438. No one, however, can cleanse himself of evils by his own ability and strength; yet neither could it be done without a person's ability and strength, employed as if they were his own. But for them no one could fight the flesh and its longings, yet this is a duty laid on everyone. In fact, he would not even think about fighting them, but would give free rein to his mind to indulge in every sort of evil, and would only be restrained by the laws established in the world to administer justice, and the penalties they impose. He would inwardly be like a tiger, leopard or snake, which are incapable of reflecting on the cruel pleasures they love to take. This makes it plain that a person, who is endowed with powers of reason beyond those of an animal, ought to resist evils using the ability and strength given him by the Lord, which seem to him in every sense his own. This appearance of being his own is the Lord's gift to everyone, to bring about in him regeneration, imputation, linking to Himself, and salvation.