417. On one occasion a certain demoniac came to Scete, and having passed a long time there without being healed, he complained about the matter to one of the old men, who made the
sign of the Cross over him, and healed him. But the devil was
angry, and said unto the old man, " Now that thou hast cast "me out I will come upon thee"; and the old man said unto
him, "Come gladly, and I shall rejoice." And the old man
passed twelve years with the devil inside him, vexing him, now
he used to eat twelve dates each day, and after these years
that devil leaped out of him, and departed from him. Now when,
the old man saw that he was taking to flight, he said unto him, f
"To whom dost thou flee? Continue [with me] longer"; and
the devil answered and said unto him, " By Jupiter, God hath 1
"made thee useless, O old man; God alone is equal to thy
"strength."
418. The old man Theodore asked Abba Pambd, saying, "Tell me a word"; and with much labour he said unto him, " Theodore, get thee gone, and let thy mercy be poured out on "every man, for [thy] lovingkindness hath found freedom of " speech (or boldness) before God. "
419. A certain brother went to buy some linen from a widow, and as she was selling it to him, she sighed; the brother said unto her, " What aileth thee?" and the widow said unto him, "God hath sent thee this day that my orphans may be fed." Now when that brother heard [these words] he was distressed, and he took secretly from the linen which was his, and threw it on to the widow's side of the scales until he fulfilled an act of charity towards her.
420. A certain brother came to Abba *6r, and said unto him, "Come with me to the village, and buy me a little wheat of "which I am in need"; now the old man was greatly troubled at this, because he was not accustomed to go to the village* nevertheless, being afraid [of transgressing] the commandment, he rose up and went with him. And when they arrived at the village the old man saw a man passing by, and he called him and said unto him, "Do an a<5l of kindness, and "take this brother and satisfy his need," and in this way he was able to flee to the mountain.
421. On one occasion Adl&p, Bishop of Neapolis, went to visit Abba Sisoes, and when he wished to depart the old man made him and the brethren who were with htm to eat in the morning; now the days were the first days of the fast. And when they had made ready the table to eat, behold, certain men from the plough knocked at the door, and the old man said unto his disciple, " Open to them, and put some of the " boiled food in a dish, and set it before them to eat, for they "have just come from labour." The Bishop said, "Let it " alone, or perhaps they will say that Abba Sisoes eateth at "this time." And the old man looked at the youth and said unto him, "Go, and give them the food"; and when the strangers saw the boiled food they said unto him, "Have ye " strangers with you? Perad venture Abba is also eating with "them?" And the disciple said unto them, "Yes." Then they cried out and spake words of condemnation to the company, saying, "May God forgive you, for ye have made the old man " to eat at this time of the day. Perhaps ye are unaware that " ye are causing him much vexation thereat?" And when the Bishop heard these things he expressed contrition, and said unto him, "Forgive me, I have behaved after the manner of a " man, but thou hast acted like God."
422. They used to say that, [on one occasion] when Abba Agathon came to the city to sell his handiwork, he found a stranger lying sick in the market, and he had no man to care for him, and the old man stayed with him; and he hired a room in the town and remained therein working with his hands, now [what he received therefor] he spent on the rent of the room and on the needs of the sick man, for a period of four months, and when the sick man was made whole the old man departed to his own cell.
423. And an old man used to say, " It is a defect in a man " if, when he is reviled by his brother, or when any evil cometh "to him from him, he cannot strengthen his love before he " meeteth him."
424. A brother was, on one occasion, sent from Scete by his Abba on a camel to Egypt to fetch palm leaves for [making] baskets, and having gone down and brought the camel, another brother met him and said unto him, " Had I known " that thou wast coming up I should have begged thee to bring " a camel for me also"; and when the brother came and told his Abba what had been said unto him by his companion, his Abba said unto him, "Take the camel and lead it to that * 1 brother, and say unto him, 1 We have taken counsel, and we " 'have given up the intention of bringing up palm leaves at " 'present, but do thou take [the camel] and bring some up
<W %ovc t GbaviVg, ant> IwapttaUts
" 'for thyself.'" Now the brother did not wish to accept the camel, but [his companion] entreated him [to do so], saying, " If thou dost not take him we shall waste what we have paid "in hire for him." So the brother took the camel and brought up his palm leaves. And after he had gone up to Egypt that brother took the camel a second time, and he came back that he himself might go up; and the brother said unto him, " Where "takestthou the camel?" and he said unto him, 4 'To Scete, " so that we also may bring up our palm leaves"; and that brother repented and was very sorry, and he expressed contrition and said, " Forgive me, my brethren, for your great " charity hath taken away my hire."
425. One of the brethren said, " Whilst we were sitting and "talking about love, Abba Joseph said, 'Do we know what " 'love is?* And he said that Abba Agathon had a little knife, "and that a certain brother came to him and said, 'Father, '"the little knife which thou hast is pretty'; and Abba Agathon "did not let him depart until he had taken it."
426. Abba Agathon used to say, "If I could find an Arian to " whom I could give my body and take his in its place, I would "do so, because this would be perfect love."
427. A brother asked Abba Muthues, saying, "What shall I " do if a brother come unto me, and it be a time of fast or the "morning, and I am in tribulation?" The old man said unto him, " If thou art afflicted, and dost eat with the brother thou "doest well; but if thou dost not look at the man, and dost "eat, this is a matter of thy will only."
428. Mother Sarah used to say, "It is a good thing for a " man to give alms, even though he do so for the approbation " of the children of men, for from this he will come to do it for "God's sake."
429. A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, "If I find a "place wherein there is pleasure for the brethren, dost thou " wish me to dwell there?" The old man said unto him, " Where " thou wilt not do harm to thy brother, there dwell."
430. Abba Poemen used to say that whenever Isidore, the priest of Scete, used to address the brethren in the church, he spake the following words only: "My brethren, it is written, "Forgive thy brother that thou also mayest be accounted "worthy of forgiveness" (St. Luke vi, 37; St. Matthew vi, 14).
431. They used to say that at the beginning Abba Zeno refused to take anything from any man, and that those who brought him things used to go away sorrowfully because he would not be persuaded to accept them from them. And other men used to come and ask him to give them gifts as of a great old man, and they also went away sorrowfully because he re-
fused to do so. Then the old man said within himself, ' ' Those " who bring go away in sorrow, and those who beg also go " away grieving because they have received nothing; I will, " therefore, act as follows: If any man bringeth me anything " I will take it, and if any man asketh me for anything I will " give it"; and he did so, and pleased every one.
