The
Spiritual Combat
Chapter 27
The demon’s strategy in battle and in deception,
both of those who wish to give themselves to virtue,
and of those already find themselves in slavery to sin.
Be aware, beloved daughter,
that the demon hopes for nothing less than our ruin,
nor does he fight everyone in the same manner.
As I set out to describe his various tactics, methods, and deceptions,
I begin by laying out the various states of man:
- Some find themselves in slavery to sin,
and give no thought to freeing themselves.
- Others desire to free themselves,
but have not taken up the enterprise.
- Still others believe that they walk along the path of virtue,
while in reality they are distancing themselves from it.
- Lastly, there are those who,
having acquired virtue, fall into great ruin.
We discuss each of these separately.