Part 25

It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words, saying them Maria, said he, Well (done) O happy Maria, the spiritual. These are the explanations of the words which I said. Answered Maria, said she, My Lord, yet I seek from thee [270^a] because that from now I am about to begin to seek thee of everything in an exactness. Because of this therefore My Lord, be long suffering with us, and reveal to us everything, about which we shall seek thee, concerning the manner also in which my brothers will preach to the race of all the mankind. But these she having said them to the Saviour, answered also the Saviour, said he to her becoming in a great mercy in unto her, Amen I say to you, Not only shall I reveal to you every thing ye will seek after, but from now also I shall reveal to you these other (things) which ye understood not to seek after them; these mounted not upon the heart of the men, these which knew not all the Gods also who (are) among the men. Now therefore, thou Maria, seek after that which thou art seeking after, [270^b] and I shall reveal it to thee face to face, without parable. But answered Maria, said she, My Lord, then in what type are wont the baptisms to forgive sin? I heard thee saying, Are wont the Contentious Ministers, they are wont to follow after the soul, being witness unto her of every sin which she did, that they should convict her in the judgments. Now therefore, My Lord, are wont the mysteries of the baptisms, are they wont to blot out the sins, which are with the Contentious Ministers, because they indeed are wont to make their forgetfulness? Now therefore My Lord, say unto us the type (by) which they are wont to forgive sin, but we wish to know them in an exactness. But answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Fairly indeed thou saidst, the Ministers however at least they are not (those) who are wont to bear witness of every sin, but [271^a] they are wont to remain also among the judgments holding on to the souls, convicting all the souls of the sinners, these who received not mystery, and they are wont to hold them down in the Chaoses punishing them. And are not wont those Contentious (ones) they are not wont to prevail to pass through the Chaoses, for them to come unto the arrays which are above the Chaoses, and convict the souls which come out of those Places. Now therefore the souls which receive mysteries, it is not allowed for them to overpower them, and take them out of the Chaos, that should convict them the Contentious Ministers, but are wont the Contentious Ministers, they are wont to convict the souls of the sinners, and lay hold on these which received not mysteries, these which are wont to bring from the Chaoses. The souls however who receive mysteries have not (any) work (for which) to convict them, because they are not wont to come out of their Places. [271^b] And also whenever they should come, they are not able to prevail to stand up before them, nevertheless indeed they are not wont to be able to take them in those Chaoses.

Hear, also, that I may say unto you the word in truth in what type is wont the mystery of the baptism to forgive sin. Now therefore whenever the souls should do sin, yet being upon the World are wont to come however at least the Contentious Ministers, and bear witness to all the sins which the soul did, lest haply indeed they should come out of the Place of the Chaos, that they should convict her in the judgments, these which are out(side) of the Chaoses. And is wont the counterfeit spirit, it is wont to bear witness of all the sins which did the soul, that also he should convict her in the judgments, these which are out(side) of the Chaoses. And not only because it beareth witness of them, but every sin of the souls it is wont to seal [272^a] the sins, and affix them in unto the soul, that all the Rulers of the judgments of the sinners should recognise her, that she is a sinful soul, and that they should know the number of the sins which she did from the seals which affixed unto her the counterfeit spirit, that they should punish her according to the number of the sins which she did. This is the manner in which they are wont to do to every soul of sinner. Now therefore he who will receive the mysteries of the baptisms, are wont the mysteries of those, they are (it is, MS) wont to become in a great fire being fierce greatly (and) wise, and it burneth the sins: and they are wont to go in unto the soul in concealment, and it eateth in after all the sins, these which affixed in unto it the counterfeit spirit, they are wont to go also [272^b] in unto the body in concealment, and pursue all the pursuers in concealment, and separate them on each side of the body; for it is wont to pursue the counterfeit spirit and (with, MS) the Fate, and separate them outside the power and (with, MS) the soul, and them on (one) side of the body, so that the counterfeit spirit with the Fate with the body it is wont to separate them unto one part: the soul also with the power it is