1.   As long as we live in this world we cannot be without tribulation and temptation. Hence it is written in Job: Man's life upon earth is a temptation.

Therefore ought every one to be solicitous about his temptations, and to watch in prayers, lest the devil; who never sleeps, but goes about seeking whom he may devour, find room to deceive him. No man is so perfect and holy as not to have sometimes-temptations: and we cannot be wholly without them.



2.   Temptations are often very profitable to a man, although they be troublesome and grievous: for in them a man is humbled, purified, and instructed. All the saints have passed through many tribulations and temptations, and have profited by them: and they who could not support temptations, have become reprobates, and fell off. There is not any order so holy, nor place so retired, where there are not temptations and adversities.



3.   A man is never entirely secure from temptations as long as he lives: because we have within us the source of temptations, having been born in concupiscence. When one temptation or tribulation is over, another comes on: and we shall have always something to suffer, because we have lost the good of our original happiness. Many seek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them. By flight alone we cannot overcome: but by patience and true humility we are made stronger than all our enemies.



4.   He who only declines them outwardly, and does not pluck out the root, will profit little: nay, temptations will sooner return to him, and he will find himself in a worse condition. By degrees, and by patience, with longanimity, thou shalt, by God's grace, better overcome them, than by harshness and thine own importunity.

In temptation, often take counsel, and deal not roughly with one that is tempted: but comfort him, as thou wouldst wish to be done to thyself.



5.   Inconstancy of mind, and small confidence in God, is the beginning of all temptations. For as a ship without a rudder is tossed to and fro by the waves: so the man who is remiss, and who quits his resolution, is many ways tempted. Fire tries iron, and temptation tries a just man. We often know not what we can do: but temptation discovers what we are.



6.   However, we must be watchful, especially in the beginning of temptation: because then the enemy is easier overcome, when he is not suffered to come in at the door of the soul, but is kept out and resisted at his first knock. Whence a certain man said:


For first a bare thought comes to the mind: then a strong imagination: afterwards delight, and evil motion and consent. And thus, by little and little, the wicked enemy gets full entrance, when he is not resisted in the beginning, And how much the longer a man is negligent in resisting; so much the weaker does he daily become in himself, and the enemy becomes stronger against him.



7.   Some suffer great temptations in the beginning of their conversion, and some in the end. And some there are who are much troubled in a manner all their life time.

Some are but lightly tempted, according to the wisdom and equity of the ordinance of God, who weighs the state and merits of men, and pre-ordains all for the salvation of his elect.



8.   We must not therefore despair when we are tempted, but pray to God with so much the more fervour, that he may vouchsafe to help us in all tribulations: who, no doubt, according to the saying of St. Paul, will make such issue with the temptation that we may be able to sustain it.

Let us therefore humble our souls, under the hand of God in all temptations and tribulations: for the humble in spirit he will save and exalt.



9.   In temptations and tribulations a man is proved what progress he has made: and in them there is greater merit, and his virtue appears more conspicuous. Nor is it much if a man be devout and fervent when he feels no trouble; but if in the time of adversity he bears up with patience, there will be hope of a great advancement.

Some are preserved from great temptations, and are often overcome in daily little ones: that being humbled they may never presume of themselves in great things, who are weak in such small occurrences.

Temptations serve to free us from all lurking inclinations to vanity, or self-love, and from at all depending upon ourselves; because they make us feel the weight of our own miseries, give us a disgust for all earthly gratifications, and oblige us to rely solely upon God. They serve also to humble us by the experience they afford us, of our own weakness, and of the depth of our natural corruption. They serve, in a word, to convince us of our inability to do the least good, or to avoid the smallest sin, without the assistance of God.

I am sensible, O Jesus, that in the time of temptation, of myself, I cannot but offend thee, and that, carried along by my natural inclination for evil, I am in danger of ruining myself. But I know, also, that thou canst, and thy apostle assures me thou wilt defend me against the most violent assaults of my passions. Wherefore, mistrusting myself, and relying upon thee, I will exclaim, " Lord, save me, or I perish," I will streteh out my hand to thee as St. Peter did, and confidently hope that thou wilt not let me perish. Amen.