the mount forty days and forty nights, and re- ceived the covenant from the Lord, tables of stone written with the finger of the hand of the Lord ; " ' but turning away to idols, they lost it. For the Lord speaks thus to Moses : " Moses, go down {juickly ; for the people whom thou hast brought out of the land of Egypt have transgressed." ^ And Moses understood [the meaning of God], and cast the two tables out of his hands ; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the beloved Jesus might be sealed upon our heart, in the hope which flows from believing in Him.^ Now, be- ing desirous to write many things to you, not as your teacher, but as becometh one who loves you, I have taken care not to fail to write to you from what I myself possess, with a view to your purification. •* We take earnest 5 heed in these last days ; for the whole [past] time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also withstand coming sources of danger, as becometh the sons of God. That the Black One *" may find no means of en- trance, let us flee from every vanity, let us utterly hate the works of the way of wickedness. Do not, by retiring apart, live a solitary life, as if you were already [fully] justified ; but coming together in one place, make common . inquiry concerning what tends to your general welfare. For the Scripture saith, " Woe to them wiio are wise to themselves, and prudent in their own sight ! " 7 Let us be spiritually-minded : let us be a perfect temple to God. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon the fear of God, and let us keep His commandments, that we may rejoice in His ordinances. The Lord will judge the world without respect of persons. Each will receive as he has done : if he is righteous, his righteousness will precede him ; if he is wicked, the reward of wickedness is before him. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of God], we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, should thrust us away from the kingdom of the Lord. And all the more attend to this, my brethren, when ye reflect and behold, that after so great signs and wonders were wrought in Israel, they were thus [at length] abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found [fulfilling that