And measures and matters of The Truth of the "time" we are in ...how "man" ..."thought to change time and times ... Dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, how that one day is with the Lord, as a thousand year, and a thousand year as one day.
The Lord is not slack to fulfil his promise, as some men count slackness: but is patient to us ward, and would have no man lost, but would receive all men to repentance.
Behold in a dread full dream during the whoreable nightmare of the dark season ...of the times and time ..of the season of man ...see son of man ...
and i was taken and shown two men and a woman and a murderer ...
and the murderer was all dressed in utter darkness and he stunk ...so he had to be covered ...dressed in "whiteness" and "perfumed" somewhat so he might not be seen plainly or smelled out ...
and the murderer thought to rule over all of them with FEAR !!!
nevertheless the woman met the three ...and thought nothing ...and turned away ...
and the two men and the murder were watching the woman ...as she went and was sitting with her back to them looking into the light ...of like a computer screen ...
and the murderer had a grin on his face for his intent was to murder the woman ...when she was not looking ...FOR THE WOMAN HAD TO SILENCED.
and WHY ? for the woman was NOT AFRAID of the MURDERER.
YET the men KNEW ...AND could SEE the murders intention ...
EVENSO the men appeared to be as "wethers' ...castrated male sheep ...and as feckless to do anything that might upset the murderer ...or to protect THE WOMAN.
EVEN OFFERING TO "COVER UP " THE MURDER ...
YET STILL ...ONE MAN ...was only pretending ...to be a wethers ...a feckless weak and frightened ..."be littled " man ...
AND THAT ...to get closer to the murderer...
AND as the murderer pointed HIS WEAPON at the WOMAN'S HEAD ...TO DESTROY HER ...THE WORTHY MAN STRUCK .
AND THE WOMAN WAS SAVED !!!
AND THE MURDERER BOUND ...
and the other feckless wethered man ...screamed like a woman and nearly fainted ...
and the pretending man thanked God his father and Jesus his brother and Lord in spirit and truth for the courage and strength and cunning to be able to bind the murderer ...
and to PROTECT THE WOMAN !!!
and scripture came back to remembrance ...
and of the religious ...of the most ...of their imaginary bibles of religion and churchlieness ...the Book of WISDOM IS REMOVED
Wisdom is better then strength, and a man of understanding is more worth
than one that is strong. Hear therefore ( O' ye Kings ) and understand: O'
learn ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the
multitudes, and delight much people. For power is given you of the Lord, and the
strength from the Highest: which shall try your works and search out your
imaginations: How that ye being officers of his Kingdom, have not kept the law
of righteousness, nor walked after his will. Horribly and that right soon shall
he appear unto you: for an hard judgment shall they have that bear rule. Mercy
is granted unto the simple, but they that be in authority shall be sore
punished. For God which is Lord over all, shall except no mans person, neither
shall he stand in awe of any mans greatness: for he hath made the small and
great, and careth for all alike. But the mighty shall have the sorer punishment.
Unto you therefore ( O' Kings ) do I speak,
that ye may learn wisdom and not go amiss: For they that keep righteousness
shall be righteously judged: and they that are learned in righteous things,
shall find to make answer. Wherefore set your lust upon my words, and love them,
so shall ye come by nurture. Wisdom is a noble thing, and never fadeth away: yee
she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her. She
preventeth them that desire her, that she may first show herself unto them. Whoso
awaketh unto her by times, shall have no great travail, for he shall find her
sitting ready at his doors. To think upon her, is perfect understanding: and
whoso watcheth for her, shall be safe, and that soon. For she goeth about,
seeking such as are *mete for her, showeth herself cheerfully unto them in their
goings, and meeteth them with all diligence. For the unfeigned desire for
reformation is her beginning: to care for nurture is love, and love is the
keeping of her laws. Now the keeping of the laws is perfection and an uncorrupt
life, an uncorrupt life maketh a man familiar with God. And so the desire of
wisdom leadeth to the Kingdom everlasting. If your delight be then in royal
seats and scepters ( O' ye kings of the people ) set your lust upon wisdom, that
ye may reign for evermore. O' love the light of wisdom, all ye that be rulers of
the people. As for wisdom what she is, and how she came up I will tell you, and
will not hide the mysteries of God from you: but will seek her out from
the beginning of the nativity, and bring the knowledge of her
into light, and will not keep back the truth: Neither
will I do with consuming envy, for such a man shall not be partaker of wisdom.
But the multitude of the wise is the welfare of the world, and a wise king is
the upholding of the people. O' receive nurture then through my words, and it
shall do you good.
Therefore holy brethren, partakers of the celestial callings consider the
ambassador and high priest of our profession Christ Jesus, which was faithful to
him that made him, even as was Moses in all his house. And yet was this man
counted worthy of more glory than Moses: In as much as he which hath prepared
the house, hath most honour in the house. Every house is prepared of some man.
But he that ordained all things, is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all
his house, as a minister, to bear witness of those things which should be spoken
afterward. But Christ as a son, hath rule over the house, whose
house are we, so
that we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of that hope, unto the end.
Wherefore as the *holy ghost saith: today
if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts, after the rebellion in the
day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me, proved me,
and saw my works forty years long. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation
and said: They *erre ever in their hearts: they verily have not known my ways so
that I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest. Take heed
brethren that there be in none of you an evil heart in unbelief, that he should
depart from the living God: but exhort one another daily, while it is called
today, lest any of you wax hard hearted through the deceitfulness of sin.
We are partakers of Christ if we keep sure
unto the end the first substance, so long as it is said: today if ye hear his
voice, harden not your hearts, as when ye rebelled. For some, when they heard,
rebelled: how be it not all that came out of Egypt under Moses. But with whom
was he displeased forty years? Was he not displeased with them that sinned whose
carcasses were overthrown in the desert? To whom sware he that they should not
enter into his rest: but unto them that believed not? And we see that they
could not enter in, because of unbelief.
THE FIRST TO THE CORINTHIANS Chpt 10
And I would not that ye should have fellowship with the devils. Ye cannot drink of the cup of the Lord, and of the cup of the devils. Ye can not be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of devils. Either shall we provoke the Lord? Or are we stronger then he? All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not *expedient. All things are lawful to me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own profit: but let every man seek anothers wealth.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. JOHN Chpt 4
The woman said unto him: Sir I perceive that thou art a Prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain: and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus said unto her: woman believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the father. Ye worship ye *wot not what: we know what we worship. For salvation cometh of the Jewes. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the father in spirit, and in truth. For verily such the father requireth to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him, in spirit and truth.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. MATTHEW Chpt 7
Not all they that say unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter in to the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth my fathers will which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name Prophesied? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name have done many miracles? And then will I knowledge unto them that I never knew them. Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.
THE FIRST TO THE CORINTHIANS Chpt 11
I commend you brethren that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances even as I delivered them to you. I would ye knew that Christ is the head of every man. And the man is the womans head. And God is Christs head. Every man praying or prophesying having any thing on his head, shameth his head. Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth bare headed, dishonesteth her head. For it is even all one, and the very same thing, even as though she were shaven. If the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn. If it be shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her cover her head.
The 3rd Chapter
In the third year of the fall of the city, I was
at Babylon, and lay troubled upon my bed, and my thoughts came up over my heart:
for I saw the desolation of Sion, and the plenteous wealth of them that dwelt at
Babylon: and my spirit was sore moved, so that I began to speak fearful words to
the most highest, and said: O' Lord, Lord, you spoke at the beginning, when you
planted the earth (and that yourself alone) and gave commandment unto the
people, and a body unto Adam, which was a creature of your hands, and have
breathed in him the breath of life: and so he lived before you, and you lead him
into paradise, which garden of pleasure your right hand had planted, or ever the
earth was made. And unto him you gave the commandment to love your ways, which
he transgressed, and immediately you appointed death in him, and in his
generations. Of him came nations, tribes, people and kindreds out of number. And
every people walked after their own will, and did nice things before you: and as
for your commandments, they despised them.
But in process of time you brought the water
flood, upon those that dwelt in the world, and destroyed them. And like as the
death was in Adam, so was the water flood also in these. Nevertheless one of
them you left: namely Noe with his household, of whom came all righteous men.
And it happened that when they that dwell upon the earth, began to multiply, and
had gotten many children, and where a great people, they began to be more
ungodly than the first.
Now when they all lived so wickedly before you,
you chose you a man from among them, whos name was Abraham. Him you love, and
unto him only you show your will, and made an everlasting covenant with him,
promising him, that you would never forsake his seed. And unto him you gave
Isaac, unto Isaac also you gave Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob you did choose him,
and put back Esau. And so Jacob became a great multitude.
And it happened that when you lead his feet out of
Egypt, you brought them up to the mount Sion, bowing down the heavens, setting
fast the earth, moving the ground, making the depths to shake, and troubling the
world: And your glory went through four ports of fire, and earthquakes, and
winds, and cold: that you may give the law unto the seed of Jacob, and diligence
unto the generation of Israel.
And yet took you not away from them that wicked
heart, that your law might bring forth fruit in them. For the first Adam bear a
wicked heart, transgressed, and was overcome, and so be all that were born of
him. Thus remained weakness with the law in the heart of the people, with the
wickedness of the root: so that the good departed away, and the evil abode
still. So the times past and fled away, and the years were brought to an end.
Then did you raise up a servant called David, whom you commanded to build a city
unto your name, and to offer up incense and sacrifice unto you therein. This was
done now many years. Then the inhabitors of the city forsook you, and in all
things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a
wicked heart.
And so you gave the city over into the hands of
your enemies. Are they of Babylon then better and more righteous then your
people, that they shall therefore have the dominion of Sion: For when I came
there, and saw their ungodliness, and so great wickedness, that it could not be
numbered: yes when my soul saw so many evil doers (in the thirty year) my heart
failed me, for I saw, how you suffer them in such ungodliness, and spares the
wicked doers: but your own people you have routed out, and preserved your
enemies, and this you have not showed me.
I cannot perceive how this happens. Do they of
Babylon then better, then they of Sion: Or is there any other people, that knows
you, saving the people of Israel? Or what generation has so believed your
covenants, as Jacob? And yet their reward appears not, and their labor has no
fruit. For I have gone here and there through the Heathen, and I see that they
be rich and wealthy, and think not upon your commandments. Weigh you therefore
our wickedness in the balance, and theirs also that dwell in the world, and so
shall your name be no where found but in Israel. Or where is there a people upon
earth, that has not sinned before you? Or what people has so kept your
commandments? You shall find, that Israel by name has kept your precepts, but
not the other people and the Heathen.
