The Laughable Stories Collected by Mar Gregory John

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN RECLUSES. 43
CLXXXIV. One of the old men gave a cup of wine
[twice] to Sisoes the great and he drank [it], but when he ^
mixed it for him the third time he would not drink,
saying, ''Forbear, old man, for thou knowest not whether
"it be Satan," referring by these words to drunkenness
which is the mother of all vices ^
CLXXXV. Abba Arsenius used, every Saturday ^A
night, to leave the sun behind him, and to stretch out
his hands towards heaven and to pray until the sun
rose in his face^
CLXXXVI. Certain of the Fathers said, "Whosoever ^
"doth not receive all the brethren alike is not, as yet,
"perfect."
CLXXXVII. Certain philosophers went once on a
time to the desert that they might tempt the recluses,
vjLkdfvx. p^oqs.i f^.icrA cbiio^l (fol. 205^?, No. 61).
^ Compare the following:—Abraham, the disciple of Sisoes, said
to him, "Supposing there be a congregation on Saturday or Sunday,
"and that a brother were to drink three cups of wine: would that
"be too much?" Sisoes replied, "If Satan did not exist it would
"not be too*much, but since he doth exist it is too much." Ti^ar^
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