To the Newly Baptized

1Cultivate calm in your words, and calm in your deeds, and in your tongue and your walk alike. Flee rash vehemence, for then your mind will remain steady. It will not become turbulent from vehemence and grow weak and small in understanding, seeing dimly. It will not be overcome by gluttony, but will be overcome by boiling anger and by the other passions, lying ready as easy prey for them. The mind must rule over the passions, seated high upon a quiet throne and looking toward God. Do not be full of sharp temper when anger comes, and do not be sluggish in your words or filled with hesitation in your walk, so that a good rhythm may adorn your calm and your bearing may appear godlike and holy. Guard also against the signs of pride: a haughty neck, a lifted head, and a delicate, lofty stride.

2Let your words to those you meet be gentle, and your greetings sweet. Show modesty toward women, and keep your gaze turned to the ground. Speak everything with circumspection, and give your voice what is useful, measuring your utterance by the need of your hearers, so that it is audible but does not escape the hearing of those present through being too small, nor exceed what is fitting with too loud a cry. Guard yourself so that you never say anything you have not examined and thought through beforehand. Do not rashly interject your own words in the middle of another person's speech, for you must listen and speak in turn, dividing speech and silence by time. Learn gladly, and teach without envy. Never hide wisdom from others out of jealousy, and do not withdraw from learning through modesty. Yield to elders as to fathers. Honor God's servants. Make a beginning with wisdom and virtue. Do not be quarrelsome toward your friends, nor mock them or play the buffoon at their expense. Strongly refuse falsehood, deceit, and insolence. Bear with the proud and insolent person with graciousness, as a gentle and great-souled man.

3Let all your works and words be laid before God, and refer everything of yours up to Christ. Turn your soul frequently to God, and rest your thought upon the power of Christ as in a harbor, resting in the divine light of the Savior from all talk and action. During the day, share your wisdom often with people, but be with God as much as possible at night and in the day alike. Do not let long sleep overpower your prayers and hymns to God, for long sleep is a match for death. Always make yourself a partaker of Christ, who shines the divine brightness down from heaven. Let Christ be your perpetual and unceasing joy.

4Do not loosen the firmness of your soul in feasting and the relaxation of drinks; consider what is necessary sufficient for the body. Do not hurry to food before the time for dinner has come. Let bread be your dinner, with herbs of the earth and ripe fruits from the trees. Go to your food calmly, not displaying rabid gluttony. Do not be a meat-eater or a wine-lover, unless some illness leads you to these things for healing. Instead of the pleasures found in them, choose the joys of divine words and hymns, given to you by the wisdom that comes from God, and let heavenly thought always lead you up to heaven.

5Release your many cares about the body, having taken courage in your hopes toward God, because he will provide you with what is necessary: sufficient food for life, covering for your body, and protection against winter cold. For the whole earth and everything that grows from it belongs to your King, and he cares surpassingly for his servants as his own members, just as he cares for his sacred places and his temples. Therefore do not fear even overwhelming sicknesses, nor the approach of old age expected in time; for sickness too will cease when we keep his commandments with whole-souled purpose.

6Knowing these things, prepare your soul to be strong against sicknesses as well, and take courage like some excellent man in the stadiums, ready to endure hardships with unbending power. Do not let your soul be utterly crushed by grief, whether a sickness presses upon you heavily or some other difficulty befalls you. Instead, oppose your thought to the hardships with a noble spirit, offering thanks to God even in the midst of painful circumstances, since he is wiser than humans and perceives what people cannot easily discover. Show mercy to those who are afflicted, and ask for God's help upon them. For he will nod assent to the friend who asks for the favor, and he will provide aid to the afflicted, wishing to make his power known to human beings, so that when they come to knowledge they may ascend to God and enjoy eternal blessedness, when the Son of God arrives restoring good things to his own people.