6. But it is one thing to
fight well, which now is, when the strife1819
of
death is
resisted; another
thing not to have an
adversary, which will then be, when
death,
“the last
enemy,”
1820
shall be
destroyed. For Continence
also itself, when it curbs and restrains
lusts, at once both
seeks
the good unto the immortality of which we aim, and
rejects the
evil
with which in this mortality we
contend. Of the one it is forsooth
the
lover and beholder, but of the other both the
enemy and
witness: both seeking what becomes, and fleeing what misbecomes.
Assuredly Continence would not
labor in curbing
lusts, if we had no
wishes contrary to what is becoming, if there were no opposition on
the part of
evil lust unto our good will. The
Apostle cries aloud,
“I know,” saith he, “that there dwelleth not in me, that is
in my
flesh, good. For to will lieth near to me, but to accomplish
good I find not.”
1821
For now good can be done, so
far
as that there be no assent given unto
evil lust: but good will be
accomplished, when the
evil lust itself shall come to an end. And
also the same
teacher of the Gentiles
cries aloud, “I take
pleasure together with the
law of
God after the inner man: but I
see another law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind.”
1822
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
