whereupon he was rebuked by the angel Gabriel. And he answered: "I have
sworn by God to cut it; I will never be a liar!"
'Then the angel showed him the superfluity of his flesh, and that he cut off.
And hence, just as every man taketh flesh for the flesh of Adam, so is he
bound
to observe in his sons, and from generation to generation came
down the obligation of circumcision. But in the time of Abraham there were
but few circumcised upon the earth, because that idolatry was multiplied
upon the earth. Whereupon God told to Abraham the fact concerning
circumcision, and
made this covenant, saying: "The soul that shall not have
his flesh circumcised, I will scatter him from among my people for ever."'
The disciples trembled with fear at these words of Jesus, for with
vehemence of spirit he spake. Then said Jesus: 'Leave fear to him that hath
not circumcised his foreskin, for he is deprived of paradise.' And having said
this, Jesus spake again, saying: 'The spirit in many is
ready in the service of
God, but the flesh is weak. The man therefore that feareth God ought to
consider what the flesh is, and where it had its origin, and whereto it shall be
reduced. Of the clay of the earth
created God flesh, and into it he breathed
the breath of life, with an inbreathing therein. And therefore when the flesh
shall hinder the service of God it ought to be spurned like clay and trampled
on, forasmuch as he that hateth his soul in this world
shall keep it in life
eternal.
'What the flesh is at this present its desires make manifest— that it is a
harsh enemy of all good: for it alone desireth sin.
'Ought then man for the sake of satisfying one of his enemies to leave off
pleasing God, his creator? Consider ye this: All the saints and prophets have
been enemies of their flesh for service of God: wherefore readily and with
gladness they went to their death, so as not to offend against the law of
God
given by Moses his servant, and I go and serve the false and lying gods.
'Remember Elijah, who fled through desert places of the mountains, eating
only grass, clad in goats' skin. Ah, how many days he supped not! Ah, how
much cold he endured! Ah, how many showers drenched him and [that] for
the space of seven years, wherein endured that fierce persecution of the
unclean Jezebel!
21
'Remember Elisha, who ate barley-bread, and wore the coarsest raiment.
Verily I say unto you that they, not fearing to spurn the flesh, were feared
with great terror by the king and princes. This should suffice for the
spurning of the flesh, O men. But if ye will gaze at the sepulchres, ye shall
know what flesh is.'
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