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BUT it is, as we have already said, impossible for a novice either to
understand or to teach this. For if one is incapable of receiving it how
can he be fit to pass it on to another? But if he has had the audacity to
teach anything on these matters, most certainly his words will be idle and
useless and only reach the ears of his hearers, without being able to touch
their hearts, uttered as they were in sheer idleness and unfruitful vanity,
for they do not proceed from the treasure of a good conscience, but from
the empty impertinence of boastfulness. For it is impossible for an impure
soul (however earnestly it may devote itself to reading) to obtain
spiritual knowledge. For no one pours any rich ointment or fine honey or
any precious liquid into a dirty and stinking vessel. For a jar that has
once been filled with foul odours spoils the sweetest myrrh more readily
than it receives any sweetness or grace from it, for what is pure is
corrupted much more quickly than what is corrupt is purified. And so the
vessel of our bosom unless it has first been purified from all the foul
stains of sin will not be worthy to receive that blessed ointment of which
it is said by the prophet: "Like the ointment upon the head, which ran down
upon the beard of Aaron, which ran down upon the edge of his garment,"
nor will it keep undefiled that spiritual knowledge and the words of
Scripture which are "sweeter than honey and the honeycomb." "For what
share hath righteousness with iniquity? or what agreement hath light with
darkness? or what concord has Christ with Belial?"
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