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me walking in the way of the commandments of God； but rather a passage from death to the better and more perfect life； which is hid in Christ； in desire to obtain which the Saints were impatient of the present。 Wherefore saith the Apostle； ‘We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved； we have a building of God； a house not made with hands； eternal in the heavens。 For in this we groan； earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven： if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked。 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan； being burdened： not for that we would be unclothed； but clothed upon； that mortality might be swallowed up of life。' And again； ‘O wretched man that I am！ who shall deliver me from the body of this death？' And once more； ‘I desire to depart and be with Christ。' And the prophet saith； ‘When shall I come and appear before the presence of God？' Now that I the least of all men； choose not to fear bodily death； thou mayest learn by this； that I have set at nought thy father's threat； and come boldly unto thee； and have preached to thee the tidings of salvation； though I knew for sure that； if this came to his knowledge； he would； were that possible； put me to a thousand deaths。 But I； honouring the word of God afore all things； and longing to win it； dread not temporal death； nor reek on it at all worthy of such an appellation； in obedience to my Lord's command； which saith； ‘Fear not them which kill the body； but are not able to kill the soul： but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell。'〃
〃These then；〃 said Ioasaph； 〃are the good deeds of that true philosophy； that far surpass the nature of these earthly men who cleave fast to the present life。 Blessed are ye that hold to so noble a purpose！ But tell me truly what is thy manner of life and that of thy companions in the desert； and from whence cometh your raiment and of what sort may it be？ Tell me as thou lovest truth。〃
Said Barlaam； 〃Our sustenance consisteth of acorns and herbs that we find in the desert； watered by the dew of heaven； and in obedience to the Creator's command； and for this there is none to fight and quarrel with us； seeking by the rule and law of covetousness to snatch more than his share； but in abundance for all is food provided from unploughed lands； and a ready table spread。 But； should any of the faithful brethren in the neighbourhood bring a blessed dole of bread； we receive it as sent by providence； and bless the faith that brought it。 Our raiment is of hair； sheepskins or shirts of palm fibre； all thread…bare and much patched； to mortify the frailty of the flesh。 We wear the same clothing winter and summer； which； once put on； we may on no account put off until it be old and quite outworn。 For by thus afflicting our bodies with the constraints of cold and heat we purvey for ourselves the vesture of our future robes of immortality。〃
Ioasaph said； 〃But whence cometh this garment that thou wearest？〃 The elder answered；〃I received it as a loan from one of our faithful brethren； when about to make my journey unto thee； for it behoved me not to arrive in mine ordinary dress。 If one had a beloved kinsman carried captive into a foreign land； and wished to recover him thence； one would lay aside one's own clothing； and put on the guise of the enemy； and pass into their country and by divers crafts deliver one's friend from that cruel tyranny。 Even so I also； having been made aware of thine estate； clad myself in this dress； and came to sow the seed of the divine message in thine heart； and ransom thee from the slavery of the dread ruler of this world。 And now behold by the power of God； as far as in me lay； I have accomplished my ministry； announcing to thee the knowledge of him； and making known unto thee the preaching of the Prophets and Apostles； and teaching thee unerringly and soothly the vanity of the present life； and the evils with which this world teems； which cruelly deceiveth them that trust therein； and taketh them in many a gin。 Now must I return thither whence I came； and thereupon doff this robe belonging to another； and don mine own again。〃
Ioasaph therefore begged the elder to shew himself in his wonted apparel。 Then did Barlaam strip off the mantle that he wore； and lo； a terrible sight met Ioasaph's eyes： for all the fashion of his flesh was wasted away； and his skin blackened by the scorching sun； and drawn tight over his bones like an hide stretched over thin canes。 And he wore an hair shirt； stiff and rough； from his loins to his knees； and over his shoulders there hung a coat of like sort。
But Ioasaph； being sore amazed at the hardship of his austere life； and astonished at his excess of endurance； burst into tears； and said to the elder； 〃Since thou art come to deliver me from the slavery of the devil； crown thy good service to me； and 'bring my soul out of prison；' and take me with thee； and let us go hence； that I may be fully ransomed from this deceitful world and then receive the seal of saving Baptism； and share with thee this thy marvellous philosophy； and this more than human discipline〃
But Barlaam said unto him； 〃A certain rich man once reared the fawn of a gazelle； which； when grown up； was impelled by natural desire to long for the desert。 So on a day she went out and found an herd of gazelles browsing； and； joining them； she would roam through the glades of the forest； returning at evenfall； but issuing forth at dawn； through the heedlessness of her keepers； to herd with her wild companions。 When these removed； to graze further afield； she followed them。 But the rich man's servants； when they learned thereof； mounted on horseback； and gave chase； and caught the pet fawn； and brought her home again； and set her in captivity for the time to come。 But of the residue of the herd； some they killed； and roughly handled others。 Even so I fear that it may happen unto us also if thou follow me； that I may be deprived of thy fellowship； and bring many ills to my comrades； and everlasting damnation to thy father。 But this is the will of the Lord concerning time； thou now indeed must be signed with the seal of holy Baptism； and abide in this country； cleaving to all righteousness； and the fulfilling of the commandments of Christ； but when the Giver of all good things shall give thee opportunity； then shalt thou come to us； and for the remainder of this present life we shall dwell together； and I trust in the Lord also that in the world to come we shall not be parted asunder。〃
Again Ioasaph； in tears； said unto him； 〃If this be the Lord's pleasure； his will be done！ For the rest； perfect me in holy Baptism。 Then receive at my hands money and garments for the support and clothing both of thyself and thy companions； and depart to the place of thy monastic life； and the peace of God be thy guard！ But cease not to make supplications on my behalf； that I may not fall away from my hope； but may soon be able to reach thee； and in peace profound may enjoy thy ministration。〃
Barlaam answered； 〃Nought forbiddeth thee to receive the seal of Christ。 Make thee ready now； and； the Lord working with