1   Neuerthelesse concerning the tokens, beholde, the times shall come, that they which dwel vpon earth, shalbe taken in a great nomber, and the way of the trueth shalbe hidde, and the land shalbe barren from faith,

2   And ^note iniquitie shall be increased more then thou hast seene now, or hast heard in time past.

3   And it shall come to passe, that one shall set in foote, and thou shalt see the land desolate, which now reigneth.

4   Yea, if God graunt thee to liue, thou shalt see after the thirde trumpet, that the sunne shall suddenly shine againe in the night, & the moone three times a day.

5   Blood shall droppe out of the wood, and the stone shall giue his voyce, and the people shall bee mooued.

6   And he shall rule, of whome they hope not that dwell vpon earth, and the foules shall change place.

7   And the sea of Sodom shall cast out fish, and make a noyse in the night, which many shall not know, but they shall all heare the voyce thereof.

8   There shall bee a confusion in many places, and the fire shall oft breake foorth, and the wilde beastes shall change their places, and menstruous women shall beare monsters,

9   And salt waters shall be found in the sweete, and all friendes shall fight one against another: then shall wit hide it selfe, and vnderstanding depart into his secret chamber.

10   It shall be sought of many, and yet not bee founde: then shall vnrighteousnes and voluptuousnesse haue the vpper hand vpon earth.

11   One land also shall aske another, and say, Is righteous iustice gone thorowe thee? And it shall say, No.

12   At the same time shal men hope, but not obteine: they shall labour, but their enterprises shall not prosper.

13   To shewe thee such tokens I haue leaue, and if thou wilt pray againe and weepe as nowe, and fast seuen dayes, thou shalt heare yet greater thinges then these.

14   ¶2; Then I awaked, and a fearefulnesse went thorowe all my body, and my minde was feeble and fainted.

15   But the Angell that was come to talke with mee, helde mee, comforted me, and set me vp vpon my feete.

16   And in the seconde night, Salathiel the captaine of the people came vnto mee, saying, Where hast thou bene? and why is thy countenance so heauie?

17   Knowest thou not that Israel is committed vnto thee in the land of their captiuitie?

18   Vp then and eate, and forsake vs not, as the shephearde that leaueth his flocke in the handes of the cruel wolues.

19   Then saide I vnto him, Goe thy wayes from me, and come not neere me: and when he heard it, he went from me.

20   And I fasted seuen dayes, mourning and weeping, as Vriel the Angel had commaunded me.

21   And after seuen dayes the thoughtes of mine heart were very grieuous vnto me againe.

22   And I had a desire to reason againe, and I beganne to talke with the most High againe,

23   And saide, O Lord, Lorde: of euery forest of the earth, and of all the trees thereof thou hast chosen thee one onely vineyarde.

24   And of all lands of the world thou hast chosen thee one pit, and of all the floures of the ground thou hast chosen thee one lilie.

25   And of all the depthes of the sea thou hast filled thee one riuer, and of all builded cities thou hast sanctified Sion vnto thy selfe.

26   And of all the foules that are created, thou hast named thee one doue, and of all the cattel that are made, thou hast appointed thee one sheepe.

27   And among all the multitude of people thou hast gotten thee one people, and vnto this people whome thou louedst, thou gauest a Lawe, that is proued of all.

28   And now, O Lord, why hast thou giuen this one people ouer vnto many? and vpon one roote thou hast set others, and hast scattered thine onely people among many.

29   They treade them downe, which haue withstand thy promises, and beleeue not thy testimonies.

30   And if thou diddest so much hate thy people, they shoulde haue bene punished with thine owne handes.

31   ¶2; Now when I had spoken these wordes, the Angell that came to mee the night afore, was sent vnto mee,

32   And said vnto me, Heare me, and I will teach thee, and hearken that I may instruct thee further.

33   And I said, Speake on, my Lord. Then said he vnto me, Thou art sore vexed and troubled for Israels sake. Louest thou them better, then he doeth that made them?

34   And I said, No, Lord: but of very sorow haue I spoken: for my raines paine me euery houre, while I labour to comprehend the way of the most High, and to seeke out part of his iudgement.

35   And he said vnto me, Thou canst not. And I saide, Wherefore, Lord, wherefore was I borne? or why was not my mothers wombe then my graue? so had I not seene the trouble of Iacob, and the griefe of the stocke of Israel.

36   And he saide vnto me, Nomber vnto me the things that are not yet come, or gather me the drops that are scattered, or make me the withered flowers greene againe.

37   Open me the places that are closed, and bring mee foorth the windes, that are shutte vp therein: shewe me the image of a voyce, and then will I declare thee the thing, that thou askest and labourest to knowe.

38   And I saide, O Lorde, Lorde, who can knowe these thinges, but hee that hath not his dwelling with men?

39   But I that am ignorant, how can I speake of these things whereof thou askest me?

40   Then said he vnto me, Like as thou canst doe none of these things, that I haue spoken of, so canst thou not finde out my iudgement, nor the least benefite, that I haue promised vnto my people.

41   Then I said, Beholde, O Lord, the last things are present vnto thee, and what shall they doe that haue bene before mee, or we that be nowe, or they that shall come after vs?

42   And hee saide vnto me, I will compare my iudgement vnto a ring: as there is no slacknesse of the last, so is there no swiftnesse of the first.

43   Then I answered, and saide, Couldest thou not make at once those that haue bene, those that are now, & those that shal come, that thou mightest shewe thy iudgement the sooner?

44   Then answered hee mee, The creature, sayd hee, can not preuent the Creator, neither can the worlde holde them at once, that shall bee created therein.

45   And I saide, As thou hast taught thy seruant, that thou, which giuest strength to all, hast giuen life at once to all the worke created by thee, and hast susteined it, so might it nowe also conteine all men at once.

46   And he saide vnto me, Aske the wombe of a woman, and say vnto her, Why must thou haue time before thou bringest foorth? require her to bring foorth tenne at once.

47   And I said, Surely she cannot, but by distance of time.

48   Then saide hee vnto me, So haue I deuided the nomber of the earth by times when seede is sowen vpon it.

49   For as a yong childe begetteth not that that belongeth to the aged, so haue I ordeined the time which I haue created.

50   ¶2; I asked againe, & said, Seeing thou hast now shewed mee the way, I will proceede to speake before thee: for our mother, whom thou hast told me is yong, draweth she neere vnto age?

51   He answered me, and said, Aske a woman that traueileth, and she will tell thee.

52   Say vnto her, Wherefore are not they (whom thou hast now brought foorth) like those that were before thee, but lesse of stature?

53   And she shall answere thee, Some were borne in the flower of youth, others were borne in the time of age, when the wombe failed.

54   Consider now thy selfe, how that ye are lesse of stature, then those that were before you,

55   And so are they that come after you, lesse then ye, as the creatures which nowe beginne to be olde, and haue passed ouer the strength of youth.

56   Then saide I, Lorde, I beseech thee, if I haue founde fauour in thy sight, shewe thy seruant, by whome doest thou gouerne thy workemanship?

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