De oratione

 Therefore, the one of these, I mean the 'what we should pray for,' is the words of the prayer, but the 'as we ought' is the state of the one praying

 we are more than conquerors.” It is likely that “intercedes” only concerns those who are not so great as to be more than conquerors, nor again such as

 God be with me, and keep me in this way that I go, and give me bread to eat and a garment to put on, and bring me back with safety to my father's hous

 of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying: This is the word, which the Lord commanded: A man, who shall vow a vow to the Lord or swear an oath with

 of those who say there is providence for it is not our present purpose to examine the sayings of those who entirely deny God or providence) God kn

 since God exists and has comprehended the whole universe and abides in His pre-arranged decrees, to pray, supposing that by his prayer he will alter G

 and from what is in our power, which will be enacted according to our impulse. For even if, hypothetically, God did not know the future, we would not

 “let him not boast” “before” me but let him say: “I am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God,” and perceiving my

 of prayer benefits those who have persuaded themselves that they have stood before and are speaking to a present and hearing God? 9.1 What has been sa

 to God, who ordains what he wills for our training, but not even murmuring in the secret of our thoughts without a voice audible to men which murmuri

 his preeminence, and stretching forth the right hand and giving to Judas a golden sword, to whom another saint who had fallen asleep testified, sa

 an angel, «of the» in the church «little ones,» «always» seeing «the face of the Father» «who is in heaven» and beholding the divinity of the one who

 the prayer of Holofernes with God prevails and one woman of the Hebrews brought shame to the house of Nebuchadnezzar But 'Ananias' 'and Azarias and M

 suffering from a basilisk, because through Christ he has stepped upon them and has trampled “lion and dragon,” having used the good authority given by

 doxology for greater things, offered up more magnificently by someone, and intercession, a request to God concerning certain things by one having a ce

 And an example of thanksgiving is the voice of our Lord, saying: “I confess to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these thing

 kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their princesses your nurses they shall bow down to <you> with their face to the ground, and shall lick the

 with him the intelligible blessing reaching all the saints, spoken by Isaac to Jacob, namely: «May God give you of the dew of heaven,» to have come to

 of things truly and genuinely great and heavenly, and matters concerning the shadows that follow the preceding things must be entrusted to God, who kn

 For it is the work of hypocrites to want to put on airs before men for the sake of piety or for social reasons. But it is necessary, remembering the s

 20.2 And we must listen carefully to that they may be seen, since nothing that is merely apparent is good, as if existing in appearance and not in t

 It is not that God has not been called 20father20, or that those who are considered to have believed in God have not been named sons of God but rathe

 he has imitated the image «of the invisible God» and has become «according to the image of the one who created him,» who makes «his sun» rise «on the

 20Father20» let him go. And let us seek to understand more mystically the saying at the end of the Gospel according to John: «Do not touch me, for I h

 in order to persuade the reader from every side, according to the power given to us, to hear the divine scripture in a higher and more spiritual way,

 to exalt «0the name20» of God «at the same time,» is <when> someone, having partaken of an emanation of divinity by being taken up by God and having p

 We are commanded by Paul no longer to be subject to sin which wants to rule over us, and indeed we are ordered through these words: Let not sin there

 for us «0on earth20» likewise to them in all things “the 20will20” of God should be done which will happen, when we do nothing contrary to His «0will

 to divinity and being united with it. 26.5 But since the second point does not yet solve the difficulties about how «0the will20» of God is «0in heave

 we will set these things forth from more numerous sources. He says in the Gospel according to John to those who had come to Capernaum to seek him: “Tr

 nor are you able even now for you are still of the flesh” and in the one to the Hebrews: “and you have come to need milk, not solid food. For everyon

 being set apart, but is subject to every quality just like a prepared place. And by qualities they mean dispositively the activities and productions i

 by a demonstration of the angels and their becoming more ready to cooperate in every way and henceforth to concur in the apprehension of more and grea

 in the psalms thus: a thousand years in your eyes are as yesterday, which has passed (which is the famous millennium, which is likened to the yeste

 «0today20» but also in a way of the «0daily20» he who prays for «0today20», from the one who is able to grant «exceedingly abundantly above all that w

 and we are in a theater of the world and of angels and of men, it must be known that, just as the one in the theater is a 20debtor20 to say or do cert

 heavenly Father will do, unless you 20forgive20 each his brother from your hearts.” They say, however, that we 20must forgive20 those who have sinned

 they conceived a thought against God” for he offers the sacrifice concerning things of which it is doubted whether a sin has been committed, and this

 which our Lord taught concerning prayer. But when has anyone considered men to be outside of 20temptations20, whose word he knew he had fulfilled? And

 every time is one of 20temptation20 for men, even these things not even he who meditates on the law of God «day and night» and practices to fulfill w

 Finding such things in the law and the prophets, they stumbled as at one who was not good, who uttered such words but for us, on account of the diffi

 having desired generation, pray again to obtain twice what you desire, having come to hate the thing desired, and then thus to return to the good thin

 of our own evils and let us give thanks for the good things revealed to us through 20temptations20. But that the 20temptations20 which happen are for

 to put on (for he has received), but by in all that befell him not to have sinned at all before the Lord but to be shown to be righteous of the o

 to pray, stretching out the soul, as it were, before the hands, and stretching the mind toward God before the eyes, and before standing, arousing the

 which is possible, unless one gives himself to this by agreement for a time, that perhaps also concerning the place, if it is permissible, it must b

 It seems to me that these things have necessarily been said, while examining the place of prayer and representing what is exceptional as in a place at

 for the sake of magnifying you, my Lord, Lord.” 33.4 An example of confessions: “Deliver me from all my iniquities,” and in other places: “My wounds h

which our Lord taught concerning prayer. But when has anyone considered men to be outside of 20temptations20, whose word he knew he had fulfilled? And what time is there in which, as though not struggling not to sin, he has become contemptuous? Is someone poor? Let him be careful, lest having stolen he should swear by "the name of God"; but is he rich? Let him not be contemptuous; for he is able "being full" to become "a liar" and being lifted up to say: "Who sees me?" Not even Paul, at least, being rich "in all speech and all knowledge," was delivered from the danger of sinning by being exalted on account of these things, but he needs a thorn of Satan to buffet him, "so that he might not" be exalted. And if someone is conscious of better things in himself and is lifted up from evils, let him read what is said in the second book of Chronicles about Hezekiah, who is said to have fallen "from the height of his heart." 29.6 But if, since we have not said more about the poor man, someone is contemptuous, as if that which concerns poverty is not a 20temptation20, let him know that the one who plots, plots for "the overthrow of the poor and needy," and especially since according to Solomon, "The poor man does not withstand a threat." And what need is there to say how many, on account of bodily wealth, not managing it well, have received the place with the rich man in the Gospel in punishment, and how many, bearing poverty ignobly, living more slavishly and humbly than is fitting according to what is in the "holy ones," have fallen away from the heavenly hope? Nor are those in between these two, wealth and poverty, in any way delivered from sinning in respect to their moderate possessions. 29.7 But one who is healthy in body and in good condition supposes himself to be outside of all 20temptation20 in respect to his very health and good condition; and whose other sin is it than of those who are in good condition and healthy to destroy "the temple of God," no one will dare to say on account of the matters of this topic being clearly laid out for all. But what sick person has escaped the provocations to destroy "the temple of God," [what] being at leisure at that time and very much entertaining thoughts about unclean matters? But how many things besides these disturb him, if he does not guard his "heart" with "all diligence," what need is there even to say? For many, being overcome by their pains and not knowing how to bear illnesses manfully, were then found to have been sick rather in soul than in their bodies; and many also, because of fleeing from disgrace, being ashamed to bear the name of Christ nobly, have fallen into eternal shame. 29.8 But someone thinks to be at rest as not being tempted, when he has been glorified among men; and how is it not a difficult thing, "they have received their reward" from "men," being reported to those who are lifted up as if by a good thing, by glory from the many? And how is it not a rebuke, "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" And why must I recount the stumblings in pride of those considered well-born and the flattering submissiveness, due to ignorance, of those called low-born towards those thought to be superior, which separates from God those who do not have genuine friendship but feign the most beautiful of things among men, love? 29.9 Therefore, "all the life," as has been said before, of "man upon the earth" "is" a "time of trial"; wherefore let us pray to be 20delivered20 from trial, not in not being tempted (for this is impossible, especially for those "on earth") but in not being defeated when tempted. But I suppose that the one who is defeated when tempted enters "into" "0temptation20," being caught in its nets; into which nets the Savior entered on account of those who were pre-occupied in them, "looking out through the nets" according to what is said in the Song of Songs, "he answers" those who are pre-occupied by them and who have entered "0into" "temptation20," "and says" to those who are his bride: "Arise, come, my neighbor, my beautiful one, my dove." And I will add to the being tempted

οἷς ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν περὶ εὐχῆς ἐδίδαξε. πότε δέ τις νενόμικεν εἶναι ἔξω 20πειρασμῶν20 ἀνθρώ πους, ὧν ᾔδει τὸν λόγον συμπεπληρωκώς; καὶ ποῖος καιρός ἐστιν, ἐν ᾧ ὡς μὴ ἀγωνιζόμενος περὶ τοῦ μὴ ἁμαρτήσεσθαι καταπεφρό νηκε; πένεταί τις; εὐλαβείσθω, μή ποτε κλέψας ὀμόσῃ «τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ»· ἀλλὰ πλουτεῖ; μὴ καταφρονείτω· δύναται γὰρ «πλησθεὶς ψευδὴς» γενέσθαι καὶ ἐπαρθεὶς εἰπεῖν· «τίς με ὁρᾷ;» οὐδὲ Παῦλος γοῦν πλουτῶν «ἐν παντὶ λόγῳ καὶ πάσῃ γνώσει» κινδύνου ἀπήλλα κται τοῦ ὡς ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐν τῷ ὑπεραίρεσθαι ἁμαρτάνειν, ἀλλὰ δεῖται σκόλοπος τοῦ σατανᾶ κολαφίζοντος αὐτὸν, «ἵνα μὴ» ὑπεραίρηται. κἂν συνειδῇ τις ἑαυτῷ τὰ κρείττονα καὶ ἀναπτερωθῇ ἀπὸ τῶν κακῶν, ἀναγινωσκέτω τὸ εἰρημένον ἐν τῇ δευτέρᾳ τῶν Παραλειπομένων περὶ Ἐζεκίου, ὅστις πεπτωκέναι λέγεται «ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕψους τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ.» 29.6 εἰ δὲ, ἐπεὶ μὴ πλείονα περὶ τοῦ πένητος εἰρήκαμεν, καταφρο νεῖ τις, ὡς μὴ 20πειρασμοῦ20 τοῦ περὶ τῆς πενίας, ἴστω ὅτι ὁ ἐπιβου λεύων ἐπιβουλεύει ὑπὲρ «τοῦ καταβαλεῖν πτωχὸν καὶ πένητα,» καὶ μάλιστα ἐπεὶ κατὰ τὸν Σολομῶντα. «ὁ πτωχὸς οὐχ ὑφίσταται ἀπει λήν.» τί δὲ δεῖ λέγειν, ὅσοι διὰ τὸν σωματικὸν πλοῦτον, μὴ καλῶς αὐτὸν οἰκονομήσαντες, τὴν μετὰ τοῦ ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ πλουσίου χώραν ἐν τῇ κολάσει εἰλήφασι, καὶ ὅσοι ἀγεννῶς τὴν πενίαν φέροντες, δου λοπρεπέστερον καὶ ταπεινότερον ἢ κατὰ τὰ ἐν τοῖς «ἁγίοις» πρέποντα ἀναστρεφόμενοι, τῆς ἐπουρανίου ἐλπίδος ἀποπεπτώκασιν; οὐδὲ οἱ μεταξὺ δὲ τούτων καθ' ἑκάτερον, πλοῦτον καὶ πενίαν, τοῦ κατὰ τὴν σύμμετρον κτῆσιν ἁμαρτάνειν πάντως εἰσὶν ἀπηλλαγμένοι. 