barlaam and ioasaph-第8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！
out of earth； when severed from the soul； returneth to earth from whence also it was taken； and； decaying； perisheth； but the soul； being immortal； fareth whither her Maker calleth； or rather to the place where she； while still in the body； hath prepared for herself lodgement。 For as a man hath lived here； so shall he receive reward there。
〃Then； after long seasons； Christ our God shall come to judge the world in awful glory； beyond words to tell； and for fear of him the powers of heaven shall be shaken； and all the angel hosts stand beside him in dread。 Then； at the voice of the archangel； and at the trump of God； shall the dead arise and stand before his awful throne。 Now the Resurrection is the re…uniting of soul and body。 So that very body； which decayeth and perisheth； shall arise incorruptible。 And concerning this； beware lest the reasoning of unbelief overtake thee； for it is not impossible for him； who at the beginning formed the body out of earth； when according to its Maker's doom it hath returned to earth whence it was taken； to raise the same again。 If thou wilt but consider how many things God hath made out of nothing； this proof shall suffice thee。 He took earth and made man； though earth was not man before。 How then did earth become man？ And how was earth； that did not exist； produced？ And what foundation hath it？ And how were countless kind of things without reason； of seeds and plants； produced out of it！ Nay； now also consider the manner of our birth。 Is not a little seed thrown into the womb that receiveth it？ Whence then cometh such a marvellous fashioning of a living creature？
〃So for him； who hath made everything out of nothing； and still doth make； it is not impossible to raise deadened and corrupt bodies from the earth； that every man may be rewarded according to his works； for he saith； ‘The present is the time for work； the future for recompense。' Else； where were the justice of God； if there were no Resurrection？ Many righteous men in this present life have suffered much ill…usage and torment； and have died violent deaths； and the impious and the law…breaker hath spent his days here in luxury and prosperity。 But God； who is good and just； hath appointed a day of resurrection and inquisition； that each soul may receive her own body； and that the wicked； who received his good things here； may there be punished for his misdeeds； and that the good； who was here chastised for his misdeeds； may there inherit his bliss。 For； saith the Lord； ‘They that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God； and shall come forth； they that have done good unto the resurrection of life； and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of doom。' Then also shall thrones be set； and the Ancient of days and Maker of all things shall sit as Judge； and there shall be opened books with records of the deeds and words and thoughts of all of us； and a fiery stream shall issue； and all hidden things shall be revealed。 There can no advocate； no persuasive words； no false excuse； no mightiness of riches； no pomp of rank； no lavishment of bribes； avail to pervert righteous judgement。 For he； the uncorrupt and truthful Judge； shall weigh everything in the balance of justice； every act； word and thought。 And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting； into light unspeakable； rejoicing in the fellowship of the Angels； to enjoy bliss ineffable； standing in purity before the Holy Trinity。 But they that have done evil； and all the ungodly and sinners； shall go into everlasting punishment； which is called Gehenna； and outer darkness； and the worm that dieth not； and the gnashing of teeth； and a thousand other names of punishment； which meaneth rather bitterest of all； alienation from God； the being cast away from the sweetness of his presence； the being deprived of that glory which baffleth description； the being made a spectacle unto the whole creation； and the being put to shame； and shame that hath no ending。 For； after the passing of that terrible sentence； all things shall abide immutable and unchangeable。 The blissful life of the righteous shall have no close； neither shall the misery and punishment of sinners find an end： because； after him； there is no higher Judge； and no defence by after…works； no time for amendment； no other way for them that are punished； their vengeance being co…eternal with them。
〃Seeing that this is so； what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness； that we may be counted worthy to escape the wrath to come； and to be ranged on the right hand of the Son of God？ For this is the station of the righteous： but to sinners is allotted the station of misery on the left。 Then shall the Lord call the righteous ‘Blessed；' and shall lead them into his everlasting kingdom。 But； as for sinners； with anger and curse he will banish them from his serene and gentle countenance the bitterest and hardest lot of all and will send them away into everlasting punishment。〃
IX。
Ioasaph said unto him； 〃Great and marvellous； sir； are the things whereof thou tellest me； fearful and terrible； if indeed these things be so； and； if there be after death and dissolution into dust and ashes； a resurrection and re…birth； and rewards and punishments for the deeds done during life。 But what is the proof thereof？ And how have ye come to learn that which ye have not seen； that ye have so steadfastly and undoubtingly believed it？ As for things that have already been done and made manifest in deed； though ye saw them not； yet have ye heard them from the writers of history。 But； when it is of the future that ye preach tidings of such vast import； how have ye made your conviction on these matters sure？〃
Quoth Barlaam； 〃From the past I gain certainty about the future； for they that preached the Gospel； without erring from the truth； but establishing their sayings by signs and wonders and divers miracles； themselves also spake of the future。 So； as in the one case they taught us nothing amiss or false； but made all that they said and did to shine clearer than the sun； so also in the other matter they gave us true doctrine； even that which our Lord and Master Jesus Christ himself confirmed both by word and deed。 'Verily；' he spake； ‘I say unto you； the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live：' and again； ‘The hour cometh when the dead shall hear his voice； and shall come forth； they that have done good unto the resurrection of life； and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation。' And again he said concerning the resurrection of the dead； ‘Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God； saying； I am the God of Abraham； and the God of Isaac； and the God of Jacob。 God is not the God of the dead but of the living。' ‘For as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire； so shall it be in the end of this age。 The Son of God shall send forth his Angels； and they shall gather all things that offend； and them which do iniquity； and shall cast them into the furnace of fire； there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth。 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father。' Thus spake he and added this thereto； ‘Who hath ears to hear； let him hear。'
〃In such words and many more did the Lord make manifest the resurrection of our bodies； and confirm his words in deed； by raising many that were dead。 And； toward the end of his life upon earth； he called from the grave one Lazarus his friend； that had already been four days dead and stank； and thus he restored the lifeless to life。 Moreover； the Lord himself became the first…fruits of that resurrection which is final and no longer subject unto death； after he had in the flesh tasted of death； and on the third day he rose again； and became the first…born from the dead。 For other men also were raised from the dead； but died once more； and might not yet attain to the likeness of the future true resurrection。 But he alone was the leader of that resurrection； the first to be raised to the resurrection immortal。
〃This was the preaching also of them that from the beginning were eye…witnesses and ministers of the word； for thus saith blessed Paul； whose calling was not of men； but from heaven； ‘Brethren； I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you。 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received； how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures。 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead； how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead？ For if the dead rise not； then is not Christ raised。 And if Christ be not raised； your faith is vain； ye are yet in your sins。 If in this life only we have hope in Christ； we are of all men most miserable。 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first…fruits of them that slept。 For since by man came death； by man came also the resurrection of the dead。 For as in Adam all die； even so in Christ shall all be made alive。' And after a little while； ‘For this corruptible must put on incorruption； and this mortal must put on immortality。 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption； and this mortal shall have put on immortality； then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written； Death is swallowed up in victory。 O death where is thy sting？ O grave； where is thy victory？' For then the power of death is utterly annulled and destroyed； no longer working in us； but for the future there is given unto men immortality and incorruption for evermore。
〃Beyond all question； therefore； there shall be a resurrection of the dead； and this we believe undoubtingly。 Moreover we know that there shall be rewards and punishments for the deeds done in our life…time； on the dreadful day of Christ's coming； ‘wherein the heavens shall be dissolved in fire and the elements shall melt with fervent heat；' as saith one of the inspired clerks of God； ‘nevertheless we； according to his promise； look for new heavens and a new earth。' For that there shall be rewards and punishments for men's works； and that absolutely nothing； good or bad； shall be overlooked； but that there is reserved a requital for words； deeds and thoughts； is plain。 The Lord saith； 'Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only； in the name of a disciple； he shall in no wise lose his reward。' And again he saith； ‘When the Son of man shall come in his glory； and all the holy Angels with him； then before him shall be gathered all nations； and he shall separate them one from another； as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats。 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand； but the goats on the left。 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand； ‘Come ye blessed of my Father； inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world。 For I was an hungred； and ye gave me meat： I was thirsty； and ye gave me drink： I was a stranger； and ye took me in： naked； and ye clothed me： I was sick； and ye visited me： I was in prison； and ye came unto me。' Wherefore saith he this； except he count the kind acts we do unto the needy as done unto himself？ An
