The 15th Chapter
     Then resorted unto him all the publicans and sinners, for to hear him. And the Pharisees and Scribes murmured saying: He received to his company sinners, and eats with them. Then put he forth this similitude to them saying: What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until he find him? And when he has found him, he puts him on his shoulders with joy: And as soon as he comes home, he calls together his lovers and neighbors saying unto them: Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more then over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten *grotes, if she lose one, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently, till she find it? And when she has found it she calls her lovers and her neighbors saying: Rejoice with me, for I have found the grote which I had lost. Likewise I say unto you, joy is made in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents. *grotes : refers to grain; oats in Middle Eng
     And he said: a certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father: father, give me my part of the goods that to me belongs. And he divided unto them his substance. And not long after, the younger son gathered all that he had together, and took his journey into a far country, and there he wasted his goods with riotous living. And when he had spent all that he had, there rose a great dearth through out all that same land, and he began to lack. And he went and clave to a citizen of that same country, which sent him to his field, to keep his swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the *cods that the swine ate: and no man gave him. * coddes: of the original; may be cobbs
     Then he came to him self and said: how many hired servants at my fathers have bread enough, and I die for hunger. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him: father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son, make me as one of your hired servants. And he arose and went to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him: father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight, and am no more worthy to be called your son. But his father said to his servants: bringforth that best garment and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither that fatted calf, and kill him, and let us eat and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again, he was lost, and is now found. And they began to be merry. The elder brother was in the field, and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard minstrelsy and dancing, and called one of his servants, and asked what those things meant. And he said unto him: your brother is come, and your father had killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in. Then came his father out and entreated him. He answered and said to his father: Lo these many years have I done you service, neither brake at any time your commandment, and yet gave you me never so much as a kid to make merry with my lovers: but as soon as this your son was come, which has devoured your goods with harlots, you have for his pleasure killed the fatted calf. And he said unto him: Son, you was ever with me, and all that I have is thine: it was meet that we should make merry and be glad: for this your brother was dead, and is alive again: and was lost, and is found.

The 16th Chapter
     And he said also unto his disciples. There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, that was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. And he called him: and said unto him: How is it, that I hear this of you? Give accounts of your stewardship: for you may be no longer steward. The steward said with in him self: what shall I do? for my master will take away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg, I am ashamed. I wot (know) what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
     Then called he all his masters debtors, and said unto the first: how much owest you unto my master? And he said: an hundred tuns of oil. And he said to him: take your bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another: what owe you? And he said: an hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take your bill, and write fourscore. And the Lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely. For the children of this world are in their kind, wiser then the children of light. And I say also unto you: make you friends of the wicked mammon, that when you shall depart, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
     He that is faithful in that which is least the same is faithful in much. And he that is unfaithful in the least: is unfaithful also in much. So then if you have not been faithful in the wicked mammon, who will believe you in that which is true? And if you have not been faithful in another mans business: who shall give you your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he shall hate the one and love the other, or else he shall lean to the one and despise the other. you cannot serve God and mammon.
     All these things heard the Pharisees also which were covetous, and they mocked him. And he said unto them: you are they which justify yourselves before men: but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men, is abominable in the sight of God.
     The law and the Prophets reigned until the time of John: and since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man strives to go in. Sooner shall heaven and earth perish than one tittle of the law shall perish. Whosoever forsakes his wife and marries another, breaks matrimony. And every man which marries her that is divorced from her husband, commits *advoutry also.*advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God and his order and laws; being devoted to something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery
     There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine byss, and fared deliciously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which lay at his gate full of sores desiring to be refreshed with the crumbs which fell from the rich mans board. Nevertheless, the dogs came and licked his sores. And it fortuned that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
     And being in hell in torments, he lift up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and he cried and said: father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said unto him: Son, remember that you in your lifetime, received your pleasure, and contrary wise Lazarus pain. Now therefore is he comforted, and you are punished. Beyond all this, between you and us there is a great space set, so that they which would go from here, now to you cannot: neither may come from that place to us.
     Then he said I pray you therefore father, send him to my fathers house. For I have five brethren: for to warn them least they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him: they have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them. And he said: no father Abraham, but if one came unto them from the dead, they would repent. He said unto him: If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they believe, though one rose from death again.

