And measures and matters of The Truth of the "time" we are in ...how "man" ..."thought to change time and times ... forget about God for a while ...TV stars ...images ...flashings...
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 nightmare of the dark season ...of the times and time ..of the season of man ...see son of man ...
and in the midst of the darkness ...out of the darkness ...from the darkness ...came the voice of the world ...
and the voice of the world said ..."forget about God for a while ..."
and my soul cried out ..."liar"
and in that instant ..a star appeared ...and it shined like a television screen ...
and numbers and pictures and images of whorship flashed quickly ...brightly in the eyes of any and all ...
and a scripture came to remembrance ...
And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel and said unto them. I am an hundred and twenty years this day, and can no more go out and in. Also the Lord hath said unto me, thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The Lord your God he will go over before thee and he will destroy these nations before thee, and thou shalt conquer them. And Josua he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said. And the Lord shall go unto them, as he did to Sehon and Og kings of the Amorites and unto their lands which kings he destroyed. And when the Lord hath delivered them to thee, see that ye do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Pluck up your hearts and be strong, dread not nor be afeared of them: for the Lord thy God himself will go with thee, and will neither let thee go nor forsake thee.
Take heed to thyself therefore only and keep thy soul diligently, that thou forget not the things which thine eyes have seen, and that they depart not out of thine heart, all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons sons. The day that I stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when he said unto me, gather me the people together, that I may make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me as long as they live upon the earth and that they may teach their children: ye came and stood also under the hill, and the hill burnt with fire: even unto the midst of heaven, and there was darkness, clouds and mist. And the Lord spake unto you out of the fire and ye heard the voice of the words: But saw no image, save heard a voice only.
And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, even ten verses and wrote them in two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me the same season to teach you ordinances and laws, for to do them in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Take heed unto yourselves diligently as pertaining unto your souls, for ye saw no manner of image the day when the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the fire lest ye marre yourselves and make you graven images after whatsoever likeness it be: whether after the likeness of man or woman or any manner beast that is on the earth or of any manner feathered fowl that flyeth in the air, or of any manner worm that creepeth on the earth or of any manner fish that is in the water beneath the earth: Yea and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the *son and the moon and the stars and whatsoever is contained in heaven, shouldest be deceived and shouldest bow thyself unto them and serve the things which the Lord thy God hath distributed unto all nations that are under all quarters of heaven.
For the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron furnace of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as it is come to pass this day. Furthermore, the Lord was angry with me for your sakes and sware, that I should not go over Jordan and that I should not go unto that good land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inheritance. For I must die in this land, and shall not go over Jordan: But ye shall go over and conquer that good land.
Take heed unto yourselves therefore, that ye forget not the appointment of the Lord your God which he made with you, and that ye make you no graven image of whatsoever it be that the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, and a jealous God.
If after thou hast gotten children and childrens children and hast dwelt long in the land, ye shall marre yourselves and make graven images after the likeness of whatsoever it be, and shall work wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him. I call heaven and earth to record unto you this day, that ye shall shortly perish from off the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it: Ye shall not prolong your days therein, but shall shortly be destroyed. And the Lord shall scatter you among nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the people whither the Lord shall bring you: and there ye shall serve gods which are the works of mans hand, wood and stone which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. Neverthelater ye shall seek the Lord your God even there, and shalt find him if thou seek him with all thine heart and with all thy soul. In thy tribulation and when all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, thou shalt turn unto the Lord thy God, and shalt hearken unto his voice. For the Lord thy God is a pitiful God: he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee, nor forget the appointment made with thy fathers which he sware unto them.
For ask pray thee of the days that are past which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth and from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether anything hath been like unto this great thing or whether any such thing hath been heard as it is, that a nation hath heard the voice of God speaking out of fire as thou hast heard, and yet lived? either whether God assayed to go and take him a people from among nations, through temptations and signs and wonders and through war and with a mighty hand and a stretched out arm and with mighty terrible sights, according unto all that the Lord your God did unto you in Egypt before your eyes.
Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know, how that the Lord he is God and that there is none but he. Out of heaven he made thee hear his voice to nurture thee, and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire, and thou heardest his words out of the fire. And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them and brought thee out with his presence and with his mighty power of Egypt: to thrust out nations greater and mightier than thou before thee, to bring thee in and to give thee their land to inheritance: as it is come to pass this day. Understand therefore this day and turn it to thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath there is no more: keep therefore his ordinances, and his commandments which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee and with thy children after thee and that thou mayst prolong thy days upon the earth which the Lord thy God giveth thee thy life long.
And when the Lord thy God hath brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give thee with great and goodly cities which thou buildest not, and houses full of all manner goods which thou filledst not, and wells digged which thou diggedst not, and vines and olive trees which thou planted not, and when thou hast eaten, and art full: Then beware lest thou forget the Lord which brought thee out of the land of Egypt the house of bondage. But fear the Lord thy God and serve him, and swear by his name, and see that ye walk not after strange gods of the Gods of the nations which are about you. For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you, lest the wrath of the Lord thy God wax hot upon thee and destroy thee from the earth.
Understand therefore in thine heart, that as a man nurtureth his son, even so the Lord thy God nurtureth thee. Keep therefore the commandments of the Lord thy God that thou walk in his ways and that thou fear him. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of rivers of water, of fountains and of springs that spring out both in valleys and hills: a land of wheat and of barley, of vines, fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees with oil and of honey: a land wherein thou shalt not eat bread in scarceness, and where thou shalt lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou shalt dig brass. When thou hast eaten therefore and filled thyself, then bless the Lord for the good land which he hath given thee.
But beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, that thou wouldest not keep his commandments, laws and ordinances which I command thee this day: yea and when thou hast eaten and filled thyself and hast built goodly houses and dwelt therein, and when thy beasts and thy sheep are waxed many and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied and all that thou hast increased, then beware lest thine heart rise and thou forget the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt the house of bondage, and which led thee in the wilderness both great and terrible with fiery serpents and scorpions and *drouth where was no water, which brought the water out of the rock of flint: which fed thee in the wilderness with *Man whereof thy fathers knew not, for to humble thee and to prove thee, that he might do thee good at thy latter end.
And beware that thou say not in thine heart, my power and the might of mine own hand hath done me all these acts: But remember the Lord thy God, how that it is he which gave thee power to do manfully, for to make good the promise which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is come to pass this day.
For if thou shalt forget the Lord thy God and shalt walk after strange gods and serve them and worship them, I testify unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before thee, even so ye shall perish, because ye would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God.
Understand therefore that it is not for thy righteousness sake, that the Lord thy God doth give thee this good land to possess it, for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember and forget not how thou provokedest the Lord thy God in the wilderness: for since the day that thou camest out of the land of Egypt until ye came unto this place, ye have rebelled against the Lord. Also in Horeb ye angered the Lord so that the Lord was wroth with you, even to have destroyed you, after that I was gone up into the mount, to fetch the tables of stone, the tables of appointment which the Lord made with you. And I abode in the hill forty days and forty nights and neither ate bread nor drank water. And the Lord delivered me two tables of stone written with the finger of God, and in them was according to all the words which the Lord said unto you in the mount out of the fire in the day when the people were gathered together.
Thou shalt not have in thy bag two manner weights, a great and a small: neither shalt thou have in thine house diverse measures, a great and a small. But thou shalt have a perfect and a just measure: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things and all that do unright, are abomination unto the Lord thy God. Remember what Amalech did unto thee by the way after thou camest out of Egypt, he met thee by the way and smote the hindmost of you, all that were over labored and dragged behind, when thou wast fainted and weary, and he feared not God. Therefore when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit and possess: see that thou put out the name of Amalech from under heaven, and forget not.
THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS Chpt 17
Unto this day they do after the old manner: they neither fear the Lord, neither do after their own ordinances and customs, and after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob whose name he called Israel, and made an appointment with them and charged them saying: Fear not any other Gods, nor bow yourselves to them nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: But to the Lord which brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm: him fear and to him bow and to him do sacrifice. And the ordinances, customs, law and commandment which I wrote for you, see that ye be diligent to do for evermore, and fear not any other gods. And the appointment that I have made with you, see ye forget not, and that you fear none other Gods: but the Lord your God ye shall fear, and he shall deliver you out of the hands of all your enemies. How be it they heard not, but did after the old manner. And even so did these nations fear the Lord and serve their images thereto: and so did their children, and their childrens children too. Even as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
O' praise the Lord, which dwelleth in Sion, show the people his doings.
And why? he maketh inquisition for their blood, and remembereth them: he forgetteth not the complaint of the poor.
Have mercy upon me,( O' Lord) consider the trouble that I am in among mine enemies, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death.
That I may show forth all thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Sion, and rejoice in thy saving health.
As of the Heathen, they are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the same net which they spread out privately, is their own feet taken.
Thus the Lord is known to execute true judgment, when the ungodly is trapped in the works of his own hands. Selah.
The wicked must be turned unto hell, and all the Heathen that forget God.
But the poor shall not all way be out of remembrance, the patient abiding of such as be in trouble shall not perish for ever.
Up Lord, let no man have the upper hand, let the Heathen be condemned before thee. O' Lord set a school master over them, that the Heathen may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
This thou doest, while I hold my tongue: and thinkest me to be even such one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set myself against thee.
O consider this, ye that forget God: lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.
Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoreth me: and this is the way, whereby I will show him the saving health of God.
That they also might put their trust in God, and not to forget what he had done, but keep his commandments.
And not be as their forefathers, a *froward and *overthwart generation, a generation that set not their heart a right, and whose spirit was not true toward God. Like as the children of Ephraim, which being harnessed and carrying bows, turned themselves back in the time of battle.
A prayer of the afflicted, when he was in woe, and poured out his complain before the Lord.
Hear my *prayer, O' Lord, and let my crying come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine ears unto me when I call, O' hear me and that right soon. For my days are consumed away like smoke, and my bones are burnt as it were a fire brand.
My heart is smitten down and withered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread.
*True prayer is an earnest an affectionate communication of the heart with God, and a diligent consideration of the things that want in us concerning the seeking of his glory and the doing of his will: with a burning and fervent desire of the spirit, that requireth him to repay and amend that which is wanteneth in us. Psa 5, Prov 15, Every Godly wish is also a good prayer. MN *Stones here signify the men upon whom the congregation of God is edified and builded as in 1 Peter 2. And ye as living stones are made a spiritual house. MN *God is counted to look and to turn him to whatsoever he approveth and alloweth, and to whatsoever he is pleased with. Jerem 5, Thou O'Lord lookest only on faith and truth. MN
Thy words have I hid within my heart, that I should not sin against thee.
Praised be thou O' Lord, O' teach me thy statutes.
With my lips will I be telling out the judgments of thy mouth.
I have as great delight in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
I will exercise myself in thy commandments, and have respect unto thy foot paths.
My delight shall be in thy statutes, I will not forget thy words.
make haste, and prolonged not the time, to keep thy commandments.
The congregations of the ungodly have robbed me, but I forget not thy law.
My soul longeth for thy saving health, for my trust is in thy word.
Mine eyes *long for thy word, saying: O' when wilt thou comfort me?
For I am become like a bottle in the smoke, yet do I not forget thy statutes.
If my delight were not in thy law, I should perished in my trouble.
I will never forget thy commandments, for with them thou quickenest me.
I am thine, Oh help me, for the sake of thy commandments.
Thy word is tried to the uttermost, and thy servant loveth it.
I am small and of no reputation, yet do I not forget thy commandments.
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is true.
Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me, yet is my delight in thy commandments. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting, O' give me understanding, and I shall live.
O' consider mine adversary, and deliver me, for I do not forget thy law.
Maintain thou my cause and defend me, quicken me according unto thy word.
O' let my soul live and praise thee, that thy judgments may help me.
I go astray, like a sheep that is lost: O' seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments.
O' my son, forget not my law, but see that thine heart keep my commandments. For they shall prolong the days and years of thy life, and bring thee peace. Let mercy and faithfulness never go from thee: bind them about thy neck, and write them upon the tables of thine heart. So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and men. Put thy trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and he shall order thy goings. Be not wise in thine own conceit, but fear the Lord, and depart from evil: so shall thy navel be whole, and thy bones strong.
Hear, O' ye children, the fatherly exhortation, and take good heed, that ye may learn wisdom. Yee I shall give you a good *reward, if ye will not forsake my law. For when I my self was my fathers dear son, and tenderly beloved of my mother, he taught me also, saying: Let thine heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live. Get thee wisdom, get thee understanding, forget not the words of my mouth, and shrink not from them. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. The chief point of wisdom is, that thou be willing to obtain wisdom, and before all thy goods to get understanding. Make much of her and she shall promote thee: Yee if thou embrace her, she shall bring thee unto honor.
My son, thou son of my body: O' my dear beloved son, give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of Kings. O' Lamuel. give Kings no wine, give Kings and Princes no strong drink: Lest they being drunk forget the law, and regard not the cause of the poor, and of all such as be in adversity. Be thou an advocate and stand in judgement thyself, to speak for all such as be dumb and socourless. With thy mouth defend the thing that is right, and the cause of the poor and helpless.
Consider this ( O Jacob and Israel ) for thou art my servant. I have made thee, that thou mightest serve me. O Israel, forget me not. As for thine offenses, I drive them away like the clouds, and thy sins as the mist. Turn ye again unto me, and I will deliver thee.
Then shall Sion say: God hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me. Doth a wife forget the child of her womb, and the son who she hath born? And though she forget, yet will not I forget thee. Behold, I have written thee up upon my hands, thy walls are ever in my sight. They that have broken thee down, shall make haste to build thee up again: and they that made thee waste shall dwell in thee. Lift up thine eyes, and look about thee: all these shall gather them together, and come to thee. As truly as I live ( saith the Lord ) thou shalt put them all upon thee, as an apparel, and gird them to thee, as an bride doth her jewels. As for thy land that layeth desolate, wasted and destroyed: it shall be too narrow for them, that shall dwell in it. And they that would devour thee, shall be far away. Then the child whom the barren shall bring forth unto thee, shall say in thine ear: This place is too narrow, sit near together, that I may have some room. Then shall thou think to thyself: Who hath begotten me these? seeing I am barren and alone, a captive and an out cast? And who hath nourished them up for me? I am desolate and alone, but from whence come these?
Art thou not *he, that hast wounded that proud lucifer, and hewn the dragon in pieces? Art not thou even he, which hath dried up the deep of the sea, which hast made plain the sea ground, that the delivered might go through? That the redeemed of the Lord, which turned again, might come with joy unto Sion, there to endure for ever? That mirth and gladness might be with them? Yee I, I am even he, that in all things giveth you consolation. What art thou then, that fearest a mortal man, the child of man, which goeth away as doeth the flour? And forgetest the Lord that made thee, that spread out the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth. But thou art ever afraid for the sight of thine oppressor, which is ready to do harm: Where is the wrath of the oppressor? It cometh on fast, it maketh hast to appear: It shall not perish, that it should not be able to destroy, neither shall it fail for fault of nourishing. I am the Lord thy God, that make the sea to be still, and to rage: whose name is the Lord of Hosts. I shall put my word in thy mouth, and defend thee with the turning of my hand: that thou mayest plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Sion: Thou art my people.
