The laughable stories collected by Mâr Gregory John Bar Hebræ

PROFITABLE SAYINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN RECLUSES. 55
going in with the bride to the feast, he brought out
from his bosom the Book of the Apostle Paul,
and admonished
and taught the young woman the words
which were written therein by the blessed man on
virginity, saying, "It is better for a man not to approach
"a woman', and I would that all men should live even
"as do I in purity^" and again [where] he saith, "The
"woman who hath never known man meditateth upon
"her Lord, that she may be holy^ in her body and in
"her soul." With words such as these did he exhort
his betrothed one, and they made their bodies temples
to the Holy Spirit.
CCX. One of the old men said, "If thou seest a
"young man who lusteth to go up to heaven of his
"own will, take hold of his leg and sweep him thence."
CCXL One of the solitaries had so thoroughly dried
up his body through the labour of fasting and prayer
that the sun could be seen [shining] through his ribs.
.^_OS0rc' Klar^.T coAxol^ >oeD i.T^ Eventually Ammon's wife
thinks it better for herself and her husband to live wholly apart,
and they do so (fol. 54a Of Abba Ammon).
^
'
I Corinthians vii. i. Bar-Hebraeus quotes the Peshttta Version.
I Corinthians vii. 6. ^ The Peshitta has r^ivx.Mo.
t I Corinthians vii. 34.