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.
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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. 118
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* 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 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, imme- diately he perceived and knew from inside [that it was he], ex- pressed his contrition to him whilst he was as yet inside, and then straightway opened the door; and they made friends to- gether, each with each, with all their souls, and the two of them were in great peace.
525. Abbi 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. Abbi Sisoes asked Abba '6r, and said unto him, 44 Tell
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" me a word of excellence"; and he said unto him, "Dost thou " think me true, and dost thou believe my promise?" And Abbi Sisoes said unto him, "Yes." Abbst '6r said unto him, "Go, "and whatsoever ye have seen me do, that also do thyself"; and Abbd Sisoes said unto him, "What do I see in thee, O my " father?" And AbbU'Or answered and said unto him, "Mymind " is more abased than that of the least of all the children of men."
527. On one occasion seven brethren came to Abbd Arse- nius 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.
" 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 Abbi 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 Abbd 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."
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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
"
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."
536. There was a certain brother in a monastery, and he used to take the whole weight of the brethren upon himself, and seeking to be held in contempt in the sight of every man, he used to make accusations against himself, even to the com- mitting of fornication, and he used to say, "I have committed "it." Now the brethren who did not understand his life and works used to murmur against him, saying, "How very many " are the wickednesses which this man doeth here, and because "of them he doth not even work." Then their Abbd, because he knew his works, and because he knew also that he was taking the affairs of every man upon himself, and that he did not do these things, spake unto the brethren, saying, "I will " undertake that he will make one mat in a week, in humility, "[which is more than all] your work [which is done] with "boasting, and if ye wish to know whether the matter be so " [or not], bring hither all your work, and bring hither also the " mat of that brother, and light a fire and throw therein all your " work"; [and when they had done so] everything was consumed except the mat of that brother. Now when the brethren saw this, they feared, and expressed their contrition, and from that time they held him to be an Abbd.
537. They used to say that Abb& Poemen never gave his mind to the Lord, and that his knowledge was superior to that of [any] one of the old men.
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538. Abbd Ammon asked Abbd Poemen concerning the im- pure thoughts that were born of a man, and [concerning] vain lusts; and Abbd Poemen said unto him, "Shall the axe boast " itself against him that wieldeth it?"
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538. Abbd Ammon asked Abbd Poemen concerning the im- pure thoughts that were born of a man, and [concerning] vain lusts; and Abbd Poemen said unto him, "Shall the axe boast " itself against him that wieldeth it? "
539. Abbd Betimius asked Abbd Poemen, saying, "If a man " be angry with me, and I express my contrition, and he will " not accept it, what am I to do ?" the old man said unto him, " Take with thee two of thy friends, and express thy contrition " [in their presence]." And the old man Betimius said unto him, " And if he will not be persuaded [to accept it] then? And Abbi Poemen answered and said, "Take with thee five others"; and Abbd Betimius answered and said, "And if he will not "be persuaded by these?" Abbd Poemen saith, "Then take " with thee a priest"; and Abbd Betimius said, "And if he will "not be persuaded [then]?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, " Without anger and without excitement pray unto God that " He may put into his mind [the desire for peace], and straight- " way thou shalt have no further care."
540. An old man used to say, " Tell me, brother, if thou "hast acquired the seal of work, which is humility?" A holy man who saw another sinning wept bitterly, saying, "This " man may sin to-day, but how many times shall I sin to-»mor- " row? In whatsoever way a man may sin before thee, do not " condemn him, but think in thy mind that thou art a greater " sinner than he, even though he be a man in the world, andfre- " member] besides that he is sinning greatly against God."
541. Certain brethren went to visit Abbd Poemen, and whilst they were sitting with him, they praised a certain brother, saying, "He hateth evil things." Abbd Poemen said unto him that spake unto him, "What is the hatred of evil things?" Now the brother was astonished, and he found nothing to say; and he rose up and threw himself before the old man, saying: " Do thou tell me what is the hatred of evil things." And the old man said unto him, "The hatred of evil things is for a man " to hate his own sins, and to justify those of his neighbour."
" Now the brother was astonished, and he found nothing to say; and he rose up and threw himself before the old man, saying: " Do thou tell me what is the hatred of evil things. " And the old man said unto him, "The hatred of evil things is for a man " to hate his own sins, and to justify those of his neighbour. "
542. A certain brother committed an offence in Scete, the camp of the monks, and when a congregation was assembled on this matter, they sent after Abbst Moses, but he refused to come; then they sent the priest of the church to him, saying, " Come, for all the people are expecting thee," and he rose up and came. And he took a basket with a hole in it and filled it with sand, and carried it upon his shoulders, and those who went out to meet him said unto him, "What meaneth this, O "father?" And he said unto them, "[The sands are] my sins " which are running down behind me and I cannot see them, "and I, even I, have come this day to judge shortcomings
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"which arc not mine." And when they heard [this] they set " free that brother and said nothing [further] to him.
543. Abba Moses entreated Abba* Zechariah, saying-, " Speak a word of consolation unto the brethren," and Zech- " ariah took his cloak, and laid it beneath his feet, saying, ' * Except a man let himself be trodden upon thus he cannot "be a monk."
544. A brother asked Abb& Aldnte, saying, "What is the " meaning of a man despising himself?" The old man said unto him, "It meaneth that thou must set thyself below all the " beasts, for thou must remember that they will not be judged."
545. And the same old man said also, 4 'If a man accustom "himself to be a teacher, this a6l belongeth to labour."
546. A brother asked Abba* Poemen, saying, "What is the " right manner for me to live in my cell?" Abbd Poemen said unto him, "How a man should live in his cell is known to " men, that is to say, he must work with his hands, and eat " once [daily], and hold his peace always, and meditate on the "Holy Scriptures; but for a man to gain profit inwardly (or " secretly), he must bear the condemnation of himself whither- " soever he goeth, and he must not negle<St the times of ser- " vice and of secret labour. And if it happen that thou hast " made the time unprofitable, when thou goest into the con- "gregation of service complete thy service without troubling " thyself; by the fulfilment of these things, grasp to thyself "an upright congregation, so that thou mayest draw nigh "thereto, but keep thyself remote from the assemblies of evil "things."
And if it happen that thou hast " made the time unprofitable, when thou goest into the con- "gregation of service complete thy service without troubling " thyself; by the fulfilment of these things, grasp to thyself "an upright congregation, so that thou mayest draw nigh "thereto, but keep thyself remote from the assemblies of evil "things. "
547. On one occasion when Abbd Arsenius was in his cell the devils rose up against him and vexed him; and those who used to minister to him came to him, and as they stood out- side his cell they heard him crying out to God, saying, "O " God, forsake me not. I have never done before Thee anything "which is good, but grant, O Lord, according to Thy grace, "that I may begin in the way."
548. Now, when he was about to die Alexander and Zoi- lus, his brethren and disciples, were greatly disturbed, and he said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? The hour hath "not yet come." They said unto him, " We are not troubled "about thee, father." And he said unto them, "When the " hour hath come I will tell you, for it will be for me to rise up " against you before the throne of Christ if ye give my bones " to any man." Then they said unto him, " What shall we do " then? For we do not know how to bury [thee]. " The old man said unto them, "Do ye not know how to throw a cord round " my legs and to carry me outside the mountain?"
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549. And his word at all times was this, "Arsenius, because "thou didst go forth"; and he used to repeat this saying, " That I have spoken I have many times repented; that I held i 'my peace I have never repented."
550. On one occasion the governor of the country seized one of the inhabitants of his village, and the people entreated the old man to go and bring out him that had been seized; and the old man said unto them, "Leave me for three days, andafter- " wards I will go. " Then Abbd Poemen prayed to the Lord, and said, "Lord, if thou dost not grant me this a<Sl of grace the " people will not allow me to live in this place"; and the old man went to entreat the governor, and the governor said unto him, "Yea, father, thou makest entreaty for a thief." And the old man rejoiced that he did not receive from Him this adl of grace.
" Then Abbd Poemen prayed to the Lord, and said, "Lord, if thou dost not grant me this a<Sl of grace the " people will not allow me to live in this place"; and the old man went to entreat the governor, and the governor said unto him, "Yea, father, thou makest entreaty for a thief. " And the old man rejoiced that he did not receive from Him this adl of grace.
551. On one occasion certain old men went to visit Abba Anthony, and Abbd Joseph was with them, and the old man wishing to try them spake a word from the Book, and began to question the youngest of them, saying, "What is the mean- "ing of this word?" And each of them said, "I have never "yet understood it," and last of all Abbi Anthony said unto Abbi Joseph, " And what dost thou say that this word meaneth?" Abbd Joseph saith, " I do not know." And Abba Anthony said unto him, "In truth, Abbd Joseph, thou hast found the way to say, i I do not know.' "
552. Abbd Muthues said, "In proportion as a man draweth " nigh unto God, it is meet that he should regard himself as a " sinner, for the Prophet Isaiah (chap, vi, 5), who saw the " Lord, calleth himself wretched and unclean.' '
553. The old man used to say, " Who sold Joseph?" They said unto him, "His brethren," and the old man said unto them, "No, it was humility that sold him. For he never said, " 'I am your brother,' and he never answered them, but held " his peace. He sold himself by his humility, and this humility " made him governor over the land of Egypt."
554. A brother came to Abbd Muthues, and said unto him, " How is it that those who are in Scete do more than that i * which is written in the Book, for they love their enemies "more than themselves?" Muthues said unto them, " I do " not yet love even the man who loveth me more than I love "myself."
555. There was a certain old man in Egypt before those who belonged to the company of Abbi Poemen came there, and he possessed knowledge and great honour; and when those of the following of Abbi Poemen went up from Scete, every man left [that old man] and came to Abb£ Poemen and those who
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555. There was a certain old man in Egypt before those who belonged to the company of Abbi Poemen came there, and he possessed knowledge and great honour; and when those of the following of Abbi Poemen went up from Scete, every man left [that old man] and came to Abb£ Poemen and those who
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were with him, and the old man was filled with envy, and he cursed the followers of Abb£ Poemen because of this. Now Abbd Poemen heard of it, and he was vexed about it, and he said unto the brethren who were with him, " What shall we "do for this old man? For the men who have forsaken him "have cast us into vexation, and they have left that holy old "man and turned their looks upon us, who are nothing. How " then can we satisfy this old man ?" Then he said unto the brethren who were with him, "Make ye some bread and boil "a little food, and we will go to him, and will take with us " also a vessel of wine, and we will eat with him, and perhaps "by these means we shall be able to pacify him"; and they took the food and went to him. And when they had knocked at the door his disciple looked out and asked them, " Who "are ye?" And they said unto him, "Tell the Abb£ that it is "Poemen, and he wisheth to be blessed by him"; and when his disciple had told him this, the old man said, " Send them "away," and he said, "I have not leisure [to receive them]." Then the disciple told them these things, but they stayed there lovingly, saying, "We will not go away unless we are held to "be worthy of the blessing of the old man." Now, when the old man saw their humility and patient persistence, he re- pented, and opened the door to them, and when they were eating together, he said unto them, "Verily, the things which " I have heard were in you are not in you, but indeed what I " see in you is a hundredfold [greater than what I expedted]"; and he became unto them a friend from that day.
556. On a certain occasion when Abbi John was sitting be- fore the church, the brethren surrounded him, and asked him about their thoughts, and when one of the old men saw him, he said unto him, "Thy repentance is full of sorceries." Abbi John said unto him, "It is even so, and this thou sayest hav- " ing only seen what is without, but if thou couldst see what "is within what wouldst thou say?"
557- Muthues repeated the following: — "When I was a "young man I used to say to myself, 'Perhaps thou wilt do " 'something good'; but now that I am an old man I see that " I have not done even one good work."
557- Muthues repeated the following: — "When I was a "young man I used to say to myself, 'Perhaps thou wilt do " 'something good'; but now that I am an old man I see that " I have not done even one good work. "
558. He used to say concerning Abblt Macarius that, if the brethren drew nigh unto him in fear, as to a great and holy old man, he would not answer them a word, but if one of the breth- ren treated him with familiar contempt, [saying], 4 'Father, if thou " wert a camel wouldst thou not steal the natron and sell it, " and would not the driver beat thee?" he would answer him. And if any man spake unto him in anger, or with words similar to these, he would answer any question which was put to him.
I2 5
Zbc Sayings of tbe DoIb jfatbers
Cbapter jf. 9t JTorntcatton
A CERTAIN monk was engaged, on one occasion, in a war against fornication, and he had in his heart, as it were, a burning fire by day and by night; but he bore
559. this agony, and did not bring low his mind, and after a long time the war passed away from him, but he was unable to vanquish it in any way except by patient endurance, and straight- way light rose on his mind.
