XVII.  Art thou young? stand against thy passions; be numbered with the alliance in the army of God:48    The Benedictine Editors punctuate differently, and render “Stand against passions with the assistance (of Baptism), be numbered in the army of God.” remarking that David fought Goliath without allies, leaning on God’s assistance; and that S. Gregory here certainly means that a Christian who relies on the aid of his Baptism is to stand firm in the battle against the Devil.  do valiantly against Goliath.49    1 Sam. xvii. 32.  Take your thousands or your myriads;50    Ib. xviii. 7. thus enjoy your manhood; but do not allow your youth to be withered, being killed by the imperfection of your faith.  Are you old and near the predestined necessity?  Aid your few remaining days.  Entrust the purification to your old age.  Why do you fear youthful passion in deep old age and at your last breath?  Or will you wait to be washed till you are dead, and not so much the object of pity as of dislike?  Are you regretting the dregs of pleasure, being yourself in the dregs of life?  It is a shameful thing to be past indeed the flower of your age, but not past your wickedness; but either to be involved in it still, or at least to seem so by delaying your purification.  Have you an infant child?  Do not let sin get any opportunity, but let him be sanctified from his childhood; from his very tenderest age let him be consecrated by the Spirit.  Fearest thou the Seal on account of the weakness of nature?  O what a small-souled mother, and of how little faith!  Why, Anna even before Samuel was born51    1 Sam. i. 10. promised him to God, and after his birth consecrated him at once, and brought him up in the priestly habit, not fearing anything in human nature, but trusting in God.  You have no need of amulets or incantations, with which the Devil also comes in, stealing worship from God for himself in the minds of vainer men.  Give your child the Trinity, that great and noble Guard.

ΙΖʹ. Νέος εἶ; Στῆθι κατὰ τῶν παθῶν μετὰ τῆς συμμαχίας, εἰς Θεοῦ παράταξιν ἀριθμήθητι, ἀρίστευσον κατὰ τοῦ Γολιὰθ, λάβε τὰς χιλιάδας, ἢ τὰς μυριάδας. Οὕτω τῆς ἡλικίας ἀπόλαυσον: ἀλλὰ μὴ ἀνάσχῃ μαρανθῆναί σου τὴν νεότητα, τῷ ἀτελεῖ τῆς πίστεως νεκρωθεῖσαν. Γηραιὸς εἶ, καὶ τῆς ἀναγκαίας ἐγγὺς προθεσμίας; τὴν πολιὰν αἰδέσθητι: δὸς ἣν ἀπαιτῇ φρόνησιν, ἀνθ' ἧς νῦν ἔχεις ἀσθενείας: ταῖς ὀλίγαις ἡμέραις βοήθησον: πίστευσον τῷ γήρᾳ τὴν κάθαρσιν. Τί φοβῇ τὰ νεότητος ἐν βαθεῖ γήρᾳ, καὶ ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἀναπνοαῖς; Ἢ καὶ σὺ μένεις, νεκρὸς λουθῆναι, οὐ μᾶλλον ἐλεούμενος, ἢ μισούμενος; Ἢ ποθεῖς τῶν ἡδονῶν τὰ λείψανα, βίου λείψανον ὤν; Αἰσχρὸν τὴν μὲν ἡλικίαν παρακμάσαι, μὴ παρακμάσαι δὲ τὴν ἀσέλγειαν: ἀλλ' ἢ πάσχειν τοῦτο, ἢ δοκεῖν, διαμέλλοντα πρὸς τὴν κάθαρσιν. Νήπιον ἔστι σοι; Μὴ λαβέτω καιρὸν ἡ κακία: ἐκ βρέφους ἁγιασθήτω, ἐξ ὀνύχων καθιερωθήτω τῷ Πνεύματι. Σὺ δέδοικας τὴν σφραγῖδα διὰ τὸ τῆς φύσεως ἀσθενές: ὡς μικρόψυχος ἡ μήτηρ, καὶ ὀλιγόπιστος! Ἡ Ἄννα δὲ, καὶ πρὶν ἢ γεννηθῆναι τὸν Σαμουὴλ, καθυπέσχετο τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ γεννηθέντα, ἱερὸν εὐθὺς ποιεῖ, καὶ τῇ ἱερατικῇ στολῇ συνανέτρεψεν, οὐ τὸ ἀνθρώπινον φοβηθεῖσα, τῷ δὲ Θεῷ πιστεύσασα. Οὐδὲν δεῖ σοι περιαμμάτων καὶ ἐπᾳσμάτων, οἷς ὁ πονηρὸς συνεισέρχεται, κλέπτων εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ τὸ σέβας, ἐν τοῖς κουφοτέροις. Δὸς αὐτῷ τὴν Τριάδα, τὸ μέγα καὶ καλὸν φυλακτήριον.