v. The fifth vice is perverseness and obstinacy in my own judgment and opinion, being unwilling to yield or submit it to the judgment of my superiors [1] or those that are more wise, whom I ought to obey and give credit to. This is the idol of discords, whence spring many sins of disobedience and rebellion against our superiors, many brawlings and contentions in disputations, and great errors and illusions of the devil; for, as it is said in Job, " My own counsel shall cast" me " down headlong." [2]
vi. The sixth vice is cunning, or carnal prudence and worldly wisdom, craftily inventing means to accomplish my carnal and worldly intentions, [3] whence spring frauds and deceits in words and deeds, and hypocrisies. This vice is wont to go accompanied with foolishness, silliness, or dulness of understanding in judging and discerning the things of Almighty God and the spiritual good of our souls, estimating them meanly, measuring them by the vain rules of the world and not by those of Almighty God; for, as the apostle says, the sensual man perceives not " those things that are of the Spirit of God, for it is foolishness to him;" and because "he cannot understand them" [4] he "blasphemes them." [5]
vii. The seventh vice is curiosity, desiring inordinately to know that which is not meet for me; [6] as to desire to know things hurtful to my soul or which exceed my capacity, by evil means; or things that are unprofitable and vain, and unsuitable to my state and profession; or, if they are suitable, to desire to know them with an inordinate affection, and only out of curiosity or vanity, contrary to that of the apostle: " Desire not to be more wise than it behoveth to be wise, but be wise unto sobriety." [7]
