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diff --git a/old/bioas10.txt b/old/bioas10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e32b9b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/bioas10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8239 @@ +*******The Project Gutenberg Etext of Barlaam and Ioasaph******* +#1 in our series by St. John of Damascus + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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Although +the ultimate author is usually referred to as "John the Monk", it +has been traditionally ascribed to St. John of Damascus. + +The text of this edition is based on that published as ST. JOHN +DAMASCENE: BARLAAM AND IOASAPH (Trans: G.R. Woodward and H. +Mattingly; Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA, 1914). This +text is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN in he United States. + +This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by +Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@EnterAct.COM), November, 1996. + +PREPARER'S NOTE: +Readers of this work will note some startling similarities +between the story of Ioasaph and the traditional Tale of Buddha. +The work seems to be a retelling of the Buddha Legend from within +a Christian context, with the singular difference that the +"Buddha" in this tale reaches enlightenment through the love of +Jesus Christ. + +The popularity of the Greek version of this story is attested to +by the number of translations made of it throughout the Christian +world, including versions in Latin, Old Slavonic, Armenian, +Christian Arabic, English, Ethiopic, and French. Such was its +popularity that both Barlaam and Josaphat (Ioasaph) were +eventually recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as Saints, and +churches were dedicated in their honor from Portugal to +Constantinople. It was only after Europeans began to have +increased contacts with India that scholars began to notice the +similarities between the two sets of stories. Modern scholars +believe that the Buddha story came to Europe from Arabic, +Caucasus, and/or Persian sources, all of which were active in +trade between the European and Indian worlds. + +---DBK + +***************************************************************** + +SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: + +ORIGINAL TEXT -- + +Woodward, G.R. & H. Mattingly (Ed. & Trans.): "St. John +Damascene: Barlaam and Ioasaph" (Harvard University Press, +Cambridge MA, 1914). English translation with side-by-side Greek +text. + +RECOMMENDED READING -- + +Lang, David Marshall (Trans.): "The Balavariani: A Tale from the +Christian East" (California University Press, Los Angeles, 1966). +Translation of the Georgian work that probably served as a basis +for the Greek text. + +***************************************************************** + +BARLAAM AND IOASAPH + +AN EDIFYING STORY FROM THE INNER LAND OF THE ETHIOPIANS, CALLED +THE LAND OF THE INDIANS, THENCE BROUGHT TO THE HOLY CITY, BY JOHN +THE MONK (AN HONOURABLE MAN AND A VIRTUOUS, OF THE MONASTERY OF +SAINT SABAS); WHEREIN ARE THE LIVES OF THE FAMOUS AND BLESSED +BARLAAM AND IOASAPH. + +INTRODUCTION + +"As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are sons of God" +saith the inspired Apostle. Now to have been accounted worthy of +the Holy Spirit and to have become sons of God is of all things +most to be coveted; and, as it is written, "They that have become +his sons find rest from all enquiry." This marvellous, and above +all else desirable, blessedness have the Saints from the +beginning won by the practice of the virtues, some having striven +as Martyrs, and resisted sin unto blood, and others having +struggled in self-discipline, and having trodden the narrow way, +proving Martyrs in will. Now, that one should hand down to +memory the prowess and virtuous deeds of these, both of them that +were made perfect by blood, and of them that by self-denial did +emulate the conversation of Angels, and should deliver to the +generations that follow a pattern of virtue, this hath the Church +of Christ received as a tradition from the inspired Apostles, and +the blessed Fathers, who did thus enact for the salvation of our +race. For the pathway to virtue is rough and steep, especially +for such as have not yet wholly turned unto the Lord, but are +still at warfare, through the tyranny of their passions. For +this reason also we need many encouragements thereto, whether it +be exhortations, or the record of the lives of them that have +travelled on the road before us; which latter draweth us towards +it the less painfully, and doth accustom us not to despair on +account of the difficulty of the journey. For even as with a man +that would tread a hard and difficult path; by exhortation and +encouragement one may scarce win him to essay it, but rather by +pointing to the many who have already completed the course, and +at the last have arrived safely. So I too, "walking by this +rule," and heedful of the danger hanging over that servant who, +having received of his lord the talent, buried it in the earth, +and hid out of use that which was given him to trade withal, will +in no wise pass over in silence the edifying story that hath come +to me, the which devout men from the inner land Of the +Ethiopians, whom our tale calleth Indians, delivered unto me, +translated from trustworthy records. It readeth thus. + + +I. + +The country of the Indians, as it is called, is vast and +populous, lying far beyond Egypt. On the side of Egypt it is +washed by seas and navigable gulphs, but on the mainland it +marcheth with the borders of Persia, a land formerly darkened +with the gloom of idolatry, barbarous to the last degree, and +wholly given up to unlawful practices. But when "the only- +begotten Son of God, which is in the bosom of the Father," being +grieved to see his own handiwork in bondage unto sin, was moved +with compassion for the same, and shewed himself amongst us +without sin, and, without leaving his Father's throne, dwelt for +a season in the Virgin's womb for our sakes, that we might dwell +in heaven, and be re-claimed from the ancient fall, and freed +from sin by receiving again the adoption of sons; when he had +fulfilled every stage of his life in the flesh for our sake, and +endured the death of the Cross, and marvellously united earth and +heaven; when he had risen again from the dead, and had been +received up into heaven, and was seated at the right hand of the +majesty of the Father, whence, according to his promise, he sent +down the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, unto his eyewitnesses and +disciples, in the shape of fiery tongues, and despatched them +unto all nations, for to give light to them that sat in the +darkness of ignorance, and to baptize them in the Name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, whereby it fell to +the lot of some of the Apostles to travel to the far-off East and +to some to journey to the West-ward, while others traversed the +regions North and South, fulfilling their appointed tasks then it +was, I say, that one of the company of Christ's Twelve Apostles, +most holy Thomas, was sent out to the land of the Indians, +preaching the Gospel of Salvation. "The Lord working with him +and confirming the word with signs following," the darkness of +superstition was banished; and men were delivered from idolatrous +sacrifices and abominations, and added to the true Faith, and +being thus transformed by the hands of the Apostle, were made +members of Christ's household by Baptism, and, waxing ever with +fresh increase, made advancement in the blameless Faith and built +churches in all their lands. + +Now when monasteries began to be formed in Egypt, and numbers of +monks banded themselves together, and when the fame of their +virtues and Angelic conversation "was gone out into all the ends +of the world" and came to the Indians, it stirred them up also to +the like zeal, insomuch that many of them forsook everything and +withdrew to the deserts; and, though but men in mortal bodies, +adopted the spiritual life of Angels. While matters were thus +prospering and many were soaring upward to heaven on wings of +gold, as the saying is, there arose in that country a king named +Abenner, mighty in riches and power, and in victory over his +enemies, brave in warfare, vain of his splendid stature and +comeliness of face, and boastful of all worldly honours, that +pass so soon away. But his soul was utterly crushed by poverty, +and choked with many vices, for he was of the Greek way, and sore +distraught by the superstitious error of his idol-worship. But, +although he lived in luxury, and in the enjoyment of the sweet +and pleasant things of life, and was never baulked of any of his +wishes and desires, yet one thing there was that marred his +happiness, and pierced his soul with care, the curse of +childlessness. For being without issue, he took ceaseless +thought how he might be rid of this hobble, and be called the +father of children, a name greatly coveted by most people. Such +was the king, and such his mind. + +Meanwhile the glorious band of Christians and the companies of +monks, paying no regard to the king's majesty, and in no wise +terrified by his threats, advanced in the grace of Christ, and +grew in number beyond measure, making short account of the king's +words, but cleaving closely to everything that led to the service +of God. For this reason many, who had adopted the monastic rule, +abhorred alike all the sweets of this world, and were enamoured +of one thing only, namely godliness, thirsting to lay down their +lives for Christ his sake, and yearning for the happiness beyond. +Wherefore they preached, not with fear and trembling, but rather +even with excess of boldness, the saving Name of God, and naught +but Christ was on their lips, as they plainly proclaimed to all +men the transitory and fading nature of this present time, and +the fixedness and incorruptibility of the life to come, and sowed +in men the first seeds, as it were, towards their becoming of the +household of God, and winning that life which is hid in Christ. +Wherefore many, profiting by this most pleasant teaching, turned +away from the bitter darkness of error, and approached the sweet +light of Truth; insomuch that certain of their noblemen and +senators laid aside all the burthens of life, and thenceforth +became monks. + +But when the king heard thereof, he was filled with wrath, and, +boiling over with indignation, passed a decree forthwith, +compelling all Christians to renounce their religion. Thereupon +he planned and practised new kinds of torture against them, and +threatened new forms of death. So throughout all his dominions +he sent letters to his rulers and governors ordering penalties +against the righteous, and unlawful massacres. But chiefly was +his displeasure turned against the ranks of the monastic orders, +and against them he waged a truceless and unrelenting warfare. +Hence, of a truth, many of the Faithful were shaken in spirit, +and others, unable to endure torture, yielded to his ungodly +decrees. But of the chiefs and rulers of the monastic order some +in rebuking his wickedness ended their lives by suffering +martyrdom, and thus attained to everlasting felicity; while +others hid themselves in deserts and mountains, not from dread of +the threatened tortures, but by a more divine dispensation. + + +II. + +Now while the land of the Indians lay under the shroud of this +moonless night, and while the Faithful were harried on every +side, and the champions of ungodliness prospered, the very air +reeking with the smell of bloody sacrifices, a certain mall of +the royal household, chief satrap in rank, in courage, stature, +comeliness, and in all those qualities which mark beauty of body +and nobility of soul, far above all his Fellows, hearing of this +iniquitous decree, bade farewell to all the grovelling pomps and +vanities of the world, joined the ranks of the monks, and retired +across the border into the desert. There, by fastings and +vigils, and by diligent study of the divine oracles, he throughly +purged his senses, and illumined a soul, set free from every +passion, with the glorious light of a perfect calm. + +But when the king, who loved and esteemed him highly, heard +thereof, he was grieved in spirit at the loss of his friend, but +his anger was the more hotly kindled against the monks. And so +he sent everywhere in search of him, leaving "no stone unturned," +as the saying is, to find him. After a long while, they that +were sent in quest of him, having learnt that he abode in the +desert, after diligent search, apprehended him and brought him +before the king's judgement seat. When the king saw him in such +vile and coarse raiment who before had been clad in rich apparel, +-- saw him, who had lived in the lap of luxury, shrunken and +wasted by the severe practice of discipline, and bearing about in +his body outward and visible signs of his hermit-life, he was +filled with mingled grief and fury, and, in speech blended of +these two passions, he spake unto him thus: + +"O thou dullard and mad man, wherefore hast thou exchanged thine +honour for shame, and thy glorious estate for this unseemly show? +To what end hath the president of my kingdom, and chief commander +of my realm made himself the laughingstock of boys, and not only +forgotten utterly our friendship and fellowship, but revolted +against nature herself, and had no pity on his own children, and +cared naught for riches and all the splendour of the world, and +chosen ignominy such as this rather than the glory that men +covet? And what shall it profit thee to have chosen above all +gods and men him whom they call Jesus, and to have preferred this +rough life of sackcloth to the pleasures and delights of a life +of bliss." + +When the man of God heard these words, he made reply, at once +courteous and unruffled: "If it be thy pleasure, O king, to +converse with me, remove thine enemies out of mid court; which +done, I will answer thee concerning whatsoever thou mayest desire +to learn; for while these are here, I cannot speak with thee. +But, without speech, torment me, kill me, do as thou wilt, for +"the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world,' as saith +my divine teacher." The king said, "And who are these enemies +whom thou biddest me turn out of court?" The saintly man +answered and said, "Anger and Desire. For at the beginning these +twain were brought into being by the Creator to be fellow-workers +with nature; and such they still are to those `who walk not after +the flesh but after the Spirit.' But in you who are altogether +carnal, having nothing of the Spirit, they are adversaries, and +play the part of enemies and foemen. For Desire, working in you, +stirreth up pleasure, but, when made of none effect, Anger. To- +day therefore let these be banished from thee, and let Wisdom and +Righteousness sit to hear and judge that which we say. For if +thou put Anger and Desire out of court, and in their room bring +in Wisdom and Righteousness, I will truthfully tell thee all." +Then spake the king, "Lo I yield to thy request, and will banish +out of the assembly both Desire and Anger, and make Wisdom and +Righteousness to sit between us. So now, tell me without fear, +how wast thou so greatly taken with this error, to prefer the +bird in the bush to the bird already in the hand?" + +The hermit answered and said, "O king, if thou askest the cause +how I came to despise things temporal, and to devote my whole +self to the hope of things eternal, hearken unto me. In former +days, when I was still but a stripling, I heard a certain good +and wholesome saying, which, by its three took my soul by storm; +and the remembrance of it, like some divine seed, being planted +in my heart, unmoved, was preserved ever until it took root, +blossomed, and bare that fruit which thou seest in me. Now the +meaning of that sentence was this: `It seemed good to the foolish +to despise the things that are, as though they were not, and to +cleave and cling to the things that are not, as though they were. +So he, that hath never tasted the sweetness of the things that +are, will not be able to understand the nature of the things that +are not. And never having understood them, how shall he despise +them?' Now that saying meant by `things that are' the things +eternal and fixed, but by `things that are not' earthly life, +luxury, the prosperity that deceives, whereon, O king, thine +heart alas! is fixed amiss. Time was when I also clung thereto +myself. But the force of that sentence continually goading my +heart, stirred my governing power, my mind, to make the better +choice. But `the law of sin, warring against the law of my +mind,' and binding me, as with iron chains, held me captive to +the love of things present. + +"But `after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour' was +pleased to deliver me from that harsh captivity, he enabled my +mind to overcome the law of sin, and opened mine eyes to discern +good from evil. Thereupon I perceived and looked, and behold! +all things present are vanity and vexation of spirit, as +somewhere in his writings saith Solomon the wise. Then was the +veil of sin lifted from mine heart, and the dullness, proceeding +from the grossness of my body, which pressed upon my soul, was +scattered, and I perceived the end for which I was created, and +how that it behoved me to move upward to my Creator by the +keeping of his Commandments. Wherefore I left all and followed +him, and I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord that he +delivered me out of the mire, and from the making of bricks, and +from the harsh and deadly ruler of the darkness of this world, +and that he showed me the short and easy road whereby I shall be +able, in this earthen body, eagerly to embrace the Angelic life. +Seeking to attain to it the sooner, I chose to walk the strait +and narrow way, renouncing the vanity of things present and the +unstable changes and chances thereof, and refusing to call +anything good except the true good, from which thou, O king, art +miserably sundered and alienated. Wherefore also we ourselves +were alienated and separated from thee, because thou wert falling +into plain and manifest destruction, and wouldst constrain us +also to descend into like peril. But as long as we were tried in +the warfare of this world, we failed in no point of duty. Thou +thyself will bear me witness that we were never charged with +sloth or heedlessness. + +"But when thou hast endeavoured to rob us of the chiefest of all +blessings, our religion, and to deprive us of God, the worst of +deprivations, and, in this intent, dost remind us of past honours +and preferments, how should I not rightly tax thee with ignorance +of good, seeing that thou dost at all compare these two things, +righteousness toward God, and human friendship, and glory, that +runneth away like water? And how, in such ease, may we have +fellowship with thee, and not the rather deny ourselves +friendship and honours and love of children, and if there be any +other tie greater than these? When we see thee, O king, the +rather forgetting thy reverence toward that God, who giveth thee +the power to live and breathe, Christ Jesus, the Lord of all; +who, being alike without beginning, and coeternal with the +Father, and having created the heavens and the earth by his word, +made man with his own hands and endowed him with immortality, and +set him king of all on earth and assigned him Paradise, the +fairest place of all, as his royal dwelling. But man, beguiled +by envy, and (wo is me!) caught by the bait of pleasure, +miserably fell from all these blessings. So he that once was +enviable became a piteous spectacle, and by his misfortune +deserving of tears. Wherefore he, that had made and fashioned +us, looked again with eyes of compassion upon the work of his own +hands. He, not laying aside his God-head, which he had from the +beginning, was made man for our sakes, like ourselves, but +without sin, and was content to suffer death upon the Cross. He +overthrew the foeman that from the beginning had looked with +malice on our race; he rescued us from that bitter captivity; he, +of his goodness, restored to us our former freedom, and, of his +tender love towards mankind, raised us up again to that place +from whence by our disobedience we had fallen, granting us even +greater honour than at the first. + +"Him therefore, who endured such sufferings for our sakes, and +again bestowed such blessings upon us, him dost thou reject and +scoff at his Cross? And, thyself wholly riveted to carnal +delights and deadly passions, dost thou proclaim the idols of +shame and dishonour gods? Not only hast thou alienated thyself +from the commonwealth of heavenly felicity but thou hast also +severed from the same all others who obey thy commands, to the +peril of their souls. Know therefore that I will not obey thee, +nor join thee in such ingratitude to God-ward; neither will I +deny my benefactor and Saviour, though thou slay me by wild +beasts, or give me to the fire and sword, as thou hast the power. +For I neither fear death, nor desire the present world, having +passed judgement on the frailty and vanity thereof. For what is +there profitable, abiding or stable therein? Nay, in very +existence, great is the misery, great the pain, great and +ceaseless the attendant care. Of its gladness and enjoyment the +yoke-fellows are dejection and pain. Its riches is poverty; its +loftiness die lowest humiliation; and who shall tell the full +tale of its miseries, which Saint John the Divine hath shown me +in few words? For he saith, `The whole world lieth in +wickedness'; and, `Love not the world, neither the things that +are in the world. For all that is in the world is the lust of +the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. And +the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth +the will of God abideth for ever.' Seeking, then, this good will +of God, I have forsaken everything, and joined myself to those +who possess the same desire, and seek after the same God. +Amongst these there is no strife or envy, sorrow or care, but all +run the like race that they may obtain those everlasting +habitations which the Father of lights hath prepared for them +that love him. Them have I gained for my fathers, my brothers, +my friends and mine acquaintances. But from my former friends +and brethren `I have got me away far off, and lodged in the +wilderness' waiting for the God, who saveth me from faintness of +spirit, and from the stormy tempest." + +When the man of God had made answer thus gently and in good +reason, the king was stirred by anger, and was minded cruelly to +torment the saint; but again he hesitated and delayed, regarding +his venerable and noble mien. So he answered and said: + +"Unhappy man, that hast contrived thine own utter ruin, driven +thereto, I ween, by fate, surely thou hast made thy tongue as +sharp as thy wits. Hence thou hast uttered these vain and +ambiguous babblings. Had I not promised, at the beginning of our +converse, to banish Anger from mid court, I had now given thy +body to be burned. But since thou hast prevented and tied me +down fast by my words, I bear with thine effrontery, by reason of +my former friendship with thee. Now, arise, and flee for ever +from my sight, lest I see thee again and miserably destroy thee." + +So the man of God went out and withdrew to the desert, grieved to +have lost the crown of martyrdom, but daily a martyr in his +conscience, and `wrestling against principalities and powers, +against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against +spiritual wickedness'; as saith Blessed Paul. But after his +departure, the king waxed yet more wroth, and devised a yet +fiercer persecution of the monastic order, while treating with +greater honour the ministers and temple-keepers of his idols. + +While the king was under this terrible delusion and error, there +was born unto him a son, a right goodly child, whose beauty from +his very birth was prophetic of his future fortunes. Nowhere in +that land, they said, had there ever been seen so charming and +lovely a babe. Full of the keenest joy at the birth of the +child, the king called him Ioasaph, and in his folly went in +person to the temples of his idols, for to do sacrifice and offer +hymns of praise to his still more foolish gods, unaware of the +real giver of all good things, to whom he should have offered the +spiritual sacrifice. He then, ascribing the cause Of his son's +birth to things lifeless and dumb, sent out into all quarters to +gather the people together to celebrate his son's birth-day: and +thou mightest have seen all the folk running together for fear of +the king, and bringing their offerings ready for the sacrifice, +according to the store at each man's hand, and his favour toward +his lord. But chiefly the king stirred them up to emulation. He +brought full many oxen, of goodly size, for sacrifice, and thus, +making a feast for all his people, he bestowed largesses on all +his counsellors and officers, and on all his soldiers, and all +the poor, and men of low degree. + + +III. + +Now on his son's birth-day feast there came unto the king some +five and fifty chosen men, schooled in the star-lore of the +Chaldaeans. These the king called into his presence, and asked +them, severally, to tell him the future of the new-born babe. +After long counsel held, they said that he should be mighty in +riches and power, and should surpass all that had reigned before +him. But one of the astrologers, the most learned of all his +fellows, spake thus: "From that which I learn from the courses of +the stars, O king, the advancement of the child, now born unto +thee, will not be in thy kingdom, but in another, a better and a +greater one beyond compare. Methinketh also that he will embrace +the Christian religion, which thou persecutest, and I trow that +he will not be disappointed of his aim and hope." Thus spake the +astrologer, like Balaam of old, not that his star-lore told him +true, but because God signifieth the truth by the mouth of his +enemies, that all excuse may be taken from the ungodly. + +But when the king heard thereof, he received the tidings with a +heavy heart, and sorrow cut short his joy. Howsoever he built, +in a city set apart, an exceeding beautiful palace, with +cunningly devised gorgeous chambers, and there set his son to +dwell, after he had ended his first infancy; and he forbade any +to approach him, appointing, for instructors and servants, youths +right seemly to behold. These he charged to reveal to him none +of the annoys of life, neither death, nor old age, nor disease, +nor poverty, nor anything else grievous that might break his +happiness: but to place before him everything pleasant and +enjoyable, that his heart, revelling in these delights, might not +gain strength to consider the future, nor ever hear the bare +mention of the tale of Christ and his doctrines. For he was +heedful of the astrologer's warning, and it was this most that he +was minded to conceal from his son. And if any of the attendants +chanced to fall sick, he commanded to have him speedily removed, +and put another plump and well-favoured servant in his place, +that the boy's eyes might never once behold anything to disquiet +them. Such then was the intent and doing of the king, for, +'seeing, he did not see, and hearing, he did not understand.' + +But, learning that some monks still remained, of whom he fondly +imagined that not a trace was left, he became angry above +measure, and his fury was hotly kindled against them. And he +commanded heralds to scour all the city and all the country, +proclaiming that after three days no monk whatsoever should be +found therein. But and if any were discovered after the set +time, they should be delivered to destruction by fire and sword. +"For," said he, "these be they that persuade the people to +worship the Crucified as God." Meanwhile a thing befell, that +made the king still more angry and bitter against the monks. + + +IV. + +There was at court a man pre-eminent among the rulers, of +virtuous life and devout in religion. But while working out his +own salvation, as best he might, he kept it secret for fear of +the king. Wherefore certain men, looking enviously on his free +converse with the king, studied how they might slander him; and +this was all their thought. On a day, when the king went forth +a-hunting with his bodyguard, as was his wont, this good man was +of the hunting party. While he was walking alone, by divine +providence, as I believe, he found a man in a covert, cast to the +ground, his foot grievously crushed by a wild-beast. Seeing him +passing by, the wounded man importuned him not to go his way, but +to pity his misfortune, and take him to his own home, adding +thereto: "I hope that I shall not be found unprofitable, nor +altogether useless unto thee." Our nobleman said unto him, "For +very charity I will take thee up, and render thee such service as +I may. But what is this profit which thou saidest that I should +receive of thee?" The poor sick man answered,"I am a physician +of words. If ever in speech or converse any wound or damage be +found, I will heal it with befitting medicines, that so the evil +spread no further." The devout man gave no heed to his word, but +on account of the commandment, ordered him to be carried home, +and grudged him not that tending which he required. But the +aforesaid envious and malignant persons, bringing forth to light +that ungodliness with which they had long been in travail, +slandered this good man to the king; that not only did he forget +his friendship with the king, and neglect the worship of the +gods, and incline to Christianity, but more, that he was +grievously intriguing against the kingly power, and was turning +aside the common people, and stealing all hearts for himself. +"But," said they, "if thou wilt prove that our charge is not +ungrounded, call him to thee privately; and, to try him, say that +thou desirest to leave thy fathers' religion, and the glory of +thy kingship, and to become a Christian, and to put on the +monkish habit which formerly thou didst persecute, having, thou +shalt tell him, found thine old course evil." The authors of +this villainous charge against the Christian knew the tenderness +of his heart, how that, if he heard such speech from the king, he +would advise him, who had made this better choice, not to put off +his good determinations, and so they would be found just +accusers. + +But the king, not forgetful of his friend's great kindness toward +him, thought these accusations incredible and false; and because +he might not accept them without proof, he resolved to try the +fact and the charge. So he called the man apart and said, to +prove him, "Friend, thou knowest of all my past dealings with +them that are called monks and with all the Christians. But now, +I have repented in this matter, and, lightly esteeming the +present world, would fain become partaker of those hopes whereof +I have heard them speak, of some immortal kingdom in the life to +come; for the present is of a surety cut short by death. And in +none other way, methinks, can I succeed herein and not miss the +mark except I become a Christian, and, bidding farewell to the +glory of my kingdom and all the pleasures and joys of life, go +seek those hermits and monks, wheresoever they be, whom I have +banished, and join myself to their number. Now what sayest thou +thereto, and what is thine advice? Say on; I adjure thee in the +name of truth; for I know thee to be true and wise above all +men." + +The worthy man, hearing this, but never guessing the hidden +pitfall, was pricked in spirit, and, melting into tears, answered +in his simplicity, "O king, live for ever! Good and sound is the +determination that thou hast determined; for though the kingdom +of heaven be difficult to find, yet must a man seek it with all +his might, for it is written, `He that seeketh shall find it.' +The enjoyment of the present life, though in seeming it give +delight and sweetness, is well thrust from us. At the very +moment of its being it ceaseth to be, and for our joy repayeth us +with sorrow sevenfold. Its happiness and its sorrow are more +frail than a shadow, and, like the traces of a ship passing over +the sea, or of a bird flying through the air, quickly disappear. +But the hope of the life to come which the Christians preach is +certain, and as surety sure; howbeit in this world it hath +tribulation, whereas our pleasures now are short-lived, and in +the beyond they only win us correction and everlasting punishment +without release. For the pleasures of such life are temporary, +but its pains eternal; while the Christians' labours are +temporary, but their pleasure and gain immortal. Therefore well +befall this good determination of the king! for right good it is +to exchange the corruptible for the eternal." + +The king heard these words and waxed exceeding wroth: +nevertheless he restrained his anger, and for the season let no +word fall. But the other, being shrewd and quick of wit, +perceived that the king took his word ill, and was craftily +sounding him. So, on his coming home, he fell into much grief +and distress in his perplexity how to conciliate the king and to +escape the peril hanging over his own head. But as he lay awake +all the night long, there came to his remembrance the man with +the crushed foot; so he had him brought before him, and said, "I +remember thy saying that thou weft an healer of injured speech." +"Yea," quoth he, "and if thou wilt I will give thee proof of my +skill." The senator answered and told him of his aforetime +friendship with the king, and of the confidence which he had +enjoyed, and of the snare laid for him in his late converse with +the king; how he had given a good answer, but the king had taken +his words amiss, and by his change of countenance betrayed the +anger lurking within his heart. + +The sick beggar-man considered and said, "Be it known unto thee, +most noble sir, that the king harboureth against thee the +suspicion, that thou wouldest usurp his kingdom, and he spake, as +he spake, to sound thee. Arise therefore, and crop thy hair. +Doff these thy fine garments, and don an hair-shirt, and at +daybreak present thyself before the king. And when he asketh +thee, `What meaneth this apparel?' answer him, `It hath to do +with thy communing with me yesterday, O king. Behold, I am ready +to follow thee along the road that thou art eager to travel; for +though luxury be desirable and passing sweet, God forbid that I +embrace it after thou art gone! Though the path of virtue, which +thou art about to tread, be difficult and rough, yet in thy +company I shall find it easy and pleasant, for as I have shared +with thee this thy prosperity so now will I share thy distresses, +that in the future, as in the past, I may be thy fellow.'" Our +nobleman, approving of the sick man's saying, did as he said. +When the king saw and heard him, he was delighted, and beyond +measure gratified by his devotion towards him. He saw that the +accusations against his senator were false, and promoted him to +more honour and to a greater enjoyment of his confidence. But +against the monks he again raged above measure, declaring that +this was of their teaching, that men should abstain from the +pleasures of life, and rock themselves in visionary hopes. + +Another day, when he was gone a-hunting, he espied two monks +crossing the desert. These he ordered to be apprehended and +brought to his chariot. Looking angrily upon them, and breathing +fire, as they say, "Ye vagabonds and deceivers," he cried, "have +ye not heard the plain proclamation of the heralds, that if any +of your execrable religion were found, after three days, in any +city or country within my realm, he should be burned with fire?" +The monks answered, "Lo! obedient to thine order, we be coming +out of thy cities and coasts. But as the journey before us is +long, to get us away to our brethren, being in want of victuals, +we were making provision for the way, that we perish not with +hunger." Said the king, "He that dreadeth menace of death +busieth not himself with the purveyante of victuals." "Well +spoken, O king," cried the monks. "They that dread death have +concern how to escape it. And who are these but such as cling to +things temporary and are enamoured of them, who, having no good +hopes yonder, find it hard to be wrenched from this present +world, and therefore dread death? But we, who have long since +hated the world and the things of the world, and are walking +along the narrow and strait road, for Christ his sake, neither +dread death, nor desire the present world, but only long for the +world to come. Therefore, forasmuch the death that thou art +bringing upon us proveth but the passage to that everlasting and +better life, it is rather to be desired of us than feared." + +Hereupon the king, wishing to entrap the monks, as I ween, +shrewdly said, "How now? Said ye not but this instant, that ye +were withdrawing even as I commanded you? And, if ye fear not +death, how came ye to be fleeing? Lo! this is but another of +your idle boasts and lies." The monks answered, "Tis not because +we dread the death wherewith thou dost threaten us that we flee, +but because we pity thee. `Twas in order that we might not bring +on thee greater condemnation, that we were eager to escape. Else +for ourselves we are never a whit terrified by thy threats." At +this the king waxed wroth and bade burn them with fire. So by +fire were these servants of God made perfect, and received the +Martyr's crown. And the king published a decree that, should any +be found leading a monk's life, he should be put to death without +trial. Thus was there left in that country none of the monastic +order, save those that had hid them in mountains and caverns and +holes of the earth. So much then concerning this matter. + + +V. + +But meanwhile, the king's son, of whom our tale began to tell, +never departing from the palace prepared for him, attained to the +age of manhood. He had pursued all the learning of the +Ethiopians and Persians, and was as fair and well favoured in +mind as in body, intelligent and prudent, and shining in all +excellencies. To his teachers he would propound such questions +of natural history that even they marvelled at the boy's +quickness and understanding, while the king was astounded at the +charm of his countenance and the disposition of his soul. He +charged the attendants of the young prince on no account to make +known unto him any of the annoys of life, least of all to tell +him that death ensueth on the pleasures of this world. But vain +was the hope whereon he stayed, and he was like the archer in the +tale that would shoot at the sky. For how could death have +remained unknown to any human creature? Nor did it to this boy; +for his mind was fertile of wit, and he would reason within +himself, why his father had condemned him never to go abroad, and +had forbidden access to all. He knew, without hearing it, that +this was his father's express command. Nevertheless he feared to +ask him; it was not to be believed that his father intended aught +but his good; and again, if it were so by his father's will, his +father would not reveal the true reason, for all his asking. +Wherefore he determined to learn the secret from some other +source. There was one of his tutors nearer and dearer to him +than the rest, whose devotion he won even further by handsome +gifts. To him he put the question what his father might mean by +thus enclosing him within those walls, adding, "If thou wilt +plainly tell me this, of all thou shalt stand first in my favour, +and I will make with thee a covenant of everlasting friendship." +The tutor, himself a prudent man, knowing how bright and mature +was the boy's wit and that he would not betray him, to his peril, +discovered to him the whole matter the persecution of the +Christians and especially of the anchorets decreed by the king, +and how they were driven forth and banished from the country +round about; also the prophecies of the astrologers at his birth. +"'Twas in order," said he, "that thou mightest never hear of +their teaching, and choose it before our religion, that the king +hath thus devised that none but a small company should dwell with +thee, and hath commanded us to acquaint thee with none of the +woes of life." When the young prince heard this he said never a +word more, but the word of salvation took hold of his heart, and +the grace of the Comforter began to open wide the eyes of his +understanding, leading him by the hand to the true God, as our +tale in its course shall tell. + +Now the king his father came oftentimes to see his boy, for he +loved him passing well. On a day his son said unto him, "There +is something that I long to learn from thee, my lord the king, by +reason of which continual grief and unceasing care consumeth my +soul." His father was grieved at heart at the very word, and +said, "Tell me, darling child, what is the sadness that +constraineth thee, and straightway I will do my diligence to turn +it into gladness." The boy said, "What is the reason of mine +imprisonment here? Wily hast thou barred me within walls and +doors, never going forth and seen of none?" His father replied, +"Because I will not, my son, that thou shouldest behold anything +to embitter thy heart or mar thy happiness. I intend that thou +shalt spend all thy days in luxury unbroken, and in all manner +joy and pleasaunce." "But," said the son unto his father, "know +well, Sir, that thus I live not in joy and pleasaunce, but rather +in affliction and great straits, so that my very meat and drink +seem distasteful unto me and bitter. I yearn to see all that +lieth without these gates. If then thou wouldest not have me +live in anguish of mind, bid me go abroad as I desire, and let me +rejoice my soul with sights hitherto unseen by mine eyes." + +Grieved was the king to hear these words, but, perceiving that to +deny this request would but increase his boy's pain and grief, he +answered, "My son, I will grant thee thy heart's desire." And +immediately he ordered that choice steeds, and an escort fit for +a king, be made ready, and gave him license to go abroad +whensoever he would, charging his companions to suffer nothing +unpleasant to come in his way, but to show him all that was +beautiful and gladsome. He bade them muster in the way troops of +folk intuning melodies in every mode, and presenting divers mimic +shows, that these might occupy and delight his mind. + +So thus it came to pass that the king's son often went abroad. +One day, through the negligence of his attendants, he descried +two men, the one maimed, and the other blind. In abhorrence of +the sight, he cried to his esquires, "Who are these, and what is +this distressing spectacle?" They, unable to conceal what he had +with his own eyes seen, answered, "These be human sufferings, +which spring from corrupt matter, and from a body full of evil +humours." The young prince asked, "Are these the fortune of all +men?" They answered, "Not of all, but of those in whom the +principle of health is turned away by the badness of the +humours." Again the youth asked, "If then this is wont to happen +not to all, but only to some, can they be known on whom this +terrible calamity shall fall? or is it undefined and +unforeseeable?" "What man," said they, "can discern the future, +and accurately ascertain it? This is beyond human nature, and is +reserved for the immortal gods alone." The young prince ceased +from his questioning, but his heart was grieved at the sight that +he had witnessed, and the form of his visage was changed by the +strangeness of the matter. + +Not many days after, as he was again taking his walks abroad, he +happened with an old man, well stricken in years, shrivelled in +countenance, feeble-kneed, bent double, grey-haired, toothless, +and with broken utterance. The prince was seized with +astonishment, and, calling the old man near, desired to know the +meaning of this strange sight. His companions answered, "This +man is now well advanced in years, and his gradual decrease of +strength, with increase of weakness, hath brought him to the +misery that thou seest." "And," said he, "what will be his end?" +They answered, "Naught but death will relieve him." "But," said +he, "is this the appointed doom of all mankind? Or doth it +happen only to some?" They answered, "Unless death come before +hand to remove him, no dweller on earth, but, as life advanceth, +must make trial of this lot." Then the young prince asked in how +many years this overtook a man, and whether the doom of death was +without reprieve, and whether there was no way to escape it, and +avoid coming to such misery. They answered him, "In eighty or an +hundred years men arrive at this old age, and then they die, +since there is none other way; for death is a debt due to nature, +laid on man from the beginning, and its approach is inexorable." + +When our wise and sagacious young prince saw and heard all this, +he sighed from the bottom of his heart. "Bitter is this life," +cried he, "and fulfilled of all pain and anguish, if this be so. +And how can a body be careless in the expectation of an unknown +death, whose approach (ye say) is as uncertain as it is +inexorable?" So he went away, restlessly turning over all these +things in his mind, pondering without end, and ever calling up +remembrances of death. Wherefore trouble and despondency were +his companions, and his grief knew no ease; for he said to +himself, "And is it true that death shall one day overtake me? +And who is he that shall make mention of me after death, when +time delivereth all things to forgetfulness? When dead, shall I +dissolve into nothingness? Or is there life beyond, and another +world?" Ever fretting over these and the like considerations, he +waxed pale and wasted away, but in the presence of his father, +whenever he chanced to come to him, he made as though he were +cheerful and without trouble, unwilling that his cares should +come to his father's knowledge. But he longed with an +unrestrainable yearning, to meet with the man that might +accomplish his heart's desire, and fill his ears with the sound +of good tidings. + +Again he enquired of the tutor of whom we have spoken, whether he +knew of anybody able to help him towards his desire, and to +establish a mind, dazed and shuddering at its cogitations, and +unable to throw off its burden. He, recollecting their former +communications, said, "I have told thee already how thy father +hath dealt with the wise men and anchorets who spend their lives +in such philosophies. Some hath he slain, and others he hath +wrathfully persecuted, and I wot not whether any of this sort be +in this country side." Thereat the prince was overwhelmed with +woe, and grievously wounded in spirit. He was like unto a man +that hath lost a great treasure, whose whole heart is occupied in +seeking after it. Thenceforth he lived in perpetual conflict and +distress of mind, and all the pleasures and delights of this +world were in his eyes an abomination and a curse. While the +youth was in this way, and his soul was crying out to discover +that which is good, the eye that beholdeth all things looked upon +him, and he that willeth that `all men should be saved, and come +to the knowledge of the truth,' passed him not by, but showed +this man also the tender love that he hath toward mankind, and +made known upon him the path whereon he needs must go. Befel it +thus. + + +VI. + +There was at that time a certain monk, learned in heavenly +things, graced in word and deed, a model follower of every +monastic rule. Whence he sprang, and what his race, I cannot +say, but he dwelt in a waste howling wilderness in the land of +Senaar, and had been perfected through the grace of the +priesthood. Barlaam was this elder's name. He, learning by +divine revelation the state of the king's son, left the desert +and returned to the world. Changing his habit, he put on lay +attire, and, embarking on ship board, arrived at the seat of the +empire of the Indians. Disguised as a merchant man, he entered +the city, where was the palace of the king's son. There he +tarried many days, and enquired diligently concerning the +prince's affairs, and those that had access to him. Learning +that the tutor, of whom we have spoken, was the prince's most +familiar friend, he privily approached him, saying, + +"I would have thee understand, my lord, that I am a merchant man, +come from a far country; and I possess a precious gem, the like +of which was never yet found, and hitherto I have shewed it to no +man. But now I reveal the secret to thee, seeing thee to be wise +and prudent, that thou mayest bring me before the king's son, and +I will present it to him. Beyond compare, it surpasseth all +beautiful things; for on the blind in heart it hath virtue to +bestow the light of wisdom, to open the ears of the deaf, to give +speech to the dumb and strength to the ailing. It maketh the +foolish wise and driveth away devils, and without stint +furnisheth its possessor with everything that is lovely and +desirable." The tutor said, "Though, to all seeming, thou art a +man of staid and steadfast judgment, yet thy words prove thee to +be boastful beyond measure. Time would fail me to tell thee the +full tale of the costly and precious gems and pearls that I have +seen. But gems, with such power as thou tellest of, I never saw +nor heard of yet. Nevertheless shew me the stone; and if it be +as thou affirmest, I immediately bear it to the king's son, from +whom thou shalt receive most high honours and rewards. But, +before I be assured by the certain witness of mine own eyes, I +may not carry to my lord and master so swollen a tale about so +doubtful a thing." Quoth Barlaam, "Well hast thou said that thou +hast never seen or heard of such powers and virtues; for my +speech to thee is on no ordinary matter, but on a wondrous and a +great. But, as thou desiredst to behold it, listen to my words. + +"This exceeding precious gem, amongst these its powers and +virtues, possesseth this property besides. It cannot be seen out +of hand, save by one whose eyesight is strong and sound, and his +body pure and thoroughly undefiled. If any man, lacking in these +two good qualities, do rashly gaze upon this precious stone, he +shall, I suppose lose even the eyesight that he hath, and his +wits as well. Now I, that am initiated in the physician's art, +observe that thine eyes are not healthy, and I fear lest I may +cause thee to lose even the eyesight that thou hast. But of the +king's son, I have heard that he leadeth a sober life, and that +his eyes are young and fair, and healthy. Wherefore to him I +make bold to display this treasure. Be not thou then negligent +herein, nor rob thy master of so wondrous a boon." The other +answered, "If this be so, in no wise show me the gem; for my life +hath been polluted by many sins, and also, as thou sayest, I am +not possest of good eyesight. But I am won by thy words, and +will not hesitate to make known these things unto my lord the +prince." So saying, he went in, and, word by word, reported +everything to the king's son. He, hearing his tutor's words, +felt a strange joy and spiritual gladness breathing into his +heart, and, like one inspired, bade bring in the man forthwith. + +So when Barlaam was come in, and had in due order wished him +Peace!, the prince bade him be seated. Then his tutor withdrew, +and Ioasaph said unto the elder, "Shew me the precious gem, +concerning which, as my tutor hath narrated, thou tellest such +great and marvellous tales." Then began Barlaam to discourse +with him thus: "It is not fitting, O prince, that I should say +anything falsely or unadvisedly to thine excellent majesty. All +that hath been signified to thee from me is true and may not be +gainsaid. But, except I first make trial of thy mind, it is not +lawful to declare to thee this mystery; for my master saith, +'There went out a sower to sow his seed: and, as he sowed, some +seeds fell by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and +devoured them up: some fell upon stony places, where they had not +much earth: and forthwith they sprang up, because they had no +deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched: +and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell +among thorns; and the thorns sprung up and choked them: but +others fell upon good ground, and brought forth fruit an +hundredfold.' Now, if I find in thine heart fruit-bearing +ground, and good, I shall not be slow to plant therein the +heavenly seed, and manifest to thee the mighty mystery. But and +if the ground be stony and thorny, and the wayside trodden down +by all who will, it were better never to let fall this seed of +salvation, nor to cast it for a prey to fowls and beasts, before +which I have been charged not to cast pearls. But I am +'persuaded better things of thee, and things that accompany +salvation,' -- how that thou shalt see the priceless stone, and +it shall be given thee in the light of that stone to become +light, and bring forth fruit an hundredfold. Aye, for thy sake I +gave diligence and accomplished a long journey, to shew thee +things which thou hast never seen, and teach thee things which +thou hast never heard." + +Ioasaph said unto him, "For myself, reverend elder, I have a +longing, all irresistible passion to hear some new and goodly +word, and in mine heart there is kindled fire, cruelly burning +and urging me to learn the answer to some questions that will not +rest. But until now I never happened on one that could satisfy +me as touching them. But if I meet with some wise and +understanding man, and hear the word of salvation, I shall not +deliver it to the fowls of the air, I trow, nor yet to the beasts +of the field; nor shall I be found either stony or thorny- +hearted, as thou saidest, but I shall receive the word kindly, +and guard it wisely. So if thou knowest any such like thing, +conceal it not from me, but declare it. When I heard that thou +were come from a far country, my spirit rejoiced, and I had good +hope of obtaining through thee that which I desire. Wherefore I +called thee straightway into my presence, and received thee in +friendly wise as one of my companions and peers, if so be that I +may not be disappointed of my hope." Barlaam answered, "Fair are +thy deeds, and worthy of thy royal majesty; seeing that thou hast +paid no heed to my mean show, but hast devoted thyself to the +hope that lieth within. + +"There was once a great and famous king: and it came to pass, +when he was riding on a day in his golden chariot, with his royal +guard, that there met him two men, clad in filthy rags, with +fallen-in faces, and pale as death. Now the king knew that it +was by buffetings of the body and by the sweats of the monastic +life that they had thus wasted their miserable flesh. So, seeing +them, he leapt anon from his chariot, fell on the ground, and did +obeisance. Then rising, he embraced and greeted them tenderly. +But his noblemen and counsellors took offence thereat, deeming +that their sovran had disgraced his kingly honour. But not +daring to reprove him to the face, they bade the king's own +brother tell the king not thus to insult the majesty of his +crown. When he had told the king thereof, and had upbraided him +for his untimely humility, the king gave his brother an answer +which he failed to understand. + +"It was the custom of that king, whenever he sentenced anyone to +death, to send a herald to his door, with a trumpet reserved for +that purpose, and at the sound of this trumpet all understood +that that man was liable to the penalty of death. So when +evening was come, the king sent the death-trumpet to sound at his +brother's door; who, when he heard its blast, despaired of his +life, and all night long set his house in order. At day-break, +robed in black and garments of mourning, with wife and children, +he went to the palace gate, weeping and lamenting. The king +fetched him in, and seeing him in tears, said, `O fool, and slow +of understanding, how didst thou, who hast had such dread of the +herald of thy peer and brother (against whom thy conscience doth +not accuse thee of having committed any trespass) blame me for my +humility in greeting the heralds of my God, when they warned me, +in gentler tones than those of the trumpet, of my death and +fearful meeting with that Master against whom I know that I have +often grievously offended? Lo! then, it was in reproof of thy +folly that I played thee this turn, even as I will shortly +convict of vanity those that prompted thy reproof.' Thus he +comforted his brother and sent him home with a gift. + +"Then he ordered four wooden caskets to be made. Two