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nd； eternal and everlasting； increate； immutable and incorporeal； invisible； infinite； incomprehensible； alone good and righteous； who created all things out of nothing； whether visible or invisible。 First； he made the heavenly and invisible powers； countless multitudes； immaterial and bodiless； ministering spirits of the majesty of God。 Afterward he created this visible world； heaven and earth and sea； which also he made glorious with light and richly adorned it； the heavens with the sun； moon and stars； and the earth with all manner of herbs and divers living beasts； and the sea in turn with all kinds of fishes。 ‘He spake the word and these all were made； he commanded and they were created。' Then with his own hands he created man； taking dust of the ground for the fashioning of his body； but by his own in…breathing giving him a reasonable and intelligent soul； which； as it is written； was made after the image and likeness of God： after his image； because of reason and free will； after his likeness； because of the likeness of virtue； in its degree； to God。 Him he endowed with free will and immortality and appointed sovran over everything upon earth； and from man he made woman； to be an helpmeet of like nature for him。
〃And he planted a garden eastward in Eden； full of delight and all heart's ease； and set thereto the man whom he had formed； and commanded him freely to eat of all the heavenly trees therein； but forbade him wholly the taste of a certain one which was called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil； thus saying； 'In the day that ye eat thereof ye shall surely die。' But one of the aforesaid angel powers； the marshall of one host； though he bore in himself no trace of natural evil from his Maker's hand but had been created for good； yet by his own free and deliberate choice turned aside from good to evil； and was stirred up by madness to the desire to take up arms against his Lord God。 Wherefore he was cast out of his rank and dignity； and in the stead of his former blissful glory and angelick name received the name of the ‘Devil' and ‘Satan' for his title。 God banished him as unworthy of the glory above。 And together with him there was drawn away and hurled forth a great multitude of the company of angels under him； who were evil of choice； and chose in place of good； to follow in the rebellion of their leader。 These were called Devils； as being deluders and deceivers。
〃Thus then did the devil utterly renounce the good； and assume an evil nature； and he conceived spite against man； seeing himself hurled from such glory； and man raised to such honour； and he schemed to oust him from that blissful state。 So he took the serpent for the workshop of his own guile。 Through him he conversed with the woman； and persuaded her to eat of that forbidden tree in the hope of being as God； and through her he deceived Adam also； for that was the first man's name。 So Adam ate of the tree of disobedience； and was banished by his maker from that paradise of delight； and； in lieu of those happy days and that immortal life； fell alas！ into this life of misery and woe； and at the last received sentence of death。 Thenceforth the devil waxed strong and boastful through his victory； and； as the race of man multiplied； he prompted them in all manner of wickedness。 So； wishing to cut short the growth of sin； God brought a deluge on the earth； and destroyed every living soul。 But one single righteous man did God find in that generation； and him； with wife and children； he saved alive in an Ark； and set him utterly desolate on earth。 But； when the human race again began to multiply； they forgat God； and ran into worse excess of wickedness； being in subjection to divers sins and ruined in strange delusions； and wandering apart into many branches of error。
〃Some deemed that everything moved by mere chance； and taught that there was no Providence； since there was no master to govern。 Others brought in fate； and committed everything to the stars at birth。 Others worshipped many evil deities subject to many passions； to the end that they might have them to advocate their own passions and shameful deeds； whose forms they moulded； and whose dumb figures and senseless idols they set up； and enclosed them in temples； and did homage to them； ‘serving the creature more than the Creator。' Some worshipped the sun； moon and stars which God fixed； for to give light to our earthly sphere； things without soul or sense； enlightened and sustained by the providence of God； but unable to accomplish anything of themselves。 Others again worshipped fire and water； and the other elements； things without soul or sense； and men； possest of soul and reason； were not ashamed to worship the like of these。 Others assigned worship to beasts； creeping and four…footed things； proving themselves more beastly than the things that they worshipped。 Others made them images of vile and worthless men； and named them gods； some of whom they called males； and some females； and they themselves set them forth as adulterers； murderers； victims of anger； jealousy； wrath； slayers of fathers； slayers of brothers； thieves and robbers； lame and maim； sorcerers and madmen。 Others they showed dead； struck by thunderbolts； or beating their breasts； or being mourned over； or in enslavement to mankind； or exiled； or； for foul and shameful unions； taking the forms of animals。 Whence men； taking occasion by the gods themselves； took heart to pollute themselves in all manner of uncleanness。 So an horrible darkness overspread our race in those times； and ‘there was none that did understand and seek after God。'
〃Now in that generation one Abraham alone was found strong in his spiritual senses； and by contemplation of Creation he recognized the Creator。 When he considered heaven； earth and sea； the sun； moon and the like； he marvelled at their harmonious ordering。 Seeing the world； and all that therein is； he could not believe that it had been created； and was upheld； by its own power； nor did he ascribe such a fair ordering to earthly elements or lifeless idols。 But therein he recognized the true God； and understood him to be the maker and sustainer of the whole。 And God； approving his fair wisdom and right judgement； manifested himself unto him； not as he essentially is （for it is impossible for a created being to see God）； but by certain manifestations in material forms； as he alone can； and he planted in Abraham more perfect knowledge； he magnified him and made him his own servant。 Which Abraham in turn handed down to his children his own righteousness； and taught them to know the true God。 Wherefore also the Lord was pleased to multiply his seed beyond measure； and called them ‘a peculiar people；' and brought them forth out of bondage to the Egyptian nation； and to one Pharaoh a tyrant； by strange and terrible signs and wonders wrought by the hand of Moses and Aaron； holy men； honoured with the gift of prophecy； by whom also he punished the Egyptians in fashion worthy of their wickedness； and led the Israelites （for thus the people descended from Abraham were called） through the Red Sea upon dry land； the waters dividing and making a wall on the right hand and