barlaam and ioasaph-第37章
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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 whereon Ioasaph was born； and said 〃Dearest child； yet not child of me； but of mine heavenly Father； with what gratitude can I repay thee？ With what words of blessings may I bless thee？ What thanks shall I offer God for thee？ I was lost； and was found through thee： I was dead in sin and am alive again： an enemy； and rebel against God； and am reconciled with him。 What reward therefore shall I give thee for all these benefits？ God is he that shall make the due recompense。〃 Thus saying； he pressed many kisses on his beloved son； then； when he had prayed； and said； 〃Into thy hands； O God； thou lover of men； do I commit my spirit；〃 he committed his soul unto the Lord in penitence and peace。
Now； when Ioasaph had honoured with his tears his father that was dead； and had reverently cared for his body； he buried him in a sepulchre wherein devout men lay； not indeed clad in royal raiment； but robed in the garment of penitence。 Standing on the sepulchre； and lifting up his hands to heaven； the tears streaming in floods from his eyes； he cried aloud unto God saying；
〃O God； I thank thee； King of glory； alone mighty and immortal； that thou hast not despised my petition； and hast not held thy peace at my tears； but hast been pleased to turn this thy servant； my father； from the way of wickedness； and to draw him to thyself； the Saviour of all； departing him from the deceitfulness of idolatry； and granting him to acknowledge thee； who art the very God and lover of souls。 And now； O my Lord and God； whose ocean of goodness is uncharted； set him in that place where much grass is； in a place of refreshment； where shineth the light of thy countenance。 Remember not his old offences； but； according to the multitude of thy mercies； blot out the hand… writing of his sins； and destroy the tablets of his debts； and set him at peace with thy Saints whom he slew with fire and sword。 Charge them not to be bitter against him。 For all things are possible with thee； the Lord of all； save only to withhold pity from them that turn not unto thee； this is impossible。 For thy pity is poured out upon all men； and thou savest them that call upon thee； Lord Jesu Christ； because glory becometh thee for ever and ever。 Amen。〃
Such were the prayers and intercessions that he made unto God； by the space of seven full days； never leaving the grave； and never thinking of meat or drink； and taking no refreshment of sleep： but he watered the ground with his tears； and continued praying and moaning unceasingly。 But； on the eighth day； he went back to his palace and distributed amongst the poor all his wealth and riches； so that not one person was left in want。
XXXVI。
In a few days； after he had ended this ministry； and emptied all his coffers； in order that the burden of his money might not hinder him from entering in at the narrow gate； on the fortieth day after his father's decease； and in remembrance of him； he called together all his officers； and those who wore soldiers' attire； and of the citizens not a few。 Sitting in the front； according to custom； in the audience of all he said； 〃Lo； as ye see； Abenner； my father the king； hath died like any beggar。 Neither wealth nor kingly glory； nor I his loving son； nor any of his kith and kindred； has availed to help him； or to save him from the sentence without reprieve。 But he is gone to yonder judgement seat； to give account of his life in this world； carrying with him no advocate whatsoever； except his deeds； good or bad。 And the same law is ordained by nature for every man born of woman； and there is no escape。 Now； therefore； hearken unto me； friends and brethren； people and holy heritage of the Lord； whom Christ our God hath purchased with his own precious blood； and delivered from the ancient error； and bondage of the adversary。 Ye yourselves know my manner of life among you； that ever since I knew Christ； and was counted worthy to become his servant； I have hated all things； and loved him only； and how this was my desire； to escape from the tempest and vain tumult of the world； and commune alone with him； and in undisturbed peace of soul serve my God and Master。 But my father's opposition held me back； and the command that biddeth us to honour our fathers。 So； by the grace and help of God； I have not laboured in vain； nor spent these days for naught； I have brought my father nigh to Christ； and have taught you all to know the one true God； the Lord of all； and yet not I； but the grace of God which was with me； which rescued me also from superstitious error； and from the worship of idols； and freed you； O my people； from cruel captivity。 So now it is high time to fulfil the service that I promised to God； high time to depart thitherward； where he himself shall lead me； where I may perform my vows which I made unto him。 Now； therefore； look you out a man whom ye will； to be your leader and king； for by this time ye have been conformed to the will of the Lord； and of his commandments nothing hath been hidden from you。 Walk ye therein； turn not aside； neither to the right hand； nor to the left； and the God of peace be with you all！〃
When all that company and the common people heard thereof； anon there arose a clamour； an uproar； and a mighty cry and confusion； all weeping like orphans and bewailing their loss。 Lamenting bitterly； they protested with oaths and with tears； that they would never let him go； but would restrain him and not suffer in any wise his departure。 While the common people； and they in authority； were thus crying aloud； the king broke in； and beckoned with his hand to the multitude and charged them to keep silence。 He declared that he gave in to their instancy； and dismissed them still grieving； and bearing on their cheeks the signs of sorrow。 And Ioasaph did thus。 There was one of the senators first in favour with Ioasaph； a man honoured for his godliness and dignity； Barachias by name； who； as hath been already told； when Nachor； feigning to be Barlaam； was disputing with the philosophers； alone was ready to stand by Nachor and fight for him； for his heart was fired with heavenly love。 Him the king took apart； and spake gently with him； and earnestly besought him to receive the kingdom； and； in the fear of God； to shepherd his people； in order that he himself might take the journey that he desired。
But Barachias would put aside and reject his offer； saying； 〃O king； how wrongful is thy judgement； and thy word contrary to divine command！ If thou hast learned to love thy neighbour as thyself； with what right art thou eager to shift the burden off thy back and lay it upon mine？ If it be good to be king； keep the good to thy self： but； if it be a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to thy soul； why put it in my pathway and seek to trip me up？〃 When Ioasaph perceived that he spake thus； and that his purpose was fixed； he ceased from communing with him。 And now； at about the dead of night； he wrote his people a letter； full of much wisdom； expounding to them all godliness； telling them what they should think concerning God； what life； what hymns and what thanksgiving they should offer unto him。 Next； he charged them to receive none other than Barachias to be ruler of the kingdom。 Then left he in his bed…chamber the roll containing his letter； and； unobserved of all； went forth from his palace。 But he might not win through undetected； for； early on the morrow； the tidings； that he was departed； anon made commotion and mourning among the people； and； in much haste； forth went every man for to seek him； they being minded by all means to cut off his flight。 And their zeal was not spent in vain； for； when they had occupied all the high…ways； and encompassed all the mountains； and surrounded the pathless ravines； they discovered him in a water… course； his hands uplifted to heaven； saying the prayer proper of the Sixth Hour。
When they beheld him； they surrounded him； and besought him with team； upbraiding him for departing from them。 〃But；〃 said he； 〃why labour ye in vain？ No longer hope to have me to your king。〃 Yet gave he way to their much opposition； and turned again to his palace。 And； when he had assembled all the folk； he signified his will。 Then with oath he confirmed his word； that he would dwell with them not one day more。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃I have fulfilled my ministry toward you； and have omitted naught； neither have I kept back anything that was profitable unto you； in failing to show or teach you； testifying to all the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ； and pointing out the paths of repentance。 And now behold I go the road that I have long time desired； and all ye shall see m〃y face no more。 Wherefore I take you to record this day； as saith the holy Apostle； that I am pure from the blood of you all； for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God。〃
When they heard this； and perceived the steadfastness of his purpose； that nothing could hinder him from his resolve； they wept like orphans over their bereavement； but could in no wise over…persuade him。 Then did the king take that Barachias； of whom we have already spoken； saying； 〃This is he； brethren； whom I appoint to be your king。〃 And though Barachias stoutly resisted； yet he established him； unwilling and reluctant； upon the royal throne； and placed the diadem on his head； and gave the kingly ring into his hand。 Then he stood facing the cast and made prayer for King Barachias； that his faith toward God might be preserved unwavering； and that he might keep without faltering the path of Christ's commandments。 Therewith he prayed for the clergy and all the flock； asking of God succour for them and salvation； and all that might fitly be asked for their welfare。
Thus he prayed； and then turning said unto Barachias； 〃Behold； brother； I charge thee； as the Apostle once adjured his people； ‘Take heed unto thyself； and to all the flock； over the which the Holy Ghost hath made thee king； to feed the Lord's people； whom he hath purchased with his own blood。' And even as thou wast before me in the knowledge of God； and didst serve him with a pure conscience； so now also show the more zeal in pleasing him。 For； as thou hast received of God a mighty sovereignty； thou owest him the greater repayment。 Render therefore to thy Benefactor the debt of thanksgiving； by the keeping of his holy commandments and by turning aside from every path whose end is destruction。 For it is with kingdoms as with ships。 If one of the sailors blunder it bringeth but small damage to the crew。 But if the steersman err； he causeth the whole ship to perish。 Even so it is with sovranty： if a subject err； he harmeth himself more than the state。 But if the king err； he causeth injury to the whole realm。 Therefore； as one that shall render strict account； if thou neglect aught of thy duty； guard thyself with all diligence in that which is good。 Hate all pleasure that draweth into sin： for； saith the Apostle； ‘Follow peace with all men； and holiness； without which no man shall see the Lord。' Consider the wheel of men's affairs； how i
