Nilus of Ancyra→Martinus|c. 415 AD|nilus ancyra|From Ancyra|AI-assisted
To Martinus, a Rich Old Man Who Loves Fornication.
"Their sons are like young plants firmly set in their youth." [Psalm 143:12 LXX] Since, having set aside the literal narrative, you ask me to set out for you the spiritual contemplation of these words, learn it, even though you do not wish to. For perhaps you have asked us without even wishing to; you were expecting some other interpretation to be given, not this one. The sons of the unclean demons are said to be filthy thoughts and all base ways of life, which turn sin-loving men back toward wicked deeds. These, then, like young plants, are firmly and immovably set in your youth, since, even though your body has grown old, you nonetheless flourish in abominations and stay young in your accursed lust; from a young age down to deep old age you persist insatiably in your raging fornication. And in you is fulfilled the proverb that says that an evil passion of the soul never grows old. If, then, even now you are put to shame by these words, groan bitterly, and, as one sobered from a long-lasting drunkenness, beseech God who is able to do all things to work a wonder in you, and to shake loose those base and blameworthy young plants, and to disturb them and tear them up from their very foundations by His divine power. So that at last, having ceased from fornication and come to rest, you may be able to say: "Beneath me my condition was shaken; therefore I shall be at rest, looking toward my end."
To Martinus, a Rich Old Man Who Loves Fornication.
"Their sons are like young plants firmly set in their youth." [Psalm 143:12 LXX] Since, having set aside the literal narrative, you ask me to set out for you the spiritual contemplation of these words, learn it, even though you do not wish to. For perhaps you have asked us without even wishing to; you were expecting some other interpretation to be given, not this one. The sons of the unclean demons are said to be filthy thoughts and all base ways of life, which turn sin-loving men back toward wicked deeds. These, then, like young plants, are firmly and immovably set in your youth, since, even though your body has grown old, you nonetheless flourish in abominations and stay young in your accursed lust; from a young age down to deep old age you persist insatiably in your raging fornication. And in you is fulfilled the proverb that says that an evil passion of the soul never grows old. If, then, even now you are put to shame by these words, groan bitterly, and, as one sobered from a long-lasting drunkenness, beseech God who is able to do all things to work a wonder in you, and to shake loose those base and blameworthy young plants, and to disturb them and tear them up from their very foundations by His divine power. So that at last, having ceased from fornication and come to rest, you may be able to say: "Beneath me my condition was shaken; therefore I shall be at rest, looking toward my end."
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.