The Project Gutenberg eBook of The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Complete, by William Wake

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Title: The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Complete

Author: William Wake

Release Date: December 18, 2004 [EBook #6516]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by David Widger with additional proofing by Curtis A. Weyant

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ***

THE

SUPPRESSED

GOSPELS AND EPISTLES

OF THE ORIGINAL

NEW TESTAMENT

OF

JESUS THE CHRIST

AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES.

NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO

HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES,

AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING

THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES,

BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS

FORBIDDEN BY THE

BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL,

IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE

AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT

EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL

REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY,

BY

ARCHBISHOP WAKE

AND OTHER

LEARNED DIVINES

THE ORDER OF ALL THE

FORBIDDEN BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

WITH THEIR PROPER NAMES, AND NUMBER OF CHAPTERS

>

>

CONTENTS

Mary

Protevangelion

I. Infancy

II. Infancy (Young Childhood)

Nicodemus

Christ and Abgarus

Laodiceans

Paul and Seneca

Acts of Paul and Thecla

I. Clement

II. Clement

Barnabas

Ephesians

Magnesians

Trallians

Romans

Philadelphians

Smyrnaeans

Polycarp

Philippians

I. Hermas—Visions

II. Hermas—Commands

III. Hermas—Similitudes

IMAGES OF ORIGINAL PAGES

Pages 33-37 — The Infancy of Jesus Christ

Pages 40-41 — The Childhood of Jesus Christ

Pages 223-225 — The Apostles' Creed

PREFACE.

To uphold the "right of private judgment," and our "Christian liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free;" to add fuel to the fire of investigation, and in the crucible of deep inquiry, melt from the gold of pure religion, the dross of man's invention; to appeal from the erring tribunals of a fallible Priesthood, and restore to its original state the mutilated Testament of the Saviour; also to induce all earnest thinkers to search not a part, but the whole of the Scriptures, if therein they think they will find eternal life; I, as an advocate of free thought and untrammelled opinion, dispute the authority of those uncharitable, bickering, and ignorant Ecclesiastics who first suppressed these gospels and epistles; and I join issue with their Catholic and Protestant successors who have since excluded them from the New Testament, of which they formed a part; and were venerated by the Primitive Churches, during the first four hundred years of the Christian Era.

My opposition is based on two grounds; first, the right of every rational being to become a "Priest unto himself," and by the test of enlightened reason, to form his own unbiased judgment of all things natural and spiritual: second, that the reputation of the Bishops who extracted these books from the original New Testament, under the pretence of being Apocryphal, and forbade them to be read by the people, is proved by authentic impartial history too odious to entitle them to any deference. Since the Nicene Council, by a pious fraud, which I shall further allude to, suppressed these books, several of them have been reissued from time to time by various translators, who differed considerably in their versions, as the historical references attached to them in the following pages will demonstrate. But to the late Mr. William Hone we are indebted for their complete publication for the first time in one volume, about the year 1820; which edition, diligently revised, and purified of many errors both in the text and the notes attached thereto, I have re-published in numbers to enable all classes of the nation to purchase and peruse them. As, however, instead of being called by their own designation "Apocryphal," (which yet remains to be proved), they were re-entitled THE FORBIDDEN BOOKS, and, from communications received, appear to have agitated a portion of the great mass of ignorant bigotry which mars the fair form of Religion in these sect-ridden dominions, I have modified the title to its present shape with the hope that in spite of illiberal clerical influence, my fellow Christians will read and inwardly digest the sublime precepts they inculcate;—as pure, as holy, and as charitable as those principles of Christianity taught in the Scriptures they; now read by permission; although their minds may, after mature reflection, doubt the truth of the miraculous records therein given.

To ensure these Gospels and Epistles an unprejudiced and serious attention, which they are entitled to, equally with those now patronised by Church authority, I will briefly refer to that disgraceful epoch in Roman Ecclesiastical Annals, when the New Testament was mutilated, and priestly craft was employed for excluding these books from its pages. HONE, in the preface to his first edition of the Apocryphal New Testament, so called, without satisfactory grounds, by the Council of Nice, in the reign of the Emperor Constantine, thus opens the subject:—

"After the writings contained in the New Testament were selected from the numerous Gospels and Epistles then in existence, what became of the Books that were rejected by the compilers?"

This question naturally occurs on every investigation as to the period when and the persons by whom the New Testament was formed. It has been supposed by many that the volume was compiled by the first Council of Nice, which, according to Jortin (Rem. on Eccl. vol. ii. p. 177), originated thus: Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, and Arius, who was a presbyter in his diocese, disputed together about the nature of Christ; and the bishop being displeased at the notions of Arius, and finding that they were adopted by other persons, "was very angry." He commanded Arius to come over to his sentiments, and to quit his own; as if a man could change his opinions as easily as he can change his coat! He then called a Council of War, consisting of nearly, a hundred bishops, and deposed, excommunicated, and anathematized Arius, and with him several ecclesiastics, two of whom were bishops. Constantine sent a letter, in which he reprimanded the bishops for disturbing the church with their insignificant disputes. But the affair was gone too far to be thus composed. To settle this and other points, the Nicene Council was summoned, consisting of about 318 bishops. The first thing they did was to quarrel, and to express their resentments, and to present accusations to the Emperor against one another. "The Emperor burnt all their libels, and exhorted them to peace and unity." (See Mosheim's Eccle. Hist.) These were the kind of spiritual shepherds of whom Sabinus, the Bishop Heraclea affirms, that excepting Constantine himself, and Eusebius Pamphilus, they "were a set of illiterate creatures, that understood nothing." And now intelligent Catholics, especially Protestants who are content to read only the books of the Testament authorized by the Council of Nice, and agreed to ever since by your own bishops, although they and you profess to dissent from the Papacy, hear what Pappus in his Synodican to that Council says of their crafty contrivance when they separated the books of the original New Testament:—He tells us, that having "promiscuously put all the books that were referred to the Council for deliberation under the communion-table in a church, they besought the Lord that the inspired writings might get on the table, while the spurious ones remained underneath; and that it happened accordingly!" (See Com. Mace's N. T. p. 875.) Therefore, good reader, every Christian sect from the fourth century to the present period, have been blessed with the books that climbed upon the communion-table, and in consequence were deemed inspired and canonical; at the same time have been forbidden to read the Gospels and Epistles herein published, because they could not perform the same feat, but remained under the table, and were condemned accordingly, as uninspired and apocryphal writings. If you believe this popish legend, you will not read the good books I lay before you, but still continue to possess only HALF THE TESTAMENT, instead of the PERFECT ONE, which will enable you to burst the trammels of priestcraft, and by the light of God's whole truth become free. In conclusion, I implore you to examine for yourselves, and observe the testimony of Archbishop Wake and other learned divines and historians appended thereto; and subscribe myself,

Your well-wisher,

EDWARD HANCOCK.

FORBIDDEN BOOKS

OF THE

NEW TESTAMENT.

THE GOSPEL OF THE BIRTH OF MARY.

CHAPTER I.

1 The Parentage of Mary.

7 Joachim her father, and Anna her mother,

go to Jerusalem to the feast of the dedication.

9 Issachar, the high priest, reproaches Joachim

for being childless.

THE blessed and ever glorious

Virgin Mary, sprung from

the royal race and family of David,

was born in the city of Nazareth,

and educated at Jerusalem, in the

temple of the Lord.

2 Her father's name was Joachim,

and her mother's Anna.

The family of her father was of

Galilee and the city of Nazareth.

The family of her mother was of

Bethlehem.

3 Their lives were plain and

right in the sight of the Lord,

pious and faultless before men;

for they divided all their substance

into three parts;

4 One of which they devoted to

the temple and officers of the

temple; another they distributed

among strangers, and persons in

poor circumstances; and the third

they reserved for themselves and

the uses of their own family.

5 In this manner they lived for

about twenty years chastely, in the

favour of God, and the esteem of

men, without any children.

6 But they vowed, if God should

favour them with any issue, they

would devote it to the service of

the Lord; on which account they

went at every feast in the year to

the temple of the Lord.

7 And it came to pass, that

when the feast of the dedication

drew near, Joachim, with some

others of his tribe, went up to

Jerusalem, and at that time,

Isachar was high-priest;

8 Who, when he saw Joachim

along with the rest of his

neighbours, bringing his offerings,

despised both him and his offerings,

and asked him,

9 Why he, who had no children,

would presume to appear among

those who had? Adding, that his

offerings could never be acceptable

to God, who was judged by him

unworthy to have children; the

Scripture having said, Cursed is

every one who shall not beget a

male in Israel.

10 He further said, that he ought

first to be free from that curse by

begetting some issue, and then

come with his offerings into the

presence of God.

11 But Joachim being much

confounded with the shame of such

reproach, retired to the shepherds

who were with the cattle in their

pastures;

12 For he was not inclined to

return home, lest his neighbours,

who were present and heard all

this from the high-priest, should

publicly reproach him in the same

manner.

CHAPTER II.

1 An angel appears to Joachim,

9 and informs him that Anna shall conceive and

bring forth a daughter, who shall be called Mary,

11 be brought up in the temple,

12 and while yet a virgin, in a way unparalleled,

bring forth the Son of God:

13 Gives him a sign,

14 and departs.

BUT when he had been there for

some time, on a certain day

when he was alone, the angel

of the Lord stood by him with

a prodigious light.

2 To whom, being troubled at

the appearance, the angel who had

appeared to him, endeavouring to

compose him, said:

3 Be not afraid, Joachim, nor

troubled at the sight of me, for

I am an angel of the Lord sent by

him to you, that I might inform

you that your prayers are heard,

and your alms ascended in the

sight of God.

4 For he hath surely seen your

shame, and heard you unjustly

reproached for not having children:

for God is the avenger of sin,

and not of nature;

5 And so when he shuts the

womb of any person, he does it for

this reason, that he may in a more

wonderful manner again open it,

and that which is born appear to

be not the product of lust, but the

gift of God.

6 For the first mother of your

nation, Sarah, was she not barren

even till her eightieth year: and

yet even in the end of her old age

brought forth Isaac, in whom the

promise was made of a blessing to

all nations.

7 Rachel, also, so much in

favour with God, and beloved so

much by holy Jacob, continued

barren for a long time, yet

afterwards was the mother of Joseph,

who was not only governor of

Egypt, but delivered many nations

from perishing with hunger.

8 Who among the judges was

more valiant than Sampson, or more

holy than Samuel? And yet both

their mothers were barren.

9 But if reason will not convince

you of the truth of my words, that

there are frequent conceptions in

advanced years, and that those

who were barren have brought forth

to their great surprise; therefore

Anna your wife shall bring you a

daughter, and you shall call her

name Mary;

10 She shall, according to your

vow, be devoted to the Lord from

her infancy, and be filled with the

Holy Ghost from her mother's

womb;

11 She shall neither eat nor

drink any thing which is unclean,

nor shall her conversation be

without among the common people,

but in the temple of the Lord;

that so she may not fall under any

slander or suspicion of what is bad.

12 So in the process of her

years, as she shall be in a

miraculous manner born of one that

was barren, so she shall, while yet

a virgin, in a way unparalleled,

bring forth the Son of the most

High God, who shall, be called

Jesus, and, according to the

signification of his name, be the

Saviour of all nations.

13 And this shall be a sign to

you of the things which I declare,

namely, when you come to the

golden gate of Jerusalem, you

shall there meet your wife Anna,

who being very much troubled

that you returned no sooner, shall

then rejoice to see you.

14 When the angel had said this,

he departed from him.

CHAPTER III.

1 The angel appears to Anna;

2 tells her a daughter shall be born unto her,

3 devoted to the service of the Lord in the temple,

5, who, being a virgin, and not knowing man,

shall bring forth the Lord,

6 and gives her a sign therefore.

8 Joachim and Anna meet, and rejoice,

10 and praise the Lord.

11 Anna conceives, and brings forth a daughter called Mary.

AFTERWARDS the angel appeared

to Anna his wife, saying;

Fear not, neither think that

which you see is a spirit;

2 For I am that angel who hath

offered up your prayers and alms

before God, and am now sent to

you, that I may inform you, that

a daughter will be born unto you,

who shall be called Mary, and

shall be blessed above all women.

3 She shall be, immediately

upon her birth, full of the grace of

the Lord, and shall continue during

the three years of her weaning

in her father's house, and afterwards,

being devoted to the service of the Lord,

shall not depart from the temple,

till she arrive to years of discretion.

4 In a word, she shall there

serve the Lord night and day in

fasting and prayer, shall abstain

from every unclean thing, and

never know any man;

5 But, being an unparalleled instance

without any pollution or defilement,

and a virgin not knowing any man,

shall ring forth a son, and a maid

shall bring forth the Lord, who

both by his grace and name and works,

shall be the Saviour of the world.

6 Arise therefore, and go up to

Jerusalem, and when you shall

come to that which is called the

golden gate (because it is gilt with

gold), as a sign of what I have told

you, you shall meet your husband,

for whose safety you have been so

much concerned.

7 When therefore you find these

things thus accomplished, believe

that all the rest which I have told

you, shall also undoubtedly be

accomplished.

8 According therefore to the

command of the angel, both of

them left the places where they

were, and when they came to the

place specified in the angels

prediction, they met each other.

9 Then, rejoicing at each other's

vision, and being fully satisfied in

the promise of a child, they gave

due thanks to the Lord, who exalts

the humble.

10 After having praised the

Lord, they returned home, and

lived in a cheerful and assured

expectation of the promise of God.

11 So Anna conceived, and

brought forth a daughter, and,

according to the angel's command,

the parents did call her name Mary.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Mary brought to the temple at three years old.

6 Ascends the stairs of the temple by miracle.

8 Her parents sacrifice and return home.

AND when three years were

expired, and the time of her

weaning complete, they brought

the Virgin to the temple of the

Lord with offerings.

2 And there were about the

temple, according to the fifteen

Psalms of degrees, fifteen stairs

to ascend.

3 For the temple being built in

a mountain, the altar of burnt-

offering, which was without, could

not be come near but by stairs;

4 The parents of the blessed

Virgin and infant Mary put her

upon one of these stairs;

5 But while they were putting

off their clothes, in which they had

travelled, and according to custom

putting on some that were more

neat and clean,

6 In the mean time the Virgin

of the Lord in such a manner went

up all the stairs one after another,

without the help of any to lead her

or lift her, that any one would have

judged from hence, that she was of

perfect age.

7 Thus the Lord did, in the

infancy of his Virgin, work this

extraordinary work, and evidence by

this miracle how great she was like

to be hereafter.

8 But the parents having offered

up their sacrifice, according to the

custom of the law, and perfected

their vow, left the Virgin with

other virgins in the apartments of

the temple, who were to be brought

up there, and they returned home.

CHAPTER V.

2 Mary ministered unto by angels.

4 The high priest orders all virgins of fourteen

years old to quit the temple and endeavour to be married.

5 Mary refuses,

6 having vowed her virginity to the Lord.

7 The high-priest commands a meeting of the chief persons

of Jerusalem,

11 who seek the Lord for counsel in the matter.

13 A voice from the mercy-seat.

15 The high-priest obeys it by ordering all the unmarried

men of the house of David to bring their rods to the altar,

17 that his rod which should flower, and on which the

Spirit of God should sit, should betroth the Virgin.

BUT the Virgin of the Lord, as

she advanced in years, increased

also in perfections, and according

to the saying of the Psalmist,

her father and mother forsook her,

but the Lord took care of her.

2 For she every day had the

conversation of angels, and every

day received visitors from God,

which preserved her from all sorts

of evil, and caused her to abound

with all good things;

3 So that when at length she

arrived to her fourteenth year, as

the wicked could not lay any thing

to her charge worthy of reproof,

so all good persons, who were

acquainted with her, admired her

life and conversation.

4 At that time the high-priest

made a public order, That all the

virgins who had public settlements

in the temple, and were come to

this age, should return home, and,

as they were now of a proper

maturity, should, according to the

custom of their country, endeavour

to be married.

5 To which command, though

all the other virgins readily yielded

obedience, Mary the Virgin of the

Lord alone answered, that she

could not comply with it,

6 Assigning these reasons, that

both she and her parents had

devoted her to the service of the

Lord; and besides, that she had

vowed virginity to the Lord,

which vow she was resolved never

to break through by lying with a

man.

7 The high-priest being hereby

brought into a difficulty,

8 Seeing he durst neither on the

one hand dissolve the vow, and

disobey the Scripture, which says,

Vow and pay,

9 Nor on the other hand

introduce a custom, to which

the people were strangers, commanded,

10 That at the approaching feast

all the principal persons both of

Jerusalem and the neighbouring

places should meet together, that

he might have their advice, how

he had best proceed in so difficult

a case.

11 When they were accordingly

met, they unanimously agreed to

seek the Lord, and ask counsel

from him on this matter.

12 And when they were all

engaged in prayer, the high-priest

according to the usual way, went

to consult God.

13 And immediately there was

a voice from the ark, and the mercy

seat, which all present heard, that

it must be enquired or sought out

by a prophecy of Isaiah, to whom

the Virgin should be given and be

betrothed;

14 For Isaiah saith, there shall

come forth a rod out of the stem of

Jesse, and a flower shall spring

out of its root,

15 And the Spirit of the Lord

shall rest upon him, the Spirit of

Wisdom and Understanding, the

Spirit of Counsel and Might, the

Spirit of Knowledge and Piety,

and the Spirit of the fear of the

Lord shall fill him.

16 Then, according to this

prophecy, he appointed, that all

the men of the house and family

of David, who were marriageable,

and not married, should bring their

several rods to the altar,

17 And out of whatsoever

person's rod after it was brought,

a flower should bud forth, and on

the top of it the Spirit of the Lord

should sit in the appearance of a

dove, he should be the man to

whom the Virgin should be given

and be betrothed.

CHAPTER VI.

1 Joseph draws back his rod.

5 The dove pitches on it. He betroths Mary and

returns to Bethlehem.

7 Mary returns to her parents' house at Galilee.

AMONG the rest there was a

man named Joseph of the

house and family of David, and a

person very far advanced in years,

who kept back his rod, when every

one besides presented his.

2 So that when nothing appeared

agreeable to the heavenly voice,

the high-priest judged it proper to

consult God again.

3 Who answered that he to

whom the Virgin was to be

betrothed was the only person of

those who were brought together,

who had not brought his rod.

4 Joseph therefore was betrayed.

5 For, when he did bring his

rod, and a dove coming from

Heaven pitched upon the top of

it, every one plainly saw, that the

Virgin was to be betrothed to him.

6 Accordingly, the usual

ceremonies of betrothing being over,

he returned to his own city of

Bethlehem, to set his house in

order, and make the needful

provisions for the marriage.

7 But the Virgin of the Lord,

Mary, with seven other virgins of

the same age, who had been weaned

at the same time, and who had

been appointed to attend her by

the priest, returned to her parents'

house in Galilee.

CHAPTER VII.

7 The salutation of the Virgin by Gabriel, who explains to her

that she shall conceive, without lying with a man, while a Virgin,

19 by the Holy Ghost coming upon her without the heats of lust.

21 She submits.

NOW at this time of her first

coming into Galilee, the

angel Gabriel was sent to her

from God, to declare to her the

conception of our Saviour, and

the manner and way of her

conceiving him.

2 Accordingly going into her,

he filled the chamber where she

was with a prodigious light, and

in a most courteous manner saluting

her, he said,

3 Hail, Mary! Virgin of the

Lord most acceptable! O Virgin

full of grace! The Lord is with

you. You are blessed above all

women, and you are blessed above

all men, that have been hitherto

born.

4 But the Virgin, who had

before been well acquainted with

the countenances of angels, and

to whom such light from heaven

was no uncommon thing,

5 Was neither terrified with the

vision of the angel, nor astonished

at the greatness of the light, but

only troubled about the angel's

words,

6 And began to consider what

so extraordinary a salutation should

mean, what it did portend, or what

sort of end it would have.

7 To this thought the angel,

divinely inspired, replies;

8 Fear not, Mary, as though

I intended anything inconsistent

with your chastity in this salutation:

9 For you have found favour

with the Lord, because you made

virginity your choice.

10 Therefore while you are a

Virgin, you shall conceive without

sin, and bring forth a son.

11 He shall be great, because

he shall reign from sea to sea, and

from the rivers even to the ends of

the earth?

12 And he shall be called the

Son of the Highest; for he who is

born in a mean state on earth,

reigns in an exalted one in heaven.

13 And the Lord shall give him

the throne of his father David, and

he shall reign over the house of

Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom

there shall be no end.

14 For he is the King of Kings,

and Lord of Lords, and his throne

is forever and ever.

15 To this discourse of the

angel the Virgin replied, not, as

though she were unbelieving, but

willing to know the manner of it.

16 She said, How can that be?

For seeing, according to my vow,

I have never known any man, how

can I bear a child without the

addition of a man's seed.

17 To this the angel replied

and said, Think not, Mary, that

you shall conceive in the ordinary

way.

18 For, without lying with a

man, while a Virgin, you shall

conceive; while a Virgin, you

shall bring forth; and while a

Virgin shall give suck.

19 For the Holy Ghost shall

come upon you, and the power of

the Most High shall overshadow

you, without any of the heats of

lust.

20 So that which shall be born

of you shall be only holy, because

it only is conceived without sin,

and being born, shall be called the

Son of God.

21 Then Mary stretching forth

her hands, and lifting her eyes to

heaven, said, Behold the handmaid

of the Lord! Let it be unto me

according to thy word.

CHAPTER VIII.

1 Joseph returns to Galilee, to marry the Virgin

he had betrothed;

4 perceives she is with child,

5 is uneasy,

7 purposes to put her away privily,

8 is told by the angel of the Lord it is not the

work of man but the Holy Ghost;

12 Marries her, but keeps chaste,

13 removes with her to Bethlehem,

15 where she brings forth Christ.

JOSEPH therefore went from

Judaea to Galilee, with intention

to marry the Virgin who was

betrothed to him:

2 For it was now near three

months since she was betrothed

to him.

3 At length it plainly appeared

she was with child, and it could

not be hid from Joseph:

4 For going to the Virgin in a

free manner, as one espoused, and

talking familiarly with her, he

perceived her to be with child,

5 And thereupon began to be

uneasy and doubtful, not knowing

what course it would be best to take;

6 For being a just man, he was

not willing to expose her, nor

defame her by the suspicion of

being a harlot, since he was a

pious man:

7 He purposed therefore privately

to put an end to their agreement,

and as privately to send her away.

8 But while he was meditating

these things, behold the angel of

the Lord appeared to him in his

sleep, and said, Joseph, son of

David, fear not;

9 Be not willing to entertain

any suspicion of the Virgin's

being guilty of fornication, or to

think any thing amiss of her,

neither be afraid to take her to wife:

10 For that which is begotten

in her and now distresses your

mind, is not the work of man, but

the Holy Ghost.

11 For she of all women is that

only Virgin who shall bring forth

the Son of God, and you shall call

his name Jesus, that is, Saviour:

for he will save his people from

their sins.

12 Joseph thereupon, according

to the command of the angel,

married the Virgin, and did not

know her, but kept her in chastity.

13 And now the ninth month

from her conception drew near,

when Joseph took his wife and

what other things were necessary

to Bethlehem, the city from whence

he came.

14 And it came to pass, while

they were there, the days were

fulfilled for her bringing forth.

15 And she brought forth her

first-born son, as the holy

Evangelists have taught, even our

Lord Jesus Christ, who with the

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

lives and reigns to everlasting ages.

REFERENCES TO MARY'S GOSPEL

[In the primitive ages there was a Gospel extant bearing this name,

attributed to St. Matthew, and received as genuine and authentic by

several of the ancient Christian sects. It is to be found in the works

of Jerome, a Father of the Church, who flourished in the fourth century,

from whence the present translation is made. His contemporaries,

Epiphanius, Bishop of Salamis, and Austin also mention a gospel under

this title. The ancient copies differed from Jerome's, for from one of

them the learned Faustus, a native of Britain, who became Bishop of Riez,

in Provence, endeavoured to prove that Christ was not the Son of God till

after his baptism; and that he was not of the house of David and tribe of

Judah, because, according to the Gospel he cited, the Virgin herself was

not of this tribe, but of the tribe of Levi; her father being a priest of

the name of Joachim. It was likewise from this Gospel that the sect of

the Collyridians established the worship and offering of manchet bread

and cracknels, or fine wafers, as sacrificed to Mary, whom they imagined

to have been born of a Virgin, as Christ is related in the Canonical

Gospels to have been born of her. Epiphanius likewise cites a passage

concerning the death of Zacharias, which is not in Jerome's copy, viz.:

"That it was the occasion of the death of Zacharias in the temple, that

when he had seen a vision, he, through surprise, was willing to disclose

it, and his mouth was stopped. That which he saw was at the time of his

offering incense, and it was a man standing in the form of an ass.

When he was gone out, and had a mind to speak thus to the people, Woe

unto you, whom do you worship? he who had appeared to him in the temple

took away the use of his speech. Afterwards when he recovered it, and was

able to speak, he declared this to the Jews; and they slew him. They add

(viz. the Gnostics in this book), that on this very account the

high-priest was appointed by their lawgiver (by God to Moses) to carry

little bells, that whensoever he went into the temple to sacrifice he,

whom they worshipped, hearing the noise of the bells, might have time

enough to hide himself, and not be caught in that ugly shape and figure."

The principal part of this Gospel is contained in the Protevangelion of

James which follows next in order.]

THE GOSPEL CALLED THE PROTEVANGELION

Or, an Historical Account of the BIRTH of CHRIST, and the perpetual

VIRGIN MARY, his Mother, by JAMES THE LESSER, Cousin and Brother

of the Lord Jesus, chief Apostle and first Bishop of the Christians in

Jerusalem.

CHAPTER I.

1 Joachim, a rich man,

2 offers to the Lord,

3 is opposed by Reuben the high priest,

because he has not begotten issue in Israel,

6 retires into the wilderness and fasts

forty days and forty nights.

IN the history of the twelve

tribes of Israel we read there

was a certain person called

Joachim, who being very rich, made

double offerings to the Lord God,

having made this resolution:

My substance shall be for the

benefit of the whole people, that

I may find mercy from the Lord

God for the forgiveness of my sins.

2 But at a certain great feast

of the Lord, when the children of

Israel offered their gifts, and

Joachim also offered his, Reuben the

high-priest opposed him, saying,

it is not lawful for thee to offer

thy gifts, seeing thou hast not

begot any issue in Israel.

3 At this, Joachim being

concerned very much, went away to

consult the registries of the twelve

tribes, to see whether he was the

only person who had begot no

issue.

4 But upon inquiry he found

that all the righteous had raised

up seed in Israel;

5 Then he called to mind the

patriarch Abraham, How that God

in the end of his life had given him

his son Isaac; upon which he was

exceedingly distressed, and would

not be seen by his wife:

6 But retired into the wilderness,

and fixed his tent there, and

fasted forty days and forty nights,

saying to himself,

7 I will not go down either to

eat or drink, till the Lord my

God shall look down upon me, but

prayer shall be my meat and drink.

CHAPTER. II.

1 Anna, the wife of Joachim mourns her Barrenness,

6 is reproached with it by Judith her maid,

9 sits under a laurel tree and prays to the Lord.

IN the mean time his wife Anna

was distressed and perplexed

on a double account, and said,

I will mourn both for my widowhood

and my barrenness.

2 Then drew near a great feast

of the Lord, and Judith her maid,

said, How long will you thus

afflict your soul? The feast of

the Lord is now come, when it is

unlawful for any one to mourn.

3 Take therefore this hood

which was given by one who

makes such things, for it is not

fit that I, who am a servant should

wear it, but it well suits a person

of your greater character.

4 But Anna replied, Depart

from me, I am not used to such

things; besides, the Lord hath

greatly humbled me.

5 I fear some ill-designing person

hath given thee this, and thou

art come to reproach me with my sin.

6 Then Judith her maid answered,

what evil shall I wish you,

when you will not hearken to me?

7 I cannot wish you a greater

curse than you are under, in that

God hath shut up your womb, that

you should not be a mother in

Israel.

8 At this Anna was exceedingly

troubled, and having on her wedding

garment, went about three o'clock

in the afternoon to walk in her

garden.

9 And she saw a laurel-tree and

sat under it, and prayed unto the

Lord, saying,

10 O God of my fathers, bless

me and regard my prayer, as thou

didst bless the womb of Sarah;

and gavest her a son Isaac.

CHAPTER III.

1 Anna perceiving a sparrow's nest in the

laurels bemoans her barrenness.

AND as she was looking towards

heaven she perceive a sparrow's

nest in the laurel,

2 And mourning within herself,

she said, Wo is me, who begat

me? and what womb did bear

me, that I should be thus

accursed before the children of

Israel, and that they should

reproach and deride me in the

temple of my God: Wo is me,

to what can I be compared?

3 I am not comparable to the

very beasts of the earth, for even

the beasts of the earth are fruitful

before thee, O Lord! Wo is me,

to what can I be compared?

4 I am not compared to the

brute animal, for even the brute

animals are fruitful before thee,

O Lord! Wo is me, to what am I

comparable?

5 I cannot be comparable to

these waters, for even the waters

are fruitful before thee, O Lord!

Wo is me, to what can I be compared?

6 I am not comparable to the

waves of the sea; for these,

whether they are calm, or in motion,

with the fishes which are in them,

praise thee, O Lord! Wo is me to

what can I be compared?

7 I am not comparable to the

very earth, for the earth produces

its fruits, and praises thee, O Lord!

CHAPTER IV.

1 An Angel appears to Anna and tells her she shall conceive;

two angels appear on the same errand.

5 Joachim sacrifices.

8 Anna goes to meet him,

9 rejoicing that she shall conceive.

THEN an angel of the Lord

stood by her and said, Anna,

Anna, the Lord hath heard thy

prayer; thou shalt conceive and

bring forth, and thy progeny shall

be spoken of in all the world.

2 And Anna answered, As the

Lord my God liveth, whatever I

bring forth, whether it be male or

female, I will devote it to the Lord

my God and it shall minister to

him in holy things, during its

whole life.

3 And behold there appeared

two angels, saying unto her,

Behold Joachim thy husband is

coming with his shepherds.

4 For an angel of the Lord

hath also come down to him, and

said, The Lord God hath heard

thy prayer, make haste and go

hence, for behold Anna thy wife

shall conceive.

5 And Joachim went down and

called his shepherds, saying, Bring

me hither ten she-lambs without

spot or blemish, and they shall

be for the Lord my God.

6 And bring me twelve calves

without blemish, and the twelve

calves shall be for the priests and

the elders.

7 Bring me also a hundred

goats, and the hundred goats shall

be for the whole people.

8 And Joachim went down with

the shepherds, and Anna stood

by the gate and saw Joachim

coming with the shepherds.

9 And she ran, and hanging

about his neck, said, Now I know

that the Lord hath greatly blessed

me:

10 For behold, I who was as a

widow am no longer as a widow, and

I who was barren shall conceive.

CHAPTER V.

1 Joachim abides the first day in his house but

sacrifices on the morrow.

2 Consults the plate on the priests forehead,

3 and is without sin.

6 Anna brings forth a daughter,

9 whom she calls Mary.

AND Joachim abode the first

day in his house, but on the

morrow he brought his offerings,

and said,

2 If the Lord be propitious to

me let the plate which is on the

priests forehead make it manifest.

3 And he consulted the plate

which the priest wore, and saw it,

and behold sin was not found in

him.

4 And Joachim said, Now I know

that the Lord is propitious

to me, and hath taken away all

my sins.

5 And he went down from the

temple of the Lord justified,

and he went to his own house.

6 And when nine months were

fulfilled to Anna, she brought

forth, and said to the midwife,

What have I brought forth?

7 And she told her, A girl.

8 Then Anna said, The Lord

hath this day magnified my soul;

and she laid her in bed.

9 And when the days of her

purification were accomplished,

she gave suck to the child; and

called her name Mary.

CHAPTER VI.

1 Mary at nine months old, walks nine steps.

3 Anna keeps her holy.

4 When she is a year old, Joachim makes a great feast.

7 Anna gives her the breast, and sings a song to the Lord.

AND the child increased in

strength every day, so that

when she was nine months old, her

mother put her upon the ground,

to try if she could stand; and

when she had walked nine steps,

she came again to her mother's

lap.

2 Then her mother caught her

up, and said, As the Lord my God

liveth, thou shalt not walk again

on this earth, till I bring thee

into the temple of the Lord.

3 Accordingly she made her

chamber a holy place, and suffered

nothing uncommon or unclean to

come near her, but invited certain

undefiled daughters of Israel, and

they drew her aside.

4 But when the child was a year

old, Joachim made a great feast,

and invited the priests, scribes,

elders, and all the people of

Israel;

5 And Joachim then made an

offering of the girl to the chief-

priests, and they blessed her,

saying, The God of our fathers bless

this girl, and give her a name

famous and lasting through all

generations. And all the people

replied, So be it, Amen:

6 Then Joachim a second time

offered her to the priests, and they

blessed her, saying, O most high

God, regard this girl, and bless

her with an everlasting blessing.

7 Upon this her mother took

her up, and gave her the breast,

and sung the following song to the

Lord.

8 I will sing a song unto the

Lord my God, for he hath visited

me, and taken away from me the

reproach of mine enemies, and

hath given me the fruit of his

righteousness, that it may now be

told the sons of Reuben, that Anna

gives suck.

9 Then she put the child to rest

in the room which she had consecrated,

and she went out and ministered unto

them.

10 And when the feast was

ended, they went away rejoicing,

and praising the God of Israel.

CHAPTER VII.

3 Mary being three years old, Joachim causes certain virgins to

light each a lamp, and goes with her to the temple.

5 The high-priest places her on the third step of the altar, and

sits dances with her feet.

BUT the girl grew, and when

she was two years old, Joachim

said to Anna, Let us lead her

to the temple of the Lord,

that we may perform our vow,

which we have vowed unto the

Lord God, lest he should be angry

with us, and our offering be

unacceptable.

2 But Anna said, Let us wait

the third year, lest she should

be at a loss to know her father.

And Joachim said, Let us then

wait.

3 And when the child was

three years old, Joachim said,

Let us invite the daughters of the

Hebrews, who are undefiled, and let

them take each a lamp, and let

them be lighted, that the child

may not turn back again, and her

mind be set against the temple of

the Lord,

4 And they did thus till they

ascended into the temple of the Lord.

And the high-priest received her,

and blessed her, and said, Mary,

the Lord God hath magnified thy

name to all generations, and to the

very end of time by thee will the

Lord shew his redemption to the

children of Israel.

5 And he placed her upon the

third step of the altar, and the

Lord gave unto her grace, and she

dance with her feet, and all the

house of Israel loved her.

CHAPTER VIII.

2 Mary fed in the temple by angels.

3 When twelve years old the priests consult what to do with her.

6 The angel of the Lord warns Zacharias to call together all the

widowers, each bringing a rod.

7 The people meet by sound of trumpet.

8 Joseph throws away his hatchet, and goes to the meeting.

11 A dove comes forth from his rod, and alights on his head.

12 He is chosen to betroth the Virgin,

13 refuses because he is an old man,

14 is compelled,

16 takes her home, and goes to mind his trade of building.

AND her parents went away

filled with wonder, and praising God,

because the girl did not return back

to them.

2 But Mary continued in the

temple as a dove educated there,

and received her food from the

hand of an angel.

3 And when she was twelve

years of age, the priests met in a

council, and said, Behold, Mary is

twelve years of age, what shall we

do with her, for fear lest the holy

place of the Lord our God should

be defiled?

4 Then replied the priests to

Zacharias the high-priest, Do you

stand at the altar of the Lord, and

enter into the holy place, and make

petitions concerning her, and

whatsoever the Lord shall manifest

unto you, that do.

5 Then the high-priest entered

into the Holy of Holies, and taking

away with him the breast-plate of

judgment made prayers concerning her;

6 And behold the angel of the

Lord came to him, and said,

Zacharias, Zacharias, Go forth and

call together all the widowers

among the people, and let every

one of them bring his rod, and

he by whom the Lord shall shew

a sign shall be the husband of

Mary.

7 And the criers went out

through all Judaea, and the trumpet

of the Lord sounded, and all

the people ran and met together.

8 Joseph also throwing away

his hatchet, went out to meet

them; and when they were met,

they went to the high-priest;

taking every man his rod.

9 After the high-priest had

received their rods, he went

into the temple to pray;

10 And when he had finished

his prayer, he took the rods, and

went forth and distributed them,

and there was no miracle attended

them.

11 The last rod was taken by

Joseph, said behold a dove

proceeded out of the rod, and

flew upon the head of Joseph.

12 And the high-priest said,

Joseph, Thou art the person

chosen to take the Virgin of the

Lord, to keep her for him:

13 But Joseph refused, saying,

I am an old man, and have children,

but she is young, and I fear

lest I should appear ridiculous

in Israel.

14 Then the high-priest replied,

Joseph, Fear the Lord thy God,

and remember how God dealt with

Dathan, Korah, and Abiram, how

the earth opened and swallowed

them up, because of their

contradiction.

15 Now therefore, Joseph, fear

God lest the like things should

happen in your family.

16 Joseph then being afraid,

took her unto his house, and

Joseph said unto Mary, Behold, I

have taken thee from the temple

of the Lord, and now I will leave

thee in my house; I must go to

mind my trade of building. The

Lord be with thee.

CHAPTER IX.

1 The priests desire a new veil for the temple,

3 seven virgins cast lots for making different parts of it,

4 the lot to spin the true purple falls to Mary.

5 Zacharias, the high priest, becomes dumb.

7 Mary takes a pot to draw water, and hears a voice,

8 trembles and begins to work,

9 an angel Appears and salutes her, and tells her she

shall conceive by the Holy Ghost,

17 she submits.

19 Visits her cousin Elizabeth, whose child in her womb leaps.

AND it came to pass, in a council

of the priests, it was said,

Let us make a new veil for the

temple of the Lord.

2 And the high-priest said,

Call together to me seven undefiled

virgins of the tribe of David.

3 And the servants went and

brought them into the temple of

the Lord, and the high-priest said

unto them, Cast lots before me

now, who of you shall spin the

golden thread, who the blue, who

the scarlet, who the fine linen, and

who the true purple.

4 Then the high-priest knew

Mary; that she was of the tribe of

David; and he called her, and the

true purple fell to her lot to spin,

and she went away to her own

house.

5 But from that time Zacharias

the high-priest became dumb, and

Samuel was placed in his room till

Zacharias spoke again.

6 But Mary took the true purple;

and did spin it.

7 And she took a pot, and

went out to draw water, and heard

a voice saying unto her, Hail thou

who art full of grace, the Lord

is with thee; thou art blessed

among women.

8 And she looked round to the

right and to the left (to see) whence

that voice came, and then trembling

went into her house, and laying

down the water-pot, she took

the purple, and sat down in her

seat to work it.

9 And behold the angel of the

Lord stood by her, and said, Fear

not, Mary, for thou hast found

favour in the sight of God.

10 Which when she heard, she

reasoned with herself what that

sort of salutation meant.

11 And the angel said unto her,

The Lord is with thee, and thou

shalt conceive:

12 To which she replied, What!

shall I conceive by the living God

and bring forth as all other

women do?

13 But the angel returned

answer, Not so, O Mary, but the

Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,

and the power of the Most High

shall overshadow thee;

14 Wherefore that which shall

be born of thee shall be holy,

and shall be called the Son of the

Living God, and thou shalt call his

name Jesus; for he shall save his

people from their sins.

15 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth,

she also hath conceived a son in her

old age.

16 And this now is the sixth

month with her, who was called

barren: for nothing is impossible

with God.

17 And Mary said, Behold the

handmaid of the Lord; let it be

unto me according to thy word.

18 And when she had wrought

her purple, she carried it to the

high-priest, and the high-priest

blessed her, saying, Mary, the

Lord God hath magnified thy name,

and thou shalt be blessed in all the

ages of the world.

19 Then Mary, filled with joy,

went away to her cousin Elizabeth,

and knocked at the door.

20 Which when Elizabeth heard,

she ran and opened to her, and

blessed her, and said, Whence is

this to me, that the mother of my

Lord should come unto me?

21 For lo! as soon as the voice

of thy salutation reached my ears,

that which is in me leaped and

blessed thee.

22 But Mary, being ignorant of

all those mysterious things which

the archangel Gabriel had spoken

to her, lifted up her eyes to heaven,

and said, Lord! What am I, that

all the generations of the earth

should call me blessed?

23 But perceiving herself daily

to grow big, and being afraid, she

went home, and hid herself from

the children of Israel; and was

fourteen years old when all these

things happened.

CHAPTER X.

1 Joseph returns from building houses, finds the Virgin

grown big, being six months gone with child,

2 is jealous and troubled,

8 reproaches her,

10 she affirms her innocence,

13 he leaves her,

16 determines to dismiss her privately,

17 is warned in a dream that Mary is with child by the Holy Ghost,

20 and glorifies God who had shewn him such favour.

AND when her sixth month was

come, Joseph returned from

his building houses abroad, which

was his trade, and entering into the

house, found the Virgin grown big:

2 Then smiting upon his face,

he said, With what face can I look

up to the Lord my God? or, what

shall I say concerning this young

woman?

3 For I received her a Virgin

out of the temple of the Lord my

God, and have not preserved her

such!

4 Who has thus deceived me?

Who has committed this evil in

my house, and seducing the Virgin

from me, hath defiled her?

5 Is not the history of Adam exactly

accomplished in me?

6 For in the very instant of his

glory, the serpent came and found

Eve alone, and seduced her.

7 Just after the same manner it

has happened to me.

8 Then Joseph arising from the

ground, called her, and said, O

thou who hast been so much

favoured by God, why hast thou

done this?

9 Why hast thou thus debased

thy soul, who wast educated in the

Holy of Holies, and received thy

food from the hand of angels?

10 But she, with a flood of tears,

replied, I am innocent, and have

known no man.

11 Then said Joseph, How

comes it to pass you are with

child?

12 Mary answered, As the Lord

my God liveth, I know not by what

means.

13 Then Joseph was exceedingly afraid,

and went ay from her, considering

what he should do with her;

and he thus reasoned with himself:

14 If I conceal her crime, I shall

be found guilty by the law of the

Lord;

15 And if I discover her to the

children of Israel, I fear, lest

she being with child by an angel,

I shall be found to betray the life

of an innocent person.

16 What therefore shall I do?

I will privately dismiss her.

17 Then the night was come

upon him, when behold an angel

of the Lord appeared to him in a

dream, and said,

18 Be not afraid to take that

young woman, for that which is

within her is of the Holy Ghost,

19 And she shall bring forth

a son, and thou shalt call his name

Jesus, for he shall save his people

from their sins.

20 Then Joseph arose from his

sleep, and glorified the God of

Israel, who had shewn him such

favour, and preserved the Virgin.

CHAPTER XI.

3 Annas visits Joseph, perceives the Virgin big with child,

4 informs the high priest that Joseph had privately married her.

8 Joseph and Mary brought to trial on the charge.

17 Joseph drinks the water of the Lord as an ordeal,

and receiving no harm, returns home.

THEN came Annas the scribe,

and said to Joseph, Wherefore

have we not seen you since

your return?

2 And Joseph replied, Because

I was weary after my journey, and

rested the first day.

3 But Annas turning about

perceived the Virgin big with child.

4 And went away to the priest,

and told him, Joseph in whom you

placed so much confidence, is

guilty of a notorious crime, in

that he hath defiled the Virgin

whom he received out of the temple

of the Lord, and hath privately

married her, not discovering it to

the children of Israel.

5 Then said the priest, Hath

Joseph done this?

6 Annas replied, If you send

any of your servants you will find

that she is with child.

7 And the servants went, and

found it as he said.

8 Upon this both she and Joseph

were brought to their trial, and

the priest said unto her, Mary,

what hast thou done?

9 Why hast thou debased thy

soul, and forgot thy God, seeing

thou wast brought up in the Holy

of Holies, and didst receive thy

food from the hands of angels, and

heardest their songs?

10 Why hast thou done this?

11 To which with a flood of

tears she answered, As the Lord

my God liveth, I am innocent in

his sight, seeing I know no man.

12 Then the priest said to Joseph,

Why hast thou done this?

13 And Joseph answered, As

the Lord my God liveth, I have

not been concerned with her.

14 But the priest said, Lie not,

but declare the truth; thou hast

privately married her, and not

discovered it to the children of

Israel, and humbled thyself under

the mighty hand (of God), that thy

seed might be blessed:

15 And Joseph was silent.

16 Then said the priest

(to Joseph), You must restore to

the temple of the Lord the Virgin

which you took thence.

17 But he wept bitterly, and the

priest added, I will cause you both

to drink the water of the Lord,

which is for trial, and so your

iniquity shall be laid open before

you.—[bitter water that causeth the curse]

18 Then the priest took the water,

and made Joseph drink, and sent him

to a mountainous place,

19 And he returned perfectly

well, and all the people wondered

that his guilt was not discovered.

20 So the priest said, Since the

Lord hath not made your sins

evident, neither do I condemn

you.

21 So he sent them away.

22 Then Joseph took Mary, and

went to his house, rejoicing and

praising the God of Israel.

CHAP. XII.

1 A decree from Augustus for taxing the Jews.

5 Joseph puts Mary on an ass, to return to Bethlehem,

6 she looks sorrowful,

7 she laughs,

8 Joseph inquires the cause of each,

9 she tells him she sees two persons,

one mourning and the other rejoicing.

10 The delivery being near, he takes her

from the ass, and places her in a cave.

AND it came to pass, that there

went forth a decree from

the Emperor Augustus, that all

the Jews should be taxed, who

were of Bethlehem in Judaea.

2 And Joseph said, I will take

care that my children be taxed;

but what shall I do with this young

woman?

3 To have her taxed as my wife

I am ashamed; and if I tax her as

my daughter, all Israel knows she

is not my daughter.

4 When the time of the Lord's

appointment shall come, let him do

as seems good to him.

5 And he saddled the ass, and

put her upon it, and Joseph and

Simon followed after her, and

arrived at Bethlehem within three

miles.

6 Then Joseph turning about

saw Mary sorrowful, and said

within himself, Perhaps she is in

pain through that which is within

her.

7 But when he turned about

again, he saw her laughing, and

said to her,

8 Mary, how happens it, that I

sometimes see sorrow, and sometimes

laughter and joy in thy countenance?

9 And Mary replied to him,

I see two people with mine eyes,

the one weeping and mourning,

the other laughing and rejoicing.

10 And he went again across

the way, and Mary said to Joseph,

Take me down from the ass, for

that which is in me presses to come

forth.

11 But Joseph replied, Whither

shall I take thee? for the place is

a desert.

12 Then said Mary again to Joseph,

take me down, for that which is

within me mightily presses me.

13 And Joseph took her down.

14 And he found there a cave,

and let her into it.

CHAPTER XIII.

1 Joseph seeks a Hebrew midwife,

2 perceives the owls stopping in their flight,

3 the working people at their food not moving,

8 the sheep standing still,

9 the shepherd fixed and immoveable,

10 and kids with their mouths touching

the water but not drinking.

AND leaving her and his sons

in the cave, Joseph went

forth to seek a Hebrew midwife in

the village of Bethlehem.

2 But as I was going (said Joseph),

I looked up into the air,

and I saw the clouds astonished,

and the fowls of the air stopping in

the midst of their flight.

3 And I looked down towards

the earth, and saw a table spread,

and working people sitting around

it, but their hands were upon the

table and they did not move to

eat.

4 They who had meat in their

mouths did not eat.

5 They who lifted their hands

up to their heads did not draw

them back,

6 And they who lifted them up

to their mouths did not put any

thing in;

7 But all their faces were fixed

upwards.

8 And I beheld the sheep dispersed,

and yet the sheep stood still.

9 And the shepherd lifted up

his hand to smite them, and his

hand continued up.

10 And I looked unto a river,

and saw the kids with their mouths

close to the water, and touching it,

but they did not drink.

CHAPTER XIV.

1 Joseph finds a midwife.

10 A bright cloud overshadows the cave.

11 A great light in the cave, gradually

increases until the infant is born.

13 The mid-wife goes out, and tells Salome

that she has seen a virgin bring forth.

17 Salome doubts it.

20 her hand withers,

22 she supplicates the Lord,

28 is cured,

30 but warned not to declare what she had seen.

THEN I beheld a woman coming

down from the mountains,

and she said to me, Where art thou

going, O man?

2 And I said to her, I go to

enquire for a Hebrew midwife.

3 She replied to me, Where is

the woman that is to be delivered?

4 And I answered, In the cave,

and she is betrothed to me.

5 Then said the midwife, Is she

not thy wife?

6 Joseph answered, It is Mary,

who was educated in the Holy of

Holies, in the house of the Lord,

and she fell to me by lot, and is

not my wife, but has conceived by

the Holy Ghost.

7 The midwife said, Is this true?

8 He answered, Come and see.

9 And the midwife went along

with him, and stood in the cave.

10 Then a bright cloud over-

shadowed the cave, and the mid-

wife said, This day my soul is

magnified, for mine eyes have seen

surprising things, and salvation is

brought forth to Israel.

11 But on a sudden the cloud

became a great light in the cave,

so that their eyes could not bear it.

12 But the light gradually

decreased, until the infant appeared,

and sucked the breast of his mother,

Mary.

13 Then the midwife cried out,

and said, How glorious a day is

this, wherein mine eyes have seen

this extraordinary sight!

14 And the midwife went out

from the cave, and Salome met

her.

15 And the midwife said to her,

Salome, Salome, I will tell you a

most surprising thing which I saw,

16 A virgin hath brought forth,

which is a thing contrary to

nature.

17 To which Salome replied, As

the Lord my God liveth unless I

receive particular proof of this

matter, I will not believe that a

virgin hath brought forth.

18 If Then Salome went in, and

the midwife said, Mary, shew thyself,

for a controversy is risen

concerning thee.

19 And Salome received satisfaction.

20 But her hand was withered,

and she groaned bitterly;

21 And said, Woe to me, because

of mine iniquity; for I have

tempted the living God, and my

hand is ready to drop off.

22 Then Salome made her

supplication to the Lord, and said,

O God of my Fathers, remember me,

for I am of the seed of Abraham,

and Isaac, and Jacob.

23 Make me not a reproach

among the children of Israel, but

restore me sound to my parents.

24 For thou well knowest,

O Lord, that I have performed many

offices of charity in thy name,

and have received my reward from

thee.

25 Upon this an angel of the

Lord stood by Salome, and said,

The Lord God hath heard thy

prayer, reach forth thy hand to

the child, and carry him, and by

that means thou shalt be restored.

26 Salome filled with exceeding

joy, went to the child, and said,

I will touch him.

27 And she purposed to worship

him, for she said, This is a great

king, which is born in Israel.

28 And straightway Salome was

cured.

29 Then the midwife went out

of the cave, being approved by God.

30 And lo! a voice came to Salome.

Declare not the strange things

which thou hast seen, till

the child shall come to Jerusalem.

31 So Salome also departed,

approved by God.

CHAPTER XV.

1 Wise men come from the east.

3 Herod alarmed;

8 desires them if they find the child to bring him word.

10 They visit the cave and offer the child their treasure,

11 and being warned in a dream, do not return to Herod,

but go home another way.

THEN Joseph was preparing to

go away, because there arose

a great disorder in Bethlehem by

the coming of some wise men

from the east,

2 Who said, Where is the King

of the Jews born? For we have

seen his star in the east, and are

come to worship him.

3 When Herod heard this, he

was exceedingly troubled, and sent

messengers to the wise men, and

to the priests, and enquired of

them in the town-hall,

4 And said unto them, Where

have you it written concerning

Christ the king, or where should

he be born?

5 Then they say unto him, In

Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it

is written: And thou Bethlehem in

the land of Judah, art not the least

among the princes of Judah, for

out of thee shall come a ruler,

who shall rule my people Israel.

6 And having sent away the

chief priests, he enquired of the

wise men in the town-hall, and

said unto them, What sign was it

ye saw concerning the king that is

born?

7 They answered him, We saw

an extraordinary large star shining

among the stars of heaven, and so

out-shined all the other stars, as

that they became not visible, and

we knew thereby that a great king

was born in Israel, and therefore

we are come to worship him.

8 Then said Herod to them, Go

and make diligent inquiry; and if

ye find the child, bring me word

again, that I may come and worship

him also.

9 So the wise men went forth,

and behold, the star which they

saw in the east went before them,

till it came and stood over the cave

where the young child was with

Mary his mother.

10 Then they brought forth out

of their treasures, and offered unto

him gold and frankincense, and

myrrh.

11 And being warned in a dream

by an angel, that they should not

return to Herod through Judaea,

they departed into their own country

by another way.

CHAPTER XVI.

1 Herod enraged, orders the infants in Bethlehem to be slain.

2 Mary puts her infant in an ox-manger.

3 Elizabeth flees with her son John to the mountains.

6 A mountain miraculously divides and receives them.

9 Herod incensed at the escape of John, causes Zacharias

to be murdered at the altar.

23 The roofs of the temple rent, the body miraculously

conveyed, and the blood petrified.

25 Israel mourns for him.

27 Simeon chosen his successor by lot.

THEN Herod perceiving that

he was mocked by the wise

men, and being very angry,

commanded certain men to go and

to kill all the children that were

in Bethlehem, from two years old

and under.

2 But Mary hearing that the

children were to be killed, being

under much fear, took the child,

and wrapped him up in swaddling

clothes, and laid him in an ox-

manger, because there was no

room for them in the inn.

3 Elizabeth also, hearing that

her son John was about to be

searched for, took him and went

up unto the mountains, and looked

around for a place to hide him;

4 And there was no secret place

to be found.

5 Then she groaned within herself,

and said, O mountain of the Lord,

receive the mother with the child.

6 For Elizabeth could not climb up,

7 And instantly the mountain

was divided and received them.

8 And there appeared to them

an angel of the Lord to preserve

them.

9 But Herod made search after

John, and sent servants to Zacharias,

when he was (ministering) at the altar,

and said unto him, Where hast thou hid

thy son?

10 He replied, to them, I am a

minister of God, and a servant at

the altar: how should I know

where my son is?

11 So the servants went back,

and told Herod the whole; at

which he was incensed, and said,

Is not this son of his like to be

king of Israel?

12 He sent therefore again his

servants to Zacharias, saying, Tell

us the truth, where is thy son, for

you know that your life is in my

hand.

13 So the servants went and told

him all this:

14 But Zacharias replied to

them, I am a martyr for God, and

if ye shed my blood, the Lord will

receive my soul.

15 Besides know that ye shed

innocent blood.

16 However Zacharias was murdered

in the entrance of the temple

said altar, and about the partition;

17 But the children of Israel

knew not when he want killed.

18 Then at the hour of salutation

the priests went into the temple

but Zacharias did not according

to custom, meet them and bless them.

19 Yet they still continued

waiting for him to salute them;

20 And when they found he did

not in a long time come, one of

them ventured into the holy place

where the altar was, and he saw

blood lying upon the ground

congealed:

21 When, behold, a voice from

heaven said, Zacharias is murdered,

and his blood shall not be

wiped away, until the revenger

of his blood come.

22 But when he heard this, he

was afraid; and went forth and told

the priests what he had seen and

heard; and they all went in, and

saw the fact.

23 Then the roofs of the temple

howled, and were rent from the

top to the bottom:

24 And they could not find the

body, but only blood made hard

like stone.

25 And they went away, and

told the people, that Zacharias

was murdered, and all the tribes

of Israel heard thereof, and mourned

for him, and lamented three days:

26 Then the priests took

council together concerning

a person to succeed him.

27 And Simeon and the other

priests cast lots, and the lot fell

upon Simeon.

28 For he had been assured by

the Holy Spirit, that he should not

die, till he had seen Christ come in

the flesh.

(I James wrote this History in Jerusalem: and when the disturbance

was I retired into a desert place, until the death of Herod, and the

disturbances ceased at Jerusalem. That which remains is, that I

glorify God that he hath given me such wisdom to write unto you who

are spiritual, and who love God: to whom (be ascribed) glory and

dominion for ever and ever. Amen.)

THE PROTEVANGELION.

Note on the death of Zacharias in Chap. 16.

There is a story both in the Jerusalem and Babylonish Talmud very similar

to this. It is cited by Dr. Lightfoot, Talmud, Hierosol, in Taanith, fol.

69; and Talmud. Babyl. in Sanhedr., fol. 96. "O Rabbi Jochanan said,

Eighty thousand priests were slain for the blood of Zacharias. Rabbi

Judas asked Rabbi Achan, Where did they kill Zacharias? Was it in the

woman's court, or in the court of Israel? He answered, Neither in the

court of Israel, nor in the court of women, but in the court of the

priests; and they did not treat his blood in the same manner as they were

wont to treat the blood of a ram or young goat. For of these it is

written, He shall pour out his blood, and cover it with dust. But it is

written here, The blood is in the midst of her: she set it upon the top

of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground. (Ezek. xxiv. 7.) But why

was this? That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance: I have

set his blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.

They committed seven evils that day: they murdered a priest, a prophet,

and a king; they shed the blood of the innocent; they polluted the court:

that day was the Sabbath: and the day of expiation. When therefore

Nebuzaradan came there (viz. to Jerusalem,) he saw his blood bubbling,

and said to them, What meaneth this? They answered, It is the blood of

calves, lambs, and rams, which we have offered upon the altar. He

commanded then, that they should bring calves, and lambs, and rams, and

said I will try whether this be their blood: accordingly they brought

and slew them, but the blood of Zacharias still bubbled, but the blood of

these did not bubble. Then he said, Declare to me the truth of this

matter, or else I will comb your flesh with iron combs. Then said they to

him, He was a priest, prophet, and judge, who prophesied to Israel all

these calamities which we have suffered from you; but we arose against

him, and slew him. Then, said he, I will appease him; then he took the

rabbis and slew them upon his (viz. Zacharias's) blood, and he was not

yet appeased. Next he took the young boys from the schools, and slew them

upon his blood; and yet it bubbled. Then he brought the young priests and

slew them in the same place, and yet it still bubbled. So he slew at

length ninety-four thousand persons upon his blood, and it did not as yet

cease bubbling; then he drew near to it, and said, O Zacharias,

Zacharias, thou halt occasioned the death of the chief of thy

countrymen, shall I slay them all? then the blood ceased, and did bubble

no more."

REFERENCES TO THE PROTEVANGELION.

[This Gospel is ascribed to James. The allusions to it in the ancient

Fathers are frequent, and their expressions indicate that it had

obtained a very general credit in the Christian world. The controversies

founded upon it chiefly relate to the age of Joseph at the birth of

Christ, and to his being a widower with children, before his marriage

with the Virgin. It seems material to remark, that the legends of the

latter ages affirm the virginity of Joseph, notwithstanding Epiphanius,

Hilary, Chrysostom, Cyril, Euthymius, Thephylaet, Occumenius, and indeed

all the Latin Fathers till Ambrose, and the Greek Fathers afterwards,

maintain the opinions of Joseph's age and family, founded upon their

belief in the authenticity of this book. It is supposed to have been

originally composed in Hebrew. Postellus brought the MS. of this Gospel

from the Levant, translated it into Latin, and sent it to Oporimus,

a printer at Basil, where Bibliander, a Protestant Divine, and the

Professor of Divinity at Zurich, caused it to be printed in 1552.

Postellus asserts that it was publicly read as canonical in the eastern

churches they making no doubt that James was the author, of it. It is,

nevertheless considered apocryphal by some of the most learned divines in

the Protestant and Catholic churches.]

THE FIRST GOSPEL OF

THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.

CHAPTER I.

1 Caiphas relates that Jesus, when in his cradle,

informed his mother that he was the Son of God.

5 Joseph and Mary going to Bethlehem to be taxed, Mary's

time of bringing forth arrives, and she goes into a cave.

8 Joseph fetches in a Hebrew woman. The cave filled with

great lights.

11 The infant born,

17 and cures the woman.

19 Arrival of the shepherds.

THE following accounts we found

in the book of Joseph the

high-priest, called by some

Caiphas:

2 He relates, that Jesus spake

even when he was in the cradle,

and said to his mother:

3 Mary, I am Jesus the Son of

God, that word, which thou didst

bring forth according to the

declaration of the angel Gabriel to

thee, and my father hath sent me

for the salvation of the world.

4 In the three hundred and

ninth year of the era of Alexander,

Augustus published a decree that

all persons should go to be taxed

in their own country.

5 Joseph therefore arose, and

with Mary his spouse he went to

Jerusalem, and then came to Bethlehem,

that he and his family might be taxed

in the city of his fathers.

6 And when they came by the cave,

Mary confessed to Joseph that her

time of bringing forth was come,

and she could not go on to the city,

and said, Let us go into this cave.

7 At that time the sun was very

near going down.

8 But Joseph hastened away,

that he might fetch her a midwife;

and when he saw an old Hebrew

woman who was of Jerusalem, he

said to her, Pray come hither,

good woman, and go into that cave,

and you will there see a woman

just ready to bring forth.

9 It was after sunset, when the

old woman and Joseph with her

reached the cave, and they both

went into it.

10 And behold, it was all filled

with lights, greater than the light

of lamps and candles, and greater

than the light of the sun itself.

11 The infant was then wrapped

up in swaddling clothes, and sucking

the breasts of his mother St.

Mary.

12 When they both saw this

light, they were surprised; the

old woman asked St. Mary, Art

thou the mother of this child?

13 St. Mary replied, She was.

14 On which the old woman

said, Thou art very different from

all other women.

15 St. Mary answered, As there

is not any child like to my son,

so neither is there any woman like

to his mother.

16 The old woman answered,

and said, O my Lady, I am come

hither that I may obtain an

everlasting reward.

17 Then our Lady St. Mary

said to her, Lay thine hands upon

the infant, which, when she had

done, she became whole.

18 And as she was going forth,

she said, From henceforth, all the

days of my life, I will attend upon

and be a servant of this infant.

19 After this, when the shepherds

came, and had made a fire, and they

were exceedingly rejoicing, the

heavenly host appeared to them,

praising and adoring the supreme God.

20 And as the shepherds were

engaged in the same employment,

the cave at that time seemed like

a glorious temple, because both

the tongues of angels and men

united to adore and magnify God,

on account of the birth of the Lord

Christ.

21 But when the old Hebrew

woman saw all these evident miracles,

she gave praises to God, and

said, I thank thee, O God, thou

God of Israel, for that mine eyes

have seen the birth of the Saviour

of the world.

CHAP. II.

1 The child circumcised in the cave,

2 and the old woman preserving his foreskin or navel-string in a

box of spikenard, Mary afterwards anoints Christ with it.

5 Christ brought to the temple;

6 He shines,

7 and angels stand around him adoring.

8 Simeon praises Christ.

AND when the time of his

circumcision was come: namely,

the eighth day, on which the

law commanded the child to be

circumcised; they circumcised

him in the cave.

2 And the old Hebrew woman

took the foreskin (others say she

took the navel-string), and preserved

it in an alabaster-box of old oil

of spikenard.

3 And she had a son who was a

druggist, to whom she said, Take

heed thou sell not this alabaster-

box of spikenard-ointment, although

thou shouldst be offered three

hundred pence for it.

4 Now this is that alabaster-

box which Mary the sinner procured,

and poured forth the ointment out

of it upon the head and the feet

of our Lord Jesus Christ, and wiped

them off with the hairs of her head.

5 Then after ten days they

brought him to Jerusalem, and on

the fortieth day from his birth

they presented him in the temple

before the Lord, making the proper

offerings for him, according

to the requirement of the law of

Moses: namely, that every male

which opens the womb shall be

called holy unto God.

6 At that time old Simeon saw

him shining as a pillar of light,

when St. Mary the Virgin, his

mother, carried him in her arms,

and was filled with the greatest

pleasure at the sight.

7 And the angels stood around

him, adoring him, as a king's

guards stand around him.

8 Then Simeon going near to

St. Mary, and stretching forth his

hands towards her, said to the

Lord Christ, Now, O My Lord,

thy servant shall depart in peace,

according to thy word;

9 For mine eyes have seen thy

mercy, which thou hast prepared

for the salvation of all nations;

a light to all people, and the glory

of thy people Israel.

10 Hannah the prophetess was

also present, and drawing near,

she gave praises to God, and

celebrated the happiness of Mary.

CHAPTER III.

1 The wise men visit Christ. Mary gives them

one of his swaddling clothes.

3 An angel appears to them in the form of a star.

4 They return and make a fire, and worship the

swaddling cloth, and put it in the fire where it

remains unconsumed.

AND it came to pass, when the

Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem,

a city of Judaea, in the time of Herod

the King;—the wise men came from the

East to Jerusalem, according to the

prophecy of Zoradascht, [Zoroaster]

and brought with them offerings:

namely, gold, frankincense, and myrrh,

and worshipped him, and offered to him

their gifts.

2 Then the Lady Mary took one

of his swaddling clothes in which

the infant was wrapped, and gave

it to them instead of a blessing,

which they received from her as a

most noble present.

3 And at the same time there

appeared to them an angel in the

form of that star which had before

been their guide in their journey;

the light of which they followed

till they returned into their own

country.

4 On their return their kings

and princes came to them inquiring,

whom they had seen and done?

What sort of journey and return

they had? What Company

they had on the road?

5 But they produced the swaddling

cloth which St. Mary had given

them, on account whereof they kept

a feast.

6 And having, according to the

custom of their country, made

a fire, they worshipped it.

7 And casting the swaddling

cloth into it, the fire took it

and kept it.

8 And when the fire was put out,

they took forth the swaddling cloth

unhurt, as much as if the fire had

not touched it.

9 Then they began to kiss it,

and put it upon their heads and

their eyes saying, This is certainly

an undoubted truth, and it is really

surprising that the fire could not

burn it, and consume it.

10 Then they took it, and with

the greatest respect laid it up

among their treasures.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Herod intends to put Christ to death.

3 An angel warns Joseph to take the child

and his mother into Egypt.

6 Consternation on their arrival.

13 The idols fall down.

15 Mary washes Christ's swaddling clothes, hangs them to

dry on a post, and the son of a priest puts one on his head;

16 And being possessed of devils they leave him.

NOW Herod perceiving that the

wise men did delay and not return

to him, called together the priest

and wise men, and said, Tell me in

what place the Christ should be born.

2 And when they replied, in

Bethlehem,—a city of Judaea, he

began to contrive in his own mind

the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 But an angel of the Lord

appeared to Joseph in his sleep,

and said, Arise, take the child and

his mother, and go into Egypt as soon

as the cock crows. So he arose,

and went.

4 And as he was considering

with himself about his journey,

the morning came upon him.

5 In the length of the journey

the girts of the saddle broke.

6 And now he drew near to a great

city, in which there was an idol,

to which the priests of the other

idols and gods of Egypt brought

their offerings and vows.

7 And there was by this idol a

priest ministering to it, who, as

often as Satan spoke out of that

idol, related the things he said to

the inhabitants of Egypt, and those

countries.

8 This priest had a son three

years old, who was possessed with

a great multitude of devils, who

uttered many strange things and

when the devils seized him, walked

about naked with his clothes torn,

throwing stones at those whom

he saw.

9 Near to that idol was the inn

of the city, into which when Joseph

and St. Mary were come, and had

turned into that inn, all the

inhabitants of the city were

astonished.

10 And all the magistrates and

priests of the idols assembled

before that idol, and made inquiry

there, saying, What means all this

consternation, and dread, which

has fallen upon all our country?

11 The idol answered them,

The unknown God is come thither,

who is truly God; nor is there any

one besides him, who is worthy of

divine worship for he is truly the

Son of God.

12 At the fame of him this

country trembled, and at his

coming it is under the present

commotion and consternation, and

we ourselves are afrighted by the

greatness of his power.

13 And at the same instant this

idol fell down, and at his fall all

the inhabitants of Egypt, besides

others ran together.

14 But the son of the priest,

when his usual disorder came upon

him going into the inn, found

there Joseph and St. Mary, whom

all the rest had left behind and

forsook.

15 And when the Lady St. Mary

had washed the swaddling clothes

of the Lord Christ, and hanged

them out to dry upon a post, the

boy possessed with the devil took

down one of them, and put it upon

his head.

16 And presently the devils

began to come out of his mouth,

and fly away in the shape of crows

and serpents.

17 From that time the boy was

healed by the power of the Lord

Christ and he began to sing

praises, and give thanks to the

Lord who had healed him.

18 When his father saw him

restored to his former state of

health, he said, My son, what has

happened to thee, and by what

means wert thou cured?

19 The son answered, When the

devils seized me, I went into the

inn, and there found a very

handsome woman with a boy, whose

swaddling clothes she had just

before washed, and hanged out upon

a post.

20 One of these I took, and put

it upon my head, and immediately

the devils left me, and fled away.

21 At this the father exceedingly

rejoiced, and said, My son,

perhaps this boy is the son of the

living God, who made the heavens

and the earth.

22 For as soon as he came

amongst us, the idol was broken,

and all the gods fell down, and

were destroyed by a greater power.

23 Then was fulfilled the prophecy

which saith, Out of Egypt I have

called my son.

CHAPTER V.

1 Joseph and Mary leave Egypt.

3 Go to the Haunts of robbers,

4 Who hearing a mighty noise,

as of a great army flee away.

NOW Joseph and Mary when

they heard that the idol was

fallen down and destroyed, were

seized with fear and, trembling,

and said, When we Were in the

land of Israel, Herod, intending

to kill Jesus, slew for that purpose

all the infants at Bethlehem, and

that neighbourhood.

2 And there is no doubt but

the Egyptians if they come to

hear that this idol is broken and

fallen down, will burn us with fire.

3 They went therefore hence to

the secret places of robbers, who

robbed travellers as they pass by,

of their carriages and their clothes

and carried them away bound.

4 These thieves upon their

coming heard a great noise such

as the noise of a king with a great

army, and many horse and the

trumpets sounding at his departure

from his own city, at which they

were so affrighted, as to leave

all their booty behind them and

fly away in haste.

5 Upon this the prisoners arose,

and loosed each other's bonds,

and taking each man his bags,

they went way, and saw Joseph

and Mary coming towards them,

and inquired, Where is that king,

the noise of whose approach the

robbers heard, and left us,

so that we are now come off safe?

6 Joseph answered, He will come

after us.

CHAPTER VI.

1 Mary looks on a woman in whom Satan had taken

up his abode, and she becomes dispossessed.

5 Christ kissed by a bride made dumb by sorcerers,

cures her.

11 Miraculously cures a gentlewoman in whom Satan

had taken up his abode.

16 A leprous girl cured by the water in which he was

washed, and becomes the servant of Joseph and Mary.

20 The leprous son of a prince's wife cured in like manner.

37 Has mother offers large gifts to Mary, and dismisses her.

THEN they went into another

city where there was a woman

possessed with a devil, and in

whom Satan, that cursed rebel,

had taken up his abode.

2 One night, when she went to

fetch water, she could neither

endure her clothes on, nor to be

in any house; but as often as they

tied her with chains or cords, she

brake them, and went out into desert

places, and sometimes standing

where roads crossed, and in

church yards, would throw stones

at men.

3 When St. Mary saw this

woman, she pitied her; where

upon Satan presently left her, and

fled away in the form of a young

man, saying, Wo to me, because

of thee, Mary, and thy son.

4 So the woman was delivered

from her torment; but considering

herself naked, she blushed,

and avoided seeing any man and

having put on her clothes, went

home, and gave an account of her

case to her father and relations

who, as they were the best of the

city, entertained St. Mary and

Joseph with the greatest respect.

5 The next morning having

received a sufficient supply of

provisions for the road, they went

from them, and about the evening of

the day arrived at another town,

where a marriage was then about

to be solemnized; but by the arts

of Satan and the practices of a

sorcerers, the bride was become

so dumb, that she could not so

much as open her mouth.

6 But when this dumb bride

saw the Lady St. Mary entering

into the town, and carrying

Lord Christ in her arms, she

stretched out her hands to the

Lord Christ, and-took him in her

arms, and closely hugging him,

very often kissed him, continually

moving him and, pressing him to

her body.

7 Straightway the string of her

tongue was loosed, and her ears

were opened, and she began to

sing praises unto God, who had

restored her.

8 So there was great joy among

the inhabitants of the town that

night, who thought that God and

his angels were come down among

them.

9 In this place they abode

three days, meeting with the greatest

respect and most splendid entertainment.

10 And being then furnished by

the people with provisions for the

road, they departed and went to

another city, in which they were

inclined to lodge, because it was a

famous place.

11 There was in this city a

gentlewoman, who, as she went down

one day to the river to bathe, behold

cursed Satan leaped upon her in the

form of a serpent.

12 And folded himself about her

belly, and every night lay upon

her.

13 This woman seeing the Lady

St. Mary, and the Lord Christ the

infant in her bosom, asked the

Lady St. Mary, that she would

give her the child to kiss, and

carry in her arms.

14 When she had consented,

and as soon as the woman had

moved the child, Satan left her,

and fled away, nor did the woman

ever afterwards see him.

15 Hereupon all the neighbors

praised the Supreme God, and the

woman reward them with ample,

beneficence.

16 On the morrow, the same

woman brought perfumed water to

wash the Lord Jesus; and when

she had washed him, she preserved

the water.

17 And there was a girl there,

whose body was white with a

leprosy, who being sprinkled with

this water, and washed, was

instantly cleansed from her leprosy.

18 The people therefore said

Without doubt Joseph and Mary,

and that boy are Gods, for they do

not look like mortals.

19 And when they were making

ready to go away, the girl, who

had been troubled with the leprosy,

came and desired they would

permit her to go along with them;

so they consented and the girl went

with them till they came to a city

in which was the palace of a great

king, and whose house was not far

from the inn.

20 Here they staid, and when

the girl went one day to the

prince's wife, and found her in a

sorrowful and mournful condition,

she asked her the reason of her

tears.

21 She replied, wonder not at

my groans, for I am under a great

misfortune, of which I dare not

tell any one.

22 But, says the, girl, if you

will entrust me with your private

grievance, perhaps I may find you

a remedy for it.

23 Thou, therefore, says the

prince's wife, shall keep the

secret, and not discover it to

any one alive.

24 I have been married to this

prince, who rules as king over

large dominions, and lived long

with him before he had any child

by me.

25 At length I conceived by

him, but alas! I brought forth a

leprous son; which, when he saw

him would not own to be his, but

said to me,

26 Either do thou kill him, or

send him to some nurse in such a

place, that he may be never heard

of; and now take care of yourself;

I will never see you more.

27 So here I pine, lamenting

my wretched and miserable

circumstances. Alas, my son! alas,

my husband; Have I disclosed it

to you?

28 The girl replied I have found

a remedy for your disease, which

I promise you, for I also was

leprous, but God hath cleansed

me, even he who is called Jesus

the son of the Lady Mary.

29 The woman inquiring where

that God was, whom she spake

of; the girl answered, He lodges

with you here, in the same house.

30 But how can this be? says

she; where is he? Behold, replied

the girl, Joseph and Mary; and

the infant who is, with them is

called Jesus; and it is he who

delivered me from my disease and

torment.

31 But by what means, says she,

were you cleansed from your leprosy?

Will not you tell me that?

32 Why not? says the girl; I

took the water with which his

body had been washed, and poured

it upon me, and my leprosy

vanished.

33 The prince's wife then arose

and entertained them, providing a

great feast for Joseph among a

large company of men.

34 And the next day took

perfumed water to wash the Lord

Jesus, and afterwards poured the

same water upon her son, whom

she had brought with her, and her

son was instantly cleansed from

his leprosy,

35 Then she sang thanks and

unto God, and said, Blessed

is the mother that bare thee,

O Jesus!

36 Dost thou thus cure men of

the same nature with thyself, with

the water with which thy body is

washed?

37 She then offered very large

gifts to the Lady Mary, and sent

her away with all imaginable

respect.

CHAPTER VII.

