VIII.

When the king's son had heard these words, there flashed a light upon his soul. Rising from his seat in the fulness of his joy, he embraced Barlaam, saying: "Most honoured sir, methinks this might be that priceless stone which you dost rightly keep secret, not displaying it to all that would see it, but only to these whose spiritual sense is strong. For lo, as these words dropped upon mine ear, sweetest light entered into my heart, and the heavy veil of sorrow, that has now this long time enveloped my heart, was in an instant removed. Tell me if my guess be true: or if you knowest aught better than that which you hast spoken, delay not to declare it to me."

Again, therefore, Barlaam answered, "Yea, my lord and prince, this is the mighty mystery which has been hid from ages and generations, but in these last days has been made known unto mankind; the manifestation whereof, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, was foretold by many prophets and righteous men, instructed at sundry times and in divers manners. In trumpet tones they proclaimed it, and all looked forward to the salvation that should be: this they desired to see, but saw it not. But this latest generation was counted worthy to receive salvation. Wherefore he that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned."

Said Ioasaph, "All that you hast told me I believe without question, and him whom you declarest I glorify as God. Only make all plain to me, and teach me clearly what I must do. But especially go on to tell me what is that Baptism which you sayest that the Faithful receive."

The other answered him thus, "The root mid sure foundation of this holy and perfect Christian Faith is the grace of heavenly Baptism, fraught with the cleansing from all original sins, and complete purification of all defilements of evil that come after. For thus the Saviour commanded a man to be born again of water and of the spirit, and be restored to his first dignity, to wit, by supplication and by calling on the Saving Name, the Holy Spirit brooding on the water. We are baptized, then, according to the word of the Lord, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and thus the grace of the Holy Ghost dwelleth in the soul of the baptized, illuminating and making it God-like and renewing that which was made after his own image and likeness. And for the time to come we cast away all the old works of wickedness, and we make covenant with God of a second life and begin a purer conversation, that we may also become fellow-heirs with them that are born again to incorruption and lay hold of everlasting salvation. But without Baptism it is impossible to attain to that good hope, even though a man be more pious than piety itself. For thus spoke God, the Word, who was incarnate for the salvation of our race, 'Verily I say unto you, except ye be born of water and of the Spirit, ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.' Wherefore before all things I require you to receive faith within your soul, and to draw near to Baptism anon with hearty desire, and on no account to delay herein, for delay is parlous, because of the uncertainty of the appointed day of death."

Ioasaph said unto him, "And what is this good hope whereto you sayest it is impossible without baptism to attain? And what this kingdom which you callest the kingdom of Heaven? And how comes it that you hast heard the words of God incarnate? And what is the uncertain day of death? For on this account much anxiety has fallen on my heart, and consumes my flesh in pain and grief, and fasteneth on my very bones. And shall we men, appointed to die, return to nothing, or is there some other life after our departure hence? These and kindred questions I have been longing to resolve."

Thus questioned he; and Barlaam answered thus: "The good hope, whereof I spoke, is that of the kingdom of Heaven. But that kingdom is far beyond the utterance of mortal tongue; for the Scripture says, 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him.' But when we have shuffled off this gross flesh, and attained to that blessedness, then will that Master, which has granted to us not to fail of this hope, teach and make known unto us the glory of those good things, whose glory passes all understanding:--that light ineffable, that life that has no ending, that converse with Angels. For if it be granted us to hold communion with God, so far as is attainable to human nature, then shall we know all things from his lips which now we know not. This doth my initiation into the teaching of the divine Scriptures teach me to be the real meaning of the kingdom of Heaven; to approach the vision of the blessed and life-giving Trinity, and to be illumined with his unapproachable light, and with clearer and purer sight, and with unveiled face, to behold as in a glass his unspeakable glory. But, if it be impossible to express in language that glory, that light, and those mysterious blessings, what marvel? For they had not been mighty and singular, if they had been comprehended by reason and expressed in words by us who are earthly, and corruptible, and clothed in this heavy garment of sinful flesh. Holding then such knowledge in simple faith, believe you undoubtingly, that these are no fictions; but by good works be urgent to lay hold on that immortal kingdom, to which when you hast attained, you shalt have perfect knowledge.

"As touching your question, How it is that we have heard the words of the Incarnate God, know you that we have been taught all that appertaineth to the divine Incarnation by the Holy Gospels, for thus that holy book is called, because it tells us, who are corruptible and earthly, the 'good spell' of immortality and incorruption, of life eternal, of the remission of sins, and of the kingdom of heaven. This book was written by the eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, and of these I have already said that our Lord Jesus Christ chose them for disciples and apostles; and they delivered it unto us in writing, after the glorious Ascension of our Master into Heaven, a record of his life on earth, his teachings and miracles, so far as it was possible to commit them to writing. For thus, toward the end of his volume, says he that is the flower of the holy Evangelists, 'And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.'

"So in this heavenly Gospel, written by the Spirit of God, is recorded the history of his Incarnation, his manifestation, his miracles and acts. Afterward, it tells of the innocent suffering which the Lord endured for our sake, of his holy Resurrection on the third day, his Ascent into the heavens, and of his glorious and dreadful second coming; for the Son of God shall come again on earth, with unspeakable glory, and with a multitude of the heavenly host to judge our race, and to reward every man according to his works. For, at the beginning, God created man out of earth, as I have already told you, and breathed into him breath, which is called a reasonable and understanding soul. But since we were sentenced to death, we die all: and it is not possible for this cup to pass any man by. Now death is the separation of the soul from the body. And that body which was formed out of earth, when severed from the soul, returneth to earth from whence also it was taken, and, decaying, perisheth; but the soul, being immortal, fareth whither her Maker calls, or rather to the place where she, while still in the body, has prepared for herself lodgement. For as a man has lived here, so shall he receive reward there.

"Then, after long seasons, Christ our God shall come to judge the world in awful glory, beyond words to tell; and for fear of him the powers of heaven shall be shaken, and all the angel hosts stand beside him in dread. Then, at the voice of the archangel, and at the trump of God, shall the dead arise and stand before his awful throne. Now the Resurrection is the re-uniting of soul and body. So that very body, which decayeth and perisheth, shall arise incorruptible. And concerning this, beware lest the reasoning of unbelief overtake you; for it is not impossible for him, who at the beginning formed the body out of earth, when according to its Maker's doom it has returned to earth whence it was taken, to raise the same again. If you wilt but consider how many things God has made out of nothing, this proof shall suffice you. He took earth and made man, though earth was not man before. How then did earth become man? And how was earth, that did not exist, produced? And what foundation has it? And how were countless kind of things without reason, of seeds and plants, produced out of it! Nay, now also consider the manner of our birth. Is not a little seed thrown into the womb that receiveth it? Whence then comes such a marvellous fashioning of a living creature?

"So for him, who has made everything out of nothing, and still doth make, it is not impossible to raise deadened and corrupt bodies from the earth, that every man may be rewarded according to his works; for he says, 'The present is the time for work, the future for recompense.' Else, where were the justice of God, if there were no Resurrection? Many righteous men in this present life have suffered much ill-usage and torment, and have died violent deaths; and the impious and the law-breaker has spent his days here in luxury and prosperity. But God, who is good and just, has appointed a day of resurrection and inquisition, that each soul may receive her own body, and that the wicked, who received his good things here, may there be punished for his misdeeds, and that the good, who was here chastised for his misdeeds, may there inherit his bliss. For, says the Lord, 'They that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of doom.' Then also shall thrones be set, and the Ancient of days and Maker of all things shall sit as Judge, and there shall be opened books with records of the deeds and words and thoughts of all of us, and a fiery stream shall issue, and all hidden things shall be revealed. There can no advocate, no persuasive words, no false excuse, no mightiness of riches, no pomp of rank, no lavishment of bribes, avail to pervert righteous judgement. For he, the uncorrupt and truthful Judge, shall weigh everything in the balance of justice, every act, word and thought. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, into light unspeakable, rejoicing in the fellowship of the Angels, to enjoy bliss ineffable, standing in purity before the Holy Trinity. But they that have done evil, and all the ungodly and sinners, shall go into everlasting punishment, which is called Gehenna, and outer darkness, and the worm that dieth not, and the gnashing of teeth, and a thousand other names of punishment; which means rather--bitterest of all,--alienation from God, the being cast away from the sweetness of his presence, the being deprived of that glory which baffleth description, the being made a spectacle unto the whole creation, and the being put to shame, and shame that has no ending. For, after the passing of that terrible sentence, all things shall abide immutable and unchangeable. The blissful life of the righteous shall have no close, neither shall the misery and punishment of sinners find an end: because, after him, there is no higher Judge, and no defence by after-works, no time for amendment, no other way for them that are punished, their vengeance being co-eternal with them.

"Seeing that this is so, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness, that we may be counted worthy to escape the wrath to come, and to be ranged on the right hand of the Son of God? For this is the station of the righteous: but to sinners is allotted the station of misery on the left. Then shall the Lord call the righteous 'Blessed,' and shall lead them into his everlasting kingdom. But, as for sinners, with anger and curse he will banish them from his serene and gentle countenance the bitterest and hardest lot of all and will send them away into everlasting punishment."

VIII

Τούτων ὡς ἤκουσε τῶν ῥημάτων ὁ τοῦ βασιλέως υἱός, φῶς αὐτοῦ περιήστραψε τὴν ψυχήν: καὶ ἐξαναστὰς τοῦ θρόνου ἐκ περιχαρείας, καὶ περιπλακεὶς τῷ Βαρλαάμ, ἔφη: Τάχα οὗτός ἐστιν, ὡς ἐγὼ εἰκάζω, τιμιώτατε τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὁ λίθος ἐκεῖνος ὁ ἀτίμητος, ὃν ἐν μυστηρίῳ εἰκότως κατέχεις, μὴ παντὶ τῷ βουλομένῳ τοῦτον δεικνύων, ἀλλ' οἷς ἔρρωνται τὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αἰσθητήρια. ἰδοὺ γάρ, ὡς ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα ἐδεξάμην ταῖς ἀκοαῖς, φῶς γλυκύτατον εἰσέδυ μου τῇ καρδίᾳ, καὶ τὸ βαρὺ ἐκεῖνο τῆς λύπης κάλυμμα, τὸ πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον περικείμενον τῇ καρδίᾳ μου, θᾶττον περιῃρέθη. εἰ οὖν καλῶς εἰκάζω, ἀνάγγειλόν μοι: εἰ δὲ καὶ κρεῖττόν τι τῶν εἰρημένων γινώσκεις, μὴ ἀναβάλλου ἐξ αὐτῆς φανερῶσαί μοι.

Αὖθις οὖν ὁ Βαρλαὰμ ἀπεκρίνατο: Ναὶ μήν, κύριέ μου καὶ βασιλεῦ, τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ μέγα μυστήριον τὸ ἀποκεκρυμμένον ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν γενεῶν, ἐπ' ἐσχάτων δὲ τῶν χρόνων φανερωθὲν τῷ γένει τῶν ἀνθρώπων, οὗ τὴν φανέρωσιν πάλαι τῇ τοῦ θείου Πνεύματος χάριτι προήγγειλαν πολλοὶ προφῆται καὶ δίκαιοι, πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως μυηθέντες: καὶ μεγαλοφώνως καταγγείλαντες, καὶ πάντες τὴν ἐσομένην σωτηρίαν προορῶντες, ἐπόθουν θεάσασθαι ταύτην, καὶ οὐκ ἐθεάσαντο: ἀλλ' ἐσχάτη γενεὰ αὕτη ἠξιώθη τὸ σωτήριον δέξασθαι. ὁ πιστεύσας οὖν καὶ βαπτισθεὶς σωθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται.

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάσαφ ἔφη: Πάντα τὰ εἰρημένα σοι ἀνενδοιάστως πιστεύω, καὶ ὃν καταγγέλλεις δοξάζω Θεόν. μόνον ἀπλανῶς μοι ταῦτα σαφήνισον, καὶ τί με δεῖ ποιεῖν ἀκριβῶς δίδαξον: ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ βάπτισμα τί ἐστιν, ὃ τοὺς πιστεύοντας δέξασθαι ἔφης, κατ' ἀκολουθίαν αὐτῷ πάντα μοι γνώρισον.

Ἐκεῖνος δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπεκρίνατο: Τῆς ἁγίας ταύτης καὶ ἀμωμήτου τῶν Χριστιανῶν πίστεως ῥίζα ὥσπερ καὶ ἀσφαλὴς ὑποβάθρα ἡ τοῦ θείου βαπτίσματος ὑπάρχει χάρις, πάντων τῶν ἀπὸ γενέσεως ἁμαρτημάτων κάθαρσιν ἔχουσα, καὶ παντελῆ ῥύψιν τῶν ἀπὸ κακίας ἐπεισελθόντων μολυσμάτων. οὕτω γὰρ ὁ Σωτὴρ ἐνετείλατο δι' ὕδατος ἀναγεννᾶσθαι καὶ Πνεύματος, καὶ εἰς τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἐπανάγεσθαι ἀξίωμα, δι' ἐντεύξεως δηλαδὴ καὶ τῆς σωτηρίου ἐπικλήσεως, ἐπιφοιτῶντος τῷ ὕδατι τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος. βαπτιζόμεθα τοίνυν, κατὰ τὸν λόγον τοῦ Κυρίου, εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρός, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος: καὶ οὕτως ἐνοικεῖ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος ἡ χάρις τῇ τοῦ βαπτισθέντος ψυχῇ, λαμπρύνουσα αὐτὴν καὶ θεοειδῆ ἀπεργαζομένη, καὶ τὸ κατ' εἰκόνα καὶ καθ' ὁμοίωσιν αὐτῇ ἀνακαινίζουσα: καὶ λοιπὸν πάντα τὰ παλαιὰ τῆς κακίας ἔργα ἀπορρίψαντες, συνθήκην πρὸς Θεὸν δευτέρου βίου καὶ ἀρχὴν καθαρωτέρας πολιτείας ποιούμεθα, ὡς ἂν καὶ συγκληρονόμοι ἐσόμεθα τῶν πρὸς ἀφθαρσίαν ἀναγεννηθέντων καὶ τῆς αἰωνίου σωτηρίας ἐπιλαβομένων. χωρὶς δὲ βαπτίσματος οὐκ ἔστι τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἐλπίδος ἐκείνης ἐπιτυχεῖν, κἂν πάντων τῶν εὐσεβῶν εὐσεβέστερός τις γένηται. οὕτω γὰρ ὁ ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ τοῦ γένους ἡμῶν ἐνανθρωπήσας Θεὸς Λόγος εἶπεν: Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν μὴ ἀναγεννηθῆτε δι' ὕδατος καὶ Πνεύματος, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. διὸ πρὸ πάντων ἀξιῶ σε τῇ μὲν ψυχῇ δέξασθαι τὴν πίστιν, προσελθεῖν δὲ εὐθὺς καὶ τῷ βαπτίσματι πόθῳ θερμοτάτῳ καὶ μηδόλως πρὸς τοῦτο ἀναβάλλεσθαι: ἐπικίνδυνον γὰρ ἡ ἀναβολή, διὰ τὸ ἄδηλον εἶναι τοῦ θανάτου τὴν προθεσμίαν.

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάσαφ πρὸς αὐτὸν εἶπε: Καὶ τίς ἡ ἀγαθὴ ἐλπὶς ἐκείνη, ἧς ἔφης χωρὶς βαπτίσματος μὴ ἐπιτυγχάνειν; τίς δέ ἐστιν ἥνπερ βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀποκαλεῖς; πόθεν δὲ τὰ τοῦ ἐνανθρωπήσαντος Θεοῦ ῥήματα σὺ ἀκήκοας; τίς δὲ ἡ τοῦ θανάτου ἄδηλος προθεσμία, περὶ ἧς μέριμνα πολλή, τῇ καρδίᾳ μου ἐνσκήψασα, ἐν λύπαις καὶ ὀδύναις δαπανᾷ μου τὰς σάρκας, καὶ αὐτῶν δὴ τῶν ὀστέων καθάπτεται; καὶ εἰ τεθνηξόμενοι εἰς τὸ μὴ ὂν διαλυθῶμεν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, ἢ ἔστιν ἄλλη τις βιοτὴ μετὰ τὴν ἐντεῦθεν ἐκδημίαν; ταῦτα καὶ τούτοις ἑπόμενα μαθεῖν ἐπεθύμουν.

Ὁ δὲ Βαρλαὰμ τοιαύτας τούτοις ἐδίδου τὰς ἀποκρίσεις: Ἡ μὲν ἀγαθὴ ἐλπίς, ἣν εἴρηκα, τῆς βασιλείας ἐστὶ τῶν οὐρανῶν: αὕτη δὲ γλώσσῃ βροτείᾳ τὸ παράπαν ὑπάρχει ἀνέκφραστος: φησὶ γὰρ ἡ Γραφή: Ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδε, καὶ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσε, καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἀνέβη, ἃ ἡτοίμασεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν. ὅταν δὲ ἀξιωθῶμεν, τὸ παχὺ τοῦτο ἀποθέμενοι σαρκίον, τῆς μακαριότητος ἐκείνης ἐπιτυχεῖν, τότε αὐτός, ὁ καταξιώσας ἡμᾶς μὴ διαμαρτεῖν τῆς ἐλπίδος, διδάξει καὶ γνωριεῖ τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἐκείνων τὴν πάντα νοῦν ὑπερέχουσαν δόξαν, τὸ ἄφραστον φῶς, τὴν μὴ διακοπτομένην ζωήν, τὴν μετὰ ἀγγέλων διαγωγήν. εἰ γὰρ ἀξιωθῶμεν Θεῷ συγγενέσθαι καθ' ὅσον ἐφικτὸν ἀνθρωπίνῃ φύσει, πάντα εἰσόμεθα παρ' αὐτοῦ ἃ νῦν οὐκ ἴσμεν. τοῦτο γὰρ ἐγώ, ἐκ τῆς τῶν θεοπνεύστων Γραφῶν μεμυημένος διδαχῆς, πάντων μάλιστα βασιλείαν οὐρανῶν τίθεμαι, τὸ πλησίον γενέσθαι τῇ θεωρίᾳ τῆς ἁγίας καὶ ζωαρχικῆς Τριάδος, καὶ τῷ ἀπροσίτῳ φωτὶ αὐτῆς ἐλλαμφθῆναι, τρανότερόν τε καὶ καθαρώτερον καὶ ἀνακεκαλυμμένῳ προσώπῳ τὴν ἄρρητον αὐτῆς δόξαν κατοπτρίζεσθαι. εἰ δὲ μὴ δυνατὸν τὴν δόξαν ἐκείνην καὶ τὸ φῶς καὶ τὰ ἀπόρρητα ἀγαθὰ παραστῆσαι λόγῳ, θαυμαστὸν οὐδέν: οὐκ ἂν γὰρ ἦσαν μεγάλα καὶ ἐξαίρετα, εἴ γε ἡμῖν, τοῖς ἐπιγείοις καὶ φθαρτοῖς καὶ τὸ βαρὺ τοῦτο καὶ ἐμπαθὲς σαρκίον περικειμένοις, τῷ λογισμῷ τε κατελαμβάνοντο καὶ τῷ λόγῳ παριστῶντο. οὕτω μὲν οὖν δὴ περὶ τούτων εἰδὼς τῇ πίστει μόνῃ, δέχου ἀνενδοιάστως μηδὲν πεπλασμένον ἔχειν, καὶ δι' ἔργων ἀγαθῶν ἐπείχθητι τῆς ἀθανάτου βασιλείας ἐκείνης ἐπιλαβέσθαι, ἧσπερ ὅταν ἐπιτύχης, μαθήσῃ τὸ τέλειον.

Περὶ ὧν δὲ ἠρώτησας, πῶς ἡμεῖς τοὺς λόγους τοῦ σαρκωθέντος Θεοῦ ἀκηκόαμεν, διὰ τῶν ἱερῶν Εὐαγγελίων ἴσθι πάντα τὰ τῆς θεανδρικῆς οἰκονομίας ἡμᾶς μεμαθηκέναι. οὕτω γὰρ ἡ ἁγία δέλτος ἐκείνη κέκληται, ὡς ἅτε ἀθανασίαν καὶ ἀφθαρσίαν καὶ ζωὴν αἰώνιον καὶ ἁμαρτιῶν ἄφεσιν καὶ βασιλείαν οὐρανῶν τοῖς θνητοῖς ἡμῖν καὶ φθαρτοῖς καὶ ἐπιγείοις εὐαγγελιζομένη ἥνπερ γεγράφασιν οἱ αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται τοῦ Λόγου, οὓς ἀνωτέρω εἴρηκα, ὅτι μαθητὰς καὶ ἀποστόλους ὁ Σωτὴρ ἡμῶν Χριστὸς ἐξελέξατο: καὶ παρέδωκαν ἡμῖν ἐγγράφως, μετὰ τὴν ἔνδοξον τοῦ Δεσπότου εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἄνοδον, τῆς ἐπὶ γῆς αὐτοῦ πολιτείας τάς τε διδασκαλίας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ θαύματα, κατὰ τὸ ἐγχωροῦν γραφῇ παραδοῦναι. οὕτω γὰρ πρὸς τῷ τέλει τοῦ λόγου ὁ ἐξαίρετος τῶν θείων ἐκείνων εὐαγγελιστῶν εἴρηκεν: Ἔστι, φησί, καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἅτινα ἐὰν γράφηται καθ' ἓν οὐδὲ αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὸν κόσμον χωρῆσαι τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία.

Ἐν τούτῳ οὖν τῷ θειοτάτῳ Εὐαγγελίῳ ἐμφέρεται τῆς τε σαρκώσεως, τῆς τε ἀναδείξεως, τῶν τε θαυμάτων, τῶν τε πραγμάτων αὐτοῦ ἡ ἱστορία Πνεύματι Θεοῦ γεγραμμένη, ἔπειτα καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἀχράντου πάθους οὗπερ ὑπέμεινε δι' ἡμᾶς ὁ Κύριος, τῆς τε ἁγίας καὶ τριημέρου ἐγέρσεως, καὶ τῆς εἰς οὐρανοὺς ἀνόδου, πρὸς δὲ καὶ τῆς ἐνδόξου καὶ φοβερᾶς αὐτοῦ δευτέρας παρουσίας. μέλλει γὰρ πάλιν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐλθεῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, μετὰ δόξης ἀρρήτου καὶ πλήθους τῆς οὐρανίου στρατιᾶς, κρῖναι τὸ γένος ἡμῶν καὶ ἀποδοῦναι ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ. τὸν γὰρ ἄνθρωπον ἐξ ἀρχῆς ὁ Θεὸς ἐκ γῆς διαπλάσας, καθὰ δὴ καὶ προλαβὼν εἶπόν σοι, ἐνεφύσησεν εἰς αὐτὸν πνοήν, ἥτις ψυχὴ λογική τε καὶ νοερὰ προσαγορεύεται: ἐπεὶ δὲ θάνατον κατεκρίθημεν, ἀποθνήσκομεν πάντες, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι τὸ ποτήριον τοῦτό τινα τῶν ἀνθρώπων παραδραμεῖν: ἔστι δὲ ὁ θάνατος χωρισμὸς ψυχῆς ἀπὸ τοῦ σώματος. ἐκεῖνο μὲν οὖν τὸ ἐκ γῆς διαπλασθὲν σῶμα, χωρισθὲν τῆς ψυχῆς, εἰς γῆν ὑποστρέφει, ἐξ ἧσπερ καὶ ἐλήφθη, καὶ φθειρόμενον διαλύεται: ἡ δὲ ψυχή, ἀθάνατος οὖσα, πορεύεται ἔνθα κελεύει ὁ Δημιουργός, μᾶλλον δὲ καθὼς αὐτὴ προητοίμασεν ἑαυτῇ κατάλυμα ἔτι τῷ σαρκίῳ συνοῦσα. καθὼς γάρ τις πολιτεύσηται ἐνταῦθα, μέλλει ἀπολαμβάνειν ἐκεῖθεν.

Εἶτα μετὰ πλείστους χρόνους ἐλεύσεται Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν κρῖναι τὸν κόσμον ἐν δόξῃ φοβερᾷ καὶ ἀνεκδιηγήτῳ, οὗ τῷ φόβῳ αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται, καὶ πᾶσαι αἱ στρατιαὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων τρόμῳ παρίστανται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ. τότε ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου καὶ ἐν σάλπιγγι Θεοῦ ἀναστήσονται οἱ νεκροί, καὶ παραστήσονται τῷ φοβερῷ αὐτοῦ θρόνῳ. ἔστι δὲ ἡ ἀνάστασις συνάφεια πάλιν ψυχῆς τε καὶ σώματος. αὐτὸ οὖν τὸ σῶμα, τὸ φθειρόμενον καὶ διαλυόμενον, αὐτὸ ἀναστήσεται ἄφθαρτον. καὶ μηδαμῶς σοι ἀπιστίας λογισμὸς περὶ τούτου ἐπέλθοι: οὐκ ἀδυνατεῖ γὰρ τῷ ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐκ τῆς γῆς διαπλάσαντι αὐτό, εἶτα ἀποστραφὲν εἰς γῆν ἐξ ἧς ἐλήφθη, κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Δημιουργοῦ ἀπόφασιν, αὖθις ἀναστῆσαι. εἰ γὰρ ἐννοήσεις πόσα ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός, ἱκανή σοι ἔσται αὕτη ἀπόδειξις. καὶ γὰρ γῆν λαβὼν ἐποίησεν ἄνθρωπον, γῆν οὐκ οὖσαν πρότερον: πῶς οὖν ἡ γῆ γέγονεν ἄνθρωπος; πῶς δὲ αὕτη οὐκ οὖσα παρήγετο; ποίαν δὲ ὑποβάθραν ἔχει; πῶς δὲ ἐξ αὐτῆς παρήχθησαν τὰ τῶν ἀλόγων ἄπειρα γένη, τὰ τῶν σπερμάτων, τὰ τῶν φυτῶν; ἀλλὰ καὶ νῦν κατανόησον ἐπὶ τῆς γεννήσεως τῆς ἡμετέρας: οὐ σπέρμα βραχὺ ἐνίεται εἰς τὴν ὑποδεχομένην μήτραν αὐτό; πόθεν οὖν ἡ τοσαύτη τοῦ ζώου διάπλασις;

Τῷ οὖν ταῦτα πάντα δημιουργήσαντι ἐκ μὴ ὄντων καὶ ἔτι δημιουργοῦντι οὐκ ἀδύνατον ἐκ γῆς τὰ νενεκρωμένα καὶ διαφθαρέντα σώματα ἀναστῆσαι, ἵνα ἕκαστος ἀπολάβῃ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ: Ἐργασίας γάρ, φησίν, ὁ παρὼν καιρός, ὁ δὲ μέλλων ἀνταποδόσεως. ἐπεὶ ποῦ τὸ δίκαιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, εἰ μὴ ἀνάστασις ἦν; πολλοὶ γάρ, δίκαιοι ὄντες, πολλὰ ἐν τῷ παρόντι βίῳ κακουχηθέντες καὶ τιμωρηθέντες βιαίως ἀνῃρέθησαν: ἔνιοι δέ, ἀσεβεῖς ὄντες καὶ παράνομοι, ἐν τρυφῇ καὶ εὐημερίᾳ τὴν παροῦσαν ζωὴν ἀνήλωσαν: ὁ δὲ Θεός, ἐπειδὴ ἀγαθός ἐστι καὶ δίκαιος, ὥρισεν ἡμέραν ἀναστάσεως καὶ ἐτάσεως, ἵνα, ἀπολαβοῦσα ἑκάστη ψυχὴ τὸ ἴδιον σῶμα, ὁ μὲν κακός, ἐνταῦθα τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἀπολαβών, ἐκεῖ περὶ ὧν ἥμαρτε κολασθῇ, ὁ δὲ ἀγαθός, ἐνταῦθα τιμωρηθεὶς περὶ ὧν ἥμαρτεν, ἐκεῖ τῶν ἀγαθῶν κληρονόμος γένηται: Ἀκούσονται γάρ, φησὶν ὁ Κύριος, οἱ ἐν τοῖς μνημείοις τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐξελεύσονται οἱ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ποιήσαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ τὰ φαῦλα πράξαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως, ἡνίκα καὶ θρόνοι τεθήσονται, καὶ ὁ Παλαῖος τῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ πάντων Δημιουργὸς προκαθίσει, καὶ βίβλοι ἀνοιγήσονται πάντων ἡμῶν τὰς πράξεις, τοὺς λόγους, τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις ἐγγεγραμμένας ἔχουσαι, καὶ ποταμὸς πυρὸς ἕλκεται, καὶ πάντα τὰ κεκρυμμένα ἀνακαλύπτονται. οὐδεὶς ἐκεῖ συνήγορος, ἢ πιθανότης ῥημάτων, ἢ ψευδὴς ἀπολογία, ἢ πλούτου δυναστεία, ἢ ἀξιωμάτων ὄγκος, ἢ δώρων ἄφθονοι δόσεις, κλέψαι τὴν ὀρθὴν κρίσιν ἰσχύουσιν: ἀλλ' ὁ ἀδέκαστος ἐκεῖνος καὶ ἀληθινὸς δικαστὴς ζυγοῖς δικαιοσύνης πάντα διακρινεῖ, καὶ πρᾶξιν καὶ λόγον καὶ διανόημα. καὶ πορεύσονται οἱ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ποιήσαντες εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον, εἰς τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀνεκφράστου, μετὰ ἀγγέλων εὐφραινόμενοι, τῶν ἀπορρήτων ἀγαθῶν ἀπολαύοντες, καὶ τῇ ἁγίᾳ Τριάδι καθαρῶς παριστάμενοι: οἱ δὲ τὰ φαῦλα πράξαντες καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀσεβεῖς καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ εἰς κόλασιν αἰώνιον, ἥτις γέεννα λέγεται καὶ σκότος ἐξώτερον, καὶ σκώληξ ἀκοίμητος, καὶ βρυγμὸς ὀδόντων, καὶ ἄλλα μυρία κολαστήρια, μᾶλλον δέ, τὸ πάντων χαλεπώτατον, τὸ ἀλλοτριωθῆναι ἀπὸ Θεοῦ καὶ ἀπερρῖφθαι τοῦ γλυκυτάτου προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῆς δόξης ἐκείνης στερηθῆναι τῆς ἀνεκδιηγήτου, καὶ τὸ παραδειγματισθῆναι ἐπὶ πάσης τῆς κτίσεως, καὶ τὸ αἰσχυνθῆναι αἰσχύνην πέρας οὐκ ἔχουσαν. μετὰ γὰρ τὸ δοθῆναι τὴν φρικτὴν ἐκείνην ἀπόφασιν, πάντα ἄτρεπτα μενεῖ καὶ ἀναλλοίωτα, μήτε τῆς τῶν δικαίων φαιδρᾶς διαγωγῆς ἐχούσης τέλος, μήτε τῆς τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν ταλαιπωρίας καὶ κολάσεως λαμβανούσης πέρας: οὔτε γὰρ κριτὴς μετ' ἐκεῖνον ὑψηλότερος, οὔτε ἀπολογία δι' ἔργων δευτέρων, οὐ προθεσμία μεταποιήσεως, οὐκ ἄλλη τις μέθοδος τοῖς κολαζομένοις, συνδιαιωνιζούσης αὐτοῖς τῆς τιμωρίας.

Τούτων οὕτως ἐχόντων, ποταποὺς δεῖ ὑπάρχειν ἡμᾶς ἐν ἁγίαις ἀναστροφαῖς καὶ εὐσεβέσι πολιτείαις, ἵνα καταξιωθῶμεν ἐκφυγεῖν τὴν μέλλουσαν ἀπειλὴν καὶ σταθῆναι ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ; αὕτη γὰρ ἡ στάσις τῶν δικαίων: τοῖς δὲ ἁμαρτωλοῖς ἡ ἐξ εὐωνύμων ἀποκεκλήρωται παναθλία μερίς. ἐκεῖθεν δὲ τοὺς μὲν δικαίους εὐλογημένους ἀποκαλῶν ὁ Δεσπότης εἰς τὴν ἀτελεύτητον βασιλείαν εἰσάγει, τοὺς δὲ ἁμαρτωλούς, μετ' ὀργῆς καὶ ἀρᾶς ἐκβαλὼν τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ τοῦ ἡμέρου καὶ γαληνοῦ, τὸ πάντων πικρότατον ἅμα καὶ χαλεπώτατον, εἰς κόλασιν ἐκπέμπει αἰώνιον.