Page:The four Gospels - translated from the Latin Vulgate, and diligently compared with the original Greek text, being a revision of the Rhemish translation (IA TheFourGospelsTranslated).pdf/59

ST. MATTHEW. 51 bear Thee up, lest perhaps Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.”

7. said to him: It is written again: “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

8. Again the devil took Him up into a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.

9. And said to Him: All these will I give Thee, if falling down Thou wilt adore me.

10. Then saith to him: Begone, Satan, for it is written: “The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and Him only shalt thou serve.”

11. Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

The text regards any just man; Ps. xc. 16. It shows the protection which God vouchsafes to His servants, who walk in humble dependence on Him. look for miraculous interposition to save them from dangers, into which they have wantonly rashed, are guilty of tempting God. They make trial of His power and goodness in circumstances in which they cannot reasonably hope for the display of these attributes. Deut. vi. 16. tion before the one just mentioned. The order of time in which they took place is not important. The kingdoms could not be seen from any elevation, however great; but they might be pointed out, according to the direction wherein they lay, and their glory and power described. Satan promised what he could not perform; he was wont to impose on the credulity of those whom he addressed. an angel of light, to win this homage, That is, enemy. "This is the substance of several passages. Deut. v. 7,9; vi. 13; x. 20. This may be understood of affording Him food, or congratulating Him on His victories over the tempter. Our Lord, although not needing external aid or comfort, condescended to receive it from the ministry of angels, thereby to encourage us by the assurance, that our fidelity to God will be rewarded with an increase of grace and strength. "The angels appear," says St. Chrysostom, "that you may learn, that, when you have overcome the demon, they will receive you approvingly, and encompans you to protect you." Digitized by Google 1
 * Those who rashly depart from the order of divine providence, and
 * On another occasion, at another time. St. Luke relates this tempta-
 * The tempter may have here assumed a brilliant appearance, even za