432. The disciple of Abba Theodore said, "A certain man on " one occasion came to sell onions, and he filled a basin with " some of them and gave them to us; and the old man said " to me, 'Fill [the basin] with wheat and give it to him.' Now " there were two baskets of wheat there, one full of clean " wheat, and the other was full of wheat which was dirty, and " I filled the basin with the dirty wheat and gave it to him. " Then the old man looked at me in wrath and anger, and in " my fear I fell down, and broke the basin; and the old man " said unto me, 'Arise, thou art not akin to me, but I know " 'well what I said unto thee.' And the old man went in and " filled his garment with clean wheat, and gave it to the man "with the onions, together with his onions."
433. A certain monk used to dwell by the side of a coenobium, and he was occupied in great ascetic labours, and led a life of hard work, and strangers came to the coenobium, and forced him to eat before his time; and afterwards the brethren said unto him, "Art thou not now afflicted, father?" He said unto them, "Although I am afflicted I have cut off my "desire."
434. A certain old man used to say, "It is right for a man " to take up the burden for those who are akin (or near) to " him, whatsoever it may be, and, so to speak, to put his own " soul in the place of that of his neighbour, and to become, if "it were possible, a double man; and he must suffer, and " weep, and mourn with him, and finally the matter must be " accounted by him as if he himself had put on the actual body " of his neighbour, and as if he had acquired his countenance " and soul, and he must suffer for him as he would for him- " self. For thus is it written: — 'We are all one body/ and this " [passage] also affordeth information concerning the holy and " mysterious kiss."
435. An old man said that the father had a custom of going to the cells of the new brethren, who wished to live by themselves, x to visit them, lest one of them might be tempted and injured in his mind by the devils, and if they found any man who had been harmed they would bring him to the church, and would place a wash-basin full of water [in the midst], and when prayer had been made on behalf of him that had been brought there, all the brethren would wash themselves and
then pour some of the water upon him, and immediately that brother was cleansed.
436. A brother asked an old man, saying, "If I find a "brother concerning whom I have heard [that he hath committed] some offence, I never rest until I have brought him "into my cell; but if I see a man who leadeth a good life I "bring him unto myself gladly." The old man said unto him, "Do that which is good twice over unto the former man, for "he is sick, and he needeth help."
437. An old man used to say, "Defeat cometh to a man if, " when he is reviled and treated with contempt by his brother, "he doth not shew him evenness of heart before he repenteth "and asketh him to forgive him."
438. There was a monk, and away on the mountain, which was about ten miles distant from him, was another monk; and the first monk had some bread in his cell, and he meditated in his mind and determined to invite the other monk to come and partake of his bread. And again he thought in his mind, saying, " Since the bread is with me I shall give my brother the "labour [of walking] ten miles [if I invite him to come here], " but it will be more helpful [to himj if I take one half of the "bread which I possess, and carry it to him"; so he took the bread to carry it to the cell of the other brother. Now as he was journeying along, he tripped up, and fell, and injured one of his fingers, and as the blood was running down he began to cry because of the pain; and there appeared unto him suddenly an angel who said unto him, "Why weepest thou?" And the monk said unto him, "I have hurt my finger, and it "paineth me"; and the angel said unto him, "Dost thou weep "because of this? Weep not, for the number of every step " which thou takest for our Lord's sake is written down, and " is estimated at a great reward (or hire) before Him, and the "report of the labour of such things goeth up to Him. And "that thou mayest be certain that such is the case, behold, in "thy presence I will take some of this blood and carry [it] to "our Lord"; and immediately the monk was healed, and with rejoicing and thanksgiving to God he set out again on his journey to go to his companion. And having come to him and given him the bread, he related unto him concerning the love for man which is found in the good Lord, the Creator of the universe, and then went back to his cell. Now after one day he took the other half of the bread and went to carry it to another monk. And it happened that he also was found to be burning with anxiety to emulate works of this kind, and he wanted to do even as the other monk had done; and having set out to go and carry the bread of the first monk, they hap-
pened to meet each other on the way. Then the first monk who had done good to the other monk began to say unto him, 44 I possessed a certain treasure, and thou wishest to rob me "[of it]"; and the other monk said unto him, "Where is it 4 4 written that the strait and narrow door is sufficient for thy- 4 4 self alone? Let us, even us, go in with thee." Then straightway, whilst they were holding converse, the angel of the Lord appeared, and said unto them, 4 4 Your contending hath ascended unto the Lord even as a sweet smell."
439. On one occasion, a certain excellent man, who feared God in his life and works, and who was living in the world, went to Abba Poemen, and some of the brethren, who were also with the old man, were asking him questions [wishing] to hear a word from him. Then Abba Poemen said to the man who was in the world, 4 4 Speak a word to the brethren"; but he entreated him, saying, 4 4 Forgive me, father, but I came to 44 learn." And the old man pressed him [to speak], and, as the force of his urging increased, he said, 44 I am a man living in 44 the world, and I sell vegetables, and because I do not know 44 how to speak from a book, listen ye to a parable. There was 44 a certain man who had three friends, and he said to the first, 4 4 4 Since I desire to see the Emperor come with me'; and the 44 friend said unto him, 4 I will come with thee half the way.' 44 And the man said to the second friend, 4 Come, go with me 4 4 4 to the Emperor's presence'; and the friend said unto him, 4 4 4 I will come with thee as far as his palace, but I cannot go 44 4 with thee inside'; and the man said the same unto his third 44 friend, who answered and said, 4 I will come with thee, and 44 4 I will go inside the palace with thee, and I will even stand 44 4 up before the Emperor and speak on thy behalf.'" Then the brethren questioned him, wishing to learn from him the strength of the riddle (or dark saying), and he answered and said unto them, 44 The first friend is abstinence, which leadeth as far as 44 one half of the way; and the second friend is purity and 44 holiness, which lead to heaven; and the third friend is loving- 44 kindness, which stablisheth a man before God, and speaketh 44 on his behalf with great boldness."
440. A brother went to visit a certain monk, and when he went forth from him, he said unto him, " Forgive me, father, 44 for having made thee to desist from thy rule"; and the monk said unto him, 4 4 My rule is to refresh thee, and to send thee 44 away in peace."
441. On one occasion a command was given to the brethren who were in Scete, and it was said unto them, 4 4 Fast ye this 44 week, and celebrate the Passover." And it happened that some brethren came from Egypt to Abba Moses, and whilst
he was boiling for them a little food, his neighbours saw the smoke [of his fire] rising up, and they said to the clergy, " Be- 44 hold, Moses hath broken the command, and hath boiled "some food in his cell"; and they said unto them, "Hold ye "your peace, and when he cometh to us we will speak to him. " Now when the Sabbath arrived, the clergy, having regard to his great ascetic labours, said unto him before the whole as* sembly, "O Abba Moses, though thou dost break the com- "mand of men, thou stablishest [that of God]."
442. They used to tell the story of a certain brother who, when he was throwing away the handles of his baskets, heard his neighbour say, " What shall I do? For the festival draweth " nigh, and I have no handles to put on my baskets"; and the brother went straightway and picked up the handles of his baskets, and brought them to his companion, saying, 44 Be- u hold I have these, of which I have no need, take them and M put them on thy baskets"; and he left his own work and completed that of his companion.
443. Certain of the old men went to Abba Poemen, and said unto him, " Dost thou wish us if we see brethren sleeping " in the congregation, to smite them so that they may wake " up?" And he said unto them, " If I see my brother sleeping, " I place his head upon my knees, and I give him a place to " rest upon"; then an old man said unto him, 4 4 And what dost 44 thou say unto God?" Abba Poemen said unto him, 44 I say "unto Him thus: Thou Thyself hast said, * First of all pluck " 'the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou wilt be able 44 *to see to take the mote out of the eye of thy brother ' " (St. Matthew vii, 3).
Cbapter r, ©f DumUitg ant> of bow a /Ban sboulb tbinfe Ugbtlj? of bimseit, anb sboulb esteem Mmself tbe inferior of cvcvs /Ban
ABBA ISAAC, the priest of the Cells, used to say: When I was a young man I used to dwell with Abba Chronius, and he never at any time told me to do any
444. work; now he was an old man and he trembled, but he would stand up and give water with his hands to me, and to all of us alike. And with Abba Theodore of ParmS it was the same, for he never told me to do any work whatsoever, but he would make ready the table with his own hands, and would say, u Brother, come [and] eat." And I said unto him, 44 Father, I " came that I might assist thee, and how is that thou dost not " tell me to do something?" But the old man in all this held his peace. And I went up and informed the old men, and they came to him, and said unto him, 44 Father, this brother came
" unto thy holiness that he might be assisted [by thee], and " why dost thou not tell him to do something?" Then the old man said unto them, 4 1 Am I the head of a monastery that I " should give him a command? I shall say unto him nothing ex- " cept that [I] wish him to do that which he seeth me do." And from that time I was always before him in doing that which the old man was going to do; now whatsoever he did, he did in silence, and in this manner he made me to know and taught me to work in silence also.
445. There was a certain Egyptian monk in Constantinople under the reign of Theodosius the Less, and he used to dwell in a little cell, and when the Emperor went forth [on one occasion] to take his pleasure, he came by himself to the monk; now the following of men who were with him waited for him at a distance. And the Emperor took off his crown from his head, and hid it, and he knocked at the door of the monk, and when he opened to him he knew that it was the Emperor, but he [feigned] forgetfulness and would not recognize him, and he welcomed him as one of his own rank in life, and he prayed and sat down. Then the Emperor began to question him, saying, " How are the fathers who are in Egypt?" And the monk said unto him, " They all pray for thy health." And the Emperor examined his cell, and saw nothing there except a small basket wherein was bread, and the monk said to him, " Eat," and he dipped the bread in water, and poured oil on it, and salt, and he gave it to the Emperor, who ate it; and he gave him some water, and he drank. Then the Emperor said unto him, " Knowest thou who I am?" And the monk said unto him, "God knoweth who thou art." And the Emperor said unto him, " I am Theodosius, the Emperor," and straightway the monk paid homage unto him. Then the Emperor said unto him, " Blessed art thou in that thou hast none of the cares of " this world; verily I was born to kingship and before this day * i I have never been satisfied with bread and water, and they " have pleased me greatly"; and the Emperor began to pay honour to him. And straightway that monk fled to Egypt with all the speed that was possible.
446. A certain brother came to Abba Macarius, the Egyptian, and said unto him, " Father, speak to me a word whereby I " may live." Abba Macarius saith unto him, " Get thee to the " cemetery and revile the dead"; and he went and reviled them, and stoned them with stones, and he came and informed the old man [that he had done so]. And the old man said unto him, " Did they say nothing unto thee?" and the brother said unto him, " No." And again the old man said unto him, " Go " to-morrow and praise them, and call them, 1 Apostles,
" 'Saints, and Righteous Men'"; and he came to the old man, and said, " I have praised them." And the old man said unto him, "And did they return thee no answer?" and he said "No." And the old man said unto him, "Thou seest how "thou hast praised them, and that they said nothing to thee, " and that although thou didstrevile them they returned thee no " answer. And thus let it be with thyself. If thou wishest to " live, become dead, so that thou mayest care neither for the " reviling of men nor for [their] praise, for the dead care for "nothing; in this wise thou wilt be able to live."
447. One of the fathers used to relate that he had an old man in a cell, who performed many ascetic labours, and who clothed himself in a palm-leaf mat; and this old man went to Abba Ammon, who, seeing that he wore a palm-leaf mat only, said unto him, " This will profit thee nothing." And the old man asked him, saying, "Three thoughts vex me. Shall I go "to the desert, or shall I go forth into exile, or shall I shut " myself up in a cell, and receive no man, and eat once every two "days?" Abba Ammon said unto him, " Thou art not able to " do any one of these things, but go, sit in thy cell, and eat a "very little food each day, and let there be in thine heart al- " ways the word[s] of the publican, 4 God be merciful to me " 4 a sinner,' and thus thou shalt be able to live" (St. Luke xviii, 13).
448. Abba Daniel used to relate a story, saying: — There was with us in Babylon of Egypt the daughter of a man who was the captain of a company of soldiers, and she was possessed of a devil, and her father took her to many places, but she could not find healing. Now her father had a friend who was a monk, and he said unto him, " No man is able to cure her ex- " cept those monks of whom I spake unto thee, but even if we " entreat them to do this they will not agree to it, because they "flee from the love of the approbation [of men]. Nevertheless, "when they come to sell [their] baskets, ye shall pretend that " ye wish to buy some, and when they come to sell and to take "the price of the baskets from thy house, we will say unto " them, * Put up a prayer, and this maiden shall be healed' "; and the man did so. And they came as it were to buy baskets, and they found the disciple of these holy men sitting down and selling [them], and they took him and the baskets, and carried him to their houses, and then they set another man in his place, and commanded him when the monks came to bring them to them. Now when their disciple entered the house, the maiden who was possessed of a devil went forth and smote him on the cheek, but that brother fulfilled the commandment and turned to her the other cheek, and straightway that devil, who was unable to bear the
blow of the commandment of Christ which was fulfilled, cried out with a loud voice, and departed. And when the monks came [the people in the house] related unto them the reason for what had happened, and they glorified God, and said, 44 It 44 is customary for the boasting of the Evil One to fall before 44 the humility of the commandments of Christ."
449. On one occasion Abba Ammon went to Abba Anthony, and he lost the way, and sat down for a little and fell asleep; and he rose up from his slumber, and prayed unto God, and said, 44 I beseech Thee, O Lord God, not to destroy that which 44 Thou hast fashioned." Then he lifted up his eyes, and, behold, there was the form of a man's hand above him in the heavens, and it shewed him the way until he came and stood above the cave of Abba Anthony; and when he had gone into the cave to the old man, Abba Anthony prophesied unto him, saying, 4 4 Thou shalt increase in the fear of God." Then he took him outside the cave, and showing him a stone, said, 4 4 Curse 44 this stone, and smite it," and he did so, and Abba Anthony said unto him, 4 4 It is thus that thou shalt arrive at this state, 4 4 for thou shalt bear heaviness, and great abuse"; and this actually happened to Abba Ammon. Now, through his abundant goodness Abba Ammon knew not wickedness. And after he had become a Bishop, through his spiritual excellence they brought unto him a virgin who had conceived, and they said unto him, * 4 So-and-so hath done this deed; let them receive 44 correction"; but he made the sign of the Cross over her belly, and ordered them to give her six pair of linen cloths, and he said, 4 4 Peradventure when she bringeth forth either she or the " child will die, [and if either dieth] let them be buried," Then those who were with him said unto him, 4 4 What is this that * 4 thou hast done? Give the command that they receive correc- 44 tion." And he said unto them, "See, O my brethren, she is 44 nigh unto death, and what can I do?" Then he dismissed her. And the old man never ventured to judge anyone, for he was full of lovingkindness and endless goodness to all the children of men.
450. They used to say that [on one occasion] when Abba Arsenius the Great fell ill in Scete, a priest went and brought him to the church, and he spread a palm-leaf mat for him, and [placed] a small pillow under his head; and one of the old men came to visit him and saw that he was lying upon a mat and that he had a pillow under his head, and he was offended and said, 4 4 And this is Arsenius lying upon such things!" Then the priest took the old man aside privately, and said unto him, 44 What labour didst thou do in thy village?" and the old man said unto him, 44 I was a shepherd." And the priest said unto
Qt Dumilttp
him, " What manner of life didst thou lead in the world?" and he said unto him, "A life of toil, and sore want." And when the old man had described all the tribulation which he had endured in the world, the priest said unto him, 4 'And here what "manner of life dost thou lead?" And the old man said unto him, "In my cell I have everything comfortable, and I have "more than I want"; and the priest said unto him, "Consider "[the position of] Abba Arsenius when he was in the world! " He was the father of kings, and a thousand slaves, girt "about with gold-embroidered vests, and with chains and or- " naments round their necks, and clothed in silk, stood before "him; and he had the most costly couches and cushions Jto " lie upon]. But thou wast a shepherd, and the comforts which "thou didst never enjoy in the world thou hast here; but this "man Arsenius hath not here the comforts which he enjoyed "in the world, and now thou art at thine ease whilst he is "troubled." Then the mind of the old man was opened, and he expressed contrition and said, "Father, forgive me; I have "sinned. Verily this is the way of truth. He hath come to a "state of humility, whilst I have attained to ease." And the old man having profited went his way.
451. They used to say that on one occasion Abba Macarius was passing along the road when Satan met him, and the Devil wished to cut him down with the scythe which he held in his hand, but he was unable to do so, and he said unto him, " Macarius, I am dragged along by thee with great force, but " I cannot overcome thee. Now, behold, everything which "thou doest I can do also. Thou fastest, and I never eat at " all. Thou watchest, and I never go to sleep, and there is one "thing only wherein thou dost conquer me." Then Macarius said unto him, "And what is that?" And Satan said, "It is "thy humility, for it is because of this that I cannot vanquish "thee"; then Macarius spread out his hands in prayer, and the Devil was no more seen.
452. On one occasion a devil took a knife and stood over Abba Macarius wishing to cut off his leg, and when he was unable to do so on account of the humility [of the old man], he answered and said unto him, "Everything which ye pos- "sess we possess also, and it is only in humility that ye are "superior to us, and [it is only by means of it] that yecon- "quer us."
453. Abba Anthony said, "I saw all the snares of the Enemy laid out upon the ground, and I groaned and said, 'Who can " 'escape from these?' " And the devils said unto me, ' Humility ' 'maketh a man to escape from these, for we cannot attain "'untoit., "
454. An old man said, 1 4 Whensoever a man is praised it is " meet for him to think upon his sins, and he should consider, i ' saying, ' I am unworthy of the things which are said about me. ' "
455. The blessed Macarius behaved towards all the brethren without any wicked suspicion, and certain people said unto him, 4 'Why dost thou act in this manner?" And he said, "Be- "hold, for twelve years I have been supplicating my Lord to " give me this gift, and would you advise me to relinquish it? "If it happen that one of the brethren commit a sin before " the eyes of him who possesseth no wickedness, and he know "that it is an evil thing, it is not right that he should bear " some of the pain of him that hath fallen."
456. Abba Poemen used to say, "No monk should condemn " any man in anything, and no monk should reward a man " with [evil for] evil, and no monk should be a man of anger."
457. An old man asked Abba Poemen, saying, "Somebreth- " ren dwell with me; dost thou wish me to give them command- " ments?" And he said unto him, "No, but thou thyself must " first do work, and if they wish to live, they will observe [it] " and do [it]." The old man said unto him, "Ought they also " to wish me to govern them?" And Abba Poemen said unto him, "No, be unto them an example, and not a lawgiver."
458. Abba Poemen said, "If a brother come unto thee, and " thou be not benefited by his coming in [to thee], enquire in " thine heart, and learn what thought thou hadst [in thy mind] " before the entrance of that brother, and then thou wilt learn " whence cometh the source of injury; if thou wilt do this with "humility and knowledge, behold, thou wilt live without " blame with thy brother, and thou wilt bear thine own shortcomings. If a man maketh his habitation with knowledge "it will not fall, for God is before it, and, as it appeareth to " me, from this habitation a man may acquire the fear of God."
459. A brother asked an old man, saying, "By what means "may a man go forward? and the old man said unto him, "The greatness of a man consisteth of humility, for in pro- " portion as a man descendeth to humility, he becometh exalted " to greatness. "
460. Abba John used to say, "We relinquish a light burden * 1 when we condemn ourselves, but we take upon ourselves a " heavy burden when we [attempt to] make ourselves righteous."
461. On one occasion Abba Theophilus went to the Nitrian Mountain to visit the fathers, and the priest of the Mountain came to him; and Abba Theophilus said to him, now he was Theophilus the Bishop of Alexandria, "What thing of excel- " lence hast thou found on this road?" And the old man said unto him, "I make accusations against myself, and I blame
©f tmmUtts
" myself at all times"; and Abba Theophilus said unto him, " Verily this is the way of truth."
A variant reads: "On one occasion the Archbishop Theo- " philus went to the mountain of Nitria, and a certain Abba of "the monks who was in the mountain came unto him; Abba "Theophilus said unto him, "What more do the monks find " in this way [than in any other]?" The old man said unto him, "They condemn themselves continually, and they do not judge "their neighbours"; and Abba Theophilus said, "There is no "way but this."