560. And another brother also was engaged in a war against fornication, and he rose up by night, and came to one of the old men and told him his mind, and the old man persuaded him [to endure], and he was helped, and went [back] to his cell. And again he came unto the old man, and again he helped him, and the brother went [back] to his cell; and the war came upon him the third time, and again he went back by night to the old man, and the old man did not cause him pain but spake with him for his benefit, and said unto him, "Give it no op- portunity, but come hither whensoever the devil vexeth thee, " and thou wilt expose him, and when he hath been exposed he " will take to flight. For nothing vexeth the devil of fornica- tion so much as that a man should hide his thoughts and "not reveal them." Now that brother came to the old man eleven times and made accusations against his thoughts, for he wished to be helped; and when the old man spake unto him that devil took to flight, but when he came [back] to his cell the war came upon him. At length the brother said unto the old man, "Do an act of grace, father, and tell me a word " [whereby I may live]." The old man said unto him, "Be of "good courage, my son, and if God permitteth my thought it "shall come to thee, and thou shalt bear it no longer, but "thou shalt depart being innocent." He said this, and God did away the war of that brother.
" The old man said unto him, "Be of "good courage, my son, and if God permitteth my thought it "shall come to thee, and thou shalt bear it no longer, but "thou shalt depart being innocent. " He said this, and God did away the war of that brother.
561. And another brother was engaged in a war against for- nication, and he bore it with very great self-restraint for four- teen years, and he guarded his mind against being subservient to lust, and at length he came to the church, and made known the matter unto all the people; and when they heard [it] they were pained, and they prayed for a whole week to God on his behalf, and afterwards He did away the war that was in him.
562. On one occasion Abba Moses of Patard was engaged in a war against fornication, and he could not endure being in his cell, and he went and informed Abbd Isidore of it; and the old man entreated him to return to his cell, but he would not agree [to this]. And having said, "Father, I cannot bear it,"
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the old man took him up to the roof of his cell, and said unto him, "Look to the west," and when he looked he saw multi- tudes of devils with troubled and terrified aspects, and they shewed themselves in the forms of phantoms which were in fighting attitudes. AbbA Isidore saith unto him, "Look to the "east," and when he looked he saw innumerable holy angels standing [there], and they were in a state of great glory. Then Abb& Isidore said unto him, "Behold, those who are in the 44 west are those who are fighting with the holy ones, and those 44 whom thou hast seen in the east are they who are sent by 41 God to the help of the saints, for those who are with us are 44 many." And having seen [these] Abbi Moses took courage and returned to his cell without fear.
563. One of the old men said concerning the lustful thoughts which come into the heart of a man, and which are not carried into effect, that they are like unto a man who seeth a vineyard, and who desireth to eat the grapes thereof, but is afraid to go in lest he be caught and suffer death. If he be caught outside the hedge he will not die, because he hath neither gone into the vineyard nor hath eaten the grapes, but hath only desired; now he shall be beaten with few stripes, because he hath co- veted, but he shall not die.
564. There was a certain old man, who lived in a cell, and his thoughts said unto him, 44 Go, take to thyself a woman"; then he rose up straightway and kneaded together some mud, and made the figure of a woman, and he said to himself, 44 Be- 44 hold thy wife! It is necessary for thee to labour with all thy 44 might that thou mayest be able to feed her. " And he laboured with his hands and twisted many ropes. Then after a few days, he rose up and made a figure of a woman, and said unto his thoughts, 4 4 Behold, thy wife hath brought forth, it is ne- 44 cessary for thee to work harder to keep thy wife and to clothe 4 4 thy daughter"; and thus doing he vexed his body sorely. And he said unto his thought, 44 1 cannot bear [all] this work, 4 4 and since I am unable to bear the work, a wife is unneces- sary for me"; and God saw his labour, and did away his thoughts [of fornication], and he had peace.
565. Abbd Poemen used to say, 44 As the sword-bearer stand- 44 eth before the king, being always ready [to smite], so is it 44 meet for the soul which is prepared to stand [ready] to re- 44 sist the devil of fornication."
566. They used to say that Mother Sarah contended against the devil of fornication for seven years on the roof [of her. house], before she vanquished him.
567. One of the old men said, 4 4 It is written concerning 44 Solomon that he loved women, but every male loveth the fe-
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" males, and we must restrain and draw onwards our nature "by main force to purity."
568. A brother asked Abbd Daniel, and said unto him, "De- " liver to me a commandment"; [and he said unto him], "Never " place thy hand in a dish and eat with a woman, and thou wilt "be able to flee from the devil of fornication."
569. They used to say that the great old man Abraham ar- rived at a monastery, and that he also saw there a youth, and that he refused to pass the night there; and the brethren who were with him said unto him, "Art thou also afraid, O father?" The old man said unto them, "Indeed, my sons, I am not afraid, 44 but of what use is a vain war to me?"
They used to say that the great old man Abraham ar- rived at a monastery, and that he also saw there a youth, and that he refused to pass the night there; and the brethren who were with him said unto him, "Art thou also afraid, O father? " The old man said unto them, "Indeed, my sons, I am not afraid, 44 but of what use is a vain war to me? "
570. A brother asked an old man, saying, 44 What shall I do? 44 For my thoughts are [fixed] always upon fornication, and they "will not give me peace even for a moment; and thus is my " soul vexed." And the old man answered and said unto him, 44 When these thoughts spring up in thee speak not with them, 44 for it belongeth to them to rise up with continual anxiety, " and not to be sluggish, but they have no power to force thee, 44 for it belongeth to thee either to accept them or not. Hast 44 thou not seen what the Midianites did, how they adorned their "women and set them up, but they forced no man to take 44 them? those who wished to do so fell into them, and those "who did not became wroth, and made a slaughter in their " wrath. Even so is it with the thoughts." Then that brother said unto him, "What then shall I do? For I am weak, and 44 passion overcometh me." The old man said unto him, "Con- sider thy thoughts well, and when they begin to speak to 44 thee, answer them never a word, but rise up and pray, and 44 meditate upon holy words." And the brother said unto him, 44 Behold, father, I do meditate [on holy words], and the passion 4 4 riseth not in my heart, but I do not know the power of the " words"; then the old man answered and said unto him,
4 4 Thou canst only [continue] to meditate, but I have heard "Abbd Poemen and many fathers say this word: 4 The en- 44 4 chanter knoweth not the power of the words which he " 4 uttereth, but when the animal heareth them, it knoweth 44 4 their power, and he becometh subservient, and submitteth 4 4 4 itself [to him].' Even so is it with us, for although we do not 44 know the power of the words whereon we meditate, the devils 44 know their power as soon as they hear them."
571. The old men in Scete were asked concerning fornication, 4 4 When doth a man see a face in the passion stirred up in him ? " And they said, 4 4 This matter is like unto a table which is loaded 44 with meats of all kinds, and a man who seeketh and desireth 44 to eat of them; but if a man putteth not forth his hand and
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"taketh not of the meats he becometh a stranger unto "them."
572. They used to say that Abbd Isaac went out and found the footprint of a woman on the road, and he thought about it in his mind and destroyed it, saying, " If a brother seeth it he "may fall."
572. They used to say that Abbd Isaac went out and found the footprint of a woman on the road, and he thought about it in his mind and destroyed it, saying, " If a brother seeth it he "may fall. "
573. A brother asked Abb£ Agathon concerning fornication, and he said unto him, "Go, cast thy feebleness before God, " and thou shalt find relief."
574. A brother asked a father, and said unto him, " There is " a war of fornication against me," and the old man said unto him, "If it be a good thing, why goest thou away from it, but "if it be a bad thing why dost not thou command it [to de- "part]?"
575. A certain brother, being vexed by the spirit of forni- cation, went to a great old man, and entreated him, saying, " Do an a£l of grace, and pray for me, for I am disturbed by "fornication," and the old man made supplication unto God and entreated Him. And the brother came to him a second time, and said the same words as before, and the old man also was not negledlful in beseeching God on his behalf. Now when the brother had come to the old man, and troubled him in this way many times because he was disturbed by fornication, the old man afterwards entreated God, and said, "O Lord, reveal " unto me the manner in which this brother liveth, and whence " cometh the reason why I have entreated Thee so often on his " behalf, and he hath not found relief. " Then God revealed unto him the affair of that brother, and he saw him dwelling with the spirit of fornication by him, and that brother lusting for it, and an angel was standing by [ready] to help him; and he was angry with that brother because he did not cast himself upon God, but was involving his mind therein. And straightway the old man knew that the cause lay with the brother himself, and he made him to undertand this, and he roused him up, and afterwards he took heed to himself.
576. A brother asked Abbd Poemen, saying, "The body is " feeble, but my passions are not weak"; the old man said unto him, "The passions make thorns to grow and burst into flower."
577. A brother asked Abbd Poemen concerning the passions of the body, and the old man said unto him, "They are like "unto those who sang praises to the image of Nebuchad- "nezzar, for if those who sang had not burned men [people] " would never have worshipped the image; and in this wise the " Enemy also singeth to the soul by means of the passions, so " that he may perchance be able to make it commit sin through "the passion of the body."
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578. An old man used to say, " Salt is produced by water, but "if it falleth into water it becometh dissolved and is lost; " similarly monks are born of women, but if they fall into wo- " men they are dissolved and perish from God."
579. A certain father when he went out to become a monk was a virgin, and he did not even know that a whore existed among the children of men. And when he was dwelling in his cell the devils began to stir up in him the passion of fornication, and lifting up his eyes he saw the devils going round about him in the forms of Ethiopians, and they incited him to yield to the passion; then he rose up straightway and prayed, and said, " O Lord, help me," and when he had said these things immedi- ately a stone fell from the roof, and he heard, as it were, a sweet voice, and he seemed to enjoy a short respite from the thoughts of fornication. And he rose up and came to one of the old men and related the matter to him, and the old man answered and said, " I know not what this meaneth"; and he sent him on to Abbi Poemen, and that brother related the matter unto him also. Then the old man said unto him, "The stone which thou " didst see fall is the Calumniator, and that voice which thou " didst hear is lust. Take heed unto thy soul, and make suppli- cation unto God, and behold, thou shalt be freed from this " war"; and Abbk Poemen taught him how to contend against devils, and having prayed, he dismissed him, and that brother came to his cell. And he made entreaty and supplication unto God, and God granted him to attain to such a gift [of excellence] that, when that brother died, He was pleased that there should be revealed unto him whether it was well with his soul or not.
Now in another manuscript instead of the words, "He " rose up and prayed," it is thus written: — He saw the devils surrounding him in the forms of Ethiopians and they were in- citing him to yield to the passion. And he said, "This natural " member which stablisheth man is like unto a spout in a tank "which letteth out water, and it is also like a conduit which " carrieth the water off a roof; similarly this member carrieth " off water from a man." And having said these words straight- way the stone fell, &c.
And he said, "This natural " member which stablisheth man is like unto a spout in a tank "which letteth out water, and it is also like a conduit which " carrieth the water off a roof; similarly this member carrieth " off water from a man. " And having said these words straight- way the stone fell, &c.
580. On one occasion a certain man went out to Scete to be- come a monk, and he took with him his son as soon as he had been weaned; and when the boy was grown up and had become a young man, the war of fornication attacked him, and he said unto his father, * ' I will go into the world, father, for I cannot " endure this striving against fornication." Then his father en- treated him to persevere, but at length the boy said to his father, " Father, I cannot bear it any longer, let me go"; and his father said unto him, " My son, hearken to me for this time only.
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" Take thee seven pairs of cakes of bread, and a few palm " leaves, sufficient for forty days, [and get thee into the desert], "and may God's will be done." And his son hearkened unto him, and he took [the bread and palm leaves] and departed, and he remained [in the desert] working, and twisting dry palm leaves into ropes, and plaiting mats, and eating dry bread, and he lived a life of seclusion for twenty days. And he looked, and behold, the work of fornication came and drew nigh unto him, and it stood up before him in the form of an Ethiopian woman whose smell was exceedingly foul; but he was unable to endure her smell, and he drove her away from his presence. Then she said unto him, " In the hearts of men "lama sweet smell, and a pleasant one, but because of thine " obedience and labour God hath not permitted me to lead thee " astray; but I have, nevertheless, made thee acquainted with "my smell. ,, And the young man rose up, and came to his fa- ther, and said unto him, " I no longer wish to go into the "world, for I have seen the matter of fornication, and I have " smelled its foul odour"; now the father knew of a certainty that the young man had been satisfied in his mind on the subject, and he said to his son, " Hadst thou remained [in the desert] " forty days and kept my commandment, thou wouldst most ' " certainly have seen a vision which was far more excellent."
581. On one occasion a brother came to Abba* Poemen, and said unto him, "What shall I do, father, for I am vexed by "fornication? And behold, I came unto Nebation [Anicetus], "and he said unto me, 4 It is not right that those thoughts " 'should stay with thee so long/ " Abba* Poemen saith unto him, " The labour of Abbd Anicetus is high and exalted, and his "thoughts are above with the angels, and he hath forgotten "that I and thou are whoremongers; but if thou wishest, "hearken unto me, and I also will speak to thee: If a monk " can hold fast his belly, and his tongue, and his love for going " about as a stranger, thou mayest be sure that he is able to " become a monk in very truth, and that he will not die."
582, A brother asked an old man, and said unto him, "What " shall I do? For fornication is killing me." The old man said unto him, "When a mother is about to wean her son she " smeareth aloes over her breasts, and when the child cometh " to suck as usual, he shrinketh away and taketh to flight. Do " thou also then put bitter aloes in thy heart, and straightway "the wicked devils will fly therefrom." And the brother said unto him, " What kind of bitter aloes is it right for me to place "therein." The old man saith unto him, " The remembrance "of the death and punishment which are laid up in the world " which is to come."
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583. A brother asked an old man, "Whence come the "temptations of fornication which attack me?" The old man said, " They come because thou eatest and drinkest largely, " and because thou sleepest until thou art satisfied."
584. Abbd John used to say, " Whosoever talketh as much " as he can with a woman, hath already committed adultery "with her in his mind."
585. On one occasion a certain brother came to AbbA Muthues and asked him, saying, " Is calumny worse than fornication?" And the old man said, " Fornication is worse." The brother said unto him, "How can- this be ?" And the old man said unto him, ' * Calumny is a wicked thing, but it receiveth healing "quickly, and the calumniator repenteth, saying, 'I have " ' spoken evilly many times'; but fornication in the body is " death in [its] nature."
" And the old man said, " Fornication is worse. " The brother said unto him, "How can- this be ? " And the old man said unto him, ' * Calumny is a wicked thing, but it receiveth healing "quickly, and the calumniator repenteth, saying, 'I have " ' spoken evilly many times'; but fornication in the body is " death in [its] nature. "
586. There was in Scete a certain monk who strove hard [against sin], and the Enemy sowed in him the remembrance of a certain woman with a beautiful face, and he troubled him greatly through her* And by the Providence of God a certain brother who came down from Egypt went to visit him, and it came to pass that whilst they were conversing together the brother who had gone to visit him said, "Such and such a " woman is dead"; now she was the very woman the remem- brance of whom was being stirred up in the monk. And when the other brother heard this, he rose up, and took his head- cloth, and went up by night to Egypt, and opened her grave, and he smeared himself with the filthy and putrefying matter of the dead body of the woman, and then went back to his cell. And he set that thing of filth before his mind at all times, and he did battle with his thought, saying, " Behold thy lust, and " that which thou didst require ! Behold, I have brought it unto "thee; take thy fill thereof." And he used to torture himself with [the remembrance of] that filthy thing until the war which was in him was quieted.
587. One of the brethren asked Abbd Zeno, now he had great freedom of speech with him, saying, " Behold, thou hast " grown old, how is the matter of fornication?" The old man said unto him, " It knocketh, but it passeth on." Then one of the brethren asked him, " What is the meaning of * It knock- " *eth, but it passeth on?'" The old man said unto him, " Imagine now that one brought to thy mind the remembrance " of a certain woman, and that thou didst say, 4 Oh,' but that " thou didst not allow it to go up in thy mind; [that is what 1 It " * knocketh, but passeth on* meaneth]; now young men are "excited by it."
588. A brother asked Abb& Theodore of Scete, saying, "The
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44 thought of fornication comet h, and it troubleth and disturb- 44 eth the mind, but it is not able to commit the deed; and it "certainly cannot help, but it can hinder the course towards 44 spiritual excellence and the old man said unto him, " The "man who is wakeful and strenuous struggleth and casteth 44 it from him and standeth up to prayer."
589. And again a certain old man from Parmls [spake] against this thought, saying, 44 If we do not possess thoughts 41 we become the prey of the Enemy, for he, even like an 44 ordinary enemy, demandeth that which is his; therefore 44 let us, in the same manner, do what is ours to do. Let us 44 stand up in prayer, and straightway he will flee; be constant 4 4 in the service of God, and thou shalt conquer; strive, and 44 thou shalt be crowned."
590. Against this thought of fornication a brother asked an old man, saying, 44 What shall I do about the mind of fornica- 44 tion which vexeth me?" And Abb£ Copres the Alexandrian answered and said, 44 If thou hast no minds (or thoughts) thou 44 wilt have no hope, so then their work is with thee; for he 44 who performeth their work hath no thoughts. Peradventure 44 thou hast the custom of talking with a woman?" And the brother said unto him, 44 No, I have not, but they are thoughts of 44 former times and of recent times which trouble me. " The old man said unto him, 44 Thou shalt not be afraid of the dead, but 44 fear the things which are living, and cast thyself down in 44 prayer before God. For if we have no thoughts we are mere 44 animals. As the enemy worketh for that which is his, even 44 so let us do for that which is ours. Let us stand up in prayer, 44 and let us have a care for doctrine, and let us endure, for 44 patient endurance is victory. Unless a man striveth he will 44 never be crowned. For there are in the world athletes who
4 4 though wounded conquer nevertheless, and however many 44 times one man may be wounded by two [others], if he can 44 endure the blows he will be able to conquer those who smote 44 him. Observe then what a degree of endurance is possessed 44 by such men for the sake of the merchandise of this world ! 44 Do thou then endure, and God shall strive with thine enemies 44 on thy behalf whilst thou may est remain quiet."
591. Against the thought [of fornication] another old man who dwelt in the desert used to say, 4 4 Thou wishest to live 44 whilst thou art asleep! Go, and labour. Go, and work. Go, 44 seek, and ye shall find. Awake and stand up. Knock, and it 44 shall be opened unto thee. For there are in the world athletes 44 who are called 4 pugilists, 1 who smite each other, and who 44 are held to be worthy of the victory because they fight per- sistently and endure; these men do not withdraw defeated
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Go, and work. Go, 44 seek, and ye shall find. Awake and stand up. Knock, and it 44 shall be opened unto thee. For there are in the world athletes 44 who are called 4 pugilists, 1 who smite each other, and who 44 are held to be worthy of the victory because they fight per- sistently and endure; these men do not withdraw defeated
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44 when they are wounded, for however many times one [of 44 them] may be smitten by two [others], and however [many 44 may be] the blows which he will suffer from them, he con- 44 tinueth to fight, and he conquereth and is crowned."
592. Against the thought [of fornication] another old man said, "Such things will happen unto thee through negligence. 44 For if it be certain to us that Goddwelleth in us, we can never 44 become a habitation for others, and we can never give our 4 * souls over to become vessels for the service of aliens. For 44 our Lord Who dwelleth in us, and is found in us, is able to 4 4 watch over our lives; and it is not right for us to negledl or 44 to hold lightly Him for Whose sake we have put Him on, 44 and Whom we see. But let us make ourselves pure even as 44 He is pure. Stand up then upon a rock, and if the river be * 4 violently disturbed thou shalt not fear, and behold, thy 44 building shall not shake; and sing with might, saying, 4 4 4 Those who put their hope in the Lord shall be like Mount 4 4 4 Zion (Psalm cxxv, 1), and he who dwelleth in Jerusalem 4 4 4 shall never be moved.' The Enemy said unto our Redeemer, 44 4 1 will send these who belong to me against those who be- 44 4 long to Thee that they may drive them back; and if they 4 4 4 do evil to Thy chosen ones I cannot [help it], and I will 4 4 4 trip them up, even though I can only do so in dreams of 4 4 4 the night.' Then our Redeemer said unto him, 4 If an abor- 44 4 tion can inherit his father['s possessions] this also shall be 4 4 4 accounted as sin to My chosen ones.'"
593. Against the thought [of fornication] another old man spake, saying, 44 Be thou like unto a man who passeth through 44 a street of tavern-keepers, and who smelleth the odour of 44 boiling meats, or the whiff of something which is being 44 roasted; he who wisheth entereth into [one of them] and 44 eateth, and he who doth not wish [to do so] smelleth the 44 meats as he passeth by and then goeth on. Drive away then 44 from thee the fetid smell of evil thoughts, and stand up and 44 pray, saying, 4 0 Son of God, help me.' The same thing is 44 also to be said about other thoughts, for we are not the roots 44 of the thoughts, but are those who strive against them."
Excellent Counsels concerning jfornlcation one of tbe bolp olb /IDen
Drive away then 44 from thee the fetid smell of evil thoughts, and stand up and 44 pray, saying, 4 0 Son of God, help me. ' The same thing is 44 also to be said about other thoughts, for we are not the roots 44 of the thoughts, but are those who strive against them. "
Excellent Counsels concerning jfornlcation one of tbe bolp olb /IDen
NOW on thy account, O son of man, Christ was born, and the Son of God came that He might make thee to live. He became a Child. He became a man, being also 594. God. He Who was the Lawgiver became a reader [of the Law], and He took the Book in the congregation, and He read, saying, 44 The Spirit of God is upon me, and for this reason He
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"hath anointed me, and hath sent me to preach the Gospel unto "the poor." Like a servant He made a whip of rope, and He drove forth from the temple all those who sold oxen, and cattle, and doves, and other things. Like a servant He girded a napkin about His loins, and washed the feet of His disciples, and He commanded them to wash the feet of their brethren. Like an elder He sat among the elders, and taught the people. Like a Bishop He took bread, and blessed [it], and brake, and gave to His disciples; and He was beaten for thy sake, that is to say, for thy sake He was crucified, and for thy sake He died. Yet thou for His sake wilt not even endure insult! He rose as God. He was exalted as God. All these things for our sake, all these things by Divine Providence, all these things properly and in due order did He do that He might redeem us. Let us then be watchful, and strenuous, and constant in prayer, and let us do everything which will please Him, and will gratify His friends, so that we may be redeemed and live. Was not Joseph sold into Egypt, and did he not live in an alien land? And the three simple young men in Babylon, had they not men who opposed them? Yet, because they were fearing God, He helped them, and made them glorious.
595. An old man who had delivered himself unto God used to say, "The monk must have no will of his own, but he whose " will is of God continueth to minister to Him unwearyingly; "for if thou doest thine own will, thou becomest weary, and "thou labourest, and God hearkeneth not to thee." And the old man also said, "He who liveth in God liveth with Him, " for He saith, I will dwell in them, and I will walk in them, " and they shall be to Me a people, and I will be to them a "God" (Exodus vi, 7).
596. And the old man also said, "God saith unto thee thus: — " If thou lovest Me, O monk, do that which I ask, and do " not that which I do not desire. For monks should lead lives " wherein they aft not in iniquity, and a man should not look " upon evil things with his eyes, nor hear with his ears things " which are alien to the fear of God, nor utter calumnies with "his mouth, nor plunder with his hands; but he should give " especially to the poor, and he should not be [unduly] exalted " in his mind, and he should not think evil thoughts, neither " should he fill his belly. Let him do then all these things with " discretion, for by them is a monk known." The old man also said, "These things [form] the life of a monk: Good works, " and obedience, and training. A man should not lay blame " on his neighbour, and he should not utter calumnies, and he " should not complain, for it is written, The lovers of the Lord " hate wickedness."
