1AND he answered me, and sayd: Measuring measure the time in thy self, and it shal be when thou shalt see a part of the signes past, which I haue told thee before,stylus2then shalt thou vnderstand, that it is the time, wherin the Highest wil begin to visite the world, which was made by him.stylus3And when there shal be sene in the world mouing of places, perturbation of peoples, machinations of nations, inconstancie of dukes, turbation of princes,stylus4then shalt thou vnderstand, that of these the Highest spake from the dayes, that were before thee from the beginning.stylus5For as al thing that is made in the world, hath a beginning, and an end, and the end is manifest:stylus6so also the times of the Highest haue beginnings in manifestation of wonders, and powers: and the end in act and in signes.stylus7And it shal be: euerie one that shal be saued, and that shal be able to escape by his workes, and by faith, in the which you haue beleued,stylus8shal be left of the foresayd perils, and shal see my saluation in my land, and in my borders, which I haue sanctified me from the beginning.stylus9Then shal they haus compunction, which haue abused my wayes: and they that haue cast them away in contempt, shal abide in torments.stylus10For they that haue not knowen me, when they had obtayned benefits, when they were liuing:stylus11and they that haue lothed my law, whiles they had yet libertie, and when place of penance was open to them, vnderstood not, but despised:stylus12these must know after death in torment.stylus13Thou therefore be not yet curious how the impious shal perish: but inquire how the iust shal be saued, whose the world is, and for whom the world is, and when.stylus14And I answered, and sayd:stylus15I haue sayd before, and now I say, and wil say afterward: that there are mo that perish, then which shal be saued:stylus16as the flud is multiplied more then the droppes.stylus17And he answered me, and sayd: Like as the field is, so also the seede: and as the flowers, so also the colours: and as the worke, so also the iudgement and as the husbandman, so also the threshing floore.stylus18For there was a time of the world, and then when I prepared for them that now are, before the world was made, wherein they might dwel, and no man gaynesayd me.stylus19For neither was there anie: but now they are created in this world prepared, with a table not fayling, and a law vnsearcheable, they are corrupted in their manners.stylus20And I considered the world, and behold there was peril for the cogitations, that were come into it.stylus21And I saw and spared them reseruing me very litle a grape of a cluster, and a plant of a great tribe.stylus22Let the multitude therfore perish, which is borne in vayne, & let my grape be kept, and my plant, because I haue finished it with much labour.stylus23But thou, if thou wilt cease yet seuen dayes more (but thou shalt not fast in them,stylus24but shal goe into the flowred field, where no house is builded, and shalt eate onlie of the fruit of the field, and care of flesh thou shat not taste, nor drinke wine, but onlie flowers)stylus25and pray the Highest without intermission, and I wil come, and speake with thee.stylus26And I went, as he sayd to me, into the field, which is called Ardath, and sate there among the flowers: and did eate of the herbes of the field, and the meate of them satisfied me.stylus27And it came to passe after seuen dayes, and I sate vpon the grasse, and any hart was trubled againe as before.stylus28And my mouth was opened, and I began to speake before the Highest, and sayd:stylus29O Lord, thou shewing thy self, hast shewed thy self to our fathers in the desert exceding naught, and vntractable, comming out of AEgypt: & thou saydst:stylus30Heare me O Israel, and seed of Iacob attend to my wordes.stylus31For behold I sow my law in you, and it shal bring forth fruit in you, and you be glorified in it for euer.stylus32For our fathers receiuing the law obserued it not, and kept not thy ordinances, and the fruite of the law appeared not. It could not: for it was thine.stylus33For they that receiued it, perished, not keping that which was sowen in them.stylus34And behold it is accustomed, that when the earth hath receiued seede, or the sea a shippe, or anie other vessel meate or drinke: and when it shal be destroyed, wherin it was sowen, or wherin it was put,stylus35the thinges also are destroyed togeather, which were sowen or cast in, or which were receiued, & the things receiued remaine not with vs: but with vs it had not hapned so.stylus36For we that haue receiued the law, sinning haue perished, and our hart which receiued it.stylus37Notwithstanding the law perished not, but remayned in his labour.stylus38And when I spake these thinges in my hart, I looked backe with mine eyes, and saw a woman on the right side, and behold she mourned and wept with a lowd voice, & was sorowful in minde, and her clothes rent, and ashes vpon her head.stylus39And I left my cogitations, wherin I was occupied, and turned to her,stylus40and sayd to her: Wherfore weepest thou? and why art thou sorie in minde?stylus41And she sayd to me: Let me alone my lord, that I may bewaile my self, and adde sorow: because I am very sorie in minde, and humbled excedingly.stylus42And I sayd to her: What aylet thee? tel me. And she sayd to me:stylus43I thy seruant haue bene barren, and haue not brought forth, hauing a husband thirtie yeares.stylus44I did euerie houre, and euerie day these thirtie yeares besech the Highest night and day.stylus45And it came to passe after thirtie yeares God heard me thy handmayde, and saw my humilitie, and attended to my tribulation, an gaue me a sonne: and I was very glad of him, and my husband, & al my citiezens, and we honoured the Strong excedingly.stylus46And I nourished him with great labour.stylus47And it came to passe when he was growen, and came to take a wife, I made a feast day.stylus
