14. Wherefore, that which is
written, “Who speaketh the truth in his heart,”2400
is not so
to be taken, as if,
truth being retained in the
heart, in the mouth
one may speak a
lie. But the reason why it is said, is, because it
is possible that a man may speak with his mouth a
truth which
profiteth him nothing, if he hold it not in his
heart, that is, if
what he speaketh, himself believe not; as the
heretics, and, above
all, these same Priscillianists do, when they do, not indeed
believe the catholic
faith, but yet speak it, that they may be
believed to be of us. They speak therefore the
truth in their
mouth, not in their
heart. On this account were they to be
distinguished from him of whom it is written, “He that speaketh
truth in his
heart.” Now this
truth the catholic as in his
heart
he speaketh, because so he believeth, so also in his mouth ought
he, that so he may
preach it; but against it, neither in
heart nor
in mouth have
falsehood, that both with the
heart he may believe
unto
righteousness, and with the mouth may make confession unto
salvation. For also in that psalm, after it had been said, “Who
speaketh
truth in his heart,” presently this is added, “Who
hath used no deceit in his tongue.”
2401
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