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597. A brother on several occasions troubled an old man, and said unto him, "What shall I do with the impure and ' 1 wicked thoughts of divers kinds which force their way into " me by various means ?" The old man answered and said unto him, " Thou art like unto a cistern which hath been dug out, " and which is sometimes full, but which, when a man cometh ' 1 to draw water thereat, is found [to be dry]. Why dost thou " not make thyself more like a fountain of water which is never " without [water]? Persistence is vidlory, and victory is con- " stancy, and constancy is life, and life is kingdom, and king- " dom is God."
t)ere enb tbe dfcuestfons concerning tbe Ubougbte of jfornication t an& tbe Bnswers tbereto, anb tbe Coun- sels of tbe f>olu ©16 ftsen
Chapter si ]♦ ©f tbe Hcceptance of Repentance, anb of bow it is riabt for us to IRepent in tCrutb
Persistence is vidlory, and victory is con- " stancy, and constancy is life, and life is kingdom, and king- " dom is God. "
t)ere enb tbe dfcuestfons concerning tbe Ubougbte of jfornication t an& tbe Bnswers tbereto, anb tbe Coun- sels of tbe f>olu ©16 ftsen
Chapter si ]♦ ©f tbe Hcceptance of Repentance, anb of bow it is riabt for us to IRepent in tCrutb
TWO brethren were in restraint to the lust of fornica- tion, and they went and took to themselves wives. At length, however, they repented, and said to each other, 598. i 1 What have we gained by leaving the labour of angels, " and coming to this [state of] impurity, since after the present "life we shall be delivered over to fire and everlasting torture? " Let us return to the desert and repent." And they went forth straightway, and came to the desert to the fathers, and they entreated them to offer up supplications on their behalf ; now the outward appearance of both was the same, and they shut themselves up for one year, and they made supplications to God, and entreated Him to pardon them, and to each of the two brethren a like quantity of bread and water was given. Now after their period of repentance was fulfilled, they went forth from their seclusion; and the old men saw that the countenance of one was changed, and that it was exceedingly sad, whilst that of the other brother was cheerful and glad, and the fathers marvelled why, seeing that the two men had been partaking of the same amount of food, and had endured the same restraint, the face of one was so different from that of the other. And they asked him of the sad face, saying, "What didst thou think about in thy cell?" And he said, "On the evil things which I have committed, and I think " about the torture which is to come, and by reason of my fear " my flesh cleaveth to my bones." And they asked him whoseap- pearance was cheerful, saying, ' i Do thou also tell us what thou " didst think about in thy cell." And he said, " I gave thanks " unto God, Who hath delivered me from the impurity of this "world, and from everlasting punishment, and Who hath
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" brought me to this labour of angels, and with such things I " remembered God and rejoiced." Then the old men said, 11 The repentance of each is equal before God."
599. An old man was asked by one who toiled, " Is the re- open tance of sinners accepted by God?" And the old man, after he had taught him with many words, said unto him, "Tell me, O my beloved one: if thy cloak were to be torn in "rags, wouldst thou throw it away?" And he said unto him, "No, but I would sew up the rents, and then I could use it "again." And the old man said unto him, " If thou wouldst " shew pity upon thy garment which hath no feeling, shall not " God shew pity on that which He hath fashioned, and^which "is His work?"
" And he said unto him, "No, but I would sew up the rents, and then I could use it "again. " And the old man said unto him, " If thou wouldst " shew pity upon thy garment which hath no feeling, shall not " God shew pity on that which He hath fashioned, and^which "is His work? "
600. A certain brother fell into temptation, and through tribulation relinquished the garb of monkhood; and he wished to begin to renew his ascetic life, but he saw the great diffi- culty of the matter, and he drew back, and said, " When shall " I ever find myself in the same condition as I was formerly?" And through fear he did not begin his work, and he went and made the matter known to an old man, and the old man said, " The matter is thus: There was a certain man who possessed " an estate, and he held it to be of no account and did not " cultivate it, and it became full of tangled undergrowth and "thorns. Now one day he remembered it, and he sent his " son, and said unto him, 'Go, clean the estate.' And when he "had gone and seen the abundance of the undergrowth he "was afraid, and said to himself, 'When shall I be able to "'clean away all this undergrowth?* And he threw himself "upon a bed, and lay down, and went to sleep, and thus he "did every day. Then his father went forth and found that he "was asleep, and that he had done nothing; and he said unto "him, 'How is it, my son, that no work whatsoever hath "'been done by thee?' And he said to his father, 'When I " 'came to work and saw the abundance of the undergrowth, " ' I was afraid and said, When shall I be able to clean all '"this away?' And his father said unto him, ' My son, work " ' according to the measure of thy sleep each day, and it shall '"be sufficient for thee*; and when he heard [this] the young " man plucked up courage, and did thus, and in a short time "he cleansed the estate. Thus also thou shalt not be afraid, " but begin the work of thy rules, and God, by His Grace, will "establish thee [among those in] the first rank." Now when the brother had done thus he was helped.
601. A brother asked one of the old men, and said, " If a "monk stumble and fall into sin, are many labours necessary " for him, and if he doeth them will he be able to stand in the
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" Now when the brother had done thus he was helped. 601. A brother asked one of the old men, and said, " If a "monk stumble and fall into sin, are many labours necessary " for him, and if he doeth them will he be able to stand in the
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"grade wherein he was formerly? He who goeth forth from "the world, and beginneth the cultivation of spiritual excel- " lence, will find it easy to advance, for he who is occupied in " labours, if it be that he is reduced from the grade wherein " he stood by his stumbling, will be afflicted and grieved in his " mind." Then the old man answered and said unto him, " A " monk is like unto a house which hath fallen down, and if he " be awake in his mind (or thought), and if he be zealous and "anxious to build that which was fallen down, he will find "ample material which will be of use in his building among "the remains of that which fell down before [he began to "build]; for he will find the foundation stones, and the old "stones from the walls, and other things, which were em- ployed in the old building, and out of these, if he be so " disposed, he will be able to make his building to rear itself " up better than the man who hath not yet dug the places for * * the foundations and laid the foundation stones, and who doth " not possess the materials which are to be employed in the "building, and who only beginneth to build with the hope "that he will be able to finish. And thus is it with him that " falleth from the practice of rules and works of the monkish "life into temptation, for if he turn back, and repent, he will " possess ample material from [his] former works of the ascetic "life which he possesseth [to begin his building afresh], I " mean to say, the training and the service of the work of the "hands, which is the foundation [thereof]. Whosoever then "hath gone forth from the world, and beginneth the cultiva- tion of ascetic excellence, when he hath done these things " he will still be found standing in the front rank of the soli- " tary (or monkish) life."
