Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/64

  The  devil  induced  Adam  and  Eve  to  sin  by means  of  lies. Therefore our  Lord  says:  “The  devil  is  a liar and the  father  of  lies”  (John  8,  44). He is  the  father,  i.  e.  the origin of  lies. Have you  never  imitated  him? Hate lies,  for  they come from  the  devil! Have nothing  to  do  with  them,  or  you  will be a child  of  the  devil. God is  truth,  and  desires  and  loves only what  is  true. Stick to  the  truth  if  you  wish  to  be  a child of God.

Perhaps you  think  that,  if  you  had  been  in  Eve’s  place,  you would not  have  allowed  yourself  to  be  overcome  by  temptation. Have you  never  then  taken  anything  which  you  have  been  forbidden to  take,  such  as  sugar,  fruit  &amp;c.? Has not  God  forbidden you to  pilfer  or  to  be  greedy,  quite  as  much  as  He  forbade Adam and  Eve  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  knowledge? Further, did not God  give  you  sanctifying  grace  in  holy  Baptism? Has He not  placed  you  in  the  paradise  of  His  holy  Church,  in  order  that you may  live  a holy  life,  and  attain  to  the  heavenly  paradise? Have you  not  by  means  of  your  religious  instruction  acquired  great knowledge, so  that  you  know  perfectly  well  what  is  right  and what is  wrong? Therefore, when  you  offend  against  the  law  of God,  you  have  quite  as  little  excuse  as  Eve. Guard against  sin, and firmly  resolve  never  again  to  offend  God  wilfully.

Eve’s first  temptation  came  from  without. We too,  as  long as we  live,  shall  have  to  encounter  various  temptations. They come partly  from  without,  such  as  those  arising  from  bad  companions or  other  external  occasions  of  sin,  and  partly  from  within, from our  own  bad  inclinations,  such  as  anger,  sloth,  self-will  &amp;c. They can  also  come  from  the  direct  suggestions  of  the  evil  one. Eve’s fall  should  be  a warning  to  us  not  to  allow  ourselves  to  be seduced  by  temptations  to  sin. Had Eve  kept  away  from  the forbidden tree,  she  would  not  have  fallen. Keep away,  therefore, from all  occasions  of  sin,  or  else  you  are  meeting  sin  half-way. If a bad  thought  occurs  to  you,  do  not  dwell  on  it,  but  drive  it from  you,  or  bad  desires  will  follow  bad  thoughts. If the  Tempter or your  own  passions  whisper  to  you;  “Such  and  such  a thing would not  be  a great  sin! God would  not  treat  it  severely!” turn your  thoughts  at  once  to  the  just  and  holy  God  who  would be outraged  by  that  sin,  and  remind  yourself  that  sin  is  the greatest of  all  evils! Above all  things,  beware  of  sinful  curiosity. He who  wishes  to  see  and  hear  everything,  and  who  does  not shut his  eyes  and  ears  when  he  sees  or  hears  anything  evil,  will soon have  his  heart  corrupted,  and  will  lose  his  innocence. Say often and  devoutly:  “Lead  us  not  into  temptation. Defend me, my God,  against  temptations  to  evil. Give me  the  grace  to  resist them steadfastly!”