barlaam and ioasaph-第36章

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e　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