Acta Thomae

My loins have I girt close with truth and bound my shoes on my feet, that I may never see them gaping mine hands have I put unto the yoked plough and have not turned away backward, lest my furrows go crooked. ‘The plough-land is become white and the harvest is come, that I may receive my wages. My garment that groweth old I have worn out, and the labour that hath brought me unto rest have I accomplished. I have kept the first watch and the second and the third, that I may behold thy face and adore thine holy brightness. I have rooted out the worst [*]((pulled down my barns, Syr.)) and left them desolate upon earth, that I may be filled full from thy treasures [*]((Gr. MSS. add: all my substance have I sold, that I may gain thee the pearl)). The moist spring that was in me have I dried up, that I may live and rest beside thine inexhaustible spring [*]((al. and Syr.: rest beside thy living spring)). The captive whom thou didst commit to me I have slain, that he which is set free in me may not fall from his confidence. Him that was inward have I made outward and the outward ‹inward›, and all thy fullness hath been fulfilled in me. I have not returned unto the things that are behind, but have gone forward unto the things that are before, that I become not a reproach. The dead man have I quickened, and the living one have I overcome, and that which was lacking have I filled up [*]((Syr. Wright, not the older one, inserts negatives, ‘not quickened’, etc.)), that I may receive the crown of victory, and the power of Christ may be accomplished in me. I have received reproach upon earth, but give thou me the return and the recompense in the heavens. [*]((U omits practically all this chapter.))

Let not the powers and the officers perceive me, and let them not have any thought concerning me; let not the publicans and exactors ply their calling upon me; let not the weak and the evil cry out against me that am valiant and humble; and when I am borne upward let them not rise up to stand before me, by thy power, O Jesu, which surroundeth me as a crown: for they

[*]([We revert to U.])

And he said again unto them that were about him: [*](‹Believe, my children, in the God whom I proclaim; believe in Jesus Christ whom I preach; believe in the giver of life and helper of his servants, Syr.›) believe in the Saviour of them that have laboured in his service: for my soul already flourisheth, because my time is near to receive him; for he being beautiful draweth me on always to speak concerning his beauty, what it is, though I be not able and suffice not to speak it worthily: thou that art the light [*]((feeder, Syr.)) of my poverty and the supplier of my defects and nurturer of my need: be thou with me until I come and receive thee for evermore.