462. On one occasion they brought a man possessed of a devil to one of the old men of Thebes, and entreated him to cast the devil out, but the old man was unwilling [to do soj; but since they urged him strongly he was persuaded, and he had mercy on the man, and he said to the devil, "Get thee out "from that which God hath fashioned." Then the devil answered and said, "I am going out, but I would ask thee to "tell me one thing: What is the meaning of that which is "written in the Gospel, Who are the goats and who are the " sheep?" The old man answered and said, " I myself am [one "of] the goats, but God knoweth who the sheep are"; and when the devil heard this, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Behold, I go forth because of thy humility," and straightway he left the man and departed.
463. They used to say that on one occasion a few early, white figs came to Scete, but because they were nothing [of importance] they did not send any to Abba Arsenius, not wishing to insult him; and when the old man heard of this he did not come to the congregation, saying, "Ye separated me from the "blessed gift which God sent to the brethren because I was "unworthy to partake of it." And when the old man heard [this] they profited [greatly] by his humility, and the priest went and carried some of the figs to him, and brought him to the congregation with great joy.
464. A certain Abba asked Abba Muthues, saying, " If I go to " a place to dwell, how wouldst thou have me conduct myself? " The old man said unto him, " If thou wishest to dwell in a cer- " tain place, [do so,] but do not let go forth concerning thyself "any fame for praiseworthy a£ts, [or say,] 4 I do not eat, 1 or, " 'I do not drink,' for such things only produce empty fame; " and thou wilt find at length that thou wilt profit from many, "for men will go where they can find qualities of this kind." Then the brother said unto him, "What shall I do?" and the old man said unto him, "Wheresoever thou dwellest condudl " thyself in a simple manner like every one else, and what thou " seest those who fear God do, [I mean] those in whom thou
" hast confidence, that do also, and thou shalt be at ease. For " to be as all other men are is true humility, and the men who " see that thou art like unto all other men will regard thee as " they regard every one else, and thou wilt not be troubled/ '
465. A certain brother went on one occasion from Egypt to Syria to visit Abba Zeno, and the Egyptians began to make accusations against his thoughts before the old man. And when Abba Zeno heard this, he marvelled and said, "The "Egyptians always hide the spiritual excellences which they " possess, but they describe the shortcomings which they do not "possess; on the other hand, the Syrians and the Greeks declare " that they possess the virtues which they have not, and they " hide the shortcomings which they do possess."
466. They used to talk about a certain old man who fasted for seventy weeks, and who only ate each Saturday; and he asked God that a word from the Book might be given unto him, but it was not given. Then he said within himself, "Behold, I " have laboured in all these things, and I have omitted nothing; " I will arise and go to my brother and question him [about " it]." And when he had shut the door to depart, the angel of the Lord appeared, and said unto him, "The seventy weeks "wherein thou didst fast have not come nigh unto God, but, " inasmuch as thou hast humbled thyself to go to thy brother, " I have been sent to make known unto thee a word, and to "give thee rest"; thereupon he made the word known unto him, and gave him rest, and departed.
467. A brother asked an old man, saying, "What shall I do? " For the love of praise is killing me." The old man said unto him, "Thou doest well, for behold, thou hast made the heavens " and the earth." Then the brother was sorry because of what the old man had said unto him, and he expressed contrition, and said, ' * Father, forgive me, but I have done nothing of the "kind"; the old man said unto him, "If now He Who did " make them came into this world in humility, why dost thou " who art mud boast thyself?"
468. One of the old men said, "Be not humble in thy words " only, but also in thy deeds."
469. On one occasion a certain governor came to see Abba Stoidn, and when the old man heard of his coming from those who came to make it known to him beforehand, he straightway girded up his loins, and went up a palm tree to clean it. And when those who came cried out to him, saying, "Old man, tell " us where the monk is," he said unto them, "He is not here"; so they departed from that place.
470. One of the fathers from Parm& told a story of how, on one occasion when he had returned to Abba Theodore, he found
no
A
©f tmmtltts
him wearing a ragged shirt, and his breast was naked and bare, and his outer garment was dragged round in front of him. And, behold, a certain Count came to see him, and when his followers knocked at the door, and called the old man, he went out to meet him quite carelessly; and I took a small piece of coarse cloth and threw it over his shoulders that his breast might be covered, but the old man took it in his hand and waved it, and threw it away. And when the Count went I said to him, " Father, what is this that thou hast done? For a nobleman " came unto thee to be helped, and to gain profit, and behold, " he hath perhaps gone away offended. " And the old man said unto me, "Get thee gone, Abba. We are still subjedl unto men. "We have done the deed, and he is gone; but whether he " wisheth to be benefited, or whether he wisheth to be offended "is his affair. As for me, as far as I am able I shall always "meet men of this kind in this way." And he commanded his disciple, saying, "If any man cometh and wisheth to see me, "say not to him anything after the manner of men, but if I "am eating, tell him that I am eating, and if I am asleep, tell "him that I am asleep."
471. A certain woman who was afHidled in her lungs with the disease called cancer, heard concerning Longinus and wished to see him; now he used to dwell in [the monastery of] Han ton in Alexandria. And whilst the woman was seeking and wishing for him, it happened that the blessed man was gathering sticks on the sea-shore, and when the woman found him, she said unto him, "Father, where dwelleth the man of " God, Abba Longinus?" Now she did not know that he himself was Longinus. And he said unto her, "What dost thou " want with that lying hypocrite? Do not go to him, for he is " a liar. What is it that causeth thee pain?" Then the woman shewed him the place, and the old man made the sign of the Cross over it, and he dismissed her, saying, "Go, and may our " Lord heal thee, for Longinus is unable to do thee any good "whatsoever." And the woman went away believing in the word, and she was healed straightway; and afterwards when she was telling folks the story, she said, "I have learned by "the marks which were on the old man that he himself was "Abba Longinus."
472. On one occasion a certain governor arranged to see Abba Simon, and the clergy told him beforehand, saying, " Father, make thyself ready, for a certain governor hath heard " of thy life and works, and he wisheth to come and be blessed "by thee"; and the old man said unto them, "I am ready." Then the old man went in and took in his hand some bread and cheese, and went out to the door and sat down there, and
in
he changed about from place to place eating; and when the governor came with his company, and saw him sitting and eating, they despised him, saying, "So this is the monk of whom " I have heard!" And they left him and departed.
473. An old man was asked, "How is it that there are men " who say, * We have seen a vision of angels?' " and the old man said, "Blessed is he who seeth his sins continually."
474. They used to say that when any man came to Abba Poemen he used to send him to Abba Job, his brother, saying to him, "He is older than I am"; and Job used to say to those who came, "Go unto my brother Poemen, for he possesseth " the grace of these gifts." Now if Abba Joseph was sitting with him Abba Poemen would not speak before him.
475. When a certain brother went to the festival he asked Abba Poemen, "What wouldst thou have me to do?" The old man said unto him, "Be thou a friend unto him that lead- " eth thee away by force, and sell thy work graciously."
476. A brother asked an old man, "What is the work ot "exile?" And the old man said unto him, "I knew a brother " who went forth into exile, and he went in to lodge in a church, " and it happened that the brethren were about to eat some of "the sacramental bread; and when they sat down this man "sat down with them. Now when some of the other monks " saw him, they said, 'Who hath brought this man in [to eat] " with us?' And one of them said [unto him], 'Arise, and get " 'thee outside,' and straightway he rose up and went forth " as the brother had told him; but the others being sorry about "this matter went out and brought him in. And after these "things a certain man asked him, 'What was in thy mind " 'when thou didst go out and come in again?' He said unto " them, ' I thought in my mind that I was like a dog which " 'when he is driven out goeth out, and when he is called " ' cometh in.'"
477. They used to say that when Abba Moses was one of the clergy he wore a long outer garment, and that the Bishop said unto him, "Behold, thou art wholly white, O Abba " Moses. " The old man said unto him, " Is the P£p£ within "or without?" And again, wishing to try him, the Bishop said unto the clergy, "When Abba Moses goeth into the " sacrarium drive him out, and go after him and hear what he "saith." Now when he went into the sacrarium they rebuked him and drove him out, saying, "Get outside, O Ethiopian"; and having gone forth he began to say to himself, "They have "treated thee rightly, O thou whose skin is dark and black; " thou shalt not go back as if thou wert a [white] man."
478. An old man used to say, "Do not despise or think
" lightly of him that standeth before thee, for thou knowest "not whether the Spirit of God is in thee or in him, though "thou callest him who standeth before thee him that minis- "tereth unto thee."
479. Abba John the Less used to say, "Humility and the "fear of God are more excellent than all the [other] virtues."
480. They used to say that a certain old man, who had young men living with him, told them on one occasion to do something, and when they did it not he said nothing further to them about it, but rose up himself in their sight and did what he had told them to do without anger, and without labour.
481. Another old man used to say, "Humility is not with- " out salt, but it is salted with salt."
482. An old man used to say, "I would rather learn than
"teach."
483. And he also used to say, "Do not learn before the "time, so that thou mayest not have little admonition all thy
"time."
484. Abba Agathon said, "If a man of wrath were to raise " the dead, he would not be accepted by any man."
485. A brother asked Abba Timothy, saying, "I myself can "see that my memorial is ever before God"; and the old man said unto him, ' ' It would not be any great thing for thy thought " (or mind) to be with God, but it would be a great thing for a "man to see his soul beneath all creation."
486. Abba Theodore used to say, "There is no spiritual " excellence greater than that of a man who despiseth not his "companion."
487. An old man was asked, "By what means doth the soul "receive humility?" And he said, "By searching into it, and " by remembering the evil things which have been done by it."
488. One of the old men said, "I asked Abba Sisoes, saying, " 'Tell me a word/ and he said, 'It is right for a monk to " 'humble himself lower than the idols'; and I went to my cell, " and took counsel with myself, and meditated for an hour, "saying, 'What do the words "lower than the idols" mean?' "Then I returned and went to the old man, and said unto " him, 'What do the words "lower than the idols" mean?' And "he said unto me, 'It is written concerning the idols, "They " ' "have a mouth and speak not, and they have eyes and see " ' "not, and they have ears and hear not"; even thus is it right " 'for a monk to be.' And because idols are an abomination, a "man must hold himself to be abominable in his own sight."
489. A brother asked Abba Sisoes of Thebais, saying, " Speak "a word to me," and Sisoes said unto him, "What have I to
"say unto thee? I read the New Testament, and I refleft on "the Old Testament."
490. That same brother went to Abba Sisoes of P£t4r4, and told him the word which Abba Sisoes of the Thebaid had spoken, and Abba Sisoes said unto him, "I lie down to sleep 44 in my sins, and I rise up in my sins."
491. There was a certain monk who lost himself in the desert, and he said to himself, "I have kept myself rightly, and I pos- " sess all the virtues," and he prayed to God and said, "If I "be lacking in anything, shew Thou me how I may perform " it." And God, wishing to humble his mind, said unto him, 44 Go to such and such a head of a monastery, and whatsoever " he telleth thee to do that do." And God sent a revelation to the head of the monastery, and said unto him, "Behold, such " and such a monk will come unto thee, and say thou unto him, 4 4 4 Take a whip in thy hands, and go forth and pasture swine. ' " And the monk went forth immediately, even as the head of the monastery told him, and pastured swine, and when those who had known him formerly, and those who had heard about him, saw him pasturing swine, they said, 4 4 Ye see the great monk " about whom we have heard, behold, his heart hath gone mad, " and a devil hath seized him, and he is [now] pasturing swine." Then God, when He saw his humility, and that he was hearing and bearing the reproach of men, set him free so that he might go back where he had been formerly.
492. An old man used to say, " If a man hath laid some work " upon a brother to do, he must perform that command in the " fear of God and in humility; for he who for God's sake layeth " [some work] upon a brother maketh the brother to submit " himself thereto, and [the one brother] must do what [the other 1 * brother] hath laid upon him. But if a man wisheth to give * 4 commands to a brother, not in the fear of God, but on his own 4 4 authority, wishing to be unto him a master and a governor, 44 God, Who seeth the hidden things of his heart, will not allow " him to be obedient unto him and to do [that] work, for the 44 work that is for God's sake is evident, and that which is of the 44 man's own authority is well known. For that which is for God's 44 sake cometh with humility and entreaty, whilst the works 44 which are of man's own authority are with wrath and trouble, 44 and they come from the Evil One."
493. A brother asked Abba Isidore, 4 4 Why is it that the 44 devils fear thee so greatly? The old man said, 4 4 Because 4 4 from the time that I became a monk I have laboured hard 44 not to allow anger to enter into my throat; that is why they 44 fear me."
494. An old man used to say, 44 On one occasion I went to
114
" the fair to sell with [other] brethren a few things, and I saw " anger drawing nigh unto me, and I left the things and fled "straightway."
495. Abba John the Less used to say, "On one occasion " when I was going up on the Scete road with some palm leaves " I heard a camel speaking words to me, and he was about to 1 * make me angry, but I straightway left the palm leaves and fled. "
496. The same old man when he was in the harvest [field] heard a brother speaking to his companion in anger, saying, 44 Come hither," and straightway he left the harvest and fled.
497. A brother asked an old man, 4 1 Why is it, when I am " performing my little services of prayer and praise, that I some- " times see in myself that there is nothing lacking in my heart, "and that I do not wish it?" The old man said unto him, " How then can a man appear to love God?"
498. Abba John the Less said unto the brethren who were with him, " Although we be little folk in the eyes of men, let " us consider how we may be held in honour before God."
499. They used to say that Abba Patrd and Abba Ampikos were close and affectionate friends, and that when the old men were eating in the church, and they were urging them to come to the table of the fathers, it was only with hard work that Abba Patr& would go by himself; and after he had eaten, Abba Ampikds said unto him, "How didst thou dare to go to the "table of the old men?" Abba Patrd said unto him, "If I had " sat with you the brethren would have honoured me as an old " man, and they would have required it of me to be the first to " say the blessing, and I might have thought in my mind that " I was greater than you all. But since I went to the fathers I " am the least of you all, and I am abased, and I think in my " thoughts that I am nothing."
500. On one occasion a brother committed sin in the church, and the priest drove him out therefrom, and there was there a man of discretion whose name was Bessarion, and he also arose and went out of the church, and said, " If ye have judged that " this man who hath committed only one offence is not fit to "worship God, how very much less fit am I, who have com-* "mitted many sins, to do so?" And the old man said, "'Woe " 'be unto him that is without more than unto him that is with- " 'in,' that is to say, ' Woe be unto him that is [within him that " 'is without!'] Now this is what I would say, When a man in "the world findeth a cause [of complaint] against a man who "liveth a life of silent contemplation, or who hath departed "from the world, this is a [cause of] judgement and of a fall "unto him who giveth him reason [for complaint]. Take the " greatest possible care then, O monk, not to commit sin, lest
41 thou disgrace God, Who dwelleth in thee, and drive Him out "from thy soul."
501. Abba Pi6r worked hard to be able to overcome the disposition to say "Thou" to any of the brethren.
502. The disciple of Abba Arsenius used to say, "When "the old man was about to die, he commanded us, saying, ' ' ' Do not let it be a care unto you to make a commemoration " 4 for me, but offer up the Offering only; for, he used to say, " 'if during my life-time I have done any thing which is worthy "'of commemoration, I shall most certainly find [a memorial " 'of it]/"
503. Abba Ammon said, "A man may pass one hundred "years in his cell, and not know rightly how a monk should "live in his cell, or even how to live secluded for one day." And he used to say, "The proper way and manner for a monk " to live is to condemn himself continually."
504. Abba Poemen used to say, " If a man will only condemn " himself he will be able to endure and continue wheresoever " he dwelleth."
505. Abba Poemen used to say, "We live in the troubles and " trials which come upon us because we do not take to our- " selves the humble names which the Scriptures have given us; " and because we do not consider how our Lord Jesus relieved ' 1 the Canaanitish woman (St. Matthew xv, 22) who took to her- " self abominable names, moreover, we do not consider how, " when Abigail said unto David, 'On me be the sin' (1 Samuel " xxv, 24), he was entreated by her and loved her. Abigail must ' ' be taken as [representing] the person of the soul, and David "as the Godhead; if then, the soul will condemn itself before " God, He will love it, and will give it the delight of rest."
506. An old man used to say, "In all thy trials blame no man; "blame thyself only, saying, 'These things have happened to " 'me because of my sins.'"
507. On one occasion Abba John was called to the church, and the brethren surrounded him and asked him questions about their thoughts; and one of the old men said unto him, "John is like unto a whore who adorneth herself that she may "multiply lovers for herself; thus art thou." And Abba John sighed and said, "Father, thou hast spoken the truth." Afterwards a certain man told him that he loved him, [and said], "Art thou not disturbed within?" He said unto him, "No. " But as I am without, even so am I within."
508. One of the old men used to say about Abba John, that he lived in such a way that, through the humility which he possessed, he held all Scete suspended on his finger.
509. Abba John of the Thebaid used to say that, before all
else, it was right for a monk to acquire humility, for this was the first commandment of our blessed Redeemer, Who said, " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of "God" (St. Matthew v, 3).
510. John Kolob used to say, " Humility is the door which "leadeth into the kingdom, and our fathers, through many "revilings, have gone into the city of God rejoicing."
511. An old man used to say, 44 It is good for a man to say, " 'Forgive me,' and then to make an offering of something; "for this suiteth the monkish garb."
512. The same old man also said, " A dog is better than I "am, for he hath love, and he cometh not to judgement."
513. Abba Eupraxius used to say, "The tree of life which "riseth in the heights is humility." He also said, " Make thyself like unto the publican; and be not made guilty with the " Pharisee; choose for thyself the meekness of Moses, so that " thine heart, which is as hard as steel, thou mayest change into " a fountain of water.
514. One of the old men said, " I would rather have defeat "with humility than conquest with boasting."
515. An old man said, " When the thought of pride goeth "up in thee, and thou becomest arrogant, examine thy con- " science [and see] if thou hast kept all the commandments, "and if thou lovest thine enemies, and if thou lovest the approbation of thine enemy, and if thou art grieved when he " is afflicted, and if thou art considered by thyself to be an " unprofitable servant, and a sinner greater than any other "man. And even if thou hast performed rightly all the de- "mands of ascetic excellence, thou shalt not be proud, for "thou must know that the thought of pride abrogateth and " maketh unprofitable all the virtues."
516. An old man used to say, " He who is held in greater "honour or is more praised than he deserveth suffereth great " loss; but the man who receiveth neither honour nor praise " from men shall be praised above all."
517. A brother asked an old man, saying, " Is it a good thing " for us to repent many times?" The old man said unto him, " We see that when Joshua, the son of Nun, lay upon his face " the Lord spake with him " (Joshua v, 14).
518. An old man was asked, " Why do the devils fight "against us in the way they do?" And he said, " Because we "throw away from us our armour, that is to say, obedience, "humility, and abstinence."
519. The old men used to say, "Whensoever we have no " war to wage then especially it is meet that we should abase "ourselves, for God, because He knoweth our feebleness,
" giveth us His protection for nothing, but if we boast ourselves, " He removeth it from us and we perish."
520. A brother asked an old man, saying, "What istheper- " fection of a monk?" The old man saith unto him, " Humility, " for when once a man hath arrived at humility, he can reach " forward to the goal."
521. The old man said, " If a man can say unto his brother, " ' Forgive me,' and can humble himself, this belongeth to the " perfection of the monk."
522. One of the old men said, " When a man saith unto his "companion, ' Forgive me/ and at the same time humbleth "himself, the devils are consumed."
523. A certain brother was offended at his brother, and when the latter heard thereof he went to him to express his contrition, but he would not open the door; then he who had offended his brother went to another old man and related the matter unto him, and the old man answered and said, "Observe lest "in thine own mind thou art justifying thyself, and art con- " demning thy brother, as if he were the offender, for it may " be that because of this he would not be persuaded to open " unto thee. Nevertheless, do thou what I am going to tell thee. " For although he hath offended thee, go thou, and hold firmly " [to the belief] that thou hast offended against him, and may " God put it into thy brother's mind to be reconciled to thee."
