barlaam and ioasaph-第43部分

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es　of　the　idolatrous　temples；　thereby　making　this　worthless　and　superfluous　material　fit　for　service；　and　profitable。　　And　the　foul　fiends　that　dwelt　in　their　altars　and　temples　were　rigorously　chased　away　and　put　to　flight；　and　these；　in　the　hearing　of　many；　loudly　lamented　the　misfortune　that　had　overtaken　them。　　And　all　the　region　round　about　was　freed　from　their　dark　deceit；　and　illuminated　with　the　light　of　the　blameless　Christian　faith。

And；　soothly；　the　king　was　a　good　example　to　all；　and　he　inflamed　and　kindled　the　hearts　of　many　to　be　of　the　same　mind　with　himself。　　For　such　is　the　nature　of　authority。　　Its　subjects　alway　conform　to　its　likeness；　and　are　wont　to　love　the　same　objects；　and　to　practise　the　pursuits　which　they　perceive　to　be　pleasing　to　their　governor。　　Hence；　God　helping；　religion　grew　and　increased　amongst　them。　　The　king　was　wholly　dependent　on　the　commandments　of　Christ　and　on　his　love；　being　a　steward　of　the　word　of　grace；　and　pilot　to　the　souls　of　many；　bringing　them　to　safe　anchorage　in　the　haven　of　God。　　For　he　knew　that　this；　afore　all　things；　is　the　work　of　a　king；　to　teach　men　to　fear　God　and　keep　righteousness。　　Thus　did　he；　training　himself　to　be　king　over　his　own　passions；　and；　like　a　good　pilot；　keeping　a　firm　hold　of　the　helm　of　good　government　for　his　subjects。　　For　this　is　the　end　of　good　kingship；　to　be　king　and　lord　over　pleasure　　which　end　also　he　achieved。　　Of　the　nobility　of　his　ancestors；　or　the　royal　splendour　around　him；　he　was　in　no　wise　proud；　knowing　that　we　all　have　one　common　forefather；　made　of　clay；　and　that；　whether　rich　or　poor；　we　are　all　of　the　same　moulding。　　He　ever　abased　his　soul　in　deepest　humility；　and　thought　on　the　blessedness　of　the　world　to　come；　and　considered　himself　a　stranger　and　pilgrim　in　this　world；　but　realised　that　that　was　his　real　treasure　which　he　should　win　after　his　departure　hence。　Now；　since　all　went　well　with　him；　and　since　he　had　delivered　all　the　people　from　their　ancient　and　ancestral　error；　and　made　them　servants　of　him　who　redeemed　us　from　evil　servitude　by　his　own　precious　blood；　he　turned　his　thoughts　to　his　next　task；　the　virtue　of　almsgiving。　　Temperance　and　righteousness　he　had　already　attained；　he　wore　on　his　brow　the　crown　of　temperance；　and　wrapped　about　him　the　purple　of　righteousness。　　He　called　to　mind　the　uncertainty　of　earthly　riches；　how　they　resemble　the　running　of　river　waters。　　Therefore　made　he　haste　to　lay　up　his　treasure　where　neither　‘moth　nor　rust　doth　corrupt　and　where　thieves　do　not　break　through　nor　steal。'　　So　he　began　to　distribute　all　his　money　to　the　poor；　sparing　naught　thereof。　　He　knew　that　the　possessor　of　great　authority　is　bound　to　imitate　the　giver　of　that　authority；　according　to　his　ability；　and　herein　he　shall　best　imitate　God；　if　he　hold　nothing　in　higher　honour　than　mercy。　　Before　all　gold　and　precious　stone　he　stored　up　for　himself　the　treasure　of　almsgiving；　treasure；　which　here　gladdeneth　the　heart　by　the　hope　of　enjoyment　to　come；　and　there　delighteth　it　with　the　taste　of　the　hoped…for　bliss。　　After　this　he　searched　the　prisons；　and　sought　out　the　captives　in　mines；　or　debtors　in　the　grip　of　their　creditors；　and　by　generous　largesses　to　all　he　proved　a　father　to　all；　orphans；　and　widows；　and　beggars；　a　loving　and　good　father；　for　he　deemed　that　by　bestowing　blessings　on　these　he　won　a　blessing　for　himself。　　Being　endowed　with　spiritual　riches；　and；　in　sooth；　a　perfect　king；　he　gave　liberally　to　all　that　were　in　need；　for　he　hoped　to　receive　infinitely　more；　when　the　time　should　come　for　the　recompense　of　his　works。

Now；　in　little　while；　the　fame　of　Ioasaph　was　blazoned　abroad；　and　led；　as　it　were　by　the　scent　of　sweet　ointment；　all　men　flocked　to　him　daily；　casting　off　their　poverty　of　soul　and　body：　and　his　name　was　on　every　man's　lips。　　It　was　not　fear　and　oppression　that　drew　the　people　to　him；　but　desire　and　heart…felt　love；　which　by　God's　blessing　and　the　king's　fair　life　had　been　planted　in　their　hearts。

Then；　too；　did　his　father's　subjects　begin　to　come　to　him；　and；　laying　aside　all　error；　received　the　Gospel　of　truth。　　And　the　house　of　Ioasaph　grew　and　waxed　strong；　but　the　house　of　Abenner　waned　and　grew　weak；　even　as　the　Book　of　the　Kings　declareth　concerning　David　and　Saul。


XXXIV。

When　king　Abenner　saw　this；　though　late　and　loth；　he　came　to　his　senses；　and　renounced　his　false　gods　with　all　their　impotence　and　vain　deceit。　　Again　he　called　an　assembly　of　his　chief　counsellors；　and　brought　to　light　the　thoughts　of　his　heart。　　As　they　confirmed　his　words　（for　the　day…spring　from　on　high　had　visited　them；　the　Saviour　who　had　heard　the　prayer　of　his　servant　Ioasaph）；　it　pleased　the　king　to　signify　the　same　to　his　son。　Therefore　on　the　morrow　he　wrote　a　letter　to　Ioasaph；　running　thus：

〃King　Abenner　to　his　well…beloved　son　Ioasaph；　greeting。　　Dearest　son；　many　thoughts　have　been　stealing　into　my　soul；　and　rule　it　with　a　rod　of　iron。　　I　see　our　state　vanishing；　like　as　smoke　vanisheth；　but　thy　religion　shining　brighter　than　the　sun；　and　I　have　come　to　my　senses；　and　know　that　the　words　which　thou　hast　ever　spoken　unto　me　are　true；　and　that　a　thick　cloud　of　sin　and　wickedness　did　then　cover　us；　so　that　we　were　unable　to　discern　the　truth；　and　recognize　the　Creator　of　all。　　Nay；　but　we　shut　our　eyes；　and　would　not　behold　the　light　which　thou　didst　enkindle　more　brightly　for　us。　　Much　evil　did　we　do　unto　thee；　and　many　of　the　Christians；　alas！　did　we　destroy；　who；　strengthened　by　the　power　that　aided　them；　finally　triumphed　over　our　cruelty。　　But　now　we　have　removed　that　dense　mist　from　our　eyes；　and　see　some　small　ray　of　truth；　and　there　cometh　on　us　repentance　of　our　misdeeds。　　But　a　new　cloud　of　despair　would　overshadow　it；　despair　at　the　multitude　of　mine　offences；　because　I　am　now　abominable　and　unacceptable　to　Christ；　being　a　rebel　and　a　foeman　unto　him。　　What；　then；　sayest　thou；　dearest　son；　hereto？　Make　known　to　me　thine　answer；　and　teach　me　that　am　thy　father　what　I　should　do；　and　lead　me　to　the　knowledge　of　my　true　weal。〃

