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.
creteis@yahoo.com Behold in a dread 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 a young man running ...
and he was running in the nation of the eagle ...
and the place and the area was as though empty and void ...
and no traffic or others running ...or even out and about ...
even as though abandoned ...
and the young man ran swiftly and wondered mightily ...
and the running young man came to a cross roads ...
and across ...the cross roads was a high hill ...
and the young thought to run up the high hill to see what was the matter that the land was so void and empty ...
and no one being ...being out and about ...
and the young man ran up upon the high hill that he might see ...
Yet there was danger ...and traps and fences and others there armed to capture him ...
and the young man ran and ran swiftly away ...a way from the armed camp...
and narrowly escaped ...
and the young man wondered a mighty wonder ...for the high hill of the armed camp ...turned to sand.
and the scene and the seeing changed ...
and the young man drew near a small town ...
and was like in the country...
evenso as he drew near the small town ...thinking there might be comfort and security...
and there appeared armed men that ran forth toward and after the young men ...
even that they might capture him ...
and bring him in to serve the town ...
and that for the town was under martial law ...
and none ...no not one could enter or leave the place ...
and all within ...within were bound and shackled to whatsoever law was thought up imagined fantasized or hallucinated ...( hell lose in the nation ) under martial law...
evenso it was my hope that the young man escaped all and ran swiftly away ...a way the way. Even letting God and Jesus order his footsteps in spirit and truth that he might be enabled ( within abled ) to be free.
and scripture came back to remembrance ...
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 9
He answered me then and said: Measure thou the time diligently in it self, when thou seest that one part of the tokens come to pass, which I have told thee before: so shalt thou 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 shalt thou well understand, that the most Highest spoke of these things, from the days that were before thee, even from the beginning.
For like as all that is made in the world, hath 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 ye 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 thou 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 thou wilt take upon thee yet seven days more ( but thou shall not fast in them ) go thy 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 thee.
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 afore: and I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the Highest, and said: O' Lord, thou that showest thy self to us, thou hast declared and opened thy self unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt, and thou speakest saying: Hear me O Israel, and mark my words thou seed of Jacob. Behold, I saw my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and yee shall be honored in it forever. For our fathers which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances and statutes, and the fruit of thy law was not declared: for it might not, for why? it was thine. For they that received it, perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.
It is a custom when the ground receiveth seed, or the sea a ship, or a vessel meat and drink, that when it perisheth 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 hath 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 perisheth not, but remaineth 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 weepiest thou? why art thou 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 aileth thee? Or who hath done anything to thee? 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 thy 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 feastTHE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 10
And it happened that when my son went to his chamber, he fell down, and died: then overthrew 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 thou seest: 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 spake unto her in displeasure: Thou foolish woman, seest thou not our heaviness and mourning, and what happeneth 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 thou takest, it is for but one son. Demand the earth, and she shall tell thee, 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 hath lost so great a multitude? and not thou, which are sorry but for one. But if thou would sayest 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 goeth again into her, as it is come to pass: Then say I unto thee: like as thou hast born with travail and sorrow, even so also the earth from the beginning giveth her fruit unto man, for him that made her. And therefore withhold thy sorrow and heaviness by thy self, and look what happened unto thee, bear it strongly. For if thou judgest the mark and end of God to be righteous and good, and receive his counsel in time, thou shalt be commended therein. Go thy way then in to the city to thy 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 hath Sion? Be of good comfort because of the sorrow of Jerusalem. For thou seest 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 thy great heaviness, and put away the multitude of sorrows: that the Mighty may be merciful unto thee, and that the Highest may give thee rest from thy 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 there was a city builded, and a place was shown from the ground and foundation.
Then was I afraid, and crieth with loud voice, and said: where is Uriel the angel, which came to me at the first? For he hath 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 aileth thee? and why is thy understanding vexed? and the understanding of thy heart, and wherefore art thou sorry? And I said: Because thou hast forsaken me: and I have not done according to thy 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 thee 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 thee, that thou will show thy servant of this wonder. He answered me then and said: hear me, and I shall inform thee, and tell thee wherefore thou art afraid, for the Highest hath opened many secret things unto thee.
He hath seen that thy way is right, and that thou takest sorrow continually for thy people, and maketh great lamentation for Sion: and therefore understand the vision which thou sawest a little while ago after this manner: Thou sawest a woman mourning, and thou hast comforted her: Nevertheless seest now the likeness of the woman no more, but thou thoughtest 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 thou sawest, is Sion: and where as she told thee, that she hath 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 thee, 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 thou sawest her likeness, how she mourned for her son: and what else happened unto her, I have showed thee. And now God seeth, that thou art sorry in mind, and sufferest from thy heart for her, and so hath he showed thee her clearness, and the fairness of her beauty.
