THEOSISGregory the Great
Who is able to uncover the depths of his garment? This Leviathan leads astray the thoughts of the faithful in one manner, while enticing the minds of worldly followers in another. He openly reveals to the wicked the sin they desire, yet clandestinely lays traps for the righteous, misleading them under the guise of virtue. To some, he appears in blatant immorality, pretending to be a friend, while to others he conceals himself beneath a façade of integrity, as though they were unfamiliar with him, in order that the wrongdoing they would not publicly embrace may subtly infiltrate them disguised as a benevolent act.
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Consequently, certain aspects, as long as they cannot inflict damage overtly, often take on the semblance of righteousness and disavow evil; yet through visible piety, they mislead. Were the wicked to be openly malevolent, the good would reject them outright. Instead, they adopt a semblance of goodness so that virtuous individuals, drawn in by what they cherish, inadvertently also accept the poison they strive to avoid. Who can venture into his maw? "Hear me; one who, through the reflections of a select few, scrutinizes the echoes of his insinuations and asserts that they are not as they seem." For they appear to promise goodness, yet ultimately lead to destruction. To enter into his jaws signifies delving deeply into the cunning nature of his words, not merely to hear their surface meaning but to grasp his true intentions.