'The incensive power usually troubles and confuses the
soul more than any other passion, yet there are times when it greatly
benefits the soul. For when with inward calm we direct it against
blasphemers or other sinners in order to induce them to mend their ways
or at least feel some shame, we make our soul more gentle. In this way
we put ourselves completely in harmony with the purposes of God's
justice and goodness. In addition, through becoming deeply angered by
sin we often overcome weaknesses in our soul. Thus there is no doubt
that if, when deeply depressed, we become indignant in spirit against
the demon of corruption, this gives us the strength to despise even the
presumptuousness of death. In order to make this clear, the Lord twice
became indignant against death and troubled in spirit (cf. John 12:27,
13:21); and despite the fact that, untroubled, He could by a simple act
of will do all that He wished, none the less when He restored Lazarus'
soul to his body He was indignant and troubled in spirit (cf. John
11:33) - which seems to me to show that a controlled incensive power is a
weapon implanted in our nature by God when He creates us. If Eve had
used this weapon against the serpent, she would not have been impelled
by sensual desire. In my view, then, the man who in a spirit of devotion
makes controlled use of his incensive power will without doubt be
judged more favorably than the man who, because of the inertness of his
intellect, has never become incensed. The latter seems to have an
inexperienced driver in charge of his emotions, while the former, always
ready for action, drives the horses of virtue through the midst of the
demonic host, guiding the four-horsed chariot of self-control in the
fear of God. This chariot is called 'the chariot of Israel' in the
description of the taking up of the prophet Elijah (cf. 2 Kgs. 2:12);
for God spoke clearly about the four cardinal virtues first of all to
the Jews. This is precisely why Elijah ascended in a fiery chariot,
guiding his own virtues as horses, when he was carried up by the Spirit
in a gust of fire.'
