of death, the indestructible to the
fleeting? Wilt thou not escape from the grievous bondage of the cruel
prince of this world, I mean the evil one, the devil, and become the
servant of the good, tenderhearted, and all merciful Lord? Wilt thou
not break away from serving thy many gods, falsely so called, and serve
the one, true and living God? Though thou hast sinned against him
often times by blaspheming him, and often times by slaying his servants
with dread torments, yet, I know well, that if thou turn again, he
shall in his kindness receive thee, and no more remember thine
offences: because he willeth not the death of a sinner but rather that
he may turn and live--he, who came down from the unspeakable heights,
to seek us that had gone astray: who endured for us Cross, scourge and
death: who bought with his precious blood us who had been sold in
bondage under sin. Unto him be glory and praise for ever and ever!
Amen."

The king was overwhelmed with astonishment and anger; with
astonishment, at his son's wisdom and unanswerable words; with anger,
at the persistence with which he denounced his father's gods, and
mocked and ridiculed the whole tenour of his life. He could not admit
the glory of his discourse because of the grossness of the darkness
within, but natural affection forbad him to punish his son, or evilly
to entreat him, and he utterly despaired of moving him by threats.
Fearing then that, if he argued further with him, his son's boldness
and bitter satire of the gods might kindle him to hotter anger, and
lead him to do him a mischief, he arose in wrath and withdrew. "Would
that thou hadst never been born," he cried, "nor hadst come to the
light of day, destined as thou weft to be such an one, a blasphemer of
the gods, and a renegade from thy father's love and admonition." But
thou shalt not alway mock the invincible gods, nor shall their enemies
rejoice for long, nor shall these knavish sorceries prevail. For
except thou become obedient unto me, and right-minded toward the gods,
I will first deliver time to sundry tortures, and then put thee to the
cruellest death, dealing with thee not as with a son, but as with an
enemy and rebel."

XXV.

In such wise did the father threaten and wrathfully retire. But the
son entered his own bedchamber, and lifted up his eyes to the proper
judge of his cause, and cried out of the depth of his heart, "O Lord my
God, my sweet hope and unerring promise, th