The 4th Chapter
And the angel that was sent unto me (whos name was
Uriel) gave me an answer, and said: your heart has taken to much upon it in this
world, and you think to comprehend the way of the Highest. Then said I: Yes my
Lord: And he answered me, and said: I am sent to show you these ways, and to set
forth these similitudes, before you: whereof if you can declare me one , I will
show you also the way, that you desire to see: and I shall show you from where
the wicked heart comes. And I said: Tell on my Lord. Then said he unto me: Go
your way, weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind,
or call me again the day that is past. Then answered I and said: What man born
is able to do that? Why require you such of me? And he said unto me: If I should
ask you, how deep dwellings are in the sea? Or how great water springs are upon
the firmament: Or how great water springs are in the firmament of the deep? Or
which are the out goings of paradise? Peradventure you would say unto me: I
never went down into the deep nor hell, neither did I ever climb up in to
heaven. Nevertheless now have I asked you but only of fire and wind and of the
day, where through you have traveled, and from the which you can not be
separated: and yet can you give me no answer of them.
He said moreover unto me: your own things, and
such as are grown up with you, can you not know: how should your vessel then be
able to comprehend the way of the Highest, and now outwardly in the corrupt
world, to understand the corruption that is evident in my sight: Then said I
unto him: It were better that we were not at all, then that we should live in
wickedness, and to suffer, and not to know wherefore. He answered me, and said:
I went in a wood, and the trees took such a device and said: Come let us go, and
fight against the sea, that it may depart away from us, and that we may make us
yet more woods.
The floods of the sea in like manner took this
device, and said: Come, let us go up, and fight against the trees of the wood,
that we may make our land wider. The thought of the wood was but vain and
nothing worth, for the fire came and consumed the wood: The thought of the
floods of the sea came likewise to naught also, for the sand stood up and
stopped them.
If you were judge now between these two, whom
would you justify, or whom would you condemn? I answered and said: Shurly it is
a foolish thought that they both devised. For the ground is given unto the wood,
and the sea also has his place to bare his floods. Then answered he me, and
said: You have given a right judgement, why judge your self also? For like as
the ground is given unto the wood, and the sea to his flood: even so they that
dwell upon the earth, may understand nothing, but that which is upon the earth:
and he that dwells above the heavens, may only understand the things that are
above the heavens. Then answered I, and said: I beseech you, O' Lord, let me
have understanding: for it was not my mind to be curious of your high things,
but of such as we meddle (have to deal with) with all, namely,
wherefore that Israel is blasphemed of the Heathen, and for what cause the
people (whom you ever have loved) is given over, to be punished of ungodly
nations: and why the law of our fathers is brought to nought, and the written
covenants come to none effect, and we pass away out of the world as the
grasshoppers, and our life is very fear, and we are not worthy to obtain mercy.
What will he do unto his name, which is called upon over us? Of these things
have I asked question.
Then answered he me, and said: The more you
search, the more you shall marvel, for the world hastens fast to pass away, and
can not comprehend the things, that are promised for the righteous in time to
come, for this world is full of unrighteousness and weakness.
But as concerning the things whereof you asked me,
I will tell you. The evil is sown, but the destruction thereof is not yet come.
If the evil now that is sown, be not turned upside down, and the place where the
evil is sown, pass not away, then can not the thing come that is sown with good.
For the corn of evil seed has been sown in the heart of man from the beginning,
and how much ungodliness has he brought up unto this time? and how much shall he
yet bring forth, until he come into the barn?
Ponder now by your self, when the corn of the evil
seed is cut down, how great a barn it shall fill: I answered and said: How and
when shall these things come to pass? Wherefore are our years few from evil? And
he answered me, saying: Ask not you too much upon the Highest, for your
hastiness to be above him is but vain, you make to much a do. Did not the souls
also of the righteous ask question of these things in their holiness:* How long
shall I hope of this fashion? (marginal note Revelation 6) When
comes the fruit of my barn, and my reward? And upon this Jeremiel the Archangel
gave them answer, and said: Even when the number of the seeds is filled in you:
for he has weighed the world in the balance: in measure and number has he
measured the time, and moves it not, until the same measure be fulfilled. Then
answered I and said: O' Lord, Lord, now are we all full of sin, and for our sake
peradventure is it not, that the barn of the righteous shall not be filled,
because of the sins of them that dwell upon the earth.
So he answered me., and said: Go your way to a
woman with children, and ask of her, when she has fulfilled her nine months, if
her childbed may keep the birth any longer within her. Then said I: No Lord,
that can she not. And he said unto me: In hell the secret places of souls are
like the privy chamber of a woman. For like as a woman that travails, makes
haste, when the time and necessity of the birth is at hand: Even so does she
have to deliver it that is committed unto her. Look what you desire to see, it
shall be shown you from the beginning. Then answered I, and said: If I have
found favor in your sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet (worthy)
therefore, show me then, whether there be more to come than is past, or more
past then there is for to come. What is past, I know: but what is for to come, I
know not.
And he said unto me: Stand up upon the right side,
and I shall expound the similitude unto you. So I stood, and behold, an hot
burning oven went over before me: and it happened when the flame was gone by,
the smoke had the upper hand. After this there went over before me a watery
cloud, and sent down much rain with a storm: and when the stormy rain was past
the drops remained still. Then said he unto me: like as the rain is more than
the drops, and as the fire exceeds the smoke, even so the measure of the things
that are past, has the upper hand. Then went the drops and the smoke above: and
I prayed and said: May I live (think you) until that time? Or what shall happen
in those days? He answered me, and said: As for the tokens whereof you ask me, I
may tell you of them in a part: but as touching your life, I may not show you,
for I am not sent therefore.
The 5th Chapter
Nevertheless, as concerning the tokens, mark this:
Behold, the days shall come, that they which dwell upon the earth, shall be
taken in a great number, and the way of the truth shall be hid, and the land
shall be barren from faith: but iniquity will have the upper hand, like as you
have seen now, and as you have heard long ago. And the land that you see now to
have rule, shall you shortly see waste. But if God grant you to live, you shall
see after the third trumpet, that the sun shall suddenly shine again in the
night, and the moon three times in the day, and blood shall drop out of wood,
and the stone shall give his voice, and the people shall be unquiet: and even
shall rule, whom they hope not that dwell upon the earth, and the fowls shall
flight, and the *Sodomitish sea (*note RN) shall cast out his
fish, and make a noise in the night, which many shall not know, but they shall
all hear the voice thereof.
There shall be a confusion also in many places,
and the fire shall be often sent again, and the wild beasts shall go their way,
and menstruous women shall bear monsters, and salt waters will be found in the
sweat: one friend shall fight against another: then shall all wit and
understanding be hid and put into their secret places, and shall be sought of
many, and yet not be found: then shall unrighteousness and voluptuousness have
the upper hand upon the earth. One land shall also ask another, and say: Is
righteousness gone through you? And it shall say: No, at the same time shall men
hope, but nothing obtain: they shall labor but their wages shall not prosper. To
show you such tokens I have leave, and if you will pray again, and weep as now,
and fast seven days, you shall hear yet greater things. Then I awakened, and a
fearfulness went through all my body, and my mind was feeble and careful, so
that I almost sounded withal. So the angel that was come to talk with me, held
me, comforted me, and set me up upon my feet.
And in the second night it happened, that
Salathielthe Captain of the people came unto me, saying: Where have you been?
and why is your countenance so heavy? Know you not, that Israel is committed
unto you, in the land of their captivity? Up then, and eat and forsake us not,
as the shepherd that leaves his flock in the hands of the wicked wolves. Then
said I unto him: Go your way from me, and come not near me: and he heard it, and
as I said, so went he his way from me. And so I fasted seven days, mourning and
weeping, like as Uriel the angel commanded me. And after seven days it happened,
that the thoughts of my heart were very grievous unto me again, and my soul
received the spirit of understanding, and I began to talk with the most highest
again, and said: O' Lord, Lord, of every wood of the earth and all the trees
thereof, you have chosen the one only vineyard: and of all the lands of the
whole world you have chosen the one pit: and of all the flowers of the ground
you have chosen the one lily: and of all the depths of the sea you have filled
the one river: and of all the builded cities you have hallowed Sion unto your
self: and of all the fowls that are created, you have named the one dove: and of
all the cattle that are made you have provided the one sheep: and among all the
multitudes of flocks you have gotten the one people, and unto this people whom
you love, you gave the law, that is proved of all.
And now, O' Lord, why have you given this one
people over unto many? And upon the one root you have prepared other, and why
have you scattered your one only people among many? which tread them down, yes
which have ever withstand your promises, and never believed your commandments?
And though you were enemy unto your people, yet should you punish them with your
own hands. Now when I had spoke these words, the angel that came to me the night
before, was sent unto me, and said unto me : Hear me, and harken unto the things
that I say, and I shall tell you more. And I said: Speak on my Lord. Then said
he unto me: You are sore vexed and troubled for Israels sake. *Love you the
people better than him that made you? And I said: No Lord, but of very grief and
compassion have I spoken. For my reigns pain me every hour, because I would have
experience of the way of the most highest, and to seek out part of his judgement.
And he said unto me: that you may not. And I said: wherefore Lord? Where unto
was I born then? Or why was not my mothers childbed then my grave? So I had not
seen the misery and trouble of Jacob, and the travail of my people of Israel. *
see John 21 RN.
And he said unto me: Number me the things that are
not yet come : gather me together the drops, that are scattered abroad: make me
the flowers green again, that are withered: open me the thing that is closed:
and bring me forth the winds, that are shut up: Show me the image of a voice,
and then I shall declare the thing, that you labor to know. And I said: O' Lord,
Lord, who may know these things, but he that has not his dwelling with men? As
for me I am unwise: how may I then speak of these things whereof you asks me?
Then said he unto me: like as you can do none of these things that I have spoken
of, even so can you not find out my judgement, or in the end the love that I
have promised unto my people. And I said: Behold O' Lord, yet are you near unto
them that have no end: and what shall they do that have been before me, or we
that be now, or they that should come after us ? And he said unto me: I will
liken my judgement unto a ring. Like as there is no slackness of the last, even
so there is no swiftness of the first. So I answered and said: could you not
make those (that have been made, and that be now, and that are for to come) in
one, that you might show your judgement the sooner? Then answered he me, and
said: The creature may not hasten above the maker, nether my the world hold them
at once, that shall be created.
