Слово 31. Об отшельничестве и о том, что должно нам не в боязнь приходить и устрашаться, но подкреплять сердце упованием на Бога и иметь дерзновение с несомненною верою, потому что стражем и хранителем имеем Бога

If when you find yourself worthy of a hermitage, which in the kingdom of freedom has light burdens, then the thought of fear does not force you, according to its custom, to change your thoughts in a variety of ways and engage in them. But be more sure that your Guardian is with you, and may your wisdom assure you in all accuracy that, together with all creatures, you are under one Master, who with one wave sets everything in motion, and shakes, and tames, and arranges. Not a single slave can harm any of the slaves like him, without the permission of the Provider and Manager of all. And you immediately rise up and dare. If freedom is given to others, it is not in every matter. For neither demons, nor destructive beasts, nor vicious people can fulfill their will for harm and destruction, unless the will of the Ruler allows this and does not give this place to a certain extent. He doesn’t even allow freedom to put everything into action. And if it had not been for this, no flesh would have survived. The Lord does not allow the power of demons and people to approach His creation and fulfill its will on it. Therefore, always say to your soul: “I have a Guardian who protects me, and not a single creature can appear before me, unless commanded from above.” Be sure that they will not dare to appear before your eyes and force you to listen with your ears to their threats. For if it were allowed from above from the Most Heavenly, then there would be no need for word or words, but their will would be followed by deeds. Say also to yourself: “If this is the will of my Lord, that the evil ones should prevail over His creation, then I accept this without being upset, like one who does not want the will of his Lord to remain unfulfilled.” And thus in your temptations you will be filled with joy, as one who has known and clearly felt that the Master’s beck is nourishing you and controlling you. Finally, establish your heart in trust in the Lord, and let “not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies in the days” (Ps. 91:5). For it is said that faith in God and in wild animals makes the righteous gentle, like sheep 181 . You will say: “I am not righteous, that I should trust in the Lord.” But you really went out into the desert, full of sorrows, to do righteousness, and for this you became obedient to God’s will. So, when you carry out this labor, you work in vain, because God only desires human labor when you offer Him a sacrifice of love - your sorrow. This prudence is demonstrated by all who love God, exposing themselves to sorrows out of love for Him. For those who deign to live in Christ Jesus in the fear of God choose tribulation for themselves and endure persecution. And He makes them the owners of His secret treasures. About the benefits that temptations bring to those who endure them with gratitude and courage One of the saints said: “There was one hermit, a venerable old man, and I came to him one day, being in sadness from temptations. He lay sick; Having greeted him, I sat down next to him and said: “Pray for me, Father, because demonic temptations greatly sadden me.” He opened his eyes, looked at me carefully and said: “You are young, child, and God does not leave you without temptations.” I answered him: “Yes, I am young, but I endure the temptations of strong men.” - And he continued: “So God wants to make you wise.” “I objected: “How can you make me wise?” I taste death every day." - And he said to this: “God loves you; shut up! He gives you His grace." Then he added: “Know, child, for thirty years I fought with demons, and after the twentieth year I did not see any help for myself. When I had lived through the fifth of the last ten, then I began to find peace. And over time it increased. And when the seventh year passed, and the eighth came after it, the peace extended to a much greater extent. During the thirtieth year, and when it was already coming to an end, the peace became so strong that I don’t even know the extent to which it increased.” And he added: “When I want to get up to perform God’s service, God allows me to perform one more glory 182; and as for the rest, if I stand for three days, I am in amazement with God and do not feel any labor.” This is the kind of insatiable peace generated by a difficult and long-term task! That keeping the tongue not only makes the mind rise to God, but also promotes abstinence There was one old man who ate food twice a week and told us: “On the day on which I talk to someone, it is impossible for me to maintain the rule of fasting, according to my custom; but I am forced to allow fasting.” And we understood that keeping the tongue not only makes the mind rise up to God, but also open deeds done with the help of the body secretly provides great strength for their accomplishment, and also enlightens 183 in secret work, as the fathers used to say, because keeping the mouth makes the conscience rise up to God, if only one observes silence with knowledge. This saint had a constant habit of spending the night in vigil. For he said: “On that night, which I stand until the morning, I sleep after psalmody, and upon awakening from sleep on this day I am as if a person who does not belong to this world; no earthly thoughts enter my heart, and I have no need for certain rules, but all this day I am in amazement 184 . So, one day I wanted to take food, after four days had passed before in which I had not eaten anything. And when I went to the evening service, so that I could taste it after it, and stood in the courtyard of my cell, while the sun was still high, then, having started the service, I only performed it with consciousness during the first glory, and after that I remained in it, not knowing where I was, and remained in this position until the sun rose again the next day and warmed my face. And then, as the sun began to greatly disturb me and burn my face, my consciousness returned to me, and then I saw that another day had already arrived, and I thanked God, reflecting how much His grace is poured out on man and what greatness He vouchsafes to those who follow Him. After this, glory and splendor are due to Him alone forever and ever!” Amen. One third part of kathisma. That is, in spiritual delight. You might be interested in: