able to help\nthemselves, they perished;\nhe breathed upon them and they\ndied, because they had no wisdom.\n\n8 Call now if there be any that\nwill answer thee; and to which of\nthe angels wilt thou look?\n\n9 For wrath killeth the foolish\nman, and envy slayeth him that is\nin error.\n\n10 I have seen the foolish taking\nroot, but lo, their habitation was\npresently consumed.\n\n11 Their children were far from\nsafety, they perished at the gates\nof those who were lesser than\nthemselves: and there was no man\nto help them.\n\n12 For what was prepared for\nthem, the righteous did eat; and\nthey shall not be delivered from\nevil.\n\n13 Seeing then these things are\nmanifest unto us, it will behove\nus to take care that looking into\nthe depths of the divine knowledge,\nwe do all things in order,\nwhatsoever our Lord has commanded\nus to do.\n\n14 And particularly that we\nperform our offerings and service to\nGod, at their appointed seasons\nfor these he has commanded to be\ndone, not rashly and disorderly,\nbut at certain determinate times\nand hours.\n\n15 And therefore he has ordained\nby his supreme will and authority,\nboth where, and by what persons,\nthey are to be performed; that\nso all things being piously done\nunto all well-pleasing, they\nmay be acceptable unto him.\n\n16 They therefore who make\ntheir offerings at the appointed\nseasons, are happy and accepted;\nbecause through obeying the\ncommandments of the Lord,\nthey are free from sin.\n\n17 And the same care must be\nhad of the persons that minister\nunto him.\n\n18 For the chief-priest has his\nproper services; and to the priest\ntheir proper place is appointed;\nand to the Levites appertain their\nproper ministries; and the layman\nis confined within the bounds of\nwhat is commanded to laymen.\n\n19 Let every one of you therefore,\nbrethren, bless God in his proper\nstation, with a good conscience,\nand with all gravity, not exceeding\nthe rule of his service that is\nappointed to him.\n\n20 The daily sacrifices are not\noffered everywhere; nor the peace-\nofferings, nor the sacrifices\nappointed for sins and transgressions;\nbut only at Jerusalem: nor in any\nplace there, but only at the altar\nbefore the temple; that which is\noffered being first diligently\nexamined by the high-priest and\nthe other minister we before\nmentioned.\n\n21 They therefore who do any\nthing which is not agreeable to his\nwill, are punished with death.\n\n22 Consider, brethren, that by\nhow much the better knowledge\nGod has vouchsafed unto us, by so\nmuch the greater danger are we\nexposed to.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\n The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established\n by the Apostles, according to Christ's command,\n 7 after the example of Moses.\n 16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the\n ministry according to their order, cannot without\n great sin be put out of it.\n\nTHE Apostles have preached to\nus from the Lord Jesus Christ\nJesus Christ from God.\n\n2 Christ therefore was sent by\nGod, the Apostles by Christ; so\nboth were orderly sent, according\nto the will of God.\n\n3 For having received their\ncommand, and being thoroughly\nassured by the resurrection of our\nLord Jesus Christ, and convinced\nby the word of God, with the\nfulness of the Holy Spirit, they\nwent abroad, publishing, That the\nkingdom of God was at hand.\n\n4 And thus preaching through\ncountries and cities, they appointed\nthe first fruits of their conversion\nto be bishops and ministers over\nsuch as should afterwards believe,\nhaving first proved them by the\nSpirit.\n\n5 Nor was this any new thing;\nseeing that long before it was\nwritten concerning bishops and\ndeacons.\n\n6 For thus saith the Scripture,\nin a certain place; I will appoint\ntheir overseers in righteousness,\nand their ministers in faith.\n\n7 And what wonder if they, to\nwhom such a work was committed\nby God in Christ, established such\nofficers as we before mentioned;\nwhen even that blessed and faithful\nservant in all his house, Moses,\nset down in the Holy Scriptures\nall things that were commanded\nhim.\n\n8 Whom also all the rest of the\nprophets followed, bearing witness\nwith one consent to those things\nthat were appointed by him.\n\n9 For he, perceiving an emulation\nto arise among the tribes concerning\nthe priesthood, and that there was\na strife about it, which of them\nshould be adorned with that glorious\nname; commanded their twelve captains\nto bring to him twelve rods; every\ntribe being written upon its rod,\naccording to its name,\n\n10 And he took them and bound\nthem together, and sealed them\nwith the seals of the twelve princes\nof the tribes: and laid them up in\nthe tabernacle of witness, upon\nthe table of God.\n\n11 And when he had shut the\ndoor of the tabernacle, he sealed\nup the keys of it, in like manner\nas he had done the rods; and said\nunto them, Men and brethren,\nwhichsoever tribe shall have its\nrod blossom, that tribe has God\nchosen to perform the office of a\npriest, and to minister unto him\nin holy things.\n\n12 And when the morning was\ncome, he called together all Israel,\nsix hundred thousand men; and\nshowed to the princes their seals\nand opened the tabernacle of\nwitness; and brought forth the\nrods.\n\n13 And the rod of Aaron was\nfound not only to have blossomed,\nbut also to have fruit upon it.\n\n14 What think you, beloved?\nDid not Moses before know what\nshould happen?\n\n15 Yes verily: but to the end\nthere might be no division, nor\ntumult in Israel, he did in this\nmanner, that the name of the true\nand only God might be glorified;\nto whom be honour for ever and\never, Amen.\n\n16 So likewise our Apostles\nknew by our Lord Jesus Christ,\nthat there should contentions arise,\nupon account of the ministry.\n\n17 And therefore having a perfect\nfore-knowledge of this, they\nappointed persons, as we have\nbefore said, and then a gave\ndirection, how, when they should\ndie, other chosen and approved men\nshould succeed in their ministry.\n\n18 Wherefore we cannot think\nthat those may justly be thrown\nout of their ministry, who were\neither appointed by them, or\nafterwards chosen by other eminent\nmen, with the consent of the whole\nchurch; and who have with all\nlowliness and innocency ministered\nto the flock of Church, in peace,\nand without self-interest, and\nwere for a long time commended\nby all.\n\n19 For it would be no small sin\nin us, should we cast off those\nfrom their ministry, who holily\nand without blame fulfil the\nduties of it.\n\n20 Blessed are those priests,\nwho having finished their course\nbefore these times, have obtained\na fruitful and perfect dissolution\nfor they have no fear, lest any one\nshould turn them out of the place\nwhich is now appointed for them.\n\n21 But we see how you have\nput out some, who lived reputably\namong you, from the ministry,\nwhich by their innocence they had\nadorned.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\n He exerts them to peace from examples out of\n the Holy Scriptures,\n 20 particularly from St. Paul's exhortation to them.\n\nYE are contentious, brethren,\nand zealous for things that\npertain not unto salvation.\n\n2 Look into the Holy Scriptures,\nwhich are the true words of the\nHoly Ghost. Ye know that there\nis nothing unjust or counterfeit\nwritten in them.\n\n3 There you shall not find that\nrighteous men were ever cast off\nby such as were good themselves.\n\n4 They were persecuted, but it\nwas by the wicked and unjust.\n\n5 They were cast into prison,\nbut they were cast in by those that\nwere unholy.\n\n6 They were stoned, but it was\nby transgressors.\n\n7 They were killed, but by accursed\nmen, and such as had taken up an\nunjust envy against them.\n\n8 And all these things they\nunderwent gloriously.\n\n9 For what shall we say,\nbrethren? Was Daniel cast into the\nden of lions, by men fearing\nGod? Shadrach, Meshach, and\nAbednego, were they cast into the\nfiery furnace by men, professing\nthe excellent and glorious worship\nof the Most High? God forbid.\n\n10 What kind of persons then\nwere they that did these things?\nThey were men abominable, full\nof all wickedness; who were\nincensed; to so great a degree,\nas to bring those into sufferings,\nwho with a holy and unblameable\npurpose of mind worshipped God:\nnot knowing that the Most High is\nthe protector and defender of all\nsuch as with a pure conscience\nserve his holy name: to whom be\nglory for ever and ever, Amen.\n\n11 But they who with a full\npersuasion have endured these\nthings, are made partakers of glory\nand honour: and are exalted and\nlifted up by God for a memorial\nthroughout all ages, Amen.\n\n12 Wherefore it will behove\nus also, brethren, to follow such\nexamples as these; for it is\nwritten, Hold fast to such as are\nholy; for they that do so shall be\nsanctified.\n\n13 And again in another place\nhe saith, With the pure, thou shalt\nbe pure (and with the elect thou\nshalt be elect,) but with, the\nperverse man thou shalt be perverse.\n\n14 Let us therefore join ourselves\nto the innocent and righteous; for\nsuch are the elect of God.\n\n15 Wherefore are there strifes,\nand anger, and divisions, and\nschisms, and wars, among us?\n\n16 Have we not all one God,\nand one Christ? Is not one spirit\nof grace poured out upon us all?\nHave we not one calling in Christ.\n\n17 Why then do we rent and\ntear in pieces the members of\nChrist; and raise seditious against\nour own body? And are come to such\na height of madness, as to forget\nthat we were members one of another?\n\n18 Remember the words of our\nLord Jesus, (how he said, Woe to\nthat man by whom offences come).\nIt, were better for him that he\nhad never been born, than that he\nshould have offended one of my\nelect. It were better for him,\nthat a mill-stone should be tied\nabout his neck, and he should be\ncast into the sea, than that he\nshould offend one of my\nlittle ones.\n\n19 Your schism has perverted\nmany, has discouraged many: it\nhas caused diffidence in many, and\ngrief in us all. And yet your\nsedition continues still.\n\n20 Take the Epistle of the\nblessed Paul the Apostle into your\nhands; What was It that he wrote\nto you at his first preaching the\nGospel among you?\n\n21 Verily he did by the spirit\nadmonish you concerning himself,\nand Cephas, and Apollos, because\nthat even then ye had begun to\nfall into parties and factions\namong yourselves.\n\n22 Nevertheless your partiality\nthen led you into a much less sin\nforasmuch as ye placed your\naffections upon Apostles, men\nof eminent reputation in the\nchurch; and upon another, who\nwas greatly tried and approved\nof by them.\n\n23 But consider, we pray you,\nwho are they that have now led\nyou astray; and lessened the\nreputation of that brotherly love\nthat was so eminent among you;\n\n24 It is a shame, my beloved,\nyea, a very great shame, and\nunworthy of your Christian\nprofession, to hear that the\nmost firm and ancient church\nof the Corinthians should,\nby one or two persons, be led\ninto a sedition against its\npriests.\n\n25 And this report is come not\nonly to us, but to those also that\ndiffer from us.\n\n26 Insomuch that the name of\nthe Lord is blasphemed through\nyour folly; and even ye yourselves\nare brought into danger by it.\n\n27 Let us therefore with all\nhaste put an end to this sedition;\nand let us fall down before the\nLord, and beseech him with tears\nthat he would be favourably\nreconciled to us, and restore us\nagain to a seemly and holy course\nof brotherly love.\n\n28 For this is the gate of\nrighteousness, opening unto life:\nAs it is written, I Open unto me\nthe gates of righteousness; I will\ngo into them and will praise the\nLord. This is the gate of the Lord,\nthe righteous shall enter into it.\n\n29 Although therefore many\ngates are opened, yet this gate of\nrighteousness is that gate in Christ\nat which blessed are they that\nenter in, and direct their way in\nholiness and righteousness; doing\nall things without disorder.\n\n30 Let a man be faithful, let\nhim be powerful in the utterance\nof knowledge; let him be wise in\nmaking an exact judgment of\nwords; let him be pure in all\nhis actions.\n\n31 But still by how much the\nmore he seems to be above others,\nby reason of these things, by so\nmuch the more will it behove him\nto be humble-minded; and to seek\nwhat is profitable to all men, and\nnot his own advantage.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\n 1 The value which God, puts upon love and\n unity: the effects of a true charity,\n 8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer.\n\nHE that has the love that is in\nChrist, let him keep the\ncommandments of Christ.\n\n2 For who is able to express the\nobligation of the love of God?\nWhat man is sufficient to declare,\nand is fitting, the excellency of its\nbeauty?\n\n3 The height to which charity\nleads, is inexpressible.\n\n4 Charity unites us to God;\ncharity covers the multitude of\nsins: charity endures all things;\nis long-suffering in all things.\n\n5 There is nothing base and\nsordid in charity: charity lifts not\nitself up above others; admits of\nno divisions; is not seditious; but\ndoes all things in peace and concord.\n\n6 By charity were all the elect of\nGod made perfect: Without it nothing\nis pleasing and acceptable in the\nsight of God.\n\n7 Through charity did the Lord\njoin us into himself; whilst for\nthe love that he bore towards us,\nour Lord Jesus Christ gave his\nown blood for us, by the will of\nGod; his flesh for our flesh; his\nsoul for our souls.\n\n8 Ye see, beloved, how great\nand wonderful a thing charity is;\nand how that no expressions are\nsufficient to declare its perfection.\n\n9 But who is fit to be found in\nit? Even such only as God shall\nvouchsafe to make so.\n\n10 Let us therefore pray to him,\nand beseech him, that we may be\nworthy of it; that so we may live\nin charity; being unblameable,\nwithout human propensities,\nwithout respect of persons.\n\n11 All the ages of the world,\nfrom Adam, even unto this day,\nare passed away; but they who\nhave been made perfect in love,\nhave by the grace of God obtained\na place among the righteous; and\nshall be made manifest in the\njudgment of the kingdom of Christ.\n\n12 For it is written, Enter into\nthy chambers for a little space, till\nmy anger and indignation shall\npass away: And I will remember\nthe good day, and, will raise you\nup out of your graves.\n\n13 Happy then shall we be,\nbeloved, if we shall have fulfilled\nthe commandments of God, in the\nunity of love; that so, through\nlove, our sins may be forgiven us.\n\n14 For so it is written, Blessed\nare they whose iniquities are\nforgiven, and whose sins are covered.\nBlessed is the man to whom the\nLord imputeth no sin, and in whose\nmouth there is no guile.\n\n15 Now this blessing is fulfilled\nin those who are chosen by God\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord, to\nwhom be glory for ever and ever,\nAmen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\n 1 He exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to\n repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin to God,\n 7 which he enforces from the example of Moses,\n 10 and of many among the heathen,\n 23 and of Judith and Esther among the Jews.\n\nLET us therefore, as many as\nhave transgressed by any of\nthe suggestions of the adversary,\nbeg God's forgiveness.\n\n2 And as for those who have\nbeen the heads of the sedition and\nfaction among you, let them look\nto the common end of our hope.\n\n3 For as many as are endued\nwith fear and charity, would rather\nthey themselves should fall into\ntrials than their neighbours: And\nchoose to be themselves condemned,\nrather than that the good and just\ncharity delivered to us, should\nsuffer.\n\n4 For it is seemly for a man\nto confess wherein he has\ntransgressed.\n\n5 And not to harden his heart,\nas the hearts of those were\nhardened, who raised up sedition\nagainst Moses the servant of God\nwhose punishment was manifest\nunto all men, for they went down\nalive into the grave; death\nswallowed them up.\n\n6 Pharaoh and his host, and\nall the rulers of Egypt, their\nchariots also and their horsemen,\nwere for no other cause drowned\nin the bottom of the Red Sea,\nand perished; but because they\nhardened their foolish hearts,\nafter so many signs done in the\nland of Egypt, by Moses the\nservant of God.\n\n7 Beloved, God is not indigent\nof anything; nor does he demand\nanything of us, but that we\nshould confess our sins unto him.\n\n8 For so says the Holy David,\nI will confess unto the Lord, and\nit shall please him better than a\nyoung bullock that hath horns and\nhoof. Let the poor see it and be\nglad.\n\n9 And again he saith, Offer\nunto God the sacrifice of praise,\nand pay thy vows unto the Most\nHighest. And call upon me in the\nday of trouble, and I will deliver\nthee, and thou shalt glorify me.\nThe sacrifice of God is a broken\nspirit.\n\n10 Ye know, beloved, ye know\nfull well, the Holy Scriptures;\nand have thoroughly searched into\nthe oracles of God: call them\ntherefore to your remembrance.\n\n11 For when Moses went up into\nthe mount, and tarried there forty\ndays and forty nights in fasting\nand humiliation; God said unto\nhim, Arise, Moses, and get thee\ndown quickly from hence, for thy\npeople whom thou broughtest out\nof the land of Egypt, have\ncommitted wickedness: they have\nsoon transgressed the way that\nI commanded them, and have made\nto themselves graven images.\n\n12 And the Lord said unto him,\nI have spoken unto thee several\ntimes, saying, I have seen this\npeople, and behold it is a stiff-\nnecked people: let me therefore\ndestroy them, and put out their\nname from under heaven. And I\nwill make unto thee a great and a\nwonderful nation, that shall be\nmuch larger than this.\n\n13 But Moses said, Not so,\nLord: Forgive now this people\ntheir sin; or if thou wilt not,\nblot me also out of the book of\nthe living. O admirable charity!\nO insuperable perfection! The servant\nspeaks freely to his Lord: He beseeches\nhim either to forgive the people,\nor to destroy him together with them.\n\n14 Who is there among you\nthat is generous? Who that is\ncompassionate? Who that has\nany charity? Let him say, if this\nsedition, this contention, and these\nschisms, be upon my account,\nI am ready to depart; to go away\nwhithersoever you please; and do\nwhatsoever ye shall command me:\nOnly let the flock of Christ be in\npeace, with the elders that are set\nover it.\n\n15 He that shall do this, shall\nget to himself a very great honour\nin the Lord; and there is no place\nbut what will be ready to receive\nhim: For the earth is the Lord's,\nand the fulness thereof.\n\n16 These things, they who have\ntheir conversation towards God\nnot to be repented of, both have\ndone, and will always be ready to\ndo.\n\n17 Nay and even the Gentiles\nthemselves have given us examples\nof this kind.\n\n18 For we read, How many\nkings and princes, in times of\npestilence, being warned by their\noracles, have given up themselves\nunto death; that by their own\nblood, they might deliver their\ncountry from destruction.\n\n19 Others have forsaken their\ncities, so that they might put an\nend to the seditions of them.\n\n20 We know how many among\nourselves, have given up\nthemselves unto bonds, that\nthereby they might free others\nfrom them.\n\n21 Others have sold themselves\ninto bondage, that they might feed\ntheir brethren with the price of\nthemselves.\n\n22 And even many women,\nbeing strengthened by the grace\nof God, have done many glorious\nand manly things on such occasions.\n\n23 The blessed Judith, when\nher city was besieged, desired the\nelders, that they would suffer her\nto go into the camp of their enemies;\nand she went out exposing herself\nto danger, for the love she bare\nto her country and her people\nthat were besieged: and the\nLord delivered Holofernes into\nthe hands of a woman.\n\n24 Nor did Esther, being perfect\nin faith, expose herself to any\nless hazard, for the delivery of the\ntwelve tribes of Israel, in danger\nof being destroyed. For by fasting\nand humbling herself, she entreated\nthe Great Maker of all things, the\nGod of spirits; so that beholding\nthe humility of her soul, he\ndelivered the people, for whose\nsake she was in peril.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII.\n\n The benefit of mutual advice and correction.\n He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.\n\nWHEREFORE let us also pray\nfor such as are fallen into\nsin. That being endued with\nhumility and moderation, they\nmay submit not unto us, but to\nthe wish of God.\n\n2 For by this means they shall\nobtain a fruitful and perfect\nremembrance, with mercy, both in\nour prayers to God, and in our\nmention of them before his saints.\n\n3 Let us receive correction, at\nwhich no man ought to repine.\n\n4 Beloved, the reproof and the\ncorrection which we exercise\ntowards one another, is good, and\nexceeding profitable: for it unites\nus the more closely to the will of\nGod.\n\n5 For, so says the Holy Scripture,\nThe Lord corrected me, but he did\nnot deliver me over unto death. For\nwhom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,\nand scourgeth every son whom he\nreceiveth.\n\n6 The righteous, saith he, shall\ninstruct me in mercy and reprove\nme; but let not oil of sinners\nmake fat my head.\n\n7 And again he saith, Happy\nis the man whom God correcteth;\ntherefore despise not thou the\nchastening of the Almighty.\n\n8 For he maketh gore and bindeth\nup; he woundeth and his hands\nmake whole.\n\n9 He shall deliver thee in six\ntroubles; yea in seven there shall\nno evil touch thee. In famine he\nshall redeem thee from death; and\nin war from the power of the sword.\n\n10 Thou shalt be hid from the\nscourge of the tongue; neither\nshalt thou be afraid of destruction\nwhen it cometh.\n\n11 Thou shalt laugh at the\nwicked and sinners; neither shalt\nthou be afraid of the beasts of the\nearth. The wild beast shall be at\npeace with thee.\n\n12 Then shalt thou know that\nthy house shall be in peace; and\nthe habitation of thy tabernacle\nshall not err. Then shalt know\nalso that thy seed shall be great\nand thy offspring as the grass of\nthe earth.\n\n13 Thou shalt come to thy\ngrave as the ripe corn, that is\ntaken in due time: like as a shock\nof corn cometh in, in its season.\n\n14 Ye see, beloved, how there\nshall be a defence to those that are\ncorrected of the Lord. For being\na good instructor, he is willing to\nadmonish us by his holy discipline.\n\n15 Do ye therefore who laid the\nfirst foundation of this sedition,\nsubmit yourselves unto your\npriests; and be instructed unto\nrepentance, bending the knees of\nyour hearts.\n\n16 Learn to be subject, laying\naside all proud and arrogant\nboasting of your tongues.\n\n17 For it is better for you to be\nfound little, and approved, in the\nsheepfold of Christ, than to seem\nto yourselves better than others,\nand be cast out of his fold.\n\n18 For thus speaks the\nexcellent and all-virtuous wisdom,\nBehold I will pour out the word\nof my spirit upon you, I will make\nknown my speech unto you.\n\n19 Because I called and ye\nwould not hear, I stretched out\nmy hand and ye regarded not.\n\n20 But ye have set at nought all\nmy counsel, and would none of\nmy reproof. I will also laugh at\nyour calamity, and mock when\nyour fear cometh.\n\n21 When your fear cometh as\ndesolation, and your destruction\nas a whirlwind, when distress and\nanguish cometh upon you.\n\n22 Then shall ye call upon me\nbut I will not hear you: the\nwicked shall seek me but they\nshall not find me. For that they\nhated knowledge, and did not seek\nthe fear of the Lord.\n\n23 They would not hearken\nunto my counsel: they despised\nall my reproof. Therefore shall\nthey eat of the fruit of their own\nways; and be filled with their\nown wickedness.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV.\n\n 1 Recommends them to God. Desires speedily to hear\n that this Epistle has had a good effect upon them.\n 4 Conclusion.\n\nNOW God, the inspector of all\nthings, the Father of Spirits,\nand the Lord of all flesh, who\nhath chosen our Lord Jesus Christ,\nand us by him, to be his peculiar\npeople;\n\n2 Grant to every soul of man\nthat calleth upon his glorious and\nholy name, faith, fear, peace,\nlong-suffering, patience, temperance,\nholiness and sobriety, unto all\nwell-pleasing in his sight;\nthrough our High-Priest and\nProtector Jesus Christ, by whom\nbe glory and majesty, and power,\nand honour unto him now and for\never more, Amen.\n\n3 The messengers whom we\nhave sent unto you, Claudius,\nEphebus, and Valerios Bito, with\nFortunatus, send back to us again\nwith all speed, in peace and with\njoy, that they may the sooner\nacquaint us with your peace and\nconcord, so much prayed for and\ndesired by us: and that we may\nrejoice in your good order.\n\n4 The grace of our Lord Jesus\nChrist be with you, and with all\nthat are any where called by God\nthrough him: To whom be honour\nand glory, and might and majesty,\nand eternal dominion, by Christ\nJesus, from everlasting to\neverlasting, Amen.\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO CLEMENT'S FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.\n\n[Clement was a disciple of Peter, and afterwards Bishop of Rome. Clemens\nAlexandrinus calls him an apostle. Jerome says he was an apostolic man,\nand Rafinus that he was almost an apostle. Eusebius calls this the\nwonderful Epistle of St. Clement, and says that it was publicly read in\nthe assemblies of the primitive church. It is included in one of the\nancient collections of the Canon Scripture. Its genuineness has been\nmuch questioned, particularly by Photius, patriarch of Constantinople in\nthe ninth century, who objects that Clement speaks of worlds beyond the\nocean: that he has not written worthily of the divinity of Christ; and\nthat to prove the possibility of a future resurrection, he introduces the\nfabulous story of the phoenix's revival from its own ashes. To the latter\nobjection, Archbishop Wake replies that the generality of the ancient\nFathers have made use of the same instance in proof of the same point;\nand asks, if St. Clement really believed that there was such a bird, and\nthat it did revive out of the cinders of the body after burning, where\nwas the, great harm either in giving credit to such a wonder, or,\nbelieving it, to make rich a use as he here does of it?--The present is\nthe Archbishop's translation from the ancient Greek copy of the Epistle,\nwhich is at the end of the celebrated Alexandrine MS. of the Septuagint\nand New Testament, presented by Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, to King\nCharles the First, now in the British Museum. The Archbishop, in\nprefacing his translation, esteems it a great blessing that this\n\"Epistle\" was at last so happily found out, for the increase and\nconfirmation both of our faith and our charity.]\n\n\n\n THE SECOND EPISTLE OF\n CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n That we ought to value our salvation;\n and to show that we do by a sincere obedience.\n\nBRETHREN, we ought so to\nthink of Jesus Christ as of\nGod: as of the judge of the living,\nand the dead; nor should we think\nany less of our salvation.\n\n2 For if we think meanly of\nhim, we shall hope only to receive\nsome small things from him.\n\n3 And if we do so, we shall\nsin; not considering from whence\nwe have been called, and by whom,\nand to what place; and how much\nJesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer\nfor our sakes.\n\n4 What recompense then shall\nwe render unto him? Or what\nfruit that may be worthy of what\nhe has given to us?\n\n5 For indeed how great are\nthose advantages which we owe to\nhim in relation to our holiness?\nHe has illuminated us; as a father,\nhe has called us his children;\nhe has saved us who were lost and\nundone.\n\n6 What praise shall we give to\nhim? Or what reward that may\nbe answerable to those things\nwhich we have received.\n\n7 We were defective in our\nunderstandings; worshipping stones,\nand wood; gold, and silver, and\nbrass, the work of men's hands;\nand our whole life was nothing\nelse but death.\n\n8 Wherefore being encompassed\nwith darkness, and having such a\nmist before our eyes, we have\nlooked up, and through his will\nhave laid aside the cloud wherewith\nwe were surrounded.\n\n9 For he had compassion upon\nus, and being moved in his bowels\ntowards us, he saved us; having\nbeheld in us much error, and\ndestruction; and seeing that we had\nno hope of salvation, but only\nthrough him.\n\n10 For he called us, who were\nnot; and was pleased from nothing\nto give us being.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah,\n that the Gentiles should be saved;\n 8 And that this ought to engage, such especially\n to live well; without which they will still miscarry.\n\nREJOICE, thou barren, that\nbearest not, break forth and\ncry thou that travailest not; for\nshe that is desolate hath many\nmore children than she that hath\na husband.\n\n2 In that saying, Rejoice thou\nbarren that bearest not, he spake\nof us: for our church was barren\nbefore children were given unto it.\n\n3 And again; when he said,\nCry thou that travailest not:\nhe implied thus much: That after\nthe manner of a woman in travail,\nwe should not cease to put up our\nprayers unto God abundantly.\n\n4 And for what follows, because\nshe that is desolate hath more\nchildren than she that hath a husband;\nit was therefore added, because\nour people which seemed to have\nbeen forsaken by God, now believing\nin him, are become more than they\nwho seemed to have God.\n\n5 And another Scripture saith,\nI came not to call the righteous\nbut sinners (to repentance). The\nmeaning of which is this; that\nthose who were lost must be saved:\n\n6 For that is, indeed, truly great\nand wonderful, not to confirm those\nthings that are yet standing, but\nthose which are falling,\n\n7 Even so did it seem good to\nChrist to save what was lost; and\nwhen he came into the world, he\nsaved many, and called us who\nwere already lost.\n\n8 Seeing then he has showed\nso great mercy towards us; and\nchiefly for that we who are alive,\ndo now no longer sacrifice to dead\nGods, nor pay any worship to\nthem, but have by him been\nbrought to the knowledge of\nthe Father of truth.\n\n9 Whereby shall we show that\nwe do indeed know him, and by\nnot denying him by whom we\nhave come to the knowledge of\nhim.\n\n10 For even he himself saith,\nWhosoever shall confess me before\nmen, him will I confess before\nmy Father. This therefore is our\nreward, if we shall confess him by\nwhom we have been saved.\n\n11 But, wherein must we confess\nhim?--Namely, in doing those\nthings which he saith, and not\ndisobeying his commandments\nby worshipping him not with\nour lips only, but with all our\nheart, and with all our mind. For\nhe saith in Isaiah; This people\nhonoureth me with their lips, but\ntheir heart is far from me.\n\n12 Let us then not only call\nhim Lord; for that will not save\nus. For he saith: Not everyone\nthat saith unto me Lord, Lord,\nshall be saved, but he that doth\nrighteousness.\n\n13 Wherefore, brethren,\nlet us confess him by our works;\nby loving one another; in not\ncommitting adultery, not speaking\nevil against each other, not envying\none another; but by being temperate,\nmerciful, good.\n\n14 Let us also have a mutual\nsense of one another's sufferings;\nand not be covetous of money; but\nlet us, by our good works, confess\nGod, and not by those that are\notherwise.\n\n15 Also let us not fear men: but\nrather God. Wherefore, if we\nshould do such wicked things, the\nLord hath said; Though ye should\nbe joined unto me, even in my very\nbosom, and not keep my commandments,\nI would cast you off, and say unto\nyou; Depart from me; I know not\nwhence you are, ye workers of iniquity.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 That, whilst we secure the other world,\n we need not fear what can befall its in this.\n 5 That, if we follow the interests of this present world,\n we cannot escape the punishment of the other.\n 10 Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness,\n 14 and that presently: because in this world\n is the only time for repentance.\n\nTHEREFORE brethren, leaving\nwillingly for conscience sake\nour sojourning in this world,\nlet us do the will of him who has\ncalled us, and not fear to depart\nout of this world.\n\n2 For the Lord saith, Ye shall\nbe as sheep in the midst of wolves.\nPeter answered and said, What if\nthe wolves shall tear in pieces the\nsheep? Jesus said unto Peter,\nLet not the sheep fear the wolves\nafter death: And ye also fear not\nthose that kill you, and after that\nhave no more than they can do unto\nyou; but fear him who after you\nare dead, has power to cast both\nsoul and body into hell-fire.\n\n3 For consider, brethren, that\nthe sojourning of this flesh in the\npresent world, is but little, and of\na short continuance, but the promise\nof Christ is great and wonderful,\neven the rest of the kingdom\nthat is to come, and of eternal life.\n\n4 What then must we do that\nwe may attain unto it?--We must\norder our conversation, holy and\nrighteously, and look upon all the\nthings of this world as none of\nours, and not desire them. For,\nif we desire to possess them we\nfall from the way of righteousness.\n\n5 For thus saith the Lord, No\nservant can serve two masters. If\ntherefore we shall desire to serve\nGod and Mammon, it will be without\nprofit to us. For what will it profit,\nif one gain the whole world, and lose\nhis own soul?\n\n6 Now this world and that\nto come are two enemies. This\nspeaketh of adultery and corruption,\nof covetousness and deceit; but that\nrenounces these things.\n\n7 We cannot, therefore, be the\nfriends of both; but we must\nresolve by forsaking the one,\nto enjoy the other. And we think\nit is better to hate the present\nthings, as little, short-lived,\nand corruptible; and to love\nthose which are to come, which\nare truly good and incorruptible.\n\n8 For, if we do the will of\nChrist, we shall find rest:\nbut if not, nothing shall deliver\nus from eternal punishment if we\nshall disobey his commands. For\neven thus saith the Scripture in\nthe prophet Ezekiel, If Noah, Job,\nand Daniel should rise up, they\nshall not deliver their children in\ncaptivity.\n\n9 Wherefore, if such righteous\nmen are not able by their\nrighteousness to deliver their\nchildren; how can we hope to\nenter into the kingdom of God,\nexcept we keep our baptism holy\nand undefiled? Or who shall be\nour advocate, unless we shall\nbe found to have done what is holy\nand just?\n\n10 Let us, therefore, my brethren,\ncontend with all earnestness,\nknowing that our combat is at\nhand; and that many go long\nvoyages to encounter for a\ncorruptible reward.\n\n11 And yet all are not crowned,\nbut they only that labour much,\nand strive gloriously. Let us,\ntherefore, so contend, that we may\nall be crowned. Let us run in the\nstraight road, the race that is\nincorruptible: and let us in great\nnumbers pass unto it, and strive\nthat we may receive the crown.\nBut if we cannot all be crowned,\nlet us come as near to it as we are\nable.\n\n12 Moreover, we must consider,\nthat he who contends in a corruptible\ncombat; if he be found doing anything\nthat is not fair, is taken away and\nscourged, and cast out of the lists.\nWhat think ye then that he shall\nsuffer, who does anything that is\nnot fitting in the combat of\nimmortality?\n\n13 Thus speaks the prophet\nconcerning those who keep not\ntheir seal; Their worm shall not\ndie, and their, fire shall not be\nquenched; and they shall be for a\nspectacle unto all flesh.\n\n14 Let us therefore repent, whilst\nwe are yet upon the earth: for we\nare as clay in the hand of the\nartificer. For the potter if he\nmake a vessel, and it be turned\namiss in his hands, or broken,\nagain forms it anew; but if he has\ngone so far as to throw it into the\nfurnace of fire, he can no more\nbring any remedy to it.\n\n15 So we, whilst we are in this\nworld should repent with our whole\nheart for whatsoever evil we have\ndone in the flesh; while we have\nyet the time of repentance, that\nwe may be saved by the Lord.\n\n16 For after we shall have\ndeparted out of this world, we\nshall no longer be able either\nto confess our sins or repent\nin the other.\n\n17 Wherefore, brethren, let us,\ndoing the will of the Father,\nand keeping our flesh pure,\nand observing the commandments\nof the Lord, lay hold on eternal\nlife: for the Lord saith in the\nGospel, If ye have not kept that\nwhich was little, who will give\nyou that which is great?--\nFor I say unto you, he that is\nfaithful in that which is\nleast, is faithful also in much.\n\n18 This, therefore, is what he\nsaith; keep your bodies pure, and\nyour seal without spot, that ye\nmay receive eternal life.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n We shall rise, and be judged, in our bodies;\n therefore we must live well in them;\n 6 that we ought, for our own interest,\n to live well; though few seem to\n mind what, really is for their advantage;\n 10 and we should not deceive ourselves:\n seeing God will certainly judge us,\n and render to all of us according to our works.\n\nAND let not any one among you\nsay, that this very flesh is\nnot judged, neither raised up.\nConsider, in what were you saved\nin what did you look up, if not\nwhilst you were in the flesh?\n\n2 We must, therefore, keep our\nflesh as the temple of God. For\nin like manner as ye were called\nin the flesh, ye shall also come\nto judgment in the flesh. Our one\nLord Jesus Christ, who has saved\nus, being first a spirit, was made\nflesh, and so called us; even so we\nalso shall in this flesh receive the\nreward.\n\n3 Let us, therefore, love one\nanother, that we may attain unto\nthe kingdom of God. Whilst we\nhave time to be healed, let us\ndeliver up ourselves to God our\nphysician, giving our reward unto\nhim.\n\n4 And what reward shall we\ngive?--Repentance out of a pure\nheart. For he knows all things\nbeforehand, and searches out our\nvery hearts.\n\n5 Let us, therefore, give praise\nunto him: not only with our\nmouths, but with all our souls;\nthat he may receive us as children.\nFor so the Lord hath said; They\nare my brethren, who do the will\nof my father.\n\n6 Wherefore, my brethren,\nlet us do the will of the Father,\nwho hath called us, that we may\nlive. Let us pursue virtue, and\nforsake wickedness, which leadeth\nus into sins; and let us flee all\nungodliness, that evils overtake\nus not.\n\n7 For, if we shall do our diligence\nto live well, peace shall follow us.\nAnd yet how hard is it to find a man\nthat does this? For almost all are\nled by human fears, choosing rather\nthe present enjoyments, than the\nfuture promise.\n\n8 For they know not how great\na torment the present enjoyments\nbring with them; nor what delights\nthe future promise.\n\n9 And if they themselves only\ndid this, it might the more easily\nbe endured; but now they go on\nto infect innocent souls with their\nevil doctrines; not knowing that\nboth themselves, and those that\nhear them, shall receive a double\ncondemnation.\n\n10 Let us, therefore, serve\nGod with a pure heart, and we\nshall be righteous: but if we shall\nnot serve him, because we do not\nbelieve the promise of God, we\nshall be miserable.\n\n11 For thus saith the prophet;\nMiserable are the double-minded,\nwho doubt in their heart, and say,\nthese things we have heard, even.\nin the time of our fathers, but we\nhave seen none of them, though\nwe have expected them from day\nto day.\n\n12 O ye fools! compare yourselves\nto a tree; take the vine for an\nexample. First it sheds its leaves,\nthen it buds, then come the sour\ngrapes, then the ripe fruit;\neven so my people has borne its\ndisorders and afflictions, but shall\nhereafter receive good things.\n\n13 Wherefore my brethren, let\nus not doubt in our minds, but let\nus expect with hope, that we may\nreceive our reward; for he is\nfaithful, who has promised that\nhe will render to everyone a\nreward according to his works.\n\n14 If, therefore, we shall do\nwhat is just in the sight of God\nwe shall enter into his kingdom,\nand shall receive the promises;\nWhich neither eye has seen, nor\near heard, nor have entered into\nthe heart of man.\n\n15 Wherefore let us every\nhour expect the kingdom of God\nin love and righteousness; because\nwe know not the day of God's\nappearing.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nA FRAGMENT.\n\n Man's immortal nature a type of the Lord's kingdom.\n\n1 * * * For the Lord\nhimself, being asked by a certain\nperson, When his kingdom should\ncome? answered, When two shall\nbe one, and that which is without\nas that which is within; and the\nmale with the female, neither male\nnor female.\n\n2 Now two are one, when we\nspeak the truth to each other, and\nthere is (without hypocrisy) one\nseal in two bodies:\n\n3 And that which is without as\nthat which, is within;--He means\nthis; he calls the soul that which\nis within, and the body that which\nis without. As therefore thy body\nappears, so let thy soul be seen by\nits good works.\n\n4 And the male with, the female,\nneither Male nor female;--He\nmeans this; he calls our anger\nthe male, our concupiscence the\nfemale.\n\n5 When therefore a man is come\nto such a pass that he is subject\nneither to the one nor the other of\nthese (both of which, through the\nprevalence of custom, and an evil\neducation, cloud and darken the\nreason,)\n\n6 But rather, having dispelled\nthe mist arising from them, and\nbeing full of shame, shall by\nrepentance have united both his\nsoul and spirit in the obedience\nof reason; then, as Paul says, there is\nin us neither male nor female.\n\n\n\n REFERENCE TO THE SECOND EPISTLE THE CORINTHIANS.\n\n[Archbishop Wake is the translator of this Second Epistle, which he says\nwas not of so great reputation among the primitive Fathers as the first.\nHe defends it notwithstanding; and in answer to those who objected to\nClement's First Epistle, that it did not duly honour the Trinity; the\nArchbishop refers to this as containing proof of the writer's fulness of\nbelief on that point.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF BARNABAS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n Preface to the Epistle.\n\nALL happiness to you my sons\nand daughters, in the name\nof our Lord Jesus Christ, who\nloved us, in peace.\n\n2 Having perceived abundance\nof knowledge of the great and\nexcellent laws of God to be in you,\nI exceedingly rejoice in your blessed\nand admirable souls, because ye\nhave so worthily received the\ngrace which was grafted in you.\n\n3 For which cause I am full of\njoy, hoping the rather to be saved;\ninasmuch as I truly see a spirit\ninfused into you, from the pure\nfountain of God:\n\n4 Having this persuasion, and\nbeing fully convinced thereof,\nbecause that since I have begun to\nspeak unto you, I have had a more\nthan ordinary good success in the\nway of the law of the Lord, which\nis in Christ,\n\n5 For which cause brethren, I\nalso think verily that I love you\nabove my own soul; because that\ntherein dwelleth the greatness of\nfaith and charity, as also the hope\nof that life which is to come.\n\n6 Wherefore considering this,\nthat if I shall take care to\ncommunicate to you a part of what\nI have received, it shall turn to\nmy reward, that I have served such\ngood souls. I gave diligence to\nwrite in a few words unto you;\nthat together with your faith, your\nknowledge also may be perfect.\n\n7 There are therefore three\nthings ordained by the Lord; the\nhope of life, the beginning, and\nthe completion of it.\n\n8 For the Lord hath both\ndeclared unto us, by the prophets,\nthose things that are past; and\nopened to us the beginnings of\nthose that are to come.\n\n9 Wherefore, it will behove us,\nas he has spoken, to come more\nholily, and nearer to his altar.\n\n10 I therefore, not as a teacher\nbut as one of you, will endeavour\nto lay before you a few things by\nwhich you may, on many accounts,\nbecome the more joyful.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n That God has abolished the legal sacrifices,\n to introduce the spiritual righteousness of the Gospel.\n\nSEEING then the days are\nexceedingly evil, and the\nadversary has got the power of this\npresent world we ought to give the\nmore diligence to inquire into the\nrighteous judgments of the Lord.\n\n2 Now the assistants of our\nfaith are fear and patience; our\nfellow-combatants, long suffering\nand continence.\n\n3 Whilst these remain pure\nin what relates unto the Lord,\nwisdom, and understanding, and\nscience, and knowledge, rejoice\ntogether with them.\n\n4 For God has manifested to us\nby all the prophets, that he has no\noccasion for our sacrifices, or\nburnt-offerings, or oblations:\nsaying thus; To what purpose is\nthe multitude of your sacrifices\nunto me, saith the Lord.\n\n5 I am full of the burnt-offerings\nof rams, and the fat of fed beasts;\nand I delight not in the blood of\nbullocks, or of he-goats.\n\n6 When ye come to appear\nbefore me, who hath required\nthis at your hands? Ye shall no\nmore tread my courts.\n\n7 Bring no more vain oblations,\nincense is an abomination unto me\nyour new moons and sabbaths,\nand the calling of assemblies\nI cannot bear with, it is iniquity,\neven the solemn meeting; your\nnew moons and your appointed\nfeasts my soul hateth.\n\n8 These things therefore hath\nGod abolished, that the new law\nof our Lord Jesus Christ, which\nis without the yoke of any such\nnecessity, might have the spiritual\noffering of, men themselves.\n\n9 For so the Lord saith again\nto those heretofore; Did I at all\ncommand your fathers when they\ncame out of the land of Egypt\nconcerning burnt-offerings of\nsacrifices?\n\n10 But this I commanded them,\nsaying, Let none of you imagine\nevil in your hearts against his\nneighbour, and love no false oath.\n\n11 Forasmuch then as we are\nnot without understanding, we\nought to apprehend the design of\nour merciful Father. For he\nspeaks to us, being willing that\nwe who have been in the same\nerror about the sacrifices, should\nseek and find how to approach\nunto him.\n\n12 And therefore he thus\nbespeaks us, The sacrifice of God\n(is a broken spirit,) a broken and\ncontrite heart--God will not despise.\n\n13 Wherefore brethren, we ought\nthe more diligently to inquire\nafter those things that belong\nto our salvation, that the\nadversary may not have any\nentrance into us, and deprive\nus of our spiritual life.\n\n14 Wherefore he again speaketh\nto them, concerning these things;\nYe shall not fast as ye do this day,\nto make your voice to be heard on high.\n\n15 Is it such a fast that I have\nchosen? A day for a man to afflict\nhis soul? Is it to bow down his\nhead like a bulrush, and to spread\nsackcloth and ashes under him?\nWilt thou call this a fast, and an\nacceptable day to the Lord?\n\n16 But to us he saith on this\nwise: Is not this the fast that I\nhave chosen, to loose the bands of\nwickedness, to undo the heavy burdens,\nand to let the oppressed go free:\nand that ye break every yoke?\n\n17 Is it not to deal thy bread\nto the hungry, and that thou bring\nthe poor that are cast out to thy\nhouse? When thou seest the naked\nthat thou cover him, and that thou\nhide not thyself from thy own\nflesh.\n\n18 Then shall thy light break\nforth as the morning, and thy\nhealth shall spring forth speedily;\nand thy righteousness shall go\nbefore thee; the glory of the Lord\nshall be thy reward.\n\n19 Then shalt thou call and\nthe Lord shall answer; thou shalt\ncry and he shall say, Here I am;\nif thou put away from the midst of\nthee the yoke; the putting forth\nof the finger, and speaking vanity;\nand if thou draw out thy soul to\nthe hungry; and satisfy the\nafflicted soul.\n\n20 In this, therefore, brethren,\nGod has manifested his foreknowledge\nand love for us; because the\npeople which he has purchased to\nhis beloved Son were to believe\nin sincerity; and therefore he has\nshown these things to all of us,\nthat we should not run as\nproselytes to the Jewish Law.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n The prophecies of Daniel concerning the ten kings,\n and the coming of Christ.\n\nWHEREFORE it is necessary\nthat searching diligently into\nthose things which are soon to\ncome to pass, we should write to\nyou what may serve to keep you\nwhole.\n\n2 To which end, let us flee from\nevery evil work and hate the errors\nof the present time, that we may\nbe happy in that which is to come.\n\n3 Let us not give ourselves the\nliberty of disputing with the wicked\nand sinners; lest we should chance\nin time to become like unto them.\n\n4 For the consummation of sin\nis come, as it is written, as the\nprophet Daniel says. And for this\nend the Lord hath shortened the\ntimes and the days, that his\nbeloved might hasten his coming\nto his inheritance.\n\n5 For so the prophet speaks;\nThere shall ten kings reign in\nthe heart, and there shall rise last\nof all another little one, and he\nshall humble three kings.\n\n6 And again Daniel speaks in\nlike manner concerning the kingdoms;\nand I saw the fourth beast dreadful\nand terrible, and strong exceedingly;\nand it had ten horns. I considered\nthe horns, and behold there came up\namong them another little horn,\nbefore which were three of the first\nhorns plucked up by the roots.\n\n7 We ought therefore to understand\nthis also: And I beseech you, as one\nof your own brethren, loving you all\nbeyond my own life, that you look\nwell to yourselves, and be not like\nto those who add sin to sin, and say;\nThat their covenant is ours also.