LXX. Verba Evangelii

LXX. Verba Evangelii

They turned back and fell to the ground, which should also be understood in this way. Those who deny the truth and imitate Satan in contrary works are heading toward destruction, walking backward as they close their eyes to the faith within themselves; from this, they also fall into the worst temptations, which drive them to despair. But just as God raises people to immortal life on the last day, so now He brings them back to life through repentance: for those who mourn their sins while their souls are leaving their bodies, even if they have deserved the pains of purgatory, will be freed from them more quickly. These words are about the souls of the penitent being purified and saved; they are faithful, and let the faithful pay attention to them and keep them in mind as good knowledge. CAPITULA OF THE FIFTH PART The words of that man, II. Words of Scurrility, in. The response of reverence is fourfold. Words of action. The response of quiet stability, VI. Words of Evil. The response of true worship to God. Words of Greed. The response of pure sufficiency. The words of worldly sorrow. The response of heavenly joy. The sound of a bronze staff. Water is not only necessary for the needs of the body, but it is also essential for the salvation of the soul. Though people hide God in various ways, they are still under His protection. Just as everything is governed by God, so the waters hold together all that is earthly, just as the soul strengthens the body. Just as the power of God holds all things in existence, so too does the abyss sustain everything that is on the earth. The abyss, like a kind of fabric, is created from the foundations of the world; it is not carried by any other creature except what is sustained by the power of God. •) XVIII. The abyss is like a cistern, empty. The strength of God makes the waters fluid; otherwise, they would be solid. God firmly holds the austerity of the elements in His power. God urges the faithful to heed His admonition; otherwise, they will feel the weight of His punishments. The soul of a person, longing for God, binds all its actions to Him with a heavenly desire. The divine commandments given here are meant to be fulfilled through a faithful soul. When the holy soul follows the Holy Spirit, it is empowered to ascend from virtue to virtue. God the Father restrains the temptations that ensnare the soul of man through the humanity of His Son. For God truly desires those who have attentive ears to repent, but the negligent will be punished by His scourges. The words of the Gospel and the same matter. The vices that try to distort the sense of faith are repelled by the cleverness of the mind. Specifically about his vulgarity and behavior, and what it signifies. Specifically about wandering and its significance, Words from the Song of Songs, XXXII. Specifically about wrongdoing and its habit, and what it means. 182 XXXIII. Specifically about greed and its habit, and what it signifies. The words of the prophet Jeremiah are about the same matter. Specifically about the sorrow of the world and its nature and what it signifies. Specifically, about the nature of God's zeal and what it means. From the Book of Exodus. The blood of Christ unites with virginity. God overcomes the ancient serpent in his evil works and through the conversion of tax collectors and sinners. Also concerning certain purgatorial punishments of souls of some people who have sinned through lewdness, and why they must endure them. How do people punish the sin of scurrility in their own bodies through repentance? The vice of scurrility tries to erase all that is true, like a shadow playing with words. Also about certain purgatorial matters concerning some souls, who in this world have strayed through their wandering, and why they should endure the same penalties in this way. In what way do people purify themselves from the sin of wandering through repentance? The wandering of a girl who lacks vigilant knowledge is a sign of disobedience; she serves luxury and gathers idleness and sloth to herself. The words of David. Also concerning certain punishments of the purgation of souls of some people who have sinned in wrongdoing, and why they should hold them as such. In what way can they erase the sins of wrongdoing through repentance? Those who strive to learn from creatures, just as they do from Scriptures, are destroyed in body and soul because they blind their own soul's vision. Also concerning certain other purgatorial punishments of the souls of those men who have sinned through greed, and why they suffer in this way. Also about certain other purgatorial punishments of the souls of some people who have sinned through greed, and why they suffer in this way. Also about the other punishments in which the souls of certain people are purified, who committed thefts because of greed, and why they endure them in this way. How do people punish the sin of greed within themselves through repentance? In the same way, those who have committed the sin of greed through theft should repent and cleanse their hearts. Likewise, let those who have sinned through greed wash away their guilt by true repentance. A person who takes everything they can from others and draws it to themselves will be subjected to the worst punishments. The words of David. Greed takes away not only what is outside the human body, but also the body itself. A person who engages in robbery resembles the devil. A thief, who is a nocturnal ambusher, is likened to the devil's deception. The words of the Gospel. Also concerning certain other punishments of the souls of some men, who through the sadness of the world have sinned and therefore suffer in this way. How can people cast off the sadness of this world? The sadness of this world frightens those who do not have joy in heaven. The words of David. The diabolical crowd fights against people with vices. The ranks of the blessed spirits are present to humanity, and the powers of the elements sustain them. As long as a person lives, they should impose upon their body the affliction for their own sins. The teacher will consider the quality of his subordinates and the quality of their sins. The teacher speaks gently to the good, but harshly to the wicked. The teacher, according to the example of Jacob and Esau, draws the good to himself gently, but he drives away the wicked harshly. A teacher who falls upon the just entrusted to him is likened to the Jews; and he who afflicts the innocent is called a wolf; and he who conceals the wickedness of delinquents is called a thief. Good teachers should be like pure gold. Good students should be like a chariot to their teacher. The work of a person, striving toward God, will shine in the heavens, but the one who is turned away from God will be tormented in hell. When a person celebrates their sins, they reveal the Holy Trinity. Just as God is praised by angels, so too must He be praised by humans. The souls that exist in the memory of blessedness are aided by the labors of the living in holiness. The punishment of purgatory is for freeing souls, but the earthly matter is for those who have been purified; however, the light of heaven is soon prepared for the virtuous souls. When the filth of earthly matter has been cut away on the last day, then the earthly material will shine as it did in the original creation. The prayers offered in the heart of a person ascend to God through the Holy Spirit. The voice of the prophets and the psalms, proclaimed for the praise of God, comes to the aid of those in need, as they have deserved. God will spare those for whom a person offers alms, according to their worthiness. A good will from a person is a most pleasing fragrance to God. God accepts the labors of humanity for the needs of the living and for the rest of the deceased. Those who do not serve God are harshly struck by the angel. 184