69. Iesus continues
'As God liveth, in whose presence I stand, ye will not receive adulation from me, but truth. Wherefore I say unto you, penitence and turn to God even as our fathers did after sinning, and harden not your heart.'
The priests were consumed with rage at this speech, but for fear of the common people they spake not a word.
And Iesus continued, saying:
'O doctors, O scribes, O pharisees, O priests, tell me. Ye desire horses [like] knights, but ye desire not to go forth to war; ye desire fair clothing [like] women, but ye desire not to spin and nurture children; ye desire the fruits (of the field) and ye desire not to cultivate the earth; ye desire the fishes (of the sea) but ye desire not to go a fishing; ye desire honour [as] citizens, but ye desire not the burden (of the republic); and ye desire tithes and first fruits [as] priests, but ye desire not to serve God in truth. What then shall God do with you, seeing ye desire here every good without any evil? Verily I say to you that God will give you a place where ye will have every evil without any good.'
And when Iesus had said this, there was brought unto him a demoniac who could not speak nor see, and was deprived of hearing. Whereupon Iesus, seeing their faith, raised his eyes to Heaven and said:
'Lord (God of our fathers) have mercy on this sick man and give him health, in order that this people may know that thou hast sent me.'
And having said this Iesus commanded the spirit to depart, saying:
'In the power of the name of God (our Lord) depart, evil one, from the man!'
The spirit departed and the dumb man spoke, and saw with his eyes. Whereupon every one was filled with fear, but the scribes said:
'In the power of Beelzebub (prince of the demons) he casteth out the demons'
Then said Iesus:
'Every kingdom divided against itself destroyeth itself, and house falleth upon house. If in the power of Satan, Satan be cast out, how shall his kingdom stand? And if your sons cast out Satan with the scripture that Solomon the prophet gave them, they testify that I cast out Satan in the power of God. As God liveth, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is without remission in this and in the other world; because the wicked man (of his own will) reprobates himself, knowing the reprobation.'
And having said this Iesus went out of the temple. And the common people magnified him, for they brought all the sick folk whom they could gather together, and Iesus having made prayer gave to all their health: whereupon on that day in Jerusalem the Roman soldiery (by the working of Satan) began to stir up the common people, saying that Iesus was the God (of Israel) who was come to visit his people.