\nNay, but it is ours only: for they\nhave forever lost that which Moses\nreceived.\n\n8 For thus saith the Scripture\nAnd Moses continued fasting forty\ndays and forty nights in the Mount;\nand he received the covenant from\nthe Lord, even the two tables of\nstone, written by the hand of God.\n\n9 But having turned themselves\nto idols they lost it; as the Lord\nalso said to Moses; Moses, go\ndown quickly, for thy people which\nthou hast brought forth out of\nEgypt, have corrupted themselves,\nand turned aside from the way\nwhich I commanded them. And\nMoses cast the two tables out of\nhis hands; and their covenant was\nbroken; that the love of Jesus\nmight be sealed in your hearts,\nunto the hope of his faith.\n\n10 Wherefore let us give heed\nunto the last times. For all the\ntime past of our life and our faith,\nwill profit us nothing; unless we\ncontinue to hate what is evil, and\nto withstand the future temptations.\nSo the Son of God tells us; Let us\nresist all iniquity and hate it.\n\n11 Wherefore consider the works\nof the evil way. Do not withdraw\nyourselves from others as if you\nwere already justified; but coming\naltogether into one place, inquire\nwhat is agreeable to and profitable\nfor the beloved of God. For the\nScripture saith; Woe unto them\nthat are wise in their own eyes;\nand prudent in their sight.\n\n12 Let us become spiritually a\nperfect temple to God. As much\nas in us lies let us meditate upon\nthe fear of God; and strive to the\nutmost of our power to keep his\ncommandments; that we may rejoice\nin his righteous judgments.\n\n13 For God will judge the world\nwithout respect of persons and\neveryone shall receive according\nto his works.\n\n14 If a man shall be good, his\nrighteousness shall go before him\nif wicked, the reward of his\nwickedness shall follow him.\n\n15 Take heed therefore lest\nsitting still now, that when we are\ncalled, we fall asleep in our sins;\nand the wicked one getting the\ndominion over us, stir us up, and\nshut us out of the kingdom of the\nLord.\n\n16 Consider this also: although\nyou have seen so great signs and\nwonders done among the people\nof the Jews, yet this notwithstanding\nthe Lord hath forsaken them.\n\n17 Beware, therefore, lest it\nhappen to us; as it is written\nThere may be many called, but\nfew chosen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n That Christ was to suffer is proved\n from the prophecies concerning him.\n\nFor this cause did our Lord\nvouchsafe to give up his body\nto destruction, that through the\nforgiveness of our sins we might\nbe sanctified; that is, by the\nsprinkling of his blood.\n\n2 Now for what concerns the\nthings that are written about him,\nsome belong to the people of the\nJews, and some to us.\n\n3 For thus saith the Scripture;\nHe was wounded for our transgressions,\nhe was bruised for our iniquities,\nand by his blood we are healed.\nHe was led as a lamb to the\nslaughter, and as a sheep before\nhis shearers is dumb, so he\nopened not his mouth.\n\n4 Wherefore we ought the more\nto give thanks unto God, for that\nhe hath both declared unto us\nwhat is passed, and not suffered\nus to be without understanding of\nthose things that are to come.\n\n5 But to them he saith; The\nnets are not unjustly spread for\nthe birds.\n\n6 This he spake, because a man\nwill justly perish, if having the\nknowledge of the way of truth, he\nshall nevertheless not refrain\nhimself from the way of darkness.\n\n7 And for this cause the Lord\nwas content to suffer for our souls,\nalthough he be the Lord of the\nwhole earth; to whom God said\nbefore the beginning of the world,\nLet us make man after our own\nimage and likeness.\n\n8 Now how he suffered for us,\nseeing it was by men that he\nunderwent it, I will shew you.\n\n9 The prophets having received\nfrom him the gifts of prophecy,\nspake before concerning him:\n\n10 But he, that he might\nabolish death, and make known the\nresurrection from the dead, was\ncontent, as it was necessary, to\nappear in the flesh, that he might\nmake good the promise before given\nto our fathers, and preparing\nhimself a new people, might\ndemonstrate to them whilst he was\nupon earth, that after the\nresurrection he would judge\nthe world.\n\n11 And finally, teaching the\npeople of Israel, and doing many\nwonders and signs among them,\nhe preached to them, and shewed\nthe exceeding great love which\nhe bare towards them.\n\n12 And when he chose his apostles,\nwhich were afterwards to publish\nhis Gospel, he took men who had\nbeen very great sinners; that\nthereby he might plainly shew\nThat he came not to call the\nrighteous but sinners to\nrepentance.\n\n13 Then he clearly manifested\nhimself to be the Son of God.\nFor had he not come in the flesh,\nhow should men have been able to\nlook upon him, that they might be\nsaved?\n\n14 Seeing that if they beheld\nonly the sun, which was the work\nof his hands, and shall hereafter\ncease to be, they are not able to\nendure steadfastly to look against\nthe rays of it;\n\n15 Wherefore the Son of God\ncame in the flesh for this cause,\nthat he might fill up the measure\nof their iniquity, who have\npersecuted his prophets unto\ndeath. And for the same reason\nalso he suffered.\n\n16 For God hath said of the\nstripes of his flesh, that they were\nfrom them. And, I will smite the\nshepherd, and the sheep of the\nflock shall be scattered.\n\n17 Thus he would suffer, because\nit behoved him to suffer upon the\ncross.\n\n18 For thus one saith,\nprophesying concerning him;\nSpare my soul from the sword.\nAnd again, My flesh trembleth\nfor fear.\n\n19 And again, the congregation\nof wicked doers rose up against\nme, (They have pierced my\nhands and my feet).\n\n20 And again he saith, I gave\nmy back to the smiters, and my\nface I set as a hard rock.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nThe subject continued.\n\nAnd when he had fulfilled the\ncommandment of God, What\nsays he? Who will contend with\nme? Let him stand against me\nor who is he that will implead\nme? Let him draw near to the\nservant of the Lord. Woe be to\nyou! Because ye shall all wax\nold as a garment, the moth\nshall eat you up.\n\n2 And again adds the prophet,\nHe is put for a stone of\nstumbling. Behold I lay in Zion\nfor a foundation, a precious\nstone a choice corner-stone;\nan honourable stone. And what\nfollows? And he that hopeth\nin him shall live for ever.\n\n3 What then? Is our hope built\nupon a stone? God forbid. But\nbecause the Lord hath hardened\nhis flesh against sufferings, he\nsaith, I have put me as a firm\nrock.\n\n4 And again the prophet adds;\nThe stone which the builders\nrefused has become the head of\nthe corner. And again he saith\nThis is the great and wonderful\nday which the Lord hath made.\nI write these things the more\nplainly to you that ye may\nunderstand: I For indeed I\ncould be content even to die\nfor your sakes.\n\n5 But what saith the prophet\nagain; The counsel of the wicked\nencompassed me about. They\ncame about me, as bees about the\nhoney-comb: and, Upon my vesture\nthey cast lots.\n\n6 Forasmuch then as our Saviour\nwas to appear in the flesh and\nsuffer, his passion was hereby\nforetold.\n\n7 For thus saith the prophet\nagainst Israel: \"Woe be to their\nsoul because they have taken\nwicked counsel against themselves,\nsaying; let us lay snares for the\nrighteous, because he is\nunprofitable to us.\"\n\n8 Moses also in like manner\nspeaketh to them; Behold thus\nsaith the Lord God; Enter ye\ninto the good land of which the\nLord hath sworn to Abraham, and\nIsaac, and Jacob, that he would\ngive it you, and possess it; a land\nflowing with milk and honey.\n\n9 Now what the spiritual meaning\nof this is, learn; It is as if it\nhad been said, Put your trust in\nJesus, who shall be manifested to\nyou in the flesh. For man is the\nearth which suffers: forasmuch\nas out of the substance of the\nearth Adam was formed.\n\n10 What therefore does he mean\nwhen he says, Into a good land\nflowing with milk and honey?\nBlessed be our Lord, who has\ngiven us wisdom, and a heart to\nunderstand his secrets. For so\nsays the prophet, \"Who shall\nunderstand the hard sayings of the\nLord? But he that is wise, and\nintelligent, and that loves his\nLord.\"\n\n11 Seeing therefore he has\nrenewed us by the remission of our\nsins, he has put us into another\nframe, that we should have souls\nlike those of children, forming\nus again himself by the spirit.\n\n12 For thus the Scripture saith\nconcerning us, where it introduceth\nthe Father speaking to the Son;\nLet us make man after our likeness\nand similitude; and let them have\ndominion over the beasts of the\nearth, and over the fowls of the\nair, and the fish of the sea.\n\n13 And when the Lord saw the\nman which he had formed, that\nbehold he was very good; he said,\nIncrease and multiply, and\nreplenish the earth. And this\nhe spake to his son.\n\n14 I will now show you, how he\nmade us a new creature, in the\nlatter days.\n\n15 The Lord saith; Behold I\nwill make the last as the first.\nWherefore the prophet thus spake,\nEnter into the land flowing with\nmilk and honey, and have dominion\nover it.\n\n16 Wherefore ye see how we\nare again formed anew; as also\nhe speaks by another prophet;\nBehold saith the Lord, I will take\nfrom them; that is, from those\nwhom the spirit I of the Lord\nforesaw, their hearts of stone,\nand I will put into them hearts\nof flesh.\n\n17 Because he was about to be\nmade manifest in the flesh and to\ndwell in us.\n\n18 For, my brethren, the\nhabitation of our heart is a 'holy\ntemple unto the Lord. For the prophet\nsaith again, In what place shall I\nappear before the Lord my God,\nand be glorified?\n\n19 He answers I will confess\nunto thee in the congregation in\nthe midst of my brethren; and will\nsing unto thee in the church of\nthe saints:\n\n20 Wherefore we are they whom\nhe has brought into that good land.\n\n21 But what signifies the milk\nand honey? Because as the child\nis nourished first with milk, and\nthen with honey; so we being\nkept alive by the belief of his\npromises and his word, shall live\nand have dominion over the land.\n\n22 For he foretold before, saying,\nincrease and multiply, and have\ndominion over the beasts, fishes,\nand birds.\n\n23 But who is there that is now\nable to have this dominion over\nthe wild beasts, or fishes, or fowls\nof the air? For you know that to\nrule, is to have power; that a man\nshould be set over what he rules.\n\n24 But forasmuch as this we\nhave not now, he tells us when we\nshall have it; namely, when we\nshall become perfect, that we may\nbe made the inheritors of the\ncovenant of the Lord.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n The sacrifice of Jesus, and of a goat,\n an evident type of Christ crucified.\n\nUNDERSTAND then my beloved\nchildren, that the good God hath\nbefore manifested all things unto\nus, that we might know to whom\nwe ought always to give thanks\nand praise.\n\n2 If therefore the Son of God\nwho is the Lord of all, and shall\ncome to judge both the quick and\ndead, hath suffered, that by his\nstripes we might live; let us\nbelieve that the Son of God could\nnot have suffered but for us. But\nbeing crucified, they gave him\nvinegar and gall to drink.\n\n3 Hear therefore how the priests\nof the temple did foreshow this\nalso: the Lord by his command\nwhich was written, declared that\nwhosoever did not fast the\nappointed fast he should die the\ndeath: because he also was himself\none day to offer up his body for\nour sins; that so the type of\nwhat was done in Isaac might be\nfulfilled, who was offered upon the\naltar.\n\n4 What therefore is it that he\nsays by the prophet? And let\nthem eat of the goat which is\noffered in the day of the fast for\nall their sins. Hearken diligently,\n(my brethren,) and all the priests,\nand they only shall eat the inwards\nnot washed with vinegar.\n\n5 Why so? because I know\nthat when I shall hereafter offer\nmy flesh for the sins of a new\npeople, ye will give me vinegar to\ndrink mixed with gall; therefore\ndo ye only eat, the people fasting\nthe while, and lamenting in\nsackcloth and ashes.\n\n6 And that he might foreshow\nthat he was to suffer for them,\nhear then how he appointed it.\n\n7 Take, says he, two goats, fair\nand alike, and offer them; and let\nthe high priest take one of them\nfor a burnt offering. And what\nshalt be done with the other? Let\nit, says he, be accursed.\n\n8 Consider how exactly this\nappears to have been a type of\nJesus. And let all the congregation\nspit upon it, and prick it; and\nput the scarlet wool about its\nhead; and thus let it be carried\nforth into the wilderness.\n\n9 And this being done, he that\nwas appointed to convey the goat,\nled it into the wilderness, and\ntook away the scarlet wool, and\nput it upon a thorn bush, whose\nyoung sprouts, when we find\nthem in the field, we are wont to\neat: so the fruit of that thorn\nonly is sweet.\n\n10 And to what end was this\nceremony? Consider; one was\noffered upon the altar, the\nother was accursed.\n\n11 And why was that which was\naccursed crowned? Because they\nshall see Christ on that day having\na scarlet garment about his body;\nand shall say: Is not this he whom\nwe crucified; having despised him,\npierced him, mocked him? Certainly,\nthis is he, who then said,\nthat he was the Son of God.\n\n12 As therefore he shall be\nthen like to what he was on\nearth, so were the Jews heretofore\ncommanded, to take two goats fair\nand equal; that when they shall\nsee (our Saviour) hereafter coming\n(in the clouds of heaven), they may\nbe amazed at the likeness of the\ngoats.\n\n13 Wherefore ye here again\nsee a type of Jesus who was to\nsuffer for us.\n\n14 But what then signifies this,\nThat the wool was to be put into\nthe midst of the thorns?\n\n15 This also is a figure of Jesus,\nset out to the church. For as he who\nwould take away the scarlet wool\nmust undergo many difficulties,\nbecause that thorn was very sharp,\nand with difficulty get it: So,\nsays Christ, they that will see me,\nand come to my kingdom, must\nthrough many afflictions and\ntroubles attain unto me.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n The red heifer, another type of Christ.\n\nBUT what type do ye suppose\nit to have been, where it is\ncommanded to the people of Israel,\nthat grown persons in whom sins\nare come to perfection, should\noffer an heifer, and after they had\nkilled it should burn the same;\n\n2 But then young men should\ntake up the ashes and put them in\nvessels; and tie a piece of scarlet\nwool and hyssop upon a stick, and\nso the young men should sprinkle\nevery one of the people, and they\nshould be clear from their sins?\n\n3 Consider how all these are\ndelivered in a figure to us.\n\n4 This heifer is Jesus Christ;\nthe wicked men that were to offer\nit are those sinners who brought\nhim to death; who afterwards have\nno more to do with it: for the\nsinners have no more the honour\nof handling it:\n\n5 But the young men that performed\nthe sprinkling, signified those who\npreach to us the forgiveness of\nsins, and the purification of the\nheart, to whom the Lord gave\nauthority to preach his Gospel:\nbeing at the beginning twelve,\nto signify the tribes, because\nthere were twelve tribes of Israel.\n\n6 But why were there three\nyoung men appointed to sprinkle?\nTo denote Abraham, and Isaac,\nand Jacob, because they were\ngreat before God.\n\n7 And why was the wool put\nupon a stick? Because the kingdom\nof Jesus was founded upon the cross;\nand therefore they that put their\ntrust in him, shall live for ever.\n\n8 But why was the wool and\nhyssop put together? To signify\nthat in the kingdom of Christ there\nshall be evil and filthy days, in\nwhich however, we shall be saved;\nand because he that has any disease\nin the flesh by some filthy humours,\nis cured by hyssop.\n\n9 Wherefore these things being\nthus done, are to us indeed evident,\nbut to the Jews they are obscure;\nbecause they hearkened not unto\nthe voice of the Lord.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n Of the circumcision of the ears and how in the\n first institution of circumcision Abraham\n mystically foretold Christ by name.\n\nAND therefore the Scripture\nagain speaks concerning our\nears, that God has circumcised\nthem, together with our hearts.\nFor thus saith the Lord by the\nholy prophet: By the hearing of\nthe ear they obeyed me.\n\n2 And again, They who are afar\noff, shall hear and understand\nwhat things I have done. And\nagain, Circumcise your hearts,\nsaith the Lord.\n\n3 And again he saith, Hear O\nIsrael! For thus saith the Lord\nthy God. And again the Spirit of\nGod prophesieth, saying: Who is\nthere that would live for ever, let\nhim hear the voice of my Son.\n\n4 And again, Hear, O Heavens,\nand give ear O Earth! Because\nthe Lord has spoken these things\nfor a witness.\n\n5 And again, he saith, Hear\nthe word of the Lord, ye princes\nof the people. And again, Hear\nO children! The voice of one\ncrying in the wilderness.\n\n6 Wherefore he has circumcised\nour ears, that we should hear his\nword, and believe. But as for\nthat circumcision, in which the\nJews trust, it is abolished: for the\ncircumcision of which God spake,\nwas not of the flesh.\n\n7 But they have transgressed\nhis commands, because the evil\none hath deceived them. For\nthus God bespeaks them; Thus\nsaith the Lord your God, (Here I\nfind the new law) Sow not among\nthorns; but circumcise yourselves\nto the Lord your God. And what\ndoth he mean by this saying?\nHearken unto your Lord.\n\n8 And again he saith, Circumcise\nthe hardness of your heart, and\nharden not your neck. And again,\nBehold, saith the Lord, all the\nnations are uncircumcised, (they\nhave not lost their fore-skin): but\nthis people is uncircumcised in\nheart.\n\n9 But you will say the Jews\nwere circumcised for a sign. And\nso are all the Syrians and Arabians,\nand all the idolatrous priests: but\nare they therefore of the covenant\nof Israel? And even the Egyptians\nthemselves are circumcised.\n\n10 Understand therefore, children,\nthese things more fully, that\nAbraham was the first, that\nbrought in circumcision, looking\nforward in the Spirit, to Jesus;\ncircumcised, having received the\nmystery of three letters.\n\n11 For the Scripture says that\nAbraham circumcised three hundred\nand eighteen men of his house.\nBut what therefore was the mystery\nthat was made known unto him!\n\n12 Mark, first the eighteen, and\nnext the three hundred. For the\nnumeral letters of ten and eight\nare T H. And these denote Jesus.\n\n13 And because the cross was\nthat by which we were to find\ngrace, therefore he adds, three\nhundred; the note of which is T\n(the figure of his cross).\nWherefore by two letters he\nsignified Jesus, and by the\nthird his cross.\n\n14 He who has put the engrafted\ngift of his doctrine within us,\nknows that I never taught to\nanyone a more certain truth: but I\ntrust that ye are worthy of it.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n That the commands of Moses concerning clean and unclean\n beasts, were all designed for a spiritual signification.\n\nBUT why did Moses say Ye\nshall not eat of the swine,\nneither the eagle nor the hawk;\nnor the crow; nor any fish that\nhas not a scale upon him?--I\nanswer that, in the spiritual sense,\nhe comprehended three doctrines,\nthat were to be gathered from\nthence.\n\n2 Besides which he says to them\nin the book of Deuteronomy, And\nI will give my statutes unto this\npeople. Wherefore it is not the\ncommand of God that they should\nnot eat these things; but Moses in\nthe spirit spake unto them.\n\n3 Now the sow he forbad them\nto eat; meaning thus much: Thou\nshalt not join thyself to such\npersons as are like unto swine,\nwho, whilst they live in pleasure,\nforget their God; but when any want\npinches them, then they know the\nLord: as the sow when she is full\nknows not her master, but when\nshe is hungry she makes a noise;\nand being again fed, is silent.\n\n4 Neither, says he, shalt thou\neat the eagle, nor the hawk, nor\nthe kite, nor the crow; that is,\nthou shalt not keep company with\nsuch kind of men as know not how\nby their labour and sweat to get\nthemselves food; but injuriously\nravish away the things of others,\nand watch how to lay snares for\nthem; when at the same time they\nappear to live in perfect innocence.\n\n3 So these birds alone (seek not\nfood for themselves,) but sitting\nidle, seek how they may eat of the\nflesh others have provided being\ndestructive through their\nwickedness.\n\n6 Neither, says he, shalt thou\neat the lamprey, nor the polypus,\nnor the cuttle-fish; that is thou\nshalt not be like such men, by\nseeking to converse with them\nwho are altogether wicked and\nadjudged to death. For so those\nfishes are alone accursed, that\nwallow in the mire, nor swim as other\nfishes, but tumble in the dirt at\nthe bottom of the deep.\n\n7 But, he adds, neither shalt\nthou eat of the hare. To what\nend?--To signify this to us;\nThou shalt not be an adulterer,\nnor liken thyself to such persons.\nFor the hare every year multiplies\nthe places of its conception; and\nas many years as it lives, so many\nit has.\n\n8 Neither shalt thou eat of the\nhyena: that is, again, be not an\nadulterer, nor a corrupter of\nothers; neither be like to such.\nAnd wherefore so?--Because that\ncreature every year changes its\nkind, which is sometimes male\nand sometimes female.\n\n9 For which cause also he justly\nhated the weazel; to the end that\nthey should not be like such\npersons who with their mouths\ncommit wickedness by reason of\ntheir uncleanness; nor join\nthemselves with those impure women,\nwho with their mouths commit\nwickedness. Because that animal\nconceives with its mouth.\n\n10 Moses, therefore, speaking\nas concerning meats, delivered\nindeed three great precepts to\nthem in the spiritual signification\nof those commands. But they\naccording to the desires of the\nflesh, understood him as if he\nhad only meant it of meats.\n\n11 And therefore David took\naright the knowledge of his\nthree-fold command, saying in\nlike manner:\n\n12 Blessed is the man that hath\nnot walked in the counsel of the\nungodly; as the fishes before\nmentioned in the bottom of the\ndeep, in darkness.\n\n13 Nor stood in the way of\nsinners, as they who seem to fear\nthe Lord, but yet sin, as the sow.\n\n14 And hath not sat in the seat\nof the scorners; as those birds\nwho sit and watch that they may\ndevour.\n\n15 Here you have the law\nconcerning meat perfectly set\nforth and according to the\ntrue knowledge of it.\n\n16 But, says Moses, ye shall\neat all that divideth the hoof, and\ncheweth the cud. Signifying\nthereby such an one as having\ntaken his food, knows him that\nnourisheth him; and resting upon\nhim, rejoiceth in him.\n\n17 And in this he spake well,\nhaving respect to the commandment.\nWhat, therefore, is it that\nhe says?--That we should hold\nfast to them that fear the Lord;\nwith those who meditate on the\ncommand of the word which they\nhave received, in their heart;\nwith those that declare the\nrighteous judgments of the Lord,\nand keep his commandments;\n\n18 In short, with those who\nknow that to meditate is a work\nof pleasure, and therefore exercise\nthemselves in the word of the\nLord.\n\n19 But why might they eat\nthose that clave the hoof?\nBecause the righteous liveth in this\npresent world; but his expectation\nis fixed upon the other. See,\nbrethren, how admirably Moses\ncommanded these things.\n\n20 But how should we thus\nknow all this, and understand it?\nWe, therefore, understanding\naright the commandments, speak\nas the Lord would have us.\nWherefore he has circumcised our\nears and our hearts, that we might\nknow these things.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n Baptism and the cross of Christ\n foretold in figures under the law.\n\nLET us now inquire whether\nthe Lord took care to manifest\nanything beforehand concerning water\nand the cross.\n\n2 Now for the former of these,\nit is written to the people of\nIsrael how they shall not receive\nthat baptism which brings to\nforgiveness of sins; but shall\ninstitute another to themselves\nthat cannot.\n\n3 For thus saith the prophet:\nBe astonished, O Heaven! and\nlet the earth tremble at it, because\nthis people have done two great\nand wicked things: they have left\nme, the fountain of living water,\nand have digged for themselves\nbroken cisterns, that can hold no\nwater.\n\n4 Is my holy mountain of Zion,\na desolate wilderness? For ye\nshall be as a young bird when its\nnest is taken away.\n\n5 And again the prophet saith,\nI will go before thee, and will\nmake plain the mountains, and\nwill break the gates of brass, and\nwill snap in sunder the bars of\niron; and will give thee dark,\nand hidden, and invisible\ntreasures, that they may know\nthat I am the Lord God.\n\n6 And again: he shall dwell\nin the high den of the strong\nrock. And then, what follows in\nthe same prophet? His water is\nfaithful; ye shall see the king\nwith glory, and your soul shall\nlearn the fear of the Lord.\n\n7 And again he saith in another\nprophet: He that does these\nthings; I shall be like a tree\nplanted by the currents of water,\nwhich shall give its fruit in its\nseason. Its leaf also shall not\nwither, and whatsoever he doth\nit shall prosper.\n\n8 As for the wicked it is not\nso with them; but they are as the\ndust which the wind scattereth\naway from the face of the earth.\n\n9 Therefore the ungodly shall\nnot stand in the judgment, neither\nthe sinners in the council of the\nrighteous. For the Lord knoweth\nthe way of the righteous, and the\nway of the ungodly shall perish.\n\n10 Consider how he has joined\nboth the cross and the water\ntogether.\n\n11 For this he saith: Blessed\nare they who put their trust in the\ncross, and descend into the water;\nfor they shall have their reward in\ndue time: then, saith he, will I\ngive it them.\n\n12 But as concerning the present\ntime, he saith, their leaves shall\nnot fall: meaning thereby, that\nevery word that shall go out of\nyour mouth, shall through faith\nand charity be to the conversion\nand hope of many.\n\n13 In like manner doth another\nprophet speak. And the land of\nJacob was the praise of all the\nearth; magnifying thereby the\nvessel of his spirit.\n\n14 And what follows?--And\nthere was a river running on the\nright hand, and beautiful trees\ngrew up by it; and he that shall\neat of them shall live for ever.\nThe signification of which is this\nthat we go down into the water\nfull of sins and pollutions, but\ncome up again, bringing forth\nfruit; having in our hearts the\nfear and hope which is in Jesus,\nby the spirit. And whosoever\nshall eat of them shall live for\never.\n\n15 That is, whosoever shall\nhearken to those who call them, and\nshall believe, shall live for ever.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XI.\n\n The subject continued.\n\nIN like manner he determines\nconcerning the cross in another\nprophet, saying: And when shall\nthese things be fulfilled?\n\n2 The Lord answers: When the\ntree that is fallen shall rise, and\nwhen blood shall drop down from\nthe tree. Here you have again\nmention made, both of the cross,\nand of him that was to be crucified\nupon it.\n\n3 And yet farther he saith by\nMoses; (when Israel was fighting\nwith, and beaten by, a strange\npeople; to the end that God might\nput them in mind how that for\ntheir sins they were delivered unto\ndeath) yea, the holy spirit put it\ninto the heart of Moses, to represent\nboth the sign of the cross, and of\nhim that was to suffer: that so\nthey might know that if they did\nnot believe in him, they should be\novercome for ever.\n\n4 Moses therefore I piled up\narmour upon armour in the middle\nof a rising ground, and standing\nup high above all of them, stretched\nforth his arms, and so Israel again\nconquered.\n\n5 But no sooner did he let down\nhis hands, but they were again\nslain. And why so?--To the end\nthey might know, that except they\ntrust in him they cannot be saved.\n\n6 And in another prophet, he\nsaith, I have stretched out my\nhands all the day long to a people\ndisobedient, and speaking against\nmy righteous way.\n\n7 And again Moses makes a\ntype of Jesus, to show that he was\nto die, and then that he, whom\nthey thought to be dead, was to\ngive life to others; in the type\nof those that fell in Israel.\n\n8 For God caused all sorts of\nserpents to bite them, and they\ndied: forasmuch as by a serpent\ntransgression began in Eve; that\nso he might convince them that\nfor their transgressions they shall\nbe delivered into the pain of death.\n\n9 Moses then himself, who had\ncommanded them, saying, Ye shall\nnot make to yourselves any graven\nor molten image, to be your God\nyet now did so himself, that he\nmight represent to them the figure\nof the Lord Jesus.\n\n10 For he made a brazen\nserpent, and set it up on high,\nand called the people together\nby a proclamation: where being come,\nthey entreated Moses that he would\nmake an atonement for them, and\npray that they might be healed.\n\n11 Then Moses spake unto them,\nsaying: when any one among you\nshall be bitten, let him come unto\nthe serpent that is set upon the\npole; and let him assuredly trust\nin him, that though he be dead,\nyet he is able to give life, and\npresently he shall be saved; and so\nthey did. See therefore how here\nalso you have in this the glory of\nJesus; and that in him and to\nhim are all things.\n\n12 Again; What says Moses to\nJoshua, the Son of Nun, when he\ngave that name unto him, as being\na prophet, that all the people might\nhear him alone? Because the\nfather did manifest all things\nconcerning his son Jesus, in Joshua,\nthe Son of Nun; and gave him\nthat name when he sent him to spy\nout the land of Canaan, saying;\nTake a book in thine hands,\nand write what the Lord saith.\nForasmuch as Jesus the Son of God\nshall in the last days cut off by the\nroots all the house of Amalek, see\nhere again Jesus, not the son of\nman, but the Son of God, made\nmanifest in a type, and in the flesh.\n\n13 But because it might hereafter\nbe said that Christ was the\nSon of David; therefore David\nfearing and well knowing the errors\nof the wicked, saith; the Lord\nsaid unto my Lord, sit thou on my\nright hand until I make thine\nenemies thy footstool.\n\n14 And again Isaiah speaketh\non this wise, The Lord said unto\nChrist my Lord, I have laid hold\non his right hand, that the nations\nshould obey before him, and I will\nbreak the strength of kings.\n\n15 Behold, how doth David and\nIsaiah call him Lord, and the Son\nof God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\n The Promise of God not made to the Jews only,\n but to the Gentiles also, and fulfilled to us by Jesus Christ.\n\nBUT let us go yet further, and\ninquire whether this people be\nthe heir, or the former; and\nwhether the covenant be with us\nor with them.\n\n2 And first, as concerning\nthe people, hear now what the\nScripture saith:\n\n3 Isaac prayed for his wife\nRebekah, because she was barren;\nand she conceived. Afterwards\nRebekah went forth to inquire\nof the Lord.\n\n4 And the Lord said unto her;\nThere are two nations in thy womb,\nand two people shall come from\nthy body; and the one shall have\npower over the other, and the\ngreater shall serve the lesser.\nUnderstand here who was Isaac;\nwho Rebekah; and of whom it was\nforetold, this people shall be\ngreater than that.\n\n5 And in another prophecy Jacob\nspeaketh more clearly to his\nson Joseph, saying; Behold the\nLord hath not derived me of seeing\nthy face, bring me thy sons that\nI may bless them. And he brought\nunto his father Manasseh and\nEphraim, desiring that he should\nbless Manasseh, because he was\nthe elder.\n\n6 Therefore Joseph brought him\nto the right hand of his father\nJacob. But Jacob by the spirit\nforesaw the figure of the people\nthat was to come.\n\n7 And what saith the Scripture?\nAnd Jacob crossed his hands, and\nput his right hand upon Ephraim,\nhis second, and the younger son,\nand blessed him. And Joseph said\nunto Jacob; Put thy right hand\nupon the head of Manasseh, for he\nis my first-born son. And Jacob\nsaid unto Joseph; I know it, my\nson, I know it; but the greater\nshall serve the lesser; though he\nalso shall be blessed.\n\n8 Ye see of whom he appointed\nit, that they should be the first\npeople, and heirs of the covenant.\n\n9 If therefore God shall have\nyet farther taken notice of this,\nby Abraham too; our understanding\nof it will then be perfectly\nestablished.\n\n10 What then saith the Scripture\nof Abraham, when I be believed,\nand it was imputed unto him for\nrighteousness? Behold I have made\nthee a father of the nations,\nwhich without circumcision believe\nin the Lord.\n\n11 Let us therefore now inquire\nwhether God has fulfilled the\ncovenant, which he sware to our\nfathers, that he would give this\npeople? Yes, verily, he gave it;\nbut they were not worthy to receive\nit by reason of their sins.\n\n12 For thus saith the prophet\nAnd Moses continued fasting in\nmount Sinai, to receive the covenant\nof the Lord with the people, forty\ndays and forty nights.\n\n13 And he received of the Lord\ntwo tables written with the finger\nof the Lord's hand, in the Spirit.\nAnd Moses, when he had received\nthem, brought them down that he\nmight deliver them to the people.\n\n14 And the Lord said unto\nMoses; Moses, Moses, get thee\ndown quickly, for the people which\nthou broughtest out of the land of\nEgypt have done wickedly.\n\n15 And Moses understood that\nthey had again set up a molten\nimage: and he cast the two tables\nout of his hands; and the tables\nof the covenant of the Lord were\nbroken. Moses therefore received\nthem, but they were not worthy.\n\n16 Now then learn how we have\nreceived them. Moses, being a\nservant, took them; but the Lord\nhimself has given them unto us,\nthat we might be the people of his\ninheritance; having suffered for\nus.\n\n17 He was therefore made\nmanifest; that they should fill\nup the measure of their sins,\nand that we being made heirs by\nhim, should receive the covenant\nof the Lord Jesus.\n\n18 And again the prophet saith\nBehold, I have set thee for a light\nunto the Gentiles; to be the saviour\nof all the ends of the earth, saith\nthe Lord; the God who hath redeemed\nthee.\n\n19 Who for that very end\nwas prepared, that by his own\nappearing he might redeem our\nhearts, already devoured by\ndeath, and delivered over to\nthe irregularity of error,\nfrom darkness; and establish\na covenant with us by his word.\n\n20 For so it is written that the\nfather commanded him by delivering\nus from darkness, to prepare unto\nhimself a holy people.\n\n21 Wherefore the prophet saith\nI the Lord thy God have called\nthee in righteousness, and I will\ntake thee by thy hand, and will\nstrengthen thee, and give thee\nfor a covenant of the people; for a\nlight to the Gentiles. To open the\neyes of the blind, to bring out the\nprisoners from the prison, and them\nthat sit in darkness out of the\nprison house.\n\n22 Consider, therefore, from\nwhence we have been redeemed.\nAnd again the prophet saith\nThe spirit of the Lord is upon me,\nbecause he hath anointed me: he\nhath sent me to preach glad tidings\nto the lowly; to heal the broken in\nheart; to preach remission to the\ncaptives, and give sight unto the\nblind; to proclaim the acceptable\nyear of the Lord, and the day of\nrestitution; to comfort all that\nmourn.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n That the sabbath of the Jews was but a figure\n of a more glorious sabbath to come, and their\n temple, of the spiritual temples of God.\n\nFURTHERMORE it is written\nconcerning the sabbath, in the\nTen Commandments, which God\nspake in the mount Sinai to Moses,\nface to face: Sanctify the sabbath\nof the Lord with pure hands, and\nwith a clean heart.\n\n2 And elsewhere he saith;\nIf thy children shall keep my\nSabbaths, then will I put my\nmercy upon them.\n\n3 And even in the beginning of\nthe creation he makes mention of\nthe sabbath. And God made in\nsix days the works of his hands,\nand he finished them on the seventh\nday; and he rested the seventh\nday, and sanctified it.\n\n4 Consider, my children, what\nthat signifies, he finished them\nin six days. The meaning of it is\nthis: that in six thousand years\nthe Lord God will bring all things\nto an end.\n\n5 For with him one day is\na thousand years; as himself\ntestifieth, saying, Behold this\nday shall be as a thousand years.\nTherefore, children, in six days,\nthat is, in six thousand years,\nshall a all things be accomplished.\n\n6 And what is that he saith,\nAnd he rested the seventh day\nhe meaneth this: that when\nhis Son shall come, and abolish\nthe season of the Wicked One,\nand judge the ungodly; and shall\nchange the sun and the moon, and\nthe stars; then he shall gloriously\nrest on that seventh day,\n\n7 He adds, lastly: Thou shalt\nsanctify it with clean hands and\na pure heart. Wherefore we are\ngreatly deceived if we imagine\nthat anyone can now sanctify that\nday which God has made holy,\nwithout having a heart pure in\nall things.\n\n8 Behold, therefore, he will then\ntruly sanctify it with blessed rest,\nwhen we (having received the\nrighteous promise, when iniquity\nshall be no more, all things being\nrenewed by the Lord) shall be able\nto sanctify it, being ourselves first\nmade holy;\n\n9 Lastly, he saith unto them\nYour new moons and your Sabbaths\nI cannot bear them. Consider\nwhat he means by it; the\nSabbaths, says he, which ye now\nkeep are not acceptable unto me,\nbut those which I have made;\nwhen resting from all things I\nshall begin the eight day, that is,\nthe beginning of the other world.\n\n10 For which cause we observe\nthe eight day with gladness, in\nwhich Jesus rose from the dead;\nand having manifested himself to\nhis disciples, ascended into heaven.\n\n11 It remains yet that I\nspeak to you concerning the temple:\nhow those miserable men being\ndeceived have put their trust\nin the house, and not in God\nhimself who made them, as if\nit were the habitation of God.\n\n12 For much after the same\nmanner as the Gentiles, they\nconsecrated him in the temple.\n\n13 But learn therefore how\nthe Lord speaketh, rendering the\ntemple vain: Who has measured the\nheaven with a span, and the earth\nwith his hand? Is it not I? Thus\nwith the Lord, Heaven is my\nthrone, and the earth is my\nfootstool. What is the house\nthat ye will build me? Or what\nis the place of my rest? Know\ntherefore that all their hope\nis vain.\n\n14 And again he speaketh after\nthis manner: Behold they that\ndestroy this temple, even they\nshall again build it up. And so\nit came to pass; for through their\nwars it is now destroyed by their\nenemies; and the servants of their\nenemies build it up.\n\n15 Furthermore it has been\nmade manifest, how both the city\nand the temple, and the people of\nIsrael should be given up. For\nthe scripture saith; And it shall\ncome to pass in the last days, that\nthe Lord will deliver up the sheep\nof his pasture, and their fold, and\ntheir tower unto destruction. And\nit is come to pass, as the Lord hath\nspoken.\n\n16 Let us inquire therefore,\nwhether there be any temple of\nGod? Yes there is: and there\nwhere himself declares that he\nwould both make and perfect it.\nFor it is written: And it shall\nbe that as soon as the week shall\nbe completed, the temple of the\nLord shall be gloriously built in\nthe name of the Lord.\n\n17 I find therefore that there\nis a temple. But how shall it be\nbuilt in the name of the Lord? I\nwill shew you.\n\n18 Before that we believed in\nGod, the habitation of our heart\nwas corruptible, and feeble, as a\ntemple truly built with hands.\n\n19 For it was a house full\nof idolatry, a house of devils;\ninasmuch as there was done in it\nwhatsoever was contrary unto God.\nBut it shall be built in the name\nof the Lord.\n\n20 Consider, how that the\ntemple of the Lord shall be very\ngloriously built; and by what\nmeans that shall be, learn.\n\n21 Having received remission\nof our sins, and trusting in the\nname of the Lord, we are become\nrenewed, being again created as it\nwere from the beginning. Wherefore\nGod truly dwells in our house,\nthat is, in us.\n\n22 But how does he dwell in us?\nBy the word of his faith, the calling\nof his promise, the wisdom of his\nrighteous judgments and the commands\nof his doctrine. He himself prophesies\nwithin us, he himself dwelleth in us,\nand openeth to us who were in bondage\nof death the gate of our temple,\nthat is, the mouth of wisdom, having\ngiven repentance unto us; and by this\nmeans has brought us to be an\nincorruptible temple.\n\n23 He therefore that desires to\nbe saved looketh not unto the\nman, but unto him that dwelleth\nin him, and speaketh by him;\nbeing struck with wonder,\nforasmuch as he never either\nheard him speaking such words\nout of his mouth, nor ever\ndesired to hear them.\n\n24 This is that spiritual temple\nthat is built unto the Lord.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n Of the way of light; being a summary of what\n a Christian is to do, that he maybe happy for ever.\n\nAND thus I trust, I have\ndeclared to you as much, and\nwith as great simplicity as I\ncould, those, things which provide\nfor your salvation, so as not to\nhave omitted any thing that might\nbe requisite thereunto.\n\n2 For should I speak farther of\nthe things that now are, and of\nthose that are to come, you would\nnot yet understand them, seeing\nthey lie in parables. This therefore\nshall suffice as to these things.\n\n3 Let us now go on to the other\nkind of knowledge and doctrine.\nThere are two ways of doctrine\nand power; the one of light, the\nother of darkness.\n\n4 But there is a great deal of\ndifference between these two ways\nfor over one are appointed the\nangels of God, the leaders of\nthe way of light; over the other,\nthe angels of Satan. And the one\nis the Lord from everlasting to\neverlasting; the other is the\nprince of the time of\nunrighteousness.\n\n5 Now the way of light is this:\nIf any one desires to attain to the\nplace that is appointed for him,\nand will hasten thither by his\nworks. And the knowledge that\nhas been given to us for walking\nin it, to this effect: Thou shalt\nlove him that made thee: thou\nshalt glorify him that hath\nredeemed thee from death.\n\n6 Thou shalt be simple in heart,\nand rich in the spirit. Thou shalt\nnot cleave to those that walk in\nthe way of death. Thou shalt hate\nto do anything that is not pleasing\nunto God. Thou shalt abhor all\ndissimulation. Thou shalt not\nneglect any of the commands of\nthe Lord.\n\n7 Thou shalt not exalt thyself,\nbut shalt be humble. Then shalt\nnot take honour to thyself. Thou\nshalt not enter into any wicked\ncounsel against thy neighbour.\nThou shalt not be over confident\nin thy heart.\n\n8 Thou shaft not commit\nfornication, nor adultery.\nNeither shalt thou corrupt\nthyself with mankind. Thou\nshalt not make use of the\nword of God, to any impurity,\n\n9 Thou shalt not except any\nman's person, when thou reprovest\nany one's faults. Thou shalt be\ngentle. Thou shalt be quiet.\nThou shalt tremble at the words\nwhich thou hast heard. Thou\nshalt not keep any hatred in thy\nheart against thy brother. Thou\nshalt not entertain any doubt\nwhether it shall be or not.\n\n10 Thou shalt not take the name\nof the Lord in vain. Thou shalt\nlove thy neighbour above thy own\nsoul,\n\n11 Thou shalt not destroy thy\nconceptions, before they are\nbrought forth; nor kill them\nafter they are born.\n\n12 Thou shalt not withdraw thy\nhand from thy son, or from thy\ndaughter; but shall teach them\nfrom their youth the fear of the\nLord.\n\n13 Thou shalt not covet thy\nneighbour's goods; neither shalt\nthou be an extortioner. Neither\nshall thy heart be joined to proud\nmen; but thou shalt be numbered\namong the righteous and the\nlowly. Whatever events shall\nhappen unto thee, thou shalt\nreceive them as good.\n\n14 Thou shalt not be double-\nminded or double-tongued; for a\ndouble tongue is the snare of death.\nThou shalt be subject unto the\nLord and to inferior masters as to\nthe representatives of God, in fear\nand reverence.\n\n15 Thou shalt not be bitter in\nthy commands towards any of thy\nservants that trust in God; lest\nthou chance not to fear him who\nis over both; because he came not\nto call any with respect of persons,\nbut whomsoever the spirit had\nprepared.\n\n16 Thou shalt communicate to\nthy neighbour of all thou hast;\nthou shalt not call anything\nthine own: for if ye partake of\nsuch things as are incorruptible,\nhow much more should you do it\nin those that are corruptible?\n\n17 Thou shalt not be forward to\nspeak; for the mouth is the snare\nof death. Strive for thy soul with\nall thy might. Reach not out\nthine hand to receive, and\nwithhold it not when thou\nshouldest give.\n\n18 Thou shalt love, as the apple\nof thine eye, everyone that speaketh\nunto thee the Word of the Lord.\nCall to thy remembrance, day and\nnight, the future judgment.\n\n19 Thou shalt seek out every\nday, the persons of the righteous;\nand both consider and go about to\nexhort others by the word, and\nmeditate how thou mayest save a\nsoul.\n\n20 Thou shaft also labour with\nthy hands to give to the poor,\nthat thy sins may be forgiven thee,\nThou shalt not deliberate whether\nthou shouldst give; nor having\ngiven, murmur at it.\n\n21 Give to everyone that asks\nso shalt thou know who is the good\nrewarder of thy gifts.\n\n22 Keep what thou hast received;\nthou shalt neither add to it nor\ntake from it.\n\n23 Let the wicked be always\nthy aversion. Thou shalt judge\nwith righteous judgment. Thou\nshalt never cause divisions; but\nshalt make peace between those\nthat are at variance, and bring\nthem together.\n\n24 Thou shalt confess thy sins;\nand not come to thy prayer with\nan evil conscience.\n\n25 This is the way of light.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n Of the way of darkness; that is, what kind of persons\n shall be for ever cast out of the kingdom of God.\n\nBUT the way of darkness is\ncrooked, and full of cursing.\nFor it is the way of eternal death,\nwith punishment; in which they\nthat walk meet those things that\ndestroy their own souls.\n\n2 Such are; idolatry, confidence,\npride of power, hypocrisy, double-\nmindedness, adultery, murder, rapine,\npride, transgression, deceit, malice,\narrogance, witchcraft, covetousness,\nand the want of the fear of God.\n\n3 In this, walk those, who are\nthe persecutors of them that are\ngood; haters of truth; lovers of\nlies; who know not the reward of\nrighteousness, nor cleave to any\nthing that is good.\n\n4 Who administer not righteous\njudgment to the widow and orphan;\nwho watch for wickedness, and not\nfor the fear of the Lord;\n\n5 From whom gentleness and\npatience are far off: who love\nvanity, and follow after rewards;\nhaving no compassion upon the\npoor; nor take any pains for such\nas are heavy laden and oppressed.\n\n6 Ready to evil speaking,\nnot knowing him that made them;\nmurderers of children; corrupters\nof the creature of God; that turn\naway from the needy; oppress the\nafflicted; are the advocates of the\nrich, but unjust judges of the poor;\nbeing altogether sinners.\n\n7 It is therefore fitting\nthat learning the just commands\nof the Lord, which we have before\nmentioned, we should walk in them.\nFor he who does such things shall\nbe glorified in the kingdom of Hod.\n\n8 But he that chooses the other\npart, shall be destroyed, together\nwith his works. For this cause\nthere shall be both a resurrection,\nand a retribution.\n\n9 I beseech those that are in\nhigh estate among you, (if so be\nyou will take the counsel which\nwith a good intention I offer to\nyou,) you have those with you\ntowards whom you may do good;\ndo not forsake them.\n\n10 For the day is at hand in\nwhich all things shall be destroyed,\ntogether with the wicked one.\nThe Lord is near, and his reward\nis with him.\n\n11 I beseech you, therefore,\nagain, and again, Be as good\nlawgiver's to one Another; continue\nfaithful counsellors do each other\nremove from among you all hypocrisy.\n\n12 And may God, the Lord\nof all the world, give you\nwisdom, knowledge, counsel,\nand understanding of his\njudgments in patience:\n\n13 Be ye taught of God;\nseeking what it is the Lord\nrequires of you, and doing it;\nthat ye may be saved in the\nday of judgment.\n\n14 And if there be among you\nany remembrance of what is good,\nthink of me; meditating on these\nthings, that both my desire and\nmy watching for you may turn to\na good account.\n\n15 I beseech you; I ask it as a\nfavour of you; whilst you are in\nthis beautiful tabernacle of the\nbody, be wanting in none of these\nthings; but without ceasing seek\nthem, and fulfil every command,\nFor these things are fitting and\nworthy to be done.\n\n16 Wherefore I have given the\nmore diligence to write unto you\naccording to my ability, that you\nmight rejoice. Farewell, children\nof love and peace.\n\n17 The Lord of glory and of\nall grace, be with your spirit,\nAmen.\n\n\n[The end of the Epistle of Barnabas\nthe Apostle, and fellow-traveller\nof St. Paul the Apostle.]\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF BARNABAS.\n\n[Barnabas was a companion and fellow-preacher with Paul. This Epistle\nlays a greater claim to canonical authority than most others. It has been\ncited by Clemens, Alexandrinus, Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome, and many\nancient Fathers. Cotelerius affirms that Origen and Jerome esteemed it\ngenuine and canonical; but Cotelerius himself did not believe it to be\neither one or the other; on the contrary, he supposes it was written for\nthe benefit of the Ebionites, (the christianized Jews,) who were\ntenacious of rites and ceremonies. Bishop Fell feared to own expressly\nwhat he seemed to be persuaded of, that it ought to be treated with the\nsame respect as several of the books of the present canon. Dr. Bernard,\nSavilian professor at Oxford, not only believed it to be genuine, but\nthat it was read throughout in the churches of Alexandria, as the\ncanonical Scriptures were. Dodwell supposed it to have been published\nbefore the Epistle of Jude, and the writings of both the Johns. Vossius,\nDupuis, Dr. Cane, Dr. Mill, Dr, S. Clark, Whitson, and Archbishop Wake\nalso esteemed it genuine: Menardus, Archbishop Land, Spanheim, and others\ndeemed it apocryphal.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE EPISTLE OF\n IGNATIUS TO THE EPHESIANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 1 Ignatius commends the brethren for sending\n Onesimus and other members of the church to him.\n 8 Exhorts them to unity;\n 13 by a due subjection to their bishop;\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the church which\nis at Ephesus in Asia; most\ndeservedly happy: being blessed\nthrough the greatness and fullness\nof God the Father, and predestinated\nbefore the world began; that it\nshould be always unto an enduring\nand unchangeable glory; united and\nchosen through his true passion,\naccording to the will of the Father,\nand Jesus Christ our God; all\nhappiness, by Jesus Christ,\nand his undefiled grace.\n\n2 I have heard of your name\nmuch beloved in God; which ye\nhave very justly attained by a\nhabit of righteousness, according\nto the faith and love which is in\nJesus Christ our Saviour.\n\n3 How that being followers of\nGod, and stirring up yourselves\nby the blood of Christ ye have\nperfectly accomplished the work\nthat was con-natural unto you.\n\n4 For hearing that I came bound\nfrom Syria, for the common name\nand hope, trusting through your\nprayers to fight with beasts at\nhome; so that by suffering I may\nbecome indeed the disciple of him\nwho gave himself to God, an offering\nand sacrifice for us; ye hastened\nto see me. I received, therefore,\nin the name of God, your whole\nmultitude in Onesimus;\n\n5 Who by: inexpressible love is\nours, but according to the flesh\nis our bishop; whom I beseech you,\npray Jesus Christ, to love: and that\nyou would all strive to be like unto\nhim. And blessed be God, who\nhas granted unto you, who are so\nworthy of him, to enjoy such an\nexcellent bishop.\n\n6 For what concerns my fellow\nservant Burrhus, and your most\nblessed deacon in things pertaining\nto God; I entreat you that he may\ntarry longer, both for yours, and\nyour bishop's honour.\n\n7 And Crocus also worthy of\nboth our God and you, whom I\nhave received as the pattern\nof your love, has in all things\nrefreshed me, as the Father of\nour Lord Jesus Christ shall also\nrefresh him; together with Onesimus,\nand Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto,\nin whom I have, as to your charity,\nseen all of you, And may always,\nhave joy of you, if I shall be\nworthy of it.\n\n8 It is therefore fitting that you\nshould by all means glorify Jesus\nChrist, who hath glorified you\nthat by a uniform obedience ye\nmay be perfectly joined together\nin the same mind, and in the same\njudgment; and may all speak the\nsame things concerning everything:\n\n9 And that being, subject to\nyour bishop, and the presbytery,\nye may be wholly and thoroughly\nsanctified.\n\n10 These things I prescribe to\nyou, not as if I were somebody\nextraordinary: for though I am\nbound for his name, I am not yet\nperfect in Christ Jesus. But now\nI begin to learn, and I speak to\nyou as fellow disciples together\nwith me.\n\n11 For I ought to have been\nstirred up by you, in faith: in\nadmonition; in patience; in long-\nsuffering; but forasmuch as\ncharity suffers me not to be\nsilent towards you, I have first\ntaken upon me to exhort you, that\nye would all run together,\naccording to the will of God.\n\n12 For even Jesus Christ, our\ninseparable life, is sent by the\nwill of the Father; as the bishops,\nappointed unto the utmost bounds of\nthe earth, are by the will of Jesus\nChrist.\n\n13 Wherefore it will become you\nto run together according to the\nwill of your bishop, as also ye do,\n\n14 For your famous presbytery,\nworthy of God, is fitted as exactly\nto the bishop, as the strings are\nto the harp.\n\n15 Therefore in your concord\nand agreeing charity, Jesus Christ\nis sung; and every single person\namong you makes up the chorus:\n\n16 That so being all consonant\nin love, and taking up the song\nof God, ye may in a perfect unity\nwith one voice, sing to the Father\nby Jesus Christ; to the end that\nhe may both hear you, and perceive\nby your works, that ye are indeed\nthe members of his son.\n\n17 Wherefore it is profitable for\nyou to live in an unblameable\nunity, that so ye may always have\na fellowship with God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 1 The benefit of subjection.\n 4 The bishop not to be respected the less\n because he is not forward in exacting it:\n 8 warns brethren against heretics; bidding\n them cleave to Jesus, whose divine and human\n mature is declared: commends them for their care\n to keep themselves from false teachers:\n and shews them the way to God.\n\nFOR if I in this little time have\nhad such a familiarity with\nyour bishop, I mean not a carnal,\nbut spiritual acquaintance with\nhim; how much more must I think\nyou happy who are so joined to him,\nas the church is to Jesus Christ,\nand Jesus Christ to the Father;\nso that all things may agree in\nthe same unity.\n\n2 Let no man deceive himself;\nif a man be not within the altar,\nhe is deprived of the bread of God.\nFor if the prayer of one or two\nbe of such force, as we are told;\nhow much more powerful shall\nthat of the bishop and the whole\nchurch be?\n\n3 He therefore that does not\ncome together in the same place\nwith it, is proud, and has already\ncondemned himself; for it is written,\nGod resisteth the proud. Let us take\nheed therefore, that we do not set\nourselves against the bishop,\nthat we may be subject to God.\n\n4 The more any one sees his\nbishop silent, the more let him\nrevere him. For whomsoever the\nmaster of the house sends to be\nover his own household, we ought\nin like manner to receive him, as\nwe do him that sent him. It is\ntherefore evident that we ought\nto look upon the bishop, even as\nwe do upon the Lord himself.\n\n5 And indeed Onesimus himself\ndoes greatly commend your good\norder in God: that you all live\naccording to the truth, and that\nno heresy dwells among you. For\nneither do ye hearken to anyone\nmore than to Jesus Christ\nspeaking to you in truth.\n\n6 For some there are who\ncarry about the name of Christ\nin deceitfulness, but do things\nunworthy of God; whom ye must\nflee, as ye would do so many\nwild beasts. For they are raving\ndogs, who bite secretly; against\nwhom ye must guard yourselves,\nas men hardly to be cured.\n\n7 There is one Physician, both\nfleshy and spiritual; made and\nnot made; God incarnate; true\nlife in death; both of Mary and\nof God: first passible, then\nimpassible; even Jesus Christ our\nLord.\n\n8 Wherefore let no man deceive\nyou; as indeed neither are ye\ndeceived, being wholly the\nservants of God. For inasmuch as\nthere is no contention nor strife\namong you, to trouble you, ye\nmust needs live according to God's\nwill. My soul be for yours;\nand I myself, the expiatory\noffering for your church of Ephesus;\nso famous throughout the world.\n\n9 They that are of the flesh\ncannot do the works of the spirit;\nneither they that are of the spirit\nthe works of the flesh; as he\nthat has faith cannot be an infidel;\nnor he that is an infidel have\nfaith. But even those things\nwhich ye do according to the flesh\nare spiritual; forasmuch as ye do\nall things in Jesus Christ.\n\n10 Nevertheless I have heard\nof some who have passed by you,\nhaving perverse doctrine; whom\nye did not suffer to sow among\nyou; but stopped your ears, that\nye might not receive those things\nthat were sown by them: because\nbeing the stones of the temple of\nthe Father, prepared for his\nbuilding; and drawn up on high\nby the Cross of Christ,\nas by an engine;\n\n11. Using the Holy Ghost as the\nrope: your faith being your support;\nand your charity the way that leads\nunto God.\n\n12 Ye are therefore, with all\nyour companions in the same\njourney full of God; his spiritual\ntemples, full of Christ, and of\nholiness: adorned in all things\nwith the commands of Christ.\n\n13 In whom also I rejoice that\nI have been thought worthy by\nthis present epistle to converse,\nand joy together with you; that\nwith respect to the other life, ye\nlove nothing but God only.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 Exhorts them to prayer; to be unblamable.\n 5 To be careful of salvation;\n 11 frequent in public devotion;\n 13 and to live in charity.\n\nPRAY also without ceasing for\nother men; for there is hope\nof repentance in them, that they\nmay attain unto God. Let them\ntherefore at least be instructed by\nyour works, if they will be no\nother way.\n\n2 Be ye mild at their anger;\nhumble at their boasting; to their\nblasphemies return your prayers\nto their error, your firmness in\nthe faith; when they are cruel,\nbe ye gentle; not endeavouring\nto imitate their ways.\n\n(3 Let us be their brethren in\nall kindness and moderation, but\nlet us be followers of the Lord;\nfor who was ever more unjustly\nused? More destitute? More\ndespised?).\n\n4 That so no herb of the devil\nmay be found in you: but ye may\nremain in all holiness and sobriety\nboth of body and spirit, in Christ\nJesus.\n\n5 The last times are come upon\nus: let us therefore be very\nreverent, and fear the long-\nsuffering of God, that it be\nnot to us unto condemnation.\n\n6 For let us either fear the\nwrath that is to come, or let us\nlove the grace that we at present\nenjoy; that by the one or other of\nthese, we may be found in Christ\nJesus, unto true life.\n\n7 Besides him, let nothing be\nworthy of you; for whom also I\nbear about these bonds; those\nspiritual jewels, in which I would\nto God that I might arise through\nyour prayers.\n\n8 Of which I entreat you to\nmake me always partaker, that I\nmay be found in the lot of the\nChristians of Ephesus, who have\nalways agreed with the Apostles,\nthrough the power of Jesus Christ.\n\n9 I know both who I am, and\nto whom I write: I, a person\ncondemned; ye, such as have\nobtained mercy; I, exposed\nto danger; ye confirmed\nagainst danger.\n\n10 Ye are the passage of\nthose that are killed for God;\nthe companions of Paul in the\nmysteries of the Gospel; the\nholy, the martyr, the deservedly\nmost happy Paul: at whose feet\nmay I be found, when I shall have\nattained unto God; who throughout\nall his epistles, makes mention\nof you in Christ Jesus.\n\n11 Let it be your care therefore\nto come more fully together, to\nthe praise and glory of God;\nfor when ye meet fully together\nin the same place, the powers of\nthe devil are destroyed, and his\nmischief is dissolved by the unity\nof your faith.\n\n12 And indeed, nothing is better\nthan peace, by which all war both\nspiritual and earthly is abolished.\n\n13 Of all which, nothing is hid\nfrom you, if ye have perfect faith\nand charity in Christ Jesus, which\nare the beginning and end of life.\n\n14 For the beginning is faith;\nthe end is charity. And these two\njoined together, are of God; but\nall other things which concern a\nholy life, are the consequences of\nthese.\n\n15 No man professing a true\nfaith, sinneth; neither does he\nwho has charity hate any.\n\n16 The tree is made manifest\nby its fruit; so they who profess\nthemselves to be Christians are\nknown by what they do.\n\n17 For Christianity is not the\nwork of an outward profession;\nbut shows itself in the power of\nfaith, if a man be found faithful\nunto the end.\n\n18 It is better for a man to hold\nhis peace, and be; than to say, he\nis a Christian, and not to be.\n\n19 It is good to teach; if what\nhe says he does likewise.\n\n20 There is therefore one master\nwho spake, and it was done; and\neven those things which he did\nwithout speaking, are worthy\nof the Father.\n\n21 He that possesses the word\nof Jesus, is truly able to bear his\nvery silence. That he may be perfect,\nhe will do according to what he\nspeaks, and be known by those\nthings of which he is silent.\n\n22 There is nothing hid from\nGod, but even our secrets are nigh\nunto him.\n\n23 Let us therefore do all\nthings, as becomes those who\nhave God dwelling in them;\nthat we maybe his temples;\nand he may be our God as also\nhe is, and will manifest himself\nbefore our faces, by those things\nfor which we justly love him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 To have a care for the Gospel.\n 9 The virginity of Mary, the incarnation,\n and the death of Christ, were hid from the Devil.\n 11 How the birth of Christ was revealed.\n 16 Exhorts to unity.\n\nBE not deceived, my brethren:\nthose that corrupt families\nby adultery, shall not inherit\nthe kingdom of God.\n\n2 If therefore they who do this\naccording to the flesh, have\nsuffered death; how much more shall\nhe die, who by his wicked doctrine\ncorrupts the faith of God, for which\nChrist was crucified?\n\n3 He that is thus defiled, shall\ndepart into unquenchable fire, and\nso also shall he that hearkens to\nhim.\n\n4 For this cause did the Lord\nsuffer the ointment to be poured\non his head; that he might breathe\nthe breath of immortality unto his\nchurch.\n\n5 Be not ye therefore anointed\nwith the evil savour of the doctrine\nof the prince of this world: let him\nnot take you captive from the life\nthat is set before you.\n\n6 And why are we not all\nwise, seeing we have received\nthe knowledge of God, which is\nJesus Christ? Why do we suffer\nourselves foolishly to perish;\nnot considering the gift which\nthe Lord has truly sent to us?\n\n7 Let my life be sacrificed\nfor the doctrine of the cross;\nwhich is indeed a scandal to the\nunbelievers, but to us is salvation\nand life eternal.\n\n8 Where is the wise man?\nWhere is the disputer? Where\nis the boasting of those who\nare called wise?\n\n9 For our Lord Jesus Christ was\naccording to the dispensation of\nGod, conceived in the womb of\nMary, of the seed of David,\nby the Holy Ghost. He was born\nand baptized, that through his\npassion he might purify water,\nto the washing away of sin.\n\n10 Now the Virginity of Mary,\nand he who was born of her, was\nkept in secret from the prince of\nthis world; as was also the death\nof our Lord: three of the mysteries\nthe most spoken of throughout the\nworld, yet done in secret by God.\n\n11 How then was our Saviour\nmanifested to the world? A star\nshone in heaven beyond all the\nother stars, and its light was\ninexpressible, and its novelty\nstruck terror into men's minds.\nAll the rest of the stars,\ntogether with the sun and moon,\nwere the chorus to this star;\nbut that sent out its light\nexceedingly above them all.\n\n12 And men began to be troubled\nto think whence this new star\ncame so unlike to all the others.\n\n13 Hence all the power of magic\nbecame dissolved; and every bond\nof wickedness was destroyed: men's\nignorance was taken away; and\nthe old kingdom abolished; God\nhimself appearing in the form\nof a man, for the renewal of\neternal life.\n\n14 From thence began what\nGod had prepared: from thence.\nforth things were disturbed;\nforasmuch as he designed to\nabolish death.\n\n15 But if Jesus Christ shall\ngive me grace through your prayers,\nand if it be his will, I purpose\nin a second epistle which I will\nsuddenly write unto you, to manifest\nto you more fully the dispensation\nof which I have now begun to speak,\nabout the new man, which is Jesus\nChrist; both in his faith, and\ncharity; in his suffering, and\nin his resurrection.\n\n16 Especially if the Lord shall\nmake known unto me, that ye all\nby name come together united in\none faith, and in Jesus Christ;\nwho was of the race of David\naccording to the flesh; the Son\nof man, and son of God; obeying\nyour bishop and the presbytery\nwith an entire affection; breaking\none and the same bread, which is\nthe medicine of immortality;\nour antidote that we should not\ndie, but live for ever in Christ\nJesus.\n\n17 My soul be for yours, and\ntheirs whom ye have sent, to the\nglory of God; even unto Smyrna,\nfrom whence also I write to you;\ngiving thanks unto the Lord and\nloving Polycarp even as I do you.\nRemember me, as Jesus Christ does\nremember you.\n\n18 Pray for the church which is\nin Syria from whence I am carried\nbound to Rome; being the least\nof all the faithful which are there,\nas I have been thought worthy to\nbe found, to the glory of God.\n\n19 Fare ye well in God the\nFather, and in Jesus Christ, our\ncommon hope. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n THE EPISTLE OF\n IGNATIUS TO THE MAGNESIANS\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 4 Ignatius mentions the arrival of Damas,\n their bishop, and others,\n 6 whom he exhorts them to reverence\n notwithstanding he was a young man.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the blessed\nchurch, by the grace of God the\nFather, in Jesus Christ our Saviour;\nthrough whom I salute the church\nwhich is at Magnesia, near the\nMaeander: and wish it all joy in\nGod the Father, and in Jesus\nChrist.\n\n2 When I heard of your well-\nordered love and charity in God,\nbeing full of joy, I desired much\nto speak unto you in the faith of\nJesus Christ.\n\n3 For having been thought\nworthy to obtain a most excellent\nname, in the bonds which I carry\nabout, I salute the churches;\nwishing in them a union both of\nthe body and spirit of Jesus Christ,\nour eternal life: as also of faith\nand charity, to which nothing is\npreferred: but especially of Jesus\nand the Father; in whom if we\nundergo all the injuries of the\nprince of this present world, and\nescape, we shall enjoy God,\n\n4 Seeing, then, I have been\njudged worthy to see you, by\nDamas your most excellent bishop;\nand by your worthy presbyters,\nBassus and Apollonius; and by my\nfellow-servant Sotio, the deacon;\n\n5 In whom I rejoice, forasmuch\nas he is subject unto his bishop as\nto the grace of God; and to the\npresbytery as to the law of Jesus\nChrist; I determined to write\nunto you.\n\n6 Wherefore it will become you\nalso not to use your bishop too\nfamiliarly upon the account of his\nyouth; but to yield all reverence\nto him according to the power of\nGod the Father; as also I perceive\nthat your holy presbyters do: not\nconsidering his age, which indeed\nto appearance is young; but as\nbecomes those who are prudent in\nGod, submitting to him, or rather\nnot to him but to the Father of our\nLord Jesus Christ, the bishop of\nus all.\n\n7 It will therefore behove you\nwith all sincerity, to obey your\nbishop; in honour of him whose\npleasure it is that ye should do so.\n\n8 Because he that does not do\nso, deceives not the bishop whom\nhe sees, but affronts him that is\ninvisible. For whatsoever of this\nkind is done, it reflects not upon\nman, but upon God, who knows\nthe secrets of our hearts.\n\n9 It is therefore fitting,\nthat we should not only be called\nchristians, but be so.\n\n10 As some call indeed their\ngovernor, bishop; but yet do all\nthings without him.\n\n11 But I can never think\nthat such as these have a good\nconscience, seeing that they are\nnot gathered together thoroughly\naccording to God's commandment.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n1 That as all must die,\n4 he exhorts them to live orderly and in unity.\n\n\nSEEING then all things have\nan end, there are these two\nindifferently set before us,\ndeath and life: and everyone\nshall depart unto his proper place.\n\n2 For as there are two sorts of\ncoins, the one of God, the other of\nthe world, and each of these has\nits proper inscription engraven\nupon it; so also is it here.\n\n3 The unbelievers are of this\nworld; but the faithful, through\ncharity have the character of God\nthe Father by Jesus Christ:\nby whom if we are not readily\ndisposed to die after the likeness\nof his passion, his life is not in us.\n\n4 Forasmuch, therefore, as I\nhave in the persons before mentioned,\nseen all of you in faith and charity;\nI exhort you that ye study to do all\nthings in a divine concord:\n\n5 Your bishop presiding in the\nplace of God; your presbyters in\nthe place of the council of the\nApostles; and your deacons most\ndear to me, being entrusted with\nthe ministry of Jesus Christ; who\nwas the Father before all ages,\nand appeared in the end to us.\n\n6 Wherefore taking the same\nholy course, see that ye all\nreverence one another, and let no\none look upon his neighbour after\nthe flesh; but do ye all mutually\nlove each other in Jesus Christ.\n\n7 Let there be nothing that may\nbe able to make a division among\nyou; but be ye united to your\nbishop, and those who preside\nover you, to be your pattern and\ndirection in the way to immortality.\n\n8 As therefore the Lord did\nnothing without the Father, being\nunited to him; neither by himself\nnor yet by his Apostles, so neither\ndo ye do anything without your\nbishop and presbyters:\n\n9 Neither endeavour to let\nanything appear rational to\nyourselves apart;\n\n10 But being come together into\nthe same place, have one common\nprayer; one supplication;\none mind; one hope; one in charity,\nand in joy undefiled.\n\n11 There is one Lord Jesus\nChrist, than whom nothing is better.\nWherefore come ye all together, as\nunto one temple of God; as to one\naltar; as to one: Jesus Christ,\nwho proceeded from one Father,\nand exists in one; and is\nreturned to one.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 He cautions them against false opinions.\n 3 Especially those of Ebion and the Judaising Christians.\n\nBE not deceived with strange\ndoctrines; nor with old fables\nwhich are unprofitable. For if\nwe still continue to live according\nto the Jewish law, we do confess\nourselves not to have received grace.\nFor even the most holy prophets\nlived according to Christ Jesus.\n\n2 And for this cause were they\npersecuted, being inspired by his\ngrace to convince the unbelievers\nand disobedient that there is one\nGod who has manifested himself\nby Jesus Christ his Son; who is\nhis eternal word, not coming forth\nfrom silence; who in all things\npleased him that sent him.\n\n3 Wherefore if they who were\nbrought up in these ancient laws,\ncame nevertheless to the newness\nof hope; no longer observing\nsabbaths, but keeping the Lord's\nday in which also our life is\nsprung up by him, and through\nhis death, whom yet some deny:\n\n4 (By which mystery we have\nbeen brought to believe and\ntherefore wait that we maybe\nfound the disciples of Jesus\nChrist, our only master:)\n\n5 How shall we be able to live\ndifferent from him; whose disciples\nthe very prophets themselves\nbeing, did by the spirit expect him\nas their master;\n\n6 And therefore he whom they\njustly waited for, being come,\nraised, them up from the dead.\n\n7 Let us not then be insensible\nof his goodness; for should he\nhave dealt with us according to\nour works, we had not now had a\nbeing.\n\n8 Wherefore being become his\ndisciples, let us learn to live\naccording to the rules of\nChristianity; for whosoever is\ncalled by any other name besides\nthis, he is not of God.\n\n9 Lay aside therefore the old and\nsour, and evil leaven; and be ye\nchanged into the new leaven, which\nis Jesus Christ.\n\n10 Be ye salted in him, lest any\none among you should be corrupted;\nfor by your Savior ye shall\nbe judged.\n\n11 It is absurd to name Jesus\nChrist, and to Judaize. For the\nchristian religion did not embrace\nthe Jewish, but the Jewish the\nchristian; that so every tongue\nthat believed might be gathered\ntogether unto God.\n\n12 These things, my beloved, I\nwrite unto you; not that I know\nof any among you that lie under\nthis error: but as one of the least\namong you, I am desirous to forewarn\nyou, that ye fall not into the\nsnares of false doctrine.\n\n13 But that ye be fully instructed\nin the birth, and suffering, and\nresurrection of Jesus Christ,\nour hope; which was accomplished\nin the time of the government of\nPontius Pilate, and that most truly\nand certainly: and from which God\nforbid that any among you should\nbe turned aside.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 1 Commends their faith and piety; exhorts them\n to persevere;\n 10 desires their prayers for himself and the\n church at Antioch.\n\nMAY I therefore have joy of\nyou in all things, if I shall\nbe worthy of it. For though I am\nbound, yet am I not worthy to be\ncompared to one of you that are at\nliberty.\n\n2 I know that ye are not puffed\nup; for ye have Jesus Christ in\nyour hearts.\n\n3 And especially when I commend\nyou, I know that ye are ashamed,\nas it is written, The just man\ncondemneth himself.\n\n4 Study therefore to be confirmed\nin the doctrine of our Lord, and\nof his Apostles; that so whatever\nye do, ye may prosper both in body\nand spirit, in faith and charity,\nin the Son, and in the Father,\nand in the Holy Spirit; in the\nbeginning, and in the end:\n\n5 Together with your most worthy\nbishop, and the well-wrought\nspiritual crown of your presbytery,\nand your deacons, which are\naccording to God.\n\n6 Be subject to your bishop, and\nto one another, as Jesus Christ\nwas to the Father, according to the\nflesh; and the Apostles, both to\nChrist, and to the Father; and to\nthe Holy Ghost: that so ye may\nbe united both in body and spirit.\n\n7 Knowing you to be full of\nGod, I have the more briefly\nexhorted you.\n\n8 Be mindful of me in your\nprayers, that I may attain unto\nGod, and of the church that is in\nSyria, from which I am not worthy\nto be called.\n\n9 For I stand in need of your\njoint prayers in God, and of your\ncharity, that the church which is\nin Syria may be thought worthy\nto be nourished by your church.\n\n10 The Ephesians from Smyrna\nsalute you, from which place I\nwrite unto you; (being present\nhere to the glory of God, in like\nmanner as you are,) who have in\nall things refreshed me, together\nwith Polycarp, the bishop of the\nSmyrneans.\n\n11 The rest of the churches in\nthe honour of Jesus Christ salute\nyou.\n\n12 Farewell, and be ye strengthened\nin the concord of God; enjoying\nhis inseparable spirit, which\nis Christ Jesus.\n\n\n\n\n THE EPISTLE OF\n IGNATIUS TO THE TRALLIANS.\n\nCHAPTER 1.\n\n 1 Acknowledges the coming of their bishop.\n 5 Commends them for their subjection to their bishop,\n priests, and deacons; and exhorts them to continue in it:\n 15 is afraid even of his over-great desire to suffer,\n lest it should be prejudicial to him.\n\nIGNATTUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the holy church\nwhich is at Tralles in Asia:\nbeloved of God, the Father of Jesus\nChrist; elect and worthy of God,\nhaving peace through the flesh and\nblood, and passion of Jesus Christ\nour hope; in the resurrection which\nis by him: which also I salute in\nits fullness, continuing in the\napostolical character, wishing all\njoy and happiness unto it.\n\n2 I have heard of your blameless\nand constant disposition through\npatience, which not only appears\nin your outward conversation, but\nis naturally rooted and grounded\nin you.\n\n3 In like manner as Polybius\nyour bishop has declared unto me,\nwho came to me to Smyrna, by the\nwill of God and Jesus Christ, and\nso rejoiced together with me in my\nbonds for Jesus Christ, that in\neffect I saw your whole church in\nhim.\n\n4 Having therefore received\ntestimony of your good will towards\nme for God's sake, by him; I seemed\nto find you, as also I knew that ye\nwere the followers of God.\n\n5 For whereas ye are subject to\nyour bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye\nappear to one to live not after the\nmanner of men, but according to\nJesus Christ who died for us,\nthat so believing in his death,\nye might escape death.\n\n6 It is therefore necessary, that\nas ye do, so without your bishop\nyou should do nothing: also be\nye subject to your presbyters, as\nto the Apostles of Jesus Christ our\nhope; in whom if we walk, we\nshall be found in him.\n\n7 The deacons also, as being\nthe ministers of the mysteries of\nJesus Christ, must by all means\nplease ye. For they are not the\nministers of meat and drink,\nbut of the church of God. Wherefore\nthey must avoid all offences,\nas they would do fire.\n\n8 In like manner let us reverence\nthe deacons as Jesus Christ;\nand the bishop as the Father; and\nthe presbyters as the Sanctuary of\nGod, and college of the Apostles.\n\n9 Without these there is no\nchurch; concerning all which, I\nam persuaded that ye think after\nthe very same manner; for I have\nreceived, and even now have with\nme, the pattern of your love, in\nyour bishop.\n\n10 Whose very look is instructive;\nand whose mildness powerful: whom\nI am persuaded, the very Atheists\nthemselves cannot but reverence.\n\n11 But because I have a love\ntowards you, I will not write any\nmore sharply unto you about this\nmatter, though I very well might\nbut now I have done so, lest being\na condemned man, I should seem\nto prescribe to you as an Apostle.\n\n12 I have great knowledge in\nGod; but I refrain myself, lest\nI should perish in my boasting.\n\n13 For now I ought the more\nto fear, and not to hearken to\nthose that would puff me up.\n\n14 For they that speak to me,\nin my praise, chasten me.\n\n15 For I indeed desire to suffer,\nbut I cannot tell whether I am\nworthy so to do.\n\n16 And this desire, though to\nothers it does not appear, yet to\nmyself it is for that very reason\nthe more violent. I have, therefore,\nneed of moderation; by which the\nprince of this world is destroyed.\n\n17 Am I not able to write to\nyou of heavenly things?--But I\nfear lest I should harm you, who\nare yet but babes in Christ;\n(excuse me this care;) and lest\nperchance being not able to\nreceive them, ye should be\nchoken with them.\n\n18 For even I myself, although\nI am in bonds, yet am not therefore\nable to understand heavenly things;\n\n19 As the assembly of angels,\nand the several companies of them,\nunder their respective princes;\nthings visible and invisible: but\nin these I am yet a learner.\n\n20 For many things are wanting to\nus, that we come not short of God.\n\n\n\nCHAP. II.\n\n 1 Warns them against heretics,\n 4 exhorts them to humility and unity,\n 10 and briefly sets before them the true\n doctrine concerning Christ.\n\nEXHORT you therefore, or\nrather not I, but the love of\nJesus Christ; that ye use none but\nchristian nourishment; abstaining\nfrom pasture which is of another\nkind, I mean heresy.\n\n2 For they that are heretics,\nconfound together the doctrine of\nJesus Christ, with their own poison:\nwhilst they seem worthy of belief:\n\n3 As men give a deadly potion\nmixed with sweet wine; which he\nwho drinks of, does with the\ntreacherous pleasure sweetly\ndrink in his own death.\n\n4 Wherefore guard yourself\nagainst such persons; and that\nyou will do, if you are not puffed\nup; but continue inseparable from\nJesus Christ our God, and from\nyour bishop, and from the\ncommands of the Apostles.\n\n5 He that is within the altar,\nis pure; but he that is without,\nnamely, does anything without the\nbishop, the presbyters, and deacons,\nis not pure in his conscience.\n\n6 Not that I know there is any\nthing of this nature among you;\nbut I fore-arm you, as being\ngreatly beloved by me, foreseeing\nthe snares of the devil.\n\n7 Wherefore putting on meekness,\nrenew yourselves in faith,\nwhich is the flesh of the Lord;\nand in charity, which is the blood\nof Jesus Christ.\n\n8 Let no man have any grudge\nagainst his neighbour. Give no\noccasion to the Gentiles; lest by\nmeans of a few foolish men, the\nwhole congregation of God be\nevil spoken of.\n\n9 For woe to that man through\nwhose vanity my name is\nblasphemed by any.\n\n10 Stop your ears therefore,\nas often as any one shall speak\ncontrary to Jesus Christ, who was\nof the race of David; by the Virgin\nMary.\n\n11 Who was truly born, and\ndid eat and drink; was truly\npersecuted under Pontius Pilate;\nwas truly crucified and dead; both\nthose in heaven and on earth, and\nunder the earth, being spectators\nof it:\n\n12 Who, was also truly raised\nfrom the dead by his Father, after\nthe same manner as HE will also\nraise up us who believe in him by\nChrist Jesus; without whom we\nhave no true life.\n\n13 But if, as some who are\nAtheists, that is to say infidels,\npretend, that he seemed to suffer,\n(they themselves only seeming to\nexist) why then am I bound?--\nWhy do I desire to fight with\nbeasts?--Therefore do I die in\nvain: therefore I will not speak\nfalsely against the Lord.\n\n14 Flee therefore these evil\nsprouts which bring forth deadly\nfruit; of which if any one taste,\nhe shall presently die.\n\n15 For these are not the plants\nof the Father; seeing if they were,\nthey would appear to be the\nbranches of the cross, and their\nfruit would be incorruptible; by\nwhich he invites you through his\npassion, who are members of him.\n\n16 For the head cannot be without\nits members, God having promised\na union with himself.\n\n\n\nCHAP. III.\n\n He again exhorts to unity, and desires their\n prayers for himself, and for his church at Antioch.\n\nI SALUTE you from Smyrna,\ntogether with the churches of\nGod that are present with me;\nwho have refreshed me in all\nthings, both in the flesh and\nin the spirit.\n\n2 My bonds, which I carry about\nme for the sake of Christ,\n(beseeching him that I may\nattain unto God) exhort you that\nyou continue in concord among\nyourselves, and in prayer with\none another.\n\n3 For it becomes everyone of\nyou, especially the presbyters, to\nrefresh the bishop, to the honour\nof the Father of Jesus Christ, and\nof the Apostles.\n\n4 I beseech you, that you hearken\nto me in love; that I may not by\nthose things which I write, rise up\nin witness against you.\n\n5 Pray also for me; who,\nthrough the mercy of God, stand\nin need of your prayers, that I\nmay be worthy of the portion which\nI am about to obtain, and that I\nbe not found a reprobate.\n\n6 The love of those who are at\nSmyrna and Ephesus salute you.\nRemember in your prayers the\nchurch of Syria, from which I am\nnot worthy to be called, being one\nof the least of it.\n\n7 Fare ye well in Jesus Christ;\nbeing subject to your bishop as to\nthe command of God; and so like.\nwise to the presbytery.\n\n8 Love every one his brother\nwith an unfeigned heart. My soul\nbe your expiation, not only now,\nbut when I shall have attained\nunto God; for I am yet under\ndanger.\n\n9 But the Father is faithful in\nJesus Christ, to fulfil both mine\nand your petition; in whom may\nye be found unblameable.\n\n\n\n\n\n THE EPISTLE OF\n IGNATIUS TO THE ROMANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n Ignatius testifies his desire to see, and his\n hopes of suffering for Christ\n 5 which he earnestly entreats them not to prevent,\n 10 but to pray for him, that God would strengthen\n him to the combat.\n\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the church\nwhich has obtained mercy from\nthe majesty of the Most High\nFather, and his only begotten\nSon Jesus Christ; beloved, and\nilluminated through the will of him\nwho willeth all things which are\naccording to the love of Jesus\nChrist our God; which also presides\nin the place of the region\nof the Romans; and which I salute\nin the name of Jesus Christ, as\nbeing united both in flesh and\nspirit to all his commands, and\nfiled with the grace of God; with\nall joy in Jesus Christ our God.\n\n2 Forasmuch as I have at last\nobtained through my prayers to\nGod, permission to see your faces,\nwhich I much desired to do; being\nbound in Jesus Christ, I hope ere\nlong to salute you, if it shall be\nthe will of God to grant me to\nattain unto the end I long for.\n\n3 For the beginning is well\ndisposed, if I shall but have grace,\nwithout hindrance, to receive what\nis appointed for me.\n\n4 But I fear your love, lest it\ndo me an injury; for it is easy for\nyou to do what you please; but it\nwill be hard for me to attain unto\nGod, if you spare me.\n\n5 But I would not that ye\nshould please men, but God; whom\nalso ye do, please. For neither\nshall I hereafter have such an\nopportunity of going unto God; nor\nwill you, if ye shall now be silent,\never be entitled to a better work.\nFor if you, shall be silent in my\nbehalf, I shall be made partaker of\nGod.\n\n6 But if you shall love my body,\nI shall have my course again to\nrun. Wherefore ye cannot do me\na greater kindness, than to suffer\nme to be sacrificed unto God, now\nthat the altar is already prepared:\n\n7 That when ye shall be gathered\ntogether in love, ye nay give\nthanks to the Father through\nChrist Jesus, that he has\nvouchsafed to bring a bishop\nof Syria unto you, being called\nfrom the east unto the west.\n\n8 For it is good for me to turn\nfrom the world, unto God; that I\nmay rise again unto him.\n\n9 Ye have never envied any one;\nye have taught others. I would\ntherefore that ye should now do\nthose things yourselves, which\nin your instructions you have\nprescribed to others.\n\n10 Only pray for me, that God\nwould give me both inward and\noutward strength, that I may not\nonly say, but will; nor be only\ncalled a christian, but be found\none.\n\n11 For if I shall be found a\nchristian, I may then deservedly\nbe called one; and be thought\nfaithful, when I shall no longer\nappear to the world.\n\n12 Nothing is good, that is\nseen.\n\n13 For even our God, Jesus\nChrist, now that he is in the\nFather, does so much the more\nappear.\n\n14 A christian is not a work of\nopinion; but of greatness of mind,\nespecially when he is hated by the\nworld.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER. II.\n\n Expresses his great desire and determination\n to suffer martyrdom.\n\nI WRITE to the churches, and\nsignify to them all, that I am\nwilling to die for God, unless you\nhinder me.\n\n2 I beseech you that you show\nnot an unseasonable good will\ntowards me. Suffer me to be food\nto the wild beasts, by whom I shall\nattain unto God.\n\n3 For I am the wheat of God,\nand I shall be ground by the teeth\nof the wild-beasts, that I may be\nfound the pure bread of Christ.\nRather encourage the beasts,\nthat they may became my sepulchre,\nand may let live nothing of my\nbody; that being dead I may not\nbe troublesome to any.\n\n5 Then shall I be truly the\ndisciple of Jesus Christ, when the\nworld shall not see so much as my\nbody. Pray therefore unto Christ\nfor me, that by these instruments\nI may be made the sacrifice of\nGod.\n\n6 I do not, as Peter and Paul,\ncommand you. They were Apostles,\nI a condemned man; they were free,\nbut I am even to this day a servant:\n\n7 But if I shall suffer, I shall\nthen become the freeman of Jesus\nChrist, and shall rise free. And\nnow, being in bonds, I learn not\nto desire any thing.\n\n8 From Syria even unto Rome,\nI fight with beasts both by sea and\nland; both night and day: being\nbound to ten leopards, that is to\nsay, to such a band of soldiers,\nwho, though treated with all manner\nof kindness, are the worse for\nit.\n\n9 But I am the more instructed\nby their injuries; yet am I not\ntherefore justified.\n\n10 May I enjoy the wild beasts\nthat are prepared for me; which\nalso I wish may exercise all their\nfierceness upon me.\n\n11 And whom for that end I will\nencourage, that they may be sure\nto devour me, and not serve me as\nthey have done some, whom out of\nfear they have not touched. But\nif they will not do it willingly,\nI will provoke them to it.\n\n12 Pardon me in this matter; I\nknow what is profitable for me,\nnow I begin to be a disciple.\nNot shall any thing move me\nwhether visible or invisible,\nthat I may attain to Jesus Christ.\n\n13 Let fire and the cross; let\nthe companies of wild beasts;\nlet breakings of bones, and tearing\nof members; let the shattering in\npieces of the whole body, and all\nthe wicked torments of the devil\ncome upon me; only let me enjoy\nJesus Christ.\n\n14 All the ends of the world,\nand the kingdoms of it, will profit\nme nothing: I would rather die\nfor Jesus Christ, than rule to the\nutmost ends of the earth. Him\nI seek who died for us; him I\ndesire who rose again for us.\nThis is the gain that is laid up\nfor me.\n\n15 Pardon me, my brethren, ye\nshall not hinder me from living;\nnor seeing I desire to go to God,\nmay you separate me from him,\nfor the sake of this world;--nor\ninduce me by any of the desires of\nit. Suffer me to enter into pure\nlight, where being come, I shall\nbe indeed the servant of God.\n\n16 Permit me to imitate the\npassion of my God. If any one has\nGod within himself, let him consider\nwhat I desire; and let him have\ncompassion on me, as knowing how\nI am straightened.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n Further expresses his desire to suffer.\n\nTHE prince of this world would\nfain carry me away, and corrupt\nmy resolution towards my God.\nLet none of you therefore help\nhim; rather do ye join with me,\nthat is, with God.\n\n2 Do not speak with Jesus\nChrist, and yet covet the world.\nLet not any envy dwell with you;\nno, not though I myself, when I\nshall be come unto you, should\nexhort you to it, yet do not ye\nhearken to me; but rather believe\nwhat I now write to you.\n\n3 For though I am alive at the\nwriting of this, yet my desire is\nto die. My love is crucified; and\nthe fire that is within me does\nnot desire any water; but being\nalive and springing within me,\nsays, Come to the Father.\n\n4 I take no pleasure in the food\nof corruption, nor in the pleasures\nof this life.\n\n5 I desire the bread of God\nwhich is the flesh of Jesus Christ,\nof the seed of David; and the\ndrink that I long for is his blood,\nwhich is incorruptible love.\n\n6 I have no desire to live any\nlonger after the manner of men;\nneither shall I, if you consent.\nBe ye therefore willing, that ye\nyourselves also maybe pleasing to\nGod. I exhort you in a few words;\nI pray you believe me.\n\n7 Jesus Christ will shew you\nthat I speak truly. My mouth is\nwithout deceit, and the Father\nhath truly spoken by it. Pray\ntherefore for me, that I may\naccomplish what I desire.\n\n8 I have not written to you after\nthe flesh, but according to the will\nof God. If I shall suffer, ye have\nloved me: but if I shall be rejected,\nye have hated me.\n\n9 Remember in your prayers\nthe church of Syria, which now\nenjoys God for its shepherd instead\nof me. Let Jesus Christ only oversee\nit, and your charity.\n\n10 But I am even ashamed to\nbe reckoned as one of them; for\nneither am I worthy, being the\nleast among them, and as one\nborn out of due season. But\nthrough mercy I have risen to\nbe somebody, if I shall get unto\nGod.\n\n11 My spirit salutes you; and\nthe charity of the churches that\nhave received me in the name of\nJesus Christ; not as a passenger,\nfor even they that were not near\nto me in the way, have gone before\nme to the next city to meet me.\n\n12 These things I write to you\nfrom Smyrna, by the most worthy\nof the church of Ephesus.\n\n13 There is now with me, together\nwith many others, Crocus, most\nbeloved of me. As for those which\nare come from Syria, and are gone\nbefore me to Rome, to the glory\nof God, I suppose you are not\nignorant of them.\n\n14 Ye shall therefore signify to\nthem that I draw near, for they,\nare all worthy both of God and of\nyou: Whom it is fit that you\nrefresh in all things.\n\n15 This have I written to you,\nthe day before the ninth of the,\ncalends of September. Be strong\nunto the end, in the patience of\nJesus Christ.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n Commends their bishop, whom they had sent unto him,\n warns them against division and schism.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the church of\nGod the Father, and our Lord\nJesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia\nin Asia; which has obtained mercy,\nbeing fixed in the concord of God,\nand rejoicing evermore in the passion\nof our Lord, and being fulfilled in\nall mercy through his resurrection:\nWhich also I salute in the blood of\nJesus Christ, which is our eternal\nand undefiled joy; especially if\nthey are at unity with the bishop,\nand presbyters who are with him,\nand the deacons appointed according\nto the mind of Jesus Christ; whom\nhe has settled according to his own\nwill in all firmness by his Holy\nSpirit:\n\n2 Which bishop I know obtained\nthat great ministry among you,\nnot of himself, neither by men,\nnor out of vain glory; but by the\nlove of God the Father, and our\nLord Jesus Christ.\n\n3 Whose moderation I admire;\nwho by his silence is able to do\nmore than others with all their\nvain talk. For he is fitted to the\ncommands, as the harp to its strings.\n\n4 Wherefore my soul esteems\nhis mind towards God most happy,\nknowing it to be fruitful in all\nvirtue, and perfect; full of\nconstancy, free from passion,\nand according to all the\nmoderation of the living God.\n\n5 Wherefore as becomes the\nchildren both of the light and of\ntruth; flee divisions and false\ndoctrines; but where your shepherd\nis, there do ye, as sheep, follow\nafter.\n\n6 For there are many wolves\nwho seem worthy of belief, that\nwith a false pleasure lead captive\nthose that run in the course of\nGod; but in the concord they shall\nfind no place.\n\n7 Abstain therefore from those\nevil herbs which Jesus Christ does\nnot dress: because such are not\nthe plantation of the Father. Not\nthat I have found any division\namong you, but rather all manner\nof purity.\n\n8 For as many as are of God,\nand of Jesus Christ, are also with\ntheir bishop. And as many as\nshall with repentance return into\nthe unity of the church, even these\nshall also be the servants of God,\nthat they may live according to\nJesus Christ.\n\n9 Be not deceived brethren;\nif any one follows him that makes\na schism in the church, he shall\nnot inherit the kingdom of God.\nIf any one walks after any other\nopinion, he agrees not with the\npassion of Christ.\n\n10 Wherefore let it be your\nendeavour to partake all of the\nsame holy eucharist.\n\n11 For there is but one flesh of\nour Lord Jesus Christ; one cup\nin the unity of his blood; and one\naltar;\n\n12 As also there is one bishop,\ntogether with his presbytery, and\nthe deacons my fellow servants\nthat so whatsoever ye do, ye may\ndo it according to the will of God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nDesires their prayers, and to be\nunited, but not to Judaize.\n\nMY brethren, the love I have\ntowards you makes me the\nmore large; and having a great\njoy in you, I endeavour to secure\nyou against danger; or rather not\nI, but Jesus Christ; in whom\nbeing bound, I the more fear,\nas being yet only on the way\nto suffering.\n\n2 But your prayer to God shall\nmake me perfect, that I may attain\nto that portion, which by God's\nmercy is allotted to me Fleeing\nto the Gospel as to the flesh of\nChrist; and to the Apostles as\nto the presbytery of the church.\n\n3 Let us also love the prophets,\nforasmuch as they have led us\nto the Gospel, and to hope in\nChrist, and to expect him.\n\n4 In whom also believing they\nwere saved in the unity of Jesus\nChrist; being holy men, worthy\nto be loved, and had in wonder;\n\n5 Who have received testimony\nfrom Jesus Christ, and are\nnumbered in the Gospel of our\ncommon hope.\n\n6 But if any one shall preach\nthe Jewish law unto you, hearken\nnot unto him; for it is better to\nreceive the doctrine of Christ from\none that has been circumcised, than\nJudaism from one that has not.\n\n7 But if either the one, or other,\ndo not speak concerning Christ\nJesus; they seem to me to be but\nas monuments and sepulchres of\nthe dead, upon which are written\nonly the names of men.\n\n8 Flee therefore the wicked arts\nand snares of the prince of this\nworld; lest at any time being\noppressed by his cunning, ye grow\ncold in your charity. But come\naltogether into the same place,\nwith an undivided heart.\n\n9 And I bless my God that I\nhave a good conscience towards\nyou, and that no one among you\nhas whereof to boast either openly\nor privately, that I have been\nburthensome to him in much or\nlittle.\n\n10 And I wish to all, among\nwhom I have conversed, that\nmay not turn to a witness again\nthem.\n\n11 For although some would\nhave deceived me according to\nthe flesh, yet the spirit, being\nfrom God, is not deceived: for it\nknows, both whence it comes and\nwhither it goes, and reproves the\nsecrets of the heart.\n\n12 I cried whilst I was among\nyou; I spake with a loud voice:\nattend to the bishop, and to the\npresbytery, and to the deacons.\n\n13 Now some supposed that I spake\nthis as foreseeing the division\nthat should come among you.\n\n14 But he is my witness for\nwhose sake I am in bonds that\nI know nothing from any man.\nBut the spirit spake, saying\non this wise: Do nothing without\nthe bishop:\n\n15 Keep your bodies as the\ntemples of God: Love unity;\nFlee divisions; Be the followers\nof Christ, as he was of his Father.\n\n16 I therefore did as became\nme, as a man composed to unity\nfor where there is division,\nand wrath, God dwelleth not.\n\n17 But the Lord forgives all\nthat repent, if they return to the\nunity of God, and to the council\nof the bishop.\n\n18 For I trust in the grace\nJesus Christ that he will free\nyou from every bond.\n\n19 Nevertheless I exhort you\nthat you do nothing out of strife\nbut according to the instruction\nof Christ.\n\n20 Because I have heard\nsome who say; unless I find\nwritten in the originals, I will\nnot believe it to be written in\nthe Gospel. And when I said,\nIt is written; they answered\nfrom what lay before them in the\ncorrupted copies.\n\n21 But to me Jesus Christ\ninstead of all the uncorrupted\nmonuments in the world; together\nwith those undefiled monuments,\nhis cross, and death, and\nresurrection, and the faith\nwhich is by him; by which I\ndesire, through your prayers,\nto be justified.\n\n22 The priests indeed are\ngood; but much better is the High\nPriest to whom the Holy of Holies\nhas been committed; and who\nalone has been intrusted with the\nsecrets of God.\n\n23 He is the door of the Father;\nby which Abraham, and Isaac,\nand Jacob, and all the prophets,\nenter in; as well as the Apostles,\nand the church.\n\n24 And all these things tend to\nthe unity which is of God. Howbeit\nthe Gospel has somewhat in it far\nabove all other dispensations;\nnamely, the appearance of our\nSaviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,\nhis passion and resurrection.\n\n25 For the beloved prophets\nreferred to him; but the Gospel\nis the perfection of incorruption.\nAll therefore together are good,\nif ye believe with charity.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n Informs them he had heard that the persecution\n was stopped at Antioch: and directs them to send\n a messenger thither to congratulate with the church.\n\nNOW as concerning the church\nof Antioch which is in Syria,\nseeing I am told that through\nyour prayers and the bowels which\nye have towards it in Jesus Christ,\nit is in peace; it will become you,\nas the church of God, to ordain\nsome I deacon to go to them thither\nas the ambassador of God; that\nhe may rejoice with them when\nthey meet together, and glorify\nGod's name.\n\n2 Blessed be that man in Jesus,\nChrist, who shall be found worthy\nof such a ministry; and ye yourselves\nalso shall be glorified.\n\n3 Now if you be willing, it is\nnot impossible for you to do this\nfor the grace of God; as also the\nother neighbouring churches have\nsent them some bishops, some\npriests and some deacons.\n\n4 As concerning Philo the deacon\nof Cilicia, a most worthy man,\nhe still ministers unto me in the\nword of God: together with Rheus\nof Agathopolis a singular good\nperson, who has followed me even\nfrom Syria, not regarding his life:\nThese also bear witness unto you.\n\n5 And I myself give thanks to\nGod for you, that you receive them\nas the Lord shall receive you.\nBut for those that dishonoured\nthem, may they be forgiven\nthrough the grace of Jesus Christ.\n\n6 The charity of the brethren\nthat are at Troas salutes you:\nfrom whence also I now write\nby Burrhurs, who was sent together\nwith me by those of Ephesus and\nSmyrna, for respect sake.\n\n7 May our Lord Jesus Christ\nhonour them; in whom they hope,\nboth in flesh, and soul, and spirit;\nin faith, in love, in unity.\nFare-well in Christ Jesus our\ncommon hope.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n IGNATIUS TO THE SMYRNEANS.\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n 1 Declares his joy for their firmness in the Gospel.\n 4 Enlarges on the person of Christ, against such\n as pretend that Christ did not suffer.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheohorus, to the church of\nGod the Father, and of the beloved\nJesus Christ, which God hath\nmercifully blessed with every\ngood gift; being filled with faith\nand charity, so that it is wanting\nin no gift; most worthy of God,\nand fruitful in saints; the church\nwhich is at Smyrna in Asia; all\nthrough his immaculate spirit,\nthrough word of God.\n\n2 I glorify God, even Jesus\nChrist, who has given you such\nwisdom.\n\n3 For I have observed that you\nare settled in an immoveable faith,\nas if you were nailed to the cross\nof our Lord Jesus Christ, both in\nthe flesh and in the spirit; and\nare confirmed in love through the\nblood of Christ; being fully\npersuaded of those things which\nrelate unto our Lord.\n\n4 Who truly was of the race\nof David according to the flesh,\nbut the Son of God according to\nthe will and power of God;\ntruly born of the Virgin, and\nbaptised of John; that so all\nrighteousness might be fulfilled\nby him.\n\n5 He was also truly crucified\nby Pontius Pilate, and Herod the\nTetrarch, being nailed for us in\nthe flesh; by the fruits of which\nwe are, even by his most blessed\nPassion;\n\n6 That he might set up a token\nfor all ages through his resurrection,\nto all his holy and faithful servants,\nwhether they be Jews or Gentiles,\nin one body of his church.\n\n7 Now all these things he suffered\nfor us that we might be saved; and\nhe suffered truly, as he also truly\nraised up himself; and not, as some\nunbelievers say, that he only seemed\nto suffer; they themselves 'only\nseeming to be.'\n\n8 And as they believe so shall it\nhappen unto them, when being divested\nof the body they shall become mere\nspirits.\n\n9 But I know that even after his\nresurrection he was in the flesh;\nand I believe that he is still so.\n\n10 And when he came to those\nwho were with Peter, he said\nunto them, Take, handle me, and\nsee that I am not an incorporeal\ndaemon. And straightway they\nfelt and believed; being convinced\nboth by his flesh and spirit.\n\n11 For this cause they despised\ndeath, and were bound to be above\nit.\n\n12 But after his resurrection he\ndid eat and drink with them, as he\nwas flesh; although as to his\nSpirit he was united to the Father.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 1 Exhorts them against heretics.\n 8 The danger of their doctrine.\n\nNOW these things, beloved, I put\nyou in mind of, not questioning\nbut that you yourselves also\nbelieve that they are so.\n\n2 But I arm you before-hand\nagainst certain beasts in the shape\nof men, whom you must not only\nnot receive, but if it be possible\nmust not meet with.\n\n3 Only you must pray for them,\nthat if it be the will of God they\nmay repent; which yet will be\nvery hard. But of this our Lord\nJesus Christ has the power, who\nis our true life.\n\n4 For if all these things were\ndone only in show by our Lord,\nthen do I also seem only to be\nbound:\n\n5 And why have I given up myself\nto death, to the fire, to the\nsword, to wild beasts?\n\n6 But now the nearer I am to\nthe sword, the nearer I am to\nGod: when I shall come among\nthe wild beasts, I shall come to\nGod.\n\n7 Only in the name of Jesus\nChrist, I undergo all, to suffer\ntogether with him; he who was\nmade a perfect man strengthening,\nme.\n\n8 Whom some not knowing, do\ndeny; or rather have been denied\nby him, being the advocates of\ndeath, rather than of the truth.\nWhom neither the prophecies, nor\nthe law of Moses have persuaded;\nnor the Gospel itself, even to this\nday; nor the sufferings of every\none of us.\n\n9 For they think also the same\nthings of us. For what does a\nman profit me, if he shall praise\nme, and blaspheme my Lord; not\nconfessing that he was truly made\nman?\n\n10 Now he that doth not say\nthis, does in effect deny him,\nand is in death. But for the names\nof such as do this, they being\nunbelievers, I thought it not\nfitting to write them unto you.\n\n11 Yea, God forbid that I should\nmake any mention of them, till\nthey shall repent to a true belief\nof Christ's passion, which is our\nresurrection.\n\n12 Let no man deceive himself;\nboth the things which are in heaven,\nand the glorious angels, and princes,\nwhether visible or invisible, if they\nbelieve not in the blood of Christ,\nit shall be to them, unto condemnation.\n\n13 He that is able to receive\nthis, let him receive it. Let no\nman's place or state in the world\npuff him up: that which is worth\nall his faith and charity, to it\nnothing is to be preferred.\n\n14 But consider those who are\nof a different opinion from us,\nas to what concerns the grace of\nJesus Christ which is come unto us,\nhow contrary they are to the\ndesign of God.\n\n15 They have no regard to charity,\nno care of the widow, the fatherless,\nand the oppressed; of the bond or\nfree, of the hungry or thirsty.\n\n16 They abstain from the eucharist,\nand from the public offices;\nbecause they confess not the eucharist\nto be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus\nChrist which suffered for our sins,\nand which the Father of his goodness\nraised again from the dead.\n\n17 And for this cause contradicting\nthe gift of God, they die in their\ndisputes; but much better would it\nbe for them to receive it, that they\nmight one day rise through it.\n\n18 It will therefore become you.\nto abstain from such persons, and\nnot to speak with them, neither in\npublic nor in private.\n\n19 But to hearken to the prophets,\nand especially to the Gospel, in\nwhich both Christ's passion is\nmanifested unto us, and his\nresurrection perfectly declared.\n\n20 But flee all divisions, as the\nbeginning of evils.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 Exhorts them to follow their bishop and pastors;\n but especially their bishop.\n 6 Thanks them for their kindness,\n 11 and acquaints them with the ceasing of the\n persecution at Antioch.\n\nSEE that ye all follow your\nbishop, as Jesus Christ, the\nFather; and the presbytery, as\nthe Apostles; and reverence the\ndeacons, as the command of God.\n\n2 Let no man do any thing\nof what belongs to the church\nseparately from the bishop.\n\n3 Let that eucharist be looked\nupon as well established, which is\neither offered by the bishop, or by\nhim to whom the bishop has given.\nhis consent.\n\n4 Wheresoever the bishop shall\nappear, there let the people also\nbe: as where Jesus Christ is, there\nis the Catholic church.\n\n5 It is not lawful without the\nbishop; neither to baptize, nor to\ncelebrate the Holy Communion\nbut whatsoever he shall approve\nof, that is also pleasing unto God;\nthat so whatever is done, may be\nsure and well done.\n\n6 For what remains, it is very\nreasonable that we should repent\nwhilst there is yet time to return\nunto God.\n\n7 It is a good thin to have a\ndue regard both to God, and to\nthe bishop: he that honours the\nbishop, shall be honoured of God;\nbut he that does any thing without\nhis knowledge, ministers unto the\ndevil.\n\n8 Let all things therefore abound\nto you in charity; seeing that ye\nare worthy.\n\n9 Ye have refreshed me in all\nthings; so shall Jesus Christ you.\nYe have loved me both when I was\npresent with you, and now being\nabsent, ye cease not to do so.\n\n10 May God be your reward,\nfor whom whilst ye undergo all\nthings, ye shall attain unto\nhim.\n\n11 Ye have done well in that ye\nhave received Philo, and Rheus\nAgathopus, who followed me for\nthe word of God, as the deacons\nof Christ our God.\n\n12 Who also gave thanks unto\nthe Lord for you, forasmuch as ye\nhave refreshed them in all things.\nNor shall any thing that you have\ndone be lost to you.\n\n13 My soul be for yours, and\nmy bonds which ye have not despised,\nnor been ashamed of. Wherefore\nneither shall. Jesus Christ,\nour perfect faith, be ashamed\nof you.\n\n14 Your prayer is come to the\nchurch of Antioch, which is in\nSyria. From whence being sent\nbound with chains becoming God.\nI salute the churches; being not\nworthy to be called from thence,\nas being the least among them.\n\n15 Nevertheless by the will of\nGod I have been thought worthy\nof this honour; not for that I\nthink I have deserved it, but by\nthe grace of God;\n\n16 Which I wish may be perfectly\ngiven unto me, that through your\nprayers I may attain unto God.\n\n17 And therefore, that your\nwork may be fully accomplished,\nboth upon earth and in heaven;\nit will be fitting, and for the\nhonour of God, that your church\nappoint some worthy delegate,\nwho being come as far as Syria,\nmay rejoice together with them\nthat they are in peace; and that\nthey are again restored to their\nformer state, and have again\nreceived their proper body.\n\n18 Wherefore I should think it\na worthy action, to send some\none from you with an epistle,\nto congratulate with them their\npeace in God; and that through\nyour prayers, they have now\ngotten to their harbour.\n\n19 For inasmuch as ye are perfect\nyourselves, you ought to think\nthose things that are perfect. For\nwhen you are desirous to do well,\nGod is ready to enable you there.\nunto.\n\n20 The love of the brethren that\nare at Troas salute you; from whence\nI write to you by Burrhus whom ye\nsent with me, together with the\nEphesians, your brethren; and who\nhas in all Things refreshed me.\n\n21 And I would to God that all\nwould imitate him, as being a pattern\nof the ministry of God. May his grace\nfully reward him.\n\n22 I salute your very worthy\nbishop, and your venerable presbytery;\nand your deacons, my fellow-servants;\nand all of you in general, and every\none in particular, in the name of\nJesus Christ, and in his flesh and\nblood; in his passion and resurrection\nboth fleshly and spiritually; and in\nthe unity of God with you.\n\n23 Grace be with you, and mercy,\nand peace, and patience, for evermore.\n\n24 I salute the families of my\nbrethren, with their wives and\nchildren; and the virgins that are\ncalled widows. Be strong in the\npower of the Holy Ghost. Philo,\nwho is present with me salutes\nyou.\n\n25 I salute the house of Tavias,\nand pray that it may be strengthened\nin faith and charity, both of flesh\nand spirit.\n\n26 I salute Alce my well-beloved,\ntogether with the incomparable\nDaphnus, and Eutechnus, and all\nby name.\n\n27 Farewell in the grace of God.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n IGNATIUS TO POLYCARP\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nIgnatius blesses God for the firm,\nestablishment of Polycarp in the\nfaith, and gives him particular\ndirections for improving it.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to Polycarp, bishop\nof the church which is at Smyrna;\ntheir overseer, but rather himself\noverlooked by God the Father,\nand the Lord Jesus Christ;\nall happiness.\n\n2 Having known that thy mind\ntowards God, is fixed as it were\nupon an immoveable rock;\nI exceedingly give thanks, that\nI have been thought worthy to\nbehold thy blessed face, in\nwhich may I always rejoice in God.\n\n3 Wherefore I beseech thee by\nthe grace of God with which thou\nart clothed, to press forward in\nthy course, and to exhort all\nothers that they may be saved.\n\n4 Maintain thy place with all\ncare both of flesh and spirit: Make\nit thy endeavour to preserve unity,\nthan which nothing is better.\nBear with all men even as the\nLord with thee.\n\n5 Support all in love, as also\nthou dost. Pray without ceasing\nask more understanding than what\nthou already hast. Be watchful,\nhaving thy spirit always awake.\n\n6 Speak to every one according\nas God shall enable thee. Bear\nthe infirmities of all, as a\nperfect combatant; where the\nlabour is great, the gain is\nthe more.\n\n7 If thou shalt love the good\ndisciples, what thank is it? But\nrather do thou subject to thee\nthose that are mischievous, in\nmeekness.\n\n8 Every wound is not healed\nwith the same plaister: if the\naccessions of the disease be\nvehement, modify them with soft\nremedies: be in all things wise\nas a serpent, but harmless as a\ndove.\n\n9 For this cause thou art\ncomposed of flesh and spirit;\nthat thou mayest modify those\nthings that appear before thy face.\n\n10 And as for those that are not\nseen, pray to God that he would\nreveal them into thee, that so\nthou mayest be wanting in nothing,\nbut mayest abound in every gift.\n\n11 The times demand thee, as\nthe pilots the winds; and he that\nis tossed in a tempest, the haven\nwhere he would be.\n\n12 That thou mayest attain unto\nGod, be sober as the combatant\nof God. The crown proposed to\nthee is immortality, and eternal\nlife: concerning which thou art\nalso fully persuaded. I will be\nthy surety in all things, by my\nbonds, which thou halt loved.\n\n13 Let not those that seem\nworthy of credit, but teach other\ndoctrines, disturb thee. Stand\nfirm and immoveable, as an anvil\nwhen it is beaten upon.\n\n14 It is the part of a brave\ncombatant to be wounded, and yet\novercome. But especially we ought\nto endure all things for God's\nsake, that he may bear with us.\n\n15 Be every day better than\nothers; consider the times, and\nexpect him, who is above all time,\neternal; invisible, though for our\nsakes made visible: impalpable,\nand impassible, yet for us\nsubjected to sufferings; enduring\nall manner of ways for our salvation.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 1 Continues his advice,\n 6 and teaches him how to advise others.\n 12 Enforces unity and subjection to the bishop.\n\nLET not the widows be neglected:\nbe thou after God, their Guardian.\n\n2 Let nothing be done without thy\nknowledge and consent; neither do\nthou anything but according to the\nwill of God; as also thou dost,\nwith all constancy.\n\n3 Let your assemblies be more\nfull: inquire into all by name.\n\n4 Overlook not the men and\nmaid servants; neither let them\nbe puffed up: but rather let them\nbe the more subject to the glory\nof God, that they may obtain from\nhim a better liberty.\n\n5 Let them not desire to be\nset free at the public cost, that\nthey be not slaves to their own\nlusts.\n\n6 Flee evil arts; or rather make\nnot any mention of them.\n\n7 Say to my sisters, that they\nlove the Lord; and be satisfied\nwith their own husbands, both in\nthe flesh and spirit.\n\n8 In like manner, exhort my\nbrethren in the name of Jesus\nChrist, that they love their wives,\neven as the Lord the church.\n\n9 If any man can remain in a\nvirgin state, to the honour of the\nflesh of Christ, let him remain\nwithout boasting; but if he boast,\nhe is undone. And if he desire to\nbe more taken notice of than the\nbishop he is corrupted.\n\n10 But it becomes all such as\nare married, whether men or women,\nto come together with the consent\nof the bishop, that so their\nmarriage may be according to\ngodliness, and not in lust.\n\n11 Let all things be done to the\nhonour of God.\n\n12 Hearken unto the bishop,\nthat God also may hearken unto\nyou. My soul be security for\nthem that submit to their bishop,\nwith their presbyters and deacons.\nAnd may my portion be together\nwith theirs in God.\n\n13 Labour with one another;\ncontend together, run together,\nsuffer together; sleep together,\nand rise together; as the stewards,\nand assessors, and ministers of\nGod.\n\n14 Please him under whom ye\nwar; and from whom ye receive\nyour wages. Let none of you be\nfound a deserter; but let your\nbaptism remain, as your arms;\nyour faith, as your helmet; your\ncharity, as your spear; your\npatience, as your whole armour.\n\n15 Let your works be your\ncharge, that so you may receive\na suitable reward. Be long\nsuffering therefore towards each\nother in meekness; as God is\ntowards you.\n\n16 Let me have joy of you in\nall things.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 Greets Polycarp on the peace of the church at Antioch:\n 2 and desires him to write to that and other churches.\n\nNOW forasmuch as the church\nof Antioch in Lyria is, as\nI am told, in peace through your\nprayers; I also have been the more\ncomforted, and without care in\nGod; if so be that by suffering, I\nshall attain unto God; and through\nyour prayers I may be found a\ndisciple of Christ.\n\n2 It will be very fit, O most\nworthy Polycarp, to call a select\ncouncil, and choose some one\nwhom ye particularly love, and\nwho is patient of labour: that he\nmay be the messenger of God;\nand that going unto Syria, he may\nglorify your incessant love, to the\npraise of Christ.\n\n3 A Christian has not the power\nof himself; but must be always\nat leisure for God's service.\nNow this work is both God's and\nour's; when ye shall have\nperfected it.\n\n4 For I trust through the grace\nof God that ye are ready to every\ngood work that is fitting for you\nin the Lord.\n\n5 Knowing therefore your\nearnest affection for the truth,\nI have exhorted you by these short\nletters.\n\n6 But forasmuch as I have not\nbeen able to write to all the\nchurches, because I must suddenly\nsail from Troas to Neapolis;\n(for so is the command of those\nto whose pleasure I am subject;)\ndo you write to the churches that\nare near you, as being instructed\nin the will of God, that they also\nmay do in like manner.\n\n7 Let those that are able send\nmessengers; and let the rest send\ntheir letters by those who shall be\nsent by you: that you may be\nglorified to all eternity,\nof which you are worthy.\n\n8 I salute all by name; particularly\nthe wife of Epitropus with all her\nhouse and children. I salute Attalus\nmy well-beloved.\n\n9 I salute him who shall be\nthought worthy to be sent by you\ninto Syria. Let grace be ever\nwith him, and with Polycarp who\nsends him.\n\n10 I wish you all happiness in\nour God, Jesus Christ; in whom\ncontinue, in the unity and\nprotection of God.\n\n11 I salute Alce my well-\nbeloved. Farewell in the Lord.\n\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO THE SEVEN EPISTLES OF IGNATIUS.\n\n[The Epistles of Ignatius are translated by Archbishop Wake from the text\nof Vossius. He says that there were considerable difference in the\neditions; the best for a long time extant containing fabrications, and\nthe genuine being altered and corrupted. Archbishop Usher printed old\nLatin translations of them at Oxford, in 1644. At Amsterdam, two years\nafterwards, Vossius printed six of them in their ancient and pure Greek;\nand the seventh, greatly amended from the ancient Latin version, was\nPrinted at Paris, by Ruinart, in 1689, in the Acts and Martyrdom of\nIgnatius, from a Greek uninterpolated copy. These are supposed to form\nthe collection that Polycarp made of the Epistles of Ignatius, mentioned\nby Irenaes, Origen, Eusebius, Jerome, Athanasius, Theodoret, and other\nancients: but many learned men have imagined all of them to be\napocryphal. This supposition, the piety of Archbishop Wake, and his\npersuasion of their utility to the faith of the church, will not permit\nhim to entertain: hence he has taken great pains to render the present\ntranslation acceptable, by adding numerous readings and references to the\nCanonical Books.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE EPISTLE OF\n POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS.\n\n [The genuineness of this Epistle is controverted, but implicitly\n believed by Archbishop Wake, whose translation is below. There is\n also a translation by Dr. Cave attached to his life of Polycarp.]\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n Polycarp commends the Philippians for their respect to\n those who suffered for the Gospel; and for their own faith.\n\nPOLYCARP, and the presbyters\nthat are with him, to the\nchurch of God which is at Philippi;\nmercy unto you, and peace from\nGod Almighty, and the Lord Jesus\nChrist our Saviour, be multiplied.\n\n2 I rejoiced greatly with you\nin our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye\nreceived the images of a true love,\nand accompanied, as it behoved you,\nthose who were in bonds, becoming\nsaints; which are the crowns of\nsuch as are truly chosen by God\nand our Lord:\n\n3 As also that the root of the\nfaith which was preached from\nancient times, remains firm in you\nto this day; and brings forth fruit\nto our Lord Jesus Christ, who\nsuffered himself to be brought\neven to the death for our sins:\n\n4 Whom God hath raised up, having\nloosed the pains of death. Whom\nhaving not seen, ye love; in whom\nthough now ye see him not, yet\nbelieving, ye rejoice with joy\nunspeakable and full of glory.\n\n5 Into which many desire to\nenter; I knowing that by grace ye\nare saved; not by works, but by\nthe will of God through Jesus\nChrist.\n\n6 Wherefore girding up the\nloins of your minds; I serve\nthe Lord with fear, and in truth;\nlaying aside all empty and vain\nspeech, and the errors of many;\nbelieving in him that raised up\nour Lord Jesus Christ from the\ndead, and hath given him glory\nand a throne at his right hand.\n\n7 To whom all things are made\nsubject, both that are in heaven,\nand that are in earth; whom every\nliving creature shall worship;\nwho shall come to be the judge of\nthe quick and dead: whose blood\nGod shall require of them that\nbelieve not in him.\n\n8 But he that raised up Christ\nfrom the dead, shall also raise up\nus in like manner, if we do his\nwill, and walk according to his\ncommandments; and love those\nthings which he loved:\n\n9 Abstaining from all\nunrighteousness; inordinate affection,\nand love of money; from evil.\nspeaking; false witness; not\nrendering evil for evil, or\nrailing for railing, or striking\nfor striking, or cursing\nfor cursing:\n\n10 But remembering what the\nLord has taught us saying, Judge\nnot, and ye shall not be judged;\nforgive and ye shall be forgiven;\nbe ye merciful, and ye shall obtain\nmercy; for with the same measure\nthat ye meet withal, it shall be\nmeasured to you again.\n\n11 And again; Blessed are the\npoor, and they that are persecuted\nfor righteousness sake; for theirs\nis the kingdom of God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 2 Exhorts to Faith, Hope, and Charity.\n 5 Against covetousness, and as to the\n duties of husbands, wives, widows,\n 9 deacons, young men, virgins, and presbyters.\n\nTHESE things, my brethren,\nI took not the liberty of myself\nto write unto you concerning\nrighteousness, but you yourselves\nbefore encouraged me to it.\n\n2 For neither can i, nor any\nother such as I am, come up to\nthe wisdom of the blessed and\nrenowned Paul; who being himself\nin person with those who then\nlived, did with all exactness and\nsoundness teach the word of truth;\nand being gone from you wrote an\nepistle to you.\n\n3 Into which if you look, you\nwill be able to edify yourselves in\nthe faith that has been delivered\nunto you, which is the mother of\nus all; being followed with hope,\nand led on by a general love, both\ntowards God and towards Christ,\nand towards our neighbour.\n\n4 For if any man has these\nthings, he has fulfilled the law\nof righteousness: for he that has\ncharity is far from all sin.\n\n5 But the love of money is the\nroot of all evil. Knowing therefore\nthat as we brought nothing into this\nworld, so neither may we carry any\nthing out; let us arm ourselves\nwith the armour of righteousness.\n\n6 And teach ourselves first to\nwalk according to the commandments\nof the Lord; and then your wives\nto walk likewise according to the\nfaith that is given to them; in\ncharity, and in purity; loving\ntheir own husbands, with all\nsincerity, and all others alike,\nwith all temperance; and to bring up\ntheir children in the instruction\nand fear of the Lord.\n\n7 The widows likewise teach\nthat they be sober as to what\nconcerns the faith of the Lord:\npraying always for all men; being far\nfrom all detraction, evil speaking,\nfalse witness; from covetousness,\nand from all evil.\n\n8 Knowing that they are the\naltars of God, who sees all blemishes,\nand from whom nothing is hid; who\nsearches out the very reasonings,\nand thoughts, and secrets of our\nhearts.\n\n9 Knowing therefore that God\nis not mocked, we ought to walk\nworthy both of his command and\nof his glory.\n\n10 Also the deacons must be\nblameless before him, as the\nministers of God in Christ, and\nnot of men. Not false mousers, not\ndouble tongued, not lovers of money;\nbut moderate in all things;\ncompassionate, careful; walking\naccording to the truth of the Lord,\nwho was the servant of all.\n\n11 Whom if we please in this\npresent world, we shall also be\nmade partakers of that which is\nto come, according as he has\npromised to us, that he will raise\nus from the dead; and that if we\nshall walk worthy of him, we shall\nalso reign together with him, if\nwe believe.\n\n12 In like manner the younger\nmen must be unblameable in all\nthings; above all, taking care of\ntheir purity, and to restrain\nthemselves from all evil. For it is\ngood to be cut off from the lusts that\nare in the world; because every\nsuch lust warreth against the\nspirit: and neither fornicators,\nnor effeminate, nor abusers of\nthemselves with mankind, shall\ninherit the kingdom of God; nor\nthey who do such things as are\nfoolish and unreasonable.\n\n13 Wherefore ye must needs\nabstain from all these things,\nbeing subject to the priests and\ndeacons, as unto God and Christ.\n\n14 The virgins admonish to\nwalk in a spotless and pure\nconscience.\n\n15 And let the elders be\ncompassionate and merciful towards\nall; turning them from their errors;\nseeking out those that are weak;\nnot forgetting the widows, the\nfatherless, and the poor; but\nalways providing what is good\nboth in the sight of God and man.\n\n16 Abstaining from all wrath,\nrespect of persons, and unrighteous\njudgment; and especially being\nfree from all covetousness.\n\n17 Not easy to believe anything\nagainst any; not severe in judgment;\nknowing that we are all debtors\nin point of sin.\n\n18 If therefore we pray to the\nLord that he would forgive us, we\nought also to forgive others; for\nwe are all in the sight of our Lord\nand God; a and must all stand before\nthe judgment-seat of Christ;\nand shall every one give an\naccount of himself.\n\n19 Let us therefore serve him in\nfear, and with all reverence as\nboth himself hath commanded;\nand as the Apostles who have\npreached the Gospel unto us, and\nthe prophets who have foretold\nthe coming of our Lord have\ntaught us:\n\n20 Being zealous of what is\ngood; abstaining from all offence,\nand from false brethren; and\nfrom those who bear the name of\nChrist in hypocrisy; who deceive\nvain men.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 As to faith in our Saviour Christ;\n his nature and sufferings, the resurrection and judgment.\n 3 Exhorts to prayer\n 5 and steadfastness in the faith, from the examples of Christ,\n 7 and Apostles and saints, and exhorts to carefulness\n in all well-doing.\n\nFOR whosoever does not confess\nthat Jesus Christ is come in\nthe flesh, he is Antichrist: and\nwhoever does not confess his\nsuffering upon the cross, is\nfrom the devil.\n\n2 And whosoever perverts the\noracles of the Lord to his own\nlusts, and says that there shall.\nneither be any resurrection, nor\njudgment, he is the first-born of\nSatan.\n\n3 Wherefore leaving the vanity\nof many, and their false doctrines;\nlet us return to the word that was\ndelivered to us from the beginning:\nWatching unto prayer; and\npersevering in fasting;\n\n4 With supplication beseeching\nthe all seeing God not to lead us\ninto temptation; as the Lord hath\nsaid, The spirit is truly willing,\nbut the flesh is weak.\n\n5 Let us therefore without ceasing\nhold steadfastly to him who is our\nhope, and the earnest of our\nrighteousness, even Jesus Christ;\nWho, his own self, bare our sins\nin his own body on the tree: who\ndid no sin, neither was guile found\nin his mouth; but suffered all for\nus that we might live through\nhim.\n\n6 Let us therefore imitate his\npatience; and if we suffer for his\nname, let us glorify him; for this\nexample he has given us by himself,\nand so have we believed.\n\n7 Wherefore I exhort all\nof you that ye obey the word of\nrighteousness, and exercise all\npatience; which ye have seen set\nforth before your eyes, not only\nin the blessed Ignatius, and Zozimus,\nand Rufus; but in others among\nyourselves; and in Paul himself,\nand the rest of the Apostles:\n\n8 Being confident of this, that\nall these have not run in vain, but\nin faith and righteousness; and\nare gone to the place that was due\nto them from the Lord; with\nwhom also they suffered.\n\n9 For they loved not this\npresent world; but him who died,\nand was raised again by God for\nus.\n\n10 Stand therefore in these\nthings, and follow the example of\nthe Lord; being firm and immutable\nin the faith, lovers of the\nbrotherhood, lovers of one\nanother: companions together\nin the truth, being kind and\ngentle towards each other,\ndespising none.\n\n11 When it is in your power to\ndo good defer it not, for charity\ndelivered from death.\n\n12 Be all of you subject one to\nanother, having your conversation\nhonest among the Gentiles; that\nby your good works, both ye\nyourselves may receive praise, and\nthe Lord may not be blasphemed\nthrough you. But woe be to him\nby whom the name of the Lord is\nblasphemed.\n\n13 Therefore teach all men\nsobriety; in which do ye also\nexercise yourselves.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n Valens, a presbyter, having fallen into the sin\n of covetousness, he exhorts them against it.\n\nI am greatly afflicted for Valens,\nwho was once a presbyter among you;\nthat he should so little understand\nthe place that was given to him in\nthe church, Wherefore I admonish you\nthat ye abstain from covetousness;\nand that ye be chaste, and true of\nspeech.\n\n2 Keep yourselves from all evil.\nFor he that in these things cannot\ngovern himself, how shall he be\nable to prescribe them to another?\n\n3 If a man does not keep himself\nfrom covetousness, he shall be\npolluted with idolatry, and be\njudged as if he were a Gentile.\n\n4 But who of you are ignorant\nof the judgment of God? Do we\nnot know that the saints shall\njudge the world, as Paul teaches?\n\n5 But I have neither perceived\nnor heard anything of this kind\nin you, among whom the blessed\nPaul laboured; and who are\nnamed in the beginning of his\nEpistle.\n\n6 For he glories of you in all\nthe churches who then only knew\nGod; for we did not then know\nhim. Wherefore, my brethren, I\nam exceedingly sorry both for him\nand for his wife; to whom God\ngrant a true repentance.\n\n7 And be ye also moderate upon\nthis occasion; and look not upon\nsuch as enemies, but call them\nback as suffering and erring\nmembers, that ye may save your\nwhole body: for by so doing,\nye shall edify your own selves.\n\n8 For I trust that ye are well\nexercised in the Holy Scriptures,\nand that nothing is hid from you\nbut at present it is not granted\nunto me to practise that which is\nwritten, Be angry and sin not;\nand again, Let not the sun go\ndown upon your wrath.\n\n9 Blessed be he that believeth\nand remembereth these things;\nwhich also I trust you do.\n\n10 Now the God and Father of\nour Lord Jesus Christ, and he\nhimself who is our everlasting\nhigh-priest, the Son of God, even\nJesus Christ, build you up in faith\nand in truth, and in all meekness\nand lenity; in patience and long-\nsuffering, in forbearance and\nchastity:\n\n11 And grant unto you a lot and\nportion among his saints, and us\nwith you; and to all that are under\nthe heavens, who shall believe in\nour Lord Jesus Christ, and in his\nFather who raised him from the dead.\n\n12 Pray for all the saints:\npray also for kings, and all that\nare in authority; and for those who\npersecute you, and hate you, and for\nthe enemies of the cross; that your\nfruit may be manifest in all; and\nthat ye may be perfect in Christ.\n\n13 Ye wrote to me, both ye, and\nalso Ignatius, that if any one\nwent from hence into Syria, he\nshould bring your letters with\nhim; which also I will take care\nof, as soon as I shall have a\nconvenient opportunity; either\nby myself, or him whom I shall\nsend upon your account.\n\n14 The Epistle of Ignatius,\nwhich he wrote unto us, together\nwith what others of his have come\nto our hands, we have sent to you,\naccording to your order; which\nare subjoined to this Epistle:\n\n15 By which we may be greatly\nprofited; for they treat of faith\nand patience, and of all things that\npertain to edification in the Lord\nJesus.\n\n16 What you know certainly of\nIgnatius, and those that are\nwith him, signify to us.\n\n17 These things have I written\nunto you by Crescens, whom by\nthis present Epistle I have\nrecommended to you, and do now\nagain commend.\n\n18 For he has had his conversation\nwithout blame among us; and I suppose\nalso with you.\n\n19 Ye will also have regard unto\nhis sister when she shall come\nunto you.\n\n20 Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus\nChrist; and in favour with all\nyours. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE FIRST PART OF THE\n BOOK OF HERMAS CALLED HIS VISION.\n\n\nVISION I.\n\n 1 Against filthy and proud thoughts;\n 20 also the neglect of Hermas in chastising his children.\n\nHE who had bred me up sold a\ncertain young maid at Rome;\nwhom when I saw many years\nafter, I remembered her, and\nbegan to love her as a sister.\nIt happened some time afterwards,\nthat I saw her washing in the river\nTyber; and I reached out my hand\nunto her, and brought her out of\nthe river,\n\n2 And when I saw her I thought\nwith myself, saying, How happy\nshould I be if I had such a wife,\nboth for beauty and manners.\nThis I thought with myself; nor\ndid I think any thing more. But\nnot long after, as I was walking,\nand musing on these thoughts, I\nbegan to honour this creature of\nGod, thinking with myself; how\nnoble and beautiful she was.\n\n3 And when I had walked a little,\nI fell asleep; and the spirit\ncaught me away, and carried me\nthrough a certain place towards\nthe right hand, through which no\nman could pass. It was a place\namong rocks, very steep, and\nunpassable for water.\n\n4 When I was past this place,\nI came into a plain; and there\nfalling down upon my knees, I\nbegan to pray unto the Lord, and\nto confess my sins.\n\n5 And as I was praying, the\nheaven was opened, and I saw the\nwoman which I had coveted,\nsaluting me from heaven, and\nsaying, Hermas, hail! and I looking\nupon her, answered, Lady, what\ndost thou do here? She answered\nme, I am taken up hither to accuse\nthee of sin before the Lord.\n\n6 Lady, said I, wilt thou\nconvince me? No, said she: but\nhear the words which I am about\nto speak unto thee. God who\ndwelleth in heaven, and hath made\nall things out of nothing, and\nhath multiplied them for his holy\nchurch's sake, is angry with thee\nbecause thou hast sinned against\nme.\n\n7 And I answering said unto\nher, Lady, if I have sinned against\nthee, tell me where, or in what\nplace, or when did I ever speak\nan unseemly or dishonest word\nunto thee?\n\n8 Have I not always esteemed\nthee as a lady? Have I not always\nreverenced thee as a sister? Why\nthen dost thou imagine these\nwicked things against me?\n\n9 Then she, smiling upon me,\nsaid: the desire of naughtiness\nhas risen up in thy heart. Does\nit not seem to thee to be an ill\nthing for a righteous man to have\nan evil desire rise up in his heart.\n\n10 It is indeed a sin, and that a\nvery great sin, to such a one; for\na righteous man thinketh that\nwhich is righteous. And whilst\nhe does so, and walketh uprightly,\nhe shall have the Lord in heaven\nfavourable unto him in all his\nbusiness.\n\n11 But as for those who think\nwickedly in their hearts, they take\nto themselves death and captivity;\nand especially those who love this\npresent world, and glory in their\nriches, and regard not the good\nthings that are to come; their\nsouls wander up and down and\nknow not where to fix.\n\n12 Now this is the case of such\nas are double-minded, who trust\nnot in the Lord, and despise and\nneglect their own life.\n\n13 But do thou pray unto the\nLord, and he will heal thy sins,\nand the sins of thy whole house,\nand of all his saints.\n\n14 As soon as she had spoken\nthese words the heaven were shut,\nand I remained utterly swallowed\nup with sadness and fear: and\nsaid within myself, if this be laid\nagainst me for sin, how can I be\nsaved.\n\n15 Or how should I ever be able\nto entreat the Lord for my many\nand great sins? With what words\nshall I beseech him to be merciful\nunto me?\n\n16 As I was thinking over these\nthings, and meditating in myself\nupon them, behold a chair was\nset over against me of the whitest\nwool, as bright as snow.\n\n17 And there came an old woman\nin a bright garment, having\na book in her hand, and sat alone,\nand saluted me, saying, Hermas,\nhail! and I being full of sorrow\nand weeping, answered, Hail Lady!\n\n18 And she said unto me, Why\nart thou sad, Hermas, who wert\nwont to be patient, and modest,\nand always cheerful? I answered,\nand said to her, Lady, a reproach\nhas been laid to my charge by an\nexcellent woman, who tells me\nthat I have sinned against her.\n\n19 She replied, Far be any such\nthing from the servant of God.\nBut it may be the desire of her\nhas risen up in thy heart? For\nindeed such a thought maketh the\nservants of God guilty of sin.\n\n20 Nor ought such a detestable\nthought to be in the servant of\nGod: nor should he who is approved\nby the Spirit desire that which\nis evil; but especially Hermas,\nwho contains himself from all\nwicked lusts, and is full of all\nsimplicity, and of great innocence.\n\n21 Nevertheless the Lord is\nnot so much angry with thee for\nthine own sake, as upon the\naccount of thy house, which has\ncommitted wickedness against the\nLord, and against their parents.\n\n22 And for that out of thy\nfondness towards thy sons, thou\nhast not admonished thy house,\nbut hast permitted them to live\nwickedly; for this cause the Lord\nis angry with thee: but he will heal\nall the evils that are done in thy\nhouse. For through their sins\nand iniquities, thou art wholly\nconsumed in secular affairs.\n\n23 But now the mercy of God\nhath taken compassion upon thee,\nand upon thine house, and hath\ngreatly comforted thee. Only\nas for thee, do not wander, but be\nof an even mind, and comfort thy\nhouse.\n\n24 As the workman bringing\nforth his work, offers it to\nwhomsoever he pleaseth; so shalt\nthou by teaching every day what\nis just, cut off a great sin.\nWherefore cease not to admonish thy\nsons, for the Lord knows that they\nwill repent with all their heart,\nand they shall be written in the\nbook of life.\n\n25 And when she had said this,\nshe added unto me; Wilt thou\nhear me read? I answered her,\nLady, I will.\n\n26 Hear then, said she;\nand opening the book she read,\ngloriously, greatly, and wonderfully,\nsuch things as I could not keep in\nmy memory. For they were terrible\nwords, such as no man could bear.\n\n27 How it be I committed her\nlast words to my remembrance;\nfor they were but few, and of great\nuse to us:--\n\n28 Behold the mighty Lord, who\nby his invisible power, and with\nhis excellent wisdom made the\nworld, and by his glorious counsel\nbeautified his creature, and with\nthe word of his strength fixed the\nheaven, and founded the earth\nupon the waters; and by his\npowerful virtue established the\nHoly Church, which he hath\nblessed.\n\n29 Behold he will remove the\nheavens, and the mountains, the\nhills, and the seas; and all things\nshall be made plain for his elect;\nthat he may render unto them the\npromise which he has promised,\nwith much honour and joy; if so\nbe that they shall keep the\ncommandments of God, which they\nhave received with great faith.\n\n30 And when she had made an end\nof reading, she rose out of the\nchair; and behold four young men\ncame, and carried the chair to\nthe east.\n\n31 And she called me unto her,\nand touched my breast, and said\nunto me, Did my reading please\nthee? I answered, Lady, these\nlast things please me; but what\nwent before was severe and hard.\n\n32 She said unto me, these last\nthings are for the righteous, but\nthe foregoing for the revolters and\nheathen.\n\n33 And as she was talking with\nme, two men appeared, and took\nher upon their shoulders, and\nwent to the east where the chair\nwas.\n\n34 And she went cheerfully\naway; and as she was going, said\nunto me, Hermas, be of good\ncheer.\n\n\n\nVISION II.\n\n Again, of his neglect in correcting his talkative wife;\n and of his lewd sons.\n\nAS I was on the way to Cuma,\nabout the same time that I\nwent the year before, I began to\ncall to mind the vision I formerly\nhad. And again the spirit carried\nme away, and brought me into the\nsame place, in which I had been\nthe year before.\n\n2 And when I was come into the\nplace, I fell down upon my knees,\nand began to pray unto the Lord,\nand to glorify his name, that he\nhad esteemed me worthy, and had\nmanifested unto me my former\nsins.\n\n3 And when I arose from prayer,\nbehold I saw over against me the\nold woman whom I had seen the\nlast year, walking and reading\nin a certain book.\n\n4 And she said unto me, Canst\nthou tell these things to the\nelect of God? I answered and said\nunto her, Lady, I cannot retain\nso many things in my memory, but\ngive me the book, and I will write\nthem down.\n\n5 Take it, says she, and see that\nthou restore it again to me.\n\n6 As soon as I had received it,\nI went aside into a certain place\nof the field, and transcribe every\nletter, for I found no syllables.\n\n7 And as soon as I had finished\nwhat was written in the book, the\nbook was suddenly caught out of\nmy hand, but by whom I saw not.\n\n8 After fifteen days, when I\nhad fasted, and entreated the Lord\nwith all earnestness, the knowledge\nof the writing was revealed unto me.\nNow the writing was this:--\n\n9 Thy seed, O Hermas! hath\nsinned against the Lord, and have\nbetrayed their parents, through\ntheir great wickedness. And they\nhave been called the betrayers of\ntheir parents, and have gone on in\ntheir treachery.\n\n10 And now have they added\nlewdness to their other sins, and\nthe pollutions of their naughtiness:\nthus have they filled up the measure\nof their iniquities. But do thou\nupbraid thy sons with all these\nwords; and thy wife, who shall be\nas thy sister; and let her learn\nto refrain her tongue, with which\nshe calumniates.\n\n11 And when she shall hear these\nthings, she will refrain herself,\nand shall obtain mercy.\n\n12 And they also shall be\ninstructed, when thou shalt have\nreproached them with these words,\nwhich the Lord has commanded to\nbe revealed unto them.\n\n13 Then shall their sins be\nforgiven, which they have heretofore\ncommitted, and the sins of all the\nsaints who have sinned even unto\nthis day; if they shall repent with\nall their hearts, and remove all\ndoubts out of their hearts.\n\n14 For the Lord hath sworn by\nhis glory concerning his elect,\nhaving determined this very time,\nthat if any one shall even now\nsin, he shall not be saved.\n\n15 For the repentance of the\nrighteous has its end; the days of\nrepentance are fulfilled to all the\nsaints; but to the heathen, there\nis repentance even unto the last\nday.\n\n16 Thou shalt therefore say to\nthose who are over the church,\nthat they order their ways in\nrighteousness; so that they may\nfully receive the promise with\nmuch glory.\n\n17 Stand fast therefore ye that\nwork righteousness and continue\nto do it, that your departure may\nbe with the holy angels.\n\n18 Happy are ye, as many as\nshall endure the great trial that is\nat hand, and whosoever shall not\ndeny his life.\n\n19 For the Lord hath sworn by\nhis Son, that whoso, denieth his\nSon and HIM, being afraid of his\nlife, he will also deny him in the\nworld that is to come.\n\n20 But those who shall never\ndeny him, he will of his exceeding\ngreat mercy be favourable unto\nthem.\n\n21 But thou, O Hermas! remember\nnot the evils which thy sons have\ndone, neither neglect thy sister,\nbut take care that they amend of\ntheir former sins.\n\n22 For they will be instructed\nby this doctrine, if thou shalt not\nbe mindful of what they have done\nwickedly.\n\n23 For the remembrance of evils\nworketh death, but the forgetting\nof them eternal life.\n\n24 But thou, O Hermas! hast\nundergone a great many worldly\ntroubles for the offences of thy\nhouse, because thou hast neglected\nthem, as things that did not belong\nunto thee; and thou art wholly\ntaken up with thy great business.\n\n25 Nevertheless, for this cause\nshalt thou be saved, that thou hast\nnot departed from the living God,\nand thy simplicity and singular\ncontinency shall preserve thee, if\nthou shalt continue in them.\n\n26 Yes, they shall save all such\nas do such things, and walk in\ninnocence and simplicity.\n\n27 They who are of this kind\nshall prevail against all impiety,\nand continue until life eternal.\n\n28 Happy are all they that do\nrighteousness, they shall not be\nconsumed for ever.\n\n29 But thou wilt say, Behold\nthere is a great trial coming. If\nit seem good to thee, deny him\nagain.\n\n30 The Lord is nigh to them that\nturn to him, as it is written in\nthe book of Heldam and Modal,\nwho prophesied to the people of\nIsrael in the wilderness.\n\n31 Moreover, brethren, it was\nrevealed to me, as I was sleeping,\nby a very goodly young man, saying\nunto me, What thinkest thou of that\nold woman from whom thou receivedst\nthe book; who is she? I answered,\na Sybil.\n\n32 Thou art mistaken said he,\nshe is not. I replied, Who is she\nthen, sir? He answered me, It is\nthe church of God.\n\n33 And I said unto him, Why\nthen does she appear old? She is\ntherefore, said he, an old woman,\nbecause she was the first of all\nthe creation, and the world was\nmade for her.\n\n34 After this I saw a vision at\nhome in my own house, and the\nold woman, whom I had seen before,\ncame to me and asked me whether\nI had yet delivered her book to\nthe elders of the church? And\nI answered, that I had not yet.\n\n35 She replied, Thou hast well\ndone, for I have certain words\nmore to tell thee. But when I\nshall have finished all the words,\nthey shall be clearly understood\nby the elect.\n\n36 And thou shalt write two\nbooks, and send one to Clement\nand one to Grapte. For Clement\nshall send it to the foreign cities,\nbecause it is permitted to him so\nto do: but Grapte shall admonish\nthe widows and orphans.\n\n37 But thou shalt read in this\ncity with the elders of the church.\n\n\n\nVISION III.\n\n Of the building of the church triumphant,\n and of the several sorts of reprobates.\n\nTHE vision which I saw, brethren,\nwas this.\n\n2 When I had often fasted and\nprayed unto the Lord, that he\nwould manifest unto me the\nrevelation, which he had promised\nby the old woman to show unto me;\nthe same night she appeared unto\nme, and said unto me,\n\n3 Because thou dost thus afflict\nthyself, and art so desirous to know\nall things, come into the field,\nwhere thou wilt, and about the\nsixth hour, I will appear unto thee,\nand show thee what thou must\nsee.\n\n4 I asked her, saying; Lady,\ninto what part of the field? She\nanswered, wherever thou wilt, only\nchoose a good and a private place.\nAnd before I began to speak and\ntell her the place, she said unto\nme; I will come where thou wilt.\n\n5 I was therefore, brethren in\nthe field and I observed the hours,\nand came into the place where I\nhad appointed her to come.\n\n6 And I beheld a bench placed;\nit was a linen pillow, and over it\nspread a covering of fine linen.\n\n7 When I saw these things ordered\nin this manner, and that there was\nnobody in the place, I began to be\nastonished, and my hair stood on end,\nand a kind of horror seized me;\nfor I was alone.\n\n8 But being come to myself,\nand calling to mind the glory of\nGod, and taking courage, I fell\ndown upon my knees and began\nagain to confess my sins as before.\n\n9 And whilst I was doing this,\nthe old woman came thither with\nthe six young men whom I had\nseen before, and stood behind me\nas I was praying, and heard me\npraying and confessing my sins\nunto the Lord.\n\n10 And touching me, she said;\nLeave off praying now only for thy\nsins; pray also for righteousness,\nthat thou mayest receive a part of\nit in thy house.\n\n11 And she lifted me up from\nthe place, and took me by the\nhand, and brought me to the seat;\nand said to the young men, go,\nand build.\n\n12 As soon as they were departed,\nand we were alone, she said unto me;\nsit here. I answered her; Lady,\nlet those who are elder sit first.\nShe replied, Sit down as I bid you.\n\n13 And when I would have sat\non the right side, she suffered me\nnot, but made a sign to me with\nher hand, that I should sit on the\nleft.\n\n14 As I was therefore musing,\nand full of sorrow, that she would\nnot suffer me to sit on the right\nside, she said unto me, Hermas,\nwhy art thou sad?\n\n15 The place which is on the\nright hand is theirs who have\nalready attained unto God, and have\nsuffered for his name-sake. But\nthere is yet a great deal remaining\nunto thee, before thou canst sit\nwith them.\n\n16 But continue as thou doest,\nin thy sincerity, and thou shalt sit\nwith them; as all others shall,\nwho do their works, and shall bear\nwhat they have borne.\n\n17 I said to her; Lady, I would\nknow what it is that they have\nsuffered? Hear then, said she:\nwild beasts, scourgings,\nimprisonments, and crosses\nfor his name-sake.\n\n18 For this cause the right hand\nof holiness belongs to them, and\nto all others as many as shall\nsuffer for the name of God; but\nthe left belongs to the rest.\n\n19 Howbeit the gifts and the\npromises belong to both, to them\non the right, and to those on the\nleft hand; only that sitting on the\nright hand they have some glory\nabove the others.\n\n20 But thou art desirous to sit\non the right hand with them, and\nyet thy defects are many. But\nthou shalt be purged from thy\ndefects, as also all who doubt not\nshall be cleansed from all the sins\nwhich they have committed unto\nthis day.\n\n21 And when she had said this\nshe would have departed.\n\n22 Wherefore, falling down before\nher feet, I began to entreat her,\nfor the Lord's sake, that she\nwould show me the vision which\nshe had promised.\n\n23 Then she again took me by\nthe hand, and lifted me up, and\nmade me sit upon the seat at the\nleft side; and holding up a certain\nbright wand, said unto me, Seest\nthou that great thing? I replied,\nLady, I see nothing.\n\n24 She answered, Dost thou not\nsee over against thee a great tower,\nwhich is built upon the water with\nbright square stones?\n\n25 For the tower was built upon\na square by these six young men\nthat came with her.\n\n26 But many thousand of other\nmen brought stones; some drew\nthem out of the deep, others\ncarried them from the ground,\nand gave them to the six young men;\nand they took them and built.\n\n27 As for those stones which\nwere drawn out of the deep, they\nput them all into the building;\nfor they were polished, and their\nsquares exactly answered one another,\nand so one was joined in such wise\nto the other, that there was no\nspace to be seen where they\njoined, insomuch that the whole\ntower appeared to be built as it\nwere of one stone.\n\n28 But as for the other stones\nthat were taken off from the\nground, some of them they rejected,\nothers they fitted into the building.\n\n29 As for those which were rejected,\nsome they cut out, and cast them\nat a distance from the tower;\nbut many others of them lay round\nabout the tower, which they made\nno use of in the building.\n\n30 For some of these were\nrough, others had clefts in them,\nothers were white and round, not\nproper for the building of the\ntower.\n\n31 But I saw the other stones\ncast afar off from the tower, and\nfalling into the high-way, and yet\nnot continuing in the way, but\nwere rolled from the way into a\ndesert place.\n\n32 Others I saw falling into the\nfire and burning; others fell near\nthe water, yet could not roll\nthemselves into it, though very\ndesirous to fall into the water.\n\n33 And when she had showed\nme these things she would have\ndeparted; but I said to her, Lady,\nwhat doth it profit me to see these\nthings, and not understand what\nthey mean?\n\n34 She answered and said unto\nme; You are very cunning, in\nthat you are desirous to know\nthose things which relate to the\ntower. Yea, said I, lady, that I\nmay declare them unto the brethren,\nand they may rejoice, and hearing\nthese things may glorify God\nwith great glory.\n\n35 Then she said, Many indeed\nshall hear them, and when they\nshall have heard them, some shall\nrejoice, and others weep. And\nyet even these, if they shall\nrepent, shall rejoice too.\n\n36 Hear therefore what I shall\nsay concerning the parable of the\ntower, and after this be no longer\nimportunate with me about the\nrevelation.\n\n37 For these revelations have\nan end, seeing they are fulfilled.\nBut thou dost not leave off to\ndesire revelations, for thou art\nvery urgent.\n\n38 As for the tower which thou\nseest built, it is myself, namely,\nthe church, which have appeared\nto thee both now and heretofore.\nWherefore ask what thou wilt\nconcerning the tower, and I will\nreveal it unto thee, that thou\nmayest rejoice with the saints.\n\n39 I said unto her, Lady,\nbecause thou hast thought me once\nworthy to receive from thee the\nrevelation of all these things,\ndeclare them unto me.\n\n40 She answered me, Whatsoever\nis fit to be revealed unto thee\nshall be revealed: only yet thy\nheart be with the Lord, and doubt\nnot, whatsoever thou shalt see.\n\n41 I asked her, Lady, why is the\ntower built upon the water? She\nreplied, I said before to thee that\nthou wert very wise to inquire\ndiligently concerning the building,\ntherefore thou shalt find the truth.\n\n42 Hear therefore why the tower\nis built upon the water: because\nyour life is and shall be saved by\nwater. For it is founded by the\nword of the almighty and honourable\nname, and is supported by the\ninvisible power and virtue of God.\n\n43 And I answering, said\nunto her, These things are very\nadmirable; but, lady, who are\nthose six young men that build?\n\n44 They are, said she, the angels\nof God, who were first appointed,\nand to whom the Lord has delivered\nall his creatures, to frame and\nbuild them up, and to rule over\nthem. For by these the building\nof the tower shall be finished.\n\n45 And who are the rest who\nbring them stones?\n\n46 They also are the holy angels\nof the Lord; but the others are\nmore excellent than these. Wherefore\nwhen the whole building of the\ntower shall be finished, they\nshall all feast together beside\nthe tower, and shall glorify God,\nbecause the structure of the\ntower is finished.\n\n47 I asked her, saying, I would\nknow the condition of the stones,\nand what the meaning of them\nis?\n\n48 She answering, said unto\nme, Art thou better than all others\nthat this should be revealed unto\nthee? For others are both before\nthee and better than thou art,\nto whom these visions should be\nmade manifest.\n\n49 Nevertheless, that the name\nof God may be glorified, it has been\nshown and shall be revealed unto\nthee, for the sake of those who are\ndoubtful, and think in their hearts\nwhether these things are so or not.\n\n50 Tell them that all these\nthings are true, and that there is\nnothing in them that is not true\nbut all are firm and truly\nestablished.\n\n51 Hear now then concerning\nthe stones that are in the building.\n\n52 The square and white stones\nwhich agree exactly in their joints,\nare the apostles, and bishops, and\ndoctors, and ministers, who\nthrough the mercy of God have\ncome in, and governed, and taught\nand ministered holily and modestly\nto the elect of God, both they\nthat have fallen asleep, and which\nyet remain; and have always\nagreed with them, and have had\npeace within themselves, and have\nheard each other.\n\n53 For which cause their joints\nexactly meet together in the building\nof the tower.\n\n54 They which are drawn out\nof the deep and put into the\nbuilding, and whose joints agree\nwith the other stones which are\nalready built, are those which are\nalready fallen asleep, and have\nsuffered for the sake of the Lord's\nname.\n\n55 And what are the other\nstones, lady, that are brought\nfrom the earth? I would know\nwhat are they.\n\n56 She answered, They which\nlie upon the ground and are not\npolished, are those which God has\napproved, because they have\nwalked in I the law of the Lord,\nand directed their ways in his\ncommandments.\n\n57 They which are brought and\nput in the building of the tower,\nare the young in faith and the\nfaithful. And these are admonished\nby the angels to do well because\niniquity is not found in them.\n\n58 But who are those whom they\nrejected, and laid beside the tower?\n\n59 They are such as have sinned\nand are willing to repent; for\nwhich cause they are not cast far\nfrom the tower, because they will\nbe useful for the building, if they\nshall repent.\n\n60 They therefore that are yet\nto repent, if they repent they shall\nbecome strong in the faith; that\nis, if they repent now, whilst the\ntower is building. For if the\nbuilding shall be finished there\nwill then be no place for them to\nbe put in, but they shall be rejected;\nfor he only has this privilege who\nshall now be put into the tower.\n\n61 But would you know who\nthey are that were cut out, and\ncast afar off from the tower?\nLady said I, I desire it.\n\n62 They are the children of iniquity,\nwho believed only in hypocrisy,\nand departed not from their evil\nways; for this cause they shall not\nbe saved, because they are not of\nany use in the building by reason\nof their sins.\n\n63 Wherefore they are cut out,\nand cast afar off, because of the\nanger of the Lord, and because\nthey have provoked him to anger\nagainst them.\n\n64 As for the great number of\nother stones which thou hast seen\nplaced about the tower, but now\nput into the building; those which\nare rugged, are they who have\nknown the truth, but have not\ncontinued in it, nor been joined\nto the saints, and therefore are\nunprofitable.\n\n65 Those that have clefts in\nthem, are they that keep up discord\nin their hearts against each other,\nand live not in peace; that are\nfriendly when present with their\nbrethren, but as soon as they are\ndeparted from one another, their\nwickedness still continues in\ntheir hearts: these are the clefts\nwhich are seen in those stones.\n\n66 Those that are maimed and\nshort, are they who have believed\nindeed, but still are in great\nmeasure full of wickedness; for\nthis cause they are maimed and\nnot whole.\n\n67 But what are the white and\nround stones, lady, and which are\nnot proper for the building of the\ntower?\n\n68 She answering said unto\nme: How long wilt thou continue\nfoolish and without understanding,\nasking everything and discerning\nnothing?\n\n69 They are such as have faith\nindeed, but have withal the riches\nof this present world. When\ntherefore any troubles arise, for\nthe sake of their riches and traffic,\nthey deny the Lord.\n\n70 I answering, said unto her,\nWhen therefore will they be\nprofitable to the Lord? When their\nriches shall be cut away, says she,\nin which they take delight, then\nthey will be profitable unto the\nLord for his building.\n\n71 For as a round stone, unless\nit be cut away and is cast somewhat\nof its bulk, cannot be made square,\nso they who are rich in this world;\nunless their riches be pared off;\ncannot be made profitable unto the\nLord.\n\n72 Learn this from thy own\nexperience: when thou wert rich,\nthou wast unprofitable; but now\nthou art profitable, and fit for the\nlife which thou hast undertaken;\nfor thou also once was one of\nthose stones.\n\n73 As for the rest of the stones\nwhich thou sawest cast afar\noff from the tower, and running in\nthe way, and tumbled out of the\nway into desert places; they are\nsuch as have believed indeed,\nbut through their doubting have\nforsaken the true way, thinking that\nthey could find a better. But they\nwander and are miserable, going\ninto desolate ways.\n\n74 Then for those stones which\nfell into the fire and were burnt,\nthey are those who have for ever\ndeparted from the living God;\nnor doth it ever come into their\nhearts to repent, by reason of the\naffection which they bear to their\nlusts and wickedness which they\ncommit.\n\n75 And what are the rest which\nfell by the water, and could not\nroll into the water?\n\n76 They are such as have heard\nthe word, and were willing to be\nbaptised in the name of the Lord;\nbut considering the great holiness\nwhich the truth requires, have\nwithdrawn themselves, an walked\nagain after wicked lusts.\n\n77 Thus she finished the\nexplanation of the tower.\n\n78 But I being still urgent,\nasked her, Is there repentance\nallowed to all those stones which\nare thus cast away, and were not\nsuitable to the building of the\ntower; and shall they find place\nin this tower?\n\n79 They may repent, said she,\nyet they cannot come into this\ntower; but, they shall be placed\nin a much lower rank, and then\nonly after they shall have been\nafflicted and fulfilled the days of\ntheir sins.\n\n80 And for this cause they shall\nbe removed, because they have\nreceived the word of righteousness:\nand then they shall be translated\nfrom their afflictions, if they\nshall have a true sense in their\nhearts of what they have done amiss.\n\n81 But if they shall not have\nthis sense in their hearts, they\nshall not be saved by reason of\nthe hardness of their hearts.\n\n82 When therefore I had done\nasking her concerning all these\nthings, she said unto me, Wilt\nthou see something else? And\nbeing desirous of seeing it,\nI became very cheerful of\ncountenances.\n\n83 She therefore looking back\nupon me, and smiling a little, said\nunto me, Seest thou seven women\nabout the tower? Lady, said I,\nI see them.\n\n84 This tower, replied she, is\nsupported by them, according to\nthe command of the Lord: hear\ntherefore the effects of them.\n\n85 The first of them, which\nholds fast with her hand, is called\nFaith; The next, which is girt\nup, and looks manly, is named\nAbstinence: she is the daughter\nof Faith.\n\n86 Whosoever therefore shall\nfollow her shall be happy in all\nhis life, because he shall abstain\nfrom all evil works, believing that\nif he shall contain himself from\nall concupiscence, he shall be\nthe heir of eternal life. And\nwhat, lady, said I, are the other\nfive?\n\n87 They are, replied she, the\ndaughters of one another. The\nfirst of them is called Simplicity;\nthe next Innocence; the third\nModesty; then Discipline; and\nthe last of all is Charity. When\ntherefore thou shalt have fulfilled\nthe works of their mother, thou\nshalt be able to do all things.\n\n88 Lady, said I, I would know\nwhat particular virtue every one\nof these has.\n\n89 Hear then, replied she;\nthey have equal virtues, and their\nvirtues are knit together, and\nfollow one another as they were\nborn.\n\n90 From Faith proceeds Abstinence;\nfrom Abstinence, Simplicity; from\nSimplicity, Innocence; from Innocence,\nModesty; from Modesty, Discipline\nand Charity. Therefore the works\nof these are holy, and chaste, and\nright.\n\n91 Whoever therefore shall\nserve these, and hold fast to their\nworks, he shall have his dwelling\nin the tower with the saints of\nGod.\n\n92 Then I asked her concerning\nthe times, whether the end were\nnow at hand?\n\n93 But she cried out with a loud\nvoice, saying, O foolish man!\nDost thou not see the tower yet a\nbuilding? When therefore the\ntower shall be finished, and built,\nit shall have an end; and indeed\nit shall soon be accomplished.\n\n94 But do not ask me any more\nquestions. What has been said\nmay suffice thee and all the saints\nfor the refreshment of your spirits.\nFor these things have not been\nrevealed to thee only, but that\nthou mayest make them manifest\nunto all.\n\n95 For therefore, O Hermas,\nafter three days thou must understand\nthese words which I begin\nto speak unto thee, that thou\nmayest speak them in the ears of\nthe saints; that when thou shall\nhave heard and done them, they\nmay be cleansed from their\niniquities, and thou together\nwith them.\n\n96 Hear me therefore, O my\nsons! I have bred you up in much\nsimplicity, and innocency, and\nmodesty, for the love of God,\nwhich has dropped down upon\nyou in righteousness, that you\nshould be sanctified and justified\nfrom all sin and wickedness; but\nye will not cease from your evil\ndoings.\n\n97 Now therefore hearken unto\nme, and have peace one with another,\nand visit one another, and receive\none another, and do not enjoy\nthe creatures of God alone.\n\n98 Give freely to them that are\nin need. For some by too free\nfeeding contract an infirmity in\ntheir flesh, and do injury to their\nbodies; whilst the flesh of others,\nwho have not food, withers away,\nbecause they want sufficient\nnourishment, and the bodies are\nconsumed.\n\n99 Wherefore this intemperance\nis hurtful to you, who have, and\ndo not contribute to them that\nwant. Prepare for the judgment\nthat is about to come upon you.\n\n100 Ye that are the more eminent,\nsearch out them that are hungry,\nwhilst the tower is yet unfinished.\nFor when the tower shall be finished,\nye shall be willing to do good,\nand shall not find any place in it.\n\n101 Beware, therefore, ye that\nglory in your riches, lest perhaps\nthey groan who are in want, and\ntheir sighing come up unto God,\nand ye be shut out with your goods\nwithout the gate of the tower.\n\n102 Behold I now warn you who\nare set over the church, and love\nthe highest seats, be not ye like\nunto those that work mischief.\n\n103 And they indeed carry about\ntheir poison in boxes, but ye\ncontain your poison and infection\nin your hearts, and will not purge\nthem, and mix your sense with a\npure heart, that ye might find\nmercy with the Great King.\n\n104 Take heed, my children,\nthat your dissensions deprive you\nnot of your lives. How will ye\ninstruct the elect of God, when\nye yourselves want correction?\nWherefore admonish one another,\nand be at peace among yourselves,\nthat I, standing before your\nFather, may give an account\nof you unto the Lord.\n\n105 And when she had made\nan end of talking with me, the six\nyoung men that built, came and\ncarried her to the tower; and four\nothers took up the seat on which\nshe sat, and they also went away\nagain to the tower. I saw not the\nfaces of these, for their backs\nwere towards me.\n\n106 As she was going away, I\nasked her, that she would reveal\nto me what concerned the three\nforms, in which she had appeared\nunto me.\n\n107 But she answering said unto\nme, concerning these things\nthou must ask some other, that\nthey may be revealed unto thee.\n\n108 Now, brethren, in the first\nvision the last year, she appeared\nunto me exceedingly old, and\nsitting in a chair.\n\n109 In another vision, she had\nindeed a youthful face, but her\nflesh and hair were old; but she\ntalked with me standing, and was\nmore cheerful than the first time.\n\n110 In the third vision, she was\nin all respects much younger, and\ncomely to the eye; only she had\nthe hair of an aged person: yet\nshe looked cheerful, and sat upon\na seat.\n\n111 I was therefore very sad\nconcerning these things, until I\nmight understand the vision.\n\n112 Wherefore I saw the same\nold woman in a vision of the night\nsaying unto me, All prayer needeth\nhumiliation. Fast, therefore, and\nthou shalt learn from the Lord\nthat which thou dost ask. I fasted\ntherefore one day.\n\n113 The same night a young\nman appeared to me and said,\nWhy dost thou thus often desire\nRevelations in thy prayers? Take\nheed that by asking many things,\nthou hurt not the body. Let these\nRevelations suffice thee.\n\n114 Canst thou see more notable\nRevelations than those which\nthou hast already received?\n\n115 I answered and said unto\nhim, Sir, I only ask this one\nthing upon the account of the\nthree figures of the old woman\nthat appeared to me, that the\nRevelation may be complete.\n\n116 He answered me, You are\nnot without understanding, but\nyour doubts make you so; for as\nmuch as you have not your heart\nwith the Lord.\n\n117 I replied and said, But we\nshall learn these things more\ncarefully from you.\n\n118 Hear then, says he, concerning\nthe figures about which you inquire.\n\n119 To begin; in the first vision\nshe appeared to thee in the shape\nof an old woman sitting in, a chair,\nbecause your old spirit was decayed,\nand without strength, by reason\nof your infirmities, and the\ndoubtfulness of your heart.\n\n120 For as they who are old\nhave no hope of renewing\nthemselves, nor expect any thing\nbut their departure; so you being\nweakened through your worldly\naffairs gave yourself up to sloth,\nand cast not away your solicitude\nfrom yourself upon the Lord: and\nyour sense was confused, and you\ngrew old in your sadness.\n\n121 But, sir, I would know why\nshe sat upon a chair?\n\n122 He answered, because every\none that is weak sitteth upon a\nchair by reason of his infirmity,\nthat his weakness may be upheld.\nBehold therefore the figure of the\nfirst vision.\n\n123 In the second vision you\nsaw her standing, and having a\nyouthful face, and more cheerful\nthan her former; but her flesh\nand her hair were ancient. Hear,\nsaid he, this parable also.\n\n124 When any one grows old,\nhe despairs of himself by reason\nof his infirmity and poverty, and\nexpects nothing but the last day of\nhis life.\n\n125 But on a sudden an inheritance\nis left to him, and he hears of it,\nand rises: and being become\ncheerful, he puts on new strength.\nAnd now he no longer sits down,\nbut stands, and is delivered from\nhis former sorrow; and sits not,\nbut acts manfully.\n\n126 So you, having heard the\nRevelation which God revealed\nunto you, because God had\ncompassion upon you, and renewed\nyour spirit, both laid aside your\ninfirmities, and strength came to\nyou, and you grew strong in the\nfaith; and God, seeing your\nstrength, rejoiced.\n\n127 For this cause he showed\nyou the building of the tower,\nand will show other things unto you,\nif you shall have peace with all\nyour heart among each other.\n\n128 But in the third vision you\nsaw her yet younger, fair and\ncheerful, and of a serene\ncountenance.\n\n129 For, as if some good news\ncomes to him that is sad, he\nstraightway forgets his sadness,\nand regards nothing else but the\ngood news which he has heard;\nand for the rest he is comforted,\nand his spirit is renewed through\nthe joy which he has received\neven so you have been refreshed\nin your spirit by seeing these good\nthings.\n\n130 And for that you saw her\nsitting upon a bench, it denotes a\nstrong position; because a bench\nhas four feet, and stands strongly.\nAnd even the world itself is upheld\nby the four elements.\n\n131 They therefore that repent\nperfectly, shall be young; and\nthey that turn from their sins\nwith their whole heart, shall\nbe established.\n\n132 And now you have the\nRevelation fully, ask no more\nto have any thing farther\nrevealed unto you.\n\n133 But if any thing is to be\nrevealed, it shall be made manifest\nunto you.\n\n\n\nVISION IV.\n\n Of the trial, and tribulation that is about\n to come upon men.\n\nI SAW a vision brethren, twenty\ndays after the former vision;\na representation of the tribulation\nthat is at hand. I was walking in\nthe field way.\n\n2 Now from the public way to\nthe place whither I went is about\nten furlongs; it is a way very\nlittle frequented:\n\n3 And as I was walking alone, I\nentreated the Lord that he would\nconfirm the Revelations which he\nhad shown unto me by his Holy\nChurch.\n\n4 And would grant repentance\nto all his servants who had been\noffended, that his great and\nhonourable name might be glorified,\nand because he thought me worthy\nto whom he might show his wonders,\nand, that I might honour him,\nand give thanks unto him.\n\n5 And behold somewhat like a\nvoice answered me; Doubt not,\nHermas. Wherefore I began to\nthink, and say within myself, why\nshould I doubt, seeing I am thus\nsettled by the Lord, and have seen\nsuch glorious things?\n\n6 I had gone but a little farther,\nbrethren, when behold I saw a\ndust rise up to heaven. I began\nto say within myself, is there a\ndrove of cattle coming, that rises\nsuch a dust?\n\n7 It was about a furlong off from\nme. And behold I saw the dust\nrise more and more, insomuch that\nI began to suspect that there was\nsomewhat extraordinary in it.\n\n8 And the sun shone a little;\nand behold I saw a great beast, as\nit were a whale; and fiery locusts\ncame out of his mouth. The height\nof the beast was about a hundred\nfeet, and he had a head like a\nlarge earthen vessel.\n\n9 I began to weep, and to pray\nunto the Lord that he would deliver\nme from it. Then I called to mind\nthe word which I had heard;\nDoubt not, Hermas.\n\n10 Wherefore, brethren, putting\non a divine faith, and remembering\nwho it was that had taught me great\nthings, I delivered myself bodily\nunto the beast.\n\n11 Now the beast came on in\nsuch a manner, as if it could at\nonce have devoured a city.\n\n12 I came near unto it, and the\nbeast extended its whole bulk upon\nthe ground, and put forth nothing\nbut its tongue, nor once moved itself\ntill I had quite passed by it.\n\n13 Now the beast had upon its\nhead four colours; first black,\nthen a red and bloody colour, then\na golden, and then a white.\n\n14 After that I had passed by\nit, and was gone forward about\nthirty feet, behold there met me a\ncertain virgin, well adorned as if\nshe had been just come out of her\nbride-chamber; all in white, having\non white shoes, and a veil down her\nface, and covered with shining hair.\n\n15 Now I knew by my former\nvisions that it was the church,\nand thereupon grew the more cheerful.\nShe saluted me, saying, Hail, O Man!\nI returned the salutation, saying,\nLady, Hail!\n\n16 She answering said unto me,\nDid nothing meet you, O man!\nI replied, Lady, there met me such\na beast, as seemed able to devour\na whole people; but by the power\nof God, and through his singular\nmercy, I escaped it.\n\n17 Thou didst escape it well,\nsaid she, because thou didst cast\nthy whole care upon God, and\nopened thy heart unto him,\nbelieving that thou couldst be safe\nby no other than by his great and\nhonourable name.\n\n18 For this cause the Lord sent\nhis angel, who is over the beast,\nwhose name is Hegrin, and stopped\nhis mouth, that he should not\ndevour thee, Thou hast escaped\na great trial through thy faith, and\nbecause thou didst not doubt for\nsuch a terrible beast.\n\n19 Go, therefore, and relate to\nthe elect of God the great things\nthat he hath done for thee. And\nthou shalt say unto them, that this\nbeast is the figure of the trial that\nis about to come.\n\n20 If, therefore, ye shall have\nprepared yourselves, ye may escape\nit, if your hearts be pure and\nwithout spot; and if ye shall serve\nGod all the rest of your days\nwithout complaint.\n\n21 Cast all your care upon the\nLord, and he will direct them.\nBelieve in God, ye doubtful,\nbecause he can do all things;\nhe can both turn away his wrath\nfrom you, and send you help and\nsecurity.\n\n22 Woe to the doubtful, to those\nwho shall hear these words, and\nshall despise them: it had been\nbetter for them that they had not\nbeen born.\n\n23 Then I asked her concerning\nthe four colours which the beast\nhad upon its head. But she\nanswered me saying; Again thou\nart curious in that thou asketh\nconcerning these things. But I\nsaid to her, Lady, chew me what\nthey are?\n\n24 Hear, said she; The black\nwhich thou sawest denotes the\nworld in which you dwell. The\nfiery and bloody colour signifies\nthat this age must be destroyed\nby fire and blood.\n\n25 The golden part are ye, who\nhave escaped out of it; for as gold\nis tried by the fire, and is made\nprofitable, so are ye also in like\nmanner tried who dwell among the\nmen of this world.\n\n26 They therefore, that shall\nendure to the end, and be proved\nby them, shall be purged. And as\ngold, by this trial, is cleansed\nand loses its dross, so shall ye\nalso cast away all sorrow and\ntrouble, and be made pure for\nthe building of the tower.\n\n27 But the white colour denotes\nthe time of the world which is to\ncome, in which the elect of God\nshall dwell: because the elect of\nGod shall be pure and without\nspot until life eternal.\n\n28 Wherefore do not thou cease\nto speak these thing in the ears of\nthe saints. Here ye have the figure\nof the great tribulation that is\nabout to come; which, if you\nplease, shall be nothing to you.\n\n29 When she had spoken thus\nmuch, she departed; but I saw\nnot whither she went. But suddenly\nI heard a noise, and I turned\nback, being afraid, for I thought\nthat the beast was coming toward\nme.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE SECOND PART OF THE\n BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS COMMANDS.\n\n\nIntroduction.\n\nWHEN I had prayed at home,\nand was sat down upon the\nbed, a certain man came in to me\nwith a reverend look, in the habit\nof a Shepherd, clothed with a white\ncloak, having his bag upon his\nback, and his staff in his hand, and\nsaluted me.\n\n2 I returned his salutation, and\nimmediately he sat down by me,\nand said unto me, I am sent by\nthat venerable messenger, that\nI should dwell with thee all the\nremaining days of thy life.\n\n3 But I thought that he was\ncome to try me, and said unto him,\nWho are you? For I know to\nwhom I am committed. He said\nunto me, Do you not know me?\nI answered no. I am, said he,\nthat shepherd to whose care you\nare delivered.\n\n4 Whilst he was yet speaking,\nhis shape was changed; and when\nI knew that it was he to whom I\nwas committed, I was ashamed,\nand a sudden fear came upon me,\nand I was utterly overcome with\nsadness, because I had spoken so\nfoolishly unto him.\n\n5 But he said unto me, Be not\nashamed, but receive strength in\nthy mind, through the commands\nwhich I am about to deliver unto\nthee. For, said he, I am sent to\nshow unto thee all those things\nagain, which thou hast seen before,\nbut especially such of them as may\nbe of most use unto thee.\n\n6 And first of all write my\nCommands and Similitudes, the rest\nthou shall so write as I shall show\nunto thee. But I therefore bid\nthee first of all write my Commands\nand Similitudes, that by often\nreading of them thou mayest\nthe more easily keep them in\nmemory.\n\n7 Whereupon I wrote his Commands\nand Similitudes, as he bade me.\n\n8 Which things if when you\nhave heard, ye shall observe to do\nthem, and shall walk according to\nthem, and exercise yourselves in\nthem with a pure mind, ye shall\nreceive from the Lord those things\nwhich he has promised unto you.\n\n9 But if having heard them ye\nshall not repent, but shall still go\non to add to your sins, ye shall\nbe punished by him.\n\n10 All these things that Shepherd,\nthe angel of repentance, commanded\nme to write.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND I.\n\n Of believing in one God.\n\nFIRST of all believe that\nthere is one God who created and\nbrought all things out of nothing\ninto existence.\n\n2 He comprehends all things,\nand is only INFINITE, not to be\ncomprehended by any.\n\n3 Who can neither be defined\nby any words, nor conceived by\nthe mind.\n\n4 Therefore believe in him, and\nfear him; and fearing him abstain\nfrom all evil.\n\n5 Keep these things, and cast\nall lust and iniquity far from\nthee, and put on righteousness,\nand thou shalt live to God, if thou\nshalt keep his commandment.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND II.\n\n That we must avoid detraction, and do our\n alms-deeds with simplicity.\n\nHE said unto me, Be innocent\nand without disguise; so shalt\nthou be like an infant who knows\nno malice which destroys the\nlife of man.\n\n2 Especially see that thou speak\nevil of none, nor willingly hear\nany one speak evil of others.\n\n3 For if thou observest not this,\nthou also who hearest shall be\npartaker of the sin of him that\nspeaketh evil, by believing the\nslander, and thou also shalt have\nsin, because thou believedst him\nthat spoke evil of thy brother.\n\n4 Detraction is a pernicious\nthing; an inconstant, evil spirit;\nthat never continues in peace, but\nis always in discord. Wherefore\nrefrain thyself from it, and keep\npeace ever more with thy brother.\n\n5 Put on an holy constancy,\nin which there are no sins, but\nall is full of joy; and do good\nof thy labours.\n\n6 Give without distinction to\nall that are in want, not doubting\nto whom thou givest.\n\n7 But give to all, for God will\nhave us give to all, of all his own\ngifts. They therefore that receive\nshall give an account to God, both\nwherefore they received and for\nwhat end.\n\n8 And they that receive without\nreal need, shall give an account\nfor it; but he that gives shall be\ninnocent.\n\n9 For he has fulfilled his duty\nas he received it from God; not\nmaking any choice to whom he\nshould give, and to whom not.\nAnd this service he did with\nsimplicity and to the glory\nof God.\n\n10 Keep therefore this command\naccording as I have delivered it\ninto thee: that thy repentance\nnay be found to be sincere, and\nthat good may come to thy house;\nand have a pure heart.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND III.\n\n Of avoiding lying, and the repentance of Hermas\n for his dissimulation.\n\nMOREOVER he said unto me\nlove truth; and let all the\nspeech be true which proceeds out\nof thy mouth.\n\n2 That the spirit which the Lord\nhath given to dwell in thy flesh\nmay be found true towards all\nmen; and the Lord be glorified,\nwho hath given such a spirit unto\nthee: because God is true in all\nhis words, and in him there is no\nlie.\n\n3 They therefore that lie, deny\nthe Lord, and become robbers of\nthe Lord, not rendering to God\nwhat they received from him.\n\n4 For they received the spirit\nfree from lying: If therefore they\nmake that a liar, they defile what\nwas committed to them by the\nLord, and become deceivers.\n\n5 When I heard this, I wept\nbitterly; and when he saw me\nweeping, he said unto me, Why\nweepest thou? And I said, Because,\nsir, I doubt whether I can be saved.\n\n6 He asked me, Wherefore?\nI replied, Because, sir, I never\nspake a true word in my life; but\nalways lived in dissimulation, and\naffirmed a lie for truth to all men;\nand no man contradicted me, but\nall gave credit to my words. How\nthen can I live, seeing I have done\nin this manner?\n\n7 And he said unto me, Thou\nthinkest well and truly; for thou\noughtest, as the servant of God,\nto have walked in the truth, and\nnot have joined an evil conscience\nwith the spirit of truth, nor have\ngrieved the holy and true Spirit\nof God.\n\n8 And I replied unto him,\nSir, I never before hearkened\nso diligently to these things.\nHe answered, Now thou hearest them\nTake care from henceforth, that\neven those things which thou hast\nformerly spoken falsely for the\nsake of thy business, may, by\nthy present truth receive pardon.\n\n9 For even those things may\nbe forgiven, if for the time to come\nthou shalt speak the truth; and\nby so doing thou mayest attain\nunto life.\n\n10 And whosoever shall hearken\nunto this command, and do it,\nand shall depart from all lying,\nhe shall live unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND IV.\n\n Of putting away one's wife for adultery.\n\nFURTHERMORE, said he, I\ncommand thee, that thou keep\nthyself chaste; and that thou\nsuffer not any thought of any\nother marriage, or of fornication,\nto enter into thy heart; for such\na thought produces great sin.\n\n2 But be thou at all times mindful\nof the Lord, and thou shalt never\nsin. For if such an evil thought\nshould arise in thy heart, then\nthou shall be guilty of a great\nsin; and they who do such things,\nfollow the way of death.\n\n3 Look therefore to thyself, and\nkeep thyself from such a thought;\nfor where chastity remains in the\nheart of a righteous man, there an\nevil thought ought never to arise.\n\n4 And I said unto him, Sir,\nsuffer me to speak a little to you.\nHe bade me say on. And I answered,\nSir, if a man that is faithful\nin the Lord shall have a wife,\nand shall catch her in adultery;\ndoth a man sin that continues to\nlive still with her?\n\n5 And he said unto me, As long\nas he is ignorant of her sin, he\ncommits no fault in living with\nher; but if a man shall know his\nwife to, have offended, and she\nshall not repent of her sin, but go\non still in her fornication, and a\nman shall continue nevertheless\nto live with her, he shall become\nguilty of her sin, and partake with\nher in her adultery.\n\n6 And I said unto him, What\ntherefore is to be done, if the\nwoman continues on in her sin?\nHe answered, Let her husband put\nher away, and let him continue\nby himself; but if he shall put\naway his wife and marry another,\nhe also doth commit adultery.\n\n7 And I said, What, if the\nwoman that is so put away, should\nrepent, and be willing to return\nto her husband, shall she not be\nreceived by him? He said unto me,\nYes; and if her husband shall\nnot receive her, he will sin, and\ncommit a great offence against\nhimself; for he ought to receive\nthe offender, if she repents: only\nnot often.\n\n8 For, to the servants of God,\nthere is but one repentance; and\nfor this cause a man that putteth\naway his wife ought not to take\nanother, because she may repent.\n\n9 This act is alike both in the\nman and in the woman. Now they\ncommit adultery, not only who\npollute their flesh, but who\nalso make an image. If therefore\na woman perseveres in any thing\nof this kind, and repents not,\ndepart from her; and live not with\nher, otherwise thou also shalt be\npartaker of her sin.\n\n10 But it is therefore commanded\nthat both the man and the woman\nshould remain unmarried, because\nsuch persons may repent.\n\n11 Nor do I in this administer\nany occasion for the doing of these\nthings; but rather that whoso has\noffended, should not offend any\nmore.\n\n12 But for their former sins,\nGod who has the power of healing\nwill give a remedy; for he has\nthe power of all things.\n\n13 I asked him again, and\nsaid, Seeing the Lord hath thought\nme worthy that thou shouldest\ndwell with me continually, speak\na few words unto me, because I\nunderstand nothing, and my heart\nis hardened through my former\nconversation; and open my\nunderstanding because I am very\ndull, and apprehend nothing at all.\n\n14 And he answering said\nunto me, I am the minister of\nrepentance, and give understanding\nto all that repent. Does it not\nseem to thee to be a very wise\nthing to repent? Because he that\ndoes so gets great understanding.\n\n15 For he is sensible that he\nhath sinned and done wickedly in\nthe sight of the Lord, and he\nremembers within himself that he\nhas offended, and repents and does\nno more wickedly, but does that\nwhich is good, and humbles his\nsoul and afflicts it, because he has\noffended. You see therefore that\nrepentance is great wisdom.\n\n16 And I said unto him, For this\ncause, sir, I inquire diligently\ninto all things, because I am a\nsinner, that I may know what I\nmust do that I may live; because\nmy sins are many.\n\n17 And he said unto me, Thou\nshalt live if thou shalt keep these\nmy commandments. And whosoever\nshall hear and do these commands\nshall live unto God.\n\n18 And I said unto him, I have\neven now heard from certain\nteachers, that there is no other\nrepentance beside that of baptism,\nwhen we go down into the water,\nand receive the forgiveness of our\nsins; and that after that, we must\nsin no more, but live in purity.\n\n19 And he said unto me, Thou\nhast been rightly informed. Never-\nthe-less seeing now thou inquirest\ndiligently into all things, I will\nmanifest this also unto thee; yet\nnot so as to give any occasion of\nsinning, either to those who shall\nhereafter believe, or to those\nwho have already believed in the\nLord.\n\n20 For neither they who have\nnewly believed, or shall hereafter\nbelieve, have any repentance of sins,\nbut forgiveness of them.\n\n21 But as to those who have\nbeen called to the faith, and since\nthat are fallen into any gross sin,\nthe Lord hath appointed repentance,\nbecause God knoweth the thoughts\nof all men's hearts, and their\ninfirmities, and the manifold\nwickedness of the devil, who is\nalways contriving something\nagainst the servants of God, and\nmaliciously lays snares for them.\n\n22 Therefore our merciful Lord\nhad compassion towards his creature,\nand appointed that repentance, and\ngave unto me the power of it. And\ntherefore I say unto thee, if any\none after that great and holy\ncalling shall be tempted by the\ndevil and sin, he has one repentance.\nBut if he shall often sin and repent,\nit shall not profit such a one;\nfor he shall hardly live unto God.\n\n23 And I said, Sir, I am restored\nagain to life since I have thus\ndiligently hearkened to these\ncommands. For I perceive that if I\nshall not hereafter add any more\nof my sins, I shall be saved.\n\n24 And he said, Thou shalt be\nsaved: and so shall all others, as\nmany as shall observe these\ncommandments.\n\n25 And again I said unto him,\nSir, seeing thou hearest me\npatiently, show me yet one thing\nmore. Tell me, saith he, what it\nis.\n\n26 And I said, If a husband or\na wife die, and the party which\nsurvives marry again, does he sin\nin so doing? He that marries\nsays he, sins not: howbeit, if\nhe shall remain single, he shall\nthereby gain to himself great\nhonour before the Lord.\n\n27 Keep therefore thy chastity\nand modesty, and thou shalt live\nunto God. Observe from henceforth\nthose things which I speak\nwith thee, and command thee to\nobserve, from the time that I\nhave been delivered unto thee, and\ndwell in thy house.\n\n28 So shall thy former sins be\nforgiven, if thou shalt keep these\nmy commandments. And in like\nmanner shall all others be forgiven,\nwho shall observe these my commandments.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND V.\n\n Of the sadness of the heart, and of patience.\n\nBe patient, says he, and long-\nsuffering; so shalt thou have\ndominion over all wicked works,\nand shall fulfil all righteousness.\n\n2 For if thou shalt be patient,\nthe Holy Spirit which dwelleth in\nthee shall be pure, and not be\ndarkened by any evil spirit; but\nbeing full of joy shall be enlarged,\nand feast in the body in which it\ndwells, and serve the Lord with\njoy, and in great peace.\n\n3 But if any anger shall overtake\nthee, presently the Holy Spirit\nwhich is in thee will be straightened\nand seek to depart from thee.\n\n4 For he is choked by the evil\nspirit, and has not the liberty of\nserving the Lord as he would; for\nhe is grieved by anger. When,\ntherefore, both these spirits dwell\ntogether, it is destructive to a\nman.\n\n5 As if one should take a little\nwormwood, and put it into a vessel\nof honey, the whole honey would\nbe spoiled; and a great quantity\nof honey is corrupted by a very\nlittle wormwood, and loses the\nsweetness of honey, and is no\nlonger acceptable to its Lord\nbecause the whole honey is made\nbitter, and loses its use.\n\n6 But if no wormwood be put\ninto the honey, it is sweet and\nprofitable to its Lord. Thus is\nforbearance sweeter than honey,\nand profitable to the Lord who\ndwelleth in it.\n\n7 But anger is unprofitable.\nIf therefore anger shall be mixed\nwith forbearance, the soul is\ndistressed, and its prayer is\nnot profitable with God.\n\n8 And I said unto him, Sir,\nI would know the sinfulness of\nanger, that I may keep myself from\nit. And he said unto me, Thou\nshall know it; and if thou shalt\nnot keep thyself from it, thou shalt\nlose thy hope with all thy house.\nWherefore depart from it.\n\n9 For I the messenger of\nrighteousness am with thee, and\nall that depart from it: as many\nas shall repent with all their hearts,\nshall live unto God; and I will be with\nthem, and will keep them all.\n\n10 For all such as have repented\nhave been justified by the most\nholy messenger, who is a minister\nof salvation.\n\n11 And now, says he, hear\nthe wickedness of anger; how\nevil and hurtful is is, and how it\noverthrows the servants of God;\nfor it cannot hurt those that are\nfull of faith because the power\nof God is with them; but it\noverthrows the doubtful, and those\nthat are destitute of faith.\n\n12 For as often as it sees such\nmen, it casts itself into their\nhearts; and so a man or woman\nis in bitterness for nothing: for\nthe things of life, or for sustenance,\nor for a vain word, if any should\nchance to fall in; or by reason\nof any friend, or for a debt,\nor for any other superfluous\nthings of the like nature.\n\n13 For these things are foolish,\nand superfluous, and vain to the\nservants of God. But equanimity\nis strong, and forcible; and of\ngreat power, and sitteth in great\nenlargement; is cheerful, rejoicing\nin peace; and glorifying God at\nall times I with meekness.\n\n14 And this long-suffering\ndwells with those that are full of\nfaith. But anger is foolish, and\nlight, and empty. Now bitterness\nis bred through folly; by\nbitterness, anger; by anger, fury;\nand this fury arising from so\nmany evil principles, worketh a\ngreat and incurable sin.\n\n15 For when all these things,\nare in the same man in which the\nHoly Spirit dwells, the vessel\ncannot contain them, but runs\nover: and because the Spirit being\ntender cannot tarry with the evil\none; it departs and dwells with\nhim that is meek.\n\n16 When, therefore, it is\ndeparted from the man in whom it\ndwelt, that man becomes destitute\nof the Holy Spirit, and is afterwards\nfilled with wicked spirits, and\nis blinded with evil thoughts.\nThus doth it happen to all angry\nmen.\n\n17 Wherefore depart then from\nanger, and put on equanimity, and\nresist: wrath; so then shalt be\nfound with modesty and chastity\nby God. Take good heed, therefore,\nthat thou neglect not this commandment.\n\n18. For if thou shalt obey this\ncommand, then thou shalt also be\nable to observe the other commandments\nwhich I shall command thee.\n\n19 Wherefore strengthen thyself\nnow in these commands, that then\nmayest live unto God. And whosoever\nshall observe these commandments\nshall live unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND VI.\n\n That every man has two angels and of the\n suggestions of both.\n\nI COMMANDED thee, said he,\nin my first commandments,\nthat thou shouldst keep faith and\nfear, and repentance. Yes, sir,\nsaid I.\n\n2 He continued. But now I\nwill shew thee the virtues of these\ncommands, that then mayest know\ntheir effects; how they are\nprescribed alike to the just\nand unjust.\n\n3 Do thou therefore believe the\nrighteous, but give no credit to\nthe unrighteous. For righteousness\nkeepeth the right way, but\nunrighteousness the wicked way.\n\n4 Do thou therefore keep the\nright way, and leave that which is\nevil. For the evil way has not a\ngood end, but hath many stumbling-\nblocks; it is rugged and full\nof thorns, and leads to destruction;\nand it is hurtful to all such\nas walk in it.\n\n5 But they who go in the right\nway walk with evenness, and without\noffence; because it is not rough\nnor thorny.\n\n6 Thou seest therefore how it is\nbest to walk in this way. Thou\nshalt therefore go, says he, and all\nothers, as many as believe in God\nwith all their heart, shall go\nthrough it.\n\n7 And now, says he, I understand\nfirst of all what belongs to faith.\nThere are two angels with man;\none of righteousness, the other\nof iniquity.\n\n8 And I said unto him, Sir,\nhow shall I know that there are\ntwo such angels with man? Hear,\nsays he, and understand.\n\n9 The angel of righteousness,\nis mild and modest, and gentle,\nand quiet. When, therefore, he\ngets into thy heart, immediately\nhe talks with thee of righteousness,\nof modesty, of chastity, of\nbountifulness, of forgiveness,\nof charity, and piety.\n\n10 When all these things come\ninto thy heart, know then that the\nangel of righteousness is with thee.\nWherefore hearken to this angel\nand to his works.\n\n11 Learn also the works of the\nangel of iniquity. He is first of\nall bitter, and angry, and foolish;\nand his works are pernicious, and\noverthrow the servants of God.\nWhen therefore these things come\ninto thine heart; thou shalt know\nby his works, that this is the angel\nof iniquity.\n\n12 And I said unto him, Sir,\nhow shall I understand these\nthings? Hear, says he, and\nunderstand; When anger overtakes\nthee, or bitterness, know that he is\nin thee:\n\n13 As also, when the desire of\nmany things, and of the best meats,\nand of drunkenness; when the\nlove of what belongs to others,\npride, and much speaking, and\nambition; and the like things,\ncome upon thee.\n\n14 When therefore these things\narise in thine heart, know that the\nangel of iniquity is with thee.\nSeeing therefore thou knowest his\nworks, depart from them all, and\ngive no credit to him: because his\nworks are evil, and become not the\nservants of God.\n\n15 Here therefore thou hast\nthe works of both these angels.\nUnderstand now and believe the\nangel of righteousness, because\nhis instruction is good.\n\n16 For let a man be never so\nhappy; yet if the thoughts of the\nother angel arise in his heart, that\nman or woman must needs sin.\n\n17 But let man or woman be\nnever so wicked, if the works of\nthe angel of righteousness come\ninto their hearts, that man or\nwoman must needs do some good.\n\n18 Thou seest therefore how\nit is good to follow the angel of\nrighteousness. If therefore thou\nshall follow him, and submit to\nhis works, thou shalt live unto God.\nAnd as many as shall submit to\nhis work shall live also unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND VII.\n\n That we must fear God but not the Devil.\n\nFEAR God, says he, and keep\nhis commandments. For if\nthou keepest his commandments\nthou shalt be powerful in every\nwork, and all thy works shall be\nexcellent. For by fearing God,\nthou shalt do everything well.\n\n2 This is that tear with which\nthou must be affected that thou\nmayest be saved. But fear not\nthe Devil: for if thou fearest the\nLord, thou shalt have dominion\nover him; because there is no\npower in him.\n\n3 Now if there be no power in\nhim, then neither is he to be\nfeared: for every one that has\npower, is to be feared. But he\nthat has no power is despised by\nevery one.\n\n4 Fear the works of the Devil,\nbecause they are evil. For by\nfearing the Lord, thou wilt fear\nand do not the works of the Devil,\nbut keep thyself from them.\n\n5 There is therefore a twofold\nfear; if thou wilt not do evil, fear\nthe Lord and thou shalt not do it.\nBut if thou wilt do good, the fear\nof the Lord is strong, and great\nand glorious.\n\n6 Wherefore, fear God and thou\nshalt live: and whosoever shall\nfear him, and keep his commandments,\ntheir life is with the Lord.\nBut they who keep them not,\nneither is there life in them.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND VIII.\n\n That we must flee from evil, and do good works.\n\nI HAVE told thee, said he,\nthat there are two kinds of\ncreatures of the Lord, and that\nthere is a two-fold abstinence.\nFrom some things therefore thou\nmust abstain, and from others not.\n\n2 I answered, Declare to me,\nsir, from what I must abstain, and\nfrom what not. Hearken, said he,\nKeep thyself from evil, and do it\nnot; yet abstain not from good,\nbut do it. For if thou shalt abstain\nfrom what is good, and not do it,\nthou shalt sin. Abstain therefore\nfrom all evil, and thou shalt know\nall righteousness.\n\n3 I said, What evil things are\nthey from which I must abstain?\nHearken, said he; from adultery,\nfrom drunkenness, from riots, from\nexcess of eating, from daintiness\nand dishonesty, from pride, from\nfraud, from lying, from detraction,\nfrom hypocrisy, from remembrance\nof injuries, and from all evil\nspeaking.\n\n4 For these are the works of\niniquity, from which the servant\nof God must abstain. For he that\ncannot keep himself from these\nthings, cannot live unto God.\n\n5 But hear, said he, what\nfollows of these kind of things:\nfor indeed many more there are\nfrom which the servant of God must\nabstain. From theft, and cheating;\nfrom false witness, from covetousness,\nfrom boasting, and all other things\nof the like nature.\n\n6 Do these things seem to thee\nto be evil or not? Indeed they\nare very evil to the servants of\nGod, Wherefore the servant of\nGod must abstain from all these\nworks.\n\n7 Keep thyself therefore from\nthem, that thou mayest live unto\nGod, and be written among those\nthat abstain from them. And thus\nhave I shown thee what things\nthou must avoid: now learn from\nwhat thou must not abstain.\n\n8 Abstain not from any good\nworks, but do them. Hear, said\nhe, what the virtue of those good\nworks is which thou must do, that\nthou mayest be saved. The first\nof all is faith; the fear of the\nLord; charity; concord; equity;\ntruth; patience; chastity.\n\n9 There is nothing better than\nthese things in the life of men;\nwho shall keep and do these\nthings in their life. Hear next\nwhat follow these.\n\n10 To minister to the widows;\nnot to despise the fatherless and\npoor; to redeem the servants of\nGod from necessity; to be hospitable\n(for in hospitality there is\nsometimes great fruit); not to be\ncontentious, but be quiet.\n\n11 To be humble above all men;\nto reverence the aged; to labour\nto be righteous; to respect the\nbrotherhood; to bear affronts; to\nbe long-suffering; not to cast\naway those that have fallen from\nthe faith, but to convert them, and\nmake them be of good cheer: to\nadmonish sinners; not to oppress\nthose that are our debtors; and all\nother things of a like kind.\n\n12 Do these things seem to thee\nto be good or not? And I said,\nWhat can be better than these\nwords? Live then, said he, in\nthese commandments, and do not\ndepart from them. For if thou\nshalt keep all these commandments,\nthou shalt live unto God. And all\nthey that shall keep these\ncommandments shall live unto God.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND IX.\n\n That we must ask of God daily;\n and without doubting.\n\nAGAIN he said unto me; remove from\nthee all doubting; and question\nnothing at all when thou askest\nany thing of the Lord; saying\nwithin thyself, how shall I\nbe able to ask any thing of the\nLord and receive it, seeing I have\nso greatly sinned against him?\n\n2 Do not think thus, but turn\nunto the Lord with all thy heart,\nand ask of him without doubting,\nand thou shalt know the mercy of\nthe Lord; bow that he will not\nforsake thee, but will fulfil the\nrequest of thy soul.\n\n3 For God is not as men, mindful\nof the injuries he has received;\nbut he forgets injuries, and has\ncompassion upon his creature.\n\n4 Wherefore purify thy heart\nfrom all the vices of this present\nworld; and observe the commands\nI have before delivered unto thee\nfrom God; and thou shall receive\nwhatsoever good things thou shalt\nask, and nothing shall be wanting\nunto thee of all thy petitions; if\nthou shalt ask of the Lord without\ndoubting.\n\n5 But they that are not such,\nshall obtain none of those things\nwhich they ask. For they that are\nfull of faith, ask all things with\nconfidence, and receive from the\nLord, because they ask without\ndoubting. But he that doubts,\nshall hardly live unto God, except\nhe repent.\n\n6 Wherefore purify thy heart\nfrom doubting, and put on faith,\nand trust in God, and thou shall\nreceive all that thou shalt ask.\nBut if thou shouldest chance to\nask something, and not immediately\nreceive it, yet do not therefore\ndoubt, because thou hast not\npresently received the petition\nof thy soul.\n\n7 For it may be thou shalt not\npresently receive it for thy trial,\nor else for some sin which thou\nknowest not. But do not thou\nleave off to ask, and then thou\nshalt receive. Else if thou shalt\ncease to ask, thou must complain\nof thyself, and not of God, that he\nhas not given unto thee what thou\ndidst desire.\n\n8 Consider therefore this doubting\nhow cruel and pernicious it is;\nand how it utterly roots out many\nfrom the faith, who were very\nfaithful and firm. For this doubting\nis the daughter of the Devil, and\ndeals very wickedly with the\nservants of God.\n\n9 Despise it therefore, and thou\nshalt rule over it on every occasion.\nPut on a firm and powerful faith:\nfor faith promises all things\nand perfects all things. But\ndoubting will not believe that it\nshall obtain any thing by all that\nit can do.\n\n10. Thou seest therefore, says\nhe, how faith cometh from above\nfrom God; and hath great power.\nBut doubting is an earthly spirit,\nand proceedeth from the Devil,\nand has no strength.\n\n11 Do thou therefore keep the\nvirtue of faith, and depart from\ndoubting, in which is no virtue,\nand thou shalt live unto God. And\nall shall live unto God, as many\nas do these things.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND X.\n\n Of the sadness of the heart; and that\n we must take, heed not to grieve the\n spirit of God that is in us.\n\nPUT all sadness far from thee;\nfor it is the sister of doubting\nand of anger. How, sir, said I\nis it the sister of these? For\nsadness, and anger, and doubting,\nseem to me to be very different\nfrom one another.\n\n2 And he answered: Art thou\nwithout sense that thou dost not\nunderstand it? For sadness is the\nmost mischievous of all spirits,\nand the worst to the servants of\nGod: It destroys the spirits of all\nmen, and torments the Holy Spirit,\nand it saves again.\n\n3 Sir, said I, I am very foolish,\nand understand not these things.\nI cannot apprehend how it can\ntorment, and yet save. Hear, said\nhe, and understand. They who\nnever sought out the truth, nor\ninquired concerning the majesty\nof God, but only believed, are\ninvolved in the affairs of the\nheathen.\n\n4 And there is another lying\nprophet that destroys the minds\nof the servants of God; that is\nof those that are doubtful, not of\nthose that fully trust in the Lord.\nNow those doubtful persons come\nto him, as to a divine spirit, and\ninquire of him what shall befall\nthem.\n\n5 And this lying prophet, having\nno power in him of the Divine\nSpirit, answers them according to\ntheir demands, and fills their souls\nwith promises according as they\ndesire. Howbeit that prophet is\nvain, and answers vain things to\nthose who are themselves vain.\n\n6 And whatsoever is asked of\nhim by vain men, he answers them\nvainly; nevertheless he speaketh\nsome things truly. For the Devil\nfills him with his spirit, that he\nmay overthrow some of the\nrighteous.\n\n7 Whosoever therefore are\nstrong in the faith of the Lord,\nand have put on the truth; they\nare not joined to such spirits, but\ndepart from them. But they that\nare doubtful, and often repenting,\nlike the heathens, consult them,\nand heap up to themselves great\nsin, serving idols.\n\n8 As many therefore as are\nsuch, inquire of them upon every\noccasion; worship idols, and are\nfoolish; and void of the truth.\nFor every spirit that is given\nfrom God needs not to be asked:\nbut having the power of divinity\nspeaks all things of itself,\nbecause he comes from above;\nfrom the power of God.\n\n10 But he, that being asked\nspeaks according to men's desires\nand concerning many other affairs\nof this present world, understands\nnot the tidings which relate unto\nGod. For these spirits are darkened\nthrough such affairs, and corrupted,\nand broken.\n\n11 As good vines if they are\nneglected, are oppressed with weeds\nand thorns, and at last killed by\nthem; so are the men who believe\nsuch spirits.\n\n12 They fall into many actions\nand businesses, and are void of\nsense, and when they think of\nthings pertaining unto God, they\nunderstand nothing at all; but\nat any time they chance to hear\nany thing concerning the Lord,\ntheir thoughts are upon their\nbusiness.\n\n13 But they that have the fear\nof the Lord, and search out the\ntruth concerning God, having all\ntheir thoughts towards the Lord;\napprehend whatsoever is said to\nthem, and forthwith understand\nit, because they have the fear\nof the Lord in them.\n\n14 For where the spirit of the\nLord dwells, there is also much\nunderstanding added. Wherefore\njoin thyself to the Lord, and thou\nshalt understand all things.\n\n15 Learn now, O unwise man!\nhow sadness troubleth the Holy\nSpirit, and how it saves. When\na man that is doubtful is engaged\nin any affair, and does not\naccomplish it by reason of his\ndoubting; this sadness enters\ninto him, and grieves the Holy\nSpirit, and makes him sad.\n\n16 Again anger, when it over.\ntakes any man for any business he\nis greatly moved; and then again\nsadness entereth into the heart of\nhim, who was moved with anger,\nand he is troubled for what he hath\ndone, and repenteth, because he\nhath done amiss.\n\n17 This sadness therefore seemeth\nto bring salvation, because he\nrepenteth of his evil deed. But\nboth the other things, namely,\ndoubting and sadness, such as\nbefore was mentioned, vex the\nspirit: doubting, because his\nwork did not succeed; and sadness,\nbecause he angered the Holy Spirit.\n\n18 Remove therefore sadness\nfrom thyself, and afflict not the\nHoly Spirit which dwelleth in\nthee, lest he entreat God, and\ndepart from thee. For the spirit\nof the Lord which is given to\ndwell in the flesh, endureth no\nsuch sadness.\n\n19 Wherefore clothe thyself\nwith cheerfulness, which has always\nfavour with the Lord, and thou shalt\nrejoice in it. For every cheerful\nman does well; and relishes those\nthings that are good, and despises\nsadness.\n\n20 But the sad man does always\nwickedly. First, he doth wickedly,\nbecause he grieveth the Holy Spirit,\nwhich is given to man being of a\ncheerful nature. And again he does\nill, because be prays with sadness\nunto the Lord, and maketh not first\na thankful acknowledgment unto him\nof former mercies, and obtains not\nof God what he asks.\n\n21 For the prayer of a sad man\nhas not always efficacy to come up\nto the altar of God. And I said\nunto him, Sir, why has not the\nprayer of a sad man virtue to come\nup to the altar of God? Because,\nsaid he, that sadness remaineth in\nhis heart.\n\n22 When therefore a man's\nprayer shall be accompanied with\nsadness, it will not suffer his\nrequests to ascend pure to the altar\nof God. For as wine when it is\nmingled with vinegar, has not the\nsweetness it had before; so sadness\nbeing mixed with the Holy Spirit,\nsuffers not a man's prayer to be\nthe same as it would be otherwise.\n\n23 Wherefore cleanse thyself\nfrom sadness, which is evil, and\nthou shalt live unto God. And all\nothers shall live unto God, as many\nas shall lay aside sadness, and put\non cheerfulness.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND XI.\n\n That the spirits and prophets are to be\n tried by their works; and of a twofold, spirit.\n\nHE showed me certain men\nsitting upon benches, and\none sitting in a chair: and he said\nunto me; Seest thou those who sit\nupon the benches? Sir, said I,\nI see them. He answered, They\nare the faithful; and he who sits\nin the chair is an earthly spirit.\n\n2 For he cometh not into the\nassembly of the faithful, but avoids\nit. But he joins himself to the\ndoubtful and empty; and prophesies\nto them in corners and hidden places;\nand pleases them by speaking according\nto all the desires of their hearts.\n\n3 For he placing himself among\nempty vessels, is not broken, but\nthe one fitteth the other. But\nwhen he cometh into the company\nof just men, who are full of the\nspirit of God, and they pray unto\nthe Lord; that man is emptied,\nbecause that earthly spirit flies\nfrom him, and he is dumb, and\ncannot speak anything.\n\n4 As if in a store-house you\nshall stop up wine or oil, and\namong those vessels place an\nempty jar; and when afterwards\nyou come to open it, you shall\nfind it empty as you stopped it up;\nso those empty prophets when\nthey come among the spirits of\nthe just, are found to be such as\nthey came.\n\n5 I said, How then shall a\nman be able to discern them?\nConsider what I am going to say\nconcerning both kinds of men;\nand as I speak unto thee so shalt\nthou prove the prophet of God,\nand the false prophet.\n\n6 And first try the man who\nhath the spirit of God, because\nthe spirit which is from above is\nhumble, and quiet, and departs\nfrom all wickedness; and from the\nvain desires of the present world;\nand makes himself more humble\nthan all men; and answers to none\nwhen he is asked; nor to every\none singly: for the Spirit of God\ndoth not speak to a man when he\nwill, but when God pleases.\n\n7 When therefore a man who hath\nthe Spirit of God hath come into\nthe church of the righteous, who\nhave the faith of God, and they\npray unto the Lord; then the holy\nangel of God fills that man with\nthe blessed Spirit, and he speaks\nin the congregation as he is moved\nof God.\n\n8 Thus therefore is the spirit,\nof God known, because whosoever\nspeaketh by the Spirit of God,\nspeaketh as the Lord will.\n\n9 Hear now concerning the\nearthly spirit, which is empty and\nfoolish, and without virtue. And\nfirst of all the man who is supposed\nto have the Spirit, (whereas he hath\nit not in reality), exalteth himself,\nand desires to have the first seat,\nand is wicked, and full of words.\n\n10 And spends his time in pleasure,\nand in all manner of voluptuousness,\nand receives the reward of his\ndivination; which if he receives\nnot, he does not divine.\n\n11 Should the Spirit of God\nreceive reward, and divine? It doth\nnot become a prophet of God so to\ndo.\n\n12 Thus you seethe life of each\nof these kind of prophets. Wherefore\nprove that man by his life and works,\nwho says that he hath the Holy Spirit.\nAnd believe the Spirit which comes\nfrom God, and has power as such.\nBut believe not the earthly and\nempty spirit, which is from the\ndevil, in whom there is no faith\nnor virtue.\n\n13 Hear now the similitude\nwhich I am about to speak unto\nthee. Take a stone, and throw it\nup towards heaven; or take a\nspout of water, and mount it up\nthitherward; and see if thou\ncanst reach unto heaven.\n\n14 Sir; said I, how can this be\ndone? For neither of those things\nwhich you have mentioned, are\npossible to be done. And he\nanswered, Therefore as these things\ncannot be done, so is the earthy\nspirit without virtue, and without\neffect.\n\n15 Understand yet farther the\npower which cometh from above,\nin this similitude. The grains of\nhail that drop down are exceedingly\nsmall; and yet when they fall upon\nthe head of a man, how do they\ncause pain to it.\n\n16 And again, consider, the\ndroppings of a house; how the\nlittle drops falling upon the earth,\nwork a hollow in the stones.\n\n17 So in like manner the least\nthings which come from above,\nand fall upon the earth, have great\nforce. Wherefore join thyself\nto this spirit, which has the\npower; and depart from the other\nwhich is empty.\n\n\n\nCOMMAND XII.\n\n Of a two fold desire: that the commands of God,\n are not impossible: and that the devil is not\n to be feared by them that believe.\n\nAGAIN he said unto me;\nremove from thee all evil\ndesires, and put on good and\nholy desires. For having put on a\ngood desire, thou shalt hate that\nwhich is evil, and bridle it as thou\nwilt. But an evil desire is dreadful,\nand hard to be tamed.\n\n2 It is very horrible and wild;\nand by its wildness consumes men.\nAnd especially if a servant of God\nshall chance to fall into it, except\nhe be very wise, he is ruined by\nit. For it destroys those who have\nnot the garment of a good desire\nand are engaged in the affairs of\nthis present world; and delivers\nthem unto death.\n\n3 Sir, said I, what are the works\nof an evil desire, which bring men\nunto death? Shew them to me that\nI may depart from them. Hear, said he,\nby what works an evil desire bringeth\nthe servants of God unto death.\n\n4 First of all, it is an evil desire\nto covet another man's wife, or\nfor a woman to covet another's\nhusband; as also to desire the\ndainties of riches; and multitude\nof superfluous meats; and drunkenness;\nand many delights.\n\n5 For in much delicacy there is\nfolly; and many pleasures are\nneedless to the servants of God.\nSuch lusting therefore is evil and\npernicious, which brings to death\nthe servants of God. For all such\nlusting is from the devil.\n\n6 Whosoever therefore shall\ndepart from all evil desires,\nshall live unto God; but they\nthat are subject unto them shall\ndie forever. For this evil lusting\nis deadly. Do thou therefore put\non the desire of righteousness,\nand being armed with the fear of\nthe Lord resist all wicked lusting.\n\n7 For this fear dwelleth in good\ndesires; and, when evil coveting\nshall see thee armed with the fear\nof the Lord, and resisting it; it\nwill fly far from thee, and not\nappear before thee, but be afraid\nof thy armour.\n\n8 And thou shall have the victory,\nand be crowned for it; and shall\nattain to that desire which is\ngood; and shall give the victory\nwhich thou hast obtained unto\nGod, and shall serve him in doing\nwhat thou thyself wouldest do.\n\n9 For if thou shalt serve good\ndesires, and be subject to them;\nthen thou shalt be able to get the\ndominion over thy wicked lustings;\nand they will be subject to thee,\nas thou wilt.\n\n10 And I said, Sir, I would\nknow how to serve that desire\nwhich is good? Hearken, said he,\nFear God, and put thy trust in\nhim, and love truth, and\nrighteousness, and do that\nwhich is good.\n\n10 If thou shalt do these things,\nthou shall be an approved servant\nof God, and serve him; and all\nothers who shall in like manner\nserve a good desire, shall live unto\nGod.\n\n12 And when he had fulfilled\nthese twelve commands, he said\nunto me, Thou hast now these\ncommands, walk in them; and exhort\nthose that hear them, to repent,\nand that they keep their\nrepentance pure all the\nremaining days of their life.\n\n13 And fulfil diligently this\nministry which I commit to thee,\nand thou shalt receive great\nadvantage by it, and find favour\nwith all such as shall repent\nand believe thy words. For I am\nwith thee, and will force them\nto believe.\n\n14 And I said unto him, Sir,\nthese commands are great and\nexcellent, and able to cheer the\nheart of that man that shall be\nable to keep them. But, Sir,\nI cannot tell, whether they can\nbe observed by any man?\n\n15 He answered, Thou shalt\neasily keep these commands, and\nthey shall not be hard: howbeit,\nif thou shalt suffer it once to\nenter into thine heart that they\ncannot be kept by any one, thou\nshalt not fulfil them.\n\n16 But now I say unto thee,\nif thou shalt not observe these\ncommands, and shall neglect them,\nthou shalt not be saved, nor thy\nchildren, nor thy house: because\nthou hast judged that these\ncommands cannot be kept by man.\n\n17 These things he spake\nvery angrily unto me, insomuch\nthat he greatly affrighted me,\nfor he changed his countenance\nso that a man could not bear his\nanger.\n\n18 And when he saw me altogether\ntroubled and confounded, he began\nto speak more moderately and\ncheerfully, saying, O foolish,\nand without understanding!\n\n19 Unconstant, not knowing\nthe majesty of God how great and\nwonderful he is; who created the\nworld for man, and hath made\nevery creature subject unto him;\nand given him all power, that he\nshould be able to fulfil all these\ncommands.\n\n20 He is able, said he, to fulfil\nall these commands, who has the\nLord in his heart; but they who\nhave the Lord only in their mouths,\ntheir hearts are hardened, and\nthey are far from the Lord: to\nsuch persons these commands are\nhard and difficult.\n\n21 Therefore, ye that are empty\nand light in the faith, put the\nLord your God in your hearts;\nand ye shall perceive how that\nnothing is more easy than these\ncommands, nor more pleasant, nor\nmore gentle and holy.\n\n22 And turn yourselves to the\nLord your God, and forsake the\ndevil and his pleasures, because\nthey are evil, and bitter, and\nimpure. And fear not the devil,\nbecause he has no power over you.\n\n23 For I am with you, the\nmessenger of repentance, who have\nthe dominion over him. The devil\ndoth indeed affright men but his\nterror is vain. Wherefore fear\nhim not, and he will flee from you.\n\n24 And I said unto him; Sir,\nhear me speak a few words unto\nyou. He answered, Say on: A\nman indeed desires to keep the\ncommandments of God, and there\nis no one but what prays unto God,\nthat he may be able to keep his\ncommandments;\n\n25 But the devil is hard, and\nby his power rules over the servants\nof God. And he said; He cannot\nrule over the servants of God,\nwho trust in him with all their\nhearts.\n\n26 The devil may strive, but he\ncannot overcome them.\n\n27 For if ye resist him, he will\nflee away with confusion from you.\nBut they that are not full in the\nfaith, fear the devil, as if he had\nsome great power. For the devil\ntries the servants of God and if he\nfinds them empty, he destroys\nthem.\n\n28 For as man, when he fills up\nvessels with good wine, and among\nthem puts a few vessels half full,\nand comes to try and taste of the\nvessels, doth not try those that are\nfull, because he knows that they\nare good, but tastes those that are\nhalf full, lest they should grow\nsour; (for vessels half full soon\ngrow sour, and lose the taste of\nwine:) so the devil comes to the\nservants of God to try them.\n\n29 They that are full of faith\nresist him stoutly, and he departs\nfrom them, because he finds no\nplace where to enter into them\nthen he goes to those that are not\nfull of faith, and because he has a\nplace of entrance he goes into\nthem, and does what he will with\nthem, and they become his servants.\n\n30 But I, the messenger of\nrepentance, say unto you, fear not\nthe devil, for I am sent unto you,\nthat I may be with you, as many\nas shall repent with your whole\nheart, and that I may confirm you\nin the faith.\n\n31 Believe therefore, ye who\nby reason of your transgressions\nhave forgot God and your own\nsalvation; and adding to your\nsins have made your life very\nheavy.\n\n32 That if ye shall turn to the\nLord with your whole hearts, and\nshall serve him according to his\nwill; he will heal you of your\nformer sins, and ye shall have\ndominion over all the works of the\ndevil.\n\n33 Be not then afraid in the\nleast of his threatenings, for they\nare without force, as the nerves of\na dead man. But hearken unto\nme, and fear the Lord Almighty,\nwho is able to save and to destroy\nyou; and keep his commands, that\nye may live unto God.\n\n34 And I said unto him; Sir,\nI am now confirmed in all the\ncommands of the Lord whilst you\nare with me, and I know that you\nwill break all the powers of the\ndevil.\n\n35 And we also shall overcome\nhim, if we shall be able, through\nthe help of the Lord, to keep these\ncommands which you have delivered.\n\n36 Thou shalt keep them, said\nhe, if thou shalt purify thy heart\ntowards the Lord. And all they\nalso shall keep them who shall\ncleanse their hearts from the vain\ndesires of the present world, and\nshall live unto God.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n THE THIRD PART OF THE\n BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS SIMILITUDES.\n\n\nSIMILITUDE I.\n\n That seeing we have no abiding city in this world,\n we ought to look after that which is to come.\n\nAND he said onto me; Ye know\nthat ye who are the servants\nof the Lord, live here as in\na pilgrimage; for your city\nis far off from this city.\n\n2 If, therefore, ye know your\ncity in which ye are to dwell,\nwhy do ye here buy estates, and\nprovide yourselves with delicacies,\nand stately buildings, and\nsuperfluous houses? For he that\nprovides himself these things\nin this city, does not think\nof returning into his own city.\n\n3 O foolish, and doubtful, and\nwretched man; who understandest\nnot that all these things belong\nto other men, and are under the\npower of another. For the Lord\nof this city saith unto thee;\nEither obey my laws, or depart\nout of my city.\n\n4 What therefore shalt thou do\nwho art subject to a law in thine\nown city? Canst thou for thy\nestate, or for any of those things\nwhich thou hast provided, deny\nthy law? But if thou shalt deny\nit, and wilt afterwards return into\nthy own city, thou shalt not be\nreceived, but shall be excluded\nthence.\n\n5 See therefore, that like a man\nin another country, thou procure\nno more to thyself than what is\nnecessary, and sufficient for thee;\nand be ready, that when the God\nor Lord of this city shall drive\nthee out of it thou mayest oppose\nhis law, and go into thine own\ncity; where thou mayest with all\ncheerfulness live according to\nthine own law with no wrong.\n\n6 Take heed therefore ye that\nserve God, and have him in your\nhearts: work ye the works of\nGod, being mindful both of his\ncommands and of his promises,\nwhich he has promised; and be\nassured that he will make them\ngood unto you; if ye shall keep\nhis commandments.\n\n7 Instead therefore of the\npossessions that ye would otherwise\npurchase, redeem those that are\nin want from their necessities,\nas every one is able; justify the\nwidows; judge the cause of the\nfatherless; and spend your riches\nand your wealth in such works as\nthese.\n\n8 For this end has God enriched\nyou, that ye might fulfil these\nkind of services. It is much\nbetter to do this, than to buy lands\nor houses; because all such things\nshall perish with this present time.\n\n9 But what ye shall do for the\nname of the Lord, ye shall find\nin your city, and shall have joy\nwithout sadness or fear. Wherefore\ncovet not the riches of the heathen;\nfor they are destructive to the\nservants of God.\n\n10 But trade with your own riches\nwhich you possess, by which ye may\nattain unto everlasting joy.\n\n11 And do not commit adultery,\nnor touch any other man's wife,\nnor desire her; but covet that\nwhich is thy own business, and\nthou shalt be saved.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE II.\n\n As the vine is supported by the elm,\n so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor.\n\nAS I was walking into the field,\nand considered the elm and\nthe vine, and thought with myself\nof their fruits, an angel appeared\nunto me, and said unto me; What\nis it that thou thinkest upon thus\nlong within thyself?\n\n2 And I said unto him, Sir, I\nthink of this vine and this elm\nbecause their fruits are fair.\nAnd he said unto me; These two\ntrees are set for a pattern to\nthe servants of God.\n\n3 And I said unto him, Sir, I\nwould know in what the pattern\nof these trees which thou mentionest,\ndoes consist. Hearken, saith he;\nseest thou this vine and this\nelm? Sir, said I, I see them.\n\n4 This vine, saith he, is fruitful,\nbut the elm is a tree without fruit.\nNevertheless this vine unless it\nwere set by this elm, and supported\nby it, would not bear much\nfruit; but lying along upon the\nground, would bear but ill fruit,\nbecause it did not hang upon the\nelm; whereas, being supported\nupon the elm, it bears fruit both\nfor itself and for that.\n\n5 See, therefore, how the elm\ngives no less, but rather more\nfruit, than the vine. How, Sir,\nsaid I, does it bear more fruit\nthan the vine? Because, said he,\nthe vine being supported upon\nthe elm gives both much and good\nfruit; whereas, if it lay along\nupon the ground, it would bear\nbut little, and that very ill too.\n\n6 This similitude, therefore,\nis set forth to the servants of God;\nand it represents the rich and poor\nman. I answered, Sir, make this\nmanifest unto me. Hear, said he;\nthe rich man has wealth: howbeit\ntowards the Lord he is poor; for\nhe is taken up about his riches,\nand prays but little to the Lord;\nand the prayers which he makes\nare lazy and without force.\n\n7 When therefore, the rich man\nreaches out to the poor those\nthings which he wants, the poor\nman prays unto the Lord for the\nrich; and God grants unto the\nrich man all good things, because\nthe poor man is rich in prayer;\nand his requests have great power\nwith the Lord.\n\n8 Then the rich man ministers\nall thing to the poor, because he\nperceives that he is heard by the\nLord; and he the more willingly\nand without doubting, affords him\nwhat he wants, and takes care that\nnothing be lacking to him.\n\n9 And the poor man gives\nthanks unto the Lord for the rich;\nbecause they both do their work\nfrom the Lord.\n\n10 With men, therefore, the\nelm is not thought to give any\nfruit; and they know not, neither\nunderstand that its company being\nadded to the vine, the vine bears a\ndouble increase, both for itself and\nfor the elm.\n\n11 Even so the poor praying\nunto the Lord for the rich, are\nheard by him; and their riches\nare increased, because they minister\nto the poor of their wealth.\nThey are, therefore, both made\npartakers of each other's good\nworks.\n\n12 Whosoever, therefore, shall\ndo these things, he shall not be\nforsaken by the Lord, but shall be\nwritten in the book of life.\n\n13 Happy are they who are rich,\nand perceive themselves to be\nincreased: for he that is sensible\nof this, will be able to minister\nsomewhat to others.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE III.\n\n As the great trees in the winter cannot be\n distinguished from the dry; so neither can the\n righteous from the wicked in this present world.\n\nAGAIN he showed me many\ntrees whose leaves were shed,\nand which seemed to me to be\nwithered, for they were all alike.\nAnd he said unto me, Seest thou\nthese trees? I said, Sir, I see that\nthey look like dry trees.\n\n2 He answering, said unto me;\nThese trees are like unto the men\nwho live in the present world. I\nreplied: Sir, why are they like\nunto dried trees? Because, said\nhe, neither the righteous, nor\nunrighteous, are known from one\nanother; but all are alike in this\npresent world.\n\n3 For this world is as the winter\nto the righteous men, because\nthey are not known, but dwell\namong sinners.\n\n4 As in the winter all the trees\nhaving lost their leaves, are like\ndry trees; nor can it be discerned\nwhich are dry and which are green:\nso in this present world neither\nthe righteous, nor wicked are\ndiscerned from each other; but they\nare all alike.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE IV.\n\n As in the summer the living trees are distinguished\n from the dry by their fruit and green leaves;\n so in the world to come the righteous shall be\n distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness.\n\nAGAIN he showed me many\nother trees, of which some\nhad leaves, and others appeared\ndry and withered. And he said\nunto me, Seest thou these trees\nI answered, Sir, I see them; some\nare dry, and others full of leaves.\n\n2 These trees, saith be, which\nare green, are the righteous, who\nshall possess the world to come.\nFor the world to come, is the summer\nto the righteous; but to sinners\nit is the winter.\n\n3 When, therefore, the mercy\nof the Lord shall shine forth, then\nthey who serve God shall be made\nmanifest, and plain unto all. For\nas in the summer the fruit of every\ntree is shown and made manifest.\nso also the works of the righteous\nshall be declared and made manifest,\nand they shall all be restored\nin that world merry and joyful.\n\n4 For the other kind of men,\nnamely the wicked, like the trees\nwhich thou rawest dry, shall, as\nsuch, be found dry and without\nfruit in that other world; and like\ndry wood shall be burnt; and it\nshall be made manifest that they\nhave done evil all the time of their\nlife;\n\n5 And they shall be burnt because\nthey have sinned and have not\nrepented of their sins. And\nalso all the other nations shall\nbe burnt, because they have not\nacknowledged God their Creator.\n\n6 Do then, therefore, bring forth\ngood fruit, that in the summer thy\nfruit may be known; and keep\nthyself from much business, and\nthou shalt not offend. For they\nwho are involved in much business,\nsin much; because they are taken\nup with their affairs, and\nserve not God.\n\n7 And how can a man that does\nnot serve God, ask anything of\nGod, and receive it? But they\nwho serve him, ask and receive\nwhat they desire.\n\n8 But if a man has only one\nthing to follow, he may serve God,\nbecause his mind is not taken off\nfrom God, but he serves him with\na pure mind.\n\n9 If, therefore, thou shalt do\nthis, thou mayest have fruit in\nthe world to come; and as many as\nshall do in like manner, shall\nbring forth fruit.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE V.\n Of a true fast, and the rewards of it:\n also of the cleanliness of the body.\n\nAS I was fasting, and sitting\ndown in a certain mountain,\nand giving thanks unto God for all\nthe things that he had done unto\nme; behold, I saw the Shepherd,\nwho was wont to converse with\nme, sitting by me, and saying\nunto me: What has brought thee\nhither thus early in the morning?\nI answered, Sir, to-day I keep a\nstation.\n\n2 He answered, What is a station;\nI replied, it is a fast. He said,\nWhat is that fast? I answered,\nI fast as I have been wont to\ndo. Ye know not, said he, what\nit is to fast unto God; nor is this\na fast which ye keep, profiting\nnothing with God.\n\n3 Sir, said I, what makes you\nspeak thus? He replied, I speak\nit, because it is not the true fast\nwhich you think that you keep;\nbut I will show you what that is\nwhich is a complete fast, and\nacceptable unto God.\n\n4 Hearken, said he, The Lord\ndoes not desire such a needless\nfast; for by fasting in this manner,\nthou advancest nothing in\nrighteousness.\n\n5 But the true fast is this: Do\nnothing wickedly in thy life, but\nserve God with a pure mind; and\nkeep his commandments, and walk\naccording to his precepts, nor\nsuffer any wicked desire to enter\ninto the mind.\n\n6 But trust in the Lord, that if\nthou dost these things, any fearest\nhim, and abstaineth from every\nevil work, thou shall live unto\nGod.\n\n7 If thou shalt do this, thou\nshall perfect a great fast, and an\nacceptable one unto the Lord.\n\n8 Hearken unto the similitude\nwhich I am about to propose\nunto thee, as to this matter.\n\n9 A certain man having a farm,\nand many servants, planted a vineyard\nin a certain part of his estate for\nhis posterity:\n\n10 And taking a journey into\na far country, chose one of his\nservants which he thought the most\nfaithful and approved, and delivered\nthe vineyard into his care;\ncommanding him that he should\nstake up the vines. Which if he\ndid, and fulfilled his command, he\npromised to give him his liberty.\nNor did he command him to do\nany thing more; and so went into\na far country.\n\n11 And after that servant had\ntaken that charge upon him, he\ndid whatsoever his lord commanded\nhim. And when he had staked the\nvineyard, and found it to be full\nof weeds, he began to think within\nhimself, saying:\n\n12 I have done what my lord\ncommanded me, I will now dig\nthis vineyard, and when it is digged,\nit will be more beautiful; and the\nweeds being pulled up, it will\nbring forth more fruit and not be\nchoked by the weeds.\n\n13 So setting about this work\nhe digged it, and plucked up all\nthe weeds that were in it; and so\nthe vineyard became very beautiful\nand prosperous, not being choked\nwith weeds.\n\n14 After some time the lord of\nthe vineyard comes and goes into\nthe vineyard, and when he saw\nthat it was handsomely staked and\ndigged, and the weeds plucked up\nthat were in it, and the vines\nflourishing, he rejoiced greatly at\nthe care of his servant.\n\n15 And calling his son whom\nhe loved, and who was to be his\nheir, and his friends with whom\nhe was wont to consult; he tells\nthem what he had commanded his\nservant to do, and what his\nservant had done more; and they\nimmediately congratulated that\nservant, that he had received so\nfull a testimony from his lord.\n\n16 Then he said to them, I\nindeed promised this servant his\nliberty, if he observed the command\nwhich I gave him; and he observed it,\nand besides has done a good work\nto my vineyard, which has exceedingly\npleased me.\n\n17 Wherefore, for this work\nwhich he hath done, I will make\nhim my heir together with my\nson; because that when he saw\nwhat was good, he neglected it\nnot, but did it.\n\n18 This design of the lord both\nhis son and his friends approved,\nnamely, that his servant should be\nheir together with his son.\n\n19 Not long after this the master\nof the family calling together, his\nfriends, sent from his supper several\nkinds of food to that servant.\n\n20 Which when he had received,\nhe took so much of them as was\nsufficient for himself, and divided\nthe rest among his fellow-servants.\n\n21 Which when they had received,\nthey rejoiced; and wished that\nhe might find yet greater favour\nwith his lord, for what he had\ndone to them.\n\n22 When his lord heard all these\nthings, he was again filled with\ngreat joy: and calling again his\nfriends and his son together, he\nrelated to them what his servant\nhad done with the meats which he\nhad sent unto him.\n\n23 They therefore so much the\nmore assented to the master of the\nhousehold; and he ought to make\nthat servant his heir together with\nhis son.\n\n24 I said unto him, sir, I know\nnot these similitudes, neither can\nI understand them, unless you\nexpound them unto me. I will,\nsays he, expound, all things unto\nthee whatsoever I have talked with\nthee, or shown unto thee.\n\n25 Keep the commandments of\nthe Lord and thou shalt be approved,\nand shall be written in the number\nof those that keep his commandments.\nBut if besides those things which\nthe Lord hath commanded, thou shalt\nadd some good thing; thou shall\npurchase to thyself a greater dignity,\nand be in more favour with the Lord\nthan thou shouldst otherwise have been.\n\n26 If therefore thou shalt keep\nthe commandments of the Lord,\nand shalt add to them these stations,\nthou shall rejoice; but especially\nif thou shalt keep them according\nto my commands.\n\n27 I said unto him, sir, whatsoever\nthou shall command me, I will observe;\nfor I know that thou wilt be with me.\nI will, said he, be with thee who hast\ntaken up such a resolution; and I will\nbe with all those who purpose in like\nmanner.\n\n28 This fast, saith he, whilst\nthou dost also observe the\ncommandments of the Lord, is\nexceeding good; therefore thus\nshalt thou keep it.\n\n29 First of all, take heed to\nthyself, and keep thyself from every\nwicked act, and from every filthy\nword, and from every hurtful desire;\nand purify thy mind from all the\nvanity of this present world. If\nthou shalt observe these things,\nthis fast shall be right.\n\n30 Thus therefore do. Having\nperformed what is before written,\nthat day on which thou fastest\nthou shalt taste nothing at all but\nbread and water; and computing\nthe quantity of food which thou\nart want to eat upon other days,\nthou shalt lay aside the expense\nwhich thou shouldest have made\nthat day, and give it unto the\nwidow, the fatherless, and the\npoor.\n\n31 And thus thou shalt perfect\nthe humiliation of thy soul; that\nhe who receives of it may satisfy\nhis soul, and his prayer come up\nto the Lord God for thee.\n\n32 If therefore thou shalt thus\naccomplish thy fast, as I command\nthee, thy sacrifice shall be\nacceptable unto the Lord, and thy\nfast shall be written in his book.\n\n33 This station, thus performed,\nis good and pleasing and acceptable\nunto the Lord. These things if thou\nshalt observe with thy children and\nwith all thy house, thou shalt\nbe happy.\n\n34 And whosoever, when they\nhear these things, shall do them,\nthey also shall be happy; and\nwhatsoever they shall ask of the\nLord they shall receive it.\n\n35 And I prayed him that he\nwould expound unto me the similitude\nof the farm, and the Lord, and of\nthe vineyard, and of the servant\nthat had staked the vineyard;\nand of the weeds that were\nplucked out of the vineyard; and\nof his son and his friends which\nhe took into counsel with him;\nfor I understand that that was\na similitude.\n\n36 He said unto me, Thou art\nvery bold in asking; for thou\noughtest not to ask any thing;\nbecause if it be fitting to show it\nunto thee, it shall be showed unto\nthee.\n\n37 I answered him; Sir, whatsoever\nthou shalt show me, without explaining\nit unto me, I shall in vain see it,\nif I do not understand what it is.\nAnd if thou shalt propose any\nsimilitudes, and not expound them,\nI shall in vain hear them.\n\n38 He answered me again, saying:\nWhosoever is the servant of God,\nand has the Lord in his heart,\nhe desires understanding of him,\nand receives it; and he explains\nevery similitude, and understands\nthe words of the Lord which need\nan inquiry.\n\n39 But they that are lazy and\nslow to pray, doubt to seek from\nthe Lord: although the Lord be of\nsuch an extraordinary goodness,\nthat without ceasing he giveth all\nthings to them that ask of him.\n\n40 Thou therefore who art\nstrengthened by that venerable\nmessenger, and hast received such\na powerful gift of prayer; seeing\nthou art not slothful, why dost\nthou not now ask understanding of\nthe Lord, and receive it?\n\n41 I said unto him; seeing I\nhave thee present, it is necessary\nthat I should seek it of thee, and\nask thee; for thou shewest all\nthings unto me, and speakest to\nme when thou art present.\n\n42 But if I should see or hear\nthese things when thou wert not\npresent, I would then ask the Lord\nthat he would chew them unto me.\n\n43 And he replied, I said a\nlittle before that thou wert subtle\nand bold, in that thou asketh the\nmeaning of these similitudes.\n\n44 But because thou still persistest,\nI will unfold to thee this parable\nwhich then desirest, that thou mayest\nmake it known unto all men.\n\n45 Hear, therefore, said he,\nand understand. The farm before\nmentioned denotes the whole earth.\nThe Lord of the farm is he, who\ncreated and finished all things;\nand gave virtue unto them.\n\n46 His son is the Holy Spirit;\nthe servant is the Son of God: the\nvineyard is the people whom he\nsaves. The stakes are the messengers\nwhich are set oven them by the Lord,\nto support his people. The weeds\nthat are plucked up out of the\nvineyard, are the sins which\nthe servants of God had\ncommitted.\n\n47 The food which he sent him\nfrom his supper, are the commands\nwhich he gave to his people by his\nSon. The friends whom he called\nto counsel with him, are the holy\nangels whom he first created. The\nabsence of the master of the household,\nis the time that remains unto\nhis coming.\n\n48 I said unto him, Sir, all\nthese things are very excellent,\nand wonderful, and good. But,\ncontinued I, could I or any other\nman besides, though never so wise,\nhave understood these things?\n\n49 Wherefore now, sir, tell me,\nwhat I ask. He replied, ask me\nwhat thou wilt. Why, said I, is\nthe Son of God in this parable,\nput in the place of a servant.\n\n50 Hearken, he said: the Son\nof God is not put in the condition\nof a servant, but in great power\nand authority. I said unto him,\nhow, sir? I understand it not.\n\n51 Because, said he, the Son set\nhis messengers over those whom\nthe Father delivered unto him, to\nkeep every one of them; but he\nhimself laboured very much, and\nsuffered much, that he might blot\nout their offences.\n\n52 For no vineyard can be digged\nwithout much labour and pains.\nWherefore having blotted out the\nsins of his people, he showed to\nthem the paths of life, giving\nthem the law which he had\nreceived of the Father.\n\n53 You see, said he, that he is\nthe Lord of his people, having\nreceived all power from his Father.\nBut why the lord did take his\nson into counsel, about dividing\nthe inheritance, and the good\nangels, hear now.\n\n54 That Holy Spirit, which was\ncreated first of all, he placed in the\nbody in which God should dwell;\nnamely, in a chosen body, as it\nseemed good to him. This body\ntherefore into which the Holy\nSpirit was brought, served that\nSpirit, walking rightly and purely\nin modesty; nor ever defiled that\nSpirit.\n\n55 Seeing therefore the body at\nall times obeyed the Holy Spirit,\nand laboured rightly and chastely\nwith him, nor faltered at anytime;\nthat body being wearied conversed\nindeed servilely, but being\nmightily approved to God with\nthe Holy Spirit, was accepted by\nhim.\n\n56 For such a stout course\npleased God, because he was not\ndefiled in the earth, keeping the\nHoly Spirit. He called therefore\nto counsel his Son, and the good\nangels, that there might be some\nplace of standing given to this\nbody which had served the Holy\nSpirit without blame; lest it\nshould seem to have lost the\nreward of its service.\n\n57 For every pure body shall\nreceive its reward; that is found\nwithout spot, in which the Holy\nSpirit has been appointed to dwell.\nAnd thus you have now the exposition\nof this parable also.\n\n58 Sir, said I, I now understand\nyour meaning, since I have heard\nthis exposition. Hearken farther,\nsaid he: keep this thy body clean\nand pure, that the Spirit which\nshall dwell in it may bear witness\nunto it, and be judged to have\nbeen with thee.\n\n59 Also take heed that it be not\ninstilled into thy mind that this\nbody perishes, and thou abuse it\nto any lust. For if thou shalt\ndefile thy body, thou shalt also at\nthe same time defile the Holy\nSpirit; and if thou shalt defile\nthe Holy Spirit, thou shall not\nlive.\n\n60 And I said, What if through\nignorance this should have been\nalready committed, before a man\nheard these words; How can he\nattain into salvation, who has thus\ndefiled his body?\n\n61 He replied, As for men's former\nactions which through ignorance\nthey have committed, God only can\nafford a remedy unto them; for all\nthe power belongeth unto him.