Homiliae spirituales 50 (collectio H)
of the wild beasts, and the bull of the tame animals, and man of the created things, so also are the more royal reasonings of the soul, I mean the wil
of a most foul odor, and worms crawl into the rotten flesh and there they feed and eat and make their dens but when the salt comes, the worms feeding
the evil one of darkness and there it is held fast, as Paul also says, calling it the body of sin and the body of death: that the body of sin might be
from the kingdom, and as one wounded, always cry out to the Lord and ask faithfully, so that you also may be deemed worthy of this true life. For just
Amen. HOMILY 2 1 The kingdom of darkness, the evil ruler, having taken man captive from the beginning, thus encircled and clothed the soul in the powe
of the night of darkness, of the devil, and being in night and darkness he is shaken by the terrible wind of sin blowing, and his whole nature is shak
day and night they are not able to persevere, but some of them devote themselves to prayer for six hours and wish to read, while others eagerly serve,
to carry off the rewards of victory against sin. But even if he is tested in these things, sin still lays man low, until he comes to a perfect man, to
a garment of a tunic because of his inattention and slackness and sloth. But if he does not pay attention well and straight ahead with his eye, he him
having been made nimble by that which is foreign to their own nature, having taken the oil in the vessels of their heart, that is, the grace of the Sp
in an image, their bodies happen to be subtle according to the subtlety of their nature. Just as in substance this body is dense, so also the soul, be
and to each of the holy prophets in one way to Elijah, in another to Moses. And I think that Moses, at every hour on the mountain during the forty da
to repent in truth, but he himself has great compassion for us, being long-suffering, for when, having turned, we might approach him and our inner man
worship and covenant. how many things they sinned, how often they turned aside, and He did not abandon them completely, but for a temporary time He ha
they greatly stumbled, having pursued after the people of God. Therefore also the divine justice utterly consumed and destroyed them and drowned them
more readily the redemption of healing? according to his word: how much more will the heavenly Father bring about justice for those who cry to him da
with earthly and worldly things, unstably taking captive and shaking and luring the whole sinful race of Adam, as the Lord foretold to the apostles th
and confusion and cowardice as all men have and in outward appearance and in the estimation of the world they differ and in certain external accompli
unmanliness and laxity of will, or cowardice, or through some earthly love. For those who truly wish to go through to the end in a good way of life ou
is any practice whatsoever of evil. Sometimes even seemingly good practices are performed for the sake of glory and the praise of men, which in the si
are snatched away, suppose for me that some house is set on fire, and one man, wishing to save himself, having perceived the conflagration, fled naked
of a love perfected by will towards the uprightness of the Lord? Thus also those who wish to become co-heirs of these things ought to love nothing apa
as the apostle also says, “through many tribulations we are able to enter into the kingdom of heaven,” and the Lord: in your patience possess your sou
bare trees, opening up the earth this one brings forth joy to all the animals this one shows cheerfulness to all this is the first month of the Chr
those who have fallen asleep from of old, according to the holy scriptures and he will set everyone into two parts, and those having his own sign, th
of thoughts, but to gather them when they are wandering from all directions, distinguishing the natural thoughts from the evil ones. For the soul, bei
the Christians receive in that age, are not created things (and those who say so speak wrongly), but the transformed Spirit reveals these things. What
that the power of God enters into him and takes possession of his members and his heart and captures the mind unto the love of God. When they seized P
being with man as one substance, but in many ways as it wishes it manages man for his benefit. Sometimes the fire is kindled more and burns, and at ot
Since I also have partially, at certain times, entered into that measure and I know, having learned, how man is not perfect. 20Question:20 Tell us, wh
having been brought up in royal enjoyment and luxury. And so afterwards, having been found approved by God and faithful through much long-suffering, s