29.7 ἀλλὰ ὑγιαίνων τῷ σώματι καὶ εὐεκτῶν ἔξω παντὸς 20πειρασ μοῦ20 κατ' αὐτὸ τὸ ὑγιαίνειν καὶ εὐεκτεῖν ὑπολαμβάνει τυγχάνειν· καὶ τίνων ἄλλων ἢ τῶν εὐεκτούντων καὶ ὑγιαινόντων ἐστὶν ἁμάρτημα τὸ φθείρειν «τὸν ναὸν τοῦ θεοῦ,» οὐ τολμήσει τις διὰ τὸ ἐκκεῖσθαι πᾶσι σαφῶς τὰ κατὰ τὸν τόπον εἰπεῖν. νοσῶν δὲ τίς τοὺς εἰς τὸ φθείρειν «τὸν ναὸν τοῦ θεοῦ» [τίς] ἐρεθισμοὺς ἐκπέφευγε, σχολάζων κατ' ἐκεῖνο καιροῦ καὶ πάνυ τι δεχόμενος τοὺς περὶ τῶν ἀκαθάρτων πραγμάτων λογισμούς; ἀλλ' ὅσα παρὰ τούτους ταράττει αὐτὸν, ἐὰν μὴ «πάσῃ φυλακῇ» τηρῇ τὴν «καρδίαν,» τί δεῖ καὶ λέγειν; πολλοὶ γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν πόνων νικώμενοι καὶ ἀνδρείως νόσους φέρειν οὐκ ἐπισ τάμενοι μᾶλλον τὴν ψυχὴν ἠλέγχθησαν τότε νενοσηκότες ἢ τὰ σώ ματα· πολλοὶ δὲ καὶ διὰ τὸ φεύγειν τὴν ἀδοξίαν, ἐπαισχυνόμενοι τὸ Χριστοῦ εὐγενῶς ὄνομα φέρειν, εἰς αἰσχύνην αἰώνιον καταπεπ τώκασιν. 29.8 ἀλλ' οἴεταί τις ἀναπαύεσθαι ὡς μὴ πειραζόμενος, ὅτε δεδό ξασται παρὰ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· καὶ πῶς οὐ χαλεπὸν τὸ «ἀπέχουσι τὸν μισθὸν» ἀπὸ «τῶν ἀνθρώπων,» ἀπαγγελλόμενον τοῖς ἐπαιρομένοις ὡς ἐπ' ἀγαθῷ τῇ παρὰ τοῖς πολλοῖς δόξῃ; πῶς δ' οὐκ ἐπιπληκτικὸν τὸ «πῶς δύνασθε ὑμεῖς πιστεῦσαι, δόξαν παρ' ἀλλήλων λαμβάνοντες, καὶ τὴν δόξαν τὴν παρὰ τοῦ μόνου θεοῦ οὐ ζητεῖτε;» καὶ τί με δεῖ καταλέγειν τὰ τῶν νομιζομένων εὐγενῶν ἐν ὑπερηφανίᾳ πταίσματα καὶ τῶν λεγομένων δυσγενῶν διὰ τὸ ἀνεπίστημον τὴν πρὸς τοὺς ὑπερέχειν νομιζομένους ὑπόπτωσιν θωπευτικὴν, ἀφιστᾶσαν θεοῦ τοὺς γνησίαν μὲν φιλίαν οὐκ ἔχοντας τὸ δὲ κάλλιστον τῶν ἐν ἀνθρώποις, τὴν ἀγάπην, ὑποκρινομένους; 29.9 πᾶς τοίνυν «ὁ βίος,» καθὼς προείρηται, τοῦ «ἀνθρώπου ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς» «ἐστι» «πειρατήριον»· διόπερ εὐχώμεθα 20ῥυσθῆναι20 πειρα τηρίου, οὐκ ἐν τῷ μὴ πειράζεσθαι (τοῦτο γὰρ ἀμήχανον, μάλιστα τοῖς «ἐπὶ γῆς») ἀλλὰ ἐν τῷ μὴ ἡττᾶσθαι πειραζομένους. τὸν δὲ ἡττώμενον ἐν τῷ πειράζεσθαι εἰσέρχεσθαι «εἰς» τὸν «0πειρασμὸν20,» ἐνεχόμενον τοῖς δικτύοις αὐτοῦ, ὑπολαμβάνω· εἰς ἅπερ δίκτυα διὰ τοὺς προκατειλημμένους ἐν αὐτοῖς εἰσελθὼν ὁ σωτὴρ, «ἐκκύπτων διὰ τῶν δικτύων» κατὰ τὸ ἐν τῷ Ἄισματι τῶν ᾀσμάτων εἰρημένον, «ἀποκρίνεται» τοῖς προκατειλημμένοις ὑπ' αὐτῶν καὶ εἰσελθοῦσιν «0εἰς» τὸν «πειρασμὸν20,» «καὶ λέγει» οὖσι νύμφῃ αὐτοῦ· «ἀνάστα, ἐλθὲ ἡ πλησίον μου, καλή μου, περιστερά μου.» προσθήσω δὲ εἰς τὸ πει ρασθῆναι