And I said: Now have you said unto your servant,
that you living maker have made the creature living at once, and the creature
bear it? even so might it now also bear them that be present, at once. And he
said unto me: Ask the childbed of a woman, and say unto her: If you bring forth
children, why do you not together, but one after another? Pray her therefore, to
bring forth ten children at once. And I said: she can not, but must do it one
after the other.
Then said he unto me: Even so have I given a
childbed unto the earth, for those that be sown upon it by process of time. For
like as a young child may not bring forth the things that belong to the aged,
even so have I ordered the world which I have made.
And I asked and said: Seeing you have now given me
the way, I will speak before you: for our mother whom you have told me, is yet
young, and now she draws near unto age. He answered, me and said: Ask a woman
that bears children, and she shall tell you. Say unto her: wherefore are not
they (whom you have now brought forth) like those that were before you, but less
of stature? And she shall answer you: They that were born in the youth of
strength, are of one fashion : and they that are born in the time of age (when
the childbed fails) are otherwise. Consider now yourself, how that yee are less
of stature, then those that were before you, and so are they that come after
you, less then you, as the creatures that now begin to be old, and have passed
over the strength of youth. Then said I: Lord I beseech you, if I have found
favor in your sight, show your servant, by whom do you visit your creature?
The 6th Chapter
And he said unto me: In the beginning when the
ground was made: before the world stood, or ever the winds blew, before it
thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid, before
the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before
the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together, or ever the highness
of the air was lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or
ever the chimneys of Sion were hot, and the present years were sought out, and
or ever the inventions of those that now sin, were put aside, before they were
sealed that now gather faith for a treasure: then did I consider and ponder all
these things, and they all were made through me, and through none other: Then
answered I and said: which shall be the parting asunder of the times? Or when
shall the end of the first, and the beginning of it that follows? And he said
unto me: From Abraham unto Isaac, when Jacob and Esau were born of him, Jacobs
hand held first the heel of Esau: for Esau is the end of this world, and Jacob
is the beginning of it that follows. The hand of man between the heel and the
hand. Other question (Esdras) ask you not.
I answered then, and said: O' Lord, Lord, if I
have found favor in your sight, I beseech you, show your servant the end of the
tokens, whereof you show me part the last night. So he answered and said unto
me: Stand up upon your feet, and hear the perfect voice and sound. There shall
come great motion, but the place where you stand will not be moved. And
therefore when you hear the words be not afraid: for of the end shall the word
and the foundation of the earth be understand. And why? the word thereof
trembles and quaketh, for it knows, that it must be changed at the end. And it
happened, that when I heard it, I stood up upon my feet, and harkened: And
behold there was a voice that spoke, and the sound of it was like the sound of
many waters, and it said. Behold, the days come, that I will begin to draw near,
and to visit them that dwell upon the earth, and will begin to make inquisition
of them, what they be that have hurt equity with unrighteousness, and when the
low estate of Sion shall be fulfilled: and when the world, that shall vanish
away, shall be oversealed, then will I do these tokens.
The books shall be opened before the firmament,
and they shall see altogether, and the children of a year old shall speak with
their voices: the women with child shall bring forth untimely children of three
or four months old, and they shall live, and be raised up: and suddenly shall
the sown places appear as the unsewn, the full store houses shall suddenly be
found empty, and the trumpet shall give a sound, which when every man hears,
they shall be hastily afraid. At that time shall friends fight against one
another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in fear with them.
The springs of the wells shall stand still, and in
three hours they shall not run. Whosoever remains from all these things that I
have told you, shall escape, and see my salvation, and the end of your world.
And the men that are received, shall see it, they that have not tasted death
from their birth: and the heart of the indwellers shall be changed, and turned
into another meaning: for evil shall be put out, and deceit shall be quenched.
As for faith, it shall flourish, corruption shall be over come: and the truth,
which has so long been without fruit, shall be declared. And it happened when he
talked with me, that I looked demurely upon him, before whom I stood, and these
words said he unto me: I am come to show you, the time of the night for to come.
If you will pray yet more, and fast seven days
again, I shall tell you more things, and greater than before: for your voice is
heard before the Highest: for why? the Mighty has seen the righteous dealing, he
has seen also your chastity, which you have had ever since your youth: and
therefore has he sent me to show you all these things, and to say unto you: Be
of good comfort, and fear not, and haste not with the times that are past to
think vain things, and make not haste of the latter times.
And it happened after this, that I wept again, and
fasted seven days in like manner, that I might fulfill the three weeks, which he
told me. In the eighth night was my heart vexed within me again, and I began to
speak before the Highest: for my spirit was greatly set on fire, and my soul was
in distress, and I said: O' Lord, you speak unto your creature from the
beginning (even the first day) and say: Let heaven and earth be made, and your
word was a perfect work. And then was there the spirit, and the darkness was yet
on every side, and silence: there was no mans voice yet from you. Then commanded
you a fair light to come forth out of your treasures, that your work might
appear and be seen.
vUpon the second day you made the spirit of the firmament, and commanded it to
part asunder, and to make a division between the waters, that the one part might
remain above, and the other beneath. Upon the third day you brought to pass,
that the waters were gathered unto the seventh part of the earth: Six parts have
you dried up, and kept them, to the intent that men might sew and occupy
husbandry therein. As soon as your word went forth, the work was made. For
immediately there was great innumerable fruit, and many diverse pleasures and
desires of temptation, flowers of changeable color and smell, and this was done
the third day.
Upon the fourth day you commanded that the Sun
should gives his shine, and the moon her light: the stars did you set in order,
and gave them a change to do serve even unto man, that was for to be made. Upon
the fifth day, you say unto the seventh part (where the waters were gathered)
that they should bring forth diverse beasts, souls and fishes. And so it came to
pass, that the dumb water and without soul, brought forth living beasts, at the
commandment of God, that all people might praise his wondrous works. Then did
you preserve two souls, the one you call *Enoch and the other Leviathan, and did
separate the one from the other: for the seventh part (namely where the water
was gathered together) might not hold them both. Unto Enoch you gave one part,
which was dried up the third day, that he should dwell in the same part, wherein
are a thousand hills. But unto Leviathan you gave the seventh part, namely the
most, and have kept him to devour what you will, and when. Upon the sixth day
you gave commandment unto the earth, that before you it should bring forth
beasts, cattle, and all that creep, and (besides this) Adam also, who you made
of all the creatures: Of him come we all, and the people also, whom you have
chosen specially unto your self. All this have I said now and spoken before you,
that I might show, how that the world was made for our sakes. As for the other
people which also come of Adam you have said that they are nothing, but be like
spittle, and have likened the abundance of them unto a drop (that falls) from
the roof of the house. * Enoch = "dedicated" in root Hebrew
And now, O Lord, the Heathen which have ever been
reputed as nothing, have gone to be lords over us, and to devour us: but we your
people (whom you have called the first born, your only begotten, and your
fervent lover) are given into their hands and power. If the world be made now
for our sakes, why have we not the inheritance in the possession with the world?
How long shall this endure?
The 7th Chapter
And it happened after that I had spoke out these
words, that there was sent unto me an angel, which had been by me also the
nights before, and he said unto me: Up Esdras, and hear the words that I am come
to tell you. And I said: speak on Lord my God. Then said he unto me: The sea is
set in a wide place, that it might be deep and great: but the entrance is narrow
and small like a river. For who would go into the sea, to look upon it, and rule
it? If he went not through the narrow, how might he come into the broad?
Item another: A city is builded and set upon a
broad field, and is full of all goods: the entrance is narrow and sodden, like
as there were a fire at the right hand, and a deep water at the left, and as it
were only one straight path between them both, so small that there could be but
one man go there.
If this city were now given to an Liar and he
never went through the perilous way, how would he receive his inheritance? And I
said: It is so Lord. Then said he: Even so is Israel also a portion. And why?
for their sakes I have made the world: And when Adam transgressed my statutes,
then was the thing judged that was done. Then were the entrances of the world
made narrow, full of sorrow and travail: They are but few and evil, full of
perils and labor. For the entrances of the fore world were wide and sure, and
brought immortal fruit.
If they now which are entered into this world, may
not comprehend these straight and vain things, much less they comprehend and
understand the secrete things: Why disquiet your self then, seeing you are but a
corruptible man: And what would you know, where as you are but mortal? And why
have you not received in your heart the thing that is for to come, but that is
present?
Then said I: O' Lord, Lord, you have ordered in
your law, that the righteous should inherit these things, but that the
unfaithful and ungodly shall perish. Nevertheless the righteous shall suffer
straight things, and hope for wide: for they that have lived ungodly and
suffered (allowed) straight things, shall not see the wide.
And he said unto me: There is no judge above God,
and none that have understanding above the Highest. For there be many that
perish, because they despise the law of God that is set before them. For God has
given straight commandment to such as come, that they know what they do, and how
they should live: and if they keep this they should not be punished.
Nevertheless they were not obedient unto him, but
spoke against him: and said moreover that there was no God, and that God
regarded it not. His ways they have not known, his law they have despised, and
denied his promises: in his statutes and ordinances they have not been faithful
and steadfast, and have not performed his works.
And therefore Esdras unto the full, plenty: and to
the empty, emptiness. Behold the time shall come, that those tokens which I have
told you, shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear: and the earth that is
now passes away, shall be showed: and whosoever is delivered from the before
said evils, shall see my wonders. For my son Jesus shall be
openly declared, with those that be with him: and they that remain, shall be
merry in four hundred years.
After these same years shall my son Christ die,
and all men that have life, and the world will be turned into the old silence,
seven days, like as in the fore judgements, so that no man shall remain. And
after seven days, the world that yet awakes not, shall be raised up, and shall
die corrupt. And the earth shall restore those that have slept in her, and so
shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secrete places shall deliver
those that be committed unto them. And the most highest shall be openly declared
upon the seat of judgement, and all mystery shall vanish away, and long
suffering shall be gathered together. But the judgement shall continue, the
truth shall remain, and faith shall wax strong, the works shall follow, and the
reward shall be showed, the righteousness shall watch, and the unrighteous shall
bear no rule.
