Be double minded. d Let the writing be far from us. * James, i. 8. y Compare yourselves 10 Wherefore let us not waver, neither let us have any doubt in our hearts, of his excellent and glorious gifts. d 11 Let that be far from us which is written, Miserable are the double-minded, and those who are doubtful in their hearts. 12 Who say, These things have we heard, and our fathers have told us these things. But behold we are grown old, and none of them has happened unto us. 13 O ye fools! consider the trees; take unto a tree. the vine for an example. First it sheds its leaves; then it buds: after that it spreads its leaves; then it flowers; then comes the sour grapes; and after them follows the ripe fruit. Ye see how in a little time the fruit of the trees comes to maturity. & Ex. omitted by 14 Of a truth, yet a little while and his will shall suddenly be accomplished. 15 The Holy Scriptures itself bearing witMs. ness, that He shall quickly come and not Junius, Hab. tarry, and that the Lord shall suddenly come lach. iii. 1. to his temple, even the holy one whom you look for. ii. 3. Ma ▲ Coteler. Άγγελος, i See. h 16 Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord docs continually show us, that there shall be a future resurrection; of which he has made our Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits, raising him from the dead. 17 Let us contemplate, beloved, the rej Made every Surrection that is continually made before season. our eyes. 18 Day and night manifest a resurrection to The night lies down, and the day arises; again the day departs, and the night comes us. on. 19 Let us behold the fruits of the earth. Every one sees how the seed is sown. The the sower goes forth, and casts it upon earth; and the seed which, when it was sown, fell upon the earth dry and naked, in time dissolves. 20 And from the dissolution, the great power of the providence of the Lord raises it again; and of one seed many arise, and bring forth fruit. * Went forth, and so in the rest. CHAP. XII. The resurrection further proved. LET us consider that wonderful 'type of sign. the resurrection, which is seen in the Eastern countries; that is to say, in Arabia. 2 There is a certain bird called a phoenix: of this there is never but one at a time; and that lives five hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near, that it must die, it makes itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices, into which, when its time is fulfilled, it enters and dies. 3 But its flesh, putrefying, breeds a certain worm, which, being nourished with the juice of the dead bird, brings forth feathers; and Animal. when it is grown to "a perfect state, it takes Strong. up the nest in which the bones of its parent Progenitor. lie, and carries it from Arabia into Egypt, to a city called Heliopolis. 4 And flying in open day in the sight of all men, lays it upon the altar of the sun, and so returns from whence it came. 5 The priests then search into the records of the time; and find that it returned precisely at the end of five hundred years. P 6 And shall we then think it to be any DO. very great and strange thing for the Lord of all to raise up those that religiously serve him in the assurance of a good faith, when even by a bird he shows us the greatness of his power to fulfil his promise? 7 For he says in a certain place, Thou shalt raise me up, and I shall confess unto thee. 9 Psalm iii. 5. 8 And again, 'I laid me down and slept, and awaked, because thou art with me. Job xix. 26. 9 And again, Job says, Thou shalt raise up this flesh of mine, that has suffered all these things. • Let our minds be fas tened. 12. Majesty. 10 Having therefore this hope, let us hold fast to him who is faithful in all his promises, and righteous in all his judgments; who has commanded us not to lie, how much more will he not himself lie? 11 For nothing is impossible with God, but to lie. 12 Let his faith then be stirred up again in us; and let us consider that all things are nigh unto him. 13 By the word of his 'power he made all His word. things; and by "the same word he is able, (whenever he will,) to destroy them. • Wisd. xii. 14 Who shall say unto him, What dost thou? Or who shall resist the power of his strength? 10 MS. ποιήσει. If the, &c. 15 When, and as he pleased, "he will do all things; and nothing shall pass away of all that has been determined by him. 16 All things are open before him; nor can any thing be hid from his counsel. I 17 The heavens declare the glory of God, Psalm xix. 1. and the firmament showeth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. CHAP. XIII. It is impossible to escape the vengeance of God, if we continue in sin. SEEING then all things are seen and heard by God, let us fear him, and let us lay aside our wicked works which proceed from ill desires, that through his mercy we may be de- Covered. livered from the condemnation to come. y 2 For whither can any of us flee from his mighty hand? Or what world shall receive. any of those that run away from him? a 3 For thus saith the Scripture in a certain. place, Whither shall I flee from thy spirit, or where shall I hide myself from thy presence? 4 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I shall go to the utmost parts of the earth, there is thy right hand: if I shall make my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is there. 5 Whither then shall any one go? or whither shall he run from him that comprehends all things? * Judgments a Ps. cxxxix. 6 Let us therefore come to him with holiness of heart, lifting up chaste and undefiled Mind. hands unto him: loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us to partake of his election. d с d A part. Deut. xxxii. 8, 9. 7 For so it is written, When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations, according to the number of his angels: his people Jacob became the portion So the Ixx. of the Lord, and Israel the lot of his inherit ance. e f Deut. iv. 8 And in another place he saith, Behold, 34. the Lord taketh unto himself a nation, out of the midst of the nations, as a man taketh the Isa. xi. 1. first-fruits of his flour, and the Most Holy shall come out of that natior. A Jam. iv. 6. 1 Pet. v. 5. iThe grace of God has been given. j Works. A He that speaketh many things shall also hear, &c. LXX. g CHAP. XIV. How we must live that we may please God. WHEREFORE, we being a part of the Holy One, let us do all those things that pertain unto holiness: 2 Fleeing all evil-speaking against one another; all filthy and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness, youthful lusts, abominable concupiscences, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. 3 For God, saith he, resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. 4 Let us therefore hold fast to those to whom God has given his grace. 5 And let us put on concord, being humble, temperate; free from all whispering and detraction; and justified by our actions, not our words. 6 For he saith, Doth he that speaketh and heareth many things, and that is of a ready tongue, suppose that he is righteous? BlesJob xi. 2,3, sed is he that is born of a woman, that liveth but a few days: "use not therefore much speech. Be not much in words. of 9 Let our praise be of God, not of ourAre praised selves, for God hateth those that "commend themselves. 8 Let the witness of our good actions be given to us of others, as it was given to the holy men that went before us. 9 Rashness, and arrogance, and confidence, |