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MOSES: If you want to test the force of this rule, keep to this limit
continually, never departing from it by taking any cooked food even on
Sunday or Saturday, or on the occasions of the arrival of any of the
brethren; for the flesh, refreshed by these exceptions, is able not only to
support itself through the rest of the week on a smaller quantity, but can
also postpone all refreshment without difficulty, as it is sustained by the
addition of that food which it has taken beyond the limit; while the man
who has always been satisfied with the full amount of the above-mentioned
measure will never be able to do this, nor to put off breaking his fast
till the morrow. For I remember that our Elders (and I recollect that we
ourselves also often had the same experience) found it so hard and
difficult to practise this abstinence, and observed the rule laid down with
such pain and hunger that it was almost against their will and with tears
and lamentation that they set this limit to their meals.
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