Said Ioasaph unto the elder, "How then shall I be able to send
before me thither treasures of money and riches, that, when I
depart hence, I may find these unharmed and unwasted for my
enjoyment? How must I show my hatred for things present and lay
hold on things eternal? This make thou right plain unto me."
Quoth Barlaam, "The sending before thee of money to that eternal
home is wrought by the hands of the poor. For thus saith one of
the prophets, Daniel the wise, unto the king of Babylon,
'Wherefore, O Prince, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and
redeem thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing
mercy to the poor.' The Saviour also saith, `Make to yourselves
friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail,
they may receive you into everlasting habitations.' And, in
divers places, the Master maketh much mention of almsgiving and
liberality to the poor, as we learn in the Gospel. Thus shalt
thou most surely send all thy treasure before thee by the hands
of the needy, for whatsoever thou shalt do unto these the Master
counteth done unto himself, and will reward thee manifold; for,
in the recompense of benefits, he ever surpasseth them that love
him. So in this manner by seizing for awhile the treasures of
the darkness of this world, in whose slavery for a long time past
thou hast been miserable, thou shalt by these means make good
provision for thy journey, and by plundering another's goods thou
shalt store all up for thyself, with things fleeting and
transient purchasing for thyself things that are stable and
enduring. Afterwards, God working with thee, thou shalt perceive
the uncertainty and inconstancy of the world, and saying farewell
to all, shalt remove thy barque to anchor in the future, and,
passing by the things that pass away, thou shalt hold to the
things that we look for, the things that abide. Thou shalt