barlaam and ioasaph-第17章

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f　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