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1. NOW on the
morrow as they were coming from Bethany, Peter was hungry, and perceiving
a fig tree afar off having leaves thereon, he came if happily he might find
fruit thereon, and when he came he found nothing but leaves, for the time
of figs was not yet.
2. And Peter was angry and said unto it, Accursed tree, no man eat fruit of
thee hereafter for ever. And some of the disciples heard of it.
3. And the next day as Jesus and his disciples passed by, Peter said unto Jesus,
Master, behold, the fig tree which I cursed is green and flourishing, wherefore
did not my word prevail?
4. Jesus said unto Peter, Thou knowest not what spirit thou art of. Wherefore
didst thou curse that which God hath not cursed? And Peter said, Behold Lord
I was a hungered, and finding leaves and no fruit, I was angry, and I cursed
the tree.
5. And Jesus said, Son of Jonas knewest thou not that the time of figs was
not yet? Behold the corn which is in the field which groweth according to its
nature first the green shoot, then the stalk, then the ear—would thou be angry
if thou camest at the time of the tender shoot or the stalk, and didst not
find the corn in the ear? And wouldst thou curse the tree which, full of buds
and blossoms, had not yet ripe fruit?
6. Verily Peter I say unto thee, one of my twelve will deny me thrice in his
fear and anger with curses, and swear that he knows me not, and the rest will
forsake me for a season.
7. But ye shall repent and grieve bitterly, because in your heart ye love me,
and ye shall be as an Altar of twelve hewn stones, and a witness to my Name,
and ye shall be as the Servants of servants, and the keys of the Church will
I give unto you, and ye shall feed my sheep and my lambs and ye shall be my
vice-gerents upon earth.
8. But there shall arise men amongst them that succeed you, of whom some shall
indeed love me even as thou, who being hotheaded and unwise, and void of patience,
shall curse those whom God hath not cursed, and persecute them in their ignorance,
because they cannot yet find in them the fruits they seek.
9. And others being lovers of themselves shall make alliance with the kings
and rulers of the world, and seek earthly power, and riches, and domination,
and put to death by fire and sword those who seek the truth, and therefore
are truly my disciples.
10. And in their days I Jesus shall be crucified afresh and put to open shame,
for they will profess to do these things in my Name. And Peter said, Be it
far from thee Lord.
11. And Jesus answered, As I shall be nailed to the cross, so also shall my
Church in those days, for she is my Bride and one with me. But the day shall
come when this darkness shall pass away, and true Light shall shine.
12. And one shall sit on my throne, who shall be a Man of Truth and Goodness
and Power, and he shall be filled with love and wisdom beyond all others, and
shall rule my Church by a fourfold twelve and by two and seventy as of old,
and that only which is true shall he teach.
13. And my Church shall be filled with Light, and give Light unto all nations
of the earth, and there shall be one Pontiff sitting on his throne as a King
and a Priest.
14. And my Spirit shall be upon him and his throne shall endure and not be
shaken, for it shall be founded on love and truth and equity, and light shall
come to it, and go forth from it, to all the nations of the earth, and the
Truth shall make them free.
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