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WHEREFORE in accordance with that system, which you admirably compared
to teaching children (who can only take in the first lessons on the
alphabet and recognize the shapes of the letters, and trace out their
characters with a steady hand if they have, by means of some copies and
shapes carefully impressed on wax, got accustomed to express their figures,
by constantly looking at them and imitating them daily), we must give you
also the form of this spiritual contemplation, on which you may always fix
your gaze with the utmost steadiness, and both learn to consider it to your
profit in unbroken continuance, and also manage by the practice of it and
by meditation to climb to a still loftier insight. This formula then shall
be proposed to you of this system, which you want, and of prayer, which
every monk in his progress towards continual recollection of God, is
accustomed to ponder, ceaselessly revolving it in his heart, having got rid
of all kinds of other thoughts; for he cannot possibly keep his hold over
it unless he has freed himself from all bodily cares and anxieties. And as
this was delivered to us by a few of those who were left of the oldest
fathers, so it is only divulged by us to a very few and to those who are
really keen. And so for keeping up continual recollection of God this pious
formula is to be ever set before you. "O God, make speed to save me: O
Lord, make haste to help me," for this verse has not unreasonably been
picked out from the whole of Scripture for this purpose. For it embraces
all the feelings which can be implanted in human nature, and can be fitly
and satisfactorily adapted to every condition, and all assaults. Since it
contains an invocation of God against every danger, it contains humble and
pious confession, it contains the watchfulness of anxiety and continual
fear, it contains the thought of one's own weakness, confidence in the
answer, and the assurance of a present and ever ready help. For one who is
constantly calling on his protector, is certain that He is always at hand.
It contains the glow of love and charity, it contains a view of the plots,
and a dread of the enemies, from which one, who sees himself day and night
hemmed in by them, confesses that he cannot be set free without the aid of
his defender. This verse is an impregnable wall for all who are labouring
under the attacks of demons, as well as impenetrable coat of mail and a
strong shield. It does not suffer those who are in a state of moroseness
and anxiety of mind, or depressed by sadness or all kinds of thoughts to
despair of saving remedies, as it shows that He, who is invoked, is ever
looking on at our struggles and is not far from His suppliants. It warns us
whose lot is spiritual success and delight of heart that we ought not to be
at all elated or puffed up by our happy condition, which it assures us
cannot last without God as our protector, while it implores Him not only
always but even speedily to help us. This verse, I say, will be found
helpful and useful to every one of us in whatever condition we may be. For
one who always and in all matters wants to be helped, shows that he needs
the assistance of God not only in sorrowful or hard matters but also
equally in prosperous and happy ones, that he may be delivered from the one
and also made to continue in the other, as he knows that in both of them
human weakness is unable to endure without His assistance. I am affected by
the passion of gluttony. I ask for food of which the desert knows nothing,
and in the squalid desert there are wafted to me odours of royal dainties
and I find that even against my will I am drawn to long for them. I must at
once say: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." I
am incited to anticipate the hour fixed for supper, or I am trying with
great sorrow of heart to keep to the limits of the right and regular meagre
fare. I must cry out with groans: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord,
make haste to help me." Weakness of the stomach hinders me when wanting
severer fasts, on account of the assaults of the flesh, or dryness of the
belly and constipation frightens me. In order that effect may be given to
my wishes, or else that the fire of carnal lust may be quenched without the
remedy of a stricter fast, I must pray: "O God, make speed to save me: O
Lord, make haste to help me." When I come to supper, at the bidding of the
proper hour I loathe taking food and am prevented from eating anything to
satisfy the requirements of nature: I must cry with a sigh: "O God, make
speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." When I want for the sake
of steadfastness of heart to apply myself to reading a headache interferes
and stops me, and at the third hour sleep glues my head to the sacred page,
and I am forced either to overstep or to anticipate the time assigned to
rest; and finally an overpowering desire to sleep forces me to cut short
the canonical rule for service in the Psalms: in the same way I must cry
out: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." Sleep
is withdrawn from my eyes, and for many nights I find myself wearied out
with sleeplessness caused by the devil, and all repose and rest by night is
kept away from my eyelids; I must sigh and pray: "O God, make speed to save
me: O Lord, make haste to help me. While I am still in the midst of a
struggle with sin suddenly an irritation of the flesh affects me and tries
