force to its opposite. And like in nature to these choices are
the ensuing impulses to action."


XVI.

Ioasaph said unto the elder, "Are there now others, too, who
preach the same doctrines as thou? Or art thou to-day the only
one that teacheth this hatred of the present world?"

The other answered and said, "In this your most unhappy country I
know of none: the tyranny of thy father hath netted all such in a
thousand forms of death; and he hath made it his aim that the
preaching of the knowledge of God be not once heard in your
midst. But in all other tongues these doctrines are sung and
glorified, by some in perfect truth, but by others perversely;
for the enemy of our souls hath made them decline from the
straight road, and divided them by strange teachings, and taught
them to interpret certain sayings of the Scriptures falsely, and
not after the sense contained therein. But the truth is one,
even that which was preached by the glorious Apostles and
inspired Fathers, and shineth in the Catholick Church above the
brightness of the sun from the one end of the world unto the
other; and as an herald and teacher of that truth have I been
sent to thee."

Ioasaph said unto him, "Hath my father then, learned naught of
these things?"

The elder answered, "Clearly and duly he hath learned naught; for