2. I said, how then shall a man be able to discern them? consider what I am going to say concerning. both kinds of men; and as I speak unto thee, so shalt thou prove the prophet of God, and the false prophet. And first try the man who hath the spirit of God; because the spirit which is from above is humble, and quiet, and departs from all wickedness, and from the vain desires of the present world; and makes himself more humble than all men; and answers to none when he is asked; nor to every one singly; for the spirit of God doth not speak to a man when he will, but when God pleases. When therefore a man who hath the spirit of God shall come into the Church of the righteous, who have the faith of God, and they pray unto the Lord; then the holy angel of God fills that man with the blessed spirit, and he speaks in the congregation as he is moved of God. Thus therefore is the spirit of God known, because whosoever speaketh by the spirit of God, speaketh as the Lord will.

And first

3. Hear now concerning the earthly spirit, which is empty and foolish, and without virtue. of all the man who is supposed to have the spirit, (whereas he hath it not in reality,) exalteth himself, and desires to have the first seat, and is wicked, and full of words; and spends his time in pleasure, and in all manner of voluptuousness; and receives the reward of his divination; which if he receives not, he does not divine. Should the spirit of God receive reward and divine? It doth not become a prophet of God so to do. Thus you see the life of each of these kind of prophets. Wherefore prove that man by his life and works, who says that he hath the Holy Spirit. And believe the spirit which comes from God, and has power as such. But believe not the earthly and empty spirit, which is from the devil, in whom there is no faith nor virtue. Hear now the similitude which I am about to speak unto thee. Take a stone and throw it up towards heaven, or take a spout of water, and mount it up thitherward, and see

if thou canst reach unto heaven. Sir, said I, how can this be done? for neither of those things which you have mentioned, are possible to be done. And he answered, therefore as these things cannot be done, so is the earthly spirit without virtue, and without effect. Understand yet farther the power which cometh from above, in this similitude. The grains of hail that drop down are exceeding small; and yet when they fall upon the head of a man, how do they cause pain to it? And again; consider the droppings of a house; how the little drops falling upon the earth, work a hollow in the stones. So in like manner. the least things which come from above, and fall upon the earth, have great force. Wherefore join thyself to this spirit, which has power; and depart from the other which is empty.

COMMAND XII.

OF A TWO-FOLD DESIRE: THAT THE COMMANDS OF GOD ARE NOT IMPOSSIBLE: AND THAT THE DEVIL IS NOT TO BE FEARED BY THEM THAT BELIEVE..

1. AGAIN he said unto me, remove from thee all evil desires, and put on good and holy desires.(a) For having put on a good desire, thou shalt hate that which is evil, and bridle it as thou wilt. But an evil desire is dreadful and hard to be tamed. It is very horrible and wild; and by its wildness consumes men. And especially if a servant of God shall chance to fall into it, except he be very wise, he is ruined by it. For it destroys those who have not the garment of a good desire, and are engaged in the affairs of this present (a) Vid Antioch. Hom. lxxiv.

world, (c) and deliver them unto death. * Sir, said I, what are the works of an evil desire, which bring men unto death? Shew them to me, that I may depart from them. Hear said he, by what works an evil desire bringeth the servants of God unto death. First of all, it is an evil desire to covet another man's wife; or for a woman to covet another's husband; as also to desire the dainties of riches, and multitude of superfluous meats; and drunkenness, and many delights. For in much delicacy there is folly; and many pleasures are needless to the servants of God. Such lusting therefore is evil and pernicious, which brings to death the servants of God. For all such lusting is from the devil. Whosoever therefore shall depart from all evil desires, shall live unto God; but they that are subject unto them shall die for ever. For this evil lusting is deadly. Do thou therefore put on the desire of righteousness, and being armed with the fear of the Lord, resist all wicked lusting. For this fear dwelleth in good desires; and when evil coveting shall see thee armed with the fear of the Lord, and resisting it; it will flee far from thee, and not appear before thee, but be afraid of thy armour ; and thou shalt have the victory, and be crowned for it; and shalt attain unto that desire which is good; and shalt give the victory which thou hast obtained unto God, and shalt serve him in doing what thou thyself wouldest do. For if thou shalt serve good desires, and be subject to them; thou shalt be able to

(C) ἐμεπφυρμεύους τῷ αἰῶνι τουτῳ. Gr. Athanas. Instead of implicat eos, the Latin verse should be implicatos.

