BARLAAM AND IOASAPH 

AN EDIFYING STORY FROM THE INNER LAND OF THE ETHIOPIANS, CALLED
THE LAND OF THE INDIANS, THENCE BROUGHT TO THE HOLY CITY, BY JOHN
THE MONK (AN HONOURABLE MAN AND A VIRTUOUS, OF THE MONASTERY OF
SAINT SABAS); WHEREIN ARE THE LIVES OF THE FAMOUS AND BLESSED
BARLAAM AND IOASAPH. 

INTRODUCTION  

"As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are sons of God"
saith the inspired Apostle.  Now to have been accounted worthy of
the Holy Spirit and to have become sons of God is of all things
most to be coveted; and, as it is written, "They that have become
his sons find rest from all enquiry." This marvellous, and above
all else desirable, blessedness have the Saints from the
beginning won by the practice of the virtues, some having striven
as Martyrs, and resisted sin unto blood, and others having
struggled in self-discipline, and having trodden the narrow way,