Why We Must Take Their Lands

But the fact that we are told, 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 special corner in the heart, which it claims for itself in the recesses of the soul. It drives out Israel, that is, the contemplation of holy and heavenly things, and never stops opposing them. For virtues cannot possibly live side by side with faults: “For what partnership has righteousness with unrighteousness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” But as soon as these faults have been overcome by the people of Israel, that is, by the virtues that war against them, then at once the place in our heart that the spirit of lust and sexual immorality had occupied will be filled by chastity. What wrath had held will be claimed by patience. What had been occupied by a sorrow that brings death will be taken by a godly sorrow, and one full of joy. What had been laid waste by acedia will at once be tilled by courage. What pride had trampled down will be ennobled by humility. And so, when each of these faults has been driven out, their places, that is, the inclination toward them, will be filled by the opposite virtues. These are fittingly called the children of Israel, that is, of the soul that sees God. And when they have driven all passions out of the heart, we may believe that they have recovered their own possessions rather than invaded those of others. [a]