67. The carnal mind, like coals inflamed by the devil's blast. — For what does He call coals but the minds of reprobate men kindled in earthly concupiscences? For they burn whenever they covet anything temporal, because assuredly the desires burn which do not allow the mind to be quiet and whole. So often therefore does the breath of Leviathan kindle coals, as often as his hidden suggestion draws human minds to unlawful delights. For at one time he inflames them with pride, at another with envy, at another with lust, at another with avarice. For he set the torch of pride to the mind of Eve, when he instigated her to despise the words of the Lord's command (Genesis III, 5).
With the flame of envy also he kindled the soul of Cain, when he grieved over the sacrifice accepted from his brother, and through this arrived even at the crime of fratricide (Genesis IV, 8). With the dregs of lust he burned up the heart of Solomon, whom he subjected to such love of women that, led even to the veneration of idols, while he followed the delight of the flesh, he forgot the reverence of his Creator (III Kings XI, 4). With the fire of avarice also he consumed the soul of Ahab, when he impelled him with impatient desires to covet another's vineyard, and through this drew him even to the guilt of homicide (III Kings XXI). With so great a blast, therefore, does this Leviathan blow upon the coals, as with how great a hidden suggestion he inflames human minds to unlawful things.