Two Fires

Et ignis involvens. Ignis enim nomine, cum per significationem dicitur, aliquando Spiritus sanctus, aliquando autem mentis malitia designatur. De bono enim igne scriptum est: Ignem veni mittere in terram; et quid volo, nisi ut accendatur. Ignis quippe in terram mittitur cum per ardorem sancti Spiritus afflata terrena mens a carnalibus suis desideriis concrematur. De malo autem igne dicitur: Et nunc ignis adversarios consumet, quia cor pessimum ex sua malitia tabescit. Sicut autem ignis amoris mentem erigit, ita ignis malitiae involvit, quia et Spiritus sanctus cor quod replet elevat, et ardor malitiae ad inferiora semper incurvat. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber I, Homilia II Source: Migne PL 76.800c-d

Wrapped in fire... 1 By the name of fire, when it is spoken as a sign, sometimes the Holy Spirit is meant, but sometimes the wickedness of the mind. Concerning the good fire it is written: 'I have come to place fire on the earth, and what would I wish but that it blaze up.' 2 Now fire is placed on the earth when by the flame of the Holy Spirit the worldly mind is inspired to burn to ash its carnal desires. Concerning the evil fire it is said: 'And now a fire will consume adversaries.' 3 because the wretched heart melts away in its own wickedness. For as the fire of love lifts up the mind, so the fire of wickedness devours it, because the heart which the Holy Spirit fills is lifted up, and the blaze of wickedness always bends down to inferior things. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, from Homily 2 1 Ezek 1.4 2 Lk 12.49 3 Hebr 10.27