barlaam and ioasaph-第40章

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ay　were　the　beginning　and　the　end　of　thy　religious　life。　Thus；　always　forgetting　the　things　which　are　behind；　and　reaching　forth　unto　those　things　which　are　before；　press　toward　the　mark　for　the　prize　of　the　high　calling　of　God　in　Christ　Jesus；　according　to　the　exhortation　of　the　holy　Apostle；　who　saith；　‘Let　us　not　faint；　but　though　our　outward　man　perish；　yet　the　inward　man　is　renewed　day　by　day。　　For　our　light　affliction；　which　is　but　for　a　moment；　worketh　for　us　a　far　more　exceeding　eternal　weight　of　glory；　while　we　look　not　at　the　things　which　are　seen；　but　at　the　things　which　are　not　seen：　for　the　things　which　are　seen　are　temporal；　but　the　things　which　are　not　seen　are　eternal。〃

〃Ponder　thou　over　these　things；　beloved：　quit　thee　like　a　man；　yea；　be　strong；　and；　as　a　good　soldier；　do　thy　diligence　to　please　him　who　hath　called　thee　to　be　a　soldier。　　And；　even　if　the　evil　one　stir　in　thee　thoughts　of　neglecting　duty；　and　thou　art　minded　to　slacken　the　string　of　thy　purpose；　fear　not　his　devices；　but　remember　the　Lord's　command；　which　saith；　‘In　the　world　ye　shall　have　tribulation；　but　be　of　good　cheer；　I　have　overcome　the　world。'　　Wherefore；　rejoice　in　the　Lord　alway；　for　he　hath　chosen　and　separated　thee　out　of　the　world；　and　set　thee；　as　it　were　before　his　countenance。　　The　Master；　who　hath　called　thee　with　a　holy　calling；　is　alway　near。　　Be　careful　for　nothing；　but　in　everything；　by　prayer　and　supplication　with　thanksgiving　let　thy　requests　be　made　known　unto　God。　　For　he　himself　hath　said；　〃I　will　never　leave　thee；　nor　forsake　thee。〃　　So；　by　the　hardness　of　thy　life；　and　by　scorn　of　its　rigours；　win　such　thoughts　as　these；　and　rejoice；　remembering　our　Lord　God；　for　he　saith；　‘I　remembered　God　and　was　glad。'

〃But　when　the　adversary；　seeking　another　fashion　of　war；　proposeth　high　and　arrogant　thoughts；　and　suggesteth　the　glory　of　the　kingdom　of　this　world；　which　thou　hast　forsaken；　and　all　its　lures；　hold　out；　as　a　shield　before　thee；　the　saving　word　that　saith；　‘When　ye　shall　have　done　all　those　things　which　are　commanded　you；　say；　〃We　are　unprofitable　servants；　for　we　have　done　that　which　was　our　duty　to　do。〃'　　And；　indeed；　which　of　us　is　able　to　repay　the　debt　that　we　owe　our　Master；　for　that　he；　though　he　was　rich；　yet　for　our　sakes　became　poor；　that　we　through　his　poverty　might　become　rich；　and；　being　without　suffering；　yet　suffered；　that　we　might　be　delivered　from　suffering？　　What　thanks　hath　the　servant　if　he　suffer　like　as　his　Master？　　But　we　fall　far　short　of　his　sufferings。　　Meditate　upon　these　things；　casting　down　imaginations；　and　every　high　thing　that　exalteth　itself　against　the　knowledge　of　God；　and　bringing　into　captivity　every　thought　to　the　obedience　of　Christ。　　And　the　peace　of　God　which　passeth　all　understanding　shall　keep　thy　heart　and　thoughts　in　Christ　Jesus。〃

When　blessed　Barlaam　had　so　said；　Ioasaph's　tears　knew　no　measure；　but；　like　water　from　the　brimming　fountain；　bedewed　him　and　the　ground　whereon　he　sat。　　He　mourned　over　the　parting；　and　earnestly　implored　that　he　might　be　his　companion　on　his　last　journey；　and　might　remain　no　longer　in　this　world　after　Barlaam's　decease；　saying；　〃Wherefore；　father；　seekest　thou　only　thine　own；　and　not　thy　neighbour's　welfare？　　How　fulfillest　thou　perfect　love　in　this；　according　to　him　that　said；　‘Thou　shalt　love　thy　neighbour　as　thyself；'　in　departing　thyself　to　rest　and　life；　and　leaving　me　to　tribulation　and　distress？　　And；　before　I　have　been　well　exercised　in　the　conflicts　of　the　religious　life；　before　I　have　learned　the　wily　attacks　of　the　enemy；　why　expose　me　to　fight　singlehanded　against　their　marshalled　host？　　And　for　what　purpose　but　to　see　me　overthrown　by　their　mischievous　machinations；　and　to　see　me　die；　alas！　the　true　spiritual　and　eternal　death？　　That　is　the　fate　which　must　befall　inexperienced　and　cowardly　monks。　　But；　I　beseech　thee；　pray　the　Lord　to　take　me　also　together　with　thee　from　life。　　Yea；　by　the　very　hope　that　thou　hast　of　receiving　the　reward　of　thy　labour；　pray　that；　after　thy　departure；　I　may　not　live　one　day　more　in　the　world；　nor　wander　into　the　ocean　depths　of　this　desert。〃

