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from How one gains the true faith,
* Excerpt, Translated by Elpenor
* Greek Fonts *
St
Peter Resources
OR such a person will not worry at all anymore about anything whatever, knowing, that A horse is prepared for war but it is from God its salvation, as Solomon says (Prov. 21.31). And by faith dares anything without any doubt, as st. Isaak says: Aquire faith inside yourself to defeat your enemies. For he neither lives as autonomous, but as a beast guided by God's will, as the prophet says: I became near you like a beast, and I am remaining always with you (Ps. 72.22-23). Do you wish to comfort me in your knowledge? Be it as you wish. Do you wish to let me in temptations in order to humiliate me? The same I follow you. Without you I have nothing to do. Without you I wouldn't be born out of nothing, neither can I live or be saved. Do with your creature whatever you like. |
πῶς κτᾶταί τις τὴν ἀληθῆ πίστιν Οὐκέτι γὰρ ὁ τοιοῦτος ὅλως περί τινος φροντίδα ποιεῖ, γινώσκων, ὅτι ἵππος ἑτοιμάζεται εἰς πόλεμον, παρὰ δὲ Θεῷ ἡ σωτηρία αὐτοῦ, φησὶν ὁ Σολομών (Παρ. 21.31). Καὶ διὰ ταύτης πάντων κατατολμᾷ, ὥς φησιν ὁ Ἅγιος Ἰσαάκ· κτῆσαι πίστιν ἐν σεαυτῷ, ἵνα καταπατήσῃς τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ὡς αὐτεξούσιος διάγει, ἀλλ' ὡς κτῆνος ἀγόμενος τῷ θελήματι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὥς φησιν ὁ Προφήτης· κτηνώδης ἐγενήθην παρὰ σοί, κἀγὼ διὰ παντὸς μετὰ σοῦ (Ψαλ. 72.22-23). Βούλει με, φησίν, ἀναπαῦσαι διὰ τῆς σῆς γνώσεως, οὐκ ἀντιλέγω· θέλεις πάλιν, ταπεινώσεως χάριν, πειρασμοὺς παραχωρεῖν με ἔχειν, ὡσαύτως εἰμὶ μετὰ σοῦ· οὐκ ἔχω τι ποιῆσαι ὅλως ἀπ' ἐμαυτοῦ. Ἐκτός σου γὰρ οὐκ ἐγενόμην ἐκ μὴ ὄντος, οὐδὲ ζῆσαι ἢ σωθῆναι δύναμαι. Εἴ τι βούλει τὸ σὸν πλάσμα ποίησον. |
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Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/damascenus-faith.asp