Глава 10. О том, что не из тщеславия должно ревновать о добрых делах

Most of all, we must flee from vanity, not that which removes us from labor even before labor (for that would be a lesser evil), but that which deprives us of crowns based on our labors - this irresistible accuser of our salvation, which, under the very heavenly circles, sets its ambush against us and strives to overthrow the virtues that have sent out their stems even to the sky. For when he sees that the merchant of piety has already filled the ship of his understanding with all sorts of goods of virtues, then, stirring up his storm, he tries to capsize and sink the boat. For, having convinced the mind of a swimmer, hastening to the heavenly Kingdom, to turn his eyes to what is below and to human glory, he suddenly scatters all the spiritual wealth and, razing the foundations of virtue to the ground, overthrows the works that reached to heaven, bringing to the point that for what we have done, we ask people for rewards for ourselves, who should, fixing our gaze on the one God and keeping good things in secret deeds, from Him alone expect a reward worthy of yourself. And we, preferring to caring about good for the sake of God, doing for the sake of glory from people and demanding from them a vain reward - praise, are worthily and righteously deprived of God's rewards, not working for God, but giving ourselves as workers to people, and from them, instead of rewards, receiving the loss of all rewards, what can we ask ourselves from God, for Whom we did not want to do anything? And that this is true, listen to how the Holy Gospel speaks about those who do good for the sake of people: “Amen, I say to you... they will receive their reward” (Matthew 6:5). Therefore, let us flee from vanity, this flattering robber of spiritual wealth, this pleasant enemy of our souls, this worm that undermines virtues - vanity, which with pleasure plunders our goods, smears with honey the poison of its seduction and serves a destructive cup to the minds of men so that, I think, they will revel in this passion without satiety, because human glory is sweet to inexperienced, and moreover makes those captivated by it easily sin against sound judgment. For the one who seeks this glory retreats from his own judgments, but considers as worthy of respect what the first of those who meet him can marvel at. Even if they, being vicious or unreasonable, began to marvel at the bad, still the one who wants praise will do what, in his opinion, these judges of his own intentions suggest is good. And thus, vanity is not only the eradicator of good deeds, but also a guide to evil deeds. Therefore, keeping in mind a sound mind and God, the mentor of a sound mind, one must follow the path that God leads. If others praise this path, one should not regard their praise as great, turning one’s gaze to the heavenly Praiser, and only rejoice for them that they have a correct judgment about good. If others blame, then one should not be ashamed of this, but feel sorry for them, as not having sound judgment and being in a terrible darkness of understanding. You might be interested in: