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honour; who gave his spirit to them that were found worthy of repentance.
47 I answered, Sir, why then did not all of them repent? He replied, Those whose minds the Lords foresaw
would be pure, and that they would serve him with all their hearts, to them he gave repentance.
48 But for those whose deceit and wickedness he beheld, and perceived that they would not truly return unto
him; to them he denied any return unto re- pentance, lest they should again blaspheme his law with wicked
words.
49 I said unto him; Now, Sir, make known unto me, what is the place of every one of those, who have given
up their rods, and what their portion; that when they may have not kept their seal entire, but have wasted the
seal which they received, shall hear and believe these thins, and may acknowledge their evil deeds and repent;
50 And receiving again their seal from you, may give glory to God, that he was moved with com- passion
towards them, and sent you to renew their spirits.
51 Hearken, said he; they whose rods have been found and rotten, and as it were touch with the moth; are the
deserters and the betrayers of the church;
52 Who with the rest of their crimes, have also blasphemed the Lord, and denied his name when he had
called upon them. Therefore all these are dead unto God and thou seest that none of them have repented,
although they have heard my commands which thou bast delivered unto them. From these men therefore life
is far distant.
SIMILITUDE VIII. 46
 Forbidden Gospels and Epistles, v9
53 They also who have delivered up their rods dry, but not rotten, have not been far from them. For they have
been counterfeits, and brought in evil doctrines, and have perverted the servants of God, especially those who
had sinned; not suffering them to return unto repentance, but keeping them back by their false doctrines.
54 These therefore have hope; and thou seest that many of them have repented, since the time that thou hast
laid my commands before them; and many more will yet repent. But they, that shall not repent; shall lose
both repentance and life.
55 But they that have repented, their place is begun to be within the first walls, and some of them are even
gone into the tower. Thou seest therefore, said he, that in the repentance of sinners there is life; but for those
who repent not, death is prepared.
56 Hear now concerning those who gave in their rods half dry and full of clefts. Those whose rods were only
half dry, are the doubtful; for they are neither living nor dead.
57 But they who delivered in their rods, not only half dry but also full of clefts, are both doubtful and evil
speakers; who detract from those that are absent, and have never peace among themselves, and who envy one
another.
58 Howbeit, to those also repentance is offered; for thou seest that some of these have repented.
59 Now all those of this kind who have quickly repented, shall have a place in the tower; and they who have
been more slow in their repentance, shall dwell with- in the walls: but they that shall not repent, and shall
continue on in their wicked doings, shall die the death.
60 As for those who had their rods green, but yet cleft; they are such as were always faithful and good, but
they had some envy and strife among themselves concerning dignity and pre-eminence.
61 Now all such as are vain, and without understanding, contend with one another about these things.
62 Nevertheless, seeing they are otherwise good, if when they shall hear these commands they shall amend
themselves, and shall at my persuasion suddenly repent; they shall at last dwell in the tower, like those who
have truly and worthily repented.
63 But if any one shall again return to his dissension; he shall be shut out from the tower, and shall lose his
life. For the life of those who keep the commandments of the Lord, consists in doing what they are
commanded; not in principality, or in any other dignity.
64 For by forbearance and humility of mind, men shall attain unto life; but by seditions and contempt of the
law, they shall purchase death unto themselves.
65 They who in their rods had half dry and half green, are those who are engaged in many affairs of the
world, and are not joined to the saints. For which cause half of them liveth, and half is dead.
66 Wherefore many of these since the time that they have heard my commands, have repented, and begun to
dwell in the tower. But some of them have wholly fallen away; to these there is no more place for repentance.
67 For by reason of their present interests, they have blasphemed and denied God: and for this wickedness
they have lost life. And of these many are still in doubt, yet these may return; and if they shall quickly repent,
they shall have a place in the tower; but if they shall be more slow, they shall dwell within the walls; but if
they shall not repent, they shall die.
SIMILITUDE VIII. 47
 Forbidden Gospels and Epistles, v9
68 As for those who had two parts of their rods green, and the third dry; they have by manifold ways denied [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]