Part 8

It happened therefore, I, having seen the mystery of all these words in the vesture which he dispatched to me, I put it on me in that hour: and I enlightened greatly greatly, and I flew unto the Height, and I came at the gate of the firmament enlightening greatly greatly, there being no measure unto the light with which I was becoming. And were disturbed upon one another the gates of the firmament, all were opened at once, and all the Rulers with all the Authorities, with all the Angels who (were) in it, they were all disturbed together because of the great light which becometh from me. And they looked at the vesture of light which (was) on me, which [20^a] enlighteneth, they saw the mystery on which is being their name, they feared greatly greatly, and were loosened all their bonds, these in which they are bound, and each one ceased from his array. And they prostrated all before my presence, they worshipped, saying, In what manner passed through us the Lord of the Universe, while we knew (it) not? And they all hymned together unto the inward part of the inward parts. But I, they were seeing me not, but they were seeing the light only, and they were becoming in great fear and they were disturbed greatly, and they hymned unto the inward part of the inward parts: but I left that Place, I came up unto the first Sphere enlightening greatly greatly, more than as I enlightened [20^b] in the firmament forty-nine of double of time. It happened therefore, I having reached the gate of the first Sphere, were disturbed its gates and they opened themselves at once. I came into the houses of the Sphere enlightening greatly greatly, there being no measure unto the light which becometh from me; and were disturbed upon one another all the Rulers with all those who become in that Sphere, and they saw the great light which becometh from me, and they looked at my vesture, they saw the mystery of their name in it and they were disturbed and they became in great fear, saying, How did the Lord of the Universe pass through us while we knew (it) not? And were loosened all their bonds and with their Places [21^a] with their arrays. And each ceased in his array. They prostrated all together, they worshipped at my presence or at presence of my vesture and they hymned all together unto the inward part of the inward parts, becoming in great fear with great disturbance. And I left that place behind me, I came even unto the gate of the second Sphere, this, namely, the Destiny. But were disturbed all her gates, and they were opened one on another, and I went in unto the houses of the Destiny enlightening greatly greatly, there being no measure unto the light which becometh from me. For I was enlightening in the Destiny more than the Sphere forty-nine of double of time. And were disturbed all the Rulers with [21^b] all those who become in the Destiny, and they fell upon one another, they became in great fear greatly, seeing the great light becoming from me. And they looked at my vesture of light, they saw the mystery of their name in my vesture, and they were made more disturbed, they became in great fear saying, In what manner did the Lord of the Universe pass through us, while we know (it) not? And were loosened all their bonds of their Places with their arrays with their houses: they came all together, they prostrated they worshipped at my presence, and they hymned all together unto the inward part of the inward parts, becoming in great fear with great disturbance. And I left that Place behind me, I came unto the great Aeons of the Rulers, [22^a] I came at their veils and with their gates, enlightening greatly greatly, and there being no measure unto the light which becometh from me. It happened therefore when I had reached unto the twelve Aeons, were disturbed one upon another their veils and with their gates: drew (away) of themselves the veils, and their gates opened one upon another, and I went in unto their Aeons enlightening greatly greatly, there being no measure unto the light which becometh from me: more than the light in which I enlightened in the houses of the Destiny forty-nine of double of time: and all the Angels of the Aeons with their Archangels with their Rulers (Another (2nd) hand begins here.) with their Gods with their Lords with their [22^b] Authorities and their Tyrants with their powers with their sparks with their luminaries, with their Unpaired-ones, with their Invisibles and with their Forefathers, with their Triple-powered-ones, they saw me enlightening greatly, there being no measure unto the light which becometh from me: and they were disturbed one upon another, and great fear fell upon them, seeing the great light which was becoming from me. And their great disturbance with their great fear reached even unto the Place of the great invisible Forefather, and with the three great Triple-powered-ones. But through the great fear of their disturbance continued running hither and thither in his Place the great Forefather, [23^a] he with the three Triple-powered-ones. And they were not able to shut all their Places because of the great fear in which they were becoming: and moved all their Aeons together, with all their Spheres with all their orderings, fearing and being disturbed greatly because of the great light which was becoming from me, not as once was becoming from me being upon the earth of the mankind, having come upon me the vesture of light, for it was not possible for the World to endure the light, as it was in its truth, otherwise the World would have dissolved with all those who (are) upon it together. But the light which was becoming from me in the twelve Aeons [23^b] was greater than that which became from me in the World together with you (of) eight thousand with seven hundred of ten thousand of double of time.

It happened therefore all those who become in the twelve Aeons, having seen the great light which was becoming from me, they were all disturbed one upon another, and they ran hither and thither in the Aeons, and moved one upon another all the Aeons with all the heavens with all their ordering, because of the great fear which became to them, because that they knew not the great mystery which became. And the Adamas the great Tyrant with all the Tyrants who become in all the Aeons began to war without cause against the light and they knew not [24^a] with whom they are warring, because that they were not seeing anyone except the light which surpassed greatly.

It happened therefore, they having warred against the light, they all burned one with another and fell down in the Aeons, they became as the earth-beings who are dead, no breath being in them. And I took away a third part of all their powers, that they should not work in their evil doings, and that whenever the men who (are) in the World should invoke them in their mysteries, these who brought them down even the Angels who transgressed—these which were their magic, that therefore whenever they should invoke them in their evil doings, they should not be able to accomplish them: and the Destiny with the Sphere which is lord unto them I removed, [24^b] and I caused them to spend six months turned to the Left (hand) and they fulfilling their influences, and six months, looking to the Right (hand) fulfilling their influences: but (it was) through the command of the First precept, and through the command of the First Mystery, Ieou the overseer of the light, put them looking to the left every hour fulfilling their influences and with their doings. It happened therefore, I having come unto their place, they were refractory and they warred against the light: I took away the third part of their power, that they should not be able to prevail in fulfilling their evil doings; and the Destiny with the Sphere [25^a] which is lord unto them I removed, and I put them looking to the Left for six months, fulfilling their influences, and I put them for six other months turned to the Right, fulfilling their influences. These therefore having said unto his disciples, said he to them, He who hath ear to hear let him hear. It happened therefore, Mariham having heard these words, saying them the Saviour, she gazed in the air for the time of an hour. Said she, My Lord command to me that I may speak in boldness.

Answered Jesus the merciful, said he to Mariham, Mariham the happy, this whom I shall complete in all the mysteries [25^b] of the (things) of the Height. Speak in boldness, because thou art she whose heart straineth toward the Kingdom of the heavens more than all thy brothers.

Then said she, Mariham to the Saviour, My Lord, the word which thou saidst to us, He who hath ear to hear let him hear, art thou saying that we should understand the word which thou saidst? Hear, therefore, my Lord and I (will) say in boldness. The word which thou saidst that I took away the third part from the power of the Rulers of all the Aeons; and that I removed their Destiny with their Spheres, these which are for lord unto them, that whenever the race of the men should invoke them in their mysteries, these which taught them the Angels, who transgressed, unto the accomplishment of their evil [26^a] works and unlawful, in the mystery of their magic; in order that they should not be able to prevail any more from this hour to accomplish their unlawful works, because that thou tookest away their power from them: with their hour-setters, with their enquirers, with those who are wont to show to the men, who are in the World, everything which will happen, that they should not understand from this hour to show to them any thing which will happen, because thou removedst their Spheres; and thou causedst them to spend six months turned to the left, fulfilling their influences, and other six months looking to the right, fulfilling their influences. Because of this word therefore, my Lord, which it said thus (viz.) the power which (is) in Esaias the prophet, and which it uttered in a spiritual parable, [26^b] once speaking concerning the vision of Egypt: Where, therefore, Egypt, where are thy enquirers, with thy hour-setters, with those who are wont to call out of the earth, with those who are wont to call out of their belly? Let them show to thee, therefore, from this hour the works which will do the Lord, Sabaoth. Of whom prophesied therefore before that thou camest, the power which (is) in Esaias the prophet who prophesied about thee, that thou would take away the power of the Rulers of the Aeons, and remove their Sphere with their Destiny that they should not know anything from this hour? Concerning this indeed it said, Ye will not know, therefore, what the Lord, Sabaoth will do, namely, [27^a] that there is not any in the Rulers about to know the (things) which thou wilt do from this hour, which (Rulers) are (called) Egypt because that they are of matter: which the power, therefore, which is in Esaias prophesied about thee once saying, Ye will not know therefore from this hour the (things) which will do the Lord, Sabaoth, because of the power of light which thou receivedst from Sabaoth the good, this who becometh in the Place of Right (hand), this (power) which becometh in thy material body of to-day. Concerning this therefore thou saidst to us, my Lord Jesus, He who hath ear to hear let him hear, that thou shouldest know who is he whose heart is eager for the Kingdom [27^b] of the heavens.