by a pleasant sensation to draw me to consent while in my sleep. In order
that a raging fire from without may not burn up the fragrant blossoms of
chastity, I must cry out: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste
to help me." I feel that the incentive to lust is removed, and that the
heat of passion has died away in my members: In order that this good
condition acquired, or rather that this grace of God may continue still
longer or forever with me, I must earnestly say: "O God, make speed to save
me: O Lord, make haste to help me." I am disturbed by the pangs of anger,
covetousness, gloominess, and driven to disturb the peaceful state in which
I was, and which was dear to me: In order that I may not be carried away by
raging passion into the bitterness of gall, I must cry out with deep
groans: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." I am
tried by being puffed up by accidie, vainglory, and pride, and my mind with
subtle thoughts flatters itself somewhat on account of the coldness and
carelessness of others: In order that this dangerous suggestion of the
enemy may not get the mastery over me, I must pray with all contrition of
heart: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." I
have gained the grace of humility and simplicity, and by continually
mortifying my spirit have got rid of the swellings of pride: In order that
the "foot of pride" may not again "come against me," and "the hand of the
sinner disturb me," and that I may not be more seriously damaged by
elation at my success, I must cry With all my might, "O God, make speed to
save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." I am on fire with innumerable and
various wanderings of soul and shiftiness of heart, and cannot collect my
scattered thoughts, nor can I even pour forth my prayer without
interruption and images of vain figures, and the recollection of
conversations and actions, and I feel myself tied down by such dryness and
barrenness that I feel I cannot give birth to any offspring in the shape of
spiritual ideas: In order that it may be vouchsafed to me to be set free
from this wretched state of mind, from which I cannot extricate myself by
any number of sighs and groans, I must full surely tryout: "O God, make
speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." Again, I feel that by the
visitation of the Holy Spirit I have gained purpose of soul, steadfastness
of thought, keenness of heart, together with an ineffable joy and transport
of mind, and in the exuberance of spiritual feelings I have perceived by a
sudden illumination from the Lord an abounding revelation of most holy
ideas which were formerly altogether hidden from me: In order that it may
be vouchsafed to me to linger for a longer time in them I must often and
anxiously exclaim: "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to
help me." Encompassed by nightly horrors of devils I am agitated, and am
disturbed by the appearances of unclean spirits, my very hope of life and
salvation is withdrawn by the horror of fear. Flying to the safe refuge of
this verse, I will cry out with all my might: "O God, make speed to save
me: O Lord, make haste to help me.' Again, when I have been restored by the
Lord's consolation, and, cheered by His coming, feel myself encompassed as
if by countless thousands of angels, so that all of a sudden I can venture
to seek the conflict and provoke a battle with those whom a while ago I
dreaded worse than death, and whose touch or even approach I felt with a
shudder both of mind and body: In order that the vigour of this courage
may, by God's grace, continue in me still longer, I must cry out with all
my powers "O God, make speed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help me." We
must then ceaselessly and continuously pour forth the prayer of this verse,
in adversity that we may be delivered, in prosperity that we may be
preserved and not puffed up. Let the thought of this verse, i tell you, be
conned over in your breast without ceasing. Whatever work you are doing, or
office you are holding, or journey you are going, do not cease to chant
this. When you are going to bed, or eating, and in the last necessities of
nature, think on this. This thought in your heart maybe to you a saving
formula, and not only keep you unharmed by all attacks of devils, but also
purify you from all faults and earthly stains, and lead you to that
invisible and celestial contemplation, and carry you on to that ineffable
glow of prayer, of which so few have any experience. Let sleep come upon
you still considering this verse, till having been moulded by the constant
use of it, you grow accustomed to repeat it even in your sleep. When you
wake let it be the first thing to come into your mind, let it anticipate
all your waking thoughts, let it when you rise from your bed send you down
on your knees, and thence send you forth to all your work and business, and
let it follow you about all day long. This you should think about,
according to the Lawgiver's charge, "at home and walking forth on a
journey," sleeping and waking. This you should write on the threshold
and door of your mouth, this you should place on the walls of your house
and in the recesses of your heart so that when you fall on your knees in
prayer this may be your chant as you kneel, and when you rise up from it to
go forth to all the necessary business of life it may be your constant
prayer as you stand.
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