XVII. THE SECOND CONFERENCE OF ABBOT JOSEPH ON MAKING PROMISES



Index

CHAPTER I: Of the vigils which we endured.

CHAPTER II: Of the anxiety of Abbot Germanus at the recollection of our promise.

CHAPTER III: My ideas on this subject.

CHAPTER IV: Abbot Joseph's question and our answer on the origin of our anxiety.

CHAPTER V: The explanation of Abbot Germanus why we wanted to stay in Egypt, and were drawn back to Syria.

CHAPTER VI: Abbot Joseph's question whether we got more good in Egypt than in Syria.

CHAPTER VII: The answer on the difference of customs in the two countries.

CHAPTER VIII: How those who are perfect ought not to make any promises absolutely, and whether decisions can be reversed without sin.

CHAPTER IX: How it is often better to break one's engagements than to fulfil them.

CHAPTER X: Our question about our fear of the oath which we gave in the monastery in Syria.

CHAPTER XI: The answer that we must take into account the purpose of the doer rather than the execution of the business.

CHAPTER XII: How a fortunate issue will be of no avail to evil doers, while bad deeds will not injure good men.

CHAPTER XIII: Our answer as to the reason which demanded an oath from us.

CHAPTER XIV: The discourse of the Elder showing how the plan of action may be changed without fault provided that one keeps to the carrying out of a good intention.

CHAPTER XV: A question whether it can be without sin that our knowledge affords to weak brethren an opportunity for lying.

CHAPTER XVI: The answer that Scripture truth is not to be altered on account of an offence given to the weak.

CHAPTER XVII: How the saints have profitably employed a lie like hellebore.

CHAPTER XVIII: An objection that only those men employed lies with impunity, who lived under the law.

CHAPTER XIX: The answer, that leave to lie, which was not even granted under the old Covenant, has rightly been taken by many.

CHAPTER XX: How even Apostles thought that a lie was often useful and the truth injurious.

CHAPTER XXI: Whether secret abstinence ought to be made known, without telling a lie about it, to those who ask, and whether what has once been declined may be taken in hand.

CHAPTER XXII: An objection, that abstinence ought to be concealed, but that things that have been declined should not be received.

CHAPTER XXIII: The answer that obstinacy in this decision is unreasonable.

CHAPTER XXIV: How Abbot Piamun chose to hide his abstinence.

CHAPTER XXV: The evidence of Scripture on changes of determination.

CHAPTER XXVI: How saintly men cannot be hard and obstinate.

CHAPTER XXVII: A question whether the saying: "I have sworn and am purposed" is opposed to the view given above.

CHAPTER XXVIII: The answer telling in what cases the determination is to be kept fixedly, and in what cases it may be broken if need be.

CHAPTER XXIX: How we ought to do those things which are to be kept secret.

CHAPTER XXX: That no determination should be made on those things which concern the needs of the common life.