¹ The profundity of divine depth, once discourse has traversed it, is but tasted as though in a prelude, and, with due reverence, is more reverently touched upon than fully expounded. For the ineffable mystery of God is to be meditated upon more than it is to be spoken; and except for those things spoken by the Law, the Prophets, the Gospel, or the Apostles, there should be great silence from others concerning the Trinity. Indeed, only God’s own testimony about Himself is to be believed, whether given in the Law, through the Prophets, in the Gospel, through the Apostles, or by special revelation to anyone through Himself or through an angel. However, human disputation, reasoning, or any proud wisdom, which is often deceived even in worldly matters, cannot be a teacher concerning God; rather, it is to be regarded as sacrilegious and impious presumption against God.

² For truly, I ask, brethren, from where do those vain, wicked, and impious men, who neither know themselves nor understand the very fact that they live—let alone comprehend the rest of creation, whose reason they cannot even slightly grasp—think they could know the invisible God, one in essence, the coeternal Trinity, encompassing all things above, below, within, and beyond, even to the extent of defining Him, or at least treating of Him? Therefore, with due reverence, let us keep silence concerning such ineffable matters and begin instead to speak of what is manifest and pleasing to God, not presuming, as do those who bring shame upon themselves, to inquire into loftier things, in accordance with the saying of the Wise Man: “Do not seek what is too difficult for you”. Rather, let us converse about the edification of our souls, not presuming to lay foundations by our own smallness, but instead seeking the authority of some greater teacher, namely, the most illustrious and eloquent doctrine of Saint Faustus. From his words, we have fittingly chosen a few things for our work as an example to imitate, for he, by his admonitions, taught those entrusted to him—including even us, though lowly as we are—and, as one my superior in time, merit, and knowledge, he speaks first, as though to defend me against the ignorant and indolent.

³ He says: If a tiller of the soil and a farmer of the land, because he is preparing his field for sowing, does not think it sufficient merely to plow the land with a strong plow and subdue the hard clods with frequent harrowing, but also takes care to cleanse his field of unfruitful grasses, remove harmful debris, and uproot the roots of thorns and weeds, believing his land will not be fertile for good seed unless it is first emptied of bad growth—thinking the prophetic saying applies to him: “Break up for yourselves new ground, and do not sow among thorns”—how much more ought we to cleanse the field of our hearts from the passions of vice? And let us not believe it sufficient merely to discipline our bodily flesh with fasting and vigils unless we first strive to correct our vices and compose our morals, for we do not place our hope of fruitfulness in the earth, but in heaven.

⁴ Let us therefore first strive to uproot vices and implant virtues: let us uproot pride and plant humility; eradicate anger and cultivate patience; cut off envy and instill benevolence. Otherwise, if the flesh is worn down but the soul does not bear fruit, it is as though a field were continually plowed but never produced a harvest, or as if someone were to build a statue outwardly of gold but inwardly of clay. For what does it profit if a battle is waged outside the city, yet destruction is suffered within? It is as if someone were to dig trenches outside a vineyard and around its perimeter but leave the interior uncultivated, overgrown with thorns and brambles. What, then, is the benefit of external religious observance if internal amendment is neglected? One can be a deceiver and a hypocrite, feigning virtue in appearance while living differently in behavior. Let us not be like whitewashed tombs; rather, let us strive to be beautiful and adorned from within, not merely from without. For true religion consists not in the humiliation of the body but in the humility of the heart. Where else does the Lord dwell, if not in the heart of the truly humble? As Isaiah says: “To whom shall I look, or with whom shall I dwell, if not with the humble and the contrite, who trembles at my word?”.

⁵ Therefore, whoever desires to become a dwelling place for God must strive to be humble and peaceful, so that he may be recognized as a true worshiper of God, not by an affected manner of speech or bodily gestures, but by the truth of humility. For the goodness of the heart has no need of feigned outward piety. Thus, outward displays of piety colored by gestures are vain; bodily affliction alone is likewise vain, and the external diligence of man is futile unless accompanied by the fruitful discipline of the soul. What profit is there in the servant combating passions if they are found to be at peace with the master? Therefore, lest we labor in vain, let us, with the help of God, strive to be freed from vices so that we may afterward be adorned with virtues.

⁶ Let us cleanse ourselves, as much as we can, from every stain of vice—first from pride, then from envy, anger, blasphemy, iniquity, malice, sorrow, vainglory, greed, malevolence, and all bitterness—so that we may be possessed by humility, gentleness, kindness, meekness, temperance, mercy, justice, joy, and charity.

⁷ But what do we do? We recite these things as if they were familiar, yet leave them untended and indiscriminately neglected. We delight in reading them but falter in expelling them. Will hearing these words save us if we are found not to possess them within? If they are always read to us, yet we never amend our ways, will frequent reading of what we are slow to cast out truly aid us? Can one cleanse his house of filth merely by speaking words? Can he remove heaps of impure rubble simply by uttering commands? Indeed, can anyone accomplish even the necessities of daily life without effort?

⁸ Thus, patience, diligence, labor, and tireless effort are necessary for purifying the interior house of man, so that we may show patience in injuries, diligence in devotion, toil in good works, and perseverance in progress. We are often instructed, yet slow to amend; frequently offended, yet rarely patient; repeatedly defeated, yet seldom victorious. Let us remember that hearing alone does not sanctify, but acting does. “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”. May God grant us the strength to strive rightly, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor, glory, and power forever and ever. Amen.