James of Nisibis (died 350) was a Father of the Church. The son of one of the regional princes of Armenia, he received a good education. From childhood imbued with enthusiasm for Christian teaching, he left the world and secluded himself in the forests and mountains. During the reign of Maximin, he was subjected to religious persecution. He preached Christianity in Persia. In 314 he was elected bishop of Nisibis; in 325 he was present at the First Ecumenical Council; in 338, during the attack on Nisibis by Sapor, he awakened courage in his flock and contributed to repelling the attack. According to legend, he performed many miracles, even resurrected the dead. After him, 18 good teachings have been preserved, partly in the form of letters; they were found and published in 1756 by Antonelli. Their content is partly dogmatic ("On Faith", "On the Resurrection of the Dead", "On the Sabbath", etc.), partly moralizing ("On Humility", "Prayer", "Repentance", etc.). In addition to Antonelli, the works of James were published by Gallandi (in Armenian and in Latin translation). Six of his teachings were translated into Russian in the "Christian Reading" (1837, 1839, 1842 and 1843). There are also mentions of his works, which have not reached us.

early Christianity, apostolic fathers, apologetics ru Tatyana Trushova saphyana@inbox.ru ExportToFB21, FictionBook Editor Release 2.6 21.02.2011 OOoFBTools-2011-2-21-12-37-33-129 1.0 Journal "Christian Reading, Published at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy" Printing house of Ilya Glazunov & Co. St. Petersburg. 1827

Teachings

A Word on Humility

1. Humility is always beautiful. It frees people from all painful worries. Its fruits are abundant and coveted. From him is born simplicity of heart, by which Noah pleased God and received salvation, since it is written: "I have seen thee righteous before me, and simple in this generation" (Gen. 7:1). What praises adorn humility! Scripture says that "the meek will inherit the earth and dwell in it forever and ever." The Lord also says through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah: "In whom shall I rest, or in whom shall I dwell, but in those who are meek and humble, and tremble at My words?" And again: "Better is he who is meek in humility than one who gains the city." Again: "The Lord strengthens the humble in glory." And of Moses the faithful husband it is written: "The man Moses is meeker than all the men that are on the earth." Humility is a sign and expression of kindness and piety. Those who love this virtue receive through it numerous gifts. Mercy is revealed in the humble. Humility is the abode of holiness. The humble are experienced, and their lips pour out wisdom. Humility will give meaning and reason, and fill the heart with delight. Do you want to learn abstinence and patience? Seek an example for this in the humble. They serve as an example of a solitary, ascetic life. He who is humble is amiable in all things; his words are sweet, his face is full of gaiety. He finds joy in everything. Love adorns the humble; for they know how to walk in its light. The meek and humble preserve themselves from all evil, and the goodness of their hearts is reflected in their bright face. Do they speak? all their words are decent. Are they laughing? Their laughter is not heard. The humble one is afraid to despise others, for contempt is the offspring of hatred. If he hears slander, he shuts up his hearing, so that such words do not enter into his heart. The thought of the humble is directed to all that is good, and the thoroughness of the spirit hastens to realize the good. He drinks the Divine teaching as water; and wisdom, like oil, penetrates into his interior. The humble one places himself lower than others, but his heart dwells in the highest, and his thoughts are carried where his treasures are kept. He looks at the earth, but the gaze of his mind is fixed on the beauty, on the beauty of the sky. He is always afraid that a vengeful word will somehow fall off his tongue to reproach someone. The humble one is attached to the law of the Lord, and in it he finds the medicine necessary for his soul. He rejoices in the happiness of his neighbor, and cares for him as for himself. Does he meet the proud? His meekness captivates and binds the spirit of the haughty. Humility destroys fortified castles, softens rage, disarms malice.

2. By humility Jacob overcame the wrath of Esau his brother and the four hundred men who were with him. By humility Joseph overcame the wrath of his brothers, who persecuted him with envy and hatred. By humility, Moses subdued and bridled all the pride of Pharaoh. By humility David deposed the haughty Goliath, who approached him with a mocking curse. By humility Hezekiah defeated the arrogance of King Sennacherib, who wanted to shake his firmness by threats and blasphemy. By humility Daniel and his brethren put to shame their impious slanderers.

3. The humble are far from all envy, evil rivalry, and restless seeking. The majesty of pride is repugnant to them, and stubborn disobedience is foreign to them. By removing their beds, they do not partake of backbiting. As sons of peace and harmony, they hate and expel enmity; as vigilant zealots for a good name, they shun all frivolity. They do not know guile, they love sincerity and sincerity. They are calm, for they live in the hope of peace. As they themselves have become strangers to this world, so are its noisy occupations alien to them. Murderers are hateful monsters in their eyes. The storehouses of their hearts are full of good treasures. Their thoughts are pure from deceit; the eye of hearts is turned to the world beyond the heights, contemplating the beauty of its Lord and filling the spirit with ineffable rapture. Their hearts conceive good thoughts, their lips bring forth good fruit. Having opened their hearts to the good love of their Lord, they carefully pluck out from it the useless tares. Their seeds bear hundredfold fruit, for they are irrigated with water from the fountain of life. Humiliation, implanted in the depths of the soul, fertilizes their faith and love. They put on Christ as a most precious garment, and guard it from all impurity. In them dwells the Spirit, by whom they are sealed by God; they love Him, they do not grieve Him. They adorn their temples for the King who is coming, who enters in and dwells in the meek and lowly; they set their temple on a solid rock, and fear neither the fury of the waves, nor the fury of the winds. Bright as the sun; they are as wise as wise virgins, and prepare in advance lamps for the meeting of the coming King, hoping to enter into His bridal chamber. They take the silver and make proper use of their talents, in order to obtain "the region above ten cities" (Luke 19:16-17); they willingly open and squander their possessions, never leave them in the treasury and do not hide their silver. As for the external state, they walk on the earth with their bodies, but their thoughts are directed to the Lord; They follow the holy path and enter the kingdom through the strait gate, they are constantly devoted to the observance of the law and exercise themselves in the works of piety with vigilant diligence. In the world they live like wanderers, constantly waiting to return to their heavenly homeland. Their thoughts are lofty, soar to heaven, their soul flies with haste to the holy, exalted house; their eyes, penetrating into the heights, behold the Bridegroom, preparing Himself for marriage. Their angels ascend there and bring peace to their souls.

They tune their tongues to spiritual songs, that they may enjoy joyfully in that country from which the sweet voice of consolation proceeds; they strive to penetrate into this country, and, consumed by the desire to dwell in it, they send out prayerful sighs that their desire may be fulfilled. Such are the friends of humility.

4. The humble are the sons of the Most High and the brethren of Christ. The Lord came down to us in greeting: Mary received Him with humility. When Gabriel greeted Blessed Mary and said to her: "Rejoice, blessed among women!" – this greeting brought forth fruit, and she conceived a Son, blessed and magnified the Lord, looking upon the humility of her servant and rejecting the proud and haughty. The Most High exalts all the humble and pours out upon them the gifts of blessing. Later, when Christ was born, the heavenly guards taught us humility with the blessed hymn: Glory in heaven, salvation on earth, good will toward men! And the Lord, wishing to teach us humility, said thus: "If anyone smites thee on thy right hand, turn to him also the other: and to him who desires thy garment, let him also loose the garment. And if any man understand thee according to thy strength the race is one, go with him two" (Matt. 5:39-41). What our Savior commanded, the humble can fulfill. Loftiness and glory are unbecoming of the humble: a royal crown does not befit the face of the poor. God hates the one who, under the cover of humility, nourishes pride. The king punishes with death the beggar who covets the crown; for glory and majesty are befitting only a King. Glory is his inheritance, majesty is united with his nature. Royal distinctions are characteristic of the Tsar, and not of a commoner and a man of low breed. He is hateful and disgusting to all who do not know how to distinguish their condition. Therefore, beloved, what God does not want to see among us, it should not be with us; let each one remain with what he has; We will be satisfied with our condition. Humility befits us, but glory and glory to the Tsar. Let him own his own, and we own; for he has left humility for us. What he has not given us, we should not use. But even if he gives us something, it is a sign of his approval. Reckless and cunning is the one who admires something foreign. On the contrary, he who stands firmly on the level of the humble, the Most High will exalt him in the kingdom of His glory.

5. A man cannot serve two masters. What kind of fellowship does pride have with humility? What does anger have in common with meekness? What is the complicity between laziness and diligence, between solicitude and calmness? Whoever indulges in pleasure and pleasure in this life will be deprived of them in the age to come. And everyone who loves humility will be exalted and magnified in the kingdom of glory. The rich man clothed himself in purple, was vain, proud, but after death he was tortured; but Lazarus, who spent his life in humiliation, is exalted and sits in the bosom of Abraham. The Pharisee and the publican prayed together in the temple: but the Pharisee in arrogance justified himself, and therefore went out and returned to his house condemned; but the publican, having humbled himself, returned to the house justified. Evil is incompatible with good, darkness is contrary to light, friendship is dislike; Humility has nothing in common with envy and zeal, silence with obstinacy. Evil cannot resist good; darkness runs when light appears; sweetness drives away bitterness; meekness conquers pretense; Silence destroys disputes. Darkness does not fight with darkness, hatred does not rise against enmity; envy does not resist aversion, gall cannot hate bitterness: but the wicked pursue the good, the wicked the righteous; the proud are exalted over the humble; liars laugh at the truthful; fools despise the wise, and he who has no sincerity everywhere mocks sincerity. A humble man is as hated by the proud as a murderer. Whose hands are accustomed to evil deeds, he cannot look at a righteous man without envy. Whose lips are full of lies, frankness is disgusting and intolerable.

6. One means of protecting oneself from the malice of envious people is silence and patience. They will receive terrible retribution. The serpent was jealous of Adam's well-being in paradise, and for this he was subjected to a threefold curse. God took away his legs and forced him to walk on his belly and belly; deprived him of his proper food and gave him earth to eat; he presented him to man as an enemy to be trampled underfoot. Cain, out of envy, killed Abel, and was condemned to wander the earth as a fugitive and exile. Esau was jealous of the meek Jacob, and Jacob delighted him with the blessing of the birthright, the haughty brother being subordinate to the humble. And those who, out of envy, hated Joseph the humble, bowed down to Joseph the exalted. Out of envy Pharaoh persecuted the Hebrews and killed their children in the waters: with what measure he measured another, he himself measured. Korah and his accomplices hated Moses, and a terrible punishment befell the rebels: the abyss opened its throat and swallowed them up, a fire was kindled and devoured the like-minded people of the evildoer. Aaron and Miriam hated Moses, and the Holy One threatened to destroy them, Miriam was stricken with seven days of leprosy. Saul hated, deceitfully persecuted David, and the Holy Spirit departed from him; He allowed the evil spirit to disturb him and torment him. Ahaab pursued and killed Naboth, and where Naboth's blood was shed, there the dogs licked the blood of Ahab himself. Jezebel, after vain attempts to kill Elijah, was eaten by the dogs, and Elijah was taken up to heaven. The fire burned the envious who slandered the righteous (Daniel and his brethren), and the righteous came out of it unharmed. The Chaldeans, who cursed Daniel, fell into a pit, which they dug for the innocent. Haman, because of his hatred of Mordecai and his people, was himself hanged on the cross with his children. Finally, the hard-hearted and senseless people, who did not accept Christ their King, were expelled from their homeland and scattered throughout the whole earth; but Christ, having received the crown of glory, sat down on his throne. All those who hate Him will fall before Him. I have written to you at such length, that you may know how cruelly the wicked persecute the humble, and how cruel punishment awaits them.

7. Know, beloved, that in every man defiled by iniquity, there dwells evil hatred, and the same unclean spirit reigns with which Saul was possessed. For when David was playing the harp for Saul in order to calm him, Saul, impelled by the spirit of hatred that prevailed in him, attempted to pierce his comforter with a spear. On the contrary, whoever is inspired by humility, a meek spirit dwells in him, he becomes the temple of Christ Himself. I repeat again what I have said: the good do not envy the evil, but the evil envy the good. Is it ever seen that the rich envy the poor, the pious the wicked, the righteous the sinners, the children of creation the corrupters, the righteous the deceivers, the well-behaved the profligate, the honest the offenders? Therefore, attain humility, which conquers envy and casts out enmity; add to it silence and patience, which can warn against debauchery. Love humility, be sober, and learn patience. The humble is loved by many, but the proud and haughty are hated even by those who are of the same spirit with him. Turn away from anger and abstain from all vice and defilement; because God hates them. Do not open the doors to wrath, that is, your mouth, and do not distort your face with it, do not give it a tongue, lest it bring forth bitter fruit. let his offspring die, let evil thoughts be destroyed at the very beginning.

8. If anger is kindled in you, darkness will spread in you at the same time. Therefore do not entrust your tongue to it, and do not convey to the tongue all the thoughts that come up in your heart. Bury them inside in the depths of your heart. But if your heart gives birth to a good thought, then convey it to your tongue, and thus your mouth will utter good words. It is necessary that the word should turn into your heart for several days: if you find it worthy, give it to the tongue; but if not, let it die in your heart and be buried in your thoughts. Guard your tongue from false testimony, lest fire burn in your body. Carefully preserve the Lord Who dwells in you, and do not let anything into your heart that is unpleasant or hostile to Him. He wants to live alone in man; evil thoughts should not be present with Him. The tongue with which you touch the wounds of your Lord must love silence; the lips with which you kiss the King of peace must beware of strife; nothing rotten must proceed from them: otherwise Christ will leave you and depart. Love humility, it is as firm as an iron wall; acquire sobriety and the fruits of charity. The soul that feeds on them is satisfied, rejoices and triumphs. Every tree is known by its fruit: human thoughts are revealed by words. A wise man learns from words the thoughts of him whom he is addressing; for the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. A God-fearing man speaks only good things, his ears are turned away from blasphemy, his tongue utters nothing evil; for his thoughts do not give birth to anything that deserves abhorrence. He finds pleasure only in meditating on the law of his Lord. Such are the fruits of the good tree. In the same way, a wise man who thinks evil will know from his words. If he speaks only humorous and prickly things, if he engages in gossip and blasphemy; then he who hears him will know that such words were conceived criminally, so they were born; for everything has its conception before it is born. Remember what our Savior said: "Every good tree produces good fruit, but an evil tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can an evil tree produce good fruit. For by the same of their fruit ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:17-18, 20). Thus the good man brings forth good words from the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings forth evil words from the evil treasure of his heart. For the mouth speaks what is hidden within. Though there be a thousand fruits on a tree, by one you can know the quality of the whole tree. If you eat one fruit of the tree, and it seems sweet and pleasant to you; then your soul alone desires to eat all the fruit of that tree. Thus, a pious person, when he meets an evil person, immediately recognizes his attribute from his words. Seeing that his words are worthy of abhorrence, filled with a spirit of depravity, he no longer wants to listen to him. But if he comes to terms with a prudent man and learns that his conversation is good, sweet, full of wisdom and understanding; at the same time he wants to hear all his words and convey them to his soul. By taste, so to speak, he recognizes a person who only wants to appear humble. For whoever pretends to be wise, meek, and humble, and thinks evil in his heart, although he bears the guise of a humble man among men, and as it were a wise man who thinks well, is like a bitter fruit, which looks like a whisper,[1] but in its bitterness is disgusting to the taste.