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ordereth； that thou mayest prove no unworthy match for them that have borne the burden and heat of the day。 Therefore； beloved； gladly accept the decrees of God。 What God hath ordered； who； of men； can scatter？ Endure； then； under the protection of his grace。
〃But be thou ever sober against thoughts other than these； and； like a right precious treasure； keep safely from robbers thy purity of heart； stepping up day by day to higher work and contemplation； that that may be fulfilled in thee； which the Saviour promised to his friends； when he said； ‘If any man love me； he will keep my word： and my father will love him； and we will come unto him； and make our abode with him。'〃
With these words； and many others； full worthy of that sanctified soul and inspired tongue； did the old man comfort Ioasaph's anguished soul。 Then he sent him unto certain brethren； which abode a long way off； for to fetch the things fitting for the Holy Sacrifice。 And Ioasaph girded up his loins； and with all speed fulfilled his errand： for he dreaded lest peradventure； in his absence； Barlaam might pay the debt of nature； and； yielding up the ghost to God； might inflict on him the loss of missing his departing words and utterances； his last orisons and blessings。
So when Ioasaph had manfully finished his long journey； and had brought the things required for the Holy Sacrifice； saintly Barlaam offered up to God the unbloody Sacrifice。 When he had communicated himself； and also given to Ioasaph of the undefiled Mysteries of Christ； he rejoiced in the Spirit。 And when they had taken together of their ordinary food； Barlaam again fed Ioasaph's soul with edifying words； saying； 〃Well…beloved son； no longer in this world shall we share one common hearth and board； for now I go my last journey； even the way of my fathers。 Needs must thou； therefore； prove thy loving affection for me by thy keeping of God's commandments； and by thy continuance in this place even to the end； living as thou hast learned and been instructed； and alway remembering my poor and slothful soul。 Rejoice； therefore； with great joy； and make merry with the gladness that is in Christ； because thou hast exchanged the earthly and corruptible for the eternal and incorruptible； and because there draweth nigh the reward of thy works； and thy rewarder is already at hand； who shall come to see the vineyard which thou hast dressed； and shall richly pay thee the wages of thine husbandry。 ‘Faithful is the saying； and worthy of all acceptation；' as proclaimed by Paul the divine； ‘For if we be dead with him； we shall also live with him； if we endure； we shall also reign with him in his eternal and everlasting kingdom； being illuminated with the light unapproachable； and guerdoned with the effulgence of the blessed and life…giving Trinity。'〃
Thus until even…tide and all night long did Barlaam converse with Ioasaph； who wept tears that could not be stayed； and could not bear the parting。 But just as day began to dawn； Barlaam ended his discourse； lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven； and offered his thanks to God； thus saying； 〃O Lord； my God； who art everywhere present； and fillest all things； I thank thee； for that thou hast looked upon my lowliness； and hast granted me to fulfil the course of this mine earthly pilgrimage in thy true Faith； and in the way of thy commandments。 And now； thou lover of good； all…merciful Master； receive me into thine everlasting habitations； and remember not all the sins that I have committed against thee； in knowledge or in ignorance。 Defend also this thy faithful servant； before whom thou hast granted to me； thine unprofitable servant； to stand。 Deliver him from all vanity； and all despiteful treatment of the adversary； and set him clear of the many…meshed nets which the wicked one spreadeth abroad for to trip all them that would full fain be saved。 Destroy； Almighty Lord； all the might of the deceiver from before the face of thy servant； and grant him authority to trample on the baneful head of the enemy of our souls。 Send down from on high the grace of thy Holy Spirit； and strengthen him against the invisible hosts； that he may receive at thy hands the crown of victory； and that in him thy name may be glorified； the Father； the Son； and the Holy Ghost； for to thee belongeth glory and praise for ever and ever。 Amen。〃
Thus prayed he； and in fatherly wise embraced Ioasaph； and saluted him with an holy kiss。 Then he sealed himself with the sign of the Cross； and gathered up his feet； and； with exceeding great joy； as at the home…coming of friends； departed on that blessed journey； to receive his reward yonder； an old man and full of days in the Spirit。
XL。
Then did Ioasaph embrace the good father； with all the devotion and sorrow that can be told； and washed his corpse with his tears。 Then he wrapped it in the hair…shirt； which Barlaam had given him in his palace； and over him he recited the proper psalms； chanting all the day long； and throughout the night； and watering the venerable body of the Saint with his tears。 On the morrow； he made a grave hard by the cave； and thither reverently bore the sacred body； and there； like a good and honourable son； laid his spiritual father in his sepulchre。 And then； the fire of grief kindling all the hotter within his soul； he set himself to pray the more earnestly； saying：
〃O Lord my God； hearken unto my voice； when I cry unto thee。 Have mercy upon me； and hear me； for I seek thee with all my heart。 My soul hath sought for thee： O hide not thy face from me； and turn not away in anger from thy servant。 Be thou my helper； cast me not utterly away； and forsake me not； O God my Saviour； because my father and mother forsake me； but do thou； O Lord； take me up。 Teach me thy way； O Lord； and lead me in the right way because of mine enemies。 Deliver me not over unto the souls of them that afflict me； for I have been cast upon thee ever since I was born； thou art my God even from my mother's womb。 O go not from me； because； except thee； there is none to help me。 For lo； I set the hope of my soul upon the ocean of thy mercies。 Be thou the pilot of my soul； thou that steerest all creation with the unspeakable forethought of thy wisdom； and shew thou me the way that I should walk in； and； as thou art a good God and a lover of men； save me by the prayers and intercessions of Barlaam thy servant； for thou art my God； and thee I glorify； the Father； the Son； and the Holy Ghost； world without end。 Amen。〃
Thus prayed he； and sat him down nigh the sepulchre； a…weeping。 And as he sat； he fell asleep； and saw those dread men； whom he had seen before； coming to him； and carrying him away to the great and marvellous plain； and bringing him to that glorious and exceeding bright city。 When he had passed within the gate； there met him others； gloriously apparelled with much light； having in their hands crowns radiant with unspeakable beauty； such as mortal eye hath never seen。 And； when Ioasaph enquired； 〃Whose are these exceeding bright crowns of glory； which I see？〃 〃Thine；〃 said they； 〃is the one； prepared for thee； because of the many souls which thou hast saved； and now made still more beautiful