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| The Remedy.
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Chapter LXXII.—The
Remedy.
“For these unclean spirits love to dwell in
the bodies of men, that they may fulfil their own desires by their
service, and, inclining the motions of their souls to those things
which they themselves desire, may compel them to obey their own lusts,
that they may become wholly vessels of demons.673
| 673 [On the demonology
of this work see book iv. 15–19; comp. Homily IX.
8–22.—R.] | One of whom is this Simon, who is
seized with such disease, and cannot now be healed, because he is sick
in his will and purpose. Nor does the demon dwell in him against
his will; and therefore, if any one would drive it out of him, since it
is inseparable from himself, and, so to speak, has now become his very
soul, he should seem rather to kill him, and to incur the guilt of
manslaughter. Let no one of you therefore be saddened at being
separated from eating with us, for every one ought to observe that it
is for just so long a time as he pleases. For he who wishes soon to be
baptized is separated but for a little time, but he for a longer who
wishes to be baptized later. Every one therefore has it in his
own power to demand a shorter or a longer time for his repentance; and
therefore it lies with you, when you wish it, to come to our table; and
not with us, who are not permitted to take food with any one who has
not been baptized. It is rather you, therefore, who hinder us
from eating with you, if you interpose delays in the way of your
purification, and defer your baptism.” Having said thus,
and having blessed, he took food. And afterwards, when he had
given thanks to God, he went into the house and went to bed; and we all
did the like, for it was now night.
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