... And when we
had heard these words, we became glad,
for we had been grieved
at the words we have mentioned
before. But when he saw us
rejoicing, he said, "Woe to you (pl.)
who lack an advocate!
Woe to you who stand in need
of grace! Blessed will they be
who have
spoken out and obtained
grace for themselves. Liken
yourselves to foreigners;
of what sort are they in the eyes of your
city? Why are you disturbed
when you cast yourselves away
of your own accord and
separate yourselves from your city? Why
do you abandon your dwelling place
of your own accord,
making it ready for those who want
to dwell in it? O you
outcasts and fugitives, woe
to you, for you will be caught! Or
do you perhaps think that the Father
is a lover of mankind, or that he is
won over without prayers, or that he
grants remission to one on another's behalf, or
that he bears with one who asks? -
For he knows the desire and
also what it is that the flesh needs! -
(Or do you think) that it is not this (flesh) that desires
the soul? For without the soul
the body does not sin, just as
the soul is not saved without
[the] spirit. But if the soul
is saved (when it is) without evil, and
the spirit is also saved, then the body
becomes free from sin. For it is the spirit
that raises the soul, but the body that
kills it;
that is, it is it (the soul) which kills
itself. Verily, I say unto you,
he will not forgive the soul the sin
by any means, nor the flesh
the guilt; for none of those who have
worn the flesh will be saved.
For do you think that many have
found the kingdom of heaven?
Blessed is he who has seen himself as
a fourth one in heaven!"
