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WHEREFORE we must enter the lists against these faults in such a way
that every one should discover his besetting sin, and direct his main
attack against it, directing all his care and watchfulness of mind to guard
against its assault, directing against it daily the weapons of fasting, and
at all times hurling against it the constant darts of sighs and groanings
from the heart, and employing against it the labours of vigils and the
meditation of the heart, and further pouring forth to God constant tears
and prayers and continually and expressly praying to be delivered from its
attack. For it is impossible for a man to win a triumph over any kind of
passion, unless he has first clearly understood that he cannot possibly
gain the victory in the struggle with it by his own strength and efforts,
although in order that he may be rendered pure he must night and day
persist in the utmost care and watchfulness. And even when he feels that he
has got rid of this fault, he should still search the inmost recesses of
his heart with the same purpose, and single out the worst fault which he
can see among those still there, and bring all the forces of the Spirit to
bear against it in particular, and so by always overcoming the stronger
passions, he will gain a quick and easy victory over the rest, because by a
course of triumphs the soul is made more vigorous, and the fact that the
next conflict is with weaker passion insures him a readier success in the
struggle: as is generally the case with those who are wont to face all
kinds of wild beasts in the presence of the kings of this world, out of
consideration for the rewards -- a kind of spectacle which is generally
called "pancarpus." Such men, I say, direct their first assault against
whatever beasts they see to be the strongest and fiercest, and when they
have despatched these, then they can more easily lay low the remaining
ones, which are not so terrible and powerful. So too, by always overcoming
the stronger passions, as weaker ones take their place, a perfect victory
will be secured for us without any risk. Nor need we imagine that if any
one grapples with one fault in particular, and seems too careless about
guarding against the attacks of others, he will be easily wounded by a
sudden assault, for this cannot possibly happen. For where a man is anxious
to cleanse his heart, and has steeled his heart's purpose against the
attack of any one fault, it is impossible for him not to have a general
dread of all other faults as well, and take similar care of them. For if a
man renders himself unworthy of the prize of purity by contaminating
himself with other faults, how can he possibly succeed in gaining the
victory over that one passion from which he is longing to be freed? But
when the main purpose of our heart has singled out one passion as the,
special object of its attack, we shall pray about it more earnestly, and
with special anxiety and fervour shall entreat that we may be more.
especially on our guard against it and so succeed in gaining a speedy
victory. For the giver of the law himself teaches us that we ought to
follow this plan in our conflicts and not to trust in our own power; as he
says: "Thou shalt not fear them because the Lord thy God is in the midst of
thee, a God mighty and terrible: He will consume these nations in thy sight
by little and little and by degrees. Thou wilt not be able to destroy them
altogether: lest perhaps the beasts of the earth should increase upon thee.
But the Lord thy God shall deliver them in thy sight; and shall slay them
until they be utterly destroyed."
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