of these he +covered over all with gold, and, placing dead men's mouldering +bones therein, secured them with golden clasps. The other two he +smeared over with pitch and tar, but filled them with costly +stones and precious pearls, and all manner of aromatic sweet +perfume. He bound them fast with cords of hair, and called for +the noblemen who had blamed him for his manner of accosting the +men by the wayside. Before them he set the four caskets, that +they might appraise the value of these and those. They decided +that the golden ones were of greatest value, for, peradventure, +they contained kingly diadems and girdles. But those, that were +be-smeared with pitch and tar, were cheap and of paltry worth, +said they. Then said the king to them, `I know that such is your +answer, for with the eyes of sense ye judge the objects of sense, +but so ought ye not to do, but ye should rather see with the +inner eye the hidden worthlessness or value.' Whereupon he +ordered the golden chests to be opened. And when they were +thrown open, they gave out a loathsome smell and presented a +hideous sight. + +"Said the king, `Here is a figure of those who are clothed in +glory and honour, and make great display of power and glory, but +within is the stink of dead men's bones and works of iniquity.' +Next, he commanded the pitched and tarred caskets also to be +opened, and delighted the company with the beauty and sweet +savour of their stores. And he said unto them, `Know ye to whom +these are like? They are like those lowly men, clad in vile +apparel, whose outward form alone ye beheld, and deemed it +outrageous that I bowed down to do them obeisance. But through +the eyes of my mind I perceived the value and exceeding beauty of +their souls, and was glorified by their touch, and I counted them +more honourable than any chaplet or royal purple.' Thus he +shamed his courtiers, and taught them not to be deceived by +outward appearances, but to give heed to the things of the soul. +After the example of that devout and wise king hast thou also +done, in that thou hast received me in good hope, wherein, as I +ween, thou shalt not be disappointed." Ioasaph said unto him, +"Fair and fitting hath been all thy speech; but now I fain would +learn who is thy Master, who, as thou saidest at the first, spake +concerning the Sower." + + +VII. + +Again therefore Barlaam took up his parable and said, "If thou +wilt learn who is my Master, it is Jesus Christ the Lord, the +only-begotten Son of God, `the blessed and only potentate, the +King of kings, and Lords of lords; who only hath immortality, +dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto'; who with +the Father and the Holy Ghost is glorified. I am not one of +those who proclaim from the house-top their wild rout of gods, +and worship lifeless and dumb idols, but one God do I acknowledge +and confess, in three persons glorified, the Father, the Son, and +the Holy Ghost, but in one nature and substance, in one glory and +kingdom undivided. He then is in three persons one God, without +beginning, and without end, 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 a wall on +the left. But when Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursued and went in +after them, the waters returned and utterly destroyed them. Then +with exceeding mighty miracles and divine manifestations by the +space of forty years he led the people in the wilderness, and fed +them with bread from heaven, and gave the Law divinely written on +tables of stone, which he delivered unto Moses on the mount, `a +type and shadow of things to come' leading men away from idols +and all manner of wickedness, and teaching them to worship only +the one true God, and to cleave to good works. By such wondrous +deeds, he brought them into a certain goodly land, the which he +had promised aforetime to Abraham the patriarch, that he would +give it unto his seed. And the task were long, to tell of all +the mighty and marvellous works full of glory and wonder, without +number, which he shewed unto them, by which it was his purpose to +pluck the human race from all unlawful worship and practice, and +to bring men back to their first estate. But even so our nature +was in bondage by its freedom to err, and death had dominion over +mankind, delivering all to the tyranny of the devil, and to the +damnation of hell. + +"So when we had sunk to this depth of misfortune and misery, we +were not forgotten by him that formed and brought us out of +nothing into being, nor did he suffer his own handiwork utterly +to perish. By the good pleasure of our God and Father, and the +co-operation of the Holy Ghost, the only-begotten Son, even the +Word of God, which is in the bosom of the Father, being of one +substance with the Father and with the Holy Ghost, he that was +before all worlds, without beginning, who was in the beginning, +and was with God even the Father, and was God, he, I say, +condescended toward his servants with an unspeakable and +incomprehensible condescension; and, being perfect God, was made +perfect man, of the Holy Ghost, and of Mary the Holy Virgin and +Mother of God, not of the seed of man, nor of the will of man, +nor by carnal union, being conceived in the Virgin's undefiled +womb, of the Holy Ghost; as also, before his conception, one of +the Archangels was sent to announce to the Virgin that miraculous +conception and ineffable birth. For without seed was the Son of +God conceived of the Holy Ghost, and in the Virgin's womb he +formed for himself a fleshy body, animate with a reasonable and +intelligent soul, and thence came forth in one substance, but in +two natures, perfect God and perfect man, and preserved +undefiled, even after birth, the virginity of her that bore him. +He, being made of like passions with ourselves in all things, yet +without sin, took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses. For, +since by sin death entered into the world, need was that he, that +should redeem the world, should be without sin, and not by sin +subject unto death. + +"When he had lived thirty years among men, he was baptized in the +river Jordan by John, an holy man, and great above all the +prophets. And when he was baptized there came a voice from +heaven, from God, even the Father, saying, `This is my beloved +Son, in whom I am well pleased,' and the Holy Ghost descended +upon him in likeness of a dove. From that time forth he began to +do great signs and wonders, raising the dead, giving sight to the +blind, casting out devils, healing the lame and maim, cleansing +lepers, and everywhere renewing our out-worn nature, instructing +men both by word and deed, and teaching the way of virtue, +turning men from destruction and guiding their feet toward life +eternal. Wherefore also he chose twelve disciples, whom he +called Apostles, and commanded them to preach the kingdom of +heaven which he came upon earth to declare, and to make heavenly +us who are low and earthly, by virtue of his Incarnation. + +"But, through envy of his marvellous and divine conversation and +endless miracles, the chief priests and rulers of the Jews +(amongst whom also he dwelt, on whom he had wrought his aforesaid +signs and miracles), in their madness forgetting all, condemned +him to death, having seized one of the Twelve to betray him. +And, when they had taken him, they delivered him to the Gentiles, +him that was the life of the world, he of his free will +consenting thereto; for he came for our sakes to suffer all +things, that he might free us from sufferings. But when they had +done him much despite, at the last they condemned him to the +Cross. All this he endured in the nature of that flesh which he +took from us, his divine nature remaining free of suffering: for, +being of two natures, both the divine and that which he took from +us, his human nature suffered, while his Godhead continued free +from suffering and death. So our Lord Jesus Christ, being +without sin, was crucified in the flesh, for he did no sin, +neither was guile found in his mouth; and he was not subject unto +death, for by sin, as I have said before, came death into the +world; but for our sakes he suffered death in the flesh, that he +might redeem us from the tyranny of death. He descended into +hell, and having harrowed it, he delivered thence souls that had +been imprisoned therein for ages long. He was buried, and on the +third day he rose again, vanquishing death and granting us the +victory over death: and he, the giver of immortality, having made +flesh immortal, was seen of his disciples, and bestowed upon them +peace, and, through them, peace on the whole human race. + +"After forty days he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the +right hand of the Father. And he shall come again to judge the +quick and the dead, and to reward every man according to his +works. After his glorious Ascension into heaven he sent forth +upon his disciples the Holy Ghost in likeness of fire, and they +began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them +utterance. From thence by his grace they were scattered abroad +among all nations, and preached the true Catholic Faith, +baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of +the Holy Ghost, and teaching them to observe all the commandments +of the Saviour. So they gave light to the people that wandered +in darkness, and abolished the superstitious error of idolatry. +Though the enemy chafeth under his defeat, and even now stirreth +up war against us, the faithful, persuading the fools and unwise +to cling to the worship of idols, yet is his power grown feeble, +and his swords have at last failed him by the power of Christ. +Lo, in few words I have made known unto thee my Master, my God, +and my Saviour; but thou shalt know him more perfectly, if thou +wilt receive his grace into thy soul, and gain the blessing to +become his servant." + + +VIII. + +When the king's son had heard these words, there flashed a light +upon his soul. Rising from his seat in the fulness of his joy, +he embraced Barlaam, saying: "Most honoured sir, methinks this +might be that priceless stone which thou dost rightly keep +secret, not displaying it to all that would see it, but only to +these whose spiritual sense is strong. For lo, as these words +dropped upon mine ear, sweetest light entered into my heart, and +the heavy veil of sorrow, that hath now this long time enveloped +my heart, was in an instant removed. Tell me if my guess be +true: or if thou knowest aught better than that which thou hast +spoken, delay not to declare it to me." + +Again, therefore, Barlaam answered, "Yea, my lord and prince, +this is the mighty mystery which hath been hid from ages and +generations, but in these last days hath been made known unto +mankind; the manifestation whereof, by the grace of the Holy +Ghost, was foretold by many prophets and righteous men, +instructed at sundry times and in divers manners. In trumpet +tones they proclaimed it, and all looked forward to the salvation +that should be: this they desired to see, but saw it not. But +this latest generation was counted worthy to receive salvation. +Wherefore he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but +he that believeth not shall be damned." + +Said Ioasaph, "All that thou hast told me I believe without +question, and him whom thou declarest I glorify as God. Only +make all plain to me, and teach me clearly what I must do. But +especially go on to tell me what is that Baptism which thou +sayest that the Faithful receive." + +The other answered him thus, "The root mid sure foundation of +this holy and perfect Christian Faith is the grace of heavenly +Baptism, fraught with the cleansing from all original sins, and +complete purification of all defilements of evil that come after. +For thus the Saviour commanded a man to be born again of water +and of the spirit, and be restored to his first dignity, to wit, +by supplication and by calling on the Saving Name, the Holy +Spirit brooding on the water. We are baptized, then, according +to the word of the Lord, in the Name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and thus the grace of the Holy Ghost +dwelleth in the soul of the baptized, illuminating and making it +God-like and renewing that which was made after his own image and +likeness. And for the time to come we cast away all the old +works of wickedness, and we make covenant with God of a second +life and begin a purer conversation, that we may also become +fellow-heirs with them that are born again to incorruption and +lay hold of everlasting salvation. But without Baptism it is +impossible to attain to that good hope, even though a man be more +pious than piety itself. For thus spake God, the Word, who was +incarnate for the salvation of our race, `Verily I say unto you, +except ye be born of water and of the Spirit, ye shall in no wise +enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.' Wherefore before all things I +require thee to receive faith within thy soul, and to draw near +to Baptism anon with hearty desire, and on no account to delay +herein, for delay is parlous, because of the uncertainty of the +appointed day of death." + +Ioasaph said unto him, "And what is this good hope whereto thou +sayest it is impossible without baptism to attain? And what this +kingdom which thou callest the kingdom of Heaven? And how cometh +it that thou hast heard the words of God incarnate? And what is +the uncertain day of death? For on this account much anxiety +hath fallen on my heart, and consumeth my flesh in pain and +grief, and fasteneth on my very bones. And shall we men, +appointed to die, return to nothing, or is there some other life +after our departure hence? These and kindred questions I have +been longing to resolve." + +Thus questioned he; and Barlaam answered thus: "The good hope, +whereof I spake, is that of the kingdom of Heaven. But that +kingdom is far beyond the utterance of mortal tongue; for the +Scripture saith, `Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have +entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared +for them that love him.' But when we have shuffled off this +gross flesh, and attained to that blessedness, then will that +Master, which hath granted to us not to fail of this hope, teach +and make known unto us the glory of those good things, whose +glory passeth all understanding: -- that light ineffable, that +life that hath no ending, that converse with Angels. For if it +be granted us to hold communion with God, so far as is attainable +to human nature, then shall we know all things from his lips +which now we know not. This doth my initiation into the teaching +of the divine Scriptures teach me to be the real meaning of the +kingdom of Heaven; to approach the vision of the blessed and +life-giving Trinity, and to be illumined with his unapproachable +light, and with clearer and purer sight, and with unveiled face, +to behold as in a glass his unspeakable glory. But, if it be +impossible to express in language that glory, that light, and +those mysterious blessings, what marvel? For they had not been +mighty and singular, if they had been comprehended by reason and +expressed in words by us who are earthly, and corruptible, and +clothed in this heavy garment of sinful flesh. Holding then such +knowledge in simple faith, believe thou undoubtingly, that these +are no fictions; but by good works be urgent to lay hold on that +immortal kingdom, to which when thou hast attained, thou shalt +have perfect knowledge. + +"As touching thy question, How it is that we have heard the words +of the Incarnate God, know thou that we have been taught all that +appertaineth to the divine Incarnation by the Holy Gospels, for +thus that holy book is called, because it telleth us, who are +corruptible and earthly, the `good spell' of immortality and +incorruption, of life eternal, of the remission of sins, and of +the kingdom of heaven. This book was written by the eyewitnesses +and ministers of the Word, and of these I have already said that +our Lord Jesus Christ chose them for disciples and apostles; and +they delivered it unto us in writing, after the glorious +Ascension of our Master into Heaven, a record of his life on +earth, his teachings and miracles, so far as it was possible to +commit them to writing. For thus, toward the end of his volume, +saith he that is the flower of the holy Evangelists, `And there +are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they +should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself +could not contain the books that should be written.' + +"So in this heavenly Gospel, written by the Spirit of God, is +recorded the history of his Incarnation, his manifestation, his +miracles and acts. Afterward, it telleth of the innocent +suffering which the Lord endured for our sake, of his holy +Resurrection on the third day, his Ascent into the heavens, and +of his glorious and dreadful second coming; for the Son of God +shall come again on earth, with unspeakable glory, and with a +multitude of the heavenly host to judge our race, and to reward +every man according to his works. For, at the beginning, God +created man out of earth, as I have already told thee, and +breathed into him breath, which is called a reasonable and +understanding soul. But since we were sentenced to death, we die +all: and it is not possible for this cup to pass any man by. Now +death is the separation of the soul from the body. And that body +which was formed out of earth, when severed from the soul, +returneth to earth from whence also it was taken, and, decaying, +perisheth; but the soul, being immortal, fareth whither her Maker +calleth, or rather to the place where she, while still in the +body, hath prepared for herself lodgement. For as a man hath +lived here, so shall he receive reward there. + +"Then, after long seasons, Christ our God shall come to judge the +world in awful glory, beyond words to tell; and for fear of him +the powers of heaven shall be shaken, and all the angel hosts +stand beside him in dread. Then, at the voice of the archangel, +and at the trump of God, shall the dead arise and stand before +his awful throne. Now the Resurrection is the re-uniting of soul +and body. So that very body, which decayeth and perisheth, shall +arise incorruptible. And concerning this, beware lest the +reasoning of unbelief overtake thee; for it is not impossible for +him, who at the beginning formed the body out of earth, when +according to its Maker's doom it hath returned to earth whence it +was taken, to raise the same again. If thou wilt but consider +how many things God hath made out of nothing, this proof shall +suffice thee. He took earth and made man, though earth was not +man before. How then did earth become man? And how was earth, +that did not exist, produced? And what foundation hath it? And +how were countless kind of things without reason, of seeds and +plants, produced out of it! Nay, now also consider the manner of +our birth. Is not a little seed thrown into the womb that +receiveth it? Whence then cometh such a marvellous fashioning of +a living creature? + +"So for him, who hath made everything out of nothing, and still +doth make, it is not impossible to raise deadened and corrupt +bodies from the earth, that every man may be rewarded according +to his works; for he saith, `The present is the time for work, +the future for recompense.' Else, where were the justice of God, +if there were no Resurrection? Many righteous men in this +present life have suffered much ill-usage and torment, and have +died violent deaths; and the impious and the law-breaker hath +spent his days here in luxury and prosperity. But God, who is +good and just, hath appointed a day of resurrection and +inquisition, that each soul may receive her own body, and that +the wicked, who received his good things here, may there be +punished for his misdeeds, and that the good, who was here +chastised for his misdeeds, may there inherit his bliss. For, +saith the Lord, `They that are in the graves shall hear the voice +of the Son of God, and shall come forth; they that have done good +unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto +the resurrection of doom.' Then also shall thrones be set, and +the Ancient of days and Maker of all things shall sit as Judge, +and there shall be opened books with records of the deeds and +words and thoughts of all of us, and a fiery stream shall issue, +and all hidden things shall be revealed. There can no advocate, +no persuasive words, no false excuse, no mightiness of riches, no +pomp of rank, no lavishment of bribes, avail to pervert righteous +judgement. For he, the uncorrupt and truthful Judge, shall weigh +everything in the balance of justice, every act, word and +thought. And they that have done good shall go into life +everlasting, into light unspeakable, rejoicing in the fellowship +of the Angels, to enjoy bliss ineffable, standing in purity +before the Holy Trinity. But they that have done evil, and all +the ungodly and sinners, shall go into everlasting punishment, +which is called Gehenna, and outer darkness, and the worm that +dieth not, and the gnashing of teeth, and a thousand other names +of punishment; which meaneth rather -- bitterest of all, -- +alienation from God, the being cast away from the sweetness of +his presence, the being deprived of that glory which baffleth +description, the being made a spectacle unto the whole creation, +and the being put to shame, and shame that hath no ending. For, +after the passing of that terrible sentence, all things shall +abide immutable and unchangeable. The blissful life of the +righteous shall have no close, neither shall the misery and +punishment of sinners find an end: because, after him, there is +no higher Judge, and no defence by after-works, no time for +amendment, no other way for them that are punished, their +vengeance being co-eternal with them. + +"Seeing that this is so, what manner of persons ought we to be in +all holy conversation and godliness, that we may be counted +worthy to escape the wrath to come, and to be ranged on the right +hand of the Son of God? For this is the station of the +righteous: but to sinners is allotted the station of misery on +the left. Then shall the Lord call the righteous `Blessed,' and +shall lead them into his everlasting kingdom. But, as for +sinners, with anger and curse he will banish them from his serene +and gentle countenance the bitterest and hardest lot of all and +will send them away into everlasting punishment." + + +IX. + +Ioasaph said unto him, "Great and marvellous, sir, are the things +whereof thou tellest me, fearful and terrible, if indeed these +things be so, and, if there be after death and dissolution into +dust and ashes, a resurrection and re-birth, and rewards and +punishments for the deeds done during life. But what is the +proof thereof? And how have ye come to learn that which ye have +not seen, that ye have so steadfastly and undoubtingly believed +it? As for things that have already been done and made manifest +in deed, though ye saw them not, yet have ye heard them from the +writers of history. But, when it is of the future that ye preach +tidings of such vast import, how have ye made your conviction on +these matters sure?" + +Quoth Barlaam, "From the past I gain certainty about the future; +for they that preached the Gospel, without erring from the truth, +but establishing their sayings by signs and wonders and divers +miracles, themselves also spake of the future. So, as in the one +case they taught us nothing amiss or false, but made all that +they said and did to shine clearer than the sun, so also in the +other matter they gave us true doctrine, even that which our Lord +and Master Jesus Christ himself confirmed both by word and deed. +'Verily,' he spake, `I say unto you, the hour is coming in the +which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son +of God and they that hear shall live:' and again, `The hour +cometh when the dead shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, +they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they +that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.' And +again he said concerning the resurrection of the dead, `Have ye +not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the +God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God +is not the God of the dead but of the living.' `For as the tares +are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of +this age. The Son of God shall send forth his Angels, and they +shall gather all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, +and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be +wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine +forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father.' Thus spake he +and added this thereto, `Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.' + +"In such words and many more did the Lord make manifest the +resurrection of our bodies, and confirm his words in deed, by +raising many that were dead. And, toward the end of his life +upon earth, he called from the grave one Lazarus his friend, that +had already been four days dead and stank, and thus he restored +the lifeless to life. Moreover, the Lord himself became the +first-fruits of that resurrection which is final and no longer +subject unto death, after he had in the flesh tasted of death; +and on the third day he rose again, and became the first-born +from the dead. For other men also were raised from the dead, but +died once more, and might not yet attain to the likeness of the +future true resurrection. But he alone was the leader of that +resurrection, the first to be raised to the resurrection +immortal. + +"This was the preaching also of them that from the beginning were +eye-witnesses and ministers of the word; for thus saith blessed +Paul, whose calling was not of men, but from heaven, `Brethren, I +declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you. For I +delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how +that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Now +if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some +among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? For if the +dead rise not, then is not Christ raised. And if Christ be not +raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. If in this +life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most +miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the +first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by +man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all +die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' And after a +little while, `For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and +this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible +shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on +immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is +written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death where is thy +sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' For then the power of +death is utterly annulled and destroyed, no longer working in us, +but for the future there is given unto men immortality and +incorruption for evermore. + +"Beyond all question, therefore, there shall be a resurrection of +the dead, and this we believe undoubtingly. Moreover we know +that there shall be rewards and punishments for the deeds done in +our life-time, on the dreadful day of Christ's coming, `wherein +the heavens shall be dissolved in fire and the elements shall +melt with fervent heat,' as saith one of the inspired clerks of +God; `nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new +heavens and a new earth.' For that there shall be rewards and +punishments for men's works, and that absolutely nothing, good or +bad, shall be overlooked, but that there is reserved a requital +for words, deeds and thoughts, is plain. The Lord saith, +'Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a +cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, he shall in no +wise lose his reward.' And again he saith, `When the Son of man +shall come in his glory, and all the holy Angels with him, then +before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate +them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the +goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the +goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his +right hand, `Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an +hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me +drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed +me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came +unto me.' Wherefore saith he this, except he count the kind acts +we do unto the needy as done unto himself? And in another place +he saith, `Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also +confess before my Father which is in heaven.' + +"Lo, by all these examples and many more he proveth that the +rewards of good works are certain and sure. Further, that +punishments are in store for the bad, he foretold by parables +strange and wonderful, which he, the Well of Wisdom most wisely +put forth. At one time he brought into his tale a certain rich +man which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared +sumptuously every day, but who was so niggardly and pitiless +toward the destitute as to overlook a certain beggar named +Lazarus laid at his gate, and not even to give him of the crumbs +from his table. So when one and other were dead, the poor man, +full of sores, was carried away, he saith, into Abraham's bosom, +for thus he describeth the habitation of the righteous -- but the +rich man was delivered to the fire of bitter torment in hell. To +him said Abraham, `Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good +things, and likewise Lazarus his evil things, but now he is +comforted, and thou art tormented." + +"And otherwhere he likeneth the kingdom of heaven to a certain +king which made a marriage-feast for his son and thereby he +declared future happiness and splendour. For as he was wont to +speak to humble and earthly minded men, he would draw his +parables from homely and familiar things. Not that he meant that +marriages and feasts exist in that world; but in condescension to +men's grossness, he employed these names when he would make known +to them the future. So, as he telleth, the king with high +proclamation called all to come to the marriage to take their +fill of his wondrous store of good things. But many of them that +were bidden made light of it and came not, and busied themselves: +some went to their farms, some to their merchandize, and others +to their newly wedded wives, and thus deprived themselves of the +splendour of the bride chamber. Now when these had, of their own +choice, absented themselves from this joyous merriment, others +were bidden thereto, and the wedding was furnished with guests. +And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man +which had not on a wedding garment, and he said unto him, +"Friend, how camest thou in hither, not having a wedding +garment?" And he was speechless. Then Said the king to the +servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast +him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of +teeth.' Now they who made excuses and paid no heed to the call +are they that hasten not to the faith of Christ, but continue in +idolatry or heresy. But he that had no wedding garment is he +that believeth, but hath soiled his spiritual garment with +unclean acts, and was rightly cast forth from the joy of the +bride chamber. + +"And he put forth yet another parable, in harmony with this, in +his picture of the Ten Virgins, `five of whom were wise, and five +were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took +no oil with them, but the wise took oil.' By the oil he +signifieth the acquiring of good works. `And at midnight,' he +saith, `there was a cry made, "Behold the bridegroom cometh, go +ye out to meet him."' By midnight he denoteth the uncertainty of +that time. Then all those virgins arose. `They that were ready +went forth to meet the bridegroom and went in with him to the +marriage, and the door was shut.' But they that were un-ready +(whom rightly he calleth foolish), seeing that their lamps were +going out, went forth to buy oil. Afterward they drew nigh, the +door being now shut, and cried, saying, `Lord, Lord, open to us.' +But he answered and said, `Verily I say unto you, I know you +not.' Wherefore from all this it is manifest that there is a +requital not only for overt acts, but also for words and even +secret thoughts; for the Saviour said, `I say unto you, that for +every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account +thereof in the day of judgement.' And again he saith, `But the +very hairs of your head are numbered,' by the hairs meaning the +smallest and slightest phantasy or thought. And in harmony +herewith is the teaching of blessed Paul, `For the word of God,' +saith he, `is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged +sword, and piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and +spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the +thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature +that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and +laid bare unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." + +"These things also were proclaimed with wondrous clearness by the +prophets of old time, illumined by the grace of the Spirit. For +Esay saith, `I know their works and their thoughts,' and will +repay them. `Behold, I come to gather all nations and all +tongues; and they shall come and see my glory. And the heaven +shall be new, and the earth, which I make before me. And all +flesh shall come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they +shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have +transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither +shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be a spectacle unto +all flesh." And again he saith concerning that day, "And the +heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all the stars +shall fall down as leaves from the vine. For behold, the day of +the Lord cometh, cruel with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the +whole world desolate and to destroy the sinners out of it. For +the stars of heaven and Orion and all the constellations of +heaven shall not give their light, and there shall be darkness at +the sun's rising, and the moon shall not give her light. And I +will cause the arrogancy of the sinners to cease, and will lay +low the haughtiness of the proud.' And again he saith, `Wo unto +them that draw their iniquities as with a long cord, and their +sins as with an heifer's cart-rope! Wo unto them that call evil +good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for +darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Wo +unto those of you that are mighty, that are princes, that mingle +strong drink, which justify the wicked for reward, and take +justice from the just, and turn aside the judgement from the +needy, and take away the right from the poor, that the widow may +be their spoil and the fatherless their prey! And what will they +do in the day of visitation, and to whom will they flee for help? +And where will they leave their glory, that they fall not into +arrest? Like as stubble shall be burnt by live coal of fire, and +consumed by kindled flame, so their root shall be as foam, and +their blossom shall go up as dust, for they would not the law of +the Lord of hosts, and provoked the oracle of the Holy One of +Israel." + +"In tune therewith saith also another prophet, `The great day of +the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly. The bitter and austere +voice of the day of the Lord hath been appointed. A mighty day +of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of +wasteness and desolation, a day of blackness and gloominess, a +day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm. +And I will bring distress upon the wicked, and they shall walk +like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord. +Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them +in the day of the Lord's wrath; for the whole land shall be +devoured by the fire of his jealousy, for he shall make a +riddance of all them that dwell in the land.' Moreover David, +the king and prophet, crieth thus, `God shall come visibly, even +our God, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall be kindled +before him, and a mighty tempest round about him. He shall call +the heaven from above, and the earth, that he may judge his +people.' And again he saith, `Arise, O God, judge thou the +earth, because "the fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise." +And thou shalt "reward every man according to his works."' And +many other such things have been spoken by the Psalmist, and all +the Prophets inspired by the Holy Ghost, concerning the judgement +and the recompense to come. Their words also have been most +surely confirmed by the Saviour who hath taught us to believe the +resurrection of the dead, and the recompense of the deeds done in +the flesh, and the unending life of the world to come." + +X + +But Ioasaph was filled hereby with deep compunction, and was +melted into tears; and he said to the elder, "Thou hast told me +everything plainly, and hast completed unerringly thy terrible +and marvellous tale. With such truths set before us, what must +we do to escape the punishments in store for sinners, and to gain +the joy of the righteous?" + +Barlaam answered: "It is written of Peter, who was also called +chief of the Apostles, that once when he was preaching the people +were pricked in their heart, like thyself to-day: and when they +asked, `What shall we do?', Peter said unto them, `Repent, and be +baptized every one of you for the remission of sins, and ye shall +receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For to you is the promise, +and to your children, and to all that are afar off even as many +as the Lord our God shall call.' Behold therefore upon thee also +hath he poured forth the riches of his mercy, and hath called +thee that wert afar off from him in heart, and didst serve +others, not Gods, but pernicious devils and dumb and senseless +wooden images. Wherefore before all things approach thou him who +hath called thee, and from him shalt thou receive the true +knowledge of things visible and invisible. But if, after thy +calling, thou be loth or slack, thou shalt be disherited by the +just judgement of God, and by thy rejection of him thou shalt be +rejected. For thus too spake the same Apostle Peter to a certain +disciple. But I believe that thou hast heard the call, and that, +when thou hast heard it more plainly, thou wilt take up thy +Cross, and follow that God and Master that calleth thee, calleth +thee to himself from death unto life, and from darkness unto +light. For, soothly, ignorance of God is darkness and death of +the soul; and to serve idols, to the destruction of all nature, +is to my thinking the extreme of all senselessness. + +"But idolaters -- to whom shall I compare them, and to what +likeness shall I liken their silliness? Well, I will set before +thee an example which I heard from the lips of one most wise. + +"'Idol worshippers,' said he, `are like a fowler who caught a +tiny bird, called nightingale. He took a knife, for to kill and +eat her; but the nightingale, being given the power of articulate +speech, said to the fowler, `Man, what advantageth it thee to +slay me? for thou shalt not be able by my means to fill thy +belly. Now free me of my fetters, and I will give thee three +precepts, by the keeping of which thou shalt be greatly benefited +all thy life long.' He, astonied at her speech, promised that, +if he heard anything new from her, he would quickly free her from +her captivity. The nightingale turned towards our friend and +said, `Never try to attain to the unattainable: never regret the +thing past and gone: and never believe the word that passeth +belief. Keep these three precepts, and may it be well with +thee.' The man, admiring the lucidity and sense of her words, +freed the bird from her captivity, and sent her forth aloft. +She, therefore, desirous to know whether the man had understood +the force of her words, and whether he had gleaned any profit +therefrom, said, as she flew aloft, `Shame, sir, on thy +fecklessness! What a treasure that hast lost to-day! For I have +inside me a pearl larger than an ostrich-egg.' When the fowler +heard thereof, he was distraught with grief, regretting that the +bird had escaped out of his hands. And he would fain have taken +her again. `Come hither,' said he, `into my house: I will make +thee right welcome, and send thee forth with honour.' But the +nightingale said unto him, `Now I know thee to be a mighty fool. +Though thou didst receive my words readily and gladly, thou hast +gained no profit thereby. I bade thee never regret the thing +past and gone; and behold thou art distraught with grief because +I have escaped out of thy hands there thou regrettest a thing +past and gone. I charged thee not to try to attain to the +unattainable, and thou triest to catch me, though thou canst not +attain to my path. Besides which, I bade thee never believe a +word past belief, and behold thou hast believed that I had inside +me a pearl exceeding the measure of my size, and hadst not the +sense to see that my whole body doth not attain to the bulk of +ostrich eggs. How then could I contain such a pearl?"' + +"Thus senseless, then, are also they that trust in idols: for +these be their handiwork, and they worship that which their +fingers made, saying, `These be our creators.' How then deem +they their creators those which have been formed and fashioned by +themselves? Nay more, they safeguard their gods, lest they be +stolen by thieves, and yet they call them guardians of their +safety. And yet what folly not to know that they, which be +unable to guard and aid themselves, can in no wise guard and save +others! `For' saith he, `why, on behalf of the living, should +they seek unto the dead?' They expend wealth, for to raise +statues and images to devils, and vainly boast that these give +them good gifts, and crave to receive of their hands things which +those idols never possessed, nor ever shall possess. Wherefore +it is written, `May they that make them be like unto them, and so +be all such as put their trust in them, who,' he saith, `hire a +goldsmith, and make them gods, and they fall down, yea, they +worship them. They bear them upon the shoulders, and go forward. +And if they set them in their place, they stand therein: they +shall not remove. Yea, one shall cry unto them, yet call they +not answer him, nor save him out of his trouble.' `Wherefore be +ye ashamed with everlasting shame, ye that trust in graven +images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.' `For +they sacrificed,' he saith, `unto devils, and not to God; to gods +whom their fathers knew not. There came new and fresh gods; +because it is a froward generation, and there is no faith in +them.' + +"Wherefore out of this wicked and faithless generation the Lord +calleth thee to him, saying, `Come out from among them, and be +thou separate, and touch no unclean thing,' but `save thyself +from this untoward generation.' `Arise thou, and depart, for +this is not thy rest;' for that divided lordship, which your gods +hold, is a thing of confusion and strife and hath no real being +whatsoever. But with us it is not so, neither have we many gods +and lords, but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and +we unto him: and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things +and we by him, `who is the image of the invisible God, the first +born of every creature' and of all ages, `for in him were all +things created that are in the heavens and that are upon the +earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or +dominions, or principalities, or powers.' `All things were made +by him, and without him was not anything made that was made:' and +one Holy Ghost, in whom are all things, `the Lord and Giver of +life,' God and making God, the good Spirit, the right Spirit, +'the Spirit the Comforter,' `the Spirit of adoption.' Of these +each person, severally, is God. As the Father is, so also is the +Son, and as the Son, so also the Holy Ghost. And there is one +God in three, one nature, one kingdom, one power, one glory, one +substance, distinct in persons, and so only distinct. One is the +Father, whose property it is not to have been begotten; one is +the only-begotten Son, and his property it is to have been +begotten; and one is the Holy Ghost, and his property it is that +he proceedeth. Thus illuminated by that light, which is the +Father, with that light, which is the Son, in that light, which +is the Holy Ghost, we glorify one Godhead in three persons. And +he is one very and only God, known in the Trinity: for of him and +through him, and unto him are all things. + +"By his grace also, I came to know thy ease, and was sent to +teach thee the lessons that I have learned and observed from my +youth even to these grey hairs. If then thou shalt believe and +be baptized, thou shalt be saved; but if thou believe not, thou +shalt be damned. All the things that thou seest to-day, wherein +thou gloriest, -- pomp, luxury, riches, and all the deceitfulness +of life, -- quickly pass away; and they shall cast thee hence +whether thou wilt or no. And thy body will be imprisoned in a +tiny grave, left in utter loneliness, and bereft of all company +of kith and kin. And all the pleasant things of the world shall +perish; and instead of the beauty and fragrance of to-day, thou +shalt be encompassed with horror and the stink of corruption. +But thy soul shall they hurl into the nether-regions of the +earth, into the condemnation of Hades, until the final +resurrection, when re-united to her body, she shall be cast forth +from the presence of the Lord and be delivered to hell fire, +which burneth everlastingly. These, and far worse haps than +these, shall be thy destiny, if thou continue in unbelief. + +"But and if thou readily obey him that calleth thee to salvation, +and if thou run unto him with desire and joy, and be signed with +his light, and follow him without turn, renouncing every thing, +and cleaving only unto him, hear what manner of security and +happiness shall be thine. `When thou sittest down, thou shall +not be afraid of sudden fear. When thou liest down, sweet shall +be thy sleep.' And thou shalt not be afraid of terror coming or +the assaults of evil spirits, but shalt go thy way bold as any +lion, and shalt live in bliss and everlasting joyaunce. For joy +and praise shall crown thy head, and gladness shall befall thee +there, where pain and sorrow and wailing shall flee away.' `Then +shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health +shall rise speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee, +and the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.' Then shalt thou +call, and the Lord shall answer; while thou art yet speaking, he +shall say, `Here am I.' `I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy +transgressions, and will not remember them. Put me in +remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou thy sins that +thou mayst be justified.' `Though thy sins be as scarlet, I will +make them white as snow: though they be red as crimson I will +make them white as wool, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken +it.'" + + +XI. + +Ioasaph said unto him, "All thy words are fair and wonderful, +and, while thou spakest, I believed them and still believe them; +and I hate all idolatry with all my heart. And indeed, even +before thy coming hither, my soul was, in uncertain fashion, +doubtful of it. But now I hate it with a perfect hatred, since I +have learned from thy lips the vanity thereof, and the folly of +those who worship idols; and I yearn to become the servant of the +true God, if haply he will not refuse me, that am unworthy by +reason of my sins, and I trust that he will forgive me +everything, because he is a lover of men, and compassionate, as +thou tellest me, and will count me worthy to become his servant. +So I am ready anon to receive baptism, and to observe all thy +sayings. But what must I do after baptism? And is this alone +sufficient for salvation, to believe and be baptized, or must one +add other services thereto?" + +Barlaam answered him, "Hear what thou must do after baptism. +Thou must abstain from all sin, and every evil affection, and +build upon the foundation of the Catholick Faith the practice of +the virtues; for faith without works is dead, as also are works +without faith. For, saith the Apostle, `Walk in the Spirit, and +ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.' Now the works of the +flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, +uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, +variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, +envyings, murders, love of money, railing, love of pleasure, +drunkenness, revelling, arrogance, and such like, of the which I +tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they +which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. But +the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, +gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, sanctification +of soul and body, lowliness of heart and contrition, almsgiving, +forgiveness of injuries, loving-kindness, watchings, perfect +repentance of all past offences, tears of compunction, sorrow for +our own sins and those of our neighbours, and the like. These, +even as steps and ladders that support one another and are +clinched together, conduct the soul to heaven. Lo, to these we +are commanded to cleave after baptism, and to abstain from their +contraries. + +"But if, after receiving the knowledge of the truth, we again lay +hold on dead works, and, like a dog, return to our vomit, it +shall happen unto us according to the word of the Lord; `for,' +saith he, `when the unclean spirit is gone out of a man' (to wit, +by the grace of baptism) `he walketh through dry places, seeking +rest, and finding none.' But enduring not for long to wander +homeless and hearthless, he saith, `I will return to my house +whence I came out.' And, when he cometh, he findeth it swept and +garnished, but empty and unoccupied, not having received the +operation of grace, nor having filled itself with the riches of +the virtues. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other +spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in and dwell +there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the +first.' For baptism burieth in the water and completely blotteth +out the hand-writing of all former sins, and is to us for the +future a sure fortress and tower of defence, and a strong weapon +against the marshalled host of the enemy; but it taketh not away +free will, nor alloweth the forgiving of sins after baptism, or +immersion in the font a second time. For it is one baptism that +we confess, and need is that we keep ourselves with all +watchfulness that so we fall not into defilement a second time, +but hold fast to the commandments of the Lord. For when he said +to the Apostles, `Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing +them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy +Ghost,' he did not stop there, but added, `teaching them to +observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.' + +"Now he commanded men to be poor in spirit, and such he calleth +blessed and worthy of the kingdom of heaven. Again he chargeth +us to mourn in the present life, that we may obtain comfort +hereafter, and to be meek, and to be ever hungering and thirsting +after righteousness: to be merciful, and ready to distribute, +pitiful and compassionate, pure in heart, abstaining from all +defilement of flesh and spirit, peacemakers with our neighbours +and with our own souls, by bringing the worse into subjection to +the better, and thus by a just decision making peace in that +continual warfare betwixt the twain; also to endure all +persecution and tribulation and reviling, inflicted upon us for +righteousness' sake in defence of his name, that we may obtain +everlasting felicity in the glorious distribution of his rewards. +Ay, and in this world he exhorteth us to let our `light so shine +before men, that they may see,' he saith, `your good works, and +glorify your Father which is in heaven.' + +"For the law of Moses, formerly given to the Israelites, saith, +'Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt +not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness:' but Christ saith +'Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in +danger of the judgement; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, +shall be in danger of hell fire:' and, `if thou bring thy gift to +the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught +against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy +way and first be reconciled to thy brother.' And he also saith, +'Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed +adultery with her in his heart.' And hereby he calleth the +defilement and consent of the affection adultery. Furthermore, +where the law forbade a man to forswear himself, Christ commanded +him to swear not at all beyond Yea and Nay. There we read, `Eye +for eye and tooth for tooth': here, `Whosoever shall smite thee +on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man +will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have +thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go +with him twain. Give to him that asketh time, and from him that +would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Love your enemies, +bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and +pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that +ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he +maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth +rain on the just and on the unjust. Judge not, that ye be not +judged. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Lay not up for +yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth +corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up +for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust +doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: +for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Take +no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall +drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on: for your +heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.' +He therefore that gave life and body will assuredly give food and +raiment: he that feedeth the fowls of the air and arrayeth with +such beauty the lilies of the field. `But, seek ye first,' saith +Christ, `the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these +things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for +the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of +itself. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should +do to you, do ye even so to them. Enter ye in at the strait +gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to +destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Strait and +narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that +find it. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall +enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of +my Father which is in heaven. He that 1oveth father or mother +more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son and +daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh +not up his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.' +Lo these and the like of these be the things which the Saviour +commanded his Apostles to teach the Faithful: and all these +things we are bound to observe, if we desire to attain to +perfection and receive the incorruptible crowns of righteousness, +which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give at that day unto +all them that have loved his appearing." + +Ioasaph said unto the elder, "Well then, as the strictness of +these doctrines demandeth such chaste conversation, if, after +baptism, I chance to fail in one or two of these commandments, +shall I therefore utterly miss the goal, and shall all my hope be +vain?" + +Barlaam answered, "Deem not so. God, the Word, made man for the +salvation of our race, aware of the exceeding frailty and misery +of our nature, hath not even here suffered our sickness to be +without remedy. But, like a skilful leech, he hath mixed for our +unsteady and sin-loving heart the potion of repentance, +prescribing this for the remission of sins. For after that we +have received the knowledge of the truth, and have been +sanctified by water and the Spirit, and cleansed without effort +from all sin and all defilement, if we should fortune to fall +into any transgression, there is, it is true, no second +regeneration made within us by the spirit through baptism in the +water of the font, and wholly re-creating us (that gift is given +once for all); but, by means of painful repentance, hot tears, +toils and sweats, there is a purifying and pardoning of our +offences through the tender mercy of our God. For the fount of +tears is also called baptism, according to the grace of the +Master, but it needeth labour and time; and many hath it saved +after many a fall; because there is no sin too great for the +clemency of God, if we be quick to repent, and purge the shame of +our offences, and death overtake us not, and depart us not from +this life still defiled; for in the grave there is no confession +nor repentance. But as long as we are `among the living, while +the foundation of our true faith continueth unshattered, even if +somewhat of the outer roof-work or inner building be disabled, it +is allowed to renew by repentance the part rotted by sins. It is +impossible to count the multitude of the mercies of God, or +measure the greatness of his compassion: whereas sins and +offences, of whatever kind, are subject to measure and may be +numbered. So our offences, being subject to measure and number, +cannot overcome the immeasurable compassion, and innumerable +mercies of God. + +"Wherefore we are commanded not to despair for our trespasses, +but to acknowledge the goodness of God, and condemn the sins +whereof forgiveness is offered us by reason of the loving- +kindness of Christ, who for our sins shed his precious blood. In +many places of Scripture we are taught the power of repentance, +and especially by the precepts and parables of our Lord Jesus +Christ. For it saith, `From that time began Jesus to preach and +to say, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."' +Moreover he setteth before us, in a parable, a certain son that +had received his father's substance, and taken his journey into a +far country, and there spent all in riotous living. Then, when +there arose a famine in that land, he went and joined himself to +one of the citizens of that land of iniquity, who sent him into +his fields to feed swine, -- thus doth he designate the most +coarse and loathsome sin. When, after much labour, he had come +to the utmost misery, and might not even fill his belly with the +husks that the swine did eat, at last he came to perceive his +shameful plight, and, bemoaning himself, said, `How many hired +servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I +perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will +say unto him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before +thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one +of thy hired servants."' And he arose, and came to his father. +But, when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had +compassion, and ran, and embraced him, and kissed him tenderly, +and, restoring him to his former rank, made a feast of joyaunce +because his son was found again, and killed the fatted calf. Lo, +this parable, that Jesus spake to us, concerneth such as turn +again from sin, and fall at his feet in repentance. Again, he +representeth a certain good shepherd that had an hundred sheep, +and, when one was lost, left the ninety and nine, and went forth +to seek that which was gone astray, until he found it: and he +laid it on his shoulders, and folded it with those that had not +gone astray, and called together his friends and neighbours to a +banquet, because that it was found. `Likewise,' saith the +Saviour, `joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, +more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no +repentance.' + +"And, in sooth, even the chief of the disciples, Peter, the Rock +of the Faith, in the very season of the Saviour's Passion, +failing for a little while in his stewardship, that he might +understand the worthlessness and misery of human frailty, fell +under the guilt of denial. Then he straightway remembered the +Lord's words, and went out and wept bitterly, and with those hot +tears made good his defeat, and transferred the victory to his +own side. Like a skilful man of war, though fallen, he was not +undone, nor did he despair, but, springing to his feet, he +brought up, as a reserve, bitter tears from the agony of his +soul; and straightway, when the enemy saw that sight, like a man +whose eyes are scorched with a fierce flame, he leaped off and +fled afar, howling horribly. So the chief became chief again, as +he had before been chosen teacher of the whole world, being now +become its pattern of penitence. And after his holy resurrection +Christ made good this three-fold denial with the three-fold +question, `Peter, lovest thou me?', the Apostle answering, `Yea, +Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.' + +"So from all these and many other examples beyond count we learn +the virtue of tears and repentance. Only the manner thereof must +be noted it must arise from a heart that abominateth sin and +weepeth, as saith the prophet David, `I am weary of my groaning: +every night will I wash my bed and water my couch with my tears.' +Again the cleansing of sins will be wrought by the blood of +Christ, in the greatness of his compassion and the multitude of +the mercies of that God who saith, `Though your sins be as +scarlet, I will make them white as snow,' and so forth. + +"Thus therefore it is, and thus we believe. But after receiving +the knowledge of the truth and winning regeneration and adoption +as sons, and tasting of the divine mysteries, we must strive hard +to keep our feet lest we fall. For to fall becometh not the +athlete, since many have fallen and been unable to rise. Some, +opening a door to sinful lusts, and clinging obstinately to them, +have no more had strength to hasten back to repentance; and +others, being untimely snatched by death, and having not made +speed enough to wash them from the pollution of their sin, have +been damned. And for this cause it is parlous to fall into any +kind of sinful affection whatsoever. But if any man fall, he +must at once leap up, and stand again to fight the good fight: +and, as often as there cometh a fall, so often must there at once +ensue this rising and standing, unto the end. For, `Turn ye unto +me, and I will turn unto you,' saith the Lord God." + + +XII. + +To this said Ioasaph, "But how, after baptism, shall a man keep +himself clear from all sin? For even if there be, as thou +sayest, repentance for them that stumble, yet it is attended with +toil and trouble, with weeping and mourning; things which, +methinks, are not easy for the many to accomplish. But I desired +rather to find a way to keep strictly the commandments of God, +and not swerve from them, and, after his pardoning of my past +misdeeds, never again to provoke that most sweet God and Master." + +Barlaam answered, "Well said, my lord and king. That also is my +desire; but it is hard, nay quite impossible, for a man living +with fire not to be blackened with smoke: for it is an uphill +task, and one not easy of accomplishment, for a man that is tied +to the matters of this life and busied with its cares and +troubles, and liveth in riches and luxury, to walk unswervingly +in the way of the commandments of the Lord, and to preserve his +life pure of these evils. `For,' saith the Lord, `no man can +serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the +other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye +cannot serve God and Mammon.' So also writeth the beloved +Evangelist and Divine in his Epistle, thus saying, `Love not the +world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love +the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is +in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, +and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. +And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that +doeth the will of God abideth for ever.' + +"These things were well understood by our holy and inspired +fathers; and mindful of the Apostle's word that we must through +much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, they strove, +after holy baptism, to keep their garment of immortality spotless +and undefiled. Whence some of them also thought fit to receive +yet another baptism; I mean that which is by blood and martyrdom. +For this too is called baptism, the most honourable, and reverend +of all, inasmuch as its waters are not polluted by fresh sin; +which also our Lord underwent for our sakes, and rightly called +it baptism. So as imitators and followers of him, first his +eyewitness, disciples, and Apostles, and then the whole band of +holy martyrs yielded themselves, for the name of Christ, to kings +and tyrants that worshipped idols, and endured every form of +torment, being exposed to wild beasts, fire and sword, confessing +the good confession, running the course and keeping the faith. +Thus they gained the prizes of righteousness, and became the +companions of Angels, and fellow-heirs with Christ. Their virtue +shone so bright that their sound went out into all lands, and the +splendour of their good deeds flashed like lightning into the +ends of the earth. Of these men, not only the words and works, +but even the very blood and bones are full of all sanctity, +mightily casting out devils, and giving to such as touch them in +faith the healing of incurable diseases: yea, and even their +garments, and anything else that hath been brought near their +honoured bodies, are always worthy of the reverence of all +creation. And it were a long tale to tell one by one their deeds +of prowess. + +"But when those cruel and brutal tyrants brought their miserable +lives to a miserable end, and persecution ceased, and Christian +kings ruled throughout the world, then others too in succession +emulated the Martyrs' zeal and divine desire, and, wounded at +heart with the same love, considered well how they might present +soul and body without blemish unto God, by cutting off all the +workings of sinful lusts and purifying themselves of every +defilement of flesh and spirit. But, as they perceived that this +could only be accomplished by the keeping of the commandments of +Christ, and that the keeping of his commandments and the practice +of the virtues was difficult to attain in the midst of the +turmoils of the world, they adopted for themselves a strange and +changed manner of life, and, obedient to the voice divine, +forsook all, parents, children, friends, kinsfolk, riches and +luxury, and, hating everything in the world, withdrew, as exiles, +into the deserts, being destitute, afflicted, evil entreated, +wandering in wildernesses and mountains, and in dens and caves of +the earth, self-banished from all the pleasures and delights upon +earth, and standing in sore need even of bread and shelter. This +they did for two causes: firstly, that never seeing the objects +of sinful lust, they might pluck such desires by the root out of +their soul, and blot out the memory thereof, and plant within +themselves the love and desire of divine and heavenly things: and +secondly, that, by exhausting the flesh by austerities, and +becoming Martyrs in will, they might not miss the glory of them +that were made perfect by blood, but might be themselves, in +their degree, imitators of the sufferings of Christ, and become +partakers of the kingdom that hath no end. Having then come to +this wise resolve, they adopted the quiet of monastic life, some +facing the rigours of the open air, and braving the blaze of the +scorching heat and fierce frosts and rain-storms and tempestuous +winds, others spending their lives in the hovels which they had +builded them, or in the hiding of holes and caverns. Thus, in +pursuit of virtue, they utterly denied themselves all fleshly +comfort and repose, submitting to a diet of uncooked herbs and +worts, or acorns, or hard dry bread, not merely saying good-bye +to delights in their quality, but, in very excess of temperance, +extending their zeal to limit even the quantity of enjoyment. +For even of those common and necessary meats they took only so +much as was sufficient to sustain life. Some of them continued +fasting the whole week, and partook of victuals only of a Sunday: +others thought of food twice only in the week: others ate every +other day, or daily at eventide, that is, took but a taste of +food. In prayers and watchings they almost rivalled the life of +Angels, bidding a long farewell to the possession of gold and +silver, and quite forgetting that buyings and sellings are +concerns of men. + +"But envy and pride, the evils most prone to follow good works, +had no place amongst them. He that was weaker in ascetic +exercises entertained no thought of malice against him of +brighter example. Nor again was he, that had accomplished great +feats, deceived and puffed up by arrogance to despise his weaker +brethren, or set at nought his neighbour, or boast of his +rigours, or glory in his achievements. He that excelled in +virtue ascribed nothing to his own labours, but all to the power +of God, in humility of mind persuading himself that his labours +were nought and that he was debtor even for more, as saith the +Lord, `When ye shall have done all those things which are +commanded you, say, "We are unprofitable servants: we have done +that which was our duty to do."' Others again persuaded +themselves that they had not done even the things which they were +commanded to do, but that the things left undone outnumbered the +things already well done. Again, he that was far behind in +austerity, perchance through bodily weakness, would disparage and +blame himself, attributing his failure to slothfulness of mind +rather than to natural frailty. So each excelled each, and all +excelled all in this sweet reasonableness. But the spirit of +vain glory and pleasing of men -- what place had it among them? +For they had fled from the world, and were dwelling in the +desert, to the end that they might show their virtues not to men, +but to God, from whom also they hope to receive the rewards of +their good deeds, well aware that religious exercises performed +for vain glory go without recompense; for these are done for the +praise of men and not for God. Whence all that do thus are +doubly defrauded: they waste their body, and receive no reward. +But they who yearn for glory above, and strive thereafter, +despise all earthly and human glory. + +"As to their dwellings, some monks finish the contest in utter +retirement and solitude, having removed themselves far from the +haunts of men throughout the whole of their earthly life-time, +and having drawn nigh to God. Others build their homes at a +distance one from another, but meet on the Lord's Day at one +Church, and communicate of the Holy Mysteries, I mean the +unbloody Sacrifice of the undefiled Body and precious Blood of +Christ, which the Lord gave to the Faithful for the remission of +sins, for the enlightenment and sanctification of soul and body. +They entertain one another with the exercises of the divine +Oracles and moral exhortations, and make public the secret wiles +of their adversaries, that none, through ignorance of the manner +of wrestling, may be caught thus. Then turn they again, each to +his own home, eagerly storing the honey of virtue in the cells of +their hearts, and husbanding sweet fruits worthy of the heavenly +board. + +"Others again spend their life in monasteries. These gather in +multitudes in one spot, and range themselves under one superior +and president, the best of their number, slaying all self-will +with the sword of obedience. Of their own free choice they +consider themselves as slaves bought at a price, and no longer +live for themselves, but for him, to whom, for Christ his sake, +they have become obedient; or rather, to speak more properly, +they live no more for themselves, but Christ liveth in them, whom +to follow, they renounce all. This is retirement, a voluntary +hatred of the world, and denial of nature by desire of things +above nature. These men therefore live the lives of Angels on +earth, chanting psalms and hymns with one consent unto the Lord, +and purchasing for themselves the title of Confessors by labours +of obedience. And in them is fulfilled the word of the Lord, +when he saith, `Where two or three are gathered together in my +name, there am I in the midst of them.' By this number he +limiteth not the gathering together in his name, but by `two or +three' signifieth that the number is indefinite. For, whether +there be many, or few, gathered together because of his holy +name, serving him with fervent zeal, there we believe him to be +present in the midst of his servants. + +"By these ensamples and such like assemblies men of earth and +clay imitate the life of heavenly beings, in fastings and prayers +and watchings, in hot tears and sober sorrow, as soldiers in the +field with death before their eyes, in meekness and gentleness, +in silence of the lips, in poverty and want, in chastity and +temperance, in humbleness and quietude of mind, in perfect +charity toward God and their neighbour, carrying their present +life down to the grave, and becoming Angels in their ways. +Wherefore God hath graced them with miracles, signs and various +virtues and made the voice of their marvellous life to be sounded +forth to the ends of the world. If I open my mouth to declare in +every point the life of one of them who is said to have been the +founder of the monastic life, Antony by name, by this one tree +thou shalt assuredly know the sweet fruits of other trees of the +like kind and form, and shalt know what a foundation of religious +life that great man laid, and what a roof he built, and what +gifts he merited to receive from the Saviour. After him many +fought the like fight and won like crowns and guerdons. + +"Blessed, yea, thrice blessed, are they that have loved God, and, +for his love's sake, have counted every thing as nothing worth. +For they wept and mourned, day and night, that they might gain +everlasting comfort: they humbled themselves willingly, that +there they might be exalted: they afflicted the flesh with hunger +and thirst and vigil, that there they might come to the pleasures +and joys of Paradise. By their purity of heart they became a +tabernacle of the Holy Ghost, as it is written, `I will dwell in +them and walk in them.' They crucified themselves unto the +world, that they might stand at the right hand of the Crucified: +they girt their loins with truth, and alway had their lamps +ready, looking for the coming of the immortal bridegroom. The +eye of their mind being enlightened, they continually looked +forward to that awful hour, and kept the contemplation of future +happiness and everlasting punishment immovable from their hearts, +and pained themselves to labour, that they might not lose eternal +glory. They became passionless as the Angels, and now they weave +the dance in their fellowship, whose lives also they imitated. +Blessed, yea, thrice blessed are they, because with sure +spiritual vision they discerned the vanity of this present world +and the uncertainty and inconstancy of mortal fortune, and cast +it aside, and laid up for themselves everlasting blessings, and +laid hold of that life which never faileth, nor is broken by +death. + +"These then are the marvellous holy men whose examples we, that +are poor and vile, strive to imitate, but cannot attain to the +high level of the life of these heavenly citizens. Nevertheless, +so far as is possible for our weakness and feeble power, we take +the stamp of their lives, and wear their habit: even though we +fail to equal their works; for we are assured that this holy +profession is a means to perfection and an aid to the +incorruption given us by holy baptism. So, following the +teachings of these blessed Saints, we utterly renounce these +corruptible and perishable things of life, wherein may be found +nothing stable or constant, or that continueth in one stay; but +all things are vanity and vexation of spirit, and many are the +changes that they bring in a moment; for they are slighter than +dreams and a shadow, or the breeze that bloweth the air. Small +and short-lived is their charm, that is after all no charm, but +illusion and deception of the wickedness of the world; which +world we have been taught to love not at all, but rather to hate +with all our heart. Yea, and verily it is worthy of hatred and +abhorrence; for whatsoever gifts it giveth to its friends, these +in turn in passion it taketh away, and shall hand over its +victims, stripped of all good things, clad in the garment of +shame, and bound under heavy burdens, to eternal tribulation. +And those again whom it exalteth, it quickly abaseth to the +utmost wretchedness, making them a foot-stool and a laughing +stock for their enemies. Such are its charms, such its bounties. +For it is an enemy of its friends, and traitor to such as carry +out its wishes: dasheth to dire destruction all them that lean +upon it, and enervateth those that put their trust therein. It +maketh covenants with fools and fair false promises, only that it +may allure them to itself. But, as they have dealt +treacherously, it proveth itself treacherous and false in +fulfilling none of its pledges. To-day it tickleth their gullet +with pleasant dainties; to-morrow it maketh them nought but a +gobbet for their enemies. To-day it maketh a man a king: +to-morrow it delivereth him into bitter servitude. To-day its +thrall is fattening on a thousand good things; to-morrow he is a +beggar, and drudge of drudges. To-day it placeth on his head a +crown of glory; to-morrow it dasheth his face upon the ground. +To-day it adorneth his neck with brilliant badges of dignity; +to-morrow it humbleth him with a collar of iron. For a little +while it causeth him to be the desire of all men; but after a +time it maketh him their hate and abomination. To-day it +gladdeneth him: but to-morrow it weareth him to a shadow with +lamentations and wailings. What is the end thereof, thou shalt +hear. Ruthlessly it bringeth its former lovers to dwell in hell. +Such is ever its mind, such its purposes. It lamenteth not its +departed, nor pitieth the survivor. For after that it hath +cruelly duped and entangled in its meshes the one party, it +immediately transferreth the resources of its ingenuity against +the other, not willing that any should escape its cruel snares, + +"These men that have foolishly alienated themselves from a good +and kind master, to seek the service of so harsh and savage a +lord, that are all agog for present joys and are glued thereto, +that take never a thought for the future, that always grasp after +bodily enjoyments, but suffer their souls to waste with hunger, +and to be worn with myriad ills, these I consider to be like a +man flying before the face of a rampant unicorn, who, unable to +endure the sound of the beast's cry, and its terrible bellowing, +to avoid being devoured, ran away at full speed. But while he +ran hastily, he fell into a great pit; and as he fell, he +stretched forth his hands, and laid hold on a tree, to which he +held tightly. There he established some sort of foot-hold and +thought himself from that moment in peace and safety. But he +looked and descried two mice, the one white, the other black, +that never ceased to gnaw the root of the tree whereon he hung, +and were all but on the point of severing it. Then he looked +down to the bottom of the pit and espied below a dragon, +breathing fire, fearful for eye to see, exceeding fierce and +grim, with terrible wide jaws, all agape to swallow him. Again +looking closely at the ledge whereon his feet rested, he +discerned four heads of asps projecting from the wall whereon he +was perched. Then he lift up his eyes and saw that from the +branches of the tree there dropped a little honey. And thereat +he ceased to think of the troubles whereby he was surrounded; +how, outside, the unicorn was madly raging to devour him: how, +below, the fierce dragon was yawning to swallow him: how the +tree, which he had clutched, was all but severed; and how his +feet rested on slippery, treacherous ground. Yea, he forgat, +without care, all those sights of awe and terror, and his whole +mind hung on the sweetness of that tiny drop of honey. + +"This is the likeness of those who cleave to the deceitfulness of +this present life, -- the interpretation whereof I will declare +to thee anon. The unicorn is the type of death, ever in eager +pursuit to overtake the race of Adam. The pit is the world, full +of all manner of ills and deadly snares. The tree, which was +being continually fretted by the two mice, to which the man +clung, is the course of every man's life, that spendeth and +consuming itself hour by hour, day and night, and gradually +draweth nigh its severance. The fourfold asps signify the +structure of man's body upon four treacherous and unstable +elements which, being disordered and disturbed, bring that body +to destruction. Furthermore, the fiery cruel dragon betokeneth +the maw of hell that is hungry to receive those who choose +present pleasures rather than future blessings. The dropping of +honey denoteth the sweetness of the delights of the world, +whereby it deceiveth its own friends, nor suffereth them to take +timely thought for their salvation." + + +XIII. + +Ioasaph received this parable with great joy and said, "How true +this story is, and most apt! Grudge not, then, to shew me other +such like figures, that I may know for certain what the manner of +our life is, and what it hath in store for its friends." + +The elder answered, "Again, those who are enamoured of the +pleasures of life, and glamoured by the sweetness thereof, who +prefer fleeting and paltry objects to those which are future and +stable, are like a certain man who had three friends. On the +first two of these he was extravagantly lavish of his honours, +and clave passionately to their love, fighting to the death and +deliberately hazarding his life for their sakes. But to the +third he bore himself right arrogantly, never once granting him +the honour nor the love that was his due, but only making show of +some slight and inconsiderable regard for him. Now one day he +was apprehended by certain dread and strange soldiers, that made +speed to hale him to the king, there to render account for a debt +of ten thousand talents. Being in a great strait, this debtor +sought for a helper, able to take his part in this terrible +reckoning with the king. So he ran to his first and truest +friend of all, and said, `Thou wottest, friend, that I ever +jeopardied my life for thy sake. Now to-day I require help in a +necessity that presseth me sore. In how many talents wilt thou +undertake to assist me now? What is the hope that I may count +upon at thy hands, O my dearest friend?' The other answered and +said unto him, `Man, I am not thy friend: I know not who thou +art. Other friends I have, with whom I must needs make merry +to-day, and so win their friendship for the time to come. But, +see, I present thee with two ragged garments, that thou mayest +have them on the way whereon thou goest, though they will do thee +no manner of good. Further help from me thou mayest expect +none.' The other, hearing this, despaired of the succour whereon +he had reckoned, and went to his second friend, saying, `Friend, +thou rememberest how much honour and kindness thou hast enjoyed +at my hands. To-day I have fallen into tribulation and sorrow, +and need a helping hand. To what extent then canst thou share my +labour? Tell me at once.' Said he, `I have on leisure today to +share thy troubles. I too have fallen among cares and perils, +and am myself in tribulation. Howbeit, I will go a little way +with thee, even if I shall fail to be of service to thee. Then +will I turn quickly homeward, and busy myself with mine own +anxieties.' So the man returned from him too empty-handed and +baulked at every turn; and he cried misery on himself for his +vain hope in those ungrateful friends, and the unavailing +hardships that he had endured through love of them. At the last +he went away to the third friend, whom he had never courted, nor +invited to share his happiness. With countenance ashamed and +downcast, he said unto him, `I can scarce open my lips to speak +with thee, knowing full well that I have never done thee service, +or shown thee any kindness that thou mightest now remember. But +seeing that a heavy misfortune hath overtaken me, and that I have +found nowhere among my friends any hope of deliverance, I address +myself to thee, praying thee, if it lie in thy power, to afford +me some little aid. Bear no grudge for my past unkindness, and +refuse me not.' The other with a smiling and gracious +countenance answered, `Assuredly I own thee my very true friend. +I have not forgotten those slight services of thine: and I will +repay them to-day with interest. Fear not therefore, neither be +afraid. I will go before thee and entreat the king for thee, and +will by no means deliver thee into the hands of thine enemies. +Wherefore be of good courage, dear friend, and fret not thyself.' +Then, pricked at heart, the other said with tears, `Wo is me! +Which shall I first lament, or which first deplore? Condemn my +vain preference for my forgetful, thankless and false friends, or +blame the mad ingratitude that I have shown to thee, the sincere +and true?'" + +Ioasaph heard this tale also with amazement and asked the +interpretation thereof. Then said Barlaam, "The first friend is +the abundance of riches, and love of money, by reason of which a +man falleth into the midst of ten thousand perils, and endureth +many miseries: but when at last the appointed day of death is +come, of all these things he carrieth away nothing but the +useless burial cloths. By the second friend is signified our +wife and children and the remnant of kinsfolk and acquaintance, +to whom we are passionately attached, and from whom with +difficulty we tear ourselves away, neglecting our very soul and +body for the love of them. But no help did man ever derive from +these in the hour of death, save only that they will accompany +and follow him to the sepulchre, and then straightway turning +them homeward again they are occupied with their own cares and +matters, and bury his memory in oblivion as they have buried his +body in the grave. But the third friend, that was altogether +neglected and held cheap, whom the man never approached, but +rather shunned and fled in horror, is the company of good deeds, +-- faith, hope, charity, alms, kindliness, and the whole band of +virtues, that can go before us, when we quit the body, and may +plead with the Lord on our behalf, and deliver us from our +enemies and dread creditors, who urge that strict rendering of +account in the air, and try bitterly to get the mastery of us. +This is the grateful and true friend, who beareth in mind those +small kindnesses that we have shown him and repayeth the whole +with interest." + + +XIV. + +Again said Ioasaph, "The Lord God prosper thee, O thou Wisest of +men! For thou hast gladdened my soul with thine apt and +excellent sayings. Wherefore sketch me yet another picture of +the vanity of the world, and how a man may pass through it in +peace and safety." + +Barlaam took up his parable and said, "Hear then a similitude of +this matter too. I once heard tell of a great city whose +citizens had, from old time, the custom of taking some foreigner +and stranger, who knew nothing of their laws and traditions, and +of making him their king, to enjoy absolute power, and follow his +own will and pleasure without hindrance, until the completion of +a year. Then suddenly, while he was living with never a care in +rioting and wantonness, without fear, and alway supposing that +his reign would only terminate with his life, they would rise up +against him, strip him bare of his royal robes, lead him in +triumph up and down the city, and thence dispatch him beyond +their borders into a distant great island; there, for lack of +food and raiment, in hunger and nakedness he would waste +miserably away, the luxury and pleasure so unexpectedly showered +upon him changed as unexpectedly into woe. In accordance +therefore with the unbroken custom of these citizens, a certain +man was ordained to the kingship. But his mind was fertile of +understanding, and he was not carried away by this sudden access +of prosperity, nor did he emulate the heedlessness of the kings +that had gone before him, and had been miserably expelled, but +his soul was plunged in care and trouble how he might order his +affairs well. After long and careful search, he learned from a +wise counsellor the custom of the citizens, and the place of +perpetual banishment, and was taught of him without guile how to +ensure himself against this fate. So with this knowledge that +within a very little while he must reach that island and leave to +strangers this chance kingdom among strangers, he opened the +treasures whereof he had awhile absolute and unforbidden use, and +took a great store of money and huge masses of gold and silver +and precious stones and delivered the same to trusty servants and +sent them before him to the island whither he was bound. When +the appointed year came to an end, the citizens rose against him, +and sent him naked into banishment like those that went before +him. But while the rest of these foolish kings, kings only for a +season, were sore anhungred, he, that had timely deposited his +wealth, passed his time in continual plenty mid dainties free of +expense, and, rid of all fear of those mutinous and evil +citizens, could count himself happy on his wise forethought. + +"Understand thou, therefore, that the city is this vain and +deceitful world; that the citizens are the principalities and +powers of the devils, the rulers of the darkness of this world, +who entice us by the soft bait of pleasure, and counsel us to +consider corruptible and perishable things as incorruptible, as +though the enjoyment that cometh from them were co-existent with +us, and immortal as we. Thus then are we deceived; we have taken +no thought concerning the things which are abiding and eternal, +and have laid up in store for ourselves no treasure for that life +beyond, when of a sudden there standeth over us the doom of +death. Then, then at last do those evil and cruel citizens of +darkness, that received us, dispatch us stript of all worldly +goods, -- for all our time has been wasted on their service -- +and carry us off `to a dark land and a gloomy, to a land of +eternal darkness, where there is no light, nor can one behold the +life of men.' As for that good counsellor, who made known all +the truth and taught that sagacious and wise king the way of +salvation, understand thou that I, thy poor and humble servant, +am he, who am come hither for to shew thee the good and +infallible way to lead thee to things eternal and unending, and +to counsel thee to lay up all thy treasure there; and I am come +to lead thee away from the error of this world, which, to my woe, +I also loved, and clave to its pleasures and delights. But, when +I perceived, with the unerring eyes of my mind how all human life +is wasted in these things that come and go; when I saw that no +man hath aught that is stable and steadfast, neither the rich in +his wealth, nor the mighty in his strength, nor the wise in his +wisdom, nor the prosperous in his prosperity, nor the luxurious +in his wantonness, nor he that dreameth of security of life in +that vain and feeble security of his dreams, nor any man in any +of those things that men on earth commend ('tis like the +boundless rush of torrents that discharge themselves into the +deep sea, thus fleeting and temporary are all present things); +then, I say, I understood that all such things are vanity, and +that their enjoyment is naught; and, that even as the past is all +buried in oblivion, be it past glory, or past kingship, or the +splendour of rank, or amplitude of power, or arrogance of +tyranny, or aught else like them, so also present things will +vanish in the darkness of the days to come. And, as I am myself +of the present, I also shall doubtless be subject to its +accustomed change; and, even as my fathers before me were not +allowed to take delight for ever in the present world, so also +shall it be with me. For I have observed how this tyrannical and +troublesome world treateth mankind, shifting men hither and +thither, from wealth to poverty, and from poverty to honour, +carrying some out of life and bringing others in, rejecting some +that are wise and understanding, making the honourable and +illustrious dishonoured and despised, but seating others who are +unwise and of no understanding upon a throne of honour, and +making the dishonoured and obscure to be honoured of all. + +"One may see how the race of mankind may never abide before the +face of the cruel tyranny of the world. But, as when a dove +fleeing from an eagle or a hawk flitteth from place to place, now +beating against this tree, now against that bush, and then anon +against the clefts of the rocks and all manner of bramble-thorns, +and, nowhere finding any safe place of refuge, is wearied with +continual tossing and crossing to and fro, so are they which are +flustered by the present world. They labour painfully under +unreasoning impulse, on no sure or firm bases: they know not to +what goal they are driving, nor whither this vain life leadeth +them this vain life, whereto they have in miserable folly +subjected themselves, choosing evil instead of good, and pursuing +vice instead of goodness; and they know not who shall inherit the +cold fruits of their many heavy labours, whether it be a kinsman +or a stranger, and, as oft times it haps, not even a friend or +acquaintance at all, but an enemy and foeman. + +"On all these things, and others akin to them, I held judgement +in the tribunal of my soul, and I came to hate my whole life that +had been wasted in these vanities, while I still lived engrossed +in earthly things. But when I had put off from my soul the lust +thereof, and cast it from me, then was there revealed unto me the +true good, to fear God and do his will; for this I saw to be the +sum of all good. This also is called the beginning of wisdom, +and perfect wisdom. For life is without pain and reproach to +those that hold by her, and safe to those who lean upon her as +upon the Lord. So, when I had set my reason on the unerring way +of the commandments of the Lord, and had surely learned that +there is nothing froward or perverse therein, and that it is not +full of chasms and rocks, nor of thorns and thistles, but lieth +altogether smooth and even, rejoicing the eyes of the traveller +with the brightest sights, making beautiful his feet, and shoeing +them with `the preparation of the Gospel of peace,' that he may +walk safely and without delay, this way, then, I rightly chose +above all others, and began to rebuild my soul's habitation, +which had fallen into ruin and decay. + +"In such wise was I devising mine estate, and establishing mine +unstable mind, when I heard the words of a wise teacher calling +loudly to me thus, `Come ye out,' said he, `all ye that will to +be saved. Be ye separate from the vanity of the world, for the +fashion thereof quickly passeth away, and behold it shall not be. +Come ye out, without turning back, not for nothing and without +reward, but winning supplies for travelling to life eternal, for +ye are like to journey a long road, needing much supplies from +hence, and ye shall arrive at the place eternal that hath two +regions, wherein are many mansions; one of which places God hath +prepared for them that love him and keep his commandments, full +of all manner of good things; and they that attain thereto shall +live for ever in incorruption, enjoying immortality without +death, where pain and sorrow and sighing are fled away. But the +other place is full of darkness and tribulation and pain, +prepared for the devil and his angels, wherein also shall be cast +they who by evil deeds have deserved it, who have bartered the +incorruptible and eternal for the present world, and have made +themselves fuel for eternal fire.' + +"When I heard this voice, and recognized the truth, I did my +diligence to attain to that abode, that is free from all pain and +sorrow, and full of security and all good things, whereof I have +knowledge now only in part, being but a babe in my spiritual +life, and seeing the sights yonder as through mirrors and +riddles; but when that which is perfect is come, and I shall see +face to face, then that which is in part shall be done away. +Wherefore I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord; for the law +of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the +law of sin and of death, and hath opened mine eyes to see clearly +that the will of the flesh is death, but the will of the Spirit +is life and peace. And even as I did discern the vanity of +present things and hate them with a perfect hatred, so likewise I +counsel thee to decide thereon, that thou mayest treat them as +something alien and quickly passing away, and mayest remove all +thy store from earth and lay up for thyself in the incorruptible +world a treasure that can not be stolen, wealth inexhaustible, in +that place whither thou must shortly fare, that when thou comest +thither thou mayest not be destitute, but be laden with riches, +after the manner of that aptest of parables that I lately showed +thee." + + +XV. + +Said Ioasaph unto the elder, "How then shall I be able to send +before me thither treasures of money and riches, that, when I +depart hence, I may find these unharmed and unwasted for my +enjoyment? How must I show my hatred for things present and lay +hold on things eternal? This make thou right plain unto me." +Quoth Barlaam, "The sending before thee of money to that eternal +home is wrought by the hands of the poor. For thus saith one of +the prophets, Daniel the wise, unto the king of Babylon, +'Wherefore, O Prince, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and +redeem thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing +mercy to the poor.' The Saviour also saith, `Make to yourselves +friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, +they may receive you into everlasting habitations.' And, in +divers places, the Master maketh much mention of almsgiving and +liberality to the poor, as we learn in the Gospel. Thus shalt +thou most surely send all thy treasure before thee by the hands +of the needy, for whatsoever thou shalt do unto these the Master +counteth done unto himself, and will reward thee manifold; for, +in the recompense of benefits, he ever surpasseth them that love +him. So in this manner by seizing for awhile the treasures of +the darkness of this world, in whose slavery for a long time past +thou hast been miserable, thou shalt by these means make good +provision for thy journey, and by plundering another's goods thou +shalt store all up for thyself, with things fleeting and +transient purchasing for thyself things that are stable and +enduring. Afterwards, God working with thee, thou shalt perceive +the uncertainty and inconstancy of the world, and saying farewell +to all, shalt remove thy barque to anchor in the future, and, +passing by the things that pass away, thou shalt hold to the +things that we look for, the things that abide. Thou shalt +depart from darkness and the shadow of death, and hate the world +and the ruler of the world; and, counting thy perishable flesh +thine enemy, thou shalt run toward the light that is +unapproachable, and taking the Cross on thy shoulders, shalt +follow Christ without looking back, that thou mayest also be +glorified with him, and be made inheritor of the life that never +changeth nor deceiveth." + +Ioasaph said, "When thou spakest a minute past of despising all +things, and taking up such a life of toil, was that an old +tradition handed down from the teaching of the Apostles, or is +this a late invention of your wits, which ye have chosen for +yourselves as a more excellent way?" + +The elder answered and said, "I teach thee no law introduced but +yesterday, God forbid! but one given unto us of old. For when a +certain rich young man asked the Lord, `What shall I do to +inherit eternal life?' and boasted that he had observed all that +was written in the Law, Jesus said unto him, `One thing thou +lackest yet. Go sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the +poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up +thy cross and follow me. But when the young man heard this he +was very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw +that he was very sorrowful, he said, `How hardly shall they which +have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for +a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to +enter into the kingdom of God!' So, when all the Saints heard +this command, they thought fit by all means to withdraw from this +hardness of riches. They parted with all their goods, and by +this distribution of their riches to the poor laid up for +themselves eternal riches; and they took up their Cross and +followed Christ, some being made perfect by martyrdom, even as I +have already told thee; and some by the practice of self-denial +falling not a whit short of those others in the life of the true +philosophy. Know thou, then, that this is a command of Christ +our King and God, which leadeth us from things corruptible and +maketh us partakers of things everlasting." + +Said Ioasaph, "If, then, this kind of philosophy be so ancient +and so salutary, how cometh it that so few folk now-a-days follow +it?" + +The elder answered, "Many have followed, and do follow it; but +the greatest part hesitate and draw back. For few, saith the +Lord, are the travellers along the strait and narrow way, but +along the wide and broad way many. For they that have once been +taken prisoners by the love of money, and the evils that come +from the love of pleasure, and are given up to idle and vain +glory, are hardly to be torn therefrom, seeing that they have of +their own free will sold themselves as slaves to a strange +master, and setting themselves on the opposite side to God, who +gave these commands, are held in bondage to that other. For the +soul that hath once rejected her own salvation, and given the +reins to unreasonable lusts, is carried about hither and thither. +Therefore saith the prophet, mourning the folly that encompasseth +such souls, and lamenting the thick darkness that lieth on them, +'O ye sons of men, how long will ye be of heavy heart? Why love +ye vanity, and seek after leasing?' And in the same tone as he, +but adding thereto some thing of his own, one of our wise +teachers, a most excellent divine, crieth aloud to all, as from +some exceeding high place of vantage, `O ye sons of men, how long +will ye be of heavy heart? Why love ye vanity and seek after +leasing? Trow ye that this present life, and luxury, and these +shreds of glory, and petty lordship and false prosperity are any +great thing?' -- things which no more belong to those that +possess them than to them that hope for them, nor to these latter +any more than to those who never thought of them: things like the +dust carried and whirled about to and fro by the tempest, or +vanishing as the smoke, or delusive as a dream, or intangible as +a shadow; which, when absent, need not be despaired of by them +that have them not, and, when present, cannot be trusted by their +owners. + +"This then was the commandment of the Saviour; this the preaching +of the Prophets and Apostles; in such wise do all the Saints, by +word and deed, constrain us to enter the unerring road of virtue. +And though few walk therein and more choose the broad way that +leadeth to destruction, yet not for this shall the life of this +divine philosophy be minished in fame. But as the sun, rising to +shine on all, doth bounteously send forth his beams, inviting all +to enjoy his light, even so doth our true philosophy, like the +sun, lead with her light those that are her lovers, and warmeth +and brighteneth them. But if any shut their eyes, and will not +behold the light thereof, not for that must the sun be blamed, or +scorned by others: still less shall the glory of his brightness +be dishonoured through their silliness. But while they, self- +deprived of light, grope like blind men along a wall, and fall +into many a ditch, and scratch out their eyes on many a bramble +bush, the sun, firmly established on his own glory, shall +illuminate them that gaze upon his beams with unveiled face. +Even so shineth the light of Christ on all men abundantly, +imparting to us of his lustre. But every man shareth thereof in +proportion to his desire and zeal. For the Sun of righteousness +disappointeth none of them that would fix their gaze on him, yet +doth he not compel those who willingly choose darkness; but every +man, so long as he is in this present life, is committed to his +own free will and choice." + +Ioasaph asked, "What is free will and what is choice?" The elder +answered, "Free will is the willing of a reasonable soul, moving +without hindrance toward whatever it wisheth, whether to virtue +or to vice, the soul being thus constituted by the Creator. Free +will again is the sovran motion of an intelligent soul. Choice +is desire accompanied by deliberation, or deliberation +accompanied by desire for things that lie in our power; for in +choosing we desire that which we have deliberately preferred. +Deliberation is a motion towards enquiry about actions possible +to us; a man deliberateth whether he ought to pursue an object or +no. Then he judgeth which is the better, and so ariseth +judgement. Then he is inclined towards it, and loveth that which +was so judged by the deliberative faculty, and this is called +resolve; for, if he judge a thing, and yet be not inclined toward +the thing that he hath judged, and love it not, it is not called +resolve. Then, after inclination toward it, there ariseth choice +or rather selection. For choice is to choose one or other of two +things in view, and to select this rather than that. And it is +manifest that choice is deliberation plus discrimination, and +this from the very etymology. For that which is the `object of +choice' is the thing chosen before the other thing. And no man +preferreth a thing without deliberation, nor makeeth a choice +without having conceived a preference. For, since we are not +zealous to carry into action all that seemeth good to us, choice +only ariseth and the deliberately preferred only becometh the +chosen, when desire is added thereto. Thus we conclude that +choice is desire accompanied by deliberation for things that lie +in our power; in choosing we desire that which we have +deliberately preferred. All deliberation aimeth at action and +dependeth on action; and thus deliberation goeth before all +choice, and choice before all action. For this reason not only +our actions, but also our thoughts, inasmuch as they give +occasion for choice, bring in their train crowns or punishments. +For the beginning of sin and righteous dealing is choice, +exercised in action possible to us. Where the power of activity +is ours, there too are the actions that follow that activity in +our power. Virtuous activities are in our power, therefore in +our power are virtues also; for we are absolute masters over all +our souls' affairs and all our deliberations. Since then it is +of free will that men deliberate, and of free will that men +choose, a man partaketh of the light divine, and advanceth in the +practice of this philosophy in exact measure of his choice, for +there are differences of choice. And even as water-springs, +issuing from the hollows of the earth, sometimes gush forth from +the surface soil, and sometimes from a lower source, and at other +times from a great depth, and even as some of these waters bubble +forth continuously, and their taste is sweet, while others that +come from deep wells are brackish or sulphurous, even as some +pour forth in abundance while others flow drop by drop, thus, +understand thou, is it also with our choices. Some choices are +swift and exceeding fervent, others languid and cold: some have a +bias entirely toward virtue, while others incline with all their +force to its opposite. And like in nature to these choices are +the ensuing impulses to action." + + +XVI. + +Ioasaph said unto the elder, "Are there now others, too, who +preach the same doctrines as thou? Or art thou to-day the only +one that teacheth this hatred of the present world?" + +The other answered and said, "In this your most unhappy country I +know of none: the tyranny of thy father hath netted all such in a +thousand forms of death; and he hath made it his aim that the +preaching of the knowledge of God be not once heard in your +midst. But in all other tongues these doctrines are sung and +glorified, by some in perfect truth, but by others perversely; +for the enemy of our souls hath made them decline from the +straight road, and divided them by strange teachings, and taught +them to interpret certain sayings of the Scriptures falsely, and +not after the sense contained therein. But the truth is one, +even that which was preached by the glorious Apostles and +inspired Fathers, and shineth in the Catholick Church above the +brightness of the sun from the one end of the world unto the +other; and as an herald and teacher of that truth have I been +sent to thee." + +Ioasaph said unto him, "Hath my father then, learned naught of +these things?" + +The elder answered, "Clearly and duly he hath learned naught; for +he stoppeth up his senses, and will not admit that which is good, +being of his own free choice inclined to evil." + +"Would God," said Ioasaph, "that he too were instructed in these +mysteries?" The elder answered, "The things that are impossible +with men are possible with God. For how knowest thou whether +thou shalt save thy sire, and in wondrous fashion be styled the +spiritual father of thy father? + +"I have heard that, once upon a time, there was a king who +governed his kingdom right well, and dealt kindly and gently with +his subjects, only failing in this point, that he was not rich in +the light of the knowledge of God, but held fast to the errors of +idolatry. Now he had a counsellor, which was a good man and +endued with righteousness toward God and with all other virtuous +wisdom. Grieved and vexed though he was at the error of the +king, and willing to convince him thereof, he nevertheless drew +back from the attempt, for fear that he might earn trouble for +himself and his friends, and cut short those services which he +rendered to others. Yet sought he a convenient season to draw +his sovereign toward that which was good. One night the king +said unto him, "Come now, let us go forth and walk about the +city, if haply we may see something to edify us." Now while they +were walking about the city, they saw a ray of light shining +through an aperture. Fixing their eyes thereon, they descried an +underground cavernous chamber, in the forefront of which there +sat a man, plunged in poverty, and clad in rags and tatters. +Beside him stood his wife, mixing wine. When the man took the +cup in his hands, she sung a clear sweet melody, and delighted +him by dancing and cozening him with flatteries. The king's +companions observed this for a time, and marvelled that people, +pinched by such poverty as not to afford house and raiment, yet +passed their lives in such good cheer. The king said to his +chief counsellor, `Friend, how marvellous a thing it is, that our +life, though bright with such honour and luxury, hath never +pleased us so well as this poor and miserable life doth delight +and rejoice these fools: and that this life, which appeareth to +us so cruel and abominable, is to them sweet and alluring!' The +chief counsellor seized the happy moment and said, `But to thee, +O king, how seemeth their life?' `Of all that I have ever seen,' +quoth the king, `the most hateful and wretched, the most +loathsome and abhorrent.' Then spake the chief counsellor unto +him, "Such, know thou well, O king, and even more unendurable is +our life reckoned by those who are initiated into the sight of +the mysteries of yonder everlasting glory, and the blessings that +pass all understanding. Your palaces glittering with gold, and +these splendid garments, and all the delights of this life are +more loathsome than dung and filth in the eyes of those that know +the unspeakable beauties of the tabernacles in heaven made +without hands, and the apparel woven by God, and the +incorruptible diadems which God, the Creator and Lord of all, +hath prepared for them that love him. For like as this couple +were accounted fools by us, so much the more are we, who go +astray in this world and please ourselves in this false glory and +senseless pleasure, worthy of lamentation and tears in the eyes +of those who have tasted of the sweets of the bliss beyond.' + +"When the king heard this, he became as one dumb. He said, `Who +then are these men that live a life better than ours?' `All,' +said the chief-counsellor `who prefer the eternal to the +temporal.' Again, when the king desired to know what the eternal +might be the other replied, `A kingdom that knoweth no +succession, a life that is not subject unto death, riches that +dread no poverty: joy and gladness that have no share of grief +and vexation; perpetual peace free from all hatred and love of +strife. Blessed, thrice blessed are they that are found worthy +of these enjoyments! Free from pain and free from toil is the +life that they shall live for ever, enjoying without labour all +the sweets and pleasaunee of the kingdom of God, and reigning +with Christ world without end.' + +"'And who is worthy to obtain this?' asked the king. The other +answered, `All they that hold on the road that leadeth thither; +for none forbiddeth entrance, if a man but will.' + +"Said the king, `And what is the way that beareth thither?' That +bright spirit answered, `To know the only true God, and Jesus +Christ, his only-begotten Son, and the Holy and quickening +Spirit.' + +"The king, endowed with understanding worthy of the purple, said +unto him, `What hath hindered thee until now from doing me to wit +of these things? For they appear to me too good to be put off or +passed over, if they indeed be true; and, if they be doubtful, I +must search diligently, until I find the truth without shadow of +doubt.' + +"The chief counsellor said, `It was not from negligence or +indifference that I delayed to make this known unto thee, for it +is true and beyond question, but `twas because I reverenced the +excellency of thy majesty, lest thou mightest think me a meddler. +If therefore thou bid thy servant put thee in mind of these +things for the future, I shall obey thy behest.' `Yea,' said the +king, `not every day only, but every hour, renew in me the +remembrance thereof: for it behoveth us not to turn our mind +inattentively to these things, but with very fervent zeal.' + +"We have heard," said Barlaam, "that this king lived, for the +time to come, a godly life, and, having brought his days without +tempest to an end, failed not to gain the felicity of the world +to come. If then at a convenient season one shall call these +things to thy father's mind also, peradventure he shall +understand and know the dire evil in which he is held, and turn +therefrom and choose the good; since, for the present at least, +'he is blind and cannot see afar off,' having deprived himself of +the true light and being a deserter of his own accord to the +darkness of ungodliness." + +Ioasaph said unto him, "The Lord undertake my father's matters, +as he ordereth! For, even as thou sayest, the things that are +impossible with men, are possible with him. But for myself, +thanks to thine unsurpassable speech, I renounce the vanity of +things present, and am resolved to withdraw from them altogether, +and to spend the rest of my life with thee, lest, by means of +these transitory and fleeting things, I lose the enjoyment of the +eternal and incorruptible." + +The elder answered him, "This do, and thou shalt be like unto a +youth of great understanding of whom I have heard tell, that was +born of rich and distinguished parents. For him his father +sought in marriage the exceeding fair young daughter of a man of +high rank and wealth. But when he communed with his son +concerning the espousals, and informed him of his plans, the son +thought it strange and ill-sounding, and cast it off, and left +his father and went into exile. On his journey he found +entertainment in the house of a poor old man, where he rested +awhile during the heat of the day. + +"Now this poor man's daughter, his only child, a virgin, was +sitting before the door, and, while she wrought with her hands, +with her lips she loudly sang the praises of God with +thanksgiving from the ground of her heart. The young man heard +her hymn of praise and said, `Damsel, what is thine employment? +and wherefore, poor and needy as thou art, givest thou thanks as +though for great blessings, singing praise to the Giver?' She +answered, `Knowest thou not that, as a little medicine often +times delivereth a man from great ailments, even so the giving of +thanks to God for small mercies winneth great ones? Therefore I, +the daughter of a poor old man, thank and bless God for these +small mercies, knowing that the Giver thereof is able to give +even greater gifts. And this applieth but to those external +things that are not our own from whence there accrueth no gain to +those who possess much (not to mention the loss that often +ariseth), nor cometh there harm to those who have less; for both +sorts journey along the same road, and hasten to the same end. +But, in things most necessary and vital, many and great the +blessings I have enjoyed of my Lord, though indeed they are +without number and beyond compare. I have been made in the image +of God, and have gained the knowledge of him, and have been +endowed with reason beyond all the beasts, and have been called +again from death unto life, through the tender mercy of our God, +and have received power to share in his mysteries; and the gate +of Paradise hath been opened to me, allowing me to enter without +hindrance, if I will. Wherefore for gifts so many and so fine, +shared alike by rich and poor, I can indeed in no wise praise him +as I ought, yet if I fail to render to the Giver this little hymn +of praise, what excuse shall I have?' + +"The youth, astonished at her wit, called to her father, and said +unto him, `Give me thy daughter: for I love her wisdom and +piety.' But the elder said, `It is not possible for thee, the +son of wealthy parents, to take this a beggar's daughter.' Again +the young man said, `Yea, but I will take her, unless thou +forbid: for a daughter of noble and wealthy family hath been +betrothed unto me in marriage, and her I have cast off and taken +to flight. But I have fallen in love with thy daughter because +of her righteousness to God-ward, and her discreet wisdom, and I +heartily desire to wed-her.' But the old man said unto him, `I +cannot give her unto thee, to carry away to thy father's house, +and depart her from mine arms, for she is mine only child.' +'But,' said the youth, `I will abide here with your folk and +adopt your manner of life.' Thereupon he stripped him of his own +goodly raiment, and asked for the old man's clothes and put them +on. When the father had much tried his purpose, and proved him +in manifold ways, and knew that his intent was fixed, and that it +was no light passion that led him to ask for his daughter, but +love of godliness that constrained him to embrace a life of +poverty, preferring it to his own glory and noble birth, he took +him by the hand, and brought him into his treasure-house, where +he showed him much riches laid up, and a vast heap of money, such +as the young man had never beheld. And he said unto him, `Son, +all these things give I unto thee, forasmuch as thou hast chosen +to become the husband to my daughter, and also thereby the heir +of all my substance.' So the young man acquired the inheritance, +and surpassed all the famous and wealthy men of the land." + + +XVII. + +Said Ioasaph unto Barlaam, "This story also fitly setteth forth +mine own estate. Whence also me thinketh that thou hadst me in +mind when thou spakest it. But what is the proof whereby thou +seekest to know the steadfastness of my purpose?" + +Said the elder, "I have already proved thee, and know how wise +and steadfast is thy purpose, and how truly upright is thine +heart. But the end of thy fortune shall confirm it. For this +cause I bow my knees unto our God glorified in Three Persons, the +Maker of all things visible and invisible, who verily is, and is +for ever, that never had beginning of his glorious being, nor +hath end, the terrible and almighty, the good and pitiful, that +he may enlighten the eyes of thine heart, and give thee the +spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, that +thou mayest know what is the hope of his calling, and what the +riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints, and what is +the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe; that +thou mayest be no more a stranger and sojourner, but a fellow- +citizen with the Saints, and of the household of God, being built +upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ +our Lord himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the +building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the +Lord." + +Ioasaph, keenly pricked at the heart, said, "All this I too long +to learn: and I beseech thee make known to me the riches of the +glory of God, and the exceeding greatness of his power." + +Barlaam said unto him, "I pray God to teach thee this, and to +plant in thy soul the knowledge of the same; since with men it is +impossible that his glory and power be told, yea, even if the +tongues of all men that now are and have ever been were combined +in one. For, as saith the Evangelist and Divine, `No man hath +seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the +bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' But the glory and +majesty of the invisible and infinite God, what son of earth +shall skill to comprehend it, save he to whom he himself shall +reveal it, in so far as he will, as he hath revealed it, to his +Prophets and Apostles? But we learn it, so far as in us lieth, +by their teaching, and from the very nature of the world. For +the Scripture saith, `The heavens declare the glory of God, and +the firmament sheweth his handiwork;' and, `The invisible things +of him from the creation Of the world are clearly understood by +the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.' + +"Even as a man, beholding an house splendidly and skilfully +builded, or a vessel fairly framed, taketh note of the builder or +workman and marvelleth thereat, even so I that was fashioned out +of nothing and brought into being, though I cannot see the maker +and provider, yet from his harmonious and marvellous fashioning +of me have come to the knowledge of his wisdom, not to the full +measure of that wisdom, but to the full compass of my powers; yea +I have seen that I was not brought forth by chance, nor made of +myself, but that he fashioned me, as it pleased him, and set me +to have dominion over his creatures, howbeit making me lower than +some; that, when I was broken, he re-created me with a better +renewal; and that he shall draw me by his divine will from this +world and place me in that other life that is endless and +eternal; and that in nothing I could withstand the might of his +providence, nor add anything to myself nor take anything away, +whether in stature or bodily form, and that I am not able to +renew for myself that which is waxen old, nor raise that which +hath been destroyed. For never was man able to accomplish aught +of these things, neither king, nor wise man, nor rich man, nor +ruler, nor any other that pursueth the tasks of men. For he +saith, `There is no king, or mighty man, that had any other +beginning of birth. For all men have one entrance into life, and +the like going out.' + +"So from mine own nature, I am led by the hand to the knowledge +of the mighty working of the Creator; and at the same time I +think upon the well-ordered structure and preservation of the +whole creation, how that in itself it is subject everywhere to +variableness and change, in the world of thought by choice, +whether by advance in the good, or departure from it, in the +world of sense by birth and decay, increase and decrease, and +change in quality and motion in space. And thus all things +proclaim, by voices that cannot be heard, that they were created, +and are held together, and preserved, and ever watched over by +the providence of the uncreate, unturning and unchanging God. +Else how could diverse elements have met, for the consummation of +a single world, one with another, and remained inseparable, +unless some almighty power had knit them together, and still were +keeping them from dissolution? `For how could anything have +endured, if it had not been his will? or been preserved, if not +called by him?' as saith the Scripture. + +"A ship holdeth not together without a steersman, but easily +foundereth; and a small house shall not stand without a +protector. How then could the world have subsisted for long +ages, a work so great, and so fair and wondrous, -- without some +glorious mighty and marvellous steersmanship and all-wise +providence? Behold the heavens, how long they have stood, and +have not been darkened: and the earth hath not been exhausted, +though she hath been bearing offspring so long. The water- +springs have not failed to gush out since they were made. The +sea, that receiveth so many rivers, hath not exceeded her +measure. The courses of Sun and Moon have not varied: the order +of day and night hath not changed. From all these objects is +declared unto us the unspeakable power and magnificence of God, +witnessed by Prophets and Apostles. But no man can fitly +conceive or sound forth his glory. For the holy Apostle, that +had Christ speaking within him, after perceiving all objects of +thought and sense, still said, `We know in part, and we prophesy +in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which +is in part shall be done away.' Wherefore also, astonied at the +infinite riches of his wisdom and knowledge, he cried for all to +understand, `O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and +knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his +ways past finding out!' + +"Now, if he, that attained unto the third heaven and heard such +unspeakable words, uttered such sentences, what man of my sort +shall have strength to look eye to eye upon the abysses of such +mysteries, or speak rightly thereof, or think meetly of the +things whereof we speak, unless the very giver of wisdom, and the +amender of the unwise, vouchsafe that power? For in his hand are +we and our words, and all prudence and knowledge of wisdom is +with him. And he himself hath given us the true understanding of +the things that are; to know the structure of the world, the +working of the elements, the beginning, end and middle of times, +the changes of the solstices, the succession of seasons, and how +he hath ordered all things by measure and weight. For he can +shew his great strength at all times, and who may withstand the +power of his arm? For the whole world before him is as a little +grain of the balance, yea, as a drop of the morning dew that +falleth down upon the earth. But he hath mercy upon all; for he +can do all things, and winketh at the sins of men, because they +should amend. For he abhorreth nothing, nor turneth away from +them that run unto him, he, the only good Lord and lover of +souls. Blessed be the holy name of his glory, praised and +exalted above all for ever! Amen." + + +XVIII. + +Ioasaph said unto him, "If thou hadst for a long time considered, +most wise Sir, how thou mightest best declare to me the +explanation of the questions that I propounded, methinks thou +couldest not have done it better than by uttering such words as +thou hast now spoken unto me. Thou hast taught me that God is +the Maker and preserver of all things; and in unanswerable +language thou hast shown me that the glory of his majesty is +incomprehensible to human reasonings, and that no man is able to +attain thereto, except those to whom, by his behest, he revealeth +it. Wherefore am I lost in amaze at thine eloquent wisdom. + +"But tell me, good Sir, of what age thou art, and in what manner +of place is thy dwelling, and who are thy fellow philosophers; +for my soul hangeth fast on thine, and fain would I never be +parted from thee all the days of my life." + +The elder said, "Mine age is, as I reckon, forty and five years, +and in the deserts of the land of Senaar do I dwell. For my +fellow combatants I have those who labour and contend together +with me on the course of the heavenly journey." + +"What sayest thou?" quoth Ioasaph. "Thou seemest to me upwards +of seventy years old. How speakest thou of forty and five? +Herein methinks thou tellest not the truth." + +Barlaam said unto him, "If it be the number of years from my +birth that thou askest, thou hast well reckoned them at upwards +of seventy. But, for myself, I count not amongst the number of +my days the years that I wasted in the vanity of the world. When +I lived to the flesh in the bondage of sin, I was dead in the +inner man; and those years of deadness I can never call years of +life. But now the world hath been crucified to me, and I to the +world, and I have put off the old man, which is corrupt according +to the deceitful lusts, and live no longer to the flesh, but +Christ liveth in me; and the life that I live, I live by the +faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. +And the years, that have passed since then, I may rightly call +years of life, and days of salvation. And in numbering these at +about forty and five, I reckoned by the true tale, and not off +the mark. So do thou also alway hold by this reckoning; and be +sure that there is no true life for them that are dead to all +good works, and live in sin, and serve the world-ruler of them +that are dragged downward, and waste their time in pleasures and +lusts: but rather be well assured that these are dead and defunct +in the activity of life. For a wise man hath fitly called sin +the death of the immortal soul. And the Apostle also saith, +'When ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from +righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye +are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now +being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have +your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the +wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.'" + +Ioasaph said unto him, "Since thou reckonest not the life in the +flesh in the measure of life, neither canst thou reckon that +death, which all men undergo, as death." + +The elder answered, "Without doubt thus think I of these matters +also, and fear this temporal death never a whit, nor do I call it +death at all, if only it overtake me walking in the way of the +commandments of God, but rather a passage from death to the +better and more perfect life, which is hid in Christ, in desire +to obtain which the Saints were impatient of the present. +Wherefore saith the Apostle, `We know that if our earthly house +of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, a +house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this +we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house +which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be +found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being +burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, +that mortality might be swallowed up of life.' And again, `O +wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of +this death?' And once more, `I desire to depart and be with +Christ.' And the prophet saith, `When shall I come and appear +before the presence of God?' Now that I the least of all men, +choose not to fear bodily death, thou mayest learn by this, that +I have set at nought thy father's threat, and come boldly unto +thee, and have preached to thee the tidings of salvation, though +I knew for sure that, if this came to his knowledge, he would, +were that possible, put me to a thousand deaths. But I, +honouring the word of God afore all things, and longing to win +it, dread not temporal death, nor reek on it at all worthy of +such an appellation, in obedience to my Lord's command, which +saith, `Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to +kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both +soul and body in hell.'" + +"These then," said Ioasaph, "are the good deeds of that true +philosophy, that far surpass the nature of these earthly men who +cleave fast to the present life. Blessed are ye that hold to so +noble a purpose! But tell me truly what is thy manner of life +and that of thy companions in the desert, and from whence cometh +your raiment and of what sort may it be? Tell me as thou lovest +truth." + +Said Barlaam, "Our sustenance consisteth of acorns and herbs that +we find in the desert, watered by the dew of heaven, and in +obedience to the Creator's command; and for this there is none to +fight and quarrel with us, seeking by the rule and law of +covetousness to snatch more than his share, but in abundance for +all is food provided from unploughed lands, and a ready table +spread. But, should any of the faithful brethren in the +neighbourhood bring a blessed dole of bread, we receive it as +sent by providence, and bless the faith that brought it. Our +raiment is of hair, sheepskins or shirts of palm fibre, all +thread-bare and much patched, to mortify the frailty of the +flesh. We wear the same clothing winter and summer, which, once +put on, we may on no account put off until it be old and quite +outworn. For by thus afflicting our bodies with the constraints +of cold and heat we purvey for ourselves the vesture of our +future robes of immortality." + +Ioasaph said, "But whence cometh this garment that thou wearest?" +The elder answered,"I received it as a loan from one of our +faithful brethren, when about to make my journey unto thee; for +it behoved me not to arrive in mine ordinary dress. If one had a +beloved kinsman carried captive into a foreign land, and wished +to recover him thence, one would lay aside one's own clothing, +and put on the guise of the enemy, and pass into their country +and by divers crafts deliver one's friend from that cruel +tyranny. Even so I also, having been made aware of thine estate, +clad myself in this dress, and came to sow the seed of the divine +message in thine heart, and ransom thee from the slavery of the +dread ruler of this world. And now behold by the power of God, +as far as in me lay, I have accomplished my ministry, announcing +to thee the knowledge of him, and making known unto thee the +preaching of the Prophets and Apostles, and teaching thee +unerringly and soothly the vanity of the present life, and the +evils with which this world teems, which cruelly deceiveth them +that trust therein, and taketh them in many a gin. Now must I +return thither whence I came, and thereupon doff this robe +belonging to another, and don mine own again." + +Ioasaph therefore begged the elder to shew himself in his wonted +apparel. Then did Barlaam strip off the mantle that he wore, and +lo, a terrible sight met Ioasaph's eyes: for all the fashion of +his flesh was wasted away, and his skin blackened by the +scorching sun, and drawn tight over his bones like an hide +stretched over thin canes. And he wore an hair shirt, stiff and +rough, from his loins to his knees, and over his shoulders there +hung a coat of like sort. + +But Ioasaph, being sore amazed at the hardship of his austere +life, and astonished at his excess of endurance, burst into +tears, and said to the elder, "Since thou art come to deliver me +from the slavery of the devil, crown thy good service to me, and +'bring my soul out of prison,' and take me with thee, and let us +go hence, that I may be fully ransomed from this deceitful world +and then receive the seal of saving Baptism, and share with thee +this thy marvellous philosophy, and this more than human +discipline" + +But Barlaam said unto him, "A certain rich man once reared the +fawn of a gazelle; which, when grown up, was impelled by natural +desire to long for the desert. So on a day she went out and +found an herd of gazelles browsing; and, joining them, she would +roam through the glades of the forest, returning at evenfall, but +issuing forth at dawn, through the heedlessness of her keepers, +to herd with her wild companions. When these removed, to graze +further afield, she followed them. But the rich man's servants, +when they learned thereof, mounted on horseback, and gave chase, +and caught the pet fawn, and brought her home again, and set her +in captivity for the time to come. But of the residue of the +herd, some they killed, and roughly handled others. Even so I +fear that it may happen unto us also if thou follow me; that I +may be deprived of thy fellowship, and bring many ills to my +comrades, and everlasting damnation to thy father. But this is +the will of the Lord concerning time; thou now indeed must be +signed with the seal of holy Baptism, and abide in this country, +cleaving to all righteousness, and the fulfilling of the +commandments of Christ; but when the Giver of all good things +shall give thee opportunity, then shalt thou come to us, and for +the remainder of this present life we shall dwell together; and I +trust in the Lord also that in the world to come we shall not be +parted asunder." + +Again Ioasaph, in tears, said unto him, "If this be the Lord's +pleasure, his will be done! For the rest, perfect me in holy +Baptism. Then receive at my hands money and garments for the +support and clothing both of thyself and thy companions, and +depart to the place of thy monastic life, and the peace of God be +thy guard! But cease not to make supplications on my behalf, +that I may not fall away from my hope, but may soon be able to +reach thee, and in peace profound may enjoy thy ministration." + +Barlaam answered, "Nought forbiddeth thee to receive the seal of +Christ. Make thee ready now; and, the Lord working with thee, +thou shalt be perfected. But as concerning the money that thou +didst promise to bestow on my companions, how shall this be, that +thou, a poor man, shouldest give alms to the rich? The rich +always help the poor, not the needy the wealthy. And the least +of all my comrades is incomparably richer than thou. But I trust +in the mercies of God that thou too shalt soon be passing rich as +never afore: and then thou wilt not be ready to distribute." + +Ioasaph said unto him, "Make plain to me this saying; how the +least of all thy companions surpasseth me in riches -- thou +saidest but now that they lived in utter penury, and were pinched +by extreme poverty and why thou callest me a poor man, but sayest +that, when I shall be passing rich, I, who am ready to +distribute, shall be ready to distribute no more." + +Barlaam answered, "I said not that these men were pinched by +poverty, but that they plume themselves on their inexhaustible +wealth. For to be ever adding money to money, and never to curb +the passion for it, but insatiably to covet more and more, +betokeneth the extreme of poverty. But those who despise the +present for love of the eternal and count it but dung, if only +they win Christ, who have laid aside all care for meat and +raiment and cast that care on the Lord, and rejoice in penury as +no lover of the world could rejoice, were he rolling in riches, +who have laid up for themselves plenteously the riches of virtue, +and are fed by the hope of good things without end, may more +fitly be termed rich than thou, or any other earthly kingdom. +But, God working with thee, thou shalt lay hold on such spiritual +abundance that, if thou keep it in safety and ever rightfully +desire more, thou shalt never wish to dispend any part of it. +This is true abundance: but the mass of material riches will +damage rather than benefit its friends. Meetly therefore called +I it the extreme of poverty, which the lovers of heavenly +blessings utterly renounce and eschew, and flee from it, as a man +fleeth from an adder. But if I take from thee and so bring back +to life that foe, whom my comrades in discipline and battle have +slain and trampled under foot, and carry him back to them, and so +be the occasion of wars and lusts, then shall I verily be unto +them an evil angel, which heaven forfend! + +"Let the same, I pray thee, be thy thoughts about raiment. As +for them that have put off the corruption of the old man, and, as +far as possible, cast away the robe of disobedience, and put on +Christ as a coat of salvation and garment of gladness, how shall +I again clothe these in their coats of hide, and gird them about +with the covering of shame? But be assured that my companions +have no need of such things, but are content with their hard life +in the desert, and reckon it the truest luxury; and bestow thou +on the poor the money and garments which thou promisedst to give +unto our monks, and lay up for thyself, for the time to come, +treasure that cannot be stolen, and by the orisons of these poor +folk make God thine ally; for thus shalt thou employ thy riches +as an help toward noble things. Then also put on the whole +armour of the Spirit, having thy loins girt about with truth, and +having on the breast-plate of righteousness, and wearing the +helmet of salvation, and having thy feet shod with the +preparation of the gospel of peace, and taking in thine hands the +shield of faith, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word +of God. And, being thus excellently armed and guarded on every +side, in this confidence go forth to the warfare against +ungodliness, until, this put to flight, and its prince, the +devil, dashed headlong to the earth, thou be adorned with the +crowns of victory from the right hand of thy master, the Lord of +life." + + +XIX. + +With such like doctrines and saving words did Barlaam instruct +the king's son, and fit him for holy Baptism, charging him to +fast and pray, according to custom, several days: and he ceased +not to resort unto him, teaching him every article of the +Catholick Faith and expounding him the holy Gospel. Moreover he +interpreted the Apostolick exhortations and the sayings of the +Prophets: for, taught of God, Barlaam had alway ready on his lips +the Old and New Scripture; and, being stirred by the Spirit, he +enlightened his young disciple to see the true knowledge of God. +But on the day, whereon the prince should be baptized, he taught +him, saying, "Behold thou art moved to receive the seal of +Christ, and be signed with the light of the countenance of the +Lord: and thou becomest a son of God, and temple of the Holy +Ghost, the giver of life. Believe thou therefore in the Father, +and in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost, the holy and life-giving +Trinity, glorified in three persons and one Godhead, different +indeed in persons and personal properties, but united in +substance; acknowledging one God unbegotten, the Father; and one +begotten Lord, the Son, light of light, very God of very God, +begotten before all worlds; for of the good Father is begotten +the good Son, and of the unbegotten light shone forth the +everlasting light; and from very life came forth the life-giving +spring, and from original might shone forth the might of the Son, +who is the brightness of his glory and the Word in personality, +who was in the beginning with God, and God without beginning and +without end, by whom all things, visible and invisible, were +made: knowing also one Holy Ghost, which proceedeth from the +Father, perfect, life-giving and sanctifying God, with the same +will, the same power, coeternal and impersonate. Thus therefore +worship thou the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in +three persons or properties and one Godhead. For the Godhead is +common of the three, and one is their nature, one their +substance, one their glory, one their kingdom, one their might, +one their authority; but it is common of the Son and of the Holy +Ghost that they are of the Father; and it is proper of the Father +that he is unbegotten, and of the Son that he is begotten, and of +the Holy Ghost that he proceedeth. + +"This therefore be thy belief; but seek not to understand the +manner of the generation or procession, for it is +incomprehensible. In uprightness of heart and without question +accept the truth that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy +Ghost, are in all points one except in the being unbegotten, and +begotten, and proceeding; and that the only begotten Son, the +Word of God, and God, for our salvation came down upon earth, by +the good pleasure of the Father, and, by the operation of the +Holy Ghost, was conceived without seed in the womb of Mary the +holy Virgin and Mother of God, by the Holy Ghost, and was born of +her without defilement and was made perfect man and that he is +perfect God and perfect man, being of two natures, the Godhead +and the manhood, and in two natures, endowed with reason, will, +activity, and free will, and in all points perfect according to +the proper rule and law in either case, that is in the Godhead +and the manhood, and in one united person. And do thou receive +these things without question, never seeking to know the manner, +how the Son of God emptied himself, and was made man of the blood +of the Virgin, without seed and without defilement; or what is +this meeting in one person of two natures. For by faith we are +taught to hold fast those things that have been divinely taught +us out of Holy Scripture; but of the manner we are ignorant, and +cannot declare it. + +"Believe thou that the Son of God, who, of his tender mercy was +made man, took upon him all the affections that are natural to +man, and are blameless (he hungered and thirsted and slept and +was weary and endured agony in his human nature, and for our +transgressions was led to death, was crucified and was buried, +and tasted of death, his Godhead continuing without suffering and +without change; for we attach no sufferings whatsoever to that +nature which is free from suffering, but we recognize him as +suffering and buried in that nature which he assumed, and in his +heavenly glory rising again from the dead, and in immortality +ascending into heaven); and believe that he shall come again, +with glory, to judge quick and dead, and by the words which +himself knoweth, of that diviner body, and to reward every man by +his own just standards. For the dead shall rise again, and they +that are in their graves shall awake: and they that have kept the +commandments of Christ, and have departed this life in the true +faith shall inherit eternal life, and they, that have died in +their sins, and have turned aside from the right faith, shall go +away into eternal punishment. Believe not that there is any true +being or kingdom of evil, nor suppose that it is without +beginning, or self-originate, or born of God: out on such an +absurdity! but believe rather that it is `the work of us and the +devil, come upon us through our heedlessness, because we were +endowed with free-will, and we make our choice, of deliberate +purpose, whether it be good or evil. Beside this, acknowledge +one Baptism, by water and the Spirit, for the remission of sins. + +"Receive also the Communion of the spotless Mysteries of Christ, +believing in truth that they are the Body and Blood of Christ our +God, which he hath given unto the faithful for the remission of +sins. For in the same night in which he was betrayed he ordained +a new testament with his holy disciples and Apostles, and through +them for all that should believe on him, saying, `Take, eat: this +is my Body, which is broken for you, for the remission of sins.' +After the same manner also he took the cup, and gave unto them +saying, `Drink ye all of this: this is my Blood, of the new +testament, which is shed for you for the remission of sins: this +do in remembrance of me.' He then, the Word of God, being quick +and powerful, and, working all things by his might, maketh and +transformeth, through his divine operation, the bread and wine of +the oblation into his own Body and Blood, by the visitation of +the Holy Ghost, for the sanctification and enlightenment of them +that with desire partake thereof. + +"Faithfully worship, with honour and reverence, the venerable +likeness of the features of the Lord, the Word of God, who for +our sake was made man, thinking to behold in the Image thy +Creator himself. `For the honour of the Image, saith one of the +Saints, passeth over to the original.' The original is the thing +imaged, and from it cometh the derivation. For when we see the +drawing in the Image, in our mind's eye we pass over to the true +form of which it is an Image, and devoutly worship the form of +him who for our sake was made flesh, not making a god of it, but +saluting it as an image of God made flesh, with desire and love +of him who for us men emptied himself, and even took the form of +a servant. Likewise also for this reason we salute the pictures +of his undefiled Mother, and of all the Saints. In the same +spirit also faithfully worship and salute the emblem of the life- +giving and venerable Cross, for the sake of him that hung thereon +in the flesh, for the salvation of our race, Christ the God and +Saviour of the world, who gave it to us as the sign of victory +over the devil; for the devil trembleth and quaketh at the virtue +thereof, and endureth not to behold it. In such doctrines and in +such faith shalt thou be baptized, keeping thy faith unwavering +and pure of all heresy until thy latest breath. But all teaching +and every speech of doctrine contrary to this blameless faith +abhor, and consider it an alienation from God. For, as saith the +Apostle, `Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other +gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let +him be accursed.' For there is none other Gospel or none other +Faith than that which hath been preached by the Apostles, and +established by the inspired Fathers at divers Councils, and +delivered to the Catholick Church." + +When Barlaam had thus spoken, and taught the king's son the Creed +which was set forth at the Council of Nicaea, he baptized him in +the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in +the pool of water which was in his garden. And there came upon +him the grace of the Holy Spirit. Then did Barlaam come back to +his chamber, and offer the holy Mysteries of the unbloody +Sacrifice, and communicate him with the undefiled Mysteries of +Christ: and Ioasaph rejoiced in spirit, giving thanks to Christ +his God. + +Then said Barlaam unto him, "Blessed be the God and Father of our +Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath +begotten thee again unto a lively hope, to an inheritance +incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, reserved in +heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord by the Holy Ghost; for to-day +thou hast been made free from sin, and hast become the servant of +God, and hast received the earnest of everlasting life: thou hast +left darkness and put on light, being enrolled in the glorious +liberty of the children of God. For he saith, `As many as +received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, +even to them that believe on his name.' Wherefore thou art no +more a servant, but a son and an heir of God through Jesus Christ +in the Holy Ghost. Wherefore, beloved, give diligence that thou +mayest be found of him without spot and blameless, working that +which is good upon the foundation of faith: for faith without +works is dead, as also are works without faith; even as I +remember to have told thee afore. Put off therefore now all +malice, and hate all the works of the old man, which are corrupt +according to the deceitful lusts; and, as new-born babe, desire +to drink the reasonable and sincere milk of the virtues, that +thou mayest grow thereby, and attain unto the knowledge of the +commandments of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the +measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that thou mayest +henceforth be no more a child in mind, tossed to and fro, and +carried about on the wild and raging waves of thy passions: or +rather in malice be a child, but have thy mind settled and made +steadfast toward that which is good, and walk worthy of the +vocation wherewith thou wast called, in the keeping of the +commandments of the Lord, casting off and putting far from thee +the vanity of thy former conversation, henceforth walking not as +the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, having their +understanding darkened, alienated from the glory of God, in +subjection to their lusts and unreasonable affections. But as +for thee, even as thou hast approached the living and true God, +so walk thou as a child of light; for the fruit of the Spirit is +in all goodness and righteousness and truth; and no longer +destroy by the works of the old man the new man, which thou hast +to-day put on. But day by day renew thyself in righteousness and +holiness and truth: for this is possible with every man that +willeth, as thou hearest that unto them that believe on his name +he hath given power to become the sons of God; so that we can no +longer say that the acquiring of virtues is impossible for us, +for the road is plain and easy. For, though with respect to the +buffeting of the body, it hath been called a strait and narrow +way, yet through the hope of future blessings is it desirable and +divine for such as walk, not as fools but circumspectly, +understanding what the will of God is, clad in the whole armour +of God to stand in battle against the wiles of the adversary, and +with all prayer and supplication watching thereunto, in all +patience and hope. Therefore, even as thou hast heard from me, +and been instructed, and hast laid a sure foundation, do thou +abound therein, increasing and advancing, and warring the good +warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, witnessed by good +works, following after righteousness, godliness, faith, charity, +patience, meekness, laying hold on eternal life whereunto thou +wast called. But remove far from thee all pleasure and lust of +the affections, not only in act and operation, but even in the +thoughts of thine heart, that thou mayest present thy soul +without blemish to God. For not our actions only, but our +thoughts also are recorded, and procure us crowns or punishments: +and we know that Christ, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, +dwelleth in pure hearts. But, just as smoke driveth away bees, +so, we learn, do evil imaginations drive out of us the Holy +Spirit's grace. Wherefore take good heed hereto, that thou blot +out every imagination of sinful passion from thy soul, and plant +good thoughts therein, making thyself a temple of the Holy Ghost. +For from imaginations we come also to actual deeds, and every +work, advancing from thought and reflection, catcheth at small +beginnings, and then, by small increases, arriveth at great +endings. + +"Wherefore on no account suffer any evil habit to master thee; +but, while it is yet young, pluck the evil root out of thine +heart, lest it fasten on and strike root so deep that time and +labour be required to uproot it. And the reason that greater +sins assault us and get the mastery of our souls is that those +which appear to be less, such as wicked thoughts, unseemly words +and evil communications, fail to receive proper correction. For +as in the case of the body, they that neglect small wounds often +bring mortification and death upon themselves, so too with the +soul: thus they that overlook little passions and sins bring on +greater ones. And the more those greater sins grow on them, the +more cloth the soul become accustomed therto and think light of +them. For he saith, `When the wicked cometh to the depth of evil +things, he thinketh light of them': and finally, like the hog, +that delighteth to wallow in mire, the soul, that hath been +buried in evil habits, doth not even perceive the stink of her +sin, but rather delighteth and rejoiceth therein, cleaving to +wickedness as it were good. And even if at last she issue from +the mire and come to herself again, she is delivered only by much +labour and sweat from the bondage of those sins, to which she +hath by evil custom enslaved herself. + +"Wherefore with all thy might remove thyself far from every evil +thought and fancy, and every sinful custom; and school thyself +the rather in virtuous deeds, and form the habit of practising +them. For if thou labour but a little therein, and have strength +to form the habit, at the last, God helping thee, thou shalt +advance without labour. For the habit of virtue, taking its +quality from the soul, seeing that it hath some natural kinship +therewith and claimeth God for an help-mate, becometh hard to +alter and exceeding strong; as thou seest, courage and prudence, +temperance and righteousness are hard to alter, being deeply +seated habits, qualities and activities of the soul. For if the +evil affections, not being natural to us, but attacking us from +without, be hard to alter when they become habits, how much +harder shall it be to shift virtue, which hath been by nature +planted in us by our Maker, and hath him for an help-mate, if so +be, through our brief endeavour, it shall have been rooted in +habit in the soul?" + + +XX. + +"Wherefore a practician of virtue once spake to me on this wise: +'After I had made divine meditation my constant habit, and +through the practice of it my soul had received her right +quality, I once resolved to make trial of her, and put a check +upon her, not allowing her to devote herself to her wonted +exercises. I felt that she was chafing and fretting, and +yearning for meditation with an ungovernable desire, and was +utterly unable to incline to any contrary thought. No sooner had +I given her the reins than immediately she ran in hot haste to +her own task, as saith the Prophet, `Like as the hart desireth +the water brooks, so longeth my soul after the strong, the living +God.' Wherefore from all these proofs it is evident that the +acquirement of virtue is within our reach, and that we are lords +over it, whether we will embrace or else the rather choose sin. +They then, that are in the thraldom of wickedness, can hardly be +torn away therefrom, as I have already said. + +"But thou, who hast been delivered therefrom, through the tender +mercy of our God, and hast put on Christ by the grace of the Holy +Ghost, now transfer thyself wholly to the Lord's side, and never +open a door to thy passions, but adorn thy soul with the sweet +savour and splendour of virtue, and make her a temple of the Holy +Trinity, and to his contemplation see thou devote all the powers +of thy mind. He that liveth and converseth with an earthly king +is pointed out by all as a right happy man: what happiness then +must be his who is privileged to converse and be in spirit with +God! Behold thou then his likeness alway, and converse with him. +How shalt thou converse with God? By drawing near him in prayer +and supplication. He that prayeth with exceeding fervent desire +and pure heart, his mind estranged from all that is earthly and +grovelling, and standeth before God, eye to eye, and presenteth +his prayers to him in fear and trembling, such an one hath +converse and speaketh with him face to face. + +"Our good Master is present everywhere, hearkening to them that +approach him in purity and truth, as saith the Prophet, `The eyes +of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto +their cry.' For this reason the Fathers define Prayer as `the +union of man with God,' and call it `Angels' work,' and `the +prelude of gladness to come.' For since they lay down before all +things that `the kingdom of heaven' consisteth in nearness to and +contemplation of the Holy Trinity, and since all the importunity +of prayer leadeth the mind thither, prayer is rightly called `the +prelude' and, as it were, the `fore-glimpse' of that blessedness. +But not all prayer is of this nature, but only such prayer as is +worthy of the name, which hath God for its teacher, who giveth +prayer to him that prayeth; prayer which soareth above all things +on earth and entreateth directly with God. + +"This acquire thou for thyself, and strive to advance thereto, +for it is able to exalt thee from earth to heaven. But without +preparation and at hap-hazard thou shalt not advance therein. +But first purify thy soul from all passion, and cleanse it like a +bright and newly cleansed mirrour from every evil thought, and +banish far all remembrance of injury and anger, which most of all +hindereth our prayers from ascending to God-ward: and from the +heart forgive all those that have trespassed against thee, and +with alms and charities to the poor lend wings to thy prayer, and +so bring it before God with fervent tears. Thus praying thou +shalt be able to say with blessed David, who, for all that he was +king, and distraught with ten thousand cares, yet cleansed his +soul from all passions, and could say unto God, `As for iniquity, +I hate and abhor it, but thy law do I love. Seven times a day do +I praise thee, because of thy righteous judgements. My soul hath +kept thy testimonies, and loved them exceedingly. Let my +complaint come before thee, O Lord: give me understanding +according to thy word.' + +"While thou art calling thus, the Lord hear thee: while thou art +yet speaking, he shall say, `Behold I am here.' If then thou +attain to such prayer, blessed shalt thou be; for it is +impossible for a man praying and calling upon God with such +purpose not to advance daily in that which is good, and soar over +all the snares of the enemy. For, as saith one of the Saints, +'He that hath made fervent his understanding, and hath lift up +his soul and migrated to heaven, and hath thus called upon his +Master, and remembered his own sins, and spoken concerning the +forgiveness of the same, and with hot tears hath besought the +Lover of mankind to be merciful to him: such an one, I say, by +his continuance in such words and considerations, layeth aside +every care of this life, and waxeth superior to human passions, +and meriteth to be called an associate of God.' Than which state +what can be more blessed and higher? May the Lord vouchsafe thee +to attain to this blessedness! + +"Lo I have shown thee the way of the commandments of the Lord, +and have not shunned to declare unto thee all the counsel of God. +And now I, have fulfilled my ministry unto thee. It remaineth +that thou gird up the loins of thy mind, obedient to the Holy One +that hath called thee, and be thou thyself holy in all manner of +conversation: for, `Be ye holy: for I am holy,' saith the Lord. +And the chief prince of the Apostles also writeth, saying, `If ye +call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth +according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning +here in fear; knowing that ye were not redeemed with corruptible +things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received +by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of +Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.' + +"All these things therefore store thou up in thine heart, and +remember them unceasingly, ever keeping before thine eyes the +fear of God, and his terrible judgement seat, and the splendour +of the righteous which they shall receive in the world to come, +and the shame of sinners in the depths of darkness, and the +frailty and vanity of things present, and the eternity of things +hereafter; for, `All flesh is grass, and all the glory of man as +the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof +falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.' +Meditate upon these things alway and the peace of God be with +thee, enlightening and informing thee, and leading thee into the +way of salvation, chasing afar out of thy mind every evil wish, +and sealing thy soul with the sign of the Cross, that no +stumbling block of the evil one come nigh thee, but that thou +mayest merit, in all fulness of virtue, to obtain the kingdom +that is to come, without end or successor, and be illumined with +the light of the blessed life-giving Trinity, which, in the +Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Ghost, is glorified." + + +XXI. + +With such moral words did the reverend elder exhort the king's +son, and then withdrew to his own hospice. But the young +prince's servants and tutors marvelled to see the frequency of +Barlaam's visits to the palace; and one of the chiefest among +them, whom, for his fidelity and prudence, the king had set over +his son's palace, named Zardan, said to the prince, "Thou knowest +well, sir, how much I dread thy father, and how great is my faith +toward him: wherefore he ordered me, for my faithfulness, to wait +upon thee. Now, when I see this stranger constantly conversing +with thee, I fear he may be of the Christian religion, toward +which thy father hath a deadly hate; and I shall be found subject +to the penalty of death. Either then make known to thy father +this man's business, or in future cease to converse with him. +Else cast me forth from thy presence, that I be not blameable, +and ask thy father to appoint another in my room. + +The king's son said unto him, "This do, Zardan, first of all. +Sit thou down behind the curtain, and hear his communication with +me: and then thus will I tell thee what thou oughtest to do." + +So when Barlaam was about to enter into his presence, Ioasaph hid +Zardan within the curtain, and said to the elder, "Sum me up the +matter of thy divine teaching, that it may the more firmly be +implanted in my heart." Barlaam took up his parable and uttered +many sayings touching God, and righteousness toward him, and how +we must love him alone with all our heart, and with all our soul, +and with all our mind, and keep his commandments with fear and +love-and how he is the Maker of all things visible and invisible. +Thereon he called to remembrance the creation of the first man, +the command given unto him, and his transgression thereof, and +the sentence pronounced by the Creator for this transgression. +Then he reckoned up in order the good things wherefrom we +excluded ourselves by the disannulling of his commandment. Again +he made mention of the many grievous misfortunes that unhappily +overtook man, after the loss of the blessings. Besides this he +brought forward God's love toward mankind; how our Maker, heedful +of our salvation, sent forth teachers and prophets proclaiming +the Incarnation of the Only-begotten. Then he spake of the Son, +his dwelling among men, his deeds of kindness, his miracles, his +sufferings for us thankless creatures, his Cross, his spear, his +voluntary death; finally, of our recovery and recall, our return +to our first good estate; after this, of the kingdom of heaven +awaiting such as are worthy thereof; of the torment in store for +the wicked; the fire that is not quenched, the never ending +darkness, the undying worm, and all the other tortures which the +slaves of sin have laid up in store for themselves. When he had +fully related these matters, he ended his speech with moral +instruction, and dwelt much upon purity of life, and utterly +condemned the vanity of things present, and proved the utter +misery of such as cleave thereto, and finally made an end with +prayer. And therewith he prayed for the prince, that he might +hold fast the profession of the Catholick Faith without turning +and without wavering, and keep his life blameless and his +conversation pure, and so ending with prayer again withdrew to +his hospice. + +But the king's son called Zardan forth, and, to try his +disposition, said unto him, "Thou hast heard what sort of +discourses this babbler maketh me, endeavouring to be-jape me +with his specious follies, and rob me of this pleasing happiness +and enjoyment, to worship a strange God." Zardan answered, "Why +hath it pleased thee, O prince, to prove me that am thy servant? +I wot that the words of that man have sunk deep into thine heart; +for, otherwise, thou hadst not listened gladly and unceasingly to +his words. Yea, and we also are not ignorant of this preaching. +But from the time when thy father stirred up truceless warfare +against the Christians, the men have been banished hence, and +their teaching is silenced. But if now their doctrine commend +itself unto thee, and if thou have the strength to accept its +austerity, may thy wishes be guided straight toward the good! +But for myself, what shall I do, that am unable to bear the very +sight of such austerity, and through fear of the King am divided +in soul with pain and anguish? What excuse shall I make, for +neglecting his orders, and giving this fellow access unto thee?" + +The King's son said unto him, "I knew full well that in none +other wise could I requite thee worthily for thy much kindness, +and therefore have I tasked myself to make known unto thee this +more than human good, which doth even exceed the worth of thy +good service, that thou mightest know to what end thou wast born, +and acknowledge thy Creator, and, leaving darkness, run to the +light. And I hoped that when thou heardest thereof thou wouldst +follow it with irresistible desire. But, as I perceive, I am +disappointed of my hope, seeing that thou art listless to that +which hath been spoken. But if thou reveal these secrets to the +king my father, thou shalt but distress his mind with sorrows and +griefs. If thou be well disposed to him, on no account reveal +this matter to him until a convenient season." Speaking thus, he +seemed to be only casting seed upon the water; for wisdom shall +not enter into a soul void of understanding. + +Upon the morrow came Barlaam and spake of his departure: but +Ioasaph, unable to bear the separation, was distressed at heart, +and his eyes filled with tears. The elder made a long discourse, +and adjured him to continue unshaken in good works, and with +words of exhortation established his heart, and begged him to +send him cheerfully on his way; and at the same time he foretold +that they should shortly be at one, never to be parted more. But +Ioasaph, unable to impose fresh labours on the elder, and to +restrain his desire to be on his way, and suspecting moreover +that the man Zardan might make known his case to the King and +subject him to punishment, said unto Barlaam, "Since it seemeth +thee good, my spiritual father, best of teachers and minister of +all good to me, to leave me to live in the vanity of the world, +while thou journeyest to thy place of spiritual rest, I dare no +longer let and hinder thee. Depart therefore, with the peace of +God for thy guardian, and ever in thy worthy prayers, for the +Lord's sake, think upon my misery, that I may be enabled to +overtake thee, and behold thine honoured face for ever. But +fulfil this my one request; since thou couldest not receive aught +for thy fellow monks, yet for thyself accept a little money for +sustenance, and a cloak to cover thee." But Barlaam answered and +said unto him, "Seeing that I would not receive aught for my +brethren (for they need not grasp at the world's chattels which +they have chosen to forsake), how shall I acquire for myself that +which I have denied them? If the possession of money were a good +thing, I should have let them share it before me. But, as I +understand that the possession thereof is deadly, I will hazard +neither them nor myself in such snares." + +But when Ioasaph had failed once again to persuade Barlaam, `twas +but a sign for a second petition, and he made yet another +request, that Barlaam should not altogether overlook his prayer, +nor plunge him in utter despair, but should leave him that stiff +shirt and rough mantle, both to remind him of his teacher's +austerities and to safe-guard him from all the workings of Satan, +and should take from him another cloak instead, in order that +"When thou seest my gift," said he, "thou mayest bear my +lowliness in remembrance." + +But the elder said, "It is not lawful for me to give thee my old +and worn out vestment, and take one that is new, lest I be +condemned to receive here the recompense of my slight labour. +But, not to thwart thy willing mind, let the garments given me by +thee be old ones, nothing different from mine own." So the +king's son sought for old shirts of hair, which he gave the aged +man, rejoicing to receive his in exchange, deeming them beyond +compare more precious than any regal purple. + +Now saintly Barlaam, all but ready for to start, spake concerning +his journey, and delivered Ioasaph his last lesson, saying, +"Brother beloved, and dearest son, whom I have begotten through +the Gospel, thou knowest of what King thou art the soldier, and +with whom thou hast made thy covenant. This thou must keep +steadfastly, and readily perform the duties of thy service, even +as thou didst promise the Lord of all in the script of thy +covenant, with the whole heavenly host present to attest it, and +record the terms; which if thou keep, thou shalt be blessed. +Esteem therefore nought in the present world above God and his +blessings. For what terror of this life can be so terrible as +the Gehenna of eternal fire, that burneth and yet hath no light, +that punisheth and never ceaseth? And which of the goodly things +of this world can give such gladness as that which the great God +giveth to those that love him? Whose beauty is unspeakable, and +power invincible, and glory everlasting; whose good things, +prepared for his friends, exceed beyond comparison all that is +seen; which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have +entered into the heart of man: whereof mayest thou be shown an +inheritor, preserved by the mighty hand of God!" + +Here the king's son burst into tears of pain and vexation, unable +to bear the parting from a loving father and excellent teacher. +"And who," quoth he, "shall fill thy place, O my father? And +whom like unto thee shall I find to be shepherd and guide of my +soul's salvation? What consolation may I find in my loss of +thee? Behold thou hast brought me, the wicked and rebellious +servant, back to God, and set me in the place of son and heir! +Thou hast sought me that was lost and astray on the mountain, a +prey for every evil beast, and folded me amongst the sheep that +had never wandered. Thou hast shown me the direct road to truth, +bringing me out of darkness and the shadow of death, and, +changing the course of my feet from the slippery, deadly, crooked +and winding pathway, hast ministered to me great and marvellous +blessings, whereof speech would fail to recount the exceeding +excellence. Great be the gifts that thou receivest at God's +hand, on account of me who am small! And may the Lord, who in +the rewards of his gifts alone overpasseth them that love him, +supply that which is lacking to my gratitude!" + +Here Barlaam cut short his lamentation, and rose and stood up to +pray, lifting up his either hand, and saying, "O God and Father +of our Lord Jesu Christ, which didst illuminate the things that +once were darkened, and bring this visible and invisible creation +out of nothing, and didst turn again this thine handiwork, and +sufferedst us not to walk after our foolishness, we give thanks +to thee and to thy Wisdom and Might, our Lord Jesu Christ, by +whom thou didst make the worlds, didst raise us from our fall, +didst forgive us our trespasses, didst restore us from wandering, +didst ransom us from captivity, didst quicken us from death by +the precious blood of thy Son our Lord. Upon thee I call, and +upon thine only begotten Son, and upon the Holy Ghost. Look upon +this thy spiritual sheep that hath come to be a sacrifice unto +thee through me thine unworthy servant, and do thou sanctify his +soul with thy might and grace. Visit this vine, which was +planted by thy Holy Spirit, and grant it to bear fruit, the fruit +of righteousness. Strengthen him, and confirm in him thy +covenant, and rescue him from the deceit of the devil. With the +wisdom of thy good Spirit teach him to do thy will, and take not +thy succour from him, but grant unto him, with me thine +unprofitable servant, to become an inheritor of thine everlasting +bliss, because thou art blessed and glorified for ever, Amen." + +When that he had ended his prayer, he turned him round and +embraced Ioasaph, now a son of his heavenly father, wishing him +eternal peace and salvation, and he departed out of the palace, +and went his way, rejoicing and giving thanks to God, who had +well ordered his steps for good. + + +XXII. + +After Barlaam was gone forth, Ioasaph gave himself unto prayer +and bitter tears, and said, "O God, haste thee to help me: O +Lord, make speed to help me, because the poor hath committed +himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the orphan. Look upon +me, and have mercy upon me; thou who willest have all men to be +saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth, save me, and +strengthen me, unworthy though I be, to walk the way of thy holy +commandments, for I am weak and miserable, and not able to do the +thing that is good. But thou art mighty to save me, who +sustainest and holdest together all things visible and invisible. +Suffer me not to walk after the evil will of the flesh, but teach +me to do thy will, and preserve me unto thine eternal and +blissful life. O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the consubstantial +and undivided Godhead, I call upon thee and glorify thee. Thou +art praised by all creation; thou art glorified by the +intelligent powers of the Angels for ever and ever. Amen." + +From that time forth he kept himself with all vigilance, seeking +to attain purity of soul and body, and living in continency and +prayers and intercessions all night long. In the day-time he was +often interrupted by the company of his fellows, and at times by +a visit from the king, or a call to the king's presence, but the +night would then make good the shortcomings of the day, whilst he +stood, in prayer and weeping until daybreak, calling upon God. +Whence in him was fulfilled the saying of the prophet, "In nights +raise your hands unto holy things; and bless ye the Lord." + +But Zardan observed Ioasaph's way of life, and was full of +sorrow, and his soul was pierced with grievous anxieties; and he +knew not what to do. At the last, worn down with pain, he +withdrew to his own home, feigning sickness. When this had come +to the knowledge of the king he appointed in his place another of +his trusty men to minister unto his son, while he himself, being +concerned for Zardan's health, sent a physician of reputation, +and took great pains that he should be healed. + +The physician, seeing that Zardan was in favour with the king, +attended him diligently, and, having right well judged his ease, +soon made this report to the king; "I have been unable to +discover any root of disease in the man: wherefore I suppose that +this weakness is to be ascribed to distress of spirit." But, on +hearing his words, the king suspected that his son had been wroth +with Zardan, and that this slight had caused his retirement. So, +wishing to search the matter, he sent Zardan word, saying +"To-morrow I shall come to see thee, and judge of the malady that +hath befallen thee." + +But Zardan, on hearing this message, at daybreak wrapt his cloak +around him and went to the king, and entered and fell in +obeisance on the ground. The king spake unto him, "Why hast thou +forced thyself to appear? I was minded to visit thee myself, and +so make known to all my friendship for thee." He answered, "My +sickness, O king, is no malady common to man; but pain of heart, +arising from an anxious and careful mind, hath caused my body to +suffer in sympathy. It had been folly in me, being as I am, not +to attend as a slave before thy might, but to wait for thy +Majesty to be troubled to come to me thy servant." Then the king +enquired after the cause of his despondency; Zardan answered and +said, "Mighty is my peril, and mighty are the penalties that I +deserve, and many deaths do I merit, for that I have been guilty +of neglect of thy behests, and have brought on thee such sorrow +as never before." + +Again said the king, "And of what neglect hast thou been guilty? +And what is the dread that encompasseth thee?" "I have been +guilty," said he, "of negligence in my close care of my lord thy +son. There came an evil man and a sorcerer, and communicated to +him the precepts of the Christian religion." Then he related to +the king, point by point, the words which the old man spake with +his son, and how gladly Ioasaph received his word, and how he had +altogether become Christ's. Moreover he gave the old man's name, +saying that it was Barlaam. Even before then the king had heard +tell of Barlaam's ways and his extreme severity of life; but, +when this came to the ears of the king, he was straightway +astonied by the dismay that fell on him, and was filled with +anger, and his blood well-nigh curdled at the tidings. +Immediately he bade call one Araches, who held the second rank +after the king, and was the chief in all his private councils: +besides which the man was learned in star-lore. When he was +come, with much despondency and dejection the king told him of +that which had happened. He, seeing the king's trouble and +confusion of mind, said, "O king, trouble and distress thyself no +more. We are not without hope that the prince will yet change +for the better: nay, I know for very certain that he will +speedily renounce the teaching of this deceiver, and conform to +thy will." + +By these words then did Araches set the king in happier frame of +mind; and they turned their thoughts to the thorough sifting of +the matter. "This, O king," said Araches, "do we first of all. +Make we haste to apprehend that infamous Barlaam. If we take +him, I am assured that we shall not miss the mark, nor be cheated +of our hope. Barlaam himself shall be persuaded, either by +persuasion or by divers engines of torture, against his will to +confess that he hath been talking falsely and at random, and +shall persuade my lord, thy son, to cleave to his father's creed. +But if we fail to take Barlaam, I know of an eremite, Nachor by +name, in every way like unto him: it is impossible to distinguish +the one from the other. He is of our opinion, and was my teacher +in studies. I will give him the hint, and go by night, and tell +him the full tale. Then will we blazon it abroad that Barlaam +hath been caught; but we shall exhibit Nachor, who, calling +himself Barlaam, shall feign that he is pleading the cause of the +Christians and standing forth as their champion. Then, after +much disputation, he shall be worsted and utterly discomfited. +The prince, seeing Barlaam worsted, and our side victorious, will +doubtless join the victors; the more so that he counteth it a +great duty to reverence thy majesty, and do thy pleasure. Also +the man who hath played the part of Barlaam shall be converted, +and stoutly proclaim that he hath been in error." + +Tim king was delighted with his words, and rocked himself on idle +hopes, and thought it excellent counsel. Thereupon, learning +that Barlaam was but lately departed, he was zealous to take him +prisoner. He therefore occupied most of the passes with troops +and captains, and, himself, mounting his chariot, gave furious +chase along the one road of which he was especially suspicious, +being minded to surprise Barlaam at all costs. But though he +toiled by the space of six full days, his labour was but spent in +vain. Then he himself remained behind in one of his palaces +situate in the country, but sent forward Araches, with horsemen +not a few, as far as the wilderness of Senaar, in quest of +Barlaam. When Araches arrived in that place, he threw all the +neighbour folk into commotion: and when they constantly affirmed +that they had never seen the man, he went forth into the desert +places, for to hunt out the Faithful. When he had gone through a +great tract of desert, and made the circuit of the fells around, +and journeyed a-foot over untrodden and pathless ravines, he and +his hosts arrived at a plateau. Standing thereon, he descried at +the foot of the mountain a company of hermits a-walking. +Straightway at their governor's word of command all his men ran +upon them in breathless haste, vying one with another, who should +arrive first. When they arrived, they came about the monks like +so many dogs, or evil beasts that plague mankind. And they +seized these men of reverend mien and mind, that bore on their +faces the hall-mark of their hermit life, and haled them before +the governor; but the monks showed no sign of alarm, no sign of +meanness or sullenness, and spake never a word. Their leader and +captain bore a wallet of hair, charged with the relics of some +holy Fathers departed this life. + +When Araches beheld them, but saw no Barlaam -- for he knew him +by sight -- he was overwhelmed with grief, and said unto them, +"Where is that deceiver who hath led the king's son astray?" The +bearer of the wallet answered, "He is not amongst us, God forbid! +For, driven forth by the grace of Christ, he avoideth us; but +amongst you he hath his dwelling." The governor said, "Thou +knowest him then?" "Yea," said the hermit, "I know him that is +called the deceiver, which is the devil, who dwelleth in your +midst and is worshipped and served by you." The governor said, +"It is for Barlaam that I make search, and I asked thee of him, +to learn where he is." The monk answered, "And wherefore then +spakest thou in this ambiguous manner, asking about him that had +deceived the king's son? If thou wast seeking Barlaam, thou +shouldest certainly have said, `Where is he that hath turned from +error and saved the king's son?' Barlaam is our brother and +fellow-monk. But now for many days past we have not seen his +face." Said Araches, "Show me his abode." The monk answered, +"Had he wished to see you, he would have come forth to meet you. +As for us, it is not lawful to make known to you his hermitage." + +Thereupon the governor waxed full of indignation, and, casting a +haughty and savage glance upon him, said, "Ye shall die no +ordinary death, except ye immediately bring Barlaam before me." +"What," said the monk, "seest thou in our case that should by its +attractions cause us to cling to life, and be afraid of death at +thy hands? Whereas we should the rather feel grateful to thee +for removing us from life in the close adherence to virtue. For +we dread, not a little, the uncertainty of the end, knowing not +in what state death shall overtake us, lest perchance a slip of +the inclination, or some despiteful dealing of the devil, may +alter the constancy of our choice, and mis-persuade us to think +or do contrary to our covenants with God. Wherefore abandon all +hope of gaining the knowledge that ye desire, and shrink not to +work your will. We shall neither reveal the dwelling-place of +our brother, whom God loveth, although we know it, nor shall we +betray any other monasteries unbeknown to ye. We will not endure +to escape death by such cowardice. Nay, liefer would we die +honourably, and offer unto God, after the sweats of virtue, the +life-blood of courage." + +That man of sin could not brook this boldness of speech, and was +moved to the keenest passion against this high and noble spirit, +and afflicted the monks with many stripes and tortures. Their +courage and nobility won admiration even from that tyrant. But, +when after many punishments he failed to persuade them, and none +of them consented to discover Barlaam, he took and ordered them +to be led to the king, bearing with them the wallet with the +relics, and to be beaten and shamefully entreated as they went. + + +XXIII. + +After many days Araches brought them to the king, and declared +their case. Then he set them before the bitterly incensed king: +and he, when he saw them, boiled over with fury and was like to +one mad. He ordered them to be beaten without mercy, and, when +he saw them cruelly mangled with scourges, could scarcely +restrain his madness, and order the tormentors to cease. Then +said he unto them, "Why bear ye about these dead men's bones? If +ye carry these bones through affection for those men to whom they +belong, this very hour I will set you in their company, that ye +may meet your lost friends and be duly grateful to me." The +captain and leader of that godly band, setting at naught the +king's threats, showing no sign of the torment that he had +undergone, with free voice and radiant countenance that signified +the grace that dwelt in his soul, cried out, "We carry about +these clean and holy bones, O king, because we attest in due form +our love of those marvellous men to whom they belong: and because +we would bring ourselves to remember their wrestlings and lovely +conversation, to rouse up ourselves to the like zeal; and because +we would catch some vision of the rest and felicity wherein they +now live, and thus, as we call them blessed, and provoke one +another to emulate them, strive to follow in their footsteps: +because moreover, we find thereby that the thought of death, +which is right profitable, lendeth wings of zeal to our religious +exercises; and lastly, because we derive sanctification from +their touch." + +Again said the king, "If the thought of death be profitable, as +ye say, why should ye not reach that thought of death by the +bones of the bodies that are now your own, and are soon to +perish, rather than by the bones of other men which have already +perished?" + +The monk said, "Five reasons I gave thee, why we carry about +these relics; and thou, making answer to one only, art like to be +mocking us. But know thou well that the bones of them, that have +already departed this life, bring the thought of death more +vividly before us than do the bones of the living. But since +thou judgest otherwise, and since the bones of thine own body are +to thee a type of death, why dost thou not recollect thy latter +end so shortly to come, and set thine house in order, instead of +giving up thy soul to all kinds of iniquities, and violently and +unmercifully murdering the servants of God and lovers of +righteousness, who have done thee no wrong, and seek not to share +with thee in present goods, nor are ambitious to rob thee of +them?" + +Said the king, "I do well to punish you, ye clever misleaders of +the folk, because ye deceive all men, counselling them to abstain +from the enjoyments of life; and because, instead of the sweets +of life and the allures of appetite and pleasure, ye constrain +them to choose the rough, filthy and squalid way, and preach that +they should render to Jesus the honour due unto the gods. +Accordingly, in order that the people may not follow your deceits +and leave the land desolate, and, forsaking the gods of their +fathers, serve another, I think it just to subject you to +punishment and death." + +The monk answered, "If thou art eager that all should partake of +the good things of life, why dost thou not distribute dainties +and riches equally amongst all? And why is it that the common +herd are pinched with poverty, while thou addest ever to thy +store by seizing for thyself the goods of others? Nay, thou +carest not for the weal of the many, but fattenest thine own +flesh, to be meat for the worms to feed on. Wherefore also thou +hast denied the God of all, and called them gods that are not, +the inventors of all wickedness, in order that, by wantonness and +wickedness after their example, thou mayest gain the title of +imitator of the gods. For, as your gods have done, why should +not also the men that follow them do? Great then is the error +that thou hast erred, O king. Thou fearest that we should +persuade certain of the people to join with us, and revolt from +thy hand, and place themselves in that hand that holdeth all +things, for thou willest the ministers of thy covetousness to be +many, that they may be miserable while thou reapest profit from +their toil; just as a man, who keepeth hounds or falcons tamed +for hunting, before the hunt may be seen to pet them, but, when +they have once seized the quarry, taketh the game with violence +out of their mouths. So also thou, willing that there should be +many to pay thee tribute and toll from land and water, pretendest +to care for their welfare, but in truth bringest on them and +above all on thyself eternal ruin; and simply to pile up gold, +more worthless than dung or rottenness, thou hast been deluded +into taking darkness for light. But recover thy wits from this +earthly sleep: open thy sealed eyes, and behold the glory of God +that shineth round about us all; and come at length to thyself. +For saith the prophet, `Take heed, ye unwise among the people, +and, O ye fools, understand at last.' Understand thou that there +is no God except our God, and no salvation except in him." + +But the king said, "Cease this foolish babbling, and anon +discover to me Barlaam: else shalt thou taste instruments of +torture such as thou hast never tasted before." That noble- +minded, great-hearted monk, that lover of the heavenly +philosophy, was not moved by the king's threats, but stood +unflinching, and said, "We are not commanded to fulfil thy hest, +O king, but the orders of our Lord and God who teacheth us +temperance, that we should be lords over all pleasures and +passions, and practise fortitude, so as to endure all toil and +all ill-treatment for righteousness' sake. The more perils that +thou subjectest us to for the sake of our religion, the more +shalt thou be our benefactor. Do therefore as thou wilt: for we +shall not consent to do aught outside our duty, nor shall we +surrender ourselves to sin. Deem not that it is a slight sin to +betray a fellow-combatant and fellow-soldier into thy hands. +Nay, but thou shalt not have that scoff to make at us; no, not if +thou put us to ten thousand deaths. We be not such cowards as to +betray our religion through dread of thy torments, or to disgrace +the law divine. So then, if such be thy purpose, make ready +every weapon to defend thy claim; for to us to live is Christ, +and to die for him is the best gain." + +Incensed with anger thereat, the monarch ordered the tongues of +these Confessors to be rooted out, and their eyes digged out, and +likewise their hands and feet lopped off. Sentence passed, the +henchmen and guards surrounded and mutilated them, without pity +and without ruth. And they plucked out their tongues from their +mouths with prongs, and severed them with brutal severity, and +they digged out their eyes with iron claws, and stretched their +arms and legs on the rack, and lopped them off. But those +blessed, shamefast, noble-hearted men went bravely to torture +like guests to a banquet, exhorting one another to meet death for +Christ his sake undaunted. + +In such divers tortures did these holy monks lay down their lives +for the Lord. They were in all seventeen. By common consent, +the pious mind is superior to sufferings, as hath been said by +one, but not of us, when narrating the martydom of the aged +priest, and of the seven sons with their equally brave mother +when contending for the law of their fathers: whose bravery and +lofty spirit, however, was equalled by these marvellous fathers +and citizens and heirs of Hierusalem that is above. + + +XXIV. + +After the monks had made this godly end, the king bade Araches, +his chief councillor, now that they had failed of their first +plan, to look to the second and summon the man Nachor. At dead +of night Araches repaired to his cave (he dwelt in the desert +practising the arts of divination), and told him of their plans, +and returned to the king at day-break. Again he demanded +horsemen, and made as though he went in quest of Barlaam. When +he was gone forth, and was walking the desert, a man was seen to +issue from a ravine. Araches gave command to his men to pursue +him. They took and brought him before their master. When asked +who he was, what his religion and what his name, the man declared +himself a Christian and gave his name as Barlaam, even as he had +been instructed. Araches made great show of joy, apprehended him +and returned quickly to the king, and told his tale and produced +his man. Then said the king in the hearing of all present, "Art +thou the devil's workman, Barlaam?" But he denied it, saying, "I +am God's workman, not the devil's. Revile me not; for I am thy +debtor to render me much thanks, because I have taught thy son to +serve God, and have turned him from error to the true God, and +have schooled him in all manner of virtue." Feigning anger, +again spake the king, "Though I ought to allow thee never a word, +and give thee no room for defence, but rather do thee to death +without question, yet such is my humanity that I will bear with +thine effrontery until on a set day I try thy cause. If thou be +persuaded by me, thou shalt receive pardon: if not, thou shalt +die the death." With these words he delivered him to Araches, +commanding that he should be most strictly guarded. + +On the morrow the king removed thence, and came back to his own +palace, and it was blazoned abroad that Barlaam was captured, so +that the king's son heard thereof and was exceeding sad at heart, +and could in no wise refrain from weeping. With groans and +lamentations he importuned God, and called upon him to succour +the aged man. Nor did the good God despise his complaint, for he +is loving with them that abide him in the day of trouble, and +knoweth them that fear him. Wherefore in a night-vision he made +known the whole plot to the young prince, and strengthened and +cheered him for the trial of his righteousness. So, when the +prince awoke from sleep, he found that his heart, erstwhile so +sore and heavy, was now full of joyaunce, courage and pleasant +light. But the king rejoiced at that which he had done and +planned, imagining that he was well advised, and showering thanks +on Araches. But wickedness lied to itself, to use the words of +holy David, and righteousness overcame iniquity, completely +overthrowing it, and causing the memorial thereof to perish with +sound, as our tale in its sequel shall show. + +After two days the king visited his son's palace. When his son +came forth for to meet him, instead of kissing him, as was his +wont, the father put on a show of distress and anger, and entered +the royal chamber, and there sat down frowning. Then calling to +his son, he said, "Child, what is this report that soundeth in +mine ears, and weareth away my soul with despondency? Never, I +ween, was man more filled with gladness of heart at the birth of +a son than was I at thine; and, I trow, never was man so +distressed and cruelly treated by child as I have now been by +thee. Thou hast dishonoured my grey hairs, and taken away the +light of mine eyes, and loosed the strength of my sinews; `for +the thing which I greatly feared concerning thee is come upon me, +and that which I was afraid of hath come unto me.' Thou art +become a joy to mine enemies, and a laughing~stock to mine +adversaries. With untutored mind and childish judgement thou +hast followed the teaching of the deceivers and esteemed the +counsel of the malicious above mine; thou hast forsaken the +worship of our gods and become the servant of a strange God. +Child, wherefore hast thou done this? I hoped to bring thee up +in all safety, and have thee for the staff and support of mine +old age, and leave thee, as is most meet, to succeed me in my +kingdom, but thou wast not ashamed to play against me the part of +a relentless foe. And shouldst thou not rather have listened to +me, and followed my injunctions, than have obeyed the idle and +foolish pratings of that crafty old knave, who taught thee to +choose a sour life instead of a sweet, and abandon the charms of +dalliance, to tread the hard and rough road, which the Son of +Mary ordereth men to go? Dost thou not fear the displeasure of +the most puissant gods, lest they strike thee with lightning, or +quell thee with thunderbolt, or overwhelm thee in the yawning +earth, because thou hast rejected and scorned those deities that +have so richly blessed us, and adorned our brow with the kingly +diadem, and made populous nations to be our servants, that, +beyond my hope, in answer to my prayer and supplication, allowed +thee to be born, and see the sweet life of day, and hast joined +thyself unto the Crucified, duped by the hopes of his servants +who tell thee fables of worlds to come, and drivel about the +resurrection of dead bodies, and bring in a thousand more +absurdities to catch fools? But now, dearest son, if thou hast +any regard for me thy father, bid a long farewell to these +longwinded follies, and come sacrifice to the gracious gods, and +let us propitiate them with hecatombs and drink-offerings, that +they may grant thee pardon for thy fall; for they be able and +strong to bless and to punish. And wouldst thou have an example +of that which I say? Behold us, who by them have been advanced +to this honour, repaying them for their kindness by honouring +their worshippers and chastising the runagates." + +Now when the king had ended all this idle parleying, gainsaying +and slandering of our religion, and belauding and praising of his +idolatry, the saintly young prince saw that the matter needed no +further to be hid in a corner, but to be lighted and made plain +to the eyes of all; and, full of boldness and courage, he said: + +"That which I have done, sir, I will not deny. I have fled from +darkness and run to the light: I have left error and joined the +household of truth: I have deserted the service of devils, and +joined the service of Christ, the Son and Word of God the Father, +at whose decree the world was brought out of nothing; who, after +forming man out of clay, breathed into him the breath of life, +and set him to live in a paradise of delight, and, when he had +broken his commandment and was become subject unto death, and had +fallen into the power of the dread ruler of this world, did not +fail him, but wrought diligently to bring him back to his former +honour. Wherefore he, the framer of all Creation and maker of +our race, became man for our sake, and, coming from a holy +Virgin's womb; on earth conversed with men: for us ungrateful +servants did the master endure death, even the death of the +Cross, that the tyranny of sin might be destroyed, that the +former condemnation might be abolished, that the gates of heaven +might be open to us again. Thither he hath exalted our nature, +and set it on the throne of glory, and granted to them that love +him an everlasting kingdom and joys beyond all that tongue can +tell, or ear can hear. He is the mighty and only potentate, King +of kings and Lord of lords, whose might is invincible, and whose +lordship is beyond compare, who only is holy and dwelleth in +holiness, who with the Father and with the Holy Ghost is +glorified; into this faith I have been baptized. And I +acknowledge and glorify and worship One God in Three persons, of +one substance, and not to be confounded, increate and immortal, +eternal, infinite, boundless, without body, without passions, +immutable, unchangeable, undefinable, the fountain of goodness, +righteousness and everlasting light, maker of all things visible +and invisible, containing and sustaining all things, provident +for all, ruler and King of all. Without him was there nothing +made, nor without his providence can aught subsist. He is the +life of all, the support of all, the light of all, being wholly +sweetness and insatiable desire, the summit of aspiration. To +leave God, then, who is so good, so wise, so mighty, and to serve +impure devils, makers of all sinful lusts, and to assign worship +to deaf and dumb images, that are not, and never shall be, were +not that the extreme of folly and madness? When was there ever +heard utterance or language from their lips? When have they +given even the smallest answer to their bedesmen? When have they +walked, or received any impression of sense? Those of them that +stand have never thought of sitting down; and those that sit have +never been seen to rise. From an holy man have I learned the +ugliness, ill savour and insensibility of these idols, and, +moreover, the rottenness and weakness of the devils that operate +in them and by them deceive you; and I loathe their wickednesses +and, hating them with a perfect hatred, have joined myself to the +living and true God, and him will I serve until my latest breath, +that my spirit also may return into his hands. When these +unspeakable blessings came in my path I rejoiced to be freed from +the bondage of evil devils, and to be reclaimed from dire +captivity and to be illumined with the light of the countenance +of the Lord. But my soul was distressed and divided asunder, +that thou, my lord and father, didst not share in my blessings. +Yet I feared the stubbornness of thy mind, and kept my grief to +myself, not wishing to anger thee; but, without ceasing, I prayed +God to draw thee to himself, and call thee back from the long +exile that thou hast imposed upon thyself, a runagate alas! from +righteousness, and a servant of all sin and wickedness. But sith +thou thyself, O my father, hast brought mine affairs to light, +hear the sum of my resolve: I will not be false to my covenant +with Christ; no, I swear it by him that bought me out of slavery +with his own precious blood; even if I must needs die a thousand +deaths for his sake, die I will. Knowing then how matters now +stand with me, prithee, no longer trouble thyself in endeavouring +to persuade me to change my good confession. For as it were a +thankless and never ending task for thee to try to grasp the +heavens with thy hand, or to dry up the waters of the sea, so +hard were it for thee to change me. Either then now listen to my +counsel, and join the household of Christ, and so thou shalt gain +blessings past man's understanding, and we shall be fellows with +one another by faith, even as by nature; or else, be well +assured, I shall depart thy sonship, and serve my God with a +clear conscience." + +Now when the king heard all these words, he was furiously +enraged: and, seized with ungovernable anger, he cried out +wrathfully against him, and gnashed his teeth fiercely, like any +madman. "And who," said he, "is blameable for all my misfortunes +but myself, who have dealt with thee so kindly, and cared for +thee as no father before? Hence the perversity and contrariness +of thy mind, gathering strength by the licence that I gave thee, +hath made thy madness to fall upon mine own pate. Rightly +prophesied the astrologers in thy nativity that thou shouldest +prove a knave and villain, an impostor and rebellious son. But +now, if thou wilt make void my counsel, and cease to be my son, I +will become thine enemy, and entreat thee worse than ever man yet +entreated his foes." + +Again said Ioasaph, "Why, O king, hast thou been kindled to +wrath? Art thou grieved that I have gained such bliss? Why, +what father was ever seen to be sorrowful in the prosperity of +his son? Would not such an one be called an enemy rather than a +father? Therefore will I no more call thee my father, but will +withdraw from thee, as a man fleeth from a snake, if I know that +thou grudgest me my salvation, and with violent hand forcest me +to destruction. If thou wilt force me, and play the tyrant, as +thou hast threatened, be assured that thou shalt gain nought +thereby save to exchange the name of father for that of tyrant +and murderer. It were easier for thee to attain to the ways Of +the eagle, and, like him, cleave the air, than to alter my +loyalty to Christ, and that good confession that I have confessed +in him. But be wise, O my father, and shake off the rheum and +mist from the eyes of thy mind, lift them aloft and look upward +to view the light of my God that enlighteneth all around, and be +thyself, at last, enlightened with this light most sweet. Why +art thou wholly given up to the passions and desires of the +flesh, and why is there no looking upward? Know thou that all +flesh is grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. +The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away; but the +word of my Lord, which by the gospel is preached unto all, shall +endure for ever. Why then dost thou thus madly cling to and +embrace that glory, which, like spring flowers, fadeth and +perisheth, and to beastly unsavoury wantonness, and to the +abominable passions of the belly and the members thereunder, +which for a season please the senses of fools, but afterwards +make returns more bitter than gall, when the shadows and dreams +of this vain life are passed away, and the lovers thereof, and +workers of iniquity are imprisoned in the perpetual pain of dark +and unquenchable fire, where the worm that sleepeth not gnaweth +for ever, and where the fire burneth without ceasing and without +quenching through endless ages? And with these sinners alas! +thou too shalt be imprisoned and grievously tormented, and shalt +bitterly rue thy wicked counsels, and bitterly regret thy days +that now are, and think upon my words, but there shall be no +advantage in repentance; for in death there is no confession and +repentance. But the present is the set time for work: the future +for reward. Even if the pleasures of the present world were not +evanescent and fleeting, but were to endure for ever with their +owners, not even thus should any man choose them before the gifts +of Christ, and the good things that pass man's understanding. +Soothly, as the sun surpasseth in radiance and brightness the +dead of night, even so, and much more so, doth the happiness +promised to those that love God excel in glory and magnificence +all earthly kinship and glory; and there is utter need for a man +to choose the more excellent before the more worthless. And +forasmuch as everything here is fleeting and subject to decay, +and passeth and vanisheth as a dream, and as a shadow and vision +of sleep; and as one may sooner trust the unstable breezes, or +the tracks of a ship passing over the waves, than the prosperity +of men, what simplicity, nay, what folly and madness it is to +choose the corruptible and perishable, the weak things of no +worth, rather than the incorruptible and everlasting, the +imperishable and endless, and, by the temporal enjoyment of these +things, to forfeit the eternal fruition of the happiness to come! +Wilt thou not understand this, my father? Wilt thou not haste +past the things which haste pass thee, and attach thyself to that +which endureth? Wilt thou not prefer a home land to a foreign +land, light to darkness, the spirit to the flesh, eternal life to +the shadow of death, the indestructible to the fleeting? Wilt +thou not escape from the grievous bondage of the cruel prince of +this world, I mean the evil one, the devil, and become the +servant of the good, tenderhearted, and all merciful Lord? Wilt +thou not break away from serving thy many gods, falsely so +called, and serve the one, true and living God? Though thou hast +sinned against him often times by blaspheming him, and often +times by slaying his servants with dread torments, yet, I know +well, that if thou turn again, he shall in his kindness receive +thee, and no more remember thine offences: because he willeth not +the death of a sinner but rather that he may turn and live -- he, +who came down from the unspeakable heights, to seek us that had +gone astray: who endured for us Cross, scourge and death: who +bought with his precious blood us who had been sold in bondage +under sin. Unto him be glory and praise for ever and ever! +Amen." + +The king was overwhelmed with astonishment and anger; with +astonishment, at his son's wisdom and unanswerable words; with +anger, at the persistence with which he denounced his father's +gods, and mocked and ridiculed the whole tenour of his life. He +could not admit the glory of his discourse because of the +grossness of the darkness within, but natural affection forbad +him to punish his son, or evilly to entreat him, and he utterly +despaired of moving him by threats. Fearing then that, if he +argued further with him, his son's boldness and bitter satire of +the gods might kindle him to hotter anger, and lead him to do him +a mischief, he arose in wrath and withdrew. "Would that thou +hadst never been born," he cried, "nor hadst come to the light of +day, destined as thou weft to be such an one, a blasphemer of the +gods, and a renegade from thy father's love and admonition" But +thou shalt not alway mock the invincible gods, nor shall their +enemies rejoice for long, nor shall these knavish sorceries +prevail. For except thou become obedient unto me, and right- +minded toward the gods, I will first deliver time to sundry +tortures, and then put thee to the cruellest death, dealing with +thee not as with a son, but as with an enemy and rebel." + + +XXV. + +In such wise did the father threaten and wrathfully retire. But +the son entered his own bedchamber, and lifted up his eyes to the +proper judge of his cause, and cried out of the depth of his +heart, "O Lord my God, my sweet hope and unerring promise, the +sure refuge of them that are wholly given up to thee, with +gracious and kindly eye look upon the contrition of my heart, and +leave me not, neither forsake me. But, according to thine +unerring pledge, be thou with me, thine unworthy and sorry +servant. Thee I acknowledge and confess, the maker and provider +of all creation. Therefore do thou thyself enable me to continue +in this good confession, until my dying breath: look upon me, and +pity me; and stand by and keep me unhurt by any working of Satan. +Look upon me, O King: for my heart is enkindled with longing +after thee, and is parched as with burning thirst in the desert, +desiring thee, the well of immortality. Deliver not to the wild +beasts my soul that confesseth thee: forget not the soul of the +poor for ever; but grant me that am a sinner throughout my length +of days to suffer all things for thy name's sake and in the +confession of thee, and to sacrifice my whole self unto thee. +For, with thy might working in them, even the feeble shall wax +exceeding strong; for thou only art the unconquerable ally and +merciful God, whom all creation blesseth, glorified for ever and +ever. Amen." + +When he had thus prayed, he felt divine comfort stealing over his +heart, and, fulfilled with courage, he spent the whole night in +prayer. Meanwhile the king communed with Araches, his friend, as +touching his son's matters, and signified to him his son's sheer +audacity and unchangeable resolution. Araches gave counsel that +he should, in his dealings with him, show the utmost kindness and +courtesy, in the hope, perchance, of alluring him by flattering +attentions. The day following, the king came to his son, and sat +down, and called him to his side. He embraced and kissed him +affectionately, coaxing him gently and tenderly, and said, "O my +darling and well-beloved son, honour thou thy father's grey +hairs: listen to my entreaty, and come, do sacrifice to the gods; +thus shalt thou win their favour, and receive at their hands +length of days, and the enjoyment of all glory and of an +undisputed kingdom, and happiness of every sort. Thus shalt thou +be well pleasing to me thy father throughout life and be honoured +and lauded of all men. It is a great count in the score of +praise to be obedient to thy father, especially in a good cause, +and to gain the goodwill of the gods. What thinkest thou, my +son? Is it that I have willingly declined from the right, and +chosen to travel on the wrong road: or that, from ignorance and +inexperience of the good, I have given myself to destruction? +Well, if thou thinkest that I willingly prefer the evil to the +profitable, and choose death before life, thou seemest to me, +son, completely to have missed the goal in judging. Dost thou +not see to what discomfort and trouble I often expose myself in +mine expeditions against my foes, or when I am engaged in divers +other business for the public good, not sparing myself even +hunger and thirst, if need be, the march on foot, or the couch on +the ground? As for riches and money, such is my contempt and +scorn thereof, that I have at times ungrudgingly lavished all the +stores of my palace, to build mighty temples for the gods, and to +adorn them with all manner of splendour, or else to distribute +liberal largess to my soldiers. Possessing then, as I also do, +this contempt of pleasure and this courage in danger, what zeal +would I not have devoted to contemning all else, and winning my +salvation, had I only found that the religion of the Galileans +were better than mine own? But, if thou condemnest me for +ignorance and inexperience of the good, consider how many +sleepless nights I have spent, with some problem before me, oft- +times no very important one, giving myself no rest until I had +found the clear and most apt solution. + +Seeing then that I reckon that not even the least of these +temporal concerns is unworthy of thought until all be fitly +completed for the advantage of all and seeing that all (I ween) +bear me witness that no man under the sun can search out secrets +with more diligence than I, how then could I have considered +divine things, that call for worship and serious consideration, +unworthy of thought, and not rather have devoted all my zeal and +might, all my mind and soul to the investigation thereof, to find +out the right and the true? Aye, and I have laboriously sought +thereafter. Many nights and days have I spent thus: many wise +and learned men have I called to my council; and with many of +them that are called Christians have I conversed. By untiring +enquiry and ardent search I have discovered the pathway of truth, +witnessed by wise men honoured for their intelligence and wit, -- +that there is none other faith than ours. This is the path that +we tread to-day, worshipping the most puissant gods, and holding +fast to that sweet and delightsome life, given by them to all +men, fulfilled with all manner of pleasure and gladness of heart, +which the leaders and priests of the Galileans have in their +folly rejected; so that, in hope of some other uncertain life, +they have readily cast away this sweet light, and all those +pleasures which the gods have bestowed on us for enjoyment, and +all the while know not what they say, nor whereof they +confidently affirm. + +"But thou, dearest son, obey thy father, who, by diligent and +honest search, hath found the real good. Lo, I have shown thee +that, neither willingly, I no, nor by way of ignorance, have I +failed of the good, but rather that I have found and laid hold +thereon. And I earnestly desire that thou too shouldest not +wander as a fool, but shouldest follow me. Have respect then +unto thy father. Dost thou not know how lovely a thing it is to +obey one's father, and please him in all ways? Contrariwise, how +deadly and cursed a thing it is to provoke a father and despise +his commands? As many as have done so, have come to a miserable +end. But be not thou, my son, one of their number. Rather do +that which is well pleasing to thy sire, and so mayest thou +obtain all happiness and inherit my blessing and my kingdom!" + +The high-minded and noble youth listened to his father's windy +discourse and foolish opposition, and recognized therein the +devices of the crooked serpent, and how standing at his right +hand he had prepared a snare for his feet, and was scheming how +to overthrow his righteous soul, and hinder him of the prize laid +up in store. Therefore the prince set before his eyes the +commandment of the Lord, which saith, "I came not to send peace, +but strife and a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance +against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and so +forth; and "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not +worthy of me"; and "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will +I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." When he had +considered these things, and fettered his soul with divine fear, +and strengthened it with longing desire and love, right +opportunely he remembered the saying of Solomon, "There is a time +to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." +First of all he prayed in silence, and said, "Have mercy of me, +Lord God, have mercy of me; for my soul trusteth in thee; and +under the shadow of thy wings I shall hope till wickedness +overpass. I shall cry to the highest God; to God that did well +to me," and the rest of the psalm. + +Then said Ioasaph to the king, "To honour one's father, and to +obey his commands, and to serve him with good will and affection +is taught us by the Lord of us all, who hath implanted in our +hearts this natural affection. But, when loving devotion to our +parents bringeth our soul into peril, and separateth her from her +Maker, then we are commanded, at all costs, to cut it out, and, +on no account, to yield to them that would depart us from God, +but to hate and avoid them, even if it be our father that issueth +the abominable command, or our mother, or our king, or the master +of our very life. Wherefore it is impossible for me, out of +devotion to my father, to forfeit God. So, prithee, trouble not +thyself, nor me: but be persuaded, and let us both serve the true +and living God, for the objects of thy present worship are idols, +the works of men's hands, devoid of breath, and deaf, and give +nought but destruction and eternal punishment to their +worshippers. + +"But if this be not thy pleasure, deal with me even as thou wilt: +for I am a servant of Christ, and neither flatteries nor torments +shall separate me from his love, as I told thee yesterday, +swearing it by my Master's name, and confirming the word with +surest oath. But, whereas thou saidest that thou didst neither +wilfully do wrong, nor didst fail of the mark through ignorance, +but after much laborious enquiry hadst ascertained that it was +truly a good thing to worship idols and to be riveted to the +pleasures of the passions -- that thou art wilfully a wrong doer, +I may not say. But this I know full well, and would have thee +know, O my father, that thou art surrounded with a dense mist of +ignorance, and, walking in darkness that may be felt, seest not +even one small glimmer of light. Wherefore thou hast lost the +right pathway, and wanderest over terrible cliffs and chasms. +Holding darkness for light, and clinging to death as it were +life, thou deemest that thou art well advised, and hast reflected +to good effect: but it is not so, not so. The objects of thy +veneration are not gods but statues of devils, charged with all +their filthy power; nor is the life, which thou pronouncest sweet +and pleasant, and thinkest to be full of delight and gladness of +heart, such in kind: but the same is abominable, according to the +word of truth, and to be abhorred. For for a time it sweeteneth +and tickleth the gullet, but afterwards it maketh the risings +more bitter than gall (as said my teacher), and is sharper than +any two-edged sword. + +"How shall I describe to thee the evils of this life? I will +tell them, and they shall be more in number than the sand. For +such life is the fishhook of the devil, baited with beastly +pleasure, whereby he deceiveth and draggeth his prey into the +depth of hell. Whereas the good things, promised by my Master, +which thou callest `the hope of some other uncertain life,' are +true and unchangeable; they know no end, and are not subject to +decay. There is no language that can declare the greatness of +yonder glory and delight, of the joy unspeakable, and the +everlasting gladness. As thou thyself seest, we all die; and +there is no man that shall live and not see death. But one day +we shall all rise again, when our Lord Jesus Christ shall come, +the Son of God, in unspeakable glory and dread power, the only +King of kings, and Lord of lords; to whom every knee shall bow, +of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the +earth. Such terror shall he then inspire that the very powers of +heaven shall be shaken: and before him there shall stand in fear +thousand thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand of Angels +and Archangels, and the whole world shall be full of fear and +terror. For one of the Archangels shall sound with the trump of +God, and immediately the heavens shall be rolled together as a +scroll; and the earth shall be rent, and shall give up the dead +bodies of all men that ever were since the first man Adam until +that day. And then shall all men that have died since the +beginning of the world in the twinkling of an eye stand alive +before the judgement seat of the immortal Lord, and every man +shall give account of his deeds. Then shall the righteous shine +forth as the sun; they that believed in the Father, Son and Holy +Ghost, and ended this present life in good works. And how can I +describe to thee the glory that shall receive them at that day? +For though I compare their brightness and beauty to the light of +the sun or to the brightest lightning flash, yet should I fail to +do justice to their brightness. Eye hath not seen, nor ear +heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things +which God hath prepared for them that love him, in the kingdom of +heaven, in the light which no man can approach unto, in his +unspeakable and unending glory. + +"Such joys and such bliss shall the righteous obtain, but they +that have denied the only true God and not known their Maker and +Creator, but have worshipped foul devils, and rendered homage to +dumb idols, and loved the pleasures of this vain world, and, like +swine, wallowed in the mire of sinful lusts, and made their lives +a headquarters for all wickedness, shall stand naked and laid +bare, downright ashamed and downcast, pitiable in appearance and +in fact, set forth for a reproach to all creation. All their +life in word, deed and thought shall come before their