6. But it is one thing to
fight well, which now is, when the strife18191819 of death is resisted; another
thing not to have an adversary, which will then be, when death,
“the last enemy,”18201820 shall be destroyed. For Continence
also itself, when it curbs and restrains lusts, at once both seeks
the good unto the immortality of which we aim, and rejects the evil
with which in this mortality we contend. Of the one it is forsooth
the lover and beholder, but of the other both the enemy and
witness: both seeking what becomes, and fleeing what misbecomes.
Assuredly Continence would not labor in curbing lusts, if we had no
wishes contrary to what is becoming, if there were no opposition on
the part of evil lust unto our good will. The Apostle cries aloud,
“I know,” saith he, “that there dwelleth not in me, that is
in my flesh, good. For to will lieth near to me, but to accomplish
good I find not.”18211821 For now good can be done, so far
as that there be no assent given unto evil lust: but good will be
accomplished, when the evil lust itself shall come to an end. And
also the same teacher of the Gentiles cries aloud, “I take
pleasure together with the law of God after the inner man: but I
see another law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind.”18221822