And therefore I had thee remain in the field, where no house is builded. For I knew that the Highest would show this unto thee, therefore I commanded thee 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 thine heart be afraid, but go thy way in, and see the glorious and fair building, and how great it is, and how great thou thinkest it after the measure of thine eyes, and then thou shall hear as much as thine ears may comprehend. For thou art blessed above many other, and art called with the Highest, as the few. But tomorrow at night thou shalt remain here, and so shall the Highest show thee 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 meTHE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 11
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 than 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.
Then came there a voice unto it, and said: Hear thou that hast kept in the earth so long, this I say unto thee, before thou beginest to appear no more: There shall none after thee attain unto thy time. Then arose the third, and reigned as the other afore, 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 awaked 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 thee, and consider the thing that thou seest. Then I saw, and behold, as it were a lion that roareth, running hastily out of the wood, and he sent out a mans voice unto the Eagle, and said: Hear thou, I will talk with thee, and the Highest shall say unto thee: Is it not thou that hast 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, 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 thou hast not judged with truth. For thou hast troubled the meek, thou hast hurt the peaceable and quiet, thou hast loved lies, and destroyed the dwellings of them that brought forth fruit, and hast cast down the walls of such as did thee no harm. Therefore is thy wrongeous dealing and blasphemy come up unto the Highest, and thy pride unto the Mighty. The Highest also hath looked upon the proud times, and behold, they are ended, and their abominations are fulfilled. And therefore appear no more thou Eagle, and thy horrible wings, and thy wicked feathers, and thy ungracious heads, and thy sinful claws, and all thy vain body: that the earth may be refreshed, and come again to herself, when she is delivered from thy violence, and that she may hope for the judgement and mercy of him that made herNote Eagle *he spread his wings "over all the earth". *overwane= lord over (sml l ) over / diminish, weaken.
The word of the Lord came unto me, saying: Thou son of man: put forth a dark speaking and a parable, unto the house of Israel, And say: Thus saith the Lord God: There came a great eagle with great wings, yee with mighty long wings, full of feathers, of diverse colors, upon the mount of Libanus, and took a branch from a Cedar tree, and break off the top of his twig, and carried it into the land of Canaan, and set it in a city of merchants. He took also a branch of the land, and planted it in a fruitful ground, he brought it unto great waters, and set it as a willow tree thereby. Then did it grow, and was a great vine stock, but low by the ground: thus there came of it a vine, and it brought forth blossoms, and spread out branches. But there was another Eagle, a great one, which had great wings and many feathers: and behold, the roots of this vine had an hunger after him, and spread out his branches toward him, to water his fruits: Nevertheless it was planted upon good ground beside great waters: so that ( by reason ) it should have brought out branches and fruit, and have been a goodly vine. Speak thou therefore, thus saith the Lord God: Shall this vine prosper? Shall not his roots be plucked out, his fruit be broken off, his green branches wither and fade away? Yee without strong armies or many people, shall it be plucked up by the roots. Behold, it was planted: shall it prosper therefore. Shall it not be dried up and withered, yee even in the shooting out of its blossoms, as soon as the east wind bloweth?
Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying: Speak that froward household: Know ye not, what these things do signify? Tell them: Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the King and his Princes, and led them to Babylon.
He took of the kings seed, and made a covenant with him, and took an oath of him: The Princes of the land took he with him also, that the land might be held in subjection, and not rebel, but keep the covenant, and fulfill it. But he fell from him, and sent his embassy tours into Egypt that he might have horses and much people. Should that prosper? Should he be kept safe, that doeth such things? Or should he escape, that breaketh his covenant? As truly as I live saith the Lord God: He shall die in Babylon, in the place where the King dwelleth, that made him King: whos oath he has despised, Neither shall Pharaoh with his great host and multitude of people, maintain him in the war: Then they cast up ditches, and set up bulwarks to destroy much people. For seeing he despised the oath, and broken the covenant, ( where as he yet give his hand thereupon ) and done all these things, he shall not escape.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God: As truly as I live, I will bring mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, upon his own head. I will cast my net about him, and catch him in my yarn. To Babylon will I carry him, there will I punish him, because of the great offense that he made me. As for those that flee from him out of the host, they shall be slayen with the sword. The residue shall be scattered toward all the winds: and ye shall know, that I the Lord hath spoken it.
Thus saith the Lord God: I will also take a branch from an high Cedar tree, and will set it, and take the uppermost twig, that is yet but tender, and plant it upon an high hill: Namely, upon the high hill of Sion will I plant it: that it may bring forth twigs, and give fruit, and be a great cedar tree: so that all manner of fowls may bide in it, and make their nests under the shadow of his branches.
