TEMPTATIONS 45 



him." 43 Temptation, therefore, is designed to 

 test and steel the character. 44 



Christ allowed the devil to tempt Him in order to show 

 by His example how temptation should be withstood. 

 Moreover, He expressly designated the most effective 

 means of combatting it, viz.: watchfulness and prayer, 45 

 the practice of the theological virtues, conscientious fidel- 

 ity to duty, faithful perseverance in one's vocation, mor- 

 tification, in short, imitating Him in all things. "If any 

 man will come after me," He says, "let him deny himself, 

 take up his cross, and follow me." 46 



In many temptations, especially those against chastity, 

 salvation lies in flight. 47 



"Brethren," admonishes St. Paul, "be strong in the 

 Lord and in the might of his power. Put ye on the full 

 armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against 

 the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against 

 flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, 

 against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the 

 spirits of wickedness in regions above. Therefore take 



43 Jas. I, 12; cfr. Gen. IV, 7; 1 incipio in Christo vincere, unde in 

 Cor. X, 13; Heb. II, 18; 1 Pet. V, Adam victus sum; si tamen mihi 

 9- Christus imago Patris, virtutis ex- 



44 Cfr. Hense, Die Versuchungen, emplum sit. Discamus igitur cavere 

 3rd ed., pp. 114 sqq. gulam, cavere luxuriant, quia telum 



45 Matth. XXVI, 41. — Cfr. St. est diaboli. . . . Didicisti igitur dia- 

 Ambrose, De Cain et Abel, 1. 1, c. boli telum, sume scutum iidei, lori- 

 5, n. 16: "Docuit te certe Dominus cam abstinentiae." (P. L., XV, 

 Iesus, quemadmodum adversus hu- 161 7). 



iusmodi tentationes resistas." 46 Matth. XVI, 24; cfr. Luke 



(Migne, P. L., XIV, 325).— Idem, XIV, 27; 1 Cor. IX, 27. 



Expos. Evang. sec. Lucam, IV, 47 Cfr. Gen. XXXIX, 12; 1 Cor. 



n. 17: "Tria praecipue docemur VI, 18; Pseudo-Augustine, Append. 



esse tela diaboli, quibus ad convul- Serm. 293 (al. 250 de Temp.), n. 1: 



nerandam mentem hommis consuevit "Contra libidinis impetum appre- 



armari: gulae unum, aliud iactantiae, hende fugam, si vis obtinere victo- 



ambitionis tertium. Inde autem riam." (P. L., XXXIX, 2301). — 



coepit, unde iam vicit. Et ideo inde Cfr. Homer's Odyssey, XII, 120. 



