Letter 682

To Anatolius the Presbyter. And what is strange in this, that, having taken every virtue into your bosom, you were handed over to the spirit of cowardice for training? For Scripture says, "You made his strongholds into cowardice, and you exalted the right hand of those who afflict him." [Psalm 88:43, Septuagint] But wait a little while, and you will see the arms of the enemies who are now afflicting you crushed by a holy angel; and you will seek the place of the demon of cowardice, and you will by no means find him; and with your very eyes you will see those who pursue you taking flight.

Καὶ τί ξένον, εἰ πᾶσαν ἀρετὴν ἐγκολπισάμενος, τῷ τῆς δειλίας πρὸς γυμνασίαν παρεδόθης πνεύματι; «Ἔθου γάρ, φησὶ, τὰ ὀχυρώματα αὐτοῦ δειλίαν, καὶ ὕψωσας τὴν δεξιάν τῶν θλιβόντων αὐτόν.» Ἀλλ’ ὀλέγουν ἀνάμεινον, καὶ δίψῃ τοὺς βραχίονας τῶν ἐχθρῶν συντριβομένους ὑπὸ ἁγίου ἀγγέλου τοὺς ἀρτίως σε θλίβοντας, καὶ ζητήσεις τὸν τόπον τοῦ τῆς δειλίας δαίμονος, καὶ οὐ μὴ εὑρήσεις αὐτόν, καὶ αὐτοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ὄψῃ διώκοντάς σε, φεύγοντας.