Awake, awake, and stand up, O Jerusalem, thou that from the hand of the Lord, hast drunken out the cup of his wrath: thou that hast supped of, and sucked out the slumbering cup to the bottom. For among all the sons whom thou hast begotten, there is not one that may hold thee up: and not one to lead thee by the hand, of all the sons that thou hast nourished. Both these things are happened unto thee, but who is sorry for it. Yee, destruction, wasting, hunger and sword: but who hath comforted thee? Thy sons lay comfortless at the head of every street like a taken *venison, and are full of that terrible wrath of the Lord, and punishment of thy God. And therefore thou miserable and drunken ( howbeit not with wine ) Hear this: Thus saith thy Lord: thy Lord and God, the defender of his people: Behold, I will take the slumbering cup out of thy hand, even the cup with the dregs of my wrath: that from henceforth thou shalt never drink it any more, and will put it in their hand they that trouble thee: which have spoken to thy soul: stoop down, that we may go over thee: make thy body even with the ground, and as the street to go upon.Art thou not *he, that hast wounded that proud lucifer, and hewn the dragon in pieces? (kjv and other bibles of man =leave out this entire line)
*venison = game meat, this is to say, these sons feel like they are the "game meat" of the oppressors as prey of the powerfull. RN
Wherefore then will ye go to law with me, seeing ye are all sinners against me, saith the Lord? In is but lost labor, that I smite your children, for they receive not my correction. Your own sword devoureth your prophets, like a devouring lion. If ye be the people of the Lord, then hearken unto his word: Am I then become a wilderness unto the people of Israel? or a land that hath no light? Wherefore sayeth my people then: we are fallen off, and we will come no more unto thee? Doth a maiden forget her raiment, or a bride her stomacher? And doth my people forget me so long? Why boasteth thou thy ways so highly ( to obtain favor there through ) when thou hast yet stained them with blasphemies?
Upon thy wings is found the blood of poor and innocent people, and that not in corners and holes only, but openly in all these places. Yet darest thou say: I am guiltless: Tush, his wrath can not come upon me. Behold, I will reason with thee because thou darest say: I have not offended. O how evil will it be for thee, to abide it: when it shall be known, how often thou hast gone backward? For thou shalt be confounded, as well of Egypt, as of the Assirians: yee thou shalt go thy way from them, and smite thy hands together upon thy head. Because the lord shall bring that confidence and hope of thine to naught, and thou shalt not prosper with all.And therefore the Lord of Hosts giveth you this warning: Hear not the words of the prophets, that preach unto you, and deceive you: for they speak the meaning of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. They say unto them, that despise me: The Lord hath spoken it: Tush, ye shall prosper right well. And unto all them, that walk after the lusts of their own heart, they say: Tush , there shall no misfortune happen you. For who hath sitten in the counsel of the Lord, that he hath heard and understand, what he is about to do? Who hath marked his devise, and heard it? Behold, the stormy weather of the Lord, that is, his indignation, shall go forth, and shall fall down upon the head of the ungodly. And the wrath of the Lord shall not turn away again, until he perform and fulfil the thought of his heart. And in the latter days ye shall know his meaning.
I have not sent these Prophets ( sayeth the Lord ) and yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, and yet they preached. But if they had continued in my counsel and heard my words: they had turned my people from their evil ways and wicked imaginations. Am I then God that seeth but the thing, which is nye at hand, and not that is afar off? sayeth the Lord. May any man hideth himself so, that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fulfill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. I have heard well enough, what the prophets say, that preach lies in my name, saying: I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long will this continue in the prophets hearts, to tell lies, and to preach the crafty subtlety of their own heart? Whose purpose is ( with the dreams that everyone tell ) to make my people to forget my name, as their forefathers did, when Baal came up. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell it: and he that understandeth my word, let him show it faithfully.
For what hath chaff and wheat to do together? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord, and like an hammer, that breaketh the hard stone? Therefore, thus sayeth the Lord: behold, I will upon the prophets, that steal my word privately from every man. Behold, here am I ( saith the Lord ) against the prophets, that take upon their tongues to speak: The Lord hath said it. Behold here am I ( sayeth the Lord ) against those prophets, that dare prophecy lies, and deceive my people with their vanities, and miracles, whom I never sent, ner commanded them. They shall do this people great harm, sayeth the Lord.
If this people, either any prophet or a priest ask thee, and say: What is the burden of the Lord? Thou shalt say unto them: What burden? Therefore will I cast you from me ( saith the Lord ) because ye yourselves are a burden. And that prophet, priest, or people, that useth this term ( the burden of the Lord ) him I will visit, and his house also.
