Christian saints -- India -- Romances; Gautama Buddha -- Legends -- Adaptations; Princes -- India -- Romances
Here Barlaam cut short his lamentation, and rose and stood up to pray,
lifting up his either hand, and saying, "O God and Father of our Lord
Jesu Christ, which didst illuminate the things that once were darkened,
and bring this visible and invisible creation out of nothing, and didst
turn again this thine handiwork, and sufferedst us not to walk after
our foolishness, we give thanks to thee and to thy Wisdom and Might,
our Lord Jesu Christ, by whom thou didst make the worlds, didst raise
us from our fall, didst forgive us our trespasses, didst restore us
from wandering, didst ransom us from captivity, didst quicken us from
death by the precious blood of thy Son our Lord. Upon thee I call, and
upon thine only begotten Son, and upon the Holy Ghost. Look upon this
thy spiritual sheep that hath come to be a sacrifice unto thee through
me thine unworthy servant, and do thou sanctify his soul with thy might
and grace. Visit this vine, which was planted by thy Holy Spirit, and
grant it to bear fruit, the fruit of righteousness. Strengthen him,
and confirm in him thy covenant, and rescue him from the deceit of the
devil. With the wisdom of thy good Spirit teach him to do thy will,
and take not thy succour from him, but grant unto him, with me thine
unprofitable servant, to become an inheritor of thine everlasting
bliss, because thou art blessed and glorified for ever, Amen."
When that he had ended his prayer, he turned him round and embraced
Ioasaph, now a son of his heavenly father, wishing him eternal peace
and salvation, and he departed out of the palace, and went his way,
rejoicing and giving thanks to God, who had well ordered his steps for
good.
XXII.
After Barlaam was gone forth, Ioasaph gave himself unto prayer and
bitter tears, and said, "O God, haste thee to help me: O Lord, make
speed to help me, because the poor hath committed himself unto thee;
thou art the helper of the orphan. Look upon me, and have mercy upon
me; thou who willest have all men to be saved and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth, save me, and strengthen me, unworthy though I
be, to walk the way of thy holy commandments, for I am weak and
miserable, and not able to do the thing that is good. But thou art
mighty to save me, who sustainest and holdest together all things
visible and invisible. Suffer me not to walk after the evil will of the
flesh, but teach me to do thy will, and preserve me unto thine eternal
and blissful life. O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the consubstantial
and undivided Godhead, I call upon thee and glorify thee. Thou art
praised by all creation; thou art glorified by the intelligent powers
of the Angels for ever and ever. Amen."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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