Note,This

on proves,

Crucifixion, and Resurrection the third Day; and the Deftruction of the Jews and their Temple, and the driving them out of their Country by the Romans, is attributed to their Barbarity in the Crucifixion of Chrift.

T

Here is One GOD, who alone rules; He is very great, unbegotten: This One God is above All, who made the Heavens, Sun and Moon, and Stars, and the fruitful Earth, and the fwelling Waves of the Sea; He alone is God the Creator, being himself most pure and unconipounded; He made the Figure and Effigies of Men, and he mix'd the Nature of all the Generations of living Crea

tures.

I will now begin to prophecy concerning Declarati- all Events, from the first Generation of Men that this to the laft; what was done at firft, what Sibyl things are now, and what are to come in the three first World thro' the Impiety of Men.

wrote the

Books, in

which all

from fir

to laft.

The Crea

rion de

Firft, God commands me to declare how things are the World was truly made; therefore let all defcrib'd, Mortals wifely praise the Supreme King, and do not defpife my Prophecies. He created all the World, faying, Let it be, and it was made: He built the Earth over the fcrib'd. Tartarian Caverns, and compafs'd it about with Sea-waters: He gave the pleasant Light, and rais'd up the Heavens, and extended the Sky-colour'd Sea; and he crown'd the Heavens with fhining Stars, and adorn'd the Earth with Plants, and mix'd the Rivers

with

with the Sea, into which they run; the Vapors and Rainy Clouds are spread thro' the Air, and he put another Kind of Animals (viz. the Fish) into the Seas, and gave the Winds and Air to the Birds: He plac'd the hairy wild Beasts in the Woods, as well as the Dragons which creep; and all things we fee round about us he made by his Word, and they did prefently exift, and truly, because he is the Fountain of his own Being, and produces all other things by his own Power: He governs in Heaven after he had finifh'd the World.

Afterwards he framed a living Animal, making the New Man after his own Image, beautiful and holy, to inhabit a pleasant immortal Paradife, that there he might take care to perform good Works; but he being alone in the fruitful Garden, defir'd one for Conversation, and wish'd to see another of the fame Species with himself; therefore God produc'd beautiful Eve, taking her out of his Side, a young Virgin, and she was given him for a Wife, to live with him in Paradife: And when Adam beheld her, he very much rejoic'd, and was astonish'd when he beheld the Antitype fo like himself; and he had the gift of wife Difcourfe, with Words flowing freely for God took care of all things. Intemperance had not yet corrupted the Understanding, nor any Shame appear'd; they were without any wicked Heart; they liv'd as wild Beafts, naked. God afterwards gave them Precepts, and

B 2

for

forbid 'em the touching of a Tree; but the horrible Serpent deceiv'd them, and caus'd them to err, and brought them to the decreed Death, and to the Knowledg of Good and Evil; but the Woman was the first Betrayer of the Man, who being ignorant, perfuaded him to fin: He being over-perfuaded by the Woman's Difcourfe, forgot the Immortal Creator, and took no care to obferve his plain Commands; and for this reafon, instead of any Good, they procur'd Evil to themfelves, as they had deferv'd. Then they made themselves Garments, by fewing the Leaves of the fweet Figtree together, and cloath'd themfelves, to cover their naked Parts, because they were afham'd of 'em. Therefore the Immortal being angry, condemn'd them to Labour, and caft them out of the immortal place. For fuch was the Decree, that Mortals fhould live out of that place, because they rebell'd, and did not obferve the Commands of the Great God. But they prefently going out upon the face of the Earth, were overwhelm'd with Tears and Groans: Then the Immortal God fpoke thus to them, Encrease and multiply, and work the Land by Art, that you may have fufficient Nutriment by your Sweat and Labour. So he spoke; and he caus'd the Serpent, who was Author of their Error, to creep on his Belly and Sides upon the Earth, and with fharp reproof drove him away, and excited a grievous Enmity betwixt them: The Serpent endeavours to fave his Head, and the Man to fave his Heel;

for

for Death is near to Men, and to the venomous Serpents, who gave the evil Counfel.

Then the Generation of Men encreas'd in The First Age. number, as the Omnipotent himself commanded; and fpringing up one after the other, became an infinite number of People. They made all manner of Houses, and others built wall'd Cities very skilfully, because they liv'd a long and pleafant Life; for they did not die tormented by Difcafes, but Death feiz'd 'em like Sleep; for Men were then happy and magnanimous, whom the Immortal Saviour and King, God himself, lov'd. But thefe Wretches were infatuated with the Cain's Progeny, Pleasures of Sin: fome impudently ridicul'd their Fathers, and difhonour'd their Mothers; they would not own their Acquaintance, and dealt treacherously with their Brethren; they were defited and fatiated with human Blood; they made Wars. But utter Deftruction from Heaven came on them, which took away their Lives in a miferable manner. Hades fwallow'd up thefe; fo call'd because Adam first went thither when he had tasted Death, and was cover'd by the Earth; hence all Men born on the Earth are faid to go into the Houfes of Hades; but all thefe, tho' they went into the Houfes of Hades, were much honour'd and efteem'd, as the strongest of Mankind.

cond Ge ration.

But when these were dead, a fecond Gene- The Seration fprung from the remains of the best Men, very ingenious, who imploy'd themB 3

felves

The third

Genera tion.

The fourth Genera tion.

felves in acceptable Works and laudable Studies, and fingular Modefty, and curious Wifdom, and exercis'd all forts of Arts, which their mechanical Heads invented: One found out the Art of tilling the Earth by the Plow, another the Art of the Smith, and another discover'd the Art of Navigation and Aftronomy; another the Art of Divination by the flying of Birds: Others invented Phyfick and Magick, and others all other things by great Study, having hereby gain'd the Name of Vigilant Inventers of Arts, because they had a fedate Mind. And these were of immenfe Bodies, thick and great in shape. They all together defcended into the Tartarian horrid Houfe of Hades, being there kept in ftrong Chains, to be punish'd in Hell, which is the pernicious everlasting Pit.

Then the third Generation of Men of cruel Tempers appear'd, after the other: They were very proud and cruel, who committed many wicked things amongst one-another; private Murders, and Slaughters in Battels, continually deftroy'd 'em, they being of a violent Temper.

From thefe proceeded the laft and greatest Kind of Warriours, defiled with Slaughter, Men of violent Councils in the fourth Generation, who shed much Blood, neither fearing GOD nor Men. Thefe were excited by a mad Paffion of Anger and wretched Impiety; whom Wars, Slaughter, and Murders fent into Erebus, when they had made themselves very miferable and wicked. God in his an

ger