3 [ 56 ]: 2 "I will explain everything to thee," saith he; "and will show thee whatsoever things I
shall speak with thee. Keep the commandments of the Lord, and thou shalt be well-pleasing to
God, and shalt be enrolled among the number of them that keep His commandments.
3 [ 56 ]: 3 But if thou do any good thing outside the commandment of God, thou shalt win for
thyself more exceeding glory, and shalt be more glorious in the sight of God than thou wouldest
otherwise have been. If then, while thou keepest the commandments of God, thou add these
services likewise, thou shalt rejoice, if thou observe them according to my commandment."
3 [ 56 ]: 4 I say to him, "Sir, whatsoever thou commandest me, I will keep it; for I know that thou
art with me." "I will be with thee," saith he, "because thou hast so great zeal for doing good; yea,
and I will be with all," saith he, "whosoever have such zeal as this.
3 [ 56 ]: 5 This fasting," saith he, "if the commandments of the Lord are kept, is very good. This
then is the way, that thou shalt keep this fast which thou art about to observe].
3 [ 56 ]: 6 First of all, keep thyself from every evil word and every evil desire, and purify thy heart
from all the vanities of this world. If thou keep these things, this fast shall be perfect for thee.
3 [ 56 ]: 7 And thus shalt thou do. Having fulfilled what is written, on that day on which thou
fastest thou shalt taste nothing but bread and water; and from thy meats, which thou wouldest
have eaten, thou shalt reckon up the amount of that day's expenditure, which thou wouldest have
incurred, and shalt give it to a widow, or an orphan, or to one in want, and so shalt thou humble
thy soul, that he that hath received from thy humiliation may satisfy his own soul, and may pray
for thee to the Lord.
3 [ 56 ]: 8 If then thou shalt so accomplish this fast, as I have commanded thee, thy sacrifice shall
be acceptable in the sight of God, and this fasting shall be recorded; and the service so performed
is beautiful and joyous and acceptable to the Lord.
3 [ 56 ]: 9 These things thou shalt so observe, thou and thy children and thy whole household; and,
observing them, thou shalt be blessed; yea, and all those, who shall hear and observe them, shall
be blessed, and whatsoever things they shall ask of the Lord, they shall receive."
4 [ 57 ]: 1 I entreated him earnestly, that he would show me the parable of the estate, and of the
master, and of the vineyard, and of the servant that fenced the vineyard, [and of the fence,] and
of the weeds which were plucked up out of the vineyard, and of the son, and of the friends, the
advisers. For I understood that all these things are a parable.
4 [ 57 ]: 2 But he answered and said unto me; "Thou art exceedingly importunate in enquiries. Thou
oughtest not," [saith he,] "to make any enquiry at all; for if it be right that a thing be explained
unto thee, it shall be explained." I say to him; "Sir, whatsoever things thou showest unto me and
dost not explain, I shall have seen them in vain, and without understanding what they are. In like
manner also, if thou speak parables to me and interpret them not, I shall have heard a thing in
vain from thee."
4 [ 57 ]: 3 But he again answered, and said unto me; "Whosoever," saith he, "is a servant of God,
and hath his own Lord in his heart, asketh understanding of Him, and receiveth it, and
interpreteth every parable, and the words of the Lord which are spoken in parables are made
known unto him. But as many as are sluggish and idle in intercession, these hesitate to ask of the
Lord.
4 [ 57 ]: 4 But the Lord is abundant in compassion, and giveth to them that ask of Him without
ceasing. But thou who hast been strengthened by the holy angel, and hast received from him such
ron
(Ron)
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