barlaam and ioasaph-第11章

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e　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　cling