Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/501

 Abbot Diocles  went  so  far  as  to  say   that  "  he  who  distracts himself  from  the  remembrance  of  the  presence  of God  becomes  either  a  beast  or  a  devil." And justly; for he  shall  be  instantly  assailed  by  carnal  or  diabolical desires which  he  will  not  have  strength  to  resist.

On the  other  hand,  the  saints  by  the  thought  that God was  looking  at  them  have  bravely  repelled  all  the assaults of  their  enemies. This thought  gave  courage to holy  Susanna  to  resist  the  temptations  of  the  Elders, and even  to  despise  their  threats  against  her  life. Hence she courageously  said  to  them:  It  is  better  for  me  to  fall into  your  hands  without  doing  it  than  to  sin  in  the  sight  of  the Lord.  It  is  better  to  fall  into  your  hands  and  to  die without sin  than  to  offend  God  before  his  face. This thought also  converted  a  wicked  woman  who  dared  to tempt  St.  Ephrem;  the  saint  told  her  that  if  she  wished to sin  she  must  meet  him  in  the  middle  of  the  city. But, said  she,  how  is  it  possible  to  commit  sin  before  so many  persons? And how,  replied  the  saint,  is  it  possible to  sin  in  the  presence  of  God,  who  sees  us  in  every place? At these  words  she  burst  into  tears,  and  falling prostrate on  the  ground  asked  pardon  of  the  saint,  and besought him  to  point  out  to  her  the  way  of  salvation. St. Ephrem  placed  her  in  a  monastery,  where  she  led  a holy  life,  weeping  over  her  sins  till  death.3  The  same happened to  the  abbot  Paphnutius  and  a  sinner  called Thais. She tempted  him  one  day,  saying  that  there  was no one  to  see  them  but  God. The saint  with  a  stern voice said  to  her:  "  Then  you  believe  that  God  sees  you, and  will  you  commit  sin?" Thais was  thunderstruck, and filled  with  horror  for  her  sinful  life:  she  gathered together all  her  richer,  clothes,  and  jewels  which  she  had