Page:Anglo-Saxon version of the Hexameron of St. Basil.djvu/60

Rh ST. basil's advice to one, &e. 3S

truly to teach thee that spiritual labour, how thou mayst fight for God, and with what measure thou mightest serve Him. Hear earnestly, and be not thou stupified by heavy sleep, but arouse now thyself with great earnestness for my counsel. These words are not from me, but from the in- struction of God : I will not instruct thee now with a new doctrine, but with that doctrine which I learned of old, froia the holy fathers that were our predecessors* If this holy doctrine pleaseth thy heart, and if thou receivest it, then shalt thou die in peace, and no evil either may or can draw near thee, but all adversity shall depart from thy soul.

11. Concerning Spiritual Warfare.

If thou wilt fight in the warfare of God, do not wage war for any one except for God alone, that thou mayst minister to Him in His service, continually secure from worldly cares and from all tumult. The men .that fight for an earthly king ever obey all his behests. So also it is the duty of those that fight for the heavenly King to obey the divine commandments. The earthly warrior is ever pre- pared and prompt, whithersoever he shall go with the king to the fight, and he may not, on either the account of his wife or of his daughters, excuse himself so that he should not go. Much more shall he the true warrior of God, without any hinderance, speedily obey the commands of Christ Himself, the just King. The earthly warrior war- reth with his weapons against visible enemies, and thou shalt war against the unseen foes, that shall never desist from striving against thee, whilst thou art alive (quick). For the warrior of the world there is visibly a contest against flesh and blood, but thy contest is ever against the accursed spirits, that, through the atmosphere, fly to undo the unwary. The world's champion weareth worldly weapons against those