pachomius.instructions.01 Chapter 1

THE INSTRUCTIONS WHICH OUR HOLY FATHER, HE WHO WAS GLORIOUS IN EVERYTHING, THE ARCHIMANDRITE, PRONOUNCED CONCERNING A BROTHER WHO, IN THE TIME OE APA EBONH, WAS STIRRED TO WRATH AGAINST A CERTAIN MAN WHOM HE HAD BROUGHT TO TABENNfiSE.i HE SPAKE THESE WORDS TO HIM, AND THE OTHER FATHERS (WHO WERE) OLD MEN WERE THERE, AND THEY REJOICED EXCEEDINGLY. IN THE PEACE OF GOD!

MAY HIS HOLY BLESSING AND THE BLESSINGS OF ALL THE SAINTS COME UPON US, AND MAY WE ALL BE SAVED! AMEN.

My son, listen. Make thyself wise, and receive the instruction of truth (?).

There are two ways (which thou canst follow).

Either make thyself independent, (or) hearken unto (i. e. obey) God as did Abraham, who forsook his [native] land, and made himself an exile, and lived in a tent with Isaac in the land of promise as a stranger.

He obeyed, he humbled himself, he came into an inheritance, until at length he was put to the test in the matter of Isaac.

He shewed himself to be superior to the temptation, and he offered up Isaac as a sacrifice unto God.

In this matter God called him, 'My companion' (or, friend).

And again, take to thyself the humility of Jacob, and his obedience, and his patient endurance, until he became a light, and he saw the Father of All, and was called 'Israel'

And again, take to thyself the wisdom of Joseph and his obedience; and do thou strive earnestly under ascetic control, and with the service of a slave, until thou makest thyself a king.

My son, emulate the lives of the saints, and follow closely their virtues in thy life and conversation.

Awake!

Be not careless.

Stimulate him that dwelleth in thee, of whom thou art the sponsor.

Rise up, tarry thou a not with the dead, and the Christ shall give thee light. Let grace spring up into being within thee,

for of all the gifts of grace it is long-suffering which thou shalt make manifest; because the saints exercised long-suffering they inherited the promises.

Long-suffering is the glory of the saints.

Be thou then long-suffering, so that thou mayest be numbered among the company of the saints 'while you believe that you will receive an imperishable crown

Thoughts? Bear them with long-suffering (or, patience) until God shall give thee rest.

Fasting? Bear it continually with patient endurance.

Prayer? Let it be without ceasing in thy habitation between thee and God.

(Let thy) heart be at one with thy brother.

(Let) virginity be in all thy members,

(let) virginity be in thy thoughts (or, mind)

purity of body and purity of heart.

A neck bowed in submission and a humble mind.

Gentleness in the hour of wrath.

If thoughts (or, anxieties) oppress thee, be not downhearted, but exercise patient endurance with gladness, saying, 'Though they keep me in on every side

in the Name of the Lord I will destroy them.'

And straightway the help of God shall come unto thee, and thou shalt drive them away from thee, and gladness shall compass thee round about, and the Glory of God shall walk with thee.

For gladness goeth with him that is humble, and thou shalt be satisfied with whatsoever thy soul desireth.

For the ways of God are with him that is lowly of heart, and with the humble man.

For He said, 'I look upon every one who is lowly in heart and humble.'

If thou shalt walk in the ways of the Lord, the Lord shall watch over thee, and give thee strength.

He shall I fill thee with knowledge and prudence, the remembrance of thee shall remain before Him at all times. He shall deliver thee from the Devil, and He shall bestow upon thee His peace at thine end.

My son, I command thee to watch and to be sober, and to understand what are the things which lie in wait for thee.

The spirit of sloth and a not unbelieving attitude of mind walk together.

The spirit of lying and the works and the words which are not deceitful walk together.

The spirit of the love of money, and non-trafficking, and not swearing false oaths, and works which are not evil, and envy walk together.

The spirit of vanity and non-greediness (?) walk together.

The spirit of fornication and impurity walk together.

The spirit of enmity and lack of sorrow walk together.

Woe be to that miserable soul wherein these things take up their abode, and make themselves masters of it in such a manner that they drive it away from God

for it getteth out of its own control, and it is tossed about on this side and on that until it arriveth in the Tartarus of Amente.

My son, hearken unto me. Be not thou careless

Give no sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids, so that thou mayest be able to escape like a goat from those who would shear it.

For, O my son, all the spirits from my youth up have on many occasions made me weak,

I came into the desert they used to afflict me to such a degree that my heart failed me, and I thought that there was not strength enough in me to stand up against the threat of the Serpent.

For he used to persecute me on every side

if I came into the middle (to fight) he would close in upon me and do battle with me

and if I tried to escape, he would afflict me with his insolence.

My heart was in a state of black terror, and although I turned to this side and to that many, many times I could not find rest.

But when we took refuge at the feet of God with weeping and with humility, and with fasting, and with vigils by night, the Enemy and all his spirits also became powerless in respect of me, and the joy of God came to me,

and I experienced straightway the help of God, for through His support He teacheth the children of men His strength, and His Christ-like (affection).

My son, do not use words of abuse to any man, lest peradventure thou mayest see some one paying (the man) honour, and must say, 'This one hath ended (his trouble), he receiveth refreshing.'

Take thou good heed to guard thyself against a thought of this kind, for it is exceedingly; and God I hateth him that payeth Him honour, if he be one who hateth his brother.

And he who shall say concerning himself, 'I am something,' is nothing at all, and he only deceiveth himself; is there any one who can help him?

He who is arrogant, and who maketh his heart like unto the heart of God, saying,

There is no one who can be compared with me,' let him hear now his Creator, saying, 'Thou shalt go down into Amente. They shall cast thee down with the dead, the worms shall gnaw pieces from thy body, and the Worm shall envelop thee.'

The man who hath gotten himself humility judgeth himself, saying,

My sins are greater than those of every other man' he judgeth no man in any way whatsoever, and he abuseth no man.

Who art thou that thou shouldst judge a slave who doth not belong unto thee ?

For him who hath fallen down his God is able to set upon his feet (again).

My son, keep watch over thyself, and never abuse any man.

Taste thou all the virtues, and guard thou them carefully.

If thou art a stranger, keep to thyself. Rush not into the company of men, and thou shalt not mingle with their works.

(If) thou art a poor man make not thyself liable in respect of any matter, lest men revile thee; for poverty is an evil matter in the mouth of the wicked. Hast thou never heard (it said that) ' If ye feel hunger ye will feel aggrieved,

and ye will speak evil things against the governor and against the fathers'?

Again, observe carefully lest war be let loose on thee because of something which thou didst lack for thy fleshly need, and because food hath rendered thee blameworthy; but endure patiently, in spite of everything, and God shall work effectively (for thee) in secret.

Remember Habakkuk in Judea, and Daniel in Chaldea,

though there was a difference between them—for one used to rule in the palace—especially the case of Daniel; when he was down in the pit (and was intended) to become food for the wild beasts,

He prepared a meal for him.

Remember Elijah in the desert, and the widow in Zarephath, who notwithstanding the scourge of famine and the pressure of hunger which weighed heavily upon her, and the helplessness of her old age, never lost heart,

but she contended boldly, and prevailed and obtained the promise of God, and her house enjoyed abundance during the time of the famine.

The giving of bread either in the time of abundance or in (the time of) poverty is not power if thou be once blameworthy through want.

For it is written concerning the saints, 'They suffer want, they are afflicted, they endure tribulation,

but they boast themselves in their troubles.'

If thou dost a contend in patience in the strife of the Scriptures, no servitude whatsoever shall come upon thee, according to that which is, written,

'Do not let yourselves be deceived with eating, and drinking, or with the share at the festival, or with new moons, or with sabbaths, which shall be a covering for the things that take place.'

Meditate thou always on the words of God, endure sufferings patiently, and in everything give thanks.

Flee thou from before the honour of men. Love thou him that revileth thee, in the fear of God.

Let every man be profitable unto thee, and do thou make thyself profitable to every man. Continue thou in thy work and word which is good.

Turn not back unto him that runneth behind thee, so that God may not hate thee.

For the crown shall be unto those who continue [to contend], and ever more and more do thou hearken to God, so that thou mayest make Him to save thee.

