Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/283

 thee, counselor of the Holy Son of God? Why wilt thou destroy us before our time? Why wilt thou take our power? For until the present hour we had hope and time left us. What have we to do with thee? Thou art powerful in thine own, and we in our own. Why wilt thou use tyranny against us, since thou teachest others not to use violence? Why dost thou covet that which is not thine own like one who is not satisfied with what he has? Why dost thou liken thyself to the Son of God, who wronged us? For thou art like him altogether, as if thou hadst him for a father. For we thought to bring him also under the yoke, like the rest. But he turned, and left us under his power, because we knew him not. He deceived us by his very homely form and his poverty and want. For when we thus saw him, we thought him to be a man clothed with flesh, not knowing that it was he who makes men live. And he gave us power over our own, and for the time being not to give up our own, but to abide in it. But thou wishest to get more than is necessary and has been given thee and to do violence to us!"

46. And having thus spoken, the demon wept and said, "I leave thee, my most beautiful consort, which I found long ago and was at rest. I leave thee, my beloved, trusty sister, in which I was well pleased. What I shall do or whom I shall call