so in truth by his Disciple and Apostle Thaddaus without Apothecary stuff and virtue of Herbs he waâ—â—â—ted And not only he but also Abdus the son of Abdus greived with the Gout and falling at the feet of Thaddaus recovered his former health by the laying on of his hands he cured also many otheâ— of his fellow Citizens working miraculously and miraculous things and preaching the Word of God to whom Agbarus said again Thou Thaddaus through the Power of God dost these things and we have thee in admiration I pray thee moreover that thou expound unto me the coming of Jesus how he was made man his might and by what power he brought such things as we have heard to pass to whom Thaddaus said At this season I will be silent though I am sent to preach this Word but to morrow call together all thy people and fellow Citizens then will I shew unto them the Word of God and sow the Word of Life and teach the manner of his coming how he was made man of his Message and to what end he came being sent from the Father moreover of his Miracles and Mysteries uttered in this World and Power in bringing things to pass and besides this his new Preaching and how base slander and humble he seemed in outward appearance how he humbled himself and died which great things he suffered of the Jews how he was Crucified and descended into Hell and rent the hedge and middle wall never severed before and raised the dead that of long time had slept how that he descended alone but ascended unto the Father accompanied with many how that he sitteth in Glory at the Right-hand of God the Father in Heaven and last of all how he shall come again with Glory and Power to judg both the quick and dead When the morning was come Agbarus commanded his Citizens to be gathered together to hear Thaddaus which being ended he charged Gold coyned and uncoyned should be given him but he received it not saying Insomuch that we having forsaken our own how can we receive other mens These things were done the three and fortieth year which being translated word for word out of the Syrian Tongue we thought not amiss to declare in this manner Jerome with other grave Writers affirmeth such circumstances to have been Eusebius whose credit herein is not small reporteth the same to have been taken out of their Records in the City of Edessa registred there in the Syrian Tongue and by him translated out of the Syrian into the Greek Tongue The Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans 1. PAul an Apostle not of man nor by man but by Jesus Christ 2. To the Brethren which are at Laodicea Grace and Peace be with you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 3. I thank my God in all my Prayers that you remain stedfast in him and in all his works waiting upon his promises to the day of Judgment 4 And be not seduced by some unprofitable talkers who go about to cause you to fall from the Gospel which was preached unto you by me 5. Oh that they that were instructed by me might serve to the profit of the Gospel of Truth and become diligent in good works of Eternal Life 6. And henceforth are my bonds manifest which I suffer for Christs sake 7. Whereof I rejoyce in heart and account it Eternal Salvation 8. That such is done through your Prayers by the working of the holy Spirit whether by life or death 9. For I have a will and a joy to dye in Christ who will through the same mercy give you to have the same love and to be of one mind 10. Therefore beloved Brethren as you have heard in my presence that keep and finish in the fear of God so shall you have Eternal Life for God will work it and perfect it in you without delay 11. My beloved rejoyce in the Lord and take heed of them that are desirous after filthy lucre 12 Let your Prayers be manifest unto God and remain firm in the knowledge of Christ 13. And do that which is meet convenient just and reasonable and what you have heard and received that keep in your hearts so shall you have Praise 14. The Grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirits Amen Cause this Epistle to be read unto the Colossians and read you that which is written unto the Colossians Read Col. 4.16 This Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans was found in the oldest Bible that was printed at Worms IN a Translation of the New-Testament into both Latine and English each correspondent one to another after the vulgar Text commonly called St Jeroms faithfully translated by John Hollybush 1538. and Printed in Southwark by James Nicholson and set forth by the Kings Licence I find in the sixth Chapter of Luke it is thus in the Margent after the fifth and sixth verses after these words The Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath viz. in one of the Greek Copies this followeth Jesus seeing a certain man working on the Sabbath day said unto him O man if thou didst know indeed what thou dost thou art happy but if thou knowest not thou art accursed and a Transgressor of the Law Concerning the Death of Paul PAul being delivered by Nero bound unto Longinus and Magistus the chief Officers and Acestus the Centurion that they should lead him without the City and cause him to be beheaded and Paul being full of the holy Ghost spake the words of Eternal Life that both Nero and all should believe in Jesus Christ who was King of Heaven and Earth who would destroy the glory of the World with fire when they had led him away Longinus Magistus and Acestus began to say unto him Tell us O Paul where is that King and where will he appear unto