" 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. CbmcvjdiU <W [tbc jfatbers wbo] wrouabt TWion* ftetrul Motfta
ABBA Sisoes said : When we were in Scete, with AbbaL Macarius, seven of us went up to reap with him, and behold, a certain widow followed after us gleaning, and 614. she ceased not to weep. And the old man cried to the lord of the estate, and said unto him, "What is the matter with the old woman who weepeth continually ?" He said unto him, " Her husband took a deposit of money from a man and he "died suddenly without saying with whom he had placed it, "and the owner of the deposit wisheth to take her and her " children as slaves." The old man said unto him, "Tell her to " come to us at the place where we rest at the season of noon," and it was told to her. And at the season of noon the woman came to them, and the old man said unto her, "Woman, why "dost thou weep continually?" And she said, "My husband is " dead. He had taken a deposit from a certain man, and he died " suddenly without telling us where he had laid it up." The old man said unto her, "Come [and] and show me where ye have " laid him"; and he took the brethren with him, and went with her, and having arrived at the place where the man was laid, the old man said unto her, "Get thee now to thy house." And after [she had departed] and he had made an end of his prayer, the old man cried out to the dead man and said, "O Such-an- " one, where hast thou laid up the deposit which belongeth to "the stranger?" Then the dead man answered straightway, and said, "It is hidden in my house beneath the leg of the bed"; and the old man said unto him, " Sleep now until the Resur- rection." Now when the brethren saw what had been done, they all fell down at his feet in fear; and the old man said unto them, " This hath not happened because of me, O my brethren,
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" nor is the matter a great one, but God hath wrought this thing " for the sake of the widow and the orphans; but what is great " is that God desireth a soul which is pure and sinless." And when they had come they told the widow that the deposit was laid up in such and such a place, and then the old woman brought it up, and gave it to its owner, and set free her children from slavery. And every one who heard [of this] gave thanks unto God.
615. When Abbd Miles (or Manilius) was passing through a certain place he saw a man holding a monk by force as if he had committed murder, and the old man drew nigh and questioned the brother, and when he learned that he was being wrongfully accused, he said unto those who had seized him, "Tell me where is the man who hath been murdered"; and they shewed him. Then the old man drew nigh to the murdered man, and said unto all who were standing [there], "Let us pray"; and when he had spread out his hands in prayer before God, the dead man rose up. And the old man said unto him before every man, "Tell us who it was that slew " thee"; and he answered and said, "I went into the church and
* 9 gave some money to the elder, and it was he who rose up ' ' and killed me, and he carried me out and threw me in the " habitation of this monk. I entreat you that the goods which " I have given to him may be taken back and given to my "children."
616. On one occasion a certain man in the world went to Abba Sisoes in the mountain of Abba Anthony, and he had his son with him, and as they were going along the road his son died; now the man was in no wise disturbed, but he took him up in faith and brought him to the old man, and he came with his son, and fell down before him with his son upon his knees as if he was entreating him to bless them; and the father of the boy went out and left his son [lying] dead at the feet of the old man. Now the old man did not know that the boy was dead, but he thought that he was making supplication and entreaty to him; and he answered and said unto him, "Arise, "and go forth," and straightway without any delay whatso- ever, the youth rose up and went out to his father, who, when he saw him, marvelled; and his father took him and went in and did homage to the old man, and informed him about the matter. Now when the old man heard this he was troubled, for he did not wish this thing to happen because of the praise of men; and his disciple commanded them not to tell the story before any man until the day of his death.
617. One of the fathers used to relate that Abba Paule, who dwelt in Thebes, would take snakes, and scorpions, and horned snakes in his hands, and kill them. And the brethren made
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617. One of the fathers used to relate that Abba Paule, who dwelt in Thebes, would take snakes, and scorpions, and horned snakes in his hands, and kill them. And the brethren made
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apologies to him, and said, i father, tell us through what "labour thou hast received this gift." And he said unto them, " Forgive me, O my fathers, if ye possess purity of heart, " every living thing will be subject unto you as it was unto " Adam before he transgressed the commandment of God."
618. On one occasion one of the old men of Thebes came to Mount Sinai, and having departed from there, one of the bre- thren met him on the way, and with a groan he said unto the old man, "We are distressed, O father, through the want ot " rain." And the old man said unto him, "Why do ye not pray "and ask God for some?" And the brother said unto him, " We have prayed and made earnest supplication, and the "rain hath not come." The old man said unto them, "Then "ye did not pray with all your hearts; do ye wish to know " that the matter is thus?" And after [this] the old man stood up in prayer, and he spread out his hands to heaven, and straightway, without any delay whatsoever, the rain came; and the brother saw, and feared, and he fell down and did homage to him. Now the old man took to flight, but the brother made known everything which had happened, and when [the brethren] heard [thereof] they all glorified God.
619. They used to say that, when on one occasion, AbbA Moses of Scete was going into Pat&r£, he grew weary through the length of the road, and he was afraid and said, "How can " I bring water for myself into this place?" And a voice was heard by him, saying, "Go on, and fear not." Now one day a large number of the fathers came to him, and he had there only one vessel of water, and having boiled some lentiles the water came to an end; at this the old man was troubled, and went out and in, and prayed to God, and afterwards a great cloud came and poured down upon them much rain, and it filled all the vessels which he had with water. Then after- wards the fathers said unto him, "Abb£ Moses, tell us why " thou didst come in and out"; and he said unto them, "I en- " tered into judgement with God, who brought me hither be- " cause there was want of water, and because I had no water "for His servants to drink; therefore I came in and out."
Then after- wards the fathers said unto him, "Abb£ Moses, tell us why " thou didst come in and out"; and he said unto them, "I en- " tered into judgement with God, who brought me hither be- " cause there was want of water, and because I had no water "for His servants to drink; therefore I came in and out. "
620. The old man Joseph used to say: "I went on one occa- sion to Abbd Poemen and found many old men with him, and " behold, a certain man had brought a youth who was a kins- " man of Abbd Poemen, and whose face had been turned back- " wards through the operation of the Evil One; and when his " father saw the multitude of the old men who were coming to "Abbd Poemen, he took him and brought him outside the " door of the monastery, and sat down there and wept. Now "when one of the old men had ended his business, and was
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Agoing forth [from the building], he saw him, and said unto "him, 'Why weepest thou, O man?' The father of the youth "said unto him, 'I am of the family of AbbA Poemen. A "'trial hath come upon this youth, but we are afraid to " ' take him to him, for he refuseth to see us, and now, if he " 'learneth that I am here, he will send and drive me away; " ' but when I knew that ye were coming here, I ventured to " ' come also.' And he cast the youth down on the ground at " his feet, and wept, saying, 'If thou wilt, have mercy on me, " 1 and take this youth inside, and pray over him' ; and the old " man took him and carried him in with him to Abbi Poemen. * c Now the old man acted wisely in the matter, and he did not " take the youth at once to Abbd Poemen, but beginning with " the last of the brethren who was there, he brought the youth * ' to each and every one of them, saying, ' Make the sign of the " ' Cross upon this youth'; and having brought him alike to " all the brethren and to all the old men who were there, finally "he brought him to Abbi Poemen, but the blessed man refused " to touch him. Thereupon a contention arose, and they all "entreated him, saying, 'Father, do thou even as we all have " ' done'; then Abbi Poemen sighed, and he rose up and prayed, "and said, 'O God, heal that which Thou hast fashioned so " ' that it may not be destroyed by the Enemy,' and he finished "his prayer, and made the sign of the Cross over him, and "straightway the face of the youth was made straight, "and he was healed. And Abbd Poemen gave him to his "father made whole, so he took him and departed with " rejoicing."
