barlaam and ioasaph-第48节
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； saying； 〃Welcome art thou； son well beloved son of God； and inheritor of the heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord； whom thou lovest； whom thou rightly desirest above the things that are temporal and corruptible！ Like a prudent and wise merchant； thou hast sold all； and bought the pearl that is beyond price； and hast found the treasure that cannot be stolen； hidden in the field of the commandments of the Lord； thou hast parted with all； and spared naught of the things that so soon pass away； that thou mightest purchase that field for thyself。 The Lord give thee the eternal for the temporal； the things that are incorruptible and wax not old for the corruptible！
〃But tell me； dearly beloved； how thou camest hither？ How did thy matters speed after my departure？ And hath thy father learned to know God； or is he still carried away with his former foolishness； still under the bondage of devilish deceits？ 〃
Thus questioned Barlaam； and Ioasaph answered； telling him piece by piece all that had befallen him since he went away； and in how many ways the Lord had prospered him； until they were come together again。
The old man listened with pleasure and amazement； and with hot tears said； 〃Glory to thee； our God； that ever standest by and succourest them that love thee！ Glory to thee； O Christ； King of all and God all…good； that it was thy pleasure that the seed； which I sowed in the heart of Ioasaph； thy servant； should thus bring forth fruit an hundredfold worthy of the husbandman and Master of our souls！ Glory to thee； good Paraclete； the all…holy Spirit； because thou didst vouchsafe unto this man to partake of that grace which thou gavest thine holy Apostles； and by his hand hast delivered multitudes of people from superstitious error； and enlightened them with the true knowledge of God！〃
Thus was God blessed by both； and thus were they conversing and rejoicing in the grace of God until evenfall。 Then stood they up for to pray and to perform the sacred services。 Then also remembered they that it was meal…time； and Barlaam spread his lavish table； laden with spiritual dainties； but with little to attract the palate of sense。 These were uncooked worts； and a few dates； planted and tended by Barlaam's own hands； such as are found in the same desert； and wild herbs。 So they gave thanks and partook of the victuals set before them； and drank water from the neighbour springing well； and again gave thanks to God； who openeth his hand and filleth all things living。 Then they arose again； and； when they had ended their Night Hours； after prayer； they joined in spiritual converse again； discoursing wholesome words； and full of heavenly wisdom； all the night long until day… break bade them once more remember the hour of prayer。
So Ioasaph abode with Barlaam for some many years； pursuing this marvellous and more than human life； dwelling with him as with a father and tutor； in all obedience and lowliness； exercising himself in every kind of virtue； and learning well from practice how to wrestle with the invisible spirits of evil。 From that time forward he mortified all his sinful passions； and made the will of the flesh as subject to the spirit as slave is to his master。 He was altogether forgetful of comforts or repose； and tyrannized over sleep as over a wicked servant。 And； in brief； such was his practice of the religious life； that Barlaam； who had spent many years therein； marvelled at him； and failed to equal the earnestness of his life。 For he took only so much of that coarse and cheerless food as would keep him alive； else had he died afore his time； and forfeited the reward of his well… doing。 He subdued himself to watchings； as though he were without flesh and body。 In prayer and mental exercise his work was unceasing； and all the time of his life was spent in spiritual and heavenly contemplation； so that not an hour； nor even a single moment was wasted； from the day that he came to dwell in the desert。 For this is the end of monastic life； never to be found idle in spiritual employment： and well herein did this noble and active runner of the heavenly race order his way。 And he kept his ardour unquenched from beginning to end； ever ascending in his heart； and going from strength to strength； and continually adding desire to desire； and zeal to zeal； until he arrived at the bliss that he had hoped and longed for。
XXXIX。
Thus did Barlaam and Ioasaph dwell together； rivals in the good rivalry； apart from all anxious care and all the turmoils of life； possessing their minds undisturbed and clear of all confusion。 After their many labours after godliness； one day Barlaam called to him his spiritual son； whom he had begotten through the Gospel； and opened his mouth to discourse of spiritual things； saying； 〃Long ago； dearly beloved Ioasaph； was it destined that thou shouldest dwell in this wilderness； and； in answer to my prayer for thee； Christ promised me that I should see it before the ending of my life。 I have seen my desire： I have seen thee severed from the world and the concerns of the world； united to Christ； thy mind never wavering； and come to the measure of the perfection of his fulness。 Now therefore as the time of my departure is at the door； and seeing that my desire； that hath grown with my growth and aged with my years； to be for ever with Christ； is even now being fulfilled； thou must bury my body in the earth and restore dust to dust； but thyself abide for the time to come in this place； holding fast to thy spiritual life； and making remembrance of me； poor as I am。 For I fear lest perchance the darksome army of fiends may stand in the way of my soul； by reason of the multitude of mine ignorances。
〃So do thou； my son； think no scorn of the laboriousness of thy religious life； neither dread the length of the time； nor the tricks of devils。 But； strong in the grace of Christ； confidently laugh at the weakness of these thy foes； and； as for the hardness of thy toils； and the long duration of the time； be as one that daily expecteth his departure hence； and as if the same day were the beginning and the end of thy religious life。 Thus； always forgetting the things which are behind； and reaching forth unto those things which are before； press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus； according to the exhortation of the holy Apostle； who saith； ‘Let us not faint； but though our outward man perish； yet the inward man is renewed day by day。 For our light affliction； which is but for a moment； worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory； while we look not at the things which are seen； but at the things which are not seen： for the things which are seen are temporal； but the things which are not seen are eternal。〃
〃Ponder thou over these things； beloved： quit thee like a man； yea； be strong； and； as a good soldier； do thy diligence to please him who hath called thee to be a soldier。 And； even if the evil one stir in thee thoughts of neglecting duty； and thou art minded to slacken the string of thy purpose； fear not his devices； but remember the Lord's command； which saith； ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation； but be of good cheer； I have overcome the world。' Wherefore； rejoice in the Lord alway； for he hath chosen and separated thee out of the world； and set thee； as it were before his countenance。 The Master； who hath called thee with a holy calling； is alway near。 Be careful for nothing； but in everything； by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let thy requests be made known unto God。 For he himself hath said； 〃I will never leave thee； nor forsake thee。〃 So； by the hardness of thy life； and by scorn of its rigours； win such thoughts as these； and rejoice； remembering our Lord God； for he saith； ‘I remembered God and was glad。'
〃But when the adversary； seeking another fashion of war； proposeth high and arrogant thoughts； and suggesteth the glory of the kingdom of this world； which thou hast forsaken； and all its lures； hold out； as a shield before thee； the saving word that saith； ‘When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you； say； 〃We are unprofitable servants； for we have done that which was our duty to do。〃' And； indeed； which of us is able to repay the debt that we owe our Master； for that he； though he was rich； yet for our sakes became poor； that we through his poverty might become rich； and； being without suffering； yet suffered； that we might be delivered from suffering？ What thanks hath the servant if he suffer like as his Master？ But we fall far short of his sufferings。 Meditate upon these things； casting down imaginations； and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God； and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ。 And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep thy heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus。〃
When blessed Barlaam had so said； Ioasaph's tears knew no measure； but； like water from the brimming fountain； bedewed him and the ground whereon he sat。 He mourned over the parting； and earnestly implored that he might be his companion on his last journey； and might remain no longer in this world after Barlaam's decease
