f free will that men
deliberate, and of free will that men choose, a man partaketh of the
light divine, and advanceth in the practice of this philosophy in exact
measure of his choice, for there are differences of choice. And even
as water-springs, issuing from the hollows of the earth, sometimes gush
forth from the surface soil, and sometimes from a lower source, and at
other times from a great depth, and even as some of these waters bubble
forth continuously, and their taste is sweet, while others that come
from deep wells are brackish or sulphurous, even as some pour forth in
abundance while others flow drop by drop, thus, understand thou, is it
also with our choices. Some choices are swift and exceeding fervent,
others languid and cold: some have a bias entirely toward virtue, while
others incline with all their force to its opposite. And like in
nature to these choices are the ensuing impulses to action."

XVI.

Ioasaph said unto the elder, "Are there now others, too, who preach the
same doctrines as thou? Or art thou to-day the only one that teacheth
this hatred of the present world?"

The other answered and said, "In this your most unhappy country I know
of none: the tyranny of thy father hath netted all such in a thousand
forms of death; and he hath made it his aim that the preaching of the
knowledge of God be not once heard in your midst. But in all other
tongues these doctrines are sung and glorified, by some in perfect
truth, but by others perversely; for the enemy of our souls hath made
them decline from the straight road, and divided them by strange
teachings, and taught them to interpret certain sayings of the
Scriptures falsely, and not after the sense contained therein. But the
truth is one, even that which was preached by the glorious Apostles and
inspired Fathers, and shineth in the Catholick Church above the
brightness of the sun from the one end of the world unto the other; and
as an herald and teacher of that truth have I been sent to thee."

Ioasaph said unto him, "Hath my father then, learned naught of these
things?"

The elder answered, "Clearly and duly he hath learned naught; for he
stoppeth up his senses, and will not admit that which is good, being of
his own free choice inclined to evil."

"Would God," said Ioasaph, "that he too were instructed in these
mysteries?" The elder answered, "The things that are impossible with
men are possible with God. For how knowest thou whet