1 A man who could not enjoy his wife, freed from his disorder.

5 A young man who had been bewitched, and turned into a

mule miraculously cured by Christ being put on his back,

28 and is married to the girl who had been cured of leprosy.

THEY came afterwards to another

city, and had a mind to lodge there.

2 Accordingly they went to a man's

house, who was newly married

but by the influence of sorcerers

could not enjoy his wife.

3 But they lodging at his house

that night, the man was freed of

his disorder.

4 And when they were preparing

early in the morning to go forward

on their journey, the new-married

person hindered them, and

provided a noble entertainment

for them.

5 But going forward on the

morrow, they came to another

city, and saw three women going

from a certain grave with great

weeping.

6 When St. Mary saw them, she

spake to the girl who was their

companion, saying, Go and inquire

of them, what is the matter with

them, and what misfortune has

befallen them?

7 When the girl asked them,

they made her no answer, but

asked her again, Who are ye? and

where are you going? For the day

is far spent, and night is at hand.

8 We are travellers, saith the

girl, and we are seeking for an inn

to lodge at.

9 They replied, Go along with

us, and lodge with us.

10 They then followed them,

and were introduced into a new

house, well furnished with all

sorts of furniture.

11 Now it was winter-time, and

the girl went into the parlour

where these women were, and

found them weeping and lamenting

as before.

12 By them stood a mule, covered

over with silk, and an ebony collar

hanging down from his neck, whom

they kissed and were feeding.

13 But when the girl said, How

handsome, ladies, that mule is!

they replied with tears, and said,

This mule, which you see, was our

brother, born of this same mother

as we;

14 For when our father died,

and left us a very large estate, and

we had only this brother, and we

endeavoured to procure him a suitable

match, and thought he should

be married as other men, some

giddy and jealous women bewitched

him without our knowledge.

15 And we one night, a little before

day, while the doors of the house

were all shut fast, saw this our

brother was changed into a mule,

such as you now see him to be:

16 And we in the melancholy

condition in which you see us,

having no father to comfort us,

have applied to all the wise men,

magicians, and diviners in the

world, but they have been of no

service to us.

17 As often therefore as we find

ourselves oppressed with grief, we

rise and go with this our mother

to our father's tomb, where, when

we have cried sufficiently, we

return home.

18 When the girl had heard this

she said, Take courage, and cease

your fears, for you have a remedy

for your afflictions near at hand

even amoung you and in the midst

of your house.

19 For I was also leprous; but

when I saw this woman, and this

little infant with her, whose name

is Jesus, I sprinkled my body with

the water with which his mother

had washed him and I was

presently made well.

20 And I am certain that he is

also capable of relieving you under

your distress. Wherefore arise,

go to my mistress Mary, and when

you have brought her into your

own parlour, disclose to her the

secret, at the same time earnestly

beseeching her to compassionate

your case.

21 As soon as the women had

heard the girl's discourse, they

hastened away to the Lady St.

Mary, introduced themselves to

her, and sitting down before her,

they wept.

22 And said, O our Lady St.

Mary, pity your handmaids, for

we have no head of our family, no

one elder than us; no father or

brother to go in or out before us.

23 But this mule, which you

see, was our brother, which some

women by witchcraft have brought

into this condition which you see:

we therefore entreat you to

compassionate us.

24 Hereupon St. Mary was

grieved at their case, and taking

the Lord Jesus, put him upon the

back of the mule.

25 And said to her son, O Jesus

Christ, restore (or heal) according

to thy extraordinary power this

mule, and grant him to have again

the shape of a man and a rational

creature, as he had formerly.

26 This was scarce said by the

Lady St. Mary, but the mule

immediately passed into a human

form, and became a young man

without any deformity.

27 Then he and his mother and

the sisters worshipped the Lady

St. Mary, and lifting the child

upon their heads, they kissed him,

and said, Blessed is thy mother,

O Jesus, O Saviour of the world!

Blessed are the eyes which are

so happy to see thee.

28 Then both the sisters told

their mother, saying, Of a truth,

our brother is restored to his former

shape by the help of the Lord

Jesus Christ, and the kindness

of that girl who told us of Mary

and her son.

29 And inasmuch as our brother

is unmarried, it is fit that we

marry him to this girl their

servant.

30 When they had consulted

Mary in this matter, and she had

given her consent, they made a

splendid wedding for this girl.

31 And so their sorrow being

turned into gladness, and their

mourning into mirth, they began

to rejoice, and to make merry,

and sing, being dressed in their

richest attire, with bracelets.

32 Afterwards they glorified and

praised God, saying, O Jesus, son

of David, who changest sorrow

into gladness, and mourning into

mirth!

33 After this Joseph and Mary

tarried there ten days, then went

away, having received great

respect from these people.

34 Who, when they took their

leave of them, and returned home,

cried,

35 But especially the girl.

CHAPTER VIII.

1 Joseph and Mary pass through a country infested by robbers.

3 Titus a humane thief, offers Dumachus, his comrade,

forty groats to let Joseph and Mary pass unmolested.

6 Jesus prophecies that the thieves Dumachus and Titus shall be

crucified with him and that Titus shall go before him into paradise.

10 Christ causes a well to spring from a sycamore tree, and Mary

washes his coat in it.

11 A balsam grows there from his sweat. They go to Memphis, where

Christ works more miracles. Return to Judea.

15 Being warned, depart for Nazareth.

IN their journey from hence they

came into a desert country and

were told it was infested with

robbers; so Joseph and St. Mary

prepared to pass through it in the

night.

2 And as they were going along,

behold they saw two robbers asleep

in the road, and with them a great

number of robbers, who were their

confederates, also asleep.

3 The names of these two were

Titus and Dumachus; and Titus

said to Dumachus, I beseech thee

let these persons go along quietly,

that our company may not perceive

anything of them.

4 But Damachus refusing, Titus

again said, I will give thee forty

groats, and as a pledge take my

girdle, which he gave him before

he had done speaking, that he

might not open his mouth or make

a noise.

5 When the Lady St. Mary saw

the kindness which this robber did

shew them, she said to him, The

Lord God will receive thee to his

right hand and grant thee pardon

of thy sins.

6 Then the Lord Jesus answered,

and said to his mother, When

thirty years are expired, O mother,

the Jews will crucify me at

Jerusalem;

7 And these two thieves shall

be with me at the same time upon

the cross, Titus on my right hand,

and Dumachus on my left, and

from that time Titus shall go before

me into paradise;

8 And when she had said, God

forbid this should be thy lot, O

my son, they went on to a city in

which were several idols; which,

as soon as they came near to it,

was turned into hills of sand.

9 Hence they went to that

sycamore tree, which is now called

Matarea.

10 And in Materea the Lord

Jesus caused a well to spring

forth, in which St. Mary washed

his coat;

11 And a balsam is produced,

or grows, in that country, from

the sweat which ran down there

from the Lord Jesus.

12 Thence they proceeded to

Memphis, and saw Pharoah, and

abode three years in Egypt.

13 And the Lord Jesus did very

many miracles, in Egypt, which

are neither to be found in

Gospel of the Infancy nor in the

Gospel of Perfection.

14 At the end of three years

he returned out of Egypt, and

when he came near to Judea,

Joseph was afraid to enter;

15 For hearing that Herod was

dead, and that Archelaus his son

reigned in his stead, he was afraid.

16 And when he went to Judea,

an, angel of God appeared to

him, and said, O Joseph go

into the city of Nazareth, and

abide there.

17 It is strange indeed, that he,

who is the Lord of all countries,

should be thus carried backward and

forward, through so many countries.

CHAPTER IX.

2 Two sick children cured by water

wherein Christ was washed.

WHEN they came afterwards

into the city of Bethlehem,

they found there several very

desperate distempers, which became

so troublesome to children by seeing

them, that most of them died.

2 There was there a woman who

had a sick son, whom she brought,

when he was at the point of death,

to the Lady St. Mary, who saw

her when she was washing Jesus

Christ.

3 Then said the woman, O my

Lady Mary, look down upon this

my son, who is afflicted with most

dreadful pains.

4 St. Mary hearing her, said,

Take a little of that water with

which I have washed my son, and

sprinkle it upon him.

5 Then she took a little of that

water, as St. Mary had commanded,

and sprinkled it upon her son,

who being wearied with his violent

pains, was fallen asleep; and after

he had slept a little, awaked

perfectly well and recovered.

6 The mother being abundantly

glad of this success, went again to

St. Mary, and St. Mary said to

her, Give praise to God, who hath

cured this thy son.

7 There was in the same place

another woman, a neighbour of

her, whose son was now cured.

8 This woman's son was afflicted

with the same disease, and his eyes

were now almost quite shut, and

she was lamenting for him day

and night.

9 The mother of the child which

was cured, said to her, Why do

you not bring your son to St. Mary,

as I brought my son to her, when

he was in the agonies of death;

and he was cure by that water,

with which the body of her son

Jesus was washed?

10 When the woman heard her

say this, she also went, and having

procured the same water, washed

her son with it, whereupon his

body and his eyes were instantly

restored to their former state.

11 And when she brought her

son to St. Mary, and opened his

case to her, she commanded her to

give thanks to God for the recovery

of her son's health, and tell

no one what had happened.

CHAPTER X.

1 Two wives of one man, each have a son sick.

2 One of them named Mary, and whose son's name was Caleb,

presents the Virgin with a handsome carpet, and Caleb is cured;

but the son of the other wife dies,

4 which occasions a difference between the women.

5 The other wife puts Caleb into a hot oven, and he is

miraculously preserved,

9 she afterwards throws him into a well,

and he is again preserved;

11 his mother appeals to the Virgin against the other wife,

12 whose downfall the Virgin prophecies,

13 and who accordingly falls into the well,

14 therein fulfilling a saying of old.

THERE were in the same city

two wives of one man, who

had each a son sick. One of them

was called Mary, and her son's

name was Caleb.

2 She arose, and taking her son,

went to the Lady St. Mary, the

mother of Jesus, and offered her a

very handsome carpet, saying, O

my Lady Mary accept this carpet

of me, and instead of it give me a

small swaddling cloth.

3 To this Mary agreed, and

when the mother of Caleb was

gone, she made a coat for her son

of the swaddling cloth, put it on

him, and his disease was cured;

but the son of the other wife died.

4 Hereupon there arose between

them a difference in doing

the business of the family by turns,

each her week;

5 And when the turn of Mary

the mother of Caleb came, and she

was heating the oven to bake

bread, and went away to fetch the

meal, she left her son Caleb by the

oven;

6 Whom the other wife, her

rival, seeing to be by himself,

took and cast him into the oven,

which was very hot, and then went

away.

7 Mary on her return saw her

son Caleb lying in the middle of

the oven laughing, and the oven

quite as cold as though it had not

been before heated, and knew that

her rival the other wife had thrown

him into the fire.

8 When she took him out, she

brought him to the Lady St. Mary,

and told her the story, to whom

she replied, Be quiet, I am

concerned lest thou shouldest make

this matter known.

9 After this her rival, the other

wife, as she was drawing water at

the well, and saw Caleb playing

by the well, and that no one was

near, took him, and threw him

into the well.

10 And when some men came to

fetch water from the well, they

saw the boy sitting on the

superficies of the water, and

drew him out with ropes, and were

exceedingly surprised at the child,

and praised God.

11 Then came the mother and

took him and carried him to the

Lady St. Mary, lamenting and

saying, O my Lady, see what my

rival hath done to my son, and

how she hath cast him into the

well, and I do not question but

one time or other she will be the

occasion of his death.

12 St. Mary replied to her, God

will vindicate your injured cause.

13 Accordingly a few days after,

when the other wife came to the

well to draw water, her foot was

entangled in the rope, so that she

fell headlong into the well, and

they who ran to her assistance

found her skull broken, and bones

bruised.

14 So she came to a bad end,

and in her was fulfilled that saying

of the author, They digged a well,

and made it deep, but fell themselves

into the pit which they prepared.

CHAPTER XI.

1 Bartholomew, when a child and sick, miraculously

restored by being laid on Christ's bed.

ANOTHER woman in that city

had likewise two sons sick.

2 And when one was dead, the

other, who lay at the point of

death, she took in her arms to the

Lady St. Mary, and in a flood of

tears addressed herself to her,

saying,

3 O my Lady, help and relieve

me; for I had two sons, the one I

have just now buried, the other I

see is fast at the point of death

behold how I (earnestly) seek for

your from God, and pray to him.

4 Then she said, O Lord, thou

art gracious, and merciful, and

kind; thou, hast given me two

sons; one of them thou halt taken

to thyself, O spare me this other.

5 St. Mary then perceiving the

greatness of her sorrow, pitied her

and said, Do thou place thy son in

my son's bed, and cover him with

his clothes.

6 And when she had placed him

in the bed wherein Christ lay,

at the moment when his eyes were

just closed by death; as soon as

ever the small of the garments of

the Lord Jesus Christ reached the

boy, his eyes were opened, and

calling with a loud voice to his

mother, he asked for bread, and

when he had received it, he sucked

it.

7 Than his mother said, O Lady

Mary, now I am assured that the

powers of God do dwell in you, so

that thy son can cure children who

are of the same sort as himself, as

soon as they touch his garments.

8 This boy, who was thus cured,

is the same who in the Gospel is

called Bartholomew.

CHAPTER XII.

A leprous woman healed by Christ's washing water.

7 A princess healed by it and restored to her husband.

AGAIN, there was a leprous

woman who went to the Lady

St. Mary, the mother of Jesus,

and said, O my Lady, help me.

2 St. Mary replied, What help

does thou desire? Is it gold or

silver, or that thy body be cured

of its leprosy?

3 Who, says the woman, can

grant me this?

4 St. Mary replied to her, Wait

a little till I have washed my son

Jesus, and put him to bed.

5 The woman waited, as she

was commanded; and Mary when

she had put Jesus in bed, giving

her the water with which she had

washed his body, said, Take some

of the water, and pour it upon thy

body;

6 Which when she had done,

she instantly became clean, and

praised God, and gave thanks to

him.

7 Then she went away, after

she had abode with her three

days;

8 And going into the city, she

saw a certain prince, who had

married another prince's daughter;

9 But when he came to see her,

he perceived between her eyes the

signs of leprosy like a star, and

thereupon declared the marriage

dissolved and void.

10 When the woman saw these

persons in this condition, exceeding

sorrowful, and shedding abundance

of tears, she inquired of them

the reason of their crying;

11 They replied, inquire not

into our circumstances; for we

are not able to declare our

misfortunes to any, person,

whatsoever.

12 But she still pressed and

desired them to communicate their

case to her; intimating, that she

might be able to direct them

to a remedy.

13 So when they showed the young

woman to her, and the signs

of the leprosy, which appeared

between her eyes;

14 She said, I also whom ye

see in this place, was afflicted

with the same distemper, and going

on some business to Bethlehem, I

went into a certain cave, and saw

a woman named Mary, who had a

son called Jesus.

15 She seeing me to be leprous,

was concerned for me, and gave

me some water with which she

had washed her son's body, with

that I sprinkled my body, and

became clean.

16 Then said these women, Will

you Mistress, go along with us,

and show the Lady St. Mary to

us?

17 To which she consenting,

they arose and went to the Lady

St. Mary, taking with them very

noble presents.

18 And when they came in and

offered their presents to her,

they showed the leprous young woman

whom they brought with them to

her.

19 Then said St. Mary, The

mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ

rest upon you;

20 And giving them a little of

that water, with which she had

washed the body of Jesus Christ,

she bade them wash the diseased

person with it, which when they

had done, she was presently

cured;

21 So they, and all who were

present, praised God; and being

filled with joy, they went back to

their own city, and gave praises to

God on that account.

22 Then the prince hearing that

his wife was cured, took her home

and made a second marriage, giving

thanks unto God for the recovery

of his wife's health.

CHAPTER XIII.

1 A girl, whose blood Satan sucked receives one

of Christ's swaddling clothes from the Virgin,

14 Satan comes like a dragon, and she shews it to him;

flames and burning coals proceed from it and fall upon him;

19 he is miraculously discomfited, and leaves the girl.

THERE was also a girl, who

was afflicted by Satan,

2 For that cursed spirit did

frequently appear to her in the shape

of a dragon, and was inclined to

swallow her up, and had so sucked

out all her blood, that she looked

like a dead carcass.

3 As often as she came to herself,

with her hands wringed about

her head she would cry out, and

say, Wo, Wo is me, that there is

no one to be found, who can deliver

me from that impious dragon!

4 Her father and mother, and

all who were about her and saw

her, mourned and wept over her;

5 And all who were present

would especially be under sorrow

and in tears, when they heard her

bewailing and saying, My brethren

and friends, is here no one who can

deliver me from this murderer?

6 Then the prince's daughter,

who had been cured of her leprosy,

hearing the complaint of that girl,

went upon the top of her castle,

and saw her with her hands twisted

about her head, pouring out a flood

of tears, and all the people that

were about her in tears.

7 Then she asked the husband

of the possessed person, Whether

his wife's mother was alive? He

told her, That her father and

mother were both alive,

8 Then she ordered her mother

to be sent to her; to whom, when

she saw her coming, she said,

Is this possessed girl thy daughter?

She moaning and bewailing said,

Yes madam I bore her.

9 The prince's daughter answered,

Disclose the secret of her case to me,

for I confess to you that I was leprous,

but the Lady Mary, the mother of

Jesus Christ, healed me.

10 And if you desire your

daughter to be restored to her

former state, take her to Bethlehem,

and inquire for Mary the mother

of Jesus, and doubt not but your

daughter will be cured; for I do

not question but you will come

home with great joy at your

daughter's recovery.

11 As soon as ever she had done

speaking, she arose and went with

her daughter to the place appointed,

and to Mary, and told her the case

of her daughter.

12 When St. Mary had heard

her story, she gave her a little

of the water with which she had

washed the body of her son Jesus,

and bade her pour it upon the

body of her daughter.

13 Likewise she gave her one of

the swaddling cloths of the Lord

Jesus, and said, Take this swaddling

cloth, and shew it to thine

enemy as often as thou seest him

and she sent them away in

peace.

14 After they had left that

city and returned home, and the

time was come in which Satan was

wont to seize her, in the same

moment this cursed spirit appeared

to her in the shape of a huge

dragon, and the girl seeing him

was afraid,

15 The mother said to her, Be

not afraid, daughter; let him alone

till he come nearer to thee! then

shew him the swaddling cloth,

which the Lady Mary gave us, and

we shall see the event.

16 Satan then coming like a

dreadful dragon, the body of the

girl trembled for fear.

17 But as soon as she had put

the swaddling cloth upon her

head, and about her eyes, and

chewed it to him, presently there

issued forth from the swaddling

cloth flames and burning coals,

and fell upon the dragon.

18 Oh! how great a miracle was

this, which was done: as soon as

the dragon saw the swaddling

cloth of the Lord Jesus, fire went

forth and was scattered upon his

head and eyes; so that he cried

out with a loud voice, What have

I to do with thee, Jesus, thou son

of Mary? Whither shall I flee

from thee?

19 So he drew back much

affrighted, and left the girl.

20 And she was delivered from

this trouble, and sang praises and

thanks to God, and with her all

who were present at the working

of the miracle.

CHAPTER XIV.

1 Judas when a boy possessed by Satan, and brought up

by his parents to Jesus to be cured, whom he tries to bite,

7 but failing, strikes Jesus and makes him cry out.

Whereupon Satan goes from Jesus in the shape of a dog.

ANOTHER woman likewise

lived there, whose son was

possessed by Satan,

2 This boy, named Judas, as

often as Satan seized him, was

inclined to bite all that were

present; and if he found no one else

near him, he would bite his own

hands and other parts.

3 But the mother of this miserable

boy, hearing of St. Mary and her son

Jesus, arose presently and taking

her son in her arms, brought him

to the Lady Mary.

4 In the meantime, James and

Joses had taken away the infant,

the Lord Jesus, to play at a proper

season with other children;

and when they went forth, they

sat down and the Lord Jesus with

them.

5 Then Judas, who was possessed,

came and sat down at the right hand

of Jesus.

6 When Satan was acting upon him

as usual, he went about to bite

the Lord Jesus.

7 And because he could not do

it, he struck Jesus on the right

side, so that he cried out.

8 And in the same moment Satan

went out of the boy, and ran

away like a mad dog.

9 This same boy who struck

Jesus, and out of whom Satan went

in the form of a dog, was Judas

Iscariot, who betrayed him to the

Jews.

10 And that same side, on which

Judas: struck him, the Jews

pierced with a spear.

CHAPTER XV.

1 Jesus and other boys play together,

and make clay figures of animals.

4 Jesus causes them to walk,

6 also makes clay birds, which he causes to fly,

and eat and drink.

7 The children's parents alarmed,

and take Jesus for a sorcerer.

8 He goes to a dyer's shop, and throws all the

cloths into the furnace, and works a miracle therewith.

15 Whereupon the Jews praise God.

AND when the Lord Jesus was

seven years of age, he was

on a certain day with other boys

his companions about the same

age;

2 Who, when they were at play,

made clay into several shapes,

namely--asses, oxen, birds, and

other figures;

3 Each boasting of his work,

and endeavouring to exceed the

rest.

4 Then the Lord Jesus said to

the boys, I will command these

figures which I have made to

walk.

5 And immediately they moved,

and when he commanded them to

return, they returned.

6 He had also made the figures

of birds and sparrows, which,

when he commanded to fly, did

fly, and when he commanded to

stand still, did stand still; and if

he gave them meat and drink, they

did eat and drink.

7 When at length the boys went

away, and related these things to

their parents, their fathers said to

them, Take heed, children, for the

future of his company, for he is a

sorcerer; shun and avoid him, and

from henceforth never play with

him.

8 On a certain day also, when

the Lord Jesus was playing with

the boys, and running about, he

passed by a dyer's shop, whose

name was Salem.

9 And there were in his shop

many pieces of cloth belonging to

the people of that city, which they

designed to dye of several colours.

10 Then the Lord Jesus going

into the dyer's shop, took all the

cloths, and threw them into the

furnace.

11 When Salem came home, and

saw the cloths spoiled, he began to

make a great noise, and to chide

the Lord Jesus, saying,

12 What hast thou done to me,

O thou son of Mary? Thou hast

injured both me and my neighbours;

they all desired their cloths

of a proper colour; but thou hast

come and spoiled them all.

13 The Lord Jesus replied, I

will change the colour of every

cloth to what colour thou desirest.

14 And then he presently began

to take the cloths out of the furnace,

and they were all dyed of those same

colours which the dyer desired.

15 And when the Jews saw this

surprising miracle, they praised

God.

CHAP. XVI.

1 Christ miraculously widens or contracts the gates,

milk pails, sieves, or boxes, not properly made by Joseph,

4 he not being skilful at his carpenter's trade.

5 The King of Jerusalem gives Joseph an order for a throne.

6 Joseph works on it for two years in the king's palace,

and makes it two spans too short. The king being angry with him,

10 Jesus comforts him,

13 commands him to pull one side of the throne, while he

pulls the other, and brings it to its proper dimensions.

14 Whereupon the bystanders praise God.

AND Joseph, wheresoever he

went in the city, took the

Lord Jesus with him, where he

was sent for to work to make

gates, or milk-pails, or sieves, or

boxes; the Lord Jesus was with

him, wheresoever he went.

2 And as often as Joseph had

anything in his work, to make

longer, or shorter, or wider, or

narrower, the Lord Jesus would

stretch his hand towards it.

3 And presently it became as

Joseph would have it:

4 So that he had no need to

finish anything with his own hands,

for he was not very skilful at his

carpenter's trade.

5 On a certain time the King

of Jerusalem sent for him, and

said, I would have thee make me

a throne of the same dimensions

with that place in which I

commonly sit.

6 Joseph obeyed, and forthwith

began the work, and continued two

years in the king's palace before

he finished it.

7 And when he came to fix it

in its place, he found it wanted

two spans on each side of the

appointed measure.

8 Which when the king saw,

he was very angry with Joseph;

9 And Joseph afraid of the

king's anger, went to bed without

his supper, taking not any thing

to eat.

10 Then the Lord Jesus asked

him, What he was afraid of?

11 Joseph replied, Because I

have lost my labour in the work

which I have been about these two

years.

12 Jesus said to him, Fear not,

neither be cast down;

13 Do thou lay hold on one side

of the throne, and I will the other,

and we will bring it to its just

dimensions.

14 And when Joseph had done

as the Lord Jesus said, and each

of them had with strength drawn

his side, the throne obeyed, and

was brought to the proper

dimensions of the place:

15 Which miracle when they

who stood by saw, they were

astonished, and praised God.

16 The throne was made of the

same wood which was in being

in Solomon's time, namely, wood

adorned with various shapes, and

figures.

CHAP. XVII.

1 Jesus plays with boys at hide and seek.

3 Some women put his playfellows in a furnace,

7 where they are transformed by Jesus into kids.

10 Jesus calls them to go and play, and they

are restored to their former shape.

ON another day the Lord Jesus

going out into the street,

and seeing some boys who were

met to play, joined himself to their

company.

2 But when they saw him, they

hid themselves, and left him to

seek for them;

3 The Lord Jesus came to the

gate of a certain house, and asked

some women who were standing

there, Where the boys were gone?

4 And when they answered,

That there was no one there; the

Lord Jesus said, Who are those

whom ye see in the furnace?

5 They answered, They were

kids of three years old.

6 Then Jesus cried out aloud,

and said, Come out hither, O ye

kids, to your shepherd;

7 And presently the boys came

forth like kids, and leaped about

him; which when the women saw,

they were exceedingly amazed, and

trembled,

8 Then they immediately worshipped,

the Lord Jesus, and beseeched him,

saying, O our Lord Jesus, son of

Mary, thou art truly that good

shepherd of Israel! have mercy

on thy handmaids, who stand before

thee, who do not doubt, but that

thou, O Lord, art come to save,

and not to destroy.

9 After that, when the Lord

Jesus said, the children of Israel

are like Ethiopians among the

people; the women said, Thou,

Lord, knowest all things, nor is

any thing concealed from thee:

but now we entreat thee, and

beseech of thy mercy, that thou

wouldest restore those boys to

their former state.

10 Then Jesus said, Come hither,

O boys, that we may go and

play; and immediately, in the

presence of these women, the kids

were changed, and returned into

the shape of boys.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1 Jesus becomes the king of his playfellows,

and they crown him with flowers;

4 miraculously causes a serpent who had

bitten Simon the Canaanite, then a boy,

to suck out all the poison again;

16 the serpent bursts, and Christ restores the boy to health.

IN the month Adar Jesus

gathered together the boys, and

ranked them as though he had

been a king.

2 For they spread their garments

on the ground for him to sit

on; and having made a crown of

flowers, put it upon his head, and

stood on his right and left as the

guards of a king.

3 And if any one happened to

pass by, they took him by force,

and said, Come hither, and worship

the king, that you may have a

prosperous journey.

4 In the mean time, while

these things were doing, there

came certain men, carrying a boy

upon a couch;

5 For this boy having gone with

his companions to the mountain to

gather wood, and having found

there a partridge's nest, and put

his hand in to take out the eggs,

was stung by a poisonous serpent,

which leaped out of the nest; so

that he was forced to cry out for

the help of his companions; who,

when they came, found him lying

upon the earth like a dead person.

6 After which his neighbours

came and carried him back into

the city.

7 But when they came to the

place where the Lord Jesus, was

sitting like a king, and the other

boys stood around him like his

ministers, the boys made haste to

meet him, who was bitten by the

serpent, and said to his neighbours,

Come and pay your respects to the

king;

8 But when, by reason of their

sorrow, they refused to come, the

boys drew them, and forced them

against their wills to come.

9 And when they came to the

Lord Jesus, he inquired, On what

account they carried that boy?

10 And when they answered that

a serpent had bitten him, the Lord

Jesus said to the boys, Let us go

and kill that serpent.

11 But when the parents of the

boy desired to be excused, because

their son lay at the point of death;

the boys made answer, and said,

Did not ye hear what the king

said? Let us go and kill the serpent;

and will not ye obey him?

12 So they brought the couch

back again, whether they would

or not.

13 And when they were come to

the nest, the Lord Jesus said to

the boys, Is this the serpent's

lurking place? They said, It was.

14 Then the Lord Jesus calling

the serpent, it presently came forth

and submitted to him; to whom he

said, Go and suck out all the poison

which thou hast infused into that

boy:

15 So the serpent crept to the

boy, and took away all its poison

again.

16 Then the Lord Jesus cursed

the serpent, so that it immediately

burst asunder, and died;

17 And he touched the boy with

his hand to restore him to his

former health;

18 And when he began to cry,

the Lord Jesus said, Cease crying

for hereafter thou shall be my

disciple;

19 And this is that Simon the

Canaanite, who is mentioned in

the Gospel.

CHAPTER XIX.

1 James being bitten by a viper,

Jesus blows on the wound and cures him.

4 Jesus charged with throwing a boy from

the roof of a house,

10 miraculously raises the dead boy to acquit him;

12 fetches water for his mother, breaks the pitcher

and miraculously gathers the water in his mantle

and brings it home;

16 makes fish pools on the Sabbath,

20 causes a boy to die who broke them down,

22 another boy runs against him,

whom he also causes to die.

ON another day Joseph sent his

son James to gather wood,

and the Lord Jesus went with

him;

2 And when they came to the

place where the wood was, and

James began to gather it, behold,

a venomous viper bit him, so that

he began to cry, and make a

noise.

3 The Lord Jesus seeing him in

this condition, came to him, and

blowed upon the place where the

viper had bit him, and it was

instantly well.

4 On a certain day the Lord

Jesus was with some boys, who

were playing on the house-top,

and one of the boys fell down, and

presently died.

5 Upon which the other boys all

running away, the Lord Jesus was

left alone on the house-top.

6 And the boy's relations came

to him and said to the Lord Jesus,

Thou didst throw our son down

from the house-top.

7 But he denying it, they cried

out, Our son is dead, and this is

he who killed him.

8 The Lord Jesus replied to

them, Do not charge me with a

crime of which you are not able to

convict me, but let us go and ask

the boy himself, who will bring

the truth to light.

9 Then the Lord Jesus going

down stood over the head of the

dead boy, and said with a loud

voice, Zeinunus, Zeinunus, who

threw thee down from the housetop?

10 Then the dead boy answered,

thou didst not throw me down,

but such a one did.

11 And when the Lord Jesus

bade those who stood by to take

present praised God on account

of that miracle.

12 On a certain time the

Lady St. Mary had commanded

the Lord Jesus to fetch her some

water out of the well;

13 And when he had gone to

fetch the water, the pitcher, when

it was brought up full, brake;

14 But Jesus spreading his mantle

gathered up the water again,

and brought it in that to his

mother;

15 Who, being astonished at

this wonderful thing, laid up this,

and all the other things which she

had seen, in her memory.

16 Again on another day the

Lord Jesus was with some boys

by a river, and they drew water

out of the river by little channels,

and made little fish-pools.

17 But the Lord Jesus had

made twelve sparrows, and placed

them about his pool on each side,

three on a side.

18 But it was the Sabbath day,

and the son of Hanani a Jew came

by, and saw them making these

things, and said, Do ye thus make

figures of clay on the Sabbath?

And he ran to them, and broke

down their fish-pools.

19 But when the Lord Jesus

clapped his hands over the sparrows

which he had made, they fled away

chirping.

20 At length the son of Hanani

coming to the fish-pool of Jesus

to destroy it, the water vanished

away, and the Lord Jesus said to

him,

21 In like manner as this water

had vanished, so shall thy life

vanish; and presently the boy

died.

22 Another time, when the

Lord Jesus was coming home in

the evening with Joseph, he met

a boy, who ran so hard against

him, that he threw him down;

23 To whom the Lord Jesus

said, As thou hast thrown me

down, so shalt thou fall, nor ever

rise.

24 And that moment the boy

fell down and died.

CHAPTER XX.

4 Christ sent to school to Zaccheus to learn

his letters, and teaches Zaccheus.

13 Sent to another schoolmaster,

14 refuses to tell his letters, and the schoolmaster

going to whip him, his hand withers and he dies.

THERE was also at Jerusalem

one named Zaccheus, who

was a schoolmaster:

2 And he said to Joseph, Joseph,

why dost thou not send Jesus to me,

that he may learn his letters?

3 Joseph agreed, and told St. Mary;

4 So they brought him to that

master; who, as soon as he saw

him, wrote out an alphabet for him,

5 And he bade him say Aleph;

and when he had said Aleph, the

master bade him pronounce Beth.

6 Then the Lord Jesus said to

him, Tell me first the meaning of

the letter Aleph, and then I will

pronounce Beth.

7 And when the master threatened

to whip him, the Lord Jesus

explained to him the meaning of

the letters Aleph and Beth;

8 Also which were the straight

figures of the letters, which the

oblique, and what letters had

double figures; which had points,

and which had none; why one

letter went before another; and

many other things he began to tell

him, and explain, of which the

master himself had never heard,

nor read in any book.

9 The Lord Jesus farther said

to the master, Take notice how I

say to thee; then he began clearly

and distinctly to say Aleph, Beth,

Gimel, Daleth, and so on to the

end of the alphabet.

10 At this the master was so

surprised, that he said, I believe

this boy was born before Noah;

11 And turning to Joseph, he

said, Thou hast brought a boy to

me to be taught, who is more

learned than any master.

12 He said also to St. Mary,

This your son has no need of any

learning.

13 They brought him then

to a more learned master, who,

when he saw him, said, say Aleph;

14 And when he had said Aleph,

the master bade him pronounce

Beth; to which the Lord Jesus

replied, Tell me first the meaning

of the letter Aleph, and then I

will pronounce Beth.

15 But this master, when he did

lift up his hand to whip him, had

his hand presently withered, and

he died.

16 Then said Joseph to St. Mary,

Henceforth we will not allow him

to go out of the house; for every

one who displeases him is killed.

CHAPTER XXI.

[Compare Luke ii. 42, whose meagre account is deficient

of the sublime details here given of the subjects disputed upon.]

1 Disputes learnedly with the doctors in the temple,

7 on law,

9 on astronomy,

12 on physics and metaphysics.

21 Is worshipped by a philosopher,

28 and fetched home by his mother.

AND when he was twelve years

old, they brought him to

Jerusalem to the feast; and when

the feast was over, they returned.

2 But the Lord Jesus continued

behind in the temple among the

doctors and elders, and learned

men of Israel; to whom he proposed

several questions of learning,

and also gave them answers:

3 For he said to them, Whose

son is the Messiah? They answered,

the son of David.

4 Why then, said he, does he in

the spirit call him Lord? When he

saith, The Lord said to my Lord,

sit thou at my right hand, till I

have made thine enemies thy foot-

stool.

5 Then a certain principal Rabbi

asked him, Hast thou read books?

6 Jesus answered, he had read

both books, and the things which

were contained in books.

7 And he explained to them the

books of the law, and precepts,

and statutes: and the mysteries

which are contained in the books

of the prophets; things which

the mind of no creature could

reach.

8 Then said that Rabbi, I never

yet have seen or heard of such

knowledge! What do you think

that boy will be?

9 When a certain astronomer,

who was present, asked the Lord

Jesus, Whether he had studied

astronomy?

10 The Lord Jesus replied, and

told him the number of the spheres

and heavenly bodies, as also their

triangular, square, and sextile

aspect; their progressive and

retrograde motion; their size and

several prognostications; and other

things which the reason of man

had never discovered.

11 There was also among them

a philosopher well skilled in

physic and natural philosophy,

who asked the Lord Jesus, Whether

he had studied physic?

12 He replied, and explained to

him physics and metaphysics.

13 Also those things which were

above and below the power of nature;

14 The powers also of the body,

its humours, and their effects.

15 Also the number of its members,

and bones, veins, arteries,

and nerves;

16 The several constitutions of

body, hot and dry, cold and moist,

and the tendencies of them;

17 How the soul operated upon

the body;

18 What its various sensations

and faculties, were;

19 The faculty of speaking, anger,

desire;

20 And lastly the manner of its

composition and dissolution; and

other things, which the

understanding of no creature

had ever reached.

21 Then that philosopher arose,

and worshipped the Lord Jesus,

and said, O Lord Jesus, from

henceforth I will be thy disciple

and servant.

22 While they were discoursing

on these and such like things,

the Lady St. Mary came in, having

been three days walking about

with Joseph, seeking for him.

23 And when she saw him sitting

among the doctors, and in his turn

proposing questions to them, and

giving answers, she said to him,

My son, why hast thou done thus

by us? Behold I and thy father

have been at much pains in

seeking thee.

24 He replied, Why did ye seek

me? Did ye not know that I ought

to be employed in my father's

house?

25 But they understood not the

words which he said to them.

26 Then the doctors asked Mary,

Whether this were her son? And

when she said, He was, they said,

O happy Mary, who hast borne

such a son.

27 Then he returned with them

to Nazareth, and obeyed them in

all things.

28 And his mother kept all these

things in her mind;

29 And the Lord Jesus grew in

stature and wisdom, and favour

with God and man.

CHAPTER XXII.

1 Jesus conceals his miracles,

2 studies the law,

3 and is baptized.

NOW from this time Jesus began

to conceal his miracles and

secret works,

2 And gave himself to the study

of the law, till he arrived to the

end of his thirtieth year;

3 At which time the Father publicly

owned him at Jordan, sending

down this voice from heaven, This

is my beloved son, in whom I am

well pleased;

4 The Holy Ghost being also

present in the form of a dove.

5 This is he whom we worship

with all reverence, because he gave

us our life and being, and brought

us from our mother's womb,

Glory to God,

6 Who, for our sakes, took a

human body, and hath redeemed

us, that so he might embrace

us with everlasting mercy, and

shew his free, large, bountiful

grace and goodness to us.

7 To him be glory and praise,

and power, and dominion, from

henceforth said for evermore.

Amen.

(The end of the whole Gospel of

the Infancy, by the assistance of

the Supreme God, according to

what we found in the original.)

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REFERENCES TO THE FIRST GOSPEL OF

THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST

[Mr. Henry Sike, Professor of Oriental Languages at Cambridge, first

translated and published this Gospel in 1697. It was received by the

Gnostics, a sect of Christians in the second century; and several of its

relations were credited in the following ages by other Christians, viz.,

Eusebius, Athanasius, Epiphanius; Chrysostom. &c. Sozomen says, he was

told by many, and he credits the relations, of the idols in Egypt falling

down on Joseph, and Mary's flight thither with Christ; and of Christ

making a well to wash his clothes in a sycamore-tree, from whence balsam

afterwards proceeded; which stories are from this Gospel. Chemnitius, out

of Stipulensis, who had it from Peter Martyr, Bishop of Alexandria, in

the third century, says, that the place in Egypt where Christ was

banished is now called Matarea, about ten miles beyond Cairo; that the

inhabitants constantly burn a lamp in remembrance of it; and that there

is a garden of trees yielding a balsam, which were planted by Christ when

a boy. M. La Crosse cites a synod at Angamala, in the Mountain of

Malabar, A. D. 1599, which shows this Gospel was commonly read by the

Nestorians in the country. Ahmed Ibu Idris, a Mahometan divine, says, it

was used by some Christians in common with the other four Gospels; and

Ocobius de Castro mentions a Gospel of Thomas, which he says, he saw and

had translated to him by an Armenian Archbishop at Amsterdam, that was

read in very many churches of Asia and Africa, as the only rule of their

faith. Fabricius takes it to be this Gospel. It has been supposed, that

Mahomet and his coadjutors used it in compiling the Koran. There are

several stories believed of Christ, proceeding from this Gospel; as that

which Mr. Sike relates out of La Brosse's Persic Lexicon, that Christ

practised the trade of a dyer, and his working a miracle with the

colours; from whence the Persian dyers honour him as their patron, and

call a dye-house the shop of Christ. Sir John Chardin mentions Persian

legends concerning Christ's dispute with his schoolmaster about his ABC;

and his lengthening the cedar-board which Joseph sawed too short.]

Note on the Miracles of Christ in the preceding Gospels.

A great void in the early life of the Saviour is filled up by these

Gospels. In none of the Canonical Evangelists is any mention made of the

childhood of Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, more

rapidly than satisfactorily, pass over the period intervening between His

birth and ministry. It is natural to suppose that the Infant Redeemer's

earliest days were spent in the society of other young children, and it

is quite consistent with every sincere Christians faith to believe that

He had the power to perform the miracles here ascribed to him otherwise,

a limit will be set to His divine attributes, doubts raised against His

performance of the miracles related by the four Evangelists, in the

authorised version of the Testament, and a denial given of the

declaration therein, "With GOD nothing is impossible!"

THE SECOND, OR ST. THOMAS'S GOSPEL OF

THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.

An Account of the ACTIONS and MIRACLES of our Lord and Saviour

JESUS CHRIST in his INFANCY.

CHAPTER I.

2 Jesus miraculously clears the water after rain.

4 Plays with clay sparrows, which he animates

on the Sabbath day.

I THOMAS, an Israelite, judged

it necessary to make known to

our brethren among the Gentiles,

the actions and miracles of Christ

in his childhood, which our Lord

and God Jesus Christ wrought

after his birth in Bethlehem in our

country, at which I myself, was

astonished; the beginning of which

was as followeth.

2 When the child Jesus was

five years of age, and there had

been a shower of rain, which was

now over, Jesus was playing with

other Hebrew boys by a running

stream; and the water running

over the banks, stood in little

lakes;

3 But the water instantly became

clear and useful again; he

having smote them only by his

word, they readily obeyed him.

4 Then he took from the bank

of the stream some soft clay, and

formed out of it twelve sparrows;

and there were other boys playing

with him.

5 But a certain Jew seeing the

things which he was doing, namely,

his forming clay into the figures

of sparrows on the Sabbath day,

went presently away, and told

his father Joseph, and said,

6 Behold, thy boy is playing by

the river side, and has taken clay,

and formed it into twelve sparrows,

and profaneth the Sabbath.

7 Then Joseph came to the

place where he was, and when he

saw him, called to him, and said,

Why doest thou that which it is

not lawful to do on the Sabbath

day?

8 Then Jesus clapping together

the palms of his hands, called to

the sparrows, and said to them

Go, fly away; and while ye live

remember me.

9 So the sparrows fled away

making a noise.

10 The Jews seeing this, were

astonished, and went away, and

told their chief persons what a

strange miracle they had seen

wrought by Jesus.

CHAPTER II.

2 Causes a boy to wither who broke down his fish-pools;

6 Partly restores him.

7 Kills another boy.

16 causes blindness to fall on his accusers,

18 for which, Joseph pulls him by the ear.

BESIDES this, the son of Annas

the scribe, was standing there

with Joseph, and took a bough

of a willow tree, and scattered

the waters which Jesus had

gathered into lakes.

2 But the boy Jesus seeing what

he had done, became angry, and

said to him, Thou fool, what harm

did the lake do thee, that thou

shouldest scatter the water?

3 Behold, now thou shalt wither

as a tree, and shalt not bring forth

either leaves, or branches, or fruit.

4 And immediately he became

withered all over.

5 Then Jesus went away home.

But the parents of the boy who

was withered, lamenting the

misfortune of his youth, took and

carried him to Joseph, accusing him,

and said, Why dost thou keep a

son who is guilty of such actions?

6 Then Jesus at the request of

all who were present did heal him,

leaving only some small member

to continue withered, that they

might take warning.

7 Another time Jesus went

forth into the street, and a boy

running by, rushed upon his

shoulder;

8 At which Jesus being angry,

said to him, Thou shalt go no

farther;

9 And he instantly fell down

dead:

10 Which when some persons

saw, they said, Where was this

boy born, that every thing which

he says presently cometh to pass?

11 Then the parents of the dead

boy going to Joseph, complained,

saying, You are not fit to live with

us, in our city, having such a boy

as that:

12 Either teach him that he

bless and not curse, or else depart

hence with him, for he kills our

children.

13 Then Joseph calling the

boy Jesus by himself, instructed

him, saying, Why doest thou such

things to injure the people so, that

they hate us and prosecute us?

14 But Jesus replied, I know

that what thou sayest is not of

thyself, but for thy sake I will

say nothing;

15 But they who have said these

things to thee, shall suffer

everlasting punishment.

16 And immediately they who

had accused him became blind,

17 And all they who saw it were

exceedingly afraid and confounded,

and said concerning him, Whatsoever

he saith, whether good or bad,

immediately cometh to pass and

they were amazed.

18 And when they saw this action

of Christ, Joseph arose, and

plucked him by the ear, at which

the boy was angry, and said to

him, Be easy;

19 For if they seek for us, they

shall not find us: thou hast done

very imprudently.

20 Dost thou not know that I

am thine? Trouble me no more.

CHAPTER III.

1 Astonishes his schoolmaster by his learning.

A CERTAIN schoolmaster

named Zaccheaus, standing

in a certain place, heard Jesus

speaking these things to his father.

2 And he was much surprised,

that being a child he should speak

such things; and after a few days

he came to Joseph, and said,

3 Thou hast a wise and sensible

child, send him to me, that he may

learn to read.

4 When he sat down to teach

the letters to Jesus, he began with

the first letter Aleph;

5 But Jesus pronounced the

second letter Mpeth (Beth) Cghimel

(Gimel), and said over all the

letters to him to the end.

6 Then opening a book, he

taught his master the prophets

but he was ashamed, and was at a

loss to conceive how he came to

know the letters.

7 And he arose and went home,

wonderfully surprised at so strange

a thing.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Fragment of an adventure at a dyer's.

AS Jesus was passing by a certain

shop, he saw a young man dipping

(or dyeing) some cloths and stockings

in a furnace, of a sad colour, doing

them according to every person's

particular order;

2 The boy Jesus going to the

young man who was doing this,

took also some of the cloths ......

(Here endeth the fragment of

Thomas's Gospel of the Infancy

of Jesus Christ.)

REFERENCE TO ST. THOMAS'S GOSPEL OF THE

INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.

[The original in Greek, from which this translation is made, will be

found printed by Cotelerius, in his notes on the constitutions of the

Apostles, from a MS. in the French King's Library, No. 2279.—It is

attributed to St. Thomas, and conjectured to have been originally

connected with the, Gospel of Mary. Unfortunately this ancient MS. was

found torn at the second verse of the fourth chapter.]

>

>

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS,

FORMERLY CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.

The Gospel of NICODEMUS, the disciple,

concerning the Sufferings and Resurrection

of our Master and Saviour, JESUS CHRIST.

CHAPTER I.

1 Christ accused to Pilate by the Jews

of healing on the Sabbath.

9 Summoned before Pilate by a messenger

who does him honour.

20 Worshipped by the standards bowing down to him.

ANNAS and Caiphas, and

Summas, and Datam, Gamaliel,

Judas, Levi, Nepthalim, Alexander,

Cyrus, and other Jews, went

to Pilate about Jesus, accusing

him with many bad crimes.

2 And said, We are assured that

Jesus is the son of Joseph, the

carpenter, and born of Mary, and

that he declares himself the Son of

God, and a king; and not only so,

but attempts the dissolution of the

Sabbath, and the laws of our

fathers.

3 Pilate replied, What is it

which he declares? and what is it

which he attempts dissolving?

4 The Jews told him, We have

a law which forbids doing cures

on the Sabbath day; but he cures

both the lame and the deaf, those

afflicted with the palsy, the blind,

the lepers, and demoniacs, on that

day, by wicked methods.

5 Pilate replied, How can he

do this by wicked methods? They

answered He is a conjurer, and

casts out devils by the prince of

the devils; and so all things,

become subject to him.

6 Then said Pilate, Casting out

devils seems not to be the work of

an unclean spirit, but to proceed

from the power of God.

7 The Jews replied to Pilate,

We entreat your highness to summon

him to appear before your tribunal,

and hear him yourself.

8 Then Pilate called a messenger,

and said to him, By what means

will Christ be brought hither?

9 Then went the messenger

forth, and knowing Christ,

worshipped him; and having spread

the cloak which he had in his hand

upon the ground, he said, Lord,

walk upon this, and go in, for the

governor calls thee.

10 When the Jews perceived

what the messenger had done,

they exclaimed (against him) to

Pilate, and said, Why did you not

give him his summons by a beadle,

and not by a messenger?—For the

messenger, when he saw him,

worshipped him, and spread the

cloak which he had in his hand

upon the ground before him, and

said to him, Lord, the governor

calls thee.

11 Then Pilate called the

messenger, and said, Why hast thou

done thus?

12 The messenger replied, When

thou sentest me from Jerusalem to

Alexander, I saw Jesus sitting in

a mean figure upon a she-ass, and

the children of the Hebrews cried

out, Hosannah, holding boughs of

trees in their hands.

13 Others spread their garments

in the way, and said, Save us, thou

who art in heaven; blessed is he

who cometh in the name of the

Lord.

14 Then the Jews cried out,

against the messenger, and said,

The children of the Hebrews made

their acclamations in the Hebrew

language; and how couldst thou,

who art a Greek, understand the

Hebrew?

15 The messenger answered

them and said, I asked one of the

Jews and said, What is this which

the children do cry out in the

Hebrew language?

16 And he explained it to me,

saying, they cry out, Hosannah,

which being interpreted, is, O

Lord, save me; or, O Lord, save.

17 Pilate then said to them,

Why do you yourselves testify to

the words spoken by the children,

namely, by your silence? In what

has the messenger done amiss?

And they were silent.

18 Then the governor said unto

the messenger, Go forth and

endeavour by any means to bring

him in.

19 But the messenger went forth

and did as before; and said, Lord

come in, for the governor calleth

thee.

20 And as Jesus was going in

by the ensigns, who carried the

standards, the tops of them bowed

down and worshipped Jesus.

21 Whereupon the Jews exclaimed

more vehemently against the ensigns.

22 But Pilate said to the Jews,

I know it is not pleasing to you

that the tops of the standards did

of themselves bow and worship

Jesus; but why do ye exclaim

against the ensigns, as if they had

bowed and worshipped?

23 They replied to Pilate,

We saw the ensigns themselves

bowing and worshipping Jesus.

24 Then the governor called the

ensigns, and said unto them, Why

did you do thus?

25 The ensigns said to Pilate,

We are all Pagans and worship

the gods in temples; and how

should we think anything about

worshipping him? We only held

the standards in our hands,

and they bowed themselves and

worshipped him.

26 Then said Pilate to the rulers

of the synagogue, Do ye yourselves

choose some strong men, and let

them hold the standards, and we

shall see whether they will then

bend of themselves.

27 So the elders of the Jews

sought out twelve of the most

strong and able old men, and made

them hold the standards, and they

stood in the presence of the governor.

28 Then Pilate said to the

messenger, Take Jesus out, and by

some means bring him in again.

And Jesus and the messenger went

out of the hall.

29 And Pilate called the ensigns

who before had borne the standards,

and swore to them, that if they

had not borne the standards in

that manner when Jesus before

entered in, he would cut off

their heads.

30 Then the governor commanded

Jesus to come in again.

31 And the messenger did as he

had done before, and very much

entreated Jesus that he would go

upon his cloak, and walk on it;

and he did walk upon it, and went

in.

32 And when Jesus went in,

the standards bowed themselves as

before, and worshipped him.

CHAPTER II.

2 Is compassionated by Pilate's wife,

7 charged with being born in fornication.

12 Testimony to the betrothing of his parents.

15 Hatred of the Jews to him.

NOW when Pilate saw this, he

was afraid, and was about to

rise from his seat.

2 But while he thought to rise,

his own wife who stood at a

distance, sent to him, saying, Have

thou nothing to do with that just

man; for I have suffered much

concerning him in a vision this

night.

3 When the Jews heard this

they said to Pilate, Did we not say

unto thee, He is a conjuror? Behold,

he hath caused thy wife to dream.

4 Pilate then calling Jesus, said,

thou hast heard what they testify

against thee, and makest no answer?

5 Jesus replied, If they had not

a power of speaking, they could

not have spoke; but because every

one has the command of his own

tongue, to speak both good and

bad, let him look to it.

6 But the elders of the Jews

answered, and said to Jesus, What

shall we look to?

7 In the first place, we know

this concerning thee, that thou

wast born through fornication;

secondly, that upon the account of

thy birth the infants were slain in

Bethlehem; thirdly, that thy father

and mother Mary fled into Egypt,

because they could not trust their

own people.

8 Some of the Jews who stood

by spake more favourably, We

cannot say that he was born

through fornication; but we know

that his mother Mary was betrothed

to Joseph, and so he was not born

through fornication.

9 Then said Pilate to the Jews

who affirmed him to be born

through fornication, This your

account is not true, seeing there was

a betrothment, as they testify who

are of your own nation.

10 Annas and Caiphas spake to

Pilate, All this multitude of people

is to be regarded, who cry out,

that he was born through fornication,

and is a conjurer; but they who deny

him to be born through fornication,

are his proselytes and disciples.

11 Pilate answered Annas and

Caiphas, Who are the proselytes?

They answered, They are those

who are the children of Pagans,

and are not become Jews, but

followers of him.

12 Then replied Eleazer, and

Asterius, and Antonius, and James,

Caras and Samuel, Isaac and Phinees,

Crispus and Agrippa, Annas and Judas,

We are not proselytes, but children

of Jews, and speak the truth,

and were present when Mary was

betrothed.

13 Then Pilate addressing

himself to the twelve men who

spake this, said to them, I conjure

you by the life of Caesar, that ye

faithfully declare whether he was

born through fornication, and those

things be true which ye have related.

14 They answered Pilate, We

have a law whereby we are forbid

to swear, it being a sin: Let them

swear by the life of Caesar that it

is not as we have said, and we will

be contented to be put to death.

15 Then said Annas and Caiphas

to Pilate, Those twelve men will

not believe that we know him to be

basely born, and to be a conjurer,

although he pretends that he is

the Son of God, and a king: which

we are so far from believing, that

we tremble to hear.

16 Then Pilate commanded

every one to go out except the

twelve men who said he was not

born through fornication, and

Jesus to withdraw to a distance,

and said to them, Why have the Jews

a mind to kill Jesus?

17 They answered him, They

are angry because he wrought

cures on the sabbath day. Pilate

said, Will they kill him for a

good work? They say unto him,

Yes, Sir.

CHAPTER III.

1 Is exonerated by Pilate.

11 Disputes with Pilate concerning truth.

THEN Pilate, filled with anger,

went out of the hall, and said

to the Jews, I call the whole

world to witness that I find no

fault in that man.

2 The Jews replied to Pilate,

If he had not been a wicked person,

we had not brought him before thee.

3 Pilate said to them, Do ye take

him and try him by your law.

4 Then the Jews said, It is not

lawful for us to put any one to

death.

5 Pilate said to the Jews, The

command, therefore, thou shalt

not kill, belongs to you, but

not to me.

6 And he went again into the

hall, and called Jesus by himself,

and said to him, Art thou the king

of the Jews?

7 And Jesus answering, said

to Pilate, Dost thou speak this

of thyself, or did the Jews tell

it thee concerning me?

8 Pilate answering, said to

Jesus, Am I a Jew? The whole

nation and rulers of the Jews have

delivered thee up to me. What

hast thou done?

9 Jesus answering, said, My

kingdom is not of this world:

if my kingdom were of this world,

then would my servants fight,

and I should not have been

delivered to the Jews: but now

my kingdom is not from hence.

10 Pilate said, Art thou a king

then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest

that I am a king: to this end

was I born, and for this end came

I into the world; and for this

purpose I came, that I should bear

witness to the truth; and every

one who is of the truth, heareth

my voice.

11 Pilate saith to him, What is

truth?

12 Jesus said, Truth is from

heaven.

13 Pilate said, Therefore truth

is not on earth.

14 Jesus saith to Pilate,

Believe that truth is on earth

among those, who when they have

the power of judgment, are governed

by truth, and form right judgment.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Pilate finds no fault in Jesus.

16 The Jews demand his crucifixion.

THEN Pilate left Jesus in the hall,

and went out to the Jews, and said,

I find not any one fault in Jesus.

2 The Jews say unto him, But

he said, I can destroy the temple

of God, and in three days build it

up again.

3 Pilate saith to them, What

sort of temple is that of which he

speaketh?

4 The Jews say unto him,

That which Solomon was forty-six

years in building, he said he

would destroy, and in three days

build up.

5 Pilate said to them again, I

am innocent from the blood of that

man! do ye look to it.

6 The Jews say to him, His

blood be upon us and our children.

Then Pilate calling together the

elders and scribes, priests and

Levites, saith to them privately,

Do not act thus; I have found

nothing in your charge (against

him) concerning his curing sick

persons, and breaking the sabbath,

worthy of death.

7 The priests and Levites replied

to Pilate, By the life of Caesar,

if any one be a blasphemer, he is

worthy of death; but this man hath

blasphemed against the Lord.

8 Then the governor again

commanded the Jews to depart out

of the hall; and calling Jesus,

said to him, What shall I do with

thee?

9 Jesus answered him, Do according

as it is written.

10 Pilate said to him, How is it

written?

11 Jesus saith to him, Moses

and the prophets have prophesied

concerning my suffering and

resurrection.

12 The Jews hearing this, were

provoked, and said to Pilate,

Why wilt thou any longer hear the

blasphemy of that man?

13 Pilate saith to them, If these

words seem to you blasphemy, do

ye take him, bring him to your

court, and try him according to

your law.

14 The Jews reply to Pilate,

Our law saith, he shall be obliged

to receive nine and thirty stripes,

but if after this manner he shall

blaspheme against the Lord, he

shall be stoned.

15 Pilate saith unto them, If

that speech of his was blasphemy,

do ye try him according to your

law.

16 The Jews say to Pilate, Our

law command us not to put any one

to death. We desire that he may be

crucified, because he deserves the

death of the cross.

17 Pilate saith to them, It is not

fit he should be crucified: let him

be only whipped and sent away.

18 But when the governor looked

upon the people that were present

and the Jews, he saw many of the

Jews in tears, and said to the

chief priests of the Jews, All

the people do not desire his death.

19 The elders of the Jews answered

to Pilate, We and all the people

came hither for this very purpose,

that he should die.

20 Pilate saith to them, Why should

he die?

21 They said to him, Because

he declares himself to be the Son

of God and a King.

CHAP. V.

1 Nicodemus speaks in defence of Christ,

and relates his miracles.

12 Another Jew,

26 with Veronica,

34 Centurio, and others,

testify of other miracles.

BUT Nicodemus, a certain Jew,

stood before the governor,

and said, I entreat thee,

O righteous judge, that thou

wouldst favour me with the

liberty of speaking a few words.

2 Pilate said to him, Speak on.

3 Nicodemus said, I spake to

the elders of the Jews, and the

scribes, and priests and Levites,

and all the multitude of the Jews,

in their assembly; What is it ye

would do with this man?

4 He is a man who hath wrought

many useful and glorious miracles,

such as no man on earth ever

wrought before, nor will ever

work. Let him go, and do him

no harm; if he cometh from God,

his miracles, (his miraculous

cures) will continue; but if from

men, they will come to nought.

5 Thus Moses, when he was

sent by God into Egypt, wrought

the miracles which God commanded

him, before Pharaoh king of Egypt;

and though the magicians of that

country, Jannes and Jambres,

wrought by their magic the same

miracles which Moses did, yet they

could not work all which he did;

6 And the miracles which the

magicians wrought, were not of

God, as ye know, O Scribes and

Pharisees; but they who wrought

them perished, and all who

believed them.

7 And now let this man go;

because the very miracles for

which ye accuse him, are from

God; and he is not worthy of

death.

8 The Jews then said to Nicodemus,

Art thou become his disciple,

and making speeches in his favour?

9 Nicodemus said to them, Is

the governor become his disciple

also, and does he make speeches

for him? Did not Caesar place

him in that high post?

10 When the Jews heard this

they trembled, and gnashed their

teeth at Nicodemus, and said to

him, Mayest thou receive his

doctrine for truth, and have

thy lot with Christ!

11 Nicodemus replied, Amen;

I will receive his doctrine, and

my lot with him, as ye have said.

12 Then another certain Jew

rose up, and desired leave of the

governor to hear him a few words.

13 And the governor said,

Speak, what thou hast a mind.

14 And he said, I lay for thirty-

eight years by the sheep-pool at

Jerusalem, labouring under a great

infirmity, and waiting for a cure

which should be wrought by the

coming of an angel, who at a

certain time troubled the water: and

whosoever first after the troubling

of the water stepped in, was made

whole of whatsoever disease he had.

15 And when Jesus saw me languishing

there, he said to me, Wilt thou be

made whole? And I answered, Sir,

I have no man, when the water is

troubled, to put me into the pool.

16 And he said unto me, Rise,

take up thy bed and walk. And

I was immediately made whole,

and took up my bed and walked.

17 The Jews then said to Pilate,

Our Lord Governor, pray ask

him what day it was on which he

was cured of his infirmity.

18 The infirm person replied,

It was on the sabbath.

19 The Jews said to Pilate, Did

we not say that he wrought his

cures on the sabbath, and cast out

devils by the prince of devils?

20 Then another certain Jew

came forth, and said, I was blind,

could hear sounds, but could not

see any one; and as Jesus was

going along, I heard the multitude

passing by, and I asked what

was there?

21 They told me that Jesus was

passing by: then I cried out,

saying, Jesus, Son of David, have

mercy on me. And he stood still,

and commanded that I should be

brought to him, and said to me,

What wilt thou?

22 I said, Lord, that I may

receive my sight.

23 He said to me, Receive thy

sight: and presently I saw, and

followed him, rejoicing and giving

thanks,

24 Another Jew also came forth,

and said, I was a leper, and he

cured me by his word only, saying,

I will, be thou clean; and presently

I was cleansed from my leprosy.

25 And another Jew came

forth, and said I was crooked,

and he made me straight by his

word.

26 And a certain woman

named Veronica, said, I was

afflicted with an issue of blood

twelve years, and I touched the

hem of his garment, and presently

the issue of blood stopped.

27 The Jews then said, We

have a law, that a woman shall

not be allowed as an evidence.

28 And, after other things,

another Jew said, I saw Jesus

invited to a wedding with his

disciples, and there was a want

of wine in Cana of Galilee;

29 And when the wine was all

drank, he commanded the servants

that they should fill six pots which

were there with water, and they

filled them up to the brim, and he

blessed them and turned the water

into wine, and all the people drank,

being surprised at this miracle,

30 And another Jew stood forth,

and said, I saw Jesus teaching

in the synagogue at Capernaum;

and there was in the synagogue

a certain man who had a devil;

and he cried out, saying,

let me alone; what have we to

do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth?

Art thou come to destroy us?

I know that thou art the Holy One

of God.

31 And Jesus rebuked him, saying,

Hold thy peace, unclean spirit,

and come out of the man; and

presently he came out of him, and

did not at all hurt him.

32 The following things were

also said by a Pharisee: I saw

that a great company came to

Jesus from Galilee and Judea, and

the sea-cost, and many countries

about Jordan; and many infirm

persons came to him, and he healed

them all.

33 And I heard the unclean

spirits crying out, and saying,

Thou art the Son of God. And

Jesus strictly charged them, that

they should not make him known.

34 After this another person,

whose name was Centurio, said,

I saw Jesus in Capernaum, and I

entreated him, saying, Lord, my

servant lieth at home sick of the

palsy.

35 And Jesus said to me, I

will come and cure him.

36 But I said, Lord, I am not

worthy that thou shouldst come

under my roof; but only speak

the word, and my servant shall be

healed.

37 And Jesus said unto me, Go

thy way; and as thou hast believed

so be it done unto thee. And my

servant was healed from that same

hour.

38 Then a certain nobleman

said, I had a son in Capernaum,

who lay at the point of death; and

when I heard that Jesus was come

into Galilee, I went and besought

him that he would come down to

my house, and heal my son, for he

was at the point of death.

39 He said to me, Go thy way,

thy son liveth.

40 And my son was cured from

that hour.

41 Besides these, also many

others of the Jews, both men and

Women, cried out and said, He is

truly the Son of God, who cures

all diseases only by his word, and

to whom the devils are altogether

subject.

42 Some of them farther said,

This power can proceed from none

but God.

43 Pilate said to the Jews, Why

are not the devils subject to your

doctors?

44 Some of them said, The

power of subjecting devils cannot

proceed but from God.

45 But others said to Pilate,

That he had raised Lazarus from

the dead, after he had been four

days in his grave.

46 The governor hearing this,

trembling, said to the multitude of

the Jews, What will it profit you

to shed innocent blood?

CHAPTER VI.

1 Pilate dismayed by the turbulence of the Jews,

5 who demand Barabbas to be released, and Christ

to be crucified.

9 Pilate warmly expostulates with them,

20 washes his hands of Christ's blood,

23 and sentences him to be whipped and crucified.

THEN Pilate having called

together Nicodemus, and the

fifteen men who said that Jesus

was not born through fornication,

said to them, What shall I do,

seeing there is like to be a tumult

among the people.

2 They say unto him, We know

not; let them look to it who raise

the tumult.

3 Pilate then called the

multitude again, and said to them,

Ye know that ye have a custom, that

I should release to you one prisoner

at the feast of the passover:

4 I have a noted prisoner, a

murderer, who is called Barabbas,

and Jesus who is called Christ, in

whom I find nothing that deserves

death; which of them, therefore,

have you a mind that I should

release to you?

5 They all cry out, and say,

Release to us Barabbas.

6 Pilate saith to them, What

then shall I do with Jesus who is

called Christ?

7 They all answer, Let him be

crucified.

8 Again they cry out and say to

Pilate, You are not the friend of

Caesar, if you release this man;

for he hath declared that he is the

Son of God, and a king. But are

you inclined that he should be

king, and not Caesar?

9 Then Pilate filled with anger

said to them, Your nation hath

always been seditious, and you are

always against those who have

been serviceable to you.

10 The Jews replied, Who are those

who have been serviceable to us?

11 Pilate answered them, Your

God who delivered you from the

hard bondage of the Egyptians,

and brought you over the Red Sea

as though it had been dry land,

and fed you in the wilderness with

manna and the flesh of quails, and

brought water out of the rock, and

gave you a law from heaven.

12 Ye provoked him all ways,

and desired for yourselves a

molten calf, and worshipped it,

and sacrificed to it, and said,

These are thy Gods, O Israel,

which brought thee out of the

land of Egypt:

13 On account of which your

God was inclined to destroy you;

but Moses interceded for you, and

your God heard him, and forgave

your iniquity.

14 Afterwards ye were enraged

against, and would have killed

your prophets, Moses and Aaron,

when they fled to the tabernacle,

and ye were always murmuring

against God and his prophets.

15 And arising from his

judgment seat, he would have gone

out; but the Jews all cried out,

We acknowledge Caesar to be king,

and not Jesus;

16 Whereas this person, as

soon as he was born, the wise

men came and offered gifts unto

him; which when Herod heard,

he was exceedingly troubled,

and would have killed him:

17 When his father knew this,

he fled with him and his mother

Mary into Egypt. Herod, when

he heard he was born, would have

slain him; and accordingly sent

and slew all the children which

were in Bethlehem, and in all the

coasts thereof, from two years old

and under.

18 When Pilate heard this

account, he was afraid; and

commanding silence among the

people, who made a noise, he said

to Jesus, Art thou therefore a king?

19 All the Jews replied to

Pilate, he is the very person

whom Herod sought to have slain.

20 Then Pilate taking water,

washed his hands before the people

and said, I am innocent of the

blood of this just person; look ye

to it.

21 The Jews answered and said,

His blood be upon us and our

children.

22 Then Pilate commanded Jesus

to be brought before him, and

spake to him in the following

words;

23 Thy own nation hath charged

thee as making thyself a king;

wherefore I, Pilate, sentence thee

to be whipped according to the

laws of former governors; and

that thou be first bound, then

hanged upon a cross in that place

where thou art now a prisoner;

and also two criminals with thee,

whose names are Dimas and Gestas.

CHAP. VII.

1 Manner of Christ's crucifixion

with the two thieves.

THEN Jesus went out of the

hall, and the two thieves

with him.

2 And when they came to the

place which is called Golgotha,

they stript him of his raiment, and

girt him about with a linen cloth,

and put a crown of thorns upon his

head, and put a reed in his hand.

3 And in like manner did they

to the two thieves who were

crucified with him, Dimas on his

right hand and Gestas on his left.

4 But Jesus said, My Father,

forgive them, For they know not

what they do.

5 And they divided his garments,

and upon his vesture they cast lots.

6 The people in the mean time

stood by, and the chief priests

and elders of the Jews mocked him,

saying, He saved others, let him

now save himself if he can; if he

be the son of God, let him now

come down from the cross.

7 The soldiers also mocked him,

and taking vinegar and gall, offered

it to him to drink, and said to him,

If thou art king of the Jews,

deliver thyself.

8 Then Longinus, a certain soldier,

taking a spear, pierced his side,

and presently there came forth blood

and water.

9 And Pilate wrote the title

upon the cross in Hebrew, Latin,

and Greek letters, viz., THIS IS

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

10 But one of the two thieves

who were crucified with Jesus,

whose name was Gestas, said to

Jesus, If thou art the Christ,

deliver thyself and us.

11 But the thief who was

crucified on his right hand,

whose name was Dimas, answering,

rebuked him, and said, Dost not

thou fear God, who art condemned

to this punishment? We indeed

receive rightly and justly the

demerit of our actions; but this

Jesus, what evil hath he done.

12 After this, groaning, he said

to Jesus, Lord, remember me

when thou comest into thy kingdom.

13 Jesus answering, said to

him, Verily I say unto thee, that

this day thou shalt be with me in

Paradise.

CHAPTER VIII.

1 Miraculous appearance at his death.

10 The Jews say the eclipse was natural.

12 Joseph of Arimathaea embalms Christ's

body and buries it.

AND it was about the sixth

hour, and darkness was upon

the face of the whole earth until

the ninth hour.

2 And while the sun was eclipsed,

behold the veil of the temple was

rent from the top, to the bottom;

and the rocks also were rent, and

the graves opened, and many

bodies of saints, which slept,

arose.

3 And about the ninth hour

Jesus cried out with a loud voice,

Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani? which

being interpreted is, My God, My

God, why hast thou forsaken me?

4 And after these things, Jesus

said, Father, into thy hands I

commend my spirit; and having

said this, he gave up the ghost.

5 But when the centurion saw

that Jesus thus crying out gave up

the ghost, he glorified God, and

said, Of a truth this was a just

man.

6 And all the people who stood

by, were exceedingly troubled at

the sight; and reflecting upon

what had passed, smote upon their

breasts, and then returned to the

city of Jerusalem.

7 The centurion went to the

governor, and related to him all

that had passed:

8 And when he had heard all

these things, he was exceedingly

sorrowful;

9 And calling the Jews together,

said to them, Have ye seen the

miracle of the sun's eclipse, and

the other things which came to

pass, while Jesus was dying?

10 Which when the Jews heard,

they answered to the governor,

The eclipse of the sun happened

according to its usual custom.

11 But all those who were the

acquaintance of Christ, stood at

a distance, as did the women who

had followed Jesus from Galilee,

observing all these things.

12 And behold a certain man

of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who

was also a disciple of Jesus, but

not openly so, for fear of the Jews,

came to the governor, and entreated

the governor that he would give him

leave to take away the body of Jesus

from the cross.

13 And the governor gave him leave.

14 And Nicodemus came, bringing

with him a mixture of myrrh and

aloes about a hundred pounds

weight; and they took down Jesus

from the cross with tears, and

bound him in linen cloths with

spices, according to the custom of

burying among the Jews;

15 And placed him in a new

tomb, which Joseph had built,

and caused to be cut out of a rock,

in which never any man had been

put; and they rolled a great stone

to the door of the sepulchre.

CHAPTER IX.

1 The Jews angry with Nicodemus:

5 and with, Joseph of Arimathaea,

7 whom they imprison.

WHEN the unjust Jews heard

that Joseph had begged and buried

the body of Jesus, they sought

after Nicodemus, and those fifteen

men who had testified before the

governor, that Jesus was not born

through fornication, and other

good persons who had shown any

good actions towards him.

2 But when they all concealed

themselves through fear of the

Jews, Nicodemus alone showed

himself to them, and said, How

can such persons as these enter

into the synagogue?

3 The Jews answered him, But

how durst thou enter into the

synagogue, who wast a confederate

with Christ? Let thy lot be along

with him in the other world.

4 Nicodemus answered, Amen;

so may it be, that I may have

my lot with him in his kingdom.

5 In like manner Joseph, when

he came to the Jews, said to them,

Why are ye angry with me for

desiring the body of Jesus of

Pilate? Behold, I have put him in

my tomb, and wrapped him up in

clean linen, and put a stone at the

door of the sepulchre:

6 I have acted rightly towards

him; but ye have acted unjustly

against that just person, in

crucifying him, giving him vinegar

to drink, crowning him with thorns,

tearing his body with whips, and

praying down the guilt of his blood

upon you.

7 The Jews at the hearing of

this were disquieted and troubled;

and they seized Joseph, and

commanded him to be put in custody

before the Sabbath, and kept there

till the Sabbath was over.

8 And they said to him, Make

confession; for at this time it is

not lawful to do thee any harm,

till the first day of the week come.

But we know that thou wilt not be

thought worthy of a burial; but

we will give thy flesh to the birds

of the air, and the beasts of the

earth.

9 Joseph answered, That speech

is like the speech of proud Goliath,

who reproached the living God in

speaking against David. But ye

scribes and doctors know that God

saith by the prophet, Vengeance is

mine, and I will repay to you evil

equal to that which ye have

threatened to me.

10 The God whom you have

hanged upon the cross, is able to

deliver me out of your hands. All

your wickedness will return upon

you.

11 For the governor, when he

washed his hands, said, I am clear

from the blood of this just person.

But ye answered and cried out,

His blood be upon us and our

children. According as ye have

said, may ye perish for ever.

12 The elders of the Jews hearing

these words, were exceedingly

enraged; and seizing Joseph, they

put him into a chamber where

there was no window; they fastened

the door, and put a seal upon

the lock;

13 And Annas and Caiaphas placed

a guard upon it, and took counsel

with the priests and Levites,

that they should all meet after

the Sabbath, and they contrived

to what death they should put Joseph.

14 When they had done this, the

rulers, Annas and Caiaphas,

ordered Joseph to be brought

forth.

(In this place there is a portion

of the Gospel lost or omitted.

which cannot be supplied. It

may, nevertheless, be surmised

from the occurrence related in

the next chapter, that the order

of Annas and Caiaphas were rendered

unnecessary by Joseph's miraculous

escape, and which was announced

to an assembly of people.)

CHAPTER X.

1 Joseph's escape.

2 The soldiers relate Christ's resurrection.

18 Christ is seen preaching in Galilee.

21 The Jews repent of their cruelty to him.

WHEN all the assembly heard

this (about Joseph's escape),

they admired and were astonished,

because they found the same seal

upon the lock of the chamber, and

could not find Joseph.

2 Then Annas and Caiaphas went

forth, and while they were all

admiring at Joseph's being gone,

behold one of the soldiers, who

kept the sepulchre of Jesus, spake

in the assembly,

3 That while they were guarding

the sepulchre of Jesus, there was

an earthquake; and we saw an angel

of God roll away the stone of the

sepulchre and sit upon it;

4 And his countenance was like

lightning and his garment like

snow; and we became through fear

like persons dead.

5 And we heard an angel saying

to the women at the sepulchre of

Jesus, Do not fear; I know that

you seek Jesus who was crucified;

he is risen as he foretold;

6 Come and see the place where

he was laid; and go presently, and

tell his disciples that he is risen

from the dead; and he will go before

you into Galilee; there ye shall

see him as he told you.

7 Then the Jews called together

all the soldiers who kept the sepulchre

of Jesus, and said to them, Who are

those women, to whom the angel spoke?

Why did ye not seize them.

8 The soldiers answered and said,

We know not who the women were;

besides we became as dead persons

through fear, and how could we

seize those women?

