Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The eighth degree—Defense of wrong-doing.
(The opposite of the fifth degree of humility—a humble and straightforward disclosure of sins and evil thoughts.)
THERE are many ways in which defense is made for sin. A man either says “I did it not” or “I no doubt did it, but I acted rightly in so doing,” or “I may have acted wrongly but not to a serious extent,” or, “If I was seriously wrong, I had no bad intention.” If, however, he, like Adam and Eve, is proved to be guilty, he attempts to excuse himself on the ground that he was tempted by someone else. But if a man unblushingly defends even open sins, will he ever humbly disclose to the Abbot the hidden evil thoughts which come into his mind?