The Apocalypse

of Sedrach
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Bnothing more than un- Ibrother but I love Christ,"

eloved, we must prefer f you say, "I hate my things? (20)

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he most important is
feigned love. *We commit you are a liar, and John that this love brought
many faults every hour, the Theologian rebukes the Son of God down from
day and night, and for this you, for how can one who heaven. *Through love all
reason let us acquire love, does not love his brother good things were revealed;
because it covers a multi- whom he as seen, love God death was trampled (from
tude of sins. *What do we whom he has not seen? *It death), and through love
gain, my children, if we is clear that anyone who one flock was made there-
possess everything yet do hates his brother but after of angels and men. *

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not have saving love? * thinks that he loves Christ hrough love Paradise

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ow does one benefit, is a liar and is deluding has been opened; the
my children, if one himself. * kingdom of heaven is

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gives a great banquet and or John the Theologian promised; the waste
invites king and nobleman says that we have this places it made? (into)
and prepares every sort of commandment from God, cities, and filled? the
expensive fare in order that he who loves God mountains and the caves
that nothing should be should also love his with song; it taught men
missing; nevertheless, if brother. *And again the and women who were
there is no salt, that ban- Lord himself says, treading the narrow and

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quet cannot be eaten; and pon these two (com- sorrowful path. *But how
one not only bears the ex- mandments) depend long shall we prolong this
pense but one also wastes all the law and the sermon on the achieve-
(his) efforts and is dis- prophets. * ments of love which even

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graced by the guests. (5) h, how extraordinary the angels cannot accom-

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t is the same in our situa- and paradoxical is the plish? *

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tion, my brethren; what miracle that he who has h, blessed love which
will we profit, for what love fulfills all the law; love bestows all good
grace do we possess with- is the fulfillment of the law. things! (25) Blessed is the
out love? *Our every deed (15) Oh, power of love be- man who possesses true
is false, even if one has vir- yond imagination; oh, faith and unfeigned love;
ginity and fasts and keeps power of love beyond for, as the Master said,
vigil and prays and gives a measure! * nothing is greater than

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banquet for the poor. * here is nothing more love for which a man lays

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nd if one brings gifts to honorable than love, down (his) life for his
God, or offers the first nor is there anything friends. (THE APOCA-
fruits of all his goods, or greater either in heaven or LYPSE OF SEDRACH
builds churches or does on the earth. *This divine CHAPTER ONE)
anything else without love, love is the capital (virtue);
it shall be counted by God among all the virtues love
as nothing, for (these is the highest perfection in THE APOCALYPSE
things) are not accept- the world? *It dwelt in the
able. *Thus the prophet heart of Abel; it worked OF SEDRACH 2
says: The sacrifice of the together with the Patri-
impious is an abomination archs; it guarded Moses; it
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to the Lord. *Do not be made David the dwelling nd he [Sedrach] heard
advised to do anything place of the Holy Spirit; it a hidden? voice in his
without love. (10) strengthened Joseph. ears: Here, Sedrach, you
*But why do I say these who wish and desire to talk
with God and to ask him to

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reveal to you the things you destroy man? *And your angels to worship
that you wish to ask. *And the Lord said, Adam, but he who was first

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Sedrach said, What (is it), an is my work and the among the angels dis-
my Lord? *And the voice creature of my hands, obeyed your order and
said to him, * and I discipline him as I did not worship him; and

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was sent to you that I find it right. so you banished him, be-
may carry you up into cause he transgressed
heaven. And he said, I your commandment and
want to speak to God face THE APOCALYPSE did not come forth (to
to face? but I am not able, worship) the creation of
Lord, to ascend into the OF SEDRACH 4 your hands. *

