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OF WRATH

In the hospital of EvaSt there was a sick man who suffered from an ulcer in the leg and could not be cured. And that man was greatly constrained by his sickness. It came to pass one day that he was suffering exceedingly by reason of

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the grievousness of his sickness, and considered for how long a time he had borne it. Wherefore such wrath entered his mind that he desired death, and cursed himself, and the day of his birth, and the life which he led. And so great was his wrath, that in his mind he cursed both God and all things that were. , , , _ „

2. While the sick man was thus wrathful, Evaft, as was his wont, together with the physician, tended his leg. When the physician had placed by him the powder which he was accuftomed to give him, Evaft bound up and dressed his sore, and, kneeling down, kissed his feet, according to his daily cuftom.

3. Through the great humility and charity which was in Evaft, God enlightened the conscience of the sick man and showed him the sinfulness of his thoughts. And the sick man thought upon the great humility of Evaft, and, remem¬ bering his own transgression and his wrath, spake these words: “ Alas, thou wretched onel How ftrange a thing is this 1 For thou art the enemy of God and of all things, by reason of the wrath that is in thee 1 Evaft gives himself to the service of God, but thou serveft the devil.” Greatly did Evaft marvel at these words, and he begged the sick man to tell him their meaning.

4. “ My lord 1 ” said the sick man, “ So great wrath

that 1 desire death rather than life ; and so greatly has wrath taken hold upon me that it has caused me to curse God and

myself and all things. But thy humility, piety and charity

wim-n uoa nas shown to me in giving me man as thyself. And since my ingratitude ring are so great, it is neither juft nor right orth thou shouldft serve and keep in thy

and my wrong-doing are so great, it i that from henceforth thou shouldft hospital so guilty a sinner as am I ’

5- " Brother and friend 1 ” that 1 Should win merit in 92

answered Evaft. “ God wills serving thee, and that thou

OF VAINGLORY shouldft win merit through patience. Thou mayeft know the vileness and the misery in the which we live in this world ; wherefore thou shouldft have pleasure in that which makes thee wrathful. Thou haft come into this world that thou mayeft have merit whereby God may juftly call thee to His glory. Wherefore the greater the increase which God gives to thee of sickness, the greater is the occasion which thou haft of patience and of keeping in remembrance the grievous Passion which He bore by hanging on the Cross for thee and all mankind.” So devoutly did Evaft speak to the sick man and so piously admonished he him, that he repented of his sin, and spake these words :

6. “ Ah, patient God 1 Who could conceive such great patience as Thine, Who by patience haft so conquered my wrath that I submit myself thereto from henceforward and for all the days of my life 1 The more Thou doft cause me to suffer, the sweeter to me will be my life, and the more clearly will Thy love and Thy dominion be manifested to me.” These words and many others the sick man spake, beseeching pardon of God and rejoicing in His mercy.