Then said I: Abraham prayed first for the
sodomites, and Moses for the fathers that sinned in the wilderness, and he that
came after him for Israel, in the time of Achas and Samuel: and David for the
destruction, and Solomon for them that came into the Sanctuary, and Oseas for
those that received rain, and for the dead, that he might live: and Ezechias for
the people in the time of Sennacherib: and diverse other in like manner, which
have prayed for many.
Even so now seeing the corrupt is grown up, and
wickedness increased, and the righteous have prayed for the ungodly, wherefore
shall it not be so now also?
He answered me, and said: This present world is
not the end, there remains much honor in it, therefore they have prayed for the
weak. But the day of dumb shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of
the immortality for to come, wherein all corruption vanishes all voluptuousness
is loused and misbelief taken away, righteousness grown, and the verity spring
up. Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him
that has gotten the victory. I answered then, and said: This is my first and
last saying: that it had been better, not to have given the earth unto Adam: or
else when it was given him, to keep him that he should not sin. For what profit
is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to
look for punishment? O' you Adam, what have you done? For though it was you that
sinned, you are not fallen alone, but we all that come of you. For what profit
is it unto us, if there be promised us immortal time, where as we meddle with
deadly works? And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, where as we
ourselves are evil and vain? And that there are laid up for us dwellings of
health and freedom, where as we have lived evil? and that the worship of the
Highest is kept to defend them, which have led a patient life, where as we have
walked in the most wicked ways of all? And that there shall be showed a
paradise, whose fruit endures forever, wherein is freedom and medicine, where as
we shall not go in? for we have walked in unpleasant places: And that the faces
of them which have abstained, shall shine above the stars, where as our faces
shall be black and dark? For while we lived and died unrighteously, we
considered not, that we should suffer therefore after death!
Then answered he me, and said: This is the
consideration and thought of the battle, which man has upon the earth: That if
he be overcome, he shall suffer as you have said. But if he get victory, he
shall receive the thing that I say. For this is the life, whereof Moses spoke
unto the people, while he lived, saying: Choose the life, that you may live.
Nevertheless they believed him not neither the Prophets after him. No nor me
which have spoken unto them, that heaviness should not reach unto them to their
destruction like a joy is for to come over those, that have suffered themselves
to be informed in salvation.
I answered then and said: I know Lord, that the
Highest is merciful, in that he has mercy upon them, which are not yet in the
world, and upon those also that walk in his law: and that he is patient and long
suffering toward those that have sinned in their works: and that he is liberal
to give where as it requires: and that he is of great mercy, for he multiplies
his loving kindness toward those that are present, and that are past, and to
them which are for to come. For if he multiplied not his mercies, the world
shall not be made living, with those that dwell therein: He gives also, for if
he gave not of his goodness, that they which have done evil, might be eased, the
ten thousand part of men should not be living. And if the judge forgave not
those that be healed with his word, and if he would destroy the multitude that
strives, there should be very few left in an innumerable multitude.
The 8th Chapter
And he answered me, saying: The most Highest made
this world for many, but the world to come for few. I will tell you a
similitude, Esdras: As when you asks the earth, it shall say unto you, that it
gives much mould, where earthen vessels are made, but little of it that gold
comes of. Even so is it with the works of this world. There be many created, but
few shall be preserved. Then answered I and said: Then swallow up the wit (you
soul) and devour the understanding, for you are agreed to harken and to give
ear, and willingly to prophesy: for you have no longer space given you, but only
to live. O' Lord, will you not give your servant leaven, that we may pray before
you, and that you may give seed unto our heart, and build our understanding,
that there may come fruit of it: and that everyone which is corrupt, and bears
the state and place of man, may live?
For you are alone, and we all are one workmanship
of your hands, like as you have said, and like as the body is fashioned now in
the childbed, and you give the members, and your creature is preserved in fire
and water: and nine months does your work suffer your creature, which is
fashioned in her: but the thing that is present and the thing that is preserved,
shall both be kept together: and when time is, the childbed deliver the thing,
that is kept and grown in her.
For you have commanded the breasts to give milk
unto the fruit, that the thing that is created and fashioned, may be nourished
for a time: and then you dispose and order it with your mercy, bring it up with
your righteousness; nurture it in your law, and reform it with your
understanding, mortify it as your creature, and make it living as your work.
Seeing then that you destroyed him, which with so great labors is created and
fashioned through your commandment, you could lightly order, also that the thing
which is made, might be preserved.
And this now I speak of all men in general, as you
know: but of your people, for whose sake I am sorry: and of your inheritance:
for whose cause I mourn: and of Israel, for whom I am woeful: and for Jacob, for
whos sake I am grieved: therefore begin I to pray before you, for myself and for
them, for I see the fall of us even of us, that dwell upon earth. But I have
heard the swiftness of the judge, which is to come: therefore hear my voice, and
understand my words, and I shall speak before you.
This is the beginning of the words of Esdras
before he was received: O' Lord, you that dwell in everlastingness, whose eyes
are lifted up in the air, whose stool is exceedingly high, whose glory and
majesty may not be comprehended, before whom the Host of heaven stand with
trembling, whose keeping is turned in wind and fire, whose word is true, whose
talking is steadfast, whose commandment is strong, whose ordinance is fearful,
whose look drys up the depths, whose wrath makes the mountains to melt away, and
whose truth bears witness: O' hear the prayer of your servant, and mark with
your ears the petition of your creature.
For while I live, I will speak, and so long as I
have understanding, I will answer. O' look not upon the sins of your people,
which serve in the truth. Have no respect for the wicked studies of the Heathen,
but to the desire of those that keep your testimonies with sorrows. Think not
upon those that have walked *feintly before you, but upon them, which with will
have known your fear. *feintly =dodge, maneuver, pose, pretend
Let it not be your will to destroy them, which
have had beastly manners, but to look upon them that have clearly taught your
law. Take you no indignation at them, which are worse then beasts: but love
them, that always put their trust in your righteousness and glory: for we and
our fathers have all the same sickness and disease, but because of our sins you
shall be called merciful.
For you have mercy upon us you shall be called
merciful, where as we have no works of righteousness: for the righteous which
have laid up many good works together, shall out of their deeds receive reward.
For what is a man, that you should displeasure at him? Or what is the
corruptible generation, that you should be so rough toward him?
For of truth there is no man among them that be
born, but he has dealt wickedly: and among the faithful there is none, which has
not done amiss. For in this (O' Lord) your righteousness and your goodness shall
be praised and declared, if you be merciful unto them, which are not rich in
good works.
Then answered he me and said: Some things have you
spoken right and according unto your words it shall be. For I will not verily
consider the works of them, which have sinned before death, before the judgement,
before destruction, but I will rejoice over the work and thought of the
righteous, the holy making and the reward. Like as I have spoken now, so shall
it come to pass. For as the husband man sows much seed upon the ground, and
plants many trees, and yet always the thing that is sown or planted is not all
kept safe, neither does it all take root: Even so is it of them that are sown in
the world, they shall not all be preserved.
I answered then and said: If I have found grace,
then let me speak. Like as the husband man seed perishes, if it not receive rain
in due season, or if there come to much rain upon it: Even so perishes a man
also, which is created with your hands, and is like unto your own image and to
your self, for whos sake you have made all things, and likened him unto the
husband mans seed. Be not wroth at us, O' Lord, but spare your people, and have
mercy upon your own inheritance: O' be merciful unto your creature.
Then answered he me and said: Things present are
for the present, and things to come for as such as be to come. For you want yet
much, seeing you may love my creature above me: I have often times drawn near
unto you, but never to the unrighteous. In this also you are marvelous before
the Highest, in that you has humbled your self, as it becomes you, and have not
regarded your own self, that you are had in such honor among the righteous.
Therefore shall great wretchedness and misery come upon them, that in the later
time shall dwell in the world, for they have walked in great pride.
But understand you for yourself, and seek out
glory for such as be like you: for unto you paradise is opened, the tree of life
is planted, the time to come is prepared, plenteousness is made ready: a city is
builded for you, and a rest is prepared, yes perfect goodness and wisdom. The
root of evil is marked from you, the weakness and moth is hid from you, and into
hell flys corruption in forgetfulness. Sorrows are vanished away, and in that
end is shown the treasure of immortality. And therefore ask no more questions,
concerning the multitude of them that perish. For they have taken liberty,
despised the Highest, thought scorn of his law, and forsaken his ways.
Moreover they have trodden down his righteousness,
and said in their heart, that their is no God, yes and that wittingly, for they
die. For like as the thing that I have spoken of, is made ready for you: Even so
is thirst and pain prepared for them. For it was not his will that man should
come to naught: but they which be created have defiled the name of him that made
them, and are unthankful unto him, which prepared life for them. And therefore
is my judgement now at hand. These things have I not showed unto all men, but
unto few: namely unto you, and such as be like you.
Then answered I and said: Behold O' Lord, now have
you showed me the multitude of your tokens, which you will begin to do at the
last but at what time and when you have not showed me.
The 9th Chapter
He answered me then and said: Measure you the time
diligently in it self, when you see that one part of the tokens come to pass,
which I have told you before: so shall you understand, that it is the very same
time, wherein the Highest will begin to visit the world, which he made. And when
there shall be seen earthquake and uproar of the people in the world, then shall
you well understand, that the most Highest spoke of these things, from the days
that were before you, even from the beginning.
For like as all that is made in the world, has a
beginning and end, and the end is manifest: Even so the times also of the
Highest have plain beginnings in wonders and signs, and the end in working and
in tokens. And every one that shall be saved, and shall be able to escape by his
works and by faith, wherein you have believed, shall be preserved from the said
perils, and shall see my favor in my land and within my borders, for I have
hallowed me from the world. Then shall they be in carefulness, which now have
abused my ways: and they that have cast them out despitefully, shall dwell in
pains.
For such as in their life have received benefits
and have not known me, and they that have abhorred my law, while they had yet
freedom, and when they had yet open room of amendment and consideration, and
understood not, but despised it: that same must know it after death is pain. And
therefore be you no more careful, how the ungodly shall be punished, and how the
righteous shall be saved, and whose the world is, and for whom the world, and
when it is. Then answered I and said: I have talked before and now I speak, and
will speak also here after, that there be many more of them which perish, then
shall be saved, like as the flood is greater then the drops.