9 The Jews said to them, As the

Lord liveth, we do not believe you;

10 The soldiers answering said to

the Jews, when ye saw and heard

Jesus working so many miracles,

and did not believe him, how should

ye believe us? Ye well said,

As the Lord liveth, for the Lord

truly does live.

11 We have heard that ye shut

up Joseph, who buried the body of

Jesus, in a chamber, under a lock

which was sealed; and when ye

opened it, found him not there.

12 Do ye then produce Joseph

whom ye put under guard in the

chamber, and we will produce

Jesus whom we guarded in the

sepulchre.

13 The Jews answered and said,

We will produce Joseph, do ye

produce Jesus. But Joseph is in

his own city of Arimathaea.

14 The soldiers replied,

If Joseph be in Arimathaea,

and Jesus in Galilee, we heard

the angel inform the women.

15 The Jews hearing this, were

afraid, and said among themselves,

If by any means these things

should become public, then

everybody will believe in Jesus.

16 Then they gathered a large

sum of money, and gave it to the

soldiers, saying, Do ye tell the

people that the disciples of Jesus

came in the night when ye were

asleep, and stole away the body of

Jesus; and if Pilate the governor

should hear of this, we will satisfy

him and secure you.

17 The soldiers accordingly took

the money, and said as they were

instructed by the Jews; and their

report was spread abroad among

all the people.

18 But a certain priest Phinees,

Ada a schoolmaster, and a Levite,

named Ageus, they three came from

Galilee to Jerusalem, and told

the chief priests and all who

were in the synagogues, saying,

19 We have seen Jesus, whom

ye crucified, talking with his

eleven disciples, and sitting in the

midst of them in Mount Olivet,

and saying to them,

20 Go forth into the whole world,

preach the Gospel to all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the

Father, and the Son, and the Holy

Ghost; and whosoever shall believe

and be baptized, shall be saved.

21 And when he had said these

things to his disciples, we saw him

ascending up to heaven.

22 When the chief priests and

elders, and Levites heard these

things, they said to these three

men, Give glory to the God of

Israel, and make confession to

him, whether those things are true,

which ye say ye have seen and heard.

23 They answering said, As the

Lord of our fathers liveth, the

God of Abraham, and the God of

Isaac, and the God of Jacob,

according as we heard Jesus talking

with his disciples, and according

as we saw him ascending up to

heaven, so we have related the

truth to you.

24 And the three men farther

answered, and said, adding these

words, If we should not own the

words which we heard Jesus speak,

and that we saw him ascending

into heaven, we should be guilty

of sin.

25 Then the chief priests

immediately rose up, and holding

the book of the law in their hands,

conjured these men, saying, Ye

shall no more hereafter declare

those things which ye have spoken

concerning Jesus.

26 And they gave them a large

sum of money, and sent other

persons along with them, who

should conduct them to their own

country, that they might not by any

means make any stay at Jerusalem.

27 Then the Jews did assemble

all together, and having expressed

the most lamentable concern said,

What is this extraordinary thing

which is come to pass in Jerusalem?

28 But Annas and Caiaphas comforted

them, saying, Why should we believe

the soldiers who guarded the sepulchre

of Jesus, in telling us, that an angel

rolled away the stone from the door

of the sepulchre?

29 Perhaps his own disciples told

them this, and gave them money

that they should say so, and they

themselves took away the body of Jesus.

30 Besides, consider this, that

there is no credit to be given to

foreigners, because they also took

a large sum of us, and they have

declared to us according to the

instructions which we gave them.

They must either be faithful to us

or to the disciples of Jesus.

CHAPTER XI.

1 Nicodemus counsels the Jews.

6 Joseph found.

11 Invited by the Jews to return.

19 Relates the manner of his miraculous escape.

THEN Nicodemus arose, and

said, Ye say right, O sons of

Israel; ye have heard what those

three men have sworn by the Law

of God, who said, We have seen

Jesus speaking with his disciples

upon mount Olivet, and we saw

him ascending up to heaven.

2 And the scripture teacheth

us that the blessed prophet Elijah

was taken up to heaven, and Elisha

being asked by the sons of the

prophets, Where is our father Elijah?

He said to them, that he is taken up

to heaven.

3 And the sons of the prophets

said to him, Perhaps the spirit

hath carried him into one of the

mountains of Israel, there perhaps

we shall find him. And they besought

Elisha, and he walked about with

them three days, and they could

not find him.

4 And now hear me, O sons of

Israel, and let us send men into

the mountains of Israel, lest

perhaps the spirit hath carried

away Jesus, and there perhaps we

shall find him, and be satisfied.

5 And the counsel of Nicodemus

pleased all the people; and they

sent forth men who sought for Jesus,

but could not find him; and they

returning, said, We went all about,

but could not find Jesus, but we

have found Joseph in his city of

Arimathaea.

6 The rulers hearing this, and

all the people, were glad, and

praised the God of Israel, because

Joseph was found, whom they had

shut up in a chamber, and could

not find.

7 And when they had formed a

large assembly, the chief priests

said, By what means shall we bring

Joseph to us to speak with him?

8 And taking a piece of paper,

they wrote to him, and said, Peace

be with thee, and all thy family,

We know that we have offended

against God and thee. Be pleased

to give a visit to us, your fathers,

for we were perfectly surprised at

your escape from prison.

9 We know that it was malicious

counsel which we took against

thee, and that the Lord took care

of thee, and the Lord himself

delivered thee from our designs.

Peace be unto thee, Joseph, who

art honourable among all the

people.

10 And they chose seven of

Joseph's friends, and said to them,

When ye come to Joseph, salute

him in peace, and give him this

letter.

11 Accordingly, when the men

came to Joseph, they did salute

him in peace, and gave him the

letter.

12 And when Joseph had read it,

he said, Blessed be the Lord God,

who didst deliver me from the

Israelites, that they could not

shed my blood. Blessed be God,

who hast protected me under thy

wings.

13 And Joseph kissed them, and

took them into his house. And on

the morrow, Joseph mounted his

ass, and went along with them to

Jerusalem.

14 And when all the Jews heard

these things, they went out to

meet him, and cried out, saying,

Peace attend thy coming hither,

father Joseph.

15 To which he answered,

Prosperity from the Lord attend

all the people.

13 And they all kissed him; and

Nicodemus took him to his house,

having prepared a large

entertainment.

17 But on the morrow, being

a preparation-day, Annas, and

Caiaphas, and Nicodemus, said to

Joseph, Make confession to the

God of Israel, and answer to us

all those questions which we shall

ask thee;

18 For we have been very much

troubled, that thou didst bury the

body of Jesus; and that when we

had locked thee in a chamber, we

could not find thee; and we have

been afraid ever since, till this

time of thy appearing among us.

Tell us therefore before God, all

that came to pass.

19 Then Joseph answering,

said Ye did indeed put me under

confinement, on the day of

preparation, till the morning.

20 But while I was standing at

prayer in the middle of the night,

the house was surrounded with

four angels; and I saw Jesus as

the brightness of the sun, and fell

down upon the earth for fear.

21 But Jesus laying hold on my

hand, lifted me from the ground,

and the dew was then sprinkled

upon me; but he, wiping my face,

kissed me, and said unto me, Fear

not, Joseph; look upon me for

it is I.

22 Then I looked upon him, and

said, Rabboni Elias! He answered

me, I am not Elias, but Jesus of

Nazareth, whose body thou didst

bury.

23 I said to him, show me the

tomb in which I laid thee.

24 Then Jesus, taking me by the

hand, led me unto the place where

I laid him, and showed me the

linen clothes, and napkin which I

put round his head. Then I knew

that it was Jesus, and worshipped

him, and said; Blessed be he who

cometh in the name of the Lord.

25 Jesus again taking me by the

hand, led me to Arimathaea, to my

own house, and said to me, Peace

be to thee; but go not out of thy

house till the fortieth day; but

I must go to my disciples.

CHAPTER XII.

1 The Jews astonished and confounded.

16 Simeon's two sons, Charinus and Lenthius,

rise from the dead at Christ's crucifixion.

19 Joseph proposes to get them to relate the

mysteries of their resurrection.

21 They are sought and found,

22 brought to the synagogue,

23 privately sworn to secrecy,

25 and undertake to write what they had seen.

WHEN the chief priests and

Levites heard all these

things, they were astonished, and

fell down with their faces on the

ground as dead men, and crying

out to one another, said, What is

this extraordinary sign which is

come to pass in Jerusalem? We

know the father and mother of

Jesus.

2 And a certain Levite said,

I know many of his relations,

religions persons, who are wont to

offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings

to the God of Israel, in the temple,

with prayers.

3 And when the high-priest

Simeon took him up in his arms,

he said to him, Lord, now lettest

thou thy servant depart in peace,

according to thy word; for mine

eyes have seen thy salvation,

which then halt prepared before

the face of all people; a light to

enlighten the Gentiles, and the

glory of thy people Israel.

4 Simeon in like manner blessed

Mary the Mother of Jesus, and

said to her, I declare to thee

concerning that child; He is

appointed for the fall and rising

again of many, and for a sign

which shall be spoken against;

5 Yea, a sword shall pierce

through thine own soul also, and

the thoughts of many hearts shall

be revealed.

6 Then said all the Jews, Let

us send to those three men, who

said they saw him talking with

his disciples in mount Olivet.

7 After this, they asked them

what they had seen; who answered

with one accord, In the presence

of the God of Israel we affirm,

that we plainly saw Jesus talking

with his disciples in Mount Olivet,

and ascending up to heaven.

8 Then Annas and Caiaphas took

them into separate places, and

examined them separately; who

unanimously confessed the truth,

and said, they had seen Jesus.

9 Then Annas and Caiaphas said

"Our law saith, By the mouth of

two or three witnesses every word

shall be established."

10 But what have we said?

The blessed Enoch pleased God,

and was translated by the word of

God; and the burying-place of the

blessed Moses is known.

11 But Jesus was delivered to

Pilate, whipped, crowned with

thorns, spit upon, pierced with a

spear, crucified, died upon the

cross, and was buried, and his

body the honourable Joseph buried

in a new sepulchre, and he testifies

that he saw him alive.

12 And besides, these men have

declared, that they saw him talking

with his disciples in Mount Olivet,

and ascending up to heaven.

13 Then Joseph rising up, said

to Annas and Caiaphas, Ye may be

justly under a great surprise,

that you have been told, that

Jesus is alive, and gone up to

heaven.

14 It is indeed a thing really

surprising, that he should not

only himself arise from the dead,

but also raise others from their

graves, who have been seen by

many in Jerusalem.

15 And now hear me a little

We all knew the blessed Simeon,

the high-priest, who took Jesus

when an infant into his arms in

the temple.

16 This same Simeon had two sons

of his own, and we were all present

at their death and funeral.

17 Go therefore and see their

tombs, for these are open, and

they are risen: and behold, they

are in the city of Arimathaea,

spending their time together in

offices of devotion.

18 Some, indeed, have heard

the sound of their voices in prayer,

but they will not discourse with

anyone, but they continue as mute

as dead men.

19 But come, let us go to them,

and behave ourselves towards them

with all due respect and caution.

And if we can bring them to swear,

perhaps they will tell us some of

the mysteries of their resurrection.

20 When the Jews heard this

they were exceedingly rejoiced.

21 Then Annas and Caiaphas,

Nicodemus, Joseph, and Gamaliel,

went to Arimathaea, but did not

find them in their graves; but

walking about the city, they found

them on their bended knees at

their devotions:

22 Then saluting them with all

respect and deference to God, they

brought them to the synagogue at

Jerusalem; and having shut the

gates, they took the book of the

law of the Lord,

23 And putting it in their hands,

swore them by God Adonai, and

the God of Israel, who spake to

our fathers by the law and the

prophets, saying, If ye believe

him who raised you from the dead,

to be Jesus, tell us what ye have

seen, and how ye were raised from

the dead.

24 Charinus and Lenthius, the

two sons of Simeon, trembled

when they heard these things, and

were disturbed, and groaned; and

at the same time looking up to

heaven, they made the sign of the

cross with their fingers on their

tongues,

25 And immediately they spake,

and said, Give each of us some

paper, and we will write down for

you all those things which we have

seen. And they each sat down

and wrote, saying:—

CHAPTER XIII.

1 The narrative of Charinus and Lenthius commences.

3 A great light in hell.

7 Simeon arrives, and announces the coming of Christ.

O LORD Jesus and Father, who

art God, also the resurrection

and life of the dead, give us

leave to declare thy mysteries,

which we saw after death, belonging

to thy cross; for we are sworn by

thy name.

2 For thou hast forbidden thy

servants to declare the secret

things, which were wrought by

thy divine power in hell.

3 When we were Placed with

our fathers in the depth of hell,

in the blackness of darkness,

on a sudden there appeared the

colour of the sun like gold,

and a substantial purple-coloured

light enlightening the place.

4 Presently upon this, Adam,

the father of all mankind, with

all the patriarchs and prophets,

rejoiced and said, That light is the

author of everlasting light, who

hath promised to translate us to

everlasting light.

5 Then Isaiah the prophet cried

out and said, This is the light

of the Father, and the Son of God,

according to my prophecy, when I

was alive upon earth.

6 The land of Zabulon, and the

land of Nephthalim, beyond Jordan,

a people who walked in darkness,

saw a great light; and to them

who dwelled in the region of the

shadow of death, light is arisen.

And now he is come, and hath

enlightened us who sat in death.

7 And while we were all rejoicing

in the light which shone upon us,

our father Simeon came among us,

and congratulating all the company,

said, Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ

the Son of God.

8 Whom I took up in my arms when

an infant in the temple, and

being moved by the Holy Ghost,

said to him, and acknowledged,

That now mine eyes have seen thy

salvation, which thou hast prepared

before the face of all people; a

light to enlighten the Gentiles,

and the glory of thy people Israel.

9 All the saints who were in

the depth of hell, hearing this,

rejoiced the more.

10 Afterwards there came forth

one like a little hermit, and was

asked by every one, Who art thou?

11 To which he replied, I am

the voice of one crying in the

wilderness, John the Baptist, and

the prophet of the Most High, who

went before his coming to prepare

his way, to give the knowledge of

salvation to his people for the

forgiveness of sins.

12 And I, John, when I saw

Jesus coming to me, being moved

by the Holy Ghost, I said, Behold

the Lamb of God, behold him who

takes away the sins of the world.

13 And I baptized him in the

river Jordan, and saw the Holy

Ghost descending upon him in the

form of a dove, and heard a voice

from heaven saying, This is my

beloved Son, in whom I am well

pleased.

14 And now while I was going

before him, I came down hither to

acquaint you, that the Son of God

will next visit us, and, as the

day-spring from on high, will come to

us, who are in darkness and the

shadow of death.

CHAPTER XIV.

1 Adam causes Seth to relate what he heard

from Michael the archangel, when he sent him

to Paradise to entreat God to anoint his

head in his sickness.

BUT when the first man our father

Adam heard these things, that

Jesus was baptized in Jordan,

he called out to his son Seth,

and said,

2 Declare to your sons, the

patriarchs and prophets, all those

things, which thou didst hear from

Michael, the archangel, when I

sent thee to the gates of Paradise,

to entreat God that he would

anoint my head when I was sick.

3 Then Seth, coming near to the

patriarchs and prophets, said, I,

Seth, when I was praying to God

at the gates of Paradise, beheld

the angel of the Lord, Michael,

appear unto me, saying, I am sent

unto thee from the Lord; I am

appointed to preside over human

bodies.

4 I tell thee, Seth, do not pray

to God in tears, and entreat him

for the oil of the tree of mercy

wherewith to anoint thy father

Adam for his head-ache;

5 Because thou canst not by any

means obtain it till the last day

and times, namely, till five thousand

and five hundred years be past.

6 Then will Christ, the most

merciful Son of God, come on

earth to raise again the human

body of Adam, and at the same

time to raise the bodies of the

dead, and when he cometh he will

be baptized in Jordan;

7 Then with the oil of his

mercy he will anoint all those

who believe in him; and the oil

of his mercy will continue to

future generations, for those

who shall be born of the water

and the Holy Ghost unto eternal

life.

8 And when at that time the

most merciful Son of God, Christ

Jesus, shall come down on earth,

he will introduce our father Adam

into Paradise, to the tree of mercy.

9 When all the patriarchs and

prophets heard all these things

from Seth, they rejoiced more.

CHAPTER XV.

1 Quarrel between Satan and the prince of hell,

concerning the expected arrival of Christ in hell.

WHILE all the saints were

rejoicing, behold Satan, the

prince and captain of death, said

to the prince of hell,

2 Prepare to receive Jesus of

Nazareth himself, who boasted

that he was the Son of God, and

yet was a man afraid of death, and

said, My soul is sorrowful even to

death.

3 Besides he did many injuries

to me and to many others; for

those whom I made blind and lame

and those also whom I tormented

with several devils, he cured by

his word; yea, and those whom I

brought dead to thee, he by force

takes away from thee.

4 To this the prince of hell

replied to Satan, Who is that so

powerful prince, and yet a man who

is afraid of death?

5 For all the potentates of the

earth are subject to my power,

whom thou broughtest to subjection

by thy power.

6 But if he be so powerful in his

human nature, I affirm to thee for

truth, that he is almighty in his

divine nature, and no man can

resist his power:

7 When therefore he said he was

afraid of death, he designed to

ensnare thee, and unhappy it will be

to thee for everlasting ages,

8 Then Satan replying, said to

the prince of hell, Why didst thou

express a doubt, and wast afraid to

receive that Jesus of Nazareth,

both thy adversary and mine?

9 As for me, I tempted him and

stirred up my old people the Jews

with zeal and anger against him;

10 I sharpened the spear for his

suffering; I mixed the gall and

vinegar, and commanded that he

should drink it; I prepared the

cross to crucify him, and the nails

to pierce through his hands and

feet; and now his death is near

at hand, I will bring him hither,

subject both to thee and me.

11 Then the prince of hell

answering, said, Thou saidst to me

just now, that he took away the

dead from me by force.

12 They who have been kept here

till they should live again upon

earth, were taken away hence,

not by their own power, but by

prayers made to God, and their

almighty God took them from me.

13 Who then is that Jesus of

Nazareth that by his word hath

taken away the dead from me

without prayer to God?

14 Perhaps it is the same who

took away from me Lazarus, after

he had been four days dead, and

did both stink and was rotten, and

of whom I had possession as a dead

person, yet he brought him to life

again by his power.

15 Satan answering, replied to

the prince of hell, It is the very

same person, Jesus of Nazareth.

16 Which when the prince of hell

heard, he said to him, I adjure

thee by the powers which belong

to thee and me, that thou bring

him not to me.

17 For when I heard of the power

of his word, I trembled for fear,

and all my impious company were

at the same disturbed;

18 And we were not able to detain

Lazarus, but he gave himself a

shake, and with all the signs of

malice he immediately went away

from us; and the very earth, in

which the dead body of Lazarus

was lodged, presently turned him

out alive.

19 And I know now that he is

Almighty God who could perform

such things, who is mighty in his

dominion, and mighty in his human

nature, who is the Saviour of

mankind.

20 Bring not therefore this person

hither, for he will set at liberty

all those whom I hold in prison

under unbelief, and bound with

the fetters of their sins, and will

conduct them to everlasting life.

CHAPTER XVI.

1 Christ's arrival at hell-gates;

the confusion thereupon.

19 He descends into hell.

AND while Satan and the Prince

of hell were discoursing thus

to each other, on a sudden there

was a voice as of thunder, and the

rushing of winds, saying, Lift up

your gates, O ye princes; and be

ye lift up, O everlasting gates,

and the King of Glory shall come in.

2 When the prince of hell heard

this, he said to Satan, Depart from

me, and begone out of my habitations;

if thou art a powerful warrior,

fight with the King of Glory.

But what hast thou to do with

him?

3 And he cast him forth from his

habitations.

4 And the prince said to his

impious officers, Shut the brass gates

of cruelty, and make them fast with

iron bars, and fight courageously,

lest we be taken captives.

5 But when all the company of

the saints heard this they spake

with a loud voice of anger to the

prince of hell,

6 Open thy gates, that the King

of Glory may come in.

7 And the divine prophet David

cried out, saying, Did not I, when

on earth, truly prophesy and say,

O that men would praise the Lord

for his goodness, and for his

wonderful works to the children

of men!

8 For he hath broken the gates

of brass, and cut the bars of iron

in sunder. He hath taken them

because of their iniquity, and

because of their unrighteousness

they are afflicted.

9 After this, another prophet,

namely, holy Isaiah, spake in like

manner to all the saints, Did not

I rightly prophesy to you when I

was alive on earth?

10 The dead men shall live, and

they shall rise again who are in

their graves, and they shall rejoice

who are in the earth; for the dew

which is from the Lord, shall

bring deliverance to them.

11 And I said in another place,

O grave, where is thy victory?

O death, where is thy sting?

12 When all the saints heard

these things spoken by Isaiah,

they said to the prince of hell,

Open now thy gates, and take

away thine iron bars; for thou

wilt now be bound, and have no

power.

13 Then was there a great voice,

as of the sound of thunder, saying,

Lift up your gates, O princes; and

be ye lifted up, ye gates of hell,

and the King of Glory will enter

in.

14 The prince of hell perceiving

the same voice repeated, cried out,

as though he had been ignorant,

Who is that King of Glory?

15 David replied to the prince

of hell, and said, I understand the

words of that voice, because I

spake them in his spirit. And now,

as I have before said, I say unto

thee, the Lord strong and powerful,

the Lord mighty in battle: he is

the King of Glory, and he is the

Lord in heaven and in earth.

16 He hath looked down to hear

the groans of the prisoners, and to

set loose those that are appointed

to death.

17 And now, thou filthy and

stinking prince of hell, open thy

gates, that the King of Glory may

enter in; for he is the Lord of

heaven and earth.

18 While David was saying this,

the mighty Lord appeared in the

form of a man, and enlightened

those places which had ever before

been in darkness.

19 And broke asunder the fetters

which before could not be broken;

and with his invincible power

visited those who sate in the deep

darkness by iniquity, and the shadow

of death by sin.

CHAPTER XVII.

1 Death and the devils in great horror

at Christ's coming.

13 He tramples on death, seizes the prince

of hell, and takes Adam with him to Heaven.

IMPIOUS death and her cruel

officers hearing these things,

were seized with fear in their

several kingdoms, when they saw

the clearness of the light,

2 And Christ himself on a sudden

appearing in their habitations,

they cried out therefore, and said,

We are bound by thee; thou seemest

to intend our confusion before

the Lord.

3 Who art thou, who has no signs

of corruption, but that bright

appearance which is a full proof of

thy greatness, of which yet thou

seemest to take no notice?

4 Who art thou, so powerful,

and so weak, so great and so little;

mean, and yet a soldier of the first

rank, who can command in the form

of a servant and a common soldier?

5 The king of Glory, dead and

alive, though once slain upon the

cross?

6 Who layest dead in the grave,

and art come down alive to us,

and in thy death all the creatures

trembled, and all the stars were

moved; and now hast thy liberty

among the dead, and givest

disturbance to our legions?

7 Who art thou, who dost release

the captives that were held

in chains by original sin, and

bringest them into their former

liberty?

8 Who art thou, who dost spread

so glorious and divine a light over

those who were made blind by the

darkness of sin?

9 In like manner all the legions

of devils were seized with the like

horror, and with the most submissive

fear cried out, and said,

10 Whence comes it, O thou

Jesus Christ, that thou art a man

so powerful and glorious in majesty

so bright as to have no spot, and

so pure as to have no crime? For

that lower world of earth, which

was ever till now subject to us,

and from whence we received

tribute, never sent us such a

dead man before, never sent such

presents as these to the princes of

hell.

11 Who therefore art thou, who

with such courage enterest among

our abodes, and art not only not

afraid to threaten us with the

greatest punishments, but also

endeavourest to rescue all others

from the chains in which we hold

them?

12 Perhaps thou art that Jesus,

of whom Satan just now spoke to

our prince, that by the death of

the cross thou wert about to

receive the power of death.

13 Then the King of Glory

trampling upon death, seized the

prince of hell, deprived him of all

his power, and took our earthly

father Adam with him to his glory.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1 Beelzebub, prince of hell, vehemently upbraids Satan for

persecuting Christ and bringing him to hell.

14 Christ gives Beelzebub dominion over Satan forever,

as a recompence for taking away Adam and his sons.

THEN the prince of hell took

Satan, and with great indignation

said to him, O thou prince of

destruction, author of Beelzebub's

defeat and banishment, the scorn

of God's angels and loathed by all

righteous persons! What inclined

thee to act thus?

2 Thou wouldst crucify the King

of Glory, and by his destruction,

hast made us promises of very

large advantages, but as a fool

wert ignorant of what thou wast

about.

3 For behold now that Jesus of

Nazareth, with the brightness of

his glorious divinity, puts to flight

all the horrid powers of darkness

and death;

4 He has broke down our prisons

from top to bottom, dismissed

all the captives, released all

who were bound, and all who were

wont formerly to groan under the

weight of their torments, have

now insulted us, and we are like

to be defeated by their prayers.

5 Our impious dominions are

subdued, and no part of mankind

is now left in our subjection, but

on the other hand, they all boldly

defy us;

6 Though, before, the dead never

durst behave themselves insolently

towards us, nor being prisoners,

could ever on any occasion be

merry.

7 O Satan, thou prince of all

the wicked, father of the impious

and abandoned, why wouldest thou

attempt this exploit, seeing our

prisoners were hitherto always

without the least hope of

salvation and life?

8 But now there is not one of

them does ever groan, nor is there

the least appearance of a tear in

any of their faces.

9 O prince Satan, thou great

keeper of the infernal regions,

all thy advantages which thou didst

acquire by the forbidden tree, and

the loss of Paradise, thou hast

now lost by the wood of the

cross;

10 And thy happiness all then

expired, when thou didst crucify

Jesus Christ the King of Glory.

11 Thou hast acted against thine

own interest and mine, as thou

wilt presently perceive by those

large torments and infinite

punishments which thou art

about to suffer.

12 O Satan, prince of all evil,

author of death, and source of all

pride, thou shouldest first have

inquired into the evil crimes of

Jesus of Nazareth, and then thou

wouldest have found that he was

guilty of no fault worthy of death.

13 Why didst thou venture,

without either reason or justice,

to crucify him, and hast brought

down to our regions a person

innocent and righteous, and thereby

hast lost all the sinners, impious

and unrighteous persons in the

whole world?

14 While the prince of hell was

thus speaking to Satan, the King

of Glory said to Beelzebub the

prince of hell, Satan the prince

shall be subject to thy dominions

for ever, in the room of Adam and

his righteous sons, who are mine,

CHAPTER XIX.

1 Christ takes Adam by the hand,

the rest of the saints join hands,

and they all ascend with him to Paradise.

THEN Jesus stretched forth his

hand, and said, Come to me,

all ye my saints, who were created

in my image, who were condemned

by the tree of the forbidden fruit,

and by the devil and death;

2 Live now by the wood of my

cross; the devil, the prince of this

world, is overcome, and death is

conquered,

3 Then presently all the saints

were joined together under the

hand of the most high God; and

the Lord Jesus laid hold on Adam's

hand, and said to him, Peace be

to thee, and all thy righteous

posterity, which is mine.

4 Then Adam, casting himself

at the feet of Jesus, addressed

himself to him with tears, in

humble language, and a loud voice,

saying,

5 "I will extol thee, O Lord, for

thou halt lifted me up, and hast

not made my foes to rejoice over

me. O Lord my God, I cried

unto thee, and thou hast healed

me."

6 "O Lord thou hast brought up

my soul from the grave; thou

hast kept me alive, that I should

not go down to the pit."

7 "Sing unto the Lord, all ye

saints of his, and give thanks at

the remembrance of his holiness,

for his anger endureth but for a

moment; in his favour is life."

8 In like manner all the saints,

prostrate at the feet of Jesus,

said with one voice, Thou art come,

O Redeemer of the world, and hast

actually accomplished all things,

which thou didst foretell by the

law and thy holy prophets.

9 Thou hast redeemed the living

by thy cross, and art come down

to us, that by the death of the

cross thou mightest deliver us

from hell, and by thy power from

death.

10 O Lord, as thou hast put the

ensigns of thy glory in heaven,

and hast set up the sign of thy

redemption, even thy cross on earth;

so, Lord, set the sign of the victory

of thy cross in hell, that death

may have dominion no longer.

11 Then the Lord stretching

forth his hand, made the sign of

the cross upon Adam, and upon

all his saints.

12 And taking hold of Adam by

his right hand, he ascended from

hell, and all the saints of God

followed him.

13 Then the royal prophet, David,

boldly cried, and said, O sing

unto the Lord a new song, for he

hath done marvellous things; his

right hand and his holy arm have

gotten him the victory.

14 The Lord hath made known

his salvation, his righteousness

hath he openly shewn in the sight

of the heathen.

15 And the whole multitude of

saints answered, saying, This

honour have all his saints, Amen,

Praise ye the Lord.

16 Afterwards, the prophet

Habbakuk cried out, and said,

Thou wentest forth for the salvation

of thy people, even for salvation

with thine anointed.

17 And all the saints said,

Blessed is he who cometh in the

name of the Lord; for the Lord

hath enlightened us. This is our

God for ever and ever; he shall

reign over us to everlasting ages.

Amen.

18 In like manner all the prophets

spake the sacred things of his

praise, and followed the Lord.

CHAPTER XX.

1 Christ delivers Adam to Michael the archangel.

3 They meet Enoch and Elijah in heaven,

5 and also the blessed thief, who relates

how he came to Paradise.

THEN the Lord, holding Adam

by the hand, delivered him

to Michael the archangel; and he

led them into Paradise, filled with

mercy and glory;

2 And two very ancient men

met them, and were asked by the

saints, Who are ye, who have not

yet been with us in hell, and have

had your bodies placed in Paradise?

3 One of them answering, said,

I am Enoch, who was translated

by the word of God: and this man

who is with me, is Elijah the

Tishbite, who was translated in a

fiery chariot.

4 Here we have hitherto been,

and have not tasted death, but are

now about to return at the coming

of Antichrist, being armed with

divine signs and miracles, to

engage with him in battle, and to be

slain by him at Jerusalem, and to

be taken up alive again into the

clouds, after three days and a

half.

5 And while the holy Enoch

and Elias were relating this,

behold there came another man in a

miserable figure, carrying the sign

of the cross upon his shoulders.

6 And when all the saints saw

him, they said to him, Who art

thou? For thy countenance is like

a thief's; and why dost thou carry

a cross upon thy shoulders?

7 To which he answering, said,

Ye say right, for I was a thief,

who committed all sorts of wicked.

ness upon earth.

8 And the Jews crucified me

with Jesus; and I observed the

surprising things which happened

in the creation at the crucifixion

of the Lord Jesus.

9 And I believed him to be the

Creator of all things, and the

Almighty King; and I prayed to

him, saying, Lord remember me,

when thou comest into thy kingdom.

10 He presently regarded my

supplication, and said to me,

Verily I say unto thee, this day

thou shalt be with me in Paradise.

11 And he gave me this sign of

the cross, saying, Carry this, and

go to Paradise; and if the angel

who is the guard of Paradise will

not admit thee, show him the sign

of the cross, and say unto him

Jesus Christ who is now crucified,

hath sent me hither to thee.

12 When I did this and told the

angel who is the guard of Paradise

all these things, and he heard

them, he presently opened the

gates, introduced me, and placed

me on the right hand in Paradise,

13 Saying, Stay here a little

time, till Adam, the father of all

mankind, shall enter in, with all

his sons, who are the holy and

righteous servants of Jesus Christ,

who was crucified.

14 When they heard all this

account from the thief, all the

patriarchs said with one voice,

Blessed be thou, O Almighty God,

the Father of everlasting goodness,

and the Father of mercies, who hast

shown such favour to those who were

sinners against him, and hast

brought them to the mercy of

Paradise, and hast placed them

amidst thy large and spiritual

provisions, in a spiritual and

holy life. Amen.

CHAPTER XXI.

1 Charinus and Lenthius being only allowed

three days to remain on earth,

7 deliver in their narratives, which miraculously

correspond; they vanish,

13 and Pilate records these transactions.

THESE are the divine and

sacred mysteries which we saw

and heard. We, Charinus and

Lenthius are not allowed to declare

the other mysteries of God, as the

archangel Michael ordered us,

2 Saying, ye shall go with my

brethren to Jerusalem, and shall

continue in prayers, declaring and

glorifying the resurrection of

Jesus Christ, seeing he hath raised

you from the dead at the same

time with himself.

3 And ye shall not talk with

any man, but sit as dumb persons

till the time come when the Lord

will allow you to relate the

mysteries of his divinity.

4 The archangel Michael farther

commanded us to go beyond Jordan,

to an excellent and fat country,

where there are many who rose

from the dead along with us

for the proof of the resurrection

of Christ.

5 For we have only three days

allowed us from the dead, who

arose to celebrate the passover of

our Lord with our parents, and to

bear our testimony for Christ the

Lord, and we have been baptized

in the holy river of Jordan. And

now they are not seen by any one.

6 This is as much as God allowed

us to relate to you; give ye

therefore praise and honour to

him, and repent, and he will have

mercy upon you. Peace be to you

from the Lord God Jesus Christ,

and the Saviour of us all. Amen,

Amen, Amen.

7 And after they had made an

end of writing, and had written

on two distinct pieces of paper,

Charinus gave what he wrote into the

hands of Annas, and Caiaphas, and

Gamaliel.

8 Lenthius likewise gave what

he wrote into the hands of Nicodemus

and Joseph; and immediately they

were changed into exceeding white

forms and were seen no more.

9 But what they had written

was found perfectly to agree, the

one not containing one letter more

or less than the other.

10 When all the assembly of the

Jews heard all these surprising

relations of Charinus and Lenthius,

they said to each other, Truly all

these things were wrought by

God, and blessed be the Lord Jesus

for ever and ever, Amen.

11 And they went all out with

great concern, and fear, and

trembling, and smote upon their

breasts and went away every one

to his home.

12 But immediately all these

things which were related by the

Jews in their synagogues concerning

Jesus, were presently told by Joseph

and Nicodemus to the governor.

13 And Pilate wrote down all

these transactions, and placed all

these accounts in the public records

of his hall.

CHAPTER XXII.

1 Pilate goes to the temple; calls together

the rulers, and scribes, and doctors.

2 Commands the gates to be shut;

orders the book of the Scriptures; and

causes the Jews to relate what they really

knew concerning Christ.

14 They declare that they crucified Christ

in ignorance, and that they now know him

to be the Son of God, according to the

testimony of the Scriptures; which,

after they put him to death, were examined.

AFTER these things Pilate went

to the temple of the Jews,

and called together all the rulers

and scribes, and doctors of the

law, and went with them into a

chapel of the temple.

2 And commanding that all the

gates should be shut, said to them,

I have heard that ye have a certain

large book in this temple; I desire

you, therefore, that it may be

brought before me.

3 And when the great book,

carried by four ministers of the

temple, and adorned with gold and

precious stones, was brought,

Pilate said to them all, I adjure

you by the God of your Fathers,

who made and commanded this temple

to be built, that ye conceal not the

truth from me.

4 Ye know all the things which

are written in that book; tell me

therefore now, if ye in the

Scriptures have found any thing of

that Jesus whom ye crucified, and at

what time of the world he, ought

to have come: show it me.

5 Then having sworn Annas and

Caiaphas, they commanded all the

rest who were with them to go out

of the chapel.

6 And they shut the gates of the

temple and of the chapel, and said

to Pilate, Thou hast made us to

swear, O judge, by the building of

this temple, to declare to thee that

which is true and right.

7 After we had crucified Jesus,

not knowing that he was the Son

of God, but supposing he wrought

his miracles by some magical arts,

we summoned a large assembly in

this temple.

8 And when we were deliberating

among one another about the

miracles which Jesus had wrought,

we found many witnesses of our

own country, who declared that

they had seen him alive after his

death, and that they heard him

discoursing with his disciples, and

saw him ascending into the height

of the heavens, and entering into

them;

9 And we saw two witnesses,

whose bodies Jesus raised from the

dead, who told us of many strange

things which Jesus did among the

dead, of which we have a written

account in our hands.

10 And it is our custom annually

to open this holy book before an

assembly, and to search there for

the counsel of God.

11 And we found in the first of

the seventy books, where Michael

the archangel is speaking to the

third son of Adam the first man,

an account that after five thousand

five hundred years, Christ the

most beloved son of God was to

come on earth,

12 And we further considered,

that perhaps he was the very God

of Israel who spoke to Moses,

Thou shalt make the ark of the

testimony; two cubits and a half

shall be the length thereof, and a

cubit and a half the breadth thereof,

and a cubit and a half the height

thereof.

13 By these five cubits and a

half for the building of the ark

of the Old Testament, we perceived

and knew that in five thousand

years and half (one thousand) years,

Jesus Christ was to come in the

ark or tabernacle of a body;

14 And so our Scriptures testify

that he is the Son of God, and the

Lord and King of Israel.

15 And because after his suffering,

our chief priests were surprised

at the signs which were wrought

by his means, we opened that book

to search all the generations down

to the generation of Joseph and

Mary the mother of Jesus,

supposing him to be of the

seed of David;

16 And we found the account of

the creation, and at what time he

made the heaven and the earth,

and the first man Adam, and that

from thence to the flood, were two

thousand seven hundred and forty-

eight years.

17 And from the flood to Abraham,

nine hundred and twelve.

And from Abraham to Moses, four

hundred and thirty. And from

Moses to David the King, five

hundred and ten.

18 And from David to the Babylonish

captivity five hundred years.

And from the Babylonish captivity

to the incarnation of Christ, four

hundred years.

19 The sum of all which amounts

to five thousand and half (a thousand.)

20 And so it appears, that Jesus

whom we crucified, is Jesus Christ

the Son of God, and true Almighty

God. Amen.

(In the name of the Holy Trinity,

thus end the acts of our Saviour

Jesus Christ, which the Emperor

Theodosius the Great found at

Jerusalem, in the hall of Pontius

Pilate, among the public records;

the things were acted in the

nineteenth year of Tiberius Caesar,

Emperor of the Romans, and in

the seventeenth year of the

government of Herod, the son of

Herod and of Galilee, on the

eighth of the calends of April,

which is the twenty-third day of

the month of March, in the CCIId

Olympiad, when Joseph and Caiaphas

were rulers of the Jews; being a

History written in Hebrew by

Nicodemus, of what happened after

our Saviour's crucifixion.)

REFERENCES TO THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS, FORMERLY

CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.

[Although this Gospel is, by some among the learned, supposed to have

been really written by Nicodemus, who became a disciple of Jesus Christ,

and conversed with him; others conjecture that it was a forgery towards

the close of the third century by some zealous believer, who, observing

that there had been appeals made by the Christians of the former age,

to the acts of Pilate, but that such acts could not be produced,

imagined it would be of service to Christianity to fabricate and publish

this Gospel; as it would both confirm the Christians under persecution,

and convince the Heathens of the truth of the Christian religion. The

Rev. Jeremiah Jones says, that such pious frauds were very common among

Christians even in the first three centuries; and that a forgery of this

nature, with the view above-mentioned, seems natural and probable. The

same author, in noticing that Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History,

charges the Pagans with having forged and published a book, called "The

Acts of Pilate," takes occasion to observe that the internal evidence of

this Gospel shows it was not the work of any Heathen, but that if in the

latter end of the third century we find it in use among Christians (as

it was then certainly in some churches), and about the same time find a

forgery of the Heathens under the same title, it seems exceedingly

probable that some Christians, at that time, should publish such a piece

as this, in order partly to confront the spurious one of the Pagans, and

partly to support those appeals which had been made by former Christians

to the Acts of Pilate; and Mr. Jones says, he thinks so more particularly

as we have innumerable instances of forgeries by the faithful in the

primitive ages, grounded on less plausible reasons. Whether it be

canonical or not, it is of very great antiquity, and is appealed to by

several of the ancient Christians. The present translation is made from

the Gospel, published by Grynaeus in the Orthodoxographa, vol. i, tom,

ii, p. 613.]

Notwithstanding the diversity of opinions here alluded to, the majority

of the learned believe that the internal evidence of the authenticity of

this Gospel is manifested in the correct details of that period of

Christ's life on which it treats, while it far excels the canonical

Evangelists narrative of the trial of our Saviour before Pilate, with

more minute particulars of persons, evidence, circumstance, &c.

THE EPISTLES OF

JESUS CHRIST & ABGARUS KING OF EDESSA.

CHAPTER I.

A copy of a letter written by King Abgarus to Jesus;

and sent to him by Ananius, his footman, to Jerusalem,

5 inviting him to Edessa.

ABGARUS, king of Edessa, to

Jesus the good Saviour, who

appears at Jerusalem, greeting.

2 I have been informed concerning

you and your cures, which are

performed without the use of

medicines and herbs.

3 For it is reported, that you

cause the blind to see, the lame to

walk, do both cleanse lepers, and

cast out unclean spirits and devils,

and restore them to health who have

been long diseased; and raiseth up

the dead;

4 All which when I heard, I was

persuaded of one of these two,

namely, either that you are God

himself descended from heaven;

who do these things, or the Son

of God.

5 On this account therefore I

have written to you, earnestly to

desire you would take the trouble

of a journey hither, and cure a

disease which I am under.

6 For I hear the Jews ridicule

you and, intend you mischief.

7 My city is indeed small, but

neat, and large enough for us

both.

CHAPTER II.

The answer of Jesus by Ananias the footman

to Abgarus the king,

3 declining to visit Edessa.

ABGARUS, you are happy,

forasmuch as you have

believed on me, whom you

have not seen.

2 For it is written concerning

me, that those who have seen me

should not believe on me, that

they who have not seen might

believe and live.

3 As to that part of your letter,

which relates to my giving you a

visit, I must inform you, that I

must fulfil all the ends of my

mission in this country, and after

that be received up again to him

who sent me.

4 But after my ascension I will

send one of my disciples, who will

cure your disease, and give life to

you, and all that are with you.

REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLES OF JESUS CHRIST AND

ABGARUS KING OF EDESSA.

[The first writer who makes any mention of the Epistles that passed

between Jesus Christ and Abgarus, is Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in

Palestine, who flourished in the early part of the fourth century. For

their genuineness, he appeals to the public registers and records of the

City of Edessa in Mesopotamia, where Abgarus reigned, and where he

affirms that he found them written in the Syriac language. He published a

Greek translation of them, in his Ecclesiastical History. The learned

world has been much divided on this subject; but, notwithstanding the

erudite Grabe, with Archbishop Cave, Dr, Parker, and other divines, have

strenuously contended for their admission into the canon of Scripture,

they are deemed apocryphal. The Rev. Jeremiah Jones observes, that the

common people in England have this Epistle in their houses in many

places, fixed in a frame, with the picture of Christ before it; and that

they generally, with much honesty and devotion, regard it as the word of

God, and the genuine Epistle of Christ.]

THE EPISTLE OF

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE LAODICEANS.

1 He salutes the brethren;

3 exhorts them to persevere in good works,

4 and not to be moved by vain speaking.

6 Rejoices in his bonds,

10 desires them to live in the fear of the Lord.

PAUL an Apostle, not of men,

neither by man, but by Jesus

Christ, to the brethren which are

at Laodicea.

2 Grace be to you, and peace

from God the Father and our Lord

Jesus Christ.

3 I thank Christ in every prayer

of mine, that ye may continue and

persevere in good works, looking

for that which is promised in the

day of judgment.

4 Let not the vain speeches of

any trouble you, who pervert the

truth, that they may draw you

aside from the truth of the Gospel

which I have preached.

5 And now may God grant, that

my converts may attain to a

perfect knowledge of the truth

of the Gospel, be beneficent,

and doing good works which

accompany salvation.

6 And now my bonds, which I

suffer in Christ, are manifest,

in which I rejoice and am glad.

For I know that this shall

turn to my salvation for ever,

which shall be through your

prayer, and the supply of the

Holy Spirit.

8 Whether I live or die, to live

shall be a life to Christ, to die

will be joy.

9 And our Lord will grant us

his mercy, that ye may have the

same love, and be like-minded.

10 Wherefore, my beloved, as

ye have heard of the coming of

the Lord, so think and act in fear,

and it shall be to you life eternal;

11 For it is God, who worketh

in you:

12 And do all things without

sin.

13 And what is best, my beloved

rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ

and avoid all filthy lucre.

14 Let all your requests be made

known to God, and be steady in

the doctrine of Christ.

15 And whatsoever things are

sound and true, and of good report,

and chaste, and just, and lovely,

these things do.

16 Those things which ye have

heard, and received, think on these

things, and peace shall be with

you.

17 All the saints salute you.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

19 Cause this Epistle to be read

to the Colossians, and the Epistle

of the Colossians to be read among

you.

REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE

TO THE LAODICEANS.

[This Epistle has been highly esteemed by several learned men of the

church of Rome and others. The Quakers have printed a translation, and

plead for it, as the reader may see, by consulting Poole's Annotation on

Col. vi. 16. Sixtus Senensis mentions two MSS., the one in the Sorbonne

Library at Paris, which is a very ancient copy, and the other in the

Library of Joannes a Viridario, at Padua, which he transcribed and

published; and which is the authority for the following translation.

There is a very old translation of this Epistle in the British Museum,

among the Harleian MSS., Cod. 1212.]

THE EPISTLES OF

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO SENECA, WITH

SENECA'S TO PAUL.

CHAPTER I.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

I SUPPOSE, Paul, you have been

informed of that conversation,

which passed yesterday between

me and my Lucilius, concerning

hypocrisy and other subjects; for

there were some of your disciples

in company with us;

2 For when we were retired into

the Sallustian gardens, through

which they were also passing, and

would have gone another way, by

our persuasion they joined

company with us.

3 I desire you to believe, that

we much wish for your conversation;

4 We were much delighted with

your book of many Epistles, which

you have written to some cities

and chief towns of provinces, and

contain wonderful instructions for

moral conduct:

5 Such sentiments, as I suppose

you were not the author of, but

only the instrument of conveying,

though sometimes both the author

and the instrument,

6 For such is the sublimity of

those, doctrines, and their grandeur,

that I suppose the age of a man

is scarce sufficient to be instructed

and perfected in the knowledge of

them. I wish your welfare, my brother.

Farewell.

CHAPTER II.

PAUL to SENECA Greeting.

I RECEIVED your letter yesterday

with pleasure, to which I could

immediately have written an answer,

had the young man been at home,

whom I intended to have sent to you:

2 For you know when, and by whom,

at what seasons, and to whom I must

deliver everything which I send.

3 I desire therefore you would

not charge me with negligence, if

I wait for a proper person.

4 I reckon myself very happy in

having the judgment of so valuable

a person, that you are delighted

with my Epistles:

5 For you would not be esteemed

a censor, a philosopher, or be the

tutor of so great a prince, and a

master of everything, if you were

not sincere. I wish you a lasting

prosperity.

CHAPTER III.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

I HAVE completed some volumes

and divided them into their

proper parts.

2 I am determined to read them

to Caesar, and if any favourable

opportunity happens, you also

shall be present, when they are

read;

3 But if that cannot be, I will

appoint and give you notice of a

day, when we will together read

over the performance.

4 I had determined, if I could

with safety, first to have your

opinion of it, before I published

it to Caesar, that you might be

convinced of my affection to you.

Farewell, dearest Paul.

CHAP. IV.

PAUL to SENECA Greeting.

AS often as I read your letters,

I imagine you present with

me; nor indeed do I think any

other, than that you are always

with us.

2 As soon therefore as you begin

to come, we shall presently see

each other. I wish you all

prosperity.

CHAPTER V.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

WE are very much concerned

at your too long absence

from us.

2 What is it, or what affairs are

they, which obstructs your coming?

3 If you fear the anger of

Caesar because you have abandoned

your former religion, and made

proselytes also of others, you

have this to plead, that your

acting thus proceeded not from

inconstancy, but judgment.

Farewell.

CHAPTER VI.

PAUL to SENECA and LUCILIUS

Greeting.

CONCERNING those things,

about which ye wrote to me,

it is not proper for me to mention

anything in writing with pen and

ink: the one of which leaves

marks, and the other evidently

declares things.

2 Especially since I know that

there are near you, as well as me,

those who will understand my

meaning.

3 Deference is to be paid to

all men, and so much the more,

as they are more likely to take

occasions of quarrelling.

4 And if we show a submissive

temper, we shall overcome

effectually in all points, if so

be they are, who are capable of

seeing and acknowledging themselves

to have been in the wrong. Farewell.

CHAPTER VII.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

I PROFESS myself extremely

pleased with the reading your

letters to the Galatians,

Corinthians, and people of Achaia.

2 For the Holy Ghost has in

them by you delivered those

sentiments which are very lofty,

sublime, deserving of all respect,

and beyond your own invention.

3 I could wish therefore, that

when you are writing things so

extraordinary, there might not

be wanting an elegancy of speech

agreeable to their majesty.

4 And I must own, my brother,

that I may not at once dishonestly

conceal anything from you, and be

unfaithful to my own conscience,

that the emperor is extremely

pleased with the sentiments of

your Epistles;

5 For when he heard the beginning

of them read, he declared, that he

was surprised to find such notions

in a person, who had not had a

regular education.

6 To which I replied, That the

Gods sometimes made use of mean

(innocent) persons to speak by, and

gave him an instance of this in a

mean countryman named Vatienus,

who, when he was in the country

of Reate, had two men appeared

to him, called Castor and Pollux,

and received a revelation from the

gods. Farewell.

CHAPTER VIII.

PAUL to SENECA Greeting.

ALTHOUGH I know the emperor is

both an admirer and favourer of

our religion, yet give me leave

to advise you against your suffering

any injury (by showing favour to us).

2 I think indeed you ventured

upon a very dangerous attempt,

when you would declare (to the

emperor) that which is so very

contrary to his religion, and way

of worship; seeing he is a

worshipper of the heathen gods.

3 I know not what you particularly

had in view, when you told him of

this; but I suppose you did it out

of too great respect for me.

4 But I desire that for the future

you would not do so; for you had

need be careful, lest by showing

your affection for me, you should

offend your master:

5 His anger indeed will do us no

harm, if he continue a heathen;

nor will his not being angry be

of any service to us:

6 And if the empress act worthy

of her character, she will not be

angry; but if she act as a woman,

she will be affronted. Farewell.

CHAPTER IX.

ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

KNOW that my letter, wherein

I acquainted you, that I had

read to the Emperor your Epistles,

does not so much affect you as the

nature of the things (contained

in them.)

2 Which do so powerfully divert

men's minds from their former

manners and practices, that I have

always been surprised, and have

been fully convinced of it by many

arguments heretofore.

3 Let us therefore begin afresh;

and if any thing heretofore has

been imprudently acted, do you

forgive.

4 I have sent you a book decopia

verborum. Farewell, dearest Paul.

CHAPTER X.

PAUL to SENECA Greeting.

AS often as I write to you,

and place my name before yours,

I do a thing both disagreeable

to myself, and contrary to our

religion:

2 For I ought, as I have often

declared, to become all things to

all men, and to have that regard

to your quality, which the Roman

law has honoured all senators with;

namely, to put my name last in the

(inscription of the) Epistle, that

I may not at length with uneasiness

and shame be obliged to do that

which it was always my inclination

to do. Farewell, most respected

master. Dated the fifth of the

calends of July, in the fourth

Consulship of Nero, and Messala.

CHAPTER XI.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

ALL happiness to you,

my dearest Paul.

2 If a person so great, and

every way agreeable as you are,

become not only a common, but

a most intimate friend to me,

how happy will be the case of

Seneca!

3 You therefore, who are so

eminent, and so far exalted above

all, even the greatest, do not think

yourself unfit to be first named in

the inscription of an Epistle;

4 Lest I should suspect you intend

not so much to try me, as to banter

me; for you know yourself to be a

Roman citizen.

5 And I could wish to be in that

circumstance or station which you

are, and that you were in the same

that I am. Farewell, dearest Paul.

Dated the tenth of the calends of

April, in the Consulship of Aprianus

and Capito.

CHAPTER XII.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

ALL happiness to you, my dearest

Paul. Do you not suppose I am

extremely concerned and grieved

that your innocence should bring

you into sufferings?

2 And that all the people should

suppose you (Christians) so criminal,

and imagine all the misfortunes

that happen to the city, to be

caused by you?

3 But let us bear the charge

with a patient temper, appealing

for our innocence to the court

above, which is the only one our

hard fortune will allow us to address

to, till at length our misfortunes

shall end in unalterable happiness.

4 Former ages have produced

(tyrants) Alexander the son of

Philip, and Dionysius; ours also

has produced Caius Caesar; whose

inclinations were their only laws.

5 As to the frequent burnings

of the city of Rome, the cause is

manifest; and if a person in my

mean circumstances might be allowed

to speak, and one might declare

these dark things without danger,

every one should see the whole of

the matter.

6 The Christians and Jews are

indeed commonly punished for the

crime of burning the city; but that

impious miscreant, who delights

in murders and butcheries, and

disguises his villainies with lies,

is appointed to, or reserved till,

his proper time.

7 And as the life of every

excellent person is now sacrificed

instead of that one person (who is

the author of the mischief), so this

one shall be sacrificed for many,

and he shall be devoted to be burnt

with fire instead of all.

8 One hundred and thirty-two houses,

and four whole squares (or islands)

were burnt down in six days: the

seventh put an end to the burning.

I wish you all happiness.

9 Dated the fifth of the calends

of April, in the Consulship of

Frigius and Bassus.

CHAPTER XIII.

ANNAEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting.

ALL happiness to you, my dearest

Paul.

2 You have written many volumes in

an allegorical and mystical style,

and therefore such mighty matters

and business being committed to you,

require not to be set off with any

rhetorical flourishes of speech,

but only with some proper elegance.

3 I remember you often said,

that many by affecting such a style

do injury to their subjects, and

lose the force of the matters they

treat of.

4 But in this I desire you to

regard me, namely, to have respect

to true Latin, and to choose just

words, that so you may the better

manage the noble trust which is

reposed in you.

5 Farewell. Dated the fifth of

the nones of July, Leo and Savinus

Consuls.

CHAPTER XIV.

PAUL to SENECA Greeting.

YOUR serious consideration is

requited with those discoveries,

which the Divine Being has

granted but to few;

2 I am thereby assured that

I sow the most strong seed in a

fertile soil, not anything material,

which is subject to corruption, but

the durable word of God, which

shall increase and bring forth fruit

to eternity.

3 That which by your wisdom you

have attained to, shall abide

without decay for ever.

4 Believe that you ought to

avoid the superstitions of Jews

and Gentiles.

5 The things which you have in

some measure arrived to, prudently

make known to the emperor, his

family, and to faithful friends;

6 And though your sentiments

will seem disagreeable, and not

be comprehended by them, seeing

most of them will not regard your

discourses, yet the Word of God

once infused into them, will at

length make them become new men,

aspiring towards God.

7 Farewell Seneca, who art

most dear to us. Dated on the

calends of August, in the

Consulship of Leo and Savinus.

REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE

TO SENECA, WITH SENECA'S TO PAUL.

[Several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of

these Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity. Salmeron cites

them to prove that Seneca was one of Caesar's household, referred to by

Paul, Philip iv. 22, as saluting the brethren at Philippi. In Jerome's

enumeration of illustrious men, he places Seneca, on account of these

Epistles, amongst the ecclesiastical and holy writers of the Christian

Church. Sixtus Senensis has published them in his Bibliotheque, p 89, 90;

and it is from thence that the present translation is made. Baronius,

Bellarmine, Dr. Cave, Spanheim, and others, contend that they are not

genuine.]

THE ACTS OF ST. PAUL AND THECLA.

The martyrdom of the holy and glorious

first Martyr and Apostle Thecla.

CHAPTER I.

1 Demas and Hermogenes become Paul's companions.

4 Paul visits Onesiphorus.

8 Invited by Demos and Hermogenes.

11 Preaches to the household of Onesiphorus.

12 His sermon.

WHEN Paul went up to Iconium,

after his flight from Antioch,

Demas and Hermogenes became

his companions, who were then

full of hypocrisy.

2 But Paul looking only at the

goodness of God, did them no

harm, but loved them greatly.

3 Accordingly he endeavoured

to make agreeable to them all the

oracles and doctrines of Christ,

and the design of the Gospel of

God's well-beloved son; instructing

them in the knowledge of Christ,

as it was revealed to him.

4 And a certain man named

Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul

was come to Iconium, went out

speedily to meet him, together

with his wife Lectra, and his sons

Simmia and Zeno, to invite him to

their house.

5 For Titus had given them a

description of Paul's personage,

they as yet not knowing him in

person, but only being acquainted

with his character.

6 They went in the king's highway

to Lystra, and stood there waiting

for him, comparing all who passed

by with that description which

Titus had given them.

7 At length they saw a man coming

(namely Paul), of a low stature,

bald on the head; with crooked thighs,

handsome legs, hollow-eyes; and a

crooked nose; full of grace, for

sometimes he appeared as a man,

sometimes he had the countenance

of an angel. And Paul saw Onesiphorus,

and was glad.

8 And Onesiphorus said:

Hail, thou servant of the blessed

God. Paul replied, The grace of

God be with thee and thy family.

9 But Denies and Hermogenes

were moved with envy, and, under

a show of great religion, Demas

said, And are not we also servants

of the blessed God? Why didst

thou not salute us?

10 Onesiphorus replied, Because

I have not perceived in you the

fruits of righteousness; nevertheless,

if ye are of that sort, ye shall be

welcome to my house also.

11 Then Paul went into the house

of Onesiphorus, and there was great

joy among the family on that account:

and they employed themselves in prayer,

breaking of bread, and hearing Paul

preach the word of God concerning

temperance and the resurrection,

in the following manner:

12 Blessed are the pure in

heart; for they shall see God.

13 Blessed are they who keep

their flesh undefiled (or pure);

for they shall be the temple of God.

14 Blessed are the temperate

(or chaste); for God will reveal

himself to them.

15 Blessed are they who abandon

their worldly enjoyments; for they

shall be accepted of God.

16 Blessed are they who have

wives, as though they had them

not; for they shall be made angels

of God.

17 Blessed are they who tremble

at the word of God; for they

shall be comforted.

18 Blessed are they who keep

their baptism pure; for they shall

find peace with the Father, Son,

and Holy Ghost.

19 Blessed are they who pursue

the wisdom or doctrine of Jesus

Christ; for they shall be called

the sons of the Most High.

20 Blessed are they who observe

the instructions of Jesus Christ;

for they shall dwell in eternal

light.

21 Blessed are they, who for the

love of Christ abandon the glories

of the world, for they shall judge

angels, and be placed at the right

hand of Christ, and shall not suffer

the bitterness of the last judgment.

22 Blessed are the bodies and souls

of virgins; for they are acceptable

to God, and shall not lose the reward

of their virginity; for the word of

their (heavenly) Father shall prove

effectual to their salvation in the

day of his Son, and they shall enjoy

rest for evermore.

CHAPTER II.

1 Thecla listens anxiously to Paul's preaching.

5 Thamyris, her admirer, concerts with Theoclia

her mother to dissuade her,

12 in vain.

14 Demas and Hermogenes vilify Paul to Thamyris.

WHILE Paul was preaching

this sermon in the church

which was in the house of

Onesiphorus, a certain virgin

named Thecla (whose mother's

name was Theoclia, and who was

betrothed to a man named Thamyris)

sat at a certain window in her house.

2 From whence, by the advantage

of a window in the house where

Paul was, she both night and day

heard Paul's sermons concerning

God, concerning charity, concerning

faith in Christ, and concerning

prayer;

3 Nor would she depart from

the window, till with exceeding

joy she was subdued to the

doctrines of faith.

4 At length, when she saw many

women and virgins going into

Paul, she earnestly desired that

she might be thought worthy to

appear in his presence, and hear

the word of Christ; for she had

not yet seen Paul's person, but only

heard his sermons, and that alone.

5 But when she would not be

prevailed upon to depart from the

window, her mother sent to Thamyris,

who came with the greatest pleasure,

as hoping now, to marry her.

Accordingly he said to Theoclia,

Where is my Thecla?

6 Theoclia replied, Thamyris,

I have something very strange to

tell you; for Thecla, for the space

of three days, will not move from

the window, not so much as to eat

or drink, but is so intent in

hearing the artful and delusive

discourses of a certain foreigner,

that I perfectly wonder Thamyris,

that a young woman of her known

modesty, will suffer herself to be

so prevailed upon.

7 For that man has disturbed

the whole city of Iconium, and

even your Thecla, among others.

All the women and young men

flock to him to receive his

doctrine; who, besides all the

rest, tells them that there is

but one God, who alone is to be

worshipped, and that we ought

to live in chastity.

8 Notwithstanding this, my

daughter Thecla, like a spider's

web fastened to the window, is

captivated, by the discourses of

Paul, and attends' upon them with

prodigious eagerness, and vast

delight; and thus, by attending

on what he says, the young woman

is seduced. Now then do you go,

and speak to her, for she is

betrothed to you.

9 Accordingly Thamyris went,

and having saluted her, and taking

care not to surprise her, he said,

Thecla, my spouse, why sittest

thou in this melancholy posture?

What strange impressions are

made upon thee? Turn to Thamyris,

and blush.

10 Her mother also spake to her

after the same manner, and said,

Child, why dost thou sit so

melancholy, and, like one

astonished, makest no reply?

11 Then they wept exceedingly,

Thamyris, that he had lost his

spouse; Theoclia, that she had

lost her daughter; and the maids,

that they had lost their mistress;

and there was an universal

mourning in the family.

12 But all these things made no

impression upon Thecla, so as to

incline her so much as to turn to

them, and take notice of them;

for she still regarded the

discourses of Paul.

13 Then Thamyris ran forth into

the street to observe who they

were that went in to Paul, and

came out from him; and he saw

two men engaged in a very warm

dispute, and said to them;

14 Sirs, what business have

you here? and who is that man

within, belonging to you, who

deludes the minds of men, both

young men and virgins, persuading

them, that they ought not to marry,

but continue as they are?

15 I promise to give you a

considerable sum, if ye will give

me a just account of him; for I am

the chief person of this city.

16 Demas and Hermogenes replied,

We cannot so exactly tell who he

is; but this we know, that he

deprives young men of their

(intended) wives, and virgins of

their (intended) husbands, by

teaching, There can be no future

resurrection, unless ye continue

in chastity, and do not defile your

flesh.

CHAPTER III.

1 They betray Paul.

7 Thamyris arrests him with officers.

THEN said Thamyris, Come along

with me to my house, and refresh

yourselves. So they went to a very

splendid entertainment, where

there was wine in abundance,

and very rich provision.

2 They were brought to a table

richly spread, and made to drink

plentifully by Thamyris, on account

of the love he had for Thecla

and his desire to marry her.

3 Then Thamyris said, I desire

ye would inform me what the

doctrines of this Paul are, that

I may understand them; for I am

under no small concern about Thecla,

seeing she so delights in that

stranger's discourses, that I am in

danger of losing my intended wife.

4 Then Demas and Hermogenes

answered both together, and said,

Let him be brought before the

governor Castellius, as one who

endeavours to persuade the people

into the new religion of the

Christians, and he, according to

the order of Caesar, will put him

to death, by which means you will

obtain your wife;

5 While we at the same time will

teach her, that the resurrection

which he speaks of is already come,

and consists in our having children;

and that we then arose again,

when we came to the knowledge of God.

6 Thamyris having this account

from them, was filled with hot

resentment:

7 And rising early in the morning

he went to the house of Onesiphorus,

attended by the magistrates, the

Jailor, and a great multitude of

people with staves, and said to Paul;

8 Thou hast perverted the city

of Iconium, and among the rest,

Thecla, who is betrothed to me,

so that now she will not marry

me. Thou shalt therefore go with

us to the governor Castellius.

9 And all the multitude cried

out, Away with this imposter, for

he has perverted the minds of our

wives, and all the people hearken

to him.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Paul accused before the governor by Thamyris.

5 Defends himself.

9 Is committed to prison,

10 and visited by Thecla.

THEN Thamyris standing before

the governor's judgment-seat,

spake with a loud voice in the

following manner.

2 O governor, I know not whence

this man cometh; but he is one

who teaches that matrimony is

unlawful. Command him therefore

to declare before you for what

reason he publishes such doctrines.

3 While he was saying thus,

Demas and Hermogenes (whispered to

Thamyris, and) said; Say that he

is a Christian, and he will

presently be put to death.

4 But the governor was more

deliberate, and calling to Paul,

he said, Who art thou? What dost

thou teach? They seem to lay

gross crimes to thy charge.

5 Paul then spake with a loud

voice, saying, As I am now called

to give an account, O governor,

of my doctrines, I desire your

audience.

6 That God, who is a God of

vengeance, and who strands in need

of nothing but the salvation of his

creatures, has sent me to reclaim

them from their wickedness, and

corruptions; from all (sinful)

pleasures, and from death; and to

persuade them to sin no more.

7 On this account, God sent his

Son Jesus Christ, whom I preach,

and in whom I instruct men to

place their hopes, as that person

who only had such compassion on

the deluded world, that it might

not, O governor, be condemned,

but have faith, the fear of God,

the knowledge of religion, and the

love of truth.

8 So that if I only teach those

things which I have received by

revelation from God, where is my

crime?

9 When the governor heard this,

he ordered Paul to be bound,

and to be put in prison, till he

should be more at leisure to hear

him more fully.

10 But in the night, Thecla

taking off her ear-rings, gave them

to the turnkey of the prison, who

then opened the door to her, and

let her in;

11 And when she made a present

of a silver looking-glass to the

jailor, was allowed to go into the

room where Paul was; then she set

down at his feet, and heard from

him the great things of God.

12 And as she perceived Paul

not to be afraid of suffering,

but that by divine assistance

he behaved himself with courage,

her faith so far increased that

she kissed his chains.

CHAPTER V.

1 Thecla sought and found by her relations.

4 Brought with Paul before the governor.

9 Ordered to be burnt, and Paul to be whipt.

15 Thecla miraculously saved.

AT length Thecla was missed

and sought for by the family

and by Thamyris in every street,

as though she had been lost; till

one of the porter's fellow-servants

told them, that she had gone out

in the night-time.

2 Then they examined the porter,

and he told them, that she was

gone to the prison to the strange

man.

3 They went therefore according

to his direction, and there found

her; and when they came out, they

got a mob together, and went and

told the governor all that had

happened.

4 Upon which he ordered Paul

to be brought before his judgment

seat.

5 Thecla in the mean time lay

wallowing on the ground in the

prison, in that same place where

Paul had sat to teach her; upon

which the governor also ordered

her to be brought before his

judgment-seat; which summons she

received with joy, and went.

6 When Paul was brought thither,

the mob with more vehemence cried

out, He is a magician, let him die.

7 Nevertheless the governor

attended with pleasure upon Paul's

discourses of the holy works of

Christ; and, after a council called,

he summoned Thecla, and said to

her, Why do you not, according

to the law of the Iconians, marry

Thamyris?

8 She stood still, with her eyes

fixed upon Paul; and finding she

made no reply, Theoclia, her

mother cried out saying, Let the

unjust creature be burnt; let her

be burnt in the midst of the theatre,

for refusing Thamyris, that all

women may learn from her to avoid

such practices.

9 Then the governor was exceedingly

concerned, and ordered Paul to be

whipt out of the city, and Thecla

to be burnt.

10 So the governor arose, and went

immediately into the theatre; and

all the people went forth to see

the dismal sight.

11 But Thecla, just as a lamb in

the wilderness looks every way to

see his shepherd, looked around

for Paul;

12 And as she was looking upon

the multitude, she saw the Lord

Jesus in the likeness of Paul, and

said to herself, Paul is come to see

me in my distressed circumstances.

And she fixed her eyes upon him;

but he instantly ascended up to

heaven, while she looked on him.

13 Then the young men and women

brought wood and straw for the

burning of Thecla; who being brought

naked to the stake, extorted tears

from the governor, with surprise

beholding the greatness of her beauty.

14 And when they had placed

the wood in order, the people

commanded her to go upon it; which

she did, first making the sign of

the cross.

15 Then the people set fire to

the pile; though the flame was

exceeding large, it did not touch

her; for God took compassion on

her, and caused a great eruption

from the earth beneath, and a

cloud from above to pour down

great quantities of rain and hail;

16 Insomuch that by the rupture

of the earth, very many were

in great danger, and some were

killed, the fire was extinguished,

and Thecla preserved.

CHAPTER VI.

1 Paul with Onesiphorus in a cave.

7 Thecla discovers Paul;

12 proffers to follow him:

13 he exhorts her not for fear of fornication.

IN the mean time Paul, together

with Onesiphorus, his wife and

children, was keeping a fast in a

certain cave, which was in the

road from Iconium to Daphne.

2 And when they had fasted for

several days, the children said to

Paul, Father, we are hungry, and

have not wherewithal to buy bread;

for Onesiphorus had left all his

substance to follow Paul with his

family.

3 Then Paul, taking off his coat,

said to the boy, Go, child, and buy

bread, and bring it hither.

4 But while the boy was buying

the bread, he saw his neighbour

Thecla, and was surprised, and

said to her, Thecla, where are you

going?

5 She replied, I am in pursuit

of Paul, having been delivered

from the flames.

6 The boy then said, I will bring

you to him, for he is under great

concern on your account, and has

been in prayer and fasting these

six days.

7 When Thecla came to the cave,

she found Paul upon his knees

praying and saying, O holy Father,

O Lord Jesus Christ, grant that

the fire may not touch Thecla;

but be her helper, for she is

thy servant.

8 Thecla then standing behind

him, cried out in the following

words: O sovereign Lord Creator

of heaven and earth, the Father of

thy beloved and holy Son, I praise

thee that thou hast preserved me

from the fire, to see Paul again.

9 Paul then arose, and when he

saw her, said, O God, who searchest

the heart, Father of my Lord Jesus

Christ, I praise thee that thou hast

answered my prayer.

10 And there prevailed among them

in the cave an entire affection to

each other; Paul, Onesiphorus,

and all that were with them being

filled with joy.

11 They had five loaves, some

herbs and water, and they solaced

each other in reflections upon the

holy works of Christ.

12 Then said Thecla to Paul,

If you be pleased with it, I will

follow you whithersoever you go.

13 He replied to her, Persons

are now much given to fornication,

and you being handsome, I am

afraid lest you should meet with

greater temptation than the former,

and should Not withstand, but be

overcome by it.

14 Thecla replied, Grant me

only the seal of Christ, and no

temptation shall affect me.

15 Paul answered, Thecla, wait

with patience, and you shall

receive the gift of Christ.

CHAPTER VII.

1 Paul and Thecla go to Antioch.

2 Alexander, a magistrate, falls in love with Thecla:

4 kisses her by force:

5 she resists him:

6 is carried before the governor, and condemned

to be thrown to wild beasts.

THEN Paul sent back Onesiphorus

and his family to their own home,

and taking Thecla along with him,

went for Antioch;

2 And as soon as they came in.

to the city, a certain Syrian,

named Alexander, a magistrate in

the city, who had done many

considerable services for the city

during his magistracy, saw Thecla,

and fell in love with her, and

endeavoured by many rich presents

to engage Paul in his interest.

3 But Paul told him, I know not

the woman of whom you speak, nor

does she belong to me.

4 But he being a person of great

power in, Antioch, seized her in

the street and kissed her: which

Thecla would not bear, but looking

about for Paul, cried out in a

distressed loud tone, Force me not,

who am a stranger; force me not,

who am a servant of God; I am

one of the principal persons of

Iconium, and was obliged to leave

that city because I would not be

married to Thamyris.

5 Then she laid hold on Alexander,

tore his coat, and took his crown

off his head, and made him appear

ridiculous before all the people.

6 But Alexander, partly as he

loved her, and partly being ashamed

of what had been done, led her to

the governor, and upon her confession

of what she had done, he condemned

her to be thrown among the beasts.

CHAPTER VIII.

2 Thecla entertained by Trifina;

3 brought out to the wild beasts;

a she-lion licks her feet.

5 Trifina upon a vision of her deceased

daughter, adopts Thecla,

11 who is taken to the amphitheatre again.

WHICH when the people saw, they

said: The judgments passed in this

city are unjust. But Thecla desired

the favour of the governor, that

her chastity might not be attacked,

but preserved till she should be

cast to the beasts.

2 The governor then inquired,

Who would entertain her; upon

which a certain very rich widow,

named Trifina, whose daughter

was lately dead, desired that she

might have the keeping of her;

and she began to treat her in her

house as her own daughter.

3 At length a day came, when

the beasts were to be brought forth

to be seen; and Thecla was brought

to the amphitheatre, and put into

a den in which was an exceeding

fierce she-lion, in the presence of

a multitude of spectators.

4 Trifina; without any surprise,

accompanied Thecla, and the

she-lion licked the feet of Thecla.

The title written which denoted

her crime, was Sacrilege. Then

the women cried out, O God, the

judgments of this city are

unrighteous.

5 After the beasts had been

shown, Trifina took Thecla home

with her, and they went to bed;

and behold, the daughter of Trifina,

who was dead, appeared to her

mother, and said; Mother, let the

young woman, Thecla, be reputed

by you as your daughter in my

stead; and desire her that she

should pray for me, that I may be

translated to a state of happiness.

6 Upon which Trifina, with a

mournful air, said, My daughter

Falconilla has appeared to me, and

ordered me to receive you in her

room; wherefore I desire, Thecla,

that you would pray for my daughter,

that she may be translated into

a state of happiness, and to life

eternal.

7 When Thecla heard this, she

immediately prayed to the Lord,

and said: O Lord God of heaven and

earth, Jesus Christ, thou Son of

the Most High, grant that her

daughter Falconilla may live forever.

Trifina hearing this, groaned again,

and said: O unrighteous judgments!

O unreasonable wickedness! that

such a creature should (again)

be cast to the beasts!

8 On the morrow, at break of day,

Alexander came to Trifina's house,

and said: The governor and the

people are waiting; bring the

criminal forth.

9 But Trifina ran in so violently

upon him, that he was affrighted,

and ran away. Trifina was one of

the royal family; and she thus

expressed her sorrow, and said;

Alas! I have trouble in my house

on two accounts, and there is no

one who will relieve me, either

under the loss of my daughter, or

my being unable to save Thecla.

But now, O Lord God, be thou the

helper of Thecla thy servant.

10 While she was thus engaged.

the governor sent one of his own

officers to bring Thecla. Trifina

took her by the hand, and, going

with her, said: I went with

Falconilla to her grave, and now

must go with Thecla to the beasts.

11 When Thecla heard this, she

weeping prayed, and said: O Lord

God, whom I have made my confidence

and refuge, reward Trifina for her

compassion to me, and preserving

my chastity.

12 Upon this there was a great

noise in the amphitheatre; the

beasts roared, and the people

cried out, Bring in the criminal.

13 But the women cried out,

and said: Let the whole city

suffer for such crimes; and

order all of us, O governor,

to the same punishment. O unjust

judgment! O cruel sight!

14 Others said, Let the whole

city be destroyed for this vile

action. Kill us all, O governor.

O cruel sight! O unrighteous

judgment.

CHAPTER IX.

1 Thecla thrown naked to the wild beasts;

2 but they all refuse to attack her.

8 She baptizes herself in a pit of water.

10 Other wild beasts refuse to injure her.

11 Tied to wild bulls.

13 Miraculously saved.

21. Released.

24 Entertained by Trifina,

THEN Thecla was taken out of

the hand of Trifina, stripped

naked, had a girdle put on, and

thrown into the place appointed

for fighting with the beasts: and

the lions and the bears were let

loose upon her.

2 But a she-lion, which was of

all the most fierce, ran to Thecla,

and fell down at her feet. Upon

which the multitude of women

shouted aloud.

3 Then a she-bear ran fiercely

towards her, but the she lion met

the bear, and tore it in pieces.

4 Again a he-lion, who had been

wont to devour men, and which

belonged to Alexander, ran towards

her; but the she-lion encountered

the he-lion, and they killed each

other.

5 Then the women were under

a greater concern, because the

she-lion, which had helped Thecla,

was dead.

6 Afterwards they brought out

many other wild beasts; but Thecla

stood with her hands stretched

towards heaven, and prayed; and

when she had done praying, she

turned about, and saw a pit of

water, and said, Now it is a proper

time for me to be baptized.

7 Accordingly she threw herself

into the water, and said, In thy

name, O my Lord Jesus Christ, I

am this last day baptized. The

women and the people seeing this,

cried out and said, Do not throw

yourself into the water. And the

governor himself cried out, to

think that the fish (sea-calves)

were like to devour so much

beauty.

8 Notwithstanding all this,

Thecla threw herself into the water,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But the fish (sea-calves) when

they saw the lightning and fire,

were killed, and swam dead upon

the surface of the water, and a

cloud of fire surrounded Thecla;

so that as the beasts could not

come near her, so the people could

not see her nakedness.

10 Yet they turned other wild

beasts upon her; upon which they

made a very mournful outcry; and

some of them scattered spikenard,

others cassia, others amomus (a

sort of spikenard, or the herb of

Jerusalem, or ladies rose), others

ointment; so that the quantity of

ointment was large, in proportion

to the number of people; and upon

this all the beasts lay as though

they had been fast asleep, and did

not touch Thecla.

11 Whereupon Alexander said

to the governor, I have some very

terrible bulls; let us bind her to

them. To which the governor, with

concern, replied, You may do what

you think fit.

12 Then they put a cord round

Thecla's waist, which bound also

her feet, and with it tied her to

the bulls, to whose privy-parts they

applied red-hot irons, that so they

being the more tormented, might

more violently drag Thecla about,

till they had killed her.

13 The bulls accordingly tore

about, making a most hideous noise;

but the flame which was about Thecla,

burnt off the cords which were

fastened to the members of the

bulls, and she stood in the middle

of the stage, as unconcerned as

if she had not been bound.

14 But in the mean time Trifina,

who sat upon one of the benches,

fainted away and died; upon which

the whole city was under a very

great concern.

15 And Alexander himself was

afraid, and desired the governor,

saying: I entreat you, take

compassion on me and the city,

and release this woman, who has

fought with the beasts; lest both

you and I, and the whole city,

be destroyed;

16 For if Caesar should have any

account of what has passed now,

he will certainly immediately

destroy the city, because Trifina,

a person of royal extract, and a

relation of his, is dead upon her

seat.

17 Upon this the governor called

Thecla from among the beasts to him,

and said to her, Who art thou? and

what are thy circumstances, that not

one of the beasts will touch thee?

18 Thecla replied to him; I am

a servant of the living God; and

as to my state, I am a believer on

Jesus Christ his Son, in whom

God is well pleased; and for that

reason none of the beasts could

touch me.

19 He alone is the way to eternal

salvation, and the foundation of

eternal life. He is a refuge to

those who are in distress; a support

to the afflicted, hope and defence

to those who are hopeless; and in

a word, all those who do not

believe on him, shall not live,

but suffer eternal death.

20 When the governor heard these

things, he ordered her clothes

to be brought, and said to her,

Put on your clothes.

21 Thecla replied: May that God

who clothed me when I was naked

among the beasts, in the day of

judgment clothe your soul with

the robe of salvation. Then she

took her clothes, and put them

on; and the governor immediately

published an order in these words:

I release to you Thecla the servant

of God.

22 Upon which the women cried

out together with a loud voice,

and with one accord gave praise

unto God, and said; There is but

one God, who is the God of Thecla;

the one God who hath delivered

Thecla.

23 So loud were their voices,

that the whole city seemed to be

shaken; and Trifina herself heard

the glad tidings, and arose again,

and ran with the multitude to

meet Thecla; and embracing her,

said: Now I believe there shall

be a resurrection of the dead;

now I am persuaded that my daughter

is alive. Come therefore home

with me, my daughter Thecla, and

I will make all over that I have

to you.

24 So Thecla went with Trifina,

and was entertained there a few

days, teaching her the word of the

Lord, whereby many young women

were converted; and there was

great joy in the family of Trifina.

25 But Thecla longed to see Paul,

and inquired and sent every where

to find him; and when at length

she was informed that he was at

Myra, in Lycia, she took with her

many young men and women; and

putting on a girdle, and dressing

herself in the habit of a man,

she went to him to Myra in Lycia,

and there found Paul preaching

the word of God; and she stood

by him among the throng.

CHAPTER X.

1 Thecla visits Paul;

6 visits Onesiphorus;

8 and visits her Mother

9 who repulses her.

14 Is tempted by the devil.

16 Works miracles.

BUT it was no small surprise

to Paul when he saw her and the

people with her; for he imagined

some fresh trial was coming upon them;

2 Which when Thecla perceived,

she said to him: I have been baptized,

O Paul; for he who assists you in

preaching, has assisted me to baptize.

3 Then Paul took her, and led her

to the house of Hermes; and Thecla

related to Paul all that had

befallen her in Antioch, insomuch

that Paul exceedingly wondered,

and all who heard were confirmed

in the faith, and prayed for

Trifina's happiness.

4 Then Thecla arose, and said

to Paul, I am going to Iconium.

Paul replied to her: Go and teach

the word of the Lord.

5 But Trifina had sent large sums

of money to Paul, and also clothing

by the hands of Thecla, for the

relief of the poor.

6 So Thecla went to Iconium.

And when she came to the house

of Onesiphorus, she fell down upon

the floor where Paul had sat and

preached, and, mixing tears with

her prayers, she praised and

glorified God in the following

words:

7 O Lord the God of this house,

in which I was first enlightened by

thee; O Jesus, son of the living

God, who wast my helper before

the governor, my helper in the

fire, and my helper among the

beasts; thou alone art God for

ever and ever, Amen.

8 Thecla now (on her return)

found Thamyris dead, but her

mother living. So calling her

mother, she said to her: Theoclia,

my mother, is it possible for you

to be brought to a belief, that

there is but one Lord God, who

dwells in the heavens? If you

desire great riches, God will

give them to you by me; if you

want your daughter again, here

I am.

9 These and many other things

she represented to her mother,

(endeavouring) to persuade her

(to her own opinion). But her

mother Theoclia gave no credit to

the things which were said by the

martyr Thecla.

10 So that Thecla perceiving,

she discoursed to no purpose,

signing her whole body with the

sign (of the cross), left the house

and went to Daphne; and when

she came there, she went to the

cave, where she had found Paul

with Onesiphorus, and fell down

upon the ground; and wept before

God.

11 When she departed thence,

she went to Seleucia, and

enlightened many in the knowledge

of Christ.

12 And a bright cloud conducted

her in her journey.

13 And after she had arrived at

Seleucia she went-to a place out

of the city, about the distance

of a furlong, being afraid of the

inhabitants, because they were

worshippers of idols.

14 And she was lead (by the

cloud) into a mountain called

Calamon, or Rodeon. There she

abode many years, and underwent

a great many grievous temptations

of the devil, which she bore in a

becoming manner, by the assistance

which she had from Christ.

15 At length certain gentle-women

hearing of the virgin Thecla, went

to her, and were instructed by her

in the oracles of God, and many of

them abandoned this world, and led

a monastic life with her.

16 Hereby a good report was

spread everywhere of Thecla, and

she wrought several (miraculous)

cures, so that all the city and

adjacent countries brought their

sick to that mountain, and before

they came as far as the door of

the cave, they were instantly cured

of whatsoever distemper they had.

17 The unclean spirits were cast

out, making a noise; all received

their sick made whole, and glorified

God, who had bestowed such power

on the virgin Thecla;

18 Insomuch that the physicians

of Seleucia were now of no more

account, and lost all the profit

of their trade, because no one

regarded them; upon which they

were filled with envy, and began

to contrive what methods to take

with this servant of Christ.

CHAPTER XI.

1 Thecla is attempted to be ravished,

12 escapes by a rock opening,

17 and closing miraculously.

THE devil then suggested bad

advice to their minds; and

being on a certain day met together

to consult, they reasoned among

each other thus: The virgin is a

priestess of the great goddess

Diana, and whatsoever she requests

from her, is granted, because she

is a virgin, and so is beloved

by all the gods.

2 Now then let us procure some

rakish fellows, and after we have

made them sufficiently drunk, and

given them a good sum of money,

let us order them to go and debauch

this virgin, promising them, if

they do it, a larger reward.

3 (For they thus concluded among

themselves, that if they be able

to debauch her, the gods will no

more regard her nor Diana cure

the sick for her).

4 They proceeded according to

this resolution, and the fellows

went to the mountain, and as fierce

as lions to the cave, knocking at

the door.

5 The holy martyr Thecla relying

upon the God in whom she believed,

opened the door, although she was

before apprised of their design,

and said to them, Young men,

what is your business?

6 They replied, Is there any

one within, whose name is Thecla?

She answered, What would you

have with her? They said, We

have a mind to lie with her.

7 The blessed Thecla answered,

Though I am a mean old woman,

I am the servant of my Lord Jesus

Christ; and though you have a

vile design against me, ye shall

not be able to accomplish it. They

replied, Is it impossible? but we

must be able to do with you what

we have a mind,

8 And while they were saying

this, they laid hold on her by main

force, and would have ravished her.

Then she with the (greatest)

mildness said to them: Young men

have patience, and see the glory

of the Lord.

9 And while they held her, she

looked up to heaven and said: O

God most reverend, to whom none

can be likened; who makest thyself

glorious over thine enemies; who

didst deliver me from the fire,

didst not give me up to Thamyris,

and didst not give me up to

Alexander: who deliveredst me

from the wild beasts; who didst

preserve me in the deep waters;

who hast everywhere been my

helper, and hast glorified thy

name in me;

10 Now also deliver me from

the hands of these wicked and

unreasonable men nor suffer them

to debauch my chastity which I

have hitherto preserved for thy

honour; for I love thee, and long

for thee, and worship thee,

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

for evermore. Amen.

11 Then came a voice from

heaven, saying, Fear not Thecla,

my faithful servant, for I am with

thee. Look and see the place

which is opened for thee; there thy

eternal abode shall be; there thou

shalt receive the (beatific) vision.

12 The blessed Thecla observing,

saw the rock opened to as large

a degree as that a man might enter

in; she did as she was commanded,

bravely fled from the vile crew,

and went into the rock, which

instantly so closed, that there

was not any crack visible where

it had opened.

13 The men stood perfectly

astonished at so prodigious a

miracle, and had no power to detain

the servant of God; but only

catching hold of her veil (or hood),

they tore off a piece of it;

14 And even that was by the

permission of God, for the

confirmation of their faith,

who should come to see this

venerable place; and to convey

blessings to those in succeeding

ages, who should believe on our

Lord Jesus Christ from a pure heart.

15 Thus suffered that first

martyr and apostle of God, and

virgin, Thecla, who came from

Iconium at eighteen years of age;

afterwards, partly in journeys and

travels, and partly in a monastic

life in the cave, she lived seventy-

two years; so that she was ninety

years old when the Lord translated

her.

16 Thus ends her life.

17 The day which is kept sacred

to her memory, is the twenty-fourth

of September, to the glory of the

Father, and the Son, and the Holy

Ghost, now and for evermore. Amen.

REFERENCES TO THE ACTS OF ST. PAUL AND THECLA.

[Tertullian says that this piece was forged by a Presbyter of Asia, who

being convicted, "confessed that he did it out of respect to Paul," and

Pope Gelasius, in his Decree against apocryphal books, inserted it among

them. Notwithstanding this, a large part of the history was credited and

looked upon as genuine among the primitive Christians. Cyprian,

Eusebius, Epiphanius, Austin, Gregory, Nagianzen. Chrysostom, and Severus

Sulpitius, who all lived within the fourth century mention Thecla or

refer to her history. Basil of Seleucia wrote her acts, sufferings and

victories, in verse; and Euagrius Scholasticus an ecclesiastical

historian, about 590, relates that "after the Emperor Zeno, had

abdicated his empire, and Basilik had taken possession of it, he had a

vision of the holy and excellent martyr Thecla, who promised him the

restoration of his empire; for which, when it was brought about, he

erected and dedicated a most noble and sumptuous temple to this famous

martyr, Thecla, at Seleucia, a city of Isauria, and bestowed upon it very

noble endowments, which (says the author) are preserved even till this

day." Hist. Ecel. lib. 3 cap. 8.—Cardinal Barenius, Locrinus, Archbishop

Wake, and others; and also the learned Grabe, who edited the Septuagint,

and revived the Acts of Paul and Thecla, consider them as having been

written in the Apostolic age; as containing nothing superstitious, or

disagreeing from the opinions and belief of those times; and, in short,

as a genuine and authentic history. Again, it is said, that this is not

the original book of the early Christians; but however that may be, it

is published from the Greek MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, which

Dr. Mills copied and transmitted to Dr. Grabe.]

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF

CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS.

CHAPTER I.

Clement commends them for their excellent order

and piety in Christ, before their schism broke out.

THE Church of God which is

at Rome, to the Church of God

which is at Corinth, elect,

sanctified by the will of God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord:

grace and peace from the Almighty

God, by Jesus Christ, be multiplied

unto you.

2 Brethren, the sudden and

unexpected dangers and calamities

that have fallen upon us, have, we

fear, made us the more slow in our

consideration of those things which

you inquired of us:

3 As also of that wicked and

detestable sedition, so unbecoming

the elect of God, which a few

headstrong and self-willed men

have fomented to such a degree of

madness, that your venerable and

renowned name, so worthy of all

men to be beloved, is greatly

blasphemed thereby.

4 For who that has ever been

among you has not experienced

the firmness of your faith, and

its fruitfulness in all good works;

and admired the temper and

moderation of your religion in

Christ; and published abroad the

magnificence of your hospitality;

and thought you happy in your

perfect and certain knowledge of

the Gospel?

5 For ye did all things without

respect of persons, and walked

according to the laws of God;

being subject to those who had

the rule over you, and giving the

honour that was fitting to the aged

among you.

6 Ye commanded the young men

to think those things that were

modest and grave.

7 The women ye exhorted to do

all things with an unblameable,

and seemly, and pure conscience;

loving their own husbands, as was

fitting: and that keeping themselves

within the bounds of a due obedience,

they should order their houses

gravely, with all discretion.

8 Ye were all of you humble-

minded, not boasting of anything

desiring rather to be subject than

to govern; to give than to receive;

being a content with the portion

God hath dispensed to you:

9 And hearkening diligently to

his word, ye were enlarged in

your bowels, having his sufferings

always before your eyes.

10 Thus a firm, and blessed,

and profitable peace was given

unto you: and an unsatiable desire

of doing good; and a plentiful

effusion of the Holy Ghost was

upon all of you.

11 And being full of good

designs, ye did with, great

readiness of mind, and with

a religious confidence stretch

forth your hands to God Almighty;

beseeching him to be merciful

unto you, if in anything ye had

unwillingly sinned against him.

12 Ye contended day and night

for the whole brotherhood; that

with compassion and a good

conscience, the number of his

elect might be saved.

13 Ye were sincere, and without

offence towards each other; not

mindful of injuries; all sedition

and schism was an abomination

unto you.

14 Ye bewailed every one his

neighbours' sins, esteeming their

defects your own.

15 Ye were kind one to another

without grudging; being ready to

every good work. And being

adorned with a conversation

altogether virtuous and religious,

ye did all things in the fear of

God; whose I commandments were

written upon the tables of your

heart.

CHAPTER II.

How their divisions began.

ALL honour and enlargement

was given unto you; and so

was fulfilled that which is written,

my beloved did eat and drink, he

was enlarged and waxed fat, and

he kicked.

2 From hence came emulation,

and envy, and strife, and sedition;

persecution and disorder, war and

captivity.

3 So they who were of no renown,

lifted up themselves against

the honourable; those of no

reputation against those who were

in respect; the foolish against the

wise; the young men against the

aged.

4 Therefore righteousness and

peace are departed from you,

because every one hath forsaken

the fear of God; and is grown blind

in his faith; nor walketh by the

rule of God's commandments nor

liveth as is fitting in Christ:

5 But every one follows his

own wicked lusts: having taken

up an unjust and wicked envy, by

which death first entered into the

world.

CHAPTER III.

Envy and emulation the original of all

strife and disorder. Examples of the

mischiefs they have occasioned.

FOR thus it is written,

And in process of time it came to

pass, that Cain brought of the fruit

of the ground an offering unto the

Lord. And Abel, he also brought

of the firstlings of his flock,

and of the fat thereof:

2 And the Lord had respect unto

Abel, and to his offering. But

unto Cain and unto his offering he

had not respect. And Cain was

very sorrowful, and his countenance

fell.

3 And the Lord said unto Cain,

Why art thou sorrowful? And

why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou shalt offer aright, but not

divide aright, hast thou not sinned?

Hold thy peace: unto thee shall

be his desire, and thou shalt rule

over him.

4 And Cain said unto Abel his

brother, Let us go down into the

field. And it came to pass, as

they were in the field, that Cain

rose up against Abel his brother,

and slew him.

5 Ye see, brethren, how envy

and emulation wrought the death

of a brother. For this, our father

Jacob fled from the face of his

brother Esau.

6 It was this that caused Joseph

to be persecuted even unto death,

and to come into bondage. Envy

forced Moses to flee from the

face of Pharoah king of Egypt,

when he heard his own countryman

ask him, "Who made thee a Judge,

and a ruler over us? Wilt thou

kill me as thou didst the

Egyptian yesterday?"

7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam

were shut out of the camp, from

the rest of the congregation

seven days.

8 Emulation's sent Dathan and

Abiram quick into the grave because

they raised up a sedition against

Moses the servant of God.

9 For this, David was not

only hated of strangers, but was

persecuted even by Saul the king

of Israel.

10 But not to insist upon ancient

examples, let us come to those

worthies that have been nearest

to us; and take the brave

examples of our own age.

11 Through zeal and envy, the

most faithful and righteous pillars

of the church have been persecuted

even to the most grievous deaths.

12 Let us set before our eyes,

the holy Apostles; Peter by unjust

envy underwent not one or two,

but many sufferings; till at last

being martyred, he went to the

place of glory that was due unto

him.

13 For the same cause did

Paul in like manner receive the

reward of his patience. Seven

times he was in bonds; he was

whipped, was stoned; he preached

both in the East and in the West;

leaving behind him the glorious

report of his faith:

14 And so having taught the

whole world righteousness, and

for that end travelled even to

the utmost bounds of the West;

he at last suffered martyrdom

by the command of the governors,

15 And departed out of the

world, and went unto his holy

place; having become a most

eminent pattern of patience

unto all ages.

16 To these Holy Apostles

were joined a very great number

of others, who having through

envy undergone in like manner

many pains and torments, have

left a glorious example to us.

17 For this, not only men but

women have been persecuted;

and having suffered very grievous

and cruel punishments, have

finished the course of their faith

with firmness; and though weak

in body, yet received a glorious

reward.

18 This has alienated the

minds even of women from their

husbands; and changed what was

once said by our father Adam;

This is now bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh.

19 In a word, envy and strife,

have overturned whole cities, and

rooted out great nations from off

the earth.

CHAPTER IV.

4 He exhorts them to live by holy rules, and repent

of their divisions, and they shall be forgiven.

THESE things, beloved, we

write unto you, not only for

your instruction, but also for our

own remembrance.

2 For we are all in the same

lists, and the same combat is

prepared for us all.

3 Wherefore let us lay aside all

vain and empty cares; and let us

come up to the glorious and

venerable rule of our holy calling.

4 Let us consider what is good,

and acceptable and well-pleasing

in the sight of him that made us.

5 Let us look steadfastly to the

blood of Christ, and see how

precious his blood is in the sight

of God: which being shed for our

salvation, has obtained the grace

of repentance for all the world.

6 Let us search into all the

ages that have gone before us;

and learn that our Lord has in

every one of them still given place

for repentance to all such as would

turn to him.

7 Noah preached repentance;

and as many as hearkened to him

were saved. Jonah denounced

destruction against the Ninevites.

8 Howbeit they repenting of

their sins, appeased God by their

prayers: and were saved, though

they were strangers to the covenant

of God.

9 Hence we find how all the

ministers of the grace of God

have spoken by the Holy Spirit of

repentance. And even the Lord of

all, has himself declared with an

oath concerning it;

10 As I live, saith the Lord,

I desire not the death of a sinner,

but that he should repent. Adding

farther this good sentence, saying

Turn from your iniquity, O house

of Israel.

11 Say unto the children of

my people, though your sins should

reach from earth to heaven; and

though they shall be redder than

scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth

yet if ye shall turn to me with all

your heart, and shall call me

father, I will hearken to you, as

to a holy people.

12 And in another place he saith

on this wise: wash ye, make you

clean; put away the evil of your

doings from before mine eyes;

cease to do evil, learn to do well;

seek judgment, relieve the

oppressed, judge the fatherless,

plead for the widow.

13 Come now and let us reason

together, saith the Lord: though

your sins be as scarlet, they shall

be as white as snow; though they

be as red as crimson, they shall

be as wool.

14 If ye be willing and obedient

ye shall eat the good of the land

but, if ye refuse and rebel, ye

shall be devoured with the sword;

for the mouth of the Lord hath

spoken it.

15 These things has God

established by his Almighty will,

desiring that all his beloved

should come to repentance.

CHAPTER V.

1 He sets before them the examples of holy men,

whose piety is recorded in the Scripture.

WHEREFORE let us obey his

excellent and glorious will;

and imploring his mercy and

goodness, let us fall down upon

our faces before him, and cast

ourselves upon his mercy; laying

aside all vanity, and contention,

and envy which leads unto death.

2 Let us look up to those who

have the most perfectly ministered

to his excellent glory. Let us

take Enoch for our example;

who being found righteous in

obedience, was translated, and

his death was not known.

3 Noah being proved to be

faithful, did by his ministry,

preach regeneration to the world;

and the Lord saved by him all the

living creatures, that went with

one accord into the ark.

4 Abraham, who was called

God's friend, was in like manner

found faithful; inasmuch as he

obeyed the commands of God.

5 By obedience he went out of

his own country, and from his

own kindred, and from his father's

house; that so forsaking a small

country, and a weak affinity, and

a little house, he might inherit

the promises of God.

6 For thus God said unto him;

"get thee out of thy country, and

from thy kindred, and from thy

father's house, unto a land that

I will show thee."

7 "And, I will make thee a great

nation, and will bless thee, and

make thy name great, and thou

shalt be blessed. And I will

bless them that bless thee, and

curse them that curse thee; and

in thee shall all families of the

earth be blessed,"

8 And again when he separated

himself from Lot, God said unto

him; I Lift up now thine eyes, and

look from the place where thou

art northward, and southward, and

eastward, and westward, for all

the land which thou seest, to thee

will I give it, and to thy seed for

ever.

9 And I will make thy seed as

the dust of the earth, so that if a

man can number the dust of the

earth, then shall thy seed also be

numbered.

10 And again he saith: and

God brought forth Abraham, and

said unto him; look now toward

heaven, and tell the stars, if thou

be able to number them: so shall

thy seed be.

11 And Abraham believed God,

and it was counted to him for

righteousness.

12 Through faith and hospitality

he had a son given him in his

old age; and through obedience

he offered him up in sacrifice to

God, upon one of the mountains

which God showed into him.

CHAPTER VI.

1 Redemption for such as have been eminent for their

faith, kindness, and charity to their neighbours.

BY hospitality and goodliness

was Lot saved out of Sodom,

when all the country round about

was destroyed by fire and brimstone.

2 The Lord thereby making it

manifest, that he will not forsake

those that trust in him; but will

bring the disobedient to punishment

and correction.

3 For his wife who went out

with him, being of a different

mind, and not continuing in the

same obedience, was for that reason

set forth for an example, being

turned into a pillar of salt

unto this day.

4 That so all men may know,

that those who are double minded,

and distrustful of the power of

God, are prepared for condemnation,

and to be a sign to all succeeding

ages.

5 By faith and hospitality was

Rahab the harlot saved. For when

the spies were sent by Joshua the

son of Nun to search out Jericho,

and the king of Jericho knew that

they were come to spy out his

country, he sent men to take them,

so that they might be put to

death.

6 Rahab therefore, being hospitable,

received them, and hid them under

the stalks of flax, on the top of

her house.

7 And when the messengers that

were sent by the king came unto

her, and asked her, saying,

There came men unto thee to spy

out the land, bring them forth, for

so hath the king commanded: She

answered, The two men whom ye

seek came unto me, but presently

they departed, and are gone: Not

discovering them unto them.

8 Then she said to the spies,

I know that the Lord your God has

given this city into your hands;

for the fear of you is fallen upon

all that dwell therein. When,

therefore, ye shall have taken it,

ye shall save me and my father's

house.

9 And they answered her, saying,

It shall be as thou hast spoken

unto us, Therefore, when thou

shalt know that we are near, thou

shalt gather all thy family together,

upon the house-top and they shall

be saved: but all that shall be

found without thy house shall

be destroyed.

10 And they gave her moreover

a sign, that she should hang

out of her house a scarlet rope,

showing thereby, that by the

blood of our Lord, there should be

redemption to all that believe and

hope in God. Ye see, beloved,

how there was not only faith, but

prophesy too in this woman.

CHAPTER VII.

1 What rules are given for leading a holy life.

LET us, therefore, humble ourselves,

brethren, laying aside all pride,

and boasting, and foolishness,

and anger: And let us do as it

is written.

2 For thus saith the Holy Spirit;

Let not the wise man glory in his

wisdom, nor the strong man in

his strength, nor the rich man

in his riches; but let him that

glorieth, glory in the Lord, to seek

him, and to do judgment and justice.

3 Above all, remembering the

words of the Lord Jesus, which he

spake concerning equity and long

suffering, saying,

4 Be ye merciful, and ye shall

obtain mercy; forgive, and ye

shall be forgiven; as ye do, so

shall it be done unto you; as ye

give, so shall it be given unto

you; as ye judge, so shall ye be

judged; as ye are kind to others,

so shall God be kind to you; with

what measure ye mete, with the

same shall it be measured to you

again.

5 By this command, and by

these rules, let us establish

ourselves, that so we may always

walk obediently to his holy words;

being humble minded:

6 For so says the Holy Scripture;

upon whom shall I look, even upon

him that is poor and of a contrite

spirit, and that trembles at my word.

7 It is, therefore, just and

righteous, men and brethren, that

we should become obedient unto God,

rather than follow such as through

pride and sedition, have made

themselves the ring-leaders of

a detestable emulation.

8 For it is not an ordinary harm

that we shall do ourselves, but

rather a very great danger that we

shall run, if we shall rashly give

up ourselves to the wills of men,

who promote strife and seditions,

to turn us aside from that which is

fitting.

9 But let us be kind to one

another, according to the compassion

and sweetness of him that made us.

10 For it is written, The merciful

shall inherit the earth; and they

that are without evil shall be left

upon it: but the transgressors shall

perish from off the face of it.

11 And again he saith, I have

seen the wicked in great power

and spreading himself like the

cedar of Libanus. I passed by,

and lo! he was not; I sought his

place, but it could not be found.

12 Keep innocently, and do the

thing that is right, for there shall

be a remnant to the peaceable

man.

13 Let us, therefore, hold fast

to those who religiously follow

peace; and not to such as only

pretend to desire.

14 For he saith in a certain

place, This people honoureth me

with their lips, but their heart

is far from me.

15 And again, They bless with

their mouths, but curse in their

hearts.

16 And again he saith, They

loved him with their mouths, and

with their tongues they lied to

him. For their heart was not right

with him, neither were they

faithful in his covenant.

17 Let all deceitful lips become

dumb, and the tongue that speaketh

proud things. Who have said, with

our tongue will we prevail; our lips

are our own, who is Lord over us?

18 For the oppression of the

poor, for the sighing of the needy,

now will I arise saith the Lord;

I will set him in safety, I will

deal confidently with him.

CHAPTER VIII.

He advises then, to be humble, and, follow the

examples of Jesus, and of holy men in all ages.

FOR Christ is theirs who are

humble, and not who exalt

themselves over his flock. The

sceptre of the majesty of God, our

Lord Jesus Christ, came not in

the show of pride and arrogance,

though he could have done so;

but with humility as the Holy

Ghost had before spoken

concerning him.

2 For thus he saith, Lord, who

hath believed our report, and to

whom is the arm of the Lord

revealed; For he shall grow up

before him as a tender plant, and

as a root out of a dry ground;

3 He hath no form or comeliness,

and when we shall see him, there

is no beauty that we should desire

him.

4 He is despised and rejected of

men; a man of sorrows and acquainted

with grief.

5 And we hid, as it were, our

faces from him; he was despised,

and we esteemed him not.

6 Surely he hath borne our

griefs, and carried our sorrows

yet we did esteem him stricken,

smitten of God, and afflicted.

7 But he was wounded for our

transgressions; he was bruised for

our iniquities; the chastisement

of our peace was upon him; and

with his stripes we are healed.

8 All we like sheep have gone

astray; we have turned every one

to his own way; and the Lord hath

laid on him the iniquity of us all.

9 He was oppressed, and he was

afflicted, yet he opened not his

mouth: he is brought as a lamb to

the slaughter; and as a sheep

before her shearers is dumb,

so he openeth not his mouth.

10 He was taken from prison

and from judgment; and who shall

declare this generation? For he

was cut off out of the land of the

living: for the transgression of my

people was he stricken.

11 And he made his grave with

the wicked, and with the rich in

his death; because he had done no

violence, neither was any deceit

in his mouth.

12 Yet it pleased the Lord to

bruise him; he hath put him to

grief: when thou shalt make his

soul an offering for sin, he shall

see his seed, he shall prolong his

days, and the pleasure of the Lord

shall prosper in his hand.

13 He shall see of the travail

of his soul, and shall be satisfied:

by his knowledge shall my righteous

servant justify many; for he shall

bear their iniquities.

14 Therefore will I divide him

a portion with the great, and he

shall divide the spoil with the

strong; because he hath poured

out his soul unto death; and he

was numbered with the transgressors,

and he bare the sin of many, and

made intercession for the

transgressors.

15 And again he himself saith,

I am a worm and no man, a reproach

of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to

scorn; they shoot out their lips,

they shake their heads, saying;

He trusted in the Lord that he

would deliver him, let him

deliver him seeing he delighted

in him.

16 Ye see, beloved, what the

pattern is that has been given to

us. For if the Lord thus humbled

himself, what should we do who

are brought by him under the

yoke of his grace?

17 Let us be followers of those

who went about in goat-skins, and

sheep-skins; preaching the coming

of Christ.

18 Such were Elias, and Eliaxus,

and Ezekiel, the prophets,

And let us add to these, such

others as have received the like

testimony.

19 Abraham has been greatly

witnessed of; having been called

the friend of God. And yet he

steadfastly beholding the glory of

God, says with all humility, I am

dust and ashes.

20 Again of Job, it is thus

written, That he was just, and

without blame, true; one that served

God, and abstained from all evil.

Yet he accusing himself, said, No

man is free from pollution, no,

not though he should live but one

day.

21 Moses was called faithful in

all God's House; and by his conduct

the Lord punished Israel by stripes

and plagues.

22 And even this man, though

thus greatly honoured, spake not

greatly of himself; but when the

oracle of God was delivered to him

out of the bush, he said, Who

am I, that thou dost send me? I

am of a slender voice, and a slow

tongue.

23 And again he saith, I am as

the smoke of the pot.

24 And what shall we say of

David, so highly testified of in the

Holy Scriptures? To whom God said,

I have found a man after my own

heart, David the son of Jesse,

with my holy oil have I anointed

him.

25 But yet he himself saith unto

God, Have mercy upon me, O God,

according to thy loving kindness;

according unto the multitude of

thy tender mercies, blot out my

transgressions.

26 Wash me thoroughly from

mine iniquity, and cleanse me

from my sin. For I acknowledge

my transgressions, and my sin is

ever before me.

27 Against Thee only have I

sinned, and done this evil in

thy sight; that thou mightest

be justified when thou speakest;

and be clear when thou judgest.

28 Behold I was shapen in

iniquity, and in sin did my mother

conceive me.

29 Behold, thou desirest truth

in the inward parts; and in the

hidden part thou shalt make me to

know wisdom.

30 Purge me with hyssop, and

I shall be clean: wash me, and I

shall be whiter than snow.

31 Make me to hear joy and

gladness, that the bones which

thou hast broken may rejoice.

32 Hide thy face from my sins,

and blot out all mine iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart O God;

and renew a right spirit

within me.

34 Cast me not away from thy

presence, and take not thy holy

spirit from me.

35 Restore unto me the joy of

thy salvation, and uphold me with

thy free spirit.

36 Then will I teach transgressors

thy ways, and sinners shall be

converted unto thee.

37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,

O God, thou God of my salvation;

and my tongue shall sing aloud

of thy righteousness.

38 O Lord open thou my lips,

and my mouth shall show forth

thy praise.

39 For thou desirest not sacrifice,

else would I give it; thou

delightest not in burnt-offerings.

40 The sacrifices of God are

a broken spirit; a broken and a

contrite heart, O God, thou wilt

not despise.

CHAPTER IX.

He again persuades them to compose their divisions.

THUS has the humility and

godly fear of these great

and excellent men recorded in

the Scriptures, through obedience,

made not only us, but also the

generations before us better;

even as many as have received his

holy oracles with fear and truth.

2 Having therefore so many,

and such great and glorious

examples, let us return to that

peace which was the mark that

from the beginning was set before

us;

3 Let us look up to the Father

and Creator of the whole world;

and let us hold fast to his glorious

and exceeding gifts and benefits

of peace.

4 Let us consider and behold

with the eyes of our understanding

his long suffering will; and think

how gentle and patient he is

towards his whole creation.

5 The heavens moving by his

appointment, are subject to him

in peace.

6 Day and night accomplish the

courses that he has allotted unto

them, not disturbing one another.

7 The sun and moon, and all the

several companies and constellations

of the stars, run the courses that

he has appointed to them in concord,

without departing in the least from

them.

8 The fruitful earth yields its

food plentifully in due season both

to man and beast, and to all animals

that are upon it, according to his

will; not disputing, nor altering

any thing of what was ordered by him.

9 So also the unfathomable and

unsearchable floods of the deep,

are kept in by his command;

10 And the conflux of the vast

sea, being brought together by his

order into its several collections,

passes not the bounds that he has

set to it;

11 But as he appointed it, so it

remains. For he said, Hitherto

shalt then come, and thy floods

shall be broken within thee.

12 The ocean impassable to

mankind, and the worlds that are

beyond it are governed by the

same commands of their great

master.

13 Spring and summer, autumn

and winter, give place peaceably

to each other.

14 The several quarters of the

winds fulfil their work in their

seasons, without offending one

another.

15 The ever-flowing fountains,

made both for pleasure and health,

never fail to reach out their breasts

to support the life of men.

16 Even the smallest creatures

live together in peace and concord

with each other.

17 All these has the Great Creator

and Lord of all, commanded to

observe peace and concord; being

good to all.

18 But especially to us who flee

to his mercy through our Lord

Jesus Christ; to whom be glory

and majesty for ever and ever.

Amen.

CHAPTER X.

He exhorts them to obedience, from the consideration

of the goodness of God, and of his presence in every place.

TAKE heed, beloved, that his

many blessings be not to our

condemnation; except we shall

walk worthy of him, doing with

one consent what is good and

pleasing in his sight.

2 The spirit of the Lord is a

candle, searching out the inward

parts of the belly.

3 Let us therefore consider how

near he is to us; and how that

none of our thoughts, or reasonings

which we frame within ourselves,

are hid from him,

4 It is therefore just that we

should not forsake our rank, by

doing contrary to his will.

5 Let us choose to offend a few

foolish and inconsiderate men,

lifted up and glorying in their

own pride, rather than God.

6 Let us reverence our Lord

Jesus Christ whose blood was

given for us.

7 Let us honour those who are

set over us; let us respect the

aged that are amongst us; and let

us instruct the younger men, in

the discipline and fear of the

LORD.

8 Our wives let us direct, to do

that which is good.

9 Let them show forth a lovely

habit of purity, in all their

conversation; with a sincere

affection of meekness.

10 Let the government of their

tongues be made manifest by their

silence.

11 Let their charity be without

respect of persons, alike towards

all such as religiously fear

God.

12 Let your children be bred

up in the instruction of Christ:

13 And especially let them learn

how great a power humility has

with God; how much a pure and

holy charity avails with him; how

excellent and great his fear is;

and how it will save all such as

turn to him with holiness in a pure

mind.

14 For he is the searcher of the

thoughts and counsels of the heart;

whose breath is in us, and when

he pleases he can take it from

us.

CHAP. XI.

Of faith: and particularly what we are

to believe as to the Resurrection.

BUT all these things must be

confirmed by the faith which

is in Christ; for so He himself

bespeaks us by the Holy Ghost;

2 Come ye children and hearken

unto me, and I will teach you the

fear of the Lord. What man is

there that desireth life, and loveth

to see good days?

3 Keep thy tongue from evil,

and thy lips that they speak no

guile.

4 Depart from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

5 The eyes of the Lord are upon

the righteous, and his ears are

open unto their prayers.

6 But the face of the Lord is

against them that do evil, to cut

off the remembrance of them from

the earth.

7 The righteous cried, and the

Lord heard him, and delivered

him out of all his troubles.

8 Many are the troubles of the

wicked; but they that trust in the

Lord mercy shall encompass them

about.

9 Our all-merciful and beneficent

Father hath bowels of compassion

towards them that fear him: and

kindly and lovingly bestows his

graces upon all such as come to

him with a simple mind.

10 Wherefore let us not waver,

neither let us have any doubt in

our hearts, of his excellent and

glorious gifts.

11 Let that be far from us

which is written, Miserable are

the double-minded, and those who

are doubtful in their hearts;

12 Who say these things have

we heard, and our fathers have

told us these things. But behold

we are grown old, and none of

them has happened unto us.

13 O ye fools consider the trees:

take the vine for an example.

First it sheds its leaves; then it

buds; after that it spreads its

leaves; then it flowers; then come

the sour grapes; and after them

follows the ripe fruit. See how in

a little time the fruit of the trees

comes to maturity.

14 Of a truth yet a little while

and his will shall suddenly be

accomplished.

15 The Holy Scripture itself

bearing witness, that He shall

quickly come and not tardy, and

that the Lord shall suddenly come

to his temple, even the 3 holy ones

whom ye look for.

16 Let us consider, beloved,

how the Lord does continually

show us, that there shall be a

future resurrection; of which he

has made our Lord Jesus Christ

the first fruits, raising him from

the dead.

17 Let us contemplate, beloved,

the resurrection that is continually

made before our eyes.

18 Day and night manifest a

resurrection to us. The night lies

down, and the day arises: again

the day departs and the night

comes on.

19 Let us behold the fruits of

the earth. Every one sees how the

seed is sown. The sower goes

forth, and casts it upon the earth;

and the seed which when it was

sown fell upon the earth dry and

naked, in time dissolves.

20 And from the dissolution,

the great power of the providence

of the Lord rises it again; and of

one seed many arise, and bring

forth fruit.

CHAPTER XII.

The Resurrection further proved.

LET us consider that wonderful

type of the resurrection which

is seen in the Eastern countries:

that is to say, in Arabia.

2 There is a certain bird called

a Phoenix; of this there is never

but one at a time: and that lives

five hundred years. And when

the time of its dissolution draws

near, that it must die, it makes

itself a nest of frankincense, and

myrrh, and other spices into which

when its time is fulfilled it enters

and dies.

3 But its flesh putrefying, breeds

a certain worm, which being nourished

with the juice of the dead bird

brings forth feathers; and when

it is grown to a perfect state,

it takes up the nest in which

the bones of its parent lie, and

carries it from Arabia into Egypt,

to a city called Heliopolis:

4 And flying in open day in the

sight of all men, lays it upon the

altar of the sun, and so returns

from whence it came.

5 The priests then search into

the records of the time: and find

that it returned precisely at the

end of five hundred years.

6 And shall we then think it to

be any very great and strange

thing for the Lord of all to raise

up those that religiously serve him

in the assurance of a good faith,

when even by a bird he shows us

the greatness of his power to fulfil

his promise?

7 For he says in a certain place,

Thou shalt raise me up and I shall

confess unto thee.

8 And again, I laid me down

and slept, and awaked, because

thou art with me.

9 And again, Job says, Thou

shalt raise up this flesh of mine,

that has suffered all these

things.

10 Having therefore this hope,

let us hold fast to him who is

faithful in all his promises, and

righteous in all his judgments;

who has commanded us not to lie,

how much more will he not

himself lie?

11 For nothing is impossible

with God but to lie.

12 Let his faith then be stirred

up again in us; and let us consider

that all things are nigh unto him.

13 By the word of his power he

made all things: and by the same

word he is able, (whenever he

will,) to destroy them.

14 Who shall say unto him,

what dost thou? or who shall

resist the power of his strength?

15 When, and as he pleased,

he will do all things; and nothing

shall pass away of all that has been

determined by him.

16 All things are open before

him; nor can anything be hid

from his counsel.

17 The heavens declare the

glory of God, and the firmament

showeth his handy work. Day

unto day uttereth speech, and

night unto night showeth

knowledge. There is no speech nor

language where their voice is not

heard.

CHAPTER XIII.

It is impossible to escape the vengeance of God,

if we continue in sin.

SEEING then all things are seen

and heard by God, let us fear

him, and let us lay aside our

wicked works which proceed from

ill desires; that through his mercy

we may be delivered from the

condemnation to come.

2 For whither can any of us flee

from his mighty hand? Or what

world shall receive any of those

who run away from him?

3 For thus saith the Scripture

in a certain place. Whither shall

I flee from thy spirit, or where

shall I hide myself from thy

presence?

4 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there; if I shall go to the

uttermost parts of the earth, there

is thy right hand: if I shall make

my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is

there.

5 Whither then shall any one

go; or whither shall he run from

him that comprehends all things?

6 Let us therefore come to him

with holiness of heart, lifting up

chaste and undefiled hands unto

him; loving our gracious and

merciful Father, who has made us

to partake of his election.

7 For so it is written, When

the Most High divided the nations;

when he separated the sons of

Adam, he set the bounds of the

nations, according to the number

of his angels; his people Jacob

became the portion of the Lord,

and Israel the lot of his

inheritance.

8 And in another place he saith,

Behold the Lord taketh unto himself

a nation, out of the midst of the

nations, as a man taketh the first-

fruits of his flour; and the Most

Holy shall come out of that nation.

CHAPTER XIV.

How we must live that we may please God.

WHEREFORE we being apart

of the Holy One: let us do

all those things that pertain unto

holiness:

2 Fleeing all evil-speaking

against one another; all filthy

and impure embraces, together with

all drunkenness, youthful lusts,

abominable concupiscences,

detestable adultery, and

execrable pride.

3 For God saith, he resisteth

the proud, but giveth grace to the

humble.

4 Let us therefore hold fast to

those to whom God has given his

grace.

5 And let us put on concord,

being humble, temperate; free

from all whispering and detraction;

and justified by our actions,

not our words.

6 For he saith, Doth he that

speaketh and heareth many things,

and is of a ready tongue, suppose

that he is righteous? Blessed is

he that is born of a woman, that

liveth but a few days: use not

therefore much speech.

7 Let our praise be of God, not

of ourselves; for God hateth those

that commend themselves.

8 Let the witness of our good

actions be given to us by others,

as it was given to the holy men

that went before us.

9 Rashness, and arrogance, and

confidence, belong to them who

are accursed of God: but equity,

and humility, and mildness, to

such as are blessed by him.

10 Let us then lay hold of his

blessing, and let as consider what

are the ways by which we may

attain unto it.

11 Let us look back upon those

things that have happened from

the beginning.

12 For what was our Father

Abraham blessed? Was it not

because that through faith he

wrought righteousness and truth?

13 Isaac being fully persuaded

of what he knew was to come,

cheerfully yielded himself up for

a sacrifice. Jacob with humility

departed out of his own country,

fleeing from his brother, and went

unto Laban and served him; and

so the sceptre of the twelve tribes

of Israel was given unto him.

14 Now what the greatness of

this gift was, will plainly appear,

if we shall take the pains distinctly

to consider all the parts of it.

15 For, from him came the

priests and Levites; who all

ministered at the altar of God.

16 From him came our Lord

Jesus Christ, according to the

flesh.

17 From him came the kings,

and princes, and rulers in Judah.

18 Nor were the rest of his

tribes in any little glory: God

having promised that their seed

shall be as the stars of heaven.

19 They were all therefore

greatly glorified, not for their own

sake, or for their own works, or

for the righteousness that they

themselves wrought, but through

his will.

20 And we also being called by

the same will in Christ Jesus, are

not justified by ourselves, neither

by our own wisdom, or knowledge,

or piety, or the works which we

have done in the holiness of our

hearts.

21 But by that faith, by which

God Almighty has justified all

men from the beginning; to whom

be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

CHAPTER XV.

We are justified by faith; yet this must not

lessen our care to live a virtuous life,

nor our pleasure in it.

WHAT shall we do therefore,

brethren? Shall we be slothful

in well-doing, and lay aside

our charity? God forbid that any

such thing should be done by us.

2 But rather let us hasten with

all earnestness and readiness of

mind, to perfect every good work.

For even the Creator and Lord of

all things himself rejoices in his

own works.

3 By his Almighty power he

fixed the heavens, and by his

incomprehensible wisdom he

adorned them.

4 He also divided the earth

from the water, with which it is

encompassed: and fixed it as a

secure tower, upon the foundation

of his own will.

5 He also by his appointment,

commanded all the living creatures

that are upon it, to exist.

6 So likewise the sea, and all

the creatures that are in it;

having first created them, he

enclosed them therein by his power.

7 And above all, he with his

holy and pure hands, formed man,

the most excellent; and, as to his

understanding, truly the greatest

of all other creatures; the character

of his own image.

8 For thus God says; Let us

make man in our image, after our

own likeness; so God created man,

male and female created he them.

9 And having thus finished all

these things, he commended all

that he had made, and blessed

them, and said, increase and

multiply.

10 We see how all righteous men

have been adorned with good works

Wherefore even the Lord himself,

having adorned himself with his

works, rejoiced.

11 Having therefore such an

example, let us without delay,

fulfil his will; and with all

our strength, work the work of

righteousness.

CHAPTER XVI.

A virtuous life enforced from the examples

of the holy angels, and from the exceeding

greatness of that reward which God has prepared for us.

THE good workman with

confidence receives the bread of

his labour; but the sluggish and

lazy cannot look him in the face

that set him on work.

2 We must therefore be ready

and forward in well-doing: for

from him are all things.

3 And thus he foretells us,

behold the Lord cometh, and his

reward is with him, even before his

face, to render to everyone according

to his work.

4 He warns us therefore beforehand,

with all his heart to this end,

that we should not be slothful and

negligent in well-doing.

5 Let our boasting, therefore,

and our confidence be in God

let us submit ourselves to his will,

Let us consider the whole multitude

of his angels, how ready they

stand to minister unto his will.

6 As saith the Scripture,

thousands of thousands stood

before him and ten thousand

times ten thousand ministered

unto him. And they cried, saying,

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of

hosts; The whole earth is full

of his glory.

7 Wherefore let us also, being

conscientiously gathered together

in concord with one another; as

it were with one mouth, cry,

earnestly unto him, that he would

make us partakers of his great and

glorious promises.

8 For he saith, a Eye hath not

seen, nor ear heard, neither have

entered into the heart of man, the

things which God has prepared for

them that wait for him,

CHAPTER XVII.

1 We must attain the gifts of God by faith and obedience,

which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the

duties of our several stations, without envy or contention.

24 The necessity of different orders among men.

33 We have none of us anything but what we received of God:

whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey.

HOW blessed and wonderful,

beloved, are the gifts of God.

2 Life in immortality! brightness

in righteousness! truth in full

assurance! faith in confidence!

temperance in holiness!

3 And all this has God subjected

to our understandings:

4 What therefore shall those

things be which he has prepared

for them that wait for him?

5 The Creator and Father of

spirits, the Most Holy; he only

knows both the greatness and

beauty of them,

6 Let us therefore strive with

all earnestness, that we may be

found in the number of those that

wait for him, that so we may

receive the reward which he has

promised.

7 But how, beloved, shall we do

this? We must fix our minds by

faith towards God, and seek those

things that are pleasing and

acceptable unto him.

8 We must act conformably to

his holy will; and follow the way

of truth, casting off from us all

unrighteousness and iniquity,

together with all covetousness,

strife, evil manners, deceit,

whispering, detractions; all

hatred of God, pride and boasting;

vain-glory and ambition;

9 For they that do these things

are odious to God; and not only

they that do them, but also all

such as approve of those that do

them.

10 For thus saith the Scripture,

But unto the wicked, God said,

What hast thou to do to declare

my statute, or that thou shouldst

take my covenant in thy mouth?

Seeing that thou hatest instruction,

and castest my words behind thee.

11 When thou sawest a thief,

then thou consentedst with him;

thou hast been partaker with

adulterers, Thou givest thy mouth

to evil, and thy tongue frameth

deceit. Thou sittest and speakest

against thy brother; thou slanderest

thine own mother's son.

12 These things hast thou done

and I kept silence; thou thoughtest

that I was altogether such a one

as thyself: but I will reprove thee,

and set them in order before thine

eyes.

13 Now consider this ye that

forget God, lest I tear you in pieces,

and there be none to deliver.

14 Whose offereth praise,

glorifieth me; And to him that

disposeth his way aright, will

I show the salvation of God.

15 This is the way, beloved, in

which we may find our Saviour,

even Jesus Christ, the high-priest

of all our offerings, the defender

and helper of our weakness.

16 By him we look up to the

highest heavens; and behold, as

in a glass, his spotless and most

excellent visage.

17 By him are the eyes of our

hearts opened; by him our foolish

and darkened understanding

rejoiceth to behold his wonderful

light.

18 By him would God have us

to taste the knowledge of

immortality: who being the

brightness of his glory, is by

so much greater than the angels,

as he has by inheritance obtained

a more excellent name than they.

19 For so it is written, who

maketh his angels spirits, and his

ministers a flame of fire:

20 But to his son, thus saith the

Lord, Thou art my Son, to-day

have I begotten thee.

21 Ask of me and I will give

thee the heathen for thy inheritance,

and the utmost parts of the earth

for thy possession.

22 And again he saith unto him,

Sit thou on my right hand until

I make thine enemies thy

foot-stool.

23 But who are his enemies?

even the wicked, and such who

oppose their own wills to the

will of God.

24 Let us therefore march-on,

men and brethren, with all

earnestness in his holy laws.

25 Let us consider those who

fight under our, earthly governors

How orderly, how readily, and

with what exact obedience they

perform those things that are

commanded them.

26 All are not generals, nor

colonels, nor captains, nor

inferior officers:

27 But everyone in his respective

rank does what is commanded him by

the king, and those who have the

authority over him.

28 They who are great, cannot

subsist without those that are little;

nor the little without the great;

29 But there must be a mixture

in all things, and then there will

be use and profit too.

30 Let us, for example, take

our body: the head without the

feet is nothing, neither the feet

without the head.

31 And even the smallest members

of our body are yet both necessary

and useful to the whole body.

32 But all conspire together,

and are subject to one common

use, namely, the preservation of

the whole body.

33 Let therefore our whole body

by saved in Christ Jesus; and let

everyone be subject to his neighbour,

according to the order in which

he is placed by the gift of God.

34 Let not the strong man despise

the weak; and let the weak see that

he reverence the strong.

35 Let the rich man distribute

to the necessity of the poor; and

let the poor bless God, that he has

given one unto him, by whom his

want may be supplied.

36 Let the wise man show forth

his wisdom, not in words, but in

good works.

37 Let him that is humble, not

bear witness to himself, but let

him leave it to another to bear

witness of him.

38 Let him that is pure in the

flesh, not grow proud of it, knowing

that it was from another that he

received the gift of continence.

39 Let us consider therefore,

brethren, whereof we are made;

who, and what kind of men we

came into the world, as it were

out of a sepulchre, and from outer

darkness.

40 He hath made us, and formed

us, brought us into his own world;

having presented us with his

benefits, even before we were born.

41 Wherefore, having received

all these things from him, we

ought in everything to give thanks

unto him, to whom be glory for

ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Clement therefore exhorts them to do everything

orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God.

FOOLISH and unwise men, who

have neither prudence, nor

learning, may mock and deride

us; being willing to set up

themselves in their own conceits.

2 But what can a mortal man

do? Or what strength is there in

him that is made out of the dust?

3 For it is written, there was no

shape before mine eyes; only I

heard a sound and a voice.

4 For what? Shall man be pure

before the Lord? Shall he be

blameless in his works?

5 Behold, he trusteth not in

his servants; and his angels he

chargeth with folly.

6 Yes, the heaven is not clean

in his sight, how much less they

that dwell in houses of clay; of

which also we ourselves were

made?

7 He smote them as a moth:

and from morning even unto the

evening they endure not. Because

they were not able to help

themselves, they perished;

he breathed upon them and they

died, because they had no wisdom.

8 Call now if there be any that

will answer thee; and to which of

the angels wilt thou look?

9 For wrath killeth the foolish

man, and envy slayeth him that is

in error.

10 I have seen the foolish taking

root, but lo, their habitation was

presently consumed.

11 Their children were far from

safety, they perished at the gates

of those who were lesser than

themselves: and there was no man

to help them.

12 For what was prepared for

them, the righteous did eat; and

they shall not be delivered from

evil.

13 Seeing then these things are

manifest unto us, it will behove

us to take care that looking into

the depths of the divine knowledge,

we do all things in order,

whatsoever our Lord has commanded

us to do.

14 And particularly that we

perform our offerings and service to

God, at their appointed seasons

for these he has commanded to be

done, not rashly and disorderly,

but at certain determinate times

and hours.

15 And therefore he has ordained

by his supreme will and authority,

both where, and by what persons,

they are to be performed; that

so all things being piously done

unto all well-pleasing, they

may be acceptable unto him.

16 They therefore who make

their offerings at the appointed

seasons, are happy and accepted;

because through obeying the

commandments of the Lord,

they are free from sin.

17 And the same care must be

had of the persons that minister

unto him.

18 For the chief-priest has his

proper services; and to the priest

their proper place is appointed;

and to the Levites appertain their

proper ministries; and the layman

is confined within the bounds of

what is commanded to laymen.

19 Let every one of you therefore,

brethren, bless God in his proper

station, with a good conscience,

and with all gravity, not exceeding

the rule of his service that is

appointed to him.

20 The daily sacrifices are not

offered everywhere; nor the peace-

offerings, nor the sacrifices

appointed for sins and transgressions;

but only at Jerusalem: nor in any

place there, but only at the altar

before the temple; that which is

offered being first diligently

examined by the high-priest and

the other minister we before

mentioned.

21 They therefore who do any

thing which is not agreeable to his

will, are punished with death.

22 Consider, brethren, that by

how much the better knowledge

God has vouchsafed unto us, by so

much the greater danger are we

exposed to.

CHAPTER XIX.

The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established

by the Apostles, according to Christ's command,

7 after the example of Moses.

16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the

ministry according to their order, cannot without

great sin be put out of it.

THE Apostles have preached to

us from the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ from God.

2 Christ therefore was sent by

God, the Apostles by Christ; so

both were orderly sent, according

to the will of God.

3 For having received their

command, and being thoroughly

assured by the resurrection of our

Lord Jesus Christ, and convinced

by the word of God, with the

fulness of the Holy Spirit, they

went abroad, publishing, That the

kingdom of God was at hand.

4 And thus preaching through

countries and cities, they appointed

the first fruits of their conversion

to be bishops and ministers over

such as should afterwards believe,

having first proved them by the

Spirit.

5 Nor was this any new thing;

seeing that long before it was

written concerning bishops and

deacons.

6 For thus saith the Scripture,

in a certain place; I will appoint

their overseers in righteousness,

and their ministers in faith.

7 And what wonder if they, to

whom such a work was committed

by God in Christ, established such

officers as we before mentioned;

when even that blessed and faithful

servant in all his house, Moses,

set down in the Holy Scriptures

all things that were commanded

him.

8 Whom also all the rest of the

prophets followed, bearing witness

with one consent to those things

that were appointed by him.

9 For he, perceiving an emulation

to arise among the tribes concerning

the priesthood, and that there was

a strife about it, which of them

should be adorned with that glorious

name; commanded their twelve captains

to bring to him twelve rods; every

tribe being written upon its rod,

according to its name,

10 And he took them and bound

them together, and sealed them

with the seals of the twelve princes

of the tribes: and laid them up in

the tabernacle of witness, upon

the table of God.

11 And when he had shut the

door of the tabernacle, he sealed

up the keys of it, in like manner

as he had done the rods; and said

unto them, Men and brethren,

whichsoever tribe shall have its

rod blossom, that tribe has God

chosen to perform the office of a

priest, and to minister unto him

in holy things.

12 And when the morning was

come, he called together all Israel,

six hundred thousand men; and

showed to the princes their seals

and opened the tabernacle of

witness; and brought forth the

rods.

13 And the rod of Aaron was

found not only to have blossomed,

but also to have fruit upon it.

14 What think you, beloved?

Did not Moses before know what

should happen?

15 Yes verily: but to the end

there might be no division, nor

tumult in Israel, he did in this

manner, that the name of the true

and only God might be glorified;

to whom be honour for ever and

ever, Amen.

16 So likewise our Apostles

knew by our Lord Jesus Christ,

that there should contentions arise,

upon account of the ministry.

17 And therefore having a perfect

fore-knowledge of this, they

appointed persons, as we have

before said, and then a gave

direction, how, when they should

die, other chosen and approved men

should succeed in their ministry.

18 Wherefore we cannot think

that those may justly be thrown

out of their ministry, who were

either appointed by them, or

afterwards chosen by other eminent

men, with the consent of the whole

church; and who have with all

lowliness and innocency ministered

to the flock of Church, in peace,

and without self-interest, and

were for a long time commended

by all.

19 For it would be no small sin

in us, should we cast off those

from their ministry, who holily

and without blame fulfil the

duties of it.

20 Blessed are those priests,

who having finished their course

before these times, have obtained

a fruitful and perfect dissolution

for they have no fear, lest any one

should turn them out of the place

which is now appointed for them.

21 But we see how you have

put out some, who lived reputably

among you, from the ministry,

which by their innocence they had

adorned.

CHAPTER XX.

He exerts them to peace from examples out of

the Holy Scriptures,

20 particularly from St. Paul's exhortation to them.

YE are contentious, brethren,

and zealous for things that

pertain not unto salvation.

2 Look into the Holy Scriptures,

which are the true words of the

Holy Ghost. Ye know that there

is nothing unjust or counterfeit

written in them.

3 There you shall not find that

righteous men were ever cast off

by such as were good themselves.

4 They were persecuted, but it

was by the wicked and unjust.

5 They were cast into prison,

but they were cast in by those that

were unholy.

6 They were stoned, but it was

by transgressors.

7 They were killed, but by accursed

men, and such as had taken up an

unjust envy against them.

8 And all these things they

underwent gloriously.

9 For what shall we say,

brethren? Was Daniel cast into the

den of lions, by men fearing

God? Shadrach, Meshach, and

Abednego, were they cast into the

fiery furnace by men, professing

the excellent and glorious worship

of the Most High? God forbid.

10 What kind of persons then

were they that did these things?

They were men abominable, full

of all wickedness; who were

incensed; to so great a degree,

as to bring those into sufferings,

who with a holy and unblameable

purpose of mind worshipped God:

not knowing that the Most High is

the protector and defender of all

such as with a pure conscience

serve his holy name: to whom be

glory for ever and ever, Amen.

11 But they who with a full

persuasion have endured these

things, are made partakers of glory

and honour: and are exalted and

lifted up by God for a memorial

throughout all ages, Amen.

12 Wherefore it will behove

us also, brethren, to follow such

examples as these; for it is

written, Hold fast to such as are

holy; for they that do so shall be

sanctified.

13 And again in another place

he saith, With the pure, thou shalt

be pure (and with the elect thou

shalt be elect,) but with, the

perverse man thou shalt be perverse.

14 Let us therefore join ourselves

to the innocent and righteous; for

such are the elect of God.

15 Wherefore are there strifes,

and anger, and divisions, and

schisms, and wars, among us?

16 Have we not all one God,

and one Christ? Is not one spirit

of grace poured out upon us all?

Have we not one calling in Christ.

17 Why then do we rent and

tear in pieces the members of

Christ; and raise seditious against

our own body? And are come to such

a height of madness, as to forget

that we were members one of another?

18 Remember the words of our

Lord Jesus, (how he said, Woe to

that man by whom offences come).

It, were better for him that he

had never been born, than that he

should have offended one of my

elect. It were better for him,

that a mill-stone should be tied

about his neck, and he should be

cast into the sea, than that he

should offend one of my

little ones.

19 Your schism has perverted

many, has discouraged many: it

has caused diffidence in many, and

grief in us all. And yet your

sedition continues still.

20 Take the Epistle of the

blessed Paul the Apostle into your

hands; What was It that he wrote

to you at his first preaching the

Gospel among you?

21 Verily he did by the spirit

admonish you concerning himself,

and Cephas, and Apollos, because

that even then ye had begun to

fall into parties and factions

among yourselves.

22 Nevertheless your partiality

then led you into a much less sin

forasmuch as ye placed your

affections upon Apostles, men

of eminent reputation in the

church; and upon another, who

was greatly tried and approved

of by them.

23 But consider, we pray you,

who are they that have now led

you astray; and lessened the

reputation of that brotherly love

that was so eminent among you;

24 It is a shame, my beloved,

yea, a very great shame, and

unworthy of your Christian

profession, to hear that the

most firm and ancient church

of the Corinthians should,

by one or two persons, be led

into a sedition against its

priests.

25 And this report is come not

only to us, but to those also that

differ from us.

26 Insomuch that the name of

the Lord is blasphemed through

your folly; and even ye yourselves

are brought into danger by it.

27 Let us therefore with all

haste put an end to this sedition;

and let us fall down before the

Lord, and beseech him with tears

that he would be favourably

reconciled to us, and restore us

again to a seemly and holy course

of brotherly love.

28 For this is the gate of

righteousness, opening unto life:

As it is written, I Open unto me

the gates of righteousness; I will

go into them and will praise the

Lord. This is the gate of the Lord,

the righteous shall enter into it.

29 Although therefore many

gates are opened, yet this gate of

righteousness is that gate in Christ

at which blessed are they that

enter in, and direct their way in

holiness and righteousness; doing

all things without disorder.

30 Let a man be faithful, let

him be powerful in the utterance

of knowledge; let him be wise in

making an exact judgment of

words; let him be pure in all

his actions.

31 But still by how much the

more he seems to be above others,

by reason of these things, by so

much the more will it behove him

to be humble-minded; and to seek

what is profitable to all men, and

not his own advantage.

CHAPTER XXI.

1 The value which God, puts upon love and

unity: the effects of a true charity,

8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer.

HE that has the love that is in

Christ, let him keep the

commandments of Christ.

2 For who is able to express the

obligation of the love of God?

What man is sufficient to declare,

and is fitting, the excellency of its

beauty?

3 The height to which charity

leads, is inexpressible.

4 Charity unites us to God;

charity covers the multitude of

sins: charity endures all things;

is long-suffering in all things.

5 There is nothing base and

sordid in charity: charity lifts not

itself up above others; admits of

no divisions; is not seditious; but

does all things in peace and concord.

6 By charity were all the elect of

God made perfect: Without it nothing

is pleasing and acceptable in the

sight of God.

7 Through charity did the Lord

join us into himself; whilst for

the love that he bore towards us,

our Lord Jesus Christ gave his

own blood for us, by the will of

God; his flesh for our flesh; his

soul for our souls.

8 Ye see, beloved, how great

and wonderful a thing charity is;

and how that no expressions are

sufficient to declare its perfection.

9 But who is fit to be found in

it? Even such only as God shall

vouchsafe to make so.

10 Let us therefore pray to him,

and beseech him, that we may be

worthy of it; that so we may live

in charity; being unblameable,

without human propensities,

without respect of persons.

11 All the ages of the world,

from Adam, even unto this day,

are passed away; but they who

have been made perfect in love,

have by the grace of God obtained

a place among the righteous; and

shall be made manifest in the

judgment of the kingdom of Christ.

12 For it is written, Enter into

thy chambers for a little space, till

my anger and indignation shall

pass away: And I will remember

the good day, and, will raise you

up out of your graves.

13 Happy then shall we be,

beloved, if we shall have fulfilled

the commandments of God, in the

unity of love; that so, through

love, our sins may be forgiven us.

14 For so it is written, Blessed

are they whose iniquities are

forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the

Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose

mouth there is no guile.

15 Now this blessing is fulfilled

in those who are chosen by God

through Jesus Christ our Lord, to

whom be glory for ever and ever,

Amen.

CHAPTER XXII.

1 He exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to

repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin to God,

7 which he enforces from the example of Moses,

10 and of many among the heathen,

23 and of Judith and Esther among the Jews.

LET us therefore, as many as

have transgressed by any of

the suggestions of the adversary,

beg God's forgiveness.

2 And as for those who have

been the heads of the sedition and

faction among you, let them look

to the common end of our hope.

3 For as many as are endued

with fear and charity, would rather

they themselves should fall into

trials than their neighbours: And

choose to be themselves condemned,

rather than that the good and just

charity delivered to us, should

suffer.

4 For it is seemly for a man

to confess wherein he has

transgressed.

5 And not to harden his heart,

as the hearts of those were

hardened, who raised up sedition

against Moses the servant of God

whose punishment was manifest

unto all men, for they went down

alive into the grave; death

swallowed them up.

6 Pharaoh and his host, and

all the rulers of Egypt, their

chariots also and their horsemen,

were for no other cause drowned

in the bottom of the Red Sea,

and perished; but because they

hardened their foolish hearts,

after so many signs done in the

land of Egypt, by Moses the

servant of God.

7 Beloved, God is not indigent

of anything; nor does he demand

anything of us, but that we

should confess our sins unto him.

8 For so says the Holy David,

I will confess unto the Lord, and

it shall please him better than a

young bullock that hath horns and

hoof. Let the poor see it and be

glad.

9 And again he saith, Offer

unto God the sacrifice of praise,

and pay thy vows unto the Most

Highest. And call upon me in the

day of trouble, and I will deliver

thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

The sacrifice of God is a broken

spirit.

10 Ye know, beloved, ye know

full well, the Holy Scriptures;

and have thoroughly searched into

the oracles of God: call them

therefore to your remembrance.

11 For when Moses went up into

the mount, and tarried there forty

days and forty nights in fasting

and humiliation; God said unto

him, Arise, Moses, and get thee

down quickly from hence, for thy

people whom thou broughtest out

of the land of Egypt, have

committed wickedness: they have

soon transgressed the way that

I commanded them, and have made

to themselves graven images.

12 And the Lord said unto him,

I have spoken unto thee several

times, saying, I have seen this

people, and behold it is a stiff-

necked people: let me therefore

destroy them, and put out their

name from under heaven. And I

will make unto thee a great and a

wonderful nation, that shall be

much larger than this.

13 But Moses said, Not so,

Lord: Forgive now this people

their sin; or if thou wilt not,

blot me also out of the book of

the living. O admirable charity!

O insuperable perfection! The servant

speaks freely to his Lord: He beseeches

him either to forgive the people,

or to destroy him together with them.

14 Who is there among you

that is generous? Who that is

compassionate? Who that has

any charity? Let him say, if this

sedition, this contention, and these

schisms, be upon my account,

I am ready to depart; to go away

whithersoever you please; and do

whatsoever ye shall command me:

Only let the flock of Christ be in

peace, with the elders that are set

over it.

15 He that shall do this, shall

get to himself a very great honour

in the Lord; and there is no place

but what will be ready to receive

him: For the earth is the Lord's,

and the fulness thereof.

16 These things, they who have

their conversation towards God

not to be repented of, both have

done, and will always be ready to

do.

17 Nay and even the Gentiles

themselves have given us examples

of this kind.

18 For we read, How many

kings and princes, in times of

pestilence, being warned by their

oracles, have given up themselves

unto death; that by their own

blood, they might deliver their

country from destruction.

19 Others have forsaken their

cities, so that they might put an

end to the seditions of them.

20 We know how many among

ourselves, have given up

themselves unto bonds, that

thereby they might free others

from them.

21 Others have sold themselves

into bondage, that they might feed

their brethren with the price of

themselves.

22 And even many women,

being strengthened by the grace

of God, have done many glorious

and manly things on such occasions.

23 The blessed Judith, when

her city was besieged, desired the

elders, that they would suffer her

to go into the camp of their enemies;

and she went out exposing herself

to danger, for the love she bare

to her country and her people

that were besieged: and the

Lord delivered Holofernes into

the hands of a woman.

24 Nor did Esther, being perfect

in faith, expose herself to any

less hazard, for the delivery of the

twelve tribes of Israel, in danger

of being destroyed. For by fasting

and humbling herself, she entreated

the Great Maker of all things, the

God of spirits; so that beholding

the humility of her soul, he

delivered the people, for whose

sake she was in peril.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The benefit of mutual advice and correction.

He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.

WHEREFORE let us also pray

for such as are fallen into

sin. That being endued with

humility and moderation, they

may submit not unto us, but to

the wish of God.

2 For by this means they shall

obtain a fruitful and perfect

remembrance, with mercy, both in

our prayers to God, and in our

mention of them before his saints.

3 Let us receive correction, at

which no man ought to repine.

4 Beloved, the reproof and the

correction which we exercise

towards one another, is good, and

exceeding profitable: for it unites

us the more closely to the will of

God.

5 For, so says the Holy Scripture,

The Lord corrected me, but he did

not deliver me over unto death. For

whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,

and scourgeth every son whom he

receiveth.

6 The righteous, saith he, shall

instruct me in mercy and reprove

me; but let not oil of sinners

make fat my head.

7 And again he saith, Happy

is the man whom God correcteth;

therefore despise not thou the

chastening of the Almighty.

8 For he maketh gore and bindeth

up; he woundeth and his hands

make whole.

9 He shall deliver thee in six

troubles; yea in seven there shall

no evil touch thee. In famine he

shall redeem thee from death; and

in war from the power of the sword.

10 Thou shalt be hid from the

scourge of the tongue; neither

shalt thou be afraid of destruction

when it cometh.

11 Thou shalt laugh at the

wicked and sinners; neither shalt

thou be afraid of the beasts of the

earth. The wild beast shall be at

peace with thee.

12 Then shalt thou know that

thy house shall be in peace; and

the habitation of thy tabernacle

shall not err. Then shalt know

also that thy seed shall be great

and thy offspring as the grass of

the earth.

13 Thou shalt come to thy

grave as the ripe corn, that is

taken in due time: like as a shock

of corn cometh in, in its season.

14 Ye see, beloved, how there

shall be a defence to those that are

corrected of the Lord. For being

a good instructor, he is willing to

admonish us by his holy discipline.

15 Do ye therefore who laid the

first foundation of this sedition,

submit yourselves unto your

priests; and be instructed unto

repentance, bending the knees of

your hearts.

16 Learn to be subject, laying

aside all proud and arrogant

boasting of your tongues.

17 For it is better for you to be

found little, and approved, in the

sheepfold of Christ, than to seem

to yourselves better than others,

and be cast out of his fold.

18 For thus speaks the

excellent and all-virtuous wisdom,

Behold I will pour out the word

of my spirit upon you, I will make

known my speech unto you.

19 Because I called and ye

would not hear, I stretched out

my hand and ye regarded not.

20 But ye have set at nought all

my counsel, and would none of

my reproof. I will also laugh at

your calamity, and mock when

your fear cometh.

21 When your fear cometh as

desolation, and your destruction

as a whirlwind, when distress and

anguish cometh upon you.

22 Then shall ye call upon me

but I will not hear you: the

wicked shall seek me but they

shall not find me. For that they

hated knowledge, and did not seek

the fear of the Lord.

23 They would not hearken

unto my counsel: they despised

all my reproof. Therefore shall

they eat of the fruit of their own

ways; and be filled with their

own wickedness.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 Recommends them to God. Desires speedily to hear

that this Epistle has had a good effect upon them.

4 Conclusion.

NOW God, the inspector of all

things, the Father of Spirits,

and the Lord of all flesh, who

hath chosen our Lord Jesus Christ,

and us by him, to be his peculiar

people;

2 Grant to every soul of man

that calleth upon his glorious and

holy name, faith, fear, peace,

long-suffering, patience, temperance,

holiness and sobriety, unto all

well-pleasing in his sight;

through our High-Priest and

Protector Jesus Christ, by whom

be glory and majesty, and power,

and honour unto him now and for

ever more, Amen.

3 The messengers whom we

have sent unto you, Claudius,

Ephebus, and Valerios Bito, with

Fortunatus, send back to us again

with all speed, in peace and with

joy, that they may the sooner

acquaint us with your peace and

concord, so much prayed for and

desired by us: and that we may

rejoice in your good order.

4 The grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ be with you, and with all

that are any where called by God

through him: To whom be honour

and glory, and might and majesty,

and eternal dominion, by Christ

Jesus, from everlasting to

everlasting, Amen.

REFERENCES TO CLEMENT'S FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.

[Clement was a disciple of Peter, and afterwards Bishop of Rome. Clemens

Alexandrinus calls him an apostle. Jerome says he was an apostolic man,

and Rafinus that he was almost an apostle. Eusebius calls this the

wonderful Epistle of St. Clement, and says that it was publicly read in

the assemblies of the primitive church. It is included in one of the

ancient collections of the Canon Scripture. Its genuineness has been

much questioned, particularly by Photius, patriarch of Constantinople in

the ninth century, who objects that Clement speaks of worlds beyond the

ocean: that he has not written worthily of the divinity of Christ; and

that to prove the possibility of a future resurrection, he introduces the

fabulous story of the phoenix's revival from its own ashes. To the latter

objection, Archbishop Wake replies that the generality of the ancient

Fathers have made use of the same instance in proof of the same point;

and asks, if St. Clement really believed that there was such a bird, and

that it did revive out of the cinders of the body after burning, where

was the, great harm either in giving credit to such a wonder, or,

believing it, to make rich a use as he here does of it?—The present is

the Archbishop's translation from the ancient Greek copy of the Epistle,

which is at the end of the celebrated Alexandrine MS. of the Septuagint

and New Testament, presented by Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, to King

Charles the First, now in the British Museum. The Archbishop, in

prefacing his translation, esteems it a great blessing that this

"Epistle" was at last so happily found out, for the increase and

confirmation both of our faith and our charity.]

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF

CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS

CHAPTER I.

That we ought to value our salvation;

and to show that we do by a sincere obedience.

BRETHREN, we ought so to

think of Jesus Christ as of

God: as of the judge of the living,

and the dead; nor should we think

any less of our salvation.

2 For if we think meanly of

him, we shall hope only to receive

some small things from him.

3 And if we do so, we shall

sin; not considering from whence

we have been called, and by whom,

and to what place; and how much

Jesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer

for our sakes.

4 What recompense then shall

we render unto him? Or what

fruit that may be worthy of what

he has given to us?

5 For indeed how great are

those advantages which we owe to

him in relation to our holiness?

He has illuminated us; as a father,

he has called us his children;

he has saved us who were lost and

undone.

6 What praise shall we give to

him? Or what reward that may

be answerable to those things

which we have received.

7 We were defective in our

understandings; worshipping stones,

and wood; gold, and silver, and

brass, the work of men's hands;

and our whole life was nothing

else but death.

8 Wherefore being encompassed

with darkness, and having such a

mist before our eyes, we have

looked up, and through his will

have laid aside the cloud wherewith

we were surrounded.

9 For he had compassion upon

us, and being moved in his bowels

towards us, he saved us; having

beheld in us much error, and

destruction; and seeing that we had

no hope of salvation, but only

through him.