When thou art seated among the brethren, do not laugh at even the smallest word of scurrility (which thou mayest hear).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego disregarded the jeering of Nebuchadnezzar, and for this reason he was unable to compel them (to worship) by the songs and music of his instruments neither was he able to trick them by meals at his table.

And for this reason the flames of fire [of the furnace] which rose up to a height of forty-nine cubits were extinguished. And these men did not go over to the perverse (or, crooked),

but they were upright before Him that is upright, that is to say, God; and for this reason He made them chiefs over their enemies.

And again, Daniel did not hearken unto the conversation of the Chaldeans, which was evil, and for this reason he became a chosen vessel of great value.

And (the lions) fell down, and watched him with intelligent understanding, and he shut the mouths of the savage lions.

Now therefore, O my son, if thou wilt set God before thee as thy hope, He will become a helper unto thee in the hour of thy strife;

for it is right for him that setteth out to go to God to believe that He is, and that this wage (i.e. reward, or prize) shall be to those who seek Him.

These words have been written down for us in order that we may believe in God, and that we, from the least among us even to the greatest, may strive in the contest with fastings, and with prayers, and with other kinds of service, until the spittle drieth in thy mouth through fasting.

And God will not be unmindful of this, but thou shalt find all these again in the hour of thy necessity.

Only do thou humble thyself in everything.

Set thy word behind thee, if thou wouldst have understanding of everything in peace.

Accustom not thyself to treat (temptation) with contempt, but bear every temptation with gladness, for thou canst not know what honour may follow the temptation.

Thou shalt not pray, 'Remove the temptation from me'; because it is better for thee that thou shouldst pray, and weep, and heave sighs until thou art saved, than for thee to abandon thy heart, and to allow it to carry thee away captive.

man, what wilt thou do in Babylon? Thou wilt commit some disgraceful act in (that) strange land, because thou hast never been put to the test, and thou wilt cast God away from thee willingly.

For this reason, O my brother, do not abandon thy heart.

Thou mayest perhaps forget for a short time

but thine enemies will never sleep, neither will they ever forget, either by night or by day, and they will attribute craft to thee.

For this reason run not thou after greatness, lest thou be humiliated, and thine enemies rejoice over thee;

run after humility, for he that exalteth himself shall be brought low, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

If thou art unable to make thyself independent, cling thou unto some one who doth work in the Gospel of the Christ, and thou shalt go forward with him.

Or do thou obey thyself, or submit thyself, to one who doth obey. Or make thyself to become strong, so that men may call thee Elias, or do thou obey a strong man, so that men may call thee Elisha;

because since Elisha obeyed Elijah the spirit of Elijah came in a double portion upon Elisha.

If thou dost wish to dwell among men make thyself to be like unto Abraham (when he lived) with Lot, and like Moses and like Samuel.

If thou wishest to live in the desert, behold, all the prophets (have done so) before thee;

make thyself like unto them. They spread themselves about in the deserts, and in the ravines of the hills, and in the caverns of the earth, they suffered privations, and they endured tribulations, and afflictions, and pains.

Again He saith, 'The shadows of those who were martyred (?) and the spirlt(s) of the men who endured trial, and suffered tribulation, shall bless Thee.

Moreover, when the thief uttered one word on the cross, God forgave him his sins, and took him into Paradise.

Behold, how very great shall be thine honour if thou shalt endure temptation with patience, or the spirit of fornication, or the spirit of pride, or any bodily passion whatsoever.

In short, thou must thyself strive in the struggle against the passions of the Devil, so as not to follow him.

And Jesus K shall graciously bestow upon thee His promises.

Keep thou watch against sloth, for she is the mother of all vices.

My son, flee thou from the desire of lust, for that it is which produceth the understanding of wickedness.

It will not permit a man to know the mystery of God,

and it will make thee a stranger to the language of the Spirit;

and it will not permit thee to bear the Cross of the Christ,

and it will not permit the heart to breathe the blessings of God.

Keep thou watch against the relaxation of the viscera, which shall make thee a stranger unto the good things of Paradise.

Keep thou watch against the pollution of thy body, which shall provoke to wrath God and His angels.

