THE GOSPEL OF THE HOLY TWELVE
Channeled by Rev. Gideon Ouseley, circa 1890. Preportedly from Tibetan manuscript through revelation.
Foreward
All channeled works as well as all literary works in general are subject to the biases of the writers. The same is true for translations of ancient texts. In this text it is obvious that the authors are trying to restore many concepts which they feel have been excluded from the extant gospels. Some of the most notable of these being teachings of Christ on the humane treatmet of animals, the relationship between rebirth and resurrection, and the gender neutrality of God.
The Aramaic word translated into “Father” in most New Testaments is [Aramaic font not available] and is most often transliterated into English as “A’boon or A’voon or Awown. This word is said by many to be best rendered as “Parent” or “Father-Mother” in English. As you will see in this text, most references to the Father are translated as “Parent”. Which since the feminen and masculine aspects of God (Heavenly Father and Mother) are “One” may be a better translation of the original word used by Jesus anyway. It is easy to see how the full meaning of such a word would become corrupted in translation, since even many in Latin based languages the word “Parent” (singular neuter) and “Father” (singular masculine) are both identically translated (ie. Padre/Padres in Spanish). Thus when the original Aramaic was translated into greek, the word for “Parent” (μητρικης) may very well have been translated to “Father” (πατερα) instead of the original word for “Parent”.
http://www.theisticscience.org/books/dlw/sect-173ff.html
The Father (Parent)age And Conception
Of John The Baptist
1. THERE was in the days of Herod, the King of Judea, a certain
priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
2. And they were both righteous
before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they
both were now well stricken in years.
3. And it came to pass, that while
he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense
when he went into the temple IOVA. And the whole multitude of the people were
praying without at the time of the offering of incense.
4. And there appeared unto him an
angel of the Lord standing over the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw,
he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not,
Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth, shall bear thee a
son, and thou shalt call his name John.
5. And thou shalt have joy and
gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall be great in the
sight of the Lord, and shall neither eat flesh
meats, nor drink strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
6. And many of the children of
Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God; And he shall go before him in the
spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord.
7. And Zacharias said unto the
angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is well
stricken in years. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that
stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to announce
unto thee these glad tidings.
8. And, behold, thou art dumb, and
not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, then
shall thy tongue be loosed that thou mayest believe my words which shall be
fulfilled in their season.
9. And the people waited for
Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. And when he
came out, he could not speak unto them; and they perceived that he had seen a
vision in the temple; for he made signs unto them, and remained speechless.
10. And it came to pass, that, as
soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own
house. And after those days, his wife Elisabeth, conceived, and hid herself
five months saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he
looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Angel Announces Birth
Of Jesus The Christ
1. AND in
the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God, unto a city of Galilee,
named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the
house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
2. Now Joseph
was a just and rational Mind, and he was skilled in all manner of work in wood
and in stone. And Mary was a tender and discerning Soul, and she wrought veils
for the temple. And they were both pure before God; and of them both was Jesu-Maria
who is called the Christ.
3. And the angel came in unto her
and said, Hail, Mary, thou that art highly favoured, for the Mother of God is
with thee: blessed art thou among women and blessed be the fruit of thy womb.
4. And when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this
should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found
favour with God and, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a
child, and He shall be great and shalt be called a Son of the Highest.
5. And the Lord God shall give
unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of
Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
6. Then said Mary unto the angel,
How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said
unto her The Holy Spirit shall come upon
Joseph thy Spouse, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, O
Mary, therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be
called the Christ, the Child of God, and his Name on earth shalt be called
Jesu-Maria, for he shall save the people from their sins, whosoever shall repent and obey his Law.
7. Therefore
ye shall eat no flesh, nor drink strong drink, for the child shall be
consecrated unto God from its mother’s womb, and neither flesh nor strong drink
shall he take, nor shall razor touch his head.
8. And, behold, thy cousin
Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth
month with her, who was called barren. For with God no thing shall be
impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
9. And
in the same day the angel Gabriel appeared unto Joseph in a dream and said unto
him, Hail, Joseph, thou that art highly favoured, for the Fatherhood of God is
with thee. Blessed art thou among men and blessed be the fruit of thy loins.
10.
And
as Joseph thought upon these words he was troubled, and the angel of the Lord
said unto him, Fear not, Joseph, thou Son of David, for thou hast found favour
with God, and behold thou shalt beget a child, and thou shalt call his name
Jesu-Maria for he shall save his people from their sins.
11. Now all this was done that it
might be fulfilled which was written in the prophets saying, Behold a Maiden
shall conceive and be with child and shall bring forth a son, and shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God Within Us.
12. Then Joseph being raised from
sleep did as the angel had bidden him, and went in unto Mary, his espoused
bride, and she conceived in her womb the Holy One.
13. AND Mary arose in those days
and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judea and entered
into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
14. And it came to pass, that,
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and
Elisabeth was filled with the power of the Spirit and spake, with a clear voice
and said, Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
15. Whence is this to me, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy
salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped for joy. And blessed is she that
believed: for there shall. be a performance of those things which were told her
from the Holy One.
16. And Mary said: My soul doth
magnify Thee, the Eternal, and my spirit doth rejoice in God my Saviour. For
thou hast regarded the low estate of thy handmaiden; for, behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
17. For Thou that art mighty hast
done to me great things; and holy is Thy Name. And Thy mercy is on them that
fear Thee from generation to generation.
18. Thou hast shewed strength with
Thy arm; thou hast scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
19. Thou hast put down the mighty
from their seats and exalted the humble and the meek. Thou hast filled the
hungry with good things and the rich Thou dost send the empty away.
20. Thou dost help thy servant
Israel, in remembrance of thy mercy: as Thou spakest to our ancestors to
Abraham and to his seed forever. And Mary abode with her about three months and
returned to her own house.
21. And these are the words that Joseph spake,, saying: Blessed be the God of our
fathers and our mothers in Israel: for
in an acceptable time Thou hast heard me, and in the day of salvation hast Thou
helped me.
22.
For Thou saids’t I will preserve and make thee a covenant of the people to
renew the face of the earth: and to cause the desolate places to be redeemed
from the hands of the spoiler.
23. That thou mayest say to the captives, Go ye forth and be
free; and to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves in the light. And they
shall feed in the ways of pleasantness; and they shall no more hunt nor worry
the creatures which I have made to rejoice before me.
24. They shall not hunger nor
thirst any more neither shall the heat smite them nor the cold destroy them. And
I will make on all My mountains a way for travellers; and My high places shall
be exalted.
25. Sing ye heavens and rejoice
thou earth; O ye deserts break forth with song: for Thou O God dost comfort Thy
people; and console them that have suffered wrong.
The Nativity Of John The Baptist
1. NOW
Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth
a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great
mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
2. And it came to pass, that on
the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him
Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not
so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy
kindred that is called by thy name.
3. And they made signs to his
father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and
wrote, saying, his name is John. And they all marvelled, for his mouth was
opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
4. And great awe came on all that
dwelt round about them; and all these came on all that dwelt round about them;
and all these sayings were made known abroad throughout all the hilly country
of Judea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying,
What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of YHWH was with him.
5. And his father Zacharias was
filled with the holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be thou, O God of Israel;
for thou hast visited and redeemed thy people. And hast raised up an horn of
salvation for us in the house of thy servant David. As thou spakest by the
mouth of thy holy prophets, which have been since the world began.
6. That we should be saved from
our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us. To perform the mercy
promised to our ancestors, and to remember thy holy covenant.
7. The oath which thou did’st
sware to our father Abraham, that thou wouldest grant unto us, that we being
delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve thee without fear, in
holiness and righteousness before thee all the days of our life.
8. And this child shalt be called
the Prophet of the Highest: for he shalt go before Thy face, O God, to prepare
Thy ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto Thy people by the remission of
their sins.
9. Through the tender mercy of our
God, whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us; to give light to them
that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way
of peace.
10. And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, and his mission was hidden till the day of his shewing forth
unto Israel.
Nativity of Jesus the Christ
1. NOW the birth of Jesu-Maria
the Christ was on this wise. It came to pass in those days, that there went out
a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all the
people of Syria went to be taxed, every one into his own city, and it was
midwinter.
2. And Joseph with Mary also went
up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem (because they were of the house and lineage of
David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, who was great with child.
3. And so it was, that, while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she
brought forth her firstborn child in a Cave, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger, which was in the cave; because there was no
room for them in the inn. And behold it was
filled with many lights, on either side Twelve, bright as the Sun in his glory.
4. And there were in the same
cave an ox, and a horse, and an ass, and a sheep, and beneath the manger was a
cat with her little ones, and there were doves also, overhead, and each had its
mate after its kind, the male with the female.
5. Thus it came to pass that he was born in the midst of the
animals which, through the redemption of man from ignorance and selfishness, he
came to redeem from their sufferings, by the
manifestation or the sons and the daughters of God.
6. And there were in the same
country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by
night. And when they came, lo, the angel of God came upon them, and the glory
of the Highest shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.
7. And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which
is Christ, the Holy One of God. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall
find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.
8. And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace toward men of goodwill.
9. And it came to pass, as
the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to
pass, which our God hath made known unto us.
10. And they came with haste, and
found Mary and Joseph in the cave, and the Babe lying in a manger. And when
they had seen these things, they made known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning the child.
11. And all they that heard
it, wondered at those things told them by the shepherds; but Mary kept all
these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and
seen.
12.
AND when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the
child, his name was called Iesu-Maria, as was spoken by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were
accomplished, they brought the child to Jerusalem, to present it unto God (as
it is written in the law of Moses, every male that openeth the womb shall be
called holy to the Lord).
13. And, behold, there was a man
in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it
was revealed unto him that he should not see death, before he had seen the
Christ of God.
14. And he came by the Spirit into
the temple; and when the Parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him
after the custom of the law, he perceived the child as it were a Pillar of
light. Then took he him “up in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
15. Now lettest thou thy servant
depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou has prepared before the face of all people; to be a light to lighten
the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel. And his Parents marvelled
at those things which were spoken of him.
16. And Simeon blessed them, and
said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising
again of many in Israel; and for a Sign which shall be spoken against (yea, a
sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts
may be revealed.
17. And there was one Anna, a
prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser, of a great age, who
departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night
and day.
18. And she coming in that instant
gave thanks likewise unto God, and spake of him to all them that looked for
redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to
the law they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
The Manifestation of Jesus to the Magi
(Matthew chap 2)
1. Now when
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold,
there came certain Magi men from the east to Jerusalem, who had purified themselves and tasted not of flesh nor of strong drink
that they might find the Christ whom they sought. And they said, Where is he
that is born King of the Jews? for we in the East have seen his Star, and are
come to worship him.
2. When Herod the king had heard
these things he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where the Christ should be born.
3. And they said unto him,
Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet, and thou Bethlehem,
in the land of Judea, art not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of
thee shall come forth a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
4. Then Herod, when he had privily
called the Magi, enquired of them diligently what time the Star appeared. And
he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young
child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and
worship him also.
5. When they had heard the king,
they departed; and, lo, the Star which the Magi of the East saw, and the angel of the Star went before them,
till it came and stood over the place where the young child was, and the Star had the appearance of six rays.
6. And as they went on their way
with their camels and asses laden with gifts, and were intent on the heavens
seeking the child by the Star, they forgot for a little, their weary beasts who had borne thee burden and
heat of the day, and were thirsty and fainting, and the Star was hidden from
their sight.
7. In vain they stood and gazed,
and looked one upon the other in their trouble. Then
they bethought them of their camels and asses, and hastened to undo their
burdens that they might have rest.
8. Now there was near Bethlehem a
well by the way, And as they stooped down to draw water for their beasts, lo,
the Star which they had lost appeared to them, being reflected in the stillness
of the water.
9. And when they saw it they rejoiced with exceeding great
joy.
10. And they praised God
who had shewn his mercy unto them even as they shewed mercy unto their thirsty
beasts.
11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the
young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and
worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto
him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12. And being warned of God in a
dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own
country another way. And they kindled a fire according to their custom and
worshipped God in the Flame [Zoroastrian or Hindu tradition].
13. And when they were departed,
behold the angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take
the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and there remain until I
bring thee word, for Herod will seek to destroy him.
14. AND when he arose, he took the
young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there for about seven years until the death
of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of God by the
prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
15. Elizabeth
too when she heard it, took her infant son and went up into a mountain and hid
him. And Herod sent his officers to Zacharias in the temple and said to him,
Where is thy child? And he answered I am a minister of God and am continually
in the temple. I know not where he is.
16. And he sent again,
saying, Tell me truly where is thy son, Dost thou not know thy life is in my
hand? And Zacharias answered, The Lord is witness if thou shed my blood, my
spirit will God receive, for thou sheddest the blood
of the innocent.
17. And they slew Zacharias in the
Temple between the holy place and the altar; and the people knew it, for a
voice was heard, Zacharias is slain, and his blood shall not be washed out
until the avenger shall come. And after a time the priests cast lots, and the
lot fell upon Simeon, and he filled his place.
18. Then Herod, when he saw that
he was mocked of the wise men, was exceedingly wroth, and sent forth, and slew
all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from
two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired
of the wise men.
19. Then was fulfilled that which
was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard,
lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children,
and would not be comforted, because they are not.
20. BUT when Herod was dead,
behold, an angel of God appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. Saying, arise,
and take the young child and his mother, and return into the land of Israel:
for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
21. And he arose, and took the
young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel. And they came and
dwelt in a city called Nazareth; and he was called the Nazarene.
The
Childhood And Youth Of Jesus the Christ.
He Delivereth A Lion From The Hunters (Luke 2:14-end)
1. NOW,
Joseph and Mary, his Parents, went up to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of
the Passover and they observed the feast after
the manner of their brethren, who abstained from bloodshed and the eating of
flesh and from strong drink. And when he was twelve years old, he went
to Jerusalem with them after the custom of the feast.
2. And when they had fulfilled the
days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his
Parents knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company,
went a day’s Journey and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And when they found him not, turned back to Jerusalem, seeking him.
3. And it came to pass, that after
three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors,
both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were
astonished at his understanding and answers.
4. And when they saw him, they
were amazed; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with
us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them,
How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I
must be in my Fathers’ House. And they understood not the saying which
he spake unto them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
5. And a certain prophet
seeing him, said unto him, Behold the Love and the Wisdom of God are one in
thee, therefore in the age to come shalt thou be called Jesu-Maria, for by the
Christ shall God save mankind, which now is verily as the bitterness of the
sea, but it shall yet be turned into sweetness, but to this generation the
Bride shall not be manifest, nor yet to the age to come.
6. And he went down with them, and
came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. And he made wheels, and yokes, and
tables also, with great skill. And
Jesus increased in stature, and in favour with God and man.
7. AND on a certain day the child Jesus came to a
place where a snare was set for birds, and there were some boys there. And
Jesus said to them, who hath set this snare for the innocent creatures of God?
Behold in a snare shall they in like manner be caught. And he beheld twelve
sparrows as it were dead.
8. And he moved his hands over
them, and said to them, Go, fly away, and while ye live remember me. And they
arose and fled away making a noise. And the Jews, seeing this, were astonished
and told it unto the priests.
9.
And other wonders did the child, and flowers were seen to spring up beneath his
feet, where there had been naught but barren ground before. And his companions
stood in awe of him.
10. AND in the eighteenth
year of his age, Jesus was espoused unto Miriam, a virgin of the tribe of Judah
with whom he lived seven years, and she died, for God took her, that he might
go on to the higher things which he had to do, and to
suffer for the sons and daughters of men.
11. And Jesus, after that he had
finished his study of the law, went down again into Egypt that he might learn
of the wisdom of the Egyptians, even as Moses did. And going into the desert,
he meditated and fasted and prayed, and obtained the power of the Holy Name, by
which he wrought many miracles.
12. And for seven years he
conversed with God face to face, and he learned the language of birds and of
beasts, and the healing powers of trees, and of herbs, and of flowers, and the
hidden secrets of precious stones, and he learned the motions of the Sun and
the Moon and the stars, and the powers of the letters, and mysteries of the
Square and the Circle and the Transmutation of things, and of forms, and of
numbers, and of signs. From thence he returned to Nazareth to visit his
Parents, and he taught there and in Jerusalem as an accepted Rabbi, even in the
temple, none hindering him.
13. AND after a time he went
into Assyria and India and into Persia and into the land of the Chaldeans.
And he visited their temples and conversed with their priests, and their wise
men for many years, doing many wonderful works, healing the sick as he passed
through their countries.
14. And the beasts of the field
had respect unto him and the birds of the air were in no fear of him, for he
made them not afraid, yea even the wild beasts of the desert perceived the
power of God in him, and did him service bearing him from place to place.
15. For the Spirit of Divine
Humanity filling him, filled all things around him, and made all things subject
unto him, and thus shall yet be fulfilled the words of the prophets, The lion
shall lie down with the calf, and the leopard with the kid, and the wolf with
the lamb, and the bear with the ass, and the with the dove. And a child shall
lead them.
16. And none shall hurt or destroy
in my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Holy
One even as the waters cover the bed of the sea. And in that day I will make
again a covenant with the beasts of the earth and the fowls of the air, and the
fishes of the sea and with all created things. And will break the bow and the
sword and all the instruments of warfare will I banish from the earth, and will
make them to lie down in safety, and to live without fear.
17. And I will betroth thee unto
me forever in righteousness and in peace and in loving kindness, and thou shalt
know thy God, and the earth shalt bring forth the corn the wine and the oil,
and I will say unto them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they
shall say unto me, Thou art our God.
18.
And on a certain day as he was passing by a mountain side nigh unto the desert,
there met him a lion and many men were pursuing him with stones and javelins to
slay him.
19. But Jesus rebuked them,
saying, Why hunt ye these creatures of God, which are more noble than you? By
the cruelties of many generations they were made the enemies of man who should
have been his friends.
20. If the power of God is shown
in them, so also is shown his long suffering and compassion. Cease ye to
persecute this creature who desireth not to harm you, see ye not how he fleeth
from you, and is terrified by your violence?
21. And the lion came and lay at
the feet of Jesus, and shewed love to him; and the people were astonish , and
said, Lo, this man loveth all creatures and hath power to command even these
beasts from the desert, and they obey him.
The Preaching Of John The Baptist – (compare Luke 3)
1. NOW in
the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee (Caiaphas being the high
priest, and Annas chief of the Sanhedrim)
the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
2. And he came into all the
country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of
sins. As it is written in the prophets, Behold I send my messenger before thy
face, who shall prepare thy way before thee; the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Holy One, make straight the paths of the
Anointed.
3. Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall
be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth. And all flesh shall
see the salvation of God.
4. And the same John had
his raiment of camel’s hair, and a girdle of the same about his loins, and his
meat was the fruit of the locust tree and wild honey. Then went out to him
Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round
about Jordan, and were baptized of him in the Jordan confessing their sins.
5. And he said to the multitude
that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of disobedient ones, who
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits
worthy of repentance and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to
our father.
6. For I say unto you, that God is
able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is
laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
7. And
the wealthier people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He
answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him
that hath none; and he that hath food let him do likewise.
8. Then came also certain
taxgatherers to be baptised and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he
said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you, and be merciful
after [according to?] your power.
9. And the soldiers likewise
demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do
violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with sufficient wages.
10. And to all he spake,
saying, Keep yourselves from blood and things strangled and from dead bodies of
birds and beasts, and from all deeds of
cruelty, and from all that is gotten of wrong; Think ye the blood of
beasts and birds will wash away sin! I tell you Nay, Speak the Truth. Be just,
Be merciful to one another and to all creatures that live, and walk humbly with
your God.
11. And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused
in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not, John answered;
saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with
water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not
worthy to unloose.
12. He shall also baptize you with
water and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his
floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn
with fire unquenchable. And many other things in his exortation preached he
unto the people.
The Baptism of Jesu-Maria The Christ - (compare Matthew 3,4, John 1:19-30)
1. AND it was in the midst of the summer, the tenth
month. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be
baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of
thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be
so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he
suffered him.
2. And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were
opened unto him, and a bright cloud stood over him, and from behind the cloud Twelve Rays of
light, and thence in the form of a Dove, the Spirit of God descending and
lighting upon him. And, lo, a voice from heaven
saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; this day have
I begotten thee.
3. And John bare witness of him
saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred
before me, for he was before me. And of his
fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was in part
given by Moses, but grace and truth cometh in fulness by Jesus Christ.
4. No man hath seen God at any
time. The only begotten which cometh from the bosom of the Eternal in the same
is God revealed. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and
Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou ? And he deinied not, but
confessed I am not the Christ.
5. And they asked him, What then?
Art thou Elias [Elijah]? And he saith, I am not, Art thou that prophet of whom
Moses spake? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou ? that
we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? And he
said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of
the Holy One, as said the Prophet Esaias [Isaiah 40:3].
6. And they which were sent were
of the Pharisees, and they asked him and said unto him, Why baptizest thou
then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet of whom
Moses spake?
7. John answered them, saying, I
baptize with water; but there standeth One among you, whom ye know not, He
shall baptize with water and with fire. He it is who coming after me is
preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
8. These things were done in
Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. And Jesus began at this time to be thirty years of age,
being after the flesh indeed the Son of Joseph and Mary; but after the Spirit
the Christ, the Son of God, the Father and
Mother Eternal, as was declared by the Spirit of Holiness with power.
9. AND Joseph was the son of Jacob
and Elisheba, and Mary was the daughter of Eli (called Joachim) and Anna, who
were the children of David and Bathsheba, of Judah and Shela, of Jacob and
Leah, of Isaac and Rebecca, of Abraham and Sarah, of Seth and Maat, of Adam and
Eve, who were the children of God.
The Four Temptations
1. THEN
was
Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And the wild beasts of the desert were around him,
and became subject unto him. And when he had fasted forty days and forty
nights he was afterwards an hungered.
2. And when the tempter came to
him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made
bread, for it is written, I will feed thee with the finest of wheat and with
honey, out of the rock will I satisfy thee.
3. But
he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.
4.
Then the Devil placeth before him a woman, of exceeding beauty and
comeliness and of subtle wit, and a ready understanding withal, and he said
unto him. Take her as thou wilt, for her desire is unto thee,
and thou shalt have love and happiness and comfort all thy life, and see
thy children’s children, yea is it not written, It is not good for man that he
should be alone?
5. And Jesu-Maria said, Get thee
behind me, for it is written, Be not led away by the beauty of woman, yea, all
flesh is as grass and the flower of the field; the grass withereth and the
flower fadeth away, but the Word of the Eternal endureth forever. My work is to
teach and to heal the children of men, and he
that is born of God keepeth his seed within him.
6. And the Devil taketh him up
into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle [column] of the Temple. And
saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is
written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands
they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7. And Jesus said unto him, It is
written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8. Then the Devil took him up into
an exceeding high mountain in the midst of a great plain and, round about, twelve cities and their peoples, and shown from
thence he shown unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the Devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of
them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will, I give it: for
it is written, thou shalt have dominion from sea to sea, so thou shalt judge
thy people with righteousness and thy poor with mercy, and. make a full end of
oppression. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
9. And Jesu-Maria answered and
said unto him, get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. Without the power of God, the end of
evil cannot come.
10. Then the Devil having ended
all the temptations leaveth him and departed for a season. And behold, angels
of God came and ministered unto him.
Joseph
And Mary Make A Feast Unto Jesus.
Andrew And Peter Find Jesus.
1. AND when he had returned from the wilderness, the
same day, his Parents made him a feast, and they gave unto him the gifts which
the Magi had presented to him in his infancy. And Mary said, These things have
we kept for thee even to this day, and she gave unto him the gold and the
frankincense and the myrrh. And he took of the frankincense, but of the gold he
gave unto his Parents for the poor, and of the myrrh he gave unto Mary who is
called Magdalene.
2. Now this Mary was of the city
of Magdala in Galilee. And she was a great sinner, and had seduced many by her
beauty and comeliness. And the same came unto Jesus by night and confessed her
sins, and he put forth his hand and healed her, and cast out of her seven
demons, and he said unto her, Go in peace, thy sins are forgiven thee. And she
arose and left all and followed him, and ministered unto him of her substance,
during the days of his ministry in Israel.
3. THE next day John saw Jesus
coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which by righteousness
taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, He was before me;
and I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel; therefore am
I come baptizing with water.
4. And John bare record, saying, I
saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a Dove, and it abode upon him. And I
knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me,
Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same
is he which baptized with water and with fire, even the Spirit. And I saw, and
bare record that this was the Son of God.
5. THE day after, John stood by
the Jordan and two of his disciples. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he
saith, Behold the Christ, the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him
speak, and they followed Jesus.
6. Then Jesus turned and saw them
following and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi (which
is, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come
and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it
was about the tenth hour.
7. One of the two which heard John
speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his
own brother Simon and said unto him, We have found the Messias, which is,
being interpreted the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus And when Jesus
beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon Bar Jona: thou shalt be called Kephas
(which is, by interpretation, a rock).
8. THE day following, Jesus goeth
forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now
Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth
Nathanael, who is called Bar Tholmai, and saith unto him, We have found him, Of
whom Moses in the law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of
Joseph and Mary, And Nathanael said unto him,
Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth ? Philip said unto him, Come and
see.
9. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to
him and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto
him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the Fig tree, I saw
thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God.
thou art the King of Israel. Yea, under the
Fig tree did I find thee.
10. Jesus answered and said unto
him, Nathanael Bar Tholmai, because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the Fig
tree, believest thou ? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith
unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open,
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
The Anointing By Mary Magdalene
1.
AND one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat
with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to eat.
2. And behold a certain woman of Magdala [Mary], who was reputed
to be a sinner, was in the city, and when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in
the Pharisee’s house, she brought an Alabaster box of ointment, and stood at
his feet behind him, weeping, and washed His feet with tears, and did wipe them
with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet, and anointed them with
ointment.
3. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he thought within
himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what
manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
4. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto
thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
5. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five
hundred pence and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly
forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most.
6. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.
And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
7. And he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine
house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she hath washed my feet with
tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but
this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head
with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with
ointment.
8. Wherefore I say unto thee, man but
also beast and birds of the air, yea, even the fishes of the sea; but to
whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. Her sins, which are many, are
forgiven, for she loved much, not only man but
also beast and birds of the air, yea, even the fishes of the sea; but to
whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
9. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven, and they who sat at the
table began to say within themselves, who is this that forgiveth sins also?
10. Though he had said not, I forgive
thee, but Thy sins are forgiven thee, for he discerned true faith and penitence
in her heart. And Jesus needed not that any should testify of any man, for he
himself knew what was in man.
The
Marriage In Cana
The Healing of the Nobleman's Son
1. AND the next day there was a
marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus
and Mary Magdalene were there, and his disciples came to the marriage.
2. And when they wanted wine the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They
have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman,
what is that to thee and to me ? mine hour is not yet come. His mother
saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
3. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the
manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
And Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them
up to the brim. And he said unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor
of the feast. And they bare it.
4. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine
to them, and knew not whence it was; the governor of the feast called the
bridegroom, and saith unto him. Every man at the beginning doth set forth good
wine and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse; but thou hast kept
the good wine until now.
5. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested forth his glory; and many disciples believed on him.
6. After this he went down to Capernaum,
he, and his mother, with Mary Magdalene, and his brethren, and his disciples:
and they continued there for many.
7. And there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the
Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he
that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest wittness, behold, the
same baptizeth, and all do come to him.
8. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given
him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the
Christ, but that I am sent before him.
9. He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him,
rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice; this my joy therefore is
fulfilled. He must increase; but I must decrease. He that is of the
earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is
above all.
10. AND certain of the Pharisees came and questioned Jesus, and said
unto him, how sayest thou that God will condemn the world ? And Jesus answered,
saying, God so loveth the world, that the only begotten Son is given, and
cometh into the world, that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but have
everlasting life. God sendeth not the Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him may be saved.
11. They who believe on him are not condemned: but they that believe not
are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only
begotten of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the
world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.
12. For all they that do evil hate the light, neither come they to the
light, lest their deeds may be condemned. But they that do righteousness come
to the light that their deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God.
13. AND there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus was come into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought
him that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of
death.
14. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will
not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
15. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man
believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as,
he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son
liveth.
16. Then enquired he of them the hour
when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday of the seventh hour
the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the
which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth. And himself believed, and his whole
house.
v. 16.-Two modes of reckoning time were in use. The Roman, from 12 midnight to 12 midnight. The Jewish from 6 a.m. (mean time is here spoken of) in the even to 6 p.m. of next even. The Iewish hours, adopted from the Temple in the Christian Church in her devotions, were as follows:
6 p.m.
1st watch, Vespers. Ferial.
9 p.m. 2nd watch. Nightfall ("Compline" Lat. use).
12 midnight 3rd watch. Nocturms.
3 a.m. 4th watch. Daybreak. (Lauds).
5-6 p.m. Seventh or last hour of the night.
6 a.m. Matins (or "Prime" Lat. use). First hour.
9 a.m. Terce. Third hour.
12 midday. Sext. Sixth hour.
3 p.m. Nones. Ninth hour.
5-6 p.m. Eleventh or last hour of the day. Vespers. Festal. Really
"Compline" in its true sense.
The "seventh hour," in this place is therefore 1 p.m. of our
reckoning; whether by Iewish or Roman time-13th hour in some countries.
The First Sermon In The Synagogue Of Nazareth
1. AND Jesus came
to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into
the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was
delivered unto him the roll of the prophet Esaias.
2. And when he had opened the roll, he found the place where it was
written. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bound. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
3. And he closed the roll, and gave it again to the minister, and sat
down, and the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began saying unto them. This day is this scripture fulfilled in your
ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered
at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said,
Is not this Joseph’s son?
4. And some brought unto him a blind man to test his power, and said,
Rabbi, here is a son of Abraham blind from birth. Heal him as thou hast healed
Gentiles in Egypt. And he, looking upon him, perceived his unbelief and the
unbelief of those that brought him, and their desire to ensnare him. And he could do no mighty work in that place because
of their unbelief.
5. And they said unto him, Whatsoever
we have heard done in Egypt, do also here in thy own country. And he said,
Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own home or in his own
country, neither doth a physician work cures upon them that know him.
6. And I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of
Elias [Elijah], when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when
great famine was throughout all the land. But unto none of them was Elias sent,
save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
7. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet;
and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
8. And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were
filled with wrath. And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him
unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast
him down headlong. But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way and
escaped them.
The
Calling Of Andrew And Peter
The Teaching of Cruelty in Animals
The Two Rich Men
1. NOW Herod the tetrarch, being
reproved by John the Baptist for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for
all the evils which he had done, added yet this above all, that he shut up John
in prison.
2. And Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand. And as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net in the sea; for they were
fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway forsook their nets, and followed him.
3. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending
their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left their nets, and the
ship, and their father, and followed him.
