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

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 knowing that from these the flood of the river happens, before the water comes to Egypt, they run ahead and say so. And men would have said this, if they were able to run as far as they do. And just as the watchman of David, going up to a high place, saw the one coming before the one who remained below; and he himself who ran ahead spoke before the others, not of things that had not happened, but of things already on the way and happening; so also these choose to labor, and they give signs to others, only that they might deceive; if, however, Providence should decide something in the meantime concerning the waters or those on the way (for it is possible for it), the demons have lied, and those who heeded them have been deceived. In this way the oracles of the Greeks were established, and thus they were formerly led astray by the demons; but thus also the error has now ceased. For the Lord came, who abolished the demons along with their very craftiness. For they know nothing of themselves; but like thieves, what they see from others, these things they report; and they are guessers rather than fore-knowers. Therefore, even if they sometimes say such true things, let no one marvel at them even so. For indeed physicians having experience of diseases, whenever they observe in others the same sickness, often making a guess from custom, they foretell. And pilots and farmers again, seeing the state of the air from custom, foretell that there will be either winter or fair weather; and not for this reason would one say they foretell from divine inspiration, but from experience and custom. Wherefore if the demons also sometimes say the same things by guessing, let no one for this reason marvel at them, nor pay attention to them. For what is the use 26.893 to the hearers to know from them days beforehand the things that are coming? or what eagerness to know such things, even if one knows them truly? for this is not productive of virtue, nor is it at all a mark of good character. For none of us is judged for what he does not know, and no one is blessed because he has learned and known; but in these things each has his judgment, if he has kept the faith, and has genuinely guarded the commandments. Wherefore it is not necessary to make much of these things; nor for these things to practice and labor, that we may foreknow, but that we may please God by living well. And one ought to pray, not that we may foreknow, nor to demand this as a reward for our discipline; but that the Lord may become our helper for the victory against the devil. But if we are at all concerned with foreknowing, let us purify our mind. For I believe that a soul that is pure in every way, and established according to nature, is able, having become clairvoyant, to see more and farther than the demons, having the Lord revealing to it; such as was the soul of Elisha seeing the things concerning Gehazi, and beholding the powers standing beside it. Therefore when they come to you at night, and wish to speak of future things, or say, "We are the angels," do not pay attention, for they are lying. And if they also praise your ascetic practice, and bless you; neither listen to them, nor pretend to acknowledge them at all; but rather seal yourselves and the house, and pray; and you will see them becoming invisible; for they are cowardly, and greatly fear the sign of the Lord's cross; since in it the Savior, having stripped them, made a public example of them. But if they stand more shamelessly, adjuring and diversifying themselves with apparitions; do not be cowardly, nor be terrified, nor pay attention to them as if they were good; for it is easy and pos 26.896 sible to distinguish the presence of the good and of the evil,

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ἐψεύσαντο αὐτοί. Οὕτω καὶ περὶ τοῦ ποταμίου ὕδατος ἔστιν ὅτε φλυαροῦσιν· ἑωρακότες γὰρ πολλοὺς ὑετοὺς γινομέ νους ἐν τοῖς τῆς Αἰθιοπίας μέρεσι, καὶ εἰδότες, ὡς ἐξ ἐκείνων ἡ πλημμύρα τοῦ ποταμοῦ γίνεται, πρὶν ἐλ θεῖν εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον τὸ ὕδωρ, προτρέχοντες λέγουσι. Τοῦτο δ' ἂν καὶ οἱ ἄνθρωποι εἰρήκασιν, εἰ τοσοῦτον ἠδύναντο δραμεῖν, ὅσον ἐκεῖνοι. Καὶ ὥσπερ ὁ σκοπὸς τοῦ ∆αβὶδ, ἀνερχόμενος εἰς ὑψηλὸν, μᾶλλον τοῦ κάτω μένοντος προέβλεπε τὸν ἐρχόμενον· καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ προτρέχων ἔλεγε πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων, οὐ τὰ μὴ γενόμενα, ἀλλὰ τὰ ἤδη ὁδεύοντα καὶ γινόμενα· οὕτω καὶ οὗτοι κάμνειν αἱροῦνται, καὶ σημαίνουσιν ἄλλοις, ἵνα μόνον ἀπατῶσιν· ἂν μέντοι ἡ Πρόνοια μεταξύ τι βουλεύσηται περὶ τῶν ὑδάτων ἢ τῶν ὁδευόντων (ἔξεστι γὰρ αὐτῇ), ἐψεύσαντο οἱ δαίμονες, καὶ ἠπατήθησαν οἱ προσεσχηκότες αὐτοῖς. Οὕτω συνέστη τὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων μαντεῖα, καὶ οὕτως ἐπλανήθησαν παρὰ τῶν δαιμόνων τὸ πρίν· ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτω πέπαυται λοιπὸν ἡ πλάνη. Ἦλθε γὰρ ὁ Κύριος ὁ σὺν αὐτῇ τῇ πανουργίᾳ αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας καταργήσας. Οὐδὲν γὰρ γινώσκουσιν ἀφ' ἑαυτῶν· ἀλλ' ὡς κλέπται, ἃ παρ' ἄλλοις ὁρῶσι, ταῦτα διαβάλλουσι· καὶ μᾶλλον στοχασταί εἰσιν ἢ προ γνῶσται. ∆ιὸ, κἂν ἀληθῆ ποτε τοιαῦτα λέγωσι, μηδ' οὕτως αὐτοὺς θαυμαζέτω τις. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἰατροὶ πεῖραν ἔχοντες τῶν νοσημάτων, ἐπειδὰν θεωρήσωσιν ἐν ἄλλοις τὴν αὐτὴν νόσον, πολλάκις στοχαζόμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς συνηθείας προλέγουσι. Καὶ κυβερνῆται δὲ καὶ γεωργοὶ πάλιν, ἀπὸ τῆς συνηθείας βλέποντες τὴν τοῦ ἀέρος κατάστασιν, προλέγουσιν ἢ χειμῶνα ἢ εὔδιον ἀέρα ἔσεσθαι· καὶ οὐ διὰ τοῦτο ἐκ θείας ἐπιπνοίας αὐτοὺς ἄν τις εἴποι προλέγειν, ἀλλ' ἀπὸ τῆς πείρας καὶ τῆς συνηθείας. Ὅθεν εἰ καὶ οἱ δαίμονες τὰ αὐτά ποτε στοχαζόμενοι λέγουσι, μὴ διὰ τοῦτό τις αὐτοὺς θαυμαζέτω, μηδὲ προσεχέτω τούτοις. Τί γὰρ χρήσι 26.893 μον τοῖς ἀκούουσι τὸ εἰδέναι παρὰ τούτων πρὸ ἡμε ρῶν τὰ ἐρχόμενα; ἢ ποία σπουδὴ τὰ τοιαῦτα γινώ σκειν, κἂν ἀληθῶς γινώσκῃ; οὐ γὰρ ἀρετῆς ἐστι τοῦτο ποιητικὸν, οὐδὲ ἤθους ἀγαθοῦ πάντως ἐστὶ τοῦτο γνώ ρισμα. Οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἡμῶν κρίνεται διὰ τί οὐκ οἶδε, καὶ οὐδεὶς μακαρίζεται, ὅτι μεμάθηκε καὶ ἔγνω· ἀλλ' ἐν τούτοις ἕκαστος ἔχει τὴν κρίσιν, εἰ τὴν πίστιν τετή ρηκε, καὶ τὰς ἐντολὰς γνησίως ἐφύλαξεν. Ὅθεν οὐ δεῖ περὶ πολλοῦ ταῦτα ποιεῖσθαι· οὐδὲ διὰ ταῦτα ἀσκεῖσθαι καὶ πονεῖν, ἵνα προ γινώσκωμεν, ἀλλ' ἵνα Θεῷ καλῶς πολιτευόμενοι ἀρέ σωμεν. Εὔχεσθαί τε χρὴ, οὐχ ἵνα προγινώσκωμεν, οὐδὲ τοῦτον τῆς ἀσκήσεως ἀπαιτεῖν μισθόν· ἀλλ' ἵνα συνεργὸς ἡμῖν εἰς τὴν κατὰ τοῦ διαβόλου νίκην ὁ Κύ ριος γένηται. Εἰ δὲ ἅπαξ καὶ τοῦ προγινώσκειν ἡμῖν μέλει, καθαρεύωμεν τῇ διανοίᾳ. Ἐγὼ γὰρ πιστεύω, ὅτι καθαρεύουσα ψυχὴ πανταχόθεν, καὶ κατὰ φύσιν ἑστῶσα, δύναται, διορατικὴ γενομένη, πλείονα καὶ μακρότερα βλέπειν τῶν δαιμόνων, ἔχουσα τὸν ἀποκα λύπτοντα Κύριον αὐτῇ· οἵα ἦν ἡ τοῦ Ἐλισσαίου βλέ πουσα τὰ κατὰ τὸν Γιεζῆ, καὶ ὁρῶσα τὰς παρ' αὐτὴν ἑστώσας δυνάμεις. Ὅταν τοίνυν νυκτὸς ἔρχωνται πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ θέλωσι τὰ μέλλοντα λαλεῖν, ἢ λέγωσιν· Ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν οἱ ἄγγελοι· μὴ προσέχετε, ψεύδονται γάρ. Ἂν δὲ καὶ ἐπαινῶσι τὴν ἄσκησιν ὑμῶν, καὶ μακαρίζωσιν ὑμᾶς· μήτε ὑπακούετε, μήθ' ὅλως προσποιεῖσθε τούτους· σφραγίζετε δὲ μᾶλλον ἑαυτοὺς καὶ τὸν οἶκον, καὶ εὔ χεσθε· καὶ ὄψεσθε αὐτοὺς καὶ γινομένους ἀφανεῖς· δειλοὶ γάρ εἰσι, καὶ πάνυ φοβοῦνται τὸ σημεῖον τοῦ Κυριακοῦ σταυροῦ· ἐπειδήπερ ἐν αὐτῷ τούτους ἀπο δυσάμενος, παρεδειγμάτισεν ὁ Σωτήρ. Ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀναιδέστερον στήκωσιν, ἐξορχούμενοι καὶ ποικιλλό μενοι ταῖς φαντασίαις· μὴ δειλιάσητε, μηδὲ πτήξητε, μηδὲ ὡς καλοῖς αὐτοῖς προσέχητε· καὶ γὰρ τὴν τῶν ἀγαθῶν καὶ τῶν φαύλων παρουσίαν εὐχερὲς καὶ δυ 26.896 νατόν ἐστι διαγνῶναι,

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