( SPIRITUAL LIFE AND THE WORD OF GOD ) - { PT. 9 }

 { PT.  9 } - To take up his cross signifies to fight against evils and falsities, which are from what is one's own ( proprium ). ( A.E., n. 934 ). III.  Shunning Evils In the previous chapter two things are said to be necessary that works may be good, namely, that the Divine of the Lord be acknowledge, and that the evils forbidden in the Decalogue be shunned as sins. The evils enumerated in the Decalogue include all the evils that can ever exist; therefore the Decalogue is called the ten commandments, because ten signifies all. The first commandment, Thou shalt not worship other gods, includes not loving self and the world; for he that loves self and the world above all things worships other god's for everyone's god is that which he loves above all things. The second commandment, Thou shalt not profane the name of God, includes not to despise the Word and doctrine from the Word, and thus the church, and not to reject these from the heart, for these are God's name. The fifth commandment, Thou shalt not steal, included the shunning of frauds and unlawful gains, for these also are thefts. The sixth commandment, Thou shalt not commit adultery, includes having delight in adulteries and having no delight in marriages, and in particular cherishing filthy thoughts respecting such things as pertain to marriage, for these are adulteries.