But thus shall ye say, every one to another: What answer hath the Lord given? or what is the Lords commandment? And as for this burden of the Lord, ye shall speak no more of it: for every mans own word is his burden, because ye have altered the words of the living God the Lord of Hosts our God.
Thus shall every man say to the Prophets: what answer hath the Lord given? thee? Or, what sayeth the Lord? And not once to name the burden of the Lord. Therefore thus sayeth the lord: For so much as ye have used this term ( the burden of the Lord ) where as I not withstanding sent unto you, and forbade you to speak of the Lords burden.
Behold therefore, I will repute you as a burden, and will cast you out of my presence: yee and the city also, that I gave you and your fathers: and will bring you to an everlasting confusion, and in such a shame, as shall never be forgotten.THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH Chpt 5
Therefore our heart is full of heaviness, and our eyes dim: because of the hill of Sion that is destroyed. In so much that the foxes run upon it. But thou, O' Lord, that remainest for evermore, and thy seat world without end: Wherefore wilt thou still forget us, and forsake us so long? O' Lord, turn thou us unto thee, and so shall we be turned. Renew our days as in the old times, for thou hast banished us now long enough, and hast been sore displeased at us.
Hear the word of the Lord, O ye children of Israel: For the Lord must punish them, that dwell in the land. And why? There is no faithfulness, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of God in the land: but swearing, lying, manslaughter, theft, and *advoutry have gotten the overhand, and one bloodgileinesse follow another. Therefore shall the land be in a miserable cause, and they that dwell therein, shall mourn. The beasts in the field, the fowls in the air, and the fishes in the sea shall die. Yet is there none, I will chasten nor reprove another. The priests which should reform other men, are become like the people.
Therefore stumblest thou in the daytime and the prophet with them the night. I will bring thy mother to silence, and why? my people perish, because they have no knowledge. Seeing then that thou hast refused understanding, therefore I will refuse thee also: for that thou shalt no more be my priest. And for so much as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. The more they increased in the multitude, the more they sinned against me, therefore will I change their honor into shame. They eat up the sins of my people, and courage them in their wickedness. Thus the priest has become like the people. Wherefore I will punish them for their wicked ways, and reward them according to their own imaginations. They shall eat, and not have enough: they have *used whoredom, therefore they shall not prosper: and why ?they have forsaken the Lord, and not regarded him.
For these and such other things have they suffered worthy punishment, and through the multitude of beasts are they rooted out. Instead of the which punishments thou hast graciously ordered on thy own people, and given them their desire that they longed for: a new and strange taste, preparing them quails to be their meat: to the intent that ( by the things which were showed and sent unto them ) they that were so greedy of meat, might be withdrawn even from the desire that was necessary. But these within a short time were brought unto poverty, and tasted a new meat. For it was *requisite that ( without any excuse ) destruction should come upon those which used tyranny, and to show only unto the other, how their enemies were destroyed. For the cruel woodiness of the beasts came upon them, they perished through the stings of the cruel serpents.
Not with standing thy wrath endured not perpetually, but they were put in fear for a little season, that they might be reformed, having a token of salvation, to remember the commandment of thy law. For he that converted, was not healed by the thing that he saw, but by thee, O' Savior of all. So in this thou showest thine enemies, that it is thou, which deliverest from all evil. As for then when they were bitten with grasshoppers and flys, they died, for they were worthy to perish by such: But neither the teeth of the dragons ner the venomous worms over came thy children, for thy mercy was ever by them and helped them. Therefore were they punished to remember thy words, but hastily were they healed again: lest they should fall into so deep forgetfulness, that they might not use thy help.
Great are thy judgments ( O' Lord ) and thy counsels cannot be expressed therefore do men error, that will not be reformed with thy wisdom. For when the unrighteous thought to have thy holy people in subjection, they were bound with bands of darkness and long night, shut under the roof, thinking to escape the everlasting wisdom. And while they thought to be hid in the darkness of their sins, they were scattered abroad in the very midst of the dark covering of forgetfulness, put to horrible fear and wondrously vexed for the corner where they might not keep them from fear: because the sound came down and vexed them: yee many terrible and strange visions made them afraid.