And he answered me, saying: as the field is, so is
also the seed: as the flowers be, so are the colors also: such as the workman
is, such is also the work: and as the husband man is himself, so is his
husbandry also, for it was the time of the world. And when I prepared for them
that are now, or ever the world was made, wherein they should dwell, then was
there no man that withstood me. Now when every one was , and the maker also in
the world which is now prepared, and the month that ceased not, and the law
which is unsearchable, their manners were corrupt. So I considered the world,
and behold there was peril, because of the thoughts that were come into it. And
I saw, and spared them greatly, and have kept me a wineberry of the grapes, and
a plant from among many generations. Let the multitude perish then, which are
grown up in vain, and let my grape and wineberry be kept: even my plant: for
with great labor I have made it up.
Nevertheless if you will take upon you yet seven
days more (but you shall not fast in them) go your way then into the field of
flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only of the flowers of the field,
taste not flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only. Pray unto the Highest
continually, so will I come, and talk with you.
So I went my way and came in to the field which is
called *Ardath (like as he commanded me) and there I sat among the flowers, and
ate of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me. After
seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me like before:
and I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Highest, and said: O' Lord,
you that show your self to us, you have declared and opened your self unto our
fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man dwells, in a barren place,
when they came out of Egypt, and you speak saying: Hear me O Israel, and mark my
words you seed of Jacob. Behold, I saw my law in you, and it shall bring fruit
in you, and you shall be honored in it forever. For our fathers which received
the law, kept it not, and observed not your ordinances and statutes, and the
fruit of your law was not declared: for it might not, for why? it was yours. For
they that received it, perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown
in them. * Ard = "I shall subdue" & ah= ah!, alas!
It is a custom when the ground receives seed, or
the sea a ship, or a vessel meat and drink, that when it perishes or is broken
wherein a thing is sown, or where any thing is put: the things also perish and
are broken, which are sown or put therein. But unto us it has not happened so:
for we that have received the law, perish in sin, and sure heart which also
received the law: not withstanding the law perishes not, but remains in his
labor.
And when I considered these things in my heart
after this manner, I looked about me with mine eyes, and upon the right side I
saw a woman, which mourned sore, made great lamentation, and wept with loud
voice: her clothes were rent in pieces, and she had ashes on her head.
Then let I my thoughts go, that I was in, and
turned me unto her, and said: wherefore weep you? why are you so sorry and
discomforted? And she said unto me: Sir, let me bewail myself and take yet more
sorrow: for I am sore vexed in my mind, and brought very low. And I said unto
her: what ails you? Or who has done anything to you? tell me. She said: I have
been unfruitful and barren, and have had a husband thirty years. And these
thirty years I do nothing else day and night and all hours, but make my prayer
to the Highest. After thirty years God heard me your handmaiden, looked upon my
misery, considered my trouble, and gave me a son, and I was glad of him, so was
my husband also and all my neighbors, and we gave great honor unto the Mighty.
And I nourished him with great travail. So when he grew up, and came to the
time, that he should have a wife, I made a feast.
The 10th Chapter
And it happened that when my son went to his
chamber, he fell down, and died: then over through we all the lights, and all my
neighbors rose up to comfort me. Then took I my rest unto the second day at
night: and when they had all rested, that they might comfort me, I rested also,
and rose up by night and fled, and am come hither in to this field, as you see:
and am proposed not to come in the city, but to remain here, and neither to eat
nor drink, but to continually mourn and fast, until I die.
Then let I my meditations and thoughts fall, that
I was in, and spoke unto her in displeasure: You foolish woman, see you not our
heaviness and mourning, and what happens unto us? how Sion our mother is all
woeful and sorry, and how she is clean brought down and in misery? seeing we be
all now in heaviness, and make our moan (for we be all sorrowful). As for the
heaviness that you take, it is for but one son. Demand the earth, and she shall
tell you, that it is she which ought (by reason) to mourn, for the fall of so
many that grow upon her. For from the beginning all men are born of her, and
other shall come: and behold, they walk almost all into destruction, and many
shall be rooted out.
Who should then (by reason) make more mourning,
then she, that has lost so great a multitude? and not you, which are sorry but
for one. But if you would say unto me: My mourning is not like the mourning of
the earth, for I have lost the fruit of my body, which I bear with heaviness:
but the earth is according to the manner of the earth, and the present multitude
goes again into her, as it is come to pass: Then say I unto you: like as you
have born with travail and sorrow, even so also the earth from the beginning
gives her fruit unto man, for him that made her. And therefore withhold your
sorrow and heaviness by your self, and look what happened unto you, bear it
strongly. For if you judge the mark and end of God to be righteous and good, and
receive his counsel in time, you shall be commended therein. Go your way then in
to the city to your husband.
And she said unto me: that will I not do, I will
not go into the city, but here will I die. So I communed more with her, and
said: Do not so, but be counseled, and follow me: for how many falls has Sion?
Be of good comfort because of the sorrow of Jerusalem. For you see that our
Sanctuary is laid waste, our altar broken, our temple destroyed, our playing of
instruments and singing laid down, the thanksgiving put to silence, our mirth is
vanished away, the light of our candlestick is quenched, the ark of the covenant
is taken from us, all our holy things are defiled, and the name that is called
upon over us, is dishonored: our children are put to shame, our priests are
burnt, our Levites are carried away into captivity, our virgins are defiled, our
wives are ravished, our righteous men spoiled, and our children destroyed, our
young men are brought in bondage, and our strong worthies are become weak: and
Sion (which seal is greatest of all) is loosed up from her worship: for she is
delivered into the hands of them that hate us.
And therefore shake off your great heaviness,
and put away the multitude of sorrows: that the Mighty may be merciful unto you,
and that the Highest may give you rest from your labor and travail. And it
happened, that when I was talking with her, her face did shine and glister, so
that I was afraid of her, and mused what it might be. And immediately she cast
out a great voice, very fearful, so that the earth shook at the noise of the
woman: and I looked, and behold, the woman appeared unto me no more: but their
was a city builded, and a place was shown from the ground and foundation.
Then was I afraid, and crys with loud voice, and
said: where is Uriel the angel, which came to me at the first? For he has caused
me to come in many considerations and high thoughts, and mine end is turned to
corruption, and my prayer to rebuke. And as I was speaking these words, he came
unto me, and looked upon me, and I lay as one that had been dead, and mine
understanding was altered, and he took me up by the right hand, and comforted
me, and set me up upon my feet, and said unto me: what ails you? and why is your
understanding vexed? and the understanding of your heart, and wherefore are you
sorry? And I said: Because you have forsaken me: and I have not done according
to your words, I went in to the field, and there have I seen things, that I am
not able to express. He said unto me: Stand up and be manly, and I shall give
you exhortation.
Then said I: Speak on to me my Lord, forsake me
not, least I die in vain: for I have seen that I knew not, and heard that I do
not know. Or shall my understanding be deceived, and my mind? But now I beseech
you, that you will show your servant of this wonder. He answered me then and
said: hear me, and I shall inform you, and tell you wherefore you are afraid,
for the Highest has opened many secret things unto you.
He has seen that your way is right, and that you
take sorrow continually for your people, and makes great lamentation for Sion:
and therefore understand the vision which you saw a little while ago after this
manner: You saw a woman mourning, and you have comforted her: Nevertheless see
now the likeness of the woman no more, but you thought there was a city builded:
and like as she told you of the fall of her son, so is this the answer,: The
woman whom you sawest, is Sion: and where as she told you, that she has been
thirty years unfruitful and barren, those are the thirty years, wherein no
offering was made in her.
But after thirty years Solomon builded her, and
offered, and then bare the barren a son. And where as she told you, that she
nourish him with labor, that was the dwelling of Jerusalem. But where as the son
died in her chamber, that is the fall of Jerusalem. And you saw her likeness,
how she mourned for her son: and what else happened unto her, I have showed you.
And now God sees, that you are sorry in mind, and suffer from your heart for
her, and so has he showed you her clearness, and the fairness of her beauty.
And therefore I had you remain in the field, where
no house is builded. For I knew that the Highest would show this unto you,
therefore I commanded you to go into the field, where no foundation or building
is. For the place where the Highest will show his city, there shall be no mans
building, And there for fear not, and let not your heart be afraid, but go your
way in, and see the glorious and fair building, and how great it is, and how
great you think it after the measure of your eyes, and then you shall hear as
much as your ears may comprehend. For you are blessed above many other, and are
called with the Highest, as the few. But tomorrow at night you shall remain
here, and so shall the Highest show you visions of high things, which he will do
unto them, that dwell upon earth in the last days. So I slept that same night
like as he commanded me.
The 11th Chapter
Then saw I a dream: and behold, there came up
from the sea an Eagle, which had twelve wings and three
heads: And I saw, and behold, *he spread his wings over all the earth, and all
the winds of the air blew in them, and so they were put together again. And
I beheld, and out of his feathers there grew other little contrary feathers: the
heads rested, the head in the midst was greater that the others, yet rested it
with the residue.
Moreover I saw, that the eagle flew with his
wings, and reigned upon the earth, and over all them that dwell upon the earth:
and I saw that all things under heaven were subject unto him, and no man spoke
against him, no not one creature upon the earth. I saw also that the Eagle
stood up on his claws, and give a sound with his feathers, and a voice saying
things after this manner: watch not all together, sleep every man in his own
place, and watch for a time, but let the heads be preserved at the last.
Nevertheless I saw, that the voice went not out of his heads, but from the midst
of his body. And I numbered his contrary feathers, and behold there were eight
of them. And I looked, and behold upon the right side there arose one feather,
and reigned over all the earth. And it happened, that when it reigned, the end
of it came, and the place thereof appeared no more. So the next following stood
up, and reigned, and had a great time: and it happened, that when it reigned,
the end of it came also, like as the first, so that it appeared no more. *Note
this eagle spread his wings "over all the earth" not just Europe and
the Mediterraneans as the Romans did..or any other nation for that matter. RN
Then came there a voice unto it, and said: Hear
you that have kept in the earth so long, this I say unto you, before you begin
to appear no more: There shall none after you attain unto your time. Then arose
the third, and reigned as the other before, and appeared no more also. So went
it with all the residue one after the other, so that every one reigned, and then
appeared no more. Then I looked, and behold, in the process of time that the
feathers that followed were set up upon the right side, that they might rule
also: and some of them ruled, but within a while they appeared no more: for some
of them were set up, but ruled not. After this I looked, and behold the twelve
feathers appeared no more, and that two wings: and there were no more upon the
Eagles body, but the two heads that rested, and six feathers. Then saw I
also, that the six feathers were parted in two, and remained under the head,
that was upon the right side, for the four continued in their place. So I
looked, and behold, they that were under the wings, thought to set up
themselves, and to have the rule. Then was there one set up, but shortly it
appeared no more, and the second was sooner away than the first. And I beheld,
and lo, the two thought also by themselves to reign: and when they so thought,
behold there awakened one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in
the midst, for that was the greater of the two heads. And then I saw, that the
two heads were filled with him and the head was turned with them that were by
him, and eat up the two under wings , that would have reigned.
