training: he contemplated the courtesy of one, and another's
assiduity in prayer; another's freedom from anger; another's love of
mankind: he took heed to one as he watched; to another as he
studied: one he admired for his endurance, another for his fasting
and sleeping on the ground; he laid to heart the meekness of one,
and the long-suffering of another; and stamped upon his memory the
devotion to Christ and the mutual love which all in common
possessed. And thus filled full, he returned to his own place of
training, gathering to himself what he had got from each, and
striving to show all their qualities in himself. He never emulated
those of his own age, save in what is best; and did that so as to
pain no one, but make all rejoice over him. And all in the village
who loved good, seeing him thus, called him the friend of God; and
some embraced him as a son, some as a brother.

But the devil, who hates and envies what is noble, would not endure
such a purpose in a youth: but attempted against him all that he is
wont to do; suggesting to him the remembrance of his wealth, care
for his sister, relation to his kindred, love of money, love of
glory, the various pleasures of luxury, and the other solaces of
life; and then the harshness of virtue, and its great toil; and the
weakness of his body, and the length of time; and altogether raised
a great dust-cloud of arguments in his mind, trying to turn him back
from his righteous choice. But when the enemy saw himself to be too
weak for Antony's determination, but rather baffled by his
stoutness, and overthrown by his great faith, and falling before his
continual prayers, then he attacked him with the temptations which
he is wont to use against young men; . . . . but he protected his
body with faith, prayers, and fastings, . . . setting his thoughts
on Christ, and on his own nobility through Christ, and on the