And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree, and set the low tree up: that I have dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree to flourish: Even I the Lord that speak it, have also brought it to passTHE REVELATION OF ST JOHN Chpt 12
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: A woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she was with child and cried travailing in birth, and pained ready to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven, for behold a great red dragon having seven heads, and ten horns and crowns upon his heads: and his tail drew the third part of the stars, and cast them to the earth.
And the dragon stood before the woman, which was ready to be delivered: for to devour her child as soon as it were born. And she brought forth a man child, which should rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her son was taken up unto God, and to his seat. And the woman fled into wilderness, where she had a place, prepared of God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his Angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his Angels, and prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon, that old serpent called the devil and Satan was cast out. Which deceiveth all the world. And he was cast into the earth, and his angels were cast out also.
And I heard a loud voice saying: in heaven is now made salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For he is cast down which accused them before God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea: for the devil is come down unto you which hath great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
And when the dragon saw, that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman, which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. And the dragon cast out of his mouth water after the woman as it had been a river, because she should have been caught of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed, up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman: and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And I stood on the sea *stonde(the flood out of satans mouth is all the worldly lies and deceptions and deceit ...)
that flood is the wicked waters of any and all LIES ...of the LEFT especially evil spiritual lies ...even as the king james bible of Gog and Magog ...fills the land ...
even true evil ...evil masked in good ...evil masked in love ...
*stonde: two possible words come from the Middle English: stound: meaning "a short time" and stonen: meaning "stunned". stunned because of the vision.
There were tyrants in the world in those days. For after that the children of God had gone in unto the daughters of men, and had begotten them children, the same children were the mightiest of the world, and men of renown. And when the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was increased upon the earth, and that all the imagination and thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, he repented that he had made man upon the earth, and sorrowed in his heart. And said: I will destroy mankind which I have made, from off the face of the earth: both man, beast, worm and fowl of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. But yet Noe found grace in the sight of the Lord.
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),
Every man can *eschue a person moved to anger, for what he doth wisely? Even so shall the Lord of Hosts take away from Jerusalem and from Juda, all possessions and power, all meat and drink, the captain and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the wise and the aged man, the worshipful of fifty year old, and the honorable: the Senators, and the men of understanding: the masters of crafts and orators. And I shall give you children to be your princes,( sayeth the Lord ) and babes shall have the rule of you. One shall ever be doing violence and wrong to another. The boy will presume against the elder, and the vile person against the honorable. Ye when one shall take a friend of his own kindred by the bosom, and say: Thou hast clothing, thou shalt be our head, for thou mayest keep us from this fall and peril.
Then shall he swear and say: I can not help you. Moreover, there is neither meat nor clothing in my house, make me no ruler of the people. For Jerusalem and Juda must decay, because both their words and counsel are against the Lord, they provoke the presence of his Majesty unto anger. The changing of their countenance betrayeth them, yee they declare their own sins themselves, as the Sodomites, and hide them not. Woe be unto their souls, for they shall be heavily rewarded. Then shall they say: O happy are the godly, for they may enjoy the fruits of their studies. But woe be unto the ungodly and unrighteous for they shall be rewarded after their works. O my people, *ribaudes oppress thee, and women have rule of thee. O my people, thy leaders deceive thee, and tread out the way of thy footsteps. The Lord is here to commune of the matter, and standeth to give judgement with the people. The Lord shall come forth to reason with the Senators and princes of his people, and shall say thus unto them: It is ye that have burnt up my vineyard, the robbery of the poor is in your house. Wherefore do ye oppress my people, and marred the faces of the innocents? thus shall the Lord God of Hosts revile them.
Moreover thus sayeth the Lord: Seeing the daughters of Sion are become so proud, and come in with stretched out necks, and with vain wanton eyes: seeing they come in tripping so nicely with their feet: Therefore shall the Lord shave the heads of the daughters of Sion, and make their beauty bare in the day. In that day shall the Lord take away the gorgeousness of their apparel, and spangles, chains, *partlets, and collars, bracelets and hooves, that goodly flowered wide and boarded raiment, brushes and head bands, rings and garlands, holy day clothes and veils, kerchiefs and pins, glasses and smocks, bonnets and *taches
And instead of good smell there shall be stink among them. And for their girdles there shall be loose bands. And for well set hair there shall be baldness. Instead of a stomacher, a sackcloth, and for their beauty witherdness and *son burning. Their husbands and their mighty men shall perish with the sword in battle.