\n\n62 But now guard thyself; and\nseeing God is almighty and merciful,\nhe will grant a remedy to what thou\nhast formerly done amiss, if for the\ntime, to come thou shalt not defile\nthy body and spirit:\n\n63 For they are companions together,\nand the one cannot be defiled but the\nother will be so too. Keep therefore\nboth of them pure, and thou shalt\nlive unto God.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE VI.\n\n Of two sorts of voluptuous men, and of\n their death and defection; and of the\n continuance of their pains.\n\nAS I was sitting at home, and\npraising God for all the things\nwhich I had seen; and was thinking\nconcerning the commands, that they\nwere exceedingly good, and great,\nand honest, and pleasant, and\nsuch as were able to bring a man\nto salvation; I said thus within\nmyself, I shall be happy if I walk\naccording to these commands; and\nwhosoever shall walk in them shall\nlive unto God.\n\n2 Whilst I was speaking on this\nwise within myself, I saw him\nwhom I had before been wont to\nsee, sitting by me; and he spake\nthus unto me:\n\n3 What doubtest thou concerning\nmy commands which I have delivered\nunto thee? They are good, doubt not,\nbut trust in the Lord, and thou shalt\nwalk in them; for I will give thee\nstrength to fulfil them.\n\n4 These commands are profitable\nto those who shall repent of the\nsins which they have formerly\ncommitted; if for the time to come\nthey shall not continue in them.\n\n5 Whosoever therefore ye be\nthat repent, cast away from you\nthe naughtiness of the present\nworld; and put on all virtue, and\nrighteousness, and so shall ye be\nable to keep these commands;\nand not sin from henceforth any\nmore.\n\n6 For if ye shall keep yourselves\nfrom sin for the time to come,\nye shall cut off a great deal\nof your former sins. Walk in my\ncommands, and ye shall live unto\nGod: These things have I spoken\nunto you.\n\n7 And when he, had said this,\nhe added; let us go into the field,\nand I will show thee shepherds of\nsheep. I replied, sir, let us go.\n\n8 And we came into a certain\nfield, and there he showed me a\nyoung shepherd, finely arrayed,\nwith his garments of a purple\ncolour. And he fed large flocks;\nand his sheep were full of pleasure,\nand in much delight and cheerfulness;\nand they skipping, ran here and there.\n\n9 And the shepherd took very\ngreat satisfaction in his flock; and\nthe countenance of that shepherd\nwas cheerful, running up and down\namong his flock.\n\n10 Then the angel said unto\nme, Seest then this shepherd?\nI answered, sir, I see him.\nHe said unto me, this is the\nmessenger of delight and pleasure.\nHe therefore corrupts the minds\nof the servants of God, and turns\nthem from the truth, delighting them\nwith many pleasures, and they perish.\n\n11 For they forget the commands\nof the living God, and live in\nluxury and in vain pleasures,\nand are corrupted by the evil\nangel, some of them even unto\ndeath; and others to a falling\naway.\n\n12 I replied; I understand not\nwhat you mean, by saying unto\ndeath, and to a falling away.\nHear, says he; all those sheep\nwhich thou sawest exceeding\njoyful, are such as have for ever\ndeparted from God, and given\nselves up to the lusts of this\npresent time.\n\n13 To these therefore there is\nno return, by repentance, unto\nlife; because, to their other sins\nthey have added this, that they\nhave blasphemed the name of the\nlord: These kind of men are\nordained unto death.\n\n14 But those sheep which thou\nsawest not leaping, but feeding in\none place; are such as have indeed\ngiven themselves up to pleasure\nand delights; but have not spoken\nanything wickedly against the Lord.\n\n15 These therefore are only\nfallen off from the truth, and so\nhave yet hope laid up for them in\nrepentance. For such a falling off\nhath some hope still left of a\nrenewal; but they that are dead,\nare utterly gone for ever.\n\n16 Again we went a little farther\nforward, and he showed me a great\nshepherd, who had as it were a rustic\nfigure; clad with a white goat's skin,\nhaving his bag upon his shoulder,\nand in his hand a stick full of knots,\nand very hard, and a whip in his other\nhand; and his countenance was stern and\nsour, enough to affright a man;\nsuch was his look.\n\n17 He took from that young\nshepherd such sheep as lived in\npleasures, but did not skip up and\ndown; and drove them into a\ncertain steep craggy place fall of\nthorns and briars, insomuch that\nthey could not get themselves free\nfrom them:\n\n18 But being entangled in them,\nfed upon thorns and briars, and\nwere grievously tormented with\nhis whipping. For he still drove\nthem on, and afforded them not\nany place, or time, to stand still.\n\n19 When therefore I saw them so\ncruelly whipped and afflicted,\nI was grieved for them; because\nthey were greatly tormented, nor\nhad they any rest afforded them.\n\n20 And I said unto the shepherd\nthat was with me: Sir, who is this\ncruel and implacable shepherd, who\nis moved with no compassion towards\nthese sheep? He answered, This\nshepherd is indeed one of the holy\nangels, but is appointed for the\npunishment of sinners.\n\n21 To him therefore are delivered\nthose who have erred from God,\nand served the lusts and pleasures\nof this world. For this cause he\npunishes them every one according\nto their deserts, with cruel and\nvarious kinds of pains.\n\n22 Sir, said I, I would know\nwhat kind of pains they are which\nevery one undergoes? Hearken,\nsaid he; The several pains and\ntorments are those which men\nevery day undergo in their present\nlives. For some suffer losses;\nothers poverty; others divers\nsicknesses. Some are unsettled; others\nsuffer injuries from those that are\nunworthy; others fall under many\nother trials and inconveniences.\n\n23 For many with an unsettled\ndesign at many things, and it\nprofiteth them not; and they say\nthat they have not success in their\nundertakings.\n\n24 They do not call to their\nmind what they have done amiss,\nand they complain of the Lord.\nWhen therefore they shall have\nundergone all kind of vexation\nand inconvenience; then they are\ndelivered over to me for good\ninstruction, and are confirmed\nin the Faith of the Lord, and\nserve the Lord all the rest of\ntheir days with a pure mind.\n\n25 And when they begin to repent\nof their sins, then they call to\nmind their works which they have\ndone amiss, and give honour to\nGod, saying, that he is a just\nJudge, and they have deservedly\nsuffered all things according to\ntheir deeds.\n\n26 Then for what remains of\ntheir lives, they serve God with a\npure mind; and have success in\nall their undertakings, and receive\nfrom the Lord whatever they desire.\n\n27 And then they give thanks\nunto the Lord that they were\ndelivered unto me; nor do they\nsuffer any more cruelty.\n\n28 I said unto him; Sir, I entreat\nyou still to show me now one thing.\nWhat, said he, dost thou ask?\nI said unto him; Are they who\ndepart from the fear of God,\ntormented for the same time that\nthey enjoyed their false delight\nand pleasures? He answered me;\nthey are tormented for the same\ntime.\n\n29 And I said unto him; They\nare then tormented but little;\nwhereas they who enjoy their\npleasures so as to forget God,\nought to endure seven times as\nmuch punishment.\n\n30 He answered me; Thou art\nfoolish, neither understandest thou\nthe efficacy of this punishment.\nI said unto him; Sir, if I understood\nit, I would not desire you to tell me.\n\n31 Hearken, said he, and learn\nwhat the force of both is, both of\nthe pleasure and of the punishment.\nAn hour of pleasure is terminated\nwithin its own space: but one hour\nof punishment has the efficacy of\nthirty days. Whosoever therefore\nenjoys his false pleasure for one day,\nand is one day, tormented; that one\nday of punishment is equivalent to\na whole year's space.\n\n32 Thus look how many days\nany one pursues his pleasures, so\nmany years is he punished for it.\nYou see therefore how that the\ntime of worldly enjoyments is but\nshort; but that of pain and torments,\na great deal more.\n\n33 I replied; Sir, forasmuch as\nI do not understand at all these\ntimes of pleasure and pain; I\nentreat you that you would explain\nyourself more clearly concerning\nthem. He answered me, saying;\nThy foolishness still sticks unto\nthee.\n\n34. Shouldst thou not rather\npurify thy mind, and serve God?\nTake heed, lest when thy time is\nfulfilled, thou be found still\nunwise. Hear then, as thou desirest,\nthat thou mayest the more easily\nunderstand.\n\n35 He that gives himself up one\nday to his pleasures and delights,\nand does whatsoever his soul desires,\nis full of great folly, nor understands\nwhat he does, but the day following\nforgets what he did the day before.\n\n36 For delight and worldly\npleasure are not kept in memory,\nby reason of the folly that is rooted\nin them. But when pain and torment\nbefall a man a day, he is in effect\ntroubled the whole year after;\nbecause his punishment continues\nfirm in his memory.\n\n37 Wherefore he remembers it\nwith sorrow the whole year; and\nthen calls to mind his vain pleasure\nand delight, and perceives that for\nthe sake of that he was punished.\n\n38 Whosoever therefore have\ndelivered themselves over to such\npleasures, are thus punished; because\nthat when they had life, they rendered\nthemselves liable to death.\n\n39 I said unto him; Sir, what\npleasures are hurtful? He answered;\nThat is pleasure to every man\nwhich he doth willingly.\n\n40 For the angry man, gratifying\nhis passion, perceives pleasure\nin it; and so the adulterer, and\ndrunkard; the slanderer and liar;\nthe covetous man and the defrauder;\nand whosoever commits anything like\nunto these, he followeth his evil\ndisposition, because he receives\na satisfaction in the doing of it.\n\n41 All these pleasures and delights\nare hurtful to the servants of God.\nFor these therefore they are tormented\nand suffer punishment.\n\n42 There are also pleasures that\nbring salvation unto men. For many,\nwhen they do what is good, find\npleasure in it, and are attracted\nby the delights of it.\n\n43 Now this pleasure is profitable\nto the servants of God, and brings\nlife to such men; but those hurtful\npleasures, which were before mentioned,\nbring torments and punishment.\n\n44 And whosoever shall continue\nin them, and shall not repent of\nwhat they have done, shall bring\ndeath upon themselves.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE VII.\n\n That they who repent, must bring forth,\n fruits worthy of repent once.\n\nAFTER a few days I saw the\nsame person that before talked\nwith me, in the same field, in\nwhich I had seen those shepherds,\nAnd he said unto me; What seekest\nthou? Sir, said I, I came to entreat\nyou that You would command the\nshepherd, who is the minister of\npunishment, to depart out of my\nhouse, because he greatly afflicts\nme.\n\n3 And he answered, It is necessary\nfor thee to endure inconveniencies\nand vexations; for so that good angel\nhath commanded concerning thee,\nbecause he would try thee.\n\n4 Sir, said I; What so great\noffence have I committed, that I\nshould be delivered to this messenger?\nHearken, said he: Thou art indeed\nguilty of many sins, yet not so\nmany that thou shouldest be\ndelivered to this messenger.\n\n5 But thy house hath committed\nmany sins and offences, and therefore\nthat good messenger being grieved\nat their doings commanded that for\nsome time thou shouldst suffer\naffliction; that they may both\nrepent of what they have done, and\nmay wash themselves from all the\nlusts of this present world.\n\n6 When therefore they shall have\nrepented, and be purified, then that\nmessenger which is appointed over\nthy punishment, shall depart from\nthee.\n\n7 I said unto him; Sir, if they\nhave behaved themselves so as to\nanger that good angel, yet what\nhave I done? He answered: They\ncannot otherwise be afflicted,\nunless thou, who art the head\nof the family, suffer.\n\n8 For whatsoever thou shalt\nsuffer, they must needs feel it\nbut as long as thou shalt stand\nwell established, they cannot\nexperience any vexation.\n\n9 I replied; But, sir, behold\nthey also now repent with all their\nhearts. I know, says he, that they\nrepent with all their hearts; but\ndost thou therefore think that their\noffences who repent, are immediately\nblotted out.\n\n10 No, they are not presently;\nbut he that repents must afflict his\nsoul and show himself humble in\nall his affairs, and undergo many\nand divers vexations.\n\n11 And when he shall have suffered\nall things that were appointed for him;\nthen perhaps HE that made him, and\nformed all things besides, will be\nmoved with compassion towards him,\nand afford him some remedy; and\nespecially if HE shall perceive\nhis heart who repents, to be free\nfrom every evil work.\n\n12 But at present it is expedient\nfor thee, and for thy house, to be\ngrieved; and it is needful that\nthou shouldst endure much vexation,\nas the angel of the Lord who committed\nthee unto me, has commanded.\n\n13 Rather give thanks unto the\nLord, that knowing what was to\ncome he thought thee worthy, to\nwhom he should foretell that trouble\nwas coming upon thee, who art able\nto bear it.\n\n14 I said unto him; Sir, but be\nthou also with me, and I shall\neasily undergo any trouble. I will,\nsaid he, be with thee; and I will\nentreat the messenger who is set\nover thy punishment, that he\nwould moderate his afflictions\ntowards thee.\n\n15 And moreover thou shalt\nsuffer adversity but for a little\ntime; and then thou shalt again\nbe restored to thy former state;\nonly continue on in the humility\nof thy mind.\n\n16 Obey the Lord with a pure\nheart; thou, and thy house, and\nthy children; and walk in the\ncommands which I have delivered\nunto thee; and then thy repentance\nmay be firm and pure.\n\n17 And if thou shalt keep\nthese things with thy house, thy\ninconveniencies shall depart from thee.\n\n18 And all vexation shall in like\nmanner depart from those, whosoever\nshall walk according to these commands.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE VIII.\n\n That there are many kinds of elect, and of\n repenting sinners: and how all of these shall\n receive a reward proportionable to the measure\n of their repentance and good works.\n\nAGAIN he showed me a willow\nwhich covered the fields and\nthe mountains, under whose shadow\ncame all such as were called by\nthe name of the Lord.\n\n2 And by that willow stood an.\nangel of the Lord very excellent\nand lofty, and did cut down bows\nfrom the willow with a great\nhook; and reached out to the people\nthat were under the shadow of the\nwillow, little rods, as it were\nabout a foot long.\n\n3 And when all of them had\ntaken them, he laid aside his hook,\nand the tree continued entire, as I\nhad before seen it; at which I\nwondered, and mused within myself.\n\n4 Then that shepherd said unto\nme; Forbear to wonder that the\ntree continues whole,\nnot-with-standing so many boughs have\nbeen cut off from it: but stay a\nlittle, for now it shall be shown\nthee, what that angel means, who\ngave those rods to the people.\n\n5 So he again demanded the\nrods of them; and in the same\norder that every one had received\nthem, was he called to him, and\nrestored his rod; which when he\nhad received, he examined them.\n\n6 From some he received them\ndry and rotten, and as it were\ntouched with the moth; those he\ncommanded to be separated from\nthe rest, and placed by themselves.\nOthers gave in their rods dry\nindeed, but not touched with the\nmoth: these also he ordered to be\nset by themselves.\n\n7 Others gave in their rods half\ndry; these also were set apart,\nOthers gave in their rods half dry\nand cleft; these too were set by\nthemselves. Others brought in\ntheir rods half dry and half green,\nand these were in like manner\nplaced by themselves.\n\n8 Others delivered up their rods\ntwo parts green, and the third\ndry; and they too were set apart.\nOthers brought their rods two\nparts dry, and the third green;\nand were also placed by themselves.\n\n9 Others delivered up their rods\nless dry (for there was but a very\nlittle, to wit, their tops dry), but\nthey had clefts, and these were set\nin like manner by themselves. In\nthe rods of others there was but a\nlittle green, and the rest dry; and\nthese were set aside by themselves.\n\n10 Others came, and brought\ntheir rods green as they had\nreceived them, and the greatest\npart of the people brought their\nrods thus; and the messenger\ngreatly rejoiced at these, and they\nalso were put apart by themselves.\n\n11 Others brought in their rods\nnot only green, but full of branches;\nand these were set aside, being\nalso received by the angel\nwith great joy. Others brought\ntheir rods green with branches,\nand those also some fruit upon\nthem.\n\n12 They who had such rods,\nwere very cheerful; and the angel\nhimself took great joy at them;\nnor was the shepherd that stood\nwith me, less pleased with them.\n\n13 Then the angel of the Lord\ncommanded crowns to be brought,\nand the crowns were brought made\nof palms; and the angel crowned\nthose men in whose rods he found\nthe young branches with fruit, and\ncommanded them to go into the\ntower.\n\n14 He also sent those into the\ntower, in whose hands he found\nbranches without fruit, giving a\nseal unto them. For they had the\nsame garment, that is, one white\nas snow; with which he bade them\ngo into the tower And so he did\nto those who returned their rods\ngreen as they had received them;\ngiving them a white garment, and\nso sent them away to go into the\ntower.\n\n15 Having done this, he said to\nthe shepherd that was with me,\nI go my way; but do thou send\nthese within the walls, every one\ninto the place in which he has\ndeserved to dwell; examining first\ntheir rods, but examine them\ndiligently that no one deceive thee;\nand if any one shall escape thee,\nI will try them upon the altar.\nHaving said this to the shepherd,\nhe departed.\n\n16 After he was gone, the shepherd\nsaid unto me; Let us take the rods\nfrom them, and plant them; if\nperchance they may grow green again.\nI said unto him; Sir, how can those\ndry rods ever grow green again?\n\n17 He answered me; That tree.\nis a willow, and always loves to\nlive. If therefore these rods shall\nbe planted, and receive a little\nmoisture, many of them will\nrecover themselves.\n\n18 Wherefore I will try, and\nwill pour water upon them, and if\nany of them can live, I will rejoice\nwith them; but if not, at least by\nthis means I shall be found not\nto have neglected my part.\n\n19 Then he commanded me to\ncall them; and they all came\nunto him, every one in the rank\nin which he stood, and gave him\ntheir rods; which having received\nhe planted every one of them in\ntheir several orders.\n\n20 And after he had planted\nthem all, he poured much water\nupon them, insomuch that they\nwere covered with water, and did\nnot appear above it. Then when\nhe had watered them, he said unto\nme; Let us depart, and after a\nlittle time we will return and visit\nthem.\n\n21 For he who created this tree,\nwould have all those live that\nreceived rods from it. And I hope\nnow that these rods are thus\nwatered, many of them receiving\nin the moisture, will recover:\n\n22 I said unto him, Sir, tell\nme what this tree denotes? For I\nam greatly astonished, that after\nso many branches have been cut\noff, it seems still to be whole:\nnor does there any thing the less\nof it appear to remain, which\ngreatly amazes me.\n\n23 He answered, Hearken. This\ngreat tree which covers the plains\nand the mountains, and all the\nearth, is the law of God, published\nthroughout the whole world.\n\n24 Now this law is the Son of\nGod, who is preached to all the\nends of the earth. The people\nthat stand under its shadow, are\nthose which have heard his preaching,\nand believed.\n\n25 The great and venerable\nangel which you saw, was Michael\nwho had the power over his people,\nand governs them. For he has\nplanted the law in the hearts\nof those who have believed: and\ntherefore he visits them to whom\nlie has given the law, to see if\nthey have kept it.\n\n26 And he examines every\none's rod; and of those, many that\nare weakened: for those rods are\nthe law of the Lord. Then he discerns\nall those who have not kept the law,\nknowing the place of every one of them.\n\n27 I said unto him, Sir, why\ndid he send away some to the\ntower, and left others here to you?\nHe replied, those who have\ntransgressed the law, which they\nreceived from him, are left in my\npower, that they may repent of\ntheir sins: but they who fulfilled\nthis law and kept it, are under his\npower.\n\n28 But who then, said I, are\nthose, who went into the tower\ncrowned? He replied, all such as\nhaving striven with the devil, have\novercome him, are crowned: and\nthey are those, who have suffered\nhard things, that they might keep\nthe law.\n\n29 But they who gave up their\nrods green, and with young\nbranches, but without fruit, have\nindeed endured trouble for the\nsame law, but have not suffered\ndeath; neither have they denied\ntheir holy law.\n\n30 They who delivered up their\nrods green as they received them,\nare those who were modest and\njust, and have lived with a\nvery pure mind, and kept the\ncommandments of God.\n\n31 The rest thou shalt know,\nwhen I shall have considered those\nrods which I have planted and\nwatered.\n\n32 After a few days we returned,\nand in the same place stood that\nglorious angel, and I stood by him.\nThen he said unto me; Gird thyself\nwith a towel, and serve me.\n\n33 And I girded myself with\na clean towel, which was made of\ncoarse cloth. And when he saw\nme girded, and ready to minister\nunto him, he said, Call those men\nwhose rods have been planted,\nevery one in his order as he\ngave them.\n\n34 And he brought me into the\nfield, and I called them all,\nand they all stood ready in their\nseveral ranks. Then he said unto\nthem; let every one pluck up his\nrod, and bring it unto me. And\nfirst they delivered theirs, whose\nrods had been dry and rotten.\n\n35 And those whose rods still\ncontinued so, he commanded to\nstand apart. Then they came\nwhose rods had been dry but not\nrotten. Some of these delivered.\nin their rods green; others dry\nand rotten, as if they had been\ntouched by the moth.\n\n36 Those who gave them up\ngreen, he commanded to stand\napart: but those whose rods were\ndry and rotten, he caused to stand\nwith the first sort. Then came\nthey whose rods had been half\ndry, and cleft: many of these\ngave up their rods green, and\nuncleft.\n\n37 Others delivered them up\ngreen with branches, like unto\ntheirs who went crowned into the\ntower. Others delivered them\nup dry, but not rotten; and some\ngave them up as they were before,\nall dry, and cleft.\n\n38 Every one of these he ordered\nto stand apart; some by themselves,\nothers in their respective ranks.\n\n32 Then came they whose rods\nhad been green, but cleft. These\ndelivered their rods altogether\ngreen, and stood in their own\norder. And the shepherd rejoiced\nat these, because they were all\nchanged, and free from their\nclefts.\n\n40 Then they gave in their rods,\nwho had them half green and\nhalf dry. Of these some were\nfound wholly green, others half\ndry: others green, with young\nshoots. And all these were sent\naway, every one to his proper\nrank.\n\n41 Then they gave up their\nrods, who had them before two\nparts green, and the third dry.\nMany of those gave in their rods\ngreen; many half dry; the rest\ndry but not rotten. So these were\nsent away, each to his proper\nplace.\n\n42 Then came they who before\nhad their rods two parts dry and\nthe third green; many of these\ndelivered up their rods half dry,\nothers dry and rotten; others half\ndry and cleft: but few green. And\nall these were set every one in his\nown rank.\n\n43 Then they reached in their\nrods, in which there was before\nbut a little green, and the rest\ndry. Their rods were for the\nmost part found green, having\nlittle boughs, with fruit upon\nthem; and the rest altogether\ngreen.\n\n44 And the shepherd upon sight\nof these rejoiced exceedingly,\nbecause he had found them thus;\nand they also went to their\nproper orders.\n\n45 Now after he had examined\nall their rods, he said unto me,\nI told thee that this tree loved\nlife thou seest how many have\nrepented, and attained unto\nsalvation. Sir, said I, I see it.\n\n46 That thou mightest know\nsaith he, that the goodness and\nmercy of the Lord is great, and\nto be had in honour; who gave\nhis spirit to them that were found\nworthy of repentance.\n\n47 I answered, Sir, why then\ndid not all of them repent? He\nreplied, Those whose minds the\nLords foresaw would be pure, and\nthat they would serve him with\nall their hearts, to them he gave\nrepentance.\n\n48 But for those whose deceit\nand wickedness he beheld, and\nperceived that they would not\ntruly return unto him; to them\nhe denied any return unto\nrepentance, lest they should again\nblaspheme his law with wicked\nwords.\n\n49 I said unto him; Now, Sir,\nmake known unto me, what is the\nplace of every one of those, who\nhave given up their rods, and\nwhat their portion; that when\nthey may have not kept their seal\nentire, but have wasted the seal\nwhich they received, shall hear\nand believe these thins, and may\nacknowledge their evil deeds and\nrepent;\n\n50 And receiving again their\nseal from you, may give glory to\nGod, that he was moved with\ncompassion towards them, and sent\nyou to renew their spirits.\n\n51 Hearken, said he; they\nwhose rods have been found\nand rotten, and as it were touched\nwith the moth; are the deserters\nand the betrayers of the church;\n\n52 Who with the rest of their\ncrimes, have also blasphemed the\nLord, and denied his name when\nhe had called upon them. Therefore\nall these are dead unto God\nand thou seest that none of them\nhave repented, although they\nhave heard my commands which\nthou hast delivered unto them.\nFrom these men therefore life is\nfar distant.\n\n53 They also who have delivered\nup their rods dry, but not rotten,\nhave not been far from them. For\nthey have been counterfeits,\nand brought in evil doctrines,\nand have perverted the servants\nof God, especially those\nwho had sinned; not suffering\nthem to return unto repentance,\nbut keeping them back by their\nfalse doctrines.\n\n54 These therefore have hope;\nand thou seest that many of them\nhave repented, since the time\nthat thou hast laid my commands\nbefore them; and many more\nwill yet repent. But they, that\nshall not repent; shall lose both\nrepentance and life.\n\n55 But they that have repented,\ntheir place is begun to be within\nthe first walls, and some of them\nare even gone into the tower.\nThou seest therefore, said he, that\nin the repentance of sinners there\nis life; but for those who repent\nnot, death is prepared.\n\n56 Hear now concerning\nthose who gave in their rods half\ndry and full of clefts. Those whose\nrods were only half dry, are the\ndoubtful; for they are neither\nliving nor dead.\n\n57 But they who delivered in\ntheir rods, not only half dry but\nalso full of clefts, are both doubtful\nand evil speakers; who detract from\nthose that are absent, and have\nnever peace among themselves,\nand who envy one another.\n\n58 Howbeit, to those also\nrepentance is offered; for thou\nseest that some of these have\nrepented.\n\n59 Now all those of this kind\nwho have quickly repented, shall\nhave a place in the tower; and\nthey who have been more slow in\ntheir repentance, shall dwell within\nthe walls: but they that shall\nnot repent, and shall continue on\nin their wicked doings, shall die\nthe death.\n\n60 As for those who had their\nrods green, but yet cleft; they\nare such as were always faithful\nand good, but they had some envy\nand strife among themselves\nconcerning dignity and pre-eminence.\n\n61 Now all such as are vain, and\nwithout understanding, contend\nwith one another about these\nthings.\n\n62 Nevertheless, seeing they\nare otherwise good, if when they\nshall hear these commands they\nshall amend themselves, and shall\nat my persuasion suddenly repent;\nthey shall at last dwell in the\ntower, like those who have truly\nand worthily repented.\n\n63 But if any one shall again\nreturn to his dissension; he shall\nbe shut out from the tower, and\nshall lose his life. For the life\nof those who keep the commandments\nof the Lord, consists in doing\nwhat they are commanded; not in\nprincipality, or in any other\ndignity.\n\n64 For by forbearance and humility\nof mind, men shall attain unto life;\nbut by seditions and contempt of the\nlaw, they shall purchase death unto\nthemselves.\n\n65 They who in their rods\nhad half dry and half green, are\nthose who are engaged in many\naffairs of the world, and are not\njoined to the saints. For which\ncause half of them liveth, and\nhalf is dead.\n\n66 Wherefore many of these\nsince the time that they have\nheard my commands, have repented,\nand begun to dwell in the tower.\nBut some of them have\nwholly fallen away; to these there\nis no more place for repentance.\n\n67 For by reason of their present\ninterests, they have blasphemed\nand denied God: and for this\nwickedness they have lost life.\nAnd of these many are still in\ndoubt, yet these may return; and\nif they shall quickly repent, they\nshall have a place in the tower;\nbut if they shall be more slow,\nthey shall dwell within the walls;\nbut if they shall not repent, they\nshall die.\n\n68 As for those who had two\nparts of their rods green, and the\nthird dry; they have by manifold\nways denied the Lord. Of these\nmany have repented, and found\na place in the tower: and many\nhave altogether departed from\nGod. These have utterly lost life.\n\n69 And some being in a doubtful\nstate, have raise up dissensions:\nthese may yet return, if they\nshall suddenly repent and not\ncontinue in their lusts; but if\nthey shall continue in their\nevil-doing they shall die.\n\n70 They who gave in their\nrods two parts dry, and the other\nbeen, are those who have indeed\nbeen faithful, but withal rich and\nfull of good things; and thereupon\nupon have desired to be famous\namong the heathen which are\nwithout, and have thereby fallen\ninto great pride, and begun to\naim at high matters, and to\nforsake the truth.\n\n71 Nor were they joined to the\nsaints, but lived with the heathen;\nand this life seemed the more pleasant\nto them. Howbeit they have not\ndeparted from God, but continued\nin the faith; only they have\nnot wrought the works of faith.\n\n72 Many therefore of these have\nrepented; and begun to dwell in\nthe tower. Yet others still living\namong the heathen people, and\nbeing lifted up with their vanities,\nhave utterly fallen away from\nGod, and followed the works and\nwickedness of the heathen.\nThese kind of men therefore are\nreckoned among strangers to the\nGospel.\n\n73 Others of these began to be\ndoubtful in their minds; despairing\nby reason of their wicked doings\never to attain unto salvation\nOthers being thus made doubtful,\ndid moreover stir up dissensions.\n\n74 To these therefore, and to\nthose who by reason of their doings\nare become doubtful, there is still\nhope of return; but they must repent\nquickly, that their place may be in\nthe tower. But they that repent not,\nand continue still in their pleasures,\nare nigh unto death.\n\n75 As for those who gave in\ntheir rods green, excepting their\ntops, which only were dry, and\nhad clefts; these were always\ngood, and faithful, and upright\nbefore God: nevertheless they\nsinned a little, by reason of their\nempty pleasures and trifling\nthoughts which they had within\nthemselves.\n\n76 Wherefore many of them\nwhen they heard my words,\nrepented forthwith, and began to\ndwell in the tower. Nevertheless\nsome grew doubtful, and others\nto their doubtful minds added\ndissensions. To these therefore\nthere is still hope of return,\nbecause they were always good;\nbut they shall not hardly be moved.\n\n77 As for those, lastly, who\ngave in their rods dry, their tops\nonly excepted, which alone were\ngreen; they are such as have\nbelieved indeed in God, but have\nlived in wickedness; yet without\ndeparting from God: having always\nwillingly borne the name of the\nLord, and readily received into\ntheir houses the servants of God.\n\n78 Wherefore hearing these\nthings they returned, and without\ndelay repented, and lived in all\nrighteousness. And some of them\nsuffered death: others readily\nunderwent many trials, being\nmindful of their evil doings.\n\n79 If And when he had ended\nhis explications of all the rods,\nhe said unto me, Go, and say unto\nall men that they repent, and they\nshall live unto God; because the\nLord being moved with great\nclemency hath sent me to preach\nrepentance unto all:\n\n80 Even unto those who by\nreason of their evil doings, deserve\nnot to attain unto salvation. But\nthe Lord will by patient, and keep\nthe invitation that was made by\nhis Son.\n\n81 I said unto him, sir, I hope\nthat all when they shall hear these\nthings, will repent. For I trust\nthat everyone acknowledging his\ncrimes, and taking up the fear\nof the Lord, will return unto\nrepentance.\n\n82 He said unto me, Whosoever\nshall repent with all their\nhearts, and cleanse themselves\nfrom all the evils that I have\nbefore mentioned, and not add\nanything more to their sins,\nshall receive from the Lord cure\nof their former iniquities, if they do\nnot make any doubt of these commands,\nand shall live unto God.\n\n83 But they that shall continue\nto add to their transgressions, and\nstill converse with the lusts of\nthe present world, shall condemn\nthemselves unto death. But do\nthou walk in these commands, and\nwhosoever shall Walk in these, and\nexercise them rightly, shall live\nunto God.\n\n84 And having showed me all\nthese things, he said; I will show\nthee the rest in a few days.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE IX.\n\n The greatest mysteries of the militant and\n triumphant Church which is to be built.\n\nAFTER I had Written the Commands\nand similitudes of the Shepherd,\nthe Angel of Repentance came unto\nme, and said to me, I will show\nthee all those things which the\nSpirit spake with thee under\nthe figure of the church. For\nthat Spirit is the Son of God.\n\n2 And because thou wert weak\nin body, it was not declared unto\nthee by the angel, until thou wert\nstrengthened by the Spirit, and\nincreased in force, that thou\nmightest also see the angel:\n\n3 For then indeed the building\nof the tower was very well and\ngloriously shown unto thee by the\nchurch; nevertheless thou sawest\nall things shown unto thee as it\nwere by a virgin.\n\n4 But now thou art enlightened\nby the angel, and yet by the same\nSpirit. But thou must consider\nall things diligently; for therefore\nam I sent into thy house by that\nvenerable messenger, that when\nthou shalt have seen all things\npowerfully, thou mayest not be\nafraid as before.\n\n5 And he led me to the height\nof a mountain in Arcadia, and we\nsat upon its top. And he showed\nme a great plain, and about it\ntwelve mountains in different\nfigures.\n\n6 The first was black as soot.\nThe second was smooth, without\nherbs. The third was full of\nthorns and thistles. The fourth\nhad herbs half dried; of which\nthe upper part was green, but that\nnext the root was dry; and some\nof the herbs, when the sun grew\nhot, were dry.\n\n7 The fifth mountain was very\nrugged; but yet had green herbs.\nThe sixth mountain was full of\nclefts, some lesser, and some\ngreater; and in these clefts grew\ngrass, not flourishing, but which\nseemed to be withering.\n\n8 The seventh mountain had\ndelightful pasture, and was wholly\nfruitful; and all kinds of cattle,\nand of the birds of heaven; fed\nupon it; and the more they fed\non it, the more and better did the\ngrass grow.\n\n9 The eighth mountain was full\nof fountains, and from those\nfountains were watered all kinds of\nthe creatures of Cod. The ninth\nmountain had no water at all, but\nwas wholly destitute of it; and\nnourished deadly serpents, very\ndestructive to men.\n\n10 The tenth mountain was full\nof tall trees, and altogether shady;\nand under the shade of them lay\ncattle resting and chewing the cud.\n\n11 The eleventh mountain was\nfull of the thickest trees, and\nthose trees seemed to be loaded\nwith several sorts of fruits; that\nwhosoever saw them could not choose\nbut desire to eat of their fruit.\n\n12 The twelfth mountain was\naltogether white, and of a most\npleasant aspect, and itself gave a\nmost excellent beauty to itself.\n\n13 In the middle of the plain\nhe showed me a huge white rock,\nwhich rose out of the plain, and\nthe rock was higher than those\nmountains, and was square; so\nthat it seemed capable of supporting\nthe whole world.\n\n14 It looked to me to be old,\nyet it had in it a new gate, which\nseemed to have been newly hewn\nout of it. Now that gate was\nbright beyond the sun itself;\ninsomuch, that I greatly wondered\nat its light.\n\n15 About the gate stood twelve\nvirgins; of which four that stood\nat the corners of the gate, seemed\nto me to be the chiefest, although\nthe rest were also of worth: and\nthey stood in the four parts of the\ngate.\n\n16 It added also to the grace of\nthose virgins, that they stood in\npairs, clothed with linen garments,\nand decently girded, their right\narms being at liberty, as if they\nwere about to lift up some burthen;\nfor so they were adorned, and were\nexceeding cheerful and ready.\n\n17 When I saw this, I wondered\nwith myself to see such great\nand noble things. And again I\nadmired upon the account of those\nvirgins, that they were so handsome\nand delicate; and stood with such\nfirmness and constancy, as if they\nwould carry the whole heaven.\n\n18 And as I was thinking thus\nwithin myself, the shepherd said\nunto me; What thickest thou within\nthyself? Why art thou disquieted,\nand fillest thyself with care?\n\n19 Do not seem to consider, as\nif thou wert wise, what thou doest\nnot understand, but pray unto the\nLord, that thou mayest have ability\nto understand it. What is to come\nthou canst not understand, but\nthou seest that which is before\nthee.\n\n20 Be not therefore disquieted\nat those things which thou canst\nnot see; but get the understanding\nof those which thou seest.\n\n21 Forbear to be curious; and\nI will show thee all things that I\nought to declare unto thee: but\nfirst consider what yet remains.\n\n22 And when he had said this unto\nme I looked up, and behold I saw\nsix tall and venerable men coming;\ntheir countenances were all alike,\nand they called a certain multitude\nof men; and they who came at their\ncall were also tall and stout.\n\n23 And those six commanded\nthem to build a certain tower over\nthat gate. And immediately there\nbegan to be a great noise of those\nmen running here and there about\nthe gate, who were come together\nto build the tower.\n\n24 But those virgins which stood\nabout the gate perceived that the\nbuilding of the tower was to be\nhastened by them. And they\nstretched out their hands, as if\nthey were to receive somewhat\nfrom them to do.\n\n25 Then those six men commanded,\nthat they should lift up stones\nout of a certain deep place,\nand prepare them for the building\nof the tower. And there were\nlifted up ten white stones, square,\nand not cut round.\n\n26 Then those six men called\nthe ten virgins to them, and\ncommanded them to carry all the\nstones that were to be put into\nthe building, and having carried\nthem through the gate to deliver\nthem to those that were about to\nbuild the tower.\n\n27 Immediately the virgins began\nall of them together to lift up\nthose stones, that were before\ntaken out of the deep.\n\n28 And they who also stood about\nthe gate did carry stones in such\na manner, that those stones which\nseemed to be the strongest were\nlaid at the corners, and the rest\nwere put into the sides;\n\n29 And thus they carried all the\nstones, and bringing them through\nthe gate delivered them to the\nbuilders, as they had been\ncommanded: who receiving them\nat their hands, built with them.\n\n30 But this building was made\nupon that great rock, and over the\ngate; and by these the whole tower\nwas supported. But the building\nof the ten stones filled the whole\ngate, which began to be made for\nthe foundation of that tower.\n\n31 After those ten stones did\nfive and twenty others rise up\nout of the deep; and these were\nplaced in the building of the same\ntower; being lifted up by those\nvirgins, as the others had been\nbefore.\n\n32 After these did fire and thirty\nothers rise up; and these were also\nin like manner fitted into the same\nwork. Then forty other stones were\nbrought up, and all these were added\nunto the building of that tower.\n\n33 So there began to be four\nranks in the foundation of that\ntower; and the stones ceased to\nrise out of the deep; and they\nalso which built rested a little.\n\n34 Again, those six men commanded\nthe multitude, that they should\nbring stones out of those twelve\nmountains to the building of the\nsame tower.\n\n35 So they cut out of all the\nmountains stones of divers colours,\nand brought them and gave them to\nthe virgins; which when they had\nreceived they carried them, and\ndelivered them into the building\nof the tower.\n\n36 In which when they were built\nthey became white, and different\nfrom what they were before; for\nthey were all alike, and did\nchange their former colours.\nAnd some were reached up by the\nmen themselves, which when they\ncame into the building, continued\nsuch is they were put in.\n\n37 These neither became white,\nnor different from what they were\nbefore; because they were not\ncarried by the virgins through\nthe gate. Wherefore these stones\nwere disagreeable in the building;\nwhich, when these six men perceived\nthey commanded them to be removed,\nand put again in the place from\nwhich they were brought.\n\n38 And they said to those who\nbrought these stones; Do not ye\nreach up to us any stones for this\nbuilding, but lay them down by\nthe tower, that these virgins may\ncarry them and reach them to us.\n\n39 For unless they shall be\ncarried by these virgins through\nthis gate, they cannot change their\ncolours: therefore do not labour\nin vain.\n\n40 So the building that day\nwas done; howbeit the tower was\nnot finished, for it was afterwards\nto be built; therefore now also\nthere was some delay made of it.\n\n41 And these six men commanded\nthose that built to depart, and\nas it were to rest for some time;\nbut they ordered those virgins\nthat they should not depart from\nthe tower; so now they seemed\nto me to be left for the guarding\nof it.\n\n42 When all were departed,\nI said unto the shepherd; Sir,\nwhy is not the building of the\ntower finished? Because it cannot,\nsaid he, be finished until its Lord\ncomes, and approves of the building;\nthat if he shall find any stones\nin it that are not good they may\nbe changed; for this tower is built\naccording to his will.\n\n43 Sir, said I, I would know\nwhat the building of this tower\nsignifies; as also I would be\ninformed concerning this rock,\nand this gate;\n\n44 And concerning the mountains,\nand the virgins, and the stones\nthat did rise out of the deep,\nand were not cut, but put into\nthe building just as they came\nforth; and why the ten stones\nwere first laid in the foundation;\nthen the twenty-five, then thirty-\nfive; then forty?\n\n45 Also concerning those stones\nthat were put into the building,\nand again taken out, and carried\nback into their places? Fulfil, I\npray, the desire of my soul as to\nall these things, and manifest all\nunto me.\n\n46 And he said unto me; If thou\nshalt not be dull, thou shall\nknow all, and shall see all the\nother things that are about to\nhappen in this, tower: and shall\nunderstand diligently all these\nsimilitudes.\n\n47 And after a few days we\ncame into the same place where\nwe had sat before; and he said\nunto me, Let us go unto the\ntower; for the Lord of it will\ncome and examine it.\n\n48 So we came thither, and\nfound none but those virgins there.\nAnd he asked them whether the\nLord of that tower was come\nthither? And they replied, that\nhe would be there presently to\nexamine the building.\n\n49 After a very little while I\nsaw a great multitude of men\ncoming, and in the middle of them\na man so tall, that he surpassed\nthe tower in height.\n\n50 About him were those six,\nwho before commanded in the\nbuilding, and all the rest of\nthose who had built that tower,\nand many others of great dignity:\nand the virgins that kept the tower\nran to meet him, and kissed him,\nand began to walk near unto him.\n\n51 But he examined the building\nwith so much care, that he handled\nevery stone; and struck every one\nwith a rod which he held in his hand:\n\n52 Of which some being so struck\nturned black as soot; others were\nrough; some looked as if they had\ncracks in them; others seemed maimed;\nsome neither black nor white; some\nlooked sharp, and agreed not with the\nother stones, and others were full\nof spots.\n\n53 These were the several kinds\nof those stones which were not\nfound proper in the building; all\nwhich the Lord commanded to be\ntaken out of the tower, and laid\nnear it, and other stones to be\nbrought and put in their places.\n\n54 And they that built, asked\nhim from which of the mountains\nhe would have stones brought to\nput in the place of those that were\nlaid aside. But he forbad them\nto bring any from the mountains,\nand commanded that they should\ntake them out of a certain field\nthat was near.\n\n55 So they digged in the field,\nand found many bright square\nstones, and some also that were\nround. Howbeit, all that were\nfound in that field were taken\naway, and carried through the\ngate by those virgins; and those\nof them that were square were\nfitted and put into the places of\nthose that were pulled out.\n\n56 But the round ones were not\nput into the building, because they\nwere hard, and it would have\nrequired too much time to cut them\nbut they were placed about the\ntower, as if they should hereafter\nbe cut square, and put into the\nbuilding; for they were very\nwhite.\n\n57 When he who was chief in\ndignity, and lord of the whole\ntower saw this, he called to him\nthe shepherd that was with me,\nand gave him the stones that were\nrejected and laid about the tower,\nand said unto him; cleanse these\nstones with all care, and fit them\ninto the building of the tower, that\nthey may agree with the rest; but\nthose that will not suit with the\nrest, cast away afar off from the\ntower.\n\n58 When he had thus commanded him,\nhe departed, with all those that\ncame with him to the tower but\nthose virgins still stood about\nthe tower to keep it.\n\n59 And I said unto that shepherd;\nHow can these stones, seeing they\nhave been rejected, return into\nthe building of this tower?\nHe replied; I will cut off the\ngreatest part from these stones,\nand will add them to the building,\nand they will agree with the rest.\n\n60 And I said, Sir, how will\nthey be able to fill the same place,\nwhen they shall be so much cut\naway? He answered; They that\nshall be found too little shall be\nput into the middle of the building,\nand the greater shall be placed\nwithout, and keep them in.\n\n61 When he had said thus unto\nme, he added; Let us go, and after\nthree days we will return, and\nI will put these stones, being\ncleansed, into the tower.\n\n62 For all these that are about\nthe tower must be cleansed, lest\nthe master of the house chance to\ncome upon the sudden, and find\nthose which are about the tower\nunclean; and be so exasperated\nthat these stones should never be\nput into the building of this tower,\nand I shall be looked upon to have\nbeen unmindful of my master's\ncommands.\n\n63 When therefore we came\nafter three days to the tower,\nhe said unto me; Let us examine\nall these stones, and let us see\nwhich of them may go into the\nbuilding. I answered, Sir,\nlet us see.\n\n64 And first of all we began\nto consider those which had been\nblack; for they were found just\nsuch as they were when they were\npulled out of the tower: wherefore\nhe commanded them to be removed\nfrom the tower and put by themselves.\n\n65 Then he examined those\nwhich had been rough; and commanded\nmany of those to be cut round, and\nto be fitted by the virgins into\nthe building of the tower; so they\ntook them, and fitted them into\nthe middle of the building and\nhe commanded the rest to be laid\nby with the black ones, for they\nalso were become black.\n\n66 Next he considered those\nwhich were full of cracks, and\nmany of those also he ordered to\nbe pared away, and so to be added\nto the rest of the building, by the\ncame virgins.\n\n67 These were placed without\nbecause they were found entire;\nbut the residue through the\nmultitude of their cracks could\nnot be reformed, and therefore\nwere cast away from the building\nof the tower.\n\n68 Then he considered those\nthat had been maimed; many of\nthese had cracks, and were become\nblack; others had large clefts;\nthese he commanded to be placed\nwith those that were rejected;\n\n69 But the rest being cleansed\nand reformed, he commanded to\nbe put into the building. These\ntherefore those virgins took up,\nand fitted into the middle of the\nbuilding, because they were but\nweak.\n\n70 After these he examined those\nwhich were found half white and\nhalf black, and many of those\nwhich were now black; these also\nhe ordered to be laid among\nthose that were cast away.\n\n\n71 The rest were found altogether\nwhite; those were taken up by the\nvirgins, and fitted into the same\ntower: and they were put in the\noutside, because they were found\nentire; that so they might keep\nin those that were placed in the\nmiddle, for nothing was cut off\nfrom them.