He Brings Them Unto Their Desired Haven.
2321.
Then Niceta began to say:
On that night, O mother, when the ship was broken up, and we were being tossed upon the sea, supported on a fragment of the wreck, certain men, whose business it was to rob by sea, found us, and placed us in their boat, and overcoming the power of the waves by rowing, by various stretches brought us to Cæsarea Stratonis.
2322.
There they starved us, and beat us, and terrified us, that we might not disclose the truth;
and having changed our names, they sold us to a certain widow, a very honourable women, named Justa.
2323.
She, having bought us, treated us as sons, so that she carefully educated us in Greek literature and liberal arts.
2324.
And when we grew up, we also attended to philosophic studies, that we might be able to confute the Gentiles, by supporting the doctrines of the divine religion by philosophic disputations.
Another Wreck Prevented.
2325.
Yet we adhered, for friendship's sake and boyish companionship, to one Simon,
a magician, who was educated along with us, so that we were almost deceived by him.
2326.
For there is mention made in our religion of a certain Prophet,
whose coming was hoped for by all who observe that religion,
through whom immortal and happy life is promised to be given to those who believe in Him.
2327.
Now we thought that this Simon was he,
yet these things shall be explained to you, O mother, at a more convenient season.
2328.
Meanwhile, when we were almost deceived by Simon, a certain colleague of my lord Peter,
Zacchæus by name, warned us that we should not be duped by the magician, yet presented us to Peter on his arrival, that by him we might be taught the things which were sound and perfect.
2329.
And this we hope will happen to you also, even as God has vouchsafed it to us,
that we may be able to eat and have a common table with you.
2330.
Thus therefore it was, O mother, that you believed that we were drowned in the sea,
while we were stolen by pirates.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHTY
Divisions 2331-2365
Book 7
RECOGNITIONS 7
Baptism Must Be Preceded by Fasting.
2331.
When Niceta had spoken thus, our mother fell down at Peter's feet,
entreating and beseeching him that both herself and her hostess might be baptized without delay;
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that, said she, I may not even for a single day suffer the loss of the company and society of my sons.
2332.
In like manner, we her sons also entreated Peter, yet he said:
What! Do you think that I alone am unpitiful,
and that I do not wish you to enjoy your mother's society at meals?
2333.
Yet she must fast at least one day first, and so be baptized;
and this because I have heard from her a certain declaration,
by which her faith has been made manifest to me, and which has given evidence of her belief;
otherwise she must have been instructed and taught many days before she could have been baptized.
Desiring the Salvation of Others.
2334.
Then said I:
I pray you, my lord Peter,
tell us what is that declaration which you say afforded you evidence of her faith?
2335.
Then Peter said:
It is her asking that her hostess, whose kindnesses she wishes to requite,
may be baptized along with her.
2336.
Now she would not ask that this grace be bestowed upon her whom she loves,
unless she believed that there is some great boon in baptism.
2337.
Whence, also, I find fault with very many, who, when they are themselves baptized and believe,
yet do nothing worthy of faith with those whom they love, such as wives, or children, or friends,
whom they do not exhort to that which they themselves have attained,
as they would do if indeed they believed that eternal life is thereby bestowed.
2338.
In short, if they see them to be sick, or to be subject to any danger bodily,
they grieve and mourn, because they are sure that in this destruction threatens them.
2339.
So, then, if they were sure of this, that the punishment of eternal fire awaits those who do not worship God, when would they cease warning and exhorting?
2340.
Or, if they refused, how would they not mourn and bewail them,
being sure that eternal torments awaited them?
2341.
Now, therefore, we shall send for that woman at once, and see if she loves the faith of our religion;
and as we find, so shall we act.
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2342.
Yet since your mother has judged so faithfully concerning baptism,
let her fast only one day before baptism.
The Sons' Pleading.
2343.
Yet she declared with an oath, in presence of my lord Peter's wife,
that from the time she recognised her son, she had been unable to take any food from excess of joy,
excepting only that yesterday she drank a cup of water.
2344.
Peter's wife also bore witness, saying that it was even so.
2345.
Then Aquila said:
What, then, hinders her being baptized?
2346.
Then Peter, smiling, said:
Yet this is not the fast of baptism, for it was not done in order to baptism.
