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GERMANUS: In so far as it concerns our desire, which we undertook to
carry out for the sake of spiritual profit, we were hoping to be edified by
continual intercourse with you. For if we were to return to our monastery
it is certain that we should not only fail of so sublime a purpose, but
that we should also suffer grievous loss from the mediocrity of the manner
of life there. But that command of the gospel frightens us terribly: "Let
your speech be yea, yea, nay, nay: but whatsoever is more than these, is
from the evil one." For we hold that we cannot compensate for
transgressing so important a command by any righteousness, nor can that
finally turn out well which has once been started with a bad beginning.
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