ited them, the Saviour
who had heard the prayer of his servant Ioasaph), it pleased the king
to signify the same to his son. Therefore on the morrow he wrote a
letter to Ioasaph, running thus:

"King Abenner to his well-beloved son Ioasaph, greeting. Dearest son,
many thoughts have been stealing into my soul, and rule it with a rod
of iron. I see our state vanishing, like as smoke vanisheth, but thy
religion shining brighter than the sun; and I have come to my senses,
and know that the words which thou hast ever spoken unto me are true,
and that a thick cloud of sin and wickedness did then cover us, so that
we were unable to discern the truth, and recognize the Creator of all.
Nay, but we shut our eyes, and would not behold the light which thou
didst enkindle more brightly for us. Much evil did we do unto thee,
and many of the Christians, alas! did we destroy; who, strengthened by
the power that aided them, finally triumphed over our cruelty. But now
we have removed that dense mist from our eyes, and see some small ray
of truth, and there cometh on us repentance of our misdeeds. But a new
cloud of despair would overshadow it; despair at the multitude of mine
offences, because I am now abominable and unacceptable to Christ, being
a rebel and a foeman unto him. What, then, sayest thou, dearest son,
hereto? Make known to me thine answer, and teach me that am thy father
what I should do, and lead me to the knowledge of my true weal."

When Ioasaph had received this letter, and read the words therein, his
soul was filled with mingled joy and amazement. Forthwith he entered
his closet, and falling on his face before the image of his Master,
watered the ground with his tears, giving thanks to his Lord and
confessing him, and tuning lips of exultation to sing an hymn of
praise, saying:

"I will magnify thee, O God, my King, and I will praise thy name for
ever and ever. Great art thou O Lord, and marvellous-worthy to be
praised, and of thy greatness there is no end. Who can express thy
noble acts, or show forth all thy praise, who hast turned the hard rock
into a standing water and the flint-stone into a springing well? For
behold this my father's flinty and more than granite heart is at thy
will melted as wax; because thou art able of these stones to raise up
children unto Abraham. I thank thee, Lord, thou lover of men, and God
of pity, that thou hast been, and art, long-suffering towards our
offences, and hast suff