登陆注册
5548300000072

第72章

Did not even the Apostles, the leaders of your religion, do many a thing by dispensation, at times transgressing a commandment on account of a greater one? Is not Paul said to have circumcised Timothy on account of a greater dispensation? And yet circumcision hath been reckoned by Christians as unlawful, but yet he did not decline so to do. And many other such things shalt thou find in thy Scriptures. If then in very sooth, as thou sayest, thou seekest to save my soul, fulfil me this my small desire. And although I seek to be joined with thee in the full estate of matrimony, yet, sith this is contrary to thy mind, I will never constrain thee again, but will do everything that liketh thee. For the rest, do not thou utterly abhor me; but hearken to me for the nonce, and thou shalt deliver me from superstitious error, and thou shalt do whatever seemeth thee good hereafter all the days of thy life."Thus spake she; for indeed she had, for her adviser, one to whom she lent a privy ear, and the pirate was well versed in Scripture, being verily the creator and teacher of iniquity.

Thus then she spake with fawning words entangling him, right and left, around with her toils and meshes, and she began to shake the citadel of his soul, and to slacken his tension of purpose, and to soften the temper of his mind. Then the sower of these evil tares, and enemy of the righteous, when he saw the young man's heart wavering, was full of joy, and straightway called to the evil spirits that were with him, crying, "Look you how yond damsel hasteth to bring to pass all that we were unable to accomplish! Hither! fall we now furiously upon him: for we shall find none other season so favourable to perform the will of him that sent us." Thus spake this crafty spirit to his hounds:

and straightway they lept on that soldier of Christ, disquieting all the powers of his soul, inspiring him with vehement love for the damsel, and kindling within him the fiercest fire of lust.

When Ioasaph saw that he was greatly inflamed, and was being led captive into sin, and perceived that his thoughts about the salvation of the damsel and her conversion to God had been set like bait on hook to hide the deed which she purposed, and were troubling him with the suggestion of the enemy, that, for the salvation of a soul, it was not sin for once to lie with a woman, then in the agony of his soul he drew a deep and lamentable groan, and nerved himself to pray, and, with streams of tears running down his cheeks, he cried aloud to him that is able to save them that trust in him, saying, "On thee, O Lord, have I set my trust: let me not be confounded for ever; neither let mine enemies triumph over me, that hold by thy right hand. But stand thou by me at this hour, and according to thy will make straight my path, that thy glorious and dreadful name may be glorified in me thy servant, because thou art blessed for ever. Amen."Now when he had prayed in tears for many hours, and often bent the knee, he sunk down upon the pavement. After he had slumbered awhile, he saw himself carried off by certain dread men, and passing through places which he had never heretofore beheld. He stood in a mighty plain, all a-bloom with fresh and fragrant flowers, where he descried all manner of plants of divers colours, charged with strange and marvellous fruits, pleasant to the eye and inviting to the touch. The leaves of the trees rustled clearly in a gentle breeze, and, as they shook, sent forth a gracious perfume that cloyed not the sense. Thrones were set there, fashioned of the purest gold and costly stones, throwing out never so bright a lustre, and radiant settles among wondrous couches too beautiful to be described. And beside them there were running waters exceeding clear, and delightful to the eye. When these dread men had led him through this great and wondrous plain, they brought him to a city that glistered with light unspeakable, whose walls were of dazzling gold, with high uprear'd parapets, built of gems such as man hath never seen.

Ah! who could describe the beauty and brightness of that city?

Light, ever shooting from above, filled all her streets with bright rays; and winged squadrons, each of them itself a light, dwelt in this city, making such melody as mortal ear ne'er heard.

And Ioasaph heard a voice crying, "This is the rest of the righteous: this the gladness of them that have pleased the Lord."When these dread men had carried him out from thence, they spake of taking him back to earth. But he, that had lost his heart to that scene of joyaunce and heartsease, exclaimed, "Reave me not, reave me not, I pray you, of this unspeakable joy, but grant me also to dwell in one corner of this mighty city." But they said, "It is impossible for thee to be there now; but, with much toil and sweat, thou shalt come hither, if thou constrain thyself."Thus spake they; and again they crossed that mighty plain, and bare him to regions of darkness and utter woe, where sorrow matched the brightness which he had seen above. There was darkness without a ray of light, and utter gloom, and the whole place was full of tribulation and trouble. There blazed a glowing furnace of fire, and there crept the worm of torment.

Revengeful powers were set over the furnace, and there were some that were burning piteously in the fire, and a voice was heard, saying, "This is the place of sinners; this the punishment for them that have defiled themselves by foul practices." Hereupon Ioasaph was carried thence by his guides; and, when he came to himself, immediately he trembled from head to foot, and, like a river, his eyes dropped tears, and all the comeliness of that wanton damsel and her fellows was grown more loathsome to him than filth and rottenness. And as he mused in his heart on the memory of the visions, in longing for the good and in terror of the evil, he lay on his bed utterly unable to arise.

Then was the king informed of his son's sickness; and he came and asked what ailed him. And Ioasaph told him his vision, and said, "Wherefore hast thou laid a net for my feet, and bowed down my soul? If the Lord had not helped me, my soul had well nigh dwelt in hell. But how loving is God unto Israel, even unto such as are of a true heart! He hath delivered me that am lowly from the midst of the dogs. For I was sore troubled and I fell on sleep:

but God my Saviour from on high hath visited me, and showed me what joy they lose that provoke him and to what punishments they subject themselves. And now, O my father, since thou hast stopped thine ears not to hear the voice that will charm thee to good, at least forbid me not to walk the straight road. For this I desire, this I long for, to forsake all, and reach that place, where Barlaam the servant of Christ hath his dwelling, and with him to finish what remaineth of my life. But if thou keep me back by force, thou shalt quickly see me die of grief and despair, and thou shalt be no more called father, nor have me to thy son."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 穿越吕后难当

    穿越吕后难当

    步七掉入突然出现的黑洞,黑洞连接地府。因为进入地府步七被判定死亡,所以被随机扔进一个历史上的乱世……步七:其实我们只是历史的一部分,我们无法改变历史……
  • 安徒生童话精选大全

    安徒生童话精选大全

    本书共有一百六十多篇,本书精选了部分作品。其中,“丑小鸭”塑造了一个具有高尚心灵的理想形象;“卖火柴的小女孩”描绘了一幅震撼心灵的悲惨画面,却又是这般美丽;“皇帝的新装”、“五颗豌豆”在揭露假恶丑的同时,又充满了喜剧性的幽默感;“野天鹅”那出神入化的奇妙意境,洋溢着诗一般的抒情色彩。这些童话故事闪烁着智慧和情感的光芒,照耀着一代又一代人的心灵。
  • 破晓戮魔神

    破晓戮魔神

    从镇中走出来的融魂少年,带着他的好奇暗下誓言,势必踏遍这修真世界的天堂和地狱。可就在途径傲家镇时,却遇到一位神秘老者,这老者称邢禹莫为‘九幽狱魔子’。而‘九幽魂力’、‘九幽噬魂诀’、‘噬魂戒’.....这些神秘而未知的东西,在老者面前似乎并不神秘,而是一种神圣!自出傲家镇,邢禹莫便踏上了探索身世的屠神之路!...........邢禹莫:顺从天道,无所作为,逆虽危,败则永世不可超生,然而成则上上之上,何为魔,何为神,凭心而行,善恶自分!
  • 萧何的奋斗笔记

    萧何的奋斗笔记

    萧何,是为数不多的青史留名又善始善终的谋士。《萧何的奋斗笔记》讲述了萧何跌宕起伏的一生。尤为难得的是,全书的视角很现代,语言通俗幽默,以萧何的官场升迁经历为蓝本,道出了楚汉传奇中的人性百态。从基层的科级干部,到万人之上的国级干部,萧何的职场奋斗史,不仅突出了其智商情商双高的经国之才,还勾勒了一个相互制衡、人情交错的官场形态,如何成功处理同事、兄弟、上下级等关系的职场秘籍。
  • 只归你一人所有

    只归你一人所有

    【短篇新书《今天也在乖巧地讹你》已发】【偏执阴沉伪善眼镜男VS可妖可盐三流艺术家】【斯文败类+又甜又变态的日常】穿上西装是高冷傲气的世家少爷,脱下西装是本性难移的恶狼崽子。世界这么大,他就只要她。脑回路不正常的连大少爷克己复礼,不近女色,守身如玉数十载,毕生所求只为包袱款款赖上她。花好月圆夜,他彻底身心沦陷。“既然睡了我,你就得对我负责。”“......”“现在你答应下来就是一锤子买卖,我这辈子只认一个女人。”“行吧!”“即便这关系没有法律效力,你也不能离开我。”“霸王条款了不起啊?!没关系,答应你就是了。”【一岁差+无血缘+伪姐弟+痴心小狼狗】
  • The Ruby of Kishmoor

    The Ruby of Kishmoor

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 镜子:照出你看不见的世界史

    镜子:照出你看不见的世界史

    “拉丁美洲的良心”用《镜子》映衬出世界史上的荒谬和不公。记者出身的加莱亚诺,善于从体制的边缘发现让人生疑的蛛丝马迹。他从散落民间的口头记忆中寻找受辱者的尊严,从被冷落在纸堆里的记录中搜求被劫持的良知。这一次,他开始动笔书写一部倒转的世界史,撬动令思想窒息的体制磐石,唤起被麻痹的基本知识,恢复被蒙蔽的正常思维。六百个故事,就是六百面镜子。谎言不攻自破,恶行暴露于光天化日之下。在这里面,有人看到的是骄傲,有人看到的是屈辱,有人发现了过去,有人遇见了未来。
  • 木偶山庄

    木偶山庄

    七彩的世界里追寻真实的那一抹色彩。迷茫里对自己的身份苦苦追寻。黑白的战争究竟谁对谁错?生与死之间又有何意义!人生如同玩偶一般被自己,被他人,被称为命运的存在戏弄。抓住命运的那根线,真的可以摆脱命运?手中抓着别人的线,享受着玩弄命运的感觉。殊不知自己仍然还在网罗中。最好的年代往往也是最坏的年代。不如躺在夕阳中,坐看余辉。
  • 豪门蜜爱

    豪门蜜爱

    倒插门父亲抢公司,继母设计卖女儿,还威逼胁迫要股票?就连男票也被妹妹抢走,光明正大晒幸福!简直不可忍!她迫不及待酒吧买个醉,竟然被陌生男人拐走?宿醉醒来,谁知……她扒上的竟然是新任顶头上司?!完了!这下惨了!
  • 盛爱晚夏

    盛爱晚夏

    两年的时间,当盛夏走出那扇坚固的铁门后,她终于重获自己。可是现在的她,到底还剩什么呢?她在最好的时光,失去了一切,现在,一无所有……但正是在这个时候,她一直以来追逐向往的光明,却对她伸出来手。他说她会保护她,会照顾她……季长生:盛夏,你不能要求一个不喜欢你的人对你多好。盛夏:那你现在为什么要对我好!季长生:因为我喜欢你。这个夏天,她没有了奔跑了草坪,却依旧能站在缝隙里,迎风飞舞。