364 THE WORKS OF GILDA8. ioc.88,90. cally he did speak of Levi and Moses) : I gave fear unto him, and he was timorous of me, he dreaded before the countenance of my name ; the law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips ; he walked with me in peace and equity, and turned many away from unrighteousness. For the lips of the priest shall keep knowledge, and from out of his mouth they shall require the law, because he is the Angel of our Lord of hosts." And now again he changeth his style, and ceaseth not to rebuke and reprove the unrighteous, saying : " Ye have departed from the way, and scandalized many in the law, and made void my covenant with Levi, saith our Lord of hosts. In regard whereof I have also given you over as contemptible and abject among my people, according as ye have not observed my ways, and accepted countenance of men in the law. What, is there not one Father of us all ? What, hath not one God created us ? Why therefore doth every one despise his brother ?" And again, " Behold our Lord of hosts will come, and who can conceive the day of his coming, and who shall endure to stand to behold him ? For he shall pass forth as a burning fire, and as the fuller's herb, and shall ait melting and trying silver, and ye shall purge the sons of Levi, and cleanse them as gold and as silver." And somewhat afterwards : " Your words have grown strong against me, saith our Lord, and ye have spoken thus : He is vain who serveth God, and what profit because we have kept his commandments, and walked sorrowfully before our Lord of hosts. We shall therefore now call the arrogant blessed, for because they are erected and builded up, while they work iniquity, they have tempted God, and are made safe." § 90. But hear ye also what Ezechiel the prophet hath spoken, saying, " Woe upon woe shall come, and messenger upon messenger shall be, and the vision shall be sought for of the prophet, and the law shall perish from the priests, and counsel from the elders." And again : " Thus saith our Lord : In respect that your speeches are lying, and your divinations vain. For this cause, behold, I will come unto you, saith our Lord ; I will stretch out my hand on your prophets, who see lies, and them who speak vain things ; in the discipline of my people they shall not be, and in the Scripture of the house of Israel, they shall not be written,