alt "reward every man according to his works."'
And many other such things have been spoken by the Psalmist, and all
the Prophets inspired by the Holy Ghost, concerning the judgement and
the recompense to come. Their words also have been most surely
confirmed by the Saviour who hath taught us to believe the resurrection
of the dead, and the recompense of the deeds done in the flesh, and the
unending life of the world to come."

X

But Ioasaph was filled hereby with deep compunction, and was melted
into tears; and he said to the elder, "Thou hast told me everything
plainly, and hast completed unerringly thy terrible and marvellous
tale. With such truths set before us, what must we do to escape the
punishments in store for sinners, and to gain the joy of the righteous?"

Barlaam answered: "It is written of Peter, who was also called chief of
the Apostles, that once when he was preaching the people were pricked
in their heart, like thyself to-day: and when they asked, 'What shall
we do?', Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of
you for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.'
Behold therefore upon thee also hath he poured forth the riches of his
mercy, and hath called thee that wert afar off from him in heart, and
didst serve others, not Gods, but pernicious devils and dumb and
senseless wooden images. Wherefore before all things approach thou him
who hath called thee, and from him shalt thou receive the true
knowledge of things visible and invisible. But if, after thy calling,
thou be loth or slack, thou shalt be disherited by the just judgement
of God, and by thy rejection of him thou shalt be rejected. For thus
too spake the same Apostle Peter to a certain disciple. But I believe
that thou hast heard the call, and that, when thou hast heard it more
plainly, thou wilt take up thy Cross, and follow that God and Master
that calleth thee, calleth thee to himself from death unto life, and
from darkness unto light. For, soothly, ignorance of God is darkness
and death of the soul; and to serve idols, to the destruction of all
nature, is to my thinking the extreme of all senselessness.

"But idolaters--to whom shall I compare them, and to what likeness
shall I liken their silliness? Well, I will set before thee an example
which I heard fro