按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ere shall stand in fear thousand thousands； and ten thousand times ten thousand of Angels and Archangels； and the whole world shall be full of fear and terror。 For one of the Archangels shall sound with the trump of God； and immediately the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll； and the earth shall be rent； and shall give up the dead bodies of all men that ever were since the first man Adam until that day。 And then shall all men that have died since the beginning of the world in the twinkling of an eye stand alive before the judgement seat of the immortal Lord； and every man shall give account of his deeds。 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun； they that believed in the Father； Son and Holy Ghost； and ended this present life in good works。 And how can I describe to thee the glory that shall receive them at that day？ For though I compare their brightness and beauty to the light of the sun or to the brightest lightning flash； yet should I fail to do justice to their brightness。 Eye hath not seen； nor ear heard； neither have entered into the heart of man； the things which God hath prepared for them that love him； in the kingdom of heaven； in the light which no man can approach unto； in his unspeakable and unending glory。
〃Such joys and such bliss shall the righteous obtain； but they that have denied the only true God and not known their Maker and Creator； but have worshipped foul devils； and rendered homage to dumb idols； and loved the pleasures of this vain world； and； like swine； wallowed in the mire of sinful lusts； and made their lives a headquarters for all wickedness； shall stand naked and laid bare； downright ashamed and downcast； pitiable in appearance and in fact； set forth for a reproach to all creation。 All their life in word； deed and thought shall come before their faces。 Then； after this bitter disgrace and unbearable reproach； shall they be sentenced to the unquenchable and light…less fire of Gehenna； unto the outer darkness； the gnashing of teeth and the venomous worm。 This is their portion； this their lot； in the which they shall dwell together in punishment for endless ages； because they rejected the good things offered them in promise； and； for the sake of the pleasure of sin for a season； made choice of eternal punishment。 For these reasons to obtain that unspeakable bliss； to enjoy that ineffable glory； to equal the Angels in splendour； and to stand with boldness before the good and most sweetest Lord； to escape those bitter and unending punishments and that galling shame time after time； were it not worth men's while to sacrifice their riches and bodies； nay； even their very lives？ Who is so cowardly； who so foolish； as not to endure a thousand temporal deaths； to escape eternal and everlasting death； and to inherit life； blissful and imperishable； and to shine in the light of the blessed and life… giving Trinity？〃
XXVI。
When the king heard these words； and saw the steadfastness； and unbuxomness of his son； who yielded neither to flattery； nor persuasion； nor threat； he marvelled indeed at the persuasiveness of his speech and his irrefutable answers； and was convicted by his own conscience secretly assuring him that Ioasaph spake truly and aright。 But he was dragged back by his evil habit and passions； which； from long use； had taken firm grip on him； and held him in as with bit and bridle； and suffered him not to behold the light of truth。 So he left no stone unturned； as the saying is； and adhered to his old purpose； determining to put into action the plot which he and Araches had between them devised。 Said he to his son； 〃Although； child； thou oughtest in all points simply to give in to my commands； yet； because thou art stubborn and disobedient； and hast thus stiffly opposed me； insisting that thine own opinion should prevail over all； bid we now farewell to vain insistance； and let persuasion be now our policy。 And； forasmuch as Barlaam； thy deceiver； is here； my prisoner in iron chains； I will make a great assembly； and summon all our people and your Galileans； to one place； and I will charge heralds to proclaim expressly that none of the Christians shall fear； but that all shall muster without dread； and we will hold debate together。 If your side win； then shall ye and your Barlaam gain your desires； but if ye lose； then shall ye with right good will yield yourselves to my commands。〃
But this truly wise and prudent youth； forewarned； by the heavenly vision sent him； of his father's mischief； replied； 〃The Lord's will be done！ Be it according to thy command！ May our good God and Lord himself vouchsafe that we wander not from the right way； for my soul trusteth in him； and he shall be merciful unto me。〃 There and then did the king command all； whether idolaters or Christians； to assemble。 Letters were despatched in all quarters： heralds proclaimed it in every village town that no Christian need fear any secret surprise； but all might come together without fear； as friends and kindred； for the honest and unrestrained enquiry that should be held with their chief and captain； Barlaam。 In like manner also he summoned the initiate and the temple…keepers of his idols； and wise men of the Chaldeans and Indians that were in all his kingdom； beside certain augurs； sorcerers and seers； that they might get the better of the Christians。
Then were there gathered together multitudes that held his loathly religion； but of the Christians was there found one only
that came to the help of the supposed Barlaam。 His name was Barachias。 For of the Faithful； some were dead； having fallen victims to the fury of the governors of the cities； and some were hiding in mountains and dens； in dread of the terrors hanging over them； while others had feared the threats of the king； and durst not adventure themselves into the light of day； but were worshippers by night； serving Christ in secret； and in no wise boldly confessing him。 So noble…hearted Barachias came alone to the contest； to help and champion the truth。
The king sat down before all on a doom…stool high and exalted； and bade his son sit beside him。 He； in reverence and awe of his father； consented not thereto； but sat near him on the ground。 There stood the learned in the wisdom which God hath made foolish； whose unwise hearts had gone astray； as saith the Apostle； for； 〃professing themselves to be wise； they became fools； and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man； and four…footed beasts； and creeping things。〃 These were assembled for to join argument with the king's son and his fellows； and on them was fulfilled the proverb； 〃Gazelle against lion。〃 The one made the most High his house of defence； and his hope was under the shadow of his wings； while the others trusted in the princes of this world； who are made of none effect； and in the ruler of the darkness of this world； to whom they have subjected themselves miserably and wretchedly。
Now came on Nachor； in the disguise of Barlaam； and the king's side were like to reach their goal； but； once again； very different was the ordering of the wise providence of God。 When all the company was come； thus spake the