It happened, therefore, Maria having finished saying these words, said he, Well (done) Maria because thou art happy beyond every woman who (is) upon the earth, because thou art she who will become the Pleroma of all the Pleromas and the completion of all the completions.

But Maria having heard the Saviour saying these words, she was glad greatly, and she came before Jesus, she prostrated at his presence, she worshipped to his feet, said she to him, My Lord, Hear me, that I may ask thee of this word, thou having not yet spoken with us of the Places unto which thou wentest.

Answered Jesus, said he to Mariham, Speak in boldness, [28^a] and fear not. Every thing which thou seekest after I shall reveal to thee.

Said she, My Lord; Every man who knoweth the mystery of the magic of all the Rulers of all the Aeons, with the magic of the Rulers of the Destiny, with those of the Sphere, according as taught them the Angels who transgressed; if they should invoke them in their mysteries, namely their evil magic, to hinder the works which are good, will they accomplish them from this hour or otherwise?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, They will not accomplish them as they were accomplishing them from at first, because I took away a third part of their power, but they will make [28^b] a pretext in those who know the mysteries of the magic of the thirteenth Aeon. And if they should invoke the mysteries of the magic of those who become in the thirteenth Aeon, they will accomplish them well and in accuracy, because that I took not away power from that Place according to the command of the First Mystery.

But it happened, Jesus having finished saying these words, added again Maria, said she, My Lord, then the hour-setters, with the enquirers, then they will not show to the men that which will happen to them from this hour?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria: If the hour-setters—if they should find the Destiny, with the Sphere turned [29^a] to the Left according to their first distribution, their words are wont to come (right), and they will say that which it is right to become; but if they come (upon) the Destiny or the Sphere turned to the Right, they are not wont to say anything true, because that I turned their influences with their four-corners with their three-corners with their eight-forms. Since were being constant their influences from at first (so long as they were) turned to the Left, with their four-corners, with their three-corners, with their eight-forms. But now I caused them to spend six months turned to the Left and six months turned to the Right: he who will find their numbering from the time which I [29^b] altered them; having put them for to spend six months looking unto their Left paths, and six months unto their Right paths, he who attendeth therefore to them thus, he will know their influences in accuracy, and he will utter every thing which they will do. Likewise also the enquirers if they should invoke the name of the Rulers, and come upon them looking to the Left, everything concerning which they will seek of their Dekans they will tell them in accuracy. If however should their enquirers invoke their names looking to the Right, they will not hear them, because that they are looking another form contrary to their first precept (position) in which settled them Ieou; since some of their names [30^a] are turned to the Left and other of their names are turned to the Right: and if they should invoke them turned to the Right, they will not say unto them the truth, but in confusion they will confuse them and in a threat they will threaten them. Those who know not therefore their direction turned to the Right, and with their three-corners, and with their four-corners, with all their figures, they will find nothing true, but they will be confused in great confusion, and they will become in a great error, and they will stray in great straying (from the truth): because that the works which they were wont to do once in their four-corners turned to the Left and in their three-corners and in their eight-figure, these in which they were being constant, [30^b] doing them turned to the Left. I altered them now, and I caused them to spend six months doing all their forms turned to the Right, that they might be confused in confusion in all their circuit; and further I cause them to spend six months turned to the Left, doing the works of their influences with all their forms, that in confusion should be confused and in an error should err the Rulers who become in the Aeon and in their Spheres and in their heavens and in all their Places, that they should not understand their own movements.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words, Philippos (was) sitting, writing every word which Jesus is saying; [31^a] it happened therefore after these (things) Philippos came forward he prostrated, he worshipped unto the feet of Jesus, saying, My Lord, the Saviour, give authority to me for me to speak in thy presence and ask thee this word before that thou spakest with us of the Places unto which thou wentest because of thy service.

Answered the Saviour merciful, said he to Philippos, The authority is given to thee to utter the word which thou art willing (to say).

But answered Philippos, said he to Jesus, My Lord, because of which mystery removedst thou the binding of the Rulers with their Aeons, with their Destiny, with their Sphere, with all their Places, and in confusion thou causedst them to be confused in their paths, and they erred [31^b] in their course. Didst thou this therefore to them because of the salvation of the World or otherwise?

But answered Jesus, said he to Philippos with the disciples all together: I altered their path unto salvation of all the souls, Amen amen I say to you that except that I altered their path, they would have destroyed a multitude of souls, and they would have spent much time, having not been dissolved the Rulers of the Aeons, and the Rulers of the Destiny with the Sphere, and with all their Places, with all their heavens with all their Aeons. And the souls would have spent a great amount of [32^a] time outside this (place ?); and they would have delayed from completion the number of the perfect souls, these which will be reckoned unto the inheritance of the Height by the mysteries, and become in the Treasury of the Light. Because of this, therefore, I altered their path that they should be confused and be disturbed, and put away the power, this which becometh in the matter of their World, this which is wont to make the souls, that they should purify them quickly, and they should be lifted up to those who will be saved, they with all the power; and be dissolved quickly those who will not be saved.

It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Maria, she who is beautiful in her speaking, and the happy (one) she prostrated at the feet of Jesus. [32^b] Said she, My Lord bear with me that I may speak in thy presence, and be not angry unto me because I add trouble unto thee for many times enquiring of thee.

Answered the Saviour in compassion, said he to Maria, Say the word which thou art willing (to say), and I, I shall reveal it to thee in boldness.

But answered Maria, said she to Jesus, My Lord, in what manner will the souls be delaying outside of this (place)? or in what form will they be purifying them indeed quickly?

But answered Jesus, said he to Maria, Well (done) Maria, thou enquirest aright in the enquiring which is good, and thou givest light upon everything in accuracy and in exactness. Now therefore I shall not hide anything from you from this hour, but I shall reveal [33^a] everything to you in accuracy and in boldness. Hear therefore, Maria and listen all ye disciples. Before that I preached to all the Rulers of the Aeons and with all the Rulers of the Destiny with the Sphere, they were all being bound in their bonds and in their Spheres and in their seals, according as bound them from at first Ieou the overseer of the Light: and each of them was continuing in his array, and each one was walking according to his course, according as put them Ieou the overseer of the Light: and whenever should come the time of the number of Melkhisedek, the great Receiver of Light is wont to come unto [33^b] the midst of the Aeons with all the Rulers who are bound in the Sphere and in the Destiny, and he is wont to take away the purgation of the light from all the Rulers of the Aeons and from all the Rulers of the Destiny with those of the Sphere. For he was wont to take away there that which disturbed them. And he is wont to put in motion the task-master who is over them, and cause them to be turned in their orbit quickly; and he is wont to take away their power which is in them, with the breath of their mouth, and with the tears of their eyes and with the sweat of their bodies. And Melkhisedek the Receiver of the Light is wont to purify those powers, and carry their light unto the Treasury of the Light: and all their matter, whatever it be, they are wont to gather it in, the Ministers of all the Rulers, [34^a] and are wont to take them the Ministers of all the Rulers of the Destiny, with the Ministers of the Sphere, these who (are) below the Aeons, and make them souls of man and of beast and of creeping thing and wild-beast and bird, and send them unto this World of the mankind: and further the Receiver of the sun, with the Receiver of the moon, whenever they should look unto the heaven and see the forms of the courses of the Aeons, with the forms of the Destiny, with those of the Sphere, and he is wont to take away the power of the light from them, and the Receivers of the sun are wont to prepare and put it (down), until they give it to the Receiver of Melkhisedek the purifier of light; and their material purgations they are wont to take it unto the Sphere which is below the Aeons [34^b], and make it for soul of man; and also they are wont to put it for creeping thing and beast and wild-beast and bird according to the cycle of the Rulers of that Sphere, and according to all the forms of its turning. And they cast them unto this World of the mankind, and they become for soul in that Place according as I finished saying to you. These therefore, they were completing, continuously, before that their power diminished in them, and they (were) impaired and they became weak, or they became powerless.