baptism are we to box and fight. Let us learn from thence already his grip, on what side he is aggressive, on what side he can easily threaten us, in order that, when the contest comes on, we may not feel strange, nor become confused, as seeing new forms of wrestling; but 163 having already practiced them amongst ourselves, and having learnt all his methods, may engage in these forms of wrestling against him with courage. In all ways, therefore, is he accustomed to threaten us, but especially by means of the tongue, and the mouth. For there is no organ so convenient for him for our deception and our destruction as an unchastened tongue and an unchecked utterance. Hence come many slips on our part: hence many serious accusations against us. And the ease of these falls through the tongue a certain one showed, when he said, “Many fell by the sword, but not so many as by the tongue.”511 Now the gravity of the fall the same person shows us again when he says: “To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue.”512 And what he speaks of is of this kind. Better it is, says he, that the body should fall and be crushed, than that such a word should go forth as destroys the soul; and he does not speak of falls merely; he also admonishes us that much forethought should be exercised, so that we should not be tripped up, thus saying “Make a door and bars for thy mouth,”513 not that we should prepare doors and bars, but that with much security, we should shut the tongue off from outrageous words; and again in another place, after showing that we need influence from above, both as accompanying and preceding our own effort so as to keep this wild beast within: stretching forth his hands to God, the prophet said, “Let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice, set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep the door of my lips;” and he who before admonished, himself too514 says again “Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips?”515 Dost thou not see, each one fearing these falls and bewailing them, both giving advice, and praying that the tongue may have the benefit of much watchfulness? and for what reason, says one, if this organ brings us such ruin, did God originally place it within us? Because indeed, it is of great use, and if we are careful, it is of use only, and brings no ruin. Hear, for example, what he says who spoke the former words, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”516 And Christ points to the same thing when he says, “By thy words thou shalt be condemned, and by thy words thou shalt be justified.”517 For the tongue stands in the midst ready for use on either hand. Thou art its master. Thus indeed a sword lies in the midst, 511 Ecclus. xxviii. 22. 512 Ecclus. xx. 18. 513 Ecclus. xx. 25. 514 Ps. cxlii. 2, 3. 515 Ecclus. xxii. 27. 516 Prov. xviii. 21. 517 Mark xii. 27. 224 First Instruction.