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they silence the Manicheans, and the followers of Valentinus, and all those who suffer from their sickness. For He is not wicked, who has set His own things before all, even those who blaspheme Him. Then the request: Fill our 58.547 hearts with joy and gladness. What sort of joy does it mean? Not that of this life? May it not be; for if they wanted this, they would not have taken to the mountaintops and deserts, and put on sackcloth; but they mean that joy, which has nothing in common with the present life, the joy of the angels, the joy from above. And they do not simply ask for it, but with great abundance; for they do not say, Give, but, Fill; and they do not say, Us, but, Our hearts. For this is especially the joy of the heart; For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. For since sin introduced sorrow, they ask that through joy righteousness might be implanted in them; for joy could not exist otherwise. For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. For since sin introduced sorrow, they ask that through joy righteousness might be implanted in them; for joy could not exist otherwise. That having all sufficiency at all times, we may abound in every good work. See how they fulfill that evangelical saying, which says: Give us this day our daily bread; and that they seek this very thing for spiritual reasons. For that we may abound, it says, in every good work. They did not say, That we might do only what is required, but that we might do even more than is commanded; for this is what it means, That we may abound. And from God they seek sufficiency in necessary things; but they themselves wish to obey not with sufficiency only, but with great abundance, and in all things. This is characteristic of grateful servants, this of philosophic men, to always and in all things abound. Then again, reminding themselves of their own weakness, and that nothing noble can be done without the impulse from above, after saying, That we may abound in every good work, they add: In Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to you be glory, honor, and power for ever and ever. Amen; weaving the end to be like the beginning through thanksgiving. 2. Then again they seem to begin from a prelude, but they hold to the same discourse. Just as Paul also in the prelude of an Epistle, having concluded with a doxology, and said, According to the will of God and our Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen; begins again the subject about which he was writing. And again elsewhere, having said: They worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen; he did not complete the discourse, but begins again. Therefore, let us not find fault with these angels either, as if they act disorderly, who, having concluded with a doxology, again begin the sacred hymns. For they follow apostolic laws, beginning from a doxology and ending in it, and after this ending beginning a prelude again. Therefore they say: Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you, O Holy One, glory to you, O King, that you have given us food for gladness. For one must give thanks not only for great things, but also for small ones. And they give thanks for these things, putting to shame the heresy of the Manicheans, and all who say the present life is evil. For lest, because of their extreme philosophy and their contempt for the belly, you should suspect them of abominating food, as in the case of those who hang themselves, they teach you through the prayer that it is not from abominating the creatures of God that they abstain from most 58.548 things, but from practicing philosophy. And see how from the thanksgiving for things already given, they also entreat for greater things, and they do not remain with earthly things, but ascend above the heavens, and say: Fill us with the Holy Spirit. For it is not possible to be well-pleasing as one ought, without being filled with that grace; just as it is not possible to do anything noble or great, without enjoying the impulse of Christ. Therefore, just as after saying, That we may abound in every good work, they added, In Christ Jesus; so also here