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 who already find themselves enslaved to sin.
Be aware, beloved daughter,
that the demon awaits nothing less than our ruin.
But he does not engage everyone in the same manner of combat.
As I set out to describe his various tactics, methods, and deceptions,
I lay before you 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,
but in reality they are walking away from it.
- Lastly there are those who,
having acquired virtue, fall into greater ruin.
We discuss each of these separately.