Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

To a Solitary.
Letter XXIII. 1977
A certain man, as he says, on condemning the vanity of this life, and perceiving that its
joys are ended here, since they only provide material for eternal fire and then quickly pass
away, has come to me with the desire of separating from this wicked and miserable life, of
abandoning the pleasures of the flesh, and of treading for the future a road which leads to
the mansions of the Lord. Now if he is sincerely firm in his truly blessed purpose, and has
in his soul the glorious and laudable passion, loving the Lord his God with all his heart, with
all his strength, and with all his mind, it is necessary for your reverence to show him the
difficulties and distresses of the strait and narrow way, and establish him in the hope of the
good things which are as yet unseen, but are laid up in promise for all that are worthy of
the Lord. I therefore write to entreat your incomparable perfection in Christ, if it be possible
to mould his character, and, without me, to bring about his renunciation according to what
is pleasing to God, and to see that he receive elementary instruction in accordance with
what has been decided by the Holy Fathers, and put forth by them in writing. See too that
he have put before him all things that are essential to ascetic discipline, and that so he may
be introduced to the life, after having accepted, of his own accord, the labours undergone
for religion’s sake, subjected himself to the Lord’s easy yoke, adopted a conversation in imitation
of Him Who for our sakes became poor 1978 and took flesh, and may run without
fail to the prize of his high calling, and receive the approbation of the Lord. He is wishful
to receive here the crown of God’s loves, but I have put him off, because I wish, in conjunction
with your reverence, to anoint him for such struggles, and to appoint over him one of your
number whom he may select to be his trainer, training him nobly, and making him by his
constant and blessed care a tried wrestler, wounding and overthrowing the prince of the
darkness of this world, and the spiritual powers of iniquity, with whom, as the blessed
Apostle says, is “our wrestling.” 1979 What I wish to do in conjunction with you, let your
love in Christ do without me.
1977 Written at Cæsarea during his presbyterate.
1978 2 Cor. viii. 9.
1979 Eph. vi. 12.
To a Solitary.
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