e disciples of all nations； baptizing them in the name of the Father； and of the Son； and of the Holy Ghost；' he did not stop there； but added； ‘teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you。'
〃Now he commanded men to be poor in spirit； and such he calleth blessed and worthy of the kingdom of heaven。 Again he chargeth us to mourn in the present life； that we may obtain comfort hereafter； and to be meek； and to be ever hungering and thirsting after righteousness： to be merciful； and ready to distribute； pitiful and compassionate； pure in heart； abstaining from all defilement of flesh and spirit； peacemakers with our neighbours and with our own souls； by bringing the worse into subjection to the better； and thus by a just decision making peace in that continual warfare betwixt the twain； also to endure all persecution and tribulation and reviling； inflicted upon us for righteousness' sake in defence of his name； that we may obtain everlasting felicity in the glorious distribution of his rewards。 Ay； and in this world he exhorteth us to let our ‘light so shine before men； that they may see；' he saith； ‘your good works； and glorify your Father which is in heaven。'
〃For the law of Moses； formerly given to the Israelites； saith； 'Thou shalt not kill； thou shalt not commit adultery； thou shalt not steal； thou shalt not bear false witness：' but Christ saith 'Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement； and whosoever shall say； Thou fool； shall be in danger of hell fire：' and； ‘if thou bring thy gift to the altar； and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee； leave there thy gift before the altar； and go thy way and first be reconciled to thy brother。' And he also saith； 'Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her； hath committed adultery with her in his heart。' And hereby he calleth the defilement and consent of the affection adultery。 Furthermore； where the law forbade a man to forswear himself； Christ commanded him to swear not at all beyond Yea and Nay。 There we read； ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth'： here； ‘Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek； turn to him the other also。 And if any man will sue thee at the law； and take away thy coat； let him have thy cloke also。 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile； go with him twain。 Give to him that asketh time； and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away。 Love your enemies； bless them that curse you； do good to them that hate you； and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you； that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven： for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good； and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust。 Judge not； that ye be not judged。 Forgive； and ye shall be forgiven。 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth； where moth and rust doth corrupt； and where thieves break through and steal： but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven； where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt； and where thieves do not break through nor steal： for where your treasure is； there will your heart be also。 Take no thought for your life； what ye shall eat； or what ye shall drink； nor yet for your body； what ye shall put on： for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things。' He therefore that gave life and body will assuredly give food and raiment： he that feedeth the fowls of the air and arrayeth with such beauty the lilies of the field。 ‘But； seek ye first；' saith Christ； ‘the kingdom of God； and his righteousness； and all these things shall be added unto you。 Take therefore no thought for the morrow： for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself。 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you； do ye even so to them。 Enter ye in at the strait gate： for wide is the gate； and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction； and many there be which go in thereat。 Strait and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it。 Not every one that saith unto me； Lord； Lord； shall enter into the kingdom of heaven； but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven。 He that 1oveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me； and he that loveth son and daughter more than me is not worthy of me。 And he that taketh not up his cross and followeth after me； is not worthy of me。' Lo these and the like of these be the things which the Saviour commanded his Apostles to teach the Faithful： and all these things we are bound to observe； if we desire to attain to perfection and receive the incorruptible crowns of righteousness； which the Lord； the righteous judge； shall give at that day unto all them that have loved his appearing。〃
Ioasaph said unto the elder； 〃Well then； as the strictness of these doctrines demandeth such chaste conversation； if； after baptism； I chance to fail in one or two of these commandments； shall I therefore utterly miss the goal； and shall all my hope be vain？〃
Barlaam answered； 〃Deem not so。 God； the Word； made man for the salvation of our race； aware of the exceeding frailty and misery of our nature； hath not even here suffered our sickness to be without remedy。 But； like a skilful leech； he hath mixed for our unsteady and sin…loving heart the potion of repentance； prescribing this for the remission of sins。 For after that we have received the knowledge of the truth； and have been sanctified by water and the Spirit； and cleansed without effort from all sin and all defilement； if we should fortune to fall into any transgression； there is； it is true； no second regeneration made within us by the spirit through baptism in the water of the font； and wholly re…creating us （that gift is given once for all）； but； by means of painful repentance； hot tears； toils and sweats； there is a purifying and pardoning of our offences through the tender mercy of our God。 For the fount of tears is also called baptism； according to the grace of the Master； but it needeth labour and time； and many hath it saved after many a fall； because there is no sin too great for the clemency of God； if we be quick to repent； and purge the shame of our offences； and death overtake us not； and depart us not from this life still defiled； for in the grave there is no confession nor repentance。 But as long as we are ‘among the living； while the foundation of our true faith continueth unshattered； even if somewhat of the outer roof…work or inner building be disabled； it is allowed to renew by repentance the part rotted by sins。 It is impossible to count the multitude of the mercies of God； or measure the greatness of his compassion： whereas sins and offences； of whatever kind； are subject to measure and may be numbered。 So our offences； being subject to measure and number； cannot overcome the immeasurable compassion； and innumerable mercies of God。
〃Wherefore we are commanded not to despair for our trespasses； but to acknowledge the goodness of God； and condemn the sins whereof forgiveness is offered us by reason of the loving… kindness of Christ； who for our sins shed his precious blood。 In many places of Scripture we are taught the power of repentance； and especially by the precepts and parables of our Lord Jesus Christ。 For it saith； ‘From that time began Jesus to preach and to say； 〃Repent ye； for the kingdom of heaven is at hand。〃' Moreover he setteth before us； in a parable； a certain son that had received his father's substance； and taken his journey into a far country； and there spent all in riotous living。 Then； when there arose a famine in that land； he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that land of iniquity； who sent him into his fields to feed swine； thus doth he designate the most coarse and loathsome sin。 When； after much labour； he had come to the utmost misery； and might not even fill his belly with the husks that the swine did eat； at last he came to perceive his shameful plight； and； bemoaning himself； said； ‘How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare； and I perish with hunger！ I will arise and go to my father； and will say unto him； 〃Father； I have sinned against heaven and before thee； and am no more worthy to be called thy son： make me as one of thy hired servants。〃' And he arose； and came to his father。 But； when he was yet a great way off； his father saw him； and had compassion； and ran； and embraced him； and kissed him tenderly； and； restoring him to his former rank； made a feast of joyaunce because his son was found again； and killed the fatted calf。 Lo； this parable； that Jesus spake to us； concerneth such as turn again from sin； and fall at his feet in repentance。 Again； he representeth a certain good shepherd that had an hundred sheep； and； when one was lost； left the ninety and nine； and went forth to seek that which was gone astray； until he found it： and he laid it on his shoulders； and folded it with those that had not gone astray； and called together his friends and neighbours to a banquet； because that it was found。 ‘Likewise；' saith the Saviour； ‘joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth； more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance。'
〃And； in sooth； even the chief of the disciples； Peter； the Rock of the Faith； in the very season of the Saviour's Passion； failing for a little while in his stewardship； that he might understand the worthlessness and misery of human frailty； fell under the guilt of denial。 Then he straightway remembered the Lord's words； and went out and wept bitterly； and with those hot tears made good his defeat； and transferred the victory to his own side。 Like a skilful man of war； though fallen； he was not undone； nor did he despair； but； springing to his feet； he brought up； as a reserve； bitter tears from the agony of his soul； and straightway； when the enemy saw that sight； like a man whose eyes are scorched with a fierce flame； he leaped off and fled afar； howling horribly。 So the chief became chief again； as he had before been chosen teacher of the whole world； being now become its pattern of penitence。 And after his holy resurrection Christ made good this three…fold denial with the three…fold question；