FOURTH BOOK Concerning the Thoughts of the Demon of Sadness

Against the soul that, due to the sadness that comes upon it, thinks that the Lord has not heard its groaning

The children of Israel groaned because of their tasks, and cried, and their cry because of their tasks went up to God. And God heard their groanings.

Against the thoughts that suppose that the Lord does not see our affliction that comes from the demons

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and I have heard their cry caused by their taskmasters, for I know their hardship, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.”

Against the soul that does not realize that temptations quickly multiply when it has started to investigate spiritually the living words of God and it has become diligent about God’s commandments

Moses turned to the Lord and said, “I pray, Lord, why have you afflicted this people? And why did you send me? For from the time when I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has afflicted this people, and you have not delivered your people.”

Against the thoughts that do not expect to receive help from God and which cast down the soul through sadness

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, “I am the Lord, and I will lead you out from the tyranny of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery, and I will ransom you with a raised arm and a great judgment. I will take you to myself as my people, and I will be your God.”

Against the soul that is not convinced that those who have renounced the world only recently will not fall into the hands of the wretched demons and do not fight open attacks through visions or sensation, lest they be alarmed by their [the demons’] terrors and return to the world

When Pharaoh sent the people out, God did not lead them by the way of the Philistines, although it was near, for God said, “lest at any time the people repent when they see war and return to Egypt.”

Against the thoughts that say to us, “The demons do not know that the Lord makes war on our behalf ”

The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord makes war on their behalf against the Egyptians.”

Against the soul that does not know why the demons plot against us

The enemy said, “I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoils. I will satisfy my soul, I will destroy with my sword, my hand shall rule.”

To the Lord concerning the thoughts that frighten us by saying, “At night demons will come and fall upon you”

Let fear and trembling fall upon them. By the greatness of your arm let them become as stone, until your people pass over, Lord, until your people pass over, which you purchased.

Against the thoughts of terror that come upon us because the angel who assists us is not visible

With a secret hand the Lord wages war against Amalek from generations to generations.

Against the soul that is afraid, as if God’s angels do not watch over it

And look, I am sending my angel before you, so that it might keep watch over you along the way, so that it might lead you into the land that I have prepared for you.

Against the soul that is saddened by the tumult of the night and, because of terror, supposes that it will remain in its commotion forever

I will give peace in your land,... and you will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before you in slaughter.

Against the human thoughts that consider us and say, “It is of no use for you to fight against the demons”

And I said to you, “Do not fear, and do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight alongside you against them.”

Against the soul that has been frightened by the voice of a demon that hissed at it suddenly in the air

Begin to inherit it; engage in war with him. In this day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you upon all the nations that are under heaven, who will be troubled when they have heard your name and will be in anguish before you.

Against the human thoughts that are terrified by the vision of a demon whose eyes flash like fire

Do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight alongside you against them.

To the Lord concerning the soul that remained undisturbed when suddenly demons fell upon the body with noise and tumult

Lord, Lord, you have begun to show to your servant your strength, your power, your mighty hand, and your high arm, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who will do as you have done and according to your might?

Against the soul that is frightened and scared by the demons that appear to it and supposes that the Lord has abandoned it

The Lord your God will not abandon you, nor will he destroy you; he will not forget the covenant of your fathers, which the Lord swore to them.

Against the soul that wants to know the reason for these trials

... so that he might afflict you and test you and treat you well at the end of your days.

Against the human thoughts that are frightened by the vision of demons that come to us at night twisted like snakes on one’s back and side

Do not let your heart become faint; do not be afraid; do not tremble, and do not turn away from them, for it is the Lord your God who advances with you, to wage war with you against your enemies so as to rescue you.

Against the soul that is saddened and frightened by the demons that come upon it suddenly at night

Be courageous and strong; do not fear or be cowardly; do not be afraid before them. For it is the Lord your God who advances with you and among you, who will not forsake you or abandon you.

Against the soul that wants, through its withdrawal from the world, to grow strong in the fear of God, but is hindered by the fear that comes from the demons

Be strong and courageous; do not be cowardly or afraid. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go.

Against the thoughts that hesitate to undertake the life of fear of God out of fear of the frightening visions and lamps of fire that fly through the air

Do not be afraid of them, and do not be cowardly... for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you wage war.

Against the soul that succumbs to sadness and therefore is frightened by visions of the night

Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, and sing a song! Get up, Barak, and lead your captivity captive, son of Abinoam!

Against the soulthat does not know that the melody that accompanies the Psalms alters the condition of the body and drives away the demon that touches it on the back, chills its sinews, and troubles all its members

And it happened that when the evil spirit was upon Saul, David took his harp and played with his hand, and Saul was refreshed, and it was good with him, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Against the demon that appears carrying a sword—we should, as in a hostile manner, answer back with a phrase, just as our blessed father Abba Macarius answered it when he saw it carrying a sword and coming to attack him when he had traveled to see the paradise that Jannes and Jambres made

You come to me with a sword and a spear and a shield, but I come to you in the name of the Lord God of hosts.

Against the demons that make a commotion in the air and then make us listen to their voices

Not with a sword or spear does the Lord deliver, for the battle belongs to the Lord, and the Lord will deliver you into our hands.

Against the demon that threatens me with curses and said, “I will make you an object of laughter and reproach among all the monks because you have investigated and made known all the kinds of all the unclean thoughts”

That’s enough! Let not the humpbacked one boast like the one that is upright!

Against the soul that is frightened by the demons that appear suddenly in the air

Do not be afraid, for those that are with us outnumber those that are with them.

Against the soul that does not believe that the air is filled with holy angels that help us and are not visible to the demons

Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, open the eyes of the servant, and let him see.” And the Lord opened his eyes, and he saw. And look, the mountain was filled with horses, and there were chariots of fire encircling Elisha.

Against the thought that cast me into fear and trembling on the pretext that demons are coming and fighting with me

The one who dwells in the heavens will laugh them to scorn, and the Lord will mock them. Then he will speak to them in his anger, and in his fury he will trouble them.

To the Lord concerning the disordered and foul visions that appear to us at night

Have mercy upon me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are troubled. My soul is greatly troubled, and as for you, Lord, how long? Return, Lord, and deliver my soul; save me for your mercy’s sake.

Against the thoughts that advise us to flee from before the demons’ evil and not to oppose them valiantly in the contest

In the Lord I have placed my trust. How will you say to my soul, “Flee to the mountains as a sparrow”?

To the Lord concerning the expectation that demons are about to come upon us at night

Rise up, Lord, and prevent them, and cast them down. Deliver my soul from the ungodly, your sword from the enemies of your hand.

Against the soul that is disturbed by the tumultuous sounds and commotion of the demons

Some glory in chariots and some in horses, but we will glory in the name of the Lord our God. They are overthrown and fallen, but we have arisen and have been set upright.

Against the demons that touch our bodies at night and like scorpions strike our limbs

The Lord is my light and my savior; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Against the demons that suddenly appear to us out of the air like Ethiopians

If an army arrays itself against me, my heart shall not fear; if war arises against me, in this I have hope.

To the Lord concerning the demon of sadness that approached me and that alone [among the demons] did not create a desire, but whose entire work was in the head and in the back; having introduced sadness with thoughts, it then no longer required thoughts, but cast the soul into great and unnecessary distress

You are my refuge from the affliction that surrounds me, my joy, to deliver me from those that encircle me.

To the Lord concerning the demons that fall upon the skin of the body, put branding marks in it as if made by fire, and make visible marks in it as if made by a cupping-glass—things that I have seen many times with my own eyes and at which I have marveled

Judge, Lord, those who do me injustice; make war against those who make war against me. Take hold of a shield and buckler, and rise up for my help. Bring forth a sword, and stop the way against those that persecute me. Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

To the Lord concerning the demon of sadness that alters the intellect and impresses it with a single concept that is filled with severe grief—this is an indication of great madness

Deliver my soul from their wickedness, my only-begotten one from the lions.

Against the thought that threatens me and said, “Look, at night demons will come, carrying swords”

Let their sword enter into their own heart, and let their bows be broken.

Against the thought that prophesies to me concerning the scourge that comes from demons

For I am ready for scourges, and my grief is continually before me.

Against the soul that, in the time of sadness, wants to find in prayer spiritual words

Do not forsake me, Lord; my God, do not depart from me. Come near to help me, Lord of my salvation.

To the Lord concerning the demons that burned the body’s sinews

Take from me your scourges; from the strength of your hand I have fainted.

Against the soul concerning the thought of sadness that depicted before our eyes our father’s old age, our mother’s lack of strength, and the sorrow of our relatives, who are not comforted

His words are smoother than oil, but they are darts.

To the Lord concerning the demon that in my intellect threatens me with madness and mental illness, to the shame of me and of those who seek the Lord through the monastic life

Do not let those who wait on you, Lord of hosts, be ashamed on my account. Do not let those who seek you, God of Israel, be embarrassed because of me.

Against the soul that does not understand what the leaders of the demons say about persons who have been “abandoned by the Lord”

For my enemies have spoken against me, and those that would possess my soul have taken counsel together, saying, “God has abandoned him. Pursue him and seize him, for he has no deliverer.”

To the Lord concerning the serpents that appear flying in the air and also make themselves come out of the walls—we should say what the ancient Egyptian, the blessed Macarius, opened his mouth and said

Do not hand over to the beasts a soul that confesses you.

Against the soul that is not convinced that the filthy demons talk to one another about us

They have said, “Come, and let us destroy them out of the nation, and let the name of Israel no longer be remembered.”

Against the demons that gradually begin to imitate obscene images and to appear out of the air—we should answer with a phrase, as also the righteous blessed Antony answered and said

The Lord is my helper, and I shall look upon my enemies.

Against the demon that burst into flame like a fire and then dissolved again into smoke

The snare has been broken, and we have been delivered. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

To the Lord concerning the demon that threatens to burn me with a flaming fire

Coals will fall upon them, and you will cast them down into fire; in hardships they will not bear up.

Against the thought that said to me, “The path that leads to knowledge of Jesus Christ is full of great danger and much affliction”

The timid person makes excuses and says, “There is a lion in the paths and murderers in the streets.”

Against the soul that does not know that Satan cannot approach even cattle without God’s command

You have blessed the works of his hand, and you have made his cattle numerous upon the land. But stretch out your hand, and touch all that he has, and [see] whether truly he will bless you to your face.

Against the soul that does not understand that, after the trials that it has through thoughts, Satan sets to work and requests of God that he be given authority over the body

The devil answered and said to the Lord, “Skin for skin, as much as a person has he will give as a ransom for his soul. No, rather, stretch out your hand, and touch his bones and his flesh, and [see] whether truly he will bless you to your face.”

Against the thoughts that frighten us by prophesying to us and saying, “Look, at night demons will come like stars and appear in the cell and burn your eyes and face”—it is expedient for us at that moment of trial to kneel, to persist in prayer, to turn away our face, and not to look when they are trying to disturb us

Let the stars of that night be darkened; let [that night] remain dark and not come into light, and let it not see the morning star rise.

Against the thought that prophesies to me and said, “Death will come to you from the demons”

For if a human being should die, will he live again after having completed the days of his life?

Against the evil spirit that opposes my soul, introduces and displays to me sins of the past, and tries to cast sadness into it [my soul]

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy, because I have fallen. I shall rise up, for if I sit in darkness, the Lord serves as a light for me.

Against the soul that does not valiantly withstand the demon that at the time of prayer suddenly comes, lands on the shouldersand neck, scratches the ears, and punches the nose

The Lord is kind to those who wait upon him on the day of affliction, knowing those who show him reverence.

Against the soul that wants to learn what is to happen to the demons on the day of judgment and what is the generation of torment to which they are to be handed over—concerning this torment the prophet, prophesying mystically, narrated and said

And this is the overthrow with which the Lord will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot away while they are standing on their feet, and their eyes will melt out of their sockets, and their tongue will rot away in their mouth.

Against the demons that suddenly emitted fire and disturbed with alarming sounds—because they cast the soul into a stupor, we should not let it [the soul] fall into their terror, but we should say what our holy father Macarius also answered against them and said

Know, you nations, and be conquered; listen, even to the end of the earth. Having become strong, be conquered. For even if you become strong again, you will be conquered again. And whatever counsel you should take, the Lord will bring it to naught; and whatever word you speak, it shall not endure, for God is with us.

Against the thoughts that come to us because of the weakness that the demons create in us

I do not disobey, nor do I dispute. I gave my back to scourges and my cheek to blows. I did not turn my face away from the shame of spitting, but the Lord God was my helper.

Against the soul’s thought that saddens it because of the contempt that it receives when friends and relatives reproach it for not having distributed to them from its wealth, and in turn it receives no consolation from them

Do not fear the reproach of human beings, and do not be overcome by their contempt.

Against the soul that does not understand that empty thoughts give birth within it to fear and trembling, and they obscure the holy light that confidence gives to the intellect

Abstain from injustice, and you will not be afraid, and trembling will not come near to you.

Against the soul that is frightened by the flashes of lightning that happen on the walls

Do not be afraid before them, for I am with you to rescue you, says the Lord.

To the Lord concerning the thoughts of sadness that lead the intellect to an abyss filled with dead persons and that imprint in the heart obscene visions—this is an indication of a soul that has fallen into danger

Why do those who sadden me prevail against me? My wound is severe: from where will I receive healing? It has indeed become for me like deceitful water, which has no trustworthiness.

To the Lord concerning the demons that say to us in our intellect, “Soon you will be put to shame in your way of life”

Let those who persecute me be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be alarmed, but do not let me be alarmed. Bring upon them the evil day; crush them with double destruction.

Against the soul that is frightened by the attacks of demons that happen through touching

Do not be afraid of them, nor be alarmed before them, because it is a house of provocateurs.

Against the soul that is not convinced that the demons do not have authority even over swine, even though they boast, “We have authority over human beings, and we enslave them according to our will”

Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!.”

Against the soul that does not understand that weakness of faith brings trepidation and fear into the heart

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God, have faith also in me.

Against the soul that is sad because it has suffered dishonor for the sake of the Lord’s name

As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

Concerning the suffering that comes from temptations

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Against the thought that prophesies to me severe sufferings that come from temptations

I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

Against the soul’s thought that supposes that it is tested beyond its strength

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Against the soul, concerning a stupefying, indescribable temptation, which I do not want to reveal in words because of those people who, whether out of malice or out of ignorance, ridicule with both careful and careless words and who suppose that demons do not harass monks openly—these are persons who have no experience at all of the warfare of those demons that, through a request made of God, have received the authority to test us

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us.

Against the demon that brings to me the sins of my youth

Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.

Against the thoughts of sadness that come to us concerning transitory affairs, sinking the intellect into great affliction and killing it

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.

Against the thoughts of the soul that is joined in open warfare against the demons

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Against the thoughts that expect the soul to be wounded by demons and the body to fall into incurable illness

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Blessed is our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, who has given us the victory over the demon of sadness!