barlaam and ioasaph-第18节

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　So；　when　I　had　set　my　reason　on　the　unerring　way　of　the　commandments　of　the　Lord；　and　had　surely　learned　that　there　is　nothing　froward　or　perverse　therein；　and　that　it　is　not　full　of　chasms　and　rocks；　nor　of　thorns　and　thistles；　but　lieth　altogether　smooth　and　even；　rejoicing　the　eyes　of　the　traveller　with　the　brightest　sights；　making　beautiful　his　feet；　and　shoeing　them　with　‘the　preparation　of　the　Gospel　of　peace；'　that　he　may　walk　safely　and　without　delay；　this　way；　then；　I　rightly　chose　above　all　others；　and　began　to　rebuild　my　soul's　habitation；　which　had　fallen　into　ruin　and　decay。

〃In　such　wise　was　I　devising　mine　estate；　and　establishing　mine　unstable　mind；　when　I　heard　the　words　of　a　wise　teacher　calling　loudly　to　me　thus；　‘Come　ye　out；'　said　he；　‘all　ye　that　will　to　be　saved。　　Be　ye　separate　from　the　vanity　of　the　world；　for　the　fashion　thereof　quickly　passeth　away；　and　behold　it　shall　not　be。　Come　ye　out；　without　turning　back；　not　for　nothing　and　without　reward；　but　winning　supplies　for　travelling　to　life　eternal；　for　ye　are　like　to　journey　a　long　road；　needing　much　supplies　from　hence；　and　ye　shall　arrive　at　the　place　eternal　that　hath　two　regions；　wherein　are　many　mansions；　one　of　which　places　God　hath　prepared　for　them　that　love　him　and　keep　his　commandments；　full　of　all　manner　of　good　things；　and　they　that　attain　thereto　shall　live　for　ever　in　incorruption；　enjoying　immortality　without　death；　where　pain　and　sorrow　and　sighing　are　fled　away。　　But　the　other　place　is　full　of　darkness　and　tribulation　and　pain；　prepared　for　the　devil　and　his　angels；　wherein　also　shall　be　cast　they　who　by　evil　deeds　have　deserved　it；　who　have　bartered　the　incorruptible　and　eternal　for　the　present　world；　and　have　made　themselves　fuel　for　eternal　fire。'

〃When　I　heard　this　voice；　and　recognized　the　truth；　I　did　my　diligence　to　attain　to　that　abode；　that　is　free　from　all　pain　and　sorrow；　and　full　of　security　and　all　good　things；　whereof　I　have　knowledge　now　only　in　part；　being　but　a　babe　in　my　spiritual　life；　and　seeing　the　sights　yonder　as　through　mirrors　and　riddles；　but　when　that　which　is　perfect　is　come；　and　I　shall　see　face　to　face；　then　that　which　is　in　part　shall　be　done　away。　Wherefore　I　thank　God　through　Jesus　Christ　our　Lord；　for　the　law　of　the　Spirit　of　life　in　Christ　Jesus　hath　made　me　free　from　the　law　of　sin　and　of　death；　and　hath　opened　mine　eyes　to　see　clearly　that　the　will　of　the　flesh　is　death；　but　the　will　of　the　Spirit　is　life　and　peace。　　And　even　as　I　did　discern　the　vanity　of　present　things　and　hate　them　with　a　perfect　hatred；　so　likewise　I　counsel　thee　to　decide　thereon；　that　thou　mayest　treat　them　as　something　alien　and　quickly　passing　away；　and　mayest　remove　all　thy　store　from　earth　and　lay　up　for　thyself　in　the　incorruptible　world　a　treasure　that　can　not　be　stolen；　wealth　inexhaustible；　in　that　place　whither　thou　must　shortly　fare；　that　when　thou　comest　thither　thou　mayest　not　be　destitute；　but　be　laden　with　riches；　after　the　manner　of　that　aptest　of　parables　that　I　lately　showed　thee。〃


