1   Hee answered mee then, and saide, Measure the time with it selfe, and when thou seest that one part of the tokens come to passe, which I haue told thee before,

2   Then shalt thou vnderstande, that it is the time wherein the most High will beginne to visite the worlde which he made.

3   Therefore when there shalbe seene an ^note earthquake in the world, and an vprore of the people,

4   Then shalt thou vnderstande that the most High spake of those thinges, from the dayes that were before thee, euen from the beginning.

5   For as all that is made in the worlde, hath a beginning and an ende, and the ende is manifest,

6   So the times also of þe; most High haue plaine beginnings in wonders and signes, and ende in effect and miracles.

7   And euery one that shall escape safe, and shall be deliuered by his workes, and by the faith wherein ye haue beleeued,

8   Shalbe preserued from the said perils and shal see my saluation in my land, and within my borders: for I haue kept me holy from the world.

9   Then shall they haue pitie of them selues, which nowe haue abused my wayes: and they that haue cast them out despitefully, shall dwel in paines.

10   For such as in their life haue receiued benefites, and haue not knowen me,

11   But haue abhorred my lawe, while they were yet in libertie, and when they had yet leysure of amendment, & would not vnderstand but despised it,

12   They must be taught it after death by paine.

13   And therefore be thou no more carefull, to knowe how the vngodly shall be punished, but inquire howe the righteous shall be saued, and whose the world is, and for whom it is, and when.

14   Then answered I, and said,

15   I haue afore saide that which I say nowe and will speake it hereafter, that there bee many moe of them which perish, then of them that shall bee ^note saued,

16   As the flood is greater then a drop.

17   And he answered me, saying, As the field is, so is also the seede: as the flowers be, so are the colours also: such as the workeman is, such is the worke: and as the husbandman is, so is his husbandrie: for it was the time of the world.

18   Surely when I prepared the world, which was not yet made for them to dwel in that now liue, no man spake against me.

19   For then euery one obeyed, but now the maners of them that are created in this worlde, that is made, are corrupted by a perpetuall seede, and by a Lawe, whereout they cannot ridde themselues.

20   So I considered the world, and beholde there was perill, because of the deuises, that were sprung vp into it.

21   Yet when I sawe it, I spared it greatly, and haue kept mee one grape of the cluster, and a plant out of a great people.

22   Let therefore the multitude perish, which are borne in vaine: and let my grape bee kept, and my plant, which I haue dressed with great labour.

23   ¶2; Neuerthelesse, if thou wilt cease seuen dayes moe (but thou shalt not fast in them,

24   But shalt goe into a faire fielde, where no house is builded, and shalt eate onely of the floures

of the fielde, and eate no flesh, nor drinke wine, but the flowers onely,

25   And pray vnto the most High continually) then will I come, and talke with thee.

26   So I went my way, as he had commaunded me into the field, which is called Ardath, & there I sate among the flowers, & did eate of the herbes of the fielde, and the meate of the same satisfied me.

27   And after seuen dayes, as I sate vpon the grasse, & mine heart was vexed within me, as afore,

28   I opened my mouth, and began to talke before the most High, and to say,

29   O Lord, when thou wouldest shewe thy selfe vnto vs, ^note thou declaredst thy selfe vnto our fathers in þe; wildernes, in a place where no man dwelleth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt,

30   And expresly spakest vnto them, saying, Heare me, O Israel, and marke my wordes, thou seede of Iacob.

31   For beholde, I sowe my Lawe in you, that it may bring forth fruite in you, and that ye may be honoured by it for euer.

32   But our fathers which receiued the Lawe, kept it not, neither obserued thine ordinances, neither did the fruit of the Law appeare, neither could it, for it was thine.

33    ^noteFor they that receiued it, perished because they kept not the thing that was sowen in them.

34   And lo, it is a custome when the ground receiueth seede, or the sea a ship, or a vessell meate and drinke, if that perish wherein a thing is sowen, or wherein any thing is put,

35   Likewise the thing that is sowen, or is put therein, & the things that are receiued, must perish: so the things that are receiued, doe not remaine with vs: but in vs it commeth not so to passe.

36   For we that haue receiued the Lawe, perish in sinne, and our heart also which receiued it.

37   But the Lawe perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.

38   ¶2; And when I spake these things in mine heart, I looked about me, & vpon the right side ^note I sawe a woman, which mourned sore, and lamented with a loude voyce, and was grieued in heart, and rent her clothes, and she had ashes vpon her head.

39   Then I left my thoughtes, wherein I was occupied, and turned me vnto her,

40   And said vnto her, Wherefore weepest thou? why art thou so sory in minde?

41   And she sayd vnto me, Sir, let me alone, that I may bewayle my selfe, and increase sorowe: for I am sore vexed in my minde, & brought very lowe.

42   Then I sayd vnto her, What ayleth thee? tell me.

43   And she sayde vnto me, I thy seruant haue bene baren, and haue had no childe, hauing an husband thirtie yeeres.

44   And euery houre, and euery day these thirtie yeeres I pray to the most High day and night.

45   And after thirtie yeeres God heard me thine handmayd, and looked vpon my miserie, considered my trouble, & gaue me a sonne, and I was glad of him: so was mine husband also, & all they of my countrey, & we gaue great honor vnto þe; Almighty.

46   And I nourished him with great trauell.

47   So when he grewe vp, and came to take a wife, I made a feast.

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