(Written, apparently, in 366)

In the inspired Scriptures there are many rules that must be observed by those who are zealous for pleasing God. But I thought it necessary to make a brief reminder, at the direction of the inspired Scriptures themselves, for the time being only of those duties about which you have now proposed a question. And since it is not difficult to find evidence of each duty in the Scriptures, I leave this to those who are practicing the reading of the Scriptures and are themselves able to remind even others of the following.

A Christian must have a way of thinking worthy of the heavenly calling, and live worthy of the Gospel of Christ. A Christian should not be distracted or distracted in any way from the remembrance of God, of His will and judgments. A Christian, having become in all things above justifications according to the law, must neither swear nor lie. He must not blaspheme, must not offend, must not quarrel, must not avenge himself, must not repay evil for evil, must not be angry. He must be long-suffering, endure anything; and whoever does wrong, he is to be rebuked in good time, not with a passionate movement in order to avenge himself, but with a desire to correct his brother, according to the commandment of the Lord. He should not say anything about an absent brother with the intention of denigrating — this is slander, even if what was said was just. It is necessary to turn away from a person who slanders a brother. You should not say jokes. One should not laugh and tolerate ridiculers. We should not idle talk and say anything that does not serve either for the benefit of those who hear, or for the use necessary and permitted to us by God; wherefore those who are engaged in work should try as much as possible to have the work done in silence, and that even the kindest words should be spoken by those who, after trial, have been entrusted with the construction of the word for the building up of faith, so that the Holy Spirit of God may not be offended. None of the newcomers should arbitrarily approach any of the brethren or talk to him, until those assigned to watch over the common in the entire deanery have judged whether this is pleasing to God for the common good.

One should not be enslaved to wine, desire to eat meat, and in general be voluptuous in reasoning about food or drink, because the ascetic abstains in everything. That which is given to everyone for use should not be considered property or hidden, but with care one should look upon all this as belonging to the Lord, and not pass unnoticed even that which is occasionally abandoned or neglected.

No one should be master even of himself, but everyone, as given by God to serve unanimous brethren, is accordingly obliged to reason about everything and do everything, however, remaining in his own rank. One should not grumble either when there is a lack of what is needed, or when one is tired of work, because those who are given the power to do this judge each one.

One should not allow oneself to shout or any other kind or movement that shows irritability or deviation from the undoubted confidence in God's presence. The voice should be commensurate with the need. One should not answer anyone or do anything insolently or contemptuously, but one should show modesty and deference to everyone in everything. One should not intentionally blink one's eye or use any other sign or movement of the member that offends a brother or shows contempt.

One should not try to dress up in clothes or shoes -- this is vanity. To satisfy bodily needs should be used inexpensively. Nothing should be spent beyond the need and for the sake of pomp – this is abuse.

One should not seek honor and seek primacy. Everyone should prefer everyone to himself. He should not be disobedient.

He who is able to work should not eat bread in idleness, but when he is engaged in doing something for the glory of Christ, he should force himself to zeal in the work to the best of his ability. Everyone should do everything with the approval of the superiors, with reason and conviction, not excluding the partaking of food and drink, as if this were done for the glory of God. One should not pass from one task to another without the approval of those who are appointed to dispose of it, unless an imminent need suddenly calls someone to help the weakened. Everyone is obliged to abide in what he is assigned to, and must not, transgressing the measure of his own duty, take up what is not entrusted to him, unless those who have the power to dispose of it recognize someone in need of his help. None of the other workers need to be in one worker. One should not do anything out of rivalry or quarrel with anyone.

One should not envy the good reputation of another and rejoice at someone's shortcomings. In the love of Christ, one must grieve and lament over the shortcomings of one's brother, and rejoice at his exaltation. One should not look indifferently at sinners or keep silent about them. He who rebukes must rebuke with all compassion, in the fear of God and in the intention to convert the sinner. The one who is rebuked or reprimanded must accept this willingly, recognizing that his own benefit consists in the correction. When someone is accused, no one else in front of the accused or in the presence of others should make objections to the accuser. And if the accusation seems unfounded to anyone, then he must speak with the accuser in private and convince him or convince him himself. Everyone, as far as he can, should heal those who have something against him. One should not remember evil against the one who has sinned and repented, but must forgive him from the heart.

Whoever says that he has repented of sin must not only be grieved for what he has sinned, but also bring forth worthy fruits of repentance. Whoever has been enlightened concerning his former sins and has been vouchsafed to receive remission of them, if he sins again, prepares for himself a judgment of wrath stricter than the former. Whoever remains in his sin after the first and second admonitions must be declared to the superior, and then, having received a reprimand in the presence of many, he will perhaps come to shame. And if in this case he does not improve, it is necessary to cut him off as a temptation and look upon him as a pagan and a publican, in order to bring to safety those who zealously labor in the course of obedience, according to what has been said, when the wicked fall, the righteous come into fear. But we must also weep for him as for a member cut off from the body.

We must not allow the sun to set in the anger of a brother, otherwise the night may separate both and leave us with the inevitable judgment on the day of judgment. We must not postpone the time of our correction, because the morning day is not true for us: many, having planned many things, did not live to see the morning day.

One should not be deceived by the satiated belly, from which there are night dreams. One should not be entertained by excessive work and overstep the bounds of moderation, according to the words of the Apostle: "And having food and raiment, by this we shall be satisfied" (1 Tim. 6:8), because abundance beyond necessity shows covetousness, and covetousness is condemned as idolatry (Col. 3:5). One should not be covetous and should not accumulate treasures for unnecessary things, which are not necessary. He who comes to God must love poverty in all things and be nailed to the fear of God, just as it is said: "Nail my flesh to Thy fear: for I fear Thy destinies" (Psalm 118:120).

May the Lord, having accepted what has been said with all conviction, grant you to the glory of God to manifest fruits worthy of the Spirit, according to the good pleasure of God and the cooperation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.