"Father, if you are now out of the ecstasy in which you were lost, give me your blessing in our Lord Jesus Christ."
The other replied without turning his head —
"Stranger, I understand you not, and I know not the Lord Jesus Christ."
"What!" cried Paphnutius. "The prophets have announced Him; legions of martyrs haveconfessed His name; Cæsar himself has worshipped Him, and, but just now, I made the sphinx of Silsile proclaim His glory. Is it possible that you do not know Him?"
"Friend," replied the other, "it is possible. It would even be certain, if anything in this world were certain."
Paphnutius was surprised and saddened by the incredible ignorance of the man.
"If you know not Jesus Christ," he said, "all your works serve no purpose, and you will never rise to life immortal."
The old man replied —
"It is useless to act, or to abstain from acting. It matters not whether we live or die."
"Eh, what?" asked Paphnutius. "Do you not desire to live through all eternity? But, tell me, do you not live in a hut in the desert as the hermits do?"
"It seems so."
