5.1

Antony writes to his beloved children, holy Israelites according to their intellectual substance. There is no need to name the names of your bodies, which will pass away, because you truly are children of Israel. My children, the love I have for you is not bodily love, but spiritual love in the worship of God. Therefore I do not grow weary of praying to God day and night for you, so that you may know the grace that has been given to you. For God does not visit His creatures at one time only; from the foundation of the world He watches over His own creatures, awakening each one in every generation through circumstances and grace. Now then, my children, do not neglect to cry out to the Lord day and night. Let us appeal to the goodness of the Father, that He may give you this help from heaven, teaching you until you know what it contains. For truly, my children, we stand in our own death, dwelling and remaining in the robber’s house; are we not also now bound by the bonds of death? Therefore do not give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids, but offer yourselves as a sacrifice to God in all holiness, which no one can inherit without sanctification.

Truly, beloved in the Lord, may this word be clear to you, and may you do what is good. In doing so you will refresh all the saints, gladden their spirits, gladden the ministry of the angels, and bring joy to Jesus, for because of us they have not yet had rest even to this hour. You will also bring that same joy to my spirit, wretched as I am, dwelling in this house of clay. For truly, my children, our weakness and uselessness cause sorrow to all of them. They weep and groan for us before the Creator, and because of the groaning of the saints, the God of all is also angry at our evil works. Conversely, the progress and correction of our souls bring gladness to the choir of saints. They offer much prayer and rejoice with exultation before our Creator. The Maker of all Himself also rejoices in our works and, because of the testimony of the saints, gives us immeasurable gifts.