if it is able to lord it over its companions, tliat is, other men.
20 ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRIN'E. [BOOK I.
our instrumentality, sucli as tlie body. For assuredly the martyrs did not love the wickedness of their persecutors, although tliey used it to attain the favour of God. As, then, there are four kinds of things that are to be loved,—first, that
Avliich is above us ; second, ourselves ; third, that which is on a level with us ; fourth, that which is beneatli us,—no precepts need be given about the second and fourtli of these. For, however far a man may fall away from the truth, he still continues to love himself, and to love his own body. Tlie_soul which flies away from the unchangeable Light, the Ruler of all things, does so that it may rule over itself and over its own body ; and so it cannot but love both itself and its ovm body.
23. Moreover, it thinks it has attained something very gi-eat if it is able to lord it over its companions, tliat is, other men.
For it is inherent in the sinful soul to desire above all things, and to claim as due to itself, that which is properly due to God only . Now such love of itself is more correctly called hate. For it is not just that it should desire what is beneath it to be obedient to it while itself will not obey its own superior ; and most justly has it been said, " He who loveth iniquity hateth his own soul."^ And accordingly the soul becomes weak, and endures much suffering about the mortal body. For, of course, it must love the body, and be grieved at its coiTuption ; and the immortality and incorruptibilit/of the body spring out of the health of the soul. Xow the health of the soul is to cling stedfastly to the better part, that is, to the unchangeable God. But when it aspires to lord it even
those who are by nature its equals,—that is, its fellowmen,—this is a reach of arrogance utterly intolerable.
CiiAr, XXIV. Xo man Jiatrs his oxen Jlcsh, not even those tcho abuse it.
24. No man, then, hates himself. On this point, indeed, no question was ever raised by any sect. But neither does any man hate his own body. For tlie apostle says truly, " No man ever yet hated his own flesh."' And when some peo^de say tliat they would ratlier be without a body altogether, they entirely deceive themselves. For it is not their body, but its corruptions and its heaviness, that they hate. And so it is not