Sayings of the Fathers of the Desert [pp. 227]

Sayiizgs of the Fathlers of the Desert.
to the parlor, at the door of which
Arthur left her, and in another moment she was clasped in her father's
arms.
A gay wedding-party is assembled,
when the spring once more puts on
her robes of ferial green, in the parlor of "The Solitude." All brides
look lovely, they say; but certainly
May never smiled on a lovelier one
than Florence Athern. Arthur Hinsdale certainly seemed to think so, for
he looked at her. with reverence
mingled with his deep love, as though
she were a spirit dropped from the
skies. The venerable and dearly
loved and honored archbishop is
there, and has blessed the new ties;
and the bride was given away by that
tall, handsome man in brigadier-general's uniform, with one arm in a
sling yet, at whose side is the noble
form of Henry Lee, while Margaret
moves about through the company
with her usual quiet grace, and Tamar's face is filled with satisfaction
at her young mistress' joy, as she
looks in at the door.
SAYINGS OF THE FATHERS OF THE DESERT.
A BROTHER asked Abbot Antony to
pray for him. The old man responded: "Neither I can pity thee nor can
God, unless thou shalt have been
anxious about thyself, and prayed to
God."
Abbot Antony again said: "God
doth not allow wars to arise in this
generation, because he knoweth they
are weak and unable to bear them."
Abbot Agathi said: "If a man of
wrathful spirit should raise the dead
to life, he would not be pleasing to
God because of his wrath."
Abbot Pastor said: "Teach thy
heart, to observe what thy tongue
teacheth others." Again, he said:
"Men wish to appear adepts in
speaking; but in carrying out those
things of which they speak, they are
found wanting."
Abbot Macarius said: "If we remember the evils done to us by men,
we shall deprive our soul of the
power to remember God; but if we
call to mind those evils which the
demons raise against us, we shall be
invulnerable."
Abbot Pastor said of Abbot John
the Small that, having prayed to
God, all his passions had been taken
away, and, thus made proof, he came
to a certain old man and said: "Behold a man freed from passion, and
compelled to battle with no temptations." And the old man replied:
"Go, pray the Lord that he command
thee to be tempted, for the soul
grows perfect by temptation." And
when temptations came back upon
him, he no longer prayed to be freed
from them, but said, "Lord, give me
patience to bear with these temptations."
Abbot Daniel used to say: " The
stronger the body the weaker the soul;
and the weaker the body the stronger
the soul."
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