4. And Jesus went about all Galilee,
teaching in, their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And
the fame of his miracles went throughout all Syria, and they brought unto him
many sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those
which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy, and he healed them.
5. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and
from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.
6. AND as Jesus was going with some of
his disciples he met with a certain man who trained dogs to hunt other creatures.
And he said to the man, Why doest thou thus? and the man said, By this I live
and what profit is there to any in these creatures? these creatures are weak,
but the dogs they are strong. And Jesus said, Thou lackest wisdom and love. Lo,
every creature which God hath made hath its end, and purpose, and who can say
what good is there in it? or what profit to thyself, or mankind?
7. And, for thy living, behold the fields yielding their increase, and
the fruit-bearing trees and the herbs; what needest thou more than these which
honest work of thy hands will not give to thee? Woe to the strong who misuse
their strength, Woe to the hunters for they shall be hunted.
8. And the man marvelled, and left off training the dogs to hunt, and
taught them to save life rather than destroy, And he learned of the
doctrines of Jesus and became his disciple.
9 AND behold there came to him two rich men, and one said, Good Master.
But he said, Call me not good, for One alone is the All good, and that is God.
10. And the other said to him, Master, what good thing shall I do and
live? Jesus said, Perform the Law and the prophets. He answered, I have
performed them. Jesus answered, Go, sell all thou hast and divide with the
poor, and follow me. But this saying pleased him not.
11. And the Lord said unto him, How
sayest thou that thou hast performed the Law and the prophets? Behold many of
thy brethren are clad with filthy rags, dying from hunger and thy house is full
of much goods, and there goeth from it nought unto them.
12. And he said unto Simon, It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom
of heaven, for the rich care for themselves, and despise them that have not.
Healing Of The Leper And The Man With Palsy
The Deaf Man who Denied that Others could Hear
AND it came to
pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy, who, seeing
Jesus, fell toward the earth, and besought him, saying, Lord if thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying,
Blessed be thou who believest; I will, be thou clean. And immediately the
leprosy departed from him.
2. And he charged him saying, Tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to
the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a
testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; and
great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their
infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
3. AND it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there
were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, to see them which were come
out of every town, of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of God
was present to heal them.
4. AND, behold, they brought in a bed a
man who was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to
lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring
him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down
through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw
their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
5. And the scribes and the pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is
this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when
Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in
your hearts? Can even God forgive sins, if man repent not? Who said, I forgive
thee thy sins? Said I not rather, Thy sins are forgiven thee?
6. Whether is easier to say. Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise
up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to
discern, and declare the forgiveness of sins (he said unto the sick of the
palsy), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go to thine house.
7. And immediately he arose up before them, and took up that whereon he
lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed,
and they glorified God, and were filled with the Spirit of reverence, saying,
We have seen strange things today.
8. AND as Jesus was going into a certain village there met him a man who
was deaf from his birth. And he believed not in the sound of the rushing wind,
or the thunder, or the cries of the beasts, or the birds which complained of
their hunger or their hurt, nor that others heard them.
9. And Jesus breathed into his ears, and they were opened, and he heard.
And he rejoiced with exceeding joy in the sounds he before denied. And he said,
Now hear I all things.
10. But Jesus said unto him. How sayest
thou, I hear all things? Canst thou hear the sighing of the prisoner, or the
language of the birds or the beasts when they commune with each other, or the
voice of angels and spirits? Think how much thou canst not hear, and be humble
in thy lack of knowledge.
Calling
of Matthew
Parable of the New Wine in the Old Bottles
1.
AND after these things he went forth, and saw a
tax gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the
receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up,
and followed him.
2. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a
great company of taxgatherers and of others that sat down with them. But the
Scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and
drink with publicans and sinners ?
3. And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a
physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.
4. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and
make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine do eat and
drink ?
5. And he said unto them, Wherewith shall I liken the men of this
generation, and to what are they like? They are like unto children, sitting in
the market place and calling one to another and saying, We have piped unto you,
and ye have not danced, we have mourned to you and ye have not lamented.
6. For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and ye say, He
hath a devil, The Son of Man cometh eating and drinking the fruits of the earth, and the milk of the flock, and the fruit of
the vine, and ye say, Behold a glutton and wine bibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners.
7. Can ye make the children of the
bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will
come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they
fast in those days.
8. AND he spake also this parable unto them, saying, No man putteth a piece
of new cloth upon an old garment; for then the new agreeth not with the old,
and the garment is made worse.
9. And no
one putteth new wine into old bottles; else the
new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall
perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles, and both are preserved.
10. None also having drunk old wine, straightway desire new: for they
say, The old is better. But the time cometh when the new shall wax old, and
then the new shall be desired by them. For as one changeth old garments for new
ones, so do they also change the body of death for the body of life, and that
which is past for that which is coming.
Jesus Sendeth Forth The Twelve and their Fellows
1. AND Jesus went up into a mountain
to pray. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them
power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are
these who stood for the twelve tribes of Israel:
2. Peter,
called Cephas, for the tribe of
Reuben; James, for the tribe of Naphtali; Thomas, called Dydimus, for the tribe
of Zabulon; Matthew, called Levi for the tribe of Gad; John, for the tribe of
Ephraim; Simon, for the tribe of Issachar.
3. Andrew, for the tribe of Joseph;
Nathanael, for the tribe of Simeon; Thaddeus, for the tribe of Zabulon; Jacob,
for the tribe of Benjamin; Jude, for the tribe of Dan; Philip, for the tribe of
Asher. And Judas Iscariot, a Levite, who betrayed him, was also among them (but
he was not of them). And Matthia and Barsabbas were also present with them.
4. Then he called in like manner twelve others to be Prophets,
men of light to be with the Apostle and shew unto them the hidden things of God.
And their names were Hermes, Aristobulus, Selenius, Nereus, Apollos, and
Barsabbas; Andronicus, Lucius, Apelles, Zachaeus, Urbanus, and Clementos. And
then he called twelve who should be Evangelists, and twelve who
should be Pastors. A fourfold twelve did he call that he might send them
forth to the twelve tribes of Israel, unto each, four.
5. And they stood around the Master, clad in white linen raiment, called
to be a holy priesthood unto God for the service of the twelve tribes whereunto
they should be sent.
6. These
fourfold Twelve Jesus sent forth and charged them, saying, I will that ye
be my Twelve Apostle with your companions, for a testimony into Israel.
Go ye into the cities of Israel and to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. As I have
baptized you in water, so baptize ye them who believe.
7. Anoint and heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast
out devils, freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor
silver, nor brass in your purses. Nor scrip [ie. checks, etc] for your journey,
neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy of
his food; and eat that which is set before you, but
of that which is gotten by taking of life, touch not, for it is not lawful to
you.
8. And into whatsoever city or
town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy;
and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it.
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not
worthy, let your peace return to you.
9. Be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Be ye innocent and
undefiled. The Son of Man is not come to destroy but to save, neither to take
life, but to give life, to body and soul.
10. And fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the
soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
11. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not
fall on the ground without permission of the Almighty (All Holy). Yea, the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear yet not therefore, if God careth for
the sparrow, shall he not care for you!
12. It is enough for disciples that they be as their master, and the
servants as their lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub,
how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore,
for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; or hid, that shall
not be known.
13. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light when the time
cometh: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Whosoever therefore shall confess the truth before men, them will I confess
also before my Father (Parent) Who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny the
truth before men, them will I also deny before my Father (Parent) Who is in
heaven.
14. Verily I am come to send peace upon earth, but when I speak, behold
a sword followeth. I am come to unite, but,
behold, a man shall be at variance with his father, and the daughter with her
mother, and the daughter-in-law with her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes shall
be they of his own household. For the unjust cannot mate with them that are
just.
15. They who take not their cross and follow after me are not worthy of
me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my
sake, shall find it.
The Sendeth Forth Of The Two and Seventy
1. AFTER these things the Lord appointed two and seventy also, and sent them two and
two before his face into every city and place of the tribes whither he himself
would come.
2. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the
labourers are few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send
forth labourers into the harvest.
3. Go your ways, behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry
neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes, and salute no man by the way.
4. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
And if the spirit of peace be there your peace shall rest upon it, if not it
shall turn to you again.
5. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such
things as are set before you without taking of
life [addition?]. And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them,
The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
6. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they
give without shedding of blood, for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not
from house to house [twelve & seventy, not elders, etc].
7. But into whatsoever city ye enter and they receive you not, go your
ways out into the streets of the same and say, Even the very dust of your city,
which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you, notwithstanding be ye sure of
this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
8. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty
works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a
great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more
tolerable for them in the judgement than for you.
9. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven shalt be thrust down
to hades. They that hear you, hear also me; and they that despise you, despise
also me; and they that despise me, despise Him that sent me. But let all be
persuaded in their own minds.
10. AND again Jesus said unto them: Be merciful, so shall ye obtain
mercy. Forgive others, so shall ye be forgiven. With what measure ye mete, with
the same shall it be meted unto you again.
11. As ye do unto others, so shall it be done you. As ye give, so shall
it be given unto you. As ye judge others, so shall ye be judged. As ye serve
others, so. shall ye be served.
12. For God is just, and rewardeth every one according to their works.
That which they sow they shall also reap.
Jesus
Teacheth how to Pray
Error even in Prophets
1. As Jesus was praying in a
certain place on a mountain, some of his disciples came unto him, and one of
then said, Lord teach us how to pray. And Jesus said unto them, When thou
prayest enter into thy secret chamber, and when thou hast closed the door, pray
to Abba [Father] Amma [Mother] Who is above and within thee, and thy
Father-Mother Who seest all that is secret shall answer thee openly.
2. But
when ye are gathered together, and pray in common, use not vain
repetitions, for your heavenly Father (Parent) knoweth what things ye have need
of before ye ask them. After this manner therefore pray ye —
3. Our Father-Mother Who art above and
within: Hallowed be Thy Name in twofold Trinity. In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy
Kingdom come to all. Thy will be done, As in Heaven so in Earth. Give us day by
day to partake of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of the living Vine. As Thou
dost forgive us our trespasses, so may we forgive others who trespass against
us. Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we may shew the same. In the hour
of temptation, deliver us from evil.
4. Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others we may shew the same. In
the hour of temptation, deliver us from evil.
5. And wheresoever there are seven
gathered together in My Name there am I in the midst of them; yea, if only
there be three or two; and where there is but one who prayeth in secret, I am
with that one.
6. Raise the Stone, and there thou shall find me. Cleave the
wood, and there am I. For in the fire and in the water even as in every living
form, God is manifest as its Life and its Substance.
7. AND the Lord said, If thy brother hath sinned in word seven times a
day, and seven times a day hath made amendment, receive him. Simon said to him,
Seven times a day ?
8. The Lord answered and said to him, I tell thee also unto seventy
times seven, for even in the Prophets, after they were anointed by the Spirit,
utterance of sin was found.
9. Be ye therefore considerate, be
tender, be ye pitiful, be ye kind, not to your own kind alone, but to every
creature which is within your care, for ye are to them as gods, to whom they look
in their need. Be ye slow to anger for many sin in anger which they repented
of, when their anger was past.
10. AND there was a man whose hand was withered and he came to Jesus and
said, Lord, I was a mason seeking sustenance by my hands, I beseech thee
restore to me my health that I may not beg for food with shame. And Jesus
healed him, saying There is a house made without hands, seek that thou mayest
dwell therein.
The Return of the Two and Seventy
1. AND after a season the two and
seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto
us through thy name.
2. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
3. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding in this, rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.
4. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said I thank thee, Holy
Father (Parent) of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the
wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Almighty (All
Holy), for so it seemed good in thy sight.
5. All things are delivered to me of the All-Parent; and no man knoweth
the Son who is the Daughter, but the All-Parent; nor who the All-Parent is, but
the Son even the Daughter, and they to whom the Son and the Daughter will
reveal it.
6. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are
the eyes which see the things that ye see. For I tell you, that many prophets
and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen
them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
7. Blessed are ye of the inner circle
who hear my word and to whom mysteries are revealed, who give to no innocent creature the pain of prison or of death,
but seek the good of all, for to such is everlasting life.
8. Blessed are ye who abstain from all things
gotten by bloodshed and death, and fulfill all righteousness: Blessed
are ye, for ye shall attain to Beatitude.
CHAPTER 19
Jesus
Rebuketh Cruelty to a Horse.
Condemneth the Service of Mammon.
1. AND
it came to pass that the Lord departed from the City and went over the
mountains with this disciples. And they came to a mountain whose ways were
steep and there they found a man with a beast of burden.
2. But the horse had fallen
down, for it was over laden, and he struck it till the blood flowed. And Jesus
went to him and said: "Son of cruelty, why strikest thou thy beast? Seest
thou not that it is too weak for its burden, and knowest thou not that it
suffereth?"
3. But the man answered and said: "What hast thou to do therewith?
I may strike it as much as it pleaseth me, for it is mine own, and I bought it
with a goodly sum of money. Ask them who are with thee, for they are of mine
acquaintance and know thereof."
4. And some of the disciples answered and said: Yea, Lord, it is as he
saith, We have seen when he bought it. And the Lord said again "See ye not
then how it bleedeth, and hear ye not also how it waileth and lamenteth ?"
But they answered and said: "Nay, Lord, we hear not that it waileth and
lamenteth? "
5. And the Lord was sorrowful, and said: "Woe unto you because of
the dullness of your hearts, ye hear not how it lamenteth and crieth unto the
heavenly Creator for mercy, but thrice woe unto him against whom it crieth and
waileth in its pain."
6. And he went forward and touched it, and the
horse stood up, and its wounds were healed. But to the man he said: "Go
now thy way and strike it henceforth no more, if thou also desireth to find
mercy."
7. AND seeing the people come unto him, Jesus, said unto his disciples,
Because of the sick I am sick; because of the hungry I am hungry; because of
the thirsty I am athirst.
8. He also said, I am come to end the sacrifices and feasts of blood,
and if ye cease not offering and eating of flesh and blood, the wrath of God
shall not cease from you, even as it came to your fathers in the wilderness,
who lusted for flesh, and they eat to their content, and were filled with
rottenness, and the plague consumed them.
9. And I say unto you, Though ye be gathered together in my bosom, if ye
keep not my commandments I will cast you forth. For if ye keep not the lesser
mysteries, who shall give you the greater.
10. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the mammon of
unrighteousness, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have
not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which
is your own ?
12. No servant can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the
one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees
also, who were covetous, heard all these things, and they derided him.
13. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before
men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men
is abomination in the sight of God.
14. The law and the prophets were until John; since that time the
kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. But it is easier
for heaven and earth to pass away, than one title of the law to fail.
15. Then there came some women to him and brought their infants unto
him, to whom they yet gave suck at their breasts, that he should bless them;
and some said, Why trouble ye the master?
16. But Jesus rebuked them, and said, Of such will come forth those who
shall yet confess me before men. And he took them up in his arms and blessed
them.
The Restoration Of Iairus' Daughter
1. AND behold there cometh one of
the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at
his feet, and he besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the
point of death; I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be
healed, and she shall live. And Jesus went with him, and much people followed
him and thronged him.
2. AND a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and
had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had,
and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.
3. When she had heard of Jesus, she came in the press behind and touched
his garments For she said, If I may touch but his garment, I shall be whole.
find straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her
body that she was healed of that plague.
4. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of
him, turned him about in the press and said, Who touched my vesture? And his
disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee and sayeth
thou, Who touched me?
5. And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But
the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell
down before him and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy
faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague.
6. WHILE he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s
house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master
any further ?
7. As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the
ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to
follow him save Peter and James and John the brother of James.
8. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth
the tumult and the minstrels, and them that lamented and wailed greatly.
9. And when he was come in he said unto
him, Why make ye this ado and weep? The damsel is not dead but sleepeth. And
they laughed him to scorn, for they thought she was dead, and believed him not.
But when he had put them all out, he taketh two of his disciples with him, and
entered in where the damsel was lying.
10. And he took the damsel by the hand and said unto her, Talitha cumi;
which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee arise.
11. And straightway the damsel arose and walked. And she was of the age
of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
12. And he charged them straightly that no man should make it known, and
commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
Jesus And The Samaritan Woman
1. THEN cometh Jesus to a city of
Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave
to his son Joseph.
2. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his
journey, sat alone on the edge of the well, and it was about the sixth hour.
3. And there cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water; Jesus saith unto
her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy
food).
4.
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it
that thou being a Jew, asketh drink of me, who am a woman of Samaria?
(for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.)
5. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God and
who it is that saith to thee, Give me drink, thou wouldest have asked of God,
who would have given thee living water.
6. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and
the well is deep, from whence hast thou that living water. Art thou greater
than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank thereof, himself and his
children and his camels and oxen and sheep.
7. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water
shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well
of water springing up into everlasting life.
8. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not,
neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband and
come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband.
9. Jesus looking upon her, answered and said unto her, Thou hast well
said, I have no husband. For thou hast had five husbands and he whom thou now
hast is not called thy husband, in that saidst thou truly.
10. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain and ye say that in Jerusalem is the
place where men ought to worship.
11. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye
shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship God. Ye worship ye
know not what; we know what we worship; for salvation is of Israel.
12. But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall
worship the All-Father (Parent) in spirit and in truth; for such worshippers
the All-Holy seeketh. God is a Spirit and they that worship, must worship in
spirit and in truth.
13. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh who is called
the Christ: when he is come he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I
am he Who speaketh unto thee.
14. And upon this came his disciples and marveled that he talked with
the woman, yet no man said, What seekest thou ? or, Why talkest thou with her?
15. The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city and
saith unto the men, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did:
is not this the Christ?
16. Then they went out of the city and came unto him, and many of the
Samaritans believed on him, and they besought him that he would tarry with
them; and he abode there two days.
CHAPTER 23. 1-13. -A similar event is recorded in the life of Buddha, where he asks water of a woman, and receives it from a woman of lower caste, who asks how he, of a higher caste, a Brahmin, comes to ask water of one so much lower. It should cast no doubt on this passage.
Jesus
Denounces Cruelty
He Healeth the Sick
1. As Jesus passed through a certain village he
saw a crowd of idlers of the baser sort, and they were tormenting a cat which
they had found and shamefully treating it. And Jesus commanded them to desist
and began to reason with them, but they would have none of his words, and
reviled him.
2. Then he made a whip of knotted cords and drove them away, saying,
This earth which my Father-Mother made for joy and gladness, ye have made into
the lowest hell with your deeds of violence and cruelty; And they fled before
his face.
3. But one more vile than the rest returned and defied him. And Jesus
put forth his hand, and the young man’s arm weathered, and great fear came upon
all; and one said, He is a sorcerer.
4. And the next day the mother of the young man came unto Jesus, praying
that he would restore the withered arm. And Jesus spake unto them of the law of
love and the unity of all life in the one family of God. And he also said, As
ye do in this life to your fellow creatures, so shall it be done to you in the
life to come.
5. And the young man believed and confessed his sins, and Jesus
stretched forth his hand, and his withered arm became whole even as the other,
And the people glorified God who had given such power unto man.
6. AND when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying
and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the
house the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am
able to do this?
7. They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying,
According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened, and Jesus
straitly charged them, saying, See that ye tell no man, But they, when they
were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
8. As they went forth, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed
with a demon. And when the demon was cast out the dumb spake, and the multitude
marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees said, He
casteth out demons through the prince of the demons.
9. AND Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness
and every disease among the people.
10. But when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
11. Then said he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but
the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will
send forth labourers into his harvest.
12. AND his disciples brought him two small baskets with bread and
fruit, and a pitcher of water. And Jesus set the bread and the fruit before
them and also the water. And they did eat and drink and were filled.
13. And they marvelled, for each had enough and to spare, and there were
four thousand. And they departed blessing God for what they had heard and seen.
CHAPTER 24. 1-5. -The cat was an ancient symbol of Deity, on account of its seeing in the dark and otter attributes. More than one instance is given of Jesus' protection of these beautiful animals which in Iudea were, as they are even now in some places, unjustly despised and regarded with disfavour. He, the Friend of all things that suffered, cast his protection round these innocent creatures, teaching men and women to do likewise, and to feel for all the weak and oppressed. This beautiful and much maligned animal was a native of Egypt. But there is no difficulty here, for Egyptian families visited Palestine, and would naturally bring their venerated animals with them, not leave them to neglect or worse, as some "Christians" who ought to know better.
The Sermon On The Mount (Part I)
1. Jesus seeing the multitudes,
went up into a mountain: and when he was seated, the twelve came unto him, and
he lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said:
2. Blessed in spirit are the
poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they
shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
3. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are
the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for
they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted
for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of God.
4. Yea, blessed are ye, when men shall hate you’ and when they shall
separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name
as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy:
for, behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the like manner did their
fathers unto the prophets.
5. Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received in this life your
consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that
laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you when all men shall speak
well of you’ for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
6. Ye are the salt of the
earth, forevery sacrifice must be salted with salt, but
if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is
thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot.
7. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot
be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
(Parent) who is in heaven.
8. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the law or the
prophets till all be fulfilled. But behold One greater than Moses is here. and
he will give you the higher law, even the perfect Law, and this Law shall ye
obey.
9. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these commandments which he
shall give, and shall teach men so, they shall be called the least in the
kingdom; but whosoever shall do, and teach them, the same shall be called great
in the kingdom of Heaven.
10. Verily they who believe and obey shall save their souls, and they
who obey not shall lose them. For I say unto you, That except your
righteousness shall, exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees ye
shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.
11. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar and there rememberest
that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the
altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and
offer thy gift.
12. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with
him; lest at any time thy adversary deliver thee to the Judge, and the judge
deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto
thee. Thou shalt by no means come out thence till thou hast paid the uttermost
farthing.
13. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good
to them which hate you.
14. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you. That ye may be the children of your Father (Parent) Who maketh the sun to
rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the Just and on the unjust.
15. For if ye love them which love you what thank have ye? for sinners
also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you,
what thank have ye? for sinners even do the same. And if ye salute your
brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even so the taxgatherers?
16. And if a desire be unto thee as thy life, and it turn thee from the
truth, cast it out from thee, for it is better to enter life possessing truth,
than losing it, to be cast into outer darkness.
17. And if that seem desirable to thee which costs another pain or
sorrow, cast it out of thine heart; so shalt thou attain to peace. Better it is
to endure sorrow, than to inflict it on those who are weaker.
18. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father (Parent) who is in
heaven is perfect.
CHAPTER 25. 2. -It is remarkable how persistent has been the false rendering of these words in the received Gospels. It is too evident to need any comment. It is not poverty of spirit that Christ commended, but the spiritual effects of literal poverty (not pauperism), which are more frequent than those of abundant riches.
v. 6-7. -Suggestive is this passage of the custom of the Christian Church in building their monasteries and convents generally on high places, the bands of holy men and women therein being truly, in the Dark Ages, the salt of the earth, the light on a hill, without which society would have rotted to the core, and been universally corrupt. The occasional abuses argue nothing against their more blessed influences. Without them our Scriptures would not have been preserved, even in their present condition, and civilization would have been extinct. To the monks of S. Basil and S. Benedict are due the remains of Christianity that have been handed down to us, and by such institutions rationally conducted will Christianity be revived in a higher and purer form, and the Scriptures restored to their original purity, as well as the ancient worship of God. The laxity of some modern monasteries is to be regretted in the matter of flesh-eating, under the plea of health, there being really no such necessity with the abundance of food from the vegetable world as well as animal products. The Carthusian and other monasteries stand as a noble testimony to the healthfulness of the rule when observed in strictness and unabated rigour.
The Sermon On The Mount (Part II)
1. TAKE heed that
ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward
of your Father (Parent) who is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms,
do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they
have their reward.
2. But when thou givest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right
hand doeth, and take heed that thine alms may be in secret; and the Secret One
which seest in secret shall approve then openly.
3. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets
that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
4. But thou, when thou prayest enter into thy chamber and when thou hast
shut thy door pray to thy Father-Mother who is in secret; and the secret One
that seeth in secret shall approve thee openly.
5. And when ye pray in common [groups?], use not vain [re]petitions, as
the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much
speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your heavenly Father (Parent)
knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask. After this manner therefore
pray ye, when ye are gathered together:
6. Our Father (Parent) Who art in heaven: Hallowed be Thy
Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done; in earth as it is in heaven. Give us
day by day our daily bread, and the fruit of the living Vine. As Thou forgivest
us our trespasses, so may we forgive the trespasses of others. Leave us not in
temptation. Deliver us from evil. Amun.
7. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father (Parent)
will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will
your Father (Parent) in heaven forgive you your trespasses.
8. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad
countenance; for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to
fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
9. And I
say unto you, Except ye fast from the world and its evil ways, ye shall in
no wise find the Kingdom; and except ye keep the Sabbath and cease your haste
to gather riches, ye shall not see the Father-Mother in heaven. But thou, when
thou fastest, anoint thine head and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto
men to fast, and the Holy One who seeth in secret will approve thee openly.
10. Likewise also do ye, when ye mourn for the dead and are sad, for
your loss in their gain. Be not as those who mourn before men and make loud
lamentation and rend their garments, that they may be seen of men to mourn. For
all souls are in the hands of God, and they who have done good, do rest with
your ancestors in the bosom of the Eternal.
11. Pray ye rather for their rest and advancement, and consider that
they are in the land of rest, which the Eternal hath prepared for them, and
have the just reward of their deeds, and murmur not as those without hope.
12. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and
where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also.
13. The lamps [light] of the body are the eyes: if therefore thy sight
be clear, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eyes be dim or
lacking, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that
is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
14. No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and
love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye
cannot serve God and mammon.
15. Therefore I say unto you, Be not over anxious for your life what ye
shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment? And what shall it
profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his life?
16. Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father (Parent) feedeth them. Are ye
not much better cared for than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one
cubit unto his stature? And why spend all your thought for raiment? Consider
the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.
And yet I say unto you, Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.
17. Wherefore shall not God who clothes the grass of the field, which
today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, much more clothe you, O ye of
little faith?
18. Therefore be not over anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What
shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (all Which things do the
Gentiles seek). For your heavenly Father (Parent) knoweth that ye have need of
all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you. Meet not in advance the evils of
the morrow; sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
The Sermon On The Mount (Part III)
1. JUDGE not, that ye be not
judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; and as ye do unto others,
so shall it be done unto you.
2. And why beholdest thou the mote
[small speck/dust] that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam
that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull the
mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite,
first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shall thou see clearly to
cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
3. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs’ neither cast ye your
pearls before swine; lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and
rend you.
4. Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: foreveryone that asketh receiveth, and he that
seeketh findeth, and to them that knock it shall be opened.
5. What man is there of you who, if his child ask bread, will give it a
stone? Or, if it ask a fish, will give it a serpent? If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father
(Parent) Who is in heaven give good things to them that ask?
6. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them. And what ye would not that men should do unto you, do ye
not so unto them; for this is the Law and the prophets.
7. Enter ye in at the strait gate, for strait is the way and narrow the
gate that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. But wide is the
gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go
in thereat.
8. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but
inwardly are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
9. Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit
is only fit to be hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits
ye shall know the good from the evil.
10. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father-Mother Who is in
heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy Name? and in thy Name have cast out devils? and in thy Name done many
wonderful works? And then will I say unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.
11. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man who built his house foursquare upon a rock. And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew upon that house;
and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
12.
And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall
be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand, and the rain
descended, and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and
it fell, and great was the fall of it. But a city which is built foursquare,
enclosed in a circle or on the top of a hill, and established on a rock, can
neither fall nor be hidden.
13. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at his doctrine. For he taught them as one appealing to the
reason and the heart, and not as the scribes who taught rather by authority.
CHAPTER 27. 2. -The sin of hypocrisy is most loathsome, and the most difficult for those to see who are vitiated by it. To condemn in others the sins we practice ourselves is a common sin of society, which Christ ever reprobates.
CHAPTER 27. 12. -Note the importance which these symbols (including the equilateral triangle) possessed in the eyes of Jesus as illustrations of Eternal truths. The slight mention of these shows the Gospel was written, or addressed to people well acquainted with the mysteries they represent.
Jesus Releases The Rabbits And Pigeons
1. IT came to pass one day as
Jesus had finished his discourse, in a place near Tiberias where there are
seven wells, a certain young man brought live rabbits and pigeons, that he
might have to eat with his disciples.
2. And Jesus looked on the young man with
love and said to him, Thou hast a good heart and God shall give thee light, but
knowest thou not that God in the beginning gave to man the fruits of the earth
for food, and did not make him lower than the ox, or the horse, or the sheep,
that he should kill and eat the flesh and blood of his fellow creatures.
3. Ye believe that Moses indeed commanded such creatures to be slain and
offered in sacrifice and eaten, and so do ye in the Temple, but behold a
greater than Moses is herein and he cometh to put away the bloody sacrifices of
the law, and the feasts on them, and to restore to you the pure oblation and
unbloody sacrifice as in the beginning, even the grains and fruits of the
earth.
4. Of that which ye offer undo God in purity shall ye eat, but of that
kind which ye offer not in purity shall ye not eat, for the hour cometh when
your sacrifices and feasts of blood shall cease, and ye shall worship God with
a holy worship and a pure Oblation.
5. Let these creatures therefore go free, that they may rejoice in God
and bring no guilt to man. And the young man set them free, and Jesus break
their cages and their bonds.
6. But lo, they feared lest they should again be taken captive, and they
went not away from him, but he spake unto them and dismissed them, and they
obeyed his word, and departed in gladness.
7. AT that time as they sat by the well, which was in the midst of the
six Jesus stood up and cried out, If any are thirsty, let them come unto me and
drink, for I will give to them of the waters of life.
8. They who believe in me, out of their hearts shall flow rivers of
water, and that which is given unto them shall they speak with power, and their
doctrine shall be as living water.
9. (This he spake of the Spirit, which they that believed on him should
receive, for the fullness of the Spirit was not yet given because that Jesus
was not yet glorified).
10. Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give shall never
thirst, but the water which cometh from God shall be in them a well of water,
springing up unto everlasting life.
11. AND at that time John sent two of his disciples, saying, Art thou he
that should come, or look we for another? and in that same hour he cured many
of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits, and unto many blind, he
gave sight.
12. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what
things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel
is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
13. And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak
unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to
see? A reed shaken with the wind, or a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold,
they which are georgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’
courts.
14. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet Yea, I say unto you, and
the greatest of prophets.
15. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger
before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you,
Among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John
the Baptist.
16. And all
the people that heard him, and the taxgatherers,
justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the
Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not
baptized of him.
CHAPTER 28. 1-5. -It is easy to see how this would have horrified the mind of Jesus had he lived in these semi- heathen times.
CHAPTER 28. 16. -To exalt unduly the Christian Sacrament of Baptism, certain words have been interpolated in the A.V. The context shows that such was not the intended meaning, for immediately after, they "justified God by being baptized with John's Baptism."
The
feeding of the Five Thousand With Six Loaves and Seven Clusters Of Grapes.
Healing Of The Sick
1. AND the Feast of the Passover
drew nigh, and the Apostles and their fellows gathered themselves together unto
Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done and what they had
taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place and
rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so
much as to eat.
2. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the
people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all
cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
3. And Jesus, when he came forth, saw much people and was moved with
compassion towards them, because they were as sheep having not a shepherd.
4. And the day was far spent, and his disciples came unto him and said,
This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed. Send them away, that
they may go into the country round about into the villages, and buy themselves
bread, for they have nothing to eat.
5. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say
unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to
eat ?
6. He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when
they knew, they said, Six loaves and seven clusters of grapes. And he commanded
them to make all sit down by companies of fifty upon the grass. And they sat
down in ranks by hundreds and by fifties.
7. And when he had taken the six loaves and the seven clusters of
grapes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and brake the loaves, and the
grapes also and gave them to his disciples to set before them and they divided
them among them all.
8. And they did all eat and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets
full of the fragments that were left. And they that did eat of the loaves and
of the fruit were about five thousand men, women and children, and he taught
them many things.
9. And when the people had seen and heard, they were filled with
gladness and said, Truly this is that Prophet that should come into the world.
And when he perceived that they would take him by force to make him a king, he
straightway constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the
other side before him unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
10. And when he had sent them away he departed into a mountain to pray.
And when even was come, he was there alone, but the ship was now in the midst
of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary.
11. The third watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the
sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled,
saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus
spake unto them, saying. Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
12. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come
unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of
the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind
boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save
me.
13. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and
said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? For did I
not call thee ?
14. And he went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased, and
they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure and wondered. For they
considered not the miracle of the loaves and the fruit, for their heart was
hardened.
15. And when they were come into the ship there was a great calm. Then
they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art
a Son of God.
16. And when they had passed over, they came unto the land of Gennesaret
and drew to the shore And when they were come out of the ship straightway they
knew him. And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry
about in beds, those that were sick, where they heard he was.
17. And withersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country,
they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it
were but the border of his garment, and as many as touched him were made whole.
18. After these things Jesus came with his disciples into Judea, and
there he tarried and baptized many who came unto him and received his doctrine.
CHAPTER 29. -The feeding of five thousand with five loaves and seven clusters of grapes has a deep mystical significance, which space forbids to enter on here, but the wise will understand. The two numbers, e.g, symbolize Matter and Spirit, Bread and Wine, Substance and Life.
The Bread Of Life And The Living Vine
1. THE day following, the people
which stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there had been no other boat
there, save the one whereinto his disciples had entered and that Jesus went not
with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone alone. And
when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples,
they also took ship and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.
2. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said
unto him, Rabbi, how camest thou hither? Yeshua answered them and said, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but
because ye did eat of the loaves and the fruit, and were filled. Labour not for
the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting
life, which the Son of Man, Who is also the Child of God, shall give unto you,
for him hath God the All Father (Parent) sealed.
3. Then said they unto him, What shall we do that we may work the works
of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye
believe the truth, in me who am, and who giveth unto you, the Truth and the
Life.
4. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then that we may
see and believe thee? What dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the
desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
5. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave
you not the true bread from heaven, but my Father (Parent) giveth you the true
bread from heaven and the fruit of the living vine. For the food of God is that
which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
6. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread, and this
fruit. And Jesus said unto them, I am the true Bread, I am the living Vine,
they that come to me shall never hunger; and they that believe on me shall
never thirst. And verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh and drink the
blood of God, ye have no life in you. But ye have seen me and believe not.
7. All that my Father (Parent) hath given to me shall come to me and
they that come to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of God who sent me. And this is the will
of God who hath sent me, that of all which are given unto me I should lose
none, but should raise them up again at the last day.
8. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said I am the bread
which cometh down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of
Joseph and Mary whose Father (Parent)age we know? how is it then that he saith,
I came down from heaven?
9. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur ye not among
yourselves. None can come to me except holy Love and Wisdom draw them, and
these shall rise at the last day. It is written in the prophets, They shall be
all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the
Truth, cometh unto me.
10. Not that anyone hath seen the Holiest at any time, save they which
are of the Holiest, they alone, see the Holiest. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, They who believe the Truth, have everlasting life.
The Bread of Life And The Living Vine.
Jesus Rebuketh The Thoughtless Driver.
1. AGAIN
Jesus said, I am the true Bread and the living Vine. Your fathers did eat manna
in the wilderness and are dead. This is the food of God which cometh down from
heaven, that whosoever eat thereof shall not die. I am the living food which
came down from heaven, if any eat of this food they shall live forever; and the
bread that I will give is My truth and the wine which I will give is my life.
2. And the Jews strove amongst
themselves, saying, How can this man give us himself for food? Then Jesus said,
Think ye that I speak of the eating of flesh, which ye ignorantly do in the
Temple of God?
3. Verily my body is the substance
of God, and this is meat indeed, and my blood is the life of God and this is
drink indeed. Not as your ancestors, who craved for flesh, and God gave them
flesh in his wrath, and they ate of corruption till it stank in their nostrils,
and their carcases fell by the thousand in the wilderness by reason of
the plague.
4. Of such it is written, They
shall wander nine and forty years in the wilderness till they are purified
from their lusts, ere they enter into the land of rest, yea, seven times seven
years shall they wander because they have not known My ways, neither obeyed My laws.
5. But They who eat this flesh and
drink this blood dwell in me and I in them. As the Father- Mother of life hath
sent me, and by Whom I live, so they that eat of me who am the truth and the
life, even they shall live by me.
6. This is that living bread which
coming down from heaven giveth life to the world. Not as your ancestors did eat
manna and are dead. They that eat of this bread and this fruit, shall live
forever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many
therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is an hard saying,
who can receive it?
7. When Jesus knew in himself that
his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and
if ye shall see the Son and Daughter of man ascend to where they were
before? It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh and blood profiteth
nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.
8. But there are some of you that
believe not, For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who should believe
not, and who should betray him. Therefore said he unto them. No one can come
unto me, except it were given from above.
9. From that time many of his
disciples went back and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the
twelve, Will ye also go away ?
10. Then Simon Peter answered him,
Lord to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe
and we are sure that thou art that Christ, a Son of the living God.
11. Jesus answered them, Have not
I chosen you Twelve, and one also who is a traitor ? He spake of Judas
Iscariot son of Simon the Levite, for he it was that should betray him.
12. AND Jesus was travelling to
Jerusalem, and there came a camel heavy laden with wood. and the camel could
not drag it up the hill whither he went for the weight thereof, and the driver
beat him and cruelly ill-treated him, but he could make him go no further.
13. And Jesus seeing this, said
unto him, Wherefore beatest thou thy brother? And the man answered, I wot not
that he is my brother, is he not a beast of burden and made to serve me?
14. And Jesus said, Hath not the
same God made of the same substance the camel and thy children who serve thee,
and have ye not one breath of life which ye have both received from God?
15. And the man marvelled much at
this saying, and he ceased from beating the camel, and took off some of the
burden and the camel walked up the hill as Jesus went before him, and stopped
no more till he ended his journey.
16. And the camel knew Jesus,
having felt of the love of God in him. And the man inquired further of the
doctrine, and Jesus taught him gladly and he became his disciple.
CHAPTER 31. 4. -Jesus quoted from a more ancient version than we now possess.
|
CHAPTER 32 |
God the Food and Drink of All.
1. AND it
came to pass as he sat at supper with his disciples one of them said unto him:
Master, how sayest thou that thou wilt give thy flesh to eat and thy blood to
drink, for it is a hard saying unto many?
2. And Jesus
answered and said: The words which I spake unto you are Spirit and they are
Life. To the ignorant and the carnally minded they savour of bloodshed and
death, but blessed are they who understand.
3. Behold the corn which groweth
up into ripeness and is cut down, and ground in the mill, and baked with fire
into bread! of this bread is my body made, which ye see: and lo the grapes
which grow on the vine unto ripeness, and are plucked and crushed in the
winepress and yield the fruit of the vine! of this fruit of the vine and of
water is made my blood.
4. For of the fruits of the trees and the seeds of the herbs alone do I
partake, and these are changed by the Spirit into my flesh and my blood. Of
these alone and their like shall ye eat who believe in me, and are my
disciples, for of these, in the Spirit come life and health and healing unto
man.
5.
Verily shall my Presence be with you in the
Substance and Life of God, manifested in this body, and this blood; and of
these shall ye all eat and drink who believe in me.
6. For in all places I shall be
lifted up for the life of the world, as it is written in the prophets; From the
rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, in every place a pure
Oblation with incense shall be offered unto my Name.
7. As in the natural so in the
spiritual. My doctrine and my life shall be meat and drink unto you, —the Bread
of Life and the Wine of Salvation.
8. As the corn and the grapes are
transmuted into flesh and blood, so must your natural minds be changed into
spiritual. Seek ye the Transmutation of the natural into the Spiritual.
9. Verily I say unto you, in the
beginning, all creatures of God did find their sustenance in the herbs and the
fruits of the earth alone, till the ignorance and the selfishness of man turned
many of them from the use which God had given them to that which was contrary
to their original use, but even these shall yet return to their natural
food, as it is written in the prophets, and their words shall not fail.
10. Verily God ever giveth of the
Eternal Life and Substance to renew the forms of the universe. It is
therefore of the flesh and blood, even the Substance and Life of the Eternal,
that ye are partakers unto life, and my words are spirit and they are life.
11. And if ye keep My commandments
and live the life of the righteous, happy shall ye be in this life, and in that
which is to come. Marvel not therefore that I said unto you, Except ye eat of
the flesh and drink the blood of God, ye have no life in you.
12. And the disciples answered
saying: Lord, evermore give us to eat of this bread, and to drink of this cup,
for thy words are meat and drink indeed;. By thy Life and by thy Substance may
we live forever.
|
CHAPTER 33 |
By The Shedding Of Blood Of Others Is No Remission Of Sins.
1. JESUS
was teaching his disciples in the outer court of the Temple and one of them
said unto him: Master, it is said by the priests that without shedding of blood
there is no remission. Can then the blood offering of the law take away sin?
2. And Jesus answered: No blood
offering, of beast or bird, or man, can take away sin, for how can the
conscience be purged from sin by the shedding of innocent blood? Nay, it will
increase the condemnation.
3. The priests indeed receive such
offering as a reconciliation of the worshippers for the trespasses against the
law of Moses, but for sins against the Law of God there can be no remission, save
by repentance and amendment.
4. Is it not written in the
prophets, Put your blood sacrifices to your burnt offerings, and away with
them, and cease ye from the eating of flesh,
for I spake not to your fathers nor commanded them, when I brought them out of
Egypt, concerning these things? But this thing I commanded saying:
5, Obey my voice and walk in the ways that I have commanded
you, and ye shall be my people, and it shall be well with you. But they
hearkened not, nor inclined their ear.
6. And what doth the Eternal command you but to do justice,
love mercy and walk humbly with your God? Is it not
written that in the beginning God ordained the fruits of the trees and the
seeds and the herbs to be food for all flesh?
7. But they have made the House of
Prayer a den of thieves, and for the pure Oblation with Incense, they have
polluted my altars with blood, and eaten of the
flesh of the slain.
8. But I say unto you: Shed no innocent blood nor eat ye flesh. Walk
uprightly, love mercy, and do justly, and your days shall be long in the land.
9. The corn that groweth from the
earth with the other grain, is it not transmuted by the Spirit into my flesh?
The grapes of the vineyard, with the other fruits are they not transmuted by
the Spirit into my blood? Let these, with your bodies and souls be your
Memorial to the Eternal.
10. In these is the presence of
God manifest as the Substance and as the Life of the world. Of these shall ye eat
and drink for the remission of sins, and for eternal life, to all who obey my
words.
11. Now there is at Jerusalem by
the sheep market, a pool which is called Bethesda, having five porches. In
these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting
for the moving of the waters.
12. For at a certain season, an
angel went down into the pool and troubled the waters; whosoever went first
into the waters was made whole of whatever disease he had. And a man impotent
from his birth was there.
13. And Jesus said unto him. Bring
not the waters healing? He said unto him. Yea, Lord, but I have no man when the
water is troubled to put me in, and while I am trying to come another steppeth
down before me. And Jesus said to him, Arise, take up thy bed and walk. And
immediately he rose and walked. And on the same day was the Sabbath.
14. The Jews therefore said to
him, It is the Sabbath it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. And he that
was healed wist not that it was Jesus. And Jesus had conveyed himself away, a
multitude being in that place.
CHAPTER 33. 4. -Here is given the true significance of Jer. 7:22, or as it should be rendered in that place, " Ye add burnt sacrifice to burnt offering and ye eat flesh. But I spake not to your fathers nor commanded them concerning these things," see Numbers xi.
(Hos 5:24)As for sacrifices that are made by fire unto me let them sacrifice, flesh and eat, for the Lord accepth them not. Now will He remember their iniquity, and punish sins.
(Hos 6:6)"For I desire mercy and not sacrifices, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"
(Jer 7:22)For when I freed your fathers from the land of Egypt, I did not speak with them or command them concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this is what I commanded them. Do my bidding . . ."
(Mic 6:6) "Shall I approach Him with burnt offerings with calves, a year old? Would the L-rd be pleased with 1000 rams . . . what the Lord requires of you only to do justice, to love goodness and walk humbly with your God"
(Amos 5;22-24)" though you brought me burnt offerings and your meal offerings I will not accept them neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts . . . But let justice well up as water and righteousness like a mighty stream."
(Is 1:11-18)"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the Lord I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. And I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs or of he goats. . . bring no more vain oblations; it is an offering of abomination unto Me; . . . Wash you, make clean. Put away evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, cease to do evil and learn to do well; seek justice , relieve the oppressed . . ."
(Ps 40:6-8) "You do not desire sacrifice and meal offerings; You do not ask for burnt offering and sin offering."
(Jos 7:19) "Then Joshua said 'My son, pay honor to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make confession to Him."
(Ps 51:14) "The sacrifices to G-d are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart"
.
Love of Jesus for All Creatures.
1. WHEN
Jesus knew how the Pharisees had murmured and complained because he made and
baptized more disciples than John, he left Judea, and departed unto Galilee.
2.
AND Jesus came to a certain Tree and abode beneath it many days. And
there came Mary Magdalene and other women and ministered unto him of their
substance, and he taught daily all that came unto him.
3. And
the birds gathered around him, and welcomed him with their song, and other
living creatures came unto his feet, and he fed them, and they ate out of his
hands.
4. And when he departed he blessed
the women who shewed love unto him, and turning to the fig tree, he blessed it
also, saying. Thou hast given me shelter and shade from the burning heat, and
withal thou hast given me food also.
5. Blessed be thou, increase and
be fruitful, and let all who come to thee, find rest and shade and food, and
let the birds of the air rejoice in thy branches.
6. And behold the tree grew and
flourished exceedingly, and its branches took root downward, and sent shoots
upward, and it spread mightily, so that no tree was like unto it for its size
and beauty, and the abundance and goodness of its fruit.
7. AND
as Jesus entered into a certain village he saw a young cat which had none to
care for her, and she was hungry and cried unto him, and he took her up, and
put her inside his garment, and she lay in his bosom.
8. And when he came into the
village he set food and drink before the cat, and she ate and drank, and shewed
thanks unto him. And he gave her unto
one of his disciples, who was a widow, whose name was Lorenza, and she took
care of her.
9. And some of the people said,
This man careth for all creatures, are they his brothers and sisters that he
should love them ? And he said unto them, Verily these are your fellow
creatures of the great Household of God, yea, they are your brethren and
sisters, having the same breath of life in the Eternal.
10. And whosoever careth for one
of the least of these, and giveth it to eat and drink in its need, the same
doeth it unto me, and whoso willingly suffereth one of these to be in want, and
defendeth it not when evilly entreated, suffereth the evil as done unto me; for
as ye have done in this life, so shall it be done unto you in the life to come.
The Good Law. -Mary And Martha.
1. AND
behold a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I
do to gain eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law ? how readest
thou ?
2. And he answering,
said, Thou shalt not do unto others, as thou wouldst not that they should do
unto thee. Thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul and all
thy mind. Thou shalt do unto others, as thou wouldst not that they should do
unto thee.
3. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right, this do
and thou shalt live; on these three commandments hang all the law and the
prophets, for who loveth God, loveth his Neighbour
also.
4. But he, willing to justify
himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A
certain man went down from Jesusalem to Jericho, and fell among, thieves, which
stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed leaving him half dead.
5. And by chance there came down a
certain priest that way, and when he saw him he passed by on the one side. And
likewise a Levite also came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
6. But a certain Samaritan, as he
journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him he had compassion on him. And
went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on
his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
7. And on the morrow when he
departed he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care
of him and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
8. Which now of these three,
thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves? And he said. He
that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
9. Now it came to pass, as
they went, that he entered into a certain village, and a woman named Martha
received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at
Jesus, feet, and heard his word.
10. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to
him saying, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve
alone? bid her therefore that she may help me.
11. And Jesus answered
and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many
things, but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her.
12. AGAIN, as Jesus sat at supper
with his disciples in a certain city, he said unto them, As a Table set upon
twelve pillars, so am I in the midst of you.
13. Verily I say unto you, Wisdom
[Sophia/ Holy Spirit] buildeth her house and heweth out her twelve pillars. She
doth prepare her bread and her oil, and mingle her wine. She doth furnish her
table.
14. And she standeth upon the high
places of the city, and crieth to the sons and the daughters of men! Whosoever
will, let them turn in hither, let them eat of my bread and take of my oil, and
drink of my wine.
15. Forsake the foolish and live,
and go in the way of understanding. The veneration of God is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy One is understanding. By me shall your
days be multiplied, and the years of your life shall he increased.
The Woman Taken In Adultery.
1. ON a
certain day, early in the morning, Jesus came again into the temple, and all
the people came unto him, and he sat down and taught them.
2. And the scribes and Pharisees
brought unto him a woman taken in adultery, and when they had set her in the
midst, they said unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the
very acts. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned, but
what sayest thou?
3. This they said, tempting him,
that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger
wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
4. So when they continued asking
him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you,
let him cast the first stone at her.
5. And again he stooped down and
wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own
conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last;
and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
6. When Jesus had lifted up
himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those
thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said unto him, No man, Lord.
And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee. From henceforth sin no
more; go in peace.
7. AND he spake this parable unto
certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised
others: Two men went up into the Temple to pray; the one a rich Pharisee,
learned in the law, and the other a taxgatherer, who was a sinner.
8. The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself; God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this taxgatherer. I fast twice in
the week, 1 give tithes of all that I possess,
9. And the taxgatherer, standing
afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his
breath, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
10. I tell you, this man went down
to his house justified rather than the other; forevery one that exalteth
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
The Re-generation Of The Soul.
1. JESUS
sat in the porch of the Temple, and some came to learn his doctrine, and one
said unto him, Master, what teachest thou concerning life?
2. And he said unto them, Blessed
are they who suffer many experiences, for they shall be made perfect through
suffering: they shall be as the angels of God in Heaven and shall die no more,
neither shall they be born any more, for death and birth have no more dominion
over them.
3. They who have suffered and
overcome shall be made Pillars in the Temple of my God, and they shall go
out no more. Verily I say unto you, except ye be born again of water and of
fire, ye cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. And a certain Rabbi (Nicodemus)
came unto him by night for fear of the Jews, and said unto him. How can a man
be born again when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb
and be born again ?
5. Jesus answered, Verily I say
unto you except a man be born again of flesh and of spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and ye hear the
sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth.
6. The light shineth from the East
even unto the West; out of the darkness, the Sun ariseth and goeth down into
darkness again; so is it with man, from the ages unto the ages.
7. When it cometh from the
darkness, it is that he hath lived before, and when it goeth down again into
darkness, it is that he may rest for a little, and
thereafter again exist.
8. So through many changes must ye be made perfect,
as it is written in the book of Job, I am a wanderer, changing place after
place and house after house, until I come unto the City and Mansion which is
eternal.
9. And Nicodemus said unto him,
How can these things be? And Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a
teacher in Israel, and understandeth not these things? Verily we speak that
which we do know, and bear witness to that which we have seen, and ye receive
not our witness.
10. If I have told you of earthly
things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of Heavenly
things? No man hath ascended into Heaven, but he that descended out of Heaven,
even the Son-Daughter of man which is in Heaven.
|
CHAPTER 38 |
Jesus Condemneth the Ill-Treatment Of Animals.
1. AND some of his disciples came and told him of a
certain Egyptian, a son of Belial, who taught that it was lawful to torment
animals, if their sufferings brought any profit to men.
2. And Jesus said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, they who partake of benefits which are gotten by
wronging one of God's creatures, cannot be righteous: nor can they touch holy
things, or teach the mysteries of the kingdom, whose hands are stained With
blood, or whose mouths are defiled with flesh.
3. God giveth the grains and the
fruits of the earth for food: and for righteous man truly there is no other
lawful sustenance for the body.
4. The robber who breaketh into
the house made by man is guilty, but they who break into the house made by God,
even of the least of these are the greater sinners. Wherefore I say unto all
who desire to be my disciples, keep your hands from bloodshed and let no flesh meat enter your mouths, for
God is just and bountiful, who ordaineth that man shall live by the fruits and
seeds of the earth alone.
5. But if any animal suffer
greatly, and if its life be a misery unto it. or if it be dangerous to you,
release it from its life quickly, and with as little pain as you can, Send it
forth in love and mercy, but torment it not, and God the Father-Mother will
shew mercy unto you, as ye have shown mercy unto those given into your hands.
6. And whatsoever ye do unto the
least of these my children, ye do it unto me. For I am in them and they are in
me, Yea, I am in all creatures and all creatures are in me. In all their joys I
rejoice, in all their afflictions I am afflicted. Wherefore I say unto you: Be
ye kind one to another, and to all the creatures of God.
7. AND it came to pass the day
after, that he came into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went
with him, and much people.
8. Now when
he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was
a dead man carried
out the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the
city was with her.
9. And when the Lord saw her, he
had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not, thy son sleepeth. And he
came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said,
Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
10. And he that was esteemed dead
sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came
an awe upon all: and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen up
among us; and God hath visited his people.
Seven Parables of the The Kingdom of Heaven.
1. AGAIN
Jesus was sitting under the Fig tree, and his disciples gathered round him,
and, round them came a multitude of people to hear him, and said unto them,
Whereunto shall I liken the Kingdom of Heaven ?
2. AND he spake this parable,
saying. The kingdom of Heaven is like to a certain seed, small among seeds,
which a man taketh and soweth in his field, but when it is grown it becometh a
great tree which sendeth forth its branches all around, which again, shooting
downward into the earth take root and grow upward, till the field is covered by
the tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof
and the creatures of the earth find shelter beneath it.
3. ANOTHER parable put he forth
unto them, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a great treasure hid in a
field, the which when a man findeth he hideth it, and for joy thereof goeth and
selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field, knowing how great will be the
wealth therefrom,
4. AGAIN is the kingdom of Heaven
like to one pearl of great price, which is found by a merchant seeking goodly
pearls, and the merchant finding it, selleth all that he hath and buyeth it
knowing how many more times it is worth than that which he gave for it.
5. AGAIN, the Kingdom of Heaven is
like unto a woman who taketh of the incorruptible leaven and hideth it in three
measures of meal, till the whole is leavened, and being baked by fire, becometh
one loaf. Or, again, to one who taketh a measure of pure wine, and poureth it
into two or four measures of water, till the whole being mingled becometh the
fruit of the vine.
6. AGAIN, the Kingdom of Heaven is
like unto a City built foursquare on the top of a high hill, and established on
a rock, and strong in its surrounding wall, and its towers and its gates, which
lie to the north, and to the south, and to the east, and to the west. Such
a city falleth not, neither can it be hidden, and its gates are open unto all,
who, having the keys, will enter therein.
7. AND he spake another parable,
saying: The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto good seed that man sowed in his
field, but in the night, while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also
among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade sprung up and brought
forth fruit in the ear, there appeared the tares also.
8. And the servants of the
householder came unto him and said, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy
field, whence then hath it tares? And he said unto them, An enemy hath done
this.
9. And the servants said unto him,
Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up ? But he said, Nay, lest haply
while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the good wheat with them.
10. Let both grow together until
the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn
them and enrich the soil, but gather the wheat into my barn.
11. AND again he spake, saying,
The kingdom of Heaven is like unto the sowing of seed. Behold a sower went
forth to sow, and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls of
the air came and devoured them.
12. And others fell upon rocky
places without much earth, and straightway they sprang up because they had no
deepness of earth, and when the sun was risen they were scorched, and because
they had no root they whithered away.
13. And others fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew up and choked them. And others fell upon good ground, ready
prepared, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. They
who have ears to hear let them hear.
Jesus Expounds His Inner Teaching To The Twelve.
1. AND
the disciples came and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto the multitude in
parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know
the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given.
2. For whosoever hath to him shall
be given and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever hath not, from him
shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have.
3. Therefore speak I to them in
parables because they seeing see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do
they understand.
4. For in them is fulfilled the
prophecy of Esaias. which saith, Hearing ye shall hear and shall not
understand and seeing ye shall see and shall not perceive; for this
people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing and their
eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted and I should heal them.
5. But blessed are your eyes for
they see, and your ears for they hear, and your hearts for they understand. For
verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see
those things which ye see, and have not seen them, and hear those things which
ye hear, and have not heard them.
6. THEN Jesus sent the multitude
away and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of
the field; and he answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed Is
the Son of man; the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the
kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one. The enemy that sowed
them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the
angels.
7. As therefore the tares are
gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of this world. The
Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his
kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire, and they who will not be purified shall be utterly
consumed. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the kingdom of
Heaven.
8. HEAR ye also the parable of the
sower. The seed that fell by the wayside is like as when any hear the word of
the kingdom, and understand it not, then cometh the wicked one and catcheth
away that which was sown in their heart. These are they which received seed by
the wayside.
9. And they that received the seed
into stony places, the same are they that hear the Word and anon with joy
receive it. Yet have they not root in themselves but endure only a while, for
when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by they are
offended.
10. They also that received seed
among the thorns are they that hear the Word, and the cares of this world and
the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and they become unfruitful.
11. But they that receive the seed
into the good ground, are they that hear the Word and understand it, who also
bear fruit and bring forth, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred fold.
12. These things I declare unto
you of the inner circle; but to those of the outer in parables. Let them hear
who have ears to hear.
|
CHAPTER 41 |
Jesus
setteth free the Caged Birds.
The Blind Man who denied that others saw.
1. AND as Jesus
was going to Jericho there met him a man with a cage full of birds which he had
caught and some young doves. And he saw how they were in misery having lost
their liberty, and moreover being tormented with hunger and thirst.
2. And he said unto the man, What
doest thou with these? And the man answered, I go to make my living by selling
these birds which I have taken.
3.
And Jesus said, What thinkest thou, if another, stronger than thou or with
greater craft, were to catch thee and bind thee, or thy wife, or thy children,
and cast thee into a prison, in order to sell thee into captivity for his own
profit, and to make a living?
4. Are not these thy fellow
creatures, only weaker than thou? And doth not the same God our Father-Mother
care for them as for thee? Let these thy little brethren and sisters go forth
into freedom and see that thou do this thing no more, but provide honestly for
thy living.
5. And the man marvelled at these
words and at his authority, and he let the birds go free. So when the birds
came forth they flew unto Jesus and stood on his shoulder and sang unto him.
6. And the man inquired further of
his doctrine, and he went his way, and learnt the craft of making baskets, and
by this craft he earned his bread, and afterwards he brake his cages and his
traps, and became a disciple of Jesus.
7. AND Jesus beheld a man working
on the Sabbath, and he said unto him, Man, if thou knowest not the law in the
spirit; but if thou knowest not, thou art accursed and a transgresor of the
law.
8. And again Jesus said unto his
disciples, what shall be done unto these servants who, knowing their Lord’s
will, prepare not themselves for his coming, neither do according to his will?
9. Verily I say unto you, They
that know their Master’s will, and do it not, shall be beaten with many
stripes. But they who not knowing their Master’s will, do it not, shall be
beaten with but few stripes. To whomsoever much is given, of them is much
required. And to whom little is given from them is required but little.
10. AND there was a certain man who was blind from his birth. And
he denied that there were such things as Sun, Moon, and Stars, or that colour
existed. And they tried in vain to persuade him that other people saw them; and
they led him to Jesus, and he anointed his eyes and made him to see.
11. And he greatly rejoiced with
wonder and fear, and confessed that before he was blind. And now after this, he
said, I see all, I know everything, I am god.
12. And Jesus again said unto him,
How canst thou know all? Thou canst not see through the walls of thine house,
nor read the thoughts of thy fellow men, nor understand the language of birds,
or of beasts. Thou canst not even recall the events of thy former life,
conception, or birth.
13.
Remember with humility how much remains unknown to
thee, yea, unseen, and doing so, thou mayest see more clearly.
Jesus
Teacheth Concerning Marriage
The Blessing of Children
1. AND it
came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from
Galilee and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; and great multitudes
followed him and he healed them there.
2. The Pharisees also came unto
him, tempting him and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away a
wife for every cause?
3. And he answered and said unto
them, In some nations, one man hath many wives, and putteth away whom he will
for a just cause; and in some, a woman hath many husbands, and putteth away
whom she will for a just cause; and in others, one man is joined to one woman,
in mutual love, and this is the first and the better way.
4. For have ye not read that God
who made them at the beginning, made them male and female, and said, For this
cause shall a man or a woman leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his
wife or her husband, and they twain shall be one flesh.
5. Wherefore they are no more
twain, but one flesh. What therefore God have joined together, let not man put
asunder.
6. They said unto him, Why did
Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement? He saith unto them, Moses
because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives.
even as he permitted you to eat flesh, for many causes, but from the beginning
it was not so.
7. And I say unto you, Whosoever
shall put away a wife, except it be for a just cause, and shall marry another
in her place, committeth adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of
the man be so with his wife it is not good to marry.
8. But he said unto them All
cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For there are some,
celibates who were so born from their mother’s womb, and there are some, which
were made celibates of men, and there be some, who have made themselves
celibates for the kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let
him receive it.
9. THEN there came unto him little
children that he should put his hands on them and bless them, and the disciples
rebuked them.
10. But Jesus said, Suffer little
children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of
Heaven. And he laid his hands on them and blessed them.
11. AND as he entered into a
certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.
And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus Master, have mercy on us.
12. And when he saw them, he said
unto them Go, shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as
they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God and fell down on his face at
his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
13. And Jesus answering said, Were
there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that
returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise,
go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Jesus Teacheth Concerning the Riches of this World and the Washing of Hands and Eating Of Unclean Meats
1. AND,
behold, one came and said unto him. Good Master, what good thing shall I do,
that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?
there is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life,
keep the commandments. He saith unto him, which be they?
2. Jesus said, What teacheth
Moses? Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not
steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother and
thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All
these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?
3. Jesus said unto him, If thou
wilt be perfect go and sell that thou hast in abundance, and give to those who
have not, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.
4. But when the young man heard
that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions, yea, more
than satisfied his needs.
5. Then said Jesus unto his
disciple, Verily I say unto you, that the rich man shall hardly enter into the
kingdom of Heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go
through the “gate of the needle’s eye” than for a rich person to enter into the
kingdom of God.
6. When his disciples heard it,
they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld
them, and said unto them, For the carnal mind this is impossible, but with the
spiritual mind all things are possible.
7. And I say unto you, Make not to
yourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness that when ye fail they may
receive you into their earthly habitations; but rather of the true riches, even
the Wisdom of God, that so ye may be received into everlasting mansions which
fade not away.
8. Then Peter, said unto him,
Behold we have forsaken all and followed thee. And Jesus said unto them, Verily
I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the
Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, but the things of this world it
is not mine to give.
9. And everyone that hath forsaken
riches, houses, friends, for the kingdom of Heaven’s sake and its
righteousness, shall receive a hundred fold in the age to come and shall
inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last, and many that
are last shall be first.
10. AND there came unto him
certain of the Scribes and Pharisees who had seen one of his disciples eat with
unwashed hands.
11. And they found fault, for the
Jews eat not except they have first washen their hands and many other things
observe they, in the washing of Cups and of vessels and of tables.
12. And they said, Why, walk not
all thy disciples after the tradition of the elders, for we saw one who did eat
with unwashed hands?
13. And Jesus said, Well hath
Moses commanded you to be clean, and to keep your bodies clean, and your
vessels clean, but ye have added things which ofttimes cannot be observed by
every one at all times and in all places.
14. Hearken unto me therefore, not
only unclean things entering into the body of man defile the man, but much more
do evil thoughts and unclean, which pour from the heart of man, defile the
inner man and defile others also. Therefore take heed to your thoughts and
cleanse your hearts and let your food be pure.
15. These things ought ye to do,
and not to leave the others undone. Whoso breaketh the law of purification of
necessity, are blameless, for they do it not of their own will, neither
despising the law which is just and good. For cleanliness in all things is
great gain.
16. Be ye not followers of evil
fashions of the world even in appearance; for many are led into evil by the
outward seeming, and the likeness of evil.
The Confession of the Twelve.
1. AGAIN
Jesus sat near the sea, in a circle of twelve palm trees, where he oft
resorted, and the Twelve and their fellows came unto him, and they sat under
the shade of the trees, and the Holy One taught them sitting in their
midst.
2. And Jesus said unto them, Ye
have heard what men in the world say concerning me, but whom do ye say that I
am? Peter rose up with Andrew his brother and said, Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God, who descendeth from heaven and dwelleth in the
hearts of them who believe and obey unto righteousness. And the rest rose up
and said, each after his own manner, These words are true, so we believe.
3. And Jesus answered them saying,
Blessed are ye my twelve who believe, for flesh and blood hath not revealed
this unto you, but the spirit of God which dwelleth in you. I indeed am the Way,
the Truth and the Life; and the Truth understandeth
all things.
4. All truth is in
God, and I bear witness unto the truth. I
am the true Rock, and on this Rock do I build my Church,
and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it,
and out of this Rock shall flow rivers of living water to give life to the
peoples of the earth.
5. Ye are my chosen twelve. In me,
the Head and Corner stone, are the twelve foundations of my house builded on
the rock, and on you in me shall my Church be built, and in truth and
righteousness shall my Church be established.
6. And ye shall sit on twelve
thrones and send forth light and truth to all the twelve tribes of Israel after
the Spirit, and I will be with you, even unto the end of the world.
7. But there shall arise after
you, men of perverse minds who shall through ignorance or through craft,
suppress many things which I have spoken unto you, and lay to me things which I
never taught, sowing tares among the good wheat which I have given you to sow
in the world.
8. Then shall the truth of God
endure the contradiction [rebellion/ opposition] of sinners, for thus it hath
been, and thus it will be. But the time cometh when the things which they have
hidden shall be revealed and made known, and the truth shall make free those
which were bound.
9. One is your Master, all ye are
brethren, and one is not greater than another in the place which I have given
unto you, for ye have one Master, even Christ, who is over you and with you and
in you, and there is no inequality among my twelve, or their fellows.
10. All are equally near unto me.
Strive ye not therefore for the first place, for ye are all first, because ye
are the foundation stones and pillars of the Church, built on the truth which
is in me and in you, and the truth and the law shall ye establish for all, as
shall be given unto you.
11. Verily when ye and your
fellows agree together touching anything in my Name, I am in the midst of you
and with you.
12. Woe is the time when the
spirit of the world entereth into the Church, and my doctrines and precepts are
made void through the corruption of men and of women. Woe is the world when the
Light is hidden. Woe is the world when these things shall be.
13. At that time Jesus lifted his
voice and said, I thank thee, O most righteous Father (Parent), Creator of
Heaven and Earth, that though these things are hidden from the wise and the
prudent, they are nevertheless revealed unto babes.
14. No one knoweth thee, save the
Son, who is the Daughter of man. None do know the Daughter or the Son save they
to whom the Christ is revealed, who is the Two in One.
15. Come unto me all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and
learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. For my yoke is equal and it is easy, my burden is light and presseth not
unequally.
CHAPTER 44. 4. -In the Syrian Paschito, accepted by all Christians, in the Aramaic, the very language spoken by the Lord while on earth, the passage reads thus -"Thou art Kepha (rock), and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Sheol shall not prevail against her." In the Aramaic original there is but one word for rock or stone, not two petros and petra, as in the Greek
Seeking For Signs - The Unclean Spirit.
1. THEN
certain of the Scribes and of the Pharisees answered saying, Master we would
see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and
adulterous generation seeketh after a sign and there shall no sign be given to
it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
2. Yea, as Jonas was three days
and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days
and three nights in the heart of the earth, and after he shall rise again.
3. The men of Nineveh shall rise
in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at
the preaching of Jonas, and behold a greater than Jonas is here.
4. The Queen of the South shall
rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; for she
came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and
behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
5. AGAIN he said: When the unclean
spirit is gone out of any, he walketh through dry places seeking rest, and
finding none it saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out. And
when he is come he findeth it empty, swept and garnished, for they asked not
the Good Spirit to dwell within them, and be their eternal Guest.
6. Then he goeth and taketh with
him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell
there, and the last state of all such is worse than the first. Even so shall it
be also unto this wicked generation, which
refuseth entrance to the Spirit of God.
7. For I say unto you, whosoever blasphemeth the Son
of Man, it shall be forgiven them; but whoso blasphemeth the Holy Spirit it
shall not be forgiven them either in this age, or in the next, for they resist
the Light of God, by the false traditions of men.
8. WHILE, he yet talked to the people, behold his Parents
and his brethren and his sisters stood without, desiring to speak with him.
Then one said unto him, Behold thy father and thy mother, and thy brethren and
thy sisters stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
9. But he answered and said unto him that told him; Who is
my father and who is my mother? and who are my
brethren and my sisters?
10. And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples and said, Behold my father and my
mother, my brethren and sisters, and my children! For whosoever shall do the
will Of my Father (Parent) Who is in Heaven the same is my father and my
mother, my brother and my sister, my son and my daughter.
11. AND there were some Pharisees,
who were covetous and proud of their riches, and he said unto them, Take heed
unto yourselves, and beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in
the abundance of things which he possesseth.
12. And he spake a parable unto
them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and
he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room
where to bestow my fruits?
13. And he said, This will I do; I
will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my
fruits and my goods.
14. And I will say to my soul,
thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, drink and be
merry.
15. But God said unto him, Thou
fool, this night thy life shall be required of thee; then whose shall those
things be, which thou hast provided?
16. So are they that lay up
treasures for themselves, and are not rich in good works to them that need, and
are in want.
The
Transfiguration on the Mount.
The Giving of the Law.
1. AFTER
six days, when the Feast of Tabernacles was nigh at hand, Jesus taketh the
twelve and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, and as he was praying
the fashion of his countenance was changed, and he was transfigured before
them, and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment
was white as the
light.
2. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and
Elias [Elijah] talking with him and spake of the Law, and of his decease which
he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
3. And Moses spake, saying, This is he of whom I foretold,
saying, A prophet from the midst of thy brethren, like unto me shall the
Eternal send unto you, and that which the Eternal speaketh unto him, shall he
speak unto you, and unto him shall ye hearken, and
whoso will not obey shall bring upon themselves their own destruction.
4. Then Peter said unto Jesus,
Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt let us make here three
tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias [Elijah].
5. While he yet spake, behold a
bright cloud overshadowed them, and twelve rays as of the sun issued from
behind the cloud, and a voice came out of the cloud, which said, This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6. And when the disciples heard
it, they fell on their faces and were sore amazed, and Jesus came and touched
them and said, Arise and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes,
they saw no man, save Jesus only. And the six glories were seen upon him.
7. AND Jesus said unto them,
Behold a new law I give unto you, which is not new but old. Even as Moses gave
the Ten Commandments to Israel after the flesh, so also I give unto you the
Twelve for the Kingdom of Israel after the Spirit.
8. For who are the Israel of God ?
Even they of every nation and tribe who work righteousness, love mercy and keep
my commandments, these are the true Israel of God. And standing upon his feet,
Jesus spake, saying:
9. Hear O Israel, YHWH, thy God is
One; many are My seers, and My prophets. In Me all
live and move, and have subsistence.
10. Ye shall not take away
the life of any creature for your pleasure, nor for your profit. nor yet
torment it.
11. Ye shall not steal the goods of any, nor gather lands
and riches to yourselves, beyond your need or use.
12. Ye shall not eat the flesh, nor drink the blood of any
slaughtered [sacrificed?] creature, nor yet any thing which bringeth disorder
to your health or senses.
13. Ye shall not make impure
marriages, where love and health are not, nor yet corrupt yourselves, or any
creature made pure by the Holy.
14. Ye shall not bear false
witness against any, nor wilfully deceive any by a lie to hurt them.
15. Ye shall not do unto others,
as ye would not that others should do unto you.
16. Ye shall worship One Eternal,
the Father-Mother in Heaven, of Whom are all things, and reverence the holy
Name.
17. Ye shall revere your fathers
and your mothers on earth, whose care is for you, and all the Teachers of
Righteousness.
18. Ye shall cherish and protect
the weak, and those who are oppressed, and all creatures that suffer wrong.
19. Ye shall work with your hands
the things that are good and seemly; so shalt ye eat the fruits Of the earth,
and live long in the land.
20. Ye shall purify yourselves
daily and rest the Seventh Day from labour, keeping holy the Sabbaths and the
Festival of your God.
21. Ye shall do unto others as ye
would that others should do unto you.
22. And when the disciples heard
these words, they smote upon their breasts, saying: Wherein we have offended. O
God forgive us: and may thy wisdom, love and truth within us incline our hearts
to love and keen this Holy Law.
23. And Jesus said unto them, My
yoke is equal and my burden light, if ye will to bear it, to you it will be
easy. Lay no other burden on those that enter into the kingdom, but only these
necessary things.
24. This is the new Law unto the Israel of God, and
the Law is within, for it is the Law of Love, and it is not new but old. Take
heed that ye add nothing to this law, neither take anything from it. Verily I
say unto you, they who believe and obey this law shall be saved, and they who
know and obey it not, shall be lost.
25. But as in Adam all die so in
Christ shall all be made alive. And the disobedient shall be purged through
many fires; and they who persist shall descend and shall perish eternally.
26. And as they came down from the
mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son
of man be risen again from the dead.
27. His disciples asked him,
saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered
and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come and restore all things.
28. But I say unto you, that Elias
is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they
listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples
understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
CHAPTER 46. 2-7. The "six glories" may have reference to the six precepts In each table of the law as now given, or more probably to the six attributes of each of the two aspects of the Christ, six feminine and six masculine, as inherent in the Two in One -the " Father-Mother of the age to come." They are referred to in one of the most ancient gospels.
CHAPTER 46. 10-12 -Compare this with the Law as given by Moses in the "Book of the Going Forth of Israel," p. 35, all chiefly negative precepts. In the law given by Christ there are six negative and six positive.
The
Spirit Giveth Life.
The Rich Man and the Beggar.
1. AND
when they were come down from the Mount one of his disciples asked
him, Master, if a man keep not all these commandments shall he enter into Life
[Eve or Heaven (ly temple)]? And he said, the Law is good in the letter without
the spirit is dead, but the spirit maketh the letter alive.
2. Take ye heed that ye obey from the heart, and in
the spirit of love, all the Commandments which I have given unto you.
3. It hath been written, Thou shalt not kill, but I say unto
you, if any hate and desire to slay, they are guilty of the law, yea, if they
cause hurt or torture to any Innocent Creature they are guilty, But if they
kill to put an end to suffering which cannot be healed, they are not guilty, if
they do it quickly and in love.
4. It hath been said, Thou shalt not steal, but I say unto
you, if any, not content with that which they have, desire and seek after that
which is another’s or if they withhold that which is just from the worker, they
have stolen in their heart already, and their guilt is greater than that of one
who stealeth a loaf in necessity, to satisfy his hunger.
5. Again ye have been told, Thou
shalt not commit adultery, but I say unto you, if man or woman join together in
marriage with unhealthy bodies, and beget unhealthy offspring, they are guilty,
even though they have not taken their neighbour’s spouse: and if any have not
taken a woman who belongeth to another, but desire in their heart and seek
after her, they have committed adultery already in spirit.
6. And again I say unto you, if
any desire and seek to possess the body of any creature for food, or for
pleasure, or for profit, they defile themselves thereby.
7. Yea, and if a man telleth the
truth to his neighbour in such wise as to lead him into evil, even though
it be true in the letter, he is guilty.
8. Walk ye in the spirit, and thus
shall ye fulfill the law and be meet for the kingdom. Let the Law be within
your own hearts rather than on tables of memorial; which things nevertheless ye
ought to do and not to leave the other undone for the Law which I have given
unto you is holy, just and good, and blessed are all they who obey and walk
therein.
9. God is Spirit, and they who
worship God must worship in spirit and in truth, at all times, and in all
places.
10. AND he spake this parable unto
them who were rich, saying, There was a certain rich man, which was
clothed in purple, and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.
11. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,
which was laid at his gate, full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
12. And it came to pass, that the
beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich man
also died, and was buried with great pomp. And in Hades he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
13. And he cried and said, Father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his
finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this place.
14. But Abraham said, Son,
remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And thus
are the changes of life for the perfecting of souls. And beside all this,
between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that they which would pass
from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from
thence, till their time be accomplished.
15. Then he said, I pray thee
therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my Father’s house; for I have
five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also came into this
place of torment.
16. Abraham saith unto him, They
have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father
Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
17. And Abraham said unto him, if
they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though
one rose from the dead.
Jesus
Feedeth One Thousand with Five Melons.
Heals the Withered Hand On The Sabbath Day.
1. AND it came to
pass as Jesus had been teaching the multitudes, and they were hungry and faint
by reason of the heat of the day, that there passed by that way a woman on a
camel laden with melons and other fruits.
2. And Jesus lifted up his voice and cried, O ye that
thirst, seek ye the living water which cometh from Heaven, for this is the
water of life, which whoso drinketh thirsteth not again.
3. And he took of the fruit, five melons and divided
them among the people, and they eat, and their thirst was quenched, and he said unto them, If God maketh the sun to shine, and the water
to fill out these fruits of the earth, shall not the Same be the Sun of your
souls, and fill you with the water of life?
4. Seek ye the truth and let your
souls be satisfied. The truth of God is that water which cometh from heaven,
without money and without price, and they who drink shall be satisfied. And
those whom he fed were one thousand men, women and children—and none of them
went home a hungered or athirst; and many that had fever were healed.
5. At that time Jesus went on the
Sabbath day through the cornfields, and his disciples were an hungered, and
began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
6. But when the Pharisees saw it,
they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do
upon the Sabbath day.
7. And he said unto them, Have ye
not read what David did, when he was an hungered and they that were with him;
how he entered into the house of God and did eat the shewbread, which was not
lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the
priests?
8. Or have yet not read in the law,
how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the Temple do work on the Sabbath
and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is One greater than
the Temple.
9. But if ye had known what this
meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the
guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
10. AND when he was departed
thence, he went into their synagogue. And, behold, there was a man which had
his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, is it lawful to heal on the
Sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11. And he said unto them, What
man shall there be among you that shall have but one sheep, and if it fall into
a pit on the Sabbath day will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? And if ye
give help to a sheep, shall ye not also to a man that needeth?
12. Wherefore it is lawful to do
well on the Sabbath day. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand.
And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole, like as the other.
13. Then the Pharisees went out
and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew
it, he withdrew himself from thence; and great multitudes followed him, and he
healed their sick and infirm, and charged them that they should not make
it known.
14. So it was fulfilled, which was
spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my
beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my spirit upon him and he
shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
15. He shall not strive nor cry,
neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he
not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench till he send forth judgment
unto victory. And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust.
The True Temple of God
1. AND
the Feast of the Passover was at hand. And it came to pass that some of the
disciples being masons, were set to repair one of the chambers Of the Temple.
And Jesus was passing by, and they said unto him, Master, Sees’t thou these
great buildings and what manner of stones are here, and how beautiful is the
work of our ancestors?
2. And Jesus said, Yea, it is
beautiful and well wrought are the stones, but the time cometh when not one
stone shall be left on another, for the enemy shall overthrow both the city and
the Temple.
3. But the true Temple is the body
of man in which God dwelleth by the Spirit, and when this Temple is destroyed,
in three days, God raiseth up a more glorious temple, which the eye of the
natural man perceiveth not.
4. Know ye not that ye are the
temples of the holy spirit? and whoso destroyeth one of these temples the same
shall be himself destroyed.
5. AND some or the scribes,
hearing him, sought to entangle him in his talk and said, If thou wouldst put
away the sacrifices of sheep and oxen and birds, to what purpose was
this Temple built for God by Solomon, which has been now forty and six years in
restoring?
6. And Jesus answered and said, It is written in the
prophets, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations, for the
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. But ye have made it a house of slaughter
and filled it with abominations.
7. Again it is written, From the rising of the sun
unto the setting of the same, my Name shall be great among the Gentiles, and
incense with a pure Offering shall be offered unto me. But ye have made it a
desolation with your offerings of blood and used the sweet incense only to
cover the ill savor thereof. I am come not to destroy the law but to fulfill
it.
8. Know ye not what is written? Obedience is better than
sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams. I, the Lord, am weary of your
burnt offerings, and vain oblations, your hands are full of blood.
9. And is it not written, what is the true sacrifice? Wash
you and make you clean and put away the evil from before mine eyes, cease to do
evil, learn to do well. Do justice for the fatherless and the widow and all
that are oppressed. So doing ye shall fulfill the law.
10. The day cometh when all that
which is in the outer court, which pertaineth to blood offerings, shall be
taken away and pure worshippers shall worship the Eternal in purity and in
truth.
11. And they said, Who art thou
that seekest to do away with the sacrifices, and despiseth the seed of Abraham?
From the Greeks and the Egyptians hast thou learnt this blasphemy?
12. And Jesus said, Before Abraham
was, I AM [YHWH]. And they refused to listen and some said, he is inspired by a
demon, and others said, he is mad; and they went their way and told these
things to the priests and elders. And they were wrath, saying, He hath spoken
blasphemy.
CHAPTER 49. 7. -Jesus here disclaims the sacrifices of bleeding victims as being by part of true religion, but rather contrary thereto, adding to the guilt of the offerers. How often religion, so called, is put before morality, and dogma before loving-kindness and mercy.
Christ the Light of the World.
1. THEN
spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
2. The Pharisees therefore said
unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself thy record is not true.
3. Jesus answered and said unto
them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence
I came, and whither I go: but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
4. Ye judge after the flesh; I
judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but
I come from the Father-Mother who sent me.
5. It is also written in your law,
that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself,
John bore witness of me, and he is a prophet, and the Spirit of truth that sent
me bareth witness of me.
6. Then said they unto him, Where
is thy Father and thy Mother? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father
(Parent): if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father and my Mother
also.
7. And one said, shew us the
Father, shew us the Mother, and we will believe thee. And he answered saying,
if thou hast seen thy brother and felt his love, thou hast seen the Father, if
thou hast seen thy sister and felt her love thou hast seen the Mother.
8. Far and near, the Almighty (All
Holy) knoweth Their own, yea, in each of you, the Fatherhood and the Motherhood
may be seen, for the Father and the Mother are One in God.
9. These words spake Jesus in the
treasury, as he taught in the temple. And no man laid hands on him; for his
hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye
shall seek me, and shall die in your sins; whither I go, ye cannot come.
10. Then said the Jews, Will he
kill himself? because he said, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto
them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above; ye are of this world; I am not of
this world.
11. I said therefore unto you,
that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I Am of God, ye
shall die in your sins.
12. Then said they unto him, Who
art thou? And Jesus said unto them, Even the Same that I said unto you from the
beginning.
13. I have many things to say
which shall judge you: but the Holy One that sent me is true; and I speak to
the world those things which I have heard from above.
14. Then said Jesus unto them,
When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am sent of
God, and that I do nothing of myself; but as the Almighty (All Holy) hath
taught me, I speak these things. Who sent me is with me: the Almighty (All
Holy) hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please the
Eternal.
15. As he spake these words, many
believed on him, for they said, He is a Prophet sent from God. Him let us hear.
The Truth Maketh Free
1. THEN
said Jesus
to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free.
2. They answered him, We be
Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall
be made free? Jesus answered them Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house
forever: but the Son even the Daughter abideth ever.
3. If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed after the
flesh; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
4. I speak that which I have seen
with my Father (Parent) and ye do that which ye have seen with your Father
(Parent). They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said
unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
5. But now ye seek to kill me, a
man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not
Abraham. YE do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born
of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
6. Jesus said unto them, If God
were your Father (Parent), ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came
from God; neither came I of myself, but the Almighty (All Holy) sent me. Why do
ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
7. Ye are of your father the
devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
8. When he speaketh a lie, he
speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell
you the truth, ye believe me not.
9. As Moses lifted up the Serpent
in the wilderness, so must the Son and Daughter of man be lifted up, that
whosoever gazeth, believing should not perish, but have everlasting life.
10. Which of you convicteth me of
sin ? And if I say, the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God
heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
11. Then answered the Jews, and
said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hath a demon?
Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour the Almighty (All Holy), and
ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory, but the glory of God. But
there is One who judgeth.
12. And certain of the Elders and
Scribes from the Temple came unto him saying, Why do thy disciples teach men
that it is unlawful to eat the flesh of beasts though they be offered in
sacrifice as by Moses ordained.
13. For it is written, God said to
Noah, The fear and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the field, and
every bird of the air, and every fish of the sea, into your hand they are
delivered.
14. And Jesus said unto them, Ye
hypocrites, well did Esaias speak of you, and your forefathers, sayings This
people draweth nigh unto Me, with their mouths, and honour me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me, for in vain do they worship Me teaching and
believing, and teaching for divine doctrines, the commandments of men in my
name but to satisfy their own lusts.
15. As also Jeremiah bear witness
when he saith, concerning blood offerings and sacrifices I the Lord God
commanded none of these things in the day that ye came out of Egypt, but only
this I commanded you to do, righteousness, walk in the ancient paths, do
justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.
16. But ye did not hearken to Me,
Who in the beginning gave you all manner of seed, and fruit of the trees and
seed having been for the food and healing of man and beast. And they said, Thou
speakest against the law.
17. And he said against Moses
indeed I do not speak nor against the law, but against them who corrupted his
law, which he permitted for the hardness of your hearts.
18. But, behold, a greater than
Moses is here! and they were wrath and took up stones to cast at him. And Jesus
passed through their midst and was hidden from their violence.
CHAPTER 51. 2. -Many people think that perfect freedom is the power to do wrong as well as right. Such is not Christ's teaching. Freedom is the power to do moral good, nothing else : the other is not freedom, but slavery to the evil nature.
He Declareth His Pre-Existence.
1.
ANOTHER time Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my
saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that
thou hast a demon.
2. Abraham is dead, and the
prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of
death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the
Prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself ?
3. Jesus answered, If I honour
myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye
say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I
should say I know him not I shall be a liar like unto you; but I know the
Almighty (All Holy) and am known of the Eternal.
4. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it,
and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet forty five years
old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
5. Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
6. And he said unto them, The
Almighty (All Holy) hath sent you many prophets, but ye rose against them that
were contrary to your lusts, reviling some and slaying others.
7. Then took they up stones to
cast at him: but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, through the
midst of them, and so again passed unseen by them.
8. Again when his disciples were
with him in a place apart, one of them asked him concerning the kingdom, and he
said unto them:
9. As it is above, so it is below.
As it is within, so it is without. As on the right hand, so on the left. As it
is before, so it is behind. As with the great so with the small. As with the
male, so with the female. When these things shall be seen, then ye shall see the
kingdom of God.
10. For in me there is neither
Male nor Female, but both are One in the All perfect. The woman is not without
the man, nor is the man without the woman.
11. Wisdom is not without love,
nor is love without wisdom. The head is not without the heart, nor is the heart
without the head, in the Christ who atoneth all things. For God hath made all
things by number, by weight, and by measure, corresponding, the one with the
other.
12. These things are for them that
understand, to believe. If they understand not, they are not for them. For to
believe is to understand, and to believe not is not to understand.
Jesus Healeth The Blind On The Sabbath.
1. AND at
another time as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his
Parents, that he was born blind?
2. Jesus answered, To what purport
is it, whether this man sinned, or his Parents, so that the works of God are
made manifest in him? I must work the works of my Father (Parent) who sent me,
while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the
world, I am the Light of the world.
3.
When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and mingled clay with the
spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay And said unto
him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (this meaneth by
interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
4. The neighbours therefore, and
they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat
and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I
am he.
5. Therefore said they unto him,
How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus
made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam,
and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
6. Then said they unto him, Where
is he? He said, I know not where he is, that made me whole.
7. Then came to Him certain of the
Sadducces, who deny that there is a resurrection, and they asked him saying,
Master, Moses wrote unto us, if any man’s brother die having a wife and leaving
no children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed to his
brother.
8. Now there were six brethren,
and the first took a wife and he died childless: And the second took her to
wife and he died childless: And the third, even unto the sixth, and they died
also leaving no children Last of all the woman died also.
9. Now in the resurrection, whose
of them is she, for the six had her to wife.
10 And Jesus answered them saying, whether a woman
with six husbands, or a man with six wives, the case is the same. For the
children of this world marry and are given in marriage.
11. But they, which being worthy,
attain to the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in
marriage, neither can they die any more, for they are equal to the angels and
are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
12. Now that the dead are raised
even Moses shewed at the bush, when he called the Lord, the God Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, for he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all live
unto Him.
The Examination of Him Who was Born Blind.
1. THEN
they brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the
Sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
2. Then again the Pharisees also
asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon
mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
3. Therefore said some of the
Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day.
Others said, how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a
division among them.
4. They say unto the blind man
again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is
a prophet.
5. But the Jews did not believe
concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they
called the Parents of him that had received his sight.
6. And they asked them, saying, Is
this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His Parents
answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;
but by what means he now seeth we know not; nor who hath opened his eyes; he is
of age; ask him, he shall speak for himself.
7. These words spake his Father
(Parent)s, because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had agreed already, that
if any man did confess that he was the Christ he should be put out of the
synagogue. Therefore said his Father (Parent)s, He is of age? ask him.
8. Then again called they the man
that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man
is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not;
one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
9. Then said they to him again,
What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told
you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye
also be his disciples?
10. Then they reviled him, and
said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God
spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
11. The man answered and said unto
them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and
yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners;
12. But if any man be a worshipper
of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not
heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were
not of God, he could do nothing.
13. They answered and said unto
him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast
him out.
14. Jesus heard that they had cast
him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the
Son of God ? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on
him.
15. And Jesus said unto him, Thou
hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I
believe. And he worshipped him.
16. And Jesus said, For judgment I
am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which
see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard
these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
17. AND Jesus, when he came
to a certain place where seven palm trees grew, gathered his disciples around
him, and to each he gave a number and a name which he only knew who received
it. And he said unto them, Stand ye as pillars in the House of God, and shew
forth the order according to your numbers which ye have received.
18. And they stood around him, and
they made a body four square, and they counted the number, and could not. And
they said unto him, Lord we cannot. And Jesus said, Let him who is greatest
among you be even as the least, and the symbol of that which is first be as the
symbol of that which is last.
19. And they did so, and in every
way was there equality, and yet each bore a different number and the one side
was as the other and the upper was as the lower, and the inner as the outer.
And the Lord said, It is enough. Such is the House of the wise Master Builder. Foursquare
it is, and perfect. Many are the Chambers, but the House is One.
20. Again consider the Body of
man, which is a Temple of the Spirit. For the body is one, united to its head,
which with it is one body. And it has many members, yet, all are one body and
the one Spirit ruleth and worketh in all; so also in the kingdom.
21. And the head doth not say to
the bosom, I have no need of thee, nor the right hand to the left, I have no
need of thee, nor the left foot to the right, I have no need of thee; neither
the eyes to the ears, we have no need of you, nor the mouth to the nose, I have
no need for thee. For God hath set in the one body every member as is fitting.
22. If the whole were the head,
where were the breasts? If the whole were the belly, where were the feet? yea,
those members which some affirm are less honourable, upon them hath God
bestowed the more honour.
23. And those parts which some
call uncomely, upon them hath been bestowed more abundant comeliness, that they
may care one for the other; so, if one member suffers, all members suffer with
it, and if one member is honoured all members rejoice.
24. Now ye are my Body; and each
one of you is a member in particular, and to each one of you do I give the
fitting place, and one Head over all, and one Heart the centre of all, that
there be no lack nor schism, that so with your bodies, your souls and your
spirits ye may glorify the All Father (Parent) through the Divine Spirit which
worketh in all and through all.
LECTlON 54. 17-20. -The meaning of these words and this action is very obscure, but if we describe the magic square of 7
Christ The Good Shepherd. One With the Father.
1.
AT that time there passed by the way a shepherd leading his flock to the fold;
and Jesus took up one of the young lambs in his arms and talked to it lovingly
and pressed it to his bosom. And he spake to his disciples saying:
2. I am the good shepherd and know
my sheep and am known of mine. As the Father (Parent) of all knoweth me, even
so know I my sheep, and lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and they shall hear my
voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
3. I lay down my life, that I may take
it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power
to lay my body down and I have power to take it up again.
4. I am the good shepherd; the
good shepherd feedeth his flock, he gathereth his lambs in his arms and
carrieth them in his bosom and gently leadeth those that are with young, yea
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
5. But he that is an hireling, and
not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and
leaveth the sheep and fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the
sheep. The hireling fleeth because he is an hireling and careth not for the
sheep.
6. I am the door: by me all who
enter shall be safe, and shall go in and out and find pasture. The evil one
cometh not but for to steal and to kill and destroy; I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
7. He that entereth in by the
door, is the shepherd of the sheep, to whom the porter openeth, and the sheep
hear his voice, and he calleth his sheep by name, and leadeth them out, and he
knoweth the number.
8. And when he putteth forth his
sheep he goeth before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not
the voice of strangers.
9. This parable spake Jesus unto
them, but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and
they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
10. My Father (Parent) who gave
them me, is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father
(Parent)’s hand. I and my Father (Parent) are One.
11. Then the Jews took up stones
again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from
my Father (Parent), for which of those works do ye stone me?
12. The Jews answered him, saying,
For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, because that thou being a
man maketh thyself equal with God. Jesus answered them, Said I that I was equal
to God? nay, but I am one with God. Is it not written in the Scripture, I said,
Ye are gods?
13. If he called them gods, unto
whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken, say ye of him,
whom the Father (Parent) of all hath sanctified and sent into the world. Thou
blasphemest; because I said I am the Son of God, and therefore One with the All
Father (Parent)?
14. If I do not the works of my
Father (Parent) believe me not, but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe
the works, that ye may know and believe that the Spirit of the great Father
(Parent) is in me, and I in my Father (Parent).
15. Therefore they sought again to
take him, but he escaped out of their hands and went away again beyond Jordan,
into the place where John at first baptized and there he abode.
16. And many resorted unto him,
and said, John, indeed did not miracles, He is the Prophet that should come.
And many believed on him.
The Raising of Lazarus.
1. Now a
certain man was sick, named Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister
Martha. (It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his
feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick).
2. Therefore his sisters sent unto
him saying, Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he
said, This sickness is not unto death, but that the glory of God might be manifest
in him. Now Jesus loved Mary and her sister and Lazarus.
3. When he heard that he was sick,
he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that, saith
he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.
4. His disciples said unto him,
Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee and goest thou thither again?
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walketh in
the day he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
5. But if a man walk in the night,
he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. These things said he, and after
that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth, but I go that I may awake
him out of sleep.
6. Then said his disciples, Lord
if he sleep, he shall do well. And a messenger came unto him saying, Lazarus is
dead.
7. Now when Jesus came, he found
that he had lain in the grave four days already (Bethany was nigh unto
Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off). And many of the Jews came to Martha and
Mary to comfort them concerning their brother.
8. Then Martha, as soon as she
heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him, but Mary sat still in the house.
Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord if thou hadst been here my brother had not
died. But I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give
it thee.
9. Jesus saith unto her, Thy
brother sleepeth, and he shall rise again. Martha said unto him, I know that he
shall rise again, at the resurrection at the last day.
10. Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet
shall he live. I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, and whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die.
11. She saith unto him, Yea, Lord
: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into
the world. And when she had so said she went her way and called Mary her sister
secretly saying, The Master is come and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard
that she arose quickly and came unto him.
12. Now Jesus was not yet come
into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which
were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary that she arose
up hastily and went out, followed her saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep
there.
13. Then when Mary was come to
where Jesus was, and saw him she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord
if thou hadst been here my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her
weeping and the Jews also weeping that came with her, he groaned in the spirit
and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord,
come and see, and Jesus wept.
14. Then said the Jews, Behold,
how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man which opened the
eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus
therefore groaning again in himself (for he feared that he might be already
dead) cometh to the grave. It was a cave and a stone lay upon it.
15. Jesus said, Take ye away the
stone. Martha, the sister of him supposed to be dead, saith unto him, Lord by
this time he stinketh, for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her,
Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe thou shouldst see the glory
of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where Lazarus was laid.
16. And Jesus lifted up his eyes
and chanting, invoked the great Name, and said, My Father (Parent), I thank
Thee that thou has heard me. And I know that Thou hearest me always, but because
of the people which stand by I call upon Thee that they may believe that Thou
hast sent me. And when he had thus spoken he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus
come forth.
17. And he that was as dead came
forth bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was: bound about with
a napkin.
18. Jesus said unto them, Loose
him and let him go. When the thread of life is cut indeed, it cometh not again,
but when it is whole there is hope. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary
and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
LECTlON 56. -This touching account of the raising of Lazarus is here given as it took place. The verses 13-16 in the Authorized Version are an evident interpolation to magnify the occasion, for, being omitted, the narrative is unbroken and complete without them. As with the daughter of Lazarus, so with Lazarus, he was carried to his burial in a state of trance, indistinguishable from death, and by his friends believed to be dead. At the present time in countries where there are mortuaries or waiting rooms for the dead, it is found that five per thousand recover on their way to burial who otherwise would have been buried alive.
Concerning
little Children.
The Forgiveness of Those Who Trespass.
Parable of the Fishes.
1. AT the
same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the
kingdom of Heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the
midst of them and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and
become innocent and teachable as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of Heaven.
2. Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of
Heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
3. Woe unto the world because of
offenses! for it must needs be that offences come, but woe to that man by whom
the offence cometh. Wherefore if thy lust, or thy pleasure do offend others,
cut them off and cast them from thee, it is better for thee to enter into life
without, rather than having that which will be cast into everlasting fire.
4. Take heed that ye neglect not one of
these little ones, for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always
behold the Face of God. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
5. How think ye? if a man have a
hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and
nine and go into the mountains and seek that which is gone astray? And if so be
that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more over that sheep than
over the ninety and nine which went not astray.
6. Even so it is not the will of
your Father (Parent), Who is in heaven, that one of these little one should perish.
7. AND there were certain men of
doubtful mind, came unto Jesus, and said unto him: Thou tellest us that our
life and being is from God, but we have never seen God, nor do we know of any
God. Canst thou shew us Whom thou callest the Father-Mother, one God? We know
not if there be a God.
8. Jesus answered them, saying,
Hear ye this parable of the fishes. The fishes of a certain river communed with
one another, saying, They tell us that our life and being is from water, but we
have never seen water, we know not what water is. Then some among them, wiser
than the rest, said: We have heard there dwelleth in the sea a wise and learned
Fish, who knoweth all things. Let us journey to him, and ask him to shew us
what water is.
9. So several of them set out to
find this great and wise Fish and they came at last to the sea wherein the wise
Fish dwelt, and they asked of him.
10. And when he heard them he said
unto them, O ye foolish fish that consider not! Wise are ye, the few, who seek.
In the water ye live, and move, and have your being; from the water ye came, to
the water ye return. Ye live in the water, yet ye know it not. In like manner,
ye live in God, and yet ye ask of me, “Shew us God.” God is in all things, and
all things are in God.
11. AGAIN Jesus said unto them, If
thy brother or sister shall trespass against thee, go and declare the fault
between thee and thy brother or sister alone; if they shall hear thee, thou
hast gained them. But if they will not hear thee, then take with thee one or
two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established.
12. And if they shall neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church, but if they neglect to hear them, tell it
unto the church, but if they neglect to hear the church, let them be unto thee
as those that are outside the church. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye
shall justly bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall
justly loose in earth, shall be loosed in heaven.
13. Again I say unto you, That if
seven, or even if three of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that
they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father-Mother Who is in heaven. For
where even three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of
them, and if there be but one, I am in the heart of that one.
14. THEN came Peter to him and
said, Lord, how oft shalt my brother sin against me and I forgive him? till
seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but
until seventy times seven. For in the Prophets likewise unrighteousness was
found, even after they were anointed by the Holy Spirit.
15. And he spake this parable,
saying, There was a certain king who would take account of his servants, and
when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him which owed him ten
thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to
be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.
16. The servant therefore, fell
down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me and I will pay
thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion and loosed
him, and forgave him his debt.
17. But the same servant went out
and found one of his fellow-servants which owed him a hundred pence, and he
laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
18. And his fellow-servant fell
down at his feet and besought him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay
thee all. And he would not, but went and cast him into prison till he should
pay the debt.
19. So when his fellow-servants
saw what he had done they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord
all that was done.
20. Then his lord, after he had
called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that
debt because thou desiredst me; shouldst not thou also have had compassion on
thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee. And his lord was wroth, and
delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
21. So likewise shall the heavenly
Father (Parent) judge you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one, his
brother or sister, their trespasses. Nevertheless, let every man see that he
pay that which he oweth, for God loveth the just.
Love of God (Divine Love) To The Repentant.
1. Jesus
said unto the disciples and to the multitude around them, Who is the son of
God? Who is the daughter of God? Even the company of them who turn from all
evil and do righteousness, love mercy and walk reverently with their God. These
are the sons and the daughters of man who come up out of Egypt, to whom it is
given that they should be called the sons and the daughters of God.
2. And they are gathered from all
tribes and nations and peoples and tongues, and they come from the East and the
West and the North and the South, and they dwell on Mount Zion, and they eat
bread and they drink of the fruit of the vine at the table of God, and they see
God face to face.
3. Then drew near unto him all the
taxgatherers and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and Scribes
murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.
4. AND he spake this parable unto
them, saying, What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them
doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which
is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it he layeth it on his
shoulders, rejoicing.
5. And when he cometh home, he
calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me,
for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy
shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and
nine just persons which need no repentance.
6. Either what woman having ten
pieces of silver, if she lose one piece doth not light a candle and seek
diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it she calleth her friends
and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the
piece of silver which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
7. AND he also spake this parable,
A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his Father
(Parent)s, Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And they divided
unto him their living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all
together and took his journey into a fair country, and there wasted his
substance with riotous living.
8. And when he had spent all,
there arose a mighty famine in that land, and he began to be in want. And he
went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his
fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his body with the husks
that the swine did eat, and no man gave unto him.
9. And when he came to himself he
said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare,
and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father and mother, and will
say unto them. My father and my mother, I have sinned against Heaven and before
you, and am no more worthy to be called your son, make me as one of your hired
servants.
10. And he arose and came to his
Father (Parent)s. But when he was a great way off, his mother and his father
saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And
the son said unto them, My father and my mother, I have sinned against Heaven
and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son.
11. But the father said to his
servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his
hand and shoes on his feet, and bring hither the best ripe fruits, and the
bread and the oil and the wine, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son
was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. And they began to be
merry.
12. Now his elder son was in the
field, and as he came and drew nigh to the house he heard music and dancing.
And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he
said unto him, Thy brother who was lost is come back, and thy father and thy
mother have prepared the bread and the oil and the wine and the best ripe
fruits, because they have received him safe and sound.
13. And he was angry and would not
go in, therefore came his father out and entreated him. And he answering, said
to his father, Lo, these many years have I served thee, neither transgressed I
at any time thy commandments, and yet thou never gavest me such goodly feast
that I may make merry with my friends.
14. But as soon as this thy son is
come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou preparest for him a
feast of the best that thou hast.
15. And his father said unto him,
Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet,
therefore, that we should be merry and be glad, for this thy brother was dead
and is alive again, and was lost and is found.
Jesus
Forewarneth His Disciples.
He Findeth Zaccheus.
1. AND
Jesus went up into a mountain and there he sat with his disciples and taught
them, and he said unto them, Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
2. Sell that ye have and do that
which is good, for them which have not; provide yourselves bags which wax not
old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth,
neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also.
3. Let your loins be girded about,
and your lights burning, and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their
lord, when he will return from the wedding that when he cometh and knocketh
they may open unto him immediately.
4. Blessed are those servants whom
the lord, when he cometh, shall find watching; verily I say unto you that he
shall gird himself and make them to sit down at his table, and will come forth
and serve them.
5. And if he shall come in the
second watch, or come in the third watch and find them so, blessed are those
servants.
6. And this know, that the
guardian of the house not knowing what hour the thief would come, would have
watched and not have suffered his house to have been broken through. Be ye
therefore ready also, for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
7. Then Peter said unto him, Lord,
speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then
is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his
household, to give them who serve their portion in due season?
8. Blessed is that servant whom
his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he
will make him ruler over all that he hath.
9. But and if that servant say in
his heart, My lord delayeth his coming and shall begin to beat the menservants
and maidservants and to eat and drink and to be drunken, the lord of that
servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he
is not aware and will appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.
10. And that servant which knew
his lord’s will and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will,
shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things
worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much
is given, of him shall they much require the less.
11. For they who know the Godhead,
and have found in the way of Life the mysteries of light and then have fallen
into sin, shall be punished with greater chastisements than they who have not
known the way of Life.
12. Such shall return when their
cycle is completed and to them will be given space to consider, and amend their
lives, and learning the mysteries, enter into the kingdom of light.
13. AND Jesus entered and passed
through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the
chief among the collectors of tribute, and he was rich.
14. And he sought to see Jesus who
he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he
ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass
that way.
15. And when Jesus came to the
place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacheus, make haste, and
come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste and came
down, and received him joyfully.
16. And when they saw it, they all
murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
17. And Zachaeus stood, and said
unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I
have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
18. And Jesus said unto him, This
day is salvation come to thine house, forsomuch as thou art a just man, thou
also art a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which ye deem to be lost.
LECTlON 59. 1l-12. -The teaching of our Lord as to cycles, and the unity of life, in many existences, has been suppressed for long ages, but now sees the light, at the end of the cycle.
Jesus Rebuketh Hypocrisy.
1. THEN
spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, saying. The scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses’s seat. All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe,
that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
2. But all their works they do for
to be seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders
of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats
in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men,
Rabbi, Rabbi.
3. But desire not ye to be called
Rabbi: for one is your Rabbi, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call
not any one father on earth, for on earth are fathers in the flesh only; but in
Heaven there is One Who is your Father and your Mother, Who hath the Spirit of
truth, Whom the world cannot receive.
4. Neither desire ye to be called
masters, for one is your Master, even Christ. But they that are greatest among
you shall be your servants. And whosoever shall exalt themselves shall be
abased; and they that are humble in themselves shall be exalted.
5. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye
neither go in yourselves neither suffer ye them that are entering, to go in,
6. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites” for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make
long prayer; therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
7. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and
when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
8. Woe unto you, ye blind guides,
who say, Whosoever shall swear by the Temple, it is nothing, but whosoever
shall swear by the gold of the Temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind; for
whether is greater, the gold, or the Temple that sanctifieth the gold?
9. And, Whosoever shall swear by
the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it,
he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the
altar, that sanctifieth the gift?
10. Whoso therefore shall swear by
the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whoso shall swear by
the Temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. And he that shall
swear by Heaven sweareth by the throne of God, and by the Holy One that sitteth
thereon.
11. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have
omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these
ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides! for
ye strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.
12. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the
platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee,
cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, then the outside of
them that they may be clean also.
13. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed
appear beautiful outward, but are within full of the bones of the dead and of
all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but
within ye are full of hypocrisy and make believe.
14. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish
the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our
fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the
prophets.
15. Wherefore ye be witness unto
yourselves, that ye do as the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill
ye up then the measure of your fathers.
16. Wherefore saith holy Wisdom,
behold I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye
shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues,
and persecute them from city to city. And upon you shall come all the righteous
blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of
Zacharias son of Barachias, who was slain between the temple and the altar.
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
17. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou
that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
18. Behold, now your house is left
unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye
shall say, Holy, Holy, Holy, Blessed are they who come in the Name of the Just
One.
LECTlON 60. 16. -The same Zaccharias who is mentioned in the beginning as the father of John the Baptist (see Note 111-2), also the Proto Evangelism attributed to James, the Bishop of Jerusalem.
Jesus Foretells The End Of The Cycle.
1. AND as
Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately,
saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy
coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them,
Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my Name,
saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
2. And ye shall hear of wars and
rumours of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to
pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes,
in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
3. And in those days those that
have power shall gather to themselves the lands and riches of the earth for
their own lusts, and shall oppress the many who lack and hold them in bondage,
and use them to increase their riches, and they shall oppress even the beasts
of the field, setting up the abominable thing. But God shall send them his
messenger and they shall proclaim his laws, which men have hidden by their
traditions, and those that transgress shall die.
4. Then shall they deliver you up
to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for
my Name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another,
and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall
deceive many.
5. And because iniquity shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in
all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
6. When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy
place, (whoso readeth, let him understand) then let them which be in Judea flee
to the mountains. Let them which are on the housetop not come down to take
anything out of the house; neither let them who are in the field return back to
take their clothes.
7. And woe unto them that are with
child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your fight be
not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day; for there shall be great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no,
nor ever shall be. And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be
saved; but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
8. Then if any man shall say unto
you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; haste not to believe. For there shall arise
false Christs, and false prophets, who shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold,
I have told you before.
9. Wherefore if they shall say
unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the
secret chambers; haste not to believe. For as the lightening cometh out of the
east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of
man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered
together.
10. Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, and the stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the Heavens
shall be shaken.
11. And then shall appear the sign
of the Son of man in Heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn,
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of Heaven with power and
great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound as of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of
Heaven to the other.
12. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When its branch is yet
tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So likewise ye,
when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be
fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
13. But of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but the All Father (Parent) only.
For as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
14. For as in the days that were
before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark and knew not until the
flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be.
15. Then shall two be in the
field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding
at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for
ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
16. But know this, that if the
guardian of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would
have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore
be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.
17. Who then is a faithful and
wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them
meat in due season?
18. Blessed be that servant, whom
his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he
shall make him ruler over all his goods.
19. But and if that evil servant
shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite
his fellow servants, and to eat with the glutton, and drink with the drunken.
20. The lord of that servant shall
come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware
of. And shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites in the outer darkness
with the cruel, and them that have no love, no pity: there shall be
weeping and gnashing of teeth.
CHAPTER 61. -All through this chapter the language is highly symbolical, but will present little difficulty to the initiated. v. 12. (See Note in the original "Genesis" Edited by same Editor).
The Parable Of The Ten Virgins.
1.
THEN shall the kingdom of Heaven be like unto ten virgins, which took their
lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and
five were foolish.
2. They that were foolish took
their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels
with their lamps.
3. While the bridegroom tarried,
they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a great cry made,
Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins
arose, and trimmed their lamps.
4. And the foolish said unto the
wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered,
saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to
them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
5. And while they went to buy, the
bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and
the door was shut.
6. Afterwards came also the other
virgins, saying Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say
unto you. I know you not.
7. Watch therefore, for ye know
neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Keep your lamps
burning.
CHAPTER 62. 1. -This parable of the ten virgins most accurately indicates the oblivion and indifference which shall come on Christians in the last days of the Christian Church -the days of Laodicean indifference, the Seventh or last age.
Parable Of The Talents
1. He also said: The kingdom of Heaven is as a man traveling
into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his
goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one;
to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his
journey.
2. Then he that had received the
five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that
had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
3. After a long time, the lord of
those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received
five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained beside them five
talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over
many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
4. He also that had received two
talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents; behold, I
have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done,
good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, will make
thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
5. Then he which had received the
one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping
where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed. And I was
afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth; lo, there thou hast that is
thine.
6. His lord answered and said unto
him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, dost thou tell me that I reap where I
sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed? Thou oughtest therefore to have
put thy talents to use, with profit, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury.
7. Take therefore the talent from
him, and give it unto him who hath two talents. For unto every one that hath
improved shall be given, and he shall have abundance, but from him that hath
not improved, shall be taken away, even that which he hath. And cast yet out
the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, for that is the portion he hath
chosen.
8. Jesus also said unto his disciples, Be
ye approved money-changers of the kingdom, rejecting the bad and the false, and
retaining the good and the true.
9. AND Jesus sat over against the
Treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the Treasury.
10. And there came a
certain poor widow and she threw in two mites, which
make a farthing.
11. And He called His disciples
unto him and said, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more
in than all they which have cast into the Treasure.
12. For all they did cast in of
their abundance, but she of her poverty did cast in all that she had, even all
her living.
Jesus Teacheth In The Palm Circle.
1.
JESUS came to a certain fountain near Bethany, around which grew twelve palm
trees, where he often went with his disciples to teach them of the mysteries of
the kingdom, and there he sat beneath the shade of the trees and his disciples
with him.
2. And one of them said, Master,
it is written of old, The Elohim made man in Their own image, male and female
created They them. How sayest thou then that God is one? And Jesus said unto
them, Verily, I said unto you, In God there is neither male nor female and yet
both are one, and God is the Two in One. He is She and She is He. The
Elohim—our God—is perfect, Infinite, and One.
3. As in the man, the Father is
manifest, and the Mother hidden; so in the woman, the Mother is manifest, and
the Father hidden. Therefore shall the name of the Father and the Mother be
equally hallowed, for They are the great Powers of God, and the one is not
without the other, in the One God.
4. Adore ye God, above you,
beneath you, on the right hand, on the left hand before you, behind you, within
you, around you. Verily, there is but One God, Who is All in All, and in whom
all things do consist, the Fount of all Life and all Substance, without
beginning and without end.
5. The things which are seen and
pass away are the manifestations of the unseen which are eternal, that from the
visible things of Nature ye may reach to the invisible things of the Godhead;
and by that which is natural, attain to that which is spiritual.
6. Verily, the Elohim created man
in their divine image male and female, and all nature is in the Image of God,
therefore is God both male and female, not divided, but the Two in One,
Undivided and Eternal, by Whom and in Whom are all things, visible and
invisible.
7. From the Eternal they flow, to
the Eternal they return. The spirit to Spirit, soul to Soul, mind to Mind,
sense to Sense, life to Life, form to Form, dust to Dust.
8. In the beginning God willed and there came forth the
beloved Son, the Love of God (Divine Love), and the beloved Daughter, the Holy
Wisdom [Hagia Sophia], equally proceeding from the One Eternal Fount; and of
these are the generations of the Spirits of God, the Sons and Daughters of the
Eternal.
9. And These descend to earth, and
dwell with men and teach them the ways of God, to love the laws of the Eternal,
and obey them, that in them they may find salvation.
10. Many nations have seen their
day. Under divers names have they been revealed to them, and they have rejoiced
in their light; and even now they come again unto you, but Israel receiveth
them not.
11. Verily I say unto you, my
twelve whom I have chosen, that which hath been taught by them of old time is
true—though corrupted by the foolish imaginations of men.
12. Again, Jesus spake unto Mary
Magdalene saying, It is written in the law, Whoso leaveth father or mother, let
him die the death. Now the law speaketh not of the Parent sin this life, but of
the Indweller of light which is in us unto this day.
13. Whoso therefore forsaketh
Christ the Saviour, the Holy law, and the body of the Elect, let them die the
death. Yea, let them be lost in the outer darkness, for so they willed and none
can hinder.
The Last Anointing by Mary Magdalene.
1. NOW,
on the evening of the Sabbath before the Passover, as Jesus was in Bethany he
went to the house of Simon the leper, and there they made him a supper, and
Martha served while Lazarus was one of them that sat at table with him.
2. And there came Mary called Magdalene,
having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very precious and costly, and
she opened the box and poured the ointment on the head of Jesus, and anointed
his feet, and wiped them with the hair of her head
3. Then said one among his
disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was to betray him, Why is this waste of ointment
which might have been sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor? And
this he said not that he cared for the poor but because he was filled with jealousy
and greed, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. And they murmured
against her.
4. And Jesus said, Let her alone,
why trouble ye her? for she hath done all she could; yea, she hath wrought a
good work on me. For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not
always. She hath anointed my body for the day of my burial.
5. And verily, I say unto you,
wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached in the whole world there shall also
be told this that she hath done for a memorial of her.
6. Then entered Satan into the
heart of Judas Iscariot and he went his way and communed with the chief priests
and captains how he might betray him. And they were glad and covenanted with
him for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, and he promised them,
and after that sought opportunity to betray him.
7. And at that time Jesus said to
his disciples Preach ye unto all the world, saying, Strive to receive the
mysteries of Light, and enter into the Kingdom of Light, for now is the
accepted time and now is the day of Salvation.
8. Put ye not off from day to day,
and from cycle to cycle and eon to eon, in the belief, that when ye return to
this world ye will succeed in gaining the mysteries, and entering into the
Kingdom of Light.
9. For ye know not when the number
of perfected souls shall be filled up, and then will be shut the gates of the
Kingdom of Light, and from hence none will be able to come in thereby, nor will
any go forth.
10. Strive ye that ye may enter
while the calls is made, until the number of perfected souls shall be sealed
and complete, and the door is shut.
CHAPTER 65. 2. -It has been supposed by some, and not without some reason from the words of the Gospel, that envy and jealousy, and not greed of money, were the cause of Iudas' treachery, because he desired Mary Magdalene, and she had given all her love and devotion to her Master. This inner feeling seems to be concealed beneath the cloak of zeal for the poor. "From that hour he sought to betray him." It is as probable that all three motives urged him, as they do the multitudes nowadays, who grudge magnificence of architecture, music, etc., under the cloak of "unity." By the spirit of Iudas Iscariot are all such led and dominated.
Jesus Again Teacheth His Disciples
1. AGAIN
Jesus taught them saying, God hath raised up witnesses to the truth in every
nation and every age, that all might know the will of the Eternal and do it,
and after that, enter into the kingdom, to be rulers and workers with the
Eternal,
2. God is Power, Love and Wisdom,
and these three are One. God is Truth, Goodness and Beauty, and these three are
One.
3. God is Justice, Knowledge and
Purity, and these three are One. God is Splendour, Compassion and Holiness, and
these three are One.
4. And these four Trinities are
One in the hidden Deity, the Perfect, the Infinite, the Onely.
5. Likewise in every man who is
perfected, there are three persons, that of the son, that of the spouse. and
that of the father, and these three are one.
6. So in every woman who is
Perfected are there three persons, that of the daughter, that of the bride, and
that of the mother and these three are one; and the man and the woman are one,
even as God is One
7. Thus it is with God the
Father-Mother, in Whom is neither male nor female and in Whom is both, and each
is threefold, and all are One in the hidden Unity.
8. Marvel not at this, for as it
is above so it is below, and as it is below so it is above, and that which is
on earth is so, because it is so in Heaven.
9. Again I say unto you, I and My
Bride are one, even as Maria Magdalena, whom I have chosen and sanctified unto
Myself as a type, is one with Me; I and My Church are One. And the Church is
the elect of humanity for the salvation of all.
10. The Church of the first-born
is the Maria of God. Thus saith the Eternal, She is My Mother and she hath ever
conceived Me, and brought Me forth as Her Son in every age and clime. She is My
Bride, ever one in Holy Union with Me her Spouse. She is My Daughter, for she
hath ever issued and proceeded from Me her Father, rejoicing in Me.
11. And these two Trinities are
One in the Eternal, and are strewn forth in each man and woman who are made
perfect, ever being born of God, and rejoicing in light, ever being lifted up
and made one with God, ever conceiving and bringing forth God for the salvation
of the many.
12. This is the Mystery of the
Trinity in Humanity, and moreover in every individual child of man must be
accomplished the mystery of God, ever witnessing to the light, suffering for
the truth, ascending into Heaven, and sending forth the Spirit of Truth. And
this is the path of salvation, for the kingdom of God is within.
13. And one said unto him, Master,
when shall the kingdom come? And he answered and said, When that which is
without shall be as that which is within, and that which is within shall be as
that which is without, and, the male with the female, neither male nor female,
but the two in One. They who have ears to hear, let them hear.
Entry Into Jerusalem
1. NOW on
the first day of the week when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethage and
Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and
saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you, and as soon as
you be entered into it, ye shalt find an ass tied, whereon never man sat, loose
him and bring him.
2. And if any say unto you, Why do
ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him, and straightway they will send
him hither.
3. And they went their way and
found the ass tied without in a place where two ways met, and they loosed him.
And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the
colt? And they said unto them, even as Jesus had commanded. And they let them
go.
4. And they brought the ass to
Jesus, and cast their garments upon him, and he sat upon the ass. And many
spread their garments in the way, and others cut down branches off the trees
and strewed them in the way.
5. And they that went before, and
they that followed cried, saying, Hosanna, Blessed art thou who comest in the
name of YHWH: Blessed be the Kingdom of our ancestor David, and blessed be thou
that comest in the name of the Highest: Hosanna in the highest.
6. AND Jesus entered into
Jerusalem and into the Temple, and when he had looked round about upon all
things, he spake this parable unto them, saying—
7. When the Son of man shall come
in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the
throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall
separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the
goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
8. Then shall the King say unto
them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father (Parent), inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an
hungered and ye gave me food. was thirsty and ye gave me drink. I was a
stranger anal ye took me in. Naked and ye clothed me. I was sick and ye visited
me. I was in prison and ye came unto me.
9. Then shall the righteous answer
him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty and
gave thee drink? when saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? or naked and
clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee ?
10. And the King shall answer and
say unto them, Behold, I manifest myself unto
you, in all created forms; and verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
11. Then shall he say also unto
them on his left hand, Depart from me ye evil souls into the eternal fires
which ye have prepared for yourselves, till ye are purified seven times and
cleansed from your sins.
12. For I was an hungered and ye
gave me no food, I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger and ye
took me not in, naked and ye clothed me not, sick and in prison and ye visited
me not.
13. Then shall they also answer
him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or
naked, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee ?
14. Then shall he answer them,
saying, Behold I manifest myself unto you, in
all created forms, and Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not
to the least of these, my brethren, ye did it not unto me.
15. And the cruel and the loveless
shall go away into chastisement for ages, and if they repent not, be utterly
destroyed; but the righteous and the merciful, shall go into life and peace
everlasting.
The
Householder And The Husbandmen.
Order Out Of Disorder.
1. AND
Jesus said, Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, who planted
a vineyard, and hedged it round about and digged a winepress in it, and built a
tower, and let it out to husbandmen and went into a far country.
2. And when the time of the ripe
fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive
the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants and beat one, and stoned
another, and killed another.
3. Again he sent other servants,
more honourable than the first, and they did unto them likewise. But last of
all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
4. But when the husbandmen saw the
son, they said among themselves. This is the heir, come let us kill him, and
let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him and cast him out of the
vineyard and slew him.
5. When the lord of the vineyard
cometh what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will
miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out his vineyard to other
husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
6. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye
never read in the scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same
is become the head of the Pyramid? this is the Lord’s doing and it is
marvellous in our eyes?
7. Therefore say I unto you, The
kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the
fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken, but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind them to powder.
8. And when the chief priests and
Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But
when they sought to lay hands on him they feared the multitude, because they
took him for a prophet.
9. And the disciples asked him
afterwards the meaning of this parable, and he said unto them, The vineyard is
the world, the husbandmen are your priests, and the messengers are the servants
of the good Law, and the Prophets.
10. When the fruits of their
labour are demanded of the priests, none are given, but they evilly treat the
messengers who teach the truth of God, even as they have done from the
beginning.
11. And when the Son of Man
cometh, even the Christ of God, they gather together against the Holy One, and
slay him, and cast him out of the vineyard, for they have not wrought the
things of the Spirit, but sought their own pleasure and gain, rejecting the
holy Law.
12. Had they accepted the Anointed
One, who is the corner stone and the head, it would have been well with them,
and the Building would have stood, even as the Temple of God inhabited by the
Spirit.
13. But the day will come when the
Law which they reject shall become the head stone, seen of all, and they who
stumble on it shall be broken, but they who persist in disobedience shall he
ground to pieces.
14. For to some of the angels, God
gave dominion over the course of this world, charging them to rule in wisdom,
in justice and in love. But they have neglected the commands of the Most High,
and rebelled against the good order of God. Thus cruelty and suffering and sorrow
have entered the world, till the time the Master returns, and taketh possession
of all things, and calleth his servants to account.
15. AND he spake another parable,
saying: A certain man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, Son, go
work today in my vineyard, and he answered and said, I will not, but afterwards
he repented and went. And he came to the second and said likewise, and he
answered and said, I go, sir, and went not. Whether of them twain did the will
of his father?
16. They say unto him, The first,
and Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and
harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the
way of righteousness and ye believed him not, but the taxgatherers and the harlots
believed him, and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterwards, that ye
might believe him.
17. AND the Lord gathered together
all his disciples in a certain place. And he said unto them, Can ye make
perfection to appear out of that which is imperfect? Can ye bring order out of
disorder? And they said, Lord, we cannot.
18. And he placed them according
to the number of each in a four-square order, each side lacking one of twelve
(and this he did, knowing who should betray him, who should be counted one of
them by man, but was not of them) . [a square with 11 on each side?]
19. The first in the seventh rank
from above in the middle, and the last in the seventh from below, and him that
was neither first nor last did he make the Centre of all, and the rest
according to a Divine order did he place them, each finding his own place, so
those which were above, were even as those which were below, and the left side
was equal to the right side, and the right side to the left, according to the
sum of their numbers.
20. And he said, See you how ye
stand? I say unto you, In like manner is the order of the kingdom, and the One
who ruleth all is in your midst, and he is the centre, and with him are the
hundred and twenty, the elect of Israel, and after them cometh the hundred
and forty and four thousand, the elect of the Gentiles, who are
their brethren.
CHAPTER 68. - (See the "Squares and Circles" by the Editor of this Gospel.) The Magic Square of 11 has been found wonderfully to explicate, symbolically at least, to the mystical, the meaning of the passage. The form exactly illustrates what the Lord in symbol taught to his disciples of the bringing forth of order out of disorder, perfection out of imperfection, and out of deficiency fullness. Compare the Magic Square given below with the natural square which anyone can form by writing the numbers in consecutive order; the result is at once seen, and may help to arrive at the meaning of this very mystical passage:- See Square
The Christ Within, The Resurrection And The Life.
1. As
Jesus sat by the west of the Temple with his disciples, behold there passed
some carrying one that was dead to burial, and a certain one said unto him,
Master, if a man die, shall he live again?
2. And he answered and said, I am
the resurrection and the life, I am the Good, the Beautiful, the True, if a man
believe in me he shall not die, but live eternally. As in Adam all die, so in
the Christ shall all be made alive. Blessed are the dead who die in me, and are
made perfect in my image and likeness, for they rest from their labours and
their works do follow them. They have overcome evil, and are made Pillars
in the Temple of my God, and they go out no more, for they rest in the
Eternal.
3. For them that have done evil
there is no rest, but they go out and in, and suffer correction for ages, till
they are made perfect. But for them that have done good and attained unto perfection,
there is endless rest and they go into life everlasting. They rest in the
Eternal.
4. Over them the repeated death
and birth have no power, for them the wheel of the Eternal revolves no more,
for they have attained unto the Centre, where is eternal rest, and the centre
of all things is God.
5. AND one of the disciples asked
him, How shall a man enter into the Kingdom? And he answered and said, If ye
make not the below as the above, and the left as the right, and the behind as
the before, entering into the Center and passing into the Spirit, ye shall not
enter into the Kingdom of God.
6. And he also said, Believe ye
not that any man is wholly without error for even among the prophets and those
who have been initiated into the Christhood [Priesthood], the word of error has
been found. But there is a multitude of error which is covered by love.
7. AND now when the
eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. For there abode
Lazarus and Mary and Martha whom he loved.
8. And Salome came unto him, and asked him, saying,
Lord, how long shall death hold sway? And he answered, So long as ye men
inflict burdens and ye woman bring forth [in sorrow?], and for this purpose I
am come, to end the works of the heedless.
9. And Salome saith unto him, Then I have done well
in not bringing forth. And the Lord answered and said Eat of every pasture which is good, but of that which hath the bitterness of
death, eat not.
10. And when Salome asked when
those things of which she enquired should be known, the Lord said, When ye
shall tread upon the vesture of shame and rise above desire; when the two shall
be one, and the male with the female shall be neither male nor female.
11. And again, to another disciple
who asked, When shall all obey the law? Jesus said, When the Spirit of God
shall fill the whole earth and every heart of man and of woman.
12. I cast the law into the earth
and it took root and bore in due time twelve fruits for the nourishment of all.
I cast the law into the water and it was cleansed from all defilements of evil.
I cast the law into the fire, and the gold was purged from all dross. I cast
the law into the air, and it was made alive by the Spirit of the Living One
that filleth all things and dwelleth in every heart.
13. And many other like sayings he
spake unto them who had ears to hear, and an understanding mind. But to the
multitude they were dark sayings.
Jesus Rebukes Peter For His Haste.
1. NOW on the morrow as they were coming from Bethany, Peter was
hungry, and perceiving a fig tree afar off having leaves thereon, he came if
happily he might find fruit thereon, and when he came he found nothing but
leaves, for the time of figs was not yet.
2. And Peter was angry and said unto it, Accursed tree, no
man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And some of the disciples heard of it.
3. And the next day as Jesus and his disciples passed by,
Peter said unto Jesus, Master, behold, the fig tree which I cursed is green and
flourishing, wherefore did not my word prevail?
4. Jesus said unto Peter, Thou knowest not what spirit thou
art of. Wherefore didst thou curse that which God hath not cursed? And Peter
said, Behold Lord I was a hungered, and finding
leaves and no fruit, I was angry, and I cursed the tree.
5. And Jesus said, Son of Jonas
knewest thou not that the time of figs was not yet? Behold the corn which is in
the field which groweth according to its nature first the green shoot, then the
stalk, then the ear—would thou be angry if thou camest at the time of the
tender shoot or the stalk, and didst not find the corn in the ear? And wouldst
thou curse the tree which, full of buds and blossoms, had not yet ripe fruit?
6. Verily Peter I say unto thee,
one of my twelve will deny me thrice in his fear and anger with curses, and
swear that he knows me not, and the rest will forsake me for a season.
7. But ye shall repent and grieve
bitterly, because in your heart ye love me, and ye shall be as an Altar of
twelve hewn stones, and a witness to my Name, and ye shall be as the Servants
of servants, and the keys of the Church will I give unto you, and ye shall feed
my sheep and my lambs and ye shall be my vice-gerents upon earth.
8. But there shall arise men
amongst them that succeed you, of whom some shall indeed love me even as thou,
who being hot-headed and unwise, and void of patience, shall curse those whom
God hath not cursed, and persecute them in their ignorance, because they cannot
yet find in them the fruits they seek.
9. And others being lovers of
themselves shall make alliance with the kings and rulers of the world, and seek
earthly power, and riches, and domination, and put to death by fire and sword
those who seek the truth, and therefore are truly my disciples.
10. And in their days I Jesus
shall be crucified afresh and put to open shame, for they will profess to do
these things in my Name. And Peter said, Be it far from thee Lord.
11. And Jesus answered, As I shall
be nailed to the cross, so also shall my Church in those days, for she is my
Bride and one with me. But the day shall come when this darkness shall pass
away, and true Light shall shine.
12. And one shall sit on my
throne, who shall be a Man of Truth and Goodness and Power, and he shall be
filled with love and wisdom beyond all others, and shall rule my Church by a
fourfold twelve and by two and seventy as of old, and that only which is true
shall he teach.
13. And my Church shall be filled
with Light, and give Light unto all nations of the earth, and there shall be
one Pontifex [High Priest] sitting on his throne as a King and a Priest.
14. And my Spirit shall be upon
him and his throne shall endure and not be shaken, for it shall be founded on
love and truth and equity, and light shall come to it, and go forth from it, to
all the nations of the earth, and the Truth shall make them free.
The Cleansing Of The Temple
1. AND
the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up again from Bethany into
Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the changers of money sitting.
2. And when he had made a scourge
of seven cords, he drove them all out of the temple and loosed the sheep and
the oxen, and the doves, and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the
tables;
3. And said unto them, Take these
things hence; make not my Father’s House an House of merchandise. Is it not
written, My House is a House of prayer, for all nations? but ye have made it a
den of thieves, and filled it with all manner of abominations.
4. And he would not suffer that
any man should carry any vessel of blood through the temple, or that any
animals should be slain. And the disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal
for thine house hath eaten me up.
5. Then answered the Jews, and
said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these
things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Again I say unto you, Destroy this
temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
6. Then said the Jews, Forty and
six years was this temple in building and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
But he spake of the temple of his Body.
7. When therefore he was risen
from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and
believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
8. But the scribes and the priests
saw and heard, and were astonished and sought how they might destroy him, for
they feared him, seeing that all the people were attentive to his doctrines.
9. And when even was come he went
out of the city. For by day he taught in the Temple and at night he went out
and abode on the Mount of Olives, and the people came early in the morning to
hear him in the Temple courts.
10. Now when he was in Jerusalem
at the passover, many believed in his Name, when they saw the miracles which he
did.
11. But Jesus did not commit
himself unto them, because he knew all men. And needed not that any should
testify of man; for he knew what was in man.
12. And Jesus seeing the passover
night was at hand, sent two of his disciples, that they should prepare the
upper room where he desired to eat with his twelve, and buy such things as were
needful for the feast which he purposed thereafter.
CHAPTER 71. 3. - Often translated as slaughterhouse in text having the characteristics of language past and not surviving chiefly on behalf of the revisionists alone.
CHAPTER 71. 1-4. -Twice the Lord is said to have performed this symbolic act. Surely, at his return, it will be his first work! For since the first ages till now the spirit of the world ruleth, and mammon is dominant, and every kind of wickedness in the name of religion, zeal for purity, etc.
The Many Mansions In The One House
1. AND as Jesus sat with his
disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane he said unto them: Let not your heart be
troubled; ye
believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father (Parent)’s house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
2. Thomas said unto him, Lord, we
know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him,
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the All Father
(Parent) but by me, If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father (Parent)
also: and from henceforth ye know and have seen my Father (Parent).
3. Philip saith unto him, Lord,
shew US the All-Father (Parent) and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have
I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that
hath seen me hath seen the All-Father (Parent); and how sayest thou then, Shew
us the All-Father (Parent)? Believest thou not that I am in the All-Father
(Parent), and the All-Father (Parent) in me? the words that I speak unto you I
speak not of myself: but the All-Father (Parent) who dwelleth in me doeth the
works.
4. Believe me, that I am in the
All-Father (Parent) and the All-Father (Parent) in me: or else, believe me for
the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, They who believe on me,
the works that I do shall they do also; and greater works than these shall they
do; because I go unto my Father (Parent).
5. And whatsoever ye shall ask in
my Name, that will I do, that the All-Father (Parent) may be glorified in the
Son and Daughter of Man. If ye shall ask anything in my Name, I will do it.
6. If ye love me, keep my
commandments. And I will pray the All-Father (Parent), Who shall give you
another Comforter, to abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth. whom
the world cannot receive, because it seeth not, neither knoweth, but ye know;
for the Spirit dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
8. They who have my commandments,
and keep them, these are they who love me; and they that love me shall be loved
of my Father (Parent), and I will love them and will manifest myself to them.
9. Judas saith unto him, Lord, how
is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus
answered and said unto him, If any love me, they will keep my words: and the
Holy One will love them and we will come unto them, and make our abode with
them.
10. They that love me not keep not
my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the All-Father
(Parent)’s who sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present
with you. But the Comforter, who is my Mother, Holy Wisdom [Hagia Sophia], whom
the Father will send in my name, she shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
11. Peace I leave with you, my
peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you,
I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me ye would rejoice, because I
said, I go unto the All-Father (Parent): for the All-Father (Parent) is greater
than I.
12. And now I have told you before
it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. Hereafter I
will not talk much with you; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath
nothing in me.
13. But that the world may know
that I love the All-Father (Parent); as the All-Father (Parent) gave me
commandment, even so I do. Even unto the end.
The True Vine
1. AFTER
these things Jesus spake saying unto them: I am the true vine, and my Father (Parent)
is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that beareth
not fruit is taken away: and every branch that beareth fruit, is purged that it
may bring forth more fruit.
2. Abide in me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more
can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the tree, ye are the branches: Whoso abide
in me and I in them, the same bring forth much fruit; for without me ye
do nothing.
3. If any abide not in me, they are cast forth as useless
branches, and they wither away; and men gather them, and cast them into the
fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye
shall ask what ye will, and it will be done unto you.
4. Verily, I am the true Bread which cometh down out of
Heaven, even the Substance of God which is one with the Life of God. And, as
many grains are in one bread, so are ye, who believe, and do the will of my
Father (Parent), one in me. Not as your ancestors did eat manna and are dead;
but they who eat this Bread shall live forever.
5. As the wheat is separated from the chaff, so must ye be
separated from the falsities of the world; yet must ye not go out of the world,
but live separate in the world, for the life of the world.
6. Verily, verily, the wheat is parched by fire, so must ye
my disciples pass through tribulations. But rejoice ye: for having suffered
with me as one body ye shall reign with me in one body, and give life to the world.
7. Herein is my Father (Parent)
glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the
All-Father (Parent) hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father (Parent)’s commandments, and abide in the spirit of love.
8. These things have I spoken unto
you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is
my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend ye are my
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
9. Henceforth I call you not
servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called
you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father (Parent) I have made
known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,
that ye should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the All-Father (Parent)
in my Name, ye may receive.
10. These things I command you,
that ye love one another and all the creatures of God. If the world hate you,
ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the
world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world’ therefore the world hateth you.
11. Remember the word that I said
unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me,
they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours
also. But all these things will they do unto you for my Name’s sake, because
they know not him that sent me.
12. If I had not come and spoken
unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He
that hateth me hateth my Father (Parent) also. If I had not done among them the
works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they, have
seen and hated both me and my Father (Parent). But this cometh to pass, that
the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, they hated me without
a cause.
13. But when the Comforter is
come, Whom I will send unto you from the All Father (Parent), even the Spirit
of truth [wisdom], which proceedeth from the Father and the Mother the same
shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with
me from the beginning.
Jesus Foretelleth Persecutions
1. THESE
things have I spoken unto you that ye should be forewarned, They shall put you
out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will
think that they do God’s service. And these things will they do unto you,
because they have not known the All-Parent, nor me.
2. But these things have I told
you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them.
And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
But now I go my way to my Father (Parent) that sent me; and none of you asketh
me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow
hath filled your heart.
3. Nevertheless I tell you the
truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send my Spirit unto
you. And when the Spirit is come, the world shall be reproved of sin and of
righteousness, and of judgement.
4. Of sin, because they believe
not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged.
5. I have yet many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth [Hagia
Sophia] is come, she will guide you into all truth: and the same will shew you
things to come and shall glorify me: for the same shall receive of mine, and
shall shew it unto you.
6. All things that my Father (Parent)
hath are mine: therefore said I, that the Comforter shall take of mine and
shall shew it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a
little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the All-Father (Parent).
Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is that he saith unto
us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye
shall see me; and, Because I go to the All-Father (Parent)?
7. Now Jesus knew that they were
desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that
I Said, A little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you,
That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be
sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
8. A woman when she is in travail
hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the
child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the
world. And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your
heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
9. And in that day ye shall ask me
nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask my Father
(Parent) in my name, ye will receive. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my
name: ask and ye shall receiveth that your joy may be full. These things have I
spoken unto you in proverbs; but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak
unto you in a mystery, but I shall shew you plainly of the All-Father (Parent).
10. At that day ye shall ask in my
name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray my Father (Parent) for you; For
the All-Father (Parent) in truth loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have
believed that I came out from God. I came forth from God, and am come into the
world; again, I leave the world, and go unto my God.
11. His disciples said unto him,
Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no mystery. Now are we sure that
thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this
we believe that thou comest forth from God.
12. Jesus answered them, Do ye now
believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered,
every man to his own home, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone,
because the Father is with me.
13. These things I have spoken
unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Arise, let us go
hence.
The Last Paschal Supper
1. AND at evening
the Master cometh into the house, and there are gathered with him the Twelve
and their fellows; Peter and Jacob and Thomas and John and Simon and Matthew
and Andrew and Nathanael and James and Thaddeus and Jude and Philip and their
companions ( and there was also Judas Iscariote, who by men was numbered with
the twelve, till the time when he should be manifested).
2.
And they were all clad in garments of white linen,
pure and clear, for linen is the righteousness of the saints; and each had the
colour of his tribe. But the Master was clad in his pure white robe, over all,
without seam or spot.
3. And there arose contention
among them as to which of them should be esteemed the greatest, wherefore he
said unto them, He that is greatest among you let him be as he that doth serve.
4. And Jesus said, With desire
have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. and to institute
the Memorial of my Oblation for the service and salvation of all. For behold
the hour cometh when the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of
sinners.
5. And one of the twelve said unto
him, Lord, is it I? And he answered, He to whom I give the sop the same is he.
6. And Iscariot said unto him,
Master, behold the unleaven bread, the mingled wine and the oil and the herbs,
but where is the lamb that Moses commanded? (for Judas had bought the lamb, but
Jesus had forbidden that it should be killed).
7. And John spake in the Spirit,
saying, Behold the Lamb of God, the good Shepherd which giveth his life for the
sheep. And Judas was troubled at these words, for he knew that he should betray
him. But again Judas said, Master, is it not written in the law that a lamb
must be slain for the passover within the gates?
8. And Jesus answered, If I am
lifted up on the cross then indeed shall the lamb be slain; but woe unto him by
whom it is delivered into the hands of the slayers; it were better of him had
he not been born.
9. Verily I say unto you, for
this end have I come into the world, that I may put away all blood offerings
and the eating of the flesh of the beasts and the birds that are slain by men.
10. In the beginning, God gave to
all, the fruits of the trees, and the seeds, and the herbs, for food; but those
who loved themselves more than God, or their fellows, corrupted their ways, and
brought diseases into their bodies, and filled the earth with lust and
violence.
11. Not by shedding innocent
blood, therefore, but by living a righteous life, shall ye find the peace of God.
Ye call me the Christ of God and ye say well, for I am the Way, the Truth and
the Life.
12. Walk ye in the Way, and ye
shall find God. Seek ye the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. Live in
the Life, and ye shall see no death. All things are alive in God, and the
Spirit of God filleth all things.
13. Keep ye the commandments. Love
thy God with all thy heart, and love thy neighbour as thyself. On these hang
all the law and the prophets. And the sum of the law is this—Do not ye unto
others as ye would not that others should do unto you. Do ye unto others, as ye
would that others should do unto you.
14. Blessed are they who keep this
law, for God is manifested in all creatures. All creatures live in God, and God
is hid in them.
15. After these things, Jesus dipped the sop and gave it to
Judas Iscariot, saying, What thou doest, do quickly. He then, having received
the sop, went out immediately, and it was light.
16. And when Judas Iscariot had gone out, Jesus said, Now is
the Son of man glorified among his twelve, and God is glorified in him. And verily I say unto you, they who receive you receive me,
and they who receive me receive the Father-Mother Who sent me, and ye who have
been faithful unto the truth shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
17. And one said unto him, Lord,
wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom unto Israel? And Jesus said, My
kingdom is not of this world, neither are all Israel which are called Israel.
18. They in every nation who
defile not themselves with cruelty, who do righteousness, love mercy, and
reverence all the works of God, who give succour to all that are weak and
oppressed—the same are the Israel of God.
vv. 15, 16. -That Twelve is the complete number of the Apostleship and that Jesus sat down "with his twelve" at the holy supper before his crucifixion, seems evident from the received gospels, and still more so, from the fragments lately brought to light. Judas Iscariot appears then to have been among the twelve but not of them, therefore before the Eucharistic rite is celebrated "he goes out." If there were any ill omen at all about the number thirteen it would therefore be thirteen as the number of Apostles present, exclusive of the Master and Head. But to thirteen, inclusive of the presiding host, no ill omen could attach, but the reverse.
The
Washing Of Feet.
Intercessory Prayer.
The Eucharistic Oblation.
1. AND the Paschal Supper being ended, the
lights were kindled, for it was even. And Jesus arose from the table and laid
aside his garment, and girded himself with a towel, and pouring water into a
basin, washed the feet of each of the fourfold Twelve, and wiped them with the
towel with which he was girded.
2. And one of them said, Lord,
thou shalt not wash my feet. And Jesus said, If I wash thee not thou hast no
part with me. And he answered, Lord, wash not my feet only, but my head and my
hands.
3. And he said unto him, They who
have come out of the bath, need not but to wash their feet, and they are clean
every whit.
4. AND then putting on the overgarment of pure white linen
without spot or seam, he sat at the table and said unto them, Know ye what I
have done unto you? Ye call me Lord and Master, and if then your Lord and Master
have washed your feet, ye ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have
given this example, that as I have done unto you, so also should ye do unto
others.
5. A new commandment I give unto
you, that ye love one another and all the creatures of God. Love is the
fulfilling of the law. Love is of God, and God is love. Whoso loveth not,
knoweth not God.
6. Now ye are clean through the
word which I have spoken unto you. By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples if ye have love one to another and shew mercy and love to all
creatures of God, especially to those that are weak and oppressed and suffer
wrong. For the whole earth is filled with dark places of cruelty, and with pain
and sorrow, by the selfishness and ignorance of man.
7. I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, and give them light for their darkness and
let the spirit of love dwell within your hearts, and abound unto all. And again
I say unto you, Love one another, and all the creation of God And when he had
finished, they said, Blessed be God.
8. Then he lifted up his voice,
and they joined him, saying, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so
panteth my soul after thee, O God. And when they had ended, one brought unto
him a censer full of live coals, and he cast frankincense thereon even the
frankincense which his mother had given him in the day of his manifestation,
and the sweetness of the odour filled the room.
9. Then Jesus, placing before him the
platter, and behind it the chalice [grail], and lifting up his eyes to heaven,
gave thanks for the goodness of God in all things and unto all, and after that
he took in his hands the unleavened bread, and blessed it; the wine likewise
mingled with water and blessed it; chanting the Invocation of the Holy Name the
Sevenfold, calling upon the thrice Holy Father-Mother in Heaven to send down
the Holy Spirit and make the bread to be his body, even the Body of the Christ,
and the fruit of the vine to be his Blood, even the Blood of the Christ, for the
remission of sins and everlasting life, to all who obey the gospel.
10. Then lifting up the Oblation
towards heaven, he said, The Son who is also the Daughter of man is lifted up
from the earth, and I shall draw all men unto me; then it shall be known of the
people that I am sent from God.
11. These things being done, Jesus
spake these words, lifting his eyes to heaven. Abba Amma, the hour is come,
Glorify thy Son that Thy Son may be glorified in thee.
12. Yea, Thou hast glorified me,
Thou hast filled my heart with fire, Thou hast set lamps on my right hand and
on my left, so that no part of my being should be without light. Thy Love
shineth on my right hand and on my left, so that no part of my being should be
without light. Thy Love shineth on my right hand, and Thy Wisdom on my left.
Thy Love, Thy Wisdom, Thy Power are manifest in me.
OMMITED: (Higly
Suspect) John 17:2-3, “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And
this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
13. I have glorified Thee on earth, I have finished the work
Thou gavest me to do. Holy One, keep through Thy Name the Twelve and their fellows
whom Thou hast given me, that they may be One even as we are One. Whilst I was
with them in the world I kept them in Thy Name, and none of them is lost, for
he who went out from us, was not of us, nevertheless, I pray for him that he
may be restored. Father-Mother, forgive him, for he knoweth not what he doeth.
14. And now come I to Thee, and
these things I speak in the world that they may have my joy fulfilled in
themselves. I give them Thy word, and the world hath them, because they are not
of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15. I pray not that Thou shouldst
take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from evil, whilst
yet in the world, Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy word is Truth. As thou
sendest me into the world, so also I send them into the world, and for their
sakes I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified through the Truth.
16. Neither pray I for these
alone, but for all that shall be added to their number, and for the Two and
Seventy also whom I sent forth, yea, and for all that shall believe in the
Truth through Thy word, that they also may be one as Thou Most Holy art in me
and I in Thee, that they may also be one in Thee, that the world may know that
Thou hast sent me.
17. Holy Father (Parent), I will
also, that they whom Thou hast given me, yea all who live, be with me where I
am, that they may partake of my glory which thou givest me, for Thou lovest me
in all, and all in me, from before the foundations of the world.
18. The world hath not known Thee
in Thy righteousness, but I know Thee, and these know that Thou hast sent me.
19. And I have declared unto them
Thy Name that the love wherewith Thou hast loved me may be in them, and that
from them it may abound, even unto all Thy creatures, yea, even unto all. These
words being ended, they all lifted up their voices with him, and prayed as he
taught them, saying:
20.
Our Father-Mother: Who art above and within. Hallowed be Thy sacred Name, in
Biune Trinity. In Wisdom, Love and Equity Thy Kingdom come to all. Thy holy
Will be done always, as in Heaven, so on Earth. Give us day by day to partake
of Thy holy Bread, and the fruit of Thy living Vine. As we seek to perfect
others, so perfect us in Thy Christ. Shew upon us Thy goodness, that to others
we many shew the same. In the hour of trial, deliver us from evil.
21.
For Thine are the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory: From the Ages of
ages, Now, and to the Ages of ages. Amun.
22. THEN our Master taketh the
holy Bread and breaketh it, and the Fruit of the Vine also, and mingleth it,
and having blessed and hallowed both, and casting a fragment of the Bread into
the Cup, he blessed the holy Union.
23. Then he giveth the bread which
he had hallowed to his disciples saying, Eat ye, for this is my Body, even the
Body of the Christ, which is given for the Salvation of the body and the soul.
24. Likewise he giveth unto them
the fruit of the Vine which he had blessed saying unto them, Drink ye, for this
is my Blood, even the Blood of the Christ which is shed for you and for many,
for the Salvation of the Soul and the Body.
25. And when all had partaken, he
said unto them, As oft as ye assemble together in my Name, make this Oblation
for a Memorial of me, even the Bread of everlasting life and the Wine of
eternal salvation’ and eat and drink thereof with pure heart, and ye
shall receive of the Substance and the Life of God, which dwelleth in me.
26. And when they had sung a hymn, Jesus stood up in the
midst of his apostles, and going to him who was their Centre, as in a solemn
dance, they rejoiced in him. And then he went out to the Mount of Olives, and
his disciples followed him.
27. Now Judas Iscariot had gone to the house of Caiaphas and
said unto him, Behold he has celebrated the Passover, within the gates, with the Mazza [?] in place of the lamb. I indeed bought
a lamb, but he forbade that it should be killed, and lo, the man of whom I
bought it is witness.
28. And Caiaphas rent his clothes
and said, Truly this is a Passover of the law of Moses. He hath done the deed
which is worthy of death, for it is a weighty transgression of the law. What
need of further witness? Yea, even now two robbers have broken into the Temple
and stolen the book of the law, and this is the end [result?] of his teaching.
Let us tell these things to the people who follow him, for they will fear the
authority of the law.
29. And one that was standing by
as Judas came out, said unto him, Thinkest thou that they will put him to
death?
30. And Judas said, Nay, for he will do
some mighty work to deliver himself out of their hands, even as when they of
the synagogue in Capernaum rose up against him, and brought him to the brow of
the hill that they might throw him down headlong, and did he not pass safely
through their midst? He will surely escape them now also, and proclaim himself
openly and set up the Kingdom whereof he spake.
CHAPTER 76. 4. -There are two other alternative versions of these circumstances of the last supper in the A. V .-First, that of St. John who, in the received version, expressly affirms that Jesus was crucified on the very day of the Passover and consequently the Eucharist was instituted the day before and not on the feast day Itself' and the Passover was on the morrow after the trial on the day of the crucifixion. Secondly, that of the three other gospels, which all affirm that the Eucharist was Instituted on the Passover the pascal lamb was slain. If Jesus was not an Essene, then nothing can be said against the accuracy of this version of the holy supper, and the charges brought against him in the account of the trial as now given by the Spirit.
The Agony In The Garden
1. AND as
they went to the Mount of Olives, Jesus said unto them, All ye shall be
offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am
risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
2. Simon answered and
said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I
never be offended. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy
faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
3. And he said unto him, Lord, I
am ready to go with thee, both unto prison and unto death. And Jesus said, I
tell thee, Simon, the cock shall not crow this night, before that thou shalt
thrice deny that thou knowest me.
4. Then cometh Jesus with them,
having crossed the brook Kedron, unto the garden called Gethsemane, and saith
unto the disciples, Sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. (Judas also, which
betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his
disciples.)
5. Then saith he unto them, My
soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me.
6. And he went little farther and
fell on his face and prayed, saying, O my Father-Mother, if it be possible, let
this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
7. And there appeared an angel
unto him, from heaven strengthening him. And he cometh unto the disciples and
finding them asleep, saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
8. Watch and pray that ye enter
not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
9. He went away again a second
time and prayed, saying, O my Father-Mother, if this cup may not pass away from
me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.
10. And being in an agony he
prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling to the ground.
11. And he came and found them
asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
12. And he left them and went away
again and prayed a third time, saying, O my Father-Mother, not my will but
Thine be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
13. Then cometh he unto his
disciples and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the
hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
The Betrayal by Judas Iscariot
1. AND it
came to pass while Jesus yet spake, behold there came a multitude, and Judas
that was called Iscariot went before them. For Judas, having received a band of
men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came thither with
lanterns and torches and weapons.
2. Jesus therefore, knowing all
things that should a come upon him, went forth and said unto them, Whom seek
ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he.
3. As soon then as he had said
unto them, I am he, they went backward and fell to the ground. And when
they arose, then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of
Nazareth. And Jesus answered, I have told you, I am he; if therefore ye seek me
let these go their way.
4. Now he that betrayeth him gave
them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
5. And forthwith he came to Jesus
and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him. Friend,
wherefore art thou come? Is it with a kiss that thou betrayest the Son of man?
6. Then Jesus said unto the chief
priests and captains of the temple and the elders, which were come to him, Why
ye come out as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with
you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me; but this is your
hour, and the power of darkness.
7. Then came they and laid hands
on Jesus. And Simon Peter stretched forth his hand, and drew his sword and
struck a servant of the high priest’s and smote off his ear.
8. Then said Jesus unto him, Put
up again thy sword into its place; all they that take the sword shall perish by
the sword. And Jesus touched his ear and healed him.
9. And he said unto Peter,
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father (Parent), and He shall
presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the
scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
10. Then all the disciples forsook
him and fled. And they that had laid hands on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas,
the high priest. But they brought him to Annas first because he was
father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest for that same year.
11. Now Caiaphas was he who gave
council to the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the sins
of the people.
12. And the scribes and the elders were
assembled together, but Peter and John and Simon and Jude followed far off unto
the high priest’s palace, and they went in and sat with the servants to see the
end.
13. And they had kindled a fire in
the midst of the hall, and when they were set down together, Peter sat down
among them and warmed himself, and Simon also sat by him.
14. But a certain maid beheld him
as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him and said, This man was
also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
15. And after a little while,
another saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Simon said, Man, I am not.
16. And about the space of one
hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow was with
Jesus of Nazareth for his speech betrayeth him.
17. And Simon denied the third
time with an oath, saying, I know not the man. And immediately, while he yet
spake, the cock crew.
18. And the Lord turned and looked
upon Simon. And Simon remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto
him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice. And Simon went
out and wept bitterly.
CHAPTER 78. 12-18. -The belief that Peter denied his Master is probably owing to two of the Apostles bearing the same name, Simon Peter and Simon the Canaanite. Here we are given the right version.
The Hebrew Trial Before Caiaphas.
1. THE
high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine, saying, How
old art thou? Art thou he that said that our father Abraham saw thy day?
2. And Jesus answered, Verily before
Abraham was I am. And the high priest said, Thou are not yet fifty years old.
How sayest thou that thou hast seen Abraham? Who art thou? Whom makest thou
thyself to be? What dost thou teach?
3. And Jesus answered him, I spake
openly to the world; I even taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither
the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why asketh thou me?
Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them; behold, they know what I
said.
4. And when he had thus spoken,
one of the officers which stood by, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand,
saying. Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken
evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well why smitest thou me?
5. Now the chief priests and
elders, and all the council sought false witnesses against Jesus to put him to
death; but found none; yea, many false witnesses came, yet they agreed not
together.
6. At the last came two false
witnesses. And one of them said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the
temple of God and to build it in three days. And the other said, This man said
I will destroy this temple and build up another.
7. And the high priests arose and
said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witnesses speak
against thee? But Jesus held his peace. Now it was unlawful among the Hebrews
to try a man by night.
8. And they said unto him, Art
thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not
believe; and if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
9. And they asked him further
saying, Dost thou abolish the sacrifices of the law, and the eating of flesh as
Moses commanded? And he answered, Behold, a greater than Moses is here.
10. And the high priest answered
and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether
thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, thou hast said; and I
say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of
power and coming in the clouds of Heaven.
11. Then the high priest rent his
clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of
witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They
answered and said, He is worthy of death.
12. Then did they spit in his face
and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying,
Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
13. Now when morning was come all
the chief priests and the elders of the people, even the whole council held a
consultation, and took council against Jesus to put him to death.
14. And they gave forth their
sentence against Jesus, that he was worthy of death, and that he should be
bound and carried away, and delivered unto Pilate.
CHAPTER 79. 2. -In a preceding CHAPTER (LII.) the Jews at that time adjudged him then to be forty-five, and here Caiaphas, who must certainly have known his age, declared him to be "not yet 50," ie. about 49. This is borne out by the A. V. and by the testimony of S. Irenaeus, A.D. 120-22, and the testimony of S. John the Apostle and his immediate disciples.
The Penance Of Judas.
1. NOW Judas, who
had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and
brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.
2. And they said, What is that to
us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and
departed and went out and hanged himself.
3. And the chief priests took the
pieces of silver and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury,
because it is the price of blood.
4. And they took council and
bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field
was called Aceldama, that is, the field of blood, unto this day.
5. Then was fulfilled that which
was spoken by Zachariah, the prophet, saying, They weighed for my price thirty
pieces of silver. And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him
that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave them
for the potteries field, and cast them to the potter in the House of the Lord.
6. Now, Jesus had said to his
disciples, Woe unto the man who receiveth the mysteries, and falleth into sin
thereafter.
7. For such there is no place of
repentance in this cycle, seeing they have crucified afresh the Divine
Offspring of God and man, and put the Christ within them to an open shame.
8. Such are worse than the beasts,
whom ye ignorantly affirm to perish, for in your Scriptures it is written, That
which befalleth the beast befalleth the sons of men.
9. All live by one breath, as the
one dieth so dieth the other, so that a man hath no preeminence over a beast,
for all go to the same place—all come from the dust and return to the dust
together.
10. These things spake Jesus
concerning them which were not regenerate, not having received the Spirit of
Love of God (Divine Love), who, once having received the Light, crucified the
Son of God afresh, putting him to an open shame.
CHAPTER 80. 1. -The heading of this CHAPTER in the A. V. is most misleading. "Penance," implying reparation of some kind (even though not of the right kind), is the more correct description of the act.
The Roman Trial Before Pilate
1. THEN
led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment, to Pontius Pilate, the
Governor, and it was early, and they themselves went not into the judgment
hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might keep the feast.
2. Pilate therefore went out unto them and
said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto
him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
We have a law and by our law he ought to die, because he would change the
customs and rites which Moses delivered unto us, yea, he made himself the Son
of God.
3. Then said Pilate unto them,
Take ye him, and Judge him according to your law. For he knew that for envy
they had delivered him.
4. The Jews therefore said unto
him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death [crucify?]. So the saying
of Jesus was fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
5. And they further accused him
saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give
tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
6. Then Pilate entered into the
judgment hall again and called Jesus and said unto him, Art thou the King of
the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others
tell it thee of me?
7. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew ?
Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me; what hast
thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were
of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to
the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.
8. Pilate therefore said unto him,
Art thou a King then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am, yea, a King I am.
To this end was I born and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should
bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
9.
Pilate said unto him, What is truth? Jesus said,
Truth is from heaven. Pilate said, Then truth is not on earth. Jesus said unto
Pilate, Believe thou, that truth is on earth amongst those who receive and obey
it. They are of the truth who judge righteously.
10. And when he had heard this, he
went out again unto the Jews and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at
all. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders he answered them
nothing.
11. Then said Pilate unto him,
Hearest thou not, how many things they witness against thee?
12. And he answered him never a
word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly, and again he said unto them,
I find no fault in this man.
13. And they waxed the more fierce
saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning
from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee he asked, whether the
man were a Galilean.
14. AND as soon as he knew that he
belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also, was
at Jerusalem at the time.
15. And when Herod saw Jesus he
was exceedingly glad, for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because
he had heard many things of him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by
him.
16. Then he questioned with him in
many words, but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes
stood and vehemently accused him, and many false witnesses rose up against him,
and laid to his charge things that he knew not.
17. And Herod with his men of war
set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent
him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends
together, for before they were at enmity between themselves.
18. And Pilate went again into the
Judgment Hall and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no
answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not
that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
19. Jesus answered, Thou couldest
have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above,
therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
20. And from thenceforth Pilate
sought to release him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go
thou art no Caesar’s friend, whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against
Caesar.
21. And Pilate called together the
chief priests and rulers of the people. When he was set down on the judgement
seat his wife sent unto him, saying. Have thou nothing to do with that just
man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream, because of him.
22. And Pilate said unto them, Ye
have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people, and behold I
have examined him before you, and have found no fault in this man touching those
things: whereof ye accuse him. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him, and lo
nothing worthy of death was found in him.
23. But ye have a custom that I
should release unto you one at the Passover, will ye therefore that I release
unto you the King of the Jews?
24. Then cried they all again,
saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. And, for
sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.
25. Pilate therefore, willing to
release Jesus, spake again to them. Whether of the twain will ye that I release
unto you; Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Christ? They said,
Barabbas
26. Pilate said unto them, What
then shall I do with Jesus which is called the Christ? They all say unto him,
Let him be crucified.
27. And the Governor said, Why
what evil hath he done? But they cried out all the more saying, Crucify him,
crucify him.
28. Pilate therefore went forth
again and said unto him, Behold, again, I bring him forth to you, that ye may
know that I find no fault in him, and again they cried out, Crucify him,
crucify him.
29. And Pilate said unto them, the
third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him:
I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
30. And they were instant with
loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and
of the chief priests prevailed.
31. When Pilate saw that he could
prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed
his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just
person: see ye to it.
32. Then answered all the people,
and said, His blood be on us and on our children. And Pilate gave sentence that
it should be as they required. And he delivered Jesus to their will.
CHAPTER 81. 2. -This verse, suppressed by corruption of the Gospel, doubtless refers to the keeping the Passover within the gates without the slaying of So lamb, a capital offence by the law (See " New Aspects of Religion," by Dr. H. Pratt), or it might refer to keeping Passover the day before. There is much uncertainty on this point, the Gospels in the A. V. setting forth two different vJews, mutually contradicting each other, but neither of them implying necessarily the eating of a lamb by Jesus and his Apostles.
CHAPTER 81. 9. -These words, or the substance of them, are also to be found in one of the gnostic Gospels, which record many genuine sayings of the Master.
The Crucifixion
1. THEN
released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him
to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus to the common
hall and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
2. And they stripped him and put
on him a purple robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns they put it
upon his head and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him
and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
3. Then came Jesus forth, wearing
the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold
the man!
4. When the chief priests
therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify
him. And Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him and crucify him, for I find no
fault in him.
5. And they spit upon him, and
took the reed and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him
they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him
away to crucify him.
6. And as they led him away, they
laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the county, and on him they
laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a
great company of people and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
7. But Jesus, turning unto them,
said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for
your children. For behold the days are coming in which they shall say, Blessed
are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave
suck.
8. Then shall they begin to say to
the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For it they do these
things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry.
9. And there were also two other
malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come unto a
place called Calvary, and Golgotha, that is to say a place of a skull, there
they crucified him; and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and other on
the left.
10. And it was the third hour when
they crucified him, and they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall, and
when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And Jesus said, Abba Amma,
forgive them, for they know not what they do.
11. Then the soldiers, when they
had crucified Jesus, took his raiment and made four parts, to every soldier a
part; and also his vesture. Now the vesture was without seam, woven from the
top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but
cast lots for it, whose it shall be.
12. That the scripture might be
fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture
they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. And sitting down
they watched him there.
13. And a superscription was also
written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This is the King
of the Jews.
14. This title then read many of
the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city, and it
was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin. then said the chief priests of the
Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but that, he said, I am the
King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written.
15. And one of the malefactors
which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be the Christ, save thy self
and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive
the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss.
16. And he said unto Jesus, Lord
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily
I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.
17. And they that passed by
reviled him, wagging heir heads and saying, Thou that wouldst destroy the
temple, and build it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God,
come down from the Cross.
18. Likewise also the chief
priests mocking him, while the scribes and elders said, He saved a lamb,
himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from
the cross and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let Him deliver him now,
if He will have him, for he said, I am the Son of God.
19. The usurers and the dealers in
beasts and birds also cast the like things into his teeth, saying, Thou who drivest
from the temple the traders in oxen and sheep and doves, art thyself but a
sheep that is sacrificed.
20. Now from the Sixth hour there was darkness over all the
land unto the Ninth hour, and some standing around, lighted their torches, for
the darkness was very great. And about the Sixth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice, Eli, Eli, lame sabachthani? that, is to say, My God, My God, why
hast Thou forsaken me ?
21. Some of them that stood there,
when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias; others said, He calleth
on the Sun. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save
him.
22. Now there stood by the cross
of Jesus his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and
Mary Magdalene.
23. When Jesus therefore saw his
mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother,
Woman, behold thy son! And he said to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from
that hour that disciple took her into his own home.
24. After this, Jesus knowing that
all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith,
I am athirst. And from a vessel they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it
upon hyssop and put it to his mouth.
25. And Jesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, Abba Amma, into Thy hand I commend my spirit.
26. When Jesus had therefore
received the vinegar, he cried aloud, It is finished; and he bowed his head and
gave up the ghost. And it was the ninth hour.
27. And behold there was great
thunder and lightning, and the partition wall of the Holy place, from which
hung the veil, fell down, and was rent in twain, and the earth did quake, and
the rocks also were rent.
28. Now when the centurion and
they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things
that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was a Son of God.
29. And many women were there,
which followed from Galilee, ministering unto them, and among them were Mary
the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children and they
lamented, saying, The light of the world is hid from our eyes, the Lord our
Love is crucified.
30. Then the Jews, because it was the preparation, that the
bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath, for that was a Paschal
Sabbath, besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might
be taken away.
31. Then came the soldiers, and
brake the legs of the two who were crucified with him. But when they came to
Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs, but one of
the soldiers with a spear pierced his heart and forthwith came there out blood
and water.
32. And he that saw it bare record
and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might
believe. For these things were done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled—A
bone of him shall not be broken, and again—In the midst of the week the Messiah
shall be cut off.
CHAPTER 82. 10-12. -Eli Reclus, a French writer, has some interesting remarks on the rite of human sacrifice as practised among the Khonds from time immemorial. The coincidences in the details are very striking, shewing the similarity of superstitious ideas in all countries and tribes of the primitive world-ideas which survive even in our own times " civilized ., as we boast them to be, but in reality savages when the skin deep "civilization" and culture are suddenly brushed away by some violent popular outburst, as in England, against the peaceful peoples of the Transvaal by which she brought herself to the lowest depths of infamy, and unwittingly clothed herself in the colour symbolic of dirt and mire.
v. 20. -In the Gospel attributed to Peter there is mention of the same circumstance. And to bring to mind, by symbolical art, this awful scene, among other reasons, the dark unbleached candles are lighted on the Altar on the day and at the hour when the Church commemorates the crucifixion of the Redeemer by an ingrate priesthood and people, when the light of the sun is shut out or obscured, and the chancels are draped in black.
v. 30. -It should be observed that in this Gospel, the mystically central organ of the Sacred Body, the "Heart" is emphasized rather than "his side," as in the A. V. on which last reading the strange custom of having a side entrance or porch to Churches is alleged to have been founded. The traditonal but corrupt reading of Gen. vi.16 has doubtless originated the error. (See "Original Genesis.")
v. 31. -They pierced his Sacred Heart with a spear, and this is symbolised in Christian Churches (which are generally cruciform either externally or internally where they are not circular), where the choir (Cor.) is in the intersection of nave and transept, and the altar of incense is (ought to be) in the midst under the great dome, symbolizing that the Sacred Heart of the Crucified is venerated from the centre to the extreme limits of Christendom-the Heart of God which embraces all creatures in its boundless love.
The Burial Of Jesus
1. NOW,
when the even was come, Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable councillor, who also
waited for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate and craved
the body of Jesus. (He was a good man and just, and had not consented to the
council and deed of them).
2. And Pilate marvelled if he were
already dead, and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had
been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to
Joseph. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
3. And there came also Nicodemus,
who at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and
aloes, about an hundred weight. Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it
in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
4. Now in the place where he was
crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was
never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore, and it was about the
beginning of the second watch when they buried him, because of the Jews’ preparation
day, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
5. And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, and Mary the mother of Joses
beheld where he was laid. There at the tomb they kept watch for three days and
three nights.
6. And the women also, who came
with him from Galilee, followed after, bearing lamps in their hands and beheld
the sepulchre and how his body was laid, and they made lamentation over him.
7. And they returned and rested
the next clay, being a high day, and on the day following they bought and
prepared spices and ointments and waited for the end of the Sabbath.
8. Now the next day that followed,
the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir we
remember that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will
rise again.
9. Command therefore that the
sepulchre be made sure until the third day be past, lest his disciples come by
night and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead,
so the last error shall be worse than the first.
10. Pilate said unto them, Ye have
a watch, go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went and made the
sepulchre sure, sealing the stone and setting a watch till the third day should
be past.
CHAPTER 83. 5. -It has been maintained by some with no small degree of reason and probability, that the day of Crucifixion was not Friday, the day now observed by Christendom, but Wednesday (mid-week), by which date alone would be truly fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel, and the only sign of the truth of His mission which he would give to his generation. There shall no sign be given it, but the sign of the prophet Ionas, for as Ionas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights In the heart of the earth." Against this plain testimony there is of course the canonical record as we now have it including the frequent explanatory notes which may have been incorporated in very early times from the margin into the text, or interpolated in ignorance of the original script, which no man living has ever Been from this to the 10th century when all manuscripts were in the hands of the religious orders of the Church, and from them proceeded. If these words of Jesus be a genuine portion of the Gospel, as all admit they are, those notes of time, in the present accepted Gospels must be spurious, or the work of scribes who sought with honest and pious intent to harmonise the words of Scripture with the existent beliefs and observances of their age. In the gospel as now given there is absolutely nothing to militate against either of these vJews except the words of Jesus above cited, which cast the weight in favour of this chronological arrangement which interferes with nothing of Christian doctrine. Sunday, as now the day of his public entry into Ierusalem, preceded by the last anointing by Mary Magdalene on the eve before it. Monday, the day of evil counsel. Tuesday, the day of the Pascal feast of Christ. Wednesday, the day of the crucifixion, if not of the actual Jewish Passover. Thursday, Friday, Sabbath days of watch, of mourning and vigil. Sunday the day of the Resurrection, midnight or 8 a.m., early dawn " (after three days and three nights were fulfilled) and of the rising of many who slept and of their appearance in the holy City."
The Resurrection Of Jesus
1. NOW
after the Sabbath was ended and it began to dawn, on the first day of the week,
came Mary Magdalene to the sepulchre, bearing the spices which she had
prepared, and there were others with her.
2. And as they were going, they
said among themselves, who shall roll away the stone from the door of the
sepulchre? For it was great. And when they came to the place and looked, they
saw that the stone was rolled away.
3. For behold there was a great
earthquake; and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back
the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lighting and
his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became
as dead men.
4. And the angel answered and said
unto the women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was
crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
5. Come, see the place where the
Lord lay. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;
and, behold he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him; lo, I
have told you.
6. And they entered in and found not the body
of Jesus. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom
Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the
sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
7. And they ran and came to the
scpulchre, and looking in, they saw the linen clothes lying, and the napkin
that had been about his head not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped up
in a place by itself.
8. And it came to pass as they
were much perplexed, behold, two angels stood by them in glistening garments of
white, and said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not
here, he is risen, and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall
we see him.
9. Remember ye not how he spake
unto you, when he was yet in Galilee, that the Son of Man should be crucified
and that he would rise again after the third day? And they remembered his
words. And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre, for they trembled
with amazement, and they were afraid.
10. NOW at the time of the
earthquake, the graves were opened; and many of the saints which slept arose,
and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the city and
appeared unto many.
11. But Mary stood without at the
sepulchre weeping, and as she wept she again stooped down, and looked into the
sepulchre and saw two angels in white garments, the one at the head, and the
other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said unto her,
Woman, why weepest thou?
12. She saith unto them, Because
they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when
she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew
not that it was Jesus.
13. Jesus saith unto her, Woman,
why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener,
saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid
him, and I will take him away. Jesus said unto her, Mary, She turned herself
and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
14. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me
not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father One with my Mother, but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father (Parent) and your Father
(Parent); to my God and your God.
15. And Mary Magdalene came and
told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these
things unto her, and commanded her to announce his resurrection from the dead.
CHAPTER 84. 6. - 0n this passage the celebrated writer M. Renan, bases his assertion that "but for Mary Magdalene Christianity would never have existed." It was she who first proclaimed the central fact -the Resurrection of the Lord. There is a true and a false side to his words.
Jesus Risen Again Appears To Two At Emmaus
1. AND
behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was
from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these
things which had happened.
2. And it came to pass, that,
while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went
with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
3. And he said unto them, What
manner of communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk
and are sad?
4. And the one of them, whose name
was Cleophas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem
and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And
he said unto them, What things?
5. And they said unto him,
Concerning Jesus of Nazareth who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before
God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him
to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had
been he which should have redeemed Israel; and beside all this three days have
passed since these things were done.
6. Yea, and certain women also of
our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; and when
they found not his body, they came saying, that they had also seen a vision of
angels, who said that he was alive.
7. And certain of them who were
with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said; but
him they saw not.
8. Then he said unto them, O fools
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; Ought not
Christ to have suffered these things, and then to enter into his glory?
9. And beginning at Moses and all
the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures, the things
concerning himself.
10. And they drew nigh unto the
village whither they went; and he made as though he would have gone further.
But they constrained him, saying, Abide, with us, for it is toward evening, and
the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
11. And it came to pass as he sat
at table with them, he took bread and the fruit of the vine, and gave thanks,
blessed, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew
him; and he vanished out of their sight.
12. And they said one to another,
Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while
he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up the same hour and returned to
Jerusalem, and found the twelve gathered together, and them that were with
them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
13. And they told what things were
done in the way and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
14. Now while they had been going
to Emmaus, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto Caiaphas what
things had been done.
15. And they assembled with the elders and
took council and said, Behold, while the soldiers slept, some of his disciples
came and took his body away; and is not Joseph of Arimathea one if his
disciples?
16. For this cause then did he beg
the body from Pilate that he might bury it in his garden in his own tomb. Let
us therefore give money to the soldiers, saying, say ye, His disciples came by
night and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the ears of the
governor we will persuade him, and secure you.
CHAPTER 85. 15. -These words though not fully given in the A. V. have been made the basis of an attempted explanation by M. Renan, who could not receive the alternative view that the body of Jesus was dematerialized, rose, and then appeared in spiritual form, which view is held by believers of modern manifestations
|
CHAPTER 86 |
Jesus
Appears In The Temple and
Blood Sacrifices Cease
1. THE
same day, at the time of sacrifice in the Temple there appeared among the
dealers in beasts and in birds, One clothed in white raiment, bright as light,
and in his hand a whip of seven cords.
2. And at the sight of him, those
who sold and bought fled in terror, and some of them fell as dead men, for they
remembered how before his death Jesus had driven them away from the Temple enclosure,
in like manner.
3. And some declared that they had
seen a spirit. And others that they had seen him who was crucified and that he
had risen from the dead.
4. And the sacrifices ceased that day in the
Temple, for all were in fear, and none could be had to sell or to buy, but,
rather, they let their captives go free.
5. And the priests and elders
caused a report to be spread, That they who had seen it were drunken, and had
seen nothing. But many affirmed that they had seen him with their own eyes, and
felt on their backs the scourge, but were powerless to resist, for when some of
the bolder among them put forth their hands, they could not seize the form
which they beheld, nor grasp the whip which chastised them.
6. And from that time, these
believed in Jesus, that he was sent from God, to deliver the oppressed, and
free those that were bound. And they turned from their ways and sinned no
longer.
7. To others he also appeared in
love and mercy and healed them by his touch, and delivered them from the hands
of the persecutor. And many like things were reported of him, and many said, Of
a truth the Kingdom is come.
8. And some of those who had slept
and risen, when Jesus rose from the dead appeared, and were seen by many in the
holy City, and great fear fell upon the wicked, but light and gladness came to
the righteous in heart.
CHAPTER 86. 4. -"The sacrifices ceased that day" -here is not meant for any permanence (as generally believed) for they went on, we are told, for forty years, till the destruction of the Temple by the Romans.
Jesus Appeareth To His Disciples.
1. THEN
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and
stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were
affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
2.
And he said unto them, Behold, it is I myself, like
as ye have seen me aforetime. A spirit [Angel?] can indeed appear in flesh and
bones as ye see me have. Behold my hands and my feet, handle and see.
3. And when he had so said, he
shewed unto them his hands and his Heart. Then were the disciples glad, when
they saw the Lord.
4. For Thomas, called Didymus, one
of the disciples, had said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print
of the nails, and thrust my hand into his heart [bosom], I will not believe.
Then saith he to Thomas, Behold my hands, my heart, and my feet; reach hither
thy hands, and be not faithless but believing.
5. And Thomas answered and said
unto him, My Lord and my God! And Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou
hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet
have believed.
6. Then saith Jesus unto them
again, Peace be unto you, as Abba Amma hath sent me, even so send I you. And
when he had said this he breathed on them and said unto them, Receive ye the
Holy Ghost; preach the Gospel, and anounce ye unto all nations; the
resurrection of the Son of Man.
7. Teach ye the holy law of love
which I have delivered unto you. And whosoever forsake their sins, they are
remitted unto them, and whosoever continue in their sins they are retained unto
them.
8. Baptise them who believe and repent, bless and anoint them, and offer ye the pure Oblation of
the fruits of the earth, which I have appointed unto you for a Memorial of me.
9. Lo, I have given my body and my
blood to be offered on the Cross, for the redemption of the world from the sin
against love, and from the bloody sacrifices and feasts of the past.
10. And ye shall offer the Bread
of life, and the Wine of salvation, for a pure Oblation with incense, as it is
written of me, and ye shall eat and drink thereof for a memorial, that I have
delivered all who believe in me from the ancient bondage of your ancestors.
11. For they, making a god of
their belly, sacrificed unto their god the innocent creatures of the earth, in
place of the carnal nature within themselves.
12. And eating of their flesh and
drinking of their blood to their own destruction, corrupted their bodies and
shortened their days, even as the Gentiles who knew not the truth, or who
knowing it, have changed it into a lie.
13. As I send you, so send ye
others also, to do these things in my Name, and he laid his hands upon them.
14. In the like manner as the
Apostles, so also he ordained Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors, a Holy
Priesthood, and afterwards he laid his hand upon those whom they chose for Deacons,
one for each of the fourfold twelve.
15. And these are for the rule and
guidance of the Church Universal, that all may be perfected in their places in
the Unity of the Body of the Christ.
v. 8.-A similar passage to this occurs in the "Pistis Sophia," an ancient gnostic Gospel.
The Eighth Day After The Resurrection
1. AND
after seven days again, his disciples were within the Upper Room; then came
Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in their midst and said, Peace be unto
you, and he was known unto them in the holy Memorial.
2. And he said unto them. Love ye
one another and all the creatures of God. Yet I say unto you, not all are men,
who are in the form of man. Are they men or women in the image of God whose
ways are ways of violence, of oppression and wrong, who choose a lie rather
than the truth?
3. Nay, verily, till they are born
again, and receive the Spirit of Love and Wisdom within their hearts. Then only
are they sons and daughters of Israel, and being of Israel they are children of
God, And for this cause came I into the world, and for this I have suffered at
the hands of sinners.
4. These are the words which I
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled
which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me.
5. And Jesus said, I stood in the midst of the
world, and in the flesh was I seen and heard, and I found all men glutted with
their own pleasures, and drunk with their own follies, and none found I hungry
or athirst for the wisdom which is of God. My soul grieveth over the sons and
daughters of men because they are blind in their heart, and in their soul are
they deaf and hear not my voice.
6. Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures. And said unto them, Thus it is
written, and thus it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
after the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in my name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are
witnesses of these things.
7. And, behold, I send the promise
of my Father (Parent) upon you, even of my Father One with my Mother, Whom ye
have not seen on the earth. For I say unto you of a truth, as the whole world
have been ruined by the sin and vanity of woman [the whore of all the earth],
so by the simplicity and truth of woman shall it be saved [the bride or church
of Christ], even by you shall it be saved.
8. Rejoice therefore and be ye
glad, for ye are more blessed than all who are on earth, for it is ye, my
twelve thousand who shall save the whole world.
9. Again I say unto you when the
great tyrant and all the seven tyrants began to fight in vain against the
Light, they knew not with Whom or What they fought.
10. For they saw nothing beyond a
dazzling Light, and when they fought they expended their strength one against
another, and so it is.
11. For this cause I took a fourth
part of their strength, so that they might not have such power, and prevail in
their evil deeds.
12. For by involution and
evolution shall the salvation of all the world be accomplished: by the Descent
of Spirit into matter, and the Ascent of matter into Spirit, through the ages.
Jesus Appeareth At The Sea Of Tiberias
1. AFTER
these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of
Tiberias, and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon, Peter,
and Thomas, called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and James and
John and two other of his disciples.
2. And Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go
with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately, and that night
they caught nothing. And when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the
shore, but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
3. Then Jesus said unto them,
Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, Nay, Lord, not enough for all;
there is naught but a small loaf, a little oil, and a few dried fruits. And he
said unto them, Let these suffice; come and dine.
4. And he blessed them, and they
ate and were filled, and there was a pitcher of water also, and he blessed it
likewise, and lo, it was the fruit of the vine.
5. And they marveled, and said. It
is the Lord. And none of the disciples darest ask him. Who art thou? knowing it
was the Lord.
6. This is now the sixth time that
Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more
than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith unto him again the second time, Peter,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord thou knowest that I
love thee. He said unto him. Feed my sheep.
7. He saith unto him the third
time, Peter, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said
unto him the third time, Lovest thou me ? And he said unto him, Lord, thou
knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
8. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my
Flock. Verily verily, I say unto thee, thou art a rock from the Rock, and on
this rock will I build my Church, and I will raise thee above my twelve to be
my vicegerent upon earth for a centre of Unity to the twelve, and another shall
be called and chosen to fill thy place among the twelve, and thou shalt be the
Servant of servants and shalt feed my rams, my sheep and my lambs.
9. And yet another shall arise and
he shall teach many things which I have taught you already, and he shall spread
the Gospel among the Gentiles with great zeal. But the keys of the Kingdom will
I give to those who succeed thee in my Spirit and obeying my law.
10. And again I say unto thee.
When thou wast young thou girdedst thyself and walketh whither thou wouldst,
but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another
shall gird thee and carry thee whither thou wouldst not. This spake he,
signifying by what death he should glorify God.
11. And when he had spoken this he
saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom
Jesus loved following. Peter seeing him, saith to Jesus, Lord and what shall
this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is
that to thee? follow thou me.
12. Then went this saying abroad
among the brethren that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him,
He shall not die, but, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee.
What Is Truth?
1. AGAIN
the twelve were gathered together in the Circle of palm trees, and one of them
even Thomas said to the other, What is Truth? for the same things appear
different to different minds, and even to the same mind at different times.
What, then, is Truth?
2. And as they were speaking Jesus
appeared in their midst and said, Truth, one and absolute, is in God alone, for
no man, neither any body of men, knoweth that which God alone knoweth, who is
the All in All. To men is Truth revealed, according to their capacity to
understand and receive.
3. The One Truth hath many sides,
and one seeth one side only, another seeth another, and some see more than
others, according as it is given to them.
4. Behold this crystal: how the one light
is manifest in twelve faces, yea four times twelve, and each face reflecteth
one ray of light, and one regardeth one face, and another another, but it is
the one crystal and the one light that shineth in all.
5. Behold again, When one climbeth
a mountain and attaining one height, he saith, This is the top of the mountain,
let us reach it, and when they have reached that height, lo, they see another
beyond it until they come to that height from which no other height is to be
seen, if so be they can attain it.
6. So it is with Truth. I am the
Truth and the Way and the Life, and have given to you the Truth I have received
from above. And that which is seen and received by one, is not seen and
received by another. That which appeareth true to some, seemeth not true to
others. They who are in the valley see not as they who are on the hill top.
7. But to each, it is the Truth as
the one mind seeth it, and for that time, till a higher Truth shall be revealed
unto the same: and to the soul which receiveth higher light, shall be given
more light. Wherefore condemn not others, that ye be not condemned.
8. As ye keep the holy Law of
Love, which I have given unto you, so shall the Truth be revealed more and more
unto you, and the Spirit of Truth which cometh from above shall guide you,
albeit through many wanderings, into all Truth, even as the fiery cloud guided
the children of Israel through the wilderness.
9. Be faithful to the light ye
have, till a higher light is given to you. Seek more light, and ye shall have
abundantly; rest not, till ye find.
10. God giveth you all Truth, as a
ladder with many steps, for the salvation and perfection of the soul, and the
truth which seemeth today, ye will abandon for the higher truth of the morrow.
Press ye unto Perfection.
11. Whoso keepeth the holy Law
which I have given, the same shall save their souls, however differently they
may see the truths which I have given.
12. Many shall say unto me,
Lord, Lord, we have been zealous for thy Truth. But I shall say unto them, Nay,
but, that others may see as ye see, and none other truth beside. Faith without
charity is dead. Love is the fulfilling of the Law.
13. How shall faith in what they
receive profit them that hold it in unrighteousness? They who have love have
all things, and without love there is nothing worth. Let each hold what they
see to be the truth in love, knowing that where love is not, truth is a dead
letter and profiteth nothing.
14. There abide Goodness, and
Truth, and Beauty, but the greatest of these is Goodness. If any have hatred to
their fellows, and harden their hearts to the creatures of God’s hands, how can
they see Truth unto salvation, seeing their eyes are blinded and their hearts
are hardened to God’s creation?
15. As I have reveived the Truth,
so have I given it to you. Let each receive it according to their light and
ability to understand, and persecute not those who receive it after a different
interpretation.
16. For Truth is the Might of God,
and it shall prevail in the end over all errors. But the holy Law which I have
given is plain for all, and just and good. Let all observe it for the salvation
of their souls.
The Order of the Kingdom. (Part I.)
THESE FEEL QUITE TAMPERED WITH…
1. In
that time after Jesus had risen from the dead he tarried ninety days with Mary
his mother and Mary Magdalene, who anointed his body, and Mary Cleophas and the
twelve, and their fellows, instructing them and answering questions concerning
the kingdom of God.
2. And as they sat at supper—when
it was even— Mary Magdalene asked him, saying, Master, wilt thou now declare
unto us the Order of the Kingdom?
3. And Jesus answered and said,
Verily I say unto thee, O Mary, and to each of any disciples, The kingdom of
Heaven is within you. But the time cometh when that which is within shall be
made manifest in the without, for the sake of the world.
4. Order indeed is good, and
needful, but before all things is love. Love ye one another and all the creatures of God, and by this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples.
5. AND one asked him
saying, Master, wilt thou that infants be received into the congregation in
like manner as Moses commanded by circumcision? And Jesus answered, For those
who are in Christ there is no cutting of the flesh, nor shedding of blood.
6. Let the infant of eight days be
Presented unto the Father-Mother, who is in Heaven, with prayer and
thanksgiving, and let a name be given to it by its Parents, and let the
presbyter sprinkle pure water upon it, according to that which is written in
the prophets, and let its Parents see to it that it is brought up in the ways
of righteousness, neither eating flesh, nor drinking strong drink, nor hurting the creatures which God hath given into
the hands of man to protect .
7. AGAIN one said unto him,
Master, how wilt thou when they grow up? And Jesus said, After seven years [ie.
at eight years], or when they begin to know the evil from the good, and learn
to choose the good, let them come unto me and receive the blessing at the hands
of the presbyter or the angel of the church with prayer and thanksgiving, and
let them be admonished to keep from flesh
eating and strong drink, and from
hunting the innocent creatures of God, for shall they be lower than the horse
or the sheep to whom these things are against nature?
8. And again he said, If there
come to us any that eat flesh and drink strong drink, shall we receive them?
And Jesus said unto him, Let such abide in the outer court till they cleanse
themselves from these grosser evils; for till they perceive, and repent of
these, they are not fit to receive the higher mysteries.
9. AND another asked him saying,
When wilt thou that they receive Baptism? And Jesus answered, After another
seven years, or when they know the doctrine, and do that which is good, and
learn to work with their own hands, and choose a craft whereby they may live,
and are stedfastly set on the right way. Then let them ask for initiation, and
let the angel or presbyter of the church examine them and see if they are
worthy, and let him offer thanksgiving and prayer, and bury them in the waters
of separation, that they may rise to newness of life, confessing God as their
Father and Mother, vowing to obey the Holy Law, and keep themselves separate
from the evil in the world.
10. AND another asked him, Master,
at what time shall they receive the Anointing? And Jesus answered, When they
have reached the age of maturity, and manifested in themselves the sevenfold
gifts of the Spirit, then let the angel offer prayer and thanksgiving and seal
them with the seal of the Chrism [consecrated oil]. It
is good that all be tried in each degree seven years. Nevertheless let it be
unto each according to their growth in the love, and the wisdom of God.
CHAPTER 91. 6. -0ver 2,000 years before Christ there existed on the shores of Lake Meeris, in Egypt, a labyrinth of seven circular wall-enclosed winding paths, represented by Boticelli in one of his engravings, which we here reproduce adapted for Christian rites. This was used by the Egyptians in their initiations as a symbol of life, and the wanderings of the soul in the flesh, till "seven times seven" times purified and meet to appear before God.
The Order of the Kingdom. (Part II.)
1. AND
another asked him saying, Master, wilt thou that there be marriages among us as
it is among the nations of earth? And Jesus answered, saying, Among some it is
the custom that one woman may marry several men, who shall say unto her, Be
thou our wife and take away our reproach. Among others it is the custom, that
one man may marry several women, and who shall say unto him, Be thou our
husband and take away our reproach, for they who love feel it is a reproach to
be unloved.
2. But unto you my disciples, I
shew a better and more perfect way, even this, that marriage should be between
one man and one woman, who by perfect love and sympathy are united, and that
while love and life do last, howbeit in perfect freedom. But let them see to it
that they have perfect health, and that they truly love each other in all
purity, and not for worldly advantage only, and then let them plight their
troth one to another before witnesses.
3. Then, when the time is come,
let the angel or presbyter offer prayer and thanksgiving and bind them with the
scarlet cord, if ye will, and crown them, and lead them thrice around the altar
and let them eat of one bread and drink of one cup. Then holding their hands
together, let him say to them in this wise, Be ye two in one, blessed be the
holy union, you whom God doth join together let no man put asunder, so long as
life and love do last.
4. And if they bear children, let them do so with discretion
and prudence according to their ability to maintain them. Nevertheless to those
who would be perfect and to whom it is given, I say, let them be as the angels
of God in Heaven, who neither marry nor are given in marriage, nor have
children, nor care for the morrow, but are free from bonds, even as I am, and
keep and store up the power of God within, for their ministry, and for works of
healing, even as I have done. But the many cannot receive this saying, only
they to whom it is given.
5. AND another asked him saying,
Master, in what manner shall we offer the Holy Oblation? And Jesus answered,
saying, The oblation which God loveth in secret is a pure heart. But for a
Memorial of worship offer ye unleavened bread, mingled wine, oil and incense.
When ye come together in one place to offer the Holy Oblation, the lamps being
lighted, let him who presideth, even the angel of the church, or the presbyter,
having clean hands and a pure heart, take from the things offered, unleavened
bread and mingled wine with incense.
6. And let him give thanks over them and
bless them, calling upon the Father-Mother in Heaven to send their Holy Spirit
that it may come upon and make them to be the Body and Blood, even the
Substance and Life of the Eternal, which is ever being broken and shed for all.
7. And let him lift it up toward
Heaven and pray for all, even for those who are gone before, for those who are
yet alive, and for those who are yet to come As I have taught you, so pray ye,
and after this let him break the bread and put a fragment in the cup, and then
bless the holy union, and then let him give unto the faithful, saying after
this manner, This is the body of the Christ even the substance of God (ever
being broken and shed, for you and for all), unto eternal life. As ye have seen
me do, so do ye also, in the spirit of love, for the words I speak unto you,
they are spirit and they are life.
The Order of the Kingdom. (Part III.)
1. AND
another spake, saying, Master, if one have committed a sin, can a man remit or
retain his sin? And Jesus said, God forgiveth all sin to those who repent, but
as ye sow, so also must ye reap (Karma); Neither God nor man can remit the sins
of those who repent not nor forsake their sins; nor yet retain the sins of
those who forsake them. But if one being in the spirit seeth clearly that any
repent and forsake their sins, such may truly say unto the penitent, Thy sins
are forgiven thee, for All sin is remitted by repentance and amendment and they
are loosed from it, who forsake it and bound to it, who continue it.
2. Nevertheless the fruits of the
sin must continue for a season, for as we sew so must we reap, for God is not
mocked, and they who sow to the flesh shall reap corruption, they who sow to
the spirit shall reap life, everlasting. Wherefore if any forsake their sins
and confess them, let the presbyter say unto such in this wise, May God forgive
thee thy sins, and bring thee to everlasting life. All sin against God is
forgiven by God, and sin against man by man.
3. AND another asked him, saying,
If any be sick among us, shall we have power to heal even as thou dost? And
Jesus answered, This power cometh of perfect chastity and of faith. They
who are born of God keep their seed within them.
4. Nevertheless if any be sick among
you, let them send for the presbyters of the church that they may anoint them
with oil of olive in the Name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith, and the
going out of power, with the voice of thanksgiving, shall raise them up, if
they are not detained by sin, of this or a former life.
5. AND another asked him saying,
Master, how shall the holy assembly be ordered and who shall minister therein?
And Jesus answered. When my disciples are gathered in my name let them choose
from among themselves true and faithful men and women, who shall be ministers
and counselors in temporal things and provide for the necessities of the poor,
and those who cannot work, and let these look to the ordering of the goods of
the church, and assist at the Oblation, and let these be your deacons, with
their helps.
6. And when these have given
proof, of their ministry, let them choose from them, those who have spiritual
gifts, whether of guidance, or of prophecy, or of preaching and of teaching and
healing, that they may edify the flock, offer the holy Oblation and minister
the mysteries of God and let these be your presbyter [elder?], and their helps.
7. And from these who have served
well in their degree let one be chosen who is counted most worthy, and let him
preside over all and he shall be your Angel. And let the Angel ordain the
deacons and consecrate the presbyters—anoint them and laying their hands upon
them and breathing upon them that they may receive the Holy Spirit for the
office to which they are called. And as for the Angel let one of the higher
ministry [high priesthood?] anoint and consecrate him, even one of the Supreme
[High] Council.
8. For as I send Apostles and
Prophets so also I send Evangelists And Pastors—the eight and forty pillars
of the tabernacle—that by the ministry of the four I may build up and
perfect my Church. and they shall sit in Jerusalem a holy congregation, each
with his helper and deacon, and to them shall the scattered congregations refer
in all matters pertaining to the Church. And as light cometh so shall they rule
and guide and edify and teach my holy Church. They shall receive light from
all, and to all shall they give more light.
9. And forget not with your
prayers and supplications intercessions and giving of thanks, to offer the
incense, as it is written in the last of your prophets, saying, From the rising
of the sun unto the setting of the same incense shall be offered unto My Name
in all places with a pure oblation, for My Name shall be great among the
Gentiles.
10. For verily I say unto you,
incense is the memorial of the intercession of the saints within the veil, with
words that cannot be uttered.
The Order of the Kingdom. (Part IV.)
1. AND
another asked him, saying, Master, how wilt thou that we bury our dead? And
Jesus answered, Seek ye council of the deacons in this matter, for it
concerneth the body only. Verily, I say, unto you there is no death to those
who believe in the life to come. Death, as ye deemed it, is the door to life,
and the grave is the gate to resurrection, for those who believe and obey.
Mourn ye not, nor weep for them that have left you, but rather rejoice for
their entrance into life.
2. As all creatures come forth
from the unseen into this world, so they return to the unseen, and so will
they come again till they be purified. Let the bodies of them that depart
be committed to the elements, and the Father-Mother, who reneweth all things,
shall give the angels charge over them, and let the presbyter pray that their bodies
may rest in peace, and their souls awake to a joyful resurrection.
3. There is a resurrection from
the body, and there is a resurrection in the body. There is a raising out of
the life of the flesh, and there is a falling into the life of the flesh. Let
prayer be made For those who are gone before, and For those that are alive, and
For those that are yet to come, for all are One family in God. In God they live
and move and have their being.
4. The body that ye lay in the
grave, or that is consumed by fire, is not the body that shall be, but they who
come shall receive other bodies, yet their own, and as they have sown in one
life, so shall they reap in another. Blessed are they who have worked
righteousness in this life, for they shall receive the crown of life.
5. AND another asked him, saying,
Master, under the law Moses clad the priests with garments of beauty for their
ministration in the Temple. Shall we also clothe them to whom we commit the
ministry of sacred things as thou hast taught us? And Jesus answered, White
linen is the righteousness of the Saints, but the time truly cometh when Zion
shall be desolate, and after the time of her affliction is past, she shall
arise and put on her beautiful garments as it is written.
6. But seek ye first the kingdom
of righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. In all things
seek simplicity, and give not occasion to vain glory. Seek ye first to be
clothed with charity, and the garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness.
7. For what doth it profit if ye have not these? As the sound
of brass and tinkling of cymbal are ye, if ye have not love. Seek ye
righteousness and love and peace, and all things of beauty shall be added to
you.
8. AND yet another asked him, saving,
Master, how many [not many?] of the rich and mighty will enter into life and
join us who are poor and despised. How, then, shall we carry on the work of God
in the regeneration of mankind? And Jesus said, This also is a matter for the
deacons of the church in council with the elders.
9. But when my disciples are come
together on the Sabbath, at even, or in the morning of the first day of the
week, let them each bring an offering of a tithe, or the tithe of a tithe of
their increase, as God doth prosper them, and put it in the treasury, for the
maintenance of the church and the ministry, and the works thereof. For I say
unto you, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
10. So shall all things be done, decently and in order, And the
rest will the Spirit set in order who proceedeth from the Father-Mother in
heaven. I have instructed you now in first principles, and, lo, I am with you
always, even unto the end of the Age.
The Ascension.
1. AND
Jesus after he had shewed himself alive to his disciples after his
resurrection, and sojourned with them for ninety days, teaching and speaking of
the Kingdom, and the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, and had finished
all things that he had to do, led forth the twelve with Mary Magdalene, and
Joseph his father [resurrected?] and Mary his mother, and the other holy women
as far as Bethany to a mountain called Olivet, where he had appointed them.
2. And when they saw him as he
stood in the midst of them, they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus
spake unto them, saying, Behold, I have chosen you from among men, and have
given you the Law, and the Word of truth.
3. I have set you as the light of
the world, and as a city that cannot be hid. But the time cometh when darkness
shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, and the enemies of truth
and righteousness shall rule in my Name, and set up a kingdom of this world,
and oppress the peoples, and cause the enemy to blaspheme, putting for my
doctrines the opinions of men, and teaching in my Name that which I have not
taught, and darkening much that I have taught by their traditions.
4. But be of good cheer, for the
time will also come when the truth they have hidden shall be manifested, and
the light shall shine, and the darkness shall pass away, and the true kingdom
shall be established which shall be in the world, but not of it, and the Word of righteousness and love shall go forth from
the Centre, even the holy city of Mount Zion, and the Mount which is in the
land of Egypt [temple at __] shall be known as an altar of witness unto the
Lord.
5.
And now I go to my Father (Parent) and
your Father (Parent), my God and your God. But ye, tarry in Jerusalem, and
abide in prayer, and after seven days ye shall receive power from on high, and
the promise of the Holy Spirit shall be fulfilled unto you, and ye shall go
forth from Jerusalem unto all the tribes of Israel, and to the uttermost parts
of the earth.
6. And having said these things,
he lifted up his pure and holy hands and blessed them. And it came to pass that
while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and a cloud, as the sun in
brightness, received him out of their sight, and as he went up some held him by
the feet and others worshipped him, falling to the earth on their faces.
7. And while they gazed
steadfastly into heaven, behold two stood by them in white apparel, and said,
Ye men of Israel, why stand ye gazing into thee, heaven; this same Jesus who is
taken from you in a cloud, and as ye have seen him go into heaven, so shall he
come again to the earth.
8. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from
the Mount of Olives, which is from the city a Sabbath day’s journey. And as
they returned they missed Mary Magdalene, and they looked for her, but found
her not. And some of the disciples said, The Master hath taken her, and they
marvelled and were in great awe.
9. Now it was midsummer when Jesus
ascended into heaven, and he had not yet attained his fiftieth year, for it was
needful that seven times seven years should be fulfilled in his life.
10. Yea, that he might be
perfected by the suffering of all experiences, and be an example unto all, to
children and Parents, to the married and the celibates, to youth and those of
full age, yea, and unto all ages and conditions of mortal life.
v. 9. -From the testimony of the Jews, John viii. 57, A. V., it appears that Jesus at that time was not far from fifty years of age, and this is supported by S. lrenmus, 120-200 A.D., who appeals to the gospel as received by those of his day and to all the elders as testifying the same," those who were conversant in Asia with John, the disciple of the Lord, affirming that John conveyed to them this tradition." "Some of them," he says again, "not only saw John but the other Apostles also, and heard the very same tradition from them.
v. 8. -Mary Magdalene was chosen by our Lord as a type of the Church, in her fallen condition, redeemed by His love, and would be fitly one of the first fruits taken to be with her Lord, as Joseph and Mary were after. She was the constant companion of Jesus' Ministry, to him she ministered of her substance, she anointed him for his Ministry, and for his Burial. She was the last at the Cross, and the first at the Tomb, and to her aJone He gave the commission, " Go tell Peter," and wheresoever the Gospel was to be preached, her love and devotion to her Master were to be declared.
The Pouring Out Of The Spirit.
1. AND as
the disciples were gathered together in the upper room when they returned from
the Mount, they all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, and
their number was about one hundred and twenty.
2. And in that day James stood up
and said; Men and brethren, it is known unto you how the Lord, before he left
us, chose Peter to preside over us and watch over us in his Name; and how it
must needs be that one of those who have been with us and a witness to his
resurrection be chosen and appointed to take his place.
3. And they chose two called
Barsabas and Matthias, and they prayed and said, Thou lord, who knowest the
hearts of all men, shew which of these two thou hast chosen to take part in
this Apostleship from which thou dost raise thy servant Peter to preside over
us.
4. And they gave forth their lots,
and the lot fell upon Matthias, and the Twelve received him, and he was
numbered among the Apostles.
5. Then John and James separated
Peter from their number by laying on of hands, that he might preside over them
in the Name of the Lord, saying, Brother be thou as a hewn stone, sixsquared.
Even thou, Petros, which art Petra, bearing witness to the Truth on every side.
6. And to the Apostles were given
staves to guide their steps in the ways of truth, and crowns of glory withal; and
to the Prophets burning lamps to shew light on the path and censers with fire;
and to the Evangelists the book of the holy law to recall the people to the
first principles; and to the Pastors were given the cup and platter to feed and
nourish the flock.
7. But to none was given aught
that was not given to all, for all were one priesthood under the Christ as
their Master Great High Priest in the Temple of God; and to the Deacons were
given baskets that they might carry therein the things needful for the holy
worship. And the number was about one hundred and twenty, Peter presiding over
them.
8. AND when the third day had
fully come they were all with one accord in the one place, and as they prayed
there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and the room in
which they were assembled was shaken, and it filled the place.
9. And there appeared cloven
tongues of flame like fire, and sat upon the head of each of them. And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues as the
Spirit gave them utterance. And Peter stood up and preached the Law of Christ
unto the multitude of all nations and tongues who were gathered together by the
report of what had been seen and heard, each man hearing in his own tongue wherein
he was born.
10. And of them that listened
there were gathered unto the Church that day, three thousand souls, and they
received the Holy Law, repented of their sins, and were baptized and continued
stedfastly in the Apostles’ fellowship and worship, and the Oblation and
prayers.
11. And they who believed gave up
their possessions, and had all things in common and abode together in one
place, shewing the love and the goodness of God to their brothers and sisters
and to all creatures, and working with their hands for the common wealth.
12. And from these there were
called twelve to be Prophets with the Apostles, and twelve to be Evangelists
and twelve to be Pastors, and their Helps were added unto them, and Deacons of
the Church Universal, and they numbered one hundred and twenty. And thus was
the Tabernacle of David set up, with living men filled with goodness, even as
the Master had shewn unto them. [look for a type in soloman’s temple…]
13. And to the Church in Jerusalem
was given James the Lord’s brother for its president and Angel, and under him
four and twenty priests in a fourfold ministry, and helpers and deacons also.
And after six days many came together, and there were added six thousand men
and women who received the holy Law of Love, and they received the word with
gladness.
14. AND as they gathered together
on the Lord’s Day after the Sabbath was past, and were offering the holy
Oblation, they missed Mary and Joseph, the Parents of Jesus. And they made
search but found them not.
15. And some of them said, Surely
the Lord hath taken them away, as he did Magdalene. And they were filled with
awe, and sung praises to God.
16. And the Spirit of God came
upon the Apostles and the Prophets with them and, remembering what the Lord had
taught them, with one voice they confessed and praised God, saying.
17. We believe in One God: the
Infinite, the Secret Fount, the Eternal Father (Parent): Of Whom are all things
invisible and visible. The ALL in all, through all around all. The holy Twain,
in whom all things consist; Who hath been, Who is, Who shall be.
18. We believe in one Lord our
Lady, the perfect holy Christ: God of God, Light of light begotten. Our Lord,
the Father, Spouse and Son. Our Lady, the Mother, Bride and Daughter. Three
Modes in one Essence undivided: One Biune Trinity. That God may be manifest as
the Father, Spouse and Son of every soul: and that every soul may be perfected
as the Mother, Bride and Daughter of God
19. And this by ascent of the soul
into the spirit and the descent of the spirit into the soul. Who cometh from
heaven, and is incarnate of the Virgin ever blessed, in Jesu-Maria and every
Christ of God: and is born and teacheth the way of life and suffereth under the
world rulers, and is crucified, and is buried and descendeth into Hell. Who
riseth again and ascendeth into glory; from thence giving light and life to
all.
20. We believe in the Sevenfold
Spirit of God, the Life-Giver: Who proceedeth from the holy Twain. Who cometh
upon Jesu-Maria and all that are faithful to the light within: Who dwelleth in
the Church, the Israel elect of God. Who cometh ever into the world and
lighteth every soul that seeks. Who giveth the Law which judgeth the living and
the dead, Who speaketh by the Prophets of every age and clime.
21. We believe in One Holy
Universal and Apostolic Church: the Witness to all truth, the Receiver and
Giver of the same. Begotten of the Spirit and Fire of God: Nourished by the
waters, seeds and fruits of earth. Who by the Spirit of Life, her twelve Books
and Sacraments, her holy words and works: knitteth together the elect in one
mystical communion and atoneth humanity with God. Making us partakers of the
Divine Life and Substance: betokening the same in holy Symbols.
22. And we look for the coming of
the Universal Christ: and the Kingdom of Heaven wherein dwelleth righteousness.
And the holy City whose gates are Twelve: wherein are the Temple and Altar of
God. Whence proceed three Orders in fourfold ministry: to teach all truth and
offer the daily sacrifice of praise.
23. As in the inner so in the
outer: as in the great so in the small. As above, so below: as in heaven so in
earth. We believe in the Purification of the soul: through many births and
experiences. The Resurrection from the dead: and the Life everlasting of
the just. The Ages of Ages: and Rest in God forever.—Amun [Amen].
24. And as the smoke of the
incense arose, there was heard the sound as of many bells, and a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God and saying:
25. Glory, honour, praise and
worship be to God; the Father, Spouse, and Son: One with the Mother, Bride and
Maid: From Whom proceedeth the Eternal Spirit: By whom are all created things.
From the Ages of Ages. Now: and to the Ages of Ages—Amun [Amen]—Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
26. And if any man take from, or
add, to the words of this Gospel, or hide, as under a bushel, the light
thereof, which is given by the Spirit through us, the twelve witnesses chosen
of God, for the enlightenment of the world unto salvation: Let him be Anathema
Maranatha, until the coming of Christ Jesu-Maria, our Saviour, with all the
Holy Saints.
27. For them that believe, these
things are true. For them that believe not, they are as an idle tale. But to
those with perceiving minds and hearts, regarding the spirit rather than the
letter which killeth, they are spiritual verities.
28. For the things that are
written are true, not because they are written, but rather they are written
because they are true, and these are written that ye may believe with your
hearts, and proclaim with your mouths to the salvation of many. Amen.
Here endeth the Holy Gospel of the Perfect Life of Jesu-Maria, the Christ, the Son of David after the Flesh, the Son of God after the Spirit. Glory be to God by Whose power and help it has been written.
CHAPTER 96. 1. -This number, 120, has many mystic significances, and was foreshadowed by the number of souls saved in the Ark at the Flood ("The Original Genesis"), which included 48 (i.e., double 7 + 34) + 72, a number of deep mystic significance.
Biography: Rev. Gideon Jasper Richard Ouseley M.A. 1835 - 1906
Translator of the Gospel of the Holy Twelve.
The Rev. Gideon Jasper Richard Ouseley was born in Lisbon (Portugal?) on the 15th October, 1835, the younger son of Sir Ralph Ouseley, K.C.B., brought over to Ireland on the death of his father, 14th May, 1842, by relatives, and educated in Dublin University, in which he graduated in 1858. On the 9th of December, 1906 he passed away in his seventy-second year. See 1904 signature
He was ordained as a clergyman of the Established Church by the Bishop of Down and Connor, and appointed Curate of Warren- point, Co. Down in 1861. He did not long remain in a Church in which he found himself to be in a false position; and in 1870, having voluntarily renounced all eating of flesh, strong drink and tobacco as inconsistent with the humanity and the true religion of Christ, as taught by Him and His apostles, he was received as a priest of the Catholic Apostolic Church.
Before his reception into the Catholic Church, he fully explained to the Prior his views and beliefs—which on no account would he abandon. The Prior said he did not find in that which he expressed anything contrary to the faith of the Catholic Church. “Why then,” asked the Rev. Ouseley, “does not the Church teach it?” To which the Prior replied, “You are not at liberty to say it is the teaching of the Catholic Church, but you are free to believe and hold your views as a pious opinion.”
It was in such circumstances that he sought to propagate his beliefs. His desire was to saturate and transmute the Church’s own formularies with the true teaching of Christ and His Humanitarianism. He set about revising the formularies in place of concealing them.
While he was not a sectarian and hated to be dubbed as such, he would work with all true reformers and good men who would try to bring the people into ways of righteousness and raise them out of their barbarous habits of flesh-eating, strong drinking, and cruelty of every sort and kind.
He considered that “the direct cause of poverty, bad health and social misery was due to flesh-eating, alcoholic drinking and tobacco smoking”. He saw in their abolition “the only effectual means of the world’s redemption, whether as regards men themselves or the animals”. “The true and proper food for man was that which Mother Earth brought forth in plenty for the sustenance of her children”.
He founded the Order of At-one-ment and United Templars Society, having for its motto: “One God, one Religion, various names, various forms.” Its object was to bring about a reconciliation of opposing ideas, things, persons, and systems; at-one-ing the human with the Divine, and man with God; by the Spirit of Christ within the soul.
On account of his vJews, the personal relationship between the reformer and his Church became strained; which led, in the first instance, to the Rev. Ouseley being suspended, and later to his being, literally, cast out of the Church. His vJews being called “Anti-Christian.”
This because, believing that he had been called to undertake this important mission, he set about to present to the world the hidden text “The Gospel of the Holy Twelve,” the Christian Dispensation pieced together from the most ancient and complete collection of Christian fragments, preserved in one of the Monasteries of the Buddhist monks in Thibet, where it was hidden by some of the Essene community for safety from the hands of the Corrupters and for the first time to be translated from the Aramaic. It was a translation of an original Aramaic document purporting to be a reconstruction and revision of the Gospel narrative.
Also because the contents of this most ancient Gospel set forth a higher moral and religious teaching, as the basis of the Christian Church, than any other that has come down to us, requires but the reading of eyes divested of prejudice, and the perception of a regenerate heart, and intelligent mind, to receive and appreciate that the Rev. Ouseley was undaunted in proclaiming the true religion of Christ.
One thing is unquestionable, he could not unaided by some Power higher than and above that of his normal intellect, have written this Gospel, and that such Power was of a Divine nature, is manifest from its contents. At the end of the Gospel are the words: “Glory be to God by Whose Power and help it has been written.”
It must not on this account be assumed that the original of which this Gospel is claimed to be a translation is of greater historical value than are the Four Gospels— none of which is historical in the sense commonly supposed—the object of all being to portray “the divine drama of the Spiritual history of man”—that is, of the Soul. But this Gospel has the advantage over the others in that it escaped the hands of the “Correctors” and “Corrupters” from which they suffered.
In 1905, he wrote to a friend, “I have finished my work and my destiny awaits me. They are ready to receive me”.
On the 9th of December, 1906 he passed away in his seventy-second year. A notice of him appeared in “Light” (5th and 12th January, 1907): “And now may he rest in peace with the knowledge that his life of self-sacrifice for Truth and Humanity—a life without ambition for any worldly honour or desire for any worldly gain—was not lived in vain, for “Where Mercy, Love and Pity dwell, There God is dwelling too.”
Notes:
As I have read, pondered, and prayed about the many references to the abstaining from the killing and eating of flesh in this text, I have come to the following conclusion. I believe the spirit testifies of the truth of the words of Doctrine & Covenants 89:12-14, “Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine. And again the words of Doctrine & Covenants 49:18-21, “And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God; For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance. But… wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.
This is testified and confirmed by the fact that Christ himself “slew the lamb” (BOBK, Moses, ) and clothed Adam and Eve after they fell. Also, he commanded Adam to offer of “the flocks of the field” as a type “of the only begotten who should be slain”… Now it is true, as both Jeremiah and the Book of Ben Kathryn assert that God “never commanded in the killing of flesh…” (ref). Indeed, it was not the life of the animal that the Lord required, but the broken heart and contrite spirit (refs) of both the benefactor and beneficiaries of the offering. Indeed the entire purpose of the offering was to “feed the priests” and “care for the poor” (find refs) as the scriptures say, “that there may be meat in mine house” (Malch 3:10)
In the law given to Moses it was clear the firstling sacrifice was a gift of food to Israel, just as the God gave Israel Quail for meat in the wilderness. Duet 15:19-20, “All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God… Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.”
