CHAPTER13 Resisting Temptation

BOOK1-TABLE OF CONTENTS:
chapter1-imitating-christ-and-despising
chapter2-having-a-humble-opinion-of-self
chapter3-the-doctrine-of-truth
chapter4-prudence-in-action
chapter5-reading-the-holy-scripture
chapter6-unbridled-affections
chapter7-avoiding-false-hope-and-pride
chapter8-shunning-over-familiarity
chapter9-obedience-and-subjection
chapter10-avoiding-idle-talk
chapter11-acquiring-peace-and-zeal-for-perfection
chapter12-the-value-of-adversity
chapter13-resisting-temptation
chapter14-avoiding-rash-judgment
chapter15-works-done-in-charity
chapter16-bearing-with-the-faults-of-others
chapter17-monastic-life
chapter18-the-example-set-us-by-the-holy-fathers
chapter19-the-practices-of-a-good-religious
chapter20-the-love-of-solitude-and-silence
chapter21-sorrow-of-heart
chapter22-thoughts-on-the-misery-of-man
chapter23-thoughts-on-death
chapter24-judgment-and-the-punishment-of-sin
chapter25-zeal-in-amending-our-lives

The Thirteenth Chapter
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.”Job 7:1. 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 17 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 18 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.