7. Blessed Archbishop Theophilus, accompanied by a
magistrate, came one day to find Abba Arsenius. He
questioned the old man, to hear a word from him. After a
short silence the old man answered him ‘Will you put into
practice what I say to you?' They promised him this. 'If you
hear Arsenius is anywhere, do not go there.'
8. Another time the archbishop, intending to come to
see him, sent someone to see if the old man would receive
him. Arsenius told him 'If you come, I shall receive you; but
if I receive you, I receive everyone and therefore I shall no
longer live here.' Hearing that, the archbishop said, 'If I drive
him away by going to him, I shall not go any more.?
9. A brother questioned Abba Arsenius to hear a word
of him and the old man said to him, 'Strive with all your
might to bring your interior activity into accord with God,
and you will overcome exterior passions.'
10. He also said, 'If we seek God, he will show himself to
us, and if we keep him, he will remain close to us.'
11. Someone said to Abba Arsenius, 'My thoughts trouble
me, saying, "You can neither fast nor work; at least go and
visit the sick, for that is also charity."' But the old man,
recognising the suggestions of the demons, said to him, 'Go,
eat, drink, sleep, do no work, only do not leave your cell.'
For he knew that steadfastness in the cell keeps a monk in
the right way.
12. Abba Arsenius used to say that a monk travelling
abroad should not get involved in anything; thus he will
remain in peace.
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