The disciples laughed over the
madness of the old man, and stood amazed at the prudence of Abraham. But Jesus reproved
them, saying: 'Ye have forgotten the words of the prophet, who saith: " Present
laughter is a herald of weeping to come," and further, "Thou shalt not go where
is laughter, but sit where they weep, because this life passeth in miseries"'
Then said Jesus: 'In the time of Moses, know ye not that for laughing and
mocking at others God turned into hideous beasts many men of Egypt? Beware that in anywise
ye laugh not at any one for ye shall surely weep [for it].'
The disciples answered: 'We laughed over the madness
of the old man.'
Then said Jesus: 'Verily I say unto you, every like
loveth his like, and therein findeth pleasure. Therefore, if ye were not mad ye would not
laugh at madness.'
They answered: 'May God have mercy on us. '
Said Jesus: 'So be it.'
Then said Philip: 'O master, how came it to pass that
Abraham's father wished to burn his son?'
Jesus answered: 'One day, Abraham having come
to the age of twelve years, his father said to him: "Tomorrow is the festival of all
the gods; therefore we shall go to the great temple and bear a present to my god, great
Baal. And thou shalt choose for thyself a god, for thou art of age to have a
god."
'Abraham answered with guile: "Willingly, O my
father." And so betimes in the morning they went before every one else to the temple.
But Abraham bare beneath his tunic an axe hidden. Whereupon, having entered into the
temple, as the crowd increased Abraham hid himself behind an idol in a dark part of
the temple. His father, when he departed, believed that Abraham had gone home before him,
wherefore he did not stay to seek him.