The Testament of Abraham

Abraham lived the span of his life, nine hundred ninety and five years. All the years of his life lived he in peace, gentleness and justice, and the just man was exceeding hospitable. He pitched his tent in the four-cross-roads at the oak of Mamre, and welcomed all, rich and poor, kings and rulers, the halt and the weak, friends and strangers, neighbours and wayfarers, that devout, all-holy, just, and hospitable man Abraham did welcome equally. The bitter cup of death that cometh to all inexorably, even the unforeseen end of his life, overtook him too. Now the Lord God called his archangel Michael, and spake unto him: Michael, chief-captain, go down to Abraham, and tell him concerning his death, that he shall take order for the settling of his temporal estates: for 1 have blessed him as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand that is beside the sea-shore. He liveth in abundance of much substance and great estates, and he is exceeding rich. But above all else, he is just with all goodness, hospitable and loving kindly, even unto the end of his life. Do thou, archangel Michael, depart to Abraham, my well-beloved friend, and tell him concerning his death; give him this assurance: “In this season thou art destined to depart from this vain world, and shalt quit the body, and thou shalt come unto thine own Master among the righteous.”