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into the kingdom of God. The soul must rule over the passions, but be a slave to God. For it is impossible for it to be ruled both by sin and by God; but it must overcome evil, and be subject to the Master of all. It is impossible for us to become receptive of divine grace, without having driven out the passions from evil that have pre-occupied our souls; but also a vessel preoccupied by some stench, if it is not washed out, will not receive the flow of myrrh. It is impossible to touch the good, without first departing and turning away from evil. Just as it is impossible to step over one's own shadow, even for one hastening greatly (for it always precedes by as much as it is overtaken); or for sight to approach visible things, without the intervening light and air; or for a swimming nature to glide outside the waters; so it is impossible for those in the body to be entirely with intelligible things without the bodily things. It is impossible for love for the world to coexist with love for God, just as it is impossible for light and darkness to coexist with one another.

TITLE 31. -Concerning saints, and those who are blessed for what they do, and for whom.

You will be in awe of the saints. Blessed are you, Israel. Who is like you; a people saved by the Lord. Blessed is the man whom the Lord has reproved. Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners. God is wonderful in His saints. Blessed are all they that dwell in your house, they will praise you for ever and ever. Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord, and you will teach him out of your law. Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do righteousness at all times. Blessed is the man that fears the Lord, he will delight greatly in His commandments. 95.1236 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search. Blessed is he whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Counsel of saints, understanding. Blessed is the man who has found wisdom. For she is more precious than costly stones. The hand of the chosen shall take hold easily. The perfection of the pious will guide them. He that has mercy on the poor is to be blessed. He that touches you is as he that touches the apple of my eye. Blessed are all they that abide in him. Blessed is he that keeps his hands from doing any unrighteousness. And the soul of the saints shall be like a fruitful tree. We are blessed, O Israel, for the things that are pleasing to God are known to you. Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth. Blessed is he whose soul has not condemned him. Nine thoughts I have blessed in my heart, and the tenth I will speak with my tongue. A man rejoicing in his children, living and looking upon the fall of his enemies. Blessed is he that lives with a sensible wife, and he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served one unworthy of himself. Blessed is he who has found prudence, and who is guided into the ears of those who listen. How great is he that has found wisdom! But he is not above him that fears the Lord. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd lifted up her voice, and said to him: 95.1237 Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which you have sucked. But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and

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εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. ∆εῖ τὴν ψυχὴν ἄρχειν μὲν τῶν παθῶν, δουλεύειν δὲ τῷ Θεῷ. Ἀμήχανον γὰρ αὐτὴν, καὶ ὑπὸ τῆς ἁμαρτίας βασιλεύεσθαι, καὶ ὑπὸ Θεοῦ· ἀλλὰ δεῖ κακίας μὲν ἐπικρατεῖν, τῷ ∆εσπότῃ δὲ τῶν ὅλων ὑποτετάχθαι. Ἀμήχανόν ἐστι χωρητικοὺς ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι τῆς θείας χάριτος, μὴ τὰ ἀπὸ κακίας πάθη προκατασχόντα τὰς ψυχὰς ἡμῶν ἐξελάσαντας· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀγγεῖον προκατειλημμένον ὑπό τινος δυσωδίας, εἰ μὴ ἐκπλυσθῇ, οὐ μὴ δέξηται τοῦ μύρου τὴν ἐπιῤῥοήν. Ἀμήχανον ἅψασθαι τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ, μὴ ἀποστάντα πρότερον, καὶ ἐκνεύσαντα τοῦ κακοῦ. Ὥσπερ ἀδύνατον ὑπερβῆναι τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σκιὰν, καὶ τῷ λίαν ἐπειγομένῳ (φθάνει γὰρ ἀεὶ τοσοῦτον, ὅσον καταλαμβάνεται)· ἢ τοῖς ὁρατοῖς πλησιάσαι τὴν ὄψιν, δίχα τοῦ ἐν μέσῳ φωτὸς, καὶ ἀέρος· ἢ τῶν ὑδάτων ἔξω τὴν νηκτὴν φύσιν διολισθαίνειν· οὕτως ἀμήχανον τοῖς ἐν σώματι δίχα τῶν σωματικῶν πάντη γενέσθαι μετὰ τῶν νοουμένων. Ἀμήχανον συνυπάρχειν τὴν πρὸς κόσμον ἀγάπην τῇ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ἀγάπῃ, ὡς ἀμήχανον συνυπάρχειν ἀλλήλοις φῶς καὶ σκότος.

ΤΙΤΛ. ΛΑʹ. -Περὶ ἁγίων, καὶ μακαριζομένων ἐφ' οἷς δρῶσι, καὶ ὑπὲρ ὧν.

Ἀπὸ τῶν ἁγίων φοβηθήσεσθε. Μακάριος σὺ Ἰσραήλ. Τίς ὅμοιός σοι· λαὸς σωζόμενος ὑπὸ Κυρίου. Μακάριος ἄνθρωπος, ὃν ἤλεγξε Κύριος. Μακάριος ἀνὴρ, ὃς οὐκ ἐπορεύθη ἐν βουλῇ ἀσεβῶν, καὶ ἐν ὁδῷ ἁμαρτωλῶν οὐκ ἔστη. Θαυμαστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ. Μακάριοι πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας αἰνέσουσί σε. Μακάριος ὁ ἄνθρωπος, ὃν ἂν παιδεύσῃς, Κύριε, καὶ ἐκτοῦ νόμου σου διδάξεις αὐτόν. Μακάριοι οἱ φυλάσσοντες κρίσιν, καὶ ποιοῦντες δικαιοσύνην ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ. Μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὁ φοβούμενος τὸν Κύριον, ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ θελήσει σφόδρα. 95.1236 Μακάριοι ἄμωμοι ἐν ὁδῷ, οἱ πορευόμενοι ἐν νόμῳ Κυρίου. Μακάριοι οἱ ἐξερευνῶντες. Μακάριος, οὗ ὁ Θεὸς Ἰακὼβ βοηθὸς αὐτοῦ, ἡ ἐλπὶς αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν αὐτοῦ. Βουλὴ ἁγίων, σύνεσις. Μακάριος ἀνὴρ, ὃς εὗρε σοφίαν. Τιμιωτέρα γάρ ἐστι λίθων πολυτελῶν. Χεὶρ ἐκλεκτῶν κρατήσει εὐχερῶς. Τελειότητος ὁσίων ὁδηγήσει αὐτούς Ὁ ἐλεῶν πτωχοὺς, μακαριστός. Ὁ ἁπτόμενος ὑμῶν, ὡς ἁπτόμενος τῆς κόρης τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ μου. Μακάριοι πάντες οἱ ἐμμένοντες ἐν αὐτῷ. Μακάριος ὁ διατηρῶν τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ ποιεῖν ἄδικα. Καὶ ἔσται ἡ ψυχὴ τῶν ἁγίων ὥσπερ ξύλον ἔγκαρπον. Μακάριοί ἐσμεν, Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι τὰ ἀρεστὰ τῷ Θεῶ ὑμῖν γνῶστά ἐστιν. Μακάριος ἀνὴρ, ὃς οὐκ ὠλίσθησεν ἐν στόματι αὐτοῦ. Μακάριος ᾧ οὐ κατέγνω ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ. Ἐννέα ὑπονοήματα ἐμακάρισα ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, καὶ τὸ δέκατον ἐρῶ ἐπὶ γλώσσης. Ἄνθρωπος εὐφραινόμενος ἐπὶ τέκνοις, ζῶν καὶ βλέπων ἐπὶ πτῶσιν ἐχθρῶν. Μακάριος ὁ συνὼν γυναικὶ συνετῇ, καὶ ὃς ἐν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ὠλίσθησεν, καὶ ὃς οὐκ ἐδούλευσεν ἀναξίῳ ἑαυτοῦ. Μακάριος ὃς εὗρε φρόνησιν, καὶ ὁδηγούμενος εἰς ὦτα ἀκουόντων. Ὡς μέγας ὁ εὑρὼν σοφίαν! ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπὲρ τὸν φοβούμενον τὸν Κύριον. Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν. Μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται. Μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες, καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται. Μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες. ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται. Μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν Θεὸν ὄψονται. Μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοὶ ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ Θεοῦ κληθήσονται. Μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. Μακάριοί ἐστε, ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς, καὶ διώξωσι, καὶ εἴπωσι πᾶν πονηρὸν ῥῆμα καθ' ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι, ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ. Χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς. Μακάριοι οἱ μὴ εἰδότες, καὶ πιστεύσαντες. Ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ λέγειν αὐτὸν ταῦτα ἐπάρασά τις γυνὴ φωνὴν ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου, εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Μα 95.1237 καρία ἡ κοιλία ἡ βαστάσασά σε, καὶ μαστοὶ οὓς ἐθήλασας. Αὐτὸς δὲ εἶπεν· Μενοῦνγε μακάριοι οἱ ἀκούοντες τὸν λόγον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