998:1
ti. A via declinamus, quoties errori consentimus. — Toties gressus de via declinat, quoties nostra cogitatio iter rectitudinis per consensum relinquit errorise Quasi vero tot gressus extra viam ponimus,quot perversis desideriis a coelestis vitae delectatione separamur. Ut enim praefati sutnus, adhuc carnis corruptibilis pondere gravati, nequaquam valemus sic vivere, ut nulla nos possit culpae delectatio pulsare. Sed aliud est nolentem tangi, aliud consentientem animum perimi. Sancii autem viri tanto vigilantiori se circumspectione custodiunt, quanto se pulsari sinistris" motibus vel transitoriæ delectationis dediguantur. Unde et adhuc subditur:
十二、我們每逢同意錯謬，就偏離正道。——我們的腳步每逢我們的思念藉同意錯謬而離棄正直之路時，就偏離正道。彷彿我們有多少悖逆的慾念使我們與屬天生命的喜樂隔絕，就在道外邁出多少步。因為如我們先前所說，我們仍被必朽肉體的重擔所壓，決不能活得使罪愆的歡愉全然不能襲擊我們。但不情願地被觸動是一回事，同意的心被殺卻是另一回事。然而聖人越是不屑於被短暫歡愉那邪僻的動向所襲擊，就越以更加警醒的謹慎守護自己。因此又補充說：
12. We turn aside from the way as often as we consent to error. — Our step turns aside from the way as often as our thought forsakes the path of rectitude through consent to error. As if indeed we place as many steps outside the way as the perverse desires by which we are separated from the delight of the heavenly life. For, as we have said before, still weighed down by the burden of corruptible flesh, we can by no means so live that no delight of fault can assail us. But it is one thing to be touched unwillingly, another for the consenting mind to be slain. Holy men, however, guard themselves with a watchfulness the more vigilant, in proportion as they disdain to be assailed even by the sinister motions of passing delight. Whence also it is further added: