25. Passion of fornication. Do not allow
your eyes to wander here and there, and do not look at the beauty of others so
as the eyes do not assist the enemy to vanquish you. (Ephraim of Syria)
25. If the demon of fornication troubles you, you
can forbid him by saying: "May God consume you, full of stench, demon of
uncleanness," for we know the saying: "Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God" (Romans 8:7). (Ephraim of Syria)
25. With the inflammation of carnal lust, think of
the unquenchable fire and the everlasting worm, and the passion in the members
of your body will be extinguished instantly. Otherwise, being weakened, you
will be overcome and get used to sinning, even though you will be repentant.
Consequently, be strict with every similar desire at its very onset, so that it
doesn’t overpower you and so that you don’t get used to yielding to your enemy.
After all habit is second nature. He who is used to yielding to sinful desires
will always be rebuked by his conscience: even though he may exhibit a happy
face in front of others, internally, he would be depressed by reason of his
conscience. Because the nature of lust is to impart an agonizing sorrow to
those that effect it. Consequently, heed your soul and always have God in you.
(Ephraim of Syria)
25. Should a physical conflict erupt in you, do
not be afraid or fall in spirit. Otherwise you will embolden the enemy (devil)
and he will begin to instill into you tempting thoughts: "The passion in
you will not abate until you satisfy it with your lust." But in suffering,
be resigned to the Lord, pour out a tearful prayer before His goodness, and He
will hear and free you from the pitfall of passions (unclean thoughts) and from
the miry clay (shameless thoughts) and set your feet upon a rock of cleanliness
(Psalm 39:1-3). You will then see the help that has arrived from Him. Only be
patient, do not allow your conviction to weaken, don’t become fatigued bailing
out the water from your canoe because the harbor of life is at hand. Then when
you cry out, He will say: "Here I am" (Isiah 58:9). But He is waiting
to witness your ordeal: are you ready to truly combat sin, even unto death.
Therefore, do not be faint-hearted: God will not forsake you. God is witnessing
your ordeal, as are the faces of Angels and a horde of demons. The Angels are
ready to hand out the wreath of victory to the conqueror, while the demons — to
cover the conquered with shame. Be vigilant so as not to sadden your own
(Angels) and gladden the adversary (demons). (Ephraim of Syria)
25. When the demon begins to depict tempting
objects in your imagination and presents to your mind the beauty of a woman
whom you have seen before, initiate a fear of God within you and recall those
that have died in sin, think about the day when your soul will be separating
from your body, imagine the trepidation that the voice of God will produce upon
hearing about the neglectful life-style and the non-compliance with Christ’s
commandments: "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire
prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mat. 25:41). Also, visualize
the eternal worm and unending torment. Think about this, and your urge for
gratification will melt like wax before a flame, because demons cannot
withstand the fear of God for even one moment.
27. Anger and sorrow. If you cannot endure
insults — be silent, and you will become calm. Do not imagine that you are
suffering more than others are. Just as it is impossible for a person living on
earth to avoid breathing, so is every person living in this world cannot avoid
experiencing sorrow and sickness. Being engaged with earthly matters, we
experience sorrow from the earthly, while those that strive toward the
spiritual, suffer spiritually with their soul. However, the latter would be
blessed because their spiritual fruits in the Lord are abundant. (Ephraim of Syria)
28. If sorrow has arrived, expect the arrival of
happiness. Let us take the example of those sailing on the sea. When a storm
arises, they battle with the waves, waiting for calm weather; and when calm
weather arrives, they prepare for storms. They are constantly vigilant, so that
the sudden arrival of wind does not find them unprepared by capsizing the
vessel. We should also act likewise: when sorrow or a difficult situation
arises, let us expect alleviation and assistance from God, so as not to be oppressed
by the thought that we have no hope of salvation. (Ephraim of Syria)
28. Everything is from God — good and sad. One is
from benevolence, while the other is because God allows it to happen. From
benevolence — when we live virtuously, because it pleases God that we adorn
ourselves with crowns of patience; by God’s permission — when we sin and are
brought to our senses; from God’s will — when we do not improve even after
being enlightened. God providentially punishes us sinners so that we would not be
condemned with the world — as the Apostle states: "But when we are
judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the
world" (1 Cor. 11:32). (Ephraim of Syria)
30. Vainglory and pride. Do not do anything
for show but from a pure heart, because God knows the hidden and secret things,
and it is only from Him that we can hope to receive our reward. (Ephraim of
Syria)
30. A proud person cannot tolerate anyone that is
superior to him — and in meeting him, either becomes envious or his rival.
Rivalry and envy go hand in hand, and he who has one of these passions, has
both of them. (Ephraim of Syria)
30. The unchaste spirit of conceit is resourceful
and diverse and uses all his strength to take possession of people: it entraps
the wise with wisdom, the strong with strength, the rich with riches, the
beautiful with beauty, the artist with arts. (Ephraim of Syria)
30. A novice that doesn’t have humility, doesn’t
have any weaponry against the enemy (devil) and will suffer a great defeat.
(Ephraim of Syria)
30. The beginning of humility is submissiveness.
May humility be the basis and embellishment to your responses; let your
utterances be plain and friendly. Conceit does not submit; it is disobedient,
unruly, controlled by its own concepts, while humility is obedient, submissive
to goodness, modest, renders respect to the insignificant as well as the great.
(Ephraim of Syria)
51. Demon’s snares. Through various means,
the cunning enemy injected every one of us with his poison and now tempts us with
his lures. One observes Lents, but gives himself up to rivalry and envy.
Another refrains from lustful desires, but is bound to vainglory. Another
accomplishes great labors, but is entangled in judging others. Another avoids
judging, but is obstinate and contradictory. Another is restrained with food,
but is drowning in pride and conceit. Yet another is untiring in his prayers,
but is irritable and wrathful. Another was successful in something small and
elevates himself above those more negligent than he. In this fashion, sin has
bound every person in one way or another, yet people don’t realize this.
(Ephraim of Syria)
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