If I must now explain how the just man “slays his enemies,” and prevails everywhere, it is to be observed that, when he says, “Every morning will I destroy the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all workers of iniquity from the city of Jehovah,” by “the land” he means the flesh whose lusts are at enmity with God; and by “the city of Jehovah” he designates his own soul, in which was the temple of God, containing the true idea and conception of God, which makes it to be admired by all who look upon it.  As soon, then, as the rays of the Sun of righteousness shine into his soul, feeling strengthened and invigorated by their influence, he sets himself to destroy all the lusts of the flesh, which are called “the wicked of the land,” and drives out of that city of the Lord which is in his soul all thoughts which work iniquity, and all suggestions which are opposed to the truth.  And in this way also the just give up to destruction all their enemies, which are their vices, so that they do not spare even the children, that is, the early beginnings and promptings of evil.  In this sense also we understand the language of the 137th Psalm:  “O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us:  happy shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.”⁴⁷²⁰

4720 Ps. cxxxvii. 8, 9.  [An instance of Origen’s characteristic spiritualizing.]

4721 Rom. ii. 29.

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