10 For he called us, who were

not; and was pleased from nothing

to give us being.

CHAPTER II.

1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah,

that the Gentiles should be saved;

8 And that this ought to engage, such especially

to live well; without which they will still miscarry.

REJOICE, thou barren, that

bearest not, break forth and

cry thou that travailest not; for

she that is desolate hath many

more children than she that hath

a husband.

2 In that saying, Rejoice thou

barren that bearest not, he spake

of us: for our church was barren

before children were given unto it.

3 And again; when he said,

Cry thou that travailest not:

he implied thus much: That after

the manner of a woman in travail,

we should not cease to put up our

prayers unto God abundantly.

4 And for what follows, because

she that is desolate hath more

children than she that hath a husband;

it was therefore added, because

our people which seemed to have

been forsaken by God, now believing

in him, are become more than they

who seemed to have God.

5 And another Scripture saith,

I came not to call the righteous

but sinners (to repentance). The

meaning of which is this; that

those who were lost must be saved:

6 For that is, indeed, truly great

and wonderful, not to confirm those

things that are yet standing, but

those which are falling,

7 Even so did it seem good to

Christ to save what was lost; and

when he came into the world, he

saved many, and called us who

were already lost.

8 Seeing then he has showed

so great mercy towards us; and

chiefly for that we who are alive,

do now no longer sacrifice to dead

Gods, nor pay any worship to

them, but have by him been

brought to the knowledge of

the Father of truth.

9 Whereby shall we show that

we do indeed know him, and by

not denying him by whom we

have come to the knowledge of

him.

10 For even he himself saith,

Whosoever shall confess me before

men, him will I confess before

my Father. This therefore is our

reward, if we shall confess him by

whom we have been saved.

11 But, wherein must we confess

him?—Namely, in doing those

things which he saith, and not

disobeying his commandments

by worshipping him not with

our lips only, but with all our

heart, and with all our mind. For

he saith in Isaiah; This people

honoureth me with their lips, but

their heart is far from me.

12 Let us then not only call

him Lord; for that will not save

us. For he saith: Not everyone

that saith unto me Lord, Lord,

shall be saved, but he that doth

righteousness.

13 Wherefore, brethren,

let us confess him by our works;

by loving one another; in not

committing adultery, not speaking

evil against each other, not envying

one another; but by being temperate,

merciful, good.

14 Let us also have a mutual

sense of one another's sufferings;

and not be covetous of money; but

let us, by our good works, confess

God, and not by those that are

otherwise.

15 Also let us not fear men: but

rather God. Wherefore, if we

should do such wicked things, the

Lord hath said; Though ye should

be joined unto me, even in my very

bosom, and not keep my commandments,

I would cast you off, and say unto

you; Depart from me; I know not

whence you are, ye workers of iniquity.

CHAPTER III.

1 That, whilst we secure the other world,

we need not fear what can befall its in this.

5 That, if we follow the interests of this present world,

we cannot escape the punishment of the other.

10 Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness,

14 and that presently: because in this world

is the only time for repentance.

THEREFORE brethren, leaving

willingly for conscience sake

our sojourning in this world,

let us do the will of him who has

called us, and not fear to depart

out of this world.

2 For the Lord saith, Ye shall

be as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Peter answered and said, What if

the wolves shall tear in pieces the

sheep? Jesus said unto Peter,

Let not the sheep fear the wolves

after death: And ye also fear not

those that kill you, and after that

have no more than they can do unto

you; but fear him who after you

are dead, has power to cast both

soul and body into hell-fire.

3 For consider, brethren, that

the sojourning of this flesh in the

present world, is but little, and of

a short continuance, but the promise

of Christ is great and wonderful,

even the rest of the kingdom

that is to come, and of eternal life.

4 What then must we do that

we may attain unto it?—We must

order our conversation, holy and

righteously, and look upon all the

things of this world as none of

ours, and not desire them. For,

if we desire to possess them we

fall from the way of righteousness.

5 For thus saith the Lord, No

servant can serve two masters. If

therefore we shall desire to serve

God and Mammon, it will be without

profit to us. For what will it profit,

if one gain the whole world, and lose

his own soul?

6 Now this world and that

to come are two enemies. This

speaketh of adultery and corruption,

of covetousness and deceit; but that

renounces these things.

7 We cannot, therefore, be the

friends of both; but we must

resolve by forsaking the one,

to enjoy the other. And we think

it is better to hate the present

things, as little, short-lived,

and corruptible; and to love

those which are to come, which

are truly good and incorruptible.

8 For, if we do the will of

Christ, we shall find rest:

but if not, nothing shall deliver

us from eternal punishment if we

shall disobey his commands. For

even thus saith the Scripture in

the prophet Ezekiel, If Noah, Job,

and Daniel should rise up, they

shall not deliver their children in

captivity.

9 Wherefore, if such righteous

men are not able by their

righteousness to deliver their

children; how can we hope to

enter into the kingdom of God,

except we keep our baptism holy

and undefiled? Or who shall be

our advocate, unless we shall

be found to have done what is holy

and just?

10 Let us, therefore, my brethren,

contend with all earnestness,

knowing that our combat is at

hand; and that many go long

voyages to encounter for a

corruptible reward.

11 And yet all are not crowned,

but they only that labour much,

and strive gloriously. Let us,

therefore, so contend, that we may

all be crowned. Let us run in the

straight road, the race that is

incorruptible: and let us in great

numbers pass unto it, and strive

that we may receive the crown.

But if we cannot all be crowned,

let us come as near to it as we are

able.

12 Moreover, we must consider,

that he who contends in a corruptible

combat; if he be found doing anything

that is not fair, is taken away and

scourged, and cast out of the lists.

What think ye then that he shall

suffer, who does anything that is

not fitting in the combat of

immortality?

13 Thus speaks the prophet

concerning those who keep not

their seal; Their worm shall not

die, and their, fire shall not be

quenched; and they shall be for a

spectacle unto all flesh.

14 Let us therefore repent, whilst

we are yet upon the earth: for we

are as clay in the hand of the

artificer. For the potter if he

make a vessel, and it be turned

amiss in his hands, or broken,

again forms it anew; but if he has

gone so far as to throw it into the

furnace of fire, he can no more

bring any remedy to it.

15 So we, whilst we are in this

world should repent with our whole

heart for whatsoever evil we have

done in the flesh; while we have

yet the time of repentance, that

we may be saved by the Lord.

16 For after we shall have

departed out of this world, we

shall no longer be able either

to confess our sins or repent

in the other.

17 Wherefore, brethren, let us,

doing the will of the Father,

and keeping our flesh pure,

and observing the commandments

of the Lord, lay hold on eternal

life: for the Lord saith in the

Gospel, If ye have not kept that

which was little, who will give

you that which is great?—

For I say unto you, he that is

faithful in that which is

least, is faithful also in much.

18 This, therefore, is what he

saith; keep your bodies pure, and

your seal without spot, that ye

may receive eternal life.

CHAPTER IV.

We shall rise, and be judged, in our bodies;

therefore we must live well in them;

6 that we ought, for our own interest,

to live well; though few seem to

mind what, really is for their advantage;

10 and we should not deceive ourselves:

seeing God will certainly judge us,

and render to all of us according to our works.

AND let not any one among you

say, that this very flesh is

not judged, neither raised up.

Consider, in what were you saved

in what did you look up, if not

whilst you were in the flesh?

2 We must, therefore, keep our

flesh as the temple of God. For

in like manner as ye were called

in the flesh, ye shall also come

to judgment in the flesh. Our one

Lord Jesus Christ, who has saved

us, being first a spirit, was made

flesh, and so called us; even so we

also shall in this flesh receive the

reward.

3 Let us, therefore, love one

another, that we may attain unto

the kingdom of God. Whilst we

have time to be healed, let us

deliver up ourselves to God our

physician, giving our reward unto

him.

4 And what reward shall we

give?—Repentance out of a pure

heart. For he knows all things

beforehand, and searches out our

very hearts.

5 Let us, therefore, give praise

unto him: not only with our

mouths, but with all our souls;

that he may receive us as children.

For so the Lord hath said; They

are my brethren, who do the will

of my father.

6 Wherefore, my brethren,

let us do the will of the Father,

who hath called us, that we may

live. Let us pursue virtue, and

forsake wickedness, which leadeth

us into sins; and let us flee all

ungodliness, that evils overtake

us not.

7 For, if we shall do our diligence

to live well, peace shall follow us.

And yet how hard is it to find a man

that does this? For almost all are

led by human fears, choosing rather

the present enjoyments, than the

future promise.

8 For they know not how great

a torment the present enjoyments

bring with them; nor what delights

the future promise.

9 And if they themselves only

did this, it might the more easily

be endured; but now they go on

to infect innocent souls with their

evil doctrines; not knowing that

both themselves, and those that

hear them, shall receive a double

condemnation.

10 Let us, therefore, serve

God with a pure heart, and we

shall be righteous: but if we shall

not serve him, because we do not

believe the promise of God, we

shall be miserable.

11 For thus saith the prophet;

Miserable are the double-minded,

who doubt in their heart, and say,

these things we have heard, even.

in the time of our fathers, but we

have seen none of them, though

we have expected them from day

to day.

12 O ye fools! compare yourselves

to a tree; take the vine for an

example. First it sheds its leaves,

then it buds, then come the sour

grapes, then the ripe fruit;

even so my people has borne its

disorders and afflictions, but shall

hereafter receive good things.

13 Wherefore my brethren, let

us not doubt in our minds, but let

us expect with hope, that we may

receive our reward; for he is

faithful, who has promised that

he will render to everyone a

reward according to his works.

14 If, therefore, we shall do

what is just in the sight of God

we shall enter into his kingdom,

and shall receive the promises;

Which neither eye has seen, nor

ear heard, nor have entered into

the heart of man.

15 Wherefore let us every

hour expect the kingdom of God

in love and righteousness; because

we know not the day of God's

appearing.

CHAPTER V.

A FRAGMENT.

Man's immortal nature a type of the Lord's kingdom.

1 * * * For the Lord

himself, being asked by a certain

person, When his kingdom should

come? answered, When two shall

be one, and that which is without

as that which is within; and the

male with the female, neither male

nor female.

2 Now two are one, when we

speak the truth to each other, and

there is (without hypocrisy) one

seal in two bodies:

3 And that which is without as

that which, is within;—He means

this; he calls the soul that which

is within, and the body that which

is without. As therefore thy body

appears, so let thy soul be seen by

its good works.

4 And the male with, the female,

neither Male nor female;—He

means this; he calls our anger

the male, our concupiscence the

female.

5 When therefore a man is come

to such a pass that he is subject

neither to the one nor the other of

these (both of which, through the

prevalence of custom, and an evil

education, cloud and darken the

reason,)

6 But rather, having dispelled

the mist arising from them, and

being full of shame, shall by

repentance have united both his

soul and spirit in the obedience

of reason; then, as Paul says, there is

in us neither male nor female.

REFERENCE TO THE SECOND EPISTLE THE CORINTHIANS.

[Archbishop Wake is the translator of this Second Epistle, which he says

was not of so great reputation among the primitive Fathers as the first.

He defends it notwithstanding; and in answer to those who objected to

Clement's First Epistle, that it did not duly honour the Trinity; the

Archbishop refers to this as containing proof of the writer's fulness of

belief on that point.]

THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF BARNABAS.

CHAPTER I.

Preface to the Epistle.

ALL happiness to you my sons

and daughters, in the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ, who

loved us, in peace.

2 Having perceived abundance

of knowledge of the great and

excellent laws of God to be in you,

I exceedingly rejoice in your blessed

and admirable souls, because ye

have so worthily received the

grace which was grafted in you.

3 For which cause I am full of

joy, hoping the rather to be saved;

inasmuch as I truly see a spirit

infused into you, from the pure

fountain of God:

4 Having this persuasion, and

being fully convinced thereof,

because that since I have begun to

speak unto you, I have had a more

than ordinary good success in the

way of the law of the Lord, which

is in Christ,

5 For which cause brethren, I

also think verily that I love you

above my own soul; because that

therein dwelleth the greatness of

faith and charity, as also the hope

of that life which is to come.

6 Wherefore considering this,

that if I shall take care to

communicate to you a part of what

I have received, it shall turn to

my reward, that I have served such

good souls. I gave diligence to

write in a few words unto you;

that together with your faith, your

knowledge also may be perfect.

7 There are therefore three

things ordained by the Lord; the

hope of life, the beginning, and

the completion of it.

8 For the Lord hath both

declared unto us, by the prophets,

those things that are past; and

opened to us the beginnings of

those that are to come.

9 Wherefore, it will behove us,

as he has spoken, to come more

holily, and nearer to his altar.

10 I therefore, not as a teacher

but as one of you, will endeavour

to lay before you a few things by

which you may, on many accounts,

become the more joyful.

CHAPTER II.

That God has abolished the legal sacrifices,

to introduce the spiritual righteousness of the Gospel.

SEEING then the days are

exceedingly evil, and the

adversary has got the power of this

present world we ought to give the

more diligence to inquire into the

righteous judgments of the Lord.

2 Now the assistants of our

faith are fear and patience; our

fellow-combatants, long suffering

and continence.

3 Whilst these remain pure

in what relates unto the Lord,

wisdom, and understanding, and

science, and knowledge, rejoice

together with them.

4 For God has manifested to us

by all the prophets, that he has no

occasion for our sacrifices, or

burnt-offerings, or oblations:

saying thus; To what purpose is

the multitude of your sacrifices

unto me, saith the Lord.

5 I am full of the burnt-offerings

of rams, and the fat of fed beasts;

and I delight not in the blood of

bullocks, or of he-goats.

6 When ye come to appear

before me, who hath required

this at your hands? Ye shall no

more tread my courts.

7 Bring no more vain oblations,

incense is an abomination unto me

your new moons and sabbaths,

and the calling of assemblies

I cannot bear with, it is iniquity,

even the solemn meeting; your

new moons and your appointed

feasts my soul hateth.

8 These things therefore hath

God abolished, that the new law

of our Lord Jesus Christ, which

is without the yoke of any such

necessity, might have the spiritual

offering of, men themselves.

9 For so the Lord saith again

to those heretofore; Did I at all

command your fathers when they

came out of the land of Egypt

concerning burnt-offerings of

sacrifices?

10 But this I commanded them,

saying, Let none of you imagine

evil in your hearts against his

neighbour, and love no false oath.

11 Forasmuch then as we are

not without understanding, we

ought to apprehend the design of

our merciful Father. For he

speaks to us, being willing that

we who have been in the same

error about the sacrifices, should

seek and find how to approach

unto him.

12 And therefore he thus

bespeaks us, The sacrifice of God

(is a broken spirit,) a broken and

contrite heart—God will not despise.

13 Wherefore brethren, we ought

the more diligently to inquire

after those things that belong

to our salvation, that the

adversary may not have any

entrance into us, and deprive

us of our spiritual life.

14 Wherefore he again speaketh

to them, concerning these things;

Ye shall not fast as ye do this day,

to make your voice to be heard on high.

15 Is it such a fast that I have

chosen? A day for a man to afflict

his soul? Is it to bow down his

head like a bulrush, and to spread

sackcloth and ashes under him?

Wilt thou call this a fast, and an

acceptable day to the Lord?

16 But to us he saith on this

wise: Is not this the fast that I

have chosen, to loose the bands of

wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens,

and to let the oppressed go free:

and that ye break every yoke?

17 Is it not to deal thy bread

to the hungry, and that thou bring

the poor that are cast out to thy

house? When thou seest the naked

that thou cover him, and that thou

hide not thyself from thy own

flesh.

18 Then shall thy light break

forth as the morning, and thy

health shall spring forth speedily;

and thy righteousness shall go

before thee; the glory of the Lord

shall be thy reward.

19 Then shalt thou call and

the Lord shall answer; thou shalt

cry and he shall say, Here I am;

if thou put away from the midst of

thee the yoke; the putting forth

of the finger, and speaking vanity;

and if thou draw out thy soul to

the hungry; and satisfy the

afflicted soul.

20 In this, therefore, brethren,

God has manifested his foreknowledge

and love for us; because the

people which he has purchased to

his beloved Son were to believe

in sincerity; and therefore he has

shown these things to all of us,

that we should not run as

proselytes to the Jewish Law.

CHAPTER III.

The prophecies of Daniel concerning the ten kings,

and the coming of Christ.

WHEREFORE it is necessary

that searching diligently into

those things which are soon to

come to pass, we should write to

you what may serve to keep you

whole.

2 To which end, let us flee from

every evil work and hate the errors

of the present time, that we may

be happy in that which is to come.

3 Let us not give ourselves the

liberty of disputing with the wicked

and sinners; lest we should chance

in time to become like unto them.

4 For the consummation of sin

is come, as it is written, as the

prophet Daniel says. And for this

end the Lord hath shortened the

times and the days, that his

beloved might hasten his coming

to his inheritance.

5 For so the prophet speaks;

There shall ten kings reign in

the heart, and there shall rise last

of all another little one, and he

shall humble three kings.

6 And again Daniel speaks in

like manner concerning the kingdoms;

and I saw the fourth beast dreadful

and terrible, and strong exceedingly;

and it had ten horns. I considered

the horns, and behold there came up

among them another little horn,

before which were three of the first

horns plucked up by the roots.

7 We ought therefore to understand

this also: And I beseech you, as one

of your own brethren, loving you all

beyond my own life, that you look

well to yourselves, and be not like

to those who add sin to sin, and say;

That their covenant is ours also.

Nay, but it is ours only: for they

have forever lost that which Moses

received.

8 For thus saith the Scripture

And Moses continued fasting forty

days and forty nights in the Mount;

and he received the covenant from

the Lord, even the two tables of

stone, written by the hand of God.

9 But having turned themselves

to idols they lost it; as the Lord

also said to Moses; Moses, go

down quickly, for thy people which

thou hast brought forth out of

Egypt, have corrupted themselves,

and turned aside from the way

which I commanded them. And

Moses cast the two tables out of

his hands; and their covenant was

broken; that the love of Jesus

might be sealed in your hearts,

unto the hope of his faith.

10 Wherefore let us give heed

unto the last times. For all the

time past of our life and our faith,

will profit us nothing; unless we

continue to hate what is evil, and

to withstand the future temptations.

So the Son of God tells us; Let us

resist all iniquity and hate it.

11 Wherefore consider the works

of the evil way. Do not withdraw

yourselves from others as if you

were already justified; but coming

altogether into one place, inquire

what is agreeable to and profitable

for the beloved of God. For the

Scripture saith; Woe unto them

that are wise in their own eyes;

and prudent in their sight.

12 Let us become spiritually a

perfect temple to God. As much

as in us lies let us meditate upon

the fear of God; and strive to the

utmost of our power to keep his

commandments; that we may rejoice

in his righteous judgments.

13 For God will judge the world

without respect of persons and

everyone shall receive according

to his works.

14 If a man shall be good, his

righteousness shall go before him

if wicked, the reward of his

wickedness shall follow him.

15 Take heed therefore lest

sitting still now, that when we are

called, we fall asleep in our sins;

and the wicked one getting the

dominion over us, stir us up, and

shut us out of the kingdom of the

Lord.

16 Consider this also: although

you have seen so great signs and

wonders done among the people

of the Jews, yet this notwithstanding

the Lord hath forsaken them.

17 Beware, therefore, lest it

happen to us; as it is written

There may be many called, but

few chosen.

CHAPTER IV.

That Christ was to suffer is proved

from the prophecies concerning him.

For this cause did our Lord

vouchsafe to give up his body

to destruction, that through the

forgiveness of our sins we might

be sanctified; that is, by the

sprinkling of his blood.

2 Now for what concerns the

things that are written about him,

some belong to the people of the

Jews, and some to us.

3 For thus saith the Scripture;

He was wounded for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities,

and by his blood we are healed.

He was led as a lamb to the

slaughter, and as a sheep before

his shearers is dumb, so he

opened not his mouth.

4 Wherefore we ought the more

to give thanks unto God, for that

he hath both declared unto us

what is passed, and not suffered

us to be without understanding of

those things that are to come.

5 But to them he saith; The

nets are not unjustly spread for

the birds.

6 This he spake, because a man

will justly perish, if having the

knowledge of the way of truth, he

shall nevertheless not refrain

himself from the way of darkness.

7 And for this cause the Lord

was content to suffer for our souls,

although he be the Lord of the

whole earth; to whom God said

before the beginning of the world,

Let us make man after our own

image and likeness.

8 Now how he suffered for us,

seeing it was by men that he

underwent it, I will shew you.

9 The prophets having received

from him the gifts of prophecy,

spake before concerning him:

10 But he, that he might

abolish death, and make known the

resurrection from the dead, was

content, as it was necessary, to

appear in the flesh, that he might

make good the promise before given

to our fathers, and preparing

himself a new people, might

demonstrate to them whilst he was

upon earth, that after the

resurrection he would judge

the world.

11 And finally, teaching the

people of Israel, and doing many

wonders and signs among them,

he preached to them, and shewed

the exceeding great love which

he bare towards them.

12 And when he chose his apostles,

which were afterwards to publish

his Gospel, he took men who had

been very great sinners; that

thereby he might plainly shew

That he came not to call the

righteous but sinners to

repentance.

13 Then he clearly manifested

himself to be the Son of God.

For had he not come in the flesh,

how should men have been able to

look upon him, that they might be

saved?

14 Seeing that if they beheld

only the sun, which was the work

of his hands, and shall hereafter

cease to be, they are not able to

endure steadfastly to look against

the rays of it;

15 Wherefore the Son of God

came in the flesh for this cause,

that he might fill up the measure

of their iniquity, who have

persecuted his prophets unto

death. And for the same reason

also he suffered.

16 For God hath said of the

stripes of his flesh, that they were

from them. And, I will smite the

shepherd, and the sheep of the

flock shall be scattered.

17 Thus he would suffer, because

it behoved him to suffer upon the

cross.

18 For thus one saith,

prophesying concerning him;

Spare my soul from the sword.

And again, My flesh trembleth

for fear.

19 And again, the congregation

of wicked doers rose up against

me, (They have pierced my

hands and my feet).

20 And again he saith, I gave

my back to the smiters, and my

face I set as a hard rock.

CHAPTER V.

The subject continued.

And when he had fulfilled the

commandment of God, What

says he? Who will contend with

me? Let him stand against me

or who is he that will implead

me? Let him draw near to the

servant of the Lord. Woe be to

you! Because ye shall all wax

old as a garment, the moth

shall eat you up.

2 And again adds the prophet,

He is put for a stone of

stumbling. Behold I lay in Zion

for a foundation, a precious

stone a choice corner-stone;

an honourable stone. And what

follows? And he that hopeth

in him shall live for ever.

3 What then? Is our hope built

upon a stone? God forbid. But

because the Lord hath hardened

his flesh against sufferings, he

saith, I have put me as a firm

rock.

4 And again the prophet adds;

The stone which the builders

refused has become the head of

the corner. And again he saith

This is the great and wonderful

day which the Lord hath made.

I write these things the more

plainly to you that ye may

understand: I For indeed I

could be content even to die

for your sakes.

5 But what saith the prophet

again; The counsel of the wicked

encompassed me about. They

came about me, as bees about the

honey-comb: and, Upon my vesture

they cast lots.

6 Forasmuch then as our Saviour

was to appear in the flesh and

suffer, his passion was hereby

foretold.

7 For thus saith the prophet

against Israel: "Woe be to their

soul because they have taken

wicked counsel against themselves,

saying; let us lay snares for the

righteous, because he is

unprofitable to us."

8 Moses also in like manner

speaketh to them; Behold thus

saith the Lord God; Enter ye

into the good land of which the

Lord hath sworn to Abraham, and

Isaac, and Jacob, that he would

give it you, and possess it; a land

flowing with milk and honey.

9 Now what the spiritual meaning

of this is, learn; It is as if it

had been said, Put your trust in

Jesus, who shall be manifested to

you in the flesh. For man is the

earth which suffers: forasmuch

as out of the substance of the

earth Adam was formed.

10 What therefore does he mean

when he says, Into a good land

flowing with milk and honey?

Blessed be our Lord, who has

given us wisdom, and a heart to

understand his secrets. For so

says the prophet, "Who shall

understand the hard sayings of the

Lord? But he that is wise, and

intelligent, and that loves his

Lord."

11 Seeing therefore he has

renewed us by the remission of our

sins, he has put us into another

frame, that we should have souls

like those of children, forming

us again himself by the spirit.

12 For thus the Scripture saith

concerning us, where it introduceth

the Father speaking to the Son;

Let us make man after our likeness

and similitude; and let them have

dominion over the beasts of the

earth, and over the fowls of the

air, and the fish of the sea.

13 And when the Lord saw the

man which he had formed, that

behold he was very good; he said,

Increase and multiply, and

replenish the earth. And this

he spake to his son.

14 I will now show you, how he

made us a new creature, in the

latter days.

15 The Lord saith; Behold I

will make the last as the first.

Wherefore the prophet thus spake,

Enter into the land flowing with

milk and honey, and have dominion

over it.

16 Wherefore ye see how we

are again formed anew; as also

he speaks by another prophet;

Behold saith the Lord, I will take

from them; that is, from those

whom the spirit I of the Lord

foresaw, their hearts of stone,

and I will put into them hearts

of flesh.

17 Because he was about to be

made manifest in the flesh and to

dwell in us.

18 For, my brethren, the

habitation of our heart is a 'holy

temple unto the Lord. For the prophet

saith again, In what place shall I

appear before the Lord my God,

and be glorified?

19 He answers I will confess

unto thee in the congregation in

the midst of my brethren; and will

sing unto thee in the church of

the saints:

20 Wherefore we are they whom

he has brought into that good land.

21 But what signifies the milk

and honey? Because as the child

is nourished first with milk, and

then with honey; so we being

kept alive by the belief of his

promises and his word, shall live

and have dominion over the land.

22 For he foretold before, saying,

increase and multiply, and have

dominion over the beasts, fishes,

and birds.

23 But who is there that is now

able to have this dominion over

the wild beasts, or fishes, or fowls

of the air? For you know that to

rule, is to have power; that a man

should be set over what he rules.

24 But forasmuch as this we

have not now, he tells us when we

shall have it; namely, when we

shall become perfect, that we may

be made the inheritors of the

covenant of the Lord.

CHAPTER VI.

The sacrifice of Jesus, and of a goat,

an evident type of Christ crucified.

UNDERSTAND then my beloved

children, that the good God hath

before manifested all things unto

us, that we might know to whom

we ought always to give thanks

and praise.

2 If therefore the Son of God

who is the Lord of all, and shall

come to judge both the quick and

dead, hath suffered, that by his

stripes we might live; let us

believe that the Son of God could

not have suffered but for us. But

being crucified, they gave him

vinegar and gall to drink.

3 Hear therefore how the priests

of the temple did foreshow this

also: the Lord by his command

which was written, declared that

whosoever did not fast the

appointed fast he should die the

death: because he also was himself

one day to offer up his body for

our sins; that so the type of

what was done in Isaac might be

fulfilled, who was offered upon the

altar.

4 What therefore is it that he

says by the prophet? And let

them eat of the goat which is

offered in the day of the fast for

all their sins. Hearken diligently,

(my brethren,) and all the priests,

and they only shall eat the inwards

not washed with vinegar.

5 Why so? because I know

that when I shall hereafter offer

my flesh for the sins of a new

people, ye will give me vinegar to

drink mixed with gall; therefore

do ye only eat, the people fasting

the while, and lamenting in

sackcloth and ashes.

6 And that he might foreshow

that he was to suffer for them,

hear then how he appointed it.

7 Take, says he, two goats, fair

and alike, and offer them; and let

the high priest take one of them

for a burnt offering. And what

shalt be done with the other? Let

it, says he, be accursed.

8 Consider how exactly this

appears to have been a type of

Jesus. And let all the congregation

spit upon it, and prick it; and

put the scarlet wool about its

head; and thus let it be carried

forth into the wilderness.

9 And this being done, he that

was appointed to convey the goat,

led it into the wilderness, and

took away the scarlet wool, and

put it upon a thorn bush, whose

young sprouts, when we find

them in the field, we are wont to

eat: so the fruit of that thorn

only is sweet.

10 And to what end was this

ceremony? Consider; one was

offered upon the altar, the

other was accursed.

11 And why was that which was

accursed crowned? Because they

shall see Christ on that day having

a scarlet garment about his body;

and shall say: Is not this he whom

we crucified; having despised him,

pierced him, mocked him? Certainly,

this is he, who then said,

that he was the Son of God.

12 As therefore he shall be

then like to what he was on

earth, so were the Jews heretofore

commanded, to take two goats fair

and equal; that when they shall

see (our Saviour) hereafter coming

(in the clouds of heaven), they may

be amazed at the likeness of the

goats.

13 Wherefore ye here again

see a type of Jesus who was to

suffer for us.

14 But what then signifies this,

That the wool was to be put into

the midst of the thorns?

15 This also is a figure of Jesus,

set out to the church. For as he who

would take away the scarlet wool

must undergo many difficulties,

because that thorn was very sharp,

and with difficulty get it: So,

says Christ, they that will see me,

and come to my kingdom, must

through many afflictions and

troubles attain unto me.

CHAPTER VII.

The red heifer, another type of Christ.

BUT what type do ye suppose

it to have been, where it is

commanded to the people of Israel,

that grown persons in whom sins

are come to perfection, should

offer an heifer, and after they had

killed it should burn the same;

2 But then young men should

take up the ashes and put them in

vessels; and tie a piece of scarlet

wool and hyssop upon a stick, and

so the young men should sprinkle

every one of the people, and they

should be clear from their sins?

3 Consider how all these are

delivered in a figure to us.

4 This heifer is Jesus Christ;

the wicked men that were to offer

it are those sinners who brought

him to death; who afterwards have

no more to do with it: for the

sinners have no more the honour

of handling it:

5 But the young men that performed

the sprinkling, signified those who

preach to us the forgiveness of

sins, and the purification of the

heart, to whom the Lord gave

authority to preach his Gospel:

being at the beginning twelve,

to signify the tribes, because

there were twelve tribes of Israel.

6 But why were there three

young men appointed to sprinkle?

To denote Abraham, and Isaac,

and Jacob, because they were

great before God.

7 And why was the wool put

upon a stick? Because the kingdom

of Jesus was founded upon the cross;

and therefore they that put their

trust in him, shall live for ever.

8 But why was the wool and

hyssop put together? To signify

that in the kingdom of Christ there

shall be evil and filthy days, in

which however, we shall be saved;

and because he that has any disease

in the flesh by some filthy humours,

is cured by hyssop.

9 Wherefore these things being

thus done, are to us indeed evident,

but to the Jews they are obscure;

because they hearkened not unto

the voice of the Lord.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the circumcision of the ears and how in the

first institution of circumcision Abraham

mystically foretold Christ by name.

AND therefore the Scripture

again speaks concerning our

ears, that God has circumcised

them, together with our hearts.

For thus saith the Lord by the

holy prophet: By the hearing of

the ear they obeyed me.

2 And again, They who are afar

off, shall hear and understand

what things I have done. And

again, Circumcise your hearts,

saith the Lord.

3 And again he saith, Hear O

Israel! For thus saith the Lord

thy God. And again the Spirit of

God prophesieth, saying: Who is

there that would live for ever, let

him hear the voice of my Son.

4 And again, Hear, O Heavens,

and give ear O Earth! Because

the Lord has spoken these things

for a witness.

5 And again, he saith, Hear

the word of the Lord, ye princes

of the people. And again, Hear

O children! The voice of one

crying in the wilderness.

6 Wherefore he has circumcised

our ears, that we should hear his

word, and believe. But as for

that circumcision, in which the

Jews trust, it is abolished: for the

circumcision of which God spake,

was not of the flesh.

7 But they have transgressed

his commands, because the evil

one hath deceived them. For

thus God bespeaks them; Thus

saith the Lord your God, (Here I

find the new law) Sow not among

thorns; but circumcise yourselves

to the Lord your God. And what

doth he mean by this saying?

Hearken unto your Lord.

8 And again he saith, Circumcise

the hardness of your heart, and

harden not your neck. And again,

Behold, saith the Lord, all the

nations are uncircumcised, (they

have not lost their fore-skin): but

this people is uncircumcised in

heart.

9 But you will say the Jews

were circumcised for a sign. And

so are all the Syrians and Arabians,

and all the idolatrous priests: but

are they therefore of the covenant

of Israel? And even the Egyptians

themselves are circumcised.

10 Understand therefore, children,

these things more fully, that

Abraham was the first, that

brought in circumcision, looking

forward in the Spirit, to Jesus;

circumcised, having received the

mystery of three letters.

11 For the Scripture says that

Abraham circumcised three hundred

and eighteen men of his house.

But what therefore was the mystery

that was made known unto him!

12 Mark, first the eighteen, and

next the three hundred. For the

numeral letters of ten and eight

are T H. And these denote Jesus.

13 And because the cross was

that by which we were to find

grace, therefore he adds, three

hundred; the note of which is T

(the figure of his cross).

Wherefore by two letters he

signified Jesus, and by the

third his cross.

14 He who has put the engrafted

gift of his doctrine within us,

knows that I never taught to

anyone a more certain truth: but I

trust that ye are worthy of it.

CHAPTER IX.

That the commands of Moses concerning clean and unclean

beasts, were all designed for a spiritual signification.

BUT why did Moses say Ye

shall not eat of the swine,

neither the eagle nor the hawk;

nor the crow; nor any fish that

has not a scale upon him?—I

answer that, in the spiritual sense,

he comprehended three doctrines,

that were to be gathered from

thence.

2 Besides which he says to them

in the book of Deuteronomy, And

I will give my statutes unto this

people. Wherefore it is not the

command of God that they should

not eat these things; but Moses in

the spirit spake unto them.

3 Now the sow he forbad them

to eat; meaning thus much: Thou

shalt not join thyself to such

persons as are like unto swine,

who, whilst they live in pleasure,

forget their God; but when any want

pinches them, then they know the

Lord: as the sow when she is full

knows not her master, but when

she is hungry she makes a noise;

and being again fed, is silent.

4 Neither, says he, shalt thou

eat the eagle, nor the hawk, nor

the kite, nor the crow; that is,

thou shalt not keep company with

such kind of men as know not how

by their labour and sweat to get

themselves food; but injuriously

ravish away the things of others,

and watch how to lay snares for

them; when at the same time they

appear to live in perfect innocence.

3 So these birds alone (seek not

food for themselves,) but sitting

idle, seek how they may eat of the

flesh others have provided being

destructive through their

wickedness.

6 Neither, says he, shalt thou

eat the lamprey, nor the polypus,

nor the cuttle-fish; that is thou

shalt not be like such men, by

seeking to converse with them

who are altogether wicked and

adjudged to death. For so those

fishes are alone accursed, that

wallow in the mire, nor swim as other

fishes, but tumble in the dirt at

the bottom of the deep.

7 But, he adds, neither shalt

thou eat of the hare. To what

end?—To signify this to us;

Thou shalt not be an adulterer,

nor liken thyself to such persons.

For the hare every year multiplies

the places of its conception; and

as many years as it lives, so many

it has.

8 Neither shalt thou eat of the

hyena: that is, again, be not an

adulterer, nor a corrupter of

others; neither be like to such.

And wherefore so?—Because that

creature every year changes its

kind, which is sometimes male

and sometimes female.

9 For which cause also he justly

hated the weazel; to the end that

they should not be like such

persons who with their mouths

commit wickedness by reason of

their uncleanness; nor join

themselves with those impure women,

who with their mouths commit

wickedness. Because that animal

conceives with its mouth.

10 Moses, therefore, speaking

as concerning meats, delivered

indeed three great precepts to

them in the spiritual signification

of those commands. But they

according to the desires of the

flesh, understood him as if he

had only meant it of meats.

11 And therefore David took

aright the knowledge of his

three-fold command, saying in

like manner:

12 Blessed is the man that hath

not walked in the counsel of the

ungodly; as the fishes before

mentioned in the bottom of the

deep, in darkness.

13 Nor stood in the way of

sinners, as they who seem to fear

the Lord, but yet sin, as the sow.

14 And hath not sat in the seat

of the scorners; as those birds

who sit and watch that they may

devour.

15 Here you have the law

concerning meat perfectly set

forth and according to the

true knowledge of it.

16 But, says Moses, ye shall

eat all that divideth the hoof, and

cheweth the cud. Signifying

thereby such an one as having

taken his food, knows him that

nourisheth him; and resting upon

him, rejoiceth in him.

17 And in this he spake well,

having respect to the commandment.

What, therefore, is it that

he says?—That we should hold

fast to them that fear the Lord;

with those who meditate on the

command of the word which they

have received, in their heart;

with those that declare the

righteous judgments of the Lord,

and keep his commandments;

18 In short, with those who

know that to meditate is a work

of pleasure, and therefore exercise

themselves in the word of the

Lord.

19 But why might they eat

those that clave the hoof?

Because the righteous liveth in this

present world; but his expectation

is fixed upon the other. See,

brethren, how admirably Moses

commanded these things.

20 But how should we thus

know all this, and understand it?

We, therefore, understanding

aright the commandments, speak

as the Lord would have us.

Wherefore he has circumcised our

ears and our hearts, that we might

know these things.

CHAPTER X.

Baptism and the cross of Christ

foretold in figures under the law.

LET us now inquire whether

the Lord took care to manifest

anything beforehand concerning water

and the cross.

2 Now for the former of these,

it is written to the people of

Israel how they shall not receive

that baptism which brings to

forgiveness of sins; but shall

institute another to themselves

that cannot.

3 For thus saith the prophet:

Be astonished, O Heaven! and

let the earth tremble at it, because

this people have done two great

and wicked things: they have left

me, the fountain of living water,

and have digged for themselves

broken cisterns, that can hold no

water.

4 Is my holy mountain of Zion,

a desolate wilderness? For ye

shall be as a young bird when its

nest is taken away.

5 And again the prophet saith,

I will go before thee, and will

make plain the mountains, and

will break the gates of brass, and

will snap in sunder the bars of

iron; and will give thee dark,

and hidden, and invisible

treasures, that they may know

that I am the Lord God.

6 And again: he shall dwell

in the high den of the strong

rock. And then, what follows in

the same prophet? His water is

faithful; ye shall see the king

with glory, and your soul shall

learn the fear of the Lord.

7 And again he saith in another

prophet: He that does these

things; I shall be like a tree

planted by the currents of water,

which shall give its fruit in its

season. Its leaf also shall not

wither, and whatsoever he doth

it shall prosper.

8 As for the wicked it is not

so with them; but they are as the

dust which the wind scattereth

away from the face of the earth.

9 Therefore the ungodly shall

not stand in the judgment, neither

the sinners in the council of the

righteous. For the Lord knoweth

the way of the righteous, and the

way of the ungodly shall perish.

10 Consider how he has joined

both the cross and the water

together.

11 For this he saith: Blessed

are they who put their trust in the

cross, and descend into the water;

for they shall have their reward in

due time: then, saith he, will I

give it them.

12 But as concerning the present

time, he saith, their leaves shall

not fall: meaning thereby, that

every word that shall go out of

your mouth, shall through faith

and charity be to the conversion

and hope of many.

13 In like manner doth another

prophet speak. And the land of

Jacob was the praise of all the

earth; magnifying thereby the

vessel of his spirit.

14 And what follows?—And

there was a river running on the

right hand, and beautiful trees

grew up by it; and he that shall

eat of them shall live for ever.

The signification of which is this

that we go down into the water

full of sins and pollutions, but

come up again, bringing forth

fruit; having in our hearts the

fear and hope which is in Jesus,

by the spirit. And whosoever

shall eat of them shall live for

ever.

15 That is, whosoever shall

hearken to those who call them, and

shall believe, shall live for ever.

CHAPTER XI.

The subject continued.

IN like manner he determines

concerning the cross in another

prophet, saying: And when shall

these things be fulfilled?

2 The Lord answers: When the

tree that is fallen shall rise, and

when blood shall drop down from

the tree. Here you have again

mention made, both of the cross,

and of him that was to be crucified

upon it.

3 And yet farther he saith by

Moses; (when Israel was fighting

with, and beaten by, a strange

people; to the end that God might

put them in mind how that for

their sins they were delivered unto

death) yea, the holy spirit put it

into the heart of Moses, to represent

both the sign of the cross, and of

him that was to suffer: that so

they might know that if they did

not believe in him, they should be

overcome for ever.

4 Moses therefore I piled up

armour upon armour in the middle

of a rising ground, and standing

up high above all of them, stretched

forth his arms, and so Israel again

conquered.

5 But no sooner did he let down

his hands, but they were again

slain. And why so?—To the end

they might know, that except they

trust in him they cannot be saved.

6 And in another prophet, he

saith, I have stretched out my

hands all the day long to a people

disobedient, and speaking against

my righteous way.

7 And again Moses makes a

type of Jesus, to show that he was

to die, and then that he, whom

they thought to be dead, was to

give life to others; in the type

of those that fell in Israel.

8 For God caused all sorts of

serpents to bite them, and they

died: forasmuch as by a serpent

transgression began in Eve; that

so he might convince them that

for their transgressions they shall

be delivered into the pain of death.

9 Moses then himself, who had

commanded them, saying, Ye shall

not make to yourselves any graven

or molten image, to be your God

yet now did so himself, that he

might represent to them the figure

of the Lord Jesus.

10 For he made a brazen

serpent, and set it up on high,

and called the people together

by a proclamation: where being come,

they entreated Moses that he would

make an atonement for them, and

pray that they might be healed.

11 Then Moses spake unto them,

saying: when any one among you

shall be bitten, let him come unto

the serpent that is set upon the

pole; and let him assuredly trust

in him, that though he be dead,

yet he is able to give life, and

presently he shall be saved; and so

they did. See therefore how here

also you have in this the glory of

Jesus; and that in him and to

him are all things.

12 Again; What says Moses to

Joshua, the Son of Nun, when he

gave that name unto him, as being

a prophet, that all the people might

hear him alone? Because the

father did manifest all things

concerning his son Jesus, in Joshua,

the Son of Nun; and gave him

that name when he sent him to spy

out the land of Canaan, saying;

Take a book in thine hands,

and write what the Lord saith.

Forasmuch as Jesus the Son of God

shall in the last days cut off by the

roots all the house of Amalek, see

here again Jesus, not the son of

man, but the Son of God, made

manifest in a type, and in the flesh.

13 But because it might hereafter

be said that Christ was the

Son of David; therefore David

fearing and well knowing the errors

of the wicked, saith; the Lord

said unto my Lord, sit thou on my

right hand until I make thine

enemies thy footstool.

14 And again Isaiah speaketh

on this wise, The Lord said unto

Christ my Lord, I have laid hold

on his right hand, that the nations

should obey before him, and I will

break the strength of kings.

15 Behold, how doth David and

Isaiah call him Lord, and the Son

of God.

CHAPTER XII.

The Promise of God not made to the Jews only,

but to the Gentiles also, and fulfilled to us by Jesus Christ.

BUT let us go yet further, and

inquire whether this people be

the heir, or the former; and

whether the covenant be with us

or with them.

2 And first, as concerning

the people, hear now what the

Scripture saith:

3 Isaac prayed for his wife

Rebekah, because she was barren;

and she conceived. Afterwards

Rebekah went forth to inquire

of the Lord.

4 And the Lord said unto her;

There are two nations in thy womb,

and two people shall come from

thy body; and the one shall have

power over the other, and the

greater shall serve the lesser.

Understand here who was Isaac;

who Rebekah; and of whom it was

foretold, this people shall be

greater than that.

5 And in another prophecy Jacob

speaketh more clearly to his

son Joseph, saying; Behold the

Lord hath not derived me of seeing

thy face, bring me thy sons that

I may bless them. And he brought

unto his father Manasseh and

Ephraim, desiring that he should

bless Manasseh, because he was

the elder.

6 Therefore Joseph brought him

to the right hand of his father

Jacob. But Jacob by the spirit

foresaw the figure of the people

that was to come.

7 And what saith the Scripture?

And Jacob crossed his hands, and

put his right hand upon Ephraim,

his second, and the younger son,

and blessed him. And Joseph said

unto Jacob; Put thy right hand

upon the head of Manasseh, for he

is my first-born son. And Jacob

said unto Joseph; I know it, my

son, I know it; but the greater

shall serve the lesser; though he

also shall be blessed.

8 Ye see of whom he appointed

it, that they should be the first

people, and heirs of the covenant.

9 If therefore God shall have

yet farther taken notice of this,

by Abraham too; our understanding

of it will then be perfectly

established.

10 What then saith the Scripture

of Abraham, when I be believed,

and it was imputed unto him for

righteousness? Behold I have made

thee a father of the nations,

which without circumcision believe

in the Lord.

11 Let us therefore now inquire

whether God has fulfilled the

covenant, which he sware to our

fathers, that he would give this

people? Yes, verily, he gave it;

but they were not worthy to receive

it by reason of their sins.

12 For thus saith the prophet

And Moses continued fasting in

mount Sinai, to receive the covenant

of the Lord with the people, forty

days and forty nights.

13 And he received of the Lord

two tables written with the finger

of the Lord's hand, in the Spirit.

And Moses, when he had received

them, brought them down that he

might deliver them to the people.

14 And the Lord said unto

Moses; Moses, Moses, get thee

down quickly, for the people which

thou broughtest out of the land of

Egypt have done wickedly.

15 And Moses understood that

they had again set up a molten

image: and he cast the two tables

out of his hands; and the tables

of the covenant of the Lord were

broken. Moses therefore received

them, but they were not worthy.

16 Now then learn how we have

received them. Moses, being a

servant, took them; but the Lord

himself has given them unto us,

that we might be the people of his

inheritance; having suffered for

us.

17 He was therefore made

manifest; that they should fill

up the measure of their sins,

and that we being made heirs by

him, should receive the covenant

of the Lord Jesus.

18 And again the prophet saith

Behold, I have set thee for a light

unto the Gentiles; to be the saviour

of all the ends of the earth, saith

the Lord; the God who hath redeemed

thee.

19 Who for that very end

was prepared, that by his own

appearing he might redeem our

hearts, already devoured by

death, and delivered over to

the irregularity of error,

from darkness; and establish

a covenant with us by his word.

20 For so it is written that the

father commanded him by delivering

us from darkness, to prepare unto

himself a holy people.

21 Wherefore the prophet saith

I the Lord thy God have called

thee in righteousness, and I will

take thee by thy hand, and will

strengthen thee, and give thee

for a covenant of the people; for a

light to the Gentiles. To open the

eyes of the blind, to bring out the

prisoners from the prison, and them

that sit in darkness out of the

prison house.

22 Consider, therefore, from

whence we have been redeemed.

And again the prophet saith

The spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he hath anointed me: he

hath sent me to preach glad tidings

to the lowly; to heal the broken in

heart; to preach remission to the

captives, and give sight unto the

blind; to proclaim the acceptable

year of the Lord, and the day of

restitution; to comfort all that

mourn.

CHAPTER XIII.

That the sabbath of the Jews was but a figure

of a more glorious sabbath to come, and their

temple, of the spiritual temples of God.

FURTHERMORE it is written

concerning the sabbath, in the

Ten Commandments, which God

spake in the mount Sinai to Moses,

face to face: Sanctify the sabbath

of the Lord with pure hands, and

with a clean heart.

2 And elsewhere he saith;

If thy children shall keep my

Sabbaths, then will I put my

mercy upon them.

3 And even in the beginning of

the creation he makes mention of

the sabbath. And God made in

six days the works of his hands,

and he finished them on the seventh

day; and he rested the seventh

day, and sanctified it.

4 Consider, my children, what

that signifies, he finished them

in six days. The meaning of it is

this: that in six thousand years

the Lord God will bring all things

to an end.

5 For with him one day is

a thousand years; as himself

testifieth, saying, Behold this

day shall be as a thousand years.

Therefore, children, in six days,

that is, in six thousand years,

shall a all things be accomplished.

6 And what is that he saith,

And he rested the seventh day

he meaneth this: that when

his Son shall come, and abolish

the season of the Wicked One,

and judge the ungodly; and shall

change the sun and the moon, and

the stars; then he shall gloriously

rest on that seventh day,

7 He adds, lastly: Thou shalt

sanctify it with clean hands and

a pure heart. Wherefore we are

greatly deceived if we imagine

that anyone can now sanctify that

day which God has made holy,

without having a heart pure in

all things.

8 Behold, therefore, he will then

truly sanctify it with blessed rest,

when we (having received the

righteous promise, when iniquity

shall be no more, all things being

renewed by the Lord) shall be able

to sanctify it, being ourselves first

made holy;

9 Lastly, he saith unto them

Your new moons and your Sabbaths

I cannot bear them. Consider

what he means by it; the

Sabbaths, says he, which ye now

keep are not acceptable unto me,

but those which I have made;

when resting from all things I

shall begin the eight day, that is,

the beginning of the other world.

10 For which cause we observe

the eight day with gladness, in

which Jesus rose from the dead;

and having manifested himself to

his disciples, ascended into heaven.

11 It remains yet that I

speak to you concerning the temple:

how those miserable men being

deceived have put their trust

in the house, and not in God

himself who made them, as if

it were the habitation of God.

12 For much after the same

manner as the Gentiles, they

consecrated him in the temple.

13 But learn therefore how

the Lord speaketh, rendering the

temple vain: Who has measured the

heaven with a span, and the earth

with his hand? Is it not I? Thus

with the Lord, Heaven is my

throne, and the earth is my

footstool. What is the house

that ye will build me? Or what

is the place of my rest? Know

therefore that all their hope

is vain.

14 And again he speaketh after

this manner: Behold they that

destroy this temple, even they

shall again build it up. And so

it came to pass; for through their

wars it is now destroyed by their

enemies; and the servants of their

enemies build it up.

15 Furthermore it has been

made manifest, how both the city

and the temple, and the people of

Israel should be given up. For

the scripture saith; And it shall

come to pass in the last days, that

the Lord will deliver up the sheep

of his pasture, and their fold, and

their tower unto destruction. And

it is come to pass, as the Lord hath

spoken.

16 Let us inquire therefore,

whether there be any temple of

God? Yes there is: and there

where himself declares that he

would both make and perfect it.

For it is written: And it shall

be that as soon as the week shall

be completed, the temple of the

Lord shall be gloriously built in

the name of the Lord.

17 I find therefore that there

is a temple. But how shall it be

built in the name of the Lord? I

will shew you.

18 Before that we believed in

God, the habitation of our heart

was corruptible, and feeble, as a

temple truly built with hands.

19 For it was a house full

of idolatry, a house of devils;

inasmuch as there was done in it

whatsoever was contrary unto God.

But it shall be built in the name

of the Lord.

20 Consider, how that the

temple of the Lord shall be very

gloriously built; and by what

means that shall be, learn.

21 Having received remission

of our sins, and trusting in the

name of the Lord, we are become

renewed, being again created as it

were from the beginning. Wherefore

God truly dwells in our house,

that is, in us.

22 But how does he dwell in us?

By the word of his faith, the calling

of his promise, the wisdom of his

righteous judgments and the commands

of his doctrine. He himself prophesies

within us, he himself dwelleth in us,

and openeth to us who were in bondage

of death the gate of our temple,

that is, the mouth of wisdom, having

given repentance unto us; and by this

means has brought us to be an

incorruptible temple.

23 He therefore that desires to

be saved looketh not unto the

man, but unto him that dwelleth

in him, and speaketh by him;

being struck with wonder,

forasmuch as he never either

heard him speaking such words

out of his mouth, nor ever

desired to hear them.

24 This is that spiritual temple

that is built unto the Lord.

CHAPTER XIV.

Of the way of light; being a summary of what

a Christian is to do, that he maybe happy for ever.

AND thus I trust, I have

declared to you as much, and

with as great simplicity as I

could, those, things which provide

for your salvation, so as not to

have omitted any thing that might

be requisite thereunto.

2 For should I speak farther of

the things that now are, and of

those that are to come, you would

not yet understand them, seeing

they lie in parables. This therefore

shall suffice as to these things.

3 Let us now go on to the other

kind of knowledge and doctrine.

There are two ways of doctrine

and power; the one of light, the

other of darkness.

4 But there is a great deal of

difference between these two ways

for over one are appointed the

angels of God, the leaders of

the way of light; over the other,

the angels of Satan. And the one

is the Lord from everlasting to

everlasting; the other is the

prince of the time of

unrighteousness.

5 Now the way of light is this:

If any one desires to attain to the

place that is appointed for him,

and will hasten thither by his

works. And the knowledge that

has been given to us for walking

in it, to this effect: Thou shalt

love him that made thee: thou

shalt glorify him that hath

redeemed thee from death.

6 Thou shalt be simple in heart,

and rich in the spirit. Thou shalt

not cleave to those that walk in

the way of death. Thou shalt hate

to do anything that is not pleasing

unto God. Thou shalt abhor all

dissimulation. Thou shalt not

neglect any of the commands of

the Lord.

7 Thou shalt not exalt thyself,

but shalt be humble. Then shalt

not take honour to thyself. Thou

shalt not enter into any wicked

counsel against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not be over confident

in thy heart.

8 Thou shaft not commit

fornication, nor adultery.

Neither shalt thou corrupt

thyself with mankind. Thou

shalt not make use of the

word of God, to any impurity,

9 Thou shalt not except any

man's person, when thou reprovest

any one's faults. Thou shalt be

gentle. Thou shalt be quiet.

Thou shalt tremble at the words

which thou hast heard. Thou

shalt not keep any hatred in thy

heart against thy brother. Thou

shalt not entertain any doubt

whether it shall be or not.

10 Thou shalt not take the name

of the Lord in vain. Thou shalt

love thy neighbour above thy own

soul,

11 Thou shalt not destroy thy

conceptions, before they are

brought forth; nor kill them

after they are born.

12 Thou shalt not withdraw thy

hand from thy son, or from thy

daughter; but shall teach them

from their youth the fear of the

Lord.

13 Thou shalt not covet thy

neighbour's goods; neither shalt

thou be an extortioner. Neither

shall thy heart be joined to proud

men; but thou shalt be numbered

among the righteous and the

lowly. Whatever events shall

happen unto thee, thou shalt

receive them as good.

14 Thou shalt not be double-

minded or double-tongued; for a

double tongue is the snare of death.

Thou shalt be subject unto the

Lord and to inferior masters as to

the representatives of God, in fear

and reverence.

15 Thou shalt not be bitter in

thy commands towards any of thy

servants that trust in God; lest

thou chance not to fear him who

is over both; because he came not

to call any with respect of persons,

but whomsoever the spirit had

prepared.

16 Thou shalt communicate to

thy neighbour of all thou hast;

thou shalt not call anything

thine own: for if ye partake of

such things as are incorruptible,

how much more should you do it

in those that are corruptible?

17 Thou shalt not be forward to

speak; for the mouth is the snare

of death. Strive for thy soul with

all thy might. Reach not out

thine hand to receive, and

withhold it not when thou

shouldest give.

18 Thou shalt love, as the apple

of thine eye, everyone that speaketh

unto thee the Word of the Lord.

Call to thy remembrance, day and

night, the future judgment.

19 Thou shalt seek out every

day, the persons of the righteous;

and both consider and go about to

exhort others by the word, and

meditate how thou mayest save a

soul.

20 Thou shaft also labour with

thy hands to give to the poor,

that thy sins may be forgiven thee,

Thou shalt not deliberate whether

thou shouldst give; nor having

given, murmur at it.

21 Give to everyone that asks

so shalt thou know who is the good

rewarder of thy gifts.

22 Keep what thou hast received;

thou shalt neither add to it nor

take from it.

23 Let the wicked be always

thy aversion. Thou shalt judge

with righteous judgment. Thou

shalt never cause divisions; but

shalt make peace between those

that are at variance, and bring

them together.

24 Thou shalt confess thy sins;

and not come to thy prayer with

an evil conscience.

25 This is the way of light.

CHAPTER XV.

Of the way of darkness; that is, what kind of persons

shall be for ever cast out of the kingdom of God.

BUT the way of darkness is

crooked, and full of cursing.

For it is the way of eternal death,

with punishment; in which they

that walk meet those things that

destroy their own souls.

2 Such are; idolatry, confidence,

pride of power, hypocrisy, double-

mindedness, adultery, murder, rapine,

pride, transgression, deceit, malice,

arrogance, witchcraft, covetousness,

and the want of the fear of God.

3 In this, walk those, who are

the persecutors of them that are

good; haters of truth; lovers of

lies; who know not the reward of

righteousness, nor cleave to any

thing that is good.

4 Who administer not righteous

judgment to the widow and orphan;

who watch for wickedness, and not

for the fear of the Lord;

5 From whom gentleness and

patience are far off: who love

vanity, and follow after rewards;

having no compassion upon the

poor; nor take any pains for such

as are heavy laden and oppressed.

6 Ready to evil speaking,

not knowing him that made them;

murderers of children; corrupters

of the creature of God; that turn

away from the needy; oppress the

afflicted; are the advocates of the

rich, but unjust judges of the poor;

being altogether sinners.

7 It is therefore fitting

that learning the just commands

of the Lord, which we have before

mentioned, we should walk in them.

For he who does such things shall

be glorified in the kingdom of Hod.

8 But he that chooses the other

part, shall be destroyed, together

with his works. For this cause

there shall be both a resurrection,

and a retribution.

9 I beseech those that are in

high estate among you, (if so be

you will take the counsel which

with a good intention I offer to

you,) you have those with you

towards whom you may do good;

do not forsake them.

10 For the day is at hand in

which all things shall be destroyed,

together with the wicked one.

The Lord is near, and his reward

is with him.

11 I beseech you, therefore,

again, and again, Be as good

lawgiver's to one Another; continue

faithful counsellors do each other

remove from among you all hypocrisy.

12 And may God, the Lord

of all the world, give you

wisdom, knowledge, counsel,

and understanding of his

judgments in patience:

13 Be ye taught of God;

seeking what it is the Lord

requires of you, and doing it;

that ye may be saved in the

day of judgment.

14 And if there be among you

any remembrance of what is good,

think of me; meditating on these

things, that both my desire and

my watching for you may turn to

a good account.

15 I beseech you; I ask it as a

favour of you; whilst you are in

this beautiful tabernacle of the

body, be wanting in none of these

things; but without ceasing seek

them, and fulfil every command,

For these things are fitting and

worthy to be done.

16 Wherefore I have given the

more diligence to write unto you

according to my ability, that you

might rejoice. Farewell, children

of love and peace.

17 The Lord of glory and of

all grace, be with your spirit,

Amen.

[The end of the Epistle of Barnabas

the Apostle, and fellow-traveller

of St. Paul the Apostle.]

REFERENCES TO THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF BARNABAS.

[Barnabas was a companion and fellow-preacher with Paul. This Epistle

lays a greater claim to canonical authority than most others. It has been

cited by Clemens, Alexandrinus, Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome, and many

ancient Fathers. Cotelerius affirms that Origen and Jerome esteemed it

genuine and canonical; but Cotelerius himself did not believe it to be

either one or the other; on the contrary, he supposes it was written for

the benefit of the Ebionites, (the christianized Jews,) who were

tenacious of rites and ceremonies. Bishop Fell feared to own expressly

what he seemed to be persuaded of, that it ought to be treated with the

same respect as several of the books of the present canon. Dr. Bernard,

Savilian professor at Oxford, not only believed it to be genuine, but

that it was read throughout in the churches of Alexandria, as the

canonical Scriptures were. Dodwell supposed it to have been published

before the Epistle of Jude, and the writings of both the Johns. Vossius,

Dupuis, Dr. Cane, Dr. Mill, Dr, S. Clark, Whitson, and Archbishop Wake

also esteemed it genuine: Menardus, Archbishop Land, Spanheim, and others

deemed it apocryphal.]

THE EPISTLE OF

IGNATIUS TO THE EPHESIANS.

CHAPTER I.

1 Ignatius commends the brethren for sending

Onesimus and other members of the church to him.

8 Exhorts them to unity;

13 by a due subjection to their bishop;

IGNATIUS, who is also called

Theophorus, to the church which

is at Ephesus in Asia; most

deservedly happy: being blessed

through the greatness and fullness

of God the Father, and predestinated

before the world began; that it

should be always unto an enduring

and unchangeable glory; united and

chosen through his true passion,

according to the will of the Father,

and Jesus Christ our God; all

happiness, by Jesus Christ,

and his undefiled grace.

2 I have heard of your name

much beloved in God; which ye

have very justly attained by a

habit of righteousness, according

to the faith and love which is in

Jesus Christ our Saviour.

3 How that being followers of

God, and stirring up yourselves

by the blood of Christ ye have

perfectly accomplished the work

that was con-natural unto you.

4 For hearing that I came bound

from Syria, for the common name

and hope, trusting through your

prayers to fight with beasts at

home; so that by suffering I may

become indeed the disciple of him

who gave himself to God, an offering

and sacrifice for us; ye hastened

to see me. I received, therefore,

in the name of God, your whole

multitude in Onesimus;

5 Who by: inexpressible love is

ours, but according to the flesh

is our bishop; whom I beseech you,

pray Jesus Christ, to love: and that

you would all strive to be like unto

him. And blessed be God, who

has granted unto you, who are so

worthy of him, to enjoy such an

excellent bishop.

6 For what concerns my fellow

servant Burrhus, and your most

blessed deacon in things pertaining

to God; I entreat you that he may

tarry longer, both for yours, and

your bishop's honour.

7 And Crocus also worthy of

both our God and you, whom I

have received as the pattern

of your love, has in all things

refreshed me, as the Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ shall also

refresh him; together with Onesimus,

and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto,

in whom I have, as to your charity,

seen all of you, And may always,

have joy of you, if I shall be

worthy of it.

8 It is therefore fitting that you

should by all means glorify Jesus

Christ, who hath glorified you

that by a uniform obedience ye

may be perfectly joined together

in the same mind, and in the same

judgment; and may all speak the

same things concerning everything:

9 And that being, subject to

your bishop, and the presbytery,

ye may be wholly and thoroughly

sanctified.

10 These things I prescribe to

you, not as if I were somebody

extraordinary: for though I am

bound for his name, I am not yet

perfect in Christ Jesus. But now

I begin to learn, and I speak to

you as fellow disciples together

with me.

11 For I ought to have been

stirred up by you, in faith: in

admonition; in patience; in long-

suffering; but forasmuch as

charity suffers me not to be

silent towards you, I have first

taken upon me to exhort you, that

ye would all run together,

according to the will of God.

12 For even Jesus Christ, our

inseparable life, is sent by the

will of the Father; as the bishops,

appointed unto the utmost bounds of

the earth, are by the will of Jesus

Christ.

13 Wherefore it will become you

to run together according to the

will of your bishop, as also ye do,

14 For your famous presbytery,

worthy of God, is fitted as exactly

to the bishop, as the strings are

to the harp.

15 Therefore in your concord

and agreeing charity, Jesus Christ

is sung; and every single person

among you makes up the chorus:

16 That so being all consonant

in love, and taking up the song

of God, ye may in a perfect unity

with one voice, sing to the Father

by Jesus Christ; to the end that

he may both hear you, and perceive

by your works, that ye are indeed

the members of his son.

17 Wherefore it is profitable for

you to live in an unblameable

unity, that so ye may always have

a fellowship with God.

CHAPTER II.

1 The benefit of subjection.

4 The bishop not to be respected the less

because he is not forward in exacting it:

8 warns brethren against heretics; bidding

them cleave to Jesus, whose divine and human

mature is declared: commends them for their care

to keep themselves from false teachers:

and shews them the way to God.

FOR if I in this little time have

had such a familiarity with

your bishop, I mean not a carnal,

but spiritual acquaintance with

him; how much more must I think

you happy who are so joined to him,

as the church is to Jesus Christ,

and Jesus Christ to the Father;

so that all things may agree in

the same unity.

2 Let no man deceive himself;

if a man be not within the altar,

he is deprived of the bread of God.

For if the prayer of one or two

be of such force, as we are told;

how much more powerful shall

that of the bishop and the whole

church be?

3 He therefore that does not

come together in the same place

with it, is proud, and has already

condemned himself; for it is written,

God resisteth the proud. Let us take

heed therefore, that we do not set

ourselves against the bishop,

that we may be subject to God.

4 The more any one sees his

bishop silent, the more let him

revere him. For whomsoever the

master of the house sends to be

over his own household, we ought

in like manner to receive him, as

we do him that sent him. It is

therefore evident that we ought

to look upon the bishop, even as

we do upon the Lord himself.

5 And indeed Onesimus himself

does greatly commend your good

order in God: that you all live

according to the truth, and that

no heresy dwells among you. For

neither do ye hearken to anyone

more than to Jesus Christ

speaking to you in truth.

6 For some there are who

carry about the name of Christ

in deceitfulness, but do things

unworthy of God; whom ye must

flee, as ye would do so many

wild beasts. For they are raving

dogs, who bite secretly; against

whom ye must guard yourselves,

as men hardly to be cured.

7 There is one Physician, both

fleshy and spiritual; made and

not made; God incarnate; true

life in death; both of Mary and

of God: first passible, then

impassible; even Jesus Christ our

Lord.

8 Wherefore let no man deceive

you; as indeed neither are ye

deceived, being wholly the

servants of God. For inasmuch as

there is no contention nor strife

among you, to trouble you, ye

must needs live according to God's

will. My soul be for yours;

and I myself, the expiatory

offering for your church of Ephesus;

so famous throughout the world.

9 They that are of the flesh

cannot do the works of the spirit;

neither they that are of the spirit

the works of the flesh; as he

that has faith cannot be an infidel;

nor he that is an infidel have

faith. But even those things

which ye do according to the flesh

are spiritual; forasmuch as ye do

all things in Jesus Christ.

10 Nevertheless I have heard

of some who have passed by you,

having perverse doctrine; whom

ye did not suffer to sow among

you; but stopped your ears, that

ye might not receive those things

that were sown by them: because

being the stones of the temple of

the Father, prepared for his

building; and drawn up on high

by the Cross of Christ,

as by an engine;

11. Using the Holy Ghost as the

rope: your faith being your support;

and your charity the way that leads

unto God.

12 Ye are therefore, with all

your companions in the same

journey full of God; his spiritual

temples, full of Christ, and of

holiness: adorned in all things

with the commands of Christ.

13 In whom also I rejoice that

I have been thought worthy by

this present epistle to converse,

and joy together with you; that

with respect to the other life, ye

love nothing but God only.

CHAPTER III.

1 Exhorts them to prayer; to be unblamable.

5 To be careful of salvation;

11 frequent in public devotion;

13 and to live in charity.

PRAY also without ceasing for

other men; for there is hope

of repentance in them, that they

may attain unto God. Let them

therefore at least be instructed by

your works, if they will be no

other way.

2 Be ye mild at their anger;

humble at their boasting; to their

blasphemies return your prayers

to their error, your firmness in

the faith; when they are cruel,

be ye gentle; not endeavouring

to imitate their ways.

(3 Let us be their brethren in

all kindness and moderation, but

let us be followers of the Lord;

for who was ever more unjustly

used? More destitute? More

despised?).

4 That so no herb of the devil

may be found in you: but ye may

remain in all holiness and sobriety

both of body and spirit, in Christ

Jesus.

5 The last times are come upon

us: let us therefore be very

reverent, and fear the long-

suffering of God, that it be

not to us unto condemnation.

6 For let us either fear the

wrath that is to come, or let us

love the grace that we at present

enjoy; that by the one or other of

these, we may be found in Christ

Jesus, unto true life.

7 Besides him, let nothing be

worthy of you; for whom also I

bear about these bonds; those

spiritual jewels, in which I would

to God that I might arise through

your prayers.

8 Of which I entreat you to

make me always partaker, that I

may be found in the lot of the

Christians of Ephesus, who have

always agreed with the Apostles,

through the power of Jesus Christ.

9 I know both who I am, and

to whom I write: I, a person

condemned; ye, such as have

obtained mercy; I, exposed

to danger; ye confirmed

against danger.

10 Ye are the passage of

those that are killed for God;

the companions of Paul in the

mysteries of the Gospel; the

holy, the martyr, the deservedly

most happy Paul: at whose feet

may I be found, when I shall have

attained unto God; who throughout

all his epistles, makes mention

of you in Christ Jesus.

11 Let it be your care therefore

to come more fully together, to

the praise and glory of God;

for when ye meet fully together

in the same place, the powers of

the devil are destroyed, and his

mischief is dissolved by the unity

of your faith.

12 And indeed, nothing is better

than peace, by which all war both

spiritual and earthly is abolished.

13 Of all which, nothing is hid

from you, if ye have perfect faith

and charity in Christ Jesus, which

are the beginning and end of life.

14 For the beginning is faith;

the end is charity. And these two

joined together, are of God; but

all other things which concern a

holy life, are the consequences of

these.

15 No man professing a true

faith, sinneth; neither does he

who has charity hate any.

16 The tree is made manifest

by its fruit; so they who profess

themselves to be Christians are

known by what they do.

17 For Christianity is not the

work of an outward profession;

but shows itself in the power of

faith, if a man be found faithful

unto the end.

18 It is better for a man to hold

his peace, and be; than to say, he

is a Christian, and not to be.

19 It is good to teach; if what

he says he does likewise.

20 There is therefore one master

who spake, and it was done; and

even those things which he did

without speaking, are worthy

of the Father.

21 He that possesses the word

of Jesus, is truly able to bear his

very silence. That he may be perfect,

he will do according to what he

speaks, and be known by those

things of which he is silent.

22 There is nothing hid from

God, but even our secrets are nigh

unto him.

23 Let us therefore do all

things, as becomes those who

have God dwelling in them;

that we maybe his temples;

and he may be our God as also

he is, and will manifest himself

before our faces, by those things

for which we justly love him.

CHAPTER IV.

1 To have a care for the Gospel.

9 The virginity of Mary, the incarnation,

and the death of Christ, were hid from the Devil.

11 How the birth of Christ was revealed.

16 Exhorts to unity.

BE not deceived, my brethren:

those that corrupt families

by adultery, shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

2 If therefore they who do this

according to the flesh, have

suffered death; how much more shall

he die, who by his wicked doctrine

corrupts the faith of God, for which

Christ was crucified?

3 He that is thus defiled, shall

depart into unquenchable fire, and

so also shall he that hearkens to

him.

4 For this cause did the Lord

suffer the ointment to be poured

on his head; that he might breathe

the breath of immortality unto his

church.

5 Be not ye therefore anointed

with the evil savour of the doctrine

of the prince of this world: let him

not take you captive from the life

that is set before you.

6 And why are we not all

wise, seeing we have received

the knowledge of God, which is

Jesus Christ? Why do we suffer

ourselves foolishly to perish;

not considering the gift which

the Lord has truly sent to us?

7 Let my life be sacrificed

for the doctrine of the cross;

which is indeed a scandal to the

unbelievers, but to us is salvation

and life eternal.

8 Where is the wise man?

Where is the disputer? Where

is the boasting of those who

are called wise?

9 For our Lord Jesus Christ was

according to the dispensation of

God, conceived in the womb of

Mary, of the seed of David,

by the Holy Ghost. He was born

and baptized, that through his

passion he might purify water,

to the washing away of sin.

10 Now the Virginity of Mary,

and he who was born of her, was

kept in secret from the prince of

this world; as was also the death

of our Lord: three of the mysteries

the most spoken of throughout the

world, yet done in secret by God.

11 How then was our Saviour

manifested to the world? A star

shone in heaven beyond all the

other stars, and its light was

inexpressible, and its novelty

struck terror into men's minds.

All the rest of the stars,

together with the sun and moon,

were the chorus to this star;

but that sent out its light

exceedingly above them all.

12 And men began to be troubled

to think whence this new star

came so unlike to all the others.

13 Hence all the power of magic

became dissolved; and every bond

of wickedness was destroyed: men's

ignorance was taken away; and

the old kingdom abolished; God

himself appearing in the form

of a man, for the renewal of

eternal life.

14 From thence began what

God had prepared: from thence.

forth things were disturbed;

forasmuch as he designed to

abolish death.

15 But if Jesus Christ shall

give me grace through your prayers,

and if it be his will, I purpose

in a second epistle which I will

suddenly write unto you, to manifest

to you more fully the dispensation

of which I have now begun to speak,

about the new man, which is Jesus

Christ; both in his faith, and

charity; in his suffering, and

in his resurrection.

16 Especially if the Lord shall

make known unto me, that ye all

by name come together united in

one faith, and in Jesus Christ;

who was of the race of David

according to the flesh; the Son

of man, and son of God; obeying

your bishop and the presbytery

with an entire affection; breaking

one and the same bread, which is

the medicine of immortality;

our antidote that we should not

die, but live for ever in Christ

Jesus.

17 My soul be for yours, and

theirs whom ye have sent, to the

glory of God; even unto Smyrna,

from whence also I write to you;

giving thanks unto the Lord and

loving Polycarp even as I do you.

Remember me, as Jesus Christ does

remember you.

18 Pray for the church which is

in Syria from whence I am carried

bound to Rome; being the least

of all the faithful which are there,

as I have been thought worthy to

be found, to the glory of God.

19 Fare ye well in God the

Father, and in Jesus Christ, our

common hope. Amen.

THE EPISTLE OF

IGNATIUS TO THE MAGNESIANS

CHAPTER I.

4 Ignatius mentions the arrival of Damas,

their bishop, and others,

6 whom he exhorts them to reverence

notwithstanding he was a young man.

IGNATIUS, who is also called

Theophorus, to the blessed

church, by the grace of God the

Father, in Jesus Christ our Saviour;

through whom I salute the church

which is at Magnesia, near the

Maeander: and wish it all joy in

God the Father, and in Jesus

Christ.

2 When I heard of your well-

ordered love and charity in God,

being full of joy, I desired much

to speak unto you in the faith of

Jesus Christ.

3 For having been thought

worthy to obtain a most excellent

name, in the bonds which I carry

about, I salute the churches;

wishing in them a union both of

the body and spirit of Jesus Christ,

our eternal life: as also of faith

and charity, to which nothing is

preferred: but especially of Jesus

and the Father; in whom if we

undergo all the injuries of the

prince of this present world, and

escape, we shall enjoy God,

4 Seeing, then, I have been

judged worthy to see you, by

Damas your most excellent bishop;

and by your worthy presbyters,

Bassus and Apollonius; and by my

fellow-servant Sotio, the deacon;

5 In whom I rejoice, forasmuch

as he is subject unto his bishop as

to the grace of God; and to the

presbytery as to the law of Jesus

Christ; I determined to write

unto you.

6 Wherefore it will become you

also not to use your bishop too

familiarly upon the account of his

youth; but to yield all reverence

to him according to the power of

God the Father; as also I perceive

that your holy presbyters do: not

considering his age, which indeed

to appearance is young; but as

becomes those who are prudent in

God, submitting to him, or rather

not to him but to the Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, the bishop of

us all.

7 It will therefore behove you

with all sincerity, to obey your

bishop; in honour of him whose

pleasure it is that ye should do so.

8 Because he that does not do

so, deceives not the bishop whom

he sees, but affronts him that is

invisible. For whatsoever of this

kind is done, it reflects not upon

man, but upon God, who knows

the secrets of our hearts.

9 It is therefore fitting,

that we should not only be called

christians, but be so.

10 As some call indeed their

governor, bishop; but yet do all

things without him.

11 But I can never think

that such as these have a good

conscience, seeing that they are

not gathered together thoroughly

according to God's commandment.

CHAPTER II.

1 That as all must die,

4 he exhorts them to live orderly and in unity.

SEEING then all things have

an end, there are these two

indifferently set before us,

death and life: and everyone

shall depart unto his proper place.

2 For as there are two sorts of

coins, the one of God, the other of

the world, and each of these has

its proper inscription engraven

upon it; so also is it here.

3 The unbelievers are of this

world; but the faithful, through

charity have the character of God

the Father by Jesus Christ:

by whom if we are not readily

disposed to die after the likeness

of his passion, his life is not in us.

