as benedict wrote : `` nuns who are respectful and remorseful , let them be corrected at the first and second offence only with words ; but let the abbess chastise nuns who are wicked and disobedient at the very first offence with whips and other bodily punishments , knowing it is written in scripture : 'fools are not corrected with words ' and 'hit your son with a rod , to deliver his soul from death ' . ''