Chapter 7 _{43 But the day of doom shall be the end of this time, and the beginning of the immortality for to come, wherein corruption is past,44 Intemperance is at an end, infidelity is cut off, righteousness is grown, and truth is sprung up.45 Then shall no man be able to save him that is destroyed, nor to oppress him that hath gotten the victory.46 I answered then and said, This is my first and last saying, that it had been better not to have given the earth unto Adam: or else, when it was given him, to have restrained him from sinning.47 For what profit is it for men now in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?48 O thou Adam, what hast thou done? for though it was thou that sinned, thou art not fallen alone, but we all that come of thee.49 For what profit is it unto us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?50 And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves being most wicked are made vain?51 And that there are laid up for us dwellings of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?52 And that the glory of the most High is kept to defend them which have led a wary life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?53 And that there should be shewed a paradise, whose fruit endureth for ever, wherein is security and medicine, since we shall not enter into it?54 (For we have walked in unpleasant places.)55 And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?56 For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not that we should begin to suffer for it after death.57 Then answered he me, and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;58 That, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as thou hast said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.59 For this is the life whereof Moses spake unto the people while he lived, saying, Choose thee life, that thou mayest live.60 Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no nor me which have spoken unto them,61 That there should not be such heaviness in their destruction, as shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.62 I answered then, and said, I know, Lord, that the most High is called merciful, in that he hath mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world,63 And upon those also that turn to his law;64 And that he is patient, and long suffereth those that have sinned, as his creatures;65 And that he is bountiful, for he is ready to give where it needeth;}