Macarius of Egypt

In his own words on Proverbs

• Proverbs 4:23

  Scripture enjoins everyone to "guard his own heart with all diligence," so that anyone, guarding the word within him like a paradise, may enjoy the grace not to listen to the serpent that creeps around inside, enticing him with things that lead to pleasure whereby anger that slays a brother is engendered and the soul, that gives birth to it, itself dies. But may he have the grace rather to listen to the Lord saying, "Be concerned with faith and hope through which love of God and of man is engendered which bestows eternal life." …For in a proportionate measure the word of God comes to each person. As long as a person possesses the word, he is held by the word and as long as he keeps it, so long he is guarded.

  FIFTY SPIRITUAL HOMILIES 37:1