169. After a man has examined himself, and acknowledged his sins, and after he has practised repentance, he ought to continue steadfastly in good, even to the end of his life. For should he afterwards relapse into his former life of evil, and embrace it, he becomes the subject of profanation; because he then conjoins evil with good; wherefore his latter state becomes worse than the former; according to these words of the Lord (Matt xii. 43-45), "When the unclean spirit goeth out of a man, he passeth through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out: and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first." What is meant by profanation, may be seen in what follows.