part of the living shall escape. The tenth day shall come such horrible
lightning and thunder that the third part of the mountains shall be split and
scorched. The eleventh day every river shall run. backwards, and shall run
blood and not water. The twelfth day every created thing shall groan and
cry. The thirteenth day the heaven shall be rolled up like a book, and it shall
rain fire, so that every living thing shall die. The fourteenth day there shall be
an earthquake so horrible that the tops of the mountains shall fly through
the air like birds, and all the earth shall become a plain. The fifteenth day the
holy angels shall die, and God alone shall remain alive; to whom be honour
and glory.'
And having said this, Jesus smote his face with both his hands, and then
smote the ground with is head. And having raised his head, he said: 'Cursed
57
be every one who shall insert into my sayings that I am the son of God.' At
these words the disciples fell down as dead, whereupon Jesus lifted them
up, saying: 'Let us fear God now, if we would not be affrighted in that day.'
54.
'When these signs be passed, there shall be darkness over the world forty
years, God alone being alive, to whom be honour and glory for ever. When
the forty years be passed, God shall give life to his messenger, who shall rise
again like the sun, but resplendent as a thouand suns. He shall sit, and shall
not speak, for he shall be as it were beside himself. God shall raise again the
four angels favoured of God, who shall seek the messenger of God, and,
having found him, shall station themselves on the four sides of the place to
keep watch upon him. Next shall God give life to all the angels, who shall
come like bees circling round the messenger of God. Next shall God give life
to all his prophets, who, following Adam, shall go every one to kiss the hand
of the messenger of God, committing themselves to his protection. Next
shall God give life to all the elect, who shall cry out: "O Mohammed, be
mindful of us!" At whose cries pity shall awake in the messenger of God, and
he shall consider what he ought to do, fearing for their salvation. Next shall
God give life to every created thing, and they shall return to their former
existence, but every one shall besides possess the power of speech. Next
shall God give life to all the reprobates, at whose resurrection, by reason of
their hideousness, all the creatures of God shall be afraid, and shall cry: "Let
not thy mercy forsake us, O Lord our God." After this shall God cause Satan
to be raised up, at whose aspect every creature shall be as dead, for fear of
the horrid form of his appearance. May it please God,' said Jesus, 'that I
behold not that monster on that day. The messenger of God alone shall not
be affrighted by such shapes because he shall fear God only.
'Then the angel, at the sound of whose trumpet all shall be raised, shall
sound his trumpet again, saying: "Come to the judgment, O creatures, for
your Creator willeth to judge you." Then shall appear in the midst of heaven
over the valley of Jehoshaphat a glittering throne, over which shall come a
white cloud, whereupon the angels shall cry out: "Blessed be thou our God,
who hast created us, and saved us from the fall of Satan." Then the
messenger of God shall fear, for that he shall perceive that none hath loved
58
God as he should. For he who would get in change a piece of gold must have
sixty mites; wherefore, if he have but one mite he cannot change it. But if
the messenger of God shall fear, what shall the ungodly do who are full of
wickedness?'
55.
'The messenger of God shall go to collect all the prophets, to whom he shall
speak, praying them to go with him to pray God for the faithful. And every
one shall excuse himself for fear; nor, as God liveth, would I go there,
knowing what I know. Then God, seeing this, shall remind his messenger
how he created all things for love of him, and so his fear shall leave him, and
he shall go nigh unto the throne with love and reverence, while the angels
sing: "Blessed be thy holy name, O God, our God."
'And when he hath drawn nigh unto the throne, God shall open [his mind]
unto his messenger, even as a friend unto a friend when for a long while
they have not met. The first to speak shall be the messenger of God, who
shall say: "I adore and love thee, O my God, and with all my heart and soul I
give thee thanks for that thou didst vouchsafe to create me to be thy
servant, and madest all for love of me, so that I might love thee for all things
and in all things and above all things; therefore let all thy creatures praise
thee, O my God." Then all things created by God shall say: "We give thee
thanks, O Lord, and bless thy holy name." Verily I say unto you, the demons
and reprobates with Satan shall then weep so that more water shall flow
from the eyes of one of them than is in the river of Jordan. Yet shall they not
see God.
'And God shall speak unto his messenger, saying: "Thou art welcome, O my
faithful servant; therefore ask what thou wilt, for thou shalt obtain all." The
messenger of God shall answer, "O Lord, I remember that when thou didst
create me, thou saidst that thou hadst willed to make for love of me the
world and paradise, and angels and men, that they might glorify thee by me
thy servant. Therefore, Lord God, merciful and just. I pray thee that thou
recollect thy promise made unto thy servant."
'And God shall make answer even as a friend who jesteth with a friend, and
shall say: "Hast thou witnesses of this, my friend Mohammed?" And with
59
reverence he shall say: "Yes, Lord." Then God shall answer: "Go, call them, O
Gabriel." The angel Gabriel shall come to the messenger of God, and shall
say: "Lord, who are thy witnesses?" The messenger of God shall answer:
"They are Adam, Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, David, and Jesus son of Mary."
'Then shall the angel depart, and he shall call the aforesaid witnesses, who
with fear shall go thither. And when they are present God shall say unto
them: "Remember ye that which my messenger affirmeth?" They shall reply:
"What thing, O Lord?" God shall say: "That I have made all things for love of
him, so that all things might praise me by him." Then every one of them shall
answer: "There are with us three witnesses better than we are, O Lord." And
God shall reply: "Who are these three witnesses?" Then Moses shall say "The
book that thou gavest to me is the first"; and David shall say: ''The book that
thou ga vest to me is the second"; and he who speaketh to you shall say:
"Lord, the whole world, deceived by Satan, said that I was thy son and thy
fellow, but the book that thou gavest me said truly that I am thy servant;
and that book confesseth that which thy messenger affirmeth." Then shall
the messenger of God speak, and shall say: "Thus saith the book that thou
gavest me, O Lord." And when the messenger of God hath said this, God
shall speak, saying: "All that I have now done, I have done in order that
every one should know how much I love thee." And when he hath thus
spoken, God shall give unto his messenger a book, in which are written all
the names of the elect of God. Wherefore every creature shall do reverence
to God, saying: ''To thee alone, O God, be glory and honour, because thou
hast given us to thy messenger."
56.
'God shall open the book in the hand of his messenger, and his messenger
reading therein shall call all the angels and prophets and all the elect, and on
the forehead of each one shall be written the mark of the messenger of
God. And in the book shall be written the glory of paradise.
'Then shall each pass to the right hand of God; next to whom shall sit the
messenger of God, and the prophets shall sit near him, and the saints, and
the angel shall then sound the trumpet, and shall call Satan to judgment.
57.
60
'Then that miserable one shall come, and with greatest contumely shall be
accused of every creature. Wherefore God shall call the angel Michael, who
shall strike him one hundred thousand times with the sword of God. He shall
strike Satan, and every stroke is heavy as ten hells, and he shall be the first
to be cast into the abyss. The angel shall call his followers, and they shall in
like manner be abused and accused. Wherefore the angel Michael, by
commission from God, shall strike some a hundred times, some fifty, some
twenty, some ten, some five. And then shall they descend into the abyss,
because God shall say to them: "Hell is your dwelling-place, O cursed ones."
'After that shall be called to judgment all the unbelievers and reprobates,
against whom shall first arise all creatures inferior to man, testifying before
God how they have served these men, and how the same have outraged
God and his creatures. And the prophets every one shall arise, testifying
against them; wherefore they shall be condemned by God to infernal flames.
Verily I say unto you, that no idle word or thought shall pass unpunished in
that tremendous day. Verily I say unto you, that the hair-shirt shall shine like
the sun, and every louse a man shall have borne for love of God shall be
turned into pearl. O, thrice and four times blessed are the poor, who in true
poverty shall have served God from the heart, for in this world are they
destitute of worldly cares, and shall therefore be freed from many sins, and
in that day they shall not have to render an account of how they have spent
the riches of the world, but they shall be rewarded for their patience and
their poverty. Verily I say unto you, that if the world knew this it would
choose the hair-shirt sooner than purple, lice sooner than gold, fasts sooner
than feasts.
'When all have been examined, God shall say unto his messenger: ''Behold,
O my friend, their wickedness, how great it has been, for I their creator did
employ all created things in their service, and in all things have they
dishonored me. It is most just, therefore, that I have no mercy on them."
The messenger of God shall answer: "It is true, Lord, our glorious God, not
one of thy friends and servants could ask thee to have mercy on them; nay, I
thy servant before all ask justice against them."
'And he having said these words, all the angels and prophets, with all the
elect of God—nay, why say I the elect?—verily I say unto you, that spiders
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and flies, stones and sand shall cry out against the impious, and shall
demand justice.
'Then shall God cause to return to earth every living soul inferior to man, and
he shall send the impious to hell. Who, in going, shall see again that earth, to
which dogs and horses and other vile animals shall be reduced. Wherefore
shall they say: "O Lord God, cause us also to return to that earth." But that
which they ask shall not be granted to them.'
58.
While Jesus was speaking the disciples wept bitterly. And Jesus wept many
tears.
Then after he had wept, John spake: O master, two things we desire to
know. The one is, how it is possible that the messenger of God, who is full of
mercy and pity, should have no pity on reprobates that day, seeing that they
are of the same clay as himself? The other is, how is it to be understood that
the sword of Michael is heavy as ten hells then is there more than one hell?'
Jesus replied: 'Have ye not heard what David the prophet saith how that the
just shall laugh at the destruction of sinners, and shall deride him with these
words, saying: "I saw the man who put his hope in his strength and his
riches, and forgot God." Verily, therefore, I say unto you, that Abraham shall
deride his father, and Adam all reprobate men: and this shall be because the
elect, shall rise again so perfect and united to God that they shall not
conceive in their minds the smallest thought against his justice; therefore
shall each of them demand justice, and above all the messenger of God. As
God liveth, in whose presence I stand, though now I weep for pity of
mankind, on that day I shall demand justice without mercy against those
who despise my words, and most of all against those who defile my gospel.
59.
'Hell is one, O my disciples, and in it the damned shall suffer punishment
eternally. Yet hath it seven rooms or regions, one deeper than the other,
and he who goeth to the deepest shall suffer greater punishment. Yet are
my words true concerning the sword of the angel Michael, for he that
committeth but one sin meriteth hell, and he that committeth two sins
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meriteth two hells. Therefore in one hell shall the reprobates feel
punishment as though they were in ten, or in a hundred or in a thouand, and
the omnipotent God, through his power and by reason of his justice, shall
cause Satan to suffer as though he were in ten hundred thou and hells, and
the rest each one according to his wickedness.'
Then answered Peter: 'O master, truly the justice of God is great, and today
this discourse hath made thee sad; therefore, we pray thee, rest, and to-
morrow tell us what hell is like.'
Jesus answered: 'O Peter, thou tellest me to rest; O Peter, thou knowest not
what thou sayest, else thou hadst not spoken thus. Verily I say unto you,
that rest in this present life is the poison of piety and the fire which
consumeth every good work. Have ye then forgotten how Solomon, God's
prophet, with all the prophets, hath reproved sloth? True it is that he saith:
"The idle will not work the soil for fear of the cold, therefore in summer shall
he beg!" Wherefore he said: "All that thy hand can do, do it without rest."
And what saith Job, the most innocent friend of God: "As the bird is born to
fly, man is born to work." Verily I say unto you, I hate rest above all things.'
60.
'Hell is one, and is contrary to paradise, as winter is contrary to summer, and
cold to heat. He therefore who would describe the misery of hell must
needs have seen the paradise of God's delights.
'O place accursed by God's justice for the malediction of the faithless and
reprobate, of which said Job, the friend of God: "There is no order there, but
everlasting fear!" And Isaiah the prophet, against the reprobate, saith:
"Their flame shall not be quenched nor their worm die." And David our
father, weeping, said: "Then shall rain upon them lightning and bolts and
brimstone and great tempest." O miserable sinners, how loathsome then
shall seem to them delicate meats, costly raiment, soft couches, and
concord of sweet song! how sick shall make them raging hunger, burning
flames, scorching cinders, and cruel torments with bitter weeping!'
And then Jesus uttered a lamentable groan, saying: 'Truly it were better
never to have been formed than to suffer such cruel torments. For imagine a
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man suffering torments in every part of his body, who hath no one to show
him compassion, but is mocked of all; tell me, would not this be great pain?'
The disciples answered: 'The greatest.'
Then said Jesus: Now this is a delight [in comparison] of hell. For I tell you in
truth, that if God should place in one balance all the pain which all men have
suffered in this world and shall suffer till the day of judgment, and in the
other one single hour of the pain of hell, the reprobates would without
doubt choose the worldly tribulations, for the worldly come from the hand
of man, but the others from the hand of devils, who are utterly without
compassion. O what cruel fire they shall give to miserable sinners! O what
bitter cold, which yet shall not temper their flames! What gnashing of teeth
and sobbing and weeping! For the Jordan has less water than the tears
which every moment shall flow from their eyes. And here their tongues shall
curse all things created, with their father and mother, and their Creator,
who is blessed for ever.'
61.
Having thus said, Jesus washed himself, with his disciples, according to the
law of God written in the book of Moses; and then they prayed. And the
disciples seeing him thus sad spake not at all to him that day, but each stood
terror-struck at his words.
Then Jesus opening his mouth after the evening [prayer], said: 'What father
of a family if he knew that a thief meant to break into his house, would
sleep? None assuredly; for he would watch and stand prepared to slay the
thief. Do ye not know then that Satan is as a roaring lion that goeth about
seeking whom he may devour. Thus he seeketh to make man sin. Verily I say
unto you, that if man would act as the merchant he should have no fear in
that day, because he would be well prepared. There was a man who gave
money to his neighbors that they might trade with it, and the profit should
be divided in a just proportion. And some traded well, so that they doubled
the money. But some used the money in the service of the enemy of him
who gave them the money, speaking evil of him. Tell me now, when the
neighbor shall call the debtors to account how shall the matter go?
Assuredly he will reward those who traded well, but against the others his
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anger shall vent itself in reproaches. And then he will punish them according
to the law. As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, the neighbor
is God, who has given to man all that he hath, with life itself, so that, [man]
living well in this world, God may have praise, and man the glory of paradise.
For those who live well double their money by their example, because
sinners, seeing their example, are converted to repentance; wherefore men
who live well shall be rewarded with a great reward. But wicked sinners,
who by their sins halve what God has given them, by their lives spent in the
service of Satan the enemy of God, blaspheming God and giving offence to
others,—tell me what shall be their punishment?'
'It shall be without measure,' said the disciples.
62.
Then said Jesus: 'He who would live well should take example from the
merchant who locketh up his shop, and guardeth it day and night with great
diligence. And selling again the things which he buyeth he is fain to make a
profit; for if he perceiveth that he will lose thereby he will not sell, no, not to
his own brother. Thus then should ye do; for in truth your soul is a merchant,
and the body is the shop: wherefore what it receiveth from outside, through
the senses, is bought and sold by it. And the money is love. See then that
with your love ye do not sell nor buy the smallest thought by which ye
cannot profit. But let thought, speech, and work be all for love of God; for
so shall ye find safety in that day. Verily I say unto you, that many make
ablutions and go to pray, many fast and give alms, many study and preach to
others, whose end is abominable before God; because they cleanse the
body and not the heart, they cry with the mouth not with the heart; they
abstain from meats, and fill themselves with sins; they give to others things
not good for them, in order that they may be held good; they study that
they may know to speak, not to work; they preach to others against that
which they do themselves, and thus are condemned by their own tongue. As
God liveth, these do not know God with their hearts; for if they knew him
they would love him; and since whatsoever a man hath he hath received it
from God, even so should he spend all for the love of God.'
63.
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After certain days Jesus passed near unto a city of the Samaritans; and they
would not let him enter the city, nor would they sell bread to his disciples.
Wherefore said James and John: Master may it please thee that we pray God
that he send down fire from heaven upon these people?'
Jesus answered: 'Ye know not by what spirit ye are led, that ye so speak.
Remember that God determined to destroy Nineveh because he did not find
one who feared God in that city; the which was so wicked that God, having
called Jonah the prophet to send him to that city, he would fain for fear of
the people have fled to Tarsus, wherefore God caused him to be cast into
the sea, and received by a fish and cast up nigh to Nineveh. And he
preaching there, that people was converted to repentance, so that God had
mercy on them.
Woe unto them that call for vengeance; for on themselves it shall come,
seeing that every man hath in himself cause for the vengeance of God. Now
tell me, have ye created this city with this people? O madmen that ye are,
assuredly no. For all creatures united together could not create a single new
fly from nothing, and this it is to create. If the blessed God who hath created
this city now sustaineth it, why desire ye to destroy it? Why didst thou not
say: "May it please thee, master, that we pray to the Lord our God that this
people may be converted to penitence?" Assuredly this is the proper act of a
disciple of mine, to pray to God for those who do evil. Thus did Abel when
his brother Cain, accursed of God, slew him. Thus did Abraham for Pharaoh,
who took from him his wife, and whom, therefore, the angel of God did not
slay, but only struck with infirmity. Thus did Zechariah when, by decree of
the impious king, he was slain in the temple. Thus did Jeremiah, Isaiah,
Ezekiel, Daniel, and David, with all the friends of God and holy prophets. Tell
me, if a brother were stricken with frenzy, would you slay him because he
spoke evil and struck those who came near him? Assuredly ye would not do
so; but rather would ye endeavor to restore his health with medicines
suitable to his infirmity.'
64.
'As God liveth, in whose presence my soul standeth, a sinner is of infirm
mind when he persecuteth a man. For tell me, is there anyone who would
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break his head for the sake of tearing the cloak of his enemy? Now how can
he be of sane mind who separateth himself from God, the head of his soul,
in order that he may injure the body of his enemy?
'Tell me, O man, who is thy enemy? Assuredly thy body, and every one who
praiseth thee. Wherefore if thou wert of sane mind thou wouldst kiss the
hand of those who revile thee, and present gifts to those who persecute
thee and strike thee much; because, O man, because the more that for, thy
sins thou art reviled and persecuted in this life the less shalt thou be in the
day of judgment. But tell me, O man, if the saints and prophets of God have
been persecuted and defamed by the world even though they were
innocent, what shall be done to thee, O sinner? And if they endured all with
patience, praying for their persecutors, what shouldst thou do, O man, who
art worthy of hell? Tell me, O my disciples, do ye not know that Shimei
cursed the servant of God, David the prophet, and threw stones at him?
Now what said David to those who would fain have killed Shimei? "What is it
to thee, O Joab, that thou wouldst kill Shimei? let him curse me, for this is
the will of God, who will turn this curse into a blessing." And thus it was; for
God saw the patience of David and delivered him from the persecution of his
own son, Absalom.
Assuredly not a leaf stirreth without the will of God. Wherefore, when thou
art in tribulation do not think of how much thou hast borne, nor of him who
afflicted thee; but consider how much for thy sins thou art worthy to receive
at the hand of the devils of hell. Ye are angry with this city because it would
not receive us, nor sell bread to us. Tell me, are these people your slaves?
Have ye given them this city? Have ye given them their corn? Or have ye
helped them to reap it? Assuredly no; for ye are strangers in this land, and
poor men. What thing is this then that thou sayest?'
The two disciples answered: 'Lord, we have sinned; may God have mercy on
us.'
And Jesus answered: 'So be it.'
65.
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The Passover drew near, wherefore Jesus, with his disciples, went up to
Jerusalem. And he went to the pool call 'Probatica.' And the bath was so
called because the angel of God every day troubled the water, and
whosoever first entered the water after its movement was cured of every
kind of infirmity. Wherefore a great number of sick persons remained beside
the pool, which had five porticoes. And Jesus saw there an impotent man,
who had been there thirty-and-eight years, sick with a grievous infirmity.
Whereupon Jesus, knowing this by divine inspiration, had compassion on
the sick man, and said to him: 'Wilt thou be made whole?'
The impotent man answered: 'Sir, I have no man when the angel troubleth
the water to put me into it, but while I am coming another steppeth down
before me and entereth therein.'
Then Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said: 'Lord our God, God of our
fathers, have mercy upon this impotent man.'
And having said this, Jesus said: 'In God's name, brother, be thou whole; rise
and take up thy bed.'
Then the impotent man arose, praising God, and carried his bed upon his
shoulders, and went to his house praising God.'
Those who saw him cried: 'It is the sabbath day; it is not lawful for thee to
carry thy bed.'
He answered: 'He that made whole said unto me, "Pick up thy bed, and go
thy way to thy home."
Then asked they him: 'Who is he?'
He answered: 'I know not his name.'
Whereupon, among themselves they said: 'It must have been Jesus the
Nazarene.' Others said: 'Nay, for he is a holy one of God, whereas he who
has done this thing is a wicked man, for he causeth the sabbath to be
broken.'
And Jesus went into the temple, and a great multitude drew nigh unto him
to hear his words; whereat the priests were consumed with envy.
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66.
One of them came to him, saying: 'Good master, thou teachest well and
truly; tell me therefore, in paradise what reward shall God give us?'
Jesus answered: 'Thou callest me good, and knowest not that God alone is
good, even as said Job, the friend of God: "A child of a day old is not clean;
yea, even the angels are not faultless in God's presence." Moreover he said:
"The flesh attracteth sin, and sucketh up iniquity even as a sponge sucketh
up water."
Wherefore the priest was silent, being confounded. And Jesus said: 'Verily I
say unto you, naught is more perilous than speech. For so said Solomon:
"Life and death are in the power of the tongue."' And he turned to his
disciples, and said: 'Beware of those who bless you, because they deceive
you. With the tongue Satan blessed our first parents, but miserable was the
outcome of his words. So did the sages of Egypt bless Pharaoh. So prophets
bless Ahab, but false were their praises, so that the praised one perished
with the praisers. Wherefore not without cause did God say by Isaiah the
prophet: "My people, those that bless thee deceive thee."
'Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees; woe unto you, priests and Levites,
because ye have corrupted the sacrifice of the Lord, so that those who
come to sacrifice believe that God eateth cooked flesh like unto a man.'
67.
'For ye say unto them: "Bring of your sheep and bulls and lambs to the
temple of your God, and eat not all, but give a share to your God of that
which he hath given you"; and ye do not tell them of the origin of sacrifice,
that it is for a witness of the life granted to the son of our father Abraham,
so that the faith and obedience of our father Abraham, with the promises
made to him by God and the blessing given to him, should never be
forgotten. But by Ezekiel the prophet saith God: "Remove from me these
your sacrifices, your victims are abominable to me." For the time draweth
near when that shall be done of which our God spake by Hosea the prophet,
saying: "I will call chosen the people not chosen." And as he saith in Ezekiel
the prophet: "God shall make a new covenant with his people, not according
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to the covenant which he gave to your fathers, which they observed not and
he shall take from them a heart of stone, and give them a new heart": and
all this shall be because ye walk not now in his law. And ye have the key and
open not: rather do ye block the road for those who would walk in it.'
The priest was departing to report all to the high priest, who stood nigh
unto the sanctuary, but Jesus said: 'Stay, for I will answer thy question.'
68.
'Thou askest me to tell thee what God will give us in paradise. Verily I say
unto you, that those who think of the wages love not the master. A
shepherd who hath a flock of sheep, when he seeth the wolf coming,
prepareth to defend them; contrariwise, the hireling when he seeth the wolf
leaveth the sheep and fleeth. As God liveth, in whose presence I stand, if the
God of our fathers were your God ye would not have thought of saying:
"What will God give me?" But ye would have said, as did David his prophet:
"What shall I give unto God for all that he hath given unto me?"
'I will speak to you by a parable that ye may understand. There was a king
who found by the wayside a man stripped by thieves, who had wounded
him unto death. And he had compassion on him, and commanded his slaves
to bear that man to the city and tend him; and this they did with all
diligence. And the king conceived a great love for the sick man, so that he
gave him his own daughter in marriage, and made him his heir. Now
assuredly this king was most merciful; but the man beat the slaves, despised
the medicines, abused his wife, spake evil of the king, and caused his vassals
to rebel against him. And when the king required any service, he was wont
to say: "What will the king give me as reward?" Now when the king heard
this, what did he do to so impious a man?'
They all replied: 'Woe to him, for the king deprived him of all, and cruelly
punished him.' Then said Jesus: 'O priests, and scribes, and Pharisees, and
thou high-priest that hearest my voice, I proclaim to you what God hath said
to you by his prophet Isaiah: "I have nourished slaves and exalted them, but
they have despised me." 'The king is our God, who found Israel in this world
full of miseries, and gave him therefore to his servants Joseph, Moses and
Aaron, who tended him. And our God conceived such love for him that for
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the sake of the people of Israel he smote Egypt, drowned Pharaoh, and
discomfited an hundred and twenty kings of the Canaanites and Madianites;
he gave him his laws, making him heir of all that [land] wherein our people
dwelleth.
'But how doth Israel bear himself? How many prophets hath he slain; how
many prophecies hath he contaminated; how hath he violated the law of
God: how many for that cause have departed from God and gone to serve
idols, through your offence, O priests! And how do ye dishonor God with
your manner of life! And now ye ask me: "What will God give us in paradise?"
Ye ought to have asked me: What will be the punishment that God will give
you in hell; and then what ye ought to do for true penitence in order that
God may have mercy on you: for this I can tell you, and to this end am I sent
to you.'
69.
'As God liveth, in whose presence I stand, ye will not receive adulation from
me, but truth. Wherefore I say unto you, repent and turn to God even as our
fathers did after sinning, and harden not your heart.'
The priests were consumed with rage at this speech, but for fear of the
common people they spake not a word.
And Jesus continued, saying: 'O doctors, O scribes, O pharisees, O priests,
tell me. Ye desire horses like knights, but ye desire not to go forth to war; ye
desire fair clothing like women, but ye desire not to spin and nurture
children; ye desire the fruits of the field, and ye desire not to cultivate the
earth; ye desire the fishes of the sea, but ye desire not to go a fishing; ye
desire honour as citizens, but ye desire not the burden of the republic; and
ye desire tithes and first fruits as priests, but ye desire not to serve God in
truth. What then shall God do with you, seeing ye desire here every good
without any evil? Verily I say to you that God will give you a place where ye
will have every evil without any good.'
And when Jesus had said this, there was brought unto him a demoniac who
could not speak nor see, and was deprived of hearing. Whereupon Jesus,
seeing their faith, raised his eyes to heaven and said: 'Lord God of our
71
fathers, have mercy on this sick man and give him health, in order that this
people may know that thou hast sent me.'
And having said this Jesus commanded the spirit to depart, saying: 'In the
power of the name of God our Lord, depart, evil one, from the man!'
The spirit departed and the dumb man spoke, and saw with his eyes.
Whereupon every one was filled with fear, but the scribes said: 'In the
power of Beelzebub, prince of the demons, he casteth out the demons'
Then said Jesus: 'Every kingdom divided against itself destroyeth itself, and
house falleth upon house. If in the power of Satan, Satan be cast out, how
shall his kingdom stand? And if your sons cast out Satan with the scripture
that Solomon the prophet gave them, they testify that I cast out Satan in
the power of God. As God liveth, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is
without remission in this and in the other world; because the wicked man of
his own will reprobates himself, knowing the reprobation.'
And having said this Jesus went out of the temple. And the common people
magnified him, for they brought all the sick folk whom they could gather
together, and Jesus having made prayer gave to all their health: whereupon
on that day in Jerusalem the Roman soldiery, by the working of Satan,
began to stir up the common people, saying that Jesus was the God of
Israel, who was come to visit his people.
70.
Jesus departed from Jerusalem after the Passover, and entered into the
borders of Caesarea Philippi. Whereupon, the angel Gabriel having told him
of the sedition which was beginning among the common people, he asked
his disciples, saying: 'What do men say of me?'
They said: 'Some say that thou art Elijah, others Jeremiah, and others one of
the old prophets.'
Jesus answered: 'And ye; what say ye that I am?'
Peter answered: 'Thou art Christ, son of God.'
72
Then was Jesus angry, and with anger rebuked him, saying: 'Begone and
depart from me, because thou art the devil and seekest to cause me
offence!'
And he threatened the eleven, saying: 'Woe to you if ye believe this, for I
have won from God a great curse against those who believe this.'
And he was fain to cast away Peter; whereupon the eleven besought Jesus
for him, who cast him not away, but again rebuked him, saying: 'Beware that
never again thou say such words, because God would reprobate thee!'
Peter wept, and said: 'Lord, I have spoken foolishly: beseech God that he
pardon me.'
Then said Jesus: 'If our God willed not to show himself to Moses his servant,
nor to Elijah whom he so loved, nor to any prophet, will ye think that God
should show himself to this faithless generation? But know ye not that God
hath created all things of nothing with one single word, and all men have
had their origin out of a piece of clay? Now, how shall God have likeness to
man? Woe to those who suffer themselves to be deceived of Satan!'
And having said this, Jesus besought God for Peter, the eleven and Peter
weeping, and saying: 'So be it, so be it, O blessed Lord our God.'
Afterwards Jesus departed and went into Galilee, in order that this vain
opinion which the common folk began to hold concerning him might be
extinguished.
71.
Jesus having arrived in his own country, it was spread through all the region
of Galilee how that Jesus the prophet was come to Nazareth. Whereupon
with diligence sought they the sick and brought them to him, beseeching
him that he would touch them with his hands. And so great was the
multitude that a certain rich man sick of the palsy, not being able to get
himself carried through the door, had himself carried up to the roof of the
house in which Jesus was, and having caused the roof to be uncovered, and
himself let down by sheets in front of Jesus. Jesus stood for a moment in
73
hesitation, and then he said: 'Fear not, brother, for thy sins are forgiven
thee.'
Everyone was offended hearing this, and they said: 'And who is this who
forgiveth sins?'
Then said Jesus: 'As God liveth, I am not able to forgive sins, nor is any man,
but God alone forgiveth. But as servant of God I can beseech him for the sins
of others: and so I have besought him for this sick man, and I am sure that
God hath heard my prayer. Wherefore, that ye may know the truth, I say to
this sick man: "In the name of the God of our fathers, the God of Abraham
and his sons, rise up healed!"' And when Jesus had said this the sick man
rose up healed, and glorified God.
Then the common people besought Jesus that he would beseech God for
the sick who stood outside. Whereupon Jesus went out unto them, and,
having lifted up his hands, said: 'Lord God of hosts, the living God, the true
God, the holy God, that never will die; have mercy upon them!' Whereupon
every one answered: 'Amen.' And this having been said, Jesus laid his hands
upon the sick folk, and they all received their health.
Thereupon they magnified God, saying: 'God hath visited us by his prophet,
and a great prophet hath God sent unto us.'
72.
At night Jesus spake in secret with his disciples, saying: 'Verily I say unto you
that Satan desireth to sift you as wheat; but I have besought God for you,
and there shall not perish of you save he that layeth snares for me.' And this
he said of Judas, because the angel Gabriel said to him how that Judas had
hand with the priests, and reported to them all that Jesus spake.
With tears drew near unto Jesus he who writeth this, saying: 'O master, tell
me, who is he that should betray thee?'
Jesus answered, saying: 'O Barnabas, this is not the hour for thee to know
him, but soon will the wicked one reveal himself, because I shall depart from
the world.'
74
Then wept the apostles, saying: 'O master, wherefore wilt thou forsake us?
It is much better that we should die than be forsaken of thee!'
Jesus answered: 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither be ye fearful: for I
have not created you, but God our creator who hath created you will
protect you. As for me, I am now come to the world to prepare the way for
the messenger of God, who shall bring salvation to the world. But beware
that ye be not deceived, for many false prophets shall come, who shall take
my words and contaminate my gospel.'
Then said Andrew: 'Master, tell us some sign, that we may know him.'
Jesus answered: 'He will not come in your time, but will come some years
after you, when my gospel shall be annulled, insomuch that there shall be
scarcely thirty faithful. At that time God will have mercy on the world, and so
he will send his messenger, over whose head will rest a white cloud,
whereby he shall be known of one elect of God, and shall be by him
manifested to the world. He shall come with great power against the
ungodly, and shall destroy idolatry upon the earth. And it rejoiceth me
because that through him our God shall be known and glorified, and I shall
be known to be true; and he will execute vengeance against those who shall
say that I am more than man. Verily I say to you that the moon shall minister
sleep to him in his boyhood, and when he shall be grown up he shall take her
in his hands. Let the world beware of casting him out because he shall slay
the idolaters, for many more were slain by Moses, the servant of God, and
Joshua, who spared not the cities which they burnt, and slew the children;
for to an old wound one applieth fire.
'He shall come with truth more clear than that of all the prophets, and shall
reprove him who useth the world amiss. The towers of the city of our father
shall greet one another for joy: and so when idolatry shall be seen to fall to
the ground and confess me a man like other men, verily I say unto you the
messenger of God shall be come.'
73.
'Verily I say unto you, that if Satan shall try whether ye be friends of God—
because no one assaileth his own cities,—if Satan should have his will over
75
you he would suffer you to glide at your own pleasure; but because he
knoweth that ye be enemies to him he will do every violence to make you
perish. But fear not ye, for he will be aginst you as a dog that is chained,
because God hath heard my prayer.'
John answered: 'O master, not only for us, but for them that shall believe
the gospel, tell us how the ancient tempter layeth wait for man.'
Jesus answered: 'In four ways tempteth that wicked one. The first is when
he tempteth by himself, with thoughts. The second is when he tempteth
with words and deeds by means of his servants; the third is when he
tempteth with false doctrine; the fourth is when he tempteth with false
visions. Now how cautious ought men to be, and all the more according as
he hath in his favour the flesh of man, which loveth sin as he who hath fever
loveth water. Verily I say unto you, that if a man fear God he shall have
victory over all, as saith David his prophet: "God shall give his angels charge
over thee, who shall keep thy ways, so that the devil shall not cause thee to
stumble. A thousand shall fall on thy left hand, and ten thousand on thy
right hand, so that they shall not come nigh thee."
'Furthermore, our God with great love promised to us by the same David to
keep us, saying: "I give unto thee understanding, which shall teach thee; and
in thy ways wherein thou shalt walk I will cause Mine eye to rest upon thee."
'But what shall I say? He hath said by Isaiah: "Can a mother forget the child
of her womb? But I say unto thee, that when he forget, I will not forget
thee."
'Tell me, then, who shall fear Satan, having for guard the angels and for
protection the living God? Nevertheless, it is necessary, as saith the prophet
Solomon, that "Thou, my son, that art come to fear the Lord, prepare thy
soul for temptations." Verily I say unto you, that a man ought to do as the
banker who examineth money, examining his thoughts, that he sin not
against God his creator.'
74.
'There have been and are in the world men who hold not thought for sin;
who are in the greatest error. Tell me, how sinned Satan? It is certain that he
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sinned in the thought that he was more worthy than man. Solomon sinned
in thinking to invite to a feast all the creatures of God, whereupon a fish
corrected him by eating all that he had prepared. Wherefore, not without
cause, saith David our father, that "to ascend in one's heart setteth one in
the valley of tears." And wherefore doth God cry by Isaiah his prophet,
saying: "Take away your evil thoughts from mine eyes?" And to what
purpose saith Solomon: "With all thy keeping, keep thine heart?" As God
liveth, in whose presence standeth my soul, all is said against the evil
thoughts wherewith sin is committed, for without thinking it is not possible
to sin. Now tell me, when the husbandman planteth the vineyard doth he
set the plants deep? Assuredly yea. Even so doth Satan, who in planting sin
doth not stop at the eye or the ear, but passeth into the heart, which is
God's dwelling. As he spake by Moses his servant, saying: ''I will dwell in
them, in order that they may walk in my law."
'Now tell me, if Herod the king should give you a house to keep in which he
desired to dwell, would ye suffer Pilate, his enemy, to enter there or to place
his goods therein? Assuredly no. Then how much less ought ye to suffer
Satan to enter into your heart, or to place his thoughts therein; seeing that
our God hath given you your heart to keep, which is his dwelling. Observe,
therefore, that the banker considereth the money, whether the image of
Caesar is right, whether the silver is good or false, and whether it is of due
weight: wherefore he turneth it over much in his hand. Ah, mad world! How
prudent thou art in thy business, so that in the last day thou wilt reprove
and judge the servants of God of negligence and carelessness, for without
doubt thy servants are more prudent than the servants of God. Tell me,
now, who is he who examineth a thought as the banker a silver coin?
Assuredly no one.'
75.
Then said James: 'O master, how is the examination of a thought like unto
[that of] a coin?'
Jesus answered: 'The good silver in the thought is piety, because every
impious thought cometh of the devil. The right image is the example of the
holy ones and prophets, which we ought to follow; and the weight of the
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thought is the love of God by which all ought to be done. Whereupon the
enemy will bring there impious thoughts against your neighbor, [thoughts]
conformed to the world, to corrupt the flesh; [thoughts] of earthly love to
corrupt the love of God.'
Bartholomew answered: 'O master, what ought we to do to think little, in
order that we may not fall into temptation?'
Jesus answered: 'Two things are necessary for you. The first is to exercise
yourselves much, and the second is to talk little: for idleness is a sink
wherein is gathered every unclean thought, and too much talking is a
sponge which picketh up iniquities. It is, therefore, necessary not only your
working should hold the body occupied, but also that the soul be occupied
with prayer. For it needeth never to cease from prayer.
'I tell you for an example: There was a man who paid ill, wherefore none
that knew him would go to till his fields. Whereupon he, like a wicked man,
said: ''I will go to the market-place to find idle ones who are doing nothing,
and will therefore come to till my vines." This man went forth from his
house, and found many strangers who were standing in idleness, and had no
money. To them he spake, and led them to his vineyard. But verily none that
knew him and had work for his hands went thither.
'He is Satan, that one who payeth ill; for he giveth labour and man receiveth
for it the eternal fires in his service. Wherefore he hath gone forth from
paradise, and goeth in search of labourers. Assuredly he setteth to his
labours those who stand in idleness whosoever they be, but much more
those who know him not. It is not in any wise enough for anyone to know
evil in order to escape it, but it behoveth to work at good in order to
overcome it.'
76.
'I tell you for an example. There was a man who had three vineyards, which
he let out to three husbandmen. Because the first knew not how to cultivate
the vineyard the vineyard brought forth only leaves. The second taught the
third how the vines ought to be cultivated; and he most excellently
hearkened to his words; and he cultivated his, as he told him, insomuch that
78
the vineyard of the third bore much. But the second left his vineyard
uncultivated, spending his time solely in talking. When the time was come
for paying the rent to the lord of the vineyard, the first said: "Lord, I know
not how thy vineyard ought to be cultivated: therefore I have not received
any fruit this year."
'The lord answered: "O fool, dost thou dwell alone in the world, that thou
hast not asked counsel of my second vinedresser, who knoweth well how to
cultivate the land? Certain it is that thou shalt pay me."
'And having said this he condemned him to work in prison until he should
pay his lord; who moved with pity at his simplicity liberated him, saying:
"Begone, for I will not that thou work longer at my vineyard; it is enough for
thee that I give thee thy debt."
'The second came, to whom the lord said: "Welcome, my vinedresser!
Where are the fruits that thou owest me? Assuredly, since thou knowest
well how to prune the vines, the vineyard that I let out to thee must needs
have borne much fruit."
'The second answered: "O lord, thy vineyard is backward because I have not
pruned the wood nor worked up the soil; but the vineyard hath not borne
fruit, so I cannot pay thee."
'Whereupon the lord called the third and with wonder said: "Thou saidst to
me that this man, to whom I let out the second vineyard, taught thee
perfectly to cultivate the vineyard which I let out to thee. How then can it be
that the vineyard I let out to him should not have borne fruit, seeing it is all
one soil?"
'The third answered: "Lord, the vines are not cultivated by talking only, but
he needs must sweat a shirt every day who willeth to make it bring forth its
fruit. And how shall thy vineyard of thy vinedresser bear fruit, O lord, if he
doth naught but waste the time in talking? Sure it is, O lord, that if he had
put into practice his own words, [while] I who cannot talk so much have
given thee the rent for two years, he would have given thee the rent of the
vineyard for five years."
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'The lord was wroth, and said with scorn to the vinedresser: "And so thou
hast wrought a great work in not cutting away the wood and levelling the
vineyard, wherefore there is owing to thee a great reward!" And having
called his servants he had him beaten without any mercy. And then he put
him into prison under the keeping of a cruel servant who beat him every
day, and never was willing to set him free for prayers of his friends.'
77.
'Verily I say unto you, that on the day of judgment many shall say to God:
"Lord, we have preached and taught by thy law." Against them even the
stones shall cry out, saying: "When ye preached to others, with your own
tongue ye condemned yourselves, O workers of iniquity."
'As God liveth,' said Jesus, 'he who knoweth the truth and worketh the
contrary shall be punished with such grievous penalty that Satan shall
almost have compassion on him. Tell me, now, hath our God given us the
law for knowing or for working? Verily I say unto you, that all knowledge
hath for end that wisdom which worketh all it knoweth.
'Tell me, if one were sitting at table and with his eyes beheld delicate meats,
but with his hands should choose unclean things and eat those, would not
he be mad?'
'Yea, assuredly,' said the disciples.
Then said Jesus: 'O mad beyond all madmen art thou, O man, that with thine
understanding knowest heaven, and with thine hands choosest earth; with
thine understanding knowest God, and with thine affection desirest the
world; with thine understanding knowest the delights of paradise, and with
thy works choosest the miseries of hell. Brave soldier, that leaveth the
sword and carrieth the scabbard to fight! Now, know ye not that he who
walketh by night desireth light, not only to see the light, but rather to see
the good road, in order that he may pass safely to the inn? O miserable
world, to be a thousand times despised and abhorred! Since our God by his
holy prophets hath ever willed to grant it to know the way to go to his
country and his rest: but thou, wicked one, not only willest not to go, but,
which is worse, hast despised the light! True is the proverb of the camel,
80
that it liketh not clear water to drink, because it desireth not to see its own
ugly face. So doth the ungodly who worketh ill; for he hateth the light lest
his evil works should be known. But he who receiveth wisdom, and not only
worketh not well, but, which is worse, employeth it for evil, is like to him
who should use the gifts as instruments to slay the giver.'
78.
'Verily I say unto you, that God had not compassion on the fall of Satan, but
yet [had compassion] on the fall of Adam. And let this suffice you to know
the unhappy condition of him who knoweth good and doeth evil.'
Then said Andrew: 'O master, it is a good thing to leave learning aside, so as
not to fall into such condition.'
Jesus answered: 'If the world is good without the sun, man without eyes,
and the soul without understanding, then is it good not to know. Verily I say
unto you, that bread is not so good for the temporal life as is learning for
the eternal life. Know ye not that it is a precept of God to learn? For thus
saith God: "Ask of thine elders, and they shall teach thee." And of the law
saith God: "See that my precept be before thine eyes, and when thou sit test
down, and when thou walkest, and at all times meditate thereon." Whether,
then, it is good not to learn, ye may now know. Oh, unhappy he who
despiseth wisdom, for he is sure to lose eternal life.'
James answered: 'O master, we know that Job learned not from a master,
nor Abraham; nevertheless they became holy ones and prophets.'
Jesus answered: 'Verily I say unto you, that he who is of the bridegroom's
house needeth not to be invited to the marriage, because he dwelleth in the
house where the marriage is held; but they that are far from the house. Now
know ye not that the prophets of God are in the house of God's grace and
mercy, and so have the law of God manifest in them: as David our father
saith on this matter: ''The law of his God is in his heart; therefore his path
shall not be digged up." Verily I say unto you that our God in creating man
not only created him righteous, but inserted in his heart a light that should
show to him that it is fitting to serve God. Wherefore, even if this light be
darkened after sin, yet is it not extinguished. For every nation hath this
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desire to serve God, though they have lost God and serve false and lying
gods. Accordingly it is necessary that a man be taught of the prophets of
God, for they have clear the light to teach the way to go to paradise, our
country, by serving God well: just as it is necessary that he who hath his eyes
diseased should be guided and helped.'
79.
James answered: 'And how shall the prophets teach us if they are dead; and
how shall he be taught who hath not knowledge of the prophets?'
Jesus answered: 'Their doctrine is written down, so that it ought to be
studied, for [the writing] is to thee for a prophet. Verily, verily, I say unto
thee that he who despiseth the prophecy despiseth not only the prophet,
but despiseth also God who hath sent the prophet. But concerning such as
know not the prophet, as are the nations, I tell you that if there shall live in
those regions any man who liveth as his heart shall show him, not doing to
others that which he would not receive from others, and giving to his
neighbor that which he would receive from others, such a man shall not be
forsaken of the mercy of God. Wherefore at death, if not sooner, God will
show him and give him his law with mercy. Perchance ye think that God hath
given the law for love of the law? Assuredly this is not true, but rather hath
God given his law in order that man might work good for love of God. And
so if God shall find a man who for love of him worketh good, shall he
perchance despise him? Nay, surely, but rather will he love him more than
those to whom he hath given the law. I tell you for an example: There was a
man who had great possessions; and in his territory he had desert land that
only bore unfruitful things. And so, as he was walking out one day through
such desert land, he found among such unfruitful plants a plant that had
delicate fruits. Whereupon this man said: "Now how doth this plant here
bear these so delicate fruits? Assuredly I will not that it be cut down and put
on the fire with the rest." And having called his servants he made them dig it
up and set it in his garden. Even so, I tell you, that our God shall preserve
from the flames of hell those who work righteousness wheresoever they
be.'
80.
82
'Tell me, where dwelt Job but in Uz among idolaters? And at the time of the
flood, how writeth Moses? Tell me, He saith: "Noah truly found grace before
God." Our father Abraham had a father without faith, for he made and
worshipped false idols. Lot abode among the most wicked men on earth.
Daniel as a child, with Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, were taken captive by
Nebuchadnezzar in such wise that they were but two years old when they
were taken; and they were nurtured among the multitude of idolatrous
servants. As God liveth, even as the fire burneth dry things and converteth
them into fire, making no difference between olive and cypress and palm;
even so our God hath mercy on every one that worketh righteously, making
no difference between Jew, Scythian, Greek, or Ishmaelite. But let not thine
heart stop there, O James, because where God hath sent the prophet it is
necessary entirely to deny thine own judgment and to follow the prophet,
and not to say: "Why saith he thus?" "Why doth he thus forbid and
command?" But say: "Thus God willeth. Thus God commandeth." Now what
said God to Moses when Israel despised Moses? "They have not despised
thee, but they have despised me."
'Verily I say unto you, that man ought to spend all the time of his life not in
learning how to speak or to read, but in learning how to work well. Now tell
me, who is that servant of Herod who would not study to please him by
serving him with all diligence? Woe unto the world that studieth only to
please a body that is clay and dung, and studieth not but forgetteth the
service of God who hath made all things; who is blessed for evermore.'
81.
'Tell me, would it have been a great sin of the priests if when they were
carrying the ark of the testimony of God they had let it fall to the ground?'
The disciples trembled hearing this, for they knew that God slew Uzzah for
having wrongly touched the ark of God. And they said: 'Most grievous would
be such a sin.'
Then said Jesus: 'As God liveth, it is a greater sin to forget the word of God,
wherewith he made all things, whereby he offereth thee eternal life.'
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And having said this Jesus made prayer; and after his prayer he said:
'Tomorrow we needs must pass into Samaria, for so hath said unto me the
holy angel of God.'
Early on the morning of a certain day, Jesus arrived near to the well which
Jacob made and gave to Joseph his son. Whereupon Jesus, being wearied
with the journey, sent his disciples to the city to buy food. And so he sat
himself down by the well, upon the stone of the well. And, lo, a woman of
Samaria cometh to the well to draw water.
Jesus saith unto the woman, 'Give me to drink,' The woman answered:
'Now, art thou not ashamed that thou, being an Hebrew, askest drink of me
which am a Samaritan woman?'
Jesus answered: 'O woman, if thou knewest who he is that asketh thee for a
drink, perchance thou wouldest have asked of him for drink.'
The woman answered: 'Now how shouldest thou give me to drink, seeing
thou hast no vessel to draw the water, nor rope, and the well is deep?'
Jesus answered: 'O woman, whoso drinketh of the water of this well, thirst
cometh to him again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I give hath
thirst no more; but to them that have thirst give they to drink, insomuch
that they come to eternal life.'
Then said the woman: 'O Lord, give me of this thy water.' Jesus answered:
'Go call thy husband, and to both of you I will give to drink.'
Said the woman: 'I have no husband.'
Jesus answered: 'Well hast thou said the truth, for thou hast had five
husbands, and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.
The woman was confounded hearing this, and said: 'Lord, hereby perceive I
that thou art a prophet; therefore tell me, I pray: the Hebrews make prayer
on mount Sion in the temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem, and say that
there and nowhere else [men] find grace and mercy of God. And our people
worship on these mountains, and say that only on the mountains of Samaria
ought worship to be made. Who are the true worshipers?'
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82.
Then Jesus gave a sigh and wept, saying: 'Woe to thee, Judaea, for thou
gloriest, saying: "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord," and livest
as though there were no God; given over wholly to the pleasures and gains
of the world; for this woman in the day of judgement shall condemn thee to
hell; for this woman seeketh to know how to find grace and mercy before
God.'
And turning to the woman he said: 'O woman, ye Samaritans worship that
which ye know not, but we Hebrews worship that which we know. Verily, I
say unto thee, that God is spirit and truth, and so in spirit and in truth must
he be worshipped. For the promise of God was made in Jerusalem, in the
temple of Solomon, and not elsewhere. But believe me, a time will come
that God will give his mercy in another city, and in every place it will be
possible to worship him in truth. And God in every place will have accepted
true prayer with mercy.'
The woman answered: 'We look for the Messiah; when he cometh he will
teach us.'
Jesus answered: 'Knowest thou, woman, that the Messiah must come?'
She answered: 'Yea, Lord.'
Then Jesus rejoiced, and said: 'So far as I see, O woman, thou art faithful:
know therefore that in the faith of the Messiah shall be saved every one that
is elect of God; therefore it is necessary that thou know the coming of the
Messiah.'
Said the woman: 'O Lord, perchance thou art the Messiah.'
Jesus answered: 'I am indeed sent to the house of Israel as a prophet of
salvation; but after me shall come the Messiah, sent of God to all the world;
for whom God hath made the world. And then through all the world will God
be worshipped, and mercy received, insomuch that the year of jubilee,
which now cometh every hundred years, shall by the Messiah be reduced to
every year in every place.'
85
Then the woman left her waterpot and ran to the city to announce all that
she had heard from Jesus.
83.
Whilst the woman was talking with Jesus came his disciples, and marvelled
that Jesus was speaking so with a woman. Yet no one said unto him: 'Why
speakest thou thus with a Samaritan woman?'
Whereupon, when the woman was departed, they said: 'Master, come and
eat.'
Jesus answered: 'I must eat other food.'
Then said the disciples one to another: 'Perchance some wayfarer hath
spoken with Jesus and hath gone to find him food.' And they questioned
him who writeth this, saying: 'Hath there been anyone here, O Barnabas,
who might have brought food to the master?'
Then answered he who writeth: 'There hath not been here any other than
the woman whom ye saw, who brought this empty vessel to fill it with
water.' Then the disciples stood amazed, awaiting the issue of the words of
Jesus. Whereupon Jesus said: 'Ye know not that the true food is to do the
will of God; because it is not bread that sustaineth man and giveth him life,
but rather the word of God, by his will. And so for this reason the holy
angels eat not, but live nourished only by the will of God. And thus we,
Moses and Elijah and yet another, have been forty days and forty nights
without any food.'
And lifting up his eyes, Jesus said: 'How far off is the harvest?'
The disciples answered: 'Three months.'
Jesus said: 'Look now, how the mountain is white with corn; verily I say unto
you, that to-day there is a great harvest to be reaped. And then he pointed
to the multitude who had come to see him. For the woman having entered
into the city had moved all the city, saying: 'O men, come and see a new
prophet sent of God to the house of Israel'; and she recounted to them all
that she had heard from Jesus. When they were come thither they besought
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Jesus to abide with them; and he entered into the city and abode there two
days, healing all the sick, and teaching concerning the kingdom of God.
Then said the citizens to the woman: 'We believe more in his words and
miracles than we do in what thou saidst; for he is indeed a holy one of God, a
prophet sent for the salvation of those that shall believe on him.'
After the prayer of midnight the disciples came near unto Jesus, and he said
to them: 'This night shall be in the time of the Messiah, messenger of God,
the jubilee every year—that now cometh every hundred years. Therefore I
will not that we sleep, but let us make prayer, bowing our head a hundred
times, doing reverence to our God, mighty and merciful, who is blessed for
evermore, and therefore each time let us say: "I confess thee our God alone,
that hast not had beginning, nor shalt ever have end; for by thy mercy
gavest thou to all things their beginning, and by thy justice thou shalt give to
all an end: that hast no likeness among men, because in thine infinite
goodness thou art not subject to motion nor to any accident. Have mercy on
us, for thou hast created us, and we are the works of thy hand."'
84.
Having made the prayer, Jesus said: 'Let us give thanks to God because he
hath given to us this night great mercy; for that he hath made to come back
the time that needs must pass in this night, in that we have made prayer in
union with the messenger of God. And I have heard his voice.'
The disciples rejoiced greatly at hearing this, and said: 'Master, teach us
some precepts this night.'
Then said Jesus: 'Have ye ever seen dung mixed with balsam?'
They answered: 'Nay, Lord, for no one is so mad as to do this thing.'
'Now I tell you that there be in the world greater madmen,' said Jesus,
'because with the service of God they mingle the service of the world. So
much so that many of blameless life have been deceived of Satan, and while
praying have mingled with their prayer worldly business, whereupon they
have become at that time abominable in the sight of God. Tell me, when ye
wash yourselves for prayer, do ye take care that no unclean thing touch you?
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Yea, assuredly. But what do ye when ye are making prayer? Ye wash your
soul from sins through the mercy of God. Would ye be willing then, while ye
are making prayer, to speak of worldly things? Take care not to do so, for
every worldly word becometh dung of the devil upon the soul of him that
speaketh.'
Then trembled the disciples, because he spake with vehemence of spirit;
and they said: 'O master, what shall we do if when we are making prayer a
friend shall come to speak to us?'
Jesus answered: 'Suffer him to wait, and finish the prayer.'
Said Bartholomew: 'But what if he shall be offended and go his way, when
he see that we speak not with him?'
Jesus answered: 'If he shall be offended, believe me he will not be a friend
of yours nor a believer, but rather an unbeliever and a companion of Satan.
Tell me, if ye went to speak with a stable boy of Herod, and found his
speaking into Herod's ears, would ye be offended if he made you to wait?'
No, assuredly; but ye would be comforted at seeing your friend in favour
with the king. Is this true?' said Jesus.
The disciples answered: 'It is most true.'
Then said Jesus: 'Verily I say unto you, that every one when he prayeth
speaketh with God. Is it then right that ye should leave speaking with God in
order to speak with man? Is it right that your friend should for this cause be
offended, because ye have more reverence for God than for him? Believe me
that if he shall be offended when ye make him wait, he is a good servant of
the devil. For this desireth the devil, that God should be forsaken for man. As
God liveth, in every good work he that feareth God ought to separate
himself from the works of the world, so as not to corrupt the good work.'
85.
'When a man worketh ill or talketh ill, if one go to correct him, and hinder
such work, what doth such an one?' said Jesus.
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The disciples answered: 'He doth well, because he serveth God, who always
seeketh to hinder evil, even as the sun that always seeketh to chase away
the darkness.'
Said Jesus: 'And I tell you on the contrary that when one worketh well or
speaketh well, whosoever seeketh to hinder him under pretext of aught
that is not better, he serveth that devil, nay, he even becometh his
companion. For the devil attendeth to nought else but to hinder every good
thing.
'But what shall I say unto you now? I will say unto you as said Solomon the
prophet, holy one, and friend of God: 'Of a thousand whom ye know, one be
your friend.'
Then said Matthew: 'Then shall we not be able to love anyone.'
Jesus answered: 'Verily I say unto you, that it is not lawful for you to hate
anything save only sin: insomuch that ye cannot hate even Satan as creature
of God, but rather as enemy of God. Know ye wherefore? I will tell you;
because he is a creature of God, and all that God hath created is good and
perfect. Accordingly, whoso hateth the creature hateth also the creator. But
the friend is a singular thing, that is not easily found, but is easily lost. For
the friend will not suffer contradiction against him whom he supremely
loveth. Beware, be ye cautious, and choose not for friend one who loveth
not him whom ye love. Know ye what friend meaneth? Friend meaneth
naught but physician of the soul. And so, just as one rarely findeth a good
physician who knoweth the sickness and understandeth to apply the
medicines thereto, so also are friends rare who know the faults and
understand how to guide unto good. But herein is an evil, that there are
many who have friends that feign not to see the faults of their friend; others
excuse them; others defend them under earthly pretext; and, what is worse,
there are friends who invite and aid their friend to err, whose end shall be
like unto their villainy. Beware that ye receive not such men for friends, for
that in truth they are enemies and slayers of the soul.
86.
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Let thy friend be such that, even as he willeth to correct thee, so he may
receive correction; and even as he willeth that thou shouldest leave all
things for love of God, even so again it may content him that thou forsake
him for the service of God.
'But tell me, if a man know not how to love God how shall he know how.to
love himself; and how shall he know how to love others, not knowing how
to love himself? Assuredly this is impossible. Therefore when thou choose
thee one for friend (for verily he is supremely poor who hath no friend at
all), see that thou consider first, not his fine lineage, nor his fine family, not
his fine house, not his fine clothing, nor his fine person, not yet his fine
words, for thou shalt be easily deceived. But look how he feareth God, how
he despiseth earthly things, how he loveth good works, and above all how
he hateth his own flesh, and so shalt thou easily find the true friend; if he
above all things shall fear God, and shall despise the vanities of the world; if
he shall be always occupied in good works, and shall hate his own body as a
cruel enemy. Nor yet shalt thou love such a friend in such wise that thy love
stay in him, for [so] shalt thou be an idolater. But love him as a gift that God
hath given thee, for so shall God adorn [him] with greater favour. Verily I say
unto you, that he who hath found a true friend hath found one of the
delights of paradise; nay, such is the key of paradise.'
Thaddaeus answered: 'But if perchance a man shall have a friend who is not
such as thou hast said, O master? What ought he to do? Ought he to forsake
him?'
Jesus answered: 'He ought to do as the mariner doth with the ship, who
saileth it so long as he perceiveth it to be profitable, but when he seeth it to
be a loss forsaketh it. So shalt thou do with thy friend that is worse than
thou: in those things wherein he is an offence to thee, leave him if thou
wouldst not be left of the mercy of God.'
87.
'Woe unto the world because of offences. It needs must be that the offence
come, because all the world lieth in wickedness. But yet woe to that man
through whom the offence cometh. It were better for the man if he should
have a millstone about his neck and should be sunk in the depths of the sea
90
than that he should offend his neighbor. If thine eye be an offence to thee,
pluck it out; for it is better that thou go with one eye only into paradise than
with both of them into hell. If thy hand or thy foot offend thee, do likewise,
for it is better that thou go into the kingdom of heaven with one foot or
with one hand, than with two hands and two feet go into hell.'
Said Simon, called Peter: 'Lord, how must I do this? Certain it is that in a
short time I shall be dismembered.'
Jesus answered: 'O Peter, put off fleshly prudence and straightway thou
shalt find the truth. For he that teacheth thee is thine eye, and he that
helpeth thee to work is thy foot, and he that ministereth aught unto thee is
thine hand. Wherefore when such are to thee an occasion of sin leave them;
for it is better for thee to go into paradise ignorant, with few works, and
poor, than to go into hell wise, with great works, and rich. Everything that
may hinder thee from serving God, cast it from thee as a man casteth away
everything that hindereth his sight.'
And having said this, Jesus called Peter close to him, and said unto him: 'If
thy brother shall sin against thee, go and correct him. If he amend, rejoice,
for thou hast gained thy brother; but if he shall not amend go and call afresh
two witnesses and correct him afresh; and if he shall not amend, go and tell
it to the church; and if he shall not then amend, count him for an unbeliever,
and therefore thou shalt not dwell under the same roof whereunder he
dwelleth, thou shalt not eat at the same table whereat he sitteth, and thou
shalt not speak with him; insomuch that if thou know where he setteth his
foot in walking thou shalt not set they foot there.'
88.
'But beware that thou hold not thyself for better; rather shalt thou say thus:
"Peter, Peter, if God helped thee not with his grace thou wouldst be worse
than he."'
Peter answered: 'How must I correct him?'
Jesus answered: 'In the way that thou thyself wouldst fain be corrected.
And as thou wouldst fain be borne with, so bear with others. Believe me,
Peter, for verily I say unto thee that every time thou shalt correct thy
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brother with mercy thou shalt receive mercy of God, and thy words shall
bear some fruit; but if thou shalt do it with rigour, thou shalt be rigorously
punished by the justice of God, and shalt bear no fruit. Tell me, Peter: Those
earthen pots wherein the poor cook their food—do they wash them,
perchance, with stones and iron hammers? Nay, assuredly; but rather with
hot water. Vessels are broken in pieces with iron, things of wood are burned
with fire; but man is amended with mercy. Wherefore, when thou shalt
correct thy brother thou shalt say to thyself: "If God help me not, I shall do
to-morrow worse than all that he hath done today."'
Peter answered: 'How many times must I forgive my brother, O master?'
Jesus answered: 'As many times as thou wouldst fain be forgiven by him.'
Said Peter: 'Seven times a day?'
Jesus answered: 'Not only seven, but seventy times seven thou shalt forgive
him every day; for he that forgiveth, to him shall it be forgiven, and he that
condemneth shall be condemned.'
Then said he who writeth this: 'Woe unto princes! for they shall go to hell.'
Jesus reproved him, saying: 'Thou art become foolish, O Barnabas, in that
thou hast spoken thus. Verily I say unto thee, that the bath is not so
necessary for the body, the bit for the horse, and the tiller for the ship, as
the prince is necessary for the state. And for what cause did God give
Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, and Solomon, and so many others who
passed judgement? To such hath God given the sword for the extirpation of
iniquity.'
Then said he who writeth this: 'Now, how ought judgement to be given,
condemning and pardoning?'
Jesus answered: 'Not every one is ajudge: for to the judge alone it
appertaineth to condemn others, O Barnabas. And the judge ought to
condemn the guilty, even as the father commandeth a putrified member to
be cut off from his son in order that the whole body may not become
putrified.'
89.
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Said Peter: 'How long must I wait for my brother to repent?'
Jesus answered: 'So long as thou wouldst be waited for.'
Peter answered: 'Not every one will understand this; wherefore speak to us
more plainly.'
Jesus answered: 'Wait for thy brother as long as God waiteth for him.'
'Neither will they understand this,' said Peter.
Jesus answered: 'Wait for him so long as he hath time to repent.'
Then was Peter sad, and the others also, because they understood not the
meaning. Whereupon Jesus answered: 'If ye had sound understanding, and
knew that ye yourselves were sinners, ye would not think ever to cut off
your heart from mercy to the sinner. And so I tell you plainly, that the sinner
ought to be waited for that he may repent, so long as he hath a soul
beneath his teeth to breathe. For so doth our God wait for him, the mighty
and merciful. God said not: "In that hour that the sinner shall fast, do alms,
make prayer, and go on pilgrimage, I will forgive him." Wherefore this have
many accomplished, and are damned eternally. But he said: "In that hour
that the sinner shall bewail his sins, I for my part will not remember any
more his iniquities." Do ye understand?' said Jesus.
The disciples answered: 'Part we understand, and part not.'
Said Jesus: 'Which is the part that ye understood not?'
They answered: 'That many who have made prayer with fastings are
damned.'
Then said Jesus: 'Verily I say unto you, that the hypocrites and the Gentiles
make more prayers, more alms, and more fasts than do the friends of God.
But because they have not faith, they are not able to repent for love of God,
and so they are damned.'
Then said John: 'Teach us, for love of God, of the faith.'
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Jesus answered: 'It is time that we say the prayer of the dawn.' Whereupon
they arose, and having washed themselves made prayer to our God, who is
blessed for evermore.
90.
When the prayer was done, his disciples again drew near to Jesus, and he
opened his mouth and said: 'Draw near, John, for to-day will I speak unto
thee of all that thou hast asked. Faith is a seal whereby God sealeth his elect:
which seal he gave to his messenger, at whose hands every one that is elect
hath received faith. For even as God is one, so is the faith one. Wherefore
God, having created before all things his messenger, gave to him before
aught else the faith which is as it were a likeness of God and of all that God
hath done and said. And so the faithful by faith seeth all things, better than
one seeth with his eyes; because the eyes can err; nay they do almost always
err; but faith erreth never, for it hath for foundation God and his word.
Believe me that by faith are saved all the elect of God. And it is certain that
without faith it is impossible for anyone to please God. Wherefore Satan
seeketh not to bring to naught fasting and prayer, alms and pilgrimages, nay
rather he inciteth unbelievers thereto, for he taketh pleasure in seeing man
work without receiving pay. But he taketh pains with all diligence to bring
faith to nought, wherefore faith ought especially to be guarded with
diligence, and the safest course will be to abandon the "Wherefore," seeing
that the "Wherefore" drove men out of Paradise and changed Satan from a
most beautiful angel into a horrible devil.'
Then said John: 'Now, how shall we abandon the "Wherefore" seeing that it
is the gate of knowledge?'
Jesus answered: 'Nay, rather the "Wherefore" is the gate of hell.'
Thereupon John kept silence, when Jesus added: 'When thou knowest that
God hath said a thing, who art thou, O man, that thou shouldst say,
forsooth, "Wherefore hath thou so said, O God: wherefore hast thou so
done?" Shall the earthen vessel, perchance say to its maker: "Wherefore
hast thou made me to hold water and not to contain balsam?" Verily I say
unto you, it is necessary against every temptation to strengthen yourself
94
with this word, saying "God hath so said": "So hath God done": "God so
willeth"; for so doing thou shalt live safely.'
91.
At this time there was a great disturbance throughout Judea for the sake of
Jesus; for that the Roman soldiery, through the operation of Satan, stirred
up the Hebrews, saying that Jesus was God come to visit them. Whereupon
so great sedition arose, that nigh upon the Forty days all Judea was in arms,
insomuch that the son was found against the father, and the brother against
the brother, for that some said that Jesus was God come to the world;
others said: 'Nay, but he is a son of God'; and others said: 'Nay for God hath
no human similitude, and therefore begetteth not sons; but Jesus of
Nazareth is a prophet of God.'
And this arose by reason of the great miracles which Jesus did.
Thereupon, to quiet the people, it was necessary that the high-priest should
ride in procession, clothed in his priestly robes, with the holy name of God,
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