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| Chapter I. Of our stay in Scete, and that which we proposed to Abbot Moses.
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Chapter I.
Of our stay in Scete, and that which we proposed to
Abbot Moses.
When I was in the desert
of Scete, where are the most excellent monastic fathers and where all
perfection flourishes, in company with the holy father Germanus (who
had since the earliest days and commencement of our spiritual service
been my closest companion both in the Cœnobium and in the desert,
so that to show the harmony of our friendship and aims, everybody would
say that a single heart and soul existed in our two bodies), I sought
out Abbot Moses,1087
| 1087 On this Moses see
the note on Institutes, Book X. xxv. | who was eminent
amid those splendid flowers, not only in practical but also in
contemplative excellence, in my anxiety to be grounded by his
instruction: and together we implored him to give us a discourse for
our edification; not without tears, for we knew full well his
determination never to consent to open the gate of perfection, except
to those who desired it with all faithfulness, and sought it with all
sorrow of heart; for fear lest if he showed it at random to those who
cared nothing for it, or only desired it in a half-hearted way, by
opening what is necessary, and what ought only to be discovered to
those seeking perfection, to unworthy persons, and such as accepted it
with scorn, he might appear to lay himself open either to the charge of
bragging, or to the sin of betraying his trust; and at last being
overcome by our prayers he thus began.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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