Поучение 10. О тех, которые втуне заводят между собою предосудительную дружбу.

My brothers, fathers and children! Truly our life is like the sea. For you see in what silence we lived, and what a storm and fierce wind arose against us and disturbed our life through the vain presumption and insolence of some brethren. But this wind, through the prayers of my father and your father 19, was forbidden by Christ, who said to the sea: “Be silent, stop” (Mark 4:39), and there was silence. But in truth, my child, I was afraid, and my spirit grew faint-hearted to the point that I almost fell into despair of my salvation. For those who were looked upon as the pillars of brotherhood and my eyes in consultations turned out to be harmful and rotten overseers, being a blindness for me and for the brotherhood. However, let us not despair; for no matter how great a person’s insolence is, so deep is his fall, and as much as someone comes to resistance, so much to shame and conversion; and to the extent that he falls into unbelief, he succeeds in faith; and now my members have again come together to a common agreement, as have you all. So, what happened to us is absolutely extraordinary; and not only incongruous, but also completely indecent. However, since this has already happened, let us learn by this example to avoid in every possible way what they suffered through. What is this? Nothing other than self-indulgence, which is born in the novice from vanity and unbelief. Therefore, brethren, let us persevere in that obedience to which we have been chosen; but let us not stretch our feet beyond measure, and let us not undertake anything that is beyond our strength, so as not to deviate from what is due 20 . Let our remark to another be done with humility, and our reproof of the lesser in the Apostolic spirit, and we must have such a difference of persons that we do not exceed the standards of decency; but with questions about all this, contact me for a solution. I am a preacher, although I am a mosquito; I am an executor of the rules of the great Vasily. If the abbot ever sins, the abbot corrects it. Perhaps you yourself know what kind of struggle I would have to endure so that this would not happen, as I told you before. So, children, I am among you (as the eldest); but we must look at each other on both sides, I at you and you at me, with due respect and perfect humility, because the opposite is very harmful for both sides; for example, if I wanted to reprove you more than necessary and stop your mouth, or even one person who sins, reprove or reproach him beyond measure, or reprimand him with indecent words. I also want to show you the reason for the falls: why does this happen, if not because private friendships and partnerships are formed with each other? Child! Then run away from them; don't listen to them at all. When someone begins to tell you something to weaken your faith and love for the abbot, run from him like from fire. For the harm, little by little penetrating inside you, will reach the very foundation of salvation. Have no other teacher or mentor besides me, and do not dare to trust him with secrets, and do not disregard bad talk as a trifle, saying: what does this or that mean? Don't do this, kids! Always and all of you, if anyone falls into unbelief or anything else to the general detriment, go and open it. Or maybe someone else, out of ignorance and foolishness, will come and begin to say: “Because of this revelation, the brethren hate me and reproach me. No, not like that, children! For if they are true children and not wicked, then they too will all follow you, praising you; and if they are illegal, then why do you need their praise?” In a word, I beg you all and remind you: always confess everything to me, and let no one ever have anything hidden and undisclosed in his heart, otherwise it will produce a fierce ulcer. As for your previous corrections, try to multiply them and thus complete your course. Always endure reproaches courageously; labor, reproach, sorrow, oppression, dark thoughts, despondency and any other temptation that comes to you, having the only help in everything is to trust in God, and that irresistible help that comes from fulfilling the commandments, while keeping the memory of death in your mind every day, and cutting off your will every day. Thus you will also be awarded the crown of martyrdom; and you will rejoice with the Angels in the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. This is said about such brethren who were entrusted with the responsibility of looking after others and, if necessary, making the necessary suggestions. You might be interested in: