Demonstrations · Part 5

By that Mouth which spake the "Eli": and made the bowels of creation tremble,

By him who was sold in Judah: and by him who was scourged in Jerusalem,

By the Might which was smitten on the cheek: and by the Glory which endured spitting,

By the threefold Names of fire: and by the one Assent and will,

I have not rebelled against the Church: nor against the might of God.

If in my thought I have magnified the Father: above the Son, let Him have no mercy on me!

And if I have accounted the Holy Spirit less: than God, let mine eyes be darkened!

If as I have said, I confessed not: let me go into outer darkness!

And if I speak in hypocrisy: let me burn with the wicked in fire!

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"I adjure you my disciples: with adjurations that may not be loosed,

That my words be not set aside: that ye loose not my commandments.

Whoso lays me beneath the altar: he shall not see the Altar of heaven;

For it is not meet that foul stench: should be laid in the Holy Place;

Whoso has laid me within the temple: he shall not see the temple of the Kingdom.

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"Take nought from me as memorial: my beloved, my brothers, my sons,

For as much as ye have a memorial: that which ye have heard of Jesus.

For if ye take aught from Ephraim: into reproach will Ephraim come;

For He, my Lord, will say unto me: More than in Me they have trusted in thee,

For if they had relied on Me: they had not sought a memorial from thee.'

"Lay me not with the martyrs: for I am a sinner and unworthy,

And because of my unworthiness I fear: to be brought beside their bones;

For if stubble comes near to fire: it will scorch it, yea, devour it.

It is not that I hate their neigbourhood: because of mine unworthiness, I fear it.

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"Whoso carries me on his fingers: may his hands be leprous as Gehazi!

On your shoulders carry me: and in haste conduct me [to the grave],

And as a mean man bury me: for I have worn out my days in sadness.

Why glorify ye me, O men: who before our Lord am ashamed?

And why give ye me [the name of] Blessed': who am disclosed in my works?

Should one show you my transgressions: ye would all of you spit in my face.

For if the stench of the sinner: could strike one that stood by him,

Ye would all of you flee away: from the loathsome stench of Ephraim.

"Whoso lays with me a pall: may he go forth into outer darkness!

And whoso has laid with me a shroud: may he be cast into Gehenna of fire!

In my coat and cowl shall ye bury me: for ornament beseems not the hateful,

Nor does praise profit the dead: who is laid and cast into the tomb.

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"Arise, my brethren of Edessa: my lords and my sons and my fathers!