My son, turn thou to God ; thou shalt love Him, thou shalt flee from the Enemy, whom thou shalt hate, so that the graces of God may be with thee, and thou shalt inherit, as did Judah, the son of Jacob.

For He saith, 'Judah, thy brethren' shall bless thee, thy hand shall be upon the necks of thine enemies, and the children of thy father shall act as slaves unto thee.

Guard thyself against pride, for it is the beginning of every evil;

the beginning of pride shall remove thee from God, and that which followeth in its train is callousness of heart.

If thou keepest watch over thyself in respect of this, thy place of repose shall be the Jerusalem of heaven;

if the Lord desireth thee He will give glory unto thee.

Keep watch, and let not thy heart be puffed up, but continue in thy humility, and thou shalt remain in the glory which God giveth to thee.

Keep watch and be sober. Blessed is he who shall be found keeping watch, for they shall appoint him to be over the property of his Lord.

And he shall enter into the Kingdom with gladness, and the companions of the Bridegroom shall love him, because he was to be found keeping watch in His vineyard.

My son, be thou long-suffering in everything, for it is written, 'Make haste to make thyself a chosen one of God, a workman who hath no need to be ashamed.'

Set out on thy way to God after the manner of one who soweth and reapeth, and thou shalt enter into thy treasure-house (or, granary) of the good things of God.

Do not turn away the face like the hypocrites, but treat with decision the wishes of thy heart; work for God, and work for thine own salvation.

If the passion of the love of money attack thee, and envy, or hatred, or any one of the other passions, enter into thee, take thou to thyself the heart of the lion, take thou to thyself the heart of the mighty warrior, and do battle with them, and destroy them like Sihon, and Og, and all the kings of the Amorites;

for the beloved Son, the Only-begotten, the King Jesus, fighteth for thee, and thou shalt inherit the city of the enemy.

Only cast out from thyself every kind of pride, and thou shalt be strong.

And observe. When Joshua, (the son) of Nun was bold (or strong), God gave his enemies into his hand.

If thou become timid of heart thou makest thyself a stranger to the law of God.

Timidity of heart filleth thee with excuses for sloth, and unbelief, and carelessness, until thou art destroyed.

Be lion-hearted I Cry out, saying, 'Who shall separate us from the love of God? If thou sayest, ' My outer (man) will perish, (it may be true), but thine inner man will become renewed day by day.

If thou livest in the desert fight by means of prayers, and fastings, and afflictions;

if thou livest among men, be thou wise as the serpents, and harmless as these doves (about) us.

If a man hath struck thee a blow, bear it at his hands, and rejoice ; set thy hope in God, and He will do what is good for thee.

And as for thee, thou shalt not dishonour the image of God, Who Himself said, 'To him who giveth glory to Me will I give glory; him who dishonoureth Me I will dishonour

And when men pay honour unto thee, rejoice not, for it is written, 'Woe unto you when all men pay honour unto you.'

And again He said, 'Blessed are ye when men heap curses on you, and persecute you, and revile your names as (those of) evildoer(s).'

Behold our Fathers Barnabas and Paul, when honour was paid to them they rent their garments, and they wept, hating the glory of men.

And Peter himself, and John, when they had been beaten in the Synagogue came out rejoicing, because they had been held to be worthy of being beaten for the sake of the Holy Name of the Lord, (for) they were hoping for the honour of heaven.

O my son, do thou flee the comfort which is in this world in order that thou mayest enjoy thyself in the world which is to come.

Be not careless, and do not let day after day pass unheeding, or (vices) will overtake thee before thou knowest (it), and thou wilt come into danger wherefrom thou canst not escape, and these foul-faced things will surround thee, and seize thee, and carry thee away with insolent boldness, and they will cast thee into their place of darkness, which is filled with fear and tribulation.

Grieve not if any man insult thee before men, but grieve and sigh when thou committest a sin,

for this is the true disgrace for thee, to go to the stripes of thy sin.

I command thee, with the greatest earnestness, to hate the glory which is vain.

The armour of the Devil is empty praise, and it was in this way that he led astray Eve.

He said unto her, 'Eat of the tree, for it will open your eyes, and ye shall become like the gods.'

She hearkened and she thought that it was true ; she fled from the glory which was divine,

and there was taken away from her (the glory) of humanity.

And when thou pursuest the glory which is vain, it maketh thee a stranger to the glory of God.

Now in the case of Eve the Scriptures were not written which would have informed her concerning this battle before the Devil tempted her.

Therefore did the Word of God come, and take upon Itself flesh of the Virgin Mary, in order that it might secure the freedom of the race of Eve.

But thou hast been informed concerning this battle by the saints who were before thee, in the Holy Scriptures.

For this reason, O (my) brother, do not say, 'I have not heard (of it),' or 'I was not told about it before yesterday, and the day before yesterday'.

For it is written, 'The sound of them hath come forth over all the earth, and their words have reached unto the uttermost ends of the world.'

Now therefore, when honour is paid unto thee, abase thy heart thyself, and give glory to God;

and when they revile thee, give glory to God likewise, and give thanks unto Him because thou art held to be worthy of the portion of His Son and His saints.

If they called thy Lord 'The Impostor', and the Prophets vile men', and the others ' madmen ', behold, how much more will they call us by these names who are dust and ashes?

Grieve not when thou art reviled, for this is (thy) way to thy life.

Now if it be thy carelessness which draweth thee to weeping, thou shalt mourn ; for those who wear scarlet shall clothe themselves with dung, because they have been careless concerning the Law of God, and have followed after the desires of their hearts.

Now, therefore, O my son, weep thou to God at all times, for it is written, 'Blessed is he whom Thou hast chosen, and hast received to Thyself ;

Thou hast placed thoughts in his heart, a flood of tears, the place which Thou hast established.'

Make unto thyself simplicity (or, innocence). Be thou like unto the simple lambs about us, which when their wool is shorn from them say nothing.

Go not from one place to another, saying, 'I shall find God in this place or in that.'

God saith, 'I fill the heavens, I fill the earth.'

And again, 'If thou shouldst cross over the waters I should still be with thee, and the rivers shall not cover thee up.'

Know, O my son, that God is in thine interior, so that He may make thee to remain in the law and commandments of God.

Behold, the thief upon the cross went into Paradise.

Behold, Judas himself in the midst of the Apostles betrayed his Lord.

Behold Rahab and her fornication!

She is numbered among the saints.

Behold, Eve, who was deceived, is in Paradise.

Behold, Job on the dung-heap is compared with his God.

Behold, Adam, who transgressed the commandment, is in Paradise.

Behold, the angels of heaven were taken into the abyss (?).

Behold, Elijah and Enoch were taken into the kingdom of the heavens with all glory.

Seek after God, seek ye His face at all times.

Seek thou Him as did Abraham, who obeyed God and offered up his son as a sacrifice unto God,

Who called him My Companion'.

Seek Him like Joseph, who contended against pollution, and at length became king over his enemies.

Seek Him like Moses, who followed his God,

and He made him a lawgiver, and taught him concerning His likeness.

Daniel sought Him, and He taught him great mysteries,

and delivered him from the mouths of the lions.

The Three Holy Men sought Him, and found Him in the furnace of fire.

Job took refuge with Him, and He healed him of his wounds.

Susannah sought Him, and He delivered her out of the hand of the lawless men.

Judith sought Him, and she found Him in the tent of Holophernes.

All these sought Him, and He delivered them, (and) He delivered others also.

As for thee, O my son, how long wilt thou be careless?

What is the limit (?) of thy carelessness?

What it was last year, even so is it this year;

and what it was yesterday, even so is it to-day.

How long wilt thou remain careless? (When) wilt thou progress?

Be sober. Lift up thy heart.

For assuredly it will happen to thee that thou wilt be made to stand before the throne of God, and thou wilt have to explain the things which thou hast done in secret, as well as those which thou hast done openly.

If thou goest to a place where fighting is, it belongeth to God, for the Spirit of God urgeth thee, saying,

Rest not in the place wherein there is a snare, for the Devil will cast a spell on thee, saying, I will be with thee (?) the first time, otherwise what wilt thou see? Wilt thou not grieve?'

Hearken not to his deceitful discourse, so that the Spirit of God may drive him away from thee, (or) thou wilt become feeble, and thou wilt become infirm like Samson, and the foreigners shall bind thee with fetters, and shall cast thee into the place of torture (?), that is to say, of gnashing of teeth.

And thou shalt become to them an object of derision, that is to say, they shall rejoice over thee, and thou shalt never know (i. e. find) the way to thy city, thine eyes having been put out,

because thou didst reveal thy heart to Delilah, that is to say, to the Devil, who hath taken thee by guile, because thou didst set behind thee the counsels of the Spirit.

And thou seest also how Bathsheba persuaded this mighty man David, and how she would have crushed him, had it not been that he repented quickly about the wife of Uriah.

And moreover it is written, 'Ye see my stroke, be afraid.'

And behold it hath been shewn to thee that He doth not spare His saints.

Be sober therefore, and know what things are promised (to thee). Flee thou from arrogance, separate thou thyself from it, lest it put out the eyes of thine understanding, and it make thee blind, and thou art unable to find the way to the city which is thy habitation.

And again, know thou the city of the Christ, and give glory unto Him, because He died for thee.

If it should happen that a brother uttereth some word concerning thee, why shouldst thou become angry, and behave towards him like a wild beast?

And why dost thou not remember that the Christ died for thee?

At the moment when thine enemy, that is to say, the Devil, whispereth unto thee, thou dost incline thine ear to him, and he poureth into it stinkingness, and thou openest thy heart, and dost swallow the venom which he poureth into thee.

O miserable one, at this moment thou either becomest a wild beast, or thou becomest like a blazing fire, and dost bum until thou art consumed by all his wickedness; empty out thy heart, and vomit forth the wicked evil-eye which is therein, lest the poison fly throughout thy body and thou die.

O man, nurse thou not the few words which thy brother hath spoken against thee.

Thine enemy seeketh to swallow up thee and thy soul. 'What then wilt thou do?

Wilt thou treat him harshly? Do not, O my beloved, do not cause men to lament for thee. In the place of the world because because of men's deeds (or, works) they shave the head, instead of the of gold of the head.

But be thou sober, and bear thou the stripe of him that smiteth thee patiently, and be thou longsuffering with thy brother, and do not thou make afraid his heart with the sufferings of the flesh.

O my son, take thou good heed to the words of the wise man Paul, and to that which he spake, saying, 'There are bonds and tribulations awaiting me in Jerusalem,

but I do not value my soul in the very least so that I may complete my course.

And I am ready to die in Jerusalem for the Name of my Lord Jesus, the Christ.'

For neither sufferings nor temptation can prevent the saints from going to the Lord.

Be thou of good cheer then, play the man; what hast thou, to do with the sluggishness of the Devil?

He fleeth before the patient endurance of the saints.

O my son, why dost thou flee from Adonai, the Lord of Sabaoth?

Why dost thou flee to the captivity of the Chaldeans?

Why dost thou give thy heart to eat with the devils?

Guard thou thyself, O my son, from fornication.

Destroy not the member of the Christ.

Do not hearken to the devils, and make the member of the Christ into the member of a whore.

Remember the tribulations and the punishments.

Bring back the trial (?) of God before thee. Flee thou from before every lust.

Strip thyself naked of the old man and his works, and do thou put on thyself the new man.

Remember thy necessity in the hour wherein thou shalt come forth from the body.

O my son, flee thou to the feet of God, for it is He Who hath created thee, and He suffered for thee.

I gave My back to the stripes of the whips, and My cheeks to the buffetings of insult; I did not turn away My Face from the shame and the spitting.'

O man, the road to Egypt is not for thee, and it is not for thee to make thyself drink water from this Geon (i. e. Nile) which ;is stirred up (i.

1. muddy).

These thoughts which are muddy also are not for thee.

Bestir thyself until these sufferings depart (?) from thee.

Moreover, turn thyself, weep for thy sins.

For it is written, ' If ye set yourselves to consider your sins which are in the soul, a seed of a great plant shall appear.'

Therefore thou seest, O man, that transgression is an evil thing, and that sin is wont to produce a multitude of sufferings and punishment.