1.6

Then again, if the hands were ever moved in ways they ought not to have been by the soul’s pleasures, the Spirit now sets a boundary for the mind, so that the hands may move in holiness, in prayers and acts of mercy, and perform such works. In them the saying about prayer will be fulfilled: “The lifting up of my hands is an evening sacrifice.” Solomon also says elsewhere, “The hands of the strong make rich.”

Then He purifies the food and drink of the belly, whether it had used them to satiety or whether the soul’s pleasure had sometimes been present in its desires, considering that some through satiety in food or drink have obeyed demons. Of them the Spirit says through David, “With the proud of eye and insatiable of heart, with him I did not eat.” If they again seek the Lord’s holiness in this matter, the Spirit sets boundaries for them in that same holiness, so that they use food and drink moderately and sufficiently to sustain the body and no longer have craving or pleasure in them. Thus Paul’s saying will be fulfilled: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

Then, regarding thoughts of sexual union that arise below the belly, the mind, again taught by the Spirit, distinguishes their movements according to the three ways mentioned above and presses on toward sanctification, having the Spirit as its helper. That movement is extinguished by the power of the Spirit, who brings peace to the whole body and destroys that entire movement. This is the true saying spoken beforehand by Paul: “Put to death your members that are upon the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, evil desire,” and what follows.

So also with the feet. Though at one time their steps were not sound and they did not walk according to God, the mind, now under the Spirit’s will, compels them to go and serve in good works, so that the transformed body may come under the Spirit’s authority. I think that such a condition has already received, even in this life, some share of the spiritual body that it will receive at the resurrection of the righteous.