Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XI/John Cassian/Conferences of John Cassian, Part I/Conference VII/Chapter 14

by Philip Schaff et al.

Chapter XIV.

An objection, as to how we ought to believe that devils see into the thoughts of men.

Germanus: In this way, which you describe, those spirits cannot possibly see into our thoughts. But we think it utterly absurd to hold such an opinion, when Scripture says: “If the spirit of him that hath power ascend upon thee;”^[1] and again: “When the devil had put it into the heart of Simon Iscariot to betray the Lord.”^[2] How then can we believe that our thoughts are not open to them, when we feel that for the most part they spring up and are nursed by their suggestions and instigation?

Footnotes

1. Eccl. x. 4.
2. S. John xiii. 2.