barlaam and ioasaph-第20章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　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　chi