Letter 445

To the same person. For you, who have been perfectly purified and freed from every stain and from the swelling of arrogance, it is fitting to search out lofty contemplations. But those who are defiled, and who have not yet washed off the shameful things and the stains of the old man, we by no means permit to touch the all-holy words, until at last they become whole and are purified. For "Do not give," he says, "that which is holy to the dog, nor cast your pearls before the swine." [Matthew 7:6]

Σοὶ μὲν κεκαθαρμένῳ τελείως, καὶ πάσης ἀπηλλαγμένῳ κηλίδος, καὶ τοῦ τῆς ἀλαζονείας φυσήματος, πρέπει ἀναζητεῖν ὑψηλὰς θεωρίας· τοῖς δὲ μεμολυσμένοις, καὶ μήπω ἀπονιψαμένοις τὰ αἴσχη, καὶ τοὺς σπίλους τοῦ παλαιοῦ ἀνθρώπου, οὐδόλως ψαύειν, συγχωροῦμεν τῶν παναγίων λόγων, μέχρις ἂν ὑγιάνωσέ τε, καὶ καθαρθῶσι ποτε. «Μὴ δῶτε γὰρ, φησί, τὸ ἅγιον τῷ κυνί, μηδὲ τοὺς μαργαρίτας τοῖς χοίροις προσβάλητε.»