barlaam and ioasaph-第34章

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'　　And　again　the　Psalmist　saith；　‘Thou；　Lord；　in　the　beginning　hast　laid　the　foundation　of　the　earth；　and　the　heavens　are　the　work　of　thy　hands。　　They　shall　perish；　but　thou　endurest；　and　they　all　shall　wax　old　as　doth　a　garment；　and　as　a　vesture　shalt　thou　fold　them　up；　and　they　shall　be　changed；　but　thou　art　the　same；　and　thy　years　shall　not　fail！'　　And　those　divine　preachers　of　the　coming　of　Christ；　those　wise　fishers　of　the　world；　whose　nets　drew　all　men　from　the　depths　of　deceit；　whom　thou；　in　thy　vileness　and　bondage　to　sin；　dost　vilify；　did　by　signs　and　wonders　and　manifold　powers　shine　as　the　sun　in　the　world；　giving　sight　to　the　blind；　hearing　to　the　deaf；　motion　to　the　lame；　and　life　to　the　dead。　　Their　shadows　alone　healed　all　the　ailments　of　men。　　The　devils；　whom　ye　dread　as　gods；　they　not　only　cast　forth　from　men's　bodies；　but　even　drave　out　of　the　world　itself　by　the　sign　of　the　cross；　whereby　they　destroyed　all　sorcery；　and　rendered　witchcraft　powerless。　　And　these　men；　by　curing　every　disease　of　man　by　the　power　of　Christ；　and　renewing　all　creation；　are　rightly　admired　as　preachers　of　truth　by　all　men　of　sound　mind。　　But　what　hast　thou　thyself　to　say　of　thy　wise　men　and　orators；　whose　wisdom　God　hath　made　foolish；　the　advocates　of　the　devil？　　What　worthy　memorial　have　they　bequeathed　to　the　world？　　Tell　me。　　And　what　canst　thou　tell　of　them　but　unreason　and　shamefulness；　and　vain　craft　that　with　glosing　words　concealeth　the　mire　of　their　unsavoury　worship？

〃Moreover　such　of　your　poets　as　have　been　able　to　soar　a　little　above　this　great　madness　have　said；　with　more　truth；　that　they；　which　are　called　gods；　were　men；　and　because　certain　of　them　had　been　rulers　of　regions　and　cities；　and　others　had　done　something　of　no　great　account　in　their　lifetime；　men　were　so　deceived　as　to　call　them　gods。　　It　standeth　on　record　that　the　man　Seruch　was　the　first　to　bring　in　the　use　of　images。　　For　it　is　said　that　in　the　old　times　he　honoured　those　who　had　achieved　some　memorable　deed　of　courage；　friendship；　or　any　other　such　virtue　with　statues　and　pillars。　　But　after　generations　forgat　the　intention　of　their　ancestors：　and；　whereas　it　was　only　for　remembrance　sake　that　they　had　set　up　statues　and　pillars　to　the　doers　of　noble　deeds；　now　they　were；　little　by　little；　led　astray　through　the　working　of　the　prince　of　evil；　the　devil；　and　treated　as　immortal　gods　men　of　like　passions　and　corruptible　as　themselves　and　further　devised　sacrifices　and　drink…offerings　for　them；　　the　devils；　thou　mayest　know；　taking　up　their　abode　in　these　images　and　diverting　to　themselves　these　honours　and　sacrifices。　Accordingly　these　devils　persuade　men；　who　refuse　to　have　God　in　their　knowledge；　to　consider　them　as　gods　for　two　reasons：　first；　that　they　may　be　glorified　by　this　title　（for　they　are　puffed　up　with　arrogance；　and　delight　to　be　honoured　as　gods）　next；　that　they　may　drag　their　poor　dupes　into　the　unquenchable　fire　prepared　for　themselves。　　Hence　they　teach　men　all　iniquity　and　filthiness；　seeing　that　they　have　once　subjected　themselves　to　their　deceit。　　So　when　men　had　arrived　at　this　pinnacle　of　evil；　they；　being　darkened；　set　up　every　man　an　idol　of　his　own　vice　and　his　own　lust；　and　call　it　a　god。　　They　were　abominable　in　their　error；　more　abominable　in　the　absurdity　of　the　objects　that　they　chose　to　worship；　until　the　Lord　came；　and　of　his　tender　mercy　redeemed　us　that　trust　in　him　from　this　wicked　and　deadly　error；　and　taught　men　the　true　knowledge　of　God。　　For　there　is　no　salvation　except　in　him；　and　there　is　none　other　God；　neither　in　heaven；　nor　in　earth；　except　him　only；　the　Maker　of　all；　who　moveth　all　things　by　the　word　of　his　power：　for　he　saith；　‘By　the　word　of　the　Lord　were　the　heavens　made　stedfast；　and　all　the　power　of　them　by　the　breath　of　his　mouth；'　and；　‘All　things　were　made　by　him；　and　without　him　was　not　anything　made　that　was　made。'〃

When　Theudas　had　heard　these　sayings；　and　seen　that　the　word　was　full　of　divine　wisdom；　like　one　thunder…struck；　he　was　smitten　dumb。　　Now　late　in　time；　and　with　difficulty；　came　he　to　understand　his　own　misery；　for　the　word　of　salvation　had　touched　the　darkened　vision　of　his　heart；　and　there　fell　upon　him　deep　remorse　for　his　past　sins。　　He　renounced　the　error　of　his　idols；　and　ran　towards　the　light　of　godliness；　and　from　henceforth　departed　from　his　miserable　life；　and　made　himself　as　bitter　an　enemy　of　vile　affections　and　sorceries　as　he　before　had　pledged　himself　their　devoted　friend；　For　at　this　season　he　stood　up　in　the　midst　of　the　assembly；　and　cried　with　a　loud　voice；　saying；　〃Verily；　O　king；　the　Spirit　of　God　dwelleth　in　thy　son。　　Verily；　we　are　defeated；　and　have　no　further　apology；　and　have　no　strength　to　face　the　words　that　he　hath　uttered。　　Mighty　therefore；　in　sooth；　is　the　God　of　the　Christians：　mighty　is　their　faith：　mighty　are　their　mysteries。〃

Then　he　turned　him　round　toward　the　king's　son　and　said；　〃Tell　me　now；　thou　man；　whose　soul　is　enlightened；　will　Christ　accept　me；　if　I　forsake　my　evil　deeds　and　turn　to　him？〃　　〃Yea；〃　said　that　preacher　of　truth；　〃Yea；　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