ACC ~ James 3 v11

SWEET SPRING WATER. HILARY OF ARLES: The spring is the heart of man, the flowing stream of water is his speech, and the opening through which it pours is his mouth. The sweet water is sound doctrine, while the bitter water is just the opposite. INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES.

IF MIXED, THE BITTER OVERCOMES THE SWEET WATER. BEDE: Not only is it impossible for sweet and bitter water to come out of one and the same fountain, but it is also true that if the two get mixed, it is the bitter which will affect the sweet, not the other way round. Put blessing and cursing together, and cursing will win out every time. Bad habits corrupt good manners, and wicked talk has the same effect. CONCERNING THE EPISTLE OF ST. JAMES.

Jas