Section 87

This, then, was how Antony warned those who acted cruelly. But he instructed the others who came to him so effectively that they immediately forgot their lawsuits and called those who had withdrawn from the world blessed.

He defended those who had been wronged with such sympathy that one might have thought Antony himself, rather than they, had suffered the injustice.

He was able to benefit everyone so greatly that many soldiers and many people who possessed considerable wealth laid aside the burdens of ordinary life and spent the rest of their days as monks.

It was as though God had given Egypt a physician. Who met Antony in grief and did not return rejoicing? Who came mourning the dead and did not quickly lay aside excessive sorrow? Who arrived in anger and was not changed toward reconciliation?

What poor and discouraged person met him, heard his words, and looked upon him without learning to despise wealth and take comfort in poverty? What negligent monk came to him and did not leave strengthened? What young man came to the mountain, saw Antony, and did not quickly renounce pleasure and come to love self-control?

Who came to him while being tempted by a demon and did not find relief? And who came disturbed by troubling thoughts and did not receive peace of mind?