While　Ioasaph　spake　thus　in　tears；　the　old　man　cheeked　him　gently　and　calmly；　saying；　〃Son；　we　ought　not　to　resist　the　judgements　of　God；　which　are　beyond　our　reach。　　For　though　I　have　oftentimes　prayed　concerning　this　matter；　and　constrained　the　Master；　that　cannot　be　constrained；　not　to　part　us　one　from　the　other；　yet　have　I　been　taught　by　his　goodness　that　it　is　not　expedient　for　thee　now　to　lay　aside　the　burden　of　the　flesh：　but　thou　must　remain　behind　in　the　practice　of　virtue；　until　the　crown；　which　thou　art　weaving；　be　more　glorious。　　As　yet；　thou　hast　not　striven　enough　after　the　recompense　in　store　for　thee；　but　must　toil　yet　a　little　longer；　that　thou　mayest　joyfully　enter　into　the　joy　of　thy　Lord。　　For　myself；　I　am；　as　I　reckon；　well…nigh　an　hundred　winters　old；　and　have　now　spent　seventy　and　five　years　in　this　desert　place。　　But　for　thee；　even　if　thy　days　be　not　so　far　lengthened　as　mine；　yet　must　thou　approach　thereto；　as　the　Lord　ordereth；　that　thou　mayest　prove　no　unworthy　match　for　them　that　have　borne　the　burden　and　heat　of　the　day。　　Therefore；　beloved；　gladly　accept　the　decrees　of　God。　　What　God　hath　ordered；　who；　of　men；　can　scatter？　　Endure；　then；　under　the　protection　of　his　grace。

〃But　be　thou　ever　sober　against　thoughts　other　than　these；　and；　like　a　right　precious　treasure；　keep　safely　from　robbers　thy　purity　of　heart；　stepping　up　day　by　day　to　higher　work　and　contemplation；　that　that　may　be　fulfilled　in　thee；　which　the　Saviour　promised　to　his　friends；　when　he　said；　‘If　any　man　love　me；　he　will　keep　my　word：　and　my　father　will　love　him；　and　we　will　come　unto　him；　and　make　our　abode　with　him。'〃

With　these　words；　and　many　others；　full　worthy　of　that　sanctified　soul　and　inspired　tongue；　did　the　old　man　comfort　Ioasaph's　anguished　soul。　　Then　he　sent　him　unto　certain　brethren；　which　abode　a　long　way　off；　for　to　fetch　the　things　fitting　for　the　Holy　Sacrifice。　　And　Ioasaph　girded　up　his　loins；　and　with　all　speed　fulfilled　his　errand：　for　he　dreaded　lest　peradventure；　in　his　absence；　Barlaam　might　pay　the　debt　of　nature；　and；　yielding　up　the　ghost　to　God；　might　inflict　on　him　the　loss　of　missing　his　departing　words　and　utterances；　his　last　orisons　and　blessings。

So　when　Ioasaph　had　manfully　finished　his　long　journey；　and　had　brought　the　things　required　for　the　Holy　Sacrifice；　saintly　Barlaam　offered　up　to　God　the　unbloody　Sacrifice。　　When　he　had　communicated　himself；　and　also　given　to　Ioasaph　of　the　undefiled　Mysteries　of　Christ；　he　rejoiced　in　the　Spirit。　　And　when　they　had　taken　together　of　their　ordinary　food；　Barlaam　again　fed　Ioasaph's　soul　with　edifying　words；　saying；　〃Well…beloved　son；　no　longer　in　this　world　shall　we　share　one　common　hearth　and　board；　for　now　I　go　my　last　journey；　even　the　way　of　my　fathers。　　Needs　must　thou；　therefore；　prove　thy　loving　affection　for　me　by　thy　keeping　of　God's　commandments；　and　by　thy　continuance　in　this　place　even　to　the　end；　living　as　thou　hast　learned　and　been　instructed；　and　alway　remembering　my　poor　and　slothful　soul。　Rejoice；　therefore；　with　great　joy；　and　make　merry　with　the　gladness　that　is　in　Christ；　because　thou　hast　exchanged　the　earthly　and　corruptible　for　the　eternal　and　incorruptible；　and　because　there　draweth　nigh　the　reward　of　thy　works；　and　thy　rewarder　is　already　at　hand；　who　shall　come　to　see　the　vineyard　which　thou　hast　dressed；　and　shall　richly　pay　thee　the　wages　of　thine　husbandry。　　‘Faithful　is　the　saying；　and　worthy　of　all　acceptation；'　as　proclaimed　by　Paul　the　divine；　‘For　if　we　be　dead　with　him；　we　shall　also　live　with　him；　if　we　endure；　we　shall　also　reign　with　him　in　his　eternal　and　everlasting　kingdom；　being　illuminated　with　the　light　unapproachable；　and　guerdoned　with　the　effulgence　of　the　blessed　and　life…giving　Trinity。'〃