524. And the old man related unto him a story which explained the matter, saying, "There were two men who 1 4 were living in the world, and were fearers of God, and " they were both of the same mind, and they went forth "and became monks; and when they heard in a plain man- "ner the word of the Gospel which saith, * There are eu- "'nuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake "'of the kingdom of heaven ' (St. Matthew xix, 12), they " arrived at the hottest point of their love, and they made them- " selves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Now " when the Bishop heard [of this] he set them aside and excommu- "nicated them. Then those men, wishing to show that they " had done what was good, said unto one another, * We have " * made ourselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, " ' and this Bishop driveth us out! Let us go and make acom- " * plaint against him to the head of our monasteries, that is, " i to the Bishop of Jerusalem and when they had gone to " him they related unto him the whole matter. Then the Bishop " said unto them, * And I also set you aside and excommu- " * nicate you'; and being greatly grieved at this remark also " they went to the Bishop of Antioch, and related the matter " unto him, and he also drove them away with the same words.
* 4 Then the two brethren said unto each other, 4 Let us go to 44 4 the Patriarch of Rome, and he will avenge us and will take 44 'vengeance on all these [Bishops].' And having gone to the 14 great Patriarch and Bishop of Rome, and made him to know 14 their matter, and what the Bishop and Patriarch [of Antioch] 4 4 had said unto them, they said at length, 4 We have come 44 4 unto thee because thou art the head of them all.' Then the 44 Bishop of Rome also said unto them, 4 1 also excommunicate 4 4 4 you and excommunicate ye shall be. ' Then, not knowing what 4 4 to do, they said to each other, 4 All these men accept the 44 4 persons each of the other, and each honoureth the other, 44 'because they are accustomed to assemble together at the 44 4 Synods, but let us go to the holy man of God, Epiphanius, 44 4 Bishop of Cyprus, because he is indeed a Bishop, and he 44 4 doth not accept the person of any man.' Now when they 44 drew nigh unto the city, it was revealed unto Epiphanius 44 concerning them, and he sent [a man] to meet them, and to 44 say unto them, 4 Ye shall not come into the city.' And when 44 they came to themselves they repented, and said, 4 In very 44 4 truth we have sinned; with what can we justify ourselves? 44 4 For, even supposing that the Bishop and the Patriarchs 44 4 have excommunicated us in an unseemly manner, perad- 44 4 venture this man is a prophet besides, for behold, God hath 44 4 revealed unto him concerning us beforehand; let us then 44 'condemn ourselves in respect of everything which we have 4 4 4 done.' Then when God, Who knoweth that which is in the 4 4 hearts [of men] saw that they had in very truth condemned " themselves, He worked upon the mind of Epiphanius so that, 44 of his own accord, he sent and brought them, and associated " them in communion with him. And he also wrote concerning 44 them to the Bishop of Jerusalem, saying, 4 Receive thy sons, 44 4 for they have repented in truth.' "
And the old man said, 44 This is the healing of a man, 44 and God desireth that a man should lay the offence of his 44 companion upon himself." And when that brother heard [this story] he acted according to the word[s] of the old man, and he went and knocked at the door of that brother, who, immediately he perceived and knew from inside [that it was he], expressed his contrition to him whilst he was as yet inside, and then straightway opened the door; and they made friends together, each with each, with all their souls, and the two of them were in great peace.
525. Abba Poemen used to say, 4 4 As the earth falleth not, 44 because it is fixed from below, even so he who abaseth him- 44 self shall never fall."
526. Abba Sisoes asked Abba '6r, and said unto him, 44 Tell
" me a word of excellence"; and he said unto him, "Dost thou " think me true, and dost thou believe my promise?" And Abba Sisoes said unto him, "Yes." Abba '6r said unto him, "Go, "and whatsoever ye have seen me do, that also do thyself"; and Abba Sisoes said unto him, "What do I see in thee, O my " father?" And Abba Or answered and said unto him, "My mind " is more abased than that of the least of all the children of men."
527. On one occasion seven brethren came to Abba Arsenius and they entreated him, saying, "What is the work of "monks?" And the old man answered and said, "When I "came to dwell in this place I went to two old men, and I " asked them this same question. And they answered and "said unto me, 'Dost thou believe in us?' and I said, 'Yes.' " Then they said unto me, *Go, and whatsoever thou hast seen " 'us do, that also do thyself.'" And the brethren asked him subsequently, saying, " Tell us, father, what was their work?" Then the old man said unto them, "The one acquired great "humility, and the other obedience." And they said unto him next, " Tell us what is thy work?" and the old man said unto them, "According to my will, and according to my mind; it is " a great thing for a man not to bind himself with any matter"; and having profited they departed in gladness, giving praise unto God.
528. A brother asked Abba Poemen, saying, "What shall I "do with the weight of weariness which holdeth me?" And the old man said unto him, "Both large and small boats are " provided with thick ropes for towing, and if there be blowing "a wind which is not favourable to the course of the ship, " they throw them round their breasts and pull them along " [from] dry land; and quietly and little by little they let the " ship go on her way until God sendeth a wind which is suit- " able for bearing her along whithersoever they wish her to "go. But if they learn that a storm hath begun to rise, they " make haste and drive a stake in the ground, and tie up the " ship lest she should drift away. Now the stake is that a man " should condemn himself."
529. A brother asked Abba Poemen, "How is it possible for ' * a man to avoid speaking evilly to his neighbour?" The old "man answered and said unto him, "We and our brethren " possess two images. Whensoeverthenaman condemneth him- " self, his brother appeareth unto him beautiful and excellent; " but whensoever a man appeareth beautiful to himself, his " brother will be found to be, in his sight, hateful and "abominable."
530. Another old man said also, "Humility is not insipidity, " but it is seasoned, as it were, with salt."
531. He also used to say, " For a man to despise himself is " a strong wall."
532. He also used to say, " Him who hath become despised " for our Lord's sake, will our Lord make wise."
533. An old man used to say, "Take heed, with all thy "might, that thou doest nothing which meriteth blame, and " desire not to adorn thyself."
534. An old man used to say, "If humility descendeth to " Sheol it is exalted unto the heavens; and although pride " goeth up to the heavens it shall be brought down to Sheol. "
535. There were two brethren in Scete, and he who was younger than his fellow was the older in the monastic garb, and one of the fathers having come to visit them, they brought out a vessel of water and wanted to wash him. And the man who was the younger in respect of years drew nigh to wash the old man, but the old man laid hold upon his hands, and
!>revented him, and then he drew near him that was the elder in respect of years] to wash him. And the brethren who were standing near him said unto him, "The younger brother, O " father, is the older in respect of the monastic garb"; then the old man said unto them, "I take the priority in the monastic " garboftheyoungermanand place it upon him that is the elder."