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heavens. (5) But the f you loved man, why did
angel, having stretched you not kill the devil, the
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out his wings, took him and edrach said to him, artificer of all iniquity?
went up into the heavens, Your discipline is pun- *Who can fight against an
and took him up as far as ishment and fire; and they invisible spirit? (5) He en-
the third heaven, and the are very bitter, my Lord. *It ters the hearts of men like
flame of the divinity stood would be better for man if a smoke and teaches them
there. he were not born. *Indeed, all kinds of sin. *He even
what have you done, my fights against you, the im-
Lord; for what reason did mortal God, and so what
THE APOCALYPSE you labor with your spot- can pitiful man do against
less hands and create man,
OF SEDRACH 3 since you did not desire to
him? *Yet have mercy,
Master, and destroy pun-
have mercy upon him? ishment; otherwise receive
*God said to him,
Ahim, Welcome, my dear I
nd the Lord said to me also with the sinners,
created the first man, for if you will not be merci-
Sedrach. *What kind of Adam, and placed him in ful with the sinners, where
complaint do you have Paradise in the midst of are your mercies and
against the God who cre- (which is) the tree of life, where is your compassion,
ated you, for you have and I said to him, Eat of all O Lord?
said, I want to speak with the fruit, only beware of
God face to face? * the tree of life, for if you
eat from it you will surely
THE APOCALYPSE
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edrach said to him, In-
deed, the son does die. (5) However, he dis-
have a complaint against obeyed my commandment OF SEDRACH 6
the Father: My Lord, what and having been deceived
did you create the earth by the devil he ate from

Ait known to you, that

for? * the tree. nd God said to him, Be

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he Lord said to him,
For man. (5) Sedrach everything which I com-
said, What did you create THE APOCALYPSE manded man to do was
within his reach. *I made
the sea for and why did
you spread every good
OF SEDRACH 5 him wise and the heir of
thing upon the earth? heaven and earth, and I
*The Lord said, subordinated everything
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edrach said to him, It under him and every living
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or man. *Sedrach said was by your will that
to him, "If you have Adam was deceived, my thing flees from him and
done these things, why did Master. *You commanded from his face. *

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Hhowever, he became an
aving received my gifts, Look at each other (to sheep; among trees, the
see) who is illuminated. * olive; among plants which

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alien, an adulterer and sin- nd the sun and Adam bear fruit, the vine; among
ner. * were of one character, things that fly, the bee;

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ell me, what sort of a but the wife of Adam was among the rivers, (the)
father would give an in- brighter than the moon in Jordan; among the cities,
heritance to his son, and beauty, and she gave life Jerusalem. *But man also
having received the money to her. * loves all these, Master.

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(the son) goes away leav- edrach said, What is *God said to Sedrach,

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ing his father, and be- the use of beautiful will ask you one thing,
comes an alien and in the things if they wither away Sedrach; if you can an-
ser vice of aliens. (5) The to dust? *How is it that swer me, then you have
father then, seeing that you said, Lord, Do not rightly challenged me, al-
the son has forsaken him repay evil for evil? (10) though you have tempted
(and gone away), darkens How is it, Master, for the your creator. (5)

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his heart and going away, word of your divinity never edrach said, Speak.
he retrieves his wealth and lies? *And why did you *The Lord God said,

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banishes his son from his thus repay man, if you do ince I created every-
glory because he forsook not wish (to return) evil thing, how many people
his father. * for evil? *I know that have been born, and how

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ow is it that I, the won- among the four-footed many have died and how
drous and jealous God, beasts the mule is a crafty many shall die and how
have given everything to animal? it is none other; many hairs do they have?
him, but he, having re- yet, with the bridle we turn *Tell me, Sedrach, since
ceived them, became an it where we wish. *You have the heaven and the earth
adulterer and sinner? angels; send them to watch have been created, how
(over man) and when he many trees have been
THE APOCALYPSE makes a move toward win made in the world, and how
OF SEDRACH 7 hold onto his foot, and he many shall fall and how
will not go where he wants. many shall be made, and
how many leaves do they

SMaster,
edrach said to him, You, have? *
created man; THE APOCALYPSE
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ell me, Sedrach, since I
you know the low state of made the sea how many
his will and his knowledge? OF SEDRACH 8 waves have billowed, and
and you send man into how many have rolled
punishment on a false pre- slightly, and how many will
Ghis foot, he says.
text; so remove him. *Am I od said to him, If I hold
You arise, and how many winds
alone supposed to fill the blow near the shore of the
celestial realms? *If that is have given me no grace in
the world, and so I left him sea? *Tell me, Sedrach,
not so, Lord, save man since the creation of the
also. *Pitiful man has to his own desires because
I loved him and thus I sent world of the ages when the
transgressed by your will air is full of rain, how many
O Lord. (5) my righteous angels to
watch him night and day. * drops have fallen upon the

