Demonstration 22: On Death and the Last Times

Demonstration on Death and the Last Times The righteous, the meek, the good, and the wise are not afraid and do not tremble at death, because of the great hope that is before them. And they remember death at all times, which brings them out, and the last day on which the children of Adam are judged. And they know that in the decree of judgment death ruled, because Adam transgressed the commandment, as the Apostle said: that death ruled from Adam until Moses, and also over those who did not sin. Thus also over all the children of Adam it passed, in the likeness of what passed over Adam. And how did death rule from Adam until Moses? But when God laid down the commandment to Adam, He warned him thus and said to him: "On the day that you eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you shall die the death." And when he transgressed the commandment and ate from the tree, death ruled over him and over all his descendants, and also over those who did not sin, through the transgression of Adam's commandment death ruled over them. And why did he say that death ruled from Adam until Moses? And who is it that is inferior in knowledge, that he thinks that death ruled only from Adam until Moses? But let him understand from what he said, that it passed over all the children of men. However, it passed over all the children of men from Moses until the end of the world. But Moses proclaimed that his kingdom was abolished. For when Adam transgressed the commandment, death was decreed over his descendants. Thus death thought that it had bound all the children of men and would be king over them forever. And when Moses came, he proclaimed the resurrection. And death knew that his kingdom would be abolished. For Moses said that Reuben would live and not die, and would be among the living. And when the Holy One called to Moses from the bush, He said to him thus: "I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob." When death heard this word, he trembled and feared and was confounded and disturbed.

and he knows that he was not king forever over the sons of Adam, from the hour that he heard that God said to Moses: "I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob." He trembled in the hands of Death, for he knows that God is the king of the dead and of the living, and that he is destined to be for the sons of Adam, that they may come forth from the darkness and rise in their bodies. And see that also Jesus the Savior, when he taught this word to the Sadducees, when they were disputing with him about the resurrection of the dead, spoke thus: "God is not of the dead, because all of them are alive to him." And that God might show to Death that his authority is not forever over all the children of the world, he took Enoch to himself in his beauty, and made him immortal, and again he took Elijah up to heaven, and Death had no power over him. And the Scripture says that the Lord puts to death and brings to life, and brings down to Sheol and brings up. And Moses again said, as from the mouth of God: "I am he who puts to death, and I am he who brings to life." And again also Isaiah the prophet said: "Your dead shall live, and their corpses shall rise, and those who sleep in the dust shall be roused, and they shall praise you." When Death heard all these things, amazement seized him, and he sat in mourning. And when Jesus came, the slayer of Death, and put on a body from the seed of Adam, and was crucified in his body and tasted death, and when Death perceived that he had descended to him, he trembled from his place and was troubled, for he saw Jesus, and he shut his gates and was unwilling to receive him. Then he broke his gates and entered to him, and began to deliver all his captivity. When the dead saw the light in the darkness, they lifted their heads from the bondage of Death, and they looked and saw the face of the King Messiah. Then the forces of darkness sat in mourning, for Death was humbled from his authority, and Death the blind tasted his slayer, and his hands were loosed, and he knew that the dead live and come forth from his servitude.

and when he pressed Death with the strength of his staff, he wailed and cried out with his voice, raging and saying: "Get out of my place, and do not enter it! Who is this that enters the place of the living, which is mine?" And Death cried out in terror, for he saw that his darkness began to be undone for him. And from the righteous who were lying there, they rose up to go up with him, and he made known to him that when the end of the sacrifice comes, he brings out all the bound ones from his authority, and they go out to him to see the light. Then Jesus, when his service among the dead was fulfilled, Death expelled him from his place, and he did not endure that he remain there. And his food did not please him as it did all the dead, and he did not rule over the pious one, and he was not given to corruption. And when he expelled him, he cast him out from his place, and left with him the antidote of life, so that little by little his authority would be undone, like a man who takes the poison of death in food, given into the hand of the living. And when he perceived in himself that he had received the poison of death in the food, then he vomits from his stomach the morsel that the poison of death had overcome, and that poison leaves its power in his limbs, so that little by little the constitution of his body is loosened and corrupted. Jesus the dead one is the one who undoes Death, for through him the living reign, and Death is destroyed, for it is said to him: "Where is your victory, Death?" Now then, O sons of Adam, all over whom Death has ruled, remember Death, and be mindful of the living, and do not transgress the commandments, like that first father of yours. Or, O kings who wear the crown, remember Death, who took the crowns that were placed on your heads, and he became king over you, until the sacrifice of the Last Day when you will rise. Or, O proud and lofty and haughty ones, remember Death, the destroyer of pride, who loosens limbs and separates joints, and gives the body and its form to corruption, and the lofty are humbled in Death, and the bitter and harsh are buried in his darkness; he takes away all haughtiness.

and they are destroyed and become dust until the judgment. Or you rich, remember death! For when he becomes a thief and reaches you, then in your wealth and possessions you will not be able to help yourselves. He does not place a sweet taste before you, nor does he prepare a pleasant drink for you. Then the destroyer of bodies, of those who boast, is silent from boasting and does not remember them. The consuming worm then devours their bodies, and darkness covers their fine garments. They do not remember that this world is ended, that death will judge them when he comes to them, and they sit in the sign and shadow of death. And they do not recall this world until the end comes and they rise for judgment. Or you thieves and oppressors, and you murderers, remember death, and do not increase your sins, for in that place sinners do not sit, for the theft of a companion does not profit his own, and he goes to a place where wealth is not useful, and that one ceases and passes away with his honor, and his sins are stored up for the day of judgment. Or you who trust in this world, let this world be despised in your eyes, for you are sojourners and strangers in it, and you do not know on what day you will be taken from it. For death comes suddenly, and separates and takes beloved children from their parents, and parents are separated from their beloved children. He takes the only-begotten and precious ones to himself, and their parents are bereaved of them, and they become despised. He separates dear friends to himself, and their loved ones weep bitterly over them. He takes and confines to himself those who delight in beauty, and he destroys their form and corrupts their appearance. He takes those of handsome appearance to himself, and they become dust until the judgment. He takes betrothed women from their betrothed, and confines them in his deep place. And he takes and separates betrothed men from virgins who were betrothed to them, and in their name they are called betrothed.

and he sits over them in bitter mourning, and he took and gathered to himself all the beautiful youths who had hoped that death would not see them until old age. He took and gathered to himself the tender children of days, the beloved ones who had not yet tasted the bread of their fathers. He took to himself the rich, the sons of pride, and they left their treasures like pebbles of the sea. He took to himself the skilled craftsmen who sustain the world with wondrous works. He took to himself the ascetics and the wise, and they became fools who do not distinguish good from evil. He took to himself the wise men of this world, and their plans are confounded and never stand firm. He took to himself the mighty and the valiant, and their strength is brought low, and it is cast down and perishes, for they had trusted that their strength would not diminish. On the day of death their bodies are gathered, for their number is diminished, and those who had trusted that they would be buried with honor—the event of dogs devoured them. And those who had trusted that they would be buried in the land of their birth—they do not even know in what place their bones are gathered in disgrace. And those who had trusted in their treasures that they would bequeath to their sons—their wealth was hidden, for it was plundered by their enemies. Death took to himself the strong and the warriors who had hoped to destroy many a world. Death took to himself those who were zealous for their souls in every desire, and the grave became for them a place of burial. Death rules over those not yet born, and he binds them to himself before they are born. Death took to himself the honored ones of the proud, and they became in disgrace when they came to him, to his place of darkness where there is no light. He is not ashamed before kings who wear crowns, nor is he hidden from the lofty and the arrogant who destroy regions. Death does not spare the faces of the honored, nor does he accept bribes from the rich, nor is death appeased over the poor.

