oney and riches, that, when I depart hence, I
may find these unharmed and unwasted for my enjoyment? How must I show
my hatred for things present and lay hold on things eternal? This make
thou right plain unto me." Quoth Barlaam, "The sending before thee of
money to that eternal home is wrought by the hands of the poor. For
thus saith one of the prophets, Daniel the wise, unto the king of
Babylon, 'Wherefore, O Prince, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee,
and redeem thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing
mercy to the poor.' The Saviour also saith, 'Make to yourselves
friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may
receive you into everlasting habitations.' And, in divers places, the
Master maketh much mention of almsgiving and liberality to the poor, as
we learn in the Gospel. Thus shalt thou most surely send all thy
treasure before thee by the hands of the needy, for whatsoever thou
shalt do unto these the Master counteth done unto himself, and will
reward thee manifold; for, in the recompense of benefits, he ever
surpasseth them that love him. So in this manner by seizing for awhile
the treasures of the darkness of this world, in whose slavery for a
long time past thou hast been miserable, thou shalt by these means make
good provision for thy journey, and by plundering another's goods thou
shalt store all up for thyself, with things fleeting and transient
purchasing for thyself things that are stable and enduring.
Afterwards, God working with thee, thou shalt perceive the uncertainty
and inconstancy of the world, and saying farewell to all, shalt remove
thy barque to anchor in the future, and, passing by the things that
pass away, thou shalt hold to the things that we look for, the things
that abide. Thou shalt depart from darkness and the shadow of death,
and hate the world and the ruler of the world; and, counting thy
perishable flesh thine enemy, thou shalt run toward the light that is
unapproachable, and taking the Cross on thy shoulders, shalt follow
Christ without looking back, that thou mayest also be glorified with
him, and be made inheritor of the life that never changeth nor
deceiveth."

Ioasaph said, "When thou spakest a minute past of despising all things,
and taking up such a life of toil, was that an old tradition handed
down from the teaching of the Apostles, or is this a late invention of
your wits, which ye have chosen for yourselves as a more excelle