VII. FIRST CONFERENCE OF ABBOT SERENUS, ON INCONSTANCY OF MIND, AND SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS
Index
CHAPTER I: On the chastity of Abbot Serenus.
CHAPTER II: The question of the aforesaid old man on the state of our thoughts.
CHAPTER III: Our answer on the fickle character of our thoughts.
CHAPTER IV: The discourse of the old man on the state of the soul and its excellence.
CHAPTER V: On the perfection of the soul, as drawn from the comparison of the Centurion in the gospel.
CHAPTER VI: Of perseverance as regards care of the thoughts.
CHAPTER VII: A question on the roving tendency of the mind and the attacks of spiritual wickedness.
CHAPTER VIII: The answer on the help of God and the power of free will
CHAPTER IX: A question on the union of the soul with devils.
CHAPTER X: The answer how unclean spirits are united with human souls.
CHAPTER XI: An objection whether unclean spirits can be present in or united with the souls of those whom they have filled.
CHAPTER XII: The answer how it is that unclean spirits can lord it over those possessed.
CHAPTER XIII: How spirit cannot be penetrated by spirit, and how God alone is incorporeal.
CHAPTER XIV: An objection, as to how we ought to believe that devils see into the thoughts of men.
CHAPTER XV: The answer what devils can and what they cannot do in regard to the thoughts of men.
CHAPTER XVI: An illustration showing how we are taught that unclean spirits know the thoughts of men.
CHAPTER XVII: On the fact that not every devil has the power of suggesting every passion to men.
CHAPTER XVIII: A question whether among the devils there is any order observed in the attack, or system in its changes.
CHAPTER XIX: The answer how far an agreement exists among devils about the attack and its changes.
CHAPTER XX: Of the fact that opposite powers are not of the same boldness, and that the occasions of temptation are not under their control.
CHAPTER XXI: Of the fact that devils struggle with men not without effort on their part.
CHAPTER XXII: On the fact that the power to hurt does not depend upon the will of the devils.
CHAPTER XXIII: Of the diminished power of the devils.
CHAPTER XXIV: Of the way in which the devils prepare for themselves an entrance into the bodies of those whom they are going to possess.
CHAPTER XXV: On the fact that those men are more wretched who are possessed by sins than those who are possessed by devils.
CHAPTER XXVI: Of the death of the prophet who was led astray, and of the infirmity of the Abbot Paul, with which he was visited for the sake of his cleansing.
CHAPTER XXVII: On the temptation of Abbot Moses.
CHAPTER XXVIII: How we ought not to despise those who are delivered up to unclean spirits.
CHAPTER XXIX: An objection, asking why those who are tormented by unclean spirits are separated from the Lord's communion.
CHAPTER XXX: The answer to the question raised.
CHAPTER XXXI: On the fact that those men are more to be pitied to whom it is not given to be subjected to those temporal temptations.
CHAPTER XXXII: Of the different desires and wishes which exist in the powers of the air.
CHAPTER XXXIII: A question as to the origin of such differences in powers of evil in the sky.
CHAPTER XXXIV: The postponement of the answer to the question raised.