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AND when in their astonishment at this they came straight to Abbot
Antony and disclosed the extent of their attacks and the reason of them and
their plots, they dissembled their jealousy and asked that they might
forthwith be made Christians. But when he had asked of them the day when
the assault was made, he declared that at that time he had been afflicted
with the most bitter pangs of thought. And by this experience the blessed
Antony proved and established the opinion which we expressed yesterday in
our Conference, that demons cannot possibly find an entrance into the mind
or body of anyone, nor have they the power of overwhelming the soul of
anyone, unless they have first deprived it of all holy thoughts, and made
it empty and free from spiritual meditation. But you must know that unclean
spirits are obedient to men in two ways. For either they are by divine
grace and power subject to the holiness of the faithful, or they are
captivated by the sacrifices of sinners, and certain charms, and are
flattered by them as their worshippers. And the Pharisees too were led
astray by this notion and fancied that by this device even the Lord the
Saviour gave commands to devils, and said "By Beelzebub the prince of the
devils He casteth out devils," in accordance with that plan by which they
knew that their own magicians and enchanters--by invoking his name and
offering sacrifices, with which they know he is pleased and delighted--have
as his servants power even over the devils who are subject to him.
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