faces. +Then, after this bitter disgrace and unbearable reproach, shall +they be sentenced to the unquenchable and light-less fire of +Gehenna, unto the outer darkness, the gnashing of teeth and the +venomous worm. This is their portion, this their lot, in the +which they shall dwell together in punishment for endless ages, +because they rejected the good things offered them in promise, +and, for the sake of the pleasure of sin for a season, made +choice of eternal punishment. For these reasons -- to obtain +that unspeakable bliss, to enjoy that ineffable glory, to equal +the Angels in splendour, and to stand with boldness before the +good and most sweetest Lord, to escape those bitter and unending +punishments and that galling shame -- time after time, were it +not worth men's while to sacrifice their riches and bodies, nay, +even their very lives? Who is so cowardly, who so foolish, as +not to endure a thousand temporal deaths, to escape eternal and +everlasting death, and to inherit life, blissful and +imperishable, and to shine in the light of the blessed and life- +giving Trinity?" + + +XXVI. + +When the king heard these words, and saw the steadfastness, and +unbuxomness of his son, who yielded neither to flattery, nor +persuasion, nor threat, he marvelled indeed at the persuasiveness +of his speech and his irrefutable answers, and was convicted by +his own conscience secretly assuring him that Ioasaph spake truly +and aright. But he was dragged back by his evil habit and +passions, which, from long use, had taken firm grip on him, and +held him in as with bit and bridle, and suffered him not to +behold the light of truth. So he left no stone unturned, as the +saying is, and adhered to his old purpose, determining to put +into action the plot which he and Araches had between them +devised. Said he to his son, "Although, child, thou oughtest in +all points simply to give in to my commands, yet, because thou +art stubborn and disobedient, and hast thus stiffly opposed me, +insisting that thine own opinion should prevail over all, bid we +now farewell to vain insistance, and let persuasion be now our +policy. And, forasmuch as Barlaam, thy deceiver, is here, my +prisoner in iron chains, I will make a great assembly, and summon +all our people and your Galileans, to one place; and I will +charge heralds to proclaim expressly that none of the Christians +shall fear, but that all shall muster without dread; and we will +hold debate together. If your side win, then shall ye and your +Barlaam gain your desires; but if ye lose, then shall ye with +right good will yield yourselves to my commands." + +But this truly wise and prudent youth, forewarned, by the +heavenly vision sent him, of his father's mischief, replied, "The +Lord's will be done! Be it according to thy command! May our +good God and Lord himself vouchsafe that we wander not from the +right way, for my soul trusteth in him, and he shall be merciful +unto me." There and then did the king command all, whether +idolaters or Christians, to assemble. Letters were despatched in +all quarters: heralds proclaimed it in every village town that no +Christian need fear any secret surprise, but all might come +together without fear, as friends and kindred, for the honest and +unrestrained enquiry that should be held with their chief and +captain, Barlaam. In like manner also he summoned the initiate +and the temple-keepers of his idols, and wise men of the +Chaldeans and Indians that were in all his kingdom, beside +certain augurs, sorcerers and seers, that they might get the +better of the Christians. + +Then were there gathered together multitudes that held his +loathly religion; but of the Christians was there found one only +that came to the help of the supposed Barlaam. His name was +Barachias. For of the Faithful, some were dead, having fallen +victims to the fury of the governors of the cities; and some were +hiding in mountains and dens, in dread of the terrors hanging +over them; while others had feared the threats of the king, and +durst not adventure themselves into the light of day, but were +worshippers by night, serving Christ in secret, and in no wise +boldly confessing him. So noble-hearted Barachias came alone to +the contest, to help and champion the truth. + +The king sat down before all on a doom-stool high and exalted, +and bade his son sit beside him. He, in reverence and awe of his +father, consented not thereto, but sat near him on the ground. +There stood the learned in the wisdom which God hath made +foolish, whose unwise hearts had gone astray, as saith the +Apostle; for, "professing themselves to be wise, they became +fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an +image made like to corruptible man, and four-footed beasts, and +creeping things." These were assembled for to join argument with +the king's son and his fellows, and on them was fulfilled the +proverb, "Gazelle against lion." The one made the most High his +house of defence, and his hope was under the shadow of his wings; +while the others trusted in the princes of this world, who are +made of none effect, and in the ruler of the darkness of this +world, to whom they have subjected themselves miserably and +wretchedly. + +Now came on Nachor, in the disguise of Barlaam; and the king's +side were like to reach their goal; but, once again, very +different was the ordering of the wise providence of God. When +all the company was come, thus spake the king to his orators and +philosophers, or rather to the deceivers of his people, and fools +at heart, "Behold now, there lieth before you a contest, even the +mightiest of contests; for one of two things shall befall you. +If ye establish our cause, and prove Barlaam and his friends to +be in error, ye shall have your fill of glory and honour from us +and all the senate, and shall be crowned with crowns of victory. +But if ye be worsted, in all ignominy ye shall pitiably perish, +and all your goods shall be given to the people, that your +memorial may be clean blotted out from off the earth. Your +bodies will I give to be devoured by wild beasts and your +children will I deliver to perpetual slavery." + +When the king had thus spoken, his son said, "A righteous doom +hast thou judged this day, O king. The Lord establish this thy +mind! I too have the same bidding for my teacher." And, turning +round to Nachor, who was supposed to be Barlaam, he said, "Thou +knowest, Barlaam, in what splendour and luxury thou foundest me. +With many a speech thou persuadedst me to leave my father's laws +and customs, and to serve an unknown God, drawn by the promise of +some unspeakable and eternal blessings, to follow thy doctrines +and to provoke to anger my father and lord. Now therefore +consider that thou art weighed in the balance. If thou overcome +in the wrestling, and prove that the doctrines, which thou hast +taught me, be true, and show that they, that try a fall with us, +be in error, thou shalt be magnified as no man heretofore, and +shalt be entitled `herald of truth'; and I will abide in thy +doctrine and serve Christ, even as thou didst preach, until my +dying breath. But if thou be worsted, by foul play or fair, and +thus bring shame on me to-day, speedily will I avenge me of mine +injury; with mine own hands will I quickly tear out thy heart and +thy tongue, and throw them with the residue of thy carcase to be +meat for the dogs, that others may be lessoned by thee not to +cozen the sons of kings." + +When Nachor heard these words, he was exceeding sorrowful and +downcast, seeing himself falling into the destruction that he had +made for other, and being drawn into the net that he had laid +privily, and feeling the sword entering into his own soul. So he +took counsel with himself, and determined rather to take the side +of the king's son, and make it to prevail, that he might avoid +the danger hanging over him, because the prince was doubtless +able to requite him, should he be found to provoke him. But this +was all the work of divine providence that was wisely +establishing our cause by the mouth of our adversaries. For when +these idol-priests and Nachor crossed words, like another +Barlaam, who, of old in the time of Balak, when purposing to +curse Israel, loaded him with manifold blessings, so did Nachor +mightily resist these unwise and unlearned wise men. + +There sat the king upon his throne, his son beside him, as we +have said. There beside him stood these unwise orators who had +whetted their tongues like a sharp sword, to destroy truth, and +who (as saith Esay) conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity. +There were gathered innumerable multitudes, come to view the +contest and see which side should carry oft the victory. Then +one of the orators, the most eminent of all his fellows, said +unto Nachor, "Art thou that Barlaam which hath so shamelessly +and audaciously blasphemed our gods, and hath enmeshed our king's +well beloved son in the net of error, and taught him to serve the +Crucified?" Nachor answered, "I am he, I am Barlaam, that, as +thou sayest, doth set your gods at nought: but the king's son +have I not enmeshed in error; but rather from error have I +delivered him, and brought him to the true God." The orator +replied, "When the great and marvellous men, who have discovered +all knowledge of wisdom, do call them high and immortal gods, and +when all the kings and honourable men upon earth do worship and +adore them, how waggest thou tongue against them, and, in brief, +how durst thou be so mighty brazen-faced? What is the manner of +thy proof that the Crucified is God, and these be none?" Then +replied Nachor, disdaining even to answer the speaker. He +beckoned with his hand to the multitude to keep silence, and +opening his mouth, like Balaam's ass, spake that which he had not +purposed to say, and thus addressed the king. + + +XXVII. + +"By the providence of God, O king, came I into the world; and +when I contemplated heaven and earth and sea, the sun and moon, +and the other heavenly bodies, I was led to marvel at their fair +order. And, when I beheld the world and all that therein is, how +it is moved by law, I understood that he who moveth and +sustaineth it is God. That which moveth is ever stronger than +that which is moved, and that which sustaineth is stronger than +that which is sustained. Him therefore I call God, who +constructed all things and sustaineth them, without beginning, +without end, immortal, without want, above all passions, and +failings, such as anger, forgetfulness, ignorance, and the like. +By him all things consist. He hath no need of sacrifice, or +drink-offering, or of any of the things that we see, but all men +have need of him. + +"Now that I have said thus much concerning God, according as he +hath granted me to speak concerning himself, come we now to the +human race, that we may know which of them partake of truth, and +which of error. It is manifiest to us, O king, that there are +three races of men in this world: those that are worshippers of +them whom ye call gods, and Jews, and Christians. And again +those who serve many gods are divided into three races, +Chaldeans, Greeks and Egyptians, for these are to the other +nations the leaders and teachers of the service and worship of +the gods whose name is legion. Let us therefore see which of +these hold the truth, and which error. + +"The Chaldeans, which knew not God, went astray after the +elements and began to worship the creature rather than their +Creator, and they made figures of these creatures and called them +likenesses of heaven, and earth and sea, of sun and moon, and of +the other elements or luminaries. And they enclose them in +temples, and worship them under the title of gods, and guard them +in safety lest they be stolen by robbers. They have not +understood how that which guardeth is ever greater than that +which is guarded, and that the maker is greater than the thing +that is made; for, if the gods be unable to take care of +themselves, how can they take care of others? Great then is the +error that the Chaldeans have erred in worshipping lifeless and +useless images. And I am moved to wonder, O king, how they, who +are called philosophers among them, fail to understand that even +the very elements are corruptible. But if the elements are +corruptible and subject to necessity, how are they gods? And if +the elements are not gods, how are the images, created to their +honour, gods? + +"Come we then, O king, to the elements themselves, that we may +prove concerning them, that they are not gods, but corruptible +and changeable things, brought out of non-existence by the +command of him who is God indeed, who is incorruptible, and +unchangeable, and invisible, but yet himself seeth all things, +and, as he willeth, changeth and altereth the same. What then +must I say about the elements? + +"They, who ween that the Heaven is a god, are in error. For we +see it turning and mowing by law, and consisting of many parts, +whence also it is called Cosmos! Now a `Cosmos' is the handiwork +of some artificer; and that which is wrought by handiwork hath +beginning and end. And the firmament is moved by law together +with its luminaries. The stars are borne from Sign to Sign, each +in his order and place: some rise, while others set: and they run +their journey according to fixed seasons, to fulfil summer and +winter, as it hath been ordained for them by God, nor do they +transgress their proper bounds, according to the inexorable law +of nature, in common with the heavenly firmament. Whence it is +evident that the heaven is not a god, but only a work of God. + +"They again that think that the Earth is a goddess have gone +astray. We behold it dishonoured, mastered, defiled and rendered +useless by mankind. If it be baked by the sun, it becometh dead, +for nothing groweth from a potsherd. And again, if it be soaked +overmuch, it rotteth, fruit and all. It is trodden under foot of +men and the residue of the beasts: it is polluted with the blood +of the murdered, it is digged and made a grave for dead bodies. +This being so, Earth can in no wise be a goddess, but only the +work of God for the use of men. + +"They that think that Water is a god have gone astray. It also +hath been made for the use of men. It is under their lordship: +it is polluted, and perisheth: it is altered by boiling, by +dyeing, by congealment, or by being brought to the cleansing of +all defilements. Wherefore Water cannot be a god, but only the +work of God. + +"They that think that Fire is a god are in error. It too was +made for the use of men. It is subject to their lordship, being +carried about from place to place, for the seething and roasting +of all manner of meats, yea, and for the burning of dead corpses. +Moreover, it perisheth in divers ways, when it is quenched by +mankind. Wherefore Fire cannot be a god, but only the work of +God. + +"They that think that the breath of the Winds is a goddess are in +error. This, as is evident, is subject to another, and hath been +prepared by God, for the sake of mankind, for the carriage of +ships, and the conveyance of victuals, and for other uses of men, +it riseth and falleth according to the ordinance of God. +Wherefore it is not to be supposed that the breath of the Winds +is a goddess, but only the work of God. + +"They that think that the Sun is a god are in error. We see him +moving and turning by law, and passing from Sign to Sign, setting +and rising, to warm herbs and trees for the use of men, sharing +power with the other stars, being much less than the heaven, and +falling into eclipse and possessed of no sovranty of his own. +Wherefore we may not consider that the Sun is a god, but only the +work of God. + +"They that think that the Moon is a goddess are in error. We +behold her moving and turning by law, and passing from Sign to +Sign, setting and rising for the use of men, lesser than the sun, +waxing and waning, suffering eclipse. Wherefore we do not +consider that the Moon is a goddess, but only the work of God. + +"They that think that Man is a god are in error. We see man +moving by law, growing up, and waxing old, even against his will. +Now he rejoiceth, now he grieveth, requiring meat and drink and +raiment. Besides he is passionate, envious, lustful, fickle, and +full of failings: and he perisheth in many a way, by the +elements, by wild beasts, and by the death that ever awaiteth +him. So Man cannot be a god, but only the work of God. Great +then is the error that the Chaldeans have erred in following +their own lusts; for they worship corruptible elements and dead +images, neither do they perceive that they are making gods of +these. + +"Now come we to the Greeks that we may see whether they have any +understanding concerning God. The Greeks, then, professing +themselves to be wise, fell into greater folly than the +Chaldeans, alleging the existence of many gods, some male, others +female, creators of all passions and sins of every kind. +Wherefore the Greeks, O king, introduced an absurd, foolish and +ungodly fashion of talk, calling them gods that were not, +according to their own evil passions; that, having these gods for +advocates of their wickedness, they might commit adultery, theft, +murder and all manner of iniquity. For if their gods did so, how +should they not themselves do the like? Therefore from these +practices of error it came to pass that men suffered frequent +wars and slaughters and cruel captivities. But if now we choose +to pass in review each one of these gods, what a strange sight +shalt thou see! + +"First and foremost they introduce the god whom they call Kronos, +and to him they sacrifice their own children, to him who had many +sons by Rhea, and in a fit of madness ate his own children. And +they say that Zeus cut off his privy parts, and cast them into +the sea, whence, as fable telleth, was born Aphrodite. So Zeus +bound his own father, and cast him into Tartarus. Dost thou mark +the delusion and lasciviousness that they allege against their +gods? Is it possible then that one who was prisoner and +mutilated should be a god? What folly? What man in his senses +could admit it? + +"Next they introduce Zeus, who, they say, became king of the +gods, and would take the shape of animals, that he might defile +mortal women. They show him transformed into a bull, for Europa; +into gold, for Danae; into a swan, for Leda; into a satyr, for +Antiope; and into a thunder-bolt, for Semele. Then of these were +born many children, Dionysus, Zethus, Amphion, Herakles, Apollo, +Artemis, Perseus, Castor, Helen, Polydeukes, Minos, Rhadamanthos, +Sarpedon, and the nine daughters whom they call the Muses. + +"In like manner they introduce the story of Ganymede. And so +befel it, O king, that men imitated all these things, and became +adulterers, and defilers of themselves with mankind, and doers of +other monstrous deeds, in imitation of their god. How then can +an adulterer, one that defileth himself by unnatural lust, a +slayer of his father be a god? + +"With Zeus also they represent one Hephaestus as a god, and him +lame, holding hammer and fire-tongs, and working as a copper- +smith for hire. So it appeareth that he is needy. But it is +impossible for one who is lame and wanteth men's aid to be a God. + +"After him, they represent as a god Hermes, a lusty fellow, a +thief, and a covetous, a sorcerer, bowlegged, and an interpreter +of speech. It is impossible for such an one to be a God. + +"They also exhibit Asklepius as god, a physician, a maker of +medicines, a compounder of plasters for his livelihood (for he is +a needy wight), and in the end, they say that he was struck by +Zeus with a thunder-bolt, because of Tyndareus, son of +Lakedaemon, and thus perished. Now if Asklepius, though a god, +when struck by a thunder-bolt, could not help himself, how can he +help others? + +"Ares is represented as a warlike god, emulous, and covetous of +sheep and other things. But in the end they say he was taken in +adultery with Aphrodite by the child Eros and Hephaestus and was +bound by them. How then can the covetous, the warrior, the +bondman and adulterer be a god? + +"Dionysus they show as a god, who leadeth nightly orgies, and +teacheth drunkenness, and carrieth off his neighbours' wives, a +madman and an exile, finally slain by the Titans. If then +Dionysus was slain and unable to help himself, nay, further was a +madman, a drunkard, and vagabond, how could he be a god? + +"Herakles, too, is represented as drunken and mad, as slaying his +own children, then consuming with fire and thus dying. How then +could a drunkard and slayer of his own children, burnt to death +by fire, be a god? Or how can he help others who could not help +himself? + +"Apollo they represent as an emulous god, holding bow and quiver, +and, at times, harp and flute, and prophesying to men for pay. +Soothly he is needy: but one that is needy and emulous and a +minstrel cannot be a god. + +"Artemis, his sister, they represent as an huntress, with bow and +quiver, ranging the mountains alone, with her hounds, in chase of +stag or boar. How can such an one, that is an huntress and a +ranger with hounds, be a goddess? + +"Of Aphrodite, adulteress though she be, they say that she is +herself a goddess. Once she had for leman Ares, once Anchises, +once Adonis, whose death she lamenteth, seeking her lost lover. +They say that she even descended into Hades to ransom Adonis from +Persephone. Didst thou, O king, ever see madness greater than +this? They represent this weeping and wailing adulteress as a +goddess. + +"Adonis they show as an hunter-god, violently killed by a boar- +tusk, and unable to help his own distress. How then shall he +take thought for mankind, he the adulterer, the hunter who died a +violent death? + +"All such tales, and many like them, and many wicked tales more +shameful still, have the Greeks introduced, O king, concerning +their gods; tales, whereof it is unlawful to speak, or even to +have them in remembrance. Hence men, taking occasion from their +gods, wrought all lawlessness, lasciviousness and ungodliness, +polluting earth and air with their horrible deeds. + +"But the Egyptians, more fatuous and foolish than they, have +erred worse than any other nation. They were not satisfied with +the idols worshipped by the Chaldeans and Greeks, but further +introduced as gods brute beasts of land and water, and herbs +and trees, and were defiled in all madness and lasciviousness +worse than all people upon earth. From the beginning they +worshipped Isis, which had for her brother and husband that +Osiris which was slain by his brother Typhon. And for this +reason Isis fled with Horus her son to Byblos in Syria, seeking +Osiris and bitterly wailing, until Horus was grown up and killed +Typhon. Isis then was not able to help her own brother and +husband; nor had Osiris, who was slain by Typhon, power to +succour himself; nor had Typhon, who killed his brother and was +himself destroyed by Horus and Isis, any resource to save himself +from death. And yet, although famous for all these +misadventures, these be they that were considered gods by the +senseless Egyptians. + +"The same people, not content therewith, nor with the rest of +the idols of the heathen, also introduced brute beasts as gods. +Some of them worshipped the sheep, some the goat, and others the +calf and the hog; while certain of them worshipped the raven, the +kite, the vulture, and the eagle. Others again worshipped the +crocodile, and some the cat and dog, the wolf and ape, the dragon +and serpent, and others the onion, garlic and thorns, and every +other creature. And the poor fools do not perceive, concerning +these things, that they have no power at all. Though they see +their gods being devoured, burnt and killed by other men, and +rotting away, they cannot grasp the fact that they are no gods. + +"Great, then, is the error that the Egyptians, the Chaldeans, and +the Greeks have erred in introducing such gods as these, and +making images thereof, and deifying dumb and senseless idols. I +marvel how, when they behold their gods being sawn and chiselled +by workmen's axes, growing old and dissolving through lapse of +time, and molten in the pot, they never reflected concerning them +that they are no gods. For when these skill not to work their +own salvation, how can they take care of mankind? Nay, even the +poets and philosophers among the Chaldeans, Greeks and Egyptians, +although by their poems and histories they desired to glorify +their people's gods, yet they rather revealed and exposed their +shame before all men. If the body of a man, consisting of many +parts, loseth not any of its proper members, but, having an +unbroken union with all its members, is in harmony with itself, +how in the nature of God shall there be such warfare and discord? +For if the nature of the gods were one, then ought not one god to +persecute, slay or injure another. But if the gods were +persecuted by other gods, and slain and plundered and killed with +thunder-stones, then is their nature no longer one, but their +wills are divided, and are all mischievous, so that not one among +them is God. So it is manifest, O king, that all this history of +the nature of the gods is error. + +"Furthermore, how do the wise and eloquent among the Greeks fail +to perceive that law-givers themselves are judged by their own +laws? For if their laws are just, then are their gods assuredly +unjust, in that they have offended against law by murders, +sorceries, adulteries, thefts and unnatural crimes. But, if they +did well in so doing, then are their laws unjust, seeing that +they have been framed in condemnation of the gods. But now the +laws are good and just, because they encourage good and forbid +evil; whereas the deeds of their gods offend against law. Their +gods then are offenders against law; and all that introduce such +gods as these are worthy of death and are ungodly. If the +stories of the gods be myths, then are the gods mere words: but +if the stories be natural, then are they that wrought or endured +such things no longer gods: if the stories be allegorical, then +are the gods myths and nothing else. Therefore it hath been +proven, O king, that all these idols, belonging to many gods, are +works of error and destruction. So it is not meet to call those +gods that are seen, but cannot see: but it is right to worship as +God him who is unseen and is the Maker of all mankind. + +"Come we now, O king, to the Jews, that we may see what they also +think concerning God. The Jews are the descendants of Abraham, +Isaac and Jacob, and went once to sojourn in Egypt. From thence +God brought them out with a mighty hand and stretched out arm by +Moses their lawgiver; and with many miracles and signs made he +known unto them his power. But, like the rest, these proved +ungrateful and unprofitable, and often worshipped images of the +heathen, and killed the prophets and righteous men that were sent +unto them. Then, when it pleased the Son of God to come on +earth, they did shamefully entreat him and deliver him to Pilate +the Roman governor, and condemn him to the Cross, regardless of +his benefits and the countless miracles that he had worked +amongst them. Wherefore by their own lawlessness they perished. +For though to this day they worship the One Omnipotent God, yet +it is not according unto knowledge; for they deny Christ the Son +of God, and are like the heathen, although they seem to approach +the truth from which they have estranged themselves. So much for +the Jews. + +"As for the Christians, they trace their line from the Lord Jesus +Christ. He is confessed to be the Son of the most high God, who +came down from heaven, by the Holy Ghost, for the salvation of +mankind, and was born of a pure Virgin, without seed of man, and +without defilement, and took flesh, and appeared among men, that +he might recall them from the error of worshipping many gods. +When he had accomplished his marvellous dispensation, of his own +free will by a mighty dispensation he tasted of death upon the +Cross. But after three days he came to life again, and ascended +into the heavens, the glory of whose coming thou mayest learn, O +king, by the reading of the holy Scripture, which the Christians +call the Gospel, shouldst thou meet therewith. This Jesus had +twelve disciples, who, after his ascent into the heavens, went +out into all the kingdoms of the world, telling of his greatness. +Even so one of them visited our coasts, preaching the doctrine of +truth; whence they who still serve the righteousness of his +preaching are called Christians. And these are they who, above +all the nations of the earth, have found the truth: for they +acknowledge God the Creator and Maker of all things in the only +begotten Son, and in the Holy Ghost, and other God than him they +worship none. They have the commandments of the Lord Jesus +Christ himself engraven on their hearts, and these they observe, +looking for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the +world to come. They neither commit adultery nor fornication; nor +do they bear false witness, nor covet other men's goods: they +honour father and mother, and love their neighbours: they give +right judgement. They do not unto other that which they would +not have done unto themselves. They comfort such as wrong them, +and make friends of them: they labour to do good to their +enemies: they are meek and gentle. They refrain themselves from +all unlawful intercourse and all uncleanness. They despise not +the widow, and grieve not the orphan. He that hath distributeth +liberally to him that hath not. If they see a stranger, they +bring him under their roof, and rejoice over him, as it were +their own brother: for they call themselves brethren, not after +the flesh, but after the spirit. For Christ his sake they are +ready to lay down their lives: they keep his commandments +faithfully, living righteous and holy lives, as the Lord their +God commanded them, giving him thanks every hour, for meat and +drink and every blessing. Verily, then, this is the way of truth +which leadeth its wayfarers unto the eternal kingdom promised by +Christ in the life to come. + +"And that thou mayest know, O king, that I speak nought of +myself, look thou into the writings of the Christians, and thou +shalt find that I speak nothing but the truth. Well, therefore, +hath thy son understood it, and rightly hath he been taught to +serve the living God, and to be saved for the world to come. +Great and marvellous are the things spoken and wrought by the +Christians, because they speak not the words of men but the words +of God. But all other nations are deceived, and deceive +themselves. Walking in darkness they stagger one against another +like drunken men. This is the end of my speech spoken unto thee, +O king, prompted by the truth that is in my mind. Wherefore let +thy foolish wise-acres refrain from babbling idly against the +Lord; for it is profitable to you to worship God the Creator, and +hearken to his incorruptible sayings, in order that ye may escape +judgement and punishment, and be found partakers of deathless +life." + + +XXVIII. + +When Nachor had fully delivered this oration, the king changed +countenance for very anger, but his orators and temple-keepers +stood speechless, having nothing but a few weak and rotten shreds +of argument in reply. But the king's son rejoiced in spirit and +with glad countenance magnified the Lord, who had made a path, +where no path was, for them tat trusted in him, who by the mouth +of a foeman and enemy was establishing the truth; and the leader +of error had proved a defender of the right cause. + +But the king, although furiously enraged with Nachor, was +nevertheless unable to do him any mischief, because of the +proclamation already read before all, wherein he urged him to +plead without fear in behalf of the Christians. So he himself +made answer in many words, and by dark speeches hinted that +Nachor should relax his resistance, and be worsted by the +argument of the orators. But Nachor the more mightily prevailed, +tearing to pieces all their propositions and conclusions and +exposing the fallacy of their error. After the debate had been +prolonged till well-nigh eventide, the king dismissed the +assembly, making as though he would renew the discussion on the +morrow. + +Then said Ioasaph to the king his father, "As at the beginning, +Sir, thou commandedst that the trial should be just, so too crown +the end thereof with justice, by doing one or other of these two +things. Either allow my teacher to tarry with me to-night, that +we may take counsel together as touching those things which we +must say unto our adversaries tomorrow: and do thou in turn take +thine advisers unto thee, and duly practise yourselves as ye +will. Or else deliver thy counsellors to me this night, and take +mine to thyself. But if both sides be with thee, mine advocate +in tribulation and fear, but thine in joy and refreshment, me +thinketh it is not a fair trial, but a tyrannical misuse of +power, and a breaking of the covenants." The king, compelled to +yield by the gracefulness of this speech took his wise men and +priests to himself, and delivered Nachor to his son, still having +hopes of him and thinking fit to keep his agreement. + +The king's son, therefore, departed unto his own palace, like a +conqueror in the Olympic games, and with him went Nachor. When +alone, the prince called him and said, "Think not that I am +ignorant of thy tale, for I wot, of a surety, that thou art not +saintly Barlaam, but Nachor the astrologer; and I marvel how it +seemed thee good to act this play, and to think that thou couldst +so dull my sight at mid-day, that I should mistake a wolf for a +sheep. But well sung is the proverb, `The heart of a fool will +conceive folly.' So this your device and counsel was stale and +utterly senseless; but the work that thou hast accomplished is +full of wisdom. Wherefore, rejoice, Nachor, and be exceeding +glad. I render thee many thanks, that thou hast been to-day +advocate of the truth, and hast not polluted thy lips with foul +words and crafty simulation, but hast rather cleansed them from +many defilements, and thoroughly proven the error of the gods, as +they be wrongly called, and hast established the truth of the +Christian faith. I have been zealous to bring thee hither with +me for two reasons; that the king might not privily seize and +punish thee, because thou spakest not after his heart, and next +that I might recompense thee for the favour that thou hast done +me to-day. And what is my recompense for thee? To show thee how +to turn from the evil and slippery road which thou hast trodden +until now, and to journey along the straight and saving pathway +which thou hast avoided, not in ignorance, but by wilful +wrongdoing, throwing thyself into depths and precipices of +iniquity. Understand then, Nachor, man of understanding as thou +art, and be thou zealous to gain Christ only, and the life that +is hid with him, and despise this fleeting and corruptible world. +Thou shalt not live for ever, but, being mortal, shalt depart +hence ere long, even as all that have been before thee. And wo +betide thee, if, with the heavy load of sin on thy shoulders, +thou depart thither where there is righteous judgement and +recompense for thy works, and cast it not off, while it is easy +to rid thyself thereof!" + +Pricked at heart by these words, spake Nachor, "Well said! Sir +prince, well said! I do know the true and very God, by whom all +things were made, and I wot of the judgement to come, having +heard thereof from many texts of the Scriptures. But evil habit +and the insolence of the ancient supplanter hath blinded the eyes +of my heart, and shed a thick darkness over my reason. But now, +at thy word, I will cast away the veil of gloom, and run unto the +light of the countenance of the Lord. May be, he will have mercy +on me, and will open a door of repentance to his wicked and +rebellious servant, even if it seem impossible to me that my +sins, which are heavier than the sand, be forgiven; sins, which, +wittingly or unwittingly, I have sinned from childhood upwards to +this my hoary age." + +When the king's son heard these words, immediately he arose, and +his heart waxed warm, and he began to try to raise Nachor's +courage which was drooping to despair, and to confirm it in the +faith of Christ, saying, "Let no doubt about this, Nachor, find +place in thy mind. For it is written, God is able of these very +stones to raise up children unto Abraham. What meaneth this (as +father Barlaam said) except that men beyond hope, stained with +all manner of wickedness, can be saved, and become servants of +Christ, who, in the exceeding greatness of his love toward +mankind, hath opened the gates of heaven to all that turn, +barring the way of salvation to none, and receiving with +compassion them that repent? Wherefore to all that have entered +the vineyard at the first, third, sixth, ninth or eleventh hour +there is apportioned equal pay, as saith the holy Gospel: so that +even if, until this present time, thou hast waxen old in thy +sins, yet if thou draw nigh with a fervent heart, thou shalt gain +the same rewards as they who have laboured from their youth +upwards." + +With these and many other words did that saintly youth speak of +repentance to that aged sinner Nachor, promising him that Christ +was merciful, and pledging him forgiveness, and satisfying him +that the good God is alway ready to receive the penitent, and +with these words, as it were with ointments, did he mollify that +ailing soul and give it perfect health. Nachor at once said unto +him, "O prince, more noble in soul even than in outward show, +well instructed in these marvellous mysteries, mayst thou +continue in thy good confession until the end, and may neither +time nor tide ever pluck it out of thine heart! For myself, I +will depart straightway in search of my salvation, and will by +penance pacify that God whom I have angered: for, except thou +will it, I shall see the king's face no more." Then was the +prince exceeding glad, and joyfully heard his saying. And he +embraced and kissed him affectionately; and, when he had prayed +earnestly to God, he sent him forth from the palace. + +So Nachor stepped forth with a contrite heart, and went bounding +into the depths of the desert, like as doth an hart, and came to +a den belonging to a monk that had attained to the dignity of the +priesthood, and was hiding there for fear of the pressing danger. +With a right warm heart knelt Nachor down before him, and washed +his feet with his tears, like the harlot of old, and craved holy +Baptism. The priest, full of heavenly grace, was passing glad, +and did at once begin to instruct him, as the custom is, and +after many days, perfected him with baptism in the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And Nachor abode +with him, always repentant of his sins, and blessing that God who +never willeth that ally should perish, but receiveth all that +turn again unto him, and lovingly accepteth the penitent. + +Now on the morrow when the king heard what had befallen Nachor, +he despaired of the hopes that he once had in him: and, seeing +those wise and foolish orators of his mightily discomfited, he +was at his wits' end. Them he visited with terrible outrage and +dishonour, scourging some severely with whips of oxhide, +besmearing their eyes with soot, and casting them away from his +presence. He himself began to condemn the impotence of the gods +falsely so called, although as yet he refused to look fully at +the light of Christ, for the dense cloud of darkness, that +enveloped him, still bound the eyes of his heart. Howbeit he no +longer honoured his temple-keepers, nor would he keep feasts, nor +make drink offerings to his idols, but his mind was tossed +between two opinions. On the one hand, he poured scorn on the +impotence of his gods; on the other, he dreaded the strictness of +the profession of the Gospel, and was hardly to be torn from his +evil ways, being completely in slavery to the pleasures of the +body, and like a captive drawn towards sinful lusts, and being +drunken, as saith Esay, but not with wine, and led as it were +with the bridle of evil habit. + +While the king was thus wrestling with two opinions, his noble +and truly royal-hearted son dwelt at peace in his palace, proving +to all men by his deeds the nobility, order and steadfastness of +his nature. Theatres, horse-races, riding to hounds, and all the +vain pleasures of youth, the baits that take foolish souls, were +reckoned by him as nothing worth. But he hung wholly on the +commands of Christ for whom he yearned, his heart being wounded +with love divine. For him he longed, who alone is to be longed +for, who is all sweetness and desire and aspiration insatiable. + +Now, when he came to think upon his teacher Barlaam, and as in a +mirror saw his life, his soul was enchanted with love, and he +much occupied himself a-thinking how he might see him; and ever +carrying his sayings in his heart, he was like the tree in the +Psalms planted by the river side, unceasingly watered, and +bringing forth unto the Lords his fruits in due season. Many +were the souls that he delivered from the snares of the devil, +and brought safely unto Christ; for many resorted unto him, and +profited by his wholesome words. And not a few left the way of +error, and ran toward the word of salvation; while others bade a +long farewell to the concerns of the world, and came to the +wrestling-school of the monastic life. He himself spent his time +in prayers and fastings, and would often offer up this prayer, "O +Lord, my Lord and King, in whom I have trusted, to whom I have +fled and been delivered from my error, render thou due recompense +to Barlaam thy servant, because when I was in error he pointed +thee to me, who art the way of truth and life. Forbid me not to +behold once more that angel in bodily shape, of whom the world is +not worthy, but grant me in his company to finish the residue of +my life, that, treading in the footsteps of his conversation, I +may be well-pleasing to thee my God and Lord." + + +XXIX. + +Now about the same time there was in that city a public assembly +in honour of the false gods, and the king must needs be present +at the feast, and grace it with lavish sacrifices. But the +temple-keepers, seeing that he was careless and lukewarm with +regard to their worship, feared that he might neglect to be +present in their temple, and that they might lose the royal +largess, and the rest of their revenues. So they arose, and +withdrew to a cavern situate in the depth of the desert, where +dwelt a man who busied himself with magical arts, and was a +fervent champion of the error of idolatry. Theudas was his name. +Him the king honoured exceedingly, and counted him his friend and +teacher, because, he said, it was by the guidance of his +prophecies that his kingdom ever prospered. So these idol- +priests, that were no priests, came to him, and appealed to him +for help, and made known to him the evil opinion of their gods +which was growing on their king, and all that the king's son had +done, and all the eloquent discourse that Nachor had held against +them. And they said, "Except thou come thyself to our succour, +gone is all hope! and lost is all the reverence of the gods. +Thou only art left to be our comfort in this misfortune, and upon +thee we fix our hopes." + +So forth marched Theudas, in company with his Satanic host; and +he armed himself against the truth, invoking many of his evil +spirits, who knew how to lend ready aid for evil ends, and whom +he alway used for his ministers; and with these allies he came to +the king. When his arrival had been announced to the king, and +he had entered in, with a palm-staff in his hand and a sheep-skin +girt about his loins, the king arose from his throne, and met and +welcomed him; and, fetching a seat, he made him to sit down +beside him. Then spake Theudas unto the king, "O king, live for +ever under the shelter of the favour of the most puissant gods! +I have heard that thou hast foughten a mighty fight with the +Galileans, and hast been crowned with right glorious diadems of +victory. Wherefore I am come, that we may celebrate together a +feast of thanksgiving, and sacrifice to the immortal gods young +men in the bloom of youth and well-favoured damsels, and eke +offer them an hecatomb of bullocks and herds of beasts, that we +may have them from henceforth for our allies invincible, making +plain our path of life before us." + +Hereto the king made answer, "We have not conquered, aged sir, we +have not conquered: nay, rather have we been defeated in open +fight. They that were for us turned suddenly against us. They +found our host a wild, half-drunken, feeble folk, and utterly +overthrew it. But now, if there be with thee any power and +strength to help our fallen religion and set it up again, declare +it." + +Theudas replied in this wise, "Dread not, O king, the oppositions +and vain babblings of the Galileans: for of what worth against +reasonable and sensible men are the arguments that they use? +These methinks shall be more easily overthrown than a leaf shaken +with the wind. They shall not endure to face me, far less join +argument, or come to propositions and oppositions with me. But, +in order that the coming contest and all our wishes may prosper, +and that our matters may run smoothly with the stream, adorn thou +with thy presence this public festival, and gird on for thy +strong sword the favour of the gods, and well befall thee!" + +When the mighty in wickedness had thus boasted himself and +thought of mischief all the day long (let David bear his part in +our chorus), and when, as saith Esay, he had given his neighbour +a drink of turbid dregs, by the help of the evil spirits his +comrades he made the king utterly to forget the thoughts that +inclined him to salvation, and caused him again to cleave to his +wonted ways. Then the king despatched letters hither and +thither, that all men should gather together to this loathsome +assembly. Then mightest thou have seen multitudes streaming in, +and bringing with them sheep and oxen and divers kinds of beasts. + +So when all were assembled, the king arose, with that deceiver +Theudas, and proceeded to the temple, bringing one hundred and +twenty bullocks and many animals for sacrifice. And they +celebrated their accursed feast till the city resounded with the +cry of the brute beasts and the very air was polluted with the +reek of sacrifice. This done, when the spirits of wickedness had +greatly vaunted them over Theudas' victory, and when the temple- +keepers had rendered him thanks, the king went up again unto his +palace, and said milo Theudas, "Behold now, as thou badest us, we +have spared no pains over the splendour of this gathering and the +lavishness of the sacrifice. Now, therefore, it is time for thee +to fulfil thy promises, and to deliver from the error of the +Christians my son that hath rebelled against our religion, and to +reconcile him to our gracious gods. For, though I have left no +device and deed untried, yet have I found no remedy for the +mischief, but I perceive that his will is stronger than all. +When I have dealt gently and kindly with him, I have found that +he payeth me no regard whatsoever. When I have treated him +harshly and severely, I have seen him driven the quicker to +desperation. To thy wisdom for the future I leave the care of +this calamity that hath befallen me. If then I be delivered from +this trouble by thy means, and once more behold my son +worshipping my gods with me, and enjoying the gratification of +this life of pleasure, and this royal estate, I will set up unto +thee a golden statue, and make thee to receive divine honours +from all men for all time to come." + +Hereupon Theudas, bowing an attentive ear to the evil one, and +learning from him the secret of his evil and deadly counsel, +became himself the devil's tongue and mouthpiece, and spake unto +the king, "If thou wilt get the better of thy son, and make his +opposition vain, I have discovered a plan, which he shall in no +wise be able to resist, but his hard and obdurate mind shall melt +quicker than wax before the hottest fire." The king, seeing this +foolish fellow swelling with empty pride, immediately grew merry +and joyful, hoping that the unbridled and boastful tongue would +get the mastery of that divinely instructed and philosophic soul. +"And what is the plan?" he asked. Then began Theudas to weave +his web. He made his villainy sharp as any razor and did +cunningly prepare his drugs. Now behold this malicious device +and suggestion of the evil one. "Remove, O king," said he, "all +thy son's waiting men and servants far from him, and order that +comely damsels, of exceeding beauty, and bedizened to be the more +winsome, be continually with him and minister to him, and be his +companions day and night. For myself, I will send him one of the +spirits told off for such duties, and I will thus kindle all the +more fiercely the coals of sensual desire. After that he hath +once only had intercourse with but one of these women, if all go +not as thou wilt, then disdain me for ever, as unprofitable, and +worthy not of honour but of dire punishment. For there is +nothing like the sight of women to allure and enchant the minds +of men. Listen to a story that beareth witness to my word." + + +XXX. + +"A certain king was grieved and exceeding sad at heart, because +that he had no male issue, deeming this no small misfortune. +While he was in this condition, there was born to him a son, and +the king's soul was filled with joy thereat. Then they that were +learned amongst his physicians told him that, if for the first +twelve years the boy saw the sun or fire, he should entirely lose +his sight, for this was proved by the condition of his eyes. +Hearing this, the king, they say, caused a little house, full of +dark chambers, to be hewn out of the rock, and therein enclosed +his child together with the men that nursed him, and, until the +twelve years were past, never suffered him to see the least ray +of light. After the fulfilment of the twelve years, the king +brought forth from his little house his son that had never seen +a single object, and ordered his waiting men to show the boy +everything after his kind; men in one place, women in another; +elsewhere gold and silver; in another place, pearls and precious +stones, fine and ornamental vestments, splendid chariots with +horses from the royal stables, with golden bridles and purple +caparisons, mounted by armed soldiers; also droves of oxen and +flocks of sheep. In brief, row after row, they showed the boy +everything. Now, as he asked what each ox these was called, the +king's esquires and guards made known unto him each by name: but, +when he desired to learn what women were called, the king's +spearman, they say, wittily replied that they were called, +"Devils that deceive men." But the boy's heart was smitten with +the love of these above all the rest. So, when they had gone +round everywhere and brought him again unto the king, the king +asked, which of all these sights had pleased him most. "What," +answered the boy, "but the Devils that deceive men? Nothing that +I have seen to-day hath fired my heart with such love as these." +The king was astonished at the saying of the boy, to think how +masterful a thing the love of women is. Therefore think not to +subdue thy son in any other way than this." + +The king heard this tale gladly; and there were brought before +him some chosen damsels, young and exceeding beautiful. These he +bedizened with dazzling ornaments and trained in all winsome +ways: and then he turned out of the palace all his son's squires +and serving men, and set these women in their stead. These +flocked around the prince, embraced him, and provoked him to +filthy wantonness, by their walk and talk inviting him to +dalliaunce. Besides these, he had no man at whom to look, or +with whom to converse or break his fast, for these damsels were +his all. Thus did the king. But Theudas went home to his evil +den, and, dipping into his books that had virtue to work such +magic, he called up one of his wicked spirits and sent him forth, +for to battle with the soldier of the army of Christ. But the +wretch little knew what laughter he should create against +himself, and to what shame he should be put, with the whole +devilish troop under him. So the evil spirit, taking to him +other spirits more wicked than himself, entered the bed-chamber +of this noble youth, and attacked him by kindling right furiously +the furnace of his flesh. The evil one plied the bellows from +within, while the damsels, fair of face, but uncomely of soul, +supplied the evil fuel from without. + +But Ioasaph's pure soul was disturbed to feel the touch of evil, +and to see the warlike host of strange thoughts that was charging +down upon him. And he sought to find deliverance from this great +mischief, and to present himself pure unto Christ, and not defile +in the mire of sinful lust that holy apparel, wherein the grace +of holy Baptism had clothed him. Immediately he set love against +love, the divine against the lascivious; and he called to +remembrance the beauty and unspeakable glory of Christ, the +immortal bridegroom of virgin souls, and of that bride chamber +and marriage, from whence they that have stained their wedding- +garment are piteously cast out, bound hand and foot, into outer +darkness. When he had thought thereon, and shed bitter tears, he +smote upon his breast, driving out evil thoughts, as good-for- +nothing drones from the hive. When he rose, and spread out his +hands unto heaven, with fervent tears and groans calling upon God +to help him, and he said, "Lord Almighty, who alone art powerful +and merciful, the hope of the hopeless, and the help of the +helpless, remember me thine unprofitable servant at this hour, +and look upon me with a gracious countenance, and deliver my soul +from the sword of the devil, and my darling from the paw of the +dog: suffer me not to fall into the hands of mine enemies, and +let not them that hate me triumph over me. Leave me not to be +destroyed in iniquities, and to dishonour my body which I swore +to present unto thee chaste. For for thee I yearn; thee I +worship, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and for +evermore, and world without end." When he had added the Amen, he +felt heavenly comfort stealing over him from above, and the evil +thoughts withdrew, and he continued in prayer until early morn. +Being ware of the devices of the crafty foe, he began more and +more to afflict his body by abstinence from meat and drink, and +by other severities, standing in prayer all the night long, and +reminding himself of his covenants made with God, and picturing +in his mind the glory of the righteous yonder, and recounting to +himself the full terrors of the Gehenna wherewith the wicked are +threatened; all this, that the enemy might not find his soul +lying fallow and untilled, and thus easily sow therein the seeds +of evil thoughts, and befoul the cleanness of his mind. So, when +the enemy was in great straits on every side, and altogether in +despair of taking this noble youth, like a cunning knave, he +proceeded to another more subtil device, he that is for ever +wicked, and never stinteth to contrive mischief and hurt. For he +made furious endeavour to carry out the orders that Theudas had +given him, and once more prepared his drugs, and on this wise. + +The devil entered into the heart of one of the young damsels. Of +all she was the most seemly, a king's daughter, carried away +captive from her own country, given to king Abenner as a great +prize, and sent by him, being of ripe beauty, to his own son, for +to cause him to slip or to trip. Of her the deceiver took +possession, and whispered in her ear suggestions that plainly +showed the wisdom and understanding of her mind; for the evil one +easily pursueth all devices that make for wickedness. Then the +evil spirit attacked the king's son on the right hand, and gave +him a potion to make him love the maiden, by reason -- so he +pretended -- of her prudence and discretion and of her nobility +and royal blood that yet had not saved her from banishment and +loss of glory. Moreover the devil secretly sowed in Ioasaph's +heart thoughts that he might recover her from idolatry, and make +her a Christian. + +But these were all stratagems of the wily serpent. For the +king's son, being in this frame of mind, could see in himself no +unclean thought or passionate affection for the damsel, but only +sympathy and pity for her misfortune, and the ruin of her soul, +and knew not that this matter was a device of the devil; for +verily he is darkness, and feigneth to be light. So he began to +commune with the damsel, and talk with her over the oracles of +the knowledge of God, and said, "Lady, be thou acquainted with +the ever-living God, and perish not in the error of these idols; +but know thy Lord, and the Maker of all this world, and thou +shalt be happy, the bride of the immortal bridegroom." While he +exhorted her with many such-like words, immediately the evil +spirit whispered to the girl that she should spread under his +feet the nets of deceit to drag his blessed soul into the pit of +lust, as he once did to our first parent by means of Eve, thus +miserably banishing him, alas! from Paradise and God, and making +him to become subject to death in lieu of bliss and everlasting +life. + +When the damsel heard Ioasaph's words fulfilled with all wisdom, +being without understanding, she understood them not, but made +answer thus, becoming the tongue and mouth-piece of the evil one: +"If, sir, thou takest thought for my salvation, and desirest to +bring me to thy God, and to save my poor soul, do thou also +thyself grant me one request, and straightway I will bid good-bye +to my fathers' gods, and join thy God, serving him until my last +breath; and thou shalt receive recompense for my salvation, and +for my turning to God-ward." + +"Lady, and what is thy request?" said he. But she, setting her +whole self, figure, look and voice in a fashion to charm him, +answered, "Be thou joined with me in the bonds of wedlock, and I +will joyfully follow out thy behests." + +"In vain, O Lady," said he, "hast thou made this hard request. +For though I earnestly care for thy salvation, and long to heave +thee from the depth of perdition, yet to pollute my body through +unclean union is grievous for me, and utterly impossible." + +She, seeking to make the way straight and smooth for him, cried, +"Why dost thou, who are so wise, talk thus? Wherefore speakest +thou of it as of defilement and shameful intercourse? I am not +unacquainted with the Christian books: nay, I have met with many +volumes in mine own country, and have heard the discourses of +many Christians. What, is it not written in one of your books, +`Marriage is honourable, and the bed undefiled'? and, `It is +better to marry than to burn'? and again, `What God hath joined +together, let not man put asunder'? Do not your Scriptures teach +that all the righteous men of old, patriarchs and prophets, were +wedded? Is it not written that the mighty Peter, whom ye call +Prince of the Apostles, was a married man? Who, then, hath +persuaded thee to call this defilement? Methink, sir, thou +strayest utterly away from the truth of your doctrines." + +"Yea, Lady," said he, "all this is even as thou sayest. It is +permitted to all who will to live in wedlock, but not to them +that have once made promise to Christ to be virgins. For myself, +ever since I was cleansed in the laver of Holy Baptism from the +sins of my youth and ignorance, I have resolved to present myself +pure to Christ, and how shall I dare break my covenants with +God?" + +Again quoth the damsel, "Let this also be thy pleasure, as thou +wilt. But fulfil me one other small and trivial desire of mine, +if thou art in very truth minded for to save my soul. Keep +company with me this one night only, and grant me to revel in thy +beauty, and do thou in turn take thy fill of my comeliness. And +I give thee my word, that, with daybreak, I will become a +Christian, and forsake all the worship of my gods. Not only +shalt thou be pardoned for this dealing, but thou shalt receive +recompense from thy God because of my salvation, for thy +Scripture saith, `There is joy in heaven over one sinner that +repenteth.' If, therefore, there is joy in heaven over the +conversion of a sinner, shall not great recompense be due to the +causer of that conversion? Yea, so it is: and dispute it not. +Did not even the Apostles, the leaders of your religion, do many +a thing by dispensation, at times transgressing a commandment on +account of a greater one? Is not Paul said to have circumcised +Timothy on account of a greater dispensation? And yet +circumcision hath been reckoned by Christians as unlawful, but +yet he did not decline so to do. And many other such things +shalt thou find in thy Scriptures. If then in very sooth, as +thou sayest, thou seekest to save my soul, fulfil me this my +small desire. And although I seek to be joined with thee in the +full estate of matrimony, yet, sith this is contrary to thy mind, +I will never constrain thee again, but will do everything that +liketh thee. For the rest, do not thou utterly abhor me; but +hearken to me for the nonce, and thou shalt deliver me from +superstitious error, and thou shalt do whatever seemeth thee good +hereafter all the days of thy life." + +Thus spake she; for indeed she had, for her adviser, one to whom +she lent a privy ear, and the pirate was well versed in +Scripture, being verily the creator and teacher of iniquity. +Thus then she spake with fawning words entangling him, right and +left, around with her toils and meshes, and she began to shake +the citadel of his soul, and to slacken his tension of purpose, +and to soften the temper of his mind. Then the sower of these +evil tares, and enemy of the righteous, when he saw the young +man's heart wavering, was full of joy, and straightway called to +the evil spirits that were with him, crying, "Look you how yond +damsel hasteth to bring to pass all that we were unable to +accomplish! Hither! fall we now furiously upon him: for we +shall find none other season so favourable to perform the will of +him that sent us." Thus spake this crafty spirit to his hounds: +and straightway they lept on that soldier of Christ, disquieting +all the powers of his soul, inspiring him with vehement love for +the damsel, and kindling within him the fiercest fire of lust. + +When Ioasaph saw that he was greatly inflamed, and was being led +captive into sin, and perceived that his thoughts about the +salvation of the damsel and her conversion to God had been set +like bait on hook to hide the deed which she purposed, and were +troubling him with the suggestion of the enemy, that, for the +salvation of a soul, it was not sin for once to lie with a woman, +then in the agony of his soul he drew a deep and lamentable +groan, and nerved himself to pray, and, with streams of tears +running down his cheeks, he cried aloud to him that is able to +save them that trust in him, saying, "On thee, O Lord, have I set +my trust: let me not be confounded for ever; neither let mine +enemies triumph over me, that hold by thy right hand. But stand +thou by me at this hour, and according to thy will make straight +my path, that thy glorious and dreadful name may be glorified in +me thy servant, because thou art blessed for ever. Amen." + +Now when he had prayed in tears for many hours, and often bent +the knee, he sunk down upon the pavement. After he had slumbered +awhile, he saw himself carried off by certain dread men, and +passing through places which he had never heretofore beheld. He +stood in a mighty plain, all a-bloom with fresh and fragrant +flowers, where he descried all manner of plants of divers +colours, charged with strange and marvellous fruits, pleasant to +the eye and inviting to the touch. The leaves of the trees +rustled clearly in a gentle breeze, and, as they shook, sent +forth a gracious perfume that cloyed not the sense. Thrones were +set there, fashioned of the purest gold and costly stones, +throwing out never so bright a lustre, and radiant settles among +wondrous couches too beautiful to be described. And beside them +there were running waters exceeding clear, and delightful to the +eye. When these dread men had led him through this great and +wondrous plain, they brought him to a city that glistered with +light unspeakable, whose walls were of dazzling gold, with high +uprear'd parapets, built of gems such as man hath never seen. +Ah! who could describe the beauty and brightness of that city? +Light, ever shooting from above, filled all her streets with +bright rays; and winged squadrons, each of them itself a light, +dwelt in this city, making such melody as mortal ear ne'er heard. +And Ioasaph heard a voice crying, "This is the rest of the +righteous: this the gladness of them that have pleased the Lord." +When these dread men had carried him out from thence, they spake +of taking him back to earth. But he, that had lost his heart to +that scene of joyaunce and heartsease, exclaimed, "Reave me not, +reave me not, I pray you, of this unspeakable joy, but grant me +also to dwell in one corner of this mighty city." But they said, +"It is impossible for thee to be there now; but, with much toil +and sweat, thou shalt come hither, if thou constrain thyself." + +Thus spake they; and again they crossed that mighty plain, and +bare him to regions of darkness and utter woe, where sorrow +matched the brightness which he had seen above. There was +darkness without a ray of light, and utter gloom, and the whole +place was full of tribulation and trouble. There blazed a +glowing furnace of fire, and there crept the worm of torment. +Revengeful powers were set over the furnace, and there were some +that were burning piteously in the fire, and a voice was heard, +saying, "This is the place of sinners; this the punishment for +them that have defiled themselves by foul practices." Hereupon +Ioasaph was carried thence by his guides; and, when he came to +himself, immediately he trembled from head to foot, and, like a +river, his eyes dropped tears, and all the comeliness of that +wanton damsel and her fellows was grown more loathsome to him +than filth and rottenness. And as he mused in his heart on the +memory of the visions, in longing for the good and in terror of +the evil, he lay on his bed utterly unable to arise. + +Then was the king informed of his son's sickness; and he came and +asked what ailed him. And Ioasaph told him his vision, and said, +"Wherefore hast thou laid a net for my feet, and bowed down my +soul? If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had well nigh dwelt +in hell. But how loving is God unto Israel, even unto such as +are of a true heart! He hath delivered me that am lowly from the +midst of the dogs. For I was sore troubled and I fell on sleep: +but God my Saviour from on high hath visited me, and showed me +what joy they lose that provoke him and to what punishments they +subject themselves. And now, O my father, since thou hast +stopped thine ears not to hear the voice that will charm thee to +good, at least forbid me not to walk the straight road. For this +I desire, this I long for, to forsake all, and reach that place, +where Barlaam the servant of Christ hath his dwelling, and with +him to finish what remaineth of my life. But if thou keep me +back by force, thou shalt quickly see me die of grief and +despair, and thou shalt be no more called father, nor have me to +thy son." + + +XXXI. + +Again therefore the king was seized with despondency, and again +he was like to abjure his whole way of life; and with strange +thoughts he went again unto his own palace. But the evil +spirits, that had been sent out by Theudas for to attack the +young saint, returned to him, and, lovers of leasing though they +were, confessed their shameful defeat, for they bare visible +tokens of their defeat, upon their evil countenance. Said +Theudas, "And be ye so weak and puny that ye cannot get the +better of one young stripling?" Then did the evil spirits, +constrained, to their sorrow, by the might of God, bring to light +the truth, saying, "We cannot abide even the sight of the might +of Christ, and the symbol of his Passion, which they call the +Cross. For, when that sign is made, immediately all we, the +princes of the air, and the rulers of the darkness of the world, +are utterly routed and discomfited, even before the sign is +completed. When we first fell upon this youth, we vexed him +sore; but when he called on Christ for help, and armed him with +the sign of the Cross, he routed us in angry wise, and stablished +himself in safety. So incontinent we found a weapon, wherewith +our chief did once confront the first-made man and prevailed +against him. And verily we should have made this young man's +hope vain; but again Christ was called on for help, and he +consumed us in the fire of his wrath from above, and put us to +flight. We have determined to approach the prince no more." +Thus, then, did the evil spirits plainly make known unto Theudas +all that was come to pass. + +But the king, perplexed on every side, again summoned Theudas, +and said, "Most wisest of men, all that seemed good to thee have +we fulfilled, but have found no help therein. But now, if thou +hast any device left, we will make trial thereof. Peradventure I +shall find some escape from this evil." + +Then did Theudas ask for a meeting with his son; and on the +morrow the king took him and went forth to visit the prince. The +king sat down and provoked debate, upbraiding and chiding him for +his disobedience and stubbornness of mind. When Ioasaph again +maintained his ease, and loudly declared that he valued nothing +so much as the love of Christ, Theudas came forward and said, +"Wherefore, Ioasaph, dost thou despise our immortal gods, that +thou hast departed from their worship, and, thus incensing thy +father the king, art become hateful to all the people? Dost thou +not owe thy life to the gods? And did they not present thee to +the king in answer to his prayer, thus redeeming him from the +bondage of childlessness?" While this Theudas, waxen old in +wickedness, was putting forth these many vain arguments and +useless propositions, and weaving words about the preaching of +the Gospel, desiring to turn it into mockery, and magnify +idolatry, Ioasaph, the son of the heavenly king, and citizen of +that city which the Lord hath builded and not man, waited a while +and then said unto him, + +"Give ear, thou abyss of error, blacker than the darkness that +may be felt, thou seed of Babylon, child of the building of the +tower of Chalane, whereby the world was confounded, foolish and +pitiable dotard, whose sins out-weigh the iniquity of the five +cities that were destroyed by fire and brimstone. Why wouldest +thou mock at the preaching of salvation, whereby darkness hath +been made light, the wanderers have found the way, they that were +lost in dire captivity have been recalled. Tell me whether is +better? To worship God Almighty, with the only-begotten Son and +the Holy Ghost, God increate and immortal, the beginning and +well-spring of good, whose power is beyond compare, and his glory +incomprehensible, before whom stand thousand thousands, and ten +thousand times ten thousand of Angels and heavenly hosts, and +heaven and earth are full of his glow, by whom all things were +brought into being out of nothing, by whom everything is upheld +and sustained and ordered by his providence; or to serve deadly +devils and lifeless idols, whose glory and boast is in adultery +and the corrupting of boys, and other works of iniquity that have +been recorded concerning your gods in the books of your +superstition? Have ye no modesty, ye miserable men, fuel for +unquenchable fire, true copy of the Chaldean race, have ye no +shame to worship dead images, the works of men's hands? Ye have +carved stone and graven wood and called it God. Next ye take the +best bullock out of your folds, or (may be) some other of your +fairest beasts, and in your folly make sacrifice to your dead +divinity. Your sacrifice is of more value than your idol; for +the image was fashioned by man, but the beast was created by God. +How much wiser is the unreasonable beast than thou the reasonable +man? For it knoweth the hand that feedeth it, but thou knowest +not that God by whom thou wast created out of nothing, by whom +thou livest, and art preserved; and thou callest God that which +thou sawest, but now, smitten by steel, and burnt and moulded in +the fire, and beaten with hammers, which thou hast covered around +with silver and gold, and raised from the ground, and set on +high. Then, falling upon the earth, thou liest baser than the +base stone, worshipping not God but thine own dead and lifeless +handiwork. Or rather, the idol hath no right to be called even +dead, for how can that have died which never lived? Thou +shouldest invent some new name worthy of such madness. Thy stone +god is broken asunder; thy potsherd god shattered; thy brazen god +rusteth; thy gold or silver god is melted down. Aye, and thy +gods are sold, some for a paltry, others for a great price. Not +their divinity but their material giveth them value. But who +buyeth God? Who offereth God for sale? And how is that god that +cannot move called God? Seest thou not that the god that +standeth cannot sit, and the god that sitteth cannot stand? + +"Be ashamed, thou fool, and lay thine hand upon thy mouth, thou +victim of folly, that commendest such things as these. Estranged +from the truth, thou hast been led astray by false images, +fashioning statues and attaching to the works of thine own hands +the name of God. O wretched man, return to thy senses, and learn +that thou art older than the god made by thee. This is downright +madness. Being a man, thou hast persuaded thyself that thou +canst make God. How can this be? Thou makest not God, but the +likeness of a man, or of some beast, sans tongue, sans throat, +sans brains, sans inwards, so that it is the similitude neither +of a man, nor of a beast, but only a thing of no use and sheer +vanity. Why therefore flatterest thou things that cannot feel? +Why sittest thou at the feet of things that cannot move and help +thee? But for the skill of the mason, or timber-wright, or +hammer-smith, thou hadst not had a god. Had there been no +warders nigh at hand, thou hadst lost thy god. He, to whom many +a populous city of fools prayeth as God to guard it, the same +hath suite of guards at hand to save him from being stolen. And +if he be of silver or gold, he is carefully guarded; but if of +stone or clay or any other less costly ware, he guardeth himself, +for with you, no doubt, a god of clay is stronger than one of +gold. + +"Do we not, then, well to laugh you to scorn, or rather to weep +over you, as men blind and without understanding? Your deeds are +deeds of madness and not of piety. Your man of war maketh to +himself an image after the similitude of a warrior, and calleth +it Ares. And the lecher, making a symbol of his own soul, +deifieth his vice and calleth it Aphrodite. Another, in honour +of his own love of wine, fashioneth an idol which he calleth +Dionysus. Likewise lovers of all other evil things set up idols +of their own lusts; for they name their lusts their gods. And +therefore, before their altars, there are lascivious dances, and +strains of lewd songs and mad revelries. Who could recount in +order their abominable doings? Who could endure to defile his +lips by the repeating of their filthy communications? But these +are manifest to all, even if we hold our peace. These be thine +objects of worship, O Theudas, who art more senseless than thine +idols. Before these thou biddest me fall down and worship. This +verily is the counsel of thine iniquity and senseless mind. But +thou thyself shalt be like unto them, and all such as put their +trust in them. + +"As for me, I will serve my God, and to him will I wholly +sacrifice myself, to God, the Creator and protector of all things +through our Lord Jesus Christ, my hope, by whom we have access +unto the Father of lights, in the Holy Ghost: by whom we have +been redeemed from bitter slavery by his blood. For if he had +not humbled himself so far as to take the form of a servant, we +had not received the adoption of sons. But he humbled himself +for our sake, not considering the Godhead a thing to be grasped, +but he remained that which he was, and took on himself that which +he was not, and conversed with men, and mounted the Cross in his +flesh, and was laid in the sepulchre by the space of three days; +he descended into hell, and brought out from thence them whom the +fierce prince of this world held prisoners, sold into bondage by +sin. What harm then befell him thereby that thou thinkest to +make mock of him? Seest thou not yonder sun, into how many a +barren and filthy place he darteth his rays? Upon how many a +stinking corpse doth he cast his eye? Hath he therefore any +stain of reproach? Doth he not dry and shrivel up filth and +rottenness, and give light to dark places, himself the while +unharmed and incapable of receiving any defilement? And what of +fire? Doth it not take iron, which is black and cold in itself, +and work it into white heat and harden it? Doth it receive any +of the properties of the iron? When the iron is smitten and +beaten with hammers is the fire any the worse, or doth it in any +way suffer harm? + +"If, then, these created and corruptible things take no hurt from +contact with things commoner than themselves, with what reason +dost thou, O foolish and stony-hearted man, presume to mock at me +for saying that the Son, the Word of God, never departing from +the Father's glory, but remaining the same God, for the salvation +of men hath taken upon him the flesh of man, to the end that he +may make men partakers of his divine and intelligent nature and +may lead our substance out of the nether parts of hell, and +honour it with heavenly glory; to the end that by taking of our +flesh he may ensnare and defeat the ruler of the darkness of this +world, and free our race from his tyranny. Wherefore, I tell +thee, without suffering he met the suffering of the Cross, +presenting therein his two natures. For, as man, he was +crucified; but, as God, he darkened the sun, shook the earth, and +raised from their graves many bodies that had fallen asleep. +Again, as man, he died; but, as God, after that he had harried +hell, he rose again. Wherefore also the prophet cried, Hell is +in bitterness at having met thee below: for it was put to bitter +derision, supposing that it had received a mere man, but finding +God, and being made suddenly empty and led captive. Therefore, +as God, he rose again, and ascended into heaven, from whence he +was never parted. And our nature, so worthless and senseless +beyond everything, so graceless and dishonoured, hath he made +higher than all things, and established it upon a throne of +honour, with immortal honour shining round. What harm therefore +came to God, the Word, that thou blasphemest without a blush? Go +to! Better were it to make this confession, and to worship such +a God, who is good and a lover of mankind, who commandeth +righteousness, enjoineth continency, ordaineth chastity, teacheth +mercy, giveth faith, preacheth peace; who is called and is +himself the very truth, the very love, the very goodness. Him +were it not better to worship than thy gods of many evil +passions, of shameful names and shameful lives? Woe unto you +that are more stony-hearted than the stones, and more senseless +than the senseless, sons of perdition, inheritors of darkness! +But blessed am I, and all Christian folk, having a good God and a +lover of mankind! They that serve him, though, for a season in +this life they endure evil, yet shall they reap the immortal +harvest of recompense in the kingdom of unending and divine +felicity." + + +XXXII. + +Theudas said unto him, "Behold, it is evident that our religion +was instituted by many mighty wise men, and interpreters, +marvellous in virtue and learning; and all the kings and rulers +of the earth have received it as good and sure in every point. +But that of the Galileans was preached by some country peasants, +poor and common men, a mere handful, not exceeding twelve in +number. How then should one prefer the preaching of these few +obscure countrymen to the ordinance of the many that are mighty +and brilliantly wise? What is the proof that your teachers be +right and the others wrong?" + +Again the king's son made answer, "Belike, Theudas, thou art the +ass of the proverb, that heard but heeded not the harp; or rather +the adder that stoppeth her ears, that she may not hear the voice +of the charmers. Well, therefore, spake the prophet concerning +thee, If the Ethiopian can change his skin, or the leopard his +spots, then mayest thou also do good, that hast been taught to do +evil. Thou fool and blind, why doth not the force of truth bring +thee to thy senses? The very fact that your foul idols are +commended by many men of marvellous wisdom, and established by +kings, while the Gospel is preached by a few men of no mark, +sheweth the might of our religion and the weakness and deadliness +of your wicked doctrines. Because your side, despite its having +wise advocates and mighty champions, is dying down, and waxing +weak, whilst our religion, though possessed of no human help, +shineth from afar brighter than the sun, and hath won the fulness +of the world. If it had been set up by orators and philosophers, +and had had kings for its succour, thou that art evil wouldst +have found occasion to declare that it was wholly of human power. +But now, seeing, as thou dost, that the holy Gospel, though +composed but by common fishermen, and persecuted by every tyrant, +hath after this won the whole world for its sound hath gone out +into all lands, and its words into the ends of the world -- what +canst thou say but that it is a divine and unconquerable power +establishing its own cause for the salvation of mankind? But +what proof seekest thou, O fool, that thy prophets are liars and +ours true, better than the truths I have told thee? Except thy +cause had been vain talk and falsehood, it could not, possessing +such human support as it did, have suffered loss and decline. +For he saith, `I have seen the ungodly in great power, and +exalted like the cedars of Libanus: and I went by and lo, he was +gone: and I sought him but his place could nowhere be found.' + +"Concerning you, the defenders of idolatry, were these words +spoken by the prophet. For a very, very little while and your +place shall not be found: but, like as the smoke vanisheth, and +like as wax melteth in face of the fire, so shall ye fail. But, +as touching the divine wisdom of the Gospel, thus saith the Lord, +`Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass +away.' And again the Psalmist saith, `Thou, Lord, in the +beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens +are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou endurest; +and they all shall wax old as doth a garment, and as a vesture +shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed, but thou art +the same, and thy years shall not fail!' And those divine +preachers of the coming of Christ, those wise fishers of the +world, whose nets drew all men from the depths of deceit, whom +thou, in thy vileness and bondage to sin, dost vilify, did by +signs and wonders and manifold powers shine as the sun in the +world, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, motion to +the lame, and life to the dead. Their shadows alone healed all +the ailments of men. The devils, whom ye dread as gods, they not +only cast forth from men's bodies, but even drave out of the +world itself by the sign of the cross, whereby they destroyed all +sorcery, and rendered witchcraft powerless. And these men, by +curing every disease of man by the power of Christ, and renewing +all creation, are rightly admired as preachers of truth by all +men of sound mind. But what hast thou thyself to say of thy wise +men and orators, whose wisdom God hath made foolish, the +advocates of the devil? What worthy memorial have they +bequeathed to the world? Tell me. And what canst thou tell of +them but unreason and shamefulness, and vain craft that with +glosing words concealeth the mire of their unsavoury worship? + +"Moreover such of your poets as have been able to soar a little +above this great madness have said, with more truth, that they, +which are called gods, were men; and because certain of them had +been rulers of regions and cities, and others had done something +of no great account in their lifetime, men were so deceived as to +call them gods. It standeth on record that the man Seruch was +the first to bring in the use of images. For it is said that in +the old times he honoured those who had achieved some memorable +deed of courage, friendship, or any other such virtue with +statues and pillars. But after generations forgat the intention +of their ancestors: and, whereas it was only for remembrance sake +that they had set up statues and pillars to the doers of noble +deeds, now they were, little by little, led astray through the +working of the prince of evil, the devil, and treated as immortal +gods men of like passions and corruptible as themselves and +further devised sacrifices and drink-offerings for them, -- the +devils, thou mayest know, taking up their abode in these images +and diverting to themselves these honours and sacrifices. +Accordingly these devils persuade men, who refuse to have God in +their knowledge, to consider them as gods for two reasons: first, +that they may be glorified by this title (for they are puffed up +with arrogance, and delight to be honoured as gods) next, that +they may drag their poor dupes into the unquenchable fire +prepared for themselves. Hence they teach men all iniquity and +filthiness, seeing that they have once subjected themselves to +their deceit. So when men had arrived at this pinnacle of evil, +they, being darkened, set up every man an idol of his own vice +and his own lust, and call it a god. They were abominable in +their error, more abominable in the absurdity of the objects that +they chose to worship, until the Lord came, and of his tender +mercy redeemed us that trust in him from this wicked and deadly +error, and taught men the true knowledge of God. For there is no +salvation except in him, and there is none other God, neither in +heaven, nor in earth, except him only, the Maker of all, who +moveth all things by the word of his power: for he saith, `By the +word of the Lord were the heavens made stedfast, and all the +power of them by the breath of his mouth,' and, `All things were +made by him, and without him was not anything made that was +made.'" + +When Theudas had heard these sayings, and seen that the word was +full of divine wisdom, like one thunder-struck, he was smitten +dumb. Now late in time, and with difficulty, came he to +understand his own misery, for the word of salvation had touched +the darkened vision of his heart, and there fell upon him deep +remorse for his past sins. He renounced the error of his idols, +and ran towards the light of godliness, and from henceforth +departed from his miserable life, and made himself as bitter an +enemy of vile affections and sorceries as he before had pledged +himself their devoted friend, For at this season he stood up in +the midst of the assembly, and cried with a loud voice, saying, +"Verily, O king, the Spirit of God dwelleth in thy son. Verily, +we are defeated, and have no further apology, and have no +strength to face the words that he hath uttered. Mighty +therefore, in sooth, is the God of the Christians: mighty is +their faith: mighty are their mysteries." + +Then he turned him round toward the king's son and said, "Tell me +now, thou man, whose soul is enlightened, will Christ accept me, +if I forsake my evil deeds and turn to him?" "Yea," said that +preacher of truth; "Yea, he receiveth thee and all that turn to +him. And he not only receiveth thee, but he goeth out to meet +thee returning out of the way of iniquity, as though it were a +son returning from a far country. And he falleth on his neck and +kisseth him, and he strippeth him of the shameful robe of sin, +and putteth on him a cloak of brightest glory, making mystic +gladness for the powers on high, keeping feast for the return of +the lost sheep. The Lord himself saith, `There is exceeding +great joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth': and again, +`I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.' +And he saith also by the Prophet, `As I live, saith the Lord, I +have no pleasure in the death of the sinner, and the ungodly, but +that he should turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from +your evil way. And why will ye die, O house of Israel?' For the +wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him in the day that he +turneth from his wickedness, if he do righteousness and walk in +the statutes of life, he shall surely live; he shall not die. +None of his sins which he hath committed shall be remembered +against him. Because he hath done the decree of righteousness, +he shall live thereby. And again he crieth by the mouth of +another prophet, `Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of +your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil: learn to do +well. Come now, and let us reason together: though your sins be +as scarlet, I will make them white as snow; though they be red +like crimson, I will make them white as wool.' Such therefore +being the promises made by God to them that turn to him, tarry +not, O thou man, nor make delay: but draw nigh to Christ, our +loving God, and be enlightened, and thy face shall not be +ashamed. For as soon as thou goest down into the laver of Holy +Baptism, all the defilement of the old man, and all the burden of +thy many sins, is buried in the water, and passeth into +nothingness, and thou comest up from thence a new man, pure from +all pollution, with no spot or wrinkle of sin upon thee; and +thenceforward it is in thy power ever to keep for thyself the +purity that thou gainest hereby through the tender mercy of our +God." + +When Theudas had been thus instructed, he went out immediately +and gat him to his evil den, and took his magical books, and, +because they were the beginnings of all evil, and the store- +houses of devilish mysteries, burnt them with fire. And he +betook himself to the cave of that same holy man, to whom Nachor +also had resorted, and told him that which had befallen him, +casting dust upon his head, and groaning deeply, and watering +himself with his tears, and telling the aged man the full tale of +his loathly deeds. He, well skilled in the saving of a soul and +the snatching it from the jaw of the wily serpent, charmed away +his sorrow with words of salvation, and pledged him forgiveness +and promised him a merciful Judge. Then, after he had instructed +and charged him to fast many days, he cleansed him in Holy +Baptism. And all the days of his life Theudas heartily repented +him of his misdeeds, with tears and sighs seeking the favour of +God. + + +XXXIII. + +As for the king, when things fortuned thus, he was completely +bewildered, and plainly showed his sore vexation and tumult of +soul. So again he called all his senators together, and +considered what means were still his to deal with his son. Many +men put forward many counsels, but that Araches, of whom we have +spoken, the most famous in his office, and first of his +councillors, spake unto the king, saying, "What was there to be +done with thy son, O king, that we have not done, to induce him +to follow our doctrines and serve our gods? But, as I perceive, +we aim at the impossible. By nature, or, it may be, by chance, +he is contentious and implacable. Now, if it be thy purpose to +deliver him to torture and punishment, thou shalt do contrary to +nature, and be no more called a father; and thou shalt lose thy +son, willing, as he is, to lay down his life for Christ his sake. +This, then, alone remaineth: to divide thy kingdom with him, and +entrust him with the dominion of that part which falleth to his +lot; and if the course of events, and the care of the business of +life, draw him to embrace our aim and way, then the thing shall +be according to our purpose; for habits, firmly established in +the soul, are difficult to obliterate, and yield quicker to +persuasion than to violence. But if he shall continue in the +Christian religion, yet shall it be some solace to time in thy +distress, that thou hast not lost thy son." Thus spake Araches, +and all bare witness that they welcomed his proposal. Therefore +also the king agreed that this matter should thus be settled. So +at day-break he called his son, and said unto him, "This is now +my latest word with thee, my son. Unless thou be obedient +thereto, and in this way heal my heart, know thou well, that I +shall no longer spare thee." When his son enquired the meaning +of his word, he said, "Since, after all my labours, I find thee +in all points unyielding to the persuasion of my words, come now; +I will divide with thee my kingdom, and make thee king over the +half-part thereof; and thou shalt be free, from now, to go +whatsoever way thou wilt without fear." He, though his saintly +soul perceived that the king was casting yet another snare to +trip his purpose, resolved to obey, in order that he might escape +his hands, and take the journey that he desired. So he answered +and said, "I have indeed been longing to go in quest of that man +of God that pointed out to me the way of salvation, and, bidding +farewell to everything, to pass the rest of my life in his +company. But, father, since thou sufferest me not to fulfil my +heart's desire, I will obey thee herein: for where there is no +clear danger of perdition and estrangement from God, it is right +to obey one's father." + +The king was filled with exceeding great joy, and divided all the +country under his sovranty into two parts, and appointed his son +king, and adorned him with the diadem, and arrayed him in all the +splendour of kingship, and sent him forth with a magnificent +body-guard into the kingdom set apart for him. And he bade his +rulers and governors and satraps, every one that would, to depart +together with his son the king. And he set apart a mighty and +populous city for his kingdom, and gave him everything that +befitted a king. Thus then did Ioasaph receive the power of +kingship; and when he had reached that city, where royal state +had been prepared for him, on every tower of his city he set up +the sign of his Lord's passion, the venerable Cross of Christ. +And in person he besieged the idolatrous temples and altars, and +razed them to the ground, and uncovered their foundations, +leaving no trace of their ungodliness. + +And in the middle of the city he upreared for Christ, his Lord, a +temple mighty and passing fair, and he bade the people there +often to resort thither, and offer their worship to God by the +veneration of the Cross, himself standing in the midst in the +presence of all, and earnestly giving himself unto prayer. And +as many as were under his hand he admonished and exhorted, and +did everything to tear them away from superstitious error, and to +unite them to Christ; and he pointed out the deceits of idolatry, +and proclaimed the preaching of the Gospel, and recounted the +things concerning the condescension of God, the Word, and +preached the marvels of his coming, and made known his sufferings +on the Cross whereby we were saved, and the power of his +Resurrection, and his Ascension into heaven. Moreover he +declared the terrible day of his dreadful second coming, and the +bliss laid up for the righteous, and the punishments awaiting +sinners. All these truths he expounded with kindly mien and +gentle words. For he was not minded to be reverenced and feared +for the grandeur of his power and kingly magnificence, but rather +for his humility and meekness. Hereby also he more easily drew +all men unto himself, being verily marvellous in his acts, and +equitable and modest in spirit. Wherefore his power, being +strongly reinforced by his gentleness and equity, caused all men +to yield themselves to his words. + +What wonder, then, if, in a little while, all his subjects, in +city or country, were so well initiated into his inspired +teachings, that they renounced the errors of their many gods, and +broke away from idolatrous drink-offerings and abominations, and +were joined to the true faith and were created anew by his +doctrine, and added to the household of Christ? And all, who for +fear of Ioasaph's father had been shut up in mountains and dens, +priests and monks, and some few bishops, came forth from their +hiding places and resorted to him gladly. He himself would meet +and receive with honour those who had fallen upon such +tribulation and distress, for Christ his sake, and bring them to +his own palace, washing their feet, and cleansing their matted +hair, and ministering to them in every way. Then he dedicated +his newly built church, and therein appointed for chief-priest +one of the bishops that had suffered much, and had lost his own +see, on account of his faith in Christ, an holy man, and learned +in the canons of the Church, whose heart was fulfilled with +heavenly zeal. And forthwith, when he had made ready a rude +font, he bade baptize them that were turning to Christ. And so +they were baptized, first the rulers and the men in authority; +next, the soldiers on service and the rest of the multitude. And +they that were baptized not only received health in their souls, +but indeed as many as were afflicted with bodily ailments and +imperfections cast off all their trouble, and came up from the +holy font pure in soul, and sound in body, reaping an harvest of +health for soul and body alike. + +Wherefore also from all quarters multitudes flocked to King +Ioasaph, desirous to be instructed by him in godliness. And all +idolatrous images were utterly demolished, and all their wealth +and temple treasure was taken from them, and in their stead holy +courts were built for God. For these King Ioasaph dedicated the +riches and costly vestments and treasures of the idolatrous +temples, thereby making this worthless and superfluous material +fit for service, and profitable. And the foul fiends that dwelt +in their altars and temples were rigorously chased away and put +to flight; and these, in the hearing of many, loudly lamented the +misfortune that had overtaken them. And all the region round +about was freed from their dark deceit, and illuminated with the +light of the blameless Christian faith. + +And, soothly, the king was a good example to all; and he inflamed +and kindled the hearts of many to be of the same mind with +himself. For such is the nature of authority. Its subjects +alway conform to its likeness, and are wont to love the same +objects, and to practise the pursuits which they perceive to be +pleasing to their governor. Hence, God helping, religion grew +and increased amongst them. The king was wholly dependent on the +commandments of Christ and on his love, being a steward of the +word of grace, and pilot to the souls of many, bringing them to +safe anchorage in the haven of God. For he knew that this, afore +all things, is the work of a king, to teach men to fear God and +keep righteousness. Thus did he, training himself to be king +over his own passions, and, like a good pilot, keeping a firm +hold of the helm of good government for his subjects. For this +is the end of good kingship, to be king and lord over pleasure -- +which end also he achieved. Of the nobility of his ancestors, or +the royal splendour around him, he was in no wise proud, knowing +that we all have one common forefather, made of clay, and that, +whether rich or poor, we are all of the same moulding. He ever +abased his soul in deepest humility, and thought on the +blessedness of the world to come, and considered himself a +stranger and pilgrim in this world, but realised that that was +his real treasure which he should win after his departure hence. +Now, since all went well with him, and since he had delivered all +the people from their ancient and ancestral error, and made them +servants of him who redeemed us from evil servitude by his own +precious blood, he turned his thoughts to his next task, the +virtue of almsgiving. Temperance and righteousness he had +already attained; he wore on his brow the crown of temperance, +and wrapped about him the purple of righteousness. He called to +mind the uncertainty of earthly riches, how they resemble the +running of river waters. Therefore made he haste to lay up his +treasure where neither `moth nor rust doth corrupt and where +thieves do not break through nor steal.' So he began to +distribute all his money to the poor, sparing naught thereof. He +knew that the possessor of great authority is bound to imitate +the giver of that authority, according to his ability; and herein +he shall best imitate God, if he hold nothing in higher honour +than mercy. Before all gold and precious stone he stored up for +himself the treasure of almsgiving; treasure, which here +gladdeneth the heart by the hope of enjoyment to come, and there +delighteth it with the taste of the hoped-for bliss. After this +he searched the prisons, and sought out the captives in mines, or +debtors in the grip of their creditors; and by generous largesses +to all he proved a father to all, orphans, and widows, and +beggars, a loving and good father, for he deemed that by +bestowing blessings on these he won a blessing for himself. +Being endowed with spiritual riches, and, in sooth, a perfect +king, he gave liberally to all that were in need, for he hoped to +receive infinitely more, when the time should come for the +recompense of his works. + +Now, in little while, the fame of Ioasaph was blazoned abroad; +and led, as it were by the scent of sweet ointment, all men +flocked to him daily, casting off their poverty of soul and body: +and his name was on every man's lips. It was not fear and +oppression that drew the people to him, but desire and heart-felt +love, which by God's blessing and the king's fair life had been +planted in their hearts. + +Then, too, did his father's subjects begin to come to him, and, +laying aside all error, received the Gospel of truth. And the +house of Ioasaph grew and waxed strong, but the house of Abenner +waned and grew weak, even as the Book of the Kings declareth +concerning David and Saul. + + +XXXIV. + +When king Abenner saw this, though late and loth, he came to his +senses, and renounced his false gods with all their impotence and +vain deceit. Again he called an assembly of his chief +counsellors, and brought to light the thoughts of his heart. As +they confirmed his words (for the day-spring from on high had +visited them, the Saviour who had heard the prayer of his servant +Ioasaph), it pleased the king to signify the same to his son. +Therefore on the morrow he wrote a letter to Ioasaph, running +thus: + +"King Abenner to his well-beloved son Ioasaph, greeting. Dearest +son, many thoughts have been stealing into my soul, and rule it +with a rod of iron. I see our state vanishing, like as smoke +vanisheth, but thy religion shining brighter than the sun; and I +have come to my senses, and know that the words which thou hast +ever spoken unto me are true, and that a thick cloud of sin and +wickedness did then cover us, so that we were unable to discern +the truth, and recognize the Creator of all. Nay, but we shut +our eyes, and would not behold the light which thou didst +enkindle more brightly for us. Much evil did we do unto thee, +and many of the Christians, alas! did we destroy; who, +strengthened by the power that aided them, finally triumphed over +our cruelty. But now we have removed that dense mist from our +eyes, and see some small ray of truth, and there cometh on us +repentance of our misdeeds. But a new cloud of despair would +overshadow it; despair at the multitude of mine offences, because +I am now abominable and unacceptable to Christ, being a rebel and +a foeman unto him. What, then, sayest thou, dearest son, hereto? +Make known to me thine answer, and teach me that am thy father +what I should do, and lead me to the knowledge of my true weal." + +When Ioasaph had received this letter, and read the words +therein, his soul was filled with mingled joy and amazement. +Forthwith he entered his closet, and falling on his face before +the image of his Master, watered the ground with his tears, +giving thanks to his Lord and confessing him, and tuning lips of +exultation to sing an hymn of praise, saying: + +"I will magnify thee, O God, my King, and I will praise thy name +for ever and ever. Great art thou O Lord, and marvellous-worthy +to be praised, and of thy greatness there is no end. Who can +express thy noble acts, or show forth all thy praise, who hast +turned the hard rock into a standing water and the flint-stone +into a springing well? For behold this my father's flinty and +more than granite heart is at thy will melted as wax; because +thou art able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. +I thank thee, Lord, thou lover of men, and God of pity, that thou +hast been, and art, long-suffering towards our offences, and hast +suffered us until now to go unpunished. Long have we deserved to +be cast away from thy face, and made a by-word on earth, as were +the sinful inhabiters of the five cities, consumed with fire and +brimstone; but thy marvellous long-suffering hath dealt +graciously with us. I give thanks unto thee, vile and unworthy +though I be, and insufficient of myself to glorify thy greatness. +And, by thine infinite compassions, I pray thee, Lord Jesu +Christ, Son and Word of the invisible Father, who madest all +things by thy word, and sustainest them by thy will; who hast +delivered us thine unworthy servants from the bondage of the +arch-fiend our foe: thou that wast stretched upon the Rood, and +didst bind the strong man, and award everlasting freedom to them +that lay bound in his fetters: do thou now also stretch forth +thine invisible and almighty hand, and, at the last, free thy +servant my father from that cruel bondage of the devil. Show him +full clearly that thou art the ever living true God, and only +King, eternal and immortal. Behold, O Lord, with favourable and +kindly eye, the contrition of my heart; and, according to thine +unerring promise, be with me that acknowledge and confess thee +the Maker and protector of all creation. Let there be a well of +water within me springing up, and let utterance be given unto me +that I may open my mouth, and a mind well fixed in thee, the +chief corner-stone, that I, thine unprofitable servant, may be +enabled to preach to my father, as is right, the mystery of thine +Incarnation, and by thy power deliver him from the vain deceit of +wicked devils, and bring him unto thee his God and Lord, who +willest not the death of us sinners, but waitest for us to return +and repent, because thou art glorified for ever and ever. Amen." + +When he had thus prayed, and received fulness of assurance that +he should not miscarry in his desire, he took courage by the +tender mercy of Christ, and arose thence, with his royal body- +guard, and arrived at his father's palace. When it was told unto +his father, "Thy son is come," he went forth straightway for to +meet him, and embraced and kissed him lovingly, and made +exceeding great joy, and held a general feast in honour of the +coming of his son. And afterward, they two were closeted +together. + +But how tell of all that the son spake with his father, and of +all the wisdom of his speech? And what was that speech but the +words put into his mouth by the Holy Ghost, by whom the fishermen +enclosed the whole world in their nets for Christ and the +unlearned are found wiser than the wise. This Holy Spirit's +grace and wisdom taught Ioasaph to speak with the king his +father, enlightening him with the light of knowledge. Before now +he had bestowed much labour to drag his father from superstitious +error, leaving nothing unsaid and nothing undone to win him over, +but he seemed to be twanging on a broken string, and speaking to +deaf ears. But when the Lord looked upon the lowliness of his +servant Ioasaph, and, in answer to his prayer, opened the closed +gates of his father's heart (for it is said, he will fulfil the +desire of them that fear him, and will hear their cry), then the +king easily understood the things that were spoken; so that, when +a convenient season came, through the grace of Christ, this son +triumphed over those evil spirits that had lorded it over the +soul of his father, and clean freed him from their error, and +made the word of salvation clearly known unto him, and joined him +to the living God on high. + +Ioasaph took up his tale from the beginning, and expounded to his +father great and marvellous things which he knew not, which he +had never heard with the ears of his heart; and he told him many +weighty sayings concerning God, and showed him righteousness: to +wit that there is no other God in heaven above, nor in the earth +beneath, except the one God, revealed in the Father, the Son, and +the Holy Ghost. And he made known unto him many mysteries of +divine knowledge; and amongst them he told him the history of +creation, visible and invisible, how the Creator brought every +thing out of nothing, and how he formed man after his own image +and likeness and endowed him with power of free-will, and gave +him Paradise to his enjoyment, charging him only to abstain from +one thing, the tree of knowledge; and how, when man had broken +his commandment, he banished him out of Paradise; and how man, +fallen from union with God, stumbled into these manifold errors, +becoming the slave of sins, and subject unto death through the +tyranny of the devil, who, having once taken men captive, hath +made them utterly forget their Lord and God, and hath persuaded +them to serve him instead, by the abominable worshipping of +idols. So our Maker, moved with compassion, through the good- +will of the Father, and the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, was +pleased, for our sakes, to be born of an holy Virgin, Mary, the +mother of God, and he, that cannot suffer, was acquainted with +sufferings. On the third day he rose again from the dead, and +redeemed us from our first penalty, and restored to us our first +glory. When he ascended into the heavens, from whence he had +descended, he raised us up together with him; and thence, we +believe that he shall come again, to raise up his own handiwork; +and he will recompense every man according to his works. +Moreover Ioasaph instructed his father concerning the kingdom of +heaven that awaiteth them that are worthy thereof, and the joy +unspeakable. Thereto he added the torment in store for the +wicked, the unquenchable fire, the outer darkness, the undying +worm and whatsoever other punishment the servants of sin have +laid up in store for themselves. + +All these things set he forth in many words, which bore witness +that the grace of the Spirit was dwelling richly within him. +Then he described the uncharted sea of the love of God towards +mankind, and how he is ready to accept the repentance of them +that turn to him; and how there is no sin too great for his +tender mercy, if we will but repent. And when he had confirmed +these truths by many an example, and testimony of Scripture, he +made an end of speaking. + + +XXXV. + +King Abenner was pricked to the heart by this inspired wisdom and +with loud voice and fervent heart confessed Christ his Saviour, +and forthwith forsook all superstitious error. He venerated the +sign of the life-giving Cross in the sight of all and, in the +hearing of all, proclaimed our Lord Jesus Christ to be God. By +telling in full the tale of his former ungodliness, and of his +own cruelty and blood-thirstiness toward the Christians, he +proved himself a great power for religion. So here was proved in +fact, the saying of Paul; that where sin abounded, there did +grace much more abound. + +While then the learned Ioasaph was speaking of God, and of piety +towards him, to the dukes and satraps and all the people there +assembled, and was as it were with a tongue of fire piping unto +them a goodly ode, the grace of the Holy Spirit descended upon +them, and moved them to give glory to God, so that all the +multitude cried aloud with one voice, "Great is the God of the +Christians, and there is none other God but our Lord Jesus +Christ, who, together with the Father and Holy Ghost, is +glorified." + +Waxen full of heavenly zeal, King Abenner made a sturdy assault +on the idols, wrought of silver and gold, that were within his +palace, and tore them down to the ground. Then he brake them +into small pieces, and distributed them to the poor, thus making +that which had been useless useful. Furthermore he and his son +besieged the idols' temples and altars and levelled them even to +the ground, and in their stead, and to the honour of God, built +holy courts. And not only in the city but throughout all the +country also, thus did they in their zeal. And the evil spirits +that dwelt in those altars were driven forth with shrieks, and +cried out in terror at the invincible power of our God. And all +the region round about, and the greater part of the neighbour +nations, were led, as by the hand, to the true Faith. Then came +the holy Bishop, of whom we have spoken, and King Abenner was +instructed, and made perfect with Holy Baptism, in the name of +the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And Ioasaph +received him as he came up from the Holy Font, in this strange +way appearing as the begetter of his own father, and proving the +spiritual father to him that begat him in the flesh: for he was +the son of his heavenly Father, and verily divine fruit of that +divine Branch, which saith, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." + +Thus King Abenner, being born again of water and of the spirit, +rejoiced with joy unspeakable, and with him all the city and the +region round about received Holy Baptism, and they that were +before darkness now became children of light. And every disease, +and every assault of evil spirits was driven far from the +believers, and all were sane and sound in body and in soul. And +many other miracles were wrought for the confirmation of the +Faith. Churches too were built, and the bishops, that had been +hiding for fear, discovered themselves, and received again their +own churches, whilst others were chosen from the priests and +monks, to shepherd the flock of Christ. But King Abenner, having +thus forsaken his former disgraceful life, and repented of his +evil deeds, handed over to his son the rule of all his kingdom. +He himself dwelt in solitude, continually casting dust on his +head, and groaning for very heaviness, and watering his face with +his tears, being alone, communing with him who is everywhere +present and imploring him to forgive his sins. And he abased +himself to such a depth of contrition and humility, that he +refused to name the name of God with his own lips, and was scarce +brought by his son's admonitions to make so bold. Thus the king +passed through the good change and entered the road that leadeth +to virtue, so that his righteousness now surpassed his former +sins of ignorance. For four years did he live thus in repentance +and tears and virtuous acts, and then fell into the sickness +whereof he died. But when the end drew nigh, he began to fear +and to be dismayed, calling to remembrance the evil that he had +wrought. But with comfortable words Ioasaph sought to ease the +distress that had fallen on him, saying, "Why art thou so full of +heaviness, O my father, and wily art thou so disquieted within +time? Set thy hope on God, and give him thanks, who is the hope +of all the ends of the earth, and of them that remain in the sea +afar, who crieth by the mouth of his prophet, `Wash you, make you +clean: put away from before mine eyes the wickedness of your +souls; learn to do well'; and `Though your sins be as scarlet, I +will make them white as snow; though they be red like crimson, I +will make them as wool.' Fear not, therefore, O my father, +neither be of doubtful mind: for the sins of them that turn to +God prevail not against his infinite goodness. For these, +however many, are subject to measure and number: but measure and +number cannot limit his goodness. It is impossible then for that +which is subject to measure to exceed the unmeasurable." + +With such comfortable words did Ioasaph cheer his soul, and bring +him to a good courage. Then his father stretched out his hands, +and gave him thanks and prayed for him, blessing the day whereon +Ioasaph was born, and said "Dearest child, yet not child of me, +but of mine heavenly Father, with what gratitude can I repay +thee? With what words of blessings may I bless thee? What +thanks shall I offer God for thee? I was lost, and was found +through thee: I was dead in sin and am alive again: an enemy, and +rebel against God, and am reconciled with him. What reward +therefore shall I give thee for all these benefits? God is he +that shall make the due recompense." Thus saying, he pressed +many kisses on his beloved son; then, when he had prayed, and +said, "Into thy hands, O God, thou lover of men, do I commit my +spirit," he committed his soul unto the Lord in penitence and +peace. + +Now, when Ioasaph had honoured with his tears his father that was +dead, and had reverently cared for his body, he buried him in a +sepulchre wherein devout men lay; not indeed clad in royal +raiment, but robed in the garment of penitence. Standing on the +sepulchre, and lifting up his hands to heaven, the tears +streaming in floods from his eyes, he cried aloud unto God +saying, + +"O God, I thank thee, King of glory, alone mighty and immortal, +that thou hast not despised my petition, and hast not held thy +peace at my tears, but hast been pleased to turn this thy +servant, my father, from the way of wickedness, and to draw him +to thyself, the Saviour of all, departing him from the +deceitfulness of idolatry, and granting him to acknowledge thee, +who art the very God and lover of souls. And now, O my Lord and +God, whose ocean of goodness is uncharted, set him in that place +where much grass is, in a place of refreshment, where shineth the +light of thy countenance. Remember not his old offences; but, +according to the multitude of thy mercies, blot out the hand- +writing of his sins, and destroy the tablets of his debts, and +set him at peace with thy Saints whom he slew with fire and +sword. Charge them not to be bitter against him. For all things +are possible with thee, the Lord of all, save only to withhold +pity from them that turn not unto thee; this is impossible. For +thy pity is poured out upon all men, and thou savest them that +call upon thee, Lord Jesu Christ, because glory becometh thee for +ever and ever. Amen." + +Such were the prayers and intercessions that he made unto God, by +the space of seven full days, never leaving the grave, and never +thinking of meat or drink, and taking no refreshment of sleep: +but he watered the ground with his tears, and continued praying +and moaning unceasingly. But, on the eighth day, he went back to +his palace and distributed amongst the poor all his wealth and +riches, so that not one person was left in want. + + +XXXVI. + +In a few days, after he had ended this ministry, and emptied all +his coffers, in order that the burden of his money might not +hinder him from entering in at the narrow gate, on the fortieth +day after his father's decease, and in remembrance of him, he +called together all his officers, and those who wore soldiers' +attire, and of the citizens not a few. Sitting in the front, +according to custom, in the audience of all he said, "Lo, as ye +see, Abenner, my father the king, hath died like any beggar. +Neither wealth nor kingly glory, nor I his loving son, nor any of +his kith and kindred, has availed to help him, or to save him +from the sentence without reprieve. But he is gone to yonder +judgement seat, to give account of his life in this world, +carrying with him no advocate whatsoever, except his deeds, good +or bad. And the same law is ordained by nature for every man +born of woman, and there is no escape. Now, therefore, hearken +unto me, friends and brethren, people and holy heritage of the +Lord, whom Christ our God hath purchased with his own precious +blood, and delivered from the ancient error, and bondage of the +adversary. Ye yourselves know my manner of life among you; that +ever since I knew Christ, and was counted worthy to become his +servant, I have hated all things, and loved him only, and how +this was my desire, to escape from the tempest and vain tumult of +the world, and commune alone with him, and in undisturbed peace +of soul serve my God and Master. But my father's opposition held +me back, and the command that biddeth us to honour our fathers. +So, by the grace and help of God, I have not laboured in vain, +nor spent these days for naught, I have brought my father nigh to +Christ, and have taught you all to know the one true God, the +Lord of all; and yet not I, but the grace of God which was with +me, which rescued me also from superstitious error, and from the +worship of idols, and freed you, O my people, from cruel +captivity. So now it is high time to fulfil the service that I +promised to God; high time to depart thitherward, where he +himself shall lead me, where I may perform my vows which I made +unto him. Now, therefore, look you out a man whom ye will, to be +your leader and king; for by this time ye have been conformed to +the will of the Lord, and of his commandments nothing hath been +hidden from you. Walk ye therein; turn not aside, neither to the +right hand, nor to the left, and the God of peace be with you +all!" + +When all that company and the common people heard thereof, anon +there arose a clamour, an uproar, and a mighty cry and confusion, +all weeping like orphans and bewailing their loss. Lamenting +bitterly, they protested with oaths and with tears, that they +would never let him go, but would restrain him and not suffer in +any wise his departure. While the common people, and they in +authority, were thus crying aloud, the king broke in, and +beckoned with his hand to the multitude and charged them to keep +silence. He declared that he gave in to their instancy, and +dismissed them still grieving, and bearing on their cheeks the +signs of sorrow. And Ioasaph did thus. There was one of the +senators first in favour with Ioasaph, a man honoured for his +godliness and dignity, Barachias by name, who, as hath been +already told, when Nachor, feigning to be Barlaam, was disputing +with the philosophers, alone was ready to stand by Nachor and +fight for him, for his heart was fired with heavenly love. Him +the king took apart, and spake gently with him, and earnestly +besought him to receive the kingdom, and, in the fear of God, to +shepherd his people; in order that he himself might take the +journey that he desired. + +But Barachias would put aside and reject his offer, saying, "O +king, how wrongful is thy judgement, and thy word contrary to +divine command! If thou hast learned to love thy neighbour as +thyself, with what right art thou eager to shift the burden off +thy back and lay it upon mine? If it be good to be king, keep +the good to thy self: but, if it be a stone of stumbling and rock +of offence to thy soul, why put it in my pathway and seek to trip +me up?" When Ioasaph perceived that he spake thus, and that his +purpose was fixed, he ceased from communing with him. And now, +at about the dead of night, he wrote his people a letter, full of +much wisdom, expounding to them all godliness; telling them what +they should think concerning God, what life, what hymns and what +thanksgiving they should offer unto him. Next, he charged them +to receive none other than Barachias to be ruler of the kingdom. +Then left he in his bed-chamber the roll containing his letter, +and, unobserved of all, went forth from his palace. But he might +not win through undetected, for, early on the morrow, the +tidings, that he was departed, anon made commotion and mourning +among the people, and, in much haste, forth went every man for to +seek him; they being minded by all means to cut off his flight. +And their zeal was not spent in vain; for, when they had occupied +all the high-ways, and encompassed all the mountains, and +surrounded the pathless ravines, they discovered him in a water- +course, his hands uplifted to heaven, saying the prayer proper of +the Sixth Hour. + +When they beheld him, they surrounded him, and besought him with +team, upbraiding him for departing from them. "But," said he, +"why labour ye in vain? No longer hope to have me to your king." +Yet gave he way to their much opposition, and turned again to +his palace. And, when he had assembled all the folk, he signified +his will. Then with oath he confirmed his word, that he would +dwell with them not one day more. "For," said he, "I have +fulfilled my ministry toward you, and have omitted naught, +neither have I kept back anything that was profitable unto you, +in failing to show or teach you, testifying to all the faith in +our Lord Jesus Christ, and pointing out the paths of repentance. +And now behold I go the road that I have long time desired, and +all ye shall see m"y face no more. Wherefore I take you to record +this day, as saith the holy Apostle, that I am pure from the +blood of you all, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all +the counsel of God." + +When they heard this, and perceived the steadfastness of his +purpose, that nothing could hinder him from his resolve, they +wept like orphans over their bereavement, but could in no wise +over-persuade him. Then did the king take that Barachias, of +whom we have already spoken, saying, "This is he, brethren, whom +I appoint to be your king." And though Barachias stoutly +resisted, yet he established him, unwilling and reluctant, upon +the royal throne, and placed the diadem on his head, and gave the +kingly ring into his hand. Then he stood facing the cast and +made prayer for King Barachias, that his faith toward God might +be preserved unwavering, and that he might keep without faltering +the path of Christ's commandments. Therewith he prayed for the +clergy and all the flock, asking of God succour for them and +salvation, and all that might fitly be asked for their welfare. + +Thus he prayed, and then turning said unto Barachias, "Behold, +brother, I charge thee, as the Apostle once adjured his people, +`Take heed unto thyself, and to all the flock, over the which the +Holy Ghost hath made thee king, to feed the Lord's people, whom +he hath purchased with his own blood.' And even as thou wast +before me in the knowledge of God, and didst serve him with a +pure conscience, so now also show the more zeal in pleasing him. +For, as thou hast received of God a mighty sovereignty, thou +owest him the greater repayment. Render therefore to thy +Benefactor the debt of thanksgiving, by the keeping of his holy +commandments and by turning aside from every path whose end is +destruction. For it is with kingdoms as with ships. If one of +the sailors blunder it bringeth but small damage to the crew. +But if the steersman err, he causeth the whole ship to perish. +Even so it is with sovranty: if a subject err, he harmeth himself +more than the state. But if the king err, he causeth injury to +the whole realm. Therefore, as one that shall render strict +account, if thou neglect aught of thy duty, guard thyself with +all diligence in that which is good. Hate all pleasure that +draweth into sin: for, saith the Apostle, `Follow peace with all +men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' +Consider the wheel of men's affairs, how it runneth round and +round, turning and whirling them now up, now down: and amid all +its sudden changes, keep thou unchanged a pious mind. To change +with every change of affairs betokeneth an unstable heart. But +be thou steadfast, wholly established upon that which is good. +Be not lifted and vainly puffed up because of temporal honour; +but, with purified reason, understand the nothingness of thine +own nature, and the span-length and swift flight of life here, +and death the yoke-fellow of the flesh. If thou consider these +things, thou shalt not be cast into the pit of arrogance, but +shalt fear God, the true and heavenly King, and verily thou shalt +be blessed. For he saith, `Blessed are all they that fear the +Lord, and walk in his ways,' and `Blessed is the man that feareth +the Lord: he shall have great delight in his commandments.' And +which commandments above all shouldest thou observe? `Blessed +are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,' and `Be ye +merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful.' For the +fulfilment of this commandment, above all, is required of them +that are in high authority. And, soothly, the holder of great +authority ought to imitate the giver of that authority to the +best of his ability. And herein shall he best imitate God, by +considering that nothing is to be preferred before showing mercy. +Nay, further, nothing so surely draweth the subject to loyalty +toward his Sovereign as the grace of charity bestowed on such as +need it. For the service that cometh from fear is flattery in +disguise, with the pretence of respect cozening them that pay +heed to it; and the unwilling subject rebelleth when he findeth +occasion. Whereas he that is held by the ties of loyalty is +steadfast in his obedience to the ruling power. Wherefore be +thou easy of access to all and open thine ears unto the poor, +that thou mayest find the ear of God open unto thee. For as we +are to our fellow-servants, such shall we find our Master to +us-ward. And, like as we do hear others, so shall we be heard +ourselves: and, as we see, so shall we be seen by the divine all- +seeing eye. Therefore pay we first mercy for mercy, that we may +obtain like for like. + +"But hear yet another commandment, the fellow of the former; +`Forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;' and `If ye forgive +not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly father +forgive you your trespasses.' Wherefore bear no malice against +them that offend against thee; but, when thou askest forgiveness +of thy sins, forgive thyself also them that injure thee, because +forgiveness is repaid by forgiveness, and by making peace with +our fellow-servants we are ourselves delivered from the wrath of +our Master. Again, a lack of compassion towards them that +trespass against us maketh our own trespasses unpardonable, even +as thou hast heard what befell the man that owed ten thousand +talents, how, through his want of pity on his fellow-servant, he +was again required to pay all that mighty debt. So we must take +good heed lest a like fate betide us. But let us forgive every +debt, and cast all anger out of our hearts, in order that our +many debts, too, may be forgiven. Beside this, and before all +things, keep thou that good thing which is committed to thy +trust, the holy Word of faith wherein thou hast been taught and +instructed. And let no tare of heresy grow up amongst you, but +preserve the heavenly seed pure and sincere, that it may yield a +manifold harvest to the master, when he cometh to demand account +of our lives, and to reward us according to our deeds, when the +righteous shall shine forth as the sun, but darkness and +everlasting shame shall cover the sinners. And now, brethren, I +commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able +to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them +which are sanctified." + +And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, as it is written, +and prayed again in tears. And he turned him round, and kissed +Barachias, whom he had chosen to their king, and all the +officers. Then came a scene fit, belike, to make one weep. They +all crowded around him, as though his presence meant life to +them, and his departure would reave them of their very souls; and +what piteous pleading, what extravagance of grief did they omit? +They kissed him; they hung about him; they were beside themselves +for anguish of heart. "Wo is us," cried they, "for this grievous +calamity!" They called him, Master, Father, Saviour, Benefactor. +"Through thine," said they, "we learned to know God, and were +redeemed from error, and found rest from every ill. What +remaineth us after thou art gone? What evils shall not befall +us?" Thus saying, they smote upon their breasts, and bewailed +the misfortune that had overtaken them. But he with words of +comfort hushed their sobs, and promised to be with them still in +the spirit though he might no longer abide with them in the body. +And when he had thus spoken, in the sight of all he went forth +from the palace. And immediately all the people followed him. +They despaired of his return; they ran from the city, as from a +sight that they could no longer endure. But when they were +outside the city, Ioasaph addressed them with sharp words, and +chode with them harshly; and so they were parted from him, and +unwillingly went home, often turning round to look on him, and +stumbling on their road. And some of the hotter spirits also +followed afar off weeping, until the shades of night parted them +one from another. + + +XXXVII. + +Thus this noble man went forth from his palace rejoicing, as when +after long exile a man returneth with joy to his own country. +Outwardly he wore the robes that he was wont to wear, but beneath +was the hair-shirt which Barlaam had given him. That night he +halted at a poor man's cabin, and stripped himself of his outer +raiment, which, as his last alms, he bestowed upon his poor host, +and thus by the prayers of that poor man, as well as of so many +others, he made God his ally, and put on his grace and help as a +garment of salvation; and, clad in a coat of gladness, thus went +he off to his hermit-life, carrying with him neither bread, nor +water, nor any necessary food, with no garment upon him save the +aforesaid rough shirt. For his heart was wounded with a +marvellous longing and divine love for Christ the immortal King; +he was beside himself with longing, mad for God, possessed by +love of him; "For love," he saith, "is strong as fire." So +drunken was he with this heavenly love, so parched with thirst, +according to him that saith, "Like as the hart desireth the +water-brooks, so longeth my soul after time, O God. My soul is +athirst for the mighty and living God"; or, as the soul that is +sick of love crieth in the Song of Songs, "Thou hast ravished us, +ravished us with the desire of thee"; and, "Let me see thy +countenance, and let me hear thy voice, for thy voice is a sweet +voice, and thy countenance is comely." + +It was the desire for this unspeakable comeliness of Christ that +fired the hearts of the Apostolic Quire and of the Martyr folk to +despise the things that are seen, and all this temporal life, and +the rather to choose ten thousand forms of death and torture, +being enamoured of his heavenly beauty, and bearing in mind the +charm that the divine Word used for to win our love. Such was +the fire that was kindled in the soul of this fair youth also, +noble in body, but most noble and kingly in soul, that led him to +despise all earthly things alike, to trample on all bodily +pleasures, and to contemn riches and glory and the praise of men, +to lay aside diadem and purple, as of less worth than cobwebs, +and to surrender himself to all the hard and irksome toils of the +ascetic life, crying, "O my Christ, my soul is fixed upon thee, +and thy right hand hath upholden me." + +Thus, without looking back, he passed into the depth of the +desert; and, laying aside, like a heavy burden and clog, the +stress of transitory things, he rejoiced in the Spirit, and +looked steadfastly on Christ, whom he longed for, and cried aloud +to him, as though he were there present to hear his voice, +saying, "Lord, let mine eyes never again see the good things of +this present world. Never, from this moment, let my soul be +excited by these present vanities, but fill mine eyes with +spiritual tears; direct my goings in thy way, and show me thy +servant Barlaam. Show me him that was the means of my salvation, +that I may learn of him the exact rule of this lonely and austere +life, and may not be tripped up through ignorance of the wiles of +the enemy. Grant me, O Lord, to discover the way whereby to +attain unto thee, for my soul is sick of love for thee, and I am +athirst for thee, the well of salvation." + +These were the thoughts of his heart continually, and he communed +with God, being made one with him by prayer and sublime +meditation. And thus eagerly he pursued the road, hoping to +arrive at the place where Barlaam dwelt. His meat was the herbs +that grow in the desert; for he carried nothing with him, as I +have already said, save his own bones, and the ragged garment +that was around him. + +But whilst he found some food, though scanty and insufficient, +from the herbs, of water he was quite destitute in that waterless +and dry desert. And so at noon-tide, as he held on his way under +the fierce blaze of the sun, he was parched with thirst in the +hot drought of that desert place, and he suffered the extreme of +anguish. But desire of Christ conquered nature, and the thirst +wherewith he thirsted for God bedewed the heat of thirst for +water. + +Now the devil, being envious and full of hate for that which is +beautiful, unable to endure the sight of such steadfastness of +purpose, and glowing love towards God, raised up against Ioasaph +many temptations in the wilderness. He called to his remembrance +his kingly glory, and his magnificent body-guard, his friends, +kinsfolk and companions, and how the lives of all had depended on +his life, and he minded him of the other solaces of life. Then +he would confront him with the hardness of virtue, and the many +sweats that she requireth, with the weakness of his flesh, with +his lack of practice in such rigours, the long years to come, +this present distress from thirst, his want of any comfort, and +the unendingness of his toils. In a word, he raised a great +dust-cloud of reasonings in his mind, exactly, I ween, as it hath +been recorded of the mighty Antony. + +But, when the enemy saw himself too weak to shake that purpose +(for Ioasaph set Christ before his mind, and glowed with love of +him, and was well strengthened by hope, and steadfast in faith, +and recked nothing of the devil and his suggestions), then was +the adversary ashamed of having fallen in the first assault. So +he came by another road (for many are his paths of wickedness), +and endeavoured to overthrow and terrify Ioasaph by means of +divers apparitions. Sometimes he appeared to him in black, and +such indeed he is: sometimes with a drawn sword he leapt upon +him, and threatened to strike, unless he speedily turned back. +At other times he assumed the shapes of all manner of beasts, +roaring and making a terrible din and bellowing; or again he +became a dragon, adder, or basilisk. But that fair and right +noble athlete kept his soul in quietness, for he had made the +Most High his refuge: and, being sober in mind, he laughed the +evil one to scorn, and said, "I know thee, deceiver, who thou +art, which stiffest up this trouble for me; which from the +beginning didst devise mischief against mankind, and art ever +wicked, and never stintest to do hurt. How becoming and right +proper is thy habit, that thou shouldest take the shape of beasts +and of creeping things, and thus display thy bestial and crooked +nature, and thy venomous and hurtful purpose! Wherefore, wretch, +attempt the impossible? For ever since I discovered that these +be the contrivances and bug-bears of thy malice, I have now no +more anxiety concerning thee. The Lord is on my side, and I +shall see my desire upon mine enemies. I shall go upon the adder +and basilisk, the which thou dost resemble; thee, the lion and +dragon I shall tread under my feet; for I am strengthened with +the might of Christ. Let mine enemies be ashamed and turned +backward: let them be driven and put to shame suddenly." + +Thus speaking, and girding on that invincible weapon, the sign of +the Cross, he made vain the devil's shows. For straightway all +the beasts and creeping things disappeared, like as the smoke +vanisheth, and like as wax melteth at the fire. And he, strong +in the might of Christ, went on his way rejoicing and giving +thanks unto the Lord. But there dwelt in that desert many divers +beasts, and all kinds of serpents, and dragon-shaped monsters, +and these met him, not now as apparitions but in sober sooth, so +that his path was beset by fear and toil. But he overcame both, +for love, as saith the scripture, cast out fear, and longing made +toil light. Thus he wrestled with many sundry misfortunes and +hardships until, after many days, he arrived at that desert of +the land of Senaar, wherein Barlaam dwelt. There also he found +water and quenched the burning of his thirst. + + +XXXVIII. + +Now two full years spent Ioasaph wandering about the ocean of +that desert, without finding Barlaam; for here also God was +proving the steadfastness of his purpose, and the nobility of his +soul. He lived thus in the open air, scorched with heat or +frozen with cold, and, as one in search of precious treasure, +continually looking everywhere for his treasured friend, the aged +Barlaam. Frequent were the temptations and assaults of the evil +spirits that he encountered, and many the hardships that he +endured through the lack of herbs that he needed for meat, +because the desert, being dry, yielded even these in but scant +supply. But, being kindled by love of her Master, this +adamantine and indomitable soul bore these annoyances more easily +than other men bear their pleasures. Wherefore he failed not of +the succour that is from above, but, many as were the sorrows and +toils Chat he endured, comfort came to him from Christ, and, +asleep or awake, refreshed his soul. By the space of those two +years Ioasaph went about continually, seeking him for whom he +yearned, and rivers of waters ran from his eyes, as he implored +God, crying aloud and saying, "Show me, O Lord, show me the man +that was the means of my knowledge of thee, and the cause of my +many blessings. Because of the multitude of mine offences, +deprive me not of this good thing; but grant me to see him, and +fight with him the ascetic fight." + +By the grace of God, he found a cave, by following footsteps that +led thither. There he met a monk pursuing a hermit life. Him he +embraced and saluted tenderly. He asked where to find Barlaam's +dwelling, and told him his own tale, laying all bare. Of him +then he learned the abode of the man whom he sought, and thither +went foot-hot, as when a cunning hunter happeneth on the tracks +of his game. And when he had met with certain signs, pointed out +to him by this other old hermit, he went on rejoicing, strong in +hope, like a child hoping after long absence to see his father. +For when divine love hath broken into a soul, it proveth hotter +and stronger than the natural. + +So he stood before the door of the cave, and knocked, saying +"Benedic, father, benedic!" When Barlaam heard his voice, he +came forth from the cave, and by the spirit knew him, who by +outward appearance could not easily be known, because of the +marvellous change and alteration that had changed and altered his +face from its former bloom of youth; for Ioasaph was black with +the sun's heat, and overgrown with hair, and his cheeks were +fallen in, and his eyes deep sunken, and his eyelids seared with +floods of tears, and much distress of hunger. And Ioasaph +recognised his spiritual father, for his features were, for the +more part, the same. So the old man stood, and, facing the East, +offered up to God a prayer of thanksgiving; and, after the +prayer, when they had said the Amen, they embraced and kissed +each other affectionately, taking their full fill of long +deferred desire. + +But, when they had done with embracing and greeting, they sat +them down and conversed. Barlaam began, saying, "Welcome art +thou, son well beloved son of God, and inheritor of the heavenly +kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, whom thou lovest, whom +thou rightly desirest above the things that are temporal and +corruptible! Like a prudent and wise merchant, thou hast sold +all, and bought the pearl that is beyond price, and hast found +the treasure that cannot be stolen, hidden in the field of the +commandments of the Lord; thou hast parted with all, and spared +naught of the things that so soon pass away, that thou mightest +purchase that field for thyself. The Lord give thee the eternal +for the temporal, the things that are incorruptible and wax not +old for the corruptible! + +"But tell me, dearly beloved, how thou camest hither? How did +thy matters speed after my departure? And hath thy father +learned to know God, or is he still carried away with his former +foolishness, still under the bondage of devilish deceits? " + +Thus questioned Barlaam, and Ioasaph answered, telling him piece +by piece all that had befallen him since he went away; and in how +many ways the Lord had prospered him, until they were come +together again. + +The old man listened with pleasure and amazement, and with hot +tears said, "Glory to thee, our God, that ever standest by and +succourest them that love thee! Glory to thee, O Christ, King of +all and God all-good, that it was thy pleasure that the seed, +which I sowed in the heart of Ioasaph, thy servant, should thus +bring forth fruit an hundredfold worthy of the husbandman and +Master of our souls! Glory to thee, good Paraclete, the all-holy +Spirit, because thou didst vouchsafe unto this man to partake of +that grace which thou gavest thine holy Apostles, and by his hand +hast delivered multitudes of people from superstitious error, and +enlightened them with the true knowledge of God!" + +Thus was God blessed by both, and thus were they conversing and +rejoicing in the grace of God until evenfall. Then stood they up +for to pray and to perform the sacred services. Then also +remembered they that it was meal-time, and Barlaam spread his +lavish table, laden with spiritual dainties, but with little to +attract the palate of sense. These were uncooked worts, and a +few dates, planted and tended by Barlaam's own hands, such as are +found in the same desert, and wild herbs. So they gave thanks +and partook of the victuals set before them, and drank water from +the neighbour springing well, and again gave thanks to God, who +openeth his hand and filleth all things living. Then they arose +again, and, when they had ended their Night Hours, after prayer, +they joined in spiritual converse again, discoursing wholesome +words, and full of heavenly wisdom, all the night long until day- +break bade them once more remember the hour of prayer. + +So Ioasaph abode with Barlaam for some many years, pursuing this +marvellous and more than human life, dwelling with him as with a +father and tutor, in all obedience and lowliness, exercising +himself in every kind of virtue, and learning well from practice +how to wrestle with the invisible spirits of evil. From that +time forward he mortified all his sinful passions, and made the +will of the flesh as subject to the spirit as slave is to his +master. He was altogether forgetful of comforts or repose, and +tyrannized over sleep as over a wicked servant. And, in brief, +such was his practice of the religious life, that Barlaam, who +had spent many years therein, marvelled at him, and failed to +equal the earnestness of his life. For he took only so much of +that coarse and cheerless food as would keep him alive; else had +he died afore his time, and forfeited the reward of his well- +doing. He subdued himself to watchings, as though he were +without flesh and body. In prayer and mental exercise his work +was unceasing, and all the time of his life was spent in +spiritual and heavenly contemplation, so that not an hour, nor +even a single moment was wasted, from the day that he came to +dwell in the desert. For this is the end of monastic life, never +to be found idle in spiritual employment: and well herein did +this noble and active runner of the heavenly race order his way. +And he kept his ardour unquenched from beginning to end, ever +ascending in his heart, and going from strength to strength, and +continually adding desire to desire, and zeal to zeal, until he +arrived at the bliss that he had hoped and longed for. + + +XXXIX. + +Thus did Barlaam and Ioasaph dwell together, rivals in the good +rivalry, apart from all anxious care and all the turmoils of +life, possessing their minds undisturbed and clear of all +confusion. After their many labours after godliness, one day +Barlaam called to him his spiritual son, whom he had begotten +through the Gospel, and opened his mouth to discourse of +spiritual things, saying, "Long ago, dearly beloved Ioasaph, was +it destined that thou shouldest dwell in this wilderness; and, in +answer to my prayer for thee, Christ promised me that I should +see it before the ending of my life. I have seen my desire: I +have seen thee severed from the world and the concerns of the +world, united to Christ, thy mind never wavering, and come to the +measure of the perfection of his fulness. Now therefore as the +time of my departure is at the door, and seeing that my desire, +that hath grown with my growth and aged with my years, to be for +ever with Christ, is even now being fulfilled, thou must bury my +body in the earth and restore dust to dust, but thyself abide for +the time to come in this place, holding fast to thy spiritual +life, and making remembrance of me, poor as I am. For I fear +lest perchance the darksome army of fiends may stand in the way +of my soul, by reason of the multitude of mine ignorances. + +"So do thou, my son, think no scorn of the laboriousness of thy +religious life, neither dread the length of the time, nor the +tricks of devils. But, strong in the grace of Christ, +confidently laugh at the weakness of these thy foes; and, as for +the hardness of thy toils, and the long duration of the time, be +as one that daily expecteth his departure hence, and as if the +same day were the beginning and the end of thy religious life. +Thus, always forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching +forth unto those things which are before, press toward the mark +for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, +according to the exhortation of the holy Apostle, who saith, `Let +us not faint; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward +man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is +but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal +weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, +but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are +seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are +eternal." + +"Ponder thou over these things, beloved: quit thee like a man; +yea, be strong; and, as a good soldier, do thy diligence to +please him who hath called thee to be a soldier. And, even if +the evil one stir in thee thoughts of neglecting duty, and thou +art minded to slacken the string of thy purpose, fear not his +devices, but remember the Lord's command, which saith, `In the +world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have +overcome the world.' Wherefore, rejoice in the Lord alway; for +he hath chosen and separated thee out of the world, and set thee, +as it were before his countenance. The Master, who hath called +thee with a holy calling, is alway near. Be careful for nothing, +but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving +let thy requests be made known unto God. For he himself hath +said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So, by the +hardness of thy life, and by scorn of its rigours, win such +thoughts as these, and rejoice, remembering our Lord God, for he +saith, `I remembered God and was glad.' + +"But when the adversary, seeking another fashion of war, +proposeth high and arrogant thoughts, and suggesteth the glory of +the kingdom of this world, which thou hast forsaken, and all its +lures, hold out, as a shield before thee, the saving word that +saith, `When ye shall have done all those things which are +commanded you, say, "We are unprofitable servants, for we have +done that which was our duty to do."' And, indeed, which of us +is able to repay the debt that we owe our Master, for that he, +though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we +through his poverty might become rich, and, being without +suffering, yet suffered, that we might be delivered from +suffering? What thanks hath the servant if he suffer like as his +Master? But we fall far short of his sufferings. Meditate upon +these things, casting down imaginations, and every high thing +that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing +into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And the +peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep thy heart +and thoughts in Christ Jesus." + +When blessed Barlaam had so said, Ioasaph's tears knew no +measure, but, like water from the brimming fountain, bedewed him +and the ground whereon he sat. He mourned over the parting, and +earnestly implored that he might be his companion on his last +journey, and might remain no longer in this world after Barlaam's +decease, saying, "Wherefore, father, seekest thou only thine own, +and not thy neighbour's welfare? How fulfillest thou perfect +love in this, according to him that said, `Thou shalt love thy +neighbour as thyself,' in departing thyself to rest and life, and +leaving me to tribulation and distress? And, before I have been +well exercised in the conflicts of the religious life, before I +have learned the wily attacks of the enemy, why expose me to +fight singlehanded against their marshalled host? And for what +purpose but to see me overthrown by their mischievous +machinations, and to see me die, alas! the true spiritual and +eternal death? That is the fate which must befall inexperienced +and cowardly monks. But, I beseech thee, pray the Lord to take +me also together with thee from life. Yea, by the very hope that +thou hast of receiving the reward of thy labour, pray that, after +thy departure, I may not live one day more in the world, nor +wander into the ocean depths of this desert." + +While Ioasaph spake thus in tears, the old man cheeked him gently +and calmly, saying, "Son, we ought not to resist the judgements +of God, which are beyond our reach. For though I have oftentimes +prayed concerning this matter, and constrained the Master, that +cannot be constrained, not to part us one from the other, yet +have I been taught by his goodness that it is not expedient for +thee now to lay aside the burden of the flesh: but thou must +remain behind in the practice of virtue, until the crown, which +thou art weaving, be more glorious. As yet, thou hast not +striven enough after the recompense in store for thee, but must +toil yet a little longer, that thou mayest joyfully enter into +the joy of thy Lord. For myself, I am, as I reckon, well-nigh an +hundred winters old, and have now spent seventy and five years in +this desert place. But for thee, even if thy days be not so far +lengthened as mine, yet must thou approach thereto, as the Lord +ordereth, that thou mayest prove no unworthy match for them that +have borne the burden and heat of the day. Therefore, beloved, +gladly accept the decrees of God. What God hath ordered, who, of +men, can scatter? Endure, then, under the protection of his +grace. + +"But be thou ever sober against thoughts other than these; and, +like a right precious treasure, keep safely from robbers thy +purity of heart, stepping up day by day to higher work and +contemplation, that that may be fulfilled in thee, which the +Saviour promised to his friends, when he said, `If any man love +me, he will keep my word: and my father will love him, and we +will come unto him, and make our abode with him.'" + +With these words, and many others, full worthy of that sanctified +soul and inspired tongue, did the old man comfort Ioasaph's +anguished soul. Then he sent him unto certain brethren, which +abode a long way off, for to fetch the things fitting for the +Holy Sacrifice. And Ioasaph girded up his loins, and with all +speed fulfilled his errand: for he dreaded lest peradventure, in +his absence, Barlaam might pay the debt of nature, and, yielding +up the ghost to God, might inflict on him the loss of missing his +departing words and utterances, his last orisons and blessings. + +So when Ioasaph had manfully finished his long journey, and had +brought the things required for the Holy Sacrifice, saintly +Barlaam offered up to God the unbloody Sacrifice. When he had +communicated himself, and also given to Ioasaph of the undefiled +Mysteries of Christ, he rejoiced in the Spirit. And when they +had taken together of their ordinary food, Barlaam again fed +Ioasaph's soul with edifying words, saying, "Well-beloved son, no +longer in this world shall we share one common hearth and board; +for now I go my last journey, even the way of my fathers. Needs +must thou, therefore, prove thy loving affection for me by thy +keeping of God's commandments, and by thy continuance in this +place even to the end, living as thou hast learned and been +instructed, and alway remembering my poor and slothful soul. +Rejoice, therefore, with great joy, and make merry with the +gladness that is in Christ, because thou hast exchanged the +earthly and corruptible for the eternal and incorruptible; and +because there draweth nigh the reward of thy works, and thy +rewarder is already at hand, who shall come to see the vineyard +which thou hast dressed, and shall richly pay thee the wages of +thine husbandry. `Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all +acceptation,' as proclaimed by Paul the divine, `For if we be +dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we +shall also reign with him in his eternal and everlasting kingdom, +being illuminated with the light unapproachable, and guerdoned +with the effulgence of the blessed and life-giving Trinity.'" + +Thus until even-tide and all night long did Barlaam converse with +Ioasaph, who wept tears that could not be stayed, and could not +bear the parting. But just as day began to dawn, Barlaam ended +his discourse, lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, and +offered his thanks to God, thus saying, "O Lord, my God, who art +everywhere present, and fillest all things, I thank thee, for +that thou hast looked upon my lowliness, and hast granted me to +fulfil the course of this mine earthly pilgrimage in thy true +Faith, and in the way of thy commandments. And now, thou lover +of good, all-merciful Master, receive me into thine everlasting +habitations; and remember not all the sins that I have committed +against thee, in knowledge or in ignorance. Defend also this thy +faithful servant, before whom thou hast granted to me, thine +unprofitable servant, to stand. Deliver him from all vanity, and +all despiteful treatment of the adversary, and set him clear of +the many-meshed nets which the wicked one spreadeth abroad for to +trip all them that would full fain be saved. Destroy, Almighty +Lord, all the might of the deceiver from before the face of thy +servant, and grant him authority to trample on the baneful head +of the enemy of our souls. Send down from on high the grace of +thy Holy Spirit; and strengthen him against the invisible hosts, +that he may receive at thy hands the crown of victory, and that +in him thy name may be glorified, the Father, the Son, and the +Holy Ghost, for to thee belongeth glory and praise for ever and +ever. Amen." + +Thus prayed he, and in fatherly wise embraced Ioasaph, and +saluted him with an holy kiss. Then he sealed himself with the +sign of the Cross, and gathered up his feet, and, with exceeding +great joy, as at the home-coming of friends, departed on that +blessed journey, to receive his reward yonder, an old man and +full of days in the Spirit. + + +XL. + +Then did Ioasaph embrace the good father, with all the devotion +and sorrow that can be told, and washed his corpse with his +tears. Then he wrapped it in the hair-shirt, which Barlaam had +given him in his palace; and over him he recited the proper +psalms, chanting all the day long, and throughout the night, and +watering the venerable body of the Saint with his tears. On the +morrow, he made a grave hard by the cave, and thither reverently +bore the sacred body, and there, like a good and honourable son, +laid his spiritual father in his sepulchre. And then, the fire +of grief kindling all the hotter within his soul, he set himself +to pray the more earnestly, saying: + +"O Lord my God, hearken unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. +Have mercy upon me, and hear me, for I seek thee with all my +heart. My soul hath sought for thee: O hide not thy face from +me, and turn not away in anger from thy servant. Be thou my +helper; cast me not utterly away, and forsake me not, O God my +Saviour, because my father and mother forsake me; but do thou, O +Lord, take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in the +right way because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the +souls of them that afflict me; for I have been cast upon thee +ever since I was born; thou art my God even from my mother's +womb. O go not from me, because, except thee, there is none to +help me. For lo, I set the hope of my soul upon the ocean of thy +mercies. Be thou the pilot of my soul, thou that steerest all +creation with the unspeakable forethought of thy wisdom; and shew +thou me the way that I should walk in; and, as thou art a good +God and a lover of men, save me by the prayers and intercessions +of Barlaam thy servant, for thou art my God, and thee I glorify, +the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, world without end. +Amen." + +Thus prayed he, and sat him down nigh the sepulchre, a-weeping. +And as he sat, he fell asleep, and saw those dread men, whom he +had seen before, coming to him, and carrying him away to the +great and marvellous plain, and bringing him to that glorious +and exceeding bright city. When he had passed within the gate, +there met him others, gloriously apparelled with much light, +having in their hands crowns radiant with unspeakable beauty, +such as mortal eye hath never seen. And, when Ioasaph enquired, +"Whose are these exceeding bright crowns of glory, which I see?" +"Thine," said they, "is the one, prepared for thee, because of +the many souls which thou hast saved, and now made still more +beautiful because of the religious life that thou leadest, if +thou continue therein bravely until the end. And this other +crown is thine also; but it must thou give unto thy father, who, +by thy means, turned from his evil way unto the Lord, and was +truly penitent." But Ioasaph was as one sore vexed, and said, +"How is it possible that, for his repentance alone, my father +should receive reward equal to mine, that have laboured so much?" +Thus spake he, and straightway thought that he saw Barlaam, as it +were, chiding him and saying, "These are my words, Ioasaph, which +I once spake unto thee, saying, `When thou waxest passing rich, +thou wilt not be glad to distribute,' and thou understoodest not +my saying. But now, why art thou displeased at thy father's +equality with thee in honour, and art not rather glad at heart +that thine orisons in his behalf have been heard?" Then Ioasaph +said unto him, as he was ever wont to say, "Pardon! father, +pardon! But shew me where thou dwellest?" Barlaam answered, "In +this mighty and exceeding fair city. It is my lot to dwell in +the mid-most street of the city, a street that flasheth with +light supernal." Again Ioasaph thought he asked Barlaam to bring +him to his own habitation, and, in friendly wise, to shew him the +sights thereof. But Barlaam said that his time was not yet come +to win those habitations, while he was under the burden of the +flesh. "But," said he, "if thou persevere bravely, even as I +charged thee, in a little while thou shalt come hither, and gain +the same habitations, and obtain the same joy and glory, and be +my companion for ever." Hereupon Ioasaph awoke out of sleep, but +his soul was still full of that light and ineffable glory; and +greatly wondering, he raised to his Lord a song of thanksgiving. + +And he continued to the end, verily leading on earth the life of +an angel, and after the death of his aged friend using himself to +severer austerity. Twenty and five years old was he when he left +his earthly kingdom, and adopted the monastic life; and thirty +and five years in this vast desert did he, like one dis-fleshed, +endure rigours above the endurance of man, but not before he had +delivered the souls of many men from the soul-devouring dragon, +and presented them to God, saved for aye; winning herewith the +Apostolic grace. In will he had proved a martyr, and had with +boldness confessed Christ before kings and tyrants, and had +proved himself the mighty-voiced preacher of his greatness, and +had overthrown many spirits of wickedness in the desert, and had +overcome all in the strength of Christ. Partaking richly of the +gift of grace from above, he kept his mind's eye purified from +every earth-born cloud, and looked forward to the things that are +to come, as though they were already come. Christ was his +recompense for all: Christ was his desire: Christ he ever saw as +present with him: Christ and his fair beauty everywhere met his +sight, according to the saying of the prophet, "I have set God +always before me; for he is on my right hand, therefore I shall +not fall." And again, "My soul cleaveth to thee; thy right hand +hath upholden me." For verily Ioasaph's soul clave to Christ, +being knit to him in indissoluble union. From this marvellous +work he never swerved, never altered the rule of his ascetic +life, from beginning to end, but maintained his zeal from his +youth even until old age; or rather, he daily advanced higher in +virtue, and daily gained purer power of vision. + +Thus did Ioasaph spend his days, and render unto him that called +him labour worthy of his calling, having crucified the world to +himself, and himself unto the world, and, at the last, departed +in peace unto the God of peace, and passed to that Master whom he +had alway longed for. There he appeared in the immediate +presence of the Lord, and was crowned with the crown of glory +already prepared for him: there it is granted to him to behold +Christ, to be with Christ, to rejoice for ever in the fair beauty +of Christ, into whose hands he commended his spirit, when he +departed to walk in the land of the living, where is the song of +them that feast, the dwelling-place of them that rejoice. + +As for his venerable body, it befell thus; about the very hour of +Ioasaph's death, there came by divine revelation, from one of the +neighbouring cells, a certain holy man. It was the same that +once pointed out to Ioasaph his way to Barlaam. This man +honoured the corpse with sacred hymns, and shed tears, the token +of affection, over him, and performed all the last Christian +rites, and laid him in the sepulchre of his father Barlaam; for +it was only meet that their bodies should rest side by side, +since their souls were to dwell through eternity together. + +In obedience to the strict command of a dread Angel that appeared +to him in a dream, this hermit, who had performed the last rites, +journeyed to the kingdom of India, and, entering in to King +Barachias, made known unto him all that had befallen Barlaam, and +this blessed Ioasaph. Barachias, making no delay, set forth with +a mighty host, and arrived at the cave, and beheld their +sepulchre, and wept bitterly over it, and raised the gravestone. +There he descried Barlaam and Ioasaph lying, as they had been in +life. Their bodies had not lost their former hue, but were whole +and uncorrupt, together with their garments. These, the +consecrated tabernacles of two holy souls, that sent forth full +sweet savour, and showed naught distressful, were placed by King +Barachias in costly tombs and conveyed by him into his own +country. + +Now when the people heard tell of that which had come to pass, +there assembled a countless multitude out of all the cities and +regions round about, to venerate and view the bodies of these +Saints. Thereupon, sooth to say, they chanted the sacred hymns +over them, and vied one with another to light lamps lavishly, and +rightly and fitly, might one say, in honour of these children and +inheritors of light. And with splendour and much solemnity they +laid their bodies in the Church which Ioasaph had built from the +very foundation. And many miracles and cures, during the +translation and deposition of their relics, as also in later +times, did the Lord work by his holy servants. And King +Barachias and all the people beheld the mighty virtues that were +shown by them; and many of the nations round about, that were +sick of unbelief and ignorance of God, believed through the +miracles that were wrought at their sepulchre. And all they that +saw and heard of the Angelic life of Ioasaph, and of his love of +God from his childhood upward, marvelled, and in all things +glorified God that alway worketh together with them that love +him, and granteth them exceeding great reward. + +Here endeth this history, which I have written, to the best of my +ability, even as I heard it from the truthful lips of worthy men +who delivered it unto me. And may God grant that all we that +read or hear this edifying story may obtain the heritage of such +as have pleased the Lord, by the prayers and intercessions of +blessed Barlaam and Ioasaph, of whom this story telleth, in +Christ Jesu our Lord; to whom belongeth worship, might, majesty +and glory, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, now and for +evermore, world without end. Amen. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Barlaam and Ioasaph + |