Alexander Rahm
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CONTENTS
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PREFACE v
CONTENTS vii
REFERENCES xi
INTRODUCTION xn
The text and the Greek translation XII
Isaac’s age and person XVII
A sketch of Isaac’s mystical ideas XXIII
Isaac’s place in Oriental thought XLV
TRANSLATION i
CHAPTER I i
II 7
On the behaviour of excellence. *
v 42
VI 55
„ VII. On other subjects, chapter by chapter, in short sections: on the character of trust in God, etc 67
CHAPTER VIII. What is it that helps a man to come near
unto God with his heart etc 70
CHAPTER IX. On sins [committed] intentionally and with evil will and on those [committed] accidentally 74
CHAPTER X. On the words of the scriptures being spoken as it were to patients etc 78
CHAPTER XI. Whereby the beauty of solitary life is to be preserved and how it can be a cause of God’s being glorified 80
CHAPTER XII. That it is not beautiful for the servant of God who has renunciated the world and has gone forth to seek even the truth, out of fear that he shall not find the truth, to desist from seeking it etc 82
CHAPTER XIII. On the varying states which come to those who live in solitude etc 84
CHAPTER XIV. As to when those who live in solitude, begin to know, even to a slight extent, how far they have advanced in their service etc 85
CHAPTER XV. On the course of the solitary career, succinctly and without prolixity. And on the question how and at what time its virtues are born one from the other 87
CHAPTER XVI. How profitable it is for the soul while in solitude to be free from works etc 89
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CHAPTER XVII. On the short paths towards God which are revealed to one from the sweet works in vigils etc 91
CHAPTER XVIII. Things which I have heard from old men
and stories of holy people etc 95
CHAPTER XIX. On the revelations and powers which happen to the saints in images 105
CHAPTER XX. On various intelligible forces of the mind, in connection with the action of revelations and spiritual visions. 109
CHAPTER XXI. On that which happens during prayer [unto
those who live] in solitude 110
CHAPTER XXII. On various [experiences] in prayer and on
the limits of the power of the mind etc in
CHAPTER XXIII. On the speech of true knowledge 118
CHAPTER XXIV. On the things a brother is provided with in his cell 120
CHAPTER XXV. The opportunities of the soul that seeks profound contemplation, to immerse itself in it [and so escape] from bodily deliberations which arise from things recollected. 124
CHAPTER XXVI. Against those who say: If God is good, wherefore has He made these things? 128
CHAPTER XXVII. In how many different ways the sight of incorporeal things is received by human nature 132
CHAPTER XXVIII. A symbolical demonstration concerning the theory of Sabbath and Sunday 136
CHAPTER XXIX. On the different excellent methods of wise providence in educating pupils 138
CHAPTER XXX. On the power and the evil action of sin; and concerning those in whom it maintains itself and those in whom it is annihilated 141
CHAPTER XXXI. On the struggle or rather the danger of falling that excellent works incur 145
CHAPTER XXXII. On the aim of guarding the heart. And on subtle speculation that looks into the Apartment 146
CHAPTER XXXIII. On the action of divine love 148
CHAPTER XXXIV. On the natural children of virtues and the like 149
CHAPTER XXXV. A treatise in questions and answers concerning constant behaviour and every kind of excellence etc. 152
CHAPTER XXXVI. On the various ways in which Satan wars against those who tread the narrow way which is above the world 180
CHAPTER XXXVII. On the things the exact use of which I have learnt by the knowledge of discernment 188
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Short sentences concerning the distinction of the mind’s impulses 194
CHAPTER XXXIX. Helpful advice based on love 197
CHAPTER XL. Exposition concerning the degrees of the path, namely concerning the power of ministration of each of them. 202
CHAPTER XLI. A letter which he wrote to one of the brethren
who loved solitude etc 203
CHAPTER XLII. The answer he sent his natural and spiritual brother etc 209
CHAPTER XLIII. Profitable words full of spiritual wisdom. 210
CHAPTER XLIV. Concerning how many degrees knowledge has and concerning the degrees of faith 212
CHAPTER XLV. Profitable advice 215
CHAPTER XLVI. Other considerations 221
CHAPTER XLVII. On the angelic motions stirring in us by divine Providence for the education of the soul in spiritual things 225
CHAPTER XLVIII. On the varying states of light and darkness to which the soul is subject at all times etc 227
CHAPTER XLIX. On the gloomy darkness which during solitude
befalls those who walk in the discipline of knowledge 228
CHAPTER L. Short sections containing various considerations in which is shown the injury caused by foolish zeal etc 230
CHAPTER LI. On the three degrees of knowledge etc 242
CHAPTER LII. Short sections on a different subject, on the distinction of the impulses of knowledge 253
CHAPTER LIII. On prayer and the other things which are necessarily to be sought in constant recollection etc 254
CHAPTER LIV. Other explanations concerning maggenanutha. 261
CHAPTER LV. How the hidden alertness within the soul is to be preserved etc 263
CHAPTER LVI. Beautiful considerations concerning the life of man 265
CHAPTER LVII. How patience for the sake of the love of God acquires help from God 268
CHAPTER LVIII. On those who live in the neighbourhood of God and pass all their days in a life of knowledge 273
CHAPTER LIX. A profitable discourse 278
CHAPTER LX. That without necessity we should not desire nor ask that any sign should manifestly happen through us or unto us 282
CHAPTER LXI. For which causes God admits temptations to His friends 286
CHAPTER LXII. That by the thoughts which stir in a man, he knows to which degree he belongs and which thoughts follow. 288
CHAPTER LXIII. Why it is that people who are in the psychic state of knowledge, consider spiritual things in accordance with [their] bodily grossness etc 293
CHAPTER LX1V. On the many varying states which cling to the mind and are purified by prayer 296
CHAPTER LXV. Good advice giving instruction concerning watchfulness, and directions concerning the way of discipline,by which a man may acquire a high rank 297
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CHAPTER LXVI. A letter which he sent to his friend, in which he expounds some things concerning the mystery of solitude etc. 312
CHAPTER LXVII. An elucidation with examples concerning the distinctions between intelligible things [showing] which use there is in each of them 316
CHAPTER LXVIII. Short sections 318
CHAPTER LXIX. How the intelligent have to dwell in solitude. 321
CHAPTER LXX. That we can understand the degree of our behaviour by the varying states of our mind, etc 324
CHAPTER LXXI. On the influence proceeding from Grace. . 328
CHAPTER LXXII. On true knowledge and on temptations, etc. 332
CHAPTER LXXIII. The concise sense of the [foregoing] section, together with explanations of what has been said 337
CHAPTER LXXIV. On the discrimination of virtues and the scope of the whole course, and the greatness of the love unto mankind, etc 341
CHAPTER LXXV. On hidden states and the powers and influences which are in them 348
CHAPTER LXXVI. Short sayings. 350
CHAPTER LXXVII. This chapter is full of life 352
CHAPTER LXXVIII. On the profit [arising] from the flight from the world, the method of which has been thought out by the Fathers through prudent examination 360
CHAPTER LXXIX. How the hidden impulses vary along with the variation of outward behaviour 361
CHAPTER LXXX. On vigils and on the many different kinds of labours during them. And that it is not becoming that the aim of our labours should be the fulfilling of a quantity, but [to work] in freedom and with discrimination etc 366
CHAPTER LXXXI. An answer to a brother who had asked him why, when our Lord has defined mercy as similitude to the greatness of the Father in heaven, the solitaries honour solitude more than it? etc 379
CHAPTER LXXXII. How much honour humility possesses and how high its rank is 3^4
GENERAL REGISTER 391
QUOTATIONS FROM THE BIBLE 399