Herein, as I suppose, the ancient authorities followed the old rule “Thou shalt not avenge twice for the same thing.” Nahum i. 9, LXX.  There is this further reason too, that laymen, when expelled from the place of the faithful, are from time to time restored to the rank whence they have fallen; but the deacon undergoes once for all the lasting penalty of deposition.  His deacon’s orders not being restored to him, they rested at this one punishment.  So far is this as regards what depends on law laid down.  But generally a truer remedy is the departure from sin.  Wherefore that man will give me full proof of his cure who, after rejecting grace for the sake of the indulgence of the flesh, has then, through bruising of the flesh “Duo veteres libri συντριμμοῦ τῆς καρδίας.”  Ben. note. and the enslaving of it cf. 1 Cor. ix. 27. by means of self control, abandoned the pleasures whereby he was subdued.  We ought therefore to know both what is of exact prescription and what is of custom; and, in cases which do not admit of the highest treatment, to follow the traditional direction.