LXV. De poenitentia impiorum.

LXV. De poenitentia impiorum.

But those who take on the works of impiety within themselves, if they strive to escape the suggestions of these spirits and the dangers of those punishments through fasting and the afflictions of their bodies, according to what is justly shown to them by their leaders, will insist, because they have committed many impious acts. On the wickedness of the impious. Impiety does not desire the fear of God and does not know the love of God; it does not accomplish anything through divine power, but in all its works, it looks to the north and scatters all its deeds into evil knowledge, and it utters curses with the movements of its eyes in wickedness. Therefore, concerning his imitators, it is said through the prophet, by my Spirit stirred up: LXVIL David speaks of the same matter. Let their dwelling be desolate, and let there be no one who dwells in their tents. This must also be understood in this way. The wicked, who do not gather good things but scatter them, may their will be for destruction, as they seek a secure dwelling; let them be utterly dissipated, because they do not want a master or a superior, and they do not allow anything similar to themselves; but what they grasp, they draw to themselves, and what they do not want, they trample down, so that they do not even sing in spiritual joy; and they mock love, deny goodness, flee from blessing, and join themselves to curses. Therefore, let there be no one who dwells in the tents of wicked customs, because he will turn away from them who desires to have the heavenly tabernacles; for from the wicked, true happiness is alien, since they do not seek to do good with the eye of knowledge, but through their works they look to the Devil and provoke God. And so, God does not recognize the works they perform or the foundations they lay; instead, He rejects them like refuse. For in their thoughts, they set their minds on what would undermine the Law of God and fulfill their own desires in everything. Therefore, let the light of truth be taken away from their needs, since they did not seek it or want it, but walked in the shadow of death through their own actions; and for this reason, they will receive what they sought and will have what they desired, because they went after the things that led to their downfall, where they abandoned God. Those who love the Lord draw to themselves devotion, in which they will fully cling to God. These things are said about the souls of the penitent, to be purified and saved, and they are faithful, and let the faithful pay attention to them, and let them compose these in the memory of good knowledge. I also saw other spirits from that multitude, who were praying with a loud cry, saying: 'We must raise the throne of our Lord, who is Lucifer, above the stars, for whatever he wills, will be done.' And who will be like him? For they cast blasphemies against the throne of God and his honor, and they are the eyes of pride; and they urge men to insist on lies and blasphemies.