and with gems, adorn it most artfully with precious1025 stones; then to seal it with locks in a casket of silver. There hath the rood of life, best tree of victory, dwelt since then, indestructible in its nobleness. There shall it be ever ready, a solace for1030 the ill of any disease, affliction, or sorrow. Then straightway shall men find aid and divine grace through that holy form.
16. The Conversion of Judas.
Then after a little space Judas received the bath of baptism, and, cleansed [of his sins], was true to1035 Christ, dear to the Lord of life. His faith was steadfast in his heart when the Spirit of comfort had taken up his dwelling in the breast of the man, and had urged him unto repentance. He chose the better course, the gladness of glory, and forsook the1040 worse, the way of the idolater, and cast aside his heresy, the law of unrighteousness. God, the eternal King, Creator, and Wielder of power, was gracious unto him.
Then he was baptized who many times had scorned the light; . . .[1] his heart was inspired1045 unto the better life; he was turned unto glory. Verily fate decreed that he should become thus filled with faith, thus dear unto God and beloved of Christ in the kingdom of the world. This was made manifest1050 when Elene bade bring unto the holy city Eusebius, the bishop of Rome, exceeding wise amid the councils of men, to aid in her deliberation, and to ordain Judas into the priesthood at Jerusalem1055 as bishop for the people in the cities, prudently
- ↑ A manuscript lacuna.
