Follow me. And they went after him until he had brought them without the gate. And when they
had gone out, he said to them: Depart in peace unto your pastures. The wild asses therefore went
away willingly; and the apostle stood and took heed to them lest they should be hurt of any, until
they had gone afar off and were no more seen. And the apostle returned with the multitude into
the house of the captain.
The Ninth Act: Of the Wife of Charisius.
82 Now it chanced that a certain woman, the wife of Charisius, that was next unto the king,
whose name was Mygdonia, came to see and behold the new name and the new God who was
being proclaimed, and the new apostle who had come to visit their country: and she was carried
by her own servants; and because of the great crowd and the narrow way they were not able to
bring her near unto him. And she sent unto her husband to send her more to minister to her; and
they came and approached her, pressing upon the people and beating them. And the apostle saw
it and said to them: Wherefore overthrow ye them that come to hear the word, and are eager for
it? and ye desire to be near me but are far off, as it was said of the multitude that came unto the
Lord: Having eyes ye see not, and having ears ye hear not; and he said to the multitudes: He that
hath ears to hear, let him hear; and: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest.
83 And looking upon them that carried her, he said unto them: This blessing and this admonition
[Here and elsewhere there is a marked divergence between the texts of U and P, the Roman and
Paris MSS.: Bonnet prints them separately. P is on the whole much shorter. Syr. differs from
both. I follow U, but it is very corrupt.] which was promised unto them is for you that are heavily
burdened now. Ye are they that carry burdens grievous to be borne, and are borne about by her
command. And though ye are men, they lay on you loads as on brute beasts, for they that have
authority over you think that ye are not men such as themselves, whether bond or free. For
neither shall possessions profit the rich, nor poverty save the poor from judgement; nor have we
received a commandment which we are not able to perform, nor hath he laid on us burdens
grievous to be borne which we are not able to carry; nor building which men build; nor to hew
stones and prepare houses, as your craftsmen do by their own knowledge. But this
commandment have we received of the Lord, that that which pleaseth not us when it is done by
another this we should not do to any other man.
84 Abstain therefore first from adultery, for this is the beginning of all evils, and next from theft,
which enticed Judas Iscariot, and brought him unto hanging; (and from covetousness,) for as
many as yield unto covetousness see not that which they do; and from vainglory and from all
foul deeds, especially them of the body, whereby cometh eternal condemnation. For this is the
chief city of all evils; and likewise it bringeth them that hold their heads (necks) high unto
tyranny, and draweth them down unto the deep, and subdueth them under its hands that they see
not what they do; wherefore the things done of them are hidden from them.
85 But do ye become well-pleasing unto God in all good things, in meekness and quietness: for
these doth God spare, and granteth eternal life and setteth death at nought. And in gentleness
which followeth on all good things, and overcometh all enemies and alone receiveth the crown of
victory: with gentleness (Syr.), and stretching out of the hand to the poor, and supplying the want
of the needy, and distributing to them that are in necessity, especially them that walk in holiness.
For this is chosen before God and leadeth unto eternal life: for this is before God the chief city of
all good: for they that strive not in the course (stadium) of Christ shall not obtain holiness. And
ron
(Ron)
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