1856.] Notes on the oldest ivorJc on Suflsnu. 139 



God. Fear and contrition for the sake of the world to come awaken 

 the unwary from the sleep of neglectfulness, they give him strength 

 to keep awake during the night and to bear the thirst of day, they 

 give him patience in adversity /they accustom him to behold the unity 

 of God and make him despise the world, they induce him to retire 

 from society and make up to him for privations. If man is iu this 

 state of mind, his longing for the next world awakes, and he is 

 endowed with energy. The root of all this is knowledge of one's 

 ownself. 



On the various classes of men. 



Men may be divided into four classes : either they are ignorant 

 and give themselves up to their lusts, or they are learned and filled 

 with conceit. In proportion as their learning increases so their 

 pride increases, and on account of their erudition, they look down 

 upon others. Or they are devotees, but ignorant, they look down upon 

 those who are less devoted than themselves and lay claim to being 

 respected and venerated. Or finally, they know the right path and 

 delight to walk upon it, they are humble and being unable to act 

 up to what they know to be their duty, they are in contrition and 

 sorrow. This is the best class of men. Some one told me that he 

 heard Tiisof b. Asbat say, " The aspirants eJj^jyo are lost for they 

 are unable to resist the attractions of this world, and lose thereby 

 the road of the life to come. And God does not excuse any one 

 who does not act up to his commandments, nor does he accept a good 

 work which does not proceed from the purest motives.* And a man 

 is judged by his actions." This is a very hard sentence and few 

 are able to act up to it on account of the influence which our desires 

 exercise over us. 



Caution in speaking. 



God has servants who out of fear of the punishment [of hell] 

 are extremely cautious not to speak more than is necessary, and 

 they are of opinion that monastic life <*#^j consists in acting 

 instead of speaking. Among this class there are men of high intel- 



* The word which I translate by "purest motives" is cidq (literally veracity 

 and sincerity) it is said in another passage " the most useful cidq is to confess to 

 God our own faults and the wickedness of our actions. The author uses 

 <3*3*aJ| cUf ^ « pi ous men ." 



T 2 