\n\n72 Next he looked upon those\nwhich had been hard and sharp;\nbut few of these were made use of,\nbecause they could not be cut, for\nthey were found very hard: but\nthe rest were formed, and fitted by\nthe virgins into the middle of the\nbuilding, because they were more\nweak.\n\n73 Then he considered those\nwhich had spots; of these a few\nwere found black, and they were\ncarried to their fellows. The rest\nwere white and entire; and they\nwere fitted by the virgins into the\nbuilding, and placed in the outside,\nby reason of their strength.\n\n74 After this he came to\nconsider those stones which were\nwhite and round: and he said unto\nme, What shall we do with these\nstones? I answered, Sir, I cannot\ntell.\n\n75 He replied, Canst thou\nthink of nothing then for these?\nI answered, Sir, I understand not\nthis art; neither am I a stone-cutter,\nnor can I tell anything.\n\n76 And he said, seest thou not\nthat they are very round? Now\nto make them square, I must cut\noff a great deal from them; howbeit,\nit is necessary that some of these\nshould go into the building of the\ntower.\n\n77 I answered; If it be necessary,\nwhy do you perplex yourself, and\nnot rather choose, if you have\nany choice among them, and fit\nthem into the building.\n\n78 Upon this he chose out the\nlargest and brightest, and squared\nthem; which, when he had done\nthe virgins took them up, and\nfitted them into the building.\n\n79 And the rest that remained\nwere carried back into the same\nfield from which they were taken;\nhowbeit, they were not cast away;\nbecause, said he, there is yet a\nlittle wanting to this tower, which\nis to be built; and perhaps the\nLord will have these stones fitted\ninto this building, because they\nare exceeding white.\n\n80 Then there were called twelve\nvery stately women, clothed with\na black garment, girded, and their\nshoulders free, and their hair\nloose. These seemed to me to be\ncountry women.\n\n81 And the shepherd commanded\nthem to take up those stones\nwhich were cast out of the building,\nand carry them back to the mountains\nout of which they were taken.\n\n82 And they took them all up\njoyfully, and carried them back to\ntheir places from whence they had\nbeen taken.\n\n83 When not one stone remained\nabout the tower, he said unto\nme, Let us go about this tower,\nand see whether anything be\nwanting to it.\n\n84 We began therefore to go\nround about it; and when he saw\nthat it was handsomely built, he\nbegan to be very glad; for it was\nso beautifully framed, that any one\nthat had seen it must have been in\nlove with the building.\n\n85 For it seemed to be all but\none stone, nor did a joint any\nwhere appear; but it looked as if\nit had all been cut out of one rock.\n\n86 And when I diligently\nconsidered what a tower it was,\nI was extremely pleased: and he\nsaid unto me, Bring hither some\nlime and little shells, that I may\nfill up the spaces of those stones\nthat were taken out of the building,\nand put in again; for all things\nabout the tower must be made even.\n\n87 And I did as he commanded\nme, and brought them unto him\nand he said unto me, Be ready to\nhelp me, and this work will quickly\nbe finished.\n\n88 He therefore filled up\nthe spaces of those stones, and\ncommanded the place about the tower\nto be cleansed.\n\n89 Then those virgins took besoms,\nand cleansed all the place around,\nand took away all the rubbish,\nand threw water on; which being\ndone, the palace became delightful,\nand the tower beauteous.\n\n90 Then he said unto me, All\nis now clean if the Lord should\ncome to finish the tower, he will\nfind nothing whereby to complain\nof us.\n\n91 When he had said this he\nwould have departed. But I laid\nhold on his bag, and began to\nentreat him for the Lord's sake, that\nhe would explain to me all things\nthat he had shown me.\n\n92 He said unto me, I have at\npresent a little business; but I\nwill suddenly explain all things\nunto thee. Tarry here for me till\nI come.\n\n93 I said unto him, Sir, what\nshall I do here alone? He answered,\nThou art not alone, seeing all\nthese virgins are with thee.\n\n94 I said, Sir, deliver me then\nunto them. Then he called them\nand said unto them, I commend\nthis man unto you until I shall\ncome;\n\n95 So I remained with those\nvirgins: now they were cheerful\nand courteous unto me; especially\nthe four, which seemed to be\nthe chiefest among them.\n\n96 Then those virgins said\nunto me, that shepherd will not\nreturn hither to-day. I said unto\nthem, What then shall I do? They\nanswered, Tarry for him till the\nevening, if perhaps he may come\nand speak with thee; but if not,\nyet thou shalt continue with us\ntill he does come.\n\n97 I said unto them, I will\ntarry for him till evening; but if\nhe comes not by that time, I will\ngo home, and return hither again\nthe next morning.\n\n98 They answered me, As thou\nart delivered unto us, thou mayest\nnot depart from us. I said, Where\nshall I tarry?\n\n99 They replied, Thou shalt\nsleep with us as a brother, not\nas a husband; for thou art our\nbrother, and we are ready from\nhenceforth to dwell with thee;\nfor thou art very dear to us.\n\n100 Howbeit I was ashamed to\ncontinue with them. But she that\nseemed to be the chiefest amongst\nthem, embraced me, and began\nto kiss me. And the rest when\nthey saw that I was kissed by her,\nbegan also to kiss me as a brother;\nand led me about the tower, and\nplayed with me.\n\n101 Some of them also sung\npsalms, others made up the chorus\nwith them. But I walked about\nthe tower with them, rejoicing\nsilently, and seeming to myself\nto be grown young again.\n\n102 When the evening came on,\nI would forthwith have gone\nhome, but they withheld me,\nand suffered me not to depart.\nWherefore I continued with them\nthat night near the same tower.\n\n103 So they spread their linen\ngarments upon the ground; and\nplaced me in the middle, nor did\nthey anything else, only they\nprayed.\n\n104 I also prayed with them\nwithout ceasing, nor less than\nthey. Who, when they saw me pray\nin that manner, rejoiced greatly:\nand I continued there with their\ntill the next day.\n\n105 And when we had worshipped God,\nthen the shepherd came and said unto\nthem: You have done no injury to\nthis man? They answered, Ask him.\nI said unto him, Sir, I have received\na great deal of satisfaction in that\nI have remained with them.\n\n106 And he said unto me, How didst\nthou sup? I answered, Sir, I feasted\nthe whole night upon the words of\nthe Lord. They received thee well\nthen, said he? I said, Sir, very well.\n\n107 He answered, Wilt thou\nnow learn what thou didst desire?\nI replied, Sir, I will: and first I\npray thee that thou shouldest show\nme all things in the order that I\nasked them.\n\n108 He answered, I will do all\nas thou wouldst have me, nor\nwill I hide any thing from thee.\n\n109 First of all, Sir, said I,\ntell me, what this rock and this\ngate denote? Hearken, said he;\nthis rock, and this gate, are the\nSon of God. I replied, Sir, how\ncan that be; seeing the rock is\nold, but the gate new?\n\n110 Hear, said he, O foolish\nman! and understand. The Son\nof God is indeed more ancient\nthan any creature; insomuch\nthat he was in council with his\nFather at the creation of all\nthings.\n\n111 But the gate is therefore\nnew, because he appeared in the\nlast days in the fullness of time;\nthat they who shall attain unto\nsalvation, may by it enter into the\nkingdom of God.\n\n112 You have seen, said he,\nthose stones which were carried\nthrough the gate, how they were\nplaced in the building of the\ntower; but that those which were\nnot carried through the gate,\nwere sent away into their own\nplaces?\n113 I answered, sir, I saw it.\nThus, said he, no man shall enter\ninto the kingdom of God, but he\nwho shall take upon him the name\nof the Son of God.\n\n114 For if you would enter\ninto any city, and that city should\nhe encompassed with a wall, and\nhad only one gate, could you\nenter into that city except by that\ngate?\n\n115 I answered, Sir, how could\nI do otherwise? As therefore, said\nhe, there would be no other way\nof entering into that city but by\nits gate, so neither can any one\nenter into the kingdom of God,\nbut only by the name of his Son,\nwho is most dear unto him.\n\n116 And he said unto me,\nDidst thou see the multitude of\nthose that built that tower? Sir,\nsaid I, I saw it. He answered,\nAll those are the angels, venerable\nin their dignity,\n\n117 With those is the Lord\nencompassed as with a wall: but\nthe gate is the Son of God, who is\nthe only way of coming unto God.\nFor no man shall go to God, but\nby his Son.\n\n118 Thou sawest also, said he,\nthe six men, and in the middle of\nthem that venerable great man,\nwho walked about the tower, and\nrejected the stones out of the tower?\n\n119 Sir, said I, I saw them.\nHe answered, that tall man was\nthe Son of God; and those six\nwere his angels of most eminent\ndignity, which stand about him\non the right hand and on the left.\n\n120 Of these excellent angels\nnone comes in unto God without\nhim. He added, Whosoever there.\nfore shall not take upon him his\nname, he shall nor enter into the\nkingdom of God.\n\n121 Then I said, What is this\ntower? This, said he, is the church.\nAnd what, Sir, are these virgins?\nHe said unto me, These are the\nholy spirits, for no man can enter\ninto the kingdom of God, except\nthese clothe him with their garment,\n\n122 For it will avail thee nothing\nto take up the name of the Son of\nGod, unless thou shalt also\nreceive their garment from them.\nFor these virgins are the powers\nof the Son of God. So shall a\nman in vain bear his name, unless\nhe shall be also endued with his\npowers.\n\n123 And he said unto me, sawest\nthou those stones that were cast\naway? They bore indeed the name,\nbut put not on their garment.\nI said, Sir, what is their\ngarment? Their very names,\nsaid he, are their garment.\n\n124 Therefore whosoever beareth\nthe name of the Son of God,\nought to bear their names also;\nfor the Son of God also himself\nbeareth their names.\n\n125 As for those stones,\ncontinued he, which being delivered\nby their hands, thou sawest remain\nin the building, they were clothed\nwith their power; for which cause\nthou seest the whole tower of the\nsame colour with the rock, and made\nas it were of one stone.\n\n126 So also those who have\nbelieved in God by his Son, have\nput on his spirit. Behold there\nshall be one spirit, and one body,\nand one colour of their garments;\nand all they shall attain this, who\nshall bear the names of these virgins.\n\n127 And I said, Sir, why then\nwere those stones cast away which\nwere rejected, seeing they also\nwere carried through the gate,\nand delivered by the hands of\nthese virgins into the building\nof this tower?\n\n128 Seeing, said he thou takest\ncare to inquire diligently into all\nthings, hear also concerning those\nstones which were rejected. All\nthese received the name of the\nSon of God, and with that the\npower of these virgins.\n\n129 Having therefore received\nthese spirits, they were perfected,\nand brought into the number of\nthe servants of God; and they\nbegan to be one body, and to have\none garment, for they were endued\nwith the same righteousness,\nwhich they alike exercised.\n\n130 But after that they beheld\nthose women which thou sawest\nclothed with a black garment,\nwith their shoulders at liberty and\ntheir hair loose; they fixed their\ndesires upon them, being tempted\nwith their beauty; and were\nclothed with their power,\nand cast off the clothing\nof the virgins:\n\n131 Therefore were they cast\noff from the house of God, and\ndelivered to those women. But\nthey that were not corrupted with\ntheir beauty, remained in the\nhouse of God. This, said he, is\nthe signification of those stones\nwhich were rejected.\n\n132 And I said, sir, what if\nany of these men shall repent, and\ncast away their desire of those\nwomen, and be converted, and\nreturn to these virgins, and put\non again their virtue; shall they\nnot enter into the house of God?\n\n133 They shall enter, said he,\nif they shall lay aside all the\nworks of those women, and shall\nresume the power of these virgins,\nand shall walk in their works.\n\n134 And for this cause there is\na stop in the building, that if they\nshall repent, they may be added\nto the building of this tower; but\nif they shall not repent, that others\nmay be built in their places, and\nso they may be utterly cast away.\n\n135 For all these things I gave\nthanks unto the Lord, that being\nmoved with mercy towards all\nthose upon whom his name is\ncarried, he sent to us the angel of\nrepentance to preside over us who\nhave sinned against him; and that\nhe has refreshed our spirits which\nwere almost gone, and who had\nno hope of salvation, but are now\nrefreshed to the renewal of life.\n\n136 Then I said, Show me now\nsir, why this tower is not built\nupon the ground, but upon a rock,\nand upon the gate? He replied,\nThou art foolish, and without\nunderstanding, therefore thou\nasketh this.\n\n137 And I said, sir, I must\nneeds ask all things of you\nbecause I understand nothing at all.\nFor all your answers are great and\nexcellent; and which a man can\nhardly understand.\n\n138 Hear, said he: The name\nof the Son of God is great and\nwithout bounds, and the whole\nworld is supported by it. If\ntherefore, said I, every creature\nof God be sustained by his Son,\nwhy should he not support those\nalso who have been invited by him,\nand who carry his name, and walk\nin his commandments?\n\n139 Seest thou not, said he, that\nhe doth support them, who with\nall their heart, bear his name?\nHe therefore is their foundation,\nand gladly supports those who do\nnot deny his name, but willingly\nbear it.\n\n140 And I said: Sir, tell me\nthe names of these virgins; and of\nthose women that were clothed\nwith the black garment.\n\n141 Hear, said he, the names of\nthose virgins which are the more\npowerful, and stand at the corners\nof the gate. These are their\nnames:\n\n142 The first is called Faith;\nthe second Continence; the third\nPower; the fourth Patience; the\nrest which stand beneath these\nare, Simplicity, Innocence,\nChastity, Cheerfulness, Truth,\nUnderstanding, Concord, Charity.\n\n143 Whosoever therefore bear\nthese names, and the name of the\nSon of God, shall enter into the\nkingdom of God.\n\n144 Hear now, said he, the\nnames of those women, which\nwere clothed with the black garment.\nOf these, four are the principal:\nthe first is Perfidiousness;\nthe second, Incontinence; the\nthird, Infidelity; the fourth,\nPleasure.\n\n145 And the rest which follow\nare called thus, Sadness, Malice,\nLust, Anger, Lying, Foolishness,\nPride, and Hatred. The servant\nof God, which carries these spirits,\nshall see indeed the kingdom of\nGod, but he shall not enter into it.\n\n146 But, sir, what are those\nstones which were taken out of the\ndeep and fitted into the building?\nThe ten, said he, which were\nplaced at the foundation, are the\nfirst age; the following five-and-\ntwenty, are the second, of righteous\nmen.\n\n147 The next thirty-five, are the\nprophets and ministers of the Lord.\nAnd the forty, are the Apostles and\ndoctors of the preaching of the\nSon of God.\n\n148 And I said, sir, why did the\nvirgins put even those stones into\nthe building after they were carried\nthrough the gate? And he said,\nBecause these first carried those\nspirits, and they departed not one\nfrom the other, neither the men\nfrom the spirits, nor the spirits\nfrom the men:\n\n149 But the spirits were joined\nto those men even to the day of\ntheir death; who if they had not\nhad these spirits with them, they\ncould not have been useful to the\nbuilding of this tower.\n\n150 And I said, sir, show me\nthis farther. He answered, What\ndost then ask? Why did these\nstones come out of the deep, and\nwere placed into the building of\nthis tower, seeing that they long\nago carried those holy spirits?\n\n151 It was necessary, said he,\nfor them to ascend by water, that\nthey might be at rest. For they\ncould not otherwise enter into the\nkingdom of God, but by laying\naside the mortality of their former\nlife.\n\n152 They therefore being dead,\nwere nevertheless sealed with the\nseal of the Son of God, and so\nentered into the kingdom of God.\n\n153 For before a man receives\nthe name of the Son of God, he is\nordained unto death; but when he\nreceives that seal, he is freed from\ndeath, and assigned unto life.\n\n154 Now that seal is the water\nof baptism, into which men go\ndown under the obligation unto\ndeath, but come up appointed unto\nlife.\n\n155 Wherefore to those also was\nthis seal preached, and they made\nuse of it, that they might enter\ninto the kingdom of God.\n\n156 And I said, Why then, sir,\ndid these forty stones also ascend\nwith them out of the deep, having\nalready received that seal?\n\n157 He answered, Because\nthese Apostles and teachers, who\npreached the name of the Son of\nGod, dying after they had received\nhis faith and power, preached to\nthem who were dead before: and\nthey gave this seal to them.\n\n158 They went down therefore\ninto the water with them, and again\ncame up. But these went down\nwhilst they were alive, and came\nup again alive: whereas those who\nwere before dead, went down dead,\nbut came up alive;\n\n159 Through these therefore\nthey received life, and knew the\nSon of God: for which cause they\ncame up with them, and were fit\nto come into the building of the\ntower; and were not cut, but put\nin entire; because they died in\nrighteousness, and in great purity;\nonly this seal was wanting to\nthem.\n\n160 Thus you have the explication\nof these things.\n\n161 I answered: Sir, tell me\nnow what concerns those mountains;\nwhy are they so different, some\nof one form, and some of another?\n\n162 Hear, said he; These twelve\nmountains which thou seest, are\ntwelve nations, which make up the\nwhole world. Wherefore the Son\nof God is preached to them, by\nthose whom he sent unto them.\n\n163 But why, said I, are they\ndifferent, and every one of a figure?\nHe replied, Hearken. Those twelve\nnations which possess the whole\nworld, are twelve people.\n\n164 And as thou hast beheld\nthese mountains different, so are\nthey. I will therefore open to\nthee the meaning and actions of\nevery mountain.\n\n165 But first, sir, said I, show\nme this; Seeing these mountains\nare so different, how have they\nagreed in the building of this\ntower; and been brought to one\ncolour; and are no less bright\nthan those that came out of the\ndeep?\n\n166 Because, replied he, all the\nnations which are under heaven,\nhave heard and believed in the\nsame one name of the Son of God\nby whom they are called.\n\n167 Wherefore having received\nhis seal, they have all been made\npartakers of the same understanding\nand knowledge; and their faith\nand charity have been the same;\nand they have carried the spirits\nof these virgins together with his\nname.\n\n168 And therefore the building\nof this tower appeared to be of the\nsame colour, and did shine like\nthe brightness of the sun.\n\n169 But after that they had thus\nagreed in one mind, there began to\nbe one body of them all; howbeit\nsome of them polluted themselves,\nand were cast off from those of the\nrighteous, and again returned to\ntheir former state, and became\neven worse than they were before.\n\n170 How, air, said I, were\nthey worse who knew the Lord?\nHe answered: If he who knows\nnot the Lord liveth wickedly,\nthe punishment of his wickedness\nattends him;\n\n171 But he who has known the\nLord, ought to abstain altogether\nfrom all wickedness, and more and\nmore to be the servant of\nrighteousness.\n\n172 And does not he then seem\nto thee to sin more who ought to\nfollow goodness, if he shall prefer\nthe part of sin; than he who\noffends without knowing the\npower of God?\n\n173 Wherefore these are indeed\nordained unto death; but they who\nhave known the Lord, and have\nseen his wonderful works, if they\nshall live wickedly, they shall be\ndoubly punished, and shall die for\never.\n\n174 As therefore thou hast seen\nthat after the stones were cast out\nof the tower, which had been rejected,\nthey were delivered to wicked and\ncruel spirits; and thou beheldest\nthe tower so cleansed, as if it had\nall been made of one stone:\n\n175 So the church of God, when\nit shall be purified: (the wicked\nand counterfeits, the mischievous\nand doubtful, and all that have\nbehaved themselves wickedly in it,\nand committed divers kinds of sin,\nbeing cast out) shall become one\nbody, and there shall be one\nunderstanding, one opinion,\none faith, and the same charity.\n\n176 And then shall the Son of\nGod rejoice among them, and shall\nreceive his people with a pure will.\n\n177 And I said; Sir, all these\nthings are great and honourable;\nbut now show unto me the effect\nand force of every mountain: that\nevery soul which trusteth in the\nLord, when it shall hear these\nthings may honour his great, and\nwonderful, and holy name.\n\n178 Hear, said he, the variety\nof these mountains, that is, of the\ntwelve nations.\n\n179 They who have believed\nof the first mountain, which is\nblack, are those who have revolted\nfrom the faith, and spoken wicked\nthings against the Lord; and\nbetrayed the servants of God.\n\n180 These are condemned to\ndeath; there is no repentance for\nthem: and therefore they are\nblack, because their kind is\nwicked.\n\n181 Of the second mountain\nwhich was smooth, are the\nhypocrites, who have believed,\nand the teachers of naughtiness:\nand these are next to the foregoing,\nwhich have not in them the fruit of\nrighteousness.\n\n182 For as their mountain is\nbarren and without fruit so also\nsuch kind of men have indeed the\nname of Christians, but are empty\nof faith; nor is there any fruit of\nthe truth in them.\n\n183 Nevertheless there is room\nleft to them of repentance, if they\nshall speedily pursue it; but if\nthey shall delay, they also shall\nbe partakers of death with the\nforegoing kind.\n\n184 I said, air, why is there\nroom left to those for repentance,\nand not to the foregoing kind,\nseeing their sins are well nigh the\nsame?\n\n185 There is therefore, said he,\nto these a return unto life by\nrepentance, because they have not\nblasphemed against their Lord,\nnor betrayed the servants of God:\nbut by their desire of gain have\ndeceived men, leading them according\nto the lusts of sinners; wherefore\nthey shall suffer for this thing.\n\n186 Howbeit there is still left\nthem room for repentance, because\nthey have not spoken any thing\nwickedly against the Lord.\n\n187 They who are of the\nthird mountain which had thorns\nand brambles, are those who\nbelieved, but were some of them\nrich; others taken up with many\naffairs: the brambles are their\nriches; the thorns, those affairs in\nwhich they were engaged.\n\n188 Now they who are entangled\nin much business, and in diversity\nof affairs, join not themselves to\nthe servants of God, but wander,\nbeing called away by those affairs\nwith which they are choked.\n\n189 And so they which are rich,\nwith difficulty yield themselves to\nthe conversation of the servants\nof God; fearing lest any thing\nshould be asked of them. These\ntherefore shall hardly enter the\nkingdom of God.\n\n190 For as men walk with difficulty\nbare-foot over thorns, even so\nthese kind of men shall scarcely\nenter into the kingdom of God.\n\n191 Nevertheless there is afforded\nto all these a return unto repentance,\nif they shall quickly return to it;\nbecause in their former days they\nhaving neglected to work, in the time\nthat is to come they may do some good.\n\n192 If therefore having\nrepented they shall do the works\nof righteousness, they shall live;\nbut if they shall continue in their\nevil courses, they shall be delivered\nto those women who will take away\ntheir lives.\n\n193 As for the fourth mountain,\nwhich had many herbs, the upper\npart of which is green, but\nthe roots dry, and some of which\nbeing touched with the heat of the\nsun, are withered;\n\n194 It denotes the doubtful, who\nhave believed, and some others\nwho carry the Lord on their tongues,\nbut have him not in their hearts:\ntherefore their grass is dry,\nand without root; because they\nlive only in words, but their\nworks are dead.\n\n195 These therefore are neither\ndead nor living, and withal are\ndoubtful. For the doubtful are\nneither green nor dry; that is\nneither dead nor alive.\n\n196 For as the herbs dry away\nat the sight of the sun, so the\ndoubtful, as soon as they hear of\npersecution, and fear inconveniencies,\nreturn to their idols, and again\nserve them, and are ashamed\nto bear the name of their Lord.\n\n197 This kind of men then is\nneither dead nor alive; nevertheless\nthese also may live, if they shall\npresently repent; but if not,\nthey shall be delivered to those\nwomen, who shall take away their\nlives.\n\n198 As concerning the fifth\nmountain that is craggy, and yet\nhas green grass; they are of this\nkind who have believed, and are\nfaithful indeed, but believe with\ndifficulty, and are bold and self-\nconceited; and would be thought\nto know all things, but really\nknow nothing.\n\n199 Wherefore, by reason of\nthis confidence, knowledge is\ndeparted from them; and a rash\npresumption is entered into them.\n\n200 But they carry themselves\nhigh, and as prudent men; and\nthough they are fools, yet would\nseem to be teachers.\n\n201 Now by reason of this folly\nmany of them whilst they magnify\nthemselves, are become vain and\nempty. For boldness and vain\nconfidence is a very evil spirit.\n\n202 Wherefore many of these\nare cast away; but others\nacknowledging their error, have\nrepented, and submitted themselves\nto those who are knowing.\n\n203 And to all the rest of this\nkind, there is repentance allowed;\nforasmuch as they were not so\nmuch wicked as foolish, and void\nof understanding.\n\n204 If these therefore shall\nrepent, they shall live unto God;\nbut if not, they shall dwell with\nthose women, who shall exercise\ntheir wickedness upon them.\n\n205 For what concerns the\nsixth mountain having greater and\nlesser clefts, they are such as have\nbelieved; but those in which were\nlesser clefts are they who have had\ncontroversies among themselves;\nand by reason of their quarrels\nlanguish in the faith:\n\n206 Nevertheless many of these\nhave repented, and so will the rest\nwhen they shall hear my commands;\nfor their controversies are but\nsmall, and they will easily\nreturn unto repentance.\n\n207 But those who have the\ngreater clefts, will be as stiff\nstones, mindful of grudges and\noffences, and full of anger among\nthemselves. These therefore are\ncast from the tower, and refused\nto be put into its building; for\nthis kind of men shall hardly\nlive.\n\n208 Our God and Lord, who\nruleth over all things, and has\npower over all his creatures, will\nnot remember our offences, but is\neasily appeased by those who\nconfess their sins: but man being\nlanguid, mortal, infirm, and full\nof sins, perseveres in his anger\nagainst man; as if it were in his\npower to save or destroy him.\n\n209 But I, as the angel who am\nset over your repentance, admonish\nyou, that whosoever among you has\nany such purpose he should lay it\naside, and return unto repentance;\nand the Lord will heal your former\nsins, if you shall purge yourself\nfrom this evil spirit; but if you\nshall not do it, ye shall be\ndelivered to him unto death.\n\n210 As for the seventh mountain\nin which the grass was green\nand flourishing, and the whole\nmountain faithful; and all kind of\ncattle fed upon the grass of it, and\nthe more the grass was eaten, so\nmuch the more it flourished;\n\n211 They are such as believed,\nand were always good and upright;\nand without any differences among\nthemselves, but still rejoiced\nin the servants of God, having\nput on the spirit of these virgins;\nand been always forward to show\nmercy to all men, readily giving\nto all men of their labours\nwithout upbraiding, and without\ndeliberation.\n\n212 Wherefore the Lord seeing\ntheir simplicity and innocence,\nhas increased them in the works of\ntheir hands, and given them grace\nin all their works.\n\n213 But I, who am the angel\nappointed over your repentance,\nexhort you, that as many as are of\nthis kind would continue in the\nsame purpose, that your seed may\nnot be rooted out for ever.\n\n214 For the Lord hath tried\nyou, and written you into our\nnumber; and all your seed shall\ndwell with the Son of God; for ye\nare all of his spirit.\n\n215 As concerning the eighth\nmountain in which were a great\nmany springs, by which every\nkind of all the creatures of God\nwas watered; they are such as\nhave believed the Apostles which\nthe Lord sent into all the world to\npreach;\n\n216 And some of them being\nteachers have preached and taught\npurely and sincerely, and have\nnot in the least yielded to any evil,\ndesires, but have constantly walked\nin righteousness and truth.\n\n217 These therefore have their\nconversations among the angels.\n\n218 Again; as for what concerns\nthe ninth mountain which is\na desert, and full of serpents; they\nare such as have believed, but had\nmany stains:\n\n219 These are such ministers as\ndischarge their ministry amiss;\nravishing away the goods of the\nwidows and fatherless; and serve\nthemselves, not others, out of\nthose things which they have\nreceived.\n\n220 These, if they continue in\nthis covetousness, have delivered\nthemselves unto death, nor shall\nthere be any hope of life for them.\nBut if they shall be converted,\nand shall discharge their ministry\nsincerely, they may live.\n\n221 As for those which were\nfound rough, they are such as\nhave denied the name of the Lord,\nand not returned again to the\nLord, but have become savage\nand wild; not applying themselves\nto the servants of God; but being\nseparated from them, have for a\nlittle carelessness lost their lives.\n\n222 For as a vine that is forsaken\nin a hedge, and never dressed,\nperishes and is choked by the\nweeds, and in time becomes wild,\nand ceases to be useful to its lord;\nso this kind of men despairing of\nthemselves, and being soured,\nhave begun to be unprofitable to\ntheir Lord.\n\n223 Howbeit, to these there is,\nafter all, repentance allowed, if\nthey shall not be found from their\nhearts to have denied Christ; but\nif any of these shall be found to\nhave denied him from his heart,\nI cannot tell whether such a one\ncan attain unto life.\n\n224 I say therefore that if any\none hath denied, he should in\nthese days return unto repentance;\nfor it cannot be that anyone\nwho now denies the Lord, can\nafterwards attain unto salvation\nnevertheless repentance is promised\nunto them who have formerly denied.\n\n225 But he who will repent\nmust hasten on his repentance,\nbefore the building of this tower\nis finished; otherwise, he shall be\ndelivered by those women unto\ndeath.\n\n226 But they that are maimed,\nare the deceitful; and those who\nmix with one another, are the\nserpents that you saw mingled in\nthat mountain.\n\n227 For as the poison of serpents\nis deadly unto men, so the words\nof such persons infect and\ndestroy men. They are therefore\nmaimed in their faith, by reason\nof that kind of life which they\nlead.\n\n228 Howbeit some of them,\nhaving repented, have been saved;\nand so shall others of the same\nkind be also saved, if they shall\nrepent; but if not, they shall die\nby those women who power and\nforce posses,\n\n229 For what concerns the\ntenth mountain, in which were the\ntrees covering the cattle, they are\nsuch as have believed; and some\nof them have been bishops, that is,\ngovernors of the churches.\n\n230 Others, are such stones as\nhave not feignedly, but with a\ncheerful mind entertained the\nservants of God.\n\n231 Then, such as have been set\nover inferior ministries, and have\nprotected the poor and the widows;\nand have always kept a chaste\nconversation: therefore they\nalso are protected by the Lord.\n\n232 Whosoever shall do on this\nwise, are honoured with the Lord;\nand their place is among the\nangels, if they shall continue\nto obey the Lord even unto the end.\n\n233 As to the eleventh mountain\nin which were trees loaded\nwith several sorts of fruit; they\nare such as have believed, and\nsuffered death, for the name of the\nLord; and have endured with a\nheavy mind, and have given up\ntheir lives with all their hearts.\n\n234 And I said, Why then, sir,\nhave all these fruit indeed, but yet\nsome fairer than others?\n\n235 Hearken, said he: Whosoever\nhave suffered for the name of\nthe Lord are esteemed honourable\nby the Lord; and all their offences\nare blotted out, because they have\nsuffered death for the name of the\nSon of God.\n\n236 Hear now, why their fruits\nare different, and some of them\nexcel others. They who were\nbrought before magistrates, and\nbeing asked, denied not the Lord,\nbut suffered with a ready mind;\nthese are more honourable with\nthe Lord. The fruits therefore\nthat are the most fair are these.\n\n237 But they who were fearful\nand doubtful, and have deliberated\nwith themselves whether they\nshould confess or deny Christ, and\nyet have suffered; their fruits are\nsmaller, because that this thought\ncame into their hearts.\n\n238 For it is a wicked and evil\nthought for a servant to deliberate\nwhether he should deny his master:\nTake heed therefore ye who\nhave such thoughts, that this mind\nPontinrie not in you, and ye die\nunto God.\n\n239 But ye who suffer death for\nhis name sake, ought to honour\nthe Lord, that he has esteemed\nyou worthy to bear his name; and\nthat you should be delivered from\nall your sins.\n\n240 And why therefore do you\nnot rather esteem yourselves happy?\nYe think verily that if any\none among you suffer, he performs\na great work! Yet the Lord\ngiveth you life, and ye understand\nit not. For your offences did\noppress you; and if you had not\nsuffered for his name sake, ye would\nnow be dead unto the Lord.\n\n241 Wherefore I speak this unto\nyou who deliberate whether ye\nshould confess or deny him. Confess\nthat ye have the Lord for your\nGod, lest at any time denying him,\nye be delivered up into bonds.\n\n242 For if all nations punish\ntheir servants which deny their\nmasters; what think you that the\nLord will do unto you, who has\nthe power of all things?\n\n243 Remove therefore out of\nyour hearts these doubts, that ye\nmay live for ever unto God.\n\n244 As for the twelfth mountain,\nwhich was white, they are\nsuch as have believed like sincere\nchildren, into whose thoughts\nthere never came any malice, nor\nhave they ever known what sin\nwas, but have always continued in\ntheir integrity.\n\n245 Wherefore this kind of men\nshall without all doubt inherit the\nkingdom of God; because they\nhave never in any thing defiled\nthe commandments of God, but\nhave continued with sincerity in\nthe same condition all the days of\ntheir lives.\n\n246 Whosoever therefore, said\nhe, shall continue as children\nwithout malice; shall be more\nhonourable than all those of whom\nI have yet spoken: for all such\nchildren are honoured by the\nLord, and esteemed the first of\nall.\n\n247 Happy therefore are ye\nwho shall remove all malice from\nyou, and put on innocence; be.\ncause ye shall first see the Lord.\n248 And after he had thus\nended his explication of all the\nmountains, I said unto him, Sir,\nshow me now also what concerns\nthe stones that were brought out\nof the plain, and put into the\ntower in the room of those that\nwere rejected.\n\n249 As also concerning those\nround stones which were added\ninto the building of the tower;\nand also of those who still\ncontinued round.\n\n250 Hear now, says he,\nconcerning those stones which were\nbrought out of the plain into the\nbuilding of the tower, and placed\nin the room of those that were\nrejected: they are the roots of\nthat white mountain.\n\n251 Wherefore because those\nwho have believed of that mountain,\nwere very innocent; the lord of\nthis tower commanded that they\nwhich were of the roots of this\nmountain should be placed into\nthe building.\n\n252 For he knew that if they\nwere put into, this building they\nwould continue bright; nor would\nany of them any more be made\nblack.\n\n253 But if he had added after\nthis manner, from the rest of the\nmountains, he would almost have\nneeded again to visit the tower,\nand to cleanse it.\n\n254 Now all these white stones\nare the young men who have believed,\nor shall believe; for they are all\nof the same kind. Happy is this\nkind, because it is innocent.\n\n255 Hear now also concerning\nthose round and bright stones; all\nthese are of this white mountain.\nBut they are therefore found\nround, because their riches have\na little darkened them from the\ntruth, and dazzled their eyes.\n\n256 Howbeit they have never\ndeparted from the Lord, nor has\nany wicked word proceeded out\nof their mouths; but all\nrighteousness, and virtue,\nand truth.\n\n257 When therefore the Lord\nsaw their minds, and that they\nmight adorn the truth; he\ncommanded that they should continue\ngood, and that their riches should\nbe pared away:\n\n258 For he would not have\nthem taken wholly away, to the\nend they might do some good\nwith that which was left, and live\nunto God; because they also are\nof a good kind.\n\n259 Therefore was there little\ncut off from them, and so they\nwere put into the building of this\ntower.\n\n260 As for the rest which\ncontinued still round, and were\nnot found fit for the building of\nthis tower, because they have not\nyet received the seal; they were\ncarried back to their place, be.\ncause they were found very\nround.\n\n261 But this present world must\nbe cut away from them, and the\nvanities of their riches; and then\nthey will be fit for the kingdom of\nGod. For they must enter into\nthe kingdom of God, because God\nhas blessed this innocent kind.\n\n262 Of this kind therefore none\nshall fall away: for though any of\nthem being tempted by the devil\nshould offend, he shall soon return\nto his Lord God.\n\n263 I the angel of repentance\nesteem you happy, whosoever are\ninnocent as little children, because\nyour portion is good and honourable\nwith the Lord.\n\n264 And I say unto all you\nwho have received this seal; keep\nsimplicity, and remember not the\noffences which are committed\nagainst you, nor continue in\nmalice, or in bitterness, through\nthe memory of offences.\n\n265 But become one spirit,\nand provide remedies for these\nevil rents, and remove them from\nyou; that the lord of the sheep\nmay rejoice at it; for he will\nrejoice, if he shall find all whole.\n\n266 But if any of these sheep\nshall be found scattered away, Woe\nshall be to the shepherds; and\nif the shepherds themselves shall\nbe scattered; what will they answer\nto the lord of the sheep-fold?\nWill they say that they were\ntroubled by the sheep? But\nthey shall not be believed.\n\n267 For it is an incredible thing\nthat the shepherd should suffer by\nhis flock; and he shall be the more\npunished for his life.\n\n268 Now I am the shepherd;\nand especially must give an\naccount of you.\n\n269 Wherefore take care of\nyourselves whilst the tower is,\nyet building. The Lord dwells\nin those that love peace, for peace\nis beloved; but he is far off from\nthe contentious, and those who are\nfull of malice.\n\n270 Wherefore restore unto him\nthe Spirit entire, as ye received it.\nFor if thou shalt give unto a\nfuller a garment new and whole,\nthou wilt expect to receive it whole\nagain; if therefore the fuller shall\nrestore it unto thee torn, wouldst\nthou receive it?\n\n271 Wouldst thou not presently\nbe angry, and reproach him,\nsaying: I gave my garment to thee\nwhole, why halt thou rent it, and\nmade it useless to me? Now it is\nof no use to me, by reason of the\nrent which thou hast made in it.\nWouldst thou not say all this to a\nfuller, for the rent which he made\nin thy garment?\n\n272 If therefore thou wouldst\nbe concerned for thy garment,\nand complain that thou hadst not\nreceived it whole; what thinkest\nthou that the Lord will do, who\ngave his Spirit to thee entire, and\nthou hast rendered him altogether\nunprofitable, so that he can be of\nno use unto his Lord? For being\ncorrupted by thee, he is no longer\nprofitable to him.\n\n273 Will not therefore the Lord\ndo the same concerning his Spirit,\nby reason of thy deed? Undoubtedly,\nsaid I, he will do the same\nto all those whom he shall find to\ncontinue in the remembrance of\ninjuries.\n\n274 Tread not then under foot\nhe said, his mercy; but rather\nhonour him, because he is so\npatient with respect to your offences,\nand not like one of you; but repent,\nfor it will be profitable for you.\n\n275 All these things which\nare above written, I the shepherd\nand angel of repentance, have\nshown and spoken to the servants\nof God.\n\n276 If therefore ye shall believe\nand hearken to these words, and\nshall walk in them and correct\nyour ways, ye shall live. But if\nye shall, continue in malice, and\nin the remembrance of injuries,\nno such sinners shall live unto\nGod.\n\n277 All these things which were\nto be spoken by me, I have thus\ndelivered unto you. Then the\nshepherd said unto me, Hast thou\nasked all things of me?\nI answered, sir, I have.\n\n278 Why then, said he, hast\nthou not asked concerning the\nspaces of these stones that were\nput in the building, that I may\nexplain that also unto thee?\nI answered, sir, I forgot it.\nHear, then, said he, concerning\nthese also.\n\n279 They are those who have\nnow heard these commands, and\nhave repented with all their\nhearts;\n\n280 And when the Lord saw\nthat their repentance was good\nand pure, and that they could\ncontinue in it, he commanded\ntheir former sins to be blotted\nout. For these spaces were their\nsins, and they are therefore made\neven that they might not appear.\n\n\n\nSIMILITUDE X.\n\nOf Repentance and alms-deeds.\n\nAFTER I had written this\nbook, the angel which had\ndelivered me to that shepherd,\ncame into the house where I was\nand sat upon the bed, and that\nshepherd stood at his right hand.\n\n2 Then he called me and said\nunto me; I delivered thee and\nthy house to this shepherd, that\nthou mightest be protected by\nhim. I said, Yes, Lord.\n\n3 If therefore, said he, thou\nwilt be protected from all\nvexations and from all cruelty, and\nhave success in every good word\nand work, and have all virtue and\nrighteousness; walk in those\ncommands which he has given thee,\nand thou shalt have dominion\nover all sin.\n\n4 For if thou keepest those\ncommands, all the lust and pleasure\nof this present world shall be\nsubject to thee; and success shall\nfollow thee in every good undertaking.\n\n5 Take therefore his gravity\nand modesty towards thee, and\nsay unto all, that he is in great\nhonour and renown with God, and\nis a prince of great authority, and\npowerful in his office.\n\n6 To him only is the power of\nrepentance committed throughout\nthe whole world. Does he not\nseem to thee to be of great\nauthority?\n\n7 But ye despise his goodness,\nand the modesty which he shows\ntowards you.\n\n8 I said unto him; Sir, ask\nhim since the time that he came\ninto my house whether I have\ndone any thing disorderly, or\nhave offended him in any thing?\n\n9 I know, said he, that thou\nhast done nothing disorderly,\nneither wilt thou hereafter do\nany such thing, and therefore I\nspeak these things with thee that\nthen mayest persevere; for he\nhas given me a good account\nconcerning thee.\n\n10 But thou shalt speak these\nthings to others, that they who\neither have repented, or shall\nrepent, may be like-minded with\nthee, and he may give me as\ngood an account of them also;\nand that I may do the same unto\nthe Lord.\n\n11 I answered; Sir, I declare\nto all men the wonderful works of\nGod; and I hope that all who\nlove them, and have before sinned,\nwhen they shall hear these things,\nwill repent, and recover life.\n\n12 Continue therefore, said he,\nin this ministry, and fulfil it.\nAnd whosoever shall do according\nto the commands of this shepherd,\nhe shall live; and shall have great\nhonour both here and with the\nLord.\n\n13 But they that shall not keep\nhis commands, flee from their life,\nand are adversaries to it. And\nthey that follow not his commands,\nshall deliver themselves\nunto death; and shall be every\none guilty of his own blood.\n\n14 But I say unto thee, keep\nthese commandments, and thou\nshalt find a cure for all thy sins.\n\n15 Moreover, I have sent\nthese virgins to dwell with thee;\nfor I have seen that they are very\nkind to thee. Thou shalt therefore\nhave them for thy helpers,\nthat thou mayest the better keep\nthe commands which he hath given\nthee; for these commands cannot\nbe kept without these virgins.\n\n16 And as I see how they are\nwilling to be with thee, I will\nalso command them that they shall\nnot all depart from thy house.\n\n17 Only do thou purify thy\nhouse; for they will readily dwell\nin a clean house. For they are\nclean and chaste, and industrious;\nand all of them have grace with\nthe Lord.\n\n18 If therefore thou shalt have\nthy house pure, they will abide\nwith thee. But, if it shall be\nnever so little polluted, they will\nimmediately depart from thy house;\nfor these virgins cannot endure any\nmanner of pollution.\n\n19 I said unto him; Sir, I hope\nthat I shall so please them, that\nthey shall always delight to dwell\nin my house. And as he to whom\nyou have committed me, makes\nno complaint of me; so neither\nshall they complain.\n\n20 Then he said to that shepherd:\nI see that the servant of God will\nlive and keep these commandments,\nand place these virgins in a pure\nhabitation.\n\n21 When he had said this,\nhe delivered me again to that\nshepherd, and called the virgins,\nand said unto them; Forasmuch as I\nsee that ye will readily dwell in\nthis man's house, I commend him\nand his family to you, that ye may\nnot at all depart from his house.\nAnd they willingly heard these\nwords.\n\n22 Then he said unto me,\nGo on manfully in thy ministry;\ndeclare to all men the great things\nof God, and thou shalt find grace\nin this ministry.\n\n23 And whosoever shall walk\nin these commands, shall live,\nand be happy in his life. But he\nthat shall neglect them, shall not\nlive, and shall be unhappy in his\nlife.\n\n24 Say unto all that whosoever\ncan do well, cease not to exercise\nthemselves in good works, for it\nis profitable unto them. For I\nwould that all men should be\ndelivered from the inconveniences\nthey lie under.\n\n25 For he that wants, and\nsuffers inconveniences in his\ndaily life, is in great torment\nand necessity. Whosoever therefore\ndelivers such a soul from necessity,\ngets great joy unto himself.\n\n26 For he that is grieved with\nsuch inconveniencies is equally\ntormented, as if he were in chains.\nAnd many upon the account of\nsuch calamities, being not able to\nbear them, have chosen even to\ndestroy themselves.\n\n27 He therefore that knows the\ncalamity of such a man, and does\nnot free him from it, commits a\ngreat sin, and is guilty of his\nblood.\n\n28 Wherefore exercise yourselves\nin good works, as many as\nhave received ability from the\nLord; lest whilst ye delay to do\nthem, the building of the tower be\nfinished; because for your sakes\nthe building is stopped.\n\n29 Except therefore ye shall\nmake haste to do well, the tower\nshall be finished, and ye shall be\nshut out of it.\n\n30 And after he had thus spoken\nwith me, he rose up from the bed\nand departed, taking the shepherd\nand virgins with him.\n\n31 Howbeit he said unto me,\nthat he would send back the\nshepherd and virgins unto\nmy house. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO THE BOOK OF\n HERMAS, THE SHEPHERD.\n\n [This book, divided into three parts, called his VISIONS, COMMANDS,\n and SIMILITUDES, is thus entitled, because it was composed by\n Hermas, brother to Pius, bishop of Rome; and because the Angel, who\n bears the principal part in it, is represented in the form and habit\n of a shepherd. Ireneus quotes it under the very name of Scripture.\n Origen thought it a most useful writing, and that it was divinely\n inspired; Eusebius says that, though it was not esteemed canonical,\n it was read publicly in the churches, which is corroborated by\n Jerome; and Athanasius cites it, calls it a most useful work, and\n observes, that though it was not strictly canonical, the Fathers\n appointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith and\n piety. Jerome, notwithstanding this, and that he applauded it in his\n catalogue of writers, in his comments upon it afterwards, terms it\n apocryphal and foolish. Tertullian praised it when a Catholic, and\n abused it when a Montanist. Although Gelasius ranks it among the\n apocryphal books, it is found attached to some of the most ancient\n MSS. of the New Testament; and Archbishop Wake, believing it the\n genuine work of an apostolical Father, preserves it to the English\n reader by the foregoing translation, in which he has rendered the\n three parts of it not only more exact, but in greater purity than\n they had before appeared. The archbishop procured Dr. Grabe to\n entirely collate the old Latin version with an ancient MS. in the\n Lambeth library; and the learned prelate himself still further\n improved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the original\n Greek never before used for that purpose.]","title":"The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Complete","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":131305}