for in the beginning of the world God formed them male and female.

In my former treatise, I gave an account, O Theophilus, of all the actions and doctrine of Jesus, to the time of his assumption,

nay, but, O man, who art thou, to raise a dust against heaven? shall the pitcher say to him that formed it, "why hast thou made me thus?"

the first man was formed from the dust of the earth: the second man was from heaven.

you have heard of my former behaviour, whilst I was of the Jewish religion, with what excessive violence I persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste:

my dear children, how am I in pain, till Christ be formed in you?

in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord:

to quit the vicious habits of your former conversation, corrupted by deceitful passions:

and to be renewed in your mind, by living like men formed anew,

let there be no fraud among you, since you have discarded your former habits and practices, and are become new men,

Call to remembrance the former times, in which after ye were illuminated, you were forc'd to struggle with sufferings,

as obedient children be no longer influenc'd by those passions, which were the effects of your former ignorance.

the holy religious women of former times were thus adorned, and were submissive to their husbands.

whence the former world was destroyed by an inundation.

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; there shall be no more death, sorrow, or crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former state of things is passed away." he that sat upon the throne, said,