discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? CHAP. XLIV. HYPOCRISY. BEWARE ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. The hypocrite's hope shall perish. The congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate. What is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? An hypocrite shall not come before him. The hypocrites in heart heap up wrath. An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour. The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment. With a double heart do they speak which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. With their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him: having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Thou, which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? thou that sayest a mau should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? When thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily, I say But thou, unto you, They have their reward. when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father, which is in secret, and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for yé neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypecrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte and when he is made, ye make him two fold more the child of hell than yourselves. 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. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hyp crites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 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. Wherefore be ye witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell? CHAP XLV. IDOLATRY. FLEE from idolatry. Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols. Thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols ? We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. We write unto them that they abstain from pollutions of idols. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Covetousness is idolatry. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high min ded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the liv ing God, who, giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. They love greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Ye receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Let no man glory in men. He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I my self also am a man. Men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. We preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God. Repent and turn yourselves from your idols. What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. He that loveth Father or mother more than me, (Christ) is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not wor thy of me. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. All flesh shall come to worship before me, saith the Lord. At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. Let all the angels of God worship him. We worship God in the Spirit. Jesus 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. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. CHAP XLVI. IMMORTALITY, RESURRECTION, AND FUTURE JUDGMENT. THERE is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. The dust shall return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave. Though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Since by man came death by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? Some man will say, How are the dead raised |