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hy do you throw words world and how many shall
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around me as if they edrach said, I know that
fall? (10)
were a net, Sedrach? *I among your own crea-
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tures, Master, you loved nd Sedrach said, You
created Adam and his wife alone know all these
and the sun and I said, man first; among the four-
footed creatures, the things, Lord; you alone are

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Dis placed in the middle

acquainted with all of o you not know that it whole body, is trustworthy
these; I only beg you to and very beautiful,
make man free from pun- of your lungs and your beloved of all but as soon
ishment, for other wise I heart and that it is spread as it falls in the earth it is
myself am going to punish- out to all the members? *It unrecognized. *

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ment and am not sepa- is removed through the hands which hold so
rated from our race. pharynx and larynx and well, which are easily
the mouth; and whenever it taught and hard-working,
is due to go out (from the through which the body is
THE APOCALYPSE body) it is drawn with dif- fed. *O hands so adept,
ficulty at the beginning gathering materials, to-
OF SEDRACH 9 and as it comes together gether you ornamented
from the fingernails and houses. *O fingers, beau-
from all the members there tified and adorned with
Abegotten Son,
nd God said to his only is, of necessity, a great gold and silver; even great
strain in being separated structures are made by the
Gbeloved Sedrach, and
o, take the soul of my from the body and de- fingers; the three joints
tached from the heart. * stretch the palms and they
put it in Paradise. *
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hen he had heard all gather good things to-
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he only begotten Son these things, and re- gether; but now you have
said to Sedrach, called the memory of become strangers to this
G
ive me that which our death, Sedrach was very world. (5)
Father deposited in the
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troubled and he said to feet, which walk so
womb of your mother in God, "Lord, give me a little well, moving by them-
your holy dwelling place while that I may cry, for I selves so very quickly and
since you were born. * have heard that tears ac- untiring. *O knees, thus
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edrach said, I will not complish much and can joined, without you the
give you my soul. *God become a sufficient cure body does not move; the
said to him, for the humble body of feet run together with the
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nd why was I sent, and your creatures. sun and the moon, night
why did I come here, and day, gathering all
and you make a pretense things together, food and
to me? (5) I was com-
manded by my father not THE APOCALYPSE drink which nourish the
body. *O feet, so swift
to hesitate in taking your
soul; hence, give me your
OF SEDRACH 11 and well moving, stirring up
the face of the earth and
most desired soul. ornamenting houses with

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nd crying and lament- every good thing. *O feet,
ing he started saying, which bear the whole
O wondrous head, orna- body, which walk straight-
THE APOCALYPSE mented like heaven; O way to the temples,? mak-
OF SEDRACH 10 sunlight upon heaven and ing repentance and
earth; your hair is known supplicating the saints,
from Theman, your eyes and now suddenly you are

AGod,
nd Sedrach said to from Bosra, your ears to remain unmoved. (10)
From where will from thunder, your tongue
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head, hands, and feet,
you take my soul, from from bugle, and your brain till now I have held you
which member? *And God is a small creation; the fast. O soul, what placed
said to him, head, the movement of the you in the humble and

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Ione THE APOCALYPSE

wretched body? *Yet now, f he returns after living
separated from it, you as- hundred or eighty
cend where the Lord calls years and repents for OF SEDRACH 14
you and the wretched three years and bears the
body goes away for judg- fruit of righteousness and
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ment. *O beautiful body, death should reach him, nd Sedrach said to the
hair shed by the stars, then shall I not remember archangel Michael,
head like heaven adorned. all his sins. Hear me, strong protector;
*O face sweet-smelling,? help me and intercede that
eyes like windows, a voice God may be merciful to the
like a bugle's sound, a THE APOCALYPSE their world. *And falling upon
faces, they besought
tongue which talks so eas-
ily, a beard well trimmed, OF SEDRACH 13 God and said, Lord, teach
hair like the stars, head us in what way and
high as heaven, a body through what repentance
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adorned, the illuminator? edrach said to him, man may be saved, or by
elegant and renowned, yet Three years are too what labor. *God said,
many, my Lord. *His death
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now after falling within the y repentances, suppli-
earth, your beauty be- perchance will arrive and cations, and liturgies,
neath the earth is unseen. he will not fulfill his repen- through draining tears and
tance. *Have mercy, Lord, fer vant groanings. *Do
upon your image and be you not know that my
compassionate, because prophet
THE APOCALYPSE David
three years are too many. saved) because of tears,
(was

