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FOR it is an impossibility that the fiery motions of the body can be
extinguished, before the incentives of the other chief vices are utterly
rooted out: concerning which we will speak in their proper place, if God
permits, separately, in different books. But now we have to deal with
Gluttony, that is the desire of the palate, against which our first battle
is. He then will never be able to check the motions of a burning lust, who
cannot restrain the desires of the appetite. The chastity of the inner man
is shown by the perfection of this virtue. For you will never feel sure
that he can strive against the opposition of a stronger enemy, whom you
have seen overcome by weaker ones in a higher conflict. For of all virtues
the nature is but one and the same, although they appear to be divided into
many different kinds and names: just as there is but one substance of gold,
although it may seem to be distributed through many different kinds of
jewelry according to the skill of the goldsmith. And so he is proved to
possess no virtue perfectly, who is known to have broken down in some part
of them. For how can we believe that that man has extinguished the burning
heats of concupiscence (which are kindled not only by bodily incitement but
by vice of the mind), who could not assuage the sharp stings of anger which
break out from intemperance of heart alone? Or how can we think that he has
repressed the wanton desires of the flesh and spirit, who has not been able
to conquer the simple fault of pride? Or how can we believe that one has
trampled under foot a wantonness which is ingrained in the flesh, who has
not been able to disown the love of money, which is something external and
outside our own substance? In what way will he triumph in the war of flesh
and spirit, who has not been man enough to cure the disease of dejection?
However great a city may be protected by the height of its walls and the
strength of its closed gates, yet it is laid waste by the giving up of one
postern however small. For what difference does it make whether a dangerous
foe makes his way into the heart of the city over high walls, and through
the wide spaces of the gate, or through secret and narrow passages?
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