l as well as the good
perform uses, and by their zeal more ardently than the good. This is so
especially in war because the evil man is more crafty and cunning in
devising schemes than a good man, and in his love of glory takes pleasure
in killing and plundering those whom he knows and declares to be the
enemy. The good man has prudence and zeal for defense and rarely for
attacking. This is much the same as it is with spirits of hell and angels
of heaven; the spirits of hell attack and the angels of heaven defend
themselves. Hence comes this conclusion that it is allowable for one to
defend his country and his fellow-citizens against invading enemies even
by iniquitous commanders, but not allowable to make oneself an enemy
without cause. To have the seeking of glory for cause is in itself
diabolical, for it comes of self-love.

253. The points made above (n. 237) by which the merely natural man
confirms himself against divine providence have now been explained. The
points which follow (n. 238) about the varieties of religion in many
nations, which also serve the merely natural man for arguments against
divine providence, are to be clarified next. For the merely natural man
says in his heart, How can so many discordant religions exist instead of
one world-wide and true religion when (as was shown above, nn. 27-45)
divine providence has a heaven from mankind for its purpose? But pray,
listen: all human beings who are born, however numerous and of whatever
religion, can be saved if only they acknowledge God and live according to
the precepts of the Decalog, which forbid committing murder, adultery,
theft, and false witness because to do such things is contrary to
religion and therefore contrary to God. Such persons fear God and love
the neighbor. They fear God inasmuch as they think that to do such things
is to act against God, and they love the neighbor because to murder,
commit adultery, steal, bear false witness and covet the neighbor's house
or wife is to act against one's neighbor. Heeding God in their lives and
doing no evil to the neighbor, they are led by the Lord, and those whom
He leads are also taught about God and the neighbor in accordance with
their religion, for those who live in this way love to be taught, but
those living otherwise have no such desire. Loving to be taught, they are
also instructed by angels after death when they become spirits, and
willingly receive such truths as the Word contains. Somethi