But this head put the whole earth in fear, and
bare rule in it, over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much labor, and
he had the governance of the world, over all the fowls that have been. After
this I looked , and behold, the head that was in the midst, suddenly appeared no
more, like as the wings: then came the two heads, which ruled upon the earth,
and over those that dwelt therein. And I beheld, and lo the head upon the
right side, devoured it that was upon the left side. And I heard a voice,
which said unto me: look before you, and consider the thing that you see. Then I
saw, and behold, as it were a lion that roars, running hastily out of the wood, and
he sent out a mans voice unto the Eagle, and said: Hear you, I will talk with
you, and the Highest shall say unto you: Is it not you that have the victory of
the four beasts, whom I made to reign upon the earth and in my world, and that
the end of their times might come through them?
And the fourth came, and *overwane *overwane=
over / diminish, weaken, subdue all the beasts that were past, and had
power over the world with great fearfulness, and over the whole compass of
the earth with the most wicked labor, and so long time dwelt he upon the earth
with deceit, and the earth you have not judged the truth. For you have
troubled the meek, you have hurt the peaceable and quiet, you have loved lies,
and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and have cast down
the walls of such as did you no harm. Therefore is your wrongeous dealing and
blasphemy come up unto the Highest, and your pride unto the Mighty. The Highest
also has looked upon the proud times, and behold, they are ended, and their
abominations are fulfilled. And therefore appear no more you Eagle, and your
horrible wings, and your wicked feathers, and your ungracious heads, and your
sinful claws, and all your vain body: that the earth may be refreshed, and come
again to herself, when she is delivered from your violence, and that she may
hope for the judgement and mercy of him that made her.
The 12th Chapter
And it happened when the Lion
spoke, these words unto the Eagle, I saw, and behold, the head that before
had the upper hand, appeared no more: neither did the four wings appear any
more, that came to him, and were set up to reign: and their kingdom was small
and full of uproar. And I saw, and behold, they appeared no more, and the whole
body of the Eagle was burnt, and the earth was in great fear. Then awakened
I out of the trance of my mind, and from great fear, and said unto my spirit:
Lo, this have you given me, in that you search out the ways of the Highest: lo,
yet I am weary in my mind, and very weak in my spirit, and little strength is
there in me, for the great fear that I received this night. Therefore will I
now beseech the Highest, that he will comfort me unto the end: A I said,
Lord, Lord, if I have before your sight, and if I am justified with you before
many other, and if my prayer be come up before your face, comfort me then, and
show me your servant the interpretation and plain difference of this horrible
sight, that you may perfectly comfort my soul: for you have judged me worthy, to
show me the last of times.
And he said unto me: this is the interpretation of
this sight. The Eagle whom you saw saw come up from the sea, is the kingdom
which was seen in the vision of your brother Daniel, but it was not expounded
unto him, for now I declare it unto you. Behold, the days come, that there shall
rise up a kingdom upon the earth, and it shall be feared above all the kingdoms
that were before it. In the same kingdom shall twelve kings reign, one after
the other. For the second shall begin to reign, and shall have more time than
the other, and this do the twelve wings signify, which you sawest. As for the
voice that spoke, and that you saw go out from the heads but not from the body,
it be tokens, that after the time of that kingdom there shall arise great
strivings, and it shall stand in peril of falling: nevertheless it shall not yet
fall, but shall be set in to his beginning. And the eight under wings which you
saw hang unto the wings of him, betoken, that in him there shall arise eight
kings, whose time shall be small, and their years swift, and two of them shall
bear. But when the midst time comes, there shall be four kept in that time, when
his time begins to come that it may be ended, but two shall be kept unto the
end.
And where as you saw tree heads resting, this is
the interpretation: In his last shall the Highest raise up three kingdoms, and
call many again into them, and they shall have the dominion of the earth, and of
those that dwell therein, with much labor above all those that were before them.
Therefore are they called the heads of the Eagle: for it is they that shall
bring forth his wickedness again, and that shall perform and finish his last.
And where as you sawest, that the great head appeared no more, it signifies,
that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain, for the two that
remain, shall be slain with the sword. For the sword of the one shall devour the
other, but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself.
And where as you saw two underwings upon the head
that is on the right side, it signifies that it is they, whom the Highest has
kept unto their end: this is a small kingdom, full of trouble. The Lion whom you
saw rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking unto the Eagle, and
rebuking him for his unrighteousness, is the wind, which the Highest has kept
for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and rent
them asunder before them. For he shall set them living before the judgement, and
shall rebuke them: for the residue of my people shall he deliver with trouble,
those that be preserved over mine ends: and he shall make them joyful until the
coming day of Judgement, where of I have spoken unto you from the beginning.
This is the dream that you sawest, and this is the interpretation. You only have
been meat to know the secret of the Highest.
Therefore write all these things that you have
seen in a book, and hide them, and teach them the wise in the people, whos
hearts you know may comprehend and keep these secrets. But wait you here
yourself yet seven days more, that it may be showed the , whatsoever pleases the
Highest to declare unto you, and with that he went his way.
And when all the people perceived, that the seven
days were past, And I come again into the city, they gathered them all together
from the least to the most, and came unto me, and said: what have we offended
you? and what evil have we done against you, that you forsake us, and sits here
in this place? For of all the people you only are left us, as a grape of the
vine, and as a candle in a dark place, and as a haven a ship preserved from the
tempest. Have we not adversity enough, but you must forsake us? Were it not
better for us, that we had been burnt with Sion? For we are no better, then they
that died there: and they wept with loud voice. Then answered I them and said:
Be of good comfort O' Israel, be not heavy you house of Jacob: for the Highest
has you in remembrance, and the Mighty has not forgotten you in temptation. As
for me, I have not forsaken you, neither am I departed from you: but am come
into this place to pray, because of the misery of Israel, that I might seek
mercy for the low estate of your Sanctuary. And now go your way home every man,
and after these days will I come unto you. So the people went their way into the
city, like as I commanded them: but I remained in the field seven days, as the
Angle bade me: and I ate only of the flowers of the field, and had my meat of
the herbs in those days.
The 13th Chapter
And it happened after the seven days, that I
dreamed a dream by night. And behold, there arose a wind from the sea, that it
moved all the floods thereof. And I looked, and behold, the man was strong
and increased with the clouds of heaven: And when he turned his countenance to
consider, all the things trembled that were seen under him: and when the voice
went out of his mouth, all they burnt that heard him, like as the earth when it
feels the fire.
After these I saw, and behold there was gathered
together a multitude of men out of number from the four winds of the heaven, to
fight against the man, that came out from the sea. And I looked, and behold, he
graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it. But I would have seen the
border or place, where out the hill was graven, and I could not.
I saw after these, that all they which came to
fight against him, were sore afraid, and yet *durst they fight. Nevertheless
when he saw the fierceness and violence of the people, he neither lift up his
hand nor held sword, nor any weapon: but only (as I saw) he sent out of his
mouth as it had been a blast of fire, and out of his lips the wind of flame: and
out of his tongue he cast sparks and storms, and they were all mixed together :
the blast of fire, the wind of the flames, and the great storm, and fell with a
rush upon the people, which was prepared to fight and brunt them up everyone: so
that of the innumerable multitude there was nothing seen, but only dust and
smoke. When I saw this I was afraid. *durst= dare
Afterward saw I the same man come down from the
mountain, and calling unto him another peaceable people: and there came much
people unto him: some were glad some were sorry, some of them were bound, so
that they were carried and brought forth.
Then was I sick through great fear, and I
awakened, and said: you have shown your servant all your wonders from the
beginning, and have counted me worthy, that you might receive my prayer: show me
now yet this interpretation of this dream. For thus I consider in my
understanding: Woe unto them that shall be left in those days: and much more woe
unto them that are not left behind: for they that were not left, were in
heaviness.
Now understand I the things that are laid up in
the latter days which shall happen unto them, and to those that
are not left behind. Therefore they are come
into great perils, and many necessities, like as these dreams declare. Yet is it
easier, that he which suffers hurt come in these, then to pass away as a cloud
out of the world, and now to see the things that shall happen in the last.
Then answered he me, and said: The interpretation
of the sight shall I show you, and I will open unto you, the things that you
have required. For you have spoken of them that are left behind, and this is the
interpretation. He that takes away the peril in that time, has kept himself.
They that be fallen into harm, are such as have works and faith unto the Most
mighty. Know this therefore, that they which be left behind, are more blessed,
then they that be dead. This is the meaning of the vision. Where as you saw a
man coming up from the deep of the sea, the same is he that God the Highest has
kept a great season, which by his own self will deliver his creature, and he
shall order them that are left behind. And where as you sawest, that out of his
mouth there came a blast of wind, fire and storm, and how that he lift up
neither sword nor weapon, but that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole
multitude, that came to fight against him: it signifies, that the days come,
when God will deliver them that are upon the earth, and in a trance of mind
shall he come upon them, that dwell in the earth. And one shall undertake to
fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one
people against another, one realm against another. When this comes to pass, then
shall the tokens come, that I showed you before: and then shall my son be
declared, whom you saw climb up as a man. And when all the people hear his voice
every man shall in their own land leave the battle that they have one against
another, an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as they that be
willing to come and to overcome him by fighting. But he shall stand upon the top
of mount Sion. Nevertheless Sion shall come, and shall be showed, being prepared
and builded for all men, like as you saw the hill graven forth without any
hands. But my son shall rebuke the people that are come for their wickedness,
with the tempest, and for their evil imaginations: and their pains wherewith
they shall be punished, are likened unto the flame: and with out any labor,
shall he destroy them, even by the law, which is compared to the fire.
