And measures and matters of The Truth of the "time" we are in ...how "man" ..."thought to change time and times ... scorpions sting...
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 i was taken and shown a man ...
and the man loved God our father and Jesus our brother and Lord ...
and that in spirit and truth ...
nevertheless the man of time and times past ...had inner tained himself ...
and that of his imagination ...
even to fullfill the lust of the flesh ...lust of the eye ...
and God his father and Jesus his brother and Lord had made him free of such a thing ...
even in all measures of matters of that wicked imagination ...
and i was shown the man ...
and he again looked to the thing that he might pick it up again ...
even that his wicked imaginations might rise again ...
and he reached out his hand for the thing ...of his wicked imaginations ...
and even into the darkness ...where the thing was set aside ...
and Behold the cockatrice (spider) and the scorpion was there in the darkness ...
for their habitation is of the darkness ...
and the lurking in the midst of things thought kept in the darkness ...
and as the man reached for that thing ...of his imaginations again ...
Behold the cockatrice did bite ...
and the scorpion did sting ...
and i saw the mans hand ...that he had put to such wicked imagination again ...
and it was swollen of the bites of the cockatrice ...
and Behold the sting of the scorpion was so powerful ...
and piercing ...that it had even went through ...the nails of his hands ...
and the man finally let loose of the thing of his wicked imaginations
and would touch it no more ...
and that was all i was shown as touching wicked imaginations ...
even all that which is against the verity (realness) that God and Christ would have for us ...
and that in spirit and truth ...
and scriptures came back to remembrance ...
of the cockatrice
He shall smite the world with the staff of his mouth, and with the breath of his mouth shall he slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, truth and faithfulness, the girding of his reins. Then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the Leopard shall lie down by the goat. Bullocks, Lions and cattle shall keep company together, so that a little child shall drive them forth. The cow and the bear shall feed together, and their young ones shall lie together. The Lion shall eat straw like the ox, or the cow. The child while he sucketh, shall *have a desire to the serpents nest, and when he is weaned, he shall put his hand in to the Cockatrice den. No man shall do evil to another, no man shall destroy another, in all the hill of my Sanctuary. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, even as though the water of the sea flowed over the earth.
We looked for peace, and we fair not the better, we waited for the time of health, and lo, there is nothing but trouble.
Then shall the noise of his horses be heard from Dan, the whole land shall be afraid at the neighing of his strong horses: for they shall go in, and devour the land, with all that is in it: the cities, and those that dwell therin. Moreover , I will send Cockatrices and serpents among you ( which will not be charmed ) and they shall bite you sayeth the Lord.
of the scorpions
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 10
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying: Lord even the very devils are subdued to us through thy name. And he said unto them: I saw Satan, as it had been lightning, fall down from heaven. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all manner power of the enemy: and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are under your power: but rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
That same time rejoiced Jesus in the spirit, and said: I confess unto thee father: Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast opened them to the babes. Even so father, for so pleased it thee. All things are given me of my father. And no man knoweth who the son is, but the father: neither who the father is, save the son, and he to whom the son will show him.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 11
And he said unto them: if any of you should have a friend, and should go to him at midnight, and say unto him: friend lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine is come out of the way to me, and I have nothing to set before him: and he within should answer and say, trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my servants are with me in the chamber, I cannot rise and give them to thee. I say unto you, though he would not arise and give him, because he is his friend: yet because of his importunity he would rise, and give him as many as he needed. And I say unto you: ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, shall it be opened. If the son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father: will he give him a stone? Or if he ask fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he ask an egg: will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then which are evil, can give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall the father of heaven give an holy spirit to them, that desire it of him?
THE REVELATION OF ST JOHN THE DIVINE Chpt 9
And the fifth Angel blew, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth. And to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and there arose the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened by the reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt the grass of the earth: neither any green thing: neither any tree: but only those men which have not the seal in their foreheads. And to them was commanded that they should not kill them, but that they should be vexed five months, and their pain was as the pain that cometh of a scorpion, when he hath stung a man. And in those days shall men shall seek death, and shall not find it, and shall desire to die, and death shall fly from them.
And the similitude of the locusts was like unto horses prepared unto battle, and on their heads were as it were crowns, like unto gold: and their faces were as it had been the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women. And their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had habergeons, as it were habergeons of iron. And the sound of their wings, was as the sound of chariots when many horses run together to battle: And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. And their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue, is Abadon: but in the Greek tongue, Apollion. One woe is past, and behold two woes come after this.
and of imaginations
even from the beginning ...
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply upon the earth, and had begot them daughters, the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and took unto them wives, which they best liked among them all. And the Lord said: My spirit shall not always strive with man, for they are flesh. Nevertheless I will give them yet space, an hundred and twenty years.
There were tyrants in the world in those days. For after that the children of God had gone in unto the daughters of men, and had begotten them children, the same children were the mightiest of the world, and men of renown. And when the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was increased upon the earth, and that all the imagination and thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, he repented that he had made man upon the earth, and sorrowed in his heart. And said: I will destroy mankind which I have made, from off the face of the earth: both man, beast, worm and fowl of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them. But yet Noe found grace in the sight of the Lord.And Noe made an altar unto the Lord, and took of all manner of clean beasts, and all manner of clean fowls, and offered sacrifice upon the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour and said in his heart: I will henceforth no more curse the earth for mans sake, for the imagination of mans heart is evil, even from the very youth of him. Moreover I will not destroy from henceforth all that liveth as I have done. Neither shall sowing time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night cease, as long as the earth endureth.
