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14. But the word conceived and the word born are the very same when
the will finds rest in knowledge itself, as is the case in the love of
spiritual things. For instance, he who knows righteousness
perfectly, and loves it perfectly, is already righteous; even if no
necessity exist of working according to it outwardly through the members
of the body. But in the love of carnal and temporal things, as in the
offspring of animals, the conception of the word is one thing, the
bringing forth another. For here what is conceived by desiring is born
by attaining. Since it does; not suffice to avarice to know and to
love gold, except it also have it; nor to know and love to eat, or to
lie with any one, unless also one does it; nor to know and love honors
and power, unless they actually come to pass. Nay, all these
things, even if obtained, do not suffice. "Whosoever drinketh of
this water," He says, "shall thirst again." And so also the
Psalmist, "He hath conceived pain and brought forth iniquity."
And he speaks of pain or labor as conceived, when those things are
conceived which it is not sufficient to know and will, and when the
mind burns and grows sick with want, until it arrives at those things,
and, as it were, brings them forth. Whence in the Latin language we
have the word "parta" used elegantly for both "reperta" and
"comperta," which words sound as if derived from bringing forth.
Since "lust, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin."
Wherefore the Lord proclaims, "Come unto me all ye that labor and
are heavy laden;" and in another place "Woe unto them that are with
child, and to them that give suck, in those days!" And when
therefore He referred all either right actions or sins to the bringing
forth of the word, "By thy mouth," He says, "thou shalt be
justified, and by thy mouth thou shalt be condemned," intending
thereby not the visible mouth, but that which is within and invisible,
of the thought and of the heart.
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