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

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ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS.
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length ; though the introduction of apologues every
now and then may have made it almost as interesting
to readers of a bygone generation as Pilgrim s Pro
gress has been since. In brief, Joasaph
is
baptized
and led to regard the monastic life as the highest of
all patterns. Barlaam, when his task is
done, returns
to his distant hermitage, and Joasaph
is left to face
the king s anger as best he may. The secret cannot
be long kept from him, and his rage and fury know
no bounds. But by the counsel of his chief minister
Araches he resorts to stratagem. He raises the hue
and cry far and wide in pursuit of the monk who has
caused the mischief, and in due time gives out that
the chase has been successful. Nachor, the astro
loger, is to be disguised so as to resemble the missing
Barlaam ;
a solemn assembly
is to be proclaimed ;
there the advocates of the old religion shall dispute
with the supposed Christian monk ;
and when the
latter gradually succumbs, as it is arranged
that he
shall, the prince will feel that his new teacher is
unable to give a good reason for the faith that is in
him. The plot is an artful one, but is baffled by the
penetration of Joasaph. He discerns at the outset
who it is that stands before him under the semblance
of Barlaam. Turning to the assumed monk, he thus
addresses him :
Barlaam, thou hast not forgotten in
what splendour and luxury thou didst find me. Be
lieving thy words, I renounced all my prospects of
worldly glory, and braved the anger of my father, to
worship an invisible king, and earn the recompence
that He has promised. Now thou art on thy
trial.
It thou dost make good the truth of what I learnt