barlaam and ioasaph-第47章
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a； he receiveth thee and all that turn to him。 And he not only receiveth thee； but he goeth out to meet thee returning out of the way of iniquity； as though it were a son returning from a far country。 And he falleth on his neck and kisseth him； and he strippeth him of the shameful robe of sin； and putteth on him a cloak of brightest glory； making mystic gladness for the powers on high； keeping feast for the return of the lost sheep。 The Lord himself saith； ‘There is exceeding great joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth'： and again； ‘I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance。' And he saith also by the Prophet； ‘As I live； saith the Lord； I have no pleasure in the death of the sinner； and the ungodly； but that he should turn from his way and live。 Turn ye； turn ye from your evil way。 And why will ye die； O house of Israel？' For the wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him in the day that he turneth from his wickedness； if he do righteousness and walk in the statutes of life； he shall surely live； he shall not die。 None of his sins which he hath committed shall be remembered against him。 Because he hath done the decree of righteousness； he shall live thereby。 And again he crieth by the mouth of another prophet； ‘Wash you； make you clean； put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes； cease to do evil： learn to do well。 Come now； and let us reason together： though your sins be as scarlet； I will make them white as snow； though they be red like crimson； I will make them white as wool。' Such therefore being the promises made by God to them that turn to him； tarry not； O thou man； nor make delay： but draw nigh to Christ； our loving God； and be enlightened； and thy face shall not be ashamed。 For as soon as thou goest down into the laver of Holy Baptism； all the defilement of the old man； and all the burden of thy many sins； is buried in the water； and passeth into nothingness； and thou comest up from thence a new man； pure from all pollution； with no spot or wrinkle of sin upon thee； and thenceforward it is in thy power ever to keep for thyself the purity that thou gainest hereby through the tender mercy of our God。〃
When Theudas had been thus instructed； he went out immediately and gat him to his evil den； and took his magical books； and； because they were the beginnings of all evil； and the store… houses of devilish mysteries； burnt them with fire。 And he betook himself to the cave of that same holy man； to whom Nachor also had resorted； and told him that which had befallen him； casting dust upon his head； and groaning deeply； and watering himself with his tears； and telling the aged man the full tale of his loathly deeds。 He； well skilled in the saving of a soul and the snatching it from the jaw of the wily serpent； charmed away his sorrow with words of salvation； and pledged him forgiveness and promised him a merciful Judge。 Then； after he had instructed and charged him to fast many days； he cleansed him in Holy Baptism。 And all the days of his life Theudas heartily repented him of his misdeeds； with tears and sighs seeking the favour of God。
XXXIII。
As for the king； when things fortuned thus； he was completely bewildered； and plainly showed his sore vexation and tumult of soul。 So again he called all his senators together； and considered what means were still his to deal with his son。 Many men put forward many counsels； but that Araches； of whom we have spoken； the most famous in his office； and first of his councillors； spake unto the king； saying； 〃What was there to be done with thy son； O king； that we have not done； to induce him to follow our doctrines and serve our gods？ But； as I perceive； we aim at the impossible。 By nature； or； it may be； by chance； he is contentious and implacable。 Now； if it be thy purpose to deliver him to torture and punishment； thou shalt do contrary to nature； and be no more called a father； and thou shalt lose thy son； willing； as he is； to lay down his life for Christ his sake。 This； then； alone remaineth： to divide thy kingdom with him； and entrust him with the dominion of that part which falleth to his lot； and if the course of events； and the care of the business of life； draw him to embrace our aim and way； then the thing shall be according to our purpose； for habits； firmly established in the soul； are difficult to obliterate； and yield quicker to persuasion than to violence。 But if he shall continue in the Christian religion； yet shall it be some solace to time in thy distress； that thou hast not lost thy son。〃 Thus spake Araches； and all bare witness that they welcomed his proposal。 Therefore also the king agreed that this matter should thus be settled。 So at day…break he called his son； and said unto him； 〃This is now my latest word with thee； my son。 Unless thou be obedient thereto； and in this way heal my heart； know thou well； that I shall no longer spare thee。〃 When his son enquired the meaning of his word； he said； 〃Since； after all my labours； I find thee in all points unyielding to the persuasion of my words； come now； I will divide with thee my kingdom； and make thee king over the half…part thereof； and thou shalt be free； from now； to go whatsoever way thou wilt without fear。〃 He； though his saintly soul perceived that the king was casting yet another snare to trip his purpose； resolved to obey； in order that he might escape his hands； and take the journey that he desired。 So he answered and said； 〃I have indeed been longing to go in quest of that man of God that pointed out to me the way of salvation； and； bidding farewell to everything； to pass the rest of my life in his company。 But； father； since thou sufferest me not to fulfil my heart's desire； I will obey thee herein： for where there is no clear danger of perdition and estrangement from God； it is right to obey one's father。〃
The king was filled with exceeding great joy； and divided all the country under his sovranty into two parts； and appointed his son king； and adorned him with the diadem； and arrayed him in all the splendour of kingship； and sent him forth with a magnificent body…guard into the kingdom set apart for him。 And he bade his rulers and governors and satraps； every one that would； to depart together with his son the king。 And he set apart a mighty and populous city for his kingdom； and gave him everything that befitted a king。 Thus then did Ioasaph receive the power of kingship； and when he had reached that city； where royal state had been prepared for him； on every tower of his city he set up the sign of his Lord's passion； the venerable Cross of Christ。 And in person he besieged the idolatrous temples and altars； and razed them to the ground； and uncovered their foundations； leaving no trace of their ungodliness。
And in the middle of the city he upreared for Christ； his Lord； a temple mighty and passing fair； and he bade the people there often to resort thither； and offer their worship to God by the veneration of the Cross； himself standing in the midst in the presence of all； and earnestly giving himself unto prayer。 And as many as were under his hand he admonished and exhorted； and did everything to tear them away from superstitious error； and to unite them to Christ； and he pointed out the deceits of idolatry； and proclaimed the preaching of the Gospel； and recounted the things concerning the condescension of God； the Word； and preached the marvels of his coming； and made known his sufferings on the Cross whereby we were saved； and the power of his Resurrection； and his Ascension into heaven。 Moreover he declared the terrible day of his dreadful second coming； and the bliss laid up for the righteous； and the punishments awaiting sinners。 All these truths he expounded with kindly mien and gentle words。 For he was not minded to be reverenced and feared for the grandeur of his power and kingly magnificence； but rather for his humility and meekness。 Hereby also he more easily drew all men unto himself； being verily marvellous in his acts； and equitable and modest in spirit。 Wherefore his power； being strongly reinforced by his gentleness and equity； caused all men to yield themselves to his words。
What wonder； then； if；
