(1.146) Such, then, is the ladder in the world that is spoken of here symbolically. But if we carefully investigate the soul which exists in men, the foundation of which is something corporeal, and as it were earth-like, we shall find that its foundation is the outward sense, and its head something heavenly, as it were the purest mind. (1.147) But all the words of God move incessantly upwards and downwards through the whole of it, dragging it upwards along with them whenever they soar aloft, and separating it from whatever is mortal, and showing it the things that alone are worth seeing; and yet not casting it down when they descend. For neither God himself nor the word of God deserves blame. But they join with them in their descent, out of their love for mankind and compassion for our race, to be their allies and give them assistance, in order that by breathing in a saving inspiration they may recall to life the soul which was still being tossed about in the body as in the river. (1.148) The God and governor of the universe walks about by himself and alone, invisibly and noiselessly, in the minds of those who are purified in the highest degree. For there is a prophecy still extant, delivered to the wise man, in which it is said: "I will walk among you, and I will be your God." But the angels--the words of God--move about in the minds of those who are still being washed, but who have not yet completely washed off the life which defiles them, and which is polluted by the contact of their heavy bodies, making them look pure and brilliant to the eyes of virtue. (1.149) But it is plain enough what vast numbers of evils are driven out, and what a multitude of wicked inhabitants is expelled in order that one good man may be introduced to dwell there. So, my soul, hurry to become the abode of God, his holy temple, a very beautiful dwelling place: for it is quite possible that the being whose home is the whole world may also dwell with you, and take care of your house, so that it may be completely protected and free from injury for ever. (1.150) And perhaps the practitioner of virtue also compares his own life to a ladder; for the practice of anything is naturally an anomalous thing, since at one time it soars up to a height, and at another it turns downwards in a contrary direction; and at one time has a fair voyage like a ship, and at another has only an unfavourable passage; for, as someone says, the life of those who practise virtue is full of vicissitudes: being at one time alive and waking, and at another dead or sleeping. (1.151) And perhaps this statement is not wrong; for the wise have obtained the heavenly and celestial country as their home, having learned to keep mounting upwards; but the wicked have received as their share the dark recesses of hell, having from the beginning to the end of their existence practised dying, and having been from their infancy to their old age familiarised with destruction. (1.152) But the practitioners of virtue, because they stand on the boundary between two extremes, frequently go upwards and downwards as if on a ladder,⁠a either drawn upwards by a more powerful fate or dragged down by the worse; until God, the umpire of this contention and conflict, awards the victory to the more excellent class and utterly destroys the other.