When　Ioasaph　had　received　this　letter；　and　read　the　words　therein；　his　soul　was　filled　with　mingled　joy　and　amazement。　Forthwith　he　entered　his　closet；　and　falling　on　his　face　before　the　image　of　his　Master；　watered　the　ground　with　his　tears；　giving　thanks　to　his　Lord　and　confessing　him；　and　tuning　lips　of　exultation　to　sing　an　hymn　of　praise；　saying：

〃I　will　magnify　thee；　O　God；　my　King；　and　I　will　praise　thy　name　for　ever　and　ever。　　Great　art　thou　O　Lord；　and　marvellous…worthy　to　be　praised；　and　of　thy　greatness　there　is　no　end。　　Who　can　express　thy　noble　acts；　or　show　forth　all　thy　praise；　who　hast　turned　the　hard　rock　into　a　standing　water　and　the　flint…stone　into　a　springing　well？　　For　behold　this　my　father's　flinty　and　more　than　granite　heart　is　at　thy　will　melted　as　wax；　because　thou　art　able　of　these　stones　to　raise　up　children　unto　Abraham。　I　thank　thee；　Lord；　thou　lover　of　men；　and　God　of　pity；　that　thou　hast　been；　and　art；　long…suffering　towards　our　offences；　and　hast　suffered　us　until　now　to　go　unpunished。　　Long　have　we　deserved　to　be　cast　away　from　thy　face；　and　made　a　by…word　on　earth；　as　were　the　sinful　inhabiters　of　the　five　cities；　consumed　with　fire　and　brimstone；　but　thy　marvellous　long…suffering　hath　dealt　graciously　with　us。　　I　give　thanks　unto　thee；　vile　and　unworthy　though　I　be；　and　insufficient　of　myself　to　glorify　thy　greatness。　And；　by　thine　infinite　compassions；　I　pray　thee；　Lord　Jesu　Christ；　Son　and　Word　of　the　invisible　Father；　who　madest　all　things　by　thy　word；　and　sustainest　them　by　thy　will；　who　hast　delivered　us　thine　unworthy　servants　from　the　bondage　of　the　arch…fiend　our　foe：　thou　that　wast　stretched　upon　the　Rood；　and　didst　bind　the　strong　man；　and　award　everlasting　freedom　to　them　that　lay　bound　in　his　fetters：　do　thou　now　also　stretch　forth　thine　invisible　and　almighty　hand；　and；　at　the　last；　free　thy　servant　my　father　from　that　cruel　bondage　of　the　devil。　　Show　him　full　clearly　that　thou　art　the　ever　living　true　God；　and　only　King；　eternal　and　immortal。　　Behold；　O　Lord；　with　favourable　and　kindly　eye；　the　contrition　of　my　heart；　and；　according　to　thine　unerring　promise；　be　with　me　that　acknowledge　and　confess　thee　the　Maker　and　protector　of　all　creation。　　Let　there　be　a　well　of　water　within　me　springing　up；　and　let　utterance　be　given　unto　me　that　I　may　open　my　mouth；　and　a　mind　well　fixed　in　thee；　the　chief　corner…stone；　that　I；　thine　unprofitable　servant；　may　be　enabled　to　preach　to　my　father；　as　is　right；　the　mystery　of　thine　Incarnation；　and　by　thy　power　deliver　him　from　the　vain　deceit　of　wicked　devils；　and　bring　him　unto　thee　his　God　and　Lord；　who　willest　not　the　death　of　us　sinners；　but　waitest　for　us　to　return　and　repent；　because　thou　art　glorified　for　ever　and　ever。　　Amen。〃

When　he　had　thus　prayed；　and　received　fulness　of　assurance　that　he　should　not　miscarry　in　his　desire；　he　took　courage　by　the　tender　mercy　of　Christ；　and　arose　thence；　with　his　royal　body…　guard；　and　arrived　at　his　father's　palace。　　When　it　was　told　unto　his　father；　〃Thy　son　is　come；〃　he　went　forth　straightway　for　to　meet　him；　and　embraced　and　kissed　him　lovingly；　and　made　exceeding　great　joy；　and　held　a　general　feast　in　honour　of　t