Whosoever then "hath gone forth from the world, and beginneth the cultiva- tion of ascetic excellence, when he hath done these things " he will still be found standing in the front rank of the soli- " tary (or monkish) life. "
602. One of the old men told the following story, saying: — There was a certain monk who dwelt in the desert, and he lived a life of strict and severe rule, and he was famous among men, and he could even cast out devils and heal the sick. And it came to pass that, through the agency of Satan, the pas- sion of fornication was stirred up against him, and because he was not sufficiently humble to reveal his war unto the old men who were before him, in a few days' time he fell into fornication with a woman who used to come to him continually for assist- ance. Now having fallen, he despaired about himself, and he rose up to go to the world, and he was sad and grieved con- cerning his fall; and he meditated, saying, "I will go into "the desert which is further away, and I shall not see any "man, and I shall not be seen of any, and there I will die "like the wild animals." And when he had gone, and he was wandering about in the desert and in the mountains,
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" And when he had gone, and he was wandering about in the desert and in the mountains,
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he used to cry out by night and by day, saying, 14 Woe is me! woe is me!" And he ceased not to weep and to groan. Now there was in that desert a certain solitary old man who dwelt in a cleft in the rock, and when he heard the sound of the weeping and lamentation, his mercy for him revealed itself, and he went forth and met him, and they saluted each other. And the old man answered and said unto him, " Why weepest thou in this fashion?" And the young man said, "Because I have angered God, and because I have fallen "into fornication." Then was the old man astonished, and he said, "O how greatly did I fear and tremble at thy lugubrious " voice. For I thought that thou hadst been entrusted with the "governorship of the brethren, and that thou hadst governed "unjustly, or that thou hadst squandered in an unseemly " manner the work of the community. For the harlot repented, " and for the unbeliever there is a foundation, and the thief is " a son of the kingdom, but Ananias and Sapphira were slain " because they stole the money of the community of the breth- " ren, and thus is slain the soul of every one who with fraud "or carelessness squanders the possessions of the religious " houses. But be thou of good courage, O brother, and go "back again to thy cell, and make thine entreaty to God as "thou repentest, and He will stablish thee in thy former "grade." Then the monk went back to his place, and he shut himself in, and never again undertook to talk with any man, except him that handed in to him his food through the little window of his cell, and there he remained until the end of his life, and he attained to a most exalted state of perfection.
603. AbbA Ammon of Rttheadn asked Abb& Poemen about the impure thoughts which are produced in a man, and the vain lusts; and Abb& Poemen said unto him, "It belongeth to " Satan to sow them, but it is our affair not to welcome them."
603. AbbA Ammon of Rttheadn asked Abb& Poemen about the impure thoughts which are produced in a man, and the vain lusts; and Abb& Poemen said unto him, "It belongeth to " Satan to sow them, but it is our affair not to welcome them. "
604. A brother asked Abbi Ammon, saying, "Behold, there "were two men, the one was a monk, and the other a son of "the world; now the monk used to determine in the evening " to cast away from him in the morning the garb of the monk, " and the son of the world used to make up his mind that on " the morrow he would take the garb of monkhood. Now it "happened that both men died on the same night; how will " they be regarded, and which determination will be reckoned " to them?" The old man said unto him, " He who was a monk "died a monk, and he who was a child of the world died as " such, for as they were found [to be] so were they taken."
605. A brother asked Abb£ Sisoes, saying, "What shall I "do, father? Fori have fallen." The old man said unto him, " Rise up"; and the brother said unto him, "I did rise up, but
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44 I fell again." The old man said unto him, "Rise up again"; and the brother said unto him, 44 1 did rise up again, many 44 times, and I fell [again]." The old man said unto him, 4 4 Rise 44 up again"; and the brother said unto him, 44 Until when?" The old man said unto him, 44 Until thou advancest, either in 44 good deeds or in falling; for in the road wherein a man ad- 44 vanceth he goeth, whether it be to death or to life."
606. It happened on one occasion that a brother in the mona- stery of Abbd Hatil (or Helft) was tempted, [and he fell,] and having been expelled from that place he went to the mountain, to Abbd Anthony, and having remained with him for a long time, Abbd Anthony sent him back to the monastery from which he had gone forth. Now when the sons of the monastery saw him, they cast him out, and he returned to Abb£ Anthony, and said unto him, 44 Father, they have refused to receive me"; and Abb£ Anthony sent them a message, saying, 44 A storm 44 rose up against a ship on the sea, and destroyed the freight 44 which she carried, but with the greatest difficulty she was 44 saved [and brought] to land. Now what do ye wish to do? 44 Do ye wish to drown him that hath been saved?" And when those monks [heard the words of] Abb£ Anthony, they sent to the brother, and welcomed him with gladness.
Now what do ye wish to do? 44 Do ye wish to drown him that hath been saved? " And when those monks [heard the words of] Abb£ Anthony, they sent to the brother, and welcomed him with gladness.
607. Abbk Anthony used to say, 4 4 There are many who fall 44 and who rise up to an attitude of rectitude, but there are 44 some who fall from good deeds to polluted things; better is 44 he who falleth and riseth up than he who standeth and then 44 falleth."
608. Abbd Poemen said, 4 4 If a man sinneth, and he saith, 4 4 4 1 have not sinned,' and thou chidest him, thou cuttest off 44 his will; but if thou sayest unto him, 4 Be not sorry about this, 44 4 but guard thyself from sinning again/ by these means thou 14 wakest his soul to repentance."
609. He also said, 44 1 prefer a man who hath sinned, and 44 done wickedly, and repented, to the man who hath not sinned 44 and hath not manifested repentance; for the former possesseth 44 a humble mind, and the latter esteemeth himself in his 44 thoughts a just man."
610. Abb& Sarmdtd used to say, 44 1 prefer a man who hath * 4 sinned, and who knoweth how to acknowledge his sins, to him 44 that doeth righteousness, and who saith, 4 1 do what is fair.' "
611. Abb£ Theodore of Parm£ used to say, 4 4 The man who 44 is in [a state of] repentance is not bound by the Law."
612. They used to say that the thoughts of a certain old man used to say unto him, 44 Let to-day go by, and repent to- -morrow"; but he would say, 4 4 Nay, not so, for I will repent 44 to-day, and to-morrow shall be as God willeth."
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613. There was at one time among the brethren a certainman who at the beginning of his [ascetic] career took good heed unto his soul, but when a short time had elapsed, he began to treat the salvation of his life with contempt; and his Abb£ ordered him to strip off the garb of the monks, and to put on the apparel of men who are in the world, and to depart from among the brethren. Then the man fell down at his feet, and entreated him, saying, "If thou wilt forgive me this once only, thou wilt "gain me henceforward, for I repent of these things which I have "done through negligence." And having multiplied and pro- longed his entreaties, and made many promises that he would in the future mend his ways, he was held worthy of forgiveness; and he struggled with all the power of his soul to such purpose as to become a pattern to great and small.
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