answered

exceedingly.' Then answered those two men and said to him, 'Tell us indeed, Nabusumiskun the officer,

what you think, and we will listen to you.' Then answered Nabusumiskun the officer and said to them, 'Hear me,

seemed good to his companions, those two men. They answered and said to Nabusumiskun, the officer,

The lion went near to greet the ass saying, 'Peace be to thee'. The ass answered and said to the lion . . .

The leopard met the goat and she was cold. The leopard answered and said to the goat, 'Come, and I will cover thee with my hide.'

The goat answered and said to the leopard, 'What hast thou to do with me, my lord? Take not my skin from me.' For he does not

I will be silent. The sheep answered and said to him, 'Take for thyself what thou wilt take from us. We are thy sheep.'

. . . the pomegranate answered and said to the bramble, 'Thou art all thorns to him who touches thee.'

And Peter and John answered and said unto Him:—Tell us, O our Lord, the signs of the end, and all the deeds which shall then be [done] by them who live in this world, so that we also may make [them] known to them who believe in Thy Name in all the nations, that those generations may observe [them] and live. But Jesus answered and said:— ‘Did I not, before I suffered for those that dwell on the earth, tell you some things about the end? We answered and said, [Yea,] O our Lord; but now we desire to know the deeds which [are] the signs of the end of this world, if our Lord hath judged that this is fitting for us to know —for us, and for those who [shall] hear.

And Peter and John answered and said unto Him:—Tell us, O our Lord, the signs of the end, and all the deeds which shall then be [done] by them who live in this world, so that we also may make [them] known to them who believe in Thy Name in all the nations, that those generations may observe [them] and live. But Jesus answered and said:— ‘Did I not, before I suffered for those that dwell on the earth, tell you some things about the end? We answered and said, [Yea,] O our Lord; but now we desire to know the deeds which [are] the signs of the end of this world, if our Lord hath judged that this is fitting for us to know —for us, and for those who [shall] hear.

And Peter and John answered and said unto Him:—Tell us, O our Lord, the signs of the end, and all the deeds which shall then be [done] by them who live in this world, so that we also may make [them] known to them who believe in Thy Name in all the nations, that those generations may observe [them] and live. But Jesus answered and said:— ‘Did I not, before I suffered for those that dwell on the earth, tell you some things about the end? We answered and said, [Yea,] O our Lord; but now we desire to know the deeds which [are] the signs of the end of this world, if our Lord hath judged that this is fitting for us to know —for us, and for those who [shall] hear.

And Jesus answered and said:—In the time when I was in the world, I spoke unto you before I should be glorified, of signs that the end is near, thus:—that there shall be on earth famines and pestilences,’ tumults, and commotions, risings of nations against nations, and those other things whereof I have told you But I commanded you to watch and pray. And now hear, ye children of the light; for My Father who hath sent Me to His inheritance hath predetermined ” in His foreknowledge," that in the last days, out of the latest generation,” there should be vessels 18 [of grace] holy, and honoured, and elect. Wherefore I make known unto you exactly [what are] the things which are about to be, and when he shall arise, that Son of Perdition, the Enemy, the 1 Adversary,” and what he is like.

Then Martha and Mary, and Salome, who were with us,‘ answered and said:—Yea, O our Lord, teach us to know what we ought to do, that our souls may live unto Thee. Then Jesus answered and said unto them: I will that, persevering in supplication,’ ye should always serve My Gospel, and be examples of holiness, for the salvation of those who trust patiently’ in Me; and in all things be figures of the kingdom of heaven.

Then Martha and Mary, and Salome, who were with us,‘ answered and said:—Yea, O our Lord, teach us to know what we ought to do, that our souls may live unto Thee. Then Jesus answered and said unto them: I will that, persevering in supplication,’ ye should always serve My Gospel, and be examples of holiness, for the salvation of those who trust patiently’ in Me; and in all things be figures of the kingdom of heaven.

OF MALE AND FEMALE VIRGINS A male or female virgin is not instituted" or appointed 2 by man,” but is voluntarily separated and named [a virgin]. But a hand is not laid on him, as for virginity. For this division is of [their] own free will. But it is right for virgins that they be fixed and bound in the suffering of a sound body, that they be constant in fasts and in prayers, in weeping and in mourning daily; but that they alway expect a departure from the flesh, and strive as at the departure. Let them not serve raging or debauchery or drunkenness or vain talking, or [be engaged] in worldly work or in distrac- tion,’ but they are as one who is on’ the cross; let their hearts be [lifted] up, with all meekness of thought and comeli- ness, with meditation on the Holy Scriptures, with faithful thoughts’ with kind consolations, so that when they pray they may be answered concerning those things which they ask for the faithful who wish to provide for them. Let them not despise 1 [these things ()], so that through them also a portion of life may be divided to those Let them be confirmed in love and kindness and in true and perfect grace. Let them be constant in consolation, consoling their neighbours, catechising ' and teaching those who have lately been made faithful, in understanding and in knowledge and in kindness, inciting those who are very young, being ex- amples of holiness among them in all good things. Similarly also let the females do. But in order and in grace and in knowledge let them speak and work,” that they may truly be the salt of the earth as it is called. But” let females 8 who are virgins have their heads covered in the church, and let them hide only their hair; but let them be counted worthy of honour from every one, in order that the rest [of the women] who desire, may emulate them.