Having thus given his brother a useful lesson, the king sent him home. In the meantime, he ordered four wooden boxes to be made. Having gilded two of them on all sides and filled them with the stinking bones of the dead, he locked them with golden hooks. And the rest, smeared with pitch and asphalt, he filled with precious stones, pearls and various fragrant substances. Tying them with hair ropes, he summoned the nobles who had condemned him for meeting the men mentioned, and placed four boxes before them, that they might appreciate the dignity of each. The nobles determined that the two gilded boxes were very valuable, because they probably contained royal crowns and royal belts, and those smeared with asphalt and tar, they said, were of little and miserable value. Then the king said to them, "I knew that you would say this. With your outer eyes you pay attention and value only the outward appearance, but you should not do so: you should look with your inner eyes at the inner value or invalue."

And he ordered the gilded boxes to be opened. A terrible stench wafted from there, and the most unpleasant sight presented itself to their eyes. "This is the likeness of people dressed in expensive and shining clothes, proud of their glory and power, but inside they are stinking, like a corpse, because of their evil deeds," said the king. After that, he ordered to open the boxes, smeared with tar and asphalt! Then a beautiful view presented itself to all present, and incense spread around. The king spoke to them and said, "Do you know what these boxes are like? Poor, dressed in wretched clothes. Seeing their appearance, you considered it humiliating for me to bow down before them, but I, knowing with my heart's eyes the nobility and beauty of their souls, considered it an honor for myself to touch them, and considered them higher than the royal crown and the royal purple garment." Having thus shamed them, he taught them not to judge a person's dignity by outward appearances, but to pay attention to his spiritual side. Like this pious and wise king, you also acted in receiving me in the hope of learning something good from me. I believe that you will not be deceived in it."

Joasaph said to him: "All this you have said well and appropriately, but one thing I would like to know: Who is your Lord, of whom you spoke in the story of the sower?"

"If you want to know about my Lord," Barlaam answered, "then my Lord is Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, the all-blessed and omnipotent, the King of kings and the Lord of lords." He alone is immortal and lives in the unapproachable light, glorified with the Father and the Holy Spirit. For I am not one of those who acknowledge many false gods and worship soulless dumb idols, but believe in one God, glorified in three hypostases; in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one Being and one glory, reigning in one undivided kingdom. This triune God is the eternal Spirit, not made with hands, unchangeable, invisible, incomprehensible, all-good, all-righteous, Who created everything out of nothing, both visible and invisible. In the beginning, He created an innumerable multitude of invisible, disembodied heavenly spirits, servants of the majesty of God. Then He created the visible world—the heavens, the earth, and the waters. He adorned this world with light; the sky with the sun, moon and stars; the earth - by various animals and plants; and he filled the waters with fish. - All this He created with the word: That speech and was. By this command was created (Psalm 148:5).

Then He creates man with His own hands, taking the dust of the earth, from which He created a body and blowing into it a soul endowed with reason. According to the Scriptures, it is created in the image and likeness of God: in the image as a result of free will, and in the likeness as a result of virtues. Having given the first man free will and immortality, He appointed him king on earth. From his rib He created a wife to help him. And having planted a paradise in Eden, in the east, full of joy and gladness, He placed there the man whom He had created, allowing him to use all the plantations that were there. From the tree alone He forbade him to eat of the fruit called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, saying, "In the day that thou eatest of it, thou shalt surely die" (Gen. 2:17).

One of the Angels, the first of them, who did not receive even a shadow of evil from the Creator, but was created good, voluntarily turned from good to evil. He became insanely proud and decided to resist the Lord God, for which he was expelled from the number of the Angels, deprived of his dignity, and instead of blessed glory and the Angelic name, he was called the Devil and Satan. God rejected him as unworthy of eternal glory. Together with him, He alienated and rejected many of the angels subordinate to Him, who followed the example of their ruler and used their free will for evil instead of using it for good. They were called evil spirits, as deceivers and seducers. Having completely renounced all good, the devil became evil and showed envy of man. Seeing himself deprived of such honor, he began to plot to deprive man of a blessed life. For this insidious purpose he entered into the serpent, and through it he turned to his wife and persuaded her to taste the forbidden fruit, assuring her that by eating this fruit, a man becomes equal to God. Through it, the serpent also deceived Adam (as the first man was called). Having tasted the forbidden fruit, the first man was deprived of heavenly bliss. Instead of a blessed eternal life, he received as his lot this life, full of misfortunes and sorrows, and, in the end, he was condemned to death. From that time the devil had power over man, and, with the multiplication of the human race, proud of his victory, he incited people to evil in every possible way. God, wishing to stop the multiplication of sins, sent a flood upon the earth, which destroyed all living creatures, except only one righteous man in this generation, whom God left alive, saving him with his wife and children in the ark, after which He placed him alone over all the earth. When people began to multiply, they again forgot God and fell into wickedness. Corrupted and enslaved by various sins, they accepted various errors: some thought that everything happens and lives by itself, and taught that there is no Supreme Being; others have fallen into fanaticism; some recognized gods who had their own passions and impieties, helping evil deeds. Having made their images in the form of wooden senseless idols, they exhibited them in temples, worshipped and served them - things that they themselves made. Some worshipped the sun, moon, and stars, which God had appointed to serve this earthly world, lifeless and insensible, giving light by God's Providence, but not by their own impulse and desire. Others worshipped fire, water, and other natural elements. And creatures endowed with soul and reason were not ashamed to adore them. Others worshipped animals and reptiles, considering themselves inferior to them; some recognized insignificant people - men and women - as gods. These people themselves told that their gods were adulterers, murderers, evil, envious, robbers, father and fratricides, thieves, poisoners, lame, crippled and mad, that they died, were struck by thunder, were enslaved by people, killed, mourned, and that they did various shameful deeds.

People took examples of impiety from their very gods, as a result of which they defiled themselves without any shame with all kinds of lawless deeds. A terrible darkness reigned among our human race at that time. At that time there were no worshippers of the true God, no one even tried to find Him. Among this generation, there was only one Abraham who had sound spiritual feelings. Contemplating attentively the creations of the world, he came to know their true Creator. Contemplating the sky, the earth, the sea, the sun, the moon, etc., he was amazed at their purposefulness, and this purposefulness of the universe he attributed not to the self-formation of the world, not to the earthly elements, not to soulless and lifeless idols, but to the omnipotence and wisdom of the true God, Who is the Creator of everything. God Himself appeared to him, not in His true form (for no one can see God), but in some life-like visible images, which is possible for His power. Having put into his soul a more perfect knowledge of Himself, He glorified his name and made Him His servant, instilling piety in turn in all the descendants of Abraham, God taught them true knowledge, and produced from them a numerous tribe, which He called His chosen people.

When this people was enslaved by the Egyptians under a tyrant Pharaoh, God by means of terrible, marvelous signs and wonders brought the chosen people out of Egypt through Moses and Aaron, holy men and worthy of the gift of prophecy. Through them He worthily punished the Egyptians for their cruelty and led the Israelites (as this people are called in the name of the grandson of Abraham) along the bottom of the Red Sea, cutting the waters so that a wall was formed on the right and left. When Pharaoh and the Egyptians chased after them, the water returned to its place and destroyed all the pursuers. Then, leading His people through the wilderness for 40 years with great signs and wonders, feeding them with heavenly food, God gave them a law written on two stone tablets, which He gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. This law, which forbids idols and all evil deeds, teaches to believe and worship the one true God and to do good works, served as a model, the basis of all subsequent laws. Constantly working miracles among the Israelites, God led them to a beautiful country, which He once promised Abraham to give to his descendants. It would be possible to tell for a long time about all those deeds, great and amazing, glorious and rare, which the Lord did among them. The purpose of all these miracles was to distract the human race from all iniquity and wickedness, and to restore to it its original predestination. But even to this day the power of sin has power over them, and death reigns over people through the intrigues of the devil, condemning everyone to be sent down to hell. When we came to such a miserable situation, the Creator did not turn away from us. He did not allow the creations of His hands to perish completely. By the will of God the Father, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father, consubstantial with the Father and the Holy Spirit, the true God, eternal and omnipotent, like the Father, descends to His servants and, being perfect God, becomes perfect Man, incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Most Holy Virgin Mary. One of the Archangels was sent to the Most-Pure Virgin to announce the incomprehensible conception and birth, incomprehensible because the Son of God without a father was conceived in the Most-Holy Virgin by the Holy Spirit. Having received from the MostHoly Virgin a Body animated by a rational soul, Christ appeared to us, uniting in Himself two natures – the Divine and the human, and He preserved the Most-Pure Virgin Who gave birth to Him immaculate. And having taken upon Himself all that is human, except sin, He also took upon Himself our infirmities, our infirmities. Since death entered the world through sin, it was necessary that our Redeemer should be sinless and not subject to death for sins. Having lived among people for 30 years, He was baptized in the Jordan River by John, a holy man and standing above all the prophets. During the baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ, the voice of God the Father was heard from heaven: "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). And the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove. Christ began to work great and amazing miracles: He raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, cast out spirits, healed the dumb and deaf, cleansed lepers, and everywhere restored our nature to its original form, showing us by deed the true path of virtue, removing us from perdition and directing us to eternal life. He then chose 12 disciples, whom He called Apostles, and commissioned them to proclaim to all the heavenly life which He had come to earth to declare. By His deeds the Lord has made us, the miserable inhabitants of the earth, partakers of heaven. But the chief priests and elders of the Jews (He lived in their country) disliked Him, envying His wonderful and divine actions, signs and wonders that they saw. Forgetting all the good done by Christ, they, having treacherously taken possession of Him through one of His disciples, presented Him to the judgment of the pagans; accusing Him of many things, they achieved His condemnation to death on the cross. The Lord voluntarily decided to bear all this, for He came to suffer for us, wishing to free man from suffering. The Lord endured all these sufferings in human flesh, and His Divinity did not suffer, for He consisted of two natures: Divine and human; He took on human nature for our sake, and by it He suffered, but by Divinity He did not suffer and did not die. The body of the sinless Jesus Christ was crucified; but He was not subject to death, because He had not committed sin, and there was no deceit in His mouth (Isaiah 53:9), for through transgression, as I have mentioned, death entered into the world, as the Apostle Peter says, but He died in the flesh for our sake, that He might deliver us from the power of death. Having descended into hell and crushed it, Jesus Christ freed from there the souls imprisoned there from time immemorial. Laid in the tomb, He rose on the third day. Having conquered death, He granted us victory over it. Having made His flesh incorruptible, the Saviour appeared to His disciples, granting them peace, and through them to the entire human race. After 40 days, He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to the earth to judge the living and the dead, and to render to each one according to his deeds. After His glorious ascension to heaven, the Lord sent down the Holy Spirit upon His disciples in the form of tongues of fire, after which they began to speak in foreign tongues. Having received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were scattered among all nations, preaching the true faith, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, instructing them to fulfill all the commandments of the Savior. The pagans who were in error were enlightened by the Spirit; thanks to preaching, superstition and the worship of idols were destroyed among them. The devil, unable to endure defeat, is still waging war with us, instilling in the foolish and foolish to preserve idolatry, but his power turned out to be weak, and his sword finally fell before the power of Christ. And so, I have given you a brief idea of my Lord God and Saviour, and you will know more fully if you accept His teaching with all your soul and become His servant."

