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Friday, August 4, 2017

Quote by St. Nilus of Sinai,St. Ephraim the Syrian,St. Philaret of Moscow & from the Ancient Patericon ~ Defiled Lust



   Gluttony and satiety in food produce defiled lust, while free association with women enflames the fire of lusts ... At the time of struggle with defilement, punish your thoughts with lack of nourishment, so that you will think not of defilements, but of hunger, and reject the invitation to go visiting.

(St. Nilus of Sinai)


   Don't let your eyes look here and there, and don't look on someone elses' beauty, so that the devil will not conquer you with the help of your eyes.

(St. Ephraim the Syrian)


   A certain monk had a struggle against defiled lusts. He got up and night and went to the elder and confessed to him the thoughts that were drawing him to defilement. The elder calmed him and the brother, have benefited, returned to his cell. But the struggle rose up against him again, and again he went to the elder. He did this a few times. The elder did not grieve him, but said, "Don't give up, but it is better that you come to me whenever the demon disturbs you, and repel him by exposing your thoughts. By such a repulsion he will pass you by. For nothing so burns the demon of defilement as the revelation of his deeds [in confession before a spiritual father]. And nothing makes him so happy as the hiding of thoughts." Thus the brother came to the elder eleven times, repelling his thoughts, and the brother's temptation ceased.

(Ancient Patericon, 5.16)    


   Lust is as it were desire and desire, will which extends beyond the natural will, passionate, not governed by the law and moderation. There are thus many forms of lust, like the many forms of sin ... Lust does not approach the soul in the form of a warlike enemy, but in the form of a friend or a pleasant servant. It suggests some sort of pleasure or illusory good. But this is only a trick by which the malicious angler strives to lead astray and catch the poor soul. Remember this when you are tempted by lust.

(St. Philaret of Moscow, Sermon on the 5th of July, 1845)



Source of quote:

http://orthodox.cn/patristics/300sayings_en.htm
   

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