and he does not spare himself from anything. Death does not honor those who conducted themselves with pride, nor does it distinguish the good from the wicked. It does not consider the old more than the young in honor, and it treats masters of reason as if they had no understanding. The little ones, the small and the running and the playing, are there with him, the naked infants from their mothers' wombs. He took equally with him slaves and their masters, and the masters are not more honored there than their servants. The small and the great are there, and they do not hear the voice of the enslaver. The slave who is freed from his master is there, and he does not consider the one who enslaved him. Death bound and confined with him the great prisoners, and the prisoners are released by the cause of death, and they no longer fear their enslavers. Those who boast fear death, and the poor who are quickly taken away are miserable. All the rich tremble from death, and the poor who will be released from toil long for it. Death terrifies the powerful when they remember it, and the sick who will forget their pains in it long for it. Again, the children of days fear death, for when it comes upon them they leave their toys, and the old men of days pray to it, those who are weary for the bread of the day. The sons of peace remember death, and they leave and pass over anger and enmity. Like settlers they dwell in this world, and they prepare provisions for themselves for the future, while above they think and above they meditate, and beneath their eyes plans are spread out. They send their treasures to a place that has no end, a place without moth or worms. They dwell in the world like guests in a beloved place, and they long to be sent from this world and to go to the city, the place of the righteous. They press themselves in the place of settlement.

and does not tarry or delay in the house of the guests. Every day they set their faces upward, for they have gone to the feast of their fathers. Like prisoners they are in this world, and like beasts of burden for a king they are held. For they have no rest in this world, and there is no hope that they will remain forever. For those who have acquired many possessions do not rejoice, and those who have given birth to children have death as a sickness for them. For the cities that they built are not left behind, and they run and are rubbed out in something that they do not distinguish from fools, or a man who has no heart, whose trust is in this world. Remember, my beloved, and ponder and see in your mind: who from the first generations has remained in this world? For death has carried off the first generations, men and women and youths. Who has acquired many possessions and at the time of his departure took them with him? For with the earth he is buried, turned into its belly, and naked he goes out, a man from his possessions. The wise send their possessions before them, as Job said, whose witnesses are in heaven, and he said: My brothers and my friends are with God, and my Lord commanded my possessions that they should make for them friends in heaven; also the treasures that I stored up there. Remember also yourself for death, O wise scribe, lest your heart be lifted up and you err in judgment. Death does not leave the wise, and it does not spare the youths. Death has taken the wise scribes to itself, and they have erred from what they taught, until the time when all the righteous will rise. In that place they have erred from this world. There they have no need, and they love one another with abundant love. There is no weariness in their bodies, for they have lightly flown like doves to their nests. For in their minds they do not remember evil there, and no impurity comes into their hearts. There is no desire of nature in that place.

and they are free from all desires, so that anger and wrath do not enter their hearts. Also all the passions that give birth to sins are removed from them. Love for one another burns in their hearts, and envy is not fixed within them for the sake of gain. They do not trouble themselves about houses to build, for they dwell in light in the abodes of the saints. They do not trouble themselves about fine garments, for they are clothed in the light of the world to come. They do not trouble themselves about food, for they are sustained at the table of the world to come and are nourished for eternity. There desire and vanity are extinguished, and its light, beauty, and splendor flourish. There beautiful trees are planted, whose fruits do not fall, and whose leaves do not wither. Their branches are glorious, their scent is sweet, and their taste is a delight that never cloys for eternity. The place is spacious and does not become narrow, and its distance appears near to its inhabitants. There inheritance is not divided, and no one says to another, "This is mine and this is yours." They are not bound there by the bonds of covetousness, and they are not troubled there about debts. No one there loves his neighbor with excessive fear, but they all love one another equally in one manner. They do not take wives there, and they do not bear children, and there is no distinction between male and female there. Rather, they are all sons of the Father in heaven, as the prophet said: "Is there not one father for all? Or is there not one God the Creator?" And concerning what I said, that there they do not take wives, and there is no distinction between male and female, our Lord and his apostle taught us. For our Lord said that those who go to that world and to that resurrection from among the dead do not take wives, nor do women become men, because they cannot die. But they are like the angels in heaven and like the children of God. And the apostle said that there is no male and no female, and no slave and no free.

but all of you are one in Jesus Christ. For God showed to Fros a distinct lineage from Adam, that she might be the mother of all the living. Yet in that world there is no female, just as there is no female in heaven. And there is no birth or desire for intercourse. In that place there is no deficiency of any kind, but perfection and completeness. The old do not die, and the young do not grow old, for on account of the hope that the young would grow old and die, the young took wives and begot children, so that when the fathers died, the children would take their place. For all these things are used in this world. For in that place there is no need, no deficiency, no desire, no birth, no end, no destruction, no death, no old age, no decay, no disturbance, no wrath, no error, no weariness, no toil, no darkness, no night, no falsehood, and in that place there is no need at all. But that place is full of light and life, and joy, and fullness, and satiety, and renewal, and love, and all good qualities, both those that are written and those that are not recorded. For there is something there that the eye has not seen, and the ear has not heard, and that has not entered the heart of man, and something that cannot be spoken, and that no human can describe. And the Apostle said: "What God has prepared for those who love Him, when many men speak of it, they cannot describe it." And what the eye has not seen, the understanding cannot conceive; and what the ear has not heard, cannot be compared to anything that the ear has heard and the eye has seen; nor can they describe it. And what has not entered the heart, who is bold enough to speak about it? For concerning what has entered the heart, one can speak. But it is fitting to say that that place resembles and is called the dwelling place of God, and the place of life, the perfect place, the place of light, the place of glory.

the Sabbath of God, the day of rest, the rest of the righteous, the delight of the chaste, the dwelling and abode of the righteous and the holy, the land of hope, the house of trust, the strong, the land of treasure, a land that has no toil, and that removes afflictions, and wipes away tears, in which there is no one who resembles it or calls it that place. Again, death takes with it kings who sit on thrones and boast in pride, and it does not leave the lords of regions; death takes and carries away with it the greedy who are never satisfied, and they say, "Enough," and it is known concerning them more than what they knew. Death takes with it the plunderers, and they are not restrained by their own goodness from the plunder of their companions. Death takes with it the oppressors, and the cause of death is restrained from iniquity. Death takes with it the violent, and the oppressed are relieved a little until they too are taken and go there. And death takes with it those of many thoughts, and everything that was planned is dissolved and annulled; men think many plans, and death comes upon them in silence, and they are taken and are no longer remembered for anything they planned. There is a man who thinks for many hours, and a moment with him is not tomorrow; a man is raised up and boasts over his companion, and death comes upon him and nullifies his boasting. The rich man thinks to increase his possessions, and he does not know that even a small thing does not remain for him. Death takes with it all men, and gathers them into its abode until the judgment. Even over those who did not sin, it ruled, because of the judgment that Adam received through his sins. And the Life-giver, the slayer of death, comes and abolishes its authority over the chaste and over the wicked, and the dead rise at a mighty voice.

and death is stripped and removed from the whole Sabbath. And for judgment, all the sons of Adam are assembled. And each person goes to his place that is prepared for him. The resurrection of the righteous is ordained for life, and the resurrection of the wicked is consigned to death. The righteous who kept the commandments went and did not approach judgment on the day of their rising, as David asked: "Do not bring your servant into judgment." And their Lord did not move them on that day. And remember that the Apostle also said: "For the angels of judgment sin." And the Lord said to his disciples: "You shall sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of the house of Israel." And Ezekiel spoke concerning the righteous men who are the judges of the people of Ahela and Aheliba. For the righteous who are destined to judge the wicked, I make known concerning them that they do not enter into judgment. And concerning what the Apostle said: "For the angels of judgment sin," hear, O bishop. For the angels who are judged with the apostles are the priests who entered into the law, as the prophet said: "The lips of the priest guard knowledge, and the law is asked from his mouth," because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts. The angels who are priests, and the law is asked from their mouths when they enter into the law, are judged at the end with the apostles and the priests who keep the law. And the wicked do not rise in judgment, nor do sinners in the company of the righteous. And just as the righteous who are perfect in good works do not enter into judgment to be judged, so also the wicked, whose sins are many and the measure of their debts is heavy, these it is not fitting that they approach judgment, but when they rise, they are turned to Sheol, as David said: "The wicked are turned to Sheol," and all the peoples who err from God. And Isaiah said: "All the peoples are like a drop from a bucket, and like the dregs of a measure.