Thus　until　even…tide　and　all　night　long　did　Barlaam　converse　with　Ioasaph；　who　wept　tears　that　could　not　be　stayed；　and　could　not　bear　the　parting。　　But　just　as　day　began　to　dawn；　Barlaam　ended　his　discourse；　lifted　up　his　hands　and　eyes　to　heaven；　and　offered　his　thanks　to　God；　thus　saying；　〃O　Lord；　my　God；　who　art　everywhere　present；　and　fillest　all　things；　I　thank　thee；　for　that　thou　hast　looked　upon　my　lowliness；　and　hast　granted　me　to　fulfil　the　course　of　this　mine　earthly　pilgrimage　in　thy　true　Faith；　and　in　the　way　of　thy　commandments。　　And　now；　thou　lover　of　good；　all…merciful　Master；　receive　me　into　thine　everlasting　habitations；　and　remember　not　all　the　sins　that　I　have　committed　against　thee；　in　knowledge　or　in　ignorance。　　Defend　also　this　thy　faithful　servant；　before　whom　thou　hast　granted　to　me；　thine　unprofitable　servant；　to　stand。　　Deliver　him　from　all　vanity；　and　all　despiteful　treatment　of　the　adversary；　and　set　him　clear　of　the　many…meshed　nets　which　the　wicked　one　spreadeth　abroad　for　to　trip　all　them　that　would　full　fain　be　saved。　　Destroy；　Almighty　Lord；　all　the　might　of　the　deceiver　from　before　the　face　of　thy　servant；　and　grant　him　authority　to　trample　on　the　baneful　head　of　the　enemy　of　our　souls。　　Send　down　from　on　high　the　grace　of　thy　Holy　Spirit；　and　strengthen　him　against　the　invisible　hosts；　that　he　may　receive　at　thy　hands　the　crown　of　victory；　and　that　in　him　thy　name　may　be　glorified；　the　Father；　the　Son；　and　the　Holy　Ghost；　for　to　thee　belongeth　glory　and　praise　for　ever　and　ever。　　Amen。〃

Thus　prayed　he；　and　in　fatherly　wise　embraced　Ioasaph；　and　saluted　him　with　an　holy　kiss。　　Then　he　sealed　himself　with　the　sign　of　the　Cross；　and　gathered　up　his　feet；　and；　with　exceeding　great　joy；　as　at　the　home…coming　of　friends；　departed　on　that　blessed　journey；　to　receive　his　reward　yonder；　an　old　man　and　full　of　days　in　the　Spirit。


XL。

Then　did　Ioasaph　embrace　the　good　father；　with　all　the　devotion　and　sorrow　that　can　be　told；　and　washed　his　corpse　with　his　tears。　　Then　he　wrapped　it　in　the　hair…shirt；　which　Barlaam　had　given　him　in　his　palace；　and　over　him　he　recited　the　proper　psalms；　chanting　all　the　day　long；　and　throughout　the　night；　and　watering　the　venerable　body　of　the　Saint　with　his　tears。　　On　the　morrow；　he　made　a　grave　hard　by　the　cave；　and　thither　reverently　bore　the　sacred　body；　and　there；　like　a　good　and　honourable　son；　laid　his　spiritual　father　in　his　sepulchre。　　And　then；　the　fire　of　grief　kindling　all　the　hotter　within　his　soul；　he　set　himself　to　pray　the　more　earnestly；　saying：

〃O　Lord　my　God；　hearken　unto　my　voice；　when　I　cry　unto　thee。　　Have　mercy　upon　me；　and　hear　me；　for　I　seek　thee　with　all　my　heart。　　My　soul　hath　sought　for　thee：　O　hide　not　thy　face　from　me；　and　turn　not　away　in　anger　from　thy　servant。　　Be　thou　my　helper；　cast　me　not　utterly　away；　and　forsake　me　not；　O　God　my　Saviour；　because　my　father　and　mother　forsake　me；　but　do　thou；　O　Lord；　take　me　up。　　Teach　me　thy　way；　O　Lord；　and　lead　me　in　the　right　way　because　of　mine　enemies。　　Deliver　me　not　over　unto　the　souls　of　them　that　afflict　me；　for　I　have　been　cast　upon　thee　ever　since　I　was　born；　thou　art　my　God　even　from　my　mother's　womb。　　O　go　not　from　me；　because；　except　thee；　there　is　none　to　help　me。　　For　lo；　I　set　the　hope　of　my　soul　upon　the　ocean　of　thy　mercies。　　Be　thou　the　pilot　of　my　soul；　thou　that　steerest　all　creation