The same passage. — 'I will let go my speech against myself.' 66. He as it were uses his speech on his own behalf who strives to defend by excuses the wicked things he has done. But he lets go his speech against himself who begins to accuse in himself that wherein he has erred. Often indeed, even when we sin, we also pass judgment upon the very things we are doing. The mind itself accuses what it commits; yet because it by no means abandons this out of its own desire, it blushes to confess what it has done. But when with the whole force of judgment it now crushes the delight of the flesh, with bold voice it rouses itself to the confession of its own accusation. Whence it is rightly now said: 'I will let go my speech against myself,' because the strong mind begins to loose against itself the words of loathing which within itself it had before feebly held back out of shame.
But there are some who confess their faults in open words, yet nevertheless know not how to groan in their confession, and speak with gladness of things to be lamented. Whence it is fittingly further added: