第七章：其中显示欲望如何折磨灵魂。这同样由比较和引文证明。
Chapter VII: Wherein is shown how the desires torment the soul. This is proved likewise by comparison and quotations.
欲望给灵魂造成的第二种正面恶，是折磨并困苦它，如同一个人因被绳索捆绑而受折磨，直到得释放以前都无缓解。大卫论这些欲望说：Funes peccatorum circumplexi sunt me。诗篇 cxviii, 61〔A.V., cxix, 61〕。我的罪的绳索，即我的欲望，四面约束了我。正如一个赤身躺在荆棘和蒺藜上的人受到折磨和困苦，照样，当灵魂安歇在自己的欲望上时，也受到折磨和困苦。因为它们抓住它、压迫它、使它疼痛，正如荆棘一样。大卫也论这些欲望说：Circumdederunt me sicut apes: et exarserunt sicut ignis in spinis。诗篇 cxvii, 12〔A.V., cxviii, 12〕。意思是：他们如同蜜蜂一般围绕我，用刺伤害我；他们向我燃起，如同荆棘中的火；因为在欲望——也就是荆棘——中，痛苦与折磨之火增长。正如农夫贪求他所盼望的收成，便在犁中困苦并折磨牛，照样，贪欲也困苦那受制于自己欲望的灵魂，以达到它所渴求的事物。这一点在大利拉想要知道参孙何以有如此巨大力量的欲望中可以清楚看见；因为经上说，这欲望使她如此疲惫并折磨她，以致使她昏厥，几乎至死；她说：Defecit anima ejus, et ad mortem usque lassata est。士师记 xvi, 16。〔实际上，是参孙而非大利拉烦得要死。〕
The second kind of positive evil which the desires cause the soul is in their tormenting and afflicting of it, after the manner of one who is in torment through being bound with cords from which he has no relief until he be freed. And of these David says: Funes peccatorum circumplexi sunt me. Psalm cxviii, 61 [A.V., cxix, 61]. The cords of my sins, which are my desires, have constrained me round about. And, even as one that lies naked upon thorns and briars is tormented and afflicted, even so is the soul tormented and afflicted when it rests upon its desires. For they take hold upon it and distress it and cause it pain, even as do thorns. Of these David says likewise: Circumdederunt me sicut apes: et exarserunt sicut ignis in spinis. Psalm cxvii, 12 [A.V., cxviii, 12]. Which signifies: They compassed me about like bees, wounding me with their stings, and they were enkindled against me, like fire among thorns; for in the desires, which are the thorns, increases the fire of anguish and torment. And even as the husbandman, coveting the harvest for which he hopes, afflicts and torments the ox in the plough, even so does concupiscence afflict a soul that is subject to its desire to attain that for which it longs. This can be clearly seen in that desire which Dalila had to know whence Samson derived his strength that was so great, for the Scripture says that it fatigued and tormented her so much that it caused her to swoon, almost to the point of death, and she said: Defecit anima ejus, et ad mortem usque lassata est. Judges xvi, 16. [Actually it was Samson, not Dalila, who was wearied even until death.’]
2. 欲望越强烈，它给灵魂造成的折磨就越大。因此，折磨随着欲望而增加；占有灵魂的欲望越大，它的折磨也越大；因为在这样的灵魂身上，甚至在今生，就应验了《启示录》中论巴比伦所说的话：Quantum glorificavit se, et in deliciis fuit, tantum date illi tormentum, et luctum。启示录 xviii, 7。也就是说：她怎样愿意高举自己并满足自己的欲望，也要照样使她痛苦悲哀。正如落入敌人手中的人受到折磨和困苦，照样，被自己的欲望掳去的灵魂也受到折磨和困苦。关于这一点，《士师记》中有一个预表：其中可读到，那个强壮的人参孙，曾经强壮自由，又作以色列的士师，却落入敌人权下；他们夺去他的力量，挖出他的眼睛，把他绑在磨坊里推磨，〔直译：「把他绑住在磨坊里推磨」。〕在那里大大折磨并困苦他；士师记 xvi, 21。这也同样发生在其敌人——欲望——居住并统治其中的灵魂身上；因为它们首先所做的，就是削弱灵魂并使它瞎眼，正如我们下面将说的；然后它们困苦并折磨灵魂，把它绑在贪欲的磨坊上；而捆绑它的绳索，就是它自己的欲望。
2. The more intense is the desire, the greater is the torment which it causes the soul. So that the torment increases with the desire; and the greater are the desires which possess the soul, the greater are its torments; for in such a soul is fulfilled, even in this life, that which is said in the Apocalypse concerning Babylon, in these words: Quantum glorificavit se, et in deliciis fuit, tantum date illi tormentum, et luctum. Apocalypse xviii, 7. That is: As much as she has wished to exalt and fulfil her desires, so much give ye to her torment and anguish. And even as one that falls into the hands of his enemies is tormented and afflicted, even so is the soul tormented and afflicted that is led away by its desires. Of this there is a figure in the Book of the Judges, wherein it may be read that that strong man, Samson, who at one time was strong and free and a judge of Israel, fell into the power of his enemies, and they took his strength from him, and put out his eyes, and bound him in a mill, to grind corn, [Lit., bound him to grind in a mill.’] wherein they tormented and afflicted him greatly; Judges xvi, 21. and thus it happens to the soul in which these its enemies, the desires, live and rule; for the first thing that they do is to weaken the soul and blind it, as we shall say below; and then they afflict and torment it, binding it to the mill of concupiscence; and the bonds with which it is bound are its own desires.
3. 因此，神怜悯这些人；他们以如此巨大的劳苦，并以自己付出如此代价，到处努力在受造物中满足其欲望的饥渴。他借以赛亚对他们说：Omnes sitientes, venite ad aquas; et qui non habetis argentum, properate, emite, el comedite: venite, emite absque argento vinum et lac. Quare appenditis argentum non in panibus, et laborem vestrum non in saturitate? 以赛亚书 lv, 1–2。仿佛他说：你们所有有欲望之渴的人，都当来到水边；你们所有没有自己意志和欲望之银钱的人，要快来；向我买了吃；来，向我买酒和奶（即属灵的甘甜与平安），不用你们自己意志的银钱，也不用像为你们的欲望所付出的那样，以任何劳苦给我作为交换。你们为何把自己意志的银钱花在那不是饼的东西上——也就是那并非神的灵的东西——又把你们欲望的劳苦用在那不能使你们饱足的东西上呢？来，留意听从我，你们就能吃到所渴望的美物，你们的灵魂也必得享肥甘。
3. Wherefore God, having compassion on these that with such great labour, and at such cost to themselves, go about endeavouring to satisfy the hunger and thirst of their desire in the creatures, says to them through Isaias: Omnes sitientes, venite ad aquas; et qui non habetis argentum, properate, emite, el comedite: venite, emite absque argento vinum et lac. Quare appenditis argentum non in panibus, et laborem vestrum non in saturitate? Isaias lv, 1-2. As though He were to say: All ye that have thirst of desire, come to the waters, and all ye that have no silver of your own will and desires, make haste; buy from Me and eat; come and buy from Me wine and milk (that is, spiritual sweetness and peace) without the silver of your own will, and without giving Me any labour in exchange for it, as ye give for your desires. Wherefore do ye give the silver of your will for that which is not bread – namely, that of the Divine Spirit – and set the labour of your desires upon that which cannot satisfy you? Come, hearkening to Me, and ye shall eat the good that ye desire and your soul shall delight itself in fatness.
4. 达到这肥甘，就是从受造物的一切快乐中出来；因为受造物折磨人，神的灵却使人苏醒。因此，他借圣马太呼召我们说：Venite ad me omnes, qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos, et invenietis requiem animabus vestris。马太福音 xi, 28–9。仿佛他说：你们所有因忧虑和欲望的重担而到处受折磨、受困苦、担重担的人，都要从其中出来，到我这里来，我要使你们苏醒，你们也必为自己的灵魂找到安息；这安息是你们的欲望从你们那里夺去的，因此这些欲望是沉重的负担，因为大卫论它们说：Sicut onus grave gravatae sunt super me。[139] 诗篇 xxxvii, 5〔A.V., xxxviii, 4〕。
4. This attaining to fatness is a going forth from all pleasures of the creatures; for the creatures torment, but the Spirit of God refreshes. And thus He calls us through Saint Matthew, saying: Venite ad me omnes, qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos, et invenietis requiem animabus vestris. St. Matthew xi, 28-9. As though He were to say: All ye that go about tormented, afflicted and burdened with the burden of your cares and desires, go forth from them, come to Me, and I will refresh you and ye shall find for your souls the rest which your desires take from you, wherefore they are a heavy burden, for David says of them: Sicut onus grave gravatae sunt super me. [139] Psalm xxxvii, 5 [A.V., xxxviii, 4].