Conferences I–X, Conference IV

Conference IV

• Conferences I–X IV.1 — Of the life of Abbot Daniel. Among the other heroes of Christian philosophy we also knew Abbot Daniel, who was not only the equal of those who dwelt in the desert of Scete in every sort of virtue, but was specially…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.2 — An investigation of the origin of a sudden change of feeling from inexpressible joy to extreme dejection of mind. An investigation of the origin of a sudden change of feeling from inexpressible joy to extreme…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.3 — His answer to the question raised. A threefold account of this mental dryness of which you speak has been given by the Elders. For it comes either from carelessness on our part, or from the assaults of the devil, or…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.4 — How there is a twofold reason for the permission and allowance of God. But for God’s permission and allowance there is a twofold reason. First, that being for a short time forsaken by the Lord, and observing with all…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.5 — How our efforts and exertions are of no use without God's help. And by this it is clearly shown that God’s grace and mercy always work in us what is good, and that when it forsakes us, the efforts of the worker are…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.6 — How it is sometimes to our advantage to be left by God. But the blessed David recognizes that sometimes this departure of which we have spoken, and (as it were) desertion by God may be to some extent to our…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.7 — Of the value of the conflict which the Apostle makes to consist in the strife between the flesh and the spirit. Of the value of the conflict which the Apostle makes to consist in the strife between the flesh and the…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.8 — A question, how it is that in the Apostle’s chapter, after he has spoken of the lusts of the flesh and spirit opposing one another, he adds a third thing; viz., man’s will. Germanus: Although some glimmer of the…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.9 — The answer on the understanding of one who asks rightly. Daniel: It belongs to the understanding to discern the distinctions and the drift of questions; and it is a main part of knowledge to understand how ignorant…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.10 — That the word flesh is not used with one single meaning only. We find that the word flesh is used in holy Scripture with many different meanings: for sometimes it stands for the whole man, i.e., for that which…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.11 — What the Apostle means by flesh in this passage, and what the lust of the flesh is. Wherefore in this passage we ought to take “flesh” as meaning not man, i.e., his material substance, but the carnal will and evil…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.12 — What is our free will, which stands in between the lust of the flesh and the spirit. Between these two desires then the free will of the soul stands in an intermediate position somewhat worthy of blame, and neither…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.13 — Of the advantage of the delay which results from the struggle between flesh and spirit. But from the differences which this conflict causes, there arises a delay that is so far advantageous to us, and from this…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.14 — Of the incurable depravity of spiritual wickednesses. For a spiritual substance and one that is not tied to any material flesh has no excuse for an evil thought which arises within, and also shuts out forgiveness for…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.15 — Of the value of the lust of the flesh against the spirit in our case. To begin with, because it is an immediate reproof of our sloth and carelessness, and like some energetic schoolmaster who never allows us to…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.16 — Of the excitements of the flesh, without the humiliation of which we should fall more grievously. Of the excitements of the flesh, without the humiliation of which we should fall more grievously. To the fact then…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.17 — Of the lukewarmness of eunuchs. Lastly, on this account in those who are Eunuchs, we often detect the existence of this lukewarmness of mind, because, as they are so to speak free from the needs of the flesh, they…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.18 — The question what is the difference between the carnal and natural man. Germanus: You have, it seems to us, very clearly shown the value of the struggle which is raised between the flesh and spirit, so that we can…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.19 — The answer concerning the threefold condition of souls. Daniel: There are, according to the statements of Scripture, three kinds of souls; the first is the carnal, the second the natural, and the third the spiritual:…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.20 — Of those who renounce the world but ill. In the last place I am ashamed to say how we find that a large number have made their renunciation in such a way that we find that they have altered nothing of their former…vatican.va
• Conferences I–X IV.21 — Of those who having made light of great things busy themselves about trifles. For how can we show how absurd it is that we see that some men after their first enthusiasm of renunciation in which they forsook their…vatican.va