On Conquest
LVII. On Conquest
1. God can conquer evil and sin,
but He cannot conquer the freedom
that consists in a virtuous will.
2. If a sinner’s freedom could not be conquered,
God could not justifiably keep him imprisoned,
for which reason mercy raises a man who has succumbed to sin.
3. He who seeks to conquer (i.e. attain) God by means of mercy
should do as much good on His behalf as he possibly can,
because every good is befitting to God.
4. It is far better to conquer God by means of virtuous loving
for the sake of stirring Him to forgiveness,
than it is to conquer one’s enemy, a castle, a city or a tower.
5. Man can conquer his ill will
by virtue of patience, conscience and charity,
for God assists him by means of mercy and compassion.
6. He who seeks to conquer goodness using evil,
or worth and humility using pride,
surrenders himself to wickedness and sin.
7. Man conquers sin by virtue of contrition,
confession and satisfaction,
as well by prayer and pleas for forgiveness.
8. Were man not able to conquer falsehood with wisdom,
truth and a virtuous will,
falsehood would be able to conquer God’s truth.
9. That conquest is worthy whereby someone attains salvation,
while that <conquest> is unworthy whereby someone goes astray,
and that is the worthiest whereby God is known/made known.
10. Christ conquered His body by dying on the Cross,
by means of which <death> He conquered the hazardous and evil conduct
whereupon Adam found himself in great distress.