Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/362

 true riches, didst come and didst fill me and those worthy of thee with riches and didst deliver us from indigence, care and avarice. Behold, therefore, I have accomplished thy work and executed thy behest and became poor, needy, strange, a slave, despised, imprisoned, hungry, thirsty, naked, and weary. Let the fulfillment of my trust not be lost, and may my hope in thee not be confounded! Let my toils not be in vain! Let my continual prayers and fastings not be lost, and let my deeds for thee not be lessened! Let not the devil take the seed of the wheat from the land, < and his tares be found in it; for thy land receives not his tares, and they cannot be gathered into the barns.

146. < "I planted thy vine in the ground, let its sprouts spread in the ground and its shoots go up to heaven. May it be seen on earth, and may those enjoy them which are worthy of thee and which thou hast acquired. Thy silver which thou gavest to me I put on the table (of the exchangers); call it in and return it to me with interest, as thou hast promised. With thy pound I gained by trading ten others, may they be added to me, as thou hast commanded. I released the debtors the pound—let it not be sought in my hand, which I