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the knowledge of God； and didst serve him with a pure conscience； so now also show the more zeal in pleasing him。 For； as thou hast received of God a mighty sovereignty； thou owest him the greater repayment。 Render therefore to thy Benefactor the debt of thanksgiving； by the keeping of his holy commandments and by turning aside from every path whose end is destruction。 For it is with kingdoms as with ships。 If one of the sailors blunder it bringeth but small damage to the crew。 But if the steersman err； he causeth the whole ship to perish。 Even so it is with sovranty： if a subject err； he harmeth himself more than the state。 But if the king err； he causeth injury to the whole realm。 Therefore； as one that shall render strict account； if thou neglect aught of thy duty； guard thyself with all diligence in that which is good。 Hate all pleasure that draweth into sin： for； saith the Apostle； ‘Follow peace with all men； and holiness； without which no man shall see the Lord。' Consider the wheel of men's affairs； how it runneth round and round； turning and whirling them now up； now down： and amid all its sudden changes； keep thou unchanged a pious mind。 To change with every change of affairs betokeneth an unstable heart。 But be thou steadfast； wholly established upon that which is good。 Be not lifted and vainly puffed up because of temporal honour； but； with purified reason； understand the nothingness of thine own nature； and the span…length and swift flight of life here； and death the yoke…fellow of the flesh。 If thou consider these things； thou shalt not be cast into the pit of arrogance； but shalt fear God； the true and heavenly King； and verily thou shalt be blessed。 For he saith； ‘Blessed are all they that fear the Lord； and walk in his ways；' and ‘Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord： he shall have great delight in his commandments。' And which commandments above all shouldest thou observe？ ‘Blessed are the merciful； for they shall obtain mercy；' and ‘Be ye merciful； as your heavenly Father is merciful。' For the fulfilment of this commandment； above all； is required of them that are in high authority。 And； soothly； the holder of great authority ought to imitate the giver of that authority to the best of his ability。 And herein shall he best imitate God； by considering that nothing is to be preferred before showing mercy。 Nay； further； nothing so surely draweth the subject to loyalty toward his Sovereign as the grace of charity bestowed on such as need it。 For the service that cometh from fear is flattery in disguise； with the pretence of respect cozening them that pay heed to it； and the unwilling subject rebelleth when he findeth occasion。 Whereas he that is held by the ties of loyalty is steadfast in his obedience to the ruling power。 Wherefore be thou easy of access to all and open thine ears unto the poor； that thou mayest find the ear of God open unto thee。 For as we are to our fellow…servants； such shall we find our Master to us…ward。 And； like as we do hear others； so shall we be heard ourselves： and； as we see； so shall we be seen by the divine all… seeing eye。 Therefore pay we first mercy for mercy； that we may obtain like for like。
〃But hear yet another commandment； the fellow of the former； ‘Forgive； and it shall be forgiven unto you；' and ‘If ye forgive not men their trespasses； neither will your heavenly father forgive you your trespasses。' Wherefore bear no malice against them that offend against thee； but； when thou askest forgiveness of thy sins； forgive thyself also them that injure thee； because forgiveness is repaid by forgiveness； and by making peace with our fellow…servants we are ourselves delivered from the wrath of our Master。 Again； a lack of compassion towards them that trespass against us maketh our own trespasses unpardonable； even as thou hast heard what befell the man that owed ten thousand talents； how； through his want of pity on his fellow…servant； he was again required to pay all that mighty debt。 So we must take good heed lest a like fate betide us。 But let us forgive every debt； and cast all anger out of our hearts； in order that our many debts； too； may be forgiven。 Beside this； and before all things； keep thou that good thing which is committed to thy trust； the holy Word of faith wherein thou hast been taught and instructed。 And let no tare of heresy grow up amongst you； but preserve the heavenly seed pure and sincere； that it may yield a manifold harvest to the master； when he cometh to demand account of our lives； and to reward us according to our deeds； when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun； but darkness and everlasting shame shall cover the sinners。 And now； brethren； I commend you to God； and to the word of his grace； which is able to build you up； and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified。〃
And when he had thus spoken； he kneeled down； as it is written； and prayed again in tears。 And he turned him round； and kissed Barachias； whom he had chosen to their king； and all the officers。 Then came a scene fit； belike； to make one weep。 They all crowded around him； as though his presence meant life to them； and his departure would reave them of their very souls； and what piteous pleading； what extravagance of grief did they omit？ They kissed him； they hung about him； they were beside themselves for anguish of heart。 〃Wo is us；〃 cried they； 〃for this grievous calamity！〃 They called him； Master； Father； Saviour； Benefactor。 〃Through thine；〃 said they； 〃we learned to know God； and were redeemed from error； and found rest from every ill。 What remaineth us after thou art gone？ What evils shall not befall us？〃 Thus saying； they smote upon their breasts； and bewailed the misfortune that had overtaken them。 But he with words of comfort hushed their sobs； and promised to be with them still in the spirit though he might no longer abide with them in the body。 And when he had thus spoken； in the sight of all he went forth from the palace。 And immediately all the people followed him。 They despaired of his return； they ran from the city； as from a sight that they could no longer endure。 But when they were outside the city； Ioasaph addressed them with sharp words； and chode with them harshly； and so they were parted from him； and unwillingly went home； often turning round to look on him； and stumbling on their road。 And some of the hotter spirits also followed afar off weeping； until the shades of night parted them one from another。
XXXVII。
Thus this noble man went forth from his palace rejoicing； as when after long exile a man returneth with joy to his own country。 Outwardly he wore the robes that he was wont to wear； but beneath was the hair…shirt which Barlaam had given him。 That night he halted at a poor man's cabin； and stripped himself of his outer raiment； which； as his last alms； he bestowed upon his poor host； and thus by the prayers of that poor man； as well as of so many others； he made God his ally； and put on his grace and help as a garment of salvation； and； clad in a coat of gladness； thus went he off to his hermit…life； carrying with him neither bread； nor water； nor any necessary food； with no garment