wont to separate them unto another part. The mystery also of the baptism is wont to remain in the midst of the two, and remain separating them from one another, that it should cleanse them and purify them, that they should not be defiled by the matter. Now therefore Maria, this is the manner in which are wont the mysteries of the baptisms to forgive sin and with every unlawfulness. These then having said them the Saviour, said he to his disciples, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you? Sprang up Maria, said she [273^a]: Yea, My Lord, truly I fully take in every word which thou sayest. Concerning the word therefore of the forgiveness of the sins which thou saidst unto us once in a parable, saying, I came to cast fire upon the earth; and also, What is that which I wish, except that it should be kindled: and also thou separatedst plainly, saying, I have a baptism to be baptised in it; and how shall I endure, until it should be completed? Ye are thinking that I came to cast peace upon the earth? Nay but a division is that which I shall send. For from now there are five (who) will become in one house, there are three (who) will be upon two and two upon three. This, my Lord, is the word which thou saidst plainly. The word indeed which thou saidst, I came to cast a fire upon the earth and what is that which [273^b] I wish, except that it should be kindled, which (is) this, my Lord, that thou broughtest the mysteries of the baptisms unto the world? And what is that which thou willest, except that it should eat in after all the sins of the soul and purify them. And also afterwards thou separatedst plainly saying, I have a baptism to be baptised in it, and how shall I endure, even until it should be completed, namely, that thou wilt not remain in the World, even until the baptisms should be completed, and purify the perfect souls. And also the word which thou saidst unto us once, Ye are thinking that I came to cast peace upon the earth? nay, but division is that which I came to cast: because from now there are five (who) will become in one house; there are three (who) will be divided upon two and two upon three, namely, the mysteries of the baptisms [274^a] which thou broughtest unto the World, it having made a division in the bodies of the World: because that the counterfeit spirit with the body with the Fate, it separated them unto one part, the soul also with the power it separated them unto another part, namely, that there are three who will be divided upon two and two upon three. But these having said them Maria, said he the Saviour, Well (done), O spiritual (one) of pure Light, Maria, this is the explanation of the word. Answered also Maria, said she, My Lord yet also I am about to add in seeking from thee. Now therefore, my Lord, bear with me seeking from thee. Behold indeed in boldness we knew the type (in) which are wont the baptisms to forgive sin: now also the mystery of these (this, MS) three Spaces with the mysteries of this First Mystery with the mysteries of the Ineffable, in what type are they wont to forgive sin [274^b]? Are they wont to forgive in the type of the baptism, or otherwise? Answered also the Saviour, said he, Otherwise but all the mysteries of the three Spaces are wont to forgive to (in, MS) the soul in (dative, MS) all the Places of the Rulers all the sins which did the soul from at first; they are wont to forgive to her, and further they are wont to forgive, those which she will do after these, even until the time unto which each of the mysteries will dominate: these I shall say unto you in the Distribution of the Universe viz.: the time up to which each of the mysteries will dominate. And also the mystery of the First Mystery with the mysteries of the Ineffable they are wont to forgive to the soul in all the Places of the Rulers, every sin with every unlawfulness which did the soul. And also that (not only) are they wont to forgive all of them to her, [275^a] but they are not wont to reckon sin unto her from this hour, even until unto age of age, because of the free-gift of that great mystery with its (their, MS) glory which is much, greatly greatly. These therefore having said them the Saviour, said he to his disciples, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you? Answered also Maria, said she, Yea, my Lord, I finished carrying off every word which thou sayest. Now therefore my Lord, concerning the word which thou sayest, Are wont all the mysteries of the three Spaces they are wont to forgive sin and cover over their unlawfulness which prophesied once about this word David the prophet, saying: Happy are those whose sin they forgave with those whose unlawfulness they covered over. He prophesied [275^b] about this word once, and the word which thou saidst, The mystery of the First Mystery with the mystery of the Ineffable, that every man who will receive those mysteries, not only that they are wont to forgive the sins, which they did from at first, but also they are not wont to make the reckoning indeed of them from that time unto age. Because of this word also prophesied about it once David saying, Happy are they unto whom the Lord the God will not reckon sin, namely, they will not reckon sin unto him from this time (viz.) those who receive the mysteries of the First Mystery with those who receive the mysteries of the Ineffable. Said he: Well (done), the spiritual of pure Light Maria, this is the explanation of the word. Added also Maria, said she, My Lord, Then whenever the man shall receive mystery in the mysteries of the First Mystery, [276^a] and also should turn (away) and do sin and transgress. And also, after these should turn and repent and pray in his mystery (after) his mystery, will they forgive to him or otherwise? Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Amen amen I say to you, Every one who will receive the mysteries of the First Mystery, and also turneth (away) and transgresseth twelve times and also repenteth twelve times praying in the mysteries of the First Mystery they will forgive to him. And also should he (they, MS) transgress after the twelve times, and turn (away) and transgress they will not forgive to him unto age, for him to turn unto his mystery (after) his mystery, and this (one) hath not repentance except he should receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, that which is wont to be merciful at every time, and, also, he forgiveth at every time. Added also Maria, said she, My Lord, but if however those who receive the mysteries of the First Mystery, and they should turn (away) and transgress and come out [276^b] of (the) body, having not repented, will they inherit the kingdom or otherwise? Because they received indeed the free-gift of the First Mystery? Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Amen amen I say to you, Every man who receiveth mystery in the First Mystery, having transgressed the first time with the second with the third, and this (one) should come out of body, having not repented, his judgment surpasseth much beyond every judgment. For his dwelling place is in the midst of the mouth of the dragon of the Darkness which is outer, and at end of all these he will be petrified in the punishments, and he will be consumed unto age, because he received in the free-gift of the First Mystery, he remained not in it. Answered Maria, said she, My Lord, then every man who will receive the mystery of the Ineffable, and they transgress, they cease from their faith, and also after these yet living, they turned, they repented, will they forgive to them [277^a] how many times? Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Amen amen I say to you, Every man who will receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, not only whenever he should transgress once and also turn and repent will they forgive to him, but whenever he should transgress at every time, and, also, yet living and turn and repent, not becoming in an hypocrisy, and also should turn and repent, and he should pray in his mysteries (after) his mysteries, they will forgive to him at every time? Because that he received out of the free-gift of the mysteries of the Ineffable. And also because that merciful are all those mysteries and forgiving are they at every time. Answered also Maria, said she to Jesus, My Lord, then those who receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, and also they turned (away) they transgressed, they ceased from their faith, and also they came [277^b] out of (the) body having not repented, what also is that which will happen to these of this kind? But answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Amen amen I say to you, Every man who will receive from the mysteries of the Ineffable, happy (ones) are they however at least, the souls which will receive from those mysteries, but whenever they turn (away) and transgress and come out of (the) body having not repented, those men, their judgment is worse than every judgment, and great is greatly greatly: even if those souls are new (ones), and it being their first time of coming unto the World; and they will not return unto the changes of the bodily World from this hour. And they are not wont to be able to do any work; but they are wont to cast them unto outside unto the Darkness which is outer, and they will be consumed and will be without existence unto age. But these having said them the Saviour [278^a], said he to his disciples, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you? Answered Maria, said she, Yea, my Lord. I carried off the words which thou saidst. Now therefore, my Lord, this is the word which thou saidst, Those who will receive the mysteries of the Ineffable happy (ones) however at least are those souls; but whenever they should turn (away) and transgress and cease from their faith, and they should come out of body having not repented, they are not wont to be profitable any longer from this hour to return them unto the changes of the body, nor (for) any work, but they are wont to cast them unto the outside unto