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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 174: How Can One Do the Commandment of the Lord from the Heart and Eagerly? (R. 150)
The experience of something sweet and beneficial, and even the expectation of anything of the kind, naturally implants in the soul thoughts and desires concerning it. If then any one hates and abominates unrighteousness and cleanses himself from all sin—which causes in the soul sluggishness and drawing back as regards the righteous acts of God, just as diseases cause satiety in the body and distaste for food; and if he is convinced that the commandment of God is eternal life, and everything promised to those that keep them is true, then he attains the disposition of him who said:1 The judgments of the Lord are true, righteous altogether; desirable above gold and much precious stone, and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. For thy servant keepeth them, and in keeping them there is great reward.”
Notes
- Ps. xix. 10; 11.