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 VIII. Christ says not only, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, but also, Him only shalt thou serve: to teach us that bodily and spiritual worship is insufficient, unless it is followed by obedient service; that acts of devotion must go hand in hand with observance of the commandments.

Then the devil leaveth Him, and behold angels came and ministered unto Him.

Leaveth Him, St. Luke adds, for a season; for Satan returned to Him with provocations throughout His life, and finally afflicted Him on the cross. It was of his coming to Him then that Christ spoke, when He said, The Prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me. (John xiv. 30.) It was then on the cross that Christ endured the last assaults of Satan: then, when He made that offering of a sweet-smelling savour, which, when the evil spirit had smelled, he fled into the uttermost parts of Egypt, and the angel bound him. (Tobit viii. 3.)

Note here likewise that—

The devil leaveth Christ: thus does he also leave us, after having tempted us,—

α. In the hopes of returning with seven other spirits to take up a permanent abode in man’s heart, if found empty of the love of Jesus.

β. That he may plot some new form of temptation; retiring to gather strength. We must use this time of freedom for