barlaam and ioasaph-第50章

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；　who；　together　with　the　Father　and　Holy　Ghost；　is　glorified。〃

Waxen　full　of　heavenly　zeal；　King　Abenner　made　a　sturdy　assault　on　the　idols；　wrought　of　silver　and　gold；　that　were　within　his　palace；　and　tore　them　down　to　the　ground。　　Then　he　brake　them　into　small　pieces；　and　distributed　them　to　the　poor；　thus　making　that　which　had　been　useless　useful。　　Furthermore　he　and　his　son　besieged　the　idols'　temples　and　altars　and　levelled　them　even　to　the　ground；　and　in　their　stead；　and　to　the　honour　of　God；　built　holy　courts。　　And　not　only　in　the　city　but　throughout　all　the　country　also；　thus　did　they　in　their　zeal。　　And　the　evil　spirits　that　dwelt　in　those　altars　were　driven　forth　with　shrieks；　and　cried　out　in　terror　at　the　invincible　power　of　our　God。　　And　all　the　region　round　about；　and　the　greater　part　of　the　neighbour　nations；　were　led；　as　by　the　hand；　to　the　true　Faith。　　Then　came　the　holy　Bishop；　of　whom　we　have　spoken；　and　King　Abenner　was　instructed；　and　made　perfect　with　Holy　Baptism；　in　the　name　of　the　Father；　and　of　the　Son；　and　of　the　Holy　Ghost。　　And　Ioasaph　received　him　as　he　came　up　from　the　Holy　Font；　in　this　strange　way　appearing　as　the　begetter　of　his　own　father；　and　proving　the　spiritual　father　to　him　that　begat　him　in　the　flesh：　for　he　was　the　son　of　his　heavenly　Father；　and　verily　divine　fruit　of　that　divine　Branch；　which　saith；　〃I　am　the　vine；　ye　are　the　branches。〃

Thus　King　Abenner；　being　born　again　of　water　and　of　the　spirit；　rejoiced　with　joy　unspeakable；　and　with　him　all　the　city　and　the　region　round　about　received　Holy　Baptism；　and　they　that　were　before　darkness　now　became　children　of　light。　　And　every　disease；　and　every　assault　of　evil　spirits　was　driven　far　from　the　believers；　and　all　were　sane　and　sound　in　body　and　in　soul。　　And　many　other　miracles　were　wrought　for　the　confirmation　of　the　Faith。　　Churches　too　were　built；　and　the　bishops；　that　had　been　hiding　for　fear；　discovered　themselves；　and　received　again　their　own　churches；　whilst　others　were　chosen　from　the　priests　and　monks；　to　shepherd　the　flock　of　Christ。　　But　King　Abenner；　having　thus　forsaken　his　former　disgraceful　life；　and　repented　of　his　evil　deeds；　handed　over　to　his　son　the　rule　of　all　his　kingdom。　He　himself　dwelt　in　solitude；　continually　casting　dust　on　his　head；　and　groaning　for　very　heaviness；　and　watering　his　face　with　his　tears；　being　alone；　communing　with　him　who　is　everywhere　present　and　imploring　him　to　forgive　his　sins。　　And　he　abased　himself　to　such　a　depth　of　contrition　and　humility；　that　he　refused　to　name　the　name　of　God　with　his　own　lips；　and　was　scarce　brought　by　his　son's　admonitions　to　make　so　bold。　　Thus　the　king　passed　through　the　good　change　and　entered　the　road　that　leadeth　to　virtue；　so　that　his　righteousness　now　surpassed　his　former　sins　of　ignorance。　　For　four　years　did　he　live　thus　in　repentance　and　tears　and　virtuous　acts；　and　then　fell　into　the　sickness　whereof　he　died。　　But　when　the　end　drew　nigh；　he　began　to　fear　and　to　be　dismayed；　calling　to　remembrance　the　evil　that　he　had　wrought。　　But　with　comfortable　words　Ioasaph　sought　to　ease　the　distress　that　had　fallen　on　him；　saying；　〃Why　art　thou　so　full　of　heaviness；　O　my　father；　and　wily　art　thou　so　disquieted　within　time？　　Set　thy　hope　on　God；　and　give　him　thanks；　who　is　the　hope　of　all　the　ends　of　the　earth；　and　of　them　that　remain　in　the　sea　afar；　who　crieth　by　the　mouth　of　his　prophet；　‘Wash　you；　make　you　clean：　put　away　from　before　mine　eyes　the　wickedness　of　your　souls；　learn　to　do　well'；　and　‘Though　your　sins　be　as　scarlet；　I　will　make　them　white　as　snow；　though　they　be　red　like　crimson；　I　will　make　them　as　wool。'　　Fear　not；　therefore；　O　my　father；　neither　be　of　doubtful　mind：　for　the　sins　of　them　that　turn　to　God　prevail　not　against　his　infinite　goodness。　　For　these；　however　many；　are　subject　to　measure　and　number：　but　measure　and　number　cannot　limit　his　goodness。　　It　is　impossible　then　for　that　which　is　subject　to　measure　to　exceed　the　unmeasurable。〃

