356 THE WORKS OF GILDÂS. [UEC 7ft. in drunkenness, they have not known him who seeth, they have been ignorant of judgment For all tables are filled with the vomit of their undeanness, in so much as there is not any free place to be found.9 § 79. "Hear therefore the word of our Lord, Ο ye deceivers, who bear authority over my people that is in Jerusalem. For ye have said, We have entered into a truce with death, and with hell we have made a covenant. The overflowing scourge when it shall pass forth shall not fall upon us, because we have placed falsehood for our hope, and by lying we have been defended." And somewhat after: " And hail shall overthrow the hope of lying, together with the defence. Waters shall overflow, and your truce with death shall be destroyed, and your covenant with hell shall not continue, when the overflowing scourge shall pass forth ; ye shall also be trodden under foot, whensoever it shall pass along through you, it shall sweep you away withal." And again : " And our Lord hath said : Because this people approacheth with their mouth, and with their lips glorify me, but their heart is far from me ; behold, therefore, I will cause this people to wonder by a great and stupendous miracle. For wisdom shall decay and fall away from her wise men, and the understanding of her sages shall be concealed. Woe be unto you that are profound in heart, to conceal counsel from our Lord, whose works are in darkness, and they say, who seeth us ? And who hath known us ? for this thought of yours is perverse." And afterwards : M Thus saith our Lord, Heaven is my seat, and the earth my footstool. What is this house that ye will erect unto me, and what place shall be found for my resting-place? all these things hath my hand made, and these universally have been all created, saith our Lord. On whom truly shall I cast mine eye, but on the humble poor man, and the contrite in spirit, and him that dreadeth my speeches ? he that sacrificeth an ox, is as he that killeth a man ; he that slaughtereth a beast for sacrifice, is like him who beateth out the brains of a dog ; he that offereth an oblation, is as he that offereth the blood of a hog ; he that is mindful of frankincense, is as he that honoureth an idol : of all these things have they made choice in their ways, and in their abominations hath their soul been delighted."