Joshua 24:23

We need only to will perfection, since it is within our power and is developed by us, for, when the soul keeps the understanding in its natural state, perfection is confirmed. The soul is in its natural state when it remains as it was created, and it was created beautifully and exceedingly upright. For this reason, Joshua, the son of Nave [Nun], commanded the people: "Incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel," and John: "Make straight his paths." Rectitude of soul, then, consists in preserving the intellect in its natural state, as it was created. On the other hand, when the intellect turns aside and deviates from its natural state, the soul is said to be evil. Thus, the matter is not difficult; if we remain as we were made, we are in a state of virtue; but, if we think evil thoughts, we are accounted evil. If, then, perfection were a thing to be acquired from without, it would indeed be difficult; but, since it is within us, let us guard against evil thoughts and let us constantly keep our soul for the Lord, as a trust received from him, so that he may recognize his work as being the same as when he made it. LIFE OF ST.

What does it mean what Joshua himself affirms, saying to the people: And now separate the foreign gods that are in your midst and turn your hearts to the Lord God of Israel? We can not think that they still had idols of the Gentiles among them, since before they have proclaimed the obedience of the people. But if they had them, after so many threats of the law, would so much prosperity come upon them, if the Lord took such vengeance on them because one had stolen something from anathema? Finally, Jacob said this to those who had gone out with him from Mesopotamia, where the idol worship was such that even Rachel had stolen the father idols. But after that warning from Jacob, they delivered the idols they had (Cf Gn 35,2.4). From where it is shown that they were told that in that way because the one who said it knew they had idols. However, here, after Josué Nave's warning, nobody delivered anything similar. And yet, we can not think that Joshua said that without reason. Because Joshua does not say: And now throw away the foreign gods, if you have any among you, but say the following, as knowing with certainty that there were: that there is among you. Therefore, the holy prophet saw that in their hearts there were thoughts about God alien to God and he ordered them to be discarded. Because whoever thinks of a God who is not God, leads in his thought to a strange and certainly false God. Because who can think of God as God is? Therefore, it remains in the hands of the faithful, while they wander away from the Lord (Cf 2Co 5,6), to eliminate from their hearts the vain phantoms that are presented to them and that enter into thought, suggesting that God is of this or the other way, as it is not actually. And they must faithfully direct the heart to him so that, as he knows and as soon as he knows what is best for us, he himself insinuates himself by means of his Spirit, until every lie disappears. That is why it is said: every man is a liar (Ps.115,2 11). And overcome not only the untruthful falsehood, but also the mirror and the enigma, we know him face to face, as we are also known, as the Apostle says: Now we see through a mirror in an enigma; then, instead, face to face; now I know partially; but then I will know how I am known (1Co 13,12).