Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/496

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APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS.

bracing those who stood with him all around, shedding most bitter tears, he called to his son Seth, saying, O son Seth, tell the holy patriarchs and prophets what the guardian of Paradise said to thee, when I sent thee to bring to me of the oil of mercy to anoint my body when I was weak.

Then he answered, When thou sentest me to the gates of Paradise, I prayed and besought the Lord, with tears, and called to the guardian of Paradise that he would give me thereof. Then came forth Michael the archangel and said to me, Seth, Wherefore dost thou lament? Know beforehand that thy father Adam shall not receive of this oil of mercy now, but after many generations of the world. For the most kind Son of God will come into the world from heaven, and will be baptised by John in the river Jordan; and then shall thy father Adam, with all who believe in him, receive of this oil[1] of mercy; and the kingdom of those that believe in Him shall abide for ever.

CHAPTER V. (XXI.)

Then all the saints when they heard this rejoiced again with joy. One of those who stood around, Isaiah by name, crying aloud exclaimed, Father

  1. Tischendorf has de hoc deo, 'of this God;' an evident misprint for de hoc oleo.