And Abbd Poemen gave him to his "father made whole, so he took him and departed with " rejoicing. "
621. They used to say that the face of Abba Pambd was like lightning, even as Moses received the glory of the likeness of Adam, and that his face shone, and that he was like a king who sitteth upon his throne; and thus was it also with AbbI Silvanus and with Abb£ Sisoes.
622. They used to say about one of the old men that as he was in the light during the day, so also was he [in the light] in his cell by night, and that he used to work with his hands and read in the night time just as he did during the day.
623. One of the old men sent his disciple to draw water, now the well was a very long way off from their cell, and that brother forgot to take the rope with him; and being distressed [thereat] he bowed himself in prayer, and he prayed and cried out, saying, " O well, my father [saith], ' Fill this vessel for me " 'with water, and without delay'"; and the water came up, and the brother filled [the vessel J, and as soon as he had done so the water descended to its place.
624. On one occasion Abbd Moses came to the well to draw
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water, and he saw Abb A Zechariah praying to the stream, and the Spirit of God was resting upon him like a dove.
625. On one occasion one of the brethren went to the cell of Abb£ Arsenius in Scete, and he looked through the window, and saw the old man standing up, and all his body was like fire; now that brother was worthy to see this sight. And hav- ing knocked at the door the old man came out to him ; and seeing that the brother was marvelling at the sight which he had seen, he said unto him, ' 'Hast thou been knocking a long " time? Perad venture thou hast seen something?" and he said unto him, "No; [I have not]." And Abb£ Arsenius spake with him and dismissed him.
626. They used to say that a certain old man said, "Verily, "as he who worketh gold, and as he who maketh beautiful "work, cleanly and at peace, so thou also by thy beautiful "thoughts must inherit the kingdom of God; but I who have "passed the whole period of my life in the desert have not " been able to overtake thee."
627. They used to say about a certain great old man, who lived in Purpiring, that when he lifted up his eyes to heaven he could see whatsoever was therein, and that if he gazed into the earth, he could see into the depths, and whatsoever was in them.
"
627. They used to say about a certain great old man, who lived in Purpiring, that when he lifted up his eyes to heaven he could see whatsoever was therein, and that if he gazed into the earth, he could see into the depths, and whatsoever was in them.
628. Abba* John, who was cast out by the Marcionites, used to say: — On one occasion we went from Syria to Abb4 Poemen, and when we wished him to speak to us about hardness of heart [we found that] the old man did not know Greek, and there was no interpreter with leisure [to interpret there]. And the old man saw that we were troubled at this, and he began to talk to us in the Greek tongue, and at the beginning of his speech he said, "Water is by nature soft, and stone is hard, "nevertheless if thou suspendest a vessel full of water above
' i a stone, and wilt pour it out upon it drop by drop, it will "wear away the stone. In the same way the Word of God is " soft, and our heart is hard, but if it heareth continually the "Word of God, the heart will be opened, and will turn to the "fear of God."
629. A certain monk lived in the desert, and there was another brother who lived in a cell by his side, and when he visited him from time to time he used to see him praying and entreating our Lord that the wild animals might be at peace with him. And after the prayer a panther which was suckling her young was found by him, and that brother went down upon his knees and sucked with them. And on another occasion the blessed man saw that brother praying and beseeching God to make fire to be at peace with him ; and he lit a fire, and knelt
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down in the middle of it, and prayed. And that old man used to say, "If thou wishest to become a monk, bring thyself into " subjeftion that thou mayest be in the congregation of the "community, and mayest enter the monastery; but if thou " canst not cast away from thee care concerning [all kinds of] 44 occupations and affairs, thou canst never dwell in the con- " gregation. All the power thou hast is over a bottle of water."
And that old man used to say, "If thou wishest to become a monk, bring thyself into " subjeftion that thou mayest be in the congregation of the "community, and mayest enter the monastery; but if thou " canst not cast away from thee care concerning [all kinds of] 44 occupations and affairs, thou canst never dwell in the con- " gregation. All the power thou hast is over a bottle of water. "
630. And there are also wonderful things which the blessed Bessarion performed. He made the waters of the sea sweet, and Saul his disciple drank [of them] ; he crossed over the water of the river ; he prevented the sun from setting in the heavens ; and the rooting up of the temples of the idols was revealed unto him. As they were going to John the Theban his disciple became thirsty, and Bessarion prayed, and water bub- bled up, and he gave him to drink; and he healed also the young man who was a paralytic, so that he ran to his father; and he cast out a devil from a young man who was always asleep, and whom his parents besought him to wake up. I have, however, written down all these things in the history of the holy man Bessarion, wherein it is written that he was sitting at the door of the monastery and weeping bitterly.
Gbapter #t>* ©f tbe Greatness of tbe Subltme IRuIe of tbe Solitary %iic
THERE was a certain old man amongst the fathers who used to see visions, and this man testified, and said, "That power which I have seen existing in baptism, I
631. " have also seen in the apparel of the monks when they M take the garb of the monk."
632. An old man from Thebais used to say : — I was the son of a priest of idols, and when I was young I lived in the tem- ple, and I have on many occasions seen my father go into the temple to perform the sacrifices to the idols. Once I went in secretly after him, and I saw Satan sitting [there], with his whole army before him, and, behold, one of his devils came and did homage to him. And Satan answered and said unto him, "Whence comest thou?" And the devil made answer, saying, "I was in such and such a country, and I stirred up " many wars and revolts, and I caused the shedding of blood, " and I have come to tell thee these things." Satan said unto him, « i How long did it take thee to do this?" and the devil said "Thirty days. " Then Satan commanded him to be beaten, saying unto him, "Is this all that thou hast done in so long a time?" And, behold, another devil came and worshipped him, and to him he said, "Whence comest thou?" And the devil answered and said, "I was in the sea, where I stirred up storms, and
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" and the devil said "Thirty days. " Then Satan commanded him to be beaten, saying unto him, "Is this all that thou hast done in so long a time? " And, behold, another devil came and worshipped him, and to him he said, "Whence comest thou? " And the devil answered and said, "I was in the sea, where I stirred up storms, and
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1 * sank ships, and drowned many men, and I have come that "I may inform thee of these things." Then Satan answered and said unto him, "In how much time hast thou done this?" and the devil answered and said unto him, " In twenty days," and Satan commanded that he also should be beaten, saying unto him, "Why is it that in all these days thou hast only done "[what thou sayest]?" And when he had said this, behold, a third devil came and worshipped Satan, who answered and said unto him also, "And where dost thou come from?" and the devil answered and said unto him, "I have been in such " and such a city wherein there was a marriage feast, and I "stirred up a war there, and caused the shedding of much "blood, and the death of the bridegroom and the bride; and " as soon as I had done this I came to inform thee. " And Satan said unto him, "In how many days hast thou done this?" and the devil said, "In ten days"; and Satan commanded that he should be beaten, saying, "In all these days thou hast only "done this." Then afterwards, behold, a fourth devil came and worshipped him, and Satan answered and said unto him, "And whence comest thou also?" And he who was asked an- swered and said unto him, "I have been in the desert for forty "years striving with a monk, and to-night I have hurled him "into fornication"; and when Satan heard this, he rose up straightway and embraced and kissed that devil, and he took the crown off his head, and placed it upon him, and he made him to sit by his side upon his throne, saying, "And so thou "hast been able to do so great a work as this in so short a " time! For there is nothing which I prize so highly as the fall " of a monk." And the old man went on to say: — When I saw these things I said within myself, "Yea, so great then is the "army of the monks! And by the operation of God, Who de- " sired my redemption, I came forth, and became a monk."