When the king's son heard these words, the light illuminated his soul like lightning. In an abundance of joy, amazed, he rose from his throne and said to Barlaam: "This is that priceless stone, as I guess, the most honorable of men, which you naturally keep secret, without showing it to anyone who will; that stone by which the vigor of the spiritual strength is maintained, because as soon as I heard your words, the grace-filled light penetrated into my heart, and the heavy veil that had long weighed on my soul fell from my soul. Therefore, if my assumption is correct, then tell me this. But if you know anything better than what has been said, do not refuse to tell me even that."

Barlaam answered him: "Yes, my lord and king, this is that great mystery hidden from this world, and at the same time revealed to the human race from the very creation of man. It was discovered in antiquity by many prophets and preachers, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, who preached it in many ways and with a great voice. And all of them, foreseeing the future salvation, wanted to be its witnesses, but did not live to see it. The present generation has been vouchsafed to receive it. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16).

Then Joasaph said: "Whatever you have said, I unconditionally believe and acknowledge God, Whom you preach. Only you must explain to me and teach me without fail: what should I do, and what is the baptism which, as you say, the believer must accept"?

To this Barlaam replied: "The grace-filled gift of baptism is, as it were, the root or firm foundation of the holy and irreproachable Christian faith, which saves man from the innate ability to sin and from the evil that has arisen from human vices. Thus the Saviour commanded us to be reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, and thus to be restored to our original dignity. We are baptized, according to the words of the Lord, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Then the gifts of the Holy Spirit dwell in the soul of the baptized person, enlightening it, making it God-like, and renewing it in the image and likeness of God. Having freed the soul from the evil inherent in it as a result of previous evil deeds, we conclude a covenant with God, another new life, and receive the foundation for this purer life. Thanks to this, we become joint heirs of those who have been reborn for immortality and have attained eternal salvation. And without baptism, no one can hope, even if he be the most pious of the pious. For the Son of God, Who was incarnate for our salvation, said: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). And so, first of all, having believed in your soul, with a sincere desire, proceed immediately to baptism, and under no circumstances postpone it, for postponing it is dangerous, because of the uncertainty of the time of our death."

Then Joasaph said: "Of what hope did you speak, which without baptism cannot be fulfilled? What is this kingdom that you called heavenly? Where did you hear the words of God incarnate? What is this uncertainty of the time of death, the thought of which oppresses my heart and causes me grief and sorrows that destroy my flesh, and even eats away at the strength of my bones? And if we die, will we be completely destroyed, or is there any other life after the cessation of this life? I would like to know all this."

To all these questions Barlaam answered as follows: "That good hope of which I have spoken is the hope of the kingdom of heaven. This kingdom is completely inexpressible in human language. The Holy Scriptures say: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). When we are worthy, having left this coarse flesh, to attain heavenly bliss, then the Lord Himself, Who has made it possible for our hope to be fulfilled, will show us what is the glory of all these blessings, incomprehensible to the mind, and what is that ineffable light and unceasing life with the Angels. If we are worthy of life with God, as far as it is attainable for human nature, then we will know everything from Him, which we do not know now.