4 Forasmuch, therefore, as I

have in the persons before mentioned,

seen all of you in faith and charity;

I exhort you that ye study to do all

things in a divine concord:

5 Your bishop presiding in the

place of God; your presbyters in

the place of the council of the

Apostles; and your deacons most

dear to me, being entrusted with

the ministry of Jesus Christ; who

was the Father before all ages,

and appeared in the end to us.

6 Wherefore taking the same

holy course, see that ye all

reverence one another, and let no

one look upon his neighbour after

the flesh; but do ye all mutually

love each other in Jesus Christ.

7 Let there be nothing that may

be able to make a division among

you; but be ye united to your

bishop, and those who preside

over you, to be your pattern and

direction in the way to immortality.

8 As therefore the Lord did

nothing without the Father, being

united to him; neither by himself

nor yet by his Apostles, so neither

do ye do anything without your

bishop and presbyters:

9 Neither endeavour to let

anything appear rational to

yourselves apart;

10 But being come together into

the same place, have one common

prayer; one supplication;

one mind; one hope; one in charity,

and in joy undefiled.

11 There is one Lord Jesus

Christ, than whom nothing is better.

Wherefore come ye all together, as

unto one temple of God; as to one

altar; as to one: Jesus Christ,

who proceeded from one Father,

and exists in one; and is

returned to one.

CHAPTER III.

1 He cautions them against false opinions.

3 Especially those of Ebion and the Judaising Christians.

BE not deceived with strange

doctrines; nor with old fables

which are unprofitable. For if

we still continue to live according

to the Jewish law, we do confess

ourselves not to have received grace.

For even the most holy prophets

lived according to Christ Jesus.

2 And for this cause were they

persecuted, being inspired by his

grace to convince the unbelievers

and disobedient that there is one

God who has manifested himself

by Jesus Christ his Son; who is

his eternal word, not coming forth

from silence; who in all things

pleased him that sent him.

3 Wherefore if they who were

brought up in these ancient laws,

came nevertheless to the newness

of hope; no longer observing

sabbaths, but keeping the Lord's

day in which also our life is

sprung up by him, and through

his death, whom yet some deny:

4 (By which mystery we have

been brought to believe and

therefore wait that we maybe

found the disciples of Jesus

Christ, our only master:)

5 How shall we be able to live

different from him; whose disciples

the very prophets themselves

being, did by the spirit expect him

as their master;

6 And therefore he whom they

justly waited for, being come,

raised, them up from the dead.

7 Let us not then be insensible

of his goodness; for should he

have dealt with us according to

our works, we had not now had a

being.

8 Wherefore being become his

disciples, let us learn to live

according to the rules of

Christianity; for whosoever is

called by any other name besides

this, he is not of God.

9 Lay aside therefore the old and

sour, and evil leaven; and be ye

changed into the new leaven, which

is Jesus Christ.

10 Be ye salted in him, lest any

one among you should be corrupted;

for by your Savior ye shall

be judged.

11 It is absurd to name Jesus

Christ, and to Judaize. For the

christian religion did not embrace

the Jewish, but the Jewish the

christian; that so every tongue

that believed might be gathered

together unto God.

12 These things, my beloved, I

write unto you; not that I know

of any among you that lie under

this error: but as one of the least

among you, I am desirous to forewarn

you, that ye fall not into the

snares of false doctrine.

13 But that ye be fully instructed

in the birth, and suffering, and

resurrection of Jesus Christ,

our hope; which was accomplished

in the time of the government of

Pontius Pilate, and that most truly

and certainly: and from which God

forbid that any among you should

be turned aside.

CHAPTER IV.

1 Commends their faith and piety; exhorts them

to persevere;

10 desires their prayers for himself and the

church at Antioch.

MAY I therefore have joy of

you in all things, if I shall

be worthy of it. For though I am

bound, yet am I not worthy to be

compared to one of you that are at

liberty.

2 I know that ye are not puffed

up; for ye have Jesus Christ in

your hearts.

3 And especially when I commend

you, I know that ye are ashamed,

as it is written, The just man

condemneth himself.

4 Study therefore to be confirmed

in the doctrine of our Lord, and

of his Apostles; that so whatever

ye do, ye may prosper both in body

and spirit, in faith and charity,

in the Son, and in the Father,

and in the Holy Spirit; in the

beginning, and in the end:

5 Together with your most worthy

bishop, and the well-wrought

spiritual crown of your presbytery,

and your deacons, which are

according to God.

6 Be subject to your bishop, and

to one another, as Jesus Christ

was to the Father, according to the

flesh; and the Apostles, both to

Christ, and to the Father; and to

the Holy Ghost: that so ye may

be united both in body and spirit.

7 Knowing you to be full of

God, I have the more briefly

exhorted you.

8 Be mindful of me in your

prayers, that I may attain unto

God, and of the church that is in

Syria, from which I am not worthy

to be called.

9 For I stand in need of your

joint prayers in God, and of your

charity, that the church which is

in Syria may be thought worthy

to be nourished by your church.

10 The Ephesians from Smyrna

salute you, from which place I

write unto you; (being present

here to the glory of God, in like

manner as you are,) who have in

all things refreshed me, together

with Polycarp, the bishop of the

Smyrneans.

11 The rest of the churches in

the honour of Jesus Christ salute

you.

12 Farewell, and be ye strengthened

in the concord of God; enjoying

his inseparable spirit, which

is Christ Jesus.

THE EPISTLE OF

IGNATIUS TO THE TRALLIANS.

CHAPTER 1.

1 Acknowledges the coming of their bishop.

5 Commends them for their subjection to their bishop,

priests, and deacons; and exhorts them to continue in it:

15 is afraid even of his over-great desire to suffer,

lest it should be prejudicial to him.

IGNATTUS, who is also called

Theophorus, to the holy church

which is at Tralles in Asia:

beloved of God, the Father of Jesus

Christ; elect and worthy of God,

having peace through the flesh and

blood, and passion of Jesus Christ

our hope; in the resurrection which

is by him: which also I salute in

its fullness, continuing in the

apostolical character, wishing all

joy and happiness unto it.

2 I have heard of your blameless

and constant disposition through

patience, which not only appears

in your outward conversation, but

is naturally rooted and grounded

in you.

3 In like manner as Polybius

your bishop has declared unto me,

who came to me to Smyrna, by the

will of God and Jesus Christ, and

so rejoiced together with me in my

bonds for Jesus Christ, that in

effect I saw your whole church in

him.

4 Having therefore received

testimony of your good will towards

me for God's sake, by him; I seemed

to find you, as also I knew that ye

were the followers of God.

5 For whereas ye are subject to

your bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye

appear to one to live not after the

manner of men, but according to

Jesus Christ who died for us,

that so believing in his death,

ye might escape death.

6 It is therefore necessary, that

as ye do, so without your bishop

you should do nothing: also be

ye subject to your presbyters, as

to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our

hope; in whom if we walk, we

shall be found in him.

7 The deacons also, as being

the ministers of the mysteries of

Jesus Christ, must by all means

please ye. For they are not the

ministers of meat and drink,

but of the church of God. Wherefore

they must avoid all offences,

as they would do fire.

8 In like manner let us reverence

the deacons as Jesus Christ;

and the bishop as the Father; and

the presbyters as the Sanctuary of

God, and college of the Apostles.

9 Without these there is no

church; concerning all which, I

am persuaded that ye think after

the very same manner; for I have

received, and even now have with

me, the pattern of your love, in

your bishop.

10 Whose very look is instructive;

and whose mildness powerful: whom

I am persuaded, the very Atheists

themselves cannot but reverence.

11 But because I have a love

towards you, I will not write any

more sharply unto you about this

matter, though I very well might

but now I have done so, lest being

a condemned man, I should seem

to prescribe to you as an Apostle.

12 I have great knowledge in

God; but I refrain myself, lest

I should perish in my boasting.

13 For now I ought the more

to fear, and not to hearken to

those that would puff me up.

14 For they that speak to me,

in my praise, chasten me.

15 For I indeed desire to suffer,

but I cannot tell whether I am

worthy so to do.

16 And this desire, though to

others it does not appear, yet to

myself it is for that very reason

the more violent. I have, therefore,

need of moderation; by which the

prince of this world is destroyed.

17 Am I not able to write to

you of heavenly things?—But I

fear lest I should harm you, who

are yet but babes in Christ;

(excuse me this care;) and lest

perchance being not able to

receive them, ye should be

choken with them.

18 For even I myself, although

I am in bonds, yet am not therefore

able to understand heavenly things;

19 As the assembly of angels,

and the several companies of them,

under their respective princes;

things visible and invisible: but

in these I am yet a learner.

20 For many things are wanting to

us, that we come not short of God.

CHAP. II.

1 Warns them against heretics,

4 exhorts them to humility and unity,

10 and briefly sets before them the true

doctrine concerning Christ.

EXHORT you therefore, or

rather not I, but the love of

Jesus Christ; that ye use none but

christian nourishment; abstaining

from pasture which is of another

kind, I mean heresy.

2 For they that are heretics,

confound together the doctrine of

Jesus Christ, with their own poison:

whilst they seem worthy of belief:

3 As men give a deadly potion

mixed with sweet wine; which he

who drinks of, does with the

treacherous pleasure sweetly

drink in his own death.

4 Wherefore guard yourself

against such persons; and that

you will do, if you are not puffed

up; but continue inseparable from

Jesus Christ our God, and from

your bishop, and from the

commands of the Apostles.

5 He that is within the altar,

is pure; but he that is without,

namely, does anything without the

bishop, the presbyters, and deacons,

is not pure in his conscience.

6 Not that I know there is any

thing of this nature among you;

but I fore-arm you, as being

greatly beloved by me, foreseeing

the snares of the devil.

7 Wherefore putting on meekness,

renew yourselves in faith,

which is the flesh of the Lord;

and in charity, which is the blood

of Jesus Christ.

8 Let no man have any grudge

against his neighbour. Give no

occasion to the Gentiles; lest by

means of a few foolish men, the

whole congregation of God be

evil spoken of.

9 For woe to that man through

whose vanity my name is

blasphemed by any.

10 Stop your ears therefore,

as often as any one shall speak

contrary to Jesus Christ, who was

of the race of David; by the Virgin

Mary.

11 Who was truly born, and

did eat and drink; was truly

persecuted under Pontius Pilate;

was truly crucified and dead; both

those in heaven and on earth, and

under the earth, being spectators

of it:

12 Who, was also truly raised

from the dead by his Father, after

the same manner as HE will also

raise up us who believe in him by

Christ Jesus; without whom we

have no true life.

13 But if, as some who are

Atheists, that is to say infidels,

pretend, that he seemed to suffer,

(they themselves only seeming to

exist) why then am I bound?—

Why do I desire to fight with

beasts?—Therefore do I die in

vain: therefore I will not speak

falsely against the Lord.

14 Flee therefore these evil

sprouts which bring forth deadly

fruit; of which if any one taste,

he shall presently die.

15 For these are not the plants

of the Father; seeing if they were,

they would appear to be the

branches of the cross, and their

fruit would be incorruptible; by

which he invites you through his

passion, who are members of him.

16 For the head cannot be without

its members, God having promised

a union with himself.

CHAP. III.

He again exhorts to unity, and desires their

prayers for himself, and for his church at Antioch.

I SALUTE you from Smyrna,

together with the churches of

God that are present with me;

who have refreshed me in all

things, both in the flesh and

in the spirit.

2 My bonds, which I carry about

me for the sake of Christ,

(beseeching him that I may

attain unto God) exhort you that

you continue in concord among

yourselves, and in prayer with

one another.

3 For it becomes everyone of

you, especially the presbyters, to

refresh the bishop, to the honour

of the Father of Jesus Christ, and

of the Apostles.

4 I beseech you, that you hearken

to me in love; that I may not by

those things which I write, rise up

in witness against you.

5 Pray also for me; who,

through the mercy of God, stand

in need of your prayers, that I

may be worthy of the portion which

I am about to obtain, and that I

be not found a reprobate.

6 The love of those who are at

Smyrna and Ephesus salute you.

Remember in your prayers the

church of Syria, from which I am

not worthy to be called, being one

of the least of it.

7 Fare ye well in Jesus Christ;

being subject to your bishop as to

the command of God; and so like.

wise to the presbytery.

8 Love every one his brother

with an unfeigned heart. My soul

be your expiation, not only now,

but when I shall have attained

unto God; for I am yet under

danger.

9 But the Father is faithful in

Jesus Christ, to fulfil both mine

and your petition; in whom may

ye be found unblameable.

THE EPISTLE OF

IGNATIUS TO THE ROMANS.

CHAPTER I.

Ignatius testifies his desire to see, and his

hopes of suffering for Christ

5 which he earnestly entreats them not to prevent,

10 but to pray for him, that God would strengthen

him to the combat.

IGNATIUS, who is also called

Theophorus, to the church

which has obtained mercy from

the majesty of the Most High

Father, and his only begotten

Son Jesus Christ; beloved, and

illuminated through the will of him

who willeth all things which are

according to the love of Jesus

Christ our God; which also presides

in the place of the region

of the Romans; and which I salute

in the name of Jesus Christ, as

being united both in flesh and

spirit to all his commands, and

filed with the grace of God; with

all joy in Jesus Christ our God.

2 Forasmuch as I have at last

obtained through my prayers to

God, permission to see your faces,

which I much desired to do; being

bound in Jesus Christ, I hope ere

long to salute you, if it shall be

the will of God to grant me to

attain unto the end I long for.

3 For the beginning is well

disposed, if I shall but have grace,

without hindrance, to receive what

is appointed for me.

4 But I fear your love, lest it

do me an injury; for it is easy for

you to do what you please; but it

will be hard for me to attain unto

God, if you spare me.

5 But I would not that ye

should please men, but God; whom

also ye do, please. For neither

shall I hereafter have such an

opportunity of going unto God; nor

will you, if ye shall now be silent,

ever be entitled to a better work.

For if you, shall be silent in my

behalf, I shall be made partaker of

God.

6 But if you shall love my body,

I shall have my course again to

run. Wherefore ye cannot do me

a greater kindness, than to suffer

me to be sacrificed unto God, now

that the altar is already prepared:

7 That when ye shall be gathered

together in love, ye nay give

thanks to the Father through

Christ Jesus, that he has

vouchsafed to bring a bishop

of Syria unto you, being called

from the east unto the west.

8 For it is good for me to turn

from the world, unto God; that I

may rise again unto him.

9 Ye have never envied any one;

ye have taught others. I would

therefore that ye should now do

those things yourselves, which

in your instructions you have

prescribed to others.

10 Only pray for me, that God

would give me both inward and

outward strength, that I may not

only say, but will; nor be only

called a christian, but be found

one.

11 For if I shall be found a

christian, I may then deservedly

be called one; and be thought

faithful, when I shall no longer

appear to the world.

12 Nothing is good, that is

seen.

13 For even our God, Jesus

Christ, now that he is in the

Father, does so much the more

appear.

14 A christian is not a work of

opinion; but of greatness of mind,

especially when he is hated by the

world.

CHAPTER. II.

Expresses his great desire and determination

to suffer martyrdom.

I WRITE to the churches, and

signify to them all, that I am

willing to die for God, unless you

hinder me.

2 I beseech you that you show

not an unseasonable good will

towards me. Suffer me to be food

to the wild beasts, by whom I shall

attain unto God.

3 For I am the wheat of God,

and I shall be ground by the teeth

of the wild-beasts, that I may be

found the pure bread of Christ.

Rather encourage the beasts,

that they may became my sepulchre,

and may let live nothing of my

body; that being dead I may not

be troublesome to any.

5 Then shall I be truly the

disciple of Jesus Christ, when the

world shall not see so much as my

body. Pray therefore unto Christ

for me, that by these instruments

I may be made the sacrifice of

God.

6 I do not, as Peter and Paul,

command you. They were Apostles,

I a condemned man; they were free,

but I am even to this day a servant:

7 But if I shall suffer, I shall

then become the freeman of Jesus

Christ, and shall rise free. And

now, being in bonds, I learn not

to desire any thing.

8 From Syria even unto Rome,

I fight with beasts both by sea and

land; both night and day: being

bound to ten leopards, that is to

say, to such a band of soldiers,

who, though treated with all manner

of kindness, are the worse for

it.

9 But I am the more instructed

by their injuries; yet am I not

therefore justified.

10 May I enjoy the wild beasts

that are prepared for me; which

also I wish may exercise all their

fierceness upon me.

11 And whom for that end I will

encourage, that they may be sure

to devour me, and not serve me as

they have done some, whom out of

fear they have not touched. But

if they will not do it willingly,

I will provoke them to it.

12 Pardon me in this matter; I

know what is profitable for me,

now I begin to be a disciple.

Not shall any thing move me

whether visible or invisible,

that I may attain to Jesus Christ.

13 Let fire and the cross; let

the companies of wild beasts;

let breakings of bones, and tearing

of members; let the shattering in

pieces of the whole body, and all

the wicked torments of the devil

come upon me; only let me enjoy

Jesus Christ.

14 All the ends of the world,

and the kingdoms of it, will profit

me nothing: I would rather die

for Jesus Christ, than rule to the

utmost ends of the earth. Him

I seek who died for us; him I

desire who rose again for us.

This is the gain that is laid up

for me.

15 Pardon me, my brethren, ye

shall not hinder me from living;

nor seeing I desire to go to God,

may you separate me from him,

for the sake of this world;—nor

induce me by any of the desires of

it. Suffer me to enter into pure

light, where being come, I shall

be indeed the servant of God.

16 Permit me to imitate the

passion of my God. If any one has

God within himself, let him consider

what I desire; and let him have

compassion on me, as knowing how

I am straightened.

CHAPTER III.

Further expresses his desire to suffer.

THE prince of this world would

fain carry me away, and corrupt

my resolution towards my God.

Let none of you therefore help

him; rather do ye join with me,

that is, with God.

2 Do not speak with Jesus

Christ, and yet covet the world.

Let not any envy dwell with you;

no, not though I myself, when I

shall be come unto you, should

exhort you to it, yet do not ye

hearken to me; but rather believe

what I now write to you.

3 For though I am alive at the

writing of this, yet my desire is

to die. My love is crucified; and

the fire that is within me does

not desire any water; but being

alive and springing within me,

says, Come to the Father.

4 I take no pleasure in the food

of corruption, nor in the pleasures

of this life.

5 I desire the bread of God

which is the flesh of Jesus Christ,

of the seed of David; and the

drink that I long for is his blood,

which is incorruptible love.

6 I have no desire to live any

longer after the manner of men;

neither shall I, if you consent.

Be ye therefore willing, that ye

yourselves also maybe pleasing to

God. I exhort you in a few words;

I pray you believe me.

7 Jesus Christ will shew you

that I speak truly. My mouth is

without deceit, and the Father

hath truly spoken by it. Pray

therefore for me, that I may

accomplish what I desire.

8 I have not written to you after

the flesh, but according to the will

of God. If I shall suffer, ye have

loved me: but if I shall be rejected,

ye have hated me.

9 Remember in your prayers

the church of Syria, which now

enjoys God for its shepherd instead

of me. Let Jesus Christ only oversee

it, and your charity.

10 But I am even ashamed to

be reckoned as one of them; for

neither am I worthy, being the

least among them, and as one

born out of due season. But

through mercy I have risen to

be somebody, if I shall get unto

God.

11 My spirit salutes you; and

the charity of the churches that

have received me in the name of

Jesus Christ; not as a passenger,

for even they that were not near

to me in the way, have gone before

me to the next city to meet me.

12 These things I write to you

from Smyrna, by the most worthy

of the church of Ephesus.

13 There is now with me, together

with many others, Crocus, most

beloved of me. As for those which

are come from Syria, and are gone

before me to Rome, to the glory

of God, I suppose you are not

ignorant of them.

14 Ye shall therefore signify to

them that I draw near, for they,

are all worthy both of God and of

you: Whom it is fit that you

refresh in all things.

15 This have I written to you,

the day before the ninth of the,

calends of September. Be strong

unto the end, in the patience of

Jesus Christ.

IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS.

CHAPTER I.

Commends their bishop, whom they had sent unto him,

warns them against division and schism.

IGNATIUS, who is also called

Theophorus, to the church of

God the Father, and our Lord

Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia

in Asia; which has obtained mercy,

being fixed in the concord of God,

and rejoicing evermore in the passion

of our Lord, and being fulfilled in

all mercy through his resurrection:

Which also I salute in the blood of

Jesus Christ, which is our eternal

and undefiled joy; especially if

they are at unity with the bishop,

and presbyters who are with him,

and the deacons appointed according

to the mind of Jesus Christ; whom

he has settled according to his own

will in all firmness by his Holy

Spirit:

2 Which bishop I know obtained

that great ministry among you,

not of himself, neither by men,

nor out of vain glory; but by the

love of God the Father, and our

Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Whose moderation I admire;

who by his silence is able to do

more than others with all their

vain talk. For he is fitted to the

commands, as the harp to its strings.

4 Wherefore my soul esteems

his mind towards God most happy,

knowing it to be fruitful in all

virtue, and perfect; full of

constancy, free from passion,

and according to all the

moderation of the living God.

5 Wherefore as becomes the

children both of the light and of

truth; flee divisions and false

doctrines; but where your shepherd

is, there do ye, as sheep, follow

after.

6 For there are many wolves

who seem worthy of belief, that

with a false pleasure lead captive

those that run in the course of

God; but in the concord they shall

find no place.

7 Abstain therefore from those

evil herbs which Jesus Christ does

not dress: because such are not

the plantation of the Father. Not

that I have found any division

among you, but rather all manner

of purity.

8 For as many as are of God,

and of Jesus Christ, are also with

their bishop. And as many as

shall with repentance return into

the unity of the church, even these

shall also be the servants of God,

that they may live according to

Jesus Christ.

9 Be not deceived brethren;

if any one follows him that makes

a schism in the church, he shall

not inherit the kingdom of God.

If any one walks after any other

opinion, he agrees not with the

passion of Christ.

10 Wherefore let it be your

endeavour to partake all of the

same holy eucharist.

11 For there is but one flesh of

our Lord Jesus Christ; one cup

in the unity of his blood; and one

altar;

12 As also there is one bishop,

together with his presbytery, and

the deacons my fellow servants

that so whatsoever ye do, ye may

do it according to the will of God.

CHAPTER II.

Desires their prayers, and to be

united, but not to Judaize.

MY brethren, the love I have

towards you makes me the

more large; and having a great

joy in you, I endeavour to secure

you against danger; or rather not

I, but Jesus Christ; in whom

being bound, I the more fear,

as being yet only on the way

to suffering.

2 But your prayer to God shall

make me perfect, that I may attain

to that portion, which by God's

mercy is allotted to me Fleeing

to the Gospel as to the flesh of

Christ; and to the Apostles as

to the presbytery of the church.

3 Let us also love the prophets,

forasmuch as they have led us

to the Gospel, and to hope in

Christ, and to expect him.

4 In whom also believing they

were saved in the unity of Jesus

Christ; being holy men, worthy

to be loved, and had in wonder;

5 Who have received testimony

from Jesus Christ, and are

numbered in the Gospel of our

common hope.

6 But if any one shall preach

the Jewish law unto you, hearken

not unto him; for it is better to

receive the doctrine of Christ from

one that has been circumcised, than

Judaism from one that has not.

7 But if either the one, or other,

do not speak concerning Christ

Jesus; they seem to me to be but

as monuments and sepulchres of

the dead, upon which are written

only the names of men.

8 Flee therefore the wicked arts

and snares of the prince of this

world; lest at any time being

oppressed by his cunning, ye grow

cold in your charity. But come

altogether into the same place,

with an undivided heart.

9 And I bless my God that I

have a good conscience towards

you, and that no one among you

has whereof to boast either openly

or privately, that I have been

burthensome to him in much or

little.

10 And I wish to all, among

whom I have conversed, that

may not turn to a witness again

them.

11 For although some would

have deceived me according to

the flesh, yet the spirit, being

from God, is not deceived: for it

knows, both whence it comes and

whither it goes, and reproves the

secrets of the heart.

12 I cried whilst I was among

you; I spake with a loud voice:

attend to the bishop, and to the

presbytery, and to the deacons.

13 Now some supposed that I spake

this as foreseeing the division

that should come among you.

14 But he is my witness for

whose sake I am in bonds that

I know nothing from any man.

But the spirit spake, saying

on this wise: Do nothing without

the bishop:

15 Keep your bodies as the

temples of God: Love unity;

Flee divisions; Be the followers

of Christ, as he was of his Father.

16 I therefore did as became

me, as a man composed to unity

for where there is division,

and wrath, God dwelleth not.

17 But the Lord forgives all

that repent, if they return to the

unity of God, and to the council

of the bishop.

18 For I trust in the grace

Jesus Christ that he will free

you from every bond.

19 Nevertheless I exhort you

that you do nothing out of strife

but according to the instruction

of Christ.

20 Because I have heard

some who say; unless I find

written in the originals, I will

not believe it to be written in

the Gospel. And when I said,

It is written; they answered

from what lay before them in the

corrupted copies.

21 But to me Jesus Christ

instead of all the uncorrupted

monuments in the world; together

with those undefiled monuments,

his cross, and death, and

resurrection, and the faith

which is by him; by which I

desire, through your prayers,

to be justified.

22 The priests indeed are

good; but much better is the High

Priest to whom the Holy of Holies

has been committed; and who

alone has been intrusted with the

secrets of God.

23 He is the door of the Father;

by which Abraham, and Isaac,

and Jacob, and all the prophets,

enter in; as well as the Apostles,

and the church.

24 And all these things tend to

the unity which is of God. Howbeit

the Gospel has somewhat in it far

above all other dispensations;

namely, the appearance of our

Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,

his passion and resurrection.

25 For the beloved prophets

referred to him; but the Gospel

is the perfection of incorruption.

All therefore together are good,

if ye believe with charity.

CHAPTER III.

Informs them he had heard that the persecution

was stopped at Antioch: and directs them to send

a messenger thither to congratulate with the church.

NOW as concerning the church

of Antioch which is in Syria,

seeing I am told that through

your prayers and the bowels which

ye have towards it in Jesus Christ,

it is in peace; it will become you,

as the church of God, to ordain

some I deacon to go to them thither

as the ambassador of God; that

he may rejoice with them when

they meet together, and glorify

God's name.

2 Blessed be that man in Jesus,

Christ, who shall be found worthy

of such a ministry; and ye yourselves

also shall be glorified.

3 Now if you be willing, it is

not impossible for you to do this

for the grace of God; as also the

other neighbouring churches have

sent them some bishops, some

priests and some deacons.

4 As concerning Philo the deacon

of Cilicia, a most worthy man,

he still ministers unto me in the

word of God: together with Rheus

of Agathopolis a singular good

person, who has followed me even

from Syria, not regarding his life:

These also bear witness unto you.

5 And I myself give thanks to

God for you, that you receive them

as the Lord shall receive you.

But for those that dishonoured

them, may they be forgiven

through the grace of Jesus Christ.

6 The charity of the brethren

that are at Troas salutes you:

from whence also I now write

by Burrhurs, who was sent together

with me by those of Ephesus and

Smyrna, for respect sake.

7 May our Lord Jesus Christ

honour them; in whom they hope,

both in flesh, and soul, and spirit;

in faith, in love, in unity.

Fare-well in Christ Jesus our

common hope.

IGNATIUS TO THE SMYRNEANS.

CHAPTER I.

1 Declares his joy for their firmness in the Gospel.

4 Enlarges on the person of Christ, against such

as pretend that Christ did not suffer.

IGNATIUS, who is also called

Theohorus, to the church of

God the Father, and of the beloved

Jesus Christ, which God hath

mercifully blessed with every

good gift; being filled with faith

and charity, so that it is wanting

in no gift; most worthy of God,

and fruitful in saints; the church

which is at Smyrna in Asia; all

through his immaculate spirit,

through word of God.

2 I glorify God, even Jesus

Christ, who has given you such

wisdom.

3 For I have observed that you

are settled in an immoveable faith,

as if you were nailed to the cross

of our Lord Jesus Christ, both in

the flesh and in the spirit; and

are confirmed in love through the

blood of Christ; being fully

persuaded of those things which

relate unto our Lord.

4 Who truly was of the race

of David according to the flesh,

but the Son of God according to

the will and power of God;

truly born of the Virgin, and

baptised of John; that so all

righteousness might be fulfilled

by him.

5 He was also truly crucified

by Pontius Pilate, and Herod the

Tetrarch, being nailed for us in

the flesh; by the fruits of which

we are, even by his most blessed

Passion;

6 That he might set up a token

for all ages through his resurrection,

to all his holy and faithful servants,

whether they be Jews or Gentiles,

in one body of his church.

7 Now all these things he suffered

for us that we might be saved; and

he suffered truly, as he also truly

raised up himself; and not, as some

unbelievers say, that he only seemed

to suffer; they themselves 'only

seeming to be.'

8 And as they believe so shall it

happen unto them, when being divested

of the body they shall become mere

spirits.

9 But I know that even after his

resurrection he was in the flesh;

and I believe that he is still so.

10 And when he came to those

who were with Peter, he said

unto them, Take, handle me, and

see that I am not an incorporeal

daemon. And straightway they

felt and believed; being convinced

both by his flesh and spirit.

11 For this cause they despised

death, and were bound to be above

it.

12 But after his resurrection he

did eat and drink with them, as he

was flesh; although as to his

Spirit he was united to the Father.

CHAPTER II.

1 Exhorts them against heretics.

8 The danger of their doctrine.

NOW these things, beloved, I put

you in mind of, not questioning

but that you yourselves also

believe that they are so.

2 But I arm you before-hand

against certain beasts in the shape

of men, whom you must not only

not receive, but if it be possible

must not meet with.

3 Only you must pray for them,

that if it be the will of God they

may repent; which yet will be

very hard. But of this our Lord

Jesus Christ has the power, who

is our true life.

4 For if all these things were

done only in show by our Lord,

then do I also seem only to be

bound:

5 And why have I given up myself

to death, to the fire, to the

sword, to wild beasts?

6 But now the nearer I am to

the sword, the nearer I am to

God: when I shall come among

the wild beasts, I shall come to

God.

7 Only in the name of Jesus

Christ, I undergo all, to suffer

together with him; he who was

made a perfect man strengthening,

me.

8 Whom some not knowing, do

deny; or rather have been denied

by him, being the advocates of

death, rather than of the truth.

Whom neither the prophecies, nor

the law of Moses have persuaded;

nor the Gospel itself, even to this

day; nor the sufferings of every

one of us.

9 For they think also the same

things of us. For what does a

man profit me, if he shall praise

me, and blaspheme my Lord; not

confessing that he was truly made

man?

10 Now he that doth not say

this, does in effect deny him,

and is in death. But for the names

of such as do this, they being

unbelievers, I thought it not

fitting to write them unto you.

11 Yea, God forbid that I should

make any mention of them, till

they shall repent to a true belief

of Christ's passion, which is our

resurrection.

12 Let no man deceive himself;

both the things which are in heaven,

and the glorious angels, and princes,

whether visible or invisible, if they

believe not in the blood of Christ,

it shall be to them, unto condemnation.

13 He that is able to receive

this, let him receive it. Let no

man's place or state in the world

puff him up: that which is worth

all his faith and charity, to it

nothing is to be preferred.

14 But consider those who are

of a different opinion from us,

as to what concerns the grace of

Jesus Christ which is come unto us,

how contrary they are to the

design of God.

15 They have no regard to charity,

no care of the widow, the fatherless,

and the oppressed; of the bond or

free, of the hungry or thirsty.

16 They abstain from the eucharist,

and from the public offices;

because they confess not the eucharist

to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus

Christ which suffered for our sins,

and which the Father of his goodness

raised again from the dead.

17 And for this cause contradicting

the gift of God, they die in their

disputes; but much better would it

be for them to receive it, that they

might one day rise through it.

18 It will therefore become you.

to abstain from such persons, and

not to speak with them, neither in

public nor in private.

19 But to hearken to the prophets,

and especially to the Gospel, in

which both Christ's passion is

manifested unto us, and his

resurrection perfectly declared.

20 But flee all divisions, as the

beginning of evils.

CHAPTER III.

1 Exhorts them to follow their bishop and pastors;

but especially their bishop.

6 Thanks them for their kindness,

11 and acquaints them with the ceasing of the

persecution at Antioch.

SEE that ye all follow your

bishop, as Jesus Christ, the

Father; and the presbytery, as

the Apostles; and reverence the

deacons, as the command of God.

2 Let no man do any thing

of what belongs to the church

separately from the bishop.

3 Let that eucharist be looked

upon as well established, which is

either offered by the bishop, or by

him to whom the bishop has given.

his consent.

4 Wheresoever the bishop shall

appear, there let the people also

be: as where Jesus Christ is, there

is the Catholic church.

5 It is not lawful without the

bishop; neither to baptize, nor to

celebrate the Holy Communion

but whatsoever he shall approve

of, that is also pleasing unto God;

that so whatever is done, may be

sure and well done.

6 For what remains, it is very

reasonable that we should repent

whilst there is yet time to return

unto God.

7 It is a good thin to have a

due regard both to God, and to

the bishop: he that honours the

bishop, shall be honoured of God;

but he that does any thing without

his knowledge, ministers unto the

devil.

8 Let all things therefore abound

to you in charity; seeing that ye

are worthy.

9 Ye have refreshed me in all

things; so shall Jesus Christ you.

Ye have loved me both when I was

present with you, and now being

absent, ye cease not to do so.

10 May God be your reward,

for whom whilst ye undergo all

things, ye shall attain unto

him.

11 Ye have done well in that ye

have received Philo, and Rheus

Agathopus, who followed me for

the word of God, as the deacons

of Christ our God.

12 Who also gave thanks unto

the Lord for you, forasmuch as ye

have refreshed them in all things.

Nor shall any thing that you have

done be lost to you.

13 My soul be for yours, and

my bonds which ye have not despised,

nor been ashamed of. Wherefore

neither shall. Jesus Christ,

our perfect faith, be ashamed

of you.

14 Your prayer is come to the

church of Antioch, which is in

Syria. From whence being sent

bound with chains becoming God.

I salute the churches; being not

worthy to be called from thence,

as being the least among them.

15 Nevertheless by the will of

God I have been thought worthy

of this honour; not for that I

think I have deserved it, but by

the grace of God;

16 Which I wish may be perfectly

given unto me, that through your

prayers I may attain unto God.

17 And therefore, that your

work may be fully accomplished,

both upon earth and in heaven;

it will be fitting, and for the

honour of God, that your church

appoint some worthy delegate,

who being come as far as Syria,

may rejoice together with them

that they are in peace; and that

they are again restored to their

former state, and have again

received their proper body.

18 Wherefore I should think it

a worthy action, to send some

one from you with an epistle,

to congratulate with them their

peace in God; and that through

your prayers, they have now

gotten to their harbour.

19 For inasmuch as ye are perfect

yourselves, you ought to think

those things that are perfect. For

when you are desirous to do well,

God is ready to enable you there.

unto.

20 The love of the brethren that

are at Troas salute you; from whence

I write to you by Burrhus whom ye

sent with me, together with the

Ephesians, your brethren; and who

has in all Things refreshed me.

21 And I would to God that all

would imitate him, as being a pattern

of the ministry of God. May his grace

fully reward him.

22 I salute your very worthy

bishop, and your venerable presbytery;

and your deacons, my fellow-servants;

and all of you in general, and every

one in particular, in the name of

Jesus Christ, and in his flesh and

blood; in his passion and resurrection

both fleshly and spiritually; and in

the unity of God with you.

23 Grace be with you, and mercy,

and peace, and patience, for evermore.

24 I salute the families of my

brethren, with their wives and

children; and the virgins that are

called widows. Be strong in the

power of the Holy Ghost. Philo,

who is present with me salutes

you.

25 I salute the house of Tavias,

and pray that it may be strengthened

in faith and charity, both of flesh

and spirit.

26 I salute Alce my well-beloved,

together with the incomparable

Daphnus, and Eutechnus, and all

by name.

27 Farewell in the grace of God.

IGNATIUS TO POLYCARP

CHAPTER I.

Ignatius blesses God for the firm,

establishment of Polycarp in the

faith, and gives him particular

directions for improving it.

IGNATIUS, who is also called

Theophorus, to Polycarp, bishop

of the church which is at Smyrna;

their overseer, but rather himself

overlooked by God the Father,

and the Lord Jesus Christ;

all happiness.

2 Having known that thy mind

towards God, is fixed as it were

upon an immoveable rock;

I exceedingly give thanks, that

I have been thought worthy to

behold thy blessed face, in

which may I always rejoice in God.

3 Wherefore I beseech thee by

the grace of God with which thou

art clothed, to press forward in

thy course, and to exhort all

others that they may be saved.

4 Maintain thy place with all

care both of flesh and spirit: Make

it thy endeavour to preserve unity,

than which nothing is better.

Bear with all men even as the

Lord with thee.

5 Support all in love, as also

thou dost. Pray without ceasing

ask more understanding than what

thou already hast. Be watchful,

having thy spirit always awake.

6 Speak to every one according

as God shall enable thee. Bear

the infirmities of all, as a

perfect combatant; where the

labour is great, the gain is

the more.

7 If thou shalt love the good

disciples, what thank is it? But

rather do thou subject to thee

those that are mischievous, in

meekness.

8 Every wound is not healed

with the same plaister: if the

accessions of the disease be

vehement, modify them with soft

remedies: be in all things wise

as a serpent, but harmless as a

dove.

9 For this cause thou art

composed of flesh and spirit;

that thou mayest modify those

things that appear before thy face.

10 And as for those that are not

seen, pray to God that he would

reveal them into thee, that so

thou mayest be wanting in nothing,

but mayest abound in every gift.

11 The times demand thee, as

the pilots the winds; and he that

is tossed in a tempest, the haven

where he would be.

12 That thou mayest attain unto

God, be sober as the combatant

of God. The crown proposed to

thee is immortality, and eternal

life: concerning which thou art

also fully persuaded. I will be

thy surety in all things, by my

bonds, which thou halt loved.

13 Let not those that seem

worthy of credit, but teach other

doctrines, disturb thee. Stand

firm and immoveable, as an anvil

when it is beaten upon.

14 It is the part of a brave

combatant to be wounded, and yet

overcome. But especially we ought

to endure all things for God's

sake, that he may bear with us.

15 Be every day better than

others; consider the times, and

expect him, who is above all time,

eternal; invisible, though for our

sakes made visible: impalpable,

and impassible, yet for us

subjected to sufferings; enduring

all manner of ways for our salvation.

CHAPTER II.

1 Continues his advice,

6 and teaches him how to advise others.

12 Enforces unity and subjection to the bishop.

LET not the widows be neglected:

be thou after God, their Guardian.

2 Let nothing be done without thy

knowledge and consent; neither do

thou anything but according to the

will of God; as also thou dost,

with all constancy.

3 Let your assemblies be more

full: inquire into all by name.

4 Overlook not the men and

maid servants; neither let them

be puffed up: but rather let them

be the more subject to the glory

of God, that they may obtain from

him a better liberty.

5 Let them not desire to be

set free at the public cost, that

they be not slaves to their own

lusts.

6 Flee evil arts; or rather make

not any mention of them.

7 Say to my sisters, that they

love the Lord; and be satisfied

with their own husbands, both in

the flesh and spirit.

8 In like manner, exhort my

brethren in the name of Jesus

Christ, that they love their wives,

even as the Lord the church.

9 If any man can remain in a

virgin state, to the honour of the

flesh of Christ, let him remain

without boasting; but if he boast,

he is undone. And if he desire to

be more taken notice of than the

bishop he is corrupted.

10 But it becomes all such as

are married, whether men or women,

to come together with the consent

of the bishop, that so their

marriage may be according to

godliness, and not in lust.

11 Let all things be done to the

honour of God.

12 Hearken unto the bishop,

that God also may hearken unto

you. My soul be security for

them that submit to their bishop,

with their presbyters and deacons.

And may my portion be together

with theirs in God.

13 Labour with one another;

contend together, run together,

suffer together; sleep together,

and rise together; as the stewards,

and assessors, and ministers of

God.

14 Please him under whom ye

war; and from whom ye receive

your wages. Let none of you be

found a deserter; but let your

baptism remain, as your arms;

your faith, as your helmet; your

charity, as your spear; your

patience, as your whole armour.

15 Let your works be your

charge, that so you may receive

a suitable reward. Be long

suffering therefore towards each

other in meekness; as God is

towards you.

16 Let me have joy of you in

all things.

CHAPTER III.

1 Greets Polycarp on the peace of the church at Antioch:

2 and desires him to write to that and other churches.

NOW forasmuch as the church

of Antioch in Lyria is, as

I am told, in peace through your

prayers; I also have been the more

comforted, and without care in

God; if so be that by suffering, I

shall attain unto God; and through

your prayers I may be found a

disciple of Christ.

2 It will be very fit, O most

worthy Polycarp, to call a select

council, and choose some one

whom ye particularly love, and

who is patient of labour: that he

may be the messenger of God;

and that going unto Syria, he may

glorify your incessant love, to the

praise of Christ.

3 A Christian has not the power

of himself; but must be always

at leisure for God's service.

Now this work is both God's and

our's; when ye shall have

perfected it.

4 For I trust through the grace

of God that ye are ready to every

good work that is fitting for you

in the Lord.

5 Knowing therefore your

earnest affection for the truth,

I have exhorted you by these short

letters.

6 But forasmuch as I have not

been able to write to all the

churches, because I must suddenly

sail from Troas to Neapolis;

(for so is the command of those

to whose pleasure I am subject;)

do you write to the churches that

are near you, as being instructed

in the will of God, that they also

may do in like manner.

7 Let those that are able send

messengers; and let the rest send

their letters by those who shall be

sent by you: that you may be

glorified to all eternity,

of which you are worthy.

8 I salute all by name; particularly

the wife of Epitropus with all her

house and children. I salute Attalus

my well-beloved.

9 I salute him who shall be

thought worthy to be sent by you

into Syria. Let grace be ever

with him, and with Polycarp who

sends him.

10 I wish you all happiness in

our God, Jesus Christ; in whom

continue, in the unity and

protection of God.

11 I salute Alce my well-

beloved. Farewell in the Lord.

REFERENCES TO THE SEVEN EPISTLES OF IGNATIUS.

[The Epistles of Ignatius are translated by Archbishop Wake from the text

of Vossius. He says that there were considerable difference in the

editions; the best for a long time extant containing fabrications, and

the genuine being altered and corrupted. Archbishop Usher printed old

Latin translations of them at Oxford, in 1644. At Amsterdam, two years

afterwards, Vossius printed six of them in their ancient and pure Greek;

and the seventh, greatly amended from the ancient Latin version, was

Printed at Paris, by Ruinart, in 1689, in the Acts and Martyrdom of

Ignatius, from a Greek uninterpolated copy. These are supposed to form

the collection that Polycarp made of the Epistles of Ignatius, mentioned

by Irenaes, Origen, Eusebius, Jerome, Athanasius, Theodoret, and other

ancients: but many learned men have imagined all of them to be

apocryphal. This supposition, the piety of Archbishop Wake, and his

persuasion of their utility to the faith of the church, will not permit

him to entertain: hence he has taken great pains to render the present

translation acceptable, by adding numerous readings and references to the

Canonical Books.]

THE EPISTLE OF

POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

[The genuineness of this Epistle is controverted, but implicitly

believed by Archbishop Wake, whose translation is below. There is

also a translation by Dr. Cave attached to his life of Polycarp.]

CHAPTER I.

Polycarp commends the Philippians for their respect to

those who suffered for the Gospel; and for their own faith.

POLYCARP, and the presbyters

that are with him, to the

church of God which is at Philippi;

mercy unto you, and peace from

God Almighty, and the Lord Jesus

Christ our Saviour, be multiplied.

2 I rejoiced greatly with you

in our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye

received the images of a true love,

and accompanied, as it behoved you,

those who were in bonds, becoming

saints; which are the crowns of

such as are truly chosen by God

and our Lord:

3 As also that the root of the

faith which was preached from

ancient times, remains firm in you

to this day; and brings forth fruit

to our Lord Jesus Christ, who

suffered himself to be brought

even to the death for our sins:

4 Whom God hath raised up, having

loosed the pains of death. Whom

having not seen, ye love; in whom

though now ye see him not, yet

believing, ye rejoice with joy

unspeakable and full of glory.

5 Into which many desire to

enter; I knowing that by grace ye

are saved; not by works, but by

the will of God through Jesus

Christ.

6 Wherefore girding up the

loins of your minds; I serve

the Lord with fear, and in truth;

laying aside all empty and vain

speech, and the errors of many;

believing in him that raised up

our Lord Jesus Christ from the

dead, and hath given him glory

and a throne at his right hand.

7 To whom all things are made

subject, both that are in heaven,

and that are in earth; whom every

living creature shall worship;

who shall come to be the judge of

the quick and dead: whose blood

God shall require of them that

believe not in him.

8 But he that raised up Christ

from the dead, shall also raise up

us in like manner, if we do his

will, and walk according to his

commandments; and love those

things which he loved:

9 Abstaining from all

unrighteousness; inordinate affection,

and love of money; from evil.

speaking; false witness; not

rendering evil for evil, or

railing for railing, or striking

for striking, or cursing

for cursing:

10 But remembering what the

Lord has taught us saying, Judge

not, and ye shall not be judged;

forgive and ye shall be forgiven;

be ye merciful, and ye shall obtain

mercy; for with the same measure

that ye meet withal, it shall be

measured to you again.

11 And again; Blessed are the

poor, and they that are persecuted

for righteousness sake; for theirs

is the kingdom of God.

CHAPTER II.

2 Exhorts to Faith, Hope, and Charity.

5 Against covetousness, and as to the

duties of husbands, wives, widows,

9 deacons, young men, virgins, and presbyters.

THESE things, my brethren,

I took not the liberty of myself

to write unto you concerning

righteousness, but you yourselves

before encouraged me to it.

2 For neither can i, nor any

other such as I am, come up to

the wisdom of the blessed and

renowned Paul; who being himself

in person with those who then

lived, did with all exactness and

soundness teach the word of truth;

and being gone from you wrote an

epistle to you.

3 Into which if you look, you

will be able to edify yourselves in

the faith that has been delivered

unto you, which is the mother of

us all; being followed with hope,

and led on by a general love, both

towards God and towards Christ,

and towards our neighbour.

4 For if any man has these

things, he has fulfilled the law

of righteousness: for he that has

charity is far from all sin.

5 But the love of money is the

root of all evil. Knowing therefore

that as we brought nothing into this

world, so neither may we carry any

thing out; let us arm ourselves

with the armour of righteousness.

6 And teach ourselves first to

walk according to the commandments

of the Lord; and then your wives

to walk likewise according to the

faith that is given to them; in

charity, and in purity; loving

their own husbands, with all

sincerity, and all others alike,

with all temperance; and to bring up

their children in the instruction

and fear of the Lord.

7 The widows likewise teach

that they be sober as to what

concerns the faith of the Lord:

praying always for all men; being far

from all detraction, evil speaking,

false witness; from covetousness,

and from all evil.

8 Knowing that they are the

altars of God, who sees all blemishes,

and from whom nothing is hid; who

searches out the very reasonings,

and thoughts, and secrets of our

hearts.

9 Knowing therefore that God

is not mocked, we ought to walk

worthy both of his command and

of his glory.

10 Also the deacons must be

blameless before him, as the

ministers of God in Christ, and

not of men. Not false mousers, not

double tongued, not lovers of money;

but moderate in all things;

compassionate, careful; walking

according to the truth of the Lord,

who was the servant of all.

11 Whom if we please in this

present world, we shall also be

made partakers of that which is

to come, according as he has

promised to us, that he will raise

us from the dead; and that if we

shall walk worthy of him, we shall

also reign together with him, if

we believe.

12 In like manner the younger

men must be unblameable in all

things; above all, taking care of

their purity, and to restrain

themselves from all evil. For it is

good to be cut off from the lusts that

are in the world; because every

such lust warreth against the

spirit: and neither fornicators,

nor effeminate, nor abusers of

themselves with mankind, shall

inherit the kingdom of God; nor

they who do such things as are

foolish and unreasonable.

13 Wherefore ye must needs

abstain from all these things,

being subject to the priests and

deacons, as unto God and Christ.

14 The virgins admonish to

walk in a spotless and pure

conscience.

15 And let the elders be

compassionate and merciful towards

all; turning them from their errors;

seeking out those that are weak;

not forgetting the widows, the

fatherless, and the poor; but

always providing what is good

both in the sight of God and man.

16 Abstaining from all wrath,

respect of persons, and unrighteous

judgment; and especially being

free from all covetousness.

17 Not easy to believe anything

against any; not severe in judgment;

knowing that we are all debtors

in point of sin.

18 If therefore we pray to the

Lord that he would forgive us, we

ought also to forgive others; for

we are all in the sight of our Lord

and God; a and must all stand before

the judgment-seat of Christ;

and shall every one give an

account of himself.

19 Let us therefore serve him in

fear, and with all reverence as

both himself hath commanded;

and as the Apostles who have

preached the Gospel unto us, and

the prophets who have foretold

the coming of our Lord have

taught us:

20 Being zealous of what is

good; abstaining from all offence,

and from false brethren; and

from those who bear the name of

Christ in hypocrisy; who deceive

vain men.

CHAPTER III.

1 As to faith in our Saviour Christ;

his nature and sufferings, the resurrection and judgment.

3 Exhorts to prayer

5 and steadfastness in the faith, from the examples of Christ,

7 and Apostles and saints, and exhorts to carefulness

in all well-doing.

FOR whosoever does not confess

that Jesus Christ is come in

the flesh, he is Antichrist: and

whoever does not confess his

suffering upon the cross, is

from the devil.

2 And whosoever perverts the

oracles of the Lord to his own

lusts, and says that there shall.

neither be any resurrection, nor

judgment, he is the first-born of

Satan.

3 Wherefore leaving the vanity

of many, and their false doctrines;

let us return to the word that was

delivered to us from the beginning:

Watching unto prayer; and

persevering in fasting;

4 With supplication beseeching

the all seeing God not to lead us

into temptation; as the Lord hath

said, The spirit is truly willing,

but the flesh is weak.

5 Let us therefore without ceasing

hold steadfastly to him who is our

hope, and the earnest of our

righteousness, even Jesus Christ;

Who, his own self, bare our sins

in his own body on the tree: who

did no sin, neither was guile found

in his mouth; but suffered all for

us that we might live through

him.

6 Let us therefore imitate his

patience; and if we suffer for his

name, let us glorify him; for this

example he has given us by himself,

and so have we believed.

7 Wherefore I exhort all

of you that ye obey the word of

righteousness, and exercise all

patience; which ye have seen set

forth before your eyes, not only

in the blessed Ignatius, and Zozimus,

and Rufus; but in others among

yourselves; and in Paul himself,

and the rest of the Apostles:

8 Being confident of this, that

all these have not run in vain, but

in faith and righteousness; and

are gone to the place that was due

to them from the Lord; with

whom also they suffered.

9 For they loved not this

present world; but him who died,

and was raised again by God for

us.

10 Stand therefore in these

things, and follow the example of

the Lord; being firm and immutable

in the faith, lovers of the

brotherhood, lovers of one

another: companions together

in the truth, being kind and

gentle towards each other,

despising none.

11 When it is in your power to

do good defer it not, for charity

delivered from death.

12 Be all of you subject one to

another, having your conversation

honest among the Gentiles; that

by your good works, both ye

yourselves may receive praise, and

the Lord may not be blasphemed

through you. But woe be to him

by whom the name of the Lord is

blasphemed.

13 Therefore teach all men

sobriety; in which do ye also

exercise yourselves.

CHAPTER IV.

Valens, a presbyter, having fallen into the sin

of covetousness, he exhorts them against it.

I am greatly afflicted for Valens,

who was once a presbyter among you;

that he should so little understand

the place that was given to him in

the church, Wherefore I admonish you

that ye abstain from covetousness;

and that ye be chaste, and true of

speech.

2 Keep yourselves from all evil.

For he that in these things cannot

govern himself, how shall he be

able to prescribe them to another?

3 If a man does not keep himself

from covetousness, he shall be

polluted with idolatry, and be

judged as if he were a Gentile.

4 But who of you are ignorant

of the judgment of God? Do we

not know that the saints shall

judge the world, as Paul teaches?

5 But I have neither perceived

nor heard anything of this kind

in you, among whom the blessed

Paul laboured; and who are

named in the beginning of his

Epistle.

6 For he glories of you in all

the churches who then only knew

God; for we did not then know

him. Wherefore, my brethren, I

am exceedingly sorry both for him

and for his wife; to whom God

grant a true repentance.

7 And be ye also moderate upon

this occasion; and look not upon

such as enemies, but call them

back as suffering and erring

members, that ye may save your

whole body: for by so doing,

ye shall edify your own selves.

8 For I trust that ye are well

exercised in the Holy Scriptures,

and that nothing is hid from you

but at present it is not granted

unto me to practise that which is

written, Be angry and sin not;

and again, Let not the sun go

down upon your wrath.

9 Blessed be he that believeth

and remembereth these things;

which also I trust you do.

10 Now the God and Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ, and he

himself who is our everlasting

high-priest, the Son of God, even

Jesus Christ, build you up in faith

and in truth, and in all meekness

and lenity; in patience and long-

suffering, in forbearance and

chastity:

11 And grant unto you a lot and

portion among his saints, and us

with you; and to all that are under

the heavens, who shall believe in

our Lord Jesus Christ, and in his

Father who raised him from the dead.

12 Pray for all the saints:

pray also for kings, and all that

are in authority; and for those who

persecute you, and hate you, and for

the enemies of the cross; that your

fruit may be manifest in all; and

that ye may be perfect in Christ.

13 Ye wrote to me, both ye, and

also Ignatius, that if any one

went from hence into Syria, he

should bring your letters with

him; which also I will take care

of, as soon as I shall have a

convenient opportunity; either

by myself, or him whom I shall

send upon your account.

14 The Epistle of Ignatius,

which he wrote unto us, together

with what others of his have come

to our hands, we have sent to you,

according to your order; which

are subjoined to this Epistle:

15 By which we may be greatly

profited; for they treat of faith

and patience, and of all things that

pertain to edification in the Lord

Jesus.

16 What you know certainly of

Ignatius, and those that are

with him, signify to us.

17 These things have I written

unto you by Crescens, whom by

this present Epistle I have

recommended to you, and do now

again commend.

18 For he has had his conversation

without blame among us; and I suppose

also with you.

19 Ye will also have regard unto

his sister when she shall come

unto you.

20 Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus

Christ; and in favour with all

yours. Amen.

THE FIRST PART OF THE

BOOK OF HERMAS CALLED HIS VISION.

VISION I.

1 Against filthy and proud thoughts;

20 also the neglect of Hermas in chastising his children.

HE who had bred me up sold a

certain young maid at Rome;

whom when I saw many years

after, I remembered her, and

began to love her as a sister.

It happened some time afterwards,

that I saw her washing in the river

Tyber; and I reached out my hand

unto her, and brought her out of

the river,

2 And when I saw her I thought

with myself, saying, How happy

should I be if I had such a wife,

both for beauty and manners.

This I thought with myself; nor

did I think any thing more. But

not long after, as I was walking,

and musing on these thoughts, I

began to honour this creature of

God, thinking with myself; how

noble and beautiful she was.

3 And when I had walked a little,

I fell asleep; and the spirit

caught me away, and carried me

through a certain place towards

the right hand, through which no

man could pass. It was a place

among rocks, very steep, and

unpassable for water.

4 When I was past this place,

I came into a plain; and there

falling down upon my knees, I

began to pray unto the Lord, and

to confess my sins.

5 And as I was praying, the

heaven was opened, and I saw the

woman which I had coveted,

saluting me from heaven, and

saying, Hermas, hail! and I looking

upon her, answered, Lady, what

dost thou do here? She answered

me, I am taken up hither to accuse

thee of sin before the Lord.

6 Lady, said I, wilt thou

convince me? No, said she: but

hear the words which I am about

to speak unto thee. God who

dwelleth in heaven, and hath made

all things out of nothing, and

hath multiplied them for his holy

church's sake, is angry with thee

because thou hast sinned against

me.

7 And I answering said unto

her, Lady, if I have sinned against

thee, tell me where, or in what

place, or when did I ever speak

an unseemly or dishonest word

unto thee?

8 Have I not always esteemed

thee as a lady? Have I not always

reverenced thee as a sister? Why

then dost thou imagine these

wicked things against me?

9 Then she, smiling upon me,

said: the desire of naughtiness

has risen up in thy heart. Does

it not seem to thee to be an ill

thing for a righteous man to have

an evil desire rise up in his heart.

10 It is indeed a sin, and that a

very great sin, to such a one; for

a righteous man thinketh that

which is righteous. And whilst

he does so, and walketh uprightly,

he shall have the Lord in heaven

favourable unto him in all his

business.

11 But as for those who think

wickedly in their hearts, they take

to themselves death and captivity;

and especially those who love this

present world, and glory in their

riches, and regard not the good

things that are to come; their

souls wander up and down and

know not where to fix.

12 Now this is the case of such

as are double-minded, who trust

not in the Lord, and despise and

neglect their own life.

13 But do thou pray unto the

Lord, and he will heal thy sins,

and the sins of thy whole house,

and of all his saints.

14 As soon as she had spoken

these words the heaven were shut,

and I remained utterly swallowed

up with sadness and fear: and

said within myself, if this be laid

against me for sin, how can I be

saved.

15 Or how should I ever be able

to entreat the Lord for my many

and great sins? With what words

shall I beseech him to be merciful

unto me?

16 As I was thinking over these

things, and meditating in myself

upon them, behold a chair was

set over against me of the whitest

wool, as bright as snow.

17 And there came an old woman

in a bright garment, having

a book in her hand, and sat alone,

and saluted me, saying, Hermas,

hail! and I being full of sorrow

and weeping, answered, Hail Lady!

18 And she said unto me, Why

art thou sad, Hermas, who wert

wont to be patient, and modest,

and always cheerful? I answered,

and said to her, Lady, a reproach

has been laid to my charge by an

excellent woman, who tells me

that I have sinned against her.

19 She replied, Far be any such

thing from the servant of God.

But it may be the desire of her

has risen up in thy heart? For

indeed such a thought maketh the

servants of God guilty of sin.

20 Nor ought such a detestable

thought to be in the servant of

God: nor should he who is approved

by the Spirit desire that which

is evil; but especially Hermas,

who contains himself from all

wicked lusts, and is full of all

simplicity, and of great innocence.

21 Nevertheless the Lord is

not so much angry with thee for

thine own sake, as upon the

account of thy house, which has

committed wickedness against the

Lord, and against their parents.

22 And for that out of thy

fondness towards thy sons, thou

hast not admonished thy house,

but hast permitted them to live

wickedly; for this cause the Lord

is angry with thee: but he will heal

all the evils that are done in thy

house. For through their sins

and iniquities, thou art wholly

consumed in secular affairs.

23 But now the mercy of God

hath taken compassion upon thee,

and upon thine house, and hath

greatly comforted thee. Only

as for thee, do not wander, but be

of an even mind, and comfort thy

house.

24 As the workman bringing

forth his work, offers it to

whomsoever he pleaseth; so shalt

thou by teaching every day what

is just, cut off a great sin.

Wherefore cease not to admonish thy

sons, for the Lord knows that they

will repent with all their heart,

and they shall be written in the

book of life.

25 And when she had said this,

she added unto me; Wilt thou

hear me read? I answered her,

Lady, I will.

26 Hear then, said she;

and opening the book she read,

gloriously, greatly and wonderfully,

such things as I could not keep in

my memory. For they were terrible

words, such as no man could bear.

27 How it be I committed her

last words to my remembrance;

for they were but few, and of great

use to us:—

28 Behold the mighty Lord, who

by his invisible power, and with

his excellent wisdom made the

world, and by his glorious counsel

beautified his creature, and with

the word of his strength fixed the

heaven, and founded the earth

upon the waters; and by his

powerful virtue established the

Holy Church, which he hath

blessed.

29 Behold he will remove the

heavens, and the mountains, the

hills, and the seas; and all things

shall be made plain for his elect;

that he may render unto them the

promise which he has promised,

with much honour and joy; if so

be that they shall keep the

commandments of God, which they

have received with great faith.

30 And when she had made an end

of reading, she rose out of the

chair; and behold four young men

came, and carried the chair to

the east.

31 And she called me unto her,

and touched my breast, and said

unto me, Did my reading please

thee? I answered, Lady, these

last things please me; but what

went before was severe and hard.

32 She said unto me, these last

things are for the righteous, but

the foregoing for the revolters and

heathen.

33 And as she was talking with

me, two men appeared, and took

her upon their shoulders, and

went to the east where the chair

was.

34 And she went cheerfully

away; and as she was going, said

unto me, Hermas, be of good

cheer.

VISION II.

Again, of his neglect in correcting his talkative wife;

and of his lewd sons.

AS I was on the way to Cuma,

about the same time that I

went the year before, I began to

call to mind the vision I formerly

had. And again the spirit carried

me away, and brought me into the

same place, in which I had been

the year before.

2 And when I was come into the

place, I fell down upon my knees,

and began to pray unto the Lord,

and to glorify his name, that he

had esteemed me worthy, and had

manifested unto me my former

sins.

3 And when I arose from prayer,

behold I saw over against me the

old woman whom I had seen the

last year, walking and reading

in a certain book.

4 And she said unto me, Canst

thou tell these things to the

elect of God? I answered and said

unto her, Lady, I cannot retain

so many things in my memory, but

give me the book, and I will write

them down.

5 Take it, says she, and see that

thou restore it again to me.

6 As soon as I had received it,

I went aside into a certain place

of the field, and transcribe every

letter, for I found no syllables.

7 And as soon as I had finished

what was written in the book, the

book was suddenly caught out of

my hand, but by whom I saw not.

8 After fifteen days, when I

had fasted, and entreated the Lord

with all earnestness, the knowledge

of the writing was revealed unto me.

Now the writing was this:—

9 Thy seed, O Hermas! hath

sinned against the Lord, and have

betrayed their parents, through

their great wickedness. And they

have been called the betrayers of

their parents, and have gone on in

their treachery.

10 And now have they added

lewdness to their other sins, and

the pollutions of their naughtiness:

thus have they filled up the measure

of their iniquities. But do thou

upbraid thy sons with all these

words; and thy wife, who shall be

as thy sister; and let her learn

to refrain her tongue, with which

she calumniates.

11 And when she shall hear these

things, she will refrain herself,

and shall obtain mercy.

12 And they also shall be

instructed, when thou shalt have

reproached them with these words,

which the Lord has commanded to

be revealed unto them.

13 Then shall their sins be

forgiven, which they have heretofore

committed, and the sins of all the

saints who have sinned even unto

this day; if they shall repent with

all their hearts, and remove all

doubts out of their hearts.

14 For the Lord hath sworn by

his glory concerning his elect,

having determined this very time,

that if any one shall even now

sin, he shall not be saved.

15 For the repentance of the

righteous has its end; the days of

repentance are fulfilled to all the

saints; but to the heathen, there

is repentance even unto the last

day.

16 Thou shalt therefore say to

those who are over the church,

that they order their ways in

righteousness; so that they may

fully receive the promise with

much glory.

17 Stand fast therefore ye that

work righteousness and continue

to do it, that your departure may

be with the holy angels.

18 Happy are ye, as many as

shall endure the great trial that is

at hand, and whosoever shall not

deny his life.

19 For the Lord hath sworn by

his Son, that whoso, denieth his

Son and HIM, being afraid of his

life, he will also deny him in the

world that is to come.

20 But those who shall never

deny him, he will of his exceeding

great mercy be favourable unto

them.

21 But thou, O Hermas! remember

not the evils which thy sons have

done, neither neglect thy sister,

but take care that they amend of

their former sins.

22 For they will be instructed

by this doctrine, if thou shalt not

be mindful of what they have done

wickedly.

23 For the remembrance of evils

worketh death, but the forgetting

of them eternal life.

24 But thou, O Hermas! hast

undergone a great many worldly

troubles for the offences of thy

house, because thou hast neglected

them, as things that did not belong

unto thee; and thou art wholly

taken up with thy great business.

25 Nevertheless, for this cause

shalt thou be saved, that thou hast

not departed from the living God,

and thy simplicity and singular

continency shall preserve thee, if

thou shalt continue in them.

26 Yes, they shall save all such

as do such things, and walk in

innocence and simplicity.

27 They who are of this kind

shall prevail against all impiety,

and continue until life eternal.

28 Happy are all they that do

righteousness, they shall not be

consumed for ever.

29 But thou wilt say, Behold

there is a great trial coming. If

it seem good to thee, deny him

again.

30 The Lord is nigh to them that

turn to him, as it is written in

the book of Heldam and Modal,

who prophesied to the people of

Israel in the wilderness.

31 Moreover, brethren, it was

revealed to me, as I was sleeping,

by a very goodly young man, saying

unto me, What thinkest thou of that

old woman from whom thou receivedst

the book; who is she? I answered,

a Sybil.

32 Thou art mistaken said he,

she is not. I replied, Who is she

then, sir? He answered me, It is

the church of God.

33 And I said unto him, Why

then does she appear old? She is

therefore, said he, an old woman,

because she was the first of all

the creation, and the world was

made for her.

34 After this I saw a vision at

home in my own house, and the

old woman, whom I had seen before,

came to me and asked me whether

I had yet delivered her book to

the elders of the church? And

I answered, that I had not yet.

35 She replied, Thou hast well

done, for I have certain words

more to tell thee. But when I

shall have finished all the words,

they shall be clearly understood

by the elect.

36 And thou shalt write two

books, and send one to Clement

and one to Grapte. For Clement

shall send it to the foreign cities,

because it is permitted to him so

to do: but Grapte shall admonish

the widows and orphans.

37 But thou shalt read in this

city with the elders of the church.

VISION III.

Of the building of the church triumphant,

and of the several sorts of reprobates.

THE vision which I saw, brethren,

was this.

2 When I had often fasted and

prayed unto the Lord, that he

would manifest unto me the

revelation, which he had promised

by the old woman to show unto me;

the same night she appeared unto

me, and said unto me,

3 Because thou dost thus afflict

thyself, and art so desirous to know

all things, come into the field,

where thou wilt, and about the

sixth hour, I will appear unto thee,

and show thee what thou must

see.

4 I asked her, saying; Lady,

into what part of the field? She

answered, wherever thou wilt, only

choose a good and a private place.

And before I began to speak and

tell her the place, she said unto

me; I will come where thou wilt.

5 I was therefore, brethren in

the field and I observed the hours,

and came into the place where I

had appointed her to come.

6 And I beheld a bench placed;

it was a linen pillow, and over it

spread a covering of fine linen.

7 When I saw these things ordered

in this manner, and that there was

nobody in the place, I began to be

astonished, and my hair stood on end,

and a kind of horror seized me;

for I was alone.

8 But being come to myself,

and calling to mind the glory of

God, and taking courage, I fell

down upon my knees and began

again to confess my sins as before.

9 And whilst I was doing this,

the old woman came thither with

the six young men whom I had

seen before, and stood behind me

as I was praying, and heard me

praying and confessing my sins

unto the Lord.

10 And touching me, she said;

Leave off praying now only for thy

sins; pray also for righteousness,

that thou mayest receive a part of

it in thy house.

11 And she lifted me up from

the place, and took me by the

hand, and brought me to the seat;

and said to the young men, go,

and build.

12 As soon as they were departed,

and we were alone, she said unto me;

sit here. I answered her; Lady,

let those who are elder sit first.

She replied, Sit down as I bid you.

13 And when I would have sat

on the right side, she suffered me

not, but made a sign to me with

her hand, that I should sit on the

left.

14 As I was therefore musing,

and full of sorrow, that she would

not suffer me to sit on the right

side, she said unto me, Hermas,

why art thou sad?

15 The place which is on the

right hand is theirs who have

already attained unto God, and have

suffered for his name-sake. But

there is yet a great deal remaining

unto thee, before thou canst sit

with them.

16 But continue as thou doest,

in thy sincerity, and thou shalt sit

with them; as all others shall,

who do their works, and shall bear

what they have borne.

17 I said to her; Lady, I would

know what it is that they have

suffered? Hear then, said she:

wild beasts, scourgings,

imprisonments, and crosses

for his name-sake.

18 For this cause the right hand

of holiness belongs to them, and

to all others as many as shall

suffer for the name of God; but

the left belongs to the rest.

19 Howbeit the gifts and the

promises belong to both, to them

on the right, and to those on the

left hand; only that sitting on the

right hand they have some glory

above the others.

20 But thou art desirous to sit

on the right hand with them, and

yet thy defects are many. But

thou shalt be purged from thy

defects, as also all who doubt not

shall be cleansed from all the sins

which they have committed unto

this day.

21 And when she had said this

she would have departed.

22 Wherefore, falling down before

her feet, I began to entreat her,

for the Lord's sake, that she

would show me the vision which

she had promised.

23 Then she again took me by

the hand, and lifted me up, and

made me sit upon the seat at the

left side; and holding up a certain

bright wand, said unto me, Seest

thou that great thing? I replied,

Lady, I see nothing.

24 She answered, Dost thou not

see over against thee a great tower,

which is built upon the water with

bright square stones?

25 For the tower was built upon

a square by these six young men

that came with her.

26 But many thousand of other

men brought stones; some drew

them out of the deep, others

carried them from the ground,

and gave them to the six young men;

and they took them and built.

27 As for those stones which

were drawn out of the deep, they

put them all into the building;

for they were polished, and their

squares exactly answered one another,

and so one was joined in such wise

to the other, that there was no

space to be seen where they

joined, insomuch that the whole

tower appeared to be built as it

were of one stone.

28 But as for the other stones

that were taken off from the

ground, some of them they rejected,

others they fitted into the building.

29 As for those which were rejected,

some they cut out, and cast them

at a distance from the tower;

but many others of them lay round

about the tower, which they made

no use of in the building.

30 For some of these were

rough, others had clefts in them,

others were white and round, not

proper for the building of the

tower.

31 But I saw the other stones

cast afar off from the tower, and

falling into the high-way, and yet

not continuing in the way, but

were rolled from the way into a

desert place.

32 Others I saw falling into the

fire and burning; others fell near

the water, yet could not roll

themselves into it, though very

desirous to fall into the water.

33 And when she had showed

me these things she would have

departed; but I said to her, Lady,

what doth it profit me to see these

things, and not understand what

they mean?

34 She answered and said unto

me; You are very cunning, in

that you are desirous to know

those things which relate to the

tower. Yea, said I, lady, that I

may declare them unto the brethren,

and they may rejoice, and hearing

these things may glorify God

with great glory.

35 Then she said, Many indeed

shall hear them, and when they

shall have heard them, some shall

rejoice, and others weep. And

yet even these, if they shall

repent, shall rejoice too.

36 Hear therefore what I shall

say concerning the parable of the

tower, and after this be no longer

importunate with me about the

revelation.

37 For these revelations have

an end, seeing they are fulfilled.

But thou dost not leave off to

desire revelations, for thou art

very urgent.

38 As for the tower which thou

seest built, it is myself, namely,

the church, which have appeared

to thee both now and heretofore.

Wherefore ask what thou wilt

concerning the tower, and I will

reveal it unto thee, that thou

mayest rejoice with the saints.

39 I said unto her, Lady,

because thou hast thought me once

worthy to receive from thee the

revelation of all these things,

declare them unto me.

40 She answered me, Whatsoever

is fit to be revealed unto thee

shall be revealed: only yet thy

heart be with the Lord, and doubt

not, whatsoever thou shalt see.

41 I asked her, Lady, why is the

tower built upon the water? She

replied, I said before to thee that

thou wert very wise to inquire

diligently concerning the building,

therefore thou shalt find the truth.

42 Hear therefore why the tower

is built upon the water: because

your life is and shall be saved by

water. For it is founded by the

word of the almighty and honourable

name, and is supported by the

invisible power and virtue of God.

43 And I answering, said

unto her, These things are very

admirable; but, lady, who are

those six young men that build?

44 They are, said she, the angels

of God, who were first appointed,

and to whom the Lord has delivered

all his creatures, to frame and

build them up, and to rule over

them. For by these the building

of the tower shall be finished.

45 And who are the rest who

bring them stones?

46 They also are the holy angels

of the Lord; but the others are

more excellent than these. Wherefore

when the whole building of the

tower shall be finished, they

shall all feast together beside

the tower, and shall glorify God,

because the structure of the

tower is finished.

47 I asked her, saying, I would

know the condition of the stones,

and what the meaning of them

is?

48 She answering, said unto

me, Art thou better than all others

that this should be revealed unto

thee? For others are both before

thee and better than thou art,

to whom these visions should be

made manifest.

49 Nevertheless, that the name

of God may be glorified, it has been

shown and shall be revealed unto

thee, for the sake of those who are

doubtful, and think in their hearts

whether these things are so or not.

50 Tell them that all these

things are true, and that there is

nothing in them that is not true

but all are firm and truly

established.

51 Hear now then concerning

the stones that are in the building.

52 The square and white stones

which agree exactly in their joints,

are the apostles, and bishops, and

doctors, and ministers, who

through the mercy of God have

come in, and governed, and taught

and ministered holily and modestly

to the elect of God, both they

that have fallen asleep, and which

yet remain; and have always

agreed with them, and have had

peace within themselves, and have

heard each other.

53 For which cause their joints

exactly meet together in the building

of the tower.

54 They which are drawn out

of the deep and put into the

building, and whose joints agree

with the other stones which are

already built, are those which are

already fallen asleep, and have

suffered for the sake of the Lord's

name.

55 And what are the other

stones, lady, that are brought

from the earth? I would know

what are they.

56 She answered, They which

lie upon the ground and are not

polished, are those which God has

approved, because they have

walked in I the law of the Lord,

and directed their ways in his

commandments.

57 They which are brought and

put in the building of the tower,

are the young in faith and the

faithful. And these are admonished

by the angels to do well because

iniquity is not found in them.

58 But who are those whom they

rejected, and laid beside the tower?

59 They are such as have sinned

and are willing to repent; for

which cause they are not cast far

from the tower, because they will

be useful for the building, if they

shall repent.

60 They therefore that are yet

to repent, if they repent they shall

become strong in the faith; that

is, if they repent now, whilst the

tower is building. For if the

building shall be finished there

will then be no place for them to

be put in, but they shall be rejected;

for he only has this privilege who

shall now be put into the tower.

61 But would you know who

they are that were cut out, and

cast afar off from the tower?

Lady said I, I desire it.

62 They are the children of iniquity,

who believed only in hypocrisy,

and departed not from their evil

ways; for this cause they shall not

be saved, because they are not of

any use in the building by reason

of their sins.

63 Wherefore they are cut out,

and cast afar off, because of the

anger of the Lord, and because

they have provoked him to anger

against them.

64 As for the great number of

other stones which thou hast seen

placed about the tower, but now

put into the building; those which

are rugged, are they who have

known the truth, but have not

continued in it, nor been joined

to the saints, and therefore are

unprofitable.

65 Those that have clefts in

them, are they that keep up discord

in their hearts against each other,

and live not in peace; that are

friendly when present with their

brethren, but as soon as they are

departed from one another, their

wickedness still continues in

their hearts: these are the clefts

which are seen in those stones.

66 Those that are maimed and

short, are they who have believed

indeed, but still are in great

measure full of wickedness; for

this cause they are maimed and

not whole.

67 But what are the white and

round stones, lady, and which are

not proper for the building of the

tower?

68 She answering said unto

me: How long wilt thou continue

foolish and without understanding,

asking everything and discerning

nothing?

69 They are such as have faith

indeed, but have withal the riches

of this present world. When

therefore any troubles arise, for

the sake of their riches and traffic,

they deny the Lord.

70 I answering, said unto her,

When therefore will they be

profitable to the Lord? When their

riches shall be cut away, says she,

in which they take delight, then

they will be profitable unto the

Lord for his building.

71 For as a round stone, unless

it be cut away and is cast somewhat

of its bulk, cannot be made square,

so they who are rich in this world;

unless their riches be pared off;

cannot be made profitable unto the

Lord.

72 Learn this from thy own

experience: when thou wert rich,

thou wast unprofitable; but now

thou art profitable, and fit for the

life which thou hast undertaken;

for thou also once was one of

those stones.

73 As for the rest of the stones

which thou sawest cast afar

off from the tower, and running in

the way, and tumbled out of the

way into desert places; they are

such as have believed indeed,

but through their doubting have

forsaken the true way, thinking that

they could find a better. But they

wander and are miserable, going

into desolate ways.

74 Then for those stones which

fell into the fire and were burnt,

they are those who have for ever

departed from the living God;

nor doth it ever come into their

hearts to repent, by reason of the

affection which they bear to their

lusts and wickedness which they

commit.

75 And what are the rest which

fell by the water, and could not

roll into the water?

76 They are such as have heard

the word, and were willing to be

baptised in the name of the Lord;

but considering the great holiness

which the truth requires, have

withdrawn themselves, an walked

again after wicked lusts.

77 Thus she finished the

explanation of the tower.

78 But I being still urgent,

asked her, Is there repentance

allowed to all those stones which

are thus cast away, and were not

suitable to the building of the

tower; and shall they find place

in this tower?

79 They may repent, said she,

yet they cannot come into this

tower; but, they shall be placed

in a much lower rank, and then

only after they shall have been

afflicted and fulfilled the days of

their sins.

80 And for this cause they shall

be removed, because they have

received the word of righteousness:

and then they shall be translated

from their afflictions, if they

shall have a true sense in their

hearts of what they have done amiss.

81 But if they shall not have

this sense in their hearts, they

shall not be saved by reason of

the hardness of their hearts.

82 When therefore I had done

asking her concerning all these

things, she said unto me, Wilt

thou see something else? And

being desirous of seeing it,

I became very cheerful of

countenances.

83 She therefore looking back

upon me, and smiling a little, said

unto me, Seest thou seven women

about the tower? Lady, said I,

I see them.

84 This tower, replied she, is

supported by them, according to

the command of the Lord: hear

therefore the effects of them.

85 The first of them, which

holds fast with her hand, is called

Faith; The next, which is girt

up, and looks manly, is named

Abstinence: she is the daughter

of Faith.

86 Whosoever therefore shall

follow her shall be happy in all

his life, because he shall abstain

from all evil works, believing that

if he shall contain himself from

all concupiscence, he shall be

the heir of eternal life. And

what, lady, said I, are the other

five?

87 They are, replied she, the

daughters of one another. The

first of them is called Simplicity;

the next Innocence; the third

Modesty; then Discipline; and

the last of all is Charity. When

therefore thou shalt have fulfilled

the works of their mother, thou

shalt be able to do all things.

88 Lady, said I, I would know

what particular virtue every one

of these has.

89 Hear then, replied she;

they have equal virtues, and their

virtues are knit together, and

follow one another as they were

born.

90 From Faith proceeds Abstinence;

from Abstinence, Simplicity; from

Simplicity, Innocence; from Innocence,

Modesty; from Modesty, Discipline

and Charity. Therefore the works

of these are holy, and chaste, and

right.

91 Whoever therefore shall

serve these, and hold fast to their

works, he shall have his dwelling

in the tower with the saints of

God.

92 Then I asked her concerning

the times, whether the end were

now at hand?

93 But she cried out with a loud

voice, saying, O foolish man!

Dost thou not see the tower yet a

building? When therefore the

tower shall be finished, and built,

it shall have an end; and indeed

it shall soon be accomplished.

94 But do not ask me any more

questions. What has been said

may suffice thee and all the saints

for the refreshment of your spirits.

For these things have not been

revealed to thee only, but that

thou mayest make them manifest

unto all.

95 For therefore, O Hermas,

after three days thou must understand

these words which I begin

to speak unto thee, that thou

mayest speak them in the ears of

the saints; that when thou shall

have heard and done them, they

may be cleansed from their

iniquities, and thou together

with them.

96 Hear me therefore, O my

sons! I have bred you up in much

simplicity, and innocency, and

modesty, for the love of God,

which has dropped down upon

you in righteousness, that you

should be sanctified and justified

from all sin and wickedness; but

ye will not cease from your evil

doings.

97 Now therefore hearken unto

me, and have peace one with another,

and visit one another, and receive

one another, and do not enjoy

the creatures of God alone.

98 Give freely to them that are

in need. For some by too free

feeding contract an infirmity in

their flesh, and do injury to their

bodies; whilst the flesh of others,

who have not food, withers away,

because they want sufficient

nourishment, and the bodies are

consumed.

99 Wherefore this intemperance

is hurtful to you, who have, and

do not contribute to them that

want. Prepare for the judgment

that is about to come upon you.

100 Ye that are the more eminent,

search out them that are hungry,

whilst the tower is yet unfinished.

For when the tower shall be finished,

ye shall be willing to do good,

and shall not find any place in it.

101 Beware, therefore, ye that

glory in your riches, lest perhaps

they groan who are in want, and

their sighing come up unto God,

and ye be shut out with your goods

without the gate of the tower.

102 Behold I now warn you who

are set over the church, and love

the highest seats, be not ye like

unto those that work mischief.

103 And they indeed carry about

their poison in boxes, but ye

contain your poison and infection

in your hearts, and will not purge

them, and mix your sense with a

pure heart, that ye might find

mercy with the Great King.

104 Take heed, my children,

that your dissensions deprive you

not of your lives. How will ye

instruct the elect of God, when

ye yourselves want correction?

Wherefore admonish one another,

and be at peace among yourselves,

that I, standing before your

Father, may give an account

of you unto the Lord.

105 And when she had made

an end of talking with me, the six

young men that built, came and

carried her to the tower; and four

others took up the seat on which

she sat, and they also went away

again to the tower. I saw not the

faces of these, for their backs

were towards me.

106 As she was going away, I

asked her, that she would reveal

to me what concerned the three

forms, in which she had appeared

unto me.

107 But she answering said unto

me, concerning these things

thou must ask some other, that

they may be revealed unto thee.

108 Now, brethren, in the first

vision the last year, she appeared

unto me exceedingly old, and

sitting in a chair.

109 In another vision, she had

indeed a youthful face, but her

flesh and hair were old; but she

talked with me standing, and was

more cheerful than the first time.

110 In the third vision, she was

in all respects much younger, and

comely to the eye; only she had

the hair of an aged person: yet

she looked cheerful, and sat upon

a seat.

111 I was therefore very sad

concerning these things, until I

might understand the vision.

112 Wherefore I saw the same

old woman in a vision of the night

saying unto me, All prayer needeth

humiliation. Fast, therefore, and

thou shalt learn from the Lord

that which thou dost ask. I fasted

therefore one day.

113 The same night a young

man appeared to me and said,

Why dost thou thus often desire

Revelations in thy prayers? Take

heed that by asking many things,

thou hurt not the body. Let these

Revelations suffice thee.

114 Canst thou see more notable

Revelations than those which

thou hast already received?

115 I answered and said unto

him, Sir, I only ask this one

thing upon the account of the

three figures of the old woman

that appeared to me, that the

Revelation may be complete.

116 He answered me, You are

not without understanding, but

your doubts make you so; for as

much as you have not your heart

with the Lord.

117 I replied and said, But we

shall learn these things more

carefully from you.

118 Hear then, says he, concerning

the figures about which you inquire.

119 To begin; in the first vision

she appeared to thee in the shape

of an old woman sitting in, a chair,

because your old spirit was decayed,

and without strength, by reason

of your infirmities, and the

doubtfulness of your heart.

120 For as they who are old

have no hope of renewing

themselves, nor expect any thing

but their departure; so you being

weakened through your worldly

affairs gave yourself up to sloth,

and cast not away your solicitude

from yourself upon the Lord: and

your sense was confused, and you

grew old in your sadness.

121 But, sir, I would know why

she sat upon a chair?

122 He answered, because every

one that is weak sitteth upon a

chair by reason of his infirmity,

that his weakness may be upheld.

Behold therefore the figure of the

first vision.

123 In the second vision you

saw her standing, and having a

youthful face, and more cheerful

than her former; but her flesh

and her hair were ancient. Hear,

said he, this parable also.

124 When any one grows old,

he despairs of himself by reason

of his infirmity and poverty, and

expects nothing but the last day of

his life.

125 But on a sudden an inheritance

is left to him, and he hears of it,

and rises: and being become

cheerful, he puts on new strength.

And now he no longer sits down,

but stands, and is delivered from

his former sorrow; and sits not,

but acts manfully.

126 So you, having heard the

Revelation which God revealed

unto you, because God had

compassion upon you, and renewed

your spirit, both laid aside your

infirmities, and strength came to

you, and you grew strong in the

faith; and God, seeing your

strength, rejoiced.

127 For this cause he showed

you the building of the tower,

and will show other things unto you,

if you shall have peace with all

your heart among each other.

128 But in the third vision you

saw her yet younger, fair and

cheerful, and of a serene

countenance.

129 For, as if some good news

comes to him that is sad, he

straightway forgets his sadness,

and regards nothing else but the

good news which he has heard;

and for the rest he is comforted,

and his spirit is renewed through

the joy which he has received

even so you have been refreshed

in your spirit by seeing these good

things.

130 And for that you saw her

sitting upon a bench, it denotes a

strong position; because a bench

has four feet, and stands strongly.

And even the world itself is upheld

by the four elements.

131 They therefore that repent

perfectly, shall be young; and

they that turn from their sins

with their whole heart, shall

be established.

132 And now you have the

Revelation fully, ask no more

to have any thing farther

revealed unto you.

133 But if any thing is to be

revealed, it shall be made manifest

unto you.

VISION IV.

Of the trial, and tribulation that is about

to come upon men.

I SAW a vision brethren, twenty

days after the former vision;

a representation of the tribulation

that is at hand. I was walking in

the field way.

2 Now from the public way to

the place whither I went is about

ten furlongs; it is a way very

little frequented:

3 And as I was walking alone, I

entreated the Lord that he would

confirm the Revelations which he

had shown unto me by his Holy

Church.

4 And would grant repentance

to all his servants who had been

offended, that his great and

honourable name might be glorified,

and because he thought me worthy

to whom he might show his wonders,

and, that I might honour him,

and give thanks unto him.

5 And behold somewhat like a

voice answered me; Doubt not,

Hermas. Wherefore I began to

think, and say within myself, why

should I doubt, seeing I am thus

settled by the Lord, and have seen

such glorious things?

6 I had gone but a little farther,

brethren, when behold I saw a

dust rise up to heaven. I began

to say within myself, is there a

drove of cattle coming, that rises

such a dust?

7 It was about a furlong off from

me. And behold I saw the dust

rise more and more, insomuch that

I began to suspect that there was

somewhat extraordinary in it.

8 And the sun shone a little;

and behold I saw a great beast, as

it were a whale; and fiery locusts

came out of his mouth. The height

of the beast was about a hundred

feet, and he had a head like a

large earthen vessel.

9 I began to weep, and to pray

unto the Lord that he would deliver

me from it. Then I called to mind

the word which I had heard;

Doubt not, Hermas.

10 Wherefore, brethren, putting

on a divine faith, and remembering

who it was that had taught me great

things, I delivered myself bodily

unto the beast.

11 Now the beast came on in

such a manner, as if it could at

once have devoured a city.

12 I came near unto it, and the

beast extended its whole bulk upon

the ground, and put forth nothing

but its tongue, nor once moved itself

till I had quite passed by it.

13 Now the beast had upon its

head four colours; first black,

then a red and bloody colour, then

a golden, and then a white.

14 After that I had passed by

it, and was gone forward about

thirty feet, behold there met me a

certain virgin, well adorned as if

she had been just come out of her

bride-chamber; all in white, having

on white shoes, and a veil down her

face, and covered with shining hair.

15 Now I knew by my former

visions that it was the church,

and thereupon grew the more cheerful.

She saluted me, saying, Hail, O Man!

I returned the salutation, saying,

Lady, Hail!

16 She answering said unto me,

Did nothing meet you, O man!

I replied, Lady, there met me such

a beast, as seemed able to devour

a whole people; but by the power

of God, and through his singular

mercy, I escaped it.

17 Thou didst escape it well,

said she, because thou didst cast

thy whole care upon God, and

opened thy heart unto him,

believing that thou couldst be safe

by no other than by his great and

honourable name.

18 For this cause the Lord sent

his angel, who is over the beast,

whose name is Hegrin, and stopped

his mouth, that he should not

devour thee, Thou hast escaped

a great trial through thy faith, and

because thou didst not doubt for

such a terrible beast.

19 Go, therefore, and relate to

the elect of God the great things

that he hath done for thee. And

thou shalt say unto them, that this

beast is the figure of the trial that

is about to come.

20 If, therefore, ye shall have

prepared yourselves, ye may escape

it, if your hearts be pure and

without spot; and if ye shall serve

God all the rest of your days

without complaint.

21 Cast all your care upon the

Lord, and he will direct them.

Believe in God, ye doubtful,

because he can do all things;

he can both turn away his wrath

from you, and send you help and

security.

22 Woe to the doubtful, to those

who shall hear these words, and

shall despise them: it had been

better for them that they had not

been born.

23 Then I asked her concerning

the four colours which the beast

had upon its head. But she

answered me saying; Again thou

art curious in that thou asketh

concerning these things. But I

said to her, Lady, chew me what

they are?

24 Hear, said she; The black

which thou sawest denotes the

world in which you dwell. The

fiery and bloody colour signifies

that this age must be destroyed

by fire and blood.

25 The golden part are ye, who

have escaped out of it; for as gold

is tried by the fire, and is made

profitable, so are ye also in like

manner tried who dwell among the

men of this world.

26 They therefore, that shall

endure to the end, and be proved

by them, shall be purged. And as

gold, by this trial, is cleansed

and loses its dross, so shall ye

also cast away all sorrow and

trouble, and be made pure for

the building of the tower.

27 But the white colour denotes

the time of the world which is to

come, in which the elect of God

shall dwell: because the elect of

God shall be pure and without

spot until life eternal.

28 Wherefore do not thou cease

to speak these thing in the ears of

the saints. Here ye have the figure

of the great tribulation that is

about to come; which, if you

please, shall be nothing to you.

29 When she had spoken thus

much, she departed; but I saw

not whither she went. But suddenly

I heard a noise, and I turned

back, being afraid, for I thought

that the beast was coming toward

me.

THE SECOND PART OF THE

BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS COMMANDS.

Introduction.

WHEN I had prayed at home,

and was sat down upon the

bed, a certain man came in to me

with a reverend look, in the habit

of a Shepherd, clothed with a white

cloak, having his bag upon his

back, and his staff in his hand, and

saluted me.

2 I returned his salutation, and

immediately he sat down by me,

and said unto me, I am sent by

that venerable messenger, that

I should dwell with thee all the

remaining days of thy life.

3 But I thought that he was

come to try me, and said unto him,

Who are you? For I know to

whom I am committed. He said

unto me, Do you not know me?

I answered no. I am, said he,

that shepherd to whose care you

are delivered.

4 Whilst he was yet speaking,

his shape was changed; and when

I knew that it was he to whom I

was committed, I was ashamed,

and a sudden fear came upon me,

and I was utterly overcome with

sadness, because I had spoken so

foolishly unto him.

5 But he said unto me, Be not

ashamed, but receive strength in

thy mind, through the commands

which I am about to deliver unto

thee. For, said he, I am sent to

show unto thee all those things

again, which thou hast seen before,

but especially such of them as may

be of most use unto thee.

6 And first of all write my

Commands and Similitudes, the rest

thou shall so write as I shall show

unto thee. But I therefore bid

thee first of all write my Commands

and Similitudes, that by often

reading of them thou mayest

the more easily keep them in

memory.

7 Whereupon I wrote his Commands

and Similitudes, as he bade me.

8 Which things if when you

have heard, ye shall observe to do

them, and shall walk according to

them, and exercise yourselves in

them with a pure mind, ye shall

receive from the Lord those things

which he has promised unto you.

9 But if having heard them ye

shall not repent, but shall still go

on to add to your sins, ye shall

be punished by him.

10 All these things that Shepherd,

the angel of repentance, commanded

me to write.

COMMAND I.

Of believing in one God.

FIRST of all believe that

there is one God who created and

brought all things out of nothing

into existence.

2 He comprehends all things,

and is only INFINITE, not to be

comprehended by any.

3 Who can neither be defined

by any words, nor conceived by

the mind.

4 Therefore believe in him, and

fear him; and fearing him abstain

from all evil.

5 Keep these things, and cast

all lust and iniquity far from

thee, and put on righteousness,

and thou shalt live to God, if thou

shalt keep his commandment.

COMMAND II.

That we must avoid detraction, and do our

alms-deeds with simplicity.

HE said unto me, Be innocent

and without disguise; so shalt

thou be like an infant who knows

no malice which destroys the

life of man.

2 Especially see that thou speak

evil of none, nor willingly hear

any one speak evil of others.

3 For if thou observest not this,

thou also who hearest shall be

partaker of the sin of him that

speaketh evil, by believing the

slander, and thou also shalt have

sin, because thou believedst him

that spoke evil of thy brother.

4 Detraction is a pernicious

thing; an inconstant, evil spirit;

that never continues in peace, but

is always in discord. Wherefore

refrain thyself from it, and keep

peace ever more with thy brother.

5 Put on an holy constancy,

in which there are no sins, but

all is full of joy; and do good

of thy labours.

6 Give without distinction to

all that are in want, not doubting

to whom thou givest.

7 But give to all, for God will

have us give to all, of all his own

gifts. They therefore that receive

shall give an account to God, both

wherefore they received and for

what end.

8 And they that receive without

real need, shall give an account

for it; but he that gives shall be

innocent.

9 For he has fulfilled his duty

as he received it from God; not

making any choice to whom he

should give, and to whom not.

And this service he did with

simplicity and to the glory

of God.

10 Keep therefore this command

according as I have delivered it

into thee: that thy repentance

nay be found to be sincere, and

that good may come to thy house;

and have a pure heart.

COMMAND III.

Of avoiding lying, and the repentance of Hermas

for his dissimulation.

MOREOVER he said unto me

love truth; and let all the

speech be true which proceeds out

of thy mouth.

2 That the spirit which the Lord

hath given to dwell in thy flesh

may be found true towards all

men; and the Lord be glorified,

who hath given such a spirit unto

thee: because God is true in all

his words, and in him there is no

lie.

3 They therefore that lie, deny

the Lord, and become robbers of

the Lord, not rendering to God

what they received from him.

4 For they received the spirit

free from lying: If therefore they

make that a liar, they defile what

was committed to them by the

Lord, and become deceivers.

5 When I heard this, I wept

bitterly; and when he saw me

weeping, he said unto me, Why

weepest thou? And I said, Because,

sir, I doubt whether I can be saved.

6 He asked me, Wherefore?

I replied, Because, sir, I never

spake a true word in my life; but

always lived in dissimulation, and

affirmed a lie for truth to all men;

and no man contradicted me, but

all gave credit to my words. How

then can I live, seeing I have done

in this manner?

7 And he said unto me, Thou

thinkest well and truly; for thou

oughtest, as the servant of God,

to have walked in the truth, and

not have joined an evil conscience

with the spirit of truth, nor have

grieved the holy and true Spirit

of God.

8 And I replied unto him,

Sir, I never before hearkened

so diligently to these things.

He answered, Now thou hearest them

Take care from henceforth, that

even those things which thou hast

formerly spoken falsely for the

sake of thy business, may, by

thy present truth receive pardon.

9 For even those things may

be forgiven, if for the time to come

thou shalt speak the truth; and

by so doing thou mayest attain

unto life.

10 And whosoever shall hearken

unto this command, and do it,

and shall depart from all lying,

he shall live unto God.

COMMAND IV.

Of putting away one's wife for adultery.

FURTHERMORE, said he, I

command thee, that thou keep

thyself chaste; and that thou

suffer not any thought of any

other marriage, or of fornication,

to enter into thy heart; for such

a thought produces great sin.

2 But be thou at all times mindful

of the Lord, and thou shalt never

sin. For if such an evil thought

should arise in thy heart, then

thou shall be guilty of a great

sin; and they who do such things,

follow the way of death.

3 Look therefore to thyself, and

keep thyself from such a thought;

for where chastity remains in the

heart of a righteous man, there an

evil thought ought never to arise.

4 And I said unto him, Sir,

suffer me to speak a little to you.

He bade me say on. And I answered,

Sir, if a man that is faithful

in the Lord shall have a wife,

and shall catch her in adultery;

doth a man sin that continues to

live still with her?

5 And he said unto me, As long

as he is ignorant of her sin, he

commits no fault in living with

her; but if a man shall know his

wife to, have offended, and she

shall not repent of her sin, but go

on still in her fornication, and a

man shall continue nevertheless

to live with her, he shall become

guilty of her sin, and partake with

her in her adultery.

6 And I said unto him, What

therefore is to be done, if the

woman continues on in her sin?

He answered, Let her husband put

her away, and let him continue

by himself; but if he shall put

away his wife and marry another,

he also doth commit adultery.

7 And I said, What, if the

woman that is so put away, should

repent, and be willing to return

to her husband, shall she not be

received by him? He said unto me,

Yes; and if her husband shall

not receive her, he will sin, and

commit a great offence against

himself; for he ought to receive

the offender, if she repents: only

not often.

8 For, to the servants of God,

there is but one repentance; and

for this cause a man that putteth

away his wife ought not to take

another, because she may repent.

9 This act is alike both in the

man and in the woman. Now they

commit adultery, not only who

pollute their flesh, but who

also make an image. If therefore

a woman perseveres in any thing

of this kind, and repents not,

depart from her; and live not with

her, otherwise thou also shalt be

partaker of her sin.

10 But it is therefore commanded

that both the man and the woman

should remain unmarried, because

such persons may repent.

11 Nor do I in this administer

any occasion for the doing of these

things; but rather that whoso has

offended, should not offend any

more.

12 But for their former sins,

God who has the power of healing

will give a remedy; for he has

the power of all things.

13 I asked him again, and

said, Seeing the Lord hath thought

me worthy that thou shouldest

dwell with me continually, speak

a few words unto me, because I

understand nothing, and my heart

is hardened through my former

conversation; and open my

understanding because I am very

dull, and apprehend nothing at all.

14 And he answering said

unto me, I am the minister of

repentance, and give understanding

to all that repent. Does it not

seem to thee to be a very wise

thing to repent? Because he that

does so gets great understanding.

15 For he is sensible that he

hath sinned and done wickedly in

the sight of the Lord, and he

remembers within himself that he

has offended, and repents and does

no more wickedly, but does that

which is good, and humbles his

soul and afflicts it, because he has

offended. You see therefore that

repentance is great wisdom.

16 And I said unto him, For this

cause, sir, I inquire diligently

into all things, because I am a

sinner, that I may know what I

must do that I may live; because

my sins are many.

17 And he said unto me, Thou

shalt live if thou shalt keep these

my commandments. And whosoever

shall hear and do these commands

shall live unto God.

18 And I said unto him, I have

even now heard from certain

teachers, that there is no other

repentance beside that of baptism,

when we go down into the water,

and receive the forgiveness of our

sins; and that after that, we must

sin no more, but live in purity.

19 And he said unto me, Thou

hast been rightly informed. Never-

the-less seeing now thou inquirest

diligently into all things, I will

manifest this also unto thee; yet

not so as to give any occasion of

sinning, either to those who shall

hereafter believe, or to those

who have already believed in the

Lord.

20 For neither they who have

newly believed, or shall hereafter

believe, have any repentance of sins,

but forgiveness of them.

21 But as to those who have

been called to the faith, and since

that are fallen into any gross sin,

the Lord hath appointed repentance,

because God knoweth the thoughts

of all men's hearts, and their

infirmities, and the manifold

wickedness of the devil, who is

always contriving something

against the servants of God, and

maliciously lays snares for them.

22 Therefore our merciful Lord

had compassion towards his creature,

and appointed that repentance, and

gave unto me the power of it. And

therefore I say unto thee, if any

one after that great and holy

calling shall be tempted by the

devil and sin, he has one repentance.

But if he shall often sin and repent,

it shall not profit such a one;

for he shall hardly live unto God.

23 And I said, Sir, I am restored

again to life since I have thus

diligently hearkened to these

commands. For I perceive that if I

shall not hereafter add any more

of my sins, I shall be saved.

24 And he said, Thou shalt be

saved: and so shall all others, as

many as shall observe these

commandments.

25 And again I said unto him,

Sir, seeing thou hearest me

patiently, show me yet one thing

more. Tell me, saith he, what it

is.

26 And I said, If a husband or

a wife die, and the party which

survives marry again, does he sin

in so doing? He that marries

says he, sins not: howbeit, if

he shall remain single, he shall

thereby gain to himself great

honour before the Lord.

27 Keep therefore thy chastity

and modesty, and thou shalt live

unto God. Observe from henceforth

those things which I speak

with thee, and command thee to

observe, from the time that I

have been delivered unto thee, and

dwell in thy house.

28 So shall thy former sins be

forgiven, if thou shalt keep these

my commandments. And in like

manner shall all others be forgiven,

who shall observe these my commandments.

COMMAND V.

Of the sadness of the heart, and of patience.

Be patient, says he, and long-

suffering; so shalt thou have

dominion over all wicked works,

and shall fulfil all righteousness.

2 For if thou shalt be patient,

the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in

thee shall be pure, and not be

darkened by any evil spirit; but

being full of joy shall be enlarged,

and feast in the body in which it

dwells, and serve the Lord with

joy, and in great peace.

3 But if any anger shall overtake

thee, presently the Holy Spirit

which is in thee will be straightened

and seek to depart from thee.

4 For he is choked by the evil

spirit, and has not the liberty of

serving the Lord as he would; for

he is grieved by anger. When,

therefore, both these spirits dwell

together, it is destructive to a

man.

5 As if one should take a little

wormwood, and put it into a vessel

of honey, the whole honey would

be spoiled; and a great quantity

of honey is corrupted by a very

little wormwood, and loses the

sweetness of honey, and is no

longer acceptable to its Lord

because the whole honey is made

bitter, and loses its use.

6 But if no wormwood be put

into the honey, it is sweet and

profitable to its Lord. Thus is

forbearance sweeter than honey,

and profitable to the Lord who

dwelleth in it.

7 But anger is unprofitable.

If therefore anger shall be mixed

with forbearance, the soul is

distressed, and its prayer is

not profitable with God.

8 And I said unto him, Sir,

I would know the sinfulness of

anger, that I may keep myself from

it. And he said unto me, Thou

shall know it; and if thou shalt

not keep thyself from it, thou shalt

lose thy hope with all thy house.

Wherefore depart from it.

9 For I the messenger of

righteousness am with thee, and

all that depart from it: as many

as shall repent with all their hearts,

shall live unto God; and I will be with

them, and will keep them all.

10 For all such as have repented

have been justified by the most

holy messenger, who is a minister

of salvation.

11 And now, says he, hear

the wickedness of anger; how

evil and hurtful is is, and how it

overthrows the servants of God;

for it cannot hurt those that are

full of faith because the power

of God is with them; but it

overthrows the doubtful, and those

that are destitute of faith.

12 For as often as it sees such

men, it casts itself into their

hearts; and so a man or woman

is in bitterness for nothing: for

the things of life, or for sustenance,

or for a vain word, if any should

chance to fall in; or by reason

of any friend, or for a debt,

or for any other superfluous

things of the like nature.

13 For these things are foolish,

and superfluous, and vain to the

servants of God. But equanimity

is strong, and forcible; and of

great power, and sitteth in great

enlargement; is cheerful, rejoicing

in peace; and glorifying God at

all times I with meekness.

14 And this long-suffering

dwells with those that are full of

faith. But anger is foolish, and

light, and empty. Now bitterness

is bred through folly; by

bitterness, anger; by anger, fury;

and this fury arising from so

many evil principles, worketh a

great and incurable sin.

15 For when all these things,

are in the same man in which the

Holy Spirit dwells, the vessel

cannot contain them, but runs

over: and because the Spirit being

tender cannot tarry with the evil

one; it departs and dwells with

him that is meek.

16 When, therefore, it is

departed from the man in whom it

dwelt, that man becomes destitute

of the Holy Spirit, and is afterwards

filled with wicked spirits, and

is blinded with evil thoughts.

Thus doth it happen to all angry

men.

17 Wherefore depart then from

anger, and put on equanimity, and

resist: wrath; so then shalt be

found with modesty and chastity

by God. Take good heed, therefore,

that thou neglect not this commandment.

18. For if thou shalt obey this

command, then thou shalt also be

able to observe the other commandments

which I shall command thee.

19 Wherefore strengthen thyself

now in these commands, that then

mayest live unto God. And whosoever

shall observe these commandments

shall live unto God.

COMMAND VI.

That every man has two angels and of the

suggestions of both.

I COMMANDED thee, said he,

in my first commandments,

that thou shouldst keep faith and

fear, and repentance. Yes, sir,

said I.

2 He continued. But now I

will shew thee the virtues of these

commands, that then mayest know

their effects; how they are

prescribed alike to the just

and unjust.

3 Do thou therefore believe the

righteous, but give no credit to

the unrighteous. For righteousness

keepeth the right way, but

unrighteousness the wicked way.

4 Do thou therefore keep the

right way, and leave that which is

evil. For the evil way has not a

good end, but hath many stumbling-

blocks; it is rugged and full

of thorns, and leads to destruction;

and it is hurtful to all such

as walk in it.

5 But they who go in the right

way walk with evenness, and without

offence; because it is not rough

nor thorny.

6 Thou seest therefore how it is

best to walk in this way. Thou

shalt therefore go, says he, and all

others, as many as believe in God

with all their heart, shall go

through it.

7 And now, says he, I understand

first of all what belongs to faith.

There are two angels with man;

one of righteousness, the other

of iniquity.

8 And I said unto him, Sir,

how shall I know that there are

two such angels with man? Hear,

says he, and understand.

9 The angel of righteousness,

is mild and modest, and gentle,

and quiet. When, therefore, he

gets into thy heart, immediately

he talks with thee of righteousness,

of modesty, of chastity, of

bountifulness, of forgiveness,

of charity, and piety.

10 When all these things come

into thy heart, know then that the

angel of righteousness is with thee.

Wherefore hearken to this angel

and to his works.

11 Learn also the works of the

angel of iniquity. He is first of

all bitter, and angry, and foolish;

and his works are pernicious, and

overthrow the servants of God.

When therefore these things come

into thine heart; thou shalt know

by his works, that this is the angel

of iniquity.

12 And I said unto him, Sir,

how shall I understand these

things? Hear, says he, and

understand; When anger overtakes

thee, or bitterness, know that he is

in thee:

13 As also, when the desire of

many things, and of the best meats,

and of drunkenness; when the

love of what belongs to others,

pride, and much speaking, and

ambition; and the like things,

come upon thee.

14 When therefore these things

arise in thine heart, know that the

angel of iniquity is with thee.

Seeing therefore thou knowest his

works, depart from them all, and

give no credit to him: because his

works are evil, and become not the

servants of God.

15 Here therefore thou hast

the works of both these angels.

Understand now and believe the

angel of righteousness, because

his instruction is good.

16 For let a man be never so

happy; yet if the thoughts of the

other angel arise in his heart, that

man or woman must needs sin.

17 But let man or woman be

never so wicked, if the works of

the angel of righteousness come

into their hearts, that man or

woman must needs do some good.

18 Thou seest therefore how

it is good to follow the angel of

righteousness. If therefore thou

shall follow him, and submit to

his works, thou shalt live unto God.

And as many as shall submit to

his work shall live also unto God.

COMMAND VII.

That we must fear God but not the Devil.

FEAR God, says he, and keep

his commandments. For if

thou keepest his commandments

thou shalt be powerful in every

work, and all thy works shall be

excellent. For by fearing God,

thou shalt do everything well.

2 This is that tear with which

thou must be affected that thou

mayest be saved. But fear not

the Devil: for if thou fearest the

Lord, thou shalt have dominion

over him; because there is no

power in him.

3 Now if there be no power in

him, then neither is he to be

feared: for every one that has

power, is to be feared. But he

that has no power is despised by

every one.

4 Fear the works of the Devil,

because they are evil. For by

fearing the Lord, thou wilt fear

and do not the works of the Devil,

but keep thyself from them.

5 There is therefore a twofold

fear; if thou wilt not do evil, fear

the Lord and thou shalt not do it.

But if thou wilt do good, the fear

of the Lord is strong, and great

and glorious.

6 Wherefore, fear God and thou

shalt live: and whosoever shall

fear him, and keep his commandments,

their life is with the Lord.

But they who keep them not,

neither is there life in them.

COMMAND VIII.

That we must flee from evil, and do good works.

I HAVE told thee, said he,

that there are two kinds of

creatures of the Lord, and that

there is a two-fold abstinence.

From some things therefore thou

must abstain, and from others not.

2 I answered, Declare to me,

sir, from what I must abstain, and

from what not. Hearken, said he,

Keep thyself from evil, and do it

not; yet abstain not from good,

but do it. For if thou shalt abstain

from what is good, and not do it,

thou shalt sin. Abstain therefore

from all evil, and thou shalt know

all righteousness.

3 I said, What evil things are

they from which I must abstain?

Hearken, said he; from adultery,

from drunkenness, from riots, from

excess of eating, from daintiness

and dishonesty, from pride, from

fraud, from lying, from detraction,

from hypocrisy, from remembrance

of injuries, and from all evil

speaking.

4 For these are the works of

iniquity, from which the servant

of God must abstain. For he that

cannot keep himself from these

things, cannot live unto God.

5 But hear, said he, what

follows of these kind of things:

for indeed many more there are

from which the servant of God must

abstain. From theft, and cheating;

from false witness, from covetousness,

from boasting, and all other things

of the like nature.

6 Do these things seem to thee

to be evil or not? Indeed they

are very evil to the servants of

God, Wherefore the servant of

God must abstain from all these

works.

7 Keep thyself therefore from

them, that thou mayest live unto

God, and be written among those

that abstain from them. And thus

have I shown thee what things

thou must avoid: now learn from

what thou must not abstain.

8 Abstain not from any good

works, but do them. Hear, said

he, what the virtue of those good

works is which thou must do, that

thou mayest be saved. The first

of all is faith; the fear of the

Lord; charity; concord; equity;

truth; patience; chastity.

9 There is nothing better than

these things in the life of men;

who shall keep and do these

things in their life. Hear next

what follow these.

10 To minister to the widows;

not to despise the fatherless and

poor; to redeem the servants of

God from necessity; to be hospitable

(for in hospitality there is

sometimes great fruit); not to be

contentious, but be quiet.

11 To be humble above all men;

to reverence the aged; to labour

to be righteous; to respect the

brotherhood; to bear affronts; to

be long-suffering; not to cast

away those that have fallen from

the faith, but to convert them, and

make them be of good cheer: to

admonish sinners; not to oppress

those that are our debtors; and all

other things of a like kind.

12 Do these things seem to thee

to be good or not? And I said,

What can be better than these

words? Live then, said he, in

these commandments, and do not

depart from them. For if thou

shalt keep all these commandments,

thou shalt live unto God. And all

they that shall keep these

commandments shall live unto God.

COMMAND IX.

That we must ask of God daily;

and without doubting.

AGAIN he said unto me; remove from

thee all doubting; and question

nothing at all when thou askest

any thing of the Lord; saying

within thyself, how shall I

be able to ask any thing of the

Lord and receive it, seeing I have

so greatly sinned against him?

2 Do not think thus, but turn

unto the Lord with all thy heart,

and ask of him without doubting,

and thou shalt know the mercy of

the Lord; bow that he will not

forsake thee, but will fulfil the

request of thy soul.

3 For God is not as men, mindful

of the injuries he has received;

but he forgets injuries, and has

compassion upon his creature.

4 Wherefore purify thy heart

from all the vices of this present

world; and observe the commands

I have before delivered unto thee

from God; and thou shall receive

whatsoever good things thou shalt

ask, and nothing shall be wanting

unto thee of all thy petitions; if

thou shalt ask of the Lord without

doubting.

5 But they that are not such,

shall obtain none of those things

which they ask. For they that are

full of faith, ask all things with

confidence, and receive from the

Lord, because they ask without

doubting. But he that doubts,

shall hardly live unto God, except

he repent.

6 Wherefore purify thy heart

from doubting, and put on faith,

and trust in God, and thou shall

receive all that thou shalt ask.

But if thou shouldest chance to

ask something, and not immediately

receive it, yet do not therefore

doubt, because thou hast not

presently received the petition

of thy soul.

7 For it may be thou shalt not

presently receive it for thy trial,

or else for some sin which thou

knowest not. But do not thou

leave off to ask, and then thou

shalt receive. Else if thou shalt

cease to ask, thou must complain

of thyself, and not of God, that he

has not given unto thee what thou

didst desire.

8 Consider therefore this doubting

how cruel and pernicious it is;

and how it utterly roots out many

from the faith, who were very

faithful and firm. For this doubting

is the daughter of the Devil, and

deals very wickedly with the

servants of God.

9 Despise it therefore, and thou

shalt rule over it on every occasion.

Put on a firm and powerful faith:

for faith promises all things

and perfects all things. But

doubting will not believe that it

shall obtain any thing by all that

it can do.

10. Thou seest therefore, says

he, how faith cometh from above

from God; and hath great power.

But doubting is an earthly spirit,

and proceedeth from the Devil,

and has no strength.

11 Do thou therefore keep the

virtue of faith, and depart from

doubting, in which is no virtue,

and thou shalt live unto God. And

all shall live unto God, as many

as do these things.

COMMAND X.

Of the sadness of the heart; and that

we must take, heed not to grieve the

spirit of God that is in us.

PUT all sadness far from thee;

for it is the sister of doubting

and of anger. How, sir, said I

is it the sister of these? For

sadness, and anger, and doubting,

seem to me to be very different

from one another.

2 And he answered: Art thou

without sense that thou dost not

understand it? For sadness is the

most mischievous of all spirits,

and the worst to the servants of

God: It destroys the spirits of all

men, and torments the Holy Spirit,

and it saves again.

3 Sir, said I, I am very foolish,

and understand not these things.

I cannot apprehend how it can

torment, and yet save. Hear, said

he, and understand. They who

never sought out the truth, nor

inquired concerning the majesty

of God, but only believed, are

involved in the affairs of the

heathen.

4 And there is another lying

prophet that destroys the minds

of the servants of God; that is

of those that are doubtful, not of

those that fully trust in the Lord.

Now those doubtful persons come

to him, as to a divine spirit, and

inquire of him what shall befall

them.

5 And this lying prophet, having

no power in him of the Divine

Spirit, answers them according to

their demands, and fills their souls

with promises according as they

desire. Howbeit that prophet is

vain, and answers vain things to

those who are themselves vain.

6 And whatsoever is asked of

him by vain men, he answers them

vainly; nevertheless he speaketh

some things truly. For the Devil

fills him with his spirit, that he

may overthrow some of the

righteous.

7 Whosoever therefore are

strong in the faith of the Lord,

and have put on the truth; they

are not joined to such spirits, but

depart from them. But they that

are doubtful, and often repenting,

like the heathens, consult them,

and heap up to themselves great

sin, serving idols.

8 As many therefore as are

such, inquire of them upon every

occasion; worship idols, and are

foolish; and void of the truth.

For every spirit that is given

from God needs not to be asked:

but having the power of divinity

speaks all things of itself,

because he comes from above;

from the power of God.

10 But he, that being asked

speaks according to men's desires

and concerning many other affairs

of this present world, understands

not the tidings which relate unto

God. For these spirits are darkened

through such affairs, and corrupted,

and broken.

11 As good vines if they are

neglected, are oppressed with weeds

and thorns, and at last killed by

them; so are the men who believe

such spirits.

12 They fall into many actions

and businesses, and are void of

sense, and when they think of

things pertaining unto God, they

understand nothing at all; but

at any time they chance to hear

any thing concerning the Lord,

their thoughts are upon their

business.

13 But they that have the fear

of the Lord, and search out the

truth concerning God, having all

their thoughts towards the Lord;

apprehend whatsoever is said to

them, and forthwith understand

it, because they have the fear

of the Lord in them.

14 For where the spirit of the

Lord dwells, there is also much

understanding added. Wherefore

join thyself to the Lord, and thou

shalt understand all things.

15 Learn now, O unwise man!

how sadness troubleth the Holy

Spirit, and how it saves. When

a man that is doubtful is engaged

in any affair, and does not

accomplish it by reason of his

doubting; this sadness enters

into him, and grieves the Holy

Spirit, and makes him sad.

16 Again anger, when it over.

takes any man for any business he

is greatly moved; and then again

sadness entereth into the heart of

him, who was moved with anger,

and he is troubled for what he hath

done, and repenteth, because he

hath done amiss.

17 This sadness therefore seemeth

to bring salvation, because he

repenteth of his evil deed. But

both the other things, namely,

doubting and sadness, such as

before was mentioned, vex the

spirit: doubting, because his

work did not succeed; and sadness,

because he angered the Holy Spirit.

18 Remove therefore sadness

from thyself, and afflict not the

Holy Spirit which dwelleth in

thee, lest he entreat God, and

depart from thee. For the spirit

of the Lord which is given to

dwell in the flesh, endureth no

such sadness.

19 Wherefore clothe thyself

with cheerfulness, which has always

favour with the Lord, and thou shalt

rejoice in it. For every cheerful

man does well; and relishes those

things that are good, and despises

sadness.

20 But the sad man does always

wickedly. First, he doth wickedly,

because he grieveth the Holy Spirit,

which is given to man being of a

cheerful nature. And again he does

ill, because be prays with sadness

unto the Lord, and maketh not first

a thankful acknowledgment unto him

of former mercies, and obtains not

of God what he asks.

21 For the prayer of a sad man

has not always efficacy to come up

to the altar of God. And I said

unto him, Sir, why has not the

prayer of a sad man virtue to come

up to the altar of God? Because,

said he, that sadness remaineth in

his heart.

22 When therefore a man's

prayer shall be accompanied with

sadness, it will not suffer his

requests to ascend pure to the altar

of God. For as wine when it is

mingled with vinegar, has not the

sweetness it had before; so sadness

being mixed with the Holy Spirit,

suffers not a man's prayer to be

the same as it would be otherwise.

23 Wherefore cleanse thyself

from sadness, which is evil, and

thou shalt live unto God. And all

others shall live unto God, as many

as shall lay aside sadness, and put

on cheerfulness.

COMMAND XI.

That the spirits and prophets are to be

tried by their works; and of a twofold, spirit.

HE showed me certain men

sitting upon benches, and

one sitting in a chair: and he said

unto me; Seest thou those who sit

upon the benches? Sir, said I,

I see them. He answered, They

are the faithful; and he who sits

in the chair is an earthly spirit.

2 For he cometh not into the

assembly of the faithful, but avoids

it. But he joins himself to the

doubtful and empty; and prophesies

to them in corners and hidden places;

and pleases them by speaking according

to all the desires of their hearts.

3 For he placing himself among

empty vessels, is not broken, but

the one fitteth the other. But

when he cometh into the company

of just men, who are full of the

spirit of God, and they pray unto

the Lord; that man is emptied,

because that earthly spirit flies

from him, and he is dumb, and

cannot speak anything.

4 As if in a store-house you

shall stop up wine or oil, and

among those vessels place an

empty jar; and when afterwards

you come to open it, you shall

find it empty as you stopped it up;

so those empty prophets when

they come among the spirits of

the just, are found to be such as

they came.

5 I said, How then shall a

man be able to discern them?

Consider what I am going to say

concerning both kinds of men;

and as I speak unto thee so shalt

thou prove the prophet of God,

and the false prophet.

6 And first try the man who

hath the spirit of God, because

the spirit which is from above is

humble, and quiet, and departs

from all wickedness; and from the

vain desires of the present world;

and makes himself more humble

than all men; and answers to none

when he is asked; nor to every

one singly: for the Spirit of God

doth not speak to a man when he

will, but when God pleases.

7 When therefore a man who hath

the Spirit of God hath come into

the church of the righteous, who

have the faith of God, and they

pray unto the Lord; then the holy

angel of God fills that man with

the blessed Spirit, and he speaks

in the congregation as he is moved

of God.

8 Thus therefore is the spirit,

of God known, because whosoever

speaketh by the Spirit of God,

speaketh as the Lord will.

9 Hear now concerning the

earthly spirit, which is empty and

foolish, and without virtue. And

first of all the man who is supposed

to have the Spirit, (whereas he hath

it not in reality), exalteth himself,

and desires to have the first seat,

and is wicked, and full of words.

10 And spends his time in pleasure,

and in all manner of voluptuousness,

and receives the reward of his

divination; which if he receives

not, he does not divine.

11 Should the Spirit of God

receive reward, and divine? It doth

not become a prophet of God so to

do.

12 Thus you seethe life of each

of these kind of prophets. Wherefore

prove that man by his life and works,

who says that he hath the Holy Spirit.

And believe the Spirit which comes

from God, and has power as such.

But believe not the earthly and

empty spirit, which is from the

devil, in whom there is no faith

nor virtue.

13 Hear now the similitude

which I am about to speak unto

thee. Take a stone, and throw it

up towards heaven; or take a

spout of water, and mount it up

thitherward; and see if thou

canst reach unto heaven.

14 Sir; said I, how can this be

done? For neither of those things

which you have mentioned, are

possible to be done. And he

answered, Therefore as these things

cannot be done, so is the earthy

spirit without virtue, and without

effect.

15 Understand yet farther the

power which cometh from above,

in this similitude. The grains of

hail that drop down are exceedingly

small; and yet when they fall upon

the head of a man, how do they

cause pain to it.

16 And again, consider, the

droppings of a house; how the

little drops falling upon the earth,

work a hollow in the stones.

17 So in like manner the least

things which come from above,

and fall upon the earth, have great

force. Wherefore join thyself

to this spirit, which has the

power; and depart from the other

which is empty.

COMMAND XII.

Of a two fold desire: that the commands of God,

are not impossible: and that the devil is not

to be feared by them that believe.

AGAIN he said unto me;

remove from thee all evil

desires, and put on good and

holy desires. For having put on a

good desire, thou shalt hate that

which is evil, and bridle it as thou

wilt. But an evil desire is dreadful,

and hard to be tamed.

2 It is very horrible and wild;

and by its wildness consumes men.

And especially if a servant of God

shall chance to fall into it, except

he be very wise, he is ruined by

it. For it destroys those who have

not the garment of a good desire

and are engaged in the affairs of

this present world; and delivers

them unto death.

3 Sir, said I, what are the works

of an evil desire, which bring men

unto death? Shew them to me that

I may depart from them. Hear, said he,

by what works an evil desire bringeth

the servants of God unto death.

4 First of all, it is an evil desire

to covet another man's wife, or

for a woman to covet another's

husband; as also to desire the

dainties of riches; and multitude

of superfluous meats; and drunkenness;

and many delights.

5 For in much delicacy there is

folly; and many pleasures are

needless to the servants of God.

Such lusting therefore is evil and

pernicious, which brings to death

the servants of God. For all such

lusting is from the devil.

6 Whosoever therefore shall

depart from all evil desires,

shall live unto God; but they

that are subject unto them shall

die forever. For this evil lusting

is deadly. Do thou therefore put

on the desire of righteousness,

and being armed with the fear of

the Lord resist all wicked lusting.

7 For this fear dwelleth in good

desires; and, when evil coveting

shall see thee armed with the fear

of the Lord, and resisting it; it

will fly far from thee, and not

appear before thee, but be afraid

of thy armour.

8 And thou shall have the victory,

and be crowned for it; and shall

attain to that desire which is

good; and shall give the victory

which thou hast obtained unto

God, and shall serve him in doing

what thou thyself wouldest do.

9 For if thou shalt serve good

desires, and be subject to them;

then thou shalt be able to get the

dominion over thy wicked lustings;

and they will be subject to thee,

as thou wilt.

10 And I said, Sir, I would

know how to serve that desire

which is good? Hearken, said he,

Fear God, and put thy trust in

him, and love truth, and

righteousness, and do that

which is good.

10 If thou shalt do these things,

thou shall be an approved servant

of God, and serve him; and all

others who shall in like manner

serve a good desire, shall live unto

God.

12 And when he had fulfilled

these twelve commands, he said

unto me, Thou hast now these

commands, walk in them; and exhort

those that hear them, to repent,

and that they keep their

repentance pure all the

remaining days of their life.

13 And fulfil diligently this

ministry which I commit to thee,

and thou shalt receive great

advantage by it, and find favour

with all such as shall repent

and believe thy words. For I am

with thee, and will force them

to believe.

14 And I said unto him, Sir,

these commands are great and

excellent, and able to cheer the

heart of that man that shall be

able to keep them. But, Sir,

I cannot tell, whether they can

be observed by any man?

15 He answered, Thou shalt

easily keep these commands, and

they shall not be hard: howbeit,

if thou shalt suffer it once to

enter into thine heart that they

cannot be kept by any one, thou

shalt not fulfil them.

16 But now I say unto thee,

if thou shalt not observe these

commands, and shall neglect them,

thou shalt not be saved, nor thy

children, nor thy house: because

thou hast judged that these

commands cannot be kept by man.

17 These things he spake

very angrily unto me, insomuch

that he greatly affrighted me,

for he changed his countenance

so that a man could not bear his

anger.

18 And when he saw me altogether

troubled and confounded, he began

to speak more moderately and

cheerfully, saying, O foolish,

and without understanding!

19 Unconstant, not knowing

the majesty of God how great and

wonderful he is; who created the

world for man, and hath made

every creature subject unto him;

and given him all power, that he

should be able to fulfil all these

commands.

20 He is able, said he, to fulfil

all these commands, who has the

Lord in his heart; but they who

have the Lord only in their mouths,

their hearts are hardened, and

they are far from the Lord: to

such persons these commands are

hard and difficult.

21 Therefore, ye that are empty

and light in the faith, put the

Lord your God in your hearts;

and ye shall perceive how that

nothing is more easy than these

commands, nor more pleasant, nor

more gentle and holy.

22 And turn yourselves to the

Lord your God, and forsake the

devil and his pleasures, because

they are evil, and bitter, and

impure. And fear not the devil,

because he has no power over you.

23 For I am with you, the

messenger of repentance, who have

the dominion over him. The devil

doth indeed affright men but his

terror is vain. Wherefore fear

him not, and he will flee from you.

24 And I said unto him; Sir,

hear me speak a few words unto

you. He answered, Say on: A

man indeed desires to keep the

commandments of God, and there

is no one but what prays unto God,

that he may be able to keep his

commandments;

25 But the devil is hard, and

by his power rules over the servants

of God. And he said; He cannot

rule over the servants of God,

who trust in him with all their

hearts.

26 The devil may strive, but he

cannot overcome them.

27 For if ye resist him, he will

flee away with confusion from you.

But they that are not full in the

faith, fear the devil, as if he had

some great power. For the devil

tries the servants of God and if he

finds them empty, he destroys

them.

28 For as man, when he fills up

vessels with good wine, and among

them puts a few vessels half full,

and comes to try and taste of the

vessels, doth not try those that are

full, because he knows that they

are good, but tastes those that are

half full, lest they should grow

sour; (for vessels half full soon

grow sour, and lose the taste of

wine:) so the devil comes to the

servants of God to try them.

29 They that are full of faith

resist him stoutly, and he departs

from them, because he finds no

place where to enter into them

then he goes to those that are not

full of faith, and because he has a

place of entrance he goes into

them, and does what he will with

them, and they become his servants.

30 But I, the messenger of

repentance, say unto you, fear not

the devil, for I am sent unto you,

that I may be with you, as many

as shall repent with your whole

heart, and that I may confirm you

in the faith.

31 Believe therefore, ye who

by reason of your transgressions

have forgot God and your own

salvation; and adding to your

sins have made your life very

heavy.

32 That if ye shall turn to the

Lord with your whole hearts, and

shall serve him according to his

will; he will heal you of your

former sins, and ye shall have

dominion over all the works of the

devil.

33 Be not then afraid in the

least of his threatenings, for they

are without force, as the nerves of

a dead man. But hearken unto

me, and fear the Lord Almighty,

who is able to save and to destroy

you; and keep his commands, that

ye may live unto God.

34 And I said unto him; Sir,

I am now confirmed in all the

commands of the Lord whilst you

are with me, and I know that you

will break all the powers of the

devil.

35 And we also shall overcome

him, if we shall be able, through

the help of the Lord, to keep these

commands which you have delivered.

36 Thou shalt keep them, said

he, if thou shalt purify thy heart

towards the Lord. And all they

also shall keep them who shall

cleanse their hearts from the vain

desires of the present world, and

shall live unto God.

THE THIRD PART OF THE

BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS SIMILITUDES.

SIMILITUDE I.

That seeing we have no abiding city in this world,

we ought to look after that which is to come.

AND he said onto me; Ye know

that ye who are the servants

of the Lord, live here as in

a pilgrimage; for your city

is far off from this city.

2 If, therefore, ye know your

city in which ye are to dwell,

why do ye here buy estates, and

provide yourselves with delicacies,

and stately buildings, and

superfluous houses? For he that

provides himself these things

in this city, does not think

of returning into his own city.

3 O foolish, and doubtful, and

wretched man; who understandest

not that all these things belong

to other men, and are under the

power of another. For the Lord

of this city saith unto thee;

Either obey my laws, or depart

out of my city.

4 What therefore shalt thou do

who art subject to a law in thine

own city? Canst thou for thy

estate, or for any of those things

which thou hast provided, deny

thy law? But if thou shalt deny

it, and wilt afterwards return into

thy own city, thou shalt not be

received, but shall be excluded

thence.

5 See therefore, that like a man

in another country, thou procure

no more to thyself than what is

necessary, and sufficient for thee;

and be ready, that when the God

or Lord of this city shall drive

thee out of it thou mayest oppose

his law, and go into thine own

city; where thou mayest with all

cheerfulness live according to

thine own law with no wrong.

6 Take heed therefore ye that

serve God, and have him in your

hearts: work ye the works of

God, being mindful both of his

commands and of his promises,

which he has promised; and be

assured that he will make them

good unto you; if ye shall keep

his commandments.

7 Instead therefore of the

possessions that ye would otherwise

purchase, redeem those that are

in want from their necessities,

as every one is able; justify the

widows; judge the cause of the

fatherless; and spend your riches

and your wealth in such works as

these.

8 For this end has God enriched

you, that ye might fulfil these

kind of services. It is much

better to do this, than to buy lands

or houses; because all such things

shall perish with this present time.

9 But what ye shall do for the

name of the Lord, ye shall find

in your city, and shall have joy

without sadness or fear. Wherefore

covet not the riches of the heathen;

for they are destructive to the

servants of God.

10 But trade with your own riches

which you possess, by which ye may

attain unto everlasting joy.

11 And do not commit adultery,

nor touch any other man's wife,

nor desire her; but covet that

which is thy own business, and

thou shalt be saved.

SIMILITUDE II.

As the vine is supported by the elm,

so is the rich man helped by the prayers of the poor.

AS I was walking into the field,

and considered the elm and

the vine, and thought with myself

of their fruits, an angel appeared

unto me, and said unto me; What

is it that thou thinkest upon thus

long within thyself?

2 And I said unto him, Sir, I

think of this vine and this elm

because their fruits are fair.

And he said unto me; These two

trees are set for a pattern to

the servants of God.

3 And I said unto him, Sir, I

would know in what the pattern

of these trees which thou mentionest,

does consist. Hearken, saith he;

seest thou this vine and this

elm? Sir, said I, I see them.

4 This vine, saith he, is fruitful,

but the elm is a tree without fruit.

Nevertheless this vine unless it

were set by this elm, and supported

by it, would not bear much

fruit; but lying along upon the

ground, would bear but ill fruit,

because it did not hang upon the

elm; whereas, being supported

upon the elm, it bears fruit both

for itself and for that.

5 See, therefore, how the elm

gives no less, but rather more

fruit, than the vine. How, Sir,

said I, does it bear more fruit

than the vine? Because, said he,

the vine being supported upon

the elm gives both much and good

fruit; whereas, if it lay along

upon the ground, it would bear

but little, and that very ill too.

6 This similitude, therefore,

is set forth to the servants of God;

and it represents the rich and poor

man. I answered, Sir, make this

manifest unto me. Hear, said he;

the rich man has wealth: howbeit

towards the Lord he is poor; for

he is taken up about his riches,

and prays but little to the Lord;

and the prayers which he makes

are lazy and without force.

7 When therefore, the rich man

reaches out to the poor those

things which he wants, the poor

man prays unto the Lord for the

rich; and God grants unto the

rich man all good things, because

the poor man is rich in prayer;

and his requests have great power

with the Lord.

8 Then the rich man ministers

all thing to the poor, because he

perceives that he is heard by the

Lord; and he the more willingly

and without doubting, affords him

what he wants, and takes care that

nothing be lacking to him.

9 And the poor man gives

thanks unto the Lord for the rich;

because they both do their work

from the Lord.

10 With men, therefore, the

elm is not thought to give any

fruit; and they know not, neither

understand that its company being

added to the vine, the vine bears a

double increase, both for itself and

for the elm.

11 Even so the poor praying

unto the Lord for the rich, are

heard by him; and their riches

are increased, because they minister

to the poor of their wealth.

They are, therefore, both made

partakers of each other's good

works.

12 Whosoever, therefore, shall

do these things, he shall not be

forsaken by the Lord, but shall be

written in the book of life.

13 Happy are they who are rich,

and perceive themselves to be

increased: for he that is sensible

of this, will be able to minister

somewhat to others.

SIMILITUDE III.

As the great trees in the winter cannot be

distinguished from the dry; so neither can the

righteous from the wicked in this present world.

AGAIN he showed me many

trees whose leaves were shed,

and which seemed to me to be

withered, for they were all alike.

And he said unto me, Seest thou

these trees? I said, Sir, I see that

they look like dry trees.

2 He answering, said unto me;

These trees are like unto the men

who live in the present world. I

replied: Sir, why are they like

unto dried trees? Because, said

he, neither the righteous, nor

unrighteous, are known from one

another; but all are alike in this

present world.

3 For this world is as the winter

to the righteous men, because

they are not known, but dwell

among sinners.

4 As in the winter all the trees

having lost their leaves, are like

dry trees; nor can it be discerned

which are dry and which are green:

so in this present world neither

the righteous, nor wicked are

discerned from each other; but they

are all alike.

SIMILITUDE IV.

As in the summer the living trees are distinguished

from the dry by their fruit and green leaves;

so in the world to come the righteous shall be

distinguished from the unrighteous by their happiness.

AGAIN he showed me many

other trees, of which some

had leaves, and others appeared

dry and withered. And he said

unto me, Seest thou these trees

I answered, Sir, I see them; some

are dry, and others full of leaves.

2 These trees, saith be, which

are green, are the righteous, who

shall possess the world to come.

For the world to come, is the summer

to the righteous; but to sinners

it is the winter.

3 When, therefore, the mercy

of the Lord shall shine forth, then

they who serve God shall be made

manifest, and plain unto all. For

as in the summer the fruit of every

tree is shown and made manifest.

so also the works of the righteous

shall be declared and made manifest,

and they shall all be restored

in that world merry and joyful.

4 For the other kind of men,

namely the wicked, like the trees

which thou rawest dry, shall, as

such, be found dry and without

fruit in that other world; and like

dry wood shall be burnt; and it

shall be made manifest that they

have done evil all the time of their

life;

5 And they shall be burnt because

they have sinned and have not

repented of their sins. And

also all the other nations shall

be burnt, because they have not

acknowledged God their Creator.

6 Do then, therefore, bring forth

good fruit, that in the summer thy

fruit may be known; and keep

thyself from much business, and

thou shalt not offend. For they

who are involved in much business,

sin much; because they are taken

up with their affairs, and

serve not God.

7 And how can a man that does

not serve God, ask anything of

God, and receive it? But they

who serve him, ask and receive

what they desire.

8 But if a man has only one

thing to follow, he may serve God,

because his mind is not taken off

from God, but he serves him with

a pure mind.

9 If, therefore, thou shalt do

this, thou mayest have fruit in

the world to come; and as many as

shall do in like manner, shall

bring forth fruit.

SIMILITUDE V.

Of a true fast, and the rewards of it:

also of the cleanliness of the body.

AS I was fasting, and sitting

down in a certain mountain,

and giving thanks unto God for all

the things that he had done unto

me; behold, I saw the Shepherd,

who was wont to converse with

me, sitting by me, and saying

unto me: What has brought thee

hither thus early in the morning?

I answered, Sir, to-day I keep a

station.

2 He answered, What is a station;

I replied, it is a fast. He said,

What is that fast? I answered,

I fast as I have been wont to

do. Ye know not, said he, what

it is to fast unto God; nor is this

a fast which ye keep, profiting

nothing with God.

3 Sir, said I, what makes you

speak thus? He replied, I speak

it, because it is not the true fast

which you think that you keep;

but I will show you what that is

which is a complete fast, and

acceptable unto God.

4 Hearken, said he, The Lord

does not desire such a needless

fast; for by fasting in this manner,

thou advancest nothing in

righteousness.

5 But the true fast is this: Do

nothing wickedly in thy life, but

serve God with a pure mind; and

keep his commandments, and walk

according to his precepts, nor

suffer any wicked desire to enter

into the mind.

6 But trust in the Lord, that if

thou dost these things, any fearest

him, and abstaineth from every

evil work, thou shall live unto

God.

7 If thou shalt do this, thou

shall perfect a great fast, and an

acceptable one unto the Lord.

8 Hearken unto the similitude

which I am about to propose

unto thee, as to this matter.

9 A certain man having a farm,

and many servants, planted a vineyard

in a certain part of his estate for

his posterity:

10 And taking a journey into

a far country, chose one of his

servants which he thought the most

faithful and approved, and delivered

the vineyard into his care;

commanding him that he should

stake up the vines. Which if he

did, and fulfilled his command, he

promised to give him his liberty.

Nor did he command him to do

any thing more; and so went into

a far country.

11 And after that servant had

taken that charge upon him, he

did whatsoever his lord commanded

him. And when he had staked the

vineyard, and found it to be full

of weeds, he began to think within

himself, saying:

12 I have done what my lord

commanded me, I will now dig

this vineyard, and when it is digged,

it will be more beautiful; and the

weeds being pulled up, it will

bring forth more fruit and not be

choked by the weeds.

13 So setting about this work

he digged it, and plucked up all

the weeds that were in it; and so

the vineyard became very beautiful

and prosperous, not being choked

with weeds.

14 After some time the lord of

the vineyard comes and goes into

the vineyard, and when he saw

that it was handsomely staked and

digged, and the weeds plucked up

that were in it, and the vines

flourishing, he rejoiced greatly at

the care of his servant.

15 And calling his son whom

he loved, and who was to be his

heir, and his friends with whom

he was wont to consult; he tells

them what he had commanded his

servant to do, and what his

servant had done more; and they

immediately congratulated that

servant, that he had received so

full a testimony from his lord.

16 Then he said to them, I

indeed promised this servant his

liberty, if he observed the command

which I gave him; and he observed it,

and besides has done a good work

to my vineyard, which has exceedingly

pleased me.

17 Wherefore, for this work

which he hath done, I will make

him my heir together with my

son; because that when he saw

what was good, he neglected it

not, but did it.

18 This design of the lord both

his son and his friends approved,

namely, that his servant should be

heir together with his son.

19 Not long after this the master

of the family calling together, his

friends, sent from his supper several

kinds of food to that servant.

20 Which when he had received,

he took so much of them as was

sufficient for himself, and divided

the rest among his fellow-servants.

21 Which when they had received,

they rejoiced; and wished that

he might find yet greater favour

with his lord, for what he had

done to them.

22 When his lord heard all these

things, he was again filled with

great joy: and calling again his

friends and his son together, he

related to them what his servant

had done with the meats which he

had sent unto him.

23 They therefore so much the

more assented to the master of the

household; and he ought to make

that servant his heir together with

his son.

24 I said unto him, sir, I know

not these similitudes, neither can

I understand them, unless you

expound them unto me. I will,

says he, expound, all things unto

thee whatsoever I have talked with

thee, or shown unto thee.

25 Keep the commandments of

the Lord and thou shalt be approved,

and shall be written in the number

of those that keep his commandments.

But if besides those things which

the Lord hath commanded, thou shalt

add some good thing; thou shall

purchase to thyself a greater dignity,

and be in more favour with the Lord

than thou shouldst otherwise have been.

26 If therefore thou shalt keep

the commandments of the Lord,

and shalt add to them these stations,

thou shall rejoice; but especially

if thou shalt keep them according

to my commands.

27 I said unto him, sir, whatsoever

thou shall command me, I will observe;

for I know that thou wilt be with me.

I will, said he, be with thee who hast

taken up such a resolution; and I will

be with all those who purpose in like

manner.

28 This fast, saith he, whilst

thou dost also observe the

commandments of the Lord, is

exceeding good; therefore thus

shalt thou keep it.

29 First of all, take heed to

thyself, and keep thyself from every

wicked act, and from every filthy

word, and from every hurtful desire;

and purify thy mind from all the

vanity of this present world. If

thou shalt observe these things,

this fast shall be right.

30 Thus therefore do. Having

performed what is before written,

that day on which thou fastest

thou shalt taste nothing at all but

bread and water; and computing

the quantity of food which thou

art want to eat upon other days,

thou shalt lay aside the expense

which thou shouldest have made

that day, and give it unto the

widow, the fatherless, and the

poor.

31 And thus thou shalt perfect

the humiliation of thy soul; that

he who receives of it may satisfy

his soul, and his prayer come up

to the Lord God for thee.

32 If therefore thou shalt thus

accomplish thy fast, as I command

thee, thy sacrifice shall be

acceptable unto the Lord, and thy

fast shall be written in his book.

33 This station, thus performed,

is good and pleasing and acceptable

unto the Lord. These things if thou

shalt observe with thy children and

with all thy house, thou shalt

be happy.

34 And whosoever, when they

hear these things, shall do them,

they also shall be happy; and

whatsoever they shall ask of the

Lord they shall receive it.

35 And I prayed him that he

would expound unto me the similitude

of the farm, and the Lord, and of

the vineyard, and of the servant

that had staked the vineyard;

and of the weeds that were

plucked out of the vineyard; and

of his son and his friends which

he took into counsel with him;

for I understand that that was

a similitude.

36 He said unto me, Thou art

very bold in asking; for thou

oughtest not to ask any thing;

because if it be fitting to show it

unto thee, it shall be showed unto

thee.

37 I answered him; Sir, whatsoever

thou shalt show me, without explaining

it unto me, I shall in vain see it,

if I do not understand what it is.

And if thou shalt propose any

similitudes, and not expound them,

I shall in vain hear them.

38 He answered me again, saying:

Whosoever is the servant of God,

and has the Lord in his heart,

he desires understanding of him,

and receives it; and he explains

every similitude, and understands

the words of the Lord which need

an inquiry.

39 But they that are lazy and

slow to pray, doubt to seek from

the Lord: although the Lord be of

such an extraordinary goodness,

that without ceasing he giveth all

things to them that ask of him.

40 Thou therefore who art

strengthened by that venerable

messenger, and hast received such

a powerful gift of prayer; seeing

thou art not slothful, why dost

thou not now ask understanding of

the Lord, and receive it?

41 I said unto him; seeing I

have thee present, it is necessary

that I should seek it of thee, and

ask thee; for thou shewest all

things unto me, and speakest to

me when thou art present.

42 But if I should see or hear

these things when thou wert not

present, I would then ask the Lord

that he would chew them unto me.

43 And he replied, I said a

little before that thou wert subtle

and bold, in that thou asketh the

meaning of these similitudes.

44 But because thou still persistest,

I will unfold to thee this parable

which then desirest, that thou mayest

make it known unto all men.

45 Hear, therefore, said he,

and understand. The farm before

mentioned denotes the whole earth.

The Lord of the farm is he, who

created and finished all things;

and gave virtue unto them.

46 His son is the Holy Spirit;

the servant is the Son of God: the

vineyard is the people whom he

saves. The stakes are the messengers

which are set oven them by the Lord,

to support his people. The weeds

that are plucked up out of the

vineyard, are the sins which

the servants of God had

committed.

47 The food which he sent him

from his supper, are the commands

which he gave to his people by his

Son. The friends whom he called

to counsel with him, are the holy

angels whom he first created. The

absence of the master of the household,

is the time that remains unto

his coming.

48 I said unto him, Sir, all

these things are very excellent,

and wonderful, and good. But,

continued I, could I or any other

man besides, though never so wise,

have understood these things?

49 Wherefore now, sir, tell me,

what I ask. He replied, ask me

what thou wilt. Why, said I, is

the Son of God in this parable,

put in the place of a servant.

50 Hearken, he said: the Son

of God is not put in the condition

of a servant, but in great power

and authority. I said unto him,

how, sir? I understand it not.

51 Because, said he, the Son set

his messengers over those whom

the Father delivered unto him, to

keep every one of them; but he

himself laboured very much, and

suffered much, that he might blot

out their offences.

52 For no vineyard can be digged

without much labour and pains.

Wherefore having blotted out the

sins of his people, he showed to

them the paths of life, giving

them the law which he had

received of the Father.

53 You see, said he, that he is

the Lord of his people, having

received all power from his Father.

But why the lord did take his

son into counsel, about dividing

the inheritance, and the good

angels, hear now.

54 That Holy Spirit, which was

created first of all, he placed in the

body in which God should dwell;

namely, in a chosen body, as it

seemed good to him. This body

therefore into which the Holy

Spirit was brought, served that

Spirit, walking rightly and purely

in modesty; nor ever defiled that

Spirit.

55 Seeing therefore the body at

all times obeyed the Holy Spirit,

and laboured rightly and chastely

with him, nor faltered at anytime;

that body being wearied conversed

indeed servilely, but being

mightily approved to God with

the Holy Spirit, was accepted by

him.

56 For such a stout course

pleased God, because he was not

defiled in the earth, keeping the

Holy Spirit. He called therefore

to counsel his Son, and the good

angels, that there might be some

place of standing given to this

body which had served the Holy

Spirit without blame; lest it

should seem to have lost the

reward of its service.

57 For every pure body shall

receive its reward; that is found

without spot, in which the Holy

Spirit has been appointed to dwell.

And thus you have now the exposition

of this parable also.

58 Sir, said I, I now understand

your meaning, since I have heard

this exposition. Hearken farther,

said he: keep this thy body clean

and pure, that the Spirit which

shall dwell in it may bear witness

unto it, and be judged to have

been with thee.

59 Also take heed that it be not

instilled into thy mind that this

body perishes, and thou abuse it

to any lust. For if thou shalt

defile thy body, thou shalt also at

the same time defile the Holy

Spirit; and if thou shalt defile

the Holy Spirit, thou shall not

live.

60 And I said, What if through

ignorance this should have been

already committed, before a man

heard these words; How can he

attain into salvation, who has thus

defiled his body?

61 He replied, As for men's former

actions which through ignorance

they have committed, God only can

afford a remedy unto them; for all

the power belongeth unto him.

62 But now guard thyself; and

seeing God is almighty and merciful,

he will grant a remedy to what thou

hast formerly done amiss, if for the

time, to come thou shalt not defile

thy body and spirit:

63 For they are companions together,

and the one cannot be defiled but the

other will be so too. Keep therefore

both of them pure, and thou shalt

live unto God.

SIMILITUDE VI.

Of two sorts of voluptuous men, and of

their death and defection; and of the

continuance of their pains.

AS I was sitting at home, and

praising God for all the things

which I had seen; and was thinking

concerning the commands, that they

were exceedingly good, and great,

and honest, and pleasant, and

such as were able to bring a man

to salvation; I said thus within

myself, I shall be happy if I walk

according to these commands; and

whosoever shall walk in them shall

live unto God.

2 Whilst I was speaking on this

wise within myself, I saw him

whom I had before been wont to

see, sitting by me; and he spake

thus unto me:

3 What doubtest thou concerning

my commands which I have delivered

unto thee? They are good, doubt not,

but trust in the Lord, and thou shalt

walk in them; for I will give thee

strength to fulfil them.

4 These commands are profitable

to those who shall repent of the

sins which they have formerly

committed; if for the time to come

they shall not continue in them.

5 Whosoever therefore ye be

that repent, cast away from you

the naughtiness of the present

world; and put on all virtue, and

righteousness, and so shall ye be

able to keep these commands;

and not sin from henceforth any

more.

6 For if ye shall keep yourselves

from sin for the time to come,

ye shall cut off a great deal

of your former sins. Walk in my

commands, and ye shall live unto

God: These things have I spoken

unto you.

7 And when he, had said this,

he added; let us go into the field,

and I will show thee shepherds of

sheep. I replied, sir, let us go.

8 And we came into a certain

field, and there he showed me a

young shepherd, finely arrayed,

with his garments of a purple

colour. And he fed large flocks;

and his sheep were full of pleasure,

and in much delight and cheerfulness;

and they skipping, ran here and there.

9 And the shepherd took very

great satisfaction in his flock; and

the countenance of that shepherd

was cheerful, running up and down

among his flock.

10 Then the angel said unto

me, Seest then this shepherd?

I answered, sir, I see him.

He said unto me, this is the

messenger of delight and pleasure.

He therefore corrupts the minds

of the servants of God, and turns

them from the truth, delighting them

with many pleasures, and they perish.

11 For they forget the commands

of the living God, and live in

luxury and in vain pleasures,

and are corrupted by the evil

angel, some of them even unto

death; and others to a falling

away.

12 I replied; I understand not

what you mean, by saying unto

death, and to a falling away.

Hear, says he; all those sheep

which thou sawest exceeding

joyful, are such as have for ever

departed from God, and given

selves up to the lusts of this

present time.

13 To these therefore there is

no return, by repentance, unto

life; because, to their other sins

they have added this, that they

have blasphemed the name of the

lord: These kind of men are

ordained unto death.

14 But those sheep which thou

sawest not leaping, but feeding in

one place; are such as have indeed

given themselves up to pleasure

and delights; but have not spoken

anything wickedly against the Lord.

15 These therefore are only

fallen off from the truth, and so

have yet hope laid up for them in

repentance. For such a falling off

hath some hope still left of a

renewal; but they that are dead,

are utterly gone for ever.

16 Again we went a little farther

forward, and he showed me a great

shepherd, who had as it were a rustic

figure; clad with a white goat's skin,

having his bag upon his shoulder,

and in his hand a stick full of knots,

and very hard, and a whip in his other

hand; and his countenance was stern and

sour, enough to affright a man;

such was his look.

17 He took from that young

shepherd such sheep as lived in

pleasures, but did not skip up and

down; and drove them into a

certain steep craggy place fall of

thorns and briars, insomuch that

they could not get themselves free

from them:

18 But being entangled in them,

fed upon thorns and briars, and

were grievously tormented with

his whipping. For he still drove

them on, and afforded them not

any place, or time, to stand still.

19 When therefore I saw them so

cruelly whipped and afflicted,

I was grieved for them; because

they were greatly tormented, nor

had they any rest afforded them.

20 And I said unto the shepherd

that was with me: Sir, who is this

cruel and implacable shepherd, who

is moved with no compassion towards

these sheep? He answered, This

shepherd is indeed one of the holy

angels, but is appointed for the

punishment of sinners.

21 To him therefore are delivered

those who have erred from God,

and served the lusts and pleasures

of this world. For this cause he

punishes them every one according

to their deserts, with cruel and

various kinds of pains.

22 Sir, said I, I would know

what kind of pains they are which

every one undergoes? Hearken,

said he; The several pains and

torments are those which men

every day undergo in their present

lives. For some suffer losses;

others poverty; others divers

sicknesses. Some are unsettled; others

suffer injuries from those that are

unworthy; others fall under many

other trials and inconveniences.