For there is nothing which I prize so highly as the fall " of a monk. " And the old man went on to say: — When I saw these things I said within myself, "Yea, so great then is the "army of the monks! And by the operation of God, Who de- " sired my redemption, I came forth, and became a monk. "
633. In the time when Julian, the rebellious Emperor, was going down to the territory of the Persians, he sent a certain devil to go speedily to the country of the West, and to bring him from thence an account of what he had sent him [to do]. Now when that devil arrived at a certain place wherein dwelt a monk, he stopped and tarried there for a period of fifteen days without being able to move anywhere, and he was unable to travel onwards, because the monk did not cease from pray- ing, either by night or by day; so he returned to the heathen who had sent him without having done anything. Then the wicked Julian said unto him, "Why hast thou tarried so long?" And the devil answered and said unto him, "I delayed in "coming, and I have done nothing; for a monk, who con- tinued in prayer, came in my way and I tarried with him
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4 'fifteen days, expecting that he would some time cease to "pray and that I should be able to go on my way; but he " never ceased from his prayer, and I was prevented from going " on, and so I delayed in coming, and I have done nothing." Then was the wicked Julian angry, and he said, "When I "come back I will take vengeance upon him"; but before a few days were over, he was slain by Divine Providence. And straightway one of the eparchs who were with him went and sold everything which he possessed and gave [the money] to the poor, and he came to that monk, and himself became a chosen monk ; and he died with a good ending, and with works which were pleasing unto God.
634. On one occasion Abbst Pamb6 was travelling with some monks in the districts of Egypt; and seeing some worldly folk sitting down he said unto them, "Rise up, and salute the 4 * monks so that ye may be blessed, for they are always hold- " ing converse with God, and their mouths are holy."
635. Abb& John used to say, "The whole company of the " holy men is like unto a garden which is full of fruit-bearing "trees of various kinds, and wherein the trees are planted "in [one] earth, and all of them drink from one fountain; "and thus is it with all the holy men, for they have not one " rule only, but several varieties, and one man laboureth in one " way, and another man in another, but it is one Spirit which "operateth and worketh in them."
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"
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TWO of the fathers entreated God to inform them as to the measure [of spiritual excellence] to which they had arrived, and a voice came to them which said, "In "such and such a village of Egypt there is a certain man in "the world who is called Eucharistos, and his wife Mary, and "ye have not as yet arrived at the same measure as they." Now when the fathers heard [this] they marvelled, and they rose up and came to that village, and they enquired for and found the house and the wife of Eucharistos, and they asked her, saying, "Where is thy husband?" And she answered and said unto them, " He is a shepherd, and he is in the field pas- turing sheep"; and she brought them into her house. And when the evening had come her husband came from the sheep, and seeing the fathers he rejoiced with great joy, and he prepared a table [for them], and brought water that he might wash their feet. Then the fathers answered and said unto him, "We will "eat nothing, but tell us what is thy work"; and Eucharistos said unto them with great humility, "I am a shepherd, and "this is my wife." Now the fathers entreated him to inform them concerning his life and works, but he concealed the mat- ter, and refused to speak. Finally they said unto him, "God "told us to come to thee," and when Eucharistos heard this he was afraid, and he told them, saying, "Behold, we inherited "these sheep from our parents, and whatsoever God provid- " eth as [our] income from them we divide into three portions; "one portion [we devote] to charity, one portion to the love "of strangers, and the remaining part serveth for our own " use. Since the time when I took this woman to wife we have "not defiled ourselves, and she is a virgin, and each of us "sleepeth alone; at night time we wear sackcloth, and in the "daytime we put it off and array ourselves in our [ordinary] " attire, and no man hath known this thing until the present "moment." And when the fathers heard [this] they glorified God.
2. They say concerning Abbst Anthony that on one occasion, when he was praying in his cell he heard a voice which said unto him, "Anthony, thou hast not yet arrived [at the state of " excellence] of a certain man who is a tailor and who dwell- "eth in Alexandria." Then Anthony rose up in the morning,
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2. They say concerning Abbst Anthony that on one occasion, when he was praying in his cell he heard a voice which said unto him, "Anthony, thou hast not yet arrived [at the state of " excellence] of a certain man who is a tailor and who dwell- "eth in Alexandria. " Then Anthony rose up in the morning,
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and took a palm stick and departed to him, and when the man saw him, he was disturbed; and the old man said unto him, 44 Tell me what thou doest, and how thou livest," and the tailor said unto him, 14 1 do not myself know that I do any "good, and I know only that when I rise up in the morning, 4 4 before I sit down to the labour of my hands, I give thanks 44 unto God, and praise Him, and that I set my evil deeds be- 44 fore mine eyes, saying, 4 All the men who are in this city will 4 4 4 go into the kingdom of God, because of their alms and good 4 4 4 deeds, except myself, and I shall inherit punishment for my 44 4 sins'; and again in the evening, before I sleep, I do the same 44 things." Now when Abbst Anthony heard these things, he said, 44 Verily, as the man who worketh in gold, and who doeth 14 beautiful work, cleanly, and in peace, even so art thou; 44 through thy beautiful thoughts thou wilt inherit the king- 44 dom of God, whilst I, who have passed the whole of my life 44 in the desert, separated [from men], have never overtaken "thee."
3. Abb£ Anthony received a revelation in the desert, saying, 44 In such and such a city there is a man who resembleth thee; 44 he is a physician, and he worketh and giveth whatsoever he 44 earneth to the poor and needy, and each day he, with the 44 angels, ascribeth holiness to God three times a day."
3. Abb£ Anthony received a revelation in the desert, saying, 44 In such and such a city there is a man who resembleth thee; 44 he is a physician, and he worketh and giveth whatsoever he 44 earneth to the poor and needy, and each day he, with the 44 angels, ascribeth holiness to God three times a day. "
4. When Abbd Macarius was praying in his cell on one oc- casion he heard a voice which said, 4 4 Macarius, thou hast not 44 yet arrived [at the state of excellence] of two women who are 44 in such and such a city"; and the old man rose up in the morning, and took in his hand a palm stick, and he began to set out on the road to that city. Now therefore, when he had arrived at the city, and learned the place [of the abode of the women], he knocked at the door, and there went forth one of the women and brought him into the house. And when he had been sitting down for a little, the other woman came in, and he called them to him, and they came nigh and sat down be- fore him. Then the old man said unto them, 4 4 On your account 44 1 have made this long journey, and have performed all this 44 labour, and with great difficulty have come from the desert; 4 4 tell me, then, what works do ye do." And they said unto him, 4 4 Believe us, O father; neither of us hath ever been 44 absent from, or kept herself back from, her husband's 44 couch up to this day; what work, then, wouldst thou see in 44 us?" Then the old man made apologies to them, and en- treated them to reveal to him and to show him their labour, and thereupon they said unto him, 4 4 According to worldly 44 considerations we are strangers one to the other, for we are 44 not kinsfolk, but it fell out that the two of us married two
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" men who were brethren in the flesh. And behold, up to this " present we have lived in this house for twelve years, and we "have never wanted to quarrel with each other, and neither 41 of us hath spoken one abominable word of abuse to her com- panion. Now we made up our minds together to leave our "husbands and to join the army of virgins, but, although we "entreated our husbands earnestly to allow us to do so, they "would not undertake to send us away. And as we were un- " able to do that which we wished, we made a promise between " ourselves and God that, until death, no worldly word should "go forth from our mouths." Now when Macarius heard [this] he said, "Verily, virginity by itself is nothing, nor " marriage, nor life as a monk, nor life in the world; for God "seeketh the desire [of a man], and giveth the Spirit unto "every man."
" Now when Macarius heard [this] he said, "Verily, virginity by itself is nothing, nor " marriage, nor life as a monk, nor life in the world; for God "seeketh the desire [of a man], and giveth the Spirit unto "every man. "
5. They used to tell a story about certain brethren who were members of the household of AbbA Poemen. Now whilst these men were dwelling in Egypt their mother wished to see them, but was unable to do so, and she watched for them as they were going to the church, and went out to meet them, but as soon as they saw her they went back to their cell and shut the door on themselves, and then their mother took up her stand by the door, and spake [unto them], and wept and sighed heavily. And when Abbd Job heard her, he went in to Abbi Poemen and said unto him, "What shall we do in respeft of "this old woman who is weeping by the door?" Then Abbd Poemen rose up and drew nigh to the door and pressed him- self against it and, hearing her speaking in the deepest sorrow, he said unto her, "Wilt thou, who art an old woman, cry in " this fashion?" Now as soon as she heard his voice she wept the more, and she cried out, saying, "I want to see my sons. " For what is this that I see in you? Perad venture I did not rear "you? Perad venture I am not your mother? Peradventure ye " did not suck at my breasts? Peradventure ye did not go forth "from my womb? I am prevented by mine old age, but now "that I have heard thy voice my bowels have been moved." The old man said unto her, "Dost thou wish to see us here, " or wouldst thou see us in that country [beyond the grave]?" She said unto him, "My sons, if I do not see you here I shall " see you there." And the old man said unto her, "If thou wilt "compel thyself not to see us here, thou shalt, in very truth, " see us there." Then the old woman departed, saying, "Yea, " my son, if I shall see you there I shall not seek to see you "here."
6. There was a certain old man who lived a life of such stri<5l self-denial that he never drank wine. And when I arrived at
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" Then the old woman departed, saying, "Yea, " my son, if I shall see you there I shall not seek to see you "here. "
6. There was a certain old man who lived a life of such stri<5l self-denial that he never drank wine. And when I arrived at
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his cell we sat down to eat, and one brought dates and he ate, and he took water and drank; and I said unto him laughingly, " So thou art angry with absinthe, O father? Since thou hast 44 eaten dates and hast drunk water, why dost thou not drink " wine?" And he answered and said unto me, "If thou takest 44 a handful of dust and throwest it on a man will it hurt him?" and I said unto him, 4 'No." And he said unto me, 4 4 If thou 44 takest a handful of water and throwest it over a man, per- 44 adventure he will feel pain?" and I said unto him, 4 4 No." And he said unto me, 44 And again, if thou takest a handful of 44 chopped straw and throwest it over a man, peradventure it 44 will cause him pain? and I said unto him, 4 4 No." Then he said unto me, 4 4 But if thou bringest [them all] and dost mix 44 them together, and dost knead them well, and dost dry them, 4 4 thou mayest throw and hurl the mass on the skull of a man 4 4 and thou wilt not break it"; and I said unto him, 44 Yea, 44 father, [that is true]." And he said unto me, 4 4 The monks 44 do not abstain from certain things without good reason, and 44 thou must not listen to the men who are in the world who 44 say, 4 Why do they not eat this, and why do they not drink 4 4 4 that?* Is there not sin in them? Such people know not. Now 4 4 we abstain from certain things not because the things them- 44 selves are bad, but because the passions are mighty, and 44 when they have waxed strong they kill us."
7. On one occasion the priest of Scete went to the Archbishop of Alexandria, and when he had returned to Scete he wanted to send the brethren [to Alexandria], and he said unto them, 44 1 have heard you say that there is a large assembly of people 44 in Alexandria. Verily, I say unto you that I who went there 44 did not see the face of any man except the Archbishop." Now when they heard [this] they were disturbed, and said, 44 Have they sunk into the ground, then?" And he said, 4 4 Nay, 44 not so, but my thoughts did not compel me to look at a man "; and when they heard [this] they marvelled, and they were greatly confirmed by these words [in their desire] to keep themselves from looking upon the vain things of the world.
" Now when they heard [this] they were disturbed, and said, 44 Have they sunk into the ground, then? " And he said, 4 4 Nay, 44 not so, but my thoughts did not compel me to look at a man "; and when they heard [this] they marvelled, and they were greatly confirmed by these words [in their desire] to keep themselves from looking upon the vain things of the world.
8. One of the old men used to say: On one occasion the fathers were sitting and conversing together on the subject of ascetic excellence, and there was in their midst one of the old men who was a seer of visions, and he saw angels flying about over [the fathers]; but when they came to another subject of discourse, the angels departed, and he saw pigs rolling about among them and wallowing in the mire. And afterwards when the fathers renewed their conversation on spiritual excellence the angels came back and glorified God.
