115. Then shall no man be able to have mercy on him that is cast in judgement, nor to thrust down him that has gotten the victory.
116. I answered then and said, this is my first and last saying, that it had been better that the earth had not given you Adam: or else, when it had given him, to have restrained him from sinning.
117. For what profit is it for all that are in this present time to live in heaviness, and after death to look for punishment?
118. O you Adam, what have you done? For though it was you that sinned, the evil is not fallen on you alone, but upon all of us that come of you.
119. For what profit is it to us, if there be promised us an immortal time, whereas we have done the works that bring death?
120. And that there is promised us an everlasting hope, whereas ourselves most miserably are become vain?
121. And that there are reserved habitations of health and safety, whereas we have lived wickedly?
122. And that the glory of the Most High shall defend them which have led a pure life, whereas we have walked in the most wicked ways of all?
123. And that there shall be showed a paradise, whose fruit endures without decay, wherein is abundance and healing, but we shall not enter into it,
124. for we have walked in unpleasant places?
125. And that the faces of them which have used abstinence shall shine above the stars, whereas our faces shall be blacker than darkness?
126. For while we lived and committed iniquity, we considered not what we should have to suffer after death.
127. Then he answered and said, This is the condition of the battle, which man that is born upon the earth shall fight;
128. that, if he be overcome, he shall suffer as you have said: but if he get the victory, he shall receive the thing that I say.
129. For this is the way whereof Moses spoke to the people while he lived, saying, Choose you life, that you may live.
130. Nevertheless they believed not him, nor yet the prophets after him, no, nor me which have spoken to them;
131. so that there shall not be such heaviness in their destruction, as there shall be joy over them that are persuaded to salvation.
132. I answered then and said, I know, Lord, that the Most High is now called merciful, in that he has mercy upon them which are not yet come into the world;
133. and compassionate, in that he has compassion upon those that turn to his law;
134. and longsuffering, for that he long suffers those that have sinned, as his creatures;