Книга 2. Преподобный Макарий Египетский (Симеон Месопотамский) Духовные слова и послания. Собрание I (Vatic. Graec. 694)

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ХVIII-ХIX. To facilitate orientation between different groups of manuscripts, spaces have been introduced in the apparatus. Word 1 1464. [Great and very useful message} 1465 1.1 The Lord of all, the Creator and the loving God always gives the human race good reasons for the knowledge of future blessings and those who wish 1466 to choose the best prosperity 1467 inspires [this] with the wave of [His] goodness, constantly attracting to the good man created in His image 1468 . For just as the soul by nature has an inclination to the beautiful and always strives to desire the best, so the 1469 part of evil always with terrible cunning throws imaginary goods to the more simple-minded to darken the true goods, with the help of which the inscrutable love of the grace of Christ teaches us through the inspired Scriptures 1470 the knowledge of the truth, according to the word of the prophet: “Goodness and punishment and Teach me understanding, for I have believed in Your commandments" 1471. This means that He wants us to reject from ourselves every cause of evil, so that we can thus eliminate ignorance - the cause of all evil and, constantly 1472 guided by the light of true knowledge, drive out the carnal and unreasonable wisdom that exists in us 1473, affirmed [in us] by the insidious promise of knowledge 1474, having learned that the knowledge of truth 1475 is the cause of salvation. 1.2 Since you, O honored and beloved brothers, have often wanted 1476 to learn from us what [one who wants] to learn the hermit’s life should be like; how to live according to the apostolic outline of 1477 for those who have withdrawn from the carnal pleasures and deception of this 1478 century and come together, become a sacred host and fraternal detachment and piously decided to always be with each other; how cohabitation should be conducted; what kind of structure to have good morals and customs; what is the goal of the path aimed at the highest virtue; “what [is] the will of God - good, pleasing and perfect” 1479, what is the feat and field of those who strive to achieve perfection and are always in a hurry to achieve the measure of spiritual age 1480; and, in short, so as not to extend the word further, you asked me to write this and related things in writing for the constant remembrance of the soul-helping teaching - here 1481 and we will fulfill your request, setting out, as far as possible, what is noteworthy to us. I only ask those reading to pay attention to the discussion about this, so that, having knowledge of virtue, you do not fall away [from it]. After all, this presentation is extremely useful for those who study precisely. 1.3 We must begin with the following. Trust entirely in the divine and most sacred decree of 1482 about 1483 the exact and pious glory and faith, as rightly defined: one worshiped Deity, consubstantial Trinity, one will, one glory, one worship of one Trinitarian Deity, just as in the holy sacrament of holy baptism we piously “made a good confession before many witnesses” 1484. 1.4 Therefore, we, having seen your great desire for good and seeing your desire to [ascend] to the pinnacle of virtue, did not hesitate to make a brief reminder, but as a starting point of reflection we took the Inspired Scriptures themselves 1485 and offered the very evidence of the Scriptures to certify undoubted faith, so that no one would think that we are saying something of our own, or suspect that we are philosophizing inflated idle talk 1486 1487. 2.1 1488 So, let it be the main goal of those who have dedicated themselves to God and constantly strive to present “their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God [for] reasonable service” 1489 for the purpose of enlightenment that is due to piety and 1490 so that those who devote themselves to every good work and to every exercise in virtue believe in accordance with the sacred promises of the Gospels and other Scriptures and are firmly We are convinced that 1491 by the grace of Christ and God's power, complete deliverance and cleansing from dishonorable passions 1492 operating in soul and body can be accomplished in us, because what is impossible for us is possible for the promised God 1493. Sinful passions subsequently entered the soul and body as a result of the crime of primordial man. 2.2 [They must 1494 also] believe with all certainty 1495 [that they] will be counted worthy finally and completely to adopt the Spirit 1496 for the sanctification of soul and body, according to who said: “For our gospel to us 1497 was not in word only, but also in deed and in word, and in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance, just as you [yourselves] know” 1498, - and again: “And may your spirit and soul and body be preserved without blemish at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1499, - 2.3 from whom we, who have believed 1500, have received the guarantee of His ineffable goodness through holy baptism of the triblessed calling 1501 to the increase and prosperity of the perfect heritage 1502 and to the increase of talent 1503, since this great and most pure sacrament has been entrusted to us. For the divine and comforting Spirit, given to the apostles and through them taught to the only and true Church of God, from the moment of baptism, according to the measure of faith 1504, dwells in different and varied ways with everyone who approaches baptism with pure faith: after all, everyone, for the purpose of multiplying, cultivating 1505 and increasing, receives that mina about which is spoken of in the Gospel 1506. 2.4 For just as a child born in this age does not remain forever in infancy, but grows daily as a result of some constant necessity, according to the inexplicable laws of nature, until he comes to a “perfect man” 1507, to the fullness of rational concepts, in the same way one who is born again by water and the Spirit 1508 should not stop in the infantile state of spiritual mental 1509 age, but let it be necessary for him, who daily endures struggle, labor and much patience, through the struggle with the spiritual opponent, to succeed and grow to the fullness of spiritual 1510 age, according to what the apostle said: “Until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, into a perfect man, to the measure of the full stature of Christ, so that we are no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried away by every wind of teaching according to the cunning art of deception, but by true love all grew into Him who is Christ” 1511. And again in another place he says: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may know what is 1512 the will of God, good, acceptable and perfect,” 1513 - expressing that those who have reached the measure of age and reasonable fullness of spirit reach the perfect will of God. 2.5 But in a bodily birth, the child born with a certain necessary sequence and according to the law of nature reaches the age of manhood, for Providence has so determined that within the limits of necessity, and not by free will, the bodily age comes to perfection. And in the birth [of] the Spirit from above 1514. God did not determine this order, on the contrary, he gave labor, competition and the lists to the voluntary will of man with great patience, according to what the Lord said: “Strive to enter through the narrow door 1515” 1516, - and also: “Be forced, for those who are forced delight the Kingdom of Heaven” 1517, - also: “He who endures to the end will be saved” 1518, - and: “By your patience gain your souls” 1519. And the apostle says: “With patience 1520 we run in the 1521 struggle set before us 1522” 1523, - and: “So,” he says, “run to receive” 1524, - and again: “As servants of God, with great patience” and so on 1525 1526. This is how the grace of God organized the economy, so that everyone, in his own opinion and according to his own will, through labor and feat, would achieve mental growth. 3.1 Therefore, to the extent that [everyone] believes, to the extent that he strives, to the extent that he loves, and to the extent that he devotes himself with physical and mental effort to every pleasing commandment, to the same extent he will acquire the participation of the Spirit in spiritual growth [in] “renewal of the mind” 1527, by grace and Divine gift receiving salvation, and by faith, love and the feat of free will, accepting prosperity and growth to to the perfect measure of spiritual age 1528, so that both by grace and by justice one becomes an heir of eternal life 1529, and not entirely by God’s power and grace, without [one’s own] human assistance and diligence, growing in prosperity, and not entirely by one’s own strength and diligence and strength, without the assistance and help of the Holy Spirit, having the opportunity to come into the perfect will of God 1530 and in measure of freedom and purity. For “unless the Lord builds the house and preserves the city, the watcher and the toiler and the builder watch in vain” 1531 - and again: “for they did not inherit the land with their sword, and their arm did not save them” (even though they fought with “swords” and “muscles”), “but Thy right hand, and Thy arm, and the light of Thy face” 1532. This prophet shows that God’s power contributed to their own feat, but at the same time, cutting off the conceit of those who, with few virtues, relied on themselves, he taught that for those who hoped, salvation was by grace through faith and love. 3.2 What is the will of God 1533, which the apostle encourages and calls everyone to achieve with haste? About whom the Lord said, pleasing them: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” 1534, and also: “Be ye therefore perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” 1535 - does He not thereby require [from them] complete cleansing from sin, that is, complete liberation from the passions of dishonor 1536 and the final assimilation of the highest virtue, which means purification and sanctification of the heart through the communion of the perfect and Divine Spirit, which undoubtedly takes place in the soul, which with faith and love completely surrenders itself to God? Just as the Spirit indicates the perfect goal 1537 of truth and teaches those who want to be sons of light 1538 and become heirs of life, to seek it from God and believe, saying through David: “Let my heart be blameless in Your justifications, so that I am not put to shame” 1539. [The Prophet] meant that shame and dishonor are borne by those who have not yet acquired a heart immaculate from all filthiness and uncleanness 1540, for he again says: “Then I will not be ashamed when I look to all Your commandments” 1541. Thus, the Holy Spirit taught us to acquire perfect boldness before God - fulfilling all the commandments 1542 and avoiding any fall into sin. And again the prophet, praying, said: “Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb, and strengthen me with the Master’s Spirit” 1543, pointing to the same goal. And again, asking: “Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord or who will stand in His holy place,” he adds who and what these are: “Innocent with hands and pure in heart” 1544 The Spirit showed [this] so that 1545 sin committed by deed, word, thought and thought 1546 would be completely cut off from us by our own 1547 activity and those who pray and by faith those who hoped tried daily to achieve the perfect purity of God 1548. 3.3 For the apostle, clearly teaching what kind of souls should be who are moving away from carnal marriage and worldly bonds and who want to exercise themselves entirely in virginity, says: “The virgin 1549 cares for the Lord, so that she may be holy not only in body, but also in spirit” 1550 - to be free from real and mental, that is, from obvious and secret, sins, commanding the soul as a bride Christ, striving to unite with the pure and undefiled Heavenly King. For the soul that desires to be united with Him and strives to come into one spirit with Him, according to what Blessed John said, must become like this immaculate and most pure Beauty. “And everyone,” he says, “who has this hope, purifies himself, just as He is pure” 1551. And [the Apostle Paul says]: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” 1552. After all, it is not only from obvious sins, such as fornication, theft, murder 1553, gluttony, slander, lies, idle talk, shouting, laughter, wit, love of money or covetousness - a soul that has renounced carnal 1554 communication, withdrawn from the world, practicing virginity, betrothed to oneself must be pure. union and communication with the incorruptible Bridegroom, but all the more necessary for her to keep herself clean from the strongest spiritual passions and secret sins, that is, from lust, vanity, man-pleasing, hypocrisy, lust, deceit 1555, malice 1556, hatred, unbelief, envy, exaltation, jealousy, self-indulgence, pride, arrogance and similar invisible passions of dishonor 1557. Scripture, if we believe only the words of the Spirit, can consider hidden spiritual sins equal and similar to obvious sins 1558, 1559 1560, since it says: “The Lord scattered the bones of people-pleasers” 1561; and: “The Lord abhors a man of blood and a flatterer” 1562, classifying flattery and murder as one crime; and: “[do not destroy me with] those who speak peace with their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts; give them 1563 according to their deeds” 1564 ; and again: “For in your heart you do iniquity on earth” 1565. And the Lord, reproaching people-pleasers, says: “They do everything so that people can see them” 1566, and therefore commands, saying: “See 1567, do not do your alms before people, otherwise you will not have a reward from your Heavenly Father” 1568 - that is: strive to seek and seek praise and glory for good deeds not from people, but from one 1569 God, whose glory is true and eternal, and whose dishonor is eternal. This is what the words mean: “Woe to you 1570 when all people speak well of you” 1571 - that is, when you want to hear good things about yourself from people and rejoice in the glory and praise that comes from them. 3.4 For how is it possible that those who do good are not obvious to everyone, when the Lord himself says: “Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” 1572? Strive to do every good work, He says, for the glory of God, and not for your own; do not seek praise from short-lived people and do not rejoice in [them], but expect praise and glory from the one God, 1573 - and again: “In the Lord my soul will boast” 1574 > 1575. . So the apostle commands that [everything], even before eating and drinking, be done for the glory of God: “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,” he says, “do everything for the glory of God” 1576. . Those who seek glory or praise from people, the Lord declared unfaithful, saying: “How can you believe, receiving glory from each other and not seeking 1577 the glory that is from God alone?” 1578. 3:5 And John, comparing hatred with murder, says: “He who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life in himself” 1579. . He compares secret hatred of his brother to murder. But the Apostle Paul, denouncing those given over to the passions of dishonor 1580 because of their unreasonable and disobedient hearts 1581 and listing their bad and destructive deeds, counting secret and obvious sins among one, says: “And because they did not care to have God in their minds 1582, God gave them up 1583 to a corrupt mind - to do lewd things, so that they are filled all untruth, wickedness, fornication, greed, malice, filled with murder, envy, strife, deceit, malice, slanderers 1584, slanderers, haters of God, offenders, self-praisers, proud, resourceful for evil, disobedient to parents, reckless, treacherous, unloving, irreconcilable 1585, unmerciful. They know the righteous [judgment] of God, that those who do such [deeds] are worthy of death” and so on 1586. Do you see how he only named the hidden sins that people abhor, but he also included secret spiritual passions among the obvious ones: flattery, pride, enmity, malice, boasting, hatred and unreason? and the Lord also says: “What is lofty for people is an abomination to God” 1587; and: “Whoever exalts himself will be humiliated, but he who humiliates 1588 himself will be exalted” 1589. And Wisdom says: “Everyone who is high-hearted is unclean with the Lord 1590 1591. Having collected similar passages from the Scriptures, we 1592 would find 1593 that very many are spoken against the passions of dishonor 1594 hidden in the soul. 3.6 For the Holy Spirit, knowing that secret sinful passions are very strong 1595 and rooted in the soul, and teaching us 1596 how liberation from them is possible, through David says: “Cleanse me from my secrets and from strangers spare Thy servant” 1597 - so that with much prayer, faith, perfect [and 1598] good desire for God secret passions of dishonor 1599 we could overcome by the power of the Spirit. For just as we try to protect the outer man, that is, the body, from obvious sins, as the church of God, about which the apostle said: “Having destroyed the church of God,” [here he] speaks about the body, “God will punish him” 1600, so we also need diligence and exploits to protect the inner man, that is, the soul, from all desecration by dirty thoughts, according to what was said: “Keep your heart with all care,” as the bride of Christ, “for from them are the issues of life” 1601. 3.7 Let us succeed in this, always opposing and contradicting the evil thoughts of vanity, hatred, arrogance, flattery, lust and unbelief, jealousy and covetousness, testing ourselves with all severity and keeping our minds from union and agreement with secret spiritual passions, indulging in every good undertaking with effort, labor and feat, since the enemy hinders us. 3.8 For, conjecturally [understanding] uniform straightforwardness and revealing [it] with the help of images, blessed Moses showed that the soul should not follow two dispositions to bad and good, but follow only the good, and that we should not cultivate in ourselves the double fruits of both bad and useful, but, uniformly doing the useful, avoid the bad in every possible way. He speaks about this mysteriously: “Do not harness different animals together on your threshing floor, such as an ox and a donkey, but thresh your harvest by harnessing similar animals” 1602 - that is, on the threshing floor of your heart, do not let both virtue and vice be cultivated together, but only virtue. [Also] he says: “Do not weave flax with woolen clothing, nor vice versa, wool with flax” 1603; “Do not cultivate double fruits on your plot of land at the same time and again in the summer” 1604; “do not bring a heterogeneous animal with a heterogeneous one for offspring, but always mate the homogeneous with the homogeneous” 1605. 3.9 To all this [Moses] mysteriously makes it clear that vice and virtue should not be cultivated together in us, but we are uniformly obliged to give birth from ourselves {by Divine birth} the fruits of virtue, and that the soul should not enter into communion and unity with both spirits - the spirit of the world and the spirit of God. On the contrary, he commanded the soul that, uniting only with the Spirit of God and clinging to Him, it should bear fruit with the sacred offspring of virtue and spiritual fruits; so that the will does not agree with two faces, with the bad and the good, but so that those who choose the only good and avoid the bad in every possible way cultivate in the soul the uniform fruit of virtue, according to what is written: “For this reason I was guided to all Your commandments, I hated every path of unrighteousness” 1606; “I hated unrighteousness and despised [it], but I loved Your law” 1607 - so that the Lord, seeing thus the spiritual feat, through His love for mankind, by the power of the Spirit, would completely accomplish in us a great healing from secret passions, taking revenge on our mental enemies, 3.10 as the Lord Himself, speaking about a widow oppressed by a rival and who came to an unrighteous leader to demand he received vengeance and received it for the persistence of long-term urgent requests, teaches us not to lose heart in prayers, for “he told them” and “a parable that one should always pray and not lose heart” 1608 and the following. With the words “do not lose heart,” He hints at long, diligent prayer. After this, the Lord [adds]: “Do you see what the unrighteous judge says? How much more will your heavenly Father protect those who cry to Him night and day? Truly I say to you that he will give them protection quickly” 1609 1610. 3:11 What a feat the apostle accomplished for the disciples and to what spiritual measure he tried to bring them, praying inwardly for them! and at the same time, making obvious the highest goal of Christianity to everyone who wants to strive for it without difficulty 1611, with love for the truth and showing those who are trying to move forward the apostolic rule for the new creation 1612, he says: “Admonishing every man and teaching all wisdom, in order to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, for which I labor” 1613. And for those who are worthy to receive the seal of the Spirit of promise in baptism, he wants them to grow in spiritual prosperity, saying: “Therefore, having heard about your faith and love for all the saints, I pray unceasingly for you and ask that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to the knowledge of Him, and enlighten the eyes of your heart, so that you may know what is hope. His calling, and what is the richness of His glorious inheritance for the saints, and how immeasurably the greatness of His power is in us who believe” 1614. 3:12 Having precisely outlined the image of spiritual communion and communion that occurs with certification, [the apostle] says: “According to the working of His power, which He worked in Christ, raising Him from the dead,” 1616 - according to this, he says, the work of the Spirit, so that you too would receive certification. And in the same epistle again, a little lower, desiring that they would achieve some higher growth and success in spiritual perfection, he prays, saying: “For this I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom is the name of the whole fatherland in heaven and on earth, that He may give you, according to the riches of His glory, the strength to be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. you, rooted and established in love, were able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to understand the surpassing power of the understanding and love of Christ, so that you might be filled with all the fullness of God” 1617. 3:13 And in another letter, expounding the doctrine of the same thing and showing the disciples the abundance of spiritual wealth and urging them to hasten to ascend to the perfect measure, he said: “Be zealous for spiritual gifts, and I will show you an even more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of angels and men, but do not have love, then I am a ringing brass or a sounding cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries, and have all knowledge and all faith, so that I can move mountains, but do not have love, then it is of no benefit to me. And if I give away all my property and give my body to be burned, but do not have love, then I am nothing” 1618. He also adds what fruits love has and how those who acquired it were completely freed from sinful passions, saying: “Love does not envy, love does not exalt itself, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, does not think evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, covers all things, endures all things, believes all things, hopes all things” 1619. And he also [says]: “Love never falls away 1620” 1621. And the words “never falls away” mean that those who remain 1622 in the above-mentioned gifts of the Spirit and have not yet accepted deliverance from passions through the most perfect and effective spiritual love, are still in danger, struggle and fear due to the struggle with the “spirits of evil” 1623, although they already have spiritual gifts. What and how great is the spiritual measure, which is no longer subject to fall and passion, so that the tongues of angels, and prophecy, and faith, and all knowledge, and the gifts of healing (although these are the essence of the actions of the same Spirit) mean nothing in comparison with the highest virtue and with the fullness of perfect love - this [the apostle] showed to those who wish to carefully ascend along the path of the gift of grace, that is, Christianity. 3:14 But lest anyone, if 1625 worthy of these gifts, think of himself that with the new 1624 action of grace he has already achieved perfection, and so that, imagining that he no longer needs anything, having been satisfied 1625 with only lower gifts, he remains short of achieving the perfect measure of dispassion - for this [the apostle] pointed out the goal of perfection, so that everyone, recognizing himself as poor before such riches, constantly and unflaggingly fought the good fight 1626 and so passed through the spiritual field until he received [the reward], as [the apostle] said: “So run to receive it” 1627. 4:1 This is how in many [places] the apostle shows everyone the limit, goal and rule of godliness and perfection, praying for his disciples, that they may all achieve this. For this same apostle, in another [place] showing the faithful and those who love the Lord the renewal and change taking place in Christ, says: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but a new creation. To those who act according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and on the Israel of God" 1628. And again: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the ancient has passed away" 1629. With one speech about the new creation, he clearly expressed the apostolic rule. The expression “new creation” is nothing other than what was said by the same apostle in another place: “That he might present it to himself as a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or anything like that, but that she might be holy and blameless” 1630. Perfect purity from shame, that is, complete liberation from passions, filled with the divine power of the Spirit, inexpressible and mysterious communion in holy things, produced in the hearts of saints who have been granted a new, supernatural and spiritual enjoyment of virtues - this is what the new creation in Christ is, as the apostle taught. But the words: “Cleanse out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump” 1631, and: “We celebrate 1632 not with the old leaven, but with the unleavened bread of purity and truth” 1633, represent the same goal. 4:2 And since we do not have sufficient [strength] to withstand the struggle against the principalities and powers and spirits of evil, 1634 the apostle exhorts us to take up the whole armor of God, saying: “Put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod your feet with the readiness to preach peace, gird up your loins with the truth, and in addition to all this, 1635 taking up the shield of faith, with which,” he says, “you will be able to quench all things.” the fiery arrows of the evil one,” that is, the actions of unclean passions, “and take the helmet of salvation, and the holy sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God” 1636, so that with the spiritual weapons that have been numbered before, higher than our nature, we can “resist the cruel wiles of the devil” 1637. 4:3 The very way in which we can acquire this was precisely outlined by the apostle, saying: “Pray with all prayer and supplication at all times in the Spirit, and strive for this very thing with all perseverance and supplication” 1638. Therefore, he wishes everyone, saying: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” 1639; and again: “May your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved without blemish in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1640. Here [in] how many ways he brings into clarity the straight path of truth and the high goal of Christianity, convincing everyone and desiring everyone to achieve it, looking at which and in every possible way tirelessly striving in faith, and in hope, and in every improvement of virtue, those who love the truth pray and desire to come to this goal. For such, having been freed from all evil, will be able to purely, completely and blamelessly fulfill the great commandments on which the law and the prophets are based. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength,” and “your neighbor as yourself” 1642 1643. 5.1 If, apparently, we have extended too much the discussion about the purpose of piety, which the Lord, and the apostles, and all the inspired Scriptures 1644 convey to us, presenting [this] with many testimonies, then, we think, we did this very opportunely 1645 in order to in every way unshakably and undoubtedly ascertain what kind of “hope of calling 1646” 1647 we have. what is the goal and what is the field set before us. Especially we, who have adopted the monastic life, have placed ourselves outside of worldly bonds and carnal communication and have decided to remain virgins in Christ, 5:2 so that each and every one, constantly bearing in mind where they are called and what measure they are obliged to achieve, put aside all conceit about some good deeds done, considering ourselves really nothing in comparison with the superiority of the perfect measure of calling and the unsearchable wealth of love Christ 1649, but so that in every way, with all our strength and with all diligence, we always diligently give ourselves up for good, renouncing, according to the word of the Lord, along with all [the possessions] of this age, also from our souls, daily with joy and joy taking up the cross and following Him 1650 1651, having the Lord Himself as the image, and example, and path, and goal for us, according to what has been said: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” 1652; and again: “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” 1653 - 5:3 so that, having been satisfied and calmed by some spiritual gifts, words 1654 or merits, we will not be deceived as if we had already achieved perfection. We, through the cunning of malice, think about our own righteousness and will not be left without higher spiritual successes. On the contrary, as those who love the truth, we will grow to the end every day in work, in sorrow, in feat and progress, constantly stretching forward and forgetting what is behind 1655, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, according to the admonition of the Lord 1656, having a contrite heart 1657, as having not yet reached the rank to which we are called, and not having accepted the perfect measure of Christianity, and not yet having come to perfect love of Christ. 5.4 For those who really want to achieve the proposed and pre-indicated highest goal are always wounded by the desire to strive for this title of unspeakable perfection, not being satisfied and even until their last breath, not calming down with any participation in the lower kindnesses, righteousness, fasting, vigils, alms or spiritual gifts, but, completely devoting themselves to all benefits, goodness and all virtues and Feeling themselves in need of virtue, they will not think that they have fulfilled the law of Wisdom 1658; . 5:5 And so, inasmuch as they have believed and insofar as they have loved, so will they receive the rewards of the unspeakable promises of the Kingdom. Such souls will be able to please God and become heirs of the Kingdom. They, as having a contrite heart 1659 poor in spirit 1660, always hungering and thirsting for righteousness 1661 and striving for perfect honors, will be rewarded with high gifts for their high love for God. 6.1 And just as enough has been said about the hope of [achieving] the goal, which especially those who have condemned themselves to the monastic life and have loved virginity should have, it is also necessary to talk about the meeting and sacred union of brotherhood in monasteries, about how [brothers] should live and behave with each other and by what labors, sweats and exercises those who love the truth can achieve the above-mentioned goal of piety - so that, since the path leading to the heavenly city is already known, zealous and courageous people, having zealously entered upon it, continued until they reached [the goal] 1662. 6.2 Striving for the goal of piety 1663 and wishing to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, withdrawing from the world, from carnal 1664 pleasures, unconditionally devoting himself to brotherhood, according to the Gospel 1665, renouncing “father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters,” kinship, wealth, fame, nobility and entering a monastery, 1666 to all that is beautiful>, first Let him add all this and “he will also renounce his soul.” 6.3 What does 1667 mean to renounce one’s soul, if not to completely devote oneself to brotherhood and not to fulfill one’s own desires at all, but, making oneself dependent on God’s word, constantly adorn the soul [drawn] from there with the holy and pure understanding of the commandments and recognize them as saving and as if one’s own 1668; to have nothing in one’s power at all except the clothes one wears, so that it is possible to have absolutely no care, joyfully doing only what is ordered; as a purchased prudent slave, consider all the brethren, and especially the primates, as lords and rulers for the sake of Christ in everything, 6.4 as the Lord Himself said: “Whoever wants to be first and great among you, let him be the very last of all, a servant of all and a slave of all” 1669, as much as depends on him, without seeking from the brethren themselves either glory, honor or praise for services or life, serving, as has been said, with everyone prudence, not with visible obligingness, as a people-pleaser, but as a servant of Christ 1670, having given himself up for the sake of the Lord to walk the narrow and cramped path 1671 1672, being like a lover of the Kingdom, and willingly and joyfully bowing under the easy and good yoke of Christ 1673, becoming for himself, as it were, a host of the great salvation 1674, if with with long-suffering and endurance he will remain to the end in this good and soul-beneficial slavery, looking at all the masters 1675 as relatives in Christ and heirs of the Kingdom, remaining in all subordination to everyone, especially to the ascetic abbots who have taken 1676 upon themselves the burden of caring for virtue 1677, always considering himself obliged to serve the brethren with love and simplicity, according to what was said: “With love serve one another" 1678 ; and also: “Do not owe anyone anything except mutual love” 1679. 6.5 But you, ascetic superiors of the brotherhood, as those who have taken upon yourself a great task, strive with humility against the cunning machinations of malice, so that, under the passion of pride, exalting yourself as endowed with power over the brethren under your command, instead of causing the greatest benefit, you do not cause damage and great harm to the soul; on the contrary, as compassionate fathers, for the sake of God, devoting themselves to serving the brotherhood, and not to domination, caring in everything for the brothers physically and spiritually and trying for the benefit of each soul, take care of them as the children of God, so that you, thus the entire 1680 sacred council of brotherhood for spiritual profit 1681 warm, receive a heavenly reward from God. 6.6 Therefore, outwardly observe the dignity of the abbot, such as: give orders, or command, or give advice to the most skilled of the brethren, or forbid others, or reprove where necessary, or exhort where necessary, according to the apostolic commandment 1682, so that, out of ignorance, under the pretext of humility and meekness, the affairs of the monastery do not become confused when the abbots and subordinates 1683 will not retain the rank of sequence. In secret, mentally consider yourself slaves, unworthy of any of the brethren. And like good guardians to whom the master’s children are entrusted, with all prudence and the fear of God, try to guide each of the brethren to every good thing, knowing that for so much work you will receive a great and inalienable reward from God. 6.7 And just as educators of children often, for the sake of teaching or developing morals, do not spare their own masters, but admonish them with a whip and thereby prove their great goodwill and diligence towards them in the hope that they will become wise and glorious in the world - so you, ascetic superiors, do not repay 1684 uneducated and infant brethren according to the passion of anger or arrogance, but according to Christ's love for mankind, for the purpose of spiritual help, in the hope of being useful to those guided by you to the heavenly Kingdom. In this thought, turn the infancy of the brethren to what is useful for everyone, according to what was said above, exhorting or reprimanding 1685, moved only by God's zeal and Christ's love for mankind, and not by evil passion, as if avenging yourself, punish so that you, who have shown your perfect work, which you have accepted for the sake of God, become heirs of the heavenly Kingdom. 6.8 For in this case, indeed, there is angelic life on earth, when both superiors and subordinates 1686 are guided by such a thought, when all the brothers, having submitted to each other with all joy, will begin to consider each other masters and will “warn each other in respect” 1687. So, brothers must live among themselves in simplicity, purity, unanimity, peace and sincerity of heart with all humility. Let no one exalt himself before another and let him not consider himself greater or better than anyone, but on the contrary, as a disciple of Christ, let him recognize himself as the poorest of all people, as the Lord himself said: “He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” 1688. And again: “Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be last of all and servant of all” 1689, - just as “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His soul as a ransom for many” 1690. And the apostle says: “For we do not preach ourselves, but the Lord Christ Jesus, and we are your servants for Jesus” 1691. 7.1 Therefore we beseech you, as desiring to become imitators of Christ 1692 ·. for mutual peace, submission and useful slavery, let us be ready, if possible, to die 1693 for our neighbor, having the Lord as your image and example and co-worker in all good things, according to what has been said: “All things work together for good to those who love God” 1694 - so that through love, simplicity, the absence of rivalry and arrogance, the union of peace in the one body and spirit of Christ can be preserved in brotherhood 1695 when brothers submit, as it is said, to each other in the fear and love of Christ. 7.2 Therefore, everyone, intending to adhere to such morals, first of all and everywhere, let him try and constantly seek from God to have in his heart the sacred love and fear of God (and this is the first and great commandment) and by frequent, or better yet, unceasing remembrance of the Lord and heavenly love 1696 may he acquire it 1697, daily increasing by grace in prosperity, for many By diligence, labor, care and struggle 1698 we can acquire the love of God, which is formed in us by the grace and gift of Christ, as it is said in [the book of] Wisdom 1699. For “if you seek it like silver, and try it like treasure; then you will understand the fear of God 1700 and the knowledge of God” 1701. After all, in this way we can easily and accurately fulfill the second commandment - love for one's neighbor 1702. 7:3 For put the first in first place and take careful care of [it] as if it were the first, and the second, following the first, will be accomplished in order. And if anyone wants to neglect the first and great commandment, about love for God (which naturally 1703 is formed from an internal good disposition and conscience with the help of sound thoughts about God and, of course, occurs thanks to His help and grace), but intends to have concern for the second, external service only, then it is impossible that he will be able to fulfill this service sensibly and accurately, 7.4 because the machinations of malice, finding the mind far from remembrance 1704, from love and from striving for God, or they make God’s commandments difficult and unbearable, producing in the soul murmuring, lamentations and complaints about the service performed for the brethren, or, with the help of arrogance and arrogance, forcing [a person] to retreat from righteousness, [they achieve 1705] that he considers himself worthy and great and supposedly at the pinnacle of fulfillment commandments. 7:5 But when a person thinks of himself that he does good and keeps the commandments, then he sins by pronouncing judgment on himself and not accepting the One who judges righteously. For then we become truly worthy of Christ and “children of God” when, according to Paul’s saying, “the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit” 1706, [and] not when we justify ourselves in our own opinion. “For he is not worthy,” he says, “who praises himself, but whom the Lord praises” 1707. When a person is far from remembrance and from the fear of God, then he necessarily seeks glory and seeks praise from those whom he serves. The Lord denounces the same person that he is unfaithful, for he says: “How can you believe when you receive glory from each other, and not seeking the glory that is from the One God?” 1708. Such a person washes the outside of the cup and dish, but inside is full of theft and all kinds of deception 1709 1710. And when the mind itself and spiritual disposition are always occupied with the thought of God and the desire [for Him], then thoughts that 1711 are true, and just, and honorable, and honest 1712, he always adorns with remembrance of the beautiful and love of God. 7.6 This happens with great struggle and labor of the mind, because the enemy in the beautiful prevents the mind, while remembering the beautiful, from loving the things above, but tries to seduce the will with some earthly desires. For this is death and defeat to the evil one 1714 when the mind is occupied with love of God and remembrance [of Him]. From here pure love for a brother can always arise, as well as true simplicity, meekness, humility, sincerity, kindness, prayer, and perfect obedience to the holy commandments through one single and first commandment about love for God truly receives exact completeness. 7:7 So, much struggle and secret and invisible labor is required. We must constantly test our thoughts, and exercise the exhausted feelings of our soul in distinguishing between good and bad, and warm up our weakened spiritual members with the striving of the mind towards God and diligence, always clinging to Him with our minds, so that, according to Pavlov’s saying, we may be in one spirit with the Lord 1715. 7.8 And we all need to have this secret struggle, meditation on the Lord and labor, day and night, in every fulfillment of the commandment, whether we pray, or serve, or eat, or drink, or whatever else we do, 1716, so that every good exercise we undertake in virtue is accomplished for the glory of God and does not turn out to be accomplished for our glory. For every obedience to the commandments is sanctified and performed by us in purity with constant remembrance of the Lord, with fear, diligence and love for God, and we find ourselves far from the evil one who defiles and defiles the commandment. In the same way, everything commanded in the commandments will seem convenient and easy to us, because the love of God in us makes the commandments convenient and destroys what is difficult in keeping them, so that our love for God will bring about the convenience and ease of the easy commandments. 7.9 For the whole effort of the enemy, as it is said, is to be able to distract the mind from the remembrance of God, from the fear and love of the Lord, using earthly lures and 1718 turning away from the true good 1719 to imaginary goods. After all, everything that a good person does, the evil one wants to denigrate and defile, and strives to mix into the commandments his own seeds of vanity, or conceit, or grumbling, or something similar, so that good and good things, done in good zeal 1720 only for God, do not take place. 1721. 7:10 And so that it does not seem to others that we are saying something of our own, let us prove this from the Holy Scriptures. For it is written that Abel offered a sacrifice of the fat and of the firstlings of the sheep, and Cain, like [him], brought gifts, says [the Scripture], of the fruits of the ground, but not of the firstlings; and God, it is said, looked not on the gifts of Cain, but on the gifts of Abel, but did not heed Cain’s sacrifices 1722. So, from this we already know that it is possible to do some good deed carelessly, or carelessly, or for the sake of something, and it is not pleasing to God; and one can do [it] according to the will of God, carefully, soberly, only for God, truly, so that it will prove acceptable before Him. After all, Patriarch Abraham brought the best of the booty as a gift to the priest of God, Melchizedek, and for this he received blessings from him 1723. 7.11 What is this fortune-telling [meaning] 1724 Spirit, leading to higher contemplation? Is it not that we must always, first of all, offer to God the highest and fattest, the first fruits of the entire composition of our nature, that is, the very mind, the very conscience, the very disposition, our most right thought, the very power of love of our soul, the firstfruits of our whole person, the sacred sacrifice of the heart, the best and first of the right thoughts, constantly practicing in the remembrance of God, in meditation and love? For in this way we can have daily increase and advancement in divine love by the divine power of Christ. Then the burden of the righteousness of the commandments will seem light to us 1725, [and] we will fulfill them purely and blamelessly, with the assistance of the Lord Himself, with our desire for Him, inflamed by faith and love, and the good exaction of all His commandments. 8.1 [I, 4, 1, 1; II, 40, 1] 1726 1727 About external asceticism and what a good way of life is the highest and first, I, 4, 1, 2 know, beloved, the following. All virtues are interconnected and dependent on each other, fastened to one another, like some kind of sacred spiritual chain: prayer from love, love from joy, joy from meekness, meekness from humility, humility from service, service from hope, hope from faith, faith from obedience, obedience from simplicity. 8:2 I, 4, 1, 3 How, on the other hand, evil [deeds] depend on one another: hatred from irritability, irritability from pride, pride from vanity, vanity from unbelief, unbelief from hardness of heart, hardness of heart from negligence, negligence from laziness, laziness from negligence, negligence from despondency, despondency from impatience, impatience from lust, and other parts of vice depend on each other - in the same way, on the good side, the virtues are fastened together. 8.3 I, 4, 1, 4; II, 40, 2 The main thing in any good effort and the height of merit is diligent persistence in prayer. Through it, through asking God, we can daily acquire other virtues. When the action of holiness 1729 towards the one God 1728, and a certain mysterious communication through spiritual activity, and the combination of the disposition of the mind itself in ineffable love for the Lord with prayer in those worthy occurs, [then] the one who daily forces himself to be diligent in prayers is drawn to the Divine eros and fiery desire by spiritual love for God, and by his free choice accepts the grace of spiritual perfection [which] is given to him God, as it is said: “He has given joy to my heart” 1730, - and the Lord [says]: “The kingdom of heaven is within you” 1731. 8.4 And this presence of the Kingdom within us, what else does it mean, if not the heavenly joy of the spirit, effectively produced in worthy souls? For if the saints in the Kingdom will have this pleasure, and joy, and spiritual joy in eternal light, then here worthy and faithful souls will be worthy to acquire its deposit and the firstfruits through the effective communication of the Spirit. For [Scripture] says: “He who comforts us in all our affliction, so that [and] we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which God also comforts us” 1732. But [elsewhere it is said]: “My heart and my flesh rejoiced in the living God” 1733 and: “My soul was filled as if with fat and fat” 1734, and the like. Of course, under this there is effective joy of spirit and consolation. The other instructions of all the commandments are the same as the members of the head. Those who surrender themselves to God must fulfill them to the best of their ability. 9:1 ​​So, everyone has one goal of piety, about which we have already spoken at length, citing the testimony of Scripture in confirmation, namely, so that, through faith and great zeal for all virtues, we may be worthy of being filled with the Holy Spirit and acquire complete liberation from passions, that is, the purification of the heart produced in the souls of the faithful and pious by the sanctifying Spirit. Therefore, let everyone devote himself to goodness to the extent that his spiritual love for God extends. 9.2 And finally, if anyone wants to be constantly diligent in prayer and indulge in fasting, according to the words of Pavlov: “Pray without ceasing” 1735, and “Be constant in prayer” 1736, and what was said by the Lord Himself: “How much more will God protect those who cry out to Him night and day” 1737, “he said,” [the Evangelist] narrates, “and the parable about how one must always pray and not lose heart” 1738 - then how those who desire [this] and believe that they will achieve [this] will be worthy of being vested in the heavenly armor, as mentioned above, the apostle precisely indicated, saying: “Pray with all prayer and petition at all times in the Spirit and strive for this very thing with all perseverance and supplication” 1739 1740. So, if one of the brethren, struggling in faith, love and repentance, wants to enter into the feat of prayer out of love for heavenly blessings, then he should be allowed [to this], and he is very worthy of praise before people and before God. 9.3 Therefore, let such a one be joyfully allowed and assisted by the brotherhood of concordant 1741 brethren to constantly remain in prayer, so that they themselves can receive a reward from God for unanimity towards their brother and good assistance, if only the one praying with all sobriety examines [himself] according to conscience, has unceasing care and continuous feat, constantly resisting everything that feeds excessive thoughts evil 1742, and always forcing the mind to strive for the Lord and expecting grace-filled protection from Him, so that in this way the fruits of [his] patience and diligence in edification would become apparent to everyone daily. 9.4 After all, whoever has in prayer a certain wounding of love for the Lord and divine eros, even if he does not yet have 1743 heavenly love and true spiritual prayer, but if he makes efforts on himself, strives and compels the will, unconditionally indulging in such work and trying to acquire [them] from God, according to what was said: “He who gives prayer to the one who prays” 1744 - let him be joyfully allowed [to remain in prayer] other brothers, and it is better to assist him and encourage him as helpers, recognizing his brother’s success in the most perfect way as their own acquisition, let them not do anything out of rivalry and jealousy, carried away by malice, let them not hinder the beginning of a wonderful zealous feat and let them not interfere with his good striving for God, so that God, seeing the encouragement of [their] soul, that is, love 1745, for each other 1746, rewarded everyone very fairly according to [their] requests, satisfying everyone for their right and good mutual will. 9.5 Especially you, the superiors of the brethren, must carefully carry out this with great prudence. In this way of thinking, try to put both yourself and the brothers [living] with you in order, so that no one encounters obstacles in the feat that 1747 prefers to pursue 1748. 9.6 Therefore, one who is constantly in prayer, just as he has taken upon himself the most important task, must also accept extensive feat, and great work, and continuous effort, because there are many sinful obstacles to constantly remaining in prayer: sleep, despondency, heaviness of the body, whirling thoughts, disordered mind, negligence, impatience, relaxation and other suggestions of malice. This is followed by sorrows, uprisings of the evil spirits themselves, who wage war with the soul, which in reality is constantly seeking God, and fight to the point of blood, preventing it from approaching God. 9.7 Therefore, one who constantly remains in prayer must be courageous with all sobriety and thoroughness, with all mental and physical effort and in patience of every kind, and as one who actually bears the cross, let him constantly remain in struggle, and in great work, and in crying, and in sorrow for the sake of the Kingdom, without relaxing, without indulging in the whirlwinds of sinful thoughts, or the confusion of sleep 1749, or despondency, or relaxation, without using outrageous and obscene words 1750, without indulging in thoughts of anything like that, and not being recklessly satisfied with the physical only by kneeling, while the mind is in confusion or wandering. 9.8 For if someone does not prepare for extreme sobriety and does not always test the mind and listen [to it], always desiring the Lord, then secretly, in various ways, led astray, he may be led astray by malice 1751 or become arrogant in front of others who are still unable, like him, to constantly remain in prayer, and thus, with such tricks of malice, he destroys a wonderful work, treacherously betraying it to the evil one. demon. On the contrary, just as he has taken upon himself the most important task—prayer—he is obliged to take upon himself greater labor, care, and feat than the rest [brothers], so as not to suffer any theft from malice. After all, with those who undertake the most important good deed, the evil one fights harder with the intention of faltering. 9.9 But so that we daily cultivate in everything 1752 diligent prayer the fruit of love, humility, simplicity, goodness and prudence and it is visible how we advance towards perfection, let us strive so that even those who, due to infancy, are still unable to remain constantly in prayer, when our good fruits will be obvious to them, encourage and bring to the desire to willingly and zealously devote themselves to feat. If our prayer is not decorated with humility, love, simplicity and goodness, then this is rather a useless guise of prayer for us. 9:10 We say this not only about prayer, but about any work, asceticism, virginity, prayer, fasting, vigil, psalmody or service, as well as any other work and activity that we perform for the sake of virtue. If we do not find in ourselves the fruits of love, peace, joy, meekness, humility, simplicity, sincerity, faith, long-suffering, non-envy 1753 and do not bear such fruits for everyone, then our labors and exploits are in vain and vanity, because all such work and exploits should have been undertaken for these fruits. When the fruits of love and peace are not found in us, all our work is in vain and vanity. 9.11 In fact, those who do not have these fruits 1754 will turn out on the day of judgment to be like the five holy fools, who, because they did not store spiritual oil in the vessels of the heart here, that is, the spiritual effectiveness of the above-mentioned virtues, were called holy fools and were not admitted into the spiritual bridal chamber 1755 of the Kingdom of 1756. And the feat of virginity for the lack of virtues, for the fact that there was no effective infusion of the Spirit [in them], was imputed to [them] for nothing. 9.12 Just as when cultivating, for example, grapes, all care and labor is taken to enjoy the fruits, and as soon as no fruit is found in the vineyard, all the labors of cultivation become in vain and vanity, so if by the effectiveness of the Spirit the fruits of love, peace, joy and humility, patience, faith and the rest, which the Apostle enumerated in 1757, with all certainty and spiritual sensation we do not know in ourselves 1758, then the feat of virginity turns out to be in vain and the work of prayer, psalmody, fasting and vigil is vain. For these are spiritual and physical exploits and labors that should be performed in the hope of spiritual fruits. The fruitfulness of the Spirit in virtues is the spiritual pleasure of incorruptible pleasure produced by the Spirit in the hearts of the faithful and humble. 9:13 Let all deeds, labors and exploits of nature be assessed with great discernment, and let the fruits produced by faith and hope by the Holy Spirit in those who are worthy be counted among the fruits. And if someone, due to a lack of knowledge, considers his own work and his feat to be the fruits of the Spirit, then he will acquire a very vain thought about himself and will lose great spiritual fruits, hoping that success in all the above-mentioned virtues does not come from spiritual effectiveness. For whoever completely devotes himself always to God and without reserve uses the care and labor 1759 within his power, hoping to [receive] from Him deliverance from passions through the intercession of grace 1760, he is worthy to reach the very top 1761 of virtue and purity 1762 1763. 9.14 Just as someone who lives a [worldly] life and is completely given over to sin satisfies with great pleasure the unnatural passions of dishonor 1764: debauchery, fornication, drunkenness, covetousness, envy 1765, deceit, disorderly conduct, discord, hatred, love of money, and other vicious acts he commits with pleasure and pleasure, as if natural 1766 - so a perfect Christian produces all the virtues and all the fruits of the Spirit that surpass nature, 1767 love and peace, long-suffering and goodness, meekness and patience, faith and humility 1768, and other works 1769 virtues with much pleasure and spiritual pleasure, as natural 1770, without fatigue and easily, without worrying and no longer fighting sinful passions, as completely redeemed by the Lord, as in 1771 and awakened to virtues[,] 1772 in joy and gladness from the Holy and Worshipful Spirit, having acquired the perfect “peace of Christ ruling in the heart” 1773. Such is the 1774 who cleaves to the Lord and becomes “one spirit” 1775. For by the effectiveness of the Spirit and the holiness of virtues, dirty passions and acts of malice can be extinguished. 9.15 1776 suffer with Christ. And just as others who live the [worldly] life according to the flesh, with great pleasure and joy, consider it desirable for themselves to be in honor, in glory, to receive worship, to become rich, to live in luxury, to be in charge and to have the rest of the pleasures of this life - so those who are deemed worthy to achieve the above-mentioned measures [virtues] of Christianity, in pleasure and spiritual delight, with joy and gladness, according to the blessed hope resurrection, are tirelessly ready, or better yet, consider it desirable to be in nakedness, in hunger, to endure all suffering for the sake of the Lord, to be subjected to hatred, dishonor and blasphemy, to become, as it were, the rabble 1777 of this world 1778 and, finally, to be crucified and subjected to every punishment 1779. 9:16 For the glory of Christians, their wealth, enjoyment, treasure and praise is Christ’s sufferings, according to the apostolic saying: “And not only this, but we glory in our sorrows” 1780, and according to what the Lord Himself said: “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and slander you in every possible way on account of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven" 1781. And Blessed Paul also exclaims, speaking of the pleasure he found in suffering for Christ: “Therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest in me. Therefore, I am content in weaknesses, in insults ["], ["] in needs, in oppressions, under blows, in prisons,” “for when I am weak, then I am strong” 1782, - and again: “As servants of God, in great patience” 1783. 9:17 For the most complete indwelling of the Holy Spirit in them and the incorruptible, effective consolation of the future immortal hope of resurrection prepares them to accept the sufferings of Christ with the sweetest confidence and with great delight; and then it is easy and convenient to take upon yourself the sufferings of Christ. And those who have not yet been worthy to receive them upon themselves through the action of the Spirit, with their own diligence and desire, with hope and faith, let them continually study the commandments 1784 and the sufferings of the Lord and, 1785 perhaps, using effort on themselves, practice in doing it, hoping that they will completely succeed in them 1786 with the help of the Spirit, so that, according to the action of hope, in accordance with by desire and reflection of the mind, we should accept with pleasure the Spirit acting in power, and doing the Gospel commandments, and with joy the patience of the sufferings of Christ, and thus, due to the effective indwelling and communication of the Spirit, we were deemed worthy to become perfect Christians, to become heirs of eternal life.> 9:18 Therefore strive in this way, and be so courageous, and thus prepare yourselves for every good work, all together 1787, especially you, who force yourself to constantly remain in prayer, because you have the hope of receiving great benefits, [so strive] so that you may serve for the edification and benefit of yourself and for your neighbors and not cause harm to yourself and others through negligence and inattention. 10:1 And those who, even in infancy, are unable to perfectly devote themselves to the work of prayer, with faith, reverence and fear of God, prepare yourselves for service, obedience, work or other work that serves for the repose of the brethren, as those who fulfill God’s commandment and do spiritual work; do not expect honor or gratitude from people, as those who receive a reward from them, but be soberly attentive to this, as to the work of God, and serve with joy, as servants of the Lord, not giving any room to malice to defile your good work with man-pleasing, grumbling, arrogance, relaxation, negligence or contempt, to poison and denigrate [it] with the poison of your deceit, but so that your wonderful exercise, on the contrary, was sanctified by reverence, fear and love for God and became acceptable before God. 10:2 For the Lord, with such love for mankind and with such boundless goodness, condescended to the human race that he did not allow anyone to remain incapable of virtue or good deeds, but gave everyone to do according to the strength of his will, patiently drawing everyone daily to the highest virtues of the commandments. 10.3 “If anyone gives a cup of cold water,” says [the Lord], “only in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward” 1788. You see to what extent the Lord extended the convenience of [fulfilling] the commandment, so that no one would be deprived of participation in good, as weak and weak of will. And he also [says]: “[Since] you did it alone, you did it to me” 1789 - as long as what you do is done according to God, and not for human glory. For he added the words: “Only in the name of the disciple” 1790 1791 - that is, let good be done out of fear and out of love for Christ. 10.4 Reproaching those who do something good for show, for the glory and praise of man, the Lord gave [His] judgment about them, saying: “They do everything so that people can see them” 1792 - and subsequently adds with an oath: “Truly I say to you, they are already receiving their reward” 1793. Therefore, He commands the disciples: “See that you do not do your alms or fasting or prayer before people, otherwise you will have no reward from your heavenly Father” 1794. He advises us to reject glory, honor or praise that comes from people and not to let it come to mind at all, but to expect for ourselves, as said above, true glory and praise from the only God, since the Lord did not teach that any good we have done should not be known to people at all. And how would this be possible when He Himself exhorted that our good deeds, done for the glory of God, should shine like a light before people? “Let them see,” He says, “your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven” 1795. 10.5 The Apostles, having laid down by the Spirit nothing necessary to prescribe or not to make it at all difficult for [believers] among the pagans, except to abstain from fornication, sacrifice to idols, strangulation and blood 1796, kept silent for the time being about the great number of commandments out of their many and immeasurable kindness and compassion, facilitating the infancy of their spiritual age, wishing only that First, from idolatry, they began to believe, so that, being partially obedient to the word of truth, they would be honored to achieve the most important instructions of the commandments and spiritual growth. 10.6 If someone is rather lazy in prayer, and in serving, and in other performance of any work for the repose of the brethren, shows lethargy, negligence and neglect and does not have the courage to carefully and faithfully do everything that is commanded, then the apostle, calling such an idle and, on the contrary, useless person idle, does not recognize him as worthy of bread, saying: “Let him not eat when he is idle” 1797 . And in another place [it is said]: “The Lord hates the idle, and 1798 the idle cannot be faithful” 1799. And in [the book of] Wisdom [Sirach] says: “Idleness has taught much evil” 1800. Everyone is obliged to bear fruit in any work done for the sake of the Lord, and to be thorough in at least one good [deed], so that, being completely fruitless, he does not lose eternal life. 11:1 So, since all brothers leading the same way of life have one goal as stated above, let each strive to the best of his ability and believe in the unlying God, that with all good diligence and with the exercise of virtue, he will achieve the perfect measure of Christian sonship. Let simplicity, sincerity, mutual love, joy and humility be strengthened in every possible way in brotherhood as a foundation, and let them always be among [brothers], so that otherwise, by being arrogant, or arrogant towards each other, or indulging in grumbling, you will not make your work in vain. On the contrary, through our humility, considering our neighbors to be better than ourselves 1801 and our masters, we will become imitators of Christ 1802, who became poor for our sake 1803. 11:2 And the one who is constantly diligent in prayer, let him not become arrogant or arrogant over someone who is still incapable of such constant prayer, so that his work may prosper before God and people. And the one who devotes himself to serving or undergoing some other kind of obedience, let him not murmur due to the suggestion of malice and let him not slander the one who continues in prayers and fasting, in order to acquire grace from God and so that his work becomes pleasing to God. On the contrary, being like members for each other, we are obliged to give rest to each other, according to the apostolic commandment, “doing nothing out of strife or vanity” 1804. 11:3 Just as bodily members, governed by one soul, serve each other without envy and, as [the apostle] says, “the eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” or the head to the feet, “I do not need you”; on the contrary, as much as the members of the body seem weaker, we look after them and 1805 take more care of them” 1806 - so we, being members for each other 1807, as it is said, will act, “separately one for another, like members” 1808, governed by the one Spirit and nourished by the one living Word of truth, we must, to mutual peace, bring ourselves into common harmony with love and simplicity, kindness and joy. For this is why we were created, as it is said: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, that we might walk in them” 1809, 11:4 and in this way God rejoices in such wills of everyone, accepting what is done solely for His sake. For those who maintain such an arrangement of mutual simplicity with each other, the excess of [talents] constantly being in prayer makes up for the lack of those serving and [working] for the repose of [the brothers], and vice versa: the excess of serving and working replaces the lack of those who are in prayer, for this way, says [the apostle], “equilibrium occurs, according to what is written: “Whoever [gathered] a lot had no excess; and whoever collected a little had no lack” 1810 "1811. If only, as we said above, simplicity, love, humility and non-envy were established among the brethren. Then, as far as possible, let everyone walk with joy in a wonderful field and fight a good fight, 1812 so that on the unblemished path of piety, insofar as one believes, loves and works, prospering daily, he may be made worthy of the Kingdom. 11.5 This is truly angelic life on earth! This is what it means: “Thy will be done in heaven and on earth” 1813 - when we do not exalt ourselves before each other, when we unite with each other through non-envy, generosity, simplicity, love, peace and joy, considering the prosperity of our neighbor as our own gain, [and] considering the weakness, belittlement or sorrow of our neighbor as our own loss, “not about ourselves,” as [Paul] says, “only caring, but each also about his neighbor" 1814. After all, in this way, having compassion for each other and “bearing each other’s burdens” 1815, especially the strong for the weak and the strong for the weak, we can, according to Pavlov’s admonition, “fulfill the law of Christ” 1816. 11.6 And in this case, living together 1817, we will truly be able to “tread on snakes and scorpions and all the power of the enemy” 1818 and with like-mindedness and Christ’s grace erase the heads of the spiritual serpents of malice 1819, stepping on the asp and the basilisk and trampling on the lion and the serpent 1820. 11.7 For if brothers, as stated above, live among themselves in love and simplicity and purity, then he who is in a great measure of spiritual prosperity 1821 and constantly remains in prayer, with the assistance and unanimity of the brethren, grows and prospers more and more. Likewise, the younger [brother], lovingly encouraged by the higher ones, daily becomes more and more perfect, working with success and joy and striving for the best 1822. If you are not so disposed towards each other, but grumbling, complaints, slander and arrogance arise against each other, then neither those who remain, as it seems, in prayers and fasts, due to the disagreement of their comrades with them, due to the vicissitudes and exaltation of them, can themselves become better, nor those who serve and provide [them] with bodily rest, due to murmuring against those who have [prayerful] leisure and mutual hatred, will not be able to have in the service of his grace. And thus, when there is division in the body, it is impossible to receive spiritual edification and for the will of God to be accomplished in you. 11:8 But the apostle, bringing the distribution of many gifts into one unity and agreement, like the members of one [body], says: “But having, according to the grace given to us, diversified gifts: whether prophecy according to the measure of faith; whether serving in the ministry; whether exhorting in exhortation; distributing in simplicity; leading with zeal; merciful with joy. Love is unfeigned,” and the following 1823; and also: “Each of you has a psalm, there is a revelation, there is knowledge, there is a prophecy: let everything be for edification” 1824 - that is, each use each other’s gifts in like-mindedness and agreement of mutual love. So you, brothers, in monasteries, have given yourselves to the Lord and to each other, whether strong in body or in mind, “bear the burdens” of the weakest, in blessed trust in Christ; and everyone who has in his nature goodness, or strength, or understanding, or courage, or some kind of intention, or diligence, let us completely surrender ourselves to each other; and if we are rewarded with spiritual gifts by the grace of Christ, may we have fellowship with each other in all good things for the edification and benefit of ourselves, our neighbors, and all people: by thus fulfilling the law of Christ 1826, we will become worthy of eternal life. 11:9 And that the work of prayer and the word, done properly, stands above all virtue and commandment, the Lord Himself testifies. For when He came to the house of Martha and Mary, and Martha was engaged in serving, and Mary sat at the feet of the Lord and fed her soul with saving teaching, Martha complained about her sister that she did not help her, and said to the Lord: “Lord, tell my sister to come [and] help me, because she left me alone,” - the Lord preferred the first and most important thing to the second, saying to her: “Martha, Martha, you care and you fuss 1827 about many things, but you need only one thing; Mary chose the good part” 1828. Having said this, the Lord showed the first and greater work of virtue. 11:10 But He did not consider the work of ministry to be anything. If it were nothing, then how would He Himself become involved in the ministry of Martha and personally perform [such a] work by washing the feet of the disciples? and teaching [them], He exhorted [to do so], saying: “Therefore, if I, the Lord and Teacher, washed your disciples’ feet, then you should also wash one another’s feet, for I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done” 1829 ; and again: “Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be the servant of all and the servant of all, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” 1830; also: “If anyone does it to one of them, he did it to Me” 1831; and: “Whoever receives the righteous, in the name of the righteous, will receive the reward of the righteous” 1832. And the apostles, as we see in “Acts,” who were busy with the physical service of meals, recognized that it was most important to strive for the work of prayer and the word, for [the Writer] says: “It is not fair for us to leave the word of God and worry about tables, but having chosen men filled with the Holy Spirit, we will place [them] in this service, and we will constantly remain in the service of the word and prayer” 1833. 11:11 You see how they preferred the first to the second, although both grow from the same good root. Therefore, let prayer be preferred by you to other commandments and let you direct your thoroughness, only so that everything is done in love for God, with the goal of achieving dispassionate purity with the help of grace. Let us not hide from ourselves the very truth - and this is the love of God, sought by God in the inner man and aroused by the Spirit - contenting ourselves with simply bodily skills 1834, as necessary and indifferently, or with external images of prayer, psalmody, fasting or service, performed not for the sake of God alone, and with other external merits, out of ignorance placing our trust in physical works only of righteousness. On the contrary, let the goal of love for God with a clear conscience and sincere disposition dominate over all commandments; and in general, if this love shows the way and if we try with great desire for it to act in us by the Spirit, then the prayer is corrected with kneeling, and the service is performed favorably, and the doing of all the commandments, with the assistance of the Spirit, can be performed by us with purity and sincerity. 12.1 1835 Indeed, by what merits or what actions can we achieve to become worthy of becoming “sons of light” 1836 and “children of God” 1837, and to be “heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ” 1838, and to be sons of the heavenly bridal chamber, and to be called brethren of Christ by the grace of God, according to ineffable promises of the Inspired and Holy Scriptures (and this is the goal and hope of Christians) - in addition to those about which we spoke above, offering at the same time many testimonies from the Scriptures, 12:2 from which having learned the highest and perfect goal of godly living, with love and trust and diligence in all virtue, believing in the unfaithful and true God, we will be able to be worthy of what is promised to us according to the favor and goodness of God [and] surpassing our nature and strength, daily growing in the Lord and showing our progress to everyone in the Lord, to receive the “Spirit of Sonship” 1839, if we fully and completely hope with undoubted faith, through Whom we will be able to free ourselves from the passions of dishonor 1840, both obvious and secret, and from sins, both actively and in thought committed, and we are honored to acquire a pure heart, according to the beatitude of the Lord 1841. Having completely completed the feat, as we took it upon ourselves of our own free will, having thus been honored to become children of God 1842, sons of the Kingdom and brothers of Christ, through the coexistence of 1843 and the union of the Holy Spirit, we will co-reign with Him, resting for endless centuries 1844. 13.1 1845 However, since some, carried away by ignorance, accuse us of thinking inflated idle talk 1846 and trusting in the impossible and in the superhuman according to the goal that we presented from the inspired Scriptures 1847, and in the perfect purity that occurs among the faithful, about which we dared to say not without evidence, and they argue that it is impossible for any person to become [such], as the Scriptures encourage, whether we are talking about perfect purity and deliverance from passions or about the indwelling and fullness of the Holy Spirit, for, they say, the Lord wanted to say this for the fear of man: “If your righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, then you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” 1848; and: “It was said to the ancients: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” But I say to you: everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart” 1849; and: “If someone hits you on the cheek, turn the other to him” 1850; and: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who oppress you” 1851, and the rest of the most sublime things that the Lord revealed in the Holy Scriptures - it is not as if He says 1852 that if someone does not become such 1853, he will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, for it is impossible for human nature to become like that. It is necessary in a few [words] † about them 1854 to present to the ruler 1855 † 1856 and show, on the one hand, what harm and damage is caused by those who have convinced themselves not to believe the Divine Scriptures, but are vainly convinced by the assumption of their own mind, and on the other hand, what merit and profit are gained by those who believe in the teachings of the Spirit and are thus convinced that every saying, and every word, and every the commandment spoken by the true and Holy Spirit for those who have truly and completely surrendered to God and through faith give themselves participation in the Holy Spirit, can be fulfilled and accomplished thanks to the unceasing struggle of will and the intercession of grace. 13.2 First of all, those who accurately study Christianity, and try to know the perfect will of God 1857, and apply diligence, labor and feat in faith and hope to the perfection of the words of the Lord, and hope in striving to achieve much and enter into that peace, and then hastening by faith and the grace of Christ to exercise in virtues, where the words of the Lord and in every possible way encourage apostles about perfection, in three ways they receive useful fruit and in three ways they acquire edification and profit. 13.3 First, they, as faithful servants 1858, consider the Holy Scriptures and the words of the Lord to be true as [verbs] of God. Secondly, looking to the perfect goal of Christianity, they strive daily to be courageous and valiant according to the superiority of the [Christian] title, in unremitting work, running and continuous and constant competition, rushing towards the blissful hope of love and perfection, without at all giving themselves a relaxing respite due to the superiority of the goal. Thirdly, having before their eyes the goal of perfection, and the words of the Lord they believe as true, that whoever comes to the true service of God must achieve a measure of dispassion and freedom, because the Lord encourages 1859 and calls those who follow Him to it, saying: “So become perfect, like your heavenly Father” 1860 - teaching that in us there should be the most perfect purity, which the soul created in the beginning had in the image and likeness of 1861, which purity will now be acquired through the action of the Spirit by a faithful soul, according to what was said: “Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb” 1862; and the Lord, pointing to the restoration of those who had reached perfect measures and praying for them to the Father, said: “Father, sanctify them in Thy Name” 1863; and also: “I want these too, where I am, to be with Me, so that they may see My glory” 1864; and [the words of] the apostle: “To present every man perfect in Christ” 1865, and “Until we all come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” 1866. 13.4 So, striving in every possible way, and constantly flowing in the beautiful course of good pursuits, and constantly working in virtues, they will not consider themselves something [important] 1867, since they have not yet reached the measure to which they are called, on the contrary, they are unfit, suffering and have not received spiritual wealth in accordance with the superiority of the title, although they are honest, experienced and ascetics; having a humble mind about themselves 1868, they will completely avoid malice, conceit, slowness and carelessness and, of necessity, advance almost to a great measure of righteousness with great haste, diligence and unremitting struggle, even if [even] they cannot yet achieve perfection due to “abundant wealth” 1869. 13:5 Therefore, those who hold this way of thinking in three ways obtain for themselves, as has been said, edification and benefit. Those who consider Christianity to be something accidental [and] small, and do not examine the highest spiritual goal and “what [is] the will of God, good, pleasing and perfect” 1870, and do not seek the exact prescription of the highest commandments, but indifferently and as necessary, heeding the words of the Lord with disdain, being satisfied with their own thoughts of vain opinion, believe that the Gospel the commandments were spoken simply for the fear of man, and they claim that it was not for the sake of truth itself that the word of the Lord was spoken: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” 1871. 13.6 Although He taught that His words are so unshakable, strong and true, obedient to such thoughts and ways of thinking, in turn, they themselves cause the greatest harm and damage to their souls in three ways and in three ways. First, by not believing the Inspired Scriptures of 1872, they represent God as false and untrue. Secondly, not having the great and perfect goal of Christianity, which they have not yet comprehended, considering themselves something [significant] 1873, they do not want to acquire labor, feat, diligence, greed and thirst for truth 1874, but acquire relaxation, carelessness and laziness through negligence and vain confidence. Thirdly, considering themselves firmly standing on the basis of some few virtues, without looking at the perfect measure of Christianity, looking at which those devoted [to it] consider themselves to have not yet achieved [it], they cannot acquire humility, [spiritual] poverty and contrition of heart 1875, being self-confident 1876 because of external vestments 1877 and skills or some few merits. 13.7 And so they remain without blessed hope, without a calling to the perfection of the Lord, without the measure of the spiritual age of the fullness of Christ 1878 and without complete cleansing from passions and, justifying themselves with some few virtues and considering themselves as if they have achieved [something] and mean something, as a result of this they do not receive daily prosperity and spiritual growth due to the lack of labor, feat, sorrow and heartfelt contrition 1879, because those who do not have labor, feat, sorrow for the sake of the Kingdom and famine and thirst for righteousness cannot achieve perfection, although they will be able to achieve some growth or prosperity. 13.8 Or let's use another reasoning. If the owner tells some workers or slaves to reap three plephras 1880 daily, then one worker, having received such a commandment from the owner, will with complete dedication strive with all his might, work, care and try to squeeze three plephras for him alone; the other, finding it impossible to fulfill the command, relaxes from the very beginning and thus spends the whole day, now reaping the harvest, now relaxing and resting, and cannot do as much as the first one who tried. Even though [he] may not be able to fulfill what was punished to him due to the excessiveness of the command, however, thanks to a lot of tireless diligence, care, struggle and absolutely no relaxation, he does much more of the whole [task] than another worker who does not have such a goal and does not strive, is not worried and does not try. So [and] those of whom it was said above, looking to the perfect goal of the heavenly calling, who believe according to the Inspired Scriptures 1881 and strive for good, as far as is possible for them, are better and more in all things in knowledge, faith and works than those who do not believe and do not strive to achieve the calling of perfection, freedom and dispassion, but are satisfied with their own will alone and are successful in self-conceit. 13:9 After all, those who do not look to the higher goal of the blessed calling of the gospel words cannot yet consider themselves anything 1882, not having a contrite heart 1883 and not always hungering and thirsting for righteousness 1884, being unable to run with all their might in zealous labor and struggle in order to become worthy of eternal blessings, receiving spiritual advancement through faith and good diligence, for from the very beginning they do not believe the sacred commands of the holy commandments and the words of the gospel. 13.10 To all that has been said above, it is appropriate to add the following. If we demanded to destroy and eradicate 1885 the action of passions, relying on our own capabilities or relying on our own strength, understanding or merit, which is impossible for human nature, then everyone could rightfully reproach us for thinking inflated idle talk 1886 and demanding something superior to human nature. But if we, following the word of God, being instructed by the mind of the Holy Scriptures and trusting in the power of God, confess and believe that everything that is impossible with men is possible with the promised God 1887? “Do you really think it incredible if God raises the dead” 1888, as it says in “Acts”? After all, if He raises the dead, then He can also eradicate vicious passions from those who strive to the end in all virtues and who believe purely and completely: with God nothing is impossible. 13.11 Any saying proclaimed in the Divine Scriptures by the Spirit cannot turn out to be false, according to what the Lord said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” 1889; and in another place: “The Word of the Lord endures forever” 1890. It is possible within human power to use extreme asceticism, diligence and feat to repel and not fulfill the unclean passions that reside in the soul and body, but to completely cut off and eradicate from true believers the tares of passions 1891 planted by the enemy in human nature is possible only by the power of God. After all, [the Scripture] says: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” 1892; and: “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” 1893, and also: “God will crush Satan under your feet soon” 1894. [These] and similar sayings spoken above by the Spirit herald the final deliverance from passions to those who have completely dedicated themselves to God through faith and asceticism. 13:12 In the Epistle to the Hebrews the apostle clearly shows that those who think it impossible for the Spirit to bring about such a correction in people, which truly is a new creation 1895 of a pure heart, are like those who were not worthy to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief 1896, and therefore their bones fell in the wilderness 1897. For what is apparently there – the promised land and the extermination of seven nations, here is hidden – deliverance from passions and “love from a pure heart and good conscience and unfeigned faith” 1898, which the apostle pointed out as the goal of every commandment. This is truly the real promised land, for the sake of which all this was shown figuratively by Moses. 13.13 If we have not touched the highest measures of Christianity due to our laziness and negligence, then we still need to confess and proclaim, as prudent servants, through the words promised by the Spirit, the immeasurable goodness of God to people and consider as true, lasting and faithful what was proclaimed by those who have completely surrendered themselves to God, so that even if we find ourselves much lower than the great and perfect measures of Christianity, not dedicating themselves entirely to God due to laziness of will or weakness, but still, by some grace, they were able, thanks to faith, to achieve the right way of thinking and not find themselves outside of eternal life, being found opponents of the teachings of the Spirit and rebellious. 13:14 Blessed Paul, strengthening and confirming his disciples so that none of them would find themselves in such an evil thought, says: “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil and unfaithful heart, lest you depart from the living God” 1899. By “apostasy” he did not mean renunciation of the name of the Lord, but showed disbelief in His commandments; therefore he adds, allegorizing the Christian truth under the image of the Jews and revealing their unbelief for our steadfastness: “Which of those who heard grumbled? 1900 Were not all those who came out of Egypt with Moses? With whom was He indignant for forty years? Is it not on those who sinned, whose bones fell in the wilderness? Against whom did he swear that they would not enter His rest, if not against the disobedient? So we see that they did not enter because of unbelief" 1901; and adds: “See to it that while the promise of entering into His rest remains, none of you is found to be late. For it was announced to us as well as to those; but the word they heard did not benefit them, who were not confirmed in faith 1902 along with those who heard. And we who have believed enter into rest” 1903. 13.15 Indeed, the peace of true Christians is deliverance from sinful passions and the complete and effective indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a pure heart. Therefore, [the apostle] further says: “Let us therefore strive to enter into this rest,” that is, believers who strive in all the virtues of the commandments are finally worthy of the sanctification of the Spirit, “so that, following the same example, no one should fall into disobedience” 1904. Therefore, encouraging them and inflaming their wills to faith, he says: “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” 1905; and again: “Consequently, let us approach with a sincere heart, with full faith, having sprinkled (that is, cleansed) our hearts from an evil conscience”; and also: “How much more will the blood of Christ cleanse your conscience from dead works, to serve the living and true God” 1906. And if you collected the rest of the evidence from the Holy Scriptures, you would find an extraordinary amount said for this purpose. 13:16 So, all the evidence is quite sufficient for those who prudently believe the words of the Spirit, that he who has truly come to God, who believes His promises with all his heart, who strives with all his might in His commandments and renews his mind day by day 1907, needs to feel within himself the grace of spiritual progress, so that in this way we can reach the true peace of final sanctification, that is, achieve perfect love adoption of the worshiped Spirit, through whom we can acquire complete deliverance from passions. Having thereby been completely sanctified in soul and body, having become, thanks to the Spirit, undefiled and blameless 1908, then having obtained in its entirety the heavenly treasure of perfect grace in the earthen vessels of our body 1909 and becoming the pure dwelling place of God 1910, on the coming day of resurrection having finally been glorified in the Kingdom with Christ and deemed worthy to become “conformed to His glorious body” 1911 1912, let us rest with Him in ineffable repose for the endless ages of ages. Amen. Word 2 1913. {Ο virtues and vices that happen with the consent of [man], Ο the tree of life and the knowledge of good and evil, and Ο the copper serpent} 1914 1.1 The signs of those who hear the word of God and produce good fruit are: groaning, weeping, attention, silence, downcast gaze, constancy, silence, anointing with the head 1915, sorrowful crying, pain of the heart for godliness - and works: vigil, abstinence, fasting, meekness, long-suffering, unceasing prayer, teaching in the Divine Scriptures, faith, humility, brotherly love, work, patience with sorrows, love, humility, kindness, modesty and complete light, that is, the Lord. 1.2 The signs of those who do not bear the fruit of eternal life are: despondency, conceit, wandering eyes, inattention, murmuring, inconstancy 1916 - and their deeds: gluttony, debauchery, anger, irritability, slander, arrogance, arrogance, unbelief, inappropriate talkativeness, instability 1917, forgetfulness, confusion, covetousness, love of money, jealousy, grumpiness, contempt, idle talk, untimely laughter, conceit 1918 and all darkness, that is, Satan. 2.1 Question. What is Satan and did he once sin in order to become Satan? 2.2 Answer. He is a spirit possessing reason, worldly, speaking evil and becoming gloomy because of his own evil and gloomy will. After all, Scripture must be understood as mysteriously and deeply as possible: he became a criminal and Satan before the creation of Adam, not wanting to fulfill the will of God, 2.3 as [the prophet] says: “As the virgin fell from heaven” 1919, - and the apostle: “For before the law sin was in the world” 1920, calling “sin” the very founder and inventor of sin. And again, narrating about the fall of man, he says: “Because sin, taking the occasion from the commandment - it is clear that it was given to Adam - deceived me and killed me with it” 1921, adding: “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. So, has what is good become deadly to me? No way; but sin, in order to turn out to be sin, through good causes me death, so that sin becomes extremely sinful through the commandment” 1922. 2.4 So sin (that is, the devil) already existed, but became an extreme sin because of enmity towards man, deceit and envy. Having previously been great and glorious, and established in a certain leadership of angelic glory, he wanted to become a god, rebelling against the divine glory, as it is written: “An unjust judge wants to be a god” 1923. Therefore, he was cast down to the ground, cast out along with like-minded and obedient demons. 2.5 Overthrown, and expelled from the high places, and falling away from heavenly thoughts, he did not repent and did not come to good obedience in order to beg and convince the Master to restore his ancient dignity back to him, but added murder to his villainy, passionately hating man, since he was created from the earth in the image of God 1924 and made the ruler of all visible things. 2.6 That’s why he approached him cunningly, promising that he would become a god thanks to food from the tree, from which God forbade man to eat 1925. And with such a promise he stripped the man of his former glory, subjecting him to his power, and thus made him a sinner, 2.7 himself becoming an even greater and more extreme sinner because of earthly thoughts and arrogance, desiring to maliciously steal the sovereign dignity given to man in the world. So, having been cast down from above (why [this happened] was said earlier), and also having deceived man, as a creature of the Lord, he was destined for some other kind of economy. 2.8 Just as solid iron, which cannot become a useful tool, is turned into an anvil so that other tools can be made with its help - after all, Job 1926 says about this: “it stands like an immovable anvil” - so the evil one was not immediately condemned to Gehenna, but, having deceived a person, was released for certain times and periods to test and exercise the entire human race, so that what he had tested would be recognized. free human will, who, having loved God, had no communication with him, but endured every temptation brought by him, and pleased God more, which is clear from [the example of] the saints mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. 2:9 Therefore, God first says to Adam: “You can eat food from every tree in paradise, but you cannot eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but if you eat, you will die on that day” 1927 - as if there was already something from which he should not have eaten. For God laid down a commandment for man to live, warning him: after all, according to the mysterious [interpretation], the word of Scripture has a similar meaning about the mental trees of the intelligent paradise 1928 - about the holy powers and about that very tree of the knowledge of good and evil from which God kept [Adam], that is, not to communicate with him at all, but with all others to be a companion, a friend and an interlocutor. 3.1 Question. So the tree of knowledge was Satan? Answer. This is also thought to be different, since this tree was a visible tree, like one of the others, and paradise was visible; however, the visible is the image of the invisible. 3.2 For just as each of us has two people: one bodily, and the other spiritual, so the manifest man enjoyed in the manifest paradise, and the “hidden man of the heart” 1929 1930 was blissful in the invisible mental paradise of the holy angels. 3:3 Therefore, the tree from which God commanded not to eat was visible. After all, having made [Adam] ruler over everything visible, God economically ordered him not to be the master of one tree as a reminder of his sovereign dignity, so that he would know that there is a greater Creator of him, and because of the power transferred to him, he would not fall into conceit and would not seem to be a god to himself. 3.4, a “commandment for life” was given to him, as written in 1931, and there was a word that destroyed him and forced him to disobey God. Leaving the word of God and listening to the word of the evil one, yielding and eating from the tree, he died, for he who spoke through the serpent was mixed with the fruit, and “death, which is the mind of the flesh,” entered into him, as it is written 1932, and thus the tares of the passions were sown by the enemy in the soul and body 1933. 3.5 For just as the substitute 1934 Body of Christ 1935 - the Bread of the Eucharist - is sanctified by the word and for those who faithfully and reverently partake it itself is life and itself is the Body of the Lord, and so the sanctified soul and body becomes akin to the Lord, in exactly the same way the body of Adam through the word of disobedience received death. After all, just as there a person dies because of the word of the evil one, so now through the word of God he again comes to life again in his mind. 3.6 Then the evil one spoke to his wife through the serpent 1937 - perhaps because he did not even dare to approach Adam, but, having convinced the woman - the weakest vessel 1938 - through her he deceived Adam, and thus death fell upon them by the decision of the Lord 1939, because if they had not listened to the enemy, then the one who tried to deceive would have been condemned, and they themselves would have entered into a great glory. In the same way, here, by the word of the second Adam, the second Eve - Mary - conceived, and through Her came life and salvation to all who believe in His [Christ] name. 3.7 This means, as we said, sin, that is, Satan, was already before Adam’s crime - after all, the Scripture should be understood as mysteriously as possible - and because of “the stubbornness and unrepentant heart of his” 1940 was condemned from then on “to go to Gehenna” 1941, but God, [wanting] to again call the deceived and expelled from paradise man - His creation - allowed [Satan] to test [him]. So, he was left henceforth, like a whip or an educational rod, so that through him, although against his will, a great economy would be accomplished and through his evil will he would contribute to the good, so that, always desiring by his evil and unyielding will to lead all people to death, thanks to the victors, he would become even more sinful and condemned, and the righteous would gain greater glory for themselves. 3.8 After all, the desire of the evil one wants to destroy all people, which is why he tries to test them in different and diverse ways, just as God “wants all people to be saved” 1942, and therefore he benefits in different and varied ways in distributing gifts according to everyone’s faith. So, he was openly released for the testing and training of the human race after the crime of Adam, since, having deceived him, he received power from him and so, having subjugated him, was named the prince of this age. 3:9 In the beginning God made man the prince of this age and the ruler of the visible [world], so that neither fire burned him, nor water drowned him, nor beasts harmed him, nor poisons affected him, for he was immortal. Having been deceived, he transferred leadership and power to the deceiver with the permission of God. Therefore, sorcerers, spellcasters and magicians perform miracles by the action of the devil, for magicians have dominion over poisons, and over fire, and over water, as is proven by the opponents of Moses who were with Jannes and Jambres 1943 1944, or the resistance of Simon to the Apostle Peter 1945, since this too is left to the evil one to do through his servants for testing free will. 3:10 When Scripture says: “Darkness hovered over the deep” 1946, what kind of darkness does it want to designate? Perhaps someone will say that darkness was produced by the shadow of the sky before the creation of the sun. However, as was said, everything visible is images, likenesses and reflections of the invisible. I know the hidden darkness, intelligent, worldly, deeper than the obvious created darkness and shadow, and I know {Christ}, the true sun of ineffable light, stronger than the light of the sun, “the light that shines in the darkness,” “and the darkness did not comprehend it” 1947, that is, I did not see and did not know because of the ineffable and invisible power of the Divine light, which cognized (at will) and intelligently seen only by the saints, as far as they can accommodate. 3:11 So, as it is said, the evil one has already fallen and was rejected by God, because, being a creature and a creation of the Word of God who created everything, but by his own choice, puffed up against the sovereign dignity and being proud, prompted by envy of man and deceiving him, he committed a greater crime. Since his condemnation and punishment in Gehenna was postponed until 1948, he was left (as we said above) for another dispensation in order - albeit reluctantly - to bring greater glory to the righteous, so that they would become more perfect and holy thanks to their long-suffering. [Satan] himself, found more sinful and condemned because of his evil thoughts, will be subject to greater Gehenna punishment, 3:12 “so that,” according to [the apostle], “sin became extremely sinful through the commandment” 1949; so that his malice may suffer even greater defeat; so that his atrocity, which he first showed to Eve, forcing her to disobey the commandments of God, and through her deceived through her as through a similar vessel of Adam, to whom he could not approach openly - perhaps because of the glory that clothed him, would be exposed to even greater shame among the holy and intelligent angelic creatures. Consequently, having deceived him through the woman, he made it so that his glory was taken away, and thus Adam found himself naked and saw his indecency, which he had not noticed until then, for his thought tasted heavenly beauties. After all, after the crime, his thoughts rushed to earthly things and his simple and good wisdom was combined with a carnal sinful thought, so that paradise was blocked, and the fiery sword was laid down, and the Cherub prevented Adam from entering 1951, eating from the tree of life and living forever. 3:13 We believe that this happened, as said, in a visible way, but it is hidden in every soul, since the heart is surrounded by a dark veil of the worldly fiery spirit 1952, which does not allow the mind to approach God and prevents the soul from praying as it wants, believing as it wants, and loving the Lord as it wants. This is known through experience by those who have completely devoted themselves to the Lord, who are diligent in prayer and who have taken upon themselves the full struggle with the adversary. 3:14 I suppose that the enemy, seeing the former glory of Adam in the face of Moses, was amazed that he should lose his kingship. In this [sense] one can understand what was said by the Apostle: “death reigned from Adam to Moses and over those who had not sinned” 1953. Under Moses himself, death, wounded by the glory of his face, expectedly and symbolically lost his kingdom, and under the Lord it was truly destroyed - [under the Lord], who freed man from death, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and sat “at the right hand of the Majesty” 1954, filled with glory not only of one person, like Moses, but also of the whole body and the whole hypostasis - then “death was truly swallowed up victory" 1955. For I think that the glorified face of Moses was the teaching image of the first Adam created by the hands of God; Death, seeing this and unable to contemplate it, was wounded, expecting the destruction and destruction of her kingdom, which happened under the Lord. 3.15 Since then, this glory has been worn by true Christians in the inner man, and from within they have abolished death, that is, shameful passions 1956, which have no power to act, but are completely abolished by perfect Christians, for spiritual glory completely shines in their souls. Thus, at the resurrection, death will be finally abolished 1957 and by the bodies themselves, glorified by the light, the sacraments of which are now honored tangibly and in all the fullness 1958 of the souls of the saints. 3:16 So, the devil - that is, that intelligible and reasonable darkness, the image of which is the darkness here - was abandoned and released, as it is said, to test and train people. In this hidden darkness, evil forces, powers and many principalities turn, but it is left for exercise, so that those who have loved God to the end, competing and defeating his tricks, atrocities and enduring every temptation 1959 brought by him, become more perfect and acquire for themselves - against the will of the evil one - fuller glory. 3.17 Moreover, God, seated together with His holy powers, angels and the entire heavenly Church in a spectacle, beholds the competitors and the winners, so that applause and loud praise are heard in heaven for the winner, and heavenly crowns and spiritual gifts and great honors are given to those who, thanks to their faith and courage, escaped from the snares of the devil 1960, to whom their victory brings great shame. For it was not proper for rational creatures, like logs, to simply remain idle, but [they] should have first practiced in trials and later received rewards. 3.18 After all, just as an earthly king, having ordered some kind of spectacle (let’s say, an equestrian list) or, so to speak, a performance, sits above, watches how a fist fight takes place among the competitors and how each chariot tries with tricks and cunning to hinder the other and overthrow it in order to be able to win [itself], so the evil one always prepares himself for the fall of man, and all his skill and villainy serves for in order to set a trip or trap for a person with the help of large and various networks and snares, be it imaginary benefit, wealth, worldly verbiage for the sake of human glory or carnal pleasure, some kind of power or worldly loss, bodily passions or punishments, evil thoughts or some kind of insurance and sorrows erected by him inside the soul, in order to in any way direct a person to fall. In the same way, the soul, having such great help on its side - the power of God, may compete and resist his tricks, so that with much sobriety, endurance and faith it can break free from him and, struggling, gain victory over him. 3:19 Consequently, the prince of this age is an educational rod or a whip, and all the saints, thanks to temptations and various sorrows, are perfected and gain great glory and great honor for themselves, but he prepares for himself with his evil will a greater punishment in Gehenna. Just as a stick broken from a tree, or a whip made from the skin of an animal is devoid of life and is dead, but serves to raise children, so the evil one, cut off from the high country of the living, dead to heavenly thoughts, completely given over to carnal thoughts and creeping on the earth, being a creation, accomplishes through himself, albeit against his will, a great economy, as it is said somewhere: “The evil one is not good.” promotes good will" 1961. 3:20 Indeed, in fact, those who truly love God and follow Him according to the Gospel commandments willingly desire 1962, sent by the enemy, as if they had an assistant [in achieving] royal power>; scourged by him and [overcoming] obstacles, they quickly and quickly approach God, seeking His help; they are not held back by his obstacles, but are more quickly improved thanks to their direct and good will, the sooner they approach God, the more they are spurred on by the evil one. 3.21 And for all souls who have a good and good will, imaginary sorrows turn into good, as the apostle says: “All things work together for good to those who love God” 1963. Wealth and poverty, glory and disgrace, hardship and weakness - everything works for their good thanks to the right thoughts of their souls and the fact that they loved God with all their hearts 1964. Those who only apparently want to follow the Lord 1965 and find themselves in the kingdom [of heaven], if they do not renounce themselves according to the Gospel, then, having received from the evil one a few [strikes] with a whip or a few trials, they immediately turn back, not fighting courageously with passions, but fearing the sorrows and temptations of the devil, they retreat and again, led astray by carnal pleasures and worldly deceptions, they are taken [into captivity], because they did not love God with all their hearts. 3:22 So, in order to become clear, on the one hand, those who want to achieve eternal life and have endured every temptation and torment in a difficult competition in order to acquire an eternal life, and on the other hand, those who seem to want to, but have not endured sorrows and have not completely abandoned worldly pleasures and have again retreated back, not loving the truth and God above all, which is why they are expelled from the kingdom [of heaven] - so Behold, for this reason, as it is said, this stick, a plague of wickedness, was left behind, like some kind of fiery furnace, so that the suitable vessels burned in it would turn out to be even more suitable and stronger, and the unsuitable ones, which could not withstand the fiery heat, would be spoiled and easily breakable. 3.23 To more fully prove that this is the case, let us recall several examples from the Inspired Scriptures of 1966. How could those who were with Ananias receive such great glory and applause from [the beings] of heaven and earth, and God - to be proclaimed and revealed to the world then that there is only God in heaven, if He had not allowed them to be tested and had not allowed the king to build that great golden statue and all the pagans to gather according to the royal command to worship the idol, despite the fact that this was done in the then king Nebuchadnezzar at the obvious instigation of the evil one, and the noble youths showed courage in their faith and trust in the Lord 1967. For since they gave themselves up for His sake, instead of a statue, on the contrary, God turned out to be worshiped through the miracles of the Lord, and the enemy was even more disgraced, because all his evil tricks and intrigues fell apart, and the diligence that, according to his plan, was prepared for the destruction of people, turned against himself. Then all the people knew that there was a God in heaven through the courage and perfect faith of the three youths. 3:24 As for the struggle itself, it varies among those who have given themselves to the Lord. One, by the power of God, dares in hope and faith, so that under the cover of spiritual strength he cannot suffer any harm from people and, being righteous, says to his opponents: “You cannot do me any harm, for I have a Defender. Neither fire will consume me, nor the sword will kill me, nor the beasts will touch me, nor will any other evil touch me, because I have a God stronger and more powerful than you, who will deliver me from all evils 1968, so that it may be revealed that I have a living God in heaven.” In this way God prospers in accordance with faith and trust in Him, as has been proven by those mentioned. How great applause and loud praise are heard in heaven and on earth in honor of such a [fighter]! 3:25 It seems that another righteous man is competing, forced before the ruler to transgress [the commandments], willingly giving himself up to death for God; whether his hands will be cut off - he is adamant; if they tear out his eyes, he is not afraid; and, as if experiencing no pain, he says: “I have God, who will reward me with heavenly blessings and will again raise me healed in glory,” and willingly endures martyrdom. To such a one, how great are the exclamations and applause of heaven and earth! And the apostle speaks of the righteous who competed in various ways, “who by faith conquered kingdoms, did righteousness, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were strengthened from weakness, were strong in war, drove out the armies of strangers; the wives received their dead resurrected,” and to them naturally he adds other righteous men who patiently competed: “others were tortured, not accepting liberation, in order to receive a better resurrection; others experienced abuse and beatings, as well as chains and prison. They were stoned, sawn apart, tortured, died by the sword, wandered in sheepskins and goatskins, suffering disadvantages, sorrows, bitterness, wandered through deserts and mountains, through caves and gorges of the land of me, of which the whole world was not worthy” 1969. You see how different through one and the same faith there is the struggle and competition of those who truly love God, so that through them God may be glorified and so that during the exercises and trials of people - rational and free-willed creatures - honest vessels become apparent and in the same way dishonorable ones are revealed by free choice. 3:26 So the evil one was left in the midst of the world as a teaching rod. However, as a slave and creature of the Master, he tempts not as much as he pleases, and not to the extent that he himself wants to bring sorrow to people, but as much as the consent of the Master allows the soul to be tested. God, knowing how much the soul can bear, allows as much as the apostle says: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength, but when tempted will also give relief, so that you can endure it” 1970. Temptations occur in a soul who loves God with the permission of the Master for the shame and condemnation of the enemy and for the victory and glory of man, just as, on the contrary, those who do not endure sorrow nobly, but turn back, are condemned to shame and eternal shame along with the evil one in Gehenna, so that Satan himself, along with those who obey him and do not want to do the will of God with all their hearts, would be even more condemned in Gehenna, and those who competed and The righteous who subdued the destructive passions became more glorified, nobly enduring all the sorrows induced by Satan, and the justice of God appeared, “rewarding everyone according to his deeds” 1971, as it is written, and the kingdom of the elect was formed thanks to their perfect competition. 4.1 Question. But why do some, having just begun asceticism, quickly receive grace, while others, having endured a lot of time, still have not achieved such effective charity? Answer. Truly is the word of the Lord, who said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you" 1972. And let none of you say: “He who seeks, knocks and asks does not fully achieve [the fulfillment of] his requests.” Let only the seeker have boldness before God in constant search with mind and thought and constantly remain in His bodily service, without entangling himself with worldly affairs and without enjoying evil passions - and in the end it is impossible for him not to achieve life. For the Lord is righteous and true, who proclaimed and said with unfaithful lips: “Whatever you ask Me in prayer with faith, you will receive” 1973. And those who claim: “If someone fulfills all the commandments and stands, but does not acquire grace in this age, then he has not received any benefit,” they speak poorly and disagree with the Divine Scriptures. If even for the “cup of cold water” 1974 a [reward] of 1975 was promised, then how much greater promised benefits will God give to those who withdrew from the world for His sake, remained in purity, parted with [everything] and prayed to Him, strived for Him day and night and sought Him. For there is no unrighteousness with Him 1976 that He should neglect our above-natural spiritual correction and sanctification if we correct human affairs. 4:2 Therefore, let us be confident in this, so long as we continue to the end in the good with which we began, and not turn back. If we have begun to keep the body clean, then we will continue in this until the end and, by diligently praying, we will finally blot out [sins], simply and immediately putting a clear end to all corrections, for the end is the crown of the whole thing. This means that he who heard the word of God, believed, reasoned wisely and withdrew from his loved ones for the sake of the Lord, diligently remaining in prayers and all kinds of virtues to the end, will not lose what was promised, if only you were found in this when your soul takes off from the body - struggling, hastening, waiting for the promises, firm, believing, seeking with prudence; and I tell you that He will receive you with joy, and you will have boldness, and you will be worthy of the kingdom, and the angels of the Lord will meet you and accept you into life, since such, refined by faith and zeal, already communicates with God and is a worker of the Lord. For just as, according to the Lord, “he who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart” 1977 and, although he has not physically come together and has not defiled himself with her, is already numbered among the adulterers, so he who has turned away from all evils and “cleaves to the Lord” 1978 by seeking, desire, all kinds of diligence and good disposition, already, as it were, communicates with God and, therefore, already possesses the great gift of God - the very presence of prayer, good care and virtuous living. 5.1 Question. But why isn’t there a day when I don’t have hatred for my brother or recognize something else unworthy in myself, to which I am subjected even involuntarily? Answer. Let a person’s feat and zeal always be aimed at resisting the evil one and fighting the passions of evil thoughts. But it is impossible that where that darkness of passions and the death of carnal wisdom [nests] 1979, any fruit inherent in evil should not manifest itself, secretly or openly. 5.2 Just as a wound on the body, while it is still being healed and cauterized, cannot, even just a little, 1980 not emit moisture, even with [all] care and care, but if left in neglect, it clearly festers and causes destruction throughout the whole body, in the same way, spiritual passions, if not treated intensively and with great attention, still smoulder in the depths, but with careful treatment by the power of the Lord, completely are healed. And if an earthly doctor heals bodily wounds, then can’t the heavenly doctor, the Lord, heal intractable spiritual passions much better? For there is some kind of hidden defilement and some kind of excessive darkness of passions, which, through Adam’s crime, came into all of humanity contrary to the pure nature of man, and it muddies and defiles both the soul and the body. 5.3 But just as iron, under the influence of fire and blows, is purified and transformed into a tool useful to its owner; or how gold mixed with copper or silver is separated by one fire; so the soul, which is kindled by the Holy Spirit and crushed by the heavenly artist, Christ, is cleansed by the sufferings of Christ from all passion and all sin. 5.4 And just as at sea, when the wind was blowing, the waves were rising and there was danger to the ship, He forbade the wind, and it calmed down 1981, so in the hidden workshop of the heart, when the soul is flooded with evil thoughts 1982 and bad passions, as soon as the Lord arises, bowed by a request, and forbids the evil winds and the agitation of the bitter sea of sin, then grace comes in the soul and thoughts silence. So [the soul] freely becomes attached to love for the Lord and neighbor, as long as we attach to the beginning, as said above, a good end, without turning back and without deviating from the righteous path, but truly seeking the Lord and remaining in prayer to the end; remaining thus in all virtues, we will certainly not lose our lives. “For He who promised is faithful” 1983 to those who truly seek Him. 6.1 Question. What does it mean: “Star differs from star in glory. So it is with the resurrection of the dead" 1984? Answer. This thought of Scripture is evident in two ways. According to the first, souls killed by passions, by the power of the Lord, become capable here already of receiving the sanctification of the Spirit 1985, which leads to the perfect fulfillment of the commandments of Christ. According to the second [interpretation], at the resurrection itself, bodies are resurrected in different glory. And “they differ in glory” [means] in the difference in talents, since “to one is given the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge,” etc. 1986 6.2 1987 Just as many lamps, filled with one oil and kindled with one fire, often do not emit the radiance of fire in equal measure, because one is more, the other is less, so gifts, increased by a multitude of good deeds (that is, oil), have a greater luminosity of the Holy Spirit; 6:3 or as in a city, of the many inhabitants who inhabit it and eat one bread and one water, some are men, and others are babies 1988, and there is a great difference between them; 6:4 or just as bread sown in one and the same place produces ears of grain, some larger and some smaller, and brought to one threshing floor and stored in one granary, so at the resurrection of the dead, those resurrected are given different glory according to the dignity of their merits and according to the communion of the Holy Spirit who still dwelt here, although one light surrounds them - like the stars - and one gift of God shines in the resurrected according to the dignity of their present merits. And although one star is smaller than the other 1990, it shines with the same light, if only the one born of the Holy Spirit is cleansed from the sin that dwells in him 1991. 6.5 Indeed, to some extent, the very birth of 1992 has an image of perfection, as for example in appearance and members, but not in strength, intelligence or courage. After all, 1993, who has grown into a “man of perfection and the measure of age,” leaves all that is infantile 1994. And this means what the apostle said: even though tongues will be abolished, and prophecies 1995. Just as a husband does not accept children’s company or food, having other food and pastimes, so one who grows to the perfection of the Gospel virtues transforms infancy into perfection, as it is written: “when he became a man, he left infancy” 1996. The truth of what has been said, that birth is to some extent perfect, you will know from what happened under the Lord. When the Lord was born 1997, all creation cried out, the angels sang, the star showed [the way], the shepherds were amazed; in the same way, when He performed this sacrament on the cross, the whole creation was confused: the sun was darkened, the veil of the church was torn, the tombs were opened and the bodies of many departed saints arose 1998. Do you see that to a certain extent being born by the Holy Spirit is perfection? 7 Question. Does this mean that the one born has no sin and darkness of passions? Answer. That darkness and passions you speak of are a whip and a stick for children. This is another matter: even a slave beats his master while he is a baby, for his benefit. Know one thing: if the soul truly loves God, then all these imaginary sorrows and battles with passions are for its benefit, as the apostle says: “all things work together for good to those who love God” 1999, and again: “from sorrow comes patience” 2000 and beyond. In fact, even evil can contribute to goodness not out of good will 2001, as long as the soul is tied by love to God. 8 Question. Therefore, the one born has no war? Answer. The king immediately goes to war if he is high-born. 9.1 Question. So he is not free? Answer. It’s one thing to be born, another thing to fight; and one thing is to be a winner, the other is to be free. We were talking about birth, that it is to some extent perfect, since the baby retains all its members intact. God does not give the Spirit and grace so that anyone will fall into sins, but people become their own culprits, not agreeing with grace, and therefore they fall. A person can also be deceived by his own natural thoughts if he is negligent, despises, is arrogant, is full of pride or is exalted. 9.2 Listen to what the free Paul says: “So that I would not become arrogant, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, an angel of Satan” 2002. You see that those who have reached such spiritual degrees need strong caution. And in fact, if a person had not given Satan a reason and incentive, he would not have dominated him, since neither the Lord nor Satan can take possession of him by force, but he who is pleased and agrees with grace is perfected in it, and whoever does not agree, even if he is born, that is, becomes involved in the Spirit, is himself the culprit of falling under the will of Satan. If Satan or the Lord had taken possession of a man by force, he would not have been guilty when he went to Gehenna, and he would not have been worthy of praise when he went to the kingdom. 10.1 Question. What should a person do who is deceived by Satan with seemingly plausible visions or light that looks like a revelation of grace? Answer. For this reason, a person needs great prudence in order to accurately know the difference between good and evil and wisely distinguish between the various machinations of the evil one, who deceives many through words and ghosts. 10:2 For just as someone who wants to test the chastity of his wife, if someone comes to her at night as if someone were a stranger, wanting to entice her to sin, and she screams and beats him, then he rejoices that she carefully preserves her chastity - so accept the heavenly [spirits] themselves with testing, knowledge and discernment. If you reject the heavenly [angels] themselves {because of non-heavenly [spirits]}, then the [servants] of the Lord rejoice and even more allow you to partake of grace and be satisfied with spiritual food because of love for the Lord. Therefore, do not quickly indulge in frivolity, but remain slow and with careful testing, holding on to the good, tear away the evil. 10:3 After all, if you have a beloved friend who has an enemy who wants to get closer under the guise of a friend, and you accept the enemy as if you were a friend, then you insult your friend, since you are giving your hand to his enemy. 10:4 So you must test and discern, and then [only] trust. The effects of grace are obvious, which sin, although it takes on the guise of good, cannot produce. If, according to the word of [the apostle], Satan knows how to transform himself into an angel of light 2003, then it is clear to deceive. But even if he appears, transforming into bright visions, wanting to mislead the soul, he cannot have a good effect, thanks to which he is accurately recognized. It cannot produce either love for God or neighbor (rather, on the contrary, arrogance and arrogance), no meekness, no condescension, no humility, no joy, no peace, no [well-ordered] thoughts, no hatred of the world, no spiritual peace in God, no desire for heavenly blessings, no pacification of voluptuousness and passions; these are all acts of grace, for “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace” and so on 2005. 10.5 So, let the intelligent light that shines in your soul be recognized by its effectiveness, whether it is from God or from Satan. However, the soul itself, if it is reasonable, immediately recognizes this difference by intelligent feeling. Just as lettuce may look like bitter lettuce, or vinegar like wine, but the larynx recognizes the difference between them by taste, so the soul, by its most intelligent feeling and action, distinguishes between the gifts of the Spirit and the ghosts of Satan. 11.1 Question. What does it mean: “All sin is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body” 2007? Answer. There are two ways of understanding. According to one, a man’s wife is spoken of as his body: “There will be two in one flesh” 2008. This means that if someone commits adultery, he sins against his own body, that is, against his own wife; in another, deeper way [of interpretation], - against the spiritual [body], for your body is the Lord, as Paul says: “And you are the body of Christ, and individually members” 2009. 11.2 Just as Eve was taken bodily from Adam, and if Adam had not united with her, there would have been no fruit of childbearing, so the soul, if it is not united by grace with Christ in spiritual communion, cannot produce the spiritual and heavenly fruits of perfect virtues. “The two will become one flesh,” says [the Writer of Genesis], and the apostle adds, spiritually allegorizing Scripture: “This mystery is great; I speak in relation to Christ and to the Church” 2011, which is the souls of the saints. So, your body is the Lord, and if your soul invisibly communicates in thoughts through secret passions with the evil one, as with an alien man, “it sins against its own body,” 2012, that is, against the Lord. 12.1 Question. Why is the serpent crucified by Moses in the desert 2013 the image and sign of the Savior 2014? For the Lord says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” 2015. It turns out that no other living creature could be placed as the image and sign of the Lord, except for the serpent - a poisonous reptile? Answer. The serpent is a great mystery for those who are capable of understanding the mysteries of God. We will not hesitate to say as far as we can speak [about this]. The snake itself contains both poison, after taking which they die, and a medicine for life, with which those bitten are brought back to life when the deadly poison is destroyed by the life-saving medicine. According to those knowledgeable in this matter, both remedies are tested in the following way: if the saving drug is brought close to a mixture with a deadly poison, then the poison immediately separates itself from the mixed wine, as if experiencing blows and yielding to the saving medicine. 12:2 Likewise, death was bitter for a person who found himself in its power because of an ancient crime, for because of the crime of one, the entire human race died and suffered along with him. “Just as by one man,” says [the apostle], “sin entered the world, and death through sin, so death spread to all men, [because] in him all sinned” 2017. So, all of humanity became saddened 2018 and through sins and passions became like the poison and malice of the intelligible serpent, and man, becoming like a snake, seemed to go wild, groveling in earthly thoughts and sinful passions. 12:3 About the fact that through malice man became like a snake, you will hear in the Gospel from John the Baptist, who said to those who came to him to be baptized: “You brood of vipers! who inspired you to flee from future wrath? Produce fruit worthy of repentance" 2019. Since man was killed and became like death, a saving medicine was found for it - the Lord Himself, by Whom death is put to death, and the deadly poison of evil passions is destroyed, and people are given life. 12:4 [The snake] was an image of the body of the Lord, as a denunciation of the Jews who did not want to believe the Crucified One. Blessed Moses, wishing to elevate the mind of the [Jewish] people crawling on the earth and teach them to turn to things above, at the command of God, raised a copper serpent on a tree, and thus those bitten by snakes, turning their gaze upward to the copper serpent and believing, were saved according to the then sovereign order. They, not yet knowing how to believe in God, seemed to be directed to look at grief and believe in the power of the Lord, and so they were healed. 12:5 However, the serpent was the image of the Lord, so that just as by serpents, believing the dead serpent, they would be saved - for the poison that was in them was destroyed by the power of God, which then dwelt in the copper serpent - so that those bitten by the spiritual serpents of malice and wounded by the deadly poison of passions would turn and believe in the dead body of the Crucified One and thus be healed, which is “for the Jews temptation, and for the pagans 2020 - madness", for believers in the crucified body of Christ - "the power of God and the wisdom of God" 2021. 12.6 How are those who are bitten alive by the serpent of the devil and have in themselves the poison of vice, fed by passions, by believing in a deified dead body, they are saved when the deadly poison of passions is destroyed in them. For from Adam himself, who was killed, a medicine was found for man, that is, the Body of the Lord, with which believers abolish all sinful poison. At the same time, the word here also denounces the Jews: why do they, who were saved by faith in the dead brass serpent, not believe in the crucified body that died, rose again and ascended into heaven so that they could come to life? 12:7 So, the serpent, which Moses lifted up on the cross, is a mysterious image of life and death, that is, of sin and the Lord. The mystery concerning the serpent, however, has another meaning. How the devil, having first taken advantage of envy and villainy and, through the tree and the serpent, deceived Adam and Eve 2022, arranged so that they were cast out of paradise, and brought them down from their former purity and glory into bitter passions and death, and, finally, having received from them power over the entire human race, he deviated it into every sin and unclean passions, through which all creation was defiled idolatry and sacrificed to demons, she groaned bitterly 2023 - in the same way, God, providing for humanity in ineffable wisdom, sent [His] servant Moses to deliver the people through the tree of the rod 2024; this rod absorbed, transforming into a snake, the wands of magicians, which changed into snakes 2025; with his help Moses brought deliverance to the people; God performed miracles for them in Egypt; It was to them that the sea opened up 2026. 12:8 In the same way, in the wilderness, as was said earlier, God gave life to the believers among the people through the brass serpent, carried on the tree, so that, with the help of the same thing through which the devil at first brought about death and captivity, the Lord would bring about life and redemption, since through the tree and the serpent, woman and man, death and sinful passions were brought into humanity. 12:9 So, through Moses half of the godliness was corrected, and through the tree and the serpent half of the suffering was healed, as stated above, since “the law did not bring anything to perfection” 2027; With the coming of the Savior, the whole sacrament was fulfilled and the final correction of the [human] soul was accomplished through Mary - Who, instead of Eve, becomes Life - Who gave birth to the world of the Savior, the second Adam 2028, Who gave Himself up to death for the salvation of people. According to [the apostle], He “was delivered up for our sins and raised up for our justification” 2029 - and again: “One died for all” 2030 - so that those who believe in Him would be quickened and redeemed from the condemnation of the world to suffering and death that came from Adam, and so that, bound by the intelligible serpents of vice, looking at Him, they would live through faith with eternal life, because every deadly poison of passions is destroyed in them by the power of the Lord. 12:10 But all creation, freed by the name of the Lord, rejoiced, for everything is “sanctified by the word of God and prayer,” as it is written 2031. What was previously brought to demons in idol churches, namely: stones, wood, fruits of the earth and everything else sacrificed to idols 2032, is now brought, consecrated by the name of the Lord, in churches and altars as a spiritual offering. For by the same means with which the devil first desecrated the world and caused its death, the Lord brought about the purification and life of the world, destroying all its devices. 12.11 Among the valuable and mysterious stones there is a so-called magnet. With its shadow it attracts another metal, and through that another one again, in the image of honest and holy stones that will roll to the ground, according to the word of the prophet: “holy stones roll to the ground” 2033, the prototype of which is the Lord, the cornerstone and honest stone 2034, and the holy apostles. After all, the shadow of Peter raised the dead, 2035 and the body of the Lord, which was killed for our sake, overshadowing the dead, raised up many. Having descended into hell, He brought many up, as [the Evangelist] says: “many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were resurrected” 2036. 12:12 But even now, according to the sacred [interpretation], in every faithful soul the power of His body, overshadowing, resurrects it from the mortification of passions, and at the resurrection of the dead, when that Body comes again in great glory, the very bodies of all humanity will be resurrected by His power, “so that everyone can receive what he did through the body, good or evil” 2037. 12:13 This stone was called “a rock” that performed many miracles for the Israelites. For [the apostle] says: “They drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ” 2038 2039. So, a rock that emitted water and followed them; a rock that splits the sea; a rock that became a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; the rock that brought manna from heaven to the Israelites; the rock that showed them the way and delivered all good deeds - this rock was Christ. 12:14 In one measure the rock did good, in another the rod (as said above), since the power of God dwelt in both the rod and the rock. When God appeared to Moses in the wilderness, He said, “Go to Pharaoh and say, ‘Send the people away so that they may serve Me.’ 2040.” The same one answered: “I am dumb and tongue-tied and cannot go, because no one will listen to me” 2041. God convinces him: “Go, I will arrange for you in advance so that they will listen to you.” Then He urges him more strongly: “What are you holding in your hand?” He answered: “The rod.” God says to him: “Throw him away.” He threw it, and behold, [the staff] became a slithering serpent, and Moses, frightened, ran. God tells him: “Do not be afraid. Take [it] by the tail, and it will become a rod again” 2042. Look at the miracle: He turns the rod into a snake, and the snake into a rod. (Glory to His greatness!) 12:15 How much more can He change and convert the believing soul from its former predisposition to evil into a different state and divine nature of virtue? After all, that rod, as it is said, brought all blessings to the Israelites. Moses struck the waters with his rod and turned them into blood 2043; raised his hand to the sky and sent skrips 2044 and dog flies 2045; “he took the ashes and threw them into the sky, and boils appeared” 2046; again he stretched out his hand to the river, and the water returned to its former nature 2047. 12:16 If the rod changes the waters from the ancient nature, how much more does the Lord change the soul that trusts in Him into spiritual love from the bitter state of passions? and if the land of Egypt, seeing the rod of Moses, trembled, how much more, if the Spirit of God overshadows a faithful soul, will the land of mental Egypt tremble with fear - the sin of passions? For the rod and the rock brought great celebration to the Israelites and, as it were, kindled them to the bridal chamber and the resting place: a pillar of fire illuminated the path ahead and a pillar of cloud overshadowed from above 2048; manna rained from heaven; “the mountains leapt like rams, the hills galloped like lambs of a sheep” 2049; the sea, seeing it, ran and divided; Jordan turned back 2050. This rock also overflows the rivers with rain in the image of the Lord, from whom spiritual rivers will flow. 12:17 And now if anyone, believing, finds the true and spiritual rock and the rod of His power in his soul, then he will find in himself in full every unspeakable good deed and every incorruptible taste. 12.18. Therefore, let us strive, brethren, to surrender ourselves entirely to the Lord, moving away from all earthly attachments and all lust, and let us completely devote our soul and body to pleasing and serving Him; having then been rewarded with the heavenly gift of the Spirit and having received through Him deliverance from all evil and having been finally sanctified, restored by grace to integrity, may we become heirs of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Him be glory and power and honor and worship, with His beginningless Father and the all-holy and good and life-giving and worshiped Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Word 3. {On the beatitudes and the fact that one must always be sober and not be careless} 2051 1.1 The soul, through disobedience, wandered far from God. Just as animals avoid daylight and hide in deserted forests, so the soul, having deviated from the true path 2052 of its own free will, plunged into this age, which for the soul is a forest, a desert, a night and a ghost. 1:2 For she left the light and loved darkness, fell from life and loved death, left the source of life and loved the source of darkness and death, was put off by faith and love, meekness and patience - because she did not remain in the Word - and put on unbelief and anger, rage and malice, jealousy and self-confidence, the soul was clothed at its own desire in a wicked fabric, like a cloak. Therefore, she obeyed the former bright and unshakable voice and listened to the voice of another, unstable and gloomy, and so, of her own free will, leaving the glorious and endless age, she loved this age and scattered herself throughout this entire earth. 1.3 At first the prophets and the righteous 2053 tried to gather the scattered soul and make it perfect, but they could not. The good and humane Lord, who embraces everything by His decision, the living Word, the eternal true God (for [the Evangelist] says: “This Word truly became flesh and dwelt in us 2054” 2055, Who is our Lord Jesus Christ - this Word, like a hunter catching prey among us, gathered from this age the scattered soul and made her perfect, undefiled and undefiled. 1.4 Therefore, with the coming of grace, taking the example and example from the Word, let us hunt and gather our hearts through the revelation of the Word and, having become uncovetous and having gained nothing from this world, let us prepare our hearts, as the Spirit teaches us through David: “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready, I will sing and sing in my glory, arise, my glory.” 1.5 Just as someone locked inside a dark house does not see his body, so the soul, locked through disobedience by sin in this age, does not recognize its beauty. When the heart has prepared itself, it will freely turn to God: “My heart is ready, my heart is ready, my glory,” so that the living Word, when it comes, will reveal His glory to it. 1.6 But if the soul has voluntarily given itself over to evil spirits, then it is led by them and destructive passions move in it - I mean the spirit of gluttony - awakening excess in drinking and eating, luxury and pleasure, and for a long time they inspire the soul to collect property in this age, distracting it in order to make it unworthy in the next age. In addition, luxury and pleasure, as it is said, awaken the love of money, acquisitiveness, and dirty thoughts, and so each spirit raises its own passion. 1.7 Knowing this, the true Word, our Lord, who showed us the way, says in the Gospel: “Do not worry about tomorrow” 2057 - and reminds us, driving away the suggestion of evil spirits, not to worry about tomorrow, not to be diligent about food and drink and not to worry [about them] in advance, but as the living Word teaches us through the Gospel: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took it and planted it in his field” 2058. 1.8 Like a bird flying across the flat land and pursued by birds of prey, seeking to tear it apart and devour it, if it sees some place where a huge tree is rooted and takes refuge there, it is delivered from the birds of prey - in the same way the soul is scattered in this age, flying from east to west and from north to south, pursued by evil spirits for the affairs of this age. When the soul notices the tree of truth, hides in it and nestles in its branches 2059, it gets rid of the evil spirits that cannot enter it, but lie in wait for it outside, waiting for it to move away from the Word and for them to overcome it. The soul, when it ascends to the branches of the Word, needs endurance and long-suffering 2060 until its eyes look closely and until it notices the fruit, tastes it and is satisfied, so that there is no longer a need to walk outside the Word. 2.1 2061 But how can we notice the path of the Word? Just as someone traveling along the royal road 2062 heads to the city in which the king lives, and, having begun the journey, notices the signs, without deviating anywhere from the path, does not relax and is not in negligence, but strives to notice how much is left to the city (after all, he recognizes the distance by the signs), so let us recognize the spiritual path, as the Savior showed us. 2.2 The one who wanders in this age seems to be lost in a deserted forest and, making his way through the impassable roads and rocks, treads on thorns and thistles 2063. When he gets out onto the path of the Word, he sees a sign and distinguishes the Word, and then the very place that he has reached by the true path. The first sign on the path of the Word says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” 2064. He pleases the poor in spirit, who are poor in the spirit of this age, having acquired nothing from it, but gradually become rich in the spirit of truth and are not satisfied, as if they had acquired nothing until they had attained perfection. 2.3 So, let the soul on the true path notice whether it has approached this sign, for in this way it moves forward and goes to the next sign, which reads: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” 2065. He does not please those who grieve over the passing of [relatives] according to the flesh: parents, children, husband or wife, but those who understand where he comes from and that he is involved in immortal life. Having entered and walked along the true path of the commandments of the Lord, the soul 2066 >: {where} it grieves, as if, defeated, it would not die again, and so it moves along the path. She grieves because she does not accept the glory and joy of this age, but sees before her the former glory of the first man before his disobedience; so she remains in sorrow: when will she receive that glory? - and remains in this [state] until the Comforter comes and consoles her. 2.4 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” 2067. Since the soul, through voluntary disobedience, has given up the land of the heart to the adversary and is servile to sin, not having power over its nature and not being able to expel the enemy on its own, it meekly goes to the spiritual legislator; if, scourged by the enemy, she does not obey him, but looks to the legislator, is long-suffering and endures many sorrows, waiting for the legislator Christ to write the spiritual law in a meek and calm heart, then the enemy is expelled and the soul again receives its land. The Savior pleases such meek ones, and they inherit the earth of the heart. Such a heart praises and glorifies the Lawgiver, who delivers the needy and needy from those who plunder him. 2.5 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” 2068. He who hungers and thirsts for truth does not become discouraged, does not wander, his mind does not look outward, but listens to the Word of truth, and [the soul], thoroughly established, awaits the Word, which is the Bread of Life, in strong faith. 2.6 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy” 2069. He who does not have mercy on himself cannot be merciful to another, and he who renounces the pleasures of this age advances along the path to the abode of saints. Such a soul is merciful and, with its glorious life, has mercy on its neighbor, being a model for him. 2.7 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” 2070. Such a heart contemplates in itself both the first and the second word 2071 and, scourged by the second word, does not submit to it, but, forced by the first, leaves the second, and thus the Word, seeing the competition of the soul, enlightens it with the light of the Gospel and drives away from it every evil obsession. Then the soul is worthy to receive from the fruits of the tree of life 2072, which is the true Word. 2.8 Such a heart is worthy to become the church of God 2073 and the dwelling place of the Spirit. Such a heart awaits a glorious and heavenly “treasure in earthen vessels” 2074. Such a heart awaits the Treasure-keeper Himself, Christ, and puts on the imperishable robe of glory, and reclines at the imperishable table with the perfect, and serves in the church of the firstborn 2075, and “worships the Father in Spirit and truth” 2076. 2:9 Let us, brethren, each watch his own heart, what path has it traveled and what distance remains to the city, so that we - believing that we are walking the true path, noticing the venerable attire on the outside and not looking inside - do not find ourselves dwelling in a deserted forest, which is this age, night and a ghost for the soul. 3.1 So, you need to look after the soul with your inner eyes, so that the resistive forces do not catch it in a trap. For just as animals fall into traps and are captured by hunters, and if even one member is caught, then the whole animal dies 2077 and is dismembered by the hunters - we will understand the same about the soul. As the Spirit shows us through the prophet: “They have prepared a snare for my feet and destroyed my soul” 2078. After all, first one member is entangled and held back, and so the demons distort the soul for their deeds, which through the enjoyment of food acquires bodily heaviness, that is, a blazing fire 2079. 3.2 Let us remember who said: “flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God 2080” 2081. He who wants to “enter the house of a strong man and plunder his things” 2082 does not like the heaviness of the body, but is strengthened in spirit. And how one should strengthen oneself, says the apostle: the wisdom of God is foolishness for people 2083. This means that you must first humble yourself and become a stranger to this age. As the prophet shows us: I saw the Son of Man, and “His appearance is dishonorable, more humble than all the sons of men” 2084. The Word of God, having come and become for us the path and gates of the highest city, showed us with humble hearts in this age to become fools 2085. 3.3 So, one who wants to become a son of God must observe himself, “whether his appearance is dishonorable, more humble than all the sons of men,” whether he is ready and not embarrassed, “has he given his back to the scourge” and “has not turned away his face from spitting” 2086, whether he has not loved glory or, on the contrary, even rejects what is bestowed, whether he has not [loved] the beauty of this age or, on the contrary, we persecute and scourge; by force of resistance we scold and humiliate 2087 everyone; making himself lesser, he is trampled upon by everyone as not having “where to lay his head” 2088 and rest; exposed to war, secret and open, visible and invisible, in great asceticism; rises, confronting the mind 2089 and advancing to truly be the “son of the Most High” 2090. The wise man, whose “dwelling in heaven” 2091, although he walks on earth, strives 2092 to belong to the highest city. And so the Lord, seeing the labor and struggle of the soul that it has oppressed itself in this age, then appears in his heart, saying: “I will dwell and walk in you” 2093. 3.4 Then [the soul] receives strength and power, fetters the strong and plunders his property 2094, and lifts up the armor of the strong 2095 (that is, souls possessed by sin, like fish in a net). Such a soul “against scorpions and snakes” 2096, tramples “the lion and the serpent”, “steps on the adder and basilisk” 2097 and, entering the lion’s den, captivates his cubs, being in great power. 3.5 O soul, precious vessel of God 2098, who at her own desire brought dishonor and dishonor upon herself; you, swallowed up by a dark cloud, are driven into the abyss of the sea, like a fish, to be played for and devoured by snakes; admit to yourself where you are holding yourself, know where you came from. Behold, the true Word, which came like a net, pulled you out like a vessel of a great king. Named the Church of God 2099, you have become a snake's hole. 3.6 Just as a potter fashioned a precious vessel for his needs, but a slithering snake penetrated it - this is how you recognize yourself, O man: you, the vessel of the great king, honored by him, having received free will, accepted the enemy at your will, becoming a snake hole. God, the good and philanthropic Lord, came to creation out of great compassion and redeemed it with Himself. 3:7 And just as a potter, heating a vessel in fiery coals, causes an animal to come out, so the true Word says to His creation: “I have come to bring down fire on the earth, and how I would like it to be kindled already!” 2100. When the soul is kindled by the Word along with the body, sin is destroyed, for the soul, having received the Word, is processed by It. A despondent soul, on the contrary, is guarded by unbelief, day by day it puts off and does not accept the Word, remaining far from Him, so that because of despondency it does not even hear the voice of God. The soul inspires itself with dreams and rests in dreams, not understanding the internal battle, as if being excited by dreams and coming into conceit 2101; and conceit is the veil of a soul that cannot know itself. Oh, the love of mankind of the great Lord, “Who wants everyone to be saved” 2102, repeatedly pushes the soul so that it awakens. 3.8 For just as the owner of a house who owns a vineyard 2103, and the vineyard is the commandments, and the Word, as a householder, calls a person for payment into the vineyard, so that, having completed the commandments, he recognizes himself, so the soul, having received the commandments into the heartland, cultivates the land, having a beautiful planting in itself, and the vineyard, bearing great fruit, extends in the commandments, overshadowed by them, so that it does not perish from the heat (I mean - from resistive force). Then the soul awaits the householder in great joy when the Word comes and overshadows His planting, blooming in that land. Then the householder rejoices at the one who cultivated the vineyard. Then the soul rests in the Word. 3.9 So, pluck up the hidden barren boulder from the earth of the heart and all the small stones 2104, pull out the thorns and thistles 2105 and do not lose heart, for you are not the only one working: for there is a divine power working in you. Do not lose heart, [soul], and do not be discouraged; hasten to reach and rest in the Word and be called a daughter of the Most High. For He asks: “Where are your children?” And what did she answer, He says, to My word? Blessed are those who run tirelessly and hastily, for having reached [the goal], they will rest. But woe to the soul that did not care about the earth of the heart, and did not call the householder so that He would take a hammer and iron crowbars and pluck out a secret and barren boulder, and did not care about small stones, but any place [in it] remains as parched as a desert. So, from day to day [such a soul puts off spiritual work] and saves only the outer garment, without peering into itself, but remains in arrogance and vanity, “in order to be visible to people” 2106. Such a soul [already] has its reward 2107. 4:1 But what will you do when you are freed from the body, when each soul shows its vineyard to its owner? What will that soul say that has left its land desolate and parched, seeing that other souls have cultivated their land and are in great glory? For [the Lord] says: “Their faces will shine like the sun” 2108. When that soul sees such glory of other souls, then it will understand that it was a toy of arrogance and vanity, in vain it was deserted, not cultivating its land. 4:2 If that soul, while still in the body, understands that evil spirits are mocking it, then let it cry out with all its heart to God with the words: “My soul is like a waterless land to You. Hear me soon, Lord, my spirit has disappeared" 2109. After all, he who humbles himself is in great strength, as [the psalmist] says: “God will not despise a broken and humble heart,” and again: “The spirit of the sacrifice to God is broken” 2110. A contrite and humble heart can with great strength resist the “spirits of evil” 2111 and recover its property. Blessed are those who hasten in the commandments, for they will reach the end. The Lord appeared so that we would obey the truth, and He descended and ascended so that we would follow Him, [Himself] becoming by His economy what we are, so that we might become what He is 2112. 4.3 The glorious warrior with great care and prudence fulfills the king’s command and - wanting to go to the camp of foreigners, to resist, fight, expel and destroy the nations about which the Lord God spoke 2113 in order to take away the land and see his glory, which the king promised to give, “what the eye has not seen, what the ear has not heard, and what has not entered the heart of man” 2114 - he armed himself according to the word, having put on the “armor of righteousness,” etc. 2115, and so during war he bridles his horse so that the horse follows the mind; if 2116, out of his foolishness, carries away 2117 unarmed and rushes into the middle of the enemy camp, then he becomes the laughing stock of foreigners, because the glorious warrior is captured by them, and they deal with him according to their law. 4.4 Therefore, when the soul is the mistress of the body, it directs the body like a horse, bridles it and guides it, as the Spirit leads. If carnal wisdom takes possession of the soul, then it is directed according to the morals of the flesh. To such souls the Spirit commands through the prophet: “Do not be like a horse and a mule, who have no understanding” 2118. In fact, the soul, carried away by the carnal mind, becomes a horse and a mule; there is no reason of love in it, for where there is envy and anger, enmity and arrogance, there is no reason of love in it. So, as we said above, the soul, delighted by carnal pleasures, is actually kidnapped by them and is found in the midst of the camp of evil spirits, and they mock and humiliate it. 4.5 This means, brothers, that there is no small contest ahead—to break death and enter into life. After all, [the Savior] says: “The kingdom is within you” 2120 - and peace, and joy, and gladness. But inside there is [also] a captivating and warring one, that is, death and destruction of the soul. Therefore, let the soul not rest until it has carefully buried what captivates it. Then “sickness, sorrow and sighing fled away” 2121, because “water broke through in the thirsty land” 2122 and the desert turned into many waters. For behold, it is commanded to fill the deserted heart with living water 2123 first through the prophet: “I will give water to the thirsty who have gone into [the land] without water” 2124, for the soul found itself in great heat due to paternal disobedience. The Lord, who came “in our image and likeness 2125” 2126 in order to show us living water 2127 and stop the heat of the soul in which it was, says: “Whoever drinks of the water that I give will never thirst,” for there will be “a source of water flowing in him” 2128. 4:6 It is no small [thing], brethren, to examine and understand the apostolic injunction: “If anyone destroys the church of God, God will destroy him: for the church of God is holy; and this church is you” 2129. So, how do we understand the apostle’s injunction? The same [apostle] says: “We cast down arguments and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God” 2130. 4.7 2131 For as a king {God}, having built a city and a palace in it, he secretly placed treasures there and handed them over to the steward with the words: “I transfer all this into your power, guard the city and what is in it. Have for food what I have revealed to you, but from what you will be forbidden to eat, be careful not to disobey, otherwise you will die 2132. Behold, my walls are high and the gates have been wisely built by me so that no one can open them, and only you alone have been given the power to open and close. So, do not listen to the tyrant, otherwise you will be turned into slavery by him and you will do his work.” 4:8 Having commanded this, he departed from him, and the tyrant who approached the steward said to him: “Why don’t you own everything under the city? Receive me under the city and take advantage of my advice, and you will be equal to the king.” The steward, having heard this, disobeyed the king’s commandment, willfully opened the gates of the city, and received the tyrant and his army. Then the steward’s robe was taken away and he suddenly found himself naked, so that he was driven by the tyrant’s army to carry out their deeds according to the orders of the elder. 4:9 The king, having the power to fearlessly do what he wants, asks the steward: “Where are you, to whom I entrusted my city? Why did you fall away from me? What did you suspect me of? Was not everything in the city under your power? and why did you disobey my commandment and listen to the tyrant? And now I see you in submission as his servant. I founded a city for you, so that you could reign with me, but you have fallen away from me and see yourself naked and having gained nothing. If you want to return to your place and regain your glory, then just as you forsook my commandments and fulfilled the command of the rebel, so, leaving the command of the rebel whom you obeyed, turn to me, doing my will. However, with great hardship and “the sweat of your brow” 2133 you will return your wealth, for, having received without labor and without knowing the hardships, you have thus destroyed and given away your inheritance.” 5:1 So, brethren, let each of us know what we have destroyed, and let him repeat the cry of the prophet: for in fact “our inheritance passed to strangers, and our houses to strangers” 2134 because we disobeyed the commandments, fulfilling our desires and enjoying unclean earthly thoughts. After all, the mind, having deviated from the commandments, is occupied with those evil thoughts with which it is obsessed, and wallows in them. Therefore, the soul is far removed from God, and truly “we have become orphans” 2135, not having a Father. 5.2 This means that let the one who has spiritual labor strive to cleanse evil “devious devices and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” 2136, and [if] he so forces himself 2137 to keep the church of God unspotted, He who promised and said: “I will dwell and walk” in you 2138 comes. Then the soul, having driven out the evil one and his army, receives back its inheritance, is worthy to become the church of God 2139 and, finally, reigns. How much God loved the soul and honored it, glorifying it in His likeness and image, 2140 but it rejected and angered Him! 5:3 For, just as a planted sprout is a certain image of a grown tree, so the soul was placed in paradise, like a plant, to increase and bear fruit, but through disobedience it fell away from the commandment and in an evil thought bore sinful fruit. Just as she grew into evil of her own free will, so she must voluntarily tear out the evil graft in order to be grafted into her own olive tree, according to the apostolic expression 2141. 5.4 If you want to know that God likens the soul to a plant, then what does the prophet say - rather, the Spirit through the prophet - when with the promise of bliss he turns the soul away from the wicked decision 2142, prevents it from taking the sinful path and guides it in the spiritual law, so that it grows spiritually, remaining in the law day and night 2143? That’s why he adds: “It will be like a tree planted at the issue of waters, which will yield its fruit in its season” 2144. And for the soul that has thus set foot on the path of an unholy decision 2145 and the path of sin, he adds: “Not so the wicked, not so, but as the dust that the wind sweeps up from the face of the earth” 2146 . 5.5 Understand from this the difference between the two souls. The one who, according to the commandment, is in labor and great asceticism, there is a spiritual surge in her, and so, being in great strength, she changes to the “measure of age” 2147 revealed by the coming Savior. A sinful soul, which gladly follows wicked advice and strives to become the path of sinners 2148 - such a soul is carried in the air in different directions by a resistive force and becomes a toy. After all, everything is clear to God, who knows the ways of our hearts and knows the paths of our souls. So, let each of us abolish our carnal lust, so that we are not raised by the opposite force, “like dust,” 2149, but rather, united with the commandment, let us grow in a spiritual tide, as was said about the plant. 5:6 For just as a newborn baby is the image of an adult man, so the soul is the image of Him who created it. And just as a child, gradually growing up, partially recognizes 2150 the father, and having matured, is instructed by the father’s wisdom 2151, and then the father finally recognizes the son, and the son - the father, and the father’s treasure is revealed to the son, so the soul, before disobedience, had to move forward and achieve a “perfect husband” 2152, but through disobedience, figurative 2153 love was also hidden. However, a certain part of her remained, but she plunged into the abyss of ignorance and the sea of ​​oblivion, fell into the hook of delusion 2154 and disappeared into the gates of hell. 5.7 So, the soul departed far from the commandment and could neither become one with it, nor know it, but God first through the prophets again turned it to knowledge, and finally, in 2155 days, incomprehensible, incomprehensible and having neither beginning nor end, the blessed Trinity, indivisible will and boundless essence, this God ours, unsearchable and inexpressible, fulfilled the commandment in Himself, He sent Himself economically for us. 5.8 The Son, coming from the Father, dispelled the abyss of ignorance, oblivion, delusion and the impenetrable gates of hell, broke and entered into the lost soul, so that the soul, taking His example, would follow the commandment right up to the prototype, so that it could then gradually unite and merge with the commandment and become one with it, so that from disobedience it could enter into figurative love, and from it through the commandment it would gain peace, love that never turns away. 5:9 Behold, Jesus is baptized by John 2156, sanctifying the waters, as it is written 2157, and showing forgiveness of the sins of faithful souls. Then John testifies that he saw the “Spirit of God” “coming upon” Jesus Himself 2158. The Sender, and the Sent, and on Whom He was sent down, are One. So, according to the economy, as it is said, [Jesus showed forgiveness of sins] for the sake of those who advance and achieve “a perfect man” 2159. According to the economy, tempted right up to the angelic service 2160, He shows the freedom of the soul. Then He endured insults and humiliation, outrages and strangulations, interrogations from superiors, right up to the cross. 5.10 Just as the Savior suffered, so let the soul take [this suffering] upon itself, in order to understand how it needs to go towards those who scold, humiliate and crucify it, in order to become as if deaf and dumb, without opening its lips 2161, as He showed, and so, walking in the footsteps of the One who showed it, in order to foresee the subtle action of evil, let [the soul] cry out, as [if] on the cross the nails pierced, “with a strong cry to Him who is able to deliver her from Death” 2162 and let him say: “Cleanse me from my secrets, and spare Thy servant from the alien ones; if they do not possess me, then I will be blameless and cleansed from sin” 2163, so that, having been cleansed, I will become blameless. Then she finds Him who has conquered everything 2164, then the soul merges with the commandment, then it is amazed, reigns and rests. 6:1 Indeed, because of disobedience, she became foolish, absorbed in material and impure thoughts. It is no small [thing], brethren, to get out of such matter, to understand the subtlety of evil and to pass through [it], in order to merge with the beginningless mind. Oh, unspeakable love, benevolence and compassion of the Lord! He compares Himself to a bird, so that the lost soul may take refuge under His wings, and says the life-giving Word: “How many times have I wanted to gather you, as a bird gathers its chicks, and you did not want to!” 2165. Behold, He spreads His wings and receives the soul when it enters and rests under His wings. 6.2 Just as a bird is born the second time, first in a shell, then hatches a second time under its wings, and while it is in the shell, a chick is formed, warmed by warmth, which, when the shell is removed 2166 2167, remains under the wings of its mother until it grows “to the extent of the age” of its mother and further 2168 so that it flies into the sky and finds itself above everyone reptiles who want to catch it and destroy it - so the soul that came into the world comes through the prophets to righteous deeds and keeps the law, while the life-giving Word that came teaches us to abound in righteousness “more than the scribes and Pharisees” 2169. 6:3 It hints that we should surpass the law, for it says: “Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and I will appear to him Myself” 2170. He commands more, so that we may come under the wings of our mother (that is, His commandments). For the soul, kindled by the Word and entering into power, breaks the shell 2171 2172 and is spiritually reborn, and the revealed Christ merges with it as an unlimited source and beginningless mind. 6:4 Therefore, O soul, know this: if you are under your mother’s wings, do not go out, lest the snakes destroy you. For the Savior came to renew and revive the soul and destroy the alien, that is, the invisible nocturnal sowing, so that it would manifest its love and multiply in it, so that, having passed through the principles and powers 2173, it would unite the true light with the blessed light. Oh, outstretched wings; oh [good] womb of the Father 2174! Amen. Word 4. About external 2175 asceticism and About what good way of life is the highest and first 2176 2177 1,2 I, 1, 8, 1; II, 40, 1 Know, beloved, the following: all virtues are interconnected and dependent on each other, fastened to one another, like some sacred 2178 spiritual chain: prayer from love 2179, love from joy, joy from meekness, meekness from humility, humility from service, service from hope, hope from faith, faith from obedience, obedience from simplicity. 1.3 I, 1, 8, 2 How 2180 on the other hand, bad [deeds] depend on one another: hatred from irritability, irritability from pride, pride from vanity, vanity from unbelief, unbelief from hard-heartedness, hard-heartedness from 2181 negligence, negligence 2182 from laziness, laziness from negligence, negligence from 2183 despondency, despondency from impatience, impatience from 2184 voluptuousness, and other parts of vice depend on each other - in the same way 2185 on the good side 2186 virtues are fastened together. 1.4 I, 1, 8, 3; II, 40, 2 2187 The main thing in any good effort 2188 and the top of merit is diligent stay in prayer. Through it, through asking God, we can daily acquire other virtues. When a certain mysterious 2189 communication of holiness 2190 with 2191 God through spiritual activity and a certain 2192 combination of the disposition of the mind itself in ineffable love for the Lord with prayer 2193 occurs in those 2194 worthy, [then] one is drawn to the divine 2195 eros and fiery desire 2196 by spiritual love for God every day forcing himself to be diligent in prayers, and each 2198 by his free choice 2199 accepts the grace of spiritual perfection [which] God gives him 2200. 2.1 II, 40, 3 Question. But if some - who have not heard the Word properly, but have heeded the Gospel, that if anyone “gives a cup of cold water to drink” 2201, has a reward 2202 - sell their property, free slaves, fulfill the commandments, but do not try to receive the Spirit in this world, then, living like this, will they not enter the kingdom of heaven? 2.2 Answer. This is a delicate subject to discuss. For some argue that there is one kingdom and one Gehenna; we say that there are many degrees, differences 2203 and measures[,] both in the kingdom itself and in the punishment itself 2204 abundance 2205. Just as there is one soul in all members: above it is in the brain 2206, and in the other members, and below it sets the legs in motion, so the Divinity embraces all creatures: both heavenly and those below the abyss 2207, and everywhere is entirely in creation, although by His immeasurability 2208 He [God] 2209 is also outside of creatures. Therefore, the Divinity itself listens to humanity 2210 and builds an economy for them 2211. 3.1 Question. You said that It listens to them, but you did not say that It acts or differs in them. Distinguish for me here the sons of the kingdom and separate this degree. After all, the discussion was about all worldly [people] 2212. But some pray without knowing what they are looking for, others fast, and still others become established in the ministry. Do they have an award of 2213? The answer is 2214. Since God is just, He rewards them 2215 according to the measure of faith, for what they do is done out of the fear of God, but they are not 2216 heirs, not sons and not kings. 3.2 II, 40, 4 And in the world itself, some are murderers, others are fornicators, others are robbers, and some give their property to the poor. The Lord looks at those and others, and gives peace and reward to those who do good; there are measures that are abundant, and there are measures that are small; and in the light itself and in the 2218 glory itself there is a difference; and in Gehenna itself, on the other hand, 2219 and in punishment 2220 poisoners, robbers and fornicators find themselves: how are they judged and how are others who have sinned little? 3:3 But those who claim that there is one kingdom, and one hell, and there are no degrees, speak evil, for even those who do good have rewards, and help, and places of rest. How many worldly [people] are devoted to 2221 spectacles and 2222 outrages, and how many more are there who pray and fear God? God listens to both, and like a righteous Judge, he prepares peace for some and punishment for others. 3.4 II, 40, 5 Just as [at the hippodrome] you see how horses are harnessed and chariots driven 2223 rushing against each other (after all, each 2224 chariot carries fastenings and weapons against the other chariot 2225 in order to overthrow and defeat 2226 [it]), so in the heart of ascetics there is a theater where wicked spirits fight with the soul, and God and the angels look at the feat. In addition, the soul every hour produces many new thoughts, just like the malice [nesting] inside. For the soul has many hidden thoughts, hitherto unknown to it 2227, and at this hour it produces and gives birth to them; and malice has many thoughts and intentions, and every hour it gives rise to new thoughts against the soul. Therefore, the mind is the rider, it harnesses the chariot 2228, restraining the reins of thoughts, and 2229 rushes against the satanic chariot, which 2230 [Satan] himself harnessed against the soul. 4 II, 40, 6 Question. Why do others say: “We cannot pray”? If [prayer] 2231 is repose, why do they not remain in prayer? Answer. Peace itself, abundant in a person, leads to mercy and other services, such as visiting the brethren and serving the word 2232. But it is also nature itself to go, see the brethren, and say the word. What is thrown into the fire cannot remain in its own nature, but of necessity itself becomes fire. So, if you throw gravel 2234 (or stone) into a fire, it becomes asbestos. Or if you want 2235 to plunge into the depths of the sea and swim to its very middle, then your whole [body] seems to 2236 sink and disappear, but as 2237 it sinks and goes deeper 2238 2239, nature itself 2240 wants to rise, swim, reach the harbor and see people on earth. So the Spirit 2241: another enters into the very depths of the Divinity and into the abyss 2242 of grace and again remembers his friends; and nature itself demands that we go to the brethren, fulfill the [duty] of love and fulfill the word. 5.1 II, 40, 7 Question. How can the heart have two faces - grace and sin? Answer. When there is fire outside a copper vessel, and you then begin to add wood, the vessel heats up, and what is inside it cooks and boils 2243 2244 from the fire lit outside the vessel. And if someone is careless and does not put in firewood, then the heat becomes lukewarm and seems to go out. So is grace, heavenly fire, both inside you and outside. If you pray and give up your thoughts to love for the Lord 2245, then you have added wood, and all your thoughts become fire and are immersed in the thought 2246 of God, and moves away 2247 2248, becoming as if outside, 2249 he 2250 appears outside of you>. 5.2 If someone is [even] a little careless or [immersed] in worldly affairs or absent-mindedness, they enter again 2251, and [evil thoughts] plunge 2252 into the soul and oppress 2253 the whole person, for the soul remembers its former peace. Then she begins to pray 2254 and grieve more often. II, 40, 8 Again the mind turned to God and the former peace begins to approach him, he begins to seek [God] more strongly, saying: “I beg You, Lord!” Little by little, an igniting fire is added to it 2255: the soul has calmed down, 5.3 as if a fishing rod is gradually extracting fish from the depths 2256. And if this did not exist and the soul tasted bitter death, then how could it distinguish bitter from sweet, death from life and thank the Life-Giver? 6.1 Question. What is Satan, when did he fall and why was he released into the world in 2257? Answer. Satan was created before Adam as an angel. He willingly became hostile to God and sinned. Finally, he himself was placed to guide and exercise Adam, like an educational rod. It trains the educated, it tests the subjects, it perfects the perfected. Thanks to him, the intelligent are crowned, and the ascetic fighters are recognized and crowned. After all, if it had not been for him, then Adam would have had complete peace of mind - after all, the mountains and trees do nothing and do not work - but therefore God, as he wished, created this world and allowed the evil one to exercise Adam himself. 6.2 Like two running chariots, then the king and the people {and the crowd} watch with pleasure as they tirelessly compete with each other (for each chariot runs to defeat the other: who will get ahead of whom, who will overturn whom), and finally [there are] exclamations for the victors and bitter weeping for the vanquished - so the Lord, having created this world, so that Adam would not be in mere idleness, gave him the enemy, and so, many competitions and races in the theater and arena of this world. And so, God and the heavenly church look at the battle and the competition, and in honor of the winner, the angels, glorifying the heavenly Lord, utter victorious exclamations and many praises. 6.3 Where the lion and the one who must jump over him are, then the world and the rulers look: if you manage to jump over the released lion 2258, behold, the lion becomes an object of laughter and amusement, and they begin to mock him. So Satan, overcome by Adam 2259, becomes the subject of laughter and amusement of the angels. For the lion himself is appointed to confuse [people], and Satan is appointed to destroy souls. 6.4 Why did the Lord rejoice when the three youths were in the fire, and said to His angels: We will come and see the bodies of the righteous 2260 2261 > how † hair on the heads 2262 † 2263 them 2264 conquered the fire. Again, how [the angels] looked at Thekla going to the lists, where lions and bulls were [ready] against her, where [there were] many animals, where screams [were heard]. She, having faith, love and intelligence in heaven, prevailed over them all 2265. So, the mind must be ready and adaptable to war and not be afraid of the enemy’s threats: all his devices, arts, deceptions, bonds that he brings to human thoughts and thoughts, by faith the Lord destroys and triumphs - as long as you are not afraid. 6:5 Just as the three youths then said to the king: “You cast us into the fire, and we do not die,” so you also say to Satan: “I am not afraid of you, son of error. Although you strike me with blows and temptations, I have God, I have Jesus, who destroys you with the spirit of His mouth, 2266 punishing you with eternal punishment. And if you swallow up all my members, I will not fear you and will not die.” How a martyr’s arms and legs and all his limbs are cut off, and he, daring and believing in the Lord, says to the executioner: “Do what you want. God, in whom I believe, is [so] powerful that he will save me, but will punish you with eternal fire,” so do not be afraid of Satan, take courage and fight against him, tell him: “I have a God who punishes you, Satan.” But in one respect Satan is stronger than you. 6.6 Just as then they dragged Paul to a visible spectacle and threw him to the beasts, and he could not resist, but entered - he entered 2267, so you are forced, against your desire, to enter the lists of the heart, and unclean spirits and poisonous reptiles are drawn to you and take possession of you, and you - unwillingly - suffer, but to resist and fight in the power of your nature, [in the power] of the help of the Lord - gain the upper hand 6.7 After all, the Apostle Paul then, by faith and with the assistance of God, won victory over the beasts 2268. Thoughts and wills attached to [bad] love and concomitant vicious morals are difficult to destroy and remove, for there are many of them and they love the bad habits into which they have turned: shameful pleasures, love of money, exaltation - although all this is not easily put aside, however, thoughts and thoughts that are again attached to the love of the Lord and turned to it, walk perfectly and walk on a truly straight path. 6.8 And just as there 2269 the ark where the law of God was kept was captured by foreigners, as soon as he entered the city, the stone images and idols of that city were immediately overthrown and many blows were dealt to them - so where the laws of God are written on the tablets of the heart 2270 the images and idols of unclean spirits fall from the thoughts of the heart. 7.1 Question. How should everyone collect his mind and thoughts wandering in the world, and not think of anything else other than the aspirations of the Lord and preserving the love of the soul for Him? Answer. As a mother, if she has children and they just go away and wander around as they please, then, having gathered them, won’t she bring them into the house and educate and admonish them? So the soul must collect its wandering thoughts from everywhere, as if it were its children. And if they are scattered by sin and worries, yet her own power must always unceasingly gather thoughts into her bodily home - into herself, and always wait for the Lord in strong faith and love when He comes and truly gathers her into herself, and makes her thoughts divine, reasonable, heavenly, and teaches her true prayer, undistracted, unwandering. 7.2 avg. II, 31, 3 If we, while in prayer, wander outward with our thoughts and do not gather ourselves, but 2271 relax and indulge in sinful 2272 thoughts, and our will does not try to attract 2273 thoughts to the Lord, then how will the Lord Himself, by His will, come to us and truly bring us closer to Himself, since we relax and wander in thoughts outside? (If the body is already praying 2274, then you do not allow the Lord to enter you according to His own will, just as you yourself do not rush to Him according to your own desire) 2275. 7:3 For all pleasing God and serving the soul is in the thoughts. Try to please Him from within 2276[,] constantly[,] 2277 internally waiting for Him, always zealously within 2278 seeking Him in your thoughts, all the time with effort forcing your will and will 2279 towards Him, and you will see how He Himself, at His desire 2280, comes to you and creates an abode with you 2281. For as much as you force 2282 your mind to seek Him, much more He Himself is forced by His compassion and goodness to come to you and spiritually 2283 give you rest. He has not left you at all, He is invisibly 2284 standing before you 2285, watching your mind, thoughts, lusts, looking at how you seek Him: are you with all your soul, are you not lazy, are you not contributing to negligence and lethargy of mind, shameful passions 2286 2287. 7.4 Avg. II, 31, 4 And when He sees you that you are constantly 2288 carefully gathering your thoughts from everywhere 2289 for the sole purpose of seeking Him, then He Himself appears and shows itself to your soul, illuminating you with indescribable and desired beauty, and so 2290 gives you from His help and brings about every victory in you, delivering you from your invisible 2291 enemies, having seen you first your correct and undistracted 2292 seeking of Him, the unceasing aspiration of your mind 2293 and direct love for Him, and 2294 thus teaches you and gives you true prayer, true love, faith in the truth and true joy 2295 which is the Lord Himself 2296 who becomes everything in you. 8 II, 8, 1 After all, 2297 another comes to kneel, and the heart is filled with Divine action, and the soul rejoices with the Lord, like a bride with the groom, according to the word of Isaiah the prophet, who says: “As the groom rejoices in the bride, so the Lord will rejoice in you” 2298. And it happens that such a person 2299, busy all day, devotes himself to prayer for one hour, and the inner man prayerfully admires the infinite depths of this age in great sweetness, so that the mind withdraws [from the earthly], all soaring and enraptured there, and at that hour the thoughts of earthly wisdom are forgotten, because the thoughts are overflowing and captivated by the divine and heavenly, by boundless and incomprehensible things, something marvelous that cannot be expressed with human lips, so that at that hour you pray and say: “Oh, if only my soul would depart in prayer!” 9.1 II, 8, 2; Mark the Ascetic 2300 Question. Does person 2301 always enter this state? Answer. Grace abides invariably and is rooted and leavened from an early age, and what itself coexists with a person has become as if natural and established; but 2302 being 2303 one and the same, grace 2304 builds the economy in various ways, as it wishes, for the benefit of 2305 man. Sometimes the flame flares up and ignites more, sometimes it is quieter and weaker; and this light 2306 at times becomes more active and shines, sometimes it diminishes and fades, although 2307 the lamp always burns and shines; when it is purified 2308, it is more experienced 2309 by the intoxication of Divine love; sometimes 2310 according to the economy weakens - [then,] although 2311 [and] co-existing, the light weakens. 9.2 II, 8, 3 2312 Moreover, to some the sign of the cross appeared in the light and was nailed into the inner man. Another time, again in prayer, the man seemed to be in a frenzy and found himself standing before the altar in the church, and they brought him three loaves leavened as if with oil, and the more he ate, the more they increased and grew. At other times, it was again like some kind of bright robe, which does not exist on earth in this century and cannot be made by human hands. And 2313 just as the Lord’s vestments were transformed and shone when He ascended the mountain with John, Peter and James, 2314 so was that robe, and the 2315 clothed man was horrified and amazed. At another time, when that light incessantly 2316 shone in the heart, the inner, deepest and most hidden light was revealed, and a new and shining world coexisted with the Lord, praising and glorifying 2317 so that a person, completely absorbed in that sweetness and contemplation, no longer controlled himself, but was as if wild and alien 2318 to the world this 2319 because of excessive love, sweetness and hidden sacraments, and at that time the liberated person reached the perfect measure and was pure and free 2320 from sin. 9.3 But then grace retreated and the veil of opposing force approached: 2321 appears in part[,] and stands 2322 at a lower degree of perfection. II, 8, 4 Let's say someone needs to go through twelve degrees to achieve perfection. At some time, he managed to reach that measure and enter into perfection: grace recedes again, and he descends one step and stands on the eleventh. And the other, always rich in grace, is in perfect measure day and night, being free and pure always[,] 2323 captive 2324 and floating. And [in] my mind 2325 those miracles were shown to me 2326 2327 and what [such a] person experienced experimentally - for 2328 2329 [grace] was constantly with him - so that he could not bear the verbal economy 2330 or the burden 2331 and could not bear to hear about anything 2332 or even 2333 ordinary care about himself or about tomorrow, [but could] only lie 2334 in one corner 2335, rising above the earthly and intoxicated. Therefore, [he] was not given the perfect measure so that he could devote himself to the care of the brethren and the “ministry of the word” 2336 2337. Again 2338 the “mediastinum of the fence” 2339 is destroyed 2340, 9.4 II, 8, 5 in reality it happens like this: as if some dark force attacks and slightly covers 2341, like dense 2342 air, although the lamp is constantly burning and shining, it is as if a veil is imposed on that light, from which one [the ascetic] recognizes 2343, that he is not perfect and not completely free from sin, so we can 2344 say that he is both free and unfree 2345, and the “mediastinum of the fence” 2346 is destroyed and broken, but, again, in some ways not completely destroyed. But 2347 and prayer are not always 2348 the same 2349: there is a time when it ignites more, and comforts, and reposes, and there is a time when it recedes and fades, as grace itself arranges for the benefit 2350 of a person. However, having come 2351 to the measure perfect at times and having tasted and experienced this age, I 2352 have not yet seen 2353 a single perfect or free Christian, although 2354 someone rests in grace, reaches the sacraments and revelations and the great sweetness of grace, but sin still remains within. Because of the abundance of grace and light in them, they themselves consider themselves free and perfect, making a mistake due to inexperience, since they are under the influence of grace. I have not yet seen a single perfect 2355 [Christian], for I, too, at one time entered partly into that measure and can discern how perfect a person is 2356. 10 II, 8, 6 2357 Question. Tell us to what extent are you 2358? Answer. Now 2359 after the sign of the cross, grace acts in such a way and pacifies all the members of the heart 2360 that the soul, having become pure 2361, from great joy seems like a gentle and simple 2362 baby, and a person no longer condemns either a Greek, or a Jew, 2363, or a sinner, or a layman 2364, but with a pure eye. the inner man looks 2365, and 2366 rejoices over the whole world, and 2367 wants to bow to everyone, and loves 2368 both the Greeks and the Jews. At 2369 another hour, he, like a royal son, trusts so much in the Son of God, as in a father 2370, and doors open before him, and he enters into many mansions 2371, and as he enters, they open again before him 2372, respectively 2373, out of a hundred mansions 2374 - other hundred mansions, and to what extent 2375 he enriched, in the same 2376 again 2377 new miracles are shown to him, and entrusted to him, as a son and heir 2378, that which cannot be expressed 2379 by human nature or pronounced by the lips and tongue 2380. 11.1 Mark the Ascetic Finally, at another hour 2381, like a messenger of God, 2382 out of great love for Him, 2383 he begins to pray for the world, so that all Adam 2384 will be saved, burning with love. And “wishing that all should be saved,” 2385 teaches the word of life and the kingdom, interceding for Christ’s sake 2386 2387 and explaining, as far as one can hear, certain heavenly and divine mysteries of the endless age, unnameable and incomprehensible. 11.2 Sometimes the whole person arms himself, putting on the whole armor of God 2388, takes the heavenly army of the holy spirits, begins to cut down the enemy troops and arranges a massacre there with many corpses. 11.3 2389 Another time [grace] acts on the soul, and the soul and the Lord enjoy together, and the person remains in great light and joy towards the Lord and the brothers, but 2390 the lamp and the light burn day and night. But the whole person according to the economy is not liberated, and almost all is liberated 2391 [;] and all is pure 2392, and almost not [clean] as it should be. However, the mediastinum 2393 is cut and death is defeated 2394. 11:4 Sometimes the lamp flares up and glows more, so that a person cannot bear that radiance and sparkle, but remains as if weakened. Again the light, although it burns, seems to be weakening, and the air seems to be thin and gloomy, as if on a blanket of 2395 resistive force. Therefore, such a person says: “I am not completely free.” 12 III, 14, 1 Question. Why cannot those who do not have the Holy Spirit speak an intelligent and living word? Answer. Just as a newborn child comes from the womb with healthy members, without any damage to the body, so are those born from the grace of the 2396 Spirit: although we see them in this world in the flesh, they are completely at rest in the spirit 2397 from which they were born. Only they can speak a perfect word to their brothers, having perfect spiritual members within them. But whoever is not born from there cannot speak a spiritual word, because he does not have the living Spirit to inspire him with heavenly things. 13.1 And as if a child who came out of the womb deformed, or lame, or blind from birth is like a monster and a sign for the world - such are the wise men who want to be interpreters of the Scriptures, not having the heavenly Spirit, for 2398 having not yet merged with the Divinity, they are freaks who do not have healthy members, but transmit a defective and rotten word 2399. 13.2 Like a coin, which on one side seems to have an imprint, but on the other side is damaged and unfit for commercial circulation 2400 - such are those damaged by fire 2401, that is, 2402 sin; from their mind or their wisdom they want to speak about heavenly things from which they were not born. 13:3 Indeed, bring to me someone who is wise, a virgin and in visible blameless, fasting, watching, renouncing, alien to the 2403 world, praying. Then I will reason with him: are you a virgin? I am more than you. Are you poor? I've surpassed you. Are you fasting 2404? I'm bigger than you. So, in this I am greater than you. That is, I say 2405 that no one should remain among all this visible and the mind should not calmly calm down on it, as if it had already achieved perfection, but strive to ensure that some heavenly power mixes with it, and expect every hour the heavenly gift 2406 - the mixing of your nature with natural fruits 2407 so that whatever you do, you would do in purity. 13.4 Just as a king who has all his [bodily] members healthy, if he were not dressed in purple, would not receive royal honors, so it is in vain that you have healthy natural members: if you do not put on spiritual 2409 2410 purple, you will not be able to get married or ascend 2411 to the royal throne, so it is in vain that you have there are 2412 of them [healthy]. 14.1 III, 14, 2 Question. But 2413 if at thirty or forty years old I don’t accept 2414 and I have to die, what then? Answer. I answer you that God will not judge or condemn you as a blasphemer, if only you have shown a fair amount of diligence 2415. God will tell you: since you followed Me and cried and searched day and night and, although at first you were carefree among your visible [virtues] and were puffed up by them, now you are making even more efforts, seeking the truth from Scripture, so that 2416 you can accept God's power into yourself, I do not condemn you in this as a blasphemer; on the contrary, I accept you as having become more beautiful than you were before. And you yourself should test yourself and figure out whether your life and your work have become more sublime. I will tell you from the Scriptures that “he who seeks finds, and he who asks receives, and to him who knocks it will be opened” 2417. 14.2 Yet you say: Show me how God’s power 2418 follows the faithful 2419 . I will answer you, but how can I convince you that God’s power is inherent in the faithful - from the Old Testament or the New? Let's look first at the shadow 2420 2421. Who gave the power to Abraham, who was already an old man and had a “dead body” 2422, to become young again and give birth to a son? You, however, tell me: He [God] accepted the sacrifices of Abraham 2423, but was not with him. And what friend, who wants to meet his friend, first goes to his property, to a field or to a vineyard, and then only looks at him and greets him with a kiss? Did God really accept Abraham’s sacrifice, that is, something that seemed to belong to him, but was not with him and did not dwell in him? And when Abraham went to war in 2424, who was the winner? Was it only his nature or God who dwelt in him and brought him victory? Let's move on to Noah. Who was the one who subdued before him all kinds of animals 2425? His nature or something heavenly, supernaturally inherent in him, something that created the animals themselves 2426 and subjugated these animals before him? Did Jacob, by his own power 2427, roll away such a [huge] stone 2428 - or was it the power of God that was in his mind 2429 and rolled away the heavy stone? God was so inseparable from him that even during his sleep he did not leave him. For He opened for him the doors of heaven 2430 and showed † the † heavenly dwelling 2431 itself, appearing 2432 to him in the form of a ladder 2433 . Then He fought with him 2434 as man with man. 15.1 II, 50, 1 Who closed the doors of heaven 2435 2436? Elijah 2437 2438 ? Or God, who was in him and commanded 2439 rain? I think that the Lord of the rains and 2440 the Creator of the skies. He 2441 sat within his mind, and the Word of God with his [Elijah] tongue forbade the rain to fall on the earth; and 2442 when he spoke again, the doors of heaven were opened and the rain came down. 15.2 Like 2443 Moses laid down the rod, and it became a serpent; said 2444 - and it became the tree 2445 2446 2447. He took the ashes from the furnace, scattered them 2448 2449 - and scnips and frogs appeared in the houses of the kings and all the Egyptians 2450. How could one handful of ashes [could] hear, move and enter, 2451 having neither a soul nor a mind? 2452 Can human nature 2453 do this? He [Moses] speaks to the sea - and it is divided 2454; speaks to 2455 the river - and it changes into blood 2456. It is clear 2457 that heavenly power dwelt in his body 2458 and performed such signs through Moses. 15.3 II, 50, 2 How could David fight such a giant without weapons 2459? For God tells David to lay down his weapon and come out lightly against him 2460, so that the foreigner mocks him 2461. And when David threw a stone at a foreigner, with David’s hand God’s hand directed the stone against him 2462 [Goliath], and God’s very 2463 power struck him. Ведь не мог Давид, будучи телесно слабым 2464 , победить такого гиганта, если бы сила Божия не была с ним 2465 , совершив победу. 15,4 Иисус Навин, подступив к городу 2466 Иерихону, семь дней осаждал и не мог ничего сделать своею силою. Then 2467 God commanded him to connect 2469 the citharas and trumpets - and so 2470 the walls of the city 2471 fell by themselves 2472 . In the same way 2473 and when he went to the promised land, the Lord said to Jesus 2474: “Go to battle.” Jesus says to the Lord 2475: “As the Lord lives, I will never go without You” 2476. And who commanded the sun to stand for the other two hours during the battle of 2477? Could this nature 2478 command 2479 - or the Power that was with him commanded the sun, and listened, and achieved victory 2480? 15,5 Моисей, когда сражался с Амаликом, как скоро воздевал руки 2481 к Богу – попирал Амалика; when he gave up, Amalek prevailed 2482. 15:6 II, 50, 3 When you hear about this, do not let your understanding depart from you; since this was an image and shadow of the true, then apply 2483 to yourself. After all, when you raise the hands of your mind and thoughts 2484 your 2485 to heaven and want to cleave to the Lord, then Satan descends below your thoughts, and you trample on him; when your thought, or mind 2486, is inclined towards the earthly and carnal, then Satan rises above thoughts 2487. And just as there 2488 the walls fell by the power of God, so now the walls of vice that hinder 2489 the mind, and the satanic cities and enemies 2490 are destroyed by the power of God. 15.7 So, if, as it is said 2491, in the [underlying] canopy the power of God 2492 dwelled thus with the righteous, working terrible {and obvious} 2493 miracles 2494 - then although they performed external signs by the power of God, 2495 > Divine grace dwelt within them. The Spirit also acted in the prophets when there was a need to utter great things to the world, and in the souls of 2496 he served to prophesy and broadcast. But 2497 the prophets did not always speak, but when the Spirit who was in them wanted [to do so; however, the strength always resided in them. 15.8 II, 50, 4 If in the canopy [legal] the Spirit 2498 came out 2499 to such an extent, then how much more in the new covenant 2500, at the coming of the Lord 2501, when the outpouring of the Spirit and the intoxication of it took place. For [the Lord] says: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” 2502. Therefore 2503 He said: “I will be with you until the end of the age” 2504 . “For 2505 everyone who seeks finds” 2506. “So if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does the Heavenly Father give 2507 the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” 2508 2509 . 15.9 2510 May the same Power that was originally with the fathers and apostles 2511 dwell in us and give us peace 2512. 16 II, 6, 5 Question. Since some say that thrones and crowns are creations [material], and not [beings] spiritual, then how should we understand [this]? Answer. The throne of the Divine is our mind, and vice versa, the throne of the mind is the Divinity and the Spirit. Likewise, Satan and the powers and princes 2513, through the transgression of the commandment, sat in the heart, mind, and body of Adam, as on their own throne. Therefore, the Lord finally came and took the body from the Virgin, because if He had wished to descend as the unveiled Divinity, who could have endured [this]? On the contrary, through this instrument - the body - He speaks to people. And finally, the Lord exposed the body in which the evil spirits sat, “unmasking the principalities and powers” ​​2514, and, putting on the body, made it the own throne of His Spirit. And as 2515 Mary says: “The Mighty One has done great things for me” 2516, - [so] the Lord “deposed the mighty from the thrones” 2517, [that is] the reigning 2518 wicked spirits from the thrones of concepts and thoughts, where they had settled, deposed, and purified the consciousness 2519 2520, and made the mind the throne of Himself, and body, and thoughts 2521. 17.1 II, 6, 6 Question. What does it mean that [the Lord] said: “You will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” 2522? Answer. We find that this was fulfilled on earth after the Lord ascended into heaven, because He sent down the Comforter Spirit on the twelve apostles 2523, His holy power, which, descending, overshadowed them and sat on the thrones of their minds. And those standing nearby say “that they were drunk with wine” 2524. Then Peter began to judge them, speaking about Jesus: “You crucified a man mighty with words and signs, hanging him on a tree 2525. And [behold], He works miracles, tearing apart the stones of tombs and raising the dead 2526. For it is written: In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and daughters will prophesy, 2527 and now [it] is being fulfilled.” Then many, announced by Peter, came to repentance, so that the chosen peace of God came. 17.2 You see how 2528 > the beginning of judgment, 2529 > a new world appeared there, and here 2530 the power was given to them to sit in this world and judge. Although they will sit and execute judgment at His [second] coming 2531, at the resurrection of the dead, [this is already] 2532 happening here, because the Holy Spirit is seated on the throne 2533 of their thoughts. And the crowns that Christians accept in this century are not [material] creations - whoever claims the latter speaks badly - on the contrary, they [the crowns] are revealed by the transforming Spirit. What the apostle 2534 says about the heavenly Jerusalem, that she is “the mother of us all,” 2535 we also confess. As for the garments which Christians wear 2536 , it is clear that the Spirit himself clothes them 2537 . 18.1 II, 7, 1 As if someone enters the royal palace and sees paintings and beautiful things there, treasures stored elsewhere, and lies down with the king [at a meal], and is offered 2538 the sweetest food and drink, and fully enjoys the sight and beauty, and after that, pulled out of there 2539, finds himself in stinking places 2540 - then he begins to shed tears as if taken from such [beautiful] places to dark and fetid places. Or imagine that some [maiden 2541], surpassing everyone in beauty, wisdom and wealth, and chooses for herself a beggar and an ignorant, ugly, dressed in rags husband, and takes off his dirty clothes, and dresses him in a royal robe, and puts crowns on him 2542, and becomes his wife - finally, the beggar 2543 begins to be horrified and be amazed, saying: “Has such a wife been given to me, unfortunate, low and simple?” This is how 2544 God acted with the humiliated and unfortunate man: he gave him a taste of another age, another sweetest pleasure 2545, showed him the glory and royal indescribable heavenly beauties. Then, compare those spiritual [goods] with [things] of this age, whether he sees a king, rulers or wise men, he rejects everything, he is disgusted with everything 2546 2547 for the sake of 2548 this 2549 heavenly treasure, for, since “God is love” 2550, he accepted the intelligent and divine fire of Christ, and was at peace, and rejoiced, and attached there [to the heavenly]. 19 II. 7, 2 Question. Does 2551 Satan dwell with God - either in the air or in people? Answer. This sun, being a creature, illuminating unclean places, does it suffer any harm? Moreover, the Divinity, being together with Satan, is not polluted or desecrated. It allowed evil to be for the exercise of people. But evil is darkened and blinded and cannot see Divine purity and subtlety. If you say that Satan has his place, and God has his place, then [thereby] you present Him as if he does not exist everywhere 2552 and is described by the place in which 2553 dwells. We 2554 call God 2555 incomprehensible and indescribable, and everything exists in Him 2556 and good is not defiled by evil. Is it really possible that if the sky, the sun, and the mountains are in God himself and stand by Him 2557, then they themselves have become God? Creatures are established in their own order, and the Creator, who abides with creatures, is God. 20.1 II, 7, 3 Question. When sin is “transformed into an angel of light” 2558 and almost becomes like grace, how can a person understand “the wiles of the devil” 2559 and how to accept and distinguish what is from grace? Answer. That which is of grace has joy, peace, love 2560 2561, truth 2562, and when [a person] accepts the truth 2563, then 2564 [it] makes a person seek the truth. That which is from sin is ugly 2565, [leads to] confusion, has no love and joy before God. Just as a bitter salad is like lettuce 2566, but one is sweet, and the other, although similar, is bitter - so 2567 in grace itself there is a similarity to the truth, and there is the very essence of truth. 20.2 Just as, for example, there is a ray of the sun and the very circle [of the sun], and in another way the ray shines, and in another way there is the light contained in the circle. There is a lamp burning in the house 2568; there is another 2569 burning everywhere. This means that another light 2570 burning in the lamp itself is more brilliant and clear. This is what happens 2571 when 2572 [one] person sees certain visions, as if far from himself, and rejoices at these visions, and there is another [person], and the grace of God enters into him, and embraces his limbs and heart, and captivates his mind in the love of God. 20:3 When Peter was taken and thrown into prison, then an angel came to him as a prisoner, broke his bonds and brought him out [of prison], and Peter, as if in a frenzy, thought that [this] was a vision 2573. 21 II, 7, 4 Question. How do those in whom the grace of God operates fall? Answer. Thoughts themselves, pure by nature, when pushed, fall. For 2574 [a person] begins to become arrogant, condemn [another] and say: “You are a sinner,” but considers himself righteous. Don't you know what Paul says? “A thorn was given to me in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to afflict me, so that I would not become arrogant” 2575. And in pure nature there is the possibility of exaltation. 22 II, 7, 5 Question. Can anyone see his soul with the help of light, since others reject revelation and say that vision occurs through knowledge and sensation? Answer. There is a feeling, there is a vision, and there is an insight. And he who has insight is greater than he who has sensation. After all, his mind was illuminated, because he received a certain greater share in comparison with the one who has sensation, since he saw in himself a certain fullness of visions. Moreover, one thing is revelation, and another thing is illumination. Higher is revelation 2576, because the great deeds and mysteries of God are revealed to the soul. 23 II, 7, 6 Question. Does anyone see the soul with the help of Divine light and revelation? Answer. Just as bodily eyes see the sun, so the illuminated ones see the image of the soul; but few Christians 2577 [achieve] this. 24 II, 7, 7 Question. Does the soul have the image or appearance of 2578? Answer. Has a form and image similar to an angel, just as 2579 angels have a form and image. And just as the outer man has a form, so the inner 2580 has the form of an angel, and not 2581 the outer man 2582 . 25 II, 7, 8 Question. Is there another thing that is the mind, and something else that is the soul? Answer. Just as there are many bodily members, and all are called one person 2583, so the soul has many members: mind, conscience, thoughts, will 2584 condemning or justifying 2585 - however 2586 they are connected together 2587. There are members of the soul, but there is one soul, one 2588 inner man. But just as external eyes from afar see 2589 thorns, and rapids, and abysses, so 2590 the mind, in its speed, provides for the intrigues and tricks of the opposing force and, being, as it were, the spiritual eye, protects the soul 2591. 26.1 II, 16, 8; Wed I, 46, 2, 9a Christians belong to another age 2592, new birth, children of the Holy Spirit, luminous 2593, like their Father, spiritual Adam 2594, luminous; of this city, of this kind, of this power. They are not of this world 2595, but of another world. For the Lord himself says: “You are not of this world, just as I am not of this world” 2596. 26.2 For 2597, like a merchant, returning from afar and having increased his trade many times over, he sends to his household to buy him houses, gardens and the necessary clothes; when he returns home, again 2598 brings with him great wealth and his household 2599 receives it with great joy - so much more than 2600 in the spiritual. Those who 2601 redeem heavenly wealth for themselves are known by their fellow citizens, that is, the spirits of the saints 2602 and angels, and marvel, [saying 2603]: “Our brothers 2605 have acquired great wealth 2604 on earth.” Such, having the Lord with them, at the time of death, with great 2606 joy, ascend to those above 2607, and [those with] the Lord 2608 receive them there, having prepared for them abodes, gardens and all-bright and valuable clothes. 27.1 II, 16, 9 {That both those who are spiritual and those who have gifts fall in arrogance 2609.} And people who are good by nature, if they are not careful, are gradually enticed by goodness itself, and those who have wisdom are robbed by wisdom itself. Therefore, a person needs 2610 to be moderate in all parts: temper goodness with severity, wisdom with prudence, word with deeds, and place all hope in God 2611 and not in himself 2612 2613. 27.2 II, 16, 10 Those who claim that there is no sin in man are like people who were drowned in many waters during a flood, are carried away [by them] and 2614 say: “We heard the sound of waters.” Likewise, those who are mired in the depths of the waves of vice claim that there is no sin in their minds and thoughts. 27:3 There are others who make 2615 speeches, not seasoned with heavenly salt, so that they talk about the royal meal and neither eat nor gain anything. And another sees the king himself 2616 when the treasures are opened 2617, and enters, receives the inheritance, eats and drinks 2618 from the valuable meats. 27.4 II, 16, 11 If a mother had an only-begotten son, the most handsome in face, wise 2619, and all her hopes lay in this son, but she buried him, then she remains 2620 incessant grief and inconsolable crying. So the mind about the soul, as dead to God, should have 2621 weeping, and sorrow, and incessant tears, 27.5 a contrite heart and be in fear and care, always hungering and thirsting for good. And to such a one, finally, the grace of God and hope come, and he no longer has tears; on the contrary, he rejoices as if he had found a treasure, and again trembles, lest he somehow lose it because robbers attack. 27.6 And just as the one who had to endure numerous public duties and expenses 2622 escaped [them] with great difficulty, and after that acquired enormous property and great wealth, and this 2623 [person] is no longer afraid of ruin or poverty 2624 because of the increased wealth - so spiritual people, who first went through 2625 terrible places, then, being filled with grace 2626, They are no longer afraid of those who want to plunder them, because they have wealth 2627. However, they have 2628 fear - not the fear of beginners 2629, frightened by evil spirits, but fear and concern about how to manage the spiritual gifts entrusted to them. 27.7 II, 16, 12 This 2630 man considers himself humble in comparison with all people, both sinners and disorderly ones; and the more he enters into the wealth of 2631 grace and light, the more he considers himself poor 2632, and such a thought is planted in him as natural; and the more 2633 enters into the knowledge of God, the more he considers himself ignorant; The more he studies, the more he admits that he knows nothing. This promoting grace produces in the soul as something natural. 27.8 Just as if a baby carried by a young man on the run 2634 2635 no longer does what he wants, but 2636 the one holding him [in his arms] carries him as 2637 wants - so the deep-penetrating grace holds [in his arms] the mind and lifts him to heaven, and lifts him into his own 2638 world, into perfect 2639 peace 2640. 28 II, 15, 29b (p. II, 27), cf. I, 32, 16b For Christians, even in sorrowful circumstances, do not grieve or grieve. If they are tested by poverty and suffering or failure, then they should not resist 2641, but rather rejoice 2642 and prefer 2643 poverty 2644 to wealth, and fasting to pleasure, 2645 dishonor to glory. And vice versa, when they encounter something [considered in] this life as luxurious and 2646 glorious, which prompts them to achieve 2647 apparent peace, or wealth, or fame, or luxury, then they should not enjoy it and calm down, but rather flee [from it] as if from fire. 29.1 II, 15, 43b (p. II, 41) 2650 The soul is more precious than all creatures, because one person is created in the image and likeness of God. Behold this heaven 2651, how vast it is and the earth, how precious is the structure of creation 2652, but man is more precious than all creations 2653, because the Lord was pleased with him alone, although the whales of the sea, mountains and animals are larger in appearance than him 2654. For God says: “Let us make man in our image and likeness” 2655 2656. Therefore, consider your dignity, how precious you are even in comparison with 2657 angels 2658 when He Himself personally came to earth to be your Intercessor and Redeemer. 29.2 II, 15, 44 (r. p. 42) Therefore, God and angels came for your redemption and 2659 salvation. The King, the Son of Kings, created the council of 2660 and, having come 2661, laid down His soul on the cross. And so great is God’s love for man that the immortal 2662 is crucified for you 2663. “For God 2664 so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” 2665 for it 2666: “How can He not also freely give us all things?” 2667 2668. And in another place the Scripture says: “Truly, truly 2669 I say to you, 2670 he will set him over all his possessions” 2671 2672. After all, Elisha 2673 2674 when he was on the mountain and foreigners were coming against him, [and] the boy said: 2675 alone,” answered 2676 Elisha 2677: “Don’t you see that there are regiments and many angels helping us around us?” 2678. Do you see that the whole 2679 multitude of angels is with the servants of God 2680? Therefore, how much does the soul mean 2681 if God and the angels seek it in order to have it in His own fellowship and in the kingdom, and Satan and his forces seek it [to attract] it to their side. 29.3 II, 15, 45 (p. 43) Just as in the visible [world] the king is served not by 2682 2683, but by [2684] good-looking 2685 well-mannered people, so in the heavenly palace 2686 - immaculate, blameless, pure in will 2687 and 2688 beautiful 2689, having no vice, the most noble ones enter the royal community - so in the spiritual [only] souls, adorned 2690 > with good 2691 morals and customs 2692, are honored with communication with the heavenly King. 29.4 If 2693 in the visible [world] a prince stays somewhere, and this house turns out to be unclean 2694, the house is repaired, well cleaned, perfumes are placed 2695 - how much more the house of the soul, in which the Lord rests, needs a lot of decoration, so that the Immaculate and Pure 2696 can enter there and rest there. For in such a heart God and the entire heavenly Church rests. 29.5 II, 15, 46 (p. 44) For 2697 in the visible [world], if a father has property, there are also crowns and precious stones, then he hides them in the storerooms of churches and saves them for his beloved son and gives them to him 2698. So God entrusts His own nature 2699 with His 2700 jewels to 2701 souls. 29.6 In the visible [world], if war comes, and the king goes to war with his army, and his side is smaller 2702, he immediately “sends an embassy to ask 2703 for peace” 2704. And if a strong people meets a strong 2705, and a king with a king, for example, a Persian with a Roman 2706, then 2707 it is necessary for both kings to move with their entire army. Therefore, you see 2708 what your dignity is, because God with His own army, together with 2709 angels and spirits, moved into battle with the enemy in order to deliver you from death. 2710 God came for you. 29.7 II, 15, 47 (r. p. 45) Imagine 2711 that the king will find 2712 a beggar who has leprosy on all his limbs, and will not be ashamed, but will apply medicine to all his ulcers, and heal his scabs, and, finally, bring 2713 to the royal meal, and put purple on him, and make his king. This is what God did with the human race: he washed away people’s wounds, healed them, and brought them into the heavenly bridal chamber. 29:8 Therefore, the dignity of Christians is so great 2714 that from the beginning, from the time of the creation of Adam, until the end of the world, if [man] struggled against Satan, resisting and opposing, he did not do anything worthy of the gift, giving and glory that he is going to inherit in the Kingdom of Heaven. 29.9 And if you are arrogant and dissolute 2715, then what are you like? After all, just like a city, if it has no walls, then robbers freely enter it from wherever they want, and devastate and burn it, so you, if you are careless and angry 2718 at yourself, then evil spirits come, turn and empty the mind into nothing, scattering thoughts in this age. 29.10 II, 15, 48 (p. II, 46) Many, strictly observing the external, practicing the sciences and caring about the right life, consider this perfection, without delving into their heart, without noticing there the vices that possess the soul. Meanwhile, in the depths of the bodily 2719 members there is a root of vice, and in the house there lurks a robber, that is, a resistive force, an intelligent hypostatic essence 2720 . And if someone does not fight against sin, then internal vice, spreading gradually, with its increase leads a person to commit obvious sins, because [evil 2721], like the opening of a source 2722, always exudes a stream, and immediately 2723 you cannot 2724 hold back the streams 2725, but 2726 you combine and enjoy and, finally 2727 , you fall into a thousand evils, as if numb with horror 2728 and becoming insane. 29.11 This happens when a noble man, [living] carefree, rich, is suddenly taken by the servants 2729 , officials 2730 2731 of the prince and taken away, telling him 2732: “You are accused of a crime and are subject to a death sentence,” - and, frightened by such terrible news 2733, he already loses all reasoning, as if numb with horror. II, 15, 49 (p. II. 47) Imagine 2734 the same about evil spirits. 29.12 For the visible world, from the king to the beggar 2735, is all in confusion, in disarray, in strife, and none of them knows the reason [for this], for the evil 2736 that came as a result of Adam’s disobedience is implicit, “the sting of death is sin 2737” 2738, because the one that came 2739 is rational the power and intelligent 2740 essence of Satan has sowed all evil: he secretly acts on the inner man and on the mind and fights [with him] with thoughts; and people do not know that they are doing this, prompted by an alien 2741 force; on the contrary, they think that this is natural and that they are doing this by their own nature 2742. But in their very minds, those who have the peace of Christ and the illumination of Christ know where these [thoughts] come from. 29.13 II, 15, 50 (p. II. 48) For this world 2743 suffers from the disease of vice and does not know [it]. For there is an unclean fire that inflames the heart and so runs through all the members and prompts people to lewdness and to thousands of evils. And those who are irritated and enjoy themselves [with thoughts], internally, in their hearts, commit fornication; and when evil thus finds food for itself, they fall into open fornication. Understand the same about the love of money, about vanity, about arrogance, about jealousy, about irritability. 29:14 Just as if someone is invited to dinner and is offered 2744 a lot of food, then sin inspires him to taste everything, and so the enjoying soul is burdened. 29.15 For 2745 the mountains are difficult to pass 2746 in the middle 2747, and rivers, and many 2748 snakes, poisonous animals and reptiles. And just as a whale swallows a person into its belly, so sin swallows souls. Passions are a burning fiery flame and “fiery arrows” 2749 2750, because evil has been nurtured and laid a foundation in souls 2751. 29.16 II, 15, 51 (p. II. 49) But the wise, when passions arise, do not listen to [them], but after [those] begin to add 2752 [flammable material], they reject [them], and are angry at evil wishes, and become enemies of themselves; because Satan greatly desires peace and spaciousness in his soul and grieves and is embarrassed when the soul itself does not obey. 29.17 There are some, held 2754 by Divine power, who, if they see 2755 a young man with a woman, 2756 although they do not think 2757 anything at all, 2758 and 2759 their mind is not defiled, and do not commit 2760 internal sin, but one should not yet be bold 2761 because of such a matter. And there are others in which the passions 2762 have completely ceased, faded and dried up, but these are the measures of the great. 29.18 Just as experienced [people] 2763, naked, descend into the depths of the sea and [go] to death under the water in order to find pearls there suitable for a royal crown and for purple, so the monks, having stripped themselves of everything, leave the world and plunge into the depths of the sea of wickedness and into the abyss of darkness, and from the depths they take and carry away precious stones and pearls 2764 entering the crown of Christ, the heavenly Church, the new age, the luminous city, the angelic cathedral. 29.19 II, 15, 52 (p. II, 50) After all, 2765 just as many species [of fish 2766 ] are caught in a net, and those that are unfit, the fisherman 2767 again throws 2768 into the abyss 2769 2770 , so the depth of grace spreads to everyone and [for everyone] seeks repose; but 2771 people do not obey, and therefore are again plunged into the very depths of 2772 darkness. 29.20 Just as gold is found by washing out a lot of sand 2773 like millet 2774, so out of many a few are skillful. 29:21 For those who work for the kingdom are evident; those who adorn his word are also visible; in the same way, they are visible and dissolved with heavenly salt and speak borrowed from the treasures of the Spirit. And the vessels in which God is pleased and to which He gives His grace are visible. And others, with much patience, accept the sanctifying power into themselves according to the manifold will of the Lord. Therefore, whoever speaks, but is not guided by heavenly light and wisdom, cannot place conviction in everyone’s mind, because there are many wills, and some 2775 are in battle, while others are in peace. 29.22 II, 15, 53 (r. p. 51) Imagine a deserted city, and someone wants to rebuild it again: immediately he completely destroys what threatens to fall and has fallen, and so he begins to dig 2776 and builds a structure, 2777 >. Or 2778 > plants a garden in empty and stinking places, he first begins to clean [the place], surround it with a fence, prepare water pipes and plant 2779 so that 2780, after a long time, the garden produces fruits. So the wills of man, through crime, became wild, desolate, overgrown with thorns, for God said to him 2781: “The earth will grow for you thistles and thorns” 2782 2783. Therefore, a lot of work and achievement is required to find someone and lay the foundation, until heavenly fire descends into the heart 2784 and begins to clear the thorns, and so [people] begin to be sanctified 2785. 30:1 Spoken words exhort and motivate the soul, but these words themselves need deeds. For behold, the Scripture, and the law, and the teachers, and God speak words, so that these words become deeds in the soul. 30.2 So the Lord, having come to earth, did work on it, since it cultivated the land that had become unusable and abandoned, weeded out thorns and thistles 2786 from it, took a young seedling from it 2787 2788 and planted a new heavenly plant in it. After all, if He had wished to descend to earth as an undisguised Deity, neither people could have endured the sight of His glory, nor death itself, nor creation; but He put the greatness of His glory 2789 in one part, and used agricultural tools, and took on the appearance of a farmer, and likewise put on the vessels 2790 of body and soul [as] clothing, and, having entered thus, cultivated the wasteland of the heart. For if Israel could not bear the glory of Moses, 2791 much less could any man bear the Divine glory. So, He took on the appearance of a farmer and the clothing of a ploughman. Just like a worker who took working tools and a plow and plowed the land, so the Lord, taking work clothes, sent laborers 2792 to the earth, cultivated it, dug deep and threw the heavenly crops. 30:3 Just as in court a ruler sits in front of the platform, and then a curtain is placed on the door so that [those] on the other side would be more cheerful and not afraid, so the Divinity itself hid itself in humanity, and used the human body as if it were a cover or a curtain, and commands from without, and becomes another person. [Christ] is a fisherman who cast a net into the depths of the sea, and pulled Adam out of the dark depths, and now [the drowning man] floats above the water. 30.4 After all, was it difficult for the Divine, unveiled, as It was in Itself, to kill death? On the contrary, having received the body, It was more offended and suffered. However, marvel at His wisdom and glory, how the dead body descended and again fastened with His art the very dust, bones and bonds, split the stones and resurrected the dead bodies. And there It cursed the principles and powers, triumphed over Satan and over the tomb, and thus again achieved victory and redeemed the enslaved Adam from the heaviest burden of death. He Himself is the Weapon, He Himself is the Warrior, for therefore victory is given to Adam. This is the work the Lord accomplished when he came to earth and descended into hell. After all, when after the crime a bitter tree was planted in Adam, the Lord came to uproot it and plant new heavenly plants. We expressed these thoughts 2793 so that, along with the word, someone would take action, so that the word itself would become action and power. 30:5 For just as there is a city that has walls, and there are many things in the city in the squares, and the royal faces and the royal purple itself are painted on them; Some create likenesses of statues from copper, others - images, others paint the sea and fish, others - likenesses of birds with painted wings that do not live or fly, some paint the sun with rays, others depict the sky and stars. But this is dead, having no soul and no power to move them. Approach the image of the king and speak to him, and he does not hear, does not answer you and does not move, because he does not have a soul moving him. Go to the statues depicted on copper or on wood: in a similar way, there you will find dead images that have no voice and no living soul. You watch painted birds, and they don't walk or fly. You see the painted sun: look for light from Him, and it cannot give [it] to you. Why? Because it has no driving essence. So the whole Adam, because of the transgression of the commandment, had a certain image of the first man, but did not have a heavenly soul and a divine image living in him. Therefore, he is dead, having [removed] from God, and has neither wings to fly into the divine air, nor light to be enlightened and receive an inheritance along with the heavenly light. 30.6 The old leaven of 2794 darkness, the enemy's leaven entered and leavened all of Adam 2795, and in some part Adam himself was mixed with vice. Having the image of the first sculpting, he still could not live in God, and no one was able to give him either life force or a moving soul: neither Moses, nor the prophets, who brought only some kind of shadow and the promise that the Redeemer would come. 30:7 But just as a king looks at his image and approaches it and carefully takes care [of it], because it is his own image, so the Lord sent his image through the law, and later the Hypostasis itself followed. Since it was written in the law that where the old leaven is found, [the soul of that] 2796 will be destroyed, so the Lord in the last days 2797 cleansed and destroyed all the old leaven 2798 that had distorted the mind and soul of Adam, threw the [new] leaven 2799 into Adam’s land and again leavened Adam with heavenly leaven. 30.8 Therefore, although words are beautiful, they are a shadow of true things 2800. This means that a living image is needed so that the coming heavenly image of Christ is mixed with the soul, and then [he] can live in God, in order to receive from there the wings of the Spirit and arms, legs and eyes for walking in the Divine air, seeing the light of heaven and creating Divine work. But the artisans themselves, who created wooden, copper, gold and silver images 2801, also made images of people, animals and beasts. Go there, look: you do not find a soul, you do not hear a voice so that they answer you, for they have eyes and do not see 2802, they have legs and do not walk 2803 2804. 30:9 So the Lord stood in the midst of the foundation of the earth, and by His power He brought the whole world to Himself, for His burden was filled with all kinds of blessings, and He placed His box 2805 full of various valuable royal [treasures]. You find everything there. He encourages everyone and brings all of Adam with the words: “I am a merchant, and my box is full. I am a doctor and I have many types of medicines. Let the lame take a remedy for his weakness, and the crippled take the medicine that heals his suffering, the blind take the ointment 2806 that opens his thorn, the dead take the soul that moves him, and be revived from his deadness.” 30.10 For just as through the body of Adam, the first man, death destroyed the whole world, raised an uprising and became arrogant, so again the Lord, with the very body he assumed, trampled on [her] 2807 and took the armor of [her] 2808 from man, freeing them 2809 2810 from the bitter yoke of slavery, for he threw down the net, tying the sinker of the body, and so descended in the dungeon, waged war against death and brought free Adam up. And below He won the victory, and above on earth He Himself condemned sin with the cross. 30:11 Therefore, let us cleave to Him day and night, and serve ourselves 2811, and imitate Him in everything. For just as you flow after Him, so He Himself, having descended from the holy heavens, followed you to find [you] again; and took on the form of a slave 2812 to deliver you from slavery; and left wealth and took on poverty 2813 to free you from the bondage of poverty; the immortal tasted death 2814 in order to revive you, who had been killed, from your death; I went through suffering and sorrow in order to save you from passions and temptations. For Satan himself, considering Him to be a man, went to tempt Him, and believed that He was mocking His body, and found itself caught in the body itself and condemned. 30:12 There are some who, if they rise up to serve the brothers, consider [it] as if it were a burden, robbed by sin. Don’t you see that the Lord who came showed the way both in the physical and in the spiritual? For, taking a towel 2815, He girded and washed the feet of the disciples. Is your heart so stony that it does not strive with righteous zeal to follow the Lord and serve your brothers? 30:13 Their mother says about the sons of Zebedee: “Lord, I want my two sons to sit with You, one on your right hand and the other on your left.” The Lord answered: “It’s not up to Me [depends]” 2817 - because she asked only for her [sons]. Peter speaks of everyone, considering the brothers as if he were his own members, about whom he asked as fellow members: “We who have left everything and followed You, what will we have?” 2818. The Lord answered him, saying about many: “You, who have left everything and followed Me, will sit in the new age on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” 2819. And again: “You will receive a hundred times more in this age” 2820. 30:14 Therefore, let us all consider ourselves, brothers, as our own members and as one body. After all, we are all one member in Christ. For God so pleased that the lower and the heavenly became one Church into one totality of love 2821. Is it really possible that if a hand brings food to the mouth, it will do it for one member? Isn't it for the whole body? So we, many brothers, are one in Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Word 5. {Ο external asceticism, humility and discernment of dreams} 2822 1 Question. The outside man cannot see his backside. But if they say that the inner is like the outer, how can he see the back? Answer. Just as a bright pearl or firefly stone is visible from everywhere, so the soul is visible and shining from everywhere. 2.1 As if an experienced farmer sows the land depending on its quality and fertile layer, and sows wheat on one, barley on another, beans on the third, and adapts each land according to the quality, devoting one to a vineyard, the other to an olive grove, so the Lord in the lands of the heart measures grace with the measure of faith 2823 and the state of the recipient 2824 and, as the Spirit wants, acts in these three ways. And if many thousands [of people] are spirit-bearing, then in each case differently, “multiple and varied” 2825, they have manifested grace. 2:2 Just as, for example, Abraham, being rich, received the grace of God through faith, Elijah through courage and solitude in the desert, Job through patience, David through kindness and love for mankind, and all, having one spirit, acted differently. And the apostles, having all received the Comforter at one time, were involved [with Him] in many ways. But sinners are also provided with economic grace in abundance according to the free will of man. 2.3 Christians, when trials befall them, should not be surprised, but rather be amazed at the rest [from labors] and carelessness and look at our Lord Jesus Christ, how, having become our image, He endured ridicule, suffered and was crucified, and how some apostles were crucified, others had their heads beheaded, others “died by the sword” 2826, and the whole life of the majority the prophets was filled with dishonor. So, looking and looking at this foundation, we must rejoice, compassionate with Christ, and grieve when we are in glory and honor, as those who did not enter and did not touch the path of the Lord and the apostles, for their life passed in sorrows. Those who have entered the path of righteousness 2827 remain in grief, sorrow and tears, like a person grieving inconsolably for his dead only-begotten son. But even in such great grief there is joy, and in labor and sorrow there is consolation that stops even tears, so that sighs from the depths of the heart give pleasure to those who have acquired [them], since they rest and rejoice in a sorrowful life and are theirs for God 2828. Those who exceeded this measure wiped away every tear from the face of the soul 2829 and, putting aside sorrow with the help of the Lord, perceived joy and love. But this is the measure of the perfect. 2:4 So, Christians must endure every will of [their neighbor] without malice and long-suffering. And if you find one of your brothers who is a little deviated or lost in some way, but has some good intentions, do not deprive him of hope. After all, it is written: “Encourage one another, so that the limping does not go astray, but rather be healed,” 2830 if it can receive care. But it is better to serve every desire [of your neighbor] and not judge. If you judge your neighbor that he is a sinner, are you going to say to God, “I am righteous”? and if you say that he is filthy and unclean, then you are filthy and unclean to God. As you do with your neighbor, so does God do with you. If you love your neighbor 2831, God will come to you and love you. If you say: he is ignorant and of little understanding, 2832 then you are also ignorant before God and a vile ignoramus. And if you turn away from your neighbor, and the Lord turns away from you and does not accept you into the Kingdom, “for with the measure you use, [the same] will be measured back to you” 2833. 2:5 Let us therefore diligently carry out the commandments and walk in the true way, so that we may thus attain the truth, and let us not make excuses with sinful pretexts. But is it really true that when there is no true sobriety in us - after all, sobriety is abstinence from evil thoughts 2834 - should we reject it and not preserve it? No way. Is it really true that if within us there is a feminine heart 2835 that is captured by unclean inclinations and communicates [with them], then should we obviously commit fornication? Is it really true that when, having rejected the world, you find in your mind and soul the whole world and the whole earth, do you not need to renounce the external [world]? Is it really true that when you don’t pray a pure and true prayer, it doesn’t make you want to kneel for an hour? 2836.> 2.6 Like a wanderer who lived for a long time outside his city and wanted to return, making his way through wild places and [staying] at inns and hotels full of foul odors, he grieved and was sad in every possible way, remembering his homeland 2837 and the honors there, wealth, relatives and friends, all kinds of luxury and property stored there, and because of his favor and love for that, he wanted would go through everything and would not want to leave home for half an hour - so Christians stay in this century, as if in an inn and as if in deserted and banditry places, and, as if in the homeland of enemies and barbarians, they grieve and cry and can barely bear life in this century, but with their minds and inner man they are now in their own city of heaven 2838 and the world thereof, with like-minded 2839 angels, with the brother apostles, with the holy spirits, with the sweetest father Jesus Christ; [to] where crowns, glory and wealth are prepared for them, they return together. 2.7 Therefore, let none of us recognize God only in words, but let him have Him in the heart in all feeling and knowledge 2840. Therefore, great is your dignity, O man, surpassing all the diversity of creation. Look how vast the sky is, shining with stars, and the Lord was not pleased with it; and what are the lights on it, what and how great is the earth - and God, having despised everything, rests in good thoughts and heart. You alone are called the church of God 2841 and have become the dwelling place of the Divine for the rest and dwelling of the Lord. “For to whom will I look but to him who is meek and silent and trembles at My words?” 2842. And again: “I will appear to him myself” 2843, and I and My Father “will come and make our abode with him” 2844. You are God's possession, a royal inheritance. Do not despise it, man, but enter into the competition and strive to be worthy of the crown truly and truly. After all, many of us, having heard the word of Scripture and having acquired nothing of what Scripture speaks about, are alien to tangible work, only knowing how to speak. “But even if someone strives, he will not be crowned if he struggles illegally” 2845. Running, labor and competition, sorrow and hardship are necessary in order to rest forever and ever. 2:8 In part I will show you the immeasurable wealth prepared for those who compete. whoever, approaching the king, dressed in purple, says: “Leave royal dignity, get away from the sovereign power and go, herd pigs and put on dirty rags,” consider that the one who gives to a spiritual man, honored with a divine promise and enshrined in the heavenly city, wealth, dignity or earthly power, offers him stench, dishonor and insult, for he is immersed in those heavenly [things], and so rich and spiritually intoxicated, belonging to another city, consider everything external to be illusory, be it glory or boasting in verbal art, everything is shaky and not established on a solid foundation. 2.9 If someone is worthy of something, let him not think that he himself has fulfilled some virtue, looking at the humility of Christ and spitting, but let him learn that he is a man, entirely “earth and dust” 2846; let him look at himself to see if he is the son of the prophets and apostles. For without this heavenly possession, without this kingdom, without this Comforter, life and light, without pleasure, and peace, and joy - everything is dust. 2:10 Blessed are the souls of Christians, for they have Jesus Christ as their shepherd, the enlightener, the guide. What is more than that He entrusts His hypostasis and nature and merges with the mind and thoughts, and they gallop like lambs 2847 in the blessed kingdom? 2:11 Even if the farmer is experienced and cultivates the land with great skill, but because of the dryness and barrenness of the land, skill does not bring any benefit. And there is virgin land, truly fertile, whose fertility overcomes the inexperience of the toilers. 2:12 Those who have overcome sinful passions are freed from bodily passions and feverish labors and are always healthy. But they are not completely uncaring, for if they were all the time without worries and absolutely free, they would turn out to be virtuous and, as it were, forced by co-inherent grace, and the free will of man would no longer manifest itself. Since the will is in the middle [of the two principles] 2848, grace retreats, and sorrows and temptations are found on them. So, neither the righteous are constantly in sorrow, nor sinners are always carefree. 3.1 Question. If, just as the devil spoke to the Lord when he tempted Him in the desert with the words: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread,” 2849 - so does he fight with the righteous, uttering words from the outside for testing? Answer. Satan speaks mysteriously to those who have not yet reached perfection from within the soul through evil thoughts, 2850 and to infants he often appears from the outside in the form of ghosts in order to steal their mind. And to the great men who expelled him from within by divine power, he appears in confusion and confusion, so that the soaring mind does not have time to approach God. For when the mind is cleansed, it sees him inside and outside 3.2 2851 And what is surprising when the righteous also see Christ inside and outside? What does Stefan say? “I see the heavens opened and the Son of God 2852 standing at the right hand of God” 2853. And at first a light shone around Paul from outside, and [a voice] said, “Why are you persecuting Me?” 2854. And it is written about the apostles that they saw tongues of fire splitting between them 2855, and the crowd standing nearby saw and heard what happened. 3.3 Consequently, when the mind is the dwelling place of God and the evil one is driven out from there, the spiritual, because of their high purity, see both sin and grace as if from within. So, what is sought is for the mind to live and be strengthened with God. And if the body is oppressed and is completely destroyed, the soul will not experience any harm. For does the flesh suffer in any way if the robe that covers it is torn? And Job, struck by the devil “from head to toe with fierce pus” 2856, was his mind damaged when he was strong in love and faith for God? 4.1 Question. If there is a good vision in a dream, then there is also an evil one? Answer. Those who have deep grace have constant prayer. If Satan does not stop fighting day or night, then how much more does grace help both day and night, and when you sleep. It happens that the body lies in sleep, but the mind is awake and lives towards God and cries and sees sweet faces. Jacob saw a ladder at night and angels ascending and descending 2857, and at night he wrestled with God 2858. After all, it is written: “Your sons will see visions and dream dreams” 2859. And an angel appeared to Joseph in a night vision, saying: “Do not be afraid, Joseph, but get up, take the Child and run to Egypt, for Herod wants to destroy Him” 2860. 4.2 If Satan is transformed “into an angel of light” 2861, into waters, clouds, being a slave and a creature, how much more is the rich God, incomprehensible by His nature, - for He is “an unapproachable light, Which no man has seen or can see” 2862 - changes Himself, transforming “from glory to glory” 2863, into bright clouds 2864 in the “sun of truth” 2865, into the clean air. 4:3 But here a great deal of discrimination is required in order to understand each case, for each being, when acting, attracts its own love and nature. Satan, material and earthly, attracts the mind to love the world and low things. The Divine action is heavenly and turns the mind away from the earth and carnal things, constantly drawing the mind to the remembrance of God, to love, prayer and sorrow. And just as leaven mixed with flour leavens “the whole dough,” 2866 so grace is leavened together with the soul and makes one dough. After all, the Lord says: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until it was all leavened.”2867 4.4 But it also happens that Satan “through the art of deception” 2868 shows something bright or something else of this kind. Since it is unpleasant and leads to confusion, without arousing either the desire for God, or peace, or patience, or grace, the soul repents 2869, experiencing disgust, so that what happens to it again considers it sweet, even 2870 2871 if it seems less bright. And the mind is more encouraged and enjoys this, because it feels the sweetness, and the return of the Lord, and the sweetest taste, and that, apparently brightest, since it has neither peace nor grace and does not bring relief to the body and soul, as grace acts, but is more burdensome, it becomes obvious that it is from Satan. Do you see that everything depends on action, and by this the mind can distinguish between visions, which are from Satan, and which are from grace? 4.5 {Continuously 2872 converse with body and soul. Tell your body: “What should we do in this world? Our time is short. Soon you will die and go to the grave.” Tell your soul: “What are you doing here? Go away, run to God, so that you will not be punished by eternal fire, fight the fighter who is disfiguring your mind”} 2873. Word 6. About bad thoughts, how they act in the heart 2874 1 When you kneel down to pray and want to send your mind to God, you are in your homeland, and you resist the thought and bring it out from there. But when you again want to direct your thoughts to God, another thought distracts you from everyday worries. Again you force yourself to raise your mind: another thought has drawn you to fornication. Again you return your thought from there: another thought dragged you to the love of money. Another thought, in turn, filled your heart with anger: you are looking for peace, but for now you are filled with rage from within. When you again remove your thought from there, [the new one] is attracted by crafty demons, weighing you down to sleep. But still, do not give in, but fight with evil and seek God, so that He Himself may come and bring about victory. After all, you cannot cleanse yourself by your own strength, for Satan is stronger than you on the one hand, namely by throwing up thoughts. So we must seek God through diligent prayer, because He alone can bring peace to the mind of man. 2.1 [II, 26, 22b] II, 26, 23 2875 2876 And the brothers should not be surprised if they suffer sorrow from someone 2877. After all, in the Old [Testament] Moses and Aaron had 2878 the priesthood 2879 . Likewise, 2880 Caiaphas, sitting in their pulpit, himself persecuted and condemned the Lord. However, the Lord honored the priesthood and became a priest 2881. Likewise, the prophets who were persecuted were the same priestly 2882 generation 2883. Finally, Peter became the successor of Moses, [when] 2884 the new Church of Christ and the true priesthood were entrusted to him. 2.2 Now we have baptism by fire and 2885 2886 2887 and circumcision done in the heart 2888 because the Divine and heavenly Spirit dwells in the mind. But even these 2889, while they are in the flesh, are not free from worries: because of freedom [of will], they are in fear 2890. Only when the soul manages to enter this city of saints, then only will it be possible to remain without sorrows and temptations, for there is no care, or sorrow, or labor, or old age, or Satan, or warfare, but there is peace, joy, peace 2891 there. The Lord is called salvation through the salvation of the captives. He is called a physician because He gives heavenly and divine medicine and heals the passions of the soul when they to some extent prevail over the person himself. 2, Let's say[, for example]: there is a King and God Jesus, and an evil tyrant and ruler Satan. 2, {3} II, 26, 24 God and His angels want to make this man theirs in their kingdom, and the devil and his powers also want to make this man theirs 2893, so that the soul is between two beings. Finally, to which part the will of the soul inclines, it becomes a possession and a son. 2:4 So, when a father sends his son to a foreign land, where he meets animals along the way, he gives him drugs and antidotes, so that if animals or snakes attack him, he will use these means and kill the animals - so let us strive to receive the heavenly healing drug, the life-giving antidote, so that with its help we can kill the poisonous animals of unclean spirits. In fact, it is not easy to acquire a pure heart, and only with great feat and labor can a person acquire a clear conscience and heart 2894 in order to completely eradicate evil. 2.5 II, 26, 25 It also happens that in others there is grace, but the heart is [still] unclean. That is why those who fell fell because they did not believe that smoke 2895 and sin abided [in them] with grace. But all the righteous, walking the strait and narrow path 2896 2897, pleased God. Abraham, rich in God 2898 and in worldly terms, himself called himself earth and ashes 2899. And David says: “Reproaching men and humiliating people, I am a worm and not a man” 2900. Likewise, all the apostles and prophets suffered 2901, persecuted, reviled. 2.6 The Lord is the Way 2902. He came not for Himself, but for your sake, to become your image 2903. Look in what humiliation the King, the Son of Kings, God, the Son of God, came, “who took on the form of a servant” 2904. He was God and He Himself gave healing medicines and healed the wounded, and in appearance he seemed like one of the afflicted. II, 26, 26 But do not neglect the Divine dignity, seeing Him outwardly so humiliated, like us. It was for our sake, and not for His own sake, that He appeared like this. Think how humiliated and humiliated He was above all others at that hour when they shouted: “Crucify, crucify Him,” 2905 - and the people flocked! 2.7 And just as in this visible [world], if some villain is condemned by the prince, then all the people abhor him and humiliate him, so the Pharisees did not regard the Lord at that hour of the cross as a man who was about to die 2906 . Again, they then spat on His face, laid a crown of thorns, and strangled Him. For it is written: “He gave My back for wounds, but He did not turn My face away from spitting, and My cheeks for bruising” 2907. If God accepted so much reproach, suffering and humiliation, then no matter how much you humbled yourself - by nature mud and by nature mortal - you did nothing like Your Master. For your sake, God humbled Himself, but you do not humble yourself for your own sake, but are exalted and arrogant. He came to take upon Himself sorrows and hardships, but to give you His peace, but you don’t want to endure labor and suffering so that your wound can be healed? 3.1 III, 11, 1 2908 There are few who want to weigh pearls and test precious stones: many have pearls, but, not having the ability to discern, they do not know what kind of treasure they have. Those who are able to distinguish or know how to check both the coin and the counterfeit. 3.2 There are others to whom grace is secretly inherent, and goodness inclines towards them, and they do good [deeds], but they do not know by whom they are moved, because they possess it implicitly 2909 and do not suspect [about it] 2910. But the wise are not only obliged to say in prayer that we are praying, but when we get up, we must stop [prayer], but we must always take care and always pray, because inherent evil, and childishness, and habitual sin always pour out like the spring of a spring 2911, and thoughts in the soul never cease; After all, not only during prayer do thoughts occur, but also when you do something, and when you lie down, they always pour out. So you also have the will to always object to them. 3.3 When you see a rich man in the world, the [evil one] immediately inspires you that he is glorious, and you immediately object: all this is decay, my concern is for that everlasting wealth. If he shows you a beautiful woman, inspiring you with lust, immediately say: impurity [this lust]; look, the coffins are full of dead bones 2912. Do you see glorious things, as happens in [this] life: buildings, cities - you always build your soul spiritually and always object to the inherent sin, because you have the will, and always pray to God. And when you pray, what do you say? I ask you, I ask you, Lord. Say the same thing when you walk, eat, drink 2913, and never stop; after all, even if good 2914 comes to a person, prayer still does not stop, but the Spirit Himself always prays in him. This is the measure of the great and perfect; and when they go [where] or meet [with whom] - and then they pray to the Lord. 3.4 Therefore if anyone says: when I kneel, I pray 2915 object, then he is a simpleton and has no discernment 2916; sin is always at war, and the mind has [the will] to always resist and resist the inherent evil, whether [where a person goes], or travels, or what he does. What his mind is bound to is God; if you are bound by lust, or gluttony, or the love of money, the one who bound you is God, “for whoever is conquered by someone is his slave” 2917. And if, having renounced the world, you again enter it through a loophole and, having renounced carnal copulation, do not strive to unite with the Heavenly Bridegroom and the Holy Spirit, then what benefit does it serve you if you left the world 2918? If, having left your property, fortune and all your goods, instead of visible wealth you do not acquire other wealth, instead of [visible] luxury - heavenly luxury, and instead of [your] children you yourself do not become a child of God 2919, then what is the use of your renunciation [of the world]? You have become salt, having lost its strength, and you no longer have anything worldly, having left it, you have not acquired anything heavenly or spiritual, and have achieved nothing at all. 3.5 III, 11, 2 Like the pupil of the eye, it can see many things: the sky, the earth, the sun; when some small speck 2921 gets into the pupil and obscures it, the eye becomes blind and remains in darkness, so if a small child or darkening force obscures the mind, it becomes blind and sees nothing; if he regains his sight again, he will see spiritual and heavenly things. 3:6 Just as the cultivated land begins, so the soil of the heart, cultivated by the Holy Spirit, ceases to be a wasteland. 3.7 As if a certain city stood on an elevated place or on a mountain, and there would be peace and great peace in it, riches and treasures, and noble and chosen people would live in it 2922, but the path along which they go to that city would be narrow, the width of a foot, the footprint of one person, and on the right there would be a great fiery abyss, and on the left - the abyss of the sea, so that even if one’s foot stumbles a little on such a narrow path, a person is immersed in fire or water, but if someone, stepping firmly, goes through a difficult path and reaches the city, then he remains in peace and great wealth and in complete carelessness - the same in the spiritual. The path that Christians follow is difficult, because around them there is a great abyss of fire [from] unclean spirits. But if they manage to overcome them and pass through the palisade [and] fences of evil, then they will enter the heavenly city filled with great blessings, deep peace and tranquility, where the spirits of the righteous rest. 4.1 II, 27, 9 Question. If others fall after visiting grace, does not Satan turn out to be much more powerful? For where there is day, how can there be night? Answer. Grace does not so much fade away or become exhausted, but grace gives way to malice so that your free will is tested, in which direction you are inclined. So, by your own will, you give power to evil, and, by your own will, approaching the Lord, you again incline grace to visit you. For why is it written: “Do not quench the Spirit” 2923? Can the Spirit really be quenched? He is inextinguishable and luminous. But you, not working according to your own will and not coordinating [it with Him], are extinguished spiritually. Likewise, Scripture says, “Grieve not the Holy Spirit with whom you are sealed.”2924 You see that it is in your will and power to honor and not grieve the Holy Spirit. I tell you that even perfect Christians, captivated and intoxicated with goodness, have a will, which is why some minor shortcomings are often discovered in them. Likewise, someone intoxicated with evil has free will, thanks to which many, experienced in a thousand evils, turn to good. 4.2 II, 27, 10 Imagine people of rank, rich and noble, and they, of their own will and desire, will leave wealth, rank and nobility and, having retired, will put on unclean and poor clothes, and instead of glory - in dishonor, and will find themselves in disaster and humiliation: this is left to their own will. 4:3 But I tell you that the apostles, perfected in grace, had such a will that if they themselves wanted to do something displeasing to grace, grace would not have prevented them from doing what they wanted. After all, our nature is receptive to both good and evil, and the resistive force encourages, but does not force. So, you have free will to bend where you want. Don't you see that Peter - the big [husband] - was "subject to reproach" 2925, and Paul who came denounced him, and such a [man] was "subjected" to further "reproach"?! And Paul spiritually of his own free will conversed with Barnabas, and they separated from each other 2926. And he again says: “You who are spiritual, correct such a one, watching each one of you, so as not to be tempted” 2927. So the spiritual ones are tempted, since the will still remains in them, and enemies attack while a person is in this age, and he cannot be completely careless. 5.1 II, 27.11 Question. Could the apostles really sin if they wanted? Was not grace stronger than will itself? 2928 Answer. They could not sin and did not intend to, being in the light and a little grace. However, we do not claim that grace was weak in them, but we say that grace allows even perfect spiritual [men] to have an autocratic will to do what they want and turn wherever they want. Human nature itself is weak and has the power to change, although goodness remains [with it] 2929. 5.2 Just as those who are fully armed, armored and [other] weapons are already strengthened from the inside: when they are strong, enemies no longer attack them, right? that is, they attack, but it is in their will to use weapons and resist the enemies, to confront and win, or, on the contrary, in the will of those who have weapons to enjoy and be at peace with the enemy, so that, despite the military vestments, they may not fight - so Christians, having put on divine power and having heavenly weapons, if they wish, enjoy with Satan, and make peace with him, and do not fight, since nature [conveniently] bowed down, and if anyone wants, he becomes the son of Satan or, if he wants, the son of God, because free will remains. 6.1 II, 27, 12 It is one thing to talk about bread and a meal, and another thing to eat and eat bread 2930 and be strengthened with all members. It’s one thing to talk about the sweetest drink, and another thing to go and draw from the source itself and be satisfied with tasting the sweet drink. It’s one thing to tell stories about war and valiant fighters and warriors, and another thing for a person to go into military formation and engage in battle with enemies, advance and retreat, take and deliver blows and win. So it is here. It is one thing to clarify words with the help of knowledge and mind, and another thing is to have the treasure, grace, taste and operation of the Holy Spirit essentially, truly and surely in the inner man and in the mind. 6:2 Those who speak empty words dream and become puffed up in their minds. “For our word,” says [the apostle], “and my preaching is not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and power” 2931. And again in another place he says: “The purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart and unfeigned faith, from which, having departed, some” “suffered shipwreck in faith” 2932. Do you see that those who can speak are shipwrecked in the truth? 6.3 Strive most of all to have love for God in a pure heart and unfeigned faith 2933. For such a one does not fall. A door was opened for many who sought God, and they saw a treasure, and approached it, and as soon as they began to joyfully say: “We have found a treasure,” the doors closed before them 2934 2935, and they began to cry out, cry and search [again]: “We found a treasure and lost it.” Grace withdraws economically so that they may seek [God] more strongly. After all, treasure is revealed only as one seeks it. 7 II, 27.13 Question. Since others say that after [accepting] grace they passed from death to life 2936, then cannot 2937 anyone, while abiding in the light, have unclean thoughts or think about dark things? Answer. It is written: “Having begun in the Spirit, you are now being finished in the flesh” 2938. By the way, 2939 there are two † images 2940 † 2941. The Apostle says: “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can resist the wiles of the devil” 2942. Where is he who puts on arms, and where is he who fights “against the principalities, against the powers” ​​2943 who are in the light? And again [says the apostle]: “So that you may be able” to “quench the fiery arrows” of the devil 2944. Therefore, first [the warrior] puts on weapons and then quenches the fiery arrows of the devil. And again [says]: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you are sealed” 2945. And he also says: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the gift of God and become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have fallen away [to be renewed by repentance]” 2946 - so both the enlightened and those who have tasted [the Spirit] fall. You see that [the Christian] has the will to be in agreement with the Spirit and has the will to grieve [Him]. This means that he is fully armed in order to go to war and struggle against enemies, he is completely enlightened in order to fight darkness. 8:1 When a man departs from the world and his body is buried and covered with earth, then he no longer walks around, and is no longer engaged in the affairs of this world, and does not enter the city, since his body is buried under the earth, and no longer exists in this age - so those who have the foundation of the Lord seem to be in this age in the flesh, but in mind and heart they are transferred to another age, and there they are captive and nailed down. They are tied there of their own and not of their own free will. Then they pray physically or do not pray. He is captured there voluntarily and involuntarily. The captive is captured and held by another force stronger than him, walks, eats, sleeps. Since he remains where he left, he is intoxicated and always as if amazed and soaring in extraordinary activity and spiritual contemplation. 8.2 I am looking for such and such a foundation and have not yet found [it] among Christians, except among the many among a few. What the Lord says in the Gospel: “The kingdom of heaven is like a wise man who dug, went deep and laid a foundation on the rock. But when the flood and the winds happened, it [the house] did not fall, because it was founded on stone” 2947. It is almost indestructible, for the foundation we are talking about and the rock is the Lord Himself. Word 7. On free will 2948. About the need to work and cultivate the soil of the heart 1.1 Couldn't God have made the olive trees produce oil without labor, so that they wouldn't have to be planted in the ground? Or could He not [arrange] for the vine to bring wine to people without heavy digging and planting? Or for the land to produce grain without cultivating it? But this was arranged so that people would engage in agriculture and receive income not without labor. So it is in the spiritual: the one who works and cultivates the soil of his heart is given from above the “gift of the Holy Spirit” 2949. 1.2? It happens that [one] land is cultivated and cultivated deeply, and the other is not so well, but carelessly: both are sown, and the rain falls, but where the land was well cultivated and deeply cultivated, there the fruit multiplies, and the land is abundant, and the profit is then sweet for those who acquired it with difficulty. After all, those who receive ready-made wealth do not value it, but squander it generously, since they acquired it without labor. 1.3? Those who take possession of it with difficulty and diligence know how to protect and store wealth, knowing with what labor they acquired [it]. And if now the good was not acquired through hardship and labor, then [such people] would not value the “gift of grace” 2950 given to them, since they received it without labor. But now those who rejoice in grace are at peace because they know with what labors and sorrows they acquired it. Therefore wealth is sweet to them; It is this [grace] that is the treasury in spiritual [people], and the person consoled [by it] becomes more courageous than evil with the help of the grace that is with him 2951. 2 Question. Did Adam 2952 have the pure nature of 2953? Answer. Just as a spoken word 2954 or saliva comes out dispassionately, or a tongue moves dispassionately, so before the crime of 2955 Adam communicated dispassionately 2956 with Eve 2957 . 3 II, 26, 2 Question. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, is natural lust also eradicated along with sin? Answer. Before 2958 I said that sin is eradicated, and man takes on the original image of pure Adam. Thus, by the power of the Holy Spirit and as a result of spiritual rebirth, he comes to the measure of the first Adam and becomes [even] higher than him, because he is deified 2959. 4.1 II, 26, 3 Question. Is Satan allowed to a certain extent, or does he strive to attack [us] as much as he wants? Answer. He has no power not only over Christians, but also over idolaters and over the whole world. Therefore, if he were allowed to attack as much as he wanted, he would destroy all 2960, everyone would kill his neighbor 2961. Why? Because this is the will of Satan. 4:2 But like a scavenger, when he puts vessels [into the fire], he heats the furnace in moderation, not too much, so that the vessels fired for longer than the proper time do not crack, but not too little, so that, remaining damp, they do not go to waste; and also the one who makes silver and gold things adds fire in moderation: if he increases the fire, then the gold and silver melt, liquefy and disappear; and if the human mind knows how to measure weights in accordance with the strength of animals, knowing how much load each of them can carry; - then how much more God, knowing the [strength] of human vessels, also allows the opposing force to fight with people in different ways. 4.3 II, 26, 4 And just as the land is the same, but where it is hard, and where it is fat, and one is suitable for planting grapes, and the other for sowing wheat and barley, so the very lands of human hearts and desires are different, and in accordance with this, gifts from above are given: one is given verbal teaching, another - “reasoning [of languages]”, another - “gifts” healings" 2962. God knows how someone can dispose of [what is given to him], and in accordance with this he gives various gifts. And similarly in battles, to the extent that people can accept and withstand [battle], to such an extent a resistive force is allowed to act on them. 5.1 II, 26, 5 Question. Having received the Divine power and changed in part, does he remain in [his] nature? Answer. So that even after grace the will can be tested to what it is inclined and whether nature agrees [with the Divine will] or remains identical to itself 2963: a severe [man] - in severity, and a light one - in lightness 2964. It also happens that an ignorant person is reborn spiritually [through reason], transformed into a wise person, and hidden secrets become known to him; by nature he is an ignorant person. Another, being as if harsh by nature, betrays his will to piety, and God accepts him; but the harsh nature remains, but God is pleased with it. Another is kind, modest, kind, devotes himself to God, and God accepts him. After all, the nature of all Adam 2965 is flexible to good and evil: although 2966 is susceptible to evil, but, if he wishes, completely 2967 2968. 5.2 II, 26, 6 Just as parchment is written in different ways: what you wanted, you wrote down and then erased again, because parchment accepts any writing, so a stern man surrendered his will to God, turned to good [and] was accepted by God; and the meek, who turns to good, is also accepted, because God, wanting to show His mercy, accepts everyone and every will. 5:3 The apostles, whatever city they entered, spent some time there and healed some of the afflicted, but not others. 2969. The apostles would have wanted to revive all the dead and make all those who suffered healthy, but their desire was not completely fulfilled, for they were not given the opportunity to do everything they wanted. Likewise, Paul, when he was detained by the ethnarch 2970, if the grace that was with him had been favorable, as a man who had the Comforter in himself, could have made sure that the ethnarch was stoned and the wall was broken; and meanwhile the apostle “was lowered in a basket” 2971. Where is the grace that abides [with them]? This was done according to God's vision, that in others the apostles performed signs and wonders, 2972 ​​so that through this the difference of faith in the faithful and the unfaithful would be made visible, human freedom and will would be tested and it would be revealed in weakness whether others were tempted. And if the apostles had done everything they wanted, then with signs they would have led people to godliness, as if by some kind of involuntary force, and thus their free will would have been taken away and there would have been neither faith nor unbelief. Christianity is “a stumbling block and a stone of temptation” 2973. 5.4 II, 26, 7 Moreover, it is not simply written about Job as Satan asked him to do, because he could not do anything on his own without permission. What does the devil say to the Lord? “Put him into my hands; will He bless you?” 2975. So now Adam is the same, and God is the same, and Satan is the same. At the very time when someone 2977 receives God's help and lives 2978 by grace and is zealous, Satan asks for it and says to the Lord: “Because you help him and protect him, he serves You. Leave him, give him over to me; “Will he bless you?” Finally, as if still calling the soul, grace retreats, and the soul gives in to temptations. 5.5 Therefore, the devil comes, causing it thousands of disasters, hopelessness, despair, evil thoughts, oppressing the soul in order to relax it and make it far from trusting in God. II, 26, 8 A prudent soul [both] in adversity and in sorrow does not lose hope, but says to itself: “Possess what you possess, and no matter how many temptations are brought upon you, hold on and say: even if I die, I will not leave Him.” And then, if a person endures to the end 2980, the Lord begins to argue with Satan: “You see how much evil and sorrow you caused him, and he did not listen to you, but he serves Me.” Then the devil is put to shame and can no longer say anything. 5:6 For if he had known about Job that, having been exposed to temptations, he would endure them and not yield victory over himself, he would not have asked him for himself, so as not to be even more disgraced. So now, those who endure sorrows and temptations, Satan is put to shame and repents that he did not benefit from anything. For the Lord begins to tell him: “Behold, he has allowed him to tempt; what could you [do]? Did he listen to you? 6.1 II, 26, 9 Question. Does Satan really know all thoughts and thoughts? Answer. If a person, when dealing with a person, knows what concerns him, and you, being twenty years old, know [what concerns your neighbor] 2981, then how can Satan, who has been with you since your birth, not know your thoughts when he is already 7000 2982 years old 2983? However, we do not say that before tempting a person, he knows what the person wants to do. For he tempts, but does not know whether the soul will obey or not, until it surrenders its will to him into slavery. We are also not talking about the devil and the fact that he knows all thoughts and desires. 6.2 Imagine a tree with many branches. Someone can get two or, by the way, three branches, but cannot [grasp] others - just like the soul has many members and branches, so that there are some branches of thoughts and thoughts that Satan takes control of, and other thoughts and thoughts that Satan is not able to take control of. 6.3 II, 26, 10 In another, the side of sin is stronger, with the exhaustion of [thoughts] 2984, in another, the human thought again [wins], accepting help and deliverance from God and resisting malice; in another, [a person] is overcome, and in another, he has [his own] will. It sometimes happens that a person approaches God with ardor; Satan knows [this] and sees that man acts contrary to him, and cannot take possession of a man who comes to God, because he has the will to cry out to God, has the natural fruits of loving and coming to God, believing [in Him], desiring to approach [Him]. 6:4 For even in the visible world the farmer cultivates the earth, but needs rain and downpours from above. If there is no rain from above, then the work of the farmer who cultivated the land is useless - so in the spiritual [world] things are presented in two forms. Therefore, it is necessary, according to [one’s own] will, to cultivate one’s land and work, because God requires labor, effort and effort from man. But if a heavenly cloud and blessed rain do not appear from above, the toiling farmer will not succeed in anything. 6.5 II, 26, 11 This is a sign of Christianity: no matter how hard you work, no matter how many righteous deeds you perform, you must remain in the thought as if you had not done anything: “When I fasted, I did not fast; praying, did not pray; while in prayer, he did not remain; I am barely a beginner 2985 in asceticism and work.” Even if you were righteous before God, say: “I am not righteous, I don’t work, I’m just starting every day, I’m rejected.” But every day a Christian must also have hope, joy and hope for the future kingdom and deliverance [and say] 2986: “If I am not delivered today, I will be delivered tomorrow” 2987. 6.6 So he who plants a vineyard, before starting to work, has joy and hope in himself, and when there is no wine yet, he vividly imagines 2988 and calculates the income, and in such thoughts he sets to work; hope and expectation force him to work diligently, and for now he incurs large economic costs. Likewise, the housebuilder and the farmer first spend a lot of their [property] in the hope of future profit. And especially if a person does not have joy and hope before his eyes that “I will be involved in deliverance and life,” then he cannot endure sorrows and take on the burden and [the procession] along a narrow path. And the hope and joy that accompany [him] enable him to work willingly and endure sorrow. 6.7 II, 26, 12 Just as it is difficult for a brand to escape from fire, so the soul cannot escape the fire of death except with great difficulty. Most often, Satan, as if under the guise of good thoughts, that it is possible to please this God 2989, makes his suggestions to the soul and so imperceptibly steals it 2990 in subtle and specious thoughts; and the one who is being robbed does not know how to discern [treachery] and therefore falls into the snare and destruction of the devil 2991. 6.8 The most important thing 2992 for a fighter and ascetic is that a person, having entered his heart, makes war with Satan, hates him 2993, renounces his soul 2994, gets angry and defeats his usual desires, and confronts and argues with his thoughts 2995, fights with himself 2996. 6:9 II, 26, 13 But if you outwardly keep your body from corruption and fornication, but inwardly commit adultery before God and commit fornication in your thoughts, then your virgin body will not benefit you. 6:10 Just as if a young man by cunning seduces a maiden and corrupts her, then she becomes an abomination to her fiancé for fornication, so an incorporeal soul that enters into communication with the serpent nesting within, the evil spirit, commits fornication before God. For it is written: “Whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart” 2997 2998 - since there is fornication committed bodily, and there is fornication of the soul entering into communication with Satan. After all, the soul itself becomes an accomplice and sister either of demons, or of God and angels, and so, by committing adultery with Satan, it becomes unfit for the heavenly Bridegroom - Christ. 7.1 II, 26, 14 Question. Does Satan ever calm down, and is a person freed from warfare, or must he continue to struggle while he lives? Answer. Satan never rests in war as long as man lives in this age and bears flesh. But when the “kindled arrows of the devil” 2999 are extinguished, then nothing 3000 harms a person, even if 3001 Satan comes to fight 3002 For example, there is a friend of kings, and he is suing a rival. Therefore, when he wins over the king to his side so that he becomes his friend and helps him, and goes through all the ranks and degrees, and becomes a friend of the king, then from whom can he suffer anything? In the visible [world] there are many 3003 who receive gifts and supplies 3004 from the king and bear duties. What loss do they suffer when they receive so much and are complained about by the king? Likewise, Christians, even if the enemy attacks them from time to time, have refuge in the Divine; they have clothed themselves with strength from above 3005 and peace, and war does not disturb them. 7:2 II, 26:15 Just as the Lord, leaving all rulership and power 3006, took on the body, so Christians are clothed with the Holy Spirit and remain in peace. Even if Satan advances and strikes from the outside, then internally they are clothed in the armor of the Lord with the power and are not at all alarmed by Satan’s attacks. When he tempted the Lord in the desert for forty days 3007, did He harm Him in any way by approaching [His] body from the outside 3008, for He was God incarnate? Likewise, Christians, even if they are tempted from the outside, are internally filled with the power of the Divine and do not tolerate any offense. The measure of it is this: whoever has achieved the perfect love 3009 of the Lord, [then] has also achieved “the fullness of the Divinity” 3010; if someone has achieved grace [only] partially, he still internally wages war. At another hour he rests in prayer, at another hour he is in sorrow and battle. For this is what pleases the Lord, and since [the man] is still a child, the Lord trains himself in warfare; inside, as it were, two faces appear: light and darkness, peace and sorrow; [at other times] they are at peace 3011 3012, and at others they are in confusion. 7:3 II, 26, 16 Do you not hear what the apostle says? If I have everything, “if I give my body to be burned, and if I speak with the tongues of angels, but do not have love, then I am nothing” 3013. For these gifts stimulate only [to perfection], both those who have achieved them are still infants, and in the light. Some of the brethren ascended to this degree and had “gifts of healing” and the revelation of prophecy 3014, but since they had not yet arrived at perfect love, in which “the totality of perfection” 3015, warfare arose against them, and through negligence they fell. But whoever achieves love becomes a prisoner and captive of grace. And whoever comes almost close to the measure of love, but has not yet achieved the point of becoming a prisoner of love, is still under fear, [he is threatened] with war and fall; and if he is not established, Satan will overthrow him. 7:4 II, 26, 17 This is how others were led astray. Since there was grace in them, they thought that they had achieved perfection, and said: “We have had enough, we have no more need.” The Lord is infinite and incomprehensible, so Christians do not dare to say: “We have comprehended,” but they humble themselves day and night, seeking [God]. 7.5 In the visible [world], verbal sciences are inexhaustible, and no one knows this except a scientist who has partially studied [them]. So here too, no one knows that He is incomprehensible and immeasurable, unless He has tasted it in part; from the fact that he tasted it, he realizes his weakness. If someone who knows a little science comes to a village where people who have not studied live, he will be glorified by them as a scientist, because the villagers do not know how to judge [the sciences]. And if this same person who has little knowledge [in the sciences] comes to a city where there are vitii and scientists, he does not dare to appear and speak before them, because the scientists will pronounce on him the [same] judgment as on a villager. 8.1 II, 26, 18 Question. If a person is [still] in battle, when two faces exist in his soul 3017: both sin and grace, but it happens that he comes from this world, then where does the one possessed by both go? Answer. Where the mind has its goal and what it loves, there it goes. If sorrow or abuse befalls you, you should only resist and hate. For it is not your business for war to come; and it’s your business to hate. And then the Lord sees your mind that you strive and love the Lord with all your soul, 3018 and it is not difficult for the Lord in a single hour to remove death from your soul and accept you into His bosom and snatch you into the light; in a single instant of time he snatches you from the jaws of darkness and immediately brings your soul into His kingdom. It is easy for God to accomplish everything in an instant, if only you had love for Him. God needs human activity, and man needs God’s activity, because the soul is a communion of the Divine. 8.2 II, 26, 19 And how often 3019 we have cited the parable of the farmer who, working and throwing seeds into the ground, must still wait for rain from above, and if the clouds do not appear and the winds do not blow, the farmer’s work will not bring him any benefit and the crops will not sprout - so apply it to the spiritual. If a person confines himself only to his own doing and does not accept something extraordinary for his nature, then he cannot bear worthy fruits 3020 to the Lord. 8.3? What is the work of man? To renounce, withdraw from the world, remain in prayer, in vigil, love God and brothers: all this is his own business. But if he confines himself to his own doing and does not hope to receive something else, and the winds of the Holy Spirit do not blow on the soul, the heavenly clouds do not appear, rain does not fall from the sky and water the soul, then a person cannot bear worthy fruits 3021 to the Lord. 8:4 II, 26, 20 After all, it is written that when a farmer sees “a branch bearing fruit,” he cleanses it so that it bears more [fruit], and “the one that does not bear fruit,” he uproots and burns it with fire 3022. A person should, whether he fasts, prays, or does something good, attribute his own to the Lord, saying this: “If God had not strengthened me 3023, then I could neither fast, nor pray, nor leave the world.” And God, seeing your good will, because you attribute your own, done by natural [forces], to Him, then He will give you His own - spiritual, divine, heavenly - and yours. What are the “fruits of the Spirit” 3024? Joy, fun. 9.1 II, 26, 21 Question. But since natural fruits are similar to these: love, faith, prayer, then show us the difference, how natural [fruits] exist and how [fruits] of the Holy Spirit exist? Answer. Actually, what you do is yours, although it is good and pleasing to God, it is nevertheless unclean. For example, you love God, but your love is changeable; God comes and gives you unchanging, heavenly love. You pray, and at the same time your thoughts naturally swirl; God gives you pure prayer, “in spirit and truth” 3025. 9:2, most often the ground itself produces thorns, so the farmer digs up [it], diligently cultivates it and sows; however, the thorns and the unsown grow and multiply, because according to the crime it is said: “The earth will grow for you with thorns and thistles” 3026. The farmer again works on the ground, digs up the thorns, and they multiply even more. Understand this spiritually: after a crime, the earth tears out thorns and thistles from the heart; the farmer cultivates [the land], works, and the thorns of unclean spirits still arise. Then “the Spirit himself helps the weakness” of man 3027, and the Lord puts heavenly seed into this land of the heart, cultivates it, and when the seed falls, thistles and thorns will be born. 9.3 Man himself and the Lord again cultivate the soul, and wicked and unclean spirits still arise and grow there again, until summer comes, grace “abounds” 3028 and the thorns dry up from the heat of the sun. 9.4 II, 26, 22 For although vice abides [in nature] 3029, it does not rule or have pasture. The tender stalks [of wheat] 3030 may be choked by tares and thorns 3031 . But when, with the onset of summer, the fruits become dry and ripen, then the tares do not harm the wheat in the least. 9.5? Let there be thirty measures of pure [wheat] 3032, but there is an admixture and chaff in it, for example, there will be some around the chinik 3033: the chaff will be invisible in the abundance of wheat. So it is in grace: if “the gift of God and grace” 3034 multiply in a person and he grows rich in the Lord 3035, evil, although somehow partially remaining in a person, does not [can] 3036 harm him and has no power over him or any share 3037 [in him]. 9:6 For the whole coming and providence of the Lord was for this purpose: to call back the lost [sheep] 3038 and to give life to the dead by the cross, for He condemned 3039 death in the flesh. “Because the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless, God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh [as a sacrifice] for sin, and condemned sin” 3040, “in order by death to deprive him of the power of the power of death and to deliver those who from the fear of death were subject to slavery throughout their lives” 3041. You see that the coming of the Lord was for the sake of those enslaved and subject and subject to death, to make them conquerors of death. [About] that man is a kind of great and honest vessel of God 3042 II, 27, 1 Know, O man, your nobility and dignity; How precious are you, man, brother of Christ, friend of the Tsars, bride of the heavenly Bridegroom! He who is able to know the dignity of his soul can know the power and secrets of the Divine, because, with the help of God's power, he sees his own fall. But just as [Christ] himself endured suffering and the cross, and then became glorified and “sat down at the right hand” 3043, so you must also suffer and be crucified, and so depart [from the world], be united with the body of Christ, and always reign with Christ in the next century, “if only you suffer with Him, so that you may be glorified with Him” 3044. Otherwise, it will be unfair for the Groom who came for you to suffer and be crucified, and for the bride for whom the Groom came to spin and relax. 11:1 Just as in the visible [world] a harlot recklessly gives herself over to everyone, so the soul has given itself over to every demon for communication and is corrupted by spirits. For some commit sin and evil voluntarily, while others do not voluntarily. What does it mean to do evil according to will or against it? 3045, those surrender their will to vice, enjoy it, are friends with it, those are at peace with Satan and in their thoughts do not wage war with him; and those who do this not of their own accord, they have within themselves a resistive force, warring in their members, according to the Apostle 3046, [which] is a dark force and a veil, but in their thoughts they do not agree, do not delight, do not obey, contradict, oppose, are angry with themselves. The latter are much better and more precious before God than the former, who, of their own free will, surrender their will to vice and delight in it. 11.2 II, 27, 3 Imagine that the king, having found some poor [youth] 3047 dressed in rags, was not ashamed, but took off her unclean clothes, washed away the dirt from her, adorned her with bright vestments, made her an accomplice of the kingdom 3048 and a participant in its meals and feasts. So the Lord found a wounded and contrite soul, gave it healing medicine, removed from it dirty clothes and the shame of vice, clothed it in royal, heavenly, divine, luminous and glorious robes, placed a crown on it and introduced it to the heavenly royal meal, for joy and gladness. 11.3 Imagine a garden: there are fruitful trees there, all are fragrant; There are many pleasant places there, quite beautiful, filled with fragrance and joy; no matter who goes up there, everyone rejoices, has fun and is at peace. So are the souls in the kingdom; they fully taste joy, joy and peace; they are kings, rulers and gods there. For it is written: “King of kings and Lord of lords” 3049. 11.4 II, 27, 4 Therefore Christianity is not something unimportant 3050: “this mystery is great” 3051. Know your nobility, namely, that you have been called to royal dignity, that you are “a chosen generation, a holy priesthood” 3052 3053. The mystery of Christianity is extraordinary for this world. The visible glory and wealth of the king are earthly, perishable and transitory; but that kingdom and that wealth are something divine, heavenly and glorious, never ending. For in the heavenly Church they [Christians] co-reign with the heavenly King; for He is “the firstborn from the dead” 3054 and they are the firstborn. So, look at your dignity. Gabriel and Michael are describable spirits, and they serve the saints. “Are not all of them,” says [the apostle], “ministering spirits sent out to minister for those who are to inherit salvation?” 3055. Christians are chosen and favored before God; However, they themselves admit that they are not good-natured, and it has become natural and indispensable for them to regard themselves as nothing. 12.1 II, 27, 5 Question. Do they really not know that they have acquired something that they did not have, and have acquired something strange for their nature, and are prospering? Answer. I tell you that they are skillful and prosperous and have acquired what they did not have. But those who have prudence 3056 are taught by grace itself to be so naturally, not to honor their soul. Being prosperous, they are honored by God, but not by themselves. With their prosperity and the knowledge of God, they seem to know nothing and, rich before God, seem poor to themselves. Just as the Lord, through humility, “taking on the form of a servant” 3057, defeated the devil, so the serpent first overthrew Adam through arrogance and arrogance. And now this serpent, through arrogance, entering the hearts, overthrows and destroys the Christian race. 12:2 II, 27, 6 Imagine a free and noble man in the world, who, having [great] wealth, still receives income and collects fruits; finally, he forgets himself and becomes arrogant and, having become intolerable to everyone, strangles everyone, tramples everyone underfoot. This happens with others: lacking prudence, but having acquired some small peace and [the gift of] prayer, they began to become arrogant, forget themselves and condemn [others], and thus are cast down into the “underworld of the earth” 3058. The same serpent who expelled Adam with arrogance, saying: “You will be like gods” 3059, himself puts arrogance into the hearts, [saying] 3060: “You are perfect, enough is enough for you, you have already become rich, you no longer need knowledge 3061, blessed.” 12:3 Others in the world, achieving wealth and receiving income from it in the abundance of [harvested] fruits, being prudent, restrain themselves and do not boast, do not exalt themselves, but are equal, for they know that with this gain comes poverty to them. And again, when they suffer loss and deprivation, they do not grieve, but are equal, for they know that after this comes abundance again. And having experienced both more than once, they do not come to amazement, 3062. 12.4 II, 27, 7 In fact, Christianity is like this: it means 3063 truly eating, eating and drinking[,] 3064 truly eating and drinking according to your strength and activity. Imagine a spring, and let some thirsty person begin to drink there, then, when he drinks, someone distracts him and does not allow him to drink as much as he wants; then, having tasted the sweetest drink, because they did not allow him to drink 3065, he becomes even more thirsty and seeks [drink] more strongly. This is how it [happens] in the spiritual: someone is already eating and partaking of heavenly food, and suddenly at this very time they stop him and do not allow him to be satisfied. 13.1 II, 27, 8 Question. Why don't they let you get enough? Answer. The Lord knows human weakness, that man is soon puffed up; therefore he stops him and allows him to be in constant exercise and excitement. For if you accept little and become unbearable and arrogant for everyone, then how much more unbearable would you become if you were given enough to eat. But God, knowing your weakness, according to His discretion, sends you sorrows so that you become humble and seek God more zealously. 13.2 Alone in the world † 3066 3067 †, having found a purse of gold, out of frivolity began to proclaim: “I found it, I found the purse, I am rich.” Then, according to rumors that had spread, the man who had lost his wallet heard about this and took [it] 3068. † And again, moving away 3069 † another[,] rich[,] 3070 forgot himself, began to trample on everyone, offend everyone, and exalt himself over others; The king, hearing about this, described his estate. So it is in the spiritual: others, if they taste a little peace, do not know how to use it, but lose even what they received, because sin tempts them and darkens their mind. 14.1 II, 27, 14 Question. In what sense does the apostle say: “If I have all knowledge and all prophecy, and if I speak in the tongues of angels, but do not have love, then I am nothing” 3071 3072? Answer. We should not understand this as if he were nothing; but in comparison with that love that is perfect 3073, these gifts are partial 3074, and whoever remains in this degree, if he is careless, then it happens that he falls; and he who has love cannot fall. I tell you about the people whom I saw, that they had all the gifts and became partakers of the Spirit 3075, but not having achieved “perfect love” 3076, they fell. 14.2 Someone, a noble man, having renounced [the world], sold his property 3077, gave freedom to slaves, and as a prudent and intelligent man he became famous among all [people] 3078 for his honest life. Meanwhile, having given himself over to conceit and arrogance, he finally fell into debauchery and impurity and into thousands of evils. 14:3 II, 27, 15 Another, during the persecution, betrayed his body 3079 and, having become a confessor, subsequently, after the advent of peace, was released and known [among Christians]; and his eyelids were damaged by the smoke 3080 3081 . And he, being glorified, being called to prayer, taking from those presented 3082 loaves 3083, gave 3084 to his youth, and so his mind came to such [a state] as if he had never heard God’s word 3085. 14.4 Another gave up his body to be tortured 3086 during the persecution, was hanged and interrogated 3087, then thrown into prison. The canoness served him by faith, and while she was doing the usual 3088 in prison, she fell into fornication 3089 † 3090 14.5 Look how the rich man fell, who sold his property 3091 and gave up his body to be tortured 3092! 14:6 II, 27, 16 And another certain prudent ascetic, living with me in [the same] dwelling and praying 3093, was so rich in grace that, praying next to me, he came into tenderness, and I was amazed, because grace was poured into him. And he was given the gift of healing, so that he not only cast out demons, but also healed those who were bound hand and foot and had severe illnesses by the laying on of hands. Then, having become negligent, glorified by the world and enjoying himself with them [people] 3094, he became proud and fell into the very depths of 3095 sin. 14.7 Look, and he who had the “gifts of healings” 3096 fell. Do you see how those who do not come to the measure of love fall? And whoever has achieved love, is bound and intoxicated 3097 by it, is immersed and taken captive into another age of divine and heavenly nature. 15 II, 27, 17 Question. What does it mean: “Eye has not seen, nor ear has heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him” 3098? Answer. At that time, the great and righteous kings and prophets knew that the Deliverer would come; but they did not know then, and did not hear, and it did not enter their hearts that He would suffer and be crucified, that blood would be shed on the cross, that there would be baptism by fire and the Holy Spirit 3099, that bread and wine would be offered in the Church - instead of His flesh and blood, that those who partake of the visible spiritual bread would eat the flesh of the Lord, that the apostles and Christians would receive Comforter, and will be clothed with “power from on high” 3100, and will be filled with the Divine, so that the souls of the saints will merge with the Holy Spirit. The prophets and kings did not know this; it did not even enter their hearts. Nowadays, Christians are enriched in a different way and filled with love for the Divine, but the servants of God remain in fear and trembling 3101, having consolation and joy. 16.1 II, 27, 18 Question. In what fear and trembling? Answer. So as not to falter in anything, [but] to remain in harmony [with grace] 3102. Imagine that another has treasures and goes to the places of robbers: although he already rejoices in his wealth and treasure, he is afraid that the robbers will attack and rob him as he carries unspeakable wealth 3103. That's how Christians are. 16:2 But, apparently, we all renounced [the world], became strangers and non-covetous, and deprived ourselves of carnal communication; finally, the body is bowed to prayer. The brethren must say 3104 whether the mind also agrees with the body? Just as with artists and artisans, for the most part, the body, as well as the mind, day and night, is devoted to art - so pay attention to yourself, is it true that when the body is removed [from this world] 3105, then your mind is also alienated from this century and does not spin in the world? For every layman, whether a warrior or a merchant, where his body is, there his mind is attached, there he has a treasure, “for where the treasure is, there will be the heart” 3106. 16.3 II, 27, 19 Finally, to what treasure is your mind [directed]? Are you completely devoted to God? If not, must you tell me what is preventing this[?] 3107 Or do you not know that evil spirits exist? After all, Satan and demons hold 3108 the mind of 3109 and entangle the 3110 soul. The diverse devil, who has locks, triple doors 3111 and many tricks, occupies the pastures of the soul and thoughts and does not allow one to pray correctly and draw closer to God, because nature itself communicates with 3112 “evil spirits” 3113, as well as with angels and the Holy Spirit; she is the church of Satan and, if she wishes 3114 3115, becomes 3116 the temple of the Holy Spirit 3117. 16.4 Therefore pay attention to your mind 3118, brothers, with whom are you in fellowship, with angels or with demons? Whose church are you, God's or the devil's? What treasure is the heart filled with, gracious or satanic? Like a house full of stench and uncleanness, one must 3119 cleanse the heart and decorate it and 3120 fill it 3121 with all kinds of fragrance and treasures. Thus, 3122 it is necessary for 3123 instead of Satan to settle 3124 the Holy Spirit and rest in the souls of Christians. 16.5 II, 27, 20 However, not just anyone, as soon as he hears [God's word] 3125, becomes worthy of the good part. And if, at the same time, as soon as he heard, he immediately became worthy of the good part, then he would no longer have exploits or occasions for battle, but [everyone] without difficulty, as soon as he heard, would achieve peace and perfect measure. In reality this is not the case. By affirming this, you take away the will of a person and deny the abuse and the resistive force that opposes the mind. We say that the one who listens to the word of God comes into contrition, and then - since grace, designed for the benefit of man, moves away from him - he begins to exercise and learn in battle, fights and struggles against Satan and then, after a long competition and struggle, wins and becomes a Christian. 16:6 And if, having heard, someone without difficulty reached the good part, then both actors and fornicators would all strive to enter the kingdom and life. But no one allows them to achieve this without labor and feat, because “strait and narrow is the way” 3126, and this rough path must be walked, and endured, and grieved, and thus entered into life. 16.7 II, 27, 21 If one could succeed without difficulty, then Christianity would no longer be “a stumbling block and a stone of temptation” 3127, there would no longer be either faith or unbelief. Moreover, you make this 3128 person inflexible to good and deny 3129 his free 3130 and inclined will: after all, he is inclined to both good and evil, because the law is given to the one who can bend to one side or the other, that is, to the one who has the power to wage war with opposing force. And an unfree nature will have no law 3131 3132: neither the sun, nor the sky, nor the earth are bound by law, for these creatures have an unfree nature, and therefore are not subject to honor [they deserve] or punishment. For glory and honor are prepared for him who turns to good; and also Gehenna and punishment are prepared for the same changeable nature, capable of avoiding evil and bowing to the right side towards good. If you deny that he [man] has a free nature, therefore, you do not recognize a good person as worthy of praise. For he who is good by nature is not worthy of praise, although [this quality] is desirable; 3133. He is worthy of praise who, through his own diligence, with effort and struggle, chose what is good out of free will. 16.8 II, 27, 22 Imagine a Persian camp 3134 3135 and a Roman camp, and two † the first 3136 † 3137 and equal in strength young men, stepping out from them, begin to fight - so the opposing force and mind have equal power against each other 3138 and equal strength[.] 16.9 Satan can bow and flattery draw the soul into his will, and the soul can contradict and not obey him in anything, because both forces can only encourage, and not force, evil and good. And such will is given God's help, and it can, by fighting, acquire weapons from heaven and with this weapon eradicate and defeat sin; because the soul can resist sin, but it cannot eradicate or overcome without God. But those who assert 3139 about sin that it is like a strong giant, but the soul is like a youth, speak poorly. For if such were the similarities 3140: sin is like a giant, and the soul is like a child, then the Lawmaker would unjustly establish a law to wage war with Satan. 16:10 The foundation of the path and the way are arranged differently, and people want to go on the roadless path and do not know [where to go], turning away from the straight path 3141. II, 27, 23 The basis is this: with great patience, with hope, with humility, in spiritual poverty 3142 and with meekness to walk the path of life; This person can acquire justification in himself; By justification we mean the Lord himself. 16:11 The commandments of the Lord 3143 are like boundary pillars 3144 and signs of the royal path, which leads those who walk to the heavenly city. For He says: “Blessed are the meek; blessed are the poor in spirit; blessed are the merciful; blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" 3145 3146. This is who He called Christian 3147! But if anyone does not follow this path, then he is walking along the crossroads and has laid a bad foundation. 17.1 II, 12, 3 Question. How can one be poor in spirit 3148, especially when he feels within himself that he has changed, has succeeded, has reached knowledge and growth that he did not have before? Answer. While a person still acquires all [this] and prospers, he is not poor in spirit, but thinks highly of himself. When he comes to such understanding and prosperity, then grace itself teaches him to be poor in spirit. 17.2 Question. What does it mean to be poor in spirit 3149? 3150 Answer. This means, being a righteous person and God's chosen one, not to consider yourself valuable, but to recognize your soul as unworthy and humiliated, and to be as if you know nothing and have nothing 3151. Such a thought becomes, as it were, natural and established in the human mind. Don't you see that our forefather Abraham, being [God's] chosen one, called himself earth and ashes 3152? and David, anointed king and having God with him, says: “I am a worm, and not a man, a reproach to men and a humiliation to the people” 3153. 17:3 II, 12, 4 Therefore, those who want to be joint heirs with them and fellow citizens in the heavenly city 3154 and to be glorified with them 3155 must have this humility and not think of themselves as if they are something [3156], but have a “broken heart” 3157. Although grace acts differently in each Christian and the difference is great, 3158 nevertheless they all belong to one city: they are of one mind, of the same language, and understand each other. Just as “there are many members in one body” 3159, but there is one moving soul in all, so one Spirit acts in all differently, but [all] are of one city, one language. 17:4 For all the righteous walked along the narrow and narrow path 3160, were persecuted, “suffered grievously” “in goatskins,” “in caves and caves of the earth” 3161. Likewise, the apostles [say] 3162 [about themselves]: “Until this hour we suffer hunger and thirst, nakedness and reproach, and we wander” 3163. Some of them were beheaded, others were crucified, others [suffered] in other ways, they were stoned 3164. And the Lord of the prophets and apostles himself, as if forgetting the Divine glory, in what way did he walk, becoming a model for us? In reproach they even placed a crown of thorns on His head 3165; spitting, strangulation, cross. 17.5 II, 12, 5 If God walked like this [on earth] 3166, showing you an example, then you should become His imitator. This is how the apostles and prophets walked. And we, if we wish to be established on the basis of the Lord and the apostles 3167, must become their imitators. For the Apostle Paul says by the Holy Spirit: “Imitate me, brothers, as I imitate Christ” 3168. If you love human glory, want people to bow to you, and seek peace for yourself, then you have turned away from the path of the Lord. You need to be crucified with the Crucified One, to be buried 3170 with the Suffered One, in order to be so glorified with the Glorified One. For the bride must suffer with the Groom and through this become an accomplice and joint heir of Christ 3171. And no one is allowed to enter the city of saints without suffering, a rough, cramped and narrow path 3172, and rest in peace, and reign with the King Christ for endless ages. Amen. 18.1 3173 Christians must direct their minds not only to prayer, but also to every virtue: thus, they should destroy greed, love of money, gluttony, anger, pride, deceit and many other [vices] that follow them. Those who strive from these few [passions] 3174 to rebel against each passion, to turn away [from them], to hate, to be nobly angry at [their] will 3175, acquire thousands of benefits; This is how the successful prosper. If someone decides in his mind to fight the above-mentioned passions, then the Lord will immediately intercede for him. 18.2 He who enters war must have a brave soul, and then he immediately, quickly and instantly achieves [success]. The weapon, † says † 3176, which must be given to a warrior husband, must be noble in everything in order to trample all pleasures and passions 3177 A weapon is suitable for such a husband. This path he should follow, turning away from the love of money, glory, gluttony, idleness, hatred, arrogance. Such a husband needs a weapon. Then he enters the city of saints. If we knew that in the same accordance 3178 honor is given to each according to the measure, then we would not be burdened [by asceticism]; if they knew that in this way they could put themselves to death, they would not spare [themselves] and would not tolerate the mind being occupied with this world and weakened by passions. 18.3 See, O soul, where are you, with the heavenly Bridegroom Christ or with Satan, who wants to destroy the human race. The human body is the church of God 3179, and if anyone corrupts it, then the Lord will destroy the one who corrupted him 3180. And the human heart is the altar of the Holy Spirit, and if the altar is not clean from lust, hatred, anger and irritability and is not holy, then the Lord leaves the altar and comes out [of it]. Let us sanctify the altar together with the church of the Lord, so that our light may shine and we may enter His palace 3181. It is good if the inner man is sanctified, so that the Lord does not destroy us on the day of judgment. It is good to consecrate the altar together with the church, in order to enter into His palace and see Him. For he who sanctifies the 3182 inner man is only a freedman, and he cannot inherit the Kingdom, which the children of God 3183 will inherit. May lust and wickedness be taken away from us, so that we may enter the [bridal] chamber. If we have lust, hatred or arrogance, then this is from the evil one 3184, this is a weapon of darkness, and in this darkness the palace does not appear, and in the darkness no one can enter it. 18:4 Let us turn away the darkness that is in it from our hearts, so that our lamp may shine and we may enter into the palace. His face, so that our light may shine and we may enter the palace> 3185. In us are the fruits of love from a pure heart 3186; this is the weapon of the Lord, that is, the lamp. With the help of this lamp we see the palace of His Bridegroom, and if He - the Lamp and the Light - does not shine in our hearts and illuminate [everything] with light, we cannot enter the palace and see Him 3187. Let us drive out the fruits of Satan from our hearts, so that our lamp may sparkle, and by [the light] we may see the Bridegroom with the eyes of our hearts. The evil one shows us a dim and unclean light, and we thereby see that the evil one is dirty and unclean. 18:5 Therefore, let us cleanse ourselves from the uncleanness of the evil one, so that, finding ourselves in the [light of] the lamp, we see all people clean. So, may our darkness be illuminated by the light of the Savior, so that we may see every person pure, even if he is not pure. Let us wash our darkness with tears and wipe it with prayers and love for everyone, so that we can see everyone clean. Everything is pure and pure 3188 and holy [even] that which is not holy, for his heart is washed and his lamp shines in the light that shines in him. 18.6 Leave us, O Lord, from darkness to light 3189 before we depart [to another world] and we are no more. If the feet of our hearts are defiled by envy, hatred, anger or rage, then we cannot enter the palace with them and will remain outside [it]. The Lord will send us His light and comfort us and humble us with His all-surpassing 3190 love. If we wipe off the feet of our hearts with humility, and make peace with everyone, and do good to everyone, then our darkness will flee thanks to the light of our lamp, and in this light we will see the palace of the Bridegroom, which will open to us on its own, even without our knocking 3191, and [the Bridegroom] will come out to meet us and lead [us] into the middle of the palace. With love and humility let us enter into the palace and with a pure heart let us see the Bridegroom 3192. If the lips of our hearts speak arrogant wisdom 3193 and say to Him 3194: “Let him not come near my garment, for he is a dirty, unclean and lawless man” 3195 - thereby the Bridegroom will not allow that proud man to enter [the palace] and will not glorify him, for he cannot enter the palace together with that humble one. 18.7 Let us humble ourselves above all others and “let us be at peace with all” 3196, in order to see this Bridegroom, seemingly unhonorable and humble 3197. If the lips of our hearts speak good things about everyone, we will thereby glorify the Lord of glory with light. If the 3198 lips and lips of our heart are filled, then in it 3199 the palace of the Bridegroom is contemplated, and He opens the door for us and comes to meet us. Let us not know guile, so that our lamp may be lit and we may enter the chamber and see the Bridegroom. 18:8 If the hand of our heart is stained with the evil with which the enemy fights in the darkness, then it cannot open the door of the palace, and if it is not washed with tears and love for everyone, you cannot open the door of the palace and enter the palace to the Bridegroom. Let us cleanse our hearts with tears of prayer in order to open the door of the palace and enter into it. If someone's heart is rotten with lust, the evil one changes the heart {,} and he himself 3200 darkens the eyes of the heart with impurity and extinguishes the lamp of His 3201 light. And if he does not wash the eyes of his heart from lust, he remains in darkness and is deprived of light. 18:9 Let our heart be virgin, pure and holy, so that we may see Him whose heart is virgin and holy. If someone humbles himself more than everyone else, and loves everyone, and does good, the Lord will shine in his heart and enlighten him, and with the help of this source of light he will depart [from this life] into the palace, and enter [there], and see the Bridegroom, and shine [with the Bridegroom], and the Bridegroom shines with him. May our heart do good to everyone 3202, so that we may see the Bridegroom with a pure heart 3203. 18:10 But if someone exalts himself over someone while on earth, and hates someone who is on it, the evil one darkens his heart with darkness, and he cannot, with that dark lamp 3204, look closely at either the light of the Bridegroom, or at the glory of all His saints. Let our heart be virgin and holy, so that we may see the Bridegroom, whose heart is virgin and holy. holy. Word 8. {You cannot be careless until the last [day]} 3205 1.1 3206 Fasting, vigil and wandering are good [deeds], but these are [signs] of [external] good living for the time being, while the rite of Christians is more internal than these [physical virtues], and no one should rely [only] on them. For it happens that others participate in grace, but malice, still remaining inside, manages, by voluntarily yielding and inaction, to make a person believe that his mind has been cleansed, and then leads the person into conceit: you, they say, are a perfect Christian. After this, when a person considers himself free and is careless, then evil attacks him robberly, ambushes him, tempts him, and brings him down to the underworld of the earth. 1.2 After all, if people of twenty years old 3207, being robbers or warriors, know how to build fortresses against enemies, lie in wait, make ambushes, attack them from the rear and, surrounding them, kill them at once - then much more does anger, which lives for so many thousands of years 3208 and whose business is how to destroy souls, knows how to lurk in the heart and temporarily remain inactive in order to lead the soul into conceit of its perfection. 1.3 The foundation of Christianity is that a person, no matter how much he has accomplished righteous deeds, should not rest on them and not consider them great 3209, but so that he would be “poor in spirit” 3210, and if he becomes a participant in grace, he would not consider himself to have “attained” 3211, would not think that he is something 3212, and would not begin to teach, but so that he would be a participant in grace, spending a good life in fasting, wandering, vigil, prayer, he did not consider himself to be something, but treated himself with humiliation and would not consider his soul [precious]; and so that just when grace begins to [act] in him, he will have labor, thirst and hunger, not be satisfied and not think that he is righteous or rich in grace, but weep and weep. 1.4 Just as a mother who has an only-begotten son and raised him, when he becomes a husband and dies untimely, no matter how much they console her, they arouse even more grief in her, and she remains inconsolable, so a Christian needs to cry about his fall in order to have unceasing grief and unceasing tears; first of all, in order to have a “broken heart” 3213. 1.5 Or just as in a royal building and palace there are many rooms, various courtyards and numerous vestibules, chambers, edicule 3214 and internal rooms where the king resides and purple and treasures are located, so that whoever enters the outer courts or rooms does not think that he has already reached the inner chambers, where the royal glory and purple and treasures are, so in the spiritual. Those who fast and watch, or sing, or pray will not consider that they have already reached peace when they enter only the vestibules and courtyards, and not where the purple and treasures are, for they have not yet entered there. 1:6 So, brothers should not be impudent on the basis of external residence and say: we are something [of ourselves]. Even if someone becomes a partaker of grace, he should not think that he has achieved [something] 3215 or has become a royal associate: he is still only moving into the outer courts. 2:1 II, 50, 5 Therefore, everyone must examine whether he has found treasure in a meager vessel, whether he has put on the purple of the Spirit, whether he has seen the King Christ and whether he has been put to rest. After all, with the soul [the situation is] this way: it has a certain depth and many members, and the sin that has entered [it] has already taken possession of all its members and the pastures of the heart. Then grace comes to the seeking person and takes possession of perhaps two members of the soul. 2:2 But the inexperienced, consoled by grace, believes that the coming grace has already taken possession of all the members of the soul and sin has been eradicated. However, most of [the soul] is in the power of sin, while one part is under grace, and [man] is deceived without knowing [this]. 2:3 For grace often acts incessantly, like an eye constantly rooted in the body, and at the same time sin remains, stealing the mind, and he who does not know how to discern thinks of himself as if he has already achieved something 3216, and is arrogant as if freed [from sin]. But that is not the case. As I said earlier, Satan sets up an ambush 3217, lying dormant for a while, so as to make a person think that he is already pure and perfect. 2:4 Does he who plants a vine immediately receive a ripe cluster, or cultivates wine? and he who sows seeds in the ground has already reaped and received a harvest without difficulty? And can a newborn child really immediately become “a perfect husband” 3218? Or does recruit 3219 immediately reach the highest ranks? He must first work hard, go to war, win a victory and receive a crown. And does he who tries to get a wife enter into communication with her before the pledge? Of course not. 3:1 So, a good deed is non-covetousness, psalmody, fasting, vigil and acceptance of the grace of God. However, he who has all this has not yet begun to properly dig and lay the foundation, and yet he thinks of himself as if he is already externally flawless and partaker of grace, so that he can value his soul? Look at Jesus, from what glory He – the Son of God and God – to what suffering, dishonor and cross He descended. Thanks to this humility, He was exalted, seated at the right hand of the Father. And the serpent first sowed Adam with exaltation, that he would be like a god 3220, and through this arrogance, look into what dishonor the race of Adam fell. 3.2 But I look for a man who is poor in spirit 3221 and do not find him. It is as if a rich man who has treasures in his house seeks [alms], as if he were in need and the poorest - such are Christians who richly have grace from God, but are poor in spirit, as if they have nothing. 3.3 For example, there is one hundred pounds 3222 of gold, which someone must take possession of; but he satisfied himself by taking five pounds. Others, having, say, ten ounces of grace, 3223 turn them into half an ounce: this happens to them out of ignorance, since those who are robbed of this grace do not know [its power], or they do so out of vanity, ashamed to say that evil is at work [in them]. After all, they proclaim themselves to be already perfect, although a person must act in justice, speaking about what [pertains to] grace, but also recognizing the action of sin. For such a one lies, saying: “My conscience is clear.” For it does not happen that with the visitation of grace a person becomes pure. 3.4 In fact, he surrenders himself to enemies and trials 3224 for exercise and education in the same way as Job [was] in temptation. “For evil does not work for good willingly” 3225. A Christian who has five ounces of sin should say, “I have twenty [ounces of sin], and I am all filled with evil,” and one who has, for example, twenty ounces of good, should say, “I have half an ounce.” If, out of vanity, he is ashamed to say this, and if he tells the truth, then let him admit both to the action of sin and to the action of grace, that both parts are present in him. 4.1 So, as I said above about the soul, that it has depth, let us use an example to describe its members. Just as the sun has many rays, or a tall tree has many branches and shoots, or a big city has many districts, or a diocese has areas under its control, so is the immortal soul, intelligent essence, beauty, surpassing in value all creation, the image and likeness of God 3226. So, grace comes and directs the light to two rays of the soul, or to two branches from the entire tree, or to two regions from the entire city, or to two regions of the entire diocese. However, even larger parts of the soul are possessed by darkness, but the soul being robbed believes that it all belongs entirely to the good part and grace. 4:2 For example, someone, having acquired five pounds of gold, considered that he had acquired a hundred pounds of gold. Has the uterine embryo really become a human being? Or has he who laid one foundation stone already finished building the house? Or has the seed covered [with earth], or the sprout that has grown from it, already become an ear? Or did the merchant setting off on a voyage already fill the pantry with the start of trade? and he who partook of grace therefore became a perfect Christian? The first and great in this relation are still to perfection, as an official is to a chief, or a protector is to a committee 3227 or a military leader, or a stream is to the Euphrates River 3228. Anyone intending to go to a distant city of thirty stops, if he makes two or three crossings, will not think that he has entered the city. 4:3 Therefore, since the opposing force inclines and does not force, divine grace also motivates according to the free will of [human] nature. Therefore, if a person acts badly, instigated by Satan, then Satan is not judged instead of him, but the person himself, who voluntarily submitted to evil, is punished and punished. 4.4 Likewise, in the case when a person inclines towards good and the grace of God abides with him, then grace does not ascribe good to itself, but rewards the person and glorifies him, because man himself has become the cause of good for himself. After all, he is free by nature, and it does not happen that the grace that comes to him by coercive force fetters his will 3229 and then makes him - whether he wants [it] or not - invariably good, but the divine power, although it abides [with a person], yields [to his] free will, so that the desire of a person is manifested, whether he honors grace or does not honor it, whether he agrees [with it] or disagrees. For many respected [her] and agreed, but others turned away. 4.5 What does the apostle say? “Having begun in the spirit, are you now being finished in the flesh?” 3230. Human nature, which can turn to good and evil by autocratic will, “has no law” 3231. What does the Lord say? “I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” 3232. The Lord wants to kindle His heavenly fire in the hearts of people, and some want it, while others don’t, as He says: “How many times have I wanted to gather your children, like a bird to its chicks, and you did not want to!” 3233. Do you see that the Lord wants, but people themselves do not want to get closer to the Lord? 3234 Word 9 {Explanation of the vision of the prophet Ezekiel} 3235 1.1 II, 1, 1 The blessed prophet Ezekiel, having seen the divine and glorious appearance and vision, told and described it 3236, filled with ineffable mysteries. He saw on the plain a cherubic chariot, four animals, each of which had four faces: one a lion, another an eagle, another a calf and the fourth a man, facing the four sides, and each face had wings, so that [they had] no last or back [side]. Their backs were full of eyes, and their bellies were also full of eyes, so that there was no place that was not full of eyes. And there was a wheel, 3237 in the wheel, and in the wheels was spirit. And he saw something like a throne and what looked like a man sitting on it, and its foot was made of sapphire. And the cherubic chariot and the animals carried the enthroned Lord: wherever He pleased to go, each of the [four] faces [of the animal] and the rest [the faces of the animals] and the wheels were directed in any direction. And he saw under the cherubim like a human hand supporting and carrying [them]. 1,2 II, 1, 2 And what the prophet saw[,] 3238 in essence 3239 was true and undoubted; but it pointed to something else and prefigured something mysterious and divine, “a mystery truly hidden from centuries and generations” 3240, which was revealed in recent times 3241 at the coming of Christ. The prophet contemplated the mystery of the soul, which has to receive its Lord and become the throne of His glory 3242 and light. For the soul, which the Spirit, having prepared it for His seat and abode, deigned to partake of His light and shone with the beauty of His ineffable glory, becomes all light, all face, all eye 3243; There is not a single part of it that is not filled with the spiritual eyes of light, that is, [there is] nothing darkened in it, but it is entirely made of light and spirit, it is all filled with eyes and it is all a face, not having any last or back side, but from everywhere it appears as a face, because the ineffable beauty of the glory of the Lord’s light has descended on it and is seated. 1.3 And like the sun everywhere it is similar to itself: it does not have a single missing, or smaller, or back, or last part, but, consisting of identical parts 3244, it all completely shines with light and everything is light; or just as fire, that is, the very light of fire, is all similar to itself and has in itself neither the first nor the last, neither greater nor less, - so the soul, having become holy 3245, and finally enlightened by the ineffable beauty of the glory of the light of the face of the Lord, and having completely entered into communion with the Holy Spirit, and having been worthy to become the dwelling and throne of Christ, becomes all eye, all light, all face, all glory, all by the Holy Spirit, - [Christ], Whom [she] bears, supports and guides, thus organizing her [soul] 3246; rather, the Bearer, and the Leader, and the Supporter thus arranges it and adorns it with spiritual beauty. After all, [the prophet] says: “The hand of man was under the cherub” 3247 - because He who carries it [the soul] guides it Himself, carrying it, and lightening it, and supporting it. 1.4 II, 1, 3 The four animals carrying their ??? represented the image of the sovereign rational [forces] of the soul 3248. Just as the eagle reigns over other birds, and the lion reigns over wild animals, and the bull over domestic animals, and man reigns over creatures, so there are more royal rational [abilities] of the soul, namely: will, conscience, intelligence and the power of its love. They drive the chariot of the soul, and God rests in them. On the other hand - I’m talking about the heavenly Church of saints 3249 - by the mystery of the cherub it is meant that [God] Himself is her [the Church’s] charioteer and that she herself is the spiritual throne, and the seat, and His resting place. 1.5 And just as [the prophet] says that the animals full of eyes were too 3250 3251 [eyes] or to know the heights, because it was not given to anyone else to know this [except God], - so it is impossible to comprehend the number of saints of the heavenly Church, for no one has been given the knowledge of this, since it is fitting for Him alone to know [it]. And just as it is given to those who have vision and [able to] see to contemplate and enjoy the bright stars in the sky, it is impossible to know or comprehend their number; or everyone can eat from earthly plants, but no one is given the ability to know their number - in the same way, entering and enjoying [in it] is given to everyone who wants to strive, but to know and embrace the number [of saints] - God gave this knowledge to Himself alone. 1.6 So, He is led and carried by the chariot and throne of all-holy animals - that is, either by each soul, which has become His throne and seat, which has become eyes and light, or by the whole body of the Church of saints 3253, which is eyes and light - while the Lord Himself sits on it and rules with the reins of His Spirit, directing it as He Himself knows. Just as spiritual animals walked not where they themselves wanted to go, but where He who sat [on them] and directed [them] knew and wanted, so here He Himself rules over souls and leads them, showing the way by His Spirit; so they do not go of their own free will. When He desires, He directs and directs the thought of the soul to heaven, while the body is thrown here 3254. And again, whenever He pleases, [she] enters the body, and when He wants, then within [earthly boundaries] 3255 he shows her revelations of the mysteries 3256. Oh, beautiful, good and only true Bridle Holder! 2:1 Thus the body will also be worthy of lordship in the resurrection, if the soul is thus glorified now and merged with the Spirit. II, 1, 4 And that the souls of saints are made into heavenly light, the Lord Himself said to the apostles: “You are the light of the world” 3257. Having made them light, he commanded that the world be enlightened through them, and says: “And having lit a candle, they do not put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it gives light to everyone in the house. So let your light shine before people” 3258, - [as if] instead of [the following words]: “Do not hide the gift that you received from Me, but tell everyone who wants and strives” 3259. And He also says: “The lamp of the body is the eye. So, if your eye is light, then your whole body will be light. If the light that is in you is darkness, then what is the darkness?” 3260 Just as the eyes are light for the body, and when the bodily eyes are healthy, the whole body is illuminated, and when something gets into [the eyes] and they become darkened, then “your whole body is dark” 3261 - so the apostles were appointed as the eyes and light of the whole body, that is, the whole world. Therefore, the Lord, commanding them, said: “If you, being the light of the body, stand and do not go astray, then behold, the whole body of the world is enlightened. And if you, being light, become darkened, turning away from good, then what kind of darkness is that, that is, the world” 3262? 2.2 So, the apostles, having become light, served as light for those who believed, enlightening their hearts with that heavenly light by which they themselves were enlightened. [II, 1, 5] And since they were also salt, they seasoned and salted every believing soul with the salt of the Holy Spirit. For the Lord said to them: “You are the salt of the earth,” 3263, calling human souls earth, because they served the souls of men as the heavenly salt of the Spirit, dissolving them and making them unrotten and uninfected by the great stench. 2:3 Just as meat without salt rots and becomes filled with a great stench, and because of the unbearable stench everyone turns away from Him; and in the rotten meat worms crawl, find food there, eat it and nest in it, but as soon as salt is sprinkled, the worms that fed on the meat come to the surface 3264 and die, the fetid smell stops, because salt, by its nature, destroys worms and destroys the stench - in the same way, every soul that is not salted by the Holy Spirit and is not part of the heavenly salt, that is, God's power, rots and is filled with the great stench of evil thoughts, so that the face of God turns away from the terrible stench of vain thoughts of darkness and passions living in such a soul; evil, terrible and invisible worms, that is, crafty spirits 3265 and dark forces, walk in it 3266, and feed there in the depths of thoughts, and creep, nesting in it, and devour it, and destroy it, and corrupt it. For [David] says: “My wounds stank and rot” 3267. 2.4 But as soon as the soul resorts to God, believes and asks for the salt of life, the good and humane Spirit, then this descending heavenly salt, destroying the terrible worms in it and destroying the harmful stench of evil thoughts 3268, cleanses the soul with the action of its power, destroying and destroying bad passions in it and driving away the darkness of evil thoughts. And thus, when true salt makes her healthy and unharmed, she is again fit for use and service to the heavenly Lord. Therefore, in the Law, God, using the “image and shadow” 3269, commanded that every sacrifice be salted with salt 3270. 2.5 II, 1, 6 So, it was necessary that first the sheep should come, be slain by the priest, die, and then, cut into pieces, be salted, and then put on the fire. If the sheep is not first slaughtered and killed by the priest, then it is not salted and is not offered to the Lord as a burnt offering. So our soul, approaching the heavenly Bishop, must be slain by Him and die for the wisdom of the bad life it lived (that is, for sin) 3271, and the deceit of the passions must come out of it like its [the slaughtered sheep] soul. 2.6 Just as the body, when the soul leaves [it], dies and no longer lives the former life that it lived, does not hear, does not walk - so, when the true Bishop Christ 3272 by the grace of His power gives over to the slaughter and dies for the world our soul, it dies for that evil life that it lived, and no longer hears, does not speak, does not live in sinful darkness, because the deceit of the passions, as if the soul and its life, comes out of it by grace, just as the apostle cries, saying: “The world is crucified to me, and I to the world” 3273. For the soul, while it lives in the world and in sinful darkness and is not put to death by Him [Christ], but still has in itself the soul of vice, that is, the action of the darkness of sinful passions, and is protected by this [vice] and obeys [it], - does not belong to the body of Christ, does not belong to the body of light, but is a body of darkness and is still on the side of darkness; just as, on the contrary, those who have within themselves the soul of light, that is, the power of the Holy Spirit, are on the side of light. 2.7 II, 1, 7 But someone will say: “Why do you call the soul the body of darkness, when it is not a product of darkness?” Listen well, carefully and with right understanding. Just as the garment or [outer] dress that you wear was prepared and made by someone else, and you put it on; likewise, a house was built and constructed by another, and you also live in it - in the same way, Adam, having transgressed the commandment, listened to the evil one and disobeyed God, sold and gave himself up [as property] to the devil, and into the soul - this beautiful creation 3274, which God prepared in His image 3275 - the evil one clothed himself, just as the apostle says: “Having exposed the rulers and power,” triumphed [over them] on the cross 3276. For this was the purpose of the coming of the Lord, to expose them and return to Himself His own house and church - man. 2:8 Therefore the soul is called 3277 evil darkness while sinful darkness remains in it, because it lives and is held there during the evil age of darkness, just as Paul, mentioning 3278 the body of sin and the body of death, says: “So that the body of sin may be abolished,” 3279 - and again: “Who will deliver me from the body of death?” 3280. Likewise, and vice versa, a soul that believed in God, got rid of sin, died to a dark life, received the light of the Holy Spirit into itself, like a soul 3281 3282, and came to life there, henceforth lives there and spends its life there, because it is held there by the light of the Divine. For the soul is not from God’s nature and not from the nature of evil darkness, but is a certain intelligent creation, full of beauty, wonderful, great and beautiful, the likeness and image of God 3283, and the wickedness of dark passions entered into it as a result of crime. 2.9 II, 1, 8 Finally, if the soul is in communion and unity with its desires, then either it has God’s light within itself, living in it in all virtues, [and] participating in the light of repose; or, on the contrary, if he has sinful darkness within himself, living in dark sins, then he is subject to condemnation. For a soul that wants to live with God in the taste of peace and eternal light, according to what was said before, must come to the true Bishop Christ 3284, undergo slaughter and die for the world and for the former life of evil darkness, and repose into another life and divine life. 2:10 If someone dies in a city, he hears neither the voices, nor the speeches, nor the noise of those living there, but as soon as he dies, he is transported to another place, where there are neither voices nor cries of that city - so the soul, when it is slain and dies in that city of harmful passions, sin, evil forces, in which it spends time and lives, then it no longer hears within itself the voice, and the conversation, and the cry of evil thoughts 3285 darkness, the voice of vain and crafty conversation and the confusion of the spirits of darkness are no longer heard in her, but she settles in a city full of goodness and peace, in a city of Divine light, and there she lives and is a citizen, there she hears, speaks, converses and performs spiritual and God-worthy deeds of virtue. 3:1 II, 1, 9 Therefore, we will also pray that by His power we may receive the slaughter and die for the evil age of darkness, so that the spirit of sin may be destroyed in us, so that the soul will be clothed with and receive the heavenly spirit and depart from sinful darkness into the light of Christ and rest in eternal life. Just as chariots rush through a race and the one ahead of them delays the other, hinders and prevents it from going forward and anticipating [victory], so spiritual and sinful thoughts rush through a person, and if a sinful thought happens to be forestalled, it delays the soul, hinders, repels and prevents it from approaching God and gaining victory over sin. 3.2 And where the Lord himself sits and rules the soul, there He always wins, skillfully and constantly ruling the reins and guiding the chariot of the soul to the heavenly and divine way of thinking. He does not wage war against sin, but victory is always His—plenipotentiary and sovereign. Therefore, the cherubim strive not where they themselves want to go, but where the One who sits on them and rules over them guides; Wherever He pleases, there they go, and He himself carries them, for [the prophet] says: “The hand of a man is under them” 3286. 3:3 So holy souls are led and guided by the Spirit of Christ, who rules wherever He pleases. And whenever He pleases, they [rush] into the sky; and whenever - in the body. Wherever He pleases, there they serve Him. Just as the wings serve as a bird’s feet, so the heavenly Spirit of light will receive the wings of the thoughts of worthy souls, guiding and ruling as He wants and as He Himself knows. 3.4 II, 1, 10 Therefore, listener, when you hear this, look at yourself, have you really and truly acquired this in your soul? For these are not just idle, merely spoken words, but actually, reliably and truly committed in the Christian soul. And if you have not acquired such spiritual blessings, but are still poor, then you should grieve, be sick, grieve and cry incessantly; being still dead to the “land of the living” 3287, as if wounded, always cry out to the Lord and ask with faith, so that you too may be worthy of this true life. 3.5 For just as God, having created this body, did not allow it to borrow life, food, drink, clothing and shoes from its own nature or its own essence, but on the contrary, having created the body in itself naked, He arranged that it borrows everything necessary for life from the outside, and it is impossible for the body to live without that which exists outside of it, that is, without food, without drink and without clothing; and, according to every necessity, it needs and uses what is outside of it, in order [to] at the same time be able to live and exist, but if it is limited to what is in its nature, without borrowing anything from the outside, then it is destroyed and perishes - in the same way the soul, which is not by nature God’s light, but created by God in His image 3288: so God arranged and pleased that it should have eternal life not from its own nature, but from His Divinity, from [His] own Spirit, from [His] own light [had] food, and victuals, and spiritual drink, and heavenly garments, which constitutes the true life of the soul. 3.6 II, 1, 11 Just as in the body, according to what was said before, life does not come from itself, but from what is outside it, that is, from the earth, and without that which exists outside it it is impossible for it to live, so the soul, unless it is now reborn into that land of the living 3289 and is there spiritually nourished and grows prospering in the Lord, and is not clothed from the Divine in the garments of ineffable heavenly beauty, without being of this nature, then without that food it is impossible for her to live in peace and incorruptible eating 3290. For the nature of God has the bread of life - the One who said: “I am the bread of life” 3291 - and “living water” 3292, and “wine that truly gladdens the heart of man” 3293, and “oil of joy” 3294, and all kinds of heavenly and spiritual food, and heavenly garments of light given by the Spirit of God. This is the eternal life of the soul. 3.7 Woe to the body when it stops in its nature, because it is destroyed and dies. Woe to the soul 3295 if it stops at its own nature only and trusts in its own deeds only, without having communion with the Divine Spirit 3296, because it dies without being granted the eternal life of the Divine. Just as they despair of the sick when their body can no longer take food or drink, and all their close friends, relatives and loved ones cry for them, so God and the holy angels mourn for souls who do not partake of the heavenly food of His Spirit and do not live in incorruption. And these are not just spoken words, but a spiritual work of life, a work of truth, accomplished in a worthy and faithful soul. 3:8 II, 1, 12 So, if you have become the throne of God, and the heavenly Charioteer is seated in you, and your soul has become all spiritual eye and all light; if you are nourished with this heavenly food of the Spirit and drunk with living water 3297 and divine and spiritual wine, gladdening the heart 3298; if you have clothed your soul in the garments of ineffable light; if your inner man is experimentally and undoubtedly confirmed in all this, then behold, you live a truly eternal life, and from now on your soul will rest with the Lord. If you have not truly acquired and accepted this from God in order for you to live a true life, then cry, mourn and lament, because until now you have not yet received eternal and spiritual wealth, you have not yet accepted true life. 3:9 Therefore, always grieve over your poverty, beseeching the Lord, for you are still in terrible sinful poverty. Oh, if only someone had acquired this sorrow over his poverty and did not spend time in carelessness, as if he were satiated! Whoever grieves, and seeks, and persistently asks the Lord will soon receive deliverance and heavenly riches, as the Lord said, concluding his word about the unrighteous judge and the widow: “How much more will God take vengeance on those who cry out to Him night and day? She, I tell you, will exact their vengeance soon” 3299. Word 10 3300 {About spiritual pearls} 3301 1.1 The Lord, speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven and telling about the honest, and glorious, and Divine, and the only pearl of great price, and teaching how anyone will receive it, answers like this, using a comparison with visible things: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for good pearls, who, having found one pearl of great price, went and sold everything that he had, and bought it” 3302 pearls, so that, by bringing them, he would please the king and receive honor from him, because precious stones are woven into the royal crown. 1.2 So, therefore, the soul must acquire and find the heavenly and precious pearl, the Spirit of Christ, a great and good purchase, so that it may be woven into the crown of glory 3303 of the heavenly King Christ; and without this Divine pearl, which is the Holy Spirit, the soul can neither please King Christ nor receive the royal crown. 1.3 So, how these pearls are acquired and found can be learned from visible merchants who trade in precious pearls, because they, having sold their property, and having gone far from their homeland, and having passed through deserted and robber regions, reach the area where pearls are born. Because there the most valuable and glorious of precious stones are exhibited, with their prices engraved and inscribed. And each of the merchants sees the stones on display and foresees how he will appear to the king. If this exceeds his means, he not only grieves over empty labor and cries, but cannot even see the king. 1.4 In the same way, Christ our Lord prefigured and predetermined the price of good and great pearls, without which no one can please the Heavenly King, and the price is renunciation of the world, and death, and the cross, because He became the image and leader of the path leading to life, giving His Body to death for us, defeating the violence of the devil and redeeming us with His own Blood. 1.5 And thus he teaches all those who followed Him, became His disciples and want to acquire heavenly pearls (and this is the Kingdom of Heaven), to renounce themselves and no longer live for themselves, according to the Apostle: “So that those who live,” he says, “should no longer live for themselves, but for Christ who died and rose again for them.” And the Lord Himself says: “Let him deny himself and follow Me” 3305. And again: “If anyone,” He says, “does not hate father, mother, brothers,” and so on, “and also his own soul, he cannot be My disciple” 3306. 1:6 So by death this pearl of life, Christ, is purchased. And thus, if someone does not prepare himself and does not deny himself, giving up his soul to death, he cannot acquire that pearl, and without Him he cannot see the Heavenly Father 3307. For Christ Himself is the crown woven from glory 3308, fastened with precious stones and becoming the glorious crown of the Church of saints. 1:7 And every soul that gives itself unto death and desires to pass into life, may it seek this pearl and may it obtain the Lord, who has become all in all: food, drink, clothing, treasure, peace, unspeakable joy, true life. Consequently, whoever found Him found wealth for all ages, unceasing pleasure, unfading light, undimmed glory. For all this acts differently in Him, changing along with the needs 3309. 1.8 Let the soul that has heard the word of God and is co-delighted with God, lift itself up and awaken to the love of the longed-for Lord, and let it be inflamed into the love of the Bridegroom. As a fire, generously kindled by wood, increases the flame, may she finally desire to be worthy of the indescribable phenomenon and may she strive until death, so that, having won, she will receive eternal life according to our predecessor, Christ, who even gave Himself up to death for us. Because the Lord became all indications that just as He, through disgrace, disgrace, and the final death, defeated the enemy, so we, living in suffering, humility and dishonor and despising shame right up to death 3310, could defeat the devil, and receive life, and acquire pearls of great value, He is Christ, according to what was said: “You have not yet fought to the point of blood, struggling against sin” 3311. 1.9 Let us overcome death by not combining with evil, without falling in thoughts. After all, it is shameful that merchants swim across such abysses and despise mortal dangers for the sake of increasing and adding wealth, but we - striving to “hold on to eternal life” 3312, wanting to acquire the imperishable light of the best pearls and desiring to buy a true treasure at auction - do not despise temporary death, that is, worldly pleasures. 1:10 So, I ask you, brothers, to despise death, and consider your soul as nothing, and until death become imitators of the Lord, 3313 who was in all things our image and example, and who conquered death through death. 2.1 For in the Law, Moses, the good saint of God, mysteriously, “in image and shadow” 3314 hinting at the death of the Lord, commanded that a heifer be sacrificed “outside the camp” 3315 in a deserted place for the remission of sins, and its ashes and sprinkled blood sanctified the entire people and the priests, and the liturgical vessels, and the Book itself and the tabernacle. Just as the apostle, talking with the Jews, explained the true image of the sacrament: “For if the blood of bulls,” he writes, “and of goats and the ashes of a heifer, through sprinkling sanctifies the defiled, so that the body may be pure, how much more will the Blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit offered Himself spotless to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living and true God.” 3316. 2.2 And the fact that “outside the camp” the heifer is sacrificed in a desert [area] is understood in two ways: or that - since souls are deserted and do not have the voice or way of God in themselves, but are filled with terrible thorns - the Lord suffered in order to cleanse and reconcile; or that souls coming from their homelands and from kinship and from the terrible community of evil spirits of darkness, in which they stayed and lived, must come out by the power of the Lord and retire to the pure land of life, where there are no voices of malice and the cry of evil spirits and crowds of unclean demons. The heifer was not yoked, because the Lord did not bear the yoke of sin and slavery, but died for us. And we can surpass [them] by walking in the way of the Lord. 2:3 Figuratively, the law commanded that those who came from the Gentiles be circumcised and numbered with the people of God, describing the entry of the Gentiles who would (in the future) believe and be numbered with the heavenly Church. The law also spoke about the holiday: “Everyone who does not celebrate the Feast of Passover will be cut off from the people,” he writes, 3317, speaking about the holiday that is to be in the soul: “Everyone who is uncircumcised from the family of Israel will be destroyed,” he says, “and everyone who is uncircumcised will not have an inheritance among his brethren.” 3318. Thus, here he who is uncircumcised in heart, uncircumcised by the sword of the Spirit, is not called the son of God or Israel who sees God, 3319 and is not numbered among the inheritance of life. And just as it was not possible for the pagans to approach or join there, so God separates the soul from the spirits of evil, giving the heart a spiritual law. 2:4 And again about the Feast of Passover and unleavened bread [the law] writes, saying: “Everything that is leavened will be destroyed at the Feast of Passover, and in whatever house old leaven is found, it will be destroyed” 3320. The house alludes to the body: in whatever house the leaven of sin is found, it will be destroyed. There is old leaven 3321, and unleavened bread, and new leaven, because He demands that will and will not be completely combined and do not agree with evil, and because He calls the first Adam unleavened, and new leaven - the Divinity and the power of the Spirit, in which He wanders and mixes with the soul. 2.5 And he commands us to eat “unleavened bread with bitter herbs” 3322, teaching us to endure bitter sorrows, obvious or invisible, the oppression that occurs in the heart from the evil one. And the goodness and sweetness of the good and blameless Lamb of Christ 3323 makes those who tasted from Him forget about the harshness and bitterness of sorrows. And briefly: “All this happened to them [as] images, and was described for instruction to us who have reached the last centuries” 3324. 2:6 Let us therefore also pray to God and believe that we have been anointed with the Blood of Christ (that is, the Holy Spirit of promise), and have been set free and redeemed from the bondage of sin, and delivered from the bonds of darkness, and thus “shall live with Him” 3325 for ever and ever. 3.1 Blessed Paul says in a letter to the Corinthians: “But we all, with open face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of God (that is, the intelligent Light), are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” 3326. For just as someone, looking at the royal clothes, the purple robe and the diadem, and other similar various and colorful clothes, marvels at the diversity, splendor, pleasantness, beauty of precious stones, and the sight of their pleasantness and beauty becomes insatiable to him; or how someone, seeing the sun, sees the radiance of its rays, that they, like living things, show a multi-colored spectacle, one better than the other; or as, having seen in the water, he sees the sun shining in the water, jumping [from place to place] and moving in various ways, - 3.2 so those who bear the heavenly image of Christ, and have in themselves the ineffable Light, and are dressed in the scarlet robe of the Heavenly King (that is, the heavenly joy of the Spirit), cognizing the beauty of the ineffable Light in them, with an “open face” of the soul contemplate the ineffable diversity incorruptible glory, how it is transformed “from glory to glory” and into the many-colored beauties of the Divine, which the carnal language is powerless to express. For it is unthinkable and indescribable what God does with the saints with His immeasurable goodness while they are still in the world. 3.3 These parables and images [only] partly give instructions to those who understand, because what comes from God by one experience is truly known by those [in] whom the very secrets of things work worthily. You can hear the word of God and understand that it is above your knowledge, above your mind, above your consciousness, until the very objects of the mysteries of grace are in you. 3.4 For the visible scarlet and royal garments themselves do not give any benefit or life to those who see them, except for those who seem pleasant, but the Divine glory and beauty of the heavenly image gives to the souls who see, as in a mirror 3327, and who have it 3328 in themselves - peace 3329 and eternal life, true love in purity of heart, heavenly food, understanding, wisdom, unceasing joy of spirit 3330. By the power of action, those who are being compared themselves - namely, those who with their inner eyes see in themselves, as in a mirror, this intelligent Light shining in their hearts - are not occupied with anything earthly and material, but are completely attached to that ineffable beauty. 3.5 For just as if a nurse takes a baby into her arms, and a child, seeing his mother, rejoices and is glad, receiving milk food from her, so those who have within themselves the true Light of the Spirit and are connected with Christ, contemplating Him, rest and rejoice with “unspeakable joy” 3331, for from Him they feed on incorruptible food and in Him they live true life. 4:1 All the wicked princes, nesting in the depths of human souls, did not recognize the incarnate Lord until He shook their thrones, [dislodged] from the hearts of faithful people, overthrew their seats and squandered their vessels, so that man became [His] own church and dwelling, and then [He] placed there His vessels, the sacraments of the Spirit and His own throne. 4:2 And again, when the Lord descended into the tombs and into hell, stole and took away from the devil his own souls, which he was holding, the evil one brought receipts with the words: “They are my slaves, I bought them, You sold them to me; Why are You unfair to me? Why are you kidnapping my slaves? Then the Lord said to him: “You speak well. I sold them and handed them over to you, and now you bring receipts against them. Do you have something against My body? Or what did My body serve you for, that you unjustly killed it? For it is sinless." 4:3 Then Satan called all his wicked angels and said, “Search the handwriting of this body.” They searched in every possible way and everywhere, but could not find [the debt receipt] anywhere. When [nothing] was found against the body of the Lord at all, the Lord says: “You have no receipt for it.” He, struck, was put to shame, having nothing to say against the body of the Lord, in relation to which he made a mistake, since, having innocently crucified [the body], he was condemned 3332. And the Lord says: “Look, you did what you wanted with My sinless flesh, unjustly crucifying and killing [the body, nothing] due to death. Therefore, therefore, this flesh, for which you did not find a handwriting, but dared to raise your hand against it, will redeem all flesh that believes in it, and will set it free, and will raise it up again into heaven into eternal life.” 4:4 For with His blood and cross the Lord redeemed from death all those who wished or wished to believe in Him and have hope in Him and, having resurrected, will raise [them] into the Kingdom, as the apostle says: “Do you know that you are not your own? “You were bought with a [high] price” 3333; and Peter also says: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold,” “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” 3334. 4.5 Consequently, God, clothed in flesh like scarlet, “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” 3335 and the Jews tore the royal purple, crucifying the flesh of the Lord. But who can master the Spirit of the Divine, when no one can master even the intangible soul? So, the Jews who crucified God are guilty, as if they tore the royal scarlet robe. After all, just as the royal purple is co-glorified [with the king], and the king is not worshiped without purple, so the flesh of the Lord is glorified together with His Divinity, and Christ is worshiped with His flesh. For flesh and soul and the Divinity have become one thing, although they are two. 4.6 Just as wool dyed crimson, although [consisting] of two natures and hypostases, formed one splendid appearance (since after dyeing it is impossible to separate either the wool [from the dye] or the dye from the wool), so the flesh with the soul, united with the Divinity, became something single, that is, a single hypostasis, the God of heaven worshiped with the flesh. 4:7 Therefore, the Lord redeemed all flesh with His own flesh, and all flesh that believed and followed Him and receives Him now is glorified with the flesh of the Lord on that day, as the apostle says: “Who will transform our lowly body so that it will be like His glorious body” 3336. 4:8 Thus even the wicked princes who were within, in the souls of men, did not know about His coming until He expelled and cast them out from the souls who believed in Him, and made His throne, church and pure and holy dwelling place for the souls who truly loved Him, and having been made blameless by His Spirit, so they will rest with Him in the Kingdom forever and ever. Amen. Word 11. About the fact that the law had a shadow of future benefits, and not the very image of things 3337 1.1 II, 47.1 The glory that Moses 3338 had on his face was an image of true glory. Just as there [the Jews] could not “look upon the face of Moses” 3339, so now, when Christians accept this glory of light in their souls, the darkness, not tolerating the radiance of this light, is blinded and gives in to flight. Those [Jews] by circumcision were 3340 “the people of God” 3341 . Here, the “special people” of God 3342 receive the sign of circumcision 3343 into their hearts, because the heavenly sword cuts off the excess of the mind, that is, the unclean circumcision of sin. They have baptisms that sanctify the flesh; We have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. For this is what John preached: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” 3344. 1.2 II, 47, 2 There was an outer and an inner tabernacle: “The priests always enter into the first to perform divine services, and into the second - once a year only the high priest; [The] Holy Spirit Himself shows that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been opened 3345 » 3346 . And here those worthy enter into the tabernacle not made with hands 3347, “where Christ entered as the forerunner for us” 3348. Law 3349 ordered the priest to take two doves: one to slaughter, and a living one to sprinkle with blood and let fly in freedom. This action was the image and shadow of the truth. For Christ was slain, and [His] blood, which sprinkled us, made us winged, because it gave us the wings of the Holy Spirit, so that we could soar without restraint into the air of the Divine. 1.3 II, 47, 3 To those [the Jews] was given a law written on “tables of stone”; and we have been given spiritual laws written on “hearts of flesh” 3350. For [Scripture] says: “By giving My laws, I will write them on their hearts and in their minds” 3351. And then everything was abolishable and temporary; Now, in truth, everything is accomplished in the inner man, 1:4 since the Covenant is within, and the priesthood is within, and the promises of the true earth, and in a word, everything that happened there, everything happened “figuratively,” “and is described for the instruction of us who have reached the last ages” 3352. God foretold and predicted the future for Abraham in two ways - figuratively and truly. After all, He said to him: “For your seed will be strangers in a foreign land 3353, and they will wear them out and enslave them for four hundred years. And the people to whom [he] is enslaved, I will judge” 3354. 1:5 The Lord spoke, and it was fulfilled, for the people [Israel] became strangers, were enslaved by the Egyptians and were worn out with clay and bricks. Pharaoh appointed overseers and clerks over the Israelites, so that they would be forced to do their work. When “the children of Israel groaned from their labors” 3355 before God, then He visited them through Moses and, having struck the Egyptians with many plagues in the month of flowers, when, after the harshness of winter, a pleasant spring was just emerging, He drove them out of Egypt. 1.6 II, 47, 4 God commanded 3356 Moses to take a blameless lamb, slay it and anoint the doorposts with its blood, “so that the destroyer of the Egyptian firstborn would not touch them” 3357 because the angel sent from afar saw the sign of the blood and withdrew, entered into houses that did not have this sign, and killed every firstborn. Moreover, He commanded that old leaven be removed from every house and that the slain lamb be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The Israelites had to eat them with their loins girded, sandals on their feet and staffs in their hands. And thus it was commanded to eat the Lord's Passover with all care in the evening and not to break the bones of the lamb. 1.7 II, 47, 5 And He brought them out with [a lot of] silver and gold, commanding each one to borrow vessels of gold and silver from his Egyptian neighbor. And they left Egypt when the Egyptians were burying their firstborn. Some had joy over deliverance from heavy slavery, others cried and lamented about the death of their children. Therefore Moses says: “This is the night that God promised Abraham; Now He has fulfilled [the promise] for us his children” 3358. 1:8 All these were images and shadows of true things, for this is the mystery of the soul delivered by the coming of the Lord. After all, [the word] “Israel” is interpreted [as] “the mind that sees God” 3359, and man is freed from the slavery of darkness and from the Egyptian spirits. 2.1 II, 47, 6 Since the first person in disobedience and transgression [of the commandments] died a terrible spiritual death, according to the warning and admonition of God - after all, He said: “On the day that you eat of the tree, you will die” 3360, and so it happened; and also [God said]: “The earth is ecu and you will return to the earth” 3361; and adds another curse to the curse: “In the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread” 3362, “thorns and thistles will grow for you” the earth 3363, “you will till the earth, and it will not give you its fruits” 3364 - then on the earth his hearts were reborn and thorns and thistles sprang up, and his enemies deceived him by deceiving him with glory and clothed him with shame. His light was taken away, and they clothed him in darkness. They killed his soul, squandered and divided his thoughts, pulled his mind down from the heights, and man - Israel - became the slave of the true Pharaoh. 2.2 And he [the devil-Pharaoh] set over him [Israel the man] overseers and clerks - evil spirits - who force him, willingly and unwillingly, to do his evil deeds, while the demons standing above his thoughts force him to perform the madness of 3365 brick and clay, that is, having removed him from heavenly thinking, they brought him down to the material, earthly and dirty - evil deeds, words, reasoning and evil thoughts 3366. Having fallen from its height, the soul met a misanthropic kingdom and cruel princes, who forced it to do evil deeds and create sinful cities of vice with them. 2.3 II, 47, 7 If the soul sighs and cries out to God, He will send it a spiritual Moses, delivering it from Egyptian slavery. But first let her cry and groan, and then she will receive the beginning of deliverance. And she receives deliverance “in the month of new flowers” ​​3367 3368, during spring, when the spiritual field can grow beautiful flower-bearing shoots after the hard winter of darkened ignorance and great blindness - the consequence of shameful deeds and sins. But then [God] commands to remove from every house all the old leaven 3369, that is, to reject, as much as possible, the deeds and wisdom of the “old man”, corrupted 3370 by evil thoughts 3371 and unclean reasoning. 2:4 II, 47, 8 He must slay and sacrifice a lamb and anoint the doors with its blood. And Christ - the true Lamb - was slain, and the doorposts of the heart were anointed with His blood, so that the blood of Christ shed on the cross would be for life and deliverance for the soul, and for the Egyptians 3372 - for mourning and death. For indeed, the blood of the spotless Lamb 3373 is mourning for them, but joy and gladness 3374 to the faithful. Then, after the anointing, 3375 [God] commands to eat a lamb and unleavened bread with bitter herbs in the evening, having girded the loins, putting on sandals and having rods in their hands. 2:5 For unless the soul is first fully equipped with good works, it is not permitted to eat of the Lamb. But if the lamb is sweet and the unleavened bread is very tasty, then the potions are bitter and harsh, because with sorrow and much sorrow the soul eats the Lamb and the unleavened bread, oppressed by the sin living in it. 2.6 II, 47, 9 And [God] says: “Towards evening you will eat it” 3376 - and evening time is the middle between light and darkness. So, before deliverance itself, the soul is in the midst of light and darkness, because the power of God stands [on guard] and does not allow darkness to enter the soul and consume it. And just as [there] Moses said: “This is the night of God’s promise, in which He delivered us” 3377, so here the Lord, when the book was given to Him in the church, rightly says: “Call the year of the Lord pleasant and the “day of deliverance” 3378” 3379 3380. 2.7 After all, this was the image and shadow of the truth, since everything written mysteriously prefigured and signified the true salvation of the soul, which was imprisoned in darkness, “entangled in poverty and iron” 3381, hidden “in the pit of the underworld” 3382, closed “with gates of brass and iron bars” 3383 and could not be freed without the help of God and redemption. 2.8 II, 47, 10 So, [God] brings the soul out of Egypt and from Egyptian slavery, when the firstborn of Egypt are killed at the exodus, because a certain part of 3384 groans, saddened by the salvation of the captive. [God] commands to borrow from neighbors “vessels of gold and silver” 3385 and, taking them, go from [Egypt], because the soul, coming from darkness, takes with it “silver and golden vessels” - sound and pure thoughts, “kindled by the sevenfold” 3386, serving God, and rests from those neighboring the soul unclean spirits who scattered and wasted [her] thoughts and possessed her. 2:9 Blessed is the soul that is freed from the bondage of darkness, and woe to the soul that does not cry out and sigh to Him who is able to deliver it from these grievous and wicked taskmasters! 2:10 II, 47, 11 The delivered children of Israel, having celebrated the Passover, set off [on their journey]: the soul prospers, having received the life of the Holy Spirit, having tasted the Lamb, being anointed with His blood and eating the “true Bread” 3387 - the living Word. The pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud preceded those [Israelites], guarding [them] 3388 : The Holy Spirit, guarding 3389 , strengthens these [Christians], tangibly supporting and guiding the soul. Pharaoh and the rest of the Egyptians, having learned about the flight of the people, that [Pharaoh] had lost the work of the Israelites, after beating the firstborn, they ventured to pursue [them], hastily harnessing their chariots with all their people and hastening to exterminate them; and when they were already close and were preparing to invade their midst, a cloud stood in the middle, holding back and darkening some, and illuminating and protecting others. 3390 2:11 But the people, seeing all the power of Pharaoh approaching from behind, while in front the sea hindered their flight, although they were in the midst of a cloud and a pillar, despaired, and the people considered themselves already dead, falling into great sorrow and death, which they tasted. However, the Lord was nearby, prudently commanding Moses to split the sea with a rod and make a way for the people. The opened sea became a wall of water on the right and left, until all the people passed through, as if on dry land. But the Egyptians also advanced, finding the sea passable and not stormy. And so all the people [of Israel] came out of the sea, and every Egyptian soul entered into the sea. The entrance [to the sea] was the same, but the outcome was not the same. 2:12 What does the Lord say to Moses? Turn your staff and strike the sea. And the Red Sea smote Pharaoh and his strength. The people, seeing this great salvation, as their enemies perished in the Red Sea, rejoiced and greatly rejoiced at their salvation. Maria 3391, taking a tympanum with citharas, began to sing victory songs to God with all the people. So, they were completely freed from imminent death. Think of it as a parable here. 3.1 II, 47, 12 As soon as the soul flees from the Egyptians, the power of God comes and helps, guiding it to the truth. The spiritual pharaoh, the king of sinful darkness, learns that his soul is retreating from him, fleeing from his kingdom along with his thoughts (I’m talking about thoughts that he has long taken possession of), this is his property, but this cruel pharaoh believes that the soul will return again and turn to him. 3.2 Having learned that the soul completely escapes his dominion and that one part of his strength has already been destroyed by beating the firstborn, he rushes with greater impudence, fearing that if [his] soul completely escapes, he will not be able to fulfill his will. Therefore, he pursues the soul with sorrows, temptations and invisible battles. Here it is tempted, here it is tested, here the love [of the soul] for God, who brings it out of Egypt, becomes apparent, because it is given over to trials and sorrows of all kinds. 3.3 II, 47, 13 The soul sees that the power of the evil one is ready to attack it and kill it, but it does not have the strength to do so, because the Lord stands between the Egyptians and the Israelites. She also sees in front of her a sea of ​​sorrow and evil power, but she is unable to either go back, seeing ready enemies, or move forward, since the evil forces and the current terrible and various sorrows force her to see death [in front of her]. 3.4 Therefore, the soul does not hope for itself, having within itself a “death sentence” 3392, because of the swarm of evil ones that surrounded it. And when God sees that the soul is falling from the fear of death and that the enemy is ready to devour it 3393, then He gives it little help, for God is so long-suffering towards a soul in such a state. After all, God has determined that this should be the “path that leads to life” 3394 - with sorrow, with trials, with much hardship, with the most bitter temptations, so that the soul of the true land thereby reaches the “glory of the children of God” 3395. So, when the soul does not rely on itself and renounces itself due to immeasurable sorrow, having death before its eyes, then with “a strong hand” and “a high muscle” 3396 the Holy Spirit breaks the sea of ​​darkness and the soul passes through, avoiding terrible places and crossing the sea of ​​darkness and all-consuming fire. 3.5 II, 47, 14 Such spiritual mysteries are actually accomplished in a person who tries to enter into the promise of life, who is delivered from the kingdom of death, who receives a deposit from God and participates in the Holy Spirit. Then the soul, having been saved from its enemies, having crossed the bitter sea by God’s power and seeing how the enemies whom it had previously served perish before [its] eyes, “rejoices with indescribable joy” 3397 and, glorified, is consoled by God and rests in the Lord. 3.6 Then the new Spirit 3398, Whom [she received into herself], with the help of the tympanum, that is, the flesh, and the spiritual lyre, and verbal strings, her subtlest thoughts, and the tinkling of God’s grace, sends out praises to the life-giver Christ. For just as breath, passing through a flute, emits a voice, so the Holy Spirit, through holy and spirit-bearing people, sings, hymns and prays to God in a pure heart 3399. 3.7 Glory to Him who delivered the soul from slavery to Pharaoh, and Who made it His throne, and home, and church, and pure bride, and Who brings it into the kingdom of eternal life from now on, while it is still in the world! 4.1 II, 47.15 Under the law, dumb animals were sacrificed, and if they were not slain, the offerings were not accepted. And now, if sin is not slain, then the offering is unpleasant to God and is not true. 4:2 The people came to Marah, where there was a spring that gave out water that was bitter and undrinkable 3400. Therefore, God commands the perplexed [Moses] to throw a tree into the water, and as soon as the tree was thrown, the water was sweetened and turned from its former bitterness into sweet and drinkable for the people of God. This is how the soul becomes bitter when it has drunk the poison of a snake, has become like its bitter nature and has become a sinner. Therefore, God puts the “tree of life” 3401 into the bitter source of the heart, and [the soul] delights, putting aside its bitterness and dissolving with the Holy Spirit of Christ, and thus, having become useful, it is used to serve its Master, because it becomes a flesh-bearing spirit. 4:3 Glory to Him who changes our bitterness into the sweetness and kindness of the Holy Spirit! Woe to the one who does not have the “tree of life” 3402 planted in his heart, for he remains in bitterness to the end, because without accepting the “tree of life”, he cannot acquire for himself any good change. 4.4 II, 47, 16 The Rod of Moses appeared in two images 3403: to the enemies it appeared as a biting and killing serpent, and to the Israelites as a staff on which they leaned. So the tree of the true Moses, that is, Christ, for enemies, spirits of evil 3404, is death and an enemy, but for our souls it is a staff, a reliable support and life in which the soul rests. What was before was images and shadows of these true things 3405. For the Old Testament service was the shadow and image of the present service 3406. And the tabernacle, and circumcision, and the ark, and the frame 3407, and manna, and the priesthood, and incense, and ablutions, and in general everything that was in Israel, or in the Law of Moses, or in the Prophets, was for the sake of this soul, created in the image of God 3408 and falling into the yoke of slavery and the king of bitter sin. 4.5 II, 47, 17 God wanted to enter into communication with her, he prepared her for Himself as a royal bride, he cleanses her from filth and, washing her from blackness and from her shame, makes her bright, revives her from deadness, heals her from contrition and, ceasing hostility, pacifies her. Being a creature, she is prepared to be the bride of the Son of the Tsar, and God accepts her, with His own power, first changing her until she grows into His own age 3409, extends and expands her to boundless and immeasurable growth, until she becomes worthy of Him and an immaculate bride, namely, He first gives birth to her and nurtures her in Himself until He accepts she is the perfect measure of love for Him, because He Himself, being the perfect Groom, and her perfect bride, accepts her into the holy, mysterious and undefiled communion of marriage, and then she reigns with Him for endless ages. 5.1 Such gifts and such endowments God bestowed on the human soul and thus extends it to infinite width until He perfects it, and then it rules over everything, having received the Heavenly Bridegroom. For God loved no work of His as much as man, and no creature loved God as much as man. 5:2 Aaron, taking, according to the law of Moses, the holy vestment, and the vestment with twelve bells, and the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, inscribed on twelve stones, and the other two precious stones [having] on his shoulders, entered into the Holy of Holies, performing all the sacred rites and worship [established] in the law, figuratively anticipating the true priesthood of Christ. So the Lord, having taken His children, the apostles, some from here, others from there, bearing their names, entered the heavenly altar, the Holy of Holies, “into the inner veil” 3410, becoming “the forerunner for us” 3411. And the motley shirt with twelve bells [prototyped] the Comforter Spirit, with whom He clothed the souls of the apostles, who proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom of Christ throughout the world. To him be glory forever. Amen. Word 12. {Ο spiritual robe and Healing of the soul} 3412 1.1 II, 20, 1 If anyone is naked from the divine and heavenly robe, that is, the grace of the Spirit, as it is said: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” 3413 - then let him cry and beg the Lord to accept this spiritual robe from heaven and clothe with it the soul, naked from the Divine effectiveness, because he is covered with great the shame of the passions of dishonor 3414 is the one who is not clothed in the robe of the Spirit. 1.2 Just as in the visible [world], whoever is naked suffers great shame and dishonor, and friends turn away from friends and relatives from their own if they are naked, and children, seeing their father naked, turned away their gaze so as not to look at the naked body of their father, came back with sight and covered him, and thus turned away their gaze 3415 - so is God turns away from those who are not fully clothed with the robe of His Spirit, who have not truly put on “the Lord Jesus Christ” 3416. 1.3 II, 20, 2 The first man himself, seeing himself naked, was ashamed 3417. There is so much dishonor in nakedness! If bodily nakedness exposes one to such shame, then how much more is covered by the shame and dishonor of the passions 3418 that soul, which is naked from Divine power, does not carry and is not truly clothed in the ineffable robe of the Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ himself 3419 . And everyone who is naked from this divine glory should be just as ashamed of himself and aware of his dishonor, as Adam was ashamed, being naked in body, and made himself a robe of fig leaves, and nevertheless bore shame. 1.4 Let everyone, conscious of his poverty and nakedness, ask [the robe] from Christ, who gives [the robe] and clothes the soul with glory and ineffable light; Let [the soul] not make clothes for itself out of vain thoughts, and let it not think, deluded by its own righteousness, that it has a saving garment. II, 20, 3 Whoever stops at his own righteousness alone, without waiting for the righteousness of God, which is the Lord, “who became righteousness and redemption for us” 3420, labors in vain and in vain 3421. For all self-conceit about one’s righteousness will be revealed on the last day, like “unclean rags” 3422, as the prophet Isaiah says 3423. 1:5 Therefore let us ask and pray to God, that we may be clothed with the robe of salvation, in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the ineffable light, which souls clothed with Him will no longer be put off forever; on the contrary, at the Resurrection, their bodies will be glorified by the glory of this light, in which the faithful, noble, and holy souls are still clothed, as the Apostle says: “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” 3424. Glory to His ineffable compassion and His boundless mercy! 2.1 II, 20, 4 And also, just as the “bleeding woman,” having truly believed and touched the “blooded robe” of the Lord, immediately received healing, and the “flow of blood” of the unclean source “dry up” 3425 - so every soul, having an incurable sore of sin, a source of unclean and evil thoughts, if it comes to the Lord and, truly Having believed, he will ask, he will receive saving healing from the incurable current of passions, and by the power of Jesus alone, this source, exuding unclean thoughts, will dry up and become impoverished; but it is impossible for anyone else to heal this mental ulcer. 2.2 For this is what the enemy sought, so that through Adam’s crime he could wound and darken the inner man, the sovereign mind that sees God 3426. And his eyes, when the heavenly blessings were closed for them, then opened their sight to vices and passions. II, 20, 5 Therefore [man] is so wounded that it is impossible for anyone to heal him except the Lord alone, for He came and took away the sin of the world 3427, that is, he dried up the unclean source of evil thoughts 3428 of the soul. 2.3 For just as she was bleeding there, having squandered all her [property] to those who promised to heal [her], she was not at all able to heal, but when she approached the Lord, truly believing in Him, and touched His shrine, she immediately felt healing and the flow of blood stopped - so the soul, initially wounded by the inhealable ulcer of evil passions, no one could heal neither from the righteous, nor from the fathers, nor from the prophets. 2.4 II, 20, 6 Moses came, but could not give the soul complete healing. There were priests, gifts, tithes, sabbaths, new moons, ablutions, sacrifices, burnt offerings, and all other righteousness was performed according to the Law - but the soul could not be healed from the unclean current of evil thoughts, and all their righteousness was not able to heal it, until the Savior came, the true doctor, who heals nothing and gave Himself as a ransom for the human race. He alone accomplished a great and saving healing of the soul; He freed her from slavery and brought her out of darkness, glorifying her with His own light; He Himself dried up the source of unclean thoughts in her. For [John] says: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” 3430. 2.5 II, 20, 7 Medicines taken from the earth, that is, their own justifications, could not heal and heal the soul from such an invisible ulcer; Only by the heavenly and divine nature of the gift of the Holy Spirit - with this medicine alone could a person receive healing and achieve eternal life, after cleansing the heart by the Holy Spirit. 2:6 But how is it that the woman, although she could not be healed and remained ulcerated, nevertheless had legs to come to the Lord and, having come, to receive healing, and in the same way the blind man, although he could not come and approach the Lord, because he did not see, nevertheless sent a faster messenger, a voice, for he said: “Son of David, have mercy on me” 3431, and thus, having believed, he received healing, when the Lord came to him and gave him insight - so the soul, although ulcerated by the ulcers of the passions of dishonor 3432, although blinded by sinful darkness, nevertheless has the will to cry out and call on Jesus so that He will come and create eternal deliverance for the soul. II, 20, 8 For just as the blind man, if he had not cried out, and the bleeding woman, if she had not come to the Lord, would not have received healing, so if someone does not approach the Lord of his own free will and with all his will and does not beg Him with certainty and faith 3433, then he will not receive healing. 2.7 After all, those who believed were immediately healed, but we have not yet truly received our sight and have not been healed of secret passions, although the Lord has more concern for the immortal soul than for the body. If the soul receives its sight, according to [the word] of the one who said: “Open my eyes” 3434, then it will no longer be blind and, having been healed, will not be wounded again. If the Lord, having come to earth, took care of corruptible bodies, then isn’t he even more concerned about the divine and immortal soul, created in His image 3435? But because of our unbelief, because of our differences of opinion, because we do not love Him with all our hearts 3436 and do not truly believe in Him, we have not yet received spiritual healing and salvation. 2:8 Therefore, let us believe in Him and truly draw near [to Him], so that the Lord will soon work true healing in us. For He promised to give “the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” 3437, and to those who seek to find, and to those who knock, to open 3438. And the Promised One is false 3439. Glory to him forever! Amen. Word 13. {Ο spiritual treasure and Ο various effects of grace} 3440 1.1 II, 18, 1 If someone in the world is very rich and owns a hidden treasure, then with this treasure and the wealth that he has, he acquires for himself everything he wants, and he easily obtains any special property in the world, relying on his treasure, because he can easily and without difficulty acquire every thing that he wants to have. So those who first of all sought from God and found and already have the heavenly treasure of the Spirit, Christ himself, shining in their hearts, - with this treasure, who is Christ in them, acquire for themselves all the truth of virtues and all possession of the goodness of the commandments of the Lord, and with them 3441 acquire for themselves even greater heavenly wealth. 1:2 For with the help of heavenly treasure, firmly relying on the abundance of spiritual wealth in them, they fulfill every virtue of righteousness and, by the power of the invisible riches of the grace that is in them, without difficulty they perform every righteousness and commandment of the Lord. After all, this is what the apostle says: having “treasure in earthen vessels” 3442, that is, while [still] in the flesh, you were deemed worthy to acquire within yourself the sanctifying power of the Spirit; and again: “Who became for us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” 3443. II, 18, 2 Therefore, whoever has found and has within himself this heavenly treasure of the Spirit, fulfilling 3444 all righteousness, blamelessly and purely performs in him all the practice of virtues, now without coercion and easily. 1:3 Therefore, let us also beg the Lord, cry out and ask Him, so that He will grant us the treasure of His Spirit and thus be able to abide blamelessly and purely in all His commandments, to purely and perfectly fulfill all the righteousness of the Spirit, with the help of heavenly treasure, that is, Christ. 1:4 He who is poor, and poor, and naked in the world, and hungry, having nothing, because of his poverty, cannot acquire anything in the world. But whoever has a treasure, as has already been said, easily, without labor or pain, acquires any property he wants. So the soul, which is naked and deprived of communion with the Spirit 3445 and remains in the terrible poverty of sin, before the communion of the Holy Spirit cannot, even if it desires, really create the spiritual fruit of truth 3446. 1.5 II, 18, 3 However, everyone should force himself to ask the Lord to be worthy to find and receive the heavenly treasure of the Spirit and be able to comfortably, easily and without difficulty fulfill, blamelessly and purely, all the commandments of the Lord, which he could not previously fulfill with all his effort. For, being poor and poor without communion with the Holy Spirit 3447, how could he acquire such spiritual acquisitions without treasures and spiritual riches? 1.6 But the soul, which through seeking, faith and much patience has found the Lord - this true treasure - easily produces the fruits of the Spirit, as was said before, and the Spirit Himself fulfills all the truth and all the commandments of the Lord, commanded by Him, in itself and through it purely, completely and blamelessly. 1.7 II, 18, 4 Or let’s use another example. If someone is rich and prepares an expensive supper, he spends from his wealth or from the treasure that he has, and with great wealth he is not afraid that he will lack anything, and thus entertains the guests he invites with luxury and splendor, offering them various luxurious and unusual dishes. And a beggar who does not have wealth, if he decides to prepare a supper for someone, borrows everything: the very vessels, and dresses, and other things - and as soon as those invited have supped, as [happens] at a beggar's meal, he then gives back to everyone what he borrowed from him: either a silver vessel, or clothing, or another thing. And when in this way he distributes everything that belongs to everyone, he himself remains poor and naked, not having his own wealth with which he could enjoy himself. 1.8 II, 18, 5 So those who are rich in the Holy Spirit, truly having in themselves heavenly riches and the fellowship of the Spirit 3448, if they speak the word of truth to someone 3449, and if they communicate a spiritual word to someone, and want to make souls glad, then from their own wealth and from their own treasure, which they have in themselves, they utter the word, with it they rejoice the souls of those who hear the spiritual word and are not afraid of their own poverty themselves, because they possess within themselves a heavenly treasure of goodness, from which they offer [food] and delight those treated spiritually. 1.9 But the beggar, who has not acquired anything for himself from the riches of Christ, not having in his soul spiritual wealth, exuding all the goodness of words, deeds, and thoughts of divine and unspoken mysteries, if he himself wants to speak the word of truth as he should 3450 and to make some glad with the spoken word and the understanding of the Scriptures, then in fact, truly and truly, he has not acquired in himself the word of God, but only by remembering and borrowing words from each [book of] Scripture or retelling and teaching what he heard from spiritual men, he seems to amuse others, and others delight in his words; but as soon as he finishes his speech, each of his words returns to its place from where it was taken, not having inside his own treasure of the Holy Spirit, from which he can bring, use and amuse others, and he himself is the first not rejoiced and not delighted by the Spirit. 1:10 II, 18, 6 Therefore, first of all, with heart disease and faith, we must ask God to grant us to find in our hearts His riches, the true treasure of Christ, in the power and effectiveness of the Holy Spirit, so that in this way we, having first found in Him benefit and salvation and eternal life, could then, as far as possible, benefit others, from the inner treasure of Christ offering every goodness of spiritual words and telling heavenly and spiritual secrets. 1:11 For thus the goodness of the will of the Spirit desired to dwell in everyone who believes and asks and loves Him. “He who loves Me,” says [the Lord], “will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and appear to him Myself” 3451 and again: “I and My Father will come and make our abode with him” 3452. This is how the infinite kindness of the Father willed, this is how the inconceivable love of Christ pleased, this is how the inexpressible goodness of the Holy Spirit promised. Glory to the ineffable grace of the Holy Trinity! 2.1 II, 18, 7 Those who have been deemed worthy to become children of God 3453 and to be born again of the Holy Spirit 3454, having within them Christ shining forth and resting them, are guided in various and varied ways by the Spirit and invisibly guided in the heart by grace during spiritual repose. But let us take images from visible pleasures in the world in order to partially show by examples how grace abides in the soul [of such people]. 2:2 Sometimes they rejoice, as if at a royal supper, and rejoice with joy and joy unspeakable. At other times they are like a bride, resting in divine peace in communion with her groom. Sometimes, like disembodied angels, while still in the body, they feel the same lightness and speed within themselves. Sometimes they seem to be intoxicated with drink, rejoiced and intoxicated by the Spirit in the divine and spiritual rapture of spiritual mysteries. II, 18, 8 But sometimes they seem to cry and lament, praying for the human race, and for all of Adam 3455 they shed tears and cry, inflamed with spiritual love for humanity. Sometimes their Spirit inflames them with such love and joy that, if it were possible, they would accommodate every person within themselves, not distinguishing evil from good. Sometimes, in humility of spirit, they humiliate themselves so much before every person that they consider themselves the lowest and least of all. 2.3 Sometimes the Spirit 3456 ·in unspeakable joy 3457 . Sometimes, like a strong warrior who, having put on the royal armor 3458, goes out to battle with enemies and strives hard and mightily to defeat them, so [the] spiritual one puts on the heavenly weapons of the Spirit, advances on invisible enemies, and wages war with them, and subdues them under his feet 3459. II, 18, 9 Sometimes in a certain great silence, silence, peace, tranquility and indescribable prosperity, being in one spiritual pleasure, the soul rests in great silence and silence. Sometimes he becomes wise by grace in the understanding of something, in ineffable wisdom, in the knowledge of the untestable Spirit, which cannot be uttered with the tongue [and] lips. Sometimes it becomes the salvation of all people 3460. Grace dwells in them in such a variety of ways and guides the soul[,] in diverse and different ways, resting [the soul] according to its 3461 will, and exercises it in various ways in order to present it perfect, blameless and pure to the heavenly Father. 2.4 II, 18, 10 These actions of the Spirit that we mentioned above are characteristic of large measures close to perfection. For the various resting places of grace listed above act differently, but not incessantly, 3462 in them, [so that] one spiritual action replaces another. When the soul ascends to the perfection of the Spirit, having been completely cleansed of all passions and finally, in ineffable communion, having come into unity and dissolution with the Comforter Spirit, then the soul itself, having dissolved with the Spirit, will be vouchsafed to become a spirit; then it becomes all light 3463, all – spirit, all – joy, all – peace, all – joy, all – love, all – womb, all – goodness and kindness. And they are absorbed by the virtues of the Holy Spirit, and - just as in the abyss of the sea a stone is surrounded everywhere by water - so these [people] are surrounded in every possible way by the Spirit, having dissolved [with Him], and, having united with the grace of Christ, they become like Christ, immutably having in themselves the virtues of the Spirit and showing such fruits to everyone, by the Spirit having become within themselves blameless and blameless 3464 , and clean. For how is it possible for [them] to produce externally the fruits of vice? On the contrary, the fruits of the Spirit 3465 always shine in them in everything. 2.5 II, 18, 11 Therefore, let us also beg the Lord, with love and with great trust we will believe in Him, that He may give us the heavenly grace of His spiritual gift 3466, so that the Spirit Himself may rule and guide us to [do] all God’s will and rest us in the many different [ways] of His repose, so that, with such grace-filled management and Through exercise and spiritual progress, we have been vouchsafed to achieve the perfection of the fullness of Christ, [as] the apostle says: “So that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” 3467; and again: “Until we all come to a perfect man, to the measure of the full stature of Christ” 3468. After all, the Lord promised to truly grant all those who believe in Him, both those who ask and those who pray, the secrets of the ineffable communion of the Holy Spirit 3469. Therefore, we too, having completely surrendered ourselves to the Lord, dedicating both soul and body to Him and clinging 3470 to the cross of Christ, may we be worthy to receive the blessings mentioned above and, thus found worthy of the Lord, may we become heirs of the eternal kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion forever. Amen. Word 14. {Wonderful examples [of what the soul of Christians is like], and the Narrative of the animals living on fire} 3471 1 II, 43, 1 Just as many lamps and 3472 lamps are lit by fire, and lamps and lamps are kindled and shine from one nature, so Christians are ignited from one nature by the divine fire of the Son of God, and have burning lamps in their hearts, and shine before Him. He and they are one thing. For [the prophet] says: “For this reason, O God, Thy God hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellow-partners.” and He was called Christ 3474 so that we, having been anointed with the same oil with which He was anointed, would become anointed 3475 and be, so to speak, of one essence and one body with Him. After all, [Scripture] also says this: “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from One” 3476. II, 43, 2 Therefore Christians are partly likened to lamps, having in them oil, that is, the fruits of righteousness 3477. If [the lamp] is not kindled by the lamp of the Divinity in them, then they are nothing 3478. After all, the Lord also says about John: “He was a burning lamp” 3479 - since the Holy Spirit dwelt in him and kindled his heart. 2 Like a coarse bag 3480 3481 filled with pearls, so Christians, who are obliged to be humble and despised in the outer man, inwardly, in the inner man, have a “pearl of great price” 3482 3483 so that they do not seem like something [worthwhile] in the world, although they are great with God. Or like an earthen vessel filled with gold or balm, so Christians should be despised by the outward man, having a pearl of great value within. Others are likened to “watered coffins”: on the outside they are painted and decorated, but “inside they are full of the bones of the dead” 3484, a great stench and unclean spirits 3485. 3 II, 43, 3 As 3486 the apostle says that the heir 3487 is still small, “subject to trustees and stewards” 3488 of evil spirits. But these spirits do not want the baby to grow up, so that, having become a “perfect man” 3489, he does not begin to delve into his {legal 3490} household affairs and seek dominion. 4 So, a Christian is obliged to always have remembrance of the Lord, for it is written: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 3491” 3492 - that is, to love the Lord not only when he enters the prayer house, but also while on the road, and talking, and eating food, so that he may always have remembrance of the Lord and love and commitment 3493 [to Him]. For He says: “Where your mind is, there [your] treasure is also” 3494. Whatever a person’s heart is attached to and what his desire leads him to, that becomes God for him. If the heart always desires God, then God is the Lord of its heart. Even the one who has renounced [the world], become non-covetous, homeless, fasting, is still attached 3495 to home or to parental love. And what his heart is attached to and what his mind is captivated by, that is his god. And it turns out that he left the world through a wide door, and enters the world again and enters through the side door 3496. 5 Just as brushwood thrown into the fire cannot resist the power of the fire, but immediately burns up, so fiery 3497 demons, when they want to attack a person 3498, are burned and destroyed by divine power and its fire, if only the person himself was always clinging to the Lord 3499 and placed his trust and hope in Christ Jesus. And if demons are strong, like iron mountains, then they are burned by prayer, like wax from 3500 fires. 3501 .> 3502 But the soul, meanwhile, faces a great 3503 battle with them. [There are] 3504 serpents and the mouths of fiery lions, always scorching and burning the soul. 6 Just as a complete villain becomes intoxicated with the spirit of delusion, or a murderer [reaches] the extreme degree of 3505 evil, so a Christian, [baptized] 3506 with the Holy Spirit, is not skilled in evil. Those who have grace, but are still attached to sin, are under great fear and go through terrible places. 7 II, 43, 4 Just as sailing merchants, although they find both a fair wind and a calm sea, but until they enter the pier, are always under fear that an opposing wind will suddenly arise, the sea will become agitated and the ship will be in danger, so Christians, although they have the grace and favorable wind of the Holy Spirit blowing upon them, are nevertheless under fear that the wind will not find an opposing force and raise up in their souls what rebellion and excitement. Therefore, great diligence is required in order to enter the haven of rest, into perfect peace, into eternal pleasure, into the holy city, “into the heavenly Jerusalem, into the Church of the firstborn” 3507. And whoever has not yet completed these degrees is under great fear, lest the evil force, during [this passage], cause [him] some kind of fall. 8 II, 43, 5 Like a woman who has received a seed, there is a tender embryo in the womb, and the child, so to speak, remains in a dark and gloomy place, but if the baby finally happens to emerge [from the womb] at the appropriate time, [he] sees a creature that he has never seen: the sky, and the earth, and the sun 3508, and immediately friends and relatives with cheerful faces take the baby into their arms; and if, due to great disorder, the baby has to be removed [from the womb] 3509 3510, then it is necessary for the doctors assigned to use a scalpel and remove the embryo through a section 3511 3512, and then the baby passes from death to death, from darkness to darkness - apply the same to the spiritual. Those who have received the seed of the Divine have it within themselves invisibly, and because of the sin that lives in them, they remain 3513 in dark and terrible places. Therefore, if the 3514 protect the seed that they received, then the 3515 are clearly reborn, and finally, after [their] release from the body, the angels and the heavenly face with cheerful faces accept them into their embrace. And if someone who has taken up the weapon of the Lord to fight does not nobly take courage, but relaxes and dissolves, he immediately surrenders to his enemies and, when released with his body, finds himself walking out of the darkness that now holds him, into another, more terrible darkness and into destruction. 9 II, 43, 6 Imagine a garden in which there are fruitful trees and other fragrant plants; the entire garden is beautifully cultivated and lovingly decorated and, for safety, instead of a fence, it is surrounded by a small wall; By chance, a fast river also flows here. If water, even slightly, hits the wall, it will harm its foundation, find a passage for itself, little by little completely wash away the wall 3516 and, entering the garden, break and uproot all the plants, destroy all works and make the garden barren. This is what happens with the human heart. There are wonderful thoughts in him, and streams of sin are constantly approaching his heart, ready to overthrow him and draw him to their side. And if the mind is even a little frivolous and unsightly yields to unclean, bad thoughts, which 3518 are always close, [then] they have already burst in through delusion 3519 and overthrew all the beauty there, turned good thoughts into nothing and brought the soul into desolation. 10 II, 43, 7 As the eye is small in comparison with all other members, and the apple itself, 3520 is a kind of small vessel, but there are lions, there are serpents, there are wicked spirits nesting there, there are poisonous beasts, there are 3521 treasures of vice, there are uneven [roads], there are abysses, there are rough paths; but there, when [the heart] is enlightened, God is also there, there are angels, there is life, there is light, there are the heavenly cities, there are the apostles, there are the treasures of the kingdom, there is everything. 11 Just as there is a darkness spread throughout the entire universe in the air and in the mountains 3522, and man does not see man, so this darkness of the evil one lies from transgression over all creation and over every human soul; Therefore, the one covered with this darkness is as if in the night and leads life in terrible places. 12 Just as in another house there is a lot of smoke, so sin, like a lot of smoke, with its evil thoughts settles [in the heart], attracting countless demons into the thoughts. 13 II, 43, 8 As in the visible [world], when war is declared, the sages 3523 and nobles do not go to battle, but, fearing death, remain [at home], and recruits 3524, both the poor and the common people, are called up; and it happens that they gain victory over the enemies, drive them away from the borders and for this they receive awards and crowns from the king, achieve honors and dignity, and those great people who remained at home find themselves behind everyone - this also happens in the spiritual. The ignorant, hearing the word for the first time, with a truth-loving thought, put it into practice, in the struggle of grace, and fight, and send arrows against each other, and receive [wounds], and they have eternal victory. The sages, who delve into the word to the utmost subtlety, avoid warfare and do not succeed, but remain behind those who participated in the battle and those who won. 14 II, 43, 9 But just as strong winds blowing set all creation in motion under heaven and make a great noise, so the power of the enemy moves and carries away thoughts, shakes the depths of the heart to its own will, and in serving it squanders thoughts. 15 Just as tax collectors, sitting in 3525 aisles, stop and inspect those passing by, so demons watch and detain souls, and if the souls are not completely cleansed, then, upon their departure from the body, they do not receive permission to enter the heavenly abodes and meet their Lord, but are carried down by crafty spirits - airy 3526. 16 Just as a chariot, if it does not have a charioteer leading and directing the animals, running quickly to where he himself knows, then it goes astray from the straight path and is crushed, so the soul, if it does not have a spiritual reins holder, so that the Spirit himself rules it, as he knows, then turns [from the path] and falls into the pits and snares of the devil. 17 Just as a farmer, when he plants many seedlings, and after winter and terrible winds have passed, it becomes clear which seedling has taken root, so a person is planted in God, receiving spiritual grace, and goes through all the cold temptations, and is tested by the evil spirits with whom he lives, and then it becomes obvious whether he is rooted in God, whether his love has endured 3527 , whether he retained the grace he firmly accepted and grew and perfected in it, whether he turned around the double talent 3528. And just as the farmer wants all the seedlings to reach maturity and bear fruit, so God wants everyone who receives the grace of His Spirit to be tested and perfected. 18 Just as gold, mixed with earth, then, filtered through water, becomes visible and [is purified] from the earth, and is again thrown into the melting furnace until it is completely purified, and then takes on a royal form, is put into commercial circulation and deposited in the royal treasury, although before filtering it was trampled by beasts, so the soul, being in the earth, mixed with sin, was trampled by beasts (evil perfume); then she is filtered by the Spirit (heavenly water), and for the first time she finds herself accepting grace, and knows herself to be separated from evil; then she is thrown into the crucible of trials in order to be completely cleansed of all dirt, and thus receives the image of the heavenly King, and Christ is depicted in her 3529; and then, having become pure, it is “fit for the Master” 3530 and deposited in the royal treasury in the Kingdom of Heaven. 19 The shell used by warriors, called “klivanos” 3531, is designed in the image of a person, so that if it does not have a body moving and carrying it, it remains inactive. So the soul, being the image of God 3532, if it does not clothe itself in the Spirit, and [He] does not move it, and [it] does not fight with enemies, as the Spirit knows, then man, as weak and motionless, is nothing, not knowing either his enemies or how to fight. 20 After all, a warrior, if he does not have a fast horse and weapons, can neither fight nor flee, if the need arises, but, being exposed, he is stabbed and perishes - so the soul, if it does not have the Holy Spirit, like a weapon with which it is chained in armor, not being clothed in Christ, is stabbed and perishes. 21 Sowing is praised because of the land, and the earth is praised because of good sowing. Likewise, holy people, thanks to God [being] in them, are called spiritual and holy, and they are amazed at them, and God is glorified through those who have Him [in themselves] and bear fruit. 22 Just as an eagle or another high-flying bird takes off from the ground with great effort, but when it reaches the heights, it finds itself in complete calm, peace and carelessness - so the soul, having taken up the wings of the Spirit, first fights with its enemies and uses effort, receiving help from the wings on high. When she finds herself on height or in the greatness and richness of grace, she soars carefree and fearless in the air of the Divine. If, however, the bird again falls to the ground, is oppressed by everyone, be it animals or people, for the winged nature turns out to be inactive on earth - so the soul, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, if it moves in the high air of the Spirit, is fearless and carefree; If she gets busy with earthly and restraining worries, she will easily be caught by the spirit of darkness and beasts, [that is,] by enemy force. After all, the nature of the Holy Spirit does not enjoy the pursuit of earthly and material affairs. 23 II, 39 Just as a certain king writes messages [to those] to whom he wants to bestow 3533 3534 and> his gifts: “Hurry to come to me to receive royal gifts from me,” and if they do not come and do not receive, then reading the messages will not benefit them; rather, they will become guilty of death, not wanting to come and be worthy of receiving royal honors from the hands of the king, so are the divine Scriptures, like messages, the King God offered to people, declaring that those who cried out to God and believed would ask for and receive a heavenly gift from the hypostasis of the Divine. After all, He Himself said: “So that you may become partakers of the Divine nature” 3535. If a person does not come, does not ask, does not accept, then there will be no benefit to him from reading the Divine Scriptures, but on the contrary, he will become guilty of death because he did not want to seek and accept the gift of life from the heavenly King, without which it is impossible to obtain immortal life. 24 I, 62, 23 It is good to always fear the Lord and not to trust yourself in anything, so that someone does not happen to go to the bottom in an unfortunate way, because a person may believe that he is doing well, but in fact he is not doing what he thinks. For “there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end [of the path] reaches the depths of hell” 3536. I, 62, 24 Better let him always call on God, so that He Himself becomes his Guide, and Path, and Mind, and Reasoning, and Interpreter; Until [a person] has found Christ in himself, let him not trust himself in any way. I, 62, 25 Just as one who finds himself in danger of a ship [wreck] and takes something from the ship's tackle in order to be saved, and does not care about what is on the ship, because of fear of the sea - so a Christian should, meaning God, always be afraid and not be frivolous. I, 62, 26 Let him who wishes to be saved strive [in what] God desires. This is the will of God - to love God and force yourself to love your neighbor. I, 62, 27 Let him be humble before God and people, always listening to his heart and resisting evil thoughts. And when someone listens there, it is always appropriate for such a person to be both in fear and full of love and humility, and he is concerned about how to please the Lord and fight with the old man 3537. I, 62, 28 The frivolous one has a dying heart, and he stands in old age, and has not yet begun to strive, and does not know how to fight. I, 62, 29 So, it is good to always be in fear and seek instruction and help from the Lord, so that someone can be saved with the help of the Lord. 25 There is “a fountain from the house of the Lord,” 3539 according to the prophet, and above it are trees whose leaves do not wither and whose fragrance does not fail. The mysterious [meaning] contained [here] is briefly as follows. The living fountain from the house of the Lord is the Lord, who is a living fountain in your heart. After all, He said to the Samaritan woman: “Whoever drinks the water that I will give him, 3540 will become in him a source of water flowing into eternal life.” Do you see that there is a living source that revives the heart? The trees standing above it are righteous trees, planted and watered [there], bearing fruit and giving off fragrance. And again He says: “Rivers will flow from his belly” 3542. This means that the righteous are known as rivers. 26 As if visible rivers - Euphrates 3543 or others - can bring benefit, flowing or rushing through level places, but they cannot ascend to high mountains, where there are forests, animals and [wild] beasts, and there to water [them], nor to hills, nor to high places. This was the case with the prophets: they were rivers, since the Holy Spirit flowed into their hearts from above. However, they only gave water to the people of Israel. The apostles were clouds full of rain moisture, bringing rain from above and irrigating the whole earth, and the plains of the earth, and [everything] that had dried out blossomed again, and the springs were renewed again. 27 When the river is shallow, everyone crosses it [ford], but during the flood it cannot be crossed because of the arrival of many streams - so in the soul, while a person is still a baby, wicked spirits walk and dwell. If an excess of grace enters the soul and a flood comes, then the evil and unclean spirits can no longer pass through it, because they suffocate and drown. 28 Just as rain falling on the earth moistens the whole earth, mountains, forests, hills, plains, so the apostles, filled with the Spirit, entered the whole world and poured it out on the whole universe. 29 II, 14, 5b One creature nourishes and gives life to another creature, just as the seeds of wheat or barley are given life, when this is commanded, by clouds, rain and the sun, which are also creatures. So they [the apostles] fed the heavenly word to those who were with them in slavery and revived and resurrected corrupt and dead thoughts with their beautiful teaching. We will also seek the first [i.e. e. heavenly word], if sown in the invisible earth and planted in the heavenly vineyard. 30 But just as there is light entering through a window, and the sun sheds rays on the whole universe, so the prophets were luminaries for their own house of Israel, and the apostles served as radiant suns, illuminating all parts of the world. 31 II, 14, 6 There is earth on which four-footed animals live, and there is earth in the air on which birds walk and live, and if [the birds] wish to stand or walk on [this] earth, then there are fishers who take possession of them. And there is land for fish - sea water. And every animal, in whatever place it was born, on earth or in the air, there has a stay, food and peace. In the same way, there is a satanic land and country, where dark forces and evil spirits live and walk, and there is a luminous land of the Divine, where regiments of angels and holy spirits walk and rest. And just as the dark earth cannot be visible or tangible to them, so the earth of the Divine is intangible and invisible with darkened eyes; For spiritual people, both the satanic land of darkness and the luminous land of light are visible to the eye of the soul. 32 II, 14, 7 But, according to the legend of the worldly sages 3544, there are mountains of fire, and there are animals like sheep there; and those who hunt them make iron mugs, attach hooks and lower them into the fire. Since this fire provides animals with food, drink, tranquility, growth, life and replaces everything, then if you take them into another air, they die. And when their clothes become dirty, they wash themselves not in water, but in fire and become cleaner and whiter - so Christians also have this heavenly and holy fire as food for themselves: it is rest for them; he cleanses and washes and sanctifies their hearts; he makes them grow; he is the air of life for them. As soon as they leave there, they perish from evil spirits. And just as the animals there die, emerging from the fire, like fish taken out of water, as four-legged animals thrown into the sea suffocate, and as birds, walking on the earth, fall into the hands of fishermen, so the soul perishes, not remaining on that earth and the luminous homeland, where the bright angelic forces are located; and if this divine fire does not replace food, and drink, and clothing, and heart cleansing, and spiritual sanctification, then it suffocates, and is caught, and perishes from evil spirits. 33 II, 42, 1 If there is a large city, but it turns out to be deprived of walls, since they are destroyed, then you should try to firmly strengthen the city so that enemies do not enter [it] - so souls, adorned with knowledge, understanding and the sharpest mind, are likened to large cities. But the question is: are they strengthened by the grace of the Spirit, so that their enemies do not enter and devastate [them]? For the wise men of the world, Aristotle or Plato 3545, wise in knowledge, were like great cities, but they were devastated by their enemies, because the Spirit of God was not in them. II, 42, 2 But unlearned people, having become partakers of grace, are like small cities strengthened by the power of Christ. Those who fall from grace perish for two reasons: either because they cannot patiently endure the sorrows that befall them, or because, having enjoyed sinful pleasures, they indulge in them. After all, those who travel the path cannot pass [it] without temptations. 34 But as at the birth of a child, both the queen and the beggar feel the same torment; and like this, the land of the rich and the poor, unless it is properly cultivated, cannot bear good fruits - so in spiritual work, the wise and the rich reign by grace only through patience, sorrow and much labor, because such a Christian should be. 35 Just as honey, which is sweet, no bitterness of poisonous animals can change it, so Christians, no matter what happens to them, good or bad, remain good, as the Lord says: “Be good, like your heavenly Father” 3546. But what is harmful and defiles a person is within, creeping and flowing from the soul - the intelligent and moving spirit of wickedness, that is, the veil of darkness, the old man 3547, which all who resort to God must put off in order to put on the heavenly and new man 3548, that is, Christ. Therefore, nothing external can harm a person except the living and active spirit of darkness that dwells in the heart, “for out of the heart come evil thoughts” 3549, so that every time he who wishes to be pleasing to God, to whom be glory forever, must acquire asceticism in his thoughts! Amen. Word 15. {Ο the need for one who has renounced everything for the love of Christ to despise what is transitory} 3550 1.1 A truth-loving, God-loving man, desiring to enter into eternal life, who through his faith has tasted the truly heavenly sweetness of the life of the Spirit, who has become a participant in indescribable pleasure, who has experienced and experienced heavenly food, who has grace planted and hidden in his soul and wholly surrendered himself to the will of grace - hated everything in this age and is rejected. 1.2 He became above the world; for him, everything external, glorious and honorable among people, such as gold, silver, valuable clothes, called precious stones, houses with golden roofs, fame, superiority, worldly honors and the like, are disgusting and dishonorable and are considered as if full of stench because of the true and indescribable beauty of spiritual light and the glory and wealth of heavenly blessings, which he was honored to experience through his Spirit the inner man, and because of his complete surrender to the will of the Spirit. 1.3 If such a person encounters something glorious in this life, such as wealth, honors, leadership, power, human glory, praise, worship and pleasure, none of this can take possession of him and hold him, since he has experienced experimentally another true wealth, and another honor, and heavenly glory, and his soul is nourished by pleasure and imperishable pleasure with all tangible certainty through the communion of the Spirit. 1.4 And just as a reasonable shepherd differs in everything from irrational animals: consciousness, rationality, discrimination and the rest, so he is different from other people in everything, both in external virtuous behavior observed by people, and in internal, hidden renewal of the thoughts of the mind 3551, sanctification and discernment. 1.5 Indeed, such is all conscience, all intelligence, all knowledge, all wisdom. 3552 to another spirit, and another mind, and another consciousness, heavenly and alien to the world. For “we preach wisdom among the perfect, but not the wisdom of this age and not the passing powers of this age, but we preach the secret wisdom of God” 3553. 1.6 Genuine Christians partake of this wisdom and this spirit and consciousness that is not of this world. II, 9, 7c That is why they differ in everything from all people who have a worldly spirit, are prudent, wise. 1.7 II, 9, 8 Such a one judges all 3554 people according to what is written and knows about each one from where he is speaking, and where he stopped, and in what [measures] he is; about him, none of the people who have a worldly spirit 3555 can know or judge 3556, unless someone who has a similar heavenly spirit of the Divine knows the same, as the apostle says: “Spiritual 3557 comparing with the spiritual. The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, because he considers them foolishness. But the spiritual one judges everything, but no one can judge him” 3558. 1:8 Such a one renounces the world and the glorious things in the world, wealth, luxury and all pleasure, and everything that belongs to this world is vile to him. 1.9 II, 9, 9 And as if possessed by a violent fever and burned by it, he abhors and refuses any food or sweet drink brought to him, being under the influence of a fever and having had enough of it - in the same way, inflamed by the heavenly love of the Spirit and wounded 3559 in the soul by sacred lust, and the passion of Divine love, and the divine and heavenly fire that the Lord came to bring down on earth, desiring that it would soon be kindled 3560, being under the strongest influence and burned by the heavenly lust of Christ, as stated above, they consider everything that is glorious and revered in this age to be rejected and vile because of the fire of Christ's love, which embraces and burns and ignites their affection for God, from which love nothing earthly, heavenly or underworld 3561 can separate them, as the Apostle Paul testified: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ,” etc. 3562 2.1 But the acquisition of his soul and heavenly spiritual love is impossible for a person if he does not become alien to everything that is in this age, and does not devote himself to seeking the love of Christ, and if his mind does not place itself outside of all material concerns and earthly entertainments, so that he can be completely occupied with achieving a single goal, striving for it according to all the commandments; so that all care, search, entertainment and occupation of the mind consist in the study and acquisition of the mental essence of the soul - how it should be decorated with the commanded virtues, the heavenly beauty of the Spirit, the purity of the Lord and sanctification; so that a person, having renounced everything, cut off every material and earthly obstacle from himself, renounced carnal love or addiction to parents and relatives, does not allow his mind to deviate from heavenly things and be occupied or entertained by anything else, such as: bosses, fame, honors, carnal friendships or some other earthly concerns; but so that the whole mind takes upon itself the care and sorrow of acquiring and seeking the mental essence of the soul, and remains entirely and patiently in hope and expectation of the influx of the Spirit, as the Lord says: “With your patience gain your souls” 3563; and again: “Seek the Kingdom of God, and all this will be added to you” 3564. 2.2 II, 9, 11 Let it be that the mind strives in this way and constantly pays attention to itself, whether in prayer, or in obedience, or in any kind of doing the commandments performed according to God, without finding itself outside of examining itself and seeking the Lord. Oh, if only he could thus overcome the darkness of evil forces and gain his soul, which is in the destruction of passions, through constant, forced and zealous captivity of himself to the Lord and to Him alone, as it is said: “And we take captive every thought to the obedience of Christ” 3565 - so that, as a result of such a feat, desire and search for the mind, he would be worthy to be 3566 into one spirit 3567 the grace of Christ and the gift resting in the vessel upon which He descended, while the soul has prepared itself well for every good work, does not offend the Spirit of Christ 3568 with its own desires and vacillations and entertainments of this age, or [concerns about] glory, about the authorities, or self-inflicted opinions, or carnal pleasures and combination and communication with evil spirits 3569, 2:3 II, 9, 12 but she completely devoted herself 3570 to Christ, cleaving to Him alone, unceasingly abiding in His commandments and worthily honoring the Spirit of Christ who came upon her; thereby she is vouchsafed to be one spirit with Him and one dissolution, as the Apostle says: “He who cleaves to the Lord will be one spirit” 3571. 2.4 If someone is devoted to cares, or glory, or human honors, or cares about power and strives for it, and his soul is mixed and fused with earthly thoughts or is completely bound and held by something in this age, then even if it is kind to such a soul to overcome the darkness of passions in which the evil forces hold it, or to flee from it and drive it away from itself, it cannot do this, because it loves and does the will of darkness and does not hate completely vicious activities. 2.5 II, 9, 13 Therefore, let us prepare with all our will and with all our will to go to the Lord and become followers of Christ to do His will and to remember and keep all His commandments; Having completely withdrawn from love for the world and becoming alien to earthly lusts, having given up our souls to the one Christ, let us have in our minds to be occupied with Him alone, to have care for Him alone, to seek Him alone. 2.6 If, because of the body, we neglect a little about the fulfillment of some commandments and about obedience to God, then, at least, let [our] mind not withdraw from love for the Lord - from seeking Him and striving for Him, so that, struggling with such a mind, with the right way of thinking, walking the path of righteousness and always being attentive to ourselves, we may receive the “promise of the Spirit” 3572 from Him and by His grace we will be delivered from perishing in the darkness of the passions with which the soul is possessed, and through this may we become worthy of the eternal kingdom and be worthy of bliss with Christ for entire centuries, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Word 16. {Even those under the influence of grace fall if they do not humble themselves} 3573 1.1 II, 17, 1 Perfect Christians, who have been deemed worthy to enter the measure of perfection and become close to the King, always devote themselves to the cross of Christ. Just as under the prophets the anointing was most honorable, since kings and priests and prophets were anointed with it, so now those who are anointed with spiritual anointing become Christs 3574 by grace, so that they may become kings and prophets of the heavenly mysteries. These are sons, and masters, and gods, bound, captive, consecrated and crucified. 1.2 If the oil composition from olive trees had such power that those anointed finally became kings and leaders (such as David, Saul and other prophets and priests), then how much more so are those who are anointed in the mind and in the inner man with the sanctifying and miraculous oil of joy 3575, and partakers of its incorruptible and divine power, and who have received the deposit of the Spirit 3576, The Comforter Spirit 3577, II, 17, 2 are worthy to enter the measure of perfection, that is, kingdom and adoption, and become co-secretaries of the heavenly King, and have boldness before the Father 3578, entering and leaving Him, where the angels and spirits of the saints are. 1:3 For, even though they have not yet received a perfect inheritance because of the flesh that puts on them, thanks to the pledge of the Spirit 3579 they are established regarding their own salvation as already crowned and enthroned and do not doubt that they will reign with Christ and will be in the boldness and abundance of the Holy Spirit, since, being in the flesh 3580, they have already had in themselves the taste of this sweetness and the action of this power. 1.4 II, 17, 3 Whoever is constantly in the palace and has become the king’s secret man, if he reigns, will not be amazed and horrified, because he was with the king all the time (and it is impossible for the first one to be anointed king), so Christians are not surprised that they will reign in the next century, having already previously learned the secrets of divine grace, 1.5 because the grace that comes completely removes the veil placed by Satan after disobedience on people and removes from the soul every filth and every unclean thought, so that the soul, having become pure and having accepted its own nature, this blameless and pure creature, perfectly contemplates with pure eyes the glory of the true Light 3581 and the true Sun of righteousness 3582, shining in the very heart. 1.6 II, 17, 4 Just as at the end of the age, when this heavenly firmament no longer exists, the righteous will already live in the kingdom in light and glory, seeing nothing else but how Christ always abides in His glory at the right hand of the Father 3583 - so these too, from now on raptured and taken captives into that age, contemplate all the beauties and wonders there. For, while still here, they are not on earth, but, while on earth, they have residence in heaven 3584, and there is their whole life, both their mind and their inner man. 1.7 Just as the bodily eye, being intact and healthy, sees the sun purely, so they, being completely purified in mind, always see the glory of Christ and abide with the Lord day and night, just as the body of the Lord, united with the Divinity, always coexists with the Holy Spirit. However, people do not immediately achieve this measure, but only through labor, effort and great feat. 1.8 For there are many within whom, although active and restful grace is inherent in them, vice also remains; and in one heart there are two spirits 3585 3586 - light and darkness. II, 17, 5 But you, of course, will tell me: “What does light have in common with darkness?” 3587. Or: “What is the relationship between the church of God and idols?” 3588. 1:9 I will answer you: “What does light have in common with darkness?” 3589. Or where is the divine light darkened and clouded? And what is undefiled and pure, in what place is it defiled? After all, it is written: “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” 3590 3591. There is no need to understand things monotonously and one-sidedly. Others rest in God’s grace to such an extent that they are more courageous and noble than the vice that resides in them, and, now having prayer and great peace before God, at another hour they fall under the influence of unclean thoughts and are robbed by sin, although they remain in the grace of God. 1:10 But frivolous and inexperienced people, when grace partially works in them, think that sin is no longer with them; and those who know how to reason and are prudent will not dare to deny that, “having the grace of God in us, we are not subject to the influence of shameful and unclean thoughts.” II, 17, 6 After all, we often find in brothers that others acquired great grace and, for five or six years, said about themselves: “Lust has faded in us,” and after that, when they considered themselves completely freed [from lust], the vice that was hidden in them began to move, which is why they marveled at themselves and said: “Where did such a vice arise in me after such a long time?” Therefore, no one who thinks sensibly will dare to say: “Since grace abides in me, I am completely free from sin.” On the contrary, there are two persons acting in one and the same person, and those inexperienced in the matter, as soon as they have any spiritual movement 3592, say that “we have already won and are [perfect] 3593 Christians.” 1.11 But in my opinion, it happens like this: just as there is a pure sun in the sky, not obscured by clouds, but suddenly dark air or darkness darkens the sun’s radiance 3594 - so those who are not completely purified, nevertheless, are in the grace of God, and in the depths of their souls, those possessed by sin have movements and thoughts strong towards God and remain 3595 in goodness. And just as the sun, being inside the clouds, remains one and the same - II, 17, 7, so again, those who in the depths [of the soul] adhere to the good side, that is, grace, still remain slaves and subject to evil thoughts and the vicious side. 2.1 Therefore, a lot of judgment is required for a person to find out experimentally how things stand. I tell you that the apostles, having the Comforter within them, were not completely carefree. In them, with joy and gladness, there was also fear and trembling due to the action of grace itself, and not from the side of vice, for grace itself guarded them so that they would not go astray even in the slightest. 2.2 Like a boy who takes a small pebble 3596 3597 and throws it at the wall, will do nothing to her; or as a light arrow does not in the least harm a strong armor 3598, but on the contrary bounces back - so, if a certain part of vice approached the apostles, it did not harm them at all, because they were clothed with the perfect power of Christ. However, even though they were perfect, they had the free will to do righteous deeds. 2.3 II, 17, 8 Although some argue that after the [coming] of grace the soul has nothing to worry about, yet God even in the perfect requires the spiritual will to serve the Spirit, so that they act in accordance with [grace] and honor [it]. For the apostle says: “Do not quench the Spirit” 3599. Some did not want to burden themselves, but were content with taking care of themselves 3600, while others, taking from worldly people, gave to the poor, and this is superior to the first measure. Some, having grace, care only about themselves, how to be in agreement with God, while others try to benefit the souls of others and work hard for their sake. The latter have many advantages over the former. 2:4 Others want to be praised and honored by people and show that we are partakers of Christ; others try to hide themselves from people. The latter are much higher than the former. 2:5 But others, having the grace of God, give up their bodies to suffering and reproach for His name’s sake. And these are again higher than the former. Do you see how, even in perfection, zeal for God turns out to be great, fulfilled [depending] on the natural will? 2.6 II, 17, 9 Just as a poor beggar who dreams that he sees himself rich, having thrown away his dirty clothes and put on a beautiful robe, and waking up from excessive joy, finds himself poor - so those who utter the spiritual word, although they seem to be speaking the truth, but since they do not have the tangible and powerful and complete certainty of the effect of the word hidden in the mind, they stop at some kind of dream. 2:7 Or just as if a woman, dressed in a luxurious dress 3601, were standing in an indecent house and in the dirt - so such people, whose heart is a whorehouse of unclean spirits, want to talk about righteousness without delving into the truth of things at all. 2.8 II, 17, 10 Just as it is impossible for a fish to live without water, or for a person to walk without legs, or to see the light without eyes, or to speak without a tongue, or to hear without ears - so without Jesus and divine action it is impossible to know the mysteries and wisdom of God or to become a spiritually rich and Christian person. 2:9 For these are wise men, warriors, men and friends of God, who, according to the inner man, are led and controlled by God's power. Hellenic philosophers study the sciences and practice sophistic debate, and the servants of God, being ignorant of the word 3602, rejoice and rejoice in God’s grace and practice piety. 2:10 Judge now, which of them are better - those who trust in words and myths, or those who possess the truth in practice and in power? After all, Scripture says: “The kingdom of heaven is not in word, but in deed and power” 3603. 2.11 II, 17, 11 It’s easy to say and arrange things in words. Anyone can easily say that this bread is made from wheat, but it is not easy to explain the preparation in detail, and this is the task of truly experienced people. So it is not difficult to talk about dispassion and perfection, but to comprehend this through experience and in reality and achieve a perfect dispensation is the lot of the few. 2:12 The Gospel clearly commanded every person to be a friend of God the King in the words: “Do not be angry, do not covet. If someone hits you on your right cheek, turn him the other too. If anyone sues you by taking [your] tunic, give him your undershirt too,” and so on 3604. The Apostle, following in the footsteps of these words, teaches how to gradually carry out the work of purification with patience and generosity, first feeding with milk like infants 3605, and then leading to growth and, finally, to perfection. 2:13 The Gospel seemed to say: let the woolen tunic 3606 be perfect; and the apostle taught how to comb wool, and weave, and prepare a tunic. 3.1 II, 17, 12 Whoever talks about spiritual things without having experienced and tasted it himself is likened to a man who, when the heat of the day sets in, walks along a waterless plain and, languishing with thirst, imagines in his mind a cool spring flowing with clear, light and sweet water, imagining himself drinking plenty of moisture, while his lips and tongue are dry from the unbearable thirst; or a person who tells others about the sweetness of honey, but has never tasted it himself. 3.2 Such people talk about perfection, about holiness or about dispassion, without having them in reality and in certainty, for the truth is not as they say. After all, if God ever gives such a person a little sense of what he is talking about, then he, having judged within himself, will recognize the difference in things, that the truth was not discovered in the way he said, but he himself spoke in one way, and the Spirit acted differently. 3.3 II, 17, 13 Truly Christianity is food and drink. And the more one tastes it, the more the mind is excited by the sweetness, becoming uncontrollable and insatiable 3608. Or how if someone is thirsty and is given a sweet and desirable drink, then, having tasted it, he moves even more uncontrollably towards drinking, not only because of thirst, but also because of the sweetness [of the drink], - like this, the taste of the Spirit is insatiable. And these are not [merely imagined] bare words in the mind, but this is mysteriously accomplished in the mind through the action of the Holy Spirit and is told accordingly. 3:4 Some people think that by abstaining from fornication, theft, or similar vices, they are already holy. But the situation is not as those ignorant of the truth claim, because vice lives and creeps in the minds of such. Holy is he who has been sanctified and purified according to his inner man. Wherever truth penetrates, seduction fights against it, trying to overshadow and muddy it. 3.5 II, 17, 14 When the Jews had the priesthood and the Spirit, then those faithful to God were persecuted by the people themselves 3609. Now the Holy Spirit, after [the Jews] tore 3610 the veil of the church 3611, retreated from the representative altar and went over to the church of tongues 3612. And here again the faithful are persecuted by their fellow tribesmen and those who love truth become martyrs 3613. After all, truth, being truth, is not revealed if it does not have opponents fighting against it. 3:6 But even among the brethren there are those who bear suffering and sorrow, so that they do not fall. One of the brethren, praying together with certain [ascetics] 3614, was captivated by Divine power, and the raptured one saw the mountain city of Jerusalem, and luminous images, and boundless light, and heard a voice that said: “This is the resting place of the righteous” 3615. A little later, he became arrogant and thought that he had discovered something about himself, and fell into the very abyss and depth of sin and into thousands of evils. 3.7 II, 17, 15 Therefore, if a deeper person has fallen, then how can anyone say: “I fast, lead a wandering life, squander my property, therefore I am already holy”? For perfect cleansing is not abstinence from external vices, but complete purity of conscience. Enter, this [man], by the force of your thoughts, into the mind, captive and enslaved by sin, and see the serpent, which lurks under the very mind, in the depths of thoughts, in the so-called recesses of the soul, crawling, nesting and killing you in the most dangerous parts of your soul (after all, the heart is an incomprehensible abyss), and if you have killed it and cast out from yourself all your iniquity and uncleanness, then be proud of your purity in God. 3:8 If not, then, having humbled yourself as a needy and sinner, approach the Lord, praying for your secret [sins]. All Scripture - both Old and New - and the Apostle, and the coming of Christ speak of purity and freedom; and every person, whether Jew or Greek, loves purity, even if he cannot become pure. 3.9 You need to find out how and by what means you can achieve purity of heart. You will find that this is possible in no other way except through Jesus, who was crucified for us 3616. He is life and truth 3617, straight path 3618, door 3619, pearl 3620, living and heavenly bread 3621 3622. Without this Truth, it is impossible for anyone to know the truth and be saved. 3:10 Therefore, just as in visible things you renounced the external man and distributed and squandered your property 3623 - so you must also renounce attachments to [bad] morals. If you have learned carnal wisdom, if you have knowledge of [worldly] things, renounce [them], and in this way you can learn the “foolishness of preaching” 3624, in which you will find true wisdom, not embellished with words 3625, but acting by the power of the holy cross in those who are deemed worthy to acquire it in essence 3626. 4.1 What does Paul say? The Cross of Christ “is a stumbling block for the Jews, and foolishness for the Greeks” 3627, “but for us who are being saved, the power of God and the wisdom of God” 3628, and “we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified” 3629. And perhaps one of those who thought about Him at that time answered [to Paul]: “Do you claim that we [should] believe in a dead man who could not save himself, but suffered, like a villain, the most dishonorable death, and you say that he is the creator of everything? What does this mean, O vain talkers and heralds of alien deities 3630?” 4.2 These were the words of the wise men of that time, who considered preaching madness: “For the world did not know God through [its] wisdom, but it pleased God through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe.” But if you have tasted something heavenly, and have found peace in your soul, and have participated in that wisdom of this age, do not be arrogant and do not be arrogant, as if you have already achieved and declared the whole truth, so that you do not hear: “You are already full, you have already become rich, you have begun to reign without us. Oh, that you [really] reigned, so that you and I could reign!” 3632 - however, having tasted it, 3633 seemed to have not yet begun [the path of] Christianity, and so that it was not in words, but implanted and established in the mind itself, it remained constantly in volition. 4:3 Just as a covetous man who has accumulated a lot of property has not ceased to desire [wealth], but daily increases what he adds because of his passion for more and more [profit]; and just as one who is distracted from the sweetest and most pleasant drink is not satisfied, but is even more inflamed with thirst, so the Divine tasting has no end or satiety, but the more rich you become, you consider yourself as if you were a beggar and, tasting the food and drink, you flare up with an even greater desire for what you receive. 4.4 Such Christians do not consider their soul valuable, but are, as it were, in humiliation before God and are slaves of all people. And the Lord greatly rejoices and rests in such a heart because of its humility. “For the Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” 3634. 4.5 So, let no one imagine that he is something, or has [something], or has comprehended - even if he has something and becomes rich - since arrogance and arrogance are an abomination before God, and because of it He first expelled from paradise a person who heard: “You will be like gods” 3635 - and who was proud of his vain hope. 4:6 The Lord, as was said, completely rejects such will and turns away from it. Find out how God and the King and the Son of God “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant” 3636, and how He became poor, dishonored, spat upon, and suffering. And if God [did] this way, then you, who bear blood and flesh, all earth and ashes 3637, abiding in dirt and all uncleanness, are exalted and proud? 4:7 If you are understanding, then speak about what the Lord has given you like this: “[This] is not mine, someone else gave it to me, [it is] alien to my nature, and when He wants, he takes it away from me,” and give everything good to the Lord. But if anything bad comes your way, connect it with your weakness, saying: “I am a sinner who has angered the Lord.” 4.8 “Therefore, I appeal to you, brothers, with mercy” 3638. Christ, acquire humility and put on 3639 it 3640 , in which the Lord rests, and every day, as if [just] today you began [the path to] Christianity, be before the Lord more humble and needy than all people and consider yourself sinners more than all the inhabitants of the earth. Amen. Homily 17. {On two types of revelation - divine light and understanding of the scriptures, [On trust in God and the fact that one cannot despair]} 3641 1.1 3642 Concerning those who claim that the revelation which the Scriptures set forth for those who understand correctly comes through reflection and interpretation, and that the true Divine light does not shine, we will take evidence from the Scriptures 3643. The Apostle, comparing with the glory of the face of Moses the uniform glory of the light that shines upon the worthy, says: “But we all with an open face, as in a mirror, beholding the glory of the Lord” 3644. And Paul himself, on the way to Damascus, was illuminated by the Divine light, shining more than the sun 3645. And Stephen, standing, said: “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of power” 3646 and again: “Whoever loves Me,” says [the Lord], “he will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and will manifest myself to him” 3647. 1.2 It is thus proved that these are not conjectures, but the hypostasis and essence and shining Divine light of the Holy Spirit [rests] on the worthy and faithful, and you will find many concordant testimonies in the rest of the Scriptures. However, some argue that there is only one type of revelation in interpretations and understandings, relying on the testimony of the apostle: “If there is a revelation to another,” “then first keep silent” 3648, and: “The most bright commandment of the Lord, enlightening the eyes” 3649, and also: “Your law is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths” 3650. 1.3 And we confess that there is revelation in the interpretation of Scripture, accomplished by the Spirit, but let them also recognize that in the hearts of the faithful the Divine light shines in essence and hypostasis 3651. Consequently, revelation is interpreted in two ways: rationally and in the knowledge of Scripture, and in the Divine light and essentially, which is the light that appears and shines in souls more than the sun. 2:1 About those who are fickle and do not have the foundation of faith, since their wills are as follows: if I do not participate in spiritual grace, then it is impossible for me to stand, but if I have [grace], then I will remain constant. This one, even having received [grace], will not stand, for he cannot nobly endure sorrows without himself being thus prepared. It is necessary to reason that I need to serve my Master with all prudence, and I - regardless of whether He gives me [a reward] or not - do not stop [performing my] run, believing that I am not worthy to even call on His name. If He gives me over to punishment in Gehenna, I will not depart from Him. So 3652 [said]: even if You kill me, I will not leave You and I will not retreat from my kindness 3653. Such a one will rightly inherit [eternal] life. 2.2 After all, the man of God advances towards every virtue 3654: humility, kindness, long-suffering - the foundation of all of them is trust in God. Having no such foundation is like building a house without a foundation. And just as those who were with the Maccabees with great courage subdued their enemies in physical war (for we take their example from them in our battle with the spirits of evil 3655), so are the noble, magnanimous and true warriors of Christ 3656. 3.1 About the fact that a person cannot despair at all, but always [befits] to rejoice in the hope that the evil one wants and strives, putting despair into this soul, to destroy it, reminding him of previous sins or evil thoughts. As if in war those who strike the enemy, simultaneously with the blow of the sword, cry out loudly in order to intimidate and frighten and further paralyze him with their voice, so the evil one, throwing into the soul bad, foul and impure thoughts, or some other obscenities, or pride, or even leading the mind to sinful seduction, immediately puts hopelessness in the soul, as if it could no longer be called [by God] to completely destroy a person. Therefore, one should not think about these thoughts, but despise [them] and take courage in faith 3657 and hope in the Lord, who Himself promised to justify the wicked 3658. Even if Satan has seduced us with sins or thoughts, let us run to the Lord with all our hearts, surrendering to hope in God and despising the advice of the evil one, so that we can achieve life. After all, the Lord came for the sake of sinners, to avenge those who were tormented 3659 3660, for “He who promised is faithful” 3661. 3.2 3662 We must pray not physically, as usual, and without the habit of shouting on our knees 3663, but always wait with a sober mind for God when He will appear and look and have mercy on the soul that truly hopes for Him, and - [whether there is] a need for a cry or a need for silence - let us listen with a sober mind. For just as the body, when it works, all the members are [busy] in this matter and help each other, so let the soul not wander with its thoughts during prayer, but, as much as it can, let it force itself to bring [them] from everywhere, so that its soul and thoughts are in prayer and waiting for God, asking that the true Teacher 3664 appear to it, giving prayer pure and worthy of God, so that, finally, the soul worshiped [Him] in the Holy Spirit 3665. And just as a merchant knows how to make a profit in more than one way, but looks everywhere, and if he fails there, he turns to another, for he has one goal - to make a profit, so let us correct our prayer, a great and true profit, varied and efficient because of God, who truly teaches us all goodness, so that the Lord may rest, sitting on the throne of our soul. 3.3 3666 As if Aaron’s rod, which flourished, removed its reproach 3667 - so does the soul: when the flower of the Holy Spirit vegetates, the reproach of its enemies is put aside 3668. And as if some birds, noticing the light of fire in the night, rush towards it and die - so a person, who happily strays towards the worse and walks in the darkness, plunges himself into evil, and finally dies from the gloomy fire. To our God 3669 be glory forever. Amen. Word 18. {About the fact that the faithful are tested with many sorrows, About the Resurrection and About [the words] “according to the image” [spoken at the creation of man]} 3670 1.1 avg. II, 41, 1 The intelligent and precious structure of the soul in some large, difficult to detect subtlety 3671 is like a certain abyss, as someone says in one place: “The abyss and the heart of that one tests” 3672 - likening the intelligent creation of the soul to the abyss. 1.2 But when man turned away from the commandment and was subjected to the condemnation of the wrath of God, sin took him into its subjection and itself, like some thin and deep abyss of bitterness, entering inside, starting from the outside, took possession of the pastures of the soul to its deepest recesses and receptacles, 3673 > 3674. 1.3 Let us liken the soul and the sin united with it to this approximately image. Like a great tree, which has many branches, branches and twigs and other devices, and the roots are in the depths of the earth, like branches or veins and the branching of fibers, and other subtle plexus is found there - so sin, which penetrated due to crime, having previously taken possession of the pastures of the deepest parts of the soul, thanks to the passions, became in humanity a pasture, a prejudice and a strong habit, abiding with everyone and secretly teaching atrocities. 1.4 avg. II, 41, 2 Therefore, when the action of Divine grace overshadows a believing and praying soul and [a person] partially accepts some help and purification, then divine grace [only] partially overshadowed a certain branch and one of the places of the soul, and do not think, misled by vicious arrogance, that the whole soul has already been illuminated and completely cleansed; 1.5 inside it there still remains a great [and] deepest pasture of vice, and much time, labor, effort, diligence and faith of the person himself, in everything consistent with the grace [acting] in him, are required in order to be completely enlightened and completely cleansed. After all, the method [of action] of malice [is] to, wanting to hide and trying to hide, deceive the soul with the help of conceit and make it think that it has already been purified by a little grace 3675, so that only the malice hidden inside can unnoticed fulfill its desires. 1.6 Therefore, divine grace, although it can purify and completely free a person in an instant, begins to visit the believing soul gradually in order to test the will at times and periods 3676 whether [a person] constantly maintains complete love for God, not in any way combining with an evil adviser, but completely abandoning himself to grace alone. Thus, when the soul, over the course of times and seasons, turns out to be well-skilled and pleasing to the Lord, after many trials, grace 3677 does not grieve in any way, little by little the grace of the Spirit itself again takes possession of the pasture in the soul 1.7 and as the soul for many years turns out to be well-skilled and in agreement with grace, it takes root to its deepest compositions and parts and thoughts, until the whole soul, embraced by heaven grace, and finding herself in the power of spiritual power, 3678 will not be able to completely, completely and completely drive out the sin of 3679 passions and finally move away from sinful darkness, when, finally, grace reigns in the vessel itself, that is, in the whole body and soul. This means that the one who, after many long trials and labors, pleases the Spirit, at the same time firmly, unshakably, and firmly becomes worthy of the Lord. 1.8 If he who has achieved a little grace succeeds in conceit and finds himself outside of humility, then he becomes alien to the little grace that he has, due to his infantile madness. Even if the action of grace abides with him due to the many and boundless love of God, although he himself does not agree with the Spirit, then it will be in condemnation, punishment and reproof for him, because, despite the great love for mankind shown to him by God, he did not distance himself from his own desires, but again, at the request of Satan, he indulges in great sorrows, so that, at least brought up by sorrows, he learns to be humble. 1.9 Just as Job, very rich in acquired property, was demanded by the evil one and was subjected to temptations for courageous struggle and testing, and, deprived of everything, then clearly showed his love for God - so if anyone becomes rich in the grace of the Spirit, let him not calm down and consider himself to have achieved [something] or free, and not be proud 3680, and not become careless, but remain in fear and trembling, as he says Scripture: “Rejoice in Him with trembling” 3681 - and again: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” 3682 - and in another place: “Do not be proud, but fear” 3683 - because the riches of His grace are in the power of God. 1.10 avg. II, 41, 3 If someone does not thus remain in great humility and contrition, then he is demanded by Satan and stripped of the grace given to him, and is tempted and tested in many sorrows, and then his conceit and vain pride are revealed, and so he himself recognizes that he is naked and poor 3684. 1:11 Therefore, he who is enriched by God's grace must remain in great humility and contrition of heart 3685, considering himself poor and having nothing. For his gift is someone else’s, another gave it, and when he wants, he can take away what he gave, so that he who humbles himself before God and people can remain and remain in the Lord’s grace given to him, as the Lord said: “He who exalts himself will be humbled” 3686. Although he is God's chosen one, he considers himself unskilled; although he is a faithful and worthy servant of the Lord, he considers himself completely worthless; although he is great with the Lord, let him regard himself as nothing. Such souls are pleasing to the Lord and will be able to pass through this age without falls and will finally be worthy of the Holy Spirit to enter into the life of the Kingdom. 2.1 II, 9, 1 The spiritual action of God's grace in the soul is accomplished with great long-suffering, wisdom and mysterious economy, when a person struggles with great patience throughout the times and seasons 3687. And the work of grace then already turns out to be perfect in him, when his free will, after repeated testing, turns out to be pleasing to the Spirit and over time shows experience and patience. We present clear examples of this order from the Inspired Scriptures 3688. 2.2 II, 9, 2 What I am saying is similar to what happened to Joseph 3689. After so much time and after so many years, God’s will for him was determined! And before that, in how many labors, sorrows and tribulations Joseph was tested! And when he endured everything valiantly, in everything he turned out to be a well-skilled and faithful servant of God, then he became the king of Egypt, and nurtured his family, and both the prophecy of the visions and the will of God, which had been predicted long ago by great vision, were fulfilled. 2.3 II, 9, 3 A similar thing happened with David 3690. God, through the prophet Samuel, anointed him king. And when he was anointed, then, persecuted by Saul, he had to flee from death. And where is God's anointing? Where is the speedy fulfillment of the promise? For as soon as he was anointed, he began to endure severe sorrows, withdrawing into the desert, not even having daily bread and fleeing to the pagans from Saul’s evil plans against him. Do you see in what sorrows the one whom God anointed as king was in! Then, when for many years he was tested and tempted, he endured sorrows and endured them generously, once and for all trusting God and himself, confirming: “What God did with me by prophetic anointing and what he said would happen to me, must undoubtedly be fulfilled,” [then] after much long-suffering, finally, the will of God was accomplished, and after many trials David reigned 3691, and Then God’s word became clear, and the anointing performed by the prophet turned out to be firm and true. 2.4 II, 9, 4 A similar thing happened with Moses. God, foreknowledge and predestined 3692 him as a leader and deliverer of the people, made him the son of Pharaoh's daughter, grew in royal wealth, in glory and in luxury, and was taught all the Egyptian wisdom 3693. And when he came to the age of 3694, he renounced all this, suffering and reproach of God, “choosing rather,” according to the apostolic word, “than to have temporary, sinful pleasure” 3695. And having fled from Egypt 3696, this [royal son], brought up in such luxury and in royal pleasures, how much time did he spend in pastoral pursuits? and after this, finally, for his great patience, found to be skillful and faithful to God, having endured many temptations, he became the deliverer, leader and king of the [Israelite] people, and God called him the god of Pharaoh 3697. For through him God struck Egypt with plagues 3698; through him he showed great miracles to Pharaoh and finally drowned the Egyptians in the sea. After how many years, God’s will and intention were revealed and after how many trials and tribulations came to fulfillment! 2.5 II, 9, 5 A similar thing happened with Abraham 3699. How long before God made the promise to give him a son, and did not immediately grant him, but how many years before that trials and temptations continued with Abraham! And he - having generously endured all the misfortunes and having fully established himself by faith 3700 in the thought that the Promised One is false 3701 and will fulfill His word, and thus proving to be faithful - received the promise. 2.6 II, 9, 6 Also Noah 3702, when in the five hundredth year of his life God commanded the building of the ark, announcing then that he would bring a flood to the world, which he brought in the six hundredth year, he spent a hundred years in great patience, building the ark with faith and not at all hesitating whether God would do or not do what was said, but having once and for all been established by faith 3703 that if God spoke about this, it must undoubtedly be fulfilled; and thus, when his will was found to be good in faith, patience and generosity, having kept the commandment in all purity, he alone was saved with his house. 2.7 II, 9, 7 We cited these examples from the Scriptures as proof that the action of God’s grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which a faithful soul is privileged to receive, occurs along with long struggle, great patience, temptations and trials, when free will is tested by all sorts of sorrows. And when [the soul] does not grieve the Spirit in anything 3704 , but by grace agrees in everything with the commandments, then it is vouchsafed to achieve freedom from passions, to accept the fullness of adoption of the Holy Spirit 3705 , to finally acquire holiness in the fullness of grace and to prove to be a perfect son of the Kingdom, so that the spiritual work of God is fulfilled in the soul with generosity, effort, patience, much attention, asceticism and test. 3:1 Just as in the most faithful fathers God, having established promises along with great trials, temptations and long-suffering for [many] years, then fulfilled according to His will what He had announced, when they were found faithful 3706, tried, patient and generous - so now in the struggle of Christians, tried for years, tested and found skilled in all patience, generous and generous. faithful, God's promise and the perfect grace of the Spirit will be fulfilled in them, so that we, being well-skilled both in grace and in righteousness, may inherit life and, after good and courageous deeds, rightly obtain for ourselves the crowns and rewards of the Kingdom. 3:2 Therefore, let us cast all the desires of our will on God alone, always devoting ourselves to Him and fulfilling, as far as we can, only His will. For in this way, having made ourselves in everything alien to the worst, in no way voluntarily submitting to the desires of the evil one and not participating in the least in the passions, then we will show ourselves to be true athletes of Christ, we will fully obtain for ourselves the communion of His grace and, having acquired sanctification and purity of heart by His grace, we will rightly be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of God by grace. 4.1 Just as a certain rich and decent man in every way, wanting to build himself a house, decorating and embellishing it with all care, makes it convenient for habitation and habitation - so Adam was first created and molded into a clean vessel, decorated and convenient for the dwelling of the Lord, for the dwelling of the King. However, after the crime, “the enemy sowed tares” 3707 and planted a bitter tree there. 4.2 And just as a king always watches over the cities under his power through princes and governors, when necessary and himself stands at the head [of them], and first of all during the invasion of enemies (because then he takes the whole people with him) - so initially, when man fell into loneliness and disorder, God constantly watched over His creation through the elders, patriarchs, prophets and the law, and finally the King Himself came, the divine power against the opposing force, a militia of angels against the demonic system. For He is born of a Virgin Woman, so that, having raised up the fallen soul, He can restore and renew it and make children on high, descended from the Holy Spirit. 4:3 For this is the wondrous work of the Godhead, that He put to death the incorporeal [devil] with flesh and blood. Was it really difficult for Him to kill him by the Spirit and put him to death apart from the flesh? However, He who is in the flesh, like a simple man, deigned to be dishonored, and to suffer, and “by death to abolish him who has the power of death, that is, the devil” 3708. 4.4 The sun, having the entire firmament, completely bends towards the earth, serving the earthly, and illuminates everything, sending rays from everywhere, and if you want to look at the firmament, you are filled with its light - so the Lord, having taken Adam from our race, exalted [human nature] to the highest right hand of the Father, and made all [His] mind to have a valley for the only begotten [Christians], and those who look at Him and completely send the mind to Him, the actions of the fire of the Holy Spirit and His light are filled. 4.5 And just as clouds carrying rain moisture and hanging in the heights serve the earth below and awaken the plants in it, causing them to turn green, so the Holy Spirit from the moisture of His divine rain [feeds the soul] (for the soul is the earth of God), and it thus blooms and blossoms again when [its good] thoughts receive help and strengthening. 4.6 And just as dyed wool changes its natural color, so the soul immersed [in the font] 3709 changes and is transformed from the ancient nature, flowing and plunging into the nature of Holy Light and Fire. 4:7 And just as a tree thrown into fire becomes entirely fire and burns those who approach or even touch [it], so the evil spirits that approach the spirit-bearing soul are burned. 4.8 Indeed, thanks to the Comforter, [the soul] changed in its nature and stopped the rapids of death flowing and flowing in it, just as the bleeding “source of blood” 3710 “dried up” under the Divine power. 4:9 Merchants, after being separated from home and staying in a foreign land and having increased their fortunes, if they were robbed by robbers in the middle of the journey, it was in vain that they had to endure such long labor if they had nothing in their hands; and the one who builds a dwelling for himself, if he dies after finishing [the construction] and does not live [in the house], then he has not received any benefit from the great labors - [so] Christians who walk [their] path, if they do not remain on this righteous path to the end, will not take advantage of the labor incurred before. 4:10 And [just as] a ship, while it is at sea, although favorable winds guide it, remains under the fear of being under water if contrary winds arise before the harbor, [so] the soul, after disobedience, found itself in the midst of two spirits 3711 - the good and the evil, and, after the ancient leaven of sin had risen, thoughts from the two spirits now come into the heart, so that thoughts alien to nature are also found there. Therefore, a reasonable person, distinguishing harmful [thoughts] from useful ones, condemns the former as hostile and expels them, and welcomes and retains the latter as friendly. 4:11 Those who strive to learn Christianity only in words are like blind and lame and worthless men, lying on stretchers and unable to do anything other than talk. So they too, blind, and lame, and weak in their inner man, strive only to chatter, bringing no benefit to their weak souls at all. 4:12 Just as the Apostle Peter, by the word and power of God, raised the lame from birth and, having healed him, made him jump 3712 - so now the same living Word, acting essentially and really, raises the inner man from lameness to jump into the divine air. 4.13 The wisdom of the world [this] 3713, which people learn, is implicit and selfless, and yet, as if a certain nature remains, becoming characteristic of the soul; much more, those who are wise by the wisdom of God 3714 and guided by it have education and knowledge that endures in the eternal age. 4:14 People, seeing their own friends in their homes, show signs of love, honor at the table; Christians, seeing their comrades, must satisfy them, offering heavenly food, decorating it with many expensive dishes (spiritual words), from which the soul rejoices and learns how one can be motionless in goodness, like a powerful pillar bearing the weight of the house. 4:15 Like a father who has a beloved son, he will give him pearls or beautiful clothes and, giving, will pronounce warnings about keeping and preserving what is given, so that he does not despise and destroy [what he received]; or as educators and teachers, punishing their students, stretch out the belt and, under the threat of a whip, force them to pay more diligent attention to the sciences - so God educates His chosen ones in various ways, bringing upon them economically sorrows, and shows before those who have received His grace and those reborn by the Spirit His resisting power. After all, those who exercise themselves in temptations show patience and accurately keep what God has given them in safety, for human nature, being cleansed from sin, begins to exalt itself. Therefore, the God-bearing Paul, who received the Comforter Spirit, says: “A thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to afflict me, so that I would not become exalted in revelations; I prayed to the Lord three times to remove him from me” 3715. The evil one at times, by God’s dispensation, receives the power against those who are perfecting themselves in God to strike and harm [their] body from the outside. However, inside he no longer has pasture and cannot, upon entering, cause harm to the soul, since the inner man is established in the Divine, walled by grace, so that if there were no bodily weakness and such a sting, then he would not say about himself that he belongs to human nature. So, so that he, having recognized his weakness, called on God, it was thus allowed for him to have it. Otherwise, perhaps, considering that I am a god, he would condemn and humiliate the whole world. 4:16 Like a wolf or a lion, approaching the sheep, which are safe and shut up in a safe and secure hiding place, suffers ridicule, being unable to attack and rend the sheep, which, in turn, being within the wall that surrounds them and being bold, are not completely devoid of fear, but in some way appear frightened by the presence of the 3716 beast, although they know for sure that they will not prevail over with them the wolf will not enter the barnyard; or as if a walled and impregnable city, having all the necessary supplies inside in abundance and being besieged, locked from the inside, remains in great hope and carelessness, and yet the soldiers feel fear (although they are brave, having a wall and supplies of food); Therefore, armed, they look out from the walls for enemies, so that when they approach [the city fortifications], they do not use [siege] means against the city - so it was with the apostles. After all, they too were called by God 3717 cities, fortified on every side with a strong wall (the Holy Spirit of God), abounding inside with all kinds of goods, vestments and inexhaustible treasures, and yet, being in these [degrees], they had fear within, not that they would not fall from the path of life, but that some envious people or haters of good would attack them because of their wealth and cause them sorrow. Therefore, in joy they had fear, preserving what was given to them by God, when the psalmist says: “Work for the Lord with fear and rejoice in Him with trembling” 3718, - and the apostle: “Without there are fears, within - battles” 3719. The battles were twofold: either [the apostles] were attacked by people, insulted, persecuted, or certain forces of the evil one were at times allowed to somehow approach their bodies from the outside on the same basis. 5.1 Question. Can sin and the Holy Spirit dwell in a person and [can they] agree with each other? Answer. In one age and world there are two natures doing their own work, and they do not agree with each other in action. Just as the sun illuminates the heavenly sky, and the wind blows, and neither the sun borrows any part from the blowing and cold of the wind, being warm by nature, nor, again, the wind is involved in the warmth of the sun, but each of them is in its own hypostasis. So are the souls who have tasted the grace of God, but have not yet reached the perfect measure. After all, now the Holy Spirit acts in them and gives them rest, but at another hour the evil winds act; both remain in their activity, and neither the unclean spirit participates in the purity of holiness, nor the Holy Spirit borrows from the dirt of darkness. 5.2 And as if in springtime there are great changes and changes in the air, for sometimes the whole sky is covered with clouds, but the sun, being inside and hidden, does not change and does not suffer any harm from the darkness lying on it, and the sky, of course, does not lose its splendor, but when the clouds dissipate, the sky is visible in all its remaining splendor and the sun remains in its nature and unhinderedly sends out bright rays, even in its infancy. The perfect ones preserve the image of summer time: [just as] there are no more clouds and fogs, but a clear sky and the sun - so they are pure in the mind and in the whole person and are always perfect in the light, not involving any dirt in the soul. 5.3 Like a traveler walking along a long road and seeing many grasses, mountains, rivers, animals and birds, he is not delayed by anything, rushing to the inn; or just as someone who enters some city and hastens out of his own need does not pay attention and is not distracted by anything urban due to the urgency of the matter - so anger does not hold back the perfect and does not interfere with them, who have no worries at all, but their mind remains in a haven of peace and in an age alien to all evil; there they always have a goal in mind, although the malice outside does not calm down or weaken, but at times with many demons it is transformed into many visions and stands nearby, so that, fighting to this extent, they benefit the soul. Their nature is revealed to the mind, wise in the knowledge of their deceits, since they are diverse. 5:4 Just as the waves of the sea, and the trees of the mountains, and the constant and unrelenting tributaries of the rivers, exceed any number - so the wicked spirits, constantly moving, fight in various ways [and] hourly, despite the fact that grace works richly and variously in people. 5.5 Just as a young man of age, possessing a rich fortune, many properties and abundant storehouses, boasts and is puffed up about his well-being, exalted by the praises of flatterers, so human nature, when it reaches peace and heavenly wealth, begins to be proud and exalted. Therefore, grace weakens and withdraws, so that the soul betrayed by evil spirits humbles itself and recognizes its weakness; however, at a time when a person surrenders [to trials], the Lord, secretly present, supports and preserves the soul, when a person could not withstand the deceit and oppression of the devil 3720. 5:6 Those newly regenerated by God are still infancy and remain in infancy, and, like newborns leaning on all their limbs, crawl forward, and because of tenderness and smallness they cannot act or do anything and therefore need abundant feeding and care in order to come to perfect growth - so those born of the Holy Spirit and nurtured and nourished by Him grow into the stature of the Lord. 6.1 3721 Question. 3722 Do the resurrected bodies of Adam 3723 appear before the Divine, or do they have clothing on them, and do they have different food? How then is the body covered with clothing and what is it filled with (after all, these men and women living in this age need to cover their shame and eat perishable food 3724)? Will those resurrected after earthly resolution and return to their previous composition still need this or not? Answer. The question seems to me inappropriate and thoughtless; for we know that all created beauty 3725 and composition is abolished at the dissolution, and the earth no longer produces fruits to feed the body, but the sky also passes away 3726 with all its beauty. Where will people get their food 3727 if, according to the word of the Lord, everything visible is resolved? 6:2 Is it not clear that there is something other than what is visible, which will be given? Yes, you must be dressed and fed. But if for the Israelites the manna given to them in the desert was unusual and alien to their nature (for it is written that “man ate the bread of angels” 3728), then how much better food and clothing will God give to people in the coming age and how alien to their nature! All who now receive the “deposit of the Spirit in their hearts” 3729 and heavenly treasure, all who now wear glorious and heavenly garments, all who sow heavenly and spiritual seed in their hearts on earth, all of them will undoubtedly enjoy 3730 bodily glory. For the divine beauty now hidden and abiding in the soul in the Resurrection will suddenly and abundantly be revealed 3731 to the outer body with eternal light. 6:3 It is necessary that the mind, being valuable, should still be preached here and receive the Spirit of God, and thereby the body will also be glorified; God, who even now clothes the soul with glory and saturates it with His fire, at that long-awaited time will also clothe the body and present it “according to His glory” 3732, then finally giving rest with food and heavenly garments and incorruptible angelic work. 6.4 III, 2, 2 In visible things the night has its own labors and the day has its own. And the deeds of the night are evil: at this time the villains reveal their iniquity, under the cover of darkness they plot and steal, kill 3733 and commit adultery safely, without being caught by anyone 3734. But the day's labors are bright, the labors of righteousness and piety. Everything that is done clearly is light, 3735 being accomplished in God. Likewise, those who practice iniquity seem to hide many things in the night, but then “everything that is exposed by the light is revealed” 3736. Those who now conceive the seed of evil in their hearts, having a mind connected with shameful evil deeds, try to hide and hide their disgraces, but cannot remain unnoticed by God, for “Everything is naked and open to Him, we will give an account to Him” 3737. The darkness that has now covered their soul and heart, on that day [of judgment] will also cover and obscure the body, for it is covered with the dark embrace of the evil one; the good deeds of the righteous will shine like the sun 3738, because they cannot be hidden. 6.5 Like a fruit-bearing tree, which bears fruits all summer long, cannot hide what is in it, because the approaching time, by some uncontrollable force, gradually brings the fruits to maturity; how a grain buried in the ground first implicitly takes root in its depths and grows heavy, and then, having sprouted and emerged to the surface of the earth, drinking juices, it opens to the eye, rises with a stem, pours into an ear that fully rewards the grain 3739; and just as a vine, transplanted into a vineyard, first swells inside in its core and then blossoms, all bearing fruit, and produces wine in its season, so in the same way Christians, now sown and already now planted in the heavenly vineyard and plunging their sweetest roots into the land of promise 3740, will not be able to hide the fruits, but what is conceived within on the day of the Resurrection will illuminate the body, and make it glad, and pleasing. Again, the deeds of sinners will be exposed. 6.6 Just as a chaste girl, who has fallen into fornication and conceived, tries to hide her vile debauchery and cannot hide it, because the fetus, having reached its full size, comes out, exposing the iniquity of the one who gave birth, so those who conceived sin in their hearts and gave birth to children of iniquity cannot on that [judgment] day escape the terrible and all-consuming 3741 fire, but their souls and bodies will be together convicted. 6.7 III, 2, 3 This is what we need to strive for, so that we now become ignited with the desire, in the short time allotted to us, to be worthy of receiving and conceiving in our hearts the Holy Spirit of God; so that through Him on the day of judgment our bodies may be clothed with glory and repose; so that {the Lord} would resurrect them into a new and imperishable age, creating for them “a new heaven and a new earth” 3742 and new lights, and would give them His image and all the promised inheritance 3743. And such are the precious stones and choice pearls that stand before the Divine; for the righteous are called stones 3744 3745, eagles 3746 and doves 3747. The architect Christ destroys the heaps of darkness of evil thoughts 3748, about which it is said: “We overthrow the plans and every exaltation that rises up against the knowledge of God” 3749 - 6.8 because they, entering as if into the desert, roar in our hearts. Having destroyed them, He lays the foundation in our hearts and His rock and, rolling 3750 other stones (I’m talking about natural thoughts), erects the building to the top, to the heights of heaven, connecting [them] with the holy Body of Christ and connecting them with the building of the holy apostles 3751. From two events a divine building is formed. First, Christ introduces our inner man into the building of His Body, and the angels, and the holy perfected spirits, and then He Himself descends inside to those on earth, and, having erected a tabernacle there for Himself 3752 and choosing a place, remains [there]. 6.9 III, 2, 4 As the eyes of sensory vision see the sensual sun, so with the eyes of the soul we see the intelligent light of the Sun of truth 3753. And just as swallows fly away in the winter, when they are unable to endure the severity of the winds and the cruelty of the cold, returning in the spring, when they find the air softer and calmer, and the whole earth warm, they fly in, entering people’s houses as if to their home, and, fearlessly penetrating 3754 [there] 3755, give birth to chicks and chirp for hours in natural voices - so is the Lord, having settled in the houses of our souls, he rests in the nest of our hearts and dwells there, waiting for the end of the storms, evil winter and darkness; then rays full of His sweetest light shine there, and the whole house is visited by deep peace. 6.10 In the summer, when the warmth of the sun gradually arrives and finally spreads everywhere, the awakened earth blooms with all its fruits and plants; the vineyards, all the trees of the oak forests and all the arable fields are clothed in greenery, overshadowed by young foliage and decorated with flowers. And dumb living beings also bear fruit, giving birth to the child of their womb, so that over time the young bodies of lambs and other creatures, the good-natured and innocent hearts of newborn babies appear; and everything that just recently was gloomy, dreary, motionless and barren, now suddenly transforms, lives, bears fruit and grows. The earth, hardened by the cold, has thawed and is decorated with bright meadow flowers; the desert mountains, covered with greenery, give up their severity; all the springs, abounding in the influx of water, pour out sweet and transparent streams, and every kind of winged and four-legged living creature jumps and rejoices, having been transformed in this sweet and gracious time, and rejoices from the abundance of food. 6.11 III, 2, 5 But all these are images of intelligible and spiritual things. Because of the frightening darkness and evil winds, our mind is cramped, shackled and fruitless, all of [its] thoughts are enslaved by great grief, since many thoughts alien to your nature and every thought from Satan arise there. 6.12 At the time of the visitation of the Holy Spirit 3757 some great change and transformation occurs. The mind begins to blossom and produce spiritual fruits from the soil of the heart, while thistles and hedges and crafty demons are crushed by the power of the Spirit. The heart itself begins to awaken and receive the heavenly seed, being cultivated by the true Husbandman in great rest and in great peace, and blessed are those visited and cultivated by the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen 3758. 7.1 Question. What does “in the image and likeness” of God 3759 mean? Answer. Just as God is incomprehensible and indescribable, so the mind rushes everywhere and appears where it has not been, and, if it wants, it withdraws into the outer, and underworld, and into the higher parts of the earth, and the more one succeeds in the knowledge of the Spirit, the more one knows one’s own essence. 7.2 Just as sculptors and all those who work with copper first mold from wax a model of the living creature they want to make, then make it in its likeness by pouring molten copper - in the same way God, taking “dust from the earth” 3760, created the image of the outer man and in the likeness of this created the inner man, which is called the soul and mind, an honest vessel 3761, cognizable and intelligible by one God and perfect and spirit-bearing [people]. The human soul is more precious than all creations. The outer man is born like other living beings, eats from the earth, grows old, and dies. The inner man, that is, the soul, “in the image and likeness” 3762. God was created and united with Him 3763 because she is the bride of the King, and as the groom rejoices in the bride, so does the Lord rejoice in the soul. She is called to adoption. 7.3 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” 3764 and brothers and friends of the Bridegroom. And just as the Lord, having ascended the mountain, was transformed 3765 into His divine glory, so souls are already enlightened and glorified, but on the last day their bodies, glorified, will shine. For the Scripture says: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” 3766. This means that now they have sonship and indestructible joy, which Christians rejoice in, because grief will not follow them again. And sorrow, having received the joy of beauty, will disappear, and the grace of the Lord will make it so that they will reign together for endless centuries. Both the kingdom of this world and the power of the earth are low and insignificant, but the Kingdom and power of the Lord are imperishable. Thus, it is shown that the soul has its own image, the members of the inner man; Let us bring glory to the blessed and immortal Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Word 19 3767. {We must valiantly endure all kinds of temptations in which we improve} 3768 1,1 = III, 23, 1 full version; I, 19, 1, 1–4 Wed. c I, 17, 2, 2 The man of God, who truly walks the path of righteousness and is a well-obedient servant of the Lord, always succeeds in every good and in every state of virtue and becomes the best of himself, improving himself daily, and acquires the basis for all good deeds, for example, for humility and meekness, for kindness, for patience, for generosity, for love, for faith 3769, for hope, for chastity, for courage, for kindness, for each of them has much depth, and breadth, and subtlety of doing. 1.2 Just as if there were many different fruitful trees in the garden, and each tree had branches, and again branches - small twigs and even thinner twigs, and many many leaves, so in each of the virtues there is a certain subtlety of work and a lot of depth, and each 3770 seems to be a kind of perfect work. 1.3 All this is the basis and confirmation and the extreme degree on which everyone who comes to God must be affirmed and based is trust in God and firmness of faith, which first of all everyone who wants to please God must acquire and be confirmed by trust in God. 1:4 For those who have not first gained confidence in God are like those who build a house without a foundation. After all, the Maccabees, with their comrades-in-arms, labored a lot and showed valor generously in many great wars, by faith and trust in God they subdued their enemies in physical war. Let us take them as an example for ourselves in the invisible battle “against the spirits of evil” 3771, because true warriors of Christ should be so willing, courageous, valiant and generous. For the apostle says: “All these things happened to them [as] images; but it is described for the instruction of us who have reached the last centuries” 3772. 1.5 So, we, valiant ascetics and warriors of Christ, must remain in various sorrows and various temptations 3773 raised against us by the spirits of malice, be patient, take courage and be generous, so that we can be grateful in the consolations and gifts of grace. 1.6 III, 23, 2 For as the visible world of people is governed 3774 > by grace and truth: grace in abundance and abundance of fruits, and health, and good times, and every good gift, but by righteousness and punishment in famine and sea, and sorrows and needs, disasters, hail, destruction and [everything] that God produces for the admonition and benefit of people - 1.7 so the soul, wishing to inherit the heavenly world of the Divine, is controlled by grace in various ways. And sometimes in the peace and joy of the spirit she rejoices and rejoices in the consolation of grace, sometimes she indulges in punishment, and various temptations, and various sorrows of the worldly spirit, so that she who has learned everything and has been found tested, and has valiantly endured all temptations, and has in no way deviated from pleasing God, and has thus been favorably tested by Christ, would become worthy of God, by grace and through righteousness inherited eternal life. 2.1 And just as in this life rest and harvests and fertility and peace are not entirely experienced by people, but, weighing the standard of righteousness, God punishes and has mercy and provides for the world, so the soul that desires to be born for the world above does not entirely experience rest and joy and gladness of spirit, but by the standard of righteousness and grace He punishes, and she has mercy, and God pleases her. 2.2 For if everything were a rest in people’s lives, and pleasure, and satiety, and wealth - without sorrows and pains, people who neglect God and completely give themselves up to the pleasure of the flesh could not endure and endure. “Jacob ate,” says [Scripture], “and he was filled, he became fat, he became fat, he became enlarged, and his beloved was rejected” 3775. 2.3 Consider this in the same way in the spiritual: if the soul were entirely and continuously in joy, rest, and gladness of the spirit, it would not know itself and would not know the exercise and path of righteousness, and would be exalted, and would succeed in conceit alone, exalting itself above everyone, and would not even consider itself a man, 2.4 as the apostle says: “Because of the extremeness of the revelations, an angel of Satan was given to me to oppress me, so that I do not become arrogant" 3776. Do you see that such a holy man benefited from tribulations? Also, as the same one says: “From sorrow comes patience, from patience experience, from experience hope, and hope does not disappoint” 3777. So sorrows act for the benefit and greater experience of the soul 3778. 3.1 avg. I, 55, 2, 3 If only the person himself endures everything he encounters, and especially sorrows, willingly and valiantly, not allowing himself any voluntary sin of laziness, or negligence, or relaxation, or any absent-mindedness 3779, or any other voluntary sins, but working entirely pleasingly and, entrusting himself to the Lord, valiantly and willingly enduring and enduring all the sorrowful events that occur, always expecting from there help, looking at the grace and love of God for mankind, so that in this way one becomes worthy of God in everything and becomes so. For God knows how much everyone must come to trial, and punishment, and temptation, so that he becomes more experienced, only if a person masters patience. 3.2 avg. I, 55, 2, 5-6 Because if people, who are involved in a small mind and a short thought, test and discern how much weight and load each animal is able to carry, for example, a mule, or a donkey, or a camel, and if the potter who made the vessels knows that if he does not put them into the fire, they will not become useful to him, and he knows how much of them must be left in the fire for them to become useful, and nothing more. He does not leave them what is due, so that they do not become corrupted, nor does he not leave enough, so that they do not become worthless and useless - how much more does God, being ineffable and ineffable, true Knowledge, and infinite Reason, and incomprehensible Wisdom, know how many trials, and sorrows, and temptations the souls who want to please Him need. 3.3 And after tribulations they are worthy to receive the fullness of grace, and wholly acquire purity and sanctification through the communion of the Spirit, and receive complete deliverance from passions after the evil spirits have henceforth been subjected to them. And thus, having become blameless and undefiled by the action of the Spirit, they are worthy to receive the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to Him be glory and dominion forever. Amen. Word 20 3780. {More about patience, sorrows and what kind of teacher should be} 3781 1,1 = III, 23, 3 full version, cf. secondary compilation I, 55, 2, 7 The souls of Christians, led by the evil one into many disasters in this world, are like hemp. For just as hemp fiber becomes thinner, more suitable and purer, the more the hemp is pounded and ruffled, so that it becomes the finest yarn, and the more it is pounded and scratched, the more suitable it becomes, so do God-loving and truth-loving Christian souls, to the extent that they are led by the spirits of evil into great sorrows, trials and temptations, while themselves maintaining steadfastness and long-suffering, [so much] purer, more experienced and more suitable for subtle, grace-filled spiritual work do they become, finally worthy to dwell in the heavenly place of saints. 1:2 After all, when the soul is tested in great trials and various sorrows and accepts the help of grace, enduring steadfastly in the hope of the Lord, every form of evil in it gradually decreases and the heavy burden of the sin that dwells with [it] is thrown off approximately in this way: 1:3 As if someone was walking a long way, heading to a certain city, and were carrying a full bag of sand, in which there would be a thin hole at the bottom, and while he walked, along the whole path the sand would pour out, making it easier for him, and when he finally reached the city, the heaviest sand would be exhausted 3782 and the person would be completely relieved and rested from the weight of the sand - 1.4 so it is with the truly struggling soul, walking the path of righteousness 3783 and hastening to the city of the Kingdom, but carrying with it a heavy burden of sinful passions: as it walks along the path of virtues and clings to the Lord, sin and passions subside, and she feels a sense of lightness and gentle peace. 1.5 If, however, one cleaves completely and completely 3784 [to God] and follows the path of righteousness impeccably and well, then one is worthy to enter the very chamber of the fullness of grace, completely freed from the heavy burden of sinful passions. But first one must go through many trials and tribulations, and thus a person enters into the peace of grace-filled fullness, that is, he is worthy to achieve dispassion. 2,1 = III, 23, 4, cf. I, 55, 2, 8–9 Just as a freshly sculpted vessel, not yet fired by fire, is not ready for human use, or like a dumb baby is incapable of worldly affairs, because he cannot build a city, nor plant, nor sow seeds, nor perform any other worldly work, being unreasonable - 2.2 so are untried souls, not tested in various afflicted by the spirits of malice, are still infancy, do not have sufficient exercise and, so to speak, are not yet fit for the Kingdom, as Blessed Paul says: “But if you remain without punishment, which is common to all, then you are illegitimate children, and not sons” 3785. This is how useful sorrows, trials, and temptations are for a person, making the soul fit and reliable. 2.3 If only we would zealously, nobly, and courageously prepare ourselves, enduring adversity with steadfastness, and would be strengthened in hope and trust, always expecting deliverance, and would dare, trusting in the compassion of Christ, for He never leaves a soul that seeks Him to the end to be tested beyond its strength, “but with temptation He will also give a way out 3786, so that you can endure.” 3787. 3.1 III, 23, 5 And this is also how a person reasons within himself: even if they kill me and experience dozens of other worse evils, with the permission of the Lord, suffering and suffering from evil spirits, I do not leave Him, for He is faithful who “will deliver me from all sorrow” 3788, and He will “raise me again from the depths of the earth” 3789. And so, having completely surrendered himself to the Lord and endured to the end, a person will later learn from experience both [God’s] good deeds, and intercession, and good reward, as the Lord says: “He who endures to the end will be saved” 3790. 3.2 Indeed, how can people in this life neither achieve honors and promotions, nor receive any [rank] of higher dignity from the king, unless they first make great efforts and show great courage, going to war, studying all the art of war, and having gained skill and experience in winning, and taking booty from the enemy, and distinguishing themselves in everything before the king (then they are honored with respect and great royal honors), - 3.3 so no one is worthy to immediately receive the treasures of grace, spiritual gifts and heavenly Divine gifts from the Most High and True King 3791, if first his mind is not always exercised in caring for good thoughts, and in attention to the holy commandments, and in trust in God, and so he will be worthy of grace and take the heavenly weapon (the Spirit himself) and with he will distinguish himself in great exploits against the spirits of evil, fighting in harmony and unity 3792 with the grace given to him from God and becoming a comrade-in-arms of the heavenly army and a co-warrior against evil to the last and completing with victory through many labors and struggles and trials the war against the spirits of evil 3793. And when he wrests victory from his enemies, then he will be worthy to receive from the heavenly King Divine and heavenly dignities and glorious and spiritual honors, being already able to equip and train others for war. 3.4 For if they simply take an ordinary person from the crowd, who does not know war and has no experience in military affairs, and immediately makes him a military leader over everyone, then such a person is worthy of laughter, because he intended to lead military actions without first knowing war. So in the spiritual, the interpreter of the word of God and the leader of souls must be experienced in all spiritual matters, so that, by demonstrating through experience the effect of the words he explains, he will always bring benefit and help to those who listen. 3.5 For God's wisdom, and the Christian path, and the work of grace that occurs in the faithful soul is fulfilled with the greatest subtlety through gradual growth and progress, and when a person considers it completed, then only he needs to begin even more internal work, when the sacraments of the Spirit and spiritual ascents [begin] to take place in the soul; and he who often considers a task completed must often begin. 3.6 After all, if this is so in this life, in worldly wisdom - let's say 3794, we learn from elementary teachers, then from grammarians, then from rhetoricians, then also from sophists, finally from philosophers, and when a person goes through all the teachers, after completing one [school 3795] starting another, then he begins to administer court under the leaders, then, having distinguished himself over the years, in due time he himself becomes a leader and then again he takes a companion [to help] so as not to miss anything for justice - 3.7 in a word, if in this world we see such sophistication of wisdom and such its gradual ascent, then all the more the ineffable and boundless wisdom of God and the Christian path have a certain great sophistication and many successes. And as a person advances, he begins each time new deeds, penetrates deeper into spiritual mysteries and into the hidden riches of wisdom; and to the extent that he grows in grace and prospers and grows rich in the knowledge of God, so much does he become aware of the devices and machinations of evil, according to the word of the Apostle: “We are not unaware of his devices” 3796. 3:8 If such great hope is set before us and such numerous spiritual blessings are prepared for those who truly desire to compete, then may we also give ourselves with all our strength to please the Lord, so that, having received spiritual gifts, and having succeeded in the wisdom of God, and having overcome all temptation and oppression with the help of the grace of Christ, and having been deemed worthy of perfect sanctification, we may become worthy of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Word 21 3797. {How great and what mysteries is the soul rewarded with, through humility of mind, having fellowship with Christ} 3798 1 A soul that loves heavenly blessings and hopes to co-reign with Christ through transformation and change must, at will, change from the evil of the passions into Christ’s virtues and, simply speaking, acquire renewal of the Spirit while it is in the flesh. 2 As if there were a monastic village of Christians in a deserted mountain, where wolves, wild animals and terrible reptiles used to settle and live in holes, but when the whole place was built up and lost its wild appearance, there are henceforth incessant “psalms and songs, spiritual songs” 3799, festivities and joy are celebrated in the Lord, - 3 so when the soul is empty of God from the time of Adam’s crime and remains in the wildness of passions, in her mental heart, evil beasts, and terrible wolves, and very numerous reptiles of evil spirits graze, and settle, and make holes, showing their action through bad and evil thoughts, 4 but when the tamer of the wild places of the soul and the destroyer of mental beasts and reptiles, the Lord, comes, and will build the house of the soul in the Spirit, and will make meek all its mental land in its own virtues the Spirit, and will dwell and create an abode in it 3800, then prayers and worship are performed there unceasingly “in spirit and truth” 3801, then “psalms, hymns, spiritual songs” 3802 are sent from the soul by grace to heaven, then feasts, angelic celebrations and heavenly and unspeakable joy are celebrated when the leader of the holiday, Christ, spiritually celebrates in the soul and rejoices the mind with heavenly joy and gladness. 5 And in another way we will use it in the same sense. Like gold, which was previously mixed with earth and trampled underfoot by beasts and creeping things, when it is taken, and purified, and strained by those who know the art of refining gold, then it becomes a crown and a royal diadem, fit for the head of a king; 6 So also this soul, now mixed with the earth of sin, and entwined with material and idle thoughts, and trampled upon by beasts (spirits of darkness) through the action of passions, and found in great reproach and vileness of evil thoughts, and mixed with the darkness of this age, just as gold was mixed with the earth there - when the good and true master and purifier of our souls comes, He takes and purifies it from that insult and the terrible darkness that covered her, and, having made her pure, makes her like a beautiful golden crown and a heavenly diadem. 7 For the prophet also says: “And you will be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a diadem of beauty in the hand of your God” 3803. Do you see from what insult and dishonor into what glory and honor a person is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the right will of his free will, diligence and faith? 8 For God has deigned by His goodness to associate the soul with His Kingdom, and when He comes and visits a soul that has given itself with all its will for spiritual good, He imparts to it from the Light of His Divinity through the communication of the Holy Spirit. And then her spiritual thinking grows, and intensifies, and expands to heavenly heights, and He descends from above to her, taking her to Himself and stretching her to heaven, and makes her worthy to enjoy there the inexpressible heavenly mysteries. 9 Oh, unspeakable favor! oh, indescribable philanthropy! Oh, incomprehensible love and inexpressible compassion! From what dishonor and insignificance He shifts and changes the souls of truly believers and those who have given themselves to every good cause. For this sweetness and heavenly peace is insatiable. 10 For if on earth, as much as the rich acquire and become rich, they become poorer for themselves, always desiring to gain more and not being satisfied with what they have; and as they get richer, they strive to get richer. And the king of the earth himself has how many treasures and, however, wants and desires even more, and how many [countries] of the world he rules, but is not satisfied and wants to rule alone over all the peoples of the earth and acquire all the golden treasures of the earth. 11 And if this is so with them, how much more will the soul that has tasted the sweetness of God and accepted the feelings of spiritual goodness and inexpressible joy, which is the Lord, become a partaker and partaker of the heavenly riches of the Light of the Divine, and touched the hidden treasures of wisdom, and been illuminated by the heavenly rays of the Face of Christ, and received the experience of the world of the Divine, will not be burned by so many heavenly blessings and will enter into an unquenchable spiritual desire, and will be captured by the unfillable satiety of Divine love, partaking of such goodness, and joy, and the peace of the ineffable Divinity. 12 For just as the sea, when all the rivers flow into it, is not filled, so the soul that is worthy to enter the world of the Divinity of the Spirit, no matter how much [God] gives it of the gifts of grace, is not satiated; and as much as he receives, he exacts; and no matter how full he is, he still desires; and no matter how much it is filled, it still feels the lack, and, like some kind of unfillable abyss, it is settled from much spiritual desire and heavenly aspiration of the insatiable love of Christ. 13 She walks on earth in the flesh 3804 - and in heaven she dwells with the Lord in her thoughts. Those who devote themselves to humble wisdom and do not accept thoughts of exaltation and self-importance, but consider themselves unworthy before God and people and always strive like beginners, and thus humiliating and humbling themselves, are worthy to achieve those spiritual blessings, 14 as the Lord says: “He who humbles himself will be exalted, and he who exalts himself will be humble" 3805. For those who become partakers of some small grace and are arrogant and arrogant because they think that they are someone 3806 grieve the grace of the Spirit 3807 and are deprived of the good that they possess, for the folly of their infancy. 15 So, let us seek the Lord with the fiery love of souls who are always waiting for Him, attached to Him and striving to have Him alone, the Herald and Executor of so many good things to those who believe in Him. 16 But the word of the Spirit, spoken by the spiritual [men], let it be like this: as if there were a great river in fullness of water, so much as it flows by, so much more flows in again, because it is unfailing, always born and flowing from the immeasurable depth of the source - 17 Thus, those who have a living source of the Spirit, as much as they talk about the mysteries of the Spirit, so much more do they find, since the Divine source always flows out newer and heavenly mysteries words. 18 Let us, therefore, ask the Lord to be partakers of the spiritual source of living water 3808, because “he who drinks” and receives from it “will never thirst” 3809, according to the word of the Lord, but “in him will be a fountain of living water 3810 leaping into eternal life” 3811, and “rivers from his belly will flow living waters” 3812. 19 Therefore, to those who from the Spirit tell the secrets of the Spirit and from the living source, God, speak the word of God, those who hear should listen as if they hear the word from the mouth of God, and as if the Holy Spirit moves the organ of the tongue and speaks through it. 20 How can we now receive these spiritual and heavenly blessings if we do not always look “to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” 3813 and do not constantly pay attention to His humility, just as He, being God, “emptied Himself” 3814 into a humble nature. 21 We, therefore, being humble by nature, as we should humble ourselves and recognize our nature, are ashamed that the Glorious One became inglorious to us and, being God, took on a humble human nature and lived in the world poor and humble, humiliated and reproached by unworthy people. So, being by nature dishonest, and humble, and full of sins, should we not know our nature? 22 Therefore, having become imitators of His humility and way of life - as far as is possible from our nature - believing and loving Him truly, and having Him before our eyes, and waiting for Him to come and dwell in us, we will receive what He promised to give to those who love Him, which neither the eye has seen, nor the ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, but He will reveal to us by His Spirit 3815, having come and created a habitation for us 3816 so that from Him we will henceforth learn, by the action of the Spirit, all the virtues of meekness, humility, faith and love, and He will fulfill in us all righteousness and the fulfillment of His commandments by His grace. 23 Because He said that “learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” 3817. And thus, blameless and undefiled, 3818 built by His power, we will be worthy to receive the eternal Kingdom in Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever. Homily 22. {About the soul that fell away and came to repentance and Allegory about the prodigal [son]} 3819 1:1 Our Lord Jesus Christ, teaching His disciples to pray at their request, said to them: “Say: Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth; Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts" 3820. He taught those seeking remission of guilt to pray this prayer. 1.2 Like a servant of a good master, having sinned a lot and fled, returning after a long time, he first sends intercessors to his master so that the good master will be reconciled with him, and stands outside in front of the doors, not yet being worthy of seeing his face, and while the master is angry with him, all his relatives, children, close friends, relatives are hostile to him, but standing in front of the doors outside and not yet appearing before his face master, he is already in his thoughts, when he accepts him personally and is reconciled with him, then all relatives, children, slaves, friends find peace and love for him - 1.3 so is the sinner who transgressed the commandment of the heavenly and true Master and fled from His goodness because of the acceptance into his soul of shameful passions 3821 and being in wickedness and in the evil of the evil spirit, but then Having returned to his Master and asking to be forgiven of his sins and again accepted into the sovereign and peaceful Kingdom, he waits at the door outside, striving to be worthy of seeing the good and peaceful face of the good Master, and until the heavenly King was reconciled with him and was worthy to appear before His face, behold, all the angels and saints and the powers of heaven were not reconciled with him, however, waiting for a petition to the Lord outside the door, he was already attracted the attention of the good and kind heavenly Father and Master. 1.4 When the Master, having clearly reconciled with him, leads him inside the door of His life and deigns the soul to behold Himself in revelation and completeness, and the soul itself, having seen the bright heavenly face of the Master, is deigned to worship Him and live with Him in peace, then there is joy and gladness in heaven among the holy angels 3822, for [the soul] having acquired peace with its Master, He is reconciled with all His household. 1.5 That is why the Lord, telling about the fall of the soul, told a parable 3823 about the youngest son, who took his share and went into a foreign country to evil and crafty rulers, squandering his property there with harlots, living fornication and herding pigs. 1.6 Calling Himself “the bread of life” 3824, He said that those who eat His flesh and drink His blood live forever: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” 3825, and again: “He who eats this bread will live forever” 3826, and: “He who eats Me will live through Me” 3827 , and He gives worthy souls the Spirit of His Divinity as food and life. 1:7 Those who truly partake of the bread of the Eucharist are counted worthy to be partakers of the Holy Spirit, and thus holy souls can live forever. 1.8 Just as he who drinks and has wine in himself, mixed with all his members, remains himself in the wine and the wine in him, so he who drinks the blood of Christ, for the Divine Spirit who is drunk is mixed with the perfect soul, and the soul [abides] in Him and thus, having been sanctified, becomes worthy of the Lord, since “we are all,” says [the apostle], “were drunk with the same Spirit” 3828. 1:9 So, he, living fornication, eating and drinking the passions of evil spirits and living in them, was obsessed with the carnal pleasures of the passions of this age. 1:10 For just as the worldly spirit of delusion and sinful darkness acts through the energy of passions in a person filled with a “carnal mind” 3829, from which he is nourished and in which he lives, so the Spirit of Divine light indwells with action and power a person who has been worthy of sanctification, from which the soul eats and in which the soul lives, according to [the apostle] who said: “You are looking for proof as to whether Christ speaks in Me” 3830, and again: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” 3831, and again: “All of you who were baptized in Christ have put on Christ” 3832, and: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” 3833, and the Lord [says]: “We (I and My Father) will come and make our abode with him” 3834 . This happens to those who have been rewarded “in power and fullness 3835” 3836 and not implicitly or inactively. 1:11 After all, before the law turned people to the non-hypostatic 3837 word, imposing a heavy yoke, but could not help them, since it did not give the power of the Spirit, but since the coming of the Lord, the door of grace has truly opened to believers. 1:12 For this Word gives the power of God and spiritual energy, and the aching soul lying in passions, it restores with strength and makes strong. So, hunger was useful to that [younger son] who tended pigs and lived prodigal life in order to come to his senses and return to his father; and if there had not been a famine in the land of Canaan 3838, the brothers would not have gone to Joseph and the words 3839 about his visions would not have been fulfilled - after all, they too were fulfilling a certain sacrament and image. 1.13 Just as Joseph’s brothers deprived their own brother of their fatherly inheritance, but later, when famine came, they came to him and found themselves in front of him, and were ashamed, so is the soul, now depriving the inheritance of the beautiful Joseph, the heavenly king of Christ, which inheritance is the soul itself, and of its own free will, not devoting itself to Him in spiritual service, so that He would dwell in it, inherit it and reign in it, subsequently, at the resurrection and the glorious appearance of His coming, when the great judgment of famine 3840 comes, will be ashamed before Him. 1:14 This also means the Jews who crucified the Lord, who will later be ashamed at the coming of His glory, but this must be understood in another way. After all, the Word is diverse. Every soul that first did not obey the Word and deprived its being of the Lord's inheritance, then turned and begged the Lord who appeared to it by His grace, is ashamed of what good it had previously plotted against and that it was disobedient to the true Word. 1:15 Then the father receives his son, rejoicing and saying: “This son of mine was dead and is alive, he was lost and is found” 3841 - and gives him the best clothes and a ring and slaughters a fatted calf for his sake 3842. And the heavenly Father joyfully accepts the converted and repentant soul that truly comes to Him, and gives her the robe of the light of Christ and the seal ring of the heavenly and good Spirit. 1:16 For for her sake a beautiful, well-fed calf was slain, even the Lord Himself, who suffered in the flesh. “He was dead,” He says, “and came to life, he was lost and is found” 3843. He was dead and lost to his father, for he lived there as a prostitute and tended pigs. And the soul, while it lives fornication, revolving among evil spirits, fornicating with them under the influence of passions and spending time sinfully, is dead and lost for the heavenly and good Father. When she comes to her senses, turns to Him and repents, then “joy happens” in heaven “among the angels of God” 3844, and she receives the glorious robe of the light of Christ, sealed by the heavenly Spirit, and so lives again a spiritual life before the heavenly Father. 1.17 But just as the father did not want his son to die, however, when he wanted to leave him and said: “Give me the due part of the estate” 3845, the father did not interfere, so God did not want Adam to perish, but when he wanted to break the commandment and take his share (that is, his own mind and will), God did not interfere, since he had his own will, power and opinion, for God created him initially autocratic to do everything, whatever he wants. 1:18 However, fear, love and shame turned the above-mentioned slave to the lord and the son to his father, and these three [virtues] were among them. Likewise, the soul, if out of fear, love and shame turns to the Lord - its good Lord and Father, then He kindly accepts it, not taking into account the first sinful vices. 2.1 In fact, the entire coming of the Lord and His good presence took place for the sake of this soul, so that it would become, together with humanity, a gift of participation in the Holy Spirit and so that it would uproot the action of sinful passions and the habit of vices, rooted due to long assimilation, 2.2 3846 like some kind of tares, thorns or thistles [grown] from the earth 3847, and give the soul His own Spirit, so that, living thus a spiritual life and clothed with heavenly power, she could truly do every desire of God. For just as the soul could not do evil without the vice and deceit of the passions, so without the heavenly and good Spirit it cannot fulfill every desire of God and still remains outside of God. 2.3 And the apostle says: “No one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” 3848, adding: “But we have the mind of Christ” 3849, and: “God has revealed it to us by His Spirit” 3850. The apostles actually contemplated many amazing and extraordinary signs performed by the Lord, but since, having not yet received that heavenly “power from above” 3851, they doubted, hesitated, and were tempted in their souls, and at the crucifixion of the Lord they fled in different directions. The Lord alone healed the soul by giving it His Holy Spirit. And everyone, if he does not expect and does not receive that “power from above,” cannot be completely healed from shameful passions 3852: after all, [only] in this way could passions be taken away. 2.4 If you want to know exactly the nature of human weakness and susceptibility to the worst, and that without the coming of the Lord mankind could not be healed, think how many amazing and extraordinary punishments and fears God first carried out because of evil deeds and practices: 2.5 the flood under Noah, the division of languages, the destruction of cities, the incineration of Sodom and Gomorrah 3853, horrors, sometimes great earthquakes, as well as famines and pestilences 3854. God brought all this to the human race to condemn the evil, and even now He comes to others, so that, being frightened, they would renounce their vices. Then came the law, the prophets, the priests, the sacrifices, the gifts, the offerings, the tithes, and the countless other requirements of the law. In the same way, God performed great and amazing signs for Israel, benefiting them [the Jews] with obvious phenomena. 2.6 They were delivered from the ten plagues that struck Egypt 3855; a pillar of fire shone for them and a pillar of cloud overshadowed them 3856; They saw with their own eyes the sea, which opened up contrary to its nature, and walked through the middle of it, seeing that their enemies were drowned in it 3857. They were honored to eat manna from heaven 3858, heard and saw the voice of God and the appearance on Mount Sinai 3859 and many other similar [things] that are difficult to briefly list. 2.7 God showed them all these benefits, but [their] soul was not healed from the disease of incurable sinful passions, and they could not turn to the Lord with all their hearts because of the cover of darkness (that is, “shameful passions” 3860), until the Lord came - the real God, abiding everywhere and remaining what He was - bearing a body, being born, growing and in all holiness having lived in the world as an “example to those who have” 3861 to believe, then endured humiliation, strangulation, dishonor, abuse, and finally crucified, put to death, descended into hell, resurrected on the third day and ascended to heaven “by the glory of the Father” 3862 and seated “at the right hand of Majesty” 3863, and then He sent down to humanity “power from above” 3864, killing and abolishing incurable spiritual passions. 2.8 First, He sent “the firstfruits of the Spirit of the Comforter” 3865 to His disciples, and through them that power overshadows all who believe in the Lord, and, settling in their souls, heals them from sinful passions and resurrects the soul from the death of darkness. Until then, the soul, wounded and cast into darkness, was kept in prison, imprisoned in “iron bars and copper gates” 3866 and the sins of the passions, and God did not walk along the paths of her thoughts. 2.9 And now the soul, to which the Lord has not yet appeared and the power of His Spirit has not settled in it, has not delivered it from the shackles of sin, has not brought it out of the dark prison of vice and has not effectively taken possession of it in all power and fullness 3867, is still bound in darkness, possessed by the dark passions and evil thoughts that have taken possession of it. Those whom the Lord, by their pure faith and love for Him, has clothed with the power of His Spirit, and on whom He has poured out the gift of heavenly grace, and in whose minds spiritual grace has deeply infused - they, sanctified by the Spirit, have the Lord as their soul. 2.10 Humanity, humiliated by vice, received such a great goodness of the ineffable favor of Christ, as the apostle says: “He who cleaves to the Lord will be [with Him] in one spirit 3868” 3869, and the Lord: “That which is born of the spirit is one 3870 spirit” 3871, and again in another place: “Father, as I and You are one, so are they they will be one in Us" 3872. 2.11 After all, if the soul was united with vicious passions, for although it had its own will, it could not do what it wanted, as the apostle says: “I do what I do not want” 3873, since it was sold into slavery and bore the heavy yoke of sinful passions, then if this was the case with it, then how much more the power of the Divine, having settled in the sanctified soul, which has become worthy of the Lord, will be united with her, with all joy and zeal, surrendering all her will to the power of the Divine Spirit, and the soul becomes the Lord’s, since by its good will and desire the power of the Divine Spirit reigns over it and the soul is no longer directed according to its own will. 2:12 After all, just as the sun and the wind are mixed with each other, so a worthy soul is mixed with the Spirit of the Lord, completely abiding in the Spirit, since the soul agrees in all virtues with the grace of the Lord, for “who,” says [the apostle], “will separate us (that is, the soul united with the Holy Spirit) from the love of Christ.” 2.13 So, let us also beg the Lord to achieve this ineffable gift and look forward to receiving in ourselves all the “fullness of 3874 faith” and “hope” 3875 “power from above” 3876, destroying all the strongholds of 3877 bad passions in us, so that while we are in the flesh, sanctified by the Spirit, cleansed from sinful passions 3878 , undefiled and blameless 3879 , having been perfected by His grace, were made worthy of the “eternal inheritance” 3880 in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Word 23. {[A soul] that does not feed on spiritual foods falls away from life and grieves Christ} 3881 1.1 God, by His wisdom, created from the earth this body’s reinforcements (that is, food), and for the sake of the body itself He creates all the provisions for the creature, so that it would not lack anything. When it turns out to be in a bad state or infirmity, the relatives greatly grieve that, not supported by the food assigned to it by God, it is in mortal danger. 1:2 After all, even parents who give birth to children make every effort so that their children may eat the fruits of their home and their labors. If, however, it happens that due to weakness, lethargy or poor health, one does not take food, the parents have great grief - for their desire is such that they should eat from the fruits of their labors - 1.3 in the same way (after all, everything visible is a shadow of the invisible) and the Lord, coming from heaven, for this purpose took on human flesh, and all His coming and efforts were in order to bring reinforcement to the soul and heavenly food from His own Spirit. 1:4 For just as the body feeds bodily on earthly food and lives, so the worthy and faithful soul feeds spiritually on heavenly food from the Divine Spirit and lives a spiritual life. If that soul is unable, due to desire for passions, inclination to the worse, weakness of mind, evil spirits or unbelief, to accept Divine and spiritual food, Christ, who suffered a lot for it in order to obtain for it the heavenly food of the Spirit, greatly grieves. 1.5 For just as the body, which does not partake of earthly food, dies and perishes, so the soul, 3882 eating heavenly bread, becomes dead and perishes for the Divine life of the Spirit. 1.6 After all, the Lord Himself provided for the body through the dispensation of the visible creation, because when there was not enough bread in the desert with a large crowd of people, He, in His goodness, multiplied from five loaves 3883, so that everyone was satisfied and much remained in abundance, since the Lord provides food for the body and gives it rest, so that the soul would reward Him with worthy fruits. 1.7 For as with olive trees, vines or other fruit-bearing plants, before they bear edible fruits, farmers with all diligence, lovingly work on them - young seedlings and still, so to speak, barren pieces of wood 3884, but when they apply all their patience and diligence to them, then in due time they produce fruits from themselves in food for people - 1.8 in the same way the Lord shows all care for the body and all providence through the visible creation for its repose, so that from within the hidden and autocratic soul voluntarily renders to God the worthy fruits of righteousness 3885. After all, true Christians, who have truly pleased God with their will and have acquired the greatest boldness by His grace, have much boldness 3886 and the glory of God. 1:9 Just as earthly rulers, receiving royal images, keep all the local inhabitants subservient, and every people submits to them thanks to the royal statues, and when the rulers come out, there are those running ahead and pushing everyone aside so that they walk unhindered and orderly with great dignity and great honor - 1:10 so souls, bearing within themselves the glorious, most heavenly and bright image of the Lord, keep everyone in subjection hostile spirits, throwing them at their feet, and acquiring great honor and boldness from those above. 1:11 For where the holy and sovereign Spirit of God operates and dwells, the whole creation is inevitably filled with obedience 3887 because of the heavenly, sovereign and royal image of the Spirit. 1:12 After all, if in Israel, when the Spirit served them [the Jews] partially and accomplished a certain part of righteousness, everything was subject to the will of God: the sea was divided, honoring the Master, and the path arose in the middle of it 3888, just as the fire restrained its burning nature in the three youths 3889, giving honor to those worthy of God, and the fierce lions quelled their deadly onslaught, nothing without harming Saint Daniel 3890, and the birds themselves served those worthy of God, bringing food 3891 - then how much more does everything honor and obey when the sacred and divine image of God was painted and depicted in a worthy and faithful heart. 1:13 And the sea of darkness of bitterness of the evil spirits of this air 3892 is divided before them [the saints], so that the soul proceeds unhindered to heaven, and the iron walls 3893 , strongholds 3894 and invisible bolts are torn and destroyed by the power of the Spirit (as [the apostle] says: “We destroy arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” 3895), and the internal fire of evil passions, dying out, turns out to be ineffective and weak, and the wild beasts of the “spiritual” lions “evil” 3896 lie under their feet, for Adam before the crime reigned over all creation. 2.1 And you, beloved brothers, if you now continue in the word of truth, poverty, humility and all the virtues of the commandments, knocking day and night on the spiritual door 3897 of the heavenly King, and from there seeking all the blessings, you will not lack for anything, but the Lord will generously give you everything that you seek 3898. 2.2 If those who stand before the door of the earthly king and with long-suffering wait, seeking gifts or [the fulfillment of] any other petitions are not deprived of what they strive for, then in the same way, how much more we, standing at the door of the heavenly gracious and true King, fully seeking from Him with all long-suffering and endurance, with faith and hope, the heavenly gifts of the Spirit, we will receive the objects of our requests 2:3 Just as the Lord commanded, saying: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” 3899, and a little lower he adds: “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him” 3900, and again: “Whoever has left father or mother or brothers or sisters for My sake will receive a hundredfold in this age and will inherit eternal life” 3901. 2:4 Therefore, the Heavenly King (for He is the true [king]) gives inheritances only to those who seek Him in love and patience and truth. After all, He Himself encourages everyone, saying: “I am a true doctor. If anyone has no sight, let him ask 3902 from Me and receive blessed eyes that see My glory, which, having received their sight, will no longer be darkened. 2:5 If anyone's inner man is deaf, let him ask, and his ears will be opened, which, having been opened, will no longer be unheard forever. If anyone is lame, let him ask Me for spiritual feet that go to the land of the living. If anyone does not have a weapon, let him seek it from Me, so that, having put on it, he will not be mocked by his enemies. And whatever anyone asks of Me, I give. For I have enough of everything, and I lack nothing.” 2:6 Therefore, by always standing at the royal door and asking for spiritual gifts, you will not lose anything that you need, and all creatures rejoice with you and are glad, heaven and earth, when you cleave to the Lord and Father and strive only to do His will. 2.7 Therefore, you constantly have a struggle “against the spirits of evil” 3903, resisting all passions, and turning away from all vice, and having put on weapons from the Lord, you can use them to gain victory over your opponents. 2.8 For, just as in the visible the king honors warriors and fighters, and gives them robes, and clothes them with weapons, and first brings them to military exercises, they were tested, so the Lord feeds those who stand and struggle in the war against the “spirits of evil” 3904 with heavenly bread, and anoints them with the spiritual “oil of joy” 3905, and washes them with pure spiritual waters, and wipes them from them all the dirt of sinful passions, and gives them the heavenly weapons of the Spirit and the robes of Divine light 3906 so that, having gone out into spiritual war with malice, they receive praise and are crowned, having won. 2:9 To them He also gives heavenly inheritances. It is clear that such are “born of God” 3907, and another heavenly city is given to them 3908, and they are worthy to become brothers of Christ and heirs of the Father. 2:10 For just as the heat of the sun, shining on the seedlings of crops, immediately dries up some sown on rocky soil 3909 and having neither moisture nor deep soil, while others sown on good and deep soil do not harm (for they are deeply rooted in it), so those firmly established in the earth - good will and right faith and the grace of God - are not harmed at all by the heat temptations, but are more strengthened and return greater fruit. 2.11 Such were founded on the unshakable rock 3910, Christ Himself, for the Lord said to Peter: “You are ecu Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the levers of hell will not prevail against it” 3911. After all, levers exist to uproot and overturn the foundation of a house, so the evil one tries to uproot faithful and established souls from God and wants to turn them to himself. 2:12 Likewise, the Lord, again likening the one who kept His commandments to a “prudent” man who founded “his house on a rock,” 3912 says: “The rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it did not fall, because it was founded on a rock.” 2:13 Therefore, let us also establish the foundation of our hearts and will on the unshakable rock of Christ, so that those strengthened and strengthened by Him may be found firm and tested against the temptations raised against us and prove to be winners worthy of tasting heavenly blessings with Christ for endless ages. Amen. Word 24 3914. About how we should understand all Scripture spiritually for the benefit of our soul, for the sake of which everything was written, and not think of anything carnal or Jewish 3915 2 The Apostle says: “All this happened to them [as] images, but was described for the instruction of us who have reached the last centuries” 3916. If it was written for us, we must understand everything spiritually and nothing in a Jewish or carnal way, because the Apostle says: “The Law is spiritual” 3917. 3 So, if it was written about various wars, then it is written mysteriously about the present invisible wars of the spirits of evil taking place against the soul; or it was said about certain stories because of the mysteries that happen to the soul today, or many other words were said in the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit, both about cities and about some other things. 4 Everything was written for the sake of the sacraments that now happen in the soul, and although then it happened in appearance in truth, the Holy Spirit, taking reasons from everything that was visible and happened then, spoke about what is now happening to the soul. 5 Therefore, everything that was written, as has already been said, was written spiritually for our benefit. Just as, for example, God, foretelling Christ, promised to raise Him up as King to Israel, to give Him “the throne of His father David,” 3918, and to build Jerusalem forever, and “His kingdom,” says [God], “has no end,” 3919, and He will reign from one end to the other [of the earth], and, in short, God promised to raise Him up as Deliverer and King and Ruler of the people of Israel. And now we see in visible [things] that none of this happened, 6 for neither Christ reigned in Jerusalem openly, nor built it, but, on the contrary, proclaimed King, He was punished with the cross, and He, “of whose kingdom,” as the Scripture says, “there will be no end,” 3920, neither reigned in what is visible, nor delivered Israel, nor sat on the throne of David, but, on the contrary, as it was said, was spit upon, and dishonored, and strangled, and crucified, this awaited King. 7 What then? Is prophecy inactive and the word of God false? Behold, in visible things none of these things happened, unless God spoke spiritually and mysteriously through the saints, but spiritually and truly happened and is happening. 8 For the Deliverer, the Lord, has come, the true King of Israel, that is, the King of the soul that fell from enemies and from the terrible rulers of evil and was brought down from the first crime of man under the kingdom and power of the darkness of sin. Christ came to redeem her, the King came, promising to build Jerusalem and the fallen tabernacle of David, that is, the very soul that had fallen into the evil of passions. 9 He came to gather all Israel, that is, all the thoughts of the pure nature of the soul itself, scattered by malice in this age, that is, to gather the saints of the “Jerusalem above” 3921. He came and sat on His throne, on man, and reigned over Jerusalem, over the soul, forever, and His kingdom will have no end, - 10 for over every soul that He redeemed from the power of darkness and placed in His Kingdom, and sat down in it, and reigned over the true Jerusalem, over the very soul and over the true Israel, over man itself, and which soul He freed from sin forever, in it He reigns and dwells, and His Kingdom will have no end. 11 Of these mysteries the prophets spoke, and of this redemption they foretold, and of this kingdom, and of this Jerusalem, and of this throne, as we have proved from the things themselves, that all the writings of the holy prophets have truly been fulfilled. For truly the King Christ who came redeemed Jerusalem, that is, the soul, from her enemies and from those who enslaved and tortured her in the evil of darkness, for He “brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted” 3922 the humble soul, and Christ reigned in it, and He established it for Himself as an eternal throne, and of His Kingdom there will be no end. For He redeemed the man of Israel, created in His own image 3923 . And thus the word of God was truly fulfilled. 12 If, as we see, none of this happened in the obvious and is not accomplished in secret in the soul, then where is the true word of God, where are the words of the Spirit fulfilled? Is everything promised in vain, and are the prophets liars? It won't happen! Where, therefore, did Christ reign, since He did not reign in the visible? It is clear that He made a pure soul His throne. And where did Israel gather and redeem? It is clear that he delivered man from terrible enemies and gathered him, who was scattered. 13 Let us therefore beseech God, our Lord Jesus Christ, the true King, that He might deliver us from our enemies and reign in us, snatching us out of the kingdom of sin, and sit on the throne of our soul forever, and raise up, and re-acquire 3924, and renew our thoughts, making us a new and heavenly Jerusalem and begetting us from His Spirit to indwell and walk 3925 in us according to His promise in all ages, because to all who truly believe in Him, and hope, and ask for Him, and wait for Him, He brings about this deliverance now, and reigns with all tangible 3926 and effective fullness in them truly forever. 14 And thus, having now received from Christ, who now reigns in us, the enlightenment of Christ, which is in our soul, as the guarantees and deposits of the Kingdom, then in the resurrection our bodies will rise, if the soul has henceforth risen from the deadness of the passions of sin, and will be co-glorified with the soul, now enlightened by the true and ineffable light of Christ, and thus we will co-reign with Him in unspeakable rest, laid to rest for endless ages. 15 Glory to His compassion and infinite mercy, for He so loved the human race, worthy of us of His Kingdom forever. Amen. Word 25. {The soul, if it does not become sober after baptism, falls into the worst passions} 3927 1.1 Just as when a chariot is drawn by mules, the charioteer needs, holding the reins 3928 , to restrain and rein in every animal that does not want to move orderly, and to direct it properly to the straight path, so that the chariot moves straight and orderly and can safely enter the city - so in the whole union of soul and body, the charioteer-mind 3929 , taught by the Word, must straighten the natural movements thoughts according to the will of God and nobly put down every striving of natural thoughts that randomly jumps forward and wants to run other than the straight path, so that in this way the whole chariot of our soul and body, rationally and according to the will of God, marching along the royal path of the Divine Scriptures, can reach the heavenly city of saints. 1.2 After all, consider that every naturally moving thought - whether it relates to food, drink, clothing or various bodily needs - is for me some kind of unfillable abyss, desiring more and especially stolen by sensual vice, 3930. 1.3 Therefore, if the mind gives in and is led aside along with its will, without restraining the disposition of thoughts towards reckless insatiability, it falls as if into some bottomless abyss and abyss and, constantly working in pursuit of the carnal and spending all the time on it, does not have time to do good because of the prostrateness of the mind in the fussy bodily needs. 1.4 Consequently, he must, in every possible way obeying the Word of God, restrain himself and manage his bodily needs, moderating them and constricting them, and choose for himself a more sorrowful and poor life, so that we, filling our bodily life with few needs, having more time for spiritual service and an angelic life patient for God, directing our fleeting life according to the will of God, become heirs of eternal life. 1.5 If someone has wounds on his body and he, smeared in dirt and uncleanness, goes to the doctor, asking him to heal him, then the doctor says to him: “If you want to be cured, first wash away the uncleanness that covers your wounds, so that they, washed and not hidden by any dirt, become open and visible, and I will heal the suffering members as best I can with my art, because when there is dirt in the wounds, medicines are ineffective and it is impossible to recover.” 1.6 Thus, through the crime of Adam, the evil one invisibly wounded the whole soul with various wounds, and it became passionate because of the ancient food, according to the untrue word of the Lord: “For from within, from the heart, evil thoughts come” 3931, and, enumerating [them], he showed that the action of passions, driven invisibly inside, in thoughts, comes out, and the apostle, saying: “Therefore, as one by man, sin entered the world" 3932 - made clear the invisible action of passions and that each soul, because of ancient food, voluntarily became intertwined with the ulcers of vice, for deliverance from which blessed David prayed with the words: "Cleanse me from my secrets and have mercy on Thy servant from the alien ones" 3933. 1.7 Consequently, the soul, having these wounds of passions, again at will, lured by worldly pleasures, is anointed, as if with dirt or uncleanness, {and} 3934 with a veil of passions hidden inside - and having soiled itself, so to speak, it prays to the heavenly doctor, trying to be cured of the inner passions of evil thoughts 3935 . 1.8 But the Lord says to her, like a wounded physical physician: “First wash away the dirt lying on your wounds, and so you can achieve healing,” that is: “Abandon, soul, all the evil that you commit with your desires; hate, move away from worldly bad attachments; let the passions [acting] in you become ineffective, exposed by your will; do not voluntarily stain yourself with the combination and evil collaboration of invisible, hidden ulcers of defilement - 1.9 and I will heal your passions of evil thoughts, incurable among people, 3936 and restore you to the ancient nobility of pure nature, so that you will again become truly the image and likeness of God 3937, having imprinted in yourself all the spiritual virtues of the natural and inherent within the law, and so, having communed under the influence of grace with the Holy Spirit, having accepted the Heavenly Bridegroom Christ and first becoming, together with the body through consecration, a dwelling and church for Him, you will taste the everlasting blessings of the Kingdom.” 1:10 The Lord announced this promise through the Apostle, saying: “That he might present it to himself as a glorious church (which is the soul of the saints), not having spot, or wrinkle, or anything like that, but that she might be holy and blameless” 3938. 1.11 Just as if clean water flows from a clean source through pipes 3939, but muddy and muddy water is brought from outside into the source, then the clean water passing through the pipes becomes polluted, as if some kind of ditch is flowing from above the source, so through Adam’s crime the muddy water of the evil thoughts of the evil one, brought through the bodily senses, as if through some pipes, to the pure and bright source of beautiful thoughts of the soul, muddies, confuses and pollutes with passions the pure and transparent water of the correct reasoning of the soul through the food previously taken. 1:12 Therefore there is a need only for God and the great cooperation of our will in all virtues, so that He, by the power of grace, may restore the soul to its own pure nature, so that the soul, found acceptable to God in all virtues and having been made blameless, becomes worthy of eternal life 3940 with the help of the Holy Spirit. 1:13 For the evil one lies in wait for natural thoughts and natural movements of the soul, so that he mixes [with them] his evil passions in order to be able to plausibly deceive a person under the pretext of satisfying natural [needs]. Consequently, great precision is required in relation to natural needs because of [the evil one] mixing in his vicious passions under the guise of natural needs. 1:14 Imagine trees full of fruit, and near each tree there is a sleeping beast: if you do not walk with all possible attention, caution and sobriety in order to be able to take fruit from the tree, then you will not be able to pass by the beasts without being bitten. 1.15 So if someone, guided by the Divine Word, does not fulfill the natural needs [caused by] the senses with 3941 > sobriety and attention, then this age cannot pass without being bitten by the evil passions of invisible beasts, 3942 >. 1.16 After all, just as on the roads leading to the city, robbers lie in wait for careless passers-by in order to easily rob them and strip them of their clothes (the criminals, of course, walk not just through deserts and mountains, but precisely where people travel), so in the natural movements of the soul, the invisible robbers of crafty spirits lie in wait for an improvident, careless and relaxed soul, so that, seizing the moment, as if on the paths of the sense organs, through which the soul fulfills natural needs in this world, remove [from it] virtues and cast it into sins, which is spiritual death. 1.17 So, great caution, sobriety and consciousness are necessary, according to what has been said: “Guard your heart with all care, for from them are the sources of life” 3943, so that the mind-guide always has the word of the holy commandments and trust in God like an armor and weapon, so that he can fearlessly and safely pass in this age along the paths of the senses and set a guard over direct and pious thought, like a doorkeeper of the soul, joyfully accepting familiar and dear thoughts into the city of the heart, and driving away villainous and alien bad thoughts and closing the gates of the heart for evil thoughts, that is, keeping it 3944 completely free from guile, so that the city of the soul, kept safe and not subject to intrigues, could please the King Christ. 2.1 Like a physician, when a man possessed by a violent fever cannot take the bread that strengthens the body 3945 because he is in the grip of the fever, he finds a skilful way to feed the sick man by giving him bread diluted in water, so that 3946 > so little by little, as the fever subsides, he adds 3947 more solid food, until, having recovered through close attention, he returns to his natural state and thus eats bread and the rest of various foods, accepting [it] in full health - 2.2 so the soul, weakened and sick due to the crime of Adam, is each time differently possessed by the fever of sinful passions, and the heavenly Physician, with His wisdom, nourishes and warms 3948 with heavenly bread (that is, by the power of the Spirit) invisibly through the holy Sacrament of the “bath of rebirth” 3949, Body Christ and the Scriptures “words of exhortation” 3950 to a weakened and ailing soul, which has not yet absorbed 3951 > the action of the Spirit in power and fullness 3952, either due to infancy, or due to lack of faith or negligence. 2.3 For each soul, according to the measure of faith 3953 granted remission of sins in Holy Baptism, becomes involved in the action of grace, one in power and fullness 3954, the other in a lesser action of grace, according to the above-mentioned parable of the sick man, and so, when little by little, thanks to unremitting attention and diligence in virtues, the invisible disease of the passions decreases and spiritual health occurs virtues, the soul seeking the Lord is restored to dispassionate health in accordance with nature, finally receiving truly and fully nourished with heavenly Bread, the very power of the Spirit. 2.4 A soul that has been awarded such grace and has become master over the passions is in fact a worthy child of the kingdom. Indeed, in baptism there is spiritual grace, desiring to descend abundantly on everyone and striving to bestow rather the perfection of Divine power, but the participation of grace occurs according to the difference of each person’s faith and the measure of reverence, 2.5 equally worthy of the remission of sins, and bestowing the appropriate communion of the Spirit according to the measure of each person’s faith 3955, accepting everyone and encouraging them to come through advancement in virtues, better living and the assistance of the Holy Spirit 3956 “into a perfect man, to the measure of the fullness of the stature of Christ,” 3957, according to the words of the blessed Apostle, that is, complete deliverance from passions and the complete and effective indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 2.6 But both in illnesses and in the disposition to health there is a great and varied difference. Let's resort to the parable again. After all, one sweats faster and, when the fever almost immediately subsides, he can quickly take more solid food, bread and various dishes, and so he quickly recovers completely. But if, having sweated and recovered from the disease, he then undisciplinedly does not observe the prescribed way of life or, out of inexperience, takes up hard work contrary to the doctor’s prescription, then the disease resumes again and becomes worse than before, so that due to his own negligence he is exposed to danger and is on the verge of death. 2.7 The other, who did not sweat quickly, but who develops a fever according to the parable told earlier, eats, obeying an experienced doctor, and little by little the illness decreases and bodily strength returns, until the disease is completely removed and a complete recovery occurs, if only he behaves decently, takes care of himself and very carefully and with all accuracy follows the doctor’s instructions: otherwise, again returning to his former self. [state] 3958, he dies worse than mentioned earlier, since he requires much greater caution than that discussed above. However, they both [face] danger or even death if they do not maintain order and do not behave in accordance with the doctor’s prescription. 2.8 In the same way, the soul, which was quickly granted effective grace, that is, as if in a severe illness, sweated and left the severe illness of sinful passions, if with all attention and decorum of strict living it remains in agreement with the Gospel word of true medicine, then it can sooner completely recover, that is, finally get rid of passions according to the apostolic saying: “Love does not envy, exalted, not proud, 3959 > does not act outrageously, is not irritated, does not think evil” and so on 3960. For this is the ultimate mental health. 2.9 If, inattentively and indifferently, despising the Gospel commandments, supposedly recovered, the soul walks in this age and does not accomplish its salvation in fear 3961 > 3962, according to the instructions of blessed Paul, living with much humility, labor and reverence, due to complications it returns to the former disease of evil passions, starting with the spirit and ending with the flesh 3963, and, remaining thus to the end in this image [of thoughts], she surrenders to the eternal death of sin, as the Lord says: “Take the talent from him,” and again: “What he apparently has will be taken away from him and given to the one who has” 3964, - that is, not to the one who grieves the Spirit 3965 with evil behavior 3966 >, who does not offend what is given [to him] grace through ungodly living, who honorably received through the doing of the commandments the heavenly grace of the worshiped Spirit. 2:10 For such is the one who truly has, who honors with every good pleasure the given gift of the Spirit, just as he who is nourished by grace by the Divine word through hearing, and who has not yet acquired effective spiritual power, but is guided 3967 >, by the heavenly physician, through the lesser dispensations. The latter needs greater attentiveness and caution, obeying in everything the Gospel word of true healing, so that the sinful illness gradually departs and the full health of righteous virtues comes, until he, restored by grace to the perfect measure of dispassion, can be found pleasing to God. 2.11 If any disorder follows, that is, disobedience of the commandments, he becomes, having again fallen due to a complication 3968 into the worst vicious passions, guilty of eternal death due to careless and voluptuous will, because, having begun to recover from a serious illness of passions with the help of grace, he did not follow the commandments of the Gospel, and stepped on him while he was walking. willfully, such an end. Consequently, both of them require constant obedience to the Word of truth and working out their salvation 3969 through labor, diligence and much struggle, in order to be worthy to become heirs of the Kingdom forever. Amen. Word 26. Reminder of the invisible Word of God 3970 1 The so-called Word of God reveals to the soul, which receives it correctly, with faith and in love, a certain spiritual activity and makes a certain change. After all, this implicit Word of God organized all creation, “visible and invisible,” and by Him “all things stand” 3971, for this Word is God, according to the evangelist: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was to God, and the Word was God.” “Everything came into being through Him, and without Him nothing could have come into being” 3972. 2 And all the angels and saints, by the power of the implicit Word, move and live 3973 and from His Spirit eat and drink heavenly and spiritual food and drink. “And life,” says [the evangelist], “was the light of men” 3974, just as the Lord said: “If anyone does not eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, he will not have eternal life” 3975. 3 But we must not, brothers, think about this physically and materially, as many of the disciples 3976, hearing this word, were offended, “saying: “How can He give His flesh to us to eat?” 3977. After all, the true flesh of life that Christians eat and the blood that they drink is His Word and the Holy Spirit, and indwells in the Eucharist of Bread, and sanctifies with word and spiritual power, and becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. 4 “And all,” says the apostle, “are filled with one Spirit” 3978, just as the Lord said to those who think these things bodily: “The words that I speak to you are spirit and life” 3979. So, this Word changes and changes the nature of creatures as it wants. For God, who loved the human race greatly, wants and strives to imprint on people 3980 > the image of His Spirit and make their souls holy. 5 If earthly people have a strong love for earthly things, as, for example, a king imprints his image in gold, and, in turn, others paint their portraits in the most beautiful houses, so that when they enter and exit they see their own images in their creations - then, if people love their creations so much, how much more does God desire to inscribe on His creations and creatures and imprint in the house of the body the heavenly image of the Divine life and the heavenly Spirit. 6 And again, having Himself taken the image of a worthy and faithful soul, He imprints His Spirit into the bright image and restores It to His heavenly and miraculous dwelling 3981: after all, earthly things are shadows and images of heavenly ones. 7 Therefore, we strive to completely surrender ourselves to the Lord, to despise everything earthly, to devote ourselves to Him alone, to become alien to this age in the thoughts of our souls and to withdraw our minds from the deception of the visible world, in order to be able to achieve the above-mentioned benefits, making the beauty of our understanding desirable for the heavenly King. 8 After all, the apostle also says: “Let us go out to Him outside the camp” 3982. How can we go out, and how can we achieve those spiritual benefits, and in what behavior and manner should we please, so that the Spirit will imprint on us the sacred and heavenly image of Christ? 9 It is as if when the king moves from region to region, the mayors and townspeople come far ahead to meet him out of respect for the king, and he rejoices at this and looks at them and gives them royal honors, 3983 > or those who remain in other areas or are careless and senseless do not know that the king and ruler are here, since they have not met him, and therefore they are not awarded any honors, nor can they have boldness to have before the king. 10 Just as those on whom he turned his gaze are granted both degrees and the power to disassemble and judge, since they have with them his image and insignia, so the souls of Christians, who have acquired the splendor of direct and good will and go towards the heavenly King, that is, who have left everything for His sake and gone out of this world in thought, are rewarded with spiritual gifts and acquire power over evil spirits. 11 And just as the bodies of the saints in the resurrection [will be], according to the word of the apostle 3984, caught up “to meet the Lord in the air,” so the spirits 3985 are constantly in good will, striving for virtues, much diligence in seeking Him in desire, faith and love and keeping the holy commandments and always looking forward to the visitation and communion of His grace, in order to go out to meet Him, so that we were awarded spiritual honors, receiving power against evil and becoming worthy of the indwelling of the Spirit, and thus were able to achieve immortal life. 12 Or just as diggers of gold and silver are sure that it is in the earth, but in what place, they do not know, and then they take tools and without ceasing to dig everywhere until they find and achieve what they are striving for, so the power of the Divine is everywhere: in heaven, and on earth, and outside all creations, and everything is filled with His glory 3986 - for He is indescribable and unlimited - but He does not appear to us because the cover of vice that lies on our hearts 3987 due to Adam's transgression of the commandment. 13 So, let everyone, in love for Him, faith and direct seeking of the mind, dig with the tools of the thoughts of the soul, striving only for Him and neglecting everything [else]. After all, if you mentally dig in your heart, waiting for the Lord, there you find Him and there the treasure of life appears to you - Jesus. Let everyone only dig in the mind, constantly looking at Him and becoming attached to Him with aspiration, and thus the treasure of the immortal Kingdom of the Spirit will be found in the hearts of those who truly seek Him. 14 For as the sun extends everywhere, rising over the whole earth, and illuminates it, but when it sets, it enters into its dwelling, taking away all its rays and leaving none to darkness; or just as the bodily members, where the body is directed, all its members follow there, so those people who become rays of the Sun of Truth 3988, being children of light, and partakers of His Spirit, and members of the most pure and immaculate Body of Christ, having themselves become immaculate by spiritual grace, at the end of the world or when leaving the body, are taken by the spiritual Sun of righteousness into the heavenly Kingdom, like His own rays, and abide with Him as His own members always, everywhere, and everywhere. 15 For He says: “Where I am, there will My servant also be” 3989 - and again: “Father, I want these also to be with Me where I am, that they may see My glory” 3990, that is, those who are His members and partakers of His Divine and immortal power. For such was His good pleasure, and so He desired to bestow on this debased nature the power of the holy and divine nature of the Spirit and to mingle with His power the Divinity, so that there might be communion, mixture and union of Divinity and humanity. 16 Oh, the unspeakable favor and endless goodness of the Savior! God the Word, having come to earth, and having received man, and mingling him with His Divinity, “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” 3991 in order to make those faithful and worthy of Him, born of the Spirit 3992, co-throne and glorified as His own most pure members. Glory to His favor and greatness! 17 But just as God is different from the world, so the righteous who are born of Him are different from the rest of the people. 18 Therefore, we also strive to please the Lord in everything, so that, having been found worthy of Him, becoming partakers of His Spirit, cleansed by Him from all depravity and worthy to become His members, we may reign with Him forever and ever. Amen. Word 27 3993. {Everything visible is an image of the invisible world of the Divine} 3994 1.1 Everything visible in this world is an image of the invisible, implicit and hidden world of the Divine. 1:2 There is a visible land, on which is planted vines and fruitful trees and seed, and great wealth. Thus there is an invisible heavenly land of life, where Christians have their wealth and recreation, and in this hidden land of life their souls are planted, and they bring to God the fruits of the Spirit, 3995. You be the vine of the Lord, and He is yours, for He says: “I am the true vine” 3996. And just as the vine takes root in visible things and is planted on earth, so the souls of the saints are planted in the heavenly vine, that is, in the Lord. 1.3 And there is the seed of the Holy Spirit and the seed of man, for the mind is sown in the living earth of the Divine word, and again the power of the Spirit is sown in the intelligent earth of the believing soul. And just as in the visible [world] the earth needs work, and workers come out and plant seed in it, and [the earth] grows 3997 fruits, and in due time the reapers take the sickle and reap, so there is the invisible earth of the Lord - the soul of man, and the good farmer is the Lord, those who cultivate the land are the apostles who have inherited the word of the Lord, 1:4 for the Word itself The Father came into the world to make new heavens and prepare a new earth, as was promised: “Behold, I am creating new heavens and a new earth,” 3999 which does not pass away, for this heaven, and this earth, and everything visible is destroyed and passes away, but the rational and spiritual earth cultivated by the Lord is eternal. 1.5 Because the rich of this world, no matter how much they acquire and accumulate even more wealth, when they leave the world in due time, they leave the world naked, unable to take with them any of their wealth. Here Christians, if they acquire any merits and deposit spiritual wealth in the living earth of their hearts, when leaving this world, they take with them this wealth, the treasure of life, and the living fruits of their labors, and go to the heavenly Kingdom, where their eternal rest and inheritance is located. 1:6 For this visible earth passes away, and this wealth disappears, and the fruits are spent, but those spiritual things, not seen by these eyes, endure forever. 1.7 Just as these trees conceive fruit from within, and during the month of Xanthic 4000, when spring has already arrived, each tree brings the fruit within clearly outside, and it is necessary for grapes to come out of the vine, and other fruits to come from fruit-bearing trees, so all those who are now secretly begetting the heavenly seed of the Spirit of glory in their hearts are full of virtues, on the day of resurrection that heavenly and the spiritual glory, which they have now received internally, will clothe their naked bodies and clothe them externally with heavenly glory. 1:8 Woe to the soul that has not obtained and acquired within itself through faith the glory of the Spirit, for in the resurrection it will not have that which will cover and glorify and clothe its body with the robe of salvation. 1:9 So apostles were appointed, and workers of intelligent souls, and spiritual stewards, not of visible houses, but of the hearts of men. For just as an organizer 4001 enters a house and diligently cleanses and decorates everything in it to please the owner, so the apostolic word, entering the hearts of faithful people, organizes the soul and decorates it to please and install the heavenly Master. 1:10 They were also called shepherds, for the Lord says to Peter: “Feed My lambs” 4002. Likewise, they were the first to receive the keys of the Kingdom, for the Lord says to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom” 4003. What are the keys if not the Divine 4004 word spoken by them in power to those who listen with faith? For the Divine word in power opens the ears of the faithful and, entering inside, opens the doors of the heart that are locked by the evil one, and takes possession of the pastures of the soul there: such a heart, truly opened by the power of the Spirit of the living and active word, will no longer be locked again forever. 1:11 For the evil one himself, through the word that he spoke to Eve, first entered into the hearing and through the hearing penetrated into the heart that listened to his word, and took possession of the pastures of the soul, and locked the doors of the heart from opening to eternal life and to that spiritual virtue of hearing. It is necessary that where the destroyer walked and devastated, 4005 the word of life should enter and correct the wasteland of the virtues of the soul. 1:12 And just as a king sends his images to the whole earth and through them his power and authority become known, so the evil one, who captivated the race of mankind and kept everyone under his power through the crime of Adam, put ugly and gloomy images of his darkness of dishonest passions into souls and through them took possession of pastures, turning people into all kinds of sins and impurity. 2.1 This is the law of sin, “warring against the law of the mind” 4006, against the law of God. This is the “old man”, from which the blessed Apostle commands us to put off 4007. This is the “worldly spirit” 4008, for deliverance from which we pray. This is a veil of darkness lying on the heart, which, we hope, will be removed by the power of Jesus from those who have turned 4009 wholly to the Lord, so that we “with open face, as in a mirror, would look at the glory of the Lord” 4010. 2.2 Those souls who, in faith and great love, approach the Lord, seek His deliverance and desire to receive the grace of His Spirit, then the Lord sends the desired and heavenly, living image of His ineffable light, that is, the law of His Spirit, new and heavenly 4011, and through the immortal and living image of the light of His virtues, the ugly images of the malice of the passions are abolished, and the Spirit reigns over the faithful and worthy a soul that fulfills His entire will purely and immaculately, and His Power is truly known in souls worthy of Him through the living and God-like image of His grace. 2:3 For just as in a palace, if the king’s servants are trained, but do not receive from him silver and gold vessels, they cannot serve the king (after all, one is themselves, and the other is the royal vessels that are entrusted to them, for the king is served [using his] own vessels), so also people and angels, unless they receive the spiritual vessels of the Lord, that is, strength, knowledge and understanding from His Spirit, and will not become partakers of the Divine power God, cannot do all the will of God immaculately. 2:4 For the angels themselves, being spirits, received power from His Spirit and, mingling [with Him], through Him they do all the will of God, so the souls of people are spirits and, unless they receive the power of God and knowledge from His Spirit, they cannot worthily do all the will of God. 2.5 For both the higher and the lower are friends with each other, as the apostle says: “Having made peace” “both earthly and heavenly” 4012. Therefore, everyone lives worthy of the one whose image he bears in power and action, that is, the image of God (grace, virtues, life) or the evil one (shameful passions 4013), and 4014 he has the image in himself, in that age he lives and dwells. For if anyone has in himself the image of life of the light of the Spirit, he lives in the higher, in the eternal and imperishable world, but if anyone has in himself the ugly image of the evil one, he lives in the corruptible age, being dead to the higher. For those who wish to come to life in that immortal and eternal world must become dead to this world and mortified by carnal wisdom 4015. 2:6 Because if anyone rules over the entire power of the earth under the sun, but does not take care of his soul so that it becomes alive in the incorruptible and eternal world, he will not receive any benefit or benefit. After all, all possessions are not equal to one soul, as the Lord said: “If you gain the whole world, but damage your soul, what is the benefit? Or what ransom will you give in exchange for your soul? » 4016 – so the whole world is not worthy of one soul. 2.7 Therefore, there are two laws with which Christians struggle, and one is the “law of the spirit of life” 4017, in which they rest and live eternal life. Another law is the habits of the world and previous shameful and vain affairs, to which one is attracted, lured, withdrawn and denied from this life; Those who have chosen the good principle of not obeying and not yielding to their previous habits compete with it [the first law]. And when they overcome this law well and defeat [it], then they have a war and a great feat against the [second] invisible law of the darkness of passions, written in the heart, the very action of malice, that is, sin, which hinders the soul and prohibits it from entering the life of the Kingdom. There is also an invisible law of the Spirit of the Divine, living and interceding for the struggling soul against the laws of evil. Therefore, man's work is similar to the Lord's work. 2:8 For just as the Lord, who descended to earth, endured much suffering, mocked, and dishonored, and crucified, and then descended into the “underworld of the earth” 4018 for the sake of His inheritance (that is, His faithful and worthy souls), so Christians endure much suffering, struggling to death against evil for the sake of their heavenly inheritance, and this is the Lord Himself. 2.9 So, let us also always try to be found pleasing to Him, in no way subject to the law of evil, so that, having been rewarded with the “law of the Spirit of life” 4019, through it we will be freed from the law of evil of the passions, and “hold on to eternal life” 4020, and simply live in all His commandments, and fulfill all the will of God by His grace, and become blameless and undefiled 4021 through the law of the spirit, they would become worthy of eternal life, enjoying these blessings with the Lord forever and ever in the immortal Kingdom. Glory to His greatness and goodness. Amen. Word 28 4022. {What are the greater works that the Father gives to the Son to do} 4023 1.1 The Lord in the Gospel, narrating about secret things, says: “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands” 4024, and: “he shows Him everything that He Himself does, and will show Him greater works than these, so that you may believe” 4025 4026. What are these “great works” that the Father gives the Son to do? For He raised up the dead and made the blind see, the lame walk, cleansed the lepers, healed the paralytic, and healed every disease. What then are “greater works than these”? 1.2 After all, the works of creation 4027 created by God all [already] existed, for the sky, the sun and the moon, the stars, and all their beauty existed, just as there was the earth, and every planting, and every seed sown, and the buildings of cities and houses, water and what is in it, mountains and hills, the air and all the birds that are in it, existed, in the same way the law was, and the scriptures, and everything lawful righteousness was written in the scriptures. What was missing? After all, everything existed. What are these “great things” that the Lord promises to do? For even in visible things He did not do any greater work than was written in the Gospel, which He did. What, finally, are these “big things”? 1:3 Truly great, true and eternal works did He do when He came [to earth], and for the great and eternal works that He promised to do, His whole saving coming took place, for which He did all visible signs and wonders. For He came to resurrect the soul that was killed by the crime of Adam and was in the mortality of the passions of evil, which fell away from eternal life and was relegated to eternal death. Because God said to Adam: “The day you eat, you will die” 4028. And so it happened. For the soul died, separated from God, from eternal life, that is, no longer enjoying the light of the Kingdom, for apparently it did not die on the same day - it is written that [Adam] “died” after “nine hundred and thirty years” 4029. 1:4 The soul, therefore, became dead on the same day, and after that his body was condemned to visible death. So now the Lord has done the right thing, the court has judged. He first raises the soul from the deadness of passions now and from eternal darkness transfers it into eternal light, and in the resurrection he raises the body and honors it with immortal glory. For the soul then put on the robe of death, in sin, and could not contemplate its Master. And when the Savior came, John says: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” 4030, that is, who takes away the invisible death of the veil of darkness 4031, “the wisdom of the flesh” 4032, and raises up the soul from the deadness of passions, - and again she was worthy to see her Master with her intelligent eyes. 1.5 This is truly the first and greatest eternal work of all that He accomplished - He resurrected the soul from eternal death. For the Lord came to heal the lame, and the blind, and the paralyzed souls. This is something greater than visible signs. Again, what kind of work has the Lord done, greater than heaven and earth, since He promised to do “greater works than these”: “If,” He says, “I do not do [works] “greater than these,” do not believe Me.” The soul that He brought out of eternal death, He introduced into the heavenly world of the Divine, spiritual and eternal, for, He says, “[the soul] will dwell in the blood of the Heavenly God” 4033. And He gave Himself to her as the “Sun of Truth” 4034, illuminating her with eternal light, and brought her into the land of the living through the light of the Divinity of the Spirit, so that, just as this body walks on the earth and does earthly deeds, so the soul, having entered the invisible land of grace, born again 4035 in it, would settle in it and strive there for the Divine works of the virtues of the Spirit. 1.6 As the Lord said: “Seek not the food that perishes, but the food that endures to eternal life,” 4036, so that just as the body eats and drinks from the earth, so the soul eats the “true bread” 4037 of the Lord and drinks the living water 4038 from the power of the Spirit. And just as the body eats and drinks from this vine, so the soul, born again, eats from the true vine, the Lord, who said: “I am the true vine,” 4039, and drinks from spiritual and Divine wine, which does not give thirst or carnal desire. 1.7 And just as the body is anointed for rest with the oil of this earth, so the soul is anointed with the true oil of joy, the Spirit itself, giving it weakening and true rest from scorching passions. And just as the body is clothed here in garments and shoes, so the soul is clothed in the imperishable and manifold garments of the Spirit and put on the shoes of life; and just as here there are plants, seeds and waters on earth, so the soul has invisible plants, seeds of life and living water 4040, which it drinks and has in itself a source of water, “leaping into eternal life” 4041. And just as the body has this air with which it breathes and lives, so the soul has the Divine and heavenly air of the Spirit, which it breathes and lives an immortal life. The apostle called this “the shadow of the future” 4042, for this visible world is a reflection, and an image, and an example of the invisible and eternal world of the Divine. 2:1 But just as here in the manifest law, and scriptures, and justifications, so the Lord, having come, gave into the heart the true, indelible law of the Holy Spirit, living and causing life in the soul. And the soul has the law of freedom - the Spirit, and true justification - the Lord. For there, as the apostle says, “when [the sons of Israel] read Moses, a veil lies over their hearts” 4043, but here “with open face, as in a mirror, we behold the glory of the Lord” 4044. And there, as if certain beasts and reptiles always live on the earth and are involved in the earth, so those who are under the law and are under sin and passions create earthly truth (because they have earthly promises), downcast and unable with the mental mood of the soul to listen to the glory of God with an open face, being under the bonds of 4045 and not yet freed from the slavery of sin. 2:2 Now, having the law of the Spirit and freed from the slavery of sin, creating heavenly righteousness, by grace with open face they perceive the glory of the light of Christ, mingled in the soul with His Spirit. These are the “great” and true “works” that the Lord promised to do. And for these works He came to resurrect the soul killed by passions and introduce it into the true world of the Divine, so that the soul would have a “new heaven” 4046 and the “Sun of righteousness” 4047, and a land of living light in which it can live, and true food and spiritual drink, and an incorruptible work of life, and a house and a heavenly city, and the Divine vestments of the Spirit and incorruptible crowns of grace. 2.3 And simply everything that the body has here, in this image, the soul is also worthy from God to have what is prepared for it from the incorruptible glory of the Spirit. But when you hear that the soul has the true Sun - the Lord, and His - life, and His - food and drink, do not think anything earthly or earthly. Think of the incorruptible as incorruptible, for the mysteries of the Spirit are ineffable and unspeakable, occurring in the soul from the Lord, which are known through experience as worthy, but it is impossible to express them with the tongue or lips of the flesh, or only it is possible to receive certain shadows and images in an example from this world. For those truly are incorruptible, such as all the ineffable and eternal blessings promised by the Lord from the Divine Spirit to worthy souls, 2.4 “for God so loved the soul” 4048 created in His image 4049 that He gave Himself to it, adorned in it in various ways and making it a sharer of His nature. And thus dissolving, she unites with the Lord, becoming a spirit herself. From now on, the soul, by the power of the Spirit, rises from the fall and mortification of the passions and from now on enters, by the structure and essence of the mind, into the world of the Divine and into the ineffable glory, and is united with Christ, becoming with Him “one spirit” 4050. For this purpose, His coming took place, so that He would perform these mysteries, miracles, and extraordinary things with the soul that completely loved Him, still in the world; and in the resurrection the body itself will be awarded these grace-filled gifts, and then it will be glorified with the soul, now glorified by the power of the Spirit. 2.5 Woe to him who from now on did not seek and from now on did not receive life in full “communion of the spirit” 4051 and did not become a partaker of that glory and who was not worthy of the Spirit to rise from the mortification of passions, because he, remaining naked and empty from communion with God, will be imprisoned outside the gates of the Kingdom. 2:6 Let us therefore beseech the Lord with all faith and love, having given ourselves to all the commandments, that we may be worthy to receive the above-mentioned blessings and become partakers of the fellowship of His Spirit, so that, sanctified by His grace, having become “undefiled and blameless” 4052, we may become worthy of eternal life forever and ever. Amen. Word 29 4053. {On pure and unwandering prayer, and how many blessings a worthy soul is granted, and how many evils a worthy soul is not} 4054 1.1 Those who run towards the true goal and hope to acquire true prayer through the action of the Holy Spirit in themselves, as if implanted by their faith, “in spirit and truth” 4055, according to the Gospel teaching of the Lord, worship the Holy Trinity. 1.2 But they must begin such a discipline immediately and correctly: let them strive in every way of life to have in themselves all the good aspirations and ardor of desire in the sobriety of faith and love of a virtuous mind and the directness of good thoughts, so that with good thoughts and remembrance of the beautiful - “what is true” and “just” and “pure” 4056 - the soul, thriving in the fear of God, can grow for the better. 1.3 I, 17, 3a; II, 33, 1a 4057 Let us primarily try to perform our prayer in faith and the fear of God, not to be satisfied with bodily skills or the habit of crying out, being silent or [bending] the knee, while the mind is kept through voluntary neglect in confusion, confusion, carelessness and oblivion of ignorance, but with all sobriety, attention 4058 and good care let us strive, both always and especially in prayer, to acquire the attention of the mind, 1.4 alienating every earthly thought and turning away from all material thoughts, and let us receive the whole mind of the soul through faith and hope in the hope of Christ, waiting every hour for the influx of His grace, by which we can acquire true and unwandering spiritual prayer, in all the exits and paths of the soul, waiting for the Spirit, foreseeing 4059 of the Lord with faith and fear before our face constantly, imagining God not in the mind physically in [a certain] place outside, a valley or mountain, as if He were located or described in some place, 1.5 but by the invisible and incomprehensibly abiding power of the Divine everywhere, and among those who seek it in fear, trembling, and longing in the heart, it is found 4060 and according to the measure of faith 4061 of them and by the power of their containment it is clear 4062 that it is revealed to the inner man through salvation, and life, and sanctification of soul and body. We have such a goal because [His] impregnable power is everywhere. 1.6 For there is no place where there would not be the indescribable power of the Divine, but in our soul it is clearly revealed through faith and ardent seeking of Him according to the inclusion of our faith in the purification of the heart. Otherwise, the heart cannot be cleansed and sanctified except by the sanctifying power of the Spirit, clearly revealed to the soul. Then we will be able to spiritually, without dirty, earthly, and vain thoughts, worship the Father 4063 as we should. 1.7 Therefore, a soul that has such a goal and is waiting for the action of Divine grace to revive a dead heart and when the fire of spiritual love, having declared the heart, burns out in it all impurity with its action and brings about the purity and sanctification of the inner man, 1.8 should not, as it is said, be satisfied with bodily skills when praying, be it the usual exclamation, silence or kneeling, but may it remain in fiery striving for the Lord, alienating any material thought, and let the monk 4064, gathering himself with compulsion and suffering in the heart, as much as he has strength, wait there for the condemnation of evil passions under the influence of the Spirit and there let him look forward to the joy of heavenly grace and spiritual joy, strengthened in the mind, and the goal of seeking the Lord, and sobriety of the mind. 1.9 Then let everyone pray as he wants and as it seems more convenient and pleasant to him, praying to the Lord without confusion and confusion of mind, if there is a need for crying or exclamation, as it is said: “How much more will your heavenly Father protect those who cry to Him day and night” 4065. 1:10 If silence is required, then let the soul, waiting for the reception of 4066 grace in the zealous labor of the mind and through bodily diligence, kneeling and prayer, constantly seeking, desiring and thirsting by faith for the spiritual treasures of the heavenly gift, gather, as far as it can, from the material world and wandering thoughts, especially in prayer. 1.11 I, 17, 3, 2b; II, 33, 1b For, just as during bodily work all members of the body come to the aid of each other and complete the work together, so the soul always, especially during the hours of prayer, let it not be in another place, voluntarily wandering with thoughts and being wasted, but let it make an effort, as far as possible, despising for the sake of God everything visible with the bodily eye, to gather itself from all habits and wrong prejudices, always having before its gaze the fear of God, so that we may be collected in prayer, all the members of her thoughts, waiting in faith for the Lord, when the grace of the Spirit appears to her in real charity, teaching the soul and giving it true, undistracted, unwandering, pure prayer, so that then the soul would worship God as it should, “in spirit and truth” 4067 and pray by grace in joy and spiritual gladness 4068. 2.1 I, 17, 3, 2s; II, 33, 2b Just as a merchant engaged in his trade knows how to extract profit from it not in one way and not on one occasion, but quickly and soberly looks everywhere, [and] if he manages to achieve profit in another business, he [and] rushes there, for his whole goal is to increase the profitability of trade - so we, as much as humanly possible and the ability of the mind, are varied and efficient with a correct and collected mind and a sober mind let us correct the prayer of our aspiration so that we can extract a true and great gain, our Lord Himself, who teaches us all the goodness of virtues and true activity, who said to those who perceive such faith and diligence: 2.2 “We will come to him - I and My Father - and make our abode with him” 4069, - and again: “Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will appear to him Himself » 4070 - so that He may sit and rest in our hearts, as if on His own throne. As it is written in Ezekiel that God was seated, carried by intelligent, divine and spiritual animals, filled with eyes on all parts in front and behind 4071 - so the soul, which through its faith and much prayer and diligence in all commandments to receive within itself the great King, Christ, and which became for Him an intelligent church and throne, the whole becomes an eye, light, heaven and ineffable beauty, according to Divine power, dissolved in its essence and through communion, making it heavenly and divine beauty. 2.3 Blessed then is such a soul, who has shown much diligence to Christ, in order to be able to achieve such heavenly blessings even now, while still in the flesh, whose body is worthy to become the church and dwelling place of the heavenly King, according to the words of the Apostle: “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [living] in you” 4072 - who, again exhorting the obedient and faithful to strive by faith to be worthy of this great dignity, says: “Therefore glorify God in your bodies” 4073. Such a soul, like the good bride of a beautiful groom, rejoices, constantly eating with the Lord Himself in the house of her body through the mysterious communion of the Spirit, as the prophet says: “As the groom rejoices over the bride, so will the Lord rejoice over you” 4074. 2.4 II, 33, 3a But let’s take an example from the visible world. Just as the house in which its owner, the ruler and king, dwells, has all its goods in itself (after all, wealth and various precious treasures are deposited there; all luxurious garments are stored there; great purity and every fragrance are fragrant there; there are always feasts and celebrations for the sake of the ruler of the house, and, in a word, all the pleasures of luxury and beautiful and glorious splendor), - 2.5 in the same way and the soul, which through much faith and every virtue has been honored to receive the Organizer-Lord and King in the house of its body and become His holy and pure bride through the ineffable and mysterious communication of the Spirit, has there “hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge” 4075, which are deposited in the house of its body; there are heavenly and bright spiritual vestments of all-surpassing beauty; there [everything] is filled with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit; there are constantly celebrated festivities of holy angels and powers for the sake of the indwelling Lord and King Christ; and, in short, such a soul is always full of spiritual joy and heavenly joy, constantly having with it the Heavenly Bridegroom, who dwells in the house of her body. Truly blessed is this soul, which is now rewarded with such blessings! 2.6 II, 33, 3b But woe to the soul that does not have its Master dwelling in it. Like an earthly church, if it does not have its owner living in it, it neglects and falls apart due to lack of care, and dogs and pigs walk back and forth there, and [wild] cats, ibises and crows settle there, and a warehouse of sewage is formed there, and this dwelling is filled with all uncleanness and stench. 2.7 So woe to that soul that has not been restored by the divine power of grace from the fall and deception of evil passions and does not have the body of its King Christ dwelling in the house, because in fact it is a repository of vile impurities (that is, the most fetid sins); there are “hedgehogs, ibises 4076 and ravens” 4077, spirits of wickedness, thanks to which active evil passions enter the soul from the crime of Adam and take possession of its pastures; “There are Sirines,” “and onocentaurs,” “and demons,” according to the prophet, “dancing,” 4078, through whose action the evil, shameful, vain and earthly thoughts of our hearts flow, and through the open doors of the soul, intelligible 4079 wild beasts and reptiles—spirits of wickedness—enter and exit. 2.8 This evil legacy of passions was passed on to all humanity from the crime of Adam, when he destroyed the former nobility of pure nature and sacred dignity, was deprived of the sight of his own Master because of the crime of the commandment, and therefore fell into deception and was cast out of paradise. For the above-mentioned evil [spirits] dwell and act through sinful passions in every soul that does not tangibly have, with all knowledge and certainty, its King Christ 4080 dwelling in it, thanks to whom 4081 the final healing of the heart can occur. 2.9 Woe to the soul that does not call and pray incessantly with faith and certainty to its Lord and King Christ, so that He, having come, cleansed it from all filth and stench of passions, and freed it from the above-mentioned evil spirits, and healed it from the invisible wounds of evil passions, and established the house of its body in sanctification and purity. And when He dwells in her like this, there will be complete purity, sanctification, virtue, conscience, knowledge and wisdom of the Spirit, and, having been awarded such grace, she is then made worthy of the heavenly kingdom. 2:10 Therefore, let us also call on the Lord, while we have time for repentance, with all sobriety and vigilance of faith 4082 and prepare ourselves with all virtuous living, so that the coming Heavenly King Christ may dwell in us according to His promise 4083. Otherwise, it is impossible for Him to come and rest in us, if first, to the extent that we have the strength and aspirations, we do not reject all bad passions and unite ourselves with all spiritual virtues. And when we arrange our church in this way in advance and prepare the abode of the Lord, then, in His goodness, the Lord who came will dwell in us and create an abode with us 4084, and so our souls, purified by the power of His grace, and sanctified by the communion of His Spirit, and having come to the measure of spiritual age 4085, will be honored with eternal life forever. Amen. Word 30. {A monk must perform all his deeds in the hope of future benefits} 4086 1 II, 14, 1 Every person does all the visible deeds in the world in hope and with the goal of enjoying his efforts and labors 4087. 2 The farmer sows in hope [of reaping the fruits] and when he sows he begins to rejoice, seeing the fruits multiply, and endures labors and hardships for the sake of hope and expectation, as [Scripture] says 4088: “He who plows must plow in hope” 4089 - and if he does not taste with all certainty the fruits of his labors, he has no benefit. 3 Likewise, whoever takes a wife takes it in the hope of having children and heirs. And the merchant, in a similar way, goes to sea for profit and is ready to [expose himself to] mortal danger. 4 So the monk devotes himself to the work of striving in godliness and [acquiring] the Kingdom of Heaven in the hope that the “eyes of the heart” 4090 will be enlightened and the mind will be renewed by the Spirit, and will change, and be transformed into spiritual fruits, withdrawing from the affairs of this life and devoting his time to the Lord, improving himself with prayers, and petitions, and all kinds of virtues, waiting for the Lord 4091 when He, having come, he will dwell in him and cleanse him from the sin of passions living in him. 5 II, 14, 2 But he does not rest and is not satisfied with his labors and living until he receives what he hopes for, until the Lord comes and dwells in him in every feeling and action of the Holy Spirit. And when he tastes the goodness of the Lord 4092, and enjoys the fruits of the spiritual 4093, and the veil of darkness is removed from him, and the heavenly light of Christ shines and acts in him in unspeakable joy - then he is convinced of the mercy of grace, having the Lord with him in great and spiritual love, and rejoices greatly, 6 But he who has achieved spiritual blessings and has rested in heavenly peace, although he greatly rejoices at the profit of heavenly wealth - just as on earth a merchant who has received a rich profit rejoices - but at the same time he remains in tension and experiences fear of invisible robbers, and thieves, and insidious crafty spirits, so that, having relaxed or finding himself in negligence and carelessness, he does not destroy his work and the great wealth of grace, while renouncing the world this, he will not be worthy to enter into his own, into the heavenly Kingdom, into the “mountain Jerusalem” 4095, the pledge of inheritance of which he has already accepted now; until he lays aside his body or finds himself in the perfect measures of grace and in the fullness of Christ 4096, he must have fear and great concern and suspect danger. 7 II, 14, 3 Therefore, let us also beseech God to fill us with the mercy of His goodness, to strip us of the old man 4097 and clothe us with the heavenly power of the Spirit, so that, having acquired the true and great benefit of the gift of Christ and the desired, now finding ourselves in the fullness and joy of the Spirit and thus now guided by Him in everything, we may abide in great silence and peace and, having been found pleasing to Him in all virtues according to His desire, completely sanctified by His Spirit and already now cleansed from all filth, they rested with Him in His Kingdom forever and ever. Amen. Word 31. {Each of us will give an answer at the trial to what extent he has known faith and love, and About humility} 4098 1.1 II, 29, 1 The boundless and incomprehensible wisdom of God, in an incomprehensible and unsearchable way, accomplishes in many different ways the “dispensation of grace” 4099 to the human race for the testing of free will, so that those who love God with all their hearts will be revealed 4100 4101. 1.2 For others, as soon as they begin 4102 prayer, while they are still living in the world, without [their] labors and exhaustion, are preceded by the gifts and gifts of the Holy Spirit, and moreover, 4103 not just like that, not inappropriately 4104 and not by chance, but according to some ineffable and incomprehensible wisdom of God, so that the will and free will of those who who soon receive God's grace: do they feel the benefit, the mercy and sweetness of God shown to them and will they repay the gifts with diligence, haste and striving, showing from [their] will and will the fruit of love for Him, corresponding to the benefit and grace [communicated to them] without [their own] labors, that is, will they, having betrayed and devoted themselves entirely to love for the Lord 4105, to do His will. 1.3 II, 29, 2 And in relation to others, although they have withdrawn from the world, renounced 4106 this age and with great diligence succeed in prayer, in fasting, in diligence and in other virtues, God waits, not immediately giving the gift of the Spirit and His grace and repose, but testing them over a long time, giving them over to sorrows and not quickly providing spiritual repose. And this is not just like that, not inappropriate and not accidental, but according to ineffable wisdom for the test of free will, in order to see whether God is truly believed to be faithful and true, who promised to give to those who ask and to find to those who seek and to open the door of life to those who knock 4107; in order to see whether such a one truly believed in His word, whether he would remain to the end 4108 asking, and seeking, and knocking, whether he would not turn away [from God] in suffering and timidity, whether he would not indulge in laziness, falling into unbelief and hopelessness and not enduring to the end 4109 4110; to test will and discretion. 1.4 II, 29, 3 If, due to the delay of grace, he becomes even more inflamed, and desires heavenly [blessings] more strongly 4111, and daily puts in more work, zeal, struggle, aspiration, the totality of all virtues, hunger and thirst 4112 4113, and does not weaken from wickedness and does not follow the vicious thoughts that persist in the soul and leading to laziness, impatience and despair 4114, but to the extent that the Lord, through delay, tests his long-suffering, faith and love of his will, [so] he is even more impetuous, hardworking and without sparing [himself] must always seek and ask for the gift of His Spirit, 4115 having believed and convinced that God is true and false, who promised 4116 to give His grace to those who ask for it with faith and with all patience to the end. II, 29, 4 Souls who honor God as faithful and true and “have sealed that God is true” 4117 4118, 1.5, therefore, it is appropriate to keep what has been said, always testing themselves in what, depending on them, they are lacking, whether in work, or in asceticism, or in diligence, or in faith 4119, or in others virtues, and, having tested themselves 4120, force themselves as much as they can, and force themselves to please the Lord, having once believed that God is true and will not deprive them of His gift if they remain before Him until the end 4121 4122, and that 4123 someday 4124 they will be worthy of heavenly grace and receive eternal life. 1.6 II, 29, 5 And thus they exhaust 4125 all their love for the Lord, renouncing everything and Him alone, waiting with strong lust and greed 4126, always hoping only for the consolation and repose of His grace, not being consoled and not resting in anything in this world and not voluntarily binding themselves [to anything worldly], but, constantly contradicting material thoughts, they expect only the Lord’s consolation and help. In such souls, who have accepted the will, diligence and patience of love, the Lord himself is already secretly present, helps them, protects and supports them in every fruit of virtue, 1.7 even if they were in sorrow, labor and even in the knowledge of the truth and in spiritual revelation, they have not yet accepted and felt 4127 the grace of the Spirit and the peace of heaven as a gift according to the ineffable wisdom of God and according to the inscrutable judgments 4128 of His 4129, variously testing 4130 souls and looking at love that comes from will and discretion. And some, to whom He quickly gave His grace of the Spirit, experience proportionality [to the gifts received] of their love, zeal, aspiration and speed, renunciation of the world; and among others, to whom, in [the temptation of their] long-suffering, He delayed [to bestow] tangibly and openly His grace, He tests patience, love for Him to the end, diligence and undoubted faith, when they, as far as it is in their will, turn away from everything visible and then, having completely exhausted themselves [in love] for Him, they obtain for themselves the promise of the Spirit 4131. 1.8 For 4132 limits, and measure, and weight to free will, free love for Him, zeal and feasible disposition to all His holy commandments, and thus He vouchsafes those who fulfill the measure of their love and duty to Him the Kingdom and eternal life. 2:1 As if there were some very rich and glorious man, and a needy and poor man, deprived of everything, came to him voluntarily, and this poor man would pour out all his love on the rich man, expecting nothing else and having no other hope than to fix his eyes on him alone with all his heart, working in his house, and he in his eyes will be everything to him: life, food, clothing, and in general he will have everything with his thoughts love for him, so that, throwing away all hope for himself, he will connect all his aspirations with him; then that glorious and rich man, seeing that he had completely exhausted all his love for him, and not looking at anything except him, worked with all his heart and as much as he could in his house, and, having cut off all hope for himself, he spent all his hopes on him alone - having thus seen the poor man’s long-term love for him from the bottom of his heart and turning his most kind gaze on him, he shows him favor and appoints him as having power steward, since he showed such goodwill and zeal and all possible love for him and daily had more and more love and commitment to him; 2.2 - then he gives him noble vestments from his wardrobe 4133, and gives him the great honor of sitting on horseback or in a chariot, and gives him, as a faithful [servant], his property and wealth, and thus rewards him a hundredfold for the love and devotion that he showed towards the rich husband. And, again, the rich man, having entrusted him with his fortune, has all his love for him, and is himself a rest for him, and everything is in his hands, and his eyes are always fixed on what is good for him. Behold, he received multiple rewards for the goodness and love that he showed because of [his] affection. 2.3 So, if in people love causes such a great corresponding reward, then how much more [receives] the soul that comes to the Lord - the only rich one, being poor and in need of eternal life and deprived of the riches of Christ and heavenly bread. For having spent all your love on the Lord; and having Him alone before our eyes, and considering Him to be everything: life, clothing, wealth, pleasure; and cutting off all hope in yourself and trusting only in Him; and zealously doing virtuous deeds in His house as much as possible; and thus completely, completely surrendered to Him - [such a soul], even if it does not immediately receive heavenly gifts, nevertheless, it is destined to ever receive a reward for its love and fidelity to Him, if it remains to the end increasing faith in Him, love, hope and practicing every virtue, and so it will achieve heavenly gifts, having been tested and finally proven sound service, care, love and affection for Him; as faithful and devoted in everything, she is awarded heavenly wealth and, having thus received eternal life, will rest “always with the Lord” 4135 in His Kingdom. 2:4 But so that we do not seem to be speaking parables from ourselves, taking examples from human [reasonings], we learn this from, as we said above, the spoken Divine Scriptures. That youngest son 4136, who took and squandered his property in a dissolute life with harlots, fell into great poverty and reached such a need that even with horns he could not satisfy his stomach, having come to his senses and remembering his father’s wealth and mercy, said ·. “How many of my father’s hired servants have an abundance of bread, and I am dying of hunger! "4137 - and, turning and coming to his father, he revealed to the end all his love for him 4138, saying: “I am not worthy to be called your son" 4139 and “I have sinned against heaven and before you, father” 4140. Then the father, seeing his repentance from the bottom of his heart and love for him, that he had completely given himself over to him, no longer having in his sight any other hope except for his father 4141, rewarded him for his love for him and awarded him the best clothes and a ring and slaughtered a fatted calf for him, and he became a sharer of his father’s wealth. 2.5 This is the parable that the Lord used for souls who converted from [all] their will and discretion and wholly showed love for the Lord first of all, and repentance, and zeal, and labor, and asceticism, and then received heavenly blessings and were made worthy of eternal life, if only they themselves proved to Him to the end, as much as they can, in all virtues the diligence of love and fulfilled the due measure yours. 3.1 On the other hand, those who have previously been met by grace and who seem to have quickly received the gift of the Spirit without difficulty, desire and will are tested to see whether, in accordance with the benefits [provided to them], they will prove their affection and loving zeal for Him and the desire for all virtue, whether they will feel the benefits and whether they will bear completely worthy fruits 4142 and the proper measure of free love. 3:2 We will use [here] another appropriate parable from Scripture. Giving, and gifts, and these numerous benefits of God were given to Israel before he did anything for God and showed in action the virtues worthy of these benefits. How many miracles did God perform for them [the Jews] 4143, sometimes punishing the Egyptians with all sorts of executions because of them and bringing them out of Egypt in great power and with great wealth, sometimes overshadowing them during the day with a pillar of cloud from the heat. And, again, dividing the Red Sea, he led them through dry land, saving them from enemies and drowning the Egyptians in the waters; for their sake he turned bitter waters into sweet ones, and rained manna from heaven for them for forty years; their shoes and clothes have not worn out for so many years 4144; worthy to receive the Law written by the finger of God 4145; and the dignity of the priesthood and prophecy was granted to this people, and all other gifts of benefits, which, perhaps, are not easy to count, they received before they showed something worthy of their benefits. And after many of those grace-filled gifts, when they were tested and when the fruit and reward of their free love for the Lord were collected from them, they turned out to be servants [of God] because of their reverence for Him in great love. 3:3 But in the end they turned away [from God] in idolatry, fornication and all kinds of wickedness, just as in Ezekiel the Holy Spirit rebukes them, how many benefits He showed them, and they showed nothing worthy of the benefits shown to them, and the word was addressed to them, saying: “I found you in the wilderness naked and indecent, and washed you from the blood of your blackness, and adorned you with ornaments, and laid on your wrists, and beryl on your forehead, and a diadem on your head, you ate the best bread and honey and butter, and you became famous among all nations; but then you left, turning to your fornication after your lovers” 4146 4147. After all, her outfit, and food, and adornment were all those blessings, “and the law, and [God’s] service” 4148, and the priesthood, and prophecy, and all that establishment of the former Testament. 3.4 And how long and how many years did God endure to them, waiting for their conversion and the fruit of reward for those many unspeakable [His] benefits, and, despite their sins, the grace of the Spirit did not depart from them, but they also had prophecy, and the priesthood, and all the legal service, until finally, when, out of great love for mankind, God and the Father sent His only begotten Son to save them, they added to all their iniquities [also] the murder of the only begotten Son; and then, finally, having counted and enumerated the multitude of their iniquities and finding them exceeding [the measure], and considering them unworthy of salvation, since they did not turn their insensitive hearts to Him and did not feel the multitude of benefits, He completely abandoned them, depriving them of everything and scattering them among the nations 4149. 3.5 So, He deprived their congregation of all splendor, and decoration, and glory (that is, prophecy, priesthood, sanctuary, kings) and, due to their insensitivity, left it in ancient uncleanness and dishonor, taking away from it the given gifts, and talents, and benefits because of its great ignorance and desire for the worse, and, considering the congregation unworthy of decoration and these gifts, He took away from it “the kingdom “, as the Lord says, and gave it to “the people who bear its fruit” 4150. 3.6 Understand this also 4151 in relation to the soul, which is more likely to be rewarded with a heavenly gift and conveniently and easily receives the grace of the Spirit before it demonstrates any virtue, or labor, or feat. After all, if she does not feel the benefit and the grace and heavenly gift that appeared to her with ease, and does not constantly show corresponding worthy fruits 4152, and does not show a desire for the Lord and difficult struggle with all diligence and zeal, and does not exhaust all her love to please God, without grieving grace 4153 with the slightest deviation, even if with her there is the gift of the Spirit and she feels His presence, and she herself will not bring a worthy reward [in the form of] immaculate service [to God] with all her desire and will, always uniting and clinging to the Spirit, for [His] ineffable good deeds and creating a corresponding reward for worthy love, and diligence, and every virtue, while she remains in the body - [God] is long-suffering for her because of her many [His] goodness, awaiting her conversion and repentance with all her heart and enduring the sins of [the soul], and negligence [of it], and contempt [of Him]. 3.7 If she remains to the end still insensitive to good deeds, offending the gifts and grace of the Spirit and following ignorance and insensibility, and does not repay the measure of love, then when the soul leaves the body, an account is required from it; and when sins, and negligence, and contempt due to insensibility and ignorance exceed [the measure], she, discovered by her will and desire to have not rewarded anything worthy for the grace and good deeds [of God] and not to have shown talent and serious mine 4154, is finally given over to dishonor, and death, and corruption, and punishment to evil spirits, into eternal torment and sorrow, because she did not feel the gifts and benefits of God, which came to her through His love for mankind quickly, easily and easily for encouragement, help, and intercession, without showing anything worthy and appropriate, but always following her desires, which is why she got such an end. 3.8 For with God there are measures, and boundaries, and scales of man’s voluntary efforts, asceticism, love, labor, faith and all virtue. 4.1 II, 29, 6 God is righteous, and His judgments are just 4155, and “He has no partiality” 4156, but He will judge everyone according to the measure of their good deeds 4157, or knowledge, or understanding, or prudence, or nature 4158 and 4159 He will reward according to their worth on the day of judgment 4160. And “the strong will be greatly tormented, but the weak will be worthy of mercy” 4161. And the Lord says: “The servant who knew the will of his master, and was not ready, and did not do according to his will, will be beaten many times; and to whom much is entrusted, from him more will be exacted” 4162. 4.2 Knowledge 4163 can be understood differently - either by grace and by a heavenly gift 4164, or by 4165 consciousness, prudence and understanding 4166. For from each will be required the corresponding fruits of virtue, and talent put into commercial circulation, and a sense of [divine] benefits 4167. Therefore, on the day of judgment, every person will be irresponsible before God 4168, 4.3 because from everyone, as far as he has known, faith, love, the fruits of virtue and reciprocal voluntary love for God 4169 will be required, whether he has acquired [knowledge] of the Lord by hearing only, or through the study of the Scriptures, or according to his understanding, consciousness and prudence, or by true knowledge, and reasoning, and sensation the Spirit, and assurance through heavenly sweetness of future blessings, and the revelation of the Spirit. Therefore, from everyone, a worthy response will be required about diligence in love for Him, service, and faith, and about the fulfillment of all virtues. 5.1 4170 And the one who has never heard the word of God and has not met with Christians or those who fear God 4171, but to the end remained in the error of idolatry, will also be justly condemned - for God will judge everyone justly - since he did not know such [God] nor by the wonderful structure of the world 4172 that there is Someone who created this; nor by the always different and varied movement of creations, because the multitude of rivers does not dry up where they flow, decreasing, and does not cause floods where they, flowing and arriving, flow; 5.2 Neither from the movement of the stars, the sun and the moon [did I know] that it was not of themselves that they had such orderliness and beauty and continuous movement, having an ineffable location and path, but there is Someone who arranged and continuously moves them without [the slightest] effort; nor by the circulation of air [flows] and the change of seasons [of the year], unspeakably alternating with each other (for winter gives way to spring, spring to summer, and summer to autumn), [I did not understand] this; and at the same time, observing the torrential rains and [hearing] terrible thunderclaps and being horrified by the brilliance and radiance of lightning, he should have realized that this would not have happened by itself and would not have moved in such a true and definite order if there had not been a certain Creator of these [things]. After all, one who looks at all the splendid arrangement of the visible [world] will easily understand that there is a certain Creator and Orderer of this creation. 5.3 Therefore, every [man] is irresponsible before God and will be justly judged and asked about [his] love for God and about a virtuous state in accordance with the knowledge of [God], and [His] good deeds, and [his] understanding and thinking, for [Scripture] says: “He will come 4173 and reward everyone according to his deeds” 4174, since God is righteous and His works are righteous 4175 and “judgments 4176 and His ways are unsearchable” 4177. Truly righteous and holy are His judgments 4178! 5:4 Not as some bring injustice to God, unreasonably limiting [His] election and foreknowledge, that He chooses those whom He wants to save, and whom He wants to destroy, leaving to his foolish desires, but, being righteous, He, as God, foreknew 4179 those who would love Him and choose His ways according to their own will and desire, and those He predestined 4180 and chose to eternal life according to righteous judgment. 5.5 If He, as God, creates many strange and incomprehensible things for the human race, do not look at His [actions] that are contrary to ordinary expectations, because you cannot comprehend His wisdom, but look at the path along which He has appointed His servants to go, according to the inspired Scriptures 4181, in what sorrows, exploits, labors, zeal, struggle and aspiration they walk. Paying attention to the struggle determined by God, be constantly ready to quickly and willingly [tread] the path of righteousness. 5.6 If you look only at His unexpected [actions], [reasoning like this], that if He wants to save me while I am in laziness, and lie on my side, and follow my desires, then he can, like God, for I cannot do anything of my own free will, but [only] by His grace; if He wants, He will save me. If you follow these thoughts, apparently blessed, being sluggish, lazy, careless and contemptuous, and do not sweat, do not toil, do not work of your own free will, as much as you can, openly and secretly and in all the virtues, and then do not rely on His grace, not hoping for salvation thanks to your [own only] desire, since you cannot do anything worthy of the Kingdom and the gift of God, then God will not accept you and will not rejoice in you as someone who has not renounced himself and who has not completely given up all of himself: body, mind, will and desire - to serve Him and please him, and who has not considered himself to have done anything worthy of the future giving of grace and eternal life, so that, being as if in need of virtue, he would never seem to have reached completeness, [but think of himself as] as if he had not yet laid the foundation for pleasing God, although abiding in great zeal and asceticism. 5:7 God rejoices and He is pleased with such a will that labors and has great diligence towards everything good and every virtue and always appears as if in need, as if it has not yet begun to run or do good, but today intends to begin asceticism and running. 5.8 II, 29, 7 For a faithful and 4182 pious soul considers itself unworthy for the eternal blessings prepared for the righteous and the blessings of the divine grace that has to descend, and its zeal, deed and labor - for unspeakable promises, as blessed Paul says: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth anything in comparison with the glory that will be revealed in us.” 4183. This one is poor in spirit 4184 4185 , this one is one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness 4186 , this one is one who has a contrite heart 4187 . Those who possess such will, diligence, labor and love for virtue and remain [in them] to the end will be able to truly achieve eternal life and salvation. 6:1 Therefore, let no one of the brethren exalt himself before his brother and 4188 let him excel in conceit, as if saying: “Behold, I already have God’s grace 4189, but he has not acquired [it].” For 4190 Christians are not allowed to think like that. You don't know what God will do tomorrow 4191. What will be the end of the one whom you consider nothing, and what will be yours, you do not know. On the contrary, let everyone be attentive to himself 4192 and always test his own work 4193, what zeal and love for God the mind has, and, bearing in mind the perfect measure of the grace of the Spirit 4194, let it flow continuously and unslothfully 4195, 6.2 “forgetting what is behind and stretching forward” 4196, acquiring daily success in grace God, looking at His judgments and constantly testing ourselves in reasoning, do we fully correspond to the measure of calling, knowledge and good deeds that God has shown us, so that when the Master demands an account from us, we would not find ourselves deprived of reciprocal giving of our own free will for the benefits [provided to us by Him], deprived of honor and rejected [for eternal] life; so that, constantly striving and working and always moving forward with diligence for good, “working out our salvation with fear and trembling” 4197, we, fully found in good things, can achieve eternal salvation and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven with all the saints. 6.3 Since the will of man lives in his nature and has the possibility of free circulation [in one direction or another], therefore, mutual benefits and a feeling of grace are required from him, that is, perfect and free love for the Lord and for every virtuous dispensation, as He [Himself] says: “To whom they give much, from him they require more” 4198. 6.4 Therefore, beloved, let us strive, since we will be required to respond differently according to the measure of each one in accordance with [God’s] good deeds, and all our zeal and love for Him will be measured, determined and weighed by exact measures and weights, to be ready for good 4199, and we will remain in patience, constantly increasing day by day our diligence, and hunger, and thirst 4200, and Let us try to adorn ourselves with all the virtues, always expecting the discovery of His grace and desiring even more [to increase it] through the Resurrection, and He Himself does not reject [us] - let it not be so! - but he is patient, testing our patience. If only we fully find ourselves kindly, patiently and unrestrainedly, fearlessly, loudly knocking on the door 4201, and He Himself truly - ever - brings about deliverance and the removal of the veil [of darkness] 4202 4203, His holy and heavenly light creating illumination and cleansing of the heart. 6.5 The Lord comes to some in the evening, to others at midnight, to others at rooster crowing, to others in the morning, as He Himself said 4204, as long as a person has unceasing expectation, vigilance and readiness, and in no case falls asleep or withdraws, despairing, falling into unbelief or cowardice, that the Lord will not come, so that the Lord, having come, will not found him unprepared, as He Himself said: “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning” and the following 4205. If we rather accept and be rewarded with His grace, let us give thanks and show worthy diligence in righteousness and the fruits of virtue and feel His goodness, and intercession, and quick help for us, although we did not work [as we should to acquire so many benefits]. 6.6 And, accordingly, let us hasten to cleave to the Lord, uniting ourselves with His grace, and having thus shown the zeal of our free desire, having also help from the Lord to facilitate our labors, always coming to good success, without offending the gift of God in any way, and having been completely gained in such diligence, we will become worthy of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory forever. Amen. Word 32. {How bodies are resurrected and About the fact that Divine grace and enemy power encourage, but do not force} 4206 1.1 II, 15, 10 Question. On the resurrection, do all the [whole] bodies of 4207 rise up? Answer. Everything is easy for God 4208. Such is His promise. But to human weakness and human reason this seems impossible. Just as God, taking a little dust and earth, created some other nature, namely a bodily nature, unlike the earth, and created many kinds [of bodily structure], such as hair, skin, bones and veins, so again everything will rise from the earth; and just as a needle thrown into the fire changes color and turns into fire, while the nature of iron is not destroyed, but remains, so in the resurrection all members will be resurrected and, according to what is written, a hair will not perish 4209, and everything will become light-like, everything will be immersed and transformed into fire and light, but will not disintegrate and will not become fire, so that the [former] nature will no longer exist, as they say some. For Peter remains Peter, and Paul remains Paul, and Philip remains Philip; each one, filled with the Spirit, abides in his own 4210 being. And if you assert that nature has fallen apart, then there is no longer Peter or Paul, but everything and everywhere is God, and those who go to Gehenna do not feel punishment, and those who go to the kingdom do not feel blessings. 1,2 II, 15, 11.12 (r. p. 11) 4211 Imagine a garden in which there are all kinds of fruit-bearing trees, and there are pears, apple trees and grapes with fruits and leaves; but the garden and all the trees and leaves changed and turned into a different nature, and everything that was before became light-like. 4212 · 2:1 Therefore, God's people must prepare themselves for struggle and struggle. Just as a courageous young man endures the struggle and responds with blows to the blows dealt to him, so Christians must endure external sorrows and internal battles so that, when receiving blows, they can overcome with patience. This is the way of Christianity. 2:2 Where the Holy Spirit and the truth are, there will follow persecution and strife. Do you see how the persecuted prophets were fellow tribesmen 4213 because the Spirit was working in them? Do you see how the Lord, who is the way and the truth 4214, was persecuted and crucified not by another people, but by his own Israelite tribe? A similar thing happened with the apostles, for from the time the cross came to Christians and the Comforter Spirit departed to them, none of the Jews were persecuted, but [only] Christians were martyrs. Therefore, no one should be amazed, because the truth must be persecuted. 3.1 II, 15, 13 (r. p. 12) Question. Others say that evil comes from outside and a person, if he wants, does not accept [it into himself], but drives it away 4215. And 4216 just as the serpent, who spoke to Eve 4217, penetrated inside [her] as a result of [Eve’s] obedience - so now through [human] obedience 4218 sin comes in, being outside. Answer. Sin has pasture and freedom and power to enter the heart, for it is allowed [so] according to the economy. After all, where are your thoughts - outside of you or inside? The Apostle says: “I wish that men pray without anger and thoughts” 4219 - because, according to the Gospel, thoughts come from the heart 4220 4221. Start praying, and pay attention to your heart and mind, and wish to send up pure prayer to God; see that there is nothing interfering [with prayer], but there is pure prayer there, because your mind is occupied with the Lord, just as a farmer is occupied with agriculture, a husband is occupied with his wife, a merchant is occupied with trade. Once again you kneel down to pray, and others steal your thoughts. 3.2 II, 15, 14.15 (r. p. 13) But you say that the Lord, having come, “condemned sin” 4222 with the cross, and it is no longer inside. Just as a warrior, if he places his shield inside the house 4223 4224, then has a station 4225 and [can] enter and leave whenever he wants - so sin has freedom of thoughts in the heart, for it is written: “Satan entered the heart of Judas” 4226. And if you say that by the coming of Christ sin is condemned and after baptism evil no longer has a pasture in the heart for thoughts, then look at how many have been baptized from the coming of the Lord to this day: have they not thought of more evil? Have you not been seduced into vanity, or into fornication, or into gluttony? And do all lay people who are in communion with the Church have a blameless and pure heart? Or do we find that even after baptism there are many sins and many people sin? Therefore, even after baptism the robber has pasture and [can] go in and do what he wants. It is written: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart” 4227. Look at yourself, do you love God with all your heart? 3:3 But you say: “I love and have the Holy Spirit.” But do you really have remembrance of the Lord, love and fervor for Him? Do you eat and drink His commandments 4228? Are you tied there 4229 day and night? If you have such love, then you are pure 4230. And if you don’t have it, then examine [yourself], and then, when God’s heavenly thoughts come and act with all sensation in the soul, they distract and separate it 4231 from earthly affairs and shameful and evil thoughts 4232 and lead the soul entirely to the longed-for love of God. For dark thoughts 4233 lead the mind to earthly and corruptible things, and do not allow one to love God or remember the Lord. 3.4 Often an ignorant person begins to pray, kneels, and his mind enters into peace; and to the extent that he undermines the wall of anger opposing him and goes deeper under it, the extent to which it is destroyed; a person reaches visions 4234 4235 and wisdom, which the strong, or the wise, or the wits do not achieve, and he manages to understand the subtlety of his mind 4236 because he is occupied with Divine mysteries. He who is inexperienced in distinguishing pearls, due to his inexperience, does not know how to evaluate them. Therefore, Christians abhor what is glorious on earth, and count it as rubbish 4237 4238 when compared with the greatness that works in them. 3.5 II, 15, 16 (r. p. 14) Question. Can a person who has a divine [grace-filled] gift fall? Answer. If he is careless, he falls, because enemies never remain inactive 4239. How much more should you not stop searching for yourself before God. For much harm comes to you if you indulge in negligence, even though you have been tested in the very sacrament of grace. 3.6 II, 15, 17 (r. p. 15) Question. Does grace remain [in man] after [his] fall? Answer. God is very willing to bring man into life and exhorts him to weep and repent again. So [grace] still abides to make you, who repent of your past sins, a reliable 4241 worker. 7.1 II, 15, 18 (r. p. 16) Question. Will the perfect still face battle or sorrow? Or are they completely carefree? Answer. There is no person whom the enemy would stop [attacking] 4242. Satan is unmerciful and hateful and always fights 4243, but not to the same degree. Both the eparchs 4244 and the comites 4245 pay tribute to the king; but such [a person], boldly relying on his wealth, gold and silver, as if from his excesses, pays taxes, not considering this a loss for himself, 4246, but also spends more than that on alms and does not care about it, for he considers this as an extraneous matter. And another remained 4247 a beggar 4248, having [only] one field 4249; they beat him and torture him because he cannot pay his taxes. Others are cruelly tormented and tormented, and he does not die 4250; and the other dies from one blow. 7.2 So among Christians, others endure strong warfare and torment 4251 from sin, and even become stronger and wiser in battle, neglecting the opposing force, and they are not in danger in this regard, because they are unshakable and firm in their salvation, since they have often practiced and gained experience in warfare with malice, having God working with them and resting [them]. II, 15, 19 (r. p. 17) Others, novices who have not yet trained, 4252 if they encounter [only] sorrow and warfare rises up against them, immediately fall into ruin and destruction. 8:1 Those walking through the city, wanting to come to those they love, meet many in the marketplaces, but they do not detain them, intending to meet with friends. And when one of them knocks on the door outside and calls his name, their loved ones who are inside [the house] rejoice; and if he remains in the city and jokes with people he meets or is delayed by them, then the door remains locked and no one opens for him. 4253 8.2 Again, those who enter the palace of the king, the comites or eparchs, are in great fear of how to give them an answer and, when reporting, not be subject to reproach and punishment, having erred in the answer; and the villagers and commoners, who have never seen the prince, behave carefree. And this world 4254, from the king to the poor 4255, cares about the world 4256 and does not remember the day of judgment; those who enter [in thought] 4257 into the throne [room] of the judgment seat of Christ and those who remain before Him are constantly in fear and trembling 4258 . 8.3 II, 15, 20 (r. p. 18) The rich people of the earth, when many fruits have been gathered into their granaries, must again work every day so that they will have an abundance 4259. If they rely on the wealth lying in the granaries and neglect 4260, they will fall into poverty and misery. Therefore, collecting profits and bringing them into granaries, they must work and not get tired 4261. 8.4 Christianity consists in the fact that a person [can] taste the grace of God, for it is said: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” 4262; this tasting is undoubtedly the active power of the Spirit, performing ministry in the heart. For those who are the sons of light 4263 and serving the New Testament in the Spirit 4264 are not taught by men, for they are taught by God 4265 4266 . Therefore, not only in the Scriptures written in ink should they find confirmation for themselves, but also on the tablets of the heart 4267 the grace of God inscribed the laws of the Spirit and heavenly mysteries, 8.5 because the heart has dominion 4268 over the whole body. And when grace takes possession of the pastures of the heart, then it reigns 4269 over all thoughts and members, for there is the mind and all thoughts 4270 of the soul, and penetrates all members 4271. II, 15, 21 (p. 19) sin reigns over the heart 4272 and penetrates all members> 4273, “for evil thoughts come from the heart” 4274. And thus sin, spreading, darkens a person. 8.6 And those who claim that there is no evil in man, which feeds and grows with him, should not worry about tomorrow 4275 and have no lusts. For some time, lust ceased in a person 4276, so that he can swear: “Such and such a passion no longer rises up against me 4277,” - after a while he burns with desire, so that in addition he turns out to be an oathbreaker. Just as water flows in a pipe, so does sin flow in the heart and thoughts. Sin itself, not wanting to be triumphed over, mocks those who deny it, because evil tries to hide and hide in [man’s] thoughts 4278. 8.7 II, 15, 22 (r. p. 20) Therefore, if someone loves God, then God Himself dissolves [him] 4279 His love. If you believe in Him, then He imparts heavenly faith to you, and man becomes complete 4280. After all, as much as you bring Him [a gift] from your members, He dissolves similar members from His own [members] to your soul, so that you do everything purely, and love, and pray. 8.8 Truly high is the dignity of man. Look how [great] the sky, earth, sun and moon are, and “the Lord did not deign” to rest in them 4281, but only in man. Therefore, man is more precious than all creatures, even, I dare 4282, the invisible and ministering spirits 4283. For [God] did not say about the archangels Michael and Gabriel: “Let us create in Our image and likeness” 4284 - but said about the intelligent human essence of the immortal soul. It is written: angelic armies "around those who fear Him" ​​4285. After all, visible creatures are connected by some kind of motionless nature. 8.9 II, 15, 23 (r. p. 21) Once heaven, earth, sun, sun and moon are brought into being, and in nothing other than the [state in which] they were created, they cannot change and have no will. And you are therefore created in the image and likeness of God 4286 because, just as God is free and does according to His power what He wants, and [can] send the {un}righteous 4287 to Gehenna, 4288 so you are free 4289 by the adaptability of nature; if you want to spew blasphemy, create poison, kill someone - no one bothers you 4290. Whoever wants, he submits to God, and follows the path of truth, and masters desires, because this mind is an opponent and with a strong thought can overcome vicious aspirations and vile desires. II, 15, 24 (p. 22) If in a large house, where there are gold and silver utensils, [expensive] clothes and gold, slaves and slaves, because of the sin that lives [in them], lust for everything, but curb their minds because of human fear of the masters and hold back the aspirations of desires, then how much more so, where there is fear of God, the mind must resist and counteract what is inherent vice, because God has commanded you what is possible for you. The nature of dumb animals is connected. The snake is by nature evil and poisonous: all snakes are like that. The wolf is accustomed to stealing: all wolves are of the same nature. The lamb is simply stolen: they are all of the same quality. The dove is simple and innocent: all doves are of the same nature. But man is not like that. One is like a ravenous wolf, and the other is stolen like a lamb, and both come from the same human race. II, 15, 25 (r. p. 23) Another is not content with his own wife and lives fornication, while another does not allow lust to arise in his heart. One plunders the property of his neighbor, and the other, out of godliness, gives away his own. You see how nature itself is inclined towards the beautiful and towards the bad, so that both divine grace and the resistive force encourage, but do not force 4291. 8:10 For formerly Adam himself, being in purity, reigned over his own thoughts; but as soon as he transgressed the commandment, unbearable mountains lay on his mind, and the vicious thoughts mixed in all became as if he were his own. But none of them is his own, because he has a vice. II, 15, 26 (r. p. 24) You must finally look for a lamp to light it and with it find pure and natural thoughts 4292. 8:11 Those who were brought up on the sea learned to swim, and when storms and waves arise, they are not affected; those unaccustomed to it, even with a little excitement, become timid and drown. So are Christians. 8.12 Just as the mind of a three-year-old child cannot accommodate or comprehend the thought of a perfect sophist, because many things hinder [this] 4293, so Christians, like infants, understand the world, depending on the measure of grace. They are alien to this age; They have a different city and a different rest. 8:13 Christians have the consolation of grace 4294, tears and weeping 4295, and tears themselves constitute their delight. But with joy and joy they also have fear, and thus become like people who carry their blood in their hands 4296, do not rely on themselves and do not think of themselves that they are something 4297, but are humiliated and rejected more than all people. 8.14 II, 15, 27 (p. 25) If the king deposits his treasure with some beggar, then the one who accepted it for safekeeping does not consider this treasure to be his property, but admits his poverty everywhere, not daring to waste 4298 the treasure, because he says the following: “The king handed it to me and, when he wants, he will take it from me 4299.” And those who have the grace of God should think the same about themselves, be humble and confess [their] poverty and say: “treasure and, when he wants, he will take it from me” 4300. 8.15 II, 15, 28 (p. 26) But many, although grace is inherent in them, do not know that they have been robbed by sin. Just as if a young woman and a young man live in some house, and the woman, seduced by a man, finally comes into agreement with him, commits adultery and becomes despicable, so the terrible serpent of sin dwells with the soul, seduces and convinces it, and if it agrees, then the disembodied soul enters into communication with the disembodied nature of the serpent 4301 (that is, the spirit enters into communication with the spirit) and commits adultery in the heart 4302. Therefore, the measure of your achievement is that you should not commit adultery in your thoughts, but resist with your mind and internally wage war, fight against vice and not obey it, not associate with it in your thoughts. And if the Lord finds this readiness of heart, then on the last day he will accept you into the Kingdom. 8.16 II, 15, 29 (r. p. 27) The Lord builds another economy 4304 divine grace and consolation 4305. 4306 builds the house by permission in order to test and exercise man, so that man’s free will is revealed. For those who have been subjected to sorrows and temptations, if they endure them, will not be deprived of the heavenly Kingdom. Wed I, 4, 28 So, Christians in sorrowful circumstances do not grieve and do not grieve. If they are tested by poverty, suffering or danger, then they should not marvel at [this], but rather enjoy poverty and count it as wealth; fasting is for pleasure; dishonor and disgrace - to glory. And vice versa, if they encounter anything related, as in this life, to fame or luxury, attracting them to carnal peace, wealth, glory or luxury, then they should feel disgust [to it] and run away as from fire. 8.17 II, 15, 30 (r. p. 28) In the visible [world], if a small people rebelled to fight with the king, then the king does not bother himself [to go to war] 4307, but sends military leaders 4308; if a numerous people rebelled and could devastate his kingdom, then the king himself with his court and his army is forced to go and enter into war. So, look at your dignity: God with His army, that is, with the angels and holy spirits, moved and He Himself came 4309 and deliver you from death. Be strong, understanding what kind of providence is for you. 8.18 We use 4310 an example, as in life. As if the king, having found a poor and sick man, was not ashamed of him, but began to treat his wounds with medical means, and carried him to his palace, and gave him purple and a diadem, and made him an accomplice of his meal - so the heavenly King Christ, having come to the sick man, healed him and introduced him to his royal meal; and, moreover, not forcing his will, but encouraging him to such a treat 4311. II, 15, 31 (p. 29) After all, it is written in the Gospel that the Lord sent His servants, calling those who wished with the words: “Dinner is ready” 4312 - but those invited themselves refused: one said that he had bought a harness of oxen; the other - that he got married 4313. You see that He who called was ready, but those who were called denied and, of course, became their own guilt. This means that the dignity of Christians is so great that the Lord has prepared the Kingdom and calls them to enter, but they do not want to. 8:19 As for the gift that Christians inherit, 4314 if every person from the time Adam was created until the end of the age 4315 fought with Satan and endured tribulation, he would not have done anything great in comparison with the glory that he has to inherit, because he will reign with Christ for endless ages. Glory to the One who so loved the soul, 4316 He gave His own and entrusted it to the soul> 4317. Glory to His greatness forever! Amen. Word 33 {A Christian should quietly practice virtue with much humility} 4318 4319 1.1 II, 15, 32 (p. 30) In appearance, all of us brothers sitting [here] have one image and one Adam’s face. Is it really possible that, both secretly and in the very interior, everyone has one will, one heart 4320? Are we all 4321 kind and pious? Or do some of us have fellowship with Christ and with His angels, 4322 although we all seem to sit together, having one Adam's face? Do you see how the intelligent essence, the inner man, is something different in comparison with the outer man? For we are all one, but some are with Christ and the angels, while others are with Satan and unclean spirits. 1.2 Therefore, there is some kind of boundless depth in the heart; there are banquet chambers, bedchambers and edicules 4323 4324, doors and vestibules, many services and exits; there is a workshop of truth and untruth there; there is death there, there is also life; there is a good purchase there 4325. 1.3 II, 15, 33 (p. 31) Imagine a great palace, but it is desolate, filled with all sorts of stench and many corpses. So the heart is the palace of the Lord, [but] 4326 it is filled with all uncleanness and crowds of evil spirits. Therefore, it is necessary to renew and rebuild it, to prepare storerooms, and bedchambers, and banquet halls, and the vestibule of the heart. Do not treat your heart simply as a small and despised vessel, for 4327 King Christ with the angels and holy spirits comes to rest [in the heart], and to live, and to walk 4328, and to establish His kingdom. 1.4 Just as on a ship that has full equipment and passengers, the helmsman disposes and controls everyone: he blames some, he directs others, so the heart has as a helmsman a mind, and a conscience that denounces, and thoughts that condemn and justify, [for (the apostle) says:] 4329 “thoughts now accusing, now justifying one another” 4330. II, 15, 34 (p. 32) You see that conscience does not allow such thoughts that obey sin to hide, but immediately denounces [them] (for it does not lie), reproaches 4331, before the face of God at judgment 4332 it testifies as always convicting. 1.5 If the chariot, reins, animals and all the equipment are at the disposal of one charioteer, then, when he wants, he rushes on the chariot with all the speed, and again restrains, and where he wants to turn it, there the whole chariot goes, because it is in the power of the charioteer - so the heart has many natural thoughts that are closely connected with it, and the mind and conscience reproach, and direct, and lull the natural thoughts exuded by the heart, because that the soul has many compositions, although it is one. 1.6 II, 15, 35 (p. 33) As soon as man 4333 transgressed the commandment, the serpent who rose, the devil 4334, became, as it were, 4335 the ruler of the house and like [another] 4336 soul in one part 4337 together with the soul of [man]. For the Lord in the Gospel says: “Whoever does not renounce his soul and hate himself is not My disciple” 4338 4339 - since sin, having entered the soul, became, as it were, 4340 its member 4341, and many unclean thoughts flow into the heart. Therefore, whoever fulfills the desires of his soul fulfills the desires of sin 4342, because he is entwined 4343 with the soul. 1.7 He who submits his soul to the Spirit 4344 and is angry with himself and with his inherent desires - this one conquers the city of his enemies, and is vouchsafed to come to a great spiritual measure, and by Divine power receives into himself a pure man, and becomes 4345 great in him, because he is deified 4346 and becomes a son of God, receiving the heavenly seal 4347 into his soul. . For God's chosen ones are anointed with sanctifying oil and made dignitaries and kings. 1.8 II, 15, 36 (p. 34) Man has such freedom 4348 that the one who is in the depths of vice and works at sin 4349 can turn to good, and the one who is bound by the Holy Spirit and captivated 4350 and intoxicated with heavenly things, similarly 4351 has the power to turn to evil. 1:9 If a woman, dressed in rags, tormented by hunger, covered with uncleanness, with much difficulty achieves the rank of king, puts on a crown and purple and becomes the bride of the king, then she remembers her former uncleanness and has the will, but does not want to return to her former shame, because this is foolish. But even those who have tasted God’s grace and become partakers of the Spirit, if they are not careful, fade away and become worse than they were while living in the world. 2.1 Question. Therefore, God is changeable or weak, since the Spirit is quenched 4352? The answer is 4353. People themselves do not conform to grace, but are corrupted and fall into thousands of evils. For those who have tasted this gift have with them both - joy and consolation, fear and trembling 4354 and crying; They mourn themselves and the whole Adam, because people have one nature, and their tears are bread 4355, and their crying is pleasure and peace. 2.2 II, 15, 37 (p. 35) If you see that someone is exalted and puffed up because he is a partaker of grace, then even if he performed signs and raised the dead, but if he does not recognize his soul as dishonorable and humiliated, and is not poor in Spirit 4356 and vile to himself 4357, he is being robbed he is angry, and he himself does not know it. Even if he performs signs, one should not believe him, 2.3 because the sign of Christianity is that if someone is great 4358 and skillful before God, he tries 4359 to hide from people and, if he has all the treasures of the king, to hide and say 4360: “This treasure is not mine, others 4361 have placed it with me, and I am a beggar; when those who put it will, they will take it from me.” 2.4 If someone says: “I am rich 4362, what I have acquired is enough for me; no longer needed,” then such a person is not a Christian, but a vessel of delusion and the devil. For [the pleasure] 4363 of God is insatiable, and to the extent that someone 4364 partakes of Him, he becomes more hungry and thirsty and has ardor and uncontrollable love [for God] 4365; such, while they are alive, try to succeed in this, and 4366, and recognize themselves as beggars, as if they were in need and had acquired nothing. They say: “We are not worthy for this sun to shine on us.” This is a sign of Christianity, this is true 4367 humility. II, 15, 38 (p. 36) If anyone says: “It is quite enough for me,” then he is deceived and a liar. 3.1 III, 13, 1 4368 There are two kingdoms: the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. What kind of king are you, figure it out for yourself 4369. With whom you are in alliance and to whom you make vows, you are an accomplice. For it is written: “All things work together for good to those who love God” 4370. You have your own will 4371, and to what you give your impulse and your obedience, to whom you become possession, and son, and friend. If you love and delight in sinful desires 4372, they immediately begin to cooperate and cleave to you, because sin is conveniently attractive 4373 4374 and comes quickly; This is a prince rejoicing in the misfortune of people. And again, if you love good and find pleasure in it, it also comes and helps. But here [it is acquired] 4375 with great struggle 4376: after all, the Kingdom [of heaven] has no end 4377 4378; Therefore, this precious thing is rare and what is achieved with difficulty is glorious and eternal, because everyone strives to enter [the Kingdom] and achieve good without labor, but a great race and struggle lead to it, and out of the many, few make their way [to the goal]. 3.2 However, the victorious reached the Lord and King, peaceful and meek, rejoicing in human good; such will henceforth inherit the land of promise 4379 and enter the haven of peace, and the city of saints, and rest 4380. Just as there is a visible sky, called the firmament, so above it there is another sky, light-like, where the angelic regiments † (and, of course, God and angels 4381) †; there is a tabernacle not made with hands 4382 4383 . 3.3 All this is divine, indescribable and luminous, because it is spiritual and essential, being not from this world, but from another world, where there is neither darkness, nor night, nor war, nor hell 4384. But since it is impossible 4385 to contemplate with the external 4386 eye those heavenly [mysteries], therefore, like a [certain] curtain, this firmament was created, so that it would not seem that anyone 4387 could simply [so] see [these mysteries] except those who are pure in heart 4388 and sanctified in mind, fellow citizens and fellow saints 4389; and when this [firmament] 4390 4391 collapses, then the invisible 4392 receives the chosen ones. 3.4 Many, belonging to the good part 4393 and moved by the good 4394 Spirit, considered themselves 4395 already perfect and after that 4396 were attacked and intrigued by evil spirits - like warriors who considered themselves to have already defeated their enemies and had already thrown away their weapons and were carefree; Meanwhile, the enemies set up an ambush and suddenly attacked, killing some, and tying up others 4397 and taking them prisoner. This is what creeping sin did [with them]: it imprisoned some in its abyss and the net of evil, and sold others into slavery to shameful passions 4398 4399 . 3.5 So, all people, whether they are righteous or sinners, cannot be freed from evils and escape from the dominion of the devil, if not 4400 through the law of the Spirit 4401, that is, through Jesus Christ. For Paul says, describing the fall of man 4402: “Wretched man that I am! who will deliver me from death? I thank God > 4403 Jesus Christ > 4404 » 4405 that “the law of the Spirit of life has set me free from death” 4406 4407 . 3.6 III, 13, 2 Just as a spring gushing [from under the ground] does not diminish in the least, no matter how much one drinks from it, so those who have the influxes and treasures of the Spirit within their minds, no matter how much they preach, help those who listen with their faith, but they themselves remain as they were before 4408. For the spiritual, the Spirit is already building great palaces, and lodges, and chambers; A varied and glorious robe is prepared for them, and when they are allowed to come to Christ, then with great joy they receive them as their own, the spirits of the righteous 4409 and the entire Heavenly Kingdom 4410 4411. After all, the Lord says to them 4412: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” You have been faithful in small things, I will put you over many things; enter into the joy of your Master" 4413 4414. Many of the brethren who accept grace and agree with [it] move forward every day, growing, prospering and achieving great degrees; 4415 others, when they receive a gift from God, although grace remains with [them], deviate into excesses and many vices. 4.1 III, 13, 3 Question 4416. And when they fall into sin, does grace remain or does it immediately retreat? The answer is 4417. It happens that in a person who has sinned there abides grace according to [God’s] love for mankind 4418; when 4419 is separated from the body, then grace retreats, and the soul goes to its place, betrayed by the evil ones 4420. 4:2 For there are two laws in man: the law of evil, which snatches him away to his own lands, and the law of grace, which draws him to heaven. And as much as [a person] enters trials, so much does he become stronger, and take root, and become an indestructible stone; such a {mind}, standing firmly at the gate and not showing its back to the enemy, but opposing it, upon leaving the body, is accepted together with the soul 4421 into the realm of the Kingdom by the right 4422 angels, and it goes into eternal life. 4.3 Just as in the visible [world] the king gives gifts to his servants, and some of those who receive squander them on fornication, debauchery and gluttony, while others 4423, having accepted, keep and still acquire precious utensils for themselves - [so in the spiritual] those who increase [their goods] from the gifts given to him are glorified in every way 4424. 4.4 And those who truly tasted that sweetness 4425, looking at the visible king, dressed in purple, possessing 4426 dignity and treasures, truly consider all this to be a stench, an abomination and insignificance it seems to them, because they entered the royal and heavenly dwellings of Christ, and the heavenly chambers 4427 were opened before them, and they inherited other wealth 4428 , becoming the sons of the heavenly light 4429, the endless age. So, comparing the earthly with the heavenly, they then recognize the abyss between one and the other and the difference. 4.5 Imagine a person shaken by a fever, still in the midst of an illness: if you offer such a [sick] various dishes, or sweets, or other food, then he will turn away from it with displeasure, being full and watered with fever and having it for himself instead of food - and spiritual ones, burning with the heat of heavenly love and Divine fire, no matter how many appearances of this you offer them the world: rank, kingdom, wealth, glory - are disgusted, 4.6 like a person passing by 4430 a great stench with an unpleasant feeling. On the other hand, in the same way, those filled with resistive force and subject to the spirit of the world, when they hear the spiritual word about light, about the kingdom, about another age and about 4431 Divine power 4432, they feel as if disgust and despondency, unable to accommodate the word of God. 4.7 Truly those are wise and courageous, those warriors 4433 who have their own mind 4434, and are angry at the voluptuous desires arising in it, and resist the intent 4435 of evil, and obey and rejoice in the “law of God” 4436. What is a rhetorician or philosopher? Lust rises up against him - and he commits adultery, and is drawn to covetousness 4437, and his mind is stolen by evil spirits. Where is their great wisdom 4438? Word 34. {Without God's permission the devil has no power over anyone, and About the variability of the soul according to its will} 4439 1 Christians, clothed with the body, have within themselves such joy, and love, and hope in God and brothers that it is impossible to express it with human lips and tongue. And such, being in the body, already now foreknow and, as if in a mirror, see 4440 the rest there, and the eternal light, and the prepared joy. If this is so here, then how much more rejoices the soul when it renounces [the body] to Christ in that age, being with the Lord and the apostles. 2 Just as it is impossible for a crippled eye to see the rays of the sun, so Satan and the dark forces cannot see or approach the light that works in the holy, since [the devil] is exposed and burned. So in the presence of the Lord, "they shouted: 'What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? You have come before the time to torment us.'" 4441. 3 Just as, when caught, a robber or a condemned man is kept in chains in guarded places, but there is no decision yet whether he should be burned or killed, so the souls of sinners are possessed by evil spirits and angels, and, bound, are guarded in dark places until the judgment day of Christ. After all, those who are subject to sins want to ascend to heaven and are pulled back by evil spirits as obedient slaves of sin, while still in the flesh. There is also a revelation that a person is followed by two angels 4442, one good and one evil. And when the [soul] of a person is about to separate from the body, there is a comparison of righteous and sinful [deeds], and which part outweighs, there it is contained, on the right hand or on the left. But those who have already here received in their souls the royal image, and the seal, and the divine and heavenly fire, demons do not dare to approach those when [the soul] is separated from the body. If their leaders try to approach them more harshly, they are burned with fire, as it is written: “And He will burn His enemies around” 4443. 4 After all, if Satan were allowed to do what he wants, then, since his nature is cruel and powerful, he would easily destroy everything in an instant and cast it into the abyss 4444. Therefore, the devil is restrained by Divine power, interceding not only for Christians, but for all of humanity 4445 - both sinners and idolaters. She waits to see if her children or relatives are going to turn and serve God. This is what it means: “Those whom He foreknew He also predestined” 4446. He has predestined and chooses those who, as He knows, will, by their sovereign will, be obedient to His commandments and choose what is good. Those who turn out to be weaker and, having entered the competition, showed their rear, are dead in their inner man, for they are mortified and completely dead as controlled by evil. To whom was the law given? To whom does the Lord say: “Come, you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” 4447? To whom does He say: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” 4448? And again: “Your faith has saved you” 4449? People with completely free will. So, we say that a person has the will and his own free will to turn either to good or to evil. In fact, nature itself was created so susceptible to good and evil, flexible to actions consistent with its desire. Therefore, the apostle says: “To whom you show obedience, you [and] are slaves to whom you obey” 4450; “present your members as servants of righteousness for holy [works]” 4451. And again: “If you want and listen to me, you will eat the blessings of the earth” 4452. And the psalm says: “I will confess to Him by my will” 4453. This means that in the mind there is a confrontation between good and evil with equal force, and it can equally lean and lean towards the side of evil or fight, resist, and be angry at lusts. 5 For many there is grace hidden and varied, although they do not hear the word 4454, and there is [grace] that guides and preserves the heart and mind, but they themselves do not know. But over time, when they come to understanding, then grace itself reminds you that at such and such a time, under such and such circumstances, I helped you and did housekeeping for you, and in many other cases I secretly helped. In the same way, the very malice that grazes the mind captivates [it] and robs it, but they do not know. Sin persuaded Joseph's brothers to sell him 4455, and the fact that the Egyptian woman felt passion for him was a forgery of sin 4456. On the other hand, Joseph, secretly guided by grace, successfully interpreted dream 4457. Thanks to such hidden help of grace, he did not obey lust, but was chaste. David, being the least of the rest of the brothers, left the flocks, went to see the war and said: “Give me weapons, and I will fight with the foreigner.” A man seemingly small and simple - how could he muster courage against such a noble [warrior]? It is clear that, invisibly guided by divine power and grace, he found himself in war and was not afraid to confront the foreigner Goliath. Therefore, his victory was a work of grace, but he himself certainly could not judge [about it]. On the contrary, the king of Israel, seeing the small and simple David, did not believe that he could fight the warrior, but grace arranged it so that he did not interfere with [David], but even encouraged him and believed him. There are righteous people to whom sin invisibly and furtively, right down to every little detail, invites them to do something inappropriate, and there are sinners to whom, according to some economic plans, grace inspires—people do not know how—to do something necessary and beneficial to the soul, so they depart into [eternal] life. You see that grace abides with many sinners, advising what is necessary for certain purposes of spiritual benefit, and, on the other hand, sin is inherent in the righteous. 6 Often someone has a little grace, and it itself increases in depth and breadth immeasurably and limitlessly. I knew a brother who had the image of grace, which appeared to this man as thinly as a mustard seed, and suddenly this smallness grew and increased, so that it turned out to be more valuable than any thing 4458 visible and invisible. She descended into the abysses below her, and became high, and ascended to the highest heavens, into an endless age, so that that small little thing, which was like a mustard seed, embraced all and every kind of creature and turned out to be wider and deeper than everything. You see, the Lord curls up 4459 when he wants, turning out to be small, and when he pleases, he expands and increases to whatever length, and breadth, and height, and depth 4460 he wants. 7 Thus, wars come in different forms and act in different ways, and grace itself is transformed in different ways. There is a great measure of grace when it works in the depths of the heart. When in such distant India only the barbarians heard about Jesus, that He appeared in Palestine in a human body and performed signs, crucified and resurrected, they so strongly believed from this news that He was God that they even gave up their bodies to be tortured and burned. Do you see the action of grace there: if there were no action [of it] in them, how would barbarian people give themselves up to death in the name of Jesus? Again, in the heart there is always, as it were, an ever-increasing source, erupting hypostatically and in completely tangible fullness. This measure is strong and strong for those in whom [grace] operates. 8 Imagine a city that will be captured by the Hindus and Saracens, who enter it, 4461, but the king who owns the city will come and drive them out and establish his power and army in it, so that that city will have great joy and peace, having a meek king. So it is with humans. After all, the body itself, being sanctified along with the soul, rejoices and rejoices; and when the soul falls under the influence of sin, then the body is similarly burdened and grieves along with it. So, just as the body suffers in evil, so in sanctification and joy the soul rests and is glorified forever. 9 In the visible [world], the warrior, having taken up arms in the rear, hesitates to go out again and fight the enemy; Likewise, a merchant, when he has collected great wealth, does not dare to leave his home and endure labor; and the farmer, who has reaped a large harvest, is in no hurry to cut down the forest - however, in the spiritual it is not so, but whoever tastes this sweetness and the most beautiful food begins [to eat] with an unquenchable and insatiable [desire]. And the more you work on the land of your heart and deepen it, the good that is with you does not allow you to be careless, but hurries you even more quickly to go deeper into the land of your heart in order to plant there the most beautiful paradise garden of the soul. Since this glory is unspeakable, no matter how much treasure you accumulate, it makes you seem like a beggar. 10 In the visible [world], if some poor man becomes rich thanks to his courage and quickness, again tries to overtake those who are richer than him, and hastens to surpass them, so in the spiritual: the richer someone gets, he always hurries to something greater and higher, and you can no longer tear him away from [smart] work and prayer, since he sees the Lord in prayer itself, who gives him rest, for He Himself is his rest. However, there are such ignoramuses 4463 who claim: I have acquired wealth 4464, I don’t need more. These are robbed and deceived by Satan. After all, good, being insatiable and incessant, inflames desire more, and this sweetness surpasses all [imaginable] pleasure and sweetness. And who, having ever partaken of such a thing, can say that he has had enough? But if someone leaves this matter for even one hour or one day, then, by putting aside [internal work], he harms himself, and the sinful part quickly awakens. After all, if there is not enough fire, the wood goes out, and a very burning lamp goes out if there is not enough oil; or when a stream of water overwhelms someone who is in a river or sea, then while his head is on the surface, he can hope to live, but if they cover him [the waters], he dies. Just like two people competing in a race at an equal distance chase each other, and if the one running in front slightly weakens the tension and runs slower, he will be overtaken and defeated by the one running behind. This is true in all art. Those who are diligent and trained in literature feel harm if they neglect [their studies] a little, and every careless artisan forgets his work; if you neglect a little in the spiritual, immediately your enemies, unclean spirits, who are never idle, lie in wait, take possession of your pasture and crush your soul, kidnapping it and leading it away from God: they are quick and ready to shed blood. 11 There are some kings who, having defeated two nations, the Persians or the Goths, are content with this. Other kings, with an insatiable and courageous intention, try to conquer all nations, and have them under their power and subordination, and be above all nations. 12 None of the masters who reached the heights of their craft were able to reach the end of it. Neither a complete sophist can boast that he has fully comprehended all literature, for external wisdom is incomprehensible [entirely], nor an architect can say that he has reached or understood all the depths of knowledge, nor a doctor that has surpassed all science and can heal any wounds and suffering. Consequently, if no one can understand [everything] visible on earth, then how much more is that manifold wisdom of God 4466 ineffable and incomprehensible 4467? 13 There is a city of saints that has rest. Those marching into the city begin, by the power of God, to cut off the passions of the soul, for example, they overcome anger, vanity, gluttony, evil lust, jealousy, love of money, lies, and the like. Such cannot in any way cut off any of them unless they are guided by the grace of the Lord, for He Himself said: “I am the way” 4468. Someone is approaching that city and there is one more step left for him: if he does not establish himself, but leaves the road, then everything is lost and he has moved away from his rest. The Lord helps others, and they, little by little winning, do not deviate from the path. Even if they have not yet reached the city, they continue to walk [until they arrive]. The soul itself has many members, and sin, in turn, has many of them: a large number of vices are sown there - arrogance, hatred, lies, malice, deceit, pretense. When the Lord appears, it is as if some extremely pleasant and sweet nature is approaching, like the sweet nature of honey and the warm nature of fire. 14 People in whom divine grace operates believe that we are better than bishops and all deacons 4469. They experience this because what they received is not in heaven, because it is strange, and alien, and foreign to this world, and not being able to judge about it, they imagine under the influence of sin. After all, sin itself, even in the presence of grace, takes possession of the pastures of the soul and all members, and being robbed by evil, they do not know [this], because evil fights with them under the image of grace. So, it is necessary for that little thing to ferment in all the members and the whole mind to be seasoned with heavenly salt, and so little by little the vice is liquefied, thinned out and filtered out and becomes completely dead 4470. When darkness becomes thick, it quickly produces vices, since sin itself is the mother of sins and iniquities. As if in a dream, someone who accidentally found thirty coins 4471 imagines that he has found something that he did not have - this is how he evilly mocks people. 15 Just as in the salty and bitter sea there are gulfs at a great distance, in which sweet water [gathers] from many places, so in the sea of ​​ecumene 4472 there are few [people] who have a sweet source beating in their hearts. 16 How many prophets arose, agreeing with Moses: while he is the first of them, they are true companions; and how many bishops or deacons there are who have the Lord [in their hearts] and speak in accordance with the Gospels and the Apostles: they are all, so to speak, one building, erected on a [common] foundation. If they do not agree [with the Gospels and the apostles], then they are pseudo-apostles, false prophets. 17 Skilled craftsmen can test the minting of coins. There are gold 4473 coins that are finely counterfeited, so that only the knowledgeable can notice the difference, and not at all the inexperienced, and so it is in spiritual things. II, 38, 1 Many seemingly righteous people are considered Christians, but it is up to experienced masters to determine whether they really have 4474 the seal and image of the King, whether anything in them is counterfeit, for 4475 masters admire 4476 [only] masterful works. Those who are not skilled cannot test crafty workers 4477, since they also take on the appearance of monastics or Christians. and the apostles 4478 4479 suffered for Christ, and they preached the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, the apostle says: “I am in dangers more than 4480, in sorrows immeasurably” 4481, wanting to show that I have suffered more than they. 18 II, 38, 2 Gold is easily found, but pearls and precious stones suitable for a royal diadem 4482 are rare; often even among them those suitable for the crown of Christ are not found, 4483 and Christians create for the crown of Christ, and that soul 4484 becomes a community of saints. Glory 4485 to Him who loved her 4486, and suffered for her, and raised her from her 4487 deadness 4488. Glory to His greatness! 4489 19 But just as in the time of Moses 4490 they put a veil over his face 4491 because 4492 the people could not look at his face, so today 4493 a veil lies on your heart 4494 4495 so that you do not notice the glory that was on the face of Moses. When it is removed 4496 from Christians and those who love Christ Himself 4497 and truly seek Him 4498, [God] appears to them 4499 and reveals Himself, as the Gospel says 4500: “Whoever loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will appear to him Myself,” 4501 - and again the Lord says 4502: “And I will make an abode with him" 4503 4504. Do you see, brother, the prompting of Christ, how He calls us into His Kingdom and to the salvation of our souls? 4505 II, 38, 3 So, since the Kingdom 4506 is set before us, let us try to come with all our hearts 4507 to the undeceitful [Christ 4508 ], in order to receive the promise and the new covenant, which the Lord renewed by death and the cross, coming down and 4509 crushing the gates of hell 4510, bringing out the faithful souls, giving them inside Comforter and leading them into His prepared 4511 Kingdom 4512, in this century 4513, in the city 4514 Jerusalem, in the heavenly Church, in the face of the holy angels 4515. Glory to His greatness, who loved us so much. Amen. Word 35 4516. {A pure soul, according to its ability, sees God, and not such a one walks in darkness} 4517 1 The Ruler of all, the loving God is everywhere and in all creatures, and all creatures: heavenly, and earthly, and underground - are in Him and consist in Him, as Paul said: “For in Him we live and move” 4518, and “there is no creature hidden from Him” 4519. 2 Therefore, He is in everyone and is everywhere, and for what reason do the souls of all people not see Him, but [on the contrary] He is invisible, existing here? What gets in the way and what gets in the way? But this is obvious, for the Spirit through the Scriptures told us that from the crime of Adam, the first man who transgressed the commandment of God, entered “into the world of sin” 4520, the spirit of wickedness, “the ancient serpent called the devil” 4521, deceived Adam and drew him from his glory under his power, and taking him as a subordinate slave and all his children, he is his own darkness covered the soul not to see the Creator of it, not to enjoy His light. 3 This is the reason and misfortune that happened to man from the beginning, not to see his Master and not to do what is pleasing to Him, but to be in the darkness of sin and to fulfill the will of sin that entered man and blinded the eyes of the soul, because before he transgressed Adam, he, being pure from sin, saw his Master and was rewarded with the Master's communication, and had fun with the angels. Ever since he was captivated by wickedness, the eyes of his soul have become blind, and he no longer sees her Lord, who dwells here, but He has become invisible to her. Therefore, God exists in everyone and everywhere, but because of the veil of darkness that lies over the soul, He is as if far away from the soul. 4 For just as the blind physically do not see the sun shining everywhere, and do not see what is in their eyes because they are blind, and just as a deaf person does not hear any voices or conversations near him or reaching him, because he is deaf, in the same way the soul, blinded by sin that has entered into it, and covered with the darkness of wickedness, does not see the “Sun of Righteousness” 4522 and does not hear the living, and the Divine, and everywhere existing voice. 5 And just as a dead man does not inhale the closest air in which he is, since he has no soul, and so all his loved ones and neighbors cry for him, but he does not hear, so the soul, deadened to God and not having the Holy Spirit, does not breathe with that air of the Kingdom of the Divine, which is here, as the Lord says: “The Kingdom of God is spread out below, and people do not look at it” 4523. And again: “The Kingdom of God is within you” 4524 - and the Lord, and the Holy Spirit, and all the angels cry over her about her death and death, but she does not hear or see. 6 How again they rejoice over a repentant and quickened soul, for He says: “There is joy in heaven over one repentant sinner” 4525. And just as the soul of a person is close in a person, but the mind can be far and far away, so God, being near the soul, is far from your thoughts, so that He is both near and far. 7 Therefore, you need to believe with all your heart and love and seek the Lord and pray that He may appear, manifest, and act in our souls, He who is here and in us. 8 For if the action and warmth of the sun penetrate to the depths of the body, likewise the cold cold penetrates and acts to the depths of the body; and if the warmth of the fire and the action penetrates into the inside of the cauldrons, frying the meat, becoming useful for people, then how much more is their Creator and Creator, the power of the Divine Spirit, when He appears with His good will and acts in the soul, enlightens with His Light and with His Divine Fire of warmth fries the dampness of sin, and thus makes it sweet, and useful, and edible for the heavenly table of the Heavenly To my father. 9 For if this air is everywhere in this life, and if darkness of night is everywhere in all creatures, how much more is their Creator. Here, therefore, the Lord is located and abides near us, but He reveals Himself to those who believe Him, and those who love Him, and those who wait, and becomes manifest, according to the word: “He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will appear to him Myself” 4526. And again: “We will come (I and My Father) and make our abode with him” 4527. 10 It is necessary, therefore, for one who comes to the Lord and asks for eternal life to come with much faith and conviction and to be confident that for sinners, and captives, and brokenhearted, and mentally lame, and blind, and deaf, the Lord came and was crucified and died in order to resurrect and heal the souls of all. [ 11 ] Because through Isaiah the Spirit prophesied about the coming of the Lord, how He would heal souls: “The Spirit of the Lord,” he says, “is upon Me, for this reason He has anointed Me, He has sent Me to preach good news to the poor, to preach remission to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to comfort those who mourn, to give to those who mourn the anointing of joy instead of ashes, and the adornment of glory instead of the spirit of dejection.” 4528 Glory to our God forever. Amen. 1:1 Just as hidden thoughts can be understood from obvious deeds, so can the deeds of the soul be understood from the narratives of Scripture. But not everyone [can comprehend this], but only those who have partially acquired dispassion through suffering. 1:2 For Scripture tells both about the future and about the affairs of the soul, because all the future is hidden spiritually in it, and what anyone is a partaker of here, he will also be a partaker there. 1.3 So, when you hear the Scripture telling about paradise, Adam and the serpent, listen constantly 4531 to your heart and you will find that paradise is the word of God; the delight in it is the communion of the Holy Spirit; The serpent, who kills by disobedience, is a creeping voluptuousness, crawling through friendship and enticing us to eat from the [forbidden] tree, that is, from the cares of this life, [for it is said]: “Do not worry about tomorrow” 4532. Likewise, both together [prohibitions] were spoken by one and the same God: “On the day you eat of the tree, you will surely die” 4533, and: “See to it that your hearts are not burdened with a hangover 4534” 4535 - because the darkness that comes from care [worldly] and hangover mortifies the soul, driving it out of the spiritual word and depriving Divine action. 1:4 Therefore, the Lord forbids us to eat from this tree, saying: “Do not be anxious about anything except the kingdom.” For those who entered [this] paradise of God and kept this commandment were not expelled, but, insofar as they refrained from earthly things, enjoyed spiritual things a hundredfold, similarly effectively consoled by grace. 1:5 Let us therefore also pray that we may keep it [this commandment], so that, by remaining in the word of the Lord, we may taste the delights of the Spirit both here and in the future. Just as Adam, having eaten from the tree of knowledge, is expelled, so those who philosophize on the earth cannot abide in the word of Christ, 2.1 II, 37, 1, according to what is written: “Friendship with this world is enmity against God” 4536. Therefore, the Scripture commands that in every keeping one should guard one’s heart 4537, so that the one who keeps His [the Lord?] 4538 word like paradise may taste grace, not listening to the serpent that creeps within, who advises [to choose] what serves for pleasure, from which fratricidal irritability is born, and the soul that gives birth to [it] dies - but listening to the Lord 4539, Which commands us to take care of faith and hope, from which is born a God-loving and humane love that gives eternal life. 2.2 Noah was brought into this paradise, keeping and fulfilling the commandment, and through love he was delivered from wrath 4540. While preserving this [paradise], Abraham heard the voice of God 4541. Keeping this [paradise], Moses received glory on his face 4542 4543 and transformed creation. In a similar way, David cultivated this [paradise], and therefore prevailed over his enemies. But Saul, as long as he kept his heart, was successful; when he finally transgressed [the commandment], then he was completely abandoned. For the word of God acts in each [person] according to [his will], in accordance with [his work]. For to the extent that someone owns it 4544, 4545, and to the extent that he keeps it, that is how much we keep it. 2.3 II, 37, 2 Therefore, the whole face of the holy prophets, apostles and martyrs kept the word in their hearts, having no concern for anything else, but the earthly 4546 Spirit, preferring the loving of God 4547 4548 not in one word or simple knowledge, but in word and deed in reality itself, choosing instead of wealth - poverty, instead of glory - dishonor, instead of pleasure - suffering, 4549 and instead of irritability - love. For, hating worldly pleasures, they loved more those who take them away as those who contribute to their goal, refraining from “the knowledge of good and evil” 4550; They did not deny the good [people], nor did they accuse the evil ones, considering everyone to be responsible servants of the 4551 Master’s economy, and therefore they had a good disposition towards everyone. 2.4 After all, when they heard the word of the Lord: “Let go, and it will be forgiven you” 4552 4553 - then they considered those who oppressed them to be their benefactors, 4554. When they again heard His word: “As you want people to do to you, do so,” 4555, then they loved the good according to their conscience. For, having abandoned their truth and sought the truth of God 4556, they, as they should have, found the love naturally hidden in it. 2.5 And the Lord, having given many commandments about love, commanded us to seek the truth of God 4557, knowing that she is the mother of love. For it is impossible to be saved otherwise than through your neighbor, as the Lord commanded, saying: “Let go, and it will be forgiven to you” 4558. This is the spiritual law written in the hearts of the faithful - the fulfillment of the first law: “I have not come to destroy,” says the Lord, “I have come, but to fulfill” 4559. Find out how it is performed. 2.6 The first law, for a blessed reason, condemned the offended more than the sinner 4560, “for in what someone judges another, he condemns himself” 4561, and in what he absolves, he is absolved, Instead of judgment - judgment, instead of absolution - absolution 4562 "4563 > 4564. 2.7 II, 37, 4 Therefore, the fulfillment of the law is the remission [of sins]. We called the “first” law 4565 because God gave two laws to people, in relation to retribution - pronouncing a righteous sentence on everyone: to the one who forgives - forgiveness, and to the one who seeks - punishment, for it is said: “With the elect you will be chosen, and with the obstinate you will be corrupted” 4566. Therefore, those who performed the 4567 law spiritually and, in proportion to [this], those who participated in grace loved not only those who did good, but also those who reviled and persecuted them, expecting to receive spiritual reward for good 4568 . 4569 not only because they forgave insults, but because 4570 they did good to the souls of those who offended, for they prayed to God for them so much that through them they achieved bliss, as [the Lord] says: “Blessed are you when they persecute you and revile you” 4571. II, 37, 5 They learned to be wise in this way from the spiritual > 4572 law 4573, 2.8 for when they endured and observed mental meekness, the Lord, seeing the patience of a struggling heart, but not retreating from love, tore apart the “mediastinum of the fence” 4574 and for the time being 4575 4576 drove away the enmity 4577 so that no longer with effort, but with [God’s] help they received love 4578. The Lord finally abolished the “convertible weapons” 4579 that raised thoughts, and they entered “into the inner [behind] the veil, where the Lord entered as a forerunner for us” 4580, and enjoyed the fruits of the Spirit 4581, and, seeing the future in the strength of the heart 4582 4583, according to the apostle, as if in a mirror, fortune-telling 4584, They said: “The eye has not seen, the ear has not heard, and the heart of man has not entered into what God has prepared for those who love Him” 4585. 3.1 II, 37, 6 Question. > 4586 4587 But I ask about this amazing [thing]: if “it did not enter a man’s heart” 4588, how do you know this? Moreover, in “Acts” [the apostles] 4589 recognized [themselves] as “subservient” people 4590 to us? Answer. > 4591 But listen to what the blessed apostle answers to this: “But to us,” he says, “God has revealed [this] by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" 4592. However, lest anyone should say that the Holy Spirit was given to them as the apostles, but by nature He is inconceivable to us, therefore [the apostle] says, praying: “May God grant you to be firmly established in the inner man, to let Christ dwell in your hearts.” 4593 “The Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” 4594; and again he says: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” 4595. 3:2 II, 37, 7 So, let us also pray to receive the grace of the Holy Spirit in every assurance and sensation and to enter where we were expelled, and so that henceforth the soul-destroying serpent and the vain counselor, the spirit of [worldly] care and intoxication, will turn away from us, so that we, having firmly believed, will keep the commandments with the help of the Lord 4596 and grow in Him “into a perfect man, according to the measure of his age” 4597, so that the deception of this age will no longer possess us, but we would be convinced in the Spirit and not disbelieve that the grace of God also favors sinners who repent, 3.3 for what is given by grace cannot be compared with the previous weakness, “for then grace is no longer grace” 4598, but, Having believed in Almighty God, let us approach with a simple and inquisitive heart the One who bestows the communion of the Spirit by faith, and not in comparison with the works of nature, for [the apostle] says: “You did not receive the Spirit by the works of the law, but by the hearing of faith” 4599. 4.1 II, 37, 8 Question. You said that everything spiritually is hidden in the soul. What then does it mean: “I want [better] to say five words in church with my mind” 4600? Answer. The Church, of course, comes in two forms: as a collection of the faithful and as a spiritual composition. So, when it is spoken spiritually about a person, then the church is his entire composition, while the five words are common virtues that build up the whole person and are shared in various ways. For just as he who speaks of the Lord in five words has grasped all wisdom, so he who follows the Lord with five virtues builds up 4601 piety. Being [the number] five, they embrace everything. The first is prayer, then abstinence, almsgiving, poverty, long-suffering. These virtues, performed with desire and will, are the words of the soul, pronounced by the Lord and heard by the heart, for the Lord acts, and the Spirit then speaks mentally, and the heart, as much as it desires, fulfills it openly. II, 37, 9 But [these] virtues, as they embrace all [the others], also give birth to 4602 each other, for when the first becomes impoverished, they are all destroyed, [when] the second becomes impoverished, the subsequent ones, and so on. 4:2 For how can anyone pray unless he is moved to do so by the Spirit? Scripture also testifies to this, saying: “No one can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”4603 How can anyone patiently remain abstinent without the help of prayer? And whoever does not abstain in everything, how will he have mercy on the hungry or offended 4604? and, moreover, he who is unmerciful cannot have arbitrary poverty. And conversely, irritability is brought up along with an addiction to money, [regardless of] whether [a person] has it or not. 4:3 But a virtuous soul is added to the church not because it has done it, but because it has desired it, for it is not one’s own work that saves a person, but He who has given 4605 power to a person. So, if anyone suffers the plagues of the Lady 4606, let him not think of anything about himself, even if he accidentally did something on his own 4607 4608. Therefore, let it never seem to you that you preceded the Lord in virtue, according to [the apostle], who says that He Himself “works in us both to will and to act according to [His] good pleasure” 4609. 5.1 II, 37, 10 Question. Why does Scripture command every 4610 person to do this 4611? Answer. We said above that man by nature has [the ability] to exercise [in goodness], and God requires this [of him]. For He commands that [man] first understand [what is due]; having understood, he loved and voluntarily practiced [in this]; and so that the mind is active and [a person can] bear labor and complete the work, the grace of the Lord gives to those who wish and believe. Therefore, the human will is, as it were, an essential condition; where the will is not present, there He does not create [nothing]: although He can, like God, He [does not do this] for the sake of autocracy [given to man]. So, the performance of [good] actions depends on God, but the will [in this] is human. However, if we surrender [our] entire will [to Him], then He attributes the whole matter to us. God is wonderful in everything and inconceivable; but we humans try to depict in words some of His miracles, based on Scripture, or rather, taught by Him. “For who,” says [Scripture], “has known the mind of the Lord” 4612? And [God] Himself says: “How many times have I wanted to gather your children, and you did not want to” 4613. Therefore, we must believe that He Himself gathers us, and requires only our will. What is the manifestation of will? Voluntary work. 5.2 II, 37, 11 For as iron, when it cuts, cleaves 4614, cultivates the earth, plants, being forced, it itself deepens; however, someone else moves [it] and leans [on it], and when it breaks, he kindles it [in the fire] and repairs it - so a person, although he is oppressed and weary, doing good 4615, yet the Lord works in him secretly; and when he becomes weary and contrite in heart, he consoles and renews him, just as the prophet says: “Will the ax be glorified without the cleaver? Or will the saw ascend without the attractant? 4616. The same thing happens with evil. When a person obeys and prepares, then Satan prepares 4617 and sharpens [him] like a thief with a sword. We likened the heart to iron because of its insensibility and great hardness; but we should not, like insensitive iron, not know the Owner [of us] (since we easily give ourselves over to the enemy’s thoughts from the Cultivator-Word), but rather, like the ox and the donkey, we should know the One who compels and leads us according to [His] understanding. For [Scripture] says: “The ox knew its owner, and the ass knew its master’s manger; Israel did not know Me" 4619. So, let us pray that we may acquire the knowledge of God and learn the spiritual law 4620 to fulfill His commandments. Amen. Homily 37. {That the participation of grace is commensurate with faith and that Adam's handwriting was disobedience} 4621 1 The Lord, who said: “Let it be done to you as you believed,” 4622 not only delivered [healing] when he said it, but from the creation of the world until the end of the age he benefits everyone according to faith and experiences good deeds. He does much good to those who believe and little to those who believe, and the test is likewise proportionate. He does not tempt anyone, but prepares them for advancement and allows [temptations] to the extent of their good deeds. We call the spiritual knowledge of God, one with grace, a benefit, but we will also talk about testing in part. 2 He did good to Noah through revelations, but tested him during the long construction of the ark. [God tested] Abraham through the slaughter of his son, Lot through a settlement among the Sodomites, Joseph through Egypt, the people [of Israel] through the wilderness, Moses through a dispute 4623, David through Saul, in due time and with appropriate things. Along with his good deeds, He Himself changed accordingly 4624. So - in relation to the present time, so - to the original: “according to the measure of faith” 4625 - participation in grace, and according to participation - testing. 3 So, “Let us be unto you as you have believed” 4626 the Word of God. About what? About His power, because He is the beginningless will 4627 Fatherly, omnipotent Wisdom, God from God, most pure, unchangeable, incomprehensible, indispensable in righteousness, omniscient in knowledge, invincible in power, in all time, knowledge and things not found 4628, having enslaved everything to piety and by it, in turn, subdued [everything] to man, so that we too in a variety of ways they were submissive. For having given us the knowledge of piety, to which everything is subject 4629, he added conscience, thanks to which we realize that we need to carry out all our activities in view of piety. 4 That is why, when man forgot about piety, He Himself came and filled up for us all the lack of it, in order to shame the enemy. Because of this, He comes in different images: sometimes in fire, sometimes in clouds, through visions, miracles, prophets; then, incarnated through the Virgin, through education 4630, insults, reproaches; finally, in death, resurrection and ascension. He does everything to meet the demands of the times and human decency. And now again He acts in the faithful through His Spirit, through conscience, through nature, and with wise miracles He convinces the obedient and with the sacraments - the humble, and in general He gives life to all who have died in sin by His death. 5 Therefore, when you hear about Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the thought of God, begotten of God, uncreated, timeless and inseparable, according to the uncreated nature of Him who begat, not comprehended by any concept, but partly by grace, divinely conceived and revealed. In His coming in the flesh, He shows everything in Himself to the sons of the Spirit: “For in Him all the fullness of the Divinity was pleased to dwell bodily” 4631. Consequently, in Him they see Divinity, power, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, pure Man, obedience, piety, as well as patience, atonement, a submissive creature; having revealed the ancient nature and removed the unnatural, He carries “all things by the word of His power” 4632. 6 So, the devil had a person under his power, holding him on the basis of disobedience, became proud, as if he had taken possession of the Master's image and boldly said that even if God wanted to deliver a person, His Own justice would prevent Him, not knowing that God is omnipotent, able to preserve justice and deliver a person, which He did, paying the entire debt for us. First, by His obedience He tore up the handwriting of 4633 disobediences, and then by piety He destroyed wickedness. We deserve to die, but He died for us. We also destroyed others, but He saved everyone. Oh, the miracles of the Lord! He, who can forgive everything in a word, does not do this, but first lifts up our guilt and in fact absolves sin, in order to establish both the truth and reveal His mercy, as [David] says: “Who will seek His mercy and truth?” 4634. 7 But someone will ask: “If He gave Himself for [removal from] the danger [to which] all were exposed, then who else will be punished?” But we said above that He Himself said: “Let it be done to you as you believed” 4635. This means that it is clear that unbelievers are punished according to their unbelief. The faithful and the unfaithful are determined by the commandments: after all, many of us seem to be believers, but we do not fulfill the commandments at all and therefore we are condemned, having acquired faith in words, but in reality we have unbelief. 8 So 4636, brothers, let us pray to fulfill with all our might the commandments of the Lord in deed and word in faith and complete confidence, since to Him belongs glory and honor forever. Amen. Word 38. {About the righteousness of God and That there is no need to say or do anything without prayer and remembrance of God} 4637 1.1 Question. What does it mean when it is said: “Your righteousness is like the mountains of God” 4638? Answer. The demons themselves, being evil, due to their malice, cannot approach people, for they are bound, unable to cross the righteousness of God. Therefore, they first imagine pleasures in order only to motivate free will to lust through thoughts and then justly take advantage of the souls that follow [them]. Therefore, finally, they bring actual praise from external people and some benefits, and when we accept them voluptuously and humanly, responding with every good deed to the one who gave more than [due] from God, then, finally, they, abusing justice, bring the opposite (and the opposite of glory is dishonor or deprivation of profit), and thus keeping us dependent on the attachment that has previously taken possession, later they bother us with the opposite, since the previously seized passion produces equal confusion. After all, when they discover a just cause, 4639 they do not yield until they have pulled out the whole [soul], 4640 > suffering becomes both equal and inevitable due to natural law. 1.2 Therefore, it is necessary from the very beginning not to be committed to bodily blessings and not to enjoy glory, so as not to be moved later by temptations, but we should look here for why we want to be beautiful and cannot. After all, everyone wants to prevent a lie - and is unable to 4641. Where does this [come from], if not from sin living [in us] (as the Apostle 4642 said), which is the root of passions and the pasture of demons. 1.3 For this we need to pray day and night, so that He may dwell in us and walk 4643 “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” 4644, Who is secretly and partly in us, and clearly when He comes into the heart[,] cleansing a person. After all, “God will clearly come, our God, and will not remain silent” 4645. 2.1 Question. What do the words mean: “Without Me you can do nothing” 4646? Answer. [The Lord] said this for the sake of pious remembrance, so as to take on every task without judgment, but first pray to Him and try to do everything through Him. For in that we succeed in that in which we call upon Him; where we suffer is where we forget. Therefore, there is no need to do anything or say anything without [His] help, fight or be embarrassed by circumstances, since we overthrow ourselves even more without first seeking the One who has power. After all, only He guides a person, warning everything with the miracles of the Spirit. 2.2 Do you want to do something? Pray to Him. Do you want to talk? Remember Him. Do you want to get rid of evil? Call upon the Lord. Is sin darkening you? This is “the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world” 4648. Does a person intimidate you? This is a “mighty fortress against the enemy” 4649. Are demons scary? He forbids and they disappear. Overcome by madness? "From Him is knowledge and understanding" 4650. Shyness taking over? He Himself gives boldness. Overwhelmed by grief? Remembering Him brings joy. Can't find a way out of your thoughts? “I am,” He says, “the door of the sheep” 4651. Everything is in Him, as He said: “All things have been delivered to Me by the Father” 4652. 2:3 Therefore, believe Him in everything and be bold in Him, but fear only one thing and beg that you never forget Him because of demonic delusion. When demons distract you, do not enter [with them] into communication, either materially or spiritually, without prayer, but “open your way to the Lord and trust in Him, and He Himself will do it” 4653. 2:4 Consequently, He does not require anything else from us except hope in Him in every matter, and in proportion to hope there is just reward. The one who hopes no longer cares about what he hoped for, calculating in faith and reasoning: after all, the “measure of faith” 4654 is learned from here. Therefore [the Lord] says: “How narrow 4655 is the gate and painful is the way that leads to life.” 4656 For the soul that seeks the Lord is tormented by evil spirits and oppressed by temptations until it finds [Him], and then it is strengthened in the Holy Spirit, just as [the prophet] says: “Seek the Lord and be strong.”4657. 2.5 Those who claim that they seek the Kingdom by prayer 4658 and do not avoid lust, those who are deceived by it forget about the Lord. After all, it is impossible to love the Lord or our neighbor 4659 if we do not first hate pleasure and glory, for [the Lord] says: “You cannot serve two masters, God and mammon” 4660, “for whoever is conquered by someone is his slave” 4661. 2.6 This means that, according to the apostle, one must pass by the “spirits of evil” 4662 and thus enter the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is the man-loving Spirit of Christ, producing and delivering dispassion and faith to the soul. Haven't we received the pledge 4663 according to the Scripture 4664? The “spirits” of “malice” are the suggestions of the devil, the plans of unbelief and hangover, as [the apostle] says: “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the destruction of strongholds; [with them] we overthrow the plans” 4665, while there is a war of objections to thoughts. 2:7 For the enemy takes possession of the mind and cunningly points to external glory and pleasure, from where hatred is born, that is, the veil of the soul, because of which we cannot see either his malice or the help of the Lord, and so we do not know how Christ dwells in man and how he fetters the strong man and plunders his things 4666 that he stole from man. 2.8 However, we do not say that the Kingdom of Heaven here 4667 has an end, as if concluding the future, but that from here you can partake of the Holy Spirit and actively believe in eternal life through the resurrection from the dead, as it is said: “For if the Spirit of Christ lives in you, then He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you” 4668. And it is not typical for vague faith to say such things: “Examine yourselves,” “Are you in the faith,” “Or do you not know yourselves? " " Unless you're what you're supposed to be 4669 " 4670 . Therefore, He commands not to worry about anything bodily 4671 in order to keep hope in an undistracted memory. After all, in this way His Spirit will dwell in us. He shows by his very deeds that He Himself is the deliverance [given] by the Holy Spirit. 2.9 Therefore, let us pray that first of all we will not forget His providence, so as to endure labor and insults, having help and running “towards the goal for the honor of the high calling” 4672 until we “reach” “a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” 4673, through the delivery of the Spirit, from whom we are, through hearing those who believed 4674 in the hope of final and effective faith received the firstfruits 4675 . After all, we are not talking about bare knowledge, but about knowledge of the truth in the mysteries of God. For knowledge from the outside is accidental and comes from faith regarding visible [things], pointing to the righteousness of God and receiving from the outside a partial experience of the hidden. But the one who has surpassed the earthly not only in fact, but also mentally, with this undistracted mind remains near the spiritual door and begs the Lord to enter 4676, and when he is heard, [he] no longer [abides] in the knowledge or designation of the external, but in such there is an effective completeness. 2:10 Of course, knowledge also belongs to the same talent, but it cannot be compared [with true knowledge] in terms of benefit, since the labor [in acquiring both] is not the same. After all, the one who fights hand-to-hand struggles differently, and the one who looks at the battle from above works differently; one struggles and receives blows, the other watches and enjoys. One returns, inspired by the spectacle, the other, enriched by the manager of the games. So it is in the spiritual: “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” 4677. In accordance with hope, this is how peace [arises], and in accordance with mental silence, consolation 4678. “As the sufferings of Christ multiply in us,” says [the apostle], “so our consolation also multiplies.”4679. For there are measures of each life, and the justice of God rules in them, and insofar as one dies in the worldly spirit, to that extent one lives in the Spirit of the Lord. To him be glory forever. Amen. Homily 39. {One should also secretly confess to God with a clear conscience and humility} 4680 1.1 There are three manifold virtues that precede purity: all truth, self-control and patience with things that happen. Otherwise, there is no way to acquire them except by fasting and prayer 4681, not hating the tribulation of long-suffering, but asking for patience (for you make a request without enduring labor). After all, goodness then becomes permanent when it is acquired with heartfelt labor, because what is painlessly acquired can be easily lost. 1.2 So, without voluntary sorrow it is impossible to follow Christ and really understand about the kingdom and hell. Therefore He says: “I am the door, and whoever enters by Me will come in and go out” 4682, and again: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” 4683. 1.3 Therefore, he who is humbled by meekness of heart enters into the very gate, where the first truth is preferred and the conscience is accused, the deeds of the hypocrites are confessed and the fear of God appears 4684. Then the soul, enlightened by fear, sees deep within its rational nature, standing decorously, calm, solitary, serene, unexalted, God-loving, pious, well-trusting, in pure faith, sole ruler, 4685 4686 >, autocratic, self-changing 4687, ready to honor 4688. 1.4 Then she sees her own darkness, and having learned how far it is from [her true] nature, she comes into true repentance and desires to achieve this 4689, for the light shone only for vision, because of which she intensely prays to the Master and confesses that she has sinned greatly, and agrees to accept labor and shame for the sake of the truth, if only to acquire everything that she saw through the grace of Christ, who gives here the firstfruits , according to the apostle 4690 4691 , and the good things there are as in a mirror 4692 showing ahead, so that we, having firmly believed, should not weaken daily to die 4693 for the sake of life. 1.5 But the one who does not want to expose himself according to his conscience, neither to hear from another, how will he be called? Without gratefully accepting the drugs of justice, such a person has 4694 4695 thoughts, ultimately hunting for fame and human praise. However, everyone can know, thanks to their heart, what kind of readiness they are worthy of. So, let everyone consider himself which spirit he is more possessed of, for it is necessary that both act before the departure of 4696. 1.6 This means that a person should not rejoice that he is instructed in goodness, but should [examine] whether he has overcome evil, whether he has found himself above the enemy, whether he is superior in measure in sorrow, whether he is succeeding with his intelligent feeling in meekness, whether he is advancing daily, whether he is rejecting more patience, and so he must seek the fear of God, which was mentioned above, for enlightened knowledge, so that someday evil does not hide spiritual vice, wanting to show one good part, only just to introduce conceit and, having strengthened in it, disarm the entire mind, since conceit is the destroyer of all goodness. 1.7 Therefore, each of us must do good, but in evil we must reprove ourselves daily according to our conscience, or love reproof, 4697 without falsely attributing [vices] to ourselves under the pretext of humility, because here too the enemy finds loopholes. Find out about his cunning: he hides real vices, as if they do not exist, and arranges to slander those who are absent, so that later he can say: “Blessed are you, because you are not like that.” And thus, hiding arrogance under humility, he kills those who do not protect the truth. 1.8 Therefore, let us begin with the truth, let us love sorrows for its sake, leading to spiritual purity, and let us not accept false thoughts. Let us gain experience of future blessings by acquiring firm faith, for firm faith comes through experience, experience through purification of the heart, purification through long-suffering, and long-suffering through fasting and prayer 4698. 2 Question. What then? Without even entering a little into the heart, how do we begin? Answer. We said earlier that, standing outside, we will knock with the help of fasting and prayer, as He Himself commanded with the words: “Knock and it will be opened to you” 4699. Therefore, blessed are those who entered and remained to the end and acquired a pure heart 4700. However, we call the heart pure not as [completely] immune to evil - for free will is never taken away - but as one purified by grace, although having self-changeability by nature, as the Lord said: “Behold, you have been purified; sin no more” 4701, showing that even after grace, each of us has a will. After all, when His disciples said: “Increase faith in us,” He said to them: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you would have said to this mountain: “Go over and be thrown into the sea,” and it would have happened.” 4702 He said this, denoting faith, which is difficult to comprehend in action, since it is not yet strong in the one who sees things with the heart, from where we are ejected due to disobedience and where, thanks to obedience, we are introduced and [moreover] in each [case] where the will inclines. 3 Question. You said that you need to expose yourself in conscience before God. But how can I [do this] because I do not know most [of sins], for sin has covered me? Answer. A person does not know, but must believe that there are no secrets for grace, and when you discover the hidden wounds of the soul, then it exposes you to external sorrows, and if you endure [them] patiently, it heals hidden [ulcers] and from this kind of punishment shows you secret sin. For the one who does not endure adversity and does not look at hidden passions, there is no cure. So, in times of adversity, do not rebel against your neighbor, but be the same in every event, and you will not have a secret or incurable wound. After all, just as rubbing with oil is harmful for someone sick with a fever, so it is for an offended sinner to seek justice: just as he was harmed by inappropriate anointing, so this one, overly punished, was condemned more. Glory to our God forever. Amen 4703. Word 40. {Letter [On the fact that vicious] passions are not natural} 4704 1.1 Er. IIa, PG 34, 409 C sq. 4705 I want your prudence to know 4706 that for a perfect and sanctified man 4707 it is necessary that not only he himself be in God, but also God dwell in him, as the Lord says: “He who abides in Me, and I in him” 4708. The man of God 4709 must both “dwell in the tabernacle” of the Divine and “dwell on the holy mountain” 4710 of the most pure Divinity, in order not only to be embraced, but also embraced by the glory of the One who does not allow one to be under the power of the dark action of the passions. For the Savior 4713 infuses holiness with grace and 4711 dispassion in those who are worthy 4712, so that, just as He Himself is dispassionate, [so] He may make those who received Him dispassionate, “no longer shaken and not carried away by every wind” 4714. 1.2 And some are not only themselves far from the plagues 4715 of Christ, but also “feed their neighbors with muddy corruption” 4716, suppressing “the truth of God through unrighteousness”, “in which,” says [the apostle], “the understanding of God is manifest” 4717. For “having become futile in their thoughts and darkened by their foolish hearts” 4718, they claim that “shameful passions” 4719 are natural and came from God, I mean corrupting lust, unrighteous irritability, anger 4720 and grief 4721, which do not occur according to God, and all the like. 1.3 Therefore, we, leaving them and their own deviations 4722, recognize the autocracy of freedom given to us by the One who created us, so that it depends on us to strive for the best and refrain from the worst. For the righteous Judge would not punish us 4723 if He Himself were the Creator of the evils themselves 4724. Away, I beg you, away, let this 4726 absurd and foolish saying 4727 not come to the mind of your 4725 reverent understanding. God is the creator of the purest and most beautiful natures, as the Holy Spirit proclaimed at the creation of the world, for [the Writer] says: “Behold,” He says, “all good things are green” 4728. 1.4 Jeremiah, lamenting and perplexed about the reason for the 4729 passions, says: “The Lord did not speak 4730. Who said this, and it came to pass?> The Lord has not commanded, from the mouth of the Most High shall not come evil, but 4731 good” 4732. And, again, in the Gospel there is a questioning of mental powers to the Lord: “Lord (n), did you not sow good seed in Your field> 4733.? Where do these tares come from? 4734. In another place the Savior himself says about them: “Every plant that My Heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted” 4735. And that every planting of God is beautiful, Paul testifies, in which Christ says 4736: “For every creation of God is good” 4737. 1.5 So, know that the passions hidden within us are not ours, but someone else’s. For [the Psalmist] says: “Cleanse me from my secrets, and spare Thy servant from strangers” 4738; and: “Strangers have risen up against me, and the mighty have sought my soul” 4739; and: “Judgment and, Lord, those who oppress me, overcome those who fight me” 4740. What are these “secret” ones, or these “offending” and “fighting” ones, or these “alien” spirits, if not wicked spirits opposing Christ’s virtues? 1.6 Understand exactly what 4741 and the Law testifies and 4742 cries out for purity in the inner man. “Thou shalt not take,” he says, “the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not cleanse the heart of one who takes His name in vain > 4743” 4744. Therefore, the apostle exhorts, 4745 saying: “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness,” not only “of the flesh,” but “and of the spirit” 4746; and in another place he says: “Having cleansed the heart from an evil conscience by sprinkling” 4747; and also: “May your spirit and soul and body be preserved in their entirety 4748 without blemish” 4749; and: “That you may become blameless children of God” 4750. 1.7 Therefore, all those who wish to be worthy of adoption must not only keep their body blameless, but also their soul, according to who said: “Let my heart be blameless in Your justifications, so that I will not be ashamed” 4751. For those living under the law, fulfilling only “carnal justifications” 4752, maintain external purity 4753, and those living under grace desire inner peace in the holy place, obeying Rex: “If your righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, then you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven” 4754, 1.8 because the Pharisees, being blind in their minds, cleanse the “outside of the cup” 4755, just as the new Pharisees now like them, adorning the outer man with a skillful mind, justify themselves, while the Holy Spirit does not bear witness with their spirit that they are children of God, as the apostle says: “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” 4756. They do not want to recognize the growth of the inner man in sanctity, but are confident only in carnal merits, not knowing that “all the glory of the Tsar’s daughter is within” 4757. 1.9 Each of us is, as it were, like a mental fig tree, on which the Lord seeks the inner fruit, and not the leafy decoration 4758. 1:10 Therefore, whoever defends “shameful passions” 4759 as natural and not accidental, has replaced the “truth of God” with his own “lie” 4760, because, as I said before, the Undefiled and Pure made His image like Himself; But through the envy of the devil, death entered the world" 4761 > 4762. 1.11 So, since the human race, conceived in iniquities and born in sins 4763, “was alienated from the mother’s womb and erred from the mother’s womb” 4764, after sin 4765 began to reign over those who sinned 4766 from Adam until the coming of Christ, then, having mercy, the “Lamb of God came to take away 4767 sin world" 4768, with His own power, binding the strong one and thus plundering the vessels 4769 captive by him, [that is] us, according to what was said: “Captivity captivated" 4770 4771. 1:12 If we are anxious to be called out of captivity, and to be clothed with the “image of heavenly things” 4772, and to present “our members as servants of righteousness and holiness” 4773, as we presented them to sin, let us believe that we, who walk without stumbling in the light 4774, must see the wonders of God, according to him who said: “Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of your Law" 4775. 1:13 For just as in the sensible, he who walks in the light does not stumble 4776 , so in the mental, he who abides in perfect holiness does not think evil 4777 does not reason evilly 4778 . For there is no “communion of light with darkness” and there is no “communion of the church of God with idols” 4779. Therefore, recognize yourself as the church of God 4780 and try not to depict mental idols in your heart. For every passion operating in the soul is an idol; therefore it is beautifully said: “Whoever is defeated by someone is his slave” 4781. If we are enslaved to carnal passions, then we are clearly not enslaved to the Holy and dispassionate Spirit, 1:14 because no one “can serve two masters.” “You cannot serve,” it is said, “God and Mammon” 4782. “For the church of God is holy” 4783, having “no spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” 4784. “For the Holy Spirit flees from flattery and withdraws from foolish thoughts,” and “wisdom will not enter into an evil soul” 4785. 2.1 So, being convinced that our whole law is written in the heart “with the finger of God” 4786, “not with ink, but with the Divine Spirit” 4787, let us accept the truth of the Lawgiver, who said: “I am the truth” 4788, who also performs the circumcision of the heart 4789, and writes the law in the hearts of 4790 worthy ones His goodness, as He says in the prophet: “I have given My laws into their hearts, and I will write them in their minds” 4791. 2.2 After all, [already] now 4792 all those who care to enter into the chosen race, into the royal priesthood, into the holy nation 4793, into the special people 4794, conveniently accept the action of the life-giving Spirit 4795. Therefore, I ask you to pray that we too may be worthy, at least for a short time, to understand the uniform uprightness of 4796 life in Christ. 2.3 For such a soul, putting aside the shame of face 4797 and no longer possessing evil thoughts, and not committing adultery with the evil one, 4798 without a doubt, enters into fellowship with the one heavenly Bridegroom, because [itself] is uniform. Stung by the love 4799 for Him, “desires and dies” 4800, I dare say, as virgins 4801, of mental and mysterious communication with Him through the imperishable bond of unity in the shrine. 2.4 Truly blessed 4802 is such a soul; as overcome by spiritual love, she worthily became enslaved to God the Word. Therefore let her say: “Let my soul rejoice in the Lord: for He has clothed me with the robe of salvation and the robe of gladness; He laid a crown on me as a groom and adorned me with beauty as a bride” 4803. For the Tsar, having desired her beauty 4804, honored her with the name not only of the church of God 4805, but also of the daughter of the Tsar 4806 and the queen 4807: the church of God as adopted by the Holy Spirit, the daughter of the Tsar as born 4808 “of the Father of lights” 4809, and the queen as combined with the Deity of the glory of the Only Begotten 4810. 2.5 For how did our Lord, one in essence, for the sake of the economy of human salvation, take upon Himself in an allegorical sense many names (why in one place He is called a stone 4811 and a door 4812, in another - an ax 4813 and a path 4814, and also a vine 4815 and bread 4816? A stone - because of the steadfastness and inaccessibility of His power; by the door - because through Him we enter into eternal life; with an ax - because He cuts off the roots of vice; way - because He leads the worthy to the knowledge of the truth; the vine - because through Him the fruit is produced “wine that gladdens the heart of man” 4817; and likewise with bread - because it strengthens the heart of the 4818 verbal creature), - in the same way, the blameless soul, assimilated to God the Word, being uniform, is worthy of great spiritual virtues and gifts due to many successes. 2.6 I said this because the name of the bride is, of course, not only threefold, but also multiple. Know also that there is work ahead of us until we “enter into the sanctuary of God” 4819, “to God who makes glad our youth” 4820. For the Savior wants us, while still in the flesh 4821, to be worthy of His dispassion and to be filled with holiness, so that we can boldly say: “We, walking in the flesh, do not fight according to the flesh; The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds; [with them] we overthrow arguments and every exaltation that rises up against the knowledge of God" 4822. 2.7 Therefore, here we must still nail to the cross 4823 sinful passions 4824, according to the prayer of the prophet: “Nail my flesh from Thy fear” 4825. For “flesh and blood”, about which the apostle says that they “cannot inherit the kingdom of God” 4826, is not this visible body, for it was created by God, but “the wisdom of the flesh” 4827 excited by the spirits of malice operating “in the sons of disobedience” 4828, because the ascetics perfect for Christ “wrestle not against blood and flesh, but against rulers of darkness 4829 this, against the spirits of evil » 4830. 2.8 Therefore, since we recognize that this action is not natural, but [comes] from opposing forces, then, having taken up the whole armor of Christ against them, we will be able to resist their wiles 4831, because the Savior gives us the power to “tread on snakes and scorpions and all the strength” of the opponent 4832, so that, while still in the flesh 4833, we could boldly say: “If I saw untruth in my heart, may the Lord not hear me 4834” 4835; and: “Without iniquity I lived rightly” 4836, that is, without any carnal passion, living in heaven 4837, striving for “the honor of the high calling” 4838 > 4839. 2.9 For, having become alien to all passion, we can boldly say: not only have we preserved the faith, but we have also completed our course 4840. You must not only believe in Christ, but also suffer with Him, according to what was said: “Because it has been given to you not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for Him” 4841. [Only] to believe in God is characteristic of those who think earthly things 4842, even, not to say, unclean spirits who say: “We know who you are, Son of God” 4843. For both of them 4844 are enemies of God, and even more so of the cross, as the apostle says: “Enemies of the cross of Christ; their end is destruction, and their glory is in shame: they think about earthly things” 4845. 2:10 You see that not only apostate forces, but also those who think earthly things 4846 are the enemies of the cross, for they act from the same [forces]. Believing in Christ is equally available to all creation and to the will of [both] good and [evil], but suffering and glorification with Christ 4847 is possible only for those who crucified themselves for this world 4848 and “suffered the stripes of Christ” on their own bodies 4849. 3:1 Therefore, we must suffer, just as Christ [suffered], so that, having been sacrificed according to the earthly [man], we may be quickened according to the heavenly 4850. After all, if the thought that is in agreement with earthly [man] does not clearly decay, then the secret 4851 spiritual thought 4852 is not renewed, about which the apostle says: “But be renewed 4853 by the spirit of your mind and put on the new man created according to God” 4854 - and again: “As much as the outer decays, the inward is renewed” 4855 . Who is the external man, if not the one about whom David says: “He humbles him” 4856? [And] who is the inner one [if not the one] about whom he [says]: “He lifts up this one” 4857? It seems that the apostle [affirms]: “When I am weak in the carnal mind, then I am strong in the spiritual mind” 4858 - for the power of the Lord is made perfect in the weakness of earthly man 4859. 3.2 Even here, being in the flesh 4860, we must, as I said above, actually “put off” 4861 “the old man, which is corrupted by the deceitful lusts” 4862, [and] thus be counted worthy of a perfect spiritual calling. After all, preliminary cleansing is followed by sanctification. And in another [place] the prophet says: “Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb,” and the following 4863, and again: “He who delivers your life from corruption, who crowns you with mercy and bounties” 4864. 3.3 Having been released from this miserable life without purification and without sanctification, we will be empty and as if non-existent. Therefore [the psalmist] says: “Give me relief 4865 so that I may calm down before I go away and am no more” 4866. Obviously there is no confession in hell. Therefore, the same prophet says: “Will anyone confess Your mercy in the grave and Your righteousness in destruction? Will Your miracles and Your righteousness be recognized in the darkness in a forgotten land? » 4867. And Isaiah says: “The dead will not see life,” 4868, and Hezekiah: “Those who are in hell will not praise You, and those who die will not bless You, and [those] in hell will not rejoice in Your mercy. The living will bless You > 4869 just as I do » 4870 . And Job says: “If a man goes down to hell, he will never come up again” 4871. 3.4 4872, and hell rules [over them], a place of vanity, in which is a pit of sin. This means that here is the field of Christ, in which he who labors unlawfully is not crowned 4873 .> 4874 3.5 Therefore, let us strive to receive the Divine Spirit even in this life, knowing that “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His” 4875. So we will strive to reach 4876; Let us run “not as to the unfaithful” 4877, but as those who believed in Wrexham: “The kingdom is within you” 4878. And what other Kingdom is this if not the fullness of the Divine Spirit in souls? 3.6 It is necessary that from now on the athletes of Christ should be honored with Him, so that nothing else remains for them except the redemption of bodies at the resurrection, for which the apostle said: “Being conformed to His death, so that we may achieve the resurrection of the dead” 4879. For he who had Christ, who spoke in him 4880 and came 4881 to fill his poverty, needed nothing 4882 except, as I said earlier, the bodily resurrection from the dead, about which [the apostle] spoke: “Not because I have already achieved or perfected” 4883. After all, it was not as a fighter that he said: “Whoever is perfect among us should think like this” 4884. 3.7 Let us renounce “the other law that wars against the law of our mind and takes us captive to the law of sin that is in our members” 4885, and let us accept within ourselves the spiritual law of God, so that the feet of our souls do not falter, according to the saying: “The law of God is in their hearts, and their feet will not falter” 4886. 3.8 We write this, and you perform 4887. I believe that you, having been taught by God 4888, have cast off every filthy action of evil thoughts 4889 and shameful thoughts and have put on the whole armor of the Lord 4890 with the good mind of the Spirit 4891 . Pray that we too may attain “to a perfect man,” “to the measure of stature in Christ,” 4892, so that, having become akin to the Divine power, where “the sanctuary of God is,” 4893, we may fearlessly “stand before His seat” 4894 on the great day of His glorious coming. Amen. Homily 41. {On trust and refuge in God and on enduring temptations} 4895 1 You have heard the Scripture say that [the Jews] forsook the Lord, “the fountain of living waters, and dug for themselves broken treasures, which could not hold water” 4896. [The prophet] said this about thoughts, because we abandon the search for participation in the Lord, gained through silence and hope, and think about perishable and harmful things, when the Lord said: “Seek the Kingdom, and all this will be added to you” 4897. But what does “will be added” mean? Not so that we care, but so that we hope, and not as we want, but as He Himself 4898. 2 For what is good: to be filled with lusts, or, having been purified, not to lust? And again, what is better: to subdue the enemy or to love? and what is more beautiful: to reason and care and constantly fail, or to believe and hope and have a good outcome? After all, it happens that some matter forcibly or contrary to reason distracts us from prayer and mental silence, and, abandoning hope, we oppose [this temptation] with bare reason and do not understand [its meaning], suffering great damage 4899. He who prefers the Kingdom to everything and believes in the Lord patiently accepts what He has built. He knows that what is sent is for the benefit of the one who hopes, if only we do not change him with unbelief. Even if it seems sad at the moment, later, thanks to patience, it will bear saving fruits. This means that when we say: “Lord our God,” we believe in the power of the Name, that He Himself is the Lord of all: heaven and earth, life and death, soul and body, visible and secret 4900, and in all this He is known by the heart: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” 4901. 3 Having given us an intelligent and autocratic [will], He commanded us to look for the hidden Kingdom in Him 4902 - not to approach outwardly [temptations] coming from without, for their reason [lies] within. And the root of everything sensual is spiritual. And as much as piety is lacking, so does the attacking evil approach, which no one is able to completely turn away without calling on the Lord, who Himself worked out our salvation, not putting an end to the onset [of evil] for wrath, but for repentance, as it is written: “Blessed is he whom the Lord has rebuked on earth” 4903. 4 Therefore, let us not push away external [adversities], considering them unnatural, but it is better to overcome through prayer. For when we reject them, thinking carnally, graver dangers arise for us. Those of us who neglect to pray for the eternal will also fear the earthly danger that occurs due to neglect. For nowhere is a person safe unless we are preserved by the Spirit of the Lord. Isn’t spiritual tightness and heartache more painful than any suffering? As [Scripture] says: “All labor, and not labor of the heart” 4904 4905, - and again: “In spiritual distress he cried out” 4906. 5 Since your heart and spirit are attached to the flesh, where is the place for fearlessness? Therefore, fear Him [God] with prayer, and you will not be afraid of anything. When the mind forgets about spiritual and pious sorrow, then it forgets about the commandments and therefore, thinking to flee, it deviates from the smooth [path] and walks [on crooked paths] 4907 4908; therefore he meets with animals. If we had not stopped 4909 the work of prayer and hope, then we would not have sinned and would not have fallen into unbearable temptations, since [Scripture] says to the grieving soul: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength” 4910; unpunished 4911 will meet evil 4912. 6 So, let us strive to prayerfully do what He Himself commands us, and not as we strive. After all, He knows exactly what is good for our souls and wants from us hope [arising] from faith. Having cast everything on Him, we will care about nothing except the participation in the Holy Spirit. So may we escape the evil demons, and endure the sorrows that befall us, and may, guided in the Lord by His grace, be able to give thanks to the Holy Spirit, who delivers us from internal sin. 7 Consequently, prayer about this should be kept everywhere, for by doing so we will either prove to be believers in the apostolic word or not. Let us fear not our enemies, but the Lord. Evil thoughts that oppress those competing, even against their will, force them to resort to the Lord even more, while the voluptuous, leading astray, are drawn into unconsciousness. Therefore, obvious sorrows come, so that we, at least through them, again turn to piety. Infants seek God, fearing earthly danger 4913, but those who advance are held on by desire, for “perfect love casts out fear” 4914 4915. Amen. Word 42. {The power of the enemy cannot overpower us without our will} 4916 1 The terrible power of the evil one without the assistance of human will is weak and almost dead or only seems terrible and threatening. But when he [the evil one] has [on his side] the will of [the deceived person], promoting his [the evil one’s] desire and enjoying his forgeries, then [the evil one], like a living and powerful man, fights with him [the person] through his [will]. Consequently, we should be careful and try in every possible way to ensure that the will is always in disagreement and disagreement with the evil one, so that he himself weakens and dies, not being able to do anything with us that he desires. 2 For this is the struggle and competition of Christians, so as not to contribute to his evil crops, so that he does not gain strength and strength through us, but, in himself, weakening and not being able to do with our help what he wants, he finally fades away from us when grace reigns in us. After all, the sinful passion that has risen into the soul because of Adam’s crime is incurable in people and can only be cured by God. That is why the Lord came: “Behold,” says [the prophet], “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” 4917. Otherwise, it is impossible to receive healing even with a great variety of spiritual drugs, if free will and arbitrariness do not stop sinning, associating with evil. 3 For just as it is impossible to heal pain with thousands of means, when a splinter or something else has entered the leg, if you do not first remove what has entered the body, so it is in every passion that the soul possesses by its own will, be it hatred of one’s neighbor, some kind of envy, jealousy, arrogance, or some other addiction or plausible attachment: if the will does not completely turn away from bad predispositions and habits, it will not stop them and will not calm down, the final healing of the soul with spiritual power and the restoration of the former nobility of ancient purity is impossible. 4 Imagine that the evil transmitted to everyone through the crime of Adam, which has motivating but not coercive power, is one ounce in each [person] equally. The wills brought this ounce to perfection in different ways in the inclination towards evil: some actively turned [it] into ten ounces of sins, others into a hundred, others into a thousand, and thus evil learned to create various actions from the habit of bad people, which later the will multiplied in all ways, so to speak, into the talent of evil. The will must destroy this again by nobly turning away and hating all former bad habits and wrong preferences, 4918 >. 5 It is necessary to mortify and reduce the passions to such an extent until, in the amount of evil, they again reach an ounce, according to the above example, when the will completely retreats from the inclination to sin, and then the passions will be finally condemned by the just Judge, while the heart is completely cleansed by the Spirit 4919 > and is thus worthy of the Kingdom. Glory to His greatness forever and ever. Amen. Homily 43. {On adoption in Christ completed in baptism and pure love} 4920 1 <To those who affirm: if your baptism were faithful and true, then you would not expect to receive anything else from heaven; now it is obvious that it is destroyed due to the expectation of something else. The answer to this is:> 4921 2 The beginning of spiritual existence 4922 and our salvation we receive from there. For the apostle says: “If only the firstfruits of His hypostasis we hold firmly to the end” 4923 4924 - and that very thing that everyone received in baptism, “according to the measure of faith” 4925 in the virtues of those who advance and the prayers of those who are diligent, increases in the zealous and faithful, and right up to the touch and revelation of those who advance and directly walk, the perfection of purity and deliverance from passions does when the veil of darkness is finally taken away 4926, and we are worthy to receive the Comforter, the Spirit of adoption 4927. However, due to great subtlety, at first the believer receives participation in the Spirit, as if not knowing [Its] action, and, being house-built by the good will of grace, little by little comes to [its] growth and manifestation. 3 As a small newborn child grows, having the same members and body, until it becomes a perfect man, and as a sown mustard seed, according to the Lord 4928, gradually growing, becomes a tree to which He likened the Kingdom of Heaven, so, we say, the believer increases in spiritual talent and the guarantee of an inheritance 4929 until he, having succeeded in all virtue and diligence and walking uprightly, is fully worthy of everything. inheritance, that is, the Comforter, the Spirit of adoption 4930, just as the apostle says, raising [the Corinthians] like infants, from gifts according to perfection to perfect love: 4 “I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of angels, but do not have love, then I am nothing. And if I have all the faith to move mountains, but do not have love, then I am nothing. And if I have [the gift of] prophecy and know all mysteries, but do not have love, it does not profit me at all” 4931. Look at “I am nothing” and “I am of no use” and the comparison with the perfection of love, as if a baby were compared with a perfect husband. How, after all this, does he say: “I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but it is better that you prophesy” 4932? 5 Thus the ineffable wisdom of God has arranged that for a believer, the manifestation and communion of the Holy Spirit occurs gradually for the testing of free will and struggle, so that in fact those who have truly loved God alone to the end above all else, 4933 >, and for the sake of the Kingdom have endured in every struggle, may become evident; on the contrary, the lazy, cowardly and cowardly, who have turned away from the path and have not endured to the end, alienated from the Kingdom, will be exposed. 6 So, Divine grace begins to be born in man with such subtlety that [cannot be] either thought or comprehended, and just as those in whom the Spirit reigns, because they are filled with the riches of grace and the indwelling of the Spirit, cannot comprehend or express the variety of actions and ineffable mysteries due to the “immeasurable greatness” 4935 of the riches of grace “4936 4937 >, so and the subtlety of grace and the economy of the Spirit: in whom it occurs, no one can comprehend and know neither the subtlety and smallness, nor the greatness and ineffability of power, nor the heavenly riches [of grace]. So we have true and lasting baptism, and from here we receive spiritual life, and it increases in those who continue and succeed in all virtues, in all diligence and struggle, and appears in us, perfecting us in its grace 4938. Amen. Word 44. {Interpretation [of the words] “No one is good except God alone,” and What [means] “True Light” and “shines in darkness”} 4939 1.1 “A man asked” the Lord, “saying: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The Lord answered him: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone" 4940. Wasn’t the Lord good, wasn’t he kind? But He answered [thus] the one who asked Him, because he considered Him a man, a teacher, like all [people]. The Lord did not put Himself on a par with the race of Adam, saying: “No one is good except God alone,” that is: I am not good as you think, but good as you do not know. After all, from the race of Adam no one is good - for everyone was under [the power of] sin - but God alone is sinless. He redeemed the race of Adam from the devil's "power of darkness" that held him back 4941. 1.2 But [the gospel phrase] also has another meaning. “No one is good except God alone,” that is, Jesus alone is good, for He alone was born without sin and without fellowship with a husband. He alone came into the world free and unfallen, in order to redeem [it] from sin. 2.1 For He was “the Word” “in the beginning,” “and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” 4942. “All things began to be through Him, and without Him nothing began to be [.] 4943 In Him there was life” 4944, that is, everything “that began to be in Him” 4945 lives and moves 4946 because He is the God of all, and everything lives by God, and each [creature] has from God its own life according to its measure and quantity: so birds have their life, animals, reptiles, fish - every creature lives having life from God. But also [visible] creations, heaven and earth, plants, seeds, and invisible [beings] (I mean angels, principalities, powers) live by God. For God is the life of all. 2.2 God is the “light of men” 4947, and people who are born again of God 4948 and being children of God 4949 live in immortal light. After all, this light now shines and illuminates the souls of the children of light 4950, born of the Spirit 4951. This light for them is peace 4952, life 4953; food, drink 4954; robes 4955; weapons 4956; victory 4957; crown, joy 4958 . This “light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” 4959 that is, sin did not recognize and did not see it 4960, or people who are under cover cannot recognize or see the “true light” 4961, which is God. 2:3 For just as the sun shines on both the blind and the sighted 4962, but the blind, because of their blindness, do not see [the sun] shining on them, and people with clear sight see the light, for their eyes are open, so the light of God shines everywhere, for it is indescribable [in places], but those who are under the dark cloud of sin do not know it and do not see it because the eyes of the heart are blind. 4963. Those to whom grace has shone and who have been born again from the Holy Spirit 4964, they know and see the “true light” 4965 in its entirety 4966, since the darkness of sin has been removed from them, and the veil has been removed from the eyes of the soul, and “the eyes of [their] heart are enlightened” 4967 “by the true light” 4968. In this light live the born children of God 4969. 2.4 Woe 4970 if this “true light” 4971 does not shine in someone’s heart. Woe if someone's veil is not removed. Such a one dwells in sinful darkness, and those who exist in darkness are necessarily perceived by darkness. 2.5 But he who is born in the true and ineffable light has “passed from eternal death” into eternal life 4972. And, again, in a similar way, the light that resides in the one worthy [of its acceptance] henceforth receives the one renewed day by day 4973 and together with him returns (goes) to the heavenly Father. For where this light shines and acts, the darkness of sin flees from the heart, just as darkness flees from the light of the sun. And whoever sees 4974 this “true light” 4975 and has it in himself, having acquired spiritual fruits 4976, inevitably sees the darkness disappearing, for this light is “ineffable love, long-suffering, kindness, mercy, faith” 4977 and other actions of virtue. All this is this “true light” 4978, which is God, as the Apostle John says: “God is love” 4979 4980. 2.6 For just as fire is by nature hot and water is wet, so the “true light” 4981, which is God, is by nature “love, joy, peace, mercy” 4982 boundless and immeasurable, as it is written: “According to His greatness and His mercy” 4983. And in whatever soul this unspeakable light shines, it remains there incessantly. 2.7 So, let us ask God day and night, that He would open the eyes of our souls, and remove sinful darkness from our hearts, and enlighten us with “His true light” 4984, and become a partaker of our soul with an unspeakable communion, as if He were his own bride, so that we, united with Him, would become partakers of His goodness, and so that He would take away from us every vice and spiritual wrinkle 4985 4986 so that when we are henceforth enlightened and receive this “true light” 4987 in our hearts, this light will accept us into eternal life. But even at the resurrection, by the same light that now exists in us, our bodies rise, glorified and illuminated, and so, having become entirely soul and body light and united with the Divine light, let us reign 4988 with Him for endless ages. 3.1 Just as the sun, illuminating a house through a window, is partly in the house, but all the unshaded light shines completely outside in the clean air and on the earth, so the “true light” 4989, when it shines on the soul, it is, as it were, in part, and it is not yet all illuminated, but is still surrounded by darkness. It has the beginnings of enlightenment and divine knowledge, but is not yet fully illuminated. When there is no longer darkness in it, but is constantly illuminated entirely by true light, like the earth in the upper layers of the air by the sun, then, as soon as all the darkness has been removed, the soul, eternally remaining in the light, is perfected in the light, and itself becomes light. 3.2 And just as the sun emits from itself the sparkling rays, which, although separated from each other, but all come from one source 4990, the sun, and although some are brighter than others, all from one nature and from the same solar circle, so the saints, born of the Holy Spirit 4991, children of God 4992, having in themselves the light of the Divine, are from one and the same Spirit. 3:3 But just as the rays of the sun are separated from each other, so the saints are separated in body and soul, for Peter is Peter, and Paul is Paul, and in like manner all the saints. Each has his own body and his own soul, but the same God dwells in all, and they all dwell in God, each having their own virtue and beauty, spiritual and physical, according to the “manifold wisdom” 4993 and manifold spiritual grace, [and God] acts in them as He wills. All saints participate in the same Divine body 4994, the same hypostasis, the same essence and are connected by Divine righteousness, like the rays of the sun. 3.4 when 4995 the same sun sets, it folds all its rays into itself and does not emit a single ray to the darkness; so Christ, at the end of the world, when judgment comes and Gehenna is revealed, collects all the rays (that is, the saints) in which He acted and to which He transferred His Spirit into Himself, making them a part of Himself, not allowing anyone [to remain] in the night and darkness, but accepting everyone into Himself in His eternal kingdom 4996. Amen. Homily 45. {On the degrees of perfection, and why the bodies of saints are destroyed, and On the gradual advancement of man} 4997 1.1 Imagine a person possessed by a severe fever and burned [by it] from the inside. If a doctor brings him food, he experiences displeasure and disgust; then the doctor persuades him with the words: “Force yourself.” And when he takes food, little by little the sweetness of the food begins to calm down and extinguish the strong internal heat of the disease. However, the fever does not go away in one go, for [the patient] often takes food, becomes stronger, recovers and gets to his feet, but he still experiences weakness, impotence and infirmity. II, 15, 7 And it happens that [a person] has some members, or sight, or eyes in excellent [condition], while other members are damaged; 4998. It’s the same in spiritual things. There are many spiritual members, and some of them 4999 are healthy, but from this [a person] does not become perfect. Do you see how many spiritual degrees there are, 5000, and how gradually, and not all at once, evil passes and becomes thinner? 1.2 All the Lord's providence and economy: both the rising of the sun and all creatures, were created for the sake of the Kingdom, which the elect are to inherit, and for the sake of a peaceful Kingdom 5001. 1:3 II, 15, 8 Christians do not condemn an open harlot, nor sinners, nor disorderly people, but look at everyone with a simple will and a pure eye 5002 so that this becomes for a person as if natural, as if rooted - not to humiliate anyone, not to condemn anyone and not to disdain [anyone], although distinguishing between them 5003 5004 ; and about a one-eyed [man], knowing that this is the case [with his injury], look at him as healthy 5005, [and] at one who has a crippled hand - as healthy 5006. For this is the purity of the heart, to forgive 5007 sinners, and to have compassion [with them], and to be merciful. For it happens that the saints of God sit in the theater 5008 and look at the world with worldly deceptions, but they themselves, according to the inner man, converse with God 5009. 1.4 II, 15, 9 Worldly [people], being under the influence of the spirit of delusion 5010, have a different will 5011 earthly wisdom 5012; but Christians have a different will, a different mind; [they are people] of another age, of another city, because the Spirit of God communicates with their souls, and they trample on the opponent, as it is written: “The last enemy is abolished - death” 5013. After all, the pious are rulers over everything: they despise fire, and the sword, and water, and demons, and the passions of the ruler 5014. On the contrary, the weak 5015 and sinners are all slaves: fire burns them, and a stone or sword kills them, and demons rule [over them]. 2 II, 15, 38b (p. 36) Just as the body of the Lord, when He ascended the mountain and was transformed into Divine glory and infinite light 5016, so the bodies of the saints are glorified and made shining. For [just as] the inner glory was then spread out on the body of Christ and shone forth, in the same way, in the saints, the power of Christ that is within will on that day overflow outside - onto their bodies, because even now with their minds they partake of His essence and nature. For it is written: “Both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are from One God” 5017; and: “The glory that you gave Me, I gave to them” 5018. Just as many lamps are lit by one fire, so it is necessary for their [the saints’] bodies—the members of Christ—to become the same thing as Christ. 3.1 II, 15, 39 (r. p. 37) Question. How do Christians become superior to the first Adam? Their bodies die and decay, but he [Adam] was both immortal in his soul and incorruptible in his body. Answer. True death is hidden inside, in the heart, and a person dies from within. Therefore, if someone has “passed from death into life” 5019 in secret, then he truly lives forever and does not die. Even if their bodies are destroyed for some time, they will be resurrected again in glory, because they have been sanctified. Therefore, we call the Dormition of Christians the sleep of 5020. Adam's body was not incorruptible, but was [something] intermediate between incorruption and corruption 5021 5022. And if, as you say 5023, a person was immortal 5024 in body, then the whole world, seeing the extraordinary nature of the matter, namely, that the bodies of Christians do not decay, would bow to goodness out of some necessity, and not out of an arbitrary disposition 5025. 3.3 II, 15, 40 (p. 38) But in order for the freedom that the Lord gave him in the beginning to remain and manifest in man, everything is arranged with special care, and bodies are destroyed, so that it is in the will of man to turn to good or evil. For one who is completely [immersed] in evil and in the depths of sins is not bound by any necessity and, although being a vessel of the devil, is not entirely in [his] power, but has the freedom to become a vessel of life 5026; and also, deeply immersed in God, although intoxicated with grace, is not restrained by any necessity, but, although filled and bound by the Holy Spirit, has freedom to turn and do in this age what he wants. 4.1 II, 15, 41 (r. p. 39) Question. Does evil gradually become thinner and eradicated and a person succeeds in grace, or is evil eradicated immediately as soon as he reaches charity 5027 [grace] 5028? Answer. Just as an embryo in the [mother’s] womb does not immediately develop into a man, but gradually takes on a [human] form, and is born, and does not immediately become a perfect man, but first grows for many years, and then becomes a husband; and also the seeds of barley or wheat do not immediately take root as soon as they are thrown into the ground, but when the winter winds pass, then in due time an ear appears; and the one who plants a vineyard 5029 does not immediately reap the fruits - so even more so in the spiritual, where there is so much wisdom and subtlety, a person grows little by little and comes “to a perfect man, according to the measure of his age” 5030, and not, as some claim: “Get dressed, undressed” 5031. 4.2 II, 15, 42 (r. p. 40) How someone who wants to study verbal sciences goes [to school] and memorizes letters, and when he is the first there, he enters the Latin school, where he is the last of all; when again he becomes the first there, he enters the grammar school and again becomes the last of all [and] the beginner; 5032 ; and when he becomes the first there again, then he becomes a ruler, and when he becomes a boss, he takes on his comrades as assistants. Therefore, if there is so much progress in the visible, then how much more the heavenly mysteries have progress and increase in many degrees, and then someone becomes perfect [when] 5033 long exercise and many trials. 4.3 For Christians who have truly tasted grace and have the sign of the cross 5034 in their mind and heart, these [everything] from kings and below 5035 count as rubbish 5036 5037, and they [alone] can understand that the whole earthly field 5038, and royal treasures, and riches, and glory, and words [of wisdom] 5039 - all this is some kind of dream, something that does not have a solid foundation, but is transitory; and if there is anything under heaven, they neglect it all. 4.4 II, 15, 43 (r. p. 41) Why? Because what is wonderful and wondrous is that which is above heaven - which is not found either in royal treasures, or in the wisdom of words, or in worldly glory, or in honors, or in wealth - what they acquired for themselves, having in their inner man the Lord Himself, the Creator of all things, an acquisition that is not transitory, but eternally abiding. Amen 5040. Word 46. {On communication [with God] of intelligent beings and On hope in God} 5041 5042 1.1 II, 16, 1 The Creator created all rational beings, I mean angels, souls and demons, pure and simple. And that some of them turned to evil - this happened to them out of self-will, because by their own will they deviated from the rightful thought. If we say that they were created this way by the Creator, then we will call God, Who sends Satan to Gehenna, an unrighteous judge. But there are heretics 5043 who claim that matter is without beginning and that it is the root, the radical force, and is equivalent to [God]. 1.2 You can thoroughly object to this: “What force prevails over 5044?” It must be said that the power of God. Answer 5045: “And in this case, the vanquished is no longer modern or unequal [with the Victorious], O 5046 who claim that evil is independent 5047. For in God there is no independent evil according to His impassivity and Divinity. In us, independent 5048 evil 5049 operates with all its strength and sensitivity, inspiring all unclean desires.” However, it is dissolved [with us] not as others say this about mixing wine with water, but as on one ole 5050 grow both wheat by itself and tares by themselves, or as in one house there are a particular robber and a separate owner of the house 5051. 1.3 II, 16, 2 The spring pours out clean water, but at the bottom there is mud. If anyone disturbs the mud, the entire source becomes muddy. Likewise, the soul, when it is indignant and clouded, dissolves 5052 and Satan and the soul become one and the same (both being spiritual beings), as, for example, during fornication or murder. Therefore, “he who has sex with a harlot becomes one body [with her]” 5053. However, at other times the spiritual being [is] on its own, repents of its actions, and cries, and prays for its sins, and remembers God. And if the soul were always mired in evil, then how could it do this, because Satan, being hard-hearted, does not want people to turn to repentance? 1:4 And the wife, by consent with her husband, becomes one with him, but at other times they are separated, because often one of them dies, and the other [remains] alive. A similar thing happens when communicating with the Holy Spirit: Christians 5054 become one spirit with the Lord. At other times they are not one, but both hypostases exist separately 5055. They become one when a person is absorbed in grace itself. 1.5 II, 16, 3 Others, sensing God, are still subject to the action of the enemy on them and, out of inexperience, wonder how, according to them, after God’s visit their thoughts have their effect. Those who have been tested 5056 in the sacraments of Christianity and have grown old in them are not surprised. Just as experienced farmers, by long-term practice, when there is fertility, do not remain completely careless, but expect both hunger and poverty, and vice versa, when hunger or poverty befalls them, they do not completely lose hope, knowing about the change [of circumstances], - so in the spiritual, when the soul falls into various temptations 5057, it does not marvel and does not despair, for it knows that by [God’s] permission it is permitted grace 5058 to test and punish her, and vice versa, with great wealth or 5059 peace she does not become careless, but awaits change. 1.6 And if this sun, being a body and a creature, illuminating fetid places, where there are corpses 5060 and mire, does not experience any harm or is not defiled - then how much more pure and the Holy Spirit, dwelling in the soul 5061 under the influence of the filthiness 5062 of the evil one, is in no way involved [in uncleanness], for “the light shines in the darkness, and its darkness does not announced » 5063. 1.7 II, 16, 4 Therefore, when a person is deep in grace and enriched by it, there is a remnant of vice there, [but] he has an intercessor who helps him. Therefore, when someone is in sorrow 5065, he should not lose hope, because sin becomes even more white and sin comes in. And when someone always has hope in God, the evil seems to thin out and dilute in him. If others are weakened, have damaged members, suffer from fire, are weak and unwell, then this happened from sin, because it is the root of all this 5066, and the passions of the soul (lusts and evil thoughts) come from it. 1.8 Just as, for example, there is a flowing spring and the damp and damp places surrounding it, [but] when the heat sets in, both the source itself and the surrounding places dry up - so it is with the servants of God 5067 ·. in whom 5068 grace 5069 multiplies, then it dries up the lust of the evil one, as well as natural and pure 5070 [desire], because now God's people become greater than the first Adam. 1.9 II, 16, 5 God is indescribable 5071 and incomprehensible, He reveals Himself everywhere: on the mountains, and in the sea, and at the bottom of the abyss - without moving from one place to another, just like an angel descending from heaven 5072 is on earth, but is not in heaven. God is everywhere: both above, so that the Holy Powers are involved in Him, and here on earth, and every creation and creature is contained by His hand, [while] He Himself is inconceivable [by any creature] 5073. 1:10 But you ask: “How can God be 5074 in darkness, or in Satan, or in places where there is a stench?” I also answer you that God, being impassive, embraces everything, because he is indescribable, [so that] Satan, being a creature, is restrained and bound by Him, and [at the same time] what is good is not defiled or darkened. And if you deny that He embraces everything: Gehenna and Satan, then you make Him describable 5075 so that we then begin to look for another [god] who is higher than Him. Therefore, it is necessary that God be everywhere and [at the same time] the secrets of the Divinity and the subtlety contained in Him should not be enveloped in darkness 5076. After all, evil cannot be involved in purity, even if [God] is in it. Therefore, for God there is no independent evil, because He does not tolerate any harm. 1:11 II, 16, 6 But for us there is evil, because it lives and works in the heart, throwing up evil and unclean thoughts and not allowing us to pray purely, but captivating the mind in this age. It clothed itself in the souls and touched the very core of the bones. 2.1 Just as Satan is in the air, and God, being present there, suffers no harm, so there is sin in the soul, and God’s grace is equally present, without any embarrassment. 2, [2] Just as a slave, if he is near his master, the entire time he is near him, is under fear and does nothing without him - so we must expose and reveal our thoughts before our Master Christ the Knower of the Heart 5077, whether we are in evil [conditions] or in peace 5078, and have hope and trust in Him, because He is my wealth, He is my father, He is my glory. 2:3 Therefore you must always have care and fear in your conscience. And if anyone does not yet have God’s grace implanted and established in himself, so that day and night it would be, as it were, naturally attached to the soul, hourly guiding it and directing and captivating 5079 to good, so as to have care, sickness and fear as [something] natural and unchangeable, then he must have [at least] contrition of heart 5080 always established [in himself]. 2.4 II, 16, 7 But just as a bee secretly makes a wax cell in a honeycomb, so grace secretly produces its love in hearts and turns bitterness into sweetness, cruelty into kindness. 2.5 Or just as a chaser or silver carver, carving a dish in parts, covers the various animals that he carves, and when he finishes the work, then shows the dish in full splendor, so the Lord, the true Artist, melts 5081 our hearts and renews them mysteriously, until we move from the body 5082, and then the beauty of the 5083 soul itself becomes visible. 2.6 Those who want to make 5084 vessels and depict animals on them first make a wax cast and then cast [the vessel] in its likeness, so that the thing is made according to that model. Likewise, sin, being of a spiritual nature, has [its] image and is transformed into many forms. 2.7 Likewise, the inner man is a kind of living being, having his own image and his own outline, because the inner man is the likeness of the outer. This is an important and precious vessel, because of all creatures [it was] there that the Lord was pleased to dwell 5085. 2.8 The good thoughts of the soul are like precious stones and pearls, but the unclean thoughts are filled with “bones 5086 and all uncleanness” 5087 5088. 2.9 II, 16, 8a, cf. I, 4, 26, 1a 5089 Therefore, Christians belong to another age, they are the sons of heavenly Adam, a new birth, children of the Holy Spirit, luminous brothers of Christ 5090, with whom may we also be rewarded with the grace and love of mankind of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom befits glory, honor and splendor forever and ever. Amen. Word 47. {The aspirant must always have fear because of the changeability of nature} 5091 1 cp. II, 38, 3b Those who build a foundation like a rock 5092, which is Jesus Christ, and have been trained and tempted for a long time - these can “help those who are tempted” 5093, and sympathize 5094, and have pity on them. 2 II, 38, 4 Some, deceiving themselves 5095 when the grace of God was in them, with the strong action [of it] found their members so sanctified that they concluded about themselves that there is no place for lust in a Christian, but a chaste and pure mind is acquired, and that the inner man already soars in the divine and heavenly mysteries 5096. Therefore, such a [person] thinks that he has already reached the perfect measure; 3 and when he considers himself to be approaching the harbor, the waves rise against him again, and again he sees himself drawn into the middle of the sea, where there is only sky, sea and ready death - for the sin that has entered [in us] produces 5097 evil lust 5098; 4 and now those same [people] have taken, as if 5099 from the entire depths of the sea, a few drops - and they find such a great miracle happening hourly and daily that the one who has undergone such an extraordinary, strange and divine action is amazed and amazed at how he philosophizes 5100, how he enlightens, guides, pacifies, arranges everything for good, teaches 5101 the divine and heavenly, so that such, in comparison with this sacrament 5102, honors kings and rulers, the wise and dignified, as if they were the least. And after a period of time, over time, things change, so that such a [person] really thinks of himself that he is more sinful than all people 5103, and considers himself to be like dirt. 5 And, again, at another hour he sees himself as if he were the greatest king, an extraordinary 5104 ruler or 5105 friend of the king; and again at another hour he sees himself poor and weak. Finally, the mind becomes confused: 5106? 6 The Lord economically entrusts grace to you, directs and disposes of [it], since human nature, being weak, is exalted and proud if it finds a little rest and the grace of the Lord, and condemns the majority of people; therefore, grace retreats so that a person is always concerned about the threat hanging over him 5107, for it is so beneficial for him: he begins to cry over himself and grieve, and the Lord rejoices at such will, because “God will not despise a contrite and humble heart” 5108. 7 Imagine that a certain master has two slaves, and one, having gained insolence, begins to behave arrogantly 5109 with the master, and the other is afraid of punishment, and if the master commands him to do something, he immediately obeys with fear in order to avoid beatings due to disobedience. The master rejoices in precisely this—a servant who is obliging and diligently carries out orders. 8 Those who leave the house 5110 and stand at the door of the Lord diligently stand, for those who go out from the world strive to acquire fruits that are foreign to nature: everything on earth is foreign to the things in heaven. 5111 nature needs the Lord, so that the Lord may enter and merge with [your] body and soul, and [you] become one body with the Lord, and Christ will dwell in the inner man 5112, that is, so that one perfect man 5113 of eternal life and the Kingdom will arise. 5114 Amen. Word 48. {A true Christian must despise everything for the sake of love of God and faith, so that here he may still participate in some part of that glory} 5115 1.1 II, 5, 1 Christians have a different world, a different way of life, mind, word and activity; The way of life, mind, word and activity of the people of this world are also different. One is these, the other is these; With both of them the distance is great. 1.2 For the inhabitants of the earth 5116 and the children of this age are likened to wheat poured into the sieve of this earth 5117, and their souls are sifted among the fickle thoughts of the world, with 5118 the excitement of earthly desires 5119 and multi-woven material concepts, shaken [and] sifted [by Satan] in the earthly 5120 sieve - that is, earthly affairs. 1.3 The entire human race, since the fall of Adam, who transgressed the commandment, submitted to the evil prince who took power over him, and since then, with incessant seductive and restless thoughts, he sifts and brings into conflict in the earthly sieve all the sons of this age. 1.4 II. 5:2 For just as one is wheat, and another is a sieve, and another is sifting bread through a sieve 5121, and in 5122 the sifter’s sieve the wheat beats and, constantly thrown into it, turns over - so the prince of wickedness occupies all people with earthly affairs and shakes them through them, leads them into confusion and anxiety, makes them cling to vain and vile thoughts and desires, earthly and worldly connections, constantly captivating, confusing, entrapping the entire sinful race of Adam, just as the Lord predicted to the apostles the future uprising of the evil one against them: “Satan asked to sow you like wheat, but I prayed to My Father so that your faith would not fail” 5123. 1.5 For the word and definition clearly spoken by the Creator to Cain: “Moaning and trembling and trembling you will be on the earth” 5124 - serves in secret as an image and image 5125 for all sinners, because the race of Adam, having fallen from the commandment and becoming sinful, secretly took on this image, being shaken by the fickle thoughts of fear, fear, all kinds of embarrassment, wishes, various kinds of pleasures. The Prince of Peace excites every soul not born of God 5126, and like wheat constantly rotating in a sieve, he disturbs human thoughts in various ways, causing everyone to hesitate and entrap them in worldly seductions, carnal pleasures, insurances and embarrassments. 1.6 II, 5. 3 And the Lord, showing that those who follow the deceptions and desires of the evil one bear the image of Cain’s wickedness, said, denouncing: “You want to fulfill the lusts of your murderer father; he is a murderer from the beginning and is in truth" 5127. Therefore, the entire sinful race of the old 5128 Adam, groaning and trembling 5129, sifted 5130 by Satan in the sieve of the earth 5131, secretly acquired 5132 this condemnation for itself. 1.7 Just as from one Adam the entire human race spread across the earth, so one kind of passionate corruption penetrated the entire sinful human race, and the prince of evil [alone] is able to sow everyone with fickle, material, vain and rebellious thoughts. 1.8 And how one wind can cause all plants, seeds, and plantings of the earth to sway and whirl 5133; or as one darkness of the night spreads over the whole universe, so the prince of wickedness, being 5134 the darkness of sin and death, some terrible 5135 hidden and cruel wind, overwhelms and swirls the entire human race on earth, catching human hearts with fickle thoughts and worldly desires, and the darkness of ignorance, bitterness 5136 and oblivion fills every soul that has not been born again 5137 and has not settled in another world in thought and mind 5138, according to what has been said: “Our residence is in heaven” 5139. 1.9 II, 5. 4 In this way, true and authentic Christians differ from the entire human race - and, as we said above, the distance between Christians and worldly people is great - that the mind and understanding of Christians are always occupied with philosophizing about heavenly things and through communication and the communion of the Holy Spirit they contemplate eternal blessings; that they were born again from God 5140, truly and truly honored to “become children of God” 5141 and through many and long-term deeds, efforts and labors they achieved constancy, firmness, serenity and peace, they are no longer dissipated and disturbed by fickle and vain bad thoughts. 1.10 Thus, they are higher and better than the world, because their mind and spiritual wisdom abide in the peace of Christ and in the love of the Spirit, just as the Lord, speaking about such, said: “He passed from death into life” 5142. 2.1 Therefore, the difference between Christians does not consist in outward appearance and not in external images, as the majority thinks, but in this - in form and appearance - all the difference and difference between the world and them. And so they become like the world in both mind and understanding, having 5143 [the same] hesitation and disorder of thoughts, [the same] unbelief, confusion, embarrassment, fear. Although they differ from the world in outward appearance and appearance, as well as in some external merits, yet with their hearts and minds they drag along the earth and in the world and are bound by earthly ties, they have not acquired rest for their hearts and heavenly spiritual peace, because they have not sought anything from God and have not believed that they will be worthy of this. 2.2 By “renewal of the mind” 5144, pacification of thoughts, love for the Lord and heavenly lust, the “new creation” 5145 - Christians - differs from all people in the world. This is why the coming of the Lord took place, so that those who truly believed in Him would be worthy of these spiritual blessings. Christians belong to glory, and beauty, and heavenly unspeakable wealth, [acquired] 5146 by sweat, trials, exploits, and wholly delivered by grace. 2.3 5147 And the sight of the earthly king is desired by every person. Whoever comes to the royal city, everyone would like to at least look at its beauty, or at the decoration of clothes, or at the splendor of purple, at the beauty of various pearls, at the splendor of the diadem, at the honor of the dignitary retinue 5148 and the beauty of faces 5149. Unless spiritual [people] count this as nothing, because they have experienced another incorporeal and heavenly glory, are wounded by another ineffable beauty, have a share in another ineffable wealth, rejoice 5150 in the inner man, participate in another Spirit. 2.4 If the people of this world, having [in themselves] the spirit of the world, greatly desire even just to see the earthly king in all his splendor and in all his glory, for as much as the lot of the king in visible greatness greatly exceeds the lot of any other person, so glorious, so desirable to everyone is just the sight of him, so that everyone says to himself: “Oh, if only someone had given me this glory, this splendor, this beauty! ”, - pleasing a man like himself, earthly, servile, mortal, but attracting to himself with temporary splendor and glory - 2.5 II, 5, 6 if carnal people so desire to see the glory of the king of the earth, then how much more are people on whom this dew of the Spirit of divine life has flowed and has wounded their hearts with divine love for the heavenly King Christ, they become attached to this beauty, to unspeakable glory, to unspeakable splendor, to the unimaginable wealth of the true and eternal King Christ. They surrender themselves into captivity to lust and love, being completely drawn to Him, and they desire to achieve those ineffable blessings that they contemplate in the spirit, and for this reason they impute all beauty on earth, and splendor, and glory, and honor, and the wealth of kings and princes, to nothing, because they were stung by divine beauty and the life of heavenly immortality flowed into their souls. 2.6 Therefore, they strive for this love of the heavenly King, with great lust for Him alone, having before their eyes, they therefore renounce all worldly love and move away from all earthly bonds, so that it is possible for them to always have this desire in their hearts 5151 and [not mix] 5152 anything else with it. 2.7 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 7 (r.p.) But there are very few who connected a good end with a good beginning, unfalteringly reached the goal, throughout life had a single love for the one God and renounced everything. 2.8 Many come to tenderness, many become partakers of heavenly grace, are wounded by heavenly love; but, unable to withstand the various struggles, exploits, labors and temptations from the evil one encountered along the way, since everyone has a desire to love something in this world and not completely renounce their love, returning to various and various worldly desires, out of unmanliness, weakness and timidity of their will or out of love for something earthly, they remained in the world and mired in its depths. 3.1 And those who really intend to live a good life to the end must, with this heavenly love, not voluntarily accept into themselves and not mix in any other love and commitment, so as not to thereby put an obstacle to the spiritual, not to go back and, finally, not to fall away from life. 3.2 As great as the promises of God are, unspeakable and inscrutable, faith, and hope, and labors, and exploits, and long-term testing are so necessary. The benefits that a person hopes to receive are not unimportant. You desire the kingdom of heaven and want to reign with Christ for endless ages - and do you really not decide with zeal, during the short time of this life until death, to endure struggles, labors and temptations? 3:3 The Lord cries: “If anyone wants to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, rejoicing daily, and follow Me” 5153. And again: “If anyone does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” 5154. But the overwhelming majority of people, although they intend to receive the kingdom and want to inherit eternal life, their will lives according to their own desires, and they want to inherit eternal life 5155, following their desires, or better yet, the one who sows vain things, and without denying themselves, which is impossible, for II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 8 (r.p.) the word of the Lord is true. 3.4 Those who walk without stumbling are those who, according to the Lord’s commandment, have completely renounced themselves, all worldly desires, connections, entertainments, pleasures and activities, having one Lord before their eyes and desiring to do His commandments. Therefore, by his own will, everyone turns away from the kingdom, if he did not really want to work hard and renounce himself, and with this love he loves something else, enjoys some pleasures or desires of this age, and does not have complete love for the Lord, as much as is possible for will and desire. 3.5 You will understand everything from one example. Every reasoning [person] reaches with reason and knows that the deed that he wants to do is not in accordance with anything, however, since he has love for it and does not renounce it, he is conquered by it. First, within his heart there arises warfare, and balance, and inclination, and a preponderance of either love for God or love for the world. And then [the war] comes out and everyone begins to debate whether he should enter into a quarrel and argument with his brother, saying to himself: “I will tell him; no, I won't say. I’ll start a conversation with him; No, I won’t.” 3.6 He remembers God, but he also protects his own opinion and does not renounce himself. And if love and an inclination towards peace are slightly too high on the scales of the heart, immediately an evil word is ready to escape from the lips. Then the mind, as if with a stretched arrow, shoots from the inside with its tongue, a sword of arrows of obscene words that violate the commandment of God, as if burdened with an inclination towards worldly love and voluntarily caring for its glory. 3.7 Then he showers his neighbor with obscene words for a long time, until in the members of 5156 sin spills over into clashes. Sometimes there are even bodily wounds in members fighting each other, and sometimes evil lust leads to murder and death. Look how the matter began and to what extent the love for worldly glory has finally reached, outweighing the hearts on the scales by its own will. since a person has not renounced himself, but loves something in the world, and all these incongruities occur. 3.8 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 9 (r.p.) Think in the same way about every sin and bad undertaking, when vice flatters and bends the will of the mind with worldly desires 5158 and carnal pleasures. This is how every evil deed is prepared, adultery and theft, covetousness and drunkenness, covetousness and vanity, jealousy and love of money, and any kind of evil intention. 3.9 Sometimes apparently good initiatives are carried out for the sake of empty human glory 5159, and this before God is equal to untruth, and theft, and other sins, for it is said: “God scattered the bones of people-pleasers” 5160. The evil one wants people to serve and enslave him with seemingly good deeds, since he is very varied and deceptive in worldly desires. 3:10 For some earthly and carnal love, a person binds himself of his own free will, is caught by sin, and this becomes for a person a fetter, a bond, a heavy burden that drowns and suffocates him in the evil age, not allowing him to emerge and directly return to God. What a person loves in the world, that is what burdens his mind, holds him down and does not allow him to rise to grief. 3.11 Balance, inclination, and preponderance of the heart depend on this 5161; in this way the entire human race is tested, all Christians living in cities, or in the mountains, or in monasteries, or in fields, or in desert places are tested, because a person, caught at some point by his own will 5162, does not love [God] directly (correctly), and not all of his love and affection is directed towards God. 3:12 For example, one loved property, and another loved gold and silver; one is slave to the belly, and the other to carnal lusts; the third loved worldly wisdom for human glory, the fourth - authorities, the fifth - glory and human honors; another - anger and annoyance (he loves it because he quickly gives in to passion); some love timeless gatherings, and others love jealousy; another spends the whole day simply in distraction and pleasure; 5163 idle thoughts>; others, for the sake of human glory, love to be, as it were, a teacher of the law; others enjoy laziness and negligence; the other is tied to clothes and rags; another is given over to earthly cares; 5164 >. And simply, what binds someone to the world, whether small or great, is what holds him back and does not allow him to rise up. 3:13 Whatever passion a man does not fight courageously, he loves, and it possesses him, and burdens him, and becomes an obstacle and a fetter for him, so that his mind does not turn to God, and he does not serve Him alone 5165 pleasingly, and does not gain eternal life in the kingdom. 4.1 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 10 (r.p.) But the soul, truly striving for the Lord, completely and completely extends its love to Him, and - as much as it has strength - is attached to Him alone by will, and in this it acquires the help of grace, denies itself 5166 and does not follow the desires of its mind, because it walks with us craftily because of its coexistence and the evil that seduces [us]. On the contrary, she completely surrenders herself to the Lord’s word, renounces all visible and secret 5167 bonds, as much as possible [this] for the will, 5168, and in this way she will be able to go cleanly to the end and receive relief from struggles, labors and struggles. 4:2 For whoever loves something finds both an aid and a burden for himself. If he loves something in the world that [in words] he calls as if nothing 5169, then this very thing becomes for a person bonds, burdens and fetters, dragging him down and not allowing the mountain to ascend to God. 4:3 And if he loves the Lord and His commandments, then in this he finds both help and relief for himself: from the very fact that he completely observes his love for the Lord, all the commandments of the Lord become easy for him. This immerses a person in goodness, or better yet, it makes it easier for him and makes all labor and all sorrow easy for him; By God's power he breaks through the world and the forces of vice that entangle the soul within him, binding [it] with the abyss of the world and the depths of all kinds of desires. 4.4 Thus, having escaped from them through great faith and diligence and help from above, he is made worthy of eternal salvation, which he loved, for, having truly loved [it] of his own free will, with the help of the Lord he achieves eternal life. 4.5 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 11 (r.p.) But in order to more clearly prove to us by deeds how many perish of their own free will because of some kind of love: they burn in fire, and drown in the sea, and are kidnapped into captivity - imagine that some house or field is burning; one, intending to save himself, as soon as he learned about the fire, fled naked, leaving everything, and, deciding to take care only of his soul, was saved; another, intending to take with him some household utensils or other clothes, entered [the house] to take [it], and while he was taking it away, the fire took over the house and captured it inside and burned it. 4:6 Do you see that this man perished in the fire of his own free will because of some transitory love, having loved besides himself that which perished in the fire? Likewise, some people, caught by strong seas, were shipwrecked; one, stripping naked, throws himself into the water with the intention of saving [only] 5170 himself; and so, he, unbound by anything, enduring the blows of the waves and swimming on top of them, was able to emerge from the bitter sea and thus took care of his soul; 4:7 And the other, intending to save some of his clothes, thought that with them, if he took them with him, he could swim and come out [of the sea]; but the clothes he took burdened him and drowned him in the depths of the sea, and he died, not wanting to save one soul for the sake of small self-interest. 4:8 Do you notice that of his own free will he became a victim of death? Imagine also that there was a rumor about foreigners; one, as soon as he heard this, immediately fled, without hesitating at all and leaving without anything; the other, having difficulty believing that enemies were coming, or feeling sorry for some of his things and wanting to take them with him, hesitated to escape, so that the approaching enemies captured him, took him captive to a foreign land and forced him to live there in bitter slavery. Do you see that of his own free will, because of laziness, foolishness 5171 and love for certain things, he was taken into captivity? 4.9 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 12 (r.p.) Likewise, those who do not follow the commandments of the Lord, did not deny themselves and did not love the one Lord, but voluntarily bound themselves with earthly bonds and are obsessed with some kind of carnal love, with the coming of eternal fire they will be burned as if they were found in love for the world and will perish, drowned by the bitter evil sea and finding themselves captives of foreigners (that is, evil spirits). 4:10 If you want to know the truth of perfect love for the Lord from the holy God-inspired Scriptures 5172, then look at how Job stripped off, so to speak, everything that he had: children, property, livestock, slaves and other property - and how, having stripped off everything, he fled and saved himself, even leaving his tunic and throwing it to Satan, and did not utter a word of blasphemy, He did not grumble before the Lord either with his heart or with his lips, but on the contrary, he blessed the Lord, saying: “The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away; as the Lord wanted, so it happened; Blessed be the name of the Lord" 5173. This is the directness of complete love for the Lord, because besides the Lord I loved nothing but Him alone 5174. 4:11 And Abraham was considered to have acquired many things 5175, but when he was tested by God “to go out of the land, and from his family, and from his father’s house” 5176, he immediately put aside, so to speak, everything: the fatherland, the land, his relatives, his parents - and followed the word of God. 4:12 Then, among the many trials and temptations that he faced: either when his wife was taken from him 5177, or when he lived and suffered insults on someone else’s side - in all these cases he proved that he loves one God above all else. Finally, when, according to the promise 5178, after many years 5179, he already had his only begotten son, so much desired, and God demanded of him that he himself would willingly sacrifice this son 5180, Abraham became dislodged and truly denied himself, for by this offering of his only begotten he proved that he loved nothing other than God. 4:13 If he had so readily stripped off his son, then all the more so if he had been commanded to leave his other property or to distribute it to the poor at once - and he would have done this with all readiness and with all zeal. Do you see the rightness of perfect and arbitrary love for the Lord? 4.14 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 13 (r.p.) So those who want to be joint heirs of these [the righteous] should not love anything other than God 5181 so that when they are put to the test, they will be found to be useful and skillful, perfectly preserving their love for the Lord. Those only will be able to complete [feat] 5182 to the end, who [with all their] will have always loved the one God and have renounced all worldly love. 4:15 But there are very, very few people who would accept such love, turn away from all worldly pleasures and desires and generously endure the rebellions and temptations of the evil one. Is it because many, when crossing rivers, are carried away by the waters, there are no worldly desires and all sorts of various temptations 5183 5184 passing and bravely passing these muddy rivers? 4:16 Is it not because many ships at sea during a storm are hidden under the waves and drowned, and there are none who swim across [this abyss], and walk on the waves, and reach a peaceful harbour? Therefore, great faith, generosity, struggle, patience, labor, struggle, hunger and thirst for good, speed, prudence, and prudence are always required. 5.1 [II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 14 (r.p.)] 5185 Most people want to achieve the kingdom without labor, sweat and asceticism, which is impossible. 5.2 Just as in the world people come to some rich {and} 5186 householder to work for him in the harvest or in some other business in order to receive what they themselves need for their subsistence; Among them there are people who are inert, lazy and idle, who do not work properly, who do not work diligently; and they, without toiling and without exhausting themselves in the house of a rich man, want, as having already done all the work, to take wages on an equal basis with those who work courageously, and quickly, and with all their might - 5:3 in the same way we, when we read the Scriptures and learn how the righteous pleased God, how he became a friend and interlocutor of God 5187, or about all the fathers, how they became friends and heirs 5188 how many sorrows they endured, how much they suffered for the sake of God, how many valiant deeds and exploits they accomplished; then we please them and want to be worthy of achievements 5189 and virtues equal to them, we willingly want to receive these glorious gifts, putting [only] aside their labors, exploits, sorrows and sufferings; and we earnestly desire to acquire those honors and virtues that they received from God, but we do not accept their exhaustion, labors and exploits. 5:4 But I tell you that every person desires and desires all this: harlots, tax collectors, and unrighteous people would like to receive the kingdom so easily, without effort and struggle, by desire, without labor. However, for this reason, temptations, many trials, sorrows, struggles and shedding of sweat are presented on the path, so that those who truly, having reached [even] death, with all their will and desire loved the one Lord, and with such love for Him, no longer had anything else desired for themselves, would become evident. 5.5 That is why they are rightly rewarded with the heavenly kingdom, having renounced themselves, according to the Lord’s word 5191, and having loved the Lord alone more than their own breath; therefore, they will be rewarded with high heavenly gifts for their high love. 5,6 II, 5, 6 = II, 5, 15 (r.p.) In tribulations, in suffering, in patience, in faith, the promises, and glory, and dispensation of heavenly blessings are hidden, as if 5192 in a grain of wheat thrown into the ground, or in a tree grafted and passing through a certain rottenness and dishonor and then [only] revealing the splendor of the vestment, and glory, and abundant fruit, - for if they had not gone through those [graftings] worthy of dishonor and destruction, they would not have been able to have the splendor of decoration, and this beauty, and abundant fruit, 5.7 just as the apostle says: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of heaven” 5193; and the Lord [says]: “By your patience gain your souls” 5194; and again: “In the world you will have tribulation” 5195. For work, diligence, sobriety, great attentiveness, speed and persistence in petitioning the Lord 5196 are required in order to be able to bypass the snares of earthly lusts, 5197 the world and the uprising of evil spirits to avoid 5198, with much sobriety and swiftness and, most importantly, in love for the Lord and with faith, through such labors and sorrow, and faith they 5199 here still acquired in their souls heavenly treasure (that is, spiritual power), which is the guarantee of the kingdom. 5.8 For the blessed Apostle Paul, speaking about this heavenly treasure, that is, about the grace of the Spirit, and describing the excessiveness of sorrows, and at the same time showing what everyone should look for here and what he is obliged to acquire, said: “For we know that when our earthly house, this hut, is destroyed, we have from God a dwelling in heaven, a house not made with hands, eternal” 5200. 5.9 II, 5, 7 = II, 5, 16 (r.p.) Therefore, everyone should try to strive in all virtues and believe that this church is acquired here, so that when our bodily church is destroyed 5201, we will have another heavenly dwelling in which our soul will dwell 5202 5203, “Oh, if only,” says [the apostle], “and stripped, we did not find ourselves naked” 5204 5205 5206, that is, without communication and union with the Holy Spirit, in Whom alone a faithful soul can rest. 5:10 Therefore, those who are Christians in all reality and power dare to rejoice from this flesh, because they have this dwelling not made with hands 5207; this dwelling is the power of the Spirit dwelling in them. And if the bodily church is destroyed, they are not afraid, because they have a heavenly spiritual church and that incorruptible glory, which on the day of resurrection will build and glorify the bodily habitation, 5:11 as the apostle says: “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in us” 5208; and again: “so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh” 5209; and: “so that mortals may be swallowed up by life” 5210. 6.1 II, 5, 8 = II, 5, 17 (r.p.) Therefore, let us try, through faith and a virtuous life, to acquire this robe for ourselves here, so that we, exposed bodily, will not find ourselves naked 5211, and then on that day there will be nothing that will glorify our flesh. For to the extent that each person, for his faith and diligence, has been honored to become a partaker of the Holy Spirit, 5212 to the same extent his body will be glorified on that day, for the treasure that the soul has now deposited inside will then be revealed and manifested outside on the body. 6.2 Like trees, when after the winter the invisible power of the sun and winds warms them, they produce from within and bloom, like a garment, leaves, flowers and fruits, and at this time, in a similar way, wild flowers come out of the inner bowels of the earth and the earth and grass are covered and clothed with them, like the lilies, about which the Lord said: “And Solomon was not clothed in all his glory like any of these” 5213 - for all this serves as an example, image and likeness of Christians on the [day] of the resurrection, - 6.3 II, 5, 9 = II, 5, 18 (r.p.) for all God-loving souls, that is, for true Christians, there is the first month of Xanthik, that is, April 5214, and this is the day of resurrection, for by the power of the Sun of righteousness 5215 the glory of the Holy Spirit is brought forth from within, covering and enveloping bodies saints, the same glory that they had hidden within the body. 6:4 For whoever has anything now [inside] will then come out. “This month,” says [the Lord], “will be the first of the months of the year for you” 5216; he brings joy to all creation; he clothes the naked trees; he grows herbs; he brings joy to all animals by opening up the earth; he is the first to spread joy among everyone; for Christians it is the first month of Xanthik, that is, the time of resurrection, in which their bodies will be glorified 5217 by the power of the Spirit, which will then be their clothing, food, drink, joy, gladness, peace, clothing and, in general, eternal life. 6:5 For then the Spirit of the Divinity, which they have now been deemed worthy to receive, will become for them all the glory and beauty of heaven. II, 5, 10 = II, 5, 19 (r.p.) Why shouldn’t someone 5218 strive, believe, try to live a virtuous life in all respects and wait with hope and great patience that now he will still be honored to receive the power from heaven and the glory of the Holy Spirit inside his soul, so that then, with the destruction of creation 5219, [He] will have something to clothe him with 5220 and revive? “Unless,” says [the apostle], “and having been undressed we find ourselves naked” 5221, and “he quickens our mortal bodies,” he says, “by His Spirit who dwells in us” 5222. 6.6 Blessed Moses, in that glory of the Spirit, which covered his face, so that not a single person could look at it 5223, showed us an image of how “at the resurrection of the righteous” 5224 the bodies will be glorified, for the souls of the saints and the faithful are worthy to have glory 5225 here still within themselves - in the inner man, 6.7 since [Paul] says: “But we are all open with our face, that is, our inner man, beholding the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into the same image from glory to glory" 5226. In a similar way it is also written: “For forty days and forty nights [Moses] did not eat bread or drink water” 5227; but it would have been impossible for bodily nature to live so long without bread if it had not partaken of other spiritual food, and the souls of saints still invisibly partake of this food from the Spirit. 6.8 II, 5, 11 = II, 5, 20 (r.p.) Blessed Moses showed what spiritual glory of light and what mental pleasure 5228 true Christians will have in the resurrection, even now being vouchsafed to have it secretly in their souls; therefore, even then [this glory] will be revealed on their bodies. For, as has already been said before, what glory the saints now have in their souls, such glory will reveal 5229 and will clothe [their] naked bodies at the resurrection and will take them up to heaven 5230; and then both body and soul will forever 5231 rest with the Lord in the kingdom. 6:9 God, having created Adam, did not give him bodily wings, like birds, but prepared for him the wings of the Holy Spirit, that is, the wings that he would give in the resurrection, so that he could fly on them wherever the Spirit pleased. The souls of saints are still granted these wings, soaring with their minds to heavenly wisdom. 6:10 For Christians have another world, another meal, other clothing, another pleasure, another fellowship, another way of thinking; why are they better than all people. They are still now worthy to receive the power of all this within their souls through the 5232 Holy Spirit; why, at the resurrection, their bodies will be worthy of eternal spiritual blessings and will participate in the glory that their souls have already experienced. 6.11 II, 5, 12 = II, 5, 21 (r.p.) Therefore, each of us must strive and work, carefully [practice] in all virtues, believe and ask the Lord, so that the inner man may even now become a partaker of this glory and the soul may have the fellowship of this holiness of the Spirit, so that, having been cleansed from the filth of vice 5233, and in the resurrection, when they rise our naked bodies, to have something that will clothe our shame, revive us and rest us forever in the kingdom of heaven; 6:12 because, according to the Holy Scriptures 5234, Christ will come from heaven and resurrect all the tribes of Adam, all who have died from eternity, and will divide them into two parts, and those who have His own sign, that is, the seal of the Spirit 5235, declaring them His own, He will place at His right hand. For he says: “My sheep obey My voice” 5236, and: “My own know Me” 5237. 6:13 Then their bodies will be clothed with divine glory for their good deeds and 5238 the spiritual glory that they still had in their souls. And thus, glorified by the divine light and caught up into heaven 5239 “to meet the Lord {and} 5240 into the air,” according to what is written 5241, “we will always be with the Lord,” reigning with Him for endless ages of ages. Amen. Word 49. {On the fact that the ascetic must arrange himself with sobriety and prudence and not prefer anything to God’s love, and On repentance} 5242 1.1 II, 4, 1 Whoever wants to lead a Christian life with great precision and perfection, must take care with all diligence, first of all, of the rational, judicious and leading part of the soul, so that - having acquired [the ability] to accurately distinguish between good and bad and always distinguishing unnatural passions from pure nature - we can live correctly 5243 and without stumbling and so that, using the rational part [of the soul] as an eye, we will be able not to make friends and not be subject to the suggestions of vice, but through this, having been granted the divine gift of the Spirit, become worthy of the Lord. 1.2 Let us take the example of the visible, because there is a similarity between the body and the soul, between the bodily and the spiritual, the visible and the hidden. II, 4, 2 The body has the eye as its guide, and it sees and directs the whole body in the proper way. Imagine that someone is walking through wooded places, overgrown with thorns and muddy places, where fire is lit and swords are stuck; There are rapids there and a lot of water. If the traveler is careful and agile, then, having his eye as a guide, he passes through those difficult, terrible and terrible places with great care and holds his tunic on all sides with his hands, so as not to be torn between the trees and among the thorns, not burned by fire, not stained with mud, not cut with swords; and the eye, serving as light for the whole body, shows it the way, so that it does not crush on the rapids, or drown in the waters, or suffer harm in some way. Thus, the resourceful and intelligent traveler 5246 preserves himself unharmed, and keeps the tunic he puts on untorn, unburnt and unstained. 1.3 If a careless, lazy, sluggish, inactive person passes through such places, then his tunic, fluttering here and there, because the traveler lacks the courage to choose his clothes in every possible way, is torn on twigs and thorns, or catches fire from the fire, or is cut by pierced swords, or becomes dirty in the mud; in a word, his beautiful and new tunic soon deteriorates due to his inattention, inactivity and laziness. And if the traveler does not listen well and quickly to the [instructions] of the eye, then he himself will fall into rapids and ditches or drown in the waters. 1.4 II, 4, 3 In the same way, the soul - wearing on itself, as it were, another 5247 tunic, the clothing of the body, and having, like an eye, a cognitive, thinking and judicious [part] that guides the whole soul and body - when it passes through the wooded and thorny [paths] of this world, among mud, fire, rapids, that is, lusts and pleasures and others the incongruities of this age, she must, with sobriety, diligence and courage, everywhere restrain and protect herself and her bodily tunic, so that it does not get torn somewhere in the wooded and thorny [places] of the world [of this] from worries, activities and earthly entertainment or affairs and does not burn out from the fire of lust. 1.5 She must turn away the eye, “so as not to see evil” 5248, as well as the ear, so as not to hear evil 5249, keep the feet from evil activities, because the soul has the will to turn away the bodily members and not allow them to evil desires 5250, to hearing anything evil and shameful 5251, to evil worldly activities. II, 4, 4, protecting the heart so that its members 5252 - thoughts - do not circle and extend in the world [this]. 1.6 And thus laboring, using all diligence and with great attention in every case, keeping the bodily members from the lusts of this world and evil activities, [and] she keeps the beautiful tunic of the body untorn, unscorched, uncontaminated and unsullied, and with [herself] knowing, reflecting and judicious gaze of the soul 5253 5254, Most of all, she will be protected by the power of the Lord, 5255. 1.7 For the Lord, as soon as he sees that any soul courageously turns away from worldly pleasures, from entertainment and worries, from material cares, from earthly bonds and from the whirlwind of vain worldly thoughts and preserves the body and itself from all this with all attention, then He gives His gracious help and watches over it, which unfailingly completes its beautiful course in gloomy present evil age 5256. And thus the soul 5257 receives heavenly praise for preserving the tunic of its body and itself, as much as it was possible for it, turning away from all worldly lust and hating [it], and, assisted by God, perfectly completed its course 5258 in the field of this world. 1:8 II, 4, 5 If someone, through inactivity, carelessness and carelessness, walks in this life, and by [his own] will does not turn away from all worldly lust, and does not seek with all desire the one Lord, then the tunic of his body is torn against the thorns and trees of this world, and is scorched by the fire of lust, and is defiled by the dirt of pleasures, so that on the day of judgment he turns out to have no boldness 5259, not keeping his robe undefiled, but having corrupted it and torn it among the deceptions of worldly lusts, and thereby is expelled from the kingdom of God. 1:9 For what will God do with one who, of his own free will, gives himself over to the world, is seduced by its pleasures, or wanders, spinning in material thoughts? He gives His help to those who turn away from everything earthly and visible 5260, with effort always direct their thoughts towards the Lord, renounce themselves 5261, and seek only Him. [God] watches over him who is everywhere wary of the snares and snares of the wilds [of this age, or matter], who “works out his salvation with fear and trembling” 5262, with all care avoids the nets, thorns and dirt 5263 of this world and does not extend himself in worldly thoughts, but always restrains himself as much as possible 5264 and seeks help God, and trusts in His mercy, and is saved by grace. 2.1 II, 4, 6 Those five intelligent virgins 5265, being sober 5266, not renouncing 5267 what was alien to their nature 5268, taking oil into the vessels of their hearts, that is, the grace of the Spirit [given] from above, were able to enter with the Bridegroom into the heavenly chamber. Others, the holy fools [virgins], who remained in their own nature, were not sober and did not try, while they were still in the flesh, to take the oil of joy into the vessels of their hearts 5269, but through negligence, inactivity, carelessness 5270, in [their] opinion of [their] righteousness, they gave themselves up, as it were, to sleep and therefore were not allowed into the palace of the kingdom as they were unable to please your heavenly Bridegroom. Holding on to their attachment to the world and some earthly love, they did not devote all their love and commitment to the heavenly Bridegroom and did not bring oil with them. 2.2 And the souls who seek something unusual for [their] nature - the sanctification of the Spirit 5271, are attached with all their love to the Lord, walk with Him, are close to Him in prayers and thoughts, turning away from everything and loving one good Bridegroom, which is why they were able, having been deemed worthy to receive the oil of heavenly grace, to pass [their race] without stumbling, finally acquired by those pleasing to the spiritual Bridegroom. The souls that remain in their nature think about earthly things 5272, and their thoughts creep on the earth, they think about the earth, and their mind has its dwelling on earth. Apparently they think that they belong to the Bridegroom, [in reality] they do not 5273, because, having not received the oil of joy 5274, they were not born of the Spirit from above 5275. 2.3 II, 4, 7 Five 5276 spiritual feelings: conscience, knowledge, reasoning, patience, mercy 5277 - if they receive grace from above and the sanctification of the Spirit 5278, they truly become wise virgins, having received grace-filled wisdom from above. And if they remain with their nature alone, then they become holy fools and turn out to be children of the world, because they have not been put off by the worldly spirit, although they themselves, under some plausible [pretexts] 5279, think that they are the brides of the Bridegroom. 2.4 Just as souls who are completely attached to the Lord 5280 abide in Him with their thoughts, offer prayers to Him, walk with Him, and therefore remain without stumbling - so on the contrary, souls attached to worldly love and who want to have their residence on earth walk there, abide there in thought, their mind lives there, is immersed in the material, and therefore they are averse to good spiritual wisdom 5281. 2.5 Since heavenly grace is something extraordinary for our nature, we need to mix and unite it with our nature so that we can enter with the Lord into the heavenly palace of the kingdom and achieve eternal salvation. II, 4, 8 After all, just as as a result of the crime of the first man 5282 we accepted into ourselves the evil of the passions, alien to our nature, and through long-term assimilation turned it into nature for ourselves - so with the heavenly “gift of the Holy Spirit” 5283, extraordinary for our nature, we must again expel this evil from our nature and be restored to its original purity. 2.6 And if now, with much petition, prayer, faith, attention 5284 and with aversion from the world, we do not accept into ourselves this heavenly love of the Spirit, and our nature, defiled by vice, is not sanctified by this love, which is the Lord 5285, and we do not remain unstumbling to the end, living 5286 according to all His commandments, then we will not we can improve the kingdom of heaven. 2.7 II, 4, 9 I intend, to the best of my ability, to utter some subtle and deep [mental] word 5287. The boundless, invisible 5288 and unapproachable God 5289, out of boundless and unthinkable goodness, embodied Himself and, so to speak, became insane 5290 so that He could mingle 5291 with His invisible 5292 and intelligent 5293 creatures, I mean the souls of saints and angels, so that they could be partakers of the immortal 5294 life and Divinity 5295 5296. After all, every [creation] - angel, soul, demon - by its own nature is a body 5297, because, although they are refined, nevertheless in their essence, in their distinctive features and in their image, according to the refinement of nature, they are a subtle body. 2.8 Just as this body of ours is fat in its essence, so the soul, being a subtle body 5298, has clothed itself and clothed itself in the members of this body 5299: it has clothed itself with the eye with which it looks, the ear with which it hears 5300, with the hand - and in a word, having clothed itself with the whole body and its members, the soul has dissolved entirely, hand with hand, foot with foot, eye with eye, ear with ear 5301, with the help of which all vital functions are carried out. 2.9 In the same way, the boundless and unspeakable and unthinkable goodness 5302 of the Lord 5303 diminishes Himself in 5304 boundless glory 5305, according to meekness and love for mankind 5306, and He embodies Himself, mixes and dissolves 5307, and receives the faithful, holy and well-pleasing souls, and happens to them, according to Pavlov’s saying, in “one Spirit” 5308 - so to speak, soul to soul and hypostasis to hypostasis - so that the soul, worthy and pleasing to Him, can live in the Divinity, and feel immortal life, and become a partaker of imperishable pleasure and unspeakable glory. 2:10 For He also brought this visible creation from non-existence 5309 5310 into being in some great variety and with [many] differences, and it did not exist until it was brought into being. He wanted, and without difficulty created rough and hard entities out of nothing, for example, rough earth, mountains, trees (see how hard their nature is!); then the middle 5311 and gentle ones (for example, waters), and from the waters he commanded birds to be born; and even subtler ones (like fire and winds), although they too are bodies 5312, even if not visible 5313 with the bodily eye. 2.11 II, 4, 11 Oh, how boundless and inscrutable is the art of “the manifold wisdom of God” 5314, which created from nothing bodies both rough and tender and hard 5315 and subtle, so that they came into existence according to His will! If so, then how much more does the Existing One Himself 5316, as He wishes 5317, by unspeakable goodness and unthinkable kindness, alter, and belittle, and liken Himself, and make Himself flesh 5318, and merge with the holy, worthy and faithful souls 5319, so that the Invisible would be 5320 visible, and the Intangible, in proportion to nature spiritual subtlety, was tangible, and so that [the soul] felt His sweetness 5321 and goodness, and tasted light, and perceived some experience of ineffable recreation 5322 5323. 2:12 When He wants, He becomes a fire, consuming everything worthless that has entered the soul. After all, our “God,” says the prophet, is a “consuming fire” 5324. When He wants, He brings ineffable and ineffable peace, so that the soul may rest and enjoy 5325 the Divine. When [it] wants, it brings joy and peace, warming and protecting the 5326 soul. 2.13 If, for the joy and joy of the soul 5327, he wants to embody 5328 Himself in one of the creations, for example, or [in] the city of light - Jerusalem, or [in] the mountain - heavenly Zion; then [everyone] 5329 can do as he wants, according to what has been said: but you “have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem” 5330. 2:14 Everything is easy and convenient for Him, whatever He wants, being transformed and transformed and revealed 5331 in His holy and faithful souls. If only a person strives to become friendly and pleasing to Him, he will tangibly see through his own experience the heavenly unspeakable blessings, the inexpressible pleasure, the boundless riches of the Divine, which truly “no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man” 5333 - everything that the Spirit of the Lord becomes for the repose, joy, pleasure and eternal life of a worthy soul. For He embodies Himself in spiritual 5334 food, and in clothing, and in indescribable beauties, in order to give unspeakable and indescribable rest and to fill a worthy and faithful soul with spiritual joy 5335, 2.15 as the Lord says: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever” 5336, and 5337: “I am the bread of life "5338, and 5339 [more]: "Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, there will be in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life" 5340. “And we all,” says [Scripture], “are enlightened by the same Spirit 5341” 5342. 2.16 II, 4, 13 And in such a way as He himself favored and as it was useful, He appeared to each of the saints 5343, otherwise to Abraham, otherwise to Isaac, otherwise to Jacob, otherwise to Noah, Daniel, David, Solomon, Joseph 5344, each of the holy prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah 5345, 5346 Elijah, otherwise Moses. And I think that Moses, starting this spiritual meal every hour, was consoled and enjoyed by it on the mountain during the forty-day fast 5347. Therefore, as [Himself] pleased, He appeared to each of the saints in order to repose, save, revive 5348 and “bring to the knowledge of the truth 5349” 5350. 2:17 For whatever He wills is convenient for Him, and by diminishing Himself as He pleases, He embodies and transforms Himself, becoming visible to those who love Him, being what He is 5351, but by great and inexpressible love being worthy of Him, in proportion to their ability 5352 to contain 5353 [Him, but] not so much as [great] He Himself, for He is incontainable. Glory to His greatness and boundless mercy! 3.1 Truly, a soul that has been honored with great desire and aspiration, with faith and love, to accept into itself this “power from above” 5354, and in its members to merge 5355 with the heavenly love of the Spirit, and 5356 to accept the heavenly fire of immortal life, truly renounces all worldly love and is freed from all forms of vice. 3.2 II, 4, 14 As if iron, or lead, or gold, or silver, thrown into fire, melts and changes from a hard nature into a soft substance and, while in the fire, by the power of fiery {heat} melts and changes this natural hardness - in the same way the soul, having renounced the world and loved the one Lord, with great quest, in labor, in feat, having an incessant aspiration with hope and trust in Him and having received this heavenly fire of the Divine - the love of the Spirit, 5357 the worldly renounces, frees itself from all harm of passions, sweeps away everything from itself, changes its natural quality and sinful rigidity, considers everything superfluous in [comparison with] the one heavenly Bridegroom, Whom it accepted, resting in ardent and unspeakable love for Him. 3.3 II, 4, 15 I tell you that even the very beloved brothers whom she has before her eyes, if they put any obstacles in her way in that love, the soul, so to speak, turns away, because its true life and spiritual 5358 rest are 5359 ineffable communion with the heavenly Bridegroom 5360. For if the love of carnal intercourse (I’m talking about marriage) 5361 separates him from his father, from his mother, from his brothers, and everything becomes foreign to him 5362 in the mind, and if a person loves something, he loves outwardly, yet he still has his affection for his partner, so that this carnal intercourse can separate him from all love 5363 - for [Scripture] says: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will cleave to his wife, and the two will become one flesh” 5364 - 3.4 if, therefore, carnal love so renounces all worldly 5365 love, then how much more so will those who have truly been honored to become involved in that heavenly lust and spiritual love, will renounce all love for the world and everything will seem unnecessary to them, because they have been conquered and wounded by heavenly desire and united with divine love; there they live entirely, they think about it, they walk there, their mind always remains there, overcome by divine and heavenly love and meek and spiritual lust. 4:1 II, 4, 16 After this, beloved brethren, since so many good things are laid before us and so many promises are given to us, let us remove all difficulties from ourselves, turn away from all worldly love and devote ourselves with faith to the seeking and desire of these blessings alone, so that we may acquire that ineffable love of the Spirit, to which blessed Paul exhorted us to hasten, saying: “ Achieve love” 5367, - and so that from our cruelty we can be honored with “change in the right hand of the Most High” 5368 and, having been wounded by the divine love of the Spirit, come to meekness and spiritual peace, because the Lord graciously loves mankind for us, waiting for how soon we will completely turn to Him, 5369. 4.2 Even if, out of great ignorance, out of infancy and habit of vice, we turn away from life and put many obstacles for ourselves, not wanting to really repent, then He shows great compassion and kindness, being patient with us, [waiting] for us to really come to Him and be enlightened in our inner man, so that our faces will not be ashamed 5370 on the day of judgment. 4.3 II, 4, 17 If it seems difficult for us to come [to the Lord], due to the severity of the deeds of virtue, or better yet, due to the suggestion and advice of the opponent, who wants to turn us all away from the good 5371, then the Lord is merciful and long-suffering, waiting for our conversion, and if we sin, 5372, and if we fall, he is not ashamed to accept us again, as the prophet said: “Really? he who falls does not rise? Or will he who turns away not be converted? » 5373. 4.4 Only we will sober up a little, having acquired a good thought, and we will immediately turn to Him, seeking His help, and He is ready to save us. He requires from our will, as much as possible for us, striving 5374 for Him and voluntary love, faith and zeal, and He Himself produces every success 5375 in us. 4.5 Therefore, let us perspire, children 5376, valiantly stripping ourselves of all prejudice, negligence and laziness, and let us desire to be ready to follow Him 5377, without delaying [this] day after day, being stolen by vice; for we do not know when our departure from the flesh will take place. So great and ineffable are the promises of Christians that all the 5378 adornment, and beauty, and variety 5379 of the visible [world] cannot be compared with the wealth and glory of one faithful soul. 4.6 II, 4, 18 So, with so many 5380 promises of the Lord, how can we not desire to approach the Lord completely and dedicate ourselves to Him, above all else, according to the Gospel, also renouncing our soul 5381, loving Him alone, without loving anything else? All this has been given [to us], and what more glory! How many views of the Lord about us since the time of the fathers 5382, how many promises have been announced, how many promptings! What kindness the Lord showed us from the beginning! Finally, at His coming, He proved His indescribable goodness towards us by the crucifixion, so that He might lead us, who had converted, into life. 4.7 But we still do not part with our desires, with love for the world, with bad prejudices and habits, and through this we turn out to be of little faith or even unfaithful! and so the Lord is merciful, invisibly protecting and cherishing us, not betraying us to the end, according to our sins, vice and deception of the world, and does not allow us to perish, out of great goodness and long-suffering, waiting for us to turn [to Him]. 4.8 II, 4, 19 But may not the apostolic saying ever be fulfilled on us, who live despising everything and are led by prejudices, namely: “Or do you despise the riches of kindness, meekness and long-suffering [of God], not realizing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? » 5383. If, with the great goodness, long-suffering and meekness of God, we add even more sins to sins, then we apply to ourselves the following saying: “But, because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation and righteous judgment from God” 5384 5385, when 5386 He “will reward everyone according to his deeds” 5387. For great is the goodness and inscrutable and inexpressible long-suffering of God towards the human race, if only we wished to become sober and tried to turn completely to Him, so that it would be possible for us to achieve eternal salvation 5388. 5.1 II, 4, 20 And if you want to know God’s great patience and goodness, you can learn this from the Inspired Scriptures 5389. Look at Israel, from whom are the fathers, to whom the promises were determined, “from them is Christ according to the flesh,” whose ministry and covenant are 5390. How much did they sin? How many times have you been seduced? And God did not allow them to [perish] completely, but for a short time, for their own benefit, he handed them over to punishment, wanting 5391 to soften their hardness of heart; and again the gracious [Lord] converted, encouraged them, sent prophets to them, and for how long he was patient with them: when they sinned and stumbled 5392 and turned [to Him], he accepted them with joy; 5:2 and when they turned aside again, he did not leave, but through the holy prophets he called them to conversion, and although they repeatedly shied away from Him and turned to Him, each time he accepted him favorably, until they finally fell into great sin, laying hands on their own Master, Whom, according to the traditions of the fathers and holy prophets, they were looking for as their Redeemer, Savior, King and Prophet. For when He came, they did not accept Him, but on the contrary, subjecting Him to reproaches and insults and honoring Him with dishonor, they finally handed Him over to death on the cross. 5.3 And by this great insult and excessive crime, their sins multiplied to the fullest, and so they were abandoned in the end, after the Holy Spirit was removed from them, when “the church veil was torn” 5394 5395, and their temple and the city, given over to the pagans, were razed and brought to desolation, according to the Lord’s decree: “There will not be left here one stone upon another until it is destroyed.” » 5396. And thus they were finally betrayed [to the pagans] 5397 and scattered throughout the whole earth by the kings who then captured them, having received the command not to return to their country anymore. 5.4 II, 4, 21 So, merciful and good to each of us, [God] shows His long-suffering, seeing how many times each one stumbles 5398, and remains silent, waiting for a person to become sober and turn around, so that he no longer stumbles, and with great love and joy he accepts the one who turns away from sinful stumblings. For this is what he says: “There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” 5399; and again: “It is not the will of My Father that one of these should perish” 5400 least. 5.5 But if someone - with [God's] great mercy and long-suffering toward him, when [God] 5401 does not subject him to punishment for every sinful stumbling block, secret or open, but seeing it, remains silent, awaiting repentance - he himself, having reached the point of great neglect, begins to add sins to sins, adds carelessness to carelessness, on one the sin of creating another and fulfills the measure of sins; then he finally falls into such a sin from which he cannot recover, but he is crushed and, having finally given himself over to deceit, 5402 perishes. 5.6 II, 4, 22 So it was with the Sodomites 5403. Having sinned a lot and not turning [to repentance], finally with such audacity 5404 they approached the angels, daring 5405 to commit sodomy with them, that they no longer had repentance 5406, for they had fulfilled and even exceeded the measure of sins; That’s why they were burned by fire according to God’s judgment. Thus, during Hoe 5407, those who repeatedly irritated [God] and did not repent of it prostrated themselves to such sins that they finally corrupted the entire earth. 5.7 So [and] to the Egyptians 5408, who offended [God] many times and sinned against His people, God was merciful, did not inflict such plagues on them in order to ultimately destroy them, but for 5409, conversion and repentance 5410 waiting for them. But they, having sinned in many ways before God’s people, then turning back, then repenting again, and having established themselves in the ancient unbelief of evil will, burdening God’s people with work, finally, when God through Moses led the people out of Egypt with many miracles, they greatly offended [God] by chasing after His people. Therefore, the Divine judgment finally destroyed, destroyed, and drowned them in the waters, deeming them unworthy of visible life. 5.8 II, 4, 23 Likewise, the Israelites 5411, as stated above, while they stumbled and sinned many times, killing the prophets of God and committing many other evil deeds, God silently patiently waited for their repentance; Finally, they stumbled so much that they were crushed and no longer rebelled, because they laid their hands on the Master’s majesty. And therefore, finally defeated 5412 by God, they are rejected; prophecy, the priesthood, and worship were taken from them and given to the believing pagans, as the Lord says: “The Kingdom will be taken away from you and given to a people bearing its fruits” 5413. Until that time, God endured them, did not cease His long-suffering, did not cease to be merciful about their conversion 5414. But since they fulfilled, and even overflowed, the measure of sins 5415, then in the end they were abandoned by God. 6:1 II, 4, 24 We have expanded on this, beloved, with thoughts drawn from Scripture, confirming that as soon as possible we should, having removed ourselves from every habit and 5416 prejudice, hasten to turn to Him, who always graciously awaits us and accepts those who turn with great joy - [we have expanded, I say, about this in order] so that from day to day our neglect does not increase, and our stumblings did not increase in us, and through this we did not bring upon ourselves God’s wrath. 6.2 Therefore, let us hasten to approach Him with all 5417 of our hearts, without despairing of our salvation, for this is also a trick of the same evil, through the recollection of previous sins, leading a person to despair, inactivity, negligence and carelessness, so that, having turned and come to the Lord 5418, he does not receive salvation. 6.3 II, 4, 25 If this seems to us, as if prejudiced in something 5419, difficult to accomplish and impossible (and such [a thought], as was said before, is an instillation of malice, so that we do not approach the Lord, who is merciful to us), then let us remember and see how the Lord who came, in His goodness, gave sight to the blind 5420, healed the paralytic 5421 , healed every disease, raised the dead who had already been touched by corruption and destruction, opened the ears of the deaf, cast out legions of 5422 demons from one person and restored a sound mind 5423 to those who had reached such a state of demons. 6.4 Moreover, the soul that turns to Him, seeks His mercy, demands His help - will He not change and lead to chastity, dispassion, to the improvement of virtue, to the renewal of the mind 5424, will He not turn to health 5425, insight of the understanding and peace of thoughts; will not lead from blindness 5426 and the deadness of ignorance, unbelief and fearlessness to the chastity of all virtue and purity of heart? For He who created the body also created the soul and 5427 Himself, being on earth, in His goodness, gave it generously 5428 to all who came to Him and sought His help and healing. 6.5 II, 4, 26 If He was so merciful to bodies that were again about to collapse and die, and to everyone who asked, he did it with readiness and goodness, then how much more to the immortal, indestructible and incorruptible soul - which fell into the disease of ignorance, vice, unbelief, lack of fear, into the darkness of wickedness 5429 and other sinful passions, [but] coming to Him and seeking His help, looking to His mercy, desiring from Him to receive the grace of the Spirit for deliverance and salvation and liberation from all vice and passion - will He not readily create healing deliverance, according to His word: “How much more will our heavenly Father take vengeance on those who cry out to Him day and night” 5430. 6.6 And He adds: “Even so, I tell you, He will take their vengeance quickly” 5431. And again he exhorts: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” 5432. And then he adds: “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” 5433. “Amen, I tell you, even if out of friendship he does not give it to him, then because of his persistence, he gets up and gives him as much as he asks” 5434. 6.7 II, 4, 27 And with all this He convinced us to relentlessly, tirelessly and incessantly ask Him for gracious intercession, because He came for the sake of sinners, to turn [them] to Him and to heal those who believe in Him. If only we would only give up evil prejudices, to the best of our ability, hate our evil pursuits and worldly seductions 5435, turn away from our evil and vain thoughts and always, to the best of our strength, voluntarily cleave to Him; and He is ready to provide us with His help, 6.8 because He has mercy, life-giving, heals incurable passions, creates deliverance for those who call on Him, accepts those who turn to Him, who, of their own desire and will, withdraw, to the best of their ability, from all worldly love, distracting the mind from the earth and relying on the only Lord in their search and striving for Him. 6.9 A soul worthy of His help is awarded to such a soul which, with all its desire and will, seeks Him alone and considers everything superfluous, does not rest on anything in this world, but expects that it will be rested by His grace and glorified; and therefore, for such faith, having received a heavenly gift 5436 - by grace, having undoubtedly put her lust to rest 5437 and accordingly serving the Holy Spirit, every day succeeding in goodness, remaining on the path of righteousness 5438, remaining adamant to vice to the end, not aligning with it and not grieving grace in any way 5439 - she is granted eternal salvation with all the saints, because she imitated them, living in the world as their accomplice and companion. Glory to His compassion and His boundless mercy, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Word 50 5440. {How many and what kind of benefits is awarded to the soul that mysteriously communes with Christ, and Who should have the weapon} 5441 1.1 Human nature, having fallen under the sentence of the wrath of God because of the crime of the primordial Adam, having fallen away from that former, 5442 and dispassionate state, and intertwined with the malice of the passions, and forcibly subjugated by them to the deception of the evil one, is in the impossibility of tearing itself out of the bitter slavery of darkness. 1.2 Therefore, it became necessary for the Divine and heavenly power to unite with it and intertwine, so that, having acquired deliverance from passions and help in virtues, it could achieve the practice of virtues of ancient purity and thus give the Lord the perfect fruits of righteousness 5443. For this purpose, the coming of the Lord took place, who first built the economy through the fathers and through the prophets, in order to help human weakness and by His Spirit to make the hearts of believers such that they could bear the heavenly fruits of grace. 1.3 For each of the visible [natures], unless some alien nature is added to it to help its work, is only inactive in itself, incapable and powerless for decoration, cannot in itself only create splendid beauty, for the ineffable Wisdom of God, showing the secrets and images of visible creatures, has arranged it so that they need each other’s work in decoration; Thus, each of them is revealed to be imperfect in itself for splendor and work, in the image of human nature, which alone, by itself, cannot reveal the structure of perfect virtues and the spiritual splendor of beauty without Divine and heavenly power. 1.4 Let us verify this from examples. The earth, being by itself, remains incapable of anything unless it receives careful cultivation from the farmers, so that they clear it of all thorns and thorns 5444 and put seeds in it, then so that it receives rain from the sky, and thus, with the help of the air and the sun, the fruits in it grow, for by itself it cannot produce perfect fruits. 1.5 Or as if there were a house and all its furnishings were from the earth, it needs light from the sky and the sun: after all, this is not in its nature, so that it could [by itself] have splendor and beauty by the radiance of light. 1.6 In the same way, human nature, having fallen under the sin of the passions and finding itself in the weakness of the virtues, is powerless to help itself and avoid the violence of the passions, so that it can render to the Heavenly Lord the perfect fruits of the virtues. 1.7 Therefore, the good and man-loving God, with His great kindness, was pleased to bestow on our souls 5445 spiritual wealth, that is, the Spirit of Christ, which does not exist from our nature (for we are a creation, and He is uncreated), so that He, having made and cultivated the hearts of the faithful with His knowledge and artistry, would beautify them, who with all their will have given themselves to the spiritual Farmer, so that, having accepted rain of grace from heaven, they were able to bear spiritual fruits, and give the offspring of righteousness perfect to the Heavenly Lord, and then inherit blessings from heaven. 1.8 For He also deigned the Sun of Truth 5446 to shine, which is not of our nature, in the house of the soul darkened by passions, so that in this way the terrible darkness of sin could be put to flight from the human person, and the beauty of the house of the soul would be revealed through the shining of spiritual and heavenly Light, and thus [the soul] could have beauty, and splendor, and the whole order of virtues through The Divine Spirit, when the Sun of righteousness, which does not exist in our nature, shines in us, according to what was said: “So that you may become partakers of the Divine nature” 5447. 1.9 For the soul, having fallen under sin and terribly because of evil spirits under the influence of the passions, became hardened and rancid, alienated from that former, pure and blissful state, accepted the passions of evil contrary to its good nature, which no one can take away from it and restore to the ancient state of purity, if not something alien to our nature, that is, the power of the Divine Spirit, because, Having visited a faithful soul, she will dispel all cruelty and all evil and externally penetrating passion and restore the ancient nobility of the purity of virtues. 1.10 During winter, the bitterness of harsh winds and the cold of frosts change and transform the earth from a gentle nature into much cruelty and hardness, just as frost turns the most tender nature of waters into the nature of stone, for during a strong winter you see the largest rivers, especially in northern countries, turning from the cold into ice and the likeness of stone, so that animals even walk on top of the rivers. Neither the rivers can be restored to their softness, nor some people, even if they all come together, cannot by their own strength restore them to their former order, because some other cold nature has risen and mixed with the waters and turned them into a certain stony state. And who can restore them to their own nature of softness, unless it is something alien to their nature, which is the sun? Penetrating with its action of warmth, it will melt the entire icy nature of the cold and bring all [the waters] into their own state of softness. 1.11 In the same way, a person who found himself under sin, because of an ancient crime, fell into the bitter and fierce cold of wicked spirits, and all the opposite winds of the wickedness of passions blew into the soul, and the coldness of the power of darkness that entered into it turned that sacred and pure state of a tender heart into the rebellious rigidity of carnal wisdom and into violation of the holy commandments and turned a nature beautiful in every virtue into a certain bitter and bound habit and, to put it simply and briefly, from that unalloyed and meek and worthy of love state of the soul into a petrified, and mixed, and crafty quality. 1.12 And who can restore it to that ancient, pure, and most tender state and truly subordinate it to God’s law in all the immaculate doing of the commandments, if the Sun of Truth, Christ, alien to our nature, does not shine in it with the sweetest rays of His illuminations, so that He can, with His warmth of heavenly and holy fire, melt away all the bitter malice of the darkness of passions and restore the former virtues into His own goodness a faithful soul who has given all of herself to the Lord? For if someone does not completely present his will to the Lord, giving himself everything, he will not receive that deliverance and purity. 2.1 So, blessed are the Christians, who through their faith, and prayer, and much zeal in virtues have achieved this ineffable and eternal goodness, and have become partakers of the Heavenly Man, and have received knowledge of the heavenly mysteries of the Spirit by experience and sensation - they, even if on earth they are seen walking in body, have acquired residence and abiding of their mind in heaven 5448, they are the best, and greatest, and the most powerful of all people. For no one has ever been able to ascend to heaven and perform spiritual deeds there, and behold the beauties of ineffable lights there, and be worthy to see the wonderful and strange sacraments that true Christians are worthy of. 2:2 There is someone, poor, apparently in need, not wise, not powerful, humble in relation to human glory, and he withdraws and falls to the Lord with his face down. And so, without bodily strength, or the labor of hands or feet, in the confirmation of the mind and thoughts, with all the wisdom of the soul he ascends to heaven, guided by the spirit, and there he performs the immortal and ineffable deeds of life, and there he remains, and contemplates with all the fullness of faith the miracles of God there and the exceptional beauties of spiritual things 5449. For the apostle says: “Our citizenship is in heaven” 5450. And again: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him” 5451. And he adds: “He revealed it to us by His Spirit” 5452. 2:3 You see how they are better, and greater, and more powerful, and do true and eternal work, in comparison with all people on earth, worthy of God, that is, in comparison with nobles, or powerful, or wise, or kings. For what no one can do, they alone do, being worthy to understand even now in heaven the spiritual affairs and secrets of heavenly objects. This means that they are wise, they are powerful, they are noble, they are glorious, they are rich, having acquired the heavenly kinship of the spirit, and mingled with the heavenly Church of saints, and inwardly clothed in the heavenly man; but apparently they are poor, needy, like other people, they also walk, they also speak in carnal language, toiling, and hungry, and sleeping, because now is not the time to receive the incorruptibility of the flesh, for this is preserved in the Resurrection. 2:4 Those who can understand true Christians, what they are like from the inside, see what a difference there is between them and all worldly people. For this was also the case with the Lord at that time. Those who wanted to be healed came, as if to a person wearing flesh, and when they approached, the inner Heavenly God the Word, invisible with bodily eyes, performed extraordinary and miraculous signs, especially for those who came to Him with faith. Because of this, the devil was greatly confused, deceived by the flesh of the Lord. , he became confused, observing [Him], a man from the outside, like all people; Seeing the great miracles He performed, He was horrified and kept in fear of what to do, since apparently He was a man, working and hungry and sleeping, but what He did was not human. 2.5 Blinded by his evil ignorance because of the human passions of the Lord and considering that the Lord was a man, as one of the righteous, he undertook His murder with the help of his subordinates. The Lord seemed to be saying to him: “O devil, why are you agitated when I am calm? What's shocking? And he: “What you do,” he says, “shocks me and causes me terrible anxiety, because what you see is human, but what you do is not characteristic of man.” By luring him with suffering and mortal flesh to His own murder and death, the Lord abolished all his violence. For because of the flesh, the devil undertook the murder of the Lord, and his evil spirits, when Christ was in the body, burned by the heavenly fire of the Divinity, shouted: “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come ahead of time to torment us? » 5453. 2:6 So, therefore, are those close to Christ. Jesus dwells in them according to their measure, as servants of Christ and receiving grace from Him; Outwardly, they seem similar to [others], and needy, and deprived of worldly things, but inside, the power of the Spirit that dwells in them burns the demons themselves, for the evil spirits scream before the servants of God, admitting that they are burning. The servants of God are so powerful that everything visible, leaders, kings, and Satan himself with his army, fighting and fighting against Christians, are completely defeated by them. 3:1 You see what dignity and strength they possess, although in their bodies they are humiliated, so that all creatures and the devil are overcome by them. And in order to provide proof of what has been said, let us mention a few people of God, as they were as described in the Scriptures. Nebuchadnezzar 5454, king of Babylon, when he built that great golden image, a work of horror and wonder, and commanded all the tribes of the earth to gather in that great field so that they would worship the golden image of the king, who could dispel this enterprise and plan, if God alone, in His ineffable wisdom, had not accomplished a great providential work through this enterprise? He first delivered Israel into captivity to Nebuchadnezzar, so that his people (His?) would be taught for their sins, and the preparation of evil, [performed] through the image, would be scattered, and He would reveal His own listeners what they are, and so that all the tribes gathered to worship the image would learn from the exploit of the three youths that there is a God in heaven, and would know Him. The Lord wanted to gather the theater, when all the tribes were gathered, as well as the heavenly powers, so that everyone could see the exploits and courageous deeds of God’s servants. Therefore, He exposes three youths, Ananias, Azariah, Mishael, and they are slandered before the king, that “the golden image that you set up is not worshiped.” 3.2 So, the three youths are brought into the middle and interrogated by the king: “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, you do not serve my gods, and do not worship the golden image that I set up? » 5455. Daringly, they answer the king: “We do not serve your gods and we do not worship the golden image that you erected. Cast us into the fiery furnace, for there is a God in heaven who will take us out of the fire and deliver us from your hands, O king, and if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods” 5456. 3:3 So, look, everything here is against them: nations, tribes, nobles, kings - everyone was against them, and all creation, visible and invisible, of evil forces was against them, and the three youths defeated all creation, visible and invisible; look how great the power is in the servants of God, for when they were thrown into the fiery furnace, the flames dissolved and they remained intact for their perfect faith in God, and thus remained intact, emerging from the furnace and winning victory over everyone. Because of them, the entire heavenly Church of angels and holy powers exclaimed, seeing them as victors. Yet the assembly of the tribes on earth applauded them, because, on the contrary, both the king himself and his subjects worshiped the God of Israel instead of the golden image. This spectacle was to test the servants of God. For, says the apostle, “we have become a spectacle for angels and men” 5457. You see that, as we have already said, the heavenly [forces] converge on the valiant deeds of the saints. 3:4 And in other places at times God performed, so to speak, a spectacle and theater for those on high and below, as under Elijah. One man proved stronger than many thousands by sending down heavenly fire on the altar, and they all could not defeat one man of God. 3.5 Similarly, during the time of Moses there was a spectacle of God: against one man, Moses, all of Egypt could not stand, and only one defeated all the might of Pharaoh. The Heavenly Church was present there too, looking at the valor of Moses, and from there he brought down plagues on them from heaven and subdued them in every way, right up to the point of betraying them to the sea and drowning them, because they rebelled against the people of God. 3:6 The same thing happened under Lot. He alone, having won, was able to escape the fire and escape with his daughters. A similar thing happened under Noah, for he alone, having escaped with his own, conquered the world. While everyone rushed into destruction and destruction, he alone was able to avoid God’s wrath, thanks to his perfect goodwill towards Him. 4:1 We have brought all this, beloved brothers, as proof, showing you what kind of power perfect Christians are, so that everything visible and the whole world are overcome by them. And the spirits of wickedness that war against them are defeated, and the worthy servants of Christ are found above all of them because of the Power of God living in them. For all the visible and invisible spirits of wickedness oppose and fight against them. A double war, therefore, for Christians and a double “struggle” - both against those visible to this eye, and “against the principalities and powers of the world ruler” 5458. Because what is seen with these eyes irritates and tickles, and encourages the soul to be bound by it, and held back, and to delight; or rather, evil itself chains those who are submissive to it to the visible. 4.2 In order to imagine that this is so, listen to how the Lord says in the Gospel about the seed that fell into the thorny ground, that the “thorns” that grew up choked it 5459. And the Lord interprets that they mean everyday worries and cares. 4:3 And in another place He clearly states what it means to be called to the king’s marriage and not wanting to come because of worldly affairs. "For the first," says [the Lord], "said: 'I bought a field and am going to inspect it. I ask you to forgive me.'" 5460. So does another: “I bought a pair of oxen and am going to see it. Please forgive me" 5461. The other one is similar: “I got married and can’t come” 5462. It is clear that these are visible things, because of which they could not come to the king’s wedding. 4.4 Therefore, there is a double war among Christians, as has already been said, and through double struggle and fist fighting everyone must struggle and endure sorrows who wants to please the Lord. When, therefore, someone withdraws from his parents, from his wife and estates or pleasures, or fatherland, or acquaintances 5463 and, so to speak, defeats them and overcomes them - for this too is war - then, having collected himself and occupied himself with the Lord, penetrating deep into his soul[,] he again has a war and a great struggle against hostile forces, against invisible enemies and the actions of darkness, against which he needs to fight and strive, taking with you heavenly weapons, in order to be able to win the terrible and bitter war of evil. 4:5 But lest it seem that we are speaking on our own, listen to the apostle, who says: “No temptation has overtaken us except that which is common to man,” 5464 that is, visible, so that there is not [only] human temptation, but also invisible temptation and war. And again: “Finally, brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil, because our war is not against blood and flesh, but against the authorities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spirits of wickedness" 5465. So there are principles, and powers, and rulers of the world, and spirits of wickedness, against which we must strive and fight. 4:6 And where are they, and where are they fighting? Inside in the soul, in the thoughts. Therefore he adds: “Stand therefore, having your loins girded with truth and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, and putting on the breastplate of righteousness. And most of all, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit" 5466. And he adds how anyone will find and acquire this, because he says: “Pray with all prayer and supplication at all times, and strive for this with all perseverance and supplication” 5467. 4:7 He taught us, therefore, how we must find spiritual weapons, through which we can defeat invisible enemies. But the Lord, hinting at this double war, both through visible things and through the action of the evil one, said: “What king, going to war against another king, does not sit down and count and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to resist the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Otherwise, while he is still far away, he will send an embassy to him to ask for peace” 5468. And he teaches, saying: “Look how you must strive and give your all, as someone who knows that you have to fight in how many wars, open and secret.” 4:8 For Moses, prefiguring the shadow of the truth, commanded the messenger to loudly proclaim among the people when they were about to go to war: “If anyone is a coward,” he said, “let him not go out to war, lest being a coward cause the hearts of others to become cowardly and turn them back. 4:9 Likewise, he says, if someone has recently married, let him not go out, lest, finding himself in war and remembering his wife, he turns around and takes others with him. If someone built a house and did not finish it, let him not go out to war, lest, remembering the construction and relaxing in the war, he might influence others to turn back” 5469. 4:10 In the same way, the Lord, looking for valiant, and well-disposed, and courageous souls here, said that such a one “first looks to see if it is possible to meet with ten thousand the one coming at him with twenty thousand, otherwise, while he is still far away, he asks for peace” 5470 - looking for courageous, and willing, and those who have laid down all their will with conviction to the Lord, and have given their will, and follow Him followers, and believers, that all victory is accomplished by spiritual weapons given from heaven to believers. 4:11 So, whoever wants to become worthy of the Lord must first withdraw from everything visible and hate all worldly things, and pleasures, and pleasures, and glory, and dignity, and possessions, and the fatherland, parents and relatives, and friends in the flesh, and honor, and praise, and the worship of people. And when the one who struggles against these visible [things] successfully defeats them, then he needs to diligently remain with the Lord with all prayer and labor, asking for prayer, in order to receive the heavenly weapon, the “sword of the Spirit” 5471, and so that he exercises himself with this weapon. 4:12 Because as newly called recruits who take up arms, they are obliged to train and study them, and then go to war; but there is another who, having already gone out to many wars and returning [from them], does not feel like a stranger, but with the boldness of his heart, fearing nothing, he goes out - so here too, those who receive spiritual weapons from heaven first practice in it, guided, and controlled, and taught by grace, how to fight against invisible enemies, and thus enter into war “against the spirits of evil” 5472 so as not to be as if cowardly and feeling like strangers. But there are others for whom this war is already as easy as a toy, since they entered and exited [it] many times, and from that time, with confidence in the Lord and the power of spiritual weapons, killing and defeating enemies, they are bold and willing, and come to greater prosperity day by day. But these measures are different from those of a beginner in war; if he does not have spiritual weapons, he cannot fight with enemies and win victory against the spirits of wickedness, for he perishes from them: just as in visible [wars] no one fights without a sword and weapons, because he is cut to death, so it is here. 4:13 So, let us also beg God, especially those who have alienated themselves from this life and become monastics and strangers to their own in unceasing prayer, and heartfelt labor, and prayerful diligence, that the Lord would give us the heavenly weapon of the Spirit, so that we could prevail with it over all our opponents, the spirits of wickedness; and so to those who strive according to the will of God, and who surrendered all our will to Him, and who labored valiantly with His weapons, and won victory against their enemies in this way, Christ will reward us with the “crown of righteousness” 5473, deigning us to reign with Him for endless centuries. Glory to His goodness forever and ever. Amen. Word 51. {How much prosperity and humility have acquired the souls of the saints, how much error they are not} 5474 1 II, 10, 1 Truth-loving and God-loving souls, with great hope and faith desiring to be completely clothed in Christ, do not so much need reminders from others and do not even tolerate any diminishment in heavenly desire and love for the Lord, but are completely nailed to the cross 5475 of Christ and wounded by heavenly love for the spiritual Bridegroom 5476, are daily aware of a feeling of spiritual success. 2 Stung by heavenly desire, and hungry 5477 for the truth of virtues, and having an insatiably great desire for spiritual illumination, they, even if by their faith they are vouchsafed to receive the knowledge of Divine mysteries and become partakers of the joy of heavenly grace, do not rely on themselves, considering themselves to be anything 5478, but to the extent that they are vouchsafed spiritual gifts, all the more due to their insatiability heavenly desires, they seek them with difficulty. 3 And the more they feel spiritual progress in themselves, the more they hunger and thirst for communion and an increase in grace; The more they are enriched spiritually, the more they seem to become poor in their own opinion of themselves, having an insatiable spiritual lust for the heavenly Bridegroom, as the Scripture says: “Those who eat Me will still hunger, and those who drink Me will still thirst” 5479. 4 II, 10, 2 Such souls, having within themselves a fiery and insatiable love for the Lord, are worthy of eternal life, and therefore are worthy of final deliverance from passions and, in the fullness of grace, completely accept the illumination and communion of ineffable and mysterious communion [and] sanctification of the Spirit 5480. Souls that are lazy, relaxed and unmanly, if already here in the flesh 5481 are worthy of partial (but not complete) sanctification of the heart, do not want to accept and communicate with the Comforter Spirit in perfection, with full sensation and with certainty, for patience and generosity 5482, and to be delivered by the Spirit from bad passions, but, as those worthy of God’s grace, they surrendered to some carelessness and inactivity, stolen by evil, 5 II, 10, 3 and, as if having already received the grace of the Spirit and having gracious consolation, they remain in peace, in desire and in spiritual sweetness and, relying on this, they exalt themselves, indulge in carelessness, without being contrite in heart and [not] humbled in thoughts and without experiencing [spiritual] hunger [to achieve] a perfect measure of dispassion without having received it in order to be completely filled with grace with all diligence and faith; They were satisfied with this, and calmed down, and stopped with little spiritual consolation, succeeding more in exaltation than in humility - souls like this, even if they were awarded any talent, are deprived of it for careless negligence and for the vain arrogance of their conceit. 6 II, 10, 4 A truly God-loving and Christ-loving soul, even though it has accomplished thousands of righteous deeds, out of its insatiable desire for the Lord, thinks of itself as if it had not done anything yet; even if she has exhausted her body with fasts and vigils 5483, she is disposed [to consider] as if she had not yet begun to work for virtues; even if she has been honored to achieve various spiritual gifts or revelations and heavenly mysteries, she finds within herself out of immeasurable and insatiable love for the Lord, as if she had not yet acquired anything. 7 On the contrary, hungering and thirsting daily with faith and love in diligent prayer, he cannot be satisfied with the mysteries of grace and the well-being of himself in all virtue; she is wounded by the love of the heavenly Spirit 5484, with the help of grace she constantly arouses in herself a fiery desire for the heavenly Bridegroom, desires to be completely worthy of the mysterious and ineffable communion with Him in the sanctification of the Spirit 5485; the soul openly 5486, face to face 5487, in a spiritual and ineffable light, with all certainty merges with the heavenly Bridegroom, and is conformed to His death 5488 with great lust, and unceasingly awaits death for Christ, and undoubtedly believes that through the Spirit it will receive complete deliverance from sin and the darkness of passions, so that, having been cleansed and sanctified by grace Spirit, to become worthy of becoming a pure vessel 5489 for receiving heavenly myrrh and the abode of the true King Christ and [to be worthy of] the eternal kingdom, still here becoming a pure dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. 8 II, 10, 5 But it is not possible for the soul to come to such a measure suddenly and not without trials. On the contrary, through many labors and exploits, over time, with diligence, after trials and various temptations, 5490 she accepts spiritual growth and prosperity even to the perfect measure of dispassion. Having proved courageous in everything and willingly and valiantly withstood every temptation brought by evil, then the soul is awarded great honors, spiritual gifts, heavenly wealth and thus becomes the heir of the heavenly kingdom in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever! Amen. Word 52 5491. {The structure of the visible holy Church is the image of the invisible and sanctified soul} 5492 1.1 The entire visible structure of the Church of God took place for the sake of the living and intelligent being of the soul, created intelligent in the image of God 5493, which itself is the living and true Church of God. And therefore, with similar names, belonging to the rational, and the living, and the heavenly, the dumb, and the inanimate, and the corporeal were honored, so that, having passed through the shadow, the infant soul reached the truth, because the church of Christ, and the church of God, and the true altar, and the living sacrifice 5494 is the man of God, for whose sake the bodily shrines received names as their inheritance heavenly. 1:2 For just as the ministry of the Law and the Old Testament regulations were a shadow of the Church of Christ, so the present visible Church is the shadow of the inner man, rational and true. For behold, the entire visible structure and ministry of the sacraments of the Church passes away at the end of [the age], but the rational and spiritual being of the inner man remains, and for its sake must be fulfilled, in the power of the Holy Spirit, all the dispensation and ministry of the heavenly sacraments of the Church of God, so that through the living action of the Spirit, restored into the truly holy church of God and the church of Christ, it becomes the heir of eternal life. 1.3 For this reason, many of those who are new to the knowledge of the truth speak out against us, allegedly maliciously deviating from their own scriptures 5495; these people, entirely based on a short-term economy and relying only on carnal excuses, and at the same time neglecting the study of the rational inner man and the renewal of the soul and not knowing the meaning of the 5496 new creation, out of ignorance slander us; the soul that loves the truth examines the very root of things, and, considering that Christianity is not something superficial, and not dwelling on external images of justifications and services, with faith expects to receive, by the power of the Holy Spirit, full assurance [of its salvation] according to the inner man; and this is true Christianity. 1.4 It was for this reason that God gave His Holy Spirit to the holy and catholic Church 5497 and ordained that He should be present in the holy Altar and in the water of holy Baptism; and the Savior granted through the Apostles that the Comforter Spirit hovers and participates in every divine service of the holy Church of God, according to what was said by the Lord Himself: “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” 5498 - so that, on the basis of Baptism, and the Altar, and the Bread of the Eucharist, and every sacramental service in the Church, the Holy Spirit would influence the faithful hearts in all the power and virtues of heavenly fruits, and thus renewed and recreated by the power of grace would discover that they live a true life according to heavenly wisdom, having been stripped, by the power of the Spirit, of the material and earthly way of thinking. 1.5 After all, if the Spirit overshadowed the Old Testament Ark, or better yet, was inherent, then how much more [this is the case] in relation to the Altar, and the Church, and the entire sacrament of holy Baptism. But just as when the Israelites sinned, the Spirit did not act, although it was inherent in the Irk of God, and sometimes even at times, for the sins of the people, and the Irk itself was transferred to the unworthy pagans, without helping [the Israelites] in any way due to the multitude of their sins, although the Spirit showed its action and sign 5499, showing then through Divine signs 5500 before [the face] pagans, that He is present with the Tabernacle of God - so now, the Spirit, present in God’s holy Church, and at the holy Altar, and in all the manifested economy, reveals His action in various gifts worthy and faithful, and He is far from the unworthy. 1:6 God seeks that the living work of the Holy Spirit should take place in living hearts, because everything visible and all dispensation passes away, but living hearts abid [eternally] in the Spirit. For this reason the Savior came, for this reason - and the whole structure of the image of the Church, so that the intelligent essences of faithful souls could, through the action of grace, be recreated and renewed and, having changed, inherit eternal life. 2:1 And as an example of the fact that visible things are the image and shadow of hidden [things], and the visible church [is the image and shadow] of the church of the heart, and the priest [is the image and shadow] of the true priest of Christ's grace 5501, and all the rest of the visible structure [of the earthly Church is the image and outline] of spiritual things pertaining to the inner man, and hidden - we will take the external church structure and government produced by grace in the soul. 2.2 So, just as in the visible Church, if first there are no readings, and psalmody, and a meeting of the people, and all the following of the church rite, then the very Divine Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ is not performed by the priest and there is no sacramental communion of the faithful; and if the entire church 5502 ends, then after this the priest [no longer] brings the sacramental Eucharistic prosphora into the offering and there is no communion of the Body of Christ: the sacrament was not completed and the church institution did not reach its goal, and the altar service of the Divine Sacrament, not performed by the priest, was not fulfilled; and how, in turn, the Sacrament of the Proposal itself is not offered so simply if the entire church canon has not been completed in advance: just as the latter is unfinished and unfulfilled without the celebration of the Sacrament, so the sacrament is not performed if it is not preceded by canon 5503. 2.3 And just as there is a certain order and glory of the Sacrament, so is the Christian: if he performs fasting, vigil, psalmody, every feat and every virtue, and, however, the mysterious action of the Spirit, [produced by] grace on the altar of the heart, is not accomplished with all tangibility and spiritual repose, then this means that the whole pursuit of ascetic deed is not sufficient and, perhaps, 5504 fruitless, lacking in itself the main thing - spiritual rejoicing, which grace mysteriously produces in the heart; just as, again, the love of the Spirit does not perform the heavenly sacrament - intoxicating the soul in the exultation of grace - just like that, indifferent to the dissolute and unbridled, but [performs] only for the heart of a faithful, reverent and strict way of life and asceticism, for this is the order and repose of the action of the Spirit. 2.4 Indeed, to the extent that the soul is in strict asceticism, and great humility, and meekness, and a virtuous lifestyle, so much the grace of the Spirit rests in it in all its power and action; a soul that has a [good] way of life, but has not yet felt within itself with all certainty the action of the Spirit, is deprived of the sanctification of the heart; therefore, let her seek, weep, weep to the Lord, so that with a virtuous lifestyle she may acquire the sanctification of the Spirit 5505, like a beautiful decoration, as well as the effect of grace [reflecting] in ineffable contemplations in the mind, so that she may acquire in herself the perfect sacrament of Christianity, according to the above comparison with the Church. 2.5 But just as in the Church those who sin physically are excommunicated by the priest from Communion, and having repented, they are again rewarded with it, while those who have not sinned and are blameless move forward and go to the sacred rank and move from some external place to the altar in order to become servants of God and co-altars, so - in continuation of the present topic - and Christians, moved by grace and rested in consolation Spirit, pass into the heavenly joy of the mysterious communion of the Spirit, about which the Apostle said: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit” and so on 5506. 2.6 Think about what has been said and you will find that the Holy and Worshiped Trinity dwells in a person, purified by help from above through his own most virtuous lifestyle; I say “dwells” not by His Being, because no creature can contain [the Being of God], but according to the ability of a person who pleases God to contain and accept [the degree of His grace]. 2.7 But if the will deviates somewhat from living according to conscience, succumbing to some invisible harmful passions, and this grieves the Spirit 5507, then the mind is rejected and separated from spiritual joy, since grace, and love, and every beneficial and good action retreats from it, and it is given over to evil spirits for sorrows and temptations until, having turned, the soul goes again on the right road to pleasing the Spirit in all humility and repentant confession, and then she is again rewarded with the protecting grace of the Spirit and perceives heavenly joy to an even greater extent. 2.8 If [the soul] does not offend grace and does not grieve the Spirit 5509 by bad behavior and the general way of its life, but follows all the commandments of the Lord in a godly manner, and by free will in all holiness and perfect feat resists evil thoughts, and with all its will always cleaves to the Lord and rests [within] grace, then such a soul is rightly rewarded with success, and miracles, and heavenly gifts, and movement 5510 [to the higher spiritual sphere], and spiritual dignity: she is rewarded with a transition from divine mysteries to heavenly mysteries, and from glory to glory 5511, and from peace to repose even more obvious and perfect, to the abiding of her mind in great measures and much boldness and glorious riches of grace; and thus, as a result of voluntary deed and help from above, having reached the perfect stages of Christianity, she will be numbered among the perfect workers and among the blameless servants of Christ and co-thrones in the Kingdom - for the sake of the conscientious and great zeal that she showed in relation to Good, inheriting the Lord forever and ever. Amen. Word 53 5512. {Evil does not harm the one who has received heavenly fire in the heart, and the freedom of the soul} 5513 1.1 II, 11, 1 The heavenly fire of the Divinity, which now, in this century, Christians take inside themselves, in the heart, the same one that serves inside their heart, then, when the body is destroyed, it becomes external and [on the day of the resurrection of the dead] will again unite the members of the body one to another and resurrect the destroyed members. 1,2 But just as in Jerusalem the fire that served on the altar was buried in a well during the [Babylonian] captivity and then, with the advent of peace and the return of the captives, it seemed to be renewed and continued to serve in the usual way 5514, so 5515 the heavenly fire will also reproduce, renew and resurrect the decayed bodies, because the fire now internal, dwelling in the heart, will then be outside and will produce the resurrection tel. 1,3 II, 11, 2 And as in the time of Nebuchadnezzar 5516 the fire that burned in the furnace was not divine, but created, however, the three youths, being in visible fire for their righteousness, had in their hearts divine and heavenly fire, which served and acted within their thoughts, and this same fire appeared from outside them, since it appeared among them and kept the visible fire from he burned the righteous or harmed them. 1.4 Likewise, when Israel had in their minds and hearts the intention of departing from the Living God and deviating into idolatry, and when Aaron was forced [by the people] to tell them to bring to him vessels, gold and ornaments, then this gold and these vessels, which he cast into the fire, became [then] an idol 5517 - see what an amazing thing: to what extent the fire imitated their intention, for after Since - due to the innermost intention of their thoughts - they wanted to worship idols, then accordingly the fire poured the vessels thrown into it into the idol, and after this they became obvious idolaters. 1.5 So, just as the three youths 5518, having thought righteously, accepted the divine fire into themselves and worshiped God in truth 5519, so now faithful souls secretly receive in this age this divine and heavenly fire, and it itself forms a heavenly icon in human [nature]. 1.6 II, 11, 3 And just as [then, during the time of Aaron] the fire gave an image to the golden vessels and they became an idol, so the Lord, as if in accordance with the wills of faithful and good souls, according to their will, depicts a new image in their soul and on the [day] of the resurrection [of the dead] will appear from outside them and glorify their bodies from the outside and from the inside. But just as the bodies [of the deceased] at the present time remain decayed, and dead, and disintegrated, so our thoughts, through the action of Satan, have decayed and died to life and separated from it, or better yet, buried in rot and in the ground, because the soul perished; and as the Israelites then threw away golden vessels 5520 - pure and beautiful thoughts - man gave them over to evil and they were buried in the rot of sin, and the soul, being in the darkness of sin, as if in some kind of church, is sacrificed [as a sacrifice to demons]. 1.7 But how can a person find them 5521, distinguish them and throw them out of his house 5522? – Here the soul already needs divine light and the Holy Spirit, putting the darkened house in order; needs the luminous Sun of Truth 5523, enlightening and illuminating the heart; she needs weapons that bring victory in battle. 1.8 II, 11, 4 Thus, this [evangelical] widow, who had lost her drachma 5524, first lit a lamp, then cleaned the house, and thus, after she had cleaned the house and lit the lamp, she found her drachma in cope 5525 and in uncleanness and covered with earth - so now the soul by its own forces cannot find its thoughts and separate them, but when the divine lamp is lit and shines in a house engulfed in darkness, then she sees her thoughts, how they are covered with uncleanness and the rottenness of sin. When the Sun rises, then the soul sees its destruction and begins to correct its thoughts, mixed with rubbish and filth, because the soul, having transgressed the commandment of God, has destroyed its image. 2.1 II, 11, 5 For example, there would be a certain king, and possessed property, and had servants under his command who obeyed him, and, behold, it would happen to him to be captured by enemies and taken captive; since he was captured and expelled, it is necessary for his servants and subordinates to follow him. So Adam was created by God pure to serve Him, and this creation was given to him for his service, because he was made lord and king over all creation. But after the evil word approached him and spoke to him, and he himself first perceived it through external hearing, then it entered his heart and captured his entire being, and thus, when he was already captured, then the creature serving and obeying him was captured along with him. 2.2 Therefore through him “death reigned” over every soul 5526; as a result of his crime, she blotted out the entire image of Adam, so that people deviated [from God] and began to worship demons: behold, the fruits of the earth, beautifully created by God - bread, wine and oil - and they began to offer animals to demons on their altars; and not only that, but they also sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons. 2:3 II, 11, 6 Now He Himself who created body and soul, Himself comes and destroys every seat of the evil one and all his works 5527 done in the thoughts of [man], and renews and recreates the heavenly image 5528 in man, and creates a new soul, so that Adam will again be king over death and lord over creation. 2.4 Just as in the legal canopy 5529 Moses was called the “savior of Israel” 5530 and brought him out of Egypt, so now the true Redeemer - Christ - enters the very recesses of the soul and leads it out of dark Egypt, freeing it from the most difficult yoke and bitter slavery. And He instructs us to leave the world 5531, to be poor in regard to all visible things and not to have earthly cares, but to watch day and night at the door and wait for the Lord, having opened our closed hearts, to pour out the gift of the Spirit into us. 2.5 II, 11, 7 He says that we should reject gold, silver and family ties, sell our property and give it to the poor 5532 and treasure it in heaven, “for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” 5533. The Lord saw 5534 that by doing this from within, Satan gains the upper hand over thoughts, forcing us to bow down to worry about material and earthly things. Therefore, God, caring for your soul, tells you to renounce [this], so that you at least involuntarily seek heaven and turn your heart to God, so that if you wanted to return to your property again, you would find yourself not possessing anything visible and, willy-nilly, you would be forced to look to where you collected it and put it in the treasury, that is, to heaven, “for where the treasure is, there will your heart be also” 5535. 2.6 II, 11, 8 In the Law, God commanded Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it up and attach it to the top of a pole 5536, and those who were bitten by snakes, looking at the brass serpent, received healing. But here, too, 5537 the same thing happens economically, because obsessed with earthly cares, and idolatry, and satanic pleasures, and all kinds of wickedness, they thus at least partially somehow turn to grief, and, raising their lowered gaze, look 5538 at something higher, and, thus moving little by little to an even more sublime and upper part, realize that there is a God who is above all creation. 2:7 So He also commanded you to become a beggar and, having sold everything, to give to the poor, 5539 so that even if you wanted to creep below on the earth, you could no longer. After all, you test [then] your heart and begin to talk with your thoughts: “We have nothing on earth; So let us go to heaven, [there] where our treasure is, where our property is.” Your mind will begin to look upward, and seek higher [things], and succeed in it. 2.8 II, 11, 9 What does it mean that a dead serpent, nailed to the top of a tree, healed the wounded? 5540 – The dead serpent conquered the living serpents, because he is a prototype of the Body of the Lord, for the body that He received from {Theotokos} 5541 Mary, He lifted up on the cross and nailed and hung on a tree, and the dead Body conquered and killed the snake [that is] in the human heart, the living and the reptile. 5542 – But just as then Moses made a copper serpent, although from the beginning of the world there was no copper snake, but Moses himself made a new work like a living snake, so the Lord created a new Body from {the Ever-Virgin and Mother of God} 5543 Mary and clothed himself in it, but did not bring the body from heaven (the Spirit was heavenly) 5544, but, having entered Adam’s [nature] 5545, He made a new man, and dissolved him with the Divinity, and put on human flesh, and was formed in the [Mother's] womb. 2.9 So, just as before Moses the Lord did not command that a copper serpent should exist in the world, so before the Lord a new and sinless Body 5546 did not appear in the world, because after the primordial Adam transgressed the commandment, “death reigned” 5547 over all his children. But the dead Body defeated the living serpent. 3.1 II, 11, 10 And this miracle is “a stumbling block to the Jews, but madness to the Gentiles” 5548. What does the apostle say? “But we > 5549 preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles; for us, those who are being saved, God’s Power and God’s Wisdom” 5550 5551. From there comes life; thanks to this - light; on this basis - victory; thus - redemption 5552. 3.2 The Lord comes to death, and speaks to it, and commands it to cast out souls from hell and from [the power of] death and return [them to Him]; She, confused by this, comes to her servants and gathers all her strength, and the [evil] prince presents to the Lord the [ancient] manuscript 5553 and says: “Look, on the basis of which people obeyed my word, that’s why they worshiped us.” God, being a righteous judge 5554, recognizes her rightness here too and says to her: “Yes, Adam obeyed you, and you captured his whole heart. Humanity obeyed you. But what relation do you have to My Body? It is sinless. The body of the first Adam owes you a debt, and you rightly possess its debt receipt, but everyone testifies about me that I have not sinned 5555. I don’t owe you anything, and everyone testifies that I am the Son of God. 3.3 For from above, from heaven, a voice that came to earth testified about Me: “This is My beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased” 5556. John [the Baptist] testifies [about Me]: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” 5557. And then the Scripture [testifies of Me]: “Who committed no sin, neither was flattery found in Him” 5558 and again: “The prince of the world is coming and will find nothing in Me” 5559. And you yourself, O Satan, testify to Me, saying: “We know You who You are, the Son of God” 5560 and again: “What do we and You, Jesus of Nazareth? Came here before the time to torment us” 5561. I have three witnesses 5562: some 5563 send a voice from the heights of heaven, others on earth, and you yourself. 3.4 Therefore, with My sinless Body I redeem the body sold to you because of Adam, I destroy the manuscripts you have, because I paid Adam’s debt by being crucified and descending into hell. So, I command you: give up the imprisoned souls (that is, of Adam’s race) 5564.” And then the evil forces tremblingly hand over the imprisoned Adam. 3.5 II, 11, 11 But when you hear that at that time the Lord freed souls from hell and darkness, and descended into hell, and did a glorious deed, do not consider that these things are far from your soul [and have no direct relation to you. No, this is not so, because both hell and man have in common the fact that both hell and man are considered able to contain and have the devil dwelling within them, and death possesses the souls of [the entire race] of Adam, that is, the thoughts of the soul are imprisoned in darkness. And when you hear about the grave, [imagine] not [only] this visible [coffin], because your heart is both the coffin and the grave: for when the prince of evil and his angels nest in it and when the satanic forces pave the paths and paths along which they walk into your mind and your thoughts - are you not hell, and not the grave, and not dead to God? After all, there Satan set his coinage on unsophisticated silver 5565, planted seeds of bitterness in the soul, leavened it with old leaven 5566, and a dirty spring gushes there. 3:6 Then the Lord comes to the souls seeking Him, into the depths of the heart's hell, and there He commands death, saying to it: “Give back the imprisoned souls that seek Me, which you forcibly hold.” And He crushes the heavy stones heaped on the soul, opens the tombs, resurrects the real dead, leads the imprisoned soul out of the dark prison. 3.7 II, 11, 12 Just as, for example, there would be a certain person bound hand and foot with shackles, and someone came, untied his bonds and gave him the opportunity to walk freely and comfortably - so the soul bound by the shackles of death, the Lord frees from the bonds, and releases it, and frees the mind so that it tirelessly and in peace marches into the divine spheres 5567. 3.8 Or, for example, a certain person would fall into a deep river and drown, already carried into deep waters, and his body would lie among terrible animals; and if another person, inexperienced in swimming, wanted to save someone who had fallen into the water, then he himself would have died and suffocated along with him; This means that an experienced and skillful diver is needed here, so that, having entered the depths of the watery abyss, he would be able to dive and retrieve the drowned, and suffocated, and those who are among terrible animals; and the water itself, when it senses an experienced and knowledgeable swimmer, helps him and supports him on the surface; 3.9 - so the soul, drowned in the abyss of darkness and in the depths of the abyss of death, suffocated and lies dead, not having God in itself, and it is surrounded by terrible beasts. And who is strong enough to descend into these repositories and depths of hell, except the Artist Himself, who created the body? He comes to two limits: to the depths of hell and, on the other hand, to the deep abyss of the [human] heart, where the soul, together with its thoughts, is in the hands of death; and brings the dead Adam out of the dark depths; and, behold, death itself, thanks to training 5568, comes to help a person, just as water helps a swimmer. 3:10 II, 11, 13 What is so difficult for God to descend to death and, again, to descend into the abyssal depths of the human heart and from there call upon the dead Adam? Thus, in the visible age there are buildings and houses in which humanity lives, and there are caves where animals live - whether lions, or snakes, or other poisonous animals; and if the created sun penetrates everywhere, entering through the windows 5569 [into the houses of people and penetrating] into the caves of lions and the holes of reptiles, then leaves and is harmed in no way, then how much more does God, the Lord of all, enter into the lairs and dwellings where death has settled, descends on souls and, having freed Adam from there, does not suffer harm from death. And how 5570 the rain descending from heaven descends “into the underworld of the earth” 5571, and waters the withered roots there, and renews, and awakens from sleep, and makes a new vegetation there, 5572 4:1 II, 11, 14 He who strives and suffers oppression and wages war with Satan has a contrite soul, because he is full of care, and weeping, and tears 5573. If he [firmly] stands in this, then the Lord stands with him in the battle, and protects him, and carefully takes care of him, and knocks on the door of his heart, waiting for it to be opened to Him 5574. And if your brother seems to you to be kind, forgiving, brotherly and benevolent, then this person is preserved and rested in grace. 4:2 But he who has no foundation does not have such great fear of God, and his heart is not broken 5575, and he does not remain in fear, and his heart and other members are not strengthened not to walk disorderly 5576. His soul is very relaxed because he has not yet entered into asceticism. So one thing is a man who exists in struggle and in distress, and the other is a man who does not even know what warfare is. After all, when grains are sown in the ground, they withstand difficult times during frost, in winter, during cold fogs, and at the right time the vegetation comes to life. 4:3 II, 11, 15 It happens that Satan speaks to you in your heart: “Look how much evil you have done: behold, your whole soul is full of all kinds of iniquities, and you are burdened with sins” 5577. He acts in such a way as to lead you into despair, as if you can no longer be saved and your repentance will not be acceptable. For since evil entered [the world] as a result of crime, he has been talking hourly with the soul, as if man to man. 4:4 But you also tell him: “I have a written testimony from the Lord, saying: “I do not want the death of the sinner, but repentance, so that he may turn from his evil path and live.”5578 Because for this purpose He came down [from heaven] to save sinners 5579, to raise the dead, to give life to the dead, to enlighten those in darkness 5580.” For He who came truly called us into sonship 5581, into a peaceful holy city, into life that never dies, into imperishable glory. 4.5 If only we put a good end to the undertaking 5582. Let us remain in poverty, in wandering, in enduring adversity, in prayer to God - persistently 5583 knocking on the door, for as the body is close to the soul, so the Lord is even closer to coming and opening the closed doors of the heart and giving us heavenly wealth, because He is good and a lover of mankind 5584, and His promises are not false, if only we ourselves endure to the end 5585 seeking Him. Glory to His bounties and His endless mercy. Amen. Word 54 5586. {On the need to follow the physical commandments and fulfill the spiritual ones and on the need for great sobriety} 5587 1.1 What shall we say to our beloved brethren, or what shall we remind you, who have prepared themselves to follow Christ? Should I tell you that anyone who wants to please God must withdraw and renounce this world? - But now, you have already done this. 1.2 Or should I tell you that whoever wants to follow the word of the Lord needs to become a stranger and alienated from his fatherland and family, and relatives and friends, for the sake of love for the Lord and the yearning desire to [keep] His commandments? “But each of you willingly fulfilled this and became, for God’s sake, strangers to your fatherland.” 1.3 May I remind you of the need to steadfastly adhere to prayers and fasts, according to the commandment of the Lord and according to the apostolic exhortation; because the Lord spoke “a parable about how one should always pray and not lose heart” 5588; and the apostle [exhorts]: “Pray without ceasing” 5589? - But now, by the grace of Christ, we see you in this matter leading your life and persevering. 1.4 Shall I tell you that you should be versed in the inspired Scriptures 5590 and nourish yourselves with them, so as not to forget the living words of the Lord and His commandments and Divine precepts? “But, by the grace of the Lord, you practice this and this is your constant concern.” 1.5 Shall I tell you about mutual love for one another, and brotherly love, and submission, and showing respect to one another? But now, each of you is trying to strive in this and instill in yourself a good disposition. 2:1 So, children, you have begun well and sincerely to serve and please your Master Christ. Your undertaking is wonderful and pleasing to God, because He designates those who come to the Lord sincerely and with complete will to be the elect and for eternal life. Therefore, those who come and approach Him in a pure way, that is, with all their hearts, must do the following: keep the body clean from corruption, fornication, theft and lies, from fruitless and empty words, from gluttony and all greed and from other sins committed by the body - and keep the soul clean from vain, unclean and evil thoughts and not be combined with sin. 2:2 Because just as the body becomes corrupted and filthy when it has unclean communication with another body, so the soul is destroyed when it has contact with the annoying forces of evil. As the apostle says: “Whoever corrupts the church of God (that is, the body), God will corrupt him” 5591. Thus, one who corrupts his soul and mind and, in invisible sinful thoughts, agrees and complicates with the inherent vice of the passions, becomes guilty of punishment. 2.3 So, just as it is necessary to keep the body clean from open and visible sins, because it is the church of God 5592, so it is necessary to keep the soul clean from bad and unclean thoughts, in order not to voluntarily destroy thoughts and not pollute the mind, as nowhere says [Scripture]: “Keep your heart with all guarding, for from it are the sources of life” 5593; and again: “Crooked [heartfelt] thoughts alienate you from God” 5594. Since [the soul is] the bride of the Great King, Christ, [the apostle says]: “I have betrothed you to one Husband, in order to present you to Christ as a pure virgin” 5595. 2:4 Because God so pleased and thus commanded that He should dwell in those who come to Him and seek Him, and walk in them 5596. Therefore, one must keep the soul pure, not agree or associate with evil in one’s thoughts, and keep the body clean from visible fornication; for God does not deign to dwell in fornicators and indecent, dirty and debauched people, and does not deign to dwell in souls who, of their own free will, corrupt the mind in invisible passions that arise from the inherent evil of the evil one and the old man. 2.5 Moreover, let everyone, judging his thoughts on the basis of the Divine Scriptures, demand an account of his soul, and let him examine himself with what [thoughts] he is voluntarily possessed, and observe whether his heart and thoughts are in harmony with the laws of God; and if it is inconsonant, let everyone try and strive with all the strength of soul and body, so that, just as on the outside the body can be preserved from fornication and corruption as the church of God, so on the inside both the soul and thoughts can be preserved from corruption by evil spirits, so as not to become involved in their thoughts and not to defile the soul as the real bride of Christ. 2:6 Because just as a body that has communion with another body becomes corrupted and commits fornication, so the soul, secretly communicating with evil forces in its thoughts, becomes corrupted and commits fornication in invisible sins: in unbelief, in lies, in vanity, in anger, in envy, in jealousy, in rivalry - for in this the soul communicates with evil spirits, and in this way it serves [them], so that the apostle speaks of such people as “people corrupt in mind” 5597; and again: “Both their mind and conscience are defiled” 5598; and again: “I fear that, just as the serpent deceived Eve with his cunning, so your minds will not be damaged, [deviating] from the simplicity in Christ” 5599. 2.7 So, since there is fornication and corruption that secretly occurs in the soul as a result of sinful thoughts - and revealing this mysteriously in the [old] law in relation to the soul, the Holy Spirit separated the clean four-legged animals and birds from the unclean, and the clean produce clean fruits - then the soul must, through the Logos knowledge 5600 with great zeal and feat, separate the pure thoughts inherent in it according to nature, from unclean thoughts created in it by annoying sin, 5601. Animals that have a cloven hoof and chew the cud, says [Scripture], are pure 5602 - that is, every person needs to see a split in himself and contradict and disagree with the evil of passions living [in him]. 3:1 So, the soul must first of all make a distinction in its thoughts and, through reasoning, separate itself from fellowship with sin. After all, then truly, by the power of the Spirit, she will be able to dissociate herself from evil spirits, which are the root of [unclean] thoughts. 3.2 Just as a farmer who takes good care of the land first renews and clears it of thorns and thorns 5603, and thus sows the seed so that it produces useful and perfect fruit, so for one who desires to please the Lord and expects to receive the seed of grace, it is necessary first to cleanse, and renew, and prepare, as far as is in his power, the land of his heart, so that the seed of the Spirit, falling on the good the soil of the heart, gave numerous 5604 and perfect fruits. 3.3 Or as a craftsman, when properly processing the skin of animals to make what is called parchment, if he does not first clean it from hair, from remaining flesh fat, and from blood stains, and from other impurities, and then properly make it clean and bright, then the laws of God are not written on it. 3.4 When a skilled craftsman, having properly removed everything superfluous and cleansed, makes [the parchment] light, then the laws of God are written [on it] and letters are depicted. - In the same way, those who wish and hope to imprint in their thoughts and soul the laws of the Spirit 5605 and hope to put on the heavenly image 5606 of Christ's life 5607 , let them, following the example of skilled craftsmen, with all diligence and with all care, process their hearts and cleanse it from all the material depravity of this age and flesh and blood, from the cares and bonds of earthly things; let them prepare their heart to be out of [this], and also let them cleanse it from carnal material pleasures (and these are “blood stains”), so that when the mind and heart are thus prepared and pre-purified, God, according to His promise, has written His laws of the Spirit here. 3:5 Because He says: “He who gave My laws in their hearts, I will write them in their minds. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people" 5608 5609; and the apostle adds: “Therefore, beloved, having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit” 5610. 3:6 Then man will be able to truly know God and live eternal life. If the laws of the Spirit are not imprinted in the soul, then he is flesh and blood, and has not yet made his heart [such] as God requires, and has not acquired eternal life. 3.7 However, the example of the farmer and the craftsman can be understood differently. Just as the land does not interfere with the farmer, and he cultivates it as he wants and takes care of it at his own discretion; and just as the skin, being dead, does not resist the master, and he, as he wants and as he knows, according to his skill, processes it, and cleanses it, and makes it suitable, having prepared it properly - so everyone must, with all desire and all will, surrender and give himself entirely to the Word and grace of the Lord, moving away from his own desires, and mortifying himself, and no longer following his own will, 3.8 just as the Apostle says: “So we have already We live not for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again” 5611; and again: “You are not your own” 5612, - so that the wise Artist and Farmer, [the] Word, as He knows and can, by grace complete and cleanse the land of our heart, freeing [our] soul from the bonds of matter, and worldly delusion, and dishonorable passions 5613, “so that,” as the Apostle says, “to imagine [it] as an immaculate Church "5614, which is the soul, in which from the beginning no evil thought took place 5615. 3.9 And thus, having made [her] properly in tune 5616 with grace, Christ imprints on the soul the laws of freedom, perfection and peace of life, making [her] a pure bride for communion with Him in imperishable life, and then, clinging to the Lord, she becomes one spirit [with Him] 5617 and inherits eternal life. 4:1 So, with all zeal, and with all the feat, and labor, and consciousness, and mental tension, let us try to achieve this, diligently cultivating our hearts and always carefully watching out for the tricks, and atrocities, and the snares of the evil spirit of sin. 4.2 Because, as the Holy Spirit said through Paul: “I became all things to all, that I might win all,” 5618, so evil, which imitates all things, tries to be all things in order to destroy all: with those who pray {the devil} 5619 pretends to be praying, in order, under the pretext of prayer, to deceive someone with ignorance and conceit; with those who fast, he fasts in order to deceive a person with the pride of fasting; he acts in exactly the same way with experts in the Scriptures, so that, having seduced them with arrogant knowledge, he catches them in his trap; for those who are worthy to be in the revelation of light, he pretends, revealing himself to them as if in a similar light: after all, “Satan takes the form of an Angel of light” 5620 in order to deceive them with the likeness of light, to keep them behind him; in the same way he is likened to others, so that through similar things and plausible reasons he can destroy the soul [of a person]. 4.3 He approaches everyone insidiously and menacingly, imitating everything beautiful, so that he can, being unrecognized, kidnap a person to his will. [But we, as the apostle says], “overthrow arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” 5621. This is what he dares and is arrogant about, wanting to snatch away even those who already have God in the knowledge of the truth 5622. Consequently, “we must guard our hearts with all our guarding” 5623 and ask God for great prudence, so that He will let us know the traps and tricks of evil, so that the evil one, with his evil tricks, does not gain us for himself. 4.4 So, it is fitting for each of us to work and strive with all prudence and sobriety, and to purify our minds and thoughts, because there is no greater, or more important, or more worthy thing than to work on our soul and control our desires according to the will of God. This is the only thing that is great and honorable in the [sights] of God; as the Lord says: “Do not strive for food that perishes, - 5624 - but for food that endures to eternal life” 5625; and [the Scripture] also says: “Confession and splendor are His work” 5626. Because when a person makes his heart like this, God gives him from above heavenly work in the soul - the eternal work of life of the Divine Spirit. 4.5 So, wonderfully, O children, and having appropriately abandoned everything short-lived, you have come to God, and instead of an earthly father you seek the Heavenly Father, and instead of a corruptible mother you have the good Spirit of God 5627 and Jerusalem as a heavenly mother 5628; instead of the brothers whom you left - the Lord Himself, who deigned to call Himself the Brother of the faithful and worthy of Him 5629; instead of loved ones and friends whom you left, you find holy angels and the faces of holy heavenly powers; instead of the transitory land that you left, you will inherit the land of life and the eternal Kingdom: “I will please the Lord in the land of the living,” says [David] 5630; and the Lord says: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” 5631; instead of the corruptible fellowship which you have hated, you have the fellowship of the Holy Spirit; and instead of all these earthly acquisitions that you have left behind, you perceive acquisitions that belong to the eternal and ineffable life, always remaining eternal. 4.6 In fact, this material property and earthly blessings are outside of man, and these eternal possessions and blessings that are from heaven, given from now on to the faithful, are given from God to the worthy inside, into their soul and heart: this is the eternal consolation of the Holy Spirit in the incorruptible communion of grace. After all, any values ​​of darkness and death are ejected from the soul, and the treasures of light {life} 5632 are placed inside the worthy. 5:1 So, you acted well and expediently, rejecting earthly revered blessings and approaching God in order to acquire eternal and lasting blessings. A God-loving soul, which approaches Christ with a right consciousness and a true understanding of things, does not at all take credit for any good and does not recognize itself as having done something, worked hard, or known something; even if she gave away all her earthly property to the poor, even if she crucified herself, day and night looking only at Christ and leaving all the centuries of this care, and bonds, and troubles, even if she exhausted herself in intense fasts and gave herself up to prayers and vigils, even if she possessed great knowledge and prudence, she considers herself to be nothing before God and people, but attributes everything to God, as having received all her good skills from Him, - following the example of Abraham, who called himself “dust and ashes” before the face of God 5633 - and does not recognize his deeds as something great and does not imagine himself as something 5634, since these virtuous morals, like earthly property, were given to Adam from the beginning [of the universe]. 5.2 Therefore, the God-loving soul attributes everything to God, as He Himself who directs [everything] and Himself who cooperates; and then God, listening to the sound reasoning and correct understanding of [things in this] soul, again 5635 Himself truly gives everything to her and, since she herself has labored and worked herself, gives the reward. 5.3 After all, if God wants to judge and demand an account, then there is nothing in a person that would be personal to him; for property and all the blessings in the world, thanks to which everyone prospers, belong to God. Who created the earth and everything on it? Who created the human body? And who created the soul? And if He desires, the earth produces, and if He does not desire, it does not produce; and if he wishes, you are healthy, and if he does not wish, you are not healthy. Therefore, what does a person have to justify himself by this and be proud of himself or consider himself to be something [special] 5636? Behold, everything is in the power of God, and everything that a person has, he received from Him and received everything by His mercy. And the very fact of his existence he has by His grace. And despite this, God experiences the greatest joy shown to Him by man, and finds great consolation in the fact that the soul, having known with true awareness of the mind and an accurate knowledge of faith and knowing well what exists as it is, everything that it does good and works on for the sake of God, and everything that it notices and knows, imputes all this to Him, and attributes it to Him, and considers that it has never done anything good at all, but also itself and everything that is its own. attributed to Him. 5:4 And when God sees such a prudent soul, imputing everything to Him and realizing that everything that she has, she has by His grace, then He gives her everything that truly belongs to her, the very thing that he gave her from the beginning, and not only this, but also Himself, and everything that belongs to Him, He gives her and says to her: “Behold, the earth is yours, and what is on the earth is yours, both gold and silver - yours, and My Body is yours, My soul, and knowledge, and My mind are yours, and All of Me, and everything of Mine is yours; if you do not possess anything by nature, then I give you Myself and all of Mine.” Because if God becomes her [property], then it is clear that all of Him and the hidden treasures of His wisdom become [belonging] to her, as the apostle says: “All is yours: either the world, or life, or death, or angels, or principalities, or the present, or the future” 5637 5638. 5.5 For example, if there were a certain beautiful woman, and a certain rich man would take her as his wife so that she would live with him and communicate, then she would bring him everything that she possesses, and he would give her everything that was his, and they would have one house, one property 5639, one existence 5640; and she not only rules over all his property, but is also honored with his body; because his body belongs to her, according to [the apostle]: “The husband has no power over his own body, but the wife” 5641. 5.6 So in relation to God there is a true and ineffable communion of the soul with the Lord; communicating with Christ, she becomes [one] spirit with Him, and then, necessarily, she becomes mistress of His ineffable treasures, because she is the bride of the Great King, Christ. For the Lord deigned that His faithful should be, according to the expression of Scripture, “partakers of the Divine nature,” for it is said: “That you might become partakers of the Divine nature” 5642. 6.1 II, 15, 1 5643 Let this same example be heard in a different [statement]. For example, if a certain king 5644, very rich and famous, showed favor to a certain very poor woman, who had nothing except her body, and fell in love with her and wished to take her as his bride and co-inhabitant, and she, for her part, would show all prudence in the house 5645 of her husband and would try to carry out her service in such a way that it would please him, and would appropriately maintain due love for him, then, behold, she, poor and needy, becomes the mistress of all the property of her husband, because she exclusively adheres to her chastity and service due to him, and to her whole and perfect love for him. If she does something contrary to what is proper and proper and behaves unhelpfully and inappropriately in her husband’s house, and does not show all due love to her husband, then she is expelled with dishonor and reproach, having both hands laid on her head 5646, as it is said graphically in the Law of Moses 5647 5648 regarding a wife who is disobedient and does not please her husband; then she is overcome with sadness and great lamentation at the thought of what great wealth she has lost and what great glory she has lost, having dishonored herself with her recklessness. 6:2 II, 15, 2 So also the soul, when the Heavenly Bridegroom Christ betroths it to Himself for a mysterious and divine union with Himself, in order that it may be worthy of the communion of His Spirit and initiation into heavenly riches from the state of poverty of its impoverishment, then it must please its Bridegroom Christ in all chastity of understanding and great zeal of knowledge and fulfill the service of its Husband, which has been entrusted to it, pleasing God in everything, not to grieve the Spirit in anything 5649, and not to leave anything unattended in anything, and to maintain good chastity and love for Him, and, with the help of the grace given to her, to behave in the house of the Heavenly King with all discretion, impeccably and conscientiously, as it should be. And so, such a soul becomes the mistress of all God's blessings and ineffable treasures, and the most glorious Body of His Divinity becomes hers. Если же она совершает нечто противное должному, колеблется в духовном служении угождения Богу, не делает угодное Ему, не следует Его воле и не действует совместно с обитающей в ней благодатию Духа, то тогда с невыносимым постыждением она изгоняется и признается недостойной жизни, как непотребная, и безрассудная, и непригодная для общения с Небесным Царем. 6,3 И затем оная душа становится причиной скорби, и великой печали, и плача для всех святых и умных Духов. Angels, powers, apostles, prophets weep bitterly for her. II, 15, 3 Потому что, как радость бывает на небе, как говорит Господь, « об одном грешнике кающемся » 5650 , так великая печаль, и великое рыдание, и плач бывают на небе о единой душе, лишающейся вечной жизни. И как в этой жизни, когда умрет какой богатый муж, вместе с пением бывает [надгробное] рыдание и великое о нем биение себя в грудь со стороны братьев и близких и друзей, так и об оной душе с великим рыданием плачут все святые. 6:4 Thus, when Israel thanked God and pleased Him (though they never thanked Him properly), and also when they seemed to have sound faith concerning Him, behold, a pillar of cloud overshadowing [them], and a pillar of fire shining upon them 5651 ; the sea parted before them 5652; manna falling on them like rain from heaven 5653 ; the water that flowed out of the rock for them 5654. They were also protected from the evil intentions of their enemies, and there were also countless other miracles with which God benefited them. 6.5 When their mind and will deviated from God and from loyalty to Him, then they gave themselves up 5655 and were given over to their enemies, taken into captivity and doomed to bitter slavery, just as in the prophet Ezekiel the Spirit mysteriously proclaims about such a soul, [saying] as if about Jerusalem: “I found you naked in the desert, and washed you from the blood of your uncleanness, and clothed you with My clothes, and put wrists on your hands, and a necklace on your neck, and earrings on your ears, and beryl on your forehead, and you became famous among all nations; you have eaten the best bread and honey and butter; but then you forgot My good deeds and went after your lovers, and committed adultery in your fortress” 5656. And every time Israel sinned, then they were delivered into the hands of their enemies. 6.6 II, 15, 4 This Spirit mysteriously alludes to the soul, which by grace will first know and cleanse itself from many impurities, and will be adorned with the ornaments of the Holy Spirit, and will be clothed in the robe of heavenly power, and will partake of divine and heavenly food, but then will not remain prudent in the great knowledge of divine knowledge, and will not behave properly in the spiritual service of the commanded goodness, and will not preserve appropriately due to the Heavenly Husband, Christ, devotion, love and chastity, and then, as a result of this, she will be rejected and deprived of the life of which she has become a participant, because Satan can puff up even those who have reached such a high measure and exalt themselves over them, for [the apostle] says: “We cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” 5657. Do you see that he is able to rebel against those who know God in grace and power? This is the extent to which evil rises and fights to overthrow [man]! 6.7 Therefore, it is necessary to strive and always be careful with all guarding of mind, as it is written, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” 5658; This especially applies to you who have become partakers of the Spirit of Christ 5659, so as not to neglect either great or small and not to offend the grace of the Spirit 5660, so as not to thereby lose the life of which you have already become partakers. 7.1 II, 15, 5 And again we will say this same thought in another figurative example. Just as if a slave enters the palace to serve the king, he takes vessels from the royal property, but he himself, entering without anything, serves the king, [using] the royal utensils themselves. But here from now on he needs greater intelligence, and knowledge, and wisdom, so as not to do something that is not due and inappropriate, or instead of one dish not to present another dish for the royal meal, but to know in order to serve him, as it should be, first the first dishes, and finally the final ones. If he makes a mistake in his service, whether from great ignorance, or recklessness, or lack of understanding, and does not serve the king food in the proper order, then he exposes himself to danger and may lose his life, and in any case, he is kicked out with dishonor and excommunicated from serving the royal meal, as the great Apostle Paul says: “Lest, having preached to others, he himself should remain unworthy.” 5661 ·. Do you see what fear and what concern [this] man of God had in himself? – So for the soul, which in grace and the Spirit will serve Christ, great prudence, prudence, and knowledge are necessary so that, when serving Him [using] God’s own vessels, that is, His Spirit, it does not sin in any way in the service of grace, if by its will the soul does not agree with grace. 7.2 After all, there is a certain mysterious service of the Spirit, secretly, performed by the inner man to God: for in His vessels (that is, in His Spirit) the soul performs service to God; Without vessels of the grace of the Spirit, no one can serve God. 7.3 II, 15, 6 And when a person is worthy of grace, then he needs great prudence, knowledge and prudence, which God will also give to man, 5662. 7:4 Therefore, with all faith, let us pray to God that the ministry of the Spirit to us especially may be carried out according to His will, you who have been awarded God's grace, so that you do not live and behave with a disdainful mindset, but, having lived your life pleasingly to Him and performed your spiritual service blamelessly according to His will, you will forever inherit eternal life with Him in Christ Jesus our Lord, glory forever and ever. Amen. Word 55 5663. {About the fact that the coming sorrows and temptations are for our benefit, and about the need for patience} 5664 5665 1.1 He who wishes to please God and, by faith, become a joint heir of Christ 5666, while trying to be an imitator of the Lord, so that he himself may be called “the son of God,” [born] of the Spirit, must first of all, inspired 5667 with long-suffering and perseverance, valiantly endure the various hardships, adversities and needs that come his way, be it physical illnesses and sufferings, be it reproaches and insults from people, as well as invisible various sorrows sent to the soul by evil spirits in order to prevent it from entering the Kingdom and leading it into relaxation, indifference and impatience, which occurs according to the providence of the Lord, who allows each soul to be tested in various sorrows, so that souls who love the Lord with all their hearts reveal themselves, valiantly enduring everything sent to them by the evil one and not retreating from hope in the Lord, but always waiting in faith and great patience, when the grace of [God], [by the power of] which they are able to escape all temptation, will set them free; and thus, having attained the promise of the Spirit, 5668 they become worthy of the Kingdom. 1.2 So, the soul that follows the word of the Lord must - according to what is written 5669 - joyfully take upon itself 5670 the cross of the Lord, 5671 be ready, for the sake of the Lord, to endure every temptation that comes 5672, both hidden and obvious, and always place hope in the Lord, believing that it is in His power both to allow the soul to experience sorrows and to free it from all temptation and sorrow. 1.3 If, however, she does not endure every tribulation courageously and valiantly, but grieves, and is despondent, and dejected, and languishes, and loses the will to fight, and comes to despair, as if she would never get rid of these [sorrows] (which is also evil, 5673), and does not always wait for the mercy of the Lord with firm hope and in unshakable faith, then such a soul does not become a child of life, since it did not become a follower of all the saints and did not follow in the footsteps of the Lord. 1.4 Know and see that from the beginning the fathers, patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs walked the narrow path of 5674 sorrows and temptations, and thus were able to please God, valiantly enduring every temptation and sorrow, and, [strengthened] by the hope of the expected reward, rejoiced while in adversity and calamity, as the Scripture says: “ Child, if you begin to serve God, then prepare your soul for temptation: deepen 5675 your heart and be strong” 5676; and the apostle says: “If you remain without punishment, which is common to all, then you are illegitimate children, and not sons” 5677; and in another place 5678 it is said: “Accept everything that happens to you as good, knowing that without 5679 God nothing happens”; 1.5 and the Lord says: “Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and slander you in every way unrighteously for My sake: rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven” 5680; and: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” 5681: they are persecuted either openly, by people, or secretly, by evil spirits. 1.6 They fight with the soul that seeks God, and strike it with various sorrows in order to prevent it from [entering] 5682 eternal life; This also happens so that, having been tested, she can show herself whether she truly loves God by patiently enduring any sorrow and whether she remains firm in hope to the end, awaiting liberation in unshakable faith - or, on the contrary, by not enduring sorrows, but retreating before them, sinking and despondent, or becoming careless and weakening in hope, by this she will reveal that she does not truly love God. 1:7 For various sorrows and temptations reveal which souls are worthy and which are unworthy; who has faith, and hope, and patience, and who does not - so that worthy souls, who have shown themselves to be tried and true in everything, who have endured to the end 5683 and are steadfast in hope, and for this have received liberation by the power of grace, may justly become heirs of the Kingdom. So, every soul that wants to please God must first of all have 5684 > perseverance and hope, and then it will be able to overcome every rebellion of the evil one and sorrow. 2.1 In fact, God does not allow the soul that trusts in Him and waits for Him to be so exposed to temptations and sorrows that it cannot endure them, as the apostle says: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation will also make way for it, so that you can endure it.”5685. 2.2 And not as much as the evil one wants, he tempts and exposes the soul to sorrows, but as much as he is allowed to do this by God; just let the soul courageously hold on to hope and with faith expect help from Him and deliverance. And it is impossible for her to be abandoned, because to the extent that she, armed with faith and hope, fights, resorting to God and expecting help from Him, the sooner the Lord will free her from all the sorrow that has befallen her. 2.3 avg. I, 19, 3, 1 5687 For He Himself knows how much the soul must be tested and educated in temptations, 5688 >, and it will not be put to shame, as it is said > 5689: “From tribulation comes patience, from patience experience, from experience hope, and hope does not put you to shame” 5690; 2.4 and again: “As servants of God, in great patience, in adversity, in need, in difficult circumstances” and so on 5691; and the Lord says: “He who endures to the end will be saved” 5692; and: “By your patience gain your souls” 5693, and in another place [Scripture] says: “Who believed the Lord and was ashamed? Or who was in fear of Him and was forsaken? Or who called Him, and He despised him? » 5694. 2.5 avg. I, 19, 3, 2 Because if people of little ingenuity and intelligence know how to test and judge what weight and load each of the [pack] animals, like a mule, or a donkey, or a camel, is able to carry, and load it as much as the animal can; and the potter, having molded the vessels, if he does not put them in the oven so that when exposed to heat they become stronger, he will not make them suitable for human needs - but he knows how long they need to be kept in the oven in order for them to become suitable, and does not leave them in the oven more than necessary, so that, having burst 5695, they do not disappear, and at the same time does not leave them [raw], so that they do not happen to remain unfinished and unsuitable; 2:6 Therefore, if people acquire such knowledge and ability to discern in relation to 5696 visible things, then how much more does God - who has incomprehensible and ineffable knowledge, and understanding, and all wisdom - know how much souls who desire to please Him and hope to receive eternal life need trials, tribulations and temptations; and thus, enduring 5697 valiantly, faithfully, and with hope all sorrow to the end, they then become tested and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. 2.7 III, 23, 3a of the full version, cf. I, 20, 1, 1 And just as hemp is not suitable for being made into the finest threads unless it is beaten many times, and the more it is threshed, the purer and more suitable it becomes, so a God-loving soul, subjected to many trials, temptations and sorrows and valiantly enduring them, becomes purer and more suitable for fine spiritual work and is ultimately worthy to inherit the heavenly region of the Kingdom. 2.8 III, 23, 4 full versions, cf. I, 20, 2, 1–2 Like a newly molded vessel, if it is not 5698 thrown into the fire, it is unfit for human needs; and just as a newborn child is incapable of worldly affairs (after all, he does not build a city and cannot plant, sow, or do anything else from worldly affairs, because he is still a child), so souls, even though they have partaken of divine grace, are blessed, by the goodness of the Lord, with the sweetness and peace of the Spirit, for the sake of their infancy, however, without being subjected to evil spirits trials, and temptations, and various sorrows, in which they 5699 [should] manifest themselves 5700, are only infants and - let me say so - are not yet fit for the Kingdom, since they have not yet practiced [in patiently enduring sorrows], as they say: “If you remain without punishment, which is common to all, then you are illegitimate children, and not sons” 5701. 2:9 Thus, sorrows and temptations serve to benefit people and make the soul experienced and strong, cf. I, 20, 2, 3a if she valiantly and willingly, with confidence and hope in God, endures [sorrowful] circumstances, with undoubted faith expecting liberation and His mercy from the Lord. And it is impossible for her not to receive the promises of the Spirit 5702 and liberation from evil passions 5703, because to the end, with great patience, she retained the tried and true hope in the Lord. 3.1 Indeed, as the holy martyrs clearly endured many trials, even going to death 5704, in hope of the Lord, they remained in good confession 5705 and, thus showing themselves to be tested, were worthy to receive the crown of righteousness 5706; those who endured more numerous and more severe trials gained greater glory and greater boldness from God; 3:2 those who retreated before the tribulations and, fearing the scourging, did not continue in good confession 5707 to the end, showing themselves fearful and ashamed both here and on the day of judgment; - so also souls, for the purpose of testing them, are given over to sorrows and are tormented in invisible and various ways by evil spirits, or secretly - by the internal burdens of sorrows or bad thoughts, or openly - through fleshly diseases: those who endure valiantly and remain in firm hope, and with faith expect reward 5708 from the Lord, are rewarded with His crown of righteousness 5709 perceiving here liberation [from their sorrows], and in the day of judgment they will find the same boldness 5710 towards God that the martyrs have, 3.3 because they endured the same martyrdom of sorrows, and what they suffered from people, they suffered from the same spirits of evil; and the more numerous sorrows and attacks of the evil one endure and hold on to hope to the end, so much greater glory do they acquire from God and here they [already] receive liberation [from sorrows], according to the hope of their hope, being rewarded with the consolation of the Spirit 5711, and there they will become heirs of the eternal blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven. 3.4 But those souls who, out of cowardice and fear, retreat, not enduring grief, but fall into negligence, or impatience, or hopelessness, and stray from the path of righteousness 5712, and do not wait until the end for the mercy of the Lord - how will such souls, found not having passed the test, be able 5713 to receive the eternal Kingdom? - Because every soul must, until death 5714, for the sake of 5715, for us 5716, generously endure to the end 5717, and be firm in hope in Him, and thus be worthy of eternal 5718. 3.5 For those who want to completely get rid of the future Gehenna, and receive 5719 the Kingdom must 5720 endure the present 5721 sorrows that come from temptations raised by the evil one, and 5722 if they endure them to the end with hope in God, with faith expecting the mercy of the Lord, then - through the action of grace - they are freed from temptations and from sorrows, and here [already] are rewarded with the communion of the Holy Spirit 5723, and thereby will escape eternal Gehenna and inherit the eternal Kingdom of Christ 5724. The Lord has established this path, leading to life, a narrow and regrettable path, as it is written 5725, and for this reason few pass through it. 3:6 So, with such hope and such promises proclaimed by the unfaithful God, let us, for the sake of the hope prepared for us in heaven, valiantly endure every misfortune and sorrow sent to us by the evil one. For whatever sorrows we endure for the Lord's sake, can anything be compared with the future and promised eternal life, or in comparison with the consolation of the Holy Spirit 5726 at the present time for patient souls, or in comparison with liberation from the darkness of evil passions, or in comparison with our debt for the multitude of our sins? The Apostle says: “Being judged, we are punished by the Lord, so as not to be condemned with the world” 5727; and again: “The sufferings of this present time are not worth anything in comparison with the glory that will be revealed in us” 5728. 4.1 Let us therefore, 5729 valiant warriors, be ready to die for our King. Why exactly, when we were in the world, moving around, we did not suffer from this and did not have such sorrows, and now, when we began to please the Lord, such misfortunes, temptations and sorrows from the evil one arise against us? Do you see that we endure this for the sake of the Lord, because the enemy envies us and tempts us in order to seduce us from the path of life or lead us into relaxation or carelessness, so that we, having pleased God, will not be saved? 4:2 Therefore, since the evil one is rising up against us, if we persevere in patience and courage 5730, ready 5731 to endure even to death 5732, out of hope in the Lord, then we will destroy all his schemes against us. After all, we have a Defender 5733 and our Champion - Jesus, and we, who are constrained by circumstances and rely on Him, give patience, and he [the evil one] 5734 will be put to shame when we receive victorious rewards for our labors, that is, the Kingdom of the Lord. 4.3 Let us be like anvils: even if they beat us, we will not succumb and 5735 will not show 5736 from the scourging temptations [even] traces 5737 of relaxation, negligence and despondency; tortured, with our patience we will defeat the enemy. For our Lord Himself in this century 5738 passed [the same way]: scourged, insulted, persecuted, mocked, spat upon, and finally was executed by the lawless by the dishonorable death of the cross; and He endured everything for the sake of our salvation, “leaving us an example” of life 5739, so that those who truly believe in Him and want to become joint heirs with Him would follow the same path of temptations and sorrows to death, 5740 so that, like He, through many sufferings and finally dying on the cross, He would overcome, and 5741, crucified, crucified, and having died, put to death, having condemned sin through the flesh 5742 and having abolished the opposing forces, - 4.4 as it is said: “Having taken away the strength of the principalities and powers on the cross, He subjected them to shame, having triumphed over them with Himself” 5743 - so we, if we endure even to death every attack and sorrow from the evil one, then we will defeat the adversary, by the power of faith and patience, as well as hope in the Lord; and thus found by the tried, we shall be worthy of deliverance [from adversity], and we will be filled with the sanctification of the Spirit, and become heirs of eternal life, † which 5744 may we all be worthy of in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion forever. Amen. † 4.5 Indeed, in spiritual struggle, victory over the opponent comes through suffering and death. Then we defeat the adversary when we willingly suffer and die for the sake of the Lord. Consequently, if we wish not to consider all sorrow and temptation to be grievous and painful, but to easily endure every attack of the evil one, we will always have death for the Lord with desire before our eyes, and, as the Lord says 5745, daily taking up the cross, that is, death, we will follow Him, and thus we will easily endure all sorrow, both hidden and obvious. 4:6 For if we readily expect to die for the Lord and always have this desire before our eyes, then much more will we with joy, calmly and easily, endure any heavy sorrows. Indeed, for this reason, in our impatience, we accept sorrows as painful, and heavy, and unbearable, because we do not have death for the Lord’s sake before our eyes and our thoughts do not always desire Him 5746. He who wishes to inherit the Lord should also wish to follow His passions, since those who love Christ are revealed to be able to endure all the sorrows that come upon them valiantly and willingly, out of hope in Him. 4:7 Let us therefore beseech God to give us the understanding to know His will and to do it cheerfully “with all patience, kindness and joy” 5747 - He himself gives it to us, strengthening us to do everything pleasing to Him - so that, being found proven and worthy of Him, we may receive eternal salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord 5748 To whom be glory and dominion and strength forever. Amen 5749. Word 56 5750. {Even against our will, we must force ourselves not only to prayer, but also to all the commandments} 5751 1.1 II, 19, 1 Whoever wants to come to the Lord, and be worthy of eternal life, and become a dwelling place of Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit, 5752 must thus make a beginning: first firmly believe in the Lord, and devote himself entirely to the fulfillment of His commandments, and in everything renounce the world, so that the mind is not at all occupied with anything visible [things], and always be diligent prayer, always with faith [and] hope for the Lord, awaiting His care and help, and having this as the goal of my mind. 1.2 Then he must always force himself to every good and to all the commandments of the Lord, even if his heart does not desire [it] because of the sin that coexists with him; So, let him force himself to be humble before all people and let him consider himself the least and worst of all, not seeking honor, praise, or glory from anyone, as prescribed in the Gospel, but let him always have before his eyes only the Lord and His commandments, wanting to please Him alone; let him also force himself to be meek, even against the will of his heart, as the Lord says: “Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” 5753; 1.3 II, 19, 2 also, as much as possible, let him accustom himself, even if under compulsion, to be merciful, kind, generous, kind, as the Lord says: “Be kind and good, like your heavenly Father” 5754; and again: “Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful” 5755; and He also says: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” 5756; and again: “Force yourself, because those who use force delight the Kingdom of Heaven” 5757; and also: “Strive to enter through the strait gate” 5758. Let him always have before the eyes of the Lord humility, His life and conversion, like an unforgettable 5759 example in everlasting memory, and force himself to imitate [this] to the best of his ability; let him persevere in prayer, praying unceasingly and remaining in faith, so that the Lord, when he comes, dwells in him and perfects and strengthens him in all His commandments, so that the Lord Himself becomes the abode of [his] soul. 1.4 And thus, seeing that this man does with effort what I just spoke about, against the desire of his heart and accustoms himself constantly to goodness, and always remembers the Lord, and waits for Him with great love, then the Lord, seeing him himself, such is his will and good zeal: - shows him mercy and frees him from his enemies and from the sin that dwells in him, filling him with the Holy Spirit; and thus, without effort or hard work, a person truly fulfills all the commandments of the Lord, or better yet, the Lord Himself creates in him His commandments and the fruits of the Spirit. 1.5 II, 19, 3 So, the one who has approached the Lord must first force himself to do good in this way - even if his heart does not desire [this] - always expecting His mercy with undoubted faith; one should force oneself to humility; it is necessary to incline oneself to love, to meekness, if [the soul] does not possess this [quality]; one must force oneself to pity and to make one’s heart merciful; you need to accustom yourself to self-contempt and patience and, being humiliated or dishonored, not to get angry, as said: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved” 5760; one should force oneself to pray if [a person] has not yet acquired the spirit of prayer. 1.6 For when God sees that a person struggles in this way and, contrary to his heart’s desire, forces himself to do good, He gives him the true prayer of Christ, bestows mercy, true goodness 5761 and, to put it in one word, fills him with the fruits of the Spirit. 1:7 II, 19, 7 If someone, not having a prayer [spirit] in himself, forces himself only to pray in order to receive grace-filled prayer, but at the same time does not force himself to meekness, or humility, or love, or the other commandments of the Lord, and does not even have any care, or asceticism, or labor, to succeed in them, then sometimes it is partially granted to him, upon request. his, from the Spirit, grace-filled prayer in peace and joy, but this man’s morals remain the same as he was before: he does not possess meekness, because he did not seek it with effort and did not prepare himself to be such; he does not have humility, because he did not ask for it and did not force himself to it; he does not have love for everyone, since in his prayerful petition and in the most active exercise he did not have asceticism and care for this; in him there is neither faith in God nor trust in Him, since he did not know and did not test himself whether he had it, and did not work, in sorrow, seeking from the Lord strong faith in Him and true trust. 2.1 II, 19, 5 So, just as everyone needs to make an effort and force himself to pray, even against his heart’s desire, so it is necessary to force himself to trust in God, and to humility, love, meekness, chastity and simplicity, then - “to all patience and generosity,” according to what is written 5762; it is also necessary to force oneself to self-abasement and consider oneself worthless and the last of all; also - and to not talk about useless things, but always think and speak about the Lord with your lips and heart; you should also force yourself not to get angry and not to shout, according to what is written: “Let all irritation and anger and shouting with all malice be removed from you” 5763; it is necessary to force yourself to all the morals of the Lord 5764, to every exercise in virtue, to every kindness in behavior, to every humility of meekness and to not being arrogant and not to be arrogant, not to be proud and not to speak ill of anyone. 2.2 II, 19, 6 Anyone who wants to be pleasing and pleasing to Christ must force himself to all this, so that in this way the Lord, seeing the will and zeal of a person, with the effort of forcing himself to all simplicity, to kindness, to humility, to love and prayer, will grant him all of Himself, doing all this in him truly purely, without labor and without coercion, what before and with labor he was powerless to observe, due to the sin dwelling in him 5765. And thus, this whole skill of virtue becomes for him, as it were, his nature, because from now on the Lord, having come and abiding in him - just as he himself abides in the Lord - Himself fulfills His commandments in him without tension, filling him with the fruits of the Spirit. 2.3 II, 19, 4 But if someone only in relation to prayer, as was said, forces himself until he receives to a certain extent a gift from God, but at the same time, in relation to these things (that is, in relation to humility and other virtues), he does not force, does not accustom and does not constrain himself - 5766, but there is also a need to prepare himself, as far as possible, to receive the benefit 5767 ?> - Sometimes God's grace condescends to him [in response to his] requests and prayers, - because God is good and merciful and gives to those who ask Him according to their petitions 5768 - but only a person who has not accustomed and prepared himself in relation to the above-mentioned virtues, either destroys the grace-filled [gift], or, accepting [it, immediately] loses, having come to think of himself, or does not succeed and does not grow in grace, given to him because he does not give himself, of his own free will, to the commandments of the Lord. After all, the dwelling and resting place of the Spirit are humility, love, meekness and other commandments of the Lord. 2.4 So, those who wish to truly please God, and receive from Him the heavenly grace of the Spirit, and grow and improve in the Holy Spirit in [fulfilling] all the commandments of the Lord, must first force themselves, and if the heart persists, subdue it, according to what is written: “For this reason I was guided in all Your commandments; I hated every unrighteous way” 5769. II, 19, 7 Therefore, just as someone forces himself and forces himself to constantly remain in prayer until he succeeds in this, so [the situation should be] in relation to any exercise in virtue, if someone truly wants to force himself, force and accustom himself to a good habit. 2.5 And thus the one who asks and prays to the Lord, having received what he asked and tasted it, becoming a partaker of God and the Holy Spirit 5770, the gift of the Spirit given to him grows and blossoms in himself, resting in his humility, which he sought, and in love and meekness. II, 19, 8 The Spirit Himself gives him everything and teaches him true humility, true love, true meekness, to which he forced himself before, what he sought and cared about, and what was given to him. And thus, having grown and perfected in God, he becomes the heir of the Kingdom. After all, the humble never falls: how, in fact, could the one who is the lowest fall? Arrogance is a great baseness; humility is a great height and dignity. 2.6 So, we too will accustom ourselves and lead ourselves to humility - even against the desire of our hearts - and to meekness and love, asking and pleading with God in faith and hope and love, constantly waiting for Him, and we will be vigilant so that He sends His Spirit into our hearts, so that we pray and worship in the spirit of the Father 5771. 2.7 II, 19, 9 And the Spirit Himself will pray in us, so that the Spirit Himself will teach us true prayer (which now, even when forcing ourselves, we do not have), true humility, meekness and love (which now, even forcing ourselves, we cannot fulfill), mercy and kindness 5772 - and teach us to do all the commandments of the Lord truly without labor and without compulsion, as the Spirit Himself knows, filling us with His fruits. And thus, as we keep the commandments of the Lord, thanks to His Spirit, who alone knows the will of Christ, the Spirit will perfect us in Himself, perfecting us, and cleanse us from all filthiness 5773 and sinful impurity, so as to present our souls to Christ 5774 as beautiful brides, pure and blameless, when we rest in God in His Kingdom, and Christ rests in us for endless ages. Word 57 5776. {Neither indulgence nor sorrow harms a soul that truly loves God, but both do not harm} 5777 1 The true friends of God and those who love Him come to Him in the proper order and serve Him not for the sake of receiving the beauty of the Kingdom, as if for the sake of profit in trade, and not out of fear of the torment set forth for sinners in Gehenna, but love, as they should 5778, Him in Himself, the Creator and Provider, realizing that He is the Lord and Creator, and in a righteous manner and willingly bear their serving Him and valiantly enduring all sorts of sorrows from evil spirits, pursued by them for the purpose of forcing them not to approach the Lord and not to cleave to Him, as blessed David says: “There are many who cast out and oppress me, but I have not departed from Your testimonies” 5779. 2 Because, to the extent that they endure sorrows and persecutions from these evil spirits, distracting 5780 the thoughts of the soul or awakening other burdens, the more and the more strongly they cleave to the Lord, forcing themselves to seek Him 5781. In fact, there are many obstacles in the world on the path of pleasing God: poverty and need are obstacles in the struggle for eternal life; and wealth is equally an obstacle; 5782 >; glorification and honor of men [are also obstacles]; they equally lead to temptation, illness and suffering - all this can be an obstacle for a person; also in invisible [things] - sorrows and evil temptations prevent the soul from approaching God and clinging to Him, wanting, on the contrary, to bring it into a state of weakening and decline, as the prophet says: “Sorrows and needs have met me: Your commandments are my teaching” 5783 5784. 3 Thus, evil sorrows are the touchstone of the soul; in equal measure, relaxation, peace, and spiritual consolation are a touchstone for testing an infant and unreasonable soul; the rational and faithful soul [this test serves] for eternal life. After all, God tests souls in both [ways] in order to find out that a given person loves Him not for selfish purposes, but only as the Lord, Creator and God Himself, as worthy of great love and reverence. 4 If, neither as a result of struggle, zealous work and the practice of virtues, nor as a result of the peace and consolation of grace produced by the Spirit in the soul, nor as a result of heavy sorrows aroused by sin and oppressive, such a person, truly desiring to please God, does not relax, does not become careless or careless, he, as worthy and truly loving God with all his heart and soul, justly and worthily becomes the heir of the Kingdom and worthy to be a child of God, born of the Spirit 5785, because neither through many afflictions did he yield or weaken, nor, being in a state of peace and consolation of the grace with which he was awarded, did he not fall backward, weakening his tension and zeal in unceasing and continuous asceticism. Such a person is truly worthy of God and becomes a son of the Kingdom. 5 So, as has been shown, for the paralytic and the one of little faith, and in the way of thinking of a child, everything in the world is an obstacle to eternal life, be it oppressive and tormenting passions, or illness, or poverty, or reproach, or disgrace, or a secret war of malice; in the same way, honors, wealth, fame, praise and pleasure - all this for a person of an infant mind can be obstacles to eternal life. 6 On the other hand, you will find that all this, when it happens to a faithful, intelligent and courageous person, is, as it were, a collaborator with him [in the acquisition of] the Kingdom, if he truly loves God and wants to keep His commandments, because, having torn apart, conquered and surpassed everything that is considered an obstacle in the world, he loved only God and clung to Him alone, as the prophet says: “The net of sinners.” entangled me, but I did not forget Your law" 5786. And the apostle says: “All things work together for good to those who love God” 5787. Therefore, we too, by giving ourselves over to the Lord with the right way of thinking and with a faithful soul and following Him as our Lord and Creator, will demonstrate - through the fulfillment of His commandments - our love for Him, [arising] from free will, so that, thanks to such deeds and right thinking, having been worthy of spiritual promises and on the basis of this, having been sanctified in heart by grace and united with the Spirit, we become heirs The Kingdom of Heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory for 5788 centuries. Amen. Word 58 5789. {On the illumination that occurs in worthy souls from the Holy Spirit} 5790 1.1 The blessed Apostle Paul, the builder of the Church, always caring for the truth and not wanting those who obey the Word to stumble through ignorance, revealed more distinctly and clearly the essence of the truth and presented the perfect mystery of Christianity, which lies in every believing soul, so that by the power of Divine action we could know from experience what the illumination of the Spirit with heavenly light happens to holy souls in revelation and power, so that who, having thought that the enlightenment of the Spirit comes only as a result of knowledge, did not lose, due to ignorance or neglect, the more perfect mystery of grace, but learned much more firmly that the illumination of the soul, which happens to those worthy of this, occurs through the revelation of mental and heavenly light - for this, taking as an example the glory of the Spirit, the apostle referred to it, turning to those who are admonished wisely and with love for the truth, for the sake of firm inviolability of knowledge and precise discrimination. 1:2 He says the following: “If the ministry of the deadly letters written on the stones was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look at the face of Moses because the glory of his face was passing away, then should not the ministry of the gospel be much more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, much more will the ministry of justification abound in glory. That which is glorified does not even turn out to be glorious from this side, because of the predominant glory [of the subsequent]. For if what passes away is glorious, much more is what remains glorious” 5791. “Passing” 5792 he called that, as a result of which the body of Moses was clothed with the glory of light, and adds: “Having such hope, we act with great boldness” 5793. And a little further he presented this immortal glory of the Spirit, which in revelation now shines eternally, immortally, and imperishably on the immortal face of the inner man of the worthy. 1.3 He says the following: “But we all,” that is, born in perfect faith of the Spirit, “with open face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” 5794; “with an open face” - that is, with the face of the soul, and: “But when they turn to the Lord, the veil is removed, but the Lord is the Spirit” 5795. 1.4 From this it is clear that he showed and presented the existence of a “veil” of darkness of evil, which, having entered human [nature] as a result of Adam’s crime, covered the soul [of man], and is now “removed” from faithful and worthy souls by the illumination of heavenly spiritual light; This is why the coming of the Lord was so that true believers would achieve such a [high] degree of holiness. 2.1 The enlightenment of grace is not only the revelation of thoughts of knowledge, but also the truly eternal illumination of the hypostatic Light in souls, as it is written: “[God commanded] the light to shine out of darkness, which has illuminated our hearts, to enlighten [us] with the knowledge of the glory of Christ” 5796, - and again: “Illuminate my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death” 5797 , that is, may my soul, leaving the body, not be covered with the cover of evil death. And [it is also written]: “Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Your law” 5798. And: “Send Your light and Your truth, may they guide me and bring me to Your holy mountain and to Your abode” 5799. And: “The light of Your countenance has been revealed upon us, O Lord. Gave joy to my heart "5800", - with this he represents 5801 and the very consequence of the goal. 2.2 And the “light” of the Spirit that “shone” on the path of the blessed Apostle Paul, more than the heavenly sun 5802, with which he was awarded grace, was not the enlightenment of thoughts and knowledge, but the hypostatic illumination of the soul by the power of spiritual light and the hypostatic revelation of heavenly mysteries - so that his carnal eyes, unable to withstand the excess of radiance, were blinded by the light by which all knowledge is revealed, and God is truly known by the soul. Because “as is the earthly, so are those that are earthy, and as is the heavenly, so are those who are in heaven” 5803, that is, those born again of the Spirit 5804 and themselves, because of their great progress in grace, worthy to become spirit, as it is said: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” 5805, - and again: “Which “They were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” 5806. 2.3 For the heavenly image of the Spirit, united with a worthy and faithful soul, makes it heavenly and spiritual according to His holy grace, since “as we bear the image of the earthly, we will also bear the image of the heavenly” 5807; The “image” of the “heavenly” is Christ, carried in holy souls. The Apostle says so: “Put on our Lord Jesus Christ, and do not turn the cares of the flesh into lusts” 5808. 2:4 Because every soul, which - thanks to faith and zeal for every virtue - has been worthy in power and fullness 5809 to be clothed [already] here perfectly with Christ and united with the heavenly light of the incorruptible Image, is always worthy to perceive the essential knowledge of heavenly mysteries, and on the day of the resurrection [from the dead], according to the same heavenly image of glory, and the body, co-glorified with soul, and caught up by the Spirit into heaven, according to what is written: “To meet the Lord in the air,” 5810, and worthy to become “conformed to the body of His glory,” 5811, will, together with the soul, reign with Christ forever. 2.5 After all, worthy and loving souls of the Truth, from now on enlightened and illuminated forever and everlastingly by the heavenly light of the Spirit and here having been worthy of the fact that the evil veil of darkness is removed from them by the Spirit 5812, will then receive complete liberation from evil passions, and, having been worthy to fulfill all the commandments flawlessly and completely, they, as was said before, receive knowledge heavenly mysteries, “which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and has not entered into the heart of man” 5813, because, according to the word of the Apostle, “God has revealed this to us by His Spirit” 5814. 2:6 And thus, those souls who in this world, thanks to the enlightenment of the Spirit, have been worthy to become perfect, and pure, and blameless, on that day of resurrection will be glorified along with their bodies by the action of the heavenly and spiritual light that now illuminates them. As [the apostle] says: “He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in us” 5815. 3:1 Thus, to the extent that anyone, thanks to faith and zeal and asceticism, in this [age] has become a partaker of the Holy Spirit and the glory of heaven and has adorned his soul with good works, so much on that day will he be worthy to be glorified with his body, because what a person has treasured within himself will then be revealed outside. 3.2 And just as the fruit that trees conceal within themselves in winter, they bring it out in spring or summer, so also souls: those fruits for the acquisition of which they labored will clearly appear in their bodies; and the god-like and heavenly image of the Spirit, which from now on has been depicted within the saints, will then clearly make [their] bodies god-like, and light-like, and heavenly. The souls of unworthy and sinful people were covered by a gloomy veil of the worldly spirit and, due to the action of passions and bad deeds, making them ugly and dark at the present time, on that day their bodies will also be gloomy, ugly, and filled with vileness. 3.3 For, as at the transgression [of God’s commandments], when Adam heard from God the sentence: “If you destroy the day from it, you will die” 5816, first this happened to the soul, when its intelligent and immortal senses 5817 faded away, deprived of heavenly and spiritual taste, became dead and covered in darkness, and then, after 930 years, death came to the body 5818 - so now, after Christ was reconciled with humanity, and became incarnate, and endured the cross and death for the sake of our salvation and proclamation, He restores the truly believing soul, still in the flesh, to partake of the ineffable mysteries and heavenly lights, and by the communication of the Spirit frees it from the dark veil of passions, and, glorifying it with grace, restores it again by the power of Divine light her intelligent senses; and after this, at the resurrection [of the dead], it will restore [the] body to immortal and incorruptible glory, and then, clothed in the radiance of heavenly light, it, together with the soul, will enjoy eternal blessings 5819. 3.4 But only each of us now needs to strive, and work, and try during this short time, and through pure faith and fulfillment of the commandments here, to acquire this heavenly treasure, so that thanks to this, as was said, we will be able to completely get rid of bad passions, and fulfill all the commandments perfectly and conveniently, and be able to remove the dark veil from the soul 5820; and thus, on the future day of the Resurrection - when our bodies will be worthy to be glorified along with our soul, which by the illumination of the Spirit has been pre-glorified from now on, and will be clothed in heavenly clothing - we will reign together with Christ in eternal and ineffable peace forever. Amen. Word 59 5821. {The Lord secretly helps and enlightens the one who has truly renounced the world, but he who does not remain in darkness} 5822 1.1 III, 5, 1 Those who have withdrawn from the world and sincerely listened to the words of God and are pious citizens, but still exist under the veil of passions, which everyone acquired as a result of Adam’s disobedience - that is, [inherited] the carnal wisdom of evil thoughts, which the Apostle called “death,” saying: “The wisdom of the flesh [is] death” 5823 , - are like people walking at night: although the stars shine for them (that is, the outlines of the holy commandments of Scripture), they, nevertheless, are in the night, under the invisible action of passions, and stumble, unable to clearly discern everything due to the action of the darkness of passions. 1.2 Therefore, those who with difficulty and great faith lead a virtuous lifestyle, it is necessary to pray to the Heavenly Lord so that the daytime [light] of the Sun of Truth 5824 will shine in their hearts and they will be able to clearly see the diverse and varied harm [that occurs] from mental beasts, and at the same time - the ineffable variety of good pleasures in the imperishable world 5825 and extraordinary [its] beauty, namely, that spiritual and perfect men, whose hearts have been effectively illuminated by the intelligible light, are able to truly discern both the virtues of the best and the danger of the worst 5826, according to the different actions of each, as Blessed Paul says: “Solid food belongs to the perfect, whose senses are trained by skill to distinguish between good and evil” 5827; and blessed Peter says: “And we have the prophetic word, and you do well to turn to it as