29. The gates of death are depraved thoughts, which we open to God through confession. — For the gates of death are depraved thoughts, which we open to God when, weeping in penance, we confess them. These He beholds even when unconfessed, but enters when confessed. For then does He open a way for Himself in the gates of death, when, the depraved thoughts being loosed, He comes to us after confession. These are called the gates of death for this reason, that assuredly the way to destruction is always opened through wicked thoughts. And this is again repeated, when it is added: (ibid.) And hast thou seen the dark gates? 30. For the dark gates are the hidden evils of the mind.
— For the dark gates are the hidden evils of the mind, which can both be held within and yet cannot be seen by another. Yet these the Lord discerns, when He destroys them by the hidden regard of His grace. For it is written: The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his look (Proverbs 20:8). And because every vice narrows, but every virtue enlarges the soul, after the vices are destroyed it is rightly added: Hast thou considered the breadth of the earth? For unless virtue enlarged the soul, Paul would by no means say to the Corinthians: Be you also enlarged, and bear not the yoke together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:13). But it is to be attentively observed what is said: