depart from darkness and the shadow of death, and hate the world
and the ruler of the world; and, counting thy perishable flesh
thine enemy, thou shalt run toward the light that is
unapproachable, and taking the Cross on thy shoulders, shalt
follow Christ without looking back, that thou mayest also be
glorified with him, and be made inheritor of the life that never
changeth nor deceiveth."

Ioasaph said, "When thou spakest a minute past of despising all
things, and taking up such a life of toil, was that an old
tradition handed down from the teaching of the Apostles, or is
this a late invention of your wits, which ye have chosen for
yourselves as a more excellent way?"

The elder answered and said, "I teach thee no law introduced but
yesterday, God forbid! but one given unto us of old. For when a
certain rich young man asked the Lord, `What shall I do to
inherit eternal life?' and boasted that he had observed all that
was written in the Law, Jesus said unto him, `One thing thou
lackest yet. Go sell all that thou hast and distribute unto the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come, take up
thy cross and follow me. But when the young man heard this he
was very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw
that he was very sorrowful, he said, `How hardly shall they which
have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to
enter into the kingdom of God!' So, when all the Saints heard
this command, they thought fit by all means to withdraw from this
hardness of riches. They parted with all their goods, and by
this distribution of their riches to the poor laid up for