The Same, from the Chapters on Sobriety

The Same, from the Chapters on Sobriety

The same, from the chapters on sobriety

1 A monk should always be as though he were to die tomorrow, yet govern his body as though he were to live for many years. The first cuts off thoughts of despondency and makes the monk more diligent; the second keeps the body healthy and holds self-restraint within measure.

2 He who has attained knowledge and tasted its sweetness will not yield to the spirit of vainglory, which offers him all the delights of this world. For what can it promise that would surpass spiritual contemplation? But so long as we have not attained knowledge, let us apply ourselves diligently to practice, showing God our intention that we do all things for the sake of knowing Him.

3 It is fitting to explain how the monks of former times pursued their struggle, so that we may imitate them. There is much that is good in what they did and said. Among other things, one of them said this also: that lean food taken in measure, joined with love, swiftly brings the monk into the haven of dispassion.

4 Someone met Saint Macarius late at night and, being thirsty, asked him for water. But he said: “Be content with the shade. Many are travelling now, and sailing, and do not have even this.” And when he had discoursed with him about self-restraint, he said: “Take courage, child. For twenty whole years I have not eaten bread to satiety, nor drunk water, nor slept my fill; I ate bread by weight, and drank water by measure, and, leaning against the wall, slept a little.”

5 A distracted intellect is set right by reading, vigil and prayer. Burning lust is dried up by thirst, labour and solitude. When wrath boils up, it is calmed by psalmody, patience and mercy. For wrath that is immoderate and ill-timed is untimely, and still more — harmful and useless.

PART THREE

Our venerable father Isaiah the Solitary lived in the 370s after the Nativity of Christ and was a contemporary of Macarius the Great. He studied day and night in the Divine Scriptures and, having drawn abundant streams of spiritual wisdom from the wells of salvation, became the author of many beautiful Discourses containing various things profitable to the soul, of which this whole book is composed. Having selected some of them for this book, we offer them to those who wish to guard their intellect. He teaches briefly how one must repel the assaults of thoughts and keep a blameless conscience, how to practise the Jesus Prayer, and how in freedom from cares to guard wisely the three powers of the soul.