Peter Requests Him to Be His Attendant.
131.
Having thus spoken, he set forth to me so openly and so clearly who that Prophet was, and how He might be found, that I seemed to have before my eyes, and to handle with my hand, the proofs which he produced concerning the prophetic truth;
132.
and I was struck with intense astonishment, how no one sees, though placed before his eyes, those things which all are seeking for.
133.
Whence, by his command, reducing into order what he had spoken to me, I compiled a book concerning the true Prophet, and sent it to you from Cæsarea by his command.
134.
For he said that he had received a command from you to send you every year an account of his sayings and doings.
135.
Meantime, at the beginning of his discourse which he delivered to me the first day, when he had instructed me very fully concerning the true Prophet, and very many things besides, he added also this:
136.
See, said he, for the future, and be present at the discussions which whenever any necessity arises,
I shall hold with those who contradict;
137.
against whom, when I dispute, even if I shall seem to be worsted,
I shall not be afraid of your being led to doubt of those things which I have stated to you;
138.
because, even if I shall seem to be beaten, yet those things shall not therefore seem to be uncertain which the true Prophet has delivered to us.
139.
Yet I hope that we shall not be overcome in disputations either,
if only our hearers are reasonable, and friends of truth,
who can discern the force and bearing of words,
and recognise what discourse comes from the sophistical art,
not containing truth, but an image of truth;
140.
and what that is, which, uttered simply and without craft,
depends for all its power not on show and ornament, but on truth and reason.
His Profiting by Peter's Instruction.
141.
To this I answered:
I give thanks to God Almighty, because I have been instructed as I wished and desired.
142.
At all events, you may depend upon me so far,
that I can never come to doubt of those things which I have learned of you;
143.
so that even if you yourself should at any time wish to transfer my faith from the true Prophet,
you should not be able, because I have drunk in with all my heart what you have spoken.
144.
And that you may not think that I am promising you a great thing when I say
that I cannot be moved away from this faith, it is with me a certainty,
145.
that whoever has received this account of the true Prophet,
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can never afterwards so much as doubt of its truth.
146.
And therefore I am confident with respect to this heaven-taught doctrine, in which all the art of malice is overborne.
147.
For in opposition to this prophecy neither any art can stand, nor the subtleties of sophisms and syllogism;
but every one who hears of the true Prophet must of necessity long immediately for the truth itself, nor will he afterwards, under pretext of seeking the truth, endure diverse errors.
148.
Wherefore, O my lord Peter, be not further anxious about me,
as if I were one who does not know what he has received,
and how great a gift has been conferred on him.
149.
Be assured that you have conferred a favour on one who knows and understands its value:
nor can I be easily deceived on that account,
because I seem to have gotten quickly what I long desired;
150.
for it may be that one who desires gets quickly,
while another does not even slowly attain the things which he desires.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER SIX
Divisions 151-185
RECOGNITIONS 1
Peter agrees.
151.
Then Peter, when he heard me speak thus, said:
I give thanks to my God, both for your salvation and for my own peace;
for I am greatly delighted to see that you have understood what is the greatness of the prophetic virtue,
152.
and because, as you say, not even I myself, if I should wish it (which God forbid!),
should be able to turn you away to another faith.
153.
Now henceforth begin to be with us, and tomorrow be present at our discussions,
for I am to have a contest with Simon the Magician.
154.
When he had thus spoken, he retired to take food along with his friends;
but he ordered me to eat by myself;
and after the meal, when he had sung praise to God and given thanks,
he rendered to me an account of this proceeding, and added,
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155.
May the Lord grant to you to be made like to us in all things,
that, receiving baptism, you may be able to meet with us at the same table.
156.
Having thus spoken, he ordered me to go to rest,
for by this time both fatigue and the time of the day called to sleep.
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