DP 283 - Evils

DP 283

A person is permitted to entertain evils in thought
even to the point of intending them
in order that they may be displaced, as we said,
by civil, moral and spiritual precepts,
and this is the case when he thinks that something
is contrary to justice and equity,
contrary to honor and decorum,
and contrary to goodness and truth,
thus contrary to peace, happiness and blessedness of life.
Through these three classes of precepts
the Lord heals the will's love in a person --
at first, indeed by fears, and afterward by loves.
But still, evils are not separated and cast out of a person,
but are only displaced and banished to the sides;
and when that is where they are,
and good at the center,
then the evils do not appear.
For whatever is at the center is directly in view
and is seen and perceived.

It should be known, however,
that even if good is at the center,
still the person is not therefore in a state of good
unless the evils to the sides
incline downward and outward.
If they look upward or inward,
they have not been set aside,
for they continue to attempt to return to the center.
Evils incline or look downward and outward
when a person refrains from his evils as sins,
and still more when he is averse to them,
for then he condemns them
and consigns them to hell
and causes them to look in that direction.