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 before thee."  Ah,  many  a  penitent  prodigal  in  the carrying  out  of  his  resolve  to  arise  and  go  to  his Father  soon  finds  the  way  too  long  and  arduous,  and were  not  his  angel  guardian  there  to  nourish  and encourage  him,  he  would  never  persevere  to  see  God face  to  face  on  the  blessed  mount  of  paradise. Again  the  angel  teaches  his  protege  how  best  to  put to  flight  the  robber  devils  that  beset  his  path,  viz.; by  prayer  and  holy  meditations.  The  young  Tobias, at  the  angel  Raphael's  bidding,  placed  the  entrails  of the  fish  on  burning  coals,  and  thereupon  the  demon that  slew  the  seven  suitors  of  his  bride  was  quickly driven  away.  So,  too,  the  guardian  angel  counsels the  one  committed  to  his  care  to  set  not  his  entire mind  and  heart  on  earthly  things,  but  to  expend  at least  a  portion  of  them  in  thought  on  hell  or  on  the fire of  God's  love,  for  thus  the  devil  must  be  routed and his  temptations  met. And since  Our  Lord  Himself has  warned  us  that  the  devil  once  ejected  is  ill content unless  with  seven  other  devils  viler  than himself he  can  return  and  regain  possession,  the  angel guardian instructs  his  client  how  he  can  best  prevent his last  state  becoming  worse  than  was  his  first. Gedeon with  thirty-two  thousand  armed  men  went forth against  the  Madianites,  but  an  angel  of  God commanded that  all  the  weak  and  timid  should return, and  immediately  twenty-two  thousand soldiers laid  down  their  arms. The angel  then bade Gedeon  lead  the  ten  thousand  men  remaining to  a  stream,  and  watch  how  each  should drink, "  for,"  said  he,  "  those  men  alone  are  fit