And the measures and matters of The Truth of the "time" we are in ...how "man" ..."thought to change time and times ... the beast would have us looking to the future ...the covenant... 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 night season of the season of man ...was shown a works ...and a working ....in and of the world ....within ...with in the world ...and of it ...
nevertheless i was like in a place of pits ...like a place that was it self a pit ...that had within it all pits ...of the world ...
and within ..within it was a stoney pit ...like a gravel pit ...and dirt pit ...and hard place like a stone pit ...where the biggest and hardest of the stones ...are made ....
and was shown me a tar pit ...an hot and firey ...and an evil smelling place ...dark ...even black ...full of darkness ....and it was even the last place within ...within the pit ...that was shown me ...
and i looked and behold there was an high way being ...being builded down to the pit ...like paved ...like the way to it was being ...being prepared ...all that way down ...the whole way ...down to the very pit ....at the bottom ...at the end of that highway ...was the very edge of the pit ...
Now ...when i was shown this ...i began to go down that road ...to the pit and to warn all those that were along the way ...going down there ...and even those that worked there ...and to warn them the more ...to get out of there ...
warning the more to turn from that way ...and stop working on it ...and to leave ...rise up out out of the way that leads into the pit ...that hard and dark ...even black ...paved easy way ...down there ...made by the hands of men ...
evenso as i was going down there ...even to help and warn those at the very bottom of the pit ...finishing up the last of the paved roadway ...to the pit ...those on the very edge ...
as i was going to warn them ...there stood a man in the way ...and i looked on him ...and he was astounding to look upon ...and he had a boy child in his arms ...
and as i drew closer ...i could see him the more ...and the young boy the more ...and i looked and i knew that the boy was his son ..and he loved the boy with all his heart and mind and soul ...
and the more i looked i could see the very loving kindness in the fathers eyes ...and longsuffering ...for ...and to good of any ...that might be on there way down to the pit ...
and he and his son stood in the way ...to offer for any ...that they might not go that way ...of any ...that any each one ...might not go down that way ...
nevertheless as i approached the father standing in the way with his son in his arms ...i motioned that i needed to ...go farther down closer to the pit to warn any ...
and he only smiled an loving smile ...full of kindness and understanding ...and allowed for me to try to help the others ...
evenso as i passed by ...i looked in the fathers eyes and knew ...for it was like he spoke to me within ...within ...and without speaking ...
and i knew in that instant that he ...the father ...standing there with his son ...had allready warned all those ...that had went passed him and his son to the pit ...that had went buy him and his son ...on their own way down to the pit ...
and yet he allowed me to ...go again ..and to warn again ...and to hope again ..and hope that he had given me ...through a love and kindness that he had shown me ...through a endless deep desire that none would go there ...or to stay there ...that he has shown me ...
and with that i went ...and even as was shown me ...there was not one ...that had passed the father and the son ...that remained down there in the pit ...no not one ...that would come out again ...no not one of his own heart ...that would come out of the pit and stop the building of that high way down there ...even to the very end ...
and they all spoke as such ...that they desired to be exactly where they were ...and wondered why i would come down there anyway ...and for me to leave there for i was ...bothering them while they worked ...on their works ...of making the high way ...down into the pit ...
and i was astounded for it seemed to me that they enjoyed their work ...in joyed their works ...and thought it very worthy ...and important ...in portant to them ...even most important ...
and in and instant i was taken and shown another place ...above ...the blackest and dread black hot and firey pit ...wherein ...the high way went ...
and yet this other place ...was a very stoney pit ...just above the deepest darkest pit ...and was made ...was made of ...like all big gravel and hard to walk in ..or on ...or around ...for the stones were so big and sharp ...
and it was like this was all that there was left ...of the earth ...this hard stoney ground ...that none could walk in or on ...and gone was l=all the green grass and trees and creatures ...no birds of the air ...only fouls sitting on the stones ...waiting ...
and the stones ...the sharp and craggy stones ...made up ...made up walls ...that all had to walk around ...and the walls ...separated peoples from other peoples ...and from the works of one from the works of another ...so the stoney walls did separate ...all that...was done ..or was being ...being done ...
Now i was walking roundabout ...doing works as works was given me to do ...and was given me was like an cart ...of the ancient of days ...like an ox cart ...and with it i could work ...and on it i could take comfort from ...all the walking ...on the stoney ground ...that all had a hard time ...walking on ..or in ...
nevertheless i would walk about the works ...wheresoever i was sent ...and walk about whatsoever helps i was abled to do ...evenso the cart went with me ...
and ahead was a measures of matters that i needs be go do ...yet i knew it not ...save i knew the way ...the way to get there ...and so i was sent on that way ...with the cart ..
and as i went the way ...another man came ...who i had known afore ...who afore ...we had worked together ...and we had walked one with another ...and we had friends ...
and the man hollered out the window ...of a green vehicle ...(that had traveled the high way speedily) ...and he bid me to stop ...on the way i was going ...
and i did not see him at first ...and yet as he came closer i knew him ...and so i stopped the cart ahead of me ...and turned to see what was his matter ...
Now he opened up the doors ..to the green vehicle ...and inside ...inside was his wife ...and he was with his wife ...and his wife was driving ...
and he came out and said ...without greeting ...we ...meaning his wife and him ...have been going roundabout ...with ..and within the churches and religions ...and have learned a great deal ...
and the more said he ...for we want ...want to know ...about the future...and the covenant ....
and before i could think ...words were given me to speak ...and these words came out of mine mouth ..."for it is the beast that would have you looking to the future and to the covenant" ...
and that was all that was given me to say to him ...
and he began to come with me ...like was afore ...when we worked the works together ...
Yet in an instant i was taken to another place alone ...to finish ...that works that i had been started to do before ...
and i do not know what the man of the green vehicle did ...or whether he went the highway again ..with wife driving ...to and of and in the churches and religions of man ...
nevertheless in an instant i was in another place ...of and in the stoney ground ...of the earth for again ..it was all that was left of the earth ...
and i was at a place where windows were repaired ...and i had been sent there to help ...and was given me a door to a mans house ...and i looked and the window to the door of the mans house was broken ...
and this was the front door to the mans house ...and the front window thereof ...was broken ...and it was very dangerous ...for any that went in or ut of the mans house ...because of the broken window ...of his front door ..
so the door was removed ...and he was without a door for a time ...that the door be taken away for awhile ...that the window ...of his door be made whole again ...and that he be able to see out of it and within ...of it ...clearly ...
and so it is ...was i was given the mans door ...and i went to get the glass to repair it ...and when i looked it was a glass shop of the world ...in the world ...on the stoney ground and of hard stoney walls ...
and an miserly greivous greedy merchant came out of the place ...and hissed at me ...that the window was finished ...and that i need to pay him ...and get out of the way for he had many more ...customers...to help with their windows ....
and i looked ..and the window ...was on the cart that i was given ...and layed next to the door ...for the merchant would not touch the door ...but the glass and the ...frame thereof ...he would work on ...framing of the glass of anyones door ...or any ones window ...
and the closer i looked ..i was shown that the merchandiser ...merchandisssssssser ...had put marks ...had written ...had scribbled all manner and measure of things ...on the glass window ...that i was to repair ...for the front door of the mans house ...
and i was sore displeased ...with what i was shown ...and said as much to the glass merchant of the world ...
and i was given to say ...what have you done !! ...why have you done such a wicked thing ...as to scribble and write and ...mark ..with black ...even the darkest marks ...all over the window of this mans front door to his house ...
eveso that the man will have a hard time seeing ...seeing out of the window of his house ...even the very front door where ...all who might enter in ...come and go ??
and he answered and said ...oh that was to help him ...so that he sees ...and any other ...sees ...that might enter in ...whether they come of go ...
that the darkness and the writing and scribbling ...and the Marks ...make them see the darkness of glass ...and so not to break it again ...
and of that i was sore angry ...and said to him ...get you some waters ...and clean that glass of all and every scribble and writing and mark that you did put to it ...
and he said no that he would not ...even if he could ...and the more he said ...for the darkness that he had put on the windows was of such a darkness that it was impossible for him to clean it ...
and the more the dark glass merchant said ...nevertheless you will have to pay me ...pay me for... the works that were done ...
and of this i was so sore vexed ...and i prayed for relief ...of God my father and Jesus my brother and Lord ...from the stoney ground and the merchants scribblings and writings and marks ...on the windows of mens doors of their houses ....
and so was shown ..that of the beast and the gospell merchants for gain ...antichrists and false profits ...would have us ...looking to the future ...and the covenant ...
those things and measures of matters ..BEYOND ...it windows of our own souls ...where in ONLY .... God our father and Jesus our brother and Lord can ...and will do the cleaning of the glass ...
of willing hearts ...firstwise ...who might ...leastwise ...LOVE THE TRUTH OF GOD ...enough to begin to LOVE the WORD of God ...who Jesus IS ...our saver and brother and Lord ...
that they WITHIN themselves ...might be mended by CHRIST ...to repentance ...that any be IN abled ...and be received of God our father ...
that then ...then they might look to ...life and living ...everlasting ...and to the loving promises of God our father for our sakes ...
and not to a ...future ...in and of the world of the worldly ...for there is no future ...found in the WORD of God ...
and ...the covenant... is within ...and spiritual ...and is of God our father for Christs sake ..that the earth be whole again ...
and NOT a PIT ...and not of the imaginations and INTERPRETATIONS OF MEN ...
and again the word ..."future" ...is NOT found in the very Truth of God Yet is found in the "bibles of man" those dark and very black scribblings and marks ... 36 times in NIV, 22 times NASB, 45 times in the MSG (msg !! what is that !! msg is a false flavoring ...and ..pre...servative ..that we should not eat any way ) lol .., 41 times in AMP, 95 times in the NLT, 114 times in the NLV, 63 times in the HCSB, 17 times in the ESV, 89 times in the CEV, 16 times in the NKJV,
and of the covenant of God our father... through Jesus our saver brother and Lord being spiritual
from the new testament and other books not allowed in the bibles of man
The Fourth Book of Esdras 2 (called ezra in bibles of men) Thus sayeth the Lord: I brought this people out of bondage, I gave them my commandments by my servants the Prophets, whom thou wouldest not hear, but despised my counsels. The mother that bear them, sayeth unto them: Go your way ye children, for I am a widow and forsaken: I brought you up with gladness, but with sorrow and heaviness have I lost you: for ye have sinned before the Lord your God, and done the thing that is evil before him. But what shall I now do unto you? I am a widow and forsaken: go your way, O my children, and ask mercy of the Lord. As for me, O' father, I call upon thee for a witness over the mother of these children, which would not keep my covenant: that thou bring them to confusion, and their mother to a spoil, that she bear no more. Let their names be scattered abroad among the heathen, let them be put out of the earth, for they have thought scorn of my covenant.
Woe be unto the Assur, thou that hidest the unrighteous by thee. Thou wicked people, remember what I did unto Sodom and Gomorha, whos land is turned to pitch and ashes. Even so also I will do unto all them, that hear me not, sayeth the almighty Lord. Thus sayeth the Lord unto Esdras: Tell my people, that I will give them the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which I would have given unto Israel. Their glory also will I take unto me, and give them the everlasting tabernacles, which I had prepared for those.
The tree of life shall be unto them a sweet smelling ointment: they shall neither labor or be weary. Go ye your way, and ye shall receive it. Pray for yourselves a few days, that they may dwell therein. Now is the Kingdom prepared for you, therefore watch. Take heaven and earth to witness for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good, for I live sayeth the Lord. Mother embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness: make their feet as fast as a piler, for I have chosen them, sayeth the Lord.
And those that be dead will I raise up again from their places, and bring them out of their graves, for I have known my name in Israel. Fear not thou mother of the children, for I have chosen thee, sayeth the Lord. And for thy help I will send thee my servants Isaie and Jeremy, after whos counsel I have sanctioned and prepared for the twelve trees with diverse fruits, and as many wells, flowing with milk and honey, and seven mountains, where upon there grow roses and lilies, wherein I will fill my children with joy. Execute justice for the widow, be judge for the fatherless: give to the poor: heal the wounded and the sick: laugh not a lame man to scorn: defend the cripple, and let the blind come into the light of my clearness. Keep the old and the young within thy walls: wheresoever thou findest the dead, take them, and bury them, and I shall give you thee, the first place in my resurrection. Hold still (O' my people) and take thy rest, for thy quietness is come. Feed thy children O' thou good nurse, establish their feet: As for the servants whom I have given thee, there shall not be one of them perish, for I will seek them from thy number, vex not thy self.
For when the day of trouble and heaviness cometh, others shall weep and be sorrowful, but thou shall be merry and plenteous. The heathen shall be jealous, but they shall be able to do nothing against thee, sayeth the Lord. My hands shall cover thee, so that thy children shall not see the fire everlasting. Be joyful O' thou mother with thy children, for I will deliver thee, sayeth the Lord. Remember thy dead children, for I shall bring them out of the earth, and show mercy unto them, for I am merciful, sayeth the Lord almighty.
Embrace thy children, until I come, and show mercy unto them, for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.
I Esdras received a charge of the Lord upon the mount Oreb, that I should go unto Israel. But when I came unto Israel they set me at naught, and destroyed the commandment of the Lord. And therefore I say unto you, O' ye Heathen that hear and understand: Look for your shepherd, he shall give you everlasting rest: for he is nigh at hand, that shall come in the end of the world. Be ready to the reward of the Kingdom, for the everlasting light shall shine upon you for evermore. Flee the shadows of this world, receive the joyfulness of your glory. I testify my favor openly: O' receive the gift that is given you, and be glad, giving thanks unto him, that hath called you to the heavenly Kingdom.
Arise up! and stand fast: behold the number of those that be sealed in the feast of the Lord, which are departed from the shadow of the world, and have received glorious garments of the Lord. Take thy number O' Sion, and shut up thy purified, which have fulfilled the law of the Lord. The number of thy children that thou longest for, is fulfilled: beseech the power of the Lord, that thy people which have been called from the beginning, may be hallowed.
I Esdras saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs of thanksgiving. And in the mist of them was a young man of high stature, more excellent that all they, and on every one of their heads he set a crown, and was ever higher and higher, which I marveled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and said: Sir, what are these? He answered and said unto me: These be they that have put off the mortal clothing and put on the immortal, and have testified and knowledged the name of God. Now are they crowned and receive the reward.
Then said I unto the angel: what young person is it, that crowneth them, and giveth them the palms in their hands? So he answered and said unto me: It is the son of God, whom they have knowledged in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them, that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord. And so the angel said unto me: Go thy way, and tell my people, what manner of things and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen!
The Fourth Book of Esdras 3 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, thou spakest at the beginning, when thou planted the earth ( and that thyself alone) and gavest commandment unto the people, and a body unto Adam, which was a creature of thy hands, and hast breathed in him the breath of life: and so he lived before thee, and thou leadest him into paradise, which garden of pleasure thy right hand had planted, or ever the earth was made. And unto him thou gavest the commandment to love thy ways, which he transgressed, and immediately thou appointedest 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 thee: and as for thy commandments, they despised them.
But in process of time thou broughtest 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 thou leftest: 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 thee, thou chose thee a man from among them, whos name was Abraham. Him thou lovest, and unto him only thou showest thy will, and made an everlasting covenant with him, promising him, that thou wouldest never forsake his seed. And unto him thou gavest Isaac, unto Isaac also thou gavest Jacob and Esau. As for Jacob thou didest choose him, and put back Esau. And so Jacob became a great multitude.
And it happened that when thou leadest his feet out of Egypt, thou broughtest 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 thy glory went through four ports of fire, and earthquakes, and winds, and cold: that thou mayest give the law unto the seed of Jacob, and diligence unto the generation of Israel.
And yet tookest thou not away from them that wicked heart, that thy 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 didest thou raise up a servant called David, whom thou commandest to build a city unto thy name, and to offer up incense and sacrifice unto thee therein. This was done now many years. Then the inhabitors of the city forsook thee, and in all things did even as Adam and all his generations had done: for they also had a wicked heart.
And so thou gavest the city over into the hands of thine enemies. Are they of Babylon then better and more righteous then thy 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: yee when my soul saw so many evil doers ( in the thirty year) my heart failed me, for I saw, how thou sufferest them in such ungodliness, and spareth the wicked doers: but thy own people thou hast routed out, and preserved thine enemies, and this thou hast not showed me.
I cannot perceive how this happeneth. Do they of Babylon then better, then they of Sion: Or is there any other people, that knoweth thee, saving the people of Israel? Or what generation hath so believed thy covenants, as Jacob? And yet their reward appeareth not, and their labor hath 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 thy commandments. Weigh thou 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 thee? Or what people hath so kept thy commandments? Thou shalt find, that Israel by name hath kept thy precepts, but not the other people and the Heathen.
The Fourth Book of Esdras 4 And the angel that was sent unto me ( whos name was Uriel ) gave me an answer, and said: Thy heart has taken to much upon it in this world, and thou thinkest to comprehend the way of the Highest. Then said I: Yee my Lord: And he answered me, and said: I am sent to show thee these ways, and to set forth these similitudes, before thee: whereof if thou canst declare me one , I will show thee also the way, that thou desirest to see: and I shall show thee from whence the wicked heart cometh. And I said: Tell on my Lord. Then said he unto me: Go thy 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 requirest thou such of me? And he said unto me: If I should ask thee, 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 thou wouldest 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 thee but only of fire and wind and of the day, where through thou hast traveled, and from the which thou canst not be separated: and yet canest thou give me no answer of them.
He said moreover unto me: Thine own things, and such as are grown up with thee, canest thou not know: how should thy 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 thou were judge now between these two, whom wouldest thou justify, or whom wouldest thou 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: Thou hast given a right judgement, why judgest thy 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 dwelleth above the heavens, may only understand the things that are above the heavens. Then answered I, and said: I beseech thee, O' Lord, let me have understanding: for it was not my mind to be curious of thy high things, but of such as we meddle with all, namely, wherefore that Israel is blasphemed of the Heathen, and for what cause the people ( whom thou ever hast 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 thou searchest, the more thou shalt marvel, for the world hasteth 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 thou asked me, I will tell thee. 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 hath been sown in the heart of man from the beginning, and how much ungodliness hath he brought up unto this time? and how much shall he yet bring forth, until he come into the barn?
Ponder now by thy 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? Wherefor are our years few from evil? And he answered me, saying: Ask not thou too much upon the Highest, for thy hastiness to be above him is but vain, thou makest 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? When cometh 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 hath weighed the world in the balance: in measure and number hath he measured the time, and moveth 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 thy way to a woman with children, and ask of her, when she hath 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 travaileth, maketh haste, when the time and necessity of the birth is at hand: Even so doth she hast to deliver it that is committed unto her. Look what thou desirest to see, it shall be shown thee from the beginning. Then answered I , and said: If I have found favor in thy sight, and if it be possible, and if I be meet 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 thee. 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 exceedeth the smoke, even so the measure of the things that are past, hath the upper hand. Then went the drops and the smoke above: and I prayed and said: May I live (thinkest thou) until that time? Or what shall happen in those days? He answered me, and said: As for the tokens whereof thou ask me, I may tell thee of them in a part: but as touching thy life, I may not show thee, for I am not sent therefore.
* How long shall I hope of this fashion? (marginal note Revelation 6)
The Fourth Book of Esdras 10 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 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 their 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 me.
The Book of Wisdom 12 O' Lord, how gracious and sweet is thy spirit in all things? Therefore chasteneth thou them measurably that go wrong, and warnest them concerning the things wherein they offend: thou speakest unto them ( O' Lord ) and exhortest them to leave their wickedness, and to put their trust in thee. As for those old inhabitors of the holy land, thou mightest not away with them, for they committed abominable works against thee: as witchcrafts, sorcery and Idolatry: they slew their own children without mercy: they ate up mens bowels, and devoured the blood : yee because of such abominations, misbelieves and offerings, thou showest the fathers of the desolate souls by the hands of our fathers that the land which thou lovest above all other, might be a dwelling for the children of God.
Nevertheless thou sparedest them also ( as men ) and sendest the forerunners of thy host even hornets to destroy them out by little and little. Not that thou wast unable to subdue the ungodly unto righteousness in battle or with cruel beasts, or with one rough word to destroy them together: But thy mind was to drive them out by little and little giving them time and place to amend: knowing well, that it was an unrighteous nation and wicked of nature and that their thought might never be altered. For it was a cursed seed from the beginning, and feared no man: Yet hast thou pardoned their sins. For who will say unto thee: why hast thou done that? Or who will stand against thy judgement? Or who will come before thy face an avenger of unrighteous men? Or who will blame thee, if the people perish, whom thou hast made? For their is none other God but thou, that carest for all things: that thou mayest declare how that thy judgement is not unright. There dare neither king, ner tyrant in thy sight require accounts of them whom thou hast destroyed.
For so much then as thou art righteous thyself, thou orderest all things righteously and punishest even him that hath not deserved to be punished, and takest him for a stranger and an alien in the land of thy power. For thy power is the beginning of righteousness: and because thou art Lord of all things therefore art thou gracious unto all. When men think thee not to be of a full strength, thou declarest thy power: and boldly deliverest thou them over that know thee not. But thou Lord of power judgest quietly, and orderest us with great worship, for thou mayest do as thou wilt.
By such works now hast thou taught thy people, that a man should be just and loving: and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: for even when thou judgest, thou givest room to amend from sins. For in so much as thou hast punished, and with such diligence delivered the enemies of thy servants, which were worthy to die ( where though thou gavest them time and place of amendment that they might turn from their wickedness ) with how great diligence then punishest thou thine own children, unto whose fathers thou hast sworn and made covenants of good promises? So where as thou dost but chasten us, thou punishest our enemies diverse ways to the intent that when we punish we should remember thy goodness: and when we ourselves are punished, to put our trust in thy mercy.
Wherefore where as men have lived ignorantly and unrighteously thou hast punished them sore even throw the same things that they worshiped. For they went astray very long in the way of error, held the beasts ( which even their enemies despised ) for gods living as children of no understanding. Therefore hast thou sent a scornful punishment among them, as among the children of ignorance. As for such as would not be reformed by those scorns and rebukes, they felt the worthy judgement of God. For the things that they suffered, they bare them unpatiently, being not content in them but unwilling. And when they perished by the same things that they took for gods, they knowledged then, that there is but one true God, whom afore they would not know: therefore came the end of their damnation upon them.
The Book of Wisdom 18 Nevertheless thy saints had a very great light ( and their enemies heard their voice, but they saw not the figure of them ) And because they suffered not the same things, they magnified thee: and they that were vexed afore ( because they were not hurt now ) thanked thee, and besought thee ( O' God ) that there might be a difference. Therefore had they a burning pilar of fire to lead them in the unknown ways and thou gavest them the Sun for a free gift without any hurt. Reason was, that they should want light and be put in prison of darkness, which kept thy children in captivity, by whom the uncorrupt light of the law of the world was for to be given. When they thought to slay the babes of the righteous ( one being layed out, and preserved to be led unto the other ) thou broughtest out the whole multitude of the children, and destroyest these in the mighty water. Of that night were our fathers certified afore, that they knowing unto what oaths they had given credence, might be of good cheer. Thus thy people received the health of the righteous, but the ungodly were destroyed. For like as thou hast hurt our enemies, so hast thou promised us whom thou callest afore. For the righteous children of the good men offered secretly and ordered the law of righteousness unto unite: that the just should receive good and evil in like manner, singing praises unto the father of all men. Again there was heard an unconvenient voice of the enemies, and a piteous cry for children that were bewailed. The master and the servant were punished in like manner. For they all together had innumerable that died one death. Neither were the living sufficient to bury the dead, for in the twinkling of an eye, the noblest nation of them was destroyed. As often as God helped them before, yet would it not make them believe: but in the destruction of the first born they knowledged, that it was the people of God. For while all things were still, and when the night was in the midst of her course, thy Allmighty word (
O' Lord ) leaped down from heaven out of thy royal throne, as a rough man of war, in the midst of the land that was destroyed: and the sharp sword performed their straight commandment, standing and filling all things with death: yee it stood upon the earth and reached unto heaven. Then the sight of the evil dreams vexed them suddenly, and fearfulness came upon them unawares.
Then lay there one here, another there, half dead and half quick, and showed the cause of his death. For the visions that vexed them, showed them these things afore: so they were not ignorant, wherefore they perished.
The *tentacion of death touched the righteous also, and among the multitude in the wilderness there was insurrection, but thy wrath endured not long. For the faultless man went in all the haste, and took the battle upon him, brought forth the weapon of his ministration: even prayer and censors of reconciling: set himself against the wrath, and so brought the misery to an end: declaring thereby, that he was thy servant. For he overcame not the multitude with bodily power, ner with weapons of might: but with the word he subdued him that vexed him, putting thee in remembrance of the oath and covenant made unto the fathers. For when the dead were fallen down by heaps one upon another, he stood in the midst, pacified the wrath, and parted the way unto the living. And why? in his long garment was all the beauty, and in the four rows of the stones was the glory of the fathers graven, and thy majesty was written in the crown of his head. Unto these the destroyer gave place, and was afraid of them: for it was only a *tentacion worthy of wrath.
*tentacion (temptation / attention)
Luke 1 There was in the days of Herode the King of *Jurie a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron: And her name was Elizabeth. Both were perfect before God, and walked in all the laws and ordinances of the Lord, that no man could find fault with them. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren and both were well stricken in age.
And it came to pass, as he executed the Priests office before God, as his course came (according to the custom of the Priests office) his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord, and the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer while the incense was a burning. And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was abashed, and fear came on him.
And the Angel said unto him: fear not Zachary, for thy prayer is heard: And thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John, and thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the holy ghost, even in his mothers womb: and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to their Lord God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of *Helias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the unbelievers to the wisdom of the just men: to make the people ready for the Lord.
And Zacharias said unto the angel: whereby shall I know this? seeing that I am old and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answered and said unto him. I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee: and to show thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the time that these things be performed, because thou believedst not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.
