Aphrahat: Selected Demonstrations

1. Expedient is the word that I speak and worthy of acceptance:—Let us now awake from our sleep,^{Edition note 2} and lift up both our hearts and hands to God towards heaven; lest suddenly the Lord of the house come, that when He comes He may find us in watchfulness.^{Edition note 3} Let us observe the appointed time of the glorious bridegroom,^{Edition note 4} that we may enter with Him into His bride-chamber. Let us prepare oil for our lamps that we may go forth to meet Him with joy. Let us make ready provision for our abiding-place, for the way that is narrow and strait.

And let us put away and cast from us all uncleanness, and put on wedding garments. Let us trade with the silver that we have received,^{Edition note 5} that we may be called diligent servants. Let us be constant in prayer, that we may pass by the place where fear dwells. Let us cleanse our heart from iniquity, that we may see the Lofty One in His honour. Let us be merciful, as it is written, that God may have mercy upon us.^{Edition note 6} Let there be peace amongst us, that we may be called the brethren of Christ.

Let us hunger for righteousness, that we may be satisfied^{Edition note 7} from the table of His Kingdom. Let us be the salt of truth, that we may not become food for the serpent. Let us purge our seed from thorns, that we may produce fruit a hundred-fold. Let us found our building on the rock,^{Edition note 8} that it may not be shaken by the winds and waves. Let us be vessels unto honour^{Edition note 9} that we may be required by the Lord for His use. Let us sell all our possessions, and buy for ourselves the pearl,^{Edition note 10} that we may be rich.

Let us lay up our treasures in heaven,^{Edition note 11} that when we come we may open them and have pleasure in them. Let us visit our Lord in the persons of the sick,^{Edition note 12} that He may invite us to stand at His right hand. Let us hate ourselves and love Christ, as He loved us and gave Himself up for our sakes.^{Edition note 13} Let us honour the spirit of Christ, that we may receive grace from Him. Let us be strangers to the world,^{Edition note 14} even as Christ was not of it. Let us be humble and mild, that we may inherit the land of life.

Let us be unflagging in His service, that He may cause us to serve in the abode of the saints. Let us pray His prayer in purity, that it may have access to the Lord of Majesty. Let us be partakers in His suffering, that so we may also rise up in His resurrection.^{Edition note 15} Let us bear His sign upon our bodies, that we may be delivered from the wrath to come. For fearful is the day in which He will come, and who is able to endure it?^{Edition note 16} Furious and hot is His wrath, and it will destroy all the wicked.

Let us set upon our head the helmet of redemption,^{Edition note 17} that we may not be wounded and die in the battle. Let us gird our loins with truth, that we may not be found impotent in the contest. Let us arise and awaken Christ, that He may still the stormy blasts from us. Let us take as a shield against the Evil One, the preparation of the Gospel of our Redeemer. Let us receive power from our Lord to tread upon snakes and scorpions.^{Edition note 18} Let us lay aside from us wrath, with all fury and malice. Let no reviling proceed out of our mouth, with which we pray unto God.

Let us not be cursers, that we may be delivered from the curse of the law. Let us be diligent workers, that we may obtain our reward with those of old. Let us take up the burden of the day, that we may seek a more abundant reward. Let us not be idle workers, for lo! our Lord has hired us for His vineyard.^{Edition note 19} Let us be planted as vines in the midst of His vineyard, for it is the true vineyard. Let us be fruitful vines, that we may not be uprooted out of His vineyard. Let us be a sweet odour, that our fragrance may breathe forth to all around.

Let us be poor in the world, and let us enrich many by the doctrine of our Lord. Let us not call anyone our father in the earth,^{Edition note 20} that we may be the children of the Father which is in heaven. Though we have nothing, yet we possess all things.^{Edition note 21} Though no man know us, yet they that have knowledge of us are many. Let us rejoice in our hope at every time,^{Edition note 22} that He Who is our hope and our Redeemer may rejoice in us. Let us judge ourselves righteously and condemn ourselves, that we may not hang down our faces before the judges who shall sit upon thrones and judge the tribes.^{Edition note 23} Let us take to ourselves, as armour for the contest,^{Edition note 24} the preparation of the Gospel. Let us knock at the door of heaven,^{Edition note 25} that it may be opened before us, and we may enter in through it.

Let us diligently ask for mercy, that we may receive whatsoever is necessary for us. Let us seek His Kingdom and His righteousness,^{Edition note 26} that we may receive increase in the land. Let us think upon the things which are above,^{Edition note 27} on the heavenly things, and meditate on them, where Christ has been lifted up and exalted. But let us forsake the world which is not ours, that we may arrive at the place to which we have been invited. Let us raise up our eyes on high, that we may see the splendour which shall be revealed.

Let us lift up our wings as eagles, that we may see the body there where it is. Let us prepare as offerings for the King desirable fruits, fasting and prayer. Let us guard His pledge in purity, that He may trust us over all His treasury. For whosoever deals falsely with His pledge, they suffer him not to enter into the treasure-house. Let us be careful of the body of Christ, that our bodies may rise at the sound of the trumpet. Let us hearken to the voice of the bridegroom, that we may go in with Him into the bride-chamber.

Let us prepare the marriage-gift for His bridal day, and let us go forth to meet Him with joy. Let us put on holy raiment, that we may recline in the chief place of the elect. Whosoever puts not on wedding raiment,^{Edition note 28} they cast him out into outer darkness. Whosoever excuses himself from the wedding shall not taste the feast.^{Edition note 29} Whosoever loves fields and merchandise, shall be shut out of the city of Saints. Whosoever does not bear fruit in the vineyard, shall be uprooted and cast out to torment.

Whosoever has received money from his Lord, let him return it to its Giver with its increase.^{Edition note 30} Whosoever desires to become a merchant, let, him buy for himself the field and the treasure that is in it.^{Edition note 31} Whosoever receives the good seed, let him purge his land from thorns.^{Edition note 32} Whosoever desires to be a fisherman, let him cast forth his net at every time. Whosoever is training for the conflict, let him keep himself from the world. Whosoever wishes to gain the crown, let him run as a winner in the race.

Whosoever wishes to go down into the course to contend, let him learn to (contend) against his adversary. Whosoever wishes to go down to the battle, let him take unto him armour wherewith to fight, and let him purify himself at every time. Whosoever adopts the likeness of angels, let him be a stranger to men. Whosoever takes upon him the yoke of the saints, let him remove from him getting and spending. Whosoever desires to gain himself, let him remove from him the gain of the world. Whosoever loves the abode that is in heaven, let him not toil at the building of clay that will fall.

Whosoever is expectant of being caught up in the clouds, let him not make for himself adorned chariots. Whosoever is expectant of the marriage-feast of the Bridegroom, let him not love the feast of this present time. Whosoever wishes to have pleasure in the banquet reserved there, let him remove drunkenness from himself. Whosoever prepares himself for the supper, let him not excuse himself,^{Edition note 33} nor be a merchant. Whosoever he be on whom the good seed falls, let him not allow the Evil One to sow tares in him.

Whosoever has begun to build a tower, let him count up all the cost thereof.^{Edition note 34} Whosoever builds ought to finish, that he be not a laughing-stock to them that pass by the way. Whosoever sets his building on the rock, let him make its foundations deep, that it may not be cast down by the billows. Whosoever wishes to fly from the darkness, let him walk while he has light.^{Edition note 35} Whosoever fears to fly in winter,^{Edition note 36} let him prepare himself from the summer-time. Whosoever looks forward to enter into rest,^{Edition note 37} let him make ready his provision for the Sabbath.

Whosoever begs forgiveness of his Lord, let him also forgive his debtor.^{Edition note 38} Whosoever does not demand back a hundred dinars, his Lord forgives him ten thousand talents. Whosoever casts down his Lord’s money on the banker’s table,^{Edition note 39} will not be called an unprofitable servant. Whosoever loves humility, shall be heir in the land of life. Whosoever wishes to make peace, shall be one of the sons of God.^{Edition note 40} Whosoever knows the will of his Lord, let him do that will, that he may not be beaten much.^{Edition note 41} Whosoever cleanses his heart from deceits, His eyes shall behold the King in his beauty.^{Edition note 42} Whosoever receives the Spirit of Christ, let him adorn his inner man.

Whosoever is called the temple of God,^{Edition note 43} let him purify his body from all uncleanness. Whosoever grieves the Spirit of Christ,^{Edition note 44} shall not raise up his head from griefs. Whosoever receives the body of Christ, let him keep his body from all uncleanness. Whosoever casts off the old man,^{Edition note 45} let him not turn back to his former works. Whosoever puts on the new man, let him keep himself from all filthiness. Whosoever has put on armour from the water (of baptism), let him not put off his armour that he may not be condemned.

Whosoever takes up the shield^{Edition note 46} against the Evil One, let him keep himself from the darts which he hurls at him. Whosoever shall draw back, his Lord has no pleasure in him.^{Edition note 47} Whosoever thinks upon the Law of his Lord, shall not be troubled with the thoughts of this world. Whosoever meditates on the Law of his Lord, is like a tree planted by the waters.^{Edition note 48} Whosoever again has trust in his Lord, is like a tree that is set out by the river. Whosoever puts his trust in man shall receive the curses of Jeremiah.^{Edition note 49} Whosoever is invited to the Bridegroom, let him prepare himself.

Whosoever has lighted his lamp, let him not suffer it to go out. Whosoever is expectant of the marriage-cry, let him take oil in his vessel.^{Edition note 50} Whosoever is keeper of the door, let him be on the watch for his Master. Whosoever loves virginity, let him become like Elijah. Whosoever takes up the yoke of the Saints, let him sit and be silent. Whosoever loves peace, let him look for his Master as the hope of life.

2. For, my beloved, our adversary is skilful. He that contends against us is crafty. Against the brave and the renowned does he prepare himself, that they may be weakened. For the feeble are his own, nor does he fight with the captivity that are made captive to him. He that has wings flees from him and the darts that he hurls at him do not reach him. They that are spiritual see him when he assails, and his panoply has no power upon their bodies. All the children of light are without fear of him, because the darkness flies from before the light.

The children of the Good fear not the Evil, for He hath given him to be trampled by their feet. When he makes himself like darkness unto them, they become light. And when he creeps upon them like a serpent, they become salt, whereof he cannot eat. If he makes himself like the asp unto them, then they become like babes. If he comes in upon them in the lust of food, they, like our Redeemer, conquer him by fasting. And if he wishes to contend with them by the lust of the eyes, they lift up their eyes to the height of heaven.

If he wishes by enticements to overcome them, they do not afford him a hearing. If he wishes openly to strive with them, lo! they are clothed in panoply and stand up against him. If he wishes to come in against them by sleep, they are wakeful and vigilant and sing psalms and pray. If he allures them by possessions, they give them to the poor. If he comes in as sweetness against them, they taste it not, knowing that he is bitter. If he inflames them with the desire of Eve, they dwell alone, and not with the daughters of Eve.

3. For it was through Eve that he came in upon Adam,^{Edition note 51} and Adam was enticed because of his inexperience. And again he came in against Joseph through his master’s wife,^{Edition note 52} but Joseph was acquainted with his craftiness and would not afford him a hearing. Through a woman he fought with Samson,^{Edition note 53} until he took away his Nazariteship. Reuben was the first-born of all his brethren, and through his father’s wife,^{Edition note 54} (the adversary) cast a blemish upon him. Aaron was the great high-priest of the house of Israel, and through Miriam^{Edition note 55} his sister he envied Moses.

Moses was sent to deliver the people from Egypt, and took with him the woman who advised him to shameful acts,^{Edition note 56} and the Lord met with Moses, and desired to slay him, till he sent back his wife to Midian. David was victorious in all his battles, yet through means of a daughter of Eve^{Edition note 57} there was found a blemish in him. Amnon was beautiful and fair in countenance, yet (the adversary) took him captive by desire for his sister,^{Edition note 58} and Absalom slew him on account of the humbling of Tamar.

Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth, yet in the days of his old age his wives led his heart astray.^{Edition note 59} Through Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, the wickedness of Ahab was increased,^{Edition note 60} and he became altogether a heathen. Furthermore, the adversary tempted Job through his children and his possessions,^{Edition note 61} and when he could not prevail over him, he went and brought against him his armour, and he came, bringing with him a daughter of Eve, who had caused Adam to sink, and through her mouth he said to Job, her righteous husband:—Curse God.^{Edition note 62} But Job rejected her counsel. King Asa also conquered the Accursed-of-life, when he wished to come in against him, through his mother.^{Edition note 63} For Asa knew his craftiness and removed his mother from her high