Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/The Twelve Books/Book V/Chapter 17

Chapter XVII.

That the foundation and basis of the spiritual combat must be laid in the struggle against gluttony.

you like to hear a true athlete of Christ striving according to the rules and laws of the conflict? &#8220;I,&#8221; said he, &#8220;so run, not as uncertainly; I so fight, not as one that beateth the air: but I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means when I have preached to others I myself should be a castaway.&#8221; You see how he made the chief part of the struggle depend upon himself, that is upon his flesh, as if on a most sure foundation, and placed the result of the battle simply in the chastisement of the flesh and the subjection of his body. &#8220;I then so run not as uncertainly.&#8221; He does not run uncertainly, because, looking to the heavenly Jerusalem, he has a mark set, towards which his heart is swiftly directed without swerving. He does not run uncertainly, because, &#8220;forgetting those things which are behind, he reaches forth to those that are before, pressing towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,&#8221; whither he ever directs his mental gaze, and hastening towards it with all speed of heart, proclaims with confidence, &#8220;I have fought a good fight, I have finished

my course, I have kept the faith.&#8221; And because he knows he has run unweariedly &#8220;after the odour of the ointment&#8221; of Christ with ready devotion of heart, and has won the battle of the spiritual combat by the chastisement of the flesh, he boldly concludes and says, &#8220;Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me in that day.&#8221; And that he might open up to us also a like hope of reward, if we desire to imitate him in the struggle of his course, he added: &#8220;But not to me only, but to all also who love His coming;&#8221; declaring that we shall be sharers of his crown in the day of judgment, if we love the coming of Christ&#8212;not that one only which will be manifest to men even against their will; but also this one which daily comes to pass in holy souls&#8212;and if we gain the victory in the fight by chastising the body. And of this coming it is that the Lord speaks in the Gospel. &#8220;I,&#8221; says He, &#8220;and my Father will come to him, and will make our abode with him.&#8221; And again: &#8220;Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the gate, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.&#8221;