9. One of the fathers used to say that there were two
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brethren who were neighbours of his in the desert, and that one was a stranger and the other a native of the country; now the stranger was a man of little faith, but the native performed many worki in the service of God. And it happened that the stranger died, and the old man, who saw divine visions, saw multitudes of angels bearing away in triumph his soul until it arrived in heaven. And an inquiry arose concerning this, and the old man heard a voice from heaven which said, "He was " certainly a negligent man, but because of his being a stranger " they opened unto him." And afterwards the man who was a native of the country died, and his kinsfolk came to him and buried him, and the old man saw that there were no angels with him, and he marvelled, and he fell on his face and en- treated God to inform him how it was that the stranger who was a negligent man was worthy of glory, whilst the man who had all those labours [to his credit] was not granted the same thing. And he heard a voice which said, "When the native " with all his works came to die, he opened his eyes and saw "his kinsfolk weeping, and his soul was refreshed; but the "stranger, although he was negligent, saw none of his kins- " folk, and he sighed and wept."
And he heard a voice which said, "When the native " with all his works came to die, he opened his eyes and saw "his kinsfolk weeping, and his soul was refreshed; but the "stranger, although he was negligent, saw none of his kins- " folk, and he sighed and wept. "
10. One of the fathers told a story, saying: There was a certain monk in the desert of Linopolis, and a man who was in the world ministered unto him; and there was in the city a certain rich and wicked man who died, and he was accom- panied to his burial by the whole city, and by the Bishop, with lights and great honour. Now the man who ministered to the monk went forth to give him some bread, but he found him dead and eaten by the panthers; and he fell upon his face before the Lord and said, "My Lord, I will not rise up from "this place until Thou makest me to know why this wicked "man is buried with such great honour, and why this monk " who served Thee by night and by day hath come to such an " end." And an angel came and said unto him, "That wicked " man did one good work, and he was rewarded here so that "he might not find even one pleasure in the world to come; " but this holy man, because he was a man who was adorned " with divine virtues, although inasmuch as he was a man he "possessed certain shortcomings, will receive these things in "the world to come, so that there he may be found perfe<St "therein." And having heard [this] he returned, and glorified God for His judgements because they are good.
11. A brother asked an old man, saying, "Is it the name " or the work which maketh to live?" The old man said unto him, "I knew a certain brother who was praying on one "occasion, and who thought within himself, saying, 'I wish
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44 4 to see the soul of a righteous man, and the soul of a sinner 44 'when they are leaving the body*; and because God wished 44 neither to make him grieve, nor to deprive him of his desire, " whilst he was sitting in his cell a wolf went in to him, and 44 laid hold of him by his clothes and dragged him outside, and " then having pulled him along he carried him to the outside " of a certain city, and then he left him there and departed.
" The old man said unto him, "I knew a certain brother who was praying on one "occasion, and who thought within himself, saying, 'I wish
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44 4 to see the soul of a righteous man, and the soul of a sinner 44 'when they are leaving the body*; and because God wished 44 neither to make him grieve, nor to deprive him of his desire, " whilst he was sitting in his cell a wolf went in to him, and 44 laid hold of him by his clothes and dragged him outside, and " then having pulled him along he carried him to the outside " of a certain city, and then he left him there and departed.
44 Now whilst he was sitting outside the city there was a man " who lived in a monastery, and who had gained renown, and "and concerning whom a report had gone forth that he was a 44 monk of spiritual excellence; and this man was grievously "sick, and was waiting for the hour of his departure [from 4 4 this world]. And that brother looked on and saw the prepar- 44 ations which they were making, and the things which they 44 were putting ready for the event, namely, the wax candles, 44 and the lamps which they were trimming and preparing, and 44 he saw that all the city was weeping for him, and that his 44 people were in grief, and saying, * By his hand God hath 44 4 given us meat and drink, and by his hands He hath de- 44 4 livered us, and hath kept us and the whole city alive; if 44 4 anything happeneth to him we shall die. ' And when the time 44 for this man to end his life had come that brother looked, and 44 saw, and behold, the keeper of Sheol went in having in his 44 hand a fork of fire with three prongs, and he heard a voice 44 which spake [to the keeper], saying, 4 Thou shalt not give 44 4 his soul any rest, even for a moment, and thou shalt not 44 4 shew any compassion unto him when thou takestaway his 44 4 soul. Then he who had appeared to that brother went in, and 44 he drove that fiery, three-pronged fork which he had in his 4 4 hand into the heart of the dying man, and he tortured him 44 for a long time, and then he carried away his soul. And after 44 these things, when that brother was going into the city, he 44 saw a certain brother who was a stranger, and who was 44 lying sick in the market-place, and there was none to care 44 for him; and he remained with him for one day, and at the 44 time when his soul was departing the brother saw Gabriel and 44 Michael come for his soul, and they sat down, one on his 44 right hand, and the other on his left, and they stayed there 44 entreating his soul and wishing to carry it away. And since 44 his soul refused to leave its body, Gabriel said to Michael, 44 4 Lift up his soul and take it, so that we may depart'; and 44 Michael said unto him, 4 We were commanded by our Lord 44 4 to bring it out without pain and without suffering, and 44 4 therefore we cannot constrain it and do it violence.' Then 44 Michael cried out with a loud voice, saying, 4 Whatdost Thou 4 4 4 command concerning this soul which will not be entreated
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" 1 to come forth, O Lord?' And there came unto him a voice " which said, 'Behold, I will send David and his harp, and all " 1 those who sing with him, so that when the soul heareth the " ' sweetness of their voices it shall come forth'; and they came "down and surrounded the soul, and as they were singing* " psalms and hymns the soul leaped forth, and it was rejoicing "in the hands of Michael, and was taken up on high with " gladness."
12. They used to say that a certain old man went on one oc- casion to a city to sell his handiwork, and it chanced that he sat down by the door of a house of a rich man who was dying, and whose death was very near at hand; and as he was sitting [there] he looked and saw black horses, with their black riders, who were exceedingly terrible, and they held in their hands staves of fire. And when they had come to the door of the house, they set their horses outside, and they went in together, and as soon as the sick man saw them, he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, " O Lord, help me." Then those who had been sent unto him said, "Now that the sun hath set upon thee thou "hast come to call God to remembrance; why didst thou not " seek Him while it was yet day? Now thou hast neither a por- "tion of hope nor consolation left." Then they took away his soul and departed.
" Then those who had been sent unto him said, "Now that the sun hath set upon thee thou "hast come to call God to remembrance; why didst thou not " seek Him while it was yet day? Now thou hast neither a por- "tion of hope nor consolation left. " Then they took away his soul and departed.
13. There were two brethren who lived in cells, and one of them was an old man who had persuaded the younger man, saying, " My brother, let us dwell together," but he said unto him, " I am a sinner, and I cannot let thee be with me, O fa- "ther." Then the old man entreated him, saying, "Yes, we "can [live together]"; now that old man was pure in his thoughts, and he was not content to hear that there was in the young man the thought of fornication. And the brother said unto him, " Father, leave me for one week, and we will speak "[on the subject] again"; and when the week was ended the old man came and, wishing to try him, the brother said unto him, "During the past week, O father, I fell into great temp- " tation, for I went to a certain village on business, and I met "a woman." The old man said unto him, "There is repent- " ance"; and the brother said unto him, " Yea, there is." And the old man said unto him, " I will bear the half of this sin " with thee"; then the brother said unto him, " We shall now " be able to dwell together." So they dwelt together until the end of their lives.
14. Certain brethren from the great monastery went forth and departed to the desert, and they came to one of the monks who received them with gladness; and when he saw that, as was usual with monks, they had come from labour, he pre-
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" So they dwelt together until the end of their lives. 14. Certain brethren from the great monastery went forth and departed to the desert, and they came to one of the monks who received them with gladness; and when he saw that, as was usual with monks, they had come from labour, he pre-
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pared for them a table before the appointed season, and what- soever he had in his cell he set before them, and refreshed them. Now when the evening was come they sang twelve Psalms, and they did the same thing during the night, but the old man left them to rest, and he departed that he might sing and pray by himself. And whilst he was keeping vigil, he heard the brethren conversing together and saying, "The " monks who live in the desert live more comfortably than do " we who are in the monasteries." And when they were making ready in the morning to go to an old man who was his neigh- bour, he said unto them, " Salute him for me"; and they said unto him, " Thou shalt not water the green herb," and when he heard [thisj, he understood the matter. And he kept them until the evening working and fasting, and when the evening had come they sang the great service through, and the brother said unto them, " To-day, because ye have come from toil, we " have shortened the service somewhat," and he also said unto them, " We are not in the habit of eating every day, but be- " cause of you we will eat a little." And he prepared for them dry bread and salt, and he said unto them, " It is fitting that " on your account we should this day make a feast," and he sprinkled a little vinegar in the salt, and they rose up to sing and pray until the morning, and he said unto them, 11 We are, "on account of you, unable to perform the whole of the ser- " vice as we are wont to do, for ye must rest a little, and ye " are strangers. "Now when the morning had come they wished to escape, but he entreated them, saying, " Spend a few days " with us, especially that ye may live according to the custom " of the desert, for we cannot let you go"; and when they saw that he did not want to send them away, they rose up and fled secretly.
15. On one occasion a certain brother came to Mount Sinai to visit AbbA Sylvanus, and he saw the brethren working with their hands to supply their wants, and he said unto Abbd Syl- vanus, with boasting, "Ye toil for the food which perisheth; " Mary chose a good portion for herself." Then Abbd Sylva- nus said unto Zechariah, his disciple, "Give him a book and " take him to a cell wherein there is nothing." And when the time of the ninth hour had come, the brother looked this way and that way to see if they were going to send for him to come and eat, but no man came to seek him. Then he rose up and came to the old man and said unto him, 1 ' Father, have not the "brethren eaten to-day?" and he said unto him, "Yea." And the brother said unto him, "Why have ye not called me?" The old man said unto him, "Thou art a spiritual man and hast " no need of the meat which is for the body, but we are cor-
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" poreal beings, and we require to eat, and it is for this reason 4 * that we work. Thou hast chosen the [good] part; read all " day, and do not seek after the food of the body." Now when "that brother heard [this] he expressed his contrition, and "said, "Father, forgive me"; and the old man said, "Even " Mary bad need of Martha, for through the labour of Martha " Mary triumphed."
16. It happened on one occasion that a certain heathen priest came to Scete, and he visited the cell of one of the brethren, and passed the night there, and he saw the labours of his rule, and marvelled; and he said unto him, "Do ye labour so greatly " and yet do not see visions from your God?" and the brother said unto him, "We do not see [visions]." The priest of idols said unto him, "When we perform the part of priests to our "god he hideth nothing from us, and he revealeth unto us his " mysteries, whilst ye who perform the labours of vigil, and "abstinence, and silent contemplation, as thou sayest, see "nothing. There must be in your hearts evil thoughts which "separate you from your God, and it is for this reason that " He doth not reveal unto you His mysteries." Then the brother went and informed the old men of the word[s] of that priest of idols, and they marvelled and said, " It is thus, for " the thoughts which are not clean alienate a man from God. "
There must be in your hearts evil thoughts which "separate you from your God, and it is for this reason that " He doth not reveal unto you His mysteries. " Then the brother went and informed the old men of the word[s] of that priest of idols, and they marvelled and said, " It is thus, for " the thoughts which are not clean alienate a man from God. "
17. One of the brethren said unto one of the great old men, " If I could find one of the fathers according to my desire, I " would choose to die with him," and the old man said unto him with a laugh, "Good, my lord," and the brother said, "Such "is my desire." Now he did not understand the mind {or thought) of the old man. And when the old man saw that the brother was in truth speaking concerning himself that which he thoroughly believed, he said unto him, "If thou didst find " an old man according to thy desire, wouldst thou be able to " dwell with him?" And he said unto him, "Yea." The old man said unto him, "Well hast thou said, 'If I could find [an old " ' man] according to my desire* "; and afterwards he said unto him, "Thou dost not wish to be subject to the will of the old " man, but the old man must be subject unto thee!" Then the "brother rose up, and made apologies to him, saying, 'For- " give me, father; I have boasted greatly. I thought that I was "saying that which was good, but I find that I possess that " which is of no value."
18. Abba* Daniel used to say about Abba* Arsenius that im- mediately he heard that the fruits were [ripe] on the trees, he would tell them in his desire to bring him some, and that he used to eat once a year of every kind of fruit, so that he might give thanks to God.
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19. Abbd Abraham asked Abb£ Theodore, saying, 44 Father, " which is the better thing for me to do, [to give] praise or to 44 blame?" The old man said unto him, 44 1 myself prefer to 44 perform the works of praise, and not of blame"; and Abbi Abraham said unto him, 44 How is this?" And the old man said unto him, 4 4 If I perform good works, and I be praised there- 44 for, I find that I can bring an accusation against my mind 44 whilst I flee from the love of approbation, and I can say that 44 I do not deserve this praise, but blame belongeth to evil 44 works, and how shall I be able to comfort my heart, because "men are offended at me? It is necessary for us to do good 44 works, and to be praised, without receiving upon ourselves 44 the love of approbation, and not evil deeds, lest we be 44 blamed." And Abbd Abraham said, 4 4 Thou hast said well, 44 O father; even so is it."
It is necessary for us to do good 44 works, and to be praised, without receiving upon ourselves 44 the love of approbation, and not evil deeds, lest we be 44 blamed. " And Abbd Abraham said, 4 4 Thou hast said well, 44 O father; even so is it. "
20. They used to say about one of the fathers who had lived in the world, that when he was in the desert he was occupied in fighting [his desire] to return to his wife whom he had married before [he became a monk], and when he related the matter to the fathers, they appointed him certain works, so that he might be kept back from the fight [within him]. Now because he was an obedient man and one who laboured, he performed these works in excess, and at length his body be- came so emaciated that he was unable to rise up from his place. And, by the operation of God, a certain father who was a stranger came to the place of Scete, and he passed by the cell of that monk and found it to be empty; and as he passed by he said in his mind, 4 4 How is it that no man hath come out to 44 jneet me from this cell? And he went back there, and knocked, saying, 44 Perhaps he is sick"; and when he knocked the brother who was grievously sick went forth, and the father said unto him, 44 What is thy sickness, O father?" And the brother told him of all his suffering, saying, 4 4 1 belonged to the world, and the 44 Enemy made war upon me through my wife, and I told the 44 fathers the story, and they imposed upon me severe labours ; 4 4 and having performed these my body hath become ill, and 44 the war hath waxed stronger against me." Now when the old man heard these things, he was grieved, and he said unto him, 4 4 The fathers have imposed upon thee great labours as 44 if [thou hadst been] a mighty man, but if thou wilt hearken 44 to my feeble [voice] thou wilt relinquish those labours, and 44 partake of a little food, at the appointed time, and wilt sing 44 and pray a little, and wilt cast thy business upon God. For by 44 thy pains and sickness thou wilt not be able to conquer this 14 matter, because our body is like unto a garment; if thou take 44 oare of it, it will last, but if thou negledl it, it will come to an
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44 end." Now the brother having heard these things afted thus, and in a few days the war passed away from him.
21. One of the fathers asked Abb£ Nastir, the friend of the blessed Anthony, saying, "What is the best work for me to "do?" And he said unto him, "Not all kinds of labour are the 44 same. For the book saith that Abraham was a lover of stran- gers, and that God was with him; and Elijah was a lover of 44 a life of silent contemplation, and God was with him; and 44 David was a humble man, and God was with him; therefore 44 whatsoever work thy soul wisheth to do, provided that it be 44 of God, that do, and keep thy heart from evil things."
And the brother asked him again, saying, "Father, tell me * * other things " ; and the old man said , * 4 Abb& Anbastfdn asked " Abbd Athri, saying, 4 What shall I do? * And he said unto him, 44 4 Go, make thy belly little, and the work of thy hands great, u 4 and be not troubled in thy cell.'"
And again the brother asked him, saying, 44 If there be a 44 persecution, is it better to flee to the desert or to the habi- 44 tation of men?" And the old man said unto him, 4 4 Go where- soever thou hearest that true believers are, and have no 44 friendship with a youth, and do not dwell with one; and if 44 thou art able so to do, dwell in thy cell, for this is good, and 44 cleanse thy garden herbs. This is far better than going to a 44 man and asking him questions."
And again the brother asked him, 44 1 wish to dwell in close 44 friendship with a brother, and I want to live a life of silent 4 4 contemplation by myself in my cell, and he must give me 44 what I want, and I will give him the work of my hands." The old man said unto him, 4 4 The fathers have never sought 44 after a thing of this kind; and if thou dost not give bread 44 to the poor Satan will not permit thee [so to live]."
" The old man said unto him, 4 4 The fathers have never sought 44 after a thing of this kind; and if thou dost not give bread 44 to the poor Satan will not permit thee [so to live]. "
22. Abbd Daniel Parndyd, the disciple of Abb£ Arsenius, used to tell about a man of Scete, and say that he was a man of great labours but simple in the faith, and in his ignorance he considered and declared that the bread which we receive is not in very truth the Body of Christ, but a similitude of His Body. And two of the fathers heard this word which he spake, but because they knew of his sublime works and labours, they imagined that he had spoken it in his innocence and simple- mindedness ; and they came to him and said unto him, 4 4 Father, 44 we have heard a thing from a man which we do not believe, 44 for he saith that this bread which we receive is not in very 44 truth the Body of Christ, but a mere similitude." And he said unto them, 4 4 It is I who have said this thing," and they en- treated him, saying, 4 4 Thou must not say thus, father, but 44 according to what the Holy Catholic Church hath handed
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" down to us, even so do we believe, that is to say, this bread " is the Body of Christ in very truth, and is not a mere simili- " tude. As, in truth, God straightway took dust from the earth, " and fashioned man in His image, [and no man is able to say " that he is not the image of GodJ, so also was it the case of the " bread of which He said, 'This is My Body/ for it is not to be " regarded as a merely commemorative thing, and we believe " that it is indeed the Body of Christ." And the old man said, "Unless I be convinced by the thing itself I will not hearken " [to this]"; then the fathers said unto him, "Let us pray to " God for the whole week on this mystery, and we believe that " He will reveal [it] unto us," and the old man agreed to this with great joy, and each man went to his cell. Then the old man prayed unto God, saying, "O Lord, Thou knowest that it "is not from wickedness that I do not believe, but in order 4 4 that I may not go astray through ignorance, reveal Thou "therefore unto me, O Lord Jesus Christ, this mystery"; and the two other old men prayed unto God and said thus, " O Lord "Jesus Christ, make Thou this old man to have knowledge "concerning this mystery, and we believe that he will not " destroy his labours."
And God heard the entreaty of the two fathers, and when the week was ended they came to the church, and the three of them sat down by themselves on one seat, and the old man was between the other two ; and the eyes of their understandings were opened, and when the time of the Mysteries had arrived, and the bread was laid upon the holy table, there appeared to the three of them as it were a child on the table. And when the priest stretched out his hand to break the bread, behold the angel of the Lord came down from heaven with a knife in his hand, and he slew the child and pressed out his blood into the cup ; and when the priest broke off from the bread small members, the old man drew nigh that he might partake of the Holy Offering, and a piece of living flesh smeared and dripping with blood was given to him. Now when he saw [this] he was afraid, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "I believe, O Lord, " that the bread is Thy Body, and that the cup is Thy Blood"; and straightway the flesh which was in his hand became bread like unto that of the Mystery, and he took it and gave thanks unto God. And the old men said unto him, "God knoweth the "nature of men, and that it is unable to eat living flesh, and " for this reason He turneth His Body into bread, and His " Blood into wine, for those who receive Him in faith." Then they gave thanks unto God for that old man, and because he had not permitted Satan to destroy him from his labours, and the three of them went to their cells in gladness.
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23. Abbd Daniel used to say that Abbd Arsenius told him a story, as if he were speaking of some other man, saying: — Whilst a certain old man was sitting in his cell, there came unto him a voice which said, " Come hither, and I will shew "thee the works of the children of men"; and he rose up and went out. And the voice led him out and shewed him an Ethi- opian cutting wood, and he made up a large bundle and wished to carry it away, but he was unable to do so. Then instead of making the bundle smaller, he went and cut down some more wood, and added thereto, and this he did many times. And when he had gone on a little further, the voice shewed him a man who was standing by a pit drawing up water, which he cast in a certain hollowed out place, and when he had thrown the water therein it ran down again into the pit.
And again the voice said unto him, "Come, and I will shew " thee other things." Then he looked, and, behold, there was a temple, and two men, who were riding horses, were carrying a piece of wood as wide as the temple was, and they wanted to go in through the door, but the width of the wood did not permit them to do so, for they would not humble themselves to go in, one after his companion, and to bring it in end-wise, and therefore they remained outside the door. Now these are the men who bear the yoke of righteousness with boasting, and they will not humble themselves to make themselves straight and go in the humble way of Christ, and therefore they remain outside the kingdom of God. And the man who was cutting wood is the man who laboureth in many sins, and who, instead ofrepenting and diminishing from his sins, addeth other wicked- nesses thereunto. Now he who was drawing water is the man who doeth good works, and who, because other things are mingled in his good works, destroyeth his works thereby. Now it is meet that a man should be watchful in his labour, lest he toil in vain.