THE FIRST OF THE MACHABEES Chpt 1
He commanded also that there should be set up other altars, temples and Idols: to offer up swines flesh and other unclean beasts: that men should leave their children uncircumcised, to defile their souls with all manner of uncleanness and abominations: that they might so forget the law, and change all the *holy ordinances of God: and whosoever would not do according to the commandment of king Antiochus, should suffer death. In like manner commanded he throughout all his realm, and set rulers over the people, for to compel them to do these things, commanding the cities of Juda to do sacrifice unto Idols.
Then went the people unto the Heathen by heaps, forsook the law of the Lord, and committed much evil in the land: yee and chased out the secret Israelites, which had hid themselves in corners and privy places. The fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty fifth year, set king Antiochus an abominable Idol of desolation upon the altar of God, and they builded altars throughout all the cities of Juda on every side, before the doors of the houses, and in the streets: where they burnt incense, and did sacrifice. And as for the books of the law of God, they burnt them in the fire, and rent them in pieces. Whatsoever he was that had a book of the Testament of the Lord found by him, yee whosoever endeavored himself to keep the law of the Lord, the kings commandment was, that they should put him to death. And through his authority they executed these things every month, upon the people of Israel that were found in the cities.
THE SECOND OF THE MACHABEES Chpt 2
It is found also in the writings of Jeremy the prophet, that he commanded them which were carried away to take fire, as it is said afore. He commanded them also, that they should not to forget the commandments of the Lord, and that they should not error in their minds, when they see Images of silver and gold, with their ornaments. These and such other things commanded he them, and exhorted them, that they should not let the law of God go out of their hearts.
Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to lodge strangers. For thereby have diverse received angels into their houses unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, even as though ye were bound with them. Be mindful of them which are in adversity, as ye which are yet in your bodies. Let wedlock be had in price in all points, and let the chamber be undefiled for whorekeepers and *advoutrers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with that ye have already. For he verily said: I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: that we may boldly say: the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man doeth unto me. Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God. The end of whose conversation see that ye look upon, and follow their faith.
Jesus Christ yesterday and today, and the same continueth for ever. Be not carried about with diverse and strange learning. For it Is a good thing that the heart be stablished with grace, and not with meats, which have not profited them that have had their pastime in them. We have an altar whereof they may not eat which serve in the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest to purge sin, are burnt without the tents. Therefore Jesus, to sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore out of the tents, and suffer rebuke with him. For here have we no continuing city: but we seek one to come.
For by him offer we the sacrifice of *laud always to God: that is to say, the fruit of those lips, which confess his name. To do good, and to distribute forget not, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves to them, for they watch for your souls, even as they that must give accounts: that they may do it with joy, and not with grief. For that is an unprofitable thing for you. Pray for us. We have confidence because we have a good conscience in all things, and desire to live honestly. I desire you therefore somewhat the more abundantly, that ye so do, that I may be restored to you quickly.
The God of peace that brought again from death our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting testament, make you perfect in all good works, to do his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Jesus Christ. To whom be praise for ever while the world endureth. Amen.
I beseech you brethren, suffer the words of exhortation: For we have written unto you in few words: know the brother Timothy, whom we have sent from us, with whom (if he come shortly) I will see you. Salute them that have the oversight of you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Grace be with you all. Amen.
THE EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES Chpt 1
*Erre not my dear brethren. Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above and cometh down from the father of light with whom is no variableness, neither is he changed unto darkness. Of his own will begat he us with the word of life, that we should be the first fruits of his creatures.
Wherefore dear brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God.
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, all *superfluity of maliciousness, and receive with meekness the word that is grafted in you, which is able to save your souls.
And see that ye be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves with *sophistry. For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass. For as soon as he hath looked on himself, he goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what his fashion was. But whoso looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein (if he be not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work) the same shall be happy in his deed.
If any man among you seem *devout, and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this mans *devotion is in vain. Pure devotion and undefiled before God the father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widow in their adversity, and to keep him self unspotted of the world.
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