An old man said, “For nine years a brother was tempted in thought to the point of despairing of his salvation, and being scrupulous he condemned himself, saying, ‘I have lost my soul, and since I am lost I shall go back to the world.’ But while he was on the way, a voice came to him on the road, which said, ‘These nine years which you have been tempted have been crowns for you; go back to your place, and I will allay these thoughts: Understand that it is not good for someone to despair of himself because of his temptations; rather, temptations procure crowns for us if we use them well.”
