Chapter IV.

The same care must be taken that our speech proceed not from evil passions, but from good motives; for here it is that the devil is especially on the watch to catch us.

14. If any one takes heed to this, he will be mild, gentle, modest. For in guarding his mouth, and restraining his tongue, and in not speaking before examining, pondering, and weighing his words—as to whether this should be said, that should be answered, or whether it be a suitable time for this remark—he certainly is practising modesty, gentleness, patience. So he will not burst out into speech through displeasure or anger, nor give sign of any passion in his words, nor proclaim that the flames of lust are burning in his language, or that the incentives of wrath are present in what he says. Let him act thus for fear that his words, which ought to grace his inner life, should at the last plainly show and prove that there is some vice in his morals.

15. For then especially does the enemy lay his plans, when he sees passions engendered in us; then he supplies tinder; then he lays snares. Wherefore the prophet says not without cause, as we heard read to-day: “Surely He hath delivered me from the snare of the hunter and from the hard word.”25    Ps. xc. 3 [LXX.].    S. Luke vi. 24, 25. Symmachus26    Symmachus, said to have been an Ebionite, lived c. 193–211. He translated the Old Testament into Greek. This was one of the versions Origen made use of in his Hexapla edition of the Bible.    1 [3] Kings xxi. 13–16. said this means “the word of provocation;” others “the word that brings disquiet.” The snare of the enemy is our speech—but that itself is also just as much an enemy to us. Too often we say something that our foe takes hold of, and whereby he wounds us as though by our own sword. How far better it is to perish by the sword of others than by our own!

16. Accordingly the enemy tests our arms and clashes together his weapons. If he sees that I am disturbed, he implants the points of his darts, so as to raise a crop of quarrels. If I utter an unseemly word, he sets his snare. Then he puts before me the opportunity for revenge as a bait, so that in desiring to be revenged, I may put myself in the snare, and draw the death-knot tight for myself. If any one feels this enemy is near, he ought to give greater heed to his mouth, lest he make room for the enemy; but not many see him.

CAPUT IV.

Eadem custodia prospicitur, ne a pravis motibus, sed 0028Aa recta ratione prodeat oratio: in qua potissimum nobis diabolus insidiatur.

14. Haec si custodiat aliquis, fit mitis, mansuetus, modestus. Custodiendo enim os suum, et retinendo linguam suam, nec prius loquendo quam interroget, et expendat atque examinet verba sua, si dicendum hoc, si dicendum adversus hunc, si tempus sermonis hujus est: is profecto exercet modestiam, ac mansuetudinem, et patientiam; ut non ex indignatione et ira in sermonem erumpat, non alicujus passionis indicium det in verbis suis, non ardorem libidinis flammare in sermone suo indicet, 6 et inesse dictis suis stimulos iracundiae: ne sermo postremo qui commendare interiora debet, vitium aliquod esse in moribus, aperiat et prodat.

0028B 15. Tunc enim maxime insidiatur adversarius, quando videt nobis passiones aliquas generari: tunc fomites movet, laqueos parat. Unde non immerito, sicut audisti hodie legi, Propheta dicit: Quia ipseliberavit me de laqueo venantium et a verbo aspero (Psal. XC, 3). Symmachus irritationis verbum dixit, alii perturbationis. Laqueus adversarii est sermo noster: sed etiam ipse non minus adversarius nobis. Loquimur plerumque quod excipiat inimicus, et quasi nostro gladio nos vulneret. Quanto tolerabilius est alieno gladio, quam nostro perire!

16. Explorat ergo adversarius nostra arma, et concutit sua tela. Si viderit moveri me, inserit aculeos suos, ut seminaria jurgiorum excitet. Si emisero verbum indecorum, laqueum suum stringit. Interdum 0028C mihi quasi escam proponit vindictae possibilitatem; ut dum vindicari cupio, ipse me inseram laqueo, et nodum mortis astringam mihi. Si quis ergo hunc adversarium sentit praesentem esse, tunc magis custodiam adhibere debet ori suo, ne det locum adversario: sed non multi hunc vident.