LXXXXIII. Pessimum vitium, obduratio.

LXXXXIII. Pessimum vitium, obduratio.

Obduracy is indeed the worst vice because it shows no mercy, does not seek love, and fails to perform good works. Indeed, there was great hardness of heart in certain tyrants, because even though they saw the wonders of God, they did not abandon their own will, but instead placed their hearts and minds in submission to God's will, and in this way they fought against God. But just as God destroyed the will of the first angel in his wickedness and the will of the first man in his foolishness, and just as He terrified Pharaoh when He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, so now He confounds the hardness of heart that has turned itself into such stubbornness that it refuses to be softened either by the commandments of the law or by the dictates of human reason. Therefore, God withdraws salvation from it and plunges it into confusion, just as He did with Pharaoh. These things have been said about the souls of the penitent, who are being purified and saved, and they are faithful; let the faithful pay attention to these and keep them in mind for good understanding. And behold, I saw other spirits from that multitude, who were shouting that Lucifer was their Lord; and those men lead others to laziness, and they urge that they show neither fear of God nor care for others.