HYPOTHESIS 21: That we must confess our thoughts to those among the fathers who are discerning and not trust them to just anyone; how we are to confess and what we should ask our confessors; what faith we should place in the answers of the fathers; and how, through this faith, we should work together with our confessors for the achievement of good.
HYPOTHESIS 22: Concerning the fact that he wishes to be saved, must avoid meetings with careless men and must avoid disturbances, and that estrangement from worldly affairs is necessary for him.
HYPOTHESIS 23: Concerning the fact that we must keep away from those who harm us, even if they are friends or are otherwise quite indispensable.
HYPOTHESIS 24: Concerning the fact that one who has renounced the world should not be entangled at all with earthly affairs, even if they seem justified, but should submit to Divine Providence in these matters also.
HYPOTHESIS 25 of 50: Concerning the fact that evil is easy, and that there are many who choose this, especially in our day; that virtue is demanding, and that there are a few who pursue it; and that we must emulate the latter and pay no heed to the majority.
HYPOTHESIS 26: Those coming to monastic life are received with much testing; those admitted after scrutiny are for the most part reliable; what tasks are entrusted to them.
HYPOTHESIS 27: Rejections of the world based on different circumstances should not be wholly turned aside; we should not immediately dismiss someone who comes to the the monastic community and fervently seeks to remain with the brethren, before we have examined him in detail.
HYPOTHESIS 28: From what point we should begin a life of asceticism; all who start need patience and need to put pressure on themselves, since virtual appears difficult at the beginning, on account of one’s passions and prejudices; but later on it proves to be much easier to acquire; a strong foundation at the beginning is very beneficial; it is impossible to follow Christ or gain any virtue at all if one does not prepare himself as though his death were imminent.
HYPOTHESIS 29: The demons wage a furious war against him who struggles with all his strength, whereas they are uninterested in the negligent, since they have them at their beck and call; those who want the good find God to be their ally, Who permits wars for our spiritual profit.
HYPOTHESIS 30: We should not regard the demons as causes of all the sins we commit, but rather ourselves; for the demons are unable to harm those who are attentive, since the help that comes from God is great; and that God allows struggles in proportion to the strength of men.