XV。

Said　Ioasaph　unto　the　elder；　〃How　then　shall　I　be　able　to　send　before　me　thither　treasures　of　money　and　riches；　that；　when　I　depart　hence；　I　may　find　these　unharmed　and　unwasted　for　my　enjoyment？　　How　must　I　show　my　hatred　for　things　present　and　lay　hold　on　things　eternal？　　This　make　thou　right　plain　unto　me。〃　Quoth　Barlaam；　〃The　sending　before　thee　of　money　to　that　eternal　home　is　wrought　by　the　hands　of　the　poor。　　For　thus　saith　one　of　the　prophets；　Daniel　the　wise；　unto　the　king　of　Babylon；　'Wherefore；　O　Prince；　let　my　counsel　be　acceptable　unto　thee；　and　redeem　thy　sins　by　almsgiving；　and　thine　iniquities　by　showing　mercy　to　the　poor。'　　The　Saviour　also　saith；　‘Make　to　yourselves　friends　of　the　mammon　of　unrighteousness；　that；　when　ye　fail；　they　may　receive　you　into　everlasting　habitations。'　　And；　in　divers　places；　the　Master　maketh　much　mention　of　almsgiving　and　liberality　to　the　poor；　as　we　learn　in　the　Gospel。　　Thus　shalt　thou　most　surely　send　all　thy　treasure　before　thee　by　the　hands　of　the　needy；　for　whatsoever　thou　shalt　do　unto　these　the　Master　counteth　done　unto　himself；　and　will　reward　thee　manifold；　for；　in　the　recompense　of　benefits；　he　ever　surpasseth　them　that　love　him。　　So　in　this　manner　by　seizing　for　awhile　the　treasures　of　the　darkness　of　this　world；　in　whose　slavery　for　a　long　time　past　thou　hast　been　miserable；　thou　shalt　by　these　means　make　good　provision　for　thy　journey；　and　by　plundering　another's　goods　thou　shalt　store　all　up　for　thyself；　with　things　fleeting　and　transient　purchasing　for　thyself　things　that　are　stable　and　enduring。　　Afterwards；　God　working　with　thee；　thou　shalt　perceive　the　uncertainty　and　inconstancy　of　the　world；　and　saying　farewell　to　all；　shalt　remove　thy　barque　to　anchor　in　the　future；　and；　passing　by　the　things　that　pass　away；　thou　shalt　hold　to　the　things　that　we　look　for；　the　things　that　abide。　　Thou　shalt　depart　from　darkness　and　the　shadow　of　death；　and　hate　the　world　and　the　ruler　of　the　world；　and；　counting　thy　perishable　flesh　thine　enemy；　thou　shalt　run　toward　the　light　that　is　unapproachable；　and　taking　the　Cross　on　thy　shoulders；　shalt　follow　Christ　without　looking　back；　that　thou　mayest　also　be　glorified　with　him；　and　be　made　inheritor　of　the　life　that　never　changeth　nor　deceiveth。〃

Ioasaph　said；　〃When　thou　spakest　a　minute　past　of　despising　all　things；　and　taking　up　such　a　life　of　toil；　was　that　an　old　tradition　handed　down　from　the　teaching　of　the　Apostles；　or　is　this　a　late　invention　of　your　wits；　which　ye　have　chosen　for　yourselves　as　a　more　excellent　way？〃

The　elder　answered　and　said；　〃I　teach　thee　no　law　introduced　but　yesterday；　God　forbid！　　but　one　given　unto　us　of　old。　　For　when　a　certain　rich　young　man　asked　the　Lord；　‘What　shall　I　do　to　inherit　eternal　life？'　and　boasted　that　he　had　observed　all　that　was　written　in　the　Law；　Jesus　said　unto　him；　‘One　thing　thou　lackest　yet。　　Go　sell　all　that　thou　hast　and　distribute　unto　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven；　and　come；　take　up　thy　cross　and　follow　me。　　But　when　the　young　man　heard　this　he　was　very　sorrowful；　for　he　was　very　rich。　　And　when　Jesus　saw　that　he　was　very　sorrowful；　he　said；　‘How　hardly　shall　they　which　have　riches　enter　into　the　kingdom　of　God！　　For　it　is　easier　for　a　camel　to　go　through　the　eye　of　a　needle；　than　for　a　rich　man　to　enter　into　the　kingdom　of　God！'　　So；　when　all　the　Saints　heard　this　command；　they　thought　fit　by　all　means　to　withdraw　from　this　hardness　of　riches。　　They　parted　with　all　their　goods；　and　by　this　distribution　of　their　riches　to　the　poor　laid　up　for　themselves　eternal　riches；　and　they　took　up　their　Cross　and　followed　Christ；　some　being　made　perfect　by　martyrdom；　even　as　I　have　already　told　thee；　and　some　by　the　practice　of　self…denial　falling　not　a　whit　short　of　those　others　in　the　life　of　the　true　philosophy。　　Know　thou；　then；　that　this　is　a　command　of　Christ　our　King　and　God；　which　leadeth　us　from　things　corruptible　and　maketh　us　partakers　of　things　everlasting。〃

Said　Ioasaph；　〃If；　then；　this　kind　of　philosophy　be　so　ancient　and　so　salutary；　how　cometh　it　that　so　few　folk　now…a…days　follow　it？〃

The　elder　answered；　〃Many　have　followed；　and　do　follow　it；　but　the　greatest　part　hesitate　and　draw　back。　　For　few；　saith　the　Lord；　are　the　travellers　along　the　strait　and　narrow　way；　but　along　the　wide　and　broad　way　many。　　For　they　that　have　once　been　taken　prisoners　by　the　love　of　money；　and　the　evils　that　come　from　the　love　of　pleasure；　and　are　given　up　to　idle　and　vain　glory；　are　hardly　to　be　torn　therefrom；　seeing　that　they　have　of　their　own　free　will　sold　themselves　as　slaves　to　a　strange　master；　and　setting　themselves　on　the　opposite　side　to　God；　who　gave　these　commands；　are　held　in　bondage　to　that　other。　　For　the　soul　that　hath　once　rejected　her　own　salvation；　and　given　the　reins　to　unreasonable　lusts；　is　carried　about　hither　and　thither。　Therefore　saith　the　prophet；　mourning　the　folly　that　encompasseth　such　souls；　and　lamenting　the　thick　darkness　that　lieth　on　them；　'O　ye　sons　of　men；　how　long　will　ye　be　of　heavy　heart？　　Why　love　ye　vanity；　and　seek　after　leasing？'　　And　in　the　same　tone　as　he；　but　adding　thereto　some　thing　of　his　own；　one　of　our　wise　teachers；　a　most　excellent　divine；　crieth　aloud　to　all；　as　from　some　exceeding　high　place　of　vantage；　‘O　ye　sons　of　men；　how　long　will　ye　be　of　heavy　heart？　　Why　love　ye　vanity　and　seek　after　leasing？　　Trow　ye　that　this　present　life；　and　luxury；　and　these　shreds　of　glory；　and　petty　lordship　and　false　prosperity　are　any　great　thing？'　　things　which　no　more　belong　to　those　that　possess　them　than　to　them　that　hope　for　them；　nor　to　these　latter　any　more　than　to　those　who　never　thought　of　them：　things　like　the　dust　carried　and　whirled　about　to　and　fro　by　the　tempest；　or　vanishing　as　the　smoke；　or　delusive　as　a　dream；　or　intangible　as　a　shadow；　which；　when　absent；　need　not　be　despaired　of　by　them　that　have　them　not；　and；　when　present；　cannot　be　trusted　by　their　owners。

〃This　then　was　the　commandment　of　the　Saviour；　this　the　preaching　of　the　Prophets　and　Apostles；　in　such　wise　do　all　the　Saints；　by　word　and　deed；　constrain　us　to　enter　the　unerring　road　of　virtue。　And　though　few　walk　therein　and　more　cho