barlaam and ioasaph-第33章

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e　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