24. On one occasion Abbd Macarius was going from the wood to his cell, and was carrying [with him] some palm leaves, and Satan met him on the road holding a scythe [in his hand]; and when Macarius sought to wound him, Satan was afraid, and he fell down and did homage to the blessed man. Then the old man fled from that place, and he related to the brethren everything which had happened, and when they heard [it] they glorified God.
25. An old man used to say, "Be like a camel when thou " bearest thy sins, and be thou tied closely to him that know- "eththe way."
26. An old man used to say, "Become not a lawgiver unto " thyself, and judge no man, for thou art not under the Law,
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' i but under grace ; but give thou everything to Him that is * * able to do everything, for thou art unable to do anything. "Judge then [in] this [way], and do not sin at any time. ,,
27. He also said, ' i He who wisheth to dwell in the desert "should become a learner, and he should not practise doctrine " lest he suffer loss; and his occupation should be with a man " who loveth God."
"Judge then [in] this [way], and do not sin at any time. ,,
27. He also said, ' i He who wisheth to dwell in the desert "should become a learner, and he should not practise doctrine " lest he suffer loss; and his occupation should be with a man " who loveth God. "
28. Unto one of the old men Satan appeared in the form of an angel of light, and said, "I, even I, am Gabriel who have " been sent unto thee and he said unto him, " Hast thou " not been sent unto another? for I am a sinner"; and when Satan heard this he did not again appear. And the old man said, i i If in very truth an angel appeareth unto thee, say, 'As "'unto whom [hast thou come in coming] to me? I am not "'worthy.'"
29. When Abb A Gregory was dying he said these [words]: — " God demandeth three things from the man who hath been " baptized, true faith from the soul, and truth from the tongue, " and chastity from the body."
30. The old man said, "God seeketh nothing from Chris- " tians except true faith, and [belief] that the things which are "spoken shall come to pass in deed, and that we should be " persuaded by the orthodox fathers."
31. An old man was asked, "How can a man find God? By " fasting? By works? By watching? By mercy?" And he said, " By means of these certainly when they are mingled with dis- cretion, but I say that there are many who have afflicted " their bodies without discretion, and they have departed vainly, " having gained nothing. Our mouth becometh foul through "thirst, and we repeat the Scriptures with our mouth, " and we go through all the Psalms of David in our service, "but that which God requireth, and which is necessary we 4 * have not, that is to say, a good word for each other. For as " a man cannot see his face in troubled waters, so the soul, un- " less it be cleansed from alien thoughts, is not able to appear " before God in prayer."
32. A certain monk was going along the road and he met some nuns, and he turned aside out of the path, and she who was leading them said unto him, * * Hadst thou been a perfect " monk thou wouldst never have regarded us as women."
33. Abbst Anthony used to say, "A man's life or death " cometh from his neighbour; if we benefit our brother we " benefit ourselves, and if we offend him we sin against God."
34. A certain brother came to Abbd Theodore, and he began to talk and to speak about the things which he had not done ; and the old man said unto him, "So far thou hast not found a
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"
34. A certain brother came to Abbd Theodore, and he began to talk and to speak about the things which he had not done ; and the old man said unto him, "So far thou hast not found a
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"ship, and thou hast not let down in it thy possessions, and " before thou hast embarked thou hast gone to the city where- to thou wishest to go. First of all do the work, and then 4 * thou shalt arrive at that concerning which thou art now "talking."
35. A brother asked Abbd Anthony, saying, " What [com- "mandment] shall I keep so that I may please God?" And he answered and said unto him, 4 i That which I command " thee observe. Set thou God before thine eyes continually, 11 wheresoever thou goest; whatsoever thou doest make to it " a witness (or testimony) from the Scriptures; and in what- soever place thou dwellest be not easily moved therefrom, " but abide therein persistently. Observe these three things, " and thou shalt be saved."
36. They used to say about a certain old man that when- soever he sat in his cell toiling in the contest, he saw the devils face to face, and that he treated them with con- tempt and despised them through his contest. Now when Satan saw that he was being overcome by the old man, he ap- peared unto him in human form, and said unto him, " I am "Christ." And when the old man saw him, he winked his eyes and made a mock of him. Then Satan said unto him, " Why dost thou wink thine eyes? I, even I, am Christ." And the old man answered and said unto him, "I do not desire to "see Christ here"; and when Satan heard these things he de- parted from him and was no more seen.
37. AbbA John used to say, that he saw in a vision one ot the old men in a state of stupefadlion, and behold, three monks were standing on the shore of a lake, and a voice came to them from heaven (or from the other shore of the lake), which said, "Take ye wings of fire and come to me"; and two of them took wings of fire and flew over to the other side, even as it was told them. Now the third remained behind, and he wept abundantly, and cried out, and at length wings were given to him also, but they were not of fire like those of his companions, for they were weak and feeble wings, and it was only with the greatest difficulty, and after dropping down into the water, and with most painful exertions that he reached the [opposite] shore. And even so is it with this generation, for although it taketh to itself wings, they are not the powerful wings of fire, but it forceth itself to take weak and feeble wings.
38. An old man used to say, " Every wickedness which is " not perfe<St is not wickedness, and every righteousness which "is not perfedl is not righteousness; for the man who hath "not good and evil thoughts is like unto the land of Sodom,
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" which is salted, and which bringeth forth neither green " herb nor fruit. Now good ground produceth wheat and ex- " pelleth tares from itself."
39. Certain brethren came and asked Abba* Anthony a ques- tion about the Book of the Levites, and the old man went forth to the desert, and Abba\ Ammon, who knew his habit, followed him secretly. And when the old man had gone some distance, he cried out with a loud voice, and said, " O God, send Moses " unto me, and let him teach me [the meaning of] this verse"; and straightway a voice was heard holding converse with him. Now Abba\ Ammon heard this voice, and said, " I heard the " voice which spake with him, but the force of the verse I " never learned."
40. On one occasion when Abba Poemen was a youth, he went to an old man to ask him [concerning] three matters, and having gone into his presence he forgot one of them, and he turned to go to his cell; and as he put the key [in the door] to open [it], he remembered the matter which he had forgot- ten, and straightway he left the key in the door and returned to the old man, and the old man said unto him, 1 i Thou hast " returned quickly, brother." And Abbd Poemen told him the story thus: — " When I put the key [in the door] to open [it], I " remembered the matter which I wanted to know, and I did "not open the door because I came back hither speedily." Now the rocky ground which [he had traversed] in the inter- val was of no inconsiderable length. And the old man said unto him, ' ' Thy name shall be spoken about throughout all « Egypt."