161. The devil, out of his envy, seeing the usefulness of these answers, instilled in the thoughts of the questioning elder unbelief in the Great Elder, and the latter, having learned what was in his heart, declared to him the following:

Answer. First and foremost, I glorify the Holy and Consubstantial Trinity, saying: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen. It is not untimely that I begin my discourse with this doxology, but in order to show the demon, the hater of good, that in the dreams he imagines there is nothing like such a doxology, but only confusion, sorrow, and despondency. But let us pass, brother, to thanking God that He has delivered us from the great temptation that has come upon us as foolish, and that His love for mankind has not suffered us to perish completely; For He is always true, Who said, "As I live, saith the Lord Adonai, I desire not the death of a sinner, but to be converted. and I live to be unto him (Ezek. 33:11). Therefore, let us give unceasing thanks to Him Who has saved us and always Who saves us, Whom the Angels, the Most Mundane Powers, the heavenly Hosts, the Cherubim and the Seraphim thank, with the most glorious voices incessantly and silently crying out and proclaiming: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, and so forth (Isaiah 6:3). "When we know this, we will give thanks to Him Whose throne the heavens are, and the earth is the footstool (Isaiah 66:1), Whom all creation serves. "Let us also begin with this written transposition (of the Holy Trinity), and give thanks to the Father; For He has had mercy on the world, and it will not be spared to send His only begotten Son, the Saviour and Redeemer of our souls (Rom. 8:32). Let us give thanks to the Son; For He humbled Himself, being obedient even unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:8), for the sake of us men. Let us give thanks to the Holy and Life-giving Spirit, who spoke in the law, the prophets, and the teachers, who drew Peter to repentance, commanded him to go to Cornelius the Centurion (see Acts 10), glorified him (Peter), gave him the power to raise the dead, as (for example) Tabitha; The Spirit, who always warns and breaks the snares of enemies for those who call on Him, according to the prophecy of David, who says, "The snare is broken, and we are delivered by the ox." Our help is in the name of the Lord, who created heaven and earth (Ps. 123:7-8). Behold, he hath had mercy on us also, and hath healed us of this affliction; let us hear His words: "Behold, thou art well: wherefore sin thou shalt not, that thou mayest not be bitter" (John 5:14). In all cases, let us have recourse to humility; For he that is humble is on the ground, and he that lies on the ground, whither can he fall? Obviously, it is convenient for one who is at a height to fall. If we are converted and reformed, it is not from us, but a gift from God, for the Lord makes the blind wise (says the Scripture), the Lord raises up the cast down, and so on. (Ps. 145:8) And what is written to me (by you): "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ" (Rom. 8:35) is a word of great measure: "Behold, we almost broke off love, because we died and departed from the ship of Christ." But it is better for me not to break the seals, and not to talk too much; Someone urges me to do this, saying, "Where there are wise, do not be wise." So, I'll stop talking. I wrote to you as a sincere favorite of mine. By doing this, thou shalt attain that way which leadeth unto eternal life, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom be glory and honour and dominion unto the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever, Amen.

162. Having received this, the elder gave himself over to weeping and tears for many days. Consoling him, the Great Elder wrote to him the following:

Brother! What has passed, let us leave behind, according to the words of the Apostle: "The ancient mimoidos, behold, all things were new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). With one accord let us harness ourselves to the good yoke of Christ and affirm ourselves in the love of Christ, for it is said: "God is love" (1 John 4:8). And if anyone says that he has love, let him have nothing that Christ hates; let us try to cleanse our hearts from the passions of the old man, which God hates: we are His temples, and God does not live in a temple defiled by passions. And so, let us enter and finish the short time of our silence (most of it has already passed), and let us pray that according to His will our life may be silent, to the glory of the Most-Pure and Holy Trinity. Enter (into silence); commit me also to God, and do not pester me with questions and letters; for henceforth I am abolished. I have sent Anal to thee, according to thy command; Knowing that I am nothing but earth and ashes, I sent not as worthy, for I am unclean and indebted in all things, but in order not to break the commandment, which says: "To everyone who asks of you, give it" (Luke 6:30), and for the love of Christ. Therefore, having received it, pray for me, and pray that our labor in Christ Jesus our Lord may not be in vain. To Him be the glory for ever, Amen.

163. A certain sick elder, named Andrew, was silent in the dormitory, explaining to the same Great Elder some of his secrets; at the same time he thanked him for having been vouchsafed to live near him, and (wrote) about his bodily illness.

Answer. If you truly believe that God has brought you here in every way, then leave it to Him to take care of you, cast all your cares on Him, and He will arrange everything that concerns you, as He pleases. But if you (yourself) begin to take care of any thing, or of bodily illness, or of spiritual passions, then you must also take care of everything as you know. When someone leaves everything to God and suffers a little sorrow, the double-mindedness constantly inspires him: "Perhaps if you had taken care of your body, you would not have endured such sorrow; and therefore whoever gives himself up to God, even unto death, must surrender to Him with all his heart. He knows better than we do what is good for us in soul and body, and as much as He allows you to grieve in the body, He will also give you relief from your sins. God does not require anything from you, except thanksgiving, patience and prayer for the forgiveness of sins. See, then, how proud I am: having been mocked by the demons, and thinking that I have love for God, I dare [57] to say to you: I am now taking upon myself half of your burden, and God will also help you in the future. I have said this unwisely, for I know that I am weak, powerless, and a stranger to every good deed, but my shamelessness does not allow me to despair; for I have a Lord who is compassionate, merciful, loving to mankind, and who stretches out his hand to the sinner to his last breath. Cleave to Him, and He will arrange everything better than we ask or think. To Him be the glory forever, Amen. Forgive me, brother, and pray for me.

164. Hearing from the Elder the words: "I take upon myself half of your burden," and grieving that he had not promised him perfect forgiveness, (Elder Andrew), begging and bowing to mercy (Barsanuphius), asked for the second time to grant him perfect forgiveness in Christ.

Answer. Brother! I wonder at thy love, that thou dost not understand the works of love according to God. First of all (I will say): God knows that I consider myself earth, ashes, and utterly worthless. But if I say something to someone beyond my measure, or beyond my strength, then I say, impelled by the love of Christ, I recognize myself, as I have already said, as an insignificant and useless servant. Thou hast not understood my words, and I have made thee my accomplice; for he said that I take upon myself half of your sins, and did not say, "I will bear the third part," and did not suffer you to be carried or burdened more than me. I spoke thus, banishing vanity. I did not say, "Two parts," as if to show myself to be stronger; for such a way of speaking would be vanity; nor did he say, "I will bear it all"; for this is the work of the perfect, who have become brethren of Christ, Who laid down His life for us, and with perfect love loved those who loved Him. If I had not said this, it might have seemed that I was removing you from spiritual work. Therefore, I am not vain, ascribing everything to myself, and I do not envy you, having made you my accomplice in this good participation. If we are brethren, let us divide our Father's riches equally, and there will be no place for unrighteousness. But if you want to lay everything on me, then for the sake of obedience I accept this also. Forgive me that strong love leads me to idle talk; but let it be to you rejoicing in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever, Amen.

165. A petition of the same to the same Great Elder that the Elder pray for him, on the occasion of the illness that has befallen him.

The Great Elder's Answer. The Scripture says: "Thou hast passed through fire and water, and hast brought us forth into rest" (Psalm 65:12); and those who wish to please God must pass through small sorrows. How can we bless the holy martyrs for the sufferings they endured for God's sake, if we ourselves cannot endure fevers? Say to your sorrowful soul: Is not fever better for you than hell? Let us not be faint-hearted in sickness; the Apostle says: "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). Look, God searches hearts and bowels. Let us endure, let us endure, let us be disciples of the Apostle, who said: "Endure sorrows" (Romans 12:12), thanking always for all (Ephesians 5:20), so that the word of the Scripture may be fulfilled in us also: "Thou shalt be known unto thee, when thou hast done good unto him" (Psalm 48:19). If you were previously at peace with regard to the body, and a little sorrow was met with your trial, then why do you not remember Job, who said: "If we receive good from the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure the wicked" (Job 2:10)? Know that those who desire rest in all things will one day hear: "Receive your good in your belly" (cf. Luke 16:25). Let us not be weakened; we have a merciful God, Who knows even our weakness more than we do. If He, for the sake of testing, allows sickness to come upon us, then we have healing from the Apostle, who says: "God is faithful, Who will not leave you to be tempted more than you can, but will make with temptation also those which are excessive, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). May the Lord strengthen the sick man and those who serve him, and the deeds of both will be to the glory of God. In order not to be faint-hearted and not to be burdened, look to the end of patience. God is near, Who said: "I shall not forsake thee, but the Imam shall depart from thee" (Heb. 13:5). Believe me, brethren, that vanity has taken possession of me: being ill, I never lay down and did not abandon my needlework, although severe illnesses befell me. But not long before I was locked up in the cell, vanity contrived and did not allow illness to come to me; I grieve now, desiring patience, but I do not know what to endure. Sorrow does not overtake me, and I am faint, hearing that he who endures to the end shall be saved (Mark 13:13). Pray that I may keep the hope of my salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory forever, Amen.

166. The same Elder, still ill, asked the same Great Elder to pray for him, that God would send him help.

Answer. Having God, do not be afraid, but cast all your cares on Him, and He will take care of you. Or do you not know that if our earthly tabernacle of the body be destroyed, the creation of God is the imam, the tabernacle not made with hands, eternal in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1). Believe undoubtedly, and God will help you, according to His mercy. To Him be the glory forever, Amen.

167. The same Elder, living with one brother when they both fell ill, asked another Elder (John) to pray for them.

John's answer. The Lord said: "In your patience gain your souls" (Luke 21:19), and the Apostle, following Him, said: "For I will need patience" (Heb. 10:36), and the prophet: "In patience I will endure the Lord, and they will hear me" (Psalm 39:2). But the sweetest Lord our God still says: "He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved" (Mark 13:13). Be patient, both of you, giving thanks to God and heeding the visitation of God that is taking place over you; for all these things come to pass unto your trial. Consider what you yourselves say: Tempt me, O God... "Punish me" (Psalm 138:23). Please pray for me, for the love of God.