Anastasius of Sinai

“For our salvation and destruction are indeed in our own power and free will, as it is written: He made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel. (Eccles. 15:14) And: Before men are life and death, and whichever he chooses shall be given to him. (Eccles. 15:18) Therefore the Wise Man also warns: Do not be zealous for death in the error of your life, nor acquire destruction by the works of your hands. For God did not make death, nor does He rejoice in the destruction of the living. (Wis. 1:12-13) But showing that our downfall is chosen by us of our own accord, he says again: But the wicked have called it to themselves by their hands and words. (Wis. 1:16) A witness to this matter, to speak theologically, is he who was called Lucifer because of his brightness, and became darkness because of his pride.”

“But it also benefits many of the righteous that they live for only a short time, as Solomon once said: He who was pleasing to God was made beloved, and living among sinners, he was taken away; he was snatched away so that wickedness might not alter his understanding, or deceit might not beguile his soul. For the fascination of frivolity obscures good things, and the instability of desire perverts the mind without malice. Perfected in a short time, he fulfilled many years; for his soul was pleasing to God, and therefore He hastened to remove him from the midst of iniquity. (Wis. 4:10-14)”

“Through this, God teaches us that from those who are perfect in virtue, God demands an exact account of life, and towards other men, who commit great crimes, He is lenient and merciful; He does not grant this pardon to the saints. A certain Wise Man also said this: "For mercy is indeed to be granted to the least; but the mighty will be examined mightily." The Lord: "For to whom, He says, little has been given, little will be required from him; but to whom much, much will also be required from him."”

“Weight and measure govern and administer all things by the Lord. For when He had set the limit of life to one hundred and twenty years for those who lived in the time of Noah, after He saw sin increase and overflow, He did not wait for the prescribed limit, but cut it short and made it briefer, and in the hundredth year brought the flood upon all. So also to Abraham, He foretold that his offspring would be strangers, and He teaches the reason. For He says, the iniquities of the Amorites are not yet complete up to this point. They have not yet, He says, committed those sins which deserve to perish utterly; therefore I will not allow them to be handed over to you to be completely destroyed now, but I await the measure of iniquity. For our sins, which occur in time, fall under a measure, up to a certain quantity; and now our righteous Judge God inflicts punishments, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”