73. You see, then, that our mind is the
cause of our guilt. And so the flesh is innocent, but is often
the minister of sin. Let not, then, desire of beauty overcome
you. Many nets and many snares are spread by the devil. The
look of a harlot is the snare of him who loves her. Our own eyes
are nets to us, wherefore it is written: “Be not taken with
thine eyes.” Prov. vi. 25. So, then,
we spread nets for ourselves in which we are entangled and
hampered. We bind chains on ourselves, as we read:
“For every one is bound with the chains of his own
sins.” Prov. vi. 2 [LXX.] very loosely.