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.