43. For our members are _instruments of righteousness_, they are also _instruments of sin_. If they are raised upwards, they are instruments of righteousness, that sin should not reign in them: if our body has died to sin, transgression will not reign therein, and our members will be free from sin. Let us not therefore obey its lusts, nor _yield our members instruments of unrighteousness unto sin_. If you have looked upon a woman to lust after her, your members are the instruments of sin. If you have spoken and solicited her, your tongue and your mouth are instruments of sin. If you have removed the landmarks which your fathers set up, your members are instruments of sin. If you have hasted _with swift feet to shed the blood_ of the innocent, your members are instruments of sin. Sidenote: Prov. xiv. 7. Sidenote: Job xxix. 15. 44. On the other hand, if you have seen a poor man, and taken him into your house, your members are instruments of righteousness. If you have rescued one who was suffering wrong, or one who was being led to execution; if you have cancelled the bond of the debtor, your members are instruments of righteousness. If you have confessed Christ (for _the lips of knowledge are the instruments of understanding_,) your lips are the members of righteousness. He who can say, _I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame, I was a father to the poor_, his members are members of righteousness. Sidenote: Job xxxi. 33. Sidenote: Prov. xviii. 17. Sidenote: Ps. xxxii. 6. 45. Being therefore set free from sin, and redeemed, as it were, at the price of the Blood of Christ, let us not be made subject to the bondage of men or of passion. Let us not blush to confess our sins. Behold how free he was who could say, _I feared not the multitude of the people; that I should not confess my sin in the sight of all_. For he that confesses his sin is released from servitude, and _the just accuses himself in the beginning of his speech_. Not the free but the just man also; but justice is in liberty and liberty in confession, for as soon as a man shall confess he is absolved. Lastly, _I said I will confess my sins unto the Lord, and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin_. The delay of absolution depends on confessing, the remission of sins follows closely on confession. He therefore is wise who confesses; he is free whose sin is remitted, for he contracts now no debt of guilt. Farewell: love me as indeed you do, for I also love you. LETTER XXXVIII. A.D. 387. IN this letter S. Ambrose continues the subject, maintaining that the truly wise man is not only free but rich also, illustrating his statements with instances from the Old Testament. AMBROSE TO SIMPLICIAN, GREETING. Sidenote: 1 S. Pet. iii. 3, 4.