barlaam and ioasaph-第39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！
d Typhon。 Isis then was not able to help her own brother and husband； nor had Osiris； who was slain by Typhon； power to succour himself； nor had Typhon； who killed his brother and was himself destroyed by Horus and Isis； any resource to save himself from death。 And yet； although famous for all these misadventures； these be they that were considered gods by the senseless Egyptians。
〃The same people； not content therewith； nor with the rest of the idols of the heathen； also introduced brute beasts as gods。 Some of them worshipped the sheep； some the goat； and others the calf and the hog； while certain of them worshipped the raven； the kite； the vulture； and the eagle。 Others again worshipped the crocodile； and some the cat and dog； the wolf and ape； the dragon
and serpent； and others the onion； garlic and thorns； and every other creature。 And the poor fools do not perceive； concerning these things； that they have no power at all。 Though they see their gods being devoured； burnt and killed by other men； and rotting away； they cannot grasp the fact that they are no gods。
〃Great； then； is the error that the Egyptians； the Chaldeans； and the Greeks have erred in introducing such gods as these； and making images thereof； and deifying dumb and senseless idols。 I marvel how； when they behold their gods being sawn and chiselled by workmen's axes； growing old and dissolving through lapse of time； and molten in the pot； they never reflected concerning them that they are no gods。 For when these skill not to work their own salvation； how can they take care of mankind？ Nay； even the poets and philosophers among the Chaldeans； Greeks and Egyptians； although by their poems and histories they desired to glorify their people's gods； yet they rather revealed and exposed their shame before all men。 If the body of a man； consisting of many parts； loseth not any of its proper members； but； having an unbroken union with all its members； is in harmony with itself； how in the nature of God shall there be such warfare and discord？ For if the nature of the gods were one； then ought not one god to persecute； slay or injure another。 But if the gods were persecuted by other gods； and slain and plundered and killed with thunder…stones； then is their nature no longer one； but their wills are divided； and are all mischievous； so that not one among them is God。 So it is manifest； O king； that all this history of the nature of the gods is error。
〃Furthermore； how do the wise and eloquent among the Greeks fail to perceive that law…givers themselves are judged by their own laws？ For if their laws are just； then are their gods assuredly unjust； in that they have offended against law by murders； sorceries； adulteries； thefts and unnatural crimes。 But； if they did well in so doing； then are their laws unjust； seeing that they have been framed in condemnation of the gods。 But now the laws are good and just； because they encourage good and forbid evil； whereas the deeds of their gods offend against law。 Their gods then are offenders against law； and all that introduce such gods as these are worthy of death and are ungodly。 If the stories of the gods be myths； then are the gods mere words： but if the stories be natural； then are they that wrought or endured such things no longer gods： if the stories be allegorical； then are the gods myths and nothing else。 Therefore it hath been proven； O king； that all these idols； belonging to many gods； are works of error and destruction。 So it is not meet to call those gods that are seen； but cannot see： but it is right to worship as God him who is unseen and is the Maker of all mankind。
〃Come we now； O king； to the Jews； that we may see what they also think concerning God。 The Jews are the descendants of Abraham； Isaac and Jacob； and went once to sojourn in Egypt。 From thence God brought them out with a mighty hand and stretched out arm by Moses their lawgiver； and with many miracles and signs made he known unto them his power。 But； like the rest； these proved ungrateful and unprofitable； and often worshipped images of the heathen； and killed the prophets and righteous men that were sent unto them。 Then； when it pleased the Son of God to come on earth； they did shamefully entreat him and deliver him to Pilate the Roman governor； and condemn him to the Cross； regardless of his benefits and the countless miracles that he had worked amongst them。 Wherefore by their own lawlessness they perished。 For though to this day they worship the One Omnipotent God； yet it is not according unto knowledge； for they deny Christ the Son of God； and are like the heathen； although they seem to approach the truth from which they have estranged themselves。 So much for the Jews。
〃As for the Christians； they trace their line from the Lord Jesus Christ。 He is confessed to be the Son of the most high God； who came down from heaven； by the Holy Ghost； for the salvation of mankind； and was born of a pure Virgin； without seed of man； and without defilement； and took flesh； and appeared among men； that he might recall them from the error of worshipping many gods。 When he had accomplished his marvellous dispensation； of his own free will by a mighty dispensation he tasted of death upon the Cross。 But after three days he came to life again； and ascended into the heavens； the glory of whose coming thou mayest learn； O king； by the reading of the holy Scripture； which the Christians call the Gospel； shouldst thou meet therewith。 This Jesus had twelve disciples； who； after his ascent into the heavens； went out into all the kingdoms of the world； telling of his greatness。 Even so one of them visited our coasts； preaching the doctrine of truth； whence they who still serve the righteousness of his preaching are called Christians。 And these are they who； above all the nations of the earth； have found the truth： for they acknowledge God the Creator and Maker of all things in the only begotten Son； and in the Holy Ghost； and other God than him they worship none。 They have the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ himself engraven on their hearts； and these they observe； looking for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come。 They neither commit adultery nor fornication； nor do they bear false witness； nor covet other men's goods： they honour father and mother； and love their neighbours： they give right judgement。 They do not unto other that which they would not have done unto themselves。 They comfort such as wrong them； and make friends of them： they labour to do good to their enemies： they are meek and gentle。 They refrain themselves from all unlawful intercourse and all uncleanness。 They despise not the widow； and grieve not the orphan。 He that hath distributeth liberally to him that hath not。 If they see a stranger； they bring him under their roof； and rejoice over him； as it were their own brother： for they call themselves brethren； not after the flesh； but after the spirit。 For Christ his sake they are ready to lay down their lives： they keep his commandments faithfully； living righteous and holy lives； as the Lord their God commanded them； giving him thanks every hour； for meat and drink and every blessing。 Verily； then； this is the way of truth which leadeth its wayfarers unto the eternal kingdom promised by Christ in the life to come。
〃And that thou mayest know； O king； that I speak nought of myself； look thou into the writings of the Christians； and thou shalt find that I speak nothing but the truth。 Well； therefore； hath thy son understood it； and rightly hath he been taught to serve the living God； and to be saved for the world to come。 Great and marvellous are the things spoken and wrought by the Christians； because they speak not the words of men but the words of God。 But all other nations are deceived； and deceive themselves。 Walking in darkness they stagger one against another like drunken men。 This is the end of my speech spoken unto thee； O king； prompted by the truth that is in my mind。 Wherefore let thy foolish wise…acres refrain from babbling idly against the Lord； for it is profitable to you to worship God the Creator； and hearken to his incorruptible sayings； in order that ye
