To the words: “take it in yourself...”

Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 We, beloved ones, are obligated, according to the Apostle, to exhort and entreat one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). In another place it is said: “He who knows to do good, but to him who does not do it, it is sin for him” (James 4:17). But listen to what the Prophet says: “Behold, I will not forbid my lips” (Ps. 39:10). So I beg you, take the advice of my thinness. And if I sinned in my word; excuse me, an uneducated and sinful person. If the words are spoken correctly; then this is a matter of grace. And therefore, since grace gives us the word, we should not hinder our lips. For the Lord put laziness on the same level as wickedness, saying: “You wicked and slothful servant, it is fitting for you to give My money as a trader: and when I came, I took what was mine with interest” (Matthew 25:26-27). May the Lord grant to us, who have received the word, to create and bring fruits favorable to the Lord. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Listen, beloved, having come to become a monk, you decided to renounce the world. If you do this lawfully, then not only people, but also the Angels of God will rejoice over you, as it is written: “There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, rather than over ninety and nine righteous people, who do not demand repentance” (Luke 15:7). So, if you began lawfully, complete it lawfully. Before you put on this image, know that you are going to a feat. And who are you fighting with? Listen to the one who says: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness in high places. For this reason take the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to resist in the day of cruelty” (Eph. 6:12-13). So, do not become exhausted in your course until you receive your reward. Did you hate the world? Have hatred for his arrogance too. Rejected temporary wealth? Reject the pride of wealth. Have you become alien to your parents in the flesh? Remain in renunciation, courageously enduring the labors of virtues. For renunciation is not something that is done for one day, but one that continues until death. If you really want to become a victor, then learn to endure the labors of virtues courageously, with wise meekness. I will say as an example: if you are offended by inferiors, do not be angry; humiliated, endure; choked, be patient; slandered, be generous; deprived of what is yours, give thanks. Look at your fellow citizen (I mean the beggar Lazarus): in what poverty and in what labor did he endure for the Lord? “For we look to the reward” (Heb. 11:26), according to what is written: “the passions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that would be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). And you, beloved, having desired to be worthy of pleasure from the Lord, follow the path of humility; and the Lord will give you “the crown of life, which he promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Glory to him forever! Amen. Two men went to the city, which was thirty furlongs distant. When they had completed two or three stages, they came across a place on the road in which there were groves, and shady trees grew in them, streams of water flowed, and there were many pleasant places. When the travelers saw this; one, hastening to see the city, quickly passed through this place, while the other stopped to look and fell behind. Then he, too, wanted to get out from under the tree shadow; but I was afraid of the heat. While he hesitated in place, enjoying the pleasantness of it, the beast living in this forest came out, grabbed him, and dragged him into his lair. Meanwhile, another, who was not careless and was not amused by the beauty of the trees and the place, reached the city. The brother says: “I want to hear an explanation for this; because I don’t understand what that means.” Listen, they say, with grace helping us. Two people are those who have entered the path of piety and begun to strive on it. The enemy, intending to stop them in the procession, brings demonic desires into them: vanity, lust, pride and all the like. And whoever hastened to achieve “the honor of the high calling in Christ” (Phil. 3:14) is not delayed by this. And one who is amused by the beauty of trees and places means a person who has turned his mind from the invisible to the visible. Heat is the work of virtues. And that a person slows down in place and becomes the prey of the beast, this means stopping his thoughts on the lust of the earthly; and from this lust, like a fierce beast, sin emerges and takes possession of man, as it is written: “lust, when conceived, gives birth to sin, but sin committed gives birth to death” (James 1:15). Therefore, beloved, let us flee worldly lusts, lest we again become slaves of sin. For the Savior says: “Amen, I say to you: everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). Let us serve pleasingly to God, who freed us; Let us not be deceived by corrupting passions, and pay attention to the splendor of a robe, or a kukul, or a belt, or a lectern, but let us strive for that which is humble and not vain, which is befitting of saints. For those who have subordinated the most important things to themselves, it is not proper for them to yield victory over themselves to the most unimportant things. Let it be our constant care that our inner man pleases the One who searches “the heart and the belly” (Ps. 7:10); but we will neglect the useless. For “no one can work for two masters” (Matthew 6:24), according to the word of the Master. Who, learning carpentry, gets himself a spear instead of a staple? Or who, desiring to advance in humility, seeks vain glory? Or who, lusting after heavenly things, will not neglect earthly things? May the Lord give us both to do and think what is pleasing to Him! To him be glory forever! Amen. Chapter 3. About carnal warfare If carnal warfare arises in you; do not be afraid and do not lose heart, so as not to give courage to the enemy; and he will sow some of his thoughts in you, and will say: “It is impossible for the kindling in you to stop if you do not satisfy your lust”; so that, having wounded you, he could stand against you and laugh at your weakness. But having endured the Lord, pour out your prayer with tears before His goodness, and He will hear you, and will raise you “from the pit of passions,” that is, unclean thoughts, and “from the clay of the mire,” that is, vile dreams, and “set your nose on the stones” of holiness (Ps. 39:3), and you will see the help that has come to you from Him. Just be patient, don’t relax in thought, don’t become exhausted, scooping water out of the boat; because the harbor of life is close. “Even as I speak to you, he says: Behold, I have come” (Is. 58:9); but he waits to see your feat, whether you really resist sin even to death. So, do not be faint-hearted; God has not abandoned you. He looks at your feat; They look at it and the face of the holy Angels and a crowd of demons. The angels give the crown to the conqueror; demons cover the vanquished with shame. The Angels struggle a lot for you, beloved; The demons have a lot of zeal against you, Lover of Christ. So, be attentive to yourself, do not sadden your own, and do not make strangers happy. I call the holy Angels my own, and unclean demons strangers. There is no hidden place in the eyes of God, beloved, there is no darkness in the eyes of the Lord, brother. Let not the enemy deceive you; You stand near the feet of God. Don't neglect this. For it is written: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool” (Acts 7:49). Do not relax in thought, but take courage; The assistant is close. Listen to what the Prophet says: “All the nations have devoured me, and in the name of the Lord I have resisted them; they have deceived me, and in the name of the Lord they have resisted them; they have devoured me like bees, and burned like fire among thorns; and in the name of the Lord I have resisted them. I turned away from the mouth, and the Lord accepted me. The Lord is my strength and my song, and He will be my salvation” (Ps. 118:10-14). So, be patient, ascetic, so that “having been skilled, you may receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). To be fought by passions and to confront them makes us skilled at withstanding warfare. And if passions do not fight us; then perhaps we will begin to condemn those who are struggling, because we ourselves have not experienced the struggle, and we will fall into arrogance. For it is not that it is dangerous that passions fight us, and we fight them; but it will be disastrous if, out of laziness, we fall before our opponents. And so resist the lust that burns you, so as to avoid the flame that never goes out. And if passions overcome us, they will not give up on us, but will attack us even more boldly. Listen to the one who says: “Honey drips from the lips of a harlot’s wife, even though your throat delights for a while; you will find something bitterer than gall, and a sharper sword than a two-handed sword” (Prov. 5:3-4). So be attentive to yourself, so that you do not lose the glory of the face of God. For it is written: “Have peace and holiness with everyone, and no one else will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Do not accept the opinions of wicked people who say: “After I die, what should I expect?” and they say this to anger the Lord God, who will judge the living and the dead. Woe to the soul that listens to such a thought! Woe to the man who thinks so! This opinion will bring those who are convinced of it into the confines of death. This opinion removes one from God and makes one inclined towards the devil. But you, believer, flee from evil counsel, and “be not unfaithful, but faithful” (John 20:27). For we believe that there will be judgment and reward after death: “for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). God is not unrighteous to forget about the reward of those who served Him in truth, “as it is written: eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man breathed what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Do you want, beloved, to understand the power of words? Consider what glory the saints acquire on earth. “The memory of the righteous,” as it is written, “is with praise; but the name of the wicked fades away” (Prov. 10:7). But you, beloved, believe what is written in the divine Scriptures, but avoid what unbelievers say: their minds and consciences are corrupt; They confess God, but His works are averted” (Titus 1:15–16). Look at Herod: he had on himself the royal robe and spoke to the people; but “having not given glory to God, the Angel of the Lord struck him, and he was eaten by worms and departed” (Acts 12:21, 23). If you have become strong in virtue, and a hater of goodness incites some people against you to oppress you: then do not become timid, and do not betray piety out of human fear; because “it is a terrible thing to fall into the hand of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). Listen to what the Savior says: “If you cast out Me, you will also be cast out” (John 15:20). Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the corrupt conversation of evil people; and pay attention not to the appearance alone, or to the gray hair, but to the person’s way of thinking. For these are the very ones about whom the Apostle speaks: “having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5). If you agree to their false speeches and leave the narrow and cramped path; then be afraid that, burning in an unquenchable fire, you will not hear this bitter and inexorable sentence, filled with weeping and bitter tears: “child, remember that you received your good in your belly, and Lazarus likewise the evil: but now you are comforted here, but you are suffering” (Luke 16:25). On the contrary, just fix your gaze on God, and after the end of your valiant life, your soul in the next century will rejoice with the righteous: “and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22). To God be glory forever and ever! Amen. Nowadays there are two kinds of sorrows with which every person under the sun is surrounded: sorrow for God and sorrow for the world; and it is not possible to pass through real life without any of them - either without sorrow for God, or without sorrow for the world. And worldly sorrow is heavy and unrewarded, but sorrow for God has the hope of eternal life. Therefore, as a wise man, bow down to the sorrow that you yourself have chosen, because it does not befall you against your will; and do not follow your thoughts, but as soon as you are disturbed by them, first call on the Lord, and then take the advice of every person who fears the Lord. If you do not tolerate the admonition of people who fear the Lord, then your soul will be like a city without walls; the barbarian, when he wants, will come in and take it. It is written: “Ask your father, and your elders will tell you, and they will tell you” (Deut. 32:7). The wise will accept the advice. Let us run away from drunkenness, let us, as much as possible, run away from meeting women: “for the word of a woman is like a snare in the heart” (Prov. 7:21), and the one who hears it attracts to bad confusion. If a bodily illness befalls you, do not be faint-hearted, but bear it with gratitude; for the Apostle says: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10); and in another place it is said: “Blessed is the man whom you chastise, O Lord, and teach him of Your law” (Ps. 93:12). So, beloved, “let us cast our sorrow on the Lord, for He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7). As for feeding ourselves, the strong will work, and when weakness befalls us, then if our superiors (which will not happen!) leave us without a care, God himself will unexpectedly send us His help. For it is written: “My father and my mother have abandoned me, but the Lord will take me in” (Ps. 26:10). Only in a clear conscience will we serve Him; Then He will place the hearts of our leaders towards us, and He will grant us His blessedness. Therefore, do not grieve over labor; Many, without doing anything, were burdened by carelessness itself. Learn to work so as not to learn to beg. Do not be careless in your work; because it is written: “The Lord is near” (Phil. 4:5), and He will reward those who work for God with great reward. Don't worry about anything. But be patient with the Lord, so that you may be granted the repose of the righteous; for in this rest there is no labor, no despondency, no care, no sorrow, no weakness, no evil lust, or anything like that: but there is joy and peace, and rejoicing in the Holy Spirit. For after the enemy is thrown into fiery Gehenna with all his angels and vessels, all his actions will cease. May the Lord grant us all this unspeakable joy. Glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Listen, beloved; incurable diseases are eradicated only by burning and astringent medicines. Why, beloved, do not be angry when you hear the truth. If you are indignant at the medicine offered to you; then you clearly show about yourself that you do not want to be healed and freed from the disease, but it is still pleasant for you to lie in uncleanness. If we hide the truth and give advice pleasing to voluptuousness; then there will be no slight difference in us from the false prophets who deceived the people, telling everyone what was pleasing to him. God's prophets preached the truth, and for this they were hated and killed. And this does not mean that I include myself among the Prophets; for I am like a dog who accompanies his master’s sheep, and when he sees a wolf approaching, he does not remain quiet, but immediately gets up and rushes at him; The shepherds, hearing the barking dog, also get up, drive out the destroyer, and save the sheep. So why, beloved, are we careless about our salvation? Why do we indulge in the lusts of the old man, and adorn the outer man with our outward appearance, and corrupt the inner man with deeds? Let us not be hard-hearted, like Pharaoh, so as not to fall into his fate; Let us not be stiff-necked, like some of the children of Israel, lest we lose the promised land. Let us hate the way of life of ignorant people, because their path is not safe, as it is written: “For the tongue is a destructive counsel, and there is no skill in them” (Deut. 32:28). Why did the Prophet say: “O Lord God of hosts, I did not sit down in the multitude of the vanity of those who play, but feared from the presence of Your hand: they sat down alone, because they were filled with sorrows” (Jer. 15:16-17). Listen in another place to how the Prophet mourns our race: “It is fierce for me, my soul! for the pious perished from the earth, and there is no one who can correct among men: they all hide in rooftops, each one embittering his neighbor with bitterness, preparing his own hands for evil” (Mic. 7:2-3). So let us love reverence: let them mock us, let them strike us; we won't leave him. For this is a treasure full of blessings, full of virtues. It inclines God to look at the good qualities of the one who acquired it, according to what is written: “Whom will I look at? only against the meek and silent and trembling at My words” (Is. 66:2). And blessed is he who despises everything for the sake of reverence. So take heed to yourself, beloved; do not indulge in negligence about your salvation; pay attention not to those who are careless, but to those who are sober, not to those who are in ruins, but to those who are being saved. How long will you have the patience to servile those who force you to do indecent things? Do not be a slave to passions, but rather become free. You need a lot of sobriety. You stand in the place of achievement: do not neglect it. The enemy is before you, according to what is written: “your adversary is the devil, like a roaring lion he walks about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Look, what gluttony, what cruelty of the opponent! He just doesn’t want to hit, and leave him a little alive; but suddenly it consumes everything if someone is not sober. Time has been given to you; strive until it passes away. And if we waste this time in negligence about ourselves, we will not find another time. How many people were there from Adam to us, and where are they? Or who knows their number? The Lord God alone, who created us, made “His utensils according to number” (Is. 40:26), “numbered the multitude of the stars, and gave names to them all” (Ps. 146:4). He knows everyone and everyone's business. He alone is wise, good and powerful, terrible, unforgettable, merciful, seeks the lost, has mercy on those who turn, and shows mercy to those who repent. We worship You, Lord, the God who created us. We bring glory and honor to you. You endure so that I, too, an abomination, sing songs about You. For this, O Lord, is Your great mercy and love for mankind, that You call upon the unworthy, You do not turn away sinners who repent, You do not despise the oppressed, You do not abandon the faint-hearted. Blessed and thrice blessed is the soul that desires You alone. For the soul that desires You also keeps Your commandments. So why, beloved, do we neglect our salvation? Let us judge the eternal by the temporal. How concerned is someone when he goes to tell the teacher a given lesson and show the master his finished handicraft? Why don’t we worry about the hour when we will be asked to account for our whole lives? Also, if someone in winter, in the evening, having slowed down in someone else’s cell, hurries to get to his own cell; then how worried is he because of the darkness and bad weather? How careless are we about the inevitable path? What will happen to us after our separation from the body? Let us therefore take heed to ourselves, beloved, so that we may rejoice in the joy of the righteous. For whoever allows himself to be deceived will suffer many sorrows in this life. Today he eats, drinks, and, rejoicing at the harm of his soul, fulfills his will as much as he can, but not as much as he wants; and the next day, if he does not have the opportunity to be satiated with the same, he will experience various griefs. But whoever is attentive to himself and has adopted a good habit, his joy will not decrease or weaken; he is rejoiced by the hope of future blessings, according to what is written: “they remembered God and were glad” (Ps. 77:4). I ask you to pray to the Lord for poor me too. To Him be glory forever and ever! Amen. Do not wish to behave badly and have a bad reputation about yourself; do not obey sin, lest it make you an object of disgust; It’s better to obey the truth, so that it makes you a person of honor. Do not want to be a temptation to souls, but be attentive to yourself so that you can become useful to others. Yes, chosen one of God, be attentive to yourself in order to edify you and others. Do not want to be evil, so as not to be crushed in the last days of your life. Don't you hear what the Scripture says? “Wounds and contrition meet the wicked” (Proverbs 20:30); and they will no longer receive reward for their suffering. You bravely endure the labors of virtues for the Lord in order to receive the crown. The Lord is calling you to marriage; Do not be ungrateful, but put on the wedding robe, so that you may rejoice in His palace, and not hear as if you were careless: “Friend, why did you come in without a wedding robe” (Matthew 22:12)? Then you will be bound hand and foot and thrown into utter darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. When you hear about the wedding garment, understand, beloved, not clothing, but good deeds. And you, beloved, having been worthy to be called to the rank of monks, try to show in yourself the virtue of your vow, so as not to be rejected. Do not be rude, voluptuous, irritable, angry, quarrelsome, intemperate and shameless; but on the contrary, be meek, reverent, humble, self-controlled, chaste, silent, peaceful, prudent, keep the purity of your body, in which you made a vow to Christ, so that when he says to us on that day: “Why did you not visit the widows and the orphans in their affliction” (James 1:27)? We could justify ourselves before him, saying: “In order, Lord, to serve You in silence without distraction.” But if he says to us: “Why did you not keep yourself unspotted from the world?” What then shall we answer Him if we have become defiled in the world? It is not yet virtue if a person refrains from a shameful act, but takes on such an appearance that arouses passion in another. For it is written: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and thy sincere God, as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 39). Avoid useless speeches, so as not to fall into shameful thoughts. Just as good words are useful to the soul, so unkind words corrupt it, according to what the Apostle said. For he says: “good customs are corrupted by evil conversations” (1 Cor. 15:33). Why else does he say: “Let not every corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but let it be that which is good for the building up of faith, that He may give grace to those who hear: and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are marked on the day of deliverance” (Eph. 4:29-30). Beware that they do not call you disobedient, rude, frivolous, a whisperer, double-tongued, slanderous, unmerciful, a brother-hater, an enemy of virtue; but rather, try to be called obedient, truthful, chaste, silent, non-lazy, merciful, sober, brotherly, lover of hospitable people, friend of virtue, comforter, reverent. This is good and useful to people. Therefore, let us not become arrogant, but rather let us humble ourselves. And what kind of strength do we have that we should be proud? Doesn’t a little work bring us down to the ground? Therefore, let us love humility, so that the Lord may exalt us. Be attentive to yourself so that your temper, irritability, and memory malice do not prevail over you, which is why we lead an anxious and unsettled life. But acquire for yourself generosity, meekness, kindness and everything that is appropriate for Christians, in order to lead a calm and silent life. The mountains of Ararat are high, the desert plains are wide; cruel - cold in the northern land, and sunny heat in the south; The greatest of all the birds of the air is the eagle, of all the beasts of the earth the lion, and of the sons of men he who fears the Lord. “Great and highly praised is the Lord our God” (Ps. 47:2), who created all things and exalts those who fear Him. To him be glory forever! Amen. If, when you are doing the work of the Lord in humility and reverence, the enemy, with the intention of interrupting you in right living, arms careless people against you: then do not be afraid, do not become timid, and do not deviate from the straight path. For the Apostle says: “in all things we are sorrowful, but not saddened; we are not anxious, but we are not in despair; we are persecuted, but we are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we are not destroyed; we always bear the death of the Lord Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may appear in our body. While we are always alive, we are given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also appear in our dead flesh” (2 Cor. 4:8-11). “Be patient with the Lord” (Ps. 26:14), chosen one of God, so that those who insult you now will be amazed at your glorious salvation, as it is written: “If the righteous suffer, he will die, he will rest. Old age is not honest for many years, it is counted lower in the number of years: gray hair is the wisdom of man, and the age of old age is not a bad life. Having been well-pleasing to God, he was loved, and the living one was reposed among sinners: he was caught up quickly, lest malice change his mind, or flattery deceive his soul. The zeal of evil is darkened by a good one, and the soaring of lust changes the mind of a gentle one. Having died in time, he fulfilled his duty: for his soul was pleasing to the Lord: for this reason, he struggled from the midst of wickedness. People, having seen and not understood, thought lower than this, such as grace and mercy in His chosen ones, and visitation in His saints. The righteous will condemn the dying of the living wicked, and the youth of the soon-died old age of the unrighteous. They will see the death of the wise man, and will not understand what was counseled about him, and what the Lord has established him in: they will see and humiliate him, but the Lord will laugh at them. And therefore they will fall into dishonor, and be a reproach for the dead forever, as if they were torn apart silently on their faces, and shake them from their foundations, and even to the last they will be desolate, and they will be in sickness, and their memory will perish: they will come with the thought of their sins in fear, and they will convict them of their iniquity. Then the righteous man will stand boldly in the face of those who insult him and reject his labors. Those who see him will be troubled with grave fear, and will be horrified at his glorious salvation. And they say to themselves repentantly, and sighingly in the anguish of their spirit: this is what we once had in laughter, and in the parable of reproach; His madness is imputed furiously, and his death is dishonorable: what is his lot imputed among the sons of God, and among the saints? For we have gone astray from the true path, and the light of truth has not shined upon us, and the sun has not risen to us. The lawless are filled with paths and destruction, and we walk in impassable deserts, but we do not follow the path of the Lord. What good has pride done to us? and what riches and magnificence have you given us? All of it is like a shadow, and like a flowing message; like a ship passing through troubled water, whose passage has no footsteps to find, below the path of its procession in the waves: and like birds flying along the aere, not a single sign of the path is found, but the ulcer of the light, beaten spirit, cut by the force of the noisy movement, and therefore not a single sign was found by the passage in it; or, as if by an arrow fired at a deliberate place, the cut air was suddenly enclosed within itself, as if its passage could not be known. Thus, we too were born with impoverishment, and we cannot show a single sign of virtue, but we died in our malice. For the hope of the wicked, like dust blown by the wind, and like soft foam from a storm, is dissolved, and like smoke from the wind is poured out, and like the memory of a stranger one day will pass away. The righteous women live forever, and their reward is in the Lord, and their care is with the Most High: for this reason they will receive the kingdom of splendor, and the crown of kindness from the hand of the Lord: for with His right hand He will cover them, and with His arm He will protect them” (Wis. 4:7-20, 5:1-16). Therefore, do not have hatred in your heart for anyone, and do not repay evil for evil; but acquire for yourself love, which divine Scripture has placed above all virtue; because he likened her to Him who created everything, saying: “God is loving” (1 John 4:8). One brother from the hostel came to the elder; the elder told him: “dormitories are like schools; some go to the praetor, and others to the forges.” The brother used this word; for he imposed repentance upon himself. So we too will use our occupation as a deed, so that, if we do not prove to be skillful, we will not be cast out from the kingdom of heaven and sent into the fiery furnace. When you see careless people who have grown old in the monastic form; Then you need a lot of precaution so that, being jealous of them, you do not go the same way, and so that, having become abstinent, you do not become arrogant before them, which means giving in to victory over yourself to arrogance. Listen to the one who says: “take care of yourself,” and carefully guard your soul. And we will not be justified by the works of others, and others will not be condemned for our works. When we are presented naked and open to the Judges, we will give an account of what we have done; then they will not condemn one for another: “everyone will bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:5). If someone expresses their thoughts to you; do not go into details, unless the eye of your mind is weak, so that when he speaks, you are not alarmed by the same passions, and so that you do not become like a helmsman in the midst of strong excitement. Therefore, having listened to the beginning of what is being told, we need to understand what follows, and depending on this, console the grieving person with what we either borrowed from holy men or learned from experience ourselves. It is not the will of the Lord for one to fall for the sake of another; “The Lord wants everyone to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). But you, beloved, do not reveal your thoughts to every person, but only to those about whom you know that they are spiritual. For the devil has many snares. The Savior said: “Take heed from lying prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their works you will know them” (Matthew 7:15–16). Do not hide from spiritual people, so that the enemy, having found a corner for himself, does not nest in you. But do not enter into council with people who think about carnal things; they are voluptuous, increasing the number of their sins every day, saying; “Let this one sin be imputed to me!” The Prophet mourns them and says: “Woe to those who draw back their sins, as if they were already long, and as the yoke of the youth is the strap of its iniquity” (Is. 5:18). Therefore, it is necessary to avoid useless speeches, and not to deal with those who are careless about the fear of the Lord; because they say nothing to benefit, do nothing for the Lord, do not talk about virtue, or reverence, or honesty. Their speeches are a mortal snare; their advice is the abyss of hell; their community is insolence and laughter, drunkenness and spiritual destruction. The terrible serpent speaks through them. “But you, O man of God, run away from these: drive away truth, piety, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith; you have hungered for eternal life; you were called in need, and you made a good confession” (1 Tim. 6:11.12). Take care, beloved servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, do not be caught in a momentary deception, lest you be deprived of eternal life. You are recognized to be a merchant; Be completely sober so that you don’t lose your pearls, so that the enemy doesn’t steal your treasure and sink your ship with its cargo, and so that you don’t return home with nothing. The enemy, knowing what kind of glory he will gain from God, who keeps himself pure from the defilements of the flesh, strongly fights him with thoughts, wanting to entangle a person with them, so that he does not gain future glory. And if he finds a soul that has rejected useless thoughts; He doesn’t often attack her, but he doesn’t completely retreat from her. Rather, he goes to where, as soon as he pushes, the door is immediately opened to him; and defiles the body and soul with the most unclean desires of those who do not resist him; Finally, like a good adviser, he inspires him with the following thought: “It is better for you to go into the world and take a partner than to crush your flesh in this way.” But nothing comes close to being sober. Therefore, be attentive to yourself so that nothing like this befalls you. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid taking liberties. And I repeat: avoid freedom so that shamelessness does not attack you, and having tied you up like a bad captive, does not hand you over as a slave to sin. And then you will begin to say: “I came to the depths of the sea, and the storm drowned me”; and again: “The coal-burner is deep in the depths, and there is no permanence” (Ps. 68:3). Why is it necessary to flee from communities of evil people, not out of hatred for people, but to avoid harm. If you are already in community with the careless, then be attentive to yourself, so that you win them by right living, and do not destroy yourself. Do not entrust your soul to those who speak unhelpful things and boast of chastity; for the Savior said: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Therefore, avoid people who chase after novelty and love funny things, so as not to fall out of obedience to the one who says: “Flee the lusts of young people” (2 Tim. 2:22). “Take no face against your life” (Sir.4:26), neither lowly nor high nor mighty; because no one can save you from the unquenchable fire. Listen to the One who says: “What good does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world but loses his soul” (Matthew 16:26)? Be careful not to lose your boldness before God for the sake of human honor or glory, or for the sake of food, or drink, or clothing; because all this is subject to decay, and everyone’s deeds, both good and bad, are recorded. “Be wise above, not on earth” (Col. 3:2), so that you may receive the promise of the heavenly Father, and be numbered among the elect of the Son, and so that the Holy Spirit may bless you with all His Saints. To him be glory forever! Amen. Be attentive to yourself, beloved, so that the serpent does not teach you to compete with those who are careless about their salvation and say: “You are no better than those who have fallen into passion.” But think about what is written: “In a great house, not only are the vessels made of gold and silver, but also the vessels of wood and clay, and those for honor and those not for honor” (2 Tim. 2:20). So, if you do not listen to the Lord and do sinful deeds, then you will become a vessel of dishonor. And if you do the works of the Lord; then you will be a chosen, honest, sanctified vessel for the good use of the Master, prepared for every good deed. Be attentive to yourself, I beg you, so that both this and the coming century may find you mercy from the Lord. If you are not attentive to yourself; then here too you will begin to lament, and there you will not rest. For whatever is outside the straight path, there is nothing except condemnation and repentance. Therefore, do not compete with those who are careless about their salvation, and who have appropriated one appearance for themselves, so that you do not look like a warrior captured by enemies, but have the royal seal on you. For He who said, “Amen, I say to you, is not a liar: everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). The appearance is like leaves; and the deed is the fruit. The warriors of the earthly king shed blood to please their king; but you do not need to shed blood, but just do not be overcome by sin, lest you “bring to you the fruit of death” (Rom. 7:5). Be sober, beloved, be sober, and remain in your labors. God is not unrighteous; He will not forget your work. But even for the darkness that you endure while sitting in your cell, the light of truth will shine for you, as it is written: “A light has risen in the darkness for the upright” (Ps. 112:4). “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12), so that, having won victory over the enemy, you can unashamedly worship the King of glory. For the Lord crowns not only those who died by the sword and suffered from tormentors, but also those who turned out to be skillful in asceticism and in love. Just as the first suffered reproach for the Lord, so the last suffered a sorrowful life and asceticism for the Lord. Be attentive to yourself, and let no evil word be in your heart. Do not give in to evil thoughts. This is how one of the ancients suffered, hiding in his bush something from an oath (Joshua 7:11–25); and Gehazi, the servant of the prophet Elisha, suffered similarly. They did not hide not only from God, but also from people. They committed the crime secretly; but they clearly received retribution. One and his house were stoned publicly, and the other inherited leprosy along with his seed forever (2 Kings 5:27). For he who said: “God is not mocked is not a liar; for if anyone sows, he will also reap” (Gal.6:7). Study with constant patience in order to avoid the harm that comes to those who do not observe silence. Listen to the one who says: “Son, if you are wise, you will be wise for yourself and sincere; if you are evil, you will only learn evil” (Proverbs 9:12). Why is the enemy overcoming us? Why do passions multiply in us? Is it because of our disobedience? When they teach us, we are not attentive; when they accuse us of correcting mistakes, we deny it. We hide from people, we are careless about God, we do not believe the One who said: “Amen, I say to you, if these things remain silent, the stone will cry out” (Luke 19:40). The terrible serpent puts in us the wisdom to defeat with words those who want to correct us; and that is why sin multiplies in us, having no opponent. Your enemy is ruining you, and you don’t know it, my soul! He fulfills his wishes in you, and you endure! Run away, man, from his evil advice. Remember what you promised to God, and keep the shrine, so that you may find grace before the Lord. Listen to him who said: “Flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:18). And do you want to know what a grave sin is fornication? Those whom the sting of serpents in the wilderness could not kill, fornication brought down in the land of Midian; and as a result of fornication, they agreed to eat an idol’s sacrifice, for which the people “fell twenty-three thousand in one day” (1 Cor. 10:8). And if you fell into sin; then do not remain in the fall, and do not neglect God’s long-suffering and God’s mercy. “Remember, for death will not delay” (Sir.14:12). Remember that it is not possible for you to escape God's hands. So, do not be negligent, but repent, cry, sigh because you are deceived; for even if we consign the fall to oblivion, then God, who created us, knows the deeds of everyone. So, do not be careless, but courageously resist the enemy and block the trench through which the enemy usually enters to ruin you, so that if he does not find a convenient entrance, he leaves with nothing. And to block the trench means to protect the senses through which both good and evil enter the soul, that is, sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, and not to allow thoughts to be carried away where they should not. Keep in mind, beloved, the giants who corrupted the earth with their dominion, and how the Lord in one instant wiped them off the face of the earth with a flood; and their strength did them no good. Judge the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, how it was consumed for the sin of its inhabitants; and luxury and pride did not benefit them. So let us take care of our salvation, beloved, so that death does not suddenly befall us; and so that we do not leave here in great condemnation. What thought do we have about the deceased - is it that he will return to his home in one day, even in a year, even in a hundred or a thousand years? Why do we strive for impermanent things and neglect the imperishable? Say to the one who inspires you with bad and unclean wishes: “O enemy of truth! Should I really shame myself so that you will fulfill your wish? Go to people like you who are indecent. Have you begged for a herd of pigs? Drown with them. And I will no longer be a slave obedient to your wishes. The past tense is enough for me; From now on I will care about the truth, and I will pray to my God that He will completely deliver me from your deeds. He gave me the Holy Spirit, but I angered Him; He gave me a clean soul and body, but I desecrated them.” So speak, beloved, to the one who instills in you destructive passions. One of the saints said: “Fornication is like a dog; if you caress him, he will not leave you; and if you give chase, he will run away.” Listen to him who said: “I am one, until I pass away” (Ps. 141:10), that is, everyone should be attentive to themselves until we pass from this life. Be attentive to yourself, I beg you, and do not neglect your life. Be careful not to ruin the fruits of your labors for a small pleasure; for the sake of impurity, do not give away the rewards of your work; for the sake of impurity, do not destroy the reward for silence, the reward for vigil, for abstinence and for other virtues; Do not be like a man who puts the payment he has received into a worn-out wallet. “A little leaven leaves the whole mixture” (Gal.5:9). On the contrary, protect yourself with the fear of the Lord. Listen to what I tell you, beloved. In worldly life, he who speaks eloquently is considered great, but in monastic life he who loves silence is great before the Lord. Also: in worldly life, whoever loves to dress up his body and changes his clothes is in glory among people; and according to the monastic vow, whoever neglects this, has in mind only the necessary needs of the body, according to the words of him who said: “having food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Tim. 6:8), he gains glory in heaven. Also: in worldly life, whoever is magnified by bodily strength and wealth is considered great among people: and according to this vow, whoever truly loves humility is exalted by the Lord, as it is written: “God chose the weak of the world, let him put to shame; and God chose the weak of the world, let him put to shame the strong; abolish; for let not all flesh boast before God” (1 Cor. 1:27-29). Let us therefore love what is pleasing to the Lord, as useful and grateful servants. If we are subjected to slander from malicious people; if those captured by the barbarians are given into slavery, then even then we will not despair of our salvation. For it is written: “In sorrow I called upon the Lord, and heard me into space” (Ps. 117:5). Let us also consider that the Prophets were taken into captivity and suffered slavery and suffering on a foreign side; but their mind was never captivated and removed from God. So that our outer man is sold or not sold, this is not in our will; but that our inner man joins or does not join in wickedness, this is in our will. Therefore, the saints, striving for virtue, denounced the tormentors and neglected threats of death. So we, beloved, being children of the Prophets and following in their footsteps, will acquire their perfect faith; because it is written: “If you look at the end of your life, imitate faith” (Heb. 13:7), so that together with them we may enter into the heavenly dwellings, into the lordship of the saints, from where sickness, sorrow and sighing fled. Let us be sober, praying so as not to fall into temptation. Let us study the words of the Holy Spirit, so that we may delve into the Scriptures, and, without holding a book in our hands, have in our minds the words of God. If someone tells you his thoughts, or reveals his shortcomings: then do not humiliate him in your mind as having committed such deeds; but marvel at your brother’s change: for if a person voluntarily reveals his downfalls to spiritual men, then this serves as a sign of correction of life; hiding one’s downfalls is a sign of a soul devoted to passions. He who lives in connection with thieves, and who has united his fate with adulterers, will never reveal them; because he is strongly committed to passion. Therefore, with all humility of mind, you are obliged to console the one who revealed your sin to you, according to what is written: “Take care that you also are not tempted” (Gal. 6:1). The Lord says through the Prophet Ezekiel: “And you, son of man, speak to the sons of your people: the righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him, in that day he will be deceived, and iniquity will not kill, in that day he will turn from his iniquity” (Ezek. 33:12). May the Lord grant us to follow the sinless, narrow and cramped path to the end, so that the mouth of our opponent, the devil, is stopped and they cannot say anything bad about us. To God be glory forever! Amen. Let us be attentive to ourselves, beloved; because we have enemies who are implacable and unmerciful, who rejoice in the fall of man and find joy in this alone. Why did the holy fathers, knowing their malicious intentions against us, not indulge in negligence and absent-mindedness, but were attentive to themselves, and with attentiveness to themselves, they pleased God and edified people in goodness. Such was Saint Anthony, as Saint Athanasius, the archbishop, mentioned when describing his life. He showed great and severe feats. Always fasted; His clothes were made of hair below and leather on top, and he wore them until his death; I did not wash away impurities from my body with water, and I never washed my feet, and I did not even simply put them in water, except in cases of necessity. No one saw him naked and no one at all saw Antoniev’s naked body until the time he died and was buried. And Athanasius also said: “although this is unimportant in comparison with his virtue, yet from this one can conclude what kind of man of God Anthony was, who from his youth to that age maintained the same zeal for asceticism, and, depressed by old age, did not eat expensive foods, when his body was exhausted, did not change the way he dressed, nor even ever washed his feet with water. And yet he remained unharmed in everything; even his eyes had no damage or defect and saw well. And not to mention everything in detail: he seemed much fresher in strength and more vigorous than all those who use a variety of food, ablutions and different clothes.” And we, inventing within ourselves means to relax the body, live absent-mindedly, without thinking about what inexorable rivals we have; why the opponents themselves, seeing such our inattention, more readily rebel against us, constantly hurting us with the arrows of debauchery. So let us be attentive to ourselves, so that the Lord will turn their evil intentions against us into nothing. I say this, brothers, not because I myself lead a clean life. For if the Lord reveals my sins before I am sent to torment, then the shame of my deeds will be part of the torment for me. I said this by the grace of the Lord, so that when you receive benefit from good advice, I, the insignificant one, may be honored with a reward for good advice. For just as he who corrupts souls with his advice will participate in destruction and destruction; So the one who gives advice about correction will find a good part for himself with the Lord if he himself finally refrains from what is useless. If you have friendship with your brother, and your conscience convicts you that this connection is harmful to the soul; then break off your friendship with him. For one of the saints said: “Have love with everyone, and distance yourself from everyone.” I say this, beloved, so that you do not hate people, but sin. For it is written: “If our hearts do not blind us, we imams boldness towards God, so that if we ask, we will receive from Him, as we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. If our hearts despise us, the God of our hearts is the greatest, and that is all the news” (1 John 3:20-22). Brother taught brother his duties to God. When another brother came, the warner said to him: “Behold, I warn my brother, and he does not want to listen to me.” He answered: “I must listen to you; for, let me say, and listening to you is wonderful, and doing according to your advice is a joy.” But he said: “No, if he knows that I am not speaking according to God, then let him not listen to me, and not only me, but even the Prophet, if he tells something contrary to the will of God. For the Apostle says: “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach good news to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9). Who were the rebels against Susanna in Babylon? Aren't they elders? And not just elders, but judges and leaders of the people. But since we were not attentive to ourselves, what end did we suffer? And their dignity did them no good.” So, brothers, let us take care of the truth, so that the truth protects us. For here, if someone who has done something bad is reported to the prince, then the accused can save himself from punishment by fleeing to another place, but where will we flee from the face of God, according to the word of the one who said: “Where shall I go from Thy Spirit? and will I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I descend into hell, There You are: If I take up my wings early and dwell in the last of the seas, and there Your hand will guide me, and Your right hand will hold me” (Ps. 139:7-10)? Let us love silence so that we can get rid of entertainment. Let us love abstinence for the love of God. Let us love innocence and humility. Let us be humble and friendly to people of little importance and to great ones, so that we may avoid vanity and all the snares of the devil. Let us hate drunkenness and laughter, and the useless speeches of wicked people. For they do everything, and they invent everything, just so as not to lose their pleasures. And you, beloved, run away from this, and, as one who promised to please God, do everything according to God; because “God, according to the saying of the Apostle, is not mocked: for if a man sows, he will also reap. For whoever sows to his flesh, from the flesh he will reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit, from the Spirit he will reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7.8). Do not dwell on unclean thoughts, so that they do not lead you to the shameful fulfillment of them in reality; but abhor them and drive them away from you, so that your mind may be at peace. Pray to the Lord to enlighten the eyes of your heart; for “what is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). When you begin to pray, do not become distracted, so as not to be careless. Be attentive to yourself, beloved, and seeing those who are rich in this age, living luxuriously and feeding their flesh, as if on the day of slaughter, do not please them for their temporary prosperity; because the Holy Spirit will not bless the rich, not the luxurious, not the strong, but only those who fear the Lord, as it is written: “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord” (Ps. 112:1); and again: “Blessed are all who fear the Lord” (Ps. 127:1). Have you been made leader of others? Be the leader of the world, so that the gates of the kingdom of heaven are opened for you, and so that you enter together with the peacemakers: for the Holy Spirit says: “Open the gates, so that people can come in.” What kind of people are they? “Keeping righteousness, and keeping the truth, receiving the truth, and keeping peace” (Is. 26:2-3). Therefore, one of the saints said: “Let there be peace and righteousness in my days” (2 Kings 20:19). Listen to what Saint James also says: “Whoever is wise and evil in you, let him show his deeds in strength and wisdom from a good life. If you have bitter envy and zeal in your hearts, do not boast, nor lie about the truth. This wisdom is not from above, but is earthly, spiritual, and demonic. Where envy and zeal are, that is disorder and all evil things. But wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in the world by those who do it. peace" (James 3:13-18). May the Lord give us unanimity according to His will. But pray for me, too, pitiful, I ask you, that the Lord will enlighten my darkened eye; for His is the kingdom and the glory forever and ever! Amen. Let us not, brothers, lose zeal in serving one another for the Lord's sake. Many, having fallen in love with the girl, decided to serve for their beloved. Therefore, will we do anything great if we serve each other for the Lord’s sake? Let us not lose heart, beloved, sitting in our cells, remembering that the holy martyrs, after many tortures, were imprisoned in iron bonds. Therefore, let us not run away from the inconveniences of our cells, let us not become bored at work, remembering that many of the saints were sent to the mines for the sake of the Lord. If we had lived in those days, would we really have changed our lives because of torment? Would they really renounce their faith because of need? Let us, brothers beloved by the Lord, remember the good deeds of the Lord our God, who created and raised us, nourishes us and covers us in everything, brings forth the winds from His treasures to serve us, and raises clouds from the last of the earth (Ps. 134:7), to serve us, multiplies birds, livestock and water animals to serve our race, made the sun to shine by day, and the moon and stars to shine at night for our race, and saved us the sacrament of His honorable cross. Let us serve Him with fear and great trembling and with good hope; because we are strangers and strangers in this life, in the words of the one who said: “I am a stranger and a sojourner on earth, like all my fathers” (Ps. 39:13). I beg you, the least, the insignificant, I, who owe thousands of talents, and am more sinful than any sinner, adhere to this excellent advice; Keep yourselves blameless in everything, so that you are not put to shame. If anyone condemns himself in any matter; then from now on let him keep himself blameless, so that our adversary cannot say anything bad about us - this man-hater, the molester, the alien, the enemy of the truth, rejoicing in our misfortunes, powerless before those who work for the Lord in truth, humiliated by those who love the Lord in truth, trampled under foot by those who do the will of the Lord in a pure heart. To our God be glory and greatness forever! Amen. Stay, beloved, “in the calling in which you were called” (1 Cor. 7:20). Give glory to God, that He has made you worthy to be numbered with the sheep of His flock, and to eat in the pasture of His sheep. Be patient to the end so that your soul may be saved. For it is written: “In your patience you will gain your souls” (Luke 21:19). Be careful in all your conduct. Listen to him who said: “Son, if you are wise, make my heart glad” (Prov. 23:15). Do not be harsh in your tongue, and do not answer your brother harshly, but let your speech be with all humility and the fear of God. Do we really buy a good word with silver? It costs us nothing except our will. The Lord gave us control over both paths, so that the disposition of each could be known. Therefore, God's chosen ones, let us answer each other in the same way as a faithful servant answers when talking with his master. For He who said: “Whoever exalts himself will humble himself; but he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14) is not a liar. Let our speeches to each other not be about external things, but about spiritual benefit, about mutual edification, as it is written: “Let him give grace to those who hear: and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you are marked on the day of deliverance” (Eph. 4:29-30). To him be glory forever! Amen. You might be interested in: