972. To be specific, everything belonging to the outer self submits to the inner and must serve it (verses 1-3). But we ought to be very careful not to merge the good impulses and true ideas of faith with our appetites; we should not use the good impulses and true ideas of the inner self to support bad impulses and wrong ideas. To do so inevitably condemns us to death and brings punishment on us (verses 4) and in the process destroys our spiritual self, or God's image in us (verse 6). If these missteps are not taken, all turns out well (verse 7).
