343. Petition to the Great Elder. The brother asked the Great Elder, saying: "I am a passionate man, pray that God will have mercy on me."

Answer Barsanuphius. Whoever desires to be pardoned, let him keep the commandment not to eat of the tree, and he will not fall into disobedience, but he who does not fall into disobedience receives mercy and is saved by the grace of Christ our God; for such a person says to his thought: "I and God are alone in the world," and if I do not fulfill His will, I will no longer belong to Him, but to a stranger; and every day he awaits his departure from the body, thinking how he may meet God, and such a person quickly improves the path of salvation.

344. Petition to the same. The brother, who had fallen into temptation, asked for prayers from the Great Elder himself and, having received relief, informed him of this, offering him gratitude and at the same time asking (prayers) for the headache that had occurred to him, and also for his heart to be enlightened.

Answer Barsanuphius. Brother! Let us heed ourselves with the fear of God, and if the gracious God, in His love for mankind, eases our battle, then even then let us not be negligent, for many, having received relief, have become disgusted for themselves and have fallen headlong. But we, having received relief, will thank God, (remembering) from which He has delivered us, and we will remain in prayer, so that we may not fall again into either the same passions or others. Thus, if someone eats something, and his stomach, or spleen, or liver aches, and with the diligence and knowledge of the physician he is healed, then he no longer indulges in negligence about himself, remembering the former danger, so as not to come to an even worse situation, as the Lord said to him healed by Him: "Behold, thou art well: sin not, lest it be more bitter than thee" (John 5:5). 14. Brother! Good warriors, even in time of peace, constantly learn the art of warfare; for he does not allow the time of battle, with comfort, to learn what is necessary for battle; it is said: "Prepare thyself, and be not troubled" (Psalm 118:60). Therefore, do not have a free relationship with the one in whom you have been tempted by passion, as well as with no one else; for the Fathers say of free conversion that it destroys the fruits of the monk. A man cannot remain without concern for the battle even to his last breath, lest he fall into the valley, as if he had been caught by a cunning enemy, whom the Lord would destroy from us by the spirit of His mouth (2 Thess. 2:8). Remember what the Elder said: if a man creates a new heaven and a new earth, then he cannot be without care. As for headaches: force yourself not to relax yourself, and you will get help. The Lord, seeing His disciples exhausted, said to them: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into trouble" (Mark 14:38). My son! He who enlightened the eyes of the blind, let him enlighten the eyes of your heart, that you may understand what is good and profitable; May the God of hosts strengthen you and strengthen you with perfect faith, saying: "All things are possible to him that believes" (Mark 9:23), and may I see you in the face of those who are saved by the grace of the Intercessor of our souls, Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever, Amen.

345. A lay brother of the same Great Elder, being himself already old, expressed a desire to see him through a messenger.

The elder answered him as follows: "I have a brother Jesus; but if, despising the world, you become a monk, then you also will be my brother." Hearing this, he departed with many tears, and after a certain time he came again to this monastery, renounced the world and, falling into watersickness, through a messenger he asked the Great Elder to pray for his illness.

He answered him thus: "This illness has befallen you so that you do not depart to God barren." Thus, if you endure and give thanks to God, then it is imputed to you instead of asceticism, since you did not stay long in the monastic image. In part, this sorrow has befallen you because you have considered me, insignificant, and yourself to mean something: me as a great man, yourself as a brother to such a man, and you do not know that we are children of Adam's transgression, earth and ashes. Thank God, Who has brought you to such a state. If we had the humility of Jesus Christ, we could say: "Who is My Mother, and who are My brethren" (Matt. 12:48), and so on.

346. A brother, having heard from one of the brethren about the battle, advised him as much as he could, while he himself had not yet reached this measure, and suddenly the battle rose up against him. Seeing himself burdened, he knew that this was allowed to him because he had not told his brother about his weakness and that it would be better to ask his fathers about this. He explained this circumstance to another Elder.

John's answer. Brother! There is no other way than for a person to reproach himself for what he has said, and God will forgive him.

After this, the brother suddenly received relief from the battle and thanked God.

Question 347 of the same. If two harmful things are before the soul, and one of them cannot be avoided, what must be done?

John's answer. Of the two harmful things, one should choose the less harmful. In the Patristic legends it is written: "Someone came to ask another denarius, and he did not give him, saying: "I have nothing to give you." When they asked him why he did not give it to him, he answered: "If I had given him, it would have caused him spiritual harm, and therefore I preferred to break one commandment rather than allow something harmful to the soul."

Question 348, to the Great Elder. The brother, progressing in virtue according to God, revealed himself to the Great Elder, saying: I am grieved, Abba, give me instruction.

Answer Barsanuphius. The holy Apostle Paul, having understood the power of patience, wrote the following: "For I will require patience, that you may do the will of God, and receive the promise" (Heb. 10:36). Whoever wishes to ascend to the cross with Christ must be a partaker of His sufferings and will always have peace; and I say unto thee, Strive to obtain thanksgiving to God for all things, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee, and then thou shalt find rest.