lies, and its inclusion among the things of heaven and all truth.
And this is why Christ has said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God." This is the vision in which consists our
eternal joy, and all our reward, and our entrance into bliss. This
is why a man will be sober and moderate in everything, and will keep
himself from every occasion which might tarnish the purity of his
soul and body.

ON THE THREE ENEMIES WHO ARE TO BE CONQUERED BY JUSTICE

IF we wish to possess this virtue and to repulse these enemies, we
must have justice, and we must practise it, and preserve it even
until our death, in purity of heart, for we have three powerful
enemies who try to attack us at all times, in all states, and in
many different ways. If we make our peace with any one of them and
follow him, we are vanquished, for they are in league with each
other in all wickedness and injustice. These three enemies are the
devil, the world, and our own flesh, which is the nearest to us, and
is often the worst and most mischievous of our foes. For our animal
desires are the weapons with which our enemies fight against us.
Idleness, and indifference to virtue and the glory of God are the
cause and occasion of war and combat. But the weakness of our
natures, our negligence and ignorance of truth are the sword by
which our enemies wound us and sometimes conquer us.

And this is why we must be divided in ourselves. The lower part of
ourselves, which is animal and contrary to the virtues, we ought to
hate and persecute and cause it to suffer by means of penitence and
austerities, so that it may be always crushed down and submissive to
reason, and that justice, with purity of heart, may always keep the