that which was our duty to do."' Others again persuaded
themselves that they had not done even the things which they were
commanded to do, but that the things left undone outnumbered the
things already well done. Again, he that was far behind in
austerity, perchance through bodily weakness, would disparage and
blame himself, attributing his failure to slothfulness of mind
rather than to natural frailty. So each excelled each, and all
excelled all in this sweet reasonableness. But the spirit of
vain glory and pleasing of men -- what place had it among them?
For they had fled from the world, and were dwelling in the
desert, to the end that they might show their virtues not to men,
but to God, from whom also they hope to receive the rewards of
their good deeds, well aware that religious exercises performed
for vain glory go without recompense; for these are done for the
praise of men and not for God. Whence all that do thus are
doubly defrauded: they waste their body, and receive no reward.
But they who yearn for glory above, and strive thereafter,
despise all earthly and human glory.

"As to their dwellings, some monks finish the contest in utter
retirement and solitude, having removed themselves far from the
haunts of men throughout the whole of their earthly life-time,
and having drawn nigh to God. Others build their homes at a
distance one from another, but meet on the Lord's Day at one
Church, and communicate of the Holy Mysteries, I mean the
unbloody Sacrifice of the undefiled Body and precious Blood of
Christ, which the Lord gave to the Faithful for the remission of
sins, for the enlightenment and sanctification of soul and body.
They entertain one another with the exercises of the divine
Oracles and moral exhortations, and make public the secret wiles