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 Keep away from the evil 

We are taught aright not to do our own will when we are wary of what Holy Scripture says: There are paths that seem right to men whose ending sinketh them even down to the depths of hell, and , again , when we tremble at what has been said of the negligent : They are corrupt and are made abominable in their wishes. Moreover, in the flesh 's desires let us believe God is thus ever present to us, when the Prophet says to the Lord: Before Thee is mine every desire.

So one must therefore be wary of evil desires, since death is positioned near the doorway of delight. Whence has Scripture commanded , saying: Go not after thy concupiscences. Therefore , if the eyes of the Lord watch the good and the evil, and the Lord from heaven looks ever upon the sons of men to see if one is understanding or seeking God, and if day and night the products of our deeds are announced to the Lord through angels deputed for us , we must thus beware at every hour , O brethren( as the Prophet says in a psalm), lest at any hour God sees us declining to evil and made unprofitable ; and lest, sparing us at this time( for He is tender and faithful and keeps watch for us to convert unto better), he say to us in the future: These things thou didst, and I held my peace.