In the same place. — Cursed be his portion in the earth, neither let him walk by the way of the vineyards. 80. The wicked, having lost the rectitude of faith or of righteousness, are bound by the guilt of a curse. — Whosoever in the present life does right things and endures adverse ones is indeed seen to labour in adversity, but is brought to consummation unto the blessing of an eternal inheritance. But whosoever does perverse things, and yet receives prosperity, and restrains himself from evil deeds not even by the bounty of gifts, is indeed beheld to prosper, but is bound by the guilt of an eternal curse. Whence it is now rightly said: Cursed be his portion in the earth. For although he is blessed for a time, yet he is held in the guilt of a curse. Of which it is aptly subjoined: Neither let him walk by the way of the vineyards.
For the way of the vineyards is the rectitude of the Churches. In which matter there is nothing to hinder either a heretic or any carnal man being understood, because the way of the vineyards, that is, the rectitude of the Churches, is lost, when either right faith or the rectitude of righteousness is not held. For he walks by the way of the vineyards who, pondering the preaching of the holy universal Church, turns aside neither from the rectitude of faith nor from that of good works. For to walk in the way of the vineyards is to behold the Fathers of the holy Church like hanging clusters of grapes, upon whose words while one intends in the labour of the journey, one is made drunk with the love of eternity. There follows: