Walters Ms. W.13, Synonyms of Isidore of Seville

there is a double condemnation, a twin blow, for they have both the beginning of torments here, and the perfection of punishments there. Know, however, O man, that none could have opposed you unless God had given power, nor would the adversary have had power over you, unless God had permitted it. Everything that happens to you does not come without God's will, the power of the wicked over you is given from God's permission. Those who oppose you are carrying out God's plan, God's hand has delivered you to punishment, God's indignation has commanded to afflict you, He Himself in anger has ordered you to experience all evils. For that which you are weakened, that you are affected by bodily diseases, that you are tortured by the stings of languor, that you are shaken by the passions of the soul, that you are tormented by mental anguish, that by a gross onslaught

you are agitated in spirit, and even this, for your sin, the clemency of divine justice imposes on you, and it itself, for your fault, is inflicted by a judicial sentence. For every adversity of things is aroused by the merits of your sins, your own weapons fight against you, you are pierced by your own arrows, you are wounded by your own spears. Through the same things by which you have sinned, through these you are also tormented, you have followed the flesh, you are scourged in the flesh, in it you groan in which you have sinned, in it you are tortured, in which you have transgressed, it itself is the censure of your punishment, which was the cause of sin, from where you fell to judgements, from there you mourn tortures. Shake off your conscience, apply your mind, examine yourself, let your heart speak to you, consider your merit, you are justly accused, you are justly scourged, by a just judgment

you are judged, a just storm crushes you, the penalty of justice presses upon you. For you do nothing good, nothing right, nothing fair, nothing just, nothing holy, in you there is nothing of modesty, no memory of dignity, nothing worthy of God. Every day you sin, every day you slip, every day you rush into worsening danger. Your ecstasy has not calmed down, your pride is not put aside, swelling and boasting are not restrained. Rage also captures you, anger inflames you, clamor excites you, indignation stirs you up, always ready to anger, you get angry beyond measure, you are moved beyond the measure of mind by fury. To envy the good, to envy the better ones is usual for you, jealous of others' happiness, always envious of others' virtues. To whom have you never detracted?

Whom have you not tormented? Whose life have you not destroyed? Whose disgrace have you not thrown around? Deceptive, inconstant, envious, greedy, tenacious, barren, inhuman, fruitless, there is no mercy in you. You have fallen into worldly desires, and have flowed into the lusts of the world, you burn with earthly love, you amass perishable things, your thirst for lust cannot be satisfied, every day you wrap yourself in new sins, with new crimes you add to the old, you do not wash away your guilt, but postpone it, nor can you ever quench the flame of lustful desire. Oh unhappy you, are you not ashamed to be splashed through many lusts, luxuriously corrupt adulterer, thus you endure so much in lust? Thus you persist in infamy? Thus you remain so much in luxury? Thus you persist in carnal love? Alas! How long, to what

end, till when will unchecked luxury lead you astray? You're mistaken, Man, at last cease to sin, at last cease from wickedness, change your bad habits into something better at some point. Why do you persist in the filth of sins? Why do you persist in the will to sin? Do not despair, wretch, change from evil into good now, put an end to sins, put a limit to wickedness, let guilt have a limit, let iniquity have an end, consider the magnitude of your sins, at least recognize your faults when chastised. MAN: Alas, I am unhappy! Alas, I am miserable! I didn't know that I am enduring these things because of my iniquity, I didn't know that I am judged according to my merit. You have made it clear to me that this judgement of mine is because of my injustice,