The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 141
Earthly Riches and the Needle of Death
'Tell me: when a man is born, how is he born? Surely, he is born naked. And when he is laid dead beneath the ground, what advantage hath he? A mean linen cloth, wherein he is wound: and this is the reward which the world giveth him.'
'Now if the means in every work must needs be proportionate to the beginning and the end, in order that the work be brought to a good end, what end shall the man have who desireth earthly riches? He shall die, as saith David, prophet of God: "The sinner shall die a most evil death."'
'If a man sewing cloth should thread beams instead of thread in the needle, how would the work attain its end? Of a surety he would work in vain, and be despised of his neighbours. Now man seeth not that he is doing this continually when he gathereth earthly goods. For death is the needle, wherein the beams of earthly goods cannot be threaded. Nevertheless in his madness he striveth continually to make the work succeed, but in vain.'
'And whoso believeth not this at my word, let him gaze upon the tombs, for there shall he find the truth. He who would fain become wise beyond all others in the fear of God, let him study the book of the tomb, for there shall he find the true doctrine for his salvation. For he will know to beware of the world, the flesh, and the sense, when he seeth that man\'s flesh is reserved to be food of worms.'
'Tell me, if there were a road which was of such condition that walking in the midst thereof a man should go safely, but walking on the edges he would break his head; what would ye say if ye saw men opposing one another, and striving in emulation to get nearest to the edge and kill themselves? What amazement would be yours! Assuredly ye would say: "They are mad and frenzied, and if they are not frenzied they are desperate."'
'Even so is it true,' answered the disciples.
Then Jesus wept and said: 'Even so, verily, are the lovers of the world. For if they lived according to reason, which holdeth a middle place in man, they would follow the law of God, and would be saved from eternal death. But because they follow the flesh and the world they are frenzied, and cruel enemies of their own selves, striving to live more arrogantly and more lasciviously than one another.'
'Tell me: how is a person born? Certainly, he is born naked. And when he lies dead beneath the ground, what advantage does he have? Only a coarse linen cloth in which he is wrapped. This is the reward the world gives him.'
'If, in every work, the means must correspond to the beginning and the end so that the work reaches a good conclusion, what end will come to the person who desires earthly riches? He will die, as David, the prophet of God, says: "The sinner will die a most evil death."'
'If a man sewing cloth tried to thread wooden beams through the eye of a needle instead of thread, how would his work ever be completed? Certainly he would labor in vain and be mocked by his neighbors. Yet a person does not see that he does this continually when he gathers earthly goods. Death is the needle, and the beams of earthly possessions cannot pass through it. Nevertheless, in his madness he continually tries to make the work succeed—but in vain.'
'Anyone who does not believe my words should look at the tombs, for there he will find the truth. Whoever wishes to become wiser than all others in the fear of God should study the book of the tomb; there he will find true doctrine for his salvation. When he sees that human flesh is destined to become food for worms, he will learn to beware of the world, the flesh, and the sense.'
'Tell me, suppose there were a road on which a person could walk safely in the middle but would break his head if he walked along the edges. What would you say if you saw people opposing one another and competing to get nearest the edge and kill themselves? How astonished you would be! Certainly you would say, "They are mad and out of their minds; and if they are not mad, they are desperate."'
'That is indeed true,' answered the disciples.
Then Jesus wept and said: 'The lovers of the world are exactly like this. If they lived according to reason, which holds the middle place within man, they would follow God's law and be saved from eternal death. But because they follow the flesh and the world, they are mad and cruel enemies of themselves, each striving to live more proudly and more wantonly than the others.'
'Tell me: when a man is born, how is he born? Surely, he is born naked. And when he is laid dead beneath the ground, what advantage hath he? A mean linen cloth, wherein he is wound: and this is the reward which the world giveth him.'
'Now if the means in every work must needs be proportionate to the beginning and the end, in order that the work be brought to a good end, what end shall the man have who desireth earthly riches? He shall die, as saith David, prophet of God: "The sinner shall die a most evil death."'
'If a man sewing cloth should thread beams instead of thread in the needle, how would the work attain its end? Of a surety he would work in vain, and be despised of his neighbours. Now man seeth not that he is doing this continually when he gathereth earthly goods. For death is the needle, wherein the beams of earthly goods cannot be threaded. Nevertheless in his madness he striveth continually to make the work succeed, but in vain.'
'And whoso believeth not this at my word, let him gaze upon the tombs, for there shall he find the truth. He who would fain become wise beyond all others in the fear of God, let him study the book of the tomb, for there shall he find the true doctrine for his salvation. For he will know to beware of the world, the flesh, and the sense, when he seeth that man\'s flesh is reserved to be food of worms.'
'Tell me, if there were a road which was of such condition that walking in the midst thereof a man should go safely, but walking on the edges he would break his head; what would ye say if ye saw men opposing one another, and striving in emulation to get nearest to the edge and kill themselves? What amazement would be yours! Assuredly ye would say: "They are mad and frenzied, and if they are not frenzied they are desperate."'
'Even so is it true,' answered the disciples.
Then Jesus wept and said: 'Even so, verily, are the lovers of the world. For if they lived according to reason, which holdeth a middle place in man, they would follow the law of God, and would be saved from eternal death. But because they follow the flesh and the world they are frenzied, and cruel enemies of their own selves, striving to live more arrogantly and more lasciviously than one another.'