Salmos 25
Philoxenus of Mabbug
Salmos 25:7
And again he saith, "Lead me, O Lord, in Thy fear and righteousness", and because he knew what the profit of the fear of God was, he asked it as a gift from God. For all the conversation of the soul which the fear of God leadeth standeth in righteousness. And again, when he [David] entreated God not to remember the sins of his youth, he was moved to make this request by the fear of God. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 7 -- Second Discourse on the Fear of God
Salmos 25:21
All those who were reared in the contemplative life, and who never went forth in the ways, or contended and conversed with the multitude, were found to be especially upright and simple, and the integrity which is born from righteousness was found in them, even as also the blessed David joineth integrity unto innocency in his words, "The innocent and upright have cleaved unto me because I waited for Thee." — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 4 -- On Faith: First Discourse on Simplicity
Salmos 25:21
And the blessed David said that the upright and men of integrity clave unto him, and it is well known that integrity is born of simplicity. Now my speech here referreth to the purity of spirit which ariseth in the soul after the flight of all wickedness; for the order of natural simplicity is one thing, and the order of purity of the spirit is another. The simplicity of nature is the beginning of the path of the doctrine of Christ, but purity of spirit is the end of the path of righteousness. And whosoever beginneth in simplicity endeth in purity, even also as the blessed Apostles, when they were chosen, at the beginning were simple men; but at the end of the dispensation after they had received the Holy Ghost, they were shewn to be pure men. Now purity is this: a man should by toil, and weariness, and striving against all hateful motions separate from him the filth of wickedness, and cast it away from him, and the purity and undefiledness of pure thoughts and of the thoughts which are moved by the Spirit, and are above all doubt, should abide in him. And simplicity is that which is not stirred up naturally in these thoughts; and that which simplicity distinguisheth not when it entereth, it must overcome in contest, and in wisdom must reject, and expel, and cast forth from the place of its purity. — 13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 5 -- Second Discourse on Simplicity