Questions of Bartholomew

Historical English source page 216

180 GOSPEL OF BARTHOLOMEW that be worthy of them, but there are also other some unto whom it is not fit to entrust them: for they are vain (swaggerers), drunkards, proud, unmerciful, partakers in idolatry. authors of fornication, slanderers, teachers of foolishness, and doing all works that are of the devil, and therefore are they not worthy that these should be entrusted to them. 68 And also they are secret, because of those that cannot contain them; for as many as can contain them shall have a part in them. Herein (Hitherto ?), therefore, my beloved, have I spoken unto thee, for blessed art thou and all thy kindred which of their choice have this word entrusted unto them; for all they that can contain it shall receive whatsoever they will in the <day ?> of my judgement. 69 Then I, Bartholomew, which wrote these things in mine heart, took hold on the hand of the Lord the lover of men and began to rejoice and to speak thus: Glory be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that givest unto all thy grace: which all we have perceived. Alleluia. Glory be to thee, O Lord, the life of sinners. Glory be to thee, O Lord, death is put to shame. Glory be to thee, O Lord, the treasure of righteousness. For unto God do we sing. 70 And as Bartholomew thus spake again, Jesus put off his mantle and took a kerchief from the neck of Bartholomew and began to rejoice and say (70 Lat. 2, Then Jesus took a kerchief (?)1 and said: 1am good: mild and gracious and merciful, strong and righteous, wonderful and holy): [am good. Alleluia. I am meek and gentle. Alleluia. Glory be to thee, O Lord: for I give gifts unto all them that desire me. Alleluia. Glory be to thee, O Lord, world without end. Amen. Alleluia. 71 And when he had ceased, the apostles kissed him, and he gave them the peace of love. V 1 Bartholomew saith unto him:? Declare unto us, Lord, what sin is heavier than all sins? 2 Jesus saith unto him: Verily I say unto thee that hypocrisy and backbiting is heavier than all sins: for because of them, the prophet said in the psalm, that ‘the ungodly shall not rise in the judgement, neither sinners in the council of the righteous’, neither the ungodly in the judgement of my Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that every sin shall be forgiven unto every man, but the sin against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. 3 And Bar- tholomew saith unto him: What is the sin against the Holy Ghost? 4 Jesus saith unto him: Whosoever shall decree against any man that hath served my holy Father hath blasphemed against the Holy Ghost: For every man that serveth God 1 toracem. 2 In Lat. 2, vv. 1-6 occupy 58 lines.