ord, he said, "Since,
after all my labours, I find thee in all points unyielding to the
persuasion of my words, come now; I will divide with thee my kingdom,
and make thee king over the half-part thereof; and thou shalt be free,
from now, to go whatsoever way thou wilt without fear." He, though his
saintly soul perceived that the king was casting yet another snare to
trip his purpose, resolved to obey, in order that he might escape his
hands, and take the journey that he desired. So he answered and said,
"I have indeed been longing to go in quest of that man of God that
pointed out to me the way of salvation, and, bidding farewell to
everything, to pass the rest of my life in his company. But, father,
since thou sufferest me not to fulfil my heart's desire, I will obey
thee herein: for where there is no clear danger of perdition and
estrangement from God, it is right to obey one's father."

The king was filled with exceeding great joy, and divided all the
country under his sovranty into two parts, and appointed his son king,
and adorned him with the diadem, and arrayed him in all the splendour
of kingship, and sent him forth with a magnificent body-guard into the
kingdom set apart for him. And he bade his rulers and governors and
satraps, every one that would, to depart together with his son the
king. And he set apart a mighty and populous city for his kingdom, and
gave him everything that befitted a king. Thus then did Ioasaph
receive the power of kingship; and when he had reached that city, where
royal state had been prepared for him, on every tower of his city he
set up the sign of his Lord's passion, the venerable Cross of Christ.
And in person he besieged the idolatrous temples and altars, and razed
them to the ground, and uncovered their foundations, leaving no trace
of their ungodliness.

And in the middle of the city he upreared for Christ, his Lord, a
temple mighty and passing fair, and he bade the people there often to
resort thither, and offer their worship to God by the veneration of the
Cross, himself standing in the midst in the presence of all, and
earnestly giving himself unto prayer. And as many as were under his
hand he admonished and exhorted, and did everything to tear them away
from superstitious error, and to unite them to Christ; and he pointed
out the deceits of idolatry, and proclaimed the preaching of the
Gospel, and recounted the things concerning the condescension of God,
the Word, a