34. Flee from such men as much as you can; avoid with a wholesome caution those who adhere to their mischievous contact. Their word doth eat as doth a cancer;83    [2 Tim. ii. 17.] their conversation advances like a contagion; their noxious and envenomed persuasion kills worse than persecution itself. In such a case there remains only penitence which can make atonement. But they who take away repentance for a crime, close the way of atonement. Thus it happens that, while by the rashness of some a false safety is either promised or trusted, the hope of true safety is taken away.

XXXIV. Ejusmodi homines quantum potestis effugite , perniciosis contactibus adhaerentes salubri cautione vitate. Sermo eorum sicut cancer serpit, colloquium velut contagium transilit, noxia et venenata persuasio persecutione ipsa pejus interficit. Illic superest poenitentia quae satisfaciat; qui autem poenitentiam criminis tollunt, satisfactionis viam claudunt. Ita fit ut, dum temeritate quorumdam vel promittitur salus falsa vel creditur, spes verae salutis adimatur.