Answer 197, of the same Great Elder, who also fell into great despondency.

Brother Andrew! May our loving God not allow the enemy who hates good to sow his sorrow and despondency in you, lest he lead you to despair even about what the Holy Spirit has promised you, beloved by the blessed God, but may the Lord open your heart to understand the Scriptures, as He once took the heart of Cleopas (cf. Luke 24:31-32). How, then, did God, even after the promises given to the holy patriarch Abraham, still tempt him? For it is said: "And according to these words" (Gen. 22:1), that is, the promises given to him as a friend of God, who offered such a sacrifice to God and was worthy to suffer no more sorrows, whose faith God imputed to righteousness (cf. Gen. 15:6; James 2:23), and such a man He allowed to fall into temptation, to its trial, and to the unaccountability of the dark powers, that Abraham may be an example for the faithful, for through many tribulations it behooves them to enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22), that by their patience they may save their souls (cf. Luke 21:19), giving thanks to God for all things (Ephesians 5:20). Moreover, remember also St. Job, the ever-present friend of God, true, truthful, blameless and righteous, pious, and shunning every evil thing (cf. Job 1:1), — how God, who did not deserve to endure sorrow, gave him over to temptation, to the test of his virtue, until Job put to shame his enemies and slanderers, so that they fell under rebuke through him. In order to strengthen your faith, bring to mind the author and finisher of our salvation, Jesus (Heb. 12:2), Who delivered us from the curse imposed on us (cf. Gal. 3:13), as He, approaching the time of His cross, showing us the way of patience and salvation, said: Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me, but not as I will, but as Thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39). For our sake, He who once rebuked Peter did this, when he said: "Thou art merciful, O Lord, Thou shalt not have this to be" (Matt. 16:22), showing that He is ready and blesses to suffer; And He prayed to pass over that cup only for the sake of our weakness, so that we would not grow weary when we pray and are not soon heard. Let us kiss the sufferings of our Saviour, Who was made man, and together with Him let us endure reproaches, wounds, humiliation, insult through spitting, the reproach of the scarlet robe, the shame of the crown of thorns, the pain of the piercing of nails, the piercing of the digging, the outpouring of water and blood, and borrow from this the consolation of your illnesses. The Lord will not forsake your labor in vain. He has allowed you to suffer a little sickness, so that you may not be a stranger to the saints, when you see them in that hour, bearing the fruits of endurance of sorrows and glorified, so that you also may be a partner with them and with Jesus, having boldness with the saints before Him. Do not grieve, God has not forgotten you, but cares for you as for His sincere son, and not as an adulterer. You strive well when you carefully pay attention to yourself, so that you do not fall away from the fear of God and from thanksgiving to God. Blessed are you if you have truly become strange and poor, for such will inherit the Kingdom of God. Be of good courage and be strong in the Lord. I do not get tired of writing the same thing to you, but I wish that the Lord grant it to you. Pray for me.

198. A petition to the same Great Elder for the affirmation of his heart and the forgiveness of sins committed throughout his life from his birth.

Answer. May the Lord Jesus Christ heal and strengthen your soul and body, and may He strengthen your heart, so that the hater of good and the hater of mankind, the devil, do not possess you. As for the forgiveness of your sins from the day of your birth to this day, know that the Lord will grant it to you at the end of forty days, so that in this gift you may be a partner in my prayers, for your little patience. Therefore, be of good courage in the Lord and be strong. The Lord is with you, the great Physician of our souls and bodies. Peace be with you in the Lord, my brother.

Answer 199, another Elder John, in addition.

If people call blessed the one who is enriched by worldly goods, then I bless your love incomparably more, for you have been enriched in God, through the prayers of our blessed father. However, if prayer had not warned you, and if he had not said to you: "Be strong, be of good courage, and be strong," you would have fallen into a dangerous illness, so that, after a little negligence and faint-heartedness, you would preserve long-suffering and constancy in your thoughts and in relation to the brethren who serve you, remembering the words of the Apostle: "Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:11). 2). Loving, the Lord punished you with mercy, according to the prayer of His servant, so that through enduring a small punishment you would contribute to his prayer, and this patience would be counted to you as a deed, so that the mouth of the enemy would be stopped, so that he could not say: "If he had been tempted by punishment, he would not have been able to stand." So, do not grieve: what you have heard from the Elder will come to pass. Be merciful, according to his word, and be strong.

200. The same elder, when he had been delivered from temptations, with the help of the prayers of the holy elder and his spiritual teaching, sent him to thank him for this. The elder answered him as follows.

Answer Barsanuphius. Let us give all praise to the God of glory and sing Him for ever, Amen. Glory does not befit us, but to Him alone, and to His Son, and to His Holy Spirit. God, Who desires to fulfill the word of the Scriptures in us: "Brother helps from brother, as a city is strong and fenced" (Proverbs 18:19), has brought your love to our weakness, so that we may help one another for God's sake. May our great Brother give you all help; I mean (our Lord) Jesus. He was pleased to make us His brethren (cf. Heb. 2:11), and we have already become them, and the angels delight us. O Whom we have as (our) Brother! "Strong to strengthen us," "Strong to share in our gains," "Commander of war, to smite the enemies who attack us in battle," "Physician to heal our inner man, together with the outward man who has submitted to Him," "Nourisher who nourishes us with spiritual nourishment," "Living to revive us," "Merciful to have mercy on us," "Generous to be generous to us," "King, to make us kings also,"  — God, in order to make us gods. Therefore, knowing that everything is in Him, pray to Him; and before you ask, He knows what you need, and will give it to you according to the petition of your heart, unless you yourself prevent it. Always give praise to Him, for to Him is due glory forever, Amen. Pray for me, brother, that I may know my weakness.

Answers 201–300

201. The same petition to the same Great Elder for rainlessness, and for his long-term silence.

Answer. God does nothing untimely, but everything is for the benefit of people. Though he withheld the rain to punish them, yet he will have mercy on them again, and will send it; so the word was withheld for a time, so that some might be felt; but they have become even more insensible, and God again commands them to speak, and the word is taught for the benefit of those who demand.

202. Petition of the same to the same Great Elder. My Reverend Father! I beg you, fulfill your holy promises for the forgiveness of sins on me.

Answer Barsanuphius. Blessed God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly ones (Ephesians 1:3). If thou wilt prepare thyself to receive that which thou askest, thou shalt receive it through thy much labour, and through me, who am weak; for the gain and benefit of every man and every soul I consider as my own. Joyfully and with a burning spirit I offer myself as a sacrifice for souls, as our only God, the Knower of Hearts, knows. I know and hope that our work will not be in vain. Be sure that you will receive what you ask for; but, having received it, preserve this grace. Many were vouchsafed to receive grace, but having received it, they fell away; for they did not keep with fear what they received. Therefore, be a desirer of good things and at the same time a guardian of them, a pleasing servant of your Lord, a humble disciple of Him who humbled himself for your sake, obedient – Obedient, gentle – Not malicious, long-suffering – Long-suffering, merciful – Merciful, bearing the burdens of your neighbor, as the Lord bore your burdens, loving all sincerely as He also loved us, following Him in all things, until He takes you into His great rest, where the eye does not see, and the ear did not hear, and did not ascend in the heart of man, which God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). To Him be the glory for ever, Amen. Pray for me, monk!

203. The same asked the Great Elder for the same thing.