and the nations are as though they were nothing in his sight; they are counted for destruction and the sword. Now learn and be convinced, that all the nations which do not know God, their maker, are as nothing in God's sight, and do not approach his judgment. But when they rose up, they turned them to Sheol. And the rest of the whole world, which are called sinners, stand in judgment and are instructed. For those who have few faults are like them: the heads of judgment, and he makes known to them that they have erred, and gives them an inheritance of life after judgment. And he understood that he made known, my Lord, in his gospel, that each person receives his reward according to his labor. He who takes money shows profit; he who works with his hand and his talent, a tenth, receives complete life, lacking nothing. And he who works with his hand and his talent, five hundred, receives half of ten. One is master of ten hundred, and one of five. And he understood and saw that the profit of five is less than that of ten, and the workers who ask for wages are more than those who take and are silent, who worked all day. While their faces are uncovered, they take wages, and ask in confidence that more be added to them. And those who worked one hour take while being silent, and know that they are sustained and live by grace. Those sinners whose sins are many are condemned from the house of judgment and go to affliction. And from then on, judgment is valid. Again, hear the apostle who says that each person receives his reward according to his labor. He who works little takes as though nothing; and he who runs much is rewarded according to his running. And Job also says that it is fitting for God to do iniquity, and it is fitting for him to do sin, because according to the deeds of a man's son he rewards him, and a man finds according to his ways. And the apostle also says that a star surpasses a star in its light; so also the life of the dead.

Now know that even when they enter into life, the children of men are not equal. For recompense is greater than recompense, and glory is greater than glory, and reward is much greater than reward, and rank is higher than its companion, and light is more splendid than light in its appearance. The sun is greater than the moon, and the moon is greater than the stars that are with it. And see that the moon and the stars are also under the dominion of the sun, and their light is swallowed up in the radiance of the sun. And the sun has no dominion over the moon and the stars, because it does not abolish the night, which is separate from the day. And when the sun was created, it was called a luminary. And see that the sun, the moon, and the stars—all of them were called luminaries, but one luminary is greater than another luminary. The sun dims the light of the moon, and the moon darkens the light of the stars, and one star is greater than another star in its light. And observe also from this world: from among laborers in labor, and hired workers who work with their companions, there is one who hires himself to his companion for a day's wage, and at the end of his day he receives the reward of his labor. And there is one who hires himself for a month of days, and calculates and receives his wage at the end of the term, and the wage of a day is distinct from that of a month, and the wage of an hour is greater than that of a month. And again, observe from the authority of the world: there are those who please the king by their services and receive honor from the holders of authority. There is one who receives a crown from the king, so that he becomes a governor over one of the regions. And there is one to whom the king gives villages under his authority, and he is also greater in his garments than one who is inferior to him. And there are those who receive gifts and presents, and honor is distinguished from its companion. And there is one to whom the king gives honor, so that he becomes a chief of the house over the entire treasury. And there is one who, according to his lowliness, serves the king, and his authority is only over the bread of the day. And also concerning evil recompense, I say that it is not equal for everyone, for the one who is very wicked is greatly punished.

And do not think that it is small, for it is great. The one who is tormented is small. Some go down to the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. And some fall into the fire as if it were equal, for it is not written that their teeth are ground, nor that there is darkness there. And some fall into another place, a place where their worms do not die and their fire is not extinguished, and they become a wonder to all flesh. And some have a door shut in their faces, and the judge says to them, "I do not know you." And understand that just as the recompense for good deeds is not equal for everyone, so also for evil deeds, they are not adjudged in one form among the evil ones, but each one is given recompense according to his deeds. For the judge is clothed in severity and does not take bribes from anyone. And just as I have informed you about the world, how one is more honored than his companion, and kings and rulers of the world place themselves beneath their hands, so also concerning this I inform you how there are good gifts for kings, which they give to their honored ones. Likewise also in the prison, prisoners, chains, and fetters of various kinds of bonds: some commit an offense against the king, a great offense, and are condemned to death without inquiry; and some commit an offense but are not condemned to death, but are imprisoned until they are judged and beaten, and the king passes over their offense; and some are seized by the king's will, and are released from prison without chains and without bonds, and are adorned, and the slain are distinguished from the prisoner, and one is set above another's head according to the gravity of his offense. And come to the Paraclete, who says that many are the dwellings in the house of my father. My beloved, the children of men are perplexed by the smallness of their understanding concerning this matter that I have written to you, and they say, "Where is the place where the righteous receive a good recompense, and where is the place where the tormented are?

in which the wicked receive punishment upon the heads of their deeds. Or a man who is tormented in this way. I ask you, tell me: what is death, that it is called death? And what is Sheol, that it is called Sheol? For it is written that when Korah and his companions divided against Moses, the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, and they went down alive to Sheol. Therefore, the mouth of Sheol is that which was opened in the desert. And David said that the wicked are turned to Sheol. They say that Sheol, which swallowed Korah and his companions, is the same place to which the wicked are turned. For God has power, that if he wishes, he can give life in heaven, or if it pleases him, on earth. Our Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs." And to one of the thieves who were crucified with him, who believed in him, he said, "You will be with me in the Garden of Eden." And the Apostle said that when the righteous rise, they fly upward to the air of the Savior. But they say this: that what the Savior said is true, that heaven and earth will pass away. And the Apostle said that the hope which is seen is not hope. And the prophet said that heaven will pass away like smoke, and earth like a garment will wear out, and its inhabitants likewise. And Job said concerning those who lie down, that until heaven wears out, they will not be roused, nor will they know their hour. From these things it is evident that this earth, in which the sons of Adam are sown, and the firmament above them, are for the sons of men. This firmament is set as a division between the upper heavens and the earth of the living. These pass away, wear out, and are destroyed. And God makes a new creation for the sons of Adam, and they inherit inheritances in the kingdom of heaven. Whether on earth he gives them the kingdom of heaven, it is called; or in heaven, it is easy for him to do. For the kings of the world, even when each one sits in his own place, each one of them.

in every place where its authority reaches, its own kingdom is called. And the bright sun, which is fixed in the firmament, its rays are spread to every place. Its authority suffices in the sea and on the dry land. And see that also the rulers of the world have prisons and tortures in every place and in every region. They take with them their prisons wherever they go. And in every place that pleases them, they make a house of prisoners. For the sun revolves in twelve hours, from the east to the west. And when its course is finished, its light is hidden at night, and it is not judged at night in its authority. And in the hours of the night, the sun turns in its swift course, and begins again its course in its circuit. And the sun that is with you, is it wise? From your youth until the end of your old age, you do not know where it goes and revolves at night, to the place of its course. For it is hidden from you, it is necessary for you to believe. These reminders I have written for my brothers and my beloved, the sons of the church of God, that in every place, they may remember that they have arrived. For those who read in them, that even my smallness may be remembered in their prayers. And know that I am sinful and deficient, but this is my faith: that in these written heads I have placed from the beginning and written, the foundation of faith. And upon faith, the works of righteousness are built. And from faith, the two commandments of love are increased. And after love, I wrote about fasting in its demonstration and in its works. And after fasting, I wrote about prayer in its fruits and its works. And after prayer, I wrote about war. And what I wrote about Daniel concerning the kingdoms. And after war, I wrote about the zeal of the sons of the covenant. And after the sons of the covenant, I wrote about repentance. And after repentance, I wrote about the resurrection of the dead. And after the resurrection of the dead, I wrote about humility. And after humility, I wrote about the teaching of the pastors. And after the teaching of the pastors, I wrote about circumcision.

