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But the earthly city, which shall not be everlasting (for it will no
longer be a city when it has been committed to the extreme penalty),
has its good in this world, and rejoices in it with such joy as such
things can afford. But as this is not a good which can discharge its
devotees of all distresses, this city is often divided against itself
by litigations, wars, quarrels, and such victories as are either
life-destroying or short-lived. For each part of it that arms
against another part of it seeks to triumph over the nations through
itself in bondage to vice. If, when it has conquered, it is inflated
with pride, its victory is life-destroying; but if it turns its
thoughts upon the common casualties of our mortal condition, and is
rather anxious concerning the disasters that may befall it than elated
with the successes already achieved, this victory, though of a higher
kind, is still only shot-lived; for it cannot abidingly rule over
those whom it has victoriously subjugated. But the things which this
city desires cannot justly be said to be evil, for it is itself, in
its own kind, better than all other human good. For it desires
earthly peace for the sake of enjoying earthly goods, and it makes war
in order to attain to this peace; since, if it has conquered, and
there remains no one to resist it, it enjoys a peace which it had not
while there were opposing parties who contested for the enjoyment of
those things which were too small to satisfy both. This peace is
purchased by toilsome wars; it is obtained by what they style a
glorious victory. Now, when victory remains with the party which had
the juster cause, who hesitates to congratulate the victor, and style
it a desirable peace? These things, then, are good things, and
without doubt the gifts of God. But if they neglect the better things
of the heavenly city, which are secured by eternal victory and peace
never-ending, and so inordinately covet these present good things that
they believe them to be the only desirable things, or love them better
than those things which are believed to be better, if this be so, then
it is necessary that misery follow and ever increase.
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