The first New Testament printed in English

by Unknown

And he said: take heed, that ye be not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying of themselves, I am he. And the time draweth near. Follow ye not them therefore. But when ye hear of war, and of dissension: be not afraid, for these things must first come: but the end followeth not by and by. Then said he unto them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and great earthquakes shall be in all quarters, and hunger, and pestilence, and fearful things. And great signs shall there be from heaven.

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up, to the synagogues, and into prison, and bring you before kings, And rulers for my name's sake. And this shall chance you for a testimonial. Let it stick therefore fast in your hearts, not once to study before, what ye shall answer for yourselves: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, where against, all your adversaries shall not be able to speak nor resist. Yea and ye shall be betrayed of your fathers and mothers, and of your brethren, and kinsmen, and lovers. And some of you shall they put to death. And hated shall ye be of all men for my name's sake. Yet there shall not one hair of your heads perish. With your patience, possess your souls.

And when ye see Ierusalem besieged with an host, then understand, that the desolation of the same is nigh. Then let them which are in jewry fly to the mountains. And let them which are in the midst of it, depart out. And let not them that are in other countries, enter there in. For these be the days of vengeance, to fulfil all that are written. But woe be to them that be with child, and to them that give suck in those days, for there shall be great trouble in the land: and wrath over all this people. And they shall fall on the edge of the sword. And they shall be led captive into all nations. And Ierusalem shall be trodden underfoot of the gentiles, until the time of the gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be signs, in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and in the earth the people shall be in such perplexity, that they shall not tell which way to turn themselves. The sea and the waves shall roar, and men's hearts shall fail them for fear, and for looking after those things which shall come on the earth. For the powers of heaven shall move. And then shall they see the son of man come in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to come to pass: then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.

And he shewed them a similitude: behold the fig tree, and all other trees, when they shoot forth their buds, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is then nigh at hand. So likewise ye (when ye see these things come to pass) understand, that the kingdom of God is nigh. Verily I say unto you: this generation shall not pass, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass: but my words shall not pass.

Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be overcome, with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this world: and that, that day come on you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that sit on the face of the earth. Watch therefore continually and pray, that ye may scape all this that shall come. And that ye may stand before the son of man. In the day time taught he in the temple, and at night, he went out, and had abiding in the mount olivete. And all the people came in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

The .xxij. Chapter.

The feast of sweet bread drew nigh which is called ester, and the high priests, and scribes sought how to kill Iesus, but they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Iudas, whose sur name was Iscariot (which was of the number of the twelve) and he went his way, and communed with the high priests and officers, how he would betray him to them. And they were glad: and promised to give him money. And he consented, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them, when the people were away.

Then came the day of sweet bread, when of necessity the ester lamb must be offered. And he sent Peter, and Ihon saying: Go and prepare us the ester lamb, that we may eat. They said to him. Where wilt thou, that we prepare? And he said unto them. Behold as ye be entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water, him follow into the same house that he entereth in, and ye shall say unto the good man of the house. The master sayeth: Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat mine ester lamb with my disciples? And he shall shew you a great parlour paved. There make ready. They went and found, as he had said unto them: and made ready the ester lamb.

And when the hour came, he sat down and the twelve Apostles with him. And he said unto them: I have inwardly desired to eat this ester lamb with you before that I suffer. For I say unto you: henceforth, I will not eat of it any more, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said: Receive this, and divide it among you. For I say unto you: I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God be come.