Page:Catechismoftrent.djvu/380

 of serious apprehensions to the mass of mankind, who are so far inferior to them in holiness.

The pastor, therefore, will place before the eyes of the faithful the conflicts in which we have continually to engage, the dangers which we have to brave, assailed, as we are on all sides, by the world, the flesh, and the devil; and this as long as the soul shall dwell in the perishable tabernacle of the body Who has not had melancholy experience of the evil effects of corrupt passion, of anger and concupiscence? Who is not harassed by their assaults? Who does not feel the poignancy of their stings? Who does not burn with these torches that smoulder within him? In truth, so numerous are these assaults, so varied these attacks, that it is extremely difficult to escape unhurt. Besides the enemies that dwell and live within us, there are also other most inveterate foes, of whom it is written: " Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." The efforts of our domestic enemies are seconded by the attacks of the devils from without, who assail us openly, and also insinuate themselves by secret stratagem into our souls: in so much, that it is not without extreme difficulty that we can elude Note. their malignity. These the Apostle calls " princes" on account of the excellence of their nature: (their nature is superior to that of man, and of every visible creature) he calls them " principalities and powers," because they excel not only by their nature but also by their power: he calls them "rulers of the world of this darkness," because they rule not the world of light and of glory, that is to say, the good and the pious; but the world of darkness and of gloom, that is, those who, blinded by the debasement and darkness of a wicked and flagitious life, are contented to be the slaves of the devil, the prince of darkness. He also calls the evil demons " the spirits of wickedness." There is a wickedness of the flesh and of the spirit: the former inflames to sensual lusts and criminal pleasures: the latter to wickedness of purpose and depravity of desire; and these belong to the superior part of the soul, and are more criminal than the former, in the same proportion that reason is superior to sensual impulse. This wickedness of Satan the Apostle denominates " in the high places," because his chief aim is to deprive us of the inheritance of heaven.

We may hence learn that the power of the infernal enemy is formidable, his courage undaunted, and his hatred cruel and implacable. He wages against us a perpetual war with such immitigable fury, that with him there is no peace, no cessation of hostilities. Of his audacity we may form an idea from the words of Satan recorded by the Prophet; " I will ascend into heaven;" he attacked our first parents in Paradise; he assailed the Prophets; he beset the Apostles, and as our Lord declares,