Page:The Apocryphal Acts of Paul, Peter, John, Andrew and Thomas.djvu/228

 an opponent of mine? An adversary? a disturber of the peace? an enemy? a juggler? a sorcerer? a word twister? an obdurate? a treacherous? a plotter? a misanthrope? an enemy of the word? a tyrant? a boaster? an insolent? a mad? a relative of the serpent? an instrument of Satan? an advocate of the hellish fire? a servant of darkness? Does anyone dwell in thee, who, when I thus speak, Stratocles, could not bear it? For who should it be? Answer! Do I speak in vain? Have I spoken in vain? No, saith the man who in thee, Stratocles, sheds tears again."

11. And Andrew took the hand of Stratocles and said, "I have him whom I loved. I shall rest on him for whom I have waited. For thine ever intenser sighing and unceasing weeping has given me a sign for my already approaching end, that I have not spoken my words in vain to thee."

12. And Stratocles answered him, " Think not, most blessed Andrew, that I suffer under any other affliction, but for thee! For the words which come out of thy mouth are like a stream of fire, emptying itself in me, and each seizes me and truly influences me. My soul is in that which is heard, and in anticipation of an approaching affliction it is chastised. Thou findest thy death, and I well know, a beautiful one. But when I afterward seek thy thoughtful care, where shall I find it and by whom? The seed-corns of the word of salvation I have received, when thou wast the sower. That they grow and spring up, they need none else but thee, most blessed