Canon CII.
behoves those who have
received from God the power to loose and bind, to consider the quality
of the sin and the readiness of the sinner for conversion, and to apply
medicine suitable for the disease, lest if he is injudicious in each of
these respects he should fail in regard to the healing of the sick
man. For the disease of sin is not simple, but various and
multiform, and it germinates many mischievous offshoots, from which
much evil is diffused, and it proceeds further until it is checked by
the power of the physician. Wherefore he who professes the
science of spiritual medicine ought first of all to consider the
disposition of him who has sinned, and to see whether he tends to
health or (on the contrary) provokes to himself disease by his own
behaviour, and to look how he can care for his manner of life during
the interval. And if he does not resist the physician, and if the
ulcer of the soul is increased by the application of the imposed
medicaments, then let him mete out mercy to him according as he is
worthy of it. For the whole account is between God and him to
whom the pastoral rule has been delivered, to lead back the wandering
sheep and to cure that which is wounded by the serpent; and that he may
neither cast them down into the precipices of despair, nor loosen the
bridle towards dissolution or contempt of life; but in some way or
other, either by means of sternness and astringency, or by greater
softness and mild medicines, to resist this sickness and exert himself
for the healing of the ulcer, now examining the fruits of his
repentance and wisely managing the man who is called to higher
illumination. For we ought to know two things, to wit, the things
which belong to strictness and those which belong to custom, and to
follow the traditional form in the case of those who are not fitted for
the highest things, as holy Basil teaches us.
The character of a sin must be considered from all
points and conversion expected. And so let mercy be meted
out.