OF SEDRACH 12 *God said to him, and that the rest were

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f, after a hundred years, saved in one moment? (5)
a man lives and remem- You know, Sedrach, that

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hrist said to him, Stop, bers his death and con- there are nations which
Sedrach, how long will fesses before men, and I have no law, yet fulfill the
you shed tears and groan? find him, after one year? I law; they are not baptized,
*Paradise has been will forgive all his sins. (5) but my divine spirit enters

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opened to you, and after gain Sedrach said, them and they are con-
dying you will live. * Lord, I beg for your verted to my baptism, and

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edrach said to him, mercy again upon your I receive them with my
once more will I speak creature; one year is much, righteous ones in the
to you, Lord, while I live, and his death will per- bosom of Abraham. *
before I die; and do not ig- chance arrive and sud-
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nd there are some bap-
nore my supplication. *The denly snatch him away. tized with my baptism
Lord said to him, *The Savior said to him, and anointed with my di-
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peak, Sedrach. (5) edrach, my beloved, vine myrrh, but they have
(And Sedrach said,) If one question will I ask become full of despair and
man lives eighty or ninety you, then you can resume they will not change their
or a hundred years, and your inquiries; if the sinner mind. *Yet I await them with
lives them in sin but in the repents for forty days, much pity and much rich
end is converted and the shall I not indeed remem- mercy, that they may re-
man lives in repentance, ber all the sins he has pent. *
for how many days of re- done?
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ut they do that which
pentance do you forgive my divinity hates, and
(him) his sins? *God said they did not hear the wise
to him, man who asked and said,
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We in no way justify the ber was saved in one in- of his youth; again, when
sinner. *Are you not at all stant? *Do you not know he is a man I watch over his
aware that it is written, that even my apostle and mind; again, when he grows
And those who have re- evangelist was saved in an old I preser ve him so that
pented will not see punish- instant? [. . . but sinners he may repent. *
ment ? (10) And they heard
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are not saved]? edrach said, Lord, you

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neither the apostles nor ecause their hearts are know and are ac-
my word in the Gospels like decayed stone; quainted with all this; yet
and they cause sorrow to they are those who walk have compassion with sin-
my angels, and of a cer- along impious path and ners. *The Lord said to
tainty in my meetings and who perish with the An- him,

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in my liturgies they do not tichrist. * y beloved Sedrach, I

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heed my angel and they do edrach said, My Lord, promise to have com-
not stand in my holy you also said, passion even less than

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churches;? they stand and y divine spirit en- forty days, as far as
do not prostrate (them- t e re d t h e n a t i o n s twenty, and whoever re-
selves) in fear and trem- which though having no members your name will
bling but they pronounce l a w y et do the thing s o f not see the place of pun-
long words? which neither the l a w . ( 5 ) ishment but he will be with

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I nor my angels accept. owever, as the robber the just ones in a place of
and the apostle and refreshment and rest, and
evangelist and the rest the sin of him who
THE APOCALYPSE who have stumbled (are) in (copies?) this admirable
your kingdom, my Lord, in sermon will not be reck-
OF SEDRACH 15 the same manner forgive oned for ever and ever. *

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those who in recent days? nd Sedrach said, Lord,
have sinned against you, also whoever preforms
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edrach said to God, Lord, because life is full of a liturgy in honor of your
Lord, you alone are toil and (is) obdurate. servant, rescue him, Lord,
without sin and very merci- from all evil. (5) And the
ful, showing pity and grace ser vant of God, Sedrach,
to sinners, but your divin-
ity said, THE APOCALYPSE said, Now, Master, take my
soul. *And God took him
OF SEDRACH 16
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did not come to call the and put him in Paradise
righteous but sinners to with all the saints. *To him
repentance. * be glory and power for
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nd the Lord said to Se- he Lord said to Se- ever and ever, amen.
drach, drach,

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o you not know, Se- made man in three stages;
drach, that after when he is young, I over-
changing his mind the rob- look his mistakes because

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