Institutio sive Paraenesis ad monachos

Of the same holy father of ours, Neilos, an exhortation to monks. Intemperance in foods is cut off by fasting, while licentiousness in fornication is removed by continence with prayer. Love of money, the mother of idolatry, is restrained by poverty, and bodily care is cut off by hope in God. A wandering mind is restrained by reading the oracles of God, and by vigil with prayer. The assault of anger is soothed by patience and psalmody. Acedia is restrained by endurance and tears, while worldly grief is silenced by hatred of pleasures. Hospitality is acquired by humility, and by aversion to love of rule and preeminence; pride, the ancient evil, abominable before the Lord, which even God opposes, is quenched by measureless humility, which says, "I am earth and ashes." And again, "Unless the Lord builds a house, the builder has labored in vain," and by trying to keep this. As it is impossible for turbid water to become clear without remaining still, so it is impossible to know a monk's state without stillness. As it is impossible for an athlete to be crowned without wrestling, so it is impossible to become a Christian without struggles. As the balance is not equal when one side is heavy, so it is impossible to fulfill a commandment of God when the fleshly mind prevails. As it is impossible to learn a craft without diligently applying oneself, so it is impossible to acquire prayer without persevering with God in an upright heart. He who has not acquired pure prayer has no weapon for battle. He who is adorned and swept clean by the virtues of God will be a dwelling place of demons.

Just as it is not possible for a king to dwell in a poor man's house, so Christ will not dwell in a soul befouled by sin. Just as a wild place is tamed by careful industry, so a soul made wild by sins is tamed if it conducts itself according to the law of God. Just as a rock in the sea remains firm and unmoved, though beaten by waves, so also he who has perfected the virtues and has been wholly blended with them will not be shaken by the devil. Just as a physician devises a remedy for the treatment of a disease, so also the knowledge of God, when preserved, teaches its participant how he may be guarded and advance to greater things. Just as a torrent carves out its own passage, so also sin, once admitted, works the destruction of him who possesses it. Just as a deer caught in nets cannot easily escape, so he who fulfills his desires and lives in this world will not escape sin; for evil desires and pleasures are hard-to-loosen chains. Just as a vine that does not bear good fruit is cut down so that it may not waste the ground, so also every one who does not bear fruits of the Holy Spirit will be uprooted by the Lord. Just as it is impossible for a man struck by an arrow not to be harmed, so it is impossible for a monk who has admitted an evil thought not to be wounded. Just as he who has left the straight path wanders in a foreign land, not knowing where he is going, so also a man wanders who does not believe in the consubstantial Trinity. Just as a single thing divided into many is one in nature, so also the Holy Trinity, though divided in names and hypostases, is one in nature.

You would not comprehend the nature of God, even if you were flying on wings; God is incomprehensible, and that is why He is our creator. Just as a vessel being fashioned is ignorant of the origin and nature of its maker, so too will a human be unable to discover the nature or origin of God. Do not busy yourself with the Trinity, but only believe and worship; for one who busies himself does not believe. Acquire wisdom and not silver; make a luminous garment for Christ our Lord, surpassing every robe of fine linen, for possessions will not avail you on the day of death. Just as fire consumes a thicket, so every sinner will be consumed by the eternal fire, and cannot perish; for he will be tormented immortally. It is nothing great if we become righteous, for we will become what we were first created by God, very good. One who lives contrary to nature does not keep the commandments of God. All wisdom is to fear the Lord, and all education that does not teach the law of the Lord is folly and foolishness. Faith and baptism will not deliver one from the eternal fire without works of righteousness.

If you have made a covenant with Christ, keep his commandments; and if you believe in the things to come, lay hold of eternal glory, and fear the fiery sword. But if you do not fulfill the ordinances of God, do not call yourself faithful. All creation obeys the command of God; man alone disobeys, for whose sake all things came to be. We will bring nothing to God if we keep ourselves pure, but we will procure for ourselves life and ineffable enjoyment of the eternal goods. Do not say, "I cannot keep the commandment of God because of my father, or my mother, or my wife, or my children, or anyone else," for they will not deliver you from the impending wrath and the unending worm. Let every one who opposes the fulfillment of God and the virtues be abominable and hateful to you; it is not good even to eat with such a one.