barlaam and ioasaph-第48章

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is　gentleness　and　equity；　caused　all　men　to　yield　themselves　to　his　words。

What　wonder；　then；　if；　in　a　little　while；　all　his　subjects；　in　city　or　country；　were　so　well　initiated　into　his　inspired　teachings；　that　they　renounced　the　errors　of　their　many　gods；　and　broke　away　from　idolatrous　drink…offerings　and　abominations；　and　were　joined　to　the　true　faith　and　were　created　anew　by　his　doctrine；　and　added　to　the　household　of　Christ？　　And　all；　who　for　fear　of　Ioasaph's　father　had　been　shut　up　in　mountains　and　dens；　priests　and　monks；　and　some　few　bishops；　came　forth　from　their　hiding　places　and　resorted　to　him　gladly。　　He　himself　would　meet　and　receive　with　honour　those　who　had　fallen　upon　such　tribulation　and　distress；　for　Christ　his　sake；　and　bring　them　to　his　own　palace；　washing　their　feet；　and　cleansing　their　matted　hair；　and　ministering　to　them　in　every　way。　　Then　he　dedicated　his　newly　built　church；　and　therein　appointed　for　chief…priest　one　of　the　bishops　that　had　suffered　much；　and　had　lost　his　own　see；　on　account　of　his　faith　in　Christ；　an　holy　man；　and　learned　in　the　canons　of　the　Church；　whose　heart　was　fulfilled　with　heavenly　zeal。　　And　forthwith；　when　he　had　made　ready　a　rude　font；　he　bade　baptize　them　that　were　turning　to　Christ。　　And　so　they　were　baptized；　first　the　rulers　and　the　men　in　authority；　next；　the　soldiers　on　service　and　the　rest　of　the　multitude。　　And　they　that　were　baptized　not　only　received　health　in　their　souls；　but　indeed　as　many　as　were　afflicted　with　bodily　ailments　and　imperfections　cast　off　all　their　trouble；　and　came　up　from　the　holy　font　pure　in　soul；　and　sound　in　body；　reaping　an　harvest　of　health　for　soul　and　body　alike。

Wherefore　also　from　all　quarters　multitudes　flocked　to　King　Ioasaph；　desirous　to　be　instructed　by　him　in　godliness。　　And　all　idolatrous　images　were　utterly　demolished；　and　all　their　wealth　and　temple　treasure　was　taken　from　them；　and　in　their　stead　holy　courts　were　built　for　God。　　For　these　King　Ioasaph　dedicated　the　riches　and　costly　vestments　and　treasures　of　the　idolatrous　temples；　thereby　making　this　worthless　and　superfluous　material　fit　for　service；　and　profitable。　　And　the　foul　fiends　that　dwelt　in　their　altars　and　temples　were　rigorously　chased　away　and　put　to　flight；　and　these；　in　the　hearing　of　many；　loudly　lamented　the　misfortune　that　had　overtaken　them。　　And　all　the　region　round　about　was　freed　from　their　dark　deceit；　and　illuminated　with　the　light　of　the　blameless　Christian　faith。

And；　soothly；　the　king　was　a　good　example　to　all；　and　he　inflamed　and　kindled　the　hearts　of　many　to　be　of　the　same　mind　with　himself。　　For　such　is　the　nature　of　authority。　　Its　subjects　alway　conform　to　its　likeness；　and　are　wont　to　love　the　same　objects；　and　to　practise　the　pursuits　which　they　perceive　to　be　pleasing　to　their　governor。　　Hence；　God　helping；　religion　grew　and　increased　amongst　them。　　The　king　was　wholly　dependent　on　the　commandments　of　Christ　and　on　his　love；　being　a　steward　of　the　word　of　grace；　and　pilot　to　the　souls　of　many；　bringing　them　to　safe　anchorage　in　the　haven　of　God。　　For　he　knew　that　this；　afore　all　things；　is　the　work　of　a　king；　to　teach　men　to　fear　God　and　keep　righteousness。　　Thus　did　he；　training　himself　to　be　king　over　his　own　passions；　and；　like　a　good　pilot；　keeping　a　firm　hold　of　the　helm　of　good　government　for　his　subjects。　　For　this　is　the　end　of　good　kingship；　to　be　king　and　lord　over　pleasure　　which　end　also　he　achieved。　　Of　the　nobility　of　his　ancestors；　or　the　royal　splendour　around　him；　he　was　in　no　wise　proud；　knowing　that　we　all　have　one　common　forefather；　made　of　clay；　and　that；　whether　rich　or　poor；　we　are　all　of　the　same　moulding。　　He　ever　abased　his　soul　in　deepest　humility；　and　thought　on　the　blessedness　of　the　world　to　come；　and　considered　himself　a　stranger　and　pilgrim　in　this　world；　but　realised　that　that　was　his　real　treasure　which　he　should　win　after　his　departure　hence。　Now；　since　all　went　well　with　him；　and　since　he　had　delivered　all　the　people　from　their　ancient　and　ancestral　error；　and　made　them　servants　of　him　who　redeemed　us　from　evil　servitude　by　his　own　precious　blood；　he　turned　his　thoughts　to　his　next　task；　the　virtue　of　almsgiving。　　Temperance　and　righteousness　he　had　already　attained；　he　wore　on　his　brow　the　crown　of　temperance；　and　wrapped　about　him　the　purple　of　righteousness。　　He　called　to　mind　the　uncertainty　of　earthly　riches；　how　they　resemble　the　running　of　river　waters。　　Therefore　made　he　haste　to　lay　up　his　treasure　where　neither　‘moth　nor　rust　doth　corrupt　and　where　thieves　do　not　break　through　nor　steal。'　　So　he　began　to　distribute　all　his　money　to　the　poor；　sparing　naught　thereof。　　He　knew　that　the　possessor　of　great　authority　is　bound　to　imitate　the　giver　of　that　authority；　according　to　his　ability；　and　herein　he　shall　best　imitate　God；　if　he　hold　nothing　in　higher　honour　than　mercy。　　Before　all　gold　and　precious　stone　he　stored　up　for　himself　the　treasure　of　almsgiving；　treasure；　which　here　gladdeneth　the　heart　by　the　hope　of　enjoyment　to　come；　and　there　delighteth　it　with　the　taste　of　the　hoped…for　bliss。　　After　this　he　searched　the　prisons；　and　sought　out　the　captives　in　mines；　or　debtors　in　the　grip　of　their　creditors；　and　by　generous　largesses　to　all　he　proved　a　father　to　all；　orphans；　and　widows；　and　beggars；　a　loving　and　good　father；　for　he　deemed　that　by　bestowing　blessings　on　these　he　won　a　blessing　for　himself。　　Being　endowed　with　spiritual　riches；　and；　in　sooth；　a　perfect　king；　he　gave　liberally　to　all　that　were　in　need；　for　he　hoped　to　receive　infinitely　more；　when　the　time　should　come　for　the　recompense　of　his　works。