the Darkness which is outer, they will consume them in that Place, and they will be without existence unto age. Because of the word which thou saidst unto us once saying, Good is the salt, whenever the salt insipid becometh in what are they about to salt it? [278^b] It is not wont to be profitable unto dunghill nor unto the land, but they are wont to cast it out, namely, happy is every soul who will receive from the mysteries of the Ineffable, but whenever they should transgress once, they are not able to be profitable for return unto the body from this hour, nor unto any work, but they are wont to cast them unto the Darkness which is outer, and they will consume away in that place. But these she having said them to the Saviour, said he, Well (done) the pure spiritual Maria, this is the explanation of the word. Added also Maria, said she, My Lord, then every man who received the mysteries of the First Mystery with the mysteries of the Ineffable, these having not transgressed, but their faith in the mysteries (is) in a directness without hypocrisy, these therefore through the compulsion of the Destiny, and also they did sin, and also they turned, they repented and also [279^a] they prayed in their mysteries, (after) their mysteries, will they forgive to them for about how many times? But answered the Saviour, said he to Maria in the midst of the disciples, Amen amen I say unto you, Every man who will receive the mysteries of the Ineffable, and also with the mysteries of the First Mystery, these by the compulsion of the Destiny did sin every time, and yet being alive they turn and they repent and also they remain in their mystery, they will forgive to them every time, because those mysteries are merciful, forgivers they are at every time. Because of this therefore I said unto you once, Those mysteries not only that they will forgive to them their sins which they did from at first, but (and, MS) they are not wont to reckon them unto him from that hour, those whom I said unto you that they are wont to take repentance at every time. [279^b] And they will forgive also the sins which they are wont to do repeatedly. If however those who receive mystery in the mysteries of the Ineffable with the mysteries of the First Mystery, and they (should) turn (away) and do sin, and they (should) come out of body having not repented, they also are about to become also as those who transgressed (and) they repented not. Their dwelling place indeed also is the midst of the mouth of the dragon in the Darkness which is outer, and they will consume away and become without existence unto age. Because of this I said to you, Every man who will receive the mysteries, if they knew the time in which they are coming out of the body, they would govern them(selves) and not do sin, that they should inherit the kingdom of the Light unto age. These therefore having said them the Saviour unto his disciples, said he to them, Understand ye in what manner I am speaking with you? [280^a] Answered Maria, said she, Yea, my Lord, In an exactness I exact every word which thou sayest. Concerning this word therefore which thou saidst unto us once, If had known the lord of the house in what hour the thief would come in the night to dig through the house he would have kept vigil also, and not have let man dig through his house. This therefore having said Maria, said he, the Saviour: Well (done), the spiritual Maria, this is the word. Added also the Saviour said he to his disciples, Now therefore, preach to every man who will receive mystery in the Light: say to them, saying, Take heed to your(selves), do not sin, lest at any time ye cast an evil after an evil and ye come out of the body having not repented, and ye be alien unto the kingdom of the Light unto age. These [280^b] having said them the Saviour, answered Maria, said she, My Lord, Much is the mercifulness of these mysteries which forgive sin at every time. Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria in the midst of the disciples, If a king to-day being a man of this World giveth a free-gift to the men of his manner, and forgiveth also the murderers with the sleepers with male with the rest also of the sins which are grievous greatly, these being worthy of the death. But if it is proper for him being man of the World having done this, very much more therefore the Ineffable with the First Mystery, these who are lord over the Universe are having the authority in everything to do that which they will, for them to forgive everyone who receiveth mystery? Or otherwise indeed if a king to-day putteth vesture of king upon a soldier, and sendeth him unto other places, and he doeth [281^a] murders with sins which are grievous being worthy of the death, and they are not wont to be able to do anything evil to him because the vesture of the king put upon him, very much more therefore those who wear the mysteries of the vestures of the Ineffable with those of the First Mystery, these which are lord over all those of the Height with all those of the Depth.