you and how will you know him and what will he give unto you or what good will he bestow upon you that you Christians so mightily love him that by no means you will consent unto our Religion that you may live and enjoy the good of this life but rather then all the pleasures of delight to be led to die for him with divers torments for this seems to us to be a great error to hate this joyful life and to imbrace with all your desire punishment and death Paul therefore saith O ye wise men flourishing in knowledg depart out of the darkness and error wherein the nobillity of your understanding is clouded with darkness lest you should see the Truth which lieth hid in you return the eyes of your minds to the Eternal and True Light that ye may be able first to know your selves and so come to the knowledge of that King with gladness and to be saved from that fire which is to come upon the World and to remain unhurt for we do not war as you think for some earthly King but the living God the Kingdom without end who by
Something concerning Agbarus Prince of the Edesseans With his Epistle to Christ and Christ's Epistle in Answer thereto Also Paul's Epistle to the Laodiceans with the manner of his Death and his Exhortation to his Persecutors A Catalogue of those Scriptures mentioned but not inserted in the Bible As also how several Scriptures are corrupted by the Translators With the Difference betwixt the Old and New Translations AFter that Jesus Christ was made manifest unto all men through the working of Miracles he drew unto him an innumerable sort of Strangers farr distant from Judea afflicted with sundry Diseases and every sort of Maladies hoping to recover their health of which number King Agbarus Governour of the famous Nations inhabiting beyond the River Euphrates grievously diseased in body incurable by mans cunning hearing the renowned Fame of Jesus the wonderful works which he wrought agreeable unto the same published of all men wrote unto him by letters requiring deliverance from his Disease Jesus though not presently yeilded unto his desire vouchsafed to answer him by an Epistle that shortly he would send one of his Disciples which should cure his Disease promising withal that he should not only cure his Disease but as many as belonged unto him which promise he not long after performed for after his Resurrection Thomas one of the twelve Apostles sent his Brother Thaddaus accounted among the seventy Disciples of Christ by Divine Inspiration into the City Edessa to be a Preacher of the Doctrine of Christ by whom all things which concerned the promise of Christ were performed The Reader hath an approved Testimony of these things in writing taken out of the recorded Monuments of the Princely City Edessa for there are found inrowled in their publique Registry things of Antiquity and which were done about Agbarus's time yea and preserved unto this day there is no reason to the contrary but that we may have the Epistles themselves copyed out of their Registry and translated by us out of the Syrian Tongue in this manner The Epistle of Agbarus unto our Saviour AGbarus Governour of Edessa unto Jesus the good Saviour shewing himself in Jerusalem sendeth greeting I have heard of thee and of thy Cures which thou hast done without Medicines and Herbs for as the report goeth thou makest the Blind to see the Lame to go the Lepers thou clensest foul Spirits and Devils thou castest out and long diseased thou restorest to health and raisest the Dead to Life When that I heard these things of thee imagined with my self one of these two things either that thou art God come from Heaven and dost these things or the Son of God that bringeth these things to pass Wherefore by these my Letters I beseech thee to take the pains to come unto me and that thou wilt cure this my grievous Malady wherewith I am sore vexed I have heard moreover that the Jews murmur against thee and go about to mischief thee I have here a little City and an honest which will suffice us both These things he wrote after this manner being a little lightned from above I think it also not amiss to hear the Letters of Jesus sent back to Agharus by the same Bearer The Epistle of Christ unto Agbarus AGbarus blessed art thou because thou hast believed in me when thou sawest me not for it is written of me That they which see me shall not believe in me that they which see me not may believe and be saved Concerning that thou wrotest unto me that I should come unto thee I let thee understand that all things touching my Message are here to be fulfilled and after the fulness thereof I am to return again unto him that sent me But after my Ascension I will send one of my Disciples unto thee which shall cure thy Malady and restore life to thee and them that be with thee Vnto these Epistles there were also these things added in the Syrian Tongue When Jesus was taken up Judas which also is called Thomas sent unto him Thaddaus the Apostle one of the seventy who when he came remained with one Tobias the son of Tobias When that the fame was spread of him and that he was made manifest by the Miracles which he wrought it was signified unto Agbarus and said The Apostle of Jesus is come of whom he wrote unto thee Thaddaus by that time began through the Power of God to cure every sort and sickness that all men greatly marvelled Agbarus hearing of the weighty and wonderful Works which he wrought that he cured in the Name and Power of Jesus forthwith suspected the same to be he of whom Jesus had written