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WHEN after a short sleep we returned for morning service and were
waiting for the old man, Abbot Germanus was troubled by great scruples
because in the previous discussion, the force of which had inspired us with
the utmost longing for this chastity which was till now unknown to us, the
blessed old man had by the addition of a single sentence broken down the
claims of man's exertions, adding that man even though he strive with all
his might for a good result, yet cannot become meter of what is good unless
he has acquired it simply by the gift of Divine bounty and not by the
efforts of his own toil. While then we were puzzling over this question the
blessed Chaeremon arrived at the cell, and as he saw that we were
whispering together about something, he cut the service of prayers and
Psalms shorter than usual, and asked us what was the matter.
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