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ALTHOUGH it is a fact that those men are more grievously and severely
troubled, who, while they seem to be very little affected by them in the
body, are yet possessed in spirit in a far worse way, as they are entangled
in their sins and lusts. For as the Apostle says: "Of whom a man is
overcome, of him he is also the servant." Only that in this respect they
are more dangerously ill, because though they are their slaves, yet they do
not know that they are assaulted by them, and under their dominion. But we
know that even saintly men have been given over in the flesh to Satan and
to great afflictions for some very slight faults, since the Divine mercy
will not suffer the very least spot or stain to be found in them on the day
of judgment, and purges away in this world every spot of their filth, as
the prophet, or rather God Himself says, in order that He may commit them
to eternity as gold or silver refined and needing no penal purification.
"And," says He, "I will clean purge away thy dross, and I will take away
all thy tin; and after this thou shall be called the city of the just, a
faithful city." And again: "Like as silver and gold are tried in the
furnace, so the Lord chooseth the hearts;" And again: "The fire tries gold
and silver; but man is tried in the furnace of humiliation;" and this also:
"For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He
receiveth."
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