saying After mine Ascension I will send one of my Disciples unto thee which shall cure thy Malady And when he had called to him Tobias where Thaddaus lodged he said unto him I here say that a certain mighty Man come from Jerusalem is lodged with thee and cureth many in the Name of Jesus who made answer and said yea there came a certain Stranger and lodged at my house which hath done wonderful things to whom the King said Bring him unto me Tobias returning unto Thaddaus said unto him Agbarus the Governour sent for me and commanded that I should bring thee unto him that thou mayest cure his Disease Thaddaus answered I go for it is for his sake that I am sent thus mightily to work Tobias bestirring betimes the next day took with him Thaddaus and came to Agbarus as he came even at his entrance there appeared unto Agbarus in the presence of his cheif men a great and strang shew in the countenance of Thaddaus the Apostle at which sight Agbarus did reverence unto Thaddaus so that all they that were presence marvelled none of them saw the sight save Agbarus alone which questioned with Thaddaus and said Art thou of a truth a Disciple of Jesus the Son of God who made me this promise I will send unto thee one of my Disciples which shall cure thy Disease and shew life unto thee and all thine To whom Thaddaus made answer Because thou hast greatly believed in the Lord Jesus which sent me therefore am I sent unto thee but in case thou believe in him as yet thy hearty desires according unto thy saith thou shalt obtain to whom Agbarus said I have continued so believing in him that I could have found in my heart mightily to destroy the Jews which crucified him were not the Roman Empire a let unto my purpose Thaddaus said again our Lord and God Jesus Christ fulfilled the will of his Father which being finished he is ascended unto him Agbarus answered and I have believed in him and in his Father to whom Thaddaus replyed therefore in the Name of the self same Lord Jesus I lay my hand upon thee which when he had done he was forthwith cured of his Malady and delivered of the pain that pressed him sore Agbarus marvelled at this that 〈◊〉 it was reported to him of Jesus
reason of the iniquities that is done in this World he will come a Judg and will judge it by Fire happy will that man be who will believe in him he shall have Eternal Life and shall live World without end and most unhappy is he who despising the riches of his bounties and long-suffering will not return unto him for he shall perish Eternally A Catalogue of those Scriptures which are mentioned but not inserted in the Bible THe Prophecy of Enoch mentioned Jude 14. The Book of Jehu mentioned 2 Chron. 20.34 The Book of the Battles of the Lord mentioned Numbers 21.14 The Book of Nathan the Prophet The Book of Iddo The Prophesie of Abijab mentioned 2 Chron. 9.29 The Book of Shemaiah the Prophet mentioned 2 Chron. 12.15 The Book of Jashar mentioned 2 Sam. 1.18 The Book of Gad 1 Chron. 29.29 One Epistle to the Corrinthians mentioned 1 Cor. 5.9 The first Epistle to the Ephesians mentioned Eph. 3.3 The Epistle to the Laodiceans mentioned Colos 4.16 The Books of Henoch mentioned in the Epistle of Thadeus Origen and Tertullian The Books of Solomons three thousand Proverbs and one thousand Songs with his Books of the nature of Trees Plants Beasts and Fishes mentioned 1 Kings 4.32 33. The Epistle fathered upon Barnabas The Revelation of Peter the Doctrine called the Apostles mentioned in Eusebius Lib. 3. Chap. 22. Several Scriptures Corrupted by the Translators Jude 14. BEhold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints in the Greek it is in ten thousands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.3 Express image of his Person Greek Substance or Subsistance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2.16 He took not on him the nature of Angels in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is by true interpretation he doth not take hold of Angels As for the word Nature which is in our English Copies there is nothing for it in the â—reek Mat. 3.11 in Beza his Latin Testament and our English Copies it is rendred I indeed baptize you with Water and from the word with water is the act of Sprinkling pleaded for in the Greek it is I Dip Plunge or Baptize you in water in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Col. 1.23 In the Latin and English Copies it is thus which was preached to every creature which is under Heaven in the Greek it is in every creature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 16.15 In the Latin and English Copies it is that which is highly esteemed among men in the Greek it is in men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 15.31 In our English Copies it is I protest by your rejoycing c. Now I protest is added for there is nothing for it in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2.6 We speak Wisdom among them that are perfect in the Greek it is in them that are perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 5.19 Not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Word of Reconciliation In the Latin and Greek Copies it is thus rendred And hath put in us the Word of Reconciliation Posuitque in nobis sermonem illum reconciliationis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.29 In the English and Latine Copies it is that he might be the first born among many Brethren it is in many Brethren 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 28.19 In the English and Latin Copies it is Baptizing them in the Name in the Greek it is into the Name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.7 In the English Copies it is For they think they shall be heard for their much speaking in the Greek it is in their much speaking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 3.16 In our English and Latin Copies it is Great is the mystery of Godliness God was made manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles in the Greek it is preached in the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 11.2 In the Latin and English Copies it is Wot you not what the Scripture saith of Elias but in the Greek it is iâ— Elias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 1.1 God c. Spoke to the Fathers by the Prophets in the Greek it is God spoke to the Fathers in the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hath in the last dayes spoken unto us by his Son In the Greek it is Hath spoken unto us in his Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 15.6 That you may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God In the Greek it is in one mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 1.19 In the Greek Latin and English Copies it is speaking of the Gentiles That which is to be known of God is manifest in them or made known in them though some dare say and do say among them Amos 3.6 Shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it This is the English Translation in the Hebrew it is Shall there he evil in a City and shall not the Lord do somewhat Heb. 5. ver last Strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age in the Greek it is Strong meat belongeth to them that are Perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 8.6 In our English Copies it is Jesus stooped down and with his Finger wrote on the Ground as though he heard them not as for the words as though he heard them not they are added by the Translators for there is nothing in the Greek for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 John 1.14 The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us in the Greek it is in us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By true interpretation it is the Word became flesh and pitched his Tent in us Heb. 10.20 In the English copies it is by a new and living way in the Greek it is of late slain and living Way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies recens mactatus lately or of late slain saith Leigh and Pasor The Difference betwixt the Old Translation and New Old Translation IF any one want Light let him look upon the Law and the Testimony whether they speak after this meaning if he do not this he stumbles and suffers hunger and if he suffers hunger he is not patient but blasphemeth his King and his God then looketh he upward and downward to the Earth and behold there is trouble and darkness vexation is round about him and the cloud of error and out of such adversity shall he not escape even like as in time past it hath been seen well This is the old Translation Isa 8. New Translation thus To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no life in them And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry they shall fret themselves and curse their King and their God and look upward and they shall look unto the Earth and behold trouble and darkness and dimness of anguish and they shall be driven to darkness Isa 8.20 21 22. Old Translation Prov. 23. When thou sittest at the Table with a Lord order thy self mannerly with the things set before thee Measure thine appetite and if thou wilt rule thy own self be not over greedy of his meat for meat beguiles and deceives New Translation thus When thou sittest to eat with a Ruler consider diligently what is before thee and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to Appetite Be not desirous of his dainties for they are deceitful meat Prov. 23.1 2 3. Old Translation Amos 3. Cry they out Alarum with the Trumpet in the City and the people not afraid cometh there any Plague in a City without it be the Lord 's doing New Translation thus Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid shall there be evil in a City and the Lord hath not done it Hosea 5.6 Heb. 1.3 In the New Translation it is said who being the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person But in the Old Translation it reads thus being the brightness of his Glory and the very Image of his Substance 2 Cor. 2.17 In the English it is we do not corrupt the Word but in the Latin it is we do not sell the Word for money Old Translation Epistle Jude latter end it is unto him that is able to keep you free from sin and to present you faultless In the New Translation it is unto him that is able to keep you from falling c. Old Translation 2 Tim. 3. at the end of the Chapter it is all Scripture given by Inspiration of God is profitable to Teach to Improve c. In the New Translation it is all Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction c. Old Translation Mac. 3. about the beginning of the Chapter it is said and as concerning the Prophets that deceive my people thus saith the Lord against them when they have any thing to bite upon then they preach that all shall be well but if a man put not somthing into their mouths they preach of War against him New Translation Thus saith the Lord concerning the Prophets that make my people err that bite with their Teeth and cry Peace and he that putteth not into their mouthes they even prepare War against him THE END