And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that he tarried in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them. Whereby they perceived that he had seen some vision in the temple. And he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
And it fortuned, as soon as the time of his office was out, he departed home into his own house. And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months saying: This wise hath God dealt with me in the days when he looked on me, to take from me the rebuke that I suffered among men. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galile, named Nazareth, to a virgin spoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgins name was Mary. And the angel went in unto her, and said: Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
When she saw him, she was abashed at his saying: and cast in her mind what manner of salutation that should be. And the angel said unto her: fear not Mary: for thou hast found grace with God. Lo, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the seat of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.
Then said Mary unto the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her: The holy ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born, shall be called the son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her age. And this is her sixth month, though she be called barren: for with God can nothing be unpossible. And Mary said: behold the hand maiden of the Lord, be it unto me even as thou hast said. And the angel departed from her.
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the mountains with haste, into a city of *Jurie and entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it fortuned, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy ghost, and cried with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among the women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence happeneth this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe sprang in my belly for joy. And blessed art thou that believedst: for those things shall be performed which were told thee from the Lord. And Mary said:
My soul magnifieth the Lord. And my spirit rejoiceth in God my saviour. For he hath looked on the poor degree of his handmaiden. Behold now from henceforth shall all generations call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He showeth strength with his arm, he scattereth them that are proud in the imagination of their hearts. He putteth down the mighty from their seats, and exalteth them of low degree. He filleth the hungry with good things: and sendeth away the rich empty. He remembereth mercy: and helpeth his servant Israel.
Even as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about a three months, and returned again to her own house.
Elizabeths time was come that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
And it fortuned the eighth day: they came to circumcise the child: and called his name Zacharias, after the name of his father. How be it his mother answered and said: not so, but he shall be called John. And they said unto her: There is none of thy kin, that is named with this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for writing tables and wrote saying: his name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spake lauding God. And fear came on all them that dwelt nigh unto them. And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of *Jurie and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts saying: What manner child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy ghost, and prophesied saying.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people.
And hath raised up an horn of salvation unto us in the house of his servant David.
Even as he promised by the mouth of his holy Prophets which were since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us.
To fulfil the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.
And to perform the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, for to give us.
That we delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him. And thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways: And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of sins. Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us.
To give light to them that sat in darkness and in shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in wilderness, till the day came when he should show himself unto the Israelites.
*Jurie (Jewry) *Helias (Elias)
Acts 3 Peter and John went up together into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer. And there was a certain man halt from his mothers womb, whom they brought and laid at the gate of the temple called beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. Which same when he saw Peter and John, that they would into the temple, desired to receive an alms. And Peter fastened his eyes on him with John and said: look on us. And he gave heed unto them, trusting to receive something of them. Then said Peter: Silver and gold have I none, such as I have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up. And immediately his feet and anklebones received strength. And he sprang, stood and also walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping and lauding God.
And all the people saw him walk and *laud God. And they knew him, that it was he which sat and begged at the beautiful gate of the temple. And they wondered and were sore astonied at that which had happened unto him. And as the halt which was healed, held Peter and John, all the people ran amazed unto them in Solomons porch.
When Peter saw that, he answered unto the people. Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this, or why look ye so steadfastly on us, as though by our own power or holiness, we had made this man go? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers hath glorified his son Jesus, whom ye delivered, and denied in the presence of Pilate when he had judged him to be loosed. But ye denied the holy and just, and desired a murderer to be given you, and killed the Lord of life, whom God hath raised from death, of the which we are witnesses. And his name through the faith of his name, hath made this man sound, whom ye see and know. And the faith which is by him, hath given to him this health in the presence of you all.
And now brethren I *wot well that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your heads. But those things which God before had showed, by the mouth of all his Prophets, how that Christ should suffer, he hath thus wise fulfilled. Repent ye therefore and turn, that your sins may be done away, when the time of refreshing cometh, which we shall have of the presence of the Lord, and when God shall send him, which before was preached unto you, that is to wit Jesus Christ, which must receive heaven until the time that all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began, be restored again.
For Moses said unto the fathers: A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, even of your brethren like unto me: him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. For the time will come, that every soul which shall not hear that same Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Also all the Prophets from Samuel and thenceforth, as many as have spoken, have in like wise told of these days.
Ye are the children of the Prophets, and of the covenant, which God hath made unto our fathers, saying to Abraham: Even in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. First unto you hath God raised up his son Jesus, and him he hath sent to bless you, that every one of you should turn from your wickedness.
*laud (celebrate, glorify) *wot (know) wit (know it sharply )
Acts 7 Then said the chief priest: is it even so? And he said: ye men, brethren and fathers, hearken to. The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham while he was yet in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him: come out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land, which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of Chaldey, and dwelt in Charran. And after that, as soon as his father was dead, he brought him into this land in which ye now dwell, and he gave him none inheritance in it, no not the breadth of a foot: but promised that he would give it to him to possess and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
God verily spake on this wise, that his seed should be a dweller in a strange land and that they should keep them in bondage and entreat them evil four hundred years. But the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God. And after that shall they come forth and serve me in this place. And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And he begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob the twelve Patriarchs. And the Patriarchs having indignation sold Joseph into Egypt. And God was with him, and delivered him out of all his adversities, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharao king of Egypt which made him governor over Egypt, and over all his household.
Then came there a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, that our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt he sent our fathers first, and at the second time, Joseph was known of his brethren, and Josephs kindred was made known unto Pharao. Then sent Joseph and caused his father to be brought and all his kin, three score and fifteen souls. And Jacob descended into Egypt and died both he and our fathers, and were translated into Sichem, and were put in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for money of the sons of Emor, at Syihem.
When the time of the promise drew nigh (which God had sworn to Abraham) the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, till another king arose which knew not of Joseph. The same dealt subtly with our kindred and evil intreated our fathers, and made them to cast out their young children, that they should not remain alive. The same time was Moses born, and was a proper child in the sight of God, which was nourished up in his fathers house three months. When he was cast out, Pharaohs daughter took him up, and nourished him up for her own son. And Moses was learned in all manner wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in deeds and in words.
And when he was full forty year old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. And when he saw one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged his quarrel that had the harm done to him, and smote the Egyptian. For he supposed his brethren would have understood, how that God by his hands should save them. But they understood not.
And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again saying: Sirs, ye are brethren, why hurt ye one another? But he that did his neighbour wrong, thrust him away saying: who made thee a ruler and a judge among us? What, wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday? Then fled Moses at that saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an Angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him: I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Moses trembled and durst not behold. Then said the Lord to him: Put off thy shoes from thy feet, for the place where thou standest is holy ground. I have perfectly seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come and I will send thee into Egypt.
This Moses whom they forsook saying: who made the a ruler and a judge? the same God sent both a ruler and deliverer, by the hands of the Angel which appeared to him in the bush. And the same brought them out, showing wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the reed sea and in the wilderness forty years. This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel: A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear.
This is he that was in the congregation, in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers. This man received the word of life to give unto us, to whom our fathers would not obey, but cast it from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt, saying unto Aaron: Make us Gods to go before us. For this Moses that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we *wot not what is become of him. And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the image, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
Then God turned himself and gave them up, that they should worship the stars of the sky, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: O ye of the house of Israel, gave ye to me sacrifices and meat offerings, by the space of forty years in the wilderness? And ye took unto you the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them. And I will translate you beyond Babylon.
Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed them speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which tabernacle our fathers received, and brought it in with Joshue into the possession of the Gentiles which God drave out before the face of our fathers unto the time of David, which found favour before God, and would faine have made a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house.
How be it he that is highest of all, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, as saith the Prophet: Heaven is my seat, and earth is my footstool, what house will ye build for me saith the Lord? or what place is it that I should rest in hath not my hand made all these things?
Ye stiffnecked and of uncircumcised hearts and ears: ye have all ways resisted the holy ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them, which showed before of the coming of that *Just, whom ye have now betrayed and murdered. And ye also have received a law by the ordinance of Angels, and have not kept it.
When they heard these things, their hearts clave asunder, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he being full of the holy ghost, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said: behold, I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and ran upon him all at once, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young mans feet named Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling on and saying: Lord Jesus receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Lord lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had thus spoken, he fell asleep.
*wot (knew) *Just: cap J
Paul to the Romans 1 Paul the servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle, put apart to preach the Gospell of God, which he promised afore by his Prophets in the holy scriptures that make mention of his son, the which was begotten of the seed of David, as pertaining to the flesh: and declared to be the son of God, with power of the Holy ghost that sanctifieth, since the time that Jesus Christ our Lord rose again from death, by whom we have received grace and Apostleship, to bring all manner heathen people unto obedience of the faith, that is in his name: of the which heathen are ye a part also, which are Jesus Christs by vocation.
To all you of Rome beloved of God and saints by calling. Grace be with you and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
First verily I thank my God through Jesus Christ, for you all, because your faith is published throughout all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the Gospell of his son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, beseeching that at one time or another, a prosperous journey (by the will of God) might fortune me, to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I might bestow among you some spiritual gift, to strength you with all: that is, that I might have consolation together with you, through the common faith, which both ye and I have.
I would that ye should know brethren, how that I have often times purposed to come unto you (but have been let hitherto) to have some fruit among you, as I have among other of the Gentiles. For I am debtor both to the Greeks and to them which are no Greeks, unto the learned and also unto the unlearned. Likewise, as much as in me is I am ready to preach the Gospell to you of Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospell of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation to all that believe, namely to the Jewe, and also to the Gentile. For by it the righteousness which cometh of God, is opened, from faith to faith As it is written: The just shall live by faith.
For the wrath of God appeareth from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness: seeing, what may be known of God, that same is manifest among them. For God did show it unto them. So that his invisible things: that is to say, his eternal power and godhead, are understood and seen, by the works from the creation of the world. So that they are without excuse, in as much as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became fools and turned the glory of the immortal God, unto the similitude of the image of mortal man, and of birds, and fourfooted beasts, and of serpents. Wherefore God like wise gave them up unto their hearts lusts, unto uncleanness, to defile their own bodies between themselves: which turned his truth unto a lie, and worshipped and served the creatures more then the maker, which is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto shameful lusts. For even their women did change the natural use unto the unnatural. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burned in their lusts one on another. And man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves the reward of their error, as it was according.
And as it seemed not good unto them to be a known of God, even so God delivered them up unto a lewd mind, that they should do those things which were not comely, being full of all unrighteous doing, of fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, evil conditioned, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, doers of wrong, proud, boasters, bringers up of evil things, disobedient to father and mother, without understanding, covenant breakers, unloving, truce breakers and merciless. Which men though they knew the righteousness of God, how that they which commit such things, are worthy of death, yet not only do the same, but also have pleasure in them that do them.
Paul to the Romans 9 I Say the truth in Christ, and lie not, in that whereof my conscience beareth me witness in the holy ghost that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I have wished myself to be cursed from Christ, for my brethren and my kinsmen as pertaining to the flesh, which are the Israelites. To whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the law that was given, and the service of God, and the promises: whose also are the fathers, and they of whom (as concerning the flesh) Christ came, which is God over all things blessed for ever. Amen.
I speak not these things as though the words of God had taken none effect. For they are not all Israelites which came of Israel: neither are they all children straight way because they are the seed of Abraham. But in Isaac shall thy seed be called: that is to say, they which are the children of the flesh, are not the children of God. But the children of promise are counted the seed. For this is a word of promise, about this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.
Neither was it to with her only: but also when Rebecca was with child by one, I mean by our father Isaac, *yer the children were born, when they had neither done good neither bad: that the purpose of God which is by election, might stand, it was said unto her, not by the reason of works, but by grace of the caller: the elder shall serve the younger. As it is written: Jacob he loved, but Esau he hated. What shall we say then? is there any unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy: and will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So lieth it not then in a mans will or cunning, but in the mercy of God. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh even for this same purpose have I stirred thee up, to show my power on thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the world. So hath he mercy on whom he will, and whom he will, he maketh hard hearted.
Thou wilt say then unto me: why then blameth he us yet? For who can resist his will? But O' man, what art thou which disputest with God? Shall the work say to the workman: why hast thou made me on this fashion? Hath not the potter power over the clay, even of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Even so, God willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, suffered with long patience the vessels of wrath, ordained to damnation, that he might declare the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared unto glory: that is to say, us which he called, not of the Jewes only, but also of the gentiles. As he saith in *Osee: I will call them my people which were not my people: and her beloved which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people: that there shall be called the children of the living God.
But Esaias crieth concerning Israel, though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet shall a remnant be saved. He finisheth the work verily, and maketh it short in righteousness. For a short word will God make on earth. And as Esaias said before: Except the Lord of Saboth had left us seed, we had been made as *Zodoma, and had been likened to Gomorra.
What shall we say then? We say that the gentiles which followed not righteousness have overtaken righteousness: I mean the righteousness which cometh of faith. But Israel which followed the law of righteousness could not attain unto the law of righteousness. And wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith: but as it were by the works of the law. For they have stumbled at the stumbling stone. As it is written: Behold I put in Sion a stumbling stone, and a rock which shall make men fall. And none that believe on him, shall be ashamed.
*yer (before) *Osee (Oseas, Hosea) *Zodoma (Sodom)
Paul to the Romans 11 I say then: hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For even I verily am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, and of the tribe of Benjamin, God hath not cast away his people which he knew before. Either *wot ye not what the scripture saith by the mouth of *Helias, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying: Lord they have killed thy Prophets and digged down thine altars: and I am left only, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God to him again? I have reserved unto me seven thousand men which have not bowed the knee to Baal. Even so at this time is there a remnant left through the election of grace. If it be of grace, then is it not of works. For then were grace no more grace. If it be of works, then is it no more grace. For then were deserving no longer deserving. What then? Israel hath not obtained that he sought. No but yet the election hath obtained it. The remnant are blinded, according as it is written: God hath given them the spirit of unquietness: eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear even unto this day. And David saith: Let their table be made a snare to take them with all, and an occasion to fall, and a reward unto them. Let their eyes be blinded that they see not: and even bow down their backs.
I say then: Have they therefore stumbled, that they should but fall only? God forbid: but through their fall is salvation happened unto the gentiles, for to provoke them with all. Wherefore if the fall of them, be the riches of the world: and the minishing of them the riches of the gentiles: How much more should it be so, if they all believed? I speak to you gentiles, in as much as I am the Apostle of the gentiles, I will magnify mine office, that might provoke them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For if the casting away of them, be the reconciling of the world: what shall the receiving of them be, but life again from death? For if one piece be holy, the whole heap is holy. And if the root be holy, the branches are holy also.
Though some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, art graft in among them, and made partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, boast not thyself against the branches. For if thou boast thyself, remember that thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then: the branches are broken off, that I might be graft in. Thou sayest well: because of unbelief they are broken off, and thou standest steadfast in faith. Be not high minded, but fear seeing that God spared not the natural branches, lest haply he also spare not thee.
Behold the kindness and rigorousness of God: on them which fell, rigorousness: but towards thee, kindness, if thou continue in his kindness. Or else thou shalt be hewn off, and they if they bide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in again. For God is of power to *graff them in again. For if thou wast cut out of a natural wild olive tree, and wast graffed contrary to nature in a true olive tree: how much more shall the natural branches be graffed in their own olive tree again?
I would not that this secret should be hid from you my brethren (lest ye should be wise in your own conceits) that partly blindness is happened in Israel, until the fullness of the gentiles be come in: and so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written: There shall come out of Sion he that doth deliver, and shall turn away the ungodliness of Jacob. And this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospell they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are loved for the fathers sakes.
For verily the gifts and calling of God are such, that it cannot repent him of them: for look, as ye in time passed have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so now have they not believed the mercy which is happened unto you, that they also may obtain mercy. God hath wrapped all nations in unbelief, that he might have mercy on all.
O' the deepness of the abundant wisdom and knowledge of God: how unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who was his counsellor? other who hath given unto him first, that he might be recompensed again? For of him, and through him, and for him are all things. To him be glory for ever Amen.
*wot (know) *Helias (Elias) *graff (graft)
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