ender unto him a drop of wine.[5] He
delivered his instructions in few words, and principally inculcated
silence, humility, mortification, retirement, and continual prayer,
especially the last, to all sorts of people. He used to say, "In prayer,
you need not use many or lofty words. You can often repeat with a
sincere heart, Lord, show me mercy as thou knowest best. Or, assist me,
O God!"[6] He was much delighted with this ejaculation of perfect
resignation and love: "O Lord, have mercy on me, as thou pleasest, and
knowest best in thy goodness!"[7] His mildness and patience were
invincible, and occasioned the conversion of a heathen priest, and many
others.[8] The devil told him one day, "I can surpass thee in watching,
fasting, and many other things; but humility conquers and disarms
me."[9] A young man applying to St. Macarius for spiritual advice, he
directed him to go to a burying-place, and upbraid the dead; and after
to go and flatter them. When he came back, the saint asked him what
answer the dead had made: "None at all," said the other, "either to
reproaches or praises." "Then," replied Macarius, "go, and learn neither
to be moved with injuries nor flatteries. If you die to the world and to
yourself, you will begin to live to Christ." He said to another:
"Receive, from the hand of God, poverty as cheerfully as riches, hunger
and want as plenty, and you will conquer the devil, and subdue all your
passions."[10] A certain monk complained to him, that in solitude he was
always tempted to break his fast, whereas in the monastery, he could
fast the whole week cheerfully. "Vain-glory is the reason," replied the
saint; "fasting pleases, when men see you; but seems intolerable when
that passion is not gratified."[11] One came to consult him, who was
molested with temptations to impurity: the saint, examining into the
source, found it to be sloth, and advised him never to eat before
sunset, to meditate fervently at his work, and to labor vigorously,
without sloth, the whole day. The other faithfully complied, and was
freed from his enemy. God revealed to St. Macarius, that he had not
attained the perfection of two married women, who lived in a certain
town: he made them a visit, and learned the means by which they
sanctified themselves. They were extremely careful never to speak any
idle or rash words: they lived in the constant practice of humility,
patience, meekness, charity, resignation, mortification of their own
wi