Section 21

“Let us also strive so that anger does not rule us and desire does not master us. For it is written, ‘Human anger does not produce the righteousness of God,’ and, ‘Desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.’

“Living in this way, let us keep careful watch and, as Scripture says, ‘guard our hearts with all vigilance.’ For we have fearful and cunning enemies—the evil spirits—and our struggle is against them, as the Apostle says: ‘not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.’

“Their number in the air around us is great, and they are not far from us. There are also many differences among them. Much could be said about their nature and distinctions, but such an account belongs to those with greater ability than ours. What is urgent and necessary for us now is simply to understand the devices they use against us.