Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/338

 Be not,  therefore,  alarmed  or  disconcerted  when  you find yourself  attacked  by  any  temptation,  but  remember the  saying  of  the  Wise  Man:  "Son,  when  thou comest  to  the  service  of  God,  prepare  thy  soul  for  temptation." (Ecclus. ii.  i.)  But  do  not  lose  courage,  for  we know,  as  St. Bernard writes,  that  "  the  Devil  can  overcome none  but  those  who  wish  to  be  overcome."

III. Temptations come  directly  from  the  Devil,  and are permitted  by  Almighty  God. The Devil  wishes  our ruin, but  God  intends  the  increase  of  our  merit  and  our glory. Thus He  wished  to  try  Abraham,  thus  He  tries all His  friends. " Because  thou  wast  acceptable  to  God," said the  angel  to  Tobias,  "  it  was  necessary  that  temptation should  prove  thee." (Tob. xii.  13.)  Hence  the  Apostle admonishes  us  to  rejoice  in  temptation,  and  to  confide in God;  for  "  God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you  to be  tempted  above  that  which  you  are  able;  but  will  make also  with  temptation  issue,  that  you  may  be  able  to  bear it." (1 Cor.  x.  13.)

I. "  And  the  tempter  coming,  said  to  Him,  If  Thou  be the  Son  of  God,  command  that  these  stones  be  made bread." (Matt. iv.  3.)  The  Devil  attacks  Christ  with the same  weapons  that  he  employed  against  Adam  in paradise. He naturally  conceived  that  Christ  must  suffer hunger in  consequence  of  His  long  and  severe  fast;  he therefore  tempts  Him  to  gluttony. Observe how  craftily he commences  his  attack  against  the  post  which  he conceives  to  be  the  weakest. Our spiritual  enemies  are more anxious  to  destroy  us  than  we  are  to  save  our  souls.