Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/499

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LATIN GOSPEL OF NICODEMUS.
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him, Why dost thou tremble? We by no means suffer thee to go hence. But receive this, as thou deservest, from him that thou daily wast fighting against: but whether or not, know, that bound by him thou wilt be in custody under me.

CHAPTER VII. (XXIII.)

And a second time the voice of the Son of the Father most High came as a voice of great thunder, saying, O ye princes, lift up your gates, and be ye lifted up ye eternal doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Then Satan and Hades cried and said, Who is that King of Glory? And the voice of the Lord answered them, The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

After this voice there came a man whose aspect was as that of a robber, bearing a cross on his shoulder, crying outside, saying. Open for me that I may come in. And Satan opening the door for him a little way, brought him inside into the abode, and closed the door again after him. And all the saints saw that he was very bright, and said to him forthwith, Thy aspect is that of a robber. Tell us, what is that thou bearest on thy back? He answered humbly, and said, In truth I was altogether a robber, and the Jews hung me on a cross along with my Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father most high.