23 For many with an unsettled

design at many things, and it

profiteth them not; and they say

that they have not success in their

undertakings.

24 They do not call to their

mind what they have done amiss,

and they complain of the Lord.

When therefore they shall have

undergone all kind of vexation

and inconvenience; then they are

delivered over to me for good

instruction, and are confirmed

in the Faith of the Lord, and

serve the Lord all the rest of

their days with a pure mind.

25 And when they begin to repent

of their sins, then they call to

mind their works which they have

done amiss, and give honour to

God, saying, that he is a just

Judge, and they have deservedly

suffered all things according to

their deeds.

26 Then for what remains of

their lives, they serve God with a

pure mind; and have success in

all their undertakings, and receive

from the Lord whatever they desire.

27 And then they give thanks

unto the Lord that they were

delivered unto me; nor do they

suffer any more cruelty.

28 I said unto him; Sir, I entreat

you still to show me now one thing.

What, said he, dost thou ask?

I said unto him; Are they who

depart from the fear of God,

tormented for the same time that

they enjoyed their false delight

and pleasures? He answered me;

they are tormented for the same

time.

29 And I said unto him; They

are then tormented but little;

whereas they who enjoy their

pleasures so as to forget God,

ought to endure seven times as

much punishment.

30 He answered me; Thou art

foolish, neither understandest thou

the efficacy of this punishment.

I said unto him; Sir, if I understood

it, I would not desire you to tell me.

31 Hearken, said he, and learn

what the force of both is, both of

the pleasure and of the punishment.

An hour of pleasure is terminated

within its own space: but one hour

of punishment has the efficacy of

thirty days. Whosoever therefore

enjoys his false pleasure for one day,

and is one day, tormented; that one

day of punishment is equivalent to

a whole year's space.

32 Thus look how many days

any one pursues his pleasures, so

many years is he punished for it.

You see therefore how that the

time of worldly enjoyments is but

short; but that of pain and torments,

a great deal more.

33 I replied; Sir, forasmuch as

I do not understand at all these

times of pleasure and pain; I

entreat you that you would explain

yourself more clearly concerning

them. He answered me, saying;

Thy foolishness still sticks unto

thee.

34. Shouldst thou not rather

purify thy mind, and serve God?

Take heed, lest when thy time is

fulfilled, thou be found still

unwise. Hear then, as thou desirest,

that thou mayest the more easily

understand.

35 He that gives himself up one

day to his pleasures and delights,

and does whatsoever his soul desires,

is full of great folly, nor understands

what he does, but the day following

forgets what he did the day before.

36 For delight and worldly

pleasure are not kept in memory,

by reason of the folly that is rooted

in them. But when pain and torment

befall a man a day, he is in effect

troubled the whole year after;

because his punishment continues

firm in his memory.

37 Wherefore he remembers it

with sorrow the whole year; and

then calls to mind his vain pleasure

and delight, and perceives that for

the sake of that he was punished.

38 Whosoever therefore have

delivered themselves over to such

pleasures, are thus punished; because

that when they had life, they rendered

themselves liable to death.

39 I said unto him; Sir, what

pleasures are hurtful? He answered;

That is pleasure to every man

which he doth willingly.

40 For the angry man, gratifying

his passion, perceives pleasure

in it; and so the adulterer, and

drunkard; the slanderer and liar;

the covetous man and the defrauder;

and whosoever commits anything like

unto these, he followeth his evil

disposition, because he receives

a satisfaction in the doing of it.

41 All these pleasures and delights

are hurtful to the servants of God.

For these therefore they are tormented

and suffer punishment.

42 There are also pleasures that

bring salvation unto men. For many,

when they do what is good, find

pleasure in it, and are attracted

by the delights of it.

43 Now this pleasure is profitable

to the servants of God, and brings

life to such men; but those hurtful

pleasures, which were before mentioned,

bring torments and punishment.

44 And whosoever shall continue

in them, and shall not repent of

what they have done, shall bring

death upon themselves.

SIMILITUDE VII.

That they who repent, must bring forth,

fruits worthy of repent once.

AFTER a few days I saw the

same person that before talked

with me, in the same field, in

which I had seen those shepherds,

And he said unto me; What seekest

thou? Sir, said I, I came to entreat

you that You would command the

shepherd, who is the minister of

punishment, to depart out of my

house, because he greatly afflicts

me.

3 And he answered, It is necessary

for thee to endure inconveniencies

and vexations; for so that good angel

hath commanded concerning thee,

because he would try thee.

4 Sir, said I; What so great

offence have I committed, that I

should be delivered to this messenger?

Hearken, said he: Thou art indeed

guilty of many sins, yet not so

many that thou shouldest be

delivered to this messenger.

5 But thy house hath committed

many sins and offences, and therefore

that good messenger being grieved

at their doings commanded that for

some time thou shouldst suffer

affliction; that they may both

repent of what they have done, and

may wash themselves from all the

lusts of this present world.

6 When therefore they shall have

repented, and be purified, then that

messenger which is appointed over

thy punishment, shall depart from

thee.

7 I said unto him; Sir, if they

have behaved themselves so as to

anger that good angel, yet what

have I done? He answered: They

cannot otherwise be afflicted,

unless thou, who art the head

of the family, suffer.

8 For whatsoever thou shalt

suffer, they must needs feel it

but as long as thou shalt stand

well established, they cannot

experience any vexation.

9 I replied; But, sir, behold

they also now repent with all their

hearts. I know, says he, that they

repent with all their hearts; but

dost thou therefore think that their

offences who repent, are immediately

blotted out.

10 No, they are not presently;

but he that repents must afflict his

soul and show himself humble in

all his affairs, and undergo many

and divers vexations.

11 And when he shall have suffered

all things that were appointed for him;

then perhaps HE that made him, and

formed all things besides, will be

moved with compassion towards him,

and afford him some remedy; and

especially if HE shall perceive

his heart who repents, to be free

from every evil work.

12 But at present it is expedient

for thee, and for thy house, to be

grieved; and it is needful that

thou shouldst endure much vexation,

as the angel of the Lord who committed

thee unto me, has commanded.

13 Rather give thanks unto the

Lord, that knowing what was to

come he thought thee worthy, to

whom he should foretell that trouble

was coming upon thee, who art able

to bear it.

14 I said unto him; Sir, but be

thou also with me, and I shall

easily undergo any trouble. I will,

said he, be with thee; and I will

entreat the messenger who is set

over thy punishment, that he

would moderate his afflictions

towards thee.

15 And moreover thou shalt

suffer adversity but for a little

time; and then thou shalt again

be restored to thy former state;

only continue on in the humility

of thy mind.

16 Obey the Lord with a pure

heart; thou, and thy house, and

thy children; and walk in the

commands which I have delivered

unto thee; and then thy repentance

may be firm and pure.

17 And if thou shalt keep

these things with thy house, thy

inconveniencies shall depart from thee.

18 And all vexation shall in like

manner depart from those, whosoever

shall walk according to these commands.

SIMILITUDE VIII.

That there are many kinds of elect, and of

repenting sinners: and how all of these shall

receive a reward proportionable to the measure

of their repentance and good works.

AGAIN he showed me a willow

which covered the fields and

the mountains, under whose shadow

came all such as were called by

the name of the Lord.

2 And by that willow stood an.

angel of the Lord very excellent

and lofty, and did cut down bows

from the willow with a great

hook; and reached out to the people

that were under the shadow of the

willow, little rods, as it were

about a foot long.

3 And when all of them had

taken them, he laid aside his hook,

and the tree continued entire, as I

had before seen it; at which I

wondered, and mused within myself.

4 Then that shepherd said unto

me; Forbear to wonder that the

tree continues whole,

not-with-standing so many boughs have

been cut off from it: but stay a

little, for now it shall be shown

thee, what that angel means, who

gave those rods to the people.

5 So he again demanded the

rods of them; and in the same

order that every one had received

them, was he called to him, and

restored his rod; which when he

had received, he examined them.

6 From some he received them

dry and rotten, and as it were

touched with the moth; those he

commanded to be separated from

the rest, and placed by themselves.

Others gave in their rods dry

indeed, but not touched with the

moth: these also he ordered to be

set by themselves.

7 Others gave in their rods half

dry; these also were set apart,

Others gave in their rods half dry

and cleft; these too were set by

themselves. Others brought in

their rods half dry and half green,

and these were in like manner

placed by themselves.

8 Others delivered up their rods

two parts green, and the third

dry; and they too were set apart.

Others brought their rods two

parts dry, and the third green;

and were also placed by themselves.

9 Others delivered up their rods

less dry (for there was but a very

little, to wit, their tops dry), but

they had clefts, and these were set

in like manner by themselves. In

the rods of others there was but a

little green, and the rest dry; and

these were set aside by themselves.

10 Others came, and brought

their rods green as they had

received them, and the greatest

part of the people brought their

rods thus; and the messenger

greatly rejoiced at these, and they

also were put apart by themselves.

11 Others brought in their rods

not only green, but full of branches;

and these were set aside, being

also received by the angel

with great joy. Others brought

their rods green with branches,

and those also some fruit upon

them.

12 They who had such rods,

were very cheerful; and the angel

himself took great joy at them;

nor was the shepherd that stood

with me, less pleased with them.

13 Then the angel of the Lord

commanded crowns to be brought,

and the crowns were brought made

of palms; and the angel crowned

those men in whose rods he found

the young branches with fruit, and

commanded them to go into the

tower.

14 He also sent those into the

tower, in whose hands he found

branches without fruit, giving a

seal unto them. For they had the

same garment, that is, one white

as snow; with which he bade them

go into the tower And so he did

to those who returned their rods

green as they had received them;

giving them a white garment, and

so sent them away to go into the

tower.

15 Having done this, he said to

the shepherd that was with me,

I go my way; but do thou send

these within the walls, every one

into the place in which he has

deserved to dwell; examining first

their rods, but examine them

diligently that no one deceive thee;

and if any one shall escape thee,

I will try them upon the altar.

Having said this to the shepherd,

he departed.

16 After he was gone, the shepherd

said unto me; Let us take the rods

from them, and plant them; if

perchance they may grow green again.

I said unto him; Sir, how can those

dry rods ever grow green again?

17 He answered me; That tree.

is a willow, and always loves to

live. If therefore these rods shall

be planted, and receive a little

moisture, many of them will

recover themselves.

18 Wherefore I will try, and

will pour water upon them, and if

any of them can live, I will rejoice

with them; but if not, at least by

this means I shall be found not

to have neglected my part.

19 Then he commanded me to

call them; and they all came

unto him, every one in the rank

in which he stood, and gave him

their rods; which having received

he planted every one of them in

their several orders.

20 And after he had planted

them all, he poured much water

upon them, insomuch that they

were covered with water, and did

not appear above it. Then when

he had watered them, he said unto

me; Let us depart, and after a

little time we will return and visit

them.

21 For he who created this tree,

would have all those live that

received rods from it. And I hope

now that these rods are thus

watered, many of them receiving

in the moisture, will recover:

22 I said unto him, Sir, tell

me what this tree denotes? For I

am greatly astonished, that after

so many branches have been cut

off, it seems still to be whole:

nor does there any thing the less

of it appear to remain, which

greatly amazes me.

23 He answered, Hearken. This

great tree which covers the plains

and the mountains, and all the

earth, is the law of God, published

throughout the whole world.

24 Now this law is the Son of

God, who is preached to all the

ends of the earth. The people

that stand under its shadow, are

those which have heard his preaching,

and believed.

25 The great and venerable

angel which you saw, was Michael

who had the power over his people,

and governs them. For he has

planted the law in the hearts

of those who have believed: and

therefore he visits them to whom

lie has given the law, to see if

they have kept it.

26 And he examines every

one's rod; and of those, many that

are weakened: for those rods are

the law of the Lord. Then he discerns

all those who have not kept the law,

knowing the place of every one of them.

27 I said unto him, Sir, why

did he send away some to the

tower, and left others here to you?

He replied, those who have

transgressed the law, which they

received from him, are left in my

power, that they may repent of

their sins: but they who fulfilled

this law and kept it, are under his

power.

28 But who then, said I, are

those, who went into the tower

crowned? He replied, all such as

having striven with the devil, have

overcome him, are crowned: and

they are those, who have suffered

hard things, that they might keep

the law.

29 But they who gave up their

rods green, and with young

branches, but without fruit, have

indeed endured trouble for the

same law, but have not suffered

death; neither have they denied

their holy law.

30 They who delivered up their

rods green as they received them,

are those who were modest and

just, and have lived with a

very pure mind, and kept the

commandments of God.

31 The rest thou shalt know,

when I shall have considered those

rods which I have planted and

watered.

32 After a few days we returned,

and in the same place stood that

glorious angel, and I stood by him.

Then he said unto me; Gird thyself

with a towel, and serve me.

33 And I girded myself with

a clean towel, which was made of

coarse cloth. And when he saw

me girded, and ready to minister

unto him, he said, Call those men

whose rods have been planted,

every one in his order as he

gave them.

34 And he brought me into the

field, and I called them all,

and they all stood ready in their

several ranks. Then he said unto

them; let every one pluck up his

rod, and bring it unto me. And

first they delivered theirs, whose

rods had been dry and rotten.

35 And those whose rods still

continued so, he commanded to

stand apart. Then they came

whose rods had been dry but not

rotten. Some of these delivered.

in their rods green; others dry

and rotten, as if they had been

touched by the moth.

36 Those who gave them up

green, he commanded to stand

apart: but those whose rods were

dry and rotten, he caused to stand

with the first sort. Then came

they whose rods had been half

dry, and cleft: many of these

gave up their rods green, and

uncleft.

37 Others delivered them up

green with branches, like unto

theirs who went crowned into the

tower. Others delivered them

up dry, but not rotten; and some

gave them up as they were before,

all dry, and cleft.

38 Every one of these he ordered

to stand apart; some by themselves,

others in their respective ranks.

32 Then came they whose rods

had been green, but cleft. These

delivered their rods altogether

green, and stood in their own

order. And the shepherd rejoiced

at these, because they were all

changed, and free from their

clefts.

40 Then they gave in their rods,

who had them half green and

half dry. Of these some were

found wholly green, others half

dry: others green, with young

shoots. And all these were sent

away, every one to his proper

rank.

41 Then they gave up their

rods, who had them before two

parts green, and the third dry.

Many of those gave in their rods

green; many half dry; the rest

dry but not rotten. So these were

sent away, each to his proper

place.

42 Then came they who before

had their rods two parts dry and

the third green; many of these

delivered up their rods half dry,

others dry and rotten; others half

dry and cleft: but few green. And

all these were set every one in his

own rank.

43 Then they reached in their

rods, in which there was before

but a little green, and the rest

dry. Their rods were for the

most part found green, having

little boughs, with fruit upon

them; and the rest altogether

green.

44 And the shepherd upon sight

of these rejoiced exceedingly,

because he had found them thus;

and they also went to their

proper orders.

45 Now after he had examined

all their rods, he said unto me,

I told thee that this tree loved

life thou seest how many have

repented, and attained unto

salvation. Sir, said I, I see it.

46 That thou mightest know

saith he, that the goodness and

mercy of the Lord is great, and

to be had in honour; who gave

his spirit to them that were found

worthy of repentance.

47 I answered, Sir, why then

did not all of them repent? He

replied, Those whose minds the

Lords foresaw would be pure, and

that they would serve him with

all their hearts, to them he gave

repentance.

48 But for those whose deceit

and wickedness he beheld, and

perceived that they would not

truly return unto him; to them

he denied any return unto

repentance, lest they should again

blaspheme his law with wicked

words.

49 I said unto him; Now, Sir,

make known unto me, what is the

place of every one of those, who

have given up their rods, and

what their portion; that when

they may have not kept their seal

entire, but have wasted the seal

which they received, shall hear

and believe these thins, and may

acknowledge their evil deeds and

repent;

50 And receiving again their

seal from you, may give glory to

God, that he was moved with

compassion towards them, and sent

you to renew their spirits.

51 Hearken, said he; they

whose rods have been found

and rotten, and as it were touched

with the moth; are the deserters

and the betrayers of the church;

52 Who with the rest of their

crimes, have also blasphemed the

Lord, and denied his name when

he had called upon them. Therefore

all these are dead unto God

and thou seest that none of them

have repented, although they

have heard my commands which

thou hast delivered unto them.

From these men therefore life is

far distant.

53 They also who have delivered

up their rods dry, but not rotten,

have not been far from them. For

they have been counterfeits,

and brought in evil doctrines,

and have perverted the servants

of God, especially those

who had sinned; not suffering

them to return unto repentance,

but keeping them back by their

false doctrines.

54 These therefore have hope;

and thou seest that many of them

have repented, since the time

that thou hast laid my commands

before them; and many more

will yet repent. But they, that

shall not repent; shall lose both

repentance and life.

55 But they that have repented,

their place is begun to be within

the first walls, and some of them

are even gone into the tower.

Thou seest therefore, said he, that

in the repentance of sinners there

is life; but for those who repent

not, death is prepared.

56 Hear now concerning

those who gave in their rods half

dry and full of clefts. Those whose

rods were only half dry, are the

doubtful; for they are neither

living nor dead.

57 But they who delivered in

their rods, not only half dry but

also full of clefts, are both doubtful

and evil speakers; who detract from

those that are absent, and have

never peace among themselves,

and who envy one another.

58 Howbeit, to those also

repentance is offered; for thou

seest that some of these have

repented.

59 Now all those of this kind

who have quickly repented, shall

have a place in the tower; and

they who have been more slow in

their repentance, shall dwell within

the walls: but they that shall

not repent, and shall continue on

in their wicked doings, shall die

the death.

60 As for those who had their

rods green, but yet cleft; they

are such as were always faithful

and good, but they had some envy

and strife among themselves

concerning dignity and pre-eminence.

61 Now all such as are vain, and

without understanding, contend

with one another about these

things.

62 Nevertheless, seeing they

are otherwise good, if when they

shall hear these commands they

shall amend themselves, and shall

at my persuasion suddenly repent;

they shall at last dwell in the

tower, like those who have truly

and worthily repented.

63 But if any one shall again

return to his dissension; he shall

be shut out from the tower, and

shall lose his life. For the life

of those who keep the commandments

of the Lord, consists in doing

what they are commanded; not in

principality, or in any other

dignity.

64 For by forbearance and humility

of mind, men shall attain unto life;

but by seditions and contempt of the

law, they shall purchase death unto

themselves.

65 They who in their rods

had half dry and half green, are

those who are engaged in many

affairs of the world, and are not

joined to the saints. For which

cause half of them liveth, and

half is dead.

66 Wherefore many of these

since the time that they have

heard my commands, have repented,

and begun to dwell in the tower.

But some of them have

wholly fallen away; to these there

is no more place for repentance.

67 For by reason of their present

interests, they have blasphemed

and denied God: and for this

wickedness they have lost life.

And of these many are still in

doubt, yet these may return; and

if they shall quickly repent, they

shall have a place in the tower;

but if they shall be more slow,

they shall dwell within the walls;

but if they shall not repent, they

shall die.

68 As for those who had two

parts of their rods green, and the

third dry; they have by manifold

ways denied the Lord. Of these

many have repented, and found

a place in the tower: and many

have altogether departed from

God. These have utterly lost life.

69 And some being in a doubtful

state, have raise up dissensions:

these may yet return, if they

shall suddenly repent and not

continue in their lusts; but if

they shall continue in their

evil-doing they shall die.

70 They who gave in their

rods two parts dry, and the other

been, are those who have indeed

been faithful, but withal rich and

full of good things; and thereupon

upon have desired to be famous

among the heathen which are

without, and have thereby fallen

into great pride, and begun to

aim at high matters, and to

forsake the truth.

71 Nor were they joined to the

saints, but lived with the heathen;

and this life seemed the more pleasant

to them. Howbeit they have not

departed from God, but continued

in the faith; only they have

not wrought the works of faith.

72 Many therefore of these have

repented; and begun to dwell in

the tower. Yet others still living

among the heathen people, and

being lifted up with their vanities,

have utterly fallen away from

God, and followed the works and

wickedness of the heathen.

These kind of men therefore are

reckoned among strangers to the

Gospel.

73 Others of these began to be

doubtful in their minds; despairing

by reason of their wicked doings

ever to attain unto salvation

Others being thus made doubtful,

did moreover stir up dissensions.

74 To these therefore, and to

those who by reason of their doings

are become doubtful, there is still

hope of return; but they must repent

quickly, that their place may be in

the tower. But they that repent not,

and continue still in their pleasures,

are nigh unto death.

75 As for those who gave in

their rods green, excepting their

tops, which only were dry, and

had clefts; these were always

good, and faithful, and upright

before God: nevertheless they

sinned a little, by reason of their

empty pleasures and trifling

thoughts which they had within

themselves.

76 Wherefore many of them

when they heard my words,

repented forthwith, and began to

dwell in the tower. Nevertheless

some grew doubtful, and others

to their doubtful minds added

dissensions. To these therefore

there is still hope of return,

because they were always good;

but they shall not hardly be moved.

77 As for those, lastly, who

gave in their rods dry, their tops

only excepted, which alone were

green; they are such as have

believed indeed in God, but have

lived in wickedness; yet without

departing from God: having always

willingly borne the name of the

Lord, and readily received into

their houses the servants of God.

78 Wherefore hearing these

things they returned, and without

delay repented, and lived in all

righteousness. And some of them

suffered death: others readily

underwent many trials, being

mindful of their evil doings.

79 If And when he had ended

his explications of all the rods,

he said unto me, Go, and say unto

all men that they repent, and they

shall live unto God; because the

Lord being moved with great

clemency hath sent me to preach

repentance unto all:

80 Even unto those who by

reason of their evil doings, deserve

not to attain unto salvation. But

the Lord will by patient, and keep

the invitation that was made by

his Son.

81 I said unto him, sir, I hope

that all when they shall hear these

things, will repent. For I trust

that everyone acknowledging his

crimes, and taking up the fear

of the Lord, will return unto

repentance.

82 He said unto me, Whosoever

shall repent with all their

hearts, and cleanse themselves

from all the evils that I have

before mentioned, and not add

anything more to their sins,

shall receive from the Lord cure

of their former iniquities, if they do

not make any doubt of these commands,

and shall live unto God.

83 But they that shall continue

to add to their transgressions, and

still converse with the lusts of

the present world, shall condemn

themselves unto death. But do

thou walk in these commands, and

whosoever shall Walk in these, and

exercise them rightly, shall live

unto God.

84 And having showed me all

these things, he said; I will show

thee the rest in a few days.

SIMILITUDE IX.

The greatest mysteries of the militant and

triumphant Church which is to be built.

AFTER I had Written the Commands

and similitudes of the Shepherd,

the Angel of Repentance came unto

me, and said to me, I will show

thee all those things which the

Spirit spake with thee under

the figure of the church. For

that Spirit is the Son of God.

2 And because thou wert weak

in body, it was not declared unto

thee by the angel, until thou wert

strengthened by the Spirit, and

increased in force, that thou

mightest also see the angel:

3 For then indeed the building

of the tower was very well and

gloriously shown unto thee by the

church; nevertheless thou sawest

all things shown unto thee as it

were by a virgin.

4 But now thou art enlightened

by the angel, and yet by the same

Spirit. But thou must consider

all things diligently; for therefore

am I sent into thy house by that

venerable messenger, that when

thou shalt have seen all things

powerfully, thou mayest not be

afraid as before.

5 And he led me to the height

of a mountain in Arcadia, and we

sat upon its top. And he showed

me a great plain, and about it

twelve mountains in different

figures.

6 The first was black as soot.

The second was smooth, without

herbs. The third was full of

thorns and thistles. The fourth

had herbs half dried; of which

the upper part was green, but that

next the root was dry; and some

of the herbs, when the sun grew

hot, were dry.

7 The fifth mountain was very

rugged; but yet had green herbs.

The sixth mountain was full of

clefts, some lesser, and some

greater; and in these clefts grew

grass, not flourishing, but which

seemed to be withering.

8 The seventh mountain had

delightful pasture, and was wholly

fruitful; and all kinds of cattle,

and of the birds of heaven; fed

upon it; and the more they fed

on it, the more and better did the

grass grow.

9 The eighth mountain was full

of fountains, and from those

fountains were watered all kinds of

the creatures of Cod. The ninth

mountain had no water at all, but

was wholly destitute of it; and

nourished deadly serpents, very

destructive to men.

10 The tenth mountain was full

of tall trees, and altogether shady;

and under the shade of them lay

cattle resting and chewing the cud.

11 The eleventh mountain was

full of the thickest trees, and

those trees seemed to be loaded

with several sorts of fruits; that

whosoever saw them could not choose

but desire to eat of their fruit.

12 The twelfth mountain was

altogether white, and of a most

pleasant aspect, and itself gave a

most excellent beauty to itself.

13 In the middle of the plain

he showed me a huge white rock,

which rose out of the plain, and

the rock was higher than those

mountains, and was square; so

that it seemed capable of supporting

the whole world.

14 It looked to me to be old,

yet it had in it a new gate, which

seemed to have been newly hewn

out of it. Now that gate was

bright beyond the sun itself;

insomuch, that I greatly wondered

at its light.

15 About the gate stood twelve

virgins; of which four that stood

at the corners of the gate, seemed

to me to be the chiefest, although

the rest were also of worth: and

they stood in the four parts of the

gate.

16 It added also to the grace of

those virgins, that they stood in

pairs, clothed with linen garments,

and decently girded, their right

arms being at liberty, as if they

were about to lift up some burthen;

for so they were adorned, and were

exceeding cheerful and ready.

17 When I saw this, I wondered

with myself to see such great

and noble things. And again I

admired upon the account of those

virgins, that they were so handsome

and delicate; and stood with such

firmness and constancy, as if they

would carry the whole heaven.

18 And as I was thinking thus

within myself, the shepherd said

unto me; What thickest thou within

thyself? Why art thou disquieted,

and fillest thyself with care?

19 Do not seem to consider, as

if thou wert wise, what thou doest

not understand, but pray unto the

Lord, that thou mayest have ability

to understand it. What is to come

thou canst not understand, but

thou seest that which is before

thee.

20 Be not therefore disquieted

at those things which thou canst

not see; but get the understanding

of those which thou seest.

21 Forbear to be curious; and

I will show thee all things that I

ought to declare unto thee: but

first consider what yet remains.

22 And when he had said this unto

me I looked up, and behold I saw

six tall and venerable men coming;

their countenances were all alike,

and they called a certain multitude

of men; and they who came at their

call were also tall and stout.

23 And those six commanded

them to build a certain tower over

that gate. And immediately there

began to be a great noise of those

men running here and there about

the gate, who were come together

to build the tower.

24 But those virgins which stood

about the gate perceived that the

building of the tower was to be

hastened by them. And they

stretched out their hands, as if

they were to receive somewhat

from them to do.

25 Then those six men commanded,

that they should lift up stones

out of a certain deep place,

and prepare them for the building

of the tower. And there were

lifted up ten white stones, square,

and not cut round.

26 Then those six men called

the ten virgins to them, and

commanded them to carry all the

stones that were to be put into

the building, and having carried

them through the gate to deliver

them to those that were about to

build the tower.

27 Immediately the virgins began

all of them together to lift up

those stones, that were before

taken out of the deep.

28 And they who also stood about

the gate did carry stones in such

a manner, that those stones which

seemed to be the strongest were

laid at the corners, and the rest

were put into the sides;

29 And thus they carried all the

stones, and bringing them through

the gate delivered them to the

builders, as they had been

commanded: who receiving them

at their hands, built with them.

30 But this building was made

upon that great rock, and over the

gate; and by these the whole tower

was supported. But the building

of the ten stones filled the whole

gate, which began to be made for

the foundation of that tower.

31 After those ten stones did

five and twenty others rise up

out of the deep; and these were

placed in the building of the same

tower; being lifted up by those

virgins, as the others had been

before.

32 After these did fire and thirty

others rise up; and these were also

in like manner fitted into the same

work. Then forty other stones were

brought up, and all these were added

unto the building of that tower.

33 So there began to be four

ranks in the foundation of that

tower; and the stones ceased to

rise out of the deep; and they

also which built rested a little.

34 Again, those six men commanded

the multitude, that they should

bring stones out of those twelve

mountains to the building of the

same tower.

35 So they cut out of all the

mountains stones of divers colours,

and brought them and gave them to

the virgins; which when they had

received they carried them, and

delivered them into the building

of the tower.

36 In which when they were built

they became white, and different

from what they were before; for

they were all alike, and did

change their former colours.

And some were reached up by the

men themselves, which when they

came into the building, continued

such is they were put in.

37 These neither became white,

nor different from what they were

before; because they were not

carried by the virgins through

the gate. Wherefore these stones

were disagreeable in the building;

which, when these six men perceived

they commanded them to be removed,

and put again in the place from

which they were brought.

38 And they said to those who

brought these stones; Do not ye

reach up to us any stones for this

building, but lay them down by

the tower, that these virgins may

carry them and reach them to us.

39 For unless they shall be

carried by these virgins through

this gate, they cannot change their

colours: therefore do not labour

in vain.

40 So the building that day

was done; howbeit the tower was

not finished, for it was afterwards

to be built; therefore now also

there was some delay made of it.

41 And these six men commanded

those that built to depart, and

as it were to rest for some time;

but they ordered those virgins

that they should not depart from

the tower; so now they seemed

to me to be left for the guarding

of it.

42 When all were departed,

I said unto the shepherd; Sir,

why is not the building of the

tower finished? Because it cannot,

said he, be finished until its Lord

comes, and approves of the building;

that if he shall find any stones

in it that are not good they may

be changed; for this tower is built

according to his will.

43 Sir, said I, I would know

what the building of this tower

signifies; as also I would be

informed concerning this rock,

and this gate;

44 And concerning the mountains,

and the virgins, and the stones

that did rise out of the deep,

and were not cut, but put into

the building just as they came

forth; and why the ten stones

were first laid in the foundation;

then the twenty-five, then thirty-

five; then forty?

45 Also concerning those stones

that were put into the building,

and again taken out, and carried

back into their places? Fulfil, I

pray, the desire of my soul as to

all these things, and manifest all

unto me.

46 And he said unto me; If thou

shalt not be dull, thou shall

know all, and shall see all the

other things that are about to

happen in this, tower: and shall

understand diligently all these

similitudes.

47 And after a few days we

came into the same place where

we had sat before; and he said

unto me, Let us go unto the

tower; for the Lord of it will

come and examine it.

48 So we came thither, and

found none but those virgins there.

And he asked them whether the

Lord of that tower was come

thither? And they replied, that

he would be there presently to

examine the building.

49 After a very little while I

saw a great multitude of men

coming, and in the middle of them

a man so tall, that he surpassed

the tower in height.

50 About him were those six,

who before commanded in the

building, and all the rest of

those who had built that tower,

and many others of great dignity:

and the virgins that kept the tower

ran to meet him, and kissed him,

and began to walk near unto him.

51 But he examined the building

with so much care, that he handled

every stone; and struck every one

with a rod which he held in his hand:

52 Of which some being so struck

turned black as soot; others were

rough; some looked as if they had

cracks in them; others seemed maimed;

some neither black nor white; some

looked sharp, and agreed not with the

other stones, and others were full

of spots.

53 These were the several kinds

of those stones which were not

found proper in the building; all

which the Lord commanded to be

taken out of the tower, and laid

near it, and other stones to be

brought and put in their places.

54 And they that built, asked

him from which of the mountains

he would have stones brought to

put in the place of those that were

laid aside. But he forbad them

to bring any from the mountains,

and commanded that they should

take them out of a certain field

that was near.

55 So they digged in the field,

and found many bright square

stones, and some also that were

round. Howbeit, all that were

found in that field were taken

away, and carried through the

gate by those virgins; and those

of them that were square were

fitted and put into the places of

those that were pulled out.

56 But the round ones were not

put into the building, because they

were hard, and it would have

required too much time to cut them

but they were placed about the

tower, as if they should hereafter

be cut square, and put into the

building; for they were very

white.

57 When he who was chief in

dignity, and lord of the whole

tower saw this, he called to him

the shepherd that was with me,

and gave him the stones that were

rejected and laid about the tower,

and said unto him; cleanse these

stones with all care, and fit them

into the building of the tower, that

they may agree with the rest; but

those that will not suit with the

rest, cast away afar off from the

tower.

58 When he had thus commanded him,

he departed, with all those that

came with him to the tower but

those virgins still stood about

the tower to keep it.

59 And I said unto that shepherd;

How can these stones, seeing they

have been rejected, return into

the building of this tower?

He replied; I will cut off the

greatest part from these stones,

and will add them to the building,

and they will agree with the rest.

60 And I said, Sir, how will

they be able to fill the same place,

when they shall be so much cut

away? He answered; They that

shall be found too little shall be

put into the middle of the building,

and the greater shall be placed

without, and keep them in.

61 When he had said thus unto

me, he added; Let us go, and after

three days we will return, and

I will put these stones, being

cleansed, into the tower.

62 For all these that are about

the tower must be cleansed, lest

the master of the house chance to

come upon the sudden, and find

those which are about the tower

unclean; and be so exasperated

that these stones should never be

put into the building of this tower,

and I shall be looked upon to have

been unmindful of my master's

commands.

63 When therefore we came

after three days to the tower,

he said unto me; Let us examine

all these stones, and let us see

which of them may go into the

building. I answered, Sir,

let us see.

64 And first of all we began

to consider those which had been

black; for they were found just

such as they were when they were

pulled out of the tower: wherefore

he commanded them to be removed

from the tower and put by themselves.

65 Then he examined those

which had been rough; and commanded

many of those to be cut round, and

to be fitted by the virgins into

the building of the tower; so they

took them, and fitted them into

the middle of the building and

he commanded the rest to be laid

by with the black ones, for they

also were become black.

66 Next he considered those

which were full of cracks, and

many of those also he ordered to

be pared away, and so to be added

to the rest of the building, by the

came virgins.

67 These were placed without

because they were found entire;

but the residue through the

multitude of their cracks could

not be reformed, and therefore

were cast away from the building

of the tower.

68 Then he considered those

that had been maimed; many of

these had cracks, and were become

black; others had large clefts;

these he commanded to be placed

with those that were rejected;

69 But the rest being cleansed

and reformed, he commanded to

be put into the building. These

therefore those virgins took up,

and fitted into the middle of the

building, because they were but

weak.

70 After these he examined those

which were found half white and

half black, and many of those

which were now black; these also

he ordered to be laid among

those that were cast away.

71 The rest were found altogether

white; those were taken up by the

virgins, and fitted into the same

tower: and they were put in the

outside, because they were found

entire; that so they might keep

in those that were placed in the

middle, for nothing was cut off

from them.

72 Next he looked upon those

which had been hard and sharp;

but few of these were made use of,

because they could not be cut, for

they were found very hard: but

the rest were formed, and fitted by

the virgins into the middle of the

building, because they were more

weak.

73 Then he considered those

which had spots; of these a few

were found black, and they were

carried to their fellows. The rest

were white and entire; and they

were fitted by the virgins into the

building, and placed in the outside,

by reason of their strength.

74 After this he came to

consider those stones which were

white and round: and he said unto

me, What shall we do with these

stones? I answered, Sir, I cannot

tell.

75 He replied, Canst thou

think of nothing then for these?

I answered, Sir, I understand not

this art; neither am I a stone-cutter,

nor can I tell anything.

76 And he said, seest thou not

that they are very round? Now

to make them square, I must cut

off a great deal from them; howbeit,

it is necessary that some of these

should go into the building of the

tower.

77 I answered; If it be necessary,

why do you perplex yourself, and

not rather choose, if you have

any choice among them, and fit

them into the building.

78 Upon this he chose out the

largest and brightest, and squared

them; which, when he had done

the virgins took them up, and

fitted them into the building.

79 And the rest that remained

were carried back into the same

field from which they were taken;

howbeit, they were not cast away;

because, said he, there is yet a

little wanting to this tower, which

is to be built; and perhaps the

Lord will have these stones fitted

into this building, because they

are exceeding white.

80 Then there were called twelve

very stately women, clothed with

a black garment, girded, and their

shoulders free, and their hair

loose. These seemed to me to be

country women.

81 And the shepherd commanded

them to take up those stones

which were cast out of the building,

and carry them back to the mountains

out of which they were taken.

82 And they took them all up

joyfully, and carried them back to

their places from whence they had

been taken.

83 When not one stone remained

about the tower, he said unto

me, Let us go about this tower,

and see whether anything be

wanting to it.

84 We began therefore to go

round about it; and when he saw

that it was handsomely built, he

began to be very glad; for it was

so beautifully framed, that any one

that had seen it must have been in

love with the building.

85 For it seemed to be all but

one stone, nor did a joint any

where appear; but it looked as if

it had all been cut out of one rock.

86 And when I diligently

considered what a tower it was,

I was extremely pleased: and he

said unto me, Bring hither some

lime and little shells, that I may

fill up the spaces of those stones

that were taken out of the building,

and put in again; for all things

about the tower must be made even.

87 And I did as he commanded

me, and brought them unto him

and he said unto me, Be ready to

help me, and this work will quickly

be finished.

88 He therefore filled up

the spaces of those stones, and

commanded the place about the tower

to be cleansed.

89 Then those virgins took besoms,

and cleansed all the place around,

and took away all the rubbish,

and threw water on; which being

done, the palace became delightful,

and the tower beauteous.

90 Then he said unto me, All

is now clean if the Lord should

come to finish the tower, he will

find nothing whereby to complain

of us.

91 When he had said this he

would have departed. But I laid

hold on his bag, and began to

entreat him for the Lord's sake, that

he would explain to me all things

that he had shown me.

92 He said unto me, I have at

present a little business; but I

will suddenly explain all things

unto thee. Tarry here for me till

I come.

93 I said unto him, Sir, what

shall I do here alone? He answered,

Thou art not alone, seeing all

these virgins are with thee.

94 I said, Sir, deliver me then

unto them. Then he called them

and said unto them, I commend

this man unto you until I shall

come;

95 So I remained with those

virgins: now they were cheerful

and courteous unto me; especially

the four, which seemed to be

the chiefest among them.

96 Then those virgins said

unto me, that shepherd will not

return hither to-day. I said unto

them, What then shall I do? They

answered, Tarry for him till the

evening, if perhaps he may come

and speak with thee; but if not,

yet thou shalt continue with us

till he does come.

97 I said unto them, I will

tarry for him till evening; but if

he comes not by that time, I will

go home, and return hither again

the next morning.

98 They answered me, As thou

art delivered unto us, thou mayest

not depart from us. I said, Where

shall I tarry?

99 They replied, Thou shalt

sleep with us as a brother, not

as a husband; for thou art our

brother, and we are ready from

henceforth to dwell with thee;

for thou art very dear to us.

100 Howbeit I was ashamed to

continue with them. But she that

seemed to be the chiefest amongst

them, embraced me, and began

to kiss me. And the rest when

they saw that I was kissed by her,

began also to kiss me as a brother;

and led me about the tower, and

played with me.

101 Some of them also sung

psalms, others made up the chorus

with them. But I walked about

the tower with them, rejoicing

silently, and seeming to myself

to be grown young again.

102 When the evening came on,

I would forthwith have gone

home, but they withheld me,

and suffered me not to depart.

Wherefore I continued with them

that night near the same tower.

103 So they spread their linen

garments upon the ground; and

placed me in the middle, nor did

they anything else, only they

prayed.

104 I also prayed with them

without ceasing, nor less than

they. Who, when they saw me pray

in that manner, rejoiced greatly:

and I continued there with their

till the next day.

105 And when we had worshipped God,

then the shepherd came and said unto

them: You have done no injury to

this man? They answered, Ask him.

I said unto him, Sir, I have received

a great deal of satisfaction in that

I have remained with them.

106 And he said unto me, How didst

thou sup? I answered, Sir, I feasted

the whole night upon the words of

the Lord. They received thee well

then, said he? I said, Sir, very well.

107 He answered, Wilt thou

now learn what thou didst desire?

I replied, Sir, I will: and first I

pray thee that thou shouldest show

me all things in the order that I

asked them.

108 He answered, I will do all

as thou wouldst have me, nor

will I hide any thing from thee.

109 First of all, Sir, said I,

tell me, what this rock and this

gate denote? Hearken, said he;

this rock, and this gate, are the

Son of God. I replied, Sir, how

can that be; seeing the rock is

old, but the gate new?

110 Hear, said he, O foolish

man! and understand. The Son

of God is indeed more ancient

than any creature; insomuch

that he was in council with his

Father at the creation of all

things.

111 But the gate is therefore

new, because he appeared in the

last days in the fullness of time;

that they who shall attain unto

salvation, may by it enter into the

kingdom of God.

112 You have seen, said he,

those stones which were carried

through the gate, how they were

placed in the building of the

tower; but that those which were

not carried through the gate,

were sent away into their own

places?

113 I answered, sir, I saw it.

Thus, said he, no man shall enter

into the kingdom of God, but he

who shall take upon him the name

of the Son of God.

114 For if you would enter

into any city, and that city should

he encompassed with a wall, and

had only one gate, could you

enter into that city except by that

gate?

115 I answered, Sir, how could

I do otherwise? As therefore, said

he, there would be no other way

of entering into that city but by

its gate, so neither can any one

enter into the kingdom of God,

but only by the name of his Son,

who is most dear unto him.

116 And he said unto me,

Didst thou see the multitude of

those that built that tower? Sir,

said I, I saw it. He answered,

All those are the angels, venerable

in their dignity,

117 With those is the Lord

encompassed as with a wall: but

the gate is the Son of God, who is

the only way of coming unto God.

For no man shall go to God, but

by his Son.

118 Thou sawest also, said he,

the six men, and in the middle of

them that venerable great man,

who walked about the tower, and

rejected the stones out of the tower?

119 Sir, said I, I saw them.

He answered, that tall man was

the Son of God; and those six

were his angels of most eminent

dignity, which stand about him

on the right hand and on the left.

120 Of these excellent angels

none comes in unto God without

him. He added, Whosoever there.

fore shall not take upon him his

name, he shall nor enter into the

kingdom of God.

121 Then I said, What is this

tower? This, said he, is the church.

And what, Sir, are these virgins?

He said unto me, These are the

holy spirits, for no man can enter

into the kingdom of God, except

these clothe him with their garment,

122 For it will avail thee nothing

to take up the name of the Son of

God, unless thou shalt also

receive their garment from them.

For these virgins are the powers

of the Son of God. So shall a

man in vain bear his name, unless

he shall be also endued with his

powers.

123 And he said unto me, sawest

thou those stones that were cast

away? They bore indeed the name,

but put not on their garment.

I said, Sir, what is their

garment? Their very names,

said he, are their garment.

124 Therefore whosoever beareth

the name of the Son of God,

ought to bear their names also;

for the Son of God also himself

beareth their names.

125 As for those stones,

continued he, which being delivered

by their hands, thou sawest remain

in the building, they were clothed

with their power; for which cause

thou seest the whole tower of the

same colour with the rock, and made

as it were of one stone.

126 So also those who have

believed in God by his Son, have

put on his spirit. Behold there

shall be one spirit, and one body,

and one colour of their garments;

and all they shall attain this, who

shall bear the names of these virgins.

127 And I said, Sir, why then

were those stones cast away which

were rejected, seeing they also

were carried through the gate,

and delivered by the hands of

these virgins into the building

of this tower?

128 Seeing, said he thou takest

care to inquire diligently into all

things, hear also concerning those

stones which were rejected. All

these received the name of the

Son of God, and with that the

power of these virgins.

129 Having therefore received

these spirits, they were perfected,

and brought into the number of

the servants of God; and they

began to be one body, and to have

one garment, for they were endued

with the same righteousness,

which they alike exercised.

130 But after that they beheld

those women which thou sawest

clothed with a black garment,

with their shoulders at liberty and

their hair loose; they fixed their

desires upon them, being tempted

with their beauty; and were

clothed with their power,

and cast off the clothing

of the virgins:

131 Therefore were they cast

off from the house of God, and

delivered to those women. But

they that were not corrupted with

their beauty, remained in the

house of God. This, said he, is

the signification of those stones

which were rejected.

132 And I said, sir, what if

any of these men shall repent, and

cast away their desire of those

women, and be converted, and

return to these virgins, and put

on again their virtue; shall they

not enter into the house of God?

133 They shall enter, said he,

if they shall lay aside all the

works of those women, and shall

resume the power of these virgins,

and shall walk in their works.

134 And for this cause there is

a stop in the building, that if they

shall repent, they may be added

to the building of this tower; but

if they shall not repent, that others

may be built in their places, and

so they may be utterly cast away.

135 For all these things I gave

thanks unto the Lord, that being

moved with mercy towards all

those upon whom his name is

carried, he sent to us the angel of

repentance to preside over us who

have sinned against him; and that

he has refreshed our spirits which

were almost gone, and who had

no hope of salvation, but are now

refreshed to the renewal of life.

136 Then I said, Show me now

sir, why this tower is not built

upon the ground, but upon a rock,

and upon the gate? He replied,

Thou art foolish, and without

understanding, therefore thou

asketh this.

137 And I said, sir, I must

needs ask all things of you

because I understand nothing at all.

For all your answers are great and

excellent; and which a man can

hardly understand.

138 Hear, said he: The name

of the Son of God is great and

without bounds, and the whole

world is supported by it. If

therefore, said I, every creature

of God be sustained by his Son,

why should he not support those

also who have been invited by him,

and who carry his name, and walk

in his commandments?

139 Seest thou not, said he, that

he doth support them, who with

all their heart, bear his name?

He therefore is their foundation,

and gladly supports those who do

not deny his name, but willingly

bear it.

140 And I said: Sir, tell me

the names of these virgins; and of

those women that were clothed

with the black garment.

141 Hear, said he, the names of

those virgins which are the more

powerful, and stand at the corners

of the gate. These are their

names:

142 The first is called Faith;

the second Continence; the third

Power; the fourth Patience; the

rest which stand beneath these

are, Simplicity, Innocence,

Chastity, Cheerfulness, Truth,

Understanding, Concord, Charity.

143 Whosoever therefore bear

these names, and the name of the

Son of God, shall enter into the

kingdom of God.

144 Hear now, said he, the

names of those women, which

were clothed with the black garment.

Of these, four are the principal:

the first is Perfidiousness;

the second, Incontinence; the

third, Infidelity; the fourth,

Pleasure.

145 And the rest which follow

are called thus, Sadness, Malice,

Lust, Anger, Lying, Foolishness,

Pride, and Hatred. The servant

of God, which carries these spirits,

shall see indeed the kingdom of

God, but he shall not enter into it.

146 But, sir, what are those

stones which were taken out of the

deep and fitted into the building?

The ten, said he, which were

placed at the foundation, are the

first age; the following five-and-

twenty, are the second, of righteous

men.

147 The next thirty-five, are the

prophets and ministers of the Lord.

And the forty, are the Apostles and

doctors of the preaching of the

Son of God.

148 And I said, sir, why did the

virgins put even those stones into

the building after they were carried

through the gate? And he said,

Because these first carried those

spirits, and they departed not one

from the other, neither the men

from the spirits, nor the spirits

from the men:

149 But the spirits were joined

to those men even to the day of

their death; who if they had not

had these spirits with them, they

could not have been useful to the

building of this tower.

150 And I said, sir, show me

this farther. He answered, What

dost then ask? Why did these

stones come out of the deep, and

were placed into the building of

this tower, seeing that they long

ago carried those holy spirits?

151 It was necessary, said he,

for them to ascend by water, that

they might be at rest. For they

could not otherwise enter into the

kingdom of God, but by laying

aside the mortality of their former

life.

152 They therefore being dead,

were nevertheless sealed with the

seal of the Son of God, and so

entered into the kingdom of God.

153 For before a man receives

the name of the Son of God, he is

ordained unto death; but when he

receives that seal, he is freed from

death, and assigned unto life.

154 Now that seal is the water

of baptism, into which men go

down under the obligation unto

death, but come up appointed unto

life.

155 Wherefore to those also was

this seal preached, and they made

use of it, that they might enter

into the kingdom of God.

156 And I said, Why then, sir,

did these forty stones also ascend

with them out of the deep, having

already received that seal?

157 He answered, Because

these Apostles and teachers, who

preached the name of the Son of

God, dying after they had received

his faith and power, preached to

them who were dead before: and

they gave this seal to them.

158 They went down therefore

into the water with them, and again

came up. But these went down

whilst they were alive, and came

up again alive: whereas those who

were before dead, went down dead,

but came up alive;

159 Through these therefore

they received life, and knew the

Son of God: for which cause they

came up with them, and were fit

to come into the building of the

tower; and were not cut, but put

in entire; because they died in

righteousness, and in great purity;

only this seal was wanting to

them.

160 Thus you have the explication

of these things.

161 I answered: Sir, tell me

now what concerns those mountains;

why are they so different, some

of one form, and some of another?

162 Hear, said he; These twelve

mountains which thou seest, are

twelve nations, which make up the

whole world. Wherefore the Son

of God is preached to them, by

those whom he sent unto them.

163 But why, said I, are they

different, and every one of a figure?

He replied, Hearken. Those twelve

nations which possess the whole

world, are twelve people.

164 And as thou hast beheld

these mountains different, so are

they. I will therefore open to

thee the meaning and actions of

every mountain.

165 But first, sir, said I, show

me this; Seeing these mountains

are so different, how have they

agreed in the building of this

tower; and been brought to one

colour; and are no less bright

than those that came out of the

deep?

166 Because, replied he, all the

nations which are under heaven,

have heard and believed in the

same one name of the Son of God

by whom they are called.

167 Wherefore having received

his seal, they have all been made

partakers of the same understanding

and knowledge; and their faith

and charity have been the same;

and they have carried the spirits

of these virgins together with his

name.

168 And therefore the building

of this tower appeared to be of the

same colour, and did shine like

the brightness of the sun.

169 But after that they had thus

agreed in one mind, there began to

be one body of them all; howbeit

some of them polluted themselves,

and were cast off from those of the

righteous, and again returned to

their former state, and became

even worse than they were before.

170 How, air, said I, were

they worse who knew the Lord?

He answered: If he who knows

not the Lord liveth wickedly,

the punishment of his wickedness

attends him;

171 But he who has known the

Lord, ought to abstain altogether

from all wickedness, and more and

more to be the servant of

righteousness.

172 And does not he then seem

to thee to sin more who ought to

follow goodness, if he shall prefer

the part of sin; than he who

offends without knowing the

power of God?

173 Wherefore these are indeed

ordained unto death; but they who

have known the Lord, and have

seen his wonderful works, if they

shall live wickedly, they shall be

doubly punished, and shall die for

ever.

174 As therefore thou hast seen

that after the stones were cast out

of the tower, which had been rejected,

they were delivered to wicked and

cruel spirits; and thou beheldest

the tower so cleansed, as if it had

all been made of one stone:

175 So the church of God, when

it shall be purified: (the wicked

and counterfeits, the mischievous

and doubtful, and all that have

behaved themselves wickedly in it,

and committed divers kinds of sin,

being cast out) shall become one

body, and there shall be one

understanding, one opinion,

one faith, and the same charity.

176 And then shall the Son of

God rejoice among them, and shall

receive his people with a pure will.

177 And I said; Sir, all these

things are great and honourable;

but now show unto me the effect

and force of every mountain: that

every soul which trusteth in the

Lord, when it shall hear these

things may honour his great, and

wonderful, and holy name.

178 Hear, said he, the variety

of these mountains, that is, of the

twelve nations.

179 They who have believed

of the first mountain, which is

black, are those who have revolted

from the faith, and spoken wicked

things against the Lord; and

betrayed the servants of God.

180 These are condemned to

death; there is no repentance for

them: and therefore they are

black, because their kind is

wicked.

181 Of the second mountain

which was smooth, are the

hypocrites, who have believed,

and the teachers of naughtiness:

and these are next to the foregoing,

which have not in them the fruit of

righteousness.

182 For as their mountain is

barren and without fruit so also

such kind of men have indeed the

name of Christians, but are empty

of faith; nor is there any fruit of

the truth in them.

183 Nevertheless there is room

left to them of repentance, if they

shall speedily pursue it; but if

they shall delay, they also shall

be partakers of death with the

foregoing kind.

184 I said, air, why is there

room left to those for repentance,

and not to the foregoing kind,

seeing their sins are well nigh the

same?

185 There is therefore, said he,

to these a return unto life by

repentance, because they have not

blasphemed against their Lord,

nor betrayed the servants of God:

but by their desire of gain have

deceived men, leading them according

to the lusts of sinners; wherefore

they shall suffer for this thing.

186 Howbeit there is still left

them room for repentance, because

they have not spoken any thing

wickedly against the Lord.

187 They who are of the

third mountain which had thorns

and brambles, are those who

believed, but were some of them

rich; others taken up with many

affairs: the brambles are their

riches; the thorns, those affairs in

which they were engaged.

188 Now they who are entangled

in much business, and in diversity

of affairs, join not themselves to

the servants of God, but wander,

being called away by those affairs

with which they are choked.

189 And so they which are rich,

with difficulty yield themselves to

the conversation of the servants

of God; fearing lest any thing

should be asked of them. These

therefore shall hardly enter the

kingdom of God.

190 For as men walk with difficulty

bare-foot over thorns, even so

these kind of men shall scarcely

enter into the kingdom of God.

191 Nevertheless there is afforded

to all these a return unto repentance,

if they shall quickly return to it;

because in their former days they

having neglected to work, in the time

that is to come they may do some good.

192 If therefore having

repented they shall do the works

of righteousness, they shall live;

but if they shall continue in their

evil courses, they shall be delivered

to those women who will take away

their lives.

193 As for the fourth mountain,

which had many herbs, the upper

part of which is green, but

the roots dry, and some of which

being touched with the heat of the

sun, are withered;

194 It denotes the doubtful, who

have believed, and some others

who carry the Lord on their tongues,

but have him not in their hearts:

therefore their grass is dry,

and without root; because they

live only in words, but their

works are dead.

195 These therefore are neither

dead nor living, and withal are

doubtful. For the doubtful are

neither green nor dry; that is

neither dead nor alive.

196 For as the herbs dry away

at the sight of the sun, so the

doubtful, as soon as they hear of

persecution, and fear inconveniencies,

return to their idols, and again

serve them, and are ashamed

to bear the name of their Lord.

197 This kind of men then is

neither dead nor alive; nevertheless

these also may live, if they shall

presently repent; but if not,

they shall be delivered to those

women, who shall take away their

lives.

198 As concerning the fifth

mountain that is craggy, and yet

has green grass; they are of this

kind who have believed, and are

faithful indeed, but believe with

difficulty, and are bold and self-

conceited; and would be thought

to know all things, but really

know nothing.

199 Wherefore, by reason of

this confidence, knowledge is

departed from them; and a rash

presumption is entered into them.

200 But they carry themselves

high, and as prudent men; and

though they are fools, yet would

seem to be teachers.

201 Now by reason of this folly

many of them whilst they magnify

themselves, are become vain and

empty. For boldness and vain

confidence is a very evil spirit.

202 Wherefore many of these

are cast away; but others

acknowledging their error, have

repented, and submitted themselves

to those who are knowing.

203 And to all the rest of this

kind, there is repentance allowed;

forasmuch as they were not so

much wicked as foolish, and void

of understanding.

204 If these therefore shall

repent, they shall live unto God;

but if not, they shall dwell with

those women, who shall exercise

their wickedness upon them.

205 For what concerns the

sixth mountain having greater and

lesser clefts, they are such as have

believed; but those in which were

lesser clefts are they who have had

controversies among themselves;

and by reason of their quarrels

languish in the faith:

206 Nevertheless many of these

have repented, and so will the rest

when they shall hear my commands;

for their controversies are but

small, and they will easily

return unto repentance.

207 But those who have the

greater clefts, will be as stiff

stones, mindful of grudges and

offences, and full of anger among

themselves. These therefore are

cast from the tower, and refused

to be put into its building; for

this kind of men shall hardly

live.

208 Our God and Lord, who

ruleth over all things, and has

power over all his creatures, will

not remember our offences, but is

easily appeased by those who

confess their sins: but man being

languid, mortal, infirm, and full

of sins, perseveres in his anger

against man; as if it were in his

power to save or destroy him.

209 But I, as the angel who am

set over your repentance, admonish

you, that whosoever among you has

any such purpose he should lay it

aside, and return unto repentance;

and the Lord will heal your former

sins, if you shall purge yourself

from this evil spirit; but if you

shall not do it, ye shall be

delivered to him unto death.

210 As for the seventh mountain

in which the grass was green

and flourishing, and the whole

mountain faithful; and all kind of

cattle fed upon the grass of it, and

the more the grass was eaten, so

much the more it flourished;

211 They are such as believed,

and were always good and upright;

and without any differences among

themselves, but still rejoiced

in the servants of God, having

put on the spirit of these virgins;

and been always forward to show

mercy to all men, readily giving

to all men of their labours

without upbraiding, and without

deliberation.

212 Wherefore the Lord seeing

their simplicity and innocence,

has increased them in the works of

their hands, and given them grace

in all their works.

213 But I, who am the angel

appointed over your repentance,

exhort you, that as many as are of

this kind would continue in the

same purpose, that your seed may

not be rooted out for ever.

214 For the Lord hath tried

you, and written you into our

number; and all your seed shall

dwell with the Son of God; for ye

are all of his spirit.

215 As concerning the eighth

mountain in which were a great

many springs, by which every

kind of all the creatures of God

was watered; they are such as

have believed the Apostles which

the Lord sent into all the world to

preach;

216 And some of them being

teachers have preached and taught

purely and sincerely, and have

not in the least yielded to any evil,

desires, but have constantly walked

in righteousness and truth.

217 These therefore have their

conversations among the angels.

218 Again; as for what concerns

the ninth mountain which is

a desert, and full of serpents; they

are such as have believed, but had

many stains:

219 These are such ministers as

discharge their ministry amiss;

ravishing away the goods of the

widows and fatherless; and serve

themselves, not others, out of

those things which they have

received.

220 These, if they continue in

this covetousness, have delivered

themselves unto death, nor shall

there be any hope of life for them.

But if they shall be converted,

and shall discharge their ministry

sincerely, they may live.

221 As for those which were

found rough, they are such as

have denied the name of the Lord,

and not returned again to the

Lord, but have become savage

and wild; not applying themselves

to the servants of God; but being

separated from them, have for a

little carelessness lost their lives.

222 For as a vine that is forsaken

in a hedge, and never dressed,

perishes and is choked by the

weeds, and in time becomes wild,

and ceases to be useful to its lord;

so this kind of men despairing of

themselves, and being soured,

have begun to be unprofitable to

their Lord.

223 Howbeit, to these there is,

after all, repentance allowed, if

they shall not be found from their

hearts to have denied Christ; but

if any of these shall be found to

have denied him from his heart,

I cannot tell whether such a one

can attain unto life.

224 I say therefore that if any

one hath denied, he should in

these days return unto repentance;

for it cannot be that anyone

who now denies the Lord, can

afterwards attain unto salvation

nevertheless repentance is promised

unto them who have formerly denied.

225 But he who will repent

must hasten on his repentance,

before the building of this tower

is finished; otherwise, he shall be

delivered by those women unto

death.

226 But they that are maimed,

are the deceitful; and those who

mix with one another, are the

serpents that you saw mingled in

that mountain.

227 For as the poison of serpents

is deadly unto men, so the words

of such persons infect and

destroy men. They are therefore

maimed in their faith, by reason

of that kind of life which they

lead.

228 Howbeit some of them,

having repented, have been saved;

and so shall others of the same

kind be also saved, if they shall

repent; but if not, they shall die

by those women who power and

force posses,

229 For what concerns the

tenth mountain, in which were the

trees covering the cattle, they are

such as have believed; and some

of them have been bishops, that is,

governors of the churches.

230 Others, are such stones as

have not feignedly, but with a

cheerful mind entertained the

servants of God.

231 Then, such as have been set

over inferior ministries, and have

protected the poor and the widows;

and have always kept a chaste

conversation: therefore they

also are protected by the Lord.

232 Whosoever shall do on this

wise, are honoured with the Lord;

and their place is among the

angels, if they shall continue

to obey the Lord even unto the end.

233 As to the eleventh mountain

in which were trees loaded

with several sorts of fruit; they

are such as have believed, and

suffered death, for the name of the

Lord; and have endured with a

heavy mind, and have given up

their lives with all their hearts.

234 And I said, Why then, sir,

have all these fruit indeed, but yet

some fairer than others?

235 Hearken, said he: Whosoever

have suffered for the name of

the Lord are esteemed honourable

by the Lord; and all their offences

are blotted out, because they have

suffered death for the name of the

Son of God.

236 Hear now, why their fruits

are different, and some of them

excel others. They who were

brought before magistrates, and

being asked, denied not the Lord,

but suffered with a ready mind;

these are more honourable with

the Lord. The fruits therefore

that are the most fair are these.

237 But they who were fearful

and doubtful, and have deliberated

with themselves whether they

should confess or deny Christ, and

yet have suffered; their fruits are

smaller, because that this thought

came into their hearts.

238 For it is a wicked and evil

thought for a servant to deliberate

whether he should deny his master:

Take heed therefore ye who

have such thoughts, that this mind

Pontinrie not in you, and ye die

unto God.

239 But ye who suffer death for

his name sake, ought to honour

the Lord, that he has esteemed

you worthy to bear his name; and

that you should be delivered from

all your sins.

240 And why therefore do you

not rather esteem yourselves happy?

Ye think verily that if any

one among you suffer, he performs

a great work! Yet the Lord

giveth you life, and ye understand

it not. For your offences did

oppress you; and if you had not

suffered for his name sake, ye would

now be dead unto the Lord.

241 Wherefore I speak this unto

you who deliberate whether ye

should confess or deny him. Confess

that ye have the Lord for your

God, lest at any time denying him,

ye be delivered up into bonds.

242 For if all nations punish

their servants which deny their

masters; what think you that the

Lord will do unto you, who has

the power of all things?

243 Remove therefore out of

your hearts these doubts, that ye

may live for ever unto God.

244 As for the twelfth mountain,

which was white, they are

such as have believed like sincere

children, into whose thoughts

there never came any malice, nor

have they ever known what sin

was, but have always continued in

their integrity.

245 Wherefore this kind of men

shall without all doubt inherit the

kingdom of God; because they

have never in any thing defiled

the commandments of God, but

have continued with sincerity in

the same condition all the days of

their lives.

246 Whosoever therefore, said

he, shall continue as children

without malice; shall be more

honourable than all those of whom

I have yet spoken: for all such

children are honoured by the

Lord, and esteemed the first of

all.

247 Happy therefore are ye

who shall remove all malice from

you, and put on innocence; be.

cause ye shall first see the Lord.

248 And after he had thus

ended his explication of all the

mountains, I said unto him, Sir,

show me now also what concerns

the stones that were brought out

of the plain, and put into the

tower in the room of those that

were rejected.

249 As also concerning those

round stones which were added

into the building of the tower;

and also of those who still

continued round.

250 Hear now, says he,

concerning those stones which were

brought out of the plain into the

building of the tower, and placed

in the room of those that were

rejected: they are the roots of

that white mountain.

251 Wherefore because those

who have believed of that mountain,

were very innocent; the lord of

this tower commanded that they

which were of the roots of this

mountain should be placed into

the building.

252 For he knew that if they

were put into, this building they

would continue bright; nor would

any of them any more be made

black.

253 But if he had added after

this manner, from the rest of the

mountains, he would almost have

needed again to visit the tower,

and to cleanse it.

254 Now all these white stones

are the young men who have believed,

or shall believe; for they are all

of the same kind. Happy is this

kind, because it is innocent.

255 Hear now also concerning

those round and bright stones; all

these are of this white mountain.

But they are therefore found

round, because their riches have

a little darkened them from the

truth, and dazzled their eyes.

256 Howbeit they have never

departed from the Lord, nor has

any wicked word proceeded out

of their mouths; but all

righteousness, and virtue,

and truth.

257 When therefore the Lord

saw their minds, and that they

might adorn the truth; he

commanded that they should continue

good, and that their riches should

be pared away:

258 For he would not have

them taken wholly away, to the

end they might do some good

with that which was left, and live

unto God; because they also are

of a good kind.

259 Therefore was there little

cut off from them, and so they

were put into the building of this

tower.

260 As for the rest which

continued still round, and were

not found fit for the building of

this tower, because they have not

yet received the seal; they were

carried back to their place, be.

cause they were found very

round.

261 But this present world must

be cut away from them, and the

vanities of their riches; and then

they will be fit for the kingdom of

God. For they must enter into

the kingdom of God, because God

has blessed this innocent kind.

262 Of this kind therefore none

shall fall away: for though any of

them being tempted by the devil

should offend, he shall soon return

to his Lord God.

263 I the angel of repentance

esteem you happy, whosoever are

innocent as little children, because

your portion is good and honourable

with the Lord.

264 And I say unto all you

who have received this seal; keep

simplicity, and remember not the

offences which are committed

against you, nor continue in

malice, or in bitterness, through

the memory of offences.

265 But become one spirit,

and provide remedies for these

evil rents, and remove them from

you; that the lord of the sheep

may rejoice at it; for he will

rejoice, if he shall find all whole.

266 But if any of these sheep

shall be found scattered away, Woe

shall be to the shepherds; and

if the shepherds themselves shall

be scattered; what will they answer

to the lord of the sheep-fold?

Will they say that they were

troubled by the sheep? But

they shall not be believed.

267 For it is an incredible thing

that the shepherd should suffer by

his flock; and he shall be the more

punished for his life.

268 Now I am the shepherd;

and especially must give an

account of you.

269 Wherefore take care of

yourselves whilst the tower is,

yet building. The Lord dwells

in those that love peace, for peace

is beloved; but he is far off from

the contentious, and those who are

full of malice.

270 Wherefore restore unto him

the Spirit entire, as ye received it.

For if thou shalt give unto a

fuller a garment new and whole,

thou wilt expect to receive it whole

again; if therefore the fuller shall

restore it unto thee torn, wouldst

thou receive it?

271 Wouldst thou not presently

be angry, and reproach him,

saying: I gave my garment to thee

whole, why halt thou rent it, and

made it useless to me? Now it is

of no use to me, by reason of the

rent which thou hast made in it.

Wouldst thou not say all this to a

fuller, for the rent which he made

in thy garment?

272 If therefore thou wouldst

be concerned for thy garment,

and complain that thou hadst not

received it whole; what thinkest

thou that the Lord will do, who

gave his Spirit to thee entire, and

thou hast rendered him altogether

unprofitable, so that he can be of

no use unto his Lord? For being

corrupted by thee, he is no longer

profitable to him.

273 Will not therefore the Lord

do the same concerning his Spirit,

by reason of thy deed? Undoubtedly,

said I, he will do the same

to all those whom he shall find to

continue in the remembrance of

injuries.

274 Tread not then under foot

he said, his mercy; but rather

honour him, because he is so

patient with respect to your offences,

and not like one of you; but repent,

for it will be profitable for you.

275 All these things which

are above written, I the shepherd

and angel of repentance, have

shown and spoken to the servants

of God.

276 If therefore ye shall believe

and hearken to these words, and

shall walk in them and correct

your ways, ye shall live. But if

ye shall, continue in malice, and

in the remembrance of injuries,

no such sinners shall live unto

God.

277 All these things which were

to be spoken by me, I have thus

delivered unto you. Then the

shepherd said unto me, Hast thou

asked all things of me?

I answered, sir, I have.

278 Why then, said he, hast

thou not asked concerning the

spaces of these stones that were

put in the building, that I may

explain that also unto thee?

I answered, sir, I forgot it.

Hear, then, said he, concerning

these also.

279 They are those who have

now heard these commands, and

have repented with all their

hearts;

280 And when the Lord saw

that their repentance was good

and pure, and that they could

continue in it, he commanded

their former sins to be blotted

out. For these spaces were their

sins, and they are therefore made

even that they might not appear.

SIMILITUDE X.

Of Repentance and alms-deeds.

AFTER I had written this

book, the angel which had

delivered me to that shepherd,

came into the house where I was

and sat upon the bed, and that

shepherd stood at his right hand.

2 Then he called me and said

unto me; I delivered thee and

thy house to this shepherd, that

thou mightest be protected by

him. I said, Yes, Lord.

3 If therefore, said he, thou

wilt be protected from all

vexations and from all cruelty, and

have success in every good word

and work, and have all virtue and

righteousness; walk in those

commands which he has given thee,

and thou shalt have dominion

over all sin.

4 For if thou keepest those

commands, all the lust and pleasure

of this present world shall be

subject to thee; and success shall

follow thee in every good undertaking.

5 Take therefore his gravity

and modesty towards thee, and

say unto all, that he is in great

honour and renown with God, and

is a prince of great authority, and

powerful in his office.

6 To him only is the power of

repentance committed throughout

the whole world. Does he not

seem to thee to be of great

authority?

7 But ye despise his goodness,

and the modesty which he shows

towards you.

8 I said unto him; Sir, ask

him since the time that he came

into my house whether I have

done any thing disorderly, or

have offended him in any thing?

9 I know, said he, that thou

hast done nothing disorderly,

neither wilt thou hereafter do

any such thing, and therefore I

speak these things with thee that

then mayest persevere; for he

has given me a good account

concerning thee.

10 But thou shalt speak these

things to others, that they who

either have repented, or shall

repent, may be like-minded with

thee, and he may give me as

good an account of them also;

and that I may do the same unto

the Lord.

11 I answered; Sir, I declare

to all men the wonderful works of

God; and I hope that all who

love them, and have before sinned,

when they shall hear these things,

will repent, and recover life.

12 Continue therefore, said he,

in this ministry, and fulfil it.

And whosoever shall do according

to the commands of this shepherd,

he shall live; and shall have great

honour both here and with the

Lord.

13 But they that shall not keep

his commands, flee from their life,

and are adversaries to it. And

they that follow not his commands,

shall deliver themselves

unto death; and shall be every

one guilty of his own blood.

14 But I say unto thee, keep

these commandments, and thou

shalt find a cure for all thy sins.

15 Moreover, I have sent

these virgins to dwell with thee;

for I have seen that they are very

kind to thee. Thou shalt therefore

have them for thy helpers,

that thou mayest the better keep

the commands which he hath given

thee; for these commands cannot

be kept without these virgins.

16 And as I see how they are

willing to be with thee, I will

also command them that they shall

not all depart from thy house.

17 Only do thou purify thy

house; for they will readily dwell

in a clean house. For they are

clean and chaste, and industrious;

and all of them have grace with

the Lord.

18 If therefore thou shalt have

thy house pure, they will abide

with thee. But, if it shall be

never so little polluted, they will

immediately depart from thy house;

for these virgins cannot endure any

manner of pollution.

19 I said unto him; Sir, I hope

that I shall so please them, that

they shall always delight to dwell

in my house. And as he to whom

you have committed me, makes

no complaint of me; so neither

shall they complain.

20 Then he said to that shepherd:

I see that the servant of God will

live and keep these commandments,

and place these virgins in a pure

habitation.

21 When he had said this,

he delivered me again to that

shepherd, and called the virgins,

and said unto them; Forasmuch as I

see that ye will readily dwell in

this man's house, I commend him

and his family to you, that ye may

not at all depart from his house.

And they willingly heard these

words.

22 Then he said unto me,

Go on manfully in thy ministry;

declare to all men the great things

of God, and thou shalt find grace

in this ministry.

23 And whosoever shall walk

in these commands, shall live,

and be happy in his life. But he

that shall neglect them, shall not

live, and shall be unhappy in his

life.

24 Say unto all that whosoever

can do well, cease not to exercise

themselves in good works, for it

is profitable unto them. For I

would that all men should be

delivered from the inconveniences

they lie under.

25 For he that wants, and

suffers inconveniences in his

daily life, is in great torment

and necessity. Whosoever therefore

delivers such a soul from necessity,

gets great joy unto himself.

26 For he that is grieved with

such inconveniencies is equally

tormented, as if he were in chains.

And many upon the account of

such calamities, being not able to

bear them, have chosen even to

destroy themselves.

27 He therefore that knows the

calamity of such a man, and does

not free him from it, commits a

great sin, and is guilty of his

blood.

28 Wherefore exercise yourselves

in good works, as many as

have received ability from the

Lord; lest whilst ye delay to do

them, the building of the tower be

finished; because for your sakes

the building is stopped.

29 Except therefore ye shall

make haste to do well, the tower

shall be finished, and ye shall be

shut out of it.

30 And after he had thus spoken

with me, he rose up from the bed

and departed, taking the shepherd

and virgins with him.

31 Howbeit he said unto me,

that he would send back the

shepherd and virgins unto

my house. Amen.

REFERENCES TO THE BOOK OF

HERMAS, THE SHEPHERD.

[This book, divided into three parts, called his VISIONS, COMMANDS,

and SIMILITUDES, is thus entitled, because it was composed by

Hermas, brother to Pius, bishop of Rome; and because the Angel, who

bears the principal part in it, is represented in the form and habit

of a shepherd. Ireneus quotes it under the very name of Scripture.

Origen thought it a most useful writing, and that it was divinely

inspired; Eusebius says that, though it was not esteemed canonical,

it was read publicly in the churches, which is corroborated by

Jerome; and Athanasius cites it, calls it a most useful work, and

observes, that though it was not strictly canonical, the Fathers

appointed it to be read for direction and confirmation in faith and

piety. Jerome, notwithstanding this, and that he applauded it in his

catalogue of writers, in his comments upon it afterwards, terms it

apocryphal and foolish. Tertullian praised it when a Catholic, and

abused it when a Montanist. Although Gelasius ranks it among the

apocryphal books, it is found attached to some of the most ancient

MSS. of the New Testament; and Archbishop Wake, believing it the

genuine work of an apostolical Father, preserves it to the English

reader by the foregoing translation, in which he has rendered the

three parts of it not only more exact, but in greater purity than

they had before appeared. The archbishop procured Dr. Grabe to

entirely collate the old Latin version with an ancient MS. in the

Lambeth library; and the learned prelate himself still further

improved the whole from a multitude of fragments of the original

Greek never before used for that purpose.]

>

>

>

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Table of Contents

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Complete, by William Wake

THE SUPPRESSED GOSPELS AND EPISTLES OF THE ORIGINAL NEW TESTAMENT OF JESUS THE CHRIST AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES. NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES, AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES, BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS FORBIDDEN BY THE BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL, IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY, BY ARCHBISHOP WAKE AND OTHER LEARNED DIVINES THE ORDER OF ALL THE FORBIDDEN BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WITH THEIR PROPER NAMES, AND NUMBER OF CHAPTERS

IMAGES OF ORIGINAL PAGES

PREFACE.

FORBIDDEN BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

THE GOSPEL OF THE BIRTH OF MARY.

THE GOSPEL CALLED THE PROTEVANGELION

THE FIRST GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.

THE SECOND, OR ST. THOMAS'S GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY OF JESUS CHRIST.

An Account of the ACTIONS and MIRACLES of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST in his INFANCY.

THE GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS, FORMERLY CALLED THE ACTS OF PONTIUS PILATE.

THE EPISTLES OF JESUS CHRIST & ABGARUS KING OF EDESSA.

THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE LAODICEANS.

THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE TO SENECA, WITH SENECA'S TO PAUL.

THE ACTS OF ST. PAUL AND THECLA.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS.

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS

THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF BARNABAS.

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE EPHESIANS.

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE MAGNESIANS

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE TRALLIANS.

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE ROMANS.

IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS.

IGNATIUS TO THE SMYRNEANS.

IGNATIUS TO POLYCARP

THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

THE FIRST PART OF THE BOOK OF HERMAS CALLED HIS VISION.

THE SECOND PART OF THE BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS COMMANDS.

THE THIRD PART OF THE BOOK OF HERMAS, CALLED HIS SIMILITUDES.

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE