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reflecting and saying to yourself: "Who am I, the lowly and unworthy one, that I have become a fellow-sitter and table-companion with these saints?" and thus saying these things in yourself, consider yourself a sinner only from the soul, and just as some poor man and one dressed in rags, if he finds himself in the midst of rulers and rich men clothed in splendid and costly robes, is ashamed and shrinks back and does not dare even to approach or draw near to any of them, so you too should be disposed toward them all, always choosing the last place and being ashamed to be seen sitting above any of them (334), as if they were all rich in virtues, while you are poor and naked and unworthy even to be with them and look at them at all. But when you are about to touch the food, again consider these things, remembering your sins, and say to yourself: "Will it not truly be for my judgment and condemnation, if I touch any of the things set before me? For God, who made these things and provided them to us for food, Him I have disobeyed from childhood and have not kept His holy commandments; and how shall I, being unworthy and condemned, partake of His good things, as these holy fathers do? With what face, being out of the sight of my Master, shall I, the wicked and ungrateful and unthankful servant, before I repent and completely receive forgiveness from the philanthropic God, like those who have not sinned or who, though having sinned, have repented and received forgiveness from there, also eat and drink myself and rejoice with the saints? By no means! But only that I may live will I both eat and drink, and I will waste away and grieve and condemn myself, so that God, looking down from above and seeing my distress and my voluntary affliction, may have mercy and forgive me my many evils." Reflect on these things, therefore, remember these things continually!

In addition to these things, establish a rule to eat only so much bread that you are not satiated, but much less than your need and as much as you can bear; likewise also to drink one or two cups, and these at one appointed hour of the day. And while you are eating (335) do not obey the thought that suggests to you to choose something of what is set before you and partake of that; but take care not to eat anything that appeared good to you, but eat only the things lying in front of you; but even from these, if there should happen to be fruit or some other edibles and one of them seems pleasing to you and the thought says to you: "That one is good, take it and eat it," be zealous not to be defeated nor to touch it. For Adam was cast out of paradise for no other reason than that the fruit of the plant appeared beautiful and good for food, and he ate of it; and for this reason he was rejected and cast out and condemned to death and corruption. Therefore, those who wish to return to that paradise—or rather, to the kingdom of heaven—ought to keep self-control without any transgression, even to this extent, so that they may not, little by little, fall into greater and harmful desires. If the brothers sitting with you urge you to eat or drink anything extra, answer nothing else to anyone, but, folding your hands and rising a little and bowing your head, say in a gentle voice: "Forgive me," and in all things always answer thus, and neither offer anyone anything from your leftovers, nor take anything from anyone. If you do not drink wine, do not seek to receive it at all, nor give it to any other of the brothers, unless perhaps he is a visitor and has come to you for some need. Never agree to have a morning meal with anyone, nor to eat or drink in the evening, nor ever to have a late supper; for all evils are born from these things, and these are the ambushes of the devil and his snares, which are seen as good, (336) but have the venom of death hidden in them, which he who trusts