to the heavenly goods of love from which love nothing in heaven or on earth or under the earth will be able to separate them, as the apostle Paul tes
we are occupied, may the mind not be separated from love and seeking and longing for the Lord, so that by striving with such a mind and traveling the
is disposed to labor for the virtues and even if she should be deemed worthy to receive diverse gifts of the spirit or even revelations and heavenly
the fire likewise made an idol of the vessels cast into it, and so in what was seen they committed idolatry. As therefore the three youths, reckoning
but in the law Moses was called the savior of Israel for he led them out of Egypt. So also now the true redeemer Christ passes into the secret places
For in the dead body is life here is the redemption, here is the light, here the Lord comes to death and speaks with it and commands it to cast out t
of the gulf of that water, may plunge down there and bring up the one who was sunk and is among wild beasts and the water itself, whenever it sees so
the Lord is nearer to come and open the closed doors of the heart and to grant us heavenly wealth. For he is good and loves mankind, and his promises
in caves, in the holes of the earth. Likewise also the apostles say, “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are reviled, a
Still in the testimonies they say: you burn me, you burn me. Did they not then know the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? The transgression of A
the world is divided into parts, and there becomes one dark flock which goes into everlasting fire, and one full of light which is brought up to the h
has chosen.” But after a time, those things which Martha eagerly did in her service brought her to that gift for she also received a divine power in
likened to their father), so also Christ the true master himself created all things and nourishes the evil and the ungrateful, but the children, whom
they make alive what is commanded. Just as there is light entering through a window, but the sun sends its rays over the whole inhabited world, so the
a bride, the heavenly bridegroom Christ to his own mystical and divine communion, and she may taste of heavenly riches, with much eagerness she ought
should he enter the palace to serve, he receives the vessels for service from the king's possessions, but he himself enters naked and in the king's ve
For the God-fearing are masters of all things. But again, those lax in faith and sinners are slaves of all things, and fire burns them and stone and s
a soldier and he puts away his armor into someone's house, whenever he wishes he has authority to go in and out of that house, so also sin has authori
and they have no danger in this respect, because they are unassailable and are secure concerning their own salvation, because of having been trained o
of thoughts is sin. But all who deny this are convicted and mocked by sin itself, which does not want to be triumphed over for evil strives to be hid
they are held by wickedness. Therefore you ought to seek a lamp that it may be lit, and you may find pure thoughts for these are the natural ones, wh
but to flee as from fire. In the visible world, if a very small nation should rise up against the king for war, he himself does not weary himself with
the mind as governor, the conscience convicting, thoughts accusing and defending for it says: their thoughts among themselves accusing or even defend
he entrusted this treasure, for I am poor, and when he wishes, he takes it from me. But if someone says: I am rich, it is enough, I have acquired it,
he learns the letters, and when he becomes first there, he goes to the school of Latin and is the last of all. Again when he becomes first there, he g
and if it happens that that house has some impurity, it is put in order and much adornment is done and perfumes are poured out, how much more does the
having in the mind itself also its illumination, they know from where these things are moved. For the world suffers the passion of evil and does not k
thorny for God said to man: “thorns and thistles the earth shall bring forth to you.” Therefore, there is need of much toil and labor, that one might
it has seized. And so when a person is in the depths and is rich in grace, there is still a remnant of wickedness with him he has the helper assistin
beauty. For those who want to make vessels and to weave in figures of animals first model them in wax, and thus they pour in the likeness of that, so
him for the robbers are coming. Just as if someone, having fallen into many public services and financial losses, escapes with much labor and after t
HOMILY 17. 1 The perfect Christians who have been deemed worthy to come to the measures of perfection and to become very near to the king, these are a
of Christ and is with the Lord night and day, in the same way that the body of the Lord, having been joined to the Godhead, is always with the Holy Sp
Some however were sufficient for themselves, while others, receiving from worldly people, gave to the poor and this is more worthy. For those who hav
being unrestrained and insatiable and greedily seeking and eating. Or just as if someone is thirsty and is given a sweet drink, then having begun to t
from God, and having found and possessing the heavenly treasure of the Spirit, the Lord Himself shining in their hearts, they accomplish all righteous
souls of those hearing the spiritual word, and they do not fear that they will be in need because they possess within themselves a heavenly treasure
he takes the heavenly weapons of the spirit and descends upon the enemies and wars and subjugates them under his feet. At other times the soul rests i
Then one must compel himself to every good thing and to all the commandments of the Lord, because of the sin that is with him. For example, let him co
faith and trust towards God, since he has not known himself, he has not tested not having, and has labored in affliction seeking from the Lord to have
he never falls. For from where can he fall, being underneath all things? Great humiliation is high-mindedness, and great exaltation and honor and dign
righteousness (which is the Lord, “who,” it says, “became for us righteousness and redemption”), he labors in vain and to no purpose. For all the conc
sent forth the voice of angels (for he was saying: Son of David, have mercy on me), and thus by believing he received healing, when the Lord came to h
of wickedness, and another contest lies ahead. And thus by remaining and calling upon the Lord in unwavering faith and much patience, and awaiting the
for whom now there are abiding angels and holy spirits surrounding and guarding them, and when they depart from the body, the choirs of angels receive
HOMILY 24. 1 Christians are like merchants trading for the greatest profits. For just as those gather earthly profits from the earth, so these, throug
nature of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, unless the heavenly leaven of the Spirit and the good holy salt of the Godhead from that age and from that count
to a man, having cleansed himself and been strengthened by the one who said to the apostles: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpent
«partakers of the divine nature». We have not yet become a genuine royal purple nor an unadulterated divine image. We have not yet been wounded by div
thorns and stubble. “For our God is a consuming fire,” giving “vengeance on those who do not know him in a flame of fire and on those who do not obey
silver both tarnishes and is destroyed and if the human mind knows how to measure out burdens for the beast of burden and for the camel or for any ot
despair, evil thoughts, afflicting the soul, that he may make it lax and alienate it from the hope of God. But the prudent soul, being in evils and in
scatters expenses likewise also the one building a house and the one farming first scatters many things of his own for the hope of future income, so
trains him for the wars, and the two persons spring forth from within, both the light and the darkness, and the rest and the affliction. they pray in
But it is written, that when the farmer sees the “branch bearing fruit,” he cleans it, so that it may bring forth more but the one not bearing fruit
to depart, then only is it able to be without affliction and temptations for there there is no longer care or affliction or labor or old age or satan
HOMILY 27. 1 Know your nobility, O man, and your dignity, how honorable you are, a brother of Christ, a friend of the king, a bride of the heavenly br
in the heavenly church. And He is the firstborn from the dead, and they also are firstborn. But although they are such, chosen and approved by God,
is Satan shown to be much weaker? For where there is day, how can there be night? 20Answer:20 not that grace is extinguished or is weak, but so that y
and to give and to carry away the prizes of victory. So also in spiritual matters, it is one thing to recount words with some knowledge and intellect,
he was driving out, but he also healed those who were bound hand and foot and had terrible afflictions through the laying on of his hands. Then, becom
part, there would no longer be contests or seasons of wars or a race, but without toil, if he only heard, he would have come to rest and the perfect m
ages. Amen. HOMILY 28. 1 Just as God, once angered with the Jews, delivered Jerusalem openly to its enemies, and those who hated them ruled over them,
they are still in sin, having the same activity of pleasures, subject to the same punishment, not yet having eyes that see the Father. For each one ou
gifts immediately upon approaching with faith and asking without toils and sweats and labors, but there are times when, while they are still in the w
resting and being bound willingly, but always speaking against material reasonings, expect only the help and assistance of God, whereupon to souls und
ages. Amen. HOMILY 50. 1 Those who hear the word ought to show the work of the word in their own souls for the word of God is not an idle word, but h
Let not its master impress the image from his own light. Therefore we must gaze upon him, believing and loving him, having cast aside all things and a
of an evil power. Therefore he put on darkness in his own soul, a bitter and evil darkness for he was ruled by the prince of darkness. This was the o
when he comes in truth he might gather it. But since the future is uncertain, let it hope yet more in the pilot, hoping well, and let it remember how
a soul, where it also eats, either from this age or from the spirit of God. And God is nourished there and lives and rests and abides. Henceforth, if
from now on Christians receive an invisible and heavenly gift and garment. Just as sheep or camels, finding grass, approach their food eagerly and qui
should remain behind and not receive the mixture and communion of the heavenly nature, it has been corrected in nothing, but has remained naked and bl
in secret. But for a time He allows you to be disciplined, and grace directs you even into tribulations. And when you come into rest, it reveals itsel
of impurity and disorder there sirens and demons dwell, according to the prophet for in the desolate house are cats and dogs and every impurity. W
while resting one will give heed to the other, and in giving heed they will immediately shine forth again into truth, into a true vision of ineffable
a true, delightful, holy sabbath and they celebrate a festival of the spirit, of joy and inexpressible gladness and they offer a worship pure and we
preferring what is dear to God and the good of the Spirit above all things, not in word only or bare knowledge, but in word and deed through the thing
of God. But lest someone say that the Spirit was given to them as apostles, but to us it is by nature unattainable, elsewhere praying he says: that G
But when the will is not present, not even God himself does anything, although he is able, on account of free will. The completion of God's work there
an advocate within and has brought up into His kingdom. Therefore let us also reign with Him in Jerusalem, His city, in the heavenly church, in the ch
to attain, which is Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. HOMILY 40. 1 Concerning visible asceticism and what practice happens to be greater and fir
will conquer the one who opposes), thus there is in the heart of those who struggle a theater of evil spirits wrestling with the soul, and of God and
Let us compare the soul and sin mixed together, just as when there is a very large tree, having many branches, and it has its roots in the deepest par
to those who approach, whether good or evil, they prove to be kind, as the Lord says: Be kind as your heavenly Father is. For that which harms and d
are able to withstand the power of the fire, but are immediately burned up, so also the demons, wishing to war against a man deemed worthy of the spir
they have desolated the soul. Just as the eye is small in comparison to all the members, and the pupil itself, being small, is a great vessel, for it
laid waste by the passions through the transgression, having mixed it with His own Spirit of divinity. He came to make a new mind and a new soul, new
He seeks blameless and pure souls. For, he says, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. For the soul that truly believes in Christ mus
of God? just as if a tyrant, having seized some captives, leads them away, and then is overtaken by the true king, so also Paul, because he was acted
and images of men, in those things they have been eager to display their own virtue others have undertaken to make likenesses of statues and of certa
to have a den, and from there to have life. He created also two worlds the one above for the ministering spirits, and He ordained that they have thei
bound by earthly bonds, so also he who is possessed by a carnal disposition that is, being a man of the world, if he should wish to hear the word of
Therefore, the soul of the sinner is so light and swift-winged that his mind is not hindered from distant places, much more the soul from which the ve
To them a law was given written on tablets of stone, but to us spiritual laws are inscribed on tablets of fleshly hearts for he says: giving my laws
of the Egyptians. But first it cries and groans, and then it receives the beginning of redemption, and this in the month of new blossoms, being rede
destruction, he dared to pursue for having yoked his chariots with haste and with all his people, he hurried to destroy them. And when he was about t
of the bondage of Pharaoh and having established his own throne and house and temple and a pure bride, and having brought it into a kingdom of eternal
to hope that the Lord is in all things the provider for those who flee to him for refuge. But for the most part, they are the gifts of the eternal and
and he prepared medicines, and the practices of physicians for the passions of the body, having ordained that the body, which is from the earth, shoul
“Let the dead bury their own dead ” for “the dead will not praise you, Lord, but we who live will bless you.” For just as the sun, having risen upon t
I think that the ruler of heaven himself sat within his mind, and through his tongue the word of God prevented rain from coming down upon the earth. A
of grace and peace. And again, he who is helped by the Lord and finds himself in spiritual gladness and heavenly gifts, if he thinks that he is no lon
and they have no danger in this respect, because they are unassailable and are secure concerning their own salvation, because of having been trained often in the war against evil and having become experienced. But having God with them, they are guided and find rest. But others who have not yet been trained, if they fall into one tribulation and war is stirred up, immediately they fall into ruin and destruction. Just as those passing through a city, wishing to see their loved ones and acquaintances, even if they meet many people in the marketplaces, are not hindered by them; for they have the purpose of meeting their friends; and when they knock on the door from outside and call, their loved ones open it, rejoicing; but if they remain in the marketplaces and are mocked or are detained by those they meet, the door is shut and no one opens for them, so also those who are hastening to reach our Lord Christ, the truly beloved, ought to despise and look down upon all other things. And in the way that those entering the palace before the king, being counts or prefects, are in great fear of how they will give their answers and lest, having stumbled in their defense, they be subjected to judgment and punishment; but rustics and private citizens, who have never seen a ruler, live without care, so indeed also this world under heaven, from kings to beggars, being ignorant of the glory of Christ, have their care for the things of this life; and no one is readily mindful of the day of judgment. But those who enter in thought to the "judgment seat of Christ," where His throne is, and are always in His presence, are always in fear and trembling lest they should in any way fail concerning His holy commandments. And just as the rich men of the earth, when they have brought many fruits into their storehouses, again work more each day, so that they may be well-off and not be in want; but if they trust in the wealth stored up in the storehouses and neglect to gather more, but consume what is stored up, they quickly fall into poverty and beggary; wherefore by adding to and bringing in they ought to labor and to gather, so that they may not be in need, so it is in Christianity for one to taste of the grace of God; for it says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Now this taste is an effective power of the Spirit in full assurance, ministering in the heart. For as many as are sons of light and of the ministry of the new covenant in the Holy Spirit, these learn nothing from men; for they are taught by God. For grace itself inscribes on their hearts the laws of the Spirit. Therefore they ought not to be assured only by the scriptures written with ink, but also on the tablets of the heart the grace of God inscribes the laws of the Spirit and the heavenly mysteries. For the heart rules and reigns over the whole bodily instrument, and when grace takes possession of the pastures of the heart, it reigns over all the members and the thoughts; for there is the mind and all the thoughts of the soul and its expectation, which is why grace also passes through to all the members of the body. So again, as many as are sons of darkness, sin reigns in their heart and passes through to all the members ("for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts") and thus overflowing, it darkens the person. But those who say that evil is not bred and grown together with man, let them neither be anxious about tomorrow nor desire anything; for at some time evil ceased to trouble them, suggesting a certain desire, so that the person affirms with an oath that "such a passion no longer rises up in me." And after a little while he was consumed by desire, so that he was found, in addition to these things, to be also an oath-breaker. For just as water passes through a channel, so also through the heart and the
καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσι κίνδυνον ἐν τούτῳ τῷ μέρει, ὅτι ἄπτωτοί εἰσι καὶ ἀσφαλίζονται περὶ τῆς ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίας διὰ τὸ πολλάκις γεγυμνᾶσθαι
ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τῆς κακίας καὶ ἐμπείρους γεγενῆσθαι· ἔχοντες δὲ τὸν θεὸν μεθ' ἑαυτῶν ὁδηγοῦνται καὶ ἀναπαύονται. ἄλλοι δὲ μηδέπω
γυμνασθέντες εἰς μίαν θλῖψιν ἐὰν ἐμπέσωσι καὶ ἐπικινηθῇ πόλεμος, εὐθέως καταπίπτουσιν εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν. Ὥσπερ οἱ διοδεύοντες
ἐν πόλει, θέλοντες ἰδεῖν τοὺς ἀγαπητοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ γνωρίμους, εἰ καὶ πολλοῖς συναντῶσιν ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς, οὐκ ἐμποδίζονται ὑπ'
αὐτῶν· ἔχουσι γὰρ σκοπὸν τοῦ τοῖς φίλοις ἐντυχεῖν· καὶ ὅταν ἔξωθεν κρούσωσι τὴν θύραν καὶ καλέσωσι, χαίροντες ἀνοίγουσιν οἱ
ἀγαπητοὶ αὐτῶν· εἰ δὲ ἀπομείνωσιν ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς καὶ χλευάζονται ἤτοι ἐπέχονται ἀπὸ τῶν ἀπαντώντων, ἀποκλείεται ἡ θύρα καὶ
οὐδεὶς αὐτοῖς ἀνοίγει, οὕτω καὶ οἱ πρὸς τὸν δεσπότην ἡμῶν Χριστὸν τὸν ὄντως ἀγαπητὸν ἐπειγόμενοι φθάσαι τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων
ὀφείλουσι καταφρονεῖν καὶ ὑπερορᾶν. ὃν δὲ τρόπον οἱ εἰσερχόμενοι εἰς τὸ παλάτιον πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, κόμητες μὲν ὄντες ἢ ἔπαρχοι,
ὑπὸ φόβον πολύν εἰσι, πῶς τὰς ἀποκρίσεις δώσουσι καὶ μὴ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ πταίσαντες εἰς λόγον καὶ τιμωρίαν ὑποβληθῶσιν· ἄγροικοι
δὲ καὶ ἰδιῶται ὄντες οἱ μηδέποτε θεασάμενοι ἄρχοντα ἐν ἀμεριμνίᾳ διάγουσιν, οὕτω δὴ καὶ ὁ κόσμος οὗτος ὁ ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀπὸ
βασιλέων ἕως πτωχῶν τὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ δόξαν ἀγνοοῦντες τὴν μέριμναν ἔχουσι περὶ τῶν βιωτικῶν πραγμάτων· οὐ ταχέως δέ τις μέμνηται
τῆς ἡμέρας τῆς κρίσεως. οἱ δὲ εἰσερχόμενοι τῷ λογισμῷ εἰς τὸ «βῆμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ», ὅπου ἐστὶν ὁ θρόνος αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατέναντι
αὐτοῦ διὰ παντὸς ὄντες ὑπὸ φόβον καὶ τρόμον εἰσὶν ἀεὶ τοῦ μή τι σφαλῆναι περὶ τὰς ἁγίας αὐτοῦ ἐντολάς. Καὶ ὥσπερ οἱ πλούσιοι
τῆς γῆς ὅταν πολλοὺς καρποὺς εἰσενέγκωσιν εἰς τὰς ἀποθήκας αὐτῶν, πάλιν ἐργάζονται καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν πλεῖον, ἵνα εὐπορῶσι
καὶ μὴ ἐλλείπωνται· εἰ δὲ θαρρήσουσι τῷ ἐναποκειμένῳ ταῖς ἀποθήκαις πλούτῳ καὶ ἀμελήσουσι μὴ ἐπισυνάγοντες ἕτερον, ἀλλὰ καταναλίσκοντες
τὰ ἀποκείμενα, ταχέως εἰς πενίαν καὶ πτωχείαν ἐμπίπτουσιν· ὅθεν προσοδευόμενοι καὶ εἰσφέροντες ὀφείλουσι κάμνειν καὶ ἐπισυνάγειν,
ἵνα μὴ ὑστερηθῶσιν, οὕτως ἐστὶν ἐν τῷ Χριστιανισμῷ τὸ γεύσασθαί τινα τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ· γεύσασθε γάρ φησι καὶ ἴδετε ὅτι
χρηστὸς ὁ κύριος. ἔστι δὲ ἡ γεῦσις αὕτη ἐνεργητικὴ ἐν πληροφορίᾳ δύναμις πνεύματος διακονοῦσα ἐν καρδίᾳ. ὅσοι γὰρ υἱοί εἰσι
τοῦ φωτὸς καὶ τῆς διακονίας τῆς καινῆς διαθήκης ἐν τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ, οὗτοι παρὰ ἀνθρώπων οὐδὲν μανθάνουσι· θεοδίδακτοι
γάρ εἰσιν. αὐτὴ γὰρ ἡ χάρις ἐπιγράφει ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν τοὺς νόμους τοῦ πνεύματος. οὐκ ὀφείλουσιν οὖν εἰς τὰς γραφὰς
μόνον τὰς διὰ μέλανος γεγραμμένας πληροφορεῖσθαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς τὰς πλάκας τῆς καρδίας ἡ χάρις τοῦ θεοῦ ἐγγράφει τοὺς νόμους
τοῦ πνεύματος καὶ τὰ ἐπουράνια μυστήρια. ἡ γὰρ καρδία ἡγεμονεύει καὶ βασιλεύει ὅλου τοῦ σωματικοῦ ὀργάνου, καὶ ἐπὰν κατάσχῃ
τὰς νομὰς τῆς καρδίας ἡ χάρις, βασιλεύει ὅλων τῶν μελῶν καὶ τῶν λογισμῶν· ἐκεῖ γάρ ἐστιν ὁ νοῦς καὶ ὅλοι οἱ λογισμοὶ τῆς ψυχῆς
καὶ ἡ προσδοκία αὐτῆς, διὸ καὶ διέρχεται ἡ χάρις εἰς ὅλα τὰ μέλη τοῦ σώματος. οὕτως πάλιν ὅσοι εἰσὶν υἱοὶ τοῦ σκότους, βασιλεύει
τῆς καρδίας ἡ ἁμαρτία καὶ διέρχεται εἰς ὅλα τὰ μέλη («ἐκ γὰρ τῆς καρδίας ἐξέρχονται διαλογισμοὶ πονηροί») καὶ οὕτως ὑπεκχεομένη
σκοτίζει τὸν ἄνθρωπον. Οἱ δὲ μὴ λέγοντες εἶναι τὸ κακὸν σύντροφον καὶ συναυξάνον τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, μήτε μεριμνήσωσι περὶ τῆς αὔριον
μήτε ἐπιθυμήσωσι· καιρῷ γάρ τινι ἐπαύσατο ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐνοχλοῦν τὸ κακόν, τινὰ ἐπιθυμίαν ὑποβάλλον, ὥστε ἐν ὅρκῳ διαβεβαιοῦσθαι
τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὅτι οὐκέτι ἐπανίσταταί μοι τὸ τοιοῦτον πάθος. καὶ μετ' ὀλίγον καιρὸν κατεκάη τῇ ἐπιθυμίᾳ, ὥστε εὑρεθῆναι αὐτὸν
πρὸς ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ ἐπίορκον. ὥσπερ γὰρ δι' ὀχετοῦ διέρχεται ὕδωρ, οὕτω καὶ διὰ τῆς καρδίας καὶ τῶν
