Pinufius Receives a New Brother

Afterward we made a point of seeking this old man out in Egypt, because we had grown close to him in our own monastery. I mean to put into this work of mine an exhortation he gave in our presence to a brother he was admitting into the monastery, because I think it may be useful. He said: You know that after lying at the entrance for so many days you are to be admitted today. To begin with, you ought to know the reason for the difficulty put in your way. For it may be of great help to you on this road you want to enter, if you understand its method and so come to the service of Christ in the right way, as you ought.