Musar zu Tehillim 50:23

The same is true of a man with a hot temper who is angry often. At first he should conduct himself so that even if they beat him and curse him he should not feel it at all. He must continue in this manner for a long time until he roots out the very roots of anger from his heart. When he has achieved this he can then take the middle road and follow it all his life. One should follow this procedure with all evil qualities. At first one should withdraw to the furthest extreme and act thusly for a long time. Afterwards he should take the middle road. And this method of procedure is a complete healing in connection with all evil qualities. And he whose intention continually is to serve the Creator Blessed be He, with every part of himself and in the best manner, will place this path before himself and before his companion. And concerning this it is said : "And to him that ordereth his way aright will I show the salvation of God." (Ps. 50:23).

I am surprised that when it comes to smallpox outbreaks, which spreads from child to child, why do people not take their children out of the city? In the future, the fathers will be responsible for the deaths of their children who are nursing, and have committed no sin, and those who are weaned and have committed no sins, and died from the sickness whose fathers did not take them away [from the city]. Every man who fears god should fear every eventuality. These things that are included in protecting the body are included in the warnings of (Devarim 4:9) 'take utmost care and watch yourselves scrupulously' and this is also the way of the world to take care of one's body since it is the container that the soul is wrapped up in so it will be a throne for the soul.

9. A fast day is an appropriate time to lay out one’s sins before the Holy One Blessed is He. Then the Satan will be unable to detract from one’s sacrifice or prayer with his indictments. Thus the Zohar relates in Parashas Vayikra (20a): Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yose were traveling along a road. While they were walking Rabbi Yose said to Rabbi Chiya, “Come let us engage in Torah study.” Rabbi Chiya began, “[It is written,] ‘I will tell You my sin’ (Tehillim 32:5). From here we learn that any man who conceals his sins and does not acknowledge them before the holy King and seek mercy over them is not granted to open the portal of repentance. But if a person does acknowledge them, then the Holy One Blessed is He has mercy upon him and the attribute of mercy overwhelms the attribute of judgment. “This is especially true if he weeps, for all the other gates of Heaven are blocked up, but the gate of tears is open and his prayers will be accepted. Therefore whoever acknowledges his sins honors the King and causes mercy to overwhelm judgment. Concerning this was it written, ‘He who offers confession honors Me’ (Tehillim 50:23). [And why is the word ‘honor’ written with two nuns (yechabdaneni)?] Because there are two aspects to [Hashem’s] honor, one On High and one below, one in this world and one in the next.”