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3.
101
Beware, therefore, ye that glory in your riches, lest perhaps they groan who are in want, and their sighing come up unto God, and ye be shut out with your goods without the gate of the tower.
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3.
102
Behold I now warn you who are set over the church, and love the highest seats, be not ye like unto those that work mischief.
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3.
103
And they indeed carry about their poison in boxes, but ye contain your poison and [*208:1] infection in your hearts, and will not purge them, and mix your sense with a pure heart, that ye may find mercy with the Great King.
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3.
104
Take heed, my children, that your dissensions deprive you not of your lives. How will ye instruct the elect of God, when ye yourselves want correction? Wherefore admonish one another, and be at peace among yourselves, that I, standing before your father, may give an account for you unto the Lord.
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3.
105
And when she had made an end of talking with me, the six young men that built, came and carried her to the tower; and four others took up the seat on which she sate, and they also went away again to the tower. I saw not the faces of these, for their backs were towards me.
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3.
106
As she was going away, I asked her, that she would reveal to me what concerned the three forms, in which she had appeared unto me.
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3.
107
But she answering said unto me, concerning these things thou must ask some other, that they may be revealed unto thee.
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3.
108
Now, brethren, in the first vision the last year, she appeared unto me exceeding old, and sitting in a chair.
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3.
109
In another vision, she had indeed a youthful face, but her flesh and hair were old; but she talked with me standing, and was more cheerful than the first time.
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3.
110
In the third vision, she was in all respects much younger, and comely to the eye; only she had the hair of an aged person; yet she looked cheerful, and sate upon a seat.
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3.
111
I was therefore very sad concerning these things, until I might understand the vision.
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3.
112
Wherefore I saw the same old woman in a vision of the night saying unto me, All prayer needeth humiliation. Fast, therefore, and thou shalt learn from the Lord that which thou dost ask. I fasted therefore one day.
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3.
113
The same night a young man appeared to me and said, Why dost thou thus often desire Revelations in thy prayers? Take heed that by asking many things, thou hurt not the body. Let these Revelations suffice thee.
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3.
114
Canst thou see more notable Revelations than those which thou hast already received?
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3.
115
I answered and said unto him, Sir, I only ask this one thing upon the account of the three figures of the old woman that appeared to me, that the Revelation may be complete.
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3.
116
He answered me, You are not without understanding, but your doubts make you so; forasmuch as you have not your heart with the Lord.
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3.
117
I replied and said, But we shall learn these things more carefully from you.
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3.
118
Hear then, says he, concerning the figures about which you inquire.
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3.
119
And first, in the first vision she appeared to thee in the shape of an old woman sitting in a chair, because your old spirit was decayed, and without strength, by reason of your infirmities, and the doubtfulness of your heart.
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3.
120
For as they who are old have no hope of renewing themselves, nor expect any thing but their departure; so you being weakened through your worldly affairs gave yourself up to sloth, and cast not away your solicitude from yourself upon the Lord: and your sense was confused, [*209:1] and you grow old in your sadness.
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3.
121
But, sir, I would know why she sate upon a chair?
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3.
122
He answered, because every one that is weak sitteth upon a chair by reason of his infirmity, that his weakness may be upheld. Behold therefore the figure of the first vision.
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3.
123
In the second vision you saw her standing, and having a youthful face, and more cheerful than her former; but her flesh and her hair were ancient. Hear, said he, this parable also.
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3.
124
When any one grows old, he despairs of himself by reason of his infirmity and poverty, and expects nothing but the last day of his life.
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3.
125
But on a sudden an inheritance is left to him, and he hears of it, and rises; and being become cheerful, he puts on new strength. And he now no longer sits down, but stands, and is delivered from his former sorrow; and sits not, but acts manfully.
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3.
126
So you, having heard the Revelation which God revealed unto you because God had compassion upon you, and renewed your spirit, both laid aside your infirmities, and strength came to you, and you grew strong in the faith; and God, seeing your strength, rejoiced.
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3.
127
For this cause he shewed you the building of the tower, and will shew other things unto you, if you shall have peace with all your heart among each other.
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3.
128
But in the third vision you saw her yet younger, [*209:2] fair and cheerful, and of a serene countenance.
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3.
129
For as if some good news comes to him that is sad, he straightway forgets his sadness, and regards nothing else but the good news which he has heard; and for the rest he is comforted, and his spirit is renewed through the joy which he has received: even so you have been refreshed in your spirit by seeing these good things.
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3.
130
And for that you saw her sitting upon a bench, it denotes a strong position; because a bench has four feet and stands strongly. And even the world itself is upheld by the four elements.
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3.
131
They therefore that repent perfectly, shall be young; and they that turn from their sins with their whole heart, shall be established.
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3.
132
And now you have the Revelation fully, ask no more to have any thing farther revealed unto you.
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3.
133
But if any thing be to be revealed, it shall be made manifest unto you.
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3.
Footnotes ^203:1 Lat. Exiguitatas.
^203:2 Are about.
^204:1 Edit. Oxon.
^204:2 Clem. Alex. Strom. xii.
^204:3 Baptism.
^204:4 Namely, the tower.
^205:1 In aequitatem Domini, Lat.
^205:2 Edit. Oxon.
^206:1 Tribulation arises.
^206:2 Finally.
^208:1 Medicaments.
^209:1 Broken, Contusus.
^209:2 Honestam.
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