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ABRAHAM: Sometimes we see bad precedents taken from good things. For if
a man ventures to do the same thing as another, but not with the same mind
and purpose, or not with equal goodness, he will immediately fall into the
snares of deception and death through the very things from which others
gain the fruit of eternal life: As that strong armed lad matched with the
warlike giant in the combat would certainly have found, if he had been clad
in the heavy armour of Saul fit only for men; and that by which one of
stronger age would have laid low countless hosts of foes, would only have
brought certain danger to the stripling, had he not with prudent discretion
chosen the sort of weapons suitable to his youth, and armed himself against
his foul foe not with breastplate and shield, with which he saw that others
were equipped, but with those weapons with which he was able to fight.
Wherefore it is right for each one of us first to consider carefully the
measure of his powers and in accordance with its limits, to choose what
system he pleases, because though all are good, yet all things cannot be
fit for all men. For we do not assert that because the anchorite's life is
good, it is therefore suited for everybody: for by many it is felt to be
not only useless, but even injurious. Nor because we are right in taking up
the system of the coenobium and the pious and praiseworthy care of the
brethren, do we therefore consider that it ought to be followed by
everybody. So also the fruits of the care of strangers are very plentiful,
but this cannot be taken up by everybody without loss of patience. Further,
the systems of your county and of this must first be weighed against each
other; and then the powers of men gathered from the constant occurrence of
their virtues or vices must be severally weighed in the opposite scales.
For it may happen that what is difficult or impossible for a man of one
nation in the case of others is somehow turned by ingrained habit into
nature: just as some nations, separated by a wide difference of region, can
bear tremendous force of cold or heat of the sun without any covering of
the body, which certainly others who have no experience of that inclement
sky, could not possibly endure, however strong they may be. So also do you
who with the utmost efforts of mind and body are trying in this district to
get the better of the nature of your country in many respects, diligently
consider whether in those regions which, as report says, are frozen, and
bound by the cold of excessive unbelief, you could endure this nakedness,
if I may so term it. For to us the fact that our holy life is of long
standing has almost naturally imparted this fortitude in our purpose, and
if we see that you are our equals in virtue and constancy, you in like
manner need not shun the neighbourhood of your kinsfolk and brethren.
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