July 18, 2010

Seven Precepts For An Assured Salvation


Abba Moses gave the following seven precepts to Abba Poemen, which if followed will lead to salvation by anybody whether they be in the cenobium, or in solitude or in the world:

1. In the first place, as it is written, love God with all your heart and with all your mind.

2. Love your neighbor as yourself.

3. Bring to death all evil in you.

4. Do not judge your brother in any dispute.

5. Do no evil to another person.

6. Before departing this life cleanse yourself of every fault of mind or body.

7. Always be of a humble and contrite heart.

These things can be achieved by anyone who thinks of his own sins and not his neighbor's, and trusts in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end. Amen

From Appendix 3 to the Sayings of the Egyptian Fathers, by an unknown Greek author translated into Latin by Bishop Martin Dumiensis, 6th century.