With　such　comfortable　words　did　Ioasaph　cheer　his　soul；　and　bring　him　to　a　good　courage。　　Then　his　father　stretched　out　his　hands；　and　gave　him　thanks　and　prayed　for　him；　blessing　the　day　whereon　Ioasaph　was　born；　and　said　〃Dearest　child；　yet　not　child　of　me；　but　of　mine　heavenly　Father；　with　what　gratitude　can　I　repay　thee？　　With　what　words　of　blessings　may　I　bless　thee？　　What　thanks　shall　I　offer　God　for　thee？　　I　was　lost；　and　was　found　through　thee：　I　was　dead　in　sin　and　am　alive　again：　an　enemy；　and　rebel　against　God；　and　am　reconciled　with　him。　　What　reward　therefore　shall　I　give　thee　for　all　these　benefits？　　God　is　he　that　shall　make　the　due　recompense。〃　　Thus　saying；　he　pressed　many　kisses　on　his　beloved　son；　then；　when　he　had　prayed；　and　said；　〃Into　thy　hands；　O　God；　thou　lover　of　men；　do　I　commit　my　spirit；〃　he　committed　his　soul　unto　the　Lord　in　penitence　and　peace。

Now；　when　Ioasaph　had　honoured　with　his　tears　his　father　that　was　dead；　and　had　reverently　cared　for　his　body；　he　buried　him　in　a　sepulchre　wherein　devout　men　lay；　not　indeed　clad　in　royal　raiment；　but　robed　in　the　garment　of　penitence。　　Standing　on　the　sepulchre；　and　lifting　up　his　hands　to　heaven；　the　tears　streaming　in　floods　from　his　eyes；　he　cried　aloud　unto　God　saying；

〃O　God；　I　thank　thee；　King　of　glory；　alone　mighty　and　immortal；　that　thou　hast　not　despised　my　petition；　and　hast　not　held　thy　peace　at　my　tears；　but　hast　been　pleased　to　turn　this　thy　servant；　my　father；　from　the　way　of　wickedness；　and　to　draw　him　to　thyself；　the　Saviour　of　all；　departing　him　from　the　deceitfulness　of　idolatry；　and　granting　him　to　acknowledge　thee；　who　art　the　very　God　and　lover　of　souls。　　And　now；　O　my　Lord　and　God；　whose　ocean　of　goodness　is　uncharted；　set　him　in　that　place　where　much　grass　is；　in　a　place　of　refreshment；　where　shineth　the　light　of　thy　countenance。　　Remember　not　his　old　offences；　but；　according　to　the　multitude　of　thy　mercies；　blot　out　the　hand…　writing　of　his　sins；　and　destroy　the　tablets　of　his　debts；　and　set　him　at　peace　with　thy　Saints　whom　he　slew　with　fire　and　sword。　　Charge　them　not　to　be　bitter　against　him。　　For　all　things　are　possible　with　thee；　the　Lord　of　all；　save　only　to　withhold　pity　from　them　that　turn　not　unto　thee；　this　is　impossible。　　For　thy　pity　is　poured　out　upon　all　men；　and　thou　savest　them　that　call　upon　thee；　Lord　Jesu　Christ；　because　glory　becometh　thee　for　ever　and　ever。　　Amen。〃

Such　were　the　prayers　and　intercessions　that　he　made　unto　God；　by　the　space　of　seven　full　days；　never　leaving　the　grave；　and　never　thinking　of　meat　or　drink；　and　taking　no　refreshment　of　sleep：　but　he　watered　the　ground　with　his　tears；　and　continued　praying　and　moaning　unceasingly。　　But；　on　the　eighth　day；　he　went　back　to　his　palace　and　distributed　amongst　the　poor　all　his　wealth　and　riches；　so　that　not　one　person　was　left　in　want。


XXXVI。

In　a　few　days；　after　he　had　ended　this　ministry；　and　emptied　all　his　coffers；　in　order　that　the　burden　of　his　money　might　not　hinder　him　from　entering　in　at　the　narrow　gate；　on　the　fortieth　day　after　his　father's　decease；　and　in　remembrance　of　him；　he　called　together　all　his　officers；　and　those　who　wore　soldiers'　attire；　and　of　the　citizens　not　a　few。　　Sitting　in　the　front；　according　to　custom；　in　the　audience　of　all　he　said；　〃Lo；　as　ye　see；　Abenner；　my　father　the　king；　hath　died　like　any　beggar。　Neither　wealth　nor　kingly　glory；　nor　I　his　loving　son；　nor　any　of　his　kith　and　kindred；　has　availed　to　help　him；　or　to　save　him　from　the　sentence　without　reprieve。　　But　he　is　gone　to　yonder　judgement　seat；　to　give　account　of　his　life　in　this　world；　carrying　with　him　no　advocate　whatsoever；　except　his　deeds；　good　or　bad。　　And　the　same　law　is　ordained　by　nature　for　every　man　born　of　woman；　and　there　is　no　escape。　　Now；　therefore；　hearken　unto　me；　friends　and　brethren；　people　and　holy　heritage　of　the　Lord；　whom　Christ　our　God　hath　purchased　with　his　own　precious　blood；　and　delivered　from　the　ancient　error；　and　bondage　of　the　adversary。　　Ye　yourselves　know　my　manner　of　life　among　you；　that　ever　since　I　knew　Christ；　and　was　counted　worthy　to　become　his　servant；　I　have　hated　all　things；　and　loved　him　only；　and　how　this　was　my　desire；　to　escape　from　the　tempest　and　vain　tumult　of　the　world；