barlaam and ioasaph-第7章

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at　above　all　the　prophets。　　And　when　he　was　baptized　there　came　a　voice　from　heaven；　from　God；　even　the　Father；　saying；　‘This　is　my　beloved　Son；　in　whom　I　am　well　pleased；'　and　the　Holy　Ghost　descended　upon　him　in　likeness　of　a　dove。　　From　that　time　forth　he　began　to　do　great　signs　and　wonders；　raising　the　dead；　giving　sight　to　the　blind；　casting　out　devils；　healing　the　lame　and　maim；　cleansing　lepers；　and　everywhere　renewing　our　out…worn　nature；　instructing　men　both　by　word　and　deed；　and　teaching　the　way　of　virtue；　turning　men　from　destruction　and　guiding　their　feet　toward　life　eternal。　　Wherefore　also　he　chose　twelve　disciples；　whom　he　called　Apostles；　and　commanded　them　to　preach　the　kingdom　of　heaven　which　he　came　upon　earth　to　declare；　and　to　make　heavenly　us　who　are　low　and　earthly；　by　virtue　of　his　Incarnation。

〃But；　through　envy　of　his　marvellous　and　divine　conversation　and　endless　miracles；　the　chief　priests　and　rulers　of　the　Jews　（amongst　whom　also　he　dwelt；　on　whom　he　had　wrought　his　aforesaid　signs　and　miracles）；　in　their　madness　forgetting　all；　condemned　him　to　death；　having　seized　one　of　the　Twelve　to　betray　him。　　And；　when　they　had　taken　him；　they　delivered　him　to　the　Gentiles；　him　that　was　the　life　of　the　world；　he　of　his　free　will　consenting　thereto；　for　he　came　for　our　sakes　to　suffer　all　things；　that　he　might　free　us　from　sufferings。　　But　when　they　had　done　him　much　despite；　at　the　last　they　condemned　him　to　the　Cross。　　All　this　he　endured　in　the　nature　of　that　flesh　which　he　took　from　us；　his　divine　nature　remaining　free　of　suffering：　for；　being　of　two　natures；　both　the　divine　and　that　which　he　took　from　us；　his　human　nature　suffered；　while　his　Godhead　continued　free　from　suffering　and　death。　　So　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；　being　without　sin；　was　crucified　in　the　flesh；　for　he　did　no　sin；　neither　was　guile　found　in　his　mouth；　and　he　was　not　subject　unto　death；　for　by　sin；　as　I　have　said　before；　came　death　into　the　world；　but　for　our　sakes　he　suffered　death　in　the　flesh；　that　he　might　redeem　us　from　the　tyranny　of　death。　　He　descended　into　hell；　and　having　harrowed　it；　he　delivered　thence　souls　that　had　been　imprisoned　therein　for　ages　long。　　He　was　buried；　and　on　the　third　day　he　rose　again；　vanquishing　death　and　granting　us　the　victory　over　death：　and　he；　the　giver　of　immortality；　having　made　flesh　immortal；　was　seen　of　his　disciples；　and　bestowed　upon　them　peace；　and；　through　them；　peace　on　the　whole　human　race。

〃After　forty　days　he　ascended　into　heaven；　and　sitteth　at　the　right　hand　of　the　Father。　　And　he　shall　come　again　to　judge　the　quick　and　the　dead；　and　to　reward　every　man　according　to　his　works。　　After　his　glorious　Ascension　into　heaven　he　sent　forth　upon　his　disciples　the　Holy　Ghost　in　likeness　of　fire；　and　they　began　to　speak　with　other　tongues　as　the　Spirit　gave　them　utterance。　　From　thence　by　his　grace　they　were　scattered　abroad　among　all　nations；　and　preached　the　true　Catholic　Faith；　baptizing　them　in　the　name　of　the　Father；　and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost；　and　teaching　them　to　observe　all　the　commandments　of　the　Saviour。　　So　they　gave　light　to　the　people　that　wandered　in　darkness；　and　abolished　the　superstitious　error　of　idolatry。　Though　the　enemy　chafeth　under　his　defeat；　and　even　now　stirreth　up　war　against　us；　the　faithful；　persuading　the　fools　and　unwise　to　cling　to　the　worship　of　idols；　yet　is　his　power　grown　feeble；　and　his　swords　have　at　last　failed　him　by　the　power　of　Christ。　Lo；　in　few　words　I　have　made　known　unto　thee　my　Master；　my　God；　and　my　Saviour；　but　thou　shalt　know　him　more　perfectly；　if　thou　wilt　receive　his　grace　into　thy　soul；　and　gain　the　blessing　to　become　his　servant。〃


VIII。

When　the　king's　son　had　heard　these　words；　there　flashed　a　light　upon　his　soul。　　Rising　from　his　seat　in　the　fulness　of　his　joy；　he　embraced　Barlaam；　saying：　〃Most　honoured　sir；　methinks　this　might　be　that　priceless　stone　which　thou　dost　rightly　keep　secret；　not　displaying　it　to　all　that　would　see　it；　but　only　to　these　whose　spiritual　sense　is　strong。　　For　lo；　as　these　words　dropped　upon　mine　ear；　sweetest　light　entered　into　my　heart；　and　the　heavy　veil　of　sorrow；　that　hath　now　this　long　time　enveloped　my　heart；　was　in　an　instant　removed。　　Tell　me　if　my　guess　be　true：　or　if　thou　knowest　aught　better　than　that　which　thou　hast　spoken；　delay　not　to　declare　it　to　me。〃

Again；　therefore；　Barlaam　answered；　〃Yea；　my　lord　and　prince；　this　is　the　mighty　mystery　which　hath　been　hid　from　ages　and　generations；　but　in　these　last　days　hath　been　made　known　unto　mankind；　the　manifestation　whereof；　by　the　grace　of　the　Holy　Ghost；　was　foretold　by　many　prophets　and　righteous　men；　instructed　at　sundry　times　and　in　divers　manners。　　In　trumpet　tones　they　proclaimed　it；　and　all　looked　forward　to　the　salvation　that　should　be：　this　they　desired　to　see；　but　saw　it　not。　　But　this　latest　generation　was　counted　worthy　to　receive　salvation。　Wherefore　he　that　believeth　and　is　baptized　shall　be　saved；　but　he　that　believeth　not　shall　be　damned。〃

Said　Ioasaph；　〃All　that　thou　hast　told　me　I　believe　without　question；　and　him　whom　thou　declarest　I　glorify　as　God。　　Only　make　all　plain　to　me；　and　teach　me　clearly　what　I　must　do。　　But　especially　go　on　to　tell　me　what　is　that　Baptism　which　thou　sayest　that　the　Faithful　receive。〃

The　other　answered　him　thus；　〃The　root　mid　sure　foundation　of　this　holy　and　perfect　Christian　Faith　is　the　grace　of　heavenly　Baptism；　fraught　with　the　cleansing　from　all　original　sins；　and　complete　purification　of　all　defilements　of　evil　that　come　after。　For　thus　the　Saviour　commanded　a　man　to　be　born　again　of　water　and　of　the　spirit；　and　be　restored　to　his　first　dignity；　to　wit；　by　supplication　and　by　calling　on　the　Saving　Name；　the　Holy　Spirit　brooding　on　the　water。　　We　are　baptized；　then；　according　to　the　word　of　the　Lord；　in　the　Name　of　the　Father；　and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost；　and　thus　the　grace　of　the　Holy　Ghost　dwelleth　in　the　soul　of　the　baptized；　illuminating　and　making　it　God…like　and　renewing　that　which　was　made　after　his　own　image　and　likeness。　　And　for　the　time　to　come　we　cast　away　all　the　old　works　of　wickedness；　and　we　make　covenant　with　God　of　a　second　life　and　begin　a　purer　conversation；　that　we　may　also　become　fellow…heirs　with　them　that　are　born　again　to　incorruption　and　lay　hold　of　everlasting　salvation。　　But　without　Baptism　it　is　impossible　to　attain　to　that　good　hope；　even　though　a　man　be　more　pious　than　piety　itself。　　For　thus　spake　God；　the　Word；　who　was　incarnate　for　the　salvation　of　our　race；　‘Verily　I　say　unto　you；　except　ye　be　born　of　water　and　of　the　Spirit；　ye　shall　in　no　wise　enter　into　the　Kingdom　of　Heaven。'　　Wherefore　before　all　things　I　require　thee　to　receive　faith　within　thy　soul；　and　to　draw　near　to　Baptism　anon　with　hearty　desire；　and　on　no　account　to　delay　herein；　for　delay　is　parlous；　because　of　the　uncertainty　of　the　appointed　day　of　death。〃

Ioasaph　said　unto　him；　〃And　what　is　this　good　hope　whereto　thou　sayest　it　is　impossible　without　baptism　to　attain？　　And　what　this　kingdom　which　thou　callest　the　kingdom　of　Heaven？　　And　how　cometh　it　that　thou　hast　heard　the　words　of　God　incarnate？　　And　what　is　the　uncertain　day　of　death？　　For　on　this　account　much　anxiety　hath　fallen　on　my　heart；　and　consumeth　my　flesh　in　pain　and　grief；　and　fasteneth　on　my　very　bones。　　And　shall　we　men；　appointed　to　die；　return　to　nothing；　or　is　there　some　other　life　after　our　departure　hence？　　These　and　kindred　questions　I　have　been　longing　to　resolve。〃

Thus　questioned　he；　and　Barlaam　answered　thus：　〃The　good　hope；　whereof　I　spake；　is　that　of　the　kingdom　of　Heaven。　　But　that　kingdom　is　far　beyond　the　utterance　of　mortal　tongue；　for　the　Scripture　saith；　‘Eye　hath　not　seen；　nor　ear　heard；　neither　have　entered　into　the　heart　of　man　the　things　which　God　hath　prepared　for　them　that　love　him。'　　But　when　we　have　shuffled　off　this　gross　flesh；　and　attained　to　that　blessedness；　then　will　that　Master；　which　hath　granted　to　us　not　to　fail　of　this　hope；　teach　and　make　known　unto　us　the　glory　of　those　good　things；　whose　glory　passeth　all　understanding：　　that　light　ineffable；　that　life　that　hath　no　ending；　that　converse　with　Angels。　　For　if　it　be　granted　us　to　hold　communion　with　God；　so　far　as　is　attainable　to　human　nature；　then　shall　we　know　all　things　from　his　lips　which　now　we　know　not。　　This　doth　my　initiation　into　the　teaching　of　the　divine　Scriptures　teach　me　to　be　the　real　meaning　of　the　kingdom　of　Heaven；　to　approach　the　vision　of　the　blessed　and　life…giving　Trinity；　and　to　be　illumined　with　his　unapproachable　light；　and　with　clearer　and　purer　sight；　and　with　unveiled　face；　to　behold　as　in　a　glass　his　unspeakable　glory。　　But；　if　it　be　impossible　to　express　in　language　that　glory；　that　light；　and　those　mysterious　blessings；　what　marvel？　　For　they　had　not　been　mighty　and　singular；　if　they　had　been　comprehended　by　reason　and　expressed　in　words　by　us　who　are　earthly；　and　corruptible；　and　clothed　in　this　heavy　garment　of　sinful　flesh。　　Holding　then　such　knowledge　in　simple　faith；　believe　thou　undoubtingly；　that　these　are　no　fictions；　but　by　good　works　be　urgent　to　lay　hold　on　that　immortal　kingdom；　to　which　when　thou　hast　attained；　thou　shalt　have　perfect　knowledge。

〃As　touching　thy　question；　How　it　is　that　we　have　heard　the　words　of　the　Incarnate　God；　know　thou　that　we　have　been　taught　all　that　appertaineth　to　the　divine　Incarnation　by　the　Holy　Gospels；　for　thus　that　holy　book　is　called；　because　it　telleth　us；　who　are　corruptible　and　earthly；　the　‘good　spell'　of　immortality　and　incorruption；　of　life　eternal；　of　the　remission　of　sins；　and　of　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　　This　book　was　written　by　the　eyewitnesses　and　ministers　of　the　Word；　and　of　these　I　have　already　said　that　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ　chose　them　for　disciples　and　apostles；　and　they　delivered　it　unto　us　in　writing；　after　the　glorious　Ascension　of　our　Master　into　Heaven；　a　record　of　his　life　on　earth；　his　teachings　and　miracles；　so　far　as　it　was　possible　to　commit　them　to　writing。　　For　thus；　toward　the　end　of　his　volume；　saith　he　that　is　the　flower　of　the　holy　Evangelists；　‘And　there　are　also　many　other　things　which　Jesus　did；　the　which；　if　they　should　be　written　every　one；　I　suppose　that　even　the　world　itself　could　not　contain　the　books　that　should　be　written。'

〃So　in　this　heavenly　Gospel；　written　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　is　recorded　the　history　of　his　Incarnation；　his　manifestation；　his　miracles　and　acts。　　Afterward；　it　telleth　of　the　innocent　suffering　which　the　Lord　endured　for　our　sake；　of　his　holy　Resurrection　on　the　third　day；　his　Ascent　into　the　heavens；　and　of　his　glorious　and　dreadful　second　coming；　for　the　Son　of　God　shall　come　again　on　earth；　with　unspeakable　glory；　and　with　a　multitude　of　the　heavenly　host　to　judge　our　race；　and　to　reward　every　man　according　to　his　works。　　For；　at　the　beginning；　God　created　man　out　of　earth；　as　I　have　already　told　thee；　and　breathed　into　him　breath；　which　is　called　a　reasonable　and　understanding　soul。　　But　since　we　were　sentenced　to　death；　we　die　all：　and　it　is　not　possible　for　this　cup　to　pass　any　man　by。　　Now　death　is　the　separation　of　the　soul　from　the　body。　　And　that　body　which　was　formed　out　of　earth；　when　severed　from　the　soul；　returneth　to　earth　from　whence　also　it　was　taken；　and；　de