Antony, as he sat in the desert, was weary in heart, and said,
"Lord, I long to be saved, but my wandering thoughts will not let
me. Show me what I shall do." And looking up, he saw one like
himself twisting ropes, and rising up to pray. And the angel (for
it was one) said to him, "Work like me, Antony, and you shall be
saved."

One asked him how he could please God. Quoth Antony, "Have God
always before thine eyes; whatever work thou doest, take example for
it out of Holy Scripture: wherever thou stoppest, do not move
thence in a hurry, but abide there in patience. If thou keepest
these three things, thou shalt be saved."

Quoth Antony, "If the baker did not cover the mill-horse's eyes he
would eat the corn, and take his own wages. So God covers our eyes,
by leaving us to sordid thoughts, lest we should think of our own
good works, and be puffed up in spirit."

Quoth Antony, "I saw all the snares of the enemy spread over the
whole earth. And I sighed, and said, 'Who can pass through these?'
And a voice came to me, saying, 'Humility alone can pass through,
Antony, where the proud can in no wise go.'"

Antony was sitting in his cell, and a voice said to him, "Thou hast
not yet come to the stature of a currier, who lives in Alexandria."
Then he took his staff, and went down to Alexandria; and the
currier, when he found him, was astonished at seeing so great a man.
Said Antony, "Tell me thy works; for on thy account have I come out
of the desert." And he answered, "I know not that I ever did any