Miscellanies 2.15.69

and one must not have a defiled conscience either. Fittingly, then, the prophet says: “Not so the ungodly, but like the chaff that the wind drives away from the face of the earth. Therefore the ungodly will not rise in judgment” (those already condemned, since “he who does not believe is already judged”), “nor sinners in the counsel of the righteous” (those already condemned so as not to be united with those who have lived without stumbling), “for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly will perish.” Again the Lord shows plainly that both trespasses and offenses rest with us, setting out ways of healing suited to the passions, wishing us to be corrected by the shepherds through Ezekiel, blaming some of them, I think, for not keeping the commandments: “You have not strengthened the weak,” and so on until, “and there was none who sought or turned back.” For “there is great joy with the Father when one sinner is saved,” says the Lord. In this way Abraham is more praiseworthy, because “he went as the Lord had told him.”