2347.
Then Niceta said:
Yet perhaps God, wishing that our mother, on our recognition,
should not be separated even for one day from participation of our table, pre-ordained this fasting.
2348.
For as in her ignorance she preserved her chastity, that it might profit her in order to the grace of baptism; so she fasted before she knew the reason of fasting, that it might profit her in order to baptism, and that immediately, from the beginning of our acquaintance, she might enjoy communion of the table with us.
Peter Inexorable.
2349.
Then said Peter:
Let not the wicked one prevail against us, taking occasion from a mother's love;
yet let you, and me with you, fast this day along with her, and tomorrow she shall be baptized:
for it is not right that the precepts of truth be relaxed and weakened in favour of any person or friendship.
2350.
Let us not shrink, then, from suffering along with her, for it is a sin to transgress any commandment.
2351.
Yet let us teach our bodily senses, which are without us, to be in subjection to our inner senses;
and not compel our inner senses, which savour the things that be of God, to follow the outer senses, which savour the things that be of the flesh.
2352.
For to this end also the Lord commanded, saying:
'Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her,
has committed adultery with her already in his heart.'
2353.
And to this He added:
'If your right eye offend you, pluck it out, and cast it from you:
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for it is profitable for you that one of your members perish,
rather than your whole body be cast into hell-fire.' Matthew 5:28-29
2354.
He does not say, has offended you, that you should then cast away the cause of sin after you have sinned; yet if it offend you, that is, that before you sin you should cut off the cause of the sin that provokes and irritates you.
2355.
Yet let none of you think, brethren, that the Lord commended the cutting off of the members.
2356.
His meaning is, that the purpose should be cut off, not the members, and the causes which allure to sin, in order that our thought, borne up on the chariot of sight, may push towards the love of God, supported by the bodily senses;
2357.
and not give loose reins to the eyes of the flesh as to wanton horses,
eager to turn their running outside the way of the commandments,
yet may subject the bodily sight to the judgment of the mind, and not suffer those eyes of ours,
which God intended to be viewers and witnesses of His work, to become panders of evil desire.
2358.
And therefore let the bodily senses as well as the internal thought be subject to the law of God,
and let them serve His will, whose work they acknowledge themselves to be.
Reward of Chastity.
2359.
Therefore, as the order and reason of the mystery demanded, on the following day she was baptized in the sea, and returning to the lodging, was initiated in all the mysteries of religion in their order.
2360.
And we her sons, Niceta and Aquila, and I, Clement, were present.
2361.
And after this we dined with her, and glorified God with her, thankfully acknowledging the zeal and teaching of Peter, who showed us, by the example of our mother, that the good of chastity is not lost with God;
as, on the other hand, said he, unchastity does not escape punishment, though it may not be punished immediately, but slowly.
2362.
Yet so well pleasing, said he, is chastity to God, that it confers some grace in the present life even upon those who are in error;
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for future blessedness is laid up for those only who preserve chastity and righteousness by the grace of baptism.
2363.
In short, that which has befallen your mother is an example of this, for all this welfare has been restored to her in reward of her chastity, for the guarding and preserving of which continence alone is not sufficient;
yet when any one perceives that snares and deceptions are being prepared, he must straightway flee as from the violence of fire or the attack of a mad dog, and not trust that he can easily frustrate snares of this kind by philosophizing or by humouring them;
yet, as I have said, he must flee and withdraw to a distance, as your mother also did through her true and entire love of chastity.
2364.
And on this account she has been preserved to you, and you to her;
and in addition, she has been endowed with the knowledge of eternal life.
2365.
When he had said this, and much more to the same effect, the evening having come, we went to sleep.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE
Divisions 2366-2395
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
The Old Workman.
2366.
Now the next morning Peter took my brothers and me with him, and we went down to the harbour to bathe in the sea, and thereafter we retired to a certain secret place for prayer.
2367.
Yet a certain poor old man, a workman, as he appeared by his dress, began to observe us eagerly, without our seeing him, that he might see what we were doing in secret.
2368.
And when he saw us praying, he waited till we came out, and then saluted us, and said:
If you do not take it amiss, and regard me as an inquisitive and importunate person,
I should wish to converse with you;
2369.
for I take pity on you, and would not have you err under the appearance of truth,
and be afraid of things that have no existence;
or if you think that there is any truth in them, then declare it to me.
2370.
If, therefore, you take it patiently, I can in a few words instruct you in what is right;
yet if it be unpleasant to you, I shall go on, and do my business.
2371.
To him Peter answered:
Speak what you think good, and we will gladly hear, whether it be true or false;
for you are to be welcomed, because, like a father anxious on behalf of his children,
you wish to put us in possession of what you regard as good.
Genesis.
2372.
Then the old man proceeded to say:
I saw you bathe in the sea, and afterwards retire into a secret place;
wherefore observing, without your noticing me, what you were doing, I saw you praying.
2373.
Therefore, pitying your error, I waited till you came out,
that I might speak to you, and instruct you not to err in an observance of this sort;
2374.
because there is neither any God, nor any worship, neither is there any providence in the world,
yet all things are done by fortuitous chance and genesis, as I have discovered most clearly for myself, being accomplished beyond others in the discipline of learning.
2375.
Do not err, therefore:
for whether you pray, or whether you do not pray,
whatever your genesis contains, that shall befall you.
2376.
Then I, Clement, was affected, I know not how, in my heart, recollecting many things in him that seemed familiar to me; for some one says well, that that which is sprung from any one, although it may be long absent, yet a spark of relationship is never extinguished.
2377.
Therefore I began to ask of him who and whence he was, and how descended.
2378.
Yet he, not wishing to answer these questions, said:
What has that to do with what I have told you?
2379.
Yet first, if you please, let us converse of those matters which we have propounded;
and afterwards, if circumstances require, we can disclose to one another, as friends to friends, our names, and families, and country, and other things connected with these.
2380.
Yet we all admired the eloquence of the man,
and the gravity of his manners, and the calmness of his speech.
A Friendly Conference.
2381.
Yet Peter, walking along leisurely while conversing, was looking out for a suitable place for a conference.
2382.
And when he saw a quiet recess near the harbour, he made us sit down; and so he himself first began.
2383.
Nor did he hold the old man in any contempt, nor did he look down upon him because his dress was poor and mean.
2384.
He said, therefore:
Since you seem to me to be a learned man, and a compassionate, inasmuch as you have come to us, and wish that to be known to us which you consider to be good, we also wish to expound to you what things we believe to be good and right;
and if you do not think them true, you will take in good part our good intentions towards you, as we do yours towards us.
2385.
While Peter was thus speaking, a great multitude assembled.
2386.
Then said the old man:
Perhaps the presence of a multitude disconcerts you.
2387.
Peter replied:
Not at all, except only on this account, that I am afraid lest haply, when the truth is made manifest in the course of our discussion, you be ashamed in presence of the multitude to yield and assent to the things which you may have understood to be spoken truly.
2388.
To this the old man answered:
I am not such a fool in my old age, that, understanding what is true, I should deny it for the favour of the rabble.
The Question Stated.
2389.
Then Peter began to say:
Those who speak the word of truth, and who enlighten the souls of men, seem to me to be like the rays of the sun, which, when once they have come forth and appeared to the world, can no longer be concealed or hidden, while they are not so much seen by men, as they afford sight to all.
2390.
Therefore it was well said by one to the heralds of the truth,
'You are the light of the world, and a city set upon a hill cannot be hid;
neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel,
yet upon a candlestick, that it may enlighten all who are in the house.' Matthew 5:14-15
2391.
Then said the old man:
He said well, whoever he is. But let one of you state what, according to his opinion, ought to be followed, that we may direct our speech to a definite aim.
2392.
For, in order to find the truth, it is not sufficient to overthrow the things that are spoken on the other side, but also that one should himself bring forward what he who is on the other side may oppose.
2393.
Therefore, in order that both parties may be on an equal footing, it seems to me to be right that each of us should first enunciate what opinion he holds.
2394.
And, if you please, I shall begin first.
2395.
I say, then, that the world is not governed according to the providence of God,
because we see that many things in it are done unjustly and disorderly;
yet I say that it is genesis that does and regulates all things.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER EIGHTY TWO
Divisions 2396-2430
Book 8
RECOGNITIONS 8
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