he stoppeth up his senses, and will not admit that which is good,
being of his own free choice inclined to evil."

"Would God," said Ioasaph, "that he too were instructed in these
mysteries?" The elder answered, "The things that are impossible
with men are possible with God. For how knowest thou whether
thou shalt save thy sire, and in wondrous fashion be styled the
spiritual father of thy father?

"I have heard that, once upon a time, there was a king who
governed his kingdom right well, and dealt kindly and gently with
his subjects, only failing in this point, that he was not rich in
the light of the knowledge of God, but held fast to the errors of
idolatry. Now he had a counsellor, which was a good man and
endued with righteousness toward God and with all other virtuous
wisdom. Grieved and vexed though he was at the error of the
king, and willing to convince him thereof, he nevertheless drew
back from the attempt, for fear that he might earn trouble for
himself and his friends, and cut short those services which he
rendered to others. Yet sought he a convenient season to draw
his sovereign toward that which was good. One night the king
said unto him, "Come now, let us go forth and walk about the
city, if haply we may see something to edify us." Now while they
were walking about the city, they saw a ray of light shining
through an aperture. Fixing their eyes thereon, they descried an
underground cavernous chamber, in the forefront of which there
sat a man, plunged in poverty, and clad in rags and tatters.
Beside him stood his wife, mixing wine. When the man took the
cup in his hands, she sung a clear sweet melody, and delighted
him by dancing and cozening him with flatteries. The king's