That the words here inserted, and removed by me into their proper place in the foregoing command, do not belong to this discourse, the Greek of Athanasius, clearly shews. In which they are all omitted, and the connexion lies as have now represented it Ποΐα, κύριε, εἰσὶ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς πονηρᾶς τὰ παραδίδουντα τους ο Αιθρώπες εἰς θάνατον; γνώρισόν μοι, ἵνα φύγω ἀπ' αὐτῶν. *Ακεσον. Πρῶτον πάντων ἐπιθυμία γυναικὸς καὶ πολυτελεία πλούτου, καὶ ἐδεσμάτῶν πολλῶν, &c. And so the Lamb. MS. Primum OmBium concupiscere Uxorem alienam: Not. Spiritus Omaium.

get the dominion over thy wicked lustings; and they shall be subject to thee as thou wilt.

3. And I said, sir, I would know how to serve that desire which is good? Hearken, said he, fear God, and put thy trust in him, and love truth and righteousness, and do that which is good. If thou shalt do these things, thou shalt be an approved servant of God, and shall serve him and all others who shall in like manner serve a good desire shall live unto God. And when he had finished these twelve commands, he said unto me, thou hast now these commands, walk in them, and exhort those that hear them that they repent, and that they keep their repentance pure all the remaining days of their life: and fulfil diligently this ministry which I commit to thee, and thou shalt receive great advantage by it, and shalt find favour with all such as shall repent, and shall believe thy words; for I am with thee, and will force them to believe. And I said unto him, sir, these commands are great and excellent, and able to cheer the heart of that man that shall be able to keep them. But, sir, I cannot tell, whether they can be observed by any man? He answered, thou shalt easily keep these commands, and they shall not be hard: howbeit, if thou shalt suffer it once to enter into thy heart that they cannot be kept by any one, thou shalt not fulfil them. But now I say unto thee, if thou shalt not observe these commands, but shalt neglect them, thou shalt not be saved, nor thy children, nor thy house, because thou hast judged that these commands cannot be kept by man.

4. These things he spake very angrily unto me, insomuch that he greatly affrighted me, for he changed his countenance, so that a man could not bear his anger and when he saw me altogether troubled and confounded, he began to speak more moderately and cheerfully, saying, O foolish and without understanding! Unconstant, not knowing the majesty of God, how great and wonderful he is; who created the

world for man, and hath made every creature subject unto him; and given him all power, that he should be able to fulfil all these commands. He is able, said he, to fulfil all these commands, who has the Lord in his heart but they who have the Lord only in their mouths, and their heart is hardened, and they are far from the Lord; to such persons these commands are hard and difficult. Put therefore, ye that are empty and light in the faith, the Lord your God in your hearts, and ye shall perceive how that nothing is more easy than these commands, nor more pleasant, nor more gentle and holy; and turn yourselves to the Lord your God, and forsake the devil and his pleasures, because they are evil, and bitter, and impure ; and fear not the devil, because he has no power over you; for I am with you, the messenger of repentance, who have dominion over him. The devil does indeed affright men, but his terror is vain; wherefore fear him not, and he will flee from you.

5. And I said unto him, sir, hear me speak a few words unto you. He answered, say on: A man indeed desires to keep the commandments of God, and there is no one but what prays unto God, that he may be able to keep his commandments: but the devil is hard, and by his power rules over the servants of God. And he said, he cannot rule over the servants of God, who trust in him with all their hearts; the devil may strive, but he cannot overcome them; for if ye resist him, he will flee away with confusion from you; but they that are not full in the faith, fear the devil, as if he had some great power; for the devil tries the servants of God, and if he finds them empty, he destroys them: for as a man when he fills up vessels with good wine, and among them puts a few vessels half full,(g) and comes to try and taste of the vessels, does not try those that are full, because he knows that they are good, but tastes those that

(g) Origen. in Matth. xxiv. 42.