barlaam and ioasaph-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
herefore saith he this； except he count the kind acts we do unto the needy as done unto himself？ And in another place he saith； ‘Whosoever shall confess me before men； him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven。'
〃Lo； by all these examples and many more he proveth that the rewards of good works are certain and sure。 Further； that punishments are in store for the bad； he foretold by parables strange and wonderful； which he； the Well of Wisdom most wisely put forth。 At one time he brought into his tale a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen； and fared sumptuously every day； but who was so niggardly and pitiless toward the destitute as to overlook a certain beggar named Lazarus laid at his gate； and not even to give him of the crumbs from his table。 So when one and other were dead； the poor man； full of sores； was carried away； he saith； into Abraham's bosom； for thus he describeth the habitation of the righteous but the rich man was delivered to the fire of bitter torment in hell。 To him said Abraham； ‘Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things； and likewise Lazarus his evil things； but now he is comforted； and thou art tormented。〃
〃And otherwhere he likeneth the kingdom of heaven to a certain king which made a marriage…feast for his son and thereby he declared future happiness and splendour。 For as he was wont to speak to humble and earthly minded men； he would draw his parables from homely and familiar things。 Not that he meant that marriages and feasts exist in that world； but in condescension to men's grossness； he employed these names when he would make known to them the future。 So； as he telleth； the king with high proclamation called all to come to the marriage to take their fill of his wondrous store of good things。 But many of them that were bidden made light of it and came not； and busied themselves： some went to their farms； some to their merchandize； and others to their newly wedded wives； and thus deprived themselves of the splendour of the bride chamber。 Now when these had； of their own choice； absented themselves from this joyous merriment； others were bidden thereto； and the wedding was furnished with guests。 And when the king came in to see the guests； he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment； and he said unto him； 〃Friend； how camest thou in hither； not having a wedding garment？〃 And he was speechless。 Then Said the king to the servants； 〃Bind him hand and foot； and take him away； and cast him into outer darkness； there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth。' Now they who made excuses and paid no heed to the call are they that hasten not to the faith of Christ； but continue in idolatry or heresy。 But he that had no wedding garment is he that believeth； but hath soiled his spiritual garment with unclean acts； and was rightly cast forth from the joy of the bride chamber。
〃And he put forth yet another parable； in harmony with this； in his picture of the Ten Virgins； ‘five of whom were wise； and five were foolish。 They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them； but the wise took oil。' By the oil he signifieth the acquiring of good works。 ‘And at midnight；' he saith； ‘there was a cry made； 〃Behold the bridegroom cometh； go ye out to meet him。〃' By midnight he denoteth the uncertainty of that time。 Then all those virgins arose。 ‘They that were ready went forth to meet the bridegroom and went in with him to the marriage； and the door was shut。' But they that were un…ready （whom rightly he calleth foolish）； seeing that their lamps were going out； went forth to buy oil。 Afterward they drew nigh； the door being now shut； and cried； saying； ‘Lord； Lord； open to us。' But he answered and said； ‘Verily I say unto you； I know you
not。' Wherefore from all this it is manifest that there is a requital not only for overt acts； but also for words and even secret thoughts； for the Saviour said； ‘I say unto you； that for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement。' And again he saith； ‘But the very hairs of your head are numbered；' by the hairs meaning the smallest and slightest phantasy or thought。 And in harmony herewith is the teaching of blessed Paul； ‘For the word of God；' saith he； ‘is quick and powerful； and sharper than any two…edged sword； and piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit； and of the joints and marrow； and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart。 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight： but all things are naked and laid bare unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do。〃
〃These things also were proclaimed with wondrous clearness by the prophets of old time； illumined by the grace of the Spirit。 For Esay saith； ‘I know their works and their thoughts；' and will repay them。 ‘Behold； I come to gather all nations and all tongues； and they shall come and see my glory。 And the heaven shall be new； and the earth； which I make before me。 And all flesh shall come to worship before me； saith the Lord。 And they shall go forth； and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me： for their worm shall not die； neither shall their fire be quenched； and they shall be a spectacle unto all flesh。〃 And again he saith concerning that day； 〃And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll； and all the stars shall fall down as leaves from the vine。 For behold； the day of the Lord cometh； cruel with wrath and fierce anger； to lay the whole world desolate and to destroy the sinners out of it。 For the stars of heaven and Orion and all the constellations of heaven shall not give their light； and there shall be darkness at the sun's rising； and the moon shall not give her light。 And I will cause the arrogancy of the sinners to cease； and will lay low the haughtiness of the proud。' And again he saith； ‘Wo unto them that draw their iniquities as with a long cord； and their sins as with an heifer's cart…rope！ Wo unto them that call evil good； and good evil； that put darkness for light； and light for darkness； that put bitter for sweet； and sweet for bitter！ Wo unto those of you that are mighty； that are princes； that mingle strong drink； which justify the wicked for reward； and take justice from the just； and turn aside the judgement from the needy； and take away the right from the poor； that the widow may be their spoil and the fatherless their prey！ And what will they do in the day of visitation； and to whom will they flee for help？ And where will they leave their glory； that they fall not into arrest？ Like as stubble shall be burnt by live coal of fire； and consumed by kindled flame； so their root shall be as foam； and their blossom shall go up as dust； for they would not the law of the Lord of hosts； and provoked the oracle of the Holy One of Israel。〃
〃In tune therewith saith also another prophet； ‘The great day of the Lord is near； and hasteth greatly。 The bitter and austere voice of the day of the Lord hath been appointed。 A mighty day of wrath is that day； a day of trouble and distress； a day of wasteness and desolation； a day of blackness and gloominess； a day of clouds and thick darkness； a day of the trumpet and alarm。 And I will bring distress upon the wicked； and they shall walk like blind men； because they have sinned against the Lord。 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath； for the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy； for he shall make a riddance of all them that dwell in the land。' Moreover David； the king and prophet； crieth thus； ‘God shall come visibly； even our God； and shall not keep silence： a fire shall be kindled before him； and a mighty tempest round about him。 He shall call the heaven from above； and the earth； that he may judge his people。' And again he saith； ‘Arise； O God； judge thou the earth； because 〃the fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise。〃 And thou shalt 〃reward every man according to his works。〃' And many other such things have been spoken by the Psalmist； and all the Prophets inspired by the Holy Ghost； concerning the judgement and the recompense to come。 Their
