登陆注册
5548300000028

第28章

For even of those common and necessary meats they took only so much as was sufficient to sustain life. Some of them continued fasting the whole week, and partook of victuals only of a Sunday:others thought of food twice only in the week: others ate every other day, or daily at eventide, that is, took but a taste of food. In prayers and watchings they almost rivalled the life of Angels, bidding a long farewell to the possession of gold and silver, and quite forgetting that buyings and sellings are concerns of men.

"But envy and pride, the evils most prone to follow good works, had no place amongst them. He that was weaker in ascetic exercises entertained no thought of malice against him of brighter example. Nor again was he, that had accomplished great feats, deceived and puffed up by arrogance to despise his weaker brethren, or set at nought his neighbour, or boast of his rigours, or glory in his achievements. He that excelled in virtue ascribed nothing to his own labours, but all to the power of God, in humility of mind persuading himself that his labours were nought and that he was debtor even for more, as saith the Lord, `When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, "We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."' Others again persuaded themselves that they had not done even the things which they were commanded to do, but that the things left undone outnumbered the things already well done. Again, he that was far behind in austerity, perchance through bodily weakness, would disparage and blame himself, attributing his failure to slothfulness of mind rather than to natural frailty. So each excelled each, and all excelled all in this sweet reasonableness. But the spirit of vain glory and pleasing of men -- what place had it among them?

For they had fled from the world, and were dwelling in the desert, to the end that they might show their virtues not to men, but to God, from whom also they hope to receive the rewards of their good deeds, well aware that religious exercises performed for vain glory go without recompense; for these are done for the praise of men and not for God. Whence all that do thus are doubly defrauded: they waste their body, and receive no reward.

But they who yearn for glory above, and strive thereafter, despise all earthly and human glory.

"As to their dwellings, some monks finish the contest in utter retirement and solitude, having removed themselves far from the haunts of men throughout the whole of their earthly life-time, and having drawn nigh to God. Others build their homes at a distance one from another, but meet on the Lord's Day at one Church, and communicate of the Holy Mysteries, I mean the unbloody Sacrifice of the undefiled Body and precious Blood of Christ, which the Lord gave to the Faithful for the remission of sins, for the enlightenment and sanctification of soul and body.

They entertain one another with the exercises of the divine Oracles and moral exhortations, and make public the secret wiles of their adversaries, that none, through ignorance of the manner of wrestling, may be caught thus. Then turn they again, each to his own home, eagerly storing the honey of virtue in the cells of their hearts, and husbanding sweet fruits worthy of the heavenly board.

"Others again spend their life in monasteries. These gather in multitudes in one spot, and range themselves under one superior and president, the best of their number, slaying all self-will with the sword of obedience. Of their own free choice they consider themselves as slaves bought at a price, and no longer live for themselves, but for him, to whom, for Christ his sake, they have become obedient; or rather, to speak more properly, they live no more for themselves, but Christ liveth in them, whom to follow, they renounce all. This is retirement, a voluntary hatred of the world, and denial of nature by desire of things above nature. These men therefore live the lives of Angels on earth, chanting psalms and hymns with one consent unto the Lord, and purchasing for themselves the title of Confessors by labours of obedience. And in them is fulfilled the word of the Lord, when he saith, `Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.' By this number he limiteth not the gathering together in his name, but by `two or three' signifieth that the number is indefinite. For, whether there be many, or few, gathered together because of his holy name, serving him with fervent zeal, there we believe him to be present in the midst of his servants.

"By these ensamples and such like assemblies men of earth and clay imitate the life of heavenly beings, in fastings and prayers and watchings, in hot tears and sober sorrow, as soldiers in the field with death before their eyes, in meekness and gentleness, in silence of the lips, in poverty and want, in chastity and temperance, in humbleness and quietude of mind, in perfect charity toward God and their neighbour, carrying their present life down to the grave, and becoming Angels in their ways.

Wherefore God hath graced them with miracles, signs and various virtues and made the voice of their marvellous life to be sounded forth to the ends of the world. If I open my mouth to declare in every point the life of one of them who is said to have been the founder of the monastic life, Antony by name, by this one tree thou shalt assuredly know the sweet fruits of other trees of the like kind and form, and shalt know what a foundation of religious life that great man laid, and what a roof he built, and what gifts he merited to receive from the Saviour. After him many fought the like fight and won like crowns and guerdons.

"Blessed, yea, thrice blessed, are they that have loved God, and, for his love's sake, have counted every thing as nothing worth.

同类推荐
  • 碑传选集

    碑传选集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚经持验记

    金刚经持验记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 地员

    地员

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仁王般若经陀罗尼念诵轨仪

    仁王般若经陀罗尼念诵轨仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 元始无量度人上品妙经通义

    元始无量度人上品妙经通义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 蓝瞳女王

    蓝瞳女王

    因为有一双蓝色眼睛?就要她性命?逃出生天,却进入另一个惊天阴谋?还是原本一开始就有太多恩恩怨怨?一个女子的另类变强之路!
  • 剑动映天

    剑动映天

    这是一个弱肉强食的世界。在这片大陆里,金钱,美女,似乎都需要实力来支持。而一个十二岁的孩子是如何闯荡天下的呢?
  • 王爵大人,强势宠!

    王爵大人,强势宠!

    大婚之日,她被爆出轨,惹上了M国的王爵,风影月。从此……她就开启了被风影月无限蹂躏的悲惨生活。“嫁给我?”“为什么?”“你很对我的胃口。”女人扬着下巴,高傲的看着眼前俊如神袛的男人:“不要脸。”男人不以为耻,勾唇浅笑,朝她步步逼近,“脸?恩,我不要脸,我要你。”王爵大人宠妻法则:一旦入坑,越坑越深,化身为狼,绝不手软。
  • 捡了个魔教教主

    捡了个魔教教主

    古人有云:美人都是祸水,风华绝代的美人更是祸国殃民的祸水。可惜陈阿诺没能记住这句话,不仅捡了个美人回去,还不顾众人反对为美人疗伤,更要命的是,这个美人竟然是个男的,还好像武功很高强的样子。至此,一贯逍遥自在的陈阿诺再也没能过上逍遥自在的生活。
  • 李小龙和我的旧时光:半生修行,一生怀念

    李小龙和我的旧时光:半生修行,一生怀念

    1973年7月20日,李小龙在香港的伊丽莎白医院猝然离世,年仅33岁。他的去世带给香港乃至世界极大震动,关于其死因的猜测众说纷纭,甚嚣尘上。几天后,香港《新星日报》爆出猛料:李小龙死前昏迷处并非如之前报道的那样是在其自己家中,这位功夫巨星真正的死亡地点是香港著名女星丁珮的寓所内!一时间无数非议包围了这个26岁的女人……
  • 商道即人道:稻盛和夫给创业者的人生课

    商道即人道:稻盛和夫给创业者的人生课

    我一直信奉的是:人在做,天在看;人在想,天感知;人欠你,天还你。但愿我精心所著的这本书,对广大的创业者朋友而言,能为他们在创业和人生的道路上带来某些感悟;对已经走上经营管理之路的领导人而言,能为他们在经营管理中提供某些启示;对更广大的其他读者而言,能让他们从中汲取智慧之精华,洞悉其中之理念、哲学、信仰。除京瓷和KDDI外,最近稻盛和夫又出任日航的CEO,这更是在耄耋之年对自己的管理、哲学的最大考验。他的管理、哲学是否真的能创造更大的奇迹,我们拭目以待。
  • 弃女重生:凤傲天下

    弃女重生:凤傲天下

    倾世红颜,一笑倾天下;万古至尊,血染洗江湖。卿本佳人,奈何薄命。楚墨,这一世我必定与你携手江湖,话风月。
  • 文化民生论

    文化民生论

    本书围绕文化民生主题,梳理现代汉语文化精神内涵,辨识纷乱的文化现象中对于文化的种种错觉和误解,探索公共文化服务的实践经验与理论支撑提出当前中国城市化进程中的文化认同难题及其解决路径。全书分为“文化精神论”、“决策咨询篇”、“生活体验说”和“人文随笔录”四个部分,辑录作者近年来参与上海市及部分区县一些重大文化咨询调研的方案策划和经验体会,尤其是通过具体的案例分析,剖解社区文化民生建设中的是非与得失努力寻求现代化从作为奋斗目标,到只能作为一种方式手段的转换轨迹,积极思考如何实现国家有主张、人民有尊严的文化民生理想。本书融理论辨析于案例分析,接地气,讲人话,文字鲜活生动,理论性、可读性、操作性兼备。
  • 征服天国之曙光时代

    征服天国之曙光时代

    那一年,达芬奇的蒙娜丽莎还没有露出她迷人微笑。那一年,米开朗基罗的大卫还没有屹立在佛罗伦萨的市政厅前。那一年,马丁路德振聋发聩的九十五条论纲还没有震撼教廷。那一年,征服了君士坦丁堡的奥斯曼苏丹正窥伺整个欧罗巴。那一年,遥远的新大陆刚刚揭开神秘的面纱。那是漫长黑夜即将结束的时刻!那是灿烂黎明就要到来的前夕!那是“曙光的时代”!!本书Q群:79180533“征服天国的朋友”,欢迎大家参与进来,共同探讨
  • “路克”带你环游世界(全集)

    “路克”带你环游世界(全集)

    《爱尔兰北西行:春山半是云》设定用一周假期,来周游爱尔兰岛的西部和北部。《浮游夏威夷:海天共蔚蓝》为读者提供畅游夏威夷主要岛屿的方式,以及享受最舒适假期的建议和最新资讯。《混沌浮山南:尼泊尔秘境》为图文并茂的尼泊尔游记,涵盖加德满都、帕坦、巴克塔普尔、博克拉、奇特旺等重要目的地的旅行记录。《浪漫夏威夷:海鸥带诗飞》选取夏威夷十座最梦幻婚礼殿堂、十种最浪漫的夏威夷时光、十家最美丽的餐厅、十家最舒适的酒店、十段蜜月旅程、十佳购物场所,为你打造一场无与伦比的夏威夷婚礼之旅。《西风裁翡翠:爱尔兰中南行》为读者提供了如何利用一周的时间在爱尔兰中南部进行深度旅游的独特线路。