Life of Antony

 He was content with what he found, and sought nothing more. After the death of his parents, he was left alone with one very young sister and he was a

 he signified love for one another and thus filled, he would return to his own place of the hermitage then he himself, gathering to himself the thing

 I undertook to tickle the young, and I have been called the spirit of fornication. How many who wished to be chaste have I deceived! How many who were

 to learn of the ascetic from the life of the great Elijah, as in a mirror his own life always. Thus, then, having strengthened himself, Antony departe

 he forgot the contest of Antony, but came to his aid. So, looking up, he saw the roof as if opening, and a certain ray of light coming down to him. An

 that these were at work, and they themselves, being afraid, called for Antony. But he listened more to these than he cared for those. And coming near

 the Scriptures are sufficient for teaching but it is good for us to exhort one another in the faith, and to anoint one another with words. And you, t

 In this the Lord is also a helper, as it is written: To everyone who chooses the good, God works with him for the good. And so that we may not be negl

 in the air about us, and they are not far from us and there is a great difference among them. And concerning their nature and their difference would

 enemy: Having pursued I will overtake and again by another: I will take the whole world in my hand, as a nest, and I will take it up as abandoned egg

 God said to the sinner: Why do you declare my 26.884 statutes, and take up my covenant in your mouth? For they do all things, and they speak, and make

 worlds from which they ought rather to be despised as weak. For the true angel, sent by the Lord against the Assyrians, had no need of crowds, nor of

 they themselves lied. So also concerning the river's water they sometimes babble for having seen many rains occurring in the parts of Ethiopia, and k

 God so granting. For the vision of the saints is not troubled. For he will not strive, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear their voice. But it hap

 is of our virtue and life but to cast out demons, this grace is of the Savior who gave it. Whence to those who boast not in virtue, but in signs, and

 long-nosed. Then as I was saying Why then are you here? he said Why do the monks, and all other Christians, blame me in vain? Why do they curse me e

 was cast out, and the conceit of others was stopped and all were persuaded to despise the demonic plotting, marveling at the grace given to Antony by

 zeal for he himself also prayed to be martyred, as I said before. He therefore seemed to be grieving, because he had not been martyred but the Lord

 and a few neglected palm trees. Antony, therefore, as if moved by God, loved the place for this was what he who had spoken to him by the banks of the

 you are hesitating, but depart 26.920 for I am a servant of Christ. As Antony said these things, they fled, as if pursued by the whip of his word. Th

 examine, and test yourselves. Therefore, let each one take account to himself day by day of his actions by day and by night and, if he has sinned, le

 and for them to enter, this indeed he did not permit, but said: Go, and you will find her, if she has not died, healed. For this is not my achievement

 Amoun had fallen asleep at the hour in which his old man saw his soul being carried up. And indeed both these and those marveled at the purity of Anto

 to hinder so that he might not pass through. But when his guides fought against them, they demanded an account, whether he was not subject to them. So

 he conversed for their benefit but he yielded to him in the matter of prayer, not being ashamed to learn himself. For he often inquired, and 26.940 a

 believing they were being helped. Indeed, so many became 26.944 Christians in those few days, as many as one might see become in a year. Then, when so

 that Christ was made manifest as a man whereas you, separating the soul from heaven, claim that it has wandered and fallen from the vault of the heav

 we understand by faith, this you attempt to construct through words and often you are not even able to express what we understand so that the operat

 but faith working through love for Christ which if you also should have, you will no longer seek proofs through words but you will consider faith in

 Arians act irrationally like beasts. And when he saw this vision, he exhorted those with him, saying: Do not be disheartened, children for just as th

 coming upon you Therefore cease persecuting Christians, lest at any time the wrath should seize you for it is already about to come upon you. But Ba

 we shall see one another again in this life. It is time for me at last to depart for I am nearly one hundred and five years old. So when they heard t

 Remember me as a father. Do not let anyone take my body to Egypt, lest they place it in their houses for it was for this reason that I went into the

 those who are hiding themselves, and are striving to withdraw, He makes manifest and renowned everywhere on account of both their own virtue and the b

he signified love for one another; and thus filled, he would return to his own place of the hermitage; then he himself, gathering to himself the things from each, and striving to show in himself the things of all; for indeed he was not contentious with those of his own age, except only that he might not appear second to them in better things; and he did this so as to grieve no one, but that they also might rejoice in him. All then from the village and the lovers of virtue, with whom he was acquainted, seeing him thus, called him God-beloved; and some greeted him as a son, others as a brother. But the hater of good and envious devil did not bear seeing such a purpose in a younger man. But such things as he has practiced doing, he attempts to do against this one also; 26.848 and at first he tried to lead him down from the ascetic life, suggesting the memory of his possessions, the care of his sister, the intimacy of his family, love of money, love of glory, the varied pleasure of food, and the other comforts of life, and finally the harshness of virtue, and how great is its labor; and he suggested the weakness of the body, and the length of time. And in general he raised a great dust cloud of thoughts in his mind, wishing to turn him aside from his right purpose. But when the enemy saw himself weak against Antony's purpose, and rather being wrestled down by his firmness, and overthrown by his great faith, and falling before Antony's constant prayers; then indeed, trusting in the weapons of his navel and belly, and boasting in these (for these are his first snares against the young), he comes against the young man, troubling him by night, and so vexing him by day, that even onlookers perceived the struggle taking place between the two. For the one suggested filthy thoughts, but the other overthrew them with prayers; and the one tickled, but the other, as if blushing, fortified his body with faith and prayers and fastings; and the wretched devil endured even to take the form of a woman at night, and to imitate every manner, only that he might deceive Antony; but he, thinking on Christ, and the nobility that comes through him, and considering the spiritual nature of the soul, extinguished the burning coal of that one's deceit. And again the enemy suggested the smoothness of pleasure; but he, seeming angry and grieved, considered the threat of the fire and the pain of the worm; and setting these against them, he passed through them unharmed. And all these things were done to the shame of the 26.849 enemy. For he who thought to become like God was now mocked by a youth; and he who boasted against flesh and blood was overthrown by a man wearing flesh. For the Lord worked with him, who for our sake wore flesh, and gave to the body the victory over the devil; so that each of those truly striving can say: "Not I, but the grace of God which is with me. " At last then, when the dragon could not cast Antony down even in this, but even saw himself being cast out from his heart, gnashing his teeth, according to what is written, and as if beside himself, such as he is in mind, such later also in appearance he appears to him as a black boy; and as if falling down, he no longer attacked with thoughts (for the crafty one had been cast out), but henceforth using a human voice, he said: Many have I deceived, and very many have I cast down; but now, having attacked many and also you and your labors, I have grown weak. Then when Antony asked: Who are you that speaks such things to me? immediately that one uttered pitiful cries: I am the friend of fornication; I the snares for this, and those of this

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πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγάπην ἐσημειοῦτο· καὶ οὕτω πεπληρωμέ νος, ὑπέστρεφεν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον τοῦ ἀσκητηρίου τόπον· λοιπὸν αὐτὸς τὰ παρ' ἑκάστου συνάγων εἰς ἑαυ τὸν, καὶ σπουδάζων ἐν ἑαυτῷ τὰ πάντων δεικνύναι· καὶ γὰρ πρὸς τοὺς καθ' ἡλικίαν ἴσους οὐκ ἦν φιλό νεικος, ἢ μόνον ἵνα μὴ δεύτερος ἐκείνων ἐν τοῖς βελτίοσι φαίνηται· καὶ τοῦτο ἔπραττεν ὥστε μηδένα λυπεῖν, ἀλλὰ κἀκείνους ἐπ' αὐτῷ χαίρειν. Πάντες μὲν οὖν οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς κώμης καὶ οἱ φιλόκαλοι, πρὸς οὓς εἶχε τὴν συνήθειαν, οὕτως αὐτὸν ὁρῶντες, ἐκάλουν θεοφιλῆ· καὶ οἱ μὲν ὡς υἱὸν, οἱ δὲ ὡς ἀδελφὸν ἠσπάζοντο. Ὁ δὲ μισόκαλος καὶ φθονερὸς διάβολος οὐκ ἤνεγ κεν ὁρῶν ἐν νεωτέρῳ τοιαύτην πρόθεσιν. Ἀλλ' οἷα μεμελέτηκε ποιεῖν, ἐπιχειρεῖ καὶ κατὰ τούτου πράτ 26.848 τειν· καὶ τὸ μὲν πρῶτον ἐπείραζεν αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀσκήσεως καταγαγεῖν, ὑποβάλλων μνήμην τῶν κτη μάτων, τῆς ἀδελφῆς τὴν κηδεμονίαν, τοῦ γένους τὴν οἰκειότητα, φιλαργυρίαν, φιλοδοξίαν, τροφῆς τὴν ποικίλην ἡδονὴν, καὶ τὰς ἄλλας ἀνέσεις τοῦ βίου, καὶ τέλος τὸ τραχὺ τῆς ἀρετῆς, καὶ ὡς πολὺς αὐτῆς ἐστιν ὁ πόνος· τοῦ τε σώματος τὴν ἀσθένειαν ὑπετίθετο, καὶ τοῦ χρόνου τὸ μῆκος. Καὶ ὅλως πο λὺν ἤγειρεν αὐτῷ κονιορτὸν λογισμῶν ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ, θέλων αὐτὸν ἀποσχοινίσαι τῆς ὀρθῆς προαιρέσεως. Ὡς δὲ εἶδεν ἑαυτὸν ὁ ἐχθρὸς ἀσθενοῦντα πρὸς τὴν τοῦ Ἀντωνίου πρόθεσιν, καὶ μᾶλλον ἑαυτὸν κα ταπαλαιόμενον ὑπὸ τῆς ἐκείνου στεῤῥότητος, καὶ ἀνατρεπόμενον τῇ πολλῇ πίστει, καὶ πίπτοντα ταῖς συνεχέσιν Ἀντωνίου προσευχαῖς· τότε δὴ τοῖς ἐπ' ὀμφαλοῦ γαστρὸς ὅπλοις ἑαυτοῦ θαῤῥῶν, καὶ καυχώμενος ἐπὶ τούτοις (ταῦτα γάρ ἐστιν αὐτοῦ τὰ πρῶτα κατὰ τῶν νεωτέρων ἔνεδρα), προσέρχεται κατὰ τοῦ νεωτέρου, νυκτὸς μὲν αὐτὸν θορυβῶν, μεθ' ἡμέ ραν δὲ οὕτως ἐνοχλῶν, ὡς καὶ τοὺς ὁρῶντας αἰσθέ σθαι τὴν γινομένην ἀμφοτέρων πάλην. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ ὑπέβαλλε λογισμοὺς ῥυπαροὺς, ὁ δὲ ταῖς εὐχαῖς ἀν έτρεπε τούτους· καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐγαργάλιζεν, ὁ δὲ, ὡς ἐρυ θριᾷν δοκῶν, τῇ πίστει καὶ ταῖς εὐχαῖς καὶ νη στείαις ἐτείχιζε τὸ σῶμα· καὶ ὁ μὲν διάβολος ὑπέμε νεν ὁ ἄθλιος καὶ ὡς γυνὴ σχηματίζεσθαι νυκτὸς, καὶ πάντα τρόπον μιμεῖσθαι, μόνον ἵνα τὸν Ἀντώνιον ἀπατήσῃ· ὁ δὲ τὸν Χριστὸν ἐνθυμούμενος, καὶ τὴν δι' αὐτὸν εὐγένειαν, καὶ τὸ νοερὸν τῆς ψυχῆς λογι ζόμενος, ἀπεσβέννυε τὸν ἄνθρακα τῆς ἐκείνου πλά νης. Πάλιν τε ὁ μὲν ἐχθρὸς ὑπέβαλλε τὸ λεῖον τῆς ἡδονῆς· ὁ δὲ, ὀργιζομένῳ καὶ λυπουμένῳ ἐοικὼς, τὴν ἀπειλὴν τοῦ πυρὸς καὶ τοῦ σκώληκος τὸν πόνον ἐν εθυμεῖτο· καὶ ἀντιτιθεὶς ταῦτα, διέβαινε τούτων ἀβλα βής. Ἦν δὲ ταῦτα πάντα πρὸς αἰσχύνην γινόμενα τοῦ 26.849 ἐχθροῦ. Ὁ γὰρ νομίσας ὅμοιος γενέσθαι Θεῷ ὑπὸ νεανίσκου νῦν ἐπαίζετο· καὶ ὁ σαρκὸς καὶ αἵμα τος κατακαυχώμενος ὑπὸ ἀνθρώπου σάρκα φοροῦντος ἀνετρέπετο. Συνήργει γὰρ ὁ Κύριος αὐτῷ, ὁ σάρκα δι' ἡμᾶς φορέσας, καὶ τῷ σώματι δοὺς τὴν κατὰ τοῦ διαβόλου νίκην· ὥστε τῶν ὄντως ἀγωνιζομένων ἕκαστον λέγειν· «Οὐκ ἐγὼ δὲ, ἀλλ' ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡ σὺν ἐμοί. « Τέλος γοῦν, ὡς οὐκ ἠδυνήθη τὸν Ἀντώνιον οὐδ' ἐν τούτῳ καταβαλεῖν ὁ δράκων, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔβλε πεν ἑαυτὸν ἐξωθούμενον ἀπὸ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ, τρίζων τοὺς ὀδόντας, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, καὶ ὥσπερ ἐξιστάμενος, οἷός ἐστι τὸν νοῦν, τοιοῦτος ὕστερον καὶ τῇ φαντασίᾳ μέλας αὐτῷ φαίνεται παῖς· καὶ ὥσπερ ὑποπίπτων, οὐκέτι μὲν λογισμοῖς ἐπέβαι νεν (ἐκβέβλητο γὰρ ὁ δόλιος), λοιπὸν δὲ ἀνθρω πίνῃ χρώμενος φωνῇ, ἔλεγε· Πολλοὺς μὲν ἠπάτησα, καὶ πλείστους κατέβαλον· νῦν δὲ, ὡς ἐπὶ πολλοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ σοὶ καὶ τοῖς σοῖς πόνοις προσβαλὼν, ἠσθένησα. Εἶτα τοῦ Ἀντωνίου πυθομένου· Τίς εἶ σὺ ὁ τοιαῦτα λαλῶν παρ' ἐμοί; εὐθὺς ἐκεῖνος οἰκτρὰς ἠφίει φω νάς· Ἐγὼ τῆς πορνείας εἰμὶ φίλος· ἐγὼ τὰ εἰς ταύτην ἔνεδρα, καὶ τοὺς ταύτης

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