XIV.

Again said Ioasaph, "The Lord God prosper you, O you Wisest of men! For you hast gladdened my soul with your apt and excellent sayings. Wherefore sketch me yet another picture of the vanity of the world, and how a man may pass through it in peace and safety."

Barlaam took up his parable and said, "Hear then a similitude of this matter too. I once heard tell of a great city whose citizens had, from old time, the custom of taking some foreigner and stranger, who knew nothing of their laws and traditions, and of making him their king, to enjoy absolute power, and follow his own will and pleasure without hindrance, until the completion of a year. Then suddenly, while he was living with never a care in rioting and wantonness, without fear, and alway supposing that his reign would only terminate with his life, they would rise up against him, strip him bare of his royal robes, lead him in triumph up and down the city, and thence dispatch him beyond their borders into a distant great island; there, for lack of food and raiment, in hunger and nakedness he would waste miserably away, the luxury and pleasure so unexpectedly showered upon him changed as unexpectedly into woe. In accordance therefore with the unbroken custom of these citizens, a certain man was ordained to the kingship. But his mind was fertile of understanding, and he was not carried away by this sudden access of prosperity, nor did he emulate the heedlessness of the kings that had gone before him, and had been miserably expelled, but his soul was plunged in care and trouble how he might order his affairs well. After long and careful search, he learned from a wise counsellor the custom of the citizens, and the place of perpetual banishment, and was taught of him without guile how to ensure himself against this fate. So with this knowledge that within a very little while he must reach that island and leave to strangers this chance kingdom among strangers, he opened the treasures whereof he had awhile absolute and unforbidden use, and took a great store of money and huge masses of gold and silver and precious stones and delivered the same to trusty servants and sent them before him to the island whither he was bound. When the appointed year came to an end, the citizens rose against him, and sent him naked into banishment like those that went before him. But while the rest of these foolish kings, kings only for a season, were sore anhungred, he, that had timely deposited his wealth, passed his time in continual plenty mid dainties free of expense, and, rid of all fear of those mutinous and evil citizens, could count himself happy on his wise forethought.

"Understand you, therefore, that the city is this vain and deceitful world; that the citizens are the principalities and powers of the devils, the rulers of the darkness of this world, who entice us by the soft bait of pleasure, and counsel us to consider corruptible and perishable things as incorruptible, as though the enjoyment that comes from them were co-existent with us, and immortal as we. Thus then are we deceived; we have taken no thought concerning the things which are abiding and eternal, and have laid up in store for ourselves no treasure for that life beyond, when of a sudden there standeth over us the doom of death. Then, then at last do those evil and cruel citizens of darkness, that received us, dispatch us stript of all worldly goods,--for all our time has been wasted on their service--and carry us off 'to a dark land and a gloomy, to a land of eternal darkness, where there is no light, nor can one behold the life of men.' As for that good counsellor, who made known all the truth and taught that sagacious and wise king the way of salvation, understand you that I, your poor and humble servant, am he, who am come hither for to shew you the good and infallible way to lead you to things eternal and unending, and to counsel you to lay up all your treasure there; and I am come to lead you away from the error of this world, which, to my woe, I also loved, and clave to its pleasures and delights. But, when I perceived, with the unerring eyes of my mind how all human life is wasted in these things that come and go; when I saw that no man has aught that is stable and steadfast, neither the rich in his wealth, nor the mighty in his strength, nor the wise in his wisdom, nor the prosperous in his prosperity, nor the luxurious in his wantonness, nor he that dreameth of security of life in that vain and feeble security of his dreams, nor any man in any of those things that men on earth commend ('tis like the boundless rush of torrents that discharge themselves into the deep sea, thus fleeting and temporary are all present things); then, I say, I understood that all such things are vanity, and that their enjoyment is naught; and, that even as the past is all buried in oblivion, be it past glory, or past kingship, or the splendour of rank, or amplitude of power, or arrogance of tyranny, or aught else like them, so also present things will vanish in the darkness of the days to come. And, as I am myself of the present, I also shall doubtless be subject to its accustomed change; and, even as my fathers before me were not allowed to take delight for ever in the present world, so also shall it be with me. For I have observed how this tyrannical and troublesome world treateth mankind, shifting men hither and thither, from wealth to poverty, and from poverty to honour, carrying some out of life and bringing others in, rejecting some that are wise and understanding, making the honourable and illustrious dishonoured and despised, but seating others who are unwise and of no understanding upon a throne of honour, and making the dishonoured and obscure to be honoured of all.

"One may see how the race of mankind may never abide before the face of the cruel tyranny of the world. But, as when a dove fleeing from an eagle or a hawk flitteth from place to place, now beating against this tree, now against that bush, and then anon against the clefts of the rocks and all manner of bramble-thorns, and, nowhere finding any safe place of refuge, is wearied with continual tossing and crossing to and fro, so are they which are flustered by the present world. They labour painfully under unreasoning impulse, on no sure or firm bases: they know not to what goal they are driving, nor whither this vain life leadeth them this vain life, whereto they have in miserable folly subjected themselves, choosing evil instead of good, and pursuing vice instead of goodness; and they know not who shall inherit the cold fruits of their many heavy labours, whether it be a kinsman or a stranger, and, as oft times it haps, not even a friend or acquaintance at all, but an enemy and foeman.

"On all these things, and others akin to them, I held judgement in the tribunal of my soul, and I came to hate my whole life that had been wasted in these vanities, while I still lived engrossed in earthly things. But when I had put off from my soul the lust thereof, and cast it from me, then was there revealed unto me the true good, to fear God and do his will; for this I saw to be the sum of all good. This also is called the beginning of wisdom, and perfect wisdom. For life is without pain and reproach to those that hold by her, and safe to those who lean upon her as upon the Lord. So, when I had set my reason on the unerring way of the commandments of the Lord, and had surely learned that there is nothing froward or perverse therein, and that it is not full of chasms and rocks, nor of thorns and thistles, but lies altogether smooth and even, rejoicing the eyes of the traveller with the brightest sights, making beautiful his feet, and shoeing them with 'the preparation of the Gospel of peace,' that he may walk safely and without delay, this way, then, I rightly chose above all others, and began to rebuild my soul's habitation, which had fallen into ruin and decay.

"In such wise was I devising mine estate, and establishing mine unstable mind, when I heard the words of a wise teacher calling loudly to me thus, 'Come ye out,' said he, 'all ye that will to be saved. Be ye separate from the vanity of the world, for the fashion thereof quickly passes away, and behold it shall not be. Come ye out, without turning back, not for nothing and without reward, but winning supplies for travelling to life eternal, for ye are like to journey a long road, needing much supplies from hence, and ye shall arrive at the place eternal that has two regions, wherein are many mansions; one of which places God has prepared for them that love him and keep his commandments, full of all manner of good things; and they that attain thereto shall live for ever in incorruption, enjoying immortality without death, where pain and sorrow and sighing are fled away. But the other place is full of darkness and tribulation and pain, prepared for the devil and his angels, wherein also shall be cast they who by evil deeds have deserved it, who have bartered the incorruptible and eternal for the present world, and have made themselves fuel for eternal fire.'

"When I heard this voice, and recognized the truth, I did my diligence to attain to that abode, that is free from all pain and sorrow, and full of security and all good things, whereof I have knowledge now only in part, being but a babe in my spiritual life, and seeing the sights yonder as through mirrors and riddles; but when that which is perfect is come, and I shall see face to face, then that which is in part shall be done away. Wherefore I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord; for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and of death, and has opened mine eyes to see clearly that the will of the flesh is death, but the will of the Spirit is life and peace. And even as I did discern the vanity of present things and hate them with a perfect hatred, so likewise I counsel you to decide thereon, that you mayest treat them as something alien and quickly passing away, and mayest remove all your store from earth and lay up for thyself in the incorruptible world a treasure that can not be stolen, wealth inexhaustible, in that place whither you must shortly fare, that when you comest thither you mayest not be destitute, but be laden with riches, after the manner of that aptest of parables that I lately showed you."

XIV

Αὖθις οὖν ὁ Ἰωάσαφ, Εὖ σοι γένοιτο παρὰ Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὦ σοφώτατε τῶν ἀνθρώπων. εὔφρανας γάρ μου τὴν ψυχὴν τοῖς καταλλήλοις σου καὶ ἀρίστοις ῥήμασι. τοιγαροῦν ἀνατύπωσόν μοι καὶ ἔτι εἰκόνα τῆς ματαιότητος τοῦ κόσμου, καὶ πῶς ἄν τις ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ ἀσφαλείᾳ τοῦτον διέλθοι.

Ἀναλαβὼν δὲ τὸν λόγον ὁ Βαρλαὰμ ἔφη, Ἄκουσον καὶ τούτου δὴ τοῦ προβλήματος ὁμοίωσιν. πόλιν τινὰ μεμάθηκα μεγάλην, ἧς οἱ πολῖται τοιαύτην ἐσχήκεσαν ἔκπαλαι συνήθειαν, τὸ ἐπιλαμβάνεσθαι ξένου τινὸς καὶ ἀγνώστου ἀνδρός, μηδὲν τῶν νόμων τῆς πόλεως καὶ παραδόσεων ὅλως ἐπισταμένου, καὶ τοῦτον βασιλέα καθιστᾶν ἑαυτοῖς, πάσης ἀπολαύοντα ἐξουσίας καὶ τῶν αὐτοῦ θελημάτων ἀκωλύτως ἐχόμενον, ἄχρι συμπληρώσεως ἐνιαυσιαίου χρόνου. εἶτ', ἐξαίφνης ἐν πάσῃ αὐτοῦ τυγχάνοντος ἀμεριμνίᾳ, τρυφῶντός τε καὶ σπαταλῶντος ἀδεῶς, καὶ συνδιαιωνίζειν αὐτῷ τὴν βασιλείαν εἰσαεὶ δοκοῦντος, ἐπεγειρόμενοι κατ' αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν βασιλικὴν ἀφελόμενοι στολήν, γυμνόν τε ἀνὰ πᾶσαν θριαμβεύσαντες τὴν πόλιν, ἐξόριστον ἔπεμπον εἰς μακρὰν ἀπῳκισμένην καὶ μεγάλην τινὰ νῆσον, ἐν ᾗ, μήτε διατροφῆς εὐπορῶν μήτε ἐνδυμάτων, ἐν λιμῷ καὶ γυμνότητι δεινῶς κατετρύχετο, τῆς παρ' ἐλπίδα δοθείσης αὐτῷ τρυφῆς καὶ θυμηδίας εἰς λύπην αὖθις καὶ παρ' ἐλπίδα πᾶσαν καὶ προσδοκίαν μεταμειφθείσης. κατὰ τὸ παρακολουθῆσαν τοίνυν ἔθος τῶν πολιτῶν ἐκείνων, προεχειρίσθη τις ἀνὴρ εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν συνέσει πολλῇ τὸν λογισμὸν κατάκομον ἔχων, ὃς αὐτίκα μὴ συναρπασθεὶς τῇ ἐξαίφνης αὐτῷ προσπεσούσῃ εὐθηνίᾳ, μηδὲ τῶν προβεβασιλευκότων καὶ ἀθλίως ἐκβληθέντων τὴν ἀμεριμνίαν ζηλώσας, ἐμμέριμνον εἶχε καὶ ἐναγώνιον τὴν ψυχὴν πῶς ἂν τὰ κατ' αὐτὸν εὖ διάθοιτο. τῇ συχνῇ δὲ μελέτῃ ἀκριβωσάμενος, ἔγνω διά τινος σοφωτάτου συμβούλου τὴν συνήθειαν τῶν πολιτῶν, καὶ τὸν τόπον τῆς διηνεκοῦς ἐξορίας: ὅπως τε χρὴ ἑαυτὸν ἀσφαλίσασθαι ἀπλανῶς ἐδιδάχθη. ταῦτ' οὖν ὡς ἔγνω, καὶ ὅτι δεῖ αὐτὸν ὅσον οὔπω ἐκείνην καταλαμβάνειν τὴν νῆσον, τὴν δ' ἐπίκτητον ταύτην καὶ ἀλλοτρίαν βασιλείαν ἀλλοτρίοις αὖθις καταλιμπάνειν, ἀνοίξας τοὺς θησαυροὺς αὐτοῦ ὧνπερ τέως ἀνειμένην εἶχε καὶ ἀκώλυτον τὴν χρῆσιν, καὶ λαβὼν χρημάτων πλῆθος, χρυσοῦ τε καὶ ἀργύρου καὶ λίθων τιμίων ἁδρότατον ὄγκον, πιστοτάτοις παραδοὺς οἰκέταις, εἰς ἐκείνην προέπεμψεν, εἰς ἣν ἔμελλεν ἀπάγεσθαι, νῆσον. συντελεσθέντος δὲ τοῦ ἐμπροθέσμου ἐνιαυτοῦ, στασιάσαντες οἱ πολῖται γυμνὸν αὐτόν, ὡς καὶ τοὺς πρὸ αὐτοῦ, τῇ ἐξορίᾳ παρέπεμψαν. οἱ μὲν οὖν λοιποὶ ἀνόητοι καὶ πρόσκαιροι βασιλεῖς δεινῶς ἐλίμωττον: ὁ δέ, τὸν πλοῦτον προαποθέμενος ἐκεῖνον, εὐθηνίᾳ διηνεκεῖ συζῶν καὶ τρυφὴν ἀδάπανον ἔχων, φόβον τε παντάπασιν ἀποσεισάμενος τῶν ἀτάκτων καὶ πονηρῶν πολιτῶν, τῆς σοφωτάτης ἑαυτὸν ἐμακάριζεν εὐβουλίας.

Πόλιν οὖν νόει μοι τὸν μάταιον τοῦτον καὶ ἀπατεῶνα κόσμον, πολίτας δὲ τὰς ἀρχὰς καὶ τὰς ἐξουσίας τῶν δαιμόνων, τοὺς κοσμοκράτορας τοῦ σκότους τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου, τοὺς δελεάζοντας ἡμᾶς τῷ λείῳ τῆς ἡδονῆς, καὶ ὡς περὶ ἀφθάρτων ὑποτιθεμένους διανοεῖσθαι τῶν φθαρτῶν καὶ ἐπικήρων, ὡς ἅτε συνδιαιωνιζούσης ἡμῖν καὶ ἀθάνατα τῆς τούτων συνυπαρχούσης ἀπολαύσεως. οὕτως οὖν ἀπατηθέντων ἡμῶν καὶ μηδεμίαν περὶ τῶν μονίμων ἐκείνων καὶ αἰωνίων βουλευσαμένων, μήτε τι ταμιευσαμένων ἑαυτοῖς εἰς τὸν ἐκεῖθεν βίον, αἰφνίδιος ἡμῖν ἐφίσταται ὄλεθρος ὁ τοῦ θανάτου. τότε δὴ τότε γυμνοὺς ἡμᾶς τῶν ἐντεῦθεν οἱ πονηροὶ καὶ πικροὶ δεξάμενοι πολῖται τοῦ σκότους, ὡς ἐκείνοις τὸν ἅπαντα προσαναλώσαντας χρόνον, ἀπάγουσιν εἰς γῆν σκοτεινὴν καὶ γνοφεράν, εἰς γῆν σκότους αἰωνίου, οὗ οὐκ ἔστι φέγγος, οὐδὲ ὁρᾶν ζωὴν βροτῶν. σύμβουλον δὲ ἀγαθόν, τὸν τἀληθῆ πάντα γνωρίσαντα καὶ τὰ σωτήρια διδάξαντα ἐπιτηδεύματα τῷ συνετῷ καὶ σοφωτάτῳ βασιλεῖ, τὴν ἐμὴν ὑπολάμβανε εὐτελῆ χθαμαλότητα, ὃς τὴν ἀγαθὴν ὁδὸν καὶ ἀπλανῆ ὑποδεῖξαί σοι ἥκω, τοῖς αἰωνίοις μὲν καὶ ἀτελευτήτοις ἐνάγων κἀκεῖσε πάντα συμβουλεύων ἀποθέσθαι, ἀπάγων δὲ τοῦ πλάνου κόσμου τούτου, ὅνπερ κἀγὼ δυστυχῶς ἐφίλουν, καὶ τῶν αὐτοῦ ἀντειχόμην τερπνῶν τε καὶ ἀπολαυστικῶν. κατανοήσας δὲ τοῖς ἀπλανέσι τοῦ νοὸς ὀφθαλμοῖς πῶς ἐν τούτοις πᾶς ὁ τῶν ἀνθρώπων κατατρίβεται βίος, τῶν μὲν παραγινομένων, τῶν δὲ ἀπαιρόντων, καὶ μηδενὸς ἔχοντος τὸ στάσιμόν τε καὶ βέβαιον, μήτε τῶν πλουτούντων ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ, μήτε τῶν δυνατῶν ἐν τῇ ἰσχύϊ, μήτε τῶν σοφῶν ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ, μηδ' αὖ τῶν εὐημερούντων ἐν τῇ εὐημερίᾳ, μήτε τῶν τρυφώντων ἐν τῇ σπατάλῃ, μήτε τῶν ἀσφαλῶς δοκούντων βιοῦν ἐν τῇ ματαίᾳ αὐτῶν καὶ ἀδρανεστάτῃ ἀσφαλείᾳ, μήτε ἐν ἄλλῳ τινὶ τῶν ἐνταῦθα ἐπαινουμένων, ἀλλ' ἔοικε τὸ πρᾶγμα χειμάρρων παρόδῳ ἀμετρήτῳ θαλάσσης ἐμπιπτόντων βυθῷ (ῥευστὰ γὰρ οὕτως εἰσὶ τὰ παρόντα πάντα καὶ πρόσκαιρα), συνῆκα ὡς τὰ τοιαῦτα μάταια σύμπαντα καὶ ὄνησις αὐτῶν οὐδεμία, ἀλλ', ὥσπερ τὰ πρότερον πάντα λήθῃ κέκρυπται, εἴτε δόξαν εἴποις, εἴτε βασιλείαν, εἴτε ἀξιωμάτων λαμπρότητας, εἴτε δυναστείας ὄγκον, εἴτε τυράννων θρασύτητα, εἴτε τι τῶν τοιούτων, οὕτως καὶ τὰ ἐνεστῶτα εἰς τοὺς ἑξῆς καὶ μετέπειτα χρόνους ἀμαυρωθήσεται. ὧνπερ κἀγὼ εἷς ὑπάρχων τῇ συνήθει πάντως ἀλλοιώσει ὑποπεσοῦμαι, καὶ καθὼς οἱ πρὸ ἐμοῦ δι' αἰῶνος τέρπεσθαι τοῖς παροῦσιν οὐ συνεχωρήθησαν, οὕτως ἔσται καὶ ἐπ' ἐμοί. κατεῖδον γὰρ οἷα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὁ τύραννος οὗτος καὶ ταραχώδης κατεργάζεται κόσμος, μετατιθεὶς αὐτοὺς ἐντεῦθεν κἀκεῖθεν, οὓς μὲν ἐκ πλούτου πρὸς πενίαν, οὓς δὲ ἐκ πενίας εἰς δόξαν, τούτους μὲν ὑπεξάγων τοῦ βίου, ἄλλους δὲ αὖθις ἀντεισάγων, τινὰς μὲν σοφοὺς καὶ συνετοὺς ἀποδοκιμάζων, ἀτίμους τε καὶ εὐτελεῖς τοὺς τιμίους καὶ περιφανεῖς ἐργαζόμενος, ἄλλους δὲ ἀσόφους τε καὶ ἀσυνέτους ἐπὶ θρόνου καθίζων δόξης, τιμίους τε τοὺς ἀτίμους καὶ ἀφανεῖς πᾶσι δεικνύων.

Καὶ ἔστιν ἰδεῖν τὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων γένος μηδόλως κατὰ πρόσωπον τῆς αὐτοῦ ἀπηνοῦς τυραννίδος ἔχον στάσιν: ἀλλ', ὡς ὅταν περιστερά, φεύγουσα ἀετὸν εἴτε ἱέρακα, τόπους ἐκ τόπων ἀμείβῃ, νῦν μὲν τούτῳ τῷ δένδρῳ, αὖθις ἐκείνῳ τῷ θάμνῳ, εἶτ' εὐθὺς τρώγλαις τῶν πετρῶν καὶ παντοίαις ἀκάνθαις ἑαυτὴν προσαράσσουσα, καὶ οὐδαμοῦ εὑρίσκουσα προσφύγιον ἀσφαλές, ἐν σάλῳ καὶ ταλαντώσει ταλαιπωρεῖται διηνεκεῖ, οὕτως εἰσὶν οἱ τοῖς παροῦσιν ἐπτοημένοι, ὑφ' ὁρμῆς μὲν ἀλογίστου ἀθλίως πονοῦντες, μηδόλως δέ τι ἔχοντες βέβαιον ἢ ἀσφαλές, μήτ' ἐπιστάμενοι εἰς ὁποῖον καταντῶσι τέλος, καὶ ποῦ τούτους ὁ μάταιος ἄγει βίος, ᾧ καθυπέταξαν ἑαυτοὺς λίαν δυστυχῶς καὶ ἀθλίως, πονηρὰ μὲν ἑλόμενοι ἀντὶ ἀγαθῶν, μετελθόντες δὲ κακίαν ἀντὶ χρηστότητος, ἢ τίς ὁ τὰς ψυχρὰς τῶν πολλῶν καὶ μοχθηρῶν αὐτῶν καμάτων διαδεξάμενος ἐπικαρπίας, εἴτε οἰκεῖος, εἴτε ἀλλότριος: καὶ πολλάκις οὐδὲ φίλος ὅλως ἢ γνωστός, ἀλλ' ἐχθρὸς καὶ πολέμιος.

Ταῦτα πάντα καὶ τὰ τούτοις ἑπόμενα διακρίνας ἐν τῷ τῆς ψυχῆς κριτηρίῳ, ἐμίσησα τὸν σύμπαντά μου βίον τὸν ἐν τοῖς ματαίοις ἀναλωθέντα, ὃν διήγαγον τοῖς περὶ γῆς πόνοις προστετηκώς. ἀποβαλλομένῳ δέ μοι τῆς ψυχῆς τὴν τούτων προσπάθειαν καὶ ἀπορρίψαντι κατεφάνη τὰ τῷ ὄντι ἀγαθά, τὸ φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεὸν καὶ ποιεῖν αὐτοῦ τὸ θέλημα. τοῦτο γὰρ ἔγνων πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν κεφάλαιον ὑπάρχειν: τοῦτο καὶ ἀρχὴ σοφίας λέγεται καὶ σοφία τετελειωμένη: ζωὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἄλυπος καὶ ἀνεπηρέαστος τοῖς ἀντεχομένοις αὐτῆς, καὶ τοῖς ἐπερειδομένοις ἐπ' αὐτὴν ὡς ἐπὶ Κύριον ἀσφαλής. ἐπιστήσας οὖν μου τὸν λογισμὸν τῇ ἀπλανεστάτῃ ὁδῷ τῶν ἐντολῶν τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ γνοὺς ἀκριβῶς μηδὲν ἐν αὐτῇ σκολιὸν ἢ στραγγαλιῶδες ὑπάρχειν, μήτε φαράγγων καὶ σκοπέλων ἀκανθῶν τε καὶ τριβόλων πεπληρωμένην, ἀλλ' ὅλην λείαν καθεστηκέναι καὶ ὁμαλήν, τέρπουσαν μὲν τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῶν αὐτὴν ὁδευόντων ταῖς φανοτάταις θεωρίαις ὡραΐζουσαν δὲ τοὺς πόδας, καὶ ὑποδύουσαν τὴν ἑτοιμασίαν τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τῆς εἰρήνης, τοῦ ἀσφαλῶς τε καὶ συντόμως βαδίζειν: ἥνπερ πάντων δικαίως προέκρινα, καὶ οἰκοδομεῖν ἠρξάμην τὴν πεσοῦσάν μου τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ φθαρεῖσαν οἰκίαν.

Οὕτως μου τὰ κατ' ἐμαυτὸν διατιθεμένου καὶ τὸ σφαλερὸν τοῦ νοὸς ἐπανορθοῦντος, ῥημάτων ἀκήκοα σοφοῦ τινος διδασκάλου τοιαῦτά μοι ἐμβοῶντος: Ἐξέλθετε, ἔφη, πάντες οἱ ποθοῦντες σωθῆναι: ἀποχωρίσθητε τῆς ματαιότητος τοῦ κόσμου: παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα αὐτοῦ μικρὸν ὅσον, καὶ ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἔσται. ἐξέλθετε ἀμεταστρεπτί, μὴ προῖκα δὲ καὶ ἀμισθί, ἀλλ' ἐφόδια φερόμενοι ζωῆς αἰωνίου: μακρὰν γὰρ μέλλετε βαδίζειν ὁδόν, πολλῶν ἔχουσαν χρείαν τῶν ἐντεῦθεν ἐφοδίων. καὶ καταλαμβάνετε τὸν αἰώνιον τόπον χώρας ἔχοντα δύο, πολλὰς ἐν ἑαυταῖς μονὰς ἐχούσας, ὧν τὴν μὲν μίαν ἡτοίμασεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτὸν καὶ τὰς αὐτοῦ φυλάττουσιν ἐντολάς, παντοίων οὖσαν ἀγαθῶν πεπληρωμένην, ἧσπερ οἱ ἀξιωθέντες ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ ζήσονται διηνεκεῖ, τῆς ἀνωλέθρου ἀπολαύοντες ἀθανασίας, ἔνθα ἀπέδρα ὀδύνη, λύπη καὶ στεναγμός: ἡ δὲ δευτέρα, σκότους οὖσα μεστὴ καὶ θλίψεως καὶ ὀδύνης, τῷ διαβόλῳ ἡτοίμασται καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις αὐτοῦ, ἐν ᾗ βληθήσονται καὶ οἱ δι' ἔργων πονηρῶν ἑαυτοῖς ταύτην προξενήσαντες, οἱ τῶν ἀφθάρτων καὶ αἰωνίων τὰ παρόντα ἀνταλλαξάμενοι καὶ ὅλους ἑαυτοὺς κατάβρωμα τοῦ αἰωνίου πυρὸς ποιησάμενοι.

Ταύτης ἐγὼ τῆς φωνῆς ἀκούσας καὶ τὸ ἀψευδὲς αὐτῆς ἐπιγνούς, ἐκεῖνο καταλαβεῖν τὸ κατάλυμα ἔργον ἐθέμην, τὸ πάσης μὲν ἀπηλλαγμένον ὀδύνης τε καὶ λύπης, τοσαύτης δὲ ἀσφαλείας καὶ τοιούτων ἀγαθῶν πλῆρες ὑπάρχον, ὧν ἡ γνῶσις νυνὶ μὲν ἐκ μέρους ἐστὶν ἐν ἐμοί, νηπίῳ τε ὄντι τὴν πνευματικὴν ἡλικίαν καὶ ὡς δι' ἐσόπτρων καὶ αἰνιγμάτων τὰ ἐκεῖθεν βλέποντι: ὅτε δὲ ἔλθῃ τὸ τέλειον, καὶ ἐπιγνώσομαι πρόσωπον πρὸς πρόσωπον, τότε τὸ ἐκ μέρους καταργηθήσεται. εὐχαριστῶ τοίνυν τῷ Θεῷ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν: ὁ γὰρ νόμος τοῦ πνεύματος τῆς ζωῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ ἠλευθέρωσέ με ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου τῆς ἁμαρτίας καὶ τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ διήνοιξέ μου τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἀπλανῶς κατιδεῖν ὅτι τὸ φρόνημα τῆς σαρκὸς θάνατος, τὸ δὲ φρόνημα τοῦ πνεύματος ζωὴ καὶ εἰρήνη. καὶ καθάπερ οὖν ἐγώ, τῶν παρόντων ἐπιγνοὺς τὴν ματαιότητα, τέλειον αὐτὰ ἐμίσησα μῖσος, οὕτω δὴ καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν περὶ τούτων συμβουλεύω, ἵνα ὡς ἀλλοτρίοις διατεθῇς αὐτοῖς καὶ θᾶττον παρερχομένοις, ἀφελόμενος δ' ἐντεῦθεν πάντα, θησαυρίσῃς σεαυτῷ ἐν τῷ ἀφθάρτῳ αἰῶνι θησαυρὸν ἀσύλητον, πλοῦτον ἀδαπάνητον, ἔνθα σε δεῖ ἀνυπερθέτως πορευθῆναι, ἵνα, ὅταν ἀπέλθῃς, οὐχ ὑστερούμενος ἔσῃ, ἀλλὰ πλούτῳ βρίθων, καθάπερ σοι τὴν τούτων ἀνεθέμην ἀνωτέρω καταλληλοτάτην εἰκόνα.