75. Моровая язва

What a pestilence is to the body, so is a temptation to the soul. Pestilence infects and kills the body. Temptation infects and kills the human soul. As we see, a pestilence first begins in one person, then the whole house, and from it the whole city or village, and then the whole country becomes infected and dies. So temptation begins in one person, and then spreads to many. Lust, hidden in the human heart, is aroused by sight and hearing, like fire by the wind, and kindled to evil. We see this in the world. We see how they become infected by temptation from each other and die. What the eyes see and the ears hear strikes the human heart. One began to build himself such and such a house, wear such and such a dress, ride such and such a carriage and horses, have such and such decorations and decorations in his house, and so on. This is seen by another, a third, and others, and everyone else. And everyone does this. One landowner does this to his peasants, he takes such taxes from them, or so many days in the week they work for him. Others see this and do the same to their peasants. One judge became infected with bribery, and collected so many thousands for himself from this lawless business. Another, a third and others hear this and are plotting the same lawless deed for themselves. He has collected so much and so much for himself, I will collect it too - and he collects it. And so this terrible evil passes from one to another, and from that to others and to everyone. We see how our poor Fatherland has become infected with this terrible ulcer! There is no court anywhere without money. They don't judge, they only buy and sell. One began to organize banquets and invite and receive guests. Others do the same, and all they know is to visit each other, and so on. So temptation, like a pestilence, infects not the bodies, but the souls of men and takes away from them not temporary, but eternal life! We see that some cities are replete with one kind of lawlessness and another with another. This does not happen from anything other than temptation. O terrible evil - temptation. That is why Christ the Lord so strongly forbade giving temptation (See Matt. 18:6–9). Christian! Beware of temptation and beware of temptation like a pestilence. Love God's law heartily - and you will not be tempted. “Great is the peace of those who love Your law, O Lord, and there is no offense for them” (Ps. 119:165). Despise this world with its charms, and love one God and eternal life, and you will live unharmed in the world, like Lot in Sodom. Just as a person infected with a pestilence is a slanderer. A person infected with a pestilence injures those who communicate with him and act carelessly. The slanderer harms the one who listens to his slander. From an infected person the contagious ulcer spreads to another, from another to a third, from a third to a fourth, and so on to all people, if they are not careful. And it happens that many thousands of people become infected and die from one infected person. So one hears slander from a slanderer, and says it to another, another to a third, a third to a fourth, and so everyone hears and is damaged by slander. And it happens that the whole country and the whole state hears and is damaged. Others, hearing, condemn the one about whom the slander is being spread: he has done or is doing something bad. And so they sin grievously, stealing for themselves that which belongs to Christ alone, the Righteous Judge. He alone is the Judge of all. Others are also incited to commit unlawful acts; what they hear is what they do. The slanderer, the dispeller of evil, is guilty of all this pernicious evil. So you see, Christian, what a pernicious evil is slander. Although today's Christians are not consoled or delighted by anything other than slander. What is now on the lips of people gathered together? Now one or the other is named. What do they talk about more? Now about one, now about another poor sinner. One will talk about this, another about another, a third about another, and so there are as many sins and iniquities in the assembly as there are words. All this evil is caused by the slanderer, from whom the slander began. The slanderer harms the one whom he slanderes, for with his tongue he wounds him as with a sword, and he tears at his glory, like a dog with his teeth, tormenting his clothes: he does this and that. He also harms himself, because he sins gravely. He also harms those who listen to his slander, for he gives them a reason for slander and condemnation, and thus leads them to the same lawless case in which he himself finds himself. And just as from one infected person many people become infected and die, so from one slanderer, the leader of slander, many Christian souls become infected and die. O unbridled tongue! How much harm you do to the world! Like the wind a fire throughout a city or village, so an unbridled tongue spreads all kinds of evil throughout the state and throughout the world. One slanderer found out - and everyone already knows; one said - and everyone speaks. Oh, truly it is better to fall a hundred times with your feet than with your tongue! “The tongue is a small member, but it does much evil” (James 3:5-6). It is blocked by a double fence, that is, with teeth and lips, but it very easily breaks out and jumps out. Christian! Beware of a slanderer, as you fear a person infected with a pestilence, lest you become infected and die from him. Slanderers usually test human affairs: what is this and that doing, and so, having tested, They spread slander. They know each other and come together, and ask each other about this and that. And so, having learned, they dispel slander of such people, beware. Beware of experiencing human sins yourself - so that you do not judge and slander your neighbor. Testing and knowing the sins of others is the beginning of condemnation and slander. and turn it on yourself. Experience and recognize your sins, and cleanse them with true repentance and faith. This is a Christian work to which you are called by Christ. Try to guard your tongue in any way - and you will avoid many sins. You might be interested in: