Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 2.djvu/421

 Then arose  the  sick  wondrously  healed,

glorifying the  Almighty  and  His  venerable  apostle.

Lo, then  Thomas  mounted  on  a  stone,  and  stood

that they  might  all  of  them  see  him  at  once,

and cried  aloud,  and  said  to  the  people:

' Hearken  now,  all;    the  Saviour  sent  me

hither to  this  country,  and  I  am  His  servant,

a man  even  as  ye  are,  and  He  sent  me  to  the  end

that I  might  teach  you  how  ye  should  altogether

forsake the  shameful  gods,  and  turn  with  faith

to your  Creator  who  alone  is  true  God,

and will  keep  those  who  believe  on  Him.'

So for  a  long  time  he  taught  the  people  the  faith,

and how  they  should  eschew  sins  and  disgraceful  deeds,

and how  they  should  continue  in  good  works.

He said  again  to  the  multitude  who  were  in  the  assembly:

' I  am  no  God,  but  am  God's  servant;

Take your  money  which  ye  desired  to  give  me,

and deal  it  to  the  poor  for  the  Lord's  love,

and be  ready  for  baptism  with  full  faith.'

Then they  quickly  did  so,  and  on  the  Sunday

were baptized  into  Christ  fourteen  thousand,

besides women  and  children  who  were  not  counted.

Then was  the  holy  Thomas  again  directed  by  God

that he  should  go  to  the  farther  India,

and went  thither,  and  performed  miracles.

He healed  there  with  God's  help  halt  and  blind,

and all  infirmities  and  the  horrible  lepers,

and drave  out  devils,  and  raised  the  dead.

The country  folk  could  not  gainsay  his  teaching

when he  wrought  such  wonders  in  their  very  presence.

There was   a  certain  women    called  Syntyche,  who  had   been six  years  blind,

and was  then  healed  by  the  holy  apostle,