Homiliae spirituales 50 (collectio H)
of the wild beasts, and the bull of the tame animals, and man of the created things, so also are the more royal reasonings of the soul, I mean the wil
of a most foul odor, and worms crawl into the rotten flesh and there they feed and eat and make their dens but when the salt comes, the worms feeding
the evil one of darkness and there it is held fast, as Paul also says, calling it the body of sin and the body of death: that the body of sin might be
from the kingdom, and as one wounded, always cry out to the Lord and ask faithfully, so that you also may be deemed worthy of this true life. For just
Amen. HOMILY 2 1 The kingdom of darkness, the evil ruler, having taken man captive from the beginning, thus encircled and clothed the soul in the powe
of the night of darkness, of the devil, and being in night and darkness he is shaken by the terrible wind of sin blowing, and his whole nature is shak
day and night they are not able to persevere, but some of them devote themselves to prayer for six hours and wish to read, while others eagerly serve,
to carry off the rewards of victory against sin. But even if he is tested in these things, sin still lays man low, until he comes to a perfect man, to
a garment of a tunic because of his inattention and slackness and sloth. But if he does not pay attention well and straight ahead with his eye, he him
having been made nimble by that which is foreign to their own nature, having taken the oil in the vessels of their heart, that is, the grace of the Sp
in an image, their bodies happen to be subtle according to the subtlety of their nature. Just as in substance this body is dense, so also the soul, be
and to each of the holy prophets in one way to Elijah, in another to Moses. And I think that Moses, at every hour on the mountain during the forty da
to repent in truth, but he himself has great compassion for us, being long-suffering, for when, having turned, we might approach him and our inner man
worship and covenant. how many things they sinned, how often they turned aside, and He did not abandon them completely, but for a temporary time He ha
they greatly stumbled, having pursued after the people of God. Therefore also the divine justice utterly consumed and destroyed them and drowned them
more readily the redemption of healing? according to his word: how much more will the heavenly Father bring about justice for those who cry to him da
with earthly and worldly things, unstably taking captive and shaking and luring the whole sinful race of Adam, as the Lord foretold to the apostles th
and confusion and cowardice as all men have and in outward appearance and in the estimation of the world they differ and in certain external accompli
unmanliness and laxity of will, or cowardice, or through some earthly love. For those who truly wish to go through to the end in a good way of life ou
is any practice whatsoever of evil. Sometimes even seemingly good practices are performed for the sake of glory and the praise of men, which in the si
are snatched away, suppose for me that some house is set on fire, and one man, wishing to save himself, having perceived the conflagration, fled naked
of a love perfected by will towards the uprightness of the Lord? Thus also those who wish to become co-heirs of these things ought to love nothing apa
as the apostle also says, “through many tribulations we are able to enter into the kingdom of heaven,” and the Lord: in your patience possess your sou
bare trees, opening up the earth this one brings forth joy to all the animals this one shows cheerfulness to all this is the first month of the Chr
those who have fallen asleep from of old, according to the holy scriptures and he will set everyone into two parts, and those having his own sign, th
of thoughts, but to gather them when they are wandering from all directions, distinguishing the natural thoughts from the evil ones. For the soul, bei
the Christians receive in that age, are not created things (and those who say so speak wrongly), but the transformed Spirit reveals these things. What
that the power of God enters into him and takes possession of his members and his heart and captures the mind unto the love of God. When they seized P
being with man as one substance, but in many ways as it wishes it manages man for his benefit. Sometimes the fire is kindled more and burns, and at ot
Since I also have partially, at certain times, entered into that measure and I know, having learned, how man is not perfect. 20Question:20 Tell us, wh
having been brought up in royal enjoyment and luxury. And so afterwards, having been found approved by God and faithful through much long-suffering, s
to the heavenly goods of love from which love nothing in heaven or on earth or under the earth will be able to separate them, as the apostle Paul tes
we are occupied, may the mind not be separated from love and seeking and longing for the Lord, so that by striving with such a mind and traveling the
is disposed to labor for the virtues and even if she should be deemed worthy to receive diverse gifts of the spirit or even revelations and heavenly
the fire likewise made an idol of the vessels cast into it, and so in what was seen they committed idolatry. As therefore the three youths, reckoning
but in the law Moses was called the savior of Israel for he led them out of Egypt. So also now the true redeemer Christ passes into the secret places
For in the dead body is life here is the redemption, here is the light, here the Lord comes to death and speaks with it and commands it to cast out t
of the gulf of that water, may plunge down there and bring up the one who was sunk and is among wild beasts and the water itself, whenever it sees so
the Lord is nearer to come and open the closed doors of the heart and to grant us heavenly wealth. For he is good and loves mankind, and his promises
in caves, in the holes of the earth. Likewise also the apostles say, “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are reviled, a
Still in the testimonies they say: you burn me, you burn me. Did they not then know the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? The transgression of A
the world is divided into parts, and there becomes one dark flock which goes into everlasting fire, and one full of light which is brought up to the h
has chosen.” But after a time, those things which Martha eagerly did in her service brought her to that gift for she also received a divine power in
likened to their father), so also Christ the true master himself created all things and nourishes the evil and the ungrateful, but the children, whom
they make alive what is commanded. Just as there is light entering through a window, but the sun sends its rays over the whole inhabited world, so the
a bride, the heavenly bridegroom Christ to his own mystical and divine communion, and she may taste of heavenly riches, with much eagerness she ought
should he enter the palace to serve, he receives the vessels for service from the king's possessions, but he himself enters naked and in the king's ve
For the God-fearing are masters of all things. But again, those lax in faith and sinners are slaves of all things, and fire burns them and stone and s
a soldier and he puts away his armor into someone's house, whenever he wishes he has authority to go in and out of that house, so also sin has authori
and they have no danger in this respect, because they are unassailable and are secure concerning their own salvation, because of having been trained o
of thoughts is sin. But all who deny this are convicted and mocked by sin itself, which does not want to be triumphed over for evil strives to be hid
they are held by wickedness. Therefore you ought to seek a lamp that it may be lit, and you may find pure thoughts for these are the natural ones, wh
but to flee as from fire. In the visible world, if a very small nation should rise up against the king for war, he himself does not weary himself with
the mind as governor, the conscience convicting, thoughts accusing and defending for it says: their thoughts among themselves accusing or even defend
he entrusted this treasure, for I am poor, and when he wishes, he takes it from me. But if someone says: I am rich, it is enough, I have acquired it,
he learns the letters, and when he becomes first there, he goes to the school of Latin and is the last of all. Again when he becomes first there, he g
and if it happens that that house has some impurity, it is put in order and much adornment is done and perfumes are poured out, how much more does the
having in the mind itself also its illumination, they know from where these things are moved. For the world suffers the passion of evil and does not k
thorny for God said to man: “thorns and thistles the earth shall bring forth to you.” Therefore, there is need of much toil and labor, that one might
it has seized. And so when a person is in the depths and is rich in grace, there is still a remnant of wickedness with him he has the helper assistin
beauty. For those who want to make vessels and to weave in figures of animals first model them in wax, and thus they pour in the likeness of that, so
him for the robbers are coming. Just as if someone, having fallen into many public services and financial losses, escapes with much labor and after t
HOMILY 17. 1 The perfect Christians who have been deemed worthy to come to the measures of perfection and to become very near to the king, these are a
of Christ and is with the Lord night and day, in the same way that the body of the Lord, having been joined to the Godhead, is always with the Holy Sp
Some however were sufficient for themselves, while others, receiving from worldly people, gave to the poor and this is more worthy. For those who hav
being unrestrained and insatiable and greedily seeking and eating. Or just as if someone is thirsty and is given a sweet drink, then having begun to t
from God, and having found and possessing the heavenly treasure of the Spirit, the Lord Himself shining in their hearts, they accomplish all righteous
souls of those hearing the spiritual word, and they do not fear that they will be in need because they possess within themselves a heavenly treasure
he takes the heavenly weapons of the spirit and descends upon the enemies and wars and subjugates them under his feet. At other times the soul rests i
Then one must compel himself to every good thing and to all the commandments of the Lord, because of the sin that is with him. For example, let him co
faith and trust towards God, since he has not known himself, he has not tested not having, and has labored in affliction seeking from the Lord to have
he never falls. For from where can he fall, being underneath all things? Great humiliation is high-mindedness, and great exaltation and honor and dign
righteousness (which is the Lord, “who,” it says, “became for us righteousness and redemption”), he labors in vain and to no purpose. For all the conc
sent forth the voice of angels (for he was saying: Son of David, have mercy on me), and thus by believing he received healing, when the Lord came to h
of wickedness, and another contest lies ahead. And thus by remaining and calling upon the Lord in unwavering faith and much patience, and awaiting the
for whom now there are abiding angels and holy spirits surrounding and guarding them, and when they depart from the body, the choirs of angels receive
HOMILY 24. 1 Christians are like merchants trading for the greatest profits. For just as those gather earthly profits from the earth, so these, throug
nature of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, unless the heavenly leaven of the Spirit and the good holy salt of the Godhead from that age and from that count
to a man, having cleansed himself and been strengthened by the one who said to the apostles: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpent
«partakers of the divine nature». We have not yet become a genuine royal purple nor an unadulterated divine image. We have not yet been wounded by div
thorns and stubble. “For our God is a consuming fire,” giving “vengeance on those who do not know him in a flame of fire and on those who do not obey
silver both tarnishes and is destroyed and if the human mind knows how to measure out burdens for the beast of burden and for the camel or for any ot
despair, evil thoughts, afflicting the soul, that he may make it lax and alienate it from the hope of God. But the prudent soul, being in evils and in
scatters expenses likewise also the one building a house and the one farming first scatters many things of his own for the hope of future income, so
trains him for the wars, and the two persons spring forth from within, both the light and the darkness, and the rest and the affliction. they pray in
But it is written, that when the farmer sees the “branch bearing fruit,” he cleans it, so that it may bring forth more but the one not bearing fruit
to depart, then only is it able to be without affliction and temptations for there there is no longer care or affliction or labor or old age or satan
HOMILY 27. 1 Know your nobility, O man, and your dignity, how honorable you are, a brother of Christ, a friend of the king, a bride of the heavenly br
in the heavenly church. And He is the firstborn from the dead, and they also are firstborn. But although they are such, chosen and approved by God,
is Satan shown to be much weaker? For where there is day, how can there be night? 20Answer:20 not that grace is extinguished or is weak, but so that y
and to give and to carry away the prizes of victory. So also in spiritual matters, it is one thing to recount words with some knowledge and intellect,
he was driving out, but he also healed those who were bound hand and foot and had terrible afflictions through the laying on of his hands. Then, becom
part, there would no longer be contests or seasons of wars or a race, but without toil, if he only heard, he would have come to rest and the perfect m
ages. Amen. HOMILY 28. 1 Just as God, once angered with the Jews, delivered Jerusalem openly to its enemies, and those who hated them ruled over them,
they are still in sin, having the same activity of pleasures, subject to the same punishment, not yet having eyes that see the Father. For each one ou
gifts immediately upon approaching with faith and asking without toils and sweats and labors, but there are times when, while they are still in the w
resting and being bound willingly, but always speaking against material reasonings, expect only the help and assistance of God, whereupon to souls und
ages. Amen. HOMILY 50. 1 Those who hear the word ought to show the work of the word in their own souls for the word of God is not an idle word, but h
Let not its master impress the image from his own light. Therefore we must gaze upon him, believing and loving him, having cast aside all things and a
of an evil power. Therefore he put on darkness in his own soul, a bitter and evil darkness for he was ruled by the prince of darkness. This was the o
when he comes in truth he might gather it. But since the future is uncertain, let it hope yet more in the pilot, hoping well, and let it remember how
a soul, where it also eats, either from this age or from the spirit of God. And God is nourished there and lives and rests and abides. Henceforth, if
from now on Christians receive an invisible and heavenly gift and garment. Just as sheep or camels, finding grass, approach their food eagerly and qui
should remain behind and not receive the mixture and communion of the heavenly nature, it has been corrected in nothing, but has remained naked and bl
in secret. But for a time He allows you to be disciplined, and grace directs you even into tribulations. And when you come into rest, it reveals itsel
of impurity and disorder there sirens and demons dwell, according to the prophet for in the desolate house are cats and dogs and every impurity. W
while resting one will give heed to the other, and in giving heed they will immediately shine forth again into truth, into a true vision of ineffable
a true, delightful, holy sabbath and they celebrate a festival of the spirit, of joy and inexpressible gladness and they offer a worship pure and we
preferring what is dear to God and the good of the Spirit above all things, not in word only or bare knowledge, but in word and deed through the thing
of God. But lest someone say that the Spirit was given to them as apostles, but to us it is by nature unattainable, elsewhere praying he says: that G
But when the will is not present, not even God himself does anything, although he is able, on account of free will. The completion of God's work there
an advocate within and has brought up into His kingdom. Therefore let us also reign with Him in Jerusalem, His city, in the heavenly church, in the ch
to attain, which is Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. HOMILY 40. 1 Concerning visible asceticism and what practice happens to be greater and fir
will conquer the one who opposes), thus there is in the heart of those who struggle a theater of evil spirits wrestling with the soul, and of God and
Let us compare the soul and sin mixed together, just as when there is a very large tree, having many branches, and it has its roots in the deepest par
to those who approach, whether good or evil, they prove to be kind, as the Lord says: Be kind as your heavenly Father is. For that which harms and d
are able to withstand the power of the fire, but are immediately burned up, so also the demons, wishing to war against a man deemed worthy of the spir
they have desolated the soul. Just as the eye is small in comparison to all the members, and the pupil itself, being small, is a great vessel, for it
laid waste by the passions through the transgression, having mixed it with His own Spirit of divinity. He came to make a new mind and a new soul, new
He seeks blameless and pure souls. For, he says, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. For the soul that truly believes in Christ mus
of God? just as if a tyrant, having seized some captives, leads them away, and then is overtaken by the true king, so also Paul, because he was acted
and images of men, in those things they have been eager to display their own virtue others have undertaken to make likenesses of statues and of certa
to have a den, and from there to have life. He created also two worlds the one above for the ministering spirits, and He ordained that they have thei
bound by earthly bonds, so also he who is possessed by a carnal disposition that is, being a man of the world, if he should wish to hear the word of
Therefore, the soul of the sinner is so light and swift-winged that his mind is not hindered from distant places, much more the soul from which the ve
To them a law was given written on tablets of stone, but to us spiritual laws are inscribed on tablets of fleshly hearts for he says: giving my laws
of the Egyptians. But first it cries and groans, and then it receives the beginning of redemption, and this in the month of new blossoms, being rede
destruction, he dared to pursue for having yoked his chariots with haste and with all his people, he hurried to destroy them. And when he was about t
of the bondage of Pharaoh and having established his own throne and house and temple and a pure bride, and having brought it into a kingdom of eternal
to hope that the Lord is in all things the provider for those who flee to him for refuge. But for the most part, they are the gifts of the eternal and
and he prepared medicines, and the practices of physicians for the passions of the body, having ordained that the body, which is from the earth, shoul
“Let the dead bury their own dead ” for “the dead will not praise you, Lord, but we who live will bless you.” For just as the sun, having risen upon t
I think that the ruler of heaven himself sat within his mind, and through his tongue the word of God prevented rain from coming down upon the earth. A
of grace and peace. And again, he who is helped by the Lord and finds himself in spiritual gladness and heavenly gifts, if he thinks that he is no lon
Let us compare the soul and sin mixed together, just as when there is a very large tree, having many branches, and it has its roots in the deepest parts of the earth, so the sin that has entered, having taken hold of the pastures of the deepest storehouses of the soul, has become a habit and a preoccupation, growing up together with each person from infancy and being nurtured together and teaching evil things. When, therefore, an energy of divine grace overshadows the soul according to the measure of each one's faith, and it receives help from above, grace has still only overshadowed it in some part; let no one then think that the whole soul has been enlightened. There is still a great pasture of wickedness within, and there is need of much pain and labor for the person who is in harmony with the grace towards him. For on this account also divine grace began to visit the soul in part, although it is able in the turn of an hour to purify and perfect the person, but it is in order to test the person's free will, if he preserves his love for God whole, not associating with the evil one in anything, but giving himself wholly over to grace; and so the soul, being well-pleasing in times and seasons and grieving or insulting grace in nothing, is helped little by little. And grace itself also takes pasture in the soul and is rooted down to its deepest parts and thoughts, while over many seasons the soul is well-pleasing and in harmony with grace, until the whole soul is encompassed by heavenly grace, which then reigns in that very vessel. But if anyone is not in great humility, this one is delivered to satan and is stripped of the divine grace that had come to him and is tempted in many afflictions, and then his conceit is revealed, that he is naked and wretched. Therefore, the one who is rich in the grace of God ought to exist in great humility and contrition of heart, and to consider himself as poor and having nothing; for it is another's, and another gave it to him, and when He wills, He takes it away. The one who so humbles himself before God and men is able to preserve the grace that has come to him, as the Lord says: He who humbles himself will be exalted. Although he is an elect of God, let him be rejected in his own eyes, and being faithful, let him consider himself as unworthy. For such souls are well-pleasing to God and are made alive in Christ, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. 42 {1HOMILY 42}1 Just as if there is a great city, but it is desolate with its walls thrown down, and is taken by enemies, its greatness is of no benefit; it must therefore be sought in proportion to its size, that it may also have strong walls so that the enemies may not enter, so also are souls adorned with knowledge and understanding and the sharpest mind like great cities. But it must be investigated whether they are fortified by the power of the spirit, lest the enemies enter and lay them waste. For the wise men of the world, Aristotle or Plato or Isocrates, being prudent in knowledge, were like great cities, but they were desolate by enemies because the spirit of God was not in them. But as many as are simple people, partakers of grace, are like small cities fortified by the power of Christ; but falling away from grace they are destroyed by two things, either because they do not endure the afflictions brought upon them or because having delighted in the pleasures of sin they remained behind. For those who travel cannot pass through without temptations. And just as in childbirth the beggar-woman and the queen have the same pains; similarly also the land of the rich and of the poor, if it does not receive the necessary cultivation, cannot bring forth worthy fruits, so also in the cultivation of the soul neither a wise man, nor a rich man reigns in grace, unless it is through patience and afflictions and many labors; for the Christian life ought to be such. Just as honey, being sweet, does not admit of partaking in anything bitter or venomous, so they themselves to all
παρεικάσωμεν τὴν ψυχὴν καὶ τὴν ἁμαρτίαν μιγεῖσαν, ὥσπερ ὅταν ᾖ δένδρον μέγιστον, ἔχον πολλοὺς κλῶνας, ἔχῃ δὲ καὶ τὰς ῥίζας
ἐν τοῖς βαθυτάτοις τῆς γῆς, οὕτω τὰς νομὰς τῶν βαθυτάτων τῆς ψυχῆς ταμιείων ἡ παρεισελθοῦσα ἁμαρτία κατασχοῦσα, ἐν συνηθείᾳ
γέγονε καὶ προλήψει, ἑκάστῳ νηπιόθεν συναυξανομένη καὶ συνανατρεφομένη καὶ τὰ κακὰ ἐκδιδάσκουσα. Ἐπὰν τοίνυν χάριτος θείας
ἐνέργεια ἐπισκιάσῃ τῇ ψυχῇ κατὰ τὸ μέτρον τῆς ἑκάστου πίστεως, καὶ δέξηται ἄνωθεν βοήθειαν, ἀκμὴν ἐν μέρει τινὶ ἐπεσκίασεν
ἡ χάρις, μὴ νομίσῃ οὖν τις ὅλην τὴν ψυχὴν πεφωτίσθαι. ἀκμὴν πολλὴ νομὴ τῆς κακίας ἔνδον ἐστί, καὶ πολλοῦ πόνου χρεία καὶ καμάτου
τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ συμφωνοῦντος τῇ πρὸς αὐτὸν χάριτι. διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ἀπὸ μέρους ἤρξατο ἡ θεία χάρις ἐπιφοιτᾶν τῇ ψυχῇ, δυναμένη
ῥοπῇ ὥρας τὸν ἄνθρωπον καθαρίσασα τελειῶσαι, ἀλλ' ἵνα δοκιμάσῃ τὴν προαίρεσιν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, εἰ τὴν ἀγάπην πρὸς θεὸν ὁλόκληρον
ἀποσῴζει, μὴ συνδυάζων τῷ πονηρῷ ἐν μηδενί, ἀλλ' ὅλον τῇ χάριτι ἑαυτὸν ἐκδιδούς· καὶ οὕτως εὐδοκιμοῦσα ἡ ψυχὴ χρόνοις καὶ
καιροῖς καὶ τὴν χάριν ἐν μηδενὶ λυποῦσα μήτε ἐνυβρίζουσα ἐκ τοῦ κατ' ὀλίγον βοηθεῖται. καὶ αὐτὴ δὲ ἡ χάρις νομὴν λαμβάνει
ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ ἕως τῶν βαθυτάτων αὐτῆς μερῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν ἐρριζοῦται, ἐν καιροῖς πλείοσιν εὐδοκιμούσης καὶ συμφωνούσης
τῆς ψυχῆς τῇ χάριτι, ἕως οὗ ὅλη ἡ ψυχὴ περιληφθῇ ὑπὸ τῆς ἐπουρανίου χάριτος, λοιπὸν βασιλευούσης ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ σκεύει. Ἐὰν δέ
τις μὴ ᾖ ἐν ταπεινοφροσύνῃ πολλῇ, παραδίδοται οὗτος τῷ σατανᾷ καὶ ἀπογυμνοῦται τῆς πρὸς αὐτὸν γενομένης θείας χάριτος καὶ
πειράζεται ἐν θλίψεσι πολλαῖς, καὶ τότε φανεροῦται αὐτοῦ ἡ οἴησις, ὅτι γυμνὸς καὶ ταλαίπωρος ὑπάρχει. ὀφείλει οὖν ὁ πλουτῶν
τῇ χάριτι τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν πολλῇ ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ συντριμμῷ καρδίας ὑπάρχειν, καὶ ὡς πτωχὸν καὶ μηδὲν ἔχοντα ἑαυτὸν ἡγεῖσθαι·
ἀλλότριον γὰρ αὐτοῦ ἐστι, καὶ ἄλλος ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ὅτε βούλεται αἴρει αὐτό. ὁ οὕτως ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ἐπὶ θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων
δύναται διαφυλάξαι τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν γενομένην χάριν, καθὼς ὁ κύριός φησιν· ὁ ταπεινῶν ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται. καίπερ ὢν ἐκλεκτὸς
θεοῦ, παρ' ἑαυτῷ ἀποδεδοκιμασμένος ἤτω, καὶ ὢν πιστὸς ὡς ἀνάξιον ἑαυτὸν ἡγείσθω. τοιαῦται γὰρ ψυχαὶ εὐαρεστοῦσι θεῷ καὶ ζωοποιοῦνται
ἐν Χριστῷ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν. 42 {1ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΜΒ.}1 Ὥσπερ ἐὰν ᾖ πόλις μεγάλη, ἔρημος δὲ
ᾖ τῶν τειχέων διαλελυμένων, καὶ ὑπὸ ἐχθρῶν ληφθῇ, οὐδὲν τῆς μεγαλειότητος ὄφελος· ζητητέον οὖν κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος, ἵνα ἔχῃ καὶ
τείχη ὀχυρὰ πρὸς τὸ μὴ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς εἰσιέναι, οὕτω δὴ καὶ ψυχαὶ αἱ κεκοσμημέναι γνώσει καὶ συνέσει καὶ νῷ ὀξυτάτῳ ὡς πόλεις
εἰσὶ μεγάλαι. ἀλλὰ ζητητέον εἰ ὠχύρωνται τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ πνεύματος, μήποτε οἱ ἐχθροὶ εἰσελθόντες ἐρημώσωσιν αὐτάς. οἱ γὰρ σοφοὶ
τοῦ κόσμου Ἀριστοτέλης ἢ Πλάτων ἢ Ἰσοκράτης, φρόνιμοι ὄντες ἐν γνώσει, ὥσπερ πόλεις μεγάλαι ἐτύγχανον, ἀλλ' ἔρημοι ἦσαν ὑπὸ
ἐχθρῶν διὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἐν αὐτοῖς. Ὅσοι δέ εἰσιν ἰδιῶται, μέτοχοι τῆς χάριτος, ὥσπερ πόλεις μικραί εἰσιν ὠχυρωμέναι
τῇ δυνάμει τοῦ Χριστοῦ· ἐκπίπτουσαι δὲ τῆς χάριτος ἀπὸ δύο πραγμάτων ἀπόλλυνται, ἢ ὅτι τὰς ἐπιφερομένας θλίψεις οὐχ ὑπομένουσιν
ἢ ὅτι εἰς τὰς ἡδονὰς τῆς ἁμαρτίας ἐνηδυνθεῖσαι ἀπέμειναν. οὐ δύνανται γὰρ οἱ διοδεύοντες ἄνευ πειρασμῶν διελθεῖν. ὥσπερ δὲ
ἐν τῷ τοκετῷ ἡ προσαῖτις καὶ ἡ βασιλὶς τὰς αὐτὰς ὠδῖνας ἔχουσιν· ὁμοίως καὶ ἡ γῆ τοῦ πλουσίου καὶ τοῦ πένητος, εἰ μὴ τὴν δέουσαν
ἐργασίαν λάβῃ, οὐ δύναται καρποὺς ἀξίους ἐνεγκεῖν, οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐργασίᾳ τῆς ψυχῆς οὐ σοφός, οὐ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ χάριτι βασιλεύει,
εἰ μὴ δι' ὑπομονῆς καὶ θλίψεων καὶ καμάτων πολλῶν· ὁ γὰρ Χριστιανῶν βίος ὀφείλει τοιοῦτος εἶναι. Ὥσπερ τὸ μέλι γλυκὺ τυγχάνον,
οὐδὲν ἐπιδέχεται τῶν πικρῶν ἢ τῶν ἰοβόλων μεταλαβεῖν, οὕτως αὐτοὶ πᾶσι τοῖς
