Acta Joannis Acta Joannis 54

[54] And he came back and told John in presence of brethren what he had done. But John said to him: He that put it into thine heart, young man, to kill thy father and become the adulterer of another man’s wife. the same made thee think it a right deed to take away also the unruly members. But thou shouldst have done away, not with the place of sin, but the thought which through those members showed itself harmful: for it is not the instruments that are injurious, but the unseen springs by which every shameful emotion is stirred and cometh to light. Repent therefore, my child, of this fault, and having learnt the wiles of Satan thou shalt have God to help thee in all the necessities of thy soul. And the young man kept silence and attended, having repented of his former sins, that he should obtain pardon from the goodness of God: and he did not separate from John.