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And his anxiety and the chief part of his instruction--through which
the juniors brought to him may be able in due course to mount to the
greatest heights of perfection--will be to teach him first to conquer his
own wishes; and, anxiously and diligently practising him in this, he will
of set purpose contrive to give him such orders as he knows to be contrary
to his liking; for, taught by many examples, they say that a monk, and
especially the younger ones, cannot bridle the desire of his concupiscence
unless he has first learnt by obedience to mortify his wishes. And so the
lay it down that the man who has not first learnt to overcome his desires
cannot possibly stamp out anger or sulkiness, or the spirit of fornication;
nor can he preserve true humility of heart, or lasting unity with the
brethren, or a stable and continuous concord; nor remain for any length of
time in the monastery.
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