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| Chapter XI. Of true humility, and how Abbot Serapion exposed the mock humility of a certain man.
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Chapter XI.
Of true humility, and how Abbot Serapion exposed the
mock humility of a certain man.
Wherefore as I see that you
have learnt the first principles of this life from the best sort of
monks, i.e., that starting from the excellent school of the
cœnobium you are aiming
at the lofty heights of the anchorite’s rule, you should with
genuine feeling of heart pursue the virtue of humility and patience,
which I doubt not that you learnt there; and not feign it, as some do,
by mock humility in words, or by an artificial and unnecessary
readiness for some duties of the body. And this sham humility Abbot
Serapion2083
| 2083 On Serapion see
the note on Conf. V. i. | once laughed
to scorn most capitally. For when one had come to him making a great
display of his lowliness by his dress and words, and the old man urged
him, after his custom, to “collect the prayer”2084
| 2084 Orationem
Colligere. See the notes on the Institutes III. vii. | he would not consent to his request, but
debasing himself declared that he was involved in such crimes that he
did not deserve even to breathe the air which is common to all, and
refusing even the use of the mat preferred to sit down on the bare
ground. But when he had shown still less inclination for the washing of
the feet, then Abbot Serapion, when supper was finished, and the
customary Conference gave him an opportunity, began kindly and gently
to urge him not to roam with shifty lightmindedness over the whole
world, idly and vaguely, especially as he was young and strong, but to
keep to his cell in accordance with the rule of the Elders and to elect
to be supported by his own efforts rather than by the bounty of others;
which even the Apostle Paul would not allow, and though when he was
labouring in the cause of the gospel this provision might lightly have
been made for him, yet he preferred to work night and day, to provide
daily food for himself and for those who were ministering to him and
could not do the work with their own hands. Whereupon the other was
filled with such vexation and disgust that he could not hide by his
looks the annoyance which he felt in his heart. To whom the Elder: Thus
far, my son, you have loaded yourself with the weight of all kinds of
crimes, not fearing lest by the confession of such awful sins you bring
a reproach upon your reputation; how is it then, I pray, that now, at
our simple admonition, which involved no reproof, but simply showed a
feeling for your edification and love, I see that you are moved with
such disgust that you cannot hide it by your looks, or conceal it by an
appearance of calmness? Perhaps while you were humiliating yourself,
you were hoping to hear from our lips this saying: “The righteous
man is the accuser of himself in the opening of his
discourse?”2085
Further, true
humility of heart must be preserved, which comes not from an affected
humbling of body and in word, but from an inward humbling of the soul:
and this will only then shine forth with clear evidences of patience
when a man does not boast about sins, which nobody will believe, but,
when another insolently accuses him of them, thinks nothing of it, and
when with gentle equanimity of spirit he puts up with wrongs offered to
him.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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