408 Demands of irwlination scorned; eye to the ' heiyhis^ Job 39, intention, and both the motions of wantonness are witliin 8. . — '- — it, and there also abound in it the appliances of good works. But often, whilst we attack an enemy therein, we kill a citizen also whom we love ; and often while we spare, as it were, a fellow-citizen, we nurture an enemy for battle. For our vices become proud upon the same food, on which our virtues are nourished and live. And when a virtue is nourished, the strength of our vices is frequently increased. But when unbounded abstinence weakens the power of vices, our virtue also faints and pants. Whence it is necessary for our inward man to preside, as a kind of impartial arbiter between itself, and him whom it bears without: in order that its outward man may both be always able to serve at its appointed ministry, and never proudly oppose it with unshackled neck ; nor bemoved if it whispers any suggestion, provided it always tramples it down with the heel of autho- rity stamped upon it. And thus, whilst we allow our vices, when checked, to struggle against us, and yet prohibit their engaging with us on equal terms, it comes to pass that neither our vices prevail against our virtue, nor does our virtue again settle down to rest with entire extinction of our \ °'' vices. In which way alone* our pride is utterly extinguished, alone' because though it may serve for victory, yet a continual fight is reserved for us, to keep down the pride of our thoughts. And hence, because every abstinent person both complies with the demands of necessity, and yet opposes violent pleasure, it is well said in this place also by the voice of the Lord, He heareth not the cry of the exactor. But since a discreet person raises himself the more to the understanding of higher things, the more he chastises in himself the incen- tives of the flesh, after his scorning the cry of the exactor, it is rightly subjoined ; Ver. 8. He looks round on the mountains of his pasture. xix. 64. The mountains of his pasture are the lofty contem- plations of inward refreshment. For the more holy men abase themselves outwardly with contempt, the more abundantly are they supported within with the contempla- Ps. 84, tion of revelations. Whence it is written ; He hath disposed the ascents in his heart in the valley oftears ; because those, whom the valley of humility outwardly imprisons in tears.