Now therefore write ye this song, and teach it the children of Israel and put it in their mouths that this song may be my witness unto the children of Israel. For when I have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that runneth with milk and honey, then they will eat and fill themselves and wax fat and turn unto strange Gods and serve them and rail on me and break my testament. And then when much mischief and tribulation is come upon them, this song shall answer before them, and be a witness. It shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land which I sware. And Moses wrote this song the same season, and taught it the children of Israel. And the Lord gave Josua the son of Nun a charge and said: be bold and strong for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them, and I will be with thee.
The lords of Isacar were with Debora. And as Barak, even so was Isacar sent into the valley afoot. But in the divisions of Ruben, were great imaginations of heart.
Wherefore abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks. In the divisions of Ruben, great were the imaginations of heart. Galaad abode on the other side Jordan, and why tarried Dan in ships. And Aser sat in the havens of the sea, and abode still in his own coasts. Zabulon is a people that put their lives in jeopardy of death, and Nephthalim in like manner, even unto the top of the fields. Kings came and fought. Then fought the King of Canaan at Thanach, upon the water of Magedo. But the silver that they coveted, they carried not away.
THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES Chpt 28
And now I say unto you before all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God: keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God, that ye may enjoy a good land and inherit your children after you for ever. And thou Salomon my son: know God thy father and serve him with a pure heart and lust of soul. For the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the Imaginations of thoughts. If thou shalt seek him, he will be found of thee: But and if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now, for the Lord hath chosen thee, to build an house of thy sanctuary. Be strong and do it.
THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES Chpt 29
I know my God, that thou provest the heart and hast pleasure in plainness. And in plainness of mine heart I have willingly given all this. And now I see thy people which are here in gladness, to offer willingly to thee. O' Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel of our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their hearts unto thee. And give unto Salomon my son, a pure heart to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies and thine ordinances, and to do all, and to build the house which I intended.
Lead me ( O Lord ) in thy righteousness because of mine enemies, and make thy way plain before me. For there is no faithfulness in their mouths: they disassemble in their hearts: their throat is an open sepulcher: with their tongues they deceive. Punish them ( O' God ) that they perish in their own imaginations: cast them out because of the multitude of their ungodliness, for they rebel against thee.
Why art thou gone so far off, O' Lord? whilt thou hide thyself in time of trouble? While the ungodly hath the over hand, the poor must suffer persecution: O that they are taken in the imagination which they go about. For the ungodly maketh boast of his own hearts desire, the covetous blessth himself, and blaspheme the Lord.
But my people would not hear my voice, and Israel would no obey me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust, and let them follow their own imaginations.
There be six things which the Lord hateth, and the seventh he utterly abhoreth: A proud look, a *dissembling tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that goeth about with wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to do mischief, a false witness that bringeth up lies, and such one as soweth discord among brethren. My son, keep thy fathers commandments, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Put them up together in thine heart, and bind them about thy neck. That they may lead thee where thou goest, preserve the when thou art a sleep, and when thou awakest, thou mayest talk of them. For the commandment is a lantern, and the law a light: yee chastening and nurture is the way of life: that we may keep thee from the evil woman, and flattering tongue of the harlot: that thou lust not after her beauty in thine heart, and lest thou be taken with her fair looks. An Harlot will make a man to beg for his bread, but a married woman will hunt for that precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burnt? Or can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be hurt? Even so, whosoever goeth in to his neighbors wife, and toucheth her shall not be unguilty. Men do not utterly despise a thief, that stealeth to satisfy his soul, when he is hungry: But if he may be gotten, he restoreth seven times as much, or else he maketh recompense with all the goods of his house. But whoso committeth *advoutry with a woman, he is a fool, and bringeth his life to destruction. He getteth himself also shame and dishonor, such as shall never be put out. For the jealousy and wrath of the man will not be entreated, no though thou wouldest offer him great gifts to make amends, he will not receive them.
The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the imagination of the ungodly are deceitful.
The Lord abhorreth the imaginations of the wicked, but pure words are pleasant to him.
Therefore thus sayeth the Lord: For so much as this people draweth near me with their mouth, and praiseth me highly with their lips, where as their heart nevertheless is far from me, and the fear which they owe unto me, that turn they to mens laws and doctrines, therefore will I also show unto this people a marvelous, terrible, and great thing ( Namely this: ) I will destroy the wisdom of their wise, and the understanding of their learned men shall perish. Woe be unto them that seek so deep, to hide their imagination before the Lord, which rehearse their counsels in darkness, and say: who seeth us, or who knoweth us? Which imagination of yours is even as when the potters clay taketh advisement, as though the work might say to the workmaster : make me not, or as when an earthen vessel sayeth of the potter: he understandeth not. See ye not that it is hard by, that Libanus shall be turned in to Charmel, and that Charmel shall be taken as wood? Then shall the deaf man understand the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see without any cloud or darkness. The oppressed shall hold a merry feast in the Lord, and the poor shall rejoice in the holy one of Israel.
Behold, I shall give him for a witness among the folk, for a Prince and Captain unto the people. Lo, thou shalt call an unknown people: and a people that had no knowledge of thee, shall run unto thee: because of the Lord thy God, the holy one of Israel, which glorifieth thee. Seek the Lord, while he may be found, and call upon him while he is nye. Let the ungodly man forsake his ways and the unrighteous his imaginations, and turn again unto the Lord: so shall he be merciful unto him: and to our God, for he is ready to forgive. For thus sayeth the Lord: my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, but as far as the heavens are higher than the earth, so far do my ways exceed yours, and my thoughts yours. And like as the rain and snow cometh down from heaven, and returneth not thither again, but watereth the earth, maketh it fruitful and green, that it may give corn and bread unto the sower: So the word also that cometh out of my mouth shall not turn again void unto me, but shall accomplish my will and prosper the thing, whereto I sent it. And so shall yee go forth with joy, and be lead with peace. The mountains and the hills shall sing with you for joy, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. For thorns, there shall grow , Fir trees, and that Myrtle tree instead of briers. And this shall be done to the praise of the Lord, and for an everlasting token, that shall not be taken away.
Yee if thou turn thy feet from the Sabbath, so that thou do not the thing which pleaseth thy self in my holy day: then shalt thou be called unto the pleasant, holy, and glorious Sabbath of the Lord, where thou shalt be in honor: so that thou do not after thine own imagination, neither seek thine own will, ner speak thine own words. Then shalt thou have thy pleasure in the Lord, which shall carry thee high above the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the Lords own mouth hath so promised.
And this is the cause that equity is so far from us, and the righteousness cometh not nye, us. We look for light, lo, it is darkness: for the morning shine, see, we walk in the dark. We grope like the blind upon the wall, we grope even as one that hath none eyes. We stumble at the noon day as though it were toward night: in the falling places, like men that are half dead. We roar all like Bears, and mourn still like doves. We look for equity, but there is none: for health , but it is far from us. For our offenses are many before thee, and our sins testify against us. Yee we must confess that we offend, and knowledge that we do amiss: Namely transgress and disassemble against the Lord, and fall away from our God: using presumptuous and traitorous imaginations, and casting false matters in our hearts. And therefore is equity gone aside, and righteousness standeth far off: truth is fallen down in the street, and the thing that is plain and open, may not be showed. Yee the truth is laid in prison, and he that refraineth him self from evil, must be spoiled.
They shall seek me, that hitherto have not asked for me, they shall find me, that hitherto have not sought me. Then shall I say immediately to the people that never called upon my name: I am here, I am here. For thus long have I ever holden out my hands to an unfaithful people, that go not in the right way, but after their own imaginations: To a people that is ever defying me to my face. They make their oblations in gardens, and their smoke upon altars of brick, they lurk among the graves, and lie in the dens all night. They eat swine flesh, and unclean broth in their vessels. If thou comest nye them, they say: touch me not, for I am holier than thou.
Thus shall the hand of the Lord be known among his servants, and his indignation among his enemies. For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and his chariot shall be like a whirlwind, that he may recompense his vengeance in his wrath and indignation with flame of fire. For the Lord shall judge all flesh with the fire and with his sword, and there shall be a great number slain of the Lord. Such as have made themselves holy and clean in gardens, and those that have eaten swines flesh, mice, and other abominations, shall be taken away together, sayeth the Lord. For I will come to gather all people and tongues with their works and imaginations: these shall come, and see my glory. Unto them shall I give a token, and send certain of them ( that be delivered ) among the Gentiles: into Celicia, *Atrica and Lidia (where men can handle bows ) into *Italye also and Greek land.
Then shall Jerusalem be called the Lords seat and all Heathen shall be gathered unto it, for the name of the Lords sake, which shall be set up in Jerusalem. And from that time forth, they shall follow no more the imagination of their own froward heart.
Be circumcised in the Lord, and cut away the foreskins of your heart, all ye of Judah, and all the indwellers of Jerusalem: that my indignation break not out like fire and kindle, so that no man can quench it, because of the wickedness of your imaginations.
Thus saith the Lord: go into the streets, consider and make inquisition for the old way: and if it be the good and right way: then go therin, that ye may find rest for your souls. But if they say: we will not walk therin, and I will set watchmen over you, and therefore take heed unto the voice of the trumpet. But they say: we will not take heed. Hear therefore ye Gentiles, and thou congregation shalt know, what I have devised for them. Hear thou earth also: behold, I will cause a plague upon this people, even the fruit of their own imaginations.
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: Yee heap up your burnt offerings with your sacrifices, and eat flesh. But when I brought your fathers out of Egypt, I spake no word unto them of burntofferings and sacrifices: but this I commanded them, saying: hearken and obey my voice, and I shall be your God, and ye shall be my people: so that ye walk in all the ways, which I have commanded you, that ye may prosper.
But they were not obedient, they inclined not their ears there unto, but went after their own imaginations and after the motions of their own wicked heart, and so turned themselves away, and converted not unto me. And this have they done, from the time that your fathers came out of Egypt, unto this day.
Nevertheless, I sent unto them my servants all the prophets: I rose up early and sent them word, yet would they not hearken, ner offer me their ears, but were obstinate and worse than their fathers. And thou shalt now speak all these words unto them, but they shall not hear thee: thou shalt cry upon them, but they shall not answer thee. Therefore shalt thou say unto them: this is the people, that neither heareth the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth his correction. Faithfulness and truth is clean rooted out of their mouth.
Then the Lord said unto me again: preach this in the cities of Juda and round about Jerusalem, and say: Hear the words of this covenant, that ye may keep them. For I have diligently exhorted your fathers, ever since I brought them out of the Land of Egypt unto this day. I gave them warning by times, saying: hearken unto my voice: Nevertheless, they would not obey me, nor inclined their ears unto me, but followed the wicked imaginations of their own hearts. And therefore have I accused them as transgressors of all the words of this covenant, that I gave them to keep, which they (not with understanding ) have not kept.
Then said the Lord unto me: Thus saith the Lord: Even so will I corrupt the pride of Judah, and the high mind of Jerusalem. This people is a wicked people, they will not hear my word, they follow the wicked imaginations of their own heart, and hang upon strange Gods, them have they served and worshiped: and therefore they shall be as this breech, that serveth for nothing. For as straightly as a breech lieth upon a mans loins, so straightly did I bind the whole house of Israel, and the whole house of Juda unto me, sayeth the Lord: that they might be my people: that they might have a gorgeous name: that they might be in honor: but they would not obey me. Therefore lay this riddle before them, and say: Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Every pot shall be filled with wine. And they shall say: thinkest thou we know not, that every pot shall be filled with wine? Then shalt thou say unto them: Thus saith the Lord: Behold, I shall fill all the inhabitors of this land with drunkenness, the Kings that sit upon Davids stool, the Priests and Prophets, with all that dwell at Jerusalem. And I will *shute them one against another, yee the fathers against the sons, sayeth the Lord.
Now when thou showest this people all these words, and they say unto thee: Wherefore hath the Lord devised all this great plague for us? Or what is the offense and sin, that we have done against the Lord our God? Then make thou them this answer: Because your fathers have forsaken me, ( saith the Lord ) and have cleaved unto strange gods, whom they have honored and worshiped: but me they have forsaken, and have not kept my law. And yee with your shameful blasphemes, have exceeded the wickedness of your fathers. For every one of you followeth the froward and evil imagination of his own heart, and is not obedient unto me.
Therefore let every man turn from his evil way, take upon you the thing that is good, and do right. But they say: No more of this, we will follow our own imaginations, and do every man according to the wilfulness of his own mind.
And unto the house of the king of Judah, say thus: Hear ye the word of the Lord: ( O house of David ) for thus saith the Lord: Minister righteousness, and that soon, deliver the oppressed from the violent power: or ever my terrible wrath break out like a fire, and burn so, that no man may quench it, because of the wickedness of your imaginations. Behold, ( sayeth the Lord ) I will come upon you that dwell in the valleys, rocks and fields, and say: Tush, who will make us afraid? or who will come into our houses? For I will visit you ( sayeth the Lord ) because of the wickedness of your inventions, and will kindle such a fire in the wood, as shall consume all, that is about you.
Woe be unto the shepherds, that destroy, and scatter my flock, saith the Lord. Wherefore, this is the commandment of the Lord God of Israel, unto the shepherds that feed my people: Ye scatter and thrust out my flock, and look not upon them. Therefore now will I visit the wickedness of your imaginations, saith the Lord: And I will gather together the remnant of my flock, from all lands that I have driven them unto, and will bring them again to their pastures, that they may grow and increase. I will set shepherds also over them, which shall feed them. They shall no more fear and dread, for there shall none of them be lost, saith the Lord. Behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that I will raise up the righteous branch of David, which shall bear rule, and discuss matters with wisdom, and shall set up equity and righteousness again in the earth.
In his time shall Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell without fear. And this is the name that they shall call him: even the Lord our righteous maker. And therefore behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said: the Lord liveth, which brought forth, and led the seed of the house of Israel, out of the North land, and from all countries where I had scattered them, and they shall dwell in their own land again.
My heart breaketh in my body because of the false prophets, all my bones shake: I am like a drunken man ( that by the reason of wine I can take no rest ) for very fear of the Lord, and of his holy words: Because the land is full of *advouters, where through it is destroyed and mourneth, and the pleasant pastures of the desert are dried up. Yee the way that men take, is wicked, and their governance is nothing like the holy word of the Lord. For the prophets and the priests themselves are polluted *ipocrites, and their wickedness have I found in my house, sayeth the Lord. Wherefore, their way shall be slippery in the darkness, wherein they may stagger and fall. For I will bring a plague upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord. I have seen folly among the Prophets of Samaria, that they preached for Baal, and deceived my people of Israel.
I have seen also among the Prophets of Jerusalem foul **advoutry, and presumptuous lies. They take the most shameful men by the hand, flattering them, so that they can not return from their wickedness. All these with their citizens are unto me, as Sodom, and as the inhabitors of Gomorre.
Therefore thus saith the Lord of Hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall. For from the prophets of Jerusalem is the sickness of hypocrisy come in to all the land.
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.
He said: turn again every man from his evil way, and from your wicked imaginations, and so shall ye dwell for ever in the land, that the Lord promised you and your forefathers: And go not after strange gods, serve them not, and anger me with the works of your hands: then will I not punish you. Nevertheless, ye would not hear me ( saith the Lord ) but have defiled me with the works of your hands, to your own great harm.
THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH Chpt 3
Sin
Thou hast heard their despiteful words (O' Lord), yes and all their imaginations against me.
The lips of mine enemies, and their devices that they take against me, all the day long.
Thou seest also their sitting down and their rising up, they make their songs of nothing but me.
Moreover, the spirit of the Lord lift me up, and brought me unto the east port of the Lords house. And beholds, there were twenty five men under the door among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pheltiah the son of Bananiah, the rulers of the people. Then said the Lord unto me: Thou son of man: these men imagine mischief, and a wicked counsel take they in this city, saying: Tush, there is no destruction at hand, let us build houses: this Jerusalem is the cauldron, and we be the flesh. Therefore shalt thou prophecy unto them, yee prophecy shalt thou unto them, O son of man. And with that fell the spirit of the Lord upon me, and said unto me: Speak, thus sayeth the Lord: On this manner have ye spoken ( O ye house of Israel ) and I know the imaginations of your hearts. Many one have ye murdered in this city, and filled the streets full of the slain. Therefore, thus sayeth the Lord God: The slain men that ye have layed on the ground in this city, are the flesh, and this city is the cauldron: But I will bring you out of it: ye have drawn out the sword, even so I also bring a sword over you, sayeth the Lord God. I will drive you out of this city and deliver you into your enemies hand, and will condemn you. Ye shall be slain in all the coasts of Israel, I will be avenged of you: to learn you for to know, that I am the Lord. This city shall not be your cauldron, neither shall ye be the flesh therin: but in the coasts of Israel will I punish you, that ye may know, that I am the Lord, in whos commandments ye have not walked, nor kept his laws: but you have done after the customs of the Heathen, that lie around about you.
I will accept your sweet savoir, when I bring you from the nations, and gather you together out of the lands, wherein ye be scattered: that I may be hallowed in you before the Heathen. and that ye may know, that I am the Lord, which have brought you into the land of Israel: Yee into the same land, that I swore to give to your forefathers. There shall ye call to remembrance your own ways and all your imaginations, wherein ye have been defiled: and ye shall be displeased with your own selves, for all your wickedness, that ye have done. And ye shall know that I am the Lord: when I entreat you after my name, not after your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt works: O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord.
Wherefore, thus saith the Lord God: O woe be unto that blood thirsty city, For whom I will prepare a heap of wood: beare thou the bones together, kindle thou the fire, seeth the flesh, let all be well sodden {boiled}, that the bones might be sucked out. Moreover, set the pot empty upon the coals, that it may be warm and all the metal hot: that the filth and the rustiness may be consumed. But it will not go off, there is so much of it: the rustiness must be burnt out. Thy filthiness is abominable, for I would have cleansed thee, but thou wouldest not be cleansed. Thou canest be purged from thine sickness, till I have poured my wrothfull indignation upon thee. Even I the Lord have so devised: Yee it is come there to already, that I will do it. I will not go back, I will not spare, I will not be entreated: but according to thy ways and imaginations, thou shalt be punished, saith the Lord God. And the word of the lord came unto me saying: Thou son of man, behold, I take away the pleasure of thine eyes with a plague: yet shalt thou neither mourn, nor weep, nor water thy cheeks therefore: thou mayest mourn by thy self alone, but use no deadly lamentation. Hold on thy bonnet, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, cover not thy face, and eat no mourners bread. So I spake unto the people by times in the morning, and at even my wife died: then upon the next morrow, I did as I was commanded. And the people said unto me: Wilt thou not tell us, what that signifieth, which thou doest? I answered them, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: Tell the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God: behold, I will suspend my sanctuary: even the glory of your power, that pleasure of your eyes, and the thing that ye love: your sons and your daughters whom ye have left, shall fall through the sword.
Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: O thou son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt upon their own ground, they defiled themselves with their own *waies and imaginations: so that in my sight their way was like the uncleanness of a menstruous woman. Wherefore I poured my wrothfull displeasure upon them, because of the blood that they had shed in the land, and because of their Idols, wherewith they had defiled themselves. I scattered them also among the Heathen, so that they were strewed about in the lands. According to their ways and after their own inventions, so did I punish them.
Now when they were gone unto the Heathen, and come in among them they dishonored my holy name: so that it was said of them: Are these the people of God, and must go out of their own land? Then spared I my holy name, which the house of Israel had dishonored among the Gentiles, to whom they came. Therefore tell the house of Israell: Thus saith the Lord God: I do not this for your sakes ( O house of Israel ) but for my holy names sake, which ye have dishonored among the Heathen, they came to them. Therefore I will hallow my great name again, which among the Gentiles is evil spoken of: for ye yourselves have dishonored it among them. And the Gentiles shall know that I am the Lord, when I am honored in you before their eyes, sayeth the Lord God.
As for you, I will take you from among the Heathen, and gather you together out of all countries, and bring you again into your own land. Then I will pour clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: yee from all your uncleanness and from all your Idols shall I clean you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put in you: As for that stoney heart, I will take it out of your body, and give you a fleshly heart. I will give my spirit among you, and cause you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my laws, and to fulfill them.
And so ye shall dwell in the land, that I gave to your fathers, and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will help you out of all your uncleannesses. I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and will let you have no hunger. I will multiply the fruits of the trees, and the increase of the field for you, so that ye shall bear no more reproof of hunger among the Heathen. Then shall ye remember your own wicked ways, and your imaginations, which were not good: so that ye shall take displeasure at your own selves, by reason of your sins and abominations.
But I will not do this for your sakes ( saith the Lord God ) be ye sure of it. Therefore, O ye house of Israel, be ashamed of your sins. Moreover, thus saith the Lord God: what time as I shall cleanse you from all your offenses, then will I make the cities to be occupied again, and will repair the places that be decayed. The desolate land shall be builded again, which afore time lay waste in the sight of all them that went by. Then shall it be said: this waste land is become like the garden of pleasure, and the void, desolate and broken down cities, are now strong, and fenced again. Then the residue of the Heathen that lay round about you, shall know that I am the Lord, which repair that was broken down, and plant again, that was made waste. Even I the Lord have spoken it, and will do it indeed.
Thus saith the Lord God: I will yet once be found again of the house of Israel, and do this for them: I shall increase them as a flock of men. Like as the holy flock and the flock of Jerusalem are in the high solemn feasts: so shall also the wild wasted cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.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.
Whoredom, wine and drunkenness take the heart away. My people ask counsel at their stocks, their staff must tell them. For an whorish mind hath deceived them, so that they commit fornication against their God. They make sacrifices upon the high mountains, and burn their incense upon the hills, yee among the oaks, groves and bushes, for their are good shadows. Therefore your daughters have become harlots, and your spouses have broken their wedlock, I will not punish your daughters for being defiled, and your brides that became whores: seeing the fathers themselves have meddled with harlots, and offered with unthirftiness: but the people that will not understand must be punished.
When I undertake to make Israel whole, then the ungraciousness of Ephraim and the wickedness of Samaria cometh to light: then they go about with lies. At home, they be thieves: and without they fall to robbing. They consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness. they go about with their own intentions, but I see them well enough. They make the king and the princes, to have pleasure in their wickedness and lies. All these burn in *advoutry, as it were an oven that the baker heateth, when he hath left kneading, till the dough be leavened. Even so goeth it this day with our kings and princes, for they begin to be wood drunken through wine: they use familiarity with such as deceive them. They with the imagination of their heart are like an oven, their sleep is all night like the sleep of a baker, in the morning is he as hot as the flame of fire: they are altogether as hot as an oven.
They that dwell in Samaria have worshiped the calf of Bethaven: therefore shall the people mourn over them, yee and the priests also, that in their wealthiness rejoiced with them: and why? it shall pass away from them. It shall be brought to the Assyrian for a present unto king Jareb. Ephraim shall receive full punishment: Israel shall be confounded for his own imaginations, Samaria with his king shall vanish away, as the scum in the water. The high places of Aven, where Israel do sin, shall be cast down: thistles and thorns shall grow upon their alters. then they shall say to the mountains: cover us, and to the hills: fall upon us.
When Israel was young, I loved him: and called him my son out of Egypt. But the more they were called, the more they went back, offering to Idols, and censing Images. I learned Ephraim to go, and bare them in mine arms, but they regarded not me, that would have helped them. I led them with cords of friendship, and with bands of love. I was even he, that laid the yoke upon their necks. I gave them their fodder myself, that they should not go again into Egypt. And now is Assur their king: for they would not turn unto me. Therefore shall the sword begin in their cities, the store that they have laid up, shall be destroyed and eaten: and that because of their own imaginations. My people have no lust to turn to unto me, their prophets lay the yoke upon them, but they ease them not of their burden.
Hear, O ye heads of the house of Jacob, and yee leaders of the house of Israel: Should not ye know, what were lawful and right? But ye hate the good, and love the evil: ye pluck off mens skins, and the flesh from their bones: ye eat the flesh of my people, and flay of their skin: ye break their bones, ye chop them in pieces as it were in to a cauldron, and as flesh into the pot. Now the time shall come, that when they call unto the Lord, he shall not hear them, *but hide his face from them, because that through their own Imaginations they have dealt so wickedly.
Not withstanding the land must be wasted, because of them that dwell therein, and for the fruits of their own Imaginations. Therefore feed thy people with thy *rod, the flock of thine heritage which dwell desolate in the wood: that they may be fed upon mount Charmell, Basan and Galaad as afore time. Marvelous things shall I show them, like as when they came out of Egypt. This shall the Heathen see, and be ashamed for all their power, so that they shall *lay their hand upon their mouth, and stop their ears. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, as the worms of the earth, that tremble in their holes. They shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and they shall fear thee.
I said unto them: O fear me, and be content to be reformed. That their dwelling should not be destroyed, and that there should happen unto them none of these things, where with I shall visit them. But nevertheless they stand up early, to follow the filthiness of their own imaginations. Therefore ye shall wait upon me ( sayeth the Lord ) until the time that I stand up: for I am determined, to gather the people and to bring the kingdoms together, that I may pour out mine anger, ye all my wrothfull displeasure upon them. For all the world shall be consumed with the fire of my jealousy. And then will I cleanse the lips of my people, that they may every each one call upon the name of the Lord, and serve him with one shoulder. Such as I have subdued, and my children also whom I have scattered abroad, shall bring me presents beyond the waters of Ethiopia.
In that time shalt thou be no more confounded, because of all thy imaginations, where through thou hadest offended me: for I will take away the proud boosters of thine honor from thee, so that thou shalt no more triumph because of my holy hill. In that also will I leave a small poor simple people, which shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no more wickedness, nor speak lies: neither shall there any deceitful tongue be found in their mouths: For they shall be fed, and take their rest, and no man shall make them afraid. Give thanks O daughter Sion, be joyful O Israel: rejoice and be glad from thy whole heart, O daughter Jerusalem, for the Lord hath taken away thy punishment, and turned back thine enemies. The King of Israel, even the Lord himself is with thee: so that thou needest no more to fear any misfortune.
In the eighth month of the second year of king Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zachary the son of Barachias, the son of Addo, the Prophet, saying: the Lord hath been sore displeased at your forefathers. And say thou unto them: thus saith the Lord of hosts. Turn you unto me ( saith the Lord of hosts ) and I will turn me unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. Be not ye like your forefathers, unto whom the Prophets cried afore time, saying: Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Turn you from your evil ways, and from your wicked imaginations. But they would not hear, nor regard me, saith the Lord. What is now become of your forefathers and the prophets? are they yet still alive? But did not my words and my statutes ( which I commanded by my servants the Prophets ) touch your forefathers? Upon this, they gave answer and said: like as the Lord of hosts devised to do unto us, according to our ways and imaginations, even so hath he dealt with us.
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 13
Then answered he me, and said: The interpretation of the sight shall I show thee, and I will open unto thee, the things that thou hast required. For thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, and this is the interpretation. He that taketh away the peril in that time, hath kept himself. They that be fallen into harm, are such as have works and faith unto the Most mighty. Know this therefore, that they which be left behind, are more blessed, then they that be dead. This is the meaning of the vision. Where as thou sawest a man coming up from the deep of the sea, the same is he that God the Highest hath kept a great season, which by his own self will deliver his creature, and he shall order them that are left behind. And where as thou sawest, that out of his mouth there came a blast of wind, fire and storm, and how that he lift up neither sword nor weapon, but that the rushing in of him destroyed the whole multitude, that came to fight against him: it signifieth, that the days come, when God will deliver them that are upon the earth, and in a trance of mind shall he come upon them, that dwell in the earth. And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one people against another, one realm against another. When this cometh to pass, then shall the tokens come, that I showed thee before: and then shall my son be declared, whom thou sawest climb up as a man. And when all the people hear his voice every man shall in their own land leave the battle that they have one against another, an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as they that be willing to come and to overcome him by fighting. But he shall stand upon the top of mount Sion. Nevertheless Sion shall come, and shall be showed, being prepared and builded for all men, like as thou sawest the hill graven forth without any hands. But my son shall rebuke the people that are come for their wickedness, with the tempest, and for their evil imaginations: and their pains wherewith they shall be punished, are likened unto the flame: and with out any labor, shall he destroy them, even by the law, which is compared to the fire.
And whereas thou sawest, that he gathered another peaceable people unto him: those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land, in the time of *Oseas the King, whom *Salmanasar the King of Assiria took prisoner, and carried them over the water, and so they came into another land.
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 15
Behold speak thou in the ears of my people the words of the prophecy, which I will put in thy mouth, sayeth the Lord: and cause this to be written in a letter, for it is the truth. Fear not the imaginations against thee, let not the unfaithfulness of them trouble thee, that speak against thee. For all the unfaithful shall die in their unfaithfulness. Behold sayeth the Lord, I will bring plagues upon the world, the sword hunger, death and destruction: for wickedness hath the upper hand in all the earth, and their shameful works are fulfilled.
THE FOURTH BOOK OF ESDRAS Chpt 16
Let not the sinner say, that he hath not sinned: for coals of fire shall burn upon his head, which sayeth before the Lord God and his glory: I have not sinned. Behold, the Lord knoweth all the works of men, their imaginations, their thoughts and their hearts. For he spoke but the word: let the earth be made, and it was made: let the heaven be made, and it was made. In his word were the stars made, and he knoweth the number of them. He searcheth the ground of the deep, and the treasures thereof: he hath measured the sea, and what it containeth. He hath shut the sea in the midst of the waters, and with his word hath he hanged the earth upon the waters. He spreadeth out the heaven like a *vawte, upon the waters hath he founded it. In the desert a dry wilderness hath he made springs of water, and poles upon the tops of mountains, that the floods might pour down from the stony rocks to water the earth. He made man, and put his heart in the midst of the body, and gave him birth, life and understanding, yee and the spirit of the Almighty God, which made all things, and hath searched the ground of all the secrets of the earth.
He knoweth your imaginations and inventions, and what ye think when ye sin, and would hide your sins. Therefore hath the Lord searched and sought out all your works, and he shall *bewray you all. And when your sins are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that day. What will ye do? Or how will ye hide your sins before God and his Angels? Behold, God himself is the judge, fear him, leave off from your sins, and forget your unrighteousness, and meddle no more with them: so shall God lead you forth, and deliver you from all trouble. For behold, the heat of the great multitude is kindled over you, and they shall take away certain of you, and feed the idle with Idols: and they that consent unto them, shall be had in *derision.
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and the pain of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they appear to die, and their end is taken for very destruction, but they are in rest. And though they suffer pain before men, yet is their hope full of immortality. They are punished but in few things, nevertheless in many things shall they be well rewarded. For God proved them, and findeth them *mete for himself: yee as gold in the furnace doth he try them, and receiveth them as a burnt offering, and when the time cometh they shall be looked upon.
The righteous shall shine as the sparks that run through the reed bush. They shall judge the nations, and have dominion over the people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that put their trust in him, shall understand the truth, and such as be faithful, will agree unto him in love: for his chosen shall have gifts and peace. But the ungodly shall be punished according to their own imaginations, for they have despisedWisdom is better then strength, and a man of understanding is more worth than one that is strong. Hear therefore ( O' ye Kings ) and understand: O' learn ye that be judges of the ends of the earth. Give ear, ye that rule the multitudes, and delight much people. For power is given you of the Lord, and the strength from the Highest: which shall try your works and search out your imaginations: How that ye being officers of his Kingdom, have not kept the law of righteousness, nor walked after his will. Horribly and that right soon shall he appear unto you: for an hard judgment shall they have that bear rule. Mercy is granted unto the simple, but they that be in authority shall be sore punished. For God which is Lord over all, shall except no mans person, neither shall he stand in awe of any mans greatness: for he hath made the small and great, and careth for all alike. But the mighty shall have the sorer punishment.
God hath granted me to talk wisely, and convenient to handle the things that he hath graciously lent me. For it is he, that leadeth unto wisdom, and teacheth to use wisdom and right. In his hand are we and our words: yee all our wisdom, our understanding and knowledge of all our works. For he hath given me the true science of these things: so that I know how the world was made, and the powers of the elements: The beginning, ending and midst of the times: how the times alter, how one goeth after another, and how they are fulfilled: the course of the year: the ordinances of the stars: the natures and kinds of beasts: the furriousness of beasts: the power of the winds: the imaginations of men: the diversities of young plants: the virtues of roots, And all such things as are secret and not looked for, have I learned. For the workmaster of all things hath taught me wisdom. In her is the spirit of understanding, which is holy, manyfold, one only, subtle, courteous, discreet, quick, undefiled, plain, sweet, loving the thing that is good, sharp, which forbiddeth not to do well, gentile, kind, steadfast, sure, free having all virtues, circumspect in all things: receiving all spirits of understanding, being clear and sharp. For wisdom is nimbler then all nimble things: she goeth through and attaineth to all things, because of her cleanness. For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure clean expressing of the clearness of Almighty God. Therefore can no undefiled thing come unto her: for she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the undefiled mirror of the majesty of God, and the image of his goodness. And for so much as she is one, she may do all things: and being steadfast herself she reneweth all, and among the people conveyeth she herself in to the holy souls. She maketh Gods friends and prophets: for God loveth no man, but him in whom wisdom dwelleth. For she is more beautiful then the Sun and giveth more light then the stars, and the day is not to be compared unto her: for upon the day cometh night. But wickedness can not overcome wisdom, and foolishness may not be with her.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. MARK Chpt 13
When ye shall hear of war and tidings of war, be ye not troubled. For such things must needs be. But the end is not yet. For there shall nation arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be earth quakes in all quarters, and famishment and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows. But take ye heed to yourselves. For they shall bring you up to the councils and into the synagogues, and ye shall be beaten: yea and shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimonial unto them. And the Gospel must first be published among all nations.
But when they lead you and present you take no thought aforehand what ye shall say, neither imagine: but whatsoever is given you at the same time, that speak. For it shall not be ye that shall speak, but the holy ghost. Yea and the brother shall deliver the brother to death, and the father the son, and the children shall rise against their fathers and mothers, and shall put them to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake. But whosoever shall endure unto the end, the same shall be safe.
THE GOSPELL OF ST. LUKE Chpt 1
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.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Chpt 17
Paul stood in the midst of Marce street and said: ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld the manner how ye worship your gods, I found an altar wherein was written: unto the unknown God. Whom ye then ignorantly worship him show I unto you: God that made the world and all that are in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed of any thing, seeing he himself giveth life and breath to all men everywhere, and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath assigned before, how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation, that they should seek God, if they might feel and find him, though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, move and have your being, as certain of your own Poets said. For we are also his generation. For as much then as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, silver or stone, graven by craft and imagination of man.
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.
THE SECOND TO THE CORINTHIANS Chpt 10
I Paul my self beseech you by the meekness and softness of Christ which when I am present among you, am of no reputation, but am bold toward you being absent. I beseech you that I need not to be bold when I am present (with that same confidence, wherewith I am supposed to be bold) against some which repute us as though we walked carnally. Nevertheless though we walk compassed with the flesh, yet we war not fleshly. For the weapons of our war are not carnal things, but things mighty in God, to cast down strongholds, wherewith we overthrow imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity all understanding to the obedience of Christ, and are ready to take vengeance on all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Look ye on things after the outer appearance?
Brethren, if any man be fallen by chance into any fault: ye which are spiritual help to amend him in the spirit of meekness: considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one anothers burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ. If any man seem to himself that he is somewhat, when indeed he is nothing, the same deceiveth himself in his imagination. Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in his own self, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.
Let no man therefore trouble your consciences about meat and drink or for a piece of an holy day, as the holy day of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days, which are nothing but shadows of things to come: but the body is in Christ. Let no man make you shoot at a wrong mark which after his own imagination walketh in the humbleness and holiness of angels, things which he never saw: causeless puffed up with his fleshly mind, and holdeth not the head, whereof all the body by joints and couples receiveth nourishment and is knit together, and increaseth with the increasing that cometh of God.
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