Now；　in　little　while；　the　fame　of　Ioasaph　was　blazoned　abroad；　and　led；　as　it　were　by　the　scent　of　sweet　ointment；　all　men　flocked　to　him　daily；　casting　off　their　poverty　of　soul　and　body：　and　his　name　was　on　every　man's　lips。　　It　was　not　fear　and　oppression　that　drew　the　people　to　him；　but　desire　and　heart…felt　love；　which　by　God's　blessing　and　the　king's　fair　life　had　been　planted　in　their　hearts。

Then；　too；　did　his　father's　subjects　begin　to　come　to　him；　and；　laying　aside　all　error；　received　the　Gospel　of　truth。　　And　the　house　of　Ioasaph　grew　and　waxed　strong；　but　the　house　of　Abenner　waned　and　grew　weak；　even　as　the　Book　of　the　Kings　declareth　concerning　David　and　Saul。


XXXIV。

When　king　Abenner　saw　this；　though　late　and　loth；　he　came　to　his　senses；　and　renounced　his　false　gods　with　all　their　impotence　and　vain　deceit。　　Again　he　called　an　assembly　of　his　chief　counsellors；　and　brought　to　light　the　thoughts　of　his　heart。　　As　they　confirmed　his　words　（for　the　day…spring　from　on　high　had　visited　them；　the　Saviour　who　had　heard　the　prayer　of　his　servant　Ioasaph）；　it　pleased　the　king　to　signify　the　same　to　his　son。　Therefore　on　the　morrow　he　wrote　a　letter　to　Ioasaph；　running　thus：

〃King　Abenner　to　his　well…beloved　son　Ioasaph；　greeting。　　Dearest　son；　many　thoughts　have　been　stealing　into　my　soul；　and　rule　it　with　a　rod　of　iron。　　I　see　our　state　vanishing；　like　as　smoke　vanisheth；　but　thy　religion　shining　brighter　than　the　sun；　and　I　have　come　to　my　senses；　and　know　that　the　words　which　thou　hast　ever　spoken　unto　me　are　true；　and　that　a　thick　cloud　of　sin　and　wickedness　did　then　cover　us；　so　that　we　were　unable　to　discern　the　truth；　and　recognize　the　Creator　of　all。　　Nay；　but　we　shut　our　eyes；　and　would　not　behold　the　light　which　thou　didst　enkindle　more　brightly　for　us。　　Much　evil　did　we　do　unto　thee；　and　many　of　the　Christians；　alas！　did　we　destroy；　who；　strengthened　by　the　power　that　aided　them；　finally　triumphed　over　our　cruelty。　　But　now　we　have　removed　that　dense　mist　from　our　eyes；　and　see　some　small　ray　of　truth；　and　there　cometh　on　us　repentance　of　our　misdeeds。　　But　a　new　cloud　of　despair　would　overshadow　it；　despair　at　the　multitude　of　mine　offences；　because　I　am　now　abominable　and　unacceptable　to　Christ；　being　a　rebel　and　a　foeman　unto　him。　　What；　then；　sayest　thou；　dearest　son；　hereto？　Make　known　to　me　thine　answer；　and　teach　me　that　am　thy　father　what　I　should　do；　and　lead　me　to　the　knowledge　of　my　true　weal。〃

When　Ioasaph　had　received　this　letter；　and　read　the　words　therein；　his　soul　was　filled　with　mingled　joy　and　amazement。　Forthwith　he　entered