RESISTING TEMPTATION
SO LONG as we live in this world we cannot escape suffering and
temptation. Whence it is written in Job: "The life of man upon earth
is a warfare."[3] Everyone, therefore, must guard against temptation
and must watch in prayer lest the devil, who never sleeps but goes
about seeking whom he may devour, find occasion to deceive him. No one
is so perfect or so holy but he is sometimes tempted; man cannot be
altogether free from temptation.
Yet temptations, though troublesome and severe, are often
useful to a man, for in them he is humbled, purified, and instructed.
The saints all passed through many temptations and trials to profit by
them, while those who could not resist became reprobate and fell away.
There is no state so holy, no place so secret that temptations and
trials will not come. Man is never safe from them as long as he lives,
for they come from within us -- in sin we were born. When one
temptation or trial passes, another comes; we shall always have
something to suffer because we have lost the state of original
blessedness.
Many people try to escape temptations, only to fall more
deeply. We cannot conquer simply by fleeing, but by patience and true
humility we become stronger than all our enemies. The man who only
shuns temptations outwardly and does not uproot them will make little
progress; indeed they will quickly return, more violent than before.
Little by little, in patience and long-suffering you will
overcome them, by the help of God rather than by severity and your own
rash ways. Often take counsel when tempted; and do not be harsh with
others who are tempted, but console them as you yourself would wish to
be consoled.
The beginning of all temptation lies in a wavering mind and
little trust in God, for as a rudderless ship is driven hither and yon
by waves, so a careless and irresolute man is tempted in many ways.
Fire tempers iron and temptation steels the just. Often we do not know
what we can stand, but temptation shows us what we are.
Above all, we must be especially alert against the beginnings
of temptation, for the enemy is more easily conquered if he is refused
admittance to the mind and is met beyond the threshold when he knocks.
Someone has said very aptly: "Resist the beginnings; remedies
come too late, when by long delay the evil has gained strength."
First, a mere thought comes to mind, then strong imagination, followed
by pleasure, evil delight, and consent. Thus, because he is not
resisted in the beginning, Satan gains full entry. And the longer a
man delays in resisting, so much the weaker does he become each day,
while the strength of the enemy grows against him.
Some suffer great temptations in the beginning of their
conversion, others toward the end, while some are troubled almost
constantly throughout their life. Others, again, are tempted but
lightly according to the wisdom and justice of Divine Providence Who
weighs the status and merit of each and prepares all for the salvation
of His elect.
We should not despair, therefore, when we are tempted, but pray
to God the more fervently that He may see fit to help us, for
according to the word of Paul, He will make issue with temptation that
we may be able to bear it. Let us humble our souls under the hand of
God in every trial and temptation for He will save and exalt the
humble in spirit.
In temptations and trials the progress of a man is measured; in
them opportunity for merit and virtue is made more manifest.
When a man is not troubled it is not hard for him to be fervent
and devout, but if he bears up patiently in time of adversity, there
is hope for great progress.
Some, guarded against great temptations, are frequently
overcome by small ones in order that, humbled by their weakness in
small trials, they may not presume on their own strength in great
ones. |
Of resisting temptation
So long as we live in the world,
we cannot be without trouble and trial. Wherefore it is written in
Job, The life of man upon the earth is a trial.(1) And therefore
ought each of us to give heed concerning trials and temptations, and
watch unto prayer, lest the devil find occasion to deceive; for he
never sleepeth, but goeth about seeking whom he may devour. No man is
so perfect in holiness that he hath never temptations, nor can we ever
be wholly free from them.
2. Yet, notwithstanding,
temptations turn greatly unto our profit, even though they be great
and hard to bear; for through them we are humbled, purified,
instructed. All Saints have passed through much tribulation and
temptation, and have profited thereby. And they who endured not
temptation became reprobate and fell away. There is no position so
sacred, no place so secret, that it is without temptations and
adversities.
3. There is no man wholly free
from temptations so long as he liveth, because we have the root of
temptation within ourselves, in that we are born in concupiscence.
One temptation or sorrow passeth, and another cometh; and always we
shall have somewhat to suffer, for we have fallen from perfect
happiness. Many who seek to fly from temptations fall yet more deeply
into them. By flight alone we cannot overcome, but by endurance and
true humility we are made stronger than all our enemies.
4. He who only resisteth
outwardly and pulleth not up by the root, shall profit little; nay,
rather temptations will return to him the more quickly, and will be
the more terrible. Little by little, through patience and
longsuffering, thou shalt conquer by the help of God, rather than by
violence and thine own strength of will. In the midst of temptation
often seek counsel; and deal not hardly with one who is tempted, but
comfort and strengthen him as thou wouldest have done unto thyself.
5. The beginning of all
temptations to evil is instability of temper and want of trust in God;
for even as a ship without a helm is tossed about by the waves, so is
a man who is careless and infirm of purpose tempted, now on this side,
now on that. As fire testeth iron, so doth temptation the upright man.
Oftentimes we know not what strength we have; but temptation revealeth
to us what we are. Nevertheless, we must watch, especially in the
beginnings of temptation; for then is the foe the more easily
mastered, when he is not suffered to enter within the mind, but is met
outside the door as soon as he hath knocked. Wherefore one saith,
Check the beginnings; once
thou might'st have cured, But now 'tis past thy skill, too long
hath it endured.
For first cometh to the mind the
simple suggestion, then the strong imagination, afterwards pleasure,
evil affection, assent. And so little by little the enemy entereth in
altogether, because he was not resisted at the beginning. And the
longer a man delayeth his resistance, the weaker he groweth, and the
stronger groweth the enemy against him.
6. Some men suffer their most
grievous temptations in the beginning of their conversion, some at the
end. Some are sorely tried their whole life long. Some there are who
are tempted but lightly, according to the wisdom and justice of the
ordering of God, who knoweth the character and circumstances of men,
and ordereth all things for the welfare of His elect.
7. Therefore we ought not to
despair when we are tempted, but the more fervently should cry unto
God, that He will vouchsafe to help us in all our tribulation; and
that He will, as St. Paul saith, with the temptation make a way to
escape that we may be able to bear it.(2) Let us therefore humble
ourselves under the mighty hand of God in all temptation and trouble,
for He will save and exalt such as are of an humble spirit.
8. In temptations and troubles a
man is proved, what progress he hath made, and therein is his reward
the greater, and his virtue doth the more appear. Nor is it a great
thing if a man be devout and zealous so long as he suffereth no
affliction; but if he behave himself patiently in the time of
adversity, then is there hope of great progress. Some are kept safe
from great temptations, but are overtaken in those which are little
and common, that the humiliation may teach them not to trust to
themselves in great things, being weak in small things. |