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| About Antony the Great and St. Paul the Simple.
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Chapter XIII.—About
Antony the Great and St. Paul the Simple.
Whether the Egyptians or others
are to be regarded as the founders of this philosophy, it is universally admitted that Antony,1102
| 1102Cf. Soc. i. 21, and his reference to the life
attributed to Athanasius.
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the great monk, developed this course of life, by morals and befitting
exercises, to the summit of exactness and perfection. His fame was so
widely spread throughout the deserts of Egypt, that the emperor
Constantine, for the reputation of the man’s virtue, sought his
friendship, honored him with correspondence, and urged him to write
about what he might need. He was an Egyptian by race, and belonged to
an illustrious family of Coma, which was situated near the Heraclea
which is on the Egyptian borders.1103
| 1103There were two cities of this name, Heraclea the
greater and Heraclea the less.
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He was but a youth when he lost his parents; he bestowed his paternal
inheritance upon his fellow-villagers, sold the rest of his possessions
and distributed the proceeds among the needy; for he was aware that
philosophy does not merely consist in the relinquishment of property,
but in the proper distribution of it. He obtained the acquaintance of
the devoted men of his time, and emulated the virtues of all. Believing
that the practice of goodness would become delightful by habit, though
arduous at the outset, he reflected on more intense methods of
asceticism, and day by day he augmented it by self-control just as if
he were always recommencing his undertaking. He subdued the
voluptuousness of the body by labor, and restrained the passions of the
soul by the aid of the Divine wisdom. His food was bread and salt, his
drink water, and he never broke his fast till after sunset. He often
remained two or more days without eating. He watched, so to speak,
throughout the night, and continued in prayer till daybreak. If at any
time he indulged in sleep, it was but for a little while on a short
mat; but generally the bare earth was his couch. He rejected the
practice of anointing with oil, and the use of baths and of similar
luxuries likely to relax the tension of the body by moisture; and it is
said that he never at any time saw himself naked. He neither possessed
nor admired learning, but he valued a good understanding, as being
prior to letters and as being the very discoverer of it. He was
exceedingly meek and philanthropic, prudent and manly; cheerful in
conversation and friendly in disputations, even when others used the
controverted topics as occasion for strife. By his own habit and a kind
of intelligence he quieted contentiousness when on the increase, and
restored them to moderation; he also tempered the ardor of those who
conversed with him, and regulated their manners. Although on account of
his extraordinary virtues, he had become filled with the Divine
foreknowledge, he did not regard foreknowledge of the future as a
virtue, nor did he counsel others to seek this gift rashly, for he
considered that no one would be punished or rewarded according to his
ignorance or knowledge of futurity; for true blessedness consists in
the service of God, and in keeping his laws. “But,” said
he, “if any man would know the future, let him continually be
purified in soul, for then he will have power to walk in the light, and
to understand things that are to happen, for God will reveal the future
to him.” He never suffered himself to be idle, but exhorted all
those who seemed disposed to lead a good life, to diligence in labor,
to self-examination and confession of sin before Him who created the
day and the night; and when they erred, he urged them to record the
transgression in writing, that so they might be ashamed of their sins,
and be fearful lest any one should find the many things recorded; for
he would be fearful, lest if the document were traced to him he should
become disclosed to other people as a depraved character. He above all
others came forward spiritedly and most zealously for the defense of
the injured, and in their cause often resorted to the cities; for many
came out to him, and compelled him to intercede for them with the
rulers and men in power. All the people felt honored in seeing him,
listened with avidity to his discourses, and yielded assent to his
arguments; but he preferred to remain unknown and concealed in the
deserts. When compelled to visit a city, he never failed to return to
the deserts as soon as he had accomplished the work he had undertaken;
for, he said, that as fishes are nourished in the water, so the desert
is the world prepared for monks; and as fishes die when thrown upon dry
land, so monastics lose their gravity when they go into cities. He
carried himself obediently and graciously towards all who saw him, and
he was careful not to have, nor seem to have, a supercilious nature. I
have given this concise account of the manners of Antony, in order that
an idea of his philosophy may be formed, by analogy, from the
description of his conduct in the desert.
He had many renowned disciples, of whom some flourished
in Egypt and Libya, others in Palestine, Syria, and Arabia; not less
than their master, did each disciple pass his life with those among
whom he dwelt, and regulate his conduct, and instruct many, and wed
them unto kindred virtues and philosophy. But it would be difficult for
any one to find the companions of Antony or their successors by going
carefully through cities and villages to discover them, for they sought
concealment more earnestly than many ambitious men, by means of pomp
and show, now seek popularity and renown.
We must relate, in chronological order, the history of the most celebrated disciples of
Antony, and particularly that of Paul, surnamed the Simple.1104
| 1104Ruf. H. M. 31; Pall. H. L. 27.
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It is said that he dwelt in the country, and was married to a beautiful
woman, and that having surprised her in the act of adultery, he laughed
placidly and affirmed with an oath, that he would live with her no
longer; that he left her with the adulterer, and went immediately to
join Antony in the desert. It is further related that he was
exceedingly meek and patient: and that, being aged and unaccustomed to
monastic severity, Antony put his strength to the proof by various
trials, for he was newly come, and detected nothing ignoble; and that,
having given evidence of perfect philosophy, he was sent to live alone,
as no longer requiring a teacher. And God himself confirmed the
testimony of Antony; and demonstrated the man to be most illustrious
through his deeds, and as greater than even his teacher in vexing and
expelling demons.
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