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my heart had to be purged from the old leaven. The Way, the Saviour
Himself, well pleased me, but as yet I shrunk from going through its
straitness. And Thou didst put into my mind, and it seemed good in
my eyes, to go to Simplicianus, who seemed to me a good servant of
Thine; and Thy grace shone in him. I had heard also that from his very
youth he had lived most devoted unto Thee. Now he was grown into
years; and by reason of so great age spent in such zealous following
of Thy ways, he seemed to me likely to have learned much experience;
and so he had. Out of which store I wished that he would tell me
(setting before him my anxieties) which were the fittest way for one
in my case to walk in Thy paths.

For, I saw the church full; and one went this way, and another
that way. But I was displeased that I led a secular life; yea now that
my desires no longer inflamed me, as of old, with hopes of honour
and profit, a very grievous burden it was to undergo so heavy a
bondage. For, in comparison of Thy sweetness, and the beauty of Thy
house which I loved, those things delighted me no longer. But still
I was enthralled with the love of woman; nor did the Apostle forbid me
to marry, although he advised me to something better, chiefly
wishing that all men were as himself was. But I being weak, chose
the more indulgent place; and because of this alone, was tossed up and
down in all beside, faint and wasted with withering cares, because
in other matters I was constrained against my will to conform myself
to a married life, to which I was given up and enthralled. I had heard
from the mouth of the Truth, that there were some eunuchs which had
made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake: but, saith
He, let him who can receive it, receive it. Surely vain are all men
who are ignorant of God, and could not out of the good things which
are seen, find out Him who is good. But I was no longer in that
vanity; I had surmounted it; and by the common witness of all Thy
creatures had found Thee our Creator, and Thy Word, God with Thee, and
together with Thee one God, by whom Thou createdst all things. There
is yet another kind of ungodly, who knowing God, glorified Him not
as God, neither were thankful. Into this also had I fallen, but Thy