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3.
51
Hear now then concerning the stones that are in the building.
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3.
52
The square and white stones which agree exactly in their joints, are the apostles, and bishops, and doctors, and ministers, who through the mercy of God have come in, and governed, and taught and ministered holily and modestly to the elect of God, both they that have fallen asleep, and which yet remain; and have always agreed with them, and have had peace within themselves, and have heard each other.
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3.
53
For which cause their joints exactly meet together in the building of the tower.
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3.
54
They which are drawn out of the deep and put into the building, and whose joints agree with the other stones which are already built, are those which are already fallen asleep, and have suffered for the sake of the Lord's name.
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3.
55
And what are the other stones, lady, that are brought from the earth? I would know what are they.
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3.
56
She answered, They which lie upon the ground and are not polished, are those which God has approved, because they have walked in [*205:1] the law of the Lord, and directed their ways in his commandments.
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3.
57
They which are brought and put in the building of the tower, are the young in faith and the faithful. And these are admonished by the angels to do well because that iniquity is not found in them.
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3.
58
But who are those whom they rejected, and laid beside the tower?
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3.
59
They are such as have sinned and are willing to repent; for which cause they are not cast far from the tower, because they will be useful for the building, if they shall repent.
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3.
60
They therefore that are yet to repent, if they shall repent, shall become strong in the faith; that is, if they repent now, whilst the tower is building. For if the building shall be finished there will then be no place for them to be put in, but they shall be rejected; for he only has this privilege who shall now be out into the tower.
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3.
61
But would you know who they are that were cut out, and cast afar off from the tower? [*205:2] Lady, said I, I desire it.
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3.
62
They are the children of iniquity, who believed only in hypocrisy, but departed not from their evil ways; for this cause they shall not be saved, because they are not of any use in the building by reason of their sins.
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3.
63
Wherefore they are cut out, and cast afar off, because of the anger of the Lord, and because they have provoked him to anger against them.
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3.
64
As for the great number of other stones which thou hast seen placed about the tower, but not put into the buildings; those which are rugged, are they who have known the truth, but have not continued in it, nor been joined to the saints, and therefore are unprofitable.
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3.
65
Those that have clefts in them, are they that keep up discord in their hearts against each other, and live not in peace; that are friendly when present with their brethren, but as soon as they are departed from one another, their wickedness still continues in their hearts: these are the clefts which are seen in those stones.
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3.
66
Those that are maimed and short, are they who have believed indeed, but still are in great measure full of wickedness: for this cause they are maimed and not whole.
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3.
67
But what are the white and round stones, lady, and which are not proper for the building of the tower?
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3.
68
She answering said unto me: How long wilt thou continue foolish and without understanding, asking everything and discerning nothing?
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3.
69
They are such as have faith indeed, but have withal the riches of this present world. When therefore any [*206:1] troubles arise, for the sake of their riches and traffic, they deny the Lord.
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3.
70
I answering, said unto her, When therefore will they be profitable to the Lord? When their riches shall be cut away, says she, in which they take delight, then they will be profitable unto the Lord for his building.
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3.
71
For as a round stone, unless it be cut away, and cast somewhat off, its bulk cannot be made square, so they who are rich in this world, unless their riches be pared off, cannot be made profitable unto the Lord.
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3.
72
Learn this from thy own experience; when thou wert rich, thou wast unprofitable; but now thou art profitable, and fit for the life which thou hast undertaken; for thou also once wast one of those stones.
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3.
73
As for the rest of the stones which thou sawest cast afar off from the tower, and running in the way, and tumbled out of the way into desert places, they are such as have believed indeed, but through their doubting have forsaken the true way, thinking that they could find a better. But they wander and are miserable, going into desolate ways.
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3.
74
Then for those stones which fell into the fire and were burnt, they are those who have [*206:2] for ever departed from the living God; nor doth it ever come into their hearts to repent, by reason of the affection which they bear to their lusts and wickednesses which they commit.
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3.
75
And what are the rest which fell by the water, and could not roll into the water?
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3.
76
They are such as have heard the word, and were willing to be baptized in the name of the Lord; but considering the great holiness which the truth requires, have withdrawn themselves, and walked again after their wicked lusts.
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3.
77
Thus she finished the explication of the tower.
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3.
78
But I being still urgent, asked her, Is there repentance allowed to all those stones which are thus cast away. and were not suitable to the building of the tower; and shall they find place in this tower?
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3.
79
They may repent, said she, but they cannot come into this tower; but they shall be placed in a much lower rank, and this after that they shall have been afflicted, and fulfilled the days of their sins.
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3.
80
And for this cause they shall be removed, because they have received the word of righteousness: and then they shall be translated from their afflictions, if they shall have a true sense in their hearts of what they have done amiss.
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3.
81
But if they shall not have this sense in their hearts, they shall not be saved by reason of the hardness of their hearts.
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3.
82
When therefore I had done asking her concerning all these things, she said unto me, Wilt thou see somewhat else? And being desirous of seeing it, I became very cheerful of countenance.
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3.
83
She therefore looking back upon me, and smiling a little, said unto me, Seest thou seven women about the tower? Lady, said I, I see them.
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3.
84
This tower, replied she, is supported by them, according to the command of the Lord: hear therefore the effects of them.
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3.
85
The first of them, which holds fast with her hand, is called Faith, by her the elect shall be saved. The next, which is girt up, and looks manly, is named Abstinence: she is the daughter of Faith.
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3.
86
Whosoever therefore shall follow her shall be happy in all his life, because he shall abstain from all evil works, believing that if he shall contain himself from all concupiscence, he shall be the heir of eternal life. And what, lady, said I, are the other five?
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3.
87
They are, replied she, the daughters of one another. The first of them is called Simplicity; the next Innocence; the third Modesty; then Discipline; and the last of all is Charity. When therefore thou shalt have fulfilled the works of their mother, thou shalt be able to do all things.
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3.
88
Lady, said I, I would know what particular virtue every one of these has.
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3.
89
Hear then, replied she; they have equal virtues, and their virtues are knit together, and follow one another as they were born.
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3.
90
From Faith proceeds Abstinence; from Abstinence, Simplicity; from Simplicity, Innocence; from Innocence, Modesty; from Modesty, Discipline and Charity. Therefore the works of these are holy, and chaste, and right.
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3.
91
Whoever therefore shall serve these, and hold fast to their works, he shall have his dwelling in the tower with the saints of God.
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3.
92
Then I asked her concerning the times, whether the end were now at hand;
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3.
93
But she cried out with a loud voice, saying, O foolish man! Dost thou not see the tower yet a building? When therefore the tower shall be finished, and built, it shall have an end; and indeed it shall soon be accomplished.
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3.
94
But do not ask me any more questions. What has been said may suffice thee and all the saints for the refreshment of your spirits. For these things have not been revealed to thee only, but that thou mayest make them manifest unto all.
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3.
95
For therefore, O Hermes, after three days thou must understand these words which I begin to speak unto thee, that thou mayest speak them in the ears of the saints; that when they shall have heard and done them, they may be cleansed from their iniquities, and thou together with them.
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3.
96
Hear me therefore, O my sons I have bred you up in much simplicity, and innocency, and modesty for the love of God, which has dropped down upon you in righteousness, that you should be sanctified and justified from all sin and wickedness; but ye will not cease from your evil doings.
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3.
97
Now therefore hearken unto me, and have peace one with another, and visit one another, and receive one another, and do not enjoy the creatures of God alone.
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3.
98
Give freely to them that are in need. For some by too free feeding contract an infirmity in their flesh, and do injury to their bodies; whilst the flesh of others. who have not food, withers away, because they want sufficient nourishment, and the bodies are consumed.
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3.
99
Wherefore this intemperance is hurtful to you, who have, and do not communicate to them that want. Prepare for the judgment that is about to come upon you.
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3.
100
Ye that are the more eminent, search out them that are hungry, whilst the tower is yet unfinished. For when the tower shall be finished, ye shall be willing to do good, and shall not find any place in it.
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