that the people of the Jews boast in it. And after the Circumcision, I wrote concerning Passover and concerning the fourteenth day. And after Passover, I wrote concerning the Sabbath on which the Jews take pride. And after the Sabbath, I wrote the disputation concerning the persecution that happened in the days. And after the disputation, I wrote concerning the foods that defile the Jews. And after the foods, I wrote concerning the nations that entered and became heirs in place of the first people. And after the nations, I wrote and made known that there is a Son to God. And after the Son of God, I wrote against the Jews who blaspheme against virginity. And after the treatise on virginity, I wrote again against the Jews who say that it is not fitting to contend. And after that treatise, I wrote concerning the gifts of the poor. And after the poor, I wrote the demonstration on the persecuted. And after the persecuted, I wrote at the end concerning death and the last times. These twenty-two discourses I wrote concerning the twenty-two letters. I wrote the first ten in the year six hundred and forty-eight of the kingdom of Alexander son of Philip the Macedonian, as is written at their end. And these last twelve I wrote in the year six hundred and fifty-five of the kingdom of the Greeks and the Romans, which is the kingdom of Alexander, and in the year thirty-five of the Persian king. These things I wrote as I was able; for if anyone reads these discourses and finds words that do not agree with his opinion, let him not blame me, because everything that is written in these chapters is not written for the opinion of one person, nor for the disputation of one reader, but for the opinion of the whole Church and for the disputation of the whole faith. And if he reads and hears the disputation well, good; but if not, I have nothing to say, for I wrote for the sake of the disputants, not for the mockers.

And again, if one finds that the words are spoken in one manner to one person, and to another wise person in another manner, let him not be troubled by this. For each one speaks to his hearers according to what he understands. And I, who have written these things, have not completed all the words for every reader, but I speak thus: that the wise have spoken well, and it has seemed good to me to speak thus. And if someone speaks and shows me something according to his opinion, I accept it from him without contention. Everyone who reads the holy scriptures, both the earlier and the later, in both Testaments, and reads with discernment, learns and teaches. And if he is perplexed about something he does not understand, he does not reject the teaching of the author, but if he finds words that are difficult for him and does not grasp their force, he says thus: that what is written is well written, but I have not attained to understand it. And if he inquires about difficult words from the wise and learned who are skilled in teaching, when they speak to him about one word, ten wise men may give him ten aspects that please him, and he accepts what pleases him, and what does not please him he does not reject among the wise. For the word of God is like a spring of water, which, however one turns its aspect, shows a fair appearance. And remember the saying of David: "From all my teachers I have learned." And the Apostle says: "Every scripture that is of the Spirit, I have read as being of God, and I take whatever is small and good, and flee from every evil opinion." For if one whose days are many, like all the days of the world from Adam to the end of times, were to sit and read the holy scriptures, he would not grasp all the force of the depth of the words. And concerning the wisdom of God, no one can stand against it, as I wrote in the tenth discourse. However, all the discourses that are not taken from the great treasury are filled with trivial and base words.

For the image of the king is received in every place it goes. But where there is a blemish, it is rejected and not received. And if someone says that these discourses were spoken to such a one, that teacher teaches, and he was not commanded to trouble the speaker. I also, in my smallness, wrote these things. At the beginning of the offspring from Adam, and fashioned by the hands of God, I am a disciple of the holy scriptures. For the Lord said that everyone who asks receives, and who seeks finds, and who knocks, it is opened to him. And the prophet said, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh in the last days, and they will be saved. Therefore, whoever reads, as I have written above, let him read with discernment and pray for the speaker, the brother of the inner [circle], that by the petition of the whole church of God, his sins may be forgiven, and the reader may remember that it is written that the sower and the reaper rejoice together, and each person receives his reward according to his labor. And there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed to every person. Completed is the Demonstration on Death and the Last Times.