|
SUCH is discretion, which is not only the "light of the body," but also
called the sun by the Apostle, as it said "Let not the sun go down upon
your wrath." It is also called the guidance of our life: as it said
"Those who have no guidance, fall like leaves." It is most truly named
counsel, without which the authority of Scripture allows us to do nothing,
so that we are not even permitted to take that spiritual "wine which maketh
glad the heart of man" without its regulating control: as it is said "Do
everything with counsel, drink thy wine with counsel," and again "like a
city that has its walls destroyed and is not fenced in, so is a man who
does anything without counsel." And how injurious the absence of this is
to a monk, the illustration and figure in the passage quoted shows, by
comparing it to a city that is destroyed and without walls. Heroin lies
wisdom, herein lies intelligence and understanding without which our inward
house cannot be built, nor can spiritual riches be gathered together, as it
is said: "A house is built with wisdom, and again it is set up with
intelligence. With understanding the storehouses are filled with all
precious riches and good things." This I say is "solid food," which can
only be taken by those who are full grown and strong, as it is said: "But
solid food is for full grown men, who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern good and evil." And it is shown to be useful and
necessary for us, only in so far as it is in accordance with the word of
God and its powers, as is said "For the word of God is quick and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged sword, and reaching even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart:" and by this it is clearly shown
that no virtue can possibly be perfectly acquired or continue without the
grace of discretion. And so by the judgment of the blessed Antony as well
as of all others it has been laid down that it is discretion which leads a
fearless monk by fixed stages to God, and preserves the virtues mentioned
above continually intact, by means of which one may ascend with less
weariness to the extreme summit of perfection, and without which even those
who toil most willingly cannot reach the heights of perfection. For
discretion is the mother of all virtues, as well as their guardian and
regulator.
|
|