driver, saying: I entreat and pray that I may become worthy to sit beneath his feet, and I will be
his driver upon this way, that he also may become my guide in that way whereby few go.
69 And when they had journeyed about two miles, the apostle begged of the captain and made
him arise and caused him to sit by him, suffering the driver to sit in his own place. And as they
went along the road, it came to pass that the beasts were wearied with the great heat and could
not be stirred at all. And the captain was greatly vexed and wholly cast down, and thought to run
on his own feet and bring other beasts for the use of the chariot; but the apostle said: Let not
thine heart be troubled nor affrighted, but believe on Jesus Christ whom I have proclaimed unto
thee, and thou shalt see great wonders. And he looked and saw a herd of wild asses feeding by
the wayside, and said to the captain: If thou hast believed on Christ Jesus, go unto that herd of
wild asses and say: Judas Thomas the apostle of Christ the new God saith unto you: Let four of
you come, of whom we have need (or, of whom we may have use).
70 And the captain went in fear, for they were many; and as he went, they came to meet him; and
when they were near, he said unto them: Judas Thomas the apostle of the new God commandeth
you: Let four of you come, of whom I have need. And when the wild asses heard it, they ran with
one accord and came to him, and when they came they did him reverence. [Syr. has a long
prayer: And Judas Thomas the apostle of our Lord lifted up his voice in praise and said: Glorious
art thou, God of truth and Lord of all natures, for thou didst will with thy will, and make all thy
works and finish all thy creatures, and bring them to the rule of their nature, and lay upon them
all thy fear that they might be subject to thy command. And thy will trod the path from thy
secrecy to manifestation, and was caring for every soul that thou didst make, and was spoken of
by the mouth of all the prophets, in all visions and sounds and voices; but Israel did not obey
because of their evil inclination. And thou, because thou art Lord of all, hast a care for the
creatures, so that thou spreadest over us thy mercy in him who came by thy will and put on the
body, thy creature, which thou didst will and form according to thy glorious wisdom. He whom
thou didst appoint in thy secrecy and establish in thy manifestation, to him thou hast given the
name of Son, he who was thy will, the power of thy thought; so that ye are by various names, the
Father and the Son and the Spirit, for the sake of the government of thy creatures, for the
nourishing of all natures, and ye are one in glory and power and will; and ye are divided without
being separated, and are one though divided, and all subsists in thee and is subject to thee,
because all is thine. And I rely upon thee, Lord, and by thy command have subjected these dumb
beasts, that thou mightest show thy ministering power upon us and upon them because it is
needful, and that thy name might be glorified in us and in the beasts that cannot speak.] And the
apostle said unto them: Peace be unto you. Yoke ye four of you in the stead of these beasts that
have come to a stand. And every one of them came and pressed to be yoked: there were then four
stronger than the rest, which also were yoked. And the rest, some went before and some
followed. And when they had journeyed a little way he dismissed the colts, saying: I say unto
you the inhabiters of the desert, depart unto your pastures, for if I had had need of all, ye would
all have gone with me; but now go unto your place wherein ye dwell. And they departed quietly
until they were no more seen.
71 Now as the apostle and the captain and the driver went on, the wild asses drew the chariot
quietly and evenly, lest they should disturb the apostle of God. And when they came near to the
city gate they turned aside and stood still before the doors of the captain's house. And the captain
said: It is not possible for me to relate what hath happened, but when I see the end I will tell it.
ron
(Ron)
#1