I admonish you, brethren, in the sight of God, and so forth. But if he does penance with his whole heart — yet only if he does true penance, where God sees, as with the heart of David, who, when gravely rebuked by the prophet and after God's terrible threats, cried out saying: 'I have sinned,' and at once he heard: 'The Lord has taken away your sin' (cf. 2 Sam. 12:13). How much are three syllables worth? For 'peccavi' ('I have sinned') is three syllables; yet in these three syllables the flame of the sacrifice of his heart ascended to heaven.
Therefore he who has truly done penance, and has been loosed from the bond by which he was fettered and separated from the body of Christ, and has lived well after his penance; after his reconciliation, when he has died, goes to the Lord, goes to rest, will not be deprived of the kingdom of God, and will be separated from the people of the devil. But he who, placed in the last extremity of his sickness, receives penance and is at once reconciled, and goes — that is, departs from the body — I confess to you: we do not deny him what he asked, yet neither do I presume that he departs hence well. I do not presume, I do not promise, I do not say, I do not deceive you, I do not mislead you, I do not promise you. The faithful man who lives well departs hence secure. He who does penance while he is healthy and is reconciled
and afterward has lived well, is secure. But you say to me: what is it, 'if he has lived well'? Instruct us in this, good priest, that we may know it. You say you do not know that thing — you who say you do not know whether the misdeeds of him who, having received penance, passed away within the hour, will be released on the day of judgment. On this you give us no security. What is it to live well after penance? Teach us. I tell you: to abstain from drunkenness, from concupiscence, from theft, from evil speech, from that very immoderate laughter, from idle words — of which men are to render an account on the day of judgment. See how light are the things I have named, and yet all of them grave and pestilent. See, I say another thing: not only after penance ought a man to keep himself from these vices, but even before penance, while he is healthy:
for he does not know whether he will even be able to receive that penance itself and to confess his sins to God and to the priest. See, this is why I said, even before penance is better. But one who does penance at the very last, and departs reconciled — whether he departs hence secure, I am not secure. I can give penance, I cannot give security. Attend to what I say; I set it forth more plainly, lest anyone misunderstand me... Do I say he will be damned? No. But 'he will be freed' — I do not say. And what do you say to me, holy bishop? What to say to you I do not know. I have said: I do not presume, I do not promise, I know absolutely nothing of God's will. Do you wish, brother, to be freed from doubt? Do you wish to escape what is uncertain? Do penance while you are healthy.
For if you do true penance while you are healthy, and the last day finds you, run [hasten] that you may be reconciled. If you do so, you are secure. Why secure? Do you want me to tell you? Because you did penance at the time when you were able to sin. See, I have told you why you are secure. But if you wish to do that penance then, when you can no longer sin, the sins have forsaken you, not you them. But whence do you know, you say, whether perhaps God may have mercy on me and forgive me my sins? You speak truly, brother, you speak truly. Whence do I know? — and for that very reason I give you penance, because I do not know. But he says: Then leave my cause to God: why do you afflict me with words, and leave me to God as judge? To his judgment I commit you, to whose judgment I commend myself.
For if I knew it would profit you nothing, I would not admonish you, I would not terrify you. There are two possibilities: either you will be pardoned, or you will not be pardoned. Which of these will befall you I do not know; but I give this counsel: let go of the uncertain, and hold fast to the certain. And while you live, do true penance, so that when you come to the judgment of God, you may not be confounded by him, but be led by him into his kingdom. Amen.