And whereas you sawest, that he gathered another
peaceable people unto him: those are the ten tribes, which were carried away
prisoners out of their own land, in the time of *Oseas the King, whom *Salmanasar
the King of Assiria took prisoner, and carried them over the water, and so they
came into another land. *Oseas = Hosea, *Salmanasar = Shalmaneser
But they gave them this counsel, that they should
leave the multitude of the Heathen, and go forth into a farther country, where
never mankind dwelt: that they might there keep their statutes, which they never
kept in their own land. And so they entered in at the narrow passages of water
of the Euphrates, and God showed tokens for them, and held still the flood till
they were passed over: for through that country there was a great way, namely of
a year and a half journey, for that same region is called Asareth. Then dwelt
they there unto the latter time: and when they come forth again, the Highest
shall hold still the springs of the stream again, that they may go through,
therefore you saw the multitude with peace. And they that be left behind of your
people, are those that be found within my border. Now when he destroys the
multitude that is gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain, and
then shall he show them great wonders.
Then said I: O' Lord, Lord, show me this:
wherefore have I seen the man coming up from the deep of the sea? And he said
unto me: Like as you can neither seek out nor know these things that are in the
deep of the sea, even so may you not see my son, or those that be with him, but
in the time of the day. This is the interpretation of the dream which you sawest,
therefore you only are here lightened: for you have forsaken your own law, and
applied your diligence unto mine, and sought it. your life you have ordered in
wisdom, and have called understanding your mother, and therefore have I showed
you the treasure of the Highest. After three days I will show you more, and talk
with you at more large, yes heavy and wondrous things will I declare unto you.
Then went I forth into the field, giving praise
and thanks greatly unto God, because of his wonders which he did in time, and
because he governs the same, and such as is in time, and there I sat three days.
The 14th Chapter
Upon the third day I sat under an oak tree, then
came there a voice unto me out of the bush, and said: Esdras, Esdras? And I
said: here am I Lord, and stood up on my feet. Then spoke he unto me: In the
bush did I appear unto Moses, and talked with him, when my people served in
Egypt, and I sent him, and led my people out of Egypt, and brought him upon
mount Sion, where I held him by me a long season, and told him my wondrous
works, and showed him the secrets of the times and the end, and commanded him,
saying: These words shall you declare, and not hide them. And now I say unto
you, that you lay up in your heart the dreams that you have seen, and the
interpretations which I have showed you: for you shall be received of all, you
shall be turned and remain in my counsel, and with such as be like you, until
the times be ended. For the world has lost his youth, and the time is divided
into twelve parts, and ten parts of it are gone already, and half of the tenth
part: yet remains there that, which is after the half of the tenth part.
Therefore prepare and order your house, and
reform your people: comfort such of them as be in trouble: and tell now of the
destruction: let go from you all mortal thoughts: cast away the berthens of man:
put off the weak nature: lay up in some places the thoughts that are most heavy
unto you, and have you to flight from these times: for such evil and wickedness
as you have now seen happen, shall they do yet much worse. For the weaker
that the world and the times is, the more shall sin and wickedness increase, in
them that dwell upon the earth: For the truth is fled far away, and the leasing
is hard at hand. For now hastens the vision to come, that you have seen.
Then answered I and said: Behold Lord, I will go
as you have commanded me, and reform the people which are present. But they that
shall be born afterward, who will exhort or rebuke them? Thus the world is set
in darkness, and they that dwell therein, are without light: for your law is
kindled, because no man knows the things that are done of you, or that shall be
done. If I have found grace before you, send the holy ghost into me, and I shall
write all that has been done in the world since the beginning, which was written
in your law, that men may find the path, and that they which will live in the
latter days, may live.
And he answered me, saying: Go your way, gather
your people together, and say unto them, that they seek you not for forty days,
but look you gather the many box trees, and take with you Sarea, Dabria, Selemia,
Echanus and Asiall, these five, which are ready to write swiftly, and come
hither, and I shall light a candle of understanding in your heart which shall
not be put out, till the things be performed which you shall begin to write.
Then shall you declare some things openly unto the perfect, and some things you
shall show secretly to the wise. Tomorrow this hour you shall begin to write.
Then went I forth (as he commanded me) and
gathered all the people together, and said: Hear these words O' Israel: Our
fathers from the beginning were strangers in Egypt, from where they were
delivered, and received the law of life, which they kept not, which you have
also transgressed after them. Then was this land and the land of Sion parted
among you by lot to possess. But your fathers and you yourselves also have done
unrighteousness, and have not kept the ways which the Highest commanded you. And
for so much as he is a righteous judge, he took from you in time the thing that
he had given you. And now are you here and your brethren among you. Therefore if
so be that you will subdue your own understanding, and reform your heart, you
shall be kept alive, and after death you shall obtain mercy. For after death
shall the judgement come, when we shall live again: and then shall the names of
the righteous be manifest, and the names of the ungodly with their works shall
be declared. Let no man therefore come now unto me, nor ask any question at me
these forty days.
So I took the five men (as he commanded me) and we
went into the field, and remained there. The next days a voice called me saying:
Esdras, open your mouth, and behold, he reached me a full cup, which was full a
water, but the color of it was like fire. And I took it and drank. And when I
had drunk it , my heart had understanding, and wisdom grew in my breast: for my
spirit was kept in remembrance, and my mouth was opened and shut no more. The
Highest gave understanding to the five men, that they wrote the high things of
the night, which they understood not. But in the night they ate bread: as for
me, I spoke in the day, and held not my tongue by night. In forty days, they
wrote two hundred and four books.
And it happened when the forty days were
fulfilled, that the Highest spoke, saying: The first that you have written,
speak openly, that the worthy and the unworthy may read it. But keep the seventy
last that you may show it only to such as be wise among your people. For in them
is the spring of understanding, the fountain of wisdom, and the stream of
knowledge. And I did so.
The 15th Chapter
Behold speak you in the ears of my people the
words of the prophecy, which I will put in your mouth, says the Lord: and cause
this to be written in a letter, for it is the truth. Fear not the imaginations
against you, let not the unfaithfulness of them trouble you, that speak against
you. For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness. Behold says
the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world, the sword hunger, death and
destruction: for wickedness has the upper hand in all the earth, and their
shameful works are fulfilled.
Therefore says the Lord: I will hold my tongue no
more unto their wickedness, which they do so ungodly: neither will I suffer them
in the things, that they deal with all so wickedly. Behold the innocent blood of
the troubled crys unto me, and the souls of the righteous complain continually:
And therefore (says the Lord) I will surely avenge and recause unto me all the
innocent blood from among them.
Behold, my people, is led as a flock of sheep to
be slain, I will not suffer (allow) them now to dwell in Egypt,
but will bring them out with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm, and smite it
with plagues as before, and will destroy all the land of it. Egypt will mourn,
and the foundations of it shall be smitten with the plague and punishment, that
God shall bring upon it.
They that till the ground, shall mourn: for their
feeds shall be destroyed through the blasting and hail, and an horrible star Do
warns the world and them that dwell therin, for the sword and their destruction
draws nigh, and one people shall stand up to fight against another, and swords
in their hands. For men shall be unsteadfast, and some shall do violence unto
the other: they shall not regard their king and princes, the ways of their
doings and the handlings in their power. A man shall desire to go into the city,
and shall not be able. For because of their pride the cities shall be brought in
fear, the houses shall shake, and men shall be afraid. A man shall have no pity
upon his neighbor, but one shall provoke another unto battle to spoil their
goods because of the hunger of bread, and because of the great trouble.
Behold, I gather together and call together all
the kings of the earth which are from the uprising, from the South, from the
East and Libanus to turn unto them, and restore the things they have given them.
Like as they do yet this day unto my chosen, so will I do also, and recompense
them in their bosom. Thus says the Lord God: My right hand shall not spare the
sinners, and my sword shall not cease over them, that shed the innocent blood
upon the earth. The fear has gone out from his wrath, and the sinners like the
straw that is kindled. Do warn them that sin, and keep not my commandments, says
the Lord. I will not spare them. Go your way you children from violence, defile
not my sanctuary: for the Lord knows all them that sin against him, and
therefore delivers he them unto death and destruction: for now are the plagues
come upon the world, and you shall remain in them. For God shall not deliver
you, because you have sinned against him.
Behold, an horrible vision comes from the East,
where generations of Dragons shall come out, and the people of the Arabes with
many chariots, and the multitude of them shall be as the wind upon the earth,
that all that hear them raging in their wrath, may fear and be afraid: and
as the wild boars out of the wood, so shall they go out, and with great power
shall they come, and stand fighting with them, and shall waste the portion of
the land of the Assirians.
And then shall the Dragons have the upper hand,
not remembering their birth, and shall turn about swearing together in great
power, to persecute them. But these shall be afraid, and keep silence at their
power, and shall flee: and one out of the land of the Assirians shall besiege
them, and consume one of them, and in their host shall be fear and dread, and
strife among their kings.
Behold clouds from the East, and from the North
unto the South, and they are very horrible to look upon, full of wrath and
storm. They shall smite one upon another, and they shall smite at the great star
upon earth and their star, and the blood shall be from the sword unto the belly,
and the smoke of man unto the camels litter: And there shall be great
fearfulness and trembling upon the earth, and they that see wrath shall be
afraid, and a trembling shall come upon them.
And then shall there come great rains from the
South and from the North, and part from the West, and from the stormy wind from
the East, and shall shut them up again, and the cloud which he raised up in
wrath, and the star to cause fear toward the East and West wind, shall be
destroyed: and the great clouds shall be lift up, and the mighty clouds full of
wrath, and the star, that they may make all the earth afraid and them that dwell
therin, and that they may pour out over all places an horrible star, fire and
hail and flying swords, and many waters: that all fields may be full, and all
rivers, and they shall break down the cities and walls, mountains and hills, all
trees, wood, and the grass of the meadows, and all their fruit. And they shall
go steadfast into Babylon, and make her afraid, they shall come to her and
besiege her: the star and all wrath shall they pour out upon her.
Then shall the dust and smoke go up unto heaven,
and all they that be about her, shall bewail her: and they that remain under
her, shall do service unto them that have put her in fear: And you Asia that
comfort yourself also upon the hope of Babylon, and are a worshipper of her
person: Woe be unto you wretch, because you have made yourself like unto her,
and have decked your daughters in whoredom, that they might triumph and please
your lovers, which have always desired to commit whoredom with you: you have
followed the abominable city in all her works and inventions.
Therefore says God: I will send plagues upon you,
widowhood, poverty, hunger, wars, and pestilence, to waste your houses with
destruction and death, and the glory of your power shall be dried up as a
flower, when the heat arises that is sent over you. You shall *bespeck as a poor
wife that is plagued and beaten of women:
so that the mighty and lover shall not be able to receive you. Would I so hate
you says the Lord? If you had not always slain my chosen, exalting the stoke of
your hands, and said over their death, when you was drunken: set forth the
beauty of your countenance. *bespeck= speaking; to give grounds for
believing
The reward of your whoredom shall be
recompensed you in your bosom, therefore shall you receive reward.
Like as you have done unto my chosen (says the
Lord) even so shall God do unto you, and shall deliver you into the plague. your
children shall die of hunger, and you shall fall through the sword. your cities
shall be broken down, and all your shall perish with the sword in the field.
They that be in the mountains shall die of hunger, and eat their own flesh, and
drink their own blood for very hunger of bread and thirst of water. You unhappy
shall come through the sea, and receive plagues again.
In the passage they shall cast down the slain
city, and shall root out one part of your land, and consume the portion of your
glory. They shall tread the down like stubble, and they shall be your fire and
shall consume you: your cities and your land, your wood and your fruitful trees
shall they burn up with the fire. your children shall they carry away captive,
and look what you hast, they shall spoil it, and mar the beauty of your face.
The 16th Chapter
Woe be unto you Babylon and Asia, woe be unto you
Egypt and Syria: gird yourselves with clothes of sack and hear, and mourn for
your childern, be sorry, for your destruction is at hand. A sword is sent upon
you, and who will turn it back? A fire is kindled among you, and who will quench
it: Plagues are sent unto you, and what is he that will drive them away? May any
man drive away an hungry lion in the woods? Or may any man quench the fire in
the stubble, when it has gone to burn? May one turn again the arrow, that is
shot of a strong archer? The mighty Lord sends the plagues, and what is he that
will drive them away? The fire is kindled and gone forth in his wrath, and what
is he that will quench it? He shall cast lightings, and who shall no fear? He
shall thunder, and who shall not be afraid: The Lord shall threaten and who
shall not utterly be beaten to powder at his presence? The earth quaketh, and
the foundations thereof: the sea arises up with waves from the deep, and the
floods of it are unquiet and the fishes thereof also before the Lord, and before
the glory of his power. For strong is his right hand that holds the bow, his
arrows that he shoots, are sharp, and shall not miss, when they begin to be shot
to the ends of the world.
Behold, the plagues are sent, and shall not turn
again, till they come upon the earth. The fire is kindled, and shall not be put
out, till it consume the foundations of the earth. Like as an arrow shot of a
mighty archer, returns not backward: even so the plagues that shall be sent upon
the earth, shall not turn again. Woe is me, woe is me, who will deliver me in
those days? The beginning of sorrows and great mourning: the beginning of *darth
and great death: the beginning of wars, and the powers shall stand in fear: the
beginning of evils, and they shall tremble everyone. What shall I do in these
things, when the plagues come? Behold, hunger, and plague, trouble and anguish
are sent, as scourging for amendment. But for all these things they shall not
turn from their wickedness, nor be always mindful of the scourging.
Behold, vitals shall be so good cheap upon the
earth, that they shall think them selves to be in good case? And even then shall
mischief grow up upon the earth, wars, darth and great disquietness. For many of
them that dwell upon the earth shall perish of hunger, and the other that escape
the hunger, shall the sword destroy: And the dead shall be cast out as dung, and
there should be no man to comfort them. For the earth shall be wasted, and the
cities shall be cast down: there shall be no man left to till the earth and to
sew it. The trees shall give fruit, and who shall pluck them of and gather them?
The grapes shall be ripe, and who shall tread them: for all the places shall
be desolate of men, so that one man shall desire to see another, or to hear his
voice. For of one whole city there shall be ten left, and two in the field,
which shall hide themselves in the thick bushes, and in the cliffs of stones:
like as when there remain three or four olives upon the tree, or as when a
vineyard is gathered there are left some grapes, of them that diligently sought
through the vineyard.
Even so, in those days there shall be three or
four left, for them that search their houses with the sword. And the earth shall
be left waste, and the fields thereof shall wear old: and her ways and her paths
shall grow full of thorns, because no man shall travel there through. The
daughters shall mourn, having no bridegrooms: the women shall make
lamentation, having no husbands, their daughters shall mourn, having no help of
their bride groom. In the wars shall they be destroyed, and their husbands shall
perish of hunger. O' you servants of the Lord, hear these things, and mark them.
Behold, the word of the Lord, O' receive it: behold the plagues draw near, and
are not slack in tarrying. Like as a travailing woman, which after nine
months brings forth a son, when the hour of the birth is come, an hour two or
three before that the pains come upon her body, and when the child comes to the
birth, they tarry not the twinkling of an lie: Even so shall not the plagues be
slack to come upon the earth, and the world shall mourn, and sorrows shall come
upon it on every side.
O' my people, hear my word, make you ready to
the battle: and in all evil be as pilgrims upon the earth He that sells, let
him be as he that flys his way: and he that buys, as one that will lease. Who so
occupies merchandise, as he that wins not: and he that builds, as he that shall
not dwell therin: he that sows, as one that shall not reap: he that twists the
vineyard, as he that shall not gather the grapes: they that marry, as they that
shall get no children: and they that marry not, as the widows: and therefore
they that labor, labor in vain. For strangers shall reap their fruits, and spoil
their goods, overthrow their houses, and take their children captive, for in
captivity and hunger shall they get children. And they that occupy their
merchandise with robbery, how long deck they their cities, their houses, their
possessions, their persons? the more will I punish them for their sins, says the
Lord. Like as an whore envies an honest woman, so shall righteousness hate
iniquity, when she decks herself, and shall accuse her to her face, when he
comes that defends, which shall make inquisition for all sin upon the earth. And
therefore be not you like thereunto, near to the works thereof: for or ever it
be long, iniquity shall be taken away out of the earth, and righteousness shall
reign among you.
Let not the sinner say, that he has not sinned:
for coals of fire shall burn upon his head, which says before the Lord God and
his glory: I have not sinned. Behold, the Lord knows all the works of men, their
imaginations, their thoughts and their hearts. For he spoke but the word:
let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heaven be made, and it was made.
In his word were the stars made, and he knows the number of them. He searches
the ground of the deep, and the treasures thereof: he has measured the sea, and
what it containeth. He has shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his
word has he hanged the earth upon the waters. He spreads out the heaven like a *vawte,(vault
; from Mid Eng vaute: meaning an arched overhead covering) upon the
waters has he founded it. In the desert a dry wilderness has he made springs of
water, and poles upon the tops of mountains, that the floods might pour down
from the stony rocks to water the earth. He made man, and put his heart in the
midst of the body, and gave him birth, life and understanding, yes and the
spirit of the Almighty God, which made all things, and has searched the ground
of all the secrets of the earth.
He knows your imaginations and inventions, and
what you think when you sin, and would hide your sins. Therefore has the
Lord searched and sought out all your works, and he shall *bewray (disclose,
reveal, uncover) you all. And when your sins are brought forth, you
shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that
day. What will you do? Or how will you hide your sins before God and his Angels?
Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him, leave off from your sins, and forget
your unrighteousness, and meddle no more with them: so shall God lead you forth,
and deliver you from all trouble. For behold, the heat of the great multitude is
kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed the idle
with Idols: and they that consent unto them, shall be had in *derision. *laughed
to scorn, and trod under foot contempt
For unto the places there shall be a place, and
in the next cities a great insurrection upon those that fear the Lord. They
shall be like madmen, they shall spare no man: they shall spoil and waste such
as fear the Lord, their goods shall they take from them, and shut them out of
their houses. Then shall it be known who are my chosen, and they shall be tried
as the gold in the fire. Hear O' you my beloved, says the Lord: behold, the days
of trouble are at hand, but I will deliver you from the same. Be not afraid,
despair not, for God is your captain.
Who so keeps my commandments and precepts (says
the Lord God) let not your sins weigh you down, and let not your unrighteousness
be lift up. Woe be unto to those that are subdued unto their own sins, and
tangled in their wickednesses: like as a field is hedged in with bushes, and the
path thereof covered with thorns, that no man may travel through: and so is he
taken, and cast in the fire, and burnt.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 17
When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should
come he answered them and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with waiting for.
Neither shall men say: Lo here, lo there. For behold the kingdom of God is with
in you.
And he said unto the disciples: The days
will come, when ye shall desire to see one day of the son of man, and ye shall
not see it. And they shall say to you: See here, See there. Go not after them,
nor follow them, for as the lightning that appeareth out of the one part of the
heaven: and shineth unto the other part of heaven. So shall the son of man be in
his days. But first must he suffer many things, and be refused of this nation.
As it happened in the time of Noe: So
shall it be in the time of the son of man. They ate, they drank, they married
wives and were married, even unto the same day that Noe went into the Ark: and
the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also, as it chanced in the days
of Lot. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. And
even the same day that Lot went out of *Zodom, it rained fire and brimstone
from heaven, and destroyed them all. After these examples, shall it be in the
day when the son of man shall appear.
At that day he that is on the house top and
his stuff in the house: let him not come down to take it out. And likewise let
not him that is in the fields, turn back again to that he left behind. Remember
Lots wife. Whosoever will go about to save his life, shall lose it: And
whosoever shall lose his life, shall save it. I tell you in that night, there
shall be two in one bed, that one shall be received and the other shall be
forsaken. Two shall be also a grinding together: the one shall be received, and
the other forsaken. And they answered, and said unto him: where Lord? And he
said unto them: wheresoever the body shall be, thither
will the eagles resort.
*trow (think) *Zodom (Sodom),
and others of a similitude ...
"Truth and Wisdom and the wall... "
"No Spirit of Truth or Wisdom in a church..."
"raging times and truth and wisdom..."
"the worldly ...laughs at wisdom..."
"a wife and wisdom and 4 walls..."
"woman of the world ...or wisdom ..."
"Black board ...the Truth and the spirit of Wisdom ..."
"Mans house of images...and the origin thereof"...Wisdom 14
house of wisdom...and preparing for the gathering ......