The 17th Chapter
     Then said he to the disciples, it cannot be avoided but that offenses will come. Nevertheless woe be to him through whom they come. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the sea, then that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to your selves. If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him and if he repent, forgive him. And though he sin against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you saying: it repents me, forgive him.
     And the Apostles said unto the Lord: increase our faith. And the Lord said: if you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, and should say unto this sycamine tree, pluck yourself up by the roots, and plant yourself in the sea: he should obey you.
     Who is it of you if he had a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, that would say unto him when he were come from the field: Go quickly and sit down to meat: and would not rather say to him, dress wherewith I may sup, and gird up yourself and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken: and afterward, eat you, and drink you? does he thank that servant because he did that which was commanded unto him? I trow (think) not. So likewise ye, when you have done all those things which are commanded you say, we are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do.
     And it chanced as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through Samaria and Galile. And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers. Which stood afar off and put forth their voices and said: Jesu master, have mercy on us. When he saw them, he said unto them: Go and show yourselves unto the Priests. And it chanced as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was cleansed, turned back again, and with a loud voice praised God, and fell down on his face at his feet, and gave him thanks. And the same was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered and said: are there not ten cleansed? But where are those nine? There are not found that returned again, to give God praise save only this stranger. And he said unto him: arise, and go your way your faith has made you whole.
     When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come he answered them and said: The kingdom of God comes not with waiting for. Neither shall men say: Lo here, lo there. For behold the kingdom of God is with in you.
     And he said unto the disciples: The days will come, when you shall desire to see one day of the son of man, and you shall not see it. And they shall say to you: See here, See there. Go not after them, nor follow them, for as the lightning that appears out of the one part of the heaven: and shines unto the other part of heaven. So shall the son of man be in his days. But first must he suffer many things, and be refused of this nation.
     As it happened in the time of Noe: So shall it be in the time of the son of man. They ate, they drank, they married wives and were married, even unto the same day that Noe went into the Ark: and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also, as it chanced in the days of Lot. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built. And even the same day that Lot went out of Zodom (Sodom), it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. After these examples, shall it be in the day when the son of man shall appear.
     At that day he that is on the house top and his stuff in the house: let him not come down to take it out. And likewise let not him that is in the fields, turn back again to that he left behind. Remember Lots wife. Whosoever will go about to save his life, shall lose it: And whosoever shall lose his life, shall save it. I tell you in that night, there shall be two in one bed, that one shall be received and the other shall be forsaken. And they answered, and said unto him: where Lord? And he said unto them: wheresoever the body shall be, thither (thy there) will the eagles resort.

The 18th Chapter
     And he put forth a similitude unto them, signifying that men ought pray, and not to be weary saying: There was a Judge in a certain city, which feared not God neither regarded man. And there was a certain widow in the same city, which came unto him saying: avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while. But afterward he said unto himself: though I fear not God nor care for man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge least at the last she come and hag on me.
     And the Lord said hear what the unrighteous Judge says. And shall not God avenge his elect, which cry day and night unto him, ye though he defer them? I tell you he will avenge them and that quickly. Nevertheless, when the son of man comes, suppose you, that he shall find faith on the earth.
     And he put forth this similitude, unto certain which trusted in them selves that they were perfect, and despised other. Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharise stood and prayed thus with him self. God I thank you that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, *advoutrers, or as this publican. I fast twice in the week. I give tithe of all that I possess. And the publican stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast saying: God be mercyfull to me a sinner. I tell you this man departed home to his house justified more than the other. For every man that exalts himself, shall be brought low: An he that humbles himself, shall be exalted. *advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery
     They brought unto him also babes, that he should touch them. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said: Suffer (allow) children to come unto me, and forbid them not. For of such the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you: whosoever receives not the kingdom of God as a child, he shall not enter therein.
     And a certain ruler asked him saying: good master: what ought I to do, to obtain eternal life? Jesus said unto him: Why call you me good? None is good, save God only. You know the commandments: You shall not commit *advoutry: you shall not kill: you shall not steal: you shall not bear false witness: Honour your father and your mother. And he said: all these have I kept from my youth. When Jesus heard that, he said unto him: Yet lack you one thing. Sell all that you hast, and distribute it unto the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come, and follow me. When he heard that, he was heavy: for he was very rich. .*advoutry: prefix "a" meaning not or without, devout: devotion; plain hearted to God, being devoted to something or some one else. see James 2 for adultery
     When Jesus saw him mourn, he said: with what difficulty shall they that have riches, enter into the kingdom of God: it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Then said they that heard that: And who shall then be saved? And he said: Things which are unpossible with men are possible with God.
     Then Peter said: Lo we have left all, and have followed you. And he said unto them: Verily I say unto you, there is no man that leaves house, other father and mother, other brethren or wife, or children for the kingdom of Gods sake, which same shall not receive much more in this world: and in the world to come, life everlasting.
     He took unto him twelve, and said unto them. Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and all shall be fulfilled that are written by the Prophets of the son of man. He shall be delivered unto the gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shall be despitefully entreated, and shall be spitted on: and when they have scourged him, they will put him to death, and the third day he shall arise again. But they understood none of these things. And this saying was hid from them. And they perceived not the things which were spoken.
     And it came to pass, as he was come near unto Hericho (Jericho), a certain blind man sat by the way side begging. And when he heard the people pass by, he asked what it meant. And they said unto him, that Jesus of Nazareth passed by. And he cried saying: Jesus the son of David, have you mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace. But he cried so much the more, you son of David have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him saying: what will you that I do unto you? And he said: Lord that I may receive my sight. Jesus said unto him: receive your sight: your faith has saved you. And immediately he saw, and followed him, praising God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave laud to God.

CONTINUE

God's Truth