barlaam and ioasaph-第10节
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l 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？ And in another place he saith； ‘Whosoever shall confess me before men； him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven。'
〃Lo； by all these examples and many more he proveth that the rewards of good works are certain and sure。 Further； that punishments are in store for the bad； he foretold by parables strange and wonderful； which he； the Well of Wisdom most wisely put forth。 At one time he brought into his tale a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen； and fared sumptuously every day； but who was so niggardly and pitiless toward the destitute as to overlook a certain beggar named Lazarus laid at his gate； and not even to give him of the crumbs from his table。 So when one and other were dead； the poor man； full of sores； was carried away； he saith； into Abraham's bosom； for thus he describeth the habitation of the righteous but the rich man was delivered to the fire of bitter torment in hell。 To him said Abraham； ‘Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things； and likewise Lazarus his evil things； but now he is comforted； and thou art tormented。〃
〃And otherwhere he likeneth the kingdom of heaven to a certain king which made a marriage…feast for his son and thereby he declared future happiness and splendour。 For as he was wont to speak to humble and earthly minded men； he would draw his parables from homely and familiar things。 Not that he meant that marriages and feasts exist in that world； but in condescension to men's grossness； he employed these names when he would make known to them the future。 So； as he telleth； the king with high proclamation called all to come to the marriage to take their fill of his wondrous store of good things。 But many of them that were bidden made light of it and came not； and busied themselves： some went to their farms； some to their merchandize； and others to their newly wedded wives； and thus deprived themselves of the splendour of the bride chamber。 Now when these had； of their own choice； absented themselves from this joyous merrime