*eschue (avoid, escape) *ribaudes ( extortioners :MN). *partlets = ruffled covering for the neck. *taches = buckles, clasps, fasteners. *son burning exactly as recorded.
Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil: which make darkness light, and light darkness, that make sour sweet, and sweet sour.
Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding.
Woe be unto them that are conning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness. These give sentence with the ungodly for rewards, but condemn the just cause of the righteous.
Therefore like as the fire licketh up the straw, as the flame consumeth the stubble: Even so ( when their root is full ) their blossom shall vanish away as dust or smoke: for they despise the law of the Lord of Hosts, and blaspheme the word of the holy maker of Israel.
Therefore is the wrath of the Lord kindled also against his people, and he shaketh his hand at them: yee he shall smite so, that the hills shall tremble. And their carcasses shall lie in the open streets, like mire. After all this, the wrath of God shall not cease, but he shall stretch his hand wider. And he shall give a token unto a strange people, and call unto them in a far country: and behold, they shall come hastily with speed. There is not one faint or feeble among them, no not a sluggish or slippery person. There shall not one of them put off the girdle from his loins, *ner loose the latchet of their shoe. Their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent. Their horses hoofs are like flint, and their cart wheels like a stormy wind. Their cry is as it were of a lion, and the roaring of them like lions whelps. They shall roar, and haunch up the prey, and no man shall recover it or get it from them. In that day they shall be fierce upon them, as the sea. And if we look unto the land, behold, it shall be all darkness and sorrow. If we look to heaven: behold, it shall be dark with careful desperationThe Lord hateth as well him that justifieth the ungodly, as him that condemeth the innocent.
THE SECOND OF THE MACHABEES Chpt 4
This Simon now ( of whom we spake afore ) being a betrayer of the money and of his own natural country, reported the worst of Onias: as though he had moved Heliodorus unto this, and as though he had been a bringer up of evil. Thus he was not ashamed call him an enemy of the realm, that was so faithful an overseer and defender of the city and of his people: yee and so fervent in the law of God. But when the malice of Simon increased so far, that through his friends there were certain manslaughters committed: Onias considered the peril that might come through this strife, and how that Apollonius ( namely the chief lord in Celosyria and Phenices ) was all set up tyranny, and Simons malice increased the same: He gat him to the king, not as an accuser of the citizens, but as one that by himself intended the common wealth of the whole multitude. For he saw it was not possible to live in peace, neither Simon to leave off from his foolishness, except the king did look thereto. But after the death of Seleucus, when *Antiochus ( which is called the noble ) took the kingdom: Jason the brother of Onias labored to be high priest: for he came unto the king, and promised him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and of the other rents eighty talents. Beside this he promised him yet an hundred and fifty if he might have *the school of the children, and that he might call them of Jerusalem Antiochians. Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the superiority, he began immediately to draw his kinsmen to the custom of the Heathen, put down the things that the Jews had set up of love, by John the father of Eupolemius, which was sent ambassador unto Rome, for to make the bond of friendship and love. He put down all the Jews and Liberties of the Jews, and set up the wicked statutes. He durst make a frightening school under the castle, and set fair young men to learn the manners of whores and brodels.
This was now the beginning of the Heathenish and strange conversation, brought in through the ungracious and unheard wickedness of Jason, which should not be called a Priest, but an ungodly person. In so much that the priests were now no more occupied about the service of the altar, but despised the temple, regarded not the offerings: yee gave their diligence to learn to fight, to wrestle, to leap, to dance, and to put at the stone: not setting by the honor of the fathers, but liked the glory of the Greeks best of all: for the which they strove perilously, and were greedy to follow their statutes, yee their lust was in all things to be like them, which afore were their enemies and destroyers. How be it to do wickedly against the law of God, shall not escape unpunished: but of this we shall speak here after.
What time as the Olympiades sports were played at Tyrus ( the king himself being present ) this ungracious Jason sent *wicked men bearing from them of Jerusalem ( which were now called Antiochians ) three hundred drachmas of silver for an offering to Hercules. These had they that carried them, desired under such a fashion, as though they should not have been offered, but bestowed to other uses. Nevertheless he that sent them, sent them to the intent that they should be offered unto Hercules. But because of those that were present, they were given as to the making of ships. And Apollonius the son of Nesteus was sent into Egypt, because of the noble men of king Ptolomy Philometor. Now when Antiochus perceived that he was put out from meddling in the realm, he sought his own profit, departed from thence, came to Joppa, and then to Jerusalem: where he was honorably received of Jason and the city, and was brought in with torch light and with great praise: and so he turned his host unto Phenices
The Lord hateth as well him that justifieth the ungodly, as him that condemeth the innocent.
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