The Nature of Virtue and Knowledge

Every passionate thought and every rejected false knowledge. These many ways lead to one single way, which says: 'I am the way' (John 14:6). But the virtues that lead to the knowledge of Christ have spoken of many ways. The place of this army is wickedness and pseudo-knowledge.

If the Lord gives sleep to his beloved, but the impious are not his beloved, then the Lord does not give sleep to the impious. From this it is also possible to show that even the demons do not possess the nature to sleep. From this we know what the army of the opposing power is fed by; for they say its grain is impiety and its wine is lawlessness.

Our virtues go before us and enlighten us, until the sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2) shines its day upon us. The impious do not even know the manner in which they sin, nor do they know the cause from which they stumble; they do not even know this, that they act lawlessly, which shows ultimate folly.

He calls the virtues springs, from which comes the living water, which is the knowledge of Christ. And David says that the springs of the waters were seen and the foundations of the world were uncovered, according to the manifestation of our Savior Christ. Those who have dispassionate thoughts and true doctrines, these see rightly.

For virtue is a mean; therefore they say that courage is between boldness and cowardity; but now he calls 'right' not those things which are naturally right, but those things which appear right because of pleasures. For he says the north is a harsh wind, but it is called 'skillful' by name; saying 'north' symbolically for the evil one, from whom all the evils on earth were kindled. This agrees with: 'Unless the Lord builds the house and guards the city' (Psalm 127:1), and so on.

Tears signify pleasure, which gives rise to impurity; from which wickedness and ignorance are born, of which nothing is found more bitter among existing things. He spoke of the harlot above, but now he named folly. For those descending into Hades after death, David prays, saying: 'The living descended into Hades' (Psalm 42:7). If the paths are not well-known, it is well said: 'They do not know how they stumble' (Psalm 119:176). He said 'way' in this...

One sees the mind proceeding toward virtue; perhaps virtue stands as a guard to separate us from wickedness. Here we recognize that the spirited part prevails in the demons; for a spirited temperament is unmerciful, he says, and a sharp anger. Through wicked deeds, the evil ones crush the flesh of Christ and consume the blood, regarding it as common; for he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life (John 6:54), and I will raise him up on the last day (John 6:54). There was a time when wickedness was not, and there will be a time when it shall not be; but there was a time when virtue was not, and there shall be a time when it shall not be; for the seeds of virtue are never entirely exhausted.

This also convinces me: having become almost, though not perfectly, everything wicked, and the rich man having become wretched in Hades through wickedness and pitying his brothers; for to pity turns out to be the most beautiful seed of virtue. Knowledge is both a well and a spring; for to those approaching, virtue seems to be a deep well, but to the impassive and the pure, it is a spring; even so the Savior sat by the spring, when it was about the sixth hour (John 4:6); and the Samaritan woman calls it a well; for she says, 'Lord, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep' (John 4:11). The woman here signifies the knowledge of God; and this was given to us from youth, for which Solomon speaks of a teaching in youth: 'My son, let not evil counsel take hold of you' (Proverbs 1:10), saying this as one who has left behind the teaching of youth and a divine testament, calling the devil one who counsels wickedly.

Forgetfulness and the loss of knowledge and possession are second evils; just as sickness is the worst of health, and death is the second of life. At the same time, this must also be understood: that regarding the same knowledge, it is called mother, wife, and sister; it is called mother because the one who taught me through it has brought me into being, as Paul did through the gospel in Galatians (Galatians 2:20); it is called wife because, being joined to me, it brings forth virtues and correct doctrines, just as wisdom brings forth prudence to a man; and it is called sister because both I and it have come from the one God and Father; for he says, 'I have said that your wisdom is your sister.' If grace and friendship set free, virtue and knowledge set free the rational soul; for grace and friendship are virtue and knowledge. If the deer is born of friendship, and the foal is born of grace,