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But the fact that we are bidden for our good to take possession of the
countries of those most wicked nations, may be understood in this way. Each
fault has its own especial corner in the heart, which it claims for itself
in the recesses of the soul, and drives out Israel, i.e., the contemplation
of holy and heavenly things, and never ceases to oppose them. For virtues
cannot possibly live side by side with faults. "For what participation hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what fellowship hath light with
darkness?" But as soon as these faults have been overcome by the people
of Israel, i.e., by those virtues which war against them, then at once the
place in our heart which the spirit of concupiscence and fornication had
occupied, will be filled by chastity. That which wrath had held, will be
claimed by patience. That which had been occupied by a sorrow that worketh
death, will be taken by a godly sorrow and one full of joy. That which had
been wasted by accidie, will at once be tilled by courage. That which pride
had trodden down will be ennobled by humility: and so when each of these
faults has been expelled, their places (that is the tendency towards them)
will be filled by the opposite virtues which are aptly termed the children
of Israel, that is, of the soul that seeth God: and when these have
expelled all passions from the heart we may believe that they have
recovered their own possessions rather than invaded those of others.
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