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st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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&quot;<br />

DOUBTFUL WRITINGS.<br />

IQ ^<br />

but not daring to let their murmurs be openly heard<br />

by the king, applied to his brother and urged him to<br />

expo<strong>st</strong>ulate with their sovereign. The king s brother<br />

did so, and the king answered him ; but what the<br />

meaning <strong>of</strong> that answer was could not be under<strong>st</strong>ood<br />

t when evening was come the meaning <strong>of</strong> the<br />

answer seemed to be made but too plain.<br />

Uwas the<br />

cu<strong>st</strong>om <strong>of</strong> that country, when any man was sentenced<br />

death, for a messenger to be sent to blow a certain<br />

trumpet before his door, thence called the trumpet <strong>of</strong><br />

leath. When the fatal sound was heard, the inmates<br />

:new what was meant, and the victim ha<strong>st</strong>ened to<br />

make his la<strong>st</strong> preparation. On this night therefore<br />

the king sent a messenger to blow the trumpet before<br />

he door <strong>of</strong> his brother. He, pale and terrified<br />

thought that his hour was come, and at early morn<br />

ha<strong>st</strong>ened, with wife and children clad in<br />

mourning to<br />

sue for mercy at the hands <strong>of</strong> the king. The king<br />

set him free from his alarm, and reader him hf<br />

meaning <strong>of</strong> this riddle.<br />

If he, foolish suppliant, thus<br />

dreaded the messenger <strong>of</strong> an earthly king, one but<br />

ttle .higher m rank and honour than himself, how<br />

could he blame his brother for attending with awful<br />

reverence to any message that came to him from the<br />

<strong>st</strong>h humn ngS eVen th Ugh br Ught b * env y s &quot;<br />

&quot;* *&quot;** th Se * Wh m he had take<br />

<strong>of</strong>fence ?<br />

Such was the parable by which Barlaam encouraged<br />

and rewarded the condescension <strong>of</strong> the young prince<br />

e<br />

lhrsSemal<br />

e C 0nVerSati0n f **<br />

&quot;nd<br />

&quot;<br />

Ltr!!ction<br />

related,-* mu<strong>st</strong> be admitted, M almrctln^nable<br />

o

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