Chapter 9 _{16 Like as a wave is greater than a drop.17 And he answered me, saying, Like as the field is, so is also the seed; as the flowers be, such are the colours also; such as the workman is, such also is the work; and as the husbandman ls himself, so is his husbandry also: for it was the time of the world.18 And now when I prepared the world, which was not yet made, even for them to dwell in that now live, no man spake against me.19 For then every one obeyed: but now the manners of them which are created in this world that is made are corrupted by a perpetual seed, and by a law which is unsearchable rid themselves.20 So I considered the world, and, behold, there was peril because of the devices that were come into it.21 And I saw, and spared it greatly, and have kept me a grape of the cluster, and a plant of a great people.22 Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it perfect.23 Nevertheless, if thou wilt cease yet seven days more, (but thou shalt not fast in them,24 But go into a field of flowers, where no house is builded, and eat only the flowers of the field; taste no flesh, drink no wine, but eat flowers only;)25 And pray unto the Highest continually, then will I come and talk with thee.26 So I went my way into the field which is called Ardath, like as he commanded me; and there I sat among the flowers, and did eat of the herbs of the field, and the meat of the same satisfied me.27 After seven days I sat upon the grass, and my heart was vexed within me, like as before:28 And I opened my mouth, and began to talk before the most High, and said,29 O Lord, thou that shewest thyself unto us, thou wast shewed unto our fathers in the wilderness, in a place where no man treadeth, in a barren place, when they came out of Egypt.30 And thou spakest saying, Hear me, O Israel; and mark my words, thou seed of Jacob.31 For, behold, I sow my law in you, and it shall bring fruit in you, and ye shall be honoured in it for ever.32 But our fathers, which received the law, kept it not, and observed not thy ordinances: and though the fruit of thy law did not perish, neither could it, for it was thine;33 Yet they that received it perished, because they kept not the thing that was sown in them.34 And, lo, it ls a custom, when the ground hath received seed, or the sea a ship, or any vessel meat or drink, that, that being perished wherein it was sown or cast into,35 That thing also which was sown, or cast therein, or received, doth perish, and remaineth not with us: but with us it hath not happened so.36 For we that have received the law perish by sin, and our heart also which received it37 Notwithstanding the law perisheth not, but remaineth in his force.38 And when I spake these things in my heart, I looked back with mine eyes, and upon the right side I saw a woman, and, behold, she mourned and wept with a loud voice, and was much grieved in heart, and her clothes were rent, and she had ashes upon her head.}