САМОУКОРЕНИЕ

1. Self-reproach when infirmities appear As for your infirmities, as you call them, then, as I already wrote, I do not know how to draw up a recipe against them. Be patient, fight and reproach yourself when you don’t get tired, and that’s all (1, p. 9). 2. Self-reproof and heartfelt contrition must have a measure Heartfelt contrition and merciless self-accusation always suit us, but we must not forget about measures. You go beyond the line of what should be when you use such speeches: “Hopeless melancholy is tormented by sinfulness... you feel the impossibility of being saved...” and the like. The feeling of powerlessness to save oneself is in the order of things, but the hopelessness of salvation should be thrown out of the Christian vocabulary... For we have the Lord the Savior, who cares about our salvation and who in every possible way disposes and strengthens us towards it. Don't say that... the enemy will overhear and start building his batteries at these points. Go and shoot back then (1, pp. 249–250). You reproach yourself for your pride. Good, good. Watch for its manifestations and immediately flog it. Self-love wants to do everything for itself, but you do everything for the glory of God and the good of others, without having yourself in mind, without sparing yourself. After all, those who are proud outwardly, for the most part, do the same things as those who are not selfish, only they are given a different direction and others have intentions with them. Our job is to straighten these intentions from self-loving to selfless, and then direct the matter along the same lines. And you need to learn this. Study, study. Bless, Lord (9, p. 118)! You might be interested in: