1.5

I have said these things about repentance in body and soul and about how purification ought to take place. When the mind takes up such a struggle, the Spirit’s messages come to it, and it begins to discern the illnesses of the soul that arise through its own pleasures. Then there will be fellowship between the Spirit and the mind through keeping the commandments that He has given it. The Spirit teaches the mind to heal every illness of its own soul, distinguishing each one: both those that have become mixed with the body’s natural functions and the others that belong particularly to the soul apart from the body, from head to foot, since its own will had become mixed with them.

He sets a boundary for the eyes so that they may look rightly and confidently, with nothing alien in them any longer. Then He teaches the ears to listen in peace and no longer to delight in hearing slander or spiritual insults. Rather, above every possession, they should desire the correction of all and compassion toward them, because formerly the soul was sick through these members.

Then again He teaches the tongue its own holiness, because such a sickness had long settled in it. Whatever illnesses afflicted the soul, it was always speaking something from them, handing them over to the tongue, its organ, to utter. Thus this sickness became especially great in this member, the tongue. The apostle James therefore bears witness: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his own tongue, he deceives himself, and his religion is vain.” Again he says, “The tongue is a small member, yet it stains the whole body,” and many other things that I cannot add here.

But if the mind gains strength from the Spirit, it will first be sanctified. Then it will examine its words before giving them to its tongue, so that there is nothing crooked or self-willed in them. Thus the saying of Solomon will be fulfilled: “My words are spoken by